216 THE YRLORIST. 
was anyone! who looked at: the -plants:who-didsnot at once’ select the! 16 
of Mr. Spode as the first lot in the show; and theiradmuiration ‘was 
increased:when they found that ‘these«plants: had beens brought-alb the 
way from the: Pottery district, near Rugeley, of horrible notoriety 5 and 
yet they looked.as fresh as if they had been grown inthe: grounds. 
The Hedaroma tulipiferum, though nota showy plant, was remarkably: 
fine; as was also the: Dipladenia crassinodaz!* Orchids» were: in’ large 
numbers and in great variety, one whole bank being devoted:to them» 
A new competitor has lately entered the lists here, the Rev.oMr, dlls, 
whose missionary tours im: Madagascar’ have afforded:so rich a'treatito 
many readers; and who has shown that an earnest admiration‘ of 
nature, and a diligent following of ‘scientific: pursuits, no way’ mars the 
usefulness, or dims the. brightness, of Christian: life. » Here, too, Mr» 
Spode again entered the lists; and who didnot admire the beautiful 
specimen of Phalzenopsis:amabilis in his collection? ‘The mystery of 
his success was solved by a reference. to: his prize. card, on which the 
name of May, as his gardener; figured—a name famous ins the’annals 
of flower shows, he being: at one time Mrs. Lawrence’s (of::Kalingy 
gardener, where the plants-used ‘always to be the admiration; in days. 
gone by, of the frequenters of these exhibitions: TQ 
Of Azaleas there was.a magnificent display, both from amateurs’ and 
nurserymen, showing how great the advance made in the flower of late’ 
years. Of the former, Mr: Farmer’s, of Cheam, were greatly admired 
and amongst the latter; Mr. Ivery’s and Mr. Turner’s. The most ante+’ 
resting groups were those forming'the collections for the six best, open to 
nurserymen and amateurs, Mr. Turner taking the lead, with probably? 
the best (though not the largest) six Azaleas ever exhibited. : 1 tell you? 
what, Mr. T., we shall have to: do with you as) they say they did with: 
the bishop elect of Carlisle, put you ina class by yourself; for whatever 
you choose to attempt, there is no one can come near you. » Here you! 
have only been exhibiting Azaleas for two or three years; and:you' are 
at the top of the tree, a double first class. And then what can we'say! 
about Pelargoniums; ‘here too; Mr. T., as usual was’ first, a longiway 
ahead of other competitors; but I think, as we taught the Sepoys, hevis’ 
the other competitors, for they are evidently striving to: ‘cateh him up.” 
His lot consisted, of Mazeppa, Governor-General (am old but lovely=> 
coloured beauty), Imperator, Fairest of the Fair,° Festus, Leviathan; © 
and Etna (splendid, both of them), Rose Celestial, Sir Colin Campbell 
(rather small but dark), Fair Ellen, and Desdemona. In ~Fancies 
he had Beauty, Formosum, Acme, Madame Rougiere, Negro, “and! 
Modestum. Among private growers, Mr. Foster was first; his plants” 
of Symmetry and Sanspareil were excellent; the latter still-bears’a) ~ 
right to its name, for it is unequalled in its class. It was early to 
judge about seedlings, but there were some good kinds shown.’ Foster’s!’ 
Perdita (dark), and Turner’s Patroness (an improved Ariel) had cer= 9 
tificates awarded, but there were other promising ‘kinds, amongst them % 
Hoyle’s Dove, a clear bright rose; General Garibaldi, very dark; Genr® 
of Roses (Beck), a beautifully bright clean flower ; ‘while in’ Fancies, a > 
beautiful clear rose, Arabella Goddard (Turner), and Champion, carried’ 
off prizes.» There was, however, a great muddle’ in ‘the arrangement 
