THE FLORICULTURAL CABINET, FEBRUARY 1ST, 1846. PART I. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ARTICLE I. EMBELLISHMENTS. 1. HINDSIA VIOLACEA ALBA. IN our Number for September, 1844, we figured the handsome species H. violacea, violet coloured flowers, and since that time many of our readers have seen that lovely species in bloom exhibited at the metropolitan and other first rate shows. Recently we saw the plant we now figure in fine bloom at Messrs. Hendersons, Pine Apple Nursery. The plant was cultivated in the stove, but we think it will also flourish in a warm greenhouse. It appears to be more vigorous than the H. violacea. The flowers are produced in fine corymbous heads, a most lovely white, longer in the tube than the other kind named, and very highly fragrant. It deserves to be in every collection. 2. EVOLVULUS PURPUREO-CORULEUS. PURPLE-BLUE FLOWERED. Amongst the many novelties we found in the fine collection of plants in the Royal Gardens at Kew during the past summer, is the pretty lovely flowering plant now figured. It is a native of Jamaica, and requires to be grown in a plant stove or warm greenhouse. It is what is usually termed half shrubby, the shoots grow about half a yard high, and it blooms very freely during the summer. deserves to be grown wherever it is practicable, being easy of culture, and remarkably showy and ornamental, VOL. XIV. No. 156. C It ARTICLE II. THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, Regent's Park, July 2, 1845. 1 THIS was the last exhibition of the Society for the season, and, we must briefly remark, it was an exceedingly good one, deficiency of space necessitates a very abstracted copy from our notes, and that only of the most useful portion, therefore these remarks will, generally speaking, convey but an inadequate conception of the brilliancy of the exhibition. In Class I. we shall confine our notice to the NEW OR RARE PLANTS The first prize amongst which was awarded to Messrs. Henderson, Nurserymen, Edgeware Road, for a well managed plant of Clerodendron paniculatum ; having a spike of bloom about two feet and a half long. The magnificent foliage and distinct bright orange blossoms, certainly render this kind one of the finest in the genera. The second prize was given to Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart., Cheam, for Tremandria Hugellii (Tetratheca hirsuta), a neat greenhouse shrubby plant, from the Swan River Colony, and of which we published a representation in our Number for October last. The third prize was obtained by Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, with Hoya trinervis, a species inferior to that old favourite H. carnosa. Extra prizes were awarded to Messrs. Veitch for Pterodiscus speciosus, a figure and notice of which plant we gave in Vol. XII., No. 142; to Mr. Hunt, gardener to Miss Trail, for a species of Gesneria from Mexico, a plant of tall upright growth, and having woolly yellow coloured flowers. To Mr. Taylor, gardener to J. Costar, Esq., Streatham, for Chanostoma polyantha, a very pretty plant. well adapted for bedding out, and of which a figure accompanied our Number in October last. To Messrs. Henderson for a fancy variety of Pelargonium, named Anias. This plant was perhaps more attractive than any other at the exhibition. Its habit is dwarf and remarkably compact, resembling that of the variety named "Queen Victoria," and to which it is quite equal in profusion of bloom; the flowers are, however, much more ornamental, being of a delicate blush white in the interior, surrounded with a broad and almost unbroken ring of beautiful rosy-purple, which is again surrounded on the margin of the petals with a belt of white. The plant altogether presents the appearance of a very lovely nosegay, and is sure to merit the approbation of all who grow it. We are not aware with whom it originated, but believe plants will be offered for sale in the spring ensuing. Messrs. Henderson also received another extra prize for Oxybaphus longiflorus, a nyctaginaceous shrub, with white flowers. An extra prize was also given to Mr. Barnes, gardener to G. W. Norman, Esq., Bromley, for Blandfordia nobilis. In addition to these, and to which no awards was made, we noticed from Messrs. Henderson, Gloxinia cartonia, a new species of Angelonia, and a well grown plant of Scutellaria splendens, having several spikes of its bright scarlet flowers. Not in bloom, but remarkable for beauty in foliage or growth. The first prize in this section was given to Mr. Mylam, gardener to S. Rucker, Esq., Wandsworth, for an extraordinary plant of Nepenthes ampullacea, with several of its curious spotted and fringed pitchers; the plant was supported by an upright cylinder trellis, and was seven or eight feet high. The second prize, for Jacaranda Clansoniana, was given to Messrs. Henderson. Mr. Mylam obtained the third prize for a well-cultivated plant of Nepenthes distillatoria. And an extra prize was given to Messrs Veitch, for Phyllocladus asplenifolius. CLASS II. This comprises all collections exhibited in natural groups, excepting "Florists' flowers." The numerous and general elegance of the varieties of Cape heaths, at all times present an eminent object to the competitor in this class, and the assemblage of them on this occasion was therefore, as usual, extensive and excellent. The collections of Orchidaceous plants too were very good, although not numerous; and amongst the Cacti were a number of curious species of Mammillaria, which attracted a good deal of notice. CLASS III. Conducts us to the most distinguished [portion of the show, the "florists' flowers," and here we intend to transcribe our notes more entire. Of the kinds grown in pots we will begin with the PELARGONIUMS. By far the finest grown plants of which were exhibited by Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co., of Exeter, and twenty-four such plants together we unhesitatingly assert we never saw before. The mere value of an award of the highest prize for these collections, could but be inadequate enough; the mere cost of bringing the plants about 200 miles to the show was, we understood, 17. each; the object of the spirited growers, however, was not a lucrative one, and they received their reward by beating the London growers upon their own ground, and that is indeed a point of ambition not readily to be attained, but in this case very clearly done. The kinds were, Othello, Fairy Queen, Admiral, Black Prince, Stella, Dido, Leonora, Zanzummim, Stromboli, Cleopatra, Enchantress, and Meteor; each of these plants were about three feet high by four feet in diameter, and full of large heads of bloom. In the Amateurs' division for 12 plants, Mr. Staines, of Paddington, received the first prize; the varieties were Superba, Madeline, Duke of Cornwall, Hebe, Rowena, Enchantress, Sunbeam, Achilles, Cedric, Fair Maid of Leyton, Grand Turk, and Duke of Wellington. |