The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

Royal Horticultural Society,

Yesterday, we are happy to say, her Majesty de-
parted from the rule of strict seclusion which since
her sad bereavement she has maintained, and paid
a visit to the second flower-show of the season at
the grounds of this society at Kensington. The visit,
as far as the outward state of royalty is concerned,
was private, but private in no other sense, for her
intention of honouring the exhibition had been pre-
viously intimated, and most of the members of the
society, with a large number of visitors, in all some
3,000 spectators, were present on this occasion.
Outside the grounds, too, there was a considerable
crowd near the entrance, which waited from an
early hour in the hope of getting even a passing
glimpse of her Majesty. The loyal patience of
this crowd was severely tried, for the wind was
high and keen, and the monotonous downpour
of rein was only alternated with showers of sleet
and snow. Even her Majesty's proverbial good
fortune in weather is insufficient, it seems, to
remove , the ban of inclemency under which the
fetes of this society always suffer. As at Chiswick
in bygone years, so at Kensington now, a flower-
show at the Horticultural always means rain, if it
does not, as yesterday, mean snow as well. Her
Majesty arrived at precisely the hour she had inti-
mated, 11 o'clock, and her appearance was wel-
comed with the most enthusiastic cheers by the
crowd outside. Mr. Henry Cole, Mr. Wilson Saun-
ders, Sir Wentworth Dilke, and all the members of
the Council of the Society were in waiting at the
entrance to receive her Majesty, and ushered her at
once to the entrance-hall, where part of the flower-
show was laid out. Her Majesty was attired in
plain deep widow's weeds, and appeared in excel-
lent health. With her Majesty was her Royal
Highness the Princess Helena, who was not in
mourning, and in attendance were the Countess of
Gainsborough, the Hon. Lucy Ker, General Grey,
&c. The show, like all flower-shows at this season
of the year, was very small, and not remarkable for
any special excellence, if we leave out of sight the
extreme difficulty of rearing flowers at all even in
stove-houses at this period of the winter. Her
Majesty and the Princess Helena, however, ex-
amined it in detail with considerable interest. Two
collections of roses, sent by M. Turner, of Slough,
and by Messrs. Paul and Son, of Cheshunt, were
much admired by her Majesty, who stayed some
time examining the great size and splendid colour
of the various specimens. Mr. Bull's collection of
rare plants, some of which were very beautiful,
were also honoured with a long inspection. There
were some fine collections of tulips, lilies of the val-
ley, and hyacinths—the latter of remarkable size
and beauty—to which the attention of her Majesty
was directed. One flower of the latter class is named
after the late Prince Consort, and is almost jet black
in colour. Everywhere her Majesty passed she
was received wish the most profound marks'of
respect by the visitors, to all of which, with
her usual kindly courtesy, the Queen made deep
acknowledgments. After a short stay in the show,
her Majesty, accompanied by the Council, and fol-
lowed at some distance by many of the visitors,
went into the arcades and passed completely round
the grounds to where her statue by Mr. Durham,
which was to have occupied the summit of the Ex
hibition memorial, has been placed on a temporary
pedestal. After a few moments spent in examining
this fine work the conservatory was entered. Here
the band of the Guards was stationed, and, imme-
diately on the arrival of the Royal party, played
the National Anthem—the only incident of the
visit with which her Majesty did not seem to be
entirely pleased. In the conservatory, which is now
in the most exquisite order, and almost in the full
bloom of its spring, her Majesty remained for a few
minutes, graciously expressing to the Council the
pleasure she had derived from her visit. The Royal
party then left the grounds by the north entrance in
the Kensington-road, after a visit of nearly an hour,
During the remainder of the day the flower show
was visited by what, in the face of tho weather,
might almost be called large numbers—for, as every
society knows, flower shows at this early season of
the year do not draw. That at the Horticultural
Society's grounds yesterday was only one of those
rare exceptions which serve to prove a rule, and it
is almost needless to state in this instance how much
of the attendance of Visitors in the afternoon was
due to the fact that her Majesty had honoured the
display in the morning. The success of the show
was unlocked for as regards the Society, though not
undeserved, for the plants and flowers were far finer
than could have been expected at this end of a long
winter. The following prizes were awarded to the
chief competitors :
Six Camelias in Flower, distinct kinds (amateurs)-Ist
prize, withheld; 2d, Mr W. Young, gardener to Mr R. Bar-
clay, Highgate.
Four Rhododendrons, four kinds (amateurs)-Ist prize,
Mr W. Young, gardener to Mr R. Barclay, Highgate.
Six Roses in pots, distinct kinds (open)-Ist prize, Mr
C. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough ; 2d, Messrs Paul and
Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt.
Twenty-four Hyacinths, distinct kinds (nurserymen)
Ist prize, Messrs W. Cutbush and Son, Highgate; 2d, Mr
W. Paul, Waltham-cross.

Twelve Hyacinths, distinct kinds (amateurs)-Ist prize,
Mr W. Young, gardener to Mr It Barclay, Highgate; 2d,
Mr A.. Carr, gardener to Mr B. Noakes, Highgate.
Twelve pots of Tulips, four kinds (open)-Ist prize,
Messrs W, Cutbush and Son, Highgate Nurseries, and Mr
W. Paul, Waltham•erosg (equal); 2d, Mr W. Young, gar-
dener to Mr R. Barclay, Highgate.
Collection of 18 Forced Flowers, various (open)-Ist prize,
Mr W. H. Treen, Victoria Nursery, Rugby; 2d, Mr W•
Young, gardener to Mr R. Barclay, Highgate.
Six Geraniums, forced, distinct kinds (open)—let prize
Mr C. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough•
Twelve Camelias, cut blooms (nurserymen) —lst prize,
Mr W. H. Treen, Rugby.
Six Camelias, cut blooms, distinct kinds (amateurs)—
Mr T. Todman, gardener to Mr R. Hudson, Clapham-