The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-04 00:00:00

FLOWER SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

Notwithstanding the threatening state of the
thermometer in the early part of the day, the
weather remained particularly favourable to the
autumnal exhibition of flowers and fruit, which took

place yesterday at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham.
The directors claim the advantage of this establish-
ment being especially adapted to floricultural exhi-
bitions, from the fact that the most elegantly attired
ladies can gain access to the building without the
slightest danger to their costume. This advantage,
however, was scarcely appreciable on this occasion,
for the sun shone so genially upon the beautiful
grounds that it was almost to be regretted that the
greensward had not been chosen for the exhibition
rather than the floor of the transept. Bat in what-
ever light the building or the flower show may be
regarded, it can hardly be doubted that, amongst
the many agreeable purposes to which the Crystal
Palace may be devoted, there is none which more
fully displays its beauties and advantages than an
exhibition of flowers and fruit. All the arrange-
ments yesterday were carried out with that good
taste and judgment which generally characterise
the special attractions of this institution ; and the
result was that a very large assemblage of visitors
were enabled to enjoy one of the most agreeable
promenades which have been presented by the
directors during the present season. As regards
the " show" itself, it would seem invidious to make
comparisons ; but yesterday's experience certainly
justifies the remark that, in testing the relative
merits of the flowers and fruit, the latter might
fairly claim the ascendancy. The judges appeared
to be unanimous in their opinion that the present
was one of the most satisfactory displays of the
kind which has been seen in this building since it
first opened its resources to such attractive objects.
The collection of fruit was conspicuous both for
variety and quality, and whether the standard of
merit was taken to be " flavour" or " weight," it
appeared that the most stringent requirements en-
joined by the rules were amply fulfilled. There were
two pines—one weighing 71bs., the other 6-ilbs.
—exhibited by Mr. Solomons, of Covent-garden—
which were sufficiently tantalising to call forth ex-
pressions of the most wishful admiration ; and there
were some tempting peaches, sent by Mr. Monro,
of Barnet, which, though not stupendous in size,
were of a complexion so delicately marked, that
those who regarded them allowed the appeal to the
eye to overcome any desire to gratify the sense of
taste. The grapes and plums also presented many
exaggerated specimens of those fruits, the dimen-
sions of the former being, in some instances, so
tremendous, that one might almost imagine they
sought to vie, in point of magnitude, with the larger
proportions of the latter. Amongst the exhibitors
many names might be honourably mentioned, but
it would be invidious to individualise where so
much excellence—or at least meritorious endeavour
to attain excellence—was perceptible in every direc-
tion. Of the flowers, the most conspicuous were
the large collection of the gladiolus, in which class
the prize was won by Mr. Youett, of Great Yar-
mouth, whose share in the exhibition of this flower
was such as almost to convey the impression that
hat distinguished floriculturist had devoted all his

energies to the exclusive culture of this particular
plant. There was also a good assortment of the

same flower from Paris, but as these had evidently
suffered from the effects of a sea-voyage, and as they
were made to show their delicate heads from the
necks of beer-bottles, it cannot be said that they
were in a " fair way" to compete for the honours
of the day with the more healthy-looking products
of our own land. The asters, German and French
(quite as distinct from each other in form as the
German and French language are in sound), were
conspicuous for thetr manifold beauties and colour
and texture, while the dahlias, hollyhocks, and ver-
benas (to say little of the roses, which may now be
said to have " seen their best days"), presented such
a combination of beauties that it was impossible for
the most casual observer to wander from one stand
to another without regretting the necessity which
existed for constantly changing the direction of
the eye. Considering that this was an autumnal
show, and that the weather has not been quite so
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The following is a list of the first prizes awarded
in each class:—
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