The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-22 00:00:00

ROY AL HO.

L SOCIETY.

Yesterday the first exhibition of fruit and flowers
for the season was opened in St. James's-hall, un-
der the auspices of his Royal Highness Prince Al-
bert, who has succeeded the late Duke of Devon-
shire as president of the scciety. The present year
has opened very favourably for the society, the
flowers showing in unusual brilliancy for the period
of the year, the place of exhibition combining all
the attractions of space, Situation, and elegance,
the weather being charming, and her Majesty hav-
ing honoured the exhibition with her presence.
Some time before 12 o'clock her Majesty and the
Prince Consort arrived at St. James's-hall, and
were conducted through the exhibition by Dr.
Lindley and Mr., Dilke, the public being excluded
till her Majesty had terminated her inspection.
Her Majesty expressed her satisfaction at the gene-
ral aspect of the exhibition, and bestowed particu-
lar notice on some of the rarer specimens on view.
Of these the most remarkable is the clianthus
Dampieri, an Australian plant, for the first time
exhibited here. The singularity of this plant
consists in the presence of large dark prominent
eyes in the middle of the flowers, which
impart to them a very striking appearance.
Her Majesty noticed also with much curiosity
the collection of caladiums, with their flower-like
leaves ; the Forfugium grande and rose-flowered
peach-tree plants, introduced from the north of -
China by Mr. Fortune ; the geranium zonale, arc.
After her Majesty retired the holders of tickets
were admitted, and the usual meeting of the society
was held in the orchestral portion of the hall ;
Prince Albert in the chair.

• The minutes of proceedings having been read by,
Dr. Lindley, t he secretary, and confirmed, the follow-
ing persons were balloted for and elected members
of the society :—Col. the Hon. 0. Duncombe,
M.P., Hon. and Very Rev. G. Pellew, D.D., Rev.
J. Robinson, M.A., Mr. Berens, C. orcher, Esq.,
F. W. Harris, Esq., F. Gwatkin, Esq., J. Price,
Esq., Dr. Sankey, E. Banks, Esq., F. Morland,
Esq., W. Jones, Esq., W. Green. Rae, Esq., Mr..
T. Gibbs, Mr. J. Watson, Mr. W. Cotterell, Mr.
W. Tillery, Mr. J. Ivery, Mr. W. H. Rogers, H. •
Cole, C.B.

Dr. LINDLEY then directed the attention of his
audience to the principal objects in the exhibition.
The general aspect of the flowers was such as might
he expected rather in the middle of May or even
June than in the middle of April. The exhibition
before them was the result of exertions which had
been commenced so far back aslslB, and continued
without intermission to the present time. He called
attention to the azaleas, the orchids, the rhodden-
drons, and the roses as evidence of the progress
which had been made in floral horticulture, and
then noticed some of the more curious specimens
in the exhibition, particularly the Australian plant
and the hybrid attleya, the latter as affording an
example of unskilful hybridising.
The Bishop of WINCHESTER, the vice-president
of the society, said that he had been deputed by the
council to convey their warm and cordial thanks to
his royal highness for presiding over their meeting
on this occasion. He felt sure be was expressing
the sentiments not only of the council, but of every
member of society, when he said that their thanks
were eminently due to his royal highness for his
condescension in presiding over them, and for the
interest he took in the affairs of the society.
Prince ALBERT said—l assure you T feel much
obliged for the great confidence which has has been
shown to me in electing me as the president of this
society, which has done so much good by its labours
in the cause of garden horticulture into a condition
which is not to be excelled by any other country.
(Hear.) I cannot expect that my efforts in behalf
of the society can equal those of the excellent no-
bleman, my predecessor, who was your president
for so long a period, and who laboured so inces-
santly iu its behalf. But any efforts of mine or
anything that good intentions can produce,
I shall be happy to afford. (Cheers.) I congra-
tulate you on the beauty of the show now before
you, as evidencing the great attention that has
been directed to the production of such fine-1
will not say such fine, but such useful plantsits
are now to be found in all gardens.
The Prince then retired, and the horticultural
connoisseurs commenced a keen inspection of the
floral products of the spring. The plants are laid
out in such a manner as to produce a very striking
coup d'ceil. The azaleas are in great preponderance
and in superb bloom. The China roses are nume-
rous, full in leaf, and rich in colour. The hya-
cinths, tulips, cinerarias, and miscellaneous flowers
are all excellent of their kind. The fruits exhibited
are not abundant, and consist of pears, apples,
pines, grapes, strawberries, oranges, and lemons.
The show seemed to afford general satisfaction to
the visitors, and does great credit to the labours of
the society. The flowers in the present exhibition,
however, have to stand a very severe and unusual
test ; for beautiful as they undoubtedly are, the
eyes of the visitor are frequently tempted upwards
by the cerulean azure and starry cressets of Mr.
Owen Jones's charming ceiling, which seems to be
" trying a rival blush" with its nether competitor.