The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-07 00:00:00

Royal Botanic Society of London.

The second summer show in the gardens of this
society in Regent's-park took place yesterday, and
was in every way a success. The afternoon, al-
though somewhat threatening at times, was free
from rain, and. the visitors were consequently enabled
to enjoy the beauty of the grounds, which may
be now said to be in their prime. The show of
flowers took place in the large marquee, and was an
excellent oue, and the brightness of the colours on
entering was almost- dazzling. There was a good
display of miscellaneous greenhouse plants, Cape
heaths, variegated and fine foliaged plants, exotic
and English ferns, which being tastefully arranged
in groups among the more gorgeous plants afforded
relief to the eye, and at the same time added much
to the general effect. The pelargoniums, which were
in large numbers, were unusually fine; they were
of great size, and covered with well-opened and
perfect blossoms. The light varieties were best re-
presented by Crystal Beauty, Delicatum, Fair Ro-
samond, and Desdemona ; while for bright colours,
Conflagration and Lord Clyde attracted most at-
tention. There were also many well-grown azaleas,
adding much to the sweetness of the scene, and the
roses were in perfection. Amongst the variegated
plants we may mention—Phormium tenax, or New
Zealand flax, variegated yellow ; variegated meadow
grass, very white and pretty ; maize or Indian corn,
the leaves striped white ; some fine begonias, with
their silvery red leaves; a fine collection of agaves,
or the American aloe. There were also a very large
and choice collection of orchids, which delight the
eye by their curious forms, and fill the air with
choice colours. The bright laelias Cattleyas, den-
drobiums, plalanopsis, and the very curious urope-
dium Lindenii, and selinipedium condatum, were as
fine as could be wished. The fancy-leaved horse-
shoe geraniums, now so much in favour, attracted
much attention. There was a nice collection of
bedding geraniums from white to scarlet, and
very well grown. Among the many
.new rare
and curious plants the following deserve men-
tion :—Paulonia imperialis, a new hardy tree
from Lord Macclesfield's gardens, with magnifi-
cent bunches of flowers, some eight inches high,
of a delicate purple colour and fine cents ; fine
blue clamatis flowers, quite 5 inches across, called
Velutina, purpurea and Dlagnifica ; a curious Indian
radish, the seed-pods, 3 feet long—they are said to
grow 2 or 3 inches in one night ; a new variegated
vine ; pelargonium album plenum, or double
flowered white pelargonium ; aubrietia
a pretty little plant for rock work, covered with
violet flowers ; and the ornithogalum thyrisordis
alba. Messrs. Veitch and Son had a large stand of
curious plants, the names of a few of which we have
only space to mention. The cut roses, panties, &c.,
were much admired, and the fruit was well grown.
Mr. Waterer's American plants are quite an exhi-
bition in themselves, and well worth a visit. We
understand they will be in full perfection for some
days, and the society have decided upon opening the
gardens to the public on this day, to-morrow, and
Saturday. The Princess Helena, attended by Lady
Barrington and General Gray, and also the Duchess
of Cambridge, honoured the gardens by an early
visit, and among the company we noticed the Bishop
of Winchester, the Brazilian, Swedish, French,
Austrian, Spanish, and American ambassadors. The
bands of the First and Second Life Guards, per-
formed during this afternoon.