New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-21
.LONDON'S FLOWER SHOW
Japanese Dwarf Trees a Curl
Gus Feature of Exhibit.

InoSe VINO nave not PAID Visit 10 tHe
International Horticultural Exhibition
would do well to go to Chelsea. Many.
indeed, who have already passed the
gates on three or four occasions confess
that they are still searching for some
feature OF which their friends are talking.
A tour OF the big tent takes at least a
whole afternoon if nothing is to be
missed. and no one wishes to leave with
on. seeing the orchids and the open-air
gardens, but when all these things have
been inspected there is yet much to be
done. The foreign sections contain some
fine things, and they are not without
lessons for earnest students Of horticult-
ure and for those to whom the arrange
ment OF future English flower shows be-
longs
For combination of beauty and sim
plicity it would be hard 10 match the plan
adopted by the Dutch committee. Had
the exhibition taken place a little earlier
in the year Holland would have sent a
display of tulips 10 make the world Won
der, but, baked by the season Of its
orisina design. new scheme had TO lie
adopted. The whole OF the centre Of the
Dutch tent Is occupied by floral decora-
ton OF white and mauve lilacs, while at
one end Is staged a collection OF azaleas
in shades ranging from the paiest prim
rose to flame color At the other end
real triumph is won in the almost inn
possible task of staging vegetables in
artistic fashion. and tue designers work
cannot but recall the skill with which the
old Dutch artists made pictures from ma
terals of the most unpromising Kind
In the French tent there are always the
roses and, II the crowd has time 10 look
away from these. attention might fall on
great display Of new varieties or
hydrangeas. in which the petals Of the
blooms are shaped like the leaves Of the
plant The Japanese section, not always
disco, cred by the casual visitor, contains
some OF the strangest things in the show,
among them being the fine collection or
dwarf trees. Naples and thuias. which
il eighty or hundred years nave reached
q height Of Is inches. are real curioslties
f. England and their age is made evil
dent 90 all by their snarled trunks and
oddly tpisted branches.
Various as are the exhibits, an equal
variety il 10 be seen in the composition
of the crowd. Those who have gladly
given sold for an early view OF the show
conc again and again 10 mix with the
greater throng which follows on reduced
prices OF admission. Wealthy amateurs
and simple country gardeners. come 10
town 10 feast on the work OF their great
e. brethren, have been standing shoulder
20 shoulder to make UP the groups when
close round the latest trlumphs OF hort-
culture. But true students have found
ono place VIII IRE the throng does not con-
cregate. for a portion OF the show is set
aside for the benefit of the scientific Gull
tivator. 10 the ordinary man IL IL not
attractive, hut there have been plenty
OF zealots gazing with a melancholy ~
terest at the cases OF insects and allied
pests" and at the rows OF jars coptain-
ing choice specimens Of diseased potatoes.
At night the composition OF the crowd
is different again. for the gardens Of the
ROYAL Hospital are an ideal pleasure
ground The trees OF the central walk,
hung with hundreds of paper lanterns.
have the appearance of an avenue OF
flowers OF fame. aud the plots laid out
in rock and water become at nigh,ial
places 81 darkness and mystery. where
the idea OF distance from great city
is complete. Yet it is curious to notice
how the exhibition habit has taken hold
Of tho people. FOR with the coming OF
dusk these retreats are deserted, and the
crowd nightly collects in tho lighted space
about the band stand. II is the choice or
tho commonplace rather than the roman
tic. but. even so. the spectacle is not dis
pleasing. merciful absence Of arc lamps
gives glamour 10 an ordinary scene
and the illumination o. fairy lights
"star-scattered on the grass" is the last
Of tie many happy thoughts which make
this. exhibition an unsurpassed success
London. Standard