These grand displays of horticultural skill terminated for the season with "the Park" show on the 3d, and that at Chiswick on the 13th ult. Before we commence to offer any remarks on the exhibitions themselves, we have thought it might not be uninteresting to give our readers a brief sketch of some of the principal features of " the Park" itself; more especially as, in a former volume, we have done the same thing in regard to Chiswick.
The Royal Botanic Garden occupies the Inner Circle, Regent's Park, its principal entrance facing the York Gate. Upon entering from this side, the visitor suddenly finds himself on a noble gravel-walk margined on either side with broad closely shaven lawn, which leads directly to the Conservatory; a sketch of which, together with one of the exhibition-tents in its rear, is given in the woodcut at the head of this page. The Conservatory has now been erected some years, and forms about a fourth of the original design. It encloses an area 175 feet in length and 75 feet in breadth. It consists of a series of curvilinear span-roofs, the centre one being 35 feet in height and 50 in width, and the two others on either side of it being about 25 feet in height, and the same in width. These are supported on rows of iron pillars, which are tubular, for the purpose of conducting rain-water from the roof to cisterns, to be made available for watering the plants. The centre-span has a semicircular end, standing out about 25 feet from the front line of the building.
A span-roof of the same height and width as the others (25 ft.) starts from each side of the principal or centre arch; and, extending along the front at right angles to the other roofs, presents a fine-looking frontage, resting on a perpendicular elevation, of about 14 feet, thus improving its general appearance, which would otherwise be of a zigzag form. At each end of the building a curve, starting from the spring of the upper one, comes down near the ground, forming as it were a lean-to curvilinear house of about 12 feet in width; but having no partition to divide it from the rest of the bouse. The whole is warmed by hot water. In the arrangement of the plants, they are grouped in masses on gravel, here and there relieved by a single specimen or vase full of flowers; and besides mere greenhouse subjects, the culture of exotic Orchids, Palms, etc. has been attempted in a portion of the building cut off from the rest by a glass partition based on ornamental fockwork.
The grounds have been laid out by Mr. Marnock, the curator, whose good taste in such matters is universally acknowledged. They are beautifully diversified by hill and dale, rural retreats, and winding walks; and water, that most essential element in an English landscape, has not been forgotten, for a charming lake of considerable extent occupies part of the south-east side, giving to that portion of the garden, in connexion with its rustic hill, a picturesque effect.
The exhibition occupies four large tents, one of which stands between the north side of the lake and the conservatory, and is generally filled with Roses and Cape Heaths; but on this occasion a side of it contained the fruit. A second tent, in which the stove and greenhouse plants are arranged, stands close by the spot on which the American exhibition takes place. Two more, one of which is seen in the woodcut, are placed between the conservatory and the public road, from which they are entered by what is sometimes called "the Queen's Gate." And now, having taken a cursory view of the garden, let us inspect the exhibition, beginning with that charming tribe of plants the Orchids, which, arranged on one side of a long tent, behind the Pelargoniums, had a good effect. In collections of 25 plants, Mr. Mylam, gardener to S. Rucker, Esq., was first. His plants consisted of Aerides quinquevulnera, odora-tum, and maculosum; the large-fiowered Phalsenopsis; Epidendrum vitellinum; the charming Saccolabium Blumei, Lselia majalis, Odon-toglossum Karwinskii, Vanda Batemanni, Anguloa uniflora with ivory-white blossoms, and Brassia Lawrenceanum. Mr. Williams, gardener to C. B. Warner, Esq., of Hoddesdon, was second.
This group comprised two fine plants of Aerides odoratum, also A. maculosum, affine, and roseum; Dendrobium moschatum, densiflorum, and secundum; Saccolabium guttatum, the larger-flowered Butterfly plant, and Barkeria spectabilis. In collections of 15, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Blake, gardener to J. H. Schroder, Esq., for Galeandra Baueri, Phalsenopsis grandiflora, Cattleya Mossiae, the rare white-blossomed Burlingtonia venusta, Dendrobium chrysan-thum, a pale variety of Acineta Humboldti, Trichopilia tortilis, and Vanda tricolor. In Messrs. Rollisson's group of 15 we remarked a variety of Stanhopea maculata, also S. tigrina, Cattleya Mossise, and the beautiful C. Harrisoniee, a finely blossomed Miltonia spectabilis, the scarce yellow-flowered Peristeria cerina, and Burlingtonia venusta. Collections of 10 were contributed by Mr. Barnes, gardener to R. Hanbury, Esq., and Mr. Dobson, gardener to Mr. Beck. Mr.
Barnes sent Aerides affine and odoratum, Stanhopea tigrina, Brassia Wrayae, the large-flowered Phalamopsis, Saccolabium Blumei, and Oncidium Lanceanum. Mr. Beck's plants consisted of the larger variety of Oncidium ampliatum, O. luridum, and Harrisoniae, Den-drobium secundum, Cattleya Mossise, Epidendrum vitellinum, calo-chilum, and phceniceum; Aerides odoratum, and Galeandra Baueri. Mr. Mylam sent a handsome Cypripedium, apparently a variety of C. barbatum.
In collections of 30 Stove and Greenhouse Plants, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Cole, gardener to H. Collyer, Esq., of Dartford; the second to Mrs. Lawrence of Ealing Park. In these groups were beautiful plants of Allamanda cathartica, Schottii, and grandiflora; Dipladenia splendens and crassinoda; Vincas, Ixora coccinea, Kalo-santhes coccinea, Epacris miniata, Clerodendrons, Stephanotis flori-bunda, Sollya linearis, Ixora javanica, Kalosanthes versicolor.
In the collections of 20, Mr. Green was first, and Mr. Taylor second. Among these were good examples of Stephanotis, Allamanda, Ixora, Pleroma elegans (not nearly at its best as regards bloom), and Echites.
Various groups of 10 were produced. A first prize was awarded to Mr. Williams, gardener to Miss Traill of Bromley; and the second to Mr. Croxford.
Among Cape Heaths, the following varieties were most conspicuous: Ventricosa grandiflora and V. magnirica, Shannoni, tricolor, retorta major, Cavendishii, Massoni, Bergiana, Obbata, Bothwelliana, Parmentieri rosea, inflata, Vernoni, Wilsonii, metulseflora bicolor, ferruginea, mutabilis, ampullacea, Savileana, jasminiflora alba, Clu-siana, and princeps.
Among Single Specimens, the best were large and beautiful plants of Stephanotis floribunda from Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence, and Leschenaultia formosa, from Mr. Williams, gardener to Miss Traill. Mr. Dennett had also a nice Kalosanthes coccinea; Mr. Kinghorn, Leschenaultia arcuata, a singular-looking species; and there were one or two other good plants shewn under this head.
In New Plants, the first prize was given to a very fine specimen of Ixora javanica, from Mrs. Lawrence's garden at Ealing Park; and equal prizes to Ipomcea limbata, a pretty species, purple margined with white, from Messrs. Rollisson; Begonia cinnabarina, from Messrs. Henderson; Hemiandra pungens, a lilac-flowered greenhouse plant from Mr. Henderson, St. John's Wood; and Magnolia fra-grantissima and Thyrsacanthus bracteolatus from Messrs. Rollisson.
Pelargoniums were plentiful, and in good condition. Twelve new varieties, Amateurs, equal prizes to Mr. Cock and Mr. Staines; second, Mr. Robinson. Nurserymen: 1st, Mr. Dobson, gardener to Mr. Beck; 2d, Mr. Bragg; 3d, Mr. Gaines. Six varieties: 1st, Mr. Parker, gardener to J. H. Oughton, Esq. "Fancies:" 1st, Mr. Robinson; 2d, Mr. Staines. "Capes:" 1st, Mr. Staines.
Pinks were numerous and large, but dull in colour, it being late in the season for them. The 1st prize was awarded to Mr. Turner, for Whipper-in, Great Britain, Diana, George Glenny, Lola Montes, Narborough Buck, Criterion, Sappho, Queen of England, Huntsman, Dr. Daubeny, and Lord Valentia; 2d, Mr. Brno-. Certificates of merit to J. Edwards, Esq . and Mr. Keynes.
1st prize, to Mr. C. Turner, for Mary, Constance, Marris's Seedling Mary, Sylph, Heroine, Ne-plus-ultra, Juno, General Jackson, Beauty, Prince Albert, and Duchess of Sutherland; 2d, to Mr. Newhall.
1st, to Mr. Willraer; 2d, to Mr. Newhall.
Pansies were shewn, and two prizes awarded; but in July there is neither beauty nor interest attached to them.