The advancing season was well shown at Kensington on Tuesday, for the exhibits had so far increased in numbers that, besides several small groups in the Council-room, an unusually fine display of Cyclamens, Amaryllises, Orchids, and miscellaneous plants was provided in the conservatory, the attractions being still further increased by a lecture from the Rev. G. Henslow, and a selection of music by a military band. There was a remarkably large attendance of the members of the Floral Committee, and the Fruit Committee was also well represented, the meeting altogether proving eminently satisfactory, and notwithstanding the showery weather, visitors were fairly numerous.

Fruit Committee

H. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr Sidney Ford sent a dish of a seedling Apple, Margaret Henrietta - a pretty Apple, but without flavour. Mr M'Indoe, The Gardens, Hutton Hall, sent a seedling Cucumber, called Verdant Green, but the internal colour was so green as to disqualify it. Mr Douglas, Loxford Hall Gardens, sent a seedling Cucumber from Tender and True, which was considered not quite so good as its parent. Messrs Cutbush & Son, Highgate, sent samples of Nuneham Park Onion of very fine quality, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr Strachan, The Gardens, Bulwick Park, near Wansford, sent specimens of Giant Zittau Onion, a fine brown-skinned Onion, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr Sage, gardener to Earl Brownlow, Ashridge, sent a dish of Musa Cavendishii, remarkably well grown. The bunch had 235 fruits upon it. A cultural commendation was awarded. Mr Cox of Red-leaf Gardens exhibited fruit of Lemons and Oranges from Cyprus, for which a letter of thanks was awarded. Mr Green, gardener to Sir George Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley, Surrey, sent a branch of Coffea arabica, var. angustifolia, laden with fruit, and showing great luxuriance of growth and superior cultivation.

A cultural commendation was awarded.

Floral Committee

Dr Denny in the chair. In the Council-room, Mr B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, exhibited a group of new plants, very noticeable, among them being the magnificent Imantophyllum Martha Reimers, which is described below. A specimen of the new Azalea Mrs Gerard Leigh was shown. Several plants of Primula sinensis fimbriata alba magnifica were staged, the blooms being of great size and good form. Actiniopteris radiata, var. australis, was represented by a specimen in excellent condition, for which a cultural commendation was awarded. The species is a pretty little Fern very much in the way of Rhipidopteris peltata, and the variety appeared to differ very slightly if at all from the type. The fronds are divided in a fan-shaped manner into linear dark-green segments, the stipes varying in height from 3 to 6 inches. Mr C. Edmonds, Hillingdon, Middlesex, sent plants of Cyclamens, several of which were very fine, especially one named Mrs Harry Veitch, white with a purple throat, the petals being broad and the flowers numerous. Purple King had flowers of smaller size, of good rich colour, also abundant; good white varieties being Miss Lilian Cox and Charming Bride, for which certificates were awarded.

Mr P. Moore, gardener to C. Pickersgill, Esq., Blandon Hall, Bexley, exhibited a specimen of Lycaste Skinneri giganteum superbum in a 32-size pot, and bearing six large handsome flowers, the sepals broad, and the petals with a rich crimson tinge. The plant was in excellent condition. The same exhibitor also sent a flower of Lycaste Skinneri virginalis, the beautiful white variety of this well-known Orchid. A vote of thanks was accorded. G. F. Wilson, Esq., Heatherbank, Weybridge, sent two cut spikes of Odontoglossum Alexandras, one bearing thirteen, and the other sixteen flowers, which were large, of good form, and with a fine purplish tinge in the sepals. A vote of thanks was accorded.

Mr C. Green, gardener to Sir George Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley, sent flowers of Canna iridiflora, var. Ehemanni, of great size and deep crimson colour. A note appended stated that the plant from which the flowers had been gathered had been in bloom for the past seven months, treated as a sub-aquatic - namely, planted with the crown about 9 inches above the surface of the water in a warm tank devoted to Nymphaeas. It is not rested during the winter like other Cannas, and is still flowering, having eight growths about 7 feet high. Fine flowers of the beautiful Vanda Cathcartii were also sent, and a vote of thanks was accorded. Mr W. Masson, gardener to Dr Alfred Meadows, Poyle Park, Colnbrook, Bucks, obtained a cultural commendation for a number of large Cinerarias, with flowers of great size and excellent colour, but very loose and of bad form, the plants also being rather coarse. Mr P. H. Vertegans, Chad Valley Nurseries, Birmingham, obtained a vote of thanks for a basket of double Cinerarias with flowers of good form, chiefly purple and crimson in colour, some having the colours mixed. Mr James, gardener to Mrs "Watson, Redlees, Isleworth, exhibited a box of extremely fine Cineraria blooms such as he is noted for.

They were very handsome in shape, and comprised some rich and varied colours. Two plants were also shown - one, Mr H. Little, for which a certificate was awarded, and the other, Mrs Little, with flowers of excellent form but of rather peculiar pale purplish tint, or no doubt that would have received a similar award. Messrs John Laing & Co., The Nurseries, Forest Hill, sent a plant of Begonia Roezli with its small bright coral-coloured flowers. Mr H. Gohn, of the Springwell Nursery, Middlesex, sent plants of Crimson Beauty Primula, the flowers of good colour but rather poor in shape. Messrs Wm, Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, obtained a vote of thanks for a basket of Primrose Scott Wilson, the plants being in good condition and bearing their purplish-blue flowers profusely. J. T. D. Llewellyn, Esq. of Penllergare, Swansea, sent a pot of the diminutive Crocus Sieberi collected at Florence thirteen years ago. The flowers are of a lilac-purple tint, and rise about 2 inches above the soil.