32 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
results which have already been obtained in a similar 
manner, as well as by securing displays of blooming wild 
plants at various times through the season, by, for instance, 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 
To further secure the ends for which the premiums are 
offered, the Board of Trustees, in 1893, established a medal 
‘¢to be known as the Henry Shaw Medal for the introduc- 
tion of a valuable plant, and to be awarded each year, 
when practicable, for a new plant of value for cultivation, 
exhibited in St. Louis, as a part of the premiums or prizes 
to a flower show or exhibition provided for in the will of 
the late Henry Shaw; provided that the judges or other 
persons making awards at such exhibition shall certify that 
said medal is awarded for a plant of decided merit for cul- 
tivation, not previously an article of North American com- 
merce, and introduced to such commerce by the exhibitor 
during the year in which said award is made.’’* This 
medal has but twice been awarded: in 1893,t and in 1897,t 
On the occasion of each of the other flower shows, none of 
the plants exhibited were considered by the judges worthy 
of an award. It is hoped that, as time goes on, this medal, 
the award of which is intended to be restricted to really 
meritorious plants, may be the means of securing the early 
exhibition in St. Louis of plants which would otherwise 
make their appearance here at a considerably later date. 
It is to be regretted that the medal should have been so 
little sought for as yet, since in 1898, even, at least two 
plants were introduced to the American trade which were 
eminently worthy of receiving the award, and which it 
would have been perfectly practicable for the introducers 
to have exhibited in St. Louis in competition for it, — 
namely, Acalypha hispida§ (A. Sanderi of most floricul- 
tural writers) and Dracaena surculosa|| (D. Godsefiana of 
the trade). 
* Rept. 5:18, 19. + Rept. 53:19. } Rept. 9:19. 
§ André, Revue Horticole. 70: 456. pl. 
|| Garden. 61 3298. pl. 1175. 
