DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



191 



tion, so that the variety shown was somcAvhat cU- 



Jninisheil. 



It has been a matter of much regret to a great 

 number of persons interested in these three lead- 

 ing shows, that, by some want of proper manage- 

 ment, their exhibitions all came off on the same 

 days, the 16th, 17th and 18th of the month. This 

 deprived many persons of the satisfaction of at- 

 tending more than one of the shows, who were 

 very desirous, both for purposes of pleasure and 

 instruction, of attending all of them. 



The Eighteenth Annual Exhibition ofthe 

 Massachusetts Hort. Society. — The eighteenth 

 annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultu- 

 ral Socieij- was opened to the public in the Socie- 

 ty's large hall, at 12 o'clock the 16th of September, 

 and continued the two following days and evenings. 

 The hall was thronged with visitors during the 

 whole time. Most ofthe Horticultural Societies of 

 New-England, and some from New- York, were re- 

 presented either by delegates or members; and many 

 distinguished strangers, as well as citizens, were 

 present to admire the rich profusion of fruits, flow- 

 ers, and decorations. 



Those who have been familiar with the past ex- 

 hibitions of the Society, were satisfied that some 

 improvement was manifest in the present one over 

 those which have preceded it. The fruits, flowers 

 and decorations were well harmonized, and pro- 

 duced a happy effect. The floral designs and deco- 

 rations were in better taste than those exhibited 

 last 3^ear, and to a portion of the visitors appeared 

 to be the greatest attraction; but to the horticultu- 

 rist, the fruits were the most prominent part of the 

 exhibition. The cut flowers were deficient in quan- 

 tity, variety and quality. The Dahlia and German 

 Aster, so beautiful and perfect at this time of the 

 5'ear in most seasons, and which have contributed 

 so much to the brilliancy of past exhibitions, were 

 comparatively few and imperfect; there were some 

 exceptions to the Dahlias, particularly on the last 

 days of the exhibition, when some fine specimens 

 were brought in. The first part of the month of 

 September, as all know, was excessively warm, 

 which, with absence of rain, and a high wind pre- 

 vious to the exhibition, nearly destroyed this flower 

 for the occasion. 



The fruits were arranged on two long central 

 tables, and one side table, forty or fifty feet long. 

 They were ornamented with four marble statues re- 

 presenting the seasons, the Society's superb new 

 marble, and the rich Chinese Bradley vases, in which 

 were large pyramidal bouquets. On the tables 

 Were also numerous hand and table bouquets. On 

 one table was a superb tripod hung with clusters of 

 luscious grapes of different colors and varieties, from 

 Mr. Cushing's garden, arranged by Mr. Haggerston. 

 Another table bore a pyramidal design, covered 

 with evergreen, and hung with a superb collection 

 of grapes from Mr. Horace Grey, arranged by Mr. 

 Russell. Mr. Arnold of New-Bedford, and O. H. 

 Mather of Brighton, by Mr. Necdhani, exhibited 

 rich clusters of grapes in fanciful designs. Nume- 

 rous dishes of grapes, grown in the most perfect 

 manner, were to be seen from the conservatory of 

 T. H. Perkins, Esq., exhibited by Mr. Quant. A 



superior specimen of Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, 

 remarkably large and fine, was exhibited by Messrs. 

 Hovey & Co. Grapes were also exhibited by others 

 very finely grown; and in fact we have never seen 

 a finer show of grapes. There were some baskets 

 of assorted fruit, beautifully ornamented, containing 

 peaches, nectarines, pears, grapes, plums, etc. Th« 

 show of peaches was excellent, there being many 

 very beautiful specimens on the tables. Though 

 rather late in the season for plums, they were pre- 

 sented in sufficient quantity to make up a fair as- 

 sortment. 



Pears were never exhibited in greater variety, 

 but we believe it was generally admitted that finer 

 specimens of some of the more prominent sorts 

 were exhibited the last season. M. P. Wilder, 

 President of the Society, exhibited one hundred and 

 fifty-four varieties, and Mr. Manning of the Pomo- 

 logical Garden, Salem, one hundred and seventy- 

 five- There were also large contributions from 

 many other gentlemen, as will be perceived by the 

 official report, which will be published in the No- 

 vember number of the Horticulturist. 



B. V. French, of Braintree, exhibited the great- 

 est variety of apples, including many that were 

 very beautiful. Large contributions of this fruit 

 were also received from many other individuals. 



The principal designs were a Floral Grecian tem- 

 ple, by Mr. Quant; a Swiss Cottage, by Mr. War- 

 ren; a Gothic Monument by Mr. West; a Chinese 

 Pagoda, by Walker & Co.; a Gothic Arbor, by Mr. 

 Galvin: these were placed at each end of the seve- 

 ral tables. The walls were also decorated with a 

 variety of large flat bouquets and designs, and nu- 

 merous moss vases, and other articles. There were 

 also a dozen fine specimens of dwarf Cockscombs, 

 finely grown by Mr. Quant, distributed about the 

 walls, and some few pot plants, as many as could be 

 placed to advantage in the hall. 



Taking all things into consideration, this exhibi- 

 tion was one of the best ever got up by the Society; 

 and we believe there was a general satisfaction 

 among the members as to its api)earance. We can 

 truly say that there is a growing taste in the country 

 for horticultural pursuits, and that an increasing 

 interest is manifested at each exhibition of the So- 

 ciety. J. B. 



Reportof the Committee of the Mass. Hort. 

 Society on Designs. — The Committee to whom 

 was assigned the duty of awarding the Society's 

 premiums for designs and floral decorations, at the 

 annual exhibition, Sept. 16, 17, and 18, having at- 

 tended to that duty, respectfully submit the foUow- 

 report : 



The first prcrnium of $40 to AVm. Quant, gardener to T. H. 

 Perkins, for lii.s beautiful Grecian I'loral Tempie. 



To Walker &, Co., the second premium of $30, for their 

 much admired Chinese; Pagoda. 



To J. L. L. F. AVarren, the third premium of $20, for his 

 neat Swiss Cottage. 



To W. Sheehan, gardener to R. West, of Salem, the fourth 

 premium of SIO, for his fine Gothic Monument. 



To John Galvin, gardener to Thomas Motley, Jr., the fifth 

 premium of S5, for his Gothic Bower. 



To Dmiiel Crowly, gardener to J. L. Gardener, the first pre- 

 mium of $10, for the best pair of large flat bouquets for the 

 walls. 



To James Nugent, the second premium of $5 for the second 

 best flat bouquets. 



