284 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



May \2lh. — The first general display of the season tool» place to-day in 

 the Society's Hal! ; and we are gratified to state that it was far superior to 

 any exhibition of the season ever made ; not only were the specimens nu- 

 merous, and of a varied character, but what to us, at least, was the most 

 important — evincing, as it did, a higher degree of skill, — was the su- 

 perior growth and beauty of the plants. This, indeed, is the great object 

 of the Society. Novelties will always hold a prominent place in the exhi- 

 bitions, — but the principal prizes must be given where the skill of the culti- 

 vator has been most exerted. 



The Pelargoniums surpassed any thing of the kind ever seen, and will 

 form a new era in the cultivation of this exquisite family. The great dif- 

 ference in the roundaess of the flowers, as well as the depth and brilliancy of 

 coloring, between the new and old varieties, can scarcely be believed, without 

 examination. We were glad to find so just an appreciation of Mr. Beck's 

 seedhngs, and it justifies our opinion, that fine varieties of plants have only 

 to be exhibited, to immediately find innumerable admirers. 



The President of the Society exhibited a variety of }.lants, among which 

 were a large Azalea variegata, three feet in diameter, and A. exquisita, tricolor 

 and decora, new and handsome ; twenty plants of Ericas, viz: E. vestita^le- 

 gans, E. ventricosa alba, superba and breviflora, E. odoiAta, and a species 

 without name, very handsome ; iiliura teslaceum, (two plants) fuchsias, 

 cinerarias, &c., and a great display of Lamarque, Solfitaire and other roses. 



From Messrs. Hovey & Co., eighteen pelargoniums, embracing the fol- 

 lowing varieties : — Beck's Centurion, Rosamund, and Grandiflora, Foster's 

 Orion, Drury's Pearl, and Celestial : these six carried ofl^'Mr. Beck's special 

 prize of £b. Beck's Blanche, Uesdemona, Isabella, Rosy circle, and Ser- 

 geant, and Celestial : these were awarded the Society's 1st prize in class I. 

 Beck's Mustee, Zanzummin, Gigantic, and Marc Antony, Hovey 's Jenny 

 Lind and Celestial : these were awarded the 1st prize in class H. ; also a 

 plant of Campanula nobilis. 



From W. Quant, eighteen pelargoniums of various kinds, [not named,] 

 six fuchsias, six cinerarias, six calceolarias, a splendid specimen of Ixora 

 coccinea, and Araucaria exc^lsa, and other plants and cut flowers. From 

 John Cadness, fine plants of Cryptom^ria japonica, Clematis azurea grandi- 

 flora, Azalea variegata, six cinerarias, six calceolarias, and other plants, bo- 

 quets, cut flowers, &c. From John Quant, six pelargoniums, viz., Matilda, 

 Joan of Arc, Orange Boven, Sylph, Lady Douro and Prince Albert; these 

 obtained Beck's special prize of £2 ; also, a fine specimen of Lech- 

 enaullja formosa, Pimelea spectabile, Brugmansia, Epiphyllums, &c. 



Plants, cut flowers, bouquets, &ic., from Messrs. Breck & Co., T. Need- 

 ham, R. M. Copeland, E. M. Richards, A. Bowditch, P. Barnes, James 

 Nugent, and others. 



Fruit: From J. F. Allen, fine specimens of Pitmaston white cluster, 

 Early black, Zmfindal, Miller's Burgundy, Black Hamburgh, and Grizzly 

 Frontignan grapes ; also figs and lemons. The committee who tasted of the 

 fruits, state that they were of ^'Jine flavor, though so eaily in the season." 



