12 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Pea Exhibition, in conjunction with the annual exhibition of the 

 American Sweet Pea Society. The number of classes scheduled 

 was 56, the number of awards made, 22. The attendance was 3,819. 

 No charge was made for admission. 



The Gladiolus Exhibition was held August 12 and 13 with the 

 cooperation of the New England Gladiolus Society. The number 

 of classes scheduled was 40, number of awards made, 36. The 

 attendance was 5,966, with no charge for admission. 



On August 26 and 27 came the Exhibition of the Products of 

 Children's Gardens; 28 classes were scheduled and awards were 

 made in all classes. No record of attendance was kept. 



On September 9 and 10 was held the Dahlia and Fruit Exhibition 

 in conjunction with the New England Dahlia Society. The num- 

 ber of classes scheduled was 68 ; number of awards made, 46. The 

 exhibition was free and the attendance was 6,162. 



The last exhibition of the year was the Autumn Exhibition of 

 Plants, Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables held November 4 and 5. 

 The number of classes scheduled was 108. The number of awards 

 made was 81. The admission fee was fifty cents and the attend- 

 ance was 1,529. 



I took occasion last year to call attention to the relative popu- 

 larity of different cultivated flowers as manifested by the attend- 

 ance of visitors to our exhibitions. The result this year is the same 

 as it was last year. Dahlias head the list with an attendance of 

 6,162; gladioli come next, the number of visitors being 5,966; 

 rhododendrons and irises follow with 4,015; then roses, which this 

 year were coupled with sweet peas, brought an attendance of 3,819. 

 These were all free exhibitions. When an admission fee was 

 charged the attendance diminished in a most astonishing degree. 

 The attendance at the Chrysanthemum Show, when fifty cents 

 was charged for admittance, being but 1,529. 



In view of this fact, and that this Society is primarily an educa- 

 tional society, and should therefore reach, in its endeavors, the 

 largest possible number of persons, it seemed advisable that, for 

 the present at least, all exhibitions of the Society should be open 

 free to the public, and it was so voted by your Board of Trustees 

 at their last meeting, held in December, 1922. 



Your Committee on Exhibitions has already prepared the 



