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MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



groen foliage, and a profusion of circular-lobed, clear rosy lilac colored 

 flowers, nearly two inches wide. 



A. (Tydea) Eckhauteii — a Belgian variety, rich carmine, with dark 

 spots and lines, beautiful and close habit. 



A. (Tydea) gigantea — orange and scarlet, fine foliage, a robust and 

 winter blooming variety. 



A. {Tydea.) Leopard — a very novel and large spotted seedling from 

 gigantea. 



A. Leighii — a compact, free blooming, early variety, of neat habit and 

 light, violet-tinted, purple blossoms. 



A. (Tydea) occulata picta — a fine rich flower, with bright scarlet lip 

 and black spots ; tube rose and yellow shaded. 



A. (SciADOCALYx) Warsewitceii — a pretty rose-colored flower, with 

 shaded yellow and green lips, with black spots, very distinct. 



A. (Locheria) magnifica — a gloxinia-Iike flower, rich crimson, with 

 black spots and stripes. 



A. (Mandirola) lanata — fine white and pinky lilac shaded, gloxinia 

 form. 



A. (Mandirola) Roezli — large and velvety leaves, of the habit of Ges- 

 nera zebrina, striped and marbled with black, flowers beautiful rose, shaded 

 lilac. 



THE CULTURE OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS. 



BY THE CHAIRMAN. 



The truth of the old saying, that man is never satisfied with what he 

 possesses, is well exemplified in the passion now so prevalent among all 

 our gardeners and amateurs for importing new plants. That this is to be 

 condemned, while exercised in moderation, is no part of our theory ; to it 

 we owe many of the flowers which now are the pride of our gardens. Had 

 it only given us one plant, the Dielytra spectabilis, we might well praise it; 

 but the question arises, are we not going too far, and for a questionable 

 advantage afar, are we not neglecting much that is quite as desirable, and 

 perhaps far more beautiful, close around us ? It has been sung — 



" A man's best things are nearest him, 

 Lie close about his feel," — 



and most true it is that among our native plants, those which we may find 

 in abundance in every wood and field, there are many which far excel in 

 beauty the greater part of our carefully imported new varieties. 



But it may be said there is too little novelty and excitement attending 

 their culture ; why should we fill our gardens with what every roadside 

 produces ? — two very fanciful objections. In the first place, the difficulty 

 of introducing and retaining in the flower borders many of our beautiful 

 indigenous plants is quite sufficient to give zest to their cultivation. Has 



