FLOWER COMMITTEE S REPORT, 7 



Ranunculus flowered Asters were exhibited by W. J. Underwood ; it is a 

 neat petite variety. 



Stocks were inferior ; large exhibitions were made, but the colors were 

 very dull and unattractive. 



Verbenas have been shown in great variety, but no seedlings of merit 

 have been produced. 



Dahlias were much injured by frost before the prize day, but after the first 

 of October many good flowers were shown. The Lilliput dahlias of Mar- 

 tin Trautman are worthy of special mention. 



Chrysanthemums ; none exhibited, owing to very inclement weather on 

 the prize day. 



The Annual Exhibition was confined to the Society's Hall, and there- 

 fore the display of flowers was limited. To the satisfaction of all persons 

 of good taste there Avere no (so called) floral designs, and the Committee 

 must recommend that the course pursued the present year, of offering no 

 inducements for the construction and exhibition of these monstrosities, be 

 followed for the future. 



In Bouquets there was a marked improvement. All classes were char- 

 acterized by greater lightness and grace, and were in general composed of 

 choice flowers. There is however much to be done, especially in hand 

 bouquets. 



The display of Cut Flowers though limited was far better than ever 

 before : the flowers were choicer and more attention was paid to arrange- 

 ment. 



Achimenes were good : some of the specimen plants large and fine, but 

 there was no extensive display. 



We can hardly conceive it possible to exhibit a poorer collection of 

 Gloxinias than those shown the present year. During the season a few 

 common pink varieties were shown ; and at the Annual Exhibition six pots 

 of most miserable plants ; i. e. two self blues, two self pinks or reds, one 

 seedling pink, and a very poor plant of the fine variety G. Wilsonii. 



Will not some amateur give a little attention to this lovely flower, and 

 shall not another year show at least a slight progress ? 



The Committee cannot but, in this connection, fully approve of the recent 

 change in the By-Laws, by which they are no longer obliged to award prizes 

 for poor inferior plants and fowers because they are the only ones exhibited 

 for premium. The change has long been required, and cannot but be pro- 

 ductive of good. 



The most constant and largest contributor during the season has been 

 Antoine Apple. His stand has always appeared well, and he deserves much 

 credit for his exhibitions. F. Winship, the Messrs. Hovey, Barnes & 

 Washburn, Joseph Breck, Charles Copeland, and James Nugent, have also 

 been large contributors. Messrs. Bowditch, Whytal, Wales, Underwood, 

 Jona. French, Murray, Trautman, Hubbard, and many others, have occa- 

 sionally filled stands very creditably, and many rare choice plants have been 

 exhibited by the Chairman. 



During the past season the usual number of new plants have been intro- 



