FLOWER COMMITTEE S REPORT. O 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FLOWERS, 



For the Year 1858. 

 BY EDWARD S. HAND, JR., CHAIRMAN. 



Seldom has there been a year when the exhibitions have been so good 

 under so many discouraging circumstances : the season was late, the early 

 summer damp and cold, and particularly unfavorable to flowers, and yet, if 

 not improved, the exhibitions have not been inferior to those of past years. 



At the quarterly meeting it was decided to open the hall for premium 

 exhibitions but once a month, a course which it was thought might be of 

 advantage by giving better and fuller displays both of flowers and fruit ; 

 the success of this measure is questionable, yet a further trial, at least for 

 another year, is to be recommended. It was productive of one disadvantage 

 however; the perfection of certain classes of flowers was often past before 

 the day arrived on which the prizes were to have been awarded ; for in- 

 stance, the premium day for Aquilegias and for Pinks was the third Satur- 

 day in June: on that day the aquilegias had been past their prime for a 

 week, and the pinks were just shooting into bud, so the prize for one had to 

 be omitted and for the other delayed some weeks. 



The great feature of the season was the Rose Show, which was a com- 

 plete success ; a more beautiful exhibition could not have been desired ; 

 every part of the Society's Hall was occupied by stands or bouquets of 

 roses both of the choicer and more common varieties ; the perpetual and 

 moss roses were particularly fine, and the Committee can but feel that such 

 a show should be yearly continued, and contributors be encouraged by a 

 liberal offer of premiums. 



On the day appointed for awarding the Camellia prizes there were none 

 exhibited which, in the opinion of the Committee, were worthy of the prizes, 

 and they were accordingly withheld. 



The show of Ericas has been particularly fine during the last season, and 

 the plants showed more care in growing and greater profusion of bloom. 



Of Epacris. the display was small, but the varieties were fine and the 

 plants well grown and in profuse bloom. 



Greenhouse Azaleas far surpassed those of any former year; the speci- 

 men plants gave evidence of careful training, while the abundance of bloom 

 showed rich culture and well directed care. Some of the plants were such 

 masses of bloom that the foliage was completely hidden ; the standards 

 were very beautiful and well grown, though to many, a well-bushed plant, 

 showing a mass of flower, is a far prettier object. 



Great advance has also been made in Pelargoniums, many new varieties 

 have been exhibited, and some beautiful specimen plants. The two chief 

 contributors iiave been William C. Strong, and Thomas G. Whytal. 



Fuchsias have been exhibited of very large size ; F. Venus de Medicis 

 seems particularly adapted for a specimen plant by its rich foliage and fine 



