0' MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Saturday for displays of Pot Plants and Cut Flowers, and for other exhibi- 

 tions of merit; by this course it is hoped that a new interest will be 

 awakened, and our exhibitions be far superior to any of former years. 



In view also of the constant jealousy which exists between amateur and 

 professional gardeners, and in the hope of promoting a better state of feel- 

 ing betAveen two classes which aim at the same high end ;• the subject of 

 instituting two grades of prizes has been agitated. The one class to con- 

 sist of medals or money, to be open only to the competition of amateurs ; 

 and the other to consist of prizes as now, of money, to be only open to 

 practical gardeners and nursery men ; the project is open to objections, and 

 might, failing of its object, be productive of the very evil it is designed to 

 cure ; but it is certainly worth a trial. 



The Committee must also deprecate the course pursued during the past two 

 years, (for which they blame none but themselves,) of attempting to force 

 the flowers to bloom in season for stated exhibitions ; we may fix the prize 

 day for carnations, for instance, on the third Saturday in July, that being 

 about the time when carnations are in their glory ; but with our variable 

 climate, the flower is as likely to be in perfection on the second or fourth 

 Saturdays as on the third. The time of awarding prizes will be stated in 

 the schedule as nearly as can be determined by the experience of past 

 years ; should the season be earlier or later than the average, a corre- 

 sponding change will be made, of which due notice will always be given. 

 The Committee trust by this course, and by the stridesi adherence to the 

 rules of the Society, to prevent the constant disputes by which the peace 

 of the Society and the harmony of our exhibitions have during the past 

 year been disturbed, and to promote at the same time a better feeling 

 among individual members. 



And to this end they must ask the different exhibitors to bear in mind 

 that the labors of the Committee are at the best thankless ; they cannot see 

 each pet flower with the eyes of its owner; but, casting aside all prejudice 

 or partiality, must bring it to the severe standard of perfection, and, as it 

 approaches or departs from that standard, must praise or condemn. 



The Committee cannot too strongly insist upon the importance of having 

 all choice flowers, and particularly those competing for premium, legibly 

 and correctly named; the rule excluding all unnamed or improperly named 

 flowers from premium, will be rigidly adhered to ; and in this connection 

 they would suggest to exhibitors more attention to orthography and 

 neatness. 



They would also impress upon the minds of competitors the importance 

 of strict conformity to the letter of the schedule ; let it be remembered that 

 a prize for "the best twenty varieties" cannot be awarded to a stand con- 

 taining twenty-one, any more than to one containing only nineteen ; on 

 this point the opinion seems to have prevailed that while it was not allow- 

 able to have less than the stated number of varieties, a few more would 

 not disqualify the stand. 



A general misunderstanding seems to have prevailed as to the interpre- 

 tation of the Fifth Special Rule, namely : — 



