FLOWER committee's REPORT. 9 



that so little attention is paid to the culture of a tribe of plants which, by 

 their symmetry of form and beauty of bloom, so richly repay the care re- 

 quired to grow them in perfection. 



The same may be said of the Epacris, with the exception of a few small 

 but well grown plants, shown by Jonathan French. 



Greenhouse Azaleas have been shown in great perfection ; both the size 

 of the plants and the profusion of flowers and fresh foliage gave indication 

 of Avell-directed and skilful care. With many of the specimens .t was im- 

 possible to find any fault or to suggest any improvement. The finest speci- 

 men plants have been shown by William Wales. Displays of merit and 

 of new and rare varieties have been made by Wm. C. Strong and Messrs. 

 Hovey. 



At a meeting of the Flower Committee early in May, it was voted to 

 hold an exhibition of two or more days at the '• Opening of the Hall." This 

 determination was carried into eflfect, and the Committee have reason to 

 congratulate the Society on the complete success of the '" Opening." A 

 finer display of pot plants had never been made in our Hall ; the chief 

 difficulty was to find space for all the contributions. The following were 

 the most noticeable displays : — 



Wm. C. Strong: Fine Pelargoniums and Fuchsias. 

 James Nugent: Cut flowers. 



Wm. Wales : Magnificent specimen Fuchsias and Rhyncospermum 

 jasminoides. 



Antane Apple: Fine pot plants, among which a night-blooming Cereus 

 was noticeable. Fine Calceolarias. 



Thomas G. Whytal : Fine Pelargoniums and Fuchsias. 

 Azell Bowditch & Son: Cut Roses. 

 Joseph Breck: A display of choice hardy plants. 

 Mrs. Benj. Bruce : A display of choice hardy plants. 

 £. G. Kelley: Magnolias. 



Gustave Kvers: Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, Salix cuprea tricolor, Farfu- 

 gium grande. 



Hovey & Co. : Pot plants, Farfugium grande. Begonia rex, Dracaena 

 nobilis, do. terminalis. 



Edward S. Rand : Lycopodiums, Pilea muscosa. Ferns in variety. Glox- 

 inias, Maxillaria flava, Acanthophippium bicolor, Oncidium altissimum. 



In view of the success of this exhibition, the Committee would recom- 

 mend that, in future, the opening exhibition be continued for two or more 

 days, and that sufficient funds be placed at their disposal to enable them to 

 offer liberal prizes to exhibitors. 



Great advance has been made the past season in Pelargoniums ; the va- 

 rieties have been finer and the plants better grown. The chief exhibitors 

 have been Wm. C. ?trong, Thos. G. Whytal, Messrs. Hovey, and Edward 

 S. Rand. The Committee would advise a division of the pelargonium 

 prize ; so that one set of prizes shall be awarded for pelargoniums and an- 

 other for " fancy pelargoniums," so called ; or else the establishing of a new 

 prize of equal value for the " fancy" varieties of this beautiful flower. 



