14 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETr. 



been desired ; the trusses were rot large, and were lacking in evidences 

 of skilful culture ; there is much room for improvement. 



Parlor bouquets have been superior ; mantle bouquets very good. The 

 greatest improvement has been in hand bouquets, which were never better. 



An early frost cut off the Dahlias in many gardens, though on the day 

 for prizes a very creditable display was made by Barnes & Washburn. 

 The "Liliput" Dahlias, shown by M. Trautman, have attracted mucli 

 attention ; and by their dwarf habit, their early season of blooming, and 

 their symmetry of form, must recommend themselves to cultivators. 



The Annual Exhibition was, as in former years, in the Music Hall. The 

 flowers had been cut off by early frosts in many gardens, so the number of 

 contributors was far less than usual. The largest display of Cut Flowers 

 were made by Charles Copeland, Antane Apple, Joseph Breck, Hovey &• 

 Co., Barnes & Washburn, and G. G. Hubbard. 



Of Pot Plants the principal display was made by Messrs. Hovey; the 

 variegated leafed plants in this collection attracted much attention, as did 

 also the rarely flowered Bignonia Chamblainii, and the display of Lyco- 

 podiums. 



Of Specimen Plants the display all through the season has been good ; 

 we may especially notice, 



Stephanotus floribundus, by M. P. Wilder. 



Rhyncospermum jasminoides, by Wm. Wales. 



Maranta zebrina, by G. G. Hubbard. 



Oncidium altissimum, by Edward S. Rand. 



Testudinaria elephantipes, by Gustavo Evers. 



Farfugium grande, by Hovey & Co. 



Farfugium grande, by Gustave Evers. 



Cycas revoluta, by G. G. Hubbard. 



The bouquets shown at the Annual Exhibition were all good, and the 

 Committee only regret they had no more prizes at their command. 



Achimenes were not shown at the Annual Exhibition, except a few vari- 

 eties b^ Wm. C. Strong, which were not entered for premium. A few 

 fine varieties have been exhibited during the season by Hovey &- Co., but 

 the flowers are of so delicate a substance that even the most careful trans- 

 portation to the exhibition room mars their beauty, and this flower can 

 never be shown in perfection out of the hothouse. 



Having thus rapidly reviewed the Exhibitions of the season, a short notice 

 of the new and rare plants exhibited may not be out of place : — 



A semi-double Calla ^thiopica ; evidently a sport, by Messrs. Bowditch ; 

 rather curious than beautiful. 



Cantua bicolor, very fine specimen, by Edward S. Rand. 



Hovea Coelsii, well bloomed, by Edward S. Rand. 



Erica propendens tubiflora, by M. Trautman. 



Azalea exquisita variegata, by Wm. C. Strong. 



Cuphsea Danielsiana, by Gustave Evers ; very pretty in a collection, but 

 of little value for bloom. 



