FLOWER COMMITTEE'S REPORT. y 



white. There is a variety called Rubra lineata, which was lost from our 

 collection a few years since. 



Echites picta. — A climber, with long, narrow leaves, veined with white. 



Jirum hicolor. — A beautiful species, having arrow-shaped leaves, the 

 centre of which is deeply colored with dark red. It is a strikingly beautiful 

 plant, of easy culture. 



We must, with regret, turn from this collection, in which, though it 

 contained more than fifty plants, we failed to discover any not worthy of 

 extended notice. 



Of pelargoniums, or " geraniums," as they are improperly called, by far 

 the finest plants were exhibited by William C. Strong, of Brighton ; though 

 for perfection of bloom those shown by Messrs. Hovey excelled. Mr. Strong 

 received the first prize, both for the show and fancy varieties. A beautiful 

 little seedling, of the "fragrant fancy" class, named Nelly Bly, was also 

 shown by Mr. Strong. It is a little gem ; color, white, beautifully marked 

 with dark, and of neat growth and foliage. 



• It would be a wrong to leave Mr. Strong's collection without mentioning 

 his gloxinias, which were in superb bloom. This summer flowering bulb 

 is of the easiest culture in a greenhouse, and no one having the means of 

 growing it should be without it. A plant two years old will give more 

 bloom during the summer than any plant one can procure ; and the colors 

 are so various as of themselves to form a bouquet. We give the names 

 of those exhibited by Mr. Strong, all of which are superior: Sir Hugo, 

 Erecla rex, Heliodorus, Beatrice d'Este, Guido Reni. 



We next come to the fine collection of Messrs. Evers and Comley, which 

 contained some of the finest plants exhibited. 



Begonia zanihina gandavensis. — A very pretty variety, with dark nerved 

 leaves. 



Begonia rex. — A fine specimen of this fine foliaged variety. 



Begonia Q^iieen of England. — A lovely variety. Leaves large, dark 

 green, with broad silver band. This plant should have the full sunlight to 

 be seen in perfection. 



Begonia zanthina Reichenhaimii. — A variety with leaves of silver purple 

 on the upper side, dark reddish purple below ; by far the best of the 

 varieties of zanthina. 



Begonia Madam ffagner. — A pretty and very free-growing variety, with 

 leaves dark red on the under side and silvery above. 



Begonia grandis. — A very large-growing variety, with dark green and 

 silvery leaves, covered with long red hairs. A showy plant. 



We have mentioned a few of the fine begonias exhibited. The plant is 

 one of the easiest culture, and some of the varieties should be in every 

 greenhouse. Those with variegated foliage generally require more heat 

 than the other varieties, but all are grown with great ease, and, with plenty 

 of pot room, bloom freely. 



Grevillea rohusta. — A handsome plant, with delicate foliage. 



Tillansia splendens. — A curious plant, resembling the crown of a pine- 



