10 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apple ; the leaves striped with black purple and green. It is impatient of 

 water, like all of its family, and is often killed by too much moisture. 



Dracena gracilis. — A pretty variety of the dragon tree, with narrow 

 drooping leaves, dark green, slightly edged with pink. 



Thjrsacanthus rutilans. — A fine specimen, hanging with its showy crim- 

 son flowers. 



Maranta regalis. — A diminutive plant of this fine new variety. A year 

 hence we hope to see it in fine condition. 



A splendid collection of ferns, the culture of which has lately become so 

 popular in England, came from the same exhibitors. The collection con- 

 tained about forty varieties, very few of which had ever been shown at our 

 exhibitions, and attracted much attention by their grace and beauty of foli- 

 age, their peculiar fructification and elegance of growth. 



In the collection of Marshall P. Wilder, we notice a well-grown plant 

 of Cissus discolor, which attracted general attention; a pretty plant of 

 Rhyncospermum jasminoides, well covered with its fragrant white blossoms; 

 a small plant of Pleroma elegans, always noticeable for its neat gloss}^ 

 foliage and large purple flowers; and many more common plants, in fine 

 bloom. 



The only orchids, or air plants, in the room, with one exception, were 

 shown by Edward S. Rand. 



MaxiUaria Harrisoni. — Flower large, white and purple, and delightfully 

 fragrant in the morning. 



Lycaste aromatica. — A large plant, in profuse bloom — the flowers dif- 

 fusing a delightful odor like cinnamon all around. 



William H. Spooner, Jr., exhibited six large verbenas, well grown, but 

 not in profuse bloom. 



A fine plant of the variegated-leaved F'arfugium grande was shown by 

 James McTear. It was one of the first times we had seen the plant in 

 bloom. The flower resembles a small sunflower, and is not a recommenda- 

 tion to the plant, which should be more generally cultivated, as it is of the 

 easiest culture, and will grow in the cold house or in a parlor. It is said 

 to be one of the few plants which can withstand the smoke, etc., of London. 

 It is now quite common, and can be procured of any gardener. 



We noticed in the collection of Martin Trautman a fine plant of the 

 pretty and graceful fern — Adiantum cuneatum ; a small plant of Mussandra 

 frondosa, conspicuous from its snow-white floral leaves; and a collection 

 of the double petunias, in raising which he has been so successful. 



A choice lot of plants came from the varied stores of the Cambridge 

 Botanic Garden, among which we may specially mention an Australian 

 Swainsonia, bearing clusters of purple and pink pea shaped flowers; a well 

 grown plant of Begonia rex; the curious flowered Passiflora diSbrmis ; a 

 seedling geranium, rose-scented, having a very fine cut leaf, named Gera- 

 nium dissectum ; and a beautiful lot of cut flowers, including passion 

 flowers and magnolias in variety. 



A collection of some fifty fine plants came from the greenhouses of 

 Messrs. Hovey ; we specially noticed a fine specimen Azalea Gledstanesii. 



