32 Supplement to Exhibitions of Horticultural Societies. 



Art, IV. Supplement to Exhibitions of Horticultural Societies, 



Columbian Horticultural Society. — We are sorry that the following- 

 very interesting account of the annual and fall exhibitions of this Society 

 did not come to hand, so as to have enahled us to have given it in the 

 December number: our kind correspondent who furnished us with the 

 following article will, we hope, next season, forward the reports in time 

 for the closing number of the volume; we pledge ourselves to insert all 

 that are sent us, even if we have to add an extra sheet. We improve 

 this early opportunity to present the following to our readers, and hope 

 that, although it came to hand so late, it will not be found the less in- 

 teresting. — Ed. 



The First Autumnal Exhibition of the Columbian Horticultural Soci- 

 ety of this District was held on the 21st and 22d of September last, in 

 the spacious and magnificent saloon of Mr. Kanisi. The Committee of 

 Arrangements consisted of the following members, viz : Messrs. Mag- 

 neder, Buist, Pearce, Weaver, and Douglas, under whose superintend- 

 ence this show was made not only very beautiful, but highly interesting. 

 The saloon was decorated with great taste, and ornamented in a style 

 of blended simplicitj^ and elegance. At the entrance the eye was caught 

 by the figure of an anchor, suspended from the ceiling, and formed of 

 variously colored dahlias, which, at night, w^as surrounded by a circle of 

 brilliant lights; thus indicating that the hopes of the Society were not 

 only high, but bright. This was the work and conception of Mr. Buist. 

 The coup deceit was very striking, and the whole room had the appear- 

 ance of an enchanted garden. The side-tables were decorated with 

 pyramids and splendid vases of flowers, and the centre table with dahlias, 

 roses, &c. of all hues, and the cross table at the bottom of the room was 

 overspread with a profusion of the most splendid dahlias, forminof, in 

 large capitals, the name of the enterprising and industrious contributor, 

 " Joshua Pearce." A large grape vine, covered with leaves and clus- 

 ters of fine grapes, extended in festoons from one extremity of this table 

 to the other, and was supported on each side by lemon trees laden with 

 their golden fruit. The fruits and vegetables of the season, brought 

 to the exhibition, were placed on stands in different parts of the saloon, 

 and excited, by their magnitude, beauty and excellence, general admira- 

 tion. Among other objects of interest, not properly to be classed 

 among the horticultural specimens, were two fine glass hives, filled with 

 two pans of honey, sent by Mr. Thomas Blagden, of Washington, and 

 a citizen of Georgetown. Among the green-house and other exotic 

 plants, were some highly esteemed and of recent introduction. " The 

 bloom of cut flowers," the Committee on flowej's observe in their re- 

 port, " was varied and abundant. Of the China rose, the variety, 

 beauty and fragrance far exceeded any collection heretofore presented, 

 and, in relation to this justly admired flower, too much praise cannot be 

 awarded to our cultivators for their exertions in procuring new varieties 

 and improving the old ones by seed." The collection of dahlias was 

 very large, and exceedingly splendid and beautiful. No such display 

 had ever been \vitnessed before in this city. They were all of superior 

 kinds, many new varieties and some seedlings raised in this District. 

 The show of native flowers, ferns and mosses was in fine taste. These 

 had been gathered and arranged in the most beautiful and tasty manner 

 by the fair patrons of the Society, to whose active and unceasing exer- 

 tions on this, as on all former occasions, the Society is largely indebted. 

 " To thorn," sayg the Committee with great truth, " we mainly owe the 

 beautiful arrani,'ement of the flowers in vases, and other decorations; and 

 the best compliment the Committee can pay thena is to say, that they are 



