392 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



The plants which decorated the room were many of them the same 

 which last year, and for several previous seasons, had graced the Soci- 

 ety's annual exhibitions, and consisted of fine specimens of plants, some 

 of which we shall more particularly mention in the course of our re- 

 marks. The flowers were very profuse, with the exception of the 

 dahlias, in the blooming of which, the present season, there has been a 

 complete failure throughout the country, so far as we have been able 

 to learn, and not one tenth part of the number of blooms were dis- 

 played; indeed, we can scarcely say that from the number exhibited by 

 any contributor, twenty first-rate blooms could have been selected. Not- 

 withstanding the full display of flowers and pot plants, this falling off 

 in the display of dahlias was quickly perceptible, even to those who 

 were unacquainted with the flowers. In the fruit, however, all amends 

 were made up. We never before feasted our eyes upon such a rich and 

 numerous variety of fine kinds. The season has been dry, but that it has 

 been bountiful no better evidence could have been adduced, than a view 

 of the load under which the tables literally groaned. Pears in numberless 

 varieties; peaches of blushing hue; grapes in profuse clusters; apples dis- 

 puting in their delicacy, the l)loom upon the maiden's cheek; plums in 

 "golden drops," and melons diffusing their spicy odor, — all contributed 

 to enhance the richness of the whole. Even the votaries of Ceres were 

 more numerous than heretofore, in offering up at her shrine the produc- 

 tions of their summer's labor and care. One huge, though hamlsomely 

 formed, squash there was, which nii^dit have almost literally been 

 transformed into a coach, large enough for any fine lady, had there been 

 a fairy near, with her magic wand, to have given the command. This 

 improvement in the cultivation of vegetables, we are glad to perceive, 

 and the display of such fine specimens cannot be otherwise than highly 

 gratifying to all who feel interested in the production of superior varie- 

 ties. 



Considering the scarcity of flowers, particularly dahlias, the exhibition 

 was very well got up, and went off" even better than we ourselves had 

 anticipated. The weather was fine until the afternoon of the third day, 

 when there was a light rain, and the rooms were well attended both day 

 and evening, with a select and fashionable company. One thing we much 

 regretted; and this was, that no address was delivered before the Socie- 

 ty, as customary. We had supposed that an orator had been selected, 

 and felt much disappointment that such was not the case. 



On Friday afternoon, the 21st, the committee of arrangements par- 

 took of a dinner at Concert Hall. The occasion was one of friendly 

 greeting and cheerful intercourse. Much zeal was manifested, in the sen- 

 timents called forth, in the cause of horticulture and floriculture. 



In reporting the great number of plants exhibited, we may omit some 

 of the contributions: this we have endeavored to avoid; but from the 

 crowded state of the rooms, when we had the chance of taking our notes, 

 and from the arrangement of the plants, necessarily hiding many of the 

 labels, it is possible that we may have missed some things deserving of 

 notice. The more showy of the plants were the Chamic^'ops humilis, 

 and A\\V\nia nutans, of Mr. Gushing: the sago palm of Mr. Lemist: 

 the Agave americana var. variegkta, of Messrs. Winship: the acacias 

 of Mr. Wilder, and particularly his magnificent Stanhopea quadricor- 

 nis: the Panddnus of Mr. Lowell, and various specimens from the Bo- 

 tanic Garden. Alpinzamltans, had a beautiful raceme of flowers expan- 

 ded; and we believe the plant has rarely flowered in this country. We 

 commence with the plants and flowers. 



Flowers: From the Hon. J. JmwcW, Pandilnus spiralis, Eugenire aus- 

 trklis, tSsplenium sp., Beg6ni« sp., and several other plants, From T. 

 MasoHj £rica blanda .'*, .Acacia armata. Plumbago capensis, i?hododen- 



