Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 467 



ety, that, another year, something will be done to restore the interest in the 

 Flural deparloient of the exhibition. The prevailing mania for fruit-show- 

 ing will be highly injurious, if it is to be allowed to usurp the room, as well 

 as the means, of the Society. It is true, a larger Hall will be required to 

 show plants to advantage, but it is evident that there is a decreasing inter- 

 est in their cultivation for show, from the want of proper encouragement by 

 more liberal premiums. The great feature of the last two exhibitions, Flo- 

 ral designs, has been done away with to a great degree, and, we doubt not, 

 will be entirely so another year. The small designs, so much more appro- 

 priate, were generally neat and pretty, but there was a scarcity of fine bou- 

 quets, although the prizes for them were very liberal. As a whole, the ex- 

 hibition of plants and flowers was inferior to those of previous years. 



But, if there was a falling off in the Floral display, it was not so in Fruit 

 exhibition. A richer show, we venture to say, was never made, particu- 

 larly of pears and grapes ; and the great extent and perfection to which their 

 cultivation has attained around Boston could only be appreciated by an in- 

 spection of the exhibition. There were but few peaches, and, with one 

 exception, rather poor. The apples were much finer than usual, and we 

 are glad to note greater interest in this most valuable fruit. Among the 

 show of vegetables, the potato was well represented. 



Some of the most attractive objects in the ornamental department were 

 the following : — A Grecian vase by Mr. Quant, of good proportion, exceed- 

 ingly neat and well executed. A monumental design by Mr. Thomas, 

 well done, but injured in effect by too many marygolds. The design of Mr. 

 Walker, which occupied the wall at the head of the Hall, with the follow- 

 ing inscription, " Welcoime friends again," had a very pretty effect. The 

 two immense bouquets by Messrs. Hovey & Co., which occupied the mar- 

 ble vase on each fruit table, greatly ornamented the central portion of the 

 Hall. At the opposite end of the room from the entrance, ihe beautiful 

 Marble Statues, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, were placed, with 

 Flora crowning all ; and the arrangement of the plants among them formed 

 a pleasing coup d'ml. Over the entrance were placed the various grass 

 bouquets, dry leaf trees, &c., some of which were extremely beautiful, 

 and the walls were festooned with the choice wreathing of Mr. S. A. Walker 

 and others. 



The Fruit was abundant, and generally excellent, — some of the speci- 

 mens surpassingly fine. Among the pears, Mr. Manning, as usual, led off 

 with tivo hundred and fifly-jive sorts, some of which were large and fine, and, 

 among the number, fine specimens of the Coter, 135 and 1182 Van Mons, 

 Caen du France, Las Canas, Duchesse d'Orleans, Paradise d'Automne, &c. 

 Next came the President, with one hundred and fifty-nine kinds, many of them 

 entirely new. Messrs. Hovey & Co., with seventy varieties, more than 

 half of them shown for the first time. Messrs. Walker, Capt. Lovett, Mr. 

 Johnson, S. Downer, Jr., Mr. Ives, and others, also had large collections. 

 The Williams's Bon Chretien of Mr. Pond were very fine, as were also Mr. 

 Vandine's Flemish Beauty, both of which took prizes The Belle Lucra- 

 tive of the President were extremely large, and some Fred, of Wurtemberg, 



