PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 235 



"The display which decorated the hall was splendid beyond 

 description, and far exceeded the most sanguine expectations of 

 the committee. Many of the species presented were very choice 

 and rare. There might be seen the Banana of the West Indies, 

 the Fig from Persia, the Coffee from Arabia, the Lemon, Orange, 

 Pomegranate, and Sago palm, with many other interesting plants, 

 natives of a tropical clime. Among those ornamental as well as 

 useful were the variegated Holly, Myrtle, Laurel, Magnolia, Au- 

 cuba, Box-tree, Aloes, and the elegant India rubber tree. Some 

 were remarkable for either their curious foliage or flowers, as the 

 Arum, Pourretia, Eucalyptus, Nandina, Cactus, etc. ; others for 

 their delightful and agreeable odor, as the Hedychinum Gardneri- 

 anum, Polianthes tuberosa, Pancratium, Funkia, Jasminum, etc. 

 Those conspicuous for their rich and brilliant colors were the Ery- 

 thrina picta, nearly eight feet in height ; the Vallota purpurea, 

 with six expanded flowers ; the Gladiolus Natalensis, with three 

 tall spikes, and numbering nearly twenty open flowers, which for 

 magnificence of bloom can be eclipsed but by few plants at this 

 season of the year. Among the various flowers and charming 

 bouquets which adorned the tables was a large collection of the 

 superbly splendid Georgina (dahlia) , amounting, from all the con- 

 tributors, to nearly five hundred flowers. There was also a beau- 

 tiful variety of the lovely China and German Asters." 



The report goes on to enumerate the plants and 

 flowers exhibited, among which were so many large and 

 fine orange and lemon trees, from several contributors, 

 that they must have formed a very prominent feature 

 of the exhibition. John Lowell sent two fine plants of 

 Citrus decumana, with eight or ten ripe fruits, some 

 of which measured five inches in diameter. He also 

 contributed a plant of Musa sapientum. A collection of 

 very rare plants from the Botanic Garden at Cambridge 

 included Astrapsea Wallichii, Hakea saligna, Pourretia 

 spinosa, Banksia serrulata, Ficus elastica, Coffea Ara- 

 bica, Vallota purpurea, Melastoma, Eugenia, Nandina, 

 Eucalyptus, Lantana, Ardisia, Melaleuca, Fuchsia 

 Thompsonia, Protea argentea, Hoya camosa, etc. 



