REVIEW OF PROGRESS, 1838. 247 



some of which were more than eight inches in diameter. 

 The foreign magnolias were numerous. In the green- 

 house of William Pratt, Jr., Wistaria Consequana (now 

 W. Sinensis), probably the first full grown plant in the 

 vicinity, had produced thirty or more racemes of flowers. 

 The dahlia, rose, and tulip attracted most attention 

 among garden flowers. Next to these as a floral gem 

 in the open air came the hyacinth. An increased taste 

 for carnations, pinks, pansies, and phloxes had been 

 manifested among florists, and petunias had lately been 

 employed in the embellishment of the parterre. The 

 verbena had not then " broken," but was confined to 

 less than a dozen species and varieties. Not so much 

 attention as could be wished was given to the native 

 flora, though a taste for the culture of the more beauti- 

 ful or curious productions of New England was gaining 

 ground, Thomas Lee being foremost in this department. 



Of the new pears named by Professor Russell as giv- 

 ing promise of value, all, with a few exceptions which 

 have already been mentioned, have been superseded by 

 superior varieties. The most extensive structures for 

 raising fruit under glass for sale were those of Thomas 

 Mason at Charlestown. Pineapples were grown by John 

 P. Gushing, Thomas H. Perkins, and John Lowell. 



While the members of the Society were thus busily 

 engaged in introducing new plants and fruits, they also 

 sought to originate them. Probably this was attempted 

 most extensively with regard to the dahlia, of which 

 Joseph Breck, John Richardson, Messrs. Hovey, and 

 others, produced seedlings that would bear comparison 

 with the best European varieties. William E. Carter 

 of the Botanic Garden exhibited fine seedling camellias, 

 phloxes, and pansies ; the Messrs. Winship, roses ; Mar- 



