FRUITS AND FLOWERS IN 1841. 255 



which were the pot plants, and in front of these the 

 dahlias, which were so numerous as to occupy all the 

 stands the whole length of the room, amounting to 

 more than a thousand flowers, many of which were 

 most superb blooms, and as a whole were much supe- 

 rior to any previous exhibition of this flower in the 

 Society's rooms. The other arrangements were similar 

 to those of the preceding year. 



Among the plants exhibited were Corypha umbra- 

 culifera and C. Taliera, from John P. Gushing ; Cactus 

 senilis and Banksia ericsefolia, from the Botanic Gar- 

 den ; Lisianthus Russellianus, from John Cadness of the 

 Public Garden ; two specimens of Rhodochiton volubile, 

 from E. N. Perkins, with a large number of flowers 

 expanded; and Brunsvigia falcata, from Thomas Wil- 

 lott. The centre table was profusely loaded with the 

 greatest variety of fruit ever exhibited in the United 

 States. The pears were all finer than usual, and many 

 of the specimens, were surpassingly beautiful. 



The old custom of an anniversary dinner was resumed 

 on this occasion, about a hundred members sitting down 

 together at Concert Hall on the last day of the exhibi- 

 tion. The tables were decorated with a profusion of 

 flowers ; and a large table in the centre of the hall, 

 between the two dining tables, was loaded with all the 

 finest and most beautiful fruit which had been displayed 

 during the three days of the exhibition. Among th$ 

 invited guests were Josiah Quincy, president of Harvard 

 University; Ex-Gov. Levi Lincoln, president of the 

 Worcester Agricultural Society ; Gen. Dearborn, and 

 Thomas Colley Grattan, the British consul. President 

 Wilder, in his opening speech, spoke of the foundation 

 and progress of the Society ; and Gen. Dearborn alluded 



