EXHIBITIONS IN 1844. 263 



were established, which form the basis of those now in 

 force. The premium lists had only been published in 

 the New England Farmer and the Magazine of Horti- 

 culture ; but now it was voted to print two hundred 

 and fifty copies on a sheet for distribution among the 

 members, two extra sized copies being framed, and hung 

 in the Society's room. Two years later the lists took 

 the form of a pamphlet, of twelve octavo pages, and 

 in 1874 had grown to a fifty page pamphlet, of which 

 thirteen hundred copies were required. The awards 

 for flowers were, in 1844 and previously, generally 

 made, not by the committee, but by boards of three 

 judges, selected by the committee for each occasion, as 

 expert and impartial, only a part of the number being 

 members of the committee. 



Some of the most notable products exhibited were 

 Royal George Clingstone peaches, measuring eleven 

 inches in circumference, from John Fisk Allen, on 

 the 1st of June. A week later Samuel Walker 

 brought Lychnis angustifolia plena, " a very superb 

 new perennial." The next three Saturdays the same 

 gentleman made a superb display of double varieties 

 of the Ranunculus Asiaticus, exhibiting on the 29th 

 a hundred and fifty flowers, rose, orange, yellow, 

 sulphur, crimson, scarlet, variegated, striped, and mot- 

 tled. August 24 an amateur whose name is not given 

 exhibited " a magnificent specimen of Rochea falcat'a, 

 very rare and beautiful." On this and the succeed- 

 ing Saturday the display of plums was extremely fine. 

 On the 24th there were sixteen dishes, from as many 

 contributors, of the Washington plum. Seven of the 

 largest averaged three and one-eighth ounces in 

 weight. On the 31st there were about seventy dishes 



