EXHIBITIONS IN 1844. 265 



drought which had prevailed. So large a number of 

 varieties of fruit, and so fine specimens, had never been 

 exhibited before in the country. We find reported 

 for the first time, from Marshall P. Wilder, president, 

 of the Society, the Beurre d'Anjou pear, which has 

 now become so universally known as one of the most 

 valuable of all pears, as to need no encomiums here. 

 Premiums had been offered for the most beautiful 

 designs for ornamenting the hall ; and several eagles, 

 stars, pyramids, and models of Bunker Hill monument, 

 covered with dahlias, asters, etc., such as the better 

 taste of later years has condemned, were exhibited. 

 The exhibition of vegetables showed some improve- 

 ment over those of previous years. Josiah Lovett, 2d, 

 showed ten varieties of melons, and eight of squashes. 



The premiums for dahlias, which had for the four 

 preceding years been awarded at a special show, were 

 this year offered at the annual exhibition. Later* in 

 the season, the dahlias recovered from the injury by 

 drought; and fine displays were made from the city 

 gardens, where they were untouched by frost on the 

 9th of November. The show of chrysanthemums on 

 the 2d of November was very fine. 



We have thus brought our review of the exhibitions 

 of the Society down to the close of our first period ; 

 viz., the time previous to the erection of the first Hor- 

 ticultural Hall, the corner-stone of which was laid on 

 the Saturday preceding the annual exhibition of 1844. 

 The frequent reports we have copied of exhibitions sur- 

 passing any former ones, many more of which might 

 have been given, will show the continued improvement 

 in the products of horticulture. This advance was 

 noted not only in the gardens of the members, but in 



