274 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was composed of white amaranths, upon which was 

 inscribed, in purple amaranths, " Dedicated to Flora." 

 In the centre was a vase inlaid with purple asters, the 

 whole forming a chaste and appropriate design. Near 

 by stood Messrs. Hovey's Chinese pagoda, six feet wide 

 at the base, and upwards of eighteen feet high, in three 

 stories, terminated with a pyramid of flowers. It was 

 constructed of moss of several colors, evergreens, and 

 various flowers, principally asters. In the rear of these 

 two designs were arranged evergreens and fine pot 

 plants, in front of which stood a table containing a splen- 

 did basket of grapes and nectarines from Mr. Hagger- 

 ston. Near the other end of the hall was a Gothic 

 monument from William Quant. This was five feet in 

 diameter, and eighteen feet high, surmounted by a 

 cross ; the ground- work of green moss, which was inlaid 

 with asters, marigolds, amaranths, and other flowers, so 

 skilfully as to present the appearance of mosaic work. 

 It received the second prize. Other designs were a 

 harp, a plough, an eagle, and a Newfoundland dog 

 covered with pressed black hollyhocks and gray moss, 

 and carrying a basket of flowers. The cut flowers 

 consisted mostly of asters, the dry weather having 

 been very unfavorable to the dahlia, which was for 

 the first time eclipsed by its rival, the aster. 



The collection of fruit was very extensive, and con- 

 tained some of the finest specimens ever seen. From 

 Robert Manning's Pomological Garden came two hun- 

 dred and forty varieties of pears, fifty of which had 

 never fruited before in this country. The vegetables 

 were less numerous than in previous years. 



The seventeenth anniversary was celebrated by a 

 fete at Faneuil Hall on the evening of Friday, the 19th 





