EXHIBITIONS IN 1853. 301 



offered by Thomas Lee. After that time the interest in 

 this class of plants declined ; but on the 3d of Septem- 

 ber of this year, Dennis Murray presented a hundred 

 species of native plants, and fourteen of fungi, all care- 

 fully labelled with their scientific names. Mr. Murray 

 continued these contributions to the close of his life, 

 in 1864, he having been attacked while arranging his 

 flowers in the stand for the annual exhibition, by an ill- 

 ness which caused his death in a few days. Since then, 

 this department has been well sustained by many zeal- 

 ous collectors and cultivators. 



The crop of peaches this year was unusually large, 

 and of excellent quality, and on the 3d of September 

 a remarkably fine exhibition of this fruit was made by 

 a large number of contributors : indeed, the whole show 

 was one of the best ever made in the hall, and the same 

 may be said of the show a week later. 



The twenty-fifth annual exhibition was held in a 

 pavilion on Boston Common, near West Street, com- 

 mencing on the 20th of September, and continuing four 

 days. The pavilion was the same as that used the year 

 previous ; but the whole space was floored over, making 

 it much more comfortable. The roof was decorated 

 with various colored flags and banners, giving a gay 

 effect to the whole ; and a platform in ,the centre, sur- 

 rounded with plants, was occupied by a band of music. 

 The tent was brilliantly lighted with gas during the 

 evening, when it presented a most beautiful appearance. 

 Soon after the commencement of the exhibition, it was 

 visited by a severe rain storm, which penetrated the 

 canvas, and gave the fruits and flowers a thorough 

 drenching. The weather for the remainder of the time 

 was remarkably pleasant ; and crowds of people visited 



