314 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tions exhibited. A very handsome arch was, however, 

 erected across Winter Street, at the main entrance. 



The display of plants and flowers was, as a whole, 

 better than usual, and there was also an improvement 

 in the designs. Some Wardian cases, filled with plants 

 in fine condition, were exhibited by H. A. Graef & 

 Son of New York, and were much admired. They 

 were the first ever seen here. The apples and pears 

 were not as good as in former years ; but the foreign 

 grapes were excellent. The display of vegetables formed 

 one of the most pleasing features of the exhibition, 

 the variety being great, and the quality equal, if not 

 superior, to that of former years. The squash was 

 most richly represented. 



This exhibition was marked by the revival of a cus- 

 tom which had been discontinued for twenty years, 

 the delivery of an address at the anniversary on some 

 subject connected with horticulture. This was on the 

 last evening of the exhibition, the fruits, flowers, and 

 vegetables remaining in the places which they had occu- 

 pied through the week, and the audience filling the bal- 

 conies and the spaces between the tables. The speaker 

 was Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, who was introduced 

 by President Cabot as not only an eloquent preacher 

 and orator, but as personally devoted to horticulture. 

 It is impossible here to do justice to Mr. Beecher's 

 address, and we can only say that it was in his happiest 

 manner, and that the numerous assembly were not 

 disappointed. 



The report of the Garden Committee for the year is 

 of unusual interest. They again visited the hothouses 

 of M. H. Simpson at Saxonville, and examined the 

 beautiful specimens of rare plants, and his novel experi- 



