332 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for the first time the Lilium auratum, which they had 

 received directly from Japan. This magnificent lily was 

 also shown this year in England for the first time, and 

 everywhere its appearance was greeted as an event such 

 as could occur but few times in the life of a lover of 

 flowers. The same gentlemen also exhibited during 

 the summer many new plants, especially variegated 

 conifers and other plants from Japan, besides making 

 the largest, most frequent, and finest general displays of 

 flowers through the season. Very fine specimens of 

 apples were exhibited on the 1st of November for the 

 prizes from the fund bequeathed by B. V. French. Shel- 

 don pears weighing twelve and three-quarters ounces 

 each were shown at the same time by Hovey & Co. 



The annual exhibition was in the Music Hall, from 

 the 16th to the 19th of September, the general arrange- 

 ments being similar to those two years before. The 

 show of pot plants was not as good as in some previous 

 years ; but the cut flowers were splendid. The season 

 was very favorable for dahlias, and they were shown 

 in great perfection. H. H. Hunnewell sent a plant of 

 pampas grass, with eight or ten full heads of its light 

 and silvery flowers ; also Cupressus Lawsoniana and 

 Sequoia (Washingtonia) gigantea. Three prizes were 

 offered this year for the best specimen plants at the 

 annual exhibition, which were taken by these three 

 plants. 



Pears were never before exhibited in any thing like 

 the quantity or perfection of the specimens shown this 

 year. A dish of twelve Bartletts, from Josiah Stickney, 

 weighed nine pounds and six ounces. The apples, also, 

 were superior, especially the Gravensteins. In a year 

 so auspicious for fruit, great expectations had naturally 



