CHAPTER IX. 



THE EXHIBITIONS OF THE SOCIETY, 1865-1878. 



THE third division of the Society's exhibitions, which 

 forms the subject of this chapter, begins with the occu- 

 pation of the present Horticultural Hall. But, though 

 we include in it all the exhibitions of the year 1865, 

 the halls were not actually used for exhibition until the 

 annual show in September. The weekly shows were 

 held in Amory Hall until the end of August, after 

 which several exhibitions were made in one of the 

 stores under Horticultural Hall. Doubtless this transi- 

 tion state produced an injurious effect on the exhibi- 

 tions, and, though the winter and spring were remark- 

 ably favorable to vegetation, an exceedingly severe 

 drought occurred in July and August, which further 

 lessened the interest of the shows. The Flower Com- 

 mittee, in their annual report, complained of the lack 

 of competition for a large number of premiums, and of 

 the small attendance of members and their families, 

 or of others, even though some of the exhibitions were 

 of the highest order. Under these circumstances it 

 will not be thought surprising that we find but one 

 plant among those exhibited at the earlier shows, to 

 note here, the Bougainvillea spectabilis, from Brazil, 

 " a new and rare plant," shown by Mrs. T. W. Ward 

 on the 18th of March. 



The Agriculturist strawberry was shown for tL< first 



346 



