ANNUAL EXHIBITION, 1866. 351 



with a table for fruit on each side. The grapes were 

 exhibited in the library room. The weather was very 

 unfavorable, and consequently the number of visitors 

 was small, except on the last day. James T. Ames ex- 

 hibited a plant of Alocasia macrorhiza fol. var., from 

 Ceylon ; George L. Stearns, a splendid spike of Hedy- 

 chium Gardnerianum ; and H. H. Hunnewell, one hun- 

 dred species of hardy conifers. 



Notwithstanding the general impression that the pear 

 crop was hardly up to the average, the show of this fruit 

 was nearly equal to that of the preceding year. Large 

 collections were not admitted for want of room; but 

 there were no less than eight competitors for the prize 

 for the best twenty varieties. Many fine specimens of 

 apples, particularly the Washington Strawberry, Grav- 

 enstein, and Hubbardston Nonsuch, were contributed. 

 J. W. Bailey of Plattsburgh, N.Y., sent some beautiful 

 clusters of Adirondac grapes, which were the ripest 

 natives exhibited. 



The show of vegetables was remarkably fine both as 

 to quality and variety. The feature which particularly 

 called forth the admiration of visitors was a splendid 

 collection of cauliflowers, exhibited by eight competitors 

 for special prizes of silver cups. The first prize was 

 taken by James H. Smith, gardener to Francis Skinner ; 

 and the second, by J. C. Converse. 



fhe Flower Committee, in reviewing the season, 

 spoke of the growing taste for botany, as manifested in 

 the very full and frequent displays of native plants and 

 flowers by young lady contributors, and made the sug- 

 gestion (which was adopted the next year) that prizes 

 should be offered as a means of fostering this interest. 

 The baskets of flowers showed much improvement, as a 



