352 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



result of the prizes offered for a few years preceding, 

 and were raised to a standard above that of our sister 

 cities. The progress of artificial hybridization was 

 noticed, especially in the gladiolus, where it had rendered 

 us independent of the French, and also in pinks, lilies, 

 and other flowers. The displays of herbaceous peren- 

 nials were more satisfactory than in previous years. 



Among the newer pears shown were the General Tod- 

 leben, Emile d'Heyst, Conseiller de la Cour, and Augus- 

 tus Dana. A large number of seedlings came from Dr. 

 S. A. Shurtleff, forty-five of which were described in the 

 report of the Fruit Committee. The Vegetable Com- 

 mittee made special mention of the Early Goodrich 

 potato and Black Pekin egg plant, which were first 

 shown here this year. 



The Garden Committee reported that they had 

 accepted three invitations, all from the government of 

 the city of Boston. The first was to the Public Garden, 

 where they observed indications of constant care and 

 interest, and deemed it, when contrasted with its con- 

 dition a few years before, a credit to the committee 

 having it in charge. Yet they found much room for 

 improvement, both in the plan and the keeping. The 

 second visit was to the farm connected with the House 

 of Industry on Deer Island, where the extraordinary 

 crops of roots were the most prominent feature. The 

 third visit was to Mount Hope Cemetery; and tere 

 every part of the grounds was in good order ; and the 

 fine specimens of ribbon gardening were noticed with 

 special commendation, for the skilful and happy blend- 

 ing or distinct contrast of colors, and for freedom from 

 the sameness and stiffness to which this system is liable. 



The winter of 1866 and 1867 was the reverse of that 



