360 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



turn, Ricinus, Celosia, Nicotiana, Canna Indica rubra, 

 and Zea Japonica, the last three forming a background 

 for Gladioli, Dracaena versicolor, and Amaranthus 

 versicolor. At Forest Hills Cemetery the committee 

 noticed a fine rosette of ribbon gardening. After leav- 

 ing that place, they visited the grounds of Marshall 

 P. Wilder in Dorchester. Another visit was to the 

 orchards of Dr. G. H. Lodge in Swampscott, where the 

 committee saw the most perfect example of the wine- 

 glass type of pruning to be found in the State, every 

 tree showing the most persevering care and attention, 

 though many had evidently fared hard in storms. The 

 last visit was to the garden of S. G. Damon in Arling- 

 ton, planted mainly with pear trees and grape vines ; 

 the dry location and shelter, with a light, warm soil, 

 being particularly favorable to the latter fruit, and the 

 collection including all the new and promising varieties. 



The season of 1869 was generally favorable to the 

 horticulturist. The preceding winter was mild, and the 

 summer months were remarkably free from very dry or 

 stormy weather. But on the 8th of September occurred 

 one of the most terrific gales on record, which not only 

 destroyed all the* annuals and bedding plants, but many 

 of the finest trees, and left the gardens only wrecks of 

 what they were but an hour before. 



The weekly exhibitions of flowers presented many 

 fine displays of novelties, including a large number of 

 hybrid seedlings. The committee noted with pleasure 

 that artificial hybridization, so long practised by Euro- 

 pean horticulturists with such gratifying results, was 

 receiving the attention which it deserved. E. S. Hand, 

 jun., continued to exhibit rhododendrons in great 

 variety, the best new kind being Mrs. John Glutton. 



