400 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



On their third visit the committee found no material 

 changes in plan or treatment ; bnt every thing had 

 ripened into beauty. The lawns were faultless ; the 

 roads and paths were smooth and weedless ; the masses 

 of flowers and floral embroidery were uniformly success- 

 ful ; and the whole effect was finer than on any previous 

 occasion. The Erianthus Ravennce was pronounced 

 more delicate and pleasing than the pampas grass. 

 The committee awarded to Mr. Gray the largest Hun- 

 newell prize. 



During February and the spring and early summer 

 months, discussions had been held in the library room, 

 upon topics suggested by the simultaneous exhibitions. 

 A special award of the Society's gold medal was made 

 to E. W. Bull, " for the production of the best hardy 

 seedling grape, the Concord, which has proved, after a 

 thorough trial, so universally adapted to general cultiva- 

 tion throughout the United States, and the most relia- 

 ble grape for vineyard cultivation in Massachusetts." 

 The same award was made to Edward S. Rogers, " for 

 his efforts in the improvement of the hardy grape by 

 hybridizing the native and foreign species, and for the 

 production of several seedlings which have proved valu- 

 able in many localities in this country." 



The discussions were resumed early in January, 1874, 

 and continued regularly until the end of March, an 

 editor having been appointed to make notes of the dis- 

 cussions, which were published as Part I. of the Trans- 

 actions for the year. The committee remarked that 

 the discussions this season were much more successful 

 than any previously attempted by the Society, and that 

 the exhibitions held simultaneously had been, both for 

 extent and beauty, far in advance of previous winter 



