402 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



.among the most successful ever held by the Society. 

 They mentioned particularly the new and rare plants of 

 James Comley, the splendid orchids of Edward S. Rand, 

 jun., the beautiful Tricolor and Zonale pelargoniums of 

 William Gray, jun., the superb hothouse flowers from 

 Joseph Clark, the well arranged displays of cut flowers 

 from James O'Brien and others, and the tasteful baskets 

 from the lady contributors. The cyclamens exhibited 

 by James O'Brien and C. B. Gardiner on the 24th 

 of January were the finest that had ever been shown. 

 An exhibition of greenhouse plants was arranged for 

 the 7th of March ; but, owing to stormy weather, the 

 competition was small, and the azalea exhibition was 

 hardly up to the standard of former years. At the rose 

 show the collections were uncommonly good, and the 

 competition more spirited than usual. The Hunnewell 

 prizes for the best twelve of any one variety were both 

 awarded to John C. Chaffin, for Charles Le Febvre and 

 John Hopper. That for the best specimen plant was 

 awarded to Edward S. Rand, jun., for Aerides odoratum. 

 Prizes were offered this year for the best fifty named 

 varieties of cut flowers, which promised to give much 

 assistance to those who wished to make collections for 

 themselves. Very rare and choice collections of native 

 ferns were presented for premium ; and on the prize 

 day for gladioli the hall was brilliant with the fine dis- 

 plays. There was an unusual competition in the show 

 of asters ; but the verbena seemed to have lost ground, 

 and the competition for the prizes for zinnias was less 

 than usual. The chrysanthemum show in November 

 did not come up to the expectations of the committee. 

 Among the fine specimens and novelties the committee 

 noted from James Comley the Aralia Veitchii, Rhodo- 





