442 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shown. The exhibition of Lima beans was again unusu- 

 ally fine. The display at the annual exhibition, though 

 smaller than on many previous occasions, was on the 

 whole satisfactory, the deficiency in quantity being more 

 than made up by the excellence of the specimens. The 

 root crops were the best and most perfect ever shown. 

 The exhibition of tomatoes was remarkably full and 

 fine. Eighty dishes were shown, representing all the 

 leading varieties. The collection of John Cummings 

 was the largest and best. The display of potatoes, 

 though not large, was unusually fine. The specimens 

 were uniform in size, smooth, and well grown. The 

 squashes showed a nearer approach to the desired stand- 

 ard of excellence than at any former exhibition. The 

 best collection of watermelons ever seen in the hall was 

 shown by I. P. Dickinson, who took all the prizes. His 

 specimens weighed upwards of fifty pounds each. The 

 committee reported a considerable falling off in the 

 number of contributors during the year, as compared 

 with the two previous years. 



The Garden Committee reported a visit, on the 24th 

 of May, to the grounds of Charles S. Sargent at Brook- 

 line. This estate consisted of over a hundred and thirty 

 acres of undulating land, the natural beauties of which 

 were increased by the tasteful grouping of trees, shrubs, 

 and plants. American and foreign evergreens, and rare 

 Chinese and Japanese shrubs and trees, were planted in 

 profusion, giving an air of refined taste to the whole 

 estate. Choice azaleas, both the Indian and the hardy 

 Japanese mollis, rhododendrons, and palms, resplendent 

 with bloom and fine foliage," were elegantly arranged 

 under a large tent. A bed of agaves, echeverias, and 

 other succulents, was much admired. The committee 



