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444 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mium. Many improvements were found going on and 

 in contemplation, among which were the making of a 

 new lawn south-east of the mansion ; the removal of 

 rhododendron beds to new and better locations, with the 

 addition of new and very large plants ; new beds of 

 azaleas of the best kinds, and the acquisition of great 

 numbers of rare and beautiful trees and shrubs. The 

 flower plats and borders were in good condition, and the 

 whole estate showed that careful attention was bestowed 

 upon it by a gentleman unsurpassed in the Society for 

 his enthusiasm in horticulture. 



The Society this year engaged in a movement to 

 encourage a practical taste for horticulture among the 

 children of the laboring classes. This was introduced 

 by a communication, read at the meeting on the 2d of 

 March, from Rev. Rufus Ellis, Rev. Henry W. Foote, 

 and Rev. C. A. Bartol, who desired that the Society 

 should offer prizes for window gardening, and conduct 

 all the business of advertising, exhibiting, and awarding 

 prizes, the funds for this object being supplied by 

 benevolent individuals. The Society voted to comply 

 with this request, and appointed the Flower Committee, 

 with three other members, a special committee to take 

 charge of the work. A list of prizes was accordingly 

 prepared; and every Saturday through July and August 

 plants were presented for exhibition; and a special 

 exhibition was held on the 14th of September. Some 

 difficulty was experienced in reaching the children to 

 be encouraged to cultivate the plants ; and, though the 

 specimens exhibited were not as thrifty as those shown 

 at the regular exhibitions, yet the promoters of the 

 movement were cheered by the interest manifested and 

 the good results shown, and felt that many children of 



