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The culture of flowers afeo awakens an interest in scientific truths 

 and processes, leads to inquiries and experiments, and thus enlarges 

 the limits of knowledge. While it increases our attachment to the 

 soil and to our homes, it raises our thoughts to the Providence 

 through whose beneficent arrangements the earth produces sucl. 

 varied forms of beauty, gratifying at once the senses and the soul. 



Even in their decline, the faded blossoms and withering leaves 

 bring the ripened fruit of a sad pleasure. If they remind us of a 

 delightful past now vanished, like their own brief beauty, they bid us 

 be thankful for what we have enjoyed ; and if they admonish us of 

 frailty, they also speak of a new spring and of brighter hopes. There- 

 fore we welcome those evidences of a pure taste, as a contribution 

 towards a better civilization. 



The Committee award the following premiums : — 

 To Lewis Davenport, of Milton, for the best collection of 



roses and cut flowers, $3.00 



To James Richardson, Jr., of Dedham, for Dahlias and 



Verbenas, 2.00 



To Miss Mary E. Richards, of Dedham, for bouquets and 



for one Salvia Splendens, 2.00 



To each of the following persons $1, for flowers, viz'.: — Miss 

 Hannah Chickering, of Dedham ; Miss Delia White, of West Ded- 

 ham ; Mrs. Ellis Bacon, of Walpole ; Miss Myra Smith, of Needham ; 

 Mrs. Mackintosh, of Needham ; Mrs. Mary Carleton, of Dorchester; 

 Mrs. Mary Emerson, of West Dedham. 



The Committee acknowledge the receipt of beautiful bouquets and 

 out flowers from Messrs. B. V. French, E. S. Rand, M. P. Wilder, 

 J. W. Clark, and several other persons whose names are not known 

 to us. These were given for the purposes of ornamenting the rooms, 

 and increasing the proceeds of the Ladies' Fair. 



For the Committee, 



JOHN M. MERRICK. 



