REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 45 



among Avhk'h were Betinispora pisifera aurea, six feet high — a fine 

 specimen of uncommonly bright color ; S. ohtusa aurea ^ a dwarf 

 compact variety, also very golden ; several other Eetinisporas of 

 merit ; some fine new Spruces and Piceas, noticeable among which 

 was P. Nordmanniana ; also Thujas in variety, among which T. 

 occidenialis variegata was most conspicuous. 



Chrysanthemums. — The exhibition was a decided success. At 

 no time have such good plants been shown as on this occasion ; the 

 specimens were full of vigor and health, and finety clothed with 

 flowers. The value of this flower for autumn decoration, yielding 

 as it does, a supply of flowers, when so many other things are fail- 

 ing, cannot be over estimated. 



New and Eare, or Fine Specimen Plants. — William Gray, 

 Jr., brought a small plant of Cypripedmm niveum (Snow-white 

 Lady's Slipper). H. Noel Humphreys says, in "The Garden," 

 Vol. IX, p. 525, " This is a little gem, and a general favorite 

 wherever it is grown. In habit it is so nearly- like C concolor that 

 Mr. Ellis, who obtained many of the first plants introduced, mis- 

 took it for C. concolor until it flowered. The foliage is, however, a 

 little longer, and rather deeper in color ; the flowers are borne on 

 one or two flowered scapes, which vary from three to six inches in 

 height, sometimes even higher ; the sepals are white in front, suf- 

 fused with delicate rose-flesh at the base, which gives them a charm- 

 ing opaline appearance, and at the back the}^ are suflTused with 

 green and blotched with dull purple ; the sepals are pure white, 

 nearly two inches long, and are dotted at the base with purple ; lip 

 oblong, shghtly pointed, not unlike a wren's egg, l)ut larger, pure 

 white, with minute purple dots." 



Mr. Gray has also shown Gypripedium bijlorum, a handsome 

 species from India, in the way of C. b((rbntvm, but with more 

 variegated foliage. The blossoms are produced on a spike ; some- 

 times two flowers appear on one stem ; the top petal is very hand- 

 some, the upper part being of a beautiful white, the other part of 

 the flower purplish brown. It will keep for weeks in good con- 

 dition. 



James Comley has shown, 



Allamanda Weddelliana. — New and the first time exhibited. 



Anthurium crysta,Uinum, a very rich ornamental plant ; leaves of a 

 rich, dark green color, the midrib and principal veins lieing bor- 

 dered on each side with a beautiful bright silver}- white band. The 



