REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 21 



neglected flower, and deserves more general cultivation and better 

 treatment than it generally receives. In England, considerable 

 attention is paid to its cultivation. It is one of the earliest 

 spring flowering plants, and will weU repay the attention that it 

 requires for successful cultivation. 



Violets, — Six good plants in pots were shown by C. M. Atkin- 

 son on the 3d of March ; the variety was Marie Louise, and the 

 flowers were ver}' large and fine. 



Amaryllis. — There was no competition for the premiums ofltered 

 in April, but A. McLaren exhibited two good seedlings on the 17th 

 of Februaiy, and on the 28th of July another which promises to be 

 a good acquisition ; the flower large, color bright scarlet with fine 

 white markings through the centre of each petal. From J. B. 

 Moore we had cut flowers of well known varieties. From Francis 

 Putnam very good exhibitions of seedlings which were well worthy 

 a place in any collection. 



Pelargoniums. — This exhibition which was held on the 5th of 

 May was not a success, and but very few of the hberal premiums 

 oflered by the Society were awarded, and what plants were shown, 

 with perhaps one or two exceptions, were not worthy of any special 

 note. It would seem that with so many florists and amateurs who 

 have fine collections of Pelargoniums as there are in this vicinity, 

 this should be one of the best instead of one of the poorest 

 exhibitions of the Society. 



Show and Fancy Pelargoniums. — For these there was no com- 

 petition, the principal reason being, perhaps, that the time the pre- 

 miums were oflered (June 2d) , was at least one month too late. 



Calceolarias. — Six fine plants were shown by C. M. Atkinson, 

 which were masses of beautiful flowers and were very ornamental. 



Tulips. — A good stand of twenty-five named varieties was shown 

 by C. M. Atkinson, he being the only exhibitor. 



Hardy Shrubs were shown by Hovey & Co,, Miss S. W. Story, 

 and Miss A. C. Kenrick. There was nothing new or remarkable 

 in these collections, but each was made up of a good selection of 

 well known standard varieties. 



Rhododendrons. — June 2d being the special prize day, very 

 excellent collections were shown by H. H. Hunnewell and C. M. 

 Atkinson, and a smaller collection of good varieties from E. Shep- 

 herd. Again on the 9th of June, a very superb collection of new 

 and rare rhododendrons was shown by H. H. Hunnewell, Though 



