14 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



tribe; many new varieties are annually proclaimed to the public as 

 something new, and eclipsing every thing that has preceded them ; they 

 are catalogued at the enormous price of one to ten guineas each ; they 

 speedily find their way across the Atlantic, and the amateur here has 

 the supreme felicity of watching with intense interest the progress of the 

 plant and the opening of the flower, when, to his utter dismay, he finds 

 his high expectations exploded ; or, in other words, the flower is not quite 

 what it was "cracked up to be." The cultivators of the Dahlia are an- 

 nually doomed, more or less, to disappointments of this sort ; but, notwith- 

 standing all this, many superb new varieties are every year added to the 

 list of desirable sorts. 



In Pinks and Carnations, little progress has been made. It is very dif- 

 ficult to keep up good collections, on account of the wire worm, and other 

 insects, or from the severity and length of our winters, from which the 

 plants sufler and become sickly, whether protected in the open ground or 

 in frames. Fine displays have been made by Breck iV; Co., principally 

 from varieties raised by them from seed, which have proved hardier than 

 the more choice imported varieties. 



In some of the Annuals, such as Balsams, Larkspurs, Ten Weeks 

 Stocks, German Asters, &;c., great improvements are apparent, and many 

 beautiful Annuals have been introduced through the different seed estab- 

 lishments of the city. 



In reviewing the past, there is abundant evidence in the great variety of 

 the choice and well-grown specimens exhibited, to prove that the members 

 of the Society have been advancing in the knowledge of plants, and in the 

 improved modes of cultivation. 



It is sincerely hoped, that the stimulus now given by the Society in the 

 shape of liberal premiums for every important class of flowers, may in- 

 duce the weekly contributors not only to continue the same laudable zeal 

 they have manifested the past year, but that they will also increase their 

 efibrts to make those exhibitions still more attractive to the numerous vis- 

 iters who honor us with their presence from week to week. 



3d. Vegetables. 



Under this head, there can be but little said in relation to what has been 

 exhibited in our rooms, as but few individuals have taken the trouble to 

 show their specimens of improved vegetables. The Cabbages, Cauli- 

 flowers, Brocolis, Lettuces, Celery, Asparagus, Ehubarb, and other 

 delicious vegetables, as exhibited by Messrs. A. D. Williams, Lovitt, and 

 a few others, have not left the Society without witness of the great im- 

 provements made in the culinary department. The gigantic Cucumbers 

 presented in April and May by our skilful gardeners, proves their power 

 over the adverse influence of our rough climate, to produce whatever they 



