1873.] EEPORT ON PLANTS, FLOWERS, &C. 43 



REPORT ON PLANTS, FLOWERS, &c. 



Sa:mttel Flagg, Chairman; George Cruickshanks, of Whitinsville ; 

 Charles Madaus, Clarendon Harris, David S. Messinger, Henry Wood- 

 ward and Heniy L. Shumway of Worcester. 



From the special care of the Committee of Arrangements in classitica- 

 tion and specification in the department of Plants and Flowers, it was 

 hoped that the duty of awarding the premiums would prove light as com- 

 pared with that of previous years, but when they found an entire re-ar- 

 rangement was required in several classes, their duties proved not only 

 onerous, but in some instances perplexing. No premium could l)e recom- 

 mended unless the article or class was deserving, and how could this be 

 'effected unless the contributions accorded with the rules and regulations 

 of the Society b}^ which the Committee were strictly governed ? 



Contributors should bear in mind that in case any class is deficient 

 either in quantity, quality or arrangement, the Committee have the power 

 to set aside an}^ such as unqualified, as could have been done in the col- 

 lections of two of the largest contributors of plants with ornamental 

 foliage, and which the Committee felt obliged to do in the first and 

 second class of plants in bloom. It is not what the contributor happens 

 to have in bloom at the time of the exhibition that is required, but what- 

 ever is specified must have been under cultivation during the season and 

 for the special purpose of exhibiting, and not only should this apply to 

 the plants, but also to the pots in which they are grown. If a plant is 

 worthy of an exhibition, is it not worthy of a proper receptacle ? If not 

 for the plant, it would speak better for the contributor. In the depart- 

 ment of Fruits it may be generous of the contributor to over-reach in the 

 number required, but in the depart ment of Plants it onlj^ adds trouble and 

 labor. In order that our exhibitions may compare well with those of 

 our large cities a more strict adherence to the quality of the articles con- 

 tributed must be enforced. Already do we surpass them in the number 

 of entries and also in variety, and with proper care we can easily come 

 up to their standard in every respect. 



The entries in this department amounted to nearly double those of the 

 previous year. In every respect the exhibition was superior to any ever 

 held by the Society. Premiums have been awarded to such articles and 

 classes as the Committee deemed strictly deserving, and gratuities to such 

 as merited more than special notice. The following list of premiums 

 etc., is respectfully submitted. 



