REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1885. 



By Edward L. beard, Chairman. 



As anticipated at the beginning of this year, the increase 

 of prizes offered by the Society for 1885 has led to a marked 

 improvement in the competition for them by exhibitors of Plants 

 and Flowers ; though a large numl)er of the prizes were not com- 

 peted for. This absence of competition was noticeable where the 

 Schedule called for specimens of such flowering or other plants as 

 require time and skill for their preparation. Since the stimulation 

 of cultural skill among gardeners — professional or amateur — is one 

 of the leading objects of this Society, it is to be regretted that 

 there is not a more general rivalry among exhibitors in competing 

 for such prizes in the Schedule as are offered for specimens of 

 either hard or soft wooded, and of hardy or greenhouse plants. 

 These prizes should be made still more liberal, at the expense of 

 mere displays of cut flowers or flowers from the open garden, 

 which in many cases do not call for any especial skill in culture. 



The classes for specimen Azaleas, Pelargoniums (both Fancy and 

 Zonale), Heaths, Forced Hardy and Herbaceous Plants, Stove and 

 Greenhouse Flowering Plants, and Hydrangeas in pots, were 

 meagrely represented, there being in many cases no entries what- 

 soever. In the various classes for Specimen Chrysanthemums in 

 pots there were but two exhibitors, and these did not attempt to 

 compete for all the prizes offered for trained plants where cultural 

 skill was a requisite. lu a community where there are numerous 

 plant growers of acknowledged skill, this Society ought to en- 

 courage more active competition among them, in place of fostering 

 the display's of cut flowers, whicii, though attractive in a degree, 



