REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 1 03 



H. A. Jahn's seedling carnation No. 49, a promising light pink, 

 was awarded Honorable Mention, and Norris F. Comley was given 

 the same award for a seedling Acacia with habit like A . heterophylla. 



The Spring Show, March 23, 24, and 25, was one long to be 

 remembered, for besides our regular exhibition the American 

 Rose Society met in Boston and held its exhibition in connection 

 with our regular March show, making the most beautiful display 

 of roses ever held here and, as many have said, the finest exhibition 

 of roses ever staged in any country. 



The roses exhibited were mostly of the Tea and Hybrid Tea 

 varieties such as are grown for commercial purposes. 



It is interesting to note the advance made in the number of 

 varieties available for this purpose. Where a few years ago the 

 Bride and Bridesmaid, American Beauty and Liberty were about 

 all the varieties obtainable, we now have in addition such varieties 

 as Kaiserine Augusta Victoria, Mrs. Pierpont Morgan, Souvenir 

 du Pres. Carnot, ^Nlrs. Oliver Ames, Wellesley, Killarney, and 

 Richmond. The last, the greatest advance in crimson roses that 

 has been made in many years, was shown in its greatest perfection. 



In connection with the above list the varieties Bon Silene and 

 Safrano should be mentioned so as to record the fact that these old- 

 time favorites are still grown for market and exliibition along 

 Avith their more pretentious rivals. There was a time, during the 

 seventies and early eighties, when these two varieties were practi- 

 cally all the kinds that were grown for market purposes. A few 

 Lamarques and Gloire de Dijons wei"e seen, but Bon Silene and 

 Safrano seemed to be what fasliion demanded until the advent 

 of the glorious Mareschal Niel which seemed to start a demand 

 for larger flowers and more variety in form and color, resulting in 

 the planting and testing of a great many varieties. Among these, 

 one of the older French varieties, the Catherine Mermet, was 

 found to be the most in demand and the most profitable to grow. 

 It was planted for a number of years to the exclusion of almost 

 every other variety until the appearance of its white sport, the 

 Bride, and the later sport, the Bridesmaid. These two reigned 

 supreme for a considerable period driving the Bon Silene and 

 Safrano to the wall, but Dame Fashion seems to be getting into a 

 more sane mood and is recognizing beauty in many other varieties. 



