REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 169 



The large trained specimen plants for which Boston was once 

 famous seem to be a thing of the past for they were entirely absent, 

 and it is worthy of note that this was the first November show for 

 many years that has been without them. In the opinion of many 

 the loss is not to be regretted for it is claimed that it is an unnatural 

 mode of growth for the plant and that it is against good taste to 

 torture them into these conventional forms. But be this as it may, 

 there was much cultural skill displayed in their production and the 

 result was not without value in a decorative way. They lacked 

 grace perhaps but there was a certain beauty of form and display 

 of color that cannot be produced in any other manner, and they 

 will be greatly missed until some other plant or some other equally 

 effective method of growing and exhibiting the chrysanthemum 

 is brought forward. 



In cut chrysanthemums there was a very good showing but there 

 seemed to be a lack of life to the competition, even in these. The 

 classes for flowers on long stems seemed to bring c^it the strongest 

 competition and many remarkably fine blooms were shown. 



The special prizes were also quite successful, the competition 

 being quite keen in those offered for roses and carnations. The 

 decorated tables, while not coming up to expectations, were, never- 

 theless, an attractive feature of the exhibition and in some respects 

 were worthy of repetition. 



The miscellaneous displays made an important part of the exlii- 

 bition and special awards were given several of them. 



A Silver Medal was given Robert Scott & Son, Sharon Hill, 

 Pennsylvania, for their new rose, Mrs. Jardine. It is a hybrid tea 

 similar in color to Bridesmaid but more cupped in form and with a 

 fine rose odor. 



First Class Certificates were awarded W. A. Manda Inc. for 

 Dracaena Mandaiana, a variety in the way of terminalis but with 

 broader leaves and richer in color; F. R. Pierson Co. for a new 

 fern, Nephrolepis swperhissima, a very dwarf crested form with 

 pinnae much twisted and matted; and R. Vincent Jr. and Sons Co. 

 for display of pompon chrysanthemums which included nearly 

 one hundred varieties. 



A Cultural Certificate was awarded Wm. C. Rust, gardener to 

 Dr. C. G. Weld, for a plant of Odontoglossinn grande bearing an 

 immense spike with nine very large flowers. 



