106 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



specimens were shown by Hovey & Co., William Gray, Jr., and 

 James Comley. Probably no finer variegated plants were ever 

 shown than Mr. Comley's ; they were very distinct and handsome 

 plants, of the following species : Almtilon niveum maculatum, 

 Dracaena Chelsoni, Croton Veitchii, C. Weismanni, Phormium 

 Colensoi, and Dieffenhachia Bausei. The English catalogues and 

 papers mention these plants in the highest terms. The prize for 

 the best specimen Variegated Plant was awarded to a magnificently 

 trained Cissus discolor, from F. L. Ames, which was an object of 

 more than usual attraction, and the second to William Gray, Jr. 

 for Phormium Colensoi var. Caladiums were shown by Hovey & Co. 

 and F. L. Ames, and although the plants were not as large as some 

 that have been shown in former seasons, they were better grown, 

 and the varieties wei'e more distinct. The beautifully diversified 

 markings of their leaves, combined with their comparatively easy 

 culture, render these plants valuable for decorative purposes. 



Ferns : These deservedly popular plants, which always form 

 one of the moat attractive features of the exhibition, were in the 

 best possible condition. William Edgar, gardener to Ex-Governor 

 Claflin, exhibited the following fine collection : Adiantum. Farley- 

 ense, A. cuneatum^ at least five feet in diameter ; A. formosum^ a 

 splendid specimen ; ^. concinnum, A. amabile, verj'^ graceful ; 

 GleicJienia Spelunca^-, Pteris serrulata major magnijica, P. umhrosa, 

 Cyathea princeps, a very handsome plant ; C. regale^ Gym,nogramma 

 calomelanos and G. Peruviana argyrophylla. 



From J. Warren Merrill came a superb collection, among which, 

 although the plants were not as large as the ones just mentioned, 

 there were some rare varieties, and, for 3'oung plants, these were 

 very handsome and exceedingly well grown. The collection con- 

 sisted of Adiantum scutum, Cibotium Schiedei, very fine ; Davallia 

 ornata, a fine, well grown plant ; Diclcsonia antarctica, a handsome 

 specimen ; Dictyogramma Japonica, new, and a splendid specimen ; 

 Gymnogramma Wettenhallania, Lygodium circinale, trained to a 

 trellis seven feet high, and a superb specimen plant ; L. sca.ndens, 

 trained in the same manner ; L. ptahnatum, a very fine plant 

 and one of the best ever exhibited ; Notliolmna rufa, new ; Polypo- 

 dium cusjndutum, new ; and Pteris tricolor. In addition to those 

 already mentioned were many new and rare varieties, all of them 

 in the best possible condition. 



For the prize for six ferns, Joseph Clark and J„ W. Merrill 

 were the competitors. In the collection of Mr. Clark were excel- 



