REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 107 



lent specimen plants of Lygodium scandens, Adiantum trapeziforme., 

 A. macrophyUum, A. cardiocJikena, Hypolepis distans and Lomaria 

 gibha. The collection of Mr. Merrill also contained many choice 

 varieties ; no one of late years has paid more attention to ferns 

 than this gentleman, who is the fortunate possessor of one of the 

 best collections it has been our pleasure to see. Tree Ferns were 

 shown byHovey & Co. and Walsh Brothers. 



The only collection of Dracaenas was from Hovey & Co., and it was 

 unusually good, the varieties being very distinct and fine; these 

 are among the most indispensable plants for decorative purposes 

 where variety is sought. The plants shown were D. stricta, ferrea, 

 Cooperi, latifoUa, terminaUs^ and nigro-ruhra. 



Of Palms, two splendid collections were shown by Hovey & Co. 

 and William Gray, Jr. ; that of Hovey &, Co., contained some 

 very large and handsome specimens, and although Mr. Gray's 

 plants were not as large they were well grown and a very fine col- 

 lection. Without doubt these were the two best collections of 

 palms ever on exhibition here. 



Agaves : Of late years, considerable attention has been given to 

 this highly ornamental class of plants, which are so well adapted 

 to adorn any place, from the smallest greenhouse to the largest 

 conservatory,' and for decorating lawns are certainly unequalled. 

 The collections of Hovey & Co. and C. S. Sargent were unusually 

 fine ; indeed it was very difficult to decide between the two, they 

 being in many respects so nearly alike, and both containing many 

 choice and new varieties. 



Of Succulents, carefully chosen collections from Louis Guer- 

 ineau, Hovey & Co., and John C. Hovey were on exhibition and 

 were novel and interesting. Probably no class of plants of recent 

 introduction has proved more useful than these, which are valuable 

 either as pot plants or for decorative purposes. The Echeveria, 

 for bedding, can hardly be equalled, being well adapted to dry situ- 

 ations, and proving to be what is wanted where others would fail. 

 These very interesting collections constituted one of the most at- 

 tractive features of the exhibition. Of Cacti, good collections 

 containing many specimens of rare and choice varieties were shown. 



For the best New Pot Plant, a new Palm, Cocos WeddeUiana, 

 was exhibited by C. S. Sargent; it is a dwarfer growing variety 

 than some of the palms, and said to be very valuable for decora- 

 tive purposes. 



