126 MASSACHUSETTS HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Cruickshanks said that he grew the Swiss chard a good 

 many years ago, and it was then known as the improved sugar 

 beet. Only the leaf stems were used, and they were found a very 

 good substitute for asparagus. 



E. S. Rand, Jr., called attention to a spike of flowers of On- 

 cidiiim Jlexuosum, exhibited by James Comley. The flowers are of 

 a brilliant yellow color, and the spikes with their slender stems 

 assume a very graceful position. If these flowers had remained 

 on the plant they would probably have lasted three or four weeks, 

 and even when cut they would endure for a week or ten days. Mr. 

 Rand had a plant of Oncidlum luridum guttatum which had at one 

 time two hundred and eightj^-four flowers, besides buds. He also 

 exhibited an orchid of his own, Gattleya pumila, the smallest of 

 all orchids, growing upon a block of wood. The flower is of a 

 beautiful blush purple, with a deep purple lip. It hardly needs 

 any rest, but after the flower is gone tlie plant will have no water 

 until it begins to grow. It was imported from England a 3'ear 

 ago, when it had only three leaves, but has made several since, 

 and is now in a condition to be cut for a " back break." The 

 flower is very large in proportion to the size of the plant. 



The Chairman said that as this was the last meeting of the 

 season he wished the President of the society were here to express 

 the gratification which all must feel at the success of the meetings, 

 and at the increased attendance which has sanctioned them. 

 Nothing in the whole history of the society has given more satis- 

 faction than these meetings, as the most decided step of progress 

 ever made, and the same testimony comes from abroad, the pub- 

 lished reports of the meetings of last year having been copied 

 from and invariably spoken of with high approval, and he trusted 

 that they would be continued in the future, and that all would 

 come up prepared to make them even more successful than the 

 series now closed. 



The Corresponding Secretary corroborated the remarks of the 

 Chair in regard to the interest of these discussions to parties abroad, 

 and said that the reports were looked for with great interest. 



The Chairman made the gratifying announcement that Mr. Gray 

 had invited the members of the society to visit his houses and 

 examine his pelargoniums, which were coming into bloom. 



