REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 77 



Thalictrum aquilegifolmm, a handsome ornamental plant for a 

 border or shrubbery ; Vibtirnutn plicatum, a very fine species ; 

 Weigelia hortensis nivea; Xerophyllum asphodeloides, very hand- 

 some when in flower ; also the following superb Clematis : Alex- 

 andra, J. G. Veiteh, Miss Bateman, Prince of Wales, Star of 

 India, Thomas Moore, Tunhridgensis, Rubella^ and Vitkella rubra; 

 also a hybrid Lilmm, a cross between L. auratum and L. lanci- 

 folmm, a very fine, handsome colored flower, extra large and 

 good. The herbaceous flowers shown by Mr. Parkman have 

 always been very fine, and have added much to the interest of 

 the exhibitions. We hope many more will take up the cultivation 

 of this highly useful and too much neglected class of plants. 



From John B. Moore we had Lachenalia luteola^ a very fine plant 

 with forty-five spikes of flower. 



From H. H. Hunnewell, Tacsonia ignea, Clematis indivisa, a 

 magnificent cool greenhouse climber, and Clematis Lord Londes- 

 boro, grown in a pot ; this was the best specimen Clematis ever 

 shown in a pot, and contained hundreds of bright flowers ; it was 

 an object of great beauty. 



October 16th, Mr. Hunnewell, sent two flower spikes of 

 Agave Americana. The plant which produced them was much 

 injured by frost in the fall of 1874, and was thrown aside as of no 

 value, but when it was found to show a disposition to flower, atten- 

 tion was given it which resulted in producing these two spikes. 

 Though not as large as they would have been on a more vigorous 

 plant, or as if there had been but one on this, the fact that they 

 were the first of this species ever exhibited here, combined with 

 the interest felt in it from the popular idea that it flowers only 

 when a century old, attracted a large number of visitors to the 

 Hall. Mr. Harris, Mr. Hunnewell's gardener, is of the opinion 

 that any plant, by subjecting it to a degree of frost suflScient to 

 check its growth without injuring the foliage, and then placing 

 in strong bottom heat, could be forced to develop a flower spike. 



From C. M. Atkinson, Amaryllis jprinceps. Begonia glaucopliylla 

 scandens, Bletia TanJcervillece, Chorizema Lawrenciana, Crassida 

 corymbidosa, Erica arborea, E. rubra calyx, Franciscea calycina 

 major, Kennedya monophylla, and Tacsonia princeps. The plants 

 shown by Mr. Atkinson are always in excellent condition, and 

 give the best evidence that they have been trained by skilful 

 hands. Those exhibited the past season have been objects fit to 

 adorn any conservatory or exhibition table. 



