314 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



departments were not overlooked, — the Rose, the Azalea, the 

 Cyclamen, the Cineraria, and that Royal Famil}' of plants, the 

 Orchids, all made a fine displaj' of their choicest varieties. One 

 specimen worthy of special mention — Dendrohium nohile — was 

 perhaps the largest orchid ever brought into the hall, having more 

 than a thousand flowers, and many buds ready to open. 



June, the month of Roses, brought the best products of the 

 rosarian to Horticultural Hall, on the 26th. The extremely hot 

 weather a few days previous, followed by heavy thunder showers, 

 interfered somewhat with the rose exhibit, but, notwithstanding, 

 the Queen of Flowers, appeared in great loveliness, in all shades 

 of color from the pure white of the Puritan to the rich glowing 

 crimson of Fisher Holmes. 



The display of Strawberries in connection with the Rose Show 

 was as large as the Society ever made. A change in the Schedule 

 of Premiums for the past year brought out a large display of all 

 the best varieties, new and old, — the Sharpless, the Jewell, and 

 the Belmont taking the first place in the exhibition for size and 

 quaUt^'. This Strawberry Show has not been surpassed by an}' 

 former exhibition. 



The Annual Autumnal Exhibition began September 18th, con- 

 tinuing four days. 



The first exhibition of this Society that I attended was in 

 September, 1848, at Faneuil Hall. A larger and finer collection 

 of Fruits had never before been presented to the public eye in this 

 city ; and it was doubted whether it had ever been equalled in this 

 country, or surpassed b}' the exhibition of any society in Europe. 

 There were 350 sorts of Pears (one collection comprising 260 vari- 

 eties) and 150 of Apples. Cultivators of forty years ago vied 

 with each other to see which could show the largest number of 

 varieties. While this collection included sorts of no interest in 

 any exhibition, except to show that they were unworthy of culti- 

 vation, many of the dishes were filled with large and perfect spec- 

 imens of the finest varieties. A great improvement has been made 

 in the Schedule of this Society by offering premiums for the best 

 single dishes, instead of for the largest collection. Apples and 

 Pears at the late show were noted for their large size, fine color, 

 and freedom from all blemishes caused by insects, which goes 

 to show that cultivators are exercising more care in the cultiva- 

 tion of our standard fruits. 



