178 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ANNUAL EXHIBITION. 



September 17, 18, 19, and 20. 



This was more sombre thau in most years, owing to the unusual 

 absence of the brilliant colors, both in foliage and flowers generally 

 seen at these shows. Palms seemed to predominate, whereas 

 they should be interspersed with the ornamental foliaged plants, 

 such as Crotons and Dracaenas to enliven them, and make the 

 grouping more attractive. William E. Doyle brought the largest 

 collection of plants, while the exhibits made b}^ Joseph H. White,^ 

 H, H. Hunnewell, Nathaniel T. Kidder, Thomas Clark, and 

 Dr. C. G. Weld, were very effective, being mostly of large well 

 grown plants. Mr. Hunnewell was awarded the Society's Silver 

 Medal for well grown Dracaenas. Mrs. E. M. Gill took the M. B. 

 Faxon Special Prize for a vase of single Dahlias, and William C. 

 Strong won the Hunnewell Prize for Evergreen Trees and Shrubs. 



October 5 John L. Gardner showed for the first time Vanda 

 Kimhalliana which was awarded the Society's Silver Medal. 



October 19 Mrs. Anna L. Moring sent in seven varieties of 

 splendidly grown Chrysanthemums. John Simpkins was awarded 

 a First Class Certificate of Merit for a seedling Chr^^sanlhemum, a 

 large flower fully six inches in diameter ; color white, slightly 

 pinkish, tinged lemon in the centre, and named Miss R. Simpkins. 



October 26 John L. Gardner showed JEschynantlms grandi- 

 Jlorus. This is a drooping shrub, bearing trusses of crimson-yellow 

 flowers on the ends of the branches. It was introduced into this 

 country a good many years ago, but we are alwaj'^s glad to greet 

 an old favorite, and to Charles M. Atkinson, gardener to Mr. Gard- 

 ner, was awariJed a First Class Certificate of Merit for Superior Cul- 

 ture of this plant. 



The beautiful collections of Wild Flowers and Ferns that have 

 been exhibited by Mrs. P. D. Richards, Fj. H. Hitchings, Sever- 

 ance Burrage, Walter E. Coburn, and Miss M. W. Nichols during 

 the season, have been a source of great pleasure to a numerous 

 constituency of ardent admirers. Nearly ever}' Saturday during 

 the year specimens of our native flora have graced our tables, and 

 when we take into consideration that these are all correctly marked 

 with both the botanical and the common names, we see at once the 

 value of each exhibit to students in botau}-, and even to the ordinary 

 observer. These collectors cannot be too highly commended for 

 their perseverance in so good yet so arduous a work. 



