REPORT TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 275 



favorite La France. The Strawberries were of more than usual 

 excellence, many of the varieties being very large and fine. 



The Annual Exhibition of this Society has always been looked 

 forward to with great interest b}' all lovers of the beautiful in 

 plant growth. The newly renovated upper hall was devoted to a 

 choice collection of tropical plants, including crotons, dracsenas, 

 lycopods, stately palms, and tall ferns. From the display of wild 

 flowers at the entrance of the upper hall, to the rare orchids which 

 fringed the platform with all their fantastic growths, the visitor was 

 charmed by the great variety of form and color. The tree ferns 

 were all verj' large and well grown. 



In the upper hall was placed a very broad tank filled with a 

 large and choice collection of water lilies, including the different 

 varieties of pink, white, and blue, among them being the- 

 lovely night-blooming Nymphaea Devoniensis. Altogether the- 

 upper hall presented an exquisite picture of floral beauty — one 

 such as is rarely seen even in Horticultural Hall. The lower hall 

 was devoted to fruits and vegetables. The collections of vege- 

 tables were very large and all of the finest quality — none over- 

 grown, but all suitable for family use. 



Among the grapes were many collections of both native and 

 foreign varieties ; one bunch of the latter weighed between nine 

 and ten pounds. The show of apples was not large but was of 

 very superior quality. Of pears many were better than are usually 

 exhibited. The Boscs, Sheldons, and Seckels were worthy of more 

 than a passing notice. Twelve specimens of the last named 

 weighed four pounds and five and one-half ounces, and made the 

 largest and finest dish of that variety which your delegate had 

 ever seen. 



The Chrysanthemum Show is always one of the most brilliant 

 exhibitions of the 3'ear. The flower has been called the Queen of 

 Autumn and wears her honors with a royal air befitting a plant 

 that in China and Japan has been made the national emblem. All 

 the classes were represented by well grown plants, of all the dif- 

 ferent colors — white, yellow, purple and the intervening shades. 

 The collections of cut flowers shown in the lower hall liave never 

 been surpassed in size, form or color, at any exhibition of thia 

 Society. A marked improvement has been made of late years in 

 the exhibits of this Society ; a higher standard of excellence in all 

 departments has been attained, which shows the increased skill of 

 the growers. 



