EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FLOWERS. 27 



Joseph Breck, J. O'Brien, J. Comley and A. McLaren. Some 

 of these displays have been very good, but as a whole they have 

 not been equal to other seasons. The stove and greenhouse 

 plants have been very good, especially at the Rose exhibition, H. 

 H. Hunuewell, C. S. Sargent and Mrs. T. W. Ward, being the 

 principal exhibitors. The competition for premiums for Eoses 

 was not very spirited, but those that were exhibited were very 

 finet; the liberal premium offered by C. S. Sargent, Esq., bring- 

 ing out fine collections from J. C. Chaffin, Francis Parkman and 

 H. H. Hunnewell, that of Mr. Chaffin being particularly good. 

 One of the attractive features of the weekly exhibitions has been 

 the Baskets of Flowers, which have been contributed entirely by 

 ladies ; this may be truly called the ladies' department ; there have 

 been fewer contributors than in other seasons, but for quality of 

 flowers and neatness of arrangement, it is safe to say that the ex- 

 hibitions of the present year could not have been excelled ; Mrs. 

 Joyce, Mrs. "Wood and Mrs. Story were the principal exhibitors. 

 The beautiful designs which have occupied the front of the table 

 at the entrance of the hall, from Mrs. T. W. Ward, have been the 

 admiration of all, composed as they were of the rarest flowers, and 

 the tasty and graceful manner of their arrangement, as well as the 

 production of such fine flowers, reflect great credit on Mr. Clark, 

 Mrs. Ward's excellent gardener. Of new plants there have not 

 been many ; those of merit are mentioned in the report of the 

 weekly shows. At the Annual Exhibition everj^thing seemed to 

 conspire against us, and, notwithstanding "Probabilities" himself 

 ordered fine weather, we were doomed to disappointment, and the 

 necessity of extending the time for making entries was apparent, 

 to aA'oid having a very small exhibition. The result was, however, 

 most gratif\dug, and by Wednesday noon the halls were completely 

 filled with as choice a collection of plants and fiowers as was ever 

 exhibited, their excellent condition showing that great pains had 

 been taken to bring them to the greatest perfection. As a whole, 

 'there seems to be but little doubt, as far as the flower department 

 is concerned, that this show, as well as the weekly exhibitions of the 

 last year, may be safely set down as among the best ever given by 

 the Society. 



Before calling attention to the exhibitions as they occurred 

 through the season, the Committee desire to call the special atten- 

 tion of contributors to the Schedule, which will be offered for the 



