REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1887. 



By JOSEPH H. WOODFORD, Chairman. 



In submitting the Report of our doings for the past year, it may 

 not be too much to sa}- that our Society is conceded to be the most 

 active of all the similar institutions in the country in promoting a 

 love for the beautiful among the masses of the people. For over 

 fifty years it has been continually doing this great work of benefi- 

 cence ; and as the years roll away we become more and more 

 assured of the wide-spread benefits conferred on this community 

 by our liberality. The horticultural education, which is yearly 

 disseminated by this Society and absorbed by the public, is a 

 power for good, appreciated only by those who come in actual 

 contact as participants, with the great work we are doing. The 

 love of flower culture is probably the most refining influence which 

 can be developed in any community, and as our institution pre- 

 eminently fosters the love of flowers and gardening, we may be 

 considered as amongst the great moral educators of the people. 



We see an increased love of flowers manifested by the atten- 

 dance at our weekl}' exhibitions, and by the quantity of flowers 

 exposed for sale on the street or in the flower stores ; both greater 

 than ever before. Reaching as we do by our influence all classes 

 of the people, we are doing all in our power to extend and 

 develop among them a love of the useful and beautiful in nature, 

 so that these may be availed of to the fullest extent of their 

 beneficence. 



The exhibitions during the year have been well attended and 

 generally successful. To make a proper report of them it will be 



