REPORT TO THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 351 



March 10. Metropolitan Parks, by Sylvester Baxter, Maiden. 



March 17. Growing Seeds for the Market, by Hon. James J. 

 H. Gregory, Marblehead. 



March 24. Vegetables Under Glass, by William D. Philbrick, 

 Newton Centre. 



March 31. Ornamental Horticulture at the World's Columbian 

 Exposition, by William J. Stewart, Winchester. 



The Spring Exhibition of the Society began March 28, to con- 

 tinue three days. The weather at that date was not favorable for 

 a good display of choice stove and greenhouse plants, the mer- 

 cury standing at only twenty degrees above zero. Few growers 

 would assume the risk of exposing their tender specimens to the 

 frosty air. But notwithstanding the exhibition suffered by the 

 absence of some of the choicest plants, the show was excellent in 

 many respects. On the floor of the Lower Hall wei-e tastefully 

 arranged groups of Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Acacias, and Rhododen- 

 drons : and on the tables at the sides of the hall, were spread 

 dozens of the Society's dishes containing many varieties of Apples, 

 Pears, Potatoes, String Beans, Mushrooms, Onions, Radishes, 

 Lettuce, Parsley, Rhubarb, and Tomatoes. 



On entering the Upper Hall, a scene of beauty and fragrance 

 greeted the visitor. Here was the most brilliant part of the Exhi- 

 bition. The display of Spring Flowering Bulbs included the fra- 

 grant Hyacinths, Tulips, Easter Lilies, Lilies of the Valley, and 

 Cyclamens ; these with the numerous varieties of Cinerarias, Prim- 

 ulas, Pausies, Pinks, Roses, and Violets, to which were added 

 several fine specimens of rare Orchids, formed a dazzling and 

 entrancing combination. 



The Rose and Strawberry Exhibition began June 20. Notwith- 

 standing the series of extremely hot, dry days which preceded the 

 opening of this display, it was fully equal to any previous one. 

 The Upper Hall was devoted to the Roses, a fine display of Rho- 

 dodendrons, and large collections of Hardy Herbaceous Plants. 

 The show of Strawberries, in the Lower Hall, surjDassed any pre- 

 vious one, both in quantity and quality. The leading varieties 

 were Marshall, Belmont, Sharpless, and Bubach. The Marshall 

 was shown two years ago for the first time. It is a variety of 

 much promise. A few ver}' handsome bunches of Foreign Grapes 

 were exhibited. The show of Vegetables was large and fine, com- 

 prising Lettuce, Beets, Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, Radishes, Peas, 



