22 



Sanchezia, Dalechampia, Medinilla, Dracaena, Alocasia, 

 Croton, Pandanus, Phormium, Phyllotirnium, and Be- 

 gonia, calls up at once the recollection of hundreds of 

 others, rich in flower and foliage beyond any thing 

 dreamed of when this society was formed. The same 

 may be said of the curious and delicate forms of green- 

 house ferns ; yet these are rivalled by the species from 

 our own woods, which have been during this era so 

 thoroughly studied, and brought into cultivation. Hot- 

 house orchids were hardly known here half a century 

 ago ; yet at almost every exhibition now they surprise 

 and delight us by some new and wonderful form, or 

 gorgeous color. In the out-door garden, the develop- 

 ment of the hybrid perpetual roses, in their endless varie- 

 ties of form and color, would alone have signalized this 

 era ; yet we have seen equal improvement in the Rho- 

 dodendron, while the new Deutzias, Hydrangeas, Vibur- 

 nums, the Azalea mollis, and the Aquilegias, are repre- 

 sentatives of plants which are destined to find a place in 

 every garden. That our cultivators have not merely in- 

 troduced, but originated new plants, is witnessed by the 

 magnificent Lilies of Mr. Hovey and Mr. Parkman, the 

 DraCcPuas of Mr. Butler and Mr. Harris, the Ptponies of 

 Mr. Richardson and Dr. Kirtland, the Carnations and 

 Gladioli of Messrs. Hyde, Richards, Crafts, and others, 

 and the numerous seedling Lilies, Coleus, Lis, Phloxes, 

 Delphiniums, Pelargoniums, and other flowers almost 

 weekly presented. 



The extent of the cultivation and improvement of 

 ])articular flowers is testified by the special exhibitions 

 to which the Rose, the Rhododendron, the Pelargo- 

 nium, the Lidian Azalea, and the Chrysanthemum have 

 given their names. The winter exhibitions, especially 

 of roses, have of late grown in extent and beauty ; the 

 exhibitions and discussions having exerted a mutually 

 beneficial eft'ect. 



