13 



some years previous, there was a general enthusiasm in 

 regard to the hybridization of plants, particularly the 

 came'lia and dahlia, and also in regard to the intro- 

 duction of new varieties. As an illustration of this 

 enthusiasm, we may mention that two hundred and fifty 

 dollars was paid for a plant of Camellia Floyii^ and ten 

 guineas for a plant of the Dahlia Hope. The displays 

 of camellias were very extensive : on the 12th of Feb- 

 ruary, 1848, Marshall P. AVilder exhibited ihirty-three 

 varieties; Hovey & Co., sixteen varieties; and J. L. 

 L. F. Warren, twelve varieties. The new hall of the 

 society having been found too small for the iVnnual 

 Exhibition, it was held in Faneuil Hall. Marshall P. 

 Wilder exhibited two hundred varieties of pears ; Robert 

 Manning, two hundred and sixty varieties of pears, and 

 one hundred and eighteen of apples ; John Fisk Allen, 

 thirty-three varieties of foreign grapes ; and Samuel 

 W. Cole, one hundred varieties of potatoes. The first 

 special Pose Show was held in June, 1849. The next 

 year the Garden Committee was established. Hovey & 

 Co. made the first of those beautiful shows of azaleas 

 and rhododendrons which have been so much admired. 

 John P. Cushing exhibited magnificent specimens of 

 pears from walls and under glass. At the Annual Show 

 the collection of one hundred and forty-one finely 

 grown varieties of apples from B. V. French was an 

 exhibition of itself. In 1851 the Weigelia rosea was 

 introduced by Marshall P. Wilder, and the Champion 

 of England pea by Azell Bowditch ; the -Jenny Lind 

 strawberry was shown by the originator ; John P. 

 Cushing exhibited a collection of thirty-three varieties 

 of strawberries ; Andre Leroy of Angers, France, sent 

 a collection of one hundred and sixteen varieties of 

 pears, including the Doyenne du Comice, besides other 

 fruit. In 1852 Messrs. Winship exhibited the Dielj/tra 

 spectahilis. The Annual Exhibition was, in this and 



