25 



ties. Cross impregnation and the seed have rendered the 

 chances for elegant sorts comparatively easy. Besides the 

 numerous and brilliant series of blossom from different kinds 

 of the green-houses of the city and its immediate suburbs, we 

 understand that the specimens offered by E. Hersey Derby, 

 Esq., from the culture of Mr. Willott, were considered by 

 good judges as excellent and well grown. The first display 

 in this flower, made by the Society, occurred on the 28th 

 April, 1838, as follows. "^^ 



Exhibited by M. P. Wilder, about twenty pots, with three 

 or four seedlings of his own. 



■ by Wm. Meller, four or five varieties in pots. 



by T. IMason, cut flowers of various geraniums. 



Some of Mr. Wilder's seedlings were pronounced worthy i^ 

 of names and of being introduced to general culture. / 



The visitors to the exhibition were numerous, and much 

 interest was manifested^ 



Having thus briefly taken cognizance of the most brilliant 

 and attractive features in the floriculture of our green-houses 

 and stoves, we pass to plants of rarer occurrence and of later 

 observation. Of these we may be reminded of the ac- 

 cession of many of the more curious tropical orchideae. A 

 dozen or more species may be found at Mr. Wilder's, some 

 of the finest of which, have flowered. Ninetyseven expand- 

 ed blossoms, supported on a peduncle twentyseven inches in 

 length, appeared on Oncidium flexuosum, and was exhibited 

 a year since. This plant showed no inclination to flower du- 

 ring the past season ; but a rarer and more curious species, 

 produced a superb inflorescence, viz. Stanhopea insignis, ex- 

 citing universal admiration. Next to this, the lately collected se- 

 ries of Hon. John Lovv^ell, should be borne in mind ; nor in- 

 frequent in stoves, are to be met with, several kinds. 



The magnificence of the Amaryllideag, has not been for- 

 gotten by the amateur and florist. Crinum amabile may be 

 4 



