TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 45 



The exhibition was much finer than the most sanguine cultivator could 

 have anticipated, and the number of competitors for the premiums larger 

 than expected. Nearly three thousand superb blooms of the dahlia, of all 

 colors and shades, were displayed, besides fine collections of asters and 

 annuals, both of which were also exhibited for the Society's premiums. 

 A variety of bouquets, verbenas, and other flowers, were also contributed, 

 which rendered the show much more interesting. Messrs. Hovey & Co. 

 presented a stand of splendid verbenas, and Mr. Walker three fine bou- 

 quets. German asters, from Josiah Stickney, S. Sweetser, J. J. Low, and 

 J. L. L. F. Warren. 



The rules and regulations of the Society, which had been previously pub- 

 lished, were strictly adhered to on the occasion of this exhibition, and we 

 think it will have a greater tendency to spread a correct taste for this beau- 

 tiful flower, than any exhibition which has ever been made. The blooms 

 were shown in classes of six, twelve, and twenty-four ; besides these, there 

 was a grand display of specimens not entered for premium. 



The principal contributors were Josiah Stickney, M. P. Wilder, Hovey 

 & Co., D. Haggerston, J. J. Low, S. Walker, D. Mclntyre, Jos. Breck 

 & Co., S. Sweetser, W. E. Carter, J. A. Kenrick, Capt. Macondry, W. 

 Kenrick, W. Meller, H. W. Button, W. Bacon, J. L. L. F. Warren, 

 P. G. Seabury (New Bedford,) P. Barnes, Messrs. Winship, J. T. Buck- 

 ingham, Rufus Howe, and A. McLennan. 



The names of the dahlias which obtained the prizes awarded by the 

 judges, are as follows : — 



Premier Prize. 



Best six dissimilar blooms : — Gaines's Primrose, Marshal Soult, Suffolk 

 Hero, Dodd's Mary, Rose Superior, and Lady Bathurst — M. P. Wilder, 

 a premium of f 15. 



Specimen Bloom. 



Best bloom: — Gaines's Primrose — M. P. Wilder, a premium of $5. 



Discretionary premium of $5, to J. J. Low, for Girling's Castanda. 



DIVISION A. 

 Open to all cultivators of more than two hundred plants. 



CLASS I. 



Best twenty-four dissimilar blooms: — Lady Bathurst, Marshal Soult, 

 Suffolk Hero, Glory of Plymouth, Hedley's Penelope, Topaz, Castanda, 

 Rival Sussex, Harwood's Defiance, Dodd's Mary, Stanford's Contender, 

 Eva, Ne Plus Ultra, Countess of Liverpool, Glory, Ovid, Springfield 

 Rival, Rosetta, Lord Byron, Dennisii, Striata formosissima. Sir Henry 

 Fletcher, Mrs. Rushton, Yellow Perfection — M. P. Wilder, a premium 

 of $8. 



