FLOWER committee's REPORT. 23 



the flowers being arranged round three-fourths of tlie stem, instead of on one 

 side, as usual. This may prove the beginning of a great improvement in 

 Gladioli ; could we obtain varieties on which the flowers were arranged so as 

 to form a round spike, it would add another recommendation to this showy and 

 popular flower. 



Madam de Vatry. White, tinged wiih faint straw color, carmine stripe on 

 lower petals. Large flower, very fine. 



Gustave Malet. Deepest vermilion scarlet, lighted with feathery white, 

 deepening to purple. A superior flower, of great substance, in the way of 

 Raphael. 



Saturday, Sept. 7th. The floral display was fine, and better in quality than 

 usual. 



German Asters were good, though not up to the standard of last year ; the 

 drought has been injurious to them. The best stands of thirty blooms, in nut 

 less than ten varieties, were shown by Hovey & Co., Barnes &, Washburn, 

 Thomas Walsh and John Kelley, and the prizes were accordingly awarded. 



The stands of Verbenas presented no new features ; the blooms were fair, 

 but there was a general lack of variety in color; one stand would have four 

 whites, which it was hard to say did not come off" of one plant; another had 

 six reds, and so on. In a prize stand it should be an object to give as great 

 variety in color as possible, not content with having the requisite number of 

 names. 



The best stand was that of Hovey & Co., which was ruled out on account 

 of containing too many varieties. 



The prizes were awarded to Barnes &, Washburn, James Nugent and II. 

 Grundell. 



Three seedlings were presented in competition for the silver medal. 



Annie, Jr. By James McTear. Evidently a seedling from Annie ; the truss 

 appeared to be fuller, and the flower larger. Recommended for trial. 



Auburn. By G. G. Hubbard. Bright cherry red, with greenish white eye, 

 in way of Evening Star; good form and truss. Recommended for trial. 



Hyde's Blue. This variety, which was recommended for trial last year, now 

 came up final judgment. All who have grown it speak of it in the highest 

 terms. Its color is new ; it possesses a pleasing and very powerful fragrance ; 

 habit and foliage good; stands the sun well, and blooms freely in the open air. 

 For a bedding variety it is superior; it has not as yet been lully tried in the 

 greenhouse. The Committee, in view of the many good qualities of this new 

 variety, unanimously awarded it the prize of the Society's Silver Medal for 

 the best new seedling. 



Another seedling, of a light purple color, presented by Mr. Hyde, appeared 

 to possess nothmg to recommend it. 



The display of cut flowers was good. 



We particularly notice fine Gladiolus, by Hovey &l Co., James McTear, 

 Joseph Breck, Spooner & Co. and Barnes & Washburn. 



