FLOWER committee's REPORT. 29 



were very curious and interesting to botanists, and Mr. Murray deserves much 

 credit for his indefatigable researches. 



The Committee award the following gratuities : To Hovey & Co. for 

 Chrysanthemums, $3 ; to Dennis Murray for rare native plants, $3. 



Saturday, November 9th. A bloom of the new and pretty climber Lapa- 

 geria rosea was exhibited by Jonathan French ; all who have grown it in this 

 vicinity agree as representing it as a weak grower and shy bloomer. The 

 fault must, however, be in the treatment, and not in the plant ; for we read in 

 English periodicals of plants producing several hundred flowers. 



Saturday, November 30th. A plant of Hippeastrum aulicum, with one spike 

 of four flowers, from James Comley. 



And now, having finished the review of the season, it becomes us to ask 

 what progress we have made, in what we have been benefited, or in what 

 aided, the cause of horticulture. We have expended more than twelve 

 hundred dollars in prizes and gratuities, including the appropriation of one 

 thousand dollars, and the additional amount appropriated by the Society for 

 the Annual Exhibition. But to what advantage? no person in his sober senses 

 would give half of this sum for all the pot plants, flowers or bouquets which 

 have composed the last year's floral exhibitions. If the Society is a Charitable 

 Institution, then very well — it has dispensed liberally; if it is as it purports 

 to be, a society to promote the advancement of horticulture, as far as we can 

 perceive, all this money has been thrown away. Exhibitors regard the Society 

 as a means of making money, and he who has the largest garden or green- 

 house pockets the largest amount. On prize days, the stands are full ; when 

 there are none to be awarded, we have long arrays of empty bottles and bare 

 tables. 



The appropriations have been increased from year to year, every means 

 have been tried to induce exhibitors to forget pecuniary interests, and to com- 

 pete in generous rivalry; but, thus far, in vain ; and we are today worse off 

 than six years ago, when the appropriation was only seven hundred dollars. 

 Our exhibitions vary from year to year with the introduction of new plants, 

 and the dropping of others from cultivation ; but, all things considered, they 

 are not up to the standard of ten years since. The Committee have done all 

 in their power to increase the interest in the exhibitions, and to maintain their 

 character ; but, thus far, without success. Their duties are at the best thank- 

 less, requiring a large expenditure of time and patience, and they have looked 

 in vain for any endeavor among exhibitors to aid them in their labors. The 

 rules are not complied with, the simplest regulations neglected, though laid 

 down for the manifest benefit and advantage of the exhibitors themselves. In 

 several cases, during the past season, the Committee have been compelled to 

 enforce the severest penalty in their power — that of withholding the prizes 

 and ruling out the exhibitor, with what good eflTect remains to be seen. 



Your Committee, after careful consideration, find that this Society, though 



