FLOWER COMMITTEE S REPORT. / 



down the centre of each petal, the ontsidcs of the petal darker, and the insides 

 covered with protuberances, as in the common Japan Lily ; the flower is pow- 

 erfully fragrant, and continues in perfection about a week. The flowers ex- 

 hibited bloomed in the open air, though started under glass. The history of 

 the plants may not prove uninteresting. 



They were brought from Japan in 18G1, by Gordon Dexter, Esq.; were 

 given by him to Francis Lee, Esq., and by him to Messrs. Spooner and Park- 

 man, of Jamaica Plain, by whom they were successfully bloomed and exhibited. 

 This seems the greatest acquisition the Lily tribe has received for many yeara, 

 and should it prove hardy, as there is good reason to hope, it will prove a wor- 

 thy companion for our well known and always admired "Japan Lilies." We 

 understand that the Lilies exhibited received the award of a silver medal from 

 the Flower Committee of the Society, and that Mr. Parkman has had the 

 Flowers photographed and painted. There are yet other bulbs not yet bloomed, 

 from which we may hope for further specimens. 



This lily has been shown in England, the past season, and was first flowered 

 by Messrs. Veitch & Son of Chelsea and Exeter Nurseries, and exhibited by 

 them, at the South Kensington Horticultural Exhibition, about the same time 

 it was shown in the Hall of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Of the 

 beauty of the plant we cannot say too much, and as there is every probability 

 of its proving hardy, the whole floricultural world owe a debt of gratitude to 

 its introducers. It is especially gratifying that in the present case vve have 

 not to wait until the plant become* well-known in Europe, but we have it from 

 its primal source. Were greater encouragement given this gratifying result 

 might oftener be attained. For the gratification of those who were unfortunate 

 enough to miss seeing the flower, we would state, that the exhibitors have a 

 painting and photographs of the flower, and a colored figure is also given in 

 "The Florist and Pomologist" for September, J8G2, and in Curtis's Botanical 

 Magazine for October, which are in the Library of the Society ; the figure, 

 however, does but little justice to the beauty of the original.* 



From William C. Strong: A fine display of cut Gloxmias. 



From Dennis Murray : A fine display of our native Rhododendron, (R. inax- 

 imum). During the past winter the flower buds of this plant were not killed, 

 and the superb heads of bloom have been very abundant ; we have gathered a 

 wagon load in the Medfield locality. 



July 19. 



From Spooner &. Parkman : Some nice plants of Cryptomeria japonica. 



August 2. 



From Spooner & Paikman: Lilium atrosanguineum, (good); Clematis 

 Helene flore pleno; fine seedling Tropaeolums, 



* Full justice is done to the flower in the October number of L'lllustration Horticole, compared 

 to which the representations in Curtis and the Florist are worthless. It is singular how wonder- 

 fully the French excel the EngUsh in representations of flowers and fruits. 



