REPOllT TO STATE BOAUD OF AGRICULTURE. 317 



could well fancy himself in some tmpical forest as he strolled 

 among Palms over twenty feet high, with large Cycads on either 

 hand, and the great platform covered with Tree Ferns, Arecas, 

 gavly variegated Crotous, richly colored Dracaenas, the beautiful 

 Anthuriuras, the Agapanthus, Allamanda, and Ixoras. On the 

 floor, besides the larger Palms, Cycads, Crotons, Dracjenas, etc., 

 were large collections of other plants, including the fantastic 

 Orchids, the majestic Amazonian Lily, and many large exotic 

 shrubs, both of blooming and of ornamental foliage varieties. 



The bronze statue of Beethoven never before looked down on 

 such a magnificent display of floral beauty in Music Hall. The 

 show of cut flowers was large, including Petunias, Tuberous Be- 

 gonias, Sweet Peas, Drummond Phlox, Zinnias, Dahlias, Gladioli, 

 Gloxinias, and a large collection of hardy herbaceous plants. One 

 of the most attractive features was found in the great tanks and 

 tubs containing the Nymphfiea and other aquatic plants, among 

 which were the Egyptian Lotus and the Victoria Regia. Another 

 interesting display was that of the floral decoration of mantels and 

 tables for a fashionable dinner party. Much interest was taken in 

 this department of the exhibition. 



It is safe to say that never before has so choice and valuable a 

 collection of Stove and Greenhouse Plants been brought together 

 in this country. A representative of one of the leading Botanic 

 Gardens in England was present and expressed strong doubt as 

 to whether Great Britain could show so many rich and beautiful 

 products of the gardener's skill at a single exhibition. Never was 

 there such a profusion of these plants shown ; they overflowed into 

 the corridors, and even out upon the sidewalks leading to the hall. 



No previous Annual Exhibition of Fruits and Vegetables made 

 by this Society has presented the precise counterpart of tliat which 

 opened September 17. It filled the two spacious halls with the 

 largest and most varied display of fruits and vegetables ever made 

 at an exhibition of this Societ}-. The upper hall was devoted to 

 the fruits, and the lower hall to vegetables. The Apples, Pears, 

 and Peaches were of large size and fine quality, notwithstanding 

 the short crop in many sections of this State. The show of 

 Grapes, Native and Foreign, was large. Several bunches of the 

 foreign grapes weighed between eight and nine pounds each. A 

 very intcx-estiug and instructive exhibit was made by the Mas- 

 sachusetts Agricultural College, under the charge of Professor 



