REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON PLANTS, 



FOB THE YEAR 1896. 



By AZELL C. BOWDITCH, Chairman. 



The exhibitions for the past year have shown a marked improve- 

 ment, both in the number of exhibitors and also in the skill and 

 care bestowed on the cultivation of the plants shown. 



The capacity of our halls has been severely taxed at our larger 

 shows, your Committee being obliged to crowd the large collec- 

 tions to an extent which greatly injured the effect of many of the 

 collections and specimens exliibited ; but as this matter is in com- 

 petent hands we trust in the near future to find ourselves in more 

 commodious quarters. 



Your Committee take this opportunity to mention some of the 

 most worthy exhibits during the season : 



The first exhibition was held on the 11th of January, when 

 William Thatcher and D. F. Roy showed some fine plants of an 

 improved strain of Chinese Primrose. 



On the 1st of February Robert Cameron (gardener at the Botanic 

 Garden of Harvard University) exhibited a fine plant of Angrce- 

 cum sesquipechde with twenty-five flowers, which was the admira- 

 tion of everyone. 



SPRING EXHIBITION. 



March 24, 25, 26, and 27. 



During this exhibition the weather was extremely cold, which 

 deterred the orchid growers, whose displays have added so much 

 to these occasions in the i)ast, from bringing in their plants, and the 



