REPORT OF THE CO:m:\IITTEE ON PLANTS AND 

 FLOWERS FOR THE YEAR 1905. 



By Arthir H. Fewkes, Chairman. 



The year 1905 has been an uneventful one in the exhibition of 

 plants and flowers. Although the awards of all kinds for the year 

 exceed those of the previous year by nearly one hundred, the actual 

 number of exhibitors has decreased. In 1904 there were one hun- 

 dred and forty-seven persons and firms who made exhibits at various 

 times, while in 1905 there were one hundred and forty-three, four 

 less than the previous year. 



It must be admitted that the enthusiasm displayed some years 

 ago has been steadily declining, this being particularly noticeable 

 at the large exhibitions in the classes calling for displays of decora- 

 tive plants. In this connection great credit should be given the 

 Harvard Botanic Garden for the magnificent displays made at dif- 

 ferent times by Robert Cameron, the superintendent, not only for 

 the excellence of the specimens shown but also for the interest mani- 

 fested in the success of our exhibitions. In fact if we had not 

 been favored with these displays several of our shows would have 

 been failures, almost, through lack of competition. 



The decline of interest has been, perhaps, most apparent in the 

 displays of trained chrysanthemum plants; one by one the promi- 

 nent growers have dropped out after reachitig the goal of first prize, 

 until those who still keep up the race are few indeed. 



There seems to be a popular demand for plants grown in a more 

 natural way, having in view the great artistic decorative capabilities 

 of the plant, but it is seldom indeed that the grower develops the 

 artistic sense to the same degree that he does the ability to grow his 

 plants well, and it is extremely doubtful if satisfactory results will 

 be attained in this direction unless some extraordinary means are 

 adopted to secure them. 



The chrV'Santhemum is unique in the position it holds and it 

 practically has no rivals at the time it is at its best. The before 



