Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 73 



The fear is that, with an important portion of them, that which is profitable 

 in point of emolument may be placed too much in advance of that which 

 will simply elevate the character of the society. It is quite natural, that 

 while lovers will spend more than the superflux of tlieir money in pur- 

 chasing bouquets lor their mistresses, or while the elegant embellishment 

 of flowers is preferred before all others in the ball or supper-room, the 

 requisite supply should be found in Uie professional gardens of the city. 

 It is not surprising that it should be so ; and yet it is clear that all this 

 may continue, and become more and more profitable to the gardener, while 

 the society is declining in reputation, and going gradually out of exist- 

 ence without a name. The professional gardeners conform to one of the 

 universal laws of trade, in following the impulse of the public taste, even 

 though it be satisfied with any tiring that has beouty of form or color, or 

 fragrance, without regard to rarity or scientific value ; but so much the 

 more incumbent upon the society is the duty of giving the weight of its 

 recommendation, and the aid of its rewards, to stimulate the professor or 

 amateur of horticulture, in collecting those speciinens which the public 

 does not at present call for. In the end, tJie interests of the society and 

 of the professional gardener, in making these collections, will no doubt 

 be found to be the same ; but, for the present, this is by no means so ap- 

 parent, as, without the special encouragement and aid of the society, will 

 lead to a concurrence, by the professional gardeners, in those measures 

 which it most concerns the society to promote. 



The committee may have dwelt too long upon tliis subject, and yet its 

 importance would justify them in making further remarks. They would 

 not have been justified in withholding such as they have made, after hav- 

 ing been forced by their position to observe, that the new plants, flowers, 

 fruits, and vegetables ofl^ered in competition since the institution of the 

 committee, are to be found in the short list which is given at the com- 

 mencement of their report, and that of these the largest number consist 

 of varieties produced at home by the process of hyhridizing. 



It remains for the committee to advert to some considerations that 

 have in part governed them, and in their opinion ought always to govern, 

 the committee in the award of the premiums placed at their disposal by 

 the society. 



The object being to increase the number of neio plants, flowers, fruits, 

 and vegetables, that which is to the greatest degree new, is necessarily 

 deserving of preference before that which is so in a less degree. That 

 which is new in genus, is entitled to priority in the eyes of such a com- 

 mittee, before that which is new in species, and that which is new in spe- 

 cies before that which is new in variety. Specimens which are obtained 

 from foreign countries or from distant localities in our oAvn country, are 

 thought to be more worthy of reward, than these hybrid varieties or seed- 

 lings that are raised in our own city. Particular beauty or excellence in 

 color or form, or in any other particular, may very well entitle a new spe- 

 cimen to reward, beyond the degree to which it would be entitled under 

 the preceding general rules ; but as general rules they deem tliem worthy 

 of general adherence. 



It is most specially to be regarded as incumbent on the committee not 



to receive, at least hereafter, any specimen for exhibition, without having 



an explicit attestation in writing, by the exhibiter, to all the points of fact 



required by the regulations, particularly as to newness within the limits 



VOL. IX — NO. II. 10 



