1848.] REPORT ON FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS. 23 



Madeira Vine hung its tiny white wreaths like a veil over the whole. A gratuity 

 of Si. 00 was awarded to Mr. McG. 



The Bouquets and dishes of Flowers by Miss Bannister, Miss Earle, Mrs. 

 Green, and the Misses Hudson, received their meed of praise. 



Two stands of Flowers were presented by S. Salisbury, Esq. They attracted 

 our attention by a few specimens of Asters, which we think were the finest we 

 have seen this season. 



A Bouquet from Miss Mary S. Foster contained some gems, among which 

 we discovered exquisite specimens of Drummoud's Phlox and Verbenas, with 

 the ever lovely Mignonette. There were also Bouquets from Miss Craig, of 

 Leicester, Miss Lucy Fish, Miss M. S. Foster, N. Paine, Mrs. G. Paine, Mrs. 

 Geo. Gill, Mr. 0. Fairbanks, of West Boylston, E. Nye, of North Brookfield, 

 Mrs. S. Southgate, of Leicester, Misses M. and P. Packard, and J. H. Boswell. 



Mr. Merritield contributed liberally of Pot Plants and Cut Flowers. We 

 noticed among his collection a fine Salvia, several Fuschias and Amaranths, 

 and, what was to us an object of considerable curiosity, a fine specimen of 

 Egg Plant. 



The Fringed Gentians presented by Miss Lucy Chase and Mr. Harvey 

 Tainter, of Leicester, were very beautiful. They recalled to our minds the 

 lines of our American poet, commencing : 



" Thou blossom, bright with autumn dew." 



Mrs. G. T. Rice presented two vases of Flowers, and a basket filled almost 

 entirely with Verbenas, fine of their kind, being mostly of rich dark colors. 



Mr. Jas. Shepherd, Jr., contributed a fine Dwarf Orange. 



Some mammoth Sunflowers were the offering of Mr. Joseph Sargent, of 

 Leicester. We thought of Moore's exquisite lines, " as thd sunflower turns to 

 his God," etc., and smiled at the idea of poetry and sentiment in connection 

 with those vastly ugly things. 



Mr. Wm. C. Capron, of Uxbridge, contributed a Boquet and a stand of 

 mixed Flowers, some very beautiful. 



A little basket of choice Flowers attracted our attention by the taste with 

 which they were arranged, but, as the contributor's name was not affixed, we 

 are unable to say to whom the praise belongs. We must, however, beg leave 

 to assure the lady that she has no cause to blush for her offering. 



We think that, upon the whole, the Exhibition this year was as fine as any 

 that have preceded it ; and we trust that the Society will feel encouraged to 

 continue their exertions in a cause so satisfactory to themselves and so bene- 

 ficial to their fellow beings. The subject of Flowers is one in which almost 

 every person is interested. There are but few who do not admire these beautiful 

 gifts of God, that bear upon every opening petal the traces of His love, and 

 spring up and blossom, and give forth their sweets, as if in praise to their 

 Maker. AVe are glad to see a taste for cultivating Flowers rapidly spreading 

 in America. We think the surest way to improve the morals of a peo.ple is to 



