14 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FLOWERS 



For the Year 1857. 



BY E. S. BAWD, JB., CHAIEMAN. 



The past season has been singularly unfavorable for floriculture, and the 

 weekly exhibitions of flowers have consequently been inferior to our hopes. 

 The spring was very late, so that the hall was not opened till the third 

 week in May. The opening exhibition was creditable in respect to speci- 

 men plants, but deficient as to general display. 



The lateness of the season affected in a marked manner all the weekly 

 shows. The tulip prizes were postponed several weeks, as at the time 

 announced in the schedule the buds had scarcely begun to color. The 

 roses were not in perfection until July, and all other flowers were later 

 than usual. 



The dahlia prizes were to have been awarded on the 3d of October, but 

 a severe frost previous to that day cut off all the plants except in a few 

 favored localities. 



But in spite of all these discouragements, the displays have been most 

 gratifying in the growth of specimen plants, and in the new and improved 

 varieties of flowers. No lack of zeal has been exhibited on the part of 

 members and contributors to make the exhibitions in the floral department 

 all we could wish ; and the Society have reason to congratulate themselves 

 on such good success under such disadvantageous circumstances. 



The display of plants and flowers at the Annual Exhibition was better 

 than usual, though in some respects inferior to former years. In floral 

 designs there was a marked improvement. For the first time since the 

 establishment of prizes for designs and decorations, the Committee did not 

 have specimens of elaborately finished out-houses, monstrosities glaring 

 with dahlias and marigolds, and thatched summer-houses, forced upon 

 them. The designs exhibited were generally in good taste, though a lin- 

 gering fondness for the huge and monstrous was apparent. The smaller 

 designs were in keeping with the principles of floral decoration, and gen- 

 erally were ornamental and pretty. 



The Committee must enter their decided protest against the use of 

 flowers as glutenized ornaments of wooden, moss-covered crosses, anchors, 

 eagles, and all that class of so called floral designs. 



It is not a floral design (and none would be bold enough to call it a 

 decoration) to mat our pretty forest mosses on a huge frame of wood or 

 pasteboard; to sprinkle it with dahlias, amaranths, and marigolds; to fill 

 or hang it with red and white phlox, and illuminate it with letters of yellow 

 helichrysum ! Name the abortion what you will, — a design, if you please, 

 — but do not associate flowers in such a connection by calling it floral. 



Too much latitude has been given in this class of ornaments, and the 

 Committee would recommend to the Society the establishment of rules 



