77 



So numerous were the contributions, it was deemed advis- 

 able to make a departure from the old routine by establishing 

 Second Preniiiims, in sevei^l instances where justice to the 

 contributors demanded it. In the case of Parlor Bouquets, 

 where there was but little difierence in the merits of two very 

 beautiful contributions, it seemed to be the only way in 

 which to give a fair expression of the opinion of the Com- 

 mittee. 



Two years ago we called for contributions of Gladiolus, 

 and requested the Society to ofler premiums for them, believ- 

 ing the increasino' interest in the cultivation of this beautiful 

 bulb warranted such a proceeding. The call has been lav- 

 ishly responded to, — as Avitness the twenty vases of excellent 

 varieties exhibited by Mr. Francis Putnam, of Salem, and 

 half as many more by Mrs. J. Henry Hill, of Amesbury, — 

 but not so the request for authority to award a premium. 

 What were the Committee to do ? pass these magnificent dis- 

 plays by unheeded, or assume the responsibility of establish- 

 ing the premiums themselves? They chose the latter alter- 

 native, trusting their course will be approved and sustained 

 by the officers of the Society. 



Again we wish to call attention to the fact, that one dollar 

 is the largest sum ever offered for the best collection of na- 

 tive flowers. I wish every gentleman having this matter in 

 charge, would, next September, collect and arrange as we 

 have done, two hundred and twelve varieties of native plants, 

 flowers, ferns and mosses, climbing steep ridges for the delicate 

 Harebell, wading in brooks for the showy Cardinal Flower, 

 sinking in bogs and swamps, searching for Pitcher Plants and 

 Frino-ed Gentian, wrestlins^ half an hour with resolute This- 

 ties that refuse to be gathered ; slipping on treacherous banks, 

 gathering the prettiest Ferns, and brightest Dragon-root ; 

 walking miles for the fair field flowers, almost endless in va- 

 riety ; riding farther still for those specimens that grow only 

 on the salt marshes of our eastern boundary ; — and then I 



