60 



FLOWERS. 



In compliance with request of the Society that the several 

 committees, through their chairman, should present reports, 

 with such suggestions and explanations of the work delegated 

 to them, as should suggest themselves, the committee upon 

 "Flowers" would submit the following, concerning the Fall 

 Exhibition at Salem Willows, Sept. 25th and 26th, 1883. 



The position in the Hall assigned this department, was well 

 adapted to the display ; if any criticism at all, it would be in 

 the too limited space for full accommodation and display of 

 both Plants and Flowers. The delays incident to the comple- 

 tion of entries, were seemingly unavoidable. The wind of 

 the morning, and rain of the previous day, interfering with 

 the exhibitors' promptness. 



Your committee, whose special work was "Awarding of 

 Premiums," attended to their duties as quickly and thorough- 

 ly as practicable. They found chances for improvements in 

 this Department, that would, in their opinion, if used advan- 

 tageously, give better satisfaction and expedite the arranging 

 of the exhibits, and awarding of the prizes. 



For instance, the first article in schedule calls for "Best 

 Pair of Parlor Bouquets." Your committee would not care to 

 confess to slow movements of body and mind, but must, if 

 they were to tell the truth, admit to spending at least three- 

 quarters of an hour of valuable time, in' awarding this Prize, 

 with only five contestant* to be considered. Our trouble was 

 in finding the articles themselves, scattered, as they were, here 

 and there, through the whole collection, and then not feeling 

 sure but that others were lurking in side corners. This error 

 in arrangements seems to hold true through all the display in 

 the Flower Department, and your committee would suggest 

 the introduction of some system, whereby Parlor Bouquets, or 

 any other set, competing for Prizes, shall be arranged in plain 

 sight, and designated by classes. This would also decidedly 

 refer to collections of dozens of the different flowers for which 



