praise, justly merited by Mrs. M. L. Alden and Mrs. S. J. Smith. 

 They seem to know just what looks best in a basket of mixed 

 specimens. 



Mrs. Abbie E. Wright's garden furnished us with a basket 

 of very fine double and single fringed petunias. The basket 

 differed from the others being neatly covered with sprays of 

 asparagus. A little taste andrskill of this kind adds much to 

 the beauty of a collection. 



Mrs. Charles Williamson presented some very fine blos- 

 roms in basket and vase, also some nice looking pot plants. 



Mrs. Agnes E. Williamson received the first premium on 

 two finely arranged dishes of cut flowers. These contained 

 some fine dahlias, geraniums and shell flowers, arranged in a 

 manner that showed the different varieties very nicely. 



Miss Lucy Stevens, Miss Nellie Clark, Mrs. E. N. Pratt 

 and many others were creditably represented. 



Our Pembroke specimens seemed to bear the transporta- 

 tion very well and looked as nicely as if arranged next door. 

 It is one disadvantage of our department that many of the de* 

 signs lose some of their beauty by being brought from a dis- 

 tance. Great care is required in the preparation of the dishes 

 for cut flowers. Sand and moss are excellent to fill recipients. 

 They not only retain their moisture for a long time, but hold 

 the flowers more flrmly in place. If those who brought flowers in 

 dishes to be simply filled with water, would try one of these meth- 

 ods they would find it to their advantage, and I would here add if 

 you would avoid sprinkling your blossoms, but apply the 

 jaoisture at the stems, they will retain their beauty much longer. 

 Flowers are like the delicate wings of the butterfly, they will 

 not bear to be treated rough. 



Our vases ranked well with the other collections this year. 

 Mrs. Stephen Henry taking the first prize. Her vase contain- 

 ing some fine gladiolus and double hollyhocks. Mrs. A. T. 



