20 



REPOllT ON FLOWEHS. 



Like every thing else connected with the Fair, the flower show 

 was a success. Competent judges pronounced it equal to that of 

 any former year. Without doubt there is a growing taste in our 

 community for the culture of flowers, as a part of a more refined 

 civilization. The evidences of it are seen in the increased num- 

 ber of conservatories, in the better stocked gardens of people of 

 moderate means, and in the praise-worthy attempts to adorn the 

 door-yard and windows of the poorest houses with favorite plants. 

 This Society furnishes a common meeting- place for all who are in- 

 terested in this pursuit, while the almost endless variety of flowers 

 on exhibition gratifies a natural and innocent love of the beautiful. 



It will not be practicable to refer to particulars so minutely as 

 we desire ; but two or three things require special notice. Per- 

 haps the most attractive collection by one person, was that of 

 gladiolas, by Mr. George Craft, of Brooldine. All were beau- 

 tiful, but the new. seedlings were so perfectly formed and richly 

 colored, as to draw forth a unanimous expression of delight from 

 thousands of admirers. 



Mr. Eliphalet Stone, of Dedham, and Mr. William Dunbar, of 

 Canton, showed their skill as florists and their interest in the suc- 

 cess of the exhibition, by filling large spaces in the flower-stand 

 with the beautiful productions of their gardens. 



Mr. C. J. Power, of South Framingham, presented a collection 

 of choice dahlias. Though Mr. Power is out of our County limits, 

 we welcome him to our exhibition, and hope that he will often 

 grace our tables and feast our eyes with his offerings. 



Miss Mary Emerson, of West Dedham, exhibited an elaborately 

 and tastefully arranged wreath of dried flowers. 



There was, also, a fine display of exotics from the garden and 

 conservatory of Mr. H. H. Hunnewell, of Wellesley, which de- 

 served and attracted particular attention. 



To these and to many others, our Society and the public are 

 under special obligations for the gratification furnished by their 

 extensive and brilliant contributions. 



We take this occasion to commend to the young the pleasure 

 and advantage of cultivating an acquaintance with wild flowers of 

 our fields and woods. They Avill thus be brought into contact 

 with the natural world in some of its most attractive forms, and 

 practically repair the injury to health incurred by an uninterrupted 

 devotion to labor or study. The^'- may follow the course of the 

 seasons, as they successively develop the delicate flowers of spring, 

 springing out from the decaying leaves of the forest ; then the 

 bricditer colors and gorgeous beauty of roses and lilies ; and in 



