74 



entered, would have cost a day's severe labor ; to bring the 

 articles so under view as to admit of it, would have been im- 

 possible, so extremely scanty were the accommodations. Re- 

 jecting, then, from our care all contributions not really meri- 

 torious, we proceeded to form a system of premiums ourselves, 

 in which form, with the after addition of a few gratuities, we 

 proceeded to dispense the bounty of the Society as we judged 

 most fit. If any competitor has felt aggrieved by this course 

 of action, we see no help for it, for were we in the same po- 

 sition again, we could adopt no other in justice to all concerned, 

 unless such an amount were at our disposal as would bear 

 dividing into at least one hundred and twenty-five respectable 

 parcels. 



Perhaps we are earning the name of fault-finders ; but if 

 so, we are finding fault in a good cause and with honest hearts. 

 We were sorry to see so little diversity in the display. There 

 were but two stands of Dahlias that stood simply as such, and 

 Ave remember but two stands of miscellaneous cut flowers that 

 could be distinguished from other articles. A single stand of 

 Asters appeared where there should, we thought, have been 

 more ; and the Gladiolus, that Queen of Autumn, was only 

 met in one or two places. By dint of searching, a few Phloxes 

 were discovered. Where were the representatives of this fine, 

 this truly American flower, that should have attested the cul- 

 ture it really has with us ? 



But while these were unpleasantly absent, there were many 

 others that poorly replaced them. Fashion seemed to have 

 gained sway here, as in other things ; or else some epidemic 

 impulse had ' turned the heads of the florists all one way. 

 Boquets, dishes, baskets, vases, one succeeded another in a 

 routine almost unvaried, or broken only by a redeeming pot 

 plant here and there, and then we went on among boquets, 

 dishes and baskets, as before. We could not help stopping 

 with the frequent query, " Why is there so little variety in a 

 show that is so good, as a whole?" And the thought would 

 arise as often, that less of this difficulty would be found under 



