No. 244.] 51 



REPORT OF THE FLOWER GARDEN COMMITTEE. 



The Committee on Flower Gardens regret that they should have 

 so few gardens to report upon ; but this will occasion but little sur- 

 prise when we take into consideration the very unpropitious season 

 just passed and also the late hour at which it was made publicly 

 known that premiums would be offered for the best cultivated flower 

 garden; indeed, the first cause operated so strongly that all eventually 

 declined becoming competitors, except two, Mr. Henry Steele, of 

 Jersey City, and Mr. John A. Dayton, of Brooklyn. In regard to 

 these two the committee experienced no difficulty in arriving at an 

 opinion. 



The garden of Mr. Steele is of small size, but laid out with much 

 judgment and taste and contains a choice collection of plants. Mr. 

 Steele has made the most of his somewhat limited plot of ground and 

 has shown good judgment in growing none but pretty plants, and in 

 making such a selection as to ensure a succession of bloom during 

 the whole season. He has some fine Roses, Carnations, Phloxes, and 

 other choice plants. Reserving particulars for another occasion, the 

 committee can only here say that they were much gratified with their 

 visit to Mr. Steele's garden ; and they cannot refrain from adding 

 that it is infinitely to his credit that it is all cultivated by his own 

 hand. In addition to the flowers, the committee observed some fine 

 specimens of vegetables, and a small but very choice collection of 

 fruit ; but these things do not come within their province. 



Mr. Dayton's garden is on a much larger scale than Mr. Steele's, 

 embracing a large collection of choice plants, some of them of rare 

 beauty. The committee observed with pleasure that Mr. Dayton has 

 introduced into his garden some fine specimens of the natives of out 

 own woods and fields : a practice much to be commended, and which 

 might be made to add immensely to the attractiveness and beauty of 

 our flower gardens. His collection of Roses is large, embracing all 

 the finest varieties under cultivation. The committee in short, ob- 

 served a great many pretty things, such as Rhododendrons, a splendid 

 collection of Carnations, Phloxes, Lilies, and others too numerous to 

 mention on the present occasion, some of them very rare plants. 

 Mr. Dayton's garden is not laid out with the studied design observa- 

 ble in Mr. Steele's, his plan being to plant in clumps and patches. 



