232 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 



for the oriirin of the fire, unless it was from some defect of the flue, 

 through wliich the flames might have issued and set fire to the wood 

 work. A light tire was made up about nine o'clock in the evening, 

 to warm the house, in consequence of there being a crop of grapes, 

 and was suffered to so out without again receiving any attention 

 from the gardener. The fire was fortunately discovered at an early 

 hour after it broke out: the excessive smoke from the burning wood, 

 penetrating the room where the gardener slept, awakened him, and 

 he gave the alarm: a few moments later, and no efforts could have 

 prevented the total destruction of the whole range of glass, together 

 with every plant. 



The damage is, however, very severe; and though there was an 

 insurance on the house, and to the amount of SIOOO on the plants, 

 yet the latter sum would not near cover the loss. All the fine new 

 and rare camellias, several of them lately imported, together with 

 many hundred seedlings of one, two, and three years old, and great 

 quantities sown last fall, including also his beautiful new one, C. var, 

 Wilderj, were completely destroyed, with the exception of about a 

 hundred plants. The only hope of saving the new one is in a graft \\ hich 

 was put in some time before the fire occurred, and which stood in a 

 situation somewhat remote from the hottest part of the house, and 

 being covered with a sort of bell-glass, (which likewise served to 

 exclude the heat.) it may possibly grow; though, in regard to this, 

 there is considerable uncertainty. "We trust, however, that Mr. 

 Wilder may be soon able to ascertain for a certainty whether this 

 truly superb variety is lost to the floricultural world, or not. Should 

 it fortunately live, the loss will not be so severely felt, as the other 

 kinds can be replaced. 



Mr. Wilder lost a great many fine new geraniums, dahlias, pan- 

 sies, &.C., most of which had been imported the present spring, and 

 were just recovering from the effects of the voyage. Some time 

 will elapse before a collection of equal beauty can be obtained. — Ed. 



Fine specimen of Rhododendron arbbreum. — I have, in connection 

 with Mr. Pierce, erected a green-house at the corner of Eighth and 

 Ninth streets, where we have an abundance of flowers in bloom; 

 among them a splendid i?dododendron arboreum, with twelve distinct 

 clusters of flowers. It is attracting crowds of admirers. — Yours, 

 J. F. Callan, JVashington, D. C, April, 1841. 



Art. II. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was held at its Hall, Tuesday 

 evening, March iSd, — Joseph Price, Vice-President, in the chair. 



As this occasion was one intended for a display, there were exhib- 

 ited several very fine collections of plants, two of which were partic- 

 ularly attractive, presenting a mass of floral beauty, seldom, if ever, 

 surpassed at any former meeting; in one of which were seen speci- 



