FOURTH NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 35 
THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY— 
(Continued) 
Active Committee, or Council: George Pepper, Nicholas Biddle, Thomas 
Biddle, Robert Patterson, Daniel B. Smith, Moses Brown, M. C. Cope, Thomas 
Astley, David Landreth, Jr., Thomas Hibbert, Thomas Landreth, Joshua 
Longstreth. 
EXHIBITIONS. 
The Society held its first exhibition November 3, 1828, in the hall of the 
American Philosophical Society, Sixth Street below Chestnut; and exhibitions 
were held regularly at the monthly meeting while the Society continued to 
meet in this hall. 
On December 7, 1829, the Council was constituted a Committee to Offer 
Premiums for Competition. On January 4, 1830, the Committee reported to 
the Society, offering premiums amounting to $42.00 for vegetables, and $81.00 
for fruits. 
The Society continued to hold exhibitions annually, in various places. 
They were always highly interesting and instructive and attracted a large 
attendance, and were the means of introducing many new varieties of fruits 
and vegetables now supplied to our markets. 
The twenty-seventh autumnal exhibition was held under a tent in Penn 
Square, the site of the present Municipal Building, September 11 and 12, 1855, 
and the exhibition of 1856 was held at the same place. 
The completion of Horticultural Hall was celebrated by an exhibition, held 
there, opening June 6, 1867. The Society thereafter held its exhibitions in its 
own hall, until the hall was destroyed by fire January 31, 1881. It was rebuilt 
and used by this Society until the second destruction by fire. May 27, 1893, 
when the Chrysanthemum Show was held at the Armory of the State Fencibles, 
Broad Street above Cherry. The 1894 Chrysanthemum Show was held in the 
Academy of Music, 1895, in the Academy of Fine Arts; the 1896 and subse- 
quent exhibitions being held in the present Horticultural Hall. 
This Society is the oldest in the United States devoted to the interests of 
Horticulture, and was organized in the hall of the Franklin Institute, Philadel- 
phia, on March the 24th, 1827. Its objects as set forth in its charter, are to 
promote and encourage Horticulture and create a love and interest for Plants, 
Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables. There are numerous exhibitions held during 
the year, as well as meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, except July 
and August. 
Lectures to the members by the most prominent Horticulturists are given 
in the Hall of the Society at three-thirty in the afternoon of the third Tuesday 
of each month. 
