April 2, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAPvDENER. 
271 
Lieut.-Governor-of Massachusetts, the Hon. Thos. N. Hart, Mayor of 
Boston, and other influential citizens, and all the leading members of 
American trade being present. The President for the year (Mr. J. M. 
Jordan) made a good address, and he said, amongst other things, “ Much 
is expected of this Society in its organised efforts, not only’ to instruct its 
members in their daily avocations, but to educate the masses in horticulture 
by widening and deepening an interest in our profession, by increasing 
our membership, active and honorary, until we enrol all the leading men 
of the country who are interested in the various callings of horticulture ; 
all men engaged in sc’entific research tending to advance the profession ; 
the formation of kindred associations ; encouraging exhibhions of plants 
and flowers by bringing into closer relations the retail dealer with the 
grower and wholesale dealer—unless the retail dealer can make a success 
of his business the grower cannot hope to do so. There should be 
established some measure of qualification of young men entering into 
the employment of florists to learn the business, and wnth proper 
influence we could have graduated at many of our institutions of learning 
young men suitable for apprentices in our profession ; and this opens up 
another subject, in keeping w'ith the former, looking to the same end, 
and that is suitable books to be used in our schools, teaching the funda¬ 
mental lessons in horticulture. No school of recognised ability to 
graduate a pupil should leave out of its curriculum books of that kind, 
and even our common schools should teach the rudiments of horticulture.” 
Mr. Kobt. Craig, the eminent Phi adelphian florist, responded in a very 
able manner, and thanked the Bostonians for their cordial welcome. He 
also sail that they were proud to be in Boston for many reasons— 
namely, bccauso it was a historic city, possessing institutions of learning, 
magnificent libraries, and on account of the noted men and women it had 
produced. Some of the greatest poets, philosophers, and statesmen lived 
and laboured in Boston. They should also remember that Boston is the 
centre—the acknowledged centre—of horticulture in that country. It 
is also the home of the greatest, the most successful, and one of the 
oldest horticultural societies in America. Several other speeches by the 
officers of the Society concluded the opening ceremony. 
We next proceeded to view the Floral Exhibition in the Music Hall- 
This was a fine though badly lighted hall in the daytime. Its 
dimensions were 130 feet long, 78 feet wide, and 05 feet high, with large 
balconies. The Show opened at noon ; certainly an excellent affair. 
The Committee had arranged everything most artistically, on the pattern 
of a Ghent Exhibition, though more space was required, the exhibits 
being so numerous. Entering the Show the first thing that attracted 
the visitor on the tastefully arranged platform was a huge and magnifi¬ 
cent specimen of Croton Queen Victoria, grandly coloured and grown, 
equal if not surpassing any I have seen in England. At each end of the 
stage two fine specimens of Allamanda Hendersoni, fiowered to perfec¬ 
tion, were placed. Handsome grottps of foliage plants fronted the 
platform, and down the sides cf the halls, interspersed with flowering 
plants, I noticed fine examples of Dracaena indivisa variegata, Cy^cas 
circinalis, Davallia fijiensis, and Ficus Parcelli by Mr. Fred Harris, 
gardener to W. H. Hunnewell, Esq., which gaine 1 a first prize. This 
exhibitor also .showed Phoenicophorum seyebedarum and Cocos Bonetti 
in grand form, securing another prem’er award. A few excellently 
flowered Anthuriums were exhibited by a Mr. Pratt. Geo. A. Nickerson, 
Esq., had an extra fine plant of Phoenix rtipico'a. Mr. Mac. William’s 
superb Heliconia aurea striata and two Peristeria data, wdl flowered, 
were worthy of note. The Botanic Gardens of Cambridge, Mass, 
exhibited an array of Cacti and several other curiosities and interesting 
irlants. The remarkable flowered Hydrangeas of Mr. Gardener, and his 
large plant of Agapanthus umbeilatus, witn twenty-eight flower scapes, 
Avere a sight. A feature in the Show, and one of novelty to a Britisher 
for the first time, was the effectual display made of Pond Lilits and 
aquatics, floating and neatly arranged in tubs of water; Nymphasas 
dentata, odorata, coerulea, candidissima, Devoniana, alba, stellata, 
and zanzibarensis. Pistia stratiotes and the Egyptian Lotus were 
principally the kinds exhibited. 
Orchids rvere well shown from the famous collection of F. L. Ames, 
Esq. Mr. Eobertson certainly is a fiiat-class cultivator, his various 
exhibits bearing the result of skilful management, and he worthily 
deserved the post of honour for the following :—Oncidium Krameri, 
Odontoglossums vexillarium superbum, aibo-sanguineum, and grande 
with seven spikes ; Cypripediums Morgame with two spikes of three 
flowers each ; macropterum, oenanthum superbum, grande, Curtisi, with 
five very large dark flowers ; a fine specimen of Cattleya Eldorado, with 
twelve flovvers ; also Cattleyas Gaskelliana and Warscewiezi imperialis, 
Avith two spikes, bearing five immense blooms. 
Mr. Ames took first prize for the best single Orchid in bloom—namely, 
Lmlia elegans Littleana, and a superb plant it Avas, nearly 4 feet high, 
wit’a a spike of eight brilliant blossoms. Ladia crispa superba, bearing 
five spikes and carrying forty-five floAvers, Avas also a remarkable exhibit. 
At the loAvcr end of the hall, just under the balcony^, the Boston florists 
had prepared novel exhibits, showing their taste in decorating dinner 
tables and mantelshelves. Four compartments were partitioned off by 
draperies, and each Avas partly furnished with dining-room furniture 
and tables all set for guests. Amid the glass, silver, china, tall anti 
graceful Palms rising from beds of moss, with rare cut flowers, were 
tastefully arranged ; and in a corner of each room was a mirror, mantel¬ 
shelf, and fireplace, which Avere decorated Avith effect. Mr. David 
Allan’s first prize mantelshelf Avas elegant in every respect. Up each 
side of the mantel Croton®, Cocos Weddelliana, and variegated Alocasias 
were arranged, and in the fireplace umbels of the Avhite Agapanthus 
were stuck amongst Adiantum trapeziforme ; the mantelshelf Avas 
banked with A. farleyense trimmed with Orchid blooms, and draped 
Avith long sprays of red Lapagerias gracefully hung. The decoration 
was surmounted by^ a Croton Queen Victoria, relieved on each side by a 
plant of Pandanus Veitchi. Splendid pitchers of Mastersi and other 
Nepenthes trimmed the lamps, and yards of A.=paragus fronds Avere 
freely used. The Orchids usel Avere Odontoglossirm vexillarium, 
0. Alexandras, and 0. Sanderian.a ; Grammatophyllum Ellisi, Cypri- 
pedium Curcisq C. Lawrenceanum, C. Harrisianum, C. Stonei and 
Crossianum. These table decorations Avere naturally greatly admired 
by the large concourse of visitors. Every^ day the table decorations 
Avere varied and replenished with fresh flowers, hence it is always aa 
attractive sight to the end of the Show, a plan that should be adopted 
I think in our show's of several days’ duration, though perhaps it 
depends on the monetary prizes. Trade exhibits were numerous and 
generally good. Mr. J. C. Vaughan, the vA'cll-knoAvn Chicago seedsman, 
exhibited a pretty Polyantha Kosa named Clothilde Soupert. Boilers,, 
garden sundries, and requisites were there in great numbers and 
varieties. Conferences of great interest were continued during the four 
day's of the Convention. 
Well-written papers and essays were read, discussed, and attentively 
listened to by a good audience. Di-'cnssions AA'ere carriel on AA'ith spirit. 
FIG. 50.— SPIR.EA COXFUSA. 
the question b x used being kept going. The paper of that enthusiastie 
amateur florist Mr. Gurney Hdl (Indiana), on the review of plants of 
recent introduction, was terse and commendable. Mr. John Thorpe, 
the father of S. A. F., and a nurseryman Avho figured conspicuously 
some years ago in England, was a tower of strength in many respects. 
tTo be continued.) 
SPIR^V CONFUSA. 
So much interest was caused by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ group of 
Spirma confiusa at the recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Soe’etyr 
that the accompanying AA'oodcut (fig. 50) AA’ill be welcome to several 
correspondents Avho desire information concerning the plant. It i.s 
especially useful for early forcing, because the plants can be lifted from 
the open ground, and after suitable prepiration they are placed in heat,, 
and floAver in a short time. The habd of this Spirrna is compact yet 
graceful, the slender branches being clothed Avith fresh green leaves,, 
and terminate in neat heads of inrre white floAvers, Avh’ch are produced 
very freely and last for a considerable time. 
Spiraea confusa is as easily groAvn as any other form of the genu®. 
A good loamy soil suits it, and after forcing the plants should be 
encouraged to make a free growth, Avhich must be well matured out 
of doors in a sunny position, as they Avill thu? gralnally acquire an 
earlier habit of flowering. If planted out they should be lifte 1 early 
in the year, potted, and introduced to moderate he.at, as if placed in 
a strong heat they are not .so sati.sfactory. 
