THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
113 
jected to too much heat. This variety was awarded a 
first-class certificate, to which it was justly entitled. 
The William Francis Bennett is a most valuable acqui¬ 
sition, and undoubtedly the finest of all continuous flower¬ 
ing red roses. The color is brilliant, solid and lasting ; 
the flower is large, lengthy and full; the perfume is 
agreeable and well marked ; the habit of growth is robust, 
and free to flower. This rose is sure to become a great 
favorite. 
We must conclude our notice without mentioning the 
very good displays of hyacinths, tulips and cinerarias, 
which were shown in excellent condition, and the many 
other very interesting exhibits which were made in single 
entries. If we were sure of such exhibitions regularly, 
there would be no occasion to complain of a lack of in¬ 
terest in or appreciation of the society. 
American Horticultural Society. —From a careful read¬ 
ing of their volume of “ Transactions,” we consider this 
the leading society of its class in this country, and one that 
should have the support of all true horticulturists. In the 
interests of the society, a recent circular recommends 
“ that each member constitute himself a committee of one, 
to secure at least one additional member, and as an in¬ 
centive to those who could do more, the secretary was 
directed to issue three certificates for $5, thus giving the 
getter up of the club $1 for his trouble.” The society 
depends wholly upon the fees of members for meeting its 
necessary expenses. Until the edition of transactions of 
1884 is exhausted the secretary will continue to present a 
copy of that valuable volume to each new member. 
* 
* * 
The Spring Exhibition of the Massachusetts Horti¬ 
cultural Society was exceedingly fine. The display of 
orchids by F. L. Ames, H. H. Hunniwell, R. M. Pratt 
and E. W. Gilmore, surpassed all former exhibitions. 
Messrs. Ames and Hunniwell divided the first prizes and 
their gardeners together with R. M. Pratt’s, were awarded 
silver medals for skillful culture. Spring bulbs in collec¬ 
tion were shown by C. H. Storey & Co., C. M. Storey, 
John L. Gardner, E. L. Beard and James O’Brien; the 
competition was very close. E. L. Beard exhibited a 
large number of choice narcissi, among which was the 
Tenby Daffodil, a great English favorite, and Sir Watkins, 
both new here. I cannot enumerate the numerous spring 
bulbs, for every sort that can be flowered was represented. 
E, L. Beard showed some remarkably large flowered and 
finely grown cyclamens and took all the first prizes. 
Azaleas were well represented, but the plants were neces¬ 
sarily small, on account of the severe weather; several 
who intended to exhibit large plants being obliged to leave 
them at home. Pansies of enormous size were shown, 
both in pots and on plates. The exhibit of cut-flowers 
was exceedingly fine. 
The collections of cut camellias shown by C. M. Hovey 
and Mrs. Francis B. Hayes were large and extremely fine; 
hybrid perpetual and tea roses in great variety were 
shown. The hybrid perpetuals in pots were finely grown. 
Some fine plants of the new white hybrid perpetual Mer- 
veille de Lyon, exhibited by W. H. Spooner, were greatly 
admired and attracted general attention. Jackson Daw¬ 
son, of the Arnold arboretum, showed finely grown roses 
on Japanese stock, which promises well but remains to be 
tested. John B. Moore & Son exhibited the new rose, 
Col. Felix Breton, an extremely rich dark variety ; they 
were awarded first-class certificate of merit. Also another 
new dark rose, Souvenir de Reine Leveyne. The display 
from the Botanical Gardens, Cambridge, was very inter¬ 
esting. Besides the exhibits already mentioned, there 
were a great many plants and flowers worthy of notice, 
but want of space prevents their special mention. 
Spring Exhibition of the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society. —The claim is made for this exhibition, held 
March 24, 25 and 26, in the Horticultural Hall, Broad 
street, Philadelphia, that it excelled any recent exhibi¬ 
tion in the city of Brotherly Love or New York. 
Among notable features was the display by A. Warne, 
gardener to Clarence H. Clark, of West Philadelphia, who 
exhibited in his collection nineteen azaleas, twelve rhodo¬ 
dendrons, some rare tulips, amaryllis and hyacinths, for 
which he was awarded first premium. Edward Banyard 
showed a new white carnation—a cross between the old 
Scotch pink and the Peter Henderson. It is quite pro¬ 
lific, there being over one hundred buds on a single plant. 
Lonsdale & Burton carried off the honors for cut-roses; 
Craig & Brother had the awards for carnations, roses in 
pots, and ferns; D. Ferguson & Son for acacias and 
palms; Joseph Kift & Son for a collection of fifty plants ; 
J. H. Campbell & Son, for cinerarias and Spirce Japonica ; 
John Dick, Jr., for geraniums and camellias. The awards 
for floral designs were given to Charles Fox, H. C. Shaefer, 
Kift & Son, also Heron & Nisbit. 
* 
* * 
Henry Balser, M.D., one of the oldest members of the 
New York Horticultural Society, and one of the best- 
known German physicians on the East side of New York, 
died of pneumonia, at his home on Avenue B, Sunday, 
March 22, at the age of seventy-two. 
He retired from active practice fifteen years ago, but 
since that time has daily devoted several hours to the 
poor, gladly and kindly giving advice, without money and 
without price. A devoted horticulturist, his love for 
flowers was genuine, none being too insignificant to find 
an admirer in him. 
Of late years, he has been an exponent of city gardening 
and was wonderfully successful in bringing to perfection 
many plants difficult to manage under more favorable 
conditions than those which surround a city lot. 
His face portrayed his soul, always bore a cheery look, 
and was rarely missed from the exhibitions of the Hor¬ 
ticultural Society. * 
* * 
Nelumbium Speciosum. —“I am much pleased,” says 
our New Orleans correspondent, “ to see attention called 
through your advertising columns to the lotus Nelui 7 ibiu 7 n 
speciosum. I am sure it will give pleasure and delight to 
many. We obtained our plant from Mr. Sturtevant two 
years ago, and when I unpacked it from the damp spagnum 
it looked like a piece of rotten wood more than anything 
