Addresses — Local Societies. 267 



things into consideration. There is very little trouble in raising 

 them, and their variety and beauty cannot help pleasing any one 

 who has any appreciation of flowers. I shall be very glad to see 

 Mrs. Huntley's articles on dahlias in print. She discusses it ad- 

 mirably. Last summer I had very good success with dahlias. I 

 had a very elegant yellow one, and a white one, which was a dwarf 

 plant, but very excellent in color — pure white — a beauty. It re- 

 mained long in blossom, but was not a very free bloomer. I had a 

 mottled one which was very good. I have about a dozen vases and 

 intend to add about a dozen more, perhaps a hundred, before I 

 get through. In speaking of the growth of roses, it might be well 

 enough to state that a great many people have been discouraged 

 about raising roses in Wisconsin, by the many enemies they have 

 to contend with, the slugs and the small bugs which perforate the 

 leaves. The small bug is the greatest enemy of the rose plant, but 

 they are very easily destroyed by a weak solution of Paris green. 

 Put it on with a little wisp broom; one application entirely destroys 

 the bugs so that they never afterwards hurt the bushes. Many 

 persons present, I presume, have heard about the " Last Rose of 

 Summer." I anxiously watched them until the last blossom fell 

 away, and certainly regretted it when it went. Roses are certainly 

 the best summer plants, both in fragrance and in beauty. There 

 is no reason why we cannot have a splendid display of roses in this 

 climate. It is very little trouble to protect them in winter. My 

 method is to lay them carefully down and let some one drive sticks 

 on each side of the bush. Then tie across tha rose bush with 

 twine to hold them down in that way, and cover them with straw. 

 That is ample protection. 



Mr. Smith — I want to say that Mrs. Huntley is an old acquaint- 

 ance of mine. What she preaches in regard to flowers she practices. 

 Her husband is a farmer, and I know of no reason why any common 

 farmer cannot have flowers, and have as pleasant flower beds and as 

 pretty ones as she does. Her dahlias and flowers as I have seen 

 them, year after year, are equal to her descriptions; fully so. 



• 



Mr. Plumb — I think we have in the paper of Mr. Reynolds some 

 good substantial teaching in regard to the conduct of horticultural 

 societies. It is from a practical standpoint. Almost all the in- 

 structions we have on this subject are from a theoretical stand- 



