STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 33 I 



Mr. Standish was opposed to killing the birds, except those that do 

 more harm than good. Most of the birds, save the hawk tribe, were 

 insectivorous in their habits, and destroyed innumerable larvie and insects 

 injurious to vegetation. God made them for a purpose, and it is wrong 

 to kill them. He deprecated the barbarous practice of men and boys 

 assembling together, choosing sides, and having what is called a "shoot- 

 ing match." He mentioned two instances: one at North Bridgewater, 

 Mass., the other on the Isle of Bourbon, where the extermination of the 

 birds was followed by swarms of insects that made the region 

 entirely bairen and desolated. He was decidedly opposed to killing 

 the robin. 



Several membei's participated in the discussion; favoring the killing 

 of those birds which greedily devour their grapes and cherries. 



I'o amateur flower-growers there is no more entertaining subject than 

 the winter ti'eatment of bedding plants, roses, etc. 



This subject was ably discussed at a meeting of the Society, held on 

 the 1 2th of December. 



R. \V. Hunt opened the discussion. The treatment of roses is very 

 simple. They should be taken up, set aside, and allowed to remain in a 

 dormant condition for a long time, and only brought to heat and regular 

 watering moderately. Geraniums may be taken up and put right in the 

 house. Large ones should be severely cut back two or three weeks 

 before lifting them. Roses, for winter blooming, should be prepared for 

 it during the summer, by being kept in pots, and only allowed to make 

 a moderate growth, and all buds carefully pinched olV. They can not 

 be made to bloom both summer and winter. None are at all suitable to 

 take in the house but the monthly roses. Fuchsias should be treated the 

 same as roses. They will not bloom in winter, if the buds are not 

 pinched off in summer. He has not had much success in blooming 

 carnations during the winter months. Camellias should have very care- 

 ful handling. They will require the coolest part of tbe room, and must 

 have an equable temperature, and must be watered carefully. There is 

 more danger of over-potting plants than of under-potting. The quality 

 of the pot has much to do with the health of the plants. The hardy 

 plants sliould have the coolest part of the room, and the more tender 

 ones — especially the the sub-tropical — the warmest. When plants are 

 watered, it should be done thoroughly. Plants, when in bloom, require 

 more water than when out of bloom. Keeping plants in small pots and 

 withholding water will force them into bloom. Bottom drainage is use- 

 less when proper pots are used. The space which drainage occupies in 

 the pot is much better to be filled with good soil. Cuttings of verbenas 

 for winter blooming should invariably be struck in SeiDtember. \^cr- 

 benas will either grow or die; there is no half way with them. 



Dr. Humphrey related his experience in growing plants in a lighted 

 cellar. His success was not flattering. 



A discussion on the proper temperature for plants ensued. The gen- 

 eral opinion seemed to favor a temperature of from 65 degrees to 70 

 deg^'ees in the day time, and from 45 degrees to 50 degrees at night. 



