DECEMBER MEETING. 327 



what better since I turned the cold shoulder to them ;i:id left them with scantier 

 diet. They have made less growtii of wood, l)ut have given quadruple the 

 amount of bloom. 



Tlie present season has. however, been an exception; there was a wonderful 

 bloom in June, after which, owing to the favorable season for growtii of wood, 

 they did but poorly. 



I was led to believe tluit higli culture and very rich soil were not tlie best for 

 blooming roses, from seeing often the linest bloom in nursery rows wlierc the 

 plants were crowded and getting no better care tlian other nursery stock, many 

 of which I saw on the grounds of the Lake Sliore Nursery Association at South 

 Haven during our last June meeting. 



THE ANNUALS. 



Let us now look among the annuals and see if we can find anytliing worthy 

 of our attention. Tliere is the Balsam and tlie Petunia, and tlie CarJcscomh, 

 and the Zinnia, which I have often been tempted to kick out of iny little Eden, 

 but couldn't find just the thing to take its place; and tlie Fortulacca, now 

 grown of every color, from pure Avhite to deepest crimson ; and Phlox Drum- 

 mondii, Sweet Ahjssum, Asters, Ten Weehs Stock, Pansies, Dianthus, and Snap- 

 dragon. U^here are many more, but here are nearly enough ; one climber, 

 Maurandya. All these grew nearly to my satisfaction. Of Petunias I had 1 6 

 plants — single and double — as good as I had ever seen, on an everage 10 of 

 which were equal to any 10 of tlie best prize sorts. One package of mixed 

 pansy seed gave me a great variety of fine ones, four of which are equal to the 

 best. Of these the King of Blacks and Baron Rothschilds were all true ; Cock's- 

 combs of all colors, size of largest GxlG inches, and of these the new Japan is 

 a great acquisition. 



I grew many other kinds of flowering plants than those mentioned, but you 

 knoAV I am an amateur. Enough have been mentioned to satisfy most any one 

 if they are given tlie proper attention. But one wants to know "how you did 

 it," — "where you got your seed, and all about it." Nearly all my plants were 

 started in a small hot-bed in March, and as soon as large enough to transplant 

 they were potted in two and three inch pots and kept under glass until all dan- 

 ger of frost had passed and then planted in the open ground. 



THE GROWIXG VEGETABLES. 



The question of how shall farmers and fruit growers raise an abundant 

 supply of seasonable vegetables for all seasons of the year, was to be discussed 

 at tills meeting, but for lack of time onlv a few remarks were made bv Prof. 

 Beal as follows : 



In the first place we must teach the farmers the value of a liberal supply of 

 good vegetables in the season when they are ripe. After this comes the subject 

 of keeping vegetables properly and of raising a succession. Already most 

 people know Avhat it is to have a good supply of good potatoes. In season, 

 or for a short time in each year, almost everybody raises tomatoes, and lettuce, 

 and sweet corn, and peas, and beets and onions. Very few people undertake a 

 hot-bed. There is sometliing delicate and mysterious about it. A hot-bed is 

 not hard to learn about. By its use lettuce and radishes can be liad some 

 weeks earlier than when raised in the open air. It is convenient for starting 

 tomato plants early ; also early cabbages and cucumbers. Beets, turnips and 



