REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 361 



Grapes. — Delaware and Coiicortl. For a wine grape, W. H. Ilurlbut recom- 

 mended the Clinton. Those of rcd-ribl)on proclivities objected. 



Gooseberries. — Houghton Seedling and Mountain Seedling, though this berry 

 is not recommended as a profitable crop. 



Monday Evening, April 23. 



The President being absent, Mr. Ilurlbut took the chair. 



G. L. Seaver asked if any of the members had been successful transplanting 

 the hickory. 



N. Phillips replied by advising to cut ofE the tap root during the summer 

 and removing the tree the next spring. 



AV. H. Ilurlbut said they could be removed if great care was taken to get 

 the root. 



C. II. Wigglesworth, being called upon to open the question for the evening, 

 said he Avould phint the front yard all to grass and have no plants or flowers in 

 it. It then requires no care. He presents his own place as an example. 



E. Haigh agreed with him as to grass. Nothing gives greater satisfaction to 

 the eye than a fine piece of lawn. This can be prepared much better before 

 any planting is done. But we still need trees and shrubs. The planting 

 should then be done with reference to cutting off all undesirable vines and leav- 

 ing those that are pleasant to the eye, and the effect be studied both from 

 interior and exterior. Care should also be used to avoid planting in rows, and 

 having nearly equal distances between those that are planted at random. It 

 should also be done in such a way as to conceal the boundaries, not by belts 

 or rows of trees, but by such an arrangement of groups as shall partially hide 

 the fence and break all sharp angles. Walks or drives should not have unnec- 

 essary curves. If one is desired a shrub or three should be so planted as to 

 give the appearance of necessity for such a curve. He thought the subject one 

 that deserves much more consideration than it receives, and that no one should 

 ■own a piece of land that docs not make an effort to improve it. 



N. Phillips stated, as an instance of how little attention some men give to 

 this question, that some one had placed three places in his charge for sale with 

 not a tree planted on any, and yet the owner had lived here twenty-two years. 

 His idea of planting was to scatter the trees at random all over the place, and 

 should use plenty of evergreens. He spoke especially of barberry as a hedge 

 plant, and thought it would be the plant most used for that purpose in the 

 future. 



The Secretary spoke strongly in favor of a fine lawn, and said that on a small 

 place a piece of grass finely kept, and unbroken by plant or bed, had a most 

 pleasing effect. He favored planting, but would rather put in groups near the 

 corners and border. Would use trees of small growth in a small place, and a 

 greater variety only where there is plenty of room, and use those that by pecu- 

 liarity of form or leaf would be attractive a great part of the year. For this 

 purpose he especially recommends the Kilmarnock and New American Willow, 

 and Weeping Mountain Ash for weeping trees, and the Cut Leaved Birch, 

 Golden Bark Ash and the evergreens as upright growers. Would never use an 

 evergreen for a street tree, and on no account trim it up at the bottom. In all 

 €ases plant a tree with reference to its size years hence, and not judge it by the 

 room it takes up at the time of planting. 



Mr. Holcomb said he had given the subject considerable thought. He 



46 



