298 



;tate fomological society. 



for the free nse of a number of viilnable exclianges, and to tlic Rural New 

 Yorker for the cut of Mr. Charles Downing., which I liave chosen as the 

 frontispiece of this department. 



I am constantly reminded in the preparation of this Portfolio of the fact 

 that the ^lichigan State Pomological Societ}- is iiot without numbers of 

 warm friends. 



For purposes of reference and general convenience, I present the following 

 analysis of the contents of the Portfolio: 



A — Pomology. 



1. Scientific and experimental. 



2. The nursery. 



3. Apples. 



4. Pears. 



5. Peaches. 

 G. Grapes. 



7. Berries. 



8. Quinces. 



9. Planting and transplanting. 



10. Pruning. 



11. Mulching and cultivation. 



12. Fertilizers. 



13. Marketing and preserving. 



14. Fating fruit. 



15. Birds. 



16. Insects and diseases. 



B — Floriculture. 



1. Flowers out of doors. 



2. Plants in the house. 



3. Cut flowers. 



C — Landscape Gardening and Ar- 

 boriculture. 



1. Landscape gardening. 



2. Ornamental planting. 



3. Ornamenting school grounds. 



4. Evergreens. 



5. Hedsjes. 



6. Forestry. 



D — The Garden. 



1. Hotbeds. 



2. Vegetables. 



E — Miscellaneous. 



1. Fairs. 



2. Locality reports. 



SCIENCE IX HORTICULTURE. 



OBJECT OF SEX IN FLOWERS. 



At the meeting of the American Pomological Society in Rochester, Mr. 

 Thomas Meehan gave an address on the object of sex in llowers, and the Ed- 

 itor of the Rural Home made the following abstract of his remarks: 



He commenced by relating the story to be found in old spelling books, of a 

 philosopher who claimed that everything was originally made wrong. Reclin- 

 ing under a stately oak he said : ''Now, tiiis great tree with strong branches 

 grows only small acorjis, while the feeble vine bears pumpkins; now, if I had 

 made things I would have had the acorns on the vines and the pumpkins on 

 the oak." While he was yet; speaking an acorn dropped upon his forehead, 

 and reflecting upon what the consequences might have been had it been a 

 pumpkin in its place, he concluded that things are better as they are. 



