20 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Another matter of importance is, where are you going to get your stock? 

 And, what is of importance, how shall you treat it when you have? First, 

 get it of the nearest reputable nurseryman or florist. The hardy shrubs 

 should be pruned of at least one half of their wood, and hardy roses to 

 within six inches of the ground. Herbaceous plants, being simply roots, 

 need to be carefully planted. Thousands, and may be tens of thousands, 

 of dollars are spent annually on such things, and because they are planted, 

 very often, by merely taking up sod in the grass, and covering the root 

 with some dirt, the result is disappointment and discouragement, as well 

 as loss 



It may be that in about two years these lilacs, syringas, etc., may be 

 crowding each other, and you have some spot in the yard in which you 

 could place them to advantage. To do so, dig a hole three or four feet in 

 diameter and two feet deep, and have some good ground, as previously 

 spoken of, to replace the jjoor ground. Then carefully dig up the plant 

 you wish to move, saving all its roots, but again reducing the wood on the 

 plant at least one third. Tn the case of a hardy rose, cut back the same as- 

 at first planting, as it is very rare that a rose can be lifted and retain any 

 dirt with the roots. 



These remarks have been made with reference to limited conditions, but 

 the methods of getting and handling the stock, the preparation of ground, 

 etc., are the important basis to success, and there is no limit to their appli- 

 cation, whether at the cottager's home or the millionaire's palace. 



The paper was greeted by warm applause, and Mr. Willard remarked 

 that we make a mistake in not giving more care to those things that make 

 home beautiful and pleasant. Educate the boy and girl to a love for flow- 

 ers and for embellishment of home, both indoors and out, and they will 

 not be very bad; and such adornment makes more valuable the property — 

 so it has practical value in another sense. Several other members expressed 

 warm commendation of floriculture and a desire to have more papers- 

 upon the subject at the society's meetings. 



The chair announced committees as follows: On exhibits — Messrs. Wil- 

 lard, Morrill and Gulley. On resolutions — Messrs. Smith, Watkins. 

 and Monroe. 



Thursday Afternoon Session. 



Beginning the Thursday afternoon (Feb. 18) session of the Stat© 

 Horticultural society's meeting, remarks were made by Mr. S. D. Willard- 

 of Geneva, N. Y., delegate from the Western New York society. He con- 

 gratulated Michigan horticulturists upon their advancement and the 

 opportunities afforded them of soil, climate, and markets: and upon the 

 intelligence they display in applying these to the successful prosecution of 

 their work. He spoke of the interests New York and Michigan pomolo- 



