293 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



JACKSON COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PREPARED BY R. T. MCNAUGHTON, SECRETARY. 

 OFFICERS. 



President — "W. K. Gibson. 



Secretary and Treasurer — R. T. McNaughton. 



The first meeting of the year was held February ]Oth, the rooms being 

 decorated very prettily with plants, bouquets of flowers, and plates of fruit, 

 one collection of apples preserved and exhibited by It. F. Thomas, represent- 

 ing in time of ripening every month in the year; Mrs. Andrews also had 

 nestling in a beautiful basket of flowers an orange ripened in her greenhouse. 

 Hon. Eugene Pringle first addressed the meeting on the subject of ornamental 

 tree culture. He thought an error was frequently made in planting evergreens 

 too thickly in a limited place, and in placing them too near the house, espe- 

 cially on the south side. He would use evergreens mainly as a background to 

 deciduous trees, and for wind-breaks. If a large place has no desirable 

 surroundings, it is well to so plant and trim the trees and shrubs used as to 

 confine the view mainly within the place itself, while if the surrounding 

 scenery is good, the planting should be so arranged as to appropriate it and 

 show the best views. 



Mr. Pringle's remarks brought out some discussion of the subject, after 

 which Prof. White made some excellent remarks on the educational value of 

 horticulture. As education, the development and expansion of our powers in 

 the greatest degree, is the true object of our life here, so any occupation 

 becomes of value to us in proportion as it is educational. The child with his 

 teacher, and the garden for a text-book, would be, perhaps, as well prepared to 

 learn the great truths of life, and to discipline himself, as if confined within 

 the walls of aschool-room, and many of our self-made men have received their 

 best lessons from nature. 



Following this, and after a selection of vocal music, a paper wa^ read by 

 Alex. Brown, Jr., on the 



TREATMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS. 



There are many different families of plants, varying so widely in their 

 nature and requirements as to soil and treatment, that it would be exceedingly 

 diflScult, even if I were parfectly compatent, to give any brief directions for 

 general application. 



With regard to the growing of the common house plants, — geraniums, 

 fuchsias, begonias, etc., etc., — needing the same temperature and treatment, 

 one general rule may be followed. The first thing to be considered in keeping 

 plants is the pots in which they are to be placed. The common clay flower 

 pots, being porous, are the best. When covered with the pretty, ornamental, 

 expansive wood covers which are now quite generally used, they are almost as 

 ehowy as the expensive glazed china, or fancy pots. In potting plants, care 

 Bhould be taken not to place the plant in too large a pot. One size larger than 

 that in which it has been growing is sufficient. The drainage of house plants, 



