50 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We think we have a cheap proposition to offer you for your money. We 

 give you a life membership for $5, and this entitles you to all the bul- 

 letins and reports of the society. We hope more of our Omaha friends 

 will take advantage of this. 



I see Mr. Getzschmann is not here yet, and if there is nothing else 

 on the program for this morning it might be well to adjourn until this 

 afternoon. 



Mr. Greeti: I move we adjourn until 2 o'clock this afternoon. 



Motion carried. 



SECOND SESSION. 

 2:00 p. M. 



The President: The first paper on our program for this afternoon is 

 "Bedding Plants and Planting Beds," by Ed. Williams, of Grand Island. 



BEDDING PLANTS AND PLANTING BEDS. 



ED. WILLIAMS, GRATED ISLAND. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is the first opportunity 

 that I have had to meet you. I have heard a great deal about you. 

 Also read several of your annual reports, and I assure you that I con- 

 sider the work that is being done by this society a great benefit to the 

 state of Nebraska in general. 



I have been asked to prepare a paper on bedding plants, planting, 

 and care of same. Now, to go into this subject thoroughly it would 

 make a very lengthy paper. So, I have taken the cream off and left 

 the skimmed milk at home. So, I will endeavor to read to you the most 

 essential points. 



To begin with, the term, bedding plants, covers the plants that do 

 w^ell when planted out of doors. Everybody knows what a geranium is, 

 one of our most useful plants. I have had the best success with geran- 

 iums by potting the cuttings in the fall in two-inch pots. The secret 

 is to get your soil firm at the base of the cutting, water thoroughly, 

 shade for a few days, and the operation is done. It saves handling 

 the plants twice, besides your per cent of plants will be greater than 

 by propagating them in the sand. Geraniums are bad about damping 

 off in the cutting bed. These plants will furnish a good cutting about 

 the middle of February, that gives you your 4-inch and 3-inch stock in 

 bloom by the middle of May, in a temperature of 54° to 56° night, and 

 58° to 60° day heat, sun heat 70°. Give plenty of air at all times and 

 it is well to give the plants a handling over and take off the large leaves, 

 that lets in the light and helps the plant to break out new shoots. 



Now, in regard to varieties, they are so numerous that I won't en- 

 deavor to relate them. What you want is a good red, pink, white, a few 

 fancy-leaved ones in both single and double. It is the best to grow a 



