1856.] Cincinnati Horticultural Society. 17 



marked in figure, and of a dark shining green. Its flowers are in great 

 numbers, cup-shaped, broader than the tulip, beautifully pencilled, and 

 all dripping with honey. Its lumber, known as ichitc-icood, or poplar, 

 in the absence of pine is more valuable than that of any other native 

 tree. 



Other traits in the character of our western vegetation will be noticed 

 n a subsequent number. 



CINCINNATI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The following sketch of the history of the Cincinuati Horticultural 

 Society, by Geo. Graham, Esq., presents many points of interest to both 

 the local and general reader : 



The first meeting with reference to the formation of the " Cincinnati 

 Horticultural Society," was held at the house of K. Buchanan, on the 

 evening of the 17th February, 1843. The following gentlemen were 

 present: E. Buchanan, A. H. Ernst, M. Elagg, S. C. Parkhurst, J. B. 

 Eussell, H. Probasco, V. C. Marshall, John Locke, George Graham, and 

 Thomas Winter. A committee was appointed to report a Constitution 

 and By-Laws, which were adopted at a subsequent meeting, and the 

 Society fully organized by the choice of the following officers : E. 

 Buchanan, President ; S. C. Parkhurst, Treasurer ; John B. Eussell, 

 Corresponding, and John G. Anthony Eecording Secretary. 



From that time a deep interest was felt in the cultivation of the 

 grape, and other fruits of the West, which induced the Society to adopt 

 the plan of holding Spring and Fall Exhibitions, and also to make 

 reports on the culture of the grape, the strawberry, and the fruits and 

 vegetables of the Miami Valley. The reports on the grape and straw- 

 berry having been published in pamphlet form, excited an interest 

 among the fruit-growers and botanists of the Eastern and Northern 

 States. It was in the Strawberry Eeport that the sexual character of 

 the plant was maintained, by practical cultivation of the numerous 

 varieties, and many thousand plants. This theory was at first contro- 

 verted by Hovey and others ; but it has at last triumphed, and it is 

 now admitted as correct; and the Cincinnati mode of planting appears to 

 be the most successful. 



VOL. I, NO. I 2. 



