576 



PENNSYLVANIA HORT. SOCIETY. 



of autumn, as they will develop the heads in the 

 cellar during the winter. 



Nectarines. — W., (Rochester, N. Y.) Try 

 the effect of plaster (gypsum) applied about the 

 middle of June, as a top dressing, (turned under 



two or three inches,) to prevent the fruit from 

 falling off while stoning. 



Roses. — E. Buckingham, (Zanesville, Ohio.) 

 Consult " Buist on the Rose," the best work for 

 your purpose. 



PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The stated meeting of this society occurred on Tuesday 

 evening. May 21, 1S50. The president in the chair. 



The exhibition was very interesting, and was numerously 

 attended with gratified visitors. The object presenting the 

 greatest attractions, was a table of fruits, rare for the season, 

 from tlie president's (C. Cope,) green-houses; it contained a 

 dish of Black Hamburg Grapes, four large bunches; and ano- 

 ther of three, of White Sweet-water, fully ripe; a strawberry 

 plant in full bearing ; also, a dish of Elruge Nectarines, and 

 others of delicious peaches, two varieties, possessing the great- 

 er interest, as being the first occasion that the two latter fruits 

 were produced before the society in May. 



Among the many choice plants in the various collections, 

 might be noticed some of more than ordinary interest In the 

 collection shown by Peter Mackenzie, was a remarkably fine 

 specimen of the Azalea variegata, displaying a perfect mass of 

 the richest flowers ; a gorgeous show of Calceolarias, consist- 

 ing of twenty pots of eighteen varieties; three new Fuchsias, 

 and choice Verbenas. On Robert Buist's table were many 

 new plants — the Russellia floribunda, Calystegia pubescens, 

 Eschynamhus Bosceanus, Campanula grandis, and a seedling 

 Cactus, shown for the first time; and of twenty-one varieties 

 of Pelargonise, sixteen were entirely new; eighteen herba- 

 ceous Calceolarias, and six of shrubby varieties. On that from 

 James Dundas' green-houses, were fine specimens of Stigma- 

 phyllum ciliara, Justicia pulcherrina, Clerodendron splendens 

 and pyrimidalis, and four choice Fuchsias. Among those from 

 Caleb Cope's green-houses, were Abelia rupestns. Begonia 

 sanguiuea, Cinerarias Beauty of Newington and Altila — all 

 new. In John Lambert's collection were a fine specimen of 

 Rhododendron, Pentas camea, Calceolaria?, Fuchsia;, Glox- 

 inice and choice Pelargonice — choice varieties. In Miss Gralz'S. 

 Fuchsia exoniensis, Parson, Dutchess of .Sutherland, Pelunice. 

 Plumbago sp., etc. From John Sherwood, six of the choicest 

 Roses, Cupheaplatycentra, Fabriana imbricata, Verbenae, etc. 

 By Wm. Hall, six select Roses. Jonathan Bass, Matthew 

 Mills and Robert Scott, exhibited collections of choice Tulips. 

 Robert Kilviugton, a table of interesting indigenous plants. A 

 number of designs of cut flowers and bouqu«ts were, as usual, 

 brought forward. 



On the vegetable tables, among the fine specimens were ob- 

 served a number of bunches of the largest Asparagus ever 

 shown, and said to be of a new variety, and exhibited by Win. 

 Lutz, Moyamensing. On the president's table, were large 

 Cucumbers, new Potatoes, Tomatoes, three varieties, and 

 new Peas. On Anthony Felten's, Cauliflowers, Cucumbers, 

 Lettuce, and other kinds. On Miss Gratz's, were Sea-kale, 

 Asparagus, Cauliflowers, etc. In Rhubarb, there was spirited 

 competition; William Hobson presented very large Victoria 

 and seedling varieties ; Thomas Hancock, twelve stalks, weigh- 

 ing fourteen pounds and ten ounces, (the expansion of the 

 leaf being taken on*';) the largest stock, one pound eight and a 

 half ounces; Robert Buist, very fine and heavy; Samuel 

 Cooper, very large; Anthony Felteu and Patrick Gallagher, 

 very good. 



Reports of Committees. — The Committee on Plants and Flow- 

 ers have awarded the following premiums, viz : 



Camellia — for the best American seedling, exhibited during 

 the season, to Peter Mackenzie. Pelargonia — for the best six 

 named varieties in pots, and for the second best, to Robert 

 Scott, foreman to Robert Buist. Roses — for the best perpetu- 

 al, six named varieties, to Wm. Burnley, foreman to John 

 Sherwood; for the second best, to William Hall. Tulips — for 

 the best eight named varieties, to Jonathan Bass; for the se- 

 cond best, to Matthew Mills. Pentas camea — for the best spe- 

 cimen, to Maurice Finn, gardener to John Lambert. Hot- 



house plants — for the best grown, three named varieties, to 

 James Bissett, gardener lo James Dunda.s; for the second best, 

 to Ben Daniels, gardener to C. Cope. Green-house plants — 

 for the best grown, three named varieties, to Maurice Finn ; 

 for the second best, to James Bissett. Plants in pots — for the 

 best and most interesting collection, to Maurice Finn ; for the 

 second best, to Robert Scott, foreman to Robert Buist; for the 

 third best, to Patrick Gallagher, gardener to Miss Gratz. In- 

 digenous plants — for the best display, grown in pots, to Robert 

 Kilviugton Design of cut flowers— for the best, to Ben Dan- 

 iels; for the best, of indigenous flowers, to Robert Kilvington. 

 Basket, formed of cut flowers — to Ben Daniels. And a special 

 premium of three dollars to Robert Scott, foreman to Robert 

 Buist. for three new plants — the Eschynanthus Bosceanus, Ca- 

 lyslegia pubescens, and a seedling Cactus. The committee 

 have much pleasure in noticing the beautiful collection of 

 plants from the garden of Peter Mackenzie. (The Seedling 

 Camellia exhibited by him, ad interim, and for which the pre- 

 mium was awarded, is of the following description : Plant — 

 the original stock — about three and a half feet in height, in 

 thrifty condition, grown from seed sown in 1S44 ; leaves four 

 inches long, by two to two and a half wide, oblong-lanceolate, 

 with attenuated point, closely dentated, veined, light green, 

 paler on the under surface; petiole half an inch long; bud 

 small ovale, scales light green, margins thin, very slightly dis- 

 coloured; flower four inches in diameter, petals in twelve 

 rows, reguhtrly imbricated to the centre ; colour a dark cher- 

 ry red. The first flower borne by the plant.) The committee 

 take pleasure in reporting that Gerhard Schmetz exhibited be- 

 fore them, art interim, a number of Seedling Tulips, three 

 years from the seed, all healthy, and large, mostly plain, but 

 doubtless will break with a few more years of cultivation, a* 

 some of them promise fair. 



The Committee on Fruits report, that they award a special 

 premium of ten dollars to Ben Daniels, gardener to Caleb 

 Cope, for the most beautiful and superb display of four large 

 bunches of the Black Hamburg Grape, perfectly coloured; 

 three large bunches of ripe Sweet-water Grapes, a number of 

 fine large high flavored Peaches, and a dish of finely ripened 

 \ectarines, of the Elruge variety : also, a pot of Strawberries. 



The Committee on Vegetables report, that they have award- 

 ed the following premiums : Cucumbers — for the best six in 

 number, to Ben Daniels Rhubarb — for the best twelve stalks, 

 lo William Hobson; for the second best, to Tho. Hancock. 

 Peas — for the best half a peck, to Ben Daniels. Potatoes — for 

 the best ten pounds, to Ben Daniels ; for the best display by a 

 commercial gardener, to Anthony Felten ; for the best display 

 by an amateur gardener, to Ben Daniels; for the second best, 

 to Patrick Gallagher, gardener to Miss Gratz. And special 

 premiums, of two dollars each, to Patrick Gallagher, for a fine 

 display of Cauliflowers; and to Wm. Lutz, for a fine display 

 of Asparagus. 



The committee notice a fine specimen of Seedling Rhubarb, 

 shown by Wm. Hobson. Also, a couple of fine Potatoes, 

 grown in Mercer county. Pa., by Wm. F. Clark, called the 



Big Red;" where grown, two of the tubers weighed re- 

 spectively, one pound six ounces, and one pound five ounces, 

 said to be prolific. 



Members Elected. — Capt. Wm. McMichael, Joseph Milligan, 

 secretary of the Royal Society, Van Dieman's Land, I. G. 

 Dayton, Charleston. S. C, to honorary and corresponding 

 membership. Emlen Physic. I. L. Err nger. I. A. Clay, E. A. 

 Crenshaw, W. L. Schafier, Wm. Burnley, B. A. Fahnestock 

 and Matthew Gardiner, to resident membership. 



Tho. P. James, 



Recording Secretary. 



