488 



PENNSYLVANIA HORT. SOCIETY. 



Sweet Alyssum, white; Silene armeria, pink; Ne- 

 mopi/a insignis, sky-blue; Collinsia bi-color, pur- 

 ple and white; the two last bloom about half the 

 season only. Bulbs of tiger flowers, tuberoses, or 

 Gladioli may be interspersed with these annuals, 

 to heighten the effect. If your verbenas do not 

 flower well, renew the soil in the beds by mixing 

 with it one-third burnt sods. 



Plum Trees. — Prunus, (Buffalo, N. Y.) Your 

 soil does not suit the plum tree. Try a plentiful 

 top-dressing, with brewer's grains, which Liegel, 

 the first German authority, says is the best of all 

 manures for the plum tree. Old or sour grains 

 will answer, and we would advise you to cover the 

 soil three inches deep, if they are easily ob- 

 tained. 



Special Manures. — B. R., (Philadelphia.) 

 We are inclined to think very highly of " bone- 

 black," the residuum of the sugar refineries, as a 

 special manure for pear trees, in all cases where 

 phosphate is wanted ; generally the case in old 

 gardens. This bone-black, which looks like fine 



charcoal, contains 70 or 80 per cent, of phosphate 

 of lime, and may be had very cheaply at most 

 sugar refineries. The Messrs. Stuart, in New- 

 York, sell it for $1.50 per hogshead. Give each 

 standard tree from half a peck to half a bushel, 

 according to its size and age; that is, including 

 those with trunks from two to twelve inches in 

 diameter. A. R. P., (Long-Island.) Your trees 

 want lime. Half a bushel to every tree in your 

 orchard will not be too much. Spread it evenly 

 over the surface as far as the trees extend. 



Insects. — /. Watson. If you wash your grape- 

 vines before the buds start with a mixture of soft- 

 soap and sulphur, (2 lbs. sulphur to 4 quarts soap,) 

 filling every crevice, especially around the buds, 

 with a brush, it will destroy the eggs of the in- 

 sects laid in the bark. Querist, (Baltimore.) We 

 repeat our advice to destroy all insects in soil of 

 the kitchen garden, by a liberal top-dressing of 

 salt, before working the ground. Eight bushels 

 to the acre is not to much; and it kills the grubs 

 and benefits vegetation. 



PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The stated meeting of this society was held in the Chinese 

 Saloon on Tuesday evening, March 19, 1850. The President 

 in the chair. 



The display on the occasion was very fine ; the most striking 

 feature in which, was a superb bed of strawberry plants, grow- 

 ing in pots, and in full bearing, exhibited by Ben Daniels, gar- 

 dener to Caleb Cope, the President, consisting of the follow- 

 ing varieties : Hovey's Seedling, Britisli Queen, Buist's Early 

 May, Keene's Seedling, Sciota and Cushing, from whom we 

 learn that the British Queen variety, although a staminate 

 kind, exhibits in flavor and prolificness a decided superiority 

 over the others, and can be strongly recommended for forcing. 

 Hovey's Needling, Buist's Early May, and Keene's Seedling, 

 are all good for forcing- The Burr's New Pine was tried, but 

 did not succeed well. From the same source were two va- 

 rieties of grapes, — the White Frontignan and Muscat blanc 

 native. In flowering plants, the exhibition was excellent. 

 Prom the President's houses were some of his choicest Aza- 

 leas, Rhododendrons and Camellias. From Miss Gratz's, a 

 rich display of Double Stocks, Roses, Fuchsias, etc. By Ben- 

 jamin Gullis, a large collection; and by John Sherwood's fore- 

 man, a beautiful table. James Ritchie presented cut Camel- 

 lia flowers, choice varieties; most of which, seedlings of merit. 

 The vegetables were in good variety— many of them forced ; 

 new potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, radishes and turnips. 

 Premiums were awarded as follows: 



By the committee on plants and flowers. Rhododendrons— 

 for ttie best specimen in a pot, to Ben Daniels, gardener to C. 

 Cope. Azaleas — for the best three named varieties ; hot-house 

 plants — for the best grown and finest flowered three named 

 varieties, each to Ben Daniels. Plants in pots — for the best and 

 most interesting collection, to Benj. Gullis ; for the second best, 

 to Patrick Gallagher; for the third best, to Ben Daniels. De- 

 sign of cut flowers — for the best, to Ben Daniels ; for the se- 

 cond best, to Patrick Gallagher. For the best bouquet, suita- 

 ble for the hand, to Patrick Burk. Basket, formed of cut 

 flowers— to Ben Daniels; for the second best, to Wm. Hall. 

 And a special premium of three dollars, to James Ritchie, for 

 a beautiful display of seedling Camellia flowers. 



By the committee on fruits. Apples — for the best five named 

 varieties, three specimens of each, to John Perkins. They 

 also award a special premium of ten dollars to Ben Daniels, for 

 the magnificent display of strawberries, embracing several 

 foreign and native varieties. 



By the committee on vegetables. For the most interesting 

 display, by a market gardener, to Anthony Felten ; for the se- 

 cond best, to A. L. Felten ; for the best, by an amateur garden- 

 er, to Ben Daniels. 

 Mr. Shields, late Charge d' Affairs to Venezuela, presented 



the society two entirely new vegetables, — the Mapeuy and 

 Apio. On motion, 



Ordered, That the thanks of the society be tendered to Mr. 

 Shields, for a gift so acceptable. 



The following gentlemen were elected honorary members 

 of the society : The Duke of Devonshire, President of the 

 Horticultural Society of London, Eng., and Professor James 

 J. Mapes. 



Objects shown — Plants. — By Ben Daniels, gardener to Ca- 

 leb Cope, Eranthemum coccineum, believed to be shown for 

 the first time; a desirable plant. Rhododendron arboreura 

 splendens, Azalea Cunninghami, A. variegata, A. purpurea, 



A. alba, Camellia myrtifolia, C. Princess Royal, Franciscea 

 latifolia, Wigela rosea, Euphorbia splendens, Oncidium flexu- 

 osum, Bemadesia rosea, Bilbergia iberidifolia, Cineraria and 

 Primula? sinensis. 



By Patrick Gallagher, gardener to Miss Gratz, Lantana 

 Douglassi, Melianlhus major, Begonia sp., Fuchsia rosea, Aza- 

 lea splendens, A. variegata, Saxifraga gandiflora, Richardia 

 ethiopica, Cineraria King, Purpurea and Beauty, Rosa de la 

 Reine, Hermosa, Bosanquet and Paul Jones, Ageratum gran- 

 diflorum, Lobelia, Petunia, etc. 



By Benjamin Gullis, A beautiful collection. 



By Wm. Burnley, Spirea prunifolia, Begonia manacata, 



B. sp., Erica sp., Cuphea sp., I'olygala opositifolia. 

 Designs and Bouquets. — By Ben Daniels, a handsome moss 



vase of flowers, and a beautiful basket. 



By Wm. Hall, a handsome basket of cut flowers. 



By P. Gallagher, a cone bouquet. By P. Burke, a hand 

 bouquet. 



Fruit. — By Ben Daniels, gardener to Caleb Cope, straw- 

 berries, — a fine bed in pots of varieties. — Hovey's Seedling, 

 British Queen, Buist's Early May, Sciota, Keene's Seedling 

 and Cushing. Also two bunches White Frontignan, and Mus- 

 cat blanc native grapes. 



By John Perkins, apples, five varieties. 



Vegetables. — By Anthony Felten, Cauliflowers, Broccoli, But- 

 ter Lettuce, Scarlet Radishes, Turnips, yellow and white do , 

 French, Long, and Turnip Beets, Salsify, Parsnips, Drumhead, 

 Red, Dutch and Savoy Cabbage, Potato Artichoke, Curled 

 Kale, Black Winter Radishes, Kohrabli, Parsley and mint. 



By Ben Daniels, from Spring Brook, country seat of C. Cope, 

 new Potatoes, Mushrooms, Lettuce, Rhubarb, Sea-kale, Kid- 

 ney Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Beets, Carrots, Radish- 

 es and Parsley. 



By A. L. Felten, Asparagus, Rhubarb, White Turnip, Red 

 Turnip, Long Radishes, Parsley and Chives. 



Adjourned. Tho. P. James, 



Rec. Secretary. 



