288 



THK GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[ September, 



winds. These do not prove damnginf; us sup- 

 posed, except to live stock. The wind upon the 

 pniirie wliips iuul hruises the foliiige of tender 

 shriihs, trees mid smaller plants. Any fa.stgrow- 

 ing annual like hemp or castor hean, or even 

 corn, is a great help until more durahle protec- 

 tion can be grown. 



The whole matter of a recommended fruit list 

 was referred to tlie f^.xperimental Committee of 

 the Society, of which I may some time tell you. 

 This old fajsliion of grinding over and over and 

 out a fruit list in the meetings we have aban- 

 doned in disgust. It takes too much time, and 

 is too unreliable. There is a better way. 



The wild trees, shrubs, and flowers of Kansas 

 were talked about. We liave a rich supply of 

 such kinds as deserve cultivation. Among the 

 smaller ones are the Verbena, several species of 

 Violet, Anemone, Tradescantia, and Mimosa. 

 The wild prairie rose, the Cephalanthus or but- 

 ton busli, are two very good native plants. Our 

 Elms and Box Elder or Negundo are better than 

 the far-fetched exotics. 



The ladies attend our meetings too. We were 

 highly entertained by an essay on " Woman's 

 Work in Horticulture," by Miss Mary L. Macy, 

 of Hannibal, Mo., the essence of which is "plain 

 living and high culture." The next meeting of 

 the Society will be held at Parsons, in the Neosho 

 Valley, in December next. All are invited, wel- 

 comed, and freely entertained. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The Nurskryman's Protective Association. — 

 This organization, which has been in existence 

 several years, has increased its area for member- 

 ships, now embracing the whole country. Started 

 at first as a Western organization, its growth has 

 been more rapid than anticipated, tdl now it 

 throws its protecting arms over all, and its mem- 

 berships embrace the leading men in the trade 

 throughout the North, besides a number of mem- 

 berships in the South. It aims to do no man an 

 injury, but simply to point out the rocks and 

 shoals in the great business sea, to associate 

 members, that they may steer clear and profit by 

 the experience of others. Character is worth 

 something to all men, in whatever business call- 

 ing, and to none is it worth more than to the 

 nurseryman and dealer; but many there are, 

 all over the land, who, regardless of the injury 

 done, will take advantage of both buyer and sel- 

 ler for pecuniary gain when they can, and from 

 the depredations of this class, all in the trade 

 must more or less share their blame. To protect 

 one another, as the name indicates, is the object 

 of the Association ; and so long as the same vigi- 

 lance over memberships is exercised in the 

 future, as has been in the past, so long will mem- 

 bers regard the Association and its Reports, as 

 now, a most valuable assistance in their trade. — 

 Industrial Gazette. 



The American Association op Nurserymen. — 

 The leading object of this Association, to wit : 



"The purchase and sale of surplus stock," is not 

 sliown in the book of its published transactions. 

 Unlike otlier associations of horticulturista, the 

 Aiuiual Meeting is .esi)ecially a "Trade Sale" 

 meeting, where buyer and seller meet to com- 

 pare views, and make their engagements for the 

 demands of their trade. Started only two years 

 ago, it has already held two meetings in the 

 West, with uiialjated interest, and next year it 

 will hold its annual meeting in Rochester, N. Y., 

 when it is hojted its memberships will be largely 

 increased. All in the trade, whether nursery- 

 men, florists or dealers, should avnil themselves 

 of the advantages ati'orded at these annual gath- 

 erings. In addition to the buying and selling of 

 stock, there are the questions of freight, grading 

 of stock, methods of packing, <fec., &c., to be dis- 

 cussed, and great good \vll flow to all in the 

 trade. —Industrial Gazette. 



The Work of Group xx.xvi. of the Centenni- 

 al Jury. — Tliis group embraced fruits, fruit trees, 

 fruit models, legumes, vegetables, and allied 

 matters. As already stated, the work of this 

 jury was continuous from May to November, al- 

 ways taking two and generally four tiays a week. 

 Many ^/iowsanf/s of exhibits were examined — the 

 legumes alone being over a thousand — and reports 

 on the actual merits of each in most cases, made 

 to the commissioners. Wherever special merit 

 was found awards were made, and the particular 

 points of special merit stated in the award. The 

 Centennial Commission intends to publish these 

 awards, and as the reasons will thus be given to 

 the world, much more honor will accrue to the 

 individuals who receive them, than the mere 

 announcement would as under the old system, 

 that "so and so " was "awarded a medal," with- 

 out any special reason being given. The proof 

 sheets of these awards have recently come under 

 the eye of the writer, and it appears that 216 

 persons received awards for special excellencies. 

 As this is perhaps not ten per cent, of the 

 exhibits made, those who receive the awards 

 may well be proud of their honors. 



SCBAFS AND QUERIES. 



Music at Horticultural Exhibitions. — A 

 correspondent refers to the annoyance from 

 music at some shows — interfering with the con- 

 versation and study of the articles on exhibition. 

 We think the majority of people like the music; 

 and we are sorry to say, many horticulturists do 

 not take as much interest in these exhibits as 

 they ought to do. It is possible to so have an 

 exhibition that the public shall be entirely satis- 

 fied with the horticultural products alone; but 

 when not, the managers must be excused if they 

 look to other arts besides that of gardening, to 

 give the public the full worth of their money. 

 Nothing would gratify us more than to see horti- 

 culture alone command entire attention, and we 

 hope that day will come. 



