uss 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHL Y. 



\Stptemher. 



the plow is brought to nile over the market- 1 

 <;arik'n, until ajjricuUurc almost considers the 

 iirt lier own. The potato — tlio yreat i)oti'ntatc' 

 •of the vegetable world — has Ijccn seriously at- 

 taeked by insects and diseases, botli of wliich 

 tlireatenened almost annihilation, lint the art 

 ■of the gardener has been equal to the contest, 

 and to-day the potato is as cheap and as abund- 

 ant in our markets as it was at the beginning of 

 our Centennial era. The varieties, however, 

 seem soon to give way to others. Of the many 

 hundreds of varieties seen on the Exhibition 

 tables not one was over ten years old. This 

 fact seems to keep improvers on the alert. Bliss, 

 Ilexamer, and others exhibited seedlings in al- 

 most endless varieties, so as to be able to select 

 fully-proved kinds as the older and more pop- 

 ular ones degenerate. From Bermuda, how- 

 ever, were exliibited remarkably fine potatoes, 

 of the same character as have appeared in our 

 markets from there for many years past, show- 

 ing how favorable is that part of the world to 

 steady potato-culture. 



The collections of vegetables were not diver- 

 sified locall}^ to a sutHcieut extent to draw many 

 ■inferences suitable to a general report. From 

 Manitoba, Canada, there was a display of all the 

 'Common Autumn vegetables that surprised 

 everybody by their size and tenderness ; the 

 States of Iowa and Connecticut made good dis- 

 plays; a small collection came from Ohio; and 

 the balance was made up by A. L. Felton, of 

 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Landreth & Sons, 

 of Bloomsdale, Penns3'lvania, and B. K. Bliss 

 & Son, of New York. On account of their per- 

 ishable character, it was hardly to be expected 

 that the articles exhibited in this department 

 should partake of a very extended international 

 character ; but on several occasions the British 

 Commission exhibited the peculiar fruits of 

 Jamaica as they came in at their respective 

 seasons. The fruits of other distant countries 

 were exhibited in spirits, instructive as making 

 the world acquainted with the indigenous pro- 

 ducts of these distant regions, but indicating no 

 likelihood of becoming known as fresh fruits in 

 the great markets of the world. 



Transactions of the Mass. HoRxicuLTr- 

 RAL Society, for 1878, Part I., from R. Man- 

 ning, Secretary. This old Societ}'^ shows increas- 

 ing activity and usefulness with age. The trans- 

 actions alone are worth the price of membership, 

 to say nothing of the social attractions and the 

 nterest of its continuous exhibitions throughout 



the year. The present has the valedictory of 

 President Parknian. im tin' iiitn)diiitl(tn ot llie, 

 newly selected President William (jray, .Junior. 

 Mr. Parkman gave some excellent suggestions 

 on '* running in ruts," and especiiilly on tiie 

 source of absurdities of tlie " premium " system. 



MASSAnirsKTTS HORTICULTl'KAL SOCIETY. 



— Orchid Culture. Al a meeting of this society, 

 held .luly 2<Uli, numerous sjieeimens of (Jrcliids 

 exhibited showed tiiat these pretty tlowers are 

 jKjpular. S[)ikes of Dendrobium filiforme an(l 

 Cattleya Dowiana, exhibited by F. L. Ames, re- 

 ceived the first premium. A gratuity was 

 awarded to .James Cartwright for spikes of Catt- 

 leya Loddigesii, and to James Comly for Cym- 

 bidium aloefolium. P"'or his Cattleya Dowiana, 

 F. L. Ames was awarded a silver medal. 



Yucca jilameniosa. — It is strange that such a 

 beautiful plant is not used more extensively ; it 

 tlowers abundantly in hot weather, and its 

 dark-green leaves and tropical appearance always 

 render it attractive ; its being an evergreen adds 

 greatly to its value as an ornamental plant. 

 For a display of this plant, J. W. Manning 

 received a gratuity. 



Window Gardening. — An interesting feature 

 in the report of this meeting was the prizes 

 oflered for tlowers grown in window gardens ; a 

 collection comprising Petunias, Lobelias and 

 scarlet Pelargoniums, grown in this manner, 

 was exhibited by Sophia Rouse and Edward Re- 

 valeon, for which they were awarded a gratuity. 



Acer colchicum rubrum. — John R. Brewer ex- 

 hibited some specimens of this handsome tree. 

 As this Maple's principle attraction is in the scar- 

 let leaves produced by the young Summer 

 growth, to have it looking its best it shou d be 

 kept cut as a shrub, for the more Summer wood 

 produced the more brilliant the appearance. 

 The correct name of this Maple is Acer Itetum, 

 and not Acer colchicum. 



Stokesia cyana. — Among the herbaceous plants 

 exhibited Avas Stokesia cyana. This is one of 

 tlie most striking tlowers among the composita^, 

 it has large blue tlowers, is a free bloomer and 

 comes in llower early in the Autumn, indeed 

 early in July, and remains flowering a long lime. 

 This plant should be in all herbaceous collections. 



Faspberry, Pride of ihe Hudson. — E. P. Roe ex- 

 hibited two quarts of this vai"iety, and secured 

 the first premium ; Warren Fenno, for Ilers- 

 tine, second; and third premium to W. K. Wood 

 for Clarks. 



Currants. — The Versailles carried off all the 

 prizes offered for exhibits of that fruit. 



Gooseberries. — The Downing took first and 

 second premiums, the Royal George the third. 



Sweet Corn. — By exhibiting the Minnesota 

 variety, S. G. Stone received first premium ; S. 

 Ilartwell, for Narragansett, the second, and the 

 third was awarded to S. G. Stone for Crosby. 



The Marketing of Pears, Bottom Heat, 

 Garden Irrigation, Culture of Roses, 

 Fertilizers, Small Fruits — among others, 

 show how varied are the subjects of the discus- 

 sions reported in full in these pages. 



