320 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY. 



know. Mr. Dreer had, also, specimens of the 

 new fodder plant Teosinte, Reana luxurians, but 

 whether this will be any better for our climate 

 than Pearl Millet, or even common fodder corn, 

 we have no information. 



In fruits one cannot but praise the exhibit of 

 Apples and Pears, made by Edwin Satterthwaite. 

 Usually at State Fairs, exhibits of these are made 

 chiefly of winter or late ripening kinds, and are 

 in September little guide to their real character. 

 Mr. Satterthwaite's collection were mostly ap- 

 proaching maturity, in immense variety, and 

 were particularly encouraging to those who 

 might be disposed to plant a tree. Among the 

 Apples, Cornell's Fancy and Gravenstien were 

 particularly beautiful ; but it maybe said of all 

 these immense numbers of varieties of fruits ex- 

 hibited, that now-a days they teach but little to 

 the spectator. The true value of any variety 

 must be tested in the orchard. 



Grapes were out in great force, and showed 

 how much had been gained in a quarter of a 

 century. The new candidates for public favor, 

 Prentiss, Lady Washington, Jefferson, Moore's 

 Early, and Montgomery were among others, and 

 if they grow as well as they taste, they will be 

 permanently popular. Mr. T. Mellor had some 

 remarkably fine hothouse Grapes, the Muscat 

 Hamburg, being particularly delicious. But in 

 this class exhibitors were not numerous. 



Though not in the exhibition of the State Fair, 

 yet on public exhibition by the city of Philadel- 

 phia at Fairmount Park, the bedding plants 

 around Horticultural Hall were enjoyed no doubt 

 by thousands of exhibitors. The writer, during 

 the past few years, has had the opportunity of 

 seeing the bedding of most of the public grounds 

 both in Europe and this country, but has seen 

 none that for harmony of color, grandeur of ef 

 feet, or perfection in every detail, equaled this, 

 and while so much is said in" the public papers 

 about the disgraceful condition of Philadelphia 

 Parks and Squares generally, it must be set down 

 to the credit of the city that its landscape gar- 

 dener, Mr. Miller, has been permitted to make 

 so beautiful a display here. 



Instructive Horticultural Societies. — The 

 plan of having instructive lectures on the plants, 

 fruits and vegetables exhibited, inaugurated by 

 the Germantown Horticultural Society a year 

 ago, has added largely to the attendance and 

 membership of the Society. The lectures are 

 generally by Prof. Thomas Meehan, though 



other members make occasional addresses. The 

 Royal Horticultural Society of London has 

 adopted the same plan. A recent Gardeners' 

 Magazine says of a late exhibition : "Not the 

 least pleasing part of the meeting was the re- 

 markably interesting and instructive lecture by 

 the Rev. G. Henslow on the objects brought be- 

 fore the Floral Committee." 



A New Agricultural Society. — August 27, 

 1880, during the meeting of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, a 

 meeting was organized. Prof. Caldwell in the 

 chair, and Prof. A. J. Cook of Michigan Agricul- 

 tural College, Secretary. After a full discussion 

 the "Society for the Promotion of Agricultural 

 Science" was provisionally organized, those pre- 

 sent being Profs. Beal, Caldwell, Farlow, Kedzie, 

 Goessmann, Cook, and Fernald, and Doctors 

 Halstead, Ledeux and Sturtevant. 



Professor Beal was elected President, and Dr. 

 Sturtevant vvas elected Secretary. An Executive 

 Connnittee was then appointed, consisting of the 

 President, Secretary and Prof. Caldwell, with full 

 powers to arrange for the next meeting, to be 

 held on the day preceding the meeting of the 

 American Association next year, and at the 

 same place. The following are the names of the 

 additional membership : Prof. W. G. Farlow, 

 Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. ; Prof. C. A. 

 Goessmann, Massachusetts Agricultural College, 

 Amherst; Prof. A. J. Cook, Michigan Agricul- 

 tural College, Lansing; Prof. Peter Collier, De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Washington ; Dr. B. D. 

 Halsted, editor American Agriculturist, New 

 York City ; Dr. A. R. Ledeux, 17 Cedar street, 

 New York City. * 



At the next meeting it is expected that papers 

 will be presented by the members, embodying 

 results of original research, and matter worthy 

 of permanent preservation. The special fields 

 and their occupants, thus far, are: Botany and 

 horticulture, Profs. Beal. Bessey, Brewer, Dr. 

 Sturtevant; pomology, Thomas, Barry; ento- 

 mology and apiculture, Profs. Comstock and 

 Cook ; agricultural chemistry. Profs. Kedzie, 

 Johnson, Caldwell, Hilgard, Goessmann, Collier, 

 Ledeux ; physics and soil, Prof. Hilgard, Presi- 

 dent Stockbridge, President Fernald ; dairying 

 science, Arnold, Dr. Sturtevant: veterinary. 

 Prof. Law ; vegetable pathology, Profs. Farlow, 

 Halsted, Bessey. It is expected that other lead- 

 ers in agricultural investigation will be invited 

 to join this association, and that in time it will 

 embrace within its limits the highest agricultural 

 scientific talent in the country. At present the 

 association has the cordial support of all its 

 members, and it trusts that events will justify the 

 wisdom and timeliness of the attempt. 

 Prof. W. J. Beal, Lansing, Mich , President, 

 E. Louis Sturtevant, M. D., South Farmingham, 



Mass., Secretary, 

 Prof. G. C. Caldwell, Ithaca, N. Y., Committee. 



