198 



MASSACHUSETTS lloRT. SOCIETY. 



Dvu-sTnoTiNT, Insects. — Thissoason, insects have 

 born unnsuallyil<-s(iuctive to our liner fruits. The 

 Uasp, the Velhnv Hornet, the Bee, the Snappinfr 

 ling and Ants, have all been busy in breaking 

 through the skin, anil causing a premature ilecaj 

 in some case.'* before llic fruit was ripe. At least 

 one-lialf of our apricots rotted in consc(iuence of 

 these attacks, and many of our finest peaches. A 

 roniinuod buzz was liearil in the trees; and what 

 to do became the question. Every wasp nest that 

 xvo could find was destroyed, tog:et.her with the 

 builders, so that a very sensible diminution in their 

 numbers was observable; but still there were many 

 loft to crowd in with the other insects; and I 

 Ihougfht of the plan, lon{? since ailopted by English 

 gardeners, which was to hang ])hials filled with 

 sweetened water among the branches. This plan 

 has proved very successful; and if I had adopted it 

 early in the season, much tine fruit might have been 

 saveit. May we all remember it next year. JD. 

 Thomas. Cayuga co., 9 mo 13, 1846. 



How TO CARVE A Watkr Mf.i.on. — Cut olT the 

 ends, and lay them aside; then if tlie fruit is long, 

 divide it into Iwo liarts, by another cross section. 

 Sot the part or ))arts on end, antl jiass the knife 

 jiorpcndicularly downwards several times, till the 

 jiieces arc an inch and a half or two inches broad 

 across the rind. In this manner the seeils are ea- 

 sily removeii, and the pieces of a convenient shape. 

 E. Cayuga. 



Pity THE Town Trees. — The anomalies attend- 

 ant upon the growth of trees in large cities, might 

 serve for a theme whereon to write a volume. 

 They are jilaced in a hole (piile too small for them, 

 a little rubbish is thrown about their roots, the 

 bricks are laid carefully as tight and near the root 

 as possible, and the curbstone touches the rootlets 

 at least on one side. To prevent the rain from 

 ever reaching the roots, the tree is now enclosed 

 in a box, and this tender vegetable production is 

 expected to grow! Sometimes this is the case, but 

 more generall)'', as nobody ever thinks of water- 

 ing it, it dwindles and dies. The wonder is that 

 any city tree ever survives the treatment. 



Care should be taken, in the first i)Iace, to have 

 tlie whole large and deep; and to this should be 

 brought, before the tree is procureil, cart loads of 

 the best soil that can be got; then plant carefully 

 in the usual manner, leaving the paving as far from 



the stem as jiropriety will admit. If the watering 

 pot is now judiciously used when the weather is 

 dry, and sutllcient ventilation is gi\en in the sideg 

 of the tree box, the jirobability is that a shailc 

 tree will be iiroduced. 



It is a melancholy ciroumstance that evergreen 

 trees, as a rule, will not succeed in large cilioH, 

 else we might have much more ornamental ]danl- 

 ing than we now have. Deciduous trees, resi-m- 

 bling evergreens, may be ailvantageously substi- 

 tuted, and among these the Cy|)ressand the Larch 

 are probal)ly the best. The ("yi)ress is late in ])ro- 

 ducing its leaves, and may be said to be a clean 

 tree, though not as good for shade as some others. 

 Probably we shall liave a good, and certainly a 

 quick-growing tree in the Paulownia impcriatis. It 

 will be useful the first season, and the second or 

 third, will attain all the height required; afler 

 which it may be trimmed to suit the wishes of ihe 

 owner. 



The trimming of the successful trees in the 

 streets and in ))ublic sipiares in cities, is another 

 subject deserving of comment. Every erroneous 

 experiment is tried ui)on them, to distort and ilis- 

 iigure their natural!}' graceful forms. The jirin- 

 cipal object seems to be to endeavor to force them 

 to a great height, by tlenuding them of their lower 

 limbs, than which nothing could be more prei)OS- 

 terous and injurious. Even the beautiful Cypress 

 in \Vashington square has undergone this shock- 

 ing operation the jiresent season, and it now looks 

 like a scarecrow on stilts. City fathers, who know 

 less of trees than of yard sticks, would <lo well to 

 employ a little science in this matter, rather than 

 injure for posterity the beautiful works of nature. 

 They might also very advantageously ask of ex- 

 perience the best kind of trees for planting. Phi- 

 ladelphia. 



Lima Beans dried. — Are all your readers aware 

 that Lima beans may be made a vegetable for "all 

 winter's use?"' (Jathered just at the time when 

 they are fit to pull for the table, and dried on the 

 floor of an airy loft, they Avill keep for many 

 months. Before using them, you need only soak 

 them in water for twelve hours (say from the j)re- 

 vious evening till the morning they are wanted.) 

 Then boil them, and serve them as if they were 

 fresh. They are not a whit inferior to fresh ones, 

 or at least you are willing to admit it in mid-win ■ 

 ter. A. S. New-York. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



MASSACHrSETT.S IIOETICrLTURAL II.\LL, 1 



Boston, August 2!), 1840. J 



The President read the following letter from the Hon. Theo- 

 dore Lyman : 



" Sir — I beg to hand enclosed a check for a thousand dol- 

 lars, payable lo your order. I have only to request that this 

 sum may be invested iu a permanent manner, and the proceeds 

 of the iii%-estment be appropriated in tlie sliape of prizes for 

 the encouragement of the growlli of such kind or kinds of 

 fruit as the government of the Horticultural Society may deem 

 ad\'isable to select. I am, sir, your obedient ser\n. 



" Theodore Lyman. 

 " To Marshall P. Wilder, Esq., 



Fresi/ienl of Ihe M(us. Hort. Society. 

 " Broohline, Aug. 2G, 1*1G." 



V'ote'l, That the thanks of this Institution be tendered to the 

 Hon. Theotlore LjTnaii, for his munificent donation of one 

 thousand dollars. 



Voted, That the Society entertain the highest respect for the 

 liberality thai prompted so substantial a token of interest ui its 

 welfare. 



Voted, That this donation be permanently invested by the 

 Finance Commiltpp; that it take the nnme of the Lvman 

 Fund ; and that the income be distributed in medals or plate, 

 as the Society may direct. 



Voted, That the Recording Secrclarj' transmit a copy of the 

 foregoing voles to I\Ir. Lyiii.iii. 



Voted, T\]n.t the Coininiltee of Arrangmcnts have power to 

 increase their number. 



Hon. Theodore Lyman, Brooklinc, elected lionorar>' mem 

 ber; Wsdter Fariisworth, Roxbury, elected a member. 



