EDITOll'S TABLE. 



"'Mr, C. M. Uovey — Bear Sir: Had I known you contemplated writing an article upon 

 the ' Hardy Magnolias' for your Magazine, I should have liked to show you some specimens 

 which I think worthy of note, and if you can spare time, within a day or two, should be happy 

 to show you a plant of Soulangiana now going out of flower, which has produced from 1500 to 

 to 2000 flowers this season, — and a plant of conspicua which has this season produced at least 

 8000 flowers, and was much admired. I supposed you were aware of their existence, but as 

 they were not mentioned, presume you were not. The macrophylla also I have had in flower 

 for twelve or fifteen years, and is one of the largest specimens in this vicinity. I have also good 

 specimens of the cordata and loncjifolia, beside the more common kinds. In giving statistics, I 

 think it proper that you should be in possession of facts relating to the finest specimens in the 

 State. John A. Kenrick. — Newton, Mass., Ma>j 15.' " 



* • 



Thk Massachusetts Hokticultueal Society has recently adopted the report of a 

 Committee which states that the prizes awarded to Messrs. Hovey & Co., of Boston, for 

 the Boston Pear and Hovey Cherry were obtained by improper means, and recommending 

 the amendment of the laws so as to prevent such abuses in future. AVe are surprised that 

 this matter should have been allowed to rest until the fruits have been widely disseminated 

 upon the strength of prizes and committee reports. Such proceedings on the part of the 

 most influenzal society in America can scarcely fail to shake the confidence of the com- 

 munity in all Horticultural Societies. 



The Seasoit. — From the commencement of July, up to the present time, (24th,) we 

 have had warmer, and a longer period of dry weather, than we have known for some 

 years — no rain since the last days of June, and the thermometer up to 100 degrees in the 

 shade, several days in succession. Vegetation, however, has suffered very little; the 

 copious rains of June furnished a long supply. The drouth seems to be felt more par- 

 ticularly by the kitchen garden crops and early fruit, which will be smaller than usual. 

 It is at such times the importance of water is realized, and people learn whether they have 



provided an adequate su[iply. 



« 



"We have received a very kind and pressing invitation to attend the meeting of the North 

 Western Pomological Society, to be held at Burlington, Iowa, on the 26th September ; but 

 the meeting of the National Society, at Boston, during the previous week, will, we fear, 

 prevent our attending. We have a great desire to see the Western fruits in convention, 

 and will be at Burlington, if possible. The meeting will be highly interesting on many 

 accounts. Every year adds much to the common stock of Western experience. If we 

 cannot attend we shall endeavor to make arrangements for an early report. 



Fruit at PniLAOELruiA. — Do you know that our city has become the largest in America, if not 

 in the world ? We have consolulatcd — that is the word — the whole county into one great city 

 government. Philadelphia now includes a space of twenty-two miles by eleven, and contains 

 Bay seventy-eight thousand acres I with a population that at the next census will far outstrip 

 New York. I wish I could add, that with this " act" our fruit had increased ; but it has done us 

 in this respect no good whatever this season. The late enow storm and sleet destroyed nearly 

 all our Pears and Cherries, so that there will be barely enough to make a decent exhibition. 

 Cherries for pies are eighteen cents the pound, and very scarce. Strawberries have been fine, 

 but only half a crop; Raspberries the same. On one hundred dwarf Pears that ought to have 

 borne finely this year, I have just thirty-one Pears ! But I still live in hope. S. 



wish you were here. We have had en overflowing abundance of all the fruits. 



VOL. IV. H 3 



