HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



pletely impoverished the ground where they 

 have been growing and bearing, without any 

 new supply of food for fifteen years. Notliing 

 that you can apply as a mere top-dressing, will 

 restore such trees — whether in the shape of ani- 

 mal or mineral manures. Clear off all the old 

 soil over the roots — taking care not to injure or 

 cut them. At the outside of the principal 

 roots, dig a trench all round the tree — 18 inch- 

 es deep. Throw aside the old exhausted soil 

 in this trench, and replace it by new soil from 

 the corner of some good pasture field, where 

 it has laid fallow for years. Mix with this soil 

 a heavy dressing of good stable manure, or rich 

 compost of any sort, that j'ou may have. This 

 will give new life to the exhausted constitution 



of the tree. If you now add a bushel of ashes, 

 and half a peck of air-slaked lime to the new 

 soil that you must put in the place of that 

 which you took from the surface roots, your 

 trees will be well supplied with both organic 

 and inorganic food. Both are needful ; and ab- 

 solutely necessary as lime, and potash, and 

 phosphates are to the growth of trees, they 

 can no more live upon these in a worn-out soil, 

 than a man can live on salt, and pepper, and 

 mustard, with no beef or bread to go along 

 with them. 



Insects. — Owen T. Hobbs, (Randolph, Pa.) 

 The eggs of the peach tree insect we do not re- 

 cognise — will be able to say what it is if they 

 hatch. 



33nrtinilturnl Inriftirs. 



Pennsylvania. — The stated meeting of the 

 Pennsylvania llort. Society occurred on Tues- 

 day evening January 21st, 1851 — the president 

 in the chair. Owing to the precariousness of 

 midwinter, contributors do not risk fine speci- 

 mens of plants; hence displays are less attrac- 

 tive. One small collection, however, of a very 

 interesting character, was shown by Robert 

 Scott, foreman to Robert Buist, consisting of 

 Forsythia viridissima in flower, and exhibited 

 for the first time, Epacris nivalis, E. purpuras- 

 cens, E. coccinea, Correa multiflora rubra, 

 C. bicolor, Erica Wilmorcanei, and Cleroden- 

 dron splendens. James Ritchie presented a 

 beautiful seedling Camellia, and a large collec- 

 tion of cut Camellia flowers, of the choicest 

 varieties Designs, baskets of cut flowers and 

 bouquets, were unusually handsome. Of fruit, 

 a few dishes of apples only were seen. The 

 committee on this department, reported that 

 they were regaled on New Year's day with 

 Hamburg grapes, which had just been cut from 

 the vine under glass, by William Johns; the 

 merit consisted in the mode of preservation, 

 being ripe last October, and retaining their 

 freshness and flavor. This result was effected 

 by darkening the house, thus checking the 

 growth of the vine, with occasional circula- 

 tion of air to prevent moulding. Of vegeta- 

 bles there were four large displays of the finest 

 esculents. Thomas Meehan, gardener to A. 

 M. Eastwick, (Bartram's Garden.) exhibited a 

 dish of blanched dandelion plants, the leaves 

 of which are eaten as salad, and by some much 

 relished. 



The committee of finance reported as to the 

 correctness of the Treasurer's accounts and 

 favorable state of the investments. 



The special committee on the accommoda- 



tions of the Society submitted a lengthy report 

 which was ordered to lie over for consideration. 



An interesting communication was read from 

 Dr. John Dawson, (formerly of the city,) da- 

 ted Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Nov. 

 8, 1850, purporting that he had procured of the 

 " Botanic Garden Commission" of the Cape, 

 a package of seed, and had forwarded the same 

 to the Society, and desiring a reciprocity. 



At the annual meeting, the following oflicers 

 were elected for the ensuing year: 

 - President — Caleb Cope. 



Vice Presidents — Gen. R. Patterson, Jas. 

 Dundas, Joshua Longstrethand E. W. Keyser. 



Treasurer — John Thomas. 



Cor. Sec'y — Thomas C. Percival. 



Rec. Sec'y — Tho. P. James. 



The stated monthly meeting for February, 

 occurred on the 18th. The President, upon 

 taking the chair, addressed the society, tender- 

 ing his thanks for the marked expression of 

 confidence in his re-election, dwelling upon the 

 usefulness of the association, and alluding to 

 its prosperous condition, remarking that of late 

 some little extravagance had crept into its 

 management, which only required investigation 

 to be remedied, and reiterating his intention 

 to retire at the termination of the j'ear. 



The display on the occasion, consisted of two 

 fine collections of plants. In that from R. 

 Buist 's houses, were tliree new and interesting 

 specimens — the Boronia anernonifolia, Erica, 

 levigata and E. aurantiaca, which were seen 

 for the first time. Among A. M. Eastwick's 

 plants were many choice species. Tlnee sets 

 of Primula sinensis were presented by John 

 Lambert, Robert Buist, and A. M. Eastwick's 

 gardeners. Displays of cut Camellias, which 

 were unusually rich and extensive, were from 



