96 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[March, 



garden plums in value, but which, from various 

 causes, have so disappeared from cultivation 

 that many persons now-a-days have never had 

 a system of experimental stations at the most 

 feasible points throughout the State. The com- 

 mission have organized and coainienced their 

 work in securing the promise of individual co- 

 operation from different portions of the State. 

 The work already done gives gratifying e\'idence 

 that we shall be able to very largely utilize the 

 work of individual enterprise, at really little ex- 

 pense to the society, at the same time making it 

 as available to the interests of horticulture as 

 though owned by the State. 



It is the design of this commission to thoroughly 

 organize its work, by making these several stations 

 the points of systematic and regular observations 

 and experiment, with Manhattan, for the present, 

 as the common centre. By this course the com- 

 mission hope to collect a large amount of valua- 

 ble facts which would not otherwise be made 

 available ; and propose to report the same to the 

 State Society at the close of the year. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The Centennial Exhibition. — It is difficult to 

 find out exactly what is being done in the various 

 States in regard to the agriculture and horticul- 

 ture of the Centennial. From most of our ex- 

 changes we learn that every where " something " 

 is being done, but we cannot tell exactly what. 

 Of Indiana the Indiana Farmer tells us : 



" Thanks to the efforts of Prof. E. T. Cox, our 

 State Geologist, and a few other enterprising and 

 public-spirited citizens, our mineral resources, 

 agricultural productions and educational facilities 

 will have a fair representation. It is a matter of 

 regret that our last Legislature did not make a 

 more liberal appropriation for this purpose, but 

 it is gratifying to know that all will be done that 

 the moderate allowance made, and the too limited 

 subscription fund can accomplish toward giving 

 us a good showing in the eyes of the world." 



Instead of reporting what people talk about 

 doing we have thought best to wait till we see 

 what is ^one, and about this we shall probably be 

 able to tell a little next month. 



Organization of the Nursery Business. — At 

 a meeting of Nurserymen, Florists and Seedsmen, 

 at Crystal Lake, 111., Jan. 25th, it was decided to 

 hold a Centennial meeting of all engaged in the 

 trade, in the city of Chicago, on the 2d Wednes- 

 day of June. 



It has always seemed strange that enterpriseea 

 of such vast importance have not as yet made any 

 special effort for a national organization. It ifl 

 hoped that a large attendance can be secured and 

 means devised to better organize and strengthen 

 these great interests. 



A BOTANICO-HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS ifl tO 



meet at Brussels, Belgium, on the 30th of April 

 in connection with the International Horticultu- 

 ral Exhibition to be held there at that time. A 

 leading topic will be to arrange for a Hortus EurO' 

 pens or catalogue of the correct names of all 

 plants cultivated in Europe, of which there ia 

 much need. 



The Gardener's Monthly acknowledges the kind 

 invitation of President d'Hamale, of Malines, to 

 be represented on the occasion. 



The Central Horticui.tural Society op 

 PRANCE is one of the most active in Europe. We 

 have a circular from Mons. A. Lavalle, the general 

 secretary at Paris, in which the advantages of 

 membership are fully and freely detailed. 



Alton Horticultural Society. — Apples foe 

 Profit. — At a late meeting Mr. Pearson said that 

 his most profitable apple was Smith's Cider; and 

 next to this is the Benoni. No other sorts ap- 

 proach these. Dr. Long had made more money 

 out of the Ronianite than any other. The Early 

 harvest and Red Astrachan had done well. North- 

 ern Spy and Yellow Bellfiower were worthless on 

 his grounds. He found it best to cultivate his or- 

 chards, and to apply lime, ashes, and stable man- 

 ures. Young orchards he found most profitable ; 

 orchards generally through the country were not 

 profitable to the owners, simply because proper 

 cultivation was not given, and insects destroyed. 



Western New York Horticultural Sociiity. 

 — The annual meeting held in January at Ro- 

 chester, but very full reports have been given in 

 the Rural New Yorker, Country Gentleman, Rural 

 Home, and other agricultural weeklies, so that 

 details in a Monthly like ours would be rather 

 out of date. It appears to have been more than 

 usually successful. Mr. Barry presided with his 

 usual excellency. 



Massachusetts Horticli.tural Society. — No 

 Horticultural Society in America at all nearly 

 equals that of Massachusetts in wealth or in the 

 amount awarded in premiums. For 1876 the 

 prizes will amount to $6,80(), of which $3,200 are 

 for plants and flowers, $2,100 for fruits, $1,200 for 

 vegetables, $300 for gardens, greenhouses, etc. 



