224 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[July, 



Horticultural Societies. 



COM M UNI C A TIONS. 



PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SO- 

 CIETY. 



ladies' reception. 



BY S. T. N. 



An interesting and beautiful feature of the 

 operations of this time-honored institution, now 

 advancing in the second half- century of its use- 

 '' ful career, is the annual reception given by it's 

 iadies' committee to the members and invited 

 guests. The sixth recurrence of this festival 

 took place on Tuesday evening, the 6th of June 

 last, in the new horticultural hall, which, like 

 the fabled phoenix of old, has arisen from its 

 ashes with richer plumage and greater beauty of 

 form and feature than it ever possessed before. 



In the centre of the hall were spacious tables 

 laden with floral offerings, from which the ladies 

 of the committee, and their aids, dispensed re- 

 Jreshments and fragrant flowers to the assembled 

 guests. From the stage, which was set with a 

 parlor scene and decorated with foliage plants, 

 a .parlor orchestra discoursed soft music during 

 the evening. 



In the Foyer, or smallet saloon, fronting on 

 BVoad Street, there was an interesting display of 

 ' tropical and other plants, sent by members of 

 the society. 



Among the contributions were plants in bloom 

 from John Dick, Jr., decorative plants from H. 

 A. Dreer, Robert Scott & Son, and John Nisbet, 

 gardener to Mrs. David Jayne, and a collection 

 of £fty varieties of rhododendrons in full bloom 

 •from Thomas Meehan. Floral designs, such as 

 plateaux, baskets, pyramids, bouquets and 

 boutonnieres were also contributed by Pennock 

 Brothers, W. P. Graff & Son, R. Scott & Son, C. 

 Eisele, T. J. Maginley and J. M. Hudson. 



About 1,800 guests participated in the plea- 

 sures of the evening, the hospitable character of 

 which called to mind the motto that one often 

 sees carved in the solid stone over the fire places 

 of the olden time in the lands beyond the sea, 

 " focus perennis esto." So may we hope and 

 wish that *' the fire of horticultural love may 

 burn forever." Selah ! 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Penmsylvakia Horticultural Society.— With 

 the rebuilding of the Hall by the President, the 

 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is ready to 

 resume its annual exhibitions, for which it has 

 always been so famous. It has just issued its 

 programme for the year. September 19th, 20th, 

 21st and 22nd is the time set apart for the annual 

 exhibition. The premiums are very good, $30 

 and $25 for the best twenty-five ornamental 

 plants and other flowers. Cut flowers, designs, 

 fruits and vegetables receive due attention. 

 A. W. Harrison, Recording Secretary, Philadel- 

 phia, will furnish programmes to all appli- 

 cants. 



Maryland Horticultural Society. — This 

 body is exercising a highly beneficial influence 

 on the community. The American Farmer says : 

 ''In another direction the Society has shown 

 the ascendancy of correct ideas by moving for 

 the abolition of the old iron^ railings, which so 

 long disfigured the public squares in Baltimore, 

 and by encouraging their adornment by the 

 planting of shrubbery and the formation of beds 

 of flowering and foliage plants in the stead of 

 the former unbroken greensward and too thickly 

 planted trees. Private taste has responded to 

 the public examples thus offered, and on everj- 

 side, specimens of good taste in planting may be 

 seen. Window gardening yearly increases, and 

 many greenhouses have been and are in course 

 of erection, whose owners imbibed their love of 

 plant forms by contemplating their beauties at 

 the Society's shows." 



Premiums for Seedling Fruits.— For varieties 

 originating since 1860, well tried, and which 

 prove in some particular superior to those now 

 in existence, the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society offers the following premiums : 



j For best Seedling Pear S60 00 



Apple, 6000 



HardyGrape 60 00 



Cherry 40 00 



" " Strawberry -50 00 



" " Raspberry W 00 



" other Seedling Fruits • 40 00 



