836 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



■with light refreshments, which brought a 

 very pleasant afternoon to a close. 



The next meeting will be held in the Par- 

 ish House on March 4, 7:30 p. m. 



THOS. WILSON, Secretary. 



THE WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The annual entertainment of the West- 

 chester and Fairfield Horticultural Society 

 was held in Mechanics' Hall, Stamford, 

 Conn., AVednesday evening, February 4. It 

 was an ideal night for mid-winter. The 

 weather was clear and settled, just a little 

 bit frosty, and good traveling. The gar- 

 dener can always enjoy himself better when 

 he knows his other interests are safe, and 

 in consequence a great number of the mem- 

 bers with their wives, families, sweethearts 

 or friends were present, supplemented by 

 a goodly number of seedsmen's and nur- 

 serymen's representatives, filled the hall 

 to overflowing. Everybody seemed to be 

 acquainted, and "sociability" seemed to be 

 the watchword of the occasion. The com- 

 mittee in charge of arrangements deserve 

 gi-eat credit for the excellent and varied 

 programme presented. The vocal and in- 

 strumental numbers, minstrel features and 

 sleight-of-hand tricks were all well ren- 

 dei-ed and heartily applauded. The enter- 

 tainment concluded with a number of ex- 

 cellent colored views of travel in the Brit- 

 ish Isles, showing among others a number 

 of horticultural subjects. About this time 

 President Williamson called to the stage 

 Mr. John M. Blown, of Stamford, and pre- 

 sented him with a beautiful silver loving 

 cup, ornamented with horn handles, as a 

 token of esteem and also apreeiation of the 

 exhibitors at our recent Fall show, which 

 was such a decided success, largely due to 

 Mr. Brown's able management. Mr. Brown 

 responded feelingly and assured the "boys" 

 of ins continued hearty support. While an 

 excellent bufl'et lunch was being served the 

 floor Avas quickly cleared for dancing. 

 P. W. POPP, 

 Corresponding Secretary. 



CONNECTICUT HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The weather was so extremely cold dur- 

 ing the week that our members did not 

 bring the exhibits that they otherwise 

 would have done had conditions been more 

 favorable. The meeting of February 13 

 was given up to the consideration of Cycla- 

 men, and Mr. George W. Fraser, of the 

 Connecticut Agricultural College, exhibited 

 one plant of Cyclamen; but some of the 

 blooms distinctly showed the ravages of 

 "Jack Frost." Mr. Fraser stated that he 

 had one plant he intended to bring, bearing 

 ninety-eight blooms. He had an eight-mile 

 ride in an open automobile with the ther- 

 mometer at 8 degrees below zero, so that 

 he displayed considerable pluck in attempt- 

 ing to bring an exhibit at all. He also 

 showed a vase of carnations, which he 

 named "A. G: Gulley," after one of the pro- 

 fessors at the college. He exhibited two 

 rose blooms crossed between Belle Sea- 

 brite and Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. 



Mr. Fraser was the principal speaker of 

 the evening, and he gave a complete history 

 of the Cyclamen. He stated in part that 

 the Cyclamen originated in Italy, and that 

 pigs were very fond of the roots and would 

 hunt voraciously for them in the woods, 

 especially wild boars. In the year 1731 they 

 were introduced into England, but were not 

 favorably received. They were not propa- 

 gated much, as the gardeners did not seem 

 to appreciate their beauty, and their value 

 as flowering plants was not discovered until 

 about fifty years ago. Cvclamen blooms 



from October to May. Some plants produce 

 2U0 blooms, and Mr. Fraser stated that he 

 had counted one with 198 blooms. The tem- 

 perature should be kept at about CO degrees, 

 as they seem to grow better at that temper- 

 ature. The meeting was well attended, and 

 the members extended to Mr. Fraser a 

 hearty vote of thanks for his able address. 

 ALFRED DIKON, Secretary. 



THE WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The regular monthly meeting of the 

 \Yestchester and Fairfield Horticultural So- 

 ciety was held in Doran Hall, Greenwich, 

 Conn., Friday evening, February 13, Presi- 

 dent Eobert Williamson presiding. Owing 

 to the severity of the weather the regular 

 attendance was not quite up to the usual 

 high mark, a great many of the members 

 having to travel long distances to reach the 

 meeting place. The monthly exhibits were 

 of the usual high standard of quality, but 

 not so numerous as when the weathe'r per- 

 mits the carrying of greenhouse stock with 

 more safety. 



The judges made the following awards: 

 A well-flowered orchid plant, Phalaenopsis 

 Schilerlana, from Adam Patterson was justly 

 awarded a cultural certificate. A fine vase 

 of Killarney roses, white and pink varie- 

 ties, from Carl Hakansen, awarded honor- 

 able mention. Specimen plant of Primula 

 Malainder Alba, from P. W. Popp, was 

 awarded a vote of thanks. A handsome 

 vase of Zwalvenek's new winter flowering 

 Orchid Sweet Peas attracted considerable 

 attention, this being the first time that this 

 new race of Sweet Peas was exhibited be- 

 fore this society. In the opinion of the 

 writer this new type of Sweet Peas will in 

 a few years entirely supersede the present 

 day type of winter flower, or Christmas 

 Sweet Peas. Honorable mention was 

 awarded to P. W. Popp for the exhibit. 



The Entertainment Committee made their 

 final report, and were discharged with a 

 hearty vote of thanks for the splendid eve- 

 ning's entertainment recently provided for 

 the enjoyment of the society and friends. 



The question of summer and fall shows 

 for this year was discussed. Wliile there 

 was no definite action taken regarding the 

 matter, there is every indication the society 

 will again provide for creditable e.xhibitions 

 as in the past. 



A communication was read from the sec- 

 retary of National Association of Garden- 

 ers urging upon the members of local so- 

 cieties and gardening clubs the need of 

 greater co-operation with the national body. 

 Tlie question is a very broad one, and of 

 too much importance* to discuss offhand. 

 There is no doubt whatever that when the 

 matter takes more concrete form, and the 

 subject has been fully discussed by the va- 

 rious local societies throughout the coun- 

 try, policies suggested and acted upon by 

 tlie progressive element in the gardening 

 fraternity, the movement cannot be other- 

 wise than beneficial in niunberless ways 

 that will suggest themselves, not only to 

 the gardener in particular, but to the pro- 

 fession generally. With the limited time at 

 the disposal of the members there was, 

 however, quite a discussion on the subject, 

 the sense of which seemed to be, if each 

 local society should have adequate repre- 

 sentation and a voice in the shaping of the 

 policies of this movement in connection 

 with the N. A. G.. the W. & F. Society 

 could be counted upon to heartily co-oper- 

 ate with any movement tending to the ad- 

 vancement of horticulture. 



Four new nienibers were elected and two 

 |)ropositions for membership received. TMeet- 

 in<: then atliourncd until March 13. 1914. 

 P. W. POPI'. 



AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY. 



The Executive Committee of the Ameri- 

 can Piose Society met Monday, February 9, 

 and took up various important questions 

 relative to the coming exhibit. The list of 

 judges were chosen subject to their accept- 

 ance. The Mrs. Gertrude M. Hubbard gold 

 medal will be awarded on Monday, March 

 23. This gold medal is a special prize pro- 

 vided for in perpetuity by the late Mrs. 

 Gertruds M. Hubbard, of Washington, and 

 the provisions are that it is to be given 

 once in five years to the raiser or originator 

 of the best rose introduced in the five years 

 previous to the award. The rose to be of 

 American origin, and this will be the first 

 occasion on which it is' awarded. 



A special prize is offered by Treasurer 

 Harry 0. May for .the best 2.5 blooms of 

 any undisseminated variety of roses. $25. 

 The Waban Rose Conservatorie.s offer a 

 prize of $2.5 for the best 50 Russell roses, 

 and a special prize is also offered by the 

 Executive Committee of the American Rose 

 Society, the particular object to be deter- 

 mined later. 



The annual business meeting of the so- 

 ciety will be held on Monday evening, 

 March 23, subject to adjournment. Last 

 year the attractions at the Grand Central 

 Palace was so great that it was difiicult to 

 get anything to counterbalance the attrac- 

 tions of the general exhibit, and every- 

 thing in the way of papers was deemed ad- 

 visable to omit. 



Entries for the rose classes should be 

 forwarded to reach the secretary at Bea- 

 con, Dutchess County, New York, not later 

 than March 10, 1914. Robert Simpson, of 

 Clifton, N. J., has accepted the position of 

 manager for the Rose Exhibition. 



BENJAMIN HAMMOND, 



Secretary. 



NEW LONDON (CONN.) HORTICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



The monthly meeting of the New Lon- 

 don Horticultural Society was held Febru- 

 ary 1 1 in its rooms on Main street. Con- 

 sidering the inclement weather quit a good 

 attendance turned out. Carnations were 

 the feature of the meeting. Patten & Co., 

 Tewkesbury, Mass.. exhibited a very fine 

 vase of their new carnation "Princess Dag- 

 mar." Edward Smith showed an exception- 

 al fine vase of Bonora. Stanley -Jordan 

 exhibited Mrs. Barron, White ' Wonder. 

 \\'liite Enchantress, Pink Delight, Enchant- 

 ress and Enchantress Supreme: also a very 

 line bloom of the Californian Giant, quite a 

 novelty. Alfred Flowers, gardener to G. 

 Palmer, Esq., exhibited a fine collection of 

 in-door grown vegetables. Andrew Beran, 

 gardener to Senator Landers, exhibited a 

 \ery fine bunch of Princess of Wales Vio- 

 lets. Mr. Beran is quite an expert on these 

 latter, having a fine violet house on the- 

 estate. 



The next meeting of the society will be 

 held in March, when all members are asked 

 for questions on any subject relating to- 

 horticulture. This should be an interesting 

 night, and bring a good attendance. Ques- 

 tions from outsiders are invited, and will 

 be answered from this society. 



STANLEY, 'JORDAN, 



Acting Secretary. 



DUTCHESS COUNTY HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The regular monthly meeting of the 

 Dutchess County Horticultural Society wa- 

 held February ' 11. President Cottani in 

 the chair. About twenty members were 

 present. The date of the smoker and bowl- 



