STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 27 



the diiFerent varieties are capable of, uniting them into one grand 

 whole. It is, in fact, the study of a lifetime — a profession. The 

 discussion of these we will leave to the trade, and only give 

 thought to the last two, which may be treated at the same time, as 

 they have many points in common. 



THE SHRUBBERY. 



In the first place, it is to be supposed that every flower garden 

 has more or less shrubs according to its size. These, after the first 

 spading around in the spring and trimming dead branches off and 

 scraggly ones into shape, require no further care through the sum- 

 mer, except to keep the weeds down, making them as sightly as 

 possible, if they are not in bloom. In doing this don't carry out 

 the mistaken idea, some believe in, of turning the family horse or 

 cow into the yard to wander at its own sweet will, and then 

 wonder why it is that your shrubs, specimen trees, etc., 

 look so ''one-sided, you know!" Only the other day I saw a 

 horse very carefully tethered out 021 a small lawn, so that he 

 was enabled to plant his hind feet in, on and around a nice arbor 

 vitae hedge, his mouth b^ing busily engaged in tasting the nourish- 

 ing qualities of the leaves and tender branches of a tree near by. 

 Next spring the owner of the hedge will be very much surprised to 

 find a number of his arbor vitse deceased, and he will straightway 

 blame himself and his horse? Not he! The nurseyman, sir, must 

 have delivered him some poor stock! It was about dead when he 

 received it, etc., etc. 



CLIMBERS. 



The climbing vines should be given proper support. Old stumps 

 and fences, all unsightly objects should have had the proper atten- 

 tion given them in spring, putting around them seeds and plants 

 of hardy climbing vines, and after seeing them well started these 

 will need no further attention other than to direct their wandering 

 fancies in the right direction and path of duty, namely, to cover as 

 much space as possible. 



ROSES AND GERANIUMS. 



Roses — well, these were so nicely treated at our winter meeting 

 of 1881, that I will only refer you to the printed report of that 

 meeting, knowing that are-perusal of it will benefit you as 1 know 

 it did me. The house plants after having exerted themselves all 



