The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Springs, the finest of the kind in the 

 world. 



Arrangements will be made for un- 

 usually low rates on roads entering 

 Florida, and for excursions within the 

 State. Full particulars in regard to 

 these will be announced later. Where 

 no other arrangements exist, delega- 

 tions should secure special rates to 

 Ocala from their nearest member of the 

 (jeneral Passenger Agents' Association. 



It is hoped that all Pomological, 

 Horticultural and Agricultural Societies 

 in the United States and British Pro- 

 vinces will send delegates, in such 

 numbers as they may deem expedient, 

 and all persons interested in the culti- 

 vation of fruits are invited to be present 

 and become members of the Society. 

 Persons s ) desirous can remit the fee, 

 four dollars for biennial membership, 

 or twenty dollars for life membership, 

 to the Treasurer of the Society, Mr. 

 Benjamin G. Smith, Cambridge, Mass., 

 who will give a receipt for the same, 

 entitling the holder to all the courtesies 

 in the way of reduced railroad and 

 hotel rates, etc., which are accorded to 

 members. It is desirable that the 

 Secretary be notified as soon as practic- 

 able of the number of members expect- 

 ing to attend, in order that proper ar- 

 rangements may be made tor their re- 

 ception. 



A special invitation is extended to 

 ladies to attend the meeting, become 

 members, and take part in the pro- 

 ceedings. An attractive programme is 

 in preparation, a full account of which 

 will appear later. It includes papers 

 and discussions by the best Pomolo- 

 gists of the country upon new fruits 

 and methods of cultivation, and pro- 

 blems of judging fruits, of transportation 

 and marketing, diseases and their 

 remedies, and the origination and 

 introduction of new varieties. 



The Society offers no premiums for 

 exhibits of fruits. Several special 

 prizes, however, are offered by the 

 Florida Horticultural Society for ex- 

 hibits to be made at the meeting, the 

 awards to be made by a committee ap- 

 pointed from the American Society. 

 The usual awards of Wilder medals 



will be made for objects of special 

 merit. 



A. A. CkO/iP:R, Secretary^ 

 Am lis, Iowa. 

 Prosper J. Berckmans, President, 

 Augusta, ()a. 

 Note — Until the Florida meeting, 

 the address of the Secretary will be at 

 the Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



Hopticultural Exhibitions. 



Mr. M. H. Battles, of Philadelphia, 

 writes in the Garden and Forest upon 

 the above subject, and makes some 

 very sensible suggestions, for their im- 

 proved conduct and increased useful- 

 ness. In brief, his ideas are to have 

 the hall beautifully decorated with 

 greenery, the tables covered with moss, 

 and draped in front wiih cloth, with 

 eyelet holes for hanging, which could 

 be used for a number c)f years. Grapes 

 are to be hung up, and the " bloom " 

 to be made a strong point in judging ; 

 and as for vegetables, that only remark- 

 able specimens be admitted. The 

 local papers are to be well treated, and 

 frequent notices secured. Two or- 

 chestras are to be engaged to give 

 promenade concerts at fixed hours and 

 music at frequent intervals. All pirts 

 are to be named with both botanical 

 and common names. All exhibits to 

 be judged by "points," and judges 

 from a distance preferred. Premiums 

 are to be liberal, but awarded with 

 the greatest care. 



Mr. S. T. Wright also has an article 

 in the Horticultural Times, (Eng.), on 

 this same subject, in which he advocates 

 that fruit shows should be made a 

 means of education to the public. He 

 says : — 



A gardener visiting a Fruit Show 

 may learn a great deal of useful in- 

 formation by entering into conversation 



