LECTURERS TO HORTICULTURAL SOCLETIES. 



' Fig. 1098.— iMk. Alex. .MiXeiil. 



" Injurious Insects and Fungi," " Plant 

 Food," " Cross Breeding," " Flower 

 Garden and Hardy Perennials," " Lawn 

 and Front Yard," "Neatly Kept Gar- 

 den," etc. 



Mr. Alex. McNeill., one of our direc- 

 tors, is making the Western trip to the 

 following list of Societies, viz., Chatham, 

 Seaforth, Kincardine, Durham, Bramp- 



on, Waterloo, Paris, Woodstock and 

 Leamington. His subjects were (i) 

 " Horticultural Possibilities of a Town 

 Lot " ; (2) " How to Grow and Care 

 for House Plants," and (3) " Insect 

 Pests." Mr. McNeill is coming rapidly 

 to the front among our horticultural 

 speakers. His early training was on his 

 father's farm in Middlesex, and there he 

 acquired that perseverance in overcom- 

 ing difficulties so essential to success. 

 He afterward took a training for teaching, 

 to which profession he devoted seven- 

 teen years, latterly a science master at 

 Windsor High School. Tiring of the 

 confinement of the school, Mr. McNeill, 

 some years ago, turned his whole atten- 

 tion in fruit growing, making a specialty 

 of the grape, and gradually turning his 

 attention also to other fruits and to 

 floriculture. Such a combination of 

 school training and practical work 

 develops the best elements for success, 

 whether in one's own business or in giv- 

 ing pointers to others ; and therefore we 

 value Mr. McNeill as well worthy of a 

 place along with the other two above 

 mentioned lecturers in horticulture. 



A SHADY RUSTIC SEAT. 



The illustration shows the foundation 

 for a vine-covered rustic seat. In rustic 

 work of any kind it is best to select fairly 

 smooth pieces of wood, with not too 

 much irregularity of branching. Smooth 

 sticks, closely covered with bark, make 

 much the more satisfactory work, provid- 

 ing plenty of the rustic look where more 

 would look incongruous. The top of 

 the seat shown could be arched, if such 

 a style were preferred. Vines planted 

 at the ends and in the rear will soon 

 cover the whole and give a delightfully 

 shady seat. 



Roses of a tree growth, climbers or 

 trailers could be utilized in any of these 



structures, and if combined with clema- 

 tis would give magnificent results. — 

 American Gardening. 



Fig- 1099 —Shady Rdstic .Seat. 



189 



