HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND THEIR WORK 



At thf meeting of tlie delegalL-s fium horti- 

 oultural societies of Ontario, held in Toronto at 

 the time of the Fruit. Fh)\ver and Honey Show. 

 iiiterestinK descriptions wei'e given, by a nuni- 

 l)cr of the delegate.s-. of the lines of woi-k beins 

 (■allied on l)y Iheii- societies. 



The secretary of the Hamilton soiiety, Mr. J. 

 .\1. Dickson, reported that hi.s society made a 

 distribution of aster seeds to over 3,000 school 

 children, with very satisfactory results. At a 

 Mower show held in September the flowers 

 brought in by the children were immerous and 

 beautiful, some very fine specimens of Msters 

 heing exhibited. During 1903 the work of im- 

 IMoving lawns, grounds around houses, parks, 

 etc.. was undertaken, and in 1904 t^he competi- 

 tion was more keen than ever. In this work 

 the Hamilton society has been especially suc- 

 cessful. Pi'izes were offered for best kept 

 lawns, i-ockeiies, hanging baskets, window 

 boxes, general improvement, and for keeping 

 places clean. The result has been that where 

 formerly in Hamilton one used to stop and ad- 

 mire a beauty spot of this kind, he now stop? 

 and gazes with astonishment at a neglected cor- 

 ner oi- nook. The fact that the streets and 

 walks in the city have aM or nearly all been 

 Iiaved during the past few years has helped 

 greatly to improve the looks of the grounds, 

 and it has left places between streets and 

 houses, where grass or flowers have been 

 [ilanted. 



The Work in Cobourg. 



The Cobourg society was represented by 

 Major A. J. Snelgrove, who reported that three 

 years ago his so<*iety adopted the plan of giving 

 seeds to their members, with very satisfactory 

 results. These seeds were distributed early in 

 the spring. The best aster seeds procurable 

 were obtained and given to the children of both 

 public and separate schools. Instructions were 

 .given to the teachers asking them to see that 

 the scholars were shown how to plant and care 

 for the seeds and plants. Prizes were offered 

 for the best specimens of flowers from these 

 seeds. These flowers were exhibited in Sep- 

 tember and furnished one of the finest flower 

 shows ever held in Coburg. 



The prizes consisted of small sums of money, 

 bulbs, seeds and potted plants. This plan of 

 giving seeds and then offering prizes for the 

 flowers grown does really more for the 

 childreiv in the line of Nature work than most 

 other lines of work. The Coburg society is 

 anxious to promote a civic spirit for the de- 

 velopment of the i)ublic beauty of the town and 

 is succeeding. 



Toronto Horticulturists. 

 The president of the Toronto Horticultural 

 society, Mr. Edward Tyrrell, gave a few re- 

 marks concerning his society. No premiums 

 or seeds were given to members last year. 

 Meetings are held every month at which 

 plants in bloom are shown. Certain kinds of 



plants are allotted so many points of merit. 

 Judges determine how many points each plant 

 has earned. These points are recorded and 

 every point is worth ten cents to the owner of 

 the plant. Some plants score as high as twenty 

 points, others but ten and below. Every one 

 bringing a plant to the meeting has an interest 

 in the meeting and a prize is given appropriate 

 to the value of his plant. 



This plan makes it an incentive to the mem- 

 bers to strive for the best they can obtain, and 



P. U KEYES, OTTAWA. 



Much of the success of the 

 Ottawa Ho' licultural Suci- 

 ety, piiticul rly during the 

 past year h s been due to 

 the efforts of the pr sident. 

 Mr. P G. Keyes, who tias 

 1 een a member of i he So- 

 ciety since its ■ ryani/atjon, 

 >i.\tcpn years ago. Mr. 

 Keyes holds an important 

 l«j>iiiun in the D purtnient 

 f the Int>rior. His spec- 

 ialty in horticultural lines is 

 gr..pe culture. For \ e rs 

 he has taken the first win- 

 nings ai ihc Central C an- 

 .ida Exhibition in the grape 

 sections. The cold riimate 

 of Eastern ' nia io has not 

 prevented Mr. Keyes mak- 

 ing a success of liis yra| es, 

 and in this resptct his wjH- 

 ninjis have been most re- 

 markable. 



has been found to result in much good and to 

 keep up the interest which otherwise is 

 found to lag at certain seasons of the year. The 

 society has 114 members and is in a prosperous 

 condition. 



What Deseronto Horticulturists Have Done. 



The first j'ear of its organization, the Deser- 

 onto Horticultural Society followed out the re- 

 quirements of the Agriculture and Arts Act. 

 The board of directors chose plants which were 

 given to members. This plan, the president 

 Mr. McClew, reported caused much dissatisfac- 

 tion. Some members wanted bulbs, some 

 plants and some seeds. Each member is now 

 allowed to choose any plant or bulb, as shown 

 in a selected florists* or seedsmens' catalogue, 

 up to a certain price, both for spring and fall 

 distribution. This year the amount stipulated 

 was $1.35 for each member. 



The first year the Deseronto society was or- 

 ganized, a flower show was held, and this fea- 

 ture has ibeen continued every year since, with 

 most successful results. Not only have the 

 members been interested, but the town haa 

 been improved. Prizes have been given for 

 the best kept grounds, which have added to the 

 interest among members. 



Guelph Horticulturists Are Active. 



The Guelph society has followed the same 

 lines of work as many other societies in the 



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