WITH THE SOCIETIES. 



43 



giving of seeds, plants, bulbs, etc., to members 

 and school children. One mistake was found 

 to be a detriment to good results, and that was 

 in not obtaining the cooperation of the teachers 

 when giving plants and seeds to the children. 

 Both ways w.ere tried by this society, and the 

 added interest of the teachers adds much to the 

 good results obtained. 



This year 400 packages of aster seeds were 

 distributed through the teachers to the chil- 

 dren, and when the exhibition of the flowers 

 was held in the fall the teachers, with their 

 classes, were there with 373 entries frum the 

 400 packages of seeds distributed. Nearly 

 every child that took seeds brougiht something 

 in letuin. Prizes consisting of hyacinths' and 

 narcissus Ijulbs, tulips, etc., were graded ac- 

 cording to the value of the specimens. For 

 the culture of the asters, little two-page pamph- 

 lets with cultural directions were distributed 

 Four bulletins were issued by the .society dur- 

 ing the year. Aside from the distribution to 

 the schools, bulbs for fall planting were given 

 away, as well as plants for spring plantiner. 

 These latter consisted of sweet peas and rose 

 bushes. Members take a deep interest in the 

 specimens they secure and competition is keen 

 as to who shall grow the finest. Eight meet' 

 ings were held, at four of which speakers from 

 all over the province spoke. 



The Delegates Present. 



Among the delegates at the convention were 

 noted the following : Messr.s. W. M. Robsnn. 

 Lindsay ; C. W. Schierholtz, Elmira ; Major 



Since 1898 Mr. J. F.Wat- 

 son has acted as secretary 

 of the Ottawa Horticuhural 

 S ciety, giving much of his 

 time and energy to the 

 work and impi-ovement of 

 the society. As the 

 socit-ty has grown rapidly, 

 the duties of secretary have 

 inc eased i proportion, but 

 Mr. Watson has always 

 hren equal lo the situation 

 His efforts have been duly 

 appreciated, as is shown by 

 the fact that he has been 

 duly re-elected for six suc- 

 ■essive year> ' or eleven 

 years he ha.-. Ijeen employ, d 

 in the hoitirultural division 

 of the Experimental Farm, 

 and for five years was 

 superintendent of horticul- 

 ture at the Centril Canada 

 Exhibiiion. There is no 

 more popular or h.ard work- 

 ing officer connected with 

 the Ottawa Horticultural 

 .Society. 



J. F. WATSON, OTTAWA. 



Snelgrove, Coburg : D. McClew. Deseronto : 

 John Cape, Hamilton ; A. K. Goodman, Oayuga: 

 J. Cavers, OaKville : Jas. J. Hcarff. Woodstock : 

 R. B. Whyte, Ottawa ; W. T. Macoun, Ottawa ; 

 H. L. Hutt, Gueiph ; Allan Cameron. Owen 

 Sound ; J. W. Brennan, Grimsby ; Edward Tyr- 

 rell, Toronto : Miss J. S. Campbell and Miss J. 

 Douglas, St. Catharines ; David Rife and Ed- 

 ward Gurney, Hespeler : .J. Evans, Randolph : 



G. M. Hill, Fruitland ; Alex. T. Armstrong, 

 Millbrook ; John McLaren, Orangeville ; J. O. 

 McCulloch and J. M. Dickson, Hamilton ; Jas. 

 Symington, Port Dover ; Allan McNeillage, 

 Eberts ; E. E. Adams, Leamington ; John Aikin, 

 Sarnia ; C. Firth, Durham ; S. E. Wedden and 

 W. C. Reid, Belleville ; Robert Hamilton, Gren- 

 ville, Que. : J. C. Chapais, St. Denis, Que. ; 

 Roderick Cameron, Niagara Falls, and H. H. 

 Groff. Simcoe. 



Ottawa a Progressive Example 



It has already been made known through The 

 Horticulturist, the good work being done by the 

 Ottawa Horticultural Society. Monthly meet- 

 ings are held throughout the year. Lectures 

 are given at each of these meetings by capable 

 speakers. During the past two years bulletins 

 have been issued, the one this year on Bulbs 

 receiving general commendation. The society 

 considers it a wise plan to give plants and 

 seeds, and then ask the members for their ex- 

 perience with the same. Cannas, geraniums 

 and perennials are usually given and the money 

 is considered well spent." 



Some inducement must be offered to the 

 greater mass of people in general to have them 

 take an interest in the matter. It costs the 

 Ottawa society about $3 a year per niember for 

 the plants, etc., given them. The society has 

 246 members, which large number is partially 

 accounted tor by the giving away of- these 

 plants every year. The society starts work 

 for 1905 with a balance in the treasury of $28, 

 and considers itself stronger and better than 

 ever before since organization. Much good 

 has been done the city of Ottawa by its horti- 

 cultural society. The standard of flowers, and 

 all pertaining to horticulture has been raised, 

 and the people taught to look on them as a 

 necessity rather than a luxury. At the exhibi- 

 tion lield this year there were 9-00 entries. 



notice to Subscribers 



Several thuusand readers uf The Canadian 

 Horticulturist are members of horticultural 

 societies. The subscriptions of these readers 

 expired with the December issue and they have 

 been sent copies of the January issue in the 

 hope that they will continue to be members 

 throughout 1905. Members of societies who 

 desire to receive The Horticulturist regularly 

 should renew their membership in their local 

 horticultural societies immediately as other- 

 wise their subscriptions will be discontinued 

 with the February issue. The Horticulturist 

 has been greatly improved during the past year 

 and will be further improved this year. The 

 management hopes that all its readers will con- 

 tinue as regular subscribers during 190.". 



