106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



hour after the quail ; blackbird nearly an hour later than the quail, is the 

 mocking bird of Europe, imitates tunes so well that Mons. Dureau de 

 La Mealle made all the blackbirds of a French canton sing the Marseillaise 

 hymn by letting loose among them a blackbird which had learned it. The 

 lark sings two and one-half hours after the chaffinch ; black-headed titmouse, 

 one-half hour later than the lark ; sparrow one-half an hour after titmouse. 

 We lay this before our club that the times of song of our birds may be 

 noted — especially by the ladies ! 



H. MEIGS, Secretary, 



DOUGLAS STRAWBERRY, 



Douglas, of Washington city, has one highly praised. He has lately 

 sent to the market, from his beds, six hundred quarts gathered the day 

 before ! 



Messrs. Fowler & Wells, presented a copy of the Manual of Horticul- 

 ture published by tbem. It is a small duodecimo volume. The instruc- 

 tions, well condensed, will be found very useful by ladies as well as men, 

 in managing their gardens. 



Mrs. Fowler presented a splendid bouquet from her garden, containing 

 fifteen varieties of roses and Mrs. Foivler asks the secretary to "insist 

 that every farmer who plants Indian corn shall set out at least one perpe- 

 tual hardy rose bush by his kitchen ioor. Should he do so (she affirms) 

 that on the principle of ' reflex influence ' his butter will catch the aroma 

 of the flowers ! be much sweeter and command a higher price in the 

 market." 



When the above was read the members applauded by clapping their 

 hands. 



Solon Robinson suggested that his honey might also partake of the 

 sweetness of this flower, if grown abundantly near the bee-house. 



Mr. Kedzie presented pamphlets descriptive of " The Rain Water 

 Filter," manufactured by James Terry & Co., of Rochester, New York. 

 It is intended for the benefit of the people of our extensive lime-stone 

 regions. 



William Lawton presented several sorts of rhubarb petioles, grown from 

 seed he received from the American Institute, three years ago. 



Prof. Nash. — Dr. McMunn, of this city, formerly of Port Jervis, N. Y., 

 a micioscopic investigator, says the curculio does no harm to the plum of 

 healthy trees ; that they never attack a tree to the injury of the fruit until 

 the tree is diseased ; that the appearance of the curculio is a symptom of 

 disease in the tree. Prof. Nash said that the doctor challenges the world 

 to show where the curculio produces any injury where the tree is not pre- 

 viously diseased. 



Andrew S. Fuller. — Now, I take the direct opposite of this doctor ; and 

 I know that his theory is wrong, or else why does the curculio sting pears 

 and cherries upon strong, healthy trees ? 



