STATE POMOLOGICaL SOCIETY. 63 



THE SPIREA. 



A more beautiful hardy shrub it is hard to find. A real delight 

 are ite masses of white flowers. The most desirable is the Spirea 

 Van Houtii. 



It is stated that but one-third of the working class can profitably 

 be engaged in agricultural pursuits. If this is the case many of 

 the sous and daughters of the larmersof Maine will fiad some other 

 vocation. If they must go how different will be the feelings of those 

 reared among the refining influences of fruits and flowers, from those 

 who have occupied some of these dreary country homes we often 

 see. Tlie first as they reflect upon their early life are filled with 

 joyful rec Elections and with sadness do they leave the associations 

 of childhood. The others are only too g'ad to escape from the dis= 

 agreeable surroundings and work. Let us then surround our homes 

 with the beauties of nature, fruits and flowers, so lovingly bestowed 

 upon us that our sons and daughters may look back upon a child- 

 hood filled with happy memories. 



discussion- 

 Prof MtJNsoN. The influence of the pollen is a matter of special 

 interest and importance to the strawberry grower. An inciease of 

 pollen tends to increase the size of the fruit This is thought to 

 be the explanation of the wonderful productiveness of the Crescent 

 S edliug when properly pollenized. There is much yet to be learned 

 of t le influence of the pollen upon the pist Hate varieties. Of one 

 thing we are quite sure and that is the necessity of having some 

 perfect flowered variety growing near them. Size, quality and 

 quantity are wonderfully increased in this way. 



