48 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



is an instance of this. The Cohitoa is another ; it may perish at 

 the extreme tip of the twigs, but its flower and seed-vessel alike 

 make it desirable. The Catalpa, of a hardy variety, is not known 

 here, bnt there is a tender kind which fails here ; tlie Speciosa is 

 the one to plant. The Ampelopsis Veitchii is a new Japan ivy, 

 which is winning friends everywhere ; its rootlet is like a fly's 

 foot, and will stick anywhere ; it will cling to anything. A good 

 specimen may be seen on tiie honse formerly occupied by Hon. 

 C. B. Pratt, corner of Main and Valley streets. 



Mr. W. W. Cook said his observation is tliat the Althea is 

 disappointing only on rich soil ; on dry, rather poor soil, it will 

 stand, not growing so fast bnt that the wood can ripen. The 

 Wisteria and the Trumpet-flower also demand a dry spof. 



Dr. Flaqg spoke of the Virgilia as another very desirable tree. 

 He expressed surprise tliat the Althea is a tender slirub ; lie had 

 known it all his life as a sure grower. He advocated the develop- 

 ing of native trees and shrul)S, rather than the eager introduction 

 of new sorts. He also favored the English elm rather than the 

 American. 



The Chairman said the Althea grows on liis grounds with 

 entire success. He thought for a street tree the Elm can not suc- 

 ceed here ; it splits down easily, and there are but few really good 

 trees of this variety to be seen. He could remember when Front 

 street was planted with Elms, but they are now not very band- 

 some. The Hock Maple, the Beech and the White Ash are more 

 desirable, from their better habit of growth. These three are 

 enough. 



Mr. George S. Coe, of Grafton, asked about the Weeping 

 Elm, a variety with a firmer habit of growth than those on Front 

 street. Mr. Hadwen said there are several excellent varieties 

 which have not been named. The Elm will develop if space is 

 given, but city streets are generally too crowded for their success. 

 The Lancaster Elms seem to be different from those in Worcester. 



Mr. Cook said another objection to the Elm is that it spreads 

 its roots so far as to prevent any other vegetation. 



Mr. F. M. Marble asked for the favorable conditions for the 

 Rhododendron. Mr. Cook said he had grown Rhododendrons 

 fifteen years; they were protected in the winter with pine boughs. 

 The soil is inclined to clay ; peat and sand was mixed in, and the 

 shrubs always grew well and bloomed freely. He thought they 

 need protection here in the winter. If sheltered from the sun by 

 evergreen trees and shrubbery, no other shelter is needed. It 

 will not do to wrap them up in straw ; they only need shading 

 from the sun. 



Dr. Wakefield of Leicester was introduced and spoke of his 



