lg7S.] TRANSACTIONS. 31 



they have never been taught anything about the beauties of the flower 

 kingdom. The love of flowers is imbued in some children, especially if 

 their parents cultivate flowers as though they loved them. God intended 

 flowers to be a blessing to us, and if children, boys and girls, were taught 

 to love and care for them, who can tell what the result would be ? If the 

 seed is planted and fostered, sure is the harvest. 



Capt. John B. Moore, of Concord, was called out by Vice-President 

 Hadwen, and, after complimenting the essayist, he gave some hints in 

 regard to growing Roses. He said it is unnecessary to use very high 

 culture ; soil two spades deep, well manured and worked over, will grow 

 them satisfactorily. He never loses hybrid perpetuals, but earths up the 

 plants, and if the top dies he don't care, for he would cut to eight inches 

 if they didn't die ; with him they are really " perpetual," for he cuts 

 them daily through the season. He said the rose wants a rich soil, 

 deeply tilled ; give them all they want ; he would use liquid manure just 

 at blooming time if there is a deficiency ; he fills a leach-barrel with ma- 

 nure, puts sulphate of ammonia on top, and pour.s water through it ; he 

 sometimes uses sulphate of potash with the manure ; he syringes the 

 roses with salt petre water, to improve the foliage. In forcing perpetual 

 roses, he plunges the pots in coal ashes in May, "and freely waters, be- 

 sides drenching the foliage ', all buds are removed, and thus they ripen 

 their wood early and get rested, ready for winter blooming. Then they 

 are trimmed and carried into the potting room, and encouraged to start 

 root-growth before the tops btart. Then they are put in a cool green- 

 house to bloom, draughts being avoided to prevent mildew. 



Perrenniai Phloxes, he said were condemned, but within a few years 

 there have been many additions to the list which cannot be spared ; they 

 are very desirable, especially some of the dwarf kinds. The improve- 

 ment in phloxes is greater than in any other flowers in the last five or 

 ten years. They should be well thinned every season ; two or three 

 stalks together are enough. They require rich food ; a well ripened 

 compost is best, but special manures are desirable, either potash or phos- 

 phoric acid. 



He said the perennial Larkspurs, with their variety of colors, are de- 

 sirable ; they too cannot be dispensed with. Hollyhocks, too, had a good 

 word : he said some of the new ones are as handsome as roses. The 

 Columbines he prized as highly as did the essayist. Lilies he said are eas- 

 ily cultivated, but must be separated every two or three years. Balsams are 

 desirable, but the trouble is to get good seed ; he did not think treatment 

 would change double to single. He starts them in a cold frame and 

 transplants them once there, and then sets them out eighteen inches 

 apart, where they cover the ground. He praised Mignonnette, and Por- 

 tulacca, and defended the Zinnia Elegaas ; in a lawn or border, it is 



