142 Answers to Correspondents. 



The Finance Committee reported that they had purchased twenty-two 

 shares of the stock of the Worcester Rail-road, amounting to $2458 50. 



George C. Crowninshield, Boston, and Francis George Theiler, Dor- 

 chester, were admitted members. 



Adjourned four weeks to March 6th. 



Feb. 13/A, Eihibiled. — Flowers : From the President of the Society 

 Twenty varieties of Camellias, viz., Alb6rtus, Donckelaern, tricolor, ochro- 

 leuca, Palmer's, Perfection, fimbriata, imbricata, F16y«, Gilesn, conspicua, 

 exiraia, Fordu, Wilder^', William IV., Eclipse, Slogans, alba plena, Prattzi, 

 Colvilh'i, Chandleri and Duchesse d'Orleans ; also, a fine cut specimen of 

 Acacia spectabile, one of the finest of this showy family, and flowers of 

 Chorizema v^rium. 



Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited fourteen varieties of Camellias, as fol- 

 lows: — Floyu, alba plena, Henri Favre, elegans, Yauxn, Carswelh'cma, 

 Landrdthit, corallina, tricolor, myrtifolia, conspicua, Goussoma, Doncke- 

 laern and Chandleru ; also six pots of Chinese primroses, two of which were 

 the rare and beautiful double white, with several trusses of flowers on each. 

 From W. Quant, 12 varieties of Camellias, and six pots of Chinese Prim- 

 roses, among which was a seedling of a peculiar tint of blush, very pretty. 



The Premiums for Camellias and Chinese Primroses were awarded to- 

 day, as follows : — 



CAMELLIAS. — For the best twelve varieties of cut flowers with foliage, 

 premium to Messrs. Hovey and Co., x)f $8. 



For the second best twelve varieties, to W. Quant, a premium of $5. 



A gratuity of $8 was also awarded to the President for a variety of Ca- 

 mellias. 



Chi.^ese Primroses. — For the best six plants, a premium to Wm. Quant, 



of $3. 

 For the next best, a premium to Messrs Hovey & Co., of $2. 



Art. ni. Answers to Correspondents. 

 Root Pruning. — A. R. Pope. The best season for performing root 

 pruning is in April. A trench should then be dug about three feet from the 

 trunk of the tree, extending in a circle completely around it : All the vay 

 large roots should then be cut clean off, either with a sharp spade or knife, 

 being careful not to injure the small roots. The trench should then be 

 -filled up, and the ground properly manured and cultivated ; the following 

 year, the results of the operation will be perceived, or, if not so decidedly 

 then, the second year ; some trees are so very vigorous, that even cutting 

 oflFthe large roots does not check them at once. We should judge that the 

 peach tree you speak of, however, was not the true kind ; perhaps it is a 

 seedling, and that is the cause of its non-productiveness. 



Strawberries.— W. We stated, some time since, that the Black Prince 

 was considered as worthless by the London Horticultural Society ; those who 

 cultivate it will find it so, in comparison with better kinds. The Swain- 



