84 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



increase, but Mr. Rand said that he should pin the flower stem 

 down round the basket in which it was growing, and possibly new 

 plants might develop from the nodes. Though the Phalaenopsids 

 are the most easily fertilized of all orchids, the attempts made in 

 England to produce seedlings have failed, but in their native 

 habitats they are produced so freely that the trees are covered 

 with their beautiful wreaths of flowers. Under cultivation great 

 care is required to see that the soil does not become sour. Mr. 

 Rand said that he lost a large plant of P. amabilis, from the water 

 lodging in the crown of the plant. The roots of P. Schilleriana 

 are flattened, while most of the other species have cylindrical 

 roots. Mr. Rand thought florists would find it profitable to grow 

 this orchid, as single flowers would add greatly to the effect of 

 bouquets. This plant had been in bloom for three weeks, and 

 would probably continue for six weeks longer. P. amabilis flowers 

 from November to May. 



Mr. Hovey spoke of a plant of Phalcenopsis /Schilleriana which 

 he saw in the fine collection of the late Mr. Lieneau, of Jersey 

 City, with very beautifully variegated foliage, showing a great 

 variety in the marking of the leaves of this magnificent orchid. 



The Chairman thought we ought to appreciate the services 

 rendered to horticulture by Mr. Rand in introducing and exhibit- 

 ing these rare orchids. 



Marshall P. Wilder said that it had often been his lot to intro- 

 duce resolutions in honor of those whom we had loved in life, and 

 to-day, he wished to pay respect to the memory of the ancient 

 elm on the Common, prostrated bj' the gale on the evening of 

 Tuesday, the 15th. Though it had lived to a good old age it had 

 at last passed away, but if it could have spoken what tales it could 

 have told of love and patriotism, and of gratitude for the land 

 that we love ! 



Mr. Hovey said that the Old Elm Tree was associated with his 

 earliest recollections ; he remembered, when not more than eight 

 or ten years old, being taken on to the Common on election day, 

 and seeing the rows of booths, and crowds of people assembled, 

 on the holidaj's of the summer, under the shade of this great tree. 

 Before the young trees on the Common were so thickly planted he 

 had seen this old tree standing alone with a hundred cows resting 

 beneath its broad and shadowy branches. He had a great vener- 



