68 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



ing that does the damage. Too thick coverings injure plants 

 and he preferred to use evergreen branches and straw so that there 

 might be an air space. He advised not to uncover too early in 

 the spring as one night of frost might kill everything, so tender 

 were the plants after a whole winter of covering. 



Mr. Smith recommended the peony as the plant that would 

 give the best results. It required no winter protection and 

 while in flower nothing could equal it. It surpassed even the 

 rose. He advised planting phloxes for a succession of bloom. 



Kenneth Finlayson also spoke in praise of the peony and said 

 that there were not many plants so appropriate for park decora- 

 tion as this. 



A lady inquired how many years it would be safe to plant 

 pansies in one place. 



Mr. Cameron replied that if the soil was well prepared they 

 could be planted twenty years in succession. He had grown 

 them in a bed for ten years. 



Mrs. Pratt asked for information regarding the tradition that 

 sweet peas could not be grown successfully in the same place 

 a second time, and if it was a necessity for the rows to run north 

 to south. 



Mr. Cameron said that it was necessary that sweet peas should 

 have fresh soil every year, but he thought it did not make any 

 difference in which direction the rows were planted. 



Duncan Finlayson remarked that sweet peas can be grown in 

 the same place if soil is renewed every year. He recommended 

 taking soil from a pasture and mixing with it lime and ground 

 bone. 



Kenneth Finlayson stated that one of the essential things 

 in sweet pea culture was moisture. 



The question was asked if there was any advantage in the fall 

 planting of sweet peas. 



Duncan Finlayson replied that there was none. He had tried 

 fall planting and spring planting and could see no difference in 

 results. 



