GARDEN FLOWERS. Ill 



Benjamin G. Smith expressed the opinion that apple culture in 

 its present development is not an exact science. 



Professor Ma3'nard said that they have at the Agricultural 

 College a peach orchard planted seventeen j'ears ago, where many 

 of the trees have given ever}' indication of the yellows ; yet a 

 large part of the diseased trees are now in perfect health. The 

 treatment was to furnish abundance of plant food, especially 

 muriate of potash. He thinks this, in connection with good feed- 

 ing, a specific remed}' for the yellows. Muriate of potash tends 

 to retard the ripening of the wood, while phosphoric acid hastens 

 it, and hence it may be well to use ground bone in connection with 

 the muriate of potash. He thought that by this treatment peach 

 trees might be carried to twenty-five 3'ears of age and kept healthy. 



The Committee on Discussion announced that on the next 

 Saturdaj' Mrs. T. L. Nelson would read a paper on " Garden 

 Flowers." 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, February 14, 1885. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at 11 o'clock, 

 Vice-President Benjamin G. Smith in the chair. 



No business being brought before the meeting, it adjourned to 

 Saturday, February 21. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 

 Garden Flowers. 



By Mrs. T. L. Nelson, Worcester. 



With the awakening of spring come the first flowers, pale and 

 delicate, alike in native and cultivated species. Under the snow 

 they have been waiting, and they seem to shrink from the light. 

 As the season advances brighter colors appear. Crocuses, Scillas, 

 Hyacinths, Crown-imperials, Tulips, Narcissuses, and many other 

 flowering bulbs make our gardens gay. These were all planted 

 out in the autumn, and need not enter into this discussion. 

 Nevertheless they are an important feature in the garden, which 



