40 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pleased him most of all was to have ladies present and allowed to 

 speak. He alluded to the decision of the Supreme Court, reported 

 this morning, affirming the constitutional eligibility of ladies as 

 members of school committees [applause], and said it was a great 

 gain to have the ladies with us, to give us their experience in the 

 growth of plants, as well as in the growth of families. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 



Saturday, February 28, 1874. 



Joseph Tailby having on exhibition buds of the new rose, Eliza 

 Tailb}^ was called on to state its origin and characteristics. He 

 replied that it originated in a sport of the Isabella Sprunt. As 

 compared with the parent, the plant is shorter jointed, and blooms 

 more freely. It is nearly thornless, and the foliage is more pleas- 

 ing, resembling that of a spiraia or willow. The flower is of a 

 lighter shade of color, the buds and petals are longer, the petals 

 are squarer and of more even thickness, the bud opens differ- 

 ently, and the general character bears more resemblance to the 

 Yellow Tea than does the Isabella Sprunt. It has not been culti- 

 vated b}^ any other person than himself. 



C. M. Hovey spoke of the classification adopted by one of the 

 ■leading French rose growers according to the character of the 

 plant as erect or spreading, with long or short prickles, three or 

 five leaflets, etc. The variety under discussion has a smooth 

 character, which makes it quite distinct. Of the large number of 

 new roses yearly introduced, but a very small part prove valuable, 

 perhaps not more than twenty-five out of a hundred. One may be 

 a very fine flower and valuable as a summer bloomer, but not for 

 winter ; others, like Bon Celine, bloom easily, and are valuable in 

 the bud, but worthless when open. He thought Mr. Tailby's rose 

 more double than some of the free-blooming kinds. 



John G. Barker, chairman of the Flower Committee, had visited 

 Mr. Tailby's place during the week for the purpose of examining 

 this rose, and found it evidently a very prolific variety. Though 

 it is generally less thorny than the Isabella Sprunt, the back of 

 the leaf has some thorns. It has more buds, and the buds are 



