100 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



contact with the bulbs, and though small when planted, they grew 

 to an extraordinarily large size. 



C. M. Hovey said that it was seldom that cultivators of parlor 

 plants would have occasion to use any fertilizer. Ordinarily, plants 

 well potted in autumn do not fill the pots so as to need fertilizers, 

 but deep rooting plants, like abutilons or chrysanthemums, when 

 the pots are filled with roots, may need them ; or late in the season, 

 when the soil is partially exhausted, plants may be benefited by 

 the application of some fertilizer to keep them in continuous 

 bloom. Mr. Hovey repeated the remark made at a previous 

 meeting that stirring the soil in a pot was often preferable to ap- 

 plying a fertilizer, unless it was used very cautiously. 



Mr. Strong suggested the contents of the wash-tub as a fertilizer. 



President Parkman asked whether there was not danger of the 

 grease in soapsuds forming a surface coating which would prevent 

 moisture from reaching the soil. 



C. M. Hovey replied that the stirring of the soil would prevent 

 this. He added that the subject before us regarding a selection of 

 plants does not admit of much discussion, but he would enforce 

 the fact that azaleas and camellias must be kept cool in the early 

 part of the winter. A chamber or kitchen, where the temperature 

 does not rise above 40° or 45° at night, is much better than a living 

 room where it is usually kept at 65°, and may rise to 70° or 80° in 

 a warm day and the buds cannot possibly be kept on. When the 

 public learn to look at the stout, short jointed plant, without flowers, 

 as preferable to a weak, slender one with a cluster of blossoms at 

 the end, and to purchase such for parlor culture, they will succeed 

 much better than they do now. They should also learn the dis- 

 tinction between greenhouse and hothouse plants. 



Mr. Rand objected to camellias in kitchens, — his experience 

 has been that kitchens are often nearer 100° than 40°. 



Mr. French inquired about the cultivation of ivies. Some have 

 an idea that they should be turned out of the pot in summer. 

 Some think they should be exposed to severe frost, while others 

 would not expose them to frost at all. 



C. M. Atkinson replied that the ivy is a native of the Canary 

 Islands, and, though acclimated in England, will do very well 

 without frost. 



It has been said that the cyclamen can be propagated only by 

 seed, but he saw at North Eastou plants as big as a hat which had 



