132 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I see by the clock that I have used up my allotted ti me, and yet 

 have onl^' opened this subject of Annuals and Their Cultiva- 

 tion, but if anything that I h:ive said shall help to extend the culti- 

 vation of this beautiful class of flowers, 1 shall be more than 

 pleased. 



Discussion. 



Henry Ross was called on by the Chairman, and said that he 

 had not taken half the interest in annuals that he wished he had, 

 and he meant to do differently in future. He mentioned the 

 Dwarf Antirrhinum, or Snapdragon, as a most beautiful annual. 

 The Dwarf Sweet Alvssum and Petunia are also desirable. He 

 means in future to grow his verbenas from seed for they have been 

 brought to such perfection that we are pretty sure to get good 

 ones, and seedling plants are not diseased like those raised from 

 cuttings. Petunias raised from good strains make one of the 

 most beautiful shows in the flower garden. At Forest Hills Cem- 

 etery a large part of the floral decoration is composed of annuals. 



John G. Barker thought we had all been remiss in looking after 

 the cultivation of annuals. He spoke of a visit of the Garden 

 Committee to the garden of a lady at Ilopedale, which took the 

 prize for the best flower garden. Annuals were extensively used 

 here with beautiful effect. There was one bed composed of 

 Phlox Drummondi and asters of different colors, with a border of 

 Ageratum, which was particularly beautiful ; he had never seen a 

 bed of foliage or flowering plants more ornamental. Almost all 

 the work in this garden was done by the lady and members of her 

 household. He wished more ladies would devote themselves to 

 growing annuals ; they could easily do it. He had been through 

 the seedsmen's catalogues prett}' thoroughly to find the best kinds 

 of annuals. For mixed beds at Forest Hills Cemetery, of which 

 he is Superintendent, he has to make carefnl preparation in order 

 to meet the wants of lot owners, there being over three hundred 

 lots which are under perpetual care by the Cemetery. He will 

 have this year four thousand asters ; if planted properly nothing 

 will take their place. Antirrhinums are invaluable. The Schizau- 

 thus is exceedingly valuable. Sweet peas cannot be used in bed- 

 ding, but there are places where they are invaluable. Phhix 

 Drummondi cannot be dispensed with. Wonderful strides have 



