REPORT OF TliE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 295 



(one horse loads). I always have my benches well washed with 

 water and then give them a heavy coat of hot whitewash from 

 fi'esh lime. 



I begin to take in my plants September 1 , and plant in the house 

 about ten by twelve inches apart — a little more or less, according 

 to the size of the plants, and after they are planted in the house 

 syringe once in two weeks with four ounces of salt to three 

 gallons of water, and the alternate week with the following formula : 

 one pound of sulphate of copper in powder, and one quart of con- 

 centrated ammonia dissolved together in an earthern jar with 

 water enough added to make three gallons. Keep it all perfectly 

 air tight. Take a two-inch potful of this mixture and at the same 

 time half a two-inch potful of clear ammonia and syringe alternate 

 weeks with the salt mixture. 



I also mulch my carnations about twice in the season with a 

 light dressing of sheep manure. 



As Mr. Nicholson has entered his Carnation house for the prize 

 offered by the Garden Committee for 1896, we will not make any 

 comments on the very excellent house which we saw when there 

 on the 4th of November, except to say that it was a model of 

 neatness and gave ever}^ evideuce of thorough practical cultivation. 



The Committee have made the following awards : 

 Society's Prizes. 



For the best Vegetable Gardeu. to Nathaniel T. Kidder, 



Milton 850 00 



For best Fruit Garden, to W. D. Hinds, Townsend, for 



a superior Peach Orchard . . . . . . 50 00 



For the second best to C. S. Pratt, Reading, for a Market 



Strawberry Garden 30 00 



For the best house of Chrysanthemums arranged for 



effect with other plants, to Nathaniel T. Kidder, Milton 50 00 

 For the second best to Mrs. B. P. Cheney, South Natick 30 00 

 For the best house or houses of Chrysanthemums grown 



on benches, to William Nicholson, Framingham . 50 00 



