2l6 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



September, 



FROM 

 •THE- 



aEOES- 



BEIN^MATTER-THAT-DESERVES- 

 •TO- BE WIDELY- KMOWM- 



them in remaining. Norris Barnard, from Still 

 Pond, gave a graphic and thorough statement of 

 the benefits the fruit-growers in his section had 

 obtained through hearty co-operation. 



GLEAMS. 



At the Toronto fOnt.) 

 Flower Show in July a 

 Crape Myrtle tree fully 

 six feet high in full 

 flower was one of the conspicuous exhibits. 



The Weeping Hemlock. My windows look out 

 upon one which I planted some years ago, and 

 which is now ten feet high and ten feet in diameter. 

 My eyes constantly turn to it, and I can compare it 

 with nothing so well as an evergreen fountain, with 

 close, compact, spray-like branches in place of fall- 

 ing water. This is certainly one tree which every 

 man should plant.— S. B. Parsons, before Pennsyl- 

 vania Horticultural Society. 



Tillage and Drought. In a discussion as to the 

 relation of these factors, at the recent meeting of 

 the Wisconsin State Society, the importance of con- 

 tinual and thorough cultivation was conceded by 

 all, while a difference of opinion existed on the 

 question of deep or shallow culture. The prevailing 

 sentiment seemed to indorse deep culture early in 

 the season, and shallow culture later, after the 

 roots of plants were well grown. 



Twelve Ornamental Trees. As a select list, 

 Mr. George EUwanger, the veteran nurseryman of 

 Rochester, named the following at a recent horti- 

 cultural meeting: Maple, Schwedlerii; Birch, Cut- 

 leaved; Judas Tree, red; White Fringe Tree; Dog- 

 wood, white; Thorn, Paul's Double Scarlet; Beech, 

 Rivers' Purple; Koelreuteria paniculata; MagnoMa 

 Lennei; Magnolia speciosa; Crab, Fragrant Gar- 

 land Flowering; Mountain Ash, Oak-leaved. 



Influence of Chrysanthemum Shows. Chair- 

 man Fox, of the committee on new products of 

 the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, reported: 

 " An impetus has been given of late to the culture 

 of Chrysanthmums, especially the Japanese section. 

 The new varieties are marvels of beauty. The in- 

 fluence of the various shows of this flower held in 

 the towns has been felt in the improvement of 

 varieties and the increased interest manifested in 

 this section of the floral kingdom." 



How the Taste for Horticulture Expands. 

 Robert Manning, of Boston, some time since before 

 their horticultural society related a reminiscence 

 of a gentleman who came into one the Dahlia 

 shows of the society fifty years ago and was so 

 pleased that he procured a few plants for his city 

 garden, which he afterwards increased and culti- 

 vated so successfully that he soon carried off some 

 of the prizes. At much expense he enlarged his 

 garden and planted a few Pear trees, and finally 

 bought an estate on the bank of Charles River in 

 WatertowD, where he practiced every branch of 

 horticulture successfully. This gentleman was 

 Josiah Stickney, who afterwards became president 

 of the society, and by establishing a fund for the 

 increase of its library has been the means of its 

 possessing the best collection of horticultural and 

 botanical books in this country, if not in the world. 



Co-operation and Advertising. At a meeting 

 of the Maryland Fruit Growers' Exchange, the sec- 

 retary stated that from the money spent in last 

 year's advertising in Eastern and Western papers, 

 many fruit buyers were reached and attracted to 

 the Peach growing section, and their Peaches were 

 sold for more and growers realized better prices 

 than could have been obtained otherwise; other 

 markets were reached that heretofore had been 

 unknown; they had become recognized abroad as 

 the Peach centre, and hoped for still better results 

 in the future. He also thought that the fruit of 

 many orchards was sold before the new buyers put 

 in an appearance, rendering it impossible for them 

 to purchase in such quantities as would justify 



The Florists* Convention, 



The third annual meeting of the Society of 

 American Florists has come and gone, and, like 

 its predecessors at Cincinnati and Philadelphia, 

 the proceedings resulted in much valuable in- 

 formation for all branches of the trade. The 

 interest in the workings of the society seems to 

 increase, extending over a still wider field. 



The meetings were held iu the First Regiment 

 Armory, the lower floor being occupied by the 

 exhibits, while the convei*sational part took 

 place iu the drill room above. 



The greatest showing in the exhibits was 

 made by the dealers in florists' supplies. Phil- 

 adelphia was well represented in this respect 

 by Messrs. Bayersdorfer & Bachai*ach, their 

 exhibit consisting of baskets, designs, Immor- 

 telles, and other florists' requisites. J. C. 

 Vaughan Sc Co. made a fine showing, as usual, 

 in both bulbs and florists' requisites. 



There was a large exhibit of designs in Im- 

 mortelles and the like, some extremely good, 

 and some calculated to provoke the keenest 

 torture in an artist's sensibilities. There were 

 some bead funeral wreaths, such as we see in 

 foreign cemeteries. The maker's intentions are 

 doubtless good, but somehow it is difficult for 

 an American to connect the idea of lament for 

 the loved and lost with an eccentric cobweb of 

 shiny black bird's eyes, varied by step-ladders 

 of black bugles like miniature gas-pipes. Some- 

 times a cheerful variety is given these erections 

 by the addition of white beads like juvenile 

 teeth, or very dead grass. There certainly is 

 nothing frivolous about them. 



There were but few flowers on exhibition, but 

 Mr. Moon of Pennsylvania and Mr. Vick of Roches- 

 ter showed fine Gladioli, which were very attrac- 

 tive. Mr. Siebrecht showed some Orchids as a 

 living comment on his clever essay. There were 

 the usual tools and appliances for greenhouse work, 

 including some very able-bodied boilers. 



The visiting delegates were welcomed with hearty 

 cordiality by Mr. Vaughan, thanks being returned 

 by Mr. Wm. Elliott. Then President Craig deliver- 

 ed a comprehensive address, touching on the prog- 

 ress of his art during the year, and reminding us of 

 the Western origin of the Society. The Secretary 

 and Treasurer delivered their reports, and then the 

 Committee on Insecticides reported the progress of 

 their conspiracy against the health and happiness 

 of Rose bugs and Red Spider. They decided that 

 the Australian wash was all our fancy painted for the 

 former, while the latter, like most ladies, couldn't 

 stand Tobacco smoke, especially with sulphur. 



At this session the President announced that Mr. 

 Otto Schuct, of Sheboygan, one of the visiting dele- 

 gates, had met with a severe accident, being run 

 over by the cars, so a collection was promptly taken 

 up for his aid, resulting in the sum of $136. 



Mr. Thorpe's paper on Hybridization, read at the 

 afternoon session, was followed by an interesting 

 discussion, in which Messrs. Anderson, Harrison, 

 May, and Starr took part. Some remarks were 

 made on the same subject by a distinguished guest, 

 Mr. Henry Bennett, of Shepherton, England, the 

 noted Rosarian. F. R. Pierson's paper on '* Busi- 

 ness Methods," and C. L. Allen's essay on "Fungoid 

 Diseases,'' were omitted the authors being absent. 



Mr. E. G. Hill read a strong paper on " Summer 

 Propagation of Roses, with List of the Best Varieties 

 for Outdoor Flowering," which was followed by a 

 discussion in which Messrs. Peter Henderson, John 

 N. May, Charles Anderson and A.Winzer took part. 



On Wednesday Mr. Anderson told us about 

 " Roses on Stocks for Winter Forcing," and gave 

 much information on the subject. Mr. Siebrecht 

 gave a bright and practical talk about " Orchids," 

 and Mr. Ernest Asmus told what he knew— and 

 thafs a good deal— about forcing Bulbs and Tubers. 



Mr. Jackson Dawson was not present, so Mr. 

 W. J. Stewart read his paper on "Forcing Hardy 

 Shrubs." Mr. W. R. Smith, of Washington, 

 was absent through ill health, so we missed 

 both his essay and his genial presence. 



The Hail Committee presented a most favor- 

 able report; their project of hail insurance is 

 fairly established and growing. The discussion 

 following was extremely entertaining, Mr. G. C. 

 Evans causing much amusement by his irrepressi- 

 ble remarks. Mr. Peter Henderson is a stanch 

 upholder of this insurance, which speaks volumes 

 for the practicability of the scheme. But the 

 committee made a mistake in telling us that the 

 first man to go in for hail insurance was the first 

 victim of damage from this cause. It might be a 

 special providence, as the speaker said, but 

 doubters might look upon it in the light of a warning. 



Proposals were made to raise the secretary's 

 salary, at present ten per cent of the membership 

 fees, which is totally inadequate compensation for 

 the work involved. 



Committees were appointed to try for reform in 

 the mail rates on plants, and the express rates on 

 plants and flowers. The question of duties on bulbs 

 was also agitated, the present duty of 20 per cent 

 being a colossal absurdity of our tariff system. 



The chief officers of the Society for the ensuing 

 year are as follows: President, E. G. Hill; Vice- 

 President, John W. May; Secretary, Wm. J. Stew- 

 art, and Treasurer, W. H. Hunt. 



The ladies were there in full force. Not merely 

 as lookers-on, either, for there were many skilled 

 fiorists among them, who were among the moat at- 

 tentive part of the audience at all the sessions. It 

 goes without saying that they were cordially enter- 

 tained by their sisters of Chicago, some charming 

 drives about the city's superb parks being a most 

 delightful feature. The sterner sex, too, were gen- 

 erously entertained, and the social features of the 

 convention were, as usual, a delightful success. 



The retiring President, Mr. Craig, was presented 

 by the society with a handsome watch appropriately 

 inscribed, and a watch charm, while Mrs. Craig 

 was the recipient of a handsome bloom of Dianthus 

 diamondii, a new species, occasionally found in 

 jeweller's windows. 



The society has increased in a gratifying manner 

 during the past year; it now possesses members in 

 nearly every state in the Union. The meeting of 

 1888 will be held in New York, where the eastern 

 members hope in some degree to return the hospi- 

 tality extended them by the Queen of the Lakes, 

 the city of glorious parks and boundless hospital- 

 ity.— Emily Louise Taplin. 



The July Flower Show at Toronto, 



\^Reported by D. B. L.,of Erie Co., N. Y.] 



For a mid-summer Flower Show that given 

 jointly by the two horticultural societies of 

 Toronto, on the horticultural grounds, July 

 20th and 31st, was a very successful affair. 

 Its most striking feature consisted of the 

 magnificent display of plants, and especially 

 in the line of specimens, contributed in the 

 main by private conservatories, in the pos- 

 session of a goodly number of which Toronto 

 is fortunate. That these are at the same time 

 a class of well kept conservatories was sufficient- 

 ly attested by the plants at this show. 



Horticultural Hall, in the public grounds and in 

 which structure the exhibit was made, is ample in 

 size and otherwise well adapted for such purposes. 

 It was well filled. The main feature of the ar- 

 rangement was the elevated circular space 18 feet 

 across containing large Palms, and this surrounded 

 by the floral exhibition tables in circular form, 

 a few feet high from the floor. The upper space 

 devoted to Palms was quite filled by six large speci- 

 mens, one in the center, a Seaforthia, towering over 

 five Latanias and others. 



On the lower table were the floral designs, flowers 

 and plants; Specimen Coleus in pots, with foliage 

 spreading to a diajneter of 3 1-2 feet; Geraniums in 

 full flower nearly as large; show leaf Begonias as 

 attractive and perfect as can well be conceived, 

 combined with good size; specimen plants in tropi- 

 cal growths, Palms and Ferns in large numbers and 

 variety. Three Fittonias in 3 varieties were attract- 

 ive specimens. Lycopodiums grown in pyramidal 

 form a foot high seemed quite novel. Most of the 

 Begonias were in shallow pots or deep dishes. 



In the cut flower display some good annuals were 

 seen. Roses at this late date were few and inferior. 

 The designs and made bouquets were neither num- 

 erous, nor in quality seemingly on a parallel with 

 the other features. To an outsider it would occur 



