40 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



of Rocky Mountain seeds, and thought that if Job, out on the 

 borders of the Arabian desert, had attempted to raise conifers from 

 seed and succeeded, he woi;ld have added to his reputation for 

 patience. In planting seeds of conifers in the west one must 

 observe the conditions of nature. First, have a screen to shut out 

 over half the light, and cover the seeds with fine sand ; but that is 

 not enough. Heat and damp both attack the crown of the delicate 

 plants and therefore they must be defended as in the forests bj' 

 moss or coarse leaf mould. The plants, growing up through this, 

 are protected so that some beds are defended even against a 

 raging sirocco of 110° in the shade. 



Mr. Harrison thought that the best waj to secure the finest 

 colored trees would be to select them where they grow by thou- 

 sands in the mountains. For instance, in raising Picea praigens 

 from the seed, away from its native hal)itat, it does not average 

 as well for color as those mountain grown. He spoke of the 

 difficulty of having these trees, when shipped from the mountains, 

 retain their color. This will sweat out in transit and the planter 

 will often think he has been defrauded when the very choicest 

 specimens have been sent. Rich ground and good cultivation will, 

 however, in a* year or so restore the color to more than its original 

 beauty. He said also that there is otherwise a marked 

 change for the better under cultivation, — the needles become much 

 longer and the color much brighter. Of cours,e the sheen is dimmed 

 by winter weather, but is restored to its marvellous beauty in the 

 growing season. 



Regarding autumn planting,— if he lived east he would practice 

 it, but uot in the dry air. of the west. He read Mr. Strong's 

 article in "Garden and Forest" while in Neliraska, and dropping 

 the paper went out and planted three hundred trees, most of which 

 died. But he concluded to charge it to the climate vnUier than to 

 Mr. Strong, for tliat gentlemiin certainly liad had wonderful success, 

 and his advice in the matter had been largely followed by nurser}'- 

 men east, and as far west as the Missouri Kiver. He said that the 

 planting of evergreens is now receiving much attention on the 

 plains and that the west would vie with tlie east in making our 

 whole country beautiful in forest, lawn, :ind landseai)e. 



Jackson Dawson held that evergreens covild be transplanted at 

 any time in the year if proper care is given to the trees. Twelve 

 vears agolMr. l*;uil, of London, liad ;in order to furnisli several car- 



