REPORT 



TO THE 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



FOR THE YEAR 1896. 



By GEOEGE CRUICKSHANKS, of Fitchbukg. 



The Massachusetts HorticiTltural Society began the work of 

 the year with a course of Lectures and Discussions on subjects 

 rehited to the art and science of horticulture, by the following- 

 named speakers : 



January 11. Hardy Garden Plants, by E. 0. Orpet, South 

 Lancaster. 



January 18. Conservatism in Scientific Agriculture, by Prof. 

 W. H. Jordan, Orono, Me. 



Januaiy 25. Stove Plants in their Native Tropics, by Prof. 

 George L. Goodale, Cambridge. 



February 8. Seed Control: Its Aims, Methods, and Benefits, 

 by Gilbert H. Hicks, Washington, D.C. 



February 15. Some Scale Insects, by Prof. L. 0. Howard, 

 Washington, D.C. 



February 29. Some Tendencies and Problems in the Evolu- 

 tion of Species among Parasitic Fungi, by Prof. George F. 

 Atkinson, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 



March 14. Ornamental Planting for Parks and Public 

 Grounds, by William S. Egerton, Albany, N.Y. 



March 21. Grasses, by F. Lamson-Scribner, Washington, D.C. 



March 28. Manuring Orchards, by Prof. Edward B. Voorhees, 

 New Brunswick, N.J. 



April 11. Mushrooms, Edible and Poisonous, by William C. 

 Bates, Boston. 



