GENERAL DISCUSSION ON FLOWERS. 



OPENED BY J. WOODWARD MAXNIXG, READING, MASS, 



Saturday, February 25, 1905. 



A general discussion on the subject of flowers and their cul- 

 ture was introduced into the course of horticultural lectures 

 today. It was opened by J. Woodward Manning who presented 

 the following paper on 



Flowers and Their Seasons. 



A review of the more prominent classes of flowering trees, 

 shrubs, and herbs that are commonly used in ornamental 

 planting probably will be of some use in leading one to a more 

 satisfactoiy selection that tvIU enable a continuance of blooming 

 effect from early spring to the hard frosts of late fall. To do 

 this the shortest possible mention of species must ensue to allow 

 the subject to be covered. 



The first warm days of April find the scarlet maple ready to 

 unfold its crimson flower buds, and the spice or Benjamin bush 

 (^Benzoin odoriferum) is occasionally found in this vicinity in 

 showy colonies aglow with yellow at the same time. The pussy 

 willow has perhaps already passed and the aspen poplar, birches, 

 and alders are filling the air of the swamps and wild woods with 

 their floating pollen from showy catkins.. The shad bush is 

 quite ready to burst into bloom in the swamps, and occasional 

 isolated native groups of floM'ering dogwood are opening their 

 showy flower bracts. 



Of introduced trees the cornelian cherry (Cofnus 3Ias) is even 

 more showy in its wealth of yellow flowers than the spice bush, 

 and peaches quickly respond to the warmer days. The red bud 

 ( Cercis Canadensis) is in full bloom by the end of the month 

 and the Hall's magnolia (Magnolia HalUana) persists in bloom- 



