PROCEEDINGS OF THE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 609 



ogy had been a subject to which he devoted many j'cars; in fact, it was a 

 specialty with him. The celebrated Van Mons, of Belgium, had done much 

 for the cause of Pomology, especially in the improvement of the pear. Mr. 

 Knig-ht, of England, had devoted a lifetime to the improvement of small 

 fruit, also to the apple and pear. Such enthusiasts deserve well of their 

 fellow-men. There are a great many fine fruits which are unknown outside 

 the orchard in which ihey grow. He had picked some apples from a tree 

 100 years old. He had propagated trees from it, the fruit of which he sent 

 to England, where it was preferred to the New'town Pippin. Improve- 

 ments are being continually made in the quality of our fruits. Many va- 

 rieties that stood high in favor twenty years ago, have given place to the 

 improved varieties of the present day. These Societies are of incalculable 

 benefit to the country, as a means of encouraging and disseminating infor- 

 mation in relation to the various improvements made. 



The Chairman, Mr. Ely, spoke of the influence of flowers. Their cultiva- 

 tion has a moral and refining effect upon our natures. He remembered in 

 his young da3's those young ladies who cultivated flowers were more re- 

 fined than others. Painting and the arts have a refining influence, but the 

 flowers have a still higher, because they lead the mind upwards to the 

 Creator. He spoke of his countiy home at Norwalk, where ever}'- house 

 and garden is adorned with flowers and shrubs. He loved the country, 

 and passed all the spare time he had there. He never knew a man or boy 

 but was elevated in mind by the ci:ltivation of flowers, and one that was 

 always read}"- to do a kind action by his neighbor. 



A. G. Burgess said he was early advised never to look for a wife in a 

 family who did not cultivate flowers. 



Mr. Nash said it was very important that correct reports of the meetings 

 should be published in the newspapers, and urged that a competent stenog- 

 rapher should be employed for the purpose. This association, as I under- 

 stand it, is for the purpose of bringing forward practical Horticulturists. 

 The remarks of such persons will be of great value, as they will be the 

 results of experience, and not mere theories. 



He said he was born and lived in the midst of an orchard of about 20 

 acres, and was educated in the midst of good fruit. Many of the trees 

 would yield well for a time, but would soon become diseased. He sug- 

 gested a Committee on Seeds be appointed, and recommended that an 

 orchard sliould be set out where forest trees had been cut down. 



Mvs. J. W. Barrow exhibited choice cut flowers. '-^'*^ 



Wm. S. Carpenter exhibited eleven varieties of apples from his own 

 orchard, viz: Northern Spy, Newtown Pippin, Swaar, Pennock, R. I. Green- 

 ing, Seek-no-further, Dominie, Baldwin, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Greenwich, 

 Roxbury Russet. 



Wm. A. Burgess, Rosevale, Roslyn, L. I., exhibited two varieties of his 

 new seedling strawberries, viz : four pots of " Garibaldi," and one of 

 " General Grant." The plants were in fine condition, and covered with 

 clusters of ripe fruit. 



Adolphus G. Burgess, East New York, exhibited two new varieties of 

 variegated leaved plants, viz: Ageratum splcndens, and Salvia elegans. 



[Am. Inst.] li* 



