PROCEEDINGS OF THE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 623 



ground was frozen. For years past he had done this, even in the month 

 of Dcceuiber, but he always covered them with a litter of straw, and 

 whenever, by accident, this was neglected, they would be sure to fail, ai\d 

 fie deserved to loose thera. He planted last season eighteen different kinds, 

 and those planted during the last week of November are the strongest of 

 any planted throughout the whole season; but it so happened that last 

 winter was very favorable for this purpose. Select kinds that are noted 

 for their flavor, and do not plant straight in the ground, but spread out the 

 roots and get the soil well about the roots, and there is no reason why 

 they should not grow to four and five inches in circumference. A straw- 

 berry plant that throws out a massive head will always be sure to be very 

 productive and fine. This is a noted fact that good plants are distin- 

 guished in this way. A strawberry that has made some noise, and a very 

 good plant, called the agriculturist; he had seen a bed of them a few days 

 ago, and he found, by counting, that the first plant contained 294 berries, 

 the second plant 248, and the third 223, and these were mere infants, not 

 quite a year old. Now if they do this in the green state, what will they 

 do when they are full grown? He did not think he was betraying any 

 secret if he told where he had seen these plants. They wei-e on the 

 grounds of Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter, who deserved great credit for his per- 

 severance and skill in horticulture. 



In answer to the following query: "Shall strawberries be planted in 

 rows or hills?" His practice was to plant in beds, the rows one foot apart, 

 and four rows in a bed, and to plant from fifteen to eighteen inches apart, 

 according to the kind of plants, and so arranged that a person could walk 

 between the rows without treading upon the beds. As strawberry beds 

 are usually made, it is impossible to pick them without injuring the beds 

 and destroying a great many berries, in which case the beds in a few years 

 run out. Here is a box of strawberries placed on the table this evening 

 that did not require much to be said of them, as they spoke for themselves. 

 They are from seedlings raised by myself eight years ago. The}' thrive 

 under a great variety of circumstances, and are a very good fruit. These 

 were grown in pure sand, and under very unfavorable conditions, and they 

 show clearly what can be produced without hardly any culture. The 

 flowers have been imperfectly developed, and hence the berries are some- 

 what out of shape; but they are very good. Some are hardly ripe enough 

 to show their true flavor, and their size could be much increased. He had 

 grown some six and six and a half inches in circumference. 



Mr. James Hogg then read the following paper on 



JThe Principles of Taste Applied to Floral Decorations and 



Designs. 

 Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen : 



The aphorism, " de giislibus non dispidandinn" I have no doubt is familiar 

 to you all, and although it is often quoted to prove that the principles of 

 taste are not govefned by any fixed rules, but are dependant upon the 

 whims and fancies of each and every individual, j'ct, I think, upon a pro- 

 per analysis, and careful study, it will be found lo admit of a more strin- 



