FIRS T FR CITS. 



A MAMMOTH new fruit market is being erected in Lon- 

 don, having a frontage on Charter House street of 370 

 feet, and on Farringdon road of 184 feet. It covers 

 54,000 square feet, and is built of iron and glass. It is 

 to cost some $75,000. It will attract much of the inter- 

 est from historic Covent Garden. 



At a meeting of the Dutch Horticultural Society, 

 (Holland) November 12th, first-class certificates were 

 awarded for Lilitiin Ncilgherrense, IValsonia ii idifolia var. 

 0'Brie?ii, Neriiie pitdicn and Disa grandijlora . An honor- 

 able mention was given for Cattlcya gigas, and "thanks- 

 givings " were returned for a collection of tydasa and one 

 of autumn crocus, Hessea crispa , Xeriiu- liybrida "Nov- 

 elty," Physalis Peruviana and P'uca piiiigeiis var. g/atica. 



The Northwestern Cider and Vinegar Makers' As- 

 sociation met at St. Louis, December 16 and 17. Meas- 

 ures were taken looking towards the adjustment of freight 

 rates, and the enactment of laws by the states to prevent 

 adulteration of vinegar. The members concurred in 

 stating that the best apple crop this year was in Missouri 

 and the borders of adjoining states. The association 

 will probably make a large exhibit at the World's Fair. 

 The association will meet at Springfield, Illinois,, next 

 year. The new officers are as follows : G, W. Hiliiard, 

 Brighton, 111., president ; S. C. Hasoler, Louisiana, Mo., 

 First vice-president: L. R. Bryant, Princeton, 111., 

 secretary and treasurer. 



Chicago Horticulturists. — The Executive Commit- 

 tee of the Horticultural Society of Chicago held a spe- 

 cial meeting on December 27, President George Schneid- 

 er in the chair. Ways and means were fully discussed 

 for advancing the influence of the society and extending 

 its membership. It was moved and carried that the first 

 formal meeting cf the society shall be at the Palmer 

 House on January 10, at 3 p. m. It is intended at this 

 meeting to discuss the importance of, and formulate a 

 plan for giving a mid-Lent crchid and rose show. These 

 exhibitions are as yet strangers to Chicago, though popu- 

 lar in Eastern cities, and the society will introduce them 

 to the citizens here. We think this and other shows in- 

 tended to be placed later will prove as successful as the 

 chrysanthemum shows that have been received with such 

 increasing yearly satisfaction. 



The officers of the society are : President, George 

 Schneider ; first vice-president, William H. Chadwick ; 

 second vice-president, F. C. Vierling ; third vice-presi- 

 dent, E. G. Uihlein ; treasurer, A. L. Chetlain ; secre- 

 ary, J. D. Raynolds ; assistant secretary, G. L. Grant. 

 — Prairie Fanner. 



Southern Illinois Horticultural Society. — The 

 Ohio and Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society has 

 disbanded for the purpose of organizing the Southern 



Illinois Horticultural Society. The reasons for this, 

 change are thus set forth by the Prairie Fariiiei- : 



"The organization of a southern Illinois society is 

 contemplated by the state law. The law sets aside 

 $4,000 each year from the state treasury for the bene 

 fit of the state society, and it designates that there 

 shall be three societies in the state, the northern, cen- 

 tral and southern, the state society to be composed of 

 delegates from these three. Forty-one counties in south- 

 ern Illinois are set aside by the law for the southern 

 society, which ought to produce a very strong organiza- 

 tion. The Ohio and Mississippi organization being an 

 inter-state affair and not under the Illinois law, could 

 have no share in the money set aside by law for the 

 benefit of horticulture in this state, and therein lies the 

 chief cause of the re-organization mentioned. When 

 the state society shall have duly recognized the declara- 

 tion to establish the southern Illinois society, it is pro- 

 posed to at once complete the organization by electing 

 officers. " 



New Britain (Conn. ) Horticultural Society. — The 

 doings of this society for the year 1890, according to the 

 secretary's report as published in the New Britain Her- 

 ald, are as follows : The year now drawing to a close 

 has been a successful one for the Horticultural Society. 

 The meetings have been well attended, and the influ- 

 ence of the interest in the cultivation of flowers, fruit 

 and shrubbery, and the consequent addition to the beauty 

 and attractiveness of our city well marked. Fourteen 

 meetings have been held during the year, and three pub- 

 lic flower shows given — one devoted to pansies, May 14, 

 15 and 16 ; a summer flower show, August 26 and 27, 

 and a fall or chrysanthemum show November 12 and 13. 



The pansy show resulted in a pecuniary loss to the 

 society, while the others cleared small sums over ex- 

 penses. All of these public exhibitions have been very 

 satisfactory both to the public and to the society. Early 

 in the year a programme for the meetings was arranged ; 

 this has been closely adhered to, providing an instructive 

 and timely topic for each meeting. The following papers 

 and addresses were given : February 4, C, O. Case, 

 "Grafting, Budding and Pruning." March 4, Miss C. 

 A. Shepard, "Our Native Shrubs and Plants." April 

 7, John Gerard, "Pansies." May 6, E. M. Hulbert, 

 "Spring Blooming Bulbs." June 17, R. A. Moore, 

 " Roses," on which occasion a beautiful private exhibi- 

 tion of roses was given, rivaling the public exhibitions of 

 some societies. July 8, C. E. Steele, "Strawberries." 

 October 7, J. B. Smith, " Fruit Culture, " December 2, 

 Mrs. James Shepard, "Window Gardening." During 

 the year twenty-two names have been added to the list 

 of membership. 



By the death of Jacob Ritz, which occurred on 

 the 24th of August, the society has lost an active and 

 enthusiastic member, and a very successful rosarian. 

 One member has resigned. The roll now contains 

 ninety-five names, eighty-two of whom are in good 

 standing. 



