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FIRST F R U I T S . 



great enthusiasm in making the class of Floriculture 

 one of great interest at the World's Fair, and appoint- 

 ed a special committee to look after the work. It is 

 likely they will, in addition to their individual exhibits, 

 make a splendid showing collectively in the interest of 

 the society. — James Allison, Acting Chief, Dcpattinent 

 of Hoi ticitltm e. 



The Seventh Annual Session of the Society of Am- 

 erican Florists convened on Tuesday, August i8th, 

 1891, in the Pavilion at the Horticultural Gardens, 

 Toronto, Canada. The attendance was quite large, and 

 from all sections of the country. Mayor Clarke of 

 Toronto, welcomed the society in a neat speech, and re- 

 marks of welcome were also made by Alderman Score, 

 Hallam, Orr and Leslie, and Warden Massie. The re- 

 sponse by Judge C. W. Hoitt, of Nashua, N. H. was 

 eloquent, and was listened to with marked attention. 



The president, M. H. Norton, of Boston, Mass., de- 

 livered his address, which congratulated the society on 

 its prosperity, alluded to the work of the committee on 

 nomenclature, recommended intelligent industry on the 

 young men entering the business, called attention to the 

 necessity for selecting a specialty to obtain profitable 

 results, emphasized the benefits arising from produc- 

 ing only first-class stock, commended the work of this 

 society and the local bodies in doing away with foolish 

 jealousies, complimented the availability of women for 

 commercial floriculture, alluded to the benefits arising 

 from well conducted exhibitions, and bespoke constant 

 attendance and careful attention to the essays and 

 papers presented. 



Secretary Stewart's report showed that the member- 

 ship in 1889 was 827, and in 1800, 926. From January 

 ist, 1891, up to August loth, there have been added to 

 to the roll 62 new names. The number of new members 

 during that period is considerably in excess of former 

 years. 



The treasurer's report showed that the society's in- 

 come during the past year was $3,344 §6, and the expen- 

 diture $2,318.32, leaving a balance on hand of $1,026.55. 



The place for the next meeting was decided upon as 

 Washington, D. C, and the following officers were elec- 

 ted : president, James Dean, Bay Kidge, N. Y. ; vice 

 president, Wm. R. Smith, Washington, D. D. ; secreta- 

 ry, Wm. J. Stewart, Boston, Mass. ; treasurer, M. A. 

 Hunt, Terre Haute, Indiana. 



The various* papers and essays presented were not 

 as fully discussed as was deemed desirable. Many of 

 them were very well written, and worthy better attention 

 than they received. Important action was taken regard- 

 ing the World's Fair, and an unanimous recommendation 

 made for the appointment of John Thorpe as chief of flori- 

 culture. James Allison, acting chief of horticulture for 

 the World's Fair, addressed the society in regard to the 

 expected exhibits. He described the horticultural build- 

 ing which is to be erected at the Exposition. It will be 

 1,000 feet long, with a width of 286 feet. There havebeen 

 assigned about 200,000 square feet of ground in addition 



to this building for such purposes as may be required 

 for the horticultural department. A committee of five, 

 consisting of Messrs. John Chambers, of Toronto ; 

 Robert Craig, of Philadelphia ; John S. Bush, of New 

 York; Henry A. Siebrecht, of , New York, and F. L. 

 Harris, of Wellesley, Mass., was appointed as an 

 advisory body, to act for the society in regard to the 

 World's Fair. It was resolved to recommend no one 

 for the position of chief of horticulture. 



The executive committee was given power to use 

 efforts to secure from the government a more uniform 

 system of valuation of imports. 



The society was entertained by Alderman Hallam at 

 his spacious grounds on Wednesday afternoon, and on 

 Friday were given by the Toronto Florists' Club a sail 

 on the lake, succeeded by a banquet at Exhibition Park. 



Nebr.^ska Horticulturists held their semi-annual 

 meeting at Hastings, in August. Special attention was 

 paid to small fruit. 



Raspberry Culture. — W. J. Hesser has an apple orchard 

 15 to 18 years old, planted 32 feet apart each way ; be- 

 tween the rows he plants three rows of raspberries. As 

 the apple trees are of large size now, the raspberries are 

 in dense shade, which Mr. Hesser thinks a prime neces- 

 sity in successful raspberry growing. It is impossible to 

 get a horse into this thicket to cultivate. Mr. H. keeps 

 men at work with hoes all the time, if necessary, to keep 

 weeds down, and it pays. When the canes have made a 

 growth of about two feet, he pinches back two to four 

 inches of the top ; this is repeated every week for four or 

 five weeks, in order to get every cane that may have been 

 under size the weeks before. Each cane is pinched back 

 but once, although care is taken to check the upward 

 growth of all. Two objects are in view ; to make the 

 plants upright and stocky, and to cause as many side- 

 shoots as possible to increase the bearing capacity. As 

 soon as the berries are all picked, all the old wood is cut 

 out. Mr. Hesser thinks the new canes make a much 

 nicer growth if this is not delayed till winter. 



Best Old and New Variety of Cherry. — E. F. Stephens 

 says that the people of Nebraska are planting largely of 

 English Morello and Early Richmond. There is com- 

 plaint against Early Richmond, because of the tender- 

 ness of its fruit buds. He thought the English Morello 

 our best variety. Of the new ones introduced by Prof. 

 J. L. Budd, of Iowa, he has tried Spate Amarelle, Suisse 

 Fruhe Weichsel, Lutovka, 23- 25- 26- and 27-Orel, Bess- 

 arabin, Vilne Sweet, Brussler Braune, Yellow Glass and 

 Ostheim. There seems to be some difference in the Os- 

 theim, as introduced by different persons ; Mr. Stephens 

 calls one of them Ostheim and the other Minnesota Os- 

 theim. The latter is much like the old sprouting Mor- 

 ello ; a good hardy tree, but of little value, as the fruit is 

 too small. A native of Germany tells the writer that 

 these differences are noted in his country, and that one 

 is called Ostheim and the other Ostheimer, the latter 

 being the desirable variety. Mr. Stephens thinks Os- 

 theim a decided acquisition ; tree hardy and healthy ; 



