BOTANICAL, INDEX. 
31 
correspondent to comment upon. The Influence of Horticulture on Rural Life, by 
Mrs. J. K. Neisz, of Canton, was an excellent essay. Following these essays, was 
an excellent paper by M. Milton on Window Gardening, Plants for Winter Flower- 
ing and their management. 
The closing session this (Friday) morning was devoted to unfinished business, 
votes of thanks for hospitalities and courtesies received, etc. The following board 
of officers was re-elected for 1880: Dr. John A. Warder, President ; M. B. Bateman, 
Secretary. After which, the meeting adjourned with the satisfaction of all having 
had a good time in general. 
INDIANA HOI? TIC TJL T UR A L SOCIETY. 
The nineteenth annual meeting of the Indiana Horticultural Society was held at 
Dublin, Wayne county, Ind., December 16, 17 and 18, 1879, in the large commodious 
Town Hall which was tilled with a large number of the most prominent Horticul- 
turists of the State, as well as the adjoining States of Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. 
In addition to the practical Horticulturists present were a large number of citizens 
from all parts of the State, and especially from point near by. The display of fruit 
was fine, particularly in apples and pears, raised in Indiana. Grains and vegetables 
were well represented. Perhaps as interesting a sight was specimens of Catalpa 
wood from New Madrid, Missouri, that had lain under water a long time and was still 
in a perfect state of preservation. The seed and seed-pods of five varieties of Catalpas 
were also exhibited to illustrate the peculiar character of each species. 
The first day was mainly devoted to the President’s annual address, the Secreta- 
ry’s and Treasurer’s report, the reports of the delegates to the different State associ- 
ations, as also Sylvester Johnson’s report as representative to the American Pomo- 
logical Society. In the evening Dr. S. S. Boyd delivered the address of welcome in 
behalf of the citizens of Dublin, and Dr. Furnas read an able paper on the “Care of 
Orchards and the Profits of Fruit Growing.” 
Wednesday morning found the hall again well filled with delegates and visitors 
all anxious to learn from the experience of others. The first thing done to-day was 
the election of officers for 1880. Sylvester Johnson was re-elected President; W. H. 
Ragan, of Clayton, Secretary ; Daniel Cox, Treasurer. The day was devoted to read- 
ing and discussing papers on the Chickasaw Plum, by Dr. J. H. Robinson ; on Straw- 
berry Culture, by Granville Cowing; on the Huddleston Strawberry, by David Hud- 
dleston ; an" essay on the Apple, by Mrs. H. V. Austin ; a talk on Trees, by Mrs. Lou- 
isa V. Boyd. Also, reports from delegates from adjoining States and Perdue Uni- 
versity. The day’s exercises were closed by a Reminiscence or History of the Soci- 
ety, by E. Y. Teas, followed by a general Love-feast participated in by all the older 
members. Wednesday evening was set apart for a Lecture by Prof. C. Y. Riley, on 
Entomology, but as lie could not be there Prof. Brayton entertained a large audience 
with a talk on Birds, especially those known to be the horticulturists’ friends, and 
illustrated his lecture by a large collection of preserved bird skins. Dr. Warder 
very reluctantly spoke for an hour on Entomology, which was both entertaining and 
instructive. 
The third and last day found the interest in Horticulture as great as on the two 
former ones. The day’s session opened by the presentation of the invitation from 
different societies and cities to meet at their respective places, and being fully dis- 
cussed the invitation from the Horticultural Society of Crawfordsville was accepted 
as a place for meeting in 1880. Delegates to other State meetings were elected, pre- 
miums were awarded, the usual vote of thanks passed, and the annual meeting for 
1879 adjourned sine die. 
A CURIOUS SIGHT. 
In Mr. E. N. Atherton’s report on the Sabaragamuwa (Ceylon) district, he writes : 
One ot the most curious sights in the district is the manner in which iron at a white 
heat is handled by the blacksmiths, which is kept a secret in the trade, and only 
practiced by that caste. The process is simple but so repelling that I doubt whether 
any one would feel inclined to attempt it, as it certainly requires nerve to take up a 
ball of almost liquid iron the size of a twenty-four pound shot, and hold it in the 
palms of one’s hand from twenty to twenty-five seconds, and afterwards deliberate- 
ly stand on it for the same time. They make a paste of equal quantities of the Mur- 
anga root, leaves ot the Bewila and Kapukannasa plant, and the tender shoot of the 
Gurulla finely ground with lime juice; and this spread over the palms and soles, 
makes them fireproof; for although you hear the hissing of the iron while being car- 
ried in the hands, it leaves no mark or injury when the paste is washed off.— Weekly 
Examiner, Launceston , Tasmania. 
