membership, which will enable the Society to extend its 
activities, particularly in relation to test grounds, which it hopes 
to establish on a permanent basis in the near future. An 
election was held at this meeting and new officers were elected 
for two years. 
The trial grounds of the St. Thomas Horticultural Society 
were an innovation and an inspiration to the members of the 
American organization both in regard to their equipment and 
because of the 35,000 plants under observation. We hope a new 
era of activity for the American Society has begun, and the new 
secretary has agreed to keep us posted in the affairs of the 
organization from now on. 
All admirers of this lovely flower owe a great debt to Mr. 
Madison Cooper who with his untiring effort has kept the Society 
alive. It is hoped that all who are interested in Gladiolus will 
avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the campaign for 
new members and affiliate themselves with the organization. A 
two dollar membership includes a year's subscription to The 
Flower Grower, an excellent garden magazine. Subscriptions 
should be sent to Madison Cooper, Calcium, New York. 
Margaret L. Gage. 
News and Views. 
Perhaps a very homely hint in regard to handling seedlings From the 
might be considered of sufficient practical use for other Garden Wilmington 
Clue members. This is the use of a common kitchen cooking Garden 
fork, about 7 or 8 inches long with a black wooden handle and Club 
three steel prongs about 4 inches long, for pricking off and 
transplanting young seedlings. From time immemorial it seems 
to me that gardeners, either professional or amateur have found 
merit in the use of a wooden label for this process of pricking 
off. With my idea even the tenderest rootlet is immune from 
being torn or bruised, and I find that several of my friends have 
adopted this plan, and that my own particular fork is found 
most frequently in the possession of my own gardener — could a 
more subtle or practical compliment be paid to me? Incidental- 
ly I use this fork also for very light and superficial surface 
cultivation of the tiny rows of tender baby seedlings when they 
are struggling through the toilsome February days in window 
boxes. 
I want to speak to those members who are interested in green- From the 
houses — small greenhouses especially — of the value of Tobacco Garden 
Plant Nicotiana affinis to use as high material indoors in Club of 
spring. We have had great success with it. Allegheny 
In October we take in young plants about four to six inches County 
and plant in rich soil in 4-inch pots. Shift them once into 6- 
169 
