46 
spores may be sown. If the spores hare 
been saved with care the slightest dusting 
over will ensure a good crop, as, when sown 
too thickly, they choke each other. If a 
number of sorts is to be sown at the same 
time, the pots for each should be removed 
from the others to avoid the spores spread- 
ing. After the spores are sown, the pots 
may be placed in a shady position and 
covered with glass. Although the direct rays 
of the sun must be avoided, light is essential. 
Failure often occurs through keeping the 
pots in a dark, heavily-shaded position. 
The glasses should be removed and the con- 
densed moisture wiped off before the 
globules have got large enough to drop off 
on to the surface of the pots. No surface 
watering should be given after the spores 
are sown, but the saucers may be filled up 
from time to time as they require it. It is 
not necessary to keep them constantly full; 
in fact, it is better not to do so, or the soil 
may become too wet. The soil must never 
be allowed to get quite dry. As soon as the 
pots are well covered with the young seed- 
lings they may be taken off in small patches 
and pricked off into pots or boxes which 
have been prepared with a surfacing of more 
suitable soil for the young seedlings to root 
into. These will require dividing again about 
the time the first tiny fronds appear.— 
Gardening Illustrated (English.) 
St. Thomas Horticultural Society. 
Unfortunately it was found necessary 
through changes in constitutional provisions 
to hold the annual meeting of the Horticul- 
tural Society on a Monday night, when a 
number of other important meetings re- 
quired the attendance of members interested 
in civic progress. The small group present, 
however, made up in enthusiasm and interest 
for their lack in numbers. 
The meeting was opened by an interesting 
talk, illustrated by stereopticon slides on 
“Perennial Borders,” loaned by the Ontario 
Horticultural Society. Bits of information 
and advice from connoisseurs scattered 
through the audience concerning the various 
plants shown, supplemented the remarks of 
Dr. Bennett, and made the lecture a most 
profitable and interesting one. 
Following the lecture, Mayor Brinkman 
made his first official speech of the year. 
The mayor strongly endorsed the work of 
the society, of which he has been an active 
member for many years. “It is a society in 
which every citizen of St. Thomas should 
hold membership,” he said. “The Horticul- 
tural Society has been instrumental in 
changing the name of the city from the 
Calamity City to the City Beautiful. If you 
want to have a beautiful city, then get into 
the Horticultural Society and boost it. If 
you get into civic societies and make them 
go, the city cannot help but go forward,” he 
said, pledging himself to assist the society in 
any way that was in his power. 
The annual report of the secretary-treas- 
urer was followed by that of the president 
Dr. F. E. Bennett, who gave an interesting 
resume of the year’s work. He stated that 
receipts for the year had been approximately 
$11,600, an increase over those of last year of 
about $3,600. The membership of the society 
has also been increased by about 1,100, 
that of the present year being over twenty- 
one hundred, making the society the largest 
of its kind, not only in Canada, but in 
America. Dr. Bennett pointed out that these 
members had been recruited from far and 
near, interested florists and horticulturists or 
old St. Thomasites having sent in their fees 
from California, Alabama, New York, Chi- 
cago, Montana, New Brunswick, Toronto, 
London, Regina, Winnipeg and even from 
Texas. 
Dr. Bennett pointed out how the society 
was spreading the fame of the city in this 
manner. Magazines all over the continen 
(Brower 
have written up the work of the society and 
the society’s own booklets have been dis- 
tributed at many conventions in Canada and 
in the United States. 
Speaking of the splendid success of the 
society in carrying off two of the most 
coveted prizes at the great American Gla- 
diolus Exhibit in Detroit this summer, Dr. 
Bennett told how many floral magazines had 
asked for accounts of the work of the society 
and how its fame had spread through the 
continent, with the result that the most ex- 
clusive growers were now tumbling over 
themselves to offer rates to St. Thomas, 
where rates were unheard of before. 
Speaking of the work done by the Horti- 
cultural Society in the city during the past 
year, Dr. Bennett stated that the premiums 
put within the reach of the members were 
of a high quality that was altogether un- 
obtainable in many places and in most where 
available, they were dearer than here. The 
list of Gladioli presented to members last 
year was the finest obtainable in Canada. 
St. Thomas Times-Journal. 
Farmers’ Week at Cornell. 
Farmers’ Week opened with a rush 
at the New York State College of Agri- 
culture at Cornell University on Mon- 
day, February 9th, and all the week 
there was a constant attendance of in- 
terested people at the greenhouses 
inspecting the floral displays and listen- 
ing to lectures presented on floricul- 
tural subjects. The greenhouses were 
filled with many attractive foliage and 
flowering plants, but the cinerarias, 
primulas of all kinds and Dutch bulb 
stock were especially fine. The Sweet 
Pea house, in spite of the cloudy 
weather, offered a wonderful display 
of bloom, and the many new varieties 
under test offered an instructive ex- 
hibit. 
A fine exhibit of floral decorations 
was prepared by the floricultural stu- 
dents the first two days of the week. 
The short-course students in floricul- 
ture displayed their work on Monday, 
and the regular students on Tuesday. 
Mr. E. A Slattery, of W. J. Palmer & 
Son, Buffalo, N. Y., and Professor E. A. 
White supervised the work. The bou- 
quets made up were of many kinds and 
descriptions. Bride’s and bridesmaid’s 
bouquets of Roses, Sweet Peas and 
Maidenhair fern were to be seen ; also 
corsage and tiny colonial bouquets ar- 
ranged along one side of the laboratory 
which was tastefully decorated with 
Southern Smilax, Hemlock and Gen- 
istas. 
On the center tables were a large 
number of plant baskets filled with 
Dracaenas, Primulas, Tulips, Hya- 
cinths, Narcissi, Ericas, Ferns and 
many other foliage and flowering 
plants. Especially noticeable was the 
fine effect of Erica “President Carnot” 
made in a plant basket. One very fine 
basket consisted of a Calla Lily, Prim- 
ula malacoides and Peperomia. 
Upstairs there was a very interesting 
and instructive display of table decor- 
ations. The flowers used varied con- 
siderably. One very effective table 
had a center piece of Golden Spur 
Narcissus. Possibly the most original 
was a valentine table, in the center of 
which was a heart-shaped basket o- 
Myosotis with scarlet Carnations thrus- 
March, 1920 
in at one side to represent the dart 
which is supposed to penetrate all 
hearts on Valentine’s Day. Leading 
out from the center piece were red 
streamers bearing small hearts. Prim- 
ula malacoides and graceful Marguer- 
ites made two very attractive tables. 
Other tables were artistically decor- 
ated with Sweet Peas, Carnations and 
Roses. 
On Wednesday, Dr. L. M. Massey, of 
the Department of Plant Pathology, 
gave a very instructive lecture on plant 
diseases to the delegates of the New 
York Federation of Horticultural So- 
cieties and Floral Clubs. Professor E. 
A. White gave an account of the col- 
lege work in the past, the work being 
done at present, what he hoped might 
be done in the future, and told the 
florists to feel that this is their college 
and that they should bring their prob- 
lems here and take an active part in 
bringing the florists and the Depart- 
ment of Floriculture into closer rela- 
tions. Dr. A. C. Beal told of his trip 
to California and of the beauty of her 
flowers both wild and cultivated. After 
seeing some very fine colored slides 
depicting California’s floral beauty, 
the meeting adjourned to the Forest 
Home Inn where a fine luncheon was 
served. The following organizations 
were represented at the business meet- 
ing which followed the luncheon : Buf- 
falo Florists’ Club, Rochester Florists’ 
Club, Syracuse Rose Society, Albany 
Florists’ Club, Tarrytown Horticultural 
Society, New York Florists’ Club, 
New York Horticultural Society and 
the New York and New Jersey Plant 
Growers’ Association. 
On Thursday, Professor David Lums- 
den spoke on garden Lilies and their 
culture. Miss T. E. Schindler gave a 
talk on garden Iris, Dr. A. C. Beal an 
illustrated talk on the Gladiolus, and 
Dr. Massey discussed Gladiolus dis- 
eases. In the afternoon, Dr. E. M. 
Mills, of the Syracuse Rose Society, 
gave a delightful lecture on the bene- 
fits derived from Rose growing as a 
recreation, followed by a talk by Miss 
L. A. Minns on women in floriculture. 
Friday was devoted to instruction 
for amateurs, and the following lec- 
tures were presented in the morning : 
Bulbs for the home by Mr. H. A. Pratt, 
Palms and ferns for the home by Pro- 
fessor Lumsden, and Flowering Plants 
for the Home by Miss Minns. Friday 
afternoon was given up to a round 
table discussion. 
Farmers’ Week, despite weather con- 
ditions, has been a success from every 
point of view. 
H. A. Pratt. 
The Snow. 
The snow so pure and white 
Is part of God’s design 
To keep the plants all right 
Till they can grow again. 
— Melvina Berbert Hammond. 
(Aged 9 years.) 
Melvina’s snow rhyme is especially 
apropos this winter. There has been 
plenty of snow, so the plants must be 
all right. 
