FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
105 
Mr. Griffing—Have you used shellac? 
Mr. Hume—Yes, and it is very good 
while it lasts, but it soon flakes off. 
Mr. Hollingsworth—I agree with Mr. 
Hume on every point he has made, except 
in the use of utensils. I pruned two or 
three years with a saw and used the long 
clippers and the hand pruner. I think I 
have used) every outfit that any pruner ever 
did use, and I must say I like an axe the 
best. You can take a pruning axe and 
grind it down very thin, and then after 
you have had practice enough you can cut 
exactly in the right place. Always strike 
from the under side of the limb. I am 
heartily in favor of the axe system over 
any saw. A saw wound will hold more 
water than an axe wound. It is the water 
in the wound that causes the rot. It is 
very much quicker also. 
Report of Committee on Ornamentals. 
By Mrs* E* S* Hubbard. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
Let us imagine that we have chosen 
our new home. Our house and buildings 
are finished and our grounds are leveled 
and ready for planting. 
We have selected a spot in middle 
Florida where the temperature occasional¬ 
ly touches the frost mark, and where in 
extreme seasons, ice is formed. 
We, therefore, must use plants and 
shrubs that will thrive in our peculiar sit¬ 
uation. The first consideration is our 
lawn. St. Augustine grass will prove 
most satisfactory, for it resists cold weath¬ 
er. When frequently clipped, it forms a 
nrat of bright green, and after a severe 
freeze, it soon regains its freshness. It is 
planted by slips and roots and is easily 
destroyed when desired. Bermuda grass 
thrives best on dry soil, but is browned 
by frost in winter and is hard to eradi¬ 
cate. 
Our piazzas are furnished with supports 
for vines. Strips of poultry netting 
three feet wide, are, at intervals, set up¬ 
right two or three feet from the ground, 
extending to the eaves. With this ar¬ 
rangement, the beloved vines can be en¬ 
joyed to the utmost, ’without injuring 
buildings or interfering with the painter 
in his work. 
First in our list is Rhyncospermum 
jasminoides. Its dark, ever green foliage 
forms a thick screen during the winter. 
In April, its profusion of dainty white 
blossoms, transforms it into a drapery of 
lacework. If allowed to do so, it will 
reach the highest chimney with its trail of 
graceful fragrance. Akebia quinata, its 
characteristic foliage and its clusters of 
ruddy purple blossoms lasting from early 
March until May, must not be forgotten. 
Chinese Wistaria, if kept in subjection 
by persistent pruning, will give a wealth 
of great, fragrant, purple pendants. 
