Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-27

The Discussions Of the Horticultural
SOciety-Rare Plants from China.

A regular meeting OF the District of Columbia
Horticultural society was held at German hall,
18th, near street, Wednesday evening; Mr..
John Saul president, and Mr.. w. J. Cogan Sec
:. tary. There were on the tables, from DIR. w.
Lee White, plates Of Lawrence, Baronne De
Ilello and Josephine De Molines pears WINE
apples, walnuts tAmerican) and persimmons.
DIR. Basil Norris, U. S. A., second vice presi-
! dent of the society now in California, through
MIR. ]. T. c. Clark, presented the society with
some forty specimens Of Chinese vegetables and
garden seeds. These vegetables were regarded
with much curiosity. most of them being UNI
like anything ever seen here before; but there
being no 'Chinainan present little could be
learned of their quality or uses.
Votes of thanks were passed to DR.. Norris for
' co a Of Md n 81: ps Illus
| sey, of Fairfax county, Va, and Mr. James
| Beail. of Uniontown, y. C., were on the recon-
! mendation of DR.. White, elected members
Mr.. Clark offered a resolution, which was
adopted expressing sympathy with Mrs. Mary
! 4: Quinor, one of the oldest members, who is
Mr.. Saul, referring to the Clinton grape ex-
hibited at the preceding meeting by DIR. White,
| from Cochin, China. Ii dies down to the root
and puts out again in the spring, but this climate
was rather too cold for it, He had. however,
had some success with it by taking up the roots
| and keeping them in the hot house during the
| freezing weather and setting them out in the
| spring.
| MIR. J. r. c. Clark remarked on the chrysan-
| themum bloom this season as being better and
| fuller than he had ever before SEEN 1t, too was
! in great demand, so much SO that he had seen
! recently two horse wagon load delivered at
| one OF our hotels.
| Mr.. Saul said that the bloom this year was ex-
cellcnt, and there had been much improve
| ment. The Chinese and Japanese varieties
were beautiful. The chrysanthemum was
easily protected and easily spoiled. Any loose
straw or leaves thrown over the plant would
| protect it. Strewing it with rOtted manure is
| apt to rot the suckers.
Mr.. Clark remarked that the chrysanthe-
! mum was probably the most neglected OF all
| the plants and generally it was left to take
care OF itself. 1t was really handsome flower,
and he hoped that more attention would be
paid TO 1t.
Mr.. Fowler said that while he liked the color,
form and scent of the flower, he certainly did
not like the struggling growth OF the plant. His
faVorlteS were the Dubious and tuberouS plants,
| and with most OF these he had been successful.
He desired to ask if there was any possible way
| TO grow to perfection the tuberous begonia. He
had read of some with flowers six inches in
| diameter, but he would be satisfied II he could
| get flowers One-third that size.
| Mr.. Saul answered that they could be grown
! 10 produce flowers OF six iachcS that 1t was u
| native of the Andes, the climate being humid.
They needed shade and ali the rain possible,
and could not be kept in the house under glass.
| He would recommend the use of Stats to break
| the rays of the sun.
Mr.. Clark said that he had noticed that when
he dried off his cyclamers he lost many and
was troubled with the black ants, but having
forgotten to dry them off last year he now
found them doing we'll He had lost but few
| and had no trouble with the ants.
Mr.. Fowler remarked that the bulbs planted
near the surface of the soil did well.