exhibition of the season will take place on Saturday, May 15th, when premiums will be awarded for greenhouse plants, pelargoniums, roses, cactuses, &c. &c. The season has been rather backward, and the day has been put forward from the 1st to the 15th on this account; yet we anticipate a good display of plants, especially of pelargoniums.-Ed.

Cultivation of the Fig, and new Varieties of the Pear.—By accident, I did not see the number of your Magazine containing my last communication and your request for the fig trees, until a very few nights since, when it was quite late to send the trees, as they are out in small leaf. I will try, however, to send you some of them later in the season, or, if I cannot, I will send you small trees of all the good kinds we have in cultivation that I can get. The fig grows readily from cuttings, put out in August, and frequently bears a few fruit the next spring. Of all the varieties we have, and they are not very few, the Alicante and Celestial are decidedly the best. The coming summer, I hope to be able to send you outlines of the most remarkable. My wife took the outline of one of the first Alicante figs we had last summer, which I send you herein. It is much longer than usual, but proportionably narrower in consequence, and probably not of the largest. This is the most productive variety I have ever seen, bearing constantly, from about the middle of July until about the middle of November, when we usually have our first killing frost. This one was plucked ripe on the 4th June, in the open garden, being one of what is usually called first crop ; usually, we get only the second and third crops. The true shape of this fig is more nearly such as my dotted outline, but may be not quite so large, but little if any smaller.

Since my first communication to you I have considerably increased my number of varieties of the pear, now numbering 126 varieties, many of which may fruit this summer for the first time. I received, a few days ago from Paris, the following varieties, Orpheline d'Enghien, Tavernier de Boulogne, Colmar d'Aremberg, Belle-, Epine Dumas, Bezi des Veterans, Bonne d'Ezée (quere Bonne des Zees? of you), Beurré gris d'hiver, Nouveau or de Luçon, and St. Nicholas. Do you know these varieties and what is their character and reputation, as also of the Bon Chrétien Napoleon, Bonne Ente, (or Anthe) ou Sublime Gamotte, Delices Charles Van Mons, Beurré des Charneuses, do. de Richelieu, do. de Beaulieu, do. Moiré, Excellentissima, Louis Philippe, Bezi de Caissoy or Quessoy, do. Sans pareil, Poire de Passy, Angora ou Belle Angevine, Bon Chretien d'Auche, do. de Vernois and Noisette, which I received last year? Some of this last list will blossom and probably bear fruit the coming summer, though the trees (dwarfs) are very small, even for that shape. I have twice received from Europe the Beurré gris and Beurré doré as different pears, and think that they are, as both times I have lost them; the first time, one tree lived a few years and died of the fire-blight, when I was travelling for the summer, and the last year it came dead, while the true Beurré gris is a very vigorous and flourishing tree. They are considered as different in every work on gardening that I have in French. I received, both last year and this, the Bartlett from Paris, as the Bon Chrétien Williams, and not as

Poire Guillaume, as Mr. Downing says in his first edition of Fruits, &c. I have never before now had the St. Ghislain; at any rate, no tree sent me by that name; therefore, the pear of mine that you allude to cannot well be that pear. Be it what it may, it certainly was the most delicious pear that I have ever eaten, but this is not saying a great deal, as I have not tasted many of the finest. In looking over the catalogue of the nurseryman who sent me the tree, I see Bezi de Lamotte along with the Chaumontel, de Vaat and others, and no Doyenné de la Motte.-Yours, R. Chisholm, March 25, 1847.

Growth of Trees in the Southern States.-From your remark upon the growth of the trees of your correspondent, Dr. Philips, I see that you have no idea of our climate, where peach trees are in full bloom now, and blossoms were seen since 14th February. Pear trees, Crassane, and Messire Jean, are in bloom, and some are putting out leaves, which may live until next Christmas. I put in two buds of the Beurré des Charneuses last year about this date into one sucker, at the root of the supposed St. Ghislain, which are, at this time, 4 feet 8, and 6 feet 4 high above their insertions. The Fire-blight is very rare with me, and I hope will hereafter be still more so, but I believe is much more common on sandy soils here, where the pear is grafted upon pear roots. I have set out one plant of what was given me by a gentleman who imported, direct from you, I believe, one dozen plants when they sold at $5 per dozen, as your Seedling, a pistillate plant, about two miles from here in a straight line, and equally far from any other plants, except one plant of what was given me as Keene's seedling, also pistillate, about half a mile farther off still, to try whether they will bear fruit. Both are in excellent soils for them. I have found the Crassane and Bon Chretien d'hiver pears, very sweet cooked when gathered half-grown, in thinning out the fruit; and Bailly, in his Manuel du Jardinier, mentions also the Salviati, Chaumontel, Colmar, Messire Jean and Echasseriè as good either for the table or to cook. My only little musk apricot tree being about to die last spring, I grafted below ground, three scions upon roots of peach, and two out of the three lived, and grew well, say about three feet high, the roots being quite small. I have just received from Paris the Beurré Aurore or Capiaumont; Are they synonymous? I find quinces grow very freely from cuttings put down at any time during the winter.-Yours respectfully, Robert Chisholm, Beaufort, S. C., March 25, 1847.

ART. III. Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

Saturday, April 3d, 1847.-The quarterly stated meeting of the Society was held to day-the President in the chair.

The President announced to the Society, that he had received, from Josiah Bradlee, Esq., a check for $500, for the purpose of being added to the permanent fund for premiums on flowers and fruits.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Bradlee for his very liberal donation.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Geo. B. Emerson, Esq., for a copy of his Report on the Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts.

A package of seeds from the Rocky Mountains was received from J. B. Russell, of Cincinnati, and the thanks of the Society were voted for the same. The seeds were placed in the hands of the Committee on Flowers for distribution.

The thanks of the Society were voted to R. Buist, of Philadelphia, for a copy of his Manual on the Culture of the Rose.

A letter was read from Wm. R. Smith, of Macedon, N. Y., accompanied with scions of the Early Joe, and Red Canada Apples, and Swan's Orange, and Osband's Summer pears. The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Smith, and the scions distributed to a few members.

The XXth Section of the By-Laws was amended by striking out all after the word "them" in the twenty-second line.

Adjourned one week, to April 10th.

Exhibited.-FLOWERS: From John Thomas, gardener to J. L. Gardener, flowers of five varieties of Pelargoniums. From W. B. Richards, two varieties of Crown Imperials and Polyanthus narcissus.

April 10th.-An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day,-the President in the chair.

A letter was received from Mr. A. H. Ernst, accompanied with fourteen varieties of apples, and one variety of the pear, which were laid on the table for distribution-and the thanks of the Society voted for the same.

Adjourned one week to April 17th.

April 17th.-An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to day,— the President in the chair.

A box of seed was received from Mrs. Percival, and the thanks of the Society voted.

Voted, That the Recording Secretary be requested to give notice through the public press, of the opening of the Society's Hall for Public Exhibition. William D. Ticknor was elected a Subscription Member.

Adjourned for one week to April 24.

April 24th.-An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day--the President in the chair.

No business was transacted at this meeting, and the Society adjourned for one week to May 1.

Adjourned two weeks, to May 8.

Exhibited.-FLOWERS: From P. Barnes, a plant of Hybrid perpetual Duchess of Sutherland Rose, and seedling Verbenas, some of them fine. FRUIT: From J. F. Allen, Black Hamburgh and White Chasselas grapes -and Black St. Michael figs. From B. V. French, Yellow Newtown Pippin apples. From S. W. Cole, specimens of apples called the Red Russet, of fine flavor for the season.

HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA

FOR MAY.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

Grape Vines will now be in full flower in the greenhouse and grapery, and the temperature should be raised a few degrees, and the house kept rather closer, especially during cold and windy weather. Discontinue syringing while they are in blossom. By the middle of the month, the berries will probably be nearly all set, when more air should be given, and syringing again commenced: the walks should, however, be well watered every warm day, in order to create a humid atmosphere. Continue to stop the laterals where they have pushed from a previous stopping, and tie in leading shoots carefully where the vines have not yet attained their full length. The border should be carefully forked over, with the addition of some good manure, and a slight coating of guano. Vines in the open air, of both foreign and native kinds, should now be tied up to the trellises, and put in order for the season. Vines in pots, now swelling their fruit, should be liberally watered with liquid manure.

Raspberry plantations may yet be made with the best success, in consequence of the late backward weather. Dig around old plants, and tie up the stems to stakes.

Strawberry beds may be made all the month. Old beds should be carefully raked, and cleared from all old dead runners, weeds, &c.

Grafting should all be completed this month, if possible.

Pruning should now receive attention; it is a kind of work which should be done with deliberation and judgment.

FLOWER DEPARTMENT.

Pelargoniums will be in their greatest perfection this month, and, if they have been properly managed, quite the showiest plants of a good greenhouse collection. If the plants show signs of weakness, give them a little guano water: see that they are all carefully and neatly tied up, and place them in a situation where they can have an abundance of light and air, and be shaded from the sun from 10 till 2 o'clock. Fumigate, if there is a sign of the green fly.

Camellias will now be making their new growth, and should be liberally watered at the root, and freely syringed over the foliage; no plant delights more in moisture during the growing season than the camellia.

Azaleas will now need attention, if fine specimen plants are wanted next season. As soon as they begin to make new shoots, the tops should be nipped off, in order to make them bushy and compact. If plenty of room, now is a capital time to encourage them in their growth by a liberal shift into larger pots. Syringe freely over the foliage.

Gloxinias should now be potted again, if they have been properly managed.

Achimenes will now need another shift, and, if very fine specimens are wanted, they should be put into shallow pans, three plants in each.

Hardy Roses should now be pruned, being careful to cut well in, with the exception of Hybrid Chinas and Bengals. Prairre roses should also have a portion of the old wood cut out, in order to give place for the new.

Hydrangeas, if wanted for fine specimens, should now be shifted.

Chinese Primrose seeds should be sown this month to make fine plants for the autumn.

Heaths, Epacrises, and similar plants, should now be propagated from cuttings.

ter.

Scarlet Geraniums should now be propagated for a stock for next win

Verbenas and Petunias of fine sorts may now be propagated by cuttings for turning out into the border.

Gladioluses, Tigerflowers, and other spring bulbs, may be set out in the open border now.

Fuchsias will need another shift now, if fine specimens are wanted. No plant is more ornamental than this, and, if properly treated, they form the very finest ornaments for the balcony or verandah, during the months of July, August, and September.

Pansies, managed as we have directed, should now be planted out in beds properly prepared.

Dahlias may be put out the latter part of the month, or as soon as all danger of frost is over. [See the remarks in a previous page of the present number.]

Carnations and picotees, wintered in frames, should now be turned out into beds, where they will bloom better than in pots.

Annual Seeds of all kinds may be sown now in beds, and, after being. properly thinned, they may be put out to fill vacant places in the border. Daphnes should now be propagated from cuttings of the young wood just hardened.

Chrysanthemums should now be propagated, either by cuttings or suckers. Cyclamens done blooming may be removed to a cold frame.

Phloxes should now be taken up, divided and reset, in order to have fine blooming specimens.

Cactuses, now coming into bloom, should be liberally watered.

Salvias of the several kinds may be planted out the last of the month. Herbaceous plants of many kinds inay be safely transplanted until the middle of the month, or even later.

Roses in Pots, wanted for early flowering specimens in the autumn, may now be encouraged to make new wood by a shift into a larger size.

Cape Jasmines may now be easily increased by cuttings placed in a little bottom heat.

Greenhouse Plants of all kinds may be now propagated before the very hot weather sets in. Every zealous amateur, or enterprising gardener, will find an abundance of labor to occupy him this month, which is, in truth, the busiest of the year. The out-door garden, too, will need every attention, and to have a succession of showy flowers throughout the season should be the main object of every gardener who knows his duty.