would counteract the effect of all previous care. During bright weather, slight syringings morning and evening may be given immediately before putting on the lights. They should not be too frequently watered, but, when water is given, it should be in such quantity as will thoroughly penetrate the soil, and run out at the bottoms of the pots. The soil in the pots should be maintained in a condition to admit a free circulation both of air and water, so that, when water is given, it may quickly disappear from the surface, and make its way through the mass. They may remain in the frames until the weather becomes too cold for them, when they must be removed to the greenhouse or conservatory.-(Gard. and Land Steward's Journal, 1847, p. 241)

Thinning Annual Plants.--At this season, those who cultivate annual flowering plants must be on the alert to afford a timely thinning, for, if left in the crowded state in which they are sure to spring up, they will prevent each other from attaining any thing like an average degree of perfection. Much of the necessity of this operation may be obviated by sowing the seeds moderately thin in the first instance; but, as in all cases it is necessary to deposit more seeds than can be permitted to remain, if they vegetate, there will be many plants to remove. If they are of rare or valuable species, they may be carefully taken up and transplanted into another part of the garden: if they happen to be of those kinds which are not required for such purpose, they should be pulled up, with reference only to the safety of those which are intended to be left. The number of plants which should be permitted to remain in a patch will vary according to the habits of the species; thus a large vigorous growing plant, of good habit, should stand as a single plant, whilst any of a more straggling growth, two or three should be retained, and those sufficiently near each other to form an outline of perfect unity, but not so as to appear crowded. In the case of less vigorous growing plants, about three plants should be retained; prostrate plants must be regulated by a similar rule, according to the multiplicity or paucity of their branches. In taking up the plants which are removed, care must be used that those remaining are not injured by the operation; and, that this may be the result, it should be done at as early a period as possible, that is, as soon as a few leaves are perfected. After thinning, more than ordinary diligence must be used to prevent injury from the depredations of snails, slugs, &c. ; lime, from its caustic properties, is, perhaps, the best preventive, as it is not at all injurious to the plants when applied in moderation. The staking of the kinds of upright habit should also be attended to at an early period, and those of suitable habits should be pegged down to the soil, and will thus form very pleasing masses.—(Id. p. 255.)

Pot Culture of the Vine.-From long experience, I have proved the following method of cultivating Vines in pots to answer most admirably. The Black Hamburgh is, perhaps, the best kind for pot-culture; but I have also found the White Frontignan and Musque Frontignan (??) to succeed well; the latter sets its fruit best in the coolest part of the house. I prefer buds from old spurs to any other. About the middle of January, the prunings are

introduced into heat, to forward the buds previous to potting, and in the first week in February the buds are prepared in the usual way. I insert one only in a four-inch pot, just covering the wood; I use leaf-mould finely sifted, mixed with a small portion of silver sand. The pots are then plunged half their depth into a bottom heat of about 70°; if the young vines receive due attention, they will require a shift in the middle of April into eight-inch pots, using a mixture of well rotted cow-dung, leaf-mould, and strong lam, in equal proportions. I then again subject them to bottom heat, until the roots fairly show that another shift is wanted, which is the final one. I employ at this shift fifteen-inch pots, and use a soil composed of three parts strong loam, and the other part cow-dung. I train near the glass, with a view to ripen the wood effectually, and pay strict attention to stopping the laterals, preserving the main branch to the length of eight feet. I always allow one foot in addition to the bearing wood, in case of a bud starting at the top, which it often does when the vines are luxuriant. During the growing stage of the vines in the fruiting-pots, I apply liquid manure once a week, made from cow-dung, and when the shoots exhibit a tinge of brown, I pick out the laterals with my finger and thumb, retaining the leaves, and two or three laterals at the extremity. When the wood is fully matured, water is gradually withheld, and the vines pruned to the required length and stored away in a dry shed exposed to the north winds; there they remain until they are required for forcing. A week previously to introducing them into heat, the plants receive a thorough watering with clear liquid manure in a tepid state. Treated as above described, they fruit most abundantly; the number of good-sized bunches I manage generally to bring to perfection, is from ten to fifteen on each vine. I may mention that I moss the stems for about a foot and a half in height from the surface of the pots; the stems root freely into the moss by keeping it continually moist. When the fruit is swelling, I supply the plants liberally with the liquid manure above mentioned, and, in addition, I apply guanowater once in eight days, in the proportion of about a pound of guano to a gallon of water; by this application I have proved that three or four pounds of fruit may be brought to perfection on a vine. The pots are placed in pans on a flue, and trained near the glass.-(Gard. Chron. p. 253.)

ART. II. Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

Saturday, May 1, 1847.-An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, the President in the chair.

The committee appointed for fixing the days of the annual exhibition, reported that they had decided upon Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 22d, 23d, and 24th days of September next; and the report was accepted.

The following members were elected :-Jonathan Chapman, C. H. Mills, A. W. Thaxter, Thomas Lamb, J. E. Thayer, J. W. Blodgett, Isaac Babbitt, T. P. Cushing, and O. Everett, Jr., Boston; Joseph Murray, Medford.

Adjourned two weeks, to May 15th.

Exhibited.-FRUIT: Mr. J. F. Allen, of Salem, made a very rich display of grapes for the earliness of the season-his collection containing just twelve kinds, of which the following are the names:-Early Black July, Miller's Bergundy, Early White of the French, and Pitmaston white cluster, (these four are the earliest grapes, and the Pitmaston the earliest and the best of these,) Zinfindal, Ferral, Black Hamburg, White Chasselas, Chasselas de Bar Sur Aube, Aleppo, White and Grizzly Frontignan; also, Black Figs, of St. Michael. From S. Needham, cucumbers, well grown. From 0. N. Towne, a brace of cucumbers. From J. F. Allen, tomatoes.

May 15th. An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day,-the President in the chair.

A letter was read from Prof. Gray, accompanied with a copy of his Flora Boreala Americana, and a copy of Mr. Ward's Treatise on the Growth of Plants in closely glazed cases. The thanks of the Society were

voted.

A copy of the Transactions of the Worcester County Horticultural Society was received from George Jacques, of Worcester, and the thanks of the Society were voted.

Exhibited.-FLOWERS: From the President of the Society, a fine display of greenhouse plants of various kinds, among which were Azalea variegata, A. núdiflora ornata, (a hardy variety,) and twenty seedling azaleas, some of them fine striped varieties; thirty seedling calceolarias; seedling cinerarias and petunias, and a variety of roses, including the Persian yellow, Madame Angelina, Paul Joseph, &c.; also, cut flowers of camellias, including two new seedlings. From T. Willott, gardener to J. A. Lowell, a variety of plants, among which were the Nepenthes distillatòria or pitcher plant, and a splendid specimen of Russéllia júncea. From N. Stetson, South Bridgewater, a fine plant of Cytisus racemòsus and Madam Desprez rose.

From Messrs. Hovey & Co., six plants of new and splendid pelargoniums, as follows:-Beck's Aurora, Rosy Circle, Isabella, Zanzummin, and Desdemona and Chandler's Celestial; nothing could excel the beauty of Mr. Beck's seedlings. From W. Quant, 12 pelargoniums of various kinds, seedling cinerarias, six fuchsias, a superb specimen of Stephanòtus flóribúndus, and a variety of pot plants and cut flowers. From J. Thomas, gardener to J. L. Gardener, seedling verbenas, and a variety of cut flowers. From J. L. L. F. Warren, 26 species and varieties of cactuses and bouquets. Bouquets and flowers were also contributed by T. Needham, James Nugent, J. Hovey, J. W. Mandell, W. B. Richards, A. C. Fernald, A. Bowditch, and J. Breck & Co.

Premiums were awarded as follows:

PELARGONIUMS, Class II.-For the best 6 plants, to W. Quant, $6.
For the second best 6 plants, to W. Mellar, $4.

FUCHSIAS.-For the best six varieties, to William Quant, $6.
CINERARIAS. For the best six varieties, to W. Quant, $3.

VARIOUS SORTS OF GREENHOUSE PLANTS.-For the best twelve plants, to W. Quant, $8.

For the second best twelve plants, to A. Bowditch, $5. CUT FLOWERS.-For the best display, to W. Quant, $3. For the second best, to J. Nugent, $2.

GRATUITIES.-To M. P. Wilder, for a display of greenhouse plants, $8. For the same, to Thos. Willott, $5.

To Henry Reed, for Cytisus racemosus, $3.

May 22. Exhibited.-FLOWERS: From the President of the Society, twelve seedling calceolarias, some of them very beautiful; cut flowers of seedling camellias, one of which appears to possess good properties, and other varieties; Tea, Princesse Adelaide, and Solfitaire roses, the former quite rare; also, Bourbon and Perpetual roses, and hardy azaleas, (forced.) From R. M. Copeland, fine hyacinths. From W. Quant, a splendid plant of Stephanotus floribundus, cinerarias, geraniums, &c. From J. Thomas, six handsome verbenas, also a fine show of sweet peas, pelargoniums, calceolarias, &c.

From Messrs. Hovey & Co., beautiful seedling pansies. From T. Needham, cut flowers of verbenas, cinerarias, abutilons, &c. From Joseph Breck & Co., hyacinths in great variety; fine varieties of Phlóx subulàta ; white swan and other double varieties of the Polyanthus, with a great variety of other perennial flowers of the season. From Mrs. L. Spalding, a fine p'ant of Cèreus exténsis, in full bloom. From J. L. L. F. Warren, Burchella speciosa, a new and rare species; also, Callistemon spléndens, bouquets, &c. Bouquets and cut flowers, from A. Bowditch, J. W. Mandell, and S. R. Johnson.

The award of premiums was as follows:

PLANTS. For the best six pot plants, to W. Quant, a premium of $2.
To A. Bowditch, for the second best, a premium of $1.
BOUQUETS.-For the best mantel bouquet, to A. Bowditch, $2.

For the second best, to W. Quant, $1.

For the best hand bouquets, to A. Bowditch, $2.

For the second best, to J. L. L. F. Warren, $1.

GRATUITIES -To Wm. Quant, for a splendid plant of Stephanòtus floribúndus, $5.

To R. M. Copeland, for a very fine display of hyacinths, $3. FRUITS. Mr. Allen again made another fine display of his grapes, viz: Ferral, Black Hamburg, Zinândal, early Black July, Grizzly Frontignan, Pitmaston white cluster, and white Chasselas; also, black and white figs of St. Michael, Azores. The Pitmaston white cluster is a small round berry, and, when fully ripe, of a fine amber color; it will ripen in from ten to twenty days less time than the Chasselas or Sweetwater. It is a very desirable variety.

VEGETABLES.-From W. Quant, fine asparagus.

May 29. Exhibited.-FLOWERS: From Messrs. Winship a fine display of flowering shrubs, such as spiræas, azaleas, Pyrus japónica, Wistária, &c. &c. From J. Thomas, plants of verbenas, Tropaeolum minor, seedling calceolaria and Pelargonium Matilda. From Joseph Breck & Co., 200 fine tulips, a beautiful new aquilegia, (A. secúnda,) I bèris Tenoreàna, variegated mountain ash, and other shrubs and flowers.

From Messrs. Hovey & Co., very fine seedling pansies. From E. Winslow, beautiful tulips. From A. Aspinwall, a fine display of roses. From P. Barnes, a fine plant of Azalea Gledstanèsii, seedling verbenas, &c. From J. L. L. F. Warren, Euphorbia spléndens, Justícia cárnea and calytricha, double white and purple Chinese primroses; a variety of rhododendrons and other flowers. Bouquets and cut flowers, from W. B. Richards, E. Wight, James Nugent, A. Bowditch, P. Ivory, W. Mellar, E. M. Richards, Miss Russell, S. Walker, and others.

PLANTS. For the best six plants, to J. Thomas, $2.

For the second best, to J. L. L. F. Warren, $1.

TULIPS. For the best 30 distinct varieties, to Joseph Breck & Co. $8. For the second best 30 varieties, to S. Walker, $6.

PANSIES. For the best 12 distinct varieties, to Messrs. Hovey & Co., $4. For the second best, to Joseph Breck & Co., $3.

To P. Barnes, for a pan of fine blooms, a gratuity of $2.

BOUQUETS, &c.-For the best 6 hand bouquets, to A. Bowditch, $2.

For the second best, to J. L. L. F. Warren, #1.

A gratuity of $2 to J. Thomas, for a moss vase.

FRUITS. From J. F. Allen, very fine grapes, as follows:-Chasselas bar sur Aube, Black Hamburg, White Frontignan, Sweetwater, Zinfindal, Aleppo, and Grizzly Frontignan; also, white figs. From T. Needham, handsome black spine cucumbers. From W. Quant, fine black spine cucumbers.

HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA

FOR JUNE.

FRUIT DEPARTMENT.

If dry

Grape Vines will soon be swelling rapidly, and will require a liberal quantity of air-always given early in the morning-and a good supply of moisture, which should be created by watering the walks about four o'clock in the afternoon just after the sashes are closed for the night. weather should set in, the border should be mulched with some coarse strawy manure. Continue to stop the laterals, and tie in all leading shoots. If the bunches have not been properly shouldered, they should be immediately attended to. Young vines raised from eyes should now be shifted into larger pots.