Transactions Of The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Classic Reprint

Author : John Lewis Russell
Publisher : Forgotten Books
ISBN 13 : 9780666136343
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (363 download)

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Download or read book Report of the Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society written by John Lewis Russell and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2018-02-22 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Report of the Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society: For the Year 1837 8, With Preliminary Observations The Dahlia for the past season has succeeded less in dis play of flowers than in any previous, for many years. The extreme heat of a summer such as has not been known for several years, has proved extremely unfavorable to inflores cence, and has deprived the autumn of its usual floral charms. Compared with the last, the annual Exhibition of the Society was meagre in display as regards this choice production and universal favorite. Whoever witnessed the profusion of blooms, which gave a dazzling brilliancy to the flower stands and to the very walls, must have been struck with the sensi ble deficiency of this season. New and choice varieties, im ported by the ever active zeal and enterprise of those forward in the introduction of fine and new plants, failed to produce flowers, of which many were anticipating a gratified inspection. From the experience of several previous cool sum mers exuberant in these floral gems, and from their universal dearth amidst the bright sunny days of an almost unclouded sky, it would appear, that the several varieties even under the effect of partial acclimation and a long absence from a native habitat, have lost none of the peculiarities of consti tution, with which a high and humid region had endowed the original species. Some of the finest flowers on the Society's tables, were produced, as we understand, by a constant and profusive syringing over the foliage and tops, evidently an accidental imitation of the natural temperature; while other plants copiously supplied with water daily, at the roots, shared the same common fate in a depauperation or total absence of bloom. Facts like these should serve as valuable hints, if not for practice, at least for further experiment, and we feel assured that on the minds of the investigating and studious they will not be lost. Summers, of great heat, are favorable to the insect race. The past has been a striking instance. Myriads of those minute foes, from the various species of Caterpillar to the almost invisible fly of every genus, have ravaged equally our gardens and fields. Each year introduces a new species, or developes a new instinct in some well known species, render ing its ravages more deleterious or difficult of evasion. The Dahlia has not escaped but some insidious insect has blight ed the hope of the cultivator, or some new form of disease has been traced to the silent depredations of an unseen foe. In one instance, falling under our observation, no less than four or five distinct larvae of moths, better known as Cater pillars, have rendered assiduity necessary to preserve a luxu riant foliage, so essential to the vigor and health of the plant, while leading shoots and expectant buds have been prema turely ruined. Such discouragements are inevitable and to be expected, until some project can be devised for extirpa tion or insurance against their presence. Undoubtedly abetter and wider diffused knowledge of the exact species, and a studious investigation of their habits, might enable the florist to resist such vexing inroads on his time and labor. The gladsome visitants of spring, and the familiar denizens of our gardens, in the several kinds of insect-eating birds, should be made the welcome inmates and guests ofour lawns, parterres, and orchards nor should indiscriminate warfare be urged on all insects, as not a few are in turn, carnivorous in their propen sities, and devouring the more obtrusive and offensive. A peculiarly destructive insect has been so abundant the past season, as to destroy net only the Dahlia, but even choicer sorts of asters, zinnias and the like. It were desirable that specimens of every such foe could be collected and preserv ed for the Society's inspection, in order for their better recognizance. Every gardener and florist, every cultivator and amateur, could fur...