Aconitum Wilsoni. Is a plant not very well known, yet it is one of the best varieties in this class; hardy; flowers in September; six feet; flowers purple.

Eucomis punctata. Is also a very odd-looking plant; also called the Pine Apple Lily. It is quite hardy at Niagara Falls and should be at Toronto with a little protection.

Coreopsis tripteris. Grows to from six to eight feet; flowers yellow, medium in size, very sweet scented, of which no notice has been given to my knowledge. A useful plant.

Gnaphalium leontopodium alpinum. It may not be known to many that this plant, the Edelweiss, is quite hardy and at home in our collection in Toronto.

Acanthus montanus. Is a very desirable plant from West Africa; flowers rose; height three feet.

Trachelium coeruleum (blue). Flowers small, very numerous; August; height eighteen inches; from Italy and Spain. There is also a white one. Perennial herbs. Buddleia Veitchiana. This is a first-class new plant, grayish foliage, purplish flowers, produced freely on the ends of the branches. Shrub, four to six feet; half hardy. Makes a good tub plant.

Polygonum Baldschuanicum. Is a tall, woody perennial vine. Though not a novelty it should be oftener seen than it is. It is quite hardy in Toronto, climbing to twenty feet high. There is a plant at Sir William Meredith's place in Toronto. Miss Blacklock has also a fine specimen.

NOTES BY W. T. MACOUN.

At Ottawa a number of annuals were grown this year, some of which are of great merit. A few are novelties and the rest comparatively new introductions.

Portulaca New Giant Flowered Parana. This is one of Burpee's novelties this year and is certainly a good acquisition. The flowers are larger than the common Portulacas and the plant is very vigorous and a free bloomer. The flowers are of an attractive shade of rosy-carmine or reddish-purple. Only one colour was received. Care should be taken in planting this so that the colour will not clash with other plants.

The Annual Larkspurs now offered by Sutton & Son, of England, are very desirable. The three principal colours are blue, white and rosy-scarlet, the latter being the best. They are very effective when cut.

Petunia Rosy Morn. Is another annual, not altogether a novelty, but one of the best petunias we have grown. The plant is small, but it blooms profusely. The flowers are almost true pink. It is its pink colour which makes this petunia valuable.

Another very good petunia is Petunia hybrida alba, sold by Johnson, of Philadelphia, and doubtless by some of our Canadian seed firms. We had several hundred plants of this during the past summer. It comes practically true from seed, and being a white flower is most useful. It has a long blooming season and blooms most profusely.

There has been a great improvement in Antirrhinums during recent years. We grew some of Sutton's best this year and the colours were very beautiful. The varieties of intermediate height are very desirable.

Another fine annual tested this year is Sutton's Giant Pink Verbena. The flowers of this variety were large and ranged in colours from pink to bright rose, all very pleasing shades. The plants were covered with bloom till hard frost on Octo

ber 27.

From Robert Sydenham, Manchester, England, we received last year and again. this year some seed of a hardy Single Chrysanthemum in several colours. Our season

is not quite long enough at Ottawa to get the full enjoyment of these lovely flowers as. although the seed was started early in hot-beds, the plants from seed sown this year did not begin blooming until October. But some plants lived over in the border from last year and bloomed much earlier. The flowers are single and come in most of the colours found in the large chrysanthemums. The flowers are about as large as Marguerite daisies. These are certainly an acquisition. The flowers withstand the early autumn frosts.

An interesting plant tested in the greenhouse this year is the pink-flowered Freesia hybrida Ragionieri. The seed was sown on February 13th, 1911, and the plants bloomed the first week in September. The flowers are of a pleasing shade of mauve, yellow near the base of the tube. They are but slightly fragrant, but the man in charge of the greenhouse, who is an Englishman, says that their delicate odour reminds him of that from a field of cowslips in England. The plants branch. freely and keep throwing out new flowers.

(Signed) W. T. MACOUN,

Chairman.

M. E. BLACKLOCK,
RODERICK CAMERON,
WM. HUNT.

Toronto, November 15th, 1911.

IN MEMORIAM-JAMES WILSON.

Moved by W. B. BURGOYNE, seconded by J. P. JAFFRAY: "That in common with the people of Toronto, our Association deeply deplores the death of our esteemed friend, the late James Wilson, Park Commissioner of the City of Toronto, whose splendid leadership for civic improvement will never be forgotten by his fellow citizens. It was his skill and guiding that made Queen Victoria Park, Niagara, a place of beauty and a joy forever for the citizens of this country. The life work of our lamented friend was always admirably performed, and no citizen of Canada was more deserving of the 'Well done, good and faithful servant," " Carried.

REQUEST FOR INCREASED GOVERNMENT GRANT.

Moved by W. B. BURGOYNE, seconded by J. P. JAFFRAY, "That whereas, since the Government appropriation for Horticultural Societies was last increased, there has been a very marked growth in the membership of the older Societies, especially during this year, which increase alone will probably be more than 1,500.

And whereas, there has also been an unusually large increase in the number of new Societies, four already organized this year and seven others in readiness for organization in January.

"Therefore be it resolved, that this Association, representing the Horticultural Societies of the Province, beg respectfully to urge upon the Hon. Minister of Agriculture that in order that the valuable work which these Horticultural Societies are doing for the cities, towns and villages of the Province may not be retarded, the grant for 1912 should be for the sum of $12,500, and that the officers and directors of this Association be instructed to present the claims for a larger grant before the Hon. Minister." Carried.

STIMULATING BACKWARD SOCIETIES.

W. M. ROBSON: There are a number of non-progressive Horticultural Societies in the Province among which for some reason or other there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm. Whether it is owing to the strenuous life that is making such demands upon the public, or the ever increasing light attractions that are absorbing our leisure, I don't know. Interest and enthusiasm is waning, however, and it is difficult to get sufficient directors present to hold Board meetings at stated times. It was not always thus with our Society in Lindsay, which was organized thirty-five years ago, and for many years we had good, interesting educational meetings, and not until late years has there been much cause for complaint. More particularly since the annual lecture has been withdrawn do we seem to feel the want of a stimulus that the open meetings and lectures used to impart, a reviving influence to members and public alike, creating a renewed interest and energy, and, perhaps, the most potent method of reviving declining enthusiasm. If the Superintendent were to visit the non-progressive Societies annually or semi-annually to investigate, advise and encourage, it would give an impetus that would counteract what neglect and indifference has created, by being left to their own free will without any guiding authority. You will admit the influence of a public lecture by such speakers as Professor Craig, A. McNeill and the Hon. Martin Burrell, Minister of Agriculture, Professor Hutt, Mr. Hunt, and other prominent speakers. This would have a wonderful influence on the flagging interest.

THE PRESIDENT: We should urge upon the Department the necessity of sending lecturers around for the purpose of stimulating the backward Societies. Some are not doing work in proportion to the grant they get from the Government. In this connection I think we should utilize the ability of our Secretary more than we do.

J. LOCKIE WILSON: Something should be done with the resolution regarding increasing the number of districts. Mr. Gammage and Mr. McKay have been nominated directors for No. 7 District, and I would suggest that an 8th district be formed, with a director in charge, if that meets with your approval—leaving Mr. Gammage in charge of No. 7 District.

THE PRESIDENT: If the Department does not object, this Association will not. Mr. Gammage could remain in charge of No. 7 and Mr. McKay be given No. 8 District. Carried.

REPRESENTATIVES ON BOARDS.

Moved by Rev. A. H. SCOTT, seconded by J. O. MCCULLOCH, "That Major Snelgrove represent this Association on the Canadian National Exhibition Board for the year 1911-12." Carried.

Moved by J. O. MCCULLOCH, seconded by J. LOCKIE WILSON, "That Mr. Burgoyne represent this Association at the American Civic Association's Convention to be held in Washington next month." Carried.

AMENITIES OF THE CHAIR.

R. B. WHYTE: The time has come for me to vacate the chair. There is only one thing in which I have been disappointed during my two years of work, and that is that the Societies in the Province have not made use of me as they might.

I would have been delighted to attend shows and exhibitions, but I did not receive an invitation to do so, and I did not like to go without an invitation. There are no funds for this; the expenses have to be paid out of our own pockets, but your President and Directors are always pleased to take part in any exhibition that a Society may hold.

Rev. A. H. Scott was then installed in the chair.

REV. A. H. SCOTT: I thank you cordially for the honour you have done me in electing me to fill this position. I shall be pleased to tell the Perth Society how you have honoured them as well as myself. In addressing ourselves to the duties of the coming year the criticisms and comments we have heard here will be of great benefit to us. In another year I shall have a great deal more to say to you. Let us go our way, sensible of the amount and beauties of the work that lies before us.

CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES.

R. B. WHYTE, OTTAWA.

You cannot cover the question of fruit in one paper, so I have selected one section, that is probably the easiest grown, and also, probably, the most neglected by those who do grow it.

I will speak of gooseberries entirely from the standpoint of the amateur grower. We are not going to discuss what you can make the most out of, but what is best for growing for the small garden-not from the standpoint of best returns, but rather size and quality. Every garden, no matter how small, should have some currants and gooseberries. The quantity, of course, will depend on how much ground you have at your disposal and also how far you have the fruit habit cultivated. Some people do not use much fruit while others are brought up on it, as in my case. Amateur growers require a few bushes for their own use and therefore select the best. In any event every garden should grow enough for the use of the household. For the average, three red and three white currants and as many gooseberries, if they are the American varieties, will suffice, but, if you grow the English varieties, 9 bushes will not be too much. I have 100 bushes in my garden and will have more next year. Currants and gooseberries are valuable not so much for the nourishment you get out of them as for their economic value. I do not think that you can over-estimate the benefits from the use of red, white and black currants in their season. I have seen many instances of the great dietetic value of the berries. When they are ripe I feel best able to work. For many years I have used red currants off the bush. If you get into the habit of eating them that way you will not care to use sugar with them. I always eat them freely in the morning before breakfast. Currants and gooseberries are generally supposed to be sour, but that is because they are pulled before they are ripe, and then they are undeniably so. I was very much surprised myself to see in an English paper that in the County of Kent alone they grow six thousand acres of gooseberries; that will give you an idea what an important fruit it is there. Currants and gooseberries belong to the same family but differ enough in habit to make it advisable to treat them separately. Currants will grow and bear fruit even under the most adverse conditions. Anyone visiting a country garden and seeing the conditions