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diseases from spreading. Every careful, reliable bulb grower watches these pests hourly, and as soon as any bulb shows signs of disease it is immediately removed, and often the surrounding bulbs as well.

Hyacinths grown on pure, rich, sandy soil are the best. This special ground is very expensive in Holland-sells for more money than city property. The reason that Holland is better adapted for growing perfect bulbs than any other discovered place so far is on account of the perfect drainage of their grounds. Whether there is an excessive rainfall or drouth for weeks at a time, the water is kept almost at the same height constantly, by either having the surplus water pumped out or let in through the dikes. All the beds are laid out in perfect squares of about 100 feet, surrounded constantly by

water.

One of the queer and confusing features of the Hyacinths is that a number of evident different varieties bear the same name, but come in different colors. For instance, the Baron Von Thuyl, this comes in red, white and blue. The original Baron Von Thuyl was a blue Hyacinth, the other two colors are sports from the blue. The La Grandesse is the handsomest Hyacinth of all-a most perfect mammoth pure white spike, single flowers. There is now, however, a double La Grandesse which is quite expensive as yet, but it will be bought nevertheless by Hyacinth fanciers.

Another Hyacinth of extraordinary merit for forcing is the Koh-i-noor, large, perfect, semi-double, rich pink spike. This will be one of the leaders for prizes.

There is such a great number of perfect spike varieties now to be had, and all listed in the leading catalogues, that I will not go into more details or descriptions. I forgot to state that the General Society of Bulb Growers in Holland is now proceeding to have a better nomenclature in bulbs by giving each new offspring or sport a distinct name. Let us hope that they will soon alter the names of the Red, White and Blues in Baron Von Thuyls, Chas. Dickens, etc., and prevent a great many mistakes which probably occur in this confusion of colors in the same name.

Narcissus. The demand for these is certainly enormous in all the classes, both the hardy as well as the forcing or Paper White Grandiflora types. (As an example of the constantly increasing demand for Hardy Narcissus one of our customers ordered of us 200,000 bulbs for outside planting.)

When you want the proper Double Daffodil Von Sion for forcing purpose be sure and secure the Talemonius Plenus variety. This is a beautiful double cup-shaped flower, and very seldom shows any green ribs or tips.

Narcissus, especially the Horsfieldi variety, should be planted if possible as soon as they are received in September. Early planting of all Narcissus is advisable to secure large blooms.

There is such a great variety of Bulbs now in cultivation and on the market that I will not dare to speak any longer. One item, however, is of great importance, and that is the Spirea Gladstone. This is the champion of all Spireas, produces immense size plants if grown in 8 or 9-inch pots.

I wish to thank you all for your courteous attention to these scattering remarks on bulbs. If I had more time at my disposal I should have gotten this paper up in better shape, but as you all no doubt have also had the busiest spring season in your history you must pardon any mistakes and omissions which I may have made. Very respectfully,

HENRY F. MICHELL.

The best standard satisfactory varieties, according to my experience, and which will always give the best results, are as follows:

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Best Variegated, or two colors in same flower.

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Couronne de Or, yellow, valuable especially for forcing.

Imperator Rubrorum, scarlet.

La Candeur, white.

Murillo, pink, especially for forcing.

Salvator Rose, pink, especially for forcing.

Tournesol, Red and Yellow.

Best Variegated Foliage Tulips.

Yellow Prince, with variegated foliage.

The paper was received with applause.

The special committee appointed to prepare a resolution relative to the dismissal of Mr. Metcalf, of the Postoffice Department, presented the following resolution:

Whereas, it has been brought to the notice of the American Seed Trade Association now holding its Twenty-first Annual Convention at Atlantic City, N. J., representing both the agricultural and horticultural seed trade of America, that the Superintendent of the Money Order System of the United States has been dismissed without a hearing for an alleged indiscretion; and

Whereas, the seed trade of the United States is deeply interested in the Money Order System, of which many of its members are large users; and

Whereas, under the wise management of the dismissed superintendent, James T. Metcalf, the Money Order System has been greatly simplified and extended to the vast facilitation of our business; and

Whereas, it appears that the alleged indiscretion with which Mr. Metcalf is charged had to do with a contract for the Money Order forms, upon which he took or advised no formal action save that of investigation in regard to a bidder who, it is reported, has no facilities for the proper execution of a contract which is of such vital importance to every business man in the United States; now therefore be it

Resolved, that the American Seed Trade Association respectfully request the President of the United States to investigate the matter of this contract and the removal of the Superintendent. It is the belief of this Association that the President will cause justice to be done and the true interests of the Money Order Service, so important to rural residents, seedsmen and others doing a mail-order business, be conserved.

Resolved, that these resolutions be telegraphed to President Roosevelt, and also mailed in due form.

W. ATLEE BURPEE,

Philadelphia.

ALBERT MCCULLOUGH,

Cincinnati.

CHAS. N. PAGE,

Des Moines, Iowa.

Committee.

Mr. Burpee-Your committee has gone carefully over this subject. We realize that this action is official, but after you have listened to the resolution you will see we have spoken only of our own knowledge. The only hearsay in the whole report is that the contractor Mr. Metcalf wished to have investigated has been deemed, from newspaper reports and from knowledge accessible to us as citizens, an incompetent bidder. We do know that the money order system has been greatly improved during the years Mr. Metcalf has had charge of it. You, Mr. President, and every other house here doing a mail order business, can recall as well as I can that twelve or fifteen years ago we used to receive hundreds more registered letters than we do today. They were a source of constant annoyance, and we had to handle notes almost breeding disease, and we had to handle postage stamps. Under Mr. Metcalf's charge the cost of the money

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