Horticultural Society

18 H/4/1865-3 H/5/1865-1 In planting strawberries is it best to remove all of the expanded leaves. It is usually done by those engaged in raising plants for sale - who are supposed to have experience in the matter. What is the best mulch for strawberries. Pine leaves have been highly recommended. It is known that a soil where pines have grown for years produce very fine strawberries. Saw dust was re commended but not liked by some Adjourned to meet at Brookville on the 27 of May.

Brookeville The Society met at Dr. Magruders 27 of May A beautiful collection of flowers were brought from Olney Stanmore Longwood & Springdale were brought, also quite a display of vegetables and fruits. Is it too late to plant carrots, Lima beans, watermelons & squashes? It was thought by many not too late for any of them unless there should be much dry weather. How far apart ought parsnips & carrots to be left in the row? Some thought threee or four inches sufficient, others said five or six not too much. What is the best way to get rid of the little black hopping insect which attack cabbage and tomato plants and the striped bug which destroy watermelon and squashes?

H/5/1865-2. 19 snuff, ashes, and slacked lime or any fine dust sifted over them while wet with dew were recommended. How shall I keep mothers chickens from eating my cabbage plants? Put up polings at once. What kind of sweet corn best to plant now? Stowell's Green If potatoes are planted in an orchard is it advisable to plant single rows of corn [?] in the rows of trees? Decidedly not. What will destroy the little insect which infests the Coral & monthly honeysuckles? No light on the subject. Will a new potato produce potatoes if planted now? This question is to be answered after the experiment is tried, and a report made to the Society. (report failed to come) The garden was in prime order. The Egg plants attracted particular attention. All the vegetables growing finely and no weeds to be seen. A fine flock of poultry were much admired. Adjourned to meet at SpringDale on the 24 of June.

H/6/1865-120 Spring Dale The Horticulural Society met at Spring Dale on the 24 of June The minutes of the preceeding meeting having been read the specimens were examined. From Falling Green were brought some of Adams Early Corn about five feet in height with an ear nearly ready for use, and a lengthy lima bean vine in blossom. From Stanmore, early cucumbers, turnips, potatoes, and onions. From "The Cedar" very fine gooseberries. From Sharon white Antwerp raspberries. From Edgewood a remarkably fine cucmber and Brinkles Orange raspberry. From Dr. W E Magruders a fine cymbling, ear of corn, onions and the finest turnips on exhibition Is it best to worm peach trees? & what is the best time? There was some difference of opinion on the subject but most were in favor of its being done several times very carefully. One member who is very successful says worm them any time from the middle of May till the middle of June and again in October. Is it too late to plow a peach orchard now? Better plow it now than let the weeds grow among young trees, let it be plowed shallow near the trees. One member mentioned plowing a part of his orchard when the fruit was as large as a hickory nut with good result - the fruit being finer & the trees a more healthy green than in the part not plowed.

38 H/5/1866-1 BROOKE GROVE May 26th 1866 On May 26 1866 most of the members of the Horticultural Society assembled at Brooke Grove. After some pleasant social conversation and the examination of the specimens brought of vegetables and flowers which stood beautifully arranged on a table in the porch where the ladies of Sharon, Longwood, Olney, Springdale, Riverdale & "The Cedars" had a most creditable display. Masses of roses and other flowers showing their taste and skill in cultivation. Large strawberries in small quantities, fine beets, radishes peas &c. Rachel Gilpins pansies were again amongst the collections and one entire table was devoted to the products of Roger B Farquhar's garden. peas ready for the table, and other varieties of vegetable, all fine of those kinds. It was regretted that more of the members did not bring the best of what they had, as it was sure to add to the interest and improvement of these meetings. R. B. Farquhar called the meeting to order, acting as Foreman, Francis Miller being absent. visiting the garden was decided the next proceeding, all the plants showed good cultivation being in a fine healthy condition, some of the

H/6/1866-1 RIVERSIDE. June 30th 1866 41 Near the hour proposed the members of the Horticultural Society gathered at Charles Idding's Riverside the 30 of 6th mo 1866. All being present a circumstance never having occured before, owing in this case perhaps to the fine day, the new place, this was our first meeting there, or the popularity of our host & hostess. be that as it may it served to give much satisfaction not to note absent friends. The examination of specimens of vegetables & flowers first claimed attention, Rachel Gilpin, and the ladies from the Cedars, and Springdale, had the finest display of the latter. and those from Brooke Grove garden in the vegetable department excelled. a fair sample of vegetables from Rock land & Stanmore was upon the table. but still many neglect bringing Fruit flowers or vegetables we choose to place deficiency upon that ground as surely no one having the advantage of a membership in this society would admit having nothing worthy of display. The Garden was in very fine condition as nothing was found out of order in the arrangement and growth of the plants one being critical called attention to the tool house. The flowers growing and blooming at every turn, gave abundant beauty