Horticultural Society

H/4/1933 - 1 -

NORWOOD,

May 2, 1933

Helen Hunt Jackson said, "Ah! March, we know Thou art kindhearted, spite of ugly looks and threats and out of sight art nursing violets".

When we assembled at Avalon on April 4th, for our first meeting of the Horticultural we could have thought many beautiful spring flowers and shrubs had been nursed by a grey cold March. The spring flowers seemed to be all around us, we were greeted by a carpet of crocus' and green.

After luncheon we aseembled in the living room the usual call for order was made by the chairman, Henry J. Nichols. The minutes of the meeting at The Cedars, October 4, 1932 were read and accepted. As called for in our By-Laws the Apirl meeting of our Society is a more business meeting. The By-Laws and Constitution shall be read and every two years were re-elected, Henry J. Nichols, President, Robet H. Miller, Jr. Vice-President, Mary M. Nichols Secretary-Treasurer. The appointment of Helen N. Farquhar as Forethought was again made. Clarence Hurry was elected as The Horticultural Representative to The Community Council.

The first appointed Reader, Lillie Stabler, read from a writing of Millicent Taylor, taken from the book written by Marian Crane, Gardens of America. A fairy tale of our very gardens, not forgetting the folks who have only a city back yard which they trun into a place of charm and beauty. Lillie also read an article on Freesias.

Cornelia Bentley, the second reader gave us a most interesting paper by Andrew Adams, " Planting a flower Garden", much wholesome advice to follow.

There were no volunteer articles.

Helen Farquhar read a prepared paper with April suggstions.

Jean Coulter, assistant secretary, gave a report of spring vegetables, winter kept vegetables. some small plants and a variety of flowers.

The application for membership made for Mr. & Mrs. Hill was left to be acted on later.

Mary Hutton's application for membership, know to be in the mail, was by judicail sanction accepted, to be acted upon at the May meeting.

Helen Hallowell asked for baskets to use with the flower containers, two were offered, if not what

H/5/1933-2-

Mary Brooke the second reader told of the beauties of spring in the woods so little seen and appreciated by some of us. Also an article of delphiniums. Do not let bloom the first year. Leave not more than four sprouts to the stalk, destroying all others. Leave Lilacs after blooming but do not trim too severely.

There were no volunteer articles. Helen Farquhar Forethought advised annuals intended for the house in winter, should have early potting and care to insure blooms.

The usual treatment for peonies is again given, manure mainly but be sure not to leave the crown of the plant covered.. Sheep manure recommended for tulips use a short time before they come to bloom. Adhesive tape is advised for holding ivy to the wall.

In the garden plant corn at intervals to insure succession of corn for family. Fable Lavy cabbage is favored by Mary

H/6/1988-1-

June 7th, Roslyn page 1

A warm day preceded our meeting at Roslyn, home of the Hussmans. The trees, garden and grounds were well into the principle of flourishing growth and the house radiated a welcoming spirit of comfort and familiarity. Unfortunate to be missing were the Bullards, the Chances, the Allens, and Elizabeth Thornton. There were not guests per se but we enjoyed the presence of Nell Johnsen, Helen Farquhar, and Hannah Conlon.

After an abundant and delicious meal, Peter Conlon began the meeting with an article about spiders from the Journal of New York State's Department of Enviomental Conservation. It was entitled "Spiders - Assasins with Silky Snares". The article written by James H. Moerschel, told of his fascination with spiders and his appreciation of their webspinning capabilities.

The article said that there are about 30,000 species of spiders in the world and about 650 species in the New England area alone. Mr. Moerschel was more interested in types of spiders that spin webs and make the most of their silk. An interesting point is that the spider makes a new web each day and it takes an average of 20 minutes. He failed to mention that spiders like bats are diminutive and efficient allies in the gardener's war to control insect populations. A Dr. Bristowe of early 20th Century Britian estimated that British spiders consume enough insects a year to outweigh the entire British human population.

There was no volunteer article.

Due to Elizabeth Thornton's inexusable absence , John Hartge read the minutes from 100 years ago. Appropriately enough that meeting was at Riverside. The exhibits at that meeting included a dizzying array of vegetables and withering number of poultry and ducks. The enduring question emerged whether or not the English Sparrow has any friends. Apparently the president of the Society at that time had turned against the species and such negative influence had left the poor bird in widespread low regard. A contingent of Society members arrived late due to their earlier attendance at a neighboring wedding - it was not noted who was wed.

The forethought was simpler than usual because everything should be growing, harvested, and replanted. A few specific reminders included removing flowers from plants after full bloom. Pinch and feed mums. Prune and feed primroses. Pansies should be cut back in mid or late June for Fall bloom. Berries should be mulched and plan to rotate strawberries after 3 years.

H/6/1988-4-

Tom Canby brought up the ancient question of when to stop cutting asparagus and why do they heel over before the first wind. Stop cutting when you begin picking peas in earnest - about now. Staking could help limit their tendency to fall over. Nell Johnsen asked about the sycamore trees and why they all look so stricken and diseased. Unhealthy appearance attributed to fungus that attacks during an early stage of leaf development if conditions are wet enough. Tree will recover as season progresses. She also asked about Roundup - said to be strong but well prone to decompose into harmless elements. Helen Farquhar asked if it was too late to plant nasturtims. Advised to plant now without too much delay. Keep in mind that they like full sun. Transplanting was possible but operation had to be done with considerable delicacy. Iduna Hanel has ailing dogwoods - trees look sickly, the trunk are turning black and the leaves have little brown spots. Recommended that she go to the Extension Service with a leaf sample. Nancy Preuss planted peonies 3 years ago on the east side of their houses and the plants aren't doing very well. Advised to apply bone meal. Also check to make sure they weren't planted too deep. Possible they should be moved to location with full sun. Harold Earp brought the original and copies of a brochure written by Jon Kinney about the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park. The text is imbued with a profound love for these giant trees and makes for good reading. Kinney was killed in a car accident in 1986. Also distributed was a publication funded by the Environment Protection Agency entitled Baybook . It detailed ways to reduce water use and minimize wastewater. Such efforts undertaken by more and more people would have a profound effect on the good health of the Chesapeake Bay and our water supply in general.

The meeting was brought to a close. We thanked the Hussmans for their hospitality and since Chances were absent for the evening's meeting, we agreed to have our next meeting at their house on July 5.

H/9/1988-1-

September 6, 1988; page 1

Our 873rd meeting was held at the Cedars, home of Helen Farquhar as well as Mary Grady, Tom Farquhar and their two children, Kate and Andrew. It was a splendid late afternoon, perfect for viewing the lovely grounds and Tom and Mary's wide, ambitious, and productive garden. The house itself sported a new paint job and looked appropriately grand and glorious in preparation for hosting the October 8th wedding of Miss Brooke Farquhar who attended the evening's meeting and Victor Bullen. The meeting was made distinctive by the attendance of previously active members Mary Moore Miller, Sylvia Woodward, Martha Nesbitt, Betsy and Herb Kinney. Guests included Hal and Anne Cope, and Pat and Fred Mills. Missing were the Earps and the Goffs.

The meeting started off with a remembrance of George Coffee who passed away recently. Mr. Coffee was never a member of the Horticultural Society but his contributions to the community and his horticultural abilities were easy to appreciate and will be sadly missed.

The previous month saw the annual appearance of the Montgomery County Fair. We were pleased to hear through the grape vine that the Fair bestowed on Elie Rogers the title of Grand Champion for his wine making expertise. Tom Farquhar was also honored for submitting the 2nd heaviest tomotoe and given a Blue Ribbon for a large onion.

Unfinished business included an update on Flora Goff's medical state - she is said to probably be in the hospital for another 2 months. More unfinished business dealt with the group pictures taken at the Chances last July. These photos along with those taken after this meeting's garden tour should be a good representation of the 125th season's membership.

Elie Roger was the chosen speaker. He presented us with selections from the Commissioner of Agriculture's report to Present Lincoln in 1863. Most notable was the fervid recommendation the southern states turn their energies toward the cultivation of tea and coffee, opium poppy, vanilla, ginger and castor bean, wax, and quassia plants, silk cocoons, gum arabic, mastic and camphor trees, chinese yams, sweet chestnuts, almonds, Persian walnuts, cork and gall-nut oak, the arrow, licorice, and orris roots, hemp, prune, fig, date pomegranate, olive, tamarind, guava, nectarine, shaddock, pineapple, pistachio, Iceland moss, indigo, frankincense, balsam, Egyptian senna and others.

John Hartge read excerpts from a letter he received from the New York State department of health. This notice warned of sporotricosis which is a skin disease acquired from handling sphagnum moss. Ths symptoms are skin bumps that ulcerate and persist until treated.

Polly Conlon offered a poem penned by her daughter Hannah. A copy will be included with these minutes and the original returned to the Conlon archives.

Missing the minutes from 100 years ago Elizabeth Thornton read a short History of the Society written by Mary Moore Miller for the October 1, 1963 meeting.