Horticultural Society

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/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.