Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1863-1871

H/3/1866-5 33

Q. Would it do to plant Peas in the fall & cover from the frost as withe Cabbage & Lettuce? A. Worth the experiment. one advised to risk some seed out the coming winter. Q. Ought trees to be mulched when set out A. A mulch of straw very good. Q. How start a Grape vine arbor? A. Set out twice as many cuttings as you need and transplant the young vines. Q. Who has young Chickens & how many? A. Anna F Brooke 13. Henry Miller 8. Chas. Farquhar 8

Parted, to meet at Roger B. Farquhars four weeks from tonight at four oclock.

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H/4/1866-1 ROCK SPRING 35 The Horticultural Society met at Roger B Farquhars April 28th as agreed upon at the preceding meeting. All the members present except one & several visitors also attended there was more regard paid to the stated hour than usual. our society had not heretofore been remarkable for punctuality.

The notes of the last meet ing held at "Rock Spring" were called for but owing to some mistake they had never been recorded. All who had attended remembered it to have been very satisfactory.

The plants brought to exhibit were fine for the season. M B Hales showed the advanced state of her Hotbeds. Rachel Gilpin had a display of Pansies much admired. The company walked over the garden finding it in excellent order. the hotbeds, their neat straw mats made to throw over the glass to protect from cold claimed attention and commendation from all they were the work of our host, the fine straight rows of vegetables, their almost entire freedom from weeds gave abundant proof of industry. The chickens flowers & fruit trees were next visited, and found all to give fair promise of future profit

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profit and pleasure. The Spring house showed no evidence of the Cows having a share of the beautiful grass growing in the meadows nearby and the absence of milk & butter gave rise to some amusement.

On returning to the house the minutes of the March meeting were read, & the committee on the subject of the best plan of recieving or rejecting persons applying for membership reported. We now have 13 families represented, that was considered full. in future if any one desired to be admitted it must be voted on by Black balling so as to avoid having it known who cast the black balls (or beans) should they count the larger number. Questions Will fish guano suit flowers? It may be used in small quantities to advantage What will destroy the garden flea on Cabbage Egg plants & vines? Snuff, slacked lime, Corn meal any thing fine that will sift over the leaves. Should the shoots springing around a peach tree near the bud be cut off? Yes. When should Tomato seed be planted for late use?

H/4/1866-3 Last of May in the open ground. When plant soup beans? First of June thought time enough the bloom will then escape the August sun and endure a finer crop. poor ground proved best for them. When should Pumpkin seed be put in. First answer. Mixed with compost and dropped when the corn is planted. Stuck in the hill later in the season after the corn has been planted What vines mix so as to spoil each other ? All those which bloom at the same time and have the same description of blossom will have injurious effects upon the seed saved from them if grown near together.

The supper bell closed further questions and owing to the distance of most of our homes after doing ample justice to a very pleasant and social meal, all started away seeming to carry with them an agreeable impression of the visit.

Next meeting to be held at Brooke Grove.