Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1871-1880

E. Hopkins. White Hall. T. Lea. Leawood Mills

H/5/1987-1-

ALLOWAY

Vth. Mo. XXVII

1871

We had a full meeting and several guests. The weather was delightful and the display of flowers was magnificent.

Brooke Grove, Longwood and Avalon all had very large bouquets of splendid roses and various other flowers. Norwood and Sharon beautiful bouquets. Springdale a bouquet of pinks. Hermon four splendid bouquets, Riverside a small bouquet from the garden and one from the woods of Laurel blossoms.

The vegetables were very fine. From Longwood strawberries onions peas lettuce cabbage and beets all very fine. From Hermon, new potatoes. Springdale new potatoes strawberries, beets, peas, and cabbage. From Rock Spring, strawberries. From Edgewood strawberries.

Deborah A. Lea showed us new potatoes from vines not sprouted in the house, planted on the 7th of March and some from sprouted vines planted on the 7th of April and those planted last were larger proving that we gain considerable time by sprouting.

Questions Has any one tried cut-straw for vines to prevent the ravages of the striped

H/5/1871-2-

bugs? One had tried it and found she had fewer bugs. Most who tried air-slaked lime found it all that was necessary and at other places nothing had yet been found which would prevent their coming or kill them after they came.

2 What time should Osage Orange hedges be trimmed? Twice or three times a year, once, early before they put out leaves and again after they have grown well.

3 Is it worth while to replant melons so late this? Yes. Geroge E. Brooke had an ex cellent crop one year planted the 10th of June.

4 Would it be a good plan for us to join and import some English Sparrows for rose bugs and slugs? Thought best to find out more about their ha bits first as there are complaints against them in some sections.

5 Is there any danger in using carbolic soap too strong on rose bushes? 1 oz to one quart of water is right for some things. It would be well to experi ment at that strength and make it stronger or weaker as the case requires.

6 Is it best to water daily, young pine trees recently planted? Most of the mem bers thought it unnecessary but some thought it better to water daily.

We found the house and grounds much improved since

H/5/1871-3-

out last meeting here and enjoyed our walk through the Lawn and gardens very much. Flowers and vegetables were looking well. We noticed a con trivance for driving bean poles which was new to some. A notch was cut near the lower end on which a block of would could be placed and when hit with an ax much less labor and time is required to drive them in firmly then when a hole has to be made with a crowbar.

Our book of minutes being full our members made a contribution to buy a new one.

Adjourned to meet at Edgewood next month.

(W. H. Farquhanr)

H/6/1871-1-

EDGEWOOD

VIth Mo. XXIVth 1871

The members of our society who started in time to escape the storm had the enjoyment of a very agreeable meeting. Socially it excelled, Horticulturally it was somewhat lacking owing to the absence of the Secretary and no one being found willing to attempt to fill her place. Our President also sent regrets and George E. Brooke was appointed to preside over the meeting but owing to the fact that we really talked all at once and on different subjects he requested the Secretary to make a special mention of the case, adding that "it was the hardest crowd he had ever had anything to do with." Meeting called to order and the following questions asked.

1. Is it time to plant winter cabbage? Some said plant and not work to keep them back - others thought it was too early anyhow - that the heads would burst before time to put up.

2. Who has tried carbolic soap on Rose bushes? Several had found it successful.

3. Shall we set out Raspberry and Strawberry vines in the fall or wait till Spring? Decided that everything was better for spring planting except