Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1871-1880

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ROCK SPRING.

III Mo. Vth 1872

The first meeting of the Horticultu ral Society for 1872 was held at Rock Spring 3rd month 5th.

It is not exaggerating to say that the weather was unfavorable. The mer cury stood at 5° in the morning - the wind blowing very strongly - the ground covered with snow.

The Secretary and most of the members absent.

The President in calling the meeting to order said - That it was probable had they known that the weather would be so un favorable they would have de ferred the first meeting until the 4th month - so as to start with more brilliancy. But in consideration of the importance of availing ourselves of the first opportunity to get our hot beds and early vegetables started it would be profitable to have our attention directed to the subject.

The benefit derived from our association in the past is a warrant of its future usefulness.

He hopes that all the

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members would labor to make it as interesting as possible; By giving the results of experiments; by bringing specimens of vegetables and flowers and by bringing forward interesting subjects to "talk over" at the meetings. He thought it probable that often having had so much cold weather the change from winter to summer would be sudden.

There were two very fine bouquets one brought by D. A. Lea the other by Eliza J Brooke containing pansies heliotropes geraniums etc. very worthy in themselves and having their beauties brought out to the best advantage by the weather as a background.

We were disposed to accept our hosts report that there was nothing done in the garden - we could have disproved it by examination - so did not go into it.

Flowers generally had been wintered successfully. D. A. Lea's pit had been very satisfactory.

A new kind of fertilizer is being experimented with. A report at the proper time is asked for.

Questions

1. When is the right time to trim rose bushes?

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For the hardy kinds, any time. The tender ones should be trimmed before the sap rises.

2. Are carrot seed two years old good? Yes.

3. Which is the best kind of early potatoe? Early Rose.

4. Is it an advantage to plant peas deep? It is thought they stand dry weather better. Much complaint of mildew in dwarf.

Poultry report frozen out. Adjourned to meet at Avalon 1st 3rd day in 4th month.

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ROCKLAND

IIII MO. II 1872

A very full and delightful meeting all the members were present with one exception.

Eliza Brooke brought onions large enough for eating the seeds of which were sown in August, radishes from hot beds and a bouquet of Heliotrope Geraniums & Primulas. S. B. Stabler a bouquet of verbenas, geranium primulas and a splendid scarlet Lily. Annie Moore a bouquet of Nasturtium Oxalis and Geranium. D. A. Lea flowers from the garden Crocus Daisy Heartsease a pale straw-colored Hyacinth in a pot and some celery.

S. B. Farquhar brought a quantity of beans and sweet corn for distribution. Mary B. Kirk also brought a very fine kind of sweet corn for distribution. The secretary brought some Agricultural reports and a lot of field and garden seeds which were sent to the society by the commissioner of Agriculture.

Our walk was deferred till a future meeting as our host informed us that garden was to be plowed the next day.

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Questions

1 When is the proper time to graft apples In April for any time before the leaves are developed.

2 Can asparagus be cut this year from a bed planted last year from old roots? It will be better to leave it another year

3 Should sweet potatoes be packed in sand? No. let them lay a few days after being plowed up to dry off, then left for a week in an out build ing, and then put in binns in a dark cellar and not disturbed after wards.

4 How should Fuschias be treated which have gone spindling? Nip the ends top dress and water freely

5 Is it too late to sprout potatoes? No, they will be ready for the table much sooner by sprouting.

6 What must be done to a strawberry bed which was heavily mulched with manure last fall? No not disturb it if free from grass and weeds, except to see that the plants are not smothered

7 In moving old sage roots can they be divided? Frequently they can but the modern method of raising it is to sow the seeds in a bead and set out the plants as you would anything else, and cut in the fall. This gives a greater ammount of leaves in proportion to