Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1907-1917

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Brooke Grove September 3rd 1907

The meeting was called to order, the minutes read and approved. The readers 1st Mary Magruder gave us a list of some of the best modern roses which she has tested in her garden. Red and white Cochet Teplitz a fine red rose, very sweet, Caroline Testout, Climbing Paul Neyron, & Pierre Notting, the best yellow rose. 2n reader Mary Brooke per. Frances Stabler a chapter on birds.

Volunteer Dr. Kirk an account of some of the marvelous works accomplished by "The wizard of fruits and flowers" Burbank who has succeeded in raising seedless plums, white blackerries, thornless raspber Cactus without spines, making them a good food for cattle. His object is to benefit mankind; he has had much money, furnished by the Secretary of Agriculture and others, to aid in his good work Forethought, Insists that we shall continue to fight weeds, work cabbage often, use quick lime and unslacked ashes for the cabbage worm. The Farm Journal says 1 oz, of Persian insect powder in 4 gals. water is the simplest and best application. Gather Lima beans as fast as they ripen James Stabler of Spring Garden has remarkably fine ones saved from those having five beans in a pod for many years It is proposed that we buy from him next spring. Cultivate celery. sow lettuce.

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Gather pears when they are full grown. In the Flower garden, lift plants that you want for the house, pot begonias, sow pansy seed. Set out peonies. Keep roses well worked and give a dressing of bone dust this fall.

Exhibits were so fine and so abundant there was no room on the porch for us; we had go into the house to hold our meeting - The President likened our display to the County Fair and is thankful for the interest shown by it

Questions 1 When strawberry plants are very thick should they be thinned? Yes, it would be better to thin them 2 A lawn was sodded an looked well for a time now shows divisions between the sods and looks not at all well, what should be done? Sow grass seed and put on a light mulch 3 Is it too soon to hill celery? No, a good time 4 Can ground be too rich for cabbage? No - 5 a turnip patch is full of crab grass? Try to get it out? Yes 6 Plant a privet hedge now or wait until spring? Plant now, and replant in the spring if necessary 7 Is it too soon to mow the asparagus bed? Cut off all that have seeds and the rest when they turn yellow. 8 When plant peach seed? In the fall. One member says "Father hardly lets us finish eating the peach before he wants to plant the seed." 9 How soon dig carrots? before the ground freezes

John Bentley wishes to try sowing crimson clover on part of his garden each year until it has all had the application, E. S. Iddings read from the Garden Magazine that rye is excellent used in the same way and plowed

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in early in the spring.

Robert Miller's experience with insect powder for gapes coincides with Margaret Magruder's the best remedy he has tried.

A lady from Bermuda says Sunflowers do not perfect their seed on her Island Seeds have to be imported each year A. G. Thomas says squirrels destroy young birds and eggs, Which shall be sacrificed? Each individual will dicide for himself.

Eliza Brooke was appointed to get the beans from James Stabler and bring them to the April meeting

It was suggested that the September meeting be held in the middle of the day. There was no dissenting voice and the Executive Committee Will decide the question

Our visit to the gardens was interesting. Fine cabbage, roots of various kinds - strawberry beds etc. All of the best. The flower garden had many roses & geraniums. blooming and many other flowers No frost yet, or not enough to mar their beauty

Next meeting to be at Cedar Lawn. Readers Annie Kirk Robert H. Miller

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The Cedars

Oct. 1st 1907

This being the last meeting for this year our President gave pleasant and encouraging retrospect of this very interesting and useful summer; he again expressed his pleasure in the very fine exhibits at each meeting and thanks the members for the pains taken in collecting the fine specimens of Vegetables fruits and flowers which have adorned our tables. The improvement in our gardens and lawns in the last twenty-five years makes us feel that carrying out the wishes of the founders of our Society. Allow your secretary to add a word to his remarks as to the social features of our meetings. I think it must be evident to all that meeting in this way has increased our love and friendship for each other. We cannot get the same result by telephone, admirable as it is.

The minutes were read and amended.

The readers, 1st Annie Kirk absent.

2nd Robert Miller read an article on beautifying the home grounds. "It is well to take one day in each week for mowing the lawn and attending to ornamentals. A little money buys many shrubs and ornamental trees. Volunteer, Ellen Farquhar read from Literary Digest of various sprays which kill some weeds and do not harm others. Dr. Kirk read of the much building

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building which has been done in recent years and the millions of dollars lost by fire, all through the country.

Forethought.

✓ A deal of fall work should be done this month; lettuce sowed and cold frames prepared for lettuce plants and for cabbage also if any care to winter the plants; sweet potatoes should be dug early. Lima beans gathered, dry and green. tomatoes, all, ripe and green before frost. Celery should be well "banked". and bring some into the cellar. Take up cabbage in Nov-It was old custom to pull it up Election Day not, I suppose, because it was a political vegetable except by being somewhat heady! A fodder shelter, with room enough for a good circulation of air is good. Country Life says tie two or three heads together by the stalks and hang in the cellar pack carrots and beets in sand in the cellar Parsnips and salsify are improved by winter freezing.

In the flower garden, plant bulbs, hyacinths 6 in. deep and 6 in. apart with crocuses between, 3 in. deep. Tulips 4 in. deep 6 in. apart. snowdrops and narcissus 3 or 4 in. deep. Divide perennial phlox After frost has killed the tops of salvias store the roots in the cellar. Divide clumps of peonies, leaving two or three eyes to each. Bed out roses if you must but spring is the best time for that work. Six inch cuttings of hardy roses may be taken before hard frosts, tie in bundles and bury in