Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1932

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Brooke Grove April 5th, 1932

The last meeting of the Horticultural Society for 1931 assembled at Cloverly Oct. 6th, We were greeted by our hostess Cornelia Bentley & again by Edith Hallowell & Florence Bentley, in a real Cloverly Horticultural manner. A beautiful autumn day with fruits and flowers in profusion, many guests and many members. The Lawn presented a scene of beauty. After luncheon we gathered in the large living room. The meeting was called to order by the President Henry Nichols.

Our first appointed reader was Mrs. Hurry who read a most instructive article by L. W. Ramsay, Landscape Architect. Fall is the ideal planting time for trees and shrubs. The soil is warm and workable, a condition for which we wait long in the spring. Plants moved in the fall are settled and rooted ready to start growing in spring. Spring flowering bulbs are to be planted in the fall with good mulching. The writer advises careful consideration of your garden plan, where to mass for the best effect. August and September are the best months for planting Evergreens and broad leaved evergreens. Rhododendrons, Boxwood, Laurel & Large cone bearing evergreens should be moved with a frozen ball, seasonal conditions determining the time. . Iris should be well mulched, but not with manure, the freezing and thawing throws the roots from the ground, injuring the plants.

Cornelia Bentley our second appointed reader read of the Ginkgo or Maiden Hair Tree. This tree is ab asiatic species believed to be older than the oak, maple beeck and other well known trees. They are seldom found wild. This tree is found desirable in city streets because of the ability to withstand paved streets and rare freedom from desease and insects. A double row of these trees bordering 12th. St. as it extends into the Agricultural grounds. A Specimen of this tree is at Cloverly.

Cornelia also told us of the urge to plant trees at this time, especially as a part of the Bicentenial program.

Lillie Stabler read of killing weeds in lawns by the use of Calcium Chlorate. Will kill

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dandelions and crabgrass.

FORETHOUGHT Helen Farquhar was not with us. Helen Hallowell read "Making the lawn beautiful." Cut grass as long as it grows, use sharp rake on lawn before planting grass seed. Rolling a lawn is always in order. Mrs. Weld advised Italian Rye and Blue grass, no bad effect from this, interesting discussion. Mrs. Farquhar spoke a word in favor of dandelions. They are not ugly to look at, and after a short while they are not seen.

QUESTIONS. Cornelia told of advise from Agricultural Department regarding her Boxwood. More cultivation this she has done, but the advise not to trim was considered.

Would the Horticultural do anything toward Tree planting? It was suggested that a Committee be appointed to work with the Community Council. The Chair appointed this Committee to work out its own idears of where to plant etc. Committee; - Chairman- Cornelia Bentley, Helen T. Hallowell, Mary Tilton and Charles F. Brooke.

Rebecca Miller asked how to fertilize her garden. Stable Manure or any good commercial fertilizer, plenty of potash and Nitrogen.

Complaints of chickens dying. This is attributed to lack of greennfood this dry season. Plenty of milk is a benefit to chickens

What is the advantage of ashes on the lawn? Ashes furnish potash and help lighten the soil.

Plant rhubarb any time.

Mrs. Weld wants to know how to keep sweet potatoes. Keep where it is dry and there is no danger of freezing.

Questions are not as often asked as we would like to have them. This feature of our meetings is for an interchange of ideas and experiences and gives information desired.

The containers for flower exhibits, promised at Falling Green, were brought by several members.

The Committee appointed to attend to any business while the Horticultural is inactive was; - Helen Hallowell, Elza Thomas, Margaret Bancroft, Mary Brooke, Robert Miller, the Chairman & the Secretary. Ex offico

The Secretary was authorized to pay to the Community Council the Annual assessment of $4.25

The Society approved the purchase of the Fair Grounds for School purposes.

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Cousin Corrie Brooke read a little poem at the close of the meeting, the last meeting for 1931. This poem showed us the beauties of December as like to May, each month bringing to us a charm.

Our Exhibit for October is of much interest always, this year it is no exception. Many varieties of fruit, vegetables, both for winter keeping and use during the autumn, beautiful flowers in perfection. Sharon showed the old time Coxcomb of our Grandmother's garden so dressed up we hardly recognized it. This flower has gone through a state of evolution and shows several varieties in soft colors. Baskets of varieties of flowers were shown and Dahlias in beauty as single specimens.

This season has been one of plenty as compared to last year. Fruit has been in abundance all season, as it came to its time of ripening. Cherries were so abundant they were not salable if picked. Peaches, bushels of them, to be had for the picking. The apple orchards were laden with fruit, prehaps not perfect as to coloring and quality, but plenty. Our gardens were good except in the late autumn vegetables which could not develop for lack of rain. The question of failing wells and springs was a twice told tale, never before in the history of many homes had water failed and some of us felt an old friend had left us when "our SPRING" which we had so boasted about and given samples of the water with such pride, was dry to the rock. This dearth of water made an anxiety of a stern reality to the homes stricken, new wells were bored, water was hauled when it could be obtained, and new adjustments were necessary in every way in very many places. "Hope springs eternal in the human breast" is well phrased here for we hope and try to believe it will all come in its own way to smooth out the hard lines.

The general temperature was higher than the previous summer, not so extream in spots. The rainfall intil September was nearly up to average.

The records of the Society close here until our first meeting in April 1932. May we bring to the nears meetings a renewed interest in what the Society stands for; - cooperation toe make it helpful and useful.

Mary M. Nichols. Secretary.

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TANGLEWOOD, May 3rd, 1932

Brooke Grove was the Mecca to which the members of the Horticultural journeyed for our first meeting in 1932/ As always our welcome was one of graciuosness and cheer, the old sycamore standing gaurd over the home that has sheltered so many generations of the Brooke family, shone in all its glory this sunny April day. Many members and many guests assembled after luncheon in the sunny rooms. The meeting was called to order by its Presdient, Henry J. Nichols. The minutes at the October meeting at Cloverly were read, with the report of weather conditions and exhibits for the season 1931. Edith Green the forst appointed reader chose an article, "The quest for Happiness" which told us happiness was to be found at home in the flower border, the blooming of a fruit tree the wholesome work of gardening all could bring us happiness and contentment. Mary Stabler the other appointed reader gave advice on treatment of boxwood, with a spray of Rosin. She also told us of Phlox to be bought in harmony of color.

Richard Iddings read a clipping telling of a freakish Elm tree that grew when planted up-side down.

Mary Newton Stabler read a letter from Rebecca Miller telling of a terrific Sand Storm she had experienced in Texas.

Forethought gave us much wholesome thought for April.

Mary Magruder told of putting old window screens over newly sown seed in her flower garden.

The Assistant Secretary's report showed many exhibits of wintered vegetables, and flowers of the season, seedlings from Tanglewood, blooms from Mary Stabler's Rock Garden, with varities of Cowslips and daffodills from Norwood.

The annual report of the Sec-Treas. was read and an Application for Membership from Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Iddings came up under new Business.

The Community Council report was read. Robert Miller was elected as representative from the Horticultural to the Community Council, Henry Nichols, from Colesville, Joe Hutton, Brookvilles and Milton Bancroft Olney, were the choice for Delegates at Large from their districts. Mr. Hurry was named Delegate and Richard Iddings Alternate to present these names to the Annual Meeting of the Council in April.

Cornelia Bently reported progress of her

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Committee, this was heard with interest, and the name of Mr. Hurry was added to the Tree Planting Committee. The location of the trees to be on Meeting House Lane, the consent of owners of property has been obtained. Many suggested a variety of trees, the Elm both native and chinese, the Poplar and Maple, The Committee was continued.

An announcement of a Pageant given by the negroes at Brighton Church April 17th was made.

QUESTIONS.

Cousin Corrie wanted a apple geranium, no one had one of these old favorites.

Cousin Cahrlie wants to know a satisfactory was to bury cabbage for winter, several suggestions, but none all together satisfactory.

How much does a green ham shrink in curing, About one third.

Spade Peat Moss into your flower bed, not good for Delphiniums.

There were several complaints of failure of Forsythia to bloom this season, due prehaps to drough

Where to get Rhubarb? Several offers of pla plants.

Anne Miller told of a recent visit to the DuPont Gardens where spring in all its beauty was around them. Mr. Hurry wanted to know if anyone had successfully replanted arbutus. This is very rarely done

It is not to late to cut rose bushes.

Elsie Thomas asked for suggestions as to a good variety of spinnach to plant, she was given very many varieties to choose from.

The experience of buying shrubs and trees nad plants from nursery stock was discussed. Elza Thomas bought a crabapple that declared itself a Cherry Tree.

What is a good inexpensive fence to put around a flower garden. Chicken wire is suggested.

Chrysanthiums will grow on North side of house.

There is no standard time for setting our tomatoes.

What the experience of Mulch paper, saves work, and is beneficial to some things, canteloups and tomatoes being mentioned.

Who trims apple trees, The owner, this should be put in contract.

Grape vines can be moved now if cut back thoroughly.

Cornelia Bentley told of a letter inquiring the age of the Horticultural.

Adjourned to Tangelwwod, May 3rd, for supper.

Sect'y.