Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1947

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H/4/1947-1-

Alloway April 1947

The 1947 season opened with a lovely meeting at Alloway on April first, no foolin'. The very atmosphere breathed new life, hope, garden-planting time, -in short, Spring.

Isabel Wesley, secretary pro tem, read the minutes.

Jessie McReynold's article about the tomato late blight recommened several steps for control of the blight: destroy old tomato vines; plant new blight-free plants. 'Do not plant tomatoes next to fields in which potatoes are grown, or in fields were potatoes were grown last year. The tomato plants should be spaced farther apart for better air circulation and for ease in spraying. A fungicide should be applied before plants are infected. Dithane Z78 will give good control, or sprays containing 0.2 pounds of metallic copper per 10 gallons, or a 7 percent fixed copper dust may be used.'

The Farm Bureau spray program was next presented by Robert Miller. For a nominal sum they will spray flies with DDT, weeds with 2-4D, give a fruit tree spray service, and are promoting a county-wide spraying to save the corn crop from the Japanese beetle.

Lena Stabler read Mrs. Englund's interesting letter from Stockholm, in which she described the gorgeous flower displays there during the month-long Christmas season.

Poetry as well as practical garden suggestions may always be found in Elza Thomas' Forethought Notes. We're all the better, she wrote and read, for making something fine grow, whether it is a flower of the mind, or a flower whose roots are in the homely door-yard earth. Good advice followed regarding the relative cheapness of the best seed, regarding lawn care, strawberries, peas, sweet peas, roses, budgeting garden time for getting the most enjoyment, and more.

Rather than accept the Bancrofts' resignation, the meeting voted them honorary members, with the hope that they could come with us again soon. Robert Miller was appointed to the Membership Committee, with Mary Hutton and Helen Farquhar.

The latter sent in the names of Rebecca and Leon Small, and Garland and Elizabeth Ligon, as prospective members, to be voted on in May. We heartily welcomed

Last edit 17 days ago by mbrockway
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the Stantons, and back into our fold, whom we have sorely missed, Andrew and Roberta Adams. Andrew Junior is now a weightly member of the Ten Oaks family. It was also a great pleasure at this meeting to have another honorary member with us, Clarence Hurrey.

Forthwith the President appointed him to represent The Horticultural as consulting historian on the Sandy Spring Annals Committee. Frederic Thomas was named as alternate.

Excellent wit and humor were displayed in the really handsome though "scentless" rivalry between some Glen Lauder garlic and skunk cabbage. The other exhibits listed by Lillie Stabler consisted of the graceful Glen Lauder pussywillows, the charming French cart of posies from Tanglewood, bright jonquils from The Highlands, blooming crocus plants from Millwood, and pansy plants from Ten Oaks, both later gifts being gratefully received by the hostess. Equally admired was the box of fine, fat, winter-kept vegetables from Tanglewood - sleek parsnips, potatoes, onions, turnips, rutabagas, salsify, carrots and parsley.

The motion was passed that we meet in alphabetical order accoridng to the names of the places. The host and hostess are to arrange for any exchange.

Mr. Stanton told how the rubber business is being restarted in Singapore by the British Colonial office.

Upon adjournment, we ate our delicious supper in the Alloway basement playroom, and the initial meeting in 1947 became history. Isabel Wesley, sec'y

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H/5/1947 -1-

Clermont May 1947

The blooming dogwoods, magnolias and lilacs along the entrance to Clermont provided true delight to the visiting horticulturalists at their last meeting. Then we always congratulate ourselves that one of our members was so inspired when she created the charming, sunken garden spot. Nearby, the box maze, the splendid strawberry bed, rose garden, and Ulric's rows of small ilex, evergreen honeysuckle and other plants under their carefully latticed frames, - all bespeak of those who cooperate with nature to create the beautiful.

During the meeting we gazed at the positively gorgeous amaryllis gracing the table. Of course we read the minutes. Following those we took a far trip via Mrs. Stanton's description to Singapore, and beheld the panang trees, the frangipani and the jacaranda. We worked against the huge snails with our spiked bran, bought waterlilies from the Chinese vendor, tasted and regretted it the durian fruit, loved the immense pineapples, and the mangocene fruits, marvelled at the abundance of pigeon orchids on the pink-blossomed rain trees, and rejoiced that the "dry spell" was over.

Lofton Wesley brought us back to this world by an article which gave helpful advice to the busy person: in the evenings jot down your list of garden jobs in the order of size and importance; systematizing your work-day allows time to bask in your out-of-doors.

Mexico, read Lillie Stabler, has the oldest known tree, a cypress between 4 to 6 thousand years old.

Jessie McReynolds read about the all-out war on the Japanese beetle. Any encouragement along this line is always appreciated.

The poem sent by Mrs. Englund to Elza Thomas was a sweet message, reminding us that "some of the smallest flowers are the most fragrant."

Almost five inches of rain were recorded by the meteorologist in April. The average temperature was 44°; in March, 27°.

The exhibits looked like May for sure. There was an azalea plant from Ten Oaks, a cinerarium from Millwood, tomato plants from Tanglewood, lush baskets of vegetables from Sharon, The Cedars and Tanglewood, tulips from Edgewood, etc.

The Ligons and Smalls were so gladly welcomed to our midst. Three cheers.

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Hardly had we smiled together when we asked them to pay dues. This business was unanimous also, and the treasurer has a balance on hand as of May 1947, of $13.80.

The possible abolition of the poultry reports from our proceedings and the elimination of the April meeting will come up for decision at the June meeting.

For clarification, the suppler plan was restated to include food for about six brought by each member family, plates and silver if possible unless the hostess prefers to supply all of them, leaving the drinks and glasses to be supplied by the hostess.

Interest was arroused in the wild life conservation plan for Sherwood School. Perhaps we can assist in it by spreading interest in it. Perhaps we can give a small contribution.

Andrew Adams told how to get the best azalea bloom: Fertilize the plants and provide them with a heavy 6" peat moss mulch 2 or 3 times a year. Decayed sawdust or decayed oak leaves keep the soil properly acid.

Full of good information, the contents of brave casserole dishes and salads and Edward Iddings' traditional, justly famous spoonbread, we bade farewell to Clermont.

ISW secy!

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Sharon June, 1947

The Sharon lawn is indeed magnificent, with a variety of big trees spreading over the wide, deep lawn. At the west is an entrancing view of sky and woods and distant vales. We hovered around the house and porch, admiring the magnolia and enjoying the feel of old Sharon dedicated to the new purposes of a school.

The President, who was foretasting the lovely garden, was called in, and called the meeting to order. The minutes were read and duly corrected.

Mariana Miller read a provocative article which pointed out how closely our health is related to the soil. The use of clemical fertilizers was deplored. The minerals in the soil are best made available to plants by the action of soil acids released through the decay of organic matter. Composted soil, with plenty of humus, produces hardy plants more resistant to insect pests, and more worth eating because rich in minerals. - Every so often the Horticultural loves to discuss this important question regarding chemical fertilizer. There is so much to be learned and discovered on the subject.

Clark Slade's chapter from Archibald Rutledge's interesting book, "Home on the River", was a literary and horticultural gem. It described the author's experiences in planting hundreds of holly trees, pine trees, and dogwoods, at Hampton.

The Forethought Notes lend some good quotations. "No other flower can so captivate and soothe the spirit as the rose." "The price of a good garden is eternal vigilance." "In June and July the multitude of things to do reduces gardening to domestic slavery." There is a saying in Korea as follows: "You cannot be unhappy when you look on beauty."

Consequestly we were all happy when we looked on Homestone's exhibit of 13 kinds of hardy roses "which have never been sprayed", on Clermont's magnolia sample and dainty dogwood, the artistic roses from Tanglewood, Edgewood's flowers, and sweet peas from The Highlands. The vegetables came from 4 places. Honorable mention for these goes to The Highlands and Tanglewood.

Sylvia and Richard Woodward were wholeheartedly voted our newest members. Edith Green and Mary Brooke were made honorary members with a cordial,

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