Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1961

Alloway and The Cedars.

Birds: A lark's neat in a pasture produces four eggs for view; as a remedy for starlings, encourage the squirrels to take over a tree. Isabel Wesaley and just returned from trip to the far west and she had noted slight but distinct variations in the vestern birds from those in the east.

The Membership comittee was/asked to consider a family to fill one vacancy in our ranks.

Questions: Mr. Ulrich is a native of Franc now living here. He spoke of the French only having to spray for the potato bug, - also they have relatively few birds. They are a/much older country than the U.S.A and he wonders why we have ro spary so much here. Claire Hutton wondered how one can take a two weeks vacation without the carbgrass and weeds taking over the garden. The only suggestion was to take it in winter!. Mulch to keep the weeds down. For lima beans with some curled leaves try Malathien. A blight on chrysanthemums may contamiate others so throw the affected ones away, -unless it is caused by mematodes, in which case a little table suger can be applied to the soil: also water,if very dry. Why do we say "Cool as a cucumber"? Maybe because it looks cool when iced the power of suggestion . Why did raspberry bushes die? Probably because too wet. They need well drained ground. Also, don't send too far from home when ordering plants. Irving Smith read a unique recipe for a salad which included such things as tablespoons of marigold blossems, 8 nastursiums, violet blossoms, etc. Ruth Havens said they sprayed chloradane last year. She asked if it would hurt the calk to walk on treated ground. It is not likely to do so. Are there many persimmon trees growing wild? The Wilsons, Isabel Wesley on the Ulrichs have seen some in the community. At least one kind ripens before frost. There were lots if moles in a yard last year. The castor oil plant was recommended but did not appeal artistically so castor oil was applied to wads of cotton and put in holes which seened to work. Chlordane will also help kill them. It was noted that there are also few insects in Nova Scotia, and the English do not have to spray roses. We used to have wild strawberries. Do we still? Yes, but they are past now. They are trying to tame down the scent of the Regal lily which is so pungent as to make people sick. Tulip bulbs may be dug now if new growth has not started. It is not necessary to let them dry before replanting them. To get rid of the big hornet's nest in a holly tree spray with DDT at night. For an expert landscape person, Mr. Duplan was rerecommended.

As readers for next time, Grece Thomas and Ellis Manning were apponited and we adjourned to meet with the Bentleys at "Oakley".

Mary Moore Miller

Mary Moore Miller

Secretary

H/9/1961-1-

OAKLEY Sept. 5, 1961

Although it was one of those very hot days, we were able to forget it in the cool comfort of this attractive home. We "drank in" the beauty of the many holly trees raised by the Bentleys and enjoyed the gardens and well groomed lawns. At supper,-bountiful as always, some of us were fortunate to sit at the table with our host who described the old firearms and the other curios/on the wall which spoke to himeof people of the past-and present- to whom they had belonged.

In the absence of the President, who was "on the job", tThe Vice President called us to order and the minutes of 8-1-61 were read and approved. Ellis Manning read an article by Beverly\ Nichols on "Take Time Out to Enjoy Your Garden". We may become slaves to it if we are not careful, and find ourselves walking into it with a sense of duty, rather than one of delight. Try relaxing in a hammock with nothing between you and the sky or play croquet and let time drift by slowly and peacefully. Eat out of doors in chairs and from tABLES THAT ARE FIXTURES in the garden not far from the house. Braziers can supply heat in cold weather. It is folly to think only of weeds , constantly.

As a volunteer article or exhibit, Buzzy Hussman passed around an old copy of the Breeders Gazette for Sept. 11,1901about 60 years old. Articles on cattle breeding were similar to those of to-day. This proved to be very interesting.

The list of exhibits showed as usual that they eat well at tThe Cedars from corn, several kinds of tomatoes, squash, lima beans, egg plant, peppers, parsley, pumpkins, apple and cantaloupe. Ulric's mallows were gorgeous and he had lovely glads. The Canby's roses of several varieties were beautiful. Ulric also had franklinia and Kusa dogwood. The mMannings had a bowl of pear tomatoes. One of the loveliest exhibits was the beautiful arrangement of apricot glads on the dining room table, contributed by a guest, Mrs. Souder.

Sylvia's Forethought jogged us up as to what we should do about planting daffodils now and other bulbs later this month; storing onlty perfect fruit; taking house plants in doors; seeding new lawns; planting perrenials; ceasing feeding and cultivating roses; bringing in tomato plants to hang them -fruit and all;

Questions: What can be done for scraggly geraniums? If you dont want to bloom, hang them in the cellar(cool). For blooming, cut them back to about 8 inches and leave them out doors for a while longer. How many cantaloupes did Douglas Earquhar raise this|year? Over 100. Dust of some kinds could make them taste of them. Harvest Queen was the best variety this year. Delicious is usually best. Raymond Havens did research on last months question "Cool as a Cucumber". It first appeared in a play by Beaumont and Fletcher in 1600 as "Cold as a cucumber". The Havens have had an increase in Japanese beetles. Chlorodane in the soil is helpful against them. Cut back phlox for a second bloom below the first one. _Spray

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cantaloupe vines with Bordeau mixture for spots. Loose soil such as around the Patuxent is more favorable to them. What is the name for a leaf made up of many small leaves such as the locust? Edward Iddings will look this up.

The Canby's had enjoyed a trip to the northwest recently. They were impressed by the handsome roses, the Boarchart Garden the the flower baskets in Victoria which are watered at midnight and have beautiful pink geraniums in them, - 500 all alike. It was noted that fox grapes have been "the best ever" in spite of beetles this year, that turned the leaves to lace. This fact may have been responsible for more sun getting to the grapes themselves. Those who have them now are fortunate as they have become scarce. The history of Franklinia could not be explained. Crab apples are ready to pick when their seeds are black.

The Meteorologist reported and average hight of 82°, highest 90°, ave. low 65°, lowest 52°; mean temp. 73°. 3.68 in. of rain fell with a trace of rain on 20 days. It rained for 30 days after St. Swithin's- not the 40 of history!

Birds: Blackbirds have damaged some sweet corner by going first after the Jap. beetle then discovery the corn.

The Planning Commission is working for a 150 foot right of way from Olney to Ashton with controlled access for the future.

Mention was made of the letter to the Sentinel by our friend E. B. Morris on the "Disease of Cutting Trees".

The Nominating Committee will be appointed at the next meeting to bring in the name of a secretary as the present on one wishes to be excused, having served out Ruth Havens second year, - left unfilled when she resigned last year.

Our next meeting will be at Vien Venu with the Wilsons, who were absent because of Walter's illness this date. The readers will be Jack Bentley and Francis Thomas.

Adjournment was then in order.

Mary Moore Miller

Mary Moore Miller, Secretary.

BIEN VENU Oct. 3, 1961

On the first cold rainy day of fall we met with the Wilsons, too late to enjoy the grden but we found the house bright and cheerful with attractive flower arrangements and a warm welcome from the host and hostess and some of their family. In the absence of the President and Vice President, Jack Bentley presided. The minutes of the September meeting were approved as read. Helen Bentley read "Why Blow and Cultivate?" by a Mr. Garst of Iowa who used a wchemical to keep the field weed-free after once discing it, and drilling in the corn. He has found that cultivation opens up the roots to germs and fewer trips over the fields meant less packing of the soil. His work time could be spread over lrger frms or he could use the saved time for rest. Guesses after the reading were that Mr. Garst might have been the man by that name who entertained Mr. Kruschev. Helen also read "Invite a Hummingbird to Your Garden." They need plants with nectar which we vcan give them if we want the joy of having these birds around. The third article was intriguingly titled, "The Corpse in the Compost Heap" and as author of mystery stories, the writer suggests we might find even that in a pile since most anything gets in them, including magazines. Dont put in Oxalis or anything with a disease such as rose cuttings with black spots on them.

Carrying on from last month, the Secretary described Franklinia as a shrub native but very rare in Geaorgia,-half-hardy to Mass. It grows from 6 to 20 feet tall with smooth, shiny bright green leaves and large waxy white flowers in the fall. All plants of theis species are thot to have come from the original tree in John Bartram's 18th Century garden near Philidelphia. We were told there is some of this on the banks at the Brighton Dam.

Our Forethought suggested that we gather seed pods for win winter arrangements; lift our glad corms; pot daffodils and crocuses for winter blooming; see that shrubs and perrenils are not suffering for lack of water; seed and fertilizer lawns; dust rose bushes; pot parsley; plant cover crops; put leaves in c compost put or pile with lime. An appropriate verse "topped off" the helpful advice.

Exhibits: Springdale had potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. Rust Canby had reached over his head to pick some of the tomatoes that had started bearing in July. Rose Hutton brought magnolia, lilacs, beautyberry or callicarpa and evergreens; Roslyn -chrysanthemums and roses. The Mannings' potatoes were produced by cutting the potatoes as usual to plant and putting them on top of hay that had been put out on the ground worked up for peas, lay the peas on the groujnd, lpile dirt on them then some manure. They will grow satisfactoruily.

Meteorologist's Report: High ave. temp. 81.6°, love ave. 62°; rainfall .48 (less than ½ inch).

Edward Iddings will give next spring his findings about

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"leaves divided".

As a nominating committee to bring in the name|of a person to serve|as a Secretary in place of the present one who filled out the term after Ruth Havens resigned, the Canbys and Ligons were named. This comm. will see that cards go out/in the spring The places of meeting for 1962 werre read and approved. The April meeting will be with Ulric and Rose Hutton. There are fifteen (15) families and two honorary members active now.

Birds: A small pure yellow bird with black head and wimngs could have been a warbler eating sunflower seeds. a pink and gray bird that sang beautifully out west was a linnet. Mimosa and nicotiana drew hummingbirds. Wild geese were seen to-day.

Questions: Is it too late to put in a cover crop for the garden? Rye will grow too tall and wont disintegrate enough but it can be cut back with a mower. Rust planted soy beans earlier and plowed them in then put in barley which is green like a lawn now. Black spot on stems or leaves of roses should be sprayed with lime sulphur-1 part to 9 parts water. Apply once in winter and once later before growth starts. Have figs grown around here? The season is not long enough, usually. They stay green and freeze off before they ripen. Protected in the D. C. they bear some fruit. Try a shock of fodder around the tree for protection. Lavinia Henderson has had good results in Rockville in the southern exposure there. Chicken wire covered with leaves also has been used successfully. Freeze the figs if they bear fruit. There was no answer as to why wall-flowers had died off. Where crimson clover has not come up, plant barley. The color of trees is the result of a subsatnce similar to sugar that is eliminated by dry weather. Irving Smith will give further information on this at our April meeting. The weed that looks like chrysanthemums has been persistent. A flame thrower was needed to scorch it out in the fall; English ivy and pachysandra are crowding it out for others.

We adjnourned to meet in April with the Ulric Huttons.

Mary Moore Miller

Mary Moore Miller, Secretary

(End of The 98th Year)