Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1965

H/4/1965-1April 1965 IN THE 102ND YEAR

HORTICULTURE opened its 1965 season with a meeting at Springdale with Ellis and Lucy Manning, April 5th. Francis Thomas, our vice president presided the absence of Jack Bentley. After suggesting that Spring is really here when Horticulture meets he most graciously welcomed our guests Mr. and Mrs. Janney, Helen Moore, Dorothy Wetherld and the youngest Ellis Manning.

Following the reading and approval of the minutes of the meeting of last October, Francis announced that it was election night. The slate suggested by the nominating committee was unanimously accepted; Ulric Hutton, President, Francis Thomas, vice-president, Alan Thomas, Secretary. The new officers were welcomed by Francis, who turned over his office to the new President; because Alan was to substitute as reader for Dale, Lucy was impressed to take minutes one more meeting. It was suggested that a letter be written to Jack Bentley regretting his absence at the April meeting and expressing our appreciation for his service as president; WHICH WAS DONE AND COPY ATTACHED.

Alan suggested that his showing of pictures be placed at the end of the meeting; tereforer volunteer articles wereNOT TO SPOIL THE CANDLELIGHT DECOR called for. Mary Moore Miller summarized an article from the star regarding the progress being made in controlling dutch elm disease. Chicken supplemented this by mentioning an article that came out in the weekly reader along the same lines, and showing pictures of the process. By injecting a chemical into the sap of the elm tree the bark beetle is poisined before he poisins the tree. This article and the weekly reader are attached to these minutes. Bea Wilson gave us good advice; plant everything now; feed your lawn. She mentioned some tantilizing new seeds and answered the question raised some time ago regarding the cutting back of rhododendrons - cut back to a few inches of the ground if you wish.

Douglas gave us a weather report of the period since the last meeting. Mean temperatures in March were much lower than a year previous. 20 inches of rainfall fell for the past 6 months, as against 19 a year earlier This is a little less than the desirable average. Exhibits were surpisingly beautiful - specimen tulips, jonquils and geraniums. Helen and Douglas brought a tomato plant and Ulric and Rose a lovely fan tail willow.

As usual, Horticulture had wonderful bird stories; the robbins had eaten all the berries off Walter's hollies; sparrows are taking over blue bird nests; some one told a delightful story of a bluebird who took over a paper box and the accommodating paper man put up a new box. Francis thought that the geese on the Eastern shore had not left for northern vacations; he had seen a group of Canadian geese and a little space apart white swans.

H/4/1965-2-

Chicken, two days after Christmas in crossing the Bay Birdge about 7.45 a.m, had seen the bay covered with thousands of white swans bumper to bumper, looking like floating ice. In a nearby corn field field, gulls were pacing like guards, having been driven off the water. Helen Moore told of a friend using a plastic owl to drive off pigeons. Dick Janney told of a dove that built a nest so very early in an arbovitrae tree, and set on the eggs through two snow storms.

Mr. Janney had been asked by horticulture to share some of his experiences in trying to control debris on the roads and to advise them of his views. He had headed a county wide committee some years ago. Mr. Janney commented that roads are like houses; keeping roads clean, like house cleaning. You must keep at it constantly; you get a road cleaned to day— tomorrow it will be littered. A dozen cans on a clean road s looks as bad as a thousand cans on a dirty road. You can get civic gro groups, boy scouts, school children interested. But a single clean up is not the answer. He suggested that the only answer is to have the county do it and tax you. His committee in their final recommendation suggested that the council make a study of methods used successfully in some states; Florida and New Jersey were mentioned. He thought it would be possible to get cooperation of public utilities to eliminate any litter they may leave; he thought it helpful to teach children in sunday schools, in school, in clubs the importance of clean raods and perhaps by the time they are grown, may be a bit more careful. There was considerable discussion , including use of welfare clients recipients, but the only successful way will be a continuing constant program. It is difficult to get a fine levied on a person who throws out two cans. Ulric thanked Mr. Janney for coming and for talking with us.

Following this, Alan took us on a trip from Oklahoma City to Montana some 2000 miles. From Oklahoma City through Kansas, with a glimpse at Dodge City, into the cantelope country of Colorado, then to Denver, with wonderful views of Pike Peake, on up to Denver, then to Laramie across Wyoming, into the Grand Tetons especially beautiful and through Yellowstone The marvellous trip up Pike's Peak by cograil train was magnificent, You stop in the clouds at 14,000 feet at the end of the line; You go some 3000 feet above the timber line, and ask as you come down Alan showed little animals scampering around. Then there were storms far away; a little red train in the distance, whole ranges and valleys as we reached crossed Wyoming; then on to Yellowstone, and the geysers. These are minutes Alan should edit and add to. But I do want to recall two little gems, the little bear that he caught in his curiosity over the trash can, and the double rainbow, which was pure magic. I can see what Horticulture has in store from the Thomas pictures and their sensitivity to beautiful scenes, wild flowers and animals.

MEETING PLACES: May: The Cottage; June Great Ease July Bien Venu; August Mt. Pleasant; Sept. Roslyn; October Field head. Meeting adjourned to The Cottage. Lucy Manning ([?]Secretary) (Alan Thomas)

(5-4-65) A.D. FARQUHAR METEOROLOGICAL REPORT Jan 65 APRIL 1964 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Lowest Temperature 24° on April 5th 23 3 [?] Average Low 42° 39 Highest Temperature 84° on Apr. 18 78 30 Average High 61° 60 Mean Temperature 52° 13 days 50 Measurable rain on 13 days total 4.48 inches 2.37 Total rain so far in 1964 14.3 " 41 Years MUTUAL REINSURANCE FOR MUTUALS - CASUALTY & FIRE MUTUAL REINSURANCE BUREAU - BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS

THE HORTICULTURE SOCIETY SANDY SPRING MARYLAND

May 11-1965

Dear Chicken -

When I recently became Secretary of the Horicultural Society, little did I realize that your letter to the Society would be giving me the hardest part of the job, that of reading and replying to the resignation of such a beloved and respected member as you have been.

If you will recall the evening we met at The Cottage, I tried to persuade you to postpone this evil day, and the general consensus of the members was that your letter was premature. However, knowing that you have made the decision that was best for you, we regretfully accepted your resignation with the comforting knowledge that your place will be partially filled by your daughter and son-in-law, the Hussmans.

Betty Ligon insisted that we include an invitation for you to join us again at Great Ease with the Ligons on Tuesday June First. You may rest assured that you will be very welcome at any of our collective tables whenever you care to return.

The entire Society joins me in wishing you the best of luck in your new hone and adventure. Believe me, we are really going to miss that contagious smile and ready with, so please come back again some time.

Sincerely your friends,

The Horticultural Society Alan F. [?], Sec'y.

Copy THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SANDY SPRING MARYLAND April 20, 1965 Dear Jack: Horticulture missed you and Helen at the April meeting and we all hope that you will be at the May meeting. The Society wanted you to know how greatly it appre iates your services as their President an the many contributions you have made to it. Certainly it was a significant honor for the Society that you were out President during its Centennial Year. You presided so delightfully at the Centennial meeting and contributed so much to its success. Your devotion to the Society and its members, your knowledge of it's traditions, your skill as a presiding officer have made you a greatly beloved member. May I add my own personal enjoyment in serving during your presidency. Sincerely yours,