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H/8/1966-2-

8-2-1966
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Aloe Vera will flower occasionally, but the succulent leaves
are one of nature's perfect packaging miracles. Break a leaf from
the fleshy stem and the plant quickly seals in the vital juices.
Even the cut segment will heal over the end that is sliced, to re-
main green for several days, ore even weeks if kept in the refriger-
ator. The gummy juice first exuded from the cut leaf of Aloe con-
tains the active principal, Aloin, which when dried, is used in
medicine. The transplant pulp from a fresh cut leaf does the work
of healing cuts, bruises and burns.

The best way to keep Aloe Vera on hand for emergency first
aid is to grow a plant on the kitchen window sill. It does not need
direct sunlight and thrives on partial shade. A tip of the lower
leaves of your potted plants can be removed without damage to that
leaf or to the rest of the plant. Plant treatment is similar to an
African Violet; keep it warm, water it from below and do not let
cold water strike the leaves. Plants are now available upon order
from Hagerman, Idaho, or Danielson, Connecticut.

Mary Moore Miller volunteered a short article in the form of
a prayer for rain. Please let it rain every day from midnight to
3 am, with gentle moisture and warmth on all but drought loving plants.
Let it be sunny all day, except on those that don't need it, and let
it rain plenty of liquid fertilizer.

Our Forethought Lady, Bea Wilson, first suggested, please lets
have some more rain; thin out your perennials, cut your hollyhocks,
and then take cuttings of geraniums, if you still have any left.

Having just returned from touring the British Isles, Douglas
Farquhar reported that while he was away we had very hot and dry
weather, a "cold" fact that no one wished to dispute. His own temp-
erature recordings during that period showed a high of 98° and a low
of 44°. It was also pointed out that 90% of our days this summer
had readings of over 90°.

The list of exhibits read by Grace Thomas was considerably
shortened by the drought and many were unidentified as to ownership.
However, there were to be seen some lavendar, purple and white Phlox,
blue Hydrangea, some Patience, Zinnias, Gladiolas and several kinds
of Roses. The Ligons, who seem to have an unlimited water supply
for their garden, were the only ones who dared to bring vegetables,
which were really beautiful beets, potatoes, tomatoes and corn.

The subject of Birds began with the Ligons' five baby mocking birds
bathing and feeding on their terrace, whose places were later taken
by the baby Jay Birds. The President noted that mocking birds have now
stopped their singing, possibly due to drought and lack of water.
Some suggested that this was a normal annual occurrence and that
there were seasonal times for certain bird songs. Francis Thomas
told of putting a bird bath down on the ground, instead of the normal
regulation height above ground, where whole flocks of Robins, as well
as other kinds, just loved it by putting on quite a bathing beauty
show for him. Clive Lawrence told of numbered Bluebird boxes being
given away in western New York State, to be placed four feet high
on the Bluebird trails. Entrances were being made by orange juice
tins fastened on the outside, presumably to help the birds in flight
to zoom in to the slightly smaller hole in the box itself.