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H/10/1989-1-

Clifton, October 3, 1989: page 1

October 3, 1989, Clifton

We closed our 1989 season at Clifton, home of Jim and Beth Bullard.
Everything was perfectly in order, elegant, comfortable, and steeped in
warmth and hospitality. Although we were unfortunate to be missing the
Canbys we welcomed to our ranks Sally Eller, Ellis and Mary Manning, and
Sherry and Ted Fletcher. We also were pleased to have with us Henry and
Esther Thornton, Mary Moore Miller, Sylvia Woodward, Martha Nesbitt, and
Hans and Mariana Yorg Maur.

After luxuriating in pleasant company and a bountiful meal we repaired to
the sitting room and began the meeting with the reading of the minutes
which were thereafter nodded into history.

Mary Seiler, the selected reader, regained everyone's attention with an article
about guano and its historic importance to Montgomery County's depleted
agricultural base in the 1800's. Mary followed up with a N.Y. Times article
about guano that reported on an upsurge in the its use, the various types
available, comparative prices (25,000 year old North American bat is half the
price of South American seabird) and the amazing effect it has on plants.

John Hartge followed with his father's vivid and harrowing account of being
in the merciless bootstep of Hurricane Hugo a few weeks earlier on the
island of Culebra.

The Forethought advised us on tasks geared toward wrapping up the growing
season as well as preparing for next year.

The Meteorologist Report termed the preceding month's weather as interesting.
We had had 6.68 inches of rain which put us ahead of the average rainfall to
date by 10.25 inches. The coolest point had been 34 degrees on the 28 of
September and the warmest had been 94 degrees on the 14th. Despite
earwigs in his anemometer John noted that the peak gust was 28 mph on the
22nd and 23rd. Further mention was of a dash of frost at the Chances and
at Clifton.

EXHIBITS
A grand variety of seasonal items were passed around and admired.

The Bird Report was spare. Most notable comment was that it was a fit time
to visit Hawk Mountain or Cape May to view the migrating birds.

There were no Committee Reports and no New Business.

Questions;

Mary Seiler inquired whether lily ponds should be heated. Perhaps not heated
but the water should be circulated.