Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1880-1891

232 H/7/1889 -4. H/8/1889 -1vention

11 Is it safe to grease turkies before a rain? Does not seem to hurt them

12 How many times should live geese be picked during a summer? Not more than two

The Annual Exhibition was omitted this year by a vote of twenty to six.

After observing with interest the beautifully kept garden, and enjoying to the full the social feature of the meeting the Society adjourned to meet next at Rockland Mary Magruder Sec. Pro. Tem

Rock Spring Aug 6^th 1889 Temp 79^o We assembled at the usual hour. In the absence of our President, who had gone on a voyage across the Atlantic, John Bentley presided satifactorily. Our absent members were Longwood, White Hall, Fair Hill & Avalon Our guests Eliza and Elisha Miller Mr & Mrs Muncaster Mrs. Osborn, Gene Fawcett, Roger and Lo[n?] Brooke and daughter, Miss Lucas Mrs. Robert Abat, Nettie Moore, Alice Needles Gertrude Miller & George Miller

The specimens were very good; from Brooke Grove; tomatoes, corn, potatoes, Lima beans, celery plants, squash, and flowers Riverside summer squash, dwarf Lima beans

H/8/1889 -2- 233 tomatoes, corn, and flowers Falling Green beets. cucumbers, corn, tomatoes onions from seed, very large, and flowers. Hermon tomatoes, corn and flowers Cloverlea, Tomatoes, corn, Lima beans and okra Alloway, tomatoes, corn, Lima beans potatoes & flowers Norwood, salsify and parsnips Springdale fine tomatoes and a stalk of corn 4 ft 5 in. from seed planted 4 weeks ago to-day Sharon flowers.

We were told that a corn cob soaked in molasses and water and [be?]ing in the tree would attract the curculio and save the fruit and another person mentioned that it used to be thought that a bag of salt hung in the tree was a sage guard

1^st reader Eliza Moore, read some articles on the national flower, where upon we decided to vote for it at this meeting. The result was Goldern Rod 23, arbutus 1, Corn 7, Columbine 1, Red Clover 1, Sunflower 1. The Secretary was requested to send th list to Prang who is much interested in the subject 2^nd Reader Anna Farquhar read an article on the pointed hoe, which was very amusing.

Questions 1 A member who set our 200 sweet potato plants, had none left. Chip dirt and ashes were used on them, wanted the cause of the loss. Suggested that the rains may have leached the

234 H/8/1889 -3the ashes too quickly. Another who had planted 300 had but few left

2 Is it best to let the sweet potato vines grow and cover the ground or [bind?] them about the hill? Opinions differ, most members left the vines run

3 Is this the right time to set out strawberry plants? Yes, if not done in the Spring which is the best time, and long rows are preferable to squares

4 Cut asparagus, tops? After they turn yellow

5 How many have had their gardens mowed? All

6 How prepare okra for winter use? Slice across and dry in the oven on dishes or string and hang up Is is important to take it while young

7 What kind of soil is best for Lily Rubra? At Hermon they are very fine in a stiff soil.

8 When bend over broom corn? When fully grown, as it is done to keep the straws straight

Our hosts garden contained long rows of Lima beans and great abundance of good things, and the continuous rains had helped the weeds to grow as well as better things. We observed a very handsome plant in one of the flower beds and amused ourselves finding out how many recognized it.

H/8/1889 -4/ H/9/1889 -1- 235 Only three of our member knew it a Spanish needle. Many said it was a weed and some farmers called it a willd carrot. Happy farmers! not to know a wild carrot! After some fun over it one host came along and told us he had left it on purpose to see how many would know it.

After a delightful meeting we adjourned. E. S. S. Sec

Avalon Sept 3^rd1889 Tem 77^o Nearly all the members assembeled at the usual hour. Our guests were Mr. & Mrs. Haviland Mrs. Mary Gilpin. Elizabeth and Mariana Stabler, Lucy Miller, Sue Thomas, Anna Gilpin, Uriah B. Kirk, Josephine Barrington Miss Ida Hope - Doeg and John Janney

In the absence of our President, John Bentley presided much to our satisfaction.

The minutes were read and approved The readers for this meetng were 1^st Edith Hallowell who forgot her appointment, 2^nd Mary Gilpin who did not know of hers The Secretary read an article on the Cemat is Coccinea and one on the depths for planting seeds. The readers for next meeting Samuel Hopkins and Eliz Brooke

236 H/9/1889 -2Questions 1 How is the grape crop this fall? General failure among our members, only one having a fair crop

2 Is it best to water a large tree planted in the spring or only mulch? Water with several barrels of water, then mulch.

3 How often should bulbs be lifted and divided? Once in three or four years One member had them in the same place for thirty years

4 Will it do to trim raspberries now? leave it until Spring.

5 Is it best to stop mowing lawns in dry weather in September? Yes

6 Is it best to mulch bulbs in the fall? Some kind s do not need it, but Lilies and tender kinds are better for some protection after the ground freezes

7 How treat a juniper tree, 2 years old 8 inches high, to make at grow? Try a dressing of wood ashes

8 When move a white pine 6 feet high? April, May or June

9 What do with a cucumber vine that looks drawn up as if with cramp? Try insect powder

A guest informed us gladiolus bulbs will live in the ground from year to year if planted deeply. 8 or 10 inches

A new way of putting up corn for the table was given. Cut the corn from the cob, raw, put in a pan, on a cloth and