Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1880-1891

242 H/4/1890 -5. eggs set under hens? Some sprinkle quite often; and others think it intiuly unnecessary.

Eliza Brooke, who had spent several months at the Society. She had seen nothing Horticultural in the winter but had noticed that when they had 8 to 12 inches of snow and she expected to hear that we were filling our ice houses, she found we had had rain.

The Secretary had discovered that we are in the habit of mispronouncing the name of a favorite flower: the Fuchisa named in honor of the German Botanist Leonard F[ui?]chs and should be called Fook - sia

Some of our membrs had spent the morning in packing ice - houses with snow.

Our walk was deferred to another time and we enjoyed the specimen indoors, some of which had been covered with last nights; snow; from Rock Spring huge salsify lettuce kale, parsnips & sprouted peas, Longwood very large parsnips and beautiful hyacinths. Avalon flowers Rockland flowers Kale, beets, parsnips, carrots, turnip & lettuce Brooke Grove flowers. Riverside out door flowers Kate Janney flowers.

After a most pleasant meeting except for the resignation of one of our oldest families

We adjourned to meet at Riverside next month. E.S.S.

H/5/1890 -1- 243 Riverside May 6^th 1890 The Society assembled at the usual hour with but one family absent that of Avalon. Our guests were John Smith and daughter Jamie, Thomas Lea Isaac and Annie Hartshorne, L. [J.?] Lea and wife, Hallie Bentley. Ellie Chandler, Annie Miller Shoemaker Minnie Eddings, Bessie Rust and Mary Parker [?]

The usual minutes were read and approved. Those of the corresponding month show this season to be later than last, the very mild winter having been followed by late frosts had checked growth.

For new business the resignation of Mary T. Kirk was read and accepted, her reasons being inability to attend what she "considered the most charming society of the neighborhood" & her wish not to keep others out by holding the place. The names of Albin & Sue Thomas being first on the list they were duly elected.

1^st reader Carry Farquhar read a very good and amusing article on "The vine Theory. 2^nd C. F. Kirk forgot his appointment. The honor of being selected to read to this Society does not always make the deep impression it should. The secretary read of of a method of raising plants form very samll seeds. Called the tumbler method. Readers for next meeting Charles F. Kirk and Sally Janney

244 H/5/1890 -2Poultry Cloverlea 78 chickens 10 ducks Brooke Grove 40 chickens ducks 3 goslings Falling Green 225 chickens 41 turkies goslings Rock Spring 80 chickens 9 goslings Rockland (about) 55 chickens Longwood 140 chickens 12 ducks Riverside 50 chickens Fair Hill 140 chickens 18 turkies 21 ducks Alloway 85 chickens Norwood 60 chickens Hermon 260 chickens

Questons 1 How cut asparagus at the ground or below the surface? Some consider it best to cut at the surface when 6 inches high and it is tender and does not have to be peeled, but most of the members like the eleven obstinate men who hung the jury, continue to cut below the surface Agnest told of the delicious asparagus she ate in Germany. The bed was deeply covered with sand, and where the sand looked slightly stirred, the owner would plunge a knife with a hooked blade down and cut the stalk, it being intirely out of sight until brought up by the knife.

2 Where sow cabbage seed for late plants? Middle to last of May

3 Has any one had trouble with fungus, growth in hot-beds? Yes several. cure unknown

H/5/1890 -3- 245 4 Is it too late to plant an asparagus bed now? Not if you can get the roots.

5 Is it too late to set out a strawberry bed? It is a very good time.

6 Should raspberry suckers be cut off? Yes all except what you wish for next year's crop

7 How manage violets now in a cold frame Leave in the frame and Some keep the glass on

8 How succeed with water melon? Start the seeds by putting inverted sods in a cold frame, put in the seeds and cover with sand. When large enough cover cut the sod and set in hills on rows as usual.

Some members find their rose bushes and honey suckles much infected with aphid Tobacco tea of whale oil soap recommended The late posts injured the rose bushes which had been growing all winter: owing to the mild weather they were to far advanced when the frost came.

Our President again reminded us to consider it a duty for each to do his and her part to keep the society alive and active by bringing specimens and attending to all appointments with promptness. Volunteer readers are always acceptable in additon to those appointed by the President.

246 H/5;1890 -4. The specimens were from Longwood cauliflower & cabbage plants, several varieties of tomato plants, radishes lettuce Pansies and Brazilian corn for distribution, [?]aid to be the kind used to make wheat bread in South Carolina from Hermon, a beautiful Cactus from Riverton Panlo[wn?]ia flowers, asparagus, beets, radishes, pea vine a foot high, corn 7 inches, onion potato size of a walnut, Tomato & cucumber plants Springdale, Crab apple blossoms, peas & beans Rockland. Kale, pea vine, tomato plant & flowers Cloverly, salsify, corn, peas, potato, beet and cucumber plants and asparagus. Rock Spring Onions, asparagus, potato & pea plants Brooke Grove, Cabbage, onion, beet corn, pea & potato plants lettuce and flowers. Falling Green, corn, beet, potoato plants pea in bloom and onions

In our walk we saw much to admire in the natural beauties of the place; The vegetable garden was in excellent order the seeds came up remarkably well. The raspberries were trimmed and tied to their wire. The flower garden was partly in order; the many rains and the early month having prevented much work from being done in it. Double narcessus was in bloom and much admired.

Adjourned to meet next at Riverton the home of our new member Kate Janney.