Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1880-1891

262 H/10/1890 -2Brooke Grove celery, parsnips carrot parsnipes squash, cucumber tomatoes and three displays of flowers.

Fair Hill flowers and cabbage Rockland flowers, Lima beans, wax beans, knife beans, 24 inches long, tomatoes turnips, cabbage 11 inches in diameter salsify, pepper, carrot, okra, onions, squash corn, sweet potatoes and white potatoes Rock Spring, Lima beas & cucumber

1^st reader Warwick P. Miller read an article comparing the life and business of the farmer, with merchant and others, which went to prove the superiority of farming as a business and in promoting longevity. 2^nd reader Ellen Farquhar, on the culture of the Chinese sacred lily or [p?]ass flower a variety of Narcissus a volunteer article on the culture of bulbs &c contributed by Francis Stabler, was read.

The readers for next meeting. Dr Green and Alice T. Stabler

Questions 1^st Is it time to hill up celery? Yes

2 What time dig sweet potatoes? Before frost. One grower says, if one leaf is frosted it injures the pototoes.

3 What do with a bulb bed, overgrown with weeds and grass? Get them out After the tops die down, the roots bulbs will not be hurt by shallow hoeing

H/10/1890 -3. 263 4 When dig salsify a portion before the ground freezes and dig the rest as wanted during open spells.

5 When mulch a strawberry bed? Before the ground freezes, and remove early in the spring from immediately over the plants. Ellen Farquhar described the Banksia a rose as it grows in Europe to the tops of the houses A member mentioned a cherry tree in bloom Sept 30^th. Another had seen chestnut apple and pear trees with blossoms on them.

We had a pleasant walk in the garden where we remarked the long clean rows of winter vegetables. Strawberry beds and rows of raspberries; in the flower garden were many brillant flowers: A large circular bed of nasturtiums was a great attraction. The fine condtion of the gardens and the plants on the porches and the many beautiful flowers which have come to our meetings, all, tell of the watchful care of Robert Miller during the long absence of the rest of the family, who spent the summer in Europe.

Some of the company climbed the tower for a view from the top. Some who went up bravely came down in a most cautious manner and others declined, emphatically, to make the ascent.

After our ususal enjoyment of the Society we adjourned, hoping all to meet in April

264 H/4/1891 -1Tanglewood April 7^th 1891 Temp 46^o Our first meeting for this year was at the beautiful home of our newest members, Alban and Sue Thomas. Our President opened the meeting by giving expression to our pleasure at being as our President. The meeting was well attended every family being represented by one or more members, with the exception of Fair Hill. The guests were Mary Stabler of Alexander. Miss Smith of [blank?] George Miller and Rebecca Moore Mr. Reeves of Washington State.

The specimens were from Longwood, flowers, salsify and parsnips Riverside flowers salsify and carrots Avalon flowers and salsify Edgewood flower lettuce salsify and parsnip Riverton flowers, parsnips, salsify, lettuce, onion, and tomato plants Rock Spring lettuce, cabbage plants & Kale Stanmore salsify Rockland, flowers, potatoes, turnips, onions, lettuce carrot, parsnips and salsify. Cloverle cabbage, carrot, salsify , potatoes and huge parsnips White Hall flowers Hermon, flowers

Our President again repeated his oft expressed wish that each and every family

H/4/1891 -2- 265 should being specimens of fruits flowers and vegetables - to each meeting. He thinks it a duty we owe to our hostess, to do whatever is in our power to add to the pleasure of her meeting and make it as interesting as possible.

The Poultry Alloway 24 chickens Brook Green 12 chickens Cloverly 30 chickens Fair Hill 100 chickens Falling Green 97 chickens Hermon 43 chickens Longwood 22 chickens 5 ducks Norwood 23 chickens Riverside 16 chickens Riverton 19 chickens Rockland 11 chickens Rock Spring 50 chickens Tanglewood 46 chickens Stanmore 35 chickens

The members had very generally had a great many eggs.

The 1^st reader Dr. Green read "Old fashioned flowers" A plea that they be not neglected in which some of our members joined 2^nd reader Alice T. Stabler, "A domestic [interreg num"?]

Suggestions for the good of the Society being called for. A member suggested that the Society should have a scrap book in which

266 H/4/1891 -3to save clippings of interest recipes etc. Another member suggested that the recipes should be tried first, that we may not have a collection of theories which are not borne out in practice. a letter from Ellen Farquhar suggesting "that members be notified at each meeting of the work proper to be done before the next. It might prevent persons with failing memories from neglecting to sow Kale, turnips late cabbage seed, celery &c." This suggestion was approved. One member said he had tried for 5 years, to have a bed of Kale and always forgot to plant at the proper time. The President appointed Henry Miller to attend to it.

The reader for next meeting Corrie Brooke and Robert H. Miller.

Questions 1 Are Burpie's seeds liked? Yes by several at who use them

2 Do currants thrive best in the shade or in full sunshine? A difference of opinion

3 How get rid of moles in a hot bed? Catch them, with a mole trap

4 How get rid of chickweed in flower beds? Gas house lime has been recommended

5 How many use salt on asparagus beds? 5 members use it occasionally [b?]rine kills the plants; dry salt kills every thing else, the chief thing in