Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1880-1891

H/4/1891 -4- 267 raising it is to make the bed rich. Manure in the fall and fork it in lightly in spring

6 How plant parsley? Soak the seed and sow very early

7 How and when plant sweet peas? 4 to 6 inches deep late in the fall or in Feb or at the time garden peas are planted.

8 How far apart plant pear trees and apple trees? 25 feet for pears. 35 to 40 for apple trees

9 How deep plant Caladium roots? Two inches below the surface

10 Is this the proper time to take straw or covering off of strawberry beds? Do not take it off; open around each plant and leave it for a mulch

11 How keep turkey eggs until time to set them. Keep in a mild room in bran or saw dust with the large end down, or turn them daily

12 How keep chickens from thieves? Lock the chicken up and the thieves when you have the chance

The question of what gardening had been done which is asked at this first meeting, was received with total silence. Upon being repeated it was discovered that one member had planted early potatoes. He was immediately asked "did you plant them in

268 H/4/1891 -5.

the mud? The very rainy weather had made it remarkable that the member at Brooke Grove had found any ground fit to plant.

There were several who complained that hot beds were not doing well A member told of some one who had tomato seed come up in four days by putting moss on a piece of woven wire then the earth, sow the seeds and put over a stove.

Our walk was deferred until a future meeting, owing to the early meeting and the wet weather which prevented much our door work.

The plants in the bay window attracted much attention. They were so luxuriant, clean and healthy

After a happy afternoon we separated hoping to meet next month at Brooke Grove

H/5/1891 -1- 269 Brooke Grove May 5^th 1891 noon 42^o to 50^o Assembled at the usual hour. The absent were Longwood, Norwood, Riverton White Hall. Our guests were Alice Taylor, Lizzie Bond and Elizabeth Stabler.

The specimen were very fine: from Alloway peonies and a fine cactus, lettuce onions, pear vine 6 inches high and a tomato plant: from the Cedars, flowers, beautiful geraniums &c - and pink lilies and caladium roots for distribution: from Avalon two bouquets, one of them brilliant Nasturtiums; from Fair Hill flowers: from Hermon a cactus in bloom and a tomato plant from Sharon Persian lilacs: from Rockland tomato plants 8 in. high cabbage, lettuce, and egg-plants. From Falling Green, pea vine 12 in high, bean plant, corn 5 in high, beet squash and potato plants; from Rock Spring pea vine 12 in high, potato plat 11 in. corn 6 in onions and asparagus: from Tanglewood, flowers, tomato, beet, radish pea and bean plants. Riverside flowers. Dahlia tuberase and pink lily roots for distribution Elizabeth Stabler brought specimens of fruit from B. Gilpin Stabler's fruit farm in California. Almonds, figs, nectarines, pears, peaches 8 apricots

Readers 1^st Corrie Brooke per Mr M. Miller read how to raise melons; make the bed very rich

270 H/5/1891 -2pinch back when very small and again when 6 in. high and leave but 4 or 5 melons on a vine. 2^ndReader Robert H. Miller read from "the Country Gentlemen." The farmer's Gardner" Strongly recommending plowing in the fall and under draining to make it possible to plant early in the spring. The writer generally planted his garden in March. Only four tiimes in 17 years had he planted as late as April (in Butler Co. O.) His experience was that it was wet ground and not cold weather that persented people from having early gardens.

Suggestions for the good of the Society; it was proposed that each member should write a list of the dates when they first used vegetables and give to the Sec. to read instead of asking all the members. Considered a good, suggestion if the members would remember to write the lists.

Henry Miller was asked for a list of the work for the month; plant garden seeds. keep weeds from those already planted. Set out tomatoes egg plants, peppers etc.

The readers for next meeting John C. Bentley and Sue L. Thomas. The The Poultry Alloway Chickens 47 Avalon Chickens 60 Brooke Grove Chickens 18

H/5/1891 -3- 271 Edgewood Chickens 89 Fair Hill Chickens 129 ducks 17 Falling Green Chickens 150 Hermon 183 Riverside 50 ducks 9 Rockland 128 Rock Spring 28 ducks 30 gos 11 Tanglewood 80 Stanmore 80 The Cedars 102

Questions 1 How keep ground nice from eating sweet potatoes? Poison them.

2 Should sweet potatoes be planted in Low or high ground? High ground

3 How stick peas? Some use the sticks in the old-fashioned way, others use laths and binder twine or wire and some use dwarf varieties.

4 How late set hens? Till 1^st of June; begin again middle of August.

5 How apply Helebore for rose slugs? Two tablespoonsful of powdered helebore, pour on it a pint of hot water and two gals. of cold: a whisk broom is a good sprinkler or use a watering pot. One application is ofter sufficient: Use it for Currant worms and the insects which injure the mountain ask

6 How are bush Lima beans liked?