Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1907-1917

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Dr. Kirk told of immense asparagus beds, 7000 acres, on an island on the coast of California Forethought, a little wail over the seeds now in the "cold, cold ground", but cheerful hopes for the next plantings. We must begin the fighting of weeds as soon as the ground is dry enough--trim rose bushes raspberries etc. Plant melon seeds early and a second planting later Fertilize roses, spade flower beds; take cuttings sow seeds of annuals; plant Chrysanthemum set out straw berry beds. The weather report gives the highest temperature in April last year was 88° this year 82° Lowest last year 89° this year 43° Average " " 59° " " ' 58¾ Poultry, Janet Miller read "Combining fruit and with poultry" good for both by enriching the ground and destroying insects. Nothing more profitable than ducks. The writer had an old farm. It was poor and out of condition but was nearly reclaimed by raising poultry on it. Janet uses an old hot-bed as a brooder with good results. Margaret Magruder recommends Insect powder for chickens with gapes. Apply it with the puff or bellows. The chickens cough up the worms.

Poultry Alloway 110 chickens Avalon 21 Brooke Grove 283 Cloverlea 20 Falling Green 47 Hermon 22 Norwood 20 Riverton 12

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Rockland 62 Rock Spring 303 Tanglewood 23 Wood burn 150 Fair Hill 176 Highland 30 --------1279 A guest, Lizzie Scott, had 700 eggs from 9 ducks C.F. Brooke says there is a great difference in brooders. Those which are best ventilated being superior to the others, chickens needing fresh air all the time. John Bentley described a neighbors way of warming one of his chickenrooms; a sheet iron stove with a long pipe crossing the room twice. Kate Janney has her young chickens her conservatory. Robert Miller told of an apple tree in his yard which bears six tassels of apples and has for several years. That part of the ground used to be the chicken yard which he thinks accounts for the unfailing yield. of fruit.

The assistant Secretary gave the lists of Exhibits; fine parsnips, potatoes, salsify turnips, kale, spinach, onions, apples & Flowers

The Executive committee decided that the society should have vases for its flowers. Robert Miller was appointed to collect 16ct from each family to purchase them. Questions. Is it well to plant vegetables in the same places year after year? Some think it better not to do it, Others say if we put on plenty or manure it will be all right--but that many people do not know what "plenty" is.

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2nd Should straw be taken off of strawberry beds now? No, leave it on and loosen it over the plants so they can get through. 3 What should be done to a lawn which looks very badly now? Sow fertilizer, ashes fine manure, over it and on the bare spots sow grass seed: blue grass said to be much better than lawn-grass and less expensive Corrie Brooke has a fine set of grass by using ashes from the stoves unslacked 4 How get new grapevines, by cuttings? Too late for cuttings now. Get the vines from Nursery and plant 6 or 8 feet apart. 5 Is it well to put ashes on asparagus beds? Not much good. Manure the bed in the fall 6 Is it too early to plant string beans? No if a freeze comes you lose only the seed. 7 How prepare ground for tomatoes? Dig holes and make very rich; tie some to stakes. Another way is to run a furrow, put in manure, put some of the earth back so the roots will not come in contact with the manure. then plant, Nitrate of soda is recommended 8 a holly tree turning yellow. Is it dying? Thought not. only shedding, "leaves have their time to fall." 9 Has any one tried raising rhubarb from seed? Yes, but you will have to wait two years. 10 Can we raise cowslips from seed? Yes. 11 Rhubarb planted this year is growing vigorously. Will it do to use it this this season? Yes.

Charles Brooke thinks well of the

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Japanese wineberry. The chief objection to it is that the birds like them so well we do not get our share.

The secretary proposed a plan for appointing the readers for each meeting which she thinks will lessen the work of the President; she suggests that he go regularly down the list of members beginning with Alloway and AvalonBrooke Grove and the Cedars and so on in regular rotation.

A snow squall prevented our visit to the garden. The men who went, gave a good report of it. Our expert in strawberry culture says he never saw a better promise for a crop

The next meeting to be at Riverton

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Riverton May 7th 1907

The minutes were read and approved. No readers had been appointed for this meeting A volunteer from Dr. Kirk on the Colorada out-put of canned peas: 3000 acres, from which they put up 1000 cans per hour; The work of cultivating and threshing, immense, The vines are used for ensilage 2nd Kate Janney our hostess read of utilizing egg shells for flower-pots 3rd Sarah Kirk read an amusing verse "Queen of May" begging that she might have furs, warm wraps and medicin suitable for modern May weather. Miss Mary Janney told a California story of 10 acres of pop-corn stored in a barn the barn caught fire, the corn popped, and --- the barn !

Forethought "as the season is backward we think there would be no advantage in setting out tomatoes before the 15th spray and dip the plants in Bordeaux mixture. Set out late tomato plants in June plant a succession of beets, beans and lettuce. Plant corn every two weeks until middle of July. Keep strawberries worked all thro the season, and your garden; a neighbor plows his every week and it does not have time to become overgrown with weeds. Keep the hoe going unceasingly. It is very important to thin out roots. Plant plenty of Nasturtiums, salvias Dahlias, poppies etc Watch for the first slug and give it hel ebore.