Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1907-1917

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Ellen Farquhar is asked to give by writing an account of her visit in Bermuda.

The weather report was interesting. The cool weather does not come up to the killing frost of the 11th of last May Janet Miller read some interesting scraps on poultry. Some soft food is recommended for young chickens.

The report of poultry is very good this month. Sarah Hallowell proposed that we compare the report of this month with that of the corresponding month ten years ago.

To-day we have 3087 chickens 20 turkies 29 ducks In 1897 we had 1925 chickens 16 turkies 77 ducks 18 goslings, showing a great increase in the poultry industry

The Exhibits were very good. It is a marvel there could be so good a display with so little warm weather. A branch of Dogwood with beautiful pink flowers was admired very much. It grew in the woods near Riverton

Questions 1 What time transplant a holly tree? In May

2 How soon set out Cannas? Any time now 3 How much divide the roots? One sprout to each root is enough 4 When set out sweet potatoes? As soon as danger of frost is over. 5 Why do the onions wilt and die? Perhaps the onion maggot is at work. 6 How get rid of dandelions on the lawn? Use the lawn mower persistently.

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7 Is this a good time to put lime on the lawn? Yes 8 Will the seed of "Country Gentleman" corn, bought last year, be good to plant this year? Better not use 9 Will it do to trim blackberries when in bloom It will be better to wait until the fruiting is over 10 Will it do put duck and hen eggs in the same incubator? No, the duck eggs require more moisture. 11 Is it too early to plant Lima beans? Some members have planted, but the ground is cold and one who planted four weeks ago says they are just coming up. 12 Is it too late to plant Spinach? No, not too late Swiss chard is also a fine summer "greens" 13 Should an old kale bed be left for further use? No, plant a new bed in early fall. 14 Will it pay to move the plants of asparagus bed five or six years old? Opinions differ 15 Should the young plants which come up in an asparagus bed be allowed to grow? Decidedly not

Roger Farquhar brought some pea vines and asked why they were so feeble and shriveled? others had the same trouble and knew not the cause nor a remedy.

In our walk we found good order and neatness in the lawn, and the early things growing in the garden in spite of the cold, and in the flower garden the vigor of the rose bushes was admired.

Next meeting to be at Alloway Readers Isabel Miller Ellen Farquhar

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Alloway June 4th 1907

The meeting opened near the proper hour. The minutes were read and accepted Readers. 1st Isabel Miller by Dorothy Brooke read of the year 1816, "No summer that year" Ice and snow in June, July and August crops were killed.

2nd Emily Massey read that tobacco dust was a good application for plants infested with striped bugs, also a short poem and a recipe for strawberry preserves.

Volunteer, Dr. Kirk gave incidents of the year 1816 which corroborated the account of the weather of that year, read by Dorothy Brooke, and stating that corn had to be replanted three times, and sold the next winter at $4.00 per bushel. He also gave the origin of the word "Cotton-gin" a contraction of cotton-engine, and the derivation of "turbine" from "tornado".

Forethought gave a column of items from the Farm Journal of things to do in June Use the mole trap: plant late cabbage in good soil: Stir the soil as soon as possible after every rain: plant lettuce and beets Keep the Cultivator teeth and hoes bright and sharp. Keep tomato vines off of the ground by use of straw, stakes, brush or trellis.

Reader on poultry, Janet Miller read an original article, "A lay sermon on poultry matters" a plea for cleanliness and order in the poultry yard, a safeguard against vermin. Leave no rubbish to harbor, rats, minks

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and weasels, an excellen article for which the Society thanks her and hopes for more of the same sort.

Meteorologist's report; Frost and ice in May 1906 and 1907

Questions 1 What time plant Hubbard Squash 1st or 2nd week in June 2 How did ducks egg do in incubators? Not well 3 What time sow Crimson Clover in an orchard middle of July 4 How get rid of rats? A steel trap, "Rough on rats" shoot them, put red pepper in the holes 5 When move lillies of the Valley to make a new bed? After they are done blooming. and are mature. 6 When divide and reset peonies? In September

The Assistant Secretary read the list of Exhibits which were astonishingly fine, considering the late frosts, prolonged cold and many rains and little sun-shine. She reminded us of the difficulty of giving a correct report of Exhibits when the owners do not furnish lists.

Red raspberries were badly winter killed at some places and asparagus has not been so plentiful as usual owing to lack of hot sunshine. Many seeds are tardy in germinating or fail intirely, notably cucumbers and melons. Birds are thought to be more plentiful than usual and in greater variety.

In our walk we enjoyed the flower garden, an unusual one for this neighborhood. The roses were especially numerous and growing vigorously. Vegetable garden fine - and poultry yard flourishing. Next meeting to be at Avalon. Readers Ellen Farquhar & Corrie Brooke.

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Avalon July 2nd 1907

The minutes were read and, with some corrections approved

1st Reader Corrie Brooke read an account of poultry raising in Southern California. System cleanliness and great attention to heredity were used, also personal supervision. The result was a paying business

2nd Reader Ellen Farquhar, "Flowers for shady places" from Parks Magazine. The writer recommends tuberous begonias, planted on the north side of a fence or building. Rich soil with sand and leaf mould In a bed with ferns, they are beautiful. It being a summer flowering bulb those who try to hold it back to make it bloom in winter do not succeed with it.

Volunteer Dr Kirk read of the mushroom industry which is very profitable

Forethought, says, In spite of the Cong. cold wet spring some some things have done well. Peas have yielded unusally well and the quality is fine. Tomatoes are at least one month behind; melons, poor & few. Those who have not planted late tomatoes should set them out at once. Sow lettuce at intervals; plant more snap beans. The farm Journal says beets sown now for fall use are much more tender than those sown in Spring: set out celezy and force it along Make the last planting of sweet corn about the 15th. Sow cucumber for pickles sow turnip. Set out late cabbage. When egg-plants put out flowers is the time