Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1907-1917

H/5/1908-3. 33

6. How keep bacon from rusting? Wrap in paper before putting bags. Some oen says rubbing it over with powdered borax keeps flies off.

7. Is there anything we can put on rose bushes now to prevent leaf blight, and discourage rose bugs? Try Bordeaux mixture.

8. How does Ellen Farquhar raise such rhubarb? Make very rich and put a barrel over to make it grow tall. (2 1/2 feet)

9. Fay's prolific currant showing fine promise of fruit, should the berries on the ends of the bunches be very much smaller than the others considered to be the natural habit of the plant.

10. We are told that to scratch a piece of soap before working in the ground will prevent the earth from getting under the nails disagreeably.

The exhibit were excellent in quality and quantity. The garden looked very promising, perfectly clean and with rows of vegetables looking green and growing well.

Meet next at Fair Hill.

Readers, Anna Farquhar

Anna Nesbitt

34 H/6/1908-1-

Fair Hill June 2nd 1908

The minutes were read and corrected. The readers 1st Anna Farquhar had not heard of her appointment. 2nd reader Anna Nesbitt read from Floral Life "Doctoring valuable trees." An ox heart cherry tree had a limb broken off disclosing a hollow. A fine smooth mortar was put in the hollow and where a limb had to be taken off the stub was painted.

The ground around the tree was fertilized and the tree bore fine fruit. Eliza Moore told of seeing trees in Europe braced with iron rods. Volunteer, F.D. Stabler "Two fine specimens of fern-leaved beech were planted by Mrs. and President Roosevelt on Memorial Day Feb 22nd in the WHite House Lawn. The trees were thirty years old. They were brought from Seaton Park nearly a mile away with large frozen balls of earth. They have made a thrifty growth and show no sign of having received a check to their vigor. A Russo-American oak was planted by the President assisted by Sec. Hichcook and Sec. James Wilson Apr. 6th 1904. It is lineal descendant from a native American oak which grew at the Old tomb of Washington at Mt. Vernon. Acorns from it were sent by Charles Sumner to the Czar of Russia. They grew and this tree came from an acorn from the Czar's tree. 2nd article verses "But Yesterday."

Dr. Kirk brought seeds of the soap tree described at the previous meeting. Meteorologist absent. Janet Miller absent.

H/6/1908-2- 35

Corrie Brooke says Strychnine in eggs will kill crows. Mr. Brigham pulls two or three feathers out of the wings of little turkies so the weight wil not make them droop.

Forethought

Fight weeds before they get the upper hand. Set out sweet potatoes at once if it has not been done; they should make their growth early; plant a succession of beans, beets, lettuce, cabbage, etc. Plant corn three plantings in a month. Cucumbers for pickles plant now. In the flower garden stir the earth to keep down the weeds and to promote root growth. Look after pot plants do not let them get too dry nor be too wet. Train vines; stake dahlias; transplant ferns from the woods if you like a fern bed; they take readily to cultivation.

The exhibits were good and beautiful and abundant.

Questions

1. How far apart plant watermelons? Seven feet, the rows and 3 or 4 feet apart in the row. 2. How treat a very handsome Gloxinia to make it recover its beauty? Very little experience with them. 3. Will it injure a tree to cut a limb off now June? No. 4. When move a peony? September is recommended by books. They can be moved in the Spring but it takes them longer to recover. 5. When move Evergreens? In May. 6. Small roots of Salsify left in the ground are now going to seed. Shall we sow the seed? Yes.

H/6/1908-3.

7. How many Lima beans leave to a pole? Two. They transplant easily by using two trowels. 8. Can we transplant beets? Yes, cut part of the top off. We are told melon vines can be transplanted.

In moving a bush what is diffuclt to move, it said to be a good plan to sow grain around it. The roots make a mat which holds the earth together.

In our visit to the garden we found it as clean as possible and plants growing. The cabbage looked well; tomatoes and other plants set out.

In the poultry house and grounds were three hundred chickens, sixty turkies and a number of ducks.

The next meeting to be at Tanglewood. Readers Dr. Kirk Isabel Miller

37 H/7/1908-1-

Tanglewood

July 7th 1908

The weather has been so hot for days that some members proposed that this meeting should be a late meeting; Supper near six o'clock and the business after supper. Tables were place on the beautiful lawn and chairs and hammocks and the supper served. Then the minutes were read and approved.

1st Reader Dr. Kirk read "Nut=growing in Maryland. The situation of Maryland is considered especially good for the purpose. The raising of chestnuts and Persian or English walnuts is becoming a promising industry and thousands of trees have been planted.

2nd Reader Isabel Miller read of a proposed Boulevard from Washington to Gettysburg, a memorial to Lincoln. She also read of a steam R.R. from Washington to Gettysburg rumors of which are floating around.

Forethought

Seeds to be planted this month. Cucumbers for pickles, lettuce, beans, and corn and turnips from 10th to 20th. A light covering of grass is good to kiem tomatoes from becoming injured by the hot sun.

In the flower garden, keep down weeds pinch in chrysanthemums till August 1st. Sow seeds of prennials take cuttings of geraniums.

Meteorologist reports the weather hot. Those who feed young chicks on soaked wheat