Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1907-1917

H/7/1908-3.

find it makes them very vigorous. Some members have lost chickens by their eating a dead animal. Foxes have been very troublesome. Dr. Kirk says the experiment station investigating the diseases of chicken. The exhibits were good. Corn tomatoes and [pucts] were perfect. Flowers were not so abundant as usual owing to the dry weather and the absence of Ellen Farguhar!

Questions {1}When plants winter cabbage? From 5th to 20th of July. {2}Is there any everblooming running rose? Mary Washington and Mad. Alfred Carrier. {3}Is it time to cut off asparagus? Not till it turns yellow. {4}Lilacs are covered with white mildew. Thought to be the the usual habit of lilacs. {5}Is it too late to plant pumpkins? Try it Robert Miller who usually trims his grape vines and has no grapes, did not trim them this year and has a fine promise of friut.

In our visit to the garden, the vetables were flourishing and in the flower garden the beds were edged with brick. The hot beds had stone walls. The very long spell of dry weather had made plants mature early which lessened the bloom.

A threatened storm made many guests leave before the end of the meeting and and kept others anxious.

Tho' this meeting was charming and all got home before the rain, don't let us have a late meeting again! To meet next at Rockland, readers Mrs. Massey and Gladys Brooke.

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Rockland

August 4th 1908

This meeting was held out on the beautiful lawn; a large assembly of charmingly placid people, placid tho' the mercury panged from 90° to 94°.

The minutes were read. 1st reader of selected articles, Gladys Brooke, read "Wood Magic" from the Outlook. 2nd reader Emily Massey, "To get dandelions out of a lawn." Cutting out with a knife was the method used and very few came the next year. 2nd "The wonder of peat." 3rd Lines on Duty. Volunteer Lily Scabler, Tea leaves used as a fertilizer: its qualities found by accident. Dr. Kirk read "Orange trees moving North. After ten years work, crossing with the hardy orange, the Department of Agriculture experimenters hope to get an eatable orange which will be hardy with us. 2nd article on the wonderful fruits of Oregon.

Forethought. After keeping the gardens clean for four months, it is so easy to let weeds grow in August and so hard to keep when down. Peaches pears, melons corn and Lima beans are some of the attractions of August also tomatoes and eggplant and they should not be hidden by weeds. Sow seeds of vegetables that require a short season, such as peas, beans, spinach lettuce and kale. Of peas tho' the agricultural papers recommend planting them after trying it for three successive years and getting but two messes, we no longer advise sowing them in August. Keep strawberry beds

40 worked, sow seeds of perennials, give roses a shallow working and a little fertilizer. Chrysanthemums need water to secure large flowers and pinching back until August. Begin potting plants for winter the latter part of this month.

Meteorologist has no report.

Janet Miller had nothing on poultry.

Roget Fargnhar will take some chickens to the experiment station to try to find the cause and cure of a disease affecting his chickens. Foxes have destroyed many chickens at some paces and rats at others.

The exhibits are fine and we have cause to be pleased with the fruits flowers and vegetables.

Questions {1}What are we to do without cabbage and was asked, and we find most members [hawples?]? {2}Is it too late to plant cucumbers? Rather late, try it. {3}Who have had Lima beans, most members have had them but not plentifully. Some think it best to have but one plant to a pole. {4}What the best lettuce for winter? Iceberg. {5}Currant bushes 38 years old, bore well but berries are small; what the best varieties? Fay's prolific, London Market and North Star. {6}What do for a new rose bed a year old which is not flourishing? Fertilize and mulch. {7}Do we want our society represented at the meeting of the state agricultural society in Baltimore? A vote resulted in the appointment of Dr. Kirk and Chalres F. Brooke to represent us.

In our walk we saw a garden which had supplied many vegetables and there were

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and many left for winter. Plum, apple and pear trees were loaded. The flower garden was admired and our hostess told us one of her friends had not only presented her with 18 rose bushes, but had planted them for her! A friend indeed!

We were shown a new chicken house which our host had made, wire sides, half rich mesh, thigh roof and a lock on the door.

Next meeting at Falling Green

Readers Ellen Farquhar Mildred Bentley

H/9/1908-1-

Falling Green

42 Falling Green

September 7th 1908

Our President congratulated us on being at this old home and upon our having such good Horticultural weather for our meetings.

The minutes were approved. 1st Reader Ellen Farquhar, from Park's Magazine, "For a Calla that will not bloom a table spoonful of castor oil, once a week put on the earth near the plant. 2nd a description of Pope's villa on the Thames." The garden is not large but celebrated for its wealth of beautiful trees shrubs and velvet lawns. A Cedar of Lebanon 200 years old, is regarded as one of the finest specimens known surpassing even those at Warwick Castle."

2nd reader Edith Bentley, "Poison Ivy various remedies were given, sulphuri acid, salt, arsenate of copper etc. etc. Volunteer Dr. Kirk. The origin of the "Weeping Willow introduced in this land from St. Helena an account of the uses of skimmed milk were read. Many articles are made of it; namely, knife handles and like implements called ivory. It is used in building houses and in painting them. Eliza Moore saw in Italy, lawn or garden vases which found were made of milk and plaster of Paris. They had stood the weather many years. The Secretary had used a paint made with milk and Portland cement on a carriage house. It looked and lasted well. A letter was read which came from the Secretary of the National apple