Horticultural Society

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our eyes upon.

We do not know exactly what would be the cause for [disowning?] members from our society - but these new members surely look as if they have a life membership in the Horticultural. Long life to Della Brooke!

Lillie B. Stabler Secy.

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In memory of Robert H. Miller.

"By their work ye shall know them."

If we, of the Horticultural Society, had known Robert H. Miller only by his works, we would have believed him to be of great strength and worth : his success in his business, and along other lines proved he was a man of a very high standard.

However, we have most of us known him intimately from his youth on, and have always found a kindly, courteous, gentleman, true in all his

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relations in life; a most loving & devoted husband; father, son, & brother; a friend who was always the same.

His knowledge of gardening and management of his own garden made his advice of the kind to be relied upon. Sadly indeed shal we miss him from our meetings & elsewhere!! Another gone whose place will be kept in loving memory by us all.

Let us trust that the young men who are growing up in our neighborhood, will remember Robert H. Miller, & try to pattern their lives after his life : as a man, a neighbor, & a friend of the highest order.

If they will do this, our neighborhood will be able to keep up its reputation of industry, success and integrity, that was earned by him and others, many others, who worked hard for what they achieved.

Let us renew our interest in the meetings of this beloved society, though so many have gone we loved to have with us in memory of them we can work for the Horticultural.

Cornelia H. Bentley.

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Falling Green April 5^th. 1921 OCTOBER 1920

On the 5^th of October 1920 the Horticultural met for the first time at Harwood. This was one of our mid-day meetings, so we gathered quite punctually by 12.30, & were served with an especially delicious luncheon before going into the business of our meeting. At 2 o'clock our Pres. called us to order - his opening remarks were on the great loss our society had suffered in the death of its valued member Robert H. Miller.

Cornelia Bentley read a memorial to him she had prepared for the society, a copy of this was suggested being sent to the members of his family, and it was also to be copied in the minutes of the society. The tribute she paid him was so true, so beautiful. He was one who always took such an active interest in our meetings, & when information was wanted on any subject, it was to Robert Miller that we always turned for advice. Yes

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he is missed - he will always be sadly missed from our gatherings, & we feel with the part "How fair that land must be, such he lingers there."

The minutes of the meeting at Della Brooke were read & approved. Our hostess suggested if Della Brooke did not belong to any body, she thought it would be a good plan for the Horticultural to own it!

Cornelia Bentley was the first reader for the day, she chose an appropriate article "Last Call for Fall Planting." The author recommended "fall planting of the great array of good shrubs & small trees that flower before July & for the enduring evergreens that keep the garden bright in winter."

Emma Stabler, the next reader, told us how trees link the centuries - many historical trees were spoken of - "Mass. is a wonderful state for old trees, its trees like the old houses, have a way of getting themselves assosciated with the Father of His Country." The article ended with "yet, after all, history is not the best part of historc trees. The best of them is their [grandure?]

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& dignity, the height, the graceful spread, the simple beauty, telling a story of sunshine & silence & peace."

She read a little poem Leaves, which was appropriate for the autumn season. "When Mother Nature puts the leaves to bed, They go like little children whom I know - Some gayly, others linger long instead, Yet one and all re somehow glad to go.

A summer though, they cling upon the trees, They frolicked and they danced in merry play, Till summoned by the calling autumn breeze They leave their games & follow far away.

And then at last they settle down & lie All quiet, & soft each good night is said, The wind above them sings a lillaby - When Nature puts the little leaves to bed."

Richard Iddings read a price list of some things he copied from The American Farmer 1825, just 95 years ago - the absurdity of some of the prices makes it worth while making a note of them here.

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American Farmer 1825

[Colton M.?] 18 to 20¢ [Ch??? "?] 10 to 12¢ [?] seed bushel 3.50 to 3.75 Molasses per gal. 37 to 50 Whiskey " " 50 to 75 peach brandy gal. 1.00 to 1.25 lard lb. .12 [?] bbl. 6.00 to 6.50

As we are all interested in getting a pretty lawn on our grounds, [Jon?] Hanney read the following definition of a lawn "What is the patch of hard bare ground? It is a lawn. What grows there? Anything but grass. Will not grass live there? No, but it will die there. Is there not any way to make a good lawn? Oh yes. Plant a garden, and all the grass in the neighborhood will grow there."

In mentioning the Forethought prepared by Mary E. Gilpin, I would say the October paper was just as good as the one before. She went carefully over the flower and vegetable gardens, & told the very things needed to be done before the winter months set in.

Mary Brooke was the assist. Sec. - The

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exhibits were very fine indeed - but as it was the Hor. day, we had our proverbial mind, only more so! & I fear we could not half appreciate the beauty of the display, as one almost had threatenings of being blown from that high porch, when we tried to inspect the specimens, however the lists proved what was really before our eyes - and Brooke Grove came in second with 17 -

We were greatly entertained by a talk our Pres. gave us on his recent trip overseas. He spoke particularly of things horticultural, and agricultural - and while your sec. could not possibly repeat all he told us, the following are a few items of interest. He said there were flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere, in Scotland & England, never before had he seen such dahlias - there were regular rose trees - tall stems just covered with blossoms. The [sweet?] peas were wonderful, even the poorest cottages had their large share of blooms. It seems they do have [?] on plant life on the other side as we do - but have few flies - in June there are some

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[cattle?] flies.

They had the finest grapes he had [ever?] seen, also the finest plums, as large as California plums, but a better flavor. He saw strawberries in windows, & a few peaches, but did not see a single stalk of corn, all the corn he saw was shelled corn in a window the day he came home.

Cousin Charlie brought a little wheat home with him & is going to plant some in his garden. The Hor. will want to hear from it later. They raise elegant cabbage, & also a horse bean that was interesting. The Sec. had no question, but said she felt the Hor. had lost a real friend in the death of Prof. Jon Iddings. While not a member of the society, he had been a visitor upon many occasions, & it was always a pleasure to have him meet with us. He will not only be missed in our meetings, but the neighborhood has lost a valued friend.

Jon Janney spoke beautifully of Mr. Idding's life & works. His wonderful collection of butterflies has been given to the National Museum in Washington, it is the largest private collection

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ever given to the museum.

The first question asked was - What is the proper time to pick Keifer pears? One said there is no time - they just drop. Let them hang on the trees as long as they can, then pick. They are not worth selling, but pick them carefully, wrap in paper & they will last until spring.

Apples are picked in a pile, what is the best way to keep them? Just let them stay in a pile - uncovered. The Pres. suggested putting weeds over them, they are not tight like straw.

What was the trouble with the grape vines, they grew yards & yards, but no grapes. Likely too much trimmed, the bearing vines probably trimmed off.

Must Mrs. Davis put boan meal on flower garden this fall? Cousin Mary [Bund?] used to say to put on as thick as you want, any time of year. [With?] nitrate of soda in the spring - while plant is growing.

White [clematis?] was [quite killed?] last year - it was cut down & did so well, must it be done each year? Some cut back each year.

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Hannah Stabler wanted to know if the long young growth of her roses must be cut off. It was thought best to cut off to a reasonable length.

When tomatoes are picked to put away - must you keep them in a light or dark place? Market gardeners place in a hot bed. [Horace Bond?] told of green tomatoes each wrapped in paper, in bureau drawers - & they kept wonderfully, they ripen better in the dark. Brooke Grove keeps them in baskets and Cover with a heavy blanket.

How keep sweet potatoes? Keep them very warm until they sprout, then put them anywhere where they wont freeze.

How can a bed of parsley be kept for winter use? Cedar bows are good for it, some plant in pots for winter.

If you were going to sow a good sized lawn to [set?] in grass, & it could not be done for ten days anyhow, should it be done this fall? [Sam?] Janney sowed it a month ago & it came up well. Some say try & if it does not take a good set, do it over in the spring.