Horticultural Society

H/8/1904 -3Unifinished Business

Paying for our new book.

New business, Janet Miller introduced the subject of an Exhibition this fall such as we used to have The meeting of members of the various Societies, to exhibit fruits, grains etc. to be sent to St. Louis, had been so interesting and agreeable that some of our members and members of the clubs, hoped for a revival of the exhibitions, in which all the neighborhood was interested, a vote was taken; there was but one negative. After much discussion, a committee was appointed to communicate with the other societies and decide upon the kinds of Exhibits and fix a date for it. Committee Janet Miller Ellen Farquhar, Robert Miller, John Bentley and Dr. Kirk The President - read a letter from Asa Stabler on preservatives for fruits and vegetables to be sent to the state meeting

Questions 1 How has it been with tomatoes as regards blight? It has been bad some places

H/8/1904 -4one member had 102 tomatoes on a vine affected with it 2 How destroy the striped bug? Try a corn cob soaked in petroleum or tar put on stones under the plants 3 When plant spinach for spring use? Broadcast in September and cover with straw before freezing weather A magazine offered a reward for the number of feathers on a chicken - It was found there were an average 8137. 4 Dr. Kirk brought a specimen of blight on an apple tree, will the tree recover Advised to cut off diseased parts 5 Should an azalea which has been in the same pot two years be repotted? It can remain in the same pot four or five years.

A member described a disease among chickens, which was pronounced "limber neck"

One member who had been much troubled with moles had none this summer: at some places the potato beetles were scarce and some had no striped bugs. I was

H/10/1904 -1Riverton Oct. 4th 1904

The Society met at 12 m. with numerous guests among whom were fifteen grandchildren of our hostess, and the bride of her younges son. After lunch we assembled and took up the business of the day. The minutes were read and approved. A.G. Thomas reported that our debt for new book for minutes had been paid.

Readers, Ellen Farquhar read of bulbs tender, out-door and house. Be sure to allow time for good root growth before bringing into the light those for the window garden: those which have bloomed in the house should be watered very little and may be set in the ground in the spring.

2nd reader Mary Kirk read, "Birds of different and their habits of feeding"; the insect eaters are of great value to the farmer, and also those which eat the seeds of weeds. Our President has been much interested in the Bob-o-link

H/10/1904 -2It changes its plumage at different seasons and is known by different names in different sections of the country. A stringent law for the protection of birds is of great use: Dr. Kirk gave some statistics of the great number of dollars worth which are destroyed annually in some places, threatening the extermination of some spicies

3rd Janet Miller on poultry: "Fall and winter care of Poultry." Too much corn produces vertigo; mixed food best; fruit cabbage and other vegetables and alfalfa hay. good cabbage and turnips are said to give eggs an undesirable flavor, wheat bran and middling excellent and two or three times a week meat scraps. They should have exercise.

Volunteer by Dr. Kirk "A parasite which destroys the codlin moth, the discovery of which means that the world's out-put of apples and pears can be made about three times its present size

Forethought, Among other excellen information, says it is far better to use sweet potatoes early than to attempt to keep them long. Tomatoes can be enjoyed late

H/10/1904 -3in the fall be gathering before frost and keeping in a cool room, green ones will go on ripening for weeks. Gather Lima beans ripe and green, before frost Take care of cabbage turnips & carrots before hard freezing. Hill celery and have some parsnips salsify and celery in cellar Clear weeds off strawberry beds and cover with straw. Pay great attention to peach trees; make rich and keep clean, prune annually, thin fruit etc. The flower garden can be improved and spring work lessened doing a good deal of trimming and clearing up now. Plant bulbs this month and take up canna root The meteorologist reports a far greater rainfall this year than last.

The Exhibits were very fine and in great variety.

We were given a pleasant variation in our routine by the bride Mrs. Frank Janney, consenting to sing to us, after which we had the following

Questions 1. Should rose bushes be moved now or in the spring? Either 2. Is new corn bad for turkies? Some think it is

H/10/1904 -43. How keep parsley for winter? A cold frame suggested. Some mild winters it lives out without protection.

4. a member lost nearly all her rose bushes in the severe weather. A heavy mulch of manure saved one. Try a fodder protection from cold winds and put coal ashes about them several inches deep

5. an azalea repotted two years ago is sending out a great growth; what treatment should it have? Mrs. Jones repots hers in the spring and in winter keeps it in a South window in her third story without fire.

6. What is a good situation for keeping cabbage and roots? Some plant it head down in a furrow and cover with straw The old-fashioned way is to put close together, roots down - and cover with rails and fodder about two feet above for protection and ventilation. A pit or cellar is not good. Turnips require a light covering of earth, carrots more, Parsnips and salsify are best left out and dug as wanted. A few in the cellar covered with sand is a convenience in case of a long continued freeze.

H/10/1904 -5Our friend Mrs. Jones was asked her plan for a bed of bulbs? She has the bed dug two feet deep and puts fine mesh chicken wire all around in the bed before the earth is put in: to protect from moles & mice. Then fill the bed with well rotted manure, then good light soil and plant

7. Should rose bushes which have grown tall be cut back? Opinions divided

8. Plant lettuce in a cold frame or a hot-bed? In a cold frame

The next place of meeting to be arranged by the Executive Committee who will also appoint an assistant Sec that Anna Farquhar may have a rest

Readers Anna Farquhar Corrie Brooke Janet Miller, poultry

E.S. Iddings Sec.

H/4/1905 -1-

Avalon April 4th 1905

Our first meeting for 1905. A beautiful day and a good meeting. Our President expressed his pleasure that we have come through the coldest we have known without a gap in our membership.

After the mintes, by-laws and Resolutions were read there was a discussion as to the use of Resolution 5th to let the hostess know how many members from each family expected to come to the meeting. A vote was taken and the majority were in favor of the rule. It was decided to take the report of the meteorologist in place of the noon temperature.

Readers 1st Anna Farquhar read an account of some of the wonders accomplished by Luther Burbank by his experiments in Horticulture Reclaiming deserts, producing thorn less black berries and Roses, immense poppies improvement in walnuts, chestnuts plums tomatoes and producing white blackberries.

2. Corrie Brooke "How to start an asparagus

H/4/1905 -2-

bed" Make a mellow soil putting in sand; the author preferred raising plants from seed; if you buy get one year old plants and he thinks one variety as good as another 2nd Article "Spring has come to town." Volunteer a Floral Phillipic and "a domestic Platform" Forethought very interesting and valuable. It is considered a very important part of meetings

3rd reader Janet Miller, by Isabel. Insect powder should be used liberally to prevent increase of vermin. Keep the chicks dry and in case of bowel trouble use dry food, baked corn bread, oat meal, bread crumbs, broken wheat and finely broken charcoal: Sweet oil for gapes and a mixture of Sulphur Mercury and lard for head lice. Coops should be well-aired after being painted. John C. Bentley considers gas [house] lime the best preventive of gapes Air-slaked lime should be used liberally

Poultry report

H/4/1905 -3-

Alloway chickens 26 Avalon " 18 Brooke Grove " 290 Edgewood 6 Hermon 1 Highland 95 Rockland 68 Rock Spring 1 Tanglewood 1 Fair Hill 50 556

Corresponding month last year 609 a difference of 153

Exhibits

Brooke Grove Kale, cabbage, potatoes beets, parsnips, celery, onions and Flowers

Fair Hill flowers

Riverside flowers

Alloway lettuce, flowers

Woodburn lettuce parsley & salsify

Falling Green turnips

Hermon potatoes, apples, radishes, cabbage plant, flowers

Edgewood, Kale, turnips, celery, onions parsley, potatoes salsify and parsnips

Highland onions, pea plant salsify plant and lettuce