Horticultural Society

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Highland July 3rd 1906

We assembled at the usual hour having passed, unharmed, through various storms accompanied by thunder and lightening.

The minutes were read and accepted.

Readers 1st Hannah Stabler, by her daughter Lena, gave us interesting extracts from "Industries of the Shakers" in Good Housekeeping. Forty years ago, they made Cider Apple Sauce, raised poppies for the opium, dried corn, raised herbs and raised roses for use - making rose water. "In order that we might not be tempted to fasten a rose upon our dress or put it in water to keep, the rule was that the flower should be plucked with no stem at all."

2nd reader Dr. Magruder, an article on Michican celery. The soil black rich and moist; the plants bleached between boards, without earth

Volunteer Ellen Farquhar, "Grafting Dahlias

Forethought. Recommended setting out cabbage at intervals until the 10th of August

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Report of Meteorologist interesting.

Report on Poultry, Margaret Magruder told of a cure for gapes in chickens, Insect powder flirted with a fan over the group of chickens. Gashouse lime seems efficacious at some places. It has been found that chickens kept on board floors have no gapes.

Mrs. Davis collected money for the Secretary from some of the members and will collect from the others at a future meeting.

Our members are reminded to bring lists of their exhibits

Questions

1. Will it be well to set out raspberry plants now? Better to wait until Spring

2. Would it be a good plan to plow an old strawberry bed and plant cabbage plants? Some thought cabbage would do better in another place. Try it in part of the ground and sow turnips in the other part.

A tomato was shown which had a disease that puzzled the experts. A sort of rot, cause unknown.

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4. Will the young shoots that are putting up now among the blackberry vines do to set out in the spring? Yes.

5. A rose bush not thriving what treatment would be best for it? Dig around it and put in manure.

6. Is it well to sow grass seed during the Summer? Yes, on small bare spots where it can be protected with brush it may grow but larger places best be left until Spring.

7. For green worm on cabbage try 1/4 lb fly powder 3/4 lb. of flour. Mix well and put on early in the morning.

8. Will sowing salt on celery be good for it? It will probably kill it.

9. What treatment best for an azalea in summer? Make the earth rich and sink the pot in the ground in a shady place.

The specimen tables showed fine vegetables and flowers and fruits in great abundance.

A plea was presented, and signed by many, to stop the gambling at our County Fair. The rains prevented our seeing the gardens.

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the President and others appointed her to the position.

Forethought advises sowing lettuce now to be transplanted later to cold frames Boston market and Iceberg the best headers; give strawberry beds a good working and fertilize. Dig sweet potatoes early. Lift geraniums now if you want winter bloom; repot begonias; set out bulbs in the garden and pot some for the house.

The specimens were very fine both vegetables and fruits. The flowers brilliant and in great variety.

Questions

1. Is there any chance of curing yellows in peach trees by injecting potash or any chemical? It was not thought it would cure the trees; the Secretary was requested to write to the Agricultural Department to inquire what was being done for this disease.

The subject of vines turning opposite ways North and South of the equator was mentioned. It has not been settled yet. It is said that Conch shells are "rights and lefts"

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in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

2. Is it possible to change the color of a hydrangea? An instance was given of a beautiful pie one changing to blue after the chemicals of a Daguerreotypist had been thrown about it.

A complaint was made of a great growth of Lima beans and few beans formed. Supposed the wet season and too rich ground was the cause.

3. How keep Hubbard squash? Leave a piece of the stem on and keep where they will not freeze.

4. When move a hydrangea? In the fall

5. When celery turns yellow what do besides spraying? Use Nitrate of Soda around the plants, not on them.

6. What do with rose bushes which have grown 10 or 12 feet? Leave till spring. In discussing grape vines we were told to cut back the old wood after the leaves fall. One person had grapes frrom an unpruned vine and none from those which had been trimmed. At our place the vines on highland bore well. So "we can't almost always tell what we least generally expect to find the most."

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It is the experience of some that potatoes can be raised successfully on the same ground for fifty years

7.What time put lime on a pasture field Any time.

A member had a peach tree form peaches which decayed with out ripening. Thought to be a sure sign of yellows; the tree will most likely die next year. Another member had plenty of peaches for six weeks The trees are a fine dark green Will they die next year? Yes!

Our walk in this luxuriant garden was a great pleasure. The abundance and variety of vegetables and flowers was interesting to all. The work of potting plants is to be begun tomorrow!

Next meeting at Riverside.

Readers Sarah Kirk Mariana Miller

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Riverside Oct. 2nd 1906

The President, in opening the meeting remarked that the Society was dependant for its success upon the lady members, and proved the statement by pointing out the fact that of the roomful present there were but two men members present; himself and the vice-president

The minutes were read and approved.

The Secretary was requested to write to the Dep of Ag. to know what was being done for "Yellows" in peach trees and report in April.

1st reader, Sarah Kirk, who had trouble with her chickens having weak legs, had written to Mr. Charles A. Cyphurs, Buffalo N.Y. for information. His reply was that they should not be overfed nor be kept too warm and should have plenty of exercise and fresh air. 2nd article described the height and size of tomato vines in California.

2nd reader Mariana Miller, read of a new hedge plant Kochia, an annual; several members had raised but it did not come up to the glowing descriptions given in the catalogues nor in the article read.

3rd Reader Jannet Miller on poultry. Janet Miller sent some notes made by the Maine Experiment

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his attention, a short [section?] of which was also read, telling us that nine times out of ten, [when?] your lima beans fail to make good, & if your pea vines have an unhealthy color, or if your string beans are stunted, you may be sure [they?] lack the one thing they must have; above all others - nitrogen. There are, we are told, practical means of introducing [root?] bacteria that catch nitrogen from the air.

The 2^nd reader, [Margaret Bancroft?], read to us from the June [number?] of the magazine [? & State?] - "Gardening as a School Subject" being the title of this article.

"We are glad to know the [?] U.S. school gardens [?] [?] The Bureau of Education , is a Federal agency which hopes ultimately to [keep?] [?] records of this country to establish school & school supervised home gardening as an [organis?] part of their work, & it would not be [?] [again?] to predict that [?] the next few years. Gardening will take its place with manual [Traceing?] & home economics as one of the essential subjects in the course of study."

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A short time ago, a lady from [Gainesville?] [Texas?], wrote to the Postmaster at S.S. in regards to a survay which has been made of Montg. Co. Md. Ms. [?] [?] the matter [over?] & [Allan?] Thomas, & he got in correspondance with the lady, she seemed so interested in our common [wity?] that Cousin Al sent her a copy of th Centennial Celebration, and also copies of the Annals of S.S. The letter she wrote in reply was of such [interest?] he brought it to The Horticultural & had it read. She compared many of our crops & [conditions?] with those of her home, & seemed to think our own beloved S.S. a [wonderful?] community, I fancy she is a [woman?] of sound judgement!!

The report from our "old, super[?] lawn & [?], [?] not behind" Forethought was just as good as usual. She said July is generally an uninteresting, dry, hot month, with not much work to do except [?] weeding. Yes, July was dry for the first [time?] in history, but it was wet too- which

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proves there are exceptions to every [common?] rule. The Sec. [thinks?] the only reason it did not rain more this past month was beacuse there was no more rain in Heaven!

The list of exhibitions was read by Mary Miller, and a very full list it was too, showing a splendid collection of fruits & vegetables- with a beautiful floral display. Some one remarked that a vegetarian might feel as if he had had a hearty dinner after hearing the list of exhibits! Helen Hallowell said she had not been able to find suitable vases [without?] paying quite dearly for them- so it was suggested she [try?] the 10^{[cent symbol]} store & [? & ?'s], the committee was [continued?] until she made another survey of Washington.

[We?] [were?] very much interested in hearing of a wonderful yield of strawberries on the farm of Ms. Thomas [Poole?] near [Spencerville?] He sold $1990 from 1 1/4 acres of land, & a later bulletin had it that the necessary $10 to make the even $2000 had [been?] made as a [result?] of this good management & good fortune, three