Horticultural Society

H/6/1911-3- {105}

to arrive in New England two weeks later in a fierce snow storm, mer. down to 4^°. Water froze in her room. Helen and Fred Thomas left the North where the ponds were frozen and ground covered with snow to find at home a day or two later, the mercury at 90^°.

Sarah Farquhar on Poultry read of various methods of preserving eggs. It was remarked that the price of eggs keeps up tho so many more are produced then some years ago. John Bentley thinks the reason maybe because of better facility for transporting them and also the many families doing light housekeeping.

Exhibits

Were abundant and of good quality. Roses numerous and fine, vegetables well advanced did not show the effects of dry weather. New potatoes, cherries and strawberries were fine.

Questions {1}What do with asparagus now? Cultivate all thro the Summer. It would be well to take up the little seedlings and set in a bed to themselves, to be set out of a new bed next Spring. {2}When stop cutting asparagus? When peas come. {3}Are the large varieties of asparagus as good as the old varieties? A difference of opinion. What causes sweetpeas to blight? We do not know. One member killed his with fertilizer. Grape vines have been injured by a small dark blue beetle. The remedy is to spray early.

{112} H/7/1911-2-

have the tips pinched out when they are 2 1/2 or 3 ft high. The old canes should be cut out. They will die in the winter if left, and cutting them allows sunlight and a good circulation of air.

Black raspberries grow from the tips cut out the old canes. 2^nd article on selecting a National flower, favors the Laurel, Kalmia as being beautiful graceful and well adapted for conventional decoration.

2^nd Reader, Mary Brooke, On "Birds and their enemies." Statistics from the Department of Agriculture show that the cat destroys more birds than all other natural agencies combined. This reckoning includes the fox, hawks and owls. It is a hereditary insctict that makes the cat a bird-hunter, even tho' well fed. The loss falls heaviest in most locations on such familiar species as the robin and the song sparrow.

Kate Janney told of being much troubled with screech owls. Fred Thomas said that screech owls destroyed a great proportion of the small birds.

Forethought

Late cabbage must be set out if a good season occures; if it comes not, we must make a season. Let out celery and water it well; plant cucumbers for pickles; plant corn 1st and middle of July. Keep the flower garden weeded; sow seeds of perrenials. Begonias like a soil of leaf mold and

23

H/7/1918-1-

Riverside July 2^nd 1918

On the afternoon of July 2^nd the Horticultural Society met at Riverside. Another beautiful afternoon for our gathering.

Our Pres. was absent, so the chair was filled by the Vice Pres. Alban Thomas.

The meeting was called to order at the appointed hour, & our chairman voiced the sentiment of the society, when he said we were glad to meet at Riverside, as in a way it was the "Mother" of the Horticultural. The Ex. Sec. had served the society for so many years, we all look upon her as one of the heads of the organization.

He also told us of the important business trip (Bank business) our Pres. had taken_ It seems the "Banks of the Capon" needed expert inspection, so Chas. F. Brooke and Fred Thomas went for that express purpose. This story sounds very fishy, but 'tis authentic!

H/4/1961 -2-

The moisture was about normal for the 6 months reported.

The Huttons brought a lovely display of early spring flowers. The Cedars had pansies. Mary Moore Miller had two tiny persimmon "trees" grown from seeds. The Hutton's tulips were were "botanicals" which moles do not eat and are very early bloomers. Kaufman is one variety.

Reporters on birds: some using feeders are chickadees, hairywoodpeckers, and purple finches. Wild geese have been going over, - one in a double Vee formation. Elizabeth Ligon spoke of the flight of the white pelicans from Florida (in winter) to Oregon & Washington for summer andmany interesting varieties of birds seen in Florida this past winter, -biterns, royal terms, bald eagle on nest, and an osprey that flow off it's nest as they watched. Three island acres have 175,000 birds on them. Locally a kildeer walks calmly a few feet from 1400 children using a school yard daily.

The Membership Comittee suggested the names of Irving and Doris Smith to fill the vacancy (Havens). They were approved and will be asked to join.

Fred Thomas and Elza Thomas sent in their resignations which were accepted with many expressions of regret and the Secretary was asked to write them of this action. It was suggested that Jack & Jean Ladson would be acceptable members if they would join and will be asked to fill these vacancies. As a waiting list to be asked if one or both of the above decline, the names of George and Nedra Coffee and Ellis and Lucy manning were agreed upon.

Questions: Can it get too cold for peonies,- so they freeze? It was thot not. Suggestions were asked for a wind-break for the north side of a perrnnial bed. Barberry are "hogs" for food. Miniature holly is good. The bud of a flowering maple was shown. Edward Iddings identified it as abutilon and said it is not hardy. The crab-grass killer "Halts" can prove poisonous to pets. The seeds of the passion flowere were planted three weeks ago by Edward Iddings but show no signs as yet of sprouting. When a cat was suggested as the "ridder" of chipmunks, the latter were preffered to a car! It was recalled that Dorothy Henderson had once reported shooting chipmunks in Indiana,- such pests as they were. There was no remedy given for ridding a lawn of Star of Bethlehem.

Wild-life reports: Mountain Lions have been seen in the community. Deer are frequent visitors. A local horse has been seen to step on a wire of a fence so that a "horse pal" can erocross it and it tips a birdfeeder to secure grain from it. The only names known for the male and female bear were he and she bears.

The nest meeting place will be Bien Venu and Edward Iddings and Leon Small will be readers,- in May.

H/5/1929 -2-

The Assistant Secretary reported told of a good showing of flowers and spring things. Henry Nichols had onions that were treated in an unusual way, being hung to dry by plaiting the tops. They are preserved in good condition even into yet.

Our new members, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Farquhar were present, and Mrs. Farquhar's exquisite tulips would surely won a prize.

A request for a copy of the first Annals, from a Silver Spring woman met with no ready response. When we have copies of these precious annals it is not strange we hold fast to our possessions.

This being the first meeting of the year, reading of the Constitution and by-laws of the Society were in order. The Officers are elected every two years, Harry Stabler was elected President, Henry Nichols Vice-President, and Mary M. Nichols Secretary. Cousin Charlie Brooke, the retiring President received a rising vote of thanks for his service to this Society.

The suggestion that Fred. and Elza Thomas be asked to become members was heartily endorsed and the Sec. was instructed to write them of this wish. Helen Hallowell and Tom were asked to affiliate with whichever Household they wished.

Emma Bond told of the green roses used in Florida on St. Patrick's day.

Robert Miller suggested that keeping suckers off the corn stalks helped insure good sweet corn. Mrs. Farquhar asked how to raise sweet corn successfully. Mrs. Loveland asked if any one knew of using stone meal as mulch paper is used, it also has the quality of fertilizer.

Mrs. Bancroft told of seeing English Gorse at Yorktown.