Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1941

H/4/1941 -1-

The Highlands April 1, 1941

There was nothing of April Fool in the warmth of the Highlands ' hospitality. After the delicious meal, served by charming ladies of all ages, Mr. Hurrey called the meeting to order. The interesting minutes were read, followed by the reading of the by-laws. Are we unnecessarily lax in reporting to our next hostess the day before as to just how many in our family expect to attend? We were pleased to welcome our new members, Clarke and Camille Slade, and look forward to our association with them. It was with sorrow that we heard our faithful and gifted president announce that the time had come for him to resign. Lofton Wesley expressed the sentiments of us all when he remarked upon how distinguished Mr. Hurrey had made his term: and we continued presence with us. It was with satisfaction, however, that we promoted Robert H. Miller to the presidency, and Mary Hutton Vice-President. Helen Hallowell also made it clear that she could no longer serve as Scretary-Treasurer and write her Splendid minutes. Isabel Wesley was chosen by ballot, and accepting with proper humility. The first reader was Milton Bancroft, who read an article on " Lawn Problems that come with Spring". Rake the lawn, See that the Soil is well- drained. Three Sowings of fertilizer before summer are good. If a top dressing is needed, use only that in which you are certain of the materials. In the absence of Mary Magruder, Helen Hallowell read for her some paragraphs about roses. Spray your rose plants weekly all sumer without fail, on a fixed day, using one of the combination Sprays to catch both chewing and sucking insects. Coat the leaves with spray. There is a domestic peat moss now available for mulching, instead of the imported. Forethought considers the early-flowering chrysanthemum plants best for this locality. Tulip trees and magnolias should be planted in the spring. Eskay is an excellent high nitrogen fertillizer. Who planted any garden by April first this year? Mr. Iddings, Edgewood, Robert Miller and Clermont are the early birds. Our meterologist reported that Maryland had a slightly dryer start-off this year: but the last six months have has 97% normal rainfall.

H/4/1941 -2.

Clermont Leads the poultry report with 3000 chickens Sharon counts 100 chicks before they are hatched.

Edgewood brought specimins of 5 kinds of flowers which have bloomed out of doors, including the fragrant pink violet/ The Ten Oaks' tomato plants were big and fine. Norwood had an imprssive display of nine vegetables and jonquils. We are delighted that Mr. Clarke Slade will be our delegate to the community council, and Helen Farquhar the alternate. The following names are our suggestions as delegates at large, - from the Olney district, Katherine Barnes; from the Colesville vicinity. R. H. Miller, from the Brookeville, Hobart Hutton. Mr. Iddings declares that his chickens, which so evenly spread the 124 piles of black leaf mold on his lawn, are of the quite uneducated variety. argaret Bancroft was advised to trim shrubs after they are through blooming. Clermont cuts down forsythis, Edgewood does not. Regarding the difficult pruning of a Lace-Vine, Mrs. Slade was advised to consult Stella Moore whose Vine looks well. Ground, unburnt Limestone is good for grass; and as a Counter-irritant for sawdust on an asparagus bed. Fred McReynolds and Albert Stabler both endorsed rye to Mrs. Hutton, though she has never tried it. when used as a cover crop and if plowed back when young, it does not takes anything from the soil. It is a good nurse crop for alfalfa. Comments on the possibility of a gambling establishment at Silver Spring brought forth expressions of disaproval from the society, The Secretary was requested to write the Governor to that effect.

We adjourned to Falling Green, in May.

I. Wesley, sec.

H/5/1941 -1-

Falling Green May 3, 1941

Following a pleasant Lunch and garden survey at pretty Falling Green, our new president, Robert H. Miller, opened the May, 1941 meeting of the Horticultural Society. Mr.Iddings read an intresting article from the January Nature Magazine, on harnessing earthworms for argricultural purposes, Their egg capsules are packed in damp peat moss and shipped all over the country from Dr. Oliver's labortories in California. His system of bio-kinetic farming has in some places revived farming methods. The information read by Marianna Miller about cabbage pests called forth disscussion, Control maggots by tar disks around plants, or by calomel. Plant cabbage in a new place to prevent yellows. Madam Forthought settled the forsythia controversy thus: Prune forsythia ground for better plants. set the lawn mower to cut grass 2'' above the ground. Spray peonies with Bordeaux mixture. Mr. Sam Rumford had given Forethought the unusual calla begonia, a sample of which was passed around. Clermont Leads in the poultry report. Assistant Secretary Mary Reading read a good exhibit list. The meteorologist noted that it has been 4 warmer in the mornings this year than last. Let's all exhibit in the Flower Show June4th. All present paid their annual dues, so that when our $5 is paid the community council, there will be a balance on hand of $4.25. The secretary was requested to write the Chairman of community council and our representative urging them to attend the meeting on zoning inRickville, and register our objections to the ordinances as they stand.

Questions

The general feeling of the society was that save for beet and carrot seed, gardenseed planted 2 weeks ago will come up if it rains. Hobart Hutton said if a trench is well soaked when seeds are planted, watering does not have to be continued. Mrs.Hill's 100% dead pines are magnificent. Elizabeth Stabler asked if a dormant flower border could be spaded now. Helen Hallowell said if the ground must be.

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Cultivated, why not spade perennials in the fall? Mary Magruder remarked that self-sown seeds always come up in the wrong place. Jessie McReynolds concluded that the moles spade for her! Mary Stabler has put poison wheat in where her lilies are and has seen no moles. For fine peonies cut away small shoots in the spring and those shoots without buds, and cut off extra buds. Put bone meal around plants in holes punched in the ground. When the peony bloom dies, cut off stalk down to the 3 lower leaves. A $9 double wheel hang plow hoe was recommended as excellent for light garden use. Creation rejoices and sings In tune with a Cosmic Plan. Nature eternally brings Wonders in stars and man. The eagle in the summer sky, The worm beneath the sod, The sun, the moon, and you, amd I, We live and move in God. Sister Benediction The Horticultural adjourned, to meet at The Porches; readers, Elsa Thomas and Mr. Hurrey.

Resp. sub.

H/6/1941 -1-

The PORCHES June 1, 1941

President Robert Miller opened a very intresting Horticultural meeting held June first at the hospitable " Porches". Following the reading of the minutes, Elsa Thomas, the first reader, brought valuable garden notes to our attention: Scotch Broom ( Cytisus scoparius) comes in different colors, likes sandy hillsides and can stand dry weather. There are fairly hardy varieties for this section. Green Spagnum moss ( such as grows in Andrew Adams' Woods) rubbed through a sieve, is fine for use in starting seeds, in flats. The Government gets out a pamphlet on earthworms. Fcliage plants between flowers improve window boxes. Mr. Hurrey then read Angelo patri's article about trees. hickories, oaks, spruce,- trees become friends. peace comes to us through the firm-hearted trees. The Hans Christian Anderson story of the Gardener of the Manor, was also delightful and thoroughly enjoyed. Its Lesson is important: there are beautiful things all around us which we fail to appreciate. Forethought. Bulb Labels should go in the proper laces before the foliage dies down. make several successive plantings og gladioli. Fill gaps in flower borders with annuals. Chickens generally were on the up and up. Nine places had them, from 49 in number to1200. Mr. Iddings volunteered and intresting account of scientific findings of the medicinal values of chlorophyl, the coloring matter in nature. two oustanding exhibits, reported by Marianna de Beers, were third crop peas and radishes from Clermont, and samples of sixteen vegetables and fruit from them South Highlands, including a tomato off of the Ten Oaks previous Horticultural Plant. Reports on the zoning meeting at Rockville were discouraging. The Commissioners allowed no new business to be brought up. The secretary.