Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1928

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work. On a thousand acre lot Pine trees are being planted to spell the name of the Village. Each letter is one hundred yards long and twenty wide. It is intended to plant white birches on the outside of the letters for outline. Flyers will be benefited by this unusual sight, aw it will tell them the locality.

Mr. A. G. Thomas had a volunteer article which was on the subject so sought for by him, the restriction of sign boards along our Highways and road-sides. Real Estate men recognize the fact that public opinion has become aroused over this menace, and are adding their influence to the doing away of this dangerous, unsightly advertizing agency. Several States have enacted licenceing regulations. Such acts, (as in the state of Kansas) being upheld be the Supreme Court, who declare it valid. The problem can, in a way be met by planting trees along our high-ways.

QUESTIONS.

Mr. Hagerman asked if anyone could tell what was eating the calves tails. Two prize ones being shorn of their tails. Barbed wire can do it, and bushes can catch them.

What is the best way to cover celery for winter. Several methods were suggested. A series of short rows is easy.

Mary Brooke told of a leg-horn hen laying in the crotch of a tree.

Cousin Corrie Brooke advised the use of chicken manure of Fever-Few.

Adjourned to The Cedars, August 7th,

The after meeting walk was full of

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The Cedars, Cont.

interesting things, The beautiful views, sloping hills and meadows, A thrifty young chestnut tree in full bloom was one of the unusual things we saw. This was a welcome find, the loss of our chestnut trees has been much regretted. This is a place where "Pigs IS Pigs". They certainly have a disirable home and everything to make them happy.

The well kept flower beds with blooming flowers, and many to come were shown us, and then the old garden with it's flagg stone walk and arbors, more flowers in bloom, rows of vegetables, and not a weed in sight. All of these things made us know we were with real home-makers.

Mary M. Nichols. Sect'y

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THE HIGHLANDS September 4th, 1928

The August meeting of our Society was held with Douglas and Helen Farquhar at The Cedars, on August 7th. We assembled on the spacious porch, a large attendance of members and some guests, made us a goodly number.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Cousin Charlie Brooke, and the minutes were read and adopted.

Our first reader, Cornelia Bentley read of grape culture in the Chautanqua and Erie Grape belt. Also of an order prescribing a reduction in freight-rates from the point of origin to the point of destination, which is effective Sep. 1st. California growers having come into competition with a region which for generations has supplied grapes and their derivitives to the east. The grapes of the New York belt are for most part Concord variety, and the competition with California is in the field of Talbe uses, jams, jellies etc. Security for this industry means much for the localities affected, and the action of the Interstate Commerce Commission is fully justified. Also the Sycamore Section was discribed with it's acres of grapes. Here grapes are advertised as obtainable by the pound or ton.

Mrs. Hagerman, the other appointed reader, read, "the miracle of mulch paper", giving the story of this new helper to the gardner and trucker. Mulch paper was first used in far away Hawaii by Charles F. Eckart fourteen years ago. the trial was made on a sugar plantation and in pineapple growing. Not only were weeds controlled but increase productiveness and quality of fruit was the result. The paper mulch increased the soil tempreture, the mulch gave it's moisture slowly to plant roots, rather than by evaporation by the heat of the sun. In our country experiments have been conducted on such crops as samll corn, beets, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, white potatoes, spinnach, turnips, peanuts, cotton, and countless other varities of produce. With but a single exception, peanuts, these trials have indicated the value of this mulch paper in stimulating plant growth. These trials have been made under the supervision of Chas. F. Eckart. The Department of Agriculture have conducted a series of trials over a period of four years at the

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The Highlands Cont.

ArlingtonExpermental Farm, Arlington Va. These reports are available to all.

Lillie Stabler read "Melancholy days" a parody on Come into the garden Maude, showing the devastation of the insect and bug invasion on our vegetable and flower gardens.

Alice Stabler's article on Forestry work was a good showing of the effort bei g amde to save and restore, rather than destroy a tree wherever possible. The line-men are instructed to trim rather than cut a tree.

Richard Iddings gave a very interesting talk on the flowers and plants seen in his recent trip abroad. Many of the same flowers we grow here, some of them grow luxuriously. Heliotrope grows to great height, Rhododendrons everywhere. He discribed the cythes used in France and Belgiam, straight with handles six feet long.

FORETHOUGHT. Forethought told us that rose pests take no vacation, and need constant fighting. She suggested deep planting for Peonies and hardy phlox and I Iris.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY. Gladys Tumbleson, Assistant Secretary, gave a fine report of the Exhibits, many beautiful flowers were shown.

QUESTIONS. Helen Farquhar asked for suggestions for filling a space with flowers in her garden. Many useful idear were given.

The failure of apple crops, in home and small orchards, due to no spraying, was discussed. Would a community spray be advisable. Many suggestions, pro and con, but no definate decission. Why cucumbers turn yellow in the brine. No decided reason could be given. How to bleach cauliflower? Tie the leaves over the head. Does anyone spray corn for it's numerious pests? No one had tried. Will anyone plant a fall garden? Mr. A. B. asked. No one expects to.

Our new bug pest, The Mexican bean Beetle was discussed coming and going. It is not easily controlled, but spraying or dusting with calcium arsenate, and Hydrated lime retards its ravages, but also kills leaves on lima beans. This beetle confines it's work to beans. Each and every plant has it's enemy, fighting these foes takes much of

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The Highlands Cont. 111.

the pleasure from the lover of garden work.

We missed the presence of cousin Roger Farquhar from our meeting. The secretary was instructed to write him how much The Horticultural missed.

A communication from Mr. Bancroft outlining the work being done by the Community Council was listened to with interest by the Society and the efforts of this group indorsed and appreciated.

Adjourned to The Highlands Sept. 4th.

Lack of rain is felt by all gardeners, but The Cedars amde a fine showing. The beautiful trees here are always remarked upon and admired. This was the first meeting with Douglas and Helen. One felt the mantle so long and so beautifully worn by cousin Ellen had fallen upon shoulders well fitted to wear it.

Mary Mathews Nichols. Sect'y.