Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1929

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NORWOOD, October 1, 1929.

By request, the September meeting of The Horticultural met August 28th. at The Maples, with the Henry Nichols Family, complete, greeting the members and guests. A lovely warm afternoon made it desirable to hold the meeting on the porch and lawn.

Harry Stabler, the Chairman, presided, the meeting following the usual form of business.

The first appointed reader, Mrs. Allan Farquhar, told us much of interest about the Arnold Abaratum, America's greatest garden. At Jamaca Plains five miles from Boston, this garden is rich in trees and shrubs and flowers--scantified [illegible] station. Liberal endowments make possible the converting of this two hundred and fifty acres of barren track of land into one of the beauty spots of our country. Many birds are found in this garden especially the Robin. is abundant

Marianna Miller read of our garden pests, especially showing the devastation of the Florida fruit fly.

Dr. Shoemaker met with us, by invitation of The Maples, and gave us interesting information about the crops of our United States, and those of Europe. Climate influences the growth of many of our commonest products. England has no sweet corn or tomatoes, but peas grow to great perfection there. The Balkans and Northern France grow some corn. No garden vegetable over the United States is native to our country, many of the most delicious vegetables and melons being Asiatic and African. The relative latitude of

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Europe and Africa to this country is often a surprise, thelatitude and length of season governs the growth of vegetation.

Elza Thomas read from American Forests, an article by Dr. Lyman XilbunWilbur on trees. This quotation from his writing appeals, "When a man stands in a forest, he is bound to grow". He tells the story of a group of Indians visiting Stanford University. They were taken to see the Redwoods, and the comment of the Chief was, "The Great Spirit must be fond of this place to give it trees like this."

Cornelia Bentley, Assistant Secretary had much to report, in quality and quantity, in spite of unusual drouth. Especially was noted the good specimens of Lima beans.

Questions. Mulch paper is not found to be a very great advantage. No one in this vicinity has seen the Japanise beetle. To lighten soil quickly, add lime and fertilize heavily with barn-yard manure. A complaint of cynblings being hard was attributed to the dry weather. Dust with lime and arsinate of lead for cabbage worms. Cut off smilax at the beginning of the season.

Adjourned to Norwood October first.

Secretary. Mary M. Nichols.