The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-08-25
For the Palladium
Richmond horticultural society.

hlcnmAon0 t0rtEculfafa1 society.
Asgust 18th.
President Hutton in the Chair. Jesse N
Hutton, Isaac F. Thomas and Thomas
Morris were elected members.
DR.. John 4. Warder, of North Bend, an
Yardley Taylor, of Virginia, were electe
honorary members.
The Executive Committee reported in ia
vor Of holding Fall exhibition, to be helt
sometime during September. They offere,
a resolution. which was adopted, that tn
Executive Committee be instructed to prepar
a premium list, and make all other arrange
ments necessary thereto.
G. Mendenhall read communication from
DR.. Warder on the or gin Of the Ohio Ever
bearing Raspberry. Mr.. Warder thought i
originated at Union Village.
w. r. Smith stated that he had transplant
ed Celery plants during dry. hot weather thai
were near foot high, and they had grown
finely ever since. He dug his trenches, thor
oughly saturated with water. and after plant
ing covered with boards He had also sown
Beet seed, then mulched the ground, and his
plants had grown well.
B. Strattan said he had succeeded well in
the same mode of treatment.
G. Mendenhall remarked that he stood
nearly alone last winter in favor of Hovey's
Seeding Strawberry, and that the present sea
son it had nearly universally taken the frs;
premium where it was exhibited
| President Hutton said that while he regard
ed Hovey the American Straw wberry, and
that with high culture would yield superior
general cultivation.
J. p. Lancaster remarked that it yielded
fine berries for him. but would not yield one
fourth the berries in field culture. The col
lection on the tables as usual were very good,
the most attractive feature being some fine
Serrate Early York Peaches, raised by Sml
Wiggins.
Among the flowers, were some beautiful
'variegated Dahlias by Mrs. Samuel Fryar,
also handsome boquet by Noah Hutton.
l. Reed and j. A. Mendenhall had some
very nice Dahlias.
We give this week the report of S. S.
Boyd, on watering plants; also article read
by j. Rstlitf on drying pie plant.
Adjourned to meet in two weeks.
J. A. NJ, Society Rept.
REPORT ON WATERING PLANTS,
Read before the RicAmond horticultural
Society Aug. 9th.
According to a resolution of the Richmond
Horticultural Society. instituted the follow
ing experiments the watering Of plants,
during the dry weather of the last four
weeks.
On the tenth of July l divided a Straw
berry bed into four sections.
The first section watered with cold wa
ter in the morning.
The second with cold water at noon.
The third with cold water at night.
And the fourth with warm water at night.
l divided some Tomato plants into three
sections. The first section was watered with
cold water at noon; the second section with
warm water at night; and the third section
was not watered at all
Nv cucumber plants were divided into
three sections. The first section was water
ed with cold water at noon: the second sec
ton with warm water at noon; and the third
section with warm water at night. :.
There fell during the four weeks but one
light shower of only 7 of an inch of rain
During four or FIVE days after the rain, did
With this exception. watered them on each
alternate day of the whole term.
The cold water used was well W water, taken
directly from the well to the garden.
The warm water was water which was
pumped up in the morning and stood in tubs
10 the sunshine until noon or night, as it was
Ieeded.
l lossened the ground around the plants
but three times during the experiments.
used water copiously; for example, on
six Straw wbelry plants used. through a wa
terng pot, four buckets full of water at each
watering; and all other plants about in the
same proportion. as TO thoroughly saturate
the ground for at least foot.
Now for the result. In the bed Of straw
berries. there was no difference in the growth
of plants. They all grew finely; and when
compared with plants of neighbors who did
not water. the experiment is very flattering
in favor of water.
But in the tomatoes there was we'll mark
ed difference against the plants which were
watered with cold water at noon. Yet there
was so little difference in favor of those wa
tered with warm water over those which
! were not watered at all, that l shall never
think it necessary TO water tomatoes unless
We have a longer drouth than we have had
this summer, except on very dry, sandy, or
gravelly soil.
As to the cucumbers. l could see no differ
ence in the result of the different modes OF
watering. They all grew finely. whilst some
of my neighbors told me that theirs, which
were not wstered, had mostly died.
Summing up from the above experiments
| come to the following conclusions:
First. That all hardy plants, such as straw
berries. raspberries, eabbages, and beets, will
grow equally well when wa.ered with eithe,
warm or cold water, and at any time of the
day.
Secondly. That many plants are not a.
much benefited by watering as we have gen
orally supposed. S S. BorD.
DRYING RHCSARB.
Rhubarb dries very well, and when vel
prepared, will keep good for an indefinite pc
Rod. The stalks should be broken off Will
they are crisp and tender. and cut into piece
about an inch in length. These pieces shoulc
be strung on thin twine and hung up 10 dry