Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-05-19
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Its Meeting Saturday. in Columbia Hall. lnstruc-
tive and Entertaining.

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The meeting of the Horticultural
Society, last Saturday, was held in
Columbia Hall. court being in session
and occupying the room where the
society had hitherto held its meetings.
This change, the inclement weather
which prevailed, and the interest felt
in the suit on trial, accounted ior the
less than usual attendance; and
matter OF very general regret was the
unavoidable absence of Mr.. Israel and
Mr. Westover, the former an attorney
and the latter a juror in the case, took
from the programme two of the lead.
ing speakers, who were to have APP
peared before the society. Their
topics, it is expected, will be presented
at the next meeting.
Rev. A. G. Sawin, by invitation OF
President Holbrook, invoked a divine
blessing on the work OF the association,
after which Mrs. Sullivan read an
interesting essay on Housewife and
Kitchen Garden" which appears on
the first page of this issue Of the
| STANDARD.
The arranged exercises being SO
much disturbed by the absence OF the
announced speakers, the meeting par.
took more of an informal experience
meeting. Mr.. August Wise gave some
interesting points in gardening and
strawberry culture, which will doubt.
less result in profit to those who
heard them. Some of his suggestions
were a wide departure from custom,
but the result of his labors, several
years as assistant gardener at Fort
Steilacoom, entitle his views to much
confidence. His plan for planting
peas is certainly unique. Instead OF
dropping in drill, recommended on
the papers in which seed are sold, he
says: After the ground is spaded and
pulverized, make a trench the full
width of an ordinary hoe {about eight
inches) and about three inches deep.
In the bottom place the usual well.
matured fertilizer, to the depth OF
say half an inch; then a slight cover
ing-half an inch-of pulverized earth.
On this strew the peas thickly by
handfulls, letting them fall quite
thickly over the whole width of the
trench; then cover with about II
or 2 inches of top-soil. The peas, he
says, will grow into something like q
hedge-row and not require support by
way OF sticking" He recommends
that the trenches be couple of feet
apart. to allow room for cultivation
and picking. He said that the ca
pacity OF q tract, where space is an
object, is materially increased by this
plan.
Some one asked the best means of
exterminating the mole pest, which
prevails in some parts OF the county.
Various plans we're suggested for
trapping the animals by intersecting
their runways, or burrow-paths, but
THE best plan seems to have been that
; suggested by lady of using the mole
plant, which, wherever introduced
leads to speedy departure of the pest
literally for other fields.
Another innovation upon established
custom Of such meetings, was q must.
cal number, in this instance afforded
by a delightful duet ou violin and
piano by master Clyde Peterson and
his sister Selma. The wonderful pro
ficiency they manifested in the rem
dition OF really classical music, ELECTED
surprise from all who heard them. II
, is expected that this feature will be
continued. along with other novelties
that may be devised to add enjoyment
to mutual instruction.