Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-09-22
MT. Therkelds0n, of HaddOnfield,
Addresses the Civic Club

A regular meeting OF the Wild God
Civic club was held at the club house,
Wednesday, September 18th. After
the transaction of important business,
the president introduced w. F. Therk-
edison, advertising manager of Burpee
Seed company, of Haddonfield, who
gave the club an interesting and useful
talk on the fall planting of seeds.
Mr.. Therkeldson stated that seeds
played an indispensable part in the
activities of life. Practically all the
most useful and valuable medicines
were traceable to seeds. Great build
ings and the most valuable products Of
commerce have their origin In seeds.
To those interested in gardens, it was
important to know that many seeds
were better planted In the fall. All
seeds have a period of qualification
clearly defined, which experienced
gardeners understand and take into
consideration In planting. The period
of qualification Is the time in which
the seeds lie dormant In the ground
and during which the various chemical
changes leading to termination take
place. This time varies greatly with
different seeds. For instance, the seeds
of the fringe tree take eighteen months
to terminate while some seeds germin-
ate in a few weeks. The failure Of
many amateurs In raising plants from
seed is more often due to not knowing
the conditions of termination and sow
ing too deep or at an unfavorable time,
than 1t is to the fault of the seeds.
The business Of producing seed for
the market has grown to an enormous
extent In the past decade. For in
stance, we formerly imported sweet
pea seed from Europe. Now practical
ly all of the sweet pea used In the
world Is grown in California, more
than 1900 acres being devoted to its
culture, and one firm alone exporting
to Europe in one year more than 275,
900 pounds Of seed. The speaker NEIL
toned a number Of seeds well adapted
to fall planting and gave instruction
as to their sowing, the care of the
plants after termination, etc. In clos
ing he mentioned hal the State of New
Jersey possessed a most varied and rich
flora, unsurpassed by any state in the
Union, with the possible exception of
Florida and California and unsurpass-
ed by any state when its size is taken
into consideration.
Many beautiful and valuable plants
are growing wild on Five Mile Beach,
well worthy of cultivation and which
would cost considerable If bought of a
florist; as for instance, the gorgeous
marshmallow, called by some the wild
hollyhock and growing in large
quantities in North Wildwood, the
wild columbine, the snowy yellow
daisy, the creamy sweet scented
magnolia, etc. These plants and many
others are hardy, accustomed to our
climate and thriving in our soil. To
the writer this was the most pertinent
and valuable part of the talk, a part
which every nearer should take to
heart and act upon. Five Mile Beach
was at one time a treasure trove for the
botanist and the nature lover. Mag
nifieent trees, rare and beautiful plants
were it's lavish heritage. A noted
botanist once said that the flora of Five
Mile Beach was unique, as the flora of
the north and the fora of the south
met there and mingled. Where are
the noble trees, the growth of centuries,
where the rare and spicy herbs and
medicinal plants that delighted the
botanist? Small areas are left in
North Wildwood, here and there a
tiny oasis in the desert, such as the
Hsswin Place In old Holly Beach and
some neighboring properties. Verify,
the Goths and Vandals are not only
those, who, In their war spite, wreck
Gothic cathedrals, but are found among
such of us who in our heedlessness,
trample and destroy the natural
beauties of our beloved island. Realiz-
ing that some OF the destruction was
inevitable but that some of 1t was heed
less and unnecessary, let us conserve
tina natural beauties we have left and
not the least among them are the wild
flowers. Let US give them a place In
our gardens, where many of them will
grow and flower wen better than in
their wild state.
To return to Mr.. Therkeldson's talk
after answering a number of questions
which showed that his talk had been
followed with the keenest interest, the
club rendered him a rising vote of
thanks. Tea was then served and a
| aocfal half hour folI0wad.