Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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School Notes. One and three-quarters of our Wise-Acres raised $2000 worth of strawberries a year ago. Blasting has been holding our attention for the last few weeks. The students’ orchard has been progressing in fine shape and as soon as the weather permits the trees will be set out. The number of apple root grafts made by the students ought to fill a good-sized orchard in the future. At the meeting held for the purpose of organizing a National Woman’s Agricultural and Horticultural Association, an invitation was given to hold the first meeting of the new organization at the school, probably in May. The invitation was accepted. Afternoon tea attracts some of the students more than a hearty dinner. The cottage is the scene of this social event. Miss Exley’s “apartment” being the rendezvous. We never knew Cleveland was such a flourishing city, but now we have it fully impressed upon our minds. One of our most brilliant students hails from there. Framingham, Mass., is also a place where people dwell. There is a good product from there, who has arrived in our midst. Strange how we never realized we were tongue-tied or lisped until we were told to give the scientific names of the greenhouse plants. The lectures given by the Garden and Orchard Club of Germantown have been most enjoyable. We were very much gratified to have Mr. Fullerton show pictures of the school in his lecture, which gave an idea of just what was going on out here. The last month brought us several invitations to visit some of the lovely places near Ambler. Among them was one from Mr. Warner, of “Ellenwood Farms.” Prize Guernseys and fancy poultry were among the attractions. On January 23d we went to Mr. James Burke’s at Olney. Miss Ethel Burke showed us the greenhouses and told many interesting facts of how the different plants had been obtained. There were many exquisite specimens. One house was extremely beautiful, fitted with fascinating pale pink butterfly orchids from the Philippines. We also saw a very fine collection of gold fish and a hatchery under glass. Bull, the prize fish, who seemed to respond when spoken to, was very proud to be handled. Bobbie, the walking perch, afforded us great amusement. Recently, at the beautiful greeenhouses at North Wales, Mr. Fuersten-burg, the enthusiastic president of the Florex Company, made our visit very

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Women's National Agricultural Association. President—Mrs. Francis King, Alma, Mich. Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. S. H. Vollmer, Huntington, N. Y. Treasurer—Miss Louise G. Davis, Ambler, Pa. A national association of women interested in horticulture and agriculture has been formed by the express wish of (a hundred of) those who were present at the Horticultural Conference held at the School of Horticulture, Ambler, Pennsylvania, May, 1913. The objects of this association are to promote interest and success in horticulture and agriculture by the exchange of information among its members; to bring together supply and demand both by produce and of labor, and to increase the knowledge and use of existing institutions. As a means to this end it is hoped that a general secretary be employed, conferences of a practical nature may be held, local exhibitions be encouraged and printed matter distributed. Women horticulturists in Europe have succeeded through co-operation. Will you become part of the forward movement in America by helping to upbuild this national association. The membership dues are $1.00 a year. The initiation fee is $1.00. $2.00 may be forwarded to the secretarv. Address Mrs. S. H. V. Huntington, N. Y. A Cold Reception to a Would-Be Horticulturist. The fourteenth of January, ninetcen-fourteen A little red owl in the maple was seen. She looked very wise With her big round eyes And said: Pll be a student of horticulture, I ween. Now young Miss “Britain ’ who among us resides, Disapproved of a student with such big eyes. She picked up a stone And with skill all her own Hurled it at this stranger of diminutive size. So little Miss Owl with amazement untold Backed into her nest from a reception so cold, And said with a sigh, Oh me, and oh my! Strange welcome indeed, but no grudge will I hold. C. G. P.

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instructive and pleasant by his courtesy. In the refrigerator were 15,000 roses cut that day.—Wilmer Atkinson. Miss Elizabeth L. Lee began on February 3d a most instructive course of lectures on landscape gardening. Having been engaged in this work for a number of years, she is a most interesting and able lecturer. The practical part of the course is efficiently carried on by Mr. Doan at the school. The course extends over a period of twenty weeks; lectures each Tuesday morning at 10.30 and in the afternoon practical work. The first class in landscape gardening was held in our new sun-porch, just finished. The students were listening with great interest to Miss Lee, when one of them noticed that three of the barn cats were sitting in a row upon the step, looking in longingly as though they wished they could “make” notes also. Found—Something that Mr. Doan does not know. A pesky little weed that looks like a dandelion, only isn't. If our professor doesn't know it, it certainly cannot have a name, that is all there is about it! Miss Jane B. Haines has kindly offered the use of her famous Colonial home “Wyck” in Germantown for the Dutch tea and flower sale to be given in May for the benefit of the school. There will be seedlings, bulbs and plants from the school greenhouses and hotbeds, sold by the students, dressed in costumes of the different provinces of Holland. A present of a box of oranges and grapefruit was recently received from Mrs. Susan H. Vollmer’s orange grove at Cocoa, Florida, which was greatly appreciated. We have also to thank Mr. Hires, of Haverford, for delicious grapefruit. Mrs. John Gribbel, of Wyncote, Pa., kindly gave us some Rex begonia cuttings, the beginning of our special collection of these beautiful plants. We are experimenting with the fig cuttings sent us by Mr. E. Jenkins, of Lenox, Mass., and hope to have figs in about eight months from these two varieties, Negro Largo and Brown Turkey. The Baines' Crib. From six begonia leaves, presented to the school by Mrs. John Gribbel, were propagated 125 tiny plants, which makes a fine addition to our collection of begonias. When we open the door to nature's energies, she repays us lavishly, but she demands constant and watchful care for her babies. Tucked in with the begonias were cuttings from 50 heliotrope, 300 alter-nanthera of different varieties. 100 coleus, 50 fuchsias, 10 crotons, 25 abutilons. The propagating bed is only 3 ft. x 3 ft. Rather an elastic crib, don’t you think?