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

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Tuesday, February 2d.—Groundhog day. He poked his head out, but failed to see his shadow. Miss Lee’s class in Landscape Gardening began. Many persons are taking advantage of this special course. Thursday, February 4th.—Averages out. Strange, but most faces wore expansive smiles. ' Friday, February 5th.—By a few simple experiments, in Soils, we tried our Professor’s patience, tested each other's amiability, measured the distance to the different exits and proved beyond doubt that two hours can be an eternity. February 6th to February 9th. No need to talk about it now. It’s all over. Wednesday, February 10th.—Root graft- ing again! More blood spilled. The carnage in lingers is shocking! By another year we expect to graft a strawberry vine on a milk weed plant and have strawberries and cream for breakfast. Thursday, February 11th.—Some excitement. Friday, February 12th.—Valentine Party. Crime will out, and at this party many of those who, so far, have tried hard to conceal their cleverness, were at last discovered. We shall see that the punishment fits the crime, henceforth they shall write long and brilliant articles for the School paper, make all the volunteer recitations in chemistry and otherwise prove a credit to their School. Monday, February lath.—“Wise-Acres” goes to press. $1Juggler of Blazing in gold and quenching in purple, Leaping like leopards to the sky, Then at the feet of the old hoiizon Laying her spotted face, to die; Stooping as low as the otter's window, Touching the roof and tinting the barn, Kissing her bonnet to the meadow, And the juggler of day is gone! —Selected, 20

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Calendar Tuesday, January 5th.—The return of the prodigals, but instead cf the fatted calf we found only veal croquets. As at all gatherings, there were a few stragglers, some didn’t blow in until the next night. And-sh! keep it dark—they do tell one awful reprobate was a whole week late. Wednesday, January 6th.—Girls still suffering from too much vacation. Tried to enthuse over the rapid progress the onions had made in their absence, but no use, all they could do was to wonder why they did not get a single letter when they had been back fully fifteen hours. Thursday, January 7th.—2.30 P. M., lecture by Mr. George MacKay, manager of the Terminal Market. Doubtless Mr. MacKay gave us many practical hints on the subject of marketing, but the words that impressed us most were “If you would be happy get into debt and stay in debt, for then you will always be surrounded by friends (with hands outstretched).” Wednesday, January 13th.—Individual vegetable plots were assigned in the new vegetable forcing house. We truly practice intensive gardening, for a large quantity of vegetables are grown on a very small plot. Of course the competition is keen and the lettuce and radishes are doing their best to satisfy our feverish haste; but say what you will and do what you can, you cannot hurry a beet. Thursday, January lJfth.—The reviewing for examinations has begun and everybody is busy, as usual, discovering just how much she doesn’t know of what she knew she knew, and how much more she doesn’t know than what she knew she didn't know. Friday, Jatiuary 16.—What means this awful quietness? Mid-years have begun! Students whom we never expected of owning such things are discovered in secluded corners buried in text books, muttering strange sounds that resemble H2SO4, NaN03- Even the babel at lunch has ceased and it is so quiet you could hear a gumdrop. Wednesday, January 20th.—Root grafting is begun over in the service room. Anyone finding the end of a little finger, please return to Ruth LaGanke. Thursday, January 21st.—Big night—the much-talked-of, much-longed-for concert took place, and the girls shivering but resplendent in their best togs, enjoyed it to the utmost. May history repeat itself! Saturday, January 23d.—The faculty and students accepted with pleasure the Misses Blakiston's invitation to five o’clock tea which was given in honor of a wonderful fruit cake sent by Miss Dock, of Fayetteville. Again “May history repeat itself!” Tuesday, January 26th.—Some of the students took a pleasant moonlight jaunt into Ambler to see a melodramatic moving picture, the like of which, according to them, has never been seen before. Friday, January 29th.—A grand farewell party was given for Florence Cooke who left the next day for her home in Toronto. The party was exciting from beginning to end; the time passed very quickly—there is nothing like speeding a parting guest. 19

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j djool jNoias On the afternoon of Thursday, December 17th, Mr. Ernest Hemming, editor of the “National Nurseryman” and associated with Meehan's Nursery, gave the school a most interesting and beneficial talk on perennials. “Perennials,” he said in part, “is such a comprehensive subject, since the term includes every plant that does not grow in a greenhouse except trees, shrubs and annuals, that it is difficult to touch upon them all in one short talk.” He divided them into three groups, according to the way they are propagated— by seeds, by divisions, both crown and root stocks, and by root and top cuttings. Generally speaking, seeds should be sown very soon after ripening, that is in the early fall, and kept over winter in a cold frame with some light protection. Plants propagated by division may be divided any time during the dormant period, while the top and root cuttings should be made soon after the flowering season. To have a perennial border a success, always keep in mind the time of flowering of each plant and plan a succession of bloom with a large proportion of white. After the border is planned and set out, do not feel that everything is finished for a lifetime, for the work has just begun. It needs constant care and attention and at least every two years, the plants should be lifted. After all, a true knowledge of perennials can only be acquired through years of work with them. A most pleasing concert was rendered at the School by Mr. A.C. Geis«ler, pianist, and Mr. Charles F. Meade, baritone, of Philadelphia, on Thursday evening, January 21 st. The program was enthusiastically received and encores were called for repeatedly. Several of the students attended Dr. Robert Huey's lecture on Roses, given before the Garden and Orchard Society in Philadelphia on January 26th. ★ Mr. George H. Wirt, founder of the Mt. Alto School of Forestry, is giving four lectures at the School on the “Care of the Wood Lot.” Mr. Wirt is a very interesting speaker and the students are delighted with his course of lectures. ♦ Mr. Arthur C. Geissler is now giving the lectures and practical work in poultry. The poultry plant is having its spring house-cleaning, and expects to soon appear in a brand new coat of white wash; next in order will be the incubator work. We are disposing of a number of our white leghorns and replacing them with single comb Rhode Island reds. ♦ The new building, like many other new buildings, was not completed when promised, but we have, nevertheless, occupied it several times in spite of its very unfinished condition. The Landscape Garden Class has held two lectures in the Assembly Room, and we have also had one party there. We arc looking forward to having a dancing class, to be conducted by Mrs. Annie Leaf, of Fort Washington, which 21