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

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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

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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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will begin as soon as the Assembly Room in the new building is finished. In the spring we expect to have for sale a quantity of seedlings, both vegetables and flowers, including many perennials. We will also have a quantity of choice varieties of shrubs and ornamental vines and fruit trees. The Landscape Garden Class commenced Tuesday, February 2nd, and will continue once per week for twenty weeks. Miss Elizabeth Leighton Lee lectures in the morning from 9.30 to 12.00 on the principles of Landscape Gardening, and Mr. John L. Doan has the Class in the afternoon from 1.30 to 3.30. Mr. Doans subject is “Trees and Shrubs.” St. Valentine was well remembered out at the school, as all who attended the jolly “heart” party can testify. The home-made valentines that filled two post boxes added fun to the occasion with their clever character take-offs. Adeline Greathead was the prize taker of the evening, carrying off an adorable kewpie doll and a weird, little black cat. Emily David and Mrs. Peeler also took prizes. On Friday evening, January 29th, an indoor track meet held on the first floor of the new building was the occasion of much excitement both among the participants and their supporters. Rivalry ran high between the “Oranges,” captained by Frances Shinn, and the “Greens,” under the leadership of Eleanor Lawrence. Each contestant was urged on by her teammates with yells and cheers. Mr. Doan took the first prize in the “Standing Broad Grin” and Mabel Barker captured the blue ribbon in the fifteen-foot dash in which a peanut had to be pushed along the floor with the nose for fifteen feet. It is needless to say, perhaps, that the other ten entries were puns also and caused endless merriment. The score was so close throughout the meet that it was not until the finals were made that the “Oranges” were declared winners by 3 points. In presenting the medal to the captain of the winning side, Florence Cooke, in whose honor the party was given, concluded her remarks with these lines: “Go forth in your conquering, repeat what you will Of your manifold knowledge; but forget not your skill In pruning and planting and washing out sand, In budding and grafting and tilling the land, In teaching school gardening and gathering . eggs. In winning rare medals by means of your legs. In digging out borers and hiving the bees, In “scratching” carnations and “training” sweet peas, In blasting out orchards and weaving straw mats, In transplanting seedlings to nicely made flats.” The work in School Gardening has been finished by the Juniors. Miss Ella S. Carter, of Philadelphia, the instructor, included in her ten weeks’ course a brief history of the School Garden movement both abroad and in our own larger cities; also practical work of laying out, equipping and managing a garden. Plans were drawn by the students of some of the Philadelphia gardens and plantings of individual and experimental plots arranged. One interesting phase of the work was the teachmg of a twenty-minute Nature Study lesson by each student in words suited to children about ten years old. 22