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

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Jfreitct] (Sarhemttg itt Jatglattfr While living in France some years ago, Miss Jones, an English woman, became interested in the Maraiche system of market gardening, which is carried on so extensively and successfully in the environs of Paris. She made up her mind to introduce this system into England when she returned to that country. To insure success, she engaged an experienced French gardener and his wife. Seven years ago she leased a small tract of land in Newbury, in Berkshire, and began to put her plan into operation. As a preliminary to employing the French system the two acres used were enriched with stable manure, which has been applied systematically at regular intervals ever since. No other kind of fertilizer has been used. Under the supervision of Miss Jones and the French employe the farm has been a success, both scientifically and commercially. Every available inch of the ground has been used to the fullest extent, and every crop has been forced rapidly. An average of seven crops is gathered annually. This result has been obtained not only by the forcing of crops, but by the systematic rotation of them. For example, radishes and carrots are sown at the same time, and the radishes, growing more rapidly, are gathered first, leaving the carrots thinned out for their normal development. Lettuce and cauliflower are sown at the same time in nursery beds and are ready for transplanting as soon as the carrots are out of the way. When the lettuce is taken out the ground is again sown with radish or other seeds. An irrigation system is used, and small standpipes are put at intervals of thirty feet. The soil is thrown up into ridges in the au- ••' ' Q 'otcmher or October, enriched with covered with “lights,” which ••. .. r,rion frames forty-eight by fifty-three inches square, and covered with glass. The “lights” are in turn covered with thatched rye straw mats when the occasion requires, and in this way the ground is kept always ready for the gardner. The “lights,” of which there are about Boo, are used chiefly for such vegetables or fruit as may require their assistance during their entire period of growth. During June they are almost entirely used for the growing of cantaloupes, a rare fruit in England. The principal means of forcing the rapid growth of vegetables is the use of large glass bells, about twenty inches in height and about fourteen inches across the base. Miss Jones has 1000 of these bells, which cost 26 cents each. They are set over the plants to hasten their growth, and have the advantage of being easily removable when the plants are able to grow without their help. In other words, they are used principally to harden the plants. Sometimes, when a succession of gray days is followed by one of brilliant sunshine, the bells are covered with a coat of whitewash to protect the plants from sudden change. These bells are used especially in growing lettuce and tomatoes. By producing the best qualities of fruits and vegetables and by supplying them in advance of the regular crops, the owner is able to get very high prices. No hothouses are used in the French system, and so. apart from the initial outlay and the cost of labor there is little expense attached to it. Every bit of the ground is used, and there are no paths wider than ten inches. No wheelbarrows or other vehicles are allowed, the fertilizer and the produce being carried in baskets. Miss Jones says that her farm is particularly free from plant disease and pests of all kinds, which she attributes to the extreme richness of the soil and the rapid growth of the plants. 14

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(Homing | emts March yth.—Miss Ellen Eddy Shaw, Editor Children’s Department, Garden Magazine, “Writing for Magazines. Tea 4.30. March 14th.—Mr. Howard A. Chase, a horticultural subject. March 28th.—Mr. Cyrus T. Fox, “Profit in Horticulture for Women. April 4th.—Mr. Maurice Fuld, “How to Get the Most Out of Our Flowers. Tea 4.30. April nth.—Mr Chester J. Hunt, “The Essentials of Outdoor Bulb Culture. March 25 to April 2d.—The National Flower Show will be held in Philadelphia in Convention Hall, Broad and Allegheny Avenue. The School is to have the honor of being one of the beneficiaries of the Restaurant and The Dansant which is under the management of the Garden Club of America. Such a large equipment is needed for a school of this kind that we are more than grateful, and hope that the proceeds will be large. The students have been invited to act as aids in the Restaurant on Saturday afternoon. April 1st, and cordially invite all their friends to come and be waited upon. They may be known by their green smocks and green ribbons. March 20th to April 3d.—In connection with the Flower Show the Garden Clubs of Philadelphia are arranging a lone exhibition of books on Botany, Gardening, and Landscape Art to be held in the Botanical Library of the University of Pennsylvania. The school and the instructors are contributing to this exhibit. Make an effort to go, it will be worth it. April 3th to April 12th.—The International Flower Show will be held in the Grand Central Palace, New York, under the auspices of the Horticultural Society of New York and The New York Florists’ Club. At both this and the National Flower Show, the school will exhibit, showing its produce and occupations. Come and see what we are doing. May 13th.—The Spring Conference and Flower Market will be held at the school on this date. Interesting speakers will give short addresses. Perennials and annuals will be on sale, splendid ones, and the prices will be reasonable. Write for further particulars. May 17th.—The Philadelphia Flower Market will be held in Rittenhouse Square on May 17th. This has become an annual festivity of great interest and beauty. May 20th.—Conference of the Women’s National Agricultural and Horticultural Association at 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Mass. 13

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Dorothy—The dentist told me that I had a large cavity that needed tilling. Ethel—Did he recommend any special course of study?—Ex. Say, Rastus, say, did you know that the negro races have all descended from Ham? That so. Well it certainly must have been smoked ham!—Ex. First Girl—Will fasting make you thin? Second Girl—I don’t think so, I lived on water for five days last summer and didn’t loose a pound. First Girl—You did? Second Girl—Yes, from New York to Liverpool. Desirous of buying a camera, a certain fair young woman inspected the stock of a local shop keeper. “Is this a good one?” she asked, as she picked up a dainty little machine. “What is it called?” “That’s the Belvedere,” said the handsome young shopman politely. There was a chilly silence. Then the young woman drew herself coldly erect, fixed him with an icy stare, and asked. “Er— and can you recommend the Belva? Fresh Student (to Prof.)—Of course I should much prefer an A to an E. Prof.—Strange that you should perfer a perfect stranger to an old acquaintance. “How much vas dose collars?” “Two for a quarter.” “How much for vun?” “Fifteen cents.” “Giff me de odder vun.” “What is a roost, dad?” asked Tommy. “A roost, my son, is a pole upon which chickens sit at night,” replied his father. “And what’s a perch, dad ?” “A perch is what chickens perch on.” “Then, I suppose, dad, a chicken could roost on a perch?” came a further inquiry. “Of course,” was the smiling reply. “And they could perch on a roost?” “Why. y-ye$,'‘ answered dad. “But if chickens perched on a roost, that would make the roost a perch, wouldn’t it? But if, just after some chickens had perched on the roost and made it a perch, some more chickens came along and roosted on the perch, and made it a roost, then the the roast would be a perch and the perch would be a roost, and some of the chickens would be perchers and the others would be roosters, and—? —Tid Bits. EXCHANGE NOTES Since the last issue of “Wise-Acres,” we have received the following Exchanges: The Wheaton Record Lasell Leaves The Wissahickon The Garnet and White Les Colli ties The Irwinian Chestnut Burr The Gleaner The Cambridge Review The Neva Century Journal The Signal Countryside Magazine The Wallcourt Lion 15