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

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4 WISE-ACRES 4 VOL. Ill March, 1916. No. 9 Published Quarterly by the Students of the School of Horticulture for Women, Ambler, Pa. Entered at the Ambler Post Opfice as Second-Class Matter Editor-In-Chief, Louise Carter Business Manager, Lois Goss STAFF Associate Editor, Jane Righter Associate Business Manager, Ruth LaGanke Advertising Editor, Katherine Cohen Exchange Editor, Amy Woodruff Secretary, Adeline Greathead On Dollar a Year Single Copy, Twenty-five Cents prrng Plorbs anb ags Spring has come! Heralded by the first blith music of the birds on their return from the south and the swelling buds on twigs and branches, it is here. Already the daffodils are nodding their gay, golden heads in the gardens, and the brave little dandelions are peeping up over the lawns in a tentative way to open their hearts to the genial sunshine. The first shy little wild flowers lend glints of fresh color and beauty in the woodlands, and all the wee life that crawls and creeps in swamps and marshy places is alive and vivid in the joy of the days. And these are busy days for the horticulturist. There is much pruning to be done in the orchards and nursery rows and many young apple trees to be trained in the way that they should go. And the garden work moves on apace. The seeds have long since been ordered, after much deliberation and perusal of catalogues, and the planning of garden plots goes forward with much enthusiasm and anticipation—may the gardens in reality equal the ideals of the planners! This is the “rush season” in the hot bed community, and there are seedlings by the hundreds and thousands in the greenhouses, in every stage of development. The apiary, too, is awakening from its winter hibernation; the hives emerge again from their winter coverings and the bees answer again the call of all that is living and budding and venture forth in the sunshine. The poultry houses now are scenes of great activity! All the incubators are full and under the great hovers hundreds of peepsy little chicks scratch out their happy, downy babyhood, and the Easter broilers arc well started on their way in life. The time for the spring housecleaning comes again when every crack and crannie is cleaned and disinfected and sprayed with whitewash 'till it glistens in its snowy -splendor and one rejoices in the cleanliness and freshness that it proves is possible for a poultry house to possess. So busy days are these, but through all the busyness there rings the fresh, radiant vigor of the days and over all the countryside, in field and woodland and garden, things stir and live again and all the world attunes itself to spring.—L. C. 2

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 $ f !► ❖ CONTENTS Spring Works and Days........................ 2 My Garden.................................... 3 Poisonous Plants............................. 4 Mushrooms—Maybe.............................. 6 Cavour, and the Making of Modem Italy...... 8 The Lament of Murphy O’Roscombe..............1 I School Notes.................................12 Coming Events................................13 French Gardening in England..................14 Smiles ......................................15 Exchanges....................................15 It Can be Done...............................16 E. L. L......................................16 § § •

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ilflg (§wcbm In these days of gardens and garden making, when many of us are cultivating the flowers our grandmothers cared for and loved, you may be interested to know how a garden was laid out and planted by one who could not even sec the flowers. This garden lies in a darkened room, no sunshine falls upon it, no pale moonlight floods its fragrant blossoms, and even the breezes must be tempered ere they are welcomed, but it grows and thrives and gives a world of comfort and pleasure. Come and walk with me through this garden of mine. Here you will enter through the wide gateway of imagination. Let us wander down the central path. It is firm and hard because it is made of Grit, and on both sides are lovely flowers in bloom. Here is a large bed of Patience, the coloring is always soft and gentle; there a bed of beautiful, bright blossoms of Hope; near by the sturdy, vigorous plants called Courage, climbing high on Steadfast poles; and that dear little vine running close to the ground, in and out among the other flowers, is known as Cheerfulness. There is a small hot-bed in that south-emly corner where I raise Smiles, because, as you well know, very often it happens that they have to be forced. Down at the end of the path trickles a tiny fountain. It sings a trusting little song and in its shining pool I wash away my tears and fears. See what a high fence I have built around my garden! It is made of Determination, with good -stout posts of Perseverance. This protection is absolutely necessary to keep out the Grumble Vine, an annoying, persistent weed, doing no end of harm, which grows just outside and is continually trying to creep in. It runs along on a sort of Fret-work of its own devising, and once became so strong and pushing, it actually broke down a portion of the fence and crept into the garden. I repaired the break with a good piece of Pluck, and cut down the vines. Alas! the root is always there, although if I am watchful the tendrils rarely get over the barrier. Outside my garden grows a large tree, in appearance something like a Weeping Willow; it is called the tree of Discouragement, and often casts a shade over my beds of beautiful flowers. Occasionally, just at nightfall, a big black bird comes and sings in the branches; it is known as the Complaining Bird and makes its nest in the swamp of Self Pity. It has a dreary, mournful, depressing note to which I try to pay no heed. It does not come very often, and if I refuse to listen, flies away. The only im- Flement I have used in my garden is an ron Will. Let me gather for you a nosegay of Patience. Hope, Courage and Cheerfulness. You will see that T always tie the blossoms together with a string of Good Resolutions. You, too, can enter through the same gateway and make a beautiful garden of your own, but you must plant and cultivate the flowers yourself. 3 —Contributea by H. L.