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

Page 9 text:

steady income of the paper. I will refrain from quoting the prices set in those pre-war days for fear of making the present advertisers green with envy, but will merely state mildly that prices have “riz” in this as in everything else. The aim of the magazine was “for advancement of interests pertaining to the school, news items, short stories, advertising and any matter of interest from other publications relating to growing things.” At the end of ten years it seems that we are living up to the ambition of the initiators very well. These minor details were decided upon comparatively easily, but oh!—the naming of the “baby”! Such a task! The presence of eight sponsors, each with several ideas in the matter complicated the problem vastly. Meetings were held on January 21st, 22nd, 29th and 30th before a final and irrevocable decision was reached. Of course it was the desire of the whole group to have a name suggestive of the main interests of the paper. “Cuttings”, “Budding”, “Spade and Barrow”, “The Sprinkling Pot” were thought up, and turned down; “Pruning Shears, A Bundle of Choice Cuttings” was voted for, and considered seriously over night, but fortunately some of the Staff or the Director questioned the suitability of the name. So the discussion waxed hot once more, and to quote the Editor's notes:—“ ‘Cuttings' once more takes the floor and it immediately propagates ‘Choice Cutting? from Garden and Orchard'. ‘Sand, Loam, and Humus'—well-rotted (sub rosa); ‘Digs and Cuts' and at last, ‘Wise-Acres' are brought forward.” On the day of the final decision, given only five minutes to settle1 it, the vote fell in favor of the last, and under the now famous name, the .first issue appeared in March, 1914. This first number mentioned a “Horticultural Conference” held in May, 1913, at the School, at which many people expressed the wish for the formation of a society for women interested in horticultural things. March Wise-Acres announced the aim of the Woman's National Agricultural and Horticultural Association, which had been formed in the year. Mrs. Frances King was the first President. So the School can feel partly instrumental in the inauguration of a movement which has become nation-wide in its usefulness. The second number described the first conference of the Association on May 16, 1914, when four hundred and fifty people enjoyed a well-planned program as well as the charming weather. The subjects discussed during the day were varied:—“The True Role of the Horticultural Society”, by Mrs. King; “Small Fruit Growing for Women”, by Mr. George T. Powell: “Raising Rainbows”, by Bertrand H. Farr, and many other interesting topics. This issue caused a thunderstorm which seemed likely to damage the crops for a while. In it was copied “The Glory of the Garden”, by Rudyard Kipling. They had found the 7

Page 8 text:

SUCCESSIVE CROPS OF THE “ WISE-ACRES ” As Wise-Acres passed its tenth birthday this winter, it seems an appropriate time to hunt up the circumstances of its inception, and perhaps note a few of the interesting “Current Events” recorded in the earlier issues. The question is often heard, especially at the beginning of a new term, as to the origin of Wise-Acres, and how the name was selected and so on. It has been most entertaining to find, on searching the files of the paper, a neat little book answering these and other questions. And by getting in touch with Miss Exley, who was the first editor, many interesting bits which do not appear either in the little book or in the earlier issues of Wise-Acres were gleaned. The eight students of the school met at 2.00 P.M., on January 12, 1914, to discuss the proposition and wTere found to be unanimously of the opinion that ‘‘a School Paper would be a very nice thing.” Miss Exley was immediately elected as editor. Because of the distinct difference between Miss Exley's writing and that of the note in the margin, I know I am not slurring at her spelling when I quote that their “Currant Events” editor was Miss Lawrence, who also had charge of the ads. To Miss Frances Shin, the Art Editor, was left the designing of the cover, and her arrangement of the lettering has changed very little, and the School seal appeared on the first number as it does now. Mrs. Caroline Peeler is designated in the report of the first meeting of the staff as “general aid and slavey, with office of secretary thrown in.” Miss Frances Gardener, who is now Mrs. Kite, Miss Exley’s partner, was associate editor. Mrs. Deming was chosen for business manager, and a noble one she was, judging from the tales with which Miss Exley regaled me. As is always the case with a new enterprise, the Paper was in sad need of funds. Mrs. Deming had the inspiration and initiative to start an egg and vegetable route through the village. The horse at that time was “Prince,” and he, hitched in the “jagger wagon,” with which all School of Hort. students are familiar, was requisitioned to carry the produce to the consumers. In a short time she had made her wares so popular that the supply could not keep up with the demand. Of course much of the cash received went to the various departments from which the supplies were obtained, but arrangements had been made for a certain percentage to come to the Paper, and the results of the village trade were most gratifying. It was at first decided to print only three issues a year, but when it was found that the Post Office Department would give us magazine rates for mailing if we had four issues a year, the extra effort of getting together a fourth number was considered worth while. The discussion of advertising was quite extensive, as that was the source of much of the G

Page 10 text:

poem in a newspaper, with no credit given to any other publication. When the Garden Magazine saw the poem in Wise-Acres, they promptly informed the palpitating Staff that they had infringed a copyright, and it would require the payment of $100 to soothe the Garden Magazine!! Fortunately the School's attorney was able to soothe said magazine by much less expensive methods, and the trouble blew over so quietly that the editor's notes hold no record of the settlement. The growth of the School is noted in later issues, as in November, 1914, the completion of the two greenhouses added onto the original one is mentioned. The present “Dorm was a thrill which occupied parts of several pages in different numbers. On May 6th, just after the first Wise-Acres appeared, the ground was staked off for the building. Although promised for January 1, 1915, it is in the June number that we find this entry in the School Notes: “April 26.—Moving Day! With one accord and a Henry Ford, we gaily made our long-delayed entry into the new building. It was all very strange at first, but now that the smell of fresh paint has worn off, and some of our misplaced belongings have come to light, we begin to feel less like visitors, and more like permanent residents. The paper was discontinued for a year or so during the war. But aside for this slight and necessary interim, the back numbers bring to light many interesting, instructive and entertaining articles. Some of the titles that one notes as holding vast possibilities of information are: “The Flora of Hawaii”. “Through the War Zone in War Time . “Some Recently Extinct Birds . “Dahlias . “The Outlook in the Field of Horticulture . “Poisonous Plants . “A Paying Poultry Plant . “Flowering Bulbs for the House . One longs for room to reprint many of these for the benefit of the newer students. The humorous sallies, quotations from Exchanges, or from the ever-bright and scintillating wits of our own students, appeared as “Smiles for a while, later under the title of “Relish for the Wise . Only a year ago the truly unique and peculiarly fitting heading of “The Compost Pile made . its debut. Improving with age, one would say! All in all, Wise-Acres has had a career of ten prosperous and we trust useful years of existence, and we can heartily wish it many more. E. C.