Vermilion School of Agriculture - Yearbook (Vermilion, Alberta Canada)

Page 11 text:

□ VERMILION SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE □ QTie Country Flower Qarden By AN AMATEUR GARDENER CSCHOLTZIA. Horrors!” Plant a few flowers, beautify the farm garden; take advantage of the interest that even a small patch of ordinary flowers will give the tired housewife.” All these things we hear from the first of March until the middle of summer, and then someone suggests that a few Escholtzia, a bed of dimorpho- theca or a corner filled with the retiring gypsophila will present a pleasing sight for weary eyes. Always desiring a flower garden, the writer was for years scared off the proposition by the sound of the names of some flowers that were supposed to provide a maximum of beauty with a minimum cost in time and labor . . . happily discovering that gypsophila was nothing more nor less than the dainty flower known to gardeners the world over as Baby’s Breath, and that dimorphotheca was something or other for the everyday variety of orange African daisies; the field of gardening then did not seem so far removed from the limited accomplishment of one who pos¬ sessed no training along horticultural lines. Finally, raising a degree of courage, a letter was despatched to the seed house ordering some seed that would grow plants of equal beauty and size to that depicted on the cover of the cata¬ logue, and in due course the seed arrived, together with a handy little manual with free advice on the preparation of the seed bed, methods of cultivation, the coi ' rect distances in which to space the plants, etc. The amateur who finally managed to pro¬ duce a fairly good garden passes on to you in this article a few hints that have been gleaned from an experience that contained many disheartening failures and which finally resulted in a tiny plot of flowering beauty about the house. No Latin names are given, no intricate directions, and no attempt is made to expound horticultural theories that seem, at best, to merely place a bander in the way of the amateur who wishes for nothing but a succession of color in the little home garden in the country. The use of shallow flat boxes for the planting of seeds in¬ doors and from which the plants are later transplanted into the garden, is not always practicable and although this method is considered necessary by those who are learned in the practice of horticulture, the writer has found, from experience, in Alberta, that most seeds may be sown directly out-of-doors in May and will produce flowers that will rival in beauty any that grace the more elaborate gardens that are conducted on “educated” lines. With all seeds it is necessary to prepare the soil thoroughly, sow the seeds thinly and not too deeply and to cultivate the ground well during the entire growing season. It is fatal to sow the seed in ground that has not been well worked and the garden will prove a failure if the seeds are planted too far below the soil surface. The use of ordinary barnyard manure, well worked into the soil, is recommended and cultivation should be carried on so as to conserve moisture; excess watering from an artificial source is dangerous as it tends to produce a growth of surface roots in the plants instead of forcing the roots to go deeper and deeper into the earth in their search for the life-giving moisture. Plants should not be too close together owing to the danger of too many of them trying to collect a sufficiency of moisture where only a certain amount is present. Sweet peas are a joy and a beauty during their long bloom¬ ing season and have a decided advantage in the fact that the more the blooms are cut the greater the profusion of the display. The ground for sweet peas should be well dug to a depth of about eighteen inches, the trench being refilled with a mixture of the earth and well-rotted manure; this should be well watered and then packed firmly, the seeds being sown in the earlier weeks of May and being placed about two inches deep in the earth and three or four inches apart. No further watering should be under¬ taken until after the tiny plants have come through the earth and then plenty of water will hasten the growth. The sweet peas should have a climbing device provided for them, small wooden poles or rods being suggested in preference to the chicken wire that is so often used and which has a tend¬ ency to cause the tendrils to burn when exposed to the burning sun of midsummer. The most common error in growing sweet peas by the amateur is allowing them to grow too thickly in the bed; the plants should not be closer together than six inches and although it seems something like a sacrilege to destroy the plants once they have started nicely, it will pay you to steel your heart and to eliminate overcrowding in the sweet pea row. Once the bloom has begun, the flowers should be cut daily and the gard¬ ener will be agreeably surprised to find the plants in full flower again with the passing of another sunrise. Petunias may be classed by the expert as a rather common flower for the formal garden,but there is no flower known to the Amateur Writer that will given as good results in even mediocre soil, under dry conditions, and in almost any location. The seed may be sown out-of-doors in the middle of May and when the plants appear they should be thinned out and later transplanted to their permanent place in the bed; petunias grow about eighteen inches in height, do not require any support and will fill the garden with their beauty for weeks on end. Asters do well in Alberta, and may be seen to advantage at any of the school fairs held in the province, as thousands of children grow them annually for exhibition; many of the chil¬ dren sow the seed directly in the garden, not using the flat boxes (Continued on Page 45) [ 9 ]

Page 10 text:

□ VERMILION SCHOOI OF AGRICULTURE □ Cf he Matriculation Class in 1945 Bt] B. F. Kiernan T HE train thundered up to the station and stopped with a clatter, while from the coaches emerged dignified ladies and important looking men. Several cars were drawn up at the plat¬ form, the license numbers 166, 172 and 154 indicating that they were government vehicles and their appearance being mute trib¬ ute to the fact that they had long since outlived their days of beauty, although they still appeared to be capable of operation. Principal Elliott, of the V.S.A., partially disguised by a neat grey goatee, was on hand to greet the newcomers who were former students of the “College,” come back to attend the big¬ gest and best re-union, in the summer of 1945. The first lady to appear was the former Eva Wilson, the most outstanding ladj member of the 1929-30 Matriculation class. After being warmly greeted by the Principal, she brought the regrets of Hector Mc- Quarrie, who she had met a week previously when he told her it would not be possible for him to attend the re-union owing to it being necessary for him to return to his farm in the south of Alberta, where his interests had so enlarged as to demand very close personal supervision. Eva introduced her husband and then laughingly called over Frank Mead, who had grown so fat that he was hardly recog¬ nizable as the man who had successfully defended the V.S.A. net in so many exciting hockey games, away back in 1928-29 and 1930. Frank explained that it was necessary for him to hasten back to the East where he was making plans for the purchase of a hockey aggregation that would step into the lime¬ light during the coming winter. A Christie “stiff,” a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and an enormous note-book preceded Byron F. Kiernan into the picture, and even while engaged in renewing old acquaintances, he was busy jotting down interesting bits -of news for his paper, the Auburndale Times. A short, stocky, sun-burnt man, having the appearance of all out-of-doors, approached with hand outstretched and a wel¬ come on his lips. It was none other than Robert H., formerly Bob Johnston, who had managed to slip from his office in the Parlia¬ ment Buildings, where he held down the portfolio of Minister of Public Works, to journey to Vermilion to say “Hello” to the friends of former days. He was accompanied by his wife, whom we used to know as a gem of a girl. Lo and behold, a parson! Who can it be? A grave sm’le revealed traces of John Clifton who had, after farming for two or three years on conclusion of his course in 1929 and 1930, decided that there were other things in life besides making two stems of wheat grow where one had grown before, and had forsaken the rolling prairies for the seclusion of the college, there to pursue, with all his old diligence, the study of the higher things of life. As dapper as ever, Norman Martyn stepped up to the gathering and acknowledged their greetings; to assist in the cele¬ bration of the happy occasion of the re-union, he had shipped in several crates of chickens from his poultry plant in the foothills and assured the members of his former class that “they had never tasted anything like Martyn’s broilers.” Success in his chosen work seemed to make Norman even more amiable than MATRICULATION’ CLASS Standing—D. Falkins, W. Ross, R. Johnston, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Baker, H. Hamilton, J. Clifton, Seated—B. Kiernan, H. McQuarrie, A. Platt, Miss E. Wilson, E. Barber, F. Mead. On Floor—N. Martyn, V. Durda. ever and he recounted interesting ancdotes of the early days in chickens, when coyotes took their toll without a “thank you.” Tall and dignified, a comparative stranger approached; his upper lip hidden by a nifty mustache, it was difficult to recognize Harry Hamilton, who had snatched a few brief hours from his lecturing at the University of Alberta, to be present once again with those who used to constitute the “gang,” but who now referred to themselves as members of the Alumni Association. Even the amusing experiences of pioneer alley failed to bring more than a fleeting smile to the austere countenance that could be imagined frowning on thoughtless students in the Varsity halls, even as it used to when Harry was acting as houseman on the top floor, fifteen years ago. Satchel in hand, there approached now Dr. Donald Falkins, who had only recently returned from Vienna after a period of intensive medical training. Glad to be back again in the haunts of his youth, the Doctor beamed as in days gone by and blush- ingly drew forward his bride of but a few weeks, one who had made a warm place in the affection of the College in 1927-28, and who afterwards was known to minister to the sick in the University Hospital. As the crowd dispersed and entered the cars, en route to the old campus, a Hudson Super-Six drew rapidly up to the station and out stepped William A., ex-Bill Ross, accompanied by Arnold Platt. Bill, on his way from Beaverlodge, where he was Superin- (Continued on Page 23) [ 8 ]

Page 12 text:

□ VERMILION SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE □ EIOQRAPH1ES OF THE (2) GEORGE COOPER, another worthy representative of the Peace River country, entered the School in the fall of 1928, determined to extract all the education available—and has made a good job of it. Standing well in his classes, he has still had considerable time to devote to the Literary Committee, to sports and to quite occasional visits to the girls’ wing. (1) MARION DIXON is a pro¬ duct of the great open spaces back of Lesser Slave Lake, coming to V.S.A. from Grande Prairie to study the essentials of home-mak¬ ing. Her sunny smile and pleasant manner have won many friends Her future in the teaching pro¬ fession should be-a bright one. As a member of the Social Committee and Yearbook staff, she has been of great assistance in the work of the student life. The only criticism we might offer would be the man¬ ner in which she annoyed her table mates, room mates and any¬ one else who happened to be near when she demanded more and more “Bacon.” (3) ANNIE WALKER hails from Lamont and is a sister of our former representative of the “Hospital Town,” Ellen Walker, who graduated from V.S.A. and entered the nursing profession. Annie is much like her sister and has made a host of friends while at the School. Prominent in athletics, she won the champion¬ ship for girls in her first year in all sports and has more recently shone as a basketball star. We hope to have her back for the Third Year and that she will then go to the University to complete her work in Household Economics. (4) GUS JOHNSON is one of several two-in-one students, and has done splend id work. Coming from Hardisty in the fall of 1929 with a desire for more and better farming information as well as with a distinct leaning away from the girls’ dormitory and its occupants, he has had pretty nearly one hundred percent of his time to devote to the somewhat more serious things of the college life, such as studies, athletics and committee work. His future will no doubt show the result of his application to his work. (6) MARK STEVENSON came to us from Stony Plain and has been a fine student. He captured the scholarship given for highest standing in first year Carpentry and made an enviable record in other branches of the course. Mark is popular with his class¬ mates and when he goes to his community to make his home his influence and quiet, steady judg¬ ment should be of great value to his neighbors. We expect, one day, to hear of him representing a constituency in the Pro¬ vincial Legislature. (5) HULDA JOHNSON descended upon f he School from the north and proceeded to take it by storm, along with practically all the available prizes in the first year girls’ section. At last year’s closing exercises, the name Huldah •Johnson seemed to follow the announcement of many of the major prizes and her work during her second year has been productive of excellent results. Her future should reflect a good deal of credit on the Peace River country and on the V.S.A. [ 10 ]