by Betty Bardswich
SPRING BAY—Campbell Horticultural Society members celebrated the 88th year of the organization April 12 at the Spring Bay Community Hall. President Carol Lang was unable to attend the meeting and First Vice-President Sandra Strong took on her duties with Penny Palonen serving as secretary.
Ms. Strong had on hand the record of the very first minutes of the group from 1928 to 1931 and the first article said, “A meeting was held at Neil McColman’s for the purpose of organizing a Horticultural Society on April 13, 1928. Harvey Hauer was appointed Chairman and Mrs. Austin Hartley Secretary for the meeting. Moved and seconded by Mrs. D.H. Kirk and seconded by Mrs. Robert Clark that we organize the Horticultural Society.”
Society Treasurer Mary White was the guest speaker at this meeting and she talked of pests in the garden. Tomatoes, she explained, do well when one adds crushed egg shells and Epsom salts to the hole when planting them and noted that she has not had a problem with blossom rot since using this method of planting. She also emphasized that tomatoes should be pruned back severely once they get going and all suckers must be taken off the plants. Another practice that can help to ensure a good crop is to put plastic bags over the tomato cage and thus make a little hot house. In response for a question from the audience, Ms. White remarked also that starter leaves should be cut off each tomato plant when planting.
As far as onions are concerned, Ms. White uses wood ash and tea leaves to keep the plants healthy. She plants three different kinds of onions and noted that onions can be bent down at the end of August to promote growth of the bulbs.
Ms. White has several ways of ensuring a good garden. These include putting Meeker’s Mix all around the perimeter of the garden to keep pests out and also planting marigolds to deter anything from eating the plants. She also puts her plants closer than it says on the packages and noted that sunflowers planted in a garden serve as a good windbreak.
The Horticultural Society will be having their annual flower show on August 3 at the Mindemoya Community Centre. Titled Manitoulin Rocks, the show is an opportunity for all Society members to showcase their gardening efforts and thereby educate and promote interest in horticulture. The doors for the show, which also has tea and dessert, open from 1 pm until 4 pm. Cost of admission is $7 for adults, $2 for children 10 and under and $2 for members.
The Campbell Society welcomes new members. Please call Ms. White at 705-377-4870.
