Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1877-1885

Who has raised the Little Gem? A good plan to put boards over the seed rows when first planted. What is the best Early Tomatoe? None recommended. It is all important to stick tomatoes? Wanted a list of 6 Roses ever blooming. Referred to the Catalogue of Dinger & Conard & individual taste. What kind of Sweet Corn to plant? Crosby's Golden sweet, Bliss' Extra Early. The readers were very happy in their selections, adding agreeably to the entertainment to those present, & Beulah L Thomas & W^m W Moore were requested to favor us at Willow Heights, when we adjourned to next April 14^th 1877.

75th Meeting

The 75th meeting of the "H I" was held at Willow Heights on the afternoon of April 14th 1877. We are pleased to note that the blank made in our midst by the long absence of some members was again filled & a full meeting the consequence, only two of our attending members being absent. An unusual number of guests, added to the interest of the occasion, to say nothing of the enlivening presence of the little people, whose pretty, faces & joyousness seemed to give general satisfaction.

As the aim of our society is the steady & earnest labor of self improvement, there is some danger that we become exclusive & overlook opportunities of dispensing to our fellows the truth which our experience & careful investigation have acquired & also that we withhold even from these little ones of our household, the influence which society

over extends to the least of us. Every thing in life has a double office, to acquire & to dispense, but as the latter can never be fulfilled without the former, let us be persuaded to double diligence in our efforts to secure the greatest good to the greatest number.

Beginning business at the usual hour, half past 5, with Walter H Brook acting foreman, we proceeded at once to read the minutes of last year, & then a walk to the garden was proposed. The ladies immediately responded & were soon admiring the fresh green sod around the door yard & the pretty appearance of things generally; but the inertia of the gentlemen was more difficult to remove, they admired the slothful habit gained in the winter, & were loth to leave the lounges, easy chairs & warm fireside for the matter of looking at a garden, when there was nothing to eat in it, & even no work to be done. The garden was principally a pear orchard thoroughly soded, & the small beginning that had been made toward cultivating the remainder, was probably of that very desirable kind which has oft a "mighty end," & the table will no doubt yet be furnished a luxurious supply of vegetables. The new hot bed gave prom. of tomato a beet plants, and a cute little harrow, for mellowing the earth in hot bed or flower garden, made by driving common nails into a handle, shaped at the lever and like a carpet stretcher, was much admired, and gave further evidence of the natural genius of our host. Returned to the parlor we read the minutes of last meeting & then discussed the following questions, Albina Stabler asked what should be done with their yard, where

the grass had failed to come up? and the unanimous cry of the ladies was to "sod it." but the men familiar with the labor of this artificial method of making grass grow, & whose whole life practice teaches them to patiently wait results, said if one grass appears by fall, then harrow, sow seed & top dress.

I was thought too late to plant Quince cuttings.

What vine to plant in an outdoor vase, that is prettiest & does not require much attention? Barclayanna, Madeira, Ivy & sweet potatoe. What the price of Turkey Eggs? $1.00 per Doz.

Who has tried common wood's violets as a bedding plant? Lay cowslips instead or box which should be planted deep.

Shall we set Turkey eggs under chicken hens or turkey? Recommended to set the first eggs under chicken hens, & to set the turkeys afterward. If you plant poor potatoes what will grow? Much discussion & a wide difference of opinion. Some think the quality of seed very important, other that it makes no difference, but all seem agreed, that the season has more effect upon the crop than any other cause. Shall I put my flowers upon the South porch this early? Yes & cover them when necessary.

What is the cheapest & best plan to get white washing done? Most persons employ a man at $1.50 per day, a few prefer a woman at 75c, who can clean up after herself as she goes. How shall I save my quince trees? Perhaps it is the borer, examine the roots. How large ought a ladies flower garden to be, to work it herself? No definitive answers given, should think individual strength a good guide. How to get garlic out of the lawn? No use

digging it up, it grows from the juice. Try salt. Is it too early to uncover strawberry beds? No Soap question renewed. Carries Brooke's soft soap curdles what is the cause? Every body supposes but no one knows. The "Read" butter worker gives great satisfaction. Sift Salt for butter through the flower sifter. How many young chickens? 713 What kind of lamp chimney isn't break? The patient recommended. Sell wheat now or hold it? Let it grow first.

Can you make sweet butter allowing the milk to stand 36 & 48 hours? Skim twice a day, not allowing the milk to stand over 36 hours. Deep setting preferred.

The Readers being called for Beulah L Thomas responded & read a very good short article from Friends Intelligencier "Parents must learn to think," & some sweet lines from [...]

Owing to the lateness of the hour, the 2nd Reader W^m W Moore, & Albina O' Stabler were requested to furnish reading matter at our next meeting to be held at Tanglewood May 19th 1877.

76th Meeting

The meeting of the "H I" held at Tanglewood May 18 1877 was called to order at 5 30 PM with W^m W Moore as foreman

Owing to indisposition our Sec was only able to read the minutes of the preceeding meeting & then furnish a substitute. The first thing to attract our attention out of doors was a bed of foliage plants just

started in front of the house, that promised to be very handsome later in the season The flower & vegetable gardens were next visited both of which did our host & hostess great credit, being in perfect order, & the vegetables very forward for the cold backward spring.

The new chicken yard ought certainly to be a success. It is so extensive that the poultry will scarcely know that they are not allowed to roam "at their own sweet will." An arrangement with inverted glass jars for furnishing the chickens with water to drink, met with general approbation, & it is to be hoped that said approbation will assume a sufficiently tangible form, to firm the effect of a good example. A trough with a self-discharging hopper for feeding, corn was considered an admirable arrangment. Most of the gentlemen seemed shy about investigating the poultry yard. Could they have thought "Comparisons Odious," or that "Where ignorance is bliss etc." On returning to the parlor the following questions were asked. 1st, What is a fair price for a 2nd hand hair mattress? 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of new hair.

2nd, Should little girls from 4 to 5 yrs old have their hair cut? A decided difference of opinion, but a majority advocated leaving the front hair long enough to plait, or push back with a comb, & cut the back hair.

3rd. At what season should ashes be applied to grass? At all seasons. 4th, It was not thought best to attempt serving celery seed so late in the season.

5th. Is it too late to sow Cauliflower? No, transplant to