Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1877-1885

and our company was added to by a few guests. _ Since our last meting here, our host has improved the back yard very much by paving and sodding. B. H. Miller foreman, having had the minutes read, called upon us to walk out. We found the hot bed with beets quite large for the season, and a lot of volunteer tomato plants, peas were up. Our host is enlarging his garden. We found in the garden a well, filled with loose stone, at the foot of the waste trough from the sump, and already standing full of water. It was very generally condemned and thought but to carry the trough thro' the garden & let the water run off farther from the house. We returned to the house, had the minutes of last meeting read, and the following questions _

1^st Is it too soon to plant tuberoses? Yes _ out in beds it is _ but they may be forced in pots by fire.

2^nd How to clean B. H. Miller's coat? Ammonia, soap bark & wash in P. T. Stabler's machine also wash & dont wring.

3^rd Is it necessary to cut sage back at this season? Advised to experiment.

4^th The best early sweet corn? Albert Chandlers & Bliss's which they say cant be had.

5^th How soon to put out roses from the hot house? Not for several weeks.

6^th How far apart plant a sage for a hedge? 8 to 10 inches and two rows.

7^th What four varieties of Pears to plant? Sickel, Bartlette, Summer Bells, Lawrence and for dwarf plant Duchess & Vicar of Wingfield, but have pears regardless of name. Advised to gather Duchess pears as soon as they begin to fall and ripen in a dark, dry place.

8^th What work ought our daughters to do & how soon must they be taught? Teach them to do what ever is woman's work, what their mothers do with us, or know how to do, and you cant begin the lesson too young. Too many of us put it off because it seems hard to take the time, and then the task is a much harder one for them. We know it is hard to leave our many conflicting cares to see that their little tasks are done and well done, which is by no means a small part of the lessons _ but this is nevertheless our duty. This question lead to much interesting discussion, which was almost unanimous in its bearing.

9^th Does any one want to send for Plymouth Rock chickens? No.

10^th Best mulch for strawberries? Straw & fine yard ^grass.

11^th What will make the grass grow on Sue Thomas' terrace? Advised to sod it late in the Fall instead of Spring

12^th Is it too soon to plant peas? Silent contempt.

13^th What to do with grass injured by guano? Water it well and you will soon see it grow.

14^th How many tried black wax beans, and are they as

good as the white? No one knows.

15^th Has any one Monarch of the West strawberries to give away? No.

16^th How late will it do for a farmer to sleep in the morning? "Early to bed and early to rise" quoted, but the general sentiment seemed to be to suit ones self. We really believe the Home Interest is disposed to sleep late. No reading, _ Anna L Moore, Walter H Brooke & B. H. Miller to lead at our next meeting. A small number of good chips were found, making us wish for more. Then adjourned to meet at A. G. Thomas' May 4^th 1878. P. R. Stabler Sec Pro tem.

88^th Meeting

The meeting of the "Home Interest" at A. G. Thomas', May 4^th 1878 was called to order with Fred. Stabler as foreman. Our usual walk was taken after the reading of the minutes, and a sad contrast noticed in the appearance of garden &c, compared with that of last year, the recent destructive hail storm, having been very severe at this place, destroying nearly everything in the way of vegetation. The following questions were recorded. 1^st Is it best to cut asparagus the

2^nd year! Not considered so, tho’ good vigorous plants will sometimes bear it. B. H. Miller’s _ the finest of the neighborhood was cut some the 2^nd year.

2^nd What ought to be done with a boy 10 years of age, that steals from a store? A very animated discussion, resulting in the following vote: House of Reformation, 5 - Whipping 8 - Whipping & red pepper in mouth 1 - A severe dose of medicine 1.

3^rd. Who is a good hand to repair a slate roof? Robt. S. Moore. –

4^th. Is it too late to plant blackberries & raspberries? No, _ if the plants are carefully taken up, with earth.

5^th. What must be done with asparagus that come from dropped seed? Gardeners say take out all such plants; tho’ some persons leave them when the bed is truly set.

6^th B. H. Miller wanted to know what to do with some [penis h...?] The question was confined to the gentlemen present, and it is presumed the information given was satisfactory, tho’ the Sec. failed to gather what it was.

7^th . How much stock will members take in Telephone to Rockville or Laurel? The Laurel route was much the more popular. I believe there were 7 shares taken some of them in Poles.

8^th . What should be done with fish brine, water from ice cream freezers, etc? Pour on asparagus bed.

9^th Will it injure land to follow millet by corn? Not if sufficiently fertilized.

10^th What wash to use for vermin in hen house? Carbolic acid or crude petroleum.

11^th Where is the best place to get roses? Dingle & Coward

12^th Will grape vines injured by hail blossom again this year? No positive information, tho' it was thought they should.

13^th Shall the Book Club be enlarged? Carried by a majority of 3 _ The number of members to limited to 30. There seems to be some dissatisfaction about dating books, and some present approved of enforcing the fine imposed for neglect of this kind.

Mr A. Thomas read an amusing article called 'How a Man takes care of the Baby" and P. O. Miller one very different but equally good, entitled Anointing beforehand for Burials?" Anna S Moore read a short extract from Chas. Sudley Warner. The readers for our next meeting were Anna S. Moore _ Walter H. Banks & Benjⁿ H. Miller. Then adjourned to meet at Asa M. Stablers _ afternoon changed to Dr F. Thomas June 1^st 1878 _