Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1896-1899

17

Tanglewood 5-25-96

encouraging to the rest of us, there being enough "transoms" among our local colored population.

To secure constant pansy bloom they should grow in a shady, damp place and have the blossoms cut as just as they open.

It is too late in the season now to sow salvia seed: and while it probably would not kill asparagus to move it now, it would be much better to leave it till fall or early spring.

Grape vines should be sprayed as soon as the fruit forms. Hammond's Slug Shot was recommended as an effective insecticide. To get rid of flies in a room that is screened, if you do not wish to use fly powder, "bat" them with a folded news paper.

To relieve the heaves feed the victim altogether on grain, or if that does not suit add a little shreded corn blades or chop.

No one present had used the Mudge Canner, but several expected to try it this summer.

Opinion seemed on the whole adverse to allowing a colored waitress to be seated in the dining room when not actively employed: many prefer not to have her stay in the room except when really busy.

As query as to the cheapest and best way to heat a small country house called out much

18

discussion, the gist of which seemed to be that stoves were the cheapest, but either hot water or steam the most desirable method of heating The Grand Domestic Heater as recommended as a good stove.

Pinching in tomato vines was said to bring the fruit to perfection earlier, but one needs to have many plants to be able to afford to prune them. The annual discussion of straw vs trellis under tomato vines was held this evening with the usual results; every one will continue to do as he has done!

Several people spoke of having gathered a quantity of mushrooms, which are very uncommon at this season.

The only way to keep egg plants free from bugs is to pick the bugs off, or provide wire screens for the plants!

The proceedings closed with the reading of a few scraps. and we adjourned to Clifton June 22-'96.

279 Meeting Clifton 6-22-'96

At 6 P. M the 279 meeting of the Home Interest was called to order at Clifton 6-22-'96. and after reading the minutes of the last meeting at this place, we went out to see a promising garden and grape vines loaded with fruit.

The busines was resumed after supper. and when the minutes of the meeting at Tanglewood

19

Clifton 6-22-96

had been read and adopted. John Thomas began the queries, with one concerning a large locust tree near the house. The Home Interest advised cutting it in, as that would lessen the damage of its blowing over, and secure better shade when it puts out new branches.

Many of the other questions related to gardening, and from the answers to them we learned the following facts. Celery in a seed bed should be sheared back when 3 or 4 inches high if it is sheared at all; authorities differ as to the need for shearing. To have perfect success with egg plants put half a bushel of river sand and fresh horse manure mixed in equal parts in each hill, and a little shade is good for the plants. so it will not hurt them to be near the tomato vines. It is not too late to set out egg plants now. and an addition of Paris Green to Bordeaux mixture will kill bugs on egg plants and not hurt the plants. Chrysanthemums may be safely moved at any time; but tomato plants can be hurt by manure if it touches the vine. It is worth while to plant sweet corn as late as Aug 1. as in favorable seasons it will mature after that, and the late corn is fine it matures in from 9-10 weeks. Gardeners disapprove of of suckering sweet corn as it exhausts the plant. Spring is the proper time to move blackberry plants: but strawberries may be transplant

20

Clifton 6-22-'96

now, if carefully moved with earth about the roots, but they are in danger of drought later in the season. Sage seed should be sown in a long row. & cut as soon as the leaves are large enough. it may be cut three times a season.

50ct per qt. was suggested as a proper price for preserved raspberries.

There were various opinions as to charges for permanent board and washing-ranging from $15.00 per month. to $6.25 per week.

Grapevines planted 8 x 10 ft apart should be kept cultivated and clean; and the Home Interest thought a spray of 1 lb. Paris Green to 200 gal. of water would probably kill worms on a catalpa tree.

There were as many methods of of training lima beans advanced as this body used to advocate as to the training of children. in its early days but in this case as in the other, no one had a fixed rule to lay down. Nor had any body an infallible recipe for making "the woman" work the garden, this one man suggested "keep out of it yourself".

The drought in May. and the cool weather since were reasons suggested for the slow growth of grass: and as insect powder or black pepper will kill aster bugs it is not necessary to plant asters in boxes for safety.

Fumes of carbolic acid was proclaimed a sure

21

Bloomfield 7-21-'96

cure for chicken gapes.

No one had any specific knowledge as to whether the prisoners in the Co. jail get proper, or as good as the people pay for; nor was there any information forthcoming as to the taxation of savings bank deposits under the new assessment law.

The hour for adjournment having arrived, we parted, to meet at Bloomfield July 21 a day later than the regular time: as Mary E. Moore laid claim to the 20^th to celebrate various family anniversaries.

Rebecca T. Miller Sec'y

280 Meeting Bloomfield 7-21-'96

The 280 meeting of the Home Interest was held at Bloomfield July 21. '96. This was our first meeting with Edward N. and Hallie J. Bentley as host and hostess. We were called to order in fairly good time, and in the absence of the Prest. John Thomas was chosen to preside and Anna Mc F. Stabler was made sec'y pro tem

We were soon invited to walk out thro the garden and grounds: we found things in nice order, and saw much to admire and little to critcise. The garden was very good and we were informed that our host had quite a truck-patch in addition we