Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1896-1899

22

Bloomfield 7-21-96

were shown some "lazy wife pole beans" and would like to know at a future meeting how good they proved to be.

Some decided improvements have been made in the surroundings by the present owner new fences in various places, a new bath room, some new roofing but we were happily impressed with the few changes that have been made in the outside of the old house in the last 25 years. In striking contrast are those which have occurred inside its walls sons and daughers have gone forth and established beautiful and happy homes for themselves; the honored parents have gone on to the beautiful land beyond to continue in the great forever the particularly united life of domestic happiness they lived here. These were all natural changes however, no great tearing asunder of old associations; and now the old home is occupied by one of the sons and his family and the old doors still stand open wide to those whose tenderest collections linger around the place a matter worthy of note in this day of many changes.

While among the flowers we noticed some very handsome begonias and a particularly handsome hibiscus plant with several glorious blooms upon it

Soon after we returned to our seats upon

23

Bloomfield 7-21-'96

the porch we were invited in to tea, to which we all did full justice. After we assembled again the minutes of the previous meeting were adopt ed, and we proceeded with the questions.

1st Question. What to do with terrace in the yard? Ans. Advised to replant with myrtle.

2nd Ques How get rid of rats? Ans. Get cats: catch a rat. singe it and let it go: catch anpther other paint it red and let it go: put a full grown black snake in the infested building. Feed rats on corn meal with a little plaster of Paris mix it in it: if all these fail get the man with the ferret.

3rd Ques. Which is better to plant Brussels Sprouts or Spinach Ans. Spinach considered much nicer, but said to be hard to raise satisfacturity.

4th Ques. What to charge for keeping a horse at pasture with one feed of grain a day? Ans. $4.00 per month.

5th Ques What do with a strawberry bed that was cut too low? Ans. Fertilize well with fine bone and work it in; it was thought useless to fill up missing places with new plants. 6th Question. What do with one greatest nuisance the English sparrow? Ans. Many plans tried with small success. the Agricultural Dept. advises feeding them on wheat soaked in a solution of white arsenic.

7th Ques. How soon plant celery plants?

24

Bloomfield 7-21-'96

Ans. From now to the middle of August: not considered necessary to wait for a season if the ground is thoroughly soaked after the planting.

Bordeaux mixture was recommended for blight on tomato vines, and also for rose bushes. 1 oz Paris green to 10 gal water will kill catalpa worms.

A suggestion was made that it would be interesting for each family to discover as far as possible the history of its farm, who had been its different owners. how and when the land was first owned etc.

Many of our members were absent from this meeting, but their places were filled by many guests whom we were glad to have with us. viso. the Misses Chandlee, Miss Mary Colt, Dr. Aug. Stabler and wife, E. R. Stabler E. P. Thomas & Wife, Mrs. Richd L. Bentley, Miss Sallie Needles, Walter Brooke Jr. and Jno G. Bentley and wife. The last two added much to the pleasure of the evening by giving us sweet music.

When the exercises of the evening were over, before we closed our host wished to find out how the wives of the Home Interest wished their husbands to vote in the silver question. Greatly varied were the answers, and much discussion followed; but in the end the great key not of the silver question was struck when one wife said she "did not know,

25

Glenwood. 8-17-'96.

but that what she wanted was some more money some how and from some where.

Then adjourned to meet at Glenwood next time.

Anna Mc Farland Stabler, Secy pro tem

281 Meeting Glenwood 8-17-'96

Glenwood by way of contrast to the last two days of meeting there was greatly formed in its weather on Aug. 18 when the Home Interest assembled a week ahead of time to avoid the Swarthmore Conference. In the absence of the Prest, John Thomas called the meeting to order at 5.45 and after the minutes of the last meeting here were read we inspected the garden, which showed good cause for our hosts hearty appearance: vegetables were abundant and showed good care, as did the lawn and premises generally.

Returning to the house the minutes of the last meeting were adopted after reading and correction and we enjoyed a few selections from the Chip Box before supper was announced.

That most popular item in our order of business properly attended to. we proceeded to ask and answer a few time honored questions.

A climbing rose that "will grow and grow" had better be cut back when it gets in the way.

A weedy strawberry bed had better be plowed up although it did nothing this year, and the summers should not be allowed to set too thick in the rows

26

Glenwood 8-17-96. of a new bed

In planting 26 apple trees the Home Interest would advise Astrachan Yellow Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Smokehouse, York Imperial, Bentley Seedling, and English Red Streak.

Some of our members reported something having cut cantaloupe vines near the root: and the same creature seems to have in a measure spoiled the Horticultural's crop while Geo L. Stabler lost half an acre of melons from that cause.

If the season should be favorable turnips might "make" if sown now.

According to the practice of our house keepers matting does not have to be taken up oftener that once in from 3-7 years, especially if papers be laid under carpets in winter

A calla will do well in a deep jar with no drain age; even in a tub of water; and if planted below frost will flourish in the overflow from a spring

There was much talk of the proposed skating pond; tho the Com^ee reporte no action some plans are proposed, and they are directed to proceed as way opens. The names of Helen L. Thomas and Carrie L. Brooke were added to the Com^ee

Celery should be spaced 10 x 6 inches in the bed.

It was proposed to poll the society at each meeting from now till election time to see how opinions vary, and after some discussion the motion was adopted, and the vote resulted in 9 for McKinley.