Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1896-1899

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Mt. Airy. 12.13.96

us, if it had been positively assorted as one trillion we would all have believed it.

5. Young fruit trees bent by recent wind storm should have earth packed more tightly around roots. A little of the top should be cut out to assist in straightening. Properly staked might help them.

6. Most gardens have been plowed. Those who have not plowed are sorry!

7. Who expects to go to Farmers' Institute at Rockville next week and are ladies expected? Many hope to go. Ladies are expected.

8. What is the best time of year to move a dry well? Now is the best time to deepen if that is the moving process required. Small comfort seemed to have much practical information as to whether a well of hard water could be improved by boring to reach another strata.

10. Kale should be partly cut off before very cold weather & slightly covered.

11. Mr. W^m. E. Magruder has fine Plymouth Rock rooster for sale at 65 cts for one or $1.25 per pair.

12. Is there any possible way of getting rid of green aphis on flowers? Remedies suggested Learn to smoke! If that proves an uncongenial occupation invite your friends or sons in law who smoke. Or try Boone Davis' Insecticide soap. Spray with strong soap suds with kerosene added while it will mix. Or better still burn raw tobacco in a shovel.

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Mt. Airy. 12.13.96

13. How can a terra cotta pipe be kept from freezing if taken from the pump at Ashton across the road as a drain? The suggest of running an iron pipe from the bottom of the tub a little way down the side of the mill into a terra cotta pipe was strongly condemmed by both doctors present. which showed disinterested judgment thereby cutting themselves off from possible typhoid & diphtheria cases.

In the arguments which followed the question of freezing was lost sight of and we will trust the blacksmith at Ashton Will solve the problem & the report given to me later.

14. What kind of garden fence should be built at Plainfield not so conspicuous as a paling fence? All sorts & heights of wirefences were advised but one of quite heavy wire deemed most practical.

While on the subject of fences it may be of interest to note that the hens at Leawood Mills walk up the wire fences and the cow walks over them & roosts each night in the hen house.

It was suggested that the feminine minds in that part of the neighborhood are above the average in intellect. Thomas Lea was quoted as saying that if a wire fence is 2 ft high a chicken cannot step over it and does not consider it worth flying over.

15. A carnation does not require to be kept in a very warm place.

16. Flowers are probably tall & spindling

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Mt. Airy 12-13-96

because the room is too warm.

Adjourned to meet at Plainfield Jan 11^th-97.

After the meeting had adjourned, as it was quite early, A. G. Thomas proposed that the Cuban question should be discussed, which was done at some length, & much interest expressed for the unfortunate people who are struggling so desperately for freedom. Tho' all condemmed the brutality of the war, feelings were mixed as to the action the U. S. should take in the matter.

When there is sufficient time to talk over a leading topic of the day, it is very interesting to hear the different opinions expressed, and at least one member goes home with a more lively interest in that particular question and a determination to read more thoroughly.

Commit a few minutes be devoted more frequently to such subjects?

Hallie J. Bentley - Secretary.

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285 Meeting Plainfield1-18-97

January 18^th 1897. "Midwinter No."

Again the members of the Ideal Home Interest assembled at Plainfield. Having rather more hosts than the year contains months this society is not punctual in its yearly visits, but like the moon appears a little later each succeeding time. John Thomas, the presiding officer arrested the commucation about half an hour late, as is our wont.

Our popular secretary, who has filled the position with so much motherly dignity and womanly grace, feeling the air of the new era. early in the evening announced that she expected to attend a night meeting in an adjoining town and with the authority, supposed to accompany this new state of affairs, appointed to fill the office a man (now a stay at home) thus the meeting was inflicted with secretary pro tempor.

The meeting was small owning to several complications but several guests assisted in filling the vacant places.

The evening was begun by reading the minutes of previous meetings held at Mt. Airy & Plainfield. The custom of announcing a walk out at this season has assumed a set phrase to see the flower windows & change of chairs is the total result.

The next appeal to the inner man

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met with a more hearty response and our hostess was appreciated with the bowing of the heads & bending of the elbows for fully half an hour.

After the combat at the table had passed into history, the inquisitive side of the evening began by asking = Questions -

1^st What constitutes a woman's horse? Ans. One that is good looking has four legs carries his head high, has no ears or tail during the fly season. is both mindful & unmindful of the whip. dont back bite or kick. dont turn in his axles. goes straight ahead. keeps the middle of the road like the recent campaign party. is not afraid of traction engines, electric cars, man or city sausage mills - wears the blue seal on his bridle & can pass the mile stones at a little under the 2.40 rate.

2^nd Have those who have filled their ice houses covered them & with what? Must say cover at once & with straws.

3rd How many present have visited the new Library at Washington? Thirteen have been & others go soon. 4^th How to raise lettuce in winter? Keep bed dry in cold weather - plant 8 in apart.

5^th What to do with musk rats that infect the ice pond? Set box trap on steel trap & bait with green