Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1896-1899

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4 for Bryan, and 14 for Levering: which if it be any indication of actual results on Nov. 3, would cause a sensation in the country at large.

Then adjourned to Harewood Sept. 21.'96.

Rebecca T. Miller Secy.

281 Meeting

Harewood 9-21-'96

The tale of members almost complete and several guests made up the 281 meeting of the Home Interest at Harewood Sept 21 and chairman A. M. Stabler called the meeting to order in fairly good time. Apropos of something in the old minutes Pattie R. Stabler told us that ground spices put pillows will destroy the rancid smell of ill-cured feathers.

Our walk out of doors showed us a beautiful garden, and on seeing one rose bush fully 30 ft high we did not wonder that our hostess was inquiring for some way to stop the growth; and every one admired the group of great pecan trees beside the garden which only a week later shared the fate of so many other noble trees and were laid low.

Returned to the house, the minutes of last meeting were read and adopted, and the clip box filled the remaining time till supper was announced. Later, questions

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Harewood 9-21-'96

were asked and the following answers approved

1^st No one present appeared to want a cat though it had many virtues.

2^nd Bordeaux mixture and [...] prepared by Powell will cure black spot on rose bushes.

3" Potatoes probably would not escape bugs by being grown in different spots in a garden in two successive years. tho' if moved from one side of the farm to the other they would be less likely to suffer, but the yield would probably be better by changing the patch.

4" Opinion much divided as to whether two ice houses will "keep" better than one: if one that will not "keep" can not be enlarged it had better be replaced by a larger one20 ft square x 20 deep or 15 ft in diameter x 15 deep considered good sizes.

5" Temperature of meathouse was thought to have no effect on the keeping of bacon but the house should be dark and the meat hung below the square. A coating of molasses and pepper, or powdered wax rubbed into the meat when first hung up will keep off skippers. If the meat is washed free of salt before it is hung up it will not rust. Smoking improves the flavor & color of the meat, and the acid in the smoke is also preservative.

6" The Little Sisters of the Poor in Baltimore

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Harewood 9-21-'96

or the Home for Incurables, suggested as possible. asylums for a paralytic woman of 80, who needs to be cared for.

7" Air slaked lime, or 3/4 flour and 1/4 fly powder will kill cabbage worms.

8" Thick banks, worked fine to a depth of 18 in. will tend to make an icepond water tight.

9" No one had any suggestions to make as to how Sherwood School may be supported.

10" An arbor vitae hedge had probably better be trimmed in the winter: cut it flat across the top.

11" Friends do not have to get a marriage licence in this State.

12" No one owned to having given up tomatoes, because the newspapers say they are unwholesome.

13" Top dressing with barnyard manure will not make grass coarse.

When the company was polled on this occasion there was a very different result from that at Glenwood a month ago; the vote standing Bryan 2, Levering 7. McKinley 23. Amen.

A recitation The Steam Chair, and An Episode of Travel by Emilie B. Stabler was a pleasant variation of our usual program. and it was in a merry frame of mind that we adjourned to meet at Mendon 1019.

Rebecca T. Miller Secy.

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282 Meeting Mendon. 10-19-'96

It was 20 minutes after the appointed time when W^m W. Moore, vice Asa M Stabler chairman, who was tardy in arriving, called the Home Interest to order at Mendon, Oct. 19. With the many guests, there were enough of the members present to make a large company. After the old minutes were read the walk was omitted on account of the cold, our host and hostess assuring us that ruins left by the storm were all we should see if we went out. So the minutes of last meeting were disposed of, and we investigated the chip box then until supper was announced.

When we again resumed business our hostess wished to know why her bicycle should be taxed when a farm wagon is not? Because it is property and be longs to some one who owns more than $100.00 worth of property. If it had been her sole possession it would have been exempt.

In reply to another inquiry she was advised to plow her lawn this fall, work and rake it well to get it smooth and level, and sow grass seed in the spring

Dr. Farquhar's question, "Who was frightened, and what what damage was done by the storm of Sept. 29?" brought forth much witty description of a very terrible and trying occasion which the Sec'y is wholly unable to reproduce, produce, but she cannot forbear to mention that very few would frankly own to having been scared!

It was because of the meeting that maples broken by the wind should be topped now, cutting all branches even the sound over, so as to make a symmetrical

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Mendon 10-19-'96

whole. Apple trees blown up by the roots, might grow if replaced, provided they were young enough. The best way to train large chestnut trees that were broken is to cut them into good shape so far as may be.

It is better to hang meat below the square in the meathouse because it is cooler there. It may be hung in the roof while smoking. A fire built in a hole in the ground 18 inches deep will do the smoking better than a stove.

No one seemed to know of a better chicken for family use than the Plymouth Rock.

Where coal is burned it would pay to mend a chimney with mortar mixed with cement; or better still to get a fire clay pipe as a lining to the chimney

Straw or fodder was considered the best roof for an ice house, but if boards are used an inner roof of straw at the square is an advantage. It would cost almost as much to pile ice on the ground and cover as to dig a house.

Opinion was much divided as to whether blue red or green warp is more desirable, and whether it pays to make rag carpet at all.

The strawberry tree mentioned in some of the nursery catalogues was not known to any one present. Excelsior and cotton or fibre were recommended for a sofa mattress in place of hair.

Sweet potatoes may be kept in a warm place by putting in a box lined with paper, and with layers of paper between the potatoes.

Then the monthly vote was taken, resulting in