Club Minutes: The Home Interest Society, 1906-1910

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reports misdemeanors to a judge and jury, and order in this school is well kept.

Sarah Miller was quite concerned about an overflow of fresh water from the bank, in the mud of which Lucy and her little friends are determined to play. The doctors present thought it would not harm the children, but it is just as well not to let them play in it.

It is thought that a pie-plant will not be injured by bring cut-close to the ground.

Arthur Slather asked what people thought of the management of the County Fair this year. There seem to have been more objectionable side-shows than ever before, and numerous gambling devices. One old farmer gambled away sixty dollars. It is thought if we persevere in protecting we will finally succeed in improving affairs. If there is any evidence place it before the grand jury this fall, and be sure to get in the petition soon enough.

Cornelia Slather desired to know the merits of steam and hot water heating, and a [comb] was kept which resulted in ten in favor of [?], eight for hot water, and the rest had not had enough experience to express opinions. The question was asked whether any who had either kind of heating apparatus would go back to the old way, and all emphatically would not.

Several plans for disposing of Ben Davis apples were suggested. One to put in barrels placed in cold storage in [Washington] at 50 cents a [bbl.] for the season. Leave items there until spring and get a good price. Another suggestion was to have them picked and cold at home for one dollar to one-fifty per [bbl.]

It was advised not to cover strawberries with straw until considerably later than this.

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It was generally agreed that the way tomatoes have suddenly disappeared has been very unusual.

Some one asked where Sarah Miller's paper napkins were, and was told that they were put out of light for the present occasion.

Cucumbers are said to be worth 70 cents a hundred in the Washington Market.

Bordeaux Mixture was advised to shop the [?] in celery.

A number of dead chickens, from some unknown cause, were found at Belmont. It was suggested that either lime, [?] poultry food, or Dr. Adams recipe for chicken cholera, be tried. Edward [Bewtey] found equal parts of sulphur, powdered [alum] and red pepper very successful.

Edward [Bewtey] asked where the colored ladies get their jars to put up fruit. They buy sugar for the purpose but never any jars. Some housekeepers have not the jars they ought to have. Frederick Slather remarked that if they take the empty jars and leave the fruit we ought to be satisfied.

To the question, what is the best way to keep Kiefer pears, and to keep the bees from breaking with the fruit, were suggested to pick every other pear and send to market for what they will bring, and the only way to try to prevent breaking is to put a forked stick under the [bent] limbs. The broken limbs do not prevent bearing the next-year.

Dr. Thomas here gave an interesting account of a recent interview with an official from the health department, who felt his importance to a remarkable degree, and was supplemented by Edward and John Thomas who also had the pleasure of a visit.

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The members of the Home Interest do not think favorably of the new spelling.

Hallie Bentley wants to make a long flower bed for old fashioned flowers, and would like to know what to do with the ground this fall. Plow and dig out deeper, put on plenty of barn-yard manure, and fill up. Plant peonies in the fall.

Frederick Slatler asked why horses make a fuss about [?] flies. It is [?] because of the humming, and they probably [?] them.

Several suggestions were given when it was asked how to keep green tomatoes. Put on boards in the cellar.Place in old hob beds or cold frames and cover with glass. -Put on newspapers in the garret.

Upon inquiry it was found that seven members of the Home Interest use the "Universal" bread machine and three the "Sharpless". It is said that washing machines are also coming into favor in this neighborhood.

To the great regret of the Society, Granville and Pattie Farquhar offered their resignation as they are not in the neighborhood the greater part of the year. With the hope that they may change their decision, it was moved and carried to lay this on the table for a year.

Adjourned to [?], Friday, October 26th.

Emma L. Boud, Sec.

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395th Meeting V Olney Nov. 26-1906

Dr. and Mrs. Farquhar were the hosts of the House Interest for the meeting held on Nov. 26-1906. A ride in full view of a most gorgeous sun-set was the beginning of a very pleasant evening, saddened, however, by the memory of the well loved member, Mary E. Moore so recently passed out of our midst. Among the visitors were: Anna and Sarah Farquhar, Edith and Eliza Farquhar, Sarah Kirk, Margaret and Mary Magruder, Hannah Brooke, Mr. and Mrs. Welsh, Mrs. Wm. Farquhar, Miss Griffith, Mrs. Mace, and Roger Farquhar.

The season for taking a walk being over the meeting settled to listen to the two set of minutes, which being approved was followed by the new business. The names of Mary E. Gilpin and Emilie Massey were proposed for membership to be voted upon at the next meeting.

Asa Slather represented the Forethought-[?] and gave some valuable advice, prefacing his remarks by saying that people are not obliged to practice what they preach, sometimes. Plow the garden if it is not already done; have the winter vegetables dug up, and the garden cleaned generally. Have the ice pond and house put in order. Arrange the chickens for the winter. Trim the grape vines, and black berry and rasp berry bushes. Get in a supply of wood and coal. Other suggestions were, to manure the asparagus, and lay in a supply of chips and pine-cones. [?] Miller has gone back to the old plan of burying cabbage.

The welcome call to supper put an end to business for a time, after which we were given some music our host playing numerous selections on the Victor machine.

Resuming business the election of officers for the [?] year was taken up, and resulted in making

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Samuel Boud, President, and Dr. Thomas, Secretary.

Questions.

Nellie Farquhar gave a very timely remedy for mouldy gloves. Sheet them in a box with some granules of Salts of Ammonia (smelling salts) for a week, taking care not to let the salts touch the gloves.

No one could give Mary Magruder a reason for three kinds of sweet potatoes, red, white, and mixed, growing on the same stem.

Roger Farquhar told how to keep winter vegetables in piles in the garden. Cover with a moderate quantity of straw, then a moderate amount of earth.

Green tomatoes can be ripened by placing them on paper on the attic floor, or on straw in a hot bed.

Louisa Brooke has a box with a sliding door buried in the ground in which she keeps cabbages wrapped in paper.

To the question, how deep should be the earth covering turnips, was answered; after a layer of straw have three inches of earth. Dr. Magruder piled apples under the trees where they kept splendidly.

Albina Slather asked how to get rid of English sparrows, and four methods were given: to use a stuffed cat, to perserve in shooting them, to load with wheat to frighten them, and to blind them in the rays from an acetyline lamp and catch them.

It was advised to plant rye in a north chicken yard, then oats in the spring, if necessary. Mary B. Thomas heard of sowing buckwheat in July, which will furnish good feed all winter. She also gave information about other Home Interest societies, five of which, perhaps more have been formed since this one. Mary E. Moore sug