Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 1, 1927

Old Mission, Mich May 1st 1927

My Dear Miss. Taft: - I read your letter over & will now try & answer all questions. It has been too cold so far to graft trees so am glad your letter arrived in time. There has been 10,000 apple trees chopped down on the penn since last fall so think it will help make prices better and the cherries on both farms look good so far. Joseph & Guy Killmerry went all thru your orchard during the week & only found 3 poor buds. The lime & ferilizer have both been sown & ground worked. The oats are going in this week it was freezing every night so Jos. didn't think it would do any good to sow the seed & have it lay in the ground. It will grow much faster from now on to make up for it.

The new cherry trees are quite nice but not of the quality Mr. Richie used to handle. We intend to buy from the company he used to sell for when we order our 200 trees in the fall.

If the wire was here just to fence off the little patch of land the cows would have lovely pasture now as it is Jos. has to feed them a little hay every night on account of its being so cold nights he can't leave them out side. Don't want any sick cows to have Doctor bills. The expenses are bad enough now.

Jos. got repairs for sprayer from H.L. & all is ready for use any old time.

Jos. hasn't the time to plow a piece of ground for me a nice garden over there so will have to plant things where ever I can find a place to sow a few seeds. I have enough for both of us. He is going to plant the potatoes tomorrow and maybe some sweet corn over there. I wish I knew where I could put in a few rows of pop corn as we haven't raised any for 5 or 6 years.

Well we bought the roofing & material for doors on the garrage & now I am dead broke again I will have to sell Charlie one of my quilts to pay for his labor on it as Joseph hasn't the time to do the work himself. It will keep him busy from now on. He wants to move the pig house but is afraid it won't hold together. Will he try it? or leave it alone.

The water in the bays seem to be higher now than it has been for weveral years. I know that in time this place will mostly consist of resort homes. Tourists are crazy about it and love it because they need not be afraid of snakes & bugs that are poison. And the lovely cool nights & fresh air that is so restful to the poor city worn man.

The Ridge Wood farm has been sold again to 10 millionaires so that is a little boost. Mrs. Doig said she would save the clipping from the paper for me if only I can think to get it will mail it on to you.

You need not buy any thing you can borrow from me as I am only too glad to loan things to you if it will help out & save buying. Some times I have to borrow & am only too thankful if I can. What is the use when one article seldom used serves both familys as well. I know my pocket book is flat most all the time looks as tho' an elephant steped on it. Oh well I will try & be contented & make the best of things. But I must admit that a farmers wife has to work awful hard & I try so hard to make the best of things & not complain. It is rather hard for a person who was used to the city to settle down to farmers wife.

Am tired & must go to bed. Hope you received the buds all O.K. Lovingly Essie K.

P.S. Mon. A.M. I forgot to mention about price of cherries. They say the buyers are willing to pay $.07 per # now. Mr. [Hayrocks] boat has been down to B. Harbor for about a month also his car & he stays right here. He has some plans that none of us know about. We are all curious to know what it is all about.