Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - April 28, 1929

Old Mission, Mich. Apr. 28th 1929

My Dear Miss. Taft:-

Today is Sunday and I promised myself I would write you a letter and the day is nearly gone so I must get right busy or I won't get it done.

Your new seeding looks good and promises to do some thing this year if the weather holds good. The fruit buds are fine so far but are much farther advanced than they should be. A few days of good warm weather would bring them [sweet cherries] out in full bloom. Mr. Lardie was as early as usual with lime and sulphur but were just a few days too late Jos. got a barrel from him before the car came in but the buds were so far that he was afraid of burning them that would be worse than nothing. He always does the same by you that we would for ourselves. He will give everything a very good pink spray. Have not see the bee man this Spring we have bees ordered too. In fact a great many people have so hopes he comes along before very long. Joseph hasn't worked the cherry orchard yet as he doesn't want to make things pop too soon. There is nothing much in apple orchards so he will plow them up later on.

Joseph and I went in T.C. a while ago and he took the screen in for spray tank and got new brass screen and a new bottom on Spraying Gas tank all for $1.00 that is the cheapest thing we have had done for a long time. They charge about $2.50 for a new screen so that is one way to save a little There was 15 or 16 holes rusted in Spraying tank so now have that all ready unless some unforseen thing happens to it.

He wants to put oats and grass seed in but will wait until the weather is warmer they will grow faster and not turn so yellow. I will treat the oats the same as last year I felt pretty proud of that job Mr La Batt said they were the cleanest he had seen last year.

Don't blame Mr. Eiman for the papers not having our items in it. The editor is to blame for that she gets very put out about it but may as well hold her breath.

You will see by the paper that Mr. Ladd passed away last Tues evening after a long illness we will miss him Roger was especially fond of him as he was very interested in all boys and girls.

Mrs. Jesses Christopher had an accident some time ago with her oil stove it had been troubling her for some time about blazing up and smoking and one morning she had just lighted it when it exploded and blew burning oil and flames all over the kitchen her house was in a terriable mess and they nearly burned up Mr C happened to be right there so they got the burning stove out side he got burned some. Its a wonder she wasn't killed instantly it was one of these expensive Superfex oil ranges. Now let me tell you if this ever acts up I'll drag it down to the swamp and push it over the bank for good too.

Joseph and Roger are coming along fine with the work. Now please pray for cool weather so we don't freeze out later on. We must all have cherries if we can.

Jos. got the oil and well pump leather at H. M. Lardies so will send you an itemized account when we get our slip this month. I'm very sorry about the fertilizer as we didn't know how much you had ordered. We got ours of Geo. Lardies for $65 a ton we haven't paid for ours yet perhaps he will soak us too. Miss Taft I find it very hard to make all ends meet there are 4 of us to feed and clothe besides trying to keep up the farm.

We would like a Mexican perhaps later on we can see our way clear to get it.

I'm going to have a new rug some day if all goes well it will be out of those clothes you left for me last Fall. I have it started but oh how slow it does go. I've been trying to work out of doors My berries needed cleaning out and tying up so I have that done I'm not going to raise such a large garden as its too hard for me to have so much work to do. And I must stay off my feet more as that hard work makes me worse. I'm as fat as ever but don't feel like I did when sixteen.

I can't think of more to write today so will close hope you are well as ever

with love Essie K.