Dublin Core
Title
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1915
Subject
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
Peninsula Community Library
Date
1915
Contributor
Mary T Morgan
Rights
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
None
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Document
Identifier
LHC 010
Coverage
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text
Feb. 1, 1915
Miss Taft
I recieved your letter today, we have been having a cold snap the coldest was 8 below zero but it is getting warmer and the wind is blowing a gale. looks like storm tomorow
Mrs Stutsman found plank at Willie Gill Tompkins for stable floor but I havn't got them home yet but will as soon as possible.
I went up to Hows to see the cows he has for sale he wants $100 or $125 apiece for them and he has some heifers I think he would sell for $75 but they arn't worth it neither are the cows.
Robert Lackey was over to Stutsmans trying to sell his cow I went over to look at it it is about as big as S- Jeresy and has a bunch on the back of its bag about as big as my fist he said she would be fresh in about two months he wants $50 for her People that have good milk cows don't want to sell them till spring.
That seed drill is an Iron-Age it is a combination seed drill and wheel hoe The people here dont use the plough that you can get with them just the hoe and cultivator teeth it works good and saves lots of hoeing you can get them at Rices Traverse City.
There is plenty of sweet corn both kinds.
Mr Stutsman got a little over half of the oat hay 4 ft. deep 11 ft. wide and a small load of corn fodder there is just three ft. deep of oat hay left in the snow I didn't tell Mrs. Stutsman that I couldnt feed the oat hay I told her I couldnt feed it just as you wanted it fed because there wasn't hay enough to go with it 1 ton of hay will be enough with the oat hay or 2 ton without
We are not through cutting wood yet.
Dick has got "greace heel" I got the leg healed up that was bothering him and now the other one is worse than that one was.
I feed corn fodder sometimes 1 and sometimes twice a day yes I use the cutting box
If I can cure Dicks other leg I can get along with him until the middle of May and if not he wont be any good I cured the other one with Camphor and Vasolene but I can't get any Camphor here now so Mrs. S- telephoned to Traverse to have some sent down.
Mr Haywood says he will do your grafting I cut the scions to early last year and they got too dry.
The Ben Davis are keeping pretty good so far. After getting your letter we tried some of them baked and they were as good as any I ever eat I eat three before I could stop.
I think you could spare 20 bu. of corn besides the 20 bu. you promised
Ralph
Miss Ingraham is to be married the first week in March to Mr. Breeding
Old Mission, Mich.
Feb. 15, 1915
Miss Taft,
Lacky says that bunch came there by the cows bag being to full before she calved but he said it didn't hurt her any as he could see. I just as soon have a cow if it was one that milked easy so as not to cramp my hands I think the Lacky cow is 4 years old this will be her second calf her mother and grandmother were both good cows.
I got the plank and put the barn floor down the day I wrote you before. I got 20 plank 8 in. wide and 12 ft long.
I got 11 bu. of corn shelled and ground 30 cents for grinding 1 shoe set on Billie .20
The reason Dick has such spells as he does is because he can't chew his feed good he had one very bad spell. he is feeling pretty good again now and his leg is healing there is nearly 2/3 of the carrots left yet.
I am going to cut the scions for grafting this week I spent half a day shoveling out cherry trees again we have been having another thaw and the ice has all gone out of the bay.
The hay Freman got is good hay mostly timothy. he got it from Mc. Gough $15 if a lot if 1 ton $16 I have enough hay to last untill the snow goes I rather haul it on runners but the roads are in an awful shape now.
Yes the seed potatoes are from the blighted plants.
Mike Ghering is going to have his line surveyed in the spring and put a line fence through. he is detirmined to have that row of brush
There is about 1/2 day chopping poles yet then two or three days to get them into a buzz pile and if we can get the buzz rig this week we will be through cutting wood.
Ralph
you can get just as good hay for $15 a ton at Traverse C. milling Co.
Mr. Stutsman and I are going up to Degraws as soon as we eat our dinners to see about a cow and I will let Mrs. Stutsman write you about her as I am going to mail this on my way.
Feb 19, 1915
C. G. Taft,
Jacksonville, Ill.
Madam-
We have at hand your letter asking us to try to help you get a horse and will say we will kindly do what we can to help you. Just at present we have none in mind that will fill the bill but believe we can find one in the near future. When we do we will let you know at once.
Thanking you, we are,
Brown & Core
[Re?]
O H Core DVM
Dr. O. H. Core - D.V.M.
Traverse City, Mich.
Sir -
You will not remember having any dealings with me but as you were successful in treating the sorrel horse I took to you for sweeney last summer, I am going to venture to ask you to do some thing else. I am in need of another horse and as my profession makes it impossible for me to be in Mich. before the middle of June I am going to ask you what you can do for me.
I want an animal [sex no object] under ten years of age that is sound as to eyes, nose, throat and wind, also without blemish of limb. Of course if it had a corn that could be cured by judicious shoeing I would not object but would expect a reduction in price. The latter item is by no means least in consideration. I could get a good farm animal here for $125. or $135. but the risk of shipping so early in the season makes it seem best to try to get one near Traverse City.
I want a good farm horse not over 15-2 high and weighing about 1200 pounds. The horse with which I must use it is of the above hight but of lighter weight. Never-the-less, he makes up in energy what he lacks in pounds. He is steady but quick in his movements. I write thus in detail as you may know some thing of the required qualities.
The horse I have is a good driver so that is no object. I prefer a farm horse rather than one always used in town as it would be more likely to be familiar with the peculiar tasks of an orchard. My place is near Old Mission [first south of Miss Ingraham] but has as yet not reached maturity.
I am a little aversed to white or gray horses, so the price would have to be attractive to make one acceptable. I shall need the second horse about the middle of April but would close the deal as soon as arrangements could be made if you are willing to do the business for me and it can be made of any advantage as to price to buy early.
Kindly let me hear whether you are willing to undertake the matter and approximately the cost-
Address-
Carolyn G. Taft.
[?32]
March 2, 1915
Miss Taft-
Yes I made the plank break joints with the old floor and the stable is warmerr.
There is no more sawdust at O. M. to get.
There are about 4-1/2 acres in the piece I fall ploughed
No I never helped treat seed oats but you need a tight floor to do it on.
All the damage I have seen was two trees that the snow broke down
Yes Mr. Knaggs is a blacksmith. I don't know of anyone that could fix Dicks teeth on the peninsula. No there are no rats in the cellar. The apples all seem to be nice and hard yet.
I have got most of the manure hauled out and the south apple orchard trimed and started on the other orchard
I don't know as we can get any ice up as there is neither wheeling or sleighing and Sox is laid up and the ice has to be hauled clear from Neantawanta and isn't much good after you do get it and we have no team that can haul it that distance.
I got all the northern spy scions there was at Stutsmans and there is just about enough for one tree but I can get some more at Miss Morses Cleary's.
I was down and seen Mikes cows and he had some good ones and some poor ones he had one that I thought a very good one and he wanted sixty dollars for her she is fresh now and then he had a heifer that was larger and he wants the same price for her. Mrs. Stutsman and I went down to see them and he wasnt at home he took six cows out to his sons.
Ralph
March 11, 1915
Miss Taft-
I got scions at Clearys and Mr. Haywood showed me where to get them. I have finished the trimming Mr. Stutsman and I went to the grist mill at Knagg's place and each got 10 bu. of corn ground and he got his 10 bu. out of your crib. your grinding was 27 1/2 cts. 5 1/2 bu. shelled corn.
And I got money from Mrs. S- to get Billie & Dick shod at Knaggs blacksmith shop and he did a good job better than Abbot did last time. Crampton was laid up and I think it was a good thing he was the shoeing cost $1.60 the people around here and the Mission are nearly all taking their horses to Knaggs to get them shod.
We have got the wood buzzed but have to pile it up and measure it yet.
That piece of seeding you said to plough up was seeded two years this summer and this is the year you should get the crop of hay off from it. I think it done pretty well for the time and soil.
You needn't be upset over Soxy being taken on an errand for you and getting hurt as Mr. S- took her and his cutter to go up to Degraws to get his hair cut as Degraw is a barber and I went with him to see if he still had any cows for sale and then Mr. S- when coming back drove to Knaggs to get a shew set and while he was putting her blanket on I went in the shop and he put the blanket on and came in without tying her and she must of started as soon as he was out of sight.
The last time I took Sox to go to town she was so poor and week I could hardly get to town with her and I had to feed her scorched grain before I could drive her home again. they feed her so much bran and stuff that keep her so loose that the feed don't do her any good. I explained it to Mrs. Stutsman but it didn't do any good.
Did they tell you that Mr. Stutsman borrowed the cutting box and let it fall out of the sleigh and brake while he was going home with it. it don't hurt it for cutting he broke the cover over the knives.
I broke your driving harness this winter and took it to town and got it fixed.
That man I think could do the drilling in 1 day if you could get him but he lives down by the How place and I don't think he would come up for one days work but I can ask him and see.
The horses are allright and I butchered our hog and it weighed 157 1/2 lbs.
Ralph
Ernest helped treat oats at Miss Morses and he tells me that they must be stirred or shoveled untill dry after putting it on and I don't think any one could stand to do that up stairs with all the windows open would it be all right to spread your big stack cover on the barn floor and do it there then we could have the doors open?
March 22, 1915
Miss Taft-
We wont need any grain for the cow as long as the carrots last and their are about 8 bu. yet. I have 50 lb. of middlings that I can feed her if she needs it before I go to town. I took the partition out and made her a box stall which makes a nice place for Bessie.
Yes I think we can treat the oats in the wagon box and then dry them on the stack cover.
Dick's foot has healed up I got the condition powder the same day I did your letter and am giving it to him acording to directions
Yes I can disk the one acre plot for oats.
I picked up the brush and hauled it to the thistle patch and burned it.
Miss Fairbanks was just in here and got a sack of Ben Davis apples to try there are about 20 bu. of them in the cellar.
I have the stones about half picked up on the corn field. what stones I can't get out of the ground I bury those that are to big to burn.
I would like enough w? so I could put two stra? around the barn yard so I could turn the cow in there.
The horses are all right
Ralph.
April 6, 1915
Miss Taft,
There isn't much straw left for bedding and Mr. Stutsman took about all the cornstalks we had to spare it is so wet down in the basement where the cow is it takes a lot of straw to keep her dry she cought cold in there she calved a week ago today a very smart he calf called Burr. it is red and of good size do you want to keep it or not.
At first the cow gave between four and five quarts and now she gives about three it is very rich milk. we ought to have some cottonseed meal for her.
I can't see any difference in Dick since giving the condition powder. he has had two spells since feeding the powder.
I have two loads more stones to haul and I will be ready to disk.
The only way I can see to do about that mowing- machine pole is to take it to Cramptons and have him make a new one.
I don't know of anyone who has a harness that is any good.
I spoke to Ledger about getting one of his horses to hitch in with Billie to go to town with but I don't know when I will go the roads are so bad.
Middlings are $1.70 a hundred lbs.
The horses are all right and I have been sick for a week and and not very well yet.
I got Dicks 2 front shoes set at Cramptons Saturday April 3.
I put the wire around the barn yard.
Ralph Kitchen.
April 14, 1915
Miss Taft-
I went to town ang got the drag, garden drill and cultivator and 100 lbs. of cottonseed meal and S- took half of the meal. I went before I got your letter. I hired one of Ledgers horses to drive up with Billie 75 cts. for the use of him. They didn't have any hay rake in yet.
I got that bottle of formulin for the oats and potatoes.
Dr Core was here yesterday and looked at the horses and fixed up Dicks teeth
I have got the stone all hauled off the field. I ploughed that strip east of the barn the end of the meadow. I disked the alfalfa and now I am disking the corn ground. I tested the seed corn and it all grew.
I got 10 bu. more corn shelled and ground. 28 cts. for grinding Mr. S- paid it.
I got Billie shod in Traverse City. that was $1.00
horses dinner .50
Mr Jamison said he would drill the oats in.
If you have oats crushed they will have to be taken to town.
Burr Mc Manus said he would give you two dollars for the calf if you wanted to sell it.
The sawdust will be all right I will try and get a load.
We packed three barrel of Ben Davis to ship I let S- have four bu. of carrots. And he got 10 bu. more corn making thirty Bu. in all.
Mrs. S- said she wasn't ready for the cow yet The cow is better and so [?????] I every thing is all right
Ralph Kitchen
We have had two days of fine weather after a little snow and the May flowers are coming out.
[April 27, 1915]
Miss Taft
I got the new horse Friday I like the horse first rate so far. it has a little swelling on the right hind leg they said it was caused by scratches and wouldn't do any harm.
The oat ground is about ready and we will put them in Wednesday.
Ledgers mower pole didn't fit it wasn't thick enough so I took the other one to Crampton to have him make one.
The first spraying has been done.
The grafting has been done four hours .20 an hour and .25 for grafting wax. he had to do it alone because I was spraying. there is between 60 and 75 bu. of corn yet.
I think there is enough seed corn.
Parker didn't have any seed potatoes so I got 2 bu. Early Rose potatoes in Traverse and Mrs. Stutsman paid for them .50 a bushel.
I set the four cherrie trees that came to replace the ones that died.
Stutsmans have the cow and calf.
Ledger has a Ford car.
Every thing is all right
Ralph
Is the following right?
Cash on hand $ 10[?]
50# middlings .85X
grinding .28
horse hire .75
_______________
1.88 10[?]
75
18
____ _______________
.93 $1.78
Will add to your next check -
I didn't use the middlings but the rest is correct
May 5, 1915
Miss Taft.-
The mare works good and drives good only I think her kidneys must be week or something for she acts just like white Sox doew if she can't be cured of it the sooner you get rid of her the better for the older she gets the worse she will be.
I forgot that collar when I went to town and I didn't have any money to get a sweat pad with with she has Sox'es collar 20 in. and I got Dicks old pad on it for her.
We need two new sweat pads and four lazy straps
The buds are nearly all blossomed and the trees are well filled and the second spraying is done.
The drill came a day earlier than they were expected to so I did not get any chance to treat the oats.
They brought the oats and grass seed over when they got word that the drill was on the way and did not bring the small packages and I didn't know anything about them untill to late to sow them.
The seeding by the woods is about three inches high it is to thick.
I got a half ton of hay of Bagley at $20. per ton. and it is mostly June grass.
Mr. S. planted your onion seed at their place when she was away and so I set set out the strawberrie plants in place of onions. I got the plants from Mr. Haywood. And two rows of asparagus on the upper hill side. or west. And I planted the beets and carrots.
And the ground is plowed for sweet corn and early potatoes
I am going to try and plant the potatoes this week.
I have the corn ground about a third plowed.
The horses are all right
Where do you want the Fodder cane [?] put? I see it is in with your seeds but you didn't say where to plant
Do you want the corn planted four foot apart the same as we did in the orchard?
Ralph
May 14, 1915
Miss Taft
Belles collar isn't any too large with a pad. she has a rope halter.
Yes I sowed the samples on no. 6.
I sowed all the Timothy seed and there is a quart of clover seed left.
I had plenty of carrot seed. The carrots were all fed.
The alfalfa patches look good the patch at the east is about 1 foot high.
The cut worms havn't bothered here any yet.
Belles feet are all right and she don't need shod behind.
I used all the fertilizer and the potatoes are treated and planted there are 2 tree rows and a row and a half of potatoes.
It has been cold nights but no frost
Stutsmans got 13 bu. of oats all told and Breedens got 20 bu. and there are about 10 bu. left and the other bin is full and there is 9 or 10 bu. of seed oats over to Stutsmans yet.
I have the corn ground plowed and draged and am picking up stone.
I broke the plow evener and went down to Cramptons an got him to make me a new one and brought back a load of sawdust. the evener was a dollar and I don't know how much the sawdust was.
I planted one tree row of sweet corn part ever green and part Golden Bantum. We mislaid the letter in regards to sweet corn and I can't find it.
Frank Crampton would like to buy Dick he said he would give $40 for him and be good to him and take good care of him. and he won't eat much of anything but grain. It is nice to have some one in the country that does their work good it kinda helps the rest. The horses are all right.
May 21, 1915
Miss Taft-
I havn't harrowed the potatoes yet but it has been so cold they havn't come up yet and I will go over them before they come up.
The corn is planted. harrowing corn is a poor proposition it has been tried here and after harrowing one has to go through with a garden rake and uncover it and any thing that will pull up the weeds will pull the corn also.
A veal calf is never skined when took to market.
I never butchered a veal calf and it has to be done very peticular.
There is just two barrels but I can put the oats in the oat bin. Mr. Stutsman got 10 bu. more oats and there is no more to spare.
No I havn't got the mower pole yet but I will find out if it is ready and if it is I will get it I will have to cut hay the first of the month.
the oats and grass seed are up good but he did a very poor job of drilling.
Yes the cherries were seting good but we have had frosts lately and some of them are gone.
The lazy straps are all right but the pads dont fit very good the hooks were put on wrong. and Belle's pad is to short.
Your onion seed is planted
Yes the grafts have started to grow.
All the tent worms I have seen on your place was in the choke cherrie tree where the old spring was and I killed them I picked all the eggs I could find when I trimed but I have seen them in other peoples orchards
The asparagus is coming up and the strawberries are blossomed and it rained yesterday and is raining today.
I am plowing the orchards. Belle is dangerous in the barn when I cury her hind parts. I have to hold her tail down a hard as I can to keep her from kicking and when I put the collar on her she dances and when I put the harness on her she kicks a blue streak and she makes the other horses so nervous I can hardly lead them past her and she kicked out in the field I think you better write to Core and see if you can't make them take her back they said she was an easy keeper and she eats more than both the other horses and paws and kicks for more. Dick had another sick spell last night but he got over it.
Billie is naturally all right.
Belle's a very poor horse around fruit trees when she gets near a tree she drives right into it and she is so tough bitted one can't hold her back.
Ralph
June 1, 1915
Miss Taft-
I have used the pads.
Crampton has got a horse so don't want Dick he couldn't wait so long.
I cultivated the corn and potatoes. I think there will be about a third of a crop of cherries We had a real hard frost and froze most every thing. it froze the hay.
I will need some more oil but not right away. I also need some more hay. Captain Emorys boat isn't running, Lardies trucks make two trips a day I don't know of any other truck that comes out now.
I think Burr will weigh somewhere around a hundred pounds. A veal calf should have nothing but milk and you can't get as much for them if fed on something else but if you keep hime untill fall you ought to get a better price.
The weather is so dry nothing can grow much and the apples havn't set yet. the corn is just begining to come up.
Your fodder cane is planted east of you potatoes on your place as there was no good place at Stutsmans for it.
I have got the mower pole.
I have the orchards plowed and one draged.
Stutsmans want me to come down there tomorrow and plough and the alfalfa needs to be cut right away and I havn't got the mowing machine put together yet and I have got more work here than I can tend to.
I will have to have the rake sent out right away so I can use it.
The frost didn't hurt the oats but it hurt the grass and burnt some of the clover black and hurt some of the new seeding in the oats. it froze down some of your asparagus.
Ralph
Miss Taft
I recieved your letter today, we have been having a cold snap the coldest was 8 below zero but it is getting warmer and the wind is blowing a gale. looks like storm tomorow
Mrs Stutsman found plank at Willie Gill Tompkins for stable floor but I havn't got them home yet but will as soon as possible.
I went up to Hows to see the cows he has for sale he wants $100 or $125 apiece for them and he has some heifers I think he would sell for $75 but they arn't worth it neither are the cows.
Robert Lackey was over to Stutsmans trying to sell his cow I went over to look at it it is about as big as S- Jeresy and has a bunch on the back of its bag about as big as my fist he said she would be fresh in about two months he wants $50 for her People that have good milk cows don't want to sell them till spring.
That seed drill is an Iron-Age it is a combination seed drill and wheel hoe The people here dont use the plough that you can get with them just the hoe and cultivator teeth it works good and saves lots of hoeing you can get them at Rices Traverse City.
There is plenty of sweet corn both kinds.
Mr Stutsman got a little over half of the oat hay 4 ft. deep 11 ft. wide and a small load of corn fodder there is just three ft. deep of oat hay left in the snow I didn't tell Mrs. Stutsman that I couldnt feed the oat hay I told her I couldnt feed it just as you wanted it fed because there wasn't hay enough to go with it 1 ton of hay will be enough with the oat hay or 2 ton without
We are not through cutting wood yet.
Dick has got "greace heel" I got the leg healed up that was bothering him and now the other one is worse than that one was.
I feed corn fodder sometimes 1 and sometimes twice a day yes I use the cutting box
If I can cure Dicks other leg I can get along with him until the middle of May and if not he wont be any good I cured the other one with Camphor and Vasolene but I can't get any Camphor here now so Mrs. S- telephoned to Traverse to have some sent down.
Mr Haywood says he will do your grafting I cut the scions to early last year and they got too dry.
The Ben Davis are keeping pretty good so far. After getting your letter we tried some of them baked and they were as good as any I ever eat I eat three before I could stop.
I think you could spare 20 bu. of corn besides the 20 bu. you promised
Ralph
Miss Ingraham is to be married the first week in March to Mr. Breeding
Old Mission, Mich.
Feb. 15, 1915
Miss Taft,
Lacky says that bunch came there by the cows bag being to full before she calved but he said it didn't hurt her any as he could see. I just as soon have a cow if it was one that milked easy so as not to cramp my hands I think the Lacky cow is 4 years old this will be her second calf her mother and grandmother were both good cows.
I got the plank and put the barn floor down the day I wrote you before. I got 20 plank 8 in. wide and 12 ft long.
I got 11 bu. of corn shelled and ground 30 cents for grinding 1 shoe set on Billie .20
The reason Dick has such spells as he does is because he can't chew his feed good he had one very bad spell. he is feeling pretty good again now and his leg is healing there is nearly 2/3 of the carrots left yet.
I am going to cut the scions for grafting this week I spent half a day shoveling out cherry trees again we have been having another thaw and the ice has all gone out of the bay.
The hay Freman got is good hay mostly timothy. he got it from Mc. Gough $15 if a lot if 1 ton $16 I have enough hay to last untill the snow goes I rather haul it on runners but the roads are in an awful shape now.
Yes the seed potatoes are from the blighted plants.
Mike Ghering is going to have his line surveyed in the spring and put a line fence through. he is detirmined to have that row of brush
There is about 1/2 day chopping poles yet then two or three days to get them into a buzz pile and if we can get the buzz rig this week we will be through cutting wood.
Ralph
you can get just as good hay for $15 a ton at Traverse C. milling Co.
Mr. Stutsman and I are going up to Degraws as soon as we eat our dinners to see about a cow and I will let Mrs. Stutsman write you about her as I am going to mail this on my way.
Feb 19, 1915
C. G. Taft,
Jacksonville, Ill.
Madam-
We have at hand your letter asking us to try to help you get a horse and will say we will kindly do what we can to help you. Just at present we have none in mind that will fill the bill but believe we can find one in the near future. When we do we will let you know at once.
Thanking you, we are,
Brown & Core
[Re?]
O H Core DVM
Dr. O. H. Core - D.V.M.
Traverse City, Mich.
Sir -
You will not remember having any dealings with me but as you were successful in treating the sorrel horse I took to you for sweeney last summer, I am going to venture to ask you to do some thing else. I am in need of another horse and as my profession makes it impossible for me to be in Mich. before the middle of June I am going to ask you what you can do for me.
I want an animal [sex no object] under ten years of age that is sound as to eyes, nose, throat and wind, also without blemish of limb. Of course if it had a corn that could be cured by judicious shoeing I would not object but would expect a reduction in price. The latter item is by no means least in consideration. I could get a good farm animal here for $125. or $135. but the risk of shipping so early in the season makes it seem best to try to get one near Traverse City.
I want a good farm horse not over 15-2 high and weighing about 1200 pounds. The horse with which I must use it is of the above hight but of lighter weight. Never-the-less, he makes up in energy what he lacks in pounds. He is steady but quick in his movements. I write thus in detail as you may know some thing of the required qualities.
The horse I have is a good driver so that is no object. I prefer a farm horse rather than one always used in town as it would be more likely to be familiar with the peculiar tasks of an orchard. My place is near Old Mission [first south of Miss Ingraham] but has as yet not reached maturity.
I am a little aversed to white or gray horses, so the price would have to be attractive to make one acceptable. I shall need the second horse about the middle of April but would close the deal as soon as arrangements could be made if you are willing to do the business for me and it can be made of any advantage as to price to buy early.
Kindly let me hear whether you are willing to undertake the matter and approximately the cost-
Address-
Carolyn G. Taft.
[?32]
March 2, 1915
Miss Taft-
Yes I made the plank break joints with the old floor and the stable is warmerr.
There is no more sawdust at O. M. to get.
There are about 4-1/2 acres in the piece I fall ploughed
No I never helped treat seed oats but you need a tight floor to do it on.
All the damage I have seen was two trees that the snow broke down
Yes Mr. Knaggs is a blacksmith. I don't know of anyone that could fix Dicks teeth on the peninsula. No there are no rats in the cellar. The apples all seem to be nice and hard yet.
I have got most of the manure hauled out and the south apple orchard trimed and started on the other orchard
I don't know as we can get any ice up as there is neither wheeling or sleighing and Sox is laid up and the ice has to be hauled clear from Neantawanta and isn't much good after you do get it and we have no team that can haul it that distance.
I got all the northern spy scions there was at Stutsmans and there is just about enough for one tree but I can get some more at Miss Morses Cleary's.
I was down and seen Mikes cows and he had some good ones and some poor ones he had one that I thought a very good one and he wanted sixty dollars for her she is fresh now and then he had a heifer that was larger and he wants the same price for her. Mrs. Stutsman and I went down to see them and he wasnt at home he took six cows out to his sons.
Ralph
March 11, 1915
Miss Taft-
I got scions at Clearys and Mr. Haywood showed me where to get them. I have finished the trimming Mr. Stutsman and I went to the grist mill at Knagg's place and each got 10 bu. of corn ground and he got his 10 bu. out of your crib. your grinding was 27 1/2 cts. 5 1/2 bu. shelled corn.
And I got money from Mrs. S- to get Billie & Dick shod at Knaggs blacksmith shop and he did a good job better than Abbot did last time. Crampton was laid up and I think it was a good thing he was the shoeing cost $1.60 the people around here and the Mission are nearly all taking their horses to Knaggs to get them shod.
We have got the wood buzzed but have to pile it up and measure it yet.
That piece of seeding you said to plough up was seeded two years this summer and this is the year you should get the crop of hay off from it. I think it done pretty well for the time and soil.
You needn't be upset over Soxy being taken on an errand for you and getting hurt as Mr. S- took her and his cutter to go up to Degraws to get his hair cut as Degraw is a barber and I went with him to see if he still had any cows for sale and then Mr. S- when coming back drove to Knaggs to get a shew set and while he was putting her blanket on I went in the shop and he put the blanket on and came in without tying her and she must of started as soon as he was out of sight.
The last time I took Sox to go to town she was so poor and week I could hardly get to town with her and I had to feed her scorched grain before I could drive her home again. they feed her so much bran and stuff that keep her so loose that the feed don't do her any good. I explained it to Mrs. Stutsman but it didn't do any good.
Did they tell you that Mr. Stutsman borrowed the cutting box and let it fall out of the sleigh and brake while he was going home with it. it don't hurt it for cutting he broke the cover over the knives.
I broke your driving harness this winter and took it to town and got it fixed.
That man I think could do the drilling in 1 day if you could get him but he lives down by the How place and I don't think he would come up for one days work but I can ask him and see.
The horses are allright and I butchered our hog and it weighed 157 1/2 lbs.
Ralph
Ernest helped treat oats at Miss Morses and he tells me that they must be stirred or shoveled untill dry after putting it on and I don't think any one could stand to do that up stairs with all the windows open would it be all right to spread your big stack cover on the barn floor and do it there then we could have the doors open?
March 22, 1915
Miss Taft-
We wont need any grain for the cow as long as the carrots last and their are about 8 bu. yet. I have 50 lb. of middlings that I can feed her if she needs it before I go to town. I took the partition out and made her a box stall which makes a nice place for Bessie.
Yes I think we can treat the oats in the wagon box and then dry them on the stack cover.
Dick's foot has healed up I got the condition powder the same day I did your letter and am giving it to him acording to directions
Yes I can disk the one acre plot for oats.
I picked up the brush and hauled it to the thistle patch and burned it.
Miss Fairbanks was just in here and got a sack of Ben Davis apples to try there are about 20 bu. of them in the cellar.
I have the stones about half picked up on the corn field. what stones I can't get out of the ground I bury those that are to big to burn.
I would like enough w? so I could put two stra? around the barn yard so I could turn the cow in there.
The horses are all right
Ralph.
April 6, 1915
Miss Taft,
There isn't much straw left for bedding and Mr. Stutsman took about all the cornstalks we had to spare it is so wet down in the basement where the cow is it takes a lot of straw to keep her dry she cought cold in there she calved a week ago today a very smart he calf called Burr. it is red and of good size do you want to keep it or not.
At first the cow gave between four and five quarts and now she gives about three it is very rich milk. we ought to have some cottonseed meal for her.
I can't see any difference in Dick since giving the condition powder. he has had two spells since feeding the powder.
I have two loads more stones to haul and I will be ready to disk.
The only way I can see to do about that mowing- machine pole is to take it to Cramptons and have him make a new one.
I don't know of anyone who has a harness that is any good.
I spoke to Ledger about getting one of his horses to hitch in with Billie to go to town with but I don't know when I will go the roads are so bad.
Middlings are $1.70 a hundred lbs.
The horses are all right and I have been sick for a week and and not very well yet.
I got Dicks 2 front shoes set at Cramptons Saturday April 3.
I put the wire around the barn yard.
Ralph Kitchen.
April 14, 1915
Miss Taft-
I went to town ang got the drag, garden drill and cultivator and 100 lbs. of cottonseed meal and S- took half of the meal. I went before I got your letter. I hired one of Ledgers horses to drive up with Billie 75 cts. for the use of him. They didn't have any hay rake in yet.
I got that bottle of formulin for the oats and potatoes.
Dr Core was here yesterday and looked at the horses and fixed up Dicks teeth
I have got the stone all hauled off the field. I ploughed that strip east of the barn the end of the meadow. I disked the alfalfa and now I am disking the corn ground. I tested the seed corn and it all grew.
I got 10 bu. more corn shelled and ground. 28 cts. for grinding Mr. S- paid it.
I got Billie shod in Traverse City. that was $1.00
horses dinner .50
Mr Jamison said he would drill the oats in.
If you have oats crushed they will have to be taken to town.
Burr Mc Manus said he would give you two dollars for the calf if you wanted to sell it.
The sawdust will be all right I will try and get a load.
We packed three barrel of Ben Davis to ship I let S- have four bu. of carrots. And he got 10 bu. more corn making thirty Bu. in all.
Mrs. S- said she wasn't ready for the cow yet The cow is better and so [?????] I every thing is all right
Ralph Kitchen
We have had two days of fine weather after a little snow and the May flowers are coming out.
[April 27, 1915]
Miss Taft
I got the new horse Friday I like the horse first rate so far. it has a little swelling on the right hind leg they said it was caused by scratches and wouldn't do any harm.
The oat ground is about ready and we will put them in Wednesday.
Ledgers mower pole didn't fit it wasn't thick enough so I took the other one to Crampton to have him make one.
The first spraying has been done.
The grafting has been done four hours .20 an hour and .25 for grafting wax. he had to do it alone because I was spraying. there is between 60 and 75 bu. of corn yet.
I think there is enough seed corn.
Parker didn't have any seed potatoes so I got 2 bu. Early Rose potatoes in Traverse and Mrs. Stutsman paid for them .50 a bushel.
I set the four cherrie trees that came to replace the ones that died.
Stutsmans have the cow and calf.
Ledger has a Ford car.
Every thing is all right
Ralph
Is the following right?
Cash on hand $ 10[?]
50# middlings .85X
grinding .28
horse hire .75
_______________
1.88 10[?]
75
18
____ _______________
.93 $1.78
Will add to your next check -
I didn't use the middlings but the rest is correct
May 5, 1915
Miss Taft.-
The mare works good and drives good only I think her kidneys must be week or something for she acts just like white Sox doew if she can't be cured of it the sooner you get rid of her the better for the older she gets the worse she will be.
I forgot that collar when I went to town and I didn't have any money to get a sweat pad with with she has Sox'es collar 20 in. and I got Dicks old pad on it for her.
We need two new sweat pads and four lazy straps
The buds are nearly all blossomed and the trees are well filled and the second spraying is done.
The drill came a day earlier than they were expected to so I did not get any chance to treat the oats.
They brought the oats and grass seed over when they got word that the drill was on the way and did not bring the small packages and I didn't know anything about them untill to late to sow them.
The seeding by the woods is about three inches high it is to thick.
I got a half ton of hay of Bagley at $20. per ton. and it is mostly June grass.
Mr. S. planted your onion seed at their place when she was away and so I set set out the strawberrie plants in place of onions. I got the plants from Mr. Haywood. And two rows of asparagus on the upper hill side. or west. And I planted the beets and carrots.
And the ground is plowed for sweet corn and early potatoes
I am going to try and plant the potatoes this week.
I have the corn ground about a third plowed.
The horses are all right
Where do you want the Fodder cane [?] put? I see it is in with your seeds but you didn't say where to plant
Do you want the corn planted four foot apart the same as we did in the orchard?
Ralph
May 14, 1915
Miss Taft
Belles collar isn't any too large with a pad. she has a rope halter.
Yes I sowed the samples on no. 6.
I sowed all the Timothy seed and there is a quart of clover seed left.
I had plenty of carrot seed. The carrots were all fed.
The alfalfa patches look good the patch at the east is about 1 foot high.
The cut worms havn't bothered here any yet.
Belles feet are all right and she don't need shod behind.
I used all the fertilizer and the potatoes are treated and planted there are 2 tree rows and a row and a half of potatoes.
It has been cold nights but no frost
Stutsmans got 13 bu. of oats all told and Breedens got 20 bu. and there are about 10 bu. left and the other bin is full and there is 9 or 10 bu. of seed oats over to Stutsmans yet.
I have the corn ground plowed and draged and am picking up stone.
I broke the plow evener and went down to Cramptons an got him to make me a new one and brought back a load of sawdust. the evener was a dollar and I don't know how much the sawdust was.
I planted one tree row of sweet corn part ever green and part Golden Bantum. We mislaid the letter in regards to sweet corn and I can't find it.
Frank Crampton would like to buy Dick he said he would give $40 for him and be good to him and take good care of him. and he won't eat much of anything but grain. It is nice to have some one in the country that does their work good it kinda helps the rest. The horses are all right.
May 21, 1915
Miss Taft-
I havn't harrowed the potatoes yet but it has been so cold they havn't come up yet and I will go over them before they come up.
The corn is planted. harrowing corn is a poor proposition it has been tried here and after harrowing one has to go through with a garden rake and uncover it and any thing that will pull up the weeds will pull the corn also.
A veal calf is never skined when took to market.
I never butchered a veal calf and it has to be done very peticular.
There is just two barrels but I can put the oats in the oat bin. Mr. Stutsman got 10 bu. more oats and there is no more to spare.
No I havn't got the mower pole yet but I will find out if it is ready and if it is I will get it I will have to cut hay the first of the month.
the oats and grass seed are up good but he did a very poor job of drilling.
Yes the cherries were seting good but we have had frosts lately and some of them are gone.
The lazy straps are all right but the pads dont fit very good the hooks were put on wrong. and Belle's pad is to short.
Your onion seed is planted
Yes the grafts have started to grow.
All the tent worms I have seen on your place was in the choke cherrie tree where the old spring was and I killed them I picked all the eggs I could find when I trimed but I have seen them in other peoples orchards
The asparagus is coming up and the strawberries are blossomed and it rained yesterday and is raining today.
I am plowing the orchards. Belle is dangerous in the barn when I cury her hind parts. I have to hold her tail down a hard as I can to keep her from kicking and when I put the collar on her she dances and when I put the harness on her she kicks a blue streak and she makes the other horses so nervous I can hardly lead them past her and she kicked out in the field I think you better write to Core and see if you can't make them take her back they said she was an easy keeper and she eats more than both the other horses and paws and kicks for more. Dick had another sick spell last night but he got over it.
Billie is naturally all right.
Belle's a very poor horse around fruit trees when she gets near a tree she drives right into it and she is so tough bitted one can't hold her back.
Ralph
June 1, 1915
Miss Taft-
I have used the pads.
Crampton has got a horse so don't want Dick he couldn't wait so long.
I cultivated the corn and potatoes. I think there will be about a third of a crop of cherries We had a real hard frost and froze most every thing. it froze the hay.
I will need some more oil but not right away. I also need some more hay. Captain Emorys boat isn't running, Lardies trucks make two trips a day I don't know of any other truck that comes out now.
I think Burr will weigh somewhere around a hundred pounds. A veal calf should have nothing but milk and you can't get as much for them if fed on something else but if you keep hime untill fall you ought to get a better price.
The weather is so dry nothing can grow much and the apples havn't set yet. the corn is just begining to come up.
Your fodder cane is planted east of you potatoes on your place as there was no good place at Stutsmans for it.
I have got the mower pole.
I have the orchards plowed and one draged.
Stutsmans want me to come down there tomorrow and plough and the alfalfa needs to be cut right away and I havn't got the mowing machine put together yet and I have got more work here than I can tend to.
I will have to have the rake sent out right away so I can use it.
The frost didn't hurt the oats but it hurt the grass and burnt some of the clover black and hurt some of the new seeding in the oats. it froze down some of your asparagus.
Ralph
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