Enterprise Farmers' Club Minutes

107

Ques 3^rd[?] Does it do to make dam for ice pond in woods. Ans yes

Ques4 Is best to plough fields[1.2or3^[rd]] for corn. First & 2^nd have nothing on & 3 had hay cut off this spring generally in favour field No 3

Ques5 When is best time to sow wheat. From 1^st to 10^th Oct.

Ques 6 How much is straw worth from 100[?] wheat & foder from 100 [bbl?] corn Each being a good crop & how much per bbl for corn $9.00 for straw. $35⁰⁰ for fodder &$2.³⁵ for corn

Enterprise Club met at Harvard residence of Mr Joseph T Moore Sept 30th 1870 Thirteen members present. The first general appearance of farm buildings was of everything hit arder and well

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108

& feed well on oats & hay or grass

April 11th When best time to pick apples. With Cider considered too soon Then adjourned to meet at Jos T Moores Sept 30th/876

I forgot to comment to [illegible] to [illegible] the first rate supper we had

120 April 29^th 1882 the Club met at Edgewood, -- and organized with [Fran?] Farquhar as foreman, 12 members being present . -- After reading the minutes of the last meeting held here, we started out for a general inspection of the farm. -- Our attention was called to two fine young horses our host had recently purchased in Va., - they showed plainly that they had found a good home, as they had a comfortable look, and like the sleek fat cows we saw a little later, proved that on this well regulated farm, " the eye of the farmer fattens the ox". -- The garden as usual showed that it had received a full share of the host's attention, as he like all good husbandsman knows that it is the best field he has. --- Some beautiful Berkshire shoats & pigs reminded us forcibly of the pictures we see in agricultural papers. -- --- In passing over the fields we pronounced the farm as being well set in [goars?] . --- . The [granary?] was fwell filled with corn .-- W. H. Brooke, W. M. Stabler R. H, Miller and H. H. Stabler were present as guests, and helped to dispose of a bountiful supper, which we enjoyed all the more by being waited upon by the hostess and several of her daughters . ------ After the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved , the following questions were asked and answered . --------

121 1 ^stQues. Where can Carp be obtained ? Try the U.S. fish commission in Washington. -- 2 ^nd Ques. What is the usual allowance for a man for one year? 3 bbls. of Corn. 1 bbl. of Flour. 210 [tbs?] of bacon or 300 [tbs?] . of pork, some[give?] in addition 500 fish. -- 3 ^rd Ques. When would you plant corn in new ground ? from the middle of May, to June 1^st ------ 4 ^th Ques. How to cure pigs of [Scouns?] ? Give sour milk and weaken it.-------- 5^th Ques. How many will manure corn in the hill ? 10 will, 5 will not. ---- W^m .W. Moore reported one of his cows sick & feared she had Pleuro Pneumonia . -- The secty was requested to report it to the Govenor, and ask him to have it investigated Do Members allow their chickens to go into the barn Majority let them have access to the Cellar, and a few let them go all through . ---- Self Binders were again discussed. -- W^m S. Bond reported his ensilage satisfactory.- Will Barbed wire fence keep your neibors chickens out . Yes . ------- ----- ------------ Adjouned to meet at Belmont on the 27 ^th of May. Arthur Stabler Secty. -- ----

123 2^ndQuestion How to raise 600 bus. of Potatoes on 4 acres ? Manure corn stubble ground heavily from the barnyard, plow under, then put on about 500 lbs. of good fertilizer 3^rd ques. Where is the best place to keep seed potatoes ? In a dry cellar, and move them occasionally. --- 4^th Ques. - When is Rye in the proper state to cut for tying fodder ? As soon as it will not pull at the joints when dried ? 5^th Ques. When should Rye be cut out of wheat ? When in bloom . ------- 6^th Ques A visitor had about 50 acres of wheat to cut , shall he sell his selfsake champion & buy a binder at a difference of $ 200.00 ? Unanimously decided not. ---- 7^th Ques. What should I do with a badly sweene[?]yedhorse ? Keep him at light work. 8^th Ques. Will garlic seed mature in timothy hay ? [?]. Farquhar says it will. ----- 9^th Ques. Which will pay best to plant 3 or 4 acres in corn &save the grain, or use it for ensilage? --- 15 say use for ensilage &three to use for corn. -- 10^th Ques. In a barbed wire fence with posts 24 feet apart , would you whitewash them ? 2 said not, 15 said yes. ------- Adjourned to meet at Magnolia July 1 ^st Arthur Stabler Secty. ------

124 Magnolia 7^th Mo. 8^th 1882 One week after the appointed time the Club met at W^mS . Bonds. -- We organized at 5-30 Oclock with P. [?]. Stabler as foreman. Granville Farquhar, [?]. J . Lea , W^mS.Brooke & R. B. Farquhar were absent. -- R. P. M ^cFarland was the only visitor present. After reading the minutes of the last meeting held here, we started out for a short walk . ------- The beautiful flower garden was much admired by some members, while others talked politics . ---- We next visited the Silo , that had been built since our last meeting here, and had proved to be a satisfactory experiment.-- The building was 33 feet long , 8 feet wide &16 deep. The crop of wheat just harvested bid fair to make a good yield, and the hay which was being Ricked was a fine crop.------ The corn looked well , and the farm was pronounced to be in much better condition than when it was worked by a tenant . ---- One of the members being late we did not visit the Mill, but were informed that it was making full time , having a large stock of saw bone on hand .---- After the minutes of last meeting were read and adopted. 8 Members paid in $ 3.70 to help defray the expense of [D".?]Lemays lecture.

125 J. [S?]. Moore moved to dispense with the Harvest Club action upon the motion was pos[?]tponed until the September meeting, ---- 1^stQuest. E.P. Thomas wants to know whether to buy cows now when there is Pleuro Pneumonia in the neiborhood ? Advised to buy with great Care So as not to get any diseased Cattle. - 2^nd Quest. How is the best way to manage hay to be cut and stacked ? Shock it up so that it can be [slifjed?],then Qtackround a pole. 3^rdQuest. What are the members paying harvest hands? $1.50 for binding wheat, & $1.00 per day for hay & other work.-- 4^thQuest What is hay worth in [Winsow?] , estimating the weight [?] as though weighed a month hence . --- .50 Cts per Cut. ----- 5_thQuest.- Would you put salt on hay when mowing it and how much. Advised to use a small quantity 2to 3 [?] to load.- 6_thQuest. Will it pay to buy leather nets for horses ? Better get thin bag covers for work horses. ---- W^m W. Moore offered 6 good pigs about six weeks old, @ $15.00 . -- Taken by Fred Stabler. What does barbed wire fence cost? 3/4 of a Ct. running foot for each wire. ---- Will it do to ride a colt 2 1/2 years old ? Only by the owner. ---- adjourned to meet at C. H.Brooke's Arthur Stabler Secy --.

127 Upon our return to the house we were invited to partake of a bountiful supper. ---- The minutes of the last meeting were read and the following questions were asked & answered. 1^st Quest. Will it pay to [grub?] and clean fence [rows?] along the public road &set them in grass? --- [Twas?] thought that it would pay well . --- 2 ^ndQuest. What is worth to dig an ice House ? A member paid 50 Cts. per foot to dig one 12 feet in diameter, but it would depend very much upon the character of the soil. --- 3 ^rd Quest How soon to sow Rye in new ground for pasture? About the middle of Seft. ----- 4^th Quest .. How to get rid of briars in a sod field ? Make it rich and Cut them often. ----- 5 ^thQuest. How much is the value of a farm decreased by being thoroughly set in hog thistle? $ 50. 00 per acre. -- T.J. Lea. ---- 6 ^thQuest. Wen to plow peas under ? About the middle of Sept. or when they are full grown, with pods formed but not the pea. ---- 7 ^th Quest. How large is it safe to make corn shocks ? If the corn is fully ripe make as large as you choose. ------ Adjourned to meet at Falling Green Arthur Stabler Secty . _