Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1865-1872

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use Baugh's Raw Bone & some Excelsior. 14th. What is the best time to sow Clover Seed? From 1st to middle of April.

After a very pleasant meeting, we adjourned to meet at the house of Charles H Brooke on the 2nd 7th day of next month.

2nd mo 10th 1866.

We met at the house of Chas H Brooke, when all of our members were present except Wm S Bond; we had as guests Dr Wm E Magruder, Chas Farquhar, & Walter H Brooke.

Wm W Moore was appointed foreman, under whose guidance we rallied forth to look into the out door arrangements of our host; as at our last meeting, the walking was dreadful, but still we made a pretty thorough survey of the outbuildings, barn yard, & pig field if such a term is admissible; things seemed in good order, with a few exceptions, such as a bee-hive used as a latch for the Ice House door. The stables were comfortable, but the troughs and mangers were not upon the most approved plan as decided at our last meeting; a little more straw in the barn-yard, would have been an improvement; our host called our attention to his method of feeding chickens, which certainly saves some trouble, but most likely wastes more meal; we were also called upon to notice a large lot of small pigs, & it seemed to be the judgement of most present, that more attention bestowed upon half the number would prove more profitable; the new meat house was pronounced No. 1, & the indestructible clothesline could be profitably imitated by most of us; we were also shown an Army Forge which our host had purchased in Washington & shall expect him to report as to its work, whether satisfactory or not.

We then returned to the house where the following questions were asked; 1st. What is the proper quantity of feed for growing pigs, to obtain the best results? Ans. Give them enough. 2nd. What are the relative values of Rye & Corn as horse feed? Equal

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3rd. What proportion of corn & oats should the tenant get for tending the crop, the Landlord furnishing a liberal dressing of manure? Ans. 2/3 (1) 3/5 (9) 1/2(2) 4th. What is a four horse team worth per day? Ans. $5.00 (6). 5.50 (14)& 6.00(6). 5th. Will it pay to put up lightning rods? Ans. Yes (12) No (4). 6th. Would you build a milk house to be supplied from a pump, or build a vault? Ans. Twelve would build a vault, & three favor the milk house. 7th. Will it pay to feed cattle longer, if they are only fair beef? Yes (10), No (3) Don't know (2) 8th. What is the best way to set a field in grass in the spring? Ans. Sow with oats. 9th. Would you save leached ashes to put in compost for corn, or sow on grass? Ans. Eleven in favor of putting on corn, & four would sow it in grass. 10th. What is the best manure to put in corn hills? Ans. Different opinions, most prefer Bone Dust, or Raw Bone, & one will use Old horse. llth. What kind of potatoes will you plant? Ans. Buck—Eye & Peach Blow generally; two members will plant som. white Chili.

When we say that the supper to which we were next invited, was worthy of our hostess & her efficient assistants no higher praise can be rendered.

We then adjourned to meet at the house of Wm S Brooke at the usual time next month.

3rd Mo 10th 1866.

We met at the house of Wm S Brooke, where all of our members were present except Robt, Asa, and Phi1ip Stabler, Will S Bond & Thomas J Lea. Chas H Brooke was appointed foreman after the reading of the minutes of our last meeting, we walked out under the lead of our foreman, & first took a look at the clearing which our host has been making, preparatory to a new garden, we then inspected our host's pigs & decided that if a premium were to be offered for the smallest of that age, our host would certainly

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be the lucky man; the pig pen attracted marked attention as being a very simple, cheap & comfortable one, for temporary use being a large cask, laid on one side with a good bed of leaves in it: there was a very great contrast between the pigs & a noble pair of steers which our host is fattening, & which looked as though they would not be hard to take in the shape of roasts and steaks, & there was considerable discussion as to their weights, which will perhaps be reported at some future meeting. We then walked to a large empty hay-house, & from that through the young orchard, which looked thrifty; some members suggested that it needed trimming, but did not tell how it should be done.

We then returned to the house, where the following questions were asked & answered, viz: 1st. What shall I do with my pigs which are taking pattern by their tails & growing downwards? Turn them out & give them beds of dry leaves. 2nd What size axle for an Ox cart, for two yoke of cattle? Ans. Two and one half inches. 3rd. What paint should be used upon a shed roof that has not much fall. Ans Some advise White wash; though there seemed to be little information upon the subject. 4th. What kind of horses should we breed for? Ans. Mules, unless you have a very fine mare. 5th. What material is best for a roof with slight pitch? Ans. Gravel (5), Cypres Shingles (2), Tin (2), Don't know (1). 6th. Will 1000 lbs of bone per acre make potatoes? Ans Yes (3), No (5), Don't know (1) 7th. What Am't of Fish Guano per acre for Potatoes? 400 (1), 500 (4), 600 (1), Don't know (3) 8th. Would it best to spread manure now or just before plowing. Ans, Spread now.

After partaking of a very bountiful repast we adjourned to meet at the house of Granville Farquhar at the usual time next month.

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4th mo 14th 1866

We met at the house of Granville Farquhar when all of our members were present except, Philip T Stabler, Thos J Lea and Samuel Hopkins: we had as guests, Wm. H Farquhar, Chas Farquhar, Edwd J Farquhar, Walter H Brooke, & Dr Wm E Magruder. Asa Stabler was appointed foreman; we then walked out to see what could be seen about the premises, & were greeted at the start by a very flourishing garden which did credit to our host or to the lady members of the family; we then noticed some plants which had been kept in a pit all winter & which looked as though the treatment received had suited them very well. The garden gave evidence of great attention, every thing being in good order.

In passing from the garden toward the stables a very large pile of wood attracted our attention & some of those present who have tried it, thought that a circular saw would save a great deal of hard work during the coming summer. The corn house was found to be in the same condition as a good many others, minus corn. We then visited the barn yard & noticed a very remarkable bull, & some one asked for his pedigree, but we were not enlightened upon that point: as we left the barn yard, some very snug horses ran by us. The black-smith shop wall all in good order & had evidently been found useful. Rain beginning to fall pretty rapidly we were compelled to cut our walk short, & hasten to the house, but on our way noticed a flock of sheep in the pasture & strange to say the pasture was torn all to pieces, & the query arose had the sheep to,"Root hay or die?" When arriving at the house the following questions were asked & answered? Viz. 1st. A member has a piece of wheat which was badly thrown out by the winter; he wishes to know whcther to plow it up or leave it? Ans Leave it. 2nd. What is the best time to trim an apple

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orchard? When the trees pre Erowing. 3rd. What is white corn worth? $4.25 per bbl. 4th. Is it too late to trim a grape vine? Yes. 5th. Will it pay to shovel our corn ground before planting? Two say yes, & eleven no. 6th. What is the price of day hands? Ans 60 cts or 1.00 if they board themselves. 7th. What is the best crop for grain forage? Corn sowed broad cast. 8th. Would you broad cast corn in an orchard? No. 9th. A member enquired how much stone was required for blind ditch which caused considerable discussion as to the best mode of blinding, & he was finally advised to put poles in the bottom & stone on top, but the quantity per perch was not given. 10th. What is the price for mauling rails? Ans 75 cts per hundred. 11th. When is the best time to sow plaster? The sooner the better. 12th. Wood the refuse from a sorghum mill be a good mu[l]ch for young trees? Yes, if lend manure is not to be had. 13th. How many potatoes will the Club Jr plant? Ans 110 acres, an average of 7 1/3 acres per member. 14th. Is it best to harrow corn ground now or just before planting? Ans. Just before planting. 15th. What is the best time to plant corn? Four say from 20th to 25th of April, 8 the last week in April & 4 the 1st week in May. 16th. Is it best to put compost right in the hill for corn or scatter it a little? Scatter it. 17th. Which is cheaper in the long run post & rail or worm fence? Twelve in favor of Post & Rail & 3 of worm. l8th. Is our Blue grass the same as the Ky grass of same name? No. 19th.What is the best implement for pulverizing the soil of a garden with a horse? The use of the Shovel Plow, Harrow & Rubber was recommended. 20th. What is the proper time to plant Watermelons. 1st of May.

Then adjourned to meet at the house of Roger B Farquhar on the 12th of next month.

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