Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1873-1878

What kind of potatoes shall I plant A. 1 Buckeye, 8 Monitor, 6 Peerless, 5 peachblows, 3 Early Roses.

How many raise roots for their stock. A. 6 Turnips, 4 Beets.

It was recommended that all the members try an experiment with deep & shallow planting for corn, & note the results, & report

Our Host asks what damages he shall charge for the Rail Road, taking 3 1/2 acres of land & requiring 325 panels of fences. A. 7 say $1000, 1- $2500, 3 $2000, 1 $1500,

Is now the time to buy cloverseed & when to sow A. 10 would sow in Feb, 2 in March, & 4 in April

What is the best kind of fodder cutter to buy, Sinclairs Masticator was the best known.

If the horses refuse their corn & what is the cause, A. Some do not eat if well, recommended to change feed with chop.

Upon several occasions the foreman found it impossible to keep order, some questions had to be asked a second or third time before being heard. Would it not be well to allow a short time for a general discussion of some important questions, after being asked around, so as to allow the

More diffident members an opportunity of expressing their views, & if the talking continues after the Foreman has Called order, let him Announce that the proceedings are suspended until order shall be restored.

Adjourned to Frederick Stabler, on the 8th of next month,

P T Stabler, Sec.

3 month 8th 1873 We met at Frederick Stabler's, nearly a full meeting, the weather very mild & pleasant, which we appreciate after this very long, and coldest winter for many years, very muddy. We first looked at the hogs, consisting of two large brood sows, one young Chester sow, & a large Chester Boar; all in good condition, some discussion as to the merits of the Chester breed, some thought them too large & coarse, requiring too long to develop & mature. The Berkshires, generally prefered, or a cross of Chester & Berkshire would probably combine advantages. The henery looked comfortable, several members reported their chickens

Dying with Cholera, can no remedy be found. The Cattle were wintering very well, & no wonder, with such a comfortable Barn, & plenty to eat.

The discussion of horses ages, tho interesting at the time, need not be recorded.

The same remark applies to that yet more interesting discussion - supper;

1st Question. What shall I do with my Bacon which is not salt enough, some think it will keep, some advise salting again, some would sell

2nd. In renting land in shares, does the tenant put the owners share away for him, yes.

3rd. What share of corn shall the tenant have, the owner finding every thing except the labor, 11 say 1/4, 3 say 1/3.

4th. How shall I kill lice on Horses, Carbolic soap, or diluted Kerosene

5th. How many hens shall I keep for stock Variety estimated at from 25. to 50.

No Cloverseed has been sown yet, about 16 feet is the right length for a hay carriage.

6th. Is the Frenchmans mark a sign of a good Cow, yes.

7th. The Club was asked to suggest some experiements to be submited to the Committee of the Convention, the Experiments when decided upon to be tried by all members of all the 6 Clubs.

A great deal of discussion of the question, what can we do to improve our County Agricultural Fair, the selection of suitable officers was thought very important, which suggested the following resolution.

On Motion Resolved that we pledge ourselves to attend the Next Annual meeting of the Agricultural Society,

Adjourned to meet at P T Stabler's, April 12th 1873

G Farquhar Sec. For the day

4th Mo. 12th 1873

The "Enterprise Club" met at Philip T. Stabler's. Chas. H. Brooke was chosen foreman, who called the meeting to order at eight min. of five o'clock, which was twenty two min. after the proper time. E.P. Thomas was appointed Sec. for the day.

Twelve members were present at the opening of the Session and one more straggled in just before Tea time, leaving three on the absent list; W. S Brooke, Roger B. Farquhar & Samuel Hopkins. Jas. S. Hallowell David Edgerton & Jesse Kennard were our guests. There is one fact noticable about our meetings recently and that is the full attendance,several times within the last year we have had all the members present, and although some invariably come late they evince great interest in the proceedings when they do arrive. Another remarkable coincidence is that no matter how late members put off coming to the Clubs, they always arrive in time for supper. I have never known an instance where a member came after Tea, though it might appear that some came for it.

When the minutes of the meeting last held at this hours were read, we donned our overcoats & rubbers and faced the chilling rain and north west blast to