Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1891-1911

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Argyle Jan 9th 1892

The meeting of the Enterprise Club held at Thos J Lea's Jan 9th 1892 was the smallest in attendance of any regular meeting for many years. The "Grippe" & the Ice harvest were responsible in part for this seeming lack of interest. B H Miller, Arthur Stabler, Chas E Bond, Fred Stabler, Newton Stabler, W W Moore & R Roland Moore were absent. John E Willson & Geo A Willson were acceptable with us as guests. Asa M Stabler was chosen as foreman. E P Thomas Sec pro tem. After reading the minutes of the meeting held at Springdale we took our usual walk of inspection. Found the buildings all new, neat and convenient; on the way to the Barn we noticed some fine young fruit trees also various kinds of small fruits. The Barn though not large was well planned for convenience & comfort of the stock. A new Hog house attracted the attention of the club & all agreed that taking all in all, it was the best planned hog house they had ever seen. The cows were very small but showed good breeding and our host assured us that they were up to the scratch twice every day. We noticed in the kitchen porch the most sugar corn we had ever seen & wondered if it could all be sold in the country. Our host showed us his potatoes neatly stowed away in the Cellar in various Bins Boxes && After setting around a flaming fire for a while supper was announced, after which the following questions were asked and answered. 1/ Ques How shall I fill a ditch that has too much fall? Ans No suggestions different from usual. 2/ Ques I am cutting pines from 3 to 7 in in diameter. Shall I plow or wait for the stumps to rot? Ans All would wait a year or two. 3/ Ques What shall I charge for services of Jersey Bull Ans $2.00

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4/ Ques I furnish high grade Jersey calves 2 to 3 mos old what share shall I have at breeding age? Ans One half. 5/ Ques Are you going to lime & when did you lime last? Ans Most have been liming all the time. Still have faith & recommend stone lime @ 14 rather than shell @ 8c 6/ Ques I expect to burn a rick of lime stone shall I buy wood near at hand for 35c per cord or haul my own wood two miles? Ans All would buy the wood. 7/ Ques My lease runs two years, will it pay me to lime? Ans Yes all you can haul as back loads 8/ Ques What is the remedy for itch in cows? Ans Sulphur, Quasha Bark, Phenile, Crude petroleum, Kerosene && 9/ Ques What shall I put under my ice in the House? Ans Most say nothing but a few still use some rails or poles & straw. 10/ Ques What is it worth to haul Hay from Colesville to Washington? Ans from 15 to 20c per hundred, average 17 1/2

We then adjourned subject to the call of the President.

E P Thomas, Sec pro tem.

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Plainfield Feb 6th 1892

The Enterprise Club was called to order at 5 o.c. PM by R B Farquhar. Robert M Stabler, Warwick M Stabler, B H Miller & Arthur Stabler were absent. B D Palmer, Chas M Stabler, John Thomas, Gram Farquhar, T B Stabler & Llewelyn M Stabler were with us at this time. After reading the minutes of the last meeting held here we started for a walk. The cows were not looking as well as usual here. Some cases of Abortion have appeared. Horses were very numerous. Among the lot was a very fine pair of young mares. On returning to the house the minutes of our last meeting were called for, but the sec pro tem was not prepared to report at this time so was continued. The resignation of R Roland Moore was received with regrets. The Expenses of the last Farmers convention was reported & our share was collected & paid of at this meeting. After supper the following questions were asked and answered.

1/Ques Shall I keep an old Gobler or a young one? Ans Those who know prefer a young one. 2/ Ques Shall I cut my willows that shade the Ice House? If so how tall to leave the stumps? Ans Nearly all say cut the tops back from 6 to 15 feet high to allow the tops to spread. 3/ Ques I have a young mare partially broken that is heavy with foal. Shall I work her? Ans Most would work her if she is quiet. 4/ Ques I have some tall young chestnut trees that have been left in new ground. Will it do to cut off the tops - & how high? Ans A majority say cut off to about 10 ft high. 5/ Ques How can I keep rats out of my Meat House? Ans By the use of fine broken stone & cement 6/ Ques What would be a fair price for corn 3 or 4 miles from Sandy Spring? Ans All say sell for $2.25 in the house.

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7/Ques P T Stabler wishes to know whether he shall put in a dump to water his stock? Ans Yes, unanimously if water for power is plenty. 8/ Ques Shall I hold my wheat any longer? Ans Most would sell at this time. 9/ Ques My colt is 5 mos old when shall I wean it? Ans Wean now. 10/ Ques My Calves suck each other, does it do any harm? Ans The habit is a bad one. A blab was recommended to break them. 11/ Ques A mare 4 yrs old has Lampas & does not eat well. Shall I burn her gums? Ans Most think it will get well without treatment. 12/ Ques Shall I sell fat cows @ 2 1/2 pr bb or hold till grass? Ans All say sell at 2c or over. B D Palmer read a very interesting list of prices of grain since 1845. 13/ Ques Would you recommend an Iron roof for a meat house? Ans The sentiment was about equally divided between Iron and Shingles. WW Moore reported that his heifers who appeared to have garget are now after six months rest apparently well. Adjourned to meet at Mount Airy March 5th 1892 T J Lea, Sec

Mount Airy March 5 1892

The Enterprise Club was called to order at 5 PM by A M Stabler all of our members being present but Arthur Stabler. Robert H Miller Henry H Miller & Elijah Luziar[?] were the only guests at this meeting. After reading the minutes of the last meeting held here, we started to walk it being a very disagreeable afternoon the walk only extended to the barn. Hay of the best quality was so abundant that it was being fed on the

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ground rather than use the stanchions. The herd of Jerseys were not so numerous or of such good quality as usually found here. Some very small Calves were seen in a fine roomy shed. The hog pen was entirely empty.

The Poultry were in a very flourishing condition both young and old! We were told the supply of Eggs was unusually good for this season.

On returning to the house, the minutes of the last meeting were read & approved. After supper our host gave a very interesting account of some of the things he had seen in the far west during his last trip among the Indians. The following questions were then asked and answered.

1/ Ques B H Miller asks shall I use my chestnut posts or buy Locust? How do they compare in Value? Ans All would use the Chestnut. Most think the locust will last 3 times as long. 2/ Ques How many have sown cloverseed? Ans About one half. 3/ Ques What proportion of a crop of potatoes do you expect to plant this year? Ans Many cut down the amount planted some as much as one half. All expect to raise some. 4/ Ques Who would patronize a Babcock milk tester? Ans W W Moore, P T Stabler, E P Thomas, S Hopkins & T J Lea. P T Stabler was appointed to arrange with E R Stabler &c for the purchase of one. 5/Ques What portion of the Nett Proceeds of a good farm should a working foreman receive? Ans from 40 to 60 pr cent. 6/ Ques What share of the gross from a Dairy of 30 cows would pay for the Labor this necessary hogs to be included in both cases? Ans This question gave rise to a very intersting discussion but most members could only make a rough guess on the amount to be paid. It varied from 15 to 40 pr cent. Nearly every one thought a good man on a salary