Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1911-1918

Belmont 1-27-12 In asnwer to J. [Lemar?] Jackson's question, most would prefer to buy fodder at 6 cents per bundle rather than boiled alfalfa hay at 27 cents per ton N.S. was advised to thaw out fresh meat as soon as possible and before [salty?] it There was a difference of opinion about hauling snow to put on [ice?] in [?] W. Morer's house, as was also the case whether it would be wise to exempt Montgomery Co. from a mortgage tax. It was thought that E. C. Thomas should get from 1/2 to 3/5 of the crop where he furnished the land [futilizer?] and seed potatoes. M. J. and R. H. M. both told G. A. Wilson that sheep did well on [?] J. Snowden was told that it was worth from 5 to 8 dollars to haul two large poles in different places about a mile distant. From 10 to 12 dollars per ton was thought to be the market value of ragweed in answer to M. J. Bentley's question. The following delegates were appointed to attend the [?] [?] at Rockville Feb 22nd. A. M. [Stabler?], N. Stabler, M. J. Stabler, GW. A. Wilson and M. J. [?] Then adjourned, [?] Secretary

564

Longmeade 3-2-1912

The club met at Geo. A. Wilsons 3-2-1912 with the following members absent: C. E. Bond, C. L. Gilpin, J Lemar Jackson, M. J. Bentley, and Arthur Stabler. Their places well filled by the following guests: Chas Wilson, R. H Miller, John Thomas, Mr Thomas, Luther Muncaster, Herbert and Albert Wilson. Asa M. Stabler, appointed at the last meeting to collect dues for the Farmers Convention, was not prepared to report in full.

Owing to the gross injustic of District laws on Maryland farmers, we were deprived of seeing one of the finest herds of cows ever owned in this section. In place of the cows, we saw a splendid lot of cattle, 20 in all, which our host was forcing for an early market.

They are being stall fed with 4 lbs of cotton seed meal, one pk. of ground corn and ensilage. In view of the buying weights 1002 and the time they have been on the farm 67 days our host has done remarkably well with them. The secretary was asked to make a special note of the enormous supply of wood at the wood pile. Several hundred white Leghorn pullets in comfortable houses were much admired.

Malcom Farquhar reported as a delegate to the Antisaloon League meeting at Rockville. Asa M. Stabler spoke of being highly in favor of abolishing the mortgage tax of Montgomery Co. The subject started a discussion between Wm Canby and B. H. Miller which threatened the further proceeding

Longmeade 3-2-1912 574 11 of the club and it was suggested that the club go in in Committee of Whole House on the State of the Union and have it out.

Questions Geo. A. W. is asking how to put a pound a day on lambs was told that a great deal depended on the breeding of the lamb.

R. R. M's question about when to sow clover seed was answered by eight favoring early and five medium to late sowing.

T. B. S. spoke if ibe neighbor sowing in the morning, continuing until the surface thawed, while another neighbor on the other side of the road waited for such a condition and plodded three the need to sow his seed.

Most of those present advised R. R. Moore to use straw rather than shavings for bedding even in consideration of the high price of straw.

According to the cost of seed potatoes, E. P. Thomas was advised not increase the acreage of his main crop/

Adjourned to meet at M. L. Bentleys

S G Thomas Secy

12 Bloomfield 3-30-1912 565 On the 30^th of March, 1912, the Enterprise Club met at Bloomfield with Maurice L. Bentley as host. Not for just twelve years have we had the pleasure of visiting this fine old home, so prominent in early Sandy Spring history. Time has wrought few changes here, but the greatest change is the loss of our valued former memver, Edward N. Bentley, who always took such an active and interested part in the proceedings of the Club. Our young host has taken hold of the place with vim and determination, and the results which he has obtained are very creditable, the greatest change that he has brought about is the marked improvement in the fertility of the farm which be has accomplished through judicious fertilizing, soiling, and cropping, a thrifty young orchard has recently been planted in the front field adjoining the old orchard. The minutes of the meeting here twelve years ago spoke of our former host having great trouble with badly washed places after spring rains. This must be are ever present me[n?]ase as the same conditons in the same places prevailed on this visit, and the same advise was given. We were sorry to see that a splend yellow poplar sa[?] - log had been saved into sto[n]e lengrhs for fuel; what fine weakens - boarding it would have made!

Bloomfield, 3-30-1913 565 13

The absent members were: T. Lamar Jackson, G. A. Wilson, W^m Canby, Arthur Stable, M. J. Stabler, & Malcolm Farqugar, B. Dorsey Downey & W^m Y, Boyce were guests.

Questions:

The club concurred in our host's plan of clearing up five or six acres of thinly wooded land just back of Sandy Spring, and suggested that blue grass and alsyke clover be repatched in & be pastured for a year or so before undertaking the stumps.

C. T. Gilpin is told that the only advantage derived from using the Berkley hydrated lime is it's finely divided condition, which might prove to be a decided disadvantage if a long useful period is desired.

B. Dorsey Downey spoke of his mare becoming nearly dry within a week after having a calf; he is advised to try her once more, but to breed her in the fall this time.

B. H. Miller is advised not to sew floats in strips on the lawn in order to see the advantage of it's application, very likely the lawn would present a quiet like appearance which would only serve as a constant reminder that he should have spent more or less, probably less.

Townsend's corn is recommended to Chas. E. Bond.

R. R. Moore had had some disagreeable experience with a certain person living near Wheaton, from whom