Enterprise Farmers' Club Minutes

61

The cattle that we saw were in good condition, tho' our host informed us that he had sent the poor ones that he was [?] of to the other place.

The hogs and pigs were very fine This large farm is managed in a very energetic way. Perhaps the appearance of [none?] of our farms has changed more.

The market committee reported attention to the subject and were [continued?]

The committee upon the "7^th [Rt?] road." reported having seen the Commissioner's of the D.C. and secured the assurance that the road would be put in order this summer. Relaxed with thanks.

convention. The amount was immediately raise and he directed to pay it over to the proper person. The committee on the Market House Company was continued B.H Miller desired advice in regard to applying Oyster Shell lime on new pine land, tennant to do the work, he to pay them 7cts per bu for delivering the shells on the place. 13 mem said do it. P. T. Stabler censured members for not sending in their crop reports to the sec. So that he might make a full report to the Convention. R.M. Stabler asked if he should engage to deliver 200 Potatoes in W. C. next mo. at 75 cts per bu? Ans. Nearly unanimous yes. W. W. Moore asked did it-pay to hold the annual convention? Ans14 to 3 in favor of it Arthur Stabler wanted to know which to sell now Clover or Timothy hay? Ans. We told him Clover. Samuel Hopkins is puzzled to know what to do with surplus corn? Ans. T. J. Lea says buy small pigs at drove yard & feed for summer market. W. S. Bond & R.M. Stabler agreed with T. J. Lea, provided the pigs could be purchased at moderate prices. Gran Far=

3rd Ques - in order, is when cracked a fog on How thick to cover ice in ice-house? Ans- from 6 in. to 1 ft. with sawdustor shaw 4th Ques- With what to make the bottom of horse stalls? Ans. Clay, Clay + Gravel Clay + Shaw, Clay sand + Gravel, were suggested. No one advocated boards–the material the questioner desired to use 5th Ques- Would it be to the advantage of the Turnpike Co. to lower the toll to one half for broad head wagons? Ans- 5 think it would, 9 think otherwise; which don't prove anything 6th Ques- Shall I put up post + nail or plank fence along public road?Ans- About equally divided, querist–deciding to put up post + nail 7th Ques- 6 say they will attend the meeting of the County Ag. Socie, 8 declare they will not. Ava M Slater proposes to build a grain Elevator at Laurel for the use of Farmers in the adjoining counties, which was approved of by most present Then adjourned to meet at Belmont 3/12/81 E.I.D. sec

119 1^stQues. What is the comparative value W. Oak &Locusts [ports?] for [paling?] [on?] board fence. ---- From 2 1/2 to 5 times more durability in the Locusts. -- 2 ^nd Ques. Shall I sell wheat straw for 25Cts per. cut or spread it. Unanimously put it on the land. -- 3^rd Ques. Would you put lime on rough land or harrow first. Harrow or rub it down . ----- 4^th Ques. How to time peach trees before planting . --- Cut the top off and trim close . ----- 5^th Ques. What are you paying for day hands ? 50 Cts, but our host says it ought to be 60Cts. 6^th Ques How soon will it do to pasture rye . -- In a few days by letting them stay on it just long enough [?] to feed 7^th Ques. What is the best kind of self binder to buy, and what sized crop jusstifies one ? --- About 40 acres. The M ^cCormick, Champion Buckeye, & Wood were all recommended, . --- 8^th Ques. Would you plow sod for corn now or late? Now for fear of its getting hard . --- 9^th Ques. What Stallion will the members breed to this season ? The majority will patronize the thoroughbred Percheron['?] 10^th Ques. What will it be worth to cut wheat with a binder ? 8 say $ 1.50 per acre, 8 say $1.25 . ---- 11^thQues. A member has 8 steers that he has been feeding a little meal to for a month, how is the most profitable way to fatten them . Increase gradually to 1/2 peck at a feed . ----- Adjourned to meet at Edgewood 4/29/82 Arthur Stabler Secy.

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 grass. --- . 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. -- ----

122 The Enterprise Club met at Belmont may 27^th 1882 , we organized at rather a late hour, some of our curious members having been to see a farm sold. Jos. T. Moore was chosen foreman with 12 members present -- D^r. Thomas H. T Lea, R. J. Bentley , W^m John Thomas J . Lew. Massey, Chas. Stabler, John Thomas [?]. [Mr?]. O. Green were present as guests which made quite a full meeting and a very interesting one . --- After reading the minutes of the last meeting held here, we started out to inspect the farm, that has certainly improved as much as any other in the Neighborhood in the last 10 years.--- The finest field of Clover belonging to the Club is probably here , showing that our host knew what he was about when he wrote his practical essay on, "How to [get?] a set of Clover", -- A new Champion self binder was the first thing to claim our attention, F. L. Moore's Agt. was present to explain how to work it . -- A three horse plow was turning under rye (that had been pastured) to plant corn for ensilage. -- Our walk was shortened by a shower coming up, and we did not have time to stop at the Dairy, to see the fine cows . -- 1 ^st Ques. When should late potatoes be planted ? By the 10 ^th of June. ---

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 --.