Enterprise Farmers' Club Minutes

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T. Lamar Jackson's, Dec 22nd 1917 631st Meeting.

We seem to be acquiring the habit of dropping in at Teneriffe Farm long about Christmas time; a very delightful procedure for the club but we must not impose on the genial good nature of our host and hostess too much.

The sky was clear and air crisp with the thermometer hovering around the small figures at the bottom.

THe mercury had been there before as was evinced by a full icehouse with blocks of ice six inches thick and more.

Wm M. Canby, C.L. Gilpin, T. J. Lea R.R. Moore and Newton Stabler did not honor us with their presence. Others present than members were Mr. Mac Farland of California, Townes and Bladen Jackson, J.W. Jones, Chas F. Kirk, M. [V.?] Stabler, R.B. Thomas and Wm Evers.

The walk took the same trend as on our last visit and very similar conditions were found and as these conditions were universally good, there was nothing to be ashamed of!

Some very handsome young holstein stock was stantioned in the stable behaving like grown ups in every way but productiveness. But their turn will come later.

A young jersey bull in the yard looked a little out of place in the presence of a holstein herd.

To all appearances we saw the same pen of hogs we did last year but of course this was not the case. In number, size and thriftiness, they were almost identical to those we inspected on our last visit. It has

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been some time since we have examined farming opperations on this place. We will almost be willing to sacrifice a Christmas supper in order to witness summer activities on this farm again. Returning to the house we proceeded to business with Albert Stabler as chairman for the evening. The Farmers Convention Comittee was named as follows. C.L. Gilpin Y.B. Stabler and E.P. Thomas. The name of Lea Wilson was presented for membership and according to custom action was deferred by one meeting. The mail committee (you may spell it both ways) was rehabilitated and asked to get busy on the present unsatisfactory mail service. Questions Rust Canby was told to keep Pyrox covered with water. Many thought wheat would stand a better chace when planted late if it did not start to sprout Lownes Jackson was informed. Several members advised M.J. Stabler to repair his binder rather than pay an exorbitant war price for a new one. B.H. Miller was given a number of recipes for the prevention of musk rat injury. Geo. a. Wilson was told that corn would not take the place of gluten fod at a reasonable figure. R.B. Thomas was advised to construct an icepond E.P. Thomas was told where he could obtain a windmill. Mr Mac Farland told in a very interesting way of activities in his section of California and of the method of handling a [?] [bu?] lima bean crop. Adjourned to Hella Brooks. SP Thomas Secy.

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of protein for dairy feed.

Geo. A. Wilson was advised to sell his hay at the prevailing prices and feed fodder.

M. J. Stabler decided to get a new binder and the [Weering?] make had the most advocates.

Joseph Jamey wanted to know whether any of us had made an income tax report but most of us are not bothered with the requisite minimum amount of income as yet.

W.W. Moore was advised to tuberculin test his cattle prior to the sale and advertise them as such.

Albert Stabler has a 2 year old boar for sale.

M. O. Stabler asked what would be a fair rental for good pasture for 22 cattle. Answers ranged for 6 to $10 per acre for the season.

Crop prices Wheat 2.12 [br.?] Corn 8.50 bbl Timothy 30.00 ton Clover " " Potatoes 1.50 per sk.

A most enjoyable meeting was then adjourned to meet at Plainfield Feb 16^th 1918.

SP Thomas Secy

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Dr Scott finds advocates of the ground [oysterdales?] lime while others prefer the hydrated lime . Most thought that the sawman should not have taken the slabs away from the mill at Amersley , especially in view of the verbal argument which was heard by two witnesses . E. C. Thomas was advised to sell a heifer calf for veal if it was not convenient for him to raise her . A few thought E. C. T. Jr should be allowed to raise her . A Resolution favoring an Initiative and Referendum state law was passed . Adjourned to meet at Albert Stablers at the regular time S P Thomas Secy .

1 195 Edgewood Mar 23^rd 1918 634^th meeting

Nearly every member and nearly as many guests assembled at Edgewood Mar 23^rd 1918 for the 634^th Enterprise Club meeting . R. R. Moore and W^m M. [Canbry?] were unable to come while the following were among the welcomed outsiders ---- T . Janney Brown of Washington Mr Wilson of Virginia , Mortimer O. Stabler " from Montgomery" and others including R.H. Miller, Alban G . Thomas, Samuel S. Bond,&W ^m F. Thomas . The Secy . was unable to participate in the walk of inspection and E . Clifton Thomas was asked to take notes . These walks are especially interesting here for we can behold from year to year the things which a city farmer with plenty of where-with-all puts over on us urban farmers with plenty of brains. The handsome pile of sawed wood at the wood pile was the an indication of the thriftiness always to be found here . A number of brood sows with pigs were fully admired while a red sow was put thru some stunts as a trained animal. When our host finally suceeds in geting her to talk her first inteligible grunt will be alfalfa and the second Teddy . Sheep and lambs were also handsome to look at ,some of the later ready for market . A mare with her tenth foal was led out for inspection ; no horse-race suicide here. A shingle barn roof which has been in sevice since 1866 showed how often the old ways and methods are superior to the new . After a delicious shad supper the following topics were discus[?] . M : J. Stabler was advised to apply for potatos a dressing of a fertilizer mixture in the proportion

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of 200 lbs of [?] to 800 of rock . to [?] alfalfa sod which has been manuered . He is also advised to use a disc clover seed drill .

W ^m F. Thomas has 15 or 20 bus of seed rye for sale .

Samuel Bond brought up hte question of turnout chickens pasturing on fields . This is a problem as much unsolved as when our Enterprising Club started . Some of our members use the shot gun . Very effective with the chickens but hard on the good will .

The question of the justification of the continuation of the present fixt price for wheat was brought up by Chas.E.Bond and discust at length . Most thought that $ 2 ⁵⁰ per bushel would be a most just price for the 1918 crop especially in view of the fact that farmers do not really get the maximum fixt price at all .

Frederick Stabler is advised to sow rape in narrow rows for hog pasture .

B . H. Miller is advised not to sow Soudan grass .

Opinion was divided whether W^m W. Moore should purchase a hayloader or a side delivery rake this year . Practically all would not get both now .

T. Janney Brown is told that wheat generally should not be sown later than the last of October .

geo .A . Wilson was advised to make a rubber out of planks 3 x 6 or 3 x 8 overlapping them.

all read, and were very interesting.

The minutes of the Dec. meeting were read and approved.

The Farmers' convention conv was continued.

Crop Prices

Wheat $1.87 bu Potatoes $2⁵⁰ to 2⁶⁰ bu

Corn 4⁰⁰ bbl Apples 1⁵⁰ to 2⁰⁰

Hay $27 to 28 T Hogs 13¢ lb

Beef Cattle [?]

Questions

B. H. Miller asked what to charge his man for feeding his horse - 5 ⁰⁰ per mo. He was advised by a vote of 10 to hold his wheat for higher price. He read an article telling of the good that was coming out of the 18th amendment

Asa M. Stabler told of some Club experience during the past 60 yrs.

Bentley Thomas question as to the charge for bbl for corn delivered in the neighborhood, was unanswered.

Frank Wilson was told that overfeeding, especially of corn, would cover the trouble he was having with his yews. His yews seemed to be paralized in the hips.

clover and asked what he could grow as "long feed" for his sheep. He was advised to sow soy beans and to try alfalfa, alsike or sweet clover.

Mr. Carroll said he wanted to buy some shoats, [?] Jones has some.

E. C. Thomas asked if any present had had experience with oil heaters - no one had but the reports were that the systems was nice but rather more expense that coal, even at the high price of coal.

B. H. Miller told of a meeting which was to be held at Rockville to interest the Mont. Co. farmers in sending an exhibit to Phila for the [?] Cent, to be held there next year, he was asked to represent us at the meeting and report to us just what was planed.

Maurice Stabler asked what could be done to improve the road between Arthur & Brighton. Hard work, Patience & Politics were suggested.

Douglas Farquhar was told that $150⁰⁰ for the season would be right to [?] for the pasture on a 30 a. field.

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for our supper.

The guests included [Messrs?] Joey Shaw, R. R. Moore, J. W. Jones, and [cousin?] T. J. Lea

Our usual walk led us around the garden + well kept grounds of this fine suburban home, which will soon be entirely surrounded by Washington City.

On calling the meeting together, after an unusually good club supper, the [business?] was resumed with the reading of a little poem B. H. Miller. There being no further

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communication the crop prices were

Wheat $1.41 - Corn $4.00

Hay $26, $27 Potatoes 1.25 bu.

Apples 50¢ bu. Cattle $9.75

and Hogs 15¢

Questions

E. C. Thomas has 9 acres of rough hay which he wishes cut. $12.00 to cut + $25 if hay is to be taken off.

W. W. Moore. What grade of [?] + what [?] is the best to use in seeding a field to gram? 300 [lbs?]. 3 - 12 - 5, & 1000 lbs [hydrater?] [?]. What is the right mixture of seed. 15 lbs, alfalfa 10 lbs Timothy. 6 lbs. alsike per acre.