Enterprise Farmers' Club Minutes

173 Ques 6^th Does it pay to grease harness ? Ans ----- Yes. R, B. Farquhar stated that it cost $2.30 per [bussel?] to raise corn in land that will produce 7 to 8 bus. per acre . [S?]; Stabler , [C?]. H. Brooke and W. S. Brooke were appointed a committee to see the District Commissioners in regard to making regulations to govern the Washington market . Then adjourned to meet at Samuel Hopkins ' 3^rd mo 8^th 1884 . Asa M Stabler Sec'y . -----

"White Hall."____ 3^rdmo.8^th 1884 We commenced business with R.B. Farquhar as foreman . Most of our members present : also [no?]. M . Smith , [no?] Hardy, and six members [of?] the Montgomery Club in attendance ; a fact worth noting , considering the continued disagreeable weather. and muddy roads. We made our usual trip to the large and comfortable barn, which , as in former occasions , was found to be well filled with horses, colts and cattle of almost any size or age. This being the original headquarters for the Percherone horse in this part of Mary land , more well

174 forrmed draft-horses and colts can be seen here , than are usually on one farm. At the suggestion of a member a committee went to the north side of the barn, to examine, the "Hopkins Hay and Grain Elevator." They found it in its usual looking order ; A very simple device, by which four good horses can elevate a load of hay or grain, about one foot per second . The greatest falult this machine seems to have is that it only lifts the hay to the barn floor ; it then has to be put in the [morr?] by fork . A further discription of this contrivance , I will leave to my successor , who will no doubt be a paid officer, and can afford to give you a better idea of its merits . We next visited barn No 2 , situated in adjoining farm , and Purchased by our host since our last visit ; when we found a fine lot of young cattle , and a superb flock of sheep ; all of which were doing well. Some members thought there should be a better arrangement for feeding the lambs meal. On returning to the house, minutes of meeting at R. B. Farquhar's were read, and Committee on "Regulations of Washington Market" continued . B.H. Miller Prepared a resolution , requesting the Legislature to extend no more aid to the Agricultural College . This was signed by nearly all present , and

175 sent to our Senator. Ques. 1^st How much meal shall I feed my steers , which are to be kept until May or June ? Ans 3 to 4 quarts at a feed & let 1/4 of this be [cotton?]-seed meal. Ques 2^nd How shall I mix hen ,manure for potatoes ? Ans Use 1/4 Dis. Bone _ 1/4 leached ashes, to 2 quantities of hen manure. several members recommend the [Dis?]. South Carolina and Plaster . Ques. 3^rd What would you do with surplus clover hay ? Ans ---- 12 would not sell at less than 50^c per hundred -- 4 would feed to cattle 2 trade it for lime. Ques 4 ^th Is there anything less expensive than terra - cotta for Ritcheu drains ? Ans----- No. H inch diameter recommended. ______________________________ Ques 5^th Shall I put 2 calves on one cow or feed them on skimmed milk ? Ans Answer equally divided . Ques 6^th Which is the best wire fencing ? Ans ------ That with barbs 3 or 4 meters apart. Ques . 7^th Will it pay to make chestnuts shingles? Ans ---- Yes, if they are made thick . Ques 8^th What is the difference in yields of Burbank [?] Peerless potatoes ? Ans -- Peerless will yield 1/4 more on the average. Question 9^th What substitute for stable manure , shall

176 I use in corn field ? Ans ---- Dis . South Carolina was thought to be the most economical Ques 10^th Can I get a set of grass on low,new land without plowing ? Ans --- Yes. by scratching it over and top-dressing with manure. H.H. Miller stated that Diamonds horse would be at his farm the coming season if properly encouraged. It was unanimously decided , that it is cheaper to pay 14^c for stone lime at Silver Spring , than 13^c for oyster shell delivered on farm. At . 8.45 the Club adjourned to [wend?] its way thro' mud and rain , and to meet at W^m Lea's April 5^th 1884 Asa M. Stabler Sec y

Highland 4 ^th mo. 5^th 1884 Not being to convenient for T. J Lea to have the Club on this date , we met at W^m Lea's with all our members present except W^m S. Brooke and Thos . J. Lea. There was also a member of the Mont. Club present , and at 4.45 o'^c , with Samuel Hopkins as Foreman , we started out to inspect the farm. The first thing to note in the line of improvements , was an addition to Potatoe cellar , with carriage hence over it;

178 landlord get , when he finishes land seed oats, and fertilizer ? Ans -- One half the oats., and several say : all of the straw . Ques 2 ^nd Is it too late to roll wheat ? Ans -- No. ,, 3 ^rd How high would you build a barn ? Ans -- 14 of those present say 24 ft ___twelve 22 ft and one 30 ft . Ques 4^th What is the best paint to use on barn ? Ans---- [Averill?] 3 ---- [Asbestos?] 5 and 3 would mix lead & oil. The rest undecided Ques 5 ^th What was the average price for wheat last year ? Ans -- [?] 1.11 . ,, 6^th What color shall I paint windmill ? Ans --- Red --- Ques 7^th What is it worth to feed calves 2 months on skimmed Milk ? Ans- $3 per mo. At 9.20 adjourned to meet at T [J?] Lea's May June 3 ^rd if convenient to have us at that time. A. M. Stabler The following questions were omitted/ Sec'y ___ Ques 8 ^th Will ashes stiffen or lighten soil ? Ans --- Lighten every time. Ques 9^th What is the average 2 yr old heifer , that is about fresh , worth ? Ans $ 35 .----- Ques 10^th How does our colored labor compare with that of five years ago ? Ans ---- The older generation about as good , the younger [shoots?] , as a rule much inferior. Ques 11^th Is it best to let hogs root an orchard ?

179 Ans --- A majority would ring them . Question 12^th Will the programme at Rockville on June 4 ^th be a benefit to farmers ? Ans --- 20 of those present think it will . ---- A. M. S ----

Norwood , May 10^th 1884 ---- The Enterprise Club met at [?] [?]. Mona's on this date. Chas.H. Brooke was chosen foreman ; Most of our members present, as also several invited guests . After reading minutes of last meeting here we started out to inspect the premises . The most prominent among improvements was the new wind - mill , all the fixtures of which were found very complete . ---- Water is dischrged at eight different places ,in pipes leading from the large tank in the tower. there is no doubt but this will add quality to the healthy and comfort of the house hold, as , also to the stock which will quench their thirst from this fountain. A large supply of corn was still on hand , this being of ,one of the leading crops of our host last year . The numerous pens of hogs were examined and found to be [in?] [?] conditions ; while some did not seem to thrive , others were growing and fattening as well as could be expected . One lot ready for the butcher at any time . The dairy cows were in fine condition , showing

180

good winter treatment. A valuable young, horse which had met with an accident by which it will must probably lose an eye, was brought out for us to see. A short walk to the pasture field was taken , which like most of our tramps of latter years , was cut off too short. We as a body have aged too rapidly in this respect. On returning to the house the following questions were discussed. Question 1^st Shall I wait for rain to get any corn land in order ? Ans ---- 11 would wait for rain and the same number would go on reducing lumps with rsoller and [harraro?] . Ques 2^nd Will hogs do best in pens ,or in small enclosures when grass is growing ? Ans --- It was generally thought that they would do better in pens,with grass cut for them, as the standing grass would soon be destroyed , leaving short allowance . Ques 3^rd How is the ice Keeping ? Ans -- For most present, about as usual, tho' two or three answer"melting badly." Ques 4^th What do you think of "[Sulky Cultivation?]" for working corn Ans ---- No one has use them sufficiently to give an opinion . Your Sec'y thinks they will come into general use as soon as we get to using corn planters, Ques 5^th Shall I feed crushed corn , or corn meal

181 to steers at this season of the year ? Ans -- About equally divided for each. ----- Question 6^th How should I cure a mule that is [sneerry?] Ans -- Keep him a work , pull the skin frequently and see that the cellar is Kept just right . Ques 7^th Which is the best Binder and Mower to buy ? Ans --- Any of the standard Binders will give satisfaction . The Eureka Mower is very highly spoken of . Ques 8^th Will it injure a young orchard to plant sweet corn in it ? Ans --- No. " 9^th How many gram's of corn do you drop? Ans -- 4 to 7 ----- B. H. Miller reported the Montgomery County Md _ was fourth in the United States in the quantity of fertilizer used. R. M. Stabler made a motion to change our present irregular [plan?] of procurring a foreman , to some more regular system , and have the member who had the last Club appointed to serve at the next meeting. ,--- which was adopted. Adjourned at 9.25 o'c A. M. Stabler Sec'y ---

182 Mt. Airy - 7^th mo. 5^th 1884 . _ The Club was called to order at 5.20 P.M. by Jus T. Moore , who under our new rule claimed the right to preside at this meeting; tho' not as " heir apparent to the throne " as was the case sometimes in years gone by . As the regular Sec'y who was out of the neiborhood for the day , was not on hand even at this late hour , a substitute was appointed and the pilgrimage to the barn commenced. After traveling some distance on a South Westerly direction, this fine building was reached, and found to contain a large quantity of prime [nero?] hay . Some thorough bred and grade Jersey cows were much admired. The long stock bridge way to the barn was criticized , as also the flat yard on the other side, which will take a good deal of grading to make it a satisfactory yard; yet as this is our hosts barn and not ours , we are satisfied to let him have it as best suits his own convenience. The crops as far as we could see were good, particularly the wheat in shock. After reading last minutes at this place and those of the Norwood meeting the following questions were taken up. Question 1^th Sam^'l Hopkins wanted to know if he would be safe in adopting the [?] of corn following corn, by using fertilizer 2^nd time ? Ans _ All but three thought he would. But

184 old [?] about the roots . At 9o'c adourned to meet at P. T. Stabler's . 8mo.2 ^nd /84 Asa. M. Stabler Sec'y

[Willoro?] Heights 8 mo.^th 2 ^nd 1884 Owing to sickness in our host's family our Club has not met at this place since Jan. 1881, and I know one and all of us are glad on our return to find not only restored health for our frrinds , but such a marked improvement in the condition of the farm. At five o'clock there were but 11 members present, with George Tatum and Geo. L. Stabler as guests. The usual minutes were read and quite an extended walk taken . The ice house was the first thing to claim our attention . The supply having just given out the important question was, how to enlarge the house ? As this seems to be the only remedy in such cases , several advised digging a new one . One or two thought the present house could be deepened enough to hold a permanent supply . The hogs were looking well , especially the Berkshires. As we proceeded we passed several very neat sacks of hay , which appeared to be keeping well . The corn gave eviden ce of a good yield . We next arrived at the Ice and fish Pond which was small and shallow, having a large deposit in it from