Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1865-1872

12th MO. 14th 67 The club met at sunnyside. All of the numbers were present; a circimstance remarkable in the annals of the society being the first-time since its organization. The meeting was called to order at an unusually early hour by Samuel Hopkins who was chosen foreman. Although the farm like the rest of the neighborhood was covered with snow yet [eve?] framed the storm to see after off airs out doors. The garden was nicely cleaned off ready for spring. The pigs compared with the size of their worthy mother were well grown shoals and bid fair to be 300 pounders. When we arrived at the farmyard some small betting was indulged in in regard to the comparative size of a pain of steers. Our host like most other farmers this year was unprepared for the early winter which caught him without shedding for stock though the sheep had a first rate temporary shelter.

Some promising young colts were to be seen in the stable. A blacksmith shop lately got up attached attention as a convenience to be desired.

During the evening the following questions asked and answered:

1st Has the club had any experience with frosted fodder: No experience given.

2nd What is the best remedy for sore teats? Ans. Pot-skimings or sweet oil.

3rd What kind of potatoes will you plant next spring? Ans. 3 will plant Hamion .

H Buckeye, C E. Goodwich, 2 Gleason.

4th What are the wages to be the ensuing years? Ans. 10 to 15 Dollars. 5th What are two yoke of cattle carl and man worth per dime? 1 say $5.00 2 3.50 7 4.00 6th What is it worth to fill an ice house 1 1/4 miles from the pond? Ans. 25 to 30 dollars. 7th How many hogs were butchered by the club? Ans. no. 195 weight- 28568 lbs. 8th Can any arrangement be made with hands to change them double wages for lost-time? Ans. It was thought no such thing would work. 9th What is it worth to winter cattle on shaw? Ans. 6/1.50 4/2.00 2/1.75 10th When you have sufficient fodder to winter your stock would you sell hay and winter your cattle out or feed the hay to the cattle at home? Ans 2 would sell the hay 4 would feed it at home. 11th What is a cord of horse manure worth. Ans. $3.00 12th What is a two horse team worth per drum Ans 3 to 4 dollars

Then adjourned to meet at Harewood 1st mo. 11th 68. E.P. Thomas See.

50 1^st Mo. 11^th 1868

The club met at Arthur Stablers. Asa M. Stabler was chosen foreman. W^m. S. Brooke Frederick Stabler and Philip T Stabler were absent. As visitors we had Shepherd Wright and Walter Roberts from Virginia having felt sufficient interest to come especially to attend this meeting and James S. Hallowell and Joseph T. Moore.

We walked out to view the farm under the guidance of our foreman he being highly distinguished this evening for having recently received under his roof a worthy son of an illustrious sire the heir apparent to many good and comfortable blessings.

During our chilly perambulations we witnessed several objects of interest and importance whether the agricultural part of our intellects were more fully developed by what we saw is yet to be determined. In the pig hen with a providential eye to next years stock our host keeps several fair progenitors of the swine species.

Several of the buildings presented rather a dilapidated appearance for the Model Farm and are now about tumbling out the latter year of their material existance.

The ice house built upon a new plan was not examined consequently no opinions was expressed The cattle in the barn yard seemed to enjoy

51 first rate attention. Some fancy colts in an enclosure were discussed and the one with the longest pedigree and which cost $50.00 before the tiny eyes ever observed to the light of day was pronounced to be apparently the least valuable. A pair of mule colts feeding independently on the top of the fodder rick had [frames?] sufficiently large for their ages and worthy of their standing.

It being too cold for farmers to go for their in the pursuit of intellectual food we returned to the house to partake of wholesome animal food and ask and answer the following interesting questions.

1st Will it do to make the panels of post fences longer than 11 feet ? Ans 1st. 11 say yes. 3 no. 2nd. Is it better to bore posts for plank fence or nail on the boards ? Ans majority would nail on. 3rd what is the best way to plant apple and peach trees together? Ans. Plant the apple trees 33 feet apart each of three ways and plant the peach trees halfway between in the rows. Some thought 40 feet would be better and our friend Wright from Va. thought they had better not be planted together at all. 4th What is the best way to get corn stubble in grass? Ans some think sowing with corn others prefer to sow the seed with oats.

52 5th How would you apply oyster shell lime ? Ans. Spread it on grass lands. 6th What do you think of topdressing grass with low dust ? Ans. The plan was highly approved of. 7th Shall we have Granville Farquhar for our secretary the ensuing year? Ans. Yes, unanimously. Then adjourned to meet at W W Moore 2nd Mo 8th 1868 barring all accidents Edward P. Thomas Sec 2nd Mo 8th 1868 We met at W^m W. Moores. All the members except Thomas P. Lea were present W^m Lea and P. P. Moore we had as guests The sleighing was excellent accounting probably for the attendance of so many members The air was [keen and raw accounting for the shortness of our review of the premises. The barn doors were upon rollers and worked admirably. The lambs looked well in spite of the hard weather. The cattle were in very good condition. A hog which our host was fattening was immense and caused considerable speculation as to its weight. Retreating rather precipitately the house the following subjects were discussed. Ques 1st- Would it not be well for the members to write out their questions and hand them to the foreman to read?