Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1865-1872

though rather small of its age some members thought the stable they were in was dangerous as a mowing machine was uncomfortably near on one side and some nails that remained in the boards that had been kicked off would be apt to have rather unpleasant feelings if they should be tempted to indulge in the same kind of exercise again, a very good stock of corn was found in the cornhouse, on reaching the shop a patent cross cut saw was tried about which there seemed to be a great difference of opinion, and it was decided to have one of this kind and one of the old kind at our next meeting to decide if possible which is the best, on reaching the house the following qu[e]stions were asked

1st What potatoes to plant next spring Ans Monitors for the bulk of the crop some Peerless, Early Rose, Peach blows and one will plant some Buckeyes

2nd Will it do to put Bond[']s I.X.L. and lime on the same ground for corn ans It was thought it would, and most of the members expressed them selves decide[d]ly in favor of plowing the I.X.L under and put[t]ing the lime on top.

3rd I have a colt, 13 years old, in bad condition has lampass [sic] would you burn ans All Most1 would nick or gash a little with a knife but only 3 or 4 would burn

4th Would you get a three horse endless chain power for general farm purposse [sic] Ans some wo[u]ld advise the use of endless chain powers in a barn where it can be kept permanently

5th Would you harrow wheat in the Sp[r]i[n]g Ans It was reccommended [sic] that each member try harrowing wheat this spring as soon as the ground is fit to go on, and report the effect to the club. 6th What kind of hub for heavy wagon Ans White oak. unaminously [sic]

7th What kind of wood for felloes in 4 inch[e]s wide Ans The majority would favor white oak some ash and one or two pin [?] oak 8th What is the best lumber for a cistern, above ground Ans White Pine

A member again spoke of the necessaty [sic] of getting this body together earlier in the afternoon so as to have more time to walk

ver the farms before it gets dark After considerable discussion it was decided that it should here after be the duty of the secretary to call the meeting together at 4 P. M.

An Essay on the reading of Agricultural papers was now read which caused considerable dissusion [sic] and we are in hopes we may hear from some of those who think there is not much if any thing gained by reading Agricultural papers= as we are sure a well studied essay on any subjact [sic] always carries some force. with it

At quite a late hour we adjourn[ed] to meet at Belmont 2/24 Wm W Moore Sec

2nd mo[nth] 24th 1872 [February 24, 1872] The Club met at Belmont, the residence of E. P. Thomas

At 4 P. M. most of the members were on the place although some were rather tardy about getting into the house

Wm S. Bond was appointed foreman, Roger. B. Farquhar was absent and we had as guest Wm J. Thomas Richard T Bentley Samuel P Thomas & Joseph. T. Moore. after reading the minutes of the last meeting held here we started out for a walk we first went to the barn yard the cows though few in numbers were of good quality apparently, our host thought it was not worth while to go into the barn.

We next went to try the cross cut saws they were tried several times by several parties and there were several opinions expressed, but nothing very decided seemed to come from the trial

The pigs 3 in number looked first rate especially one through [sic] bred Chester that was clean and white

We next went to a marsh that is being cleared of the trees and bushes preparatory to being ditched.

Returned to the house by the corn house which was well filled and was thought worth examining even by our host.

Charles H Brooke now brought forward some Peerless potatoes and invited the members to take some of them and test the quality.

On reaching the house the minutes of the last meeting were read and our friend Richard. T. Bentl[e]y spoke of Gas-tar as a preventative of boars [sic] in the Peach tree, about 1/2 pt to be applied to the tree after the dirt has been removed from the roots near the crow[n] of the tree

1 question What do you think of dis[s]olving fertelizer in water as top dressing for grass ans It was not thought expedient

2 A member is having a lot of worthless apple tress grubbed up will it do to plant young trees in the same place ans Yes

3 Will bees kill duck ans Yes if they ducks eat the bees

4 When shall I sow my Clover seed ans 14 would sow as soon as the ground would do 2 March 15th 1 April 1st