Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1865-1872

We next went down the side of the corn feild [sic] (the poorest side of co[u]rse) to where there was a plow team at work the team was composed of a pair of half Percheron colts and one horse the colts which are 3 1/2 years old were very much admired, though most of the members seemed su[r]prised that they had not grown larger we went through the cornfield which was considered a good crop although no two present seemed willing to agree as to the proberal [sic] yield, we examined several nice heifers (half alderney) and a very wild Alderney Bull -- passing up the other side of the cornfeild [sic] to the young Peach orchard, where the company divided, part going through the peach orchard, the others going through the upper part of the corn feild [sic] to the pear orchard where we found a fair crop of good pears, but many of the trees have blighted considerably

On reaching the house, the minutes of our last meeting were read and the following qu[e]stions were asked. after having the report of the comnittee [sic] appo[i]nted at our last meeting to unite with

committees from the other Clubs of the neighborhood, the report was not complete and the committee was continued.

Qes 1st would you cross plow the feild [sic] you saw my man plowing Ans No unamiously [sic]

Qus 2 How many are going to take stock to the Mont[gomery] Co[unty] Fair A 3 members were going to take some stock.

Qes 3 How to rectify vinegar Set it [in] the sun after pou[r]ing it out into tubs.

Qu[e]s 4 How to raise a crop of wheat on potato ground Ans. After plowing the ground so as to insure getting the [sic] it level -- 5 would drill in from 3 to 5 cwt of Bond[']s I.X.L with 1 1/2 bus of seed wheat (Boughton) the rest of the company would prefer sowing broad cast about the same amount of I.X.L. and wheat.

Qu[e]s 5 Shall I plant 2 1/2 acres of pear trees with small fruit between them. Ans Advised to consult W. S. Schofeild [sic]. the club did not give much encouragement

Qu[e]s 6 Would you put a potato patch 3 times in wheat or once in corn and twice in wheat Ans In corn once unnamously [sic]

Several other qu[e]stions were asked none of which it seems worth while to record.

I neglected to state in the proper place that this place shows a gradural [sic] improv[e]ment in the way of clearing up fence rows cutting down bushes &c and we are in hopes by our next visit to find a new front gate in the Place of the one that has done service (with the help of horse hair latch raisers) for some time pass [sic]

Adjourned to Jos. T. Moore's 9th mo 14th 1872

9th mo[nth] 14th 1872 [September 14, 1872] W met at the house of Jos. T. Moore[']s as usual there were but few members present at 4 O. C.

Those who were present were invited into the house to partake of cider & grapes both of which held out, so that those coming in later were allowed some, but hrd not the same time to enjoy them selves.

At 4.30, we organised with B. H. Miller as foreman when the minutes of a meeting held here by especial invitation 10th mo[nth] 2n 1869 were read.

Most of the members having arrived we started out to examine the place. the first thing seen was quite a herd of young cattle in good condition -- several heifers amongst them were very much admired and thought to make a fine show for milkers.

The corn (about 20 acres was all cut and nicely shocked, the rows of shocks were so far apart that several members asked if a cart had been emploed [sic] to move the corn; a harrow was at work preparing the ground for wheat

which was to be drilled in after having been, harrowed twice. Crossing the feild [sic] in front of the house which has been mown five times and was thought ready to be plowed we reach the sweet-potato patch there was a fine show of vines and we were told the potatoes were good enough to take the premium at the late horticultural fair A number of young grape vines were examined but we were not informed w[h]ether the waiter of grapes we had been eating of had been cut from them.

The pear apple & pe[a]ch tress [sic] seemed to be doing pretty well though the apple tress [sic] had more plow fenders around them than was thought necessary

Leaving the orchard we passed through the barn yard where we saw the milk cows, all of which were fair specimens, and the aldern[e]y thought to make more show than is usual for her stock. We next saw the hogs a Chester sow had a litter of pigs from a Berkshire Boar both said to be through [sic] bred the pigs took after the sow