Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1865-1872

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Falling Green 5th mo. 11th 67 We were called to order about five O'clock by Roger B. Farquhar who was chosen foreman. All the members were present except Thos J. Lea and Samuel Hopkins. Joshua Russel, James Stabler & Dr. Wm E. Magruder and Chas Farquhar were present. We immediately started out on the usual round of critical examination of the premises. Our host wished the advice of the club as to how to make his cellar frost proof, on the way thither the attention of the Secretary was called to the absence of cellar steps making access thereto hazardous & uncertain. After telling what was needed to keep out the cold, we visited the garden. There no one could find fault, every thing was very forward for this Season; but the Dwarf Pear trees are suffered to Spend there Strength in unnessary limbs & foliage; a new carriage house has been built since our last meeting at this place, but the sleigh is still left out in the breezes. Since the Organization of the "Junior Club" its members have witnessed many curiosites & agricultural monstrosities, but nothing of the kind has ever caused their dignity to be more absolutely laid asside and their mirth to be more intensely excited than when our host with a few ears of corn in a basket led us to the pig field. At the magic sound of corn about 20 animals varying in size from

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a small Guinea pig up to a mammoth anteater (no doubt they were a cross between the latter & a wild-boar) sprang out from behind the stumps fence corners & [fast?] rocks, and like a prowling gang of hungry wolves Seized the corn with a voracity only known to Such beasts. One Ambitious little pig about the size of a full grown rat & which we were informed was 5 mo. old, pitched into a whole ear of corn, the old mother observing this came running with Locomotive speed & thrust her yard & a quarter of nose under her offending offspring & hurled it into the air to a dangerous height. Other pigs of medium size grabed their half ear and ran with full speed way down the hill to enjoy the rareity unmolested. An experienced member asserted that the pigs had not tasted corn before since our club met here last year, the flock is undoubtedly the Same.

Some splendid steers were in the same field, also two fine colts.

Leaving these pleasant things we walked down the back lane which is bounded on both sides by fences grown up in elders & bushes, at the lower end is a nice young orchard & a twenty acre field just planted in corn.

Circling around the wheat fields which

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look well we pass up by the Potato field that is being chequered by uncommonly crooked rows.

Once more in the house the following Questions were considered.

1st What is it worth to pasture a horse when he is out 2 weeks in each mo. $5.00 2d What kind of plow is best for Sod? 6 are in favor of Commins, 4 minor & Hor- 1 Steel plow, & 2 prefer whites. 3d Would you plant Step corn? Only where it cannot be laid off both ways to advantage. 5th Who has Oak posts for Sale & what are the worth? They are worth from 8 to 10 cts none seem to be in the market. 6th Will it pay to pull Rye out of wheat? Only that you may procure enough Clean wheat for Seed. 7th How to get rid of Rats? Stone breakers rat destroyer & good traps are recommended 8th What to do with cow having spoilt bag? Cut it open and let it heal slowly from within 9th Would 100 lbs of P. Guano with bone sowed in the hill hurt corn? No. 10th Is there any difference in the price of pastureing a milk cow and a dry cow? No. 11th How does pasturing colts compare with pasturing sheep? From 3 to 5 sheep to a colt

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12th Is there any advantage gained from the law protecting birds against sportsman? An undecid question 13th The report of the joint committee on the cultivation of the Potato was received but it attracted little attention from our members.

We then adjourned to meet next mo. at Avon.

E. P. Thomas Sec.

6th mo. 15th 1867

The Club met at Avon. All the members were present except Gran. Far. Samuel Hopkins, & Philip Stabler. We had as guest Benj. Hallowell, Henry Hallowell, Joseph Moore & Ed Gilpin. Wm S. Bond was chosen foreman. In our tour of inspection we first noticed some more small pigs; then walked out through the orchard which appeared thrifty, passed the wheat fields just turning into the golden state; an finally through the famous meadow nicely set in white clover green grass and Elders. & in which Several head of young cattle were grazing and ther slick hides gave a steaky appearance. Returning we crossed the twenty acre cornfield, which looked

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very well. The following questions were considered.

1st Will it pay to turn a calf 5 weeks old on grass alone? Give it a little meal. 2d Shouled Bone Sowed on corn be harrowed of shoveled in? Shoveled 3d What is the price for "mowing hands"? 9 say $1.25, 4 $1.00. 4th How much are Calves Six weeks old worth per. lb. to raise? 6cts (1) 5 1/2 (1) 5 (10) 5th How many acres of corn have members planted this season, how many acres of Potatoes & how many acres of Grass to cut? 335 Acres corn, 128 Potatoes, 328 Grass 6th What is it worth to cut grass with a scythe & what with a machine? with the scythe $1.50 (6) 1 75 (5) 1.25 (2) with a machine $1.00 (1) 70 cts (1) 80 cts (1) 50 cts (3) 75 cts (6) 7th What is the price of plowing per acre? $4.50 (1) 4.50 (4) 3.00 (3) 3.25 (4) 8th Is it better to plow manure under for wheat or top dress? 1 in favor of the former method 12 for the latter 9th What is the best way to apply barnyard manure? 8 say top dress grass. 3 favor putting on wheat, 3 corn 10th What is it worth to cut & shock wheat per acre? from $2.00 to $2.75