Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1873-1878

132 Equally divided but those objecting seemed to offer the best reasons for so doing

2nd How soon to mow fodder that is [cout?] now? [Domel?]-put in a mow at all as it will be sure to spoil 3rd What is the best . Plow? More oats for the [Youdon?], than any other. but it is not considered perfect

4th Had I better first lime on wheat ground or young clover? Neither of these applications was considered the best way to apply it, but rather than run any risk of not getting it on either one will do

5th What kind of wheat will the club sow? a number of the members will sow part Bouton, and part [Hiltop?]; the former sums to be gaining acerage on account of price and standing up qualities

6th How is best way to manage clover [sud?] ? Bunch it when cut & put in barn after one slight shower

7th Is it too late to sow [filee?] turnips? [Now?] After finding a pleasant evening enjoyed out in the yard, adjd to R. B [Farquhar's?] 9mo 22 1877

133 9thMo 22nd 1877 Club met at the House of Roger B Farquhar Samuel Hopking was appointed Foreman and Gran Farquhar Sec. but as the regular incombent arrived in time to save his head, and supper, the duties of sec were tranferred to him [Y?][J?] Lea , P [L?] Stabler, and W W Moore were absent. There were no minutes read of the meeting held here last year, and having spent a pleasent evening as usual proved conclusively that we could easily dispense with this part of our entertainment.

The garden looked as though it had given forth a good supply of vegatables, but was not as flourishing as we have seen it on some other visits

Our host has raised a fine crop of Wheat, Corn, and Hay, the corn makes a fine show at this time. A new cistern at the Barn was examined, which nodoubt will give satisfaction to the landlord, and comfort to the inmates.

The following questions were asked What is the proper way to keep apples ? Put them in a cool, dry, place above ground until freezing weather, some of the members say head up in tight barrels, leaving them on the ground under trees. When is the time to pick fall apples ? Sooner the better, late apples better be left until to 15 october

134 Which is the best Wheat Drill ? This is a question which I donot believe our club are prepared to answer at this time; as eight kinds were mentioned, all good, but none perfect

Will it be too soon to commence sowing wheat on the 25.th? 7 say yes 3 no What is worth [per?] acre to cut corn wide for sowing wheat between shooks ? 11 say 1.00, 1 .90 Would you shovel wheat ground before drilling? this question brought forth considerable discussion and disclosed the fact that 10 of those present were not in favour of it, to 2 that were

adjourned to [Sam?] Hopkins 10th mo 20th 1877

135 10th Mo 20th 1877 Enterprise Club met at the House of [Sam?] Hopkins, four members absent, but their chairs were more than filled by invited guests so that we were as large a body as usual in point of number. Thomas J Lea acted as foreman and escorted us to the field in front of the house where a large flock of sheep were grazing, Mostly Wethers which are to be fattened by mid winter, or early spring at farthest. Our host thinks this the most profitable way to handle sheep, as he saves pastureing them in early spring.

We next inspected a large flock of Hogs which didnot show that care in breeding that characterizes some of our hosts other stock, in fact I donot believe they ever were bred at all, as they showed evident signs of being lineal descendants of those the Club found on the farm ten years ago. We next came upon an old aquaintance that most solid, substantial, and upright, Barn door sill.

The Horses and Colts were in a field remote from the barn and our foreman couldnot rally his followers sufficiently to take that long walk, A very comfortable looking House for tenant has been erected since our last visit here . Stone Lime has been used liberally on this farm, and the effects are very apparant

136 After going through the Flower and Vegatable garden's the former even at this date, 20th of October clothed in the most of its summer beauty; the latter giving evident signs of a prolific crop of all kinds of vegatables.

We then returned to the House and discussed the following subjects. 1st Question . Is it best to plant fruit trees in fall or spring ? Spring by a unanimouse vote

2nd Question What is to be done to arrest the progress of the Potato Thistle ? If the patch is not too large it is recommended confine pigs on it, the opinions vary so much in regard to keeping it cut off at surface or ground, that it is not a settled question by any mean's that it can be exterminated in that way .

3rd Question How many are in favor of fall plowing ? seven, three spring, & two winter.

4th Question What is the best moveable fence ? [Post & nail] set on top of ground, secured by [poles?].

5th Question Is it best to raise first calf from heifer only one or two are opposed to it This Club have sowed 210 acres more wheat than last year . S. Hopkins spoke of Kentucky Blue grass to mis with clover and timothy as being tried in Louden Co Va, we hope to hear further from these experiments, but have doubts about it being a success here We spent a most agreeable evening, & adjd to Y [?] 11 Mo 17/77