Club Minutes: Enterprise Farmers Club, 1878-1891

31 interest, but hardly definite enough to be recorded. There was a good deal of talk as to the proper manner of feeding skimmed milk to pigs, & those who were most successful in avoiding bad effects, scouring etc. from its too free use, attributed it to the practice of always mixing water with the milk. After a very pleasant meeting we adjourned to meet at White Hall Feb 1st 1879. Benj H Miller. Sec Pro Tem (Mtg at White Hall continued) Will it pay to use hohlar hobs to ditch with ? Generally supposed they would last as long as pine. Will it pay to save hay & feed your cattle mixed feed ? Mostly advised to cut some of it. Is the new map of 15 miles around Wash. worth $10.⁰⁰ ? This question was freely discussed, & while no one objected to having the map, it was plain to see that those who had subscribed for it, were not pleased with their bargain, as it was not sufficiently correct for the man who sold it, to [deliver?] it by ; some saying the distance was wrong, others that the roads ran backwards, and were crooked where they ought to be straight, & that the names of many persons & places were left off, in short a general dissatisfaction was expressed by those who had to pay for it. After a very pleasant meeting, we adjourned to meet at Thomas J Lea's March 8th . Arthur Stabler (Sec Pro Tem)

32 The Enterprise Club met at Thomas J Lea's March 8th 1879. We were recieved by our host with his usual cordiality. Three of our members, R B farqhuar P J Stabler & W^m S Brooke were absent, W^m H Farquhar, H C Hallowell, Ed Lea, Ed C Gilpin & Walter H Brooke were our guests

At 5 0'c PM the regular business of the club was commenced with Jos T Moore as foreman, and C H Brooke as most Temporary Sec. as is too often the case the book containing the notes was not produced, from neglect or some other cause which [?] that our club should select for it's Secy. a careful & efficient member. We took our usual walk about the premises, & it was remarked that no member could show a more snaked & steady improvement than was displayed by our host. The beautiful lawn was covered with rich manure, which will ensure a good and lasting sod.

The cattle & hogs, were in good condition, the former were of special interest to many of the club, confirming the opinion they have long held, that by selecting the best shorthorns within there means, & raising for market, could not help bring a source of profit, & a sure method of enriching our farms. A very fine fat heifer was noticed & its weight guessed at by several, with the promise that its true weight would be reported to the next club.

After returning to the house the following questions asked 1 st Quest. W^m H Farquhar, asked if he should build a barn with or without a bridge way ? One doubtful, four advise a bridgeway. 2nd Quest.. What is the fodder worth from an acre of 8 bbl corn ? Ans Average $2.⁵⁵ 3rd Quest. Would you frame a barn with Oak or Pine ? Ans 12 say pine, > Oak.

33 4th Quest. What is the price of day labor without Board ? 22.cts. 5th Quest. What is the relative value of fodder in Rick & in field Ten think it more valuable in Rick, & 6 in field. 6th Quest. What is price of 4 rail post fence, to bore posts, joint rails & put up ? 16 cts. per pannel. 7th Ques.t What is it worth to haul a large 4 horse load of stone two miles ? Average $2 ⁸⁰ 8th Quest. Is it beneficial to mix plaster with Fish guano? Answer is affirmative unanimously. 9th Quest Would you advise E P Thomas to hire a man who can not milk ? No. Henry C Hallowell, sent some cob meal to Commisioner of Agriculture for analysis: the result was read which showed considerable nutrient. Thos J Lea offered to experiment & report upon its value as feed. Question for discussion at next meeting , Is it advisable to sow more orchard grass ? Then adjourned to meet at Samuel Hopkin's Mt Airy at the usual time next month,

________________11_________________ The Enterprise Club met at Mount Airy, the residence of Benj H Miller April 19th 1879. Roger B Farquhar was appointed foreman. Our guests were J L Massey, Walter H Brooke, Dr Thomas & Charles Stabler. W^m S Brooke & W^m S Bond were absent The minutes of the meeting last held here were read The resignation of Chas H Brooke as Sec after some discussion was accepted. As this meeting was held at the house of the present Sec, it would not perhaps bein the best taste to comment too harshly upon those members who offer such trivial & lame excuses in declining to act as Secy, Thus putting us in almost

34 a ridiculous attitude, before the Kindred societies of the nighthood. It is the more to be [regretted?], as we have so long sustained the high reputation for dignity & usefulness, & we trust there will be no further difficulty in relation to the Secrataryship.

We then took our usual walk; found the corn house nearly empty at this early season, but the fine condition of the horses cattle & hogs, showed that the corn had been judiciously used. It was agreed that his horse was the finest & best managed of any within the limits of the Club. Looking at the wheat, the great differences in the growth of vegetation as compared with last year was very marked. A lot of fine shoats was noticed & three distinct breeds, seemed to be include in one litter. We then adjourned to the house, when thoe minutes of last meeting were read and approved. In the discussions on Orchard grass seed, some thought it would set on an old sod. One member said that al analysis found it a weaker grass than most others, Recomended to raise more of it. 1st Quest. Is the Hay-broker, [Lafferty?], an advantage to our business or not ? Opinion nearly equally divided. 2nd Quest. Would you [checkered?] or Drilled ? Most would checker, 3rd ". I have a piece of poor land plowed for oats, is there a better crop to put in it ? Sow Peas to plow under. 4th Quest. Would you haul manure now or leave till fall? Haul now 5th Quest. I have an orchard partly in corn stubble, clover & truck patch how shall I manage it ? Advised to sow clover, & leave a year or two. 6th Quest. Shall I raise more mules or patronize the percheron

35 horse ? Divided in sentiment. 7th Quest. Shall R B Farquhar put cellar under his whole house? Some say under all, ten under part. 8th Quest. Would you fertilize corn in the hill ? Divided in opinion, but a majority would not. Question for discussion at next Mtg ." Will it pay [?] to raise colts or calves." Then adjourned to meet at W^m W Morris May 3rd 1879. Chas.S &Brooke Sec.

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May 3rd 1879. The Club met at Plainfield and organized at 5PM with Ed P Thomas as foreman & ten members present when we started to walk out, but 13 had arrived by the time of our return to the house The cows were being turned in to be milked when we reached the barn & were thoroughly inspected, & a number of them much admired especially a 3yr old grade jersey Heifer & "The Davis Cow". Pigs of various ages & sizes & in Davis farms were noticed & all seemed to be living at home judging by their condition. A piece of Rye [our?] which in walked had been pastured down close two weeks previous, I was again ready for the cattle, but from the number of cows & scantiness of Rye it was the judgement of members that 24 hours pasture would cut it short again. An experiment in the use of lime was looked for, but a number of us didn't know to this day which land was limed & which not, & will never be able to find it by the difference in grass.

The usual minutes were read after our return to the house, after which articles upon soiling & the management of cows were read, which elicited considerable talk.