Enterprise Farmers' Club Minutes

163 and the Large ricks of hay which were covered with boards, or in other words roofed, preserving them perfectly, attest the fact that the crop of hay was a good one. The fact that the manure made last Winter was still in the barn - yard was to be regretted, even though our host is a manufacturer of first class fertilizer. Ques . 1 My apple - orchard has not been plowed for several years.The trees are not very Large. Shall I plow it ? how? and when? Ans. Most present would plow in the Spring , very shallow near the trees. Ques. 2 How are potatoes yielding ? Ans. Quite as well as usual; they are as a general rule more scabby, and are rotting more or less, especially Peerless. Ques. 3 How many of our members approve of establishing a Live Stock Insurance Co. on the mutual basis ? Ans. Four in favor, eight no, one doubtful. Ques. 4 How many of the members in favor of establishing amongst the members of the three Clubs of the neiborhood or about fifty persons, a Live Stock Insurance Co. on the assessment plan? Ans . Ten in favor, No three. Ques. 5 How to keep potato pumpkins? Ans. Put them in a dry place where they will not get too cold, not below 40^-0 We had a very lively, interesting club and enjoyed quito a bit the political discus-

164 sion after we adjourned to meet at Chas. H. Brooke's on 11 ^th mo. 10^th. W. W. Moore, Sec'y

Falling Green, 11 - 10 - 83. The Enterprise Club organized at 4 - 45 P.M. with [M?]^m. [L?].Brooke foreman, and Arthur Stabler secty . Protem. W.W. Moore, P.[L?]. Stabler,[M?].^m [S?].Bond, [L?].J. Lea, Gran Farquhar , B.H. Miller and E.P. Thomas were absent. There were present as guests Capt Shain, [Y?]. W. [D?]orsey, J . J. Hutton, [J?]. [C?]. Bentley, Walter Scott, H. H .Miller, Dr. Magruder, Frank Hallowell, Brooke Stabler, and J. L. Haine[s?] , who was putting in a Water Ram so far from the house that our host was pronounced the pluckiest member of the Club, having out a ditch mearly 2000 feet long . A communication from H . C . Hallowell , requesting our Club to appoint a committee to meet the com. of the other Clubs to arrange for the Annual Convention, was read, and upon motion, Samuel Hopkins , Asa M. Stabler and W^m Lea were appointed. Blanks to report our crops upon were distributed , to be filled up and handed to the Secrrtary at the ensuing meeting. During our walk we saw and admired twenty fattening hogs, that would make not less than 4000 lbs. of Pork. Among the cattle were some finegrade

165 Durhams ; but best of all was a barn full of wheat yet to thrash. After reading the minutes and discussing roast turkey and Politics, the following questions were asked and answered: Ques . 1 What is it worth to winter a colt, now 6 months old ? Ans. Majority say $ 2.00 per mo. Ques. 2 What share of apples should be given this year for pickleing ? Ans. About one - fourth. Ques . 3 What is the right time to cut grafts for apples, and how to take care of them? Ans. Cut in February, and put in cellar or on North side of a building . Ques . 4 What is a fair price fore 100 bble. of corn as it runs in the field in Sandy Spring neiborhood ? Ans. $ 2.2[5?] per bbl. Ques . 5 When would you sell some young hogs that are now fat ? Ans. Sell as soon as possible for fear of Cholera. five members of the Club are reported to have been drawn to serve on the Jury , in the County Court. The question of Stock trespassing while being driven along roads where there were no fences, was discussed at length. Adjourned to meet at Avm, Dec. 8^th.

166 Avon, 12 - 8 - 83 The Club met at Avon 12^th mo., 8^th, 1883 . W^m S. Bond , Samuel Hopkins , [T?]. J. Lea W^mLea, B.H. Miller, P.T. Stabler, Asa M. Stabler and E.P. Thomas were absent. Granville Farquhar was appointed Foreman . The weather, which had been remarkably fine fer some weeks past, enabling all good farmers to be ready for Winter, was today very unpleasant; -- one of those damp, chilly misty days. Asa M. Stabler was appointed Sec. for 1884. We took a short walk to the stables, [?] Found the stock in good condition W winter well. Our host had just finished getting water to the stable, using the overflow from the ram tank for the purpose. Ques. 1 Can you fatten an old cow while you are milking her? Ans. Yes, it may be done; but it will require a long time , and not be very profitable. Ques . 2 How much is a shock of Fodder, containing 4 2 5 hills, worth ? Ans . Seven say .25, one , 30, two .20 Average .24 1/8 Ques . 3 Would you vote for a new Court - house, to cost from $ 30.000.00 to $ 40.000.00 ? Ans . Six for,six against new Court - house .

W. W . Moore.

167 Mt Olney 1^stMo 12 ^th 1884 Twelve Members of the Enterprise Club Met at the residence of Granville Farquhars with D^r Magruder J J Hutton and Frank Hallowell as guests. Benj H Miller was appointed foreman and a brand new feature was inaugrated in the procurement of a secretary to serve the club for the year 1884, a refference to our Minute book will show several Modes viz. regular elections , voluntary service, persuasion , flattery , bribing , buying and tradeing , but never in the history of this club have such arbitrary means been resorted to as were taken at the meeting held at W^m S Brookes last month where barely a majority of the members met and didnot Elect , but appointed an absent member to serve as Secy for one year without pay , We are past entering the eighteenth of year of the existence of our organization and have great cause to be thankful for the many blessings, and the few sorrows which have befallen our lot during this period, But the year 1883 cannot be passed without notice of the desolations brought to the home of one of our members After reading the minutes of the meeting held at this house in sept 1882 we proceeded as far as the barn on

168 our usual tour of inspection, and examined the stock in their comfortable quarters , This being a dairy farm of course cows predominate ---- It was thought by some that our hosts stables were too dark for convenience, as well as health of its inmates , The additional of a pont or bridgeway building with potatoe cellar beneath was one of the improvements since our last visit The hogs were apparently doing well It being too slippery to extend our walk we returned to the house and discussed the following questions Ques 1 ^st Our host wishes to know how to keep Water out of his new potatoe cellar ? Ans Protect the newly made banks with boards protecting from the building above, , also dig a ditch on north and west side and ram clay in. Qus 2 Shall I dig a new well or try to case one which has caved badly ? Ans The opinion was largely in favor of digging a new one Ques 3 Shall I feed indifferent hay to My cattle, or haul good from my adjoining farm ? Ans Feed the bad wastefully and get rid of it, before using the good

169 Ques 4 Does Ensilege hold it's own ? Ans There was but one living witness to stand up for its sweetness ---- Qeus 5 How many feed straw to horses ? Ans Only one present Qus 6 Shall I kill pork or sell alive ? Ans Most would kill Ques 7 How much corn do you feed your work horses this season of the year ? Ans about 25 years a day Ques 8 Crop shall I put in a stalk field ? Ans 2 say oats, 1 would leave it for wheat , and the rest would put in corn E P Thomas and Benj H Miller were appointed to prepare report for farmers convention ,as the regular Secretarys time was too much occupied in consequence of the destructive fire which caused the loss of his dwelling At 8.45 adjce to meet at Roger B Farquhars on 2 Mo 9 ^th

Asa M Stabler Sec

170 Rock Spring .2 mo. 9^th 1884 At 4.35 PM. eleven members of our Club were called to order by Ed. P Thomas . as foreman . Later in the day W.S. Brooke arrived. R. M. Stabler, W.S.Bond, , [J?].[?] Moore P.T.Stabler^ [Sam?]^[Q?]Hopkins were absent. C. F; Kirk H. H. Miller , R. H. Miller , Roger Brooke , W. H Brooke , ______ Hutton , [W?] E. Muncaster were present as g uests.---- . After re ading Minutes of meeting held at this house 17 months ago , B H. Miller read a communication from W^m B Sands, setting fourth the importance of action being taken at this time towards the procurement of an Experimental [Station?] . B.H Miller W^m Lea and Arthur Stabler were appointed a committee to draft suitable resolutions embodying the wishes of this club , and [prefent?] them to our representatives at Annapolis, as early as practicable . We then proceeded on our tour of inspection , first to the barn_yard , where three yoke of oxen were in ex hibition; an unusual occurence these days to see so many in one farm / ___ One pair being fed fir Leef , and about ready for the butcher, and the other stock [in?] [wee?] thriving condition . The horse stables were clear of manure ; the past three months accumu[?]lation having been put where it [would?] do [more?] good. _____ We then went to the hay house near center of the farm.,

171 stopping on our way to admire 2 fine three year old colts , and a flock of fat , sheep, The balance of our hosts stock consists of swell steers , and a very handsome flock of sheep , which were wintering nicely despite the unusual amount of wet weather we have been having . Numerous piles of lime were in sight , ready to be applied when Spring opens . The wheat was looking very strong and healthy . Upon returning to the house Roger B. Farquhar read a draft of a law to regulate the movements of [Machin?] Engines on the public roads of this county ;---- which was approved , and he was [instructed?] to forward to our Representative Question 1^st Shall I spread lime now [&?] plow [in?] by our host. or wait and apply after plowing ? Ans _____ 8 in favor of spreading now , [&?] 8 for putting on top . Ques . 2 ^nd Are those present going to attend the meeting of the Agricultural Society to be held June 4 ^th ? Ans ---- This brought out the usual diversity of opinions in its former management, and a lively discussion ensued. Most of those present expected to attend, and wh[?]ile there was [?] difference of [viewd?] , as to how it [out] to be run it was evident that a better feeling existed to shape it's future course.

172 3^rdQues -- Can I invite the ladies in the by our host house to participate in the discussion if a question I wish to ask ? Yes. Question ____ Is it possible for a farmer to raise and educate a family , and procure a comfortable living in the average farm , without keeping a dairy ? Ans ___ While all present agreed that dairy farming was the most profitable , it was not absolutely a necessity ; as we have numerous instances when fair results have been obtained without the dairy product . We think our host furnishes one of the many cases to verify this conclusion and that he has very little ground to base a complaint upon , as he has spent his profits on improvements of all kinds, which amounto to increased capital for future operations; and it is impossible to have this money in these improvements and in his pocket at the same time. Ques 4^th Shall I sheath or lath my dwelling house ? Ans 10 for lath and 4 for sheath . Ques 5^th What shall I do with my bacon to pick out [skippers?] ? Ans --- Put in paper or muslin bags.