^f ' ■^ — '■ "-^wi tentJI^t^ itagiOjWA *t.^ ^' S. S. RATHVOIf 's r"\ ^ ,11, ir»( lO) ^V"""g^'"' '•jJWi^ r 0 I NO C3S. N " THE FARMER IS THE FOUNDER OF CIV1LIZATI0N."-WEBSTER. A MONTHLY NEWSPAPER: DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY, DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND GENERAL MISCELLANY. EDITD BY PROF. S. S. RATHVON. VOLUME XIV.-1882. V. \4 LA2f CASTER, PA. : JOHN A. HIESTAND, PUBLISHER. 1882. INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES. Alee Americanus, 1 Angdilid^, 2 Anguilla bostoniensie, 2 Agaraeini, 6 Agaricus campestris, 6 Amularia melleus, 6 Agaricus tridens, 6 Asclepius cornuti, 89 AgrotiB vulgaris, 109 Annuals, 120 Articulata, 125 Aphldiphaga, 132 Arctomys monax, 156 Boletus luteus, 6 " versipella, 6 " scaber, 6 " granulata, 6 " boviuus, 6 Batrachus tan, 30 Butaliscerealis, 98 Belostoma americana, 116 Botrysis bassiana, 119 Bivoltius, 120 Belosoma tesselatum, 124 Cervus virginianus, 1 ' " canadensis, 1 Coprinus comatus, 5, 13 Clytocybe dealbatus, 6 " geotropus, 6 " nebularis, 6 " odorus, 6 CoUybia esculenta, 6 " fucipes, 6 " longipus, 6 " radicatus, 6 Clitopilus orcella, 6 " soula, 6 Coprinus atromentarius, 6 Cantharillus cibarius, 8 Clavaria cristata, 6 " fastigiata, 6 " flava, 6 Clytus robinea, 18 " pictus, 18 Cicada septendecim , 31 Canthon Isevis, 116 Calosoma, 124 Chrysochus, 124 Caloptinus femer rubrum, 130 Copris, 132 COCCINELLID^, -132 Ceratocampa regalis, 133 Derniocybe cunameus, 6 Danais, 89 Dactylis glomorata, 109 Danais archippis, 130 Dryocampaimperialis, 156 Datana ministra, 161 Empusamusese, 119 Etheostomidoe, 124 Eriphuseuturalis, 124 Elater, 132 Erythroecomissima, 156 " pulchella, 156 " muhienburgia, 156 Fiber zibethicus, 1 Formica rnfa, 13 Gyromatia esculenta, 6 Galeruca zanthomaloena, 17 Gossypium herbaceum, 31 Gymnetus nitida, 116 Gordius equatieus, 145 Hygrophones ebuineus, 6 Hydunum repanda, 0 Helvilla caliibrnica, 6 " crispa, 6 Helianthus globosus, 90 " festuosus, 90 Hemiptera, 110 Htmenoptera, 131 homopteba, 161 ICHNEnMONID^, 131 Lepiota excoriatus, 6 " illanitus, 6 " procerus, 6 " rachodes, 6 Lactarius deliciosua, 6 " insuleuB, 6 " piperatus, 6 " volemus, 6 Lycoperdon giganteum, 6 LONGICORNIA, 18 Lumbricus terrestries, 108 Lepidoptera, 118, 131 132 5,6 Languria mogardi, 124 Locusta migratoria, 139 Lencania unipuncta, Mus decumanus, 1 " rattus, 1 Morchella esculenta, " conica, 6 Marasmius oreades, 6 Melangaster variagatus, 6 Myrmecocystus hortus deorum, 7 Mollusca, 125 Macrosila Carolina, 130, 156 " 5-maculata, 130 Microgaster congregata, 131 Mydas flata, 132 Meloe angusticolis, 156 Myriapoda, 177 Necrophorus marginatus, 146 Omphalia oniscus, 6 Ortliosoma cylindrica, 124 Orgya leucostigma, 133 Pteromyzonidce, 2 Pteromyzon americanus, 3 Pluurotus ostreatus, 6 " pometis, 0 " ulmacium, 6 Pealiotaarvensis, 6 " campestris, 6 " cretaceus, 6 " pratensis, 6 " silvatica, 6 Photiata mutabilis, 6 " squamosus, 6 Paxillus giganteus, 6 Polyporus sulphurea, 6 Pogonomyrmex occidentalsi, 5 Passer domesticus, 17 Pyrethrum roseum, 65, 72, 73, 82, 83 " cinerarias foleum, ibid. " wilimeti, 73 " cancaseum, 72 Phryganea cinera, 84 " semifaciata, Prodentia lineatella, 9 Pyralis farinalis, 98 Poa pratensis, 109 " compressa, 109 84 Pembrina, 120 Panlays tophyton, 120 PSOROSPERNI^, 120 Prionus laticonis, 134 Percid^, 124 Pteromalus puparum, 131 Pieris rapa, 131 Papilio asteirias, 132 Felidusta punctata, 132 Percica la'vis, 145 Phylloxera vastata, 147 Psittacus festivus, 156 " erythacus, 156 Polydesmus, 178 Khus vernix, 2 " glabrum, 2 RusBula adjusta, 6 " alutacea, 6 " heterophyla, 6 " lepida, 6 Radlata, 125 Silex purpurea, 2 Solidago, 18, 124 Spongia, 31 Strongulus syngamus, 66 Sitophilus granarius, 99 Serlcaria mori, 118 Strongulidse, 146 Silpha americana, 146 Scolopendi-a beros, 177 Spirobolus marginatus, 177 Trem?lla mesanterica, 6 Turdus fueaceuus, 31 Trichina spiralis, 57 Triton jeffersoui, 60 Theridion trigouum, 69 " globosum, 69 Tetruopes tomator, 89, 134 Trevoltius, 120 Trogus fulvus, 132 Tettigonia vitis, 161 Volvaria Combycinus, 6 Vanadium, 124 Vanadiate of lead, 124 CONTENTS OF VOLUME FOURTEEN. EDITORlAt. Our Fourteenth Volume, 1 The Moo?u-Deer 109 Ycare Ago, 1 Killekinio, 2 The Value of Snow, 2 Kitchen Garden for January, 2 Winter Blooming, 2 " Aid and Comfort," 3 How Do Eel6 Breed ? 3 Excerpts, 3, 20, 37, 52, 67, 84, 100, 114, 133, 163, ISO Our Responsibility, 5 Edible Fungi, 5 The English Sparrow, 17 Ourselves, 18 February Snows, 18 Wood-worm, 18 Planting Trees on Railway Embank- ments, 18 The Largest Tree in the World, 19 Shifty, thrifty France, 19 Kitchen Garden for February, 19 Poultry Exhibition, 20 Rules and Exceptions, 20 Writing for the Farmer, 20 Our Apology, 33 " Our Winged Friends," 33 Kitchen Garden for March, 33 Why not Write for the Farmer ? 33 The Bane and .\ntidoie, SI " Revised Fruit List," 34 Ealing Before Sleeping, 35 How Long are We to Live ? 36 The Will and the Deed, 37 Ensilage, 49 April Meeting, 49 Snails in Gardens, 50 Kitchen Garden for April, 50 Phenomenal 51, Eating Between Meals, 51 Pyrethrum, 05 Gapes vs. Entomology, 65 A New History of Lancaster County, 67 Lime in Soil, 67 Queries and Answers, 69 The Proposed New Department of Agriculture, 81 Increase of our Crops, 81 Potash in Plants, 81 Kitchen Garden for June, 81 Exports of Cheese', 83 The Conestoga Flying Fish, 82 Pyrethrum Koseum, 8_ Vennor Predicts a Bad Summer, 83 Caddice Flies, 84 Eggs, 84 Our Crops, 84 Egg Culture in France, 97 Gapes in Chickens, 97 Entomological Notes - Directions for Sending Insects, 87 Kitchen Garden for July — Quality and Vitality of Seeds, 98 How to Kill Wheat Moth, 98 Our Local Crops, 9S Destroying Weevil, 99 EtTects of Baking on Flour, 99 Phosphoric Acid iu Plants, 99 A Mare's Nest, 100 Three Wonders, 100 A Chosen People, 113 Green Corn Pudding, 113 Kitchen Garden for August, 113 Good Husbandry, 113 How lo Preserve Stable Manure, 114 Gapes and Eels, 114 A Big Bug, 116 Tomato Horn Worm, 116 Goldsmith Beetle, 116 The English Sparrows, 116 State and County Fairs of 1882, 129 Kitchen Garden for September (Seed- purchasing a Matter of Confi- dence), 129 Insect Migrations, 129 ■ The Wheat Crop of 1882, 130 Tobacco Worms — Curious Facts Con- cerning Them, 130 The Royal Horned Caterpillar, 133 The Stanwich Nectarine, 145 Luscious Grapes, 145 Something about " Hair-Worms " and Eels, 145 Kitchen Garden for October, 146 Necrophore, 146 Seedling Peach, 146 The History of the Tomato, 161 " Leaves," 161 Kitchen Garden for November, 161 Insects Injurious to Forests and Shade- trees, 101 A Plea for Trees, 162 The Farmer's Creed, 162 Volume Fourteen, 177 Myriapoda, 177 The Tariir and Free Trade, 178 The Turkey, 179 Kitchen Garden for December, ^9 CONTRIIJUTIONS. Hybridising Fruits and Flowers, 6 Persimmons, 6 The Egg — Its Contents, and Haw It Is Made, 22 Fruit Belts, 23 Chinese Fruit Pear, 23 Commercial Fertilizers, 23 Forestry, 38 Strawberries, 39 Practical Poultry Notes, 39 Domestic Hints, 39 Practical Recipes, 39 Comparative Value of Farms between Now and Fifty Years Ago, 85 On Wheat Crops, 86 The Uses of Pruning, 102 Balance of Trade, 102, 164, 183 Gapes in Poultry, 117 Lime, 117 Tariffs and Their Effects, 118 Gapes in Poultry, 133 Shallow Cultivation, 133 Not the Taritr Question, 133 The Eel— Its Habit and Growth, 133 The Value of Clover on Land, 147 The Leaves, 147 Save the Peach-stones. 147 " The Farmer's Friend," 181 A Sure Preventive of Chicken Chol- era, 182 The Balance-of-Trade Delusion, 183 ESSAY.S. The Growth and Consumption of Tim- ber Trees in America, 40 "Our Winged Friends," 41 Seedling Fruits, 44 Fruit and Vegetables — Their Culture, 53 The Bright Side of Horticulture, 54 Horticultural Fertilizers, 55 .Some Practical Points in Peach Cul- ture, 69 The Management of an Orchard, 71 Insects and Some of Their Relations to the Vegetable Kingdom, 86 .SELECTIONS. Farming about the Rocky Moun" tains, 6 "Go to the Ant," 7 A Great Southern Farmer, 7 Lime as a Preservative, 8 On Square Acre, 8 Yards iu a Mile, 8 Wheat Crop of the United States, 8 A Plain and Easy Way of Curing Hams, 8 The Part which Worms Play in Na- ture, 9 Spare the Tree, 10 Let the Frost Help You, 10 Tobacco Review — The Old Year and the New One, 11 Berks County Agricultural Society, 11 Poultry Show, 24 White Vein — Cause of the Disease in Tobacco — The Early Cutting Theory— Convincing Experiences, 26 Tobacco Growing— Profits Realized by someExperts-Early Buying in the Field— Result of Careful Hand- ling— An Excellent Crop — Cost of Growing Tobacco — Another Pay- ing Crop— Still Another — In Con- clusion, 26 American Silks Good, 27 Coal Tar and Alkali in Peach Cul- ture, 3.S Points in Cows, 28 The New Wheat Region, 55 How to Deodorize Stables, 56 Utilizinj; Rough Ground, 56 The Building of Homes, 56 When to Cut Grass, 57 Feeding Poultry and Raising Chicks, 57 Vegetable Condiments, 57 Trichiuosis, 57 Testing Cream, 58 Application of Liquid Manure, 68 Early Price of Pennsylvania Lauds, 58 A Home Fruit Canning Factory, -59 History of Pyrethrum, 72 Quince Culture, 74 Poultry Farming, 75 Poultry Abundant, but Dear, 75 Notes on French Agriculture, 76 The Benevolent Sunflower, 89 Our Timber Lauds, 90 Roots and How to Grow Them, 91 Green Manures, 99 U. S. Department of Agriculture, 103 The Happy Granger, 103 Uuderdraining, 104 Education for Farmers, 104 Success in Farming, 104 The Department of Agriculture, 105 Fancy Butter, 106 All about Poultry, 106 Talks about Fruit, 107 Silk Culture, 118 Minerals at the Exposition, 121 Diversitied Farming in the South, 121 The Mosquito, 122 A Grand Harvest, 134 Occupation and Longevity, i:54 The War in Egypt, 135 The Climate in Different Parts of the Union, 135 Pure and Wholesome, 135 Temperature and Rainfall, 136 Barn Yard Manures, 136 Preserving Fence Posts, 136 Some Wheat Statistics, 136 Importance of Having a Good Queen, 137 Draining of Land, 137 The Practical and the Scientilic in Agriculture, 138 Fighting the Phylloxera in Europe, 147 Protecting Plants During Winter, 148 Self Dependence, 148 The Preservation of Forests from Wanton Destruction, and Tree Planting, 148 Cultivation of Peppers, 150 How to Bottle Wine, 1.50 Practical Forestry Illustrated, 151 Summer, 152 How to keep Houses Healthy, 153 The Coming Fence, 1.52 The Trade in Nuts, 152 Work and Leisure, 1.53 Stable Cleaning, 153 Worthless Do^s, 153 The Black Walnut, l.K Trees, Climate, and Soil, 164 Heavy .Manuring, and How ? 165 Artiticial Incubation, 166 Indian Corn in Kansas — Its Value and Importance, 166 The Effect of a Good Silo, 167 Agricultural Prosperity Should Bene- fit the Farmer, 167 Tree-Planting in Streets and Grounds, 168 The Fair Season, 168 Italian Bees and How Italianize Com- mon Black Bees, 168 Preventable Losses on the Farm, 169 Yield and Condition oi Crops, 169 The Virtues of Coffee, 183 Feeding Stock in Winter, 183 The Rational Method of Tree-Pruning, 184 Letter from the Mother of Bayard TaylortoProf. E.V.Riley, 185 Soiling Cattle, 185 Smoke House at Small Expense, 186 The Sugar Beet, 186 OIR LOCVL ORGANIZATIONS. Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 11, 28,45, 76, 92, 107, 133, 138, 1.54, 170, 187 The State Grange, 12 Poultry Association, 13, 30, 47, 77, 93, 108, 123, 140, 1.55, 171,187 Fulton Farmers' Club, .30, .17, 59,77, 124,140, 16.5, 171 Linna-an Society, 13, 30, 47, 60, 93, 109,124,1.56,171,188 State Board of Agriculture, 16, 140 KNTOMOI.OGICAI-. Swarming Ants and Allied Phe- nomena, 60 Curculio in Plum Culture, 61 Birds and Canker Worms 61 AGKHIXTl KK. Look after the Implements, 14 Do Your Own Repairing, 14 Ensilage Solus, 14 Bad Seed, 14 Planting Tobacco, 31 Improved Grasses, 31 Rotation of Crops, 31 Sowing the Seed, 61 Clover and Grass, 61 Clover, 61 Ploughing, 61 Potatoes, 61 Onions, 61 French Farming, 78 Sand Farming, 78 Crop Prospects, 78 Fence Posts, 78 Rotation of Crops, 94 Manure Made under Cover, 94 Exports of Breadstuffs, 94 Corn Culture in Gardens, 94 Green Crops, lOS Loadinir Hay, 108 Manure under Cover, 108 Plaster, 108 The Largest Land Owner on the Con- tinent, 108 Best Pasture Grass, 109 Pacific Coast Wlieat Items, 109 Lying in Fallows, 125 A Short-siirhtcd View, 125 Select Your Own Seed Wheat, 125 A Talk about Grasses, 125 Pasture Grasses, . 141 Experiments with Green iManurlne. 141 *' Wheat Raising, 142 What of the Future as Regards Grain, 142 What Manure Loses by Healing, 142 Good Crops in .Vlabama, 142 Magnesia for Wheat, 142 Wheat Growing, 150 An Excellent Fertilizer, 1.56 How to Remove Stumps, 156 The Telephone on the Farm, 15(> Octagonal Barns, 1.56 The Use of the Roller, 172 Progressive Farmers, 173 Effect of Draining, 172 Fall Plowing, 172 Ivory Wheat and .Millo .Maize, 188 Economy on the Farm, 188 Rules Adopted by the Hay Trade, 188 Effects of Broom Corn on the Soil, 188 The Agricultural Interests of the Country, 188 Small Potatoes, 189 HORTICULTURE. Rosebushes, 14 Pears, 14 Nqtes on Orchard and Garden Work, 14 Making Butter, 14 How to Make Tea and Coffee, 14 Butter Easily Spoiled, 15 The Rhubarb Plant, 61 Mulberry Trees, 61 An Excellent Old Apple, 63 An Experiment in Potato Planting, 82 IV INDEX. Apples for Medicine, 78 Greenhouse and Window Plants, 78 Proat in Onions, 78 Celery Culture, 78 How the Chinese Make Dwarf Trees, 78 An Abundant Apple Crop, 94 What Kills Fruit Trees, 94 Early Turnips, 94 Summer Grape Pruning, 109 The Care and Pruning of Peach Trees, 109 The Delaware Peach Crop, 109 Strawberry Beds, 109 Quince Culture, 109 The Peach Crop, 125 Value of Fruit, 125 Shallow Cultivation for Fruits, 125 The Vegetable Garden, 125 Fig Culture, 126 Keeping Grapes Fresh, 142 Beneficial EtTect of Mulching on Ber- Taking i'n Fall Flowers, 142 Saves the Peachstones, 143 A Hint for Winter Gardening, 143 York Imperial Apple, 157 Keeping Apples, 157 Apple Notes, 157 Root Pruning, 157 The Cherry and Apple, 157 Pe»r Raising, 172 The Effect of Dry Weather on Apples, 172 Saving Cabbage till Spring, 173 The Fruit Supply, 173 Bananas and Plaintalns, 173 Winter Flowers in the Window, 189 Preserving Garden Flowers, 189 HOUSEHOLD BECrPES. Light Gingerbread, 15 Cocoanut Cake, 15 Chocolate Cake, 15 Rock C»ke, 15 Gingerbread, 15 English Buns, 15 Almond Cake, 15 Milk BiBCuit, 15 Soft Gingerbread, 15 Doughnuts, 15 Kaiela Pie, 15 Corn Bread, 15 Coco«nut Pudding, 15 Baked Soup for Invalids, 15 Baked Indian Pudding, 15 Orange Pie, 31 New England Baked Indian Pudding, 31 Chicken Pie, 31 Prune Pudding, 31 A Nice Way of Cooking Cold Meats, 31 Chocolate Cake, 31 Breakfast Kusks, 31 Preparing Carrots, 31 Barley Soup, 31 Cornstarch Cakes, 31 French Tapioca Pudding, 31 Sweet Macaroni, 32 Oatmeal Pudding, 32 Wholesale Pie Crust, 32 Stewed Apples and Rice, 33 To Make a Cheap Wash or Paint, 63 Rice, Milanaise Style, 62 Macaroni and Ham, 62 Poor Man's Plum Pudding, 62 Fig Puddins:, 63 Yorkshire Pudding, 62 Warm Slaw, 62 Cold Slaw, 62 Lincoln Cake, 63 Pastry, 62 To Clean Marble, 62 Valuable Hints, 63 Cocoanut Cookies, 62 To Renovate Black Grenadine, 62 To Wash Silk Stockings, 62 Cornstarch Bake, 63 Black Bean Soup, 62 To Clean Musty Barrels, 62 Cottage Gingerbread, 62 Household Weights and Measures, 68 Scotch Butter Candy, 62 Tapioca Pudding, 78 Bread Pudding, 78 Chili Sauce, 78 Clam Chowder, 78 Saddle of Lamb, 78 Tomato Soup, 78 Oyster Soup, 78 Chicken Salad, 79. White Sauce, 79 Sugar Kisses, 79 Qneen of Pudding, 79 Lemon Pudding Sauce, 79 Bird's Nest Pudding, 79 Orange Pudding, 79 Green Corn Patties, 79 Boston Cream Ci!ke, 79 Flake Pie Crust, 79 Superior Doughnuts, 79 Cookies, 79 Custard Pie, 79 Graham Rolls, 79 Rice Waffles, 79 Steamed Indian Loaf, 79 Muflins, 79 Lemon Pie, 79 Pumpkin Pie, 79 Graham Muffins, 79 Turkey Soup, 79 Fish Sauce, 79 Cabbage Salad, 79 Cottage Pudding, 79 Suet Pudding, 79 Boiled Biead Pudding, 79 Lowell Pudding, 79 Hominv Muffins, 79 Potato'Cakes, 79 Oyster Fritters, 79 Corn Oysters, 79 Boiled Leg of Lamb, 79 Tapioca Pudding, 79 Snow Pudding, 79 Beefsteak Rolls, 95 Deviled Ham, 95 Yankeee Plum Pudding, 95 French Beefsteaks, 95 Squash Pie, 95 Delightful Pudding, 95 To Make Tough Meat Tender, 95 Cabbage Salad, 95 Scalloped Oysters, 96, Roast Shoulder of Veal, _95 Western Cookies, 95 Fairy Apple, 95 Deep Apple Pie, 110 Pan Dowdy, 110 Fried Apples, 110 Apple Toast, 110 Apple and Bread Pudding, 110 Racket Club Pudding, 110 Jelly Pudding, 110 Cheese Crust, 110 Pumpkin Pie, 110 Plain Mince Pie, 110 Welsh Rare-Bit, 110 Omelette, 110 Chicken and Green Peas, 110 Bean Soup, 110 Codfish, 110 Broiled Birds, 110 Sago and Wine, 119 Beef Juice, 110 Wine Jelly, 110 Toast, 110 Barley Water, 110 Egg and Wine, 110 Milk Punch, 110 Cucumber Mangos, 126 Peach Mangos, 126 Veal a la Mode, 126 Breast of Veal Baked with Tomatoes, 12(> Breast of Veal Braised, 126 While Sauce, 1^6 Boiled Tongue, 126 Boiled Corned Reel, 136 Boiled Ham, 126 Pork Chops, Spanish Style, 126 Roast Pork, 126 Pork Tenderloins, 126 Irish Stew, 126 Persillade of Mutton, 126 Fried Breast of Mutton, 126 Breading 126 Ragout of Cold Beef and Vegetables, 126 Roast Leg of Lamb or Mutton, 126_ Garlic Cloves, 126 Fig Pudding, 143 To Whiten Scorched Linen, 143 To CookJTurnips, 143 Almond Cake, 143 Pan Dpwdy, 143 Smothered Chicken, 143 Pumpkin Pie, 143 Sheep's-head Soup, 143 Pickled Onions, 143 Lemon Pudding, 143 Ready-made Giue, 143 Apple Jelly, 143 A Remedy for Diptheria, 143 Hoosehold Hints, 143 Dry Curing Pork and Beet, 143 Stewed Cora, 144 Brown Sauce, 144 Boiled Sweet Corn, 144 Stewed Corn and Tomatoes, 144 Chow-Chow, 157 Stuffed Tomatoes, 157 Pancakes, 157 Rissole Soup, 157 Lamb Chops, 157 Potato Mound, 157 Ladies' Cabbage, 157 Damson Tart, 158 Potato Porridge, 158 Roasted Sweetbreads, 158 Boil and Blanch the Sweetbreads, 188 Potato Croquetts, 158 Rice Pudding Cold, 158 Breakfast Cakes, 158 Cream Nectar, 158 Potatoes au Maitre d'Hotel, 158 Stewed Tomatoes and Onion, 158 Stewed Pears wi'h Rice, 158 Ox-Cheek Soup, 158 Stewed Calf's Hearts, 158 Apple Souffle Pudding, 158 Graham Bread, 173 Indian Cake, 173 Crullers, 173 Doughnuts, 173 Buns, 173 Roast Mutton, 173 Mashed Potatoes, 173 Mashed Turnips, 173 Baked Potatoes, 173 Apple Pudding, 17S Spanish Cream, 173 Boiled Flank of Beef, 173 Meat Hash, 173 Veal Loaf, 173 Tomato Sauce, 173 Steamed Beef Steak Pudding, 173 Stewed Lobster, 174 Boiled Rice, 174 Boiled Cider, 174 Steamed Pudding, 174 Nice Griddle Cakes, 174 Cottage Pudding, 174 Griddle and Indian Cakes, 174 Escalloped Mutton, 174 Mocked Oyster Soup, 174 Excellent Gold Cake, 174 Lemon Cake, 174 Fried Chicken, 174 Plain Fruit Cake, 174 Boiled Kice Pudding, 174 Okra Soup Equal to Turtle Soup, 174 Steamed Brown Bread, 174 Rhubarb Pies, 174 Roast Turkey Garnished with Sau- sage, 189 Mashed Turnips, 189 Canned Corn Pudding,^ 189 Cranberry Sauce, 189 Orange Snow and Snowdrift Cake, , 189 Oyster Soup, 189 Boiled Chicken, 189 Browned Potatoes, 189 Baked Sweet Potatoes, 189 Scalloped Squash, 189 Baked Custards, 1^9 Simple White Soup, l!-9 Stewed Fillet of Veal, 190 Spinach, 190 Boiled Beans, 190 Mashed Potatoes, 190 Queen's Toast, 190 Brown Giblet Soup, 190 Minced Turkey and Eggs, 190 Stewed Potatoes, 190 Celery, 190 A Plain Rice Pudding, 190 LIVE STOCK. The Care of Cows, 15 Charcoal for Sick Animals, 15 Hints about Horses, 15 Hay for Swine, 15 Warts on Horses, 15 The Horse Shoe and Its Application, 15 Sawdust for Bedding, 68 Salting Stock, 62 Floors for Horse Stables, 63 Charcoal for Sick Animals, 63 The Hog Crop, 63 Tying up Calves, 63 Man's Treatment of the Horse, 63 Advantages of Small Flocks, 63 " Loss of Cud," 63 Training Heifers to Milk, 63 Bedding for Cows, 63 Inoculiition of Animals, 63 Care of Horses' Legs, 79 Care of Sheep, 79 Watering Horses, 79 Save and Care for the Pigs, 79 How to Grow a Pig, 79 A Nevada Stock Raiser, 80] Improving the Stock on the Farm, 95 Keep up the Flow of Milk, 95 Care of Dairy Vessels, 95 Raite the Good Cow's Heifer Calf, 95 Spoiling a Young Horse, 110 The Pig in Agriculture, 110 Sheep Raising in Dakota, 111 Treatment of the Cow, 111 Advice of a Lancaster County Black- smith on How to Shoe Horses, 126 Training Horses, 126 The Best Farm Horses, 127 Draught Horses, 137 Is Horseshoing Useless, 127 Keep the Stable Clear of Flies, 127 Remedy for Side Hole in Cow's Teat, 127 Care of Horses, 127 The Stock, l;i7 Improved Sheep, 144 Management of Pigs, 144 A New Cattle Disease, 144 Raising a Colt, 15>! Hints on Raising Stock, 158 Swine Raising— A DiflTerent System Desirable, 15S More B'requent Milking, 158 Jersey Cows and their Records, 158 Facts about Horses, 159 Overloading Cows' Stomachs, 159 Quarantined Cattle, 159 Cattle-Raising in Montana, 174 To Utilize Jersey Bulls, 174 The Shropshire Sheep, 174 Rearing Sheep for Their Milk, 174 Making Good Park, 175 The Coming Sheep, 175 Cotton-seed Meal for Live Stock, 190 Dry Food For Hogs, 190 Lincoln Sheep, 190 Pasturing and Soiling Hogs, 190 Growth of Colts, 190 Sheep, 191 Training Horns, 191 Cattle Range of Wyoming, 191 POULTET. Sunflower Seed for Poultry , 64 Grain in Vegetables, 64 Poultry Upon the Farm, 64 Dressing and Keeping Poultry ,64 Common Sense in the Poultry Yard, 64 The Roup in Fowls, 64 Poultry, 64 A Writer in the Poultry Monthlv, 80 A House for 200 Fowls; 80 Questions About Eggs and Fowls, 80 Raising Sunflowers for Hens, 80 Care of Young Turkeys, SO How Chickens are Born, 80 A Cheap Chicken Coop, 80 Hawaiian Geese, bO One Variety, 95 Treatment of Young Ducks, 96 A Profitable Hennery, 78 Floors for Poultry Houses, 111 Fowl Fattening, 111 Onions for Chicken Cholera, 111 Cramming Poultry, 111 Wild Chickens, 111 Good Hatching, Poultry Gossip, 127 Feather and Egg Eating, 127 Geese, 128 The Wonders of Incubation, 138 A Meat Diet, 128 Feed for Laying Hens, 128 Guinea Hens, 160 Care of Fowls, 160 Ducks, 160 Which is the More Profitable ? 160 Fattening Turkeys, 160 Farm and Workshop Notes, 160 Moulting, 175 How to be Rid of Them, 175 Poultry Nonsense, 191 Poultry, 191 Women as Poultry Raisers, 191 ■To Fatten Fowls or Chickens in Four or Five Days, 191 Winter Rations for Hens, 191 Pekin Ducks, 192 APIAKY. Some Information About the Queen Bee , 159 Twelve Facts for Beginners, 159 A System for Wintering 159 Preparing for Winter, 159 LITERARY. Literary and Personal, 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 111, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192 ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM-SINGLE,: COPIES 10. CENTS. Dr. S. S. P.ATHV01T, Editor. LANCASTER, PA. JANUARY. 1882. JOHN A. EIESTANI/, Publisher. Eii(cr<^ortfl — Election of Ofticers — '*C'an the Grain (irower Dispen.4e with Nitrogenous Fer- tilizers?" The State Grange, --'--- Wednesday's Proceedings — The Proceedings on Thurs, (if ,„:, if Lil..., o « Vi/i-T*-'^ i;,.„1., R,,.i. nt I,. ,.- li.u.b. ;.<:. A.l >.«<1 V-i'-i, \I V-tV Evcrvlli ne w^»^^^^'^■l iTie to OJ-.-e. S« i liv (oMowtnt'cnt ■.;ir; Hi,.!;!^. I'-' -";»:> n.- 4 aCo. ISl'.«'l'Tu'»r.-...l,V. 1" I llin. ll.MtH uimted.tl.^0. Al l.tii' wnr ar.l la>. 0 t'W '-i. jjT^^ " R.init riini noy <.r p.- 'a^. glainpi. ,Myii'o4t baveuQ.s 3t.lifb'a r.-pu'ali. !. ... u i- t.. ... |..r'so1 h.-wor'ii J. LEWIS C'lIILDS, Ql EE^S, N. X. Jan-.3ni WE WANT Ol.n BOGUS. Wk Want <»krman Books. WE WANT BOOKS PRINTED IX LANCASTER CO. We Want .4^11 Kinds of Old Books. LIBRARIES, ENGLISH OR CiERMAN BOUGHT. Cash paid for Books in any quantity. Send your address and we will c«ll. REES WELSH A CO., 23 South Nintli Street, Philadelphia. mmmn ;Fon 1882 Will he niftileilFRSltoftll iLppliCAnU, Kod to etitt<->iiirrt without rirJcring (t. It contAint five colorad pUt«i, C<.ius:uiJd yet ciitU ud. l'i.-iisii>iil»i'a«e. Tlioujamla iit j-insiou- . r^ Hnil H •lau'i'.s entitl.J t-^ l.\( KEC.VnC and KOUNTV. 1»ATEM'S |.io..itvU i..r n.vi-i.i- ors. Soldiera liiiul wurraics j'.' it.iipre and Clienu. Ado niatle. Intiuire at THE EXAMINER OFFICE, No. 9 North (inccn Street, Lancaster, Pa A. WEEK. $12 a d:iy at linnie eusiiy maih-. Costly Outttt free. Address Tai'F. & Co., Augusta, Maine. .niM-l.vr* $72 SEND FOR On Concord Grajevines, Trnnsiilanted Evergreens. Tulip, Poi>].Tr, Liiid.'n Mai'lc. etc. Tree Seedlings and Trees for timber plaiiLitions l.v tlie lOn.lHili ,1. JK.N'KiXN- XTRSEKY, 3-2-70 WINONA, COI UMIilA.N'A'.CO., OHIO. nryQinkl^ For solwieks, Iki^OlUnO^iiiloas. fiithvTj.moilara cr cliildrco. 'fin'isnnds yotfntitlrd. PensiimsriT.n t"rl...-S'T IJiii .r.-.. ■ :..•,.- . „..'T.'.v..-;,- ■ n n- <.r ntiy I>i«t :i..» . PATi;>r< iunJwri'H*- biid h if^ il'i '" .f "!■'-■'. ^' ' ' ^ stamns for ' iicr."anct lens u and IJnuiity 1 : instructions. Wn Cftnrtf.rtitl ■ ■'. n. r,« nrd C'i^nti. A.idr. .» N. VV. r: tiKeral d ft Co. I'ensios ;; t*ATi;.ST Alt'jS. l,i.ci"li.l ^: .^. \V ;iBiiiugU(n, U. O- U/n I -AilRrR Oursisgnarantcedto be the " tLL'nUOClli cheapest and best in the world. Also nothing can boat our S.4wrN<; MA- CIIINK. It saws otT a -J-foot lo;; in - niinntea. Pictorial books Ireo. W. UILt;.s, C'Ufcuco. ni, -em] THE LANCASTER FARMER, ^EKIVSYL-VANIA RAII.ROAD 8rHEDUI.E, Trains leave the Deput m tUia city, as follows : WE TWARD. Pacific Express" Way Passengert Niagara Express Hanover Accoinmodation,. Mail train via Mt. Joy No. 2 via Columbia Sunday Mail Fast Line". Frederick Accommodation. Harrisburg Accom Columbia Accommodation.. Harrisburg Express Pittsburg Express Cincinnati Express' EASTWARD. Cincinnati Express Fast Line* Harrisburg Express Columbia Accommodation.. Pacific Express* Sunday Mail Johnsto-wn Express Day Express* Harrisburg Accom. 1 cave Lancaster. 2:40 a. m. 5:00 a. m. 11:00 a. m. 11:05 p. m. 10:20 a. m. 11.25 a. m. 10:50 a. m. 2; 30 p. m. 2:35 p. m. 5:45 p. m. 7:20 p. m. 7:30 p.m. 8:50 p. m. 11:30 p.m. Lancaster. 2.55 a. m. 5:08 a. m. 8:05 a. m. 9.10 p. m. :40 p m. 2:00 p. m. 3:05 p. m. 5:35 p.m. 6:25 p. m. Arrive Harrisburg, 4:05 a. m; 7:50 a. m. 11:20 a.m. Col. 10:40 a. m. 12:40 p. m. Ti:55 p. m. 12:40 p. m. 3:25 p. m. Col. 2:45 p. m. 7:40 p. m. Col. 8:20 p. m. 8:40 p. m. 10:10 p.m. 12:45 a. m. Philadelphia 3:00 a. m. 7:40 a. m. 10:00 a. m. 12:0 p. m, 3:40 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 3:30 p. m. 7:20 p. m. 9:30 p. m. The Hanover Accommodation, west, connects at Lancaster with Niagara Express, west, at 9:35 a. m., and'will run through to Hanover. The Frederick Accommodation, west, connects at Lancas- ter with Fast Line, west, at 2:10 p. m., and runs to Frederick. The Pacific Express, east, on Sunday, when flagged, will stop at M*'idletown, Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Laudis- ville. *Tht) only trains which run daily. tHuns daily, except Monday. NORBECK & MILEY, PRACTICAIi Garriage BuildeFg, cox & (lO'S OLB STA^D. Corner of Duke and Vine Streets, LANCASTER, PA.. THE LATEST IMPROVED SIDE-BAR BUGGIES, PHyETONS, Carriages, Etc, mm Prices to Suit the Times. REPAIRING promptly attended to. All work guaranteed. T9-2- S. IB. OOIXl, Manufacturer of C images, Buggies, Phaetons, etc, CHURCH ST., NEAR DUKE, LANCASTER, PA. Large Stock of New and Secon-hand Work on hand ▼ery cheap. Carriages Made to Order Work Warranted or one year. [T*-9-ia EDW. J. ZAHM, DEALBB iN AMERICAN AND FOREIGN WATCHES, SOLID SILVER & SILVER PLATED WARE, CLOCKS. JEWELRY! TABLE CUTLERY. Sole Agent for the Arundel Tinted SPECTACLES. Repairing strictly attended to. North Queen-st. and Centre Square, Lancaster, Pa. 7<1-1-I2 IE. I». aBOX7V3VE.A.3Sr, , AT LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES, Fully guaranteed. No. 106 EAST KING STREET, 79-1-12] OppftKilp J^t'op'ti'd Holfl. ESTABLISHED 1832. 1 c^i^tmrn,^^ ^. G. SENER &, SONS, Manufacturers and dealers in all kinds of rough and finished The best Sawed $iHIN«I.ES iu the country. Also Sash, Doors, BUnds, Moilldings, &c. PATENT 0. G. WEATHERBOARDING and PATENT BLIJIDS, which are far superior to any other. Also best I'OAL constantly on hand. OFFICE AND YARD : Northeast Corner of Prince and Walnnt-sts., L A NCA.STKR, PA. 79-1-12) PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON ENTOMOLOGY, Embracing the history aud habits of NOXIOUS AND INNOXIOUS INSECTS, and the best remedies for their expulsion or extermination. By S. S. RATHVON, Ph. D. LANCASTER, PA. This work will be Highly Illustrated, and will be put in press (as soon after a sufficient number of subscribers can be obtained to cover the cost) as the work can possibly be accomplished. 79-2- $77 a mouth and eipeuaes guaranteed to Agents. Outfit free. SHAW & CO., Augusta, Mains. Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees. Plant Trees raised in this county and suited to this climate. Write for prices to LOUIS C. LYTE Bird-in-Hand P. O., Lancaster co., Pa. Nursery at Smoketown, six miles east of Lancaster. 79-1-12 WIDMYER & RICKSECKER, UPHOLSTERERS, And Manufacturers of FURNITURE pD CHAIRS, WAREROOMS: 102 East King St., Cor. of Duke St. ■LANCASTER, PA. 79-1-12] Special Inducements at the NEW FURNITURE STORE W. A. HEINITSH, ]Vo. XS 1-2 DE. X£.Xn9'C3r S'X'Xl.EZXSI' (over Bursk's Grocery Store), Laucaster, Pa. A general assortment of furnifure of all kinds constantly on hand. Don't forget the number. Nov-ly] (over Bursk'8 Grocery Store.) For Good and Cheap Work go to F. VOLI-MER'S FURNITURE WARE ROOMS, No 309 NORTH QUEEN ST., (Opposite Northern Miirkot), Also, all kinds of picture frames. nov-ly GREAT BARGAINS. A huge assortment of all kinds of Carpets are still sold at lower rates than ever at the CARPET HALL OF H. S. SHIRK, No. 202 West King St. Call and examine our stock and satisfy yourself that we can show the largest assortment of these Brussels, three plies and ingrain at all prices — at the lowest Philadeli>hia prices. Also on hand a lai'ge and complete assortment of Rag Carpet. Satisfaction guaranteed bath as to price and quality. You are invited to call and see my goods. No trouble in showing them even if you do not want to purchase. Don't forget this notice. You can save money here if you want to buy. . Particular attention given to customer v ork. Also on hand a full assortment of Counterpanes, Ofl Cloths and Blankets of every variety. [nov-iyr, PHILIP SCHUM, SON & CO.. 38 and 40 West King Street. We keep on hand of our own manufacture, QUILTS, COVERLETS, COUiVTERPAIfES, CARPETS, Bureau and Tidy Covers. Ladles' Furnishing Goods, No- tions, etc. Particular attention paid to customer Rag Carpet, and Kcowering aud dyein'e of all kinds. PHILIP SCHUM, SON & CO.. Xov-l y I/mcaster, Pa. THE HOLMAN LIVER PAD! Cures by absorption without luedicine. Now is the time io apply these remedies. They will do for you what uolhing else on earth can. Hundreds of citi- zens of Lancaster shj so. Get the genuine at LANCASTER OFFICE AND SALESROOM, 22 East Orange Street. Nov-lyr C. R. KLINE, 5/VTT0f^NEY-AT-|jAW, OFFICE : 16 NORTH DUKE STREET, NoT-ly The Lancaster Farmer. Dr. 3. 3. RATHVON, Editor. LANCASTER, PA., JANUARY, 1882. Vol. SIV. No. 1. Editorial. OUR FOURTEENTH VOLUME. T/ike till' "Ghost of Bamiuo," liere we are agiiin, ill response to many t'riuiids who have greeted us with the sigiiilieaiit greeting— "May your shadow never grow less." Tliis would be a dreadful greeting to a fat man; but then dear reader, we are not fat — never have been fat, and, without any double meaning whatever, we never expect to be fat at our pre- sent rate of feeding Csesar is said to have said, "Let me have men about me that are /a(." Mark Antony was fat and was popu- lar— Cassius was lean and was unpopular, if not hated by Caisar. Now we want to get out of the category of leanness, since leanness works such disparagement to its possessor — or rather its victims; and, it seems to us the shortest and surest road out, would be five thousand nriv and true subscribers to our vol- ume for 1882. Ttvii /iioiflrffZ contributors, one ?iM)!dr«Z correspondents and odc (Z"2e)i repo rters, or communicators. We are not very particu- lar where lliese subscribers, correspondents, contributors, &c., are from, so that tliey are not rei)resentatives of districts in wliich a "Kilkleer" could not live; for, we don't care to know how jMor soil may be, and how lean its cultivators may become and yet have the power to breathe; but, how rich the one may be, and how/a{ the other. But this is not all. We want to know hoiv they have become rich and fat, tliat we may be abU; to instruct otiiers to "go and do likewise." These we consider very moderate wants, in such a magniticent "kingdom" as Lancaster county, and where people are reputed to live on " the fat of the land." It would be a most laudable ambition for the farmers of Lancaster county, just to see liow/{(( they can make us and tlieir represen- tative journal, witliin the year 1882. It would be sonielhiiig to be jolly over next Ciiristmas, and enhance the pleasures of the occasion. Dear public, try it "for once." We have nothing in the form of premiums or bribes to offer, but would rather that every one should be bribed Isy his own feelings of right, of justice, and of humanity, when he contemplates his duties toward the institu- tions and enterprises of his county, his state, or his entire country. It may require a greater struggle, a larger quantum of self-denial and self-compulsion, to oliey the dictates of his uu- standing — " Uiiboii-jjlil by eoiuineHt Anil unhribefl by yahi," l)ul then, after the deed is accomplished, the doer of it will feel just so much the better than he would have felt had he yielded to the fluttcriwj inducement to do otherwise. We are not so exceedingly selfish as to ad- monish our patrons and readers to patronize no journal but ours. That is not at all our meaning; for, we would have them patronize all they can afford to, and ours too - cspenally ours. "Eat them all yourself, and give me some," was the "small boy's" advice to his "clumi," when other "small boys" were l)egging his sugar plums. So we advise, when other publisliers are trying to obtain your patronage through a prciniunt, take tliem al] if you can, but don't forget to lake the F.vkmek: for it is "bone of your bone and flesh of your liesh," and like you, " to the manor-bo in "—a local anclior, mooring you to local lioiues, wherever you may l)e. There is no lov& more ennobling than pure unsellish domestic, or local love. Men often in the heyday or prime of life indulge in the glittering seusntiou of foreign loves, foreign scenes and foreign festivities; only to return in maturer life, or in life's decline, to the loves, the homes, and tlie atliliations of tlieir earlier days. It is very much the same in re- gard to home literature, home pulilications. Publications that contain a record of tlu; local doings and sentiments of tliose who repre- sented the local industries and enterprises of a district where we have, or once had, our local homes, possess a local value far beyond that of mere dollars and cents. And, if per- chance, we should become possessed of an old volume, or even a single paper, that recorded the events of our early days, and the names and occupations of our cotemporaries, we are apt to peruse it from "end to end" and gaze upon it with all the fond affection that a grandparent does upon tlie tiny shoes of the first born. And why V Because they are owrs— part and parcel of our local history, local experience, and local memories, however common-place and humble they may appear to others. By the genorou-i assistance 'of local contri- butors and local correspondents we desire to make tlie Lancaster Farmer for 1882 a local hand-book of Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, 'gardening, domestic employ- ment, and scientific miscellany, that will al- ways be referred to with pleasure and witli profit, long years after its projectors, its edi- tors and its publishers are "gathered to their fiithers." At no period in the history of agriculture, is a publication of its development and pro- gress considered of more vital importance than the present period. Agricultural and Domestic journals are springing up almost every where in our broad land, and by a refer- ence to our "Literary and Personal" col- umns, it will be perceived that our own Penn- sylvania furnishes several new enterprises of the kind. We sincerely hope they may all re- alize their most sanguine expectations; and, that they may all become "/at," and— if they prefer it— also "ragged .and sassy." We cannot indulge in any special prorai.ses for 1882. \Ve hoi)e to be all that you see fit to make us ; but, under any circumstances, we think we can with confidence point you to the past as a guarantee for the future. Of course, the opening year is still one of undeveloped anticipation, and ent at the river, while as many as 50U eels were caught by us in one night in pots in the Turkey Hill falls, which, accord- ing to Mr. Neal's theory, would have been all males ! In all other forms of life the sexes are nearly equal in the numbers of the males and females, but in the eels the disparity would be too great. I would refer Mr. Neal to an able article , by Dr. Rathvon in the Deceml)er number of the Lnncnslcr Fanner, in which the eel question is thoroughly ventilated. — JS. K. Hershei/, CresweU, Dec. li), 1881. In the New Era of December 21, 1881, I noticed a very sensible article from E. K. Hershey on the subject of eels, their migra- tions and breeding habits, etc., in which he alludes to a communication from Mr. Wil- liam Neal, of Port Deposit, which, it appears, was published in the New Era of December 10. Somehow that communication entirely escaped my observation, nor could I And it in that issue, although I looked for it after my attention was called to it by Mr. Hershey 's article. It a|)pears to me that nothing could possibly be more absurd than that the lamprey is the female of the common eel, and that through her the race is perpetuated. The lamprey is far removed from the common eel. Between the AnguilUlcr., or eel family, and the Petromyzonidce, or lamprey family, there is a very wide difference both iu struc- ture and haViit. The pipe fish, the sea horse, the putTers, tne sun fishes, the trunk fishes, tlie sturgeons, the dog fish, the sharks, the threshers, the hammer-heads, the saw-lishes, the I'ays and the torpedoes, are all families and genera intermediate between the eels and the lampreys. The common eel of the United States is the Ant^idlla hostoniensis, and has the dorsal and anal fins continuous around the end of the tail, forming by their union a pointed caudal extremity. They have also very con- spicuously a paii; of pectoral fins, which are entirely absent in the lamprey. Although the latter has an irregular dorsal fin, it is desti- tute of the anal fin, and the caudal termina- tion is not iiointed but broad. The common lamprey is the Pctromyzon Americanus. This species has a maxillary ring armed with strong teeth, and they attach them.selves to other fishes. Many years ago I saw one nearly two feet long attached to a large sucker that had been caught in a shad seine in the Sus- quehanna. I have also known hundreds of the smaller ones to be dug out of the mud flats of the Susquehanna, ojiposite Marietta, and used as bait. The female lamprey is no more the mother of the common eel than she is the mother of the blacksnake, or the boa con- strictor, and it is a matter of surprise that any one living near the bays and rivers of our country should for a single moment entertain such a fallacy. The (luestiou of eel breeding must be decided without the aid of the lamprey. EXCERPTS. MISCELLANEOUS. The gi'eat gray slug has a supply of 28,000 teeth. There are forty-six species of the English cuckoo. DusTEiis were at first made of the tails of oxen or foxes. The earliest mention of parks is among the Persians. The leech has eight or ten eyes set in its back near the head. Gauze is said to receive its name from Gaza, in Palestine, where it was first made. The part of the hnman body which shows the greatest variety of color is the iris of the eye. The moon was pronounced by Anaxago- ras, 500 B. C, to be an earth having moun- tains and valleys. King Alfred used to measure time by a device of twelve candles, graduated so as to burn two hours each. The cochineal insect is very small, a pound of cochineal being calculated to contain not less than 70,000 in a dried state. A PECULIAR violet odor is emitted from the males ot some species of Brazilian butter- flies, the female being not at all fragrant. To neutralize the sting of gnats and mos- quitos, English sportsmen rub the part affect- ed with cerumen, or the wax of the ear. The fashion in men's hats changes far more often in England, France, and America than in other countries. The sombrero worn in Don Quixote's time is in fashion in Spain to-day. Within the past sixty years the value of gold has fluctuated from 15i to 15| times thatof silver, aver aging about loi time and never falling so low as that of fifteen times such value. Among the early Romans a kind of festi, or annals, was kept by driving nails into the wall of the Temple of Minerva; and in pub- lic calamities, in time of pestilence, etc., a nail was fastened in the Temple of Jupiter. Christian names are so called by having been given to converts in baptism as substi- tutes for their former pagan appellations, many of which were borrowed from the names of their gods, and were therefore re- jected as profane. The institution of the "Order of the Bath" originated in the custom of the Franks, who, when they conferred knighthood, bathed before they performed the ceremony, and from this habit came the title Knight of the Bath. A well-fed frog is more susceptible to poison than one which has been fasted for weeks. Corals often permanently change color, when subjected to different conditions of living. THE LANCASTER FARMER. [January, The Japanese bronze brass by boilinc; it i n a solution of sulphate of copper, alum aud verdigris. A concentrated beam of electric lisht car- ried seven miles has furnished sufficient light to read by. The solar atmosphere contains sodium iron, calcium, magnesium, nickel, barium, copper and zinc. AccoiiDiNG to Ehreuberg a cubic inch of water may contain more than 800,000,000,000 of animalculoe. Pl-VTINUJi when alloyed with silver be- comes soluble in nitric acid, which, does not affect it while unalloyed. Pig iron contains from ninety-five to ninety-seven parts of pure iron, and three to five of carbon, with small quantities of sul- phur, phosphorus and silicon. Hay, like most vegetable products, con- tains much material which is soluble in water. On this material its nutritive value depends, and its removal by dampness seriously in- jures the crop. The floods and droughts of the present time will probably lead farmers and others to a careful reconsideration of the question re- garding the proportion which wooded ought to bear to cleared land. Last year the German wire mills supplied England with 30,000 tons of wire, and Ru.ssia with 40,000 tons. France received from Ger- many from 12,000 to 1.5,000 tons of steel wire for sofa springs, and America not less than 30,000 from the same source. From surveys taken in the province of Ufa, Russia, it appears that the former forest area of 17,.577,000 acres has now been diminished by more than 3,500,000 acres, and yet the population is only three to the square mile. Edward Richardson, of Mississippi, is the largest cotton raiser in the world, the Khedive of Egypt coming second. ' Mr. Rich- ardson owns some 52,000 acres of cotton land, from which he raised last year more than 12,- 000 bales. He gins, spins, and weaves it, and has oil mills as well. Mr. Richardson has amassed a fortune variously estimated at from $15,000,000 to 120,000,000. There are 700,000 Masons in the United States. The length of the East river suspension bridge is 5,993 feet. The quantity of soda imported into the United States from England in 1817 was 8,000 tons. In an edition of Ptolemy's geography, 1510, a double-tailed mermaid figures in one of the plates. There are seventy-two national cemeteries for the burial of the Union and Confederate dead. A5IONG the natives of India white quartz, boiled in milk, is used as a remedy for sick children. A wire 400 feet long can be made from one grain of silver. Such a wire is finer than human hair. The ancient Chinese used liydropathy as a cure for certain diseases, among others chronic rheumatism. Steel needles were invented by the Spanish Moors, before which thorns or fish bones, with a hole pierced for an eye, were used. The first needles made in London were made in the reign of Henry VIII. by a Moor. The first book published in the North American colonies was, it is supposed, an "Almanac calculated for New England, by Mr. William Pierce," which appeared in Cambridge in 1639. It was printed by Stephen Daye, but not a copy of it now exists. Those of us who in winter comjilain that the sun has not power of warmth should bear in mind Professor Young's recent remark, that if we could build up a solid column of ice from the earth to the sun, two miles and a quarter in diameter, spainiing the incon- ceivable abyss of 93,000,000 miles, and if then the sun should concentrate its power upon it, it would dissolve and melt, not in an hour nor in a minute, but in a single second ; one swing of the pendulum and it would be water seven more and it would be dissipated in vapor. economical. A teaspoonful of saltpeter to a pail of water -will kill worms in the roots of squashes. Pigs are able to consume far more food in proportion to their weight than either sheep or oxen. Sheep provided with cotton-seed meal as an auxiliary feed are the best restorers of worn-out pastures. Combs aud wattles of fowls may be pre- vented from freezing by oiling them so as to prevent their getting wet. Sweet apples are an excellent feed for cows, if supplied in moderate quantities and under favorable circumstances. Green manuring, or the plowing in of green crops, is esi>ecially adapted for light sandy soils, wliich need humus to increase their retentive power. At some timej during the fall or winter give the thin spots in meadows and pastures an even coat of manure. Harrow hi spring and sow grass seed. A farm can be stocked with sheep cheaper than with any other animals. Sheep will come nearer to utilizing everything which grows on the farm. Joseph Hap^ris says that we can make our lands poor by growing clover and selling it, or we can make them rich by growing clover and feeding it out on the farm. Add a little glycerine to the grease applied to harness, and it.will be keiit in a soft aud pliable state, in spite of the amnioniacal ex- halations of the stable, which tend to make it brittle. All noxious weeds, such as dock, skunk cabbage and others may be killed by pouring a small quantity of kerosene oil over the young plants. They may also be cut off with a hoe several inches below the surface and salt dropped on the cut-off root. Some people think that grapevines will grow an3'where because in their boj'hood they found strong, luxuriant wild vines grow- ing in damp places. Do not make a mistake. Vines on low lands suffer much by the winter. Hillsides and lean soils are good for grapes for hard winters. For manure that of the cowyard is good. Grease, says a writer in the Rural New Yorker, is fatal to all insect life. Insects breathe by means of small pores on their sides. Grease or oil that comes in contact with the insects closes the pores and stops the Ijreathing. Mercurial ointment kills as much by the lard in it as by the mercury— that is, so far as the vermin are concerned, but not as to the animals that lick it off' from their bodies, so that almost any oily or greasy ap- plication will be destructive to insect vermin that infest animals if it is applied where it will do the most good. The importation of opium by this country which in 181)1 was 109,.53i5 pounds, in 1871 had grown to 315,121, and in 1880 amounted to 533,451 pounds. These figures indicate an immense increase in opium eating. In 1876 it was estimated that the number of people having the habit was 225,000, and now it is thought to be fully 500,000. Some persons become so accustomed to the drug as to take immense doses. A Missouri farmer took forty grains of morphia at once without apparent injury, and there are several cases reported in which sixty grains a day were taken regularly. A statistician has been figuring upon the annual consumption by American manufac- turers of the precious metals, which he esti- mates as $13,000,000 gold and $3,000,000 silver. Two-tliirds of the latter is used in making plate. Of the gold, the greater part goes for rings and watch cases. It is esti- mated that there are about 250,000 wedding rings given in this country every year, aver- aging $2 each in cost. There are 100,000 more rings given as gages (Vamour and a still larger number bestowed in holiday presents. MORAL ECONOMY. People's intentions can only be decided by their conduct. Strive for the best, and provide against the worst. Be graceful if you can ; but if you can't be graceful, be true. He who throws out suspicion should at once be suspected himself. An effort made for the liappiness of others lifts us above ourselves. There is always room for a man of force, and he makes room for many. Time once passed never returns; the mo- ment which is lost is lost forever. Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty and supped with Infamy. There is a past which is gone forever. But there is a future which is still our own. There are few occasions when ceremony may not be dispensed with ; kindness never. A father's blessing builds houses for his cluldren, but a mother's curse tears them down. Reading, study, thinking, observation and sensible conversation makes the mind grow. Argument in company is generally the worst sort of conversation, and in books the worst of reading. The discovery of what is true and the practice of what is good are the two most im- portant objects of life. 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. We can't lie too nuidi on our giuml against reactions, lest \vc rush from ono fault into another contrary fault. Nothing so adorns the faco as chct^^'fiil- ness. When the heart is in llower, its bloom and beauty pass to the features. A wise man in the company of those who are ignorant has beiui compared by the sages to a beautiful girl m the company ofhlind men. A person that would seciu'e to himself great deference will, perhaps, gain his point by silence as effectually as by anything he can say. No school is more necessary to childr n than patience, because either the will must bo broken in childhood, or the heart in old age. DOJIESTIC ECONOMY. Add all refuse matter to the compost heap. English farmers use bone dust on pastures, but prefer superphosphates for sown crops. The addition of charcoal in the soil dce]i- ens the tint of dahlias, hyacinths and petunias. Scions, it is claimed, carry with them the tearing year of the tree from which they were taken. Shelter and warmth, with regularity in feeding, are essential to success in the man- agement of cattle. Clear the ground now on which you ex- pect to put small fruit plants next year. Do it thoroughly, too. All that you wish to know of any new breeds of fowls will not be learned from those who are anxious to sell them. Scrub sheep are dear even for no price at all. On a good farm they are as bad as rusly nails on a new house. Feed windbroken horses frequently and little at a time. Grind the food. Give plenty of salt and little water at a time. Teach your children not to aimoy or mal- treat the toad. Try rather to coax him to your garden. He will destroy many insects. A LITTLE grease or kerosene on the legs of fowls will remove scabs in a short time. Two applications are sometimes needed. As A partial antidote for drought, keep the land rich, plow deeply, and cultivate as often as possible. Cultivation always tells. On many farms there are some old cattle and old sheep tiiat can only be kept at a loss. It is economy to fatten them for the butcher. Those who have been feeding the surplus fruit to hogs say that their stock are in excel- lent and healthy condition. Fruit makes fine sweet pork. Where the ground is infested with white grubs it would be advisable to mix salt spar- ingly with the soil before setting out straw- berry plants. An offensive odor from decaying vegetables will be absorbed by milk. A pair of old slvoes or a pair of barnyard overalls in a cellar where there is milk are likely to contaminate it. Put your stock in a good condition to stand the winter by giving a little fodder of some kind early in the morning. A slight breakfast of cornstalks or some other food will be great- ly relished while (he air is cold and the grass frozen. Colts, calves and lambs need particu- lar attention at this season. A Connecticut farmer says that the butt ends of potatoes and the kernels of corn fi'om the butt ends of the ears, each produced crops that were materially belter than where the opposite course was pursued. In the case of potatoes the stalks from the butt end were much the larger and more forward at the first hoeing. The increase in corn was .some twenty per cent, in faTor of the butt end kernels. TiiE most profitable way to raise beef cattle is to keep them constantly in a thrifty and im- proving condition. It is not necessary to keei) very young stock rolling in fat, but there should always be an abundance of nutritious food to help nature in its development. To allow stock to run down in llesh and become ill Conditioned, simply lieeanse it is not de- signed for market for some time, is the height of folly. OUR RESPONSIBILITY. We are not at all responsible for the non- appearance of paiicrs read before the Agri- cultural and Horticultural Society, in the cDlumns of the liAxcASTEU Farmer, imless immediately directed to us. Under present circumstances, it is almost impossible for us to attend a meeting, and very unfortunately for us we cannot hear what is said and done when we do attend, but we nevertheless feel, and ever have felt, a deep interest in its wel- fare ; hence, we never have said or done any- thing, or intended to do anything prejudicial to its standing and its usefulness in the com- munity. The publisher of the Farmer sends his reporter to the meethigs of thesociety, to report its proceedings for his daily and weekly papers, and when that part of the Farmer (which we do not profess to control) is made up, his foreman very naturally selects tlie pro- ceedings found in the paper issued from the same oflice. These are details that do not belong to our specialty as editor. If any member of the society discovers that the papers he has read before it are omitted, neglected, or suppressed, he must hold the publisher, or rcjiortcr, or both, responsible, and not the editor, for wo can under no cir- cumstances be held accountable for that which has never come into our po.ssession. Any intelligent person who reads the pros- pectus of the Farmer will find that all com- munications, contributions and essays should be sent to the editor, and all subscriptions, advertisements and business matters to the publisher, in order to insure attention. The charge against us in the i>roceedings of the last meeting, under the caption of '"In- sects," (which, by the way, is like the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet left out) is a disingenuous one, and entirely foreign to the character we thought we had been en- deavoring to cultivate ; and the author of the charge is consciously or unconsciously exer- cising himself unnecessarily on our account. So far as the matter relates to ourself indi- vidually, we attach little or no importance to it ; but the attribution to us of motives which we never for a single moment entertained, and the feeble attempt to create the impres- sion that we have been acting prejudicially to the interests, the edification, and the dignity of the society, imposes upon us the necessity of making this exi>lanation — especially as the association is one of those with which we have been identified from its very origin, and which we have always esteemed. EDIBLE FUNGI. Tlic Ijoiik on the Fuiuji of the United States has not yet been written, it seems — at least, it has not yet been published — and especially the bonk on the edible funyi. Such a book is needed, but po.ssibly the enterprise of publish- ing it "would not pay." On the night of the 3d of November, 1881, a fungus sprung up in our garden nearly twelve inches in height, belonging to the order Agaraclm, which diflered from any we had Ijefore noticed. The pilnts, or hood, was tall bell-shaped — nearly a cone — flaring a little at the bottom, which was surrounded with a broad fringe, and was nearly six inches in height. The gills, inside, were of a puriilish rown in color, and rather finer than the common species. The stock or stem was over ten inches high and tapered to the top, and the pileus was so delicately poised on its upper point, that the least draft of air caused an active oscillation. The color, externally, was a tarnished white, and the surface of the pileus was covered with fiae fibers, gathered in tufts, giving it the appear- ance of disordered plush. The diameter at open mouth of the pileus was .3] inches. After we first discovered it, it did not increase any in size, and we let it remain three days before we took it up, and then only to pre- vent it from freezing, as the weatherhad sud- denlv changed to cold. AVe referred a draw- ing of it to Professor Farlow, of Cambridge, Mass., and he kindly determined it for us as Coprinus comatus, and further informed us that it was excellent when cooked. And there is just the "rub," for doubtless we have many edible fungi in our country, if we only could tell "tother from which." Many long years ago, when large districts in our county (that are now cultivated meadows and fields) were woodlands, we were familiar with a white .species of fungus, which was commonly called "pipe-stems," because they grew in clusters, or bunches, from six to a dozen grouped together, and bent at top like a common white clay pipe. These were gathered by a few knowing families, cooked, and much relished. But the people generally did not trust them, although the common "Mushroom" {A(jaricm eanqjestris) and the "Morell" or "Mauricle" {Morchella esculanti) were in very common use. We have now before us a catalogue of the "Pacific Coast Fungi," giving a list of the si)ecies systematically arranged, their locali- ties, their authorities, and the simple fact of the edible species, together with their techni- cal names, without any descriptions whatever. This catalogue is published under the auspices of the California Academy of Sciences, and is, perhaps, the first attempt of the kind in this country. The catalogue includes 759 species, only 61 of which are edible; but even this is an im- mense number, compared with the popular knowledge on the subject. It is not claimed THE LANCASTER FARMER. [January, however, tbat this contains all that are indi- genous to the Pacific Coast, as there are as many more which have not yet been "worliecl up." "We append a list of the edible species, and suggest that a descriptive work on these, accurately illustrated, is wliat is wanting on the subject at the present time. Lepiota excoriatws, Paxillus (jiganteus, " illanitus, ITygrophoiies ebuineus, " procerus, Lactarius dcUciosns, " rachodes, " insnleax, Armillaria melleus, " 2 piperahis, CUtocybedealhatus, " volenms, " geotropm. Rnssula adjusta, " }iebu!aris, " alutacea, " odorua, " heterophyla, Collybia esculentus, " lepida, " fucipes, Cantharillns cibarius, " longipnx, Marasmiux oreades, " radicatus, Polyim-as snlphnrea, OmphaUa oniscus, Hydunum repandum, Plurotus ostreatus, Clavaria crUtata, " pometis " fastigiata, " ubiKicinm, " flora, VohaTia leomlycinui:, Tremella meianterica, CUtopihis orcella, Mdangaster variagatus, " sotda, '5 LycoperdoK gipanteum, Photiata mntabilis, 4 Morehella esmhnta, " sqamosus, " conica, *Psamoia arvensu, Oyrometia esculenta, " campcstris, JTelvella ealifornica, " eretaceus, " crUpa, " pratensis, 5 Boletus luteus, " sUvatica, " versipelles, Caprinus atramentarius, " scaber, " \comatus, " granulates, Dermocybe cinnamomeus, " bovinus. Of course, it is presumed that the edible species must generally attain such a size as to make their possession an object ; but many of those of the general list must be very small, or found in the form of moulds, smuts, rusts, etc., but even the smaller species, micro- scopically considered, are very pretty and in- teresting objects ; and, as the cause, or the result, of animal and vegetable disease, they occupy a prominent position in their relations to the interests of the human family. As the population of a country increases, and ad- vances in taste and culture, its culinary preparations will be correspondingly developed as a domestic necessity, and many of the pro- ducts of nature will liecome objects of culti- vation that had been hitherto considered use- less. The cultivation of 31ushrooms, Morells, Trufflts, and other species of fumji, has long been a source of considerable revenue to European nations, and may become so in America. »In an addenda to the list -ne finti the single species of Agaricus tridens, and that is a new one. What has usually been included in tliis genus (the various Mush- rooms) will be found in the gcnns Psalliola. 1. This is the species to whicli we refer in the above description, and we may mention here that it was tlie only individual we have ever noticed on our premises, or elsewhere. Of course, had we been looking forll, we probably might have found it long ago. ^ 2. Can this be the species to wliich we have referred as the "pipe stem ?" We have not seen one for at least five and forty years. 3. This species has been frequently found in the county of Lancaster. A specimen is now m the Museum of the Linnajan Society that mensures flftcen inches in diameter, and developed in one night in the eity of Lan- caster. They commonly take the name of "puft' balls." 4. This is the popular "Mauriele" of Lancaster county . and is more or less abundant in many localiiies every summer, being frequently to be found in our markets. 5. Species of this genus are abundant in Lancaster county, but we are not aware that any of them are edi- ble. They are usually found on trees, logs, stumps, etc., and some of them are very pretty. Contributions. For The Lanc.\ster Farmer. HYBRIDISING FRUITS AND FLOWERS. December 28, 1881. 3Ir. Editor— Dear Sir : If I were a young man, as you know I am not— I would go strongly into this interesting operation. What a number of new and superior grapes, pears, peaches and flow, rs have been already produced by this truly interesting process ! But great improvements are yet to be made. I well re- member Van Mon's experiment in producing many new pears, yet he only made progress by raising seedlings, and grafting the seed- lings on older trees, thus causing them to bear in advance of the seadlings— then again planting the seeds of these and going tin ongh the same operation, until the sixth and seventh generation, each generation an im- provement on the original— thus producing many superior pears. But we do not know tbat Van Mons practiced crossing his fruits, and so far as we know, Mr. Rogers, of Salem, Mass., was the first who practically proved that the grape could by thus crossing the grape, during its flowering, transferr- the pollen from one flower to anotlier— and in this way he has originated over fifty new varieties 1 Yet many good botanists, at the time, denied that the Rogers grapes were crosses. But though they were all seedlings of a Fox grape and crossed with a pollen from the exotic, or vinefera species— these grapes all lost their foxiness, and are now among our best grapes— vigorous, healthy, hardy aud great bearers of delicious grapes, half native and half foreign. Since Mr. Rogers successful experiments, many others have tried the same, with more or less success. Notably Mr. Campbell of Ohio, Mr. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York and Dr. Wylie, of Chester, South Carolina. There is yet plenty of room aud time for our young horticulturists to "go and do like- wise !" All fruits and flowers may be changed in this way, and if carefully performed, the seedlings will be different and some very superior varieties may be thus produced. As stated above, if I yet had the hope of living many years (which of course I have not) what an interest and pleasure it would be, to thus spend my leisure time producing new fruits, vegetables and flowers. J. B. G. For The Lancaster Farmhr. PERSIMMONS. December 29lh, 1881. Editor of the Farmer— Bear Sir : In the De- cember No. of the Farmer, page 184, L. S. R. speaks highly of our native Persimmons and says "he has some very superior varie- ties," which is interesting to lovers of that fruit. I fully agree with him, so far as our natives are concerned. But when he says "it is useless to waste our time, trying the Japa- nese varieties, it reminds me of the story of the "Fox and the grapes." Poor Reynard saw some very fine grapes on a high tree, and as he could not get them, he passed along, saying "they were only sour (/j'cyjcs, " so he did not want them. 1 am fully of the opinion, that if L. S. R. would once get a taste of these Japan varie- ties, he would change his opinion. 'Tis true, they are not in the northwest what they call iron dads, but even our natives are frequent- ly injured by severe cold winters. My own trees, some half a dozen — ajjparently not in- jured by the last severe winter, yet they, the trees, must have suffered some, as none of ray trees bore any fruit this last season. The same happened with all my Chinese and hy- brid pears — as none of the trees had a single fruit— while last year, two trees had over a bushel; yet these Chinese varieties are re- markable for bearing large crops every year; the trees appear all right, but the flowerbuds must have sufiered. I have had the "Shalea," or Cliinese sand pear near fifty years, oft" and on. Somtimes the trees were killed by severe winters, but I always got grafts again from friends to whom I had given grafts. These va- rieties of pears always produce heavy crops of large and showey pears, as do also the Kiefer hybrid, and several others no doubt would also be crossed by bees and insects. No blight on these pears. But the Japan persimmons are very diffe- rent from our natives; even before fully ripe, they have none of that astringency so peculiar to our natives. The fruit is larger and I be lieve they will in time be acclimated in om- middle States. A friend tells me he had seve- ral varieties, and the trees froze down to the •now line, but all sprouted up again and a graft on top of a native was not injured. By planting the trees on high ground, they might live; but as many people grow orange and lemon trees in tubs, or boxes, these Ja- pan persimmon trees can easily be grown in the same way. J. B. G. Selections. FARMING ABOUT THE ROCKY MOUN- TAIN.S. Those of us who have become habituated to green fields and shady woods — who have been helped by the rainfall and have done little of our own to water the crops — could not easily bring ourselves to think much of those dry regions where little but cactus and other suc- culent plants grow naturally ; where all is gray and cheerless, and artificial watering alone produces all a human being is to eat. Yet these apparently inhospitable places are paradises for some people, and in many re- spects have advantages which we do not en- joy. In the ages of the past we look to Egypt as the pioneer in work of civilization ; and yet her vast agriculture was solely artificial. There was little rain, and the mighty Nile river, as the poet says, had to bleed through a thousand pores in order to make the grain and the grass to grow. Dependent solely on their own resources, they always had bread to eat ; w-hile the countries supposed to be more favored of Nature often left their people • to starve. Joseph's brethren heard the good news that there was corn in Egypt, when famine stalked all over their own fair laud. There is no danger in these days of rail- roads and electric telegraphs that the stories of ancient famines will ever be repeated, as " history repeats itself " in our lands. The day after the Mississippi overflows, Massaphu- 1S82.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. setts shijiK tdoil fur tin.' iiniiHlMled oues ; and if the griisslioppsrs eat up the crops of Xe- Nebiaska, the loss is made within a few days by the sympathies rS Eastern bretliren. But if e\er a geiKial Eastern destruction of crops should occur, wlio Icnows liul tliese despised arid western |)lains would not l)c fully able to come to our rescue V People often suppose that where crops are raised by irri{;ation, the land under culture must necessarily be limited ; but this is not the case. At the very ba.se of the Rocky Mountains most of Ow farmers work forty acre lots ; many one hundred and lifty ; while some are reported as having over three hun- dred acres in wheat. Of course this is noth- ing in comparison with what many Western people have in the more nature-favored n- gions ; but it is very large for artificial work, and quite large enough. As we have said, the natural charms of nature-watered lands will ever have the greatest charms for the average man ; but it is a matter of great interest to watch what other places can do and are doing, and this Colorado illustration gives a new one of a a point we now and then make, that, what- ever may be local ills, every part of the worlil has its own advantaues. 'GO TO THE ANT. Rev. Dr. H. C. MoCook, a Presbyterian minister of Philadeliihia who was entertained by Dr. J. A. Ehlcr during the meeting of syn- od in Lancaster, has for years made clus^ study of the ant a specialty. It has been known a long while that an ant exists in New Mexico which secretes honey after some fash- ion. Travelers have told of Indian feasts in which the ant was served up "in her own honey" as a species of animated honey-cell. But there was need of a careful examination of the habits of these ants on the part of same one wlio had the scientific spirit and some training in the observation of insect life. Dr. McCook undertook the long journey from Philadelphia to New Mexico for tlie sole jiur- po.se of playing Paul Pry on the interiors of the honey-ants — the interiors in two senses, for his purpose was not alone accomplished by observing them at work in their underground burrows, or rather in the singular galleries which they drive through soft sandstone rock; it was also necessary to examine their anato- my and lind ont how and by v.'hat organs they secrete the limpid honey. All of which Dr. McCook has done, and curious enough are the habits of thes^■ little favorites of iEsop. The sluggard would hardly profit were he enjoined to go to the honey-ant of the garden of the Gods {Mi/rmecocystufs horticsdeorum). Could he see the galleries made specially for those ants winch secrete the honey, and note the care taken of them by the worker ants, and witness the absolute quiet in which these honey makers loaf away the entire day and night, the moral would not be what it was in- tended. He would regard with envy the swollen crop of the honey-maker, the assidu- ity of its servants and attendants both to keep it neat and to feed it with fresh honey from the neigliboring oaks, and the laziness with which, when it does move at all it pushes itself or is dragged by the busy workers from one gallery to anotli<>r. And even the slender worker might not seem to the sluggard so bad an ant, for none goes out by daylight, and it is only when the sun sets that these peculiar creatures, turning night into day, sally out for food. Hereafter the re\^sed reading will be: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, but not to the Mi/rmecociiatus Iwrlusdcorum/'' Ants have been astonishing us now for a a century, and yet there seems no end to the variety of their tricks and performances. Till found ill the Garden of the (fods, it was not supposed tliat the honey ants existed further north than New Mexico. They have been found at Brownsville, Santa Fe. Matamoras and the City of Mexico. Dr. McCook found their nests on the tops of dry ridges in the pictur- esiiue section on the Eau ipii Bouille, Colora- do, called the Garden of the Gods. He fol- lowed them at night, lantern in hand, for several evenings in succession before discov- ering what they fed on. The long train of workers was easily traced to thickets of scrub oaks. Finally, on the third night, they were seen on the oak twigs running from one oak gall to another and sucking a juice secreted by the gall. Each active gall had the larva of the gall fiy within; the ants passed by those from which the in iture insect had escaped. Nests were then laid bare with pick and shovel and the workers caught in the act of feeding the honey bearers. These apparently were of the same breed, even the same cast, as the workers, and only different in the mon- strous swelling of an anterior stomach, which Dr. McCook calls a crop. Like a crop, this part does not digest the honey, it merely dis- tills and purifies it; and worker ants when hungry will go up to a honey ant and ask for honey from its crop, just as a young pigeon is fed from the cro]i of its mother. Among the many plates in this volume, which show the habits and dwellings of the ants so clearly that the story hardly needs the aid of text, we see workers feeding the honey bearers with the contents of their own little crops on returning fr')m a midnight foray, and others taking toll both from the raiders and from the distended hoaey-beareis. These latter arc seen hanging from the rough ceilings of the larger galleries in a half-torpid state, for all the world like single Delaware grapes. Dr. McCook describes them as very light of color, shining and transparent. The honey is sin- gularly pure and liquid. la summer it has a -slight tartness that is very refreshing, but in winter even this is not tasted. The Indians serve them up as a delicacy exactly like very tender fruit. The Mexicans are .said to press the honey bearers exactly as if they were grapes, and even to make a sort of wine or liquor from them. Dr. McCook dissents from another observer who recommends that atten- tion should be given to the ants as honey- producers for the market. Ho is of the opin- ion that the number of honey-bearers is too small in each community. A large colony would not have more than 000, which would yield not more than half a pound. But it is likely that any one who should experiment with them would devise means of doubling the number of lioney-raakers. Dr. McCook's other argument is stronger, namely, that the destruction of insect life involved in obtain- ing the honey will be likely to prejudice peo- ple against it. He might have also remem- bered to mention the natural disgust which most people have towards insects like the ant, which are never associated in their minds with food otherwise than as corrupters and pilferer.s. To many people the smell of ants is intensely hateful. It would take too much space to follow Dr. McCook in his discoveries of the intimate life of these ants; their care for each other and their occasional utter indifference; their sloth and activity; their ferocity and apparent good temper under provocation. On the whole, the report is extremely in their favor. They are hard-w(U-king, stubborn, long-suffering when other ants run their mines among their galleries, and so prudent in laying up stores of food for a bad day that they actually store it in living kegs, which move, indeed, with dilliculty, but still can drag themselves out of the way of immediate danger. Notwith- standing all the doctor has done, there is yet more to study. Which of the workers are they that begin to get swelled crops and finally take to the honey room? What do the honey bearers look like after several months during which the colony has not stirred abroad? Do they find other honey food beside the galls on the oak? Do the Southern colonies secrete more honey or less? How much of the honey habit is voluntary in the individual? How much cliance? There is no end to the [iroblems before the students of this singular little crea- ture. The second part of the book relates to another Western ant, Pcxjonomiirmcx occidcn- talis, whose fortresses and cleared spaces on the prairies iniirht have fiu'med the models on which some of the earthworks of the mound- builders of the Mississippi valley were arrang- ed. Every night these ants close their gates with large pebbles, thus reversing the habit of the 31iirme(-0cystiis. They are continually attacked by a very minute ant called the Erratic, which fastens on like bull-terriers to an ox, and are greatly dreaded by the large ant. Ants of other species run their burrows into those of the Occidcntalis, "jumping their claims," but the latter do not mind. Even the eggs and larviE of two kinds have been found in one gallery. Dr. McCook has issued a prospectus for a large work on American spiders, to be printed if sufflcieiit subscribers send in their names. A GREAT SOUTHERN FARMER. Brains will find or make a pathway to suc- cess under any conditions, and brains have been the wealth-creating factor in the case of the large planters. It is by business shrewd- . ness and the economy of wholesale dealings that E. F. Bailey, of Jefferson county, Fla., succeeds in making money, though he has never improved upon the old methods of ciil- tiv.ating his 0,000 acres ; it is by brains that the managers of the Capeheart plantations on Albemarle sound are able to add constantly to the number of their acres, the land added last year being valued at S.52,O0O,- and it is by brains, and not by the mere vastness of his farming operations, that Edward Richardson, of Mississippi, the greatest cotton-raiser in the world, has amassed his immense fortune, now estimated at from Sl.-),000,000 to §20,.- 000,000. The means by which Mr. Richard- son has achieved phenomenal success as a 8 THE LANCASTER. FARMER. [January, planter are worthy of a moment's study for the lessons they convey. His business is a comprehensive one, including everything re- lating to cotton. He not only raises cotton, but gins, spins and weaves it, is a large dealer and has oil mills as well. He was clear- sighted enough to perceive that there is a special profit in each process and operation through which cotton passes from the field to the consumer of cotton goods, and he had the capital and ability to organize a business which makes all these profits his own. He owns some 32,000 acres of land, and last year raised over 12,000 bales of cotton— a greater number than the Khedive of Egyi)t, who is the next largest cotton raiser in the world, Mr. Richardson is not a "high" farmer, a bale to three acres being the average produc- tion of his land, which is largely tilled by tenants on the share system. The 36,000 pounds of seed cotton which he annually gets from his land are ginned by his own gins — which do public ginning also — and pressed, baled and compressed, so much as is shipped as raw material, on his own plantation. The seed, which is ordinarily worth $0 a ton, and is to a great extent wasted by other planters, is ground and pressed for the oil. The hulls are used for fuel in this process, and the ashes sold and used for fertilizers. From a ton of seed he obtains 3.5 gallons of oil worth 35 cents a gallon— 112.25. The cake remain- ing after the oil is pressed out is worth rather more for fuel than the seed itself, selling readily for home use or shipment to England at .f 6 to S7 a ton. Each ton of cotton-seed, therefore, nets rather more than $20 — the bulk used as fuel being taken into account. Mr. Eichardson's mill at Coiinth receives and manufacture^ a large part of his crop, and an- other profit is added on the sales of yarns and sheetings, drillings, cottonades, etc., a profit wliich is considerably enhanced by the elimi- nation of shipping charges, insurance, broker's commission, and other tolls levied on cotton shipped to distant mWls.— Letter to New York Times. LIME AS A PRESERVATIVE. It would be interesting to record the many evidences of the value of lime in arresting de- cay. As long as 17(59 a Mr. Jackson, a chemist, obtained perraissirn to prepaj'e tim- ber for the ship yards, by immersing it in a solution of salt water, lime, muriate of soda, etc.; another practical experimentalist sug- gested slaked lime, thinned with a solution of glue, for mopping the timbers of a ship. The preservation of timber has been attempt- ed by surrounding it with pounded lime; several attempts have been made to preserve timber by the use of lime. Mr. Britten, in his work on "Dry Hot," mentions a number of cases where lime has been of servicS. He says, "quick-lime with damp has been found to accelerate putrefaction in consequence of its extracting carbon ; but when dry and in such large quantities as to absorb all moisture from the wood, the woof? is preserved and the sap hardened." "Vessels long in the lime trade have afforded proof of this fact, also examples in plastering latlis which are gene- rally found sound where they have been found dry." The joists and sleepers of the base- ment floors are rendered less subject to decay by a coating of limewhite ; and this might be renewed at intervals. The same writer adds, "it does not appear practicable to use lime- water to any extent for preserving timber, because water holds iu solution only about 1-500 part of lime, which quantity .would be too inconsiderable ; it, however, renders timber more durable, but at the same time very hard and diflicult to be worked." Tliese facts are instructive ; they show, at least, that lime in a sufficient quantity kept dry is a valuable preservative agent, and some practi- cal chemist might earn a deserved repute if he could prepare a lime solution that would be capable of rendering so substantial a ser- vice to all builders. Such a solution would be at least suflSciently remunerative to make it worth while to try a few exi)eriments in this direction. It is stated on good aulliority that the white ant in India costs the govern- ment £100,000 a year for repairing woodwork bridges, etc., caused by its depredations. Concrete basements have been found to resist the encroachments of the ant. Dr. Darwin proposed a process of timber preservation some yars ago, in which an absorption of limewater was effected, and after that had dried,^a weak solution of sulphuric acid, so as form sulphate of lime in the pores of the wood. The growth of dry-rot or fungus on timber has been prevented by limewater, and many in- stances have been mentioned of its value. The cleansing and sanitary virtues of lime are more generally known. The painter uses limewater to kill the grease upon his work in- stead of turpentine ; and soot stains on the outside of flues have been removed by the agency of thick warm limewash. The value of limewhite as a wash for walls, as a .purifier of the air in sheds, stables, and other build- ings is unquestionable, though all limewashed roof-timers have rather a rough and penurious look. As a preservative coating to the joists of floors and other timbers not exposed to damp, it seems worthy of a more extended trial. ONE SQUARE ACRE. The number of square feet in an acre is 43.560. la order to have this area the piece of land must be of such a length and breadth that the two multiplied together will produce the above number. Tlius an acre of land might be 43, .560 feet long by one foot broad ; 21,780 feet long by two feet broad ; 12,250 feet long by three broad and so on. If the acre of land is to be exactly square, each side must be as nearly as possible 280 feet 1-2 inches. The nearest you can come to an exactly square acre with an even number of feet on the sides is to make it 220 feet long by ISO broad. YARDS IN A MILE. Mile in England or America, 1,760 yards. Mile in Russia. 1,100 yards. Mile in Italy, 2,497 yards. Mile in Scotland and Ireland, 2,200 yards. Mile in Poland, 4,100 yards. Mile iu Spain, 5,028 yards. Mile in Germany, 5,866 yards. Mile in Sweden and Denmark, 7,233 yards. Mile in Hungary, 8,800 yards. A league in England and America, 5,280 yards. WHEAT CROP OF THE UNITED STATES. The following is the estimated wheat crop of the United States for 1881, according to the figures furnished by the department of agriculture at Wasliington. The figures for 1879 are from the census returns : 1S79. 1881. Bushels. Bushels. Maine 666,201 524,800 New Hampshire 168,720 16.5^0 0 Veniiout 34J,4I6 .399!ooO Massiiehu.setts '.5,7i)3 Rliodc Island 240 Connecticut ;jS,.58o .36 000 New Yorli 11 ,21(8,097 13,26 '',000 New .levsey ',901,952 2.448^600 Pennsylvania 19,512,034 19,839,000 Delaware 1,181,776 927,000 Maryland 8,3.54,792 0,612,6.0 Virginia 7,S:J7,02l 7,1.36,000 Nortli Carolina 3,428.194 4,442,100 South Carolina 957,074 l,0%i800 Georgia 3,t39,.514 2,487,400 Florida 421 Alabama 1.5.36.8.32 1,111,800 Mississippi 217,620 20.5,200 Louisiana 4.9-53 Texas 2,.577,923 3.287,500 Arkansas 1, 265,612 993,400 Tennessee 7,299,034 6,752,0 0 AVest Virginia 3,030,680 4,2 IJ,0OO Kentucky 11,369,067 «,.s39,tX)0 Ohio 46,010,412 39,177,000 Michigan 34,632,231 24,765,000 Indiana . 47,1.54,5 0 29,' 30,000 Illinois 51,174,818 28,.543,000 Wisconsin 24,930.448 16,15O,.50O Minnesota 34,709,2.38 3 .19 ,000 Iowa 3 . 02,738 4.871 ,300 Missouri 24,892,728 23,847.600 Kansas '7.311,038 19,448.800 Nebra.ska 3,816,7.31 11,625,000 California 28.9,52,.378 28,367,800 Oregon 7,477,294 13.889,(X10 Nevada 09,.13S Color.ado 423,:356 l,.309,0fl0 The Territories 7,79»,.590 14,508,000 Total United States. , 458,105,747 381,479,200 A PLAIN AND EASY WAY OF CURING HAMS. The principle thing in curing hams is to get them just salt enough to keep them and not so salt as to injure the flavor and cause them to become hard. Haras should be neatly trimmed and cut rounding, to imitate as closely as may be the hams of commerce. Trim closely, so there sliall be no masses of fat left at the lowest extremity of the hams. The shoulders may be cut in shape convenient for packing, and they should be salted in separate packages from tlie hams. Hams are cured by both dry salting and brine. When dry salting is employed the hams are rubbed often with salt anti sugar. Be- tween each rubbing they are bunched up on platforms or tables, the surface of which is spread with a layer of salt, and each ham is also covered with salt. When taken up to rub, which is usually done i\\e or six times, a shallow box is at hand in which to do the work. When brine is used, prepare a pickle strong enough to float an egg and stir into it a suffi- cient amount of sugar and molasses to give it a sweetened taste. Some add a little salt- peter to color the meat. In moderate quan- tity it is commonly accepted as beneficial. Covbr the hams with the pickel and place the packages where the temperature is uniform and above freezing. For hams of twelve pounds, four weeks will be sufficient ; larger hams must remain in the brine a longer time. In general, three to seven weeks embraces the extreme of time required for domestic curing of hams, varying as to the size of the hams, temperature and time when they will be re- quired for use. When it is designed to pre- serve hams through the summer they must not be removed from the pickle too soon. Shoulders require much the same treatment 1882.J THE LANCASTER FARMER. as flo hams, and bolh should be carefully smoked. The ini'servative priiiciitle of sm .ke is known as oreosoto. iSinokc made by burn- ing corn-cobs is liighly esteemed, but those eniraged in curing meats on a large scale prefer the smoke obtained from dry hickory that has been stripped of its bark. The smoking process must not be too much hur- ried or the creosote will not have time to penetrate the entire substance of the meat. Ten days' smoking is usually sullicient, unless the pieces are very large and tliick. A process in liam-curing practiced by some of the h'ading packini,'-houses consists in creating the smoke in au oven outside of the smoke-house and passed through underground pipes into it. The smoke, rising from the tloor to the top of the house, encounters two opposite currents of air drawn from the out- side. These currents cause the smoke to form into a rapidly revolving horizontal column which passes among the hams. The smoke is not warm, and there is no heat to melt the hams or hot air to blacken them. The hams under this process are smoked in very much h'ss lime than by the old method. While canvassing hams has nothing to do with their flavor, it is a protection from in- sects, and will pay the farmer for the extra hibor. It should be done before warm weather. Wrap each ham in coarse brown paper and then sew it up in cotton cloth cut to suit the size, following the shape of the ham. "When covered as described, dip them in a wash made of lime-water and colored with yellow ochre. Hang up in a cool place to dry. The wash closes the interstices of the muslin, and the whole forms a perfect protection against insects. The room in which any kind of cured meat is stored should be dry and cool, and the darker the better. THE PART WHICH WORMS PLAV IN NATURE. The latest fruit of Charles Darwin's labors in the field of physical research is presented in a volume treating of The Formation of Veij- elttblc Mould TIaowjh the Action of Worms. The term vegetable mould is commonly ap- plied to that superficial layer of soil, generally of a blackish color and a few inches in thick- ness, which covers the whole surface of the land in every moderately humid country. The uniform fineness of the particles of whii'h it is composed is one of its chief char- acleristic features, and this may be well ob- served in any recently ploughed field, wliere the top layer is exposed on the sides of a furrow. It is the object of this book to show that the fine earth composing this superlicial layer has been brought up to tlu' surface by worms in the form of castings or e.\erement. We are thus led to conclude that all the so-called veg- table mould which is strewn over the smface of the ground has i)assed many times through the intestinal canals of worms, and hence the the term "animal mould" would be in some respects more appropriate than the term in common use. Some of the conclusions reached in this volume were suggested in a paper published by Mr. Darwin many years ago, Jjut many scientists rejected his conclusions with respect to the part played by worms in the formation of the mould, on account of their assumed in- capacity to do so much work. This seems to have been an instance of that inability to sum up the effects of a continually recurrent cause which has often retarded the progress of science. In order to meet the objection raised, Mr. Darwin resolved to make more observa- tions of the same kind as those previously published, and to attack the problem on another side l)y weighing all the castings thrown up within a given time in a meas- ured space, as well as by ascertaining the rate at which objects left on the sur- face are buried by worms. It appears that near Macr Hall, in Staffordshire, (piick lime bad been spread, about the year 1827, thickly over a field of good pasture land which bad not since been ploughed. Some square holes were dug in this field in the begiiming of Oc- tober, tS37, and the sections showed a layer of turf fin-med by the matted roots of the grasses, half an inch in thickness, beneath which, at a depth of three inches from the .surface (the 2^ inches intervening being vege- table mould), a layer of the lime in powder or in small lumps could be distinctly seen run- ning all round the vertical *ides of the holes. Coal cinders had been spread over a part of this same field in the year 1834, and when the holes mentioned were dug— that is, after an interval of three years— the cinders formed a line of l)Uick spots round the holes at a depth of one inch beneath the surface, parallel to and above the white layer of lime, Over an- other part of this field cinders had been strewn only about half a year before, and these either lay on the surface or were entangled among the roots of the grasses. Here Mr. Darwin saw the commencement of the burying pro- cess, for worm castings bad been heaped on several of the smaller' fragments. After an interval of 43 years this field was re-examined and now the two layers of lime and cinders were found almost everywhere at a greater depth than before by nearly one inch. It fol- lows that mould to an average thickness of one-fifth of an inch had beenannually brought up by the worms and spread over the surface of the field. Mr. Darwin cites a number of instances in which lu^ was able to compute the rate of mould formation by worms, which of course, must vary according to the nature of the subsoils. The rate, for example, must become very much slower after a bed of mould several inches in thickness has been formed ; for the worms then live chicfiy near the surface and burrow down to a greater depth so as to bring up fresh earth from below only during the winter, when the weather is very cold, or during midsunnner, when the earth is very dry. Of course, too, relatively few worms would be found in stony ground, and their production of mould would be comparatively slow. The effect, however, of their action, even in such cases, is astonishing when extended pe- riods of tin\e are considered, as the following example shows. We are told that a field near Mr. Darwin's liouse was last ploughed in 1841, then harrowed, and left to become i)a,sture land. For several years it was clothed with an extremely scant vegetation, and was so thickly covered witli small and large dints (some of them half as large as a child's head,) that it came to be known as "the stony field." Mr. Darwin says he can remember doubting whether ho should live to see these larger flints covered with vegetable mould and turf. But the smaller stones disappeared before many years bad elapsed, as did every one of the larger ones after time ; so that after thirty years a horse could gallop over the compact turf from one end of the field to the ether and not strike a single stone with his shoes. This was certaiidy the work of worms, for though castings were not frequent for several years, yet some were thrown up month after month, and these gradually increased in numbers as the pasture improved. Still more striking was the burying of a path paved with flag- stones, whieh in 1843 ranacro.ss Mr. Darwin's farm. The worms threw up many castings in the interstices of these stones, and al- though during several years the path was weeded and swept, yet ultimately the weeds and worms prevailed, the path became covered up, and after several years no trace of it was left. On removing in 1877 the thin over- laying layer of turf, the small flagstones, all in their proper places, were found covered by an inch of fine mould. It will surprise most readers to learn how large an amount of mould may be formed by worms on the sur- face of a field in a single year. Mr. Darwin calculates that the castings ejected annually by each earthworm weigh, on an average, more than twenty ounces. It has been esti- mated by other observers that 53,707 worms exist in an acre of land ; but this estimate is based on the number found in gardens. As- suming that only half the number named, or about 27,U0() worms to the acre, live on pasture land, and that each worm annually ejects twenty ounces, we should have fifteen tons as the weight of the castings annually thrown up on an acre of land, and helping to form the layer of vegetable mould. Arehseologists are probably not aware how I much they owe to worms for the preservation of many ancient objects ; coins, gold orna- ments, stone implements, etc., if dropped on the surface of the ground will infallibly be buried by the castings of worms in a few years, and will thus be safely preserved. For instance, some years ago a grass field not far from Shrewsbury was ploughed up, and a sur- prising number of iron arrow heads were found at the bottom of the fiUTOws, which no doubt had been left strewn on the battle- field of Shrewsbury in the year J403. In Abiugcr, Surrey, on a trench being dug in 1870, the concrete floor of the atrium or re- ception room belonging to a Roman villa was disclosed at a depth of two or two and one- half feet. At first sight it appeared impossi- ble that the vegetable mound covering the pavement couid have been brought ui) by worms, but upon close inspection the con- crete was found decayed and completely per- meated with worm burrows. Through these channels in the softened mortar the worms have been throwing up their castings from the ground beneath, and heaping on the con- crete pavement a layer of fine earth, during many centiu'ies and perhaps for a thousand years. The coins discovered in this place dated from 133 to 37.) A. D. The pavement of Beaulieu Abbey in Hampshire now lies at a depth of from 0] to 11^ inches beneath the surrounding turf-covered surface. A part of this pavement has been uncovered, but re- 10 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [Jannary, quires continual sweeping to remove the worm castings, which otherwise would soon rebury it. A large number of analogous ex- cavations described in this volume demon- strates liow considerable a part worms have played in the concealment of Roman and other old buildings in England, although no doubt, the washing down of soil from neigh- boring higher lands and the deposition of dust have largely co-operated in the work of burial. It is plain enough, from the data collejted in this book, that worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would imagine. Few of us, indeed, when we behold a wide, turf- colored expanse, are aware that its smooth- ness,on which so much of its beauty depends, is mainly due to all the inequalities having been slowly leveled by worms. It is a mar- velous reflection that the whole of the super- ficial mould over any such expanse has passed and will again pass every few years, through the bodies of worms. The creatures which exercise so important a function iu the phy- sical economy are poorly provided with sense organs, for they cannot be said to see, al- though they can just distinguish between light and darkness ; they are completely deaf, and have only a feeble power of smell ; the sense of touch alone is well developed. It may well be questioned whether there are many other animals which have played a more considerable part in the history of the earth than have these lowly organized beings. Some other animals, however, still more lowly or- ganized— namely, corals, have done even more conspicuous work by constructing in- numerable reefs and islands in the great ocean, but these are almost wholly confined to the tropical zones. SPARE THE TREE. No subject is of graver import to the future of this continent than the protection and pre- servation of its forests. Sir Samuel Baker, who recently returned from a hunting expedi- tion in the Big Horn country of Wyoming, said that the extensive and wanton burning of the Rocky mounlaiu woodlands was an evil of such magnitude that he was astonished to find hundreds of square miles iu a blaze, carrying on the march of devastation until quenched by a heavy rain-fall or prrested by the high mountain tops above the timber-line. The reckless miners and thoughtless hunters, traders and travelers, who are responsible for this prodigious waste, bid fair to convert fer- tile valleys and copious river sources into arid deserts and dried-up gulches. It is a well-known law that forest destruc- tion of a wholesale character diminishes rain- fall, and eventually banishes it altogether. Hence the anxiety of the more enlightened governments to save their native and primfeval timber intact, knowing that its reproduction and preservation are the life's blood of the country itself. What will be the ultimate re- sult, judging from evidences of the East V Our rich Western regions will become gradu- ally parched ; brooks and streams will die out forever ; important feeders of a great river system will become extinct, lowering the level perhaps of such a channel as the Mis- sissippi river, and one word will be written across the face of the country — desolation. That this is no exaggeration may be under- stood from the fact that it was recently re- ported at the annual meeting of the Geo- graphical society of Vienna by Councilor Wex, that tlie Volga is decreasing in volume, owing to the destruction of wood in its valley, so as to materially affect the level of the Cas- pian Sea and the Sea of Aral. It is apparent therefore, that the most vital question in con- nection with that wonderful domain beyond tiie Rocky mountains is the preservation of its forests. As long as it is possible for one ad- venturer to build his camp fire in the wood and leave it to the mercy of the wind^, thus laying waste what would be a respectable county ill our commonwealth, this destruc- tion and consequent physical disorder will go on. Appropriate legislation sternly executed is only a partial remedy. The science of forestry, as studied and applied in the older countries of Europe, must be introduced and cultivated here. In nearly all of the countries of the Old World forestry, in connection with climat- ology, geology and kindred branches, is taught ill nearly all the universities, and the several governments take an especial interest in expert graduates in this branch. Particu- larly is this true, curiosly enough, in coun- tries where is the largest proportion of wood- land, as in Russia, Sweden, Germany and Austria. The lowest occurs in Great Britain, Denmark, Spain and Holland. Over forty- two per cent, of the acreage of Russia is forest, while Britain has but a little over three per cent. In Germany more attention is given to arboriculture than in any other western power. America, of all quarters of the world, is the most thickly wooded with the primeval forest, and was of vast extent and contained a great variety of species, covering, with insignifi- cant exceptions, all that portion of our conti- nent which was occupied by the colonists ; but now it is d'lubtful, according to the very best authorities, if any State of the Union, save Oregon, has more woodland than it ought permanently to preserve. Our Eastern and Middle States were at one time dense forests, while now Pennsj'lvania alone has presprved her timber. The other States are compelled to send to Canada and the West to supply their market. Our government, how- ever, began early to perceive the danger of indiscriminate forest felling. In 1817, and again in 1831, statutes were passed to restrict spohation. Yet it may be judged thai the woodland is largely suffering when we remember that there are over .30,000 saw mills in the United States, nearly all doing a flourishing business. In some States special legislation provides for adequate pro- tection, and in California, a State forester has been appointed. The devastation in that State has been enormous, and in Texas also, where the supply of trees is totally inadequate and where destructive tornadoes prevail, to- gether with extensive fires. In view of ihe facts stated, it is plain that intelligent and prompt action should be taken by Congress to prevent further spoliation. The absolute necessity is apparent in the not encouraging fact that already over two-fifths of the entire area of the United States is so arid that even artificial irrigation cannot now redeem it ; indeed, west of the Mississippi, owing to the forest fires largely, one-sixth of the entire territory alone is susceptible to cul- tivation. In Colorado, New Mexico, Ari- zona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, not one-fifth of the area can ever be i-endered available, and it is doubtful with- out expedients now unknown, if any of these territories will support more than .300,000 people at a time ; and in Wyoming not over 5,000 square miles in the 100,000 square miles of area can be termed arable land. The question then arises : What is the best method of achieving practical results for the preservation of whatever physical advantages we possess in our national domain, and no in- quiry of greater magnitude can be addressed to the Forty-seventh Congress. — New York Sun. LET THE FROST HELP YOU. Few fully appreciate how much a freezing of the ground does to set at liberty the plant- food looked up in almost all soils. Water, in freezing, expends about one-eighth of its bulk, and with tremendous force. Water, if con- fined in the strongest rock and frozen, will burst it assunder. The smallest particles of soil, which are in fact only minute bits of rock, as the microscope will show, if frozen while moist are broken still finer. This will go on all winter in every part of the field or garden reached by the frost; and as most soils contain more or less elements that all grow- ing plants are crops need, a good freezing is equivalent to adding manure or fertilizers. Hence it is desirable to expose as much of the soil as possible to frost action, and the deeper the better, for the lower soil has been less drawn ui)on and is richer in plant food. Turn up the soil this month wherever practicable. If thrown into ridges and hollows, in field and garden, the frost will penetrate so much deeper. Further, plowing or spading the soil now exposes insects and weed roots to killing by freezing. Still further, soils thrown up .loosely will dry out earlier in spring, and ad- mit earlier working, which is often a great gain when a day or two may decide in favor of a successful crop.— American Agriculturist. The great wheat exporters of Russia are becoming alarmed at the tremendous compe- tition they have to encounter. Hungary and the Danubian principalities were the first to appear in the Western markets, but the con- struction of a railway to Odessa restored the the equilibrium. Then the American compe- tition uommenced, and has ruined the inhabi- tants of the wheat-producing districts of the Muscovite empire. Wheat is abundant in the interior— more so than for many years past- hut there is scarcely any communication with the seaboard. The great military railways run right through the country, but there are few feeding lines. The roads and canals and the core of the wheat in transport are in as primitive state as when Russia had no com- petitor in the field. If a prompt move is not made by the government— which is scarcely to be expected at present— Russian wheat will soon be driven out of the Western markets by United States enterprise and the new field opening up in India. 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. 11 maniifactnrliis; rfiqiiirement, tliere is good reason for aiillclpalinf; a large trade. Prices. Prices continued steady tlirouchout 1881. Except the slisflit advance effected on some grades In Aunfust wlien only a lialf crop was anileipatcd, no clinnire Is pcrceplilile in the year's tables of quotations. The market commenced and closed strony. Ohio ship- piiifl sorts are a trille lower than they were, but all other kinds rule at the lone prevalllnij rates. Quotations January i, i88i. New England — Crop 1880, wrappers : Common 1.1^17 Medium 18r'ii'^0 Fine 2.5(r.i8.5 Selections 40(i Wrappers 11 to 20 Wisconsin — Crop 18S0, assorted lots - - - 6!.|;@10 Wrappers 12 to 20 Havana seed 12>i@lB Berks County Agriculture Society. At the annual meeting of the Berks County Agricultural Society, held at Reading on Saturday afternoon in the Courthouse, the old ollicers were re-elected, to wit : President, Jacob (i. Zerr; Treas- urer, William S. liitter; Secretary, Cyrus T. Fox. The society, for the first time in lifteen years, is out of debt, and with a balance of ?1,5U() in its treasury. A resolution was adopted authorizing an agreement with the Park Commissioners to open the fairground for the purpose of a public park, provided the con- sent of the County Commissioners be obtained, and that the city councils appropriate the moneys neces- sary to the impr vement of the premises. Our Local Organizations. LANCASTER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster county Agricultural Society convened iu this city, Monday afternoon, .January 2. The following named persons were present: M. D. ier.dig, Creswcll ; Daniel Smeych, city; H. M. Engle, Marietta; Dr. C. A. Greene, city; Casper Hiller, Conestoga; Henry Kurtz, Mount Joy; W. W. Griest, city; Hebron Herr, West Lampeter; Enos. Weaver, Strasburg; F. R. DitTenderfl'er, city; Calvin Cooper, Bird-In-Hand; Johnson Miller, Lilitz; William H. Broslus, Liberty square, John H. Landis, Millersville; J. H. Ilershey, Salunga; S. A. Hershey, Salunga; S. P. Eby, city; C. L. Hunsecker, Manheim township; Wash L. Hershey, Cliiekies; E. H. Hoover, .Manheim town- ship, J. .M. Johnston, city. President J. F. WItmer being absent. Vice Presl. dent Henry M. Engle swung the gavel. Enos 11. Weaver of Strasburg, and Hebron Herr, of west Lampeter, were elected members of the so- ciety. Crop Reports. Calvin Cooper reported the grain fields In flue con- dition; abundant rain has fallen and everything promises well. Henry Kurtz, of Mount Joy, never saw better wheat and seldom saw the grain a< promising as at present; espeoially is this the case with wheat sown on tobacco land; from which fact Mr. Kurtz conclu- ded that tobacco does not injure the land. There le considerable short leaf about his neighborhood and much of the tobacco does not color much . TOBACCO REVIEW— THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW ONE. We take the following excellent review of the seed leaf trade during the past year from the Tobacco Leaf. It goes over the ground very fairly, as we think, and will be found to be of unu.«ual Interest to all persons interested either iu growing or manufac- turing seed leaf tobaccos : The year 1S81 opened with an estimated stock of seed leaf of 327,000 cases, consisting of .02,000 cases of old of all kinds and 275,000 cases of the growth of 18S0. The product of 1S80 was estimated as fol- lows : New England, 40,000 cases, Pennsylvania, 110,000; New York, 20,000; Ohio and Indiana, .50,- 000; Wisconsin and other Western States, .55,000. Total, 275,000. The sales In the Now York market during the year were l.'iOjOOG cases, of which 13,228 were for export. Consumption in i88i. According to the returns to the office of Internal Revenue at Washington, there were consumed in the making of 2,(;42,.528,130 cigars in the fiscal year ending June 30,1881, 59,012,iir)9, pounds of leaf to- bacco, which, at 3.50 pounds per case, are equal to lti8,008 cases. This allows 22U' pounds of leaf to a thousand cigars. The case is here reckoned at 350 instead of 400 pounds, both because the various packings may average that, and because the revenue calculations are based upon net weight. From the agregate ol eases must be deducted Ha- vana, Sumatra, and other varieties of leaf used in making cigars. Substitutes for Havana are latterly used with freedom by manufacturers, and we sub- tract for surrogates of all kinds the equivalent of one-ninth; in other words, 18,734 cases, or about 65,000 bales, leaving about 1.50,000 cases of seed leaf converted into cigars; in precise figures, 149,974 cases. The fiscal year equally divides the calendar year, and it will be a modest assumption to say that, if 75,000 of 150,000 case, were used in the first half of 1881, the last half, just ended, certainly appropri- ated as manjfcmore. It is well known that the man- ufacturing trade was more active in the latter than In the former period. Besides the i^^uirements for cigars, not less than 25,000 cases of seed leaf were embraced in the production of cigarets and smoking tobacco iu the past year. Stock on Hand on January i, 1882. From New York there were exported in 1881 36,.594 eases, and from Baltimore 3,9.58— total, 40,- 552 eases. Tabulating the disappearances, the ex- hibit is as follows : Home consumption ... 175,000 cases Export 40, .552 " Total 215,553 " Accepting the estimate at the beginning of the year, namely, 3-7,000 cases, the above total indi- cates a remainder of old stock on the 1st of January, 1882, amounting to 111, 478 cases — not an inconveni- ent quantity, though large. Pennsylvania, it will be noticed is credil>ed with a crop of 110,000 cases in 1880, and there are tradesmen who assert that seve- ral thousand cases might properly betaken from that figure. Those so Inclined may do so. The Crop of 18S1 and Visible Supply. Among experienced packers and samplers opinion dlfl'ers widely respecting the quantity of seed leaf harvested in 1^81. Maximum estimates place it at 260,000 cases; minimum at 220,000, the majority agreeing on the latter, which sums up as annexed ; New England, - - - . 40,000 cases. Pennsylvania, - . . . 73,000 " New York, 25.000 " Ohio, - 30,000 " Wisconsin and other Western States, 50,000 ' ' Total, 220,000 " Low as this total may seem: it is probably not greatly at variance with the actual fact. Assuming that It is an approximate, the visible supply appears to be as follows : Old slock. New stock. 111,478 cases. 220,000 " Total old and new, - - 331,478 Receipts in 1881. Of seed leaf tobacco there were received In New York In ISSl, ..-..- 99,891 cases. 1S80, 79,792 " Sales Each Month. Cases. January, ------ 7,K00 February, .-.--- 10,000 March, ------ ' 9,.501 April, May, June, July, 6,9.50 7,923 17,1.36 10,479 August, September, October, November, December, - 11,400 23,100 17,000 5,482 4, .5.50 Total, ---,-- 130,990 ' The total sales of seed leaf in this market iu 18S0 were 92,4.57 cases, showing an increase In 1881 of 38,.539 cases. Cases. Comparative exhibit of the export of seed leaf and cuttings in New York since January, 1S81,- - - - - 36,594 Same time in 1880, - . - . - 31,837 Same time In 1^79, . - - . 23,3S3 Remarks. The year has closed with the largest volume of sales on record. The highest previous figure was reached in 178, when 124, .502 eases were sold. There is reason to believe that dealers in this staple have, as a rule, enjoyed a prosperous trade, and it is to be hoped and expected that they will have similar good fortune in the year now entered upon. Apparently this year commences with a little larger stock than last year did, but it must be borne in mind that crop estimates are not based upon positive data, and the figures set down for the several producing sections mentioned above may be too high in some instances, as well as too low. Possibly Pennsylvania is credit- ed with 15,000 cases too much. When the writer saw the 18S1 crop in the field in the latter part of August, he would have been reluctant to believe that it would yield 60,000 cases, the drouth seeming to have dwarfed beyond salvation much of that which was then standing. Succeeding rains and a late growing season helped to improve the situation very materially. This fact, and the clrcnnntanee that a larger acreage than ever before was planted, incline many to the belief that the product of the 3tate will not be far from 75,000 cases. Some esti- mate it at 1 0,000. The above estimates forthe other States are certain- ly not in excess. If the writer were to express his own opinion, he would credit New England with 45,000 rather than 40,000 cases. For when he saw the New England crop, which, also, was late in August, it had the promise of undimished fullness and excel- lence. It is not necessary to refer here to the eharactcristi?s of the new crop as a whole. Some of it will he good and some indifferent, as is always the case. By and bye it will come forward for sale, when its merits and demerits will be made manifest. The growing season began and ended well, but its perfection was marred by the want of rain when rain was most needed. It need surprise no one, consequently, if some of the crop shall hereafter be found defective. Good tobacco is grown only iu good conditions, and these were wanting in the hot and dry month of Au- gust in most of our tobacco growing regions. The premature buying and high prices paid for some of 1881 crop in the field are likely to be ob- stacles in the way of a completely satisfactory trade in 1(>83. They are surely going to impede the ex- port trade, which is to be regretted for commercial reasons. This year it is to be hoped there will be less haste than there was last year. Yet, when early and extravagant buying commenced, the situation seemed to justify the movement. With the vast 12 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [January, John n. Landis, of Xlillersville, saw daudelions in bloom in Bucks county, last week, and saw good wheat on his own native Manor. Half the tobacco is stripped. Martin D. Kendig remarked that a neighbo'- seed- ed rye in the latter part of November, and it came up well. In Donegal wheat is good, said H. M. Engle, but much freezing and thawing during December may have endangered it more or less; and as young clover is pastured closely Mr. Engle feared the effects in spring. Rain fall for December was 5 6-16 inches; for the year 38?^ inches. Election of Officers. On motion ofj Johnson Miller,' the regular busi- ness was now suspended and the society proceeded to nominate and elect officers for the ensuing year. For president, Joseph F. Witmtr, of Paradise was renominated. For vice presidents, Henr}' M. Ensle, of Marietta, and .Jacob B.Garber,of Columbia, were renominated. For recording secretary, M. D. Kendig, John H. Landis, Johnson Miller and Calvin Cooper positively and peremptorily declined nomination, and finally the honor was cast upon John C. Liuville, of the Gap, who was absent. For corresponding Secretary, Calvin Cooper of Bird-in-Hand, was nominated. For treasurer, M. D. Kendig, of Creswcll, was re- nominated. There being no more than the constitutional num- ber placed in nomination for the above offices the nominees were declared elected; For managers the following were nominated and the figures attached indicate the number of votes each received: Wm. H. Brosius, 11; John H. Landis, 8; Casper Hiller, 7; Calvin Cooper, 6; Enos H. Weaver, G; Hebron Herr, 5: Daniel Smeycli, 4; Johnson Miller, 4; E. S. Hoover; 4. The first five named were declared the duly elected managers. Casper Hiller, of Conestoga, read an essay en- titled • 'Can the Grain Grower Dispense with Nitro- genous Fertilizers ?" In order to have a proper understanding of the subject it may not be amiss to give the analj-sis and cost of several of the principal manures in the mar- ket. A ton of well prepared bone contains about 400 pounds of phosphoric acid, valued at .S30, and about 80 pounds of nitrogen, valued at -S15. A ton of acidulated South Carolina rock contains about .340 pounds of phosphoric acid, which can be bought foi 82.5. A ton of nitrate of soda costs about §80 and con- tains alwut 20 per cent, of nitrogen. These figures show th..t nitrogen adds one-third to the price in the bone manure, and in tlie nitrate of Boda the nitrogen makes up the whole cost, showing that nitrogen is an expensive ingredient, and for that reason the question put to me is worthy of conside- ration. My experiments have been on too limited a scale to be of much value, hut as far as they went (on corn only) the indieatiohs are that nitrogenous fer- tilizers are non-paying on my soil. In my experiments, I have used phosphate rock: raw hone, dissolved bone, and a nitrogenous flesh fertilizer, and have come to theconclusion that phos- phoric acid is the paying ingredient in tho.se . ma- nures. Extensive experiments have been made at the Eastern Experimental farm, that prove that nitro- genous fertilizers are not profitable on that farm. The application of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia did on no occasion yield sufficient increase of grain to pay for the fertilizers, while phosphate rock, a purely non-nitrogenous fertilizer, gaveTOore increase of grain than stable manure, or ground bone, or bone sui^erphospiiate. [See report of John L. Carter, to State Board of Agriculture for 1877 and 1S78]. Chemical analysis shows that nitrogen is an im- portant element in all our grain crops, but these ex- periments would show that there is a bountiful sup- ply of it in our soil, or that the atmosphere furnishes all that is needed to perfect the crop. There are good authorities who contend that the later is the case. From the foregoing you can perceive that my an- swer is, the grain grower can dispense with nitroge- nous fertilizers. The Board of Managers made the following ap- pointments for the ensuing year : Entomologist and Botanist— S. S. Rathvon. he mist — Jno. C. Linville. Mineralogist — 15. K. Hershey. Librarian — S. P. Eby. The following questions were continued until next >■ J the referees being absent; "Can dairy cows be kept in good condition by the soiling process, and is tlie butter as good ?" J. Frank Landis. " What is the best time to plow land for spring crops?" John C. Linville. "Ought rank growing wheat to be' pastured ?" Ja John H. Landis offered the following resolution: "Resolved, that the thanks of this society be ex- tended to Jos. F. Witmer for the fair and impartial manner in which he, has presided over our delibera- tions." Unanimously adopted. Henry M. Engle called theattention of the society to the fact that the State Fruit Growers' Association would meet in Harisburg on the third Wednesday in January, and on motion of Mr. Cooper a committee of three was appointed to represent the Lancaster society at the fruit growers' meeting. That com- mittee consists of Calvin Cooper, M. D. Kendig and Wm. H. Brosius. Messrs. F. R. Diffenderffer and C. L. Hunsecker were appointed to audit the treasurer's account, which they did, and reported it correct, and a bal- ance of 879. .31 in the hands of treasurer Kendig. On motion of Calvin Cooper the bounty due from the county to the society for the years 1880 and 1881 was ordered to be ascertained and the bill presented to the commissioners. Or. C. A Greene read an essay on insects, and said, Some weeks ago my attention was ^called to 'the fact that Mr. Rathvon has left out for some months my name from the various accounts of the proceed- ings of our society, both from the Lancaster Farmer and the daily Examiner, and I have been unable to answer'tbe inquiries of my friends, why it was done? Whether my various questions asked of our tailor friend had become a nut so hard to crack that he has become rancorous, or ^whether from jealousy, I know not. I do know that it is rather an insult to our organization, and although personally I care nothing for it and presume it will not shorten my life one day, yet as directed against the society,! bring it to your notice. [The subject matter of the essay gets as close to the point as the doctor's communications generally do, but it also contains a few inaccuracies which we desire to correct. In the first place he acccuses Dr. Rathvon of intentionally omitting his (Dr. Greene's) name from the reports. The Farmer takes its re- ports from the ExamUier, and whatever blame is attached to the omission of Dr. 'Greene's valuable essays from the reports, must therefore be borne by this journal. We tried to give a faithful report of the proceedings, and only dstermined to exclude Dr. Greene's name after he had taken us to task for maliciously misrepresenting him by publishing a stricture upon the tobacco buyers in this city, which was delivered from his own lips'at a meeting of the society. When the doctor found that his words had got him into hot water, he attempted to throw the blame from his shoulders upon ours, and we then came to the conclusion that we would in the future give him no cause to complain. Had the doctor not blamed the wrong person for what he deems an "insult to our organization," this reply to his essay on "insects" would not have been written. — Report- er Dail yExfuess.J A discussion here ensued as to the best means of gaining a better attendance of members and increas- ing the Interest in the society's proceedings. Calvin Cooper moved that each member bring his wife to the February meeting, and if he chances not to be mated, let him bring some ottier congenial com- panion. The motion was not pressed to a vote, but it was favorably regarded by the members present. Mr. Engle suggested competitive essays as one means by which to awaken some activity. C. L. Hunsecker thought the strictures of some of the reporters on the political discussion at the last meeting both severe and unkind. He had yet to learn that farmers are not allowed to express their opinions in^any place. He thought Dr. Greene's es- says could well be dispensed with, and was favor- able to Mr. Engle's suggestion in regard to competi- tive essays. Calvin Cooper suggested that the chair appoint an essayist at every meeting and accept no excutes whatever. Ephraim S. Hoover thought that none but agri- cultural and horticultural subjects should be Intro- duced for discussion— no polities ; he also thought if an essayist was appointed, the appointee would feel it more of a duty to respond. Mr. Hunsecker then moved that the chair be em- powered to appoint an essayist at each meeting, the appointee to chose his own suqject ; provided, how- evor, it is germain to agriculture and horticulture, not politics, for then the "reporters would catch us by the ear." Calvin Cooper moved to amend by imposing a fine of fifty cents for failure to perform the duty as- signed, and Ephraim Hoover, by proposed amend- ment, increased this sum to ?1.00. Both of these amendments were voted down, and the main ques- tion was passed. C. L. Hunsecker was appointed essayist for the February meeting. THE STATE GRANGE. The ninth annual session of the State Grange of Pennsylvtnia was lield in the parlor of the Park Hotel, in the city of Williamsport, Pa., during the week beginning at 1:30 o'clock p. m., on Tuesday, December 15th, 1881. About four hundred Patrons were in attendance during the session, representing one hundred and twenty-seven Granges, located in fifty counties of the State. On Tuesday evening an address of welcome, was delivered by Hon. C. D. Eldred of Grange No. 71, Lycoming county, which was responded to on the part of the State Grange by W. T. Everson, of Erie county. The annual address of St^e Master L. Rhone was delivered the same evening. Wednesday's Proceedings. On Wednesday morning the various committees were announced by the Master, and reports were heard from the different officers, the latter showing the order in the State to be increasing in member- ship and improving in efficiency of grange work. W. A. Armstrong, Master of New York State Grange, addressed the afternoon meeting. Also Dr. Calder, of Dauphin county, State lecturer. A public meeting was held in the Court House on Wednesday evening, with Hon. Wm J. Wood, of Lycoming county, as chairman. Worthy Master Rhone, the first speaker, referred to the importance of protecting the agricultural interests, showing that all other business is greatly dependent upon the prosperity of the farmers, and stated briefly the ob- jects of the organization there represented. Governor Hoyt said, being in Williamsport acci- dentally, he had submitted to the hospitality and persistence of the Grangers. He did not propose to discuss the technicology of the farmer's occupation. He hoped to see the Pcnnsyivania farmer put on an equal footing with the Western farmer. Improved methods here would soon make Pennsylvania soil as productive as the thin exhausted .soil of the ~West. lie congratulated those present for the manifest indication of a revival of the farming interest, (re- ferring to the large audience of farmers before him.) Dr. Calder spoke of the isolated condition of farm life in America and contrasted it with the East, where the farmers live in villages, thus affording better opportunities for social intercourse and mental improvement. He claimed that the Patrons of Hus- bandry had done much toward making up this de- ficiency here. He referred to the great want of in- formation amongst farmers, citing numerous in- stances where this want was most noticeable. He believed there was no better way of inducing 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. 13 the acquisition of knowledge and of retainlnj; it than in impartiufr it to our associates, and that grange meetings affordeil an excellent opportunity for doing this. Anna Ilolstcin, of Montgomery county, read an essay on "Wotnan's Work in tlie (i range." Past State Master V. E. Piolell discussed the rela- tions of the Grange to ccrporations. He said the Grange grew out of a necessity for some association by wliich the interests of the agricultural class might be preserved. Twenty-live out of tlie fifty millions of people In our county are directly interested iu agriculture, yet we have almost no voice in legisla- tive bodies, where corporations are regulated. He thought the corporations had too much power. They must be regulated liy law more efl'ectually. Trans- portation com panics sliould only be allowed to charge what would be a fair compensation, and not "what the traftic will bear." Effective laws have been es- tablished in Illinois and even iu Georgia, where the railroad companies are reciuircd to post up their rates of freight and fare in their station houses. He wished it understood that the patrons made no war on associated capital, but demanded their rates without unjust discrimination. The courthouse was crowded with citizens of Wil- llamsport and farmer from the vicinity. The Proceedings on Thursday. On Thursday the Secretary made his report ehowingover .351) active Granges Iu the State and about 12,1)00 members. The I'ark Hotel has ample accommodations for entertaining the entire State Grange, as well as af- fording a suit.ible place for meeting, and nearly all the members availed themselves of its hospitality. The citizens of Williamsport have shown a lively interest in making our sojouru here as pleasant as possible, and through their iustrumentality and the kindness of Superinteudont Neilsou, of the Elmira Division of the Northern Central Railway, a free ex- cursion was tendered members to the dairy farm of Judge Smith, several miles south of the city, where the Cooly system of setting milk is being tested in connection with the soiling method of keeping cows. The representatives in attendance from Lancaster county are John H. Epiar, of Conoy Grange, No. •97, and W. P. Bolton and wife, of Fulton Orange, No. 66. The State Grange adjourned at noon on Friday. I as follows : President, George A. Gcyer; Vice Presi- dents, M. L. Grider, Charles Lippold; Recording Secretary, J. B. Ijichty; Corresponding Secretary, Josej)!! R. Trlssler: Treasurer, T. Frank I'^vans; Executive Committee, Dr. E. H. Wilmer, John A. Schum, J. B. Long, Wni. A. Sclioenberger, J. A. Stober. Miscellaneous Bus'ness. Charles E. Long offered a resolution that exhibi- tors from a distance ''rawing |ircmiums be paid first. Carried. A resolution was offered instructing tlie Secretary to notify members who have not paid their annual dues to do so by March first. Carried. The new president, George A. Geyer, assumed the duties of Ills i)Osition. On motion, the old Executive Committee were in- structed to hold over until after the exhibition. The Secretary stated that ^.50 entries have already been made, an7 envel- opes containing 500 Historical and Biographical Scraps. 10 original papers were read during the year. Since the organization of the society, 566 original papers were read before it, only '.JO of which were published. The Treasurer reported the receipts, including the balance on hand last January, for the year $41.90, and the expenditures $.!'?. 14 leaving a balance in the Treasury of $18.75. The whole amount of cash received by the society during 20 years was $1268.86, and the expenditures the same, less the balance now in the Treasury. Papers Read. Prof. .Stahr read an interesting paper on the swarming of the "Brown Ant," (Formica liufa) early in the month of November last. This was some weeks later than the usual period of swarm- ing, but then past season has been rather extraordi- nary for Its mildness — causing many trees to re-blos- som, and in some Intanccs to bear a second crop of fruit. As there was no weather during which ants could not have swarmed at their usual period (August and September), the question might well arise, "Did the same colony swarm a second time, as the apples, pears, cherries, &e., blooms. Prof, lluthi'on read an illustrated paper on a spe- cies of fungus {Coprinas Comatns) which sprung up in hie garden on the night of November :id, 1881. This was another illustration of a relarded warm season, and the effect of such weather, among the subjects of the animal and vegetable worlds. The fungus alluded to was one of the edible species, and was fully ten inches in height. Dr. jV. L. Danis, the chairman of the Committee on the state of the Society," appointed at the last meeting, read an Interesting paper, full of good practical suggestions relating to the welfare, the progress, and a greater enicicncy of the Society, and the manner in which this could most probably be effected . The secretary read a paper from Mrs. Gibbons on some of the peculiarities in voting on questions, brought before societies iu Ireland, and on the conti- nent of Europe. She observed that at a conference held last summer at Cologne, the president "gene- rally or always" put the affinnatii'e only. At a meeting of Teachers iu Ireland, the chairman put the negative only, and if no one voted "no" he would declare the motion "passed unanimously." Elections. Mr. H. M. Herr was balloted for and unanimously elected an active member of the Society. The annual election of officers resulted as follows: President, Prof. J. 3. Stahr; Fice Presidents, Profi. T. K. Baker and J. H. Dubbs: Cor. Secretary, Dr. Knight; Hec. Secretary, Dr. .M. L. Davis; Treasurer, Prof. S. S. Rathvon; fAbrarian, Mrs. L. M. Zell; Curators, S. S. Rathvon, C. A. Heinitsh, Jno. B. Kevlnski and Wm. L. Gill. New Business. Being the annual meettug, and reports and elec- tions, occupying the time, no business other than the ordering of bills reported to be paid, was brought before the .Society. Kxtract from a Report on General Finance. "We have tabulated these financial statistics of the Society merely to show by comparison with other associated enterprises in the city irnd county of Lan- caster, what a little wheelbarrow we have been push- ing forward during the last twenty years, when ac- cording to the magnitude of the subject, we should have been enabled to drive a "six-horse Conestoga Team. "It would be quite safe to say, that such a collec- tion as the society possesses, could not now be made for ten times the amount it has cost us: and this fact should stimulate a desire for its preservation and perpetuation, among the intelligent and moneyed citizens of Lancaster: for, extinguish this institution and its museum, and such another nucleus could not be formed again for fifty years to come. No future scientists would feel encouraged lo begin such a work again. The public seems to have very little comprehension of its magnitude, especially since more than one-half of it is necessarily packed away in drawers and boxes. Indeed, there are people who seem to think, that we are in some way, pecuniarily enriching ourselves." After a very pleasant meeting, and a general in- terchange of sentiment, the society adjourned to meet on the last Saturday in January, 1882. Now is the time to subscribe for The F.iRHER for 1882. Subscription price only SI per year, thecheap« est Agricultural Journal in the country. 14 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [January, Agriculture. Look After the Implements. As winter approaches we cannot refrain from say- inp- tliat tlie careful, tliougiitful farme never allows bis plows, harrows, cultivators, mowing and reaping; machines, hay tedders and other implements and machinery, to be exposed to the weather, or where they can be damaged by fowls or stock. He pro- vides a covered place for them all where the rains and snows cannot penetrate, with either board floor- ing or placed upon scantling to raise them from the ground. Such portions of the iron likely to rust should be painted over slightly with any cheap oil paint, and it will add to the preservation and appear- ance of all implements and machinery, especially if the woodwork is also painted. When this is incon- venient the iron should be cleaned of dirt and greased with pieces of fat pork. They should also be put in good repair during the winter, in order to be ready for operating when needed in the spring. Leaving this repairing until another season opens frequently causes damaging delays which should always be provided against. There is nothing like being always ready with these things for any emergency. — OermaHtown Telegraph. ^ Do Your Own Repairing. Wc think that almost every farmer will agree with US that every farm should have its own workshop, and every cultivator of the land should understand how to use it. He may not do so when he Brst en- ters upon farming on coming of age ; hut after a year or so of what we call apprenticeship, when he finds that to "know how to do things" is absolutely indispensable he will tapidly learn to attend to most of his own repairing of the ordinary implements and machines upon his premises, instead of incurring de- lay, expense and uncertainty by depending upon pro- fessionals at a distance. Rather than to be without a workshop and the necessary tools, one should be erected expressly for the purpose, iu a convenient spot and daily warmed in winter, so as to be ready at all times for use, in which many odd jobs can be done also not immediately connected with the farm. All ordinary wooden repairing ought to be done by the farmer and his hands during rainy days and in winter, when there is plenty of time on hand for that purpose. Every part of a wheelbarrow, except the wheel, ought to be made on the premises; new forks and handles of iron rakes, repairing even some pori.'.ns of the farm machinery, building of garden and yard fences, repairing roofs, building of corn- cribs, hog-pens, wagon and cart shelvings, making of the frames of hotbeds, and all the many jobs con- stantly requiring to be done about a well-conducted place too numerous too mention. A person becomes very handy in the use of good tools after a short ex- perience, and saves many a dollar without consum- ing any time necessary for the usual demands of the farm. Ensilage Solus. There has been of late considerable falling olfin the talk about silos and the value of ensilage as a separate food. At the beginning of the mania the preserved cornfodder in its perfectly fresh, green state was to accomplish everything unassisted. Milk, butter and cheese were to be produced, conM- tion of the cattle maintained, and 'health se»ured solely bythe feeding of ensiljige ; and, altogether, it was to be effected at a rate of economy that must satisfy every one at short notice that this newly- discovered method of making the most out of the products of the earth at the least expense must com- mend itself to the favorabl"' attention of every agri- culturist. But has it done so? We need hardly say that it has not. Ensilage by itself, as a food for even milch cows, is not recommended by those who seem to he mostly experienced in the use of it. Almost all ex- tensive feeders employ at the same time other feed, which takes away from the fresh fodder its distinc- tive features or qualities as a separate food. One farmer says the fodder comes out of the silo in good condition and is eaten up clean by the cattle; but, he "mixes with good cut hay," which is given in two feeds per day; but to secure proper results "some concentrated feed must be added," such as cakemeal bran, etc. And this is the way the question is now treated. We don't pretend to say that this combined food is not very good — excellent — and that cattle will not give plenty milk and thrive upon it, but we beg to be allowed to say, without being much abused for it, th.at we douljt the economy involved, or that any labvr is saved, or that any profits are obtained over the system in vogue before a silo was ever built. Bad Seed. It should be remembered that it is easier to de- teriorate a crop by choosing bad seed, or even by carelessly neglecting the selection of good seed, than it is to improve upon a variety already acknow- ledged to be good. The down hill road is the easiest traveled. HORTJCL rURE. Rosebushes. A correspondent of the New York Observer says : Never give up a choice but decaying rosebush till you have tried watering it two or three times with soot tea. Take soot fiom a chimney or stove with which w'ood is burned, and make tea of it. When cold, water the rosebush with it. When all is used pour boiling water a second time on the soot. Tlie shrub will quickly send out thrifty shoots, the eaves will become large and thick, and the blossoms will be larger and more richly tinted than before. To keep the plants clear of insects syringe them with quassia tea. Quassia chips can be obtained at the apothecary's. Fears. The pear as a fruit stands next in popularity to the apple, and has, like it, been known and cultivated from time immemorial. It is mentioned by the ear- liest writers as a fruit growing abundantly in Syria, Egypt, as well as Greece, and it appears to have been brought into Italy from these places about the time that Sylla made himself master of the latter country (68 B. C.,) ajid from thence it spread oyer Europe to Britain. Homer mentions the "pendant pear" as one of the fruits of the orchard of Laertes (Odys. 24C. iiSOI). Theophrastus often speaks m praise of them and of the great productiveness of old pear trees in his works. That learned physician of ancient times, Galen, considered pears as containing in a greater degree more strengthening and astrin- gent virtues than apples. The Greeks and Romans have several kinds of pears whose names included their taste and form. Pliny describes about forty varieties cultivated in Italy. Of all pears, he says, the Crustumine is the most delicate and agreeable ; this fruit Columella places first in his catalogue. Then there was the Falernian pear, which was esteemed for its abundant juice, which Pliny com- pares to wine. The Tiberian pears were so named because they were the sort Tiberius, the emperor, preferred, and they grew to a larger size than most pears ; others were named after the persons who had introduced or cultivated them. Some, Pliny tells us, are re- proached with the name of proud pears, because they ripened early and would not keep. There were also winter pears, pears for baking, etc., as in the present day. Nevertheless, Pliny did not consider this fruit, iu an uncooked state, good for the con. stitution, for he states all pears whatever are but a heavy meat, even to those in good health, unless boiled or baked with honey, when they become ex- tremely wholesome to the stomach. Some pears were used as counter-poison against venomous mush- rooms ; the ashes of pear trees were also used for the same medical purpose. The ancients appear to have had a curious notion respecting the effect of this fruit on beasts of burden, for Pliny tells UB a load of apples or pears, however small, is singularly fatiguins- to them. Thebest way to counteract this, they say, is to give the animal some to eat, or at least show them the fruit belbre starting. Virgil speaks of pears which he had from Uato. — Science Gossip. Notes on Orchard and Garden Work. One who depends upon the garden and orchard for his living will be very apt to know which products bring him thebest returns. With the farmer the orchard and the garden are often looked upon as of little importance, if not i-egarded as necessary evils. Both manure and labor are grudgingly supplied and then at a time too late for the best results. In the general summing up of the business of the year, let the farmer take into account the return from the garden and orchard or fruit garden. We do not refer to the supplies of vegetables and fruit consumed at home, for health and comfort cannot be expressed in dollars and cents, but the actual money returns throughout the year. Much, of course, will depend upon the location in reference to market, but we are' sure that in the majority of cases a carefully kept account, in which all the odd quarters and dollars are fresented, will result in a determination to en- large and improve tlie ground devoted to fruit, vege- tables and flowers. The time has passed when choice fruits were regarded as a luxury; and the farmer who cannot afford to provide his table with a large variety of garden vegetables is living behind the age. The man who sees only the market value of any product of the soil may not care for a hand- some lawn and a flower garden filled with choice plants; but he only half lives who is blind to the beauty of these things. Making Butter. The following method of making butter was pur- sued by the Farmington Creamery Company, Farm- ington, Conn., in the production of a premium lot: The milk was cooled and aerated before it came to. the creamery, was received once a day, was mixed at once in a receiving vat, thence drawn into deep, open coolers, 8 by 20 inches, and set floating in a pool of cold spring water. It was skimmed in twenty- four hours, the cream again mixed in a vat and allowed to stand twenty-four hours and become slightly acid. It was then cliurned in a barrel-churn, and dashed running about forty-eight strokes to the minute, -and the butter coming in about forty five minutes. The butter was worked by a lever worker and salted one ounce to the pound. After standing twenty hours it was again worked over and packed in tubs. If our butter has any particular merit we ascribe it largely to the cows, which are mostly Guernseys and Jerseys and their grades; the Guern seys giving the color, the Jerseys the dryness, and both solidity. How to Make Tea and Coffee. The Scotch do not sny "to make tea," but "to in fuie the tea," which is more correct in ver.- respect, dood tea is an infusion, not a decoction. By boiling the tea leaves, you get from them a bitter principle, and you drive off the delicate pcrfiimp of the tea. For this reason, the tea-pot should never be kept hot tiy letting it stand on the top ut a cookuig stove, over a lamp, or where it is likely to be made to boil. Ex- cessively bad tea is maiie in some parts of the eonti- Hint by people who do not know better, by putting a small pinch of tea into a large kettle of wnfer, and letting it boil till they have extracted all i s coloring m itter,in which they think the goodness oi tea con- sists. A metal teapot is hi-tter than an enr'hpnware 1 n ', and the brighter it is kept the bet r Bfieter. '■ Mi.'e t'te teapot with boiling water. Put in a bumping spoonf il of tea for each person, and one for the poli. 1 our over it just enough boiling water to soak the tea. Let it stand a few niinutrs, and then fill up Mie pot with boiling water. Do not put in carbonate of poihi to soften the water and make the tea draw better — i. «., to make awn tc'ied saving of tea, un ll-^s you are in absolute poverty. The water, in fact, is sofeiied by boiling, which causes it to defOdt some of the matters it held in solution; witness the "fur" in long used tea kettles, and the lime which settles at the bottom of many waters after boiling A cup of tea is an excellent thing after any fatigue, and its refreshing effects may then be followed up by more substantial nutriment. Cofi'ee in English middle class houses is often badly served. It should not be boiled, nor made in quantity twice a week, to be heated up when wanted. The kernels should be suflliicntly and equally roasted. As it is the roasting which develops the aroma, under roasted coffee is so much lost, whilst over roasted is much driven off and wasted or lost in another direction. Of the two faults the former is the worst. Unroasted coffee is useless. Circumstances very olten compel the buying of cofiee ready giound, almost always ready roasted ; but the more quickly coffee is used after both roasting and grinding the 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. 15 better. It Is only a licaltliy amusement to give a coffee mill a few turns. Coffee is easily roasted at, home (it slioulii be done in tlie open air) In an iron cylinder or barrel of snisll diameter, staiidins; on two feet, over a eoke and einder, or, belter, a cliarcoal Are, turned by a liandle like that of a irrindstone. If you make tlie coffee in a biu'cin, put into the filter a Kood dessert spoonful for every person, and first of all only pour a few spoonfuls of boilinir water sunieient to soak it, and after lettin;; it stand i. a warm i>Iaee for a quarter of an hour, then pour on the rest, of the lioilinir water, and let it pereolate. The time to take eoffee is either in the morniu;,' (with milk mixed in due proportion) or after luneh or an early dinner. 'In the evenin;,' it is to be avoideil, unless you intend, like Lady Macbeth, to "murder Bleep;" for which you are sure to be punished next morning. Butter Easily Spoiled. A farmer's wife writes : Of all the products of the farm butter is the most lial)le to l)e tainted by noxious odors floalinfr in the atmosphere. Our peo- ple laid some veal in the cellar, from which a little blood llowed out, and was nef;leeted until it bail commenced to smell. The result was that a jar of butter we were packings smellcd and tasted like spoiled beef. We know of an instance where there was a pond of filthy, stairnant water a few hundred feet from the bouse, from which an ofl'ensive elUu vium would he borne on the breeze directly to the milk-room when tlie wind was in a certain direction, the result of which was that the cream and butter would taste like the disasreeable odor eomiu^' from the pond. As soon as the poud was drained thece was no more d.\maged butter. It is remarkable how easily butter is spoiled. Household Recipes, Light Gingehbhead. — Three cups of flour, one of sugar, one of butter and one cf molasses; three eggs tieateu light, one tablespoonful of ginger, one teaspoonful of pearlash and some cloves. Beat the butter in sugar as for pound cake, then add otlier ingredients, puttiuij in tlie pearlash last. Bake them in cake tins. CocoANUT Cake. — Take the whites of eight eggs beaten so a froth, one half cup of butter stirred to a cream, half cup sugar, half cup sweet milk, two and a half cups sifted Hour, teaspoonful cream of tartar, hall a teaspoonful ol' soda. .Make of this thi'ce flat cakes, bake on pie tins and while warm spread vvilli icing, and grate on cocoanut between each cake. Chocolate Cake. — Take the yolks of ten eggs, and use just the same quantity of everything as you did for the cocoanut cake, grating chocolate upon the icing between each cake. The whites of two eggs beaten till they will not slide from the plate, and enough pulverized white sugar to make it very thick, will make enough icing lor one cake. KocK Cake. — The whites of four eggs beaten very light, one pound of loaf sugar added to them, three- fourths of a pound of 4neet almonds slightly bruised. Bake on paper in tins. GiNGEBBKEAD. — TlircBpounds of flour, one pound of butter, half pound sugar, quart of molasses, two ounces of ginger, one ounce of cinnamon, ounce of allspice, an ounce and a half of cloves. Wash before baking with molasses and water. English Buns. — One pound of flour, half pound of sugar, quarter pound butter, same of cinnamon, half pint of raisins; rub them all together and rai.^ with milk and four or live drops of pearlash. Wash them after they are baked with sugar and water. Almond Cake. — One pmind of sugar, half pound of flour, ten eggs, ounce of bitter almonds, a gla.ss of kase water; beat the yolks till Ihey are quite a battc, then adil the sugar and beat it well; having previ- ously pounded the almonds tine in tlie kase water, add them to the yolks; the whiles must be beaten very light and then add the flour just stirred into the other ingredients. Bake an hour and ten min utes in rather a quick oven. Milk Biscuit . — One quart of milk, pound of but ter, enough flour to thicken it, and a small teacup ful of yeast; set them to rise early in the morning. Soft Gingerbread. — Six cups of flour, two of sugar, Iwoof butter, two of molasses, two of milk, four eggs, a tablespoonful of ginger and a little all- spice; beat the butter, sugar and eggs light, then stir in the other ingredients. Add a teaspoonful of pearlash dissolved in vinegar. Doughnuts. — Three pounds of flour, IJ2 pounds of sugar, one pound of butter, six eggs, two wine- glasses good yeast, mix them with milk to a paste, set it to rise, shape them and fry in lard. Raisin Pie. — Ingredients: Kaisins, one pound; lemon, one; white sugar, one cup; flour, two table spoonfuls. Boil the raisins covered with water an hour; add the lemon, sugar and flour. Will make three pies. Corn Bread. —Three cups of cornmeal, one and one half cups of flour, one and one half c-iips of sweet milk, five eggs, four teaspoonfuls of baking powder, a little sugar- Another Wiiij : One cup of cornmeal, two cups of flour, one half cup of suirar, three fourths of melted butter, one cup of milk, three eggs, three teaspoonfuls of liaking powder. Cocoanut Pudding.— Iugre»lients : Milk, three pints; line bread crumb, one teacup ; cocoanut, one teacup; eggs, six; sugar, one teacupful ; rind of lemon, one. Soak the Ijread crumbs for two hours in a pint and a half of tlie milk, and tlie grat- ed meat of the cocoanut also; then add the well beaten CL'gs and the lemon rind grated, the sugar the rest of the milk. Stir well and bake. IJo not let it remain long enough in the oven to become watery. Baked Soup for Invalids. — This recipe Is of use for invalids;- it is easy to make, antl cooks cannot well blunder. Takea pound of juicy steak from which all the fat has been removed, cut it up in pieces of about an inch square; salt and pe|>pcr it slightly, take a stone jar to hold two jiiuls; pour into it a pint and a half of cold water, a teaspoonful of whole rice; cover the jar with a saucer and let it bake slowly for four hours; remove any fat jjresent. Baked Indian Puddino. — One quart of milk, one cup of molasses (best) one teaspoonful of salt, one ([uarter pound suet chopped fine, half lea-spoon ful powdered cloves and allspice together. Let milk come to a boil and stir in cornmeal enough to make it the consistency of thin batter, add suet and salt, stirring constantly to prevent its becoming lumpy; remove from the fire and let it become l)artially cool then stir in the molasses and cloves and allspice. INnir into into an earthen baking dish and bake moderately three fourths of an hour. Live Stock. The Care of Cows. The comfort of the cow has much to do with the quality of lier milk. In hot weather the annoyance produced by flies and excitement caused by fighting them make the night's milk still poorer than it otherwise would be. Chemical analysis has shown a great falling off of fat of the milk in the same cow when chased by a dog. Any unusual excitement of the cow affects the fat in her milk. Extremes of heat and cold also affect the milk. Inac:i-e where cows went into a stream in hot weather, and stood several hours in the water above the knees, there was a falling off of the butter product from the same quantity of milk. This is accounted for by the extra food required to keep up the animal heat being carri- ed off by the water. Wlie n we consider the fact thivt milk is secreted from the blood, we can readily see tlie effect that must be produced by excitement on the nervous system of the cow. In a case occurring in the city of Albany, bf. Y., where a nervous cow was milked by a passionate man, who whipped and otherwise ill-treated her at milking, the milk was given to a child who had been healthy, but after using the milk, became ill and suffered from intesli nal irritation, followed by a fever which seemed to affect the brain and nervous system. Tiiis illness was placed directly tothe milk of the ill-treated cow. — National Live Utock Jonrnal. Charcoal for Sick Animals. In nine cases out of ten when an animal is sick, tlie digestion is wrong. Charcoal is the most e(H cient and rapid corrective. The hired man came in with the intelligeiiee that one of llie flnest cows was very sick, and a kind neiglibor projiosed tin- usual drugs and poisons. The owner being ill and unable to examine llie cow, concluded that the trouble came from overealing, and ordered a teaspoonful of pul verized charcoal to be given in water. It was mixed |)laced in a junk bottle, the head turned upward and the water turned downward. lu five minutes improvement was visible, and in a few hours tlie animal was in the pasture quietly grazing. Anotlier instance of equal success occurred with a young heifer which had become badly bloated by eating green apples after a hard wind. The bloat waa so severe that the sides were as hard as a barrel. The old remedy, saleralus, was tried for correctiug the acidity. But the attempt to put it down always raised coughing and it did little good. Half a tea cupful of freeh powdered charcoal was given. In six hours all appearance of the bloat had gone, and the heifer was well. Hints About Horses. Oats should be bruised for an old horse, but not for a young one, because the former, through age and defective teeth, cannot chew them properly. Tlie young horse can do so, and they are thus properly mixed with saliva and turned into whole some nutriment. There is no nourishment in bad hay, and cheapness should never lem|it you to use it. Damaged corn is also exceedingly injurious. Sprinkle bay with salted water. It is more easily digested. For a saddle or coach horse half a peek of sound oais and cighieen pounds of good hay are sufficient. If the bay is not good aild a quarter of a peck more oats. A horse which works harder may have ralhei more of each ; one that works less should have lees. Hack feeding Is wasteful. The belter plan is to feed Willi chopped hay from a manger, tieeause the food Is not then thrown about, and is more easily chewed and digested. Hay for Swine. In Ibe'opinion of an exchange hay is very beneficial to swine. .Swine need rough food as well as horses, cattle or the human race. To prepare it you should have a cutting box or hay cutter, and the greener the better. Cut lliu hay as short as oats, or shorter, and mix with bran shorts or middlings and feed as other food. Hogs soon learn to like it, and if soak- ed in swill or other slop food it Is highly relished by them. In winter use for the hogs the same hay you feed for horses and you will find that, while it saves bran or other food, it puts on flesh as rapidly as any thing that can be given them. In summer the use of hay can be commenced as early as the grass will do to cut, and when run through the cutting box can be useil lo advantage by simply soaking iu fresh water until it sours. Warts on Horses. These fungous growths appear in the horse most frequently about the mouth, nose and lips, but they are oecasionally found upon other parts of the body. They are sometimes found in large numbers about the lips of colts, and are generally rubbed off, or drop off. If, however, they grow large and become deeply rooted, they may be cut off by passing a needle through the crnler, armed witli ilouble thread and tied tiglitly around the neck on each side. This prevents the possiliililyof the ligatures being rubbed off. Or they may be painted over with the perman- ganate of potash, a few applications of which will entirely destroy warts of a large size, or they may be removed with a knife. — Jennintjs. The Horse Shoe and its Application. The number and disposition of the nails depend upon the kind of shoe. For speed the light draft, from five to seven may be employed, while for heavy horses and for heavy draft the number may be in- creased. Where few nails are used they should be more widely distiibuted than is usually the custom. When it is remembered that the Introduction of every nail is so much injury to the structures of the foot, it will readily be seen that the smaller the num- ber requisite for the purpose the better for the ani- mal. In driving the nails, it is es.sential that athick short hold of the crust should be had rather than a long thin one. Not only is the shoe thus held more firmly, but there is a probability that the nail holes may, by the downward growth of the horn, be re- moved at the next shoeing, which in most cases should not exceed an inlerval of four or five weeks. The points of the nails should be shortened to just that length which will permit them to be turned over and hammered down smoolhly, with perhaps the least possible rasping. The common method of rasping notches for the extremities of the nails is not advisabh. In fact, asl havealready said, the rasp should never be used upon tlieexternal walls of the hoof except in cases of absolute necessity 10 prevent striking of the opposite limb. lis nse" destroys the natural polish, exposes jiarts bLueath, which are not fitted for such exposure, renders the born brit-lc, and liable at any moment to quarter cracks and other maladies. Literary and Personal, The Guardian, a monthly magazine for young men and women, Sunday-schools and familes. Edi- ted by Hev. J. H. Dubbs, D.D. It is a long time since we have seen 'he face of this "old familiar," which, if we recollect rightly, originated here In the city of Lancaster, under the editorial auspices of the late Key. Henry Harbaugh, more than thirty years ago, and for a time was also printed here. That the Ouarilian should have been permitted to exercise its vigilant functions for such a long period without break or Interruption, evinces that it has been faithful to its trust, or has had a cordon of sustaining and indulgent friends. No. 1, Vol. 33, (January 188'3) of this excellent publication has found its way to our table; and we scan it with more than ordinary interest, not only on account of old memories, (for some years it was on our exchange list) but also for its healthy tone, its undoubted moral and intellectual attitude, and its continued editorial ability. It is an octavo of Sti pages, in tinted covers, and is issued by the Meformed Church 16 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [January, 1882. Publication Board, 907 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa., at the very low price of $1.25 per year in ad- vance. We conffratuiate the hoard in securins an editor so worthy of bein>f the successor of such distinguished predecessors as Doctors Harbau2;h and Bausman. We feel confident that the Ouardian will lose none of lis "Life, Light, Love," under the editorial man- agement of Dr. Dubbs ; and therefore we heartily commend it to the favorable consideration of our readers, whatever their religious faith may be. Faithful to its motto, it can inculcate nothing that will be detrimental to that spiritual rest for which our frail humanity is yearning, in the eternal world. Address of Hon. Geo. B. Lobing, Commissioner of Agriculture, and other proceedings of the Cotton Convention held at Atlanta, Georgia, November 3, 1881. Uniform in size and mechanical execution with the Serial Bulletins of the Department of Agri- culture— pp. 36. We are under obligations to Prof. C. V. P.iley, for a copy of this valuable contribution to the Agricul- tural and Entomolgical Literature of the Country, as developed through cotton culture and its protec- tion from the ravages of noxious insects. Practical or applied entomology certainly means lomething in its relations to the general crops of our diversified country, however insignificant it may seem in favored localities. Prof. Riley says — " Whenever we begin to carefully estimate the losses which, as a nation, we sustain from insect ravages, the figures always startle, and you will doubtless be surprised to learn that they reached in a single year nearly $400,000,000." This estimate is just as likely to fall far below the real amount of damage, as it is to reach beyond it, but under any circumstances, who among our readers can practically comprehend this amount in detail. Ten hundred t?iousaud dol- lars—or one million — seems to be a vast amount, dis- sipated annually through the instrumentality of in- sects, and even this amount, to a man accustomed to labor at 75 cents a day, cannot be fully comprehend- ed. Prof. Riley's remarks before the convention aforesaid includes among other things— methods of counteracting injurious insects — the cotton worm — natural history of the cotton worm — improved appli- ances— poisoning from below, ifcc, exemplified by a detailed context, and only requires a vigilant and intelligent co-operation to produce the desired effect. It is not sufficient that we know what to do, but that we do it. All success lies in that. 1. i POET OP THE Commissioner of AuuicnLTURE, for the year 1881, 58 pp. — uniform with the above. This report contains concise statements of work in the various divisions of the Agricultural Depart- ment, including — Division of Garden and Ground — Botanical Division — Microscopical Division — Chemi- cal Division — Entomological Division— Seed Distri- bution—(1,325,922 papers of Vegetable Seed were distributed from July 1, 1880 to June 30, 1881). Statistical Division — Forestry — Artesian Wells — Agriculture on the Pacific Slope — Examination of Wools and Animal Fibers— Grape Cultui'e and Wine- Making — Manufacture of Sugar from .Sorghum — Tea Culture — Contagious Diseases of Domesticated Ani- mals— Sugar from Beets, and the Operations of the Disbursing Office. It appears that Congress has only appropriated ?195,300, for all the divisions of the department for the year ending June 30, 1881, which seems small, compared with the subject of Agriculture — the basis of all the other int*ests in the country. A copious appendix is attached to this report, containing communications from competent authorities, on contagious Pleuropneumonia, and Foot-and-mouth disease, and matters relating thereto. TuE American Farmer, No. 1, Vol.1, series 9, comes to us a four-columned royal tjuarto of 16 pages, and henceforth is to be published semi- monthly, at $1.50 a year, by Samuel Sands & Son, W. Baltimore street, Baltimore, -Md. The American Farmer — heretofore published in octavo form — never occupied au inferior position in the world of agricul tural literature, and its patrons and the public may rest fully assured that it takes no retrogressive step in its " new departure ;" but, on the contrary, if we are at all competent to judge from the clean, neat, and mechanically executed journal before us, a very perceptible step forward. The i'ai-mer is a veteran in the journalistic enterprises of the country, and its senior editor is one of that distinguished band of patriarchs who have devoted their energies to the dissemination of useful knowledge. The Farmer is one of the oldest— if not the very oldest — agricul- tural journals published iu the country, and, there- fore, as a guarantee of the future, it can refer with confidence to the past, for no journal could have sustained itself so long without possessing unques- tionable merit. We tender our holiday greetings, and wish it a ?iappy Xew Year, commending it to its patrons and an appreciative public. Landreth's Rural Register and Almanac, published annually for gratuitous distribution, 1882. This is a royal octavo of 82 jjages, in colored paper covers, and amply illustrated with accurate figures of the vegetable productions, the raising the seeds of which the publishers make a specialty. The bird's eye view of the central portion of Bloomsdale farm will give a tolerable idea of the magnitude of the concern, from which it will be perceived that twenty fine buildings are required for its successful operation, and additional ones are projected. Send for the Register by all means. The Pennsylvania Farmer, a demi-folio of 16 pages, good paper and fair print. Published monthly at Mercer, Pa., at $1 a year in advance by F. H. UmhoUz, editor and proprietor. No. 1, Vol. 1 of this excellent journal is now before us, and is an able representative of the interests it specializes " Farm, Field, Garden and Home." The Scientific Times, a weekly record of American progress iu science, art, finance, com- merce and manufactures. This is an old caterer for the farmers and artizans of the country. It is finely illustrated, and no doubt it is crowned with merited success. St. Louis Miller, a semi-monthly journal, de- voted to the interests of the milling trade. In the absence of any other evidence, this journal alone im- plies that St. Louis is a very large village, and has a very large grain and flour trade. A copy of No. 3, Vol. 7, (January 6, 1882; has found the desk of our sanctum, and remembering that just forty-seven years ago we sojourned a month in the city of St. Louis, the presence, the magnitude and the general make up of the journal before us, impresses us with the immense progress the city must qave made since 1836 when her population was ten thousand less than Lancaster is to-day. But the Miller — it may be called a demi-folio (17 by 13) of 16 pages and has five closely printed columns to the page — printed on calendered paper, and profusely illustrated with all kinds of new and improved machinery pertaining to mills and milling. Its pictorial advertisements alone cannot but be interesting to any one having "half an eye," or half an idea, on the subject of mechanics. Its 80 columns of reading and advertising matter relate almost exclusively to the grain and flour trade, and collaterals appertaining to that trade, (only in one little corner do we find the "humbug" artificial ear-drums advertised, which had better been filled with "beans.") Nobody, certainly, ought to starve in St. Louis for the want of bread, at least. The receipts of flour for the j'ear 1881 bbis 1,. 5.59,691 Shipments of flour for the same time . 2,619, .529 Keceipts of wheat in bushels was . 11, 619, 741 Shipments of wheat for the same time . 6,891,090 Keceipts of corn for the same time . 20,249,310 Shipments of corn for the same time . 14,451,990 Receipts of oats for the same time ^. 5,950,900 Shipments of oats for the same time . 3,108,3h6 Receipts of rye for the same time . 419,914 Shipments of rye for the same time . 303,499 Receipts of barley for the same time . 2,3^7,633 Shipments of barley for the same time . 182,219 The last two items may illustrate alarge consump- tion of JSar^ej/ in St. Louis. If that is a/arf, it has its redeeming quality in the significant other fact, that the quantum of Sye was comparatively small. The St.Louit Miller is published by Thomas & Stone, and as above indicated, is b semi-monthly, at $2.00 a year, or fl.25 for six months ; and every intelligent and progressive miller ought to be a subscriber. Annual Review of The Appleton Post— .4p- pleton, Wisconsin, Thursday, December 29ih, 18S1. — This is a folio (15 by 31) of 24 pages, and 6 columns to the page, abounding in interesting historical, sta- tistical, geographical, and local matter. The quality and make-up of the paper are excellent, and the numerous illustrations up to the modern standard. Accompanying the whole is an extra sheet 25 inches square, containing on one side a map of Ledyard, Wisconsin, scale 200 ft. to 1 inch, and on the other side, a map of Outagamie county. Wis. The illus- trations mainly relate to the city of Appleton, and are. Second Ward High School ; St. Joseph's Church and School Buildings; Lawrence University; the Ravine looking west from foot of Prospect street ; Fourth Ward Ravine, near the upper dam ; a double page map of the city of Appleton ; Memorial Presby- terian Church; College Avenue, looking east; College Avenue, looking west from Duvkee street; First Na- tional Bank Building; full page bird's-eye view of the city of Appleton; Appleton Water Powers, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 : Upper Dam; New CourtHouse; a viewof the city from University Dome; Marston & Beve- ridge's Hub and Spoke Factory; the new Brewery; besides sundry smaller and personal illustrations. Of course, we kno/v this is all to give the city of Ap- pleton "a lift" in her competitive progress with other progre.'isive towns in the "great west," and no one can find fault with this; for, if people who o\vn a town and live iu it, do not put their hands to the wheel and help it forward, they can hardly deserve success, as things now go in this nether world. The water power of Appleton from this showing must be immense, for it seems to beliterallv a dammed — oil, a city of dams; which, in these days of fire and explo- sion, is a matter of vast importance. We are in- debted to Mr. Mike K. Gochenaur, formerly of this county, for a complimentary copy of this annual number of the Post, ami we commend the enterpris- ing manifestations of that far off town to the favor- able consideration of our patrons and readers. In looking over the 144 columns of the choice reading matter of this lively journal, we feel our local Old- foiryism the more impressive, notwithstanding our eflorts, iu later years, to move onward. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. I The annual meeting of the State Board of I Agriculture will be held in Harrisbnrg, com- mencing Wednesday, January 25, at 2 p.m. The following is a full list of subjects of essays and dis- cussions, furnished by Secretary Thomas J. Edge, from whom all inform.ation may be had : Treatment and management of Dairy Cows, Hon. i C. C. Mnsselman, of Somerset. Agriculture of the Old and New World, F. Jacket, of Blair. The Common Law and Statutes of Pennsylvania Regulating Surface and Underground Water Courses between Land Owners, Hon. M. C. Beebe, of Ve- nango. Lessons of 1881, .and the Outlook for 1882, E. Reed- cr, Bucks. Associated Dairying, John I. Carter, of Chester co. Farmers' Gardens and Truck Patches, Rev. J. Cal- der, Harrisburg. Preparation of the Ground for Wheat, J D. Lyte, Butler. Is the importation of Foreign Live Stock an Ad- vantage to the Pennsylvania Farmer? A. D. Shimer of Nortnampion. S enography in .Agriculture, H. C. Demming, of Harrisburg. The Best method of Fire Insurance for Farm Build- ings and their Contents, Henry C. Tyler, of Susque- hanna. Weeds and their Eradication, Col. D. H. Wallace, of Lawrence. Production and Preservationof Apples, J. Miles, of Erie. During the evening sessions or at other times, at the option of the Board, addresses will be delivered on the following topics: The Relation of the Soil and Crops to Heat and Moisture, Prof. W. H.' Jordan, Pennsylvania Stale College. Agricultural Education, Prof. S. B. Heiges, of York. On a subject not assigned, by Col. Frank Mantor, of Crawford. The rbove proiramme will not be strictly adhered to, as other topics will probably be introduced by members of the Board. Any question of a proper nature, if handed to the secretary, will be referred to a suitable person for answer. THE LANCASTER FARMER' III Important to Grocers, Packers, Hucksters, and the General Public. THE KING FORTUNE-MAKER. A Netv Provens for Preservitiff all Perishable Articles, Animal and Vegetable from Fermentation and Putrefaction, Jietaining their Odor and Flavor. OZONE OZONZ-Purifled air. active state of Oxygen."- Tr ehnter. This preservative is not a liquid pickle, or any of the old and exploded pr.icesses, but is simply and purely OZONE, as produced and applied by an entirely new process. Ozone is the antiseptic principle of every substance, and possesses the power to preserve animal and vegetable structures from decay. Thrre is nothing on the f 41 ce of the earth liable to tirecay or spoil which Ozone^the netv Preservative y will not preserve for all titne in « perfectly fresh and palatable condition, Tlie value of Ozone as a uatnvnl preserver has been known to our abler cheniisls for years, but, until now, no means of producing it in a prnctieal, inexpensive, and simple manner have been discovere keep and test. KKICSII M K\T!^. surh iis l>cef, nivillon. veal, jiork. poultry, K:m"*^. fisl>i «fct'-i preserved by this method, ciiu bo shipped to Kurope, subjected to iitinusphcrie changes and return to this country in a state of perfect preservation. EWt lor an iiideluiitc i)erio(i in their natural condition, retaining; their odor and flavor, treated in their orif;riiial packa;;es at a small expense. All KniinHi Hour, meal, etc., are held in their normal condition. BTT'IKK. after beintc treated by thisprocess. will uot become rancid. Dead human bodies, treated belore decomposition sets in. can beheld in a natural condition for wpeks, without puncluriuK the skin or mutilatint? the body in any way. Ilenee the great value of Ozone toundert;ikers. There is no ehanj>e in the sliL;htest particular in the appearance of any article thus preserved, and no trace of any foreiKn or unnatural odor or taste. The process is so simple that a cbiid can operate as well and as suceessfully as a man. There is no expensive apparatus or machinery required. A room filled with ditlerent articles, such as eggs, meat, fish, etc., can be treated at one time, without additional trouble or expense. Xt^- III fact, Ihore is nolliii>$f that Ozone will not preserve. Think of everytliing you can that is liable to sour, decay, or spoil, and then remember that we guarantee that Ozone will preserve it in exactly the condition vou want it for anv length of time. If you will remember this it will save asking questions as to whether ■Ozone will preserve Ibis or that article— il will preserve aiiylhinK anou c-an lliikik of. There is not a township in the Uniteackage w:ts his first investment. The Cineinn.'di Feefl Co., West 49s 8cventh .Street, is making i-'>,(J(l a month in handling brewers' malt, preserving and shipping it as feed to all parts of the country. ISIalt unprescr\ed sours in 24 hours. Preserved by Ozone it keeps perfectly sweet for month.s. These are instances wluc-h we have asked in the privilege of publishing. There are scores of others. Write to any of the above parties and get the evidence direct. Now, to prove the absolute truth of every thing we have said in this paper, wp propose to place in your tiaiKls tlie iiiefins 4»r |>rovin^- U*r yourself Mint we have n4»t eluinieenments he desires, and thus satisfy liiniself as to the extraordinary merits of ()zt care to .send money in advance for the test package wc will send it C. O. D., but this will jmt you to the expense of charges tor return money. Our correspondence is very large; we have all we can do to attend to the shipping of onlers and giving attention to our working agents. Therefore we can not give any attention to letters which do not order Ozone. If you think of any article that you are doubtful about Ozone preserving remember we gitarantee that it wili preserve it, no niattrr what it is. We desire to call your attention to a class of references whicli no enterprise or firm based on anything but the soundest business success and highest commercial merit could secure. We refer, by permission, as to our integriiy and to the value of the Prentiss Preservative, to the following gentlemen : Edward C. Koyce. Member Board of I'ublic Works; E. O. Eshelhy. City Comptroller; Amor Smith, Jr., Collector Internal Revenue; Wulsiu & Worthington, Attorneys; Martin H. llarrell and IJ. F. Hopkins. County Commissioners; W. S. Cappeller, County Auditor; all of Cincimiati, Hamilton County. Ohio. These gentlemen are • each familiar with the merits of our Preservative, and know from actual observation that we have without question The Most Valuable Article in the World. TheS2 you invest in a test package, will surelv lead you to secure a township or county, and then your wav ia absolutely clear to make from S2,(XK) lo SlO.OtX) a year. Give your full address in every letter, and send your letter to PRENTISS PRESERVING COMPANY. Limited,) S. jG. Cor, yinth I. «fc SSOX. Xo. 12 Centre Squnre, Lan- caster, Dealers in Boots, Shoes and Rnbbers. Re- pairing promptly attended to. MI^HVY. No. 3 East King street. For the bes . Dollar Shoes in Lancaster go to M. Levy, No. 3 Eiist King street. BOOKS AND STATIONERY. JOHBf B.\ER"S -SOK'S, Nos. 15 and 17 North Qneen Street, have the largest and best a.ssorted Book and Paper Store in the City. ^^ FURNITURE. HEIXITNH-S, No. I.5U Eiist King St., (over China Hall) is the cheapest place in Lancaster to buy Furniture. I'icture Frames a specialty. CHINA AND GLASSWARE. HI«JH * M.4RTIBf, No. IS East King St., dealers in China, Glass and Queensware, Fancy Goods, Lamps, Burners, Chunueys, etc. CLOTHING. MVKK.S A BATHKOSf. Centre Hall, No. 12 East King St. Largest Clothing House in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia DRUGS AND MEDICINES. GW. IIUL.I>, Dealer in Pure Drugs and Medicines , Chemicals, Patent JlediciTies, Trus.ses, Shoulde Braces, Supporters, &c., L5 West King St., Lancaster, Pa JOHN F. LONti A: SON, Druggists, No. 12 North Queen St. Drugs, Medicines, Perfumery, Spices, Dye Stuffs, Etc. Prescriptions carefully compounded. DRY GOODS. GIVI.I-.K, BOWKKS A- HUKST, No. 25 E. King St Lancaster, Pa., Dealers in Dry Goods, Carpets and Merchant Tailoring. Prices as low as the lowest. HATS AND CAPS. OH AMEK, No. 39 West King Street, Dealer in . Hats, Caps, Furs, Robes, etc. Assortment Large. Prices I^ow. JEWELRY AND WATCHES. HZ. KHOAOS A- BRO , No. 4 West Kmg St. . Watches, Clock and Musical Boxes. Watches and Jewelry Manufactured to order. PRINTING. JOHN A. H1KST.4NI). 9 North Queen St., Sale Bills Circulars, Posters, Cards, Invitations, Letter and Bill Heads and Envelopes neatly printed. Prices low. Thirty-Six Varieties of Cabbage; 26 of Corn; 28 of Cu- umber- 41 of Melon; 33 of Peas; 28 of Beans; 17 of Squash- ''3 of Beet and 40 of Tomato, with other varieties in proportion, a large portion of which were grown on mv five seed farms, will be found in my Ves«"table and Flower Seed Calalogiie for IHffi. Sent kkee to all who applv. Customers of last Season need not write for it All Seed sold from my establishment w.ai- ranted to be fre.sli and true to naim', so far. thai shoiild it prove otherwise, I will refill the order gratis. The original iiilr.«luter ol Karly Ohio and Bnrbaiik t»o»al»es. Marbleliend. Karly Corn, the Hu)>bar■ ;OHN A. 3IIESTAND, Publisher. Knirrol n( llic I'list Ollirc ai l.iiiK'uvK-i St'i'OlKl «'lns'* ,1laIH'r. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER, -A lirt-t-iltuy Malt tDITORlAL. Tbe English S|i;irro\v, . . . ■ Oureelvef, ..-..- February Snows, --..-■ Wood-worms, ------ Planting Trees ou Hailway EnibaiikmiMitF, ■ The Largest Tree in the World, Shifty, Tlirilty, Franee, - . . . Kitchen (i anion for February, - Poultry Exhibition, Rules anil Exceptions, - - - - ItvbriUBE to all sp]>!ir*nli, »nd to ci;:fri wltbo^it (•rdi riDS It. It lOKtikiiis five Color**! (jIkI?*. lioli piii.TAv inzi, ► bout ?('0 pages, und full dr li ijU'^ni. v'l'^f* s'H'l liifntloui f.r l.|aiitiugI5Wivaiietiti..fV.t'.-u;'l-aiia M..»rr >^«. ds Plai,-., hniilTriei, tic. li.vftliiai Ir I. a'l. Scua I. r it. Ad'Ifett, D. M. FERRY & CO., Detroit. Mich. }, CREAMERY rS'MPLESTSBEST. Agents Wc.nted (hp Pa week in vi i{)DUAilibpt.8H. jiiu-lyi* ourovvu town. 'I'ernis and $.'» onllit free llALLEri fc Co., I'orllaui], Maine. 21 BUTTER WORKER Mcit Etfectivt ami Convfiiitrit A, -I Power Worker ij, Cap'cityl«)-l>l>lt Ills per BAY li it!e:- iT'iitii-. S'lii.i'i'i'- l;..x.--..-t.- .v....'r... ,,,.,./..,. A. H.REID, ?S S.ieth Slr«t, Phila.. Pa. IV-b-inl PENSIONS From all the leading- varieties of purcl.rc.l ruullty Eraniahs, Cochin, llainbnrgs, Polish Gaine, Uorkiog and French Fowls, Plymouth liocks and Bantoms, Koucn and Pckins Ducks. Send bn- Illustrated Cir- cular. T. SMrnr, p. M., Fte-li Pond, X. V. feb-^ni ■:.'i :'A) -ra;icr.s Uead-Nt w AGRICULTURE. Planting Tobacco, . . . - Improved Grasses, - . - - Rotation of Crops - - - - HOUSEHOLD RECIPES. Orange Pie, . . - - - New England Baked Indian Pudding, Chicken Pic, . . - - . Prune Pudding, . . . . - :;i - U - :ii :n - 31 SEEDS BULBS, PLANTS. Peaniiliil llliisiiaieil Caialope ri'ee. Itin Itfit liti (1 ii-»v. r..rc aii.i i.c.iMiIi.l (I'lwers ever wnt out. Ntw t;indi-'lit*. 'J'uU- loKct, Auiiiivllii, Rotes. C'uriiA-.ioii*. 10^ van- • ifi of Lili'. s, rli-i'p Fl'iwtr nnd Vrirt-tatle Sr.li. S.-idt ff II...1M) Pl.Mf. Ac. All Ut'U }7 exr»^|.ir™M-l..li>Uf.r,''r>dii«riV»;CENTl'A»*ii:-. Lv*r\-tliiiig wnft:!ii'td true to uane. See (■■ii:ii\inj*; p»i<> ; »«.• low. TIic follow liic'tm bv iiiiti) nmti'ai*]. )'Ji^:'d'oIur. ]Ust>rii iiau) 60c. 12 P. nrl Tul.et<.». ►. 8.'k'. JU Mllrt. 10 ktH nnmtd^^l.&O. All l^ix^ '^uru and Urte \m\\-i, Ilcnillcumiicyor po'lapc Bt«inr.5. My n-odj rs-alill.lir-il rti.iitaliiin Hnd i"i i-nit i-nriioi ili'^ wcrld. Lt:\VES CHILDS, a^^K^^-'^S, N. Y. Kor SOI«DlHR». w iiluw.-!. f.uInT.", iiiutlturs ..r .LiMii-ii, 'l h'jU=jiiJs ) L-l i-iilit"i-'l. 1 Villi lull 9 givri I.-rlcssof liiit'ti. t«n*. t'jL- or t.i|'iur«-, varicoi-j vi-ius oror uiiy lll«ea»c. Ttiuusuiid9 oi'pvDsiou- ii-j nnolJu-rs uiLr yi-ur ii;:lits :it Mjuf. Siii'l a ^taIul.i f-T 1',hsi.jU'mi 1 iluuiity \ivwi, lilaiiks.Tii'l ui-.ti ui-ti'itf. I-'itt liw l \>v l:iw. Wcciii n fiTtw th..iMai..i-..r I'.'iiMuiuri uiid Clk'Uls. A. a North oksin any iinanlily. Sfnd your.'uldres.s and we will call. RKES WELSH c ..r riilliir.-.v ai.. ■ (1 > ■ :«_> ,.,1J„'. riililkd tn I.MKI;A>-L ..ii.l l!Ol .NTV . l'ATl;>TS i.t'itiirfl l-r J;,vc!il..rs N J>' ri laaii warrants j.rorurt.l. l...iirlttaLd t-'M. fe';l»l't-r; »T.J l.eirsaiMly f..ry..iirriflitsai..nco. t-cii.ia itaot>9 for" ilie Ciiii' n-S-liiitT." and Pcnr-'n and it<^un(y laws. blanks and iiistratlii.ns. »\ ■-' faiiriKrto tlifiisands of P- n-icn'Ti and Clipi.t J. Address N.W.FIti8;ernlclACp.l'r.N!i";s,*: riIl..NT All-J «. Lo^tn.'..l ;-, « i,l.:ai-tou. D. C. de<-ll U/ri I AIICrD Oiurslscnaranteoillo be thfl flLLL'AUbCni cheapest and best in the world. .^'.50 nothins can bent our .S.\'>rlNG .HA- CIIINK. It saws oil a J-foot log in -' mmutca. Pictor.'tt! hooka freo. W. GILKS, Chicaeo, nu THE LANCASTER FARMER. PEXxsYi,VAXiA RAii.KOAD snieniri.K. Trains lhave tbe Depot in ibi^ '"ity, ^i^ fnllow? : WE TWARD. Pacific Express' Way Pj.iiOp. m. Lancaster. 2.55 a. m. 5:08 a. ni. »:Uo a. m. 9.in p. m. :li} p m. 2:00 p. m. 8:05 p. m. 5::>5 p.m. 0:25 p. m. Arrive narrisbiirg. 4:05 a. m. 7:50 a. m. 11:20 a. m. Col. 10:40 a. m. 12:40 p. ni. 12:55 p. m. 12:40 p. in. 3:25 ji. ni. Col. 2:45 p. m. 7:40 p. m. Col. 8:20 !». m. 8:40 p. m. 10:10 p. m. 12:45 a. m. rUiladelphia :-::oo a. m. 7:40 a. m. 10:00 a. in. 12:01 p. m. 3:40 p. m. 5:0U p.m. 5:^0 p. m, 7:20 p. m. 9:30 p.m. The Hanover Accommodation, west, connects at Lancaster iTith Niagara Express, -west, at 0::^5 a. m., and will ruu through to Hauover. The Frederick Accommodiitiou, west, coniiecTJ?at Lancas- ter with Fast Line, west, at 2:10 p. m., and runs to Frederick. The Pacific Express, east, ou Sunday, when flagged, will stop at M'ddletowii, ElizabetUtowu, Mouut Joy and Laudla- ville. "The only trains which ruu daily. +Kuu6 daily, except Monday. NORBECK & MILEY, PRACTICAL ^i EDW. J. ZAHM, lt|'.\Ll::: : t-' AMERICAN AND FOREIGN AA^ATCHES, SOLID SILVER & SiLVER PLATED WARE, CLOCKS. JEWELRY ITABLE CUTLERY. ^■jl.- Agf-jit fjr 11:.' Arund.'l I'laU.l SPECTACLES. North Qusen-st. and Centre Square, Lancaster, Pa. 79-1 -rj JE. :E^. :!BOX7^IVE.A.3Nr, ''^^dW^^TC/h/j " AT rOlVKNT PO<«SIRI.r i'RIt'EH, No. 106 EAST KING STREET, 73-1-1:;] Ojijmsltr T.inptiril llol't. ESTABLISHED 1832. h '-11'-... 'W - ^^ Sarriage Builders fOX & CO"S OLB ST.\)I!». Cofnef of Duke mi Vioe Streets, LANCASTER, PA. THE LATEST IMl'ltOVEIV ' SIDE-BAR BUGGIES, PHAETONS, Carriages, Etc. mmmmmmwmm. Prices to Suit the Times. KKPAIKTNG promptly .ittended to. All wmk guaiantceil. &. lo. co::s:, M;uiuf;iL-turer of Carriages, Buggies, Phaetons, etc. CHURCH ST., NEAR DUKE, LANCASTER, PA. Large Stock of New and Secou-haud Work on hUud very cheap. Carriufjps Made to Order AVoik Warranted or one year. [7f-9-li G. SENER Sl sons n.s ;t!!d (le:dprs in all l;iniU tl ru]i>h---il .<»lII!\'«iI-E.«iiu tbf- fOUMl loors, IiIiu.h'-ii The bpst Sawwl .*«III1\'4 iit tbp muntry. .\!so S.iab, Doors, IiIiur nriccs to LOUIS C. LYTZ, Bird-in-Hand P. O., Lancaster co., Pa. Nuraerv at Smoketo-.vii, >,ix miles east of Laucastf^r. 7'.)-i-ia WIDMYER & RICKSECKER, UPHOLSTERERS, Ari.i RLiimractuix-r^ nf FURMITURE PD CHAIRS, WAREROOMS: 102 East King St., Cor. of Duke St. 79-1 -I'i] LANCASTER, PA. Special Iiaducements at the NEW FURNITURE STORE W. A. HEINITSH, UTo. IS 3.-2 13. IS.X3VO STU-EE'I' (over Bursk's Grocery STore), Lancaster, Ta. A i::ene;-al a^.sor*mciit of fiiruiture of all kiuda coiistautly ':'U baud. JJou't forget Ihe uumber. Nov-Iy] (over Bursk's G.ocery Store.) For Good and Cheafj Work go to F. VOLLMER'S FLIRNITURE WARli ROO.MS, No 309 NORTH QUEEN ST . (Oppoaile Northeru Market), AI.^o, ail kiniU of i.iclure fratuee, uov-ly GREAT BARGAINS. A large assortment of fdl kinds of Canieta are still sold at lower rates than ever at the CARPET HALL OF H. S. SHIRK, No. 202 IVest Kino St. Call and examine our stock aud satisfy yourself that we can fehow the largest ;iBsortment of these Brussels, throe plies and iugrahi at all prices— at the lowest Philadelphia prices. Also ou hand a large aud oompleto assortment of Rag Carpet. Satisfaction guaranteed bath as to price aud quality. You are invited to call aud see my goods. No- trouble m showing thani even if you do not want to purchase. Don't forget thie notice. You can save money here if yju want to buy. Particular attontion given to customer vork. Also on hand a full assortment of Counterpanes, Oil Cloths and Blankets of every variety. [nov-iyr. PHILIP SCHUM, SON & CO., 38 and 40 West King Street. We keep ou baud i>f our 0'.vu luauufat ture, QUILTS, COVEPvLETS, COUNTERPANES, CARPETS, Bureau and Tidy Covers. Ladies' Famishing Goods, No- tions, etc. Particular attention ]iaid to customer Rag Carpet, aud scowering and djcin^of all kiu(!.s. PHILIP SCHUM. SON & CO.. Nov-1y Laiicawter. Pa. THE HOLMAN LIVER PAD] Cures by absorption without uiedicine. Now is the time io apply these remedies. They wiil do for you what nothing else 0:1 earth can. Hundreds of citi- zens of Lancaster s'V so. Get the genuine at LANCASTER OFFICE AND SALESROOM, 22 East Orange Street. G. R. KLINE. yVTTOf^NEY-AT-f:iAW, OFFICE : 15 NORTH DUKE STREET, LiVNCA-STEB, PA.. Nov-ly J The Lancaster Farmer. Dr. S. S. SATHVON, Editor. LANCASTER, PA., FEBRUARY, 1882. Vol. XIV. No. 2. THE ENGLISH SPARROW. ■•Auslialia iuiiiortcd Eiit;lisli sparrows to kill worms, but it t'oiiiid tliat tlu' birdsan^ tlic worst pest of tiu' two, and bouiiticsare offered for tluiir destruction." [t appears tliat Australia has repeated the blunder of America, in importing the " Eng- lish sparrows to kill worms," and now both Countries are "down on the sparrow," because lie cannot be forced to habitually do violence to the instincts of his nature. The ''English s|)arrow" (Passer domesticus) is a Finch, be- longing to the family Fhingillido':, and therefore, by nature, is a granivorous bird, and not strictly speaking, an insectivorous one. It is not the fault of the sparrow that it don't eat worms, any more than it is the fault of the lion, because he don't "eat straw like an ox." There was therefore no more wis- dom in importing the fclnglish sparrow for the purpose of destroying insects, than there would have been in importing an English pigeon to destroy mice. It is nothing to the purpose to allege that they do occasionally, or under certain extraneous circumstances, eat insects, for that is only a neyad'fe quality at best. If birds must be imported to destroy insects, those of a positive charactive should have been imiiorted. Tlie sparrow however, is sufticiently posi- lirr in the direction his instincts lead him, although as a uniform, or exclusive feeder on insects he is netjative, and it is almost, if not cpiile, impossible for him to be otherwise, without doing violenci' to his own physical organization. If he were purely insectiverous he would not be eking out a precarious living in our cold uncongenial clime during winter, when insects are not obtainable by birds of his mandibular conformation ; he would in- stinctivi'ly migrate with other members of the " leathered realm," who habitually feed on insects. It .setms to us that this fad alone iinulit to hti prima fftcia evidence that no con- i lince can be placed on the English sparrow ;i> a reliable remedy against the multiplication of noxious insects. It is very probable that he ma)/, and perhaps docs, appropriate some insecls when he can get nothing else, or when he is providing a repast for his young family, in common with many other birds that are not strictly insectiverous. Until young birds are fully competent to [irovide for themselves, the (larent birds usually furnish them such r Mid as is best adapted to their juvenile con- ilition, and in that respect they perhaps d is jrain, or seeds, and when these are not ' I'lainable it will appropriate that which luarest approximates to arain, or seeds, and li.iice the English sparrows beget themselves to cities, towns, villages and hamlets, where they can obtain bread-crumbs, undigested grains in the droppings of animals — especially those of the hor.se — and in the absence of these, the young buds of trees and shrubbery. The streets of Lancaster city are full of them both .Summer and Winter, whilst in the sur- rounding country there are few or none of them. Two summers ago a creeping vine on a gable in East Orange street, contained lifty or one hnnilred sparrows nests, and each one of them was the cradle of a brood or two during the season. Within, perhaps, a hun- dred yards of it stood several elm trees, badly infested by the "elm leaf beetle," (Galerucea zanthomalorna.) There were tens of thousands of th(se insi'cts in the ]iivv;i,ihe pupa, and the imatji) states : but no one that ever watched those birds ever saw them lly in the direction of those infested elm trees, and this seemed the more remarkable, inasmuch as the leaves, the branches, the trunks, and the pavement under ihe trees, were literally swarming with the insects in all their stages of development ; moreover, the birds were rearing their broods, and, from their appearance alone, one would suppose that if ever there was an insect that might be expected to excite the appetite of a small bird, it would have been these Elm-lcaf- Beetlcs. But no, they were totally ignored. Now, notwitlistanding all this, it is not our intention to disparage the English sparrow ; for, as we before intimated, he has his place in the economy of nature, and those who have forced him out of it must take the conse- quences. He is doing all he can, under the circumstances in which he is placed, and the highest reasoning creature can do no more, lie doubtless is doing some good in his own peculiar way. If he does not destroy the number of insects we think he should, he may be gobbling up the seeds of many noxious weeds, when he can get access to them, and that is surely something. . But, in dealing with the sparrow we do not think it would be wise to follow the example of Australia, by ottering bounties for their de- struction; for this might furnish the other horn of the dilemma, as it did on another nota- ble occasion in that same Australia. The gov- ernment of New South Wales offered bounties for the destruction of the owls and hawks of that colony some years ago, on account of the depredations they committed upon the poultry of the farmers, through which they were finally exterminated. But then the more de- structive rodents increased most fearfully, soon the country was overrun Ijy rats, mice, rabbits, &c., and so great w;is the destruction of the pasture fields, that a single woolgrower or a single district lost fifteen hundred .sheep by starvation. A similar event occurred many years ago in .Scotland. There seem to be certain balances in the economy of nature, the equilbriuin of which, if destroyed, or undue preponderance be given in either direc- tion, results in disaster to the interests of the aggressor ; and often too, in a manner that was wholly uncontemplated. Wc cannot therefore say what effect the total destruction of the sparrows would have upon the vegetable world, but there is room for rational inference that it would not be a favoiable one; because, imlircct inllueiicesiiiay be so intensified as to produce more injury than those that are direct. Although the sparrows belong to the Finch family, yet within that family there are groups, some of which are more decidedly granivorous than others. Although their natural proclivities may lead in thai direction, still they are not so exclusively seed-eating as the tn; the lives and properly of their jiatrons. We give these views for what they may be worth, and not as an unqualified endorsement of them, nor yet as a positive dissent. There is evidently two sides to the question, and be- fore we commit ourselves to either side, we should contemplate the subject both pro and con. It doubtless would be pleasant to ride through a long shaded avenue in summer time, but if this should add to the present burden of danger, much might be lost and nothing gained. THE LARGEST TREE IN THE WORLD. " The biggest tree in the world is not in California, as every one supposed, but in Aus- tralia. The Champion of the Yosemite Val- ley must give way to the "Peppermint" trees, on the Dandenong rauge of hills in Australia. Baron Von Muller who is a great authority on botanical subjects, asserts that he has seen one of these trees of the enormous height of St. Paul's Cathedral," 4^iO feet. The above paragraph is credited to Land and Water, by the Journal of Forcstri/. This will never do. We must find a tree 480 feet and one inch in height, even if we have to si)lice it. Perhaps the great Santa Barbara grape vine might be irellised up to a greater height than the Australian peppermint, but then it would hardly pay, as they would be sure to "beat it"— perhaps with a pumpkin vine— in Australia. The race in "big things" seems to lie between California and Australia, and are mere specta- tho remainder of the worl tors. On a "second thought," perhaps, it would be better just now to "divide the honors," for the same authority nominally accords to New York Stale — "(/ic lanjcst ' orrliurd in the ii'or/fZ," namely, that belonging to Mr. Kinst- ry, on the l)ank.s of the llud.son, containing 24,000 yapple-trees, 4,000 cherry-trees, 1,000 pear-trees, 500 peach-trees, 500 chestnut-trees, •JOO plum-trees, 15,000 grape-vines, and 0.000 raspberry-trees. Of apples alone Mr. K. sold over ;jl),OOU barrels, and a proportionate quan- tity of other kmds of fruit last year. Taken as a whole, Mr. Kinstry's may be the largest orchard in the world ; but, if the number of peach trees was thousands instead of hun- dreds, it would not equal some of the peach orchards of the little Slate of J)elaware, and the plums can be outnuuibcred, we think, by orchards in Michigan. We are not sure that big trees, big orchards and big farms, ;ire the best things for the gen- eral welfare and eciuity of a country — and this might also ajiply to big establisbmenls of any kind, uule.ss it were such as could not be con- ducted on small or medium scales — as rail- roads and canals for instance, and which can- not accomplish their objects, or accommodate the demands of the public, without traversing hundreds or thousands of miles. SHIFTY, THRIFTY, FRANCE. "The Montez.uma (N. Y.) marshes are like- ly to become as valuable as a coal mine. The nuirl is being shipped to France by the thou- sands of tons, being used there as a deodoriz- er and entering into the manufacture of arti- ficial fertilizers. Seeing that we are export- ing so niueb fertilizfng matter in Ihe shape of cereals, and Ijeef' pork and mutton, we really oMght to keep all crude fertilizing matter at home to replenish those tields whose fertility has been shipped to Europe." The French seem to know "whats what" on subjects of "fragrance and fertility;" some- thing which we Americans are slow in learn- ing. Marl, tli£ qualities of which should be familiar to American farmers, is aksolutely unknown in many districts of our country, not very far either from localities where thou- sands of tons of it have been imbedded these many hundreds— perhaps thousands— of years. The next step may be for France to send our marl back to us again, in the form of ex- pensive fertilizers. Perhaps then it would be- come popular, for it would be French, and 'you know' we are a very "Freuchy people in tastes. Here we sweat and odorizc, and France .sends over and takes our deodorizers. They are a wonderfully prolific peoph; any how, in scientific, domestic, manufacturing and social exi)edients and economics; and al- though comparatively poor in area and virgin fertility, yet they are rich in resources, and could live sumi)tuously on what we waste, or willfully throw away. "A market for the sale of toads lo garden- ers is held every week in Paris. A hundred good toads bring from .$15 to $17. They are brought packed in damp moss in well-ventila- ted ciwks." There it is again: the next step will be to import American toads, as companions to our marl. As we are said to be a money getting people, it would not be surprising, if some of our enterj)rising experts would engage in the exportation of toads — especially if it " pays" ;— seeing that we have such a low appreciation of them as domestic auxiliaries on this side of the Atlantic. "The highest mountain on the north Ameri- can continent, is Mount St. F.lias in Alaska, who.se elevation is ; 7,780 feet. Next to it eonie the volcano of Popocala[)etl, in Mexico, 17,70(1 feet, and Orizaba, also in Mexico, 17,370 feet. We own the liighest mountain: that surely is siiinc compensation. France can't deprive us of that "any way." Hut should the ice crop fail, we may find her hankering after our Alaska ice. Ulu- would profit by it, although wc, it seems, cainiot. AVell, let her take it, and the marl and toads along with it. She can't take our highest mountain, nor our nox- ious insects {indeed these she u'on't take, she is satisfied with our phijUoxera) nor our stenches. Irony apart, these paragraphs carefully culled, are significant. Before another cen- tury in our history tran.spires, our country may have a more practical illustration of the use of marl and toads, and perhaps of high mountains too, than it has now. These arc the bountiful provisions of nature, that liave been permitted by a power outside of nature, for our utilization when the proper time and circumstances hanuonize in their discovery and development. KITCHEN GARDEN FOR FEBRUARY. In the Middle States, frost usually prevents out-door ellbrts in the way of gardening. Next month however, will bring its labors, and we can now only prepare to follow them. It is presumed all per.sons into whose hands t..is Journal is likely to fall are jirovided with that cheap and simple means of enjoyment, a HoT- liED, for forwarding tender vegetables. AVe do not mean the more expensive structure under which delicacies are provided ready for the table, but a plain box, of suitable size and figure, with sash and shutter to fit, under which plants ol'<-ahb(i(jc, tomalo, cjij-plant, &c., may be raised in anlicipalion of spring, and on its arrival, to be transplanted in the open air. If there be one who has a garden still unfurnished with what we have just described, let him lake our word for it he will, on trial, thank us for urging its immediate provision; no country family can half enjoy the comforts within reach who are unprovided with such a structure; a glance at one in use will give the necessary information as to the construc- tion. Towards the close of this month (if the weather bc'very severe it may be prudent to defer it awhile), the seeds just named may be planted under glass; watch them lest they sutler from frost, or, as is not unfrequently the case, from want of suflicient air as the weather becomes milder, when they all need increased water. If the remarks under the head of January are referred to, perhaps some- thing may be found which will apply with equal force to the present month. We can only speak in general terras of the work which may be advantageously done now, preparatory to the active season which ap- proaches. The thoughtful man will study out the subject for him.self and leave no- thing undone which may expedite the varied and i>iessing labors of spring. If tools and implements are likely to be needed, ho will 20 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [ February 1 provide them in due season; repair the old ones, examine and realize, if need be, the gashes of the forcing frames, long before they are actually required; overhaul his stock of seeds, and make out a list of those which may be needed, so that they may be in hand before the time of sowing: thus not only his inte- rest, but his personal comtort will be advanc- ed, and those little trifles which perplex the careless and improvident, may be made sources of enjoyment. With each duty discharged at the proper time, with "a place for every thing and everything in its place,'' many rough spots m life's journey may be made smoother. — Landreth^s Eur. Reg. Comment on the above is unnecessary. It speaks for itself, and contains the essence of the admonition— "He that is forewarned is forearmed,"— or at least he may be, if he will. ^ POULTRY EXHIBITION. This rare peageant, which finally closed on Wednesday evening at 10 o'clock, January 18, 1882, was the distinguishing feature of the month, in the domestic history of Lancaster county; and, independent of its pecuniary outcome, it may be "scored" as an unquali- fied success, as it deserved to be. Whatever indifference may be manifested in quarters from which we would naturally look for active sympathy, one thing seems certain; namely, that there is considerable of a "chicken- fever" in Lancaster city and county, and any one who visited the exhibition must have been impressed with the evidence that the chicken was determined to be "seen and heard." The "birds" themselves, very graphically represented the different nationalities of the human family, and their vociferations, atti- tudinizings, genuflections and gyrations may fitly have represented the babel and the move- ments upon some foreign quay, where diverse nations are wont to meet in promiscuous in- tercourse, although limited by a ruling power apart from themselves. The awards of the premiums will be found on another page in this number of tlie Farmer, where it finds a permanent record and may be referred to by those who participated in the exhibition, when other records have perished. xVnd that is not all. It stands as a limng record, creditable to the energy and perseverance of its originators and conductors. RULES AND EXCEPTIONS. Hybrids Not Always Barren. The general sterility of the mule has given rise to an Impression that hybrids are gene- rally sterile, and indeed the term mule and hybrid have become almost synonymous. Sci- entific agriculturists and other philosophers have even built theories on this suppc^sed uni- versal sterility, and we are not sure but some theories in the popular general science of the day are founded on those supposed facts. But as "one swallow does not make a summer, so does not this one great fact about the mule make a general law. Facts opposing this gen- eral application of the principle are numerous and must be familiar to most observing per- sons. One of the most interesting that we have seen recently relates to the progeny of the common buffalo and the domestic cow. The progeny breed freely and are said to be good milkers, and there is even some prospect that the fact may be utilized in the pr. duction of a very hardy and valuable race. It is to be regretted that the race of obser^" ers is so limited, while students evryewhere abound. Though the fact that hybrids are not necessarily sterile is sustained by numerous instances if people will only look about them, few know of it who are studying up these questions, not because they do not exist, but because they are not in the books.'' — German- town Telegraph. Time was, within our remembrance, when the mule was booked and discussed without an exception, as a perfectly sterile animal, but, subsequently a voice came up from Alabama that a female mule had foaled, just as any other female animal of the horse kind would. This then was an exception to the rule, in the minds of those who credited the story. Then came a similar report from Florida, from Kentucky and elsewhere, but nothing authen- ticated, save by newspaper paragraphs. Per- haps none of these cases were sufficiently au- thentic to break the theoretical rule in the minds of many scientists. Now however, ac- cording to our extract below, taken from the National Live Stock Journal, the French sa- vants at least, have been compelled to admit the fact. This, of course totally destroys the rule, because that can hardly be considered a rule to which there are so many exceptions; and yet there are admitted rules to which, it is said, there are more exceptions than cases that are covered by the rule. But, then, single isolated facts, however well attested, do not entirely exhaust tlie subject, for there are phases of the question suggested by both of our quotations, that would seem to need a more deffinite exem- plification, especially in regard to the fer- tilizing animal— whether an asinus or a ca- ballus. Moreover, the fertile or non-fertile character of the progeny involves a question of some interest. If the cause of this depar- ture from a general rule can be determined, the matter might be turned to additional profit in mule-culture. As the Telcgrajjhsug- gests, it would be well for tliose "who are studying up these questions," to investigate, and if they can find nothing "in the books," to see that it is duly placed on record there. A Breeding Mare Mule. A breeding mare mule was recently exhib- ited at theJardin d'Acclimatation in Paris, which has produced three colts. As the French savants have hitherto been very in- credulous as to reports of mule breeding, it is stated that they carefully inquired into this case, and became satisfied that it was true. We have heard of mare mules occasionally breeding in America, but we do not recollect the year and locality of this, or whether the sire was a jack or a stallion, and shall be obliged to any of our readers wlio can furnish these particulars; also, what sort of an ani- mal the produce turned out to be. In the above instance of mule breeding in France, the sire was a stud-horse. — Chicago Live- StoVk Journal. WRITING FOR THE FARMER. Friend Rathvon: "Why is it that our peo- ple of Lancaster county will not write more for the Farmer? Surely there are many who could give valuable information. More origi- nal matter would make the paper more inte- resting."—J. i3. G. " That's so " — eminently and absolutely so — and yet tlie desirable thing is not done; but we can conscientiously .say it is not through any example, any unwillingness, or any refusal of ours. We have however erect- ed no tribunal before which we arreign any one for delinquencies of this kind. Contribu- tions of this kind, like church contributions, should be voluntary. There is no power ex- cept self-compulsion that can be legitimately exercised in such a matter. If those who are able to write, choose to "pass over Jordan" without having left a record for the benefit of posterity, they are not accountable to us. It would be a great relief to us, if we had more intelligent contributors, and would greatly add to the interest of the journal, the editor- ial labors of which, have devolved upon us these many years ; but we must reconcile our- selves to the situation. It cannot continue forever, and we do not believe that our con- dition in the "forever" will be in the least damaged through the labors we have endured here ; because, when we go hence, we do not expect, or even desire, to go to a land of apathy and idleness, but to one of use and per- petual progress; and our capacity of enjoy- ment there will be proportioned to our eftbrts to labor usefully here. . . . We wish some one would answer our aged friend's query: we confess we cannot. If the ship can be saved by throwing us overboard, like Jonah of old, we will cheerfully submit to the sacrifice. All that we have borne in conducting the Farmer thus far down the stream of time, may never be known until our " book of life " is opened. Perhaps, if a local journal were established to advance the interests of our secular craft, we might be as remiss in our contributions to its columns as those are who ought to "write for the Farmer ;" but we think we would not. A lovetor writing however, must lieculti- vated, founded on use, before men will be- come habitual and voluntary writers; unless they write for emolument, and then it be- comes a task. In reply to our venerable friend's financial inquiry, we would say, that liis remittance was duly received and placed to the credit of those for whom it was intended ; and the acknowledgment will be found on the labels] of the different papers. As pertinent to this subject, but without I claiming that w fill the measure of the fol- lowing from the columns of a coutemperary j journal, we quote it as a morally wholesome ad- monition to all. "Thousands of men breathe, j move and live: pass off the stage of life, and < are heard of no more. Why? They did not I a particle of good in the world, and none were blessed by them; none could point to] them as the instruments of their redemption: not a line they wrote, not a word they spoke, j could be recalled, and they perished — their] light went out in darkness and they were re- memljered no more than the insects of yester- day. Will you thus live and die? Live for] some thing. Do good, and leave behind you a] monument of virtue that the storms of time] can never destroy. Good deeds will shine as | bright on earth as the stars of heaven." EXCERPTS. MISCELLANEOUS. Georgia has fifty cotton mills in operation | and others in course of erection. The last census return place the "defec- tive " list of persons in the United States at J 1882.J THE LANCASTER FARMER. 21 over 500,000. The list comprises the deaf' (liinili, blind, insane, idiotic and jiauper. TwENTY-KivE acres of tobacco liave been growu this year at Putney, Vt., which there- fore chiims to be the banner town in the State in tliis respect. "LYiN(i ligures," says Mr. Dunlap, of The Chiiago Tribune, " are tliose in a current newspaper article to the eftect that with $2,500 a person can go to Dakota and realize a net profit in wheat culture of S19,000 the first year." TilK statement tliat the Canada tiiistle is spread inu; over a large part of the Northern or Middle States is not creditable to the en- I teri)rise of farmers. It should be eradicated by eternal visilance. The Philadelphia Farmer has already pre- dicted that there will not be even a fair crop of peaches next year, should the coming win- ter and sjiring be favorable. The freezing last winter and the hot, dry fall, told severely. Blossom buds, usually prominent before frost, are shriveled and show but little strength. It is estimated that the Barton drover.s handled 3,000 cattle this season, and two Craftbury men have sold 7,000. If the novice would stick to one or two kinds of fowls in the beginning, less losses and disappointments would be the result. Oil of titrpentine is recommended to keep harness free from mold. All manner of decaying vegetable matter should be added to the compost heap instead of being left to accumulate about the door- yard, where it will prove a fruitful source ef malaria. Turn the heap occasionally and keep it moist to prevent fire fang. Greex manuring, or the plowing in of green crops, is especially adapted for light, sandy soils, which need humus to increase their retentive power. A. B. Gkofp, of Michigan, is said to have exhibited an onion seventeen inches in cir- cumference, weighing upward of two pounds. A MIXTURE of muriate of potash, fish guano or sulphate of ammoniate and super- phosphate of lime, is an excellent fertilizer for corn. Oregon had 100,000 tons of wheat for ex- port, this year. Texcii, a French food-fish, have been in- troduced in the Central Park pond, in New York. AViiEN artificial teeth were made of ivory, the canine teeth of hippopotamus were highly valued by denti.sts for that purpose, on ac- count of keeping color better than any other kind of ivory. In the construction of the tubular bridge over Menai strait, England, there were used 2,000,000 bolts, averaging seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, four inches in length. The quantity of iron consumed for the purpose amounted in length to 120 miles, and in weight '.100 tons. Probably 10.000 is an underestimate of the number of eggs shed annually by the herring. domestic. Combs and wattles of fowls may be prevent- ed from freezing by oiling them so as to pre- vent their getting wet. Pigs arc able to consume far more food in proportion to tl>eir weight than either sheep or oxen. The Italian bee was lir.ss imported into America in September, 18.50, and ever since importation and home breeding of queens has been constantly gaining, until at present the supply ralluT exceeds the demand, and im- porters are opening a new field t)y introducing other races of bees. I.IKE the blackberry, the raspberry bears the fruit upon the cane of the previous year's growth, which, after fruitage, dies, the new cane coming forward for the next year's crop. In the orchard the thumb and forefinger are a better pruning instrument than the knife, and the latter than the shears or the .saw; but the former must be used in the nick of time. Two cows well sheltered in winter, will produce more milk and butter than three un- sheltered animals, though no more than half the feed required for the three should be given to the two. If the cucumber which grows nearest the root be saved for seed for a number of years in succession, the result will be a smaller and earlier variety. If the fruit on tlie extremity be saved it will produce a larger and later variety. Whatever you undertake in the poultry line be sure to cultivate a thorough know- lege of its details before launching out with full steam in a haphazard way. Sheep should be tagged regularly, and kept clean. They should be culled every year, and those in any manner deficient in form or age should be put in a separate pas- ture and fattened for the butcher. Eggs from hens partake in a great degree of the flavor and quality of the food, proving that they should be fed on clean wholesome food. One may get onions instead of eggs by feeding hens on onions. Tomato Soup.— One pint of milk, one quart of water, one pint of tomatoes; two crackers powdered, and one and a half tea- spoonfuls soda. Boil twenty minutes. To break up setting hens liave seven pens^ one for each day of the week, then all hens found wanting to set on any day of the week should be put in the pen corresponding to that day. Keep them in five days. By this arrangement it is easily told how long each hen or pen of hens have been in. Save the middle grains of the fine ears of corn for seed. Hogs should be allowed to have a heap of coal ashes. They will be all the healthier for it. Beef and mutton are not flavored by 'feed- ing turnips to the animals— at least this is the statement of some who have tried it. An orchard should never be planted in a clay soil unless the latter is underdrained, after which it becomes one of the best soils for apples and pears. Let every farmer keep all the stock he can possibly afford to — and generally he can afford to keep more than he does. The dependence of farming for all time must be mainly on stock. Young cows do not give as rich milk as do those of mature age. A lean cow gives poor milk and a fat one rich milk. scientific. The latitude of England is tlie same as that of Labrador, and the former country is only saved from the coldness and desolation of the latter by the warmtli of the gulf stream. Insects are often attracted from a distance by artificial flowers, but they never liglit on them, leading us to believe that they are guided bv some other sense than that of sight. It is recommended that, as the common ailanthus tree is diiecious, only the female trees should be propagated for shade in towns, the male having the disagreeable odor. The assertion that iron and platinum when raised to incandescence, are transparent to light, has been proved false by a series of experiments. Some engitieers of Dundee, Scotland, have tried with success a new gun for throwing a line to a wrecked vessel. The gun is about two feet in length. The impression that flowers are never found double in a wild state is an incorrect one, the fact being that this is frequently one of nalure's variations. Herr Hansen has found that the blue color in milk is due to the presence of peculiar microscopical organisms — known as bacteria — which multiply very rapidly, and in so doing produce a blue matter resembling ani- line. These organisms render the milk unfit for food, especially for persons of weak diges- tive power. M. H. F. Blanforu reports that he has observed white ants in the act of emitting rythmical sounds. Another observer, Mr. F. P. Pascoe, has heard a peculiar sound, in fields of Southern Europe, which was found to be the song of a small lizard. It is generally believed that these creatures have uo power of producing vocal .»ounds. As we ascend from the earth the air grows thinner and thinner. From this fact astron- omers believe that the limit of the atmos- phere is 200 miles from the earth's surface. Coal consists of from eighty to ninety-five per cent, of carbon mixed with a small pro- portion of mineral substances, which, after it i« burned, remain as ashes, and of an inflam- mable gas contained in its interstices. In Alpine regions there are more narrow, partly-closed flowers than elsewhere, and a greater proportion of long-tongued insects, the flora seeming to be exactly adapted to the insects feeding on its honey. The roes of various kinds of fish contain from about 30,000 to over 3,080,000 eggs. The lion's teeth seem formed rather for destruction than for the chewing of his food. A four-fingered monkey, in its native state, has been seen to go down to the edge of a stream, rinse its mouth and then clean its teeth with one of its fingers. In Bavaria medical men arc shorter lived than any other class. Out of every 100 in- dividuals, 53 Protestants clergymen, 41 pro- fessors, 39 lawyers or magistrates, .34 Catholic priests, but only 26 doctors reach the age of 50. 22 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [February, The octopus has a gland which secretes an inky fluid, and this be squirts out, making a thick, dark cloud behind him which baflles his pursuer at the same time that it helps himself to dart away. Mr. Darwin asserts that the octopus often takes deliberate aim at an enemy when it squirts out this unpleasant fountain. Ostriches, when the full number of eggs have been laid, invariably place one of them outside the nest — the nest consisting natur- ally of a hollow scooped out of the land by the action of the wings and legs of the birds. It has been found that these eggs are reserved as food for the chicks, which are often reared in a natural stall, miles away from a blade of grass or other food. MORAL ECONOMY. iNDtTSTET need not wish. Truth is the basis of every virtue. Ataeice is the mother of many vices. The path of truth is a plain and safe path. Old injuries are seldom canceled by new benefits. He that cannot live well to-day cannot to- morrow. The fountain of content must spring up in the mind. Falsehood sinks us into contempt with God and man. The road to home and happiness lies over small stepping stones. The touchstone by which men try us is most often their own vanity. Theee is a long and wearisome step be- tween admiration and imitation. A MAN explodes with indignation when a woman ceases to love him, yet he soon finds consolation ; a woman is less demonstrative when deserted, and remains longer incon- solable. It is hard to personate and act a part long, for where trutli is not at the bottom nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep out and betray itself one time or another. histoeical. Libraries existed in Egypt contempor- aneously with the Trojan war. The earliest account of a diving bell in Europe is at Nuremburg, 1064. " . - CHAucEEr eceived a pitcher of wine every day from the cellar of Edward III. The tine Syrian sponge is usually employed for the toilet, owing to its texture. On account of the scarcity of wood in India the people burn manure for fuel. The first normal school in America was established in Concord, Vt., in -182.'!. Cloves have been brought into the Europe- an market for more than 2,000 years. The Egyptians placed a mummy at their festal boards to remind them of immortality. STATISTICAL. The value of property, as assessed, for pur- poses of taxation, in the United States, is $16,897,1.35,567, or $330.80 per capita for a population of 50,155,783. The New England States, with 4,010,529 of the population, hold $2,652,070,586 of the property, or 8601.27 per capita; that is to say, with considerably less than one-twelfth of the population they have about two-thirteenths of the wealth of the country. The Middle States have $5,- 507,073,848 of property to 11,7.56,055 inhabi- tants, or $473.55 per capita; the Western States have $6,180,524,614 to 18,.524,989 people, or $33.5.63 per capita; and the South, with 15,257,393 people, assesses its own pro- perty at $2,360,246,890, or only $1.55.29 for each person. The States which have the most wealth have also the heaviest debts. In New England the .state, county and town in- debtedness amounts to .$44.54 per capita; in the Middle States, $41.57: in the West, $13.17, and in the South, $13.43. The dif- ference does not exactly correspond with the difference in wealth, but it does approxi- mately. Contributions, For The Lanoasteu Farmer, THE EGG— ITS CONTENTS AND HOW IT IS MADE. My friend, as you are a close observer of nature, I should like you to explain to me the contents of this egg, and how it is made. It is composed of the ova, or yolk; and the albumen, or white, and a thin skin covering the same, and a shell enclosing the whole. What is the yolk composed of? It is composed of blood, assimilated through the working power of the hen; it also contains a portion of oil, derived from the grain that she may eat. What is the white composed of? It is a thick mucilage, made from any green substance that she may eat; young growing grass is preferable. Hens do not lay so well in winter, as the material for this purpose is in its dry state; the skin is made from the refuse of the woody, fibrous substance of the grass. The shell is composed of lime, or any hard substance easy to decompose; oyster shell, broken in small bits, is the best. Where are those ovas or yolks first formed 'f They grow in a cluster on the spine, coming through a tuft of soft skin, perforated with small holes, and between the lungs and the kidney (fowls having but one), there is one forming every twenty-four or thirty-six hours, so long as they are in tlie laying mood. How long after the first appearance of tlie ova, before the egg is laid? From fifteen to twenty days; the ova, or yolk, is enclosed in a thin skin; as it grows the skin stretches; and when matured, the skin breaks, and it drops out into the mouth of the ova duct, which is somewhat of a funnel sha))e. The mouth then closes, and the yolk is swal- lowed into the first division of the duct ; it then opens again, ready for the next, always on the 'alert. When two drop at the same time, it forms a double yolk ; this is only a freak of nature, and the good condition of the hen. The first division of the duct is about five inches in length ; and in passing this division it makes three revolutions, and the white is put on in three separate layers. The next division is of the same length, and passing in a rotary motion, turning to the left with the small end first, opening the way as it passes, the same as swallowing. In this division is where the skinning process is per- formed ; and also in this is where it gets its shape, depending on the freeness of the duct to yield to its passage. The next division is six inches long ; in this it receives the shell, which is a thin fluid, in color to suit the breed that is laying it, as it is the color of the egg that proves the genuineness of a thorough- bred fowl. At the terminus of the third divi- sion the duct is of a globe shape ; here the egg turns over, and passes big end first, which is head first, according to nature. How long is the ova duct ? It is from fifteen to twenty inches. This ova duct must be a curiously con- structed affair. It is. At the terminus of each division there is an elbow, and the inner side is very soft, with a silk-like feel, and is composed of folds, each one lapping partially over the other, and soft and pliable ; the first division being the coar-ser, and increasing in fineness of folds, and more numerous ; and as the egg passes each division, it presses from beneath them the amouut necessary for the make-up of the same, and no more. How is this egg fertilized, and when? Through the influence of the male bird, which passes through a small tube or duet, lying along the spine and making a con- nection with the cluster of small undevelop- ed ovas. How long will this egg keep, that I may rely upon its hatching, providing I turn it over every day ? You can't turn it over ; you may turn the shell, but not the inner portion of the egg, as it is hung in the centre by two spiral cords, one being attach- ed to each end of the yolk made fast to a thin net-work covering the yolk, and passes through the white and is fastened to the membrane or skin lining the shell. Each one of those cords is twisted the contrary way from the other, holding it the heavy side down all the time. This proves that the egg is growing and forming into its proper state, whilst passing the duct, as well as taking on its outward coating at the same time. Why is the head of the chick in the larger end of the egg? Because, when it is ready to extri- cate itself it has a greater distance to draw back its head and propel forward again with a heavy stroke, until the shell is cracked to admit air. This is its first breathing. How is it that it strikes the place every time ? Because ils head and neck is under the left wing ; therefore it is supported by the same, and kept on a level. By this means it strikes the same place every time ; it soon gains strength and knocks a hole through the shell. What is its mode of growth in the shell? It is made up entirely of the albumen or white; the first coating, or layer, forms the bone and sinews; the second the flesh, the third the skin; the first formation are two black specks, which are the eyes, one on each side of the spiral cord at the larger end; next the skull bone between, the neck and spiue, legs and wings attaching; at nine days there is life; at the end of two weeks the white is consum- ed; the two spiral cords make a connection in the stomach and protrude from the navel; now being formed into blood veins, and en- closing the yolk in a network of small ones; through these the chick derives its nourish- ment from the yolk; transforming back to its former substance, blood, after cracking the shell, it gains strength very fast, and those two blood veins commence drawing into the belly, and lifting what remains of the yolk,. J.S82. The Lancaster farmer. 23 and draws it in iilso; it now has strengtli to stretcli out its tiny legs tlie yollt being out of the way of its toeniiils, tlieie is no danger; the navpl bein<; closed, and with its feet at the bottom and head and sliouKlers at tlie top, the shell divides in two halves and the chick rolls out. What have we that comes in- to the world, I may say, on a more scientifical principle than the fowl, take it from the tirst formation of the ova. Such is nature; the Almighty has made all things in wisdom, and for our benelit,aiul there are so many ways to cook the egg, also the chick, and every way of each it is calculated to tickle the i)alate. Take ( are of your poultry.— W. 1. P. For Thk LANCASTni Farmku, FRUIT BELTS. Close observers could hardly have failed to iM.tice that for a number of years past certain sections of Lancaster county have produced better ai)ples than others. The section lying east of a line drawn northward from Chris- tiana through Leacock, West Karl and the western parts of Ephrata and Clay townships, grows finer apples than the section west of that line. In the southern part of the county is another small fruit belt. This includes part of Ifartic and Druraore, Fulton and Little Britain town^ihips. An}'^ one de- sirous of verifying these assertions need only compare the fruit brought to our market from New Holland, Ephrata and other points in the several tovvnsliiiis named, with that brought from Concstoga, Manor, Hempfield and other places in the western section. How can we account for this difference ? The cause cannot be in the soil, as that is not materially different in the several locations. Latitude and longitude cannot have a marked effect on so small a scope as a single county. Our hot and dry summers for a number of years, no dout, have been the great hindrance that we had to contend with in successful apple culture. Can it be that those eastern and southern belts have more rain i* Onr main supply of rain during the summer season, comes from thunder showers, and these, as is well known, are more or less sub- ject to attraction by mountain ranges and large streams of water. In severe drought, for many years past, the obseivation has been made from a certain point in the county, that a thunder shower to reach that point must almost invariably arise north-east from that point. If it rises only a few degrees north of that point it will go in an eastern direction and discharge itself through the north-eastern part of the comity. If the shower forms a few degrees further south, it will discharge itself obliquely across the southern part of the county. Very often thunder showers starting at the point named, divide, one part thereof going east, while the other takes the southeastern course. The attractive points, no doubt, ai'e the Conewago hills on the north and the Snsque- lianna river on the south In most seasons these attractive points lose much of their force, and then thunder show- ers appear to be able to move in all directions. The past season thunder showers were rare, the drought was very severe over the greater part of the country, but the few thunder showers we had almost invariably followed the Susijuehanna, and the southern belt suffered but little from drought, as the crop of apples, potatoes and corn there raised fully shows. — Casper Hiller. CHINESE FRUIT PEAR. CoLt'.MniA, Pa., February Id, " Slia Icii," or Chinese Sand Pi'ars. ".Suet leu," or Cliiiiese Snow I'cars. ISS-J. Friend .S. >S'. l{pi, Alabama, Florida and Texas. On the other band, an immense amount of timber stands in this country — 7(i0,000 square miles of it; besides Iowa, Kansas, Utah, etc., are becoming wooded by the planting of trees. Favorable legislation has and is doing much for the western prairie, in some of the States, "Arbor Day " being a regular holiday for the planting of trees. It may be said, however, that the cultivation of forests is grearly neglected in most countries, and in many a very sensible want of wood is felt. How shall we remedy this ! Who shall plant tVees ! In the Old World governments can coerce, but in our country it must depend upon the will of the citizen. Among some of the public benefactors in this line are .Mr. Fisher, the red cedar pencil manufacturer, who planted a large tract of land iu cedars; the Lan- dreths, of PhiLadelphia, who have been planting large areas in Virginia with catalpa, ailanthus, white oak, hickory, etc., and some Scotch immi grants, who are building up forests in Missouri. Mr. Hunsecker's essay was quite lengthy, and contained much interesting statistical information pertaining to the timber interests of America. What Causes White Vein in Tobacco. Mr. Hebron Herr read the following essay on the above subject. It was as follows: This is a very important question, and one that should elicit the attention and consideration of all growers of the weed. Numerous arguments have been advanced on various occasions, but have not proven satisfactory to the public in general. In my little experience I have discovered that tobacco which has been grown perfectly, nothing in- terfering with its growth from the small and tender plant up to perfectly matured .stalk, will invariably cure with the veins the desired color. Therel'ore, the cause which produces white veins in our totiacco is attributable first to a diseased condition of the plant in one or another stage of its growth. Tobacco may assume this diseased condition at various stages ol its growth. It may become diseased ii] our plant beds, or when being transplanted from our plant beds into the field, or when half matured, or after it is fully matured. At any of thhse stages it may be- come diseased, and nevergrow healthy thereafter. Fully matured tobacco may become diseased by being permitted to stand in our fields in the hot and dry sun after it has ceased to grow. It may be left remaining on the field after maturity without any disastrous effect when the soil is in a moist and growing condition. By permitting tobacco to re- main standing on our fields in the hot and dry sun after ceesing to grow It becomes subject to changes by the influence of the sun's rays robbing it of its vitality and retarding the copious flow of the nour- ishing elements which impart the life and vigor to the plants, evidently leaving the plant in a diseasetl cr)ndition when harvested. We should be very care- ful when growing tobacco in seasons as the last two Hereto harvest our crop immediately on the plant arriving at maturity or before it ceases to grow. It is better to have our tobacco an inch or so shorter and harvest it in a healthy condition, than a few fnches longer and harvest it in an unhealthy condi- tion. The next point to he taken Into consideration, and one also pertaining to the cause of white veins is that of curing the tobacco after it has been grown and harvested. Experience being the best teacher and guide has taught me that the more we retard the curing of our tobacco, subjecting it to undergo a number of changes while curing, the better the color will be and the leaf will pttssess more of that fine silken condition, and with a much less frequency of white veins. Moisture, I claim, is otie of the prime essentials in the curing of tobacco. Our curing houses, therefore, should be so constructed in the first place not to have them iiuilt so high, and invar- iably have a ground Moor or so arrangecl, if having another floor, that it could be opened to permit the moisture and dampness to draw up thfough the tobacco to assist in retarding the rapid curing. To- bacco which I cured in my tobacco cellar, when coming to shipping I discovered no white veins; also that which I cured in another building possessed very little; it also was subject to the influence of a ground floor, while that which was cured in my tobacco house possessed white veins, and the higher up in my shed the more numerous they became. Now, the cause or reasons which I give for this is that the tobacco which I cured in my cellar cured slowly, undergoing numerous chances of becoming moist, and when too moist was by ventilation caused to become dry, reviving the vitality and vigor of the plants which had become dormant or inactive when harvested; while that cured in the house above, having not possessed this advantage, cured very rapidly, and the more rapid the more frequent would white veins appear. Houses being covered with slate are often spoken of as not being beneficial to curing tobacco, owinii- no doubt to the heated condition iu which it becomes during the day, causing the tobac- co to cure too rapidly. Tobacco harvested while in a green state seldom cures white veins. This is owing to the green and sappj' condition of the leaf, causing it to cure more slowly; and its being in a trreen state is subjected to more numerous changes. We should aid our tobacco as much as possible while curing by closing tightly our houses during the day, and opening them at night. Therefore, in con- clusion, the cause of white veins in our tobacco is at- tributable, first, to a diseased condition of plants while growing, and secondly, to an improper method of curing; and as a preventive we shouhi endeavor to raise healthy plants, transplant properly, cultivate frequently and trust ill Him who is the giver of all good gifts to send us copious showers to assist in a rapid growth, and we will be enabled to grow tobac- co possessing very few white veins. Mr. Cooper thought Mr. Herr had struck the nail on the head in saying that when cut in a green and succulent condition the weed was in little danger of white vein. Many of us cut the weed too ripe; we wait for too much length. Better have less length and also less white vein. Mr. Graybill wanted to know why on a good healthy stalk one or two leaves will sometimes have while vein ; to which Mr. Herr responded that part of the stalk was diseased, just as one finger on a man's hand may be diseased and the other digits perffcctly healthy. Mr. Graybill also wanted to know why )'ou call sometimes sweat out white veins; and in response, Mr. Herr thought it was a poor rule that would not work both ways; therefore if you can sweat in white veins you can also sweat them out. Enos II. Weaver read an article from the CoutUrij Crciitleinan, taking substantially the same views ex- pressed by Mr. Herr, which were also in accord with Mr. Weaver's experience. Mr. Cyrus Nelf knew that some varieties of to- bacco were subject to white vein. President Witmer had been told that two well known growers in the eastern end leave their to- bacco stand until very ripe, and they never have white vein. Two years ago Mr, Witmer cut some tobacco when only reasonably ripe, cured it properly, and out ol two acres, only :'00 pounds were market- able. Mr. J. F. Landis said the best tobacco he ever grew stood at least two weeks after It was ripe. Mr. J. H. Landis, through other growers, had learned that many concur that wbeu a drought is followed by a wet spell and a consequent growth of the weed the white vein is very numerous. This was just directly opposite to President Wit- nicr's experiences. Under just these circumstances two years ago he had a very fine crop ami very little white vein. In .Mr. (Jrayliill's section, three years ago, heavy rains and hail occasioned a resetting ; then came a dry spell, then a heavy rain, and it was the best crop Mr. a. ever had. .Mr. Hoover also had a theory, to wit: In '79, about the second week of August, heavy rains suc- ceeded the long drought, and the result was a mag nificent crop. About the time tobacco needs rain the most is the lopping time; If the plant then lack nourishment the leaf will probably show a defect in the shape of white veins. Rank Growing Wheat. "Ought Kank Wheat to be Pastured?" was an swered by James Wood. It depends upon the win- ter that follows. If we have an o[)en winter it might be no disadvantage to pasture it out; but if the winter was severe, pasturing would be less de- sirable and quite risky. On the whole, he thought that rank wheat should not be pastured. .Mr. Hunsecker thought pasturing would have a tendency to check the rankness of wheat and thus make a better crop. Dairy Cows and the Soiling System. Can dairy cows be kept in as healthy condition by the soiling system, and is the butter as good ? was answered by J. F. Landis. " Can dairy cows be kept in as healthy condition by the soiling system, and is their Imtter as sweet?" If by the soiling system we mean the feeding of cows through the summer months insmall inclosures or stables, and only take the parts into consideratiOQ touched u()oii by my question, I am decidedly op- posed to the system. In order to have healthy cows it is essential that we have good lood, pure air, pure water, light and comfort. 1 claim this cannot be had in a small lot or stable to so full an extent as in the field. The first part of the question, as an swered, answers the second. In oriler to have sweet butter we must practice cleanliness from the time the milk leaves the cow until the butter is on the iiread. There are few things so absorbent of sur rounding odors as butter. 1 have seen good butter condemned hereon our market because the [lersons making it plac.d it iu a kettle in which cheese was placed, or anything else having an odor, which, in itself, may not be objectionable. When that butter is put UDon the table it has lost its sweetness. I claim that the soiling system, to some extent, affects the healtli of cows as well as the sweetne.'^s of the butter. President Witmer did not agree with the referee. He thought there were many advantages in the soil- ing system and only one objection, viz : the disad- vantage of the labor attending it. .Mr. W.'s cows never did as well as under the soiling system. Mr. Nefl' is trying to feed his cattle entirely in the stable. Last year from December to February lie never took out the cows even for water, and they never did better. Mr. Neff saw no reason why eallle could not be ke|il as well and in as healthy condition in as out of the stable He cleaned his stables twice a day. Mr. Cooper, one of the committee at the State Fruit Growers' Society, re|>ortcd one of the most in- teresting meetings the society ever held. The room was crowded, and all the essays and discussions evinced greafinlerest on the part of the members. The following questions are on the programme for next meeting : " Should patent fertilizers be appliei^ to tobacco, and if so at what time!" Keferrcd to D. W. Gray- bill. " Can we not dispense with the division fences with profit!" Eph. 8. Hoover. " Should we encourage the introduction of new varieties of apples ?'; L. S. Keist. " What 13 the best time for sowing cloverseed i" Enos H. Weaver. "Is sub soiling beneficial?" John C. Linville. Adjourned. 30 THE LANCASTER .FARMER. [February, POULTRY ASSOCIATION. The Association held their meeting on Monday morniner, February 6. The followinfr were present : President, G. A. Geyer, of Springville; J. B. Lichty, Secretary, city; M. L. Greider, Mount Joy; H. H. Tshudy, Lititz; J. B. Long, city; C. E. Long, city; J. F. Witmer, Paradise; Charles Lippold, city; John E. Schum, city; W. W. Griest, city; Washington Hershey, Chiclsies; F. R. Diffenderffer, city; J. M. Johnston, city. Secretary Lichty in his report for the year 18S1, stated that there were forty-five members iu good standing, the average attendance was tliirteen, and during the year twenty -five members had been elected, of which number only six paid the member- ship fee. Members are in the arrears to the extent of §150. The Secretary suggested that those in arrears prior to January 1,1882, be notified that upon the payment of their dues to that date, the association will place their names upon the honorary list of membership. The total number of entries at the late show was 551, but only 520 birds were ex- hibited, of which 327 were poultry, 185 pigeons and 7 cage birds; also 33 breeding pens were exhibited. Cash premiums _paid amount to $173.50; -other special premiums swelled the total value of pre- miums awarded to $830.75; the only class in which the entrance fees exceeded the premiums paid was the Spanish, consisting principally of Leghorns, although there was a loss of tifty cents on the Asiatics. The varieties on which the entrance fees more than reimbursed the society for premiums are : Light Brahmas, Dark Brahuias, Black and Partridge Cochins, B. B. K. Game, B. B. R. Game Bantams, White and Brown Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks and S. S. Bantsms. In the pigeon list but five varieties paid, viz: White Crested Fantails, White Trumpet- ers, Blue and Blue Checkered Antwerps, and Blue English Owls. There were sixty-two varieties of poultry which averaged over five; seventy-one of pigeons and six cage birds. Of the seventy. one varieties of pigeons exhibited but fjve paid the asso- ciation. All premiums to foreigd and local exhibi- tors have been jiaid, greatly to the credit of the society. Treasurer J. B. Long then submitted liis annua report, showing that $S.'2.13 had come into his hands from the receipts of the show and other sources. $821.7-1 had been paid out, leaving in the treasury at present thirty-nine cents. On motion of Mr. C. E. Long, the Secretary, was authorized to employ some one to collect the out standing dues. John Sekloiuridge, of Ephrata, was elected a member of the society. The Secretary was authorized to place on the honorary list of membership such names as in his discretion he might eee lit. By a mistake express charges amounting to $5.40 had been charged to certain exhibitors. As the society had offered to pay this itself if promptly agreed to shoulder the debt. Adjourned. FULTON FARMERS' CLUB. The February meeting of the club was held at the residence of Joseph R. Blackburn. Members present : E. H. Haines, Wm. P. Haines, Moutilliuu Brown, J. R. Blackburn, S. L. Gregg and Wm. King. The family of Josiah Brown was represented bv his wife and daughter, that of Grace A. Sing by her son Joel, and that of Lindley King by S. Lind- ley Jackson. Visitors: Neal Hambleton and wife. Layman C. Blackburn and wife, Edw. Stubbs and wife, and Samuel J. Kirk and wife. The attendance would no doubt have been considerably larger but for the driving snow storm. Exhibits and Answers to Questions. Joseph H. Blackburn exhibited a large plate of fine winesap apples, which, judging by the way they vanished, the Club thought to be very fine. E. H. Haines asked if winesap apple trees grow as ast and come into bearing as soon as other varie- ties? There were several present who had winesap trees. They all spoke of them as growing as well as other varieties, and being good bearers. Montillion Brown had been reading lately in an agricultural paper of a kind of winter oats, or oats that could be sowed in the fall, and wished te know if any one present had any knowl^di.^e of it. E. H. Haines said that he believed that there was such a variety of oats. Some time ago there was a kind of oats mix.-d with the wheat that the winter failed to kill. It was the general opinion of the club that such a variety would not be at all desirable, as it would be too late to sow after the corn had been harvested, and it would be liable to give trouble by getting mixed with the wheat. Neal Hambleton asked the proper time for trim- ming an Osage Oi-ange hedge. E. H. Haines said that he had experience with hedges, and thought that he knew. Whenever there is a growth of six or eight inches "long cut it off. It is easily done, and all that is cut off dries up and gives no further trouble. It is easier to trim three or four times a year than once. If the shoots are left to grow for a year, pruning breaks up the hedge and makes it look badly and leaves a lot of brush to burn. Layman C. Blackburn had noticed an article in the New York Trihuue, by J. F. Wade, giving an account of the writer's experience with an old orcha_rd which he had taken in hand when it was in a plight that it would take pages to describe, and a number of the trees so nearly dead that the owner said they could not be saved. By pruning, scraping off the old bark[and the filth iu wet times, when they could easily be removed, and plowing five times iu a season, aud dragging iu proportion, he had completely renewed the trees and brought them into profitable condition. He (L. C. Blackburn) wished to know the opinion of the club as to probable sue cess in renovating old orchards in general by such treatment. E. H. Haines : If the trees got into bad condition by neglect, there might be some hope of succes-;, hut if the trees were old, we might as well try to rejuve- nate an old man. Ed. Stubbs could not agree with the writer that trees might be made to bear every year by thorough cultivation. He had seen trees that were cultivated that did not bear well. Neal Hambleton thought that the leason that trees bore only every other year was that they needed more rest than they got through the winter. Montillion Brown had two Queen apple trees, one of which did not miss a crop for ten years in succes- sion. It was favorably located, and the hogs ran around it and kept the ground loose. The other trees wv.re not in so favorable a location, and bore every other year. There was not much difference in their vitality. S. L. Gregg had a similar experience with two trees. The hogs ran around one of them, ind it bore every year, but it wore out sooner than the other, which only bore every other year '. William Kiug ; Is it advisable to trim old trees '■ Ed. Stubbs: Don't think it is. They will die sooner than if let ejone. L. C. Blackburn : if trees are well trimmed when they are young they will not need much after they grow old. If not attended to when young they will have to be trimmed when they are old. E. H. Haines said that his father once let some Yankee graft some old trees. The grafts nearly all grew and bore fruit, but it finally killed the trees. Mary Ann Brown said that they once had an old orchard trimmed and it gradually died off. It never did any good after, Mr. Brown had some old trees on which large limbs were dying out off', leaving several feet remaining on the tree. S. L. Gregg had an article read from the Oxford Press entitled "High Farming," giving an account of the extraordinary productions of a farm in Lower Oxford township, Chester county. Some of the mem- | bers thought it a very clever advertisement. The owner is a manufacturer of fertilizers. Examining the Host's Farm. The forenoon session was now adjourned, both members and visitors retiring to the dining room where for some time they diligently occupied their time in jiutting themselves outside of the good things of this world. After exhausting all their powers in this line of business they plunged out through the whirling storm to look at the condition of the live stock of the host. After again convening in the house, criticisms were called I'or. Montillion Brown : He has some very nice fat steers. Did not go to see his wheat field. Suppose it is good. William P. Haines had noticed some very thrifty pigs. Neal Hambleton spoke of the flue condition of the pigs, and also of their pen, which was well arranged and everything about in neat order. E. H. Haines, would like to see a good hog pen. He had been in search of one for some time and had come to the conclusion that a perfect hog pen or chicken house were things that had not yet been in- vented. This led to quite a discussion on the con- struction of hog houses. Literary Exercises. The literary exercises of the club were next taken up, when Carrie Blackburn recited "The Boy Con- vict's Story," an account of a young man who, In his boyuood, had been kept in strict surveillance by his pious parents, who made the atmosphere of his home frigid with propriety, until at last he left the parental roof to seek abroad the recreations and pleasures for which he was longing and which were denied him at home. But he strayed too far, and finally was betrayed into the commission of crime. Neal Hambleton congratulated the little girl on her choice of a selection for recitation. He thought that the young should not be restrained in civil amusement It is a mistake that we do not mingle more with the young. Gaines and other amusements shuulii not he discouraged, but we should use every means to nitke home cheerful to the children. E. H. Haines was afraid that there was too much truth in the boy's story. We should mingle freely with our children and let them see society as it is. Young people who are kept in restraint and isolated for fear of their being contaminated do not know what value to put on what they see and bear. They are liable to be taken in. Monlilliou Brown thought one reasou why people in this country did not mingle more freely with the children was owing to the secluded nature of the farmer's life. This little Club gave an opportunity for a more social feeling between old and young. VVe should take the young with usand havethem take an intei'est iu it. S. L. Gregg thought that the young of the present day had many advantages that we were deprived of when we were young, and they should be encouraged to avail themselves of them. Mabel Haines recited the Wayside lun. Lauretta A. Kirk recited The Two Dimes, and Ella Brown, The Independent Farmer. The next meting of the Club will be held at the residence of Joseph Griest, Fulton township, March 4th. JANUARY MEETING OF THE LIN- N.1EAN. The Societj' convened on Saturday afternoon, Jan- uary 28, in the hall of the Y. M.C. A., the President, Prof. Stahr, and the Secretary, Dr. Davis, occupying their respective chairs. After the formal opening and the collection of dues, the following donations to the museum and library were anuounoed by the curators: Museum. A fine specimen of the " Frog Fish" {Balrachus tau), six inches in length, from Mr. Frank Mettfett, was donated through Mr. Daniel Heitshu. ThisflsU 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. 31 was received from Baltimore iD a cargo of oysters, and was still alive when it arrived In Lancaster, al- tbough it must liavc been out of the water several days. Eight specimens of the " seventeun-year cicada " (^Cicada »eplen the Curators. A twenty dollar bill of the Lancaster Bank, dated • luly 1, 18.5J, by .Mr. J. G. Thackara. Papers Read. Dr. Kathvon read three papers containing notes ou I lie history and habits of the "Frogfish," the " Thrush," and the "Cicadas" donated. Mrs. Gibbons read an interesting letter from a iiicnd in Nebraska, relating to some phenomenal IKCuliarities of the wells in the district where that friend reside^. New Bus ness. The Presiden' announced the chairman of the >!auding committee for the year 1S82, said chairman, under the provision of the constitution, belug au- 1 liorized to appoint each two colleagues from among the members and correspondents of the society. Mammology, Dr. M. L. Davis; Ornithology, William L. Gill; Eerpetology, W. T. Bolton; Ichthyology, C A. Heinitsh; Eutomology, S. S Rathvon; Botany, Mrs. L. D. Zell; Geology, Prof. I. S. Geist, Paleon- tology, Prof. T. K. Baker; Microscopy, Dr. Knight; Mill' lalogy, J. B. Kevlnski; Archajology, Prof. J. H. Dulil'.-; Natural Historical .Miscellany, Mrs. P. E. iiibhons. After passing upon bills presented, and the usual BOcial and scientific intercourse, the society adjourn- en to meet on the last Friday evening in February, of which the hour and place will be announced by the secretary in due time. Agriculture. PLANTING TOBACCO. M. Quad describes the method of planting tobacco in Virginia as follows : The tobacco crop in Virginia has long been a source of great revenue, and there was a time when any agriculture outside of tobacco raisii-g was supposed to be a losin? business. Tobacco land must be prepared as carcfullv as the average farmer woulil prepare airarden. The beds for the ulants are generally prepared on a piece of new land ami in lo- calties sheltered from winds and having a southern exposure. The at^lies from the luirni'd shnihs, leaves and limbs are carefully worked into llie bed. The seed is then sown as we sow for cabbage, and the plants come up the same. When they are large enough lo tran.'iplani they are set about three feet apart, and about 4,200 plants Is the average for an acre of ground. At a certain age the plants must be "pruned," which consists of breaking olf the shoots ani suckers anl pinching off the head, and ai^ain the tobacco worms must he hunted off the p],\nts. Tobacco growers generally put In corn and other crops as well, so that hands can be shifted from one growing product to another as necessity recpiires or the state of the crop permits. A fair average per acre is 700 poumis. Tiiis must be snn. dried on seallolds In the field, and afterward huiiir In barns and smoked. The average price for this heavy to- liaceo is seven cents per pound. An acre of land Is thus made to yield about ?.500. (irowers estimate 1,000 pounds to every band employed, and the care of the tobacco crop is only one half their labor. Improved Grasses. In many respects grass-culture has not kept pace with Improvements in other branches. We are con tinually getting new [ilanls, new trees, new fruits, new vegetables, new grains, but a new grass is never thought of. We have the same orchard-grass, the same redtop, and the same timothy, that we have over a liundred years ago; and so far as the drift of thought goes, we shall have the same gra9Ses for a hundred years to come. And yet there Is no reason that we can see why there should not be Improved grasses, as well as improvements in any other thing; .and there doutless would be If public attention was drawn to the matter as it should lie. We have to be sure, iluring the past twen'y years or so, been treated to Hungarian grass or millet, a harsh, coarse thing, of little merit except for the very Iieavy crops it produces; and Lucerne is no bettej. There surely must be others which It would be of advantage to introduce. We see in foreign agricul- tural journals that some attention is being giv- en to a species of grass called Tussock-grass, from Its growing in large bunches, and which from its description appears to be closely allied to orc'iard grass. It docs not appear to be considered very hardy; but there are no doubt a numlier of places on this continent where It would find Itself en- tirely at home. It is said to grow five or six feet In height, and to produce vegetation of great fineness of quality and exceedingly nutritious. When once a field is set with It, it is seldom killed out by other vegetation, and goes ou producing good crops for a great many years. It appears to be hardy In Hun- gary, and If so It ought to stand considcralile frost. We wish all this was just so as stated, i)ut we are afraid that in this as In so many other new and re puted valuable products of the soil, we shall not hear much of it In the future. But It Is not only the introduction of new species that grass crops and grass lands may be Improved — there miirht be selected good varieties of kinds we now grow, just as we have selected good kinds of other things. There seems to be here a good chance for somebody. — Gerinaidoioii Telegraph, Rotation of Crops. In a well planned system of farming, the subject of crop rotations should be carefully considered, as one of the essential elements of success in its highett and best sense. It seems to be the prevailing ojilii Ion that the alternation of crops, in sytcmallc order, is a modern invention that was gradully developed as a direct resultlof the applications of science to the art of aiirlculture. The early writers on agricul- ture, even from the times of the Komans, have, how- ever, quite uniformly urged the advantages of a succession of crops from the teachings of experience. They were satisfied that a variety of crops grown In sueeession, all other conditions beini: equal, would give a greater aggregate yield than could other- wise be obtained . The reasons for the success of the system eonid not, it Is true, be given, but practical men were fully agreed In urging its importance, aud many systems of rotation, more or less perfect, were planned, some of which became the prevailing rule of farm practice in particular localities. That these practical rules of alternating crops of dilferent habits and modes of growth are based on correct, but not explained, principles, has qeeu shown by direct ex periment. — l)i'. Manly Miles in American AgricnU lurisl. Household Recipes. OuANoE Pie. — Grate the rinde of two oranges aud squeeze the juice. Cream a quarter of a pound of butter and by degrees add half a pound of sugar. Beat In the yolks of six eggs (already well beaten), then the rinds and juice of the orange". Beat the whites of the egg to a slIIV froth and mix them lightly 111 the other ingredients. Bake In paste lined tin pie plates. New Enoi.anii Baked Indian PrnDiNO.— One quart of milk, three quarters cup of molasses, two teas|K>oiis gluu'er, one-half teaspoon cinnamon, a bit of salt. Stir these Ihorouiihly together and let ^ome to a boil. Have ready three dessert spoonfuls of In- dian iiii-al wet In a little cold milk; put Into the hot milk and after stirring thorouglilv let it boll live minutes. This should be made early In the morning and set away to cool. When needed for dinner lake two eggs well beaten, two tablespoonfulls melted butter, half a teacup cold milk, stir this Into the first mixture and let it bake two hours. CniriiEN Pie.— Choose a rather tender fowl, pluck oil the pen feathers, singe off the hairs with a piece of burning paper, then wipe' the fowl with a clean (lamp elolli, draw It carefully by slitting the skin at tile back of the ne<-k and taking out. the crop without tearing the skin of the breast; loosen the heart, liver and lungs by Introducing the forefinger at the neck; ami then draw them, with the entrails, from the rent. Unless you have broken the gall, or the entrails in drawing the bird, t/o not leanh it\ fo;' this greatly Impairs the flavor, and partly destroys the nourlshini; c|ualltles of the fiesh . Cut It 111 joints and put It In a hot frying-pan with an ounce of butter and two ounces salt pork cut in dice, and fry It brown. When it is brown stir an ounce of flour with It, and let the flour brown; season It with a leaspoon- ful of salt, a h^vel teaspoonful of [lepper and a table- spoonful of chopped parsley; cover it with boiling water and let It simmer gently for an hour, or until the chicken Is tender. PitUNi: PLi)i)i\(i.— One half pound of prunes boiled; .soft ami thick, j;emove the stones and sweet en well; then avo teaspoonfuls of cream tartar, one tea spoonful of soda, half a cupful of white sugar, about four small cu|)fuls of fiour. Beat the etrgs very light ; put the cream of tartar in the Hour, and add the soda the lasi thing. Bake in a. long pan in a quick oven. Pkeparixg Caubots.— Carrots iirepared in this way make a good side d!sh oi entree: Scrape and wash them ; boil until they are tender, in as little water as will serve to keep them covered ; put In a large pinch of salt; when the carrots can be easily pierced with a broom splint diain otl" the water and roll the carrots in fiour ; put a lump ol butter In a saucepan and set on the stove ; when hot put the car- rots In and fry until brown ; the carrots may be cut in two parts or cooked whole ; turn them so that they will brown on all sides. Bahley Soul". — Two or three pounds of beef from the skill, two pounds of cracked bones, an onion, four stalks of celery, lour potatoes, a gallon of water, pepper and salt. Put all into the soup pot and boll very irently three hours. Wash a cup of barley and boil In a very little clear watea twenty minutes. Strain the soup, pres.sing hard, boil up, skim, add the barley and simmer thirty minutes. CoKNSTAiicu Cakes — Take the whites of three egus, one cupful of sugar, two-thirds of a cupful of sweet milk, two. thirls of a cupful ol melted butter, one teaspoonful of cream tartar, half teaspoonful of soda, half a cupful of cornstarch, one small teaspoon- ful of lemon extract, one anil one-half cupfuls of fiour. Mix t'.ie cornstarch, flour and cream tartar together and sift all through a sieve. For yellow cakes take the yolks of the eggs and make the same with these exoptlons : Leave out the cornstarch and hall a cupful of butter instead of two-thirds soda buttermilk and soda Instead of cream tartar and sweet milk. — Country Gentleman. Fkencu Tapioca Puddinu. — Take two ounces of tapioca and boil itjii a half a pint of milk by de. grees, and l)oli until the tapioca becomes very thick ; add a well-beaten egg, sugar and flavoring lo taste, and bake three quarters of an hour. This prepara- ration of tapioca is superior to any other, is nourish- ing, and suitable for delicate children. 32 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [February, 1882. Sweet Macaroni.— Break up a quarter of a pound of the best macaroni into small lengths, and boil it in two quarts of water with a large pinch of salt, until perfectly tender ; drain away the water, add to the macaroni into the stew pan a cupful of milk and a quarter of a pound of sitted lump sugar, and keep shaking over the fire until the milk is ab- sorbea ; add any flavoring, serve. Stewed fruit may be served with the macaroni. Oatmeal Pudding. -Mix two ounces of fine Scotch oatmeal in a quarter of a pint of milk; add to it a pint of Ijoiling milk ; sweeten to taste, and stir over the Are for ten minutes ; then put in two ounces of sifted bread crumbs; stir until the mixture is stiflf, then add one ounce of shred suet and one or two well-beaten eggs; add a little lemon flavoring or greated nutmeg. Put the pudding into a buttered dish and bake s owly for an hour. Wholesale Congress.— Healthy piecrust is made of thin, sweet cream and flour, with a little salt. Don't knead, Bake in a quick oven. Another way is, sift a quart or two of flour in a pan. Stir in the centre a little salt and half a teaspoonful of soda well pulverized. Put in the hole a cup of soft (not liquid) la.d,or butter and lard mixed ; stir it thor- oughly with the flour ; next add two scant cups of good sour milk or buttermilk. Stir all qnickly with the flour in such a way that you need hardly touch it with your hands till you can roll it out. Bake quick, this will make three or four pies. Stewed Apples and Rice.— Feel good baking apples, take out the cores with a scoop, so as not to injure the shape of the apples; put ttiem in a deep bakiug-dish an^' pour over them a syrup made by boiling sugar in the proportion of one pound to a pint of water; put a little piece of shred lemon inside of each apple and let them bake very slowly until done, but not in the least broken. If the syruf isthin, boil it until it is thick enough ; takeout the lemon peel, and put a littlejam inside each apple, and be- tween them little heaps of well boiled rice. This dish may he served either hot or cold. Literary and Personal. The AMaRicAN Bee Journal — This oldest and ablest paperdevoted exclusively to progressive bee cul ture, published in the country, is now issued in a royal octavo form, weekly, at .?L'.00 a year, by Thomas C. Newman, editor and proprietor, No. 974 West Madi- son street, Chicago, Illinois. This is a far better and more couveinient form than that of a quarto, in which it was issued in 1881. Indeed, having been published as an 'octavo for seventeen years, the wisdom of changing to a quarto for a single year, seems to have been questionable, and now returning to nearly the uriginal form is a concession that the departure was not a wise one. But, whatever its form may have been, its suhstanee is, and always has been, of the highest apieultural order, and we don't see how anyone' who makes bee keeping a specialty, can aflbrd to do without it. The Western Plow.man, (not " ploughman " but /iloirmaii.) . A brand new agricultural royal quarto of 16 pages, published by John H. Porter— J' W. Ware Editor— monthly, at Moline, Illinois, at the very low price oi fifty cents a year, (with a pre miuni worth a dollar). No. 1, vol. 1, of this "baby elephant," has found its way to our .lanctuin, and we confess we are prepossessed in its favor ; for, being " devoted to the interests of the home, the farm and the family," it makes place for healthy literature in general, as well as farming and domestic affairs. The material is of good quality and the imprint especi- ally, agreeable to the inflrm of sight, being bold, plain, and easily read. Its very title insinuates economy, for it saves two letters in spelling and ob- viates the likelihood of any foreigner pronouncing it Plufman. The very paper to interest the house- hold, and nelp to while away the weary nours of a long and lonesome winter's day. It deserves to prosper, and we think it will. The Home Economist, devoted to the interests of social economy. " A guide to every department of practical life," a beautiful folio, published monthly, by F. S. Blanchard and Company— Luke Goodwin, Editor— at Worcester, Mass., affiO cts. a yipar, with ma.uy preminni inducements No. I, vol. 1, for Jan- uary, 1882, received. It would be almost impossible to determine the literary progress of the country, from the rapid increase of publications alone. Low subscriptions, conspicuous advertisements, and showy premiums, are prominent factors in their material success, whatever their real merits may be. The American Poultry Yard.- A weekly illus- trated journal; devoted specially to the interests of fowl breeders, fanciers, farmers, marketers and dealers. H. H. Stoddard, publisher, Hartford, Conn. 81.,50 a year. We can add nothing to the merited reputation this journal has already attained, and that reputation is built on character. A six columned folio that onrjht to be patronized by all in- telligent poultrymen of the country. Its illustrations are beautiful and significant, and its literary matter unexceptionable. A General Index to the contents of fourteen popular treatises on natural philosophy, for the use of students, teachers, and artizans, by a Massachu- setts teacher. Published by Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor and Co., Chicago, 111. 108 royal 8 vo. Such a work, extended to other subjects, would be inval- uable to those residing in the vicinity of a good public library, as it would obviate the necessity of owning a large library themselves. Ward's Natural Science Bulletin, published at Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Ruches- er. New York. Price 50 cents per annum. This is an illustrated quarto quarterly of 16 pages, and being the presentation of Ward's Natural History Establishment, it occupies an entirely new field in Scientific literature. It is mainly devoted to the exposition and advertisement of Ward's Com- mercal Museum. No. 1 , vol. 2, of this rare journal is now before us and in its leading editorial its publisher says — "It will mainly contain original matter: articles from various contributors on subjects connected with their particular departments: observations on s[)eci mens received at the aforesaid establishment, and interesting notes from collecting naturalists in the field." " There will be given from time to time many useful hints on the collecting, preparation and care of natural history specimens, and valuable receipts for compounds necessary for the collector, and prac- tical working naturalist." Perhaps many of our readers are entirely ignorant of such an establishment as Ward's, where they may obtain at all times any thing in the "line" of natural history, from a "needle to an anchor," or from a tiny chinchbug, up to a gigantic elephant. Ward also deals exten- sively in models of extinct animals, and in stuffed specimens, in skeletons, craniums, Ac, &c. To any one having the least taste for natural history and practical Taxidermv, this journal is invaluable. Prof. Ward himself has just recently returned from Australia and other foreign climes, " bringing with him mines of weahh;" much of which is entirely new to the scientific world. Mammals, birds— their nests and eggs— reptiles, crustaceans, mollusks, shells, corals, ^ radiates, minerals, fossils, fishes, weapons and implements, utensils, plants, &c., &c. Prof. Ward also publishes a series of 17 catalogues ol his specimens from 12 to 144 pp., ranging in price from 10 cents to $1.35, in which are enumerated what he has for sale, and the prices of the same. H. A. Ward, No. 2 College Avenue, Rochester, New York. The Southern Cultivator. — We have received the January number of The SmUhern Cultivator and Dixie Fa)'(7i«r, the oldest, as it is the best, agricul- tural journal in the Southern States. It is now pub- lished by Jas. P. Harrison & Co., of Atlanta. Dr. W. L. Jones, for years the editor of this popular journal, retains his position; Dr. J. S. Lawton is the associate. Under this management, The Southern CiiUviator will not only maintain its former high standard, but, with the assistance of ample capital and increased facilities, and contributions from the most eminent and popular writers on agriculture in this country, will attain a higher standing than ever. The number before us is a gem. No journal of its kind can excel it in the value of its reading matter, the beauty of its illustrations, and its adaptation to the demands of Progressive Southern agriculture. The illustrated title page is the finest of the kind we have ever seen. The Southern Culliiiator and Dixie Farmer should be read and studied by every farmer and planter in the South. The terms, S1.50 a year, with special rates for clubs, are remarkably low. We advise our farmer friends to subscribe for it. The Arkansas Farmer.— " Non-partisan, non- political, but devoted to the real interests of our farmers." Little Rock, Arkaiisjs, January 15, 1~.82. This is a seven columned folio (18 by 24) issued at gl. 50 per year, weekly. The cojiy before us is No. 3, Vol. 1, and is, therefore, brand new; end, if it continues as it has begun, and does not prove a suc- cess, there must b« something agriculturally— if not financially or socially— very "crooked" among the fanners and artizans of Arkansas. Its general makeup will average with the country folios of tlie North, and its editorials, contributions and selections are solid and instructive. We rejo.ce in its advent, for it seems to presage " better days a coming" for Arkauaiiw Repobt of the "Pennsylvania Fruit-Growers' Society," prepared by its officers, 1^81. An octavo of 69 pages, and contains the Constitution and By- Laws of the Society, lists of offici'rs, committees, life members, annual members, and proceedings of the meeting held in Gettysburg in January of last year. The report contains two splendid full-page colored illustrations of the " Miner plum " and the " Cumberland triumph strawberry," with " Hersh's seedling," Strinestown pippin," apples, and the Maxatawney grape, concluded by an index of con- tents. Peculiarly situated as the society is, with the State as its printer and publisher, " more is the pity " that its reports only get into circulation about one year after the meeting of the society has ad- ■ journed. The Southern Planter, devoted to agriculture, hoi'ticulture, live stock and the household; a serai- monthly quarto of 15 pages, in tinted covers, jiub- lished by Rolfe S. Saunders, Kiclimond, Va., at S2 a year. No. 1 of the i'M volume of this journal is before us, and although it has arrived at a patri archal age among the literary institutions of the South, it seems to have lost none cf the vigor of its you'h, for it -announces its intention to change, in the near future, to a weekly, and ought to be sus- tained. Journal of the Americuii Agrienltural Association for July and October, 1881, published quarterly at $2.00 per year, single copies, seventy-five cents. This is a Hoyal octavo, in tinted and embellished paper covers, containing 26! pages with 44 pages of adver- tisements. Th s multiplied by two would swell the volume to .524 paees annually of choice agricultural literature, contributed by some of the most distin- guished agricultural writers of the country. Profuse- ly illustrated with fine engravings, diagrams and "black-line charts, together with a mullitudeof statis tics relating to the agricultural interests and resour- ces of the country. AS corelating to the agricultural interests of the country are those of the transportation of agricultu- ral products; hence the question of "The Railroad and The Farmer" is discussed in lengthy articles by the Hon. L. E.Chittenden and the editor, Joseph H. Reall, in which the latter criticises the former in his paper, replying to a former paper by Mr. Atkin son on the same-subject. Not having seen Mr. Atkin- son's paper, and not having carefully read either Mr. Chittenden's or tlieEJitor's, we refrain from express- ing any sentiment at this time, any further than to say that our symp.ithies are with the Farmer in all the r; hts which legitimately belong to him, and es pecially in those in which he is the victim of unjust discrimination by Railroid comzianies. The Seed Annual, for 1882, of D. M. Ferrt & Co., Detroit, Mich., has been laid upon our table, and it is a perfect beauty in its line of operation. Its illustrated and descriptive space is equivalent to at least ISO pages, and, including the embellished cov- ers, it has ten full pages colored lithograpic illustra tions, embracing 72 figures of fruits, vegetables and fiowers. It has also ten full page wood cuts, illus- trating their seed stores in Detroit and Windsor, Can.; views on their seed farm, packing hou.se, mail- ing department, box factory, iV:c., itc, besides &ve hundred and forty finely executed woodcuts, illustra- ting fruits, fiowers, vines, ornamental plants, trees, shrubbery, vegetable, gard-n implements, itc &c., and is perhaps as good a work on practical "Garden Botany," as any amateur needs. Inteknational Scientist's Directory, for 1881-2, by S. E. Cassino, Boston, Mass., containing the names, special departments of science, &c.,&c., of amateur and professional naturalists, chemists, physicists, astronomers, Ac, &c., in America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica. 12 mo. Over 400 pages. Paper $J.0O. Cloth $2..50. Published December 1, 1881. This is undoubtedly the best work of its kind ever issued from the pressof the United States, or perhaps any where else in the world, and no scientist shcml J be without it. No one can form any conception of the labor it must have required to collect the iiiforiiuition required in com- piling such a work, without carefully examining its pages. Address, S. E. Cassino, No. 32 Hawley St. The Oriental Casket, a repository of literary gems; comprising poetry, tales, sketches, essays, wit, wisdom, humor, itc-. from the world of litera- ture, science and art . Edited by Emerson Bennett, and published by L. Lum Smith, 912 Arch street, Philadelphia, Pa,, at $2.00 per annum: issued month- ly. This is truly " a paper for all times, all people, and all places," and our chief regret is, that me, in- dividually, have so little time to read it. The Feb- ruary number (Vol. 1, No. 2), of this magnificent journal has Imnored our table, and we find it all that its title claims it to be; truly " a casket of gems," cortriliuted by a score of distinguislied writers, b >th American and foreign. The material and the typo- graphical execution is equal to any published in the Union at least, and its "orient pearls at random strung" will be found appreciable by a diversity of readers. It may be called (in size) a demi-folio, of 16 pages, or about the size of the Scientific American (12 by Hi'..), clean and solid; no advertisement, no gaudy type, and no illustrations; but is enveloped in an eiiibellislied, tinted puper cover; and contains suf- ficient literary matter to feed a whole household, from Grandparents down to little Jo and Susey. If there is no " vacancy" for it in the realm of litera- ture, it looks vigorous enough to make one. Our readers will observe that it is an entirely "new broom;" and perhaps they could not do better than help to make it an old one; hut if they are unable to make up their minds, the 33 flattering editorial no- tices on the second page of the cover, ought to con- vey the necessary assiirance that they cannot go wrong. THE LANCASTER FARMER> HI Important to Grocers, Packers. Hucksters, and the General Public. THE KING FORTUNE-MAKER. THE u OZONE A New Process for Preservuu/ all Perisliahle Articles^ Animal and Vef/etable /'rem Permentadon and I'lttrefactiony Jietainhtg their Odor and Flaror* '* OZONE— Purified air, active state of Oxygen/*— ^^'ehsfer. i^.is preservative is not a liquid picUle. or any of the old and exploded processes, but is simply and purely 020NE. as produced and applied by an entirely new process. Ozone is the antiseptic principle of every S'..bstance, and possesses the power to preserve animal and vegetable structures from decay Tfirre is iiofhhtfj on the fare uf ihv earth liable to flvrj' il in ;t iirnclioul, inr\prn-.iA c, :in(l sinipli- iiiiiuTK-r havr been fliscovoreil. Mirrnscopic ol>>'cr\"ations pnivt- that ilc<'ay is 'Im* to scptii* niatlcr or niitnili; ^jvrni-^, that develop ami fueil iii><>n HI lima I and \t'};otal>U- >lru<'tinT>. O/om-. ii})plit.Hl by tlic I'rt'ntii-c iiii'tlu»(l. ?nee. and thus preserves. At cm- t)l!iee in ( 'ineiiniati ean be seen almost every arliele 'hat <';ui be tlioiight of, preserved by (iii- prtK'e^s. ami every visiKtr is wcleonn-il to come in, taste, stnell. take away with him, and test in every way (he lut rii> of <_)zoue as a preservati\e. We \\ ill also jireserxe, free of eliar;;e. any article that is bruu^ht or sent prepaid lo H-, and retin-n il to the sender, for hiin lo keeji anoiUtry, ;;iime, li-^h, &e., ])rcserved by this mcthoil, <-an be .ship}><'d to i;nrope. subjei-ted (o atmospherie elian;;es and return to this eountry in a .state of perfect prericrvalitm. t<<«(sS ean be treated at a cuNt of less Ihau (.>ne di»llar a thousand t in an ordinary room six niontli.s or niore. thoron^;!ily in-eserved : the yolk heUl in its H*»rnud <'ondition, and the ejjK^ us frosli and perfe<'t lus on the d.iy I hey Were treated, and «ill sell a.s strietly "ehoiee." The aihantai^e in preserving ejCK:s is readily seen ; there iire --cjisons when they enn be bouiiht fm- s or lit cents a dozen, aiai by holding them, ean hi' sold for :m advance of Iron, tiiu- hundreil to three hundred jii-r <■(■' t. Ontr man, w itli this nietluxl. can preserve 5.*XH» dozen :i l ft)r an iinlclhiite period in I heir natuial condition, retaining their odor and flavcJr, !r» a:cd in their ori-^inal paeka;;('s at a small v-xpense. All grains. Hour, meal, etc., arc held in their normal eonfliiion.' ni'l'TEK, alter beiny treated by this pnn-ess. will not become rancid. I'.a'l Iiunian boiliis. treated before deeomposilion sets in, ean beheld in a natural condition for weeks, without ptim turiuK the skin or mutilatin*;- the body in any way. Hence the ^reut value of Ozone to undertakers. 'there is no chaii;;i- in the slightest particular in the appearance of any arliele thus preserved, and no iraec of any fort ij;n or unnatural odor or taste. The process is so simple that a chiid can opei*ali.* as well and as successfully as a man. There is no expensive apparatU:; or machinery re(inn*ed. -\.'r«>«iin IHtcd \\i(h diU'crent articles, sueh as ey^is. meal, (ish.etc. can he treated al one time, without additional troid'Ie or expense. if.. Ill fact, tliore iK ii4»lliiii;;- Hint 4ly.<>iir^ u ill not |ir<'s<^rvo. Tliink of everytliins you can that is !i:t'i!. to v,,!ir, de«a\-. or spoil, and then renienilier thai we ;;uarjiHlee that Ozone will preserve it in exactly the ' ■••i lcu;;tli «if time. Jf vtai will rcnu-niber this il «ill >a\e askinjj r[iie.«tions as to wliether O/oue will jireserve this.ir liiat artit-le— iJ will |»resorve an.ythiiig- astd evor.y tlliiij^yoii can lliilik of. 'l'>:t re i"^ not a township iu the I'uited States in \\ hich a Ii\ e man ean not make any amount of money, from ^LiMt lo >Umk«» a year, that he pleases. \Ve desire to ;;ct a live man intere>ted in each county in the I'nited .Stales, in wh<»e. hand- \\ e ean jilace this I*rcscrvali\ c, and tlwou<;h liini secure ll;e business which every <-ounty ou^ht to r-.xluce. AP^DT^f T TV T P Awiiifs any M:ni nlio ^rnins Control of 0/0>'E in uny r W n i LJ IN C- Toniiship or County. .\. t '. B. ]'. Weblter. Charlotte, llutou Cti.. Jlieh., has cleared SI.iHMla month since August. ?2 for a test jKukage w:ls his ih'-t investment. .1. }!. < Jay lord. SO La Salle St., Chicago, U preserving eggs, fruit, etc., for tlie conimis.sioa men of Chicago, charging 1 ' _e. jnr dozen fi>r eggs, and other articles in j^roiaa-tion. Jle is pr<-scrving -"i,(HO dozen eggs per day, and on" his bu-ines.- is makinu •'.'I.nnO a month ek-ar. ?'J for a lest ijaekage was his llrsl investment. The ciucimiati I'ced < o.. West l*.is Seventh Street, is making .•: .">.(.! i a month in handling bre Wei's" mall, preserving and sitippiii-; it as Iced to all parts of the country. Mall nnjircservcl soni-s in 2t hoiu's. Preserved bv Ozone it kcei»-4 jK-r.^etly sweet for months. These are in.stauces which \\ e have asked in the privilege of i>ubli.sliing. There are seoresof others. Writctoanv of ihe al>o\ e parties and get the evidence direct. " * Now. tl:icr in your han *l |i.ickilK'' •»!" ' t/oiif. ( .inliiinin;; ;i siini<.-ioiit (Hi;nilil\ lo iirr-crvt- oik- llioii*iUioilioii. will be r-iiil Ui any iipiiliiaiit on ii'wipl of -L'. Tl>is packuKi- will unaljlo IIr' a)i|>li('anl to |>iir.suc any l:n'- of li>ts antl I'.vpi'nnicnts lie deyiri's, anil thus salisly liiinsclf as lo llie (■xtraor;tone as a '.'re-evvativc. After Iiavin^ thus sali>llucl himself, and liail liiue lo look tlie lii'lil over to ilel'erniinc what lie wishes to plieant who or.lers a test paeka^e and de-ireslo eontrol tin- hu-ine- in his lo.alilv. Tllp initll n ho xpfiircs control ol OKoiie lorHiiy Hpocinl territory, n ill enjoy i« monopoly wliifh nill •inrelr cnrieli him. 1 lint lei a clay I'liss mitil you have ordered a Tc-sl raekajic, ami if yon desire to secure an exclusive jirivilegc we assiire >ou that delay may deprive yoii of it, for the applications eoinc in tons by seoi-es every nmil— many by lele,i;rai>h. " Kirst elc that you are doubtful about O/.one preserving remember we ^.j.:..;;;.*. •■ t/i:tt it ^vii'i ]trci-t^i~:r it , no matter wiitit it is. Wc desire toi'all yoinatlcnlion to a cl.is- of r*; Worlhingtcm. AlKnne.vs; IVbirtiu II. Ilarrell and B. 1". Hopkins. County CommUsiouci-s: W. !S. rappellcr.fonTily .\nilitor: all of Cincinnati, Hamilton Conntv, Ohio. These .gentlemen are c.i. h fann'liar with the merits of our l'rc-cr\ ntive.aiid know from actual oh-crvaliou that we have without <|uestion The Most Valuable Article in the World. The?J yon invest in a test package, will surely lead you to s,-«-me a towi.sliiii or coi::iIv. nnd tlnm your wav i^ aii-^ilutely clear to make from J^.iKtl t<» >1".<«X> a >ear. Give yonrfull address in every letter, and ^en East King St., dealers ill China. Glass and (iueenswarc, Fancy Goods, ].auips. Burners, Cliinineys, etc. CLOTHING. MVF.BS A RATHFOSr. Centre Hall, Xo. 12 ICast King St. Largest Clothing.I louse in Pennsylvania oiitsiile of Philadcli)liia DRUGS AND MEDICINES. GW. Hl'I.L. Dealer ill Pure Drugs and Jledicines , Chemicals, Patent .Medicines, Trusses, Shoulde Braces, Supporters, A:e.. 15 \\'est King St., Luuc.istcr, I'a JOHN F. LOXC * SOSf. Druggists. Xo. 12 Xortli (iiicen St. Drugs. Medicines, Perfunier.v. Spices, I>ye Stuffs, Etc. I'rescriptions carefully coinpoiindcil. DRY GOODS. C'^ IVLUR, BOWF.RIS A HITRST, Xo. 2.3 E. King X St.. Lancaster. Pa., Dealers in Dry Goods, Carpets and Merchant Tailoring. I'liccs as low as the lowest. HATS AND CAPS. ClI. AMER, Xo. W Mest King .Street, Dealer in . Hats, I'aps, Furs, Robes, etc. .Assortment Large. Prices Lo>v. JEWELRY AND WATCHES. HZ. RU0.4I>S A- BKO., Xo. 1 West King J^t. , Watihcs. Clock and Musical IJo.vcs. Watches and Jewelry Mauul'actiircil to order. PRINTING. JOHX A. HIESTAXI*. 'J Xilucer «l' Eiirly Oli!<> iind Rlirlmnk I>«t:ttoelelie.iD DRAPERS, respectfully inform the public tliat having di.sro'^sd of their entire stock of Keady-Made Clotliiug, theyiiow do, and for the future shall, asvo'.c their whole attention to the CUSTOM TKADE. All the desirable 8tvle.s of CLOTHS, CASSIMERE^, WORSTEDS, OOATINUS, ST'lTINGS and VESTINGS coostautly on hand, and made to order in plain tir fash- ionaMe style promptly, aud warranted satisfactory. All-Wool Suit fi-om glO.OO to gnn.OO. All-Wool Pauts from 3.00 to 10,00. All-Wool Vests from 2 HO to 0.00. I'tiion and Colton Goods proportionately less. Cutting, Reiiairi..g, Trinir.iing and Makiog, at reason- able prices. Goods retailed by the yard to those who desire to have Iheni niidc elsewhere. _ A. full supply of Sjiring and Sunimer Goods just opened and <>a hand. Thankful to a genero'js public for past patrotiflge they hope to merit its continued recDgnitioti Jn their "new de- parture." ' RATHVON & FISHER. l'a.\TIO.iLTA.[LOUS, No. ]<>1 Xortli Queen Street, I,.\NC'ASTER, r.\. 1848 1881 ^ GLOVES, SHIRTS, UNDERWEAR. IH i SHIETS MADE'tO ORDER, i^ ^ .s.ND wa::i:an'ti-:d to ht. !^ S E. J. ERISMAN. t ■W:56 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa.'^ 7y-i-i2] Dr. S. S. R^itlivcn, \\l:o has so ably maua^ed the edi:-;i:.: department in the paet, will continue in the positiou o:' editor. His contributious on subjects connected with tiie" scieuce of farming, aud particularly that specialty of whic-i he is so thorouhly a master — entomological scieuce^somd knowledge of whicb has become a necessity to the success- fid farmer, are alone worth much more than the price of this publication. He Is determined to make "The Farmer' a necessity to all households. A couuty that has so wide a reputation as Laucaatei- couuty for its agricultural products should certainly b-a able to support an agricultural paper of its own, for the exchange of the opinions of farmers Interested la this m;iS oter. We ask the co-oporation of all farmers iuierested in this matter. Work among your friends. The *'Farmcr' : only cue dollar per year. Show them your copy. Try aut induce them to subscribe. It is not much for each sub- scriber to do but it ^nli greatly assist us. All communicatiousin regard totheeditorial mau;ig>?ri.3ut should be addressed to Dr. S. S. Rathvou, Lancaster. Pa , and all husincps letters in regard to subscriptions and ai- vertiyiug should be addressed to the ijublisher. Rate-^ ol" adveiTii-ing c;in be had on application at the office. lOHN A. HIESTAND. No. 9 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. (he "rn djOnP^'" (l-'^y at home. Samples worth $5 free. ij)J I U JpZUAiWressSiiHSON & Co., Portlaud, Maiae. jun-lyr"' ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM-SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS. Dr. S. S. SATHVON, Editor. LANCASTER, PA. MARCH, 1882. JOHN A. HIESTAND, Publisher. Entered nt the FosI 4>fliee at I.«»iBettster as heeoiKl 4'laKM Mailer. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. EDITORIAL. Our Apology, - - 33 "Our Winged Friends," 33 Eitcben Garden for March, . - . - 33 Wliy not Write for the Farmer ? - - - - 33 The Bane and Antidote, ----- 34 Death frum Wild Animals in India— Snake De- stroyers. "Revised Fruit List," 34 Eating Before Sleeping, ----- 35 How Long are We to Live, ----- C6 The Extreme Limit of Human Life— Weak Lungs. The Will and the Deed, 37 Excerpts, ------- -37 CONTRIBUTIONS. Forestry. -------- 38 Strawberries, ------- 39 Practical Poultry Notes, ----- 39 Domestic Hints, ------- 39 Practical Kecipes, ------ 39 ESSAYS. The Growth and Consumption of Timber Trees in America, -------40 "Our Winged Friends, 41 Seedling Fruits, 44 OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultu- ral Society, 45 Crop Reports -Apples, Loc;il vs. Foreign Ke. marl^s— Is Sub-^ioiling Ueneticial ?— Can AVe Dispense with Division Fences i»n F(.ruis? — Reinarlcs -Wlien is tlie best Time to Sow Clover Seed?— More About Apples. Poultry Society, ii, Fulton Farmers' Club, ----- 47 Liuiiajan Society, ---->.- 47 Twentietli Anniversary of the Founding of the Society Museum — Library Historical— Anni- versary— Science Gossip- Ilifctory of the Socie- ety. Literary and Personal, . . - - - 4S LIGHT BRAHMA EGGS FOR HATCHING, $1 .P>n FOR SETTING OF j 3. ALSO, Three Barrels of Chicken Manure FOR SALE. L. RATHVON, Examiner Office No. 9 N. Queen-st., Lancaster, Pa. SEND IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS —FOR— FOR 1SS2. The cheapest and one of the best Agricultural papers in the country. Only $1,00 per year. JOHN A. IIIESTAND, Publisher, No. 9 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. REID'S CREAMERY SIMPLEST* BEST. Agents Wanted BUHER WORKER Most Effective and Convenient Also Power Workers. Cap'city 10,000 Ibspor DAY Butter Printers. SliippinK Boxes, etc. Semi for rircular. A.H.REID, 26 S.ieth street, Phila., Pa. fcb-4in Egg's! Eggs ! From all the leading wiriclies of pure bred Poultry Bramalis, Cocliin, }I;imburss, Polish Game, Dorking and FrcDcli Fowls, I'lvmoulli Hocks and Banloms, Koueu and Pckiiis Ducks. Send for Illustrated Cir- cular. T. SMITH, V. M., Fresh Pond, N. Y. fcb-oni SEEDS ^™' ha. Jan PLANTS. BeauiM lllroiratsJ Catalope Free. The h--a litl of 11. w, rare anJ lio.-Hiti'nl flftwcrs evur icnt on'. New <;i:nli"luB. Tub«- Tosin, An>niTlli8, Rosci, Carnations, 100 varir. lies of Liliis, chrite FI-'w-t and Vp;;>-lalile S>-c<)!, Srt-ili of IJoU'v Plants. Ac. All »cp«li 1"7 cxc'iitra'tfkinibnreoidinl'ivaCBKTl'APEUs. ~ Everjthins wnmnitil Ime to uairc. See t'lilTi'ofirue; prices lire low. The followincfeut hr «i!iil noitpnid. lOfii^'dloUifl. 10 sorun.imtd 60r. 12 P^nrl TubcrO'. «. 8.'"-. 10 1 illc«, 10 sort* niitned.^l.riO. All litu- htis ami Idil-o bulht. Remit currercy or j>o»l»cc «tstnfi3. jMv troods ..'aavsiablisbf-d tvpuialifvfi und C" t"i'tt imrlsol ib'' World. J. UBWIS ClIiLDS, (^LI^K^S, N* IT* !ni WE WAXT oa.n bo^iks. We Want Gekmas Books. WE WANT BOOKS PRINTED IN LANCASTER CO. Wc Want All Kinds of Old Books. LIBRARIES. ENGLISH OK GERMAN BOUGHT. Cash paid for Books in any qnantity. Send your address and we will call. KEEK WKL^iH A CO.. 23 South Nintli Street, PhilaK«UbI« and Flowfr S«*dt, PlaoU, Fruit Inii, ttc. lovaluabl* to all. S«nd for It, Addraii, S. H. FES&T a CO., DeU0U« Mioh. Jan-4ni dj/JCa week in your own town. iI)0DAddre8s H. Hallett & Co. jnu-lyr* TermB and $5ovitfltfree . Portland, Maine. PENSIONS w' For 80L,DIBR8, idowfl, fitthvrs. loutlien or children. Tb'iiisaDds yet catitlvd. I't-Dsioiia i^ivea for Itiss of finger, tue. eye or ntpiurc, vancos* v^^'iDS or or Miiy Ulac&ac. Tbunsatida (ifiieniioD- • rn and aulJii-ra entitled to IM'UEAl^E and BOUNTY. PATENTS r-roturcd for ioTerit- '-■n. Soldiers land wairautu prucurtd. bought and sold. Soldiurg and heirs api'Iy for your rights atoncc. Scud S Btani|i3 for I cnsion aod FJuULty laws. blanksMid instiurti.ins. Fees fixed by law. Wy can refer to thoiHiiri'ls of I't-nsioni^ra and Clients. Address E. H, CelStOn St CO,- U. S. Claim Atty'8. Lock iiox7:i.\VaBLmgtonJ).P LIGHT BRAHMA £GGS For halchin;r, now ready— from tlu- best hlrnin in th6 county— at tlic niodenite price of $l«SO for a setlini^ of 13 ZSsSfil. L. U.VTHVON, Ne. 9 North Queen si., Exnniiner Ofl'icc. Tjiiicjister, Pa. W ANTED. -<'ANVASSKI;S f«ir Ihc LANCASTER WEEKLY EXAMINER In Every Township in (he County. Ciood Wages can ba made. Inciuire at THE EXAMINER OFFICE, No. 9 North ilu Sircct, Latica.ster, Pa $72. \ WEKK. $12 !i day at home easily madw. C'oBtly Outtit froe. Addrc/s TitHK k Co., AugUKla, Maine jiui-lyr" SEND FOR On Concord Clraiicviues, Tnuisplaated Kvergiciiip. Tulip, Poplar, Linden .Marie, etc. Tree Seedlings and Trees for timber plantationB l>v the 10i>.(H)0 J. JE.XUIXS' NTRKERY, 3-2-79 WINONA. 001 UMIUANA'CO.. OHIO. PENSIONS For SOtniKRS, Wiuows. fiitliurs, tnotlii ra c-r children. Thousands re tcntiil-d. Pensions fivcn forlois' f fiiip<.r.u»v« yc crrujuiire.viiricnM. vons <Ui-fiMe. TIi'.us.niuN of pciiMi'iiTi nnd F.,M,.r<..-ntiUcdtf. I.NCKEA^K and BOU>TV. l*ATl-NT.*» iiniciirvd for Inventors. Snldicra land warrants prurumt. loUflit and 5(dd. Solditr^ and hLirsappjy f-T ynnrriKhts at once. Send Si fit.imps for "T no Cilir.in-Soldicr.*' and Pcosi-n and liiuiity laws, blanks and inMrnei^ons. Vo canrcfrr t" thftiisfin-is '<{ Pi n^i.ncrs and Clipnti. Addrrs N. W. F.tiKcrald A Co. iTxsKiN X; Patent Att'ys, Luiuiiui :.;;<, W aahiugtyD. iJ.O- dee-U WELL-AUGER/ Oursia guaranteed to he the cliear>cst and best in the worM. Also uiithinq can boat our sA\vrN'<; MA- CIllNK. It saws oil ft --foot loj; in '_' ininutea. Pictorial books fra^ W. GLLiilsi. Chicajfo. 111. -6m] II. THE LANCASTER FARMER. »EIVBrKYI,VA!VIA RAILROAD KCHEDITLE. Trains leave the Di^]^ol ui toia city, as follows : WE TWAKD. Pacific Express' 1 eavt= Lancaster. 2:40 a. jn. 5:00 a. m. 11:00 a.m. ILOSp. m. 10:20 a. m. 11.25 a. m. 10:50 a. m. 2;.'i0p. m. 2:35 p.m. 5:45 p. ni. 7:20 p. m. 7:30 p. m. S:50 p. m. 11:30 p. m. Lancaster. 2.55 a. m. 5:08 a. m. 8:05 a. m. 9.10 p. m. :40 p m. 2:00 p. m. 3:05 p. m. 5:35 p.m. 6:25 p, m. Arrive Harrisburg. 4:05 a. m. 7:50 a. ra. 11:20 a. m. Hanover Accommodation,. Mail train via JIf. .loy No. 2 via Columbia cm. 10:40 a. ra. 12:40 p. m. 12:55 p. m. 12:40 p. m. Frederick .\ccommodatioii . Col. 2:45 p. m Columbia Accommodatiou.. fiarrisburg Express Pittsburg Express Cincinnati Express" EASTWARD. Cincinnati Express Ool. 8:20 p. m. S:40 p. m. 10:10 p. m. 12:45 a. m. Philadelphia 3:00 a. m. 7:40 a. m. Harrisburg Express Columbia Accommodation.. 10:00 a. m. 12:0 p. m. 3:40 p. m. 5:00 p. m. Johnstown Express 5:30 p.m. 7:20 p. m. Harrisburg Accom 9:30 p. m. The Hanover Accommodation, west, connects at Lancaster with Niagara Express, west, at 9:35 a. m., and will ruu through to Hanover. The Frederick Accommodation, west, couuectsat L'lncas- ter with Fast Line, west, at 2:10 p. m.. and runs to Frederick. The Pacific Express, east, ou Sunday, when flagged, will atop at M-ldletown, Elizabethtowu, Mouut Joy and Landis- ville. •Tht) only trains which run daily. tRuus daily, except Monday. NORBECK & MILEY, PRACTICAL n Carriage Builders cox & CD'S OLB STAiD, Cofoef of Duke and Vioe Streets, LANCASTER, PA. '^"'"'^THE LATEST I.MPROVED SIDE-BAR BUGGIES, PHyETONS, Carriages, Etc. iiniivjiijui auu III Prices to Suit the Times. REPAIRING promptly attended to. All work guaraiitfed. 79-4- £5. lO. 003Z, ^-— ' ^ ■ Manufacturer Of Gtrriages, Buggies, Phaetons, etc. CHURCH ST., NEAR DUKE, LANCASTER, PA. Large Stuck uf New and Sacjn-haud Work on hand very cheap. Carriages Made to Order Work Warranted or one year, [7'-9-lli EDW. J. ZAHM, DGALUn IH AMERICAN AND FOREIGN WATCHES, SOLID SILVER & SILVER PLATED WARE, CLOCKS, JEWELRY ITABLE CUTLERY. Sole Agent for the Ai-uudel tinted SPECTACLES. Repairing strictly attended to. North Queen-st. and Centre Square, Lancaster, Pa. 79-1-12 AT I.O\Vl-:sT POSSEBI.K l>RI4 ES, Fully guaranteed. No. 106 EAST KING STREET, 79-1-12] Oppfisile I.rop'iid llolfl. ESTABLISHED 1882. G. SENER & SONS, Mauufacturers and de.ders in all kinds of rough and finished The best Sawed SISa xf;j,E>i ill the country. Also Sash, Doors. BliudH, Rlonldiuga, &c. PATENT 0. G. WEATHERBOARDING und PATENT BLINDS, whicli are far superior to auy other. Also best COAT constantly ou hand. OFFICE AND YARD : Northeast Corner of Prince and Walnut-sts., LANCASXKR, PA.. 79-1-12] PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON ENTOMOLOGY, Embracing the history aud habits of NOXIOUS AND INNOXIOUS INSECXS,.^ and the beet remedies for their ex[)ulsion or extermluatioii. By S. S. RATH VON, Ph7Dr'" . LANCASTER, PA. This work will be Highly Illustrated, and will be put in I>res8 (as soon after a sufhuieut number of subscribers can be obtaiued to cover the cost) aa the work can possibly be accomplished: Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees. Plant Trees raised in this county and suited to this climate . Write for prices to LOUIS C. LYTE Bird-in-Hand P. O., Lancaster co., Pa. Nursery at Smoketown, six railea east of Laucaeter. 7!)-l-12 WIDMYER & RICKSECKER, UPHOLSTERERS, And Manufacturers of FURNITURE PD CHAIRS, WAREROOn»i: 102 East King St., Cor. of Duke St. TjAnoastbr, pa. 79-1-12) Special Inducements at the NEW FURNITURE STORE "W. A. HEINITSH, ]Vo. IS 1—2 33. XCXTVCr STJEmaET (over Bursk's Grocery Score), Lauca.ster, Pa. A general assor^meut of turuituieof all kiuds coustantljr ou hand. Don't forget the uumber. 15 X-S X:a.st XSizLs iStx-eet, Nov-ly] (over Burt-k's Giocery Sloie.) A»'f^ a moutU and expeuses guaranteed to Agents St t i Outfit free. ' SHA'W & CO., AugusU, Maine. li 79-2-12 ,,,. .j^;„i,.,., ,,,„:.:;,„,..: „,.,,. : - For Good and Cheap Work go to F. VOLLMER'S FURNITURE WAR): ROOMS, No S09 NORTH QUEEN ST.. (Opposite Northern Market), Also, all kiuds of picture Irauies. nov-ly GREAT BARGAINS. A large assortm'^nt of all kiuds of Carpets are still sold at lower rates than ever at the CARPET HALL OF H. S. SHIRK, Ko. 202 West King St. Call and examine our stock and satisfy yourself that we can ehow the largest assortment of these Brussels, three plies and ingrain at all price» — at the lowost Philadelphia prices. Also on hand a large and complete assortment of Rag Carpet. Satisfaction guaranteed bath as to price and quality. You are iuvited to cjU and see my goods. No trouble in showing them even if you do not waut to purcljase. Don't forget this uotice. You can save money here if you waut to buy. Particular attention given to customer v ork Also on hand a full assortment of Counterpanes, OU Cloths and Blankets of every variety [nov-lyr. PHILIP SCHUM, SON & CO., 38 and 40 "West King Street. We keep ou iiaud of our own mauufacture, QUILTS, COVERLETS, COUNTEBPAJTES, CARPETS, Bureau aud Tidy Covers. Ladies' Furnishing Goods, No- tions, etc. Particular attention paid to customer Rag Carpet, and scowering and dyeing of all kinds. PHILIP SCHUM, SON & CO.. Nov-ly LanciiBter, Pa. THE HOLMAN LIVER PADI Cures by absorption without medicine* Now is the time io apply these remedies. They will do for you what uothiug else ou Carth cau. Hundreds of citi- zens of Lancaster s-y so. Get the genuine at LANCASTER OFFICE AND SALESROOM, S2 East Orange Street, r.-h .v-i,r '•'■:-:-'': l/Ciq; No G. R. KLINE. offi(;;e -. is north duke street, < ■ ■ ' ' ' t ikiNbASTElR, FA.. The Lancaster Farmer. Dr. S. S. RATHVOil, Editor. LANCASTER, PA., MARCH d882. Vol. XIV. No. 3. Editorial. OUR APOLOGY. Au iipulogy is iliii' "iir patrons for ilii> late iippeaiance of The Faumeu in the iiioiitli ol' rebruary, and also the present number, and we can't tell liow long this state of things may continue, but we can assure our readers that it is only temporary, and is not without a mil igalinj; cause. .Sin(^e the destruction of ihe Inquirer buildinu; by fire, a hu>,'e portion of the printing executed by that establishment devolves upon our otHce ; and, as the arrange- meni is only a lemi)orary one, we can only make a temporary provision for it. When our patrons become aware of this fact we feel assured that they will sympathize with us in our efforts to accommodate those who in one fell swoop of the devouring flames have been deprived of the mechaiiical means to execute their business engagements. These contin- gencies cannot be foreseen, but when they do occur, charity dictates lliat wc should help to bear each other's burdens. ■' OUR WINGEu FRIENDS." We publish in this issue of The Farmer the very interesting paper on insectivorous birds, read by S. P. Eby, Esq., of Lancaster, Pa., before the "State Horticultural Society," at its annual meeting, held at Ilarrisburg in .January last; and we regret that we were not able to publish it sooner, for sucli papers are worthy of a permanent record ; and es- pecially when they come within the category of one of the leading specialties of this jour- nal from its vt-ry origin, namely, to make it a record of the sayings am] doings of the people of Lancaster county in relation to agriculture and its allies. Tlie essay needs no commenda- tion of ours, for, having it before them, our readers will be able to judge for themselves, and we can assure them that they will belioth interested and instructed. KITCHEN GARDEN FOR MARCH. In the Middle States spring has arrived ac- cording to the calendar, but the experienced gardener is not caught by arbitrary terms; and though March and the alnumac may in- dicate spring, frost and storm and biting winds caution him to care and patience. lie will wait the progress of the raontli and bide his time. Artichokes dress ; plant. Asparagus sow; ))lant Ihe minssill roots. Ueets — Extra Early, Philadelphia Turnip, and Early Blood Turnip, sow. Cabbage .sow in a sheltered place, if not already in a hot-bed. Test Landreth's new varieties- the Wakefield, Early Market, and Bloomsdale Brunswick. Carrots — Early Horn, .sow. Cauliflowers — attend to those under elass. Celery ."ow. Cress sow. Com- post prepare. Uung prepare for hot-beds, Horse-radish plant. Hot-beds make ; also force. Lettuce sow ; prick out. ^lushroom beds attend to. Mustard sow. Onions put out in sets— these known as "Philadelphia Buttons " much the best. Parsnips .sow — the Sugar is the best. Peas — Landreth's Ex- tra Early and luvicta sow. Also, McLean's Advancer and McLean's Gem, wliich we commend with confidence. Potatoes— early, l)laiit. The early Hose is admirable in every respect. Hiulish — the Long Scarlet, and Red ami White Turnip sow. The "Strap-leaved I-ong Scarlet," an improviinent on the Long .Scarlet, we recommend. Hhubarb sow ; plant roots. Sage sow ; plant. Tomato sow in, hot-bed. Turnip, Strap-leaved Early Dutch sow; but generally be it observed, so far north as Philadelphia, these directions will apply better to April than to Murch. — Laiuhclk's Jiural K((ji>,tcr. March has always been a fitful, capricious and uncertain month ; and. under the most favorable circumstances, the spring season cannot be considered as fairly inaugurated before St. Patrick's day ; and this, too, with- out regard to "Candlemas" or the "Ground Hog," traditional weathermarks very nn.safe to give character to any practical enterprise. Of cour.se, in matters relating to husbandry it is always well to be forewarned ; hut, as "a single swallow don't make a summer,'' even so the judicious'farmer will not be de- ceived by a single "weather-breeder" in tlie month of March, but will defer his sheep- shearing and goose-plucking to a more relia- ble period. If we cannot plant in March we can, at least, do something in the way of preparation which will advance and facilitate the work of the kitchen-garden when the proper time ar- rives. Those who manipulate a hot-bed will not be greatly'.hindered, whatever is likely to be the character of the weather in March. In any event, we would admonish our readers to plant and cultivate the best varieties of fruits, grains and vegetables, and especially the best adapted to their difl'ercnt soils. The bat, al- though it may be the most expensive, is in the end the cheapest, both to the producer and the consumer. We confess tliat we are often stu'prised at the inferior quality of vege- tables that are often found in our markets. Especially is this the case in the matter of green corn. That for table use should possess the Iwjhcst sarcharine' qualities, and to obtain the seed of this,applicatit)n should be made to the Landretlis, of "Blooiningdale Seed Farm," and then "crop it," in order to have it for a more protracted period than is usually the case among our farmers in general. WHY NOT WRITE FOR THE PARMER ? Mr. R.xthvon : In your February number, I see a correspondent asks the ([uestion, "why don't the farmers of Lancaster county write for the F.\i!.MEU," and you state that you cannot ti'll why. The rei'son why, is plain and simple to me and a good many other people. We have many good, old, and experienced farmers in the county, but not .so well ediK-ated— at least some of tiiem— as other classes perhaps; but when tliey write wlial they knmr b;/ e.rinrience, they are apt to be ridiculed by those of higher edui'ation, and so they keep it to themselves, and only communicate it in a private way, to a L'ood friend or neighbor. How was it when .1. G. wrote about lunar, influence, about two years ago.? * Editors and publisliers generally, make it a nde not to admit into their coIkmius, or even to notice anonymous communications; but, on this occasion, we waive the rule, because we believe tlie reason resigned is honestly — al- tliough we think mistakenly— eut(Mtained, and is therefore insullicieut in its conclusions. In the lirst i)lace, the experiences of men differ; and hence, there always have been, and per- haps always will be different opinions among men on the same subjects. And, inider our form of government all men liave the privi- lege of expressing their opinions without re- .straint, so long as they are not contraband of law. But, because men may differ witii us, or contest our opinions, it Is no reason that we should be silent, especially when they are supported by our own practical experience. A thing that is realli/ true, is none the less true, because some other man don't believe it is true. Does any Christian believe that he ought to cease to preach and pray, because Bob IngersoU, and other infidels, ridicule Christianity and the Bible? No more ought a farmer to cease to give his experimental views of farming, because others may honestly dis- sent from his views. When tlie Saviour ad- vanced his views, he wiis "laughed to scorn;" but he continued to teach them, becau.se lie knew them to be true. When St. Paul pro- claimed the truths of Christianity he was de- clared to be "mad;" but he continued to preach and to write. He did not keep what he received "to himself," but he communi- cated it to others, whether tliey believed it or not. It was the same with Fulton and the steam- boat, Morse and the telegraph, and hundreds of others in the world, who have advanced their views on different subjects, only to meet other views in conflic't with them, but time and experience ultimately demonstrated what was true and .what was false. Moreover, a mere 4enial does not negative a propo- sition ;". hence, if one man dishelie>^es us another may beHcve us ; therefore, so long as one believes, there is as much reason to con- tinue our writing as there is to discontinue it, because one disbelieves. When the "sower went fortii to sow," his seed fell upon differ- ent kinds of ground, and the effect of his sow- ing was different in its results, and |it perhaps will always be so. We alwjiys give our correspondents and contributors a respectful hearing, when their views come within the scope of an agricul- tural journal. We cannot reject or suppre.«s an article because it happens to be in conflict with opinions previously advanced by some other writer ; nor, indeed, when it is in con- flict with our own opinions on the same sub- ject. When the views advanced are true ones, the truth will only become more appar- ent through free discussion. We, therefore, admonish our iiatroiis that they should not feel discouraged liecause others— even those of a higher education— may differ from them in opinion, especially when tlieir views are based upoii/ac; I'l. Manning's Elizabeth; 12. Seekel; fi. Howell; 14. Anjou; 1.5. Shelden; 1(>. St. Ghislan; 17. Lawience; 18. Reading; 19. Kielfer. For those who may desire a smaller number we should select: 1. Gilfard: 2. Earlv Catha- rine; :i. BlgiHla;o(Kl; 4. Tyson; 5. Bartlett; 6. Belle Lucrative; 7. Seekel; 8. Lawrence; !). Readiiit;; 10. Kielfer. They ripen in about the order they are arranged, except as to the three latter. The Lawrence, which begins to ripen, or can be made lo ripen, early in No- vember, will keep until March, it being the only pear of our entire slock still in our fruit vault. In tlie above list, from No. 1 to 8, are suin- mer varieties; from 9 to IG autumn (early and late), and 17, 18 and 1!) winter, thus afford- ing a sufficient numb(U' for each of the periods of the best known sorts for Ibis region. Dwart Pears. — 1. St. Michael d'Arohange; 2. Birllett; 3. Cornice; 4. Rosliezer: .5. Diel; 6. Tyson; 7. Belle Lucrative; 8. Lawrence; 9. Ott;"lO Louise Bonne; 11. Bosc; 12. Bous- sock; 13. Glout M irceau. Apple-s.— 1. Maiden's Blush; 2. Baldwin; 3. Smokeliouse; 4. N(u-thein Spy; o. Smitli's Cider; 6. Fallawater; 7. Cornell's Faiu'y; 8. Red Astrachan; '.). Wagoner; 10. P(n-ter; 11. Graveiisteiu; 12. Tompkins King; 13. Hox- bury lius.set. We add to the foregoing lisL Tompkins King and lloxbury* Russet, both most excelUnt varieties ; indeed the King is regarded by some as uusurpassed. Northern Spy is als() restored. Peaches— 1. Crawford's Early; 2. Hale's Early; 3. Troth's Early; 4. Old Mixon; 5. Crawford's Late; 6. Ward's Late; 7. Smock's Late; 8. Admirable, late. We have substituted in the peach list Troth's Early for York' Early, and Admira- ble for Susiptehanna. The former seems to h.ive seen its best days, and the latter is too shy a tiearer for profit. Grapes— 1. Telegraph; 2. Concord; 3. Hart- ford; 4. Clinton;. 5. Salem; 0. Rogers' No. 32; 7. Brighton; 8. Ir'rentiss. We have added t > the list Rogers' No. 32, which, should it mauitain its present charac- ter will be ttie very best out-door variety cultivated. It is a beautiful pink, or rather maroon colored grape, and at times is trans- parent. It Ijears regular crop? yearly with us. Clinton, in the foregoing list, is only for wine, and hi probably the very best for that purpose. We add the JirUjIilon. a maroon color, as promising well. It is, however, a small berry and rather straggling hunches, but almost pulpless, and of excellent quality. Tlie Pn-n- tiss is also added. It is a new white grape, somewhat larger than the Delaware, of goo(l quality and scarcely a perceptible pulp. It promises to take the lead of all the white va- rieties. The bunches are compact and of large size. Cherries.— 1. May Bigarreau; 2. Belle de Choisy; 3. Black Tartarian; 4. Black Eagle; ."). Black Hawk; (i. Elton; 7. Downer's Late;! 8 Early Richmond; 9. KavU' I'lU'iile Guigne; 10. Delaware Bleeding Heart. The ripening of the list will range from the earliest to the latest, thus carrying one through thi^ wliole (du'riy sea.son. No one can go amiss in adopting this list. Haspberries. -1. Hornet; 2. Herstine; 3. Philadelphia; 4. Brandywine. Slrawh(U-ries. — 1. Captain Jack; 2. Seth Boyden; 3. Sharpless; 4. Triom|)he de Gand. New kinds of strawberries are constantly appearing, but thus far wc know of no im- provements on the foregoing. Ciu-rants. — 1. Black Naples; 2. Red Dutch; .3. White (irape. These three varieties are the best among the dilferent colors. The Red Dutch is a regular bearer and is of l)etter f|ualily than any other. There are others larger, but they arc more acid. The white grape is transparent, of gO(jd ((uality, and (uight to be more generally grown, but it is not a great bearer, and it is not prolitable for market. Gooseberies. — 1. Houghton ; 2. Downing. These are two best goo.sel)erries grown in this country. They bear every year heavy crops, are free from mildew, and are of ex- cellent (piality. They are large enough for all jiractical piu'i)oses. We cannot recommend the giants and their giant prices, aird especial- ly those of foreign orijiu. Blackberries. — 1. New Rochelle; 2. Mis- souri C'luster; 3. Wil.son's Early; 4. Snyder. The Snyder, a new Western Blackberry, is highly spoken of at distant points, and from the very respectable endorsers whicli it has we have no doubt of its value, at least in the West. Wc shall probably fruit it this year, having failed to do so last year. It is better that those who intend to culti- vate fruit and have to make purchases, to take this list with them to the nursery, and adhere to it as far as possible. In .selecting fruit trees or any otiier, be careful to choose those with smooth, healtliy- looking bark, have entirely shed their leaves, and have plenty of small (ibrous roots. Trees on which the leaves remain after frost sets in, and stick to the branches in the spring, may be regarded as not healthy, and in some way lacking stamina. EATING BEFORE SLEEPING. Man is the only animal that can be taught to sleei) "" ^"1 empty stomach. The brute creation resent all elliirtsto coax them to such a violation of the laws of natiu'e. The lion roars in the forest until be has found his prey, and when he has devoured it he sleeps until he needs another meal. The hor.se will pty stomach. We use an oft-quoted illustration, "sleeping as quietly as an infant," because this slumber of a child follows immediately after the stomach is completely tilled with wholesome food. The sleep which comes to adults long hours after partaking of food, and when the stomach is cmi)ty, is not after the type of in- fantile rejiose. There is all the difl'ereiice in the world between the sleep of refreshment and the sleep of exiiaustion. To sleep well llie blood that swells the veins in our head during the busy hours must How back, leaving a greatly diminished (piantity liehind the brow tliat lately throhljed with "such vehemence. To digest well, the blood is n('ede(l at the stomach alid nearer the fountains of lifi;. It is a fact established beyond a possibility of contradiction that sleep aids digestion, and that the )pidcesses of digcistion are conducive to refr(!shiiig sleep. It needs no argument to convince us of this mutual relation. The drowsiness which always follows the well- ordered m(>al is itself a testimony of nature to this terindependence. The above paragraph has been "going the rounds " of the public press for .some months, and tliose persons who are sulliciently intelli- gent to grasp the argument, will, of course, regard it from their own individual stand- point of ex|)erience, and will, perhaiis, also reach different conclusions on the subject. Practically, we can endorse the whole of the foregoing, whatever the opinion of others may be ; but, in doing so, we by means in- tend to encourage the abuse of eating at any time, whether noon, night or morning. When we became addicted to " eating be- fore sleeeping " must have been very long ago, for we can well remember that when a mere boy, working on a farm, we on many occasions ate from three to half a dozen ap- ples after 9 or 10 o'clock at night, while we were abed ; then fell asleep and "slept like a top" until morning, and never even had a dream on them. Two physical conditions liave ever been detrimental to our complete repose at night, and these are hunger and cold feet; hence, for the last quarter of a cen- tury, or more, we have never retired at night without eating somclhing, whether much or little, unless we were unwell and had no appe- tite for fo(jd ; nor have we gone to bed during all that period before 12, and often 1 o'clock at night. Reading and writing at night ab- sorbs our vitality as much as do any of our labors during the day, and hence we natural- ly reipiire food to sustain those labors, as much as a stove requires fuel to impart heat to the. house it occupies. There is nothing irrational or physically hurtful in this when it is confined within rational bounds, and at regular periods. For instance, say we get our breakfast at 8, our dinner at 1 and our supper at G o'clock iu the evening. Here we have three meals within ten hours, and six hours to work yet before 12 o'clock, and then eight more before we get our morning meal, which would be fourteen hours of fasting within the twenty-four. We don't know how we would feel if we were entirely idle, but this we know, that we would have to lie awake for hours if we attempted to retire and fall asleep on an empty stomach. True, our night meal is a light one, and never in- cludes meats of any kind ; but, in lying down from twenty to thirty minutes thereafter, we usually fall asleep within teu minutes, and wake up in the morning refreshed. We never, or fit least rarely ever, eat any- thiny between meals— not even an apple, an or.vnge, or a nut; and except the single cup of coffee which we drink every day at our regular meals— four times— we drink very little, if 36 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [March. anything. We pass long summer days with- out even drinkius water. But, "what is sauce for the goose," is not always "sauce for the gander;" or in other words, "what is one man's meat is another man's poison." Much depends on long continued habit, through which a sort of "second nature" is cultivated; we therefore do hot pretend to set ourself up as a teacher as to how, when, and what men ought to eat, or abstain from eating. Much will depend upon their temperament, the tex- ture of their physical constitutions, their sec- ular occupations, their private habits, and freedom from extremes. There certainly have been diverse theories advanced on the subject of eating during the last half century; all of which perhaps, have some good in them, if honestly observed; and it is equally certain that men's minds have undergone a great change as to what is healthful and what inju- rious. Perhaps what people eat, and ^vhen they eat, is less essential than how they eat. The appropriation of nutriment, or eating, is the great moving force of the animal universe — and proximately also of the vegetable— and unless that all pervading want is supplied, everything animate would hopelessly perish; but the rationale of eating depends upon assimilation, in order to produce the most fa- vorable result. Hunger is a great leveler, and has no respect to any condition in life. The rich and the poor, the intelligent and the ig- norant, the high and the low, are all amena- ble to its absolute and universal demands. Perhaps the greatest mistakes, blunders, and willful perversions in eating, occur araong^ the human family. All in the animal world, below the genus Homo, "eat to live," whilst it is very evident that many people "live to eat." Seeing that physical life is bassed upon this primary condition, too little regard is paid to rational eating, and also to healthful culinary preparation, to say nothing about social con- dition. The first thing that every living mor- tal craves — after fresh air — that comes into the world, is eating and sleeping, and if the first is not supplied, the second will not follow, and the subject is liable to' perish. It cannot and will not sleep if hungry, whether man or beast. HOW LONG ARE WE TO LIVE. It is not every one who asks himself this question, because, strangely enough, it is the belief of many persons that their lives will be exceptionally lengthy. However, life as- surance companies are aware of the credulous weaknesses of those whose lives they assure, and have therefore compiled numerous tables of expectancy of life for their own guidance, which are carefully referred to before a policy is granted. The following is one of the au- thenticated tables, in use among London as- surance companies, showing the length of life at various ages. In the first column we have the present ages of persons of average health, and in the second column we arc- enabled to peep, as it were, behind the scenes of an as- surance office, and gather from their table the number of years they will give us to live. This table has been the result of careful cal- culation, and seldom proves misleading. Of course, sudden and premature deatlis, as well as lives unusually extended, occasionally occur, but this is a table of average expec- tancy of life of an ordinary mau or woman : Age Years to live. Age Years to live. 1 39i50 2i 10 31 60 U 21. ... 41^70 9 30 :...34[80 4 40 2S| Our readers will easily gather from the above tabulated statement the number of years to which their lives, according to the law of averages, may reasonably be expected to extend. — iJarpcr's Bazar. Inasmuch as the above claims to be the basis upon which the London insurance companies operate, it may be regarded about .as reliable as the subject could well be presented, al- though by no means absolute or infalible. If we understand the table rightly, if a child is fortunate enough to attain the age of one year there is a reasonable probabitity that it will attain the age of furty years. Of course there is a possibility that it may live longer ; but in- surance companies would not be likely to deal in risks founded upon mere possibilitit^s — probabilities are sufficiently dubious. But should the juvenile subject attain the age of toi years, then he may expect to reach life's prime, or forty-one years ; and if he should score twenty, then he is good for three score and one. If he is fortunate enough to number thirty years he may entertain a reasonable ex- pectation to number sixty-four. But every decade after thirty the number of years still alloted to him are shortened, or supposed to be shortened. These calculations are pre- sumably made upon the general life tenure of men in health, and take no account of epi- demic's and accidents. The followingjarticle relating to the tenure of human life is rather argumentative than a statement made upon business experience. We do not think, however, that either Buffon, Heusler, Voltaire or Flourens could make any nearer approximation to the truth of the matter than persons less intellectually en- dowed than they were, ^, when they attempted a literal explanation of the ages of the Bible patriarchs. They might as well have at- tempted to explain the speeches and actions of the animals in ^sop's fables, on a literal basis. The Bible on this subject has never yet been explained — never tvill be, and perhaps never can be — so as to be literally comprehend- ed by the masses of mankind, nor is it moral- ly, socially or philosophically essential that it should be, in order to be a text- book of morals to the human family. It may be regarded rather as a system of sacred-symbols, tropes, figures and parables, having no special signification relating to the physical universe ; but, at the same time, a moral instructor to the human family through spiritual corres- pondence, illustrating mutual relations exist- ing between the Creator and the created ; and the obligations of the latter to the former. The Extreme Limit of Human Life. Can man reach and pass the age of one hundred years V is it question concerning which physiologists have difierent opinions. Buffon was the first one in France to raise the question of the extreme limit of human life. In his opinion, man, becoming adult at sixteen, ouglit to live six times that age, or to ninety-six years. Having been called upon to account for the phenomenal ages attributed by the Bible to tbe Patriarchs, he risked the ibllowiiig as an explanation : Before the flood the earth was less solid, less compact than it is now. The law of gravitation had acted for only a little time ; the productions of the globe had less consistency, and the body of man, being more supple, was more suscepti- ble of extension. Being able to grow for a longer time, it should in consequence live for a longer time than now. The German Heusler has suggested on the same point that the ancients did not divide as we do. Previous to the age of Abraham the year, among some people of the East,iwas only three montliR, or a season ; so that they had a year of spring, one of summer, one of fall, and one of winter. The year waslTex- tendcd so as to consist of eight months after Aliraham and of twelve months after Joseph. Voltaire rejected the longevity assigned to the patriarchs of the Bible, but accepted without questi(jn the stories of the great ages attained by some men in India, where, he says, "it is not rare to see old men of one hundred and twenty years." The eminent French physiologist, Flourens, fixing the complete development of man at twenty years, teaches that he should live five times as long as it takes him to become an adult. Accord- ing to this author the moment of a complete development may be recognized by the fact of the junction of the bones with their apopyses. This junction takes place in horses at five years, and the horse does not live beyond twenty-five years ; with the ox at four years, and it does not live over twenty years, with the cat at eighteen months, and that animal rarely lives over ten years. With man it Is effected at twenty years ; and he only excep- tionally lives beyond one hundred years. The same physiologist admits, however, that human life may be exceptionally prolonged under certain conditions of comfort, sobriety, freedom from care, and observance of the rules of hygiene. Weak Lungs. Every one knows that physical exercise in- vigorates the muscular system ; that the con- stant action, within limits, of any muscle enlarges and strengthens that muscle. It is the working of the same lavv that gives full- ness and vigor to the blacksmith's arm. This law is physiologically universal, and therefore applies to the lungs. The one work of the lungs is to inhale and exhale air: and this depends on the alternate expansion and contraction of the chest. Now, some persons are born with thin, narrow chests. The lungs of these persons are gen- generally weak, and easily become diseased, because seldom brought into full, vigorous action. The employmeutsof other people— students, tailors, seamstresses, shoemakers, etc. — are such as do not call out the full actions of the lungs. In some cases, they inteifere with it. If such persons are troubled with general weaknesses, have difliculty of breathing after exercise, and dull pains in the sides, the lungs should be, looked after, although there may still be no oraianic disease. What is needed is to strengthen them — not by medicine — but by their own proper action. Tlie Medi- cal and Surgical lieporter gives an account of a young student whose pulmonary symptoms of weakness were wholly overcome. It was done by his simply breathing through a small tube the size of a quill, a dozen times every three or four hours eacli day. Every third respiration he vvithdi-ew the tube, wheu the lungs were thoroughly filled, and held his breath as long as he could without distress. Keeping this up during his student-life, he acquired the ability to enlarge his chest five inches by an inspiration, and to hold his breath without disiress a full minute. It is our belief that the same thing may be accomplished by breathing as above through a single nostril, closing the other with tlie finger — Youtli^s Comprtnion. So far as the matter relates to our own per- sonal experience, the above extract contains sound doctrine. When we were first bound an apprentice to the tailoring business (1827) we were jeeriugly admonished that we would not live to serve out our term of five years, and we confess we sometimes felt some boy- ish anxiety about it; for our mother had died of consumption when we were just twelve years old, and since then our elder sister, our two brothers and one of our sister's daugh- 1882.] THE LANCASTER FARMER. 37 ters have died, and tliice of tliern uuraistaka- bly of the same fell disease, and at about tlic same age as our mother; moreover, quite a number of our mother's relations have died of tlie same disease. One day a physician well advanced in years, coming into the shop in which we were employed, and noticing our peculiar attitude on the ''board," advised us ,to sit straight, expand our chest as much as possible, and to cultivate a habit of breathing thnni^h the nostrils. And furthermore to take as much active outdoor exercise, as we could possibly find opportunity to do, and when we sat at rest, to throw our arms back- ward over the back of the chair, or beneh, if it had such a support. We followed this ad- vise and with good results. Notwithstanding, about forty-live yearsago we were troubled with a pressure of the lungs and d'fliculty of breathing— perhaps a collapse of the cells of the lung — induced by a too in cessant conlinement to the shopboard. One day an agent for the sale of Dr. Fiteli's " In- haling Tube " called on us, and explained the nature and object of the instrument, and we purchased one, at a cost of $1,75. This instrument is hammer-shaped, and consists of a cylinder three-quarters of an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch in diameter; one end is closed and the other contains a small ball- valve. To this cylinder is attached, in the middle, a shaft or stem about four inches long and throe-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. This tube is taken in the moutli and a deep inspiration is taken, thoroughly tilling the lungs. After a moment, or as long after as the breath can be conveniently held, when ex- piration commences, the ball-valve will be partially closed, and the breath will not escape as freely as it was inhaled. If the nostrils are then held shut, the effort to force the breath through the diminished aperture, will also force it into the collapsed cells of the lungs, and gradually open and expand them, and this effects their cure. This practice we continued, at intervals, until 1B48, when we abandoned the shop- board for more active employment, and the cause being removed, there was no necessity of continuing the remedy. The good effects do not follow immediately, but by continuing the process the respiration becomes gradually free and strong. We have on many occasions been able to take a full inspiration and hold our breath long enough to read a paragraph eqquivalent to forty or fifty lines in the columns of the Laxc.\steii Farmer. We by no means pretend to say that lungs in an absolute state of decay could be cured by the aid of this instrument — indeed, we have loaned it to persons so affected, and they have declared that they could not use it, or a continued use of it would kill them — but where there is only a weakness, or a compres- sion of the cells of the lungs, it, or any sub- stitute of it, cannot fail to be beneficial if judiciously and perseveringly used. About twenty-five years ago, through an inadvertent exposure, we contracted a stubborn and pro- tracted cough, which, according to the opin- ion of our medical adviser, terminated in riq)- ture of the lungs. It is only necessary to say that in this case our instrument was altogether u.seless, as we needed a ditfereut treatment ; and we were finally relieved — we may say totally cured — by the use of medicated inhala- tions. These were progressively modified to. the pending condition of the lungs. The predisposition to pulmonary affections is sgid to be greater than is generally supposed by the thoughtless and unobservant; and, that the disease is not more frequently and fatally developed, may be owing more to favorable contingencies than to remedial agencies. Mental or eraotionalcondition may also be a potent factor in the development of pulmonary diseases. It has been alleged that every violent paroxysm of anger, hate, envy, jeealousy, fretfulness, anxiety, sorrow, cha- grin, obstinacy or grief, adds so many nails to the coffin of the consumptive ; and doubt- less this may also be said of violent physical exposures, dissipations, debaucheries, or any irritating draft made upon the passions or the material energies. Inllamed lungs, no more than an inflamed cuticle, cannot heal as long as they are in a state of violent irritation. We have now attained our " three-score and ten ;" and although we claim no special merit for such a fortuitous contingency, yet it is none the less a commentary upon the judg- ment of those who predicted our demise be- fore we completed our apprenticeship, more than half a century ago. THE WILL AND THE.DEED. There are circumstances under which chari- ty compels us to regard the will as equivalent to the deed — in a. ni'iral sense at least. It is very true, that the will, or the wish, unac- companied by the necessary food, would never save a needy man from starving; but, in a moral sense, it might exculpate a destitute person who had been appealed to for help; and in the same sense, it might even go far- ther than the real material gift of another. All would depend upon the motive which in- stigated the deed. "There, take it, and may it choke you," uttered in a snappish vein, when importuned for part of the loaf you are eating, would be a deed far inferior to a gen- erous wish or will, in amoral sense, although the latter might not be so effective in allevi- ating one suffering from hunger. We are led to these reflections in considering the re- spouses to our solicitations to " write for the Farmer." For instance, Lholine writes us: "Esteemed friend, I will now endeavor to write you a few lines. As my husband told you, I have my hands full just now. But, if I could have the opportunity to write as often as I ivisk, you would get a goodly number of coutributi ms from this quarter." Now, we happen to know that Leohne is a self- educated fanner's wife, in medium circum- stances, and has a large family of children, just at that age when they most need a mother's care, and that the general labors of the household devolve upon her. Under such circumstances the wish, or will, becomes equivalent to the deed, and yet from time to time she has contrived to do more than merely indulge in unsubstantial wishes ; and we feel eonfident that she, nor anyone in like circum- stances, will sustain any moral injury in ulti- mating their wishes in corresponding actions. The most eft'ective way to educate the "mjWwji'" is for the million to write for and become the instructors of the million. Do- mestic hints and recipes emanating from the "upjirr (cii," are often inaccessible and im- practicable to the million. They occupy a plane beyond the reach of the million. Culi- nary preparations that cost a dollar are of no practical use to the person that can't afford more than ten cents for the same. Hut the million is characteristically timid and dilli- dent, and hence practical knowledge is often overawed by theoretical assurance ; and be- cause the million cannot write with the rtuency of the upper ten it prefers to abandon the field and continue a "hewer of wood and a carrier of water." All, within their spheres are useful, no doubt, but the common people need the experiences of common people; in- stead of being spoken at they need to be spoken to. By the common people, we by no means have reference to the "Tramps, ".«ini-c«;ottes, the "Greasers," and the Lnzaroni of the human family, but to those who willfully labor for the benefit of mankind, whether from necessity, from love, or for its emolu- ments. Xot that social exclusiveness or do- mestic antagonism necessarily should exist between the common people and the upper ten, for it must needs be that a diversity of classes will exist in the present constitution of society ; but we should ever remember the "l)ots of earth and the pots of brass," as we float down the stream of time. If tlie lion were famishing with hunger, and the bull were to bring him a bundle of hay, the pig an ear of corn, the parrot a bunch of fruit, and the partridge a pint of seeds, it might be .all very kind in them, but it would not meet the wants of the lion. Ilis needs, under such circumstances, could best be supplied by an animal that had a clearer appreciation Of those needs. Many books have been written on Domestic Economy by those who were characteristically neither domestic nor eco- nomical, and hence, so far as they concerned the common people, they were a dead letter. But if the common people will not place the results of their life experiences on record, then society will have to appropriate such domestic literature as it can find, whether adapted to its wants or otherwise. EXCERPTS. Chester white pigs have increased in price in the past two years. Like the blackberry, the raspberry bears the fruit upon the cane of the previous year's growth, which, after fruitage, dies, the new cane coming forward for the next year's crop. Nearly, all kinds of fruits do well on a mixture of superphosphate and wood ashes. Lime is not suitable for strawberries, but ex- cellent around apple, peach and pear trees. Grapevines should be pruned as early as the season will permit. If deferred too late they will allow an e.scai)e of sap (bleed), even if trimmed a little while before it V)egins to ascend. Fixe rtowers require thoroughly rotted manure and wood mould mixed, and tomato or other early plants can be grown in boxes, and afterward transplanted with better results with such a mixture. In cold weather, eggs for hatching should be collected daily. They freeze easily when exposed, but will retain vitality for several 38 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [March weeks if gathered as soon as laid and then kept at a uniform temperature. In Lancaster county, Pa., last season, one farmer sold his two acres yield of tobacco for Sl,112; cost of labor, etc., S212; net profit, $900. Another farmer realized $430 an acre from three and a half acres, and another $550 an acre from one and a half acres. They think it pays. The exportation of potatoes, cabbages and other vegetables from Germany to this coun- try has constantly increased since it began last fall. One steamer in October took out 8,100 heads of cabbage; four others have since left with (3,000 bushels of potatoes, 11,000 head of cabbage and 30 bags of turnips. It is said in Germany, that additional shipments will be made during the winter. A STRIP of land bordering on the Mediter- ranean, about 100 miles long and five or six wide, is the raisin-producing territory of Spain. The Muscatel grapes are carefully cut in August, laid on a sort of bed made of fine pebbles, and dried, being turned often until they are perfectly cured. Then they are taken to the wine presses, where, after being laid in trays, they are subjected to heavy pressure, when they are ready for market. Our readers must remember that only re- cently has it been clearly demonstrated that a dead branch on a tree makes almost as great a strain on the main plant for moisture as does a living one. It is one of the most im- portant discoveries of modern botanical science to the practical horticulturist, as by this knowledge he can save many a valuable tree. When one has been transplanted some roots get injured, and the supply of moisture in the best cases is more or less deficient. Any dead branch or any weak one should, therefore, be at once cut away. — Gardener's Monthly. The Cincinnati Tobacco Journal, in order to answer the question of how much seed is necessary to plant an acre of tobacco, has pursued an investigation and found this : In one grain we found by actual count 1,494 seeds. This would make, by multiplying by 480, the number of grains in an ounce, 717,170 seeds to the ounce, and 8,605,440 seeds to the pound. Estimating 5,000 pounds to the acre, and supposing every seed vvfill make a plant, every half ounce will plant nearly 72 acres, an ounce 144 acres, and one pound, 1,721 acres. As many farmers are contem- plating planting largely this season, we re- commend a careful study of these-figures. IIiKAM Warfl, of Conestoga townshii), had eight hogs about a year old, which weighed as follows, dressed: Killed two on November 2, weighing 434 and 416 pounds, respectively; killed two on December 12, weighing 484 and 443 pounds, respectively; killed two on Janu- ary 2, weighing 578 and 533 pounds, respec- tively; and killed two on .January 31, weigh- ing 529 and 628 pounds, respectively. Queen Elizabeth granted the fiist royal patent conceded to players in 1.576. It takes 1920 silk worms to make a pound of cocoons. Buffaloes are common in Ceylon, white ones being sometimes found. Texas sells annually 400,000 head of cattle; at $20 per head it foots up a grand aggregate of $8,000,000. The amount of fruit shipped from Califor- nia during the present season will bring about $1,000,000 profit to the State. A Wisconsin farmer, twenty-three years ago, planted a piece of waste land, unfit for caltivation, with black walnut trees. The trees are from sixteen to twenty inches in diameter and have been sold for $27,000. It costs the people of Tennessee $1,000,000 annually to sneeze and u.se snuff". This is a Nashville merchant's estimate of the annual consumption of the article. France produced last year 750,000,000 gal- lons of wine. Of these, 47,000,000 were made from sugar, 51,000,000 from raisins, while 154,000,000 gallons were imported from Spain and Italy, to " blend" with their home pro- duct. No wonder everybody wants to drink French wines; they are so pure. In a small grove which adjoins the Schcen- berger residence near Cincinnati, an army of crows take shelter every night. They assem- ble by thousLinds an hour before dark, and an old man living near the place says that to his personal knowledge the same grove has been their dormitory for sixty years. During leisure hours this month make a simple hot-bid, even if it is no larger than a dry-goods box from which the bottom and top have been removed. This, if sawed in a diagonal direction, will make two frames one foot in height on the front side and twenty to twenty-four inches on the rear side when placed in position at the south side of a build- ing or high plank fence. If no old sash are at hand, cotton cloth, saturated with boiled linseed oil, will answer a very good purpose. No manure will be needed within the frames, but fresh stable manure should extend one foot beyond the frames on each side. Immense quantities of wheat straw are being shipped to this city from New York State — hundreds of car loads. It is used for bedding purposes, and afterwards for manure, and it is stated that much of it contains the Canada thistle, which is, by this process being spread broadcast over the country. Our farmers should be on their guard. Adaji Beam, of Crernarvon township, this county, was very successful in raising tobacco last year upon one acre of ground, which was carefully cultivated, and the crop has just been sold for $300. The prices paid were 22 cents per pound for leaves measuring over sixteen inches, and 7 cents for the remainder, the average being 19i cents per pound. This is considered the best sale made in the neigh- borhood. The number of feet of merchantable pine left standing in this country May 31st, 1880, is given as follows : Staiuliug pine. Cut census vr.'SO. Feet. Feet. Texas, ----- Ii7, -508, .100,000 174,440,000 Wisconsin, - - - 41,000,000,000 2,0!I7,-.!I9,()00 Michigan.- - - - 3.5,000,000.000 4:,497,3!(0,000 Mississippi, - - - 20,97.5,000,000 11.5,77.5,000 Alabama, - - - - 21,192,000,000 245,t;98,000 Florida, . - . - B,(;15,000,000 208,0.5(i,000 iMinnesota, - - - 6,100,000,000 540,977,000 This does not include some of the most im- portant timber regions— Oregon and Wash- ington Territory, which will be given here- after by the Census Bureau. Contributions. For The Lancaster Farmer. FORESTRY. The timber question involves a subject that will not soon be exhausted; hence allow me to keep it afloat "all the time," for, from all we know to the contrary at present, the con- sumption of timber is likely to be perpetual.. Therefore, its reproduction must necessarily become continuous. We live in an age of ab- solute necessity, and also in an age of great indifference and negligence, in regard to the reproduction of timber. Even the ancient Greeks and warlike Goths, were more careful, less profligate, and valued the forests more than we do at the present day. The orientals were like us Americans, they made no pro- visions for the replenishment of tlieir exhaust- ed forests. They became so impoverished in timber that they were compelled to abandon their country for the want, of it, and migrate to Eiu'ope, where they learned to appreciate its value. Timber was held in classic venera- tion in Greece. The students of Athens ha- bitually assembled under stately poplar trees to recite their lessons, and declaim before their fellows. Political gatherings, would as- semble in timber groves, reserved for that purpose. The ancient Druids recommended, and even enacted laws requiring slates to make large reservations fur all time to come, in order to supply the people with timber, and to avert it possible the timber panic of Asia. They especially professed great veneration for the oaks, under the wide expanding branches of which, they delivered their lectures, worshiped their Deity, and performed their mystic rites; believing that majestic tree of the forest to be the peculiar emblem of the residence of the Almighty. They would leave it unmuti- lated in some places in order to note its age, which has been known to exceed three or four hundred years. It was through the example of the early settlers in Europe that these large forests were reserved, and have been preserved to the pres- ent day, and will continue to be kept up, for all time to come. These forests are generally owned by the difterent governments — whether large or small — who appoint oflicers, exercis- ing a supervisory control over them. The "Wald-Herr," or "Forester" is quite an im- portant personage, and exercises an indisput- able authority within his domain. The mat- ter of properly keeping a systematic forest is not a merely hap-hazard attair, and does not require all the trees to be left perpetually standing. When the cutting is finished at one end, then the 6ther end is in a fit condi- tion to begin afresh, and in this way they al- ways have flourishing forests, and also alwaj's have timber. A judicious manipulation of a forest requires some science, more observa- tion, and a great deal of experience, acquired through the exercise of common sense. It appears that our generation, and especial- ly "Young America," is more bent on imita- ting our Oriental than our European ancestry. There are a great many farmers in the model county of Lancaster without a single forest tree upon their premises, and very few trees of any other kind — even including fruit trees. Occasionally it happens that a corner or a few ]882. The Lancaster farmer. 39 acres of the farm is preserved ; or a favorite oak, a walnut, or a chestnut is left standing «8 so many monuments to the inenioiy of a grand old forest that has passed away ; and per- chance if those farms |>ass into otht!r hands under morbid ideas of improvement, the lirst thing done is to fell those venerable relics to the ground and utilize them, according to modern principles of economy. Under such cireumstanucs we sensibly recall the senti- ment of Morris' immortal lines — " VVoodniuii epai'i- that tree, Touch not a single bjugh, In youth It sheltereil me Aiid I'll protect it now." There seems to be but. one way to induce our people to commence the planting of forest trees, and that is for the Governments of the the States and the nation to offer premiums to those who plant a given number of trees, and assess an additional tax on those who re- fuse or neglect to perform that duty. True, this might be construed into both a bribe and a threat, but it would not be the first instance in the world's history, where people have been bribed, or threatened, to do that which was their plain duty to do. Eco- nomically, as well as morally, men should do theirduty as they understand it,or as it is made manifest to them in tlie present, and not be unnecessarily an.xious about ihe future; but, it does not require an extraordinary amount of intelligence to perceive that the 2jrescnt may be so improved as to make it a pleasant and noble j30s«, and at the same time amply pro- vide for llm future. Had our forefathers ad- hered to a similar rule in regard to our primi- tive forests there would be no necessity for their posterity to indulge in anxious diseus- sions on the subject. But all tliat is now past ; they needed cleared land ; the forests were their hane and cutting down the trees the antidote. Things now are becoming re- versed. Treeless, arid and sun-baked hills and valleys in time will be the bane, and tree replenishment the antidote. To those who are now advanced in life, it may make little difference what is done in this respect, but then we should never forget that the earth is "God's foostool."—L S. R., Oregon, 1882. For Thk Lancaster Fakmeh. STRAWBERRIES. Among all the circle of fruits there is none that is so easily raised, or gives so much satisfaction to the amateur, as the strawberry. No other fruit gives as quick returns as it does. A bed planted in July or August, will, if well taken care of, make a full yield in less than a year. Sometimes, on* account of drought, it is difficult to establish a good bed at that season, so upon the whole it is safer to plant in the spring as soon as the ground gets in good working order. The yield in good soil and proper conditions is simply enormous. Last year on a plot 7 by 10 yai'ds, there were raised over 100 quarts of the Sharpless variety, equal to 7,0U0 quarts to the acre. There are reports, apparently well authenti- cated, of twice that amount of berries to the acre. It can be seen from this that there should not be any difficulty in finding a plot of ground on almost every home in the land, large enough to raise a supply of this delicious fruit for family use. Two or three rods will be sufficient. Any soil that is rich enough for cabbage or corn will do for strawberries! It will be well tf) avoid a sod, or ground filled with a large amount of vegetable refuse, for in them the white grub is to be found, and where it is plentiful you may come to grief, as it (the grub) is a great eater, and will soon ruin a bed. Dig deep, as you will thereby prevent the gnumd from drying out as soon as it will if shallow. The drought, by the by, is the greatest hindrance that the strawberry grow- er has to contend with. For some years past strawberry growers on a liirge scale have been quite unsuccessful on that account. But the amateur, with his two or three rows, need not sutler. Deep cultivation and mulching will, in a great measure, counteract drought. These small beds are easily irrigated. The soajisuds from the weekly wash will be excel- lent. These small beds will need no alley ways through them, for the work here can be done to the best advantage with tiie hoe. Set the plants eighteen inches apart every way. After the bed is planted give it a good raking once a week with a steel rake. Let no weed or runner grow. If any plants are missing train a runner in its place, and when well rooted, cut loose from its parent. Fifteen or twenty minutes' work every week will do all this. In the fall, when the ground is frozen, cover with two or three inches of coarse manure, and then your work is done for the season. In the spring, when growing weather comes, rake oft" the coarse rubbish, but leave the fine stuff on for a mulch, and if you can add as much more as will keep the weeds from grow- ing it will be all the better. Care must, how- ever, be taken in putting on this mulch, that the crown of the plant is not covered. If mulching is scarce and your bed is inclined to be weedy, the weeds near the plant must be pulled bf hand, as the strawberry roots are near the surface and are easily injured by the hoe. After the fruit is formed a little tan- bark, leaves or chaft' should be laid under it to keep the dirt off. If from a severe rain, however, the berries become dirty wash them. Some one has said you might as well try to wash sugar as strawberries, but that is all nix. Place a colander, or better, a square box with wire netting nailed on the bottom, in a tub, and pour water in until nearly even with the top of the box, then pour your berries in, a quart or two at a time, raise up your box two or three times, and they are clean. Sjt them in a shady place to drain. Persons not seeing you do this will never know that the fruit was washed. After the fruiting season is over go over your beds the same as you did the first season. Beds thus treated may be kept productive for three or four years, after which it would be better to start a new bed. Now about varieties : Buisl's Prize, Crimson Cone, Hovey, Longworth's Prolific, and hosts of others that were popular twenty years ago, are all superseded by others ; and even the Wilson, that so long reigned supreme, is being pushed to a back seat. Now we have Charles Downing, Cumberland, Miner's Prolific, Sharpless, &c. These combine quality and productiveness in a greater degree than the older varieties. These, a year or two ago, were .sold at S2.00 and upwards a dozen; now they c^m be bought for a dollar or less per hundred. — CdJijjer llilter. For Tnr Lancaster Fahmkr. PRACTICAL POULTRY NOTES. As the time will soon be here, when good Farmers' wives will Ije sitting hens for early chicks, I will tell them how 1 do, though others may do better. I never give a hen more than eleven eggs if the weather is very cold, and 13 if the weather is warm. Last spring I had a flock of 22 Leghorns. As soon as I cooped them, I greased the old hen under the wings, at the legs and breast, and every chick about the head; then I put them in the coop, to the old hen ; and this I did every two weeks. I fed them the first two weeks on stale bread, dry cheese, and onions chopped in the cheese once a week; after that I feed cracked corn, wheat, rye, thick milk, pure water to drink, till they are fit to eat or take to market, and only one died with the pip out of the whole flock. I keep the nioilier pein'd up, but let the chicks run at large, after they are 4 or .5 days old. Out of another dock of 32 (jochins, treated the .same way, I raised 30, but do not like them so well, they lay too little. We have plenty of eggs when we keep the Leghorns, summer and winter; never keep old ones over two years.and never keep over 30 through the winter; it does not pay to keep too many. A few well fed pay better than many ill fed.— Leoline. For The Lancaster Farusr. DOMESTIC HINTS. To prevent small-jiox [lifting the face, keep a damp cloth on the face, with holes cut for the eyes, nose and mouth. This has been tried, and can be relied on ; no one likes to have such marks on the face. To prevent sore eyes, wash in warm water, never cold, as the cold water will indame weak eyes. To increase the cream on milk, strain your milk in hot crocks and set in a cool room. The butter will come sooner, too, if milk is treated this way. — Leoline. For The I.axcahter Farmer. PRACTICAL RECIPES. Fastnacut Cakes.— Set a sponge, as for bread, with li quarts of good yeast. When it is raised, add 3 eggs, beaten, 1^ pounds of sugar, i pint of butter and lard, mixed; knead it well for about twenty minutes; let it raise again, then roll on a board, and cut in cakes with a penny roller, with notches in ; also cut through the cake three or four times, and bake in hot lard, having the pan about half full. Begin baking when you have about the half rolled. Swiss Cake. — Make a batter as you would for flannel cake, only so thick that it does not run; it should be pretty stiff, but not too stiff. Take 3 quarts of flour, 3 eggs, 2 teaspoonsful of saleratus, a large tablespobnful of salt; fry in hot lard, same as the others. By leaving out the salt and adding a small teacup of sugar, you can have them sweet. They should be very light when done, and should be draped in the lard in small spoonsful, 40 THE LANCASTER FARMER. [March, otherwise the outside will hurn before the in- side is done. To Purify Dripping.— Make it hot in a pan, and then pour it in clear water, when it is cold gather it aTid fry out the water, and it will not taste much any more like dripping. People who cannot bite radishes should grate them, and season them as they eat them; they are very nice in that way.-ieoKne. Essays. THE GROWTH AND CONSUMPTION OF TIMBER TREES IN AMERICA.* When in a state of nature, and before Europeans penetrated far into the interior, this country was in all probability covered by a dense forest, for we find that \Vm. Penn held a conference with the Indians under the spreading elm tree at Kensington ; and all other information that has been handed down since 1681 confirms this belief. At the time of the settlement, s lys a distinguished writer, in 1682 the site of PliiUulelphia was a dense forest, a broad expanse of magnificent and il- limitable wilderness, almost untrodden by civilized man. About the year 1720, thirty- eight years afterwards, John Bartram laid out on the banks of the Schuylkill below Phila- delphia, a garden containing a large propor- tion of the vario.-s fore.st trees of iSTorth America. But even so early as the reign of Queen Anne, who occupied the English throne, from 1702 to 1714, an act of parlia- ment was passed "for the protection of forest trees in the English American Colonies ; and by an act passed in 1750 prohibited the felling of white pine trees in the Colonies, unless within private enclosures. About the same time also some of the colonists petitioned the mother country for compulsory legislation re- garding the planting of tree.s by the farmers. Between 1730 and 17.50, fnrnaces for the smelting of iron had been erected in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, and great fears were entertained that the fuel would give out. In later times, and during the early part of the present century, these apprehensions were renewed that the charcoal furnaces would surely cause a scarcity of fuel, but the forests held out until the intro- duction of coal into common use dispelled the popular delusion. But in our times, not- withstanding that the domestic consumption of wood for fuel has to a large extent been superseded by coal, other dangers confront us, that the railroads need immense quanti- ties of white ,oak saplings for ties, and how to meet the demand has vexed some minds greatly. When the necessity arrives no doubt a substitute will be found. We well remem- ber similar fears were entcrtaiued twenty-five" years ago that the locomotives were eating up all the pine wood, but here coal again came to our relief. Before the discovery of coal mines and inventions of cheap means of working them, wood was the general fuel of the earth, and in many counties where the arts have not much flouri-shed, it is still the chief fuel. In our country as in all other civilized countries the consumption of timber is immense. Its aptitude to be shaped into a thousand various *Read before the Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, by C. L. Hunseckor. purposes for the comforts, ornaments, and conveniences of society, enhances its value so that we could not well conceive how we could do without it. It appears by a hite official report that Min- nesota, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas have an aggregate of 123,000,000,000 feet of standing timber, and that during the year 1880 there was cut nearly 1,500,000,000 feet, showing in these five States an enormous amount of growing timber trees. In other portions of the States and Terri- tories there is more or less forest, and in some of the Western Territories there is no calcu- lation or numbers big enough to measure the amount of the magnificent trees that span the horizon of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the Indian Territory ; also of Wash- ington Territory. Governor Newell says there are on tlie borders of Paget Sound 15,000,000 acres of the finest timber laud in the world. Thousands of trees are upwards of 300 feet in height and 10 feet in diameter at' the base. The New Orleans Democrat estimates that Louisiana contains more than 17,000,000 acres of wooded land, and the saw mills have made very little impression upon this vast supply of timber, which comprises a large variety of valuable wood, although by the late census it appears there are 30,000 saw mills in the United States, doing a flourishing business. There is an immense amount of pine forest in California, in the State of Maine, in Michi- gan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virgina, Ken- tucky and the Carolinas. There are in this country 760,000 square miles of timber, of which the South owns 400,000, or nearly two-thirds of the most valuable timber; whilst there are States in the American Union that were forestless a quarter of a century ago that are becoming wooded by the planting of trees, Iowa, Kan- sas, Utah, etc. When the Mormons settled at Salt Lake, in 1847, the country was desti- tute of trees, except what grew on the Wah- satch Mountains, which are covered with pine trees. The Utah valley is highly produc- tive, but few farm houses are found beyond the limits of the towns, which to a distant observer present the appearance of immense orchards, with but here and there a chimney or steeple rising above the trees, indicating the nreseuce of houses. And all this wooded appearance of the towns has been brought about by the policy of tree planting in thirty- three years. The broad and rich prairies afford advan- tages to the settlers, which the settlers in the wooded districts of other States do not ap- preciate. But it seldom happens that any spot of land combines all the gifts of Provi- dence. It is there tliat we find the richest lands, charged with the elements of agricul- tural success. There is an absence of trees, which has been considered a serious drawback. Experience, however,has shown the contrary. Those pioneers who weathered the storm and settled the timber lauds of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, can testify to the weary life time of labor required to clear the breadth of a farm tit for cultivation. On the prairie it is entirely ditlereiit, the farmer can go to work at once with his ox team and plow down the sod on which the tall grass has been grow- ing uninterruptedly for years. Chicago, in Illinois, and Toledo, in Ohio, commenced their career at the same time; the first becoming the mart of an extensive prairie country, was easily brought under cultivation, got ten years the start of the latter. Toledo, seated in the midst of the grandest old forest of the plain, had to cut the trees away to get room. The products of a soil of great fertility, which were an incumbrance to the first set- tlers and checked the early growth of the town, but have in later times become a source of great profit. It is even possible for a peo- ple to prosper greatly although they should inhabit a country destitute of forest trees. Holland, in Europe, during the seventeenth century lis foreign commerce and navigation was greater than that of all Europe besides, and yet the country which was the seat of this vast commerce had no native product to export, nor even a piece of timher fit for ship- huildiiHj. Iowa was formerly a treeless country, but owing to favorable legislation and the efforts of its enterprising citizens, has by planting forests and orchards became a wooded country. The head of the famous Mississippi river is a dense forest of magnificent pines. Thousands of acres of valuable timber are annually destroyed in our country by the forest fires and large quantities of wood left to rot upou the ground, for want of a market near enough to pay the expense of moving it. Professor Buck, of Ontario, Canada, asserted lately that more timber had been destroyed in Canada by forest fires than had been exported, and one of the largest lumber opera- tors of Ontario asserted that there will be no pine left in Canada at the end of twenty years. The dwellings of the early settlers of New England, as well as Pennsylvania and other States, found the forests an incumbrance, and used them almost exclusively for building material. The houses and other buildings were mostly constructed with hewn logs, some of which are still standing and occupied, though brick, stone and mortar are fast re- placing them. Out West they have a yearly holiday called "Arbor Day," on which the people plant trees. Minnesota has already millions of saplings on her stretches and knobs. Iowa everywhere shows that her once bare prairies are to have their horizon broken into pic- turesqueness and color by the maple and the elm. Men plant trees, which is an emblem of civilization — Na|)oleon's willow, Shaks- peare'smulberry; and Bryant's beautiful poem, "The Planting of the Apple Tree," sheds its variegated blossoms to the memory of the poet. In consequence of the great consumption by the furnaces iu England of timber, they were restrained by act of Parliament in 1581. Soon after this Lord Dudley invented the process of smelting iron ore with pit coal in- stead of wood fuel. Although of immense value to the country, tlie works were destroyed by an ignorant rabble, and the inventor was well nigh ruined. But iu the early part of the eighteenth century the consumption of timber was so great and the complaint so well found- ed that the wood fuel would give out, that in 1740 Dudley's process for using pit coal in- stead of wood was generally adopted, and the iron business greatly increased up to the pres- 1882.J THE LANCASTER FARMER. 41 ent time. Similar were the fears in England, about the same time, that the timber for ship- building would fail, but Sir Robert Seiipings contrived the means nf substituliu': straight timber for that of different forms and dimen- siiins, before considered.indispensuble in ship- building. Although this want of timber for shii)-building is not felt in the United Stales, the busint-ss'is not flourishing very '.much. It may be said with truth thatthr eullivation of forests has been", greatly neglected in most countries, and in many a very sensible want of "wood is felt.^^"] Trees'' should be planted around country residences. Houses without being sheltered liy trees against the wind and sun liave a monotonous and lonely appearance. In regard to the longevity of trees, Lin- najus gives an account of an oak tree 2G0 years old, but we have traditions of some that have arrived to more tlian double that age. An English writer makes the Fort- worth chestnut 1,100 years old, and the cedars of Lebanon are as old as the Bible. The great tree, Washington Elm, at Cam- bridge, has a surface of 200,000 square feet. Dr. Trimble, of New York, stated, some years ago, that he once saw a tree in the Dismal Swamp of Virginia that was 1,100 years old by the annual rings. It is very difticult and almost impossible to get at the amount of the timber consumed, and the supply of growing timber remaining in so large a country as tlie United States and Territories. But at any rate it is a favorable sign, that year by year more stone, iron, steel, tin, slate, &c., is used in the construction of dwellings, bridges, ships, mills, and less wood, so that if building timber should much en- hance in price, more substantial material would be used to construct buildings, and there would be fewer disastrous eondagra- tions. Who shall plant trees. In the old world governments are paternal, and can decree and set apart land for the growth and protec- tion of forests. In our country it is entirely different, the government has no such right; the duty of planting of trees depends upon the will of the citizen. Mr. Faber, the manufacturer of the red cedar lead pencils, bought a large tract of land and planted it with cedars In Virginia the Landrelhs, of Philadelphia, have been plant- ing a large area of its worn out and aban- doned fields, with catalpa, ailanthus, white oak, hickory, tulip, &c. A Scotch Emigration Company has purchased 140,000 acres of laud in Barry co., Mo. To these lauds the Com- pany propose to draw families and communi- ties of llicir countrymen. Some have already arrived near Purdy, a station five miles be- yond the Waldeusian settlement. Tliese fam- ilies have in a few months made a great change in the lands about Purdy. They have cleaned out the underbrush, and left standing the larger trees. This clearing off of the un- derbrush and the leaves annually would mate- rially lessen the risk of forest fires. The most valuable suggestions that I have met with are those of Mr. Williams, of Monongahela City, Pa., who proprses to plant 10,000 walnuts, sow them in rows, after two years' growth thin them out, leaving the thrifty trees ; in five years cut or thin them for table legs ; in eight years cut again, al- ternate trees for newel posts; in ten years begin to harvest nuts by the thousand bushels. This system of raising a forest is' somewhat similar to that ]nacticed in the cultivation of the pine forests in the Ilartz MoMutains of Germany. There the seed is sown ; after growing two years the young shoots arc transplanted into portions of the mountains. Five years later they are called a thicket, because the branches are then so closely interlaced that it is diflicult to get through tiieni. Ten years later the forester thins them out, leaving the best stems only for future growth. The growth of the tree is slow, the average age of the full-grown tree being 120 years. "OUR WINGED FRIENDS."' Since the time when man began to till the soil, he has called around him many assist- ants to lighten his labors and help him earn the bread he was to " eat in the sweat of liis brow." All our domestic animals have at some time been reclaimed from their wild state by man and trained to a higher condition of intelli- gence and usefulness. Of the manner in which this is done we have no particular account. We can read that in those days there were "mighty hun- ters," and it is to be presumed that when they hunted and slew, they likewise captured and tamed some of the animals, and that the work of domestication was gradually brought about in that way. The latest accession to the list, we believe to have been the wild turkey of the American forest. Why the work should have stopped with him, when other birds of equal merit, if not equal weight, are left to roam at large, is a question that remains unanswered. Besides our domestic group, there is an- other and more numerous class that, on ac- count of the kind of food on which they live, and their consequent migratory habits, can- not be domesticated, but are in their wild state equally the friends of man, doing him in many ways incalculable benefits, which by a little more protection and encouragement might be greatly increased. It is in behalf of some of these neglected and oftentimes persecuted friends of the farmer and fruit-grower, that we desire to en- list your kind attention and sympathy for the brief space of time allotted to us. AVhen our remote ancestors, emerging from barbarism, began to build permanent homes, and settle down from a roving to a more civ- ilized life, they ob.served that many of the tenants of the primitive forests began to ap- proach their habitations and take part in the protection of the newl^-planted fields and orchards, or busied themselves in clearing the surrounding atmosphere. For instance, one kind of swallow left the hollow forest trees, to build in the newly- erected chimneys. The martin and rock- pewce forsook the savage cliffs, to rear their young under the friendly thatch. Kobin and oriole came to assist, where the hand of the husbandman proved unequal to the work of keeping the growing buds and blossoms free from destructive insects. *An essay read before tlie Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society, at Harrisburg, January 18, lbW2, by Si- mon P. Eby. Likewise came others, to prey upon the weaker ones, or to feed on the fruits of man's labor. Tnesc latter had to be driven off, and thus, between the two classes and man there sprung into existence a mutual feeling of friend and foe. lie gave protection to the one, and waged war against the other. The one coming in ethereal shapes with plcasatit voices, to assume their labors at the time their services were needed, and again leaving for unknown lands when the season of usefidness was over. The other, issuing from their hiding places, to commit depreda- tion at uncertain and unexpected hours, and again retreating to the depths of the adjacent forest, themselves unseen; they left behind them uiunlstakable evidence of their work — either friendly or hostile. We can readily perceive how under such circumstauces tlie untutored but imaginative minds of our remote forefathers, actuated by their love or hatred, invested some of these creatures witli shapes and attributes half-hu- man, and in that way (M'oph'd the streams and groves with strange beings " visible only by the uncertain glimpse of the moon." "It is to be regretted," saith a writer, "that the light of modern science has fright- ened away all our elves and fairies." This we believe to be a mistake. They are still with us ; perhaps less numerous than formerly ; but they are still here ; as in the " olden time " the whims of the good require to bo humored, and the tricks of the bad ones to be guarded against. In the days of JEso\) the beasts were made to speak and the birds to ren-son. The ancients accepted the fables not according to the letter any more than we moderns do ; but for the lessons they conveyed. Even so with the creatures with which they were brought in contact. They represented the good or evil genii that haunted the ancient streams and groves, or hid within the dim recesses of the German forests. Clothing them in shapes half human only served to bring them closer to man himself, and intensified the feelings already existing. The transformation must have contributed to the welfare of such a.s were considered friendly and to the destruction of tho.se looked upon as hostile. Learning from the ancients let us interest ourselves a little more in the creatures by which we are surrounded. In the birds, for instance — as our good fairies, if we choose, or in the light of modern science. They will stand tlie test either way. Let us get our children and neighbors interested also. Teach them bird history, teach them to observe their habits, the manner of procuring their food and escaping their encn)ies ; the skill with which tlicy build their nests, the tender affection they show towards their mates, and the untiring industry with which they labor to rear their young. Direct their attention to the fine vocal powers some of them possess and the sweet and varied songs with which they help to swell the grand hymn of Nature. In short, let us learn that bird life has its labors, duties, difficulties, joys and sorrows, calling for sympathy, very much like human life ; and the chances are we will love and protect our " winged friends " more, and in return reap the benefits of their multiplied labors in orchard and field. 42 THE LANCASTER FARMED. [March, We will not attempt to treat the subject scientifically, but iu our own way — confining ourselves to birds wholly or in part inscctivor. ous, and begin with those that take their food upon the wing, lliese constitute the scavengers of the air, and are provided with long and powerful wings, that sustain continuous flight with ease and great rapidity of motion. Prominent among them are the different kinds of swallows, the night hawks and purple martin. They are old acquaintances in Penn- sylvania ; some of them great favorites with our people, and all of them deserving our fullest luKspitality and protection. They live altogether on flying insects, which they pursue with great diligence and de.Kteri- ty from morning to night. The number of insects a single iiair of these birds destroy in a season, if it could be accu- rately computed, would be astonishing. Some faint idea may be formed by watching a nest of the young while the parent birds are feed- ing them. From our own observation we are satisfied that the visits of a pair of barn swallows at such a time was no less than once in every ten minutes each time, with their bills well filled with insects. Air. Palmer, of Massachusetts, states that he saw a parent bird visit a young purple martin on a church spire opposite liis window five times iu as many minutes, each time with an insect. Tlie barn swallow and purple martin, by no means homely in dress, are sociable in habits, and exceedingly graceful on the wing. The first named, building its nest in or about the barn, follows the farmer to the field, and keeps him company while at work ; skimming around and past him and his team — now close to the ground— now over the loaded hay-wagon— then away into the ad- joining field, circling among the grazing cattle —it snaps up such insects as may be put to flight by the workmen or animals. We remember on one occasion seeing a nest of winged ants issuing out of an old fence post. It was not long until a swallow dis- covered them, and must have communicated the fact to the others ; for in a short time quite a flock of swallows and martins were swooping back and forth over the spot, snap- ping up the insects as fast as they took wing, and few, if any of them, escaped. The purple martin is equally a favorite. Wherever these birds have once established themselves, which is usually in small colonies, among the habitations of man— they will, it not disturbed, return annually to the same boxes, and become, as it were, a part of the household during their stay. Their coming is anxiously looked for in the spring, their arrival is hailed with delight, and their de- parture, iu the latter part of summer, more or less tinged with feelings of sadaess, such as we experience in parting with a friend. The presence of these birds, like the pres- ence of the swallow, is by many persons con- sidered as an assurance of continued pros- perity ; while their failure to return would be loolted upon as an omen of impending misfortune to the house they have deserted. They are a lively, garrulous and spirited bird. Not gifted with the power of song, they seem to make up for this deficiency by an in- creased love for gossiping. Their early morn- | ing salutations in front of their boxes are, however, very pleasant to listen to. The male bird makes a model husband. During the time his mate is sitting, he be- comes quite domestic, and spends part of his time in front of the box dressing and arrang- ing his plumage, occasionally passing to the door of the apartment as if to inquire how she does. His notes, at this time, liave as- sumed a peculiar softness, expressive of much tenderness. And yet he is a courageous bird, and will unhesitatingly attack with great spirit and audacity hawks, crows and other large birds, and even cats, if they show them- selves in the vicinity of his home. Thus re- calling to mind the closing lines of Bayard Taylor's "Song of the Camp:" " The bravest are the tenderest, The lo\ing: are the daring.'' " Conjugal fidelity, even where there is a number together," says Mr. Wilson, "seems to be faithfully preserved by these birds." The martin feeds upon the larger kind of insects; wasps and beetles forming his princi- pal food. We are aware tliat he has been ac- used of a failure to discriminate between sui h legitimate prey and the honey bee, and that neigboring swarms have sometimes suf- fered iu consequence. Be this as it may, for our part we shall find no fault with him on that account. Since its cross with the Italian our honey bee has become such a pest to fruit-growers that we might well be rid of it altogether. There are two other well-known members of this group with which we could not well dispense. Our summer sky could hardly be considered perfect without at least a pair of long-winged night-hawks sporting lazily through it, and descending occasionally with a sounding swoop. Neither would our summer evenings be properly rounded off without a flock of twit- termg chimney swallows circling over our heads and dropping successively out of sight, as parting daylight is fading into darkness. In the second group we will speak of those that watch for their prey from the perch, but take it while flying. These are called the fly catchers. Prominent among them are the king bird, rock pewee and wood pewee. " It seems a provision of nature," writes Mr. Samuels, " that all fly catchers shall only take those insects that have taken fliglit from the foliage of trees and shrubs, at the same time making the warblers and other birds capture those which remain concealed in such places." " The king bird, iu seizing a flying insect, flies in a sort of half-ftitting hover and seizes it with a snap of the bill. Sometimes he de- scends from his peich and captures a grass- hopper that has just taken a short flight and occasionally seizes one that is crawling up some tall stalk of grass." "Those farmers who keep bees dislike this bird because of his bad habit of eating as many of those insects as show themselves in the neighborhood of his nest, but they should remember that the general interests of agri- culture are greater than those of a hive of bees." He is possessed of great courage and is more than a match for hawk or crow, which he attacks and drives off wiienever they ven- ture into his neighborhood. The rock pewee, or liouse pewee, comes to us in the early days of spring, and announces his arrival by uttering the notes from which he derives his name. Like the swallow, he generally seeks his last year's nest and makes such repairs as he fancies necessary; perhaps a small addition to strengthen the outside or a new lining. The foundation of the nest is composed of pellets of mud mixed with fine roots and grasses, plastered to the wall or other object against which it is built, and lined with soft grasses, wool or feathers. His favorite liaunts is under arch of a bridge, or under the eave of a mill or dwell- ing. Here he can be seen during tlie breed- ing season, perched on the branch of some over-hanging tree, or upon the rail of the bridge, or neighboring fence post, flirting his tail, uttering his. plaintive notes and darting about in all directions snapping up the insects which generally swarm plentifully in the lo- cality he has chosen for his home. The wood pewee is generally found forag- ing along the edge of the woods that hides his nest, or among the lower branches of the fruit trees near the gardens, and even among the trees growing on the city lots. Here, like his less shy cousin, he can be seen perched on some projecting twig always on the alert, darting quickly forward and back, catching the flying insects that come within sight of his ever watchful eye. His notes, uttered while thus employed, are simi- lar to the rock pewee only more plaintive and longer drawn out. The next group, embraces those birds, fchat seek and capture their food among the foli- age, buds and blossoms of the trees and shrubs. Prominent among them rank tlie Baltimore oriole, orchard oriole, wood or song thrush, the vireoes and some of the warblers. " The food of the oriole is almost entirely insectivorous, young peas and stamens of cherry and plum flowers forming the only ex- ceptions. These small robberies are but a slight compensation for the invaluable ser- vices he renders the gardener in the destruc- tion of hosts of noxious insects. At first beetles and hyraenopterous insects form his diet and he seeks them vrith restless agility among the opening buds. As the season pro- gresses, and the caterpillai's begin to appear, he forsakes the tough beetle and rejoices in their juicy bodies. Even the hairy kind he does not refuse, and is almost the only bird that will eat the disgusting tent caterpillar of the apple trees." To its usefulness it adds a plumage of rare beauty and brilliancy, a song of great cheer- fulness and a nest wonderfully construcied. "There is in his song," says Mr. Wilson, a certain wild plaintiveness, extremely inter- esting ; that is uttered with the pleasing tranquillity of a careless plow boy, whistling for his own amusement." "It is a joyous, contented song," says a v/rilcr in Harper^ s Magazine, "standing out from the chorus that greets our half awakened ears at daylight, as brightly as its author shines against the dewy foliage." 1882.] tHE LANCASTER FARMER. 45 T. W. HiEtfjinsnii exclaims, " Yonder oriole fills with light and melody tlie tliousand brandies of a neighborhood." He is a social bird — a bird of sunlight. His haminock-like nest is never found in tiie deep woods. His haunts are those grand old trees which the farmer leaves here and there in liis fields as shade for his cattle, that lean over the brier-tangled fence of the lane, or droo|) toward the dancing waters of some rural river. We are now among a host of feathered choristers, to which the song of the oriole is like the bugle notes for the opening of the grand winged orchestra. Where all possess .so much merit it is dilli- cult to assign precedence. Out of the deep woods, however, conies a beautiful melan- choly strain, which is not very common, but when iieard cannot fail to arrest the attention. " The prelude to this song," says Nuttall, "resembles almost tlie double-tonguing of the tlute, blended with a tinkling, shrill and solemn warble, which re-echoes from his soli- tary retreat like the dirge of some sad recluse, who shuns the busy haunts of life." "The whole air consists usually of four parts, or bars, which succeed in deliberate time and finally blend together in impressive and soothing harmony, becoming more mellow and sweet at every repetition. It is nearly impossible by words to convey any idea of the peculiar waible of the vocal hermit ; but among his phrases the sound of "a'l-iofc," peculiarly liquid and followed by a trill, re- peated in two separate bars, is readily recog- nizable." We have followed this song, which seemed to recede before us deeper into the woods as we advanced, without getting a sight of the bird, until brought to a sudden halt by a sharp "chuck ;" when for the first time we saw the object of our search perched upon a twig of a neighl)oring tree and eyiug us sharply. It was the "song thrush" or "wood thrush ;" a bird in size between the blue bird and robin ; cin- namon brown on the back and whitish breast marked with well-defined dark triangular spots. Its notes are uttered while engaged in hunt- ing for in.sects among the foliage. Next we have the "Vireoes," of which there are four reported as visiting this part of our country. Th'e red-eyed warbling, white- eyed and blue-headed— all useful birds, that feed on insects, which, like the two preceding, they hunt among the foliage. They are in size about like the canary, of a grayish olive green, and variously marked as their names indicate. Their nests are pensile— or hang- ing— generally fastened to the fork of a hori- zontal tW'ig, shaped not unlike a shallow, open-mouthed purse. Mr. Samuels writes of the Red-eyed Vireo in the following commendatory manner : " I feel that no description of mine can do justice to the genial, happy, industrious disposition of this, one of our most common, and, per- haps, best-loved birds. From the time of its arrival, about the first week in May, until its departure, about the first week in October, it is seen in the foliage of elms and other shade trees, in the midst of our villages and cities, in the apple trees near the farm-houses, and in the tall oaks and chestnuts, in the deep forests — everywhere, at all hours of the day, from early dawn until evening twiliglil, his. sweet, half plaintive, half meditative carol is heard ; and whenever we see him, we notice that he is busily searchiug in the foliage of trees for caterpillars and noxious larviu, or liursuing winged insects tliat have taken Higlit from the trees. "Of this beautiful and favorite family I feel that it is impossible to say too much in their ftivor ; their neat and delicate plumage and sweet song, their engaging and interesting habits, and their well-known insect-destroying proclivities, have justly rendered them great favorites ; and the farmer iu protecting them and encouraging them them to take up homes near his orchard and gardens, but extends a care and welcome to his best friends." The wren and blue-bird may be considered together ; both being insectivorous, capturing their food alike upon the trees and on the ground, and building in crevices and boxes. These birds seem to be getting more scarce in late years. In our school-boy days there was uo season that we did not know of a wren or blue-bird's nest. We recollect instances when the wren contended for quarters with the martin and out-witted him by narrowing the entrance of the box with sticks, strongly and skillfully placed, so as to admit himself, but keep his larger antagonist out. The wood-pecker family have been voted great scamps — fruit-stealing, sap-sucking ras- cals— a proper target for every idle boy, who could handle an old rusty gun, to blaze away at. Of late years their usefulness has become better understood, and a law enacted to save them from total extermination. They are the police of the trunk and woody part of our timber, fruit and shade trees. In fact, to us, the red-headed wood-pecker does not seem unlike a liveried policeman patroling his beat, up and down and around the trunk, and out along the limbs of some old tr e, tapping and rattling for concealed marauding insects, and dragging them from their hiding-places with- out mercy when discovered. AVe have frequently noticed the trunks of old apple trees punctured in a regular succes- sion of circles ; or have seen spots as large as a hand where the bark seemed dead, riddled like the bottom of a colander, all the work of this or a smaller speckled wood-pecker, known as the sap-sucker, iu their efforts to dislodge the insects under the bark. Shall these faithful servants be denied a few of the fruit of the trees they help to save ? A few years ago we observed several Scotch pines in one of our cemeteries treated in this manner, and the resinous sap exuding and filling the punctured circles. Surely, we thought, this time the bird could have been after no honest purpose, and deserved the bad name it bore. Behold, in the following spring one of the pines was dead; and taking a friend with us, we examined into the cause and found the inner bark of the upper part of the trunk and of some of the larger limbs reduced to the condition of fine sawdust, having been entirely eaten by worms. Here the borers had been too numerous or the trees too far gone. The other pines were no doubt saved by the timely interference of this much-slandered bird. Closely allied in habits of life to the wood- pecker arc the titmice and chickadees, of which ornithologists report three as visitants to this country. They feed on insects and the eggs of moths deiiosited on and in the crevices of the bark and in the buds of trees and shrubs. During breeding sesison they are busy througli the whole day in capturing va.st (luanlities of caterpillars, files au