Title: Quarterly report of the Pennsylvania Board of

Agriculture, no. 45-46

Place of Publication: Harrisburg, Pa.

Copyright Date: 1891

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg018.4

Wm. Frear.

FORTY-FIFTH and FORTYSIXTII

QUARTHRLY REPORTS

OF THE

PENNSYLVANIA

]oar(l of AQTicLilture

c

i'V/.

'KNtJ

INSTITUTE FSSAYS.

1801.

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/

H A R R I S B U R G :

EDWIN K. MEYERS, STATE PRINTER,

1891.

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TORTV.FIFTH AND KOKTV-SIXTII «IIARTER[,V REPORTS

OP THE

PINSI'LFIMA STATE BOIRD OF AGRICULTURE

FOR THE YEAR 1891.

MEMHERS EX-OPFICIO.

or. Geo. W. Atherto,., Pr«Me»t Penu^ulvania State Colleae.
APPOINTED nv THE GOVERNOR
Hon' Wm n Tnw?.?l- S"^^ Choster, Chester county Pa

wuiiif, iuiaaietown, Duuphm countv Pn

•^ ' **

TVrni expires.

1892

1893

1894

• • • « • •

Adams

Allegheny .

Armstrong.

Beaver

Bedford

Berks

Bucks

Butler

JJ'j'ir

Bradford

Centre

Chester

Clarion

Clinton

Columbia

Crawford

Cumberland

Daui)hin

Erie

Fayette

Franklin

Indiana

Jefferson

Juniata

Lackawanna

Lanca8t<ir

Lawrence ....

Lebanon .

LehiM-h . ..

Luzerne .

Lycoming

JJ<^rcer

31ontg<»mery

Montour

Northampton

Northumberland .
Perry

Schuylkill

Somerset

g""ivan

Su8(iuehanna

Tio«:a

Union

Venango [

Warren

Washington..,. .'.[
Wayne

Westmoreland ...

Wyoming

York

ELECTED BY COPNTV AGRICITLTCTUAL SOCIETIES.
'-.Oarretson Biglervilie '^"''" """(Z

Tufi^n^...*, *^^*

•••••«•

I). H. McCullough
NoahSenor

• A.L.McKibben

. S. S. Diehl .
■ G. D. Stitzel

VV. H. H. Riddle

. Frederick J aekel .. .

• n. H. Laning. .......

• ,•]• A. Woodward . . . .

W.Shanatelt

J. A. Herr

Chandlee Eves

J. H. HH'jps

C. H Mullin

7' Hjt'ster

J. C. Thornton

G. Hopwood

a Z^ Shook.....

W.C.Gordon

r<^.^9/'^'*^^*"' Jr

IT Tr **^^l>'nson

11. H. Colvin
Calvin Oioper

'••••• •

'••••• • .

» • • • • • .

rarentum...

. Plumville

• Green Garden .*;

. Bedford

• JK^^ading ;;;;

New Hope

g"^er ...

Hollidaysburg

^owanda

^oward

jfarnsburg

Hrmkerton

Cedar Spnngs

M'^'^'Jl^*

S"if^.V^'''^'^-

Mt. Holly Spnngs

Harrisburg

Ufuontown

Greencastie

Black Lick

Frostburg
Port Koyal

I^^alton

Bird-in-Hand

• •■•••

'**••••«

' • ■ • • « •

^*it > 111 V ooper i»- J . VV

^^amuel McCrearv »ird-m-Hand

C.H. Lantz Neshannock Falls

J. P. Barnes .'.* ^P^^^^

' ■ Allentowa

••••••

*••••• •«

J. P. Barnes

• J. B. Smith .

• A. Fague . . .

• K. McKee...,

• H. W. Kratz

. B.B.McClure

• iV.V*""'*

■ i- ',:'^h«ener

■ N- B. Critchtleld

i ^nhii

it, S. Searle . .

J. W. Mathfr

J. A Gundy

A I razier

Chas. Lott

.1. McDowell

N. F, Underwood....

i-- J- i^''^r>'^er

N.G. Bunnell

Dr. W. a. itoland....

• • ••«•••

. Kingston

• Picture Rocks.
. Mercer

• Norristown

. Potts' Grove...

• Bath

• Milton

• Ki.stler

. Orwigsburg

Jenner s X Roads

Mill view

Montrose

Wellsboro'

Lewisburg

Cooperstown

North Warren....

Washington

oake C<nuo

Greensburg

Vosburg
York

• • • • • <

• • • • • •

> • • • • • • ,

•tfft •••••••«

1894
1893
. 189;]
. 1894
. 1892
. 1893
. 1894
. 1893
■ 1892
. 1894
1893
1892
1893
1S94
1892
1894
1894
1892
1894
18ft3
1892
1893
1894
1894
1892
1H94
1854
. 18<H
. 1893
. 1894
1894
. 1893
. 1H<L»
1894
1893
1894
1892
1893
1894
1892
1892
1893
1892
1892
1893
1892
1S92
1892
1892

F3q

Quaktehly Eei'okt.

Pennsylvania State BoAno of Aoriculture.

OFFICIAL LIST.

R. S. Searle,

President.
Hon. R. E. Pattison.

Vice Presidents.
Eastbiirn Reeder, W. H. H. Riddle.

Hon. R. E. Pattison,
J. A. Herr,
G. D. Stitzel,

G. D. Stitzel,

J. A. Gundy.
C. Cooper.
T. J. Edge.

C. Cooper,

Executive Committee.
J. P. Barnes.
S. McCrearv,
C. Eves,

Advisory Committee.
Clmndlee Eves,
Thos. J. Edge (ex-officio).

Secretary.
Thos. J. Edge, Harris burg.

Bot(t7iist.
Thos. Meehan, Gerniantown.

Pomologist.
Cyrus T. Fox, Reading.

Chem,ist.
Dr. Wni. Frear, State College.

Veterinary Surrjeon.
Dr. F. [bridge, West Philadelphia.

Microscopists and Hygienists.

Dr. H. Leflmann, Philadelnhia Pf/^*- r^ r» o i

mi«ipnia, 1 rol. C. B. Cocliran, West Chester.

Ornithologist.
Dr. B. H. Warren, West Chester.

J. Ti. Heaoock, Quakertown.

Meteorologists.

Maj. Frank Ridgway, Harrisburg.

Mineralogist.
Joseph Wilcox, Philadelphia.

Apiarist.
Dr. G. G. Groflf, T.ewisburg.

Geologist.
Prol-. J. P. Lesley, Pliiladelphia.

GEAZING vi.. GEAIN CULTUEE.

By WiLT.iAM ToMLiNSON, Langhorve, Penna.

(Read at Langhorne Institute.)

The subject, "Grazing- agiiinst Grain Culture," whether intended as
a comi)aris()n between a system of extended grazing- for the production
of beef, mutton, wool and dairy products, as agfainst a system having-
for its main object the raising- of grain to be sold in the natural stated
or whether it was to be considered in regard to the best method of
producing these concentrated products, mainly by grazing or by the
hell) of a system of soiling and feeding of grain, roots, ensilage, etc.
Ho far as the advantages or disadvantages of our situation are con-
cerned, there seems as much competition in the one as the other.

While there was a time when eastern farmers had a control of the
great eastern, or seaboard, markets for many products— some being
considered too bulky, some too perishable, to be transported, the great
transi)ortation interests of the country have overcame these obstacles,
and today there seems to be no distance, no weight, no bulk and no
delicacy of texture but what has been provided for.

AVheat and corn from the ])laiiis of the north and west, beef from
Texas, butter and cheese from the i^rairies, fiuits and wool from Cali-
foi-nia and the tropics, vegetables from all points wliere soil and cli-
mate are more ])ropitious than our own. So it matters not in what
direction our efforts are applied we encounter the coin])etition of the
most favorable spots of the universe for that especial i)roduct. There-
fore, we may as well at once set ourselves to meet this comrietition,
and so arrange our surroundings.

Admitting this, it would seem that the motto for us to adopt would
be best expressed in the word "concentration." Deeper, more thor-
ough, more effective, seems to be the only way out of the shadow cloud
of debt and despondency that seems to have settled over the prospect
of the average agriculturist of our section.

The domestic animals have from the first been an essential factor in
the ])roviding of food for the human race. Since the ])ati-iarchs of old
roamed listlessly over the plains of Syria and tlie Holy Land, they
have been i)art of man's estate, and an indispensable factor in the great
work of tuniiii<j- grass and grain into food and raiment for liis sub-
sist(^nce and comfort. In ]>rimeval times, when the world was wide
and men few, it was sufficient to move the herd from one i)oint to
another, to fatten, slay and feast upon them, without much concern
as to any profit being developed.

And in our own country we are just emerging from this state of
tilings. Even yet we are in direct com])etition with tlie natural grasses
of tlie grand ])lains and virgin soil of the west, aided by an improved
breed and strain of cattle bred with a view of making them profitable
under theses conditions. Our great system of steam transportaticm
has made these products directly available to the denser i)opulati(m
of the east, and the eastern farmer, just as he had |)repared to furnish
this gn^at population with its needs, having fixed the prices of land with
that end in view (having taken this into his calculation in buying),
finds himself confronted with the fact that farmers living in almost any
part of the country are fiercely competing with him for this mark(3t.

i

4

Quarterly Eei'ort.

Admittinc^, then the necessity of our domestic animals m our a^m-
cultural economy, the question of how best to provide for them that
they may provide for us, becomes an all-important one. As the hold-
ings of the farmers ^^\o\v less, as the system of cultivation becomes
more thorou^^h, the extravagance of allowin^: our cattle to roam over
them becomes more marked, and only on those parts that are not availa-
ble for cultuj'(^ do we feel at liberty to allow stock to roam. And upon
those waste i)laces our imi)roved stock refuses to be kept prohtable
Our dedicate Jersey, the queen of our dairy, already refuses to be put
off with coarse swamp g-rass or rocky hillside herbage To b(^ Pi'?^^"
able, she must have rich, succulent grass ; be carefully housed ^ii^i 1*^^} 5
in short, be taken into the household as one of its equivunents. W hile
other breeds still do fairly well upon these same waste spots, the
drift of things is toward a more thorough and a more intense system ot
keephig and feeding, when it will Ixi considered poor economy to keei)
our domestic animals in the meadow or on the hillside, defending theni-
selves from the lli(3S, pulling their own grass, exposed to the sultry sun
of the summer or the chilly storms of the autumnal months.

And with this higher system of feeding comes the necessity of a more
thorough and effective method of utilizing the Avaste and returning it
to the soil. In nature's great laboratory there should be no waste;
tluu-efore, a perfect svstem of agriculture will not im):)Overish the soil.
Man's labor should be so aimed as to aid nature in the unceasing round
of creation and decay, and the return to the soil those elements taken
from it for our subsistence. If once learned and practiced, there
should be such a system as Avould afford all the essential elements of
success and continued fertility to our soil. When such a system be-
comes perfected, we think with our improved api)liances for culture,
cutting, curing and feeding the products of the soil, the indiscriminate
cropping of our grasses and trampling of our soil, in season and out
of season, by our cattle, will have no part. We shall find our profit
in keeping fewer of them and waiting upon them more attentively.
The great ol)stacle to this at ]>resent is the scarcity of careful, j)atient
labor, wliich such a system demands ; but time and circumstances,
aided by the ingenuity of man, will bring it about.

At present the essential factor in the saving and proper application
of the waste i^f our stock and dairy seems a sufticiency of good absorl)-
ent, the great want of many, if not most, farms being more litter and
bedding for stock and barnyard, and its quicker application to the soil
or its more perfect protection from waste. There is scarcely a farm
that could not double the value of the manure jnoduct, Avith a suflicicMit
amount of straw, or its equivalent, aided by its better protection from
the weather until applied.

While this seems so important, the higher system of feeding and
forcing our stock furnishes a good market for all the grain and straw
our common rotation produces. Kight here we are confnmted by the
fact that the growing of grain seems to be the least profitable part of
our agriculture. The market of the whole w^orld seem to l)e full and
prices below the ])oint of ])rofitable production. To make our high-
priced land ])rofitable, we must ])roduc(^ more abundant cro]>s, at a less
pn^portionate cost. This is only possible by adding to its fertility.
How to do this without increasing our invested ca])itnl seems to be the
question. Grain gi'owing alone certainly does not ofiV^r the solution ;
it is too exhaustive on the soil for the priec.

In its prosecution we encounter the comi)etition of a small emi)ire of

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricultitre. 5

virgin soil, easy of cultivation and of access, with means of transpor-
tation beyond the dreams of our fathers, where armies of men engage
in the single industry of its production with all the im])roved ai)pli-
ances of modern husbandry and without scarcely any home market.

Is grazing any morc^ likely to bring the deisred result'? How often
does the stock raiser or feeder find his sui)])ly of forage cut short by
drought or unfavorable weather, his stock stripi)ing his i)lace of all
surplus growth, his means of utilizing tln^ waste and returning it to
the soil nowhere, his market glutted l)y those in similar circumstances
forcing their stock upon if? Here, too, we meet the competition of our
great western reserve, where as yet the land is practically free and the
natural grasses abundant with ample means of transportation.

The area of the grain-i)roducing country of the world, especially of
wheat, has and is yearly increasing at such a rate that if we did really
wish it we could scarcely hope to realize the prices that have been ob-
tained in times ])ast.

A few years ago California was a surprise in the production of wheat ;
her overplus seemed to rule the market. Since the northwestern x>or-
tion of our country has developed this industry to such an extent as to
cast California quite in the shade, while Australia and India make the
Eastern Hemis])here self-dependent in this respect. And now Brazil,
with her immense agricultural resources under the impetus of repub-
lican institutions, wdll soon be filling the markets of the world with her
products. Her great grass-covered plains will fatten stock of all kinds,
while other sections of the new South America will do their share in
feeding the people of tlui universe.

With wheat at fifty or sixty cents per bushel and l)eef of the first (jual-
ity at three cents i)er pound, may we not look lV)r the millenium in that
direction whether we will or not? Therefore, considering all things as
they seem offered, I should say that in the case of " Grazing against
Grain Culture" there was not a true bill ; that our best and most promis-
ing outlook is in the unity of the two systems, not iiarticularly in graz-
ing as commonly expressed, but in the rearing, feeding and keeping of
all kinds of domestic animals, in conjunction with grain and root cul-
ture, with a view to the production of all forms of food and raiment i)ro
ducts possible — selling less in the raw state, keejung the best improved
stock of all sorts, with more careful attention to the return to the soil of
all waste in its most available form, relying not on less production in
other parts of the world, but on a gradually growing home market for
those products that are now sent al)road in competition with our own, to
give us again a surer control of our own home market, that our land nniy
be proportionately as valuable as of old — when the agi'iculturist of the
country will again be the wealthiest, most independent and ha])])iest
man to be found; when our transportation companies will find their
best interest served, not by hauling produce from the west to the east
and manufactured goods from the east to the west, but from the
country around to the nearest city, and from city to country back
again ; when all tbrougli and over our vast territory every section will
find its own homf^ market tlu^ best and most reliable ; when every ruial
community and almost every countr^^ home will be nearly self depend-
ent, and farmers cease to buy so hugely of those ])r()(hicts that can and
should be ])r()duced at home, purchasing mostly of their neighbors,
tliat tlie money spent may quickly return to them again, that tlu^ labor
and cost of such gigantic transportation may be saved and our business
be made correspondingly more jyrofitahle.

6

QUAKTEKIA liKPOllT.

THE OBJECT OF FAEMEKS' INSTITUTES.

n

By M. 11. Bashore, Vandyke^ Pa,

(Reu<l at Juniata County Institute).

Mr, President, Ladies and Gentlemen : I am before you to state to
you the object of these farmers' meetings or institutes. I may not be
able to state satisfactorily to all the primary object of these meeting's,
because we as farmers look at things so differently. Some will no doubt
come here out of mere curiosity, while others will probably come more
for ])leasurc and pastime, without having any special object in view,
whih^ still others Avill come to give instruction, and to receive instruc-
tion in reference to matters as to how best x)romotc the interests of
the farmer. Our motto should be to become better men and better
ANomen, to become better enlightened and better informed in reference
to our condition in life, and to elevate and ])romote to a higher standard
manhood and womanhood. We should nourish, cherish and cultivate
sociability among farmers. Without these social qualities or charac-
teristics these meetings will not be a success. If the right and proper
view will \)i) taken of the obj(^ct of these farmers' institutes there will
be a large hehl opened for tlujuglit, as the conditions of the farmers
life are so varied. We are made up of different constitutionalties,
different disj)ositions and different temperaments. We differ in
opinion because we have been differently educated, and differently in-
structed, and differently informed. We differ in judgment because of
a lack of proper knowledge. We differ in social or moral qualifica-
tions because of a lack of courtesy and pro])er training. We differ in
action because of a lack of ambition, or courage, or fortitude. We
differ in reference to methods and plans of successful, and economic,
and practical farming, because of i\ lack of experimental knowledge.
He who stands in opposition to the interests of these farmers' meet-
ings, when the object for the general welfare of all is the promi)ting
motives, lacks good judgment, and does not entertain the social quali-
fications he should otherwise possess. The man that thinks he knows
it all, and needs no instruction is only exi)osing his ignorance, and will
stand alone and forsaken when a friend is needed.

The farmer's liap])iness depends a great deal on his actions; his
success depends very much on his judgment, discretion, economy and
industry. The object of these meetings with the farmer should be, to
enlarge his understandiug and broaden his views on general farm
topics, and the necessary information obtained as to the conditions
surrounding him, both financially and practically, and as to the best
methods of farming. Some men labor under the mistaken idea that
a farmer does not need a scientific or systematic, or even a practical
knowledge of farming, to be a successful farmer. The intelligent and
successful farmer will tell us different, however. He will tell us that
by actual experience he has discovered that it requires careful study
of the soil to know what kind of grain will be best adapted to the
different soils, hence the necessity of educating himself suitable for
the requirements of his occupation. I do not wish to reprove or to
criticise any one for entertaining o]iposite or peculiar views from our
own, but it is a notorious fact that there are always some people who
will oppose anything that has a tendency to elevate or promote the*
general welfare of mankind ; hence, the influence of such people is of

Pennsylvania State B(^ARr) of Agriculture. 7

little use to the advancement or imi)rov(unent of the object of institutes.
When we take a review of the lives of some of the most successful and
influential farmers, and get at the secret of their success, we will almost
universally discover that the}^ have been blessed with a good wife.
Now, I do not want to encourage any of these old bacludors to get
married, but I will take the libetry to say right here that in nine
cases out of ten, where the farmer has been successful in accumulating
wealth, and making his surroundings and the home circle happy,
there the wife has been an important factor. And I will say more, I
honestly believe that many a good wife has been discouraged, and her
" otherwise happy life" made unhappy and miserable, by bad and care-
less and indifferent husbands. Perhai>s I am somewhat digressing
from the subject, but allow me, fellow farmers, to tell you^ this world
would be a mighty lonely place without the ladies. Even these
farmers' institute would soon become lifeless were not the ladies ad-
mitted. Here we can interchange ideas and views concerning general
farm topics. Here it is pro[)osed we may discuss, " without fear",
though with freedom and fairness, national and state policy that parti-
cularly concerns the farmer, to develop a true and fair basis for organi-
zation among farmers. It will not be expected that 1 enter into the
details of the various questions that Avill likely come up at this insti-
tute for discussion, but will simply give an outline of some of the sup-
loosed causes of the depressed condition of the American farmer.
That there is a just cause for the farmer to complain is ap()arent and
beyond a reasonable doubt. The intelligent farmer has observed in
the history of our country, within the last fifteen or twenty years, some
radical chauges that have taken place, both financially and politically,
the effects of which have been differently known and felt by the farmer.
The causes have been various and the results obvious. It is not only
the gowing of crops — such as wheat, corn, oats and potatoes, live stock
and fruit — that the farmer should be interested in. These, of course,
should, and do, engage a live, thrifty farmer's attention, and the farmer
that is gov(irned by a system, and keeps a close watch, and exercises
good judgment, is not the contiunal grumbler ; but, on the other hand,
is of a cheerful mOod and of a lively disposition. The thrifty and
intelligent farmer, " and that is what we all should be," may meet times
of discouragements, when losses will cross his pathway and misfortunes
overtake him, yet his occupation is certainly an independent one. Some
one will ask, where is the farmer's independence? This should be con-
sidered one of the important questions of this institute. While it is
true that some men will prosper (T mean farmers,) otln^rs, appart^ntly
with the same judgment and in the same calling, are always in tln^ line
of adversity. We see here and there a man who is apparently blessed
in all his undertakings, while others are, seemingly, always met with
misfortunes. These things are lessons for the farmer and should
suggest food for the mind, which is also worthy the consideration of
this institute. Fellow farmers, these meetings should not only engage
our attention as the best methods of successful farming. There are
other interests to be considered and taken into account, which are of
vital im])ortance in orderr to advance the prosperity of the farmer.
Judging from the financial and political condition of tln^ farmer it is
evident that he has been too indifferent concerning his interests.
However, lie is beginning to see and feel, that there has been a sad
mistake somewhere, and that some one has pulled the wool over his
eyes. Hence, he is beginning to look after the causes of the cause.

8

QUAIITERLY EEPOriT.

which it will devolve on this institute to ^ive light on. The intellig-ent
and wide awake farmer, in reading uj) the news of the day, will discover
that there are a good many supposed causes of the present depressed
condition of the farmer, som(3 of which I will name and leave to the in-
telligence of this institute for discussion. 1. Because the Americjm
people have got into a habit of extravagant and expensive living m
time of jjlenty, and when the crisis came, the beginning of failure
came also, hence the depression. 2. Because of unjust, inequitable
and unequal taxation. 3. Because of trusts, corporations and monoi)-
olies. 4. Because silver has been demonetized as a standard, making
gold the only stiindard, causing a shrinkage in currency, thereby
causing a depreciation in values. 5. Because of an over-production.
6. Because too many national banks are in existence. 7. Becauj-^e
of a lack of confidence in tlie management of the government. 8. Be-
cause England can come to America and buy our silver dollar for about
eighty-two cents and pass it for one dollar for India wheat, thereby
getting their bread stuff for less than the American farmers can pio-
duc(3 it. When this institute has analyzed and digested all the above
named causes satisfactorily, and all the general farm topics, and healed
up all the financial and policial breaches, we will be ready for another
farmers' institute. The universal cry among farmers is, farming
don't pay. Why don't farming i)ay ? Well, because farm products are
too low in price. Why are farm products so low in price? Will this
institute say? What is one if the important objects of farmers' insti-
tutes? We want to get at the root, and get the quintessence of the
trouble ; get on a fair basis for improvement ; get out of the old poli-
tical rut of despair. It is said, and truthfully, too, that the farmer is
the bone and sinew of the country. If that is true, he is certainly re-
sponsible for his actions. We are not placed in this world simply
to sit on the stool of do nothing. W^e are beginning: to see and feel
that our sacred rights have been trodden under foot by designing men.
The time has already aiTived when the intelligent farmer will not be
satisfied to allow himself to be stuffed by the average politician. He
is beginning to see and feel that he has an interest at stake, and that
he is individually and personally responsible. Is the farmer capable
or ({ualified to have a voice in the formation of laws which are to regu-
late his financial interests? Will this institute say, why are not the
farmer's rights and interests protected? Why are not his honors re-
spected?" Fellow farmers, here is a large field open for thought which
should not be overlooked by this institute. It is all right to study
and adapt the best methods of farming, but I wish to tell you there is
a principle underlying all this that should be an important factor in
this institute. If my method or system of farming is not making my
condition in life better and my life liai)pier, then I should look after
t\w cause. If my neighbor farmer is succeeding and prospering better
than I am, then I should look after the cause. If all efforts to prosper
are in vain, then I should inquire^ after the cause. That is one of the
objects of these farmers' meetings. That is what we ar^ here for, to
get light on these questions. Have you not, fellow farmers, discovered,
ill discussing matters concerning our interests, exchanging or inter-
changing ideas and views, giving and taking each other's methods and
plans, as to how most successfully to manage our farms, have been
lessons of profit. These meetings should be a source of botli ])leasure
and ]^rofit to us, that we can, as farmers, have these social gatherings,
thougli we should be prompted by a higher and loftier motive than to

Pennsylvania State Boaiid of AamcuLTuiiE.

9

simply gratify our own notions or desires. W^e are here to give anj
receive instructions as to the best methods of farming and solve some
of tlie problems in reference to the depressed condition of the farmer ;
to speak of his financial and political situation ; see how we may best
promote the ceneral welfare and interests of the farmer with the least
possible exi)ense, hoping that no other motive has prompted us. Let
this be the spirit of this meeting and we will have a pleasant, i)rofit-
able, instructive and successful institute.

THE EXHAUSTION AND RESTOEATION OF OUE SOILS.

By H. W. NoRTHUP, Olenburn, Pa.

(Read at New Mllford Institute. )

The topic assigned me is considered a practical one in many sections
of our country. It is unnecessary for me to attempt to enter into a dis-
cussion of what the soil is, but simi)ly state what it is said to be. The
Book of books, in its very first cha|)ter and verse says, " In the beginn-
ing God created the heaven and the earth. " It afterward says, " And
God called the dry land earth." " And God said : Let the earth l)riiig
forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit
after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth : and it was so. "
The word soil, is mentioned once in the Sacred Scriptures. The Pro-
l^het Ezekiel in speaking of a vine, says " it was planted in a good soil. "
Geologists say that the earth was a mass of stones hurled against each
other, and grinding off their substance, formed a basis out of which a
soil was formed. Webster, in his popular dictionary, says that " soil is
the upper stratum of earth." It is certainly true that with the sucess-
ful farmer it does not make so much difference what it is, as what it
will bring forth under proper treatment. The treatment of our soil,
then, becomes the practical part of this topic. The first consideration
is, its exhaustion.

We are told that man was made upright, and to a large extent he
is considered ui)right in his dealings to this day. Nevertheless, it is
also true that he lias become very destructive in his habits as a tiller
of the soil. The term exhaust, intimates that the soil wsa originally
good and i)roductive, and did fuiiiisli bountiful subsistence for man
and beast. Who then has brought about this change? Who has made
the barren fields, and uni)roductive farms in various parts of the great
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? Man is very loath to implicate him-
self in the answer, and he says surely, I am not a sinner above all
men tliat dwell in the Keystone State. My farm is not a worn out
farm. I have not been wasting my time and my energies for forty or
fifty years, and returning comparatively nothing to my soil. I am not
the man whom the professor and chemist in the agricultural journal
accuses of robbing the soil all these years. My farm is a good farm.
It is a good farm. It has a hard-pan subsoil, and is not leechy. It
holds its i)roductive (]ualities. My land is not ]ioor. It only w^ants
plowing up again, and plowing a little deeper ; then it will be all right.
The reason I did not get a good "catch" of grass the last seeding was
that the weather was too hot and dry and it did not take. The reason

10

QUAirrEKLY Kki'ort.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricultuke.

11

1

4

the little red sorrel is there, is, that something must grow, and that
got started first. That is all there is about it. It is true I have sold
off hay and grain, and a little beef and i)ork as we are in reasonable
distance of a good market, but what would my farm avail me if I did
not? I would like to have my literary friend, who is so much disturbed
about the poor farm, tell me what a farm is for, if he objects to selling
off the Droducts- I liave taxes both on my real estate and personal
property, to ])ay ; and they are not small either. I have farm imple-
ments to purchase, and I have hired help to pay. I have doctor bills,
incidental expenses, and benevolence to meet. I have family expenses
all the while, and it's my right and privilege to live as good as any-
body. How sliall I meet all these enormous bills and ex])enses, and
not sell off the products of the farm? I want these vital questions
answered, for I i)erceive that Young America is getting ideas greatly
advanced about farming at this day and age of the world, and I confess
that I do not miderstand them. The professor, in speaking with me,
uses so many chemical terms that, rather than to expose my ignorance,
I listen in silence, and we separate with my mind so bewildered that
the opportunity has availed me but very little practical knowledge ;
and yet I am aware that it has been largely my own fault. The fact
is, " there is more truth than i)oetry " in some of these statements. The
farmer's expenses are enormous, and he must have something to sell,
or he will, in a short time, become bankvui)t, and the sheriff will make
all the sales and he must dig out. It is a blessed good thing that the
farmer understands this part of it. And he must understand more in
order to make a comi)lete success of his business.

Prof. J. P. Roberts, superintendent of the Cornell University farm,
recently made an estimate of the ju-oduce taken from one acre of aver-
age farm land, in the last fifty years. He said, without any hesitation,
" We have been robbing our soil. " What has been the rotation of our
crops? Three years in grain and two years in grass. What amount
of hay have wo taken from an acre in fifty years? One hundred and
thirty -one dollars' worth. What amount of wheat and wheat straw?
Seventy dollars' worth. What amount of corn and corn stalks'^ One
hundred and thirty-six dollars' worth. What amount of oats and
straw *? Sixty-seven dollars' worth. What has been the total amount
taken off during these years? Four hundred and four dollars' worth.
How much have we returned to that acre in the fifty years? Perhaps
not one hundred dollars worth. All this amount taken off, and not
one-fourth of it returned ; and yet we hear farmers saying all over the
country, that their farms are growing better. The fact is, our past
wasteful style of farming will never make them better. It is written
in unmistakable signs, on the majority of our farms in northeastern
Pennsylvania, *' wearing out ;" and in many instances, far worse than
that for they are already substantially woni out. The three essential
elements of plant food, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash are gone.
Our slack and indifferent style of farming permits theni to escape from
our barns and our yards with wondrous ease, before they are placed
in the soil. The voidings of our st(^ck are thrown under the eaves of
our V)uil(lings, and tlu^ir fertilizing ingredients are washed into the
l)ublic road, or i)assing brook, before we get ready to use them. Many
times we allow our fertilizer to fin^ fang or burn up the nitrogen, Avhich
is the most expensive ingredient in the whole ])ile. We see with our
own eyes this effectual work of destruction going on, and yet we are
apparently undisturbed by the consequences. AVe plow our steep side-

hills, or at least some of us do, in the autumn, and make it very con-
venient for the early, and sometimes heavy, spring rains to wash the
most valuable part of our soil where we can never derive any further
benefit from it. Many of us |)lace our farm stock in winter quarters
with cold and uncomfortable stables ; and some of us give them shelter
by the fence along the hill-side, and then complain that there is no
use of trying to compete with the western farmer in the production of
beef. We murmur about the price of milk being so low, and yet think
it is a great undertaking to drive to the nearest town, pay our dollar
and join the Farmers' Milk Union with the view of getting a living
price for our product. We sometimes join with the loafers about the
country store, smoke a cigar, or whittle a stick, and there tell our com-
rades that the price of butter has got so low that it's not worth our
time and attention, and we will not tie ourselves up to care for those
dairv cows. And yet we claim to be farmers. But what have these
cows, and this stock to do with the exhaustion of our soil? We aQSwer
that they have everything to do with it ! The farmer's success in his
business lies wholly in a three-cornered enclosure. It is this — more
stock, more food, more money. It is true there is something more to
live for than mere dollars and cents, and a man can be a man, if he is
poor, but it is wonderfully inconvenient. Fellow farmers, we can
never make a good, honest living, much more any money, on a farm
while the soil is exhausted. It is not the number of l)road acres that
make our farms valuable, but it is the plant food, and fertility of the
soil, that makes those acres desirable. If we have them rich in fer-
tility, nicely located, and thrown on the market, just as long as there
are farmers they will be in demand, and they will not go begging
for a purchaser.

The next consideration of my topic is, if the soil is exhausted how
can we restore the fertility? We answer, that nature's plan always
works the best. After the earth was made a plant was produced to
grow upon it. The work of man is to nourish the plant. Professor
Iloberts, to whom I have i)reviously referred says, " in the autumn the
foliage of the plant fell u[)on the soil and fertilized it. " Moreover he
says, " let us imitate the example by spreading our fertilizer over the
surface in autumn." Get a j)lant to grow. One of God's best gifts
to man is the clover plant. Its roots deeply penetrate the soil. It
feeds largelv uj^on potash and phosphoric acid. When it is cut down
and removed from our soil it is said to cary with it more food elements
than any grass plant, and yet leave more near the surface for the de-
velopment of the plant that succeeds it. Its roots are said to l)e as
valuable for fertilizing purposes as its branches. So we can appreciate
its worth, and we cannot afford to do without it. If we can get this
])lant to grow and thrive, we have answered the question, and can re-
store the fertility. There is no question about it. If we plow this
crop under when it is in full bloom we have addcnl fertility to onr soil.
If we experience difficulty in getting it started, we (^an succeed by giv-
ing the soil a few hundred i)ounds per acre, of good commercial fer-
tilizer. I know that will do it having experienced satisfactory tests.
Unleached hard-wood ashes applied to the soil will also do it. In
northeastern Pennsylvania the great secret of restoring the fertility
of the soil, is in keeping of all the farm animals that can be maintained
on the premises. God gave man dominion over all the beasts of the
field, and he gave liim that dominion for a wise puri^ose. The ancient
patriarchs succeeded with their flocks and herds. They sought a coun-

12

QUAKTEKLY IiEl'OHT.

try that was rich iu pasturage, and they became rich and prosperous
themselves. In many respects at k^ast, it becomes us to imitate their
exami)le. We cannot furnish so many acres of pasturag-e for our stock
to stroll over; but we can build the silo, and we can fill it with erood,
palatabh^ and substantial food. We can ])lace our animals in com-
fortable stables, where they will not waste that food. We can furnish
ample food in this way for double the amount of stock that we could
if tbey ran at large. We can increase.net profits in niilk and butter
and at the same time we can constantly increase the fertilit}^ of our soil.
The elements of fertility contained in our fertilizers depend largely (m
the quality of food fed to our animals. Scientific feeders claim that
cotton seed meal in connection with good ensilage, or that which con-
tains the ears of corn in full sweetness, stands at the head of the list.
The Cornell University farm has fed this ration in connection with
wheat and malt -sprouts, and their farm the last season produced eighty
bushels of oats, and nearly one hundred bushels of corn per acre.
They have buildings provided for the storage of their fertilizer, and
especially for ji reserving its liquid i^arts, which are pronounced the
most valuable. I think this farm contains less than 150 acres. I re-
cently saw a statement that 4G6 tons of fertilizer produced in a single
season on this farm, by forty -seven full grown animals, was worth in
commerical value $1,G82, or about $35 per head. No such value, how-
ever, could be reached by the use of ordinary farm foods. It is ])ro-
duced by highly concentrated food, and is of the highest value. The
farmer must live from what his land produces, and if its fertility is
growing less year by year, its productive capacity is correspondingly
diminished, and the farmer must either content himself with a poor
living, or else work the harder for it. The farm that I have referred
to was formerly a worn-out farm, but now is in a very hi^h state of
cultivation, and is producing enormous yields. Only a few years ago
Mr. J. E. Hogers purchased a worn out farm in Broome county, N. Y.
He moved u])on the premises and commenced with dairy coavs to pro-
duce milk. He is now keeping 100 cows, six horses, five colts and fifty
sheep on that very farm, or at the rate of one cow for each acre of till-
able land. His cows the past season have netted him, not including
the cost of land, over $90 Y)eY cow. He is growing fodder corn on this
previously worn out farm at the rate of eighteen tons per acre. If the
State of New York, with a cooler climate, and shorter seasons, and or-
iginally no better soil, can make worn-out farms produce such yields
as those I have mentioned, surely the Keystone farmer can do it, and
it is his highest ])rivilege to imitate the successful example of his
prosperous neighbors.

PEOFITS IN FINER PRODUCTS.

By Alvin H. Tomlinson, Brownsburg. Pa.

(Read at RJeKelHvllle IriPtitute. )

In looking over the market rei)orts from time to time, I have been
struck with the wide divergence in the price of different (pialities of
the same article. For instance, in the (piotations for butter on January
20, 1800, tlu^ wholesale price ranged from 7 to 34 cents Now, while

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

13

the 34-cent article is known as prime butter there are still finer grades
in market. This fact reminds me of a canvas sign in front of a I3(^\very
hat store which reads something like this: "Fur hat, $1.00 ; good fur
hat, $1,25, fine fur hat, $1.50; real fur hat, $2.00." So Avith butter.
The prime retails at 40 cents in Philadelphia markets ; the finest
quality from tliis county retails for 65 cents, and the gilt -edge butter
of the Darling tons, of Delaware county, retails for 90 cents per i)ound.
I do not doubt that the butter of either of the two last classes is uni-
formally better than that of the first. But the additional expense, the
favorable circumstances and the extra care given through a long })eriod
of years, that is necessary to ])roduce such butter makes it im[)ossible
for any but a very few to reach their high standard. As this is as true
in regard to other products as butter, we will consider only the profit
to be obtained iu raising a first class over a medium good article, using
market quotations for the same day as already cited, and considering
the ordinary articles raised on a hundred acre-farm.

The quotations are as follows : Eggs 14 cents a dozen for good, 18
cents for prime ; wheat, 75 cents per bushel for good, 88 cents for
choice ; No. 3 corn sold for 36^ cents i)er bushel. No. 2 for 38 cents
per bushel, with no quotations for No. 1 ; oats, 28 1 to 29 J cents per
bushel ; potatoes, 55 to GO cents per bushel ; timothy hay, $10 to $13
per ton ; while beef, pork, veal, mutton and poultry varied from two
to four cents per ])ound. A few extra cents on a ])ound of butter, a
dozen eggs or a bushel of wheat seems like a very little, yet if we ob-
tain the few cents on all of these it will create quite a sum in the course
of a year. Let us see. There are few one-hundred-acre farms but
what kee]) at least ten cows,])roducing 200 [)ounds each, or 2.000 pounds
for all, which, sold at an increase of five cents per pound, amounts to
$100. Fifty hens, laying ten dozem eggs each, sold at increase of four
cents per dozen, amounts to $20 ; and producing 400 pounds of poultry
at an increase of two cents per pound amounts to $8. Then there should
be 300 bushels of wheat sold at an increase of six cents per bushel, $18 ;
ten tons of hay, at an increase of $3 per ton, $30 ; 2,000 pounds of pork,
sold for one-half cent ])er pound more, $10; 300 bushels of ])otatoes,
sold at an advance of five cents, $15. Besides there would be a number
of small profits on some fresh vegetables and fruits or on an occasional
veal or lamb, which would easily amount to $25, making $225 in all.
This is only a moderate estimate which any one may reach ; the possi-
bilities are much larger. Nor is this all. EfToits to raise finer quali-
ties almost invariably increases the (pianfifv. There are some excep-
tions. You cannot raise as large a crop of Early Rose potatoes as of
Burbanks, yet the former will always Ining the hierher price. But
attempts to raise a finer quality of Early Rose enlarges its yield.
This is still more noticeable with vegetables, fruits and grain. A sili
cate of potash for asparagus ]iroduces quicker growth, a finer quality
and a larger quantity. A highly nitrogenous fertiliztn- for celery and
other vegetables, and a ])otash for fruit lias the same effect. A high
grade of ])liosi)liate ap[)lied to wheat gives us a pi um|) grain, which
fills the half bushel rapidly and out of which the miller can get a
larger per cent, of fiour. It is an im|>ortant i)oint, in regard to cheap-
ness at h^ast, to give the growing cro]> the kind of feed it especially
needs. But let me say right here that I believe that barn-yard manure
must be the staple fertilizer in raising large (piantities and good
quality of any article. With this as a foundation, fertilizers to give a

14

Quarterly Eeport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

15

Hij

larger per cent, of a certain element and a vig-orous start can be profit-
ably used.

To obtain the hig-liest price for an article, much depends upon the
care and skill with whicli it is prepared. A g-ood article is a great aid
in accom[)lishing- this. It is much easier and quicker to dress a fat
chicken without a tear or bruise, than a lean one. A workman will
bunch a basket of good large stalked asparagus, of some twenty to
twenty-five stalks to the bunch, about twice as quick as hi) will a basket
of old spindling stalks. With two articles of the same quality though,
that which is made the most attractive, that is the cleanest, freshest
and best arranged, will find the quickest x>uichaser at the bset i^rice.
No especial direction can be given on this point. Every one will have
to follow their own taste and artistic skill. Still, after a certain form,
style or mark is ado[)ted it should be closly adhered to, as customers
will soon learn to recognize and use the outward sign to judge of the
treu character of an article.

The (piestion, "How shall we find the best market?" is a pertinent
one. In answering, I would say, " Avoid the commission man as much
as possible. " Too often they make the same return for an inferior as
a superior article, making u}) the loss on the former out of the i)rofits
of the latter. So sell direct to the storekeeper your entire })roduce,
or better yet, in small quantities to the constumer. If a retail merchant
finds that he can depend u[)on any one to furnish him with an article
of superior (piality and uniform quantity, week after week for several
years, he will be willing to bid ui) well for that man's i)roducts.

Now that traveling by railroad has become so cheap and common it
is easy for us to spend a dav in the city among its merchants, looking
for a suitable person to consign our goods to. But whenever practicable
it is advisable to sell direct to the consumer. This method has many
advantages ; the main one though is that we can reap the profit of sale
ourselves. This i^rofit is frequently greater than the price received
for producing it. We sell oats for a cent a pound and buy oat meal
at the rate of two pound for fifteen cents. We sell our beeves for three
cents a pound and pay the butcher from twelve to sixteen cents for
the same meat. Milk wholesales for from three to four cents a (piart,
while it retails for six, eight and ten cents. Another i^oint : while
retailing your main products of butter, eggs, potatoes, etc., you find a
market for many little articles that you would never think worth whole-
saling. Tjima beans, sweet com, radishes, turnips or pum])kins that
you do not need for the table ; apples, peaches or wat(^rmelons that
would otherwise si)oil, can be disposed of and help to swell your re-
ceipts. Then coming in ]>ersonal contact with the consumer acts as a
powerful incentive to make your produce a better article. They are
quick to tell you of any defects that 3^ our goods may have, which if
you are ambitious you will strive to overcome. You see articles nicer
than your own, that some one else has produced, and you inquire the
process of raising; so that attending market acts as a continual object
lesson. Then you can deliver your produce in a fresher state tlian
the store keeper who has his goods exposed on the stall for hours at
a time. A few hours of such treatment distracts immensely from the
value of vegetables and fruits. In marketing ourselves, by gathering
just Ixd'ore starting and carefully handling and ]mcking, we can deliver
goods in the nicest possible condition. This point alone should insuro
the highest retail ]>rice.

The south and west cannot compete with us in perishable articles,

as no way has yet been found to annihilate time. It is true that since
the refrigerator cars have come into use there is little danger of entire
loss. Still articles kept on ice, when exposed to the air, show signs
of decay, |)roving that they have been injured somewhat, if not percep-
tibly. Should we not take advanta^^-e of this fact and confine our
energies more to raising perishable articles? I might add one more
requisite to obtaining a high price, and that is to market regularly a
uniform or improved article for a number of years. He who is con-
stantly trying to find something in which there is more money or a
better market will never get the highest price.

In an essay read before the Langhorne Institute, James Branson says,
that butter, milk and early spring lambs are three things that the
eastern farmers can produce with profit. To these I think we might
add certain lines of vegetables, for even in seasons when there is glut
it lasts siu'h a short time that the average price is good ; and an over
supply efiects the best but little, as it is only the poorest that is dumped
into the river to relieve the market. Perhaps in the i)roduction and
sale of butter there is more room for improvement than of any other
product of the farm. Mr. Gilbert, of New York, says, of the 100,-
000,000 pounds of butter produced in the Empire State, one-third
of it is not fit for the table. Be that as it may, there is plenty of room
or im[)rovement for all of us. My observation leads me to believe
that butter that will grade above the creamery will sell the easiest.
But like many of our other products, the profit of producing will fre-
quently lie in the eight or ten cents that a ])()und retails for above
the wholesale price We have several times had to buy our entire feed
for the dairy, and have found that the cost of [)roducing a pound to be
about the wdiolesale i)rice, while by retailing we have received a fair
profit. There is one feature of a dairy that is seldom taken into ac-
count, and that is a big manure pile. A large w^ell kept dairy with
plenty of hogs to utilize the skim milk, if care is taken to save their
waste, wdll furnish us with the most essential thing for producing the
finest quality of any product, and the rest of the work is easy.

CATTLE FEEDING.

By D. P. Forney, Ifanover, Pa,

(Read at Gettysburg Institute.)

By the general term cattle feeding we mean simply the fattening of
beef cattle for market during the winter so as to preserve the fertility
of our farms. This subject has perhai)S commanded the attention of
tlie farmers of this locality to a greater extent than anywhere else in
the state. Some thii'ty or more years ago, when the restoration of
fertility to our exhausted fields first seemed to claim the serious atten-
tion of our scientific men, they regarded it as a very plaiu question, as
easy of solution as an ordinary question of addition in mathematics.

All you had to do was to find out what the soil had and what it did
not have, and then put back what it lacked, and thus again make it
fertile. Then it was that George AVaring wrote that " soil analysis
must be considered the only sure road to economical farming. " And

16

Quarterly Eeport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agrku^.ture.

17

I 'I* I

then, too, it was that Horce Greely, Solon Eobinson and a host of
writers in the New York Tribune and elsewhere were loud in their
denunciation of the "stupid farmers," who w^ould not learn what they
"knew about farming."

In England those patient and practical investigators, Messrs.
Lawes and Gilbert, proceeded in a truer fashion to investigate tliis
question. They analyzed the wheat and turnip ])lant, comi)Ounded
fertilizers made u]) of exactly such constitutents and in such propor-
tions respectively as they found in the plants, and then applied them
separately to each plant, and the results were satisfactory ; but when
they reversed the order and applied the turnip fertilizer to the wheat
and the wheat fertilizer to the turnips, the results were equally satis-
factory. Since then hundreds of experiments have shown similar
results, and i)rove that the oi)erations of nature are sometimes subtler
than tlie chemist's art. At her feet we must stand with uncovered
head and humble mein and learn perhaps till nature dies and all science
is swallowed uj) in humble faith or infinite knowledge.

And now the mistakes made in learning how to feed the soil are being
repeated in learning how^ to feed live stock. German investigators
have made very plain the chemical constitutents of the animal and
also those of the food required. They have also ascertained the pro-
portions which one set of constitutents should IxMir to the other in the
feeding rations, all of whicn is useful and valuable information to the
feeder. But some of their American followers seem to be carrying the
matter a little too tar. They are compounding rations out of all
sorts of feeding material and seem to go on the presumption that be-
cause it is chemically correct it must be practically. An exceeding
unsafe conclusion to draw in agricultural matters, as many of us have
learned by experience. In feeding animals, still more so than feeding
plants, we have a living organism to deal w ith on the one side and all
of its peculiaries of constitution, health, age and surroundiners may
affect the result. There are, no doubt, farmers here who remember
have seen one cow in a stable break off in her milk and get fat when
feeding her corn, Avhilst another one by her side would increase in her
milk and stay poor on the same diet.

Judgment and experience are as necessary here as elsewhere, and a
routine cattle feeder will be no more of a success than a routine pro-
fessional man.

My object, however, in this essay, is to call attention to the relation
which this industry holds to the farnu^rs' success in his lousiness at this
time. There was a time when cattle ftn^.ding in itself was profitable,
independent of all relative considerations. Cattle could then be
bought for two dollars per hundred less than they would fetch when
fat, whilst feed was fully as low then as now. Then it paid to feed ;
just now, with feed somewhat higher than it was then, the farmer is
asked to feed for from fifty to sixty cents per hundred advance, and
is complacently told, by the drover and butclier, to look to the manure
for his profit. I cannot ccmceive of anything that looks more lik(^ a
treadmill operation than this. You take one step up when you raise
the corn in the summer ; the next spring, when you sell the cattle, you
take that ste]) down again, and there you land, riglit in your clover
field where you were the year before you Ix^gan plowing for corn.

We farmers make a great mistake in not calculating as closely over
the details of our business as commercial men do over theirs. Perhaps
this is one reason why they generally outstrip us in the acquisition of

wealth. Let us now calculate a little over this matter. Any one who
has carefully looked over that volume of the report of our State Board
devoted largely to commercial fertili^zers, could not help noticing the
great unanimity of testimony in favor of fertilizers containing phos-
i)horic acid. This ingredient is the most valuable, if not the only
valuable one, to us, lor it is the one most generally lacking in our soil.
It is probable that we generally have enough of potash. Accordi)ig
to the best analysis I have at hand, a ton of barn-yard manure con-
tains about seven pounds of phosi)hoic acid. The average yield of a
steer during the feeding season is about three tons, so that we get back
twenty-one ])ounds of the phosphoric acid by feeding him. It will
take twenty -five bushels of corn, worth, at forty cents per Ijushel, ten
dollars ; one ton of hay or its eqivalent, worth also ten dollars, five
dollars worth of straw and labor to feed him, making in all the cost
twenty-five dollars. If, now, a thousand pomid steer at four cents costs
forty dollars, and when fat weighs twelve hundred i)ounds and brings
four dollars and sixty cents per hundred, which is about the average
daring the last five years, he will then be worth a little over fifty-five
dollars : that is, he will have fifteen dollars of the cost returned by
the steer, leaving ten dollars as the cost of the manure. If, now, the
other ingredients of the manure are of little value to our soil, as ex-
perience shows they are, then these twenty one pounds of j)hos|)horic
acid are costing ten dollars, when the same money invested in South
Carolina rock, at eighteen dollars per ton, w^ould bring us more than
six times as much. Is there not something in all this calculated to
make a thoughtful farmer hesitate a little before continuing longer in
a business which shows such odds against it?

At present we are literally making ourselves poor to keep our farms
rich. Against these statements farmers, of course, will be ready to
ask. How are we to keej) up the jn'oductiveness of our farms? In
re|)ly, let me say the mere feeding of corn is a very slow way of adding
to the fertility of the soil. One thousand pounds of com contains oidy
about twelve pounds of mineral fertilizer. Two hundred pounds of
any good commercial fertilizer contains just about as much. Viewed
from this stand -point it would therefore be much easier, as well as
cheaper, to sell the corn and buy the phosphate ; and if the object is
to raise corn or any other crop, the truest economy would demand
that we api)ly no more fertilizer than is just needed to produce the
crop, and only of the kind which the soil recjuires to bring it to
maturity.

This latter I take to be pre-eminently the agriculture of the
present. The development of the present i)]*o(lnctiveness of the soil,
wliich is often simply dormant for the want of a stimulant, in dis-
tinction from the indiscriminate restoration of fertility, which, though
it may be effective, is too expensive.

The discovery of the nitrogen ferment claimed by some German
scientists to be a fact beyond all (loid)t, has very much chang(Ml the
aspect of our knowledge upon this subject. When Liebi^^ i>ul)lished
his investigations tliirty or more years age, he took strong ground
against the assertion that plants got their nitrogen from the soil.
Since his time many investigatois have tak(Mi just as strong ground
on the other side of the (piestion ; whilst others again frankly admitted
they could not tell where it came from. Now, it seems to be ch^arly
establish(id that the supply of nitrogen increases itself in the soil by

18

QUAIITEKLY PtErOKT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agricultuke.

19

I

some process very much like fermentation, when the proper condi-
tions of heat, moisture, sliade, etc., are present. This seems to ex-
plain what so long puzzled investigators, viz: That a crop of
clover, whichcarriesoff a large quantity of nitrogen, often leaves more
nitrogen in the soil, after its removal, than was there before it was
grown. The clover ])romotes this fermentation. It is always most
active in a soil filled with organic matter and in the presence of phos-
phoric acid. Indeed, it is asserted that if a fertilizer, rich in phos-
phoric acid, is sown in alternate drill breadths across a field deficient
in phosphoric acid, it will attract the germs of fermentation from the
unfertilized strip, and make the crop poorer there than it otherwise
would ha. 80 far as my experience and observation e-oes, I believe
there is some truth in this.

Nitrogen combined with hydrogen forms ammonia, which is known
to be a powerful stimulant of plant growth, and if we can succeed in
keeping up the supply for our soil in the manner indicated, we have
made a great advance in the knowledge of our occupation.

In looking over the last census I noticed a somewhat remarkable
fact. York county is the second county in United States in the con-
sumption of commericail fertilizers, and inquiry among the agents
reveals the additional fact that the sales of South Carolina rock are
incn^asing in a greater ratio than those of other fertilizers. In a large
l)art of this county cattle feeding is almost the universal nde, and yet
these farmers find it necessary to buy large quantities of phosphoric
acid to keep up the i)roductiveness of their land, and their general
testimony is that this fertilizer, applied in conjunction Avith barn-yard
manure of any kind, will always i)roduce satisfactory results.*

Side by side with some of the largest cattle feeding farms of that
county, farms can be found on which cattle have never been fed, and
yet their ]iroductivenes8 does not seem to be diminished. Into the
hisstory of one such fi'rm recently I inquired with much interest. It
is surrounded by farms on whicli large numbers of cattle have been
fed for some time. It has been in the hands of its present owner, who
is now over seventy and has always been a careful, painstaking
farmer, for more than fifty years. During his time it has been limed
twice, but commercail fertilizers have never been bought to any great
extent. Nothing is sold off of it but grain. Its owner makes no
more hay than he needs for his team and cows ; all the rest of the
grass is left on the field and i)lowed down. For more than fifty years
this general plan has been pursued, and this farm is to-day as pro-
ductive as any in the neighborhood. Two years ago, on a ten-acre
field, it ])roduced four hundred and seventeen bushels of wheat, and is
now lu-oducing annually about one thousand bushels. It contains a
little over one hundred acres. Certainly no cattle feeding farm is
doing any better.

The x)oint, then, which I wish to draw attention to is that the ]^ro-
ductiveness of much of our land can be kept up without catte feeding,
and, indeed, without the addition of any foreign fertilizer, and where

^Barnyard inaiHire is not a well balanced fertilizer; it contains innch too large a
portion of nitrog(>n for the phosphoric acid which it furnishes; it promotes the
growth of straw (at the expense of grain in many cases), and often is applied in such
amounts as positively to reduce the yield of grain. York county farmers, who stall
feed cattle an<l use the resulting manure, apply too mnch nitrogen and hence find
tlie adplication of phosphorit; acid, in the form of Dissolved South Carolina Rock,
profitable and advantageous. — Secretary.

it is necessary to add fertility it can be done more cheaply bv the pur-
chase of the fertilizer than by the i)urchase of feed, as the\^ase now
stands.

We must distinguish between fertility and productiveness. A very
fertile soil may not be productive, because of injudicirnis farming.
The art of the true farmer is to develop its productiveness ; and in no
way can this be done more easily than by the proper cjire and use of
all the organic matter produced on the land. Its return to the soil is a
matter of the first importance. There are, no doubt, farmers here who
have seen straw, chafl:' and such refuse as usually collects where thresh-
ing is done hauled out and plowed down for corn, give just as good
results as where good barn-yard manure was used, and the explanation
is that its presence and fermentation in the soil have develo|;)ed latent
fertility which otherwise would be inactive.

There is much about the development of the productiveness of soils,
which is as yet imperfectly understood, and it is no credit to our col-
leges, experiment stations, etc., where so much public money has been
spent, that so little has been accomplished in this direction. More
brains and less politics would likely give us better results. Meanwhile,
I take it, that the farmer who is closest in his observations of nature
and her processes, and works nearest to them will, in the end, succeed
the best. By the simple operation of her laws, fertility and produc-
tiveness are everywhere increased. On the prairies of our great west
and the black soils of Russia, she has developed a degree of fertility
beyond all reach of agricutural science. The all-prevailing law is,
life, growth, maturity, death and decay, and out of it a higher resurrec-
tion ; or, as the Omniscient Law-Giver has ])ut it, " Excei)t a grain of
wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone ; but, if it live, it
bringeth forth much fruit. "

THE CARP AND ITS CULTURE,

By Dr. C. E. Goldsborough, Hunter stown^ Pa,

( Read at Bendersville Institute. )

Carp culture in the United States is of very recent origin, but worthy
the attention of agriculturists as a branch of farm industry. That the
rosey expectations of many of the earliest fish culturists in this cx)untry
have not been realized is no evidence that there is not sufiicient merit
in the propagaticm of carp as a food fish to waiTant its continuance
where suitable sites for ponds can be found upon the farm. The en-
thusiasm that attends all new-born enterprises followed the introduc-
tion of carp into the United States and was only surpassed by tlie
morus multicalifs craze of fifty years ago, and yet silk culture is still
carried on, but u[)on a more conservative basis.

The methods for raising car]), when reduced to a i^ractical standpoint,
are so simple and easily acquired by any intelligent person in a visit
of a few hours to the ]>onds of a successful fish culturist, that I will not
engage your time with a voluminous description of the various theories
and technical phrases indulged in by those who aim to be ranked as
scientists in the busin(?ss,but simply call your attention to a few prac-
tical facts in pond construction.

20

QUAltTEltLY IIePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

21

Ponds should l)c built as much above t^iouiid as possible and never
du^- out more than is sufficient to secure the necessary amount of soil
with which to construct the dykes or embankments.

These should never, if ])ossible, exceed four or six feet in heig-ht and
three feet in width at the top if made entirely of earth, as it will be
found impossible to combat successfully the nmskrat in more elaborate
structures of earth. The bottom of the pond should be traversed })y
a ditch capable of thoroughly draining the entire surface which should
never be injured for pur])oses of cultivation that at times should be
done in such crops for which tln^ ground may be suited.

Oar J) have been found native in none of the waters of America, al-
thoug*li tish of the same species are common in all of them. The carp,
like man, has his origin in central Asia and is indi*2:enous to stn^ams
em])tying into the Persian Gulf, and the history of the carj^) appears
to be nearly as old as that of man, and although we have no descri])tive
accounts of their lu-opagatitm before about the year 1227, A, D., when
the monks of central Euro[)e constructed dams, some of which were of
immense size and yet remain and were assiduous in their culture in the
more mountainous regions inaccessible to seas and great rivers where
fish wer(^ i)l(^ntiful ; we yet have abundant evidence of an archaeological
character that the Chaldeans and Assyrians had in their beautiful
gardens hsh ponds wherein carp disport(^d themselves many years
prior to the time that tradition ascribes to Abraham as being engaged
in carving idols in his father's sho]) "in the land of liis nativity in Ur
of the Chjil(lees,"on the banks of the Euphrates, and I doubt if in all
the land there be anywhere a geneological crank whose ancestral his-
tory is so well authenticated as these late importations to our waters.

The car]) was introduced into England about 1504, but that country,
being surrounded by seas where fish could be had in all seasons for the
catching, the success was not phenomenal. We find that carp culture
can only be made commercially profitable under circumstances that are
rarely met with. Such, for instance, as the monks found in the mount-
ainous sections of Germany and Europe, generally inaccessible to the
ocean's sui)ply in those early times where the lenten season created a
demand for fish food, and where a dense population creates a demand
for all kinds of food. This latter is the chief reason for carp culture in
portions of China inaccessible to large waters.

It is a fact very patent, Avithout any intention at alliteration, that
neither flesh, fowl or fish can be produced without feed, and as the fish
culturist in this country will always be compelled to compete in the
market with the products of the oceans, great lakes, rivers and even
small streams that are being stocked with good fish, where to secure
them costs nothing but the catching, while pond fish must necessarily
be fed; and though the car]> is by no means a dainty creature in its
tastes, there is no feed so cheap as that obtained by sea and other large
water fish. This, with rai)id and cheap transportation facilities that
open up markets formerly inaccessible, will always be the difiiculty to
be encountered by those raising fish in ponds for market, and yet the
advantages to the farmer who raises carp are such as money will not
procure. He can at all times have his table well supplied with fresh
fish for his own use. He will have his ponds of pure waetr for the
stock in summer and from whence to fill his ice house with clean ice
in winter for his dairy and family use. It is uiuui the pond also that
the boy on the farm will learn to skate in winter, and in its waters

after the sultry day's toil in the harvest field learn to swim in taking
his evening bath in summer.

It has been charged that the carp is not a good table fish. In re[)ly
to this I would say there are better fish than the carp. As venison is
better than pork, so trout is better than carj^ but as we cannot have
venison we eat pork, and as we cannot get trout at all times we had
better raise carp, as they are infinitely i)referable to no fish at all.
Perhaps if we had im|)orted the culinary art of the Germans with the
fish, among whom they are highly esteemed, we would prize them more
highly, and at any rate the conditions under which they are raised,
such as the character of the feed and water in the pond, will ex])lain as
much as the same elements of the \ng sty or cow stable will for the
quality of their ])roducts. The difticulties to be encountered are num-
erous and often discouraging. I lost my first supply, acquired after
three years of much worry and considerable ex])ense, by a freshet that
swept over a badly -constructed dam. Since then I have overcome all
difiiculties but that of the muskrat, and these little pests are never
ceasing, night or day, in their endeavors to let my fish out into the pub-
lic streams, and they reqire constant looking after.

One of my acquaintances who has a fine set of ponds, tra^js them for
his table and declan^s they are very fine eating. He says that it is only
a silly prejudice that prevents their general use. I have never had a
strong inclination to adopt his views or hunt them for any purpose but
extermination, not even for their i>elts, but believe if they were called
anything but a rat, half of the objection would be overcome, and in
fact they have no more resemblance to a house or field rat than an eel
has to a snake, yet we eat eels and pronounce them good. An old ac-
quaintance of mine in the south told me that muskrat was a corruption
of muskwatz, the proper name ; but I don't know where he obtained
his authority. I find it profitable to feed them to the chickens, but no
matter to what use you put them, it requires eternal vigilence to out-
wit them and extermination is the only remedy.

Carp culture is not without its romance and you hear a great many
wonderful stories, true and untrue, told by some engaged in their rais-
ing. I, however, am not going to treat you to any of them, but will
say that there is no time that I look forward to with more pleasure,
even after years of experience, than my annual drawing ofF of my ponds,
when thousands of these beautiful fish are diawn into a common re-
ceiver to be separated, transferred to winter (piaiters and table use and
the fittest selected for next year's spawning ])urposes. If there be any
love of sp<^rt or enjoyment in your make up it will croi) out then, and
you are ready to brave mud and water in lending a hand at the work.

A fish weighing from four to five ])ounds will deposit, on an average,
about 500,000 eggs. This beiner the case, it is not suri)rising that
ponds become overstocked very readily, and the question will ])resent
itself, what should be done with the fish, as it will be impossible to
profitably retain them in the pond, and the sale for stocking ])urposes
are very limited. Some culturists ])lace small i:)ike in their i)oiids to
destroy them and then eventually make use of the pik(\ Where pike
are hard to obtain a few small bass might answer very well, but it
must be remembered that a black bass Avill swallow a fish almost its
own size. Catfish, eels, turtles, snakes and wild fnvl destroy a great
many and it will be impossible to keep them out entirely. I have been
in the habit of throwing out inti) the ]uiblic streams large (juantities
of these surf)lus fry, and the streams leading from my ponds to great

22

QUAliTEKLY EePOHT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Aoriculture.

23

Cenowag-o are about as well stocked as my ponds and afford fine fish-
ing- for the pnblic. This also k^ssens the temptation for trespassing,
and as I think I have shown it to be imjiossible to com})lete in the
market with the natural sources of supply, no selfish motives should
actuate the culturists in oi)i)osing the stocking of the public waters with
these fine fish in a manner that will entail so little personal sacrifice.

METEOEOLOGY IN ITS KELATION TO AGEICULTURE.

By Charles Laubach, Reujlesville^ Pa,

(Read at ReUlesvllle Institute. )

The weather is one of the most important sul)jeccs with which
the farmer has to contend. He may plow and irrepare the soil, plant
or sow, but if the weather be not favorable his la])or and toil is for
naught. Weather has existed on this planet since the beginning of
time, and, as we shall see, has been made a study during all historic
time.

The first authentic history of" the study of meteorology is given by
Moses in the second chapter of Genesis. Although we liave evidence
that climatic changes occurred and that stoi'in centei-s and storm clouds,
frost, heat, clouds and sunshine, i)revailed long before this record, yet
in this paper it is considered unnecessary to dwell upon that point.
We will confine our remarks principally to the era or age we represent.
That Noah and his descendants kept a record of storms, of drought, of
clouds, of rain, and other phenomena connected with this science^ is
evidenced by a glance at sacred history. In Genesis, seventli chap-
ter, eleventh verse, we read " That in the six hundredth year of Noah's
life, second month of the year, and seventeentli dav of the moiitli, it
rained and continued to rain for a period of forty days and night's,"
and Noah entered the ark on the self same day.

One hundnHl and fifty days after this rain and fiood, we find that a
wind i)revailed and passed over the earth, and the waters were assuaged,
and the rain restraiiKMl. After a lapse of eleven months more,^the
ground was dry. Further on we read, "That while the earth remain-
etli, se(Hl time and harvest, cold and h(^at, summer and winter, day and
niglit, shall not cease." In the ninth chapter, thirteenth verse, the
rainbow in the clouds is recorded.

How very much similar the record is like our own of to-dav •
Storms, floods, cyclones, rainfall, halos, heat and drought : but wr miss
the deg-reesF., the atmospheric pressure, the mean daily humidity
direction of the wind, velocity of the wind, dates of thunder storms
aurora, halos, solar, lunar, etc. '

It may be well to note, wliile passing, that when Noah entered the
ark, he had just completed an astronomical cycle or year. A cycle of
GOO years contains exactly 7.421 revolutions of'the moon and bringrs our
section of the universe to the precise i)osition existing six centuric^s ago

Josephus, in speaking of the ])atriMivlis, savs that tlieir lives were
prolonged, so as to give them an opi)ortunitv to p(^rfect tlie sciences of
asti-onomy, g-eometry, etc., wliieli 11, ey luul discovered. Thus we find
an accurate knowledge of these sciences prevalent centuries ago So

accurate are many of these old time deductions that they vary not one
second from these ])eriods as now deterinined.

All will admit that we cannot have a knowedge of a subject without
full and complete facts, at least some tangible record; for all, or com-
plete facts of any one subjec't, were probably never developed. Ijife
is too short, and we find too much to attend to do nothing but gather
material, hence, even though we have not all the material that it may
be possil)le to £rather, we yet have sufficient facts whereby we may
begin to elaborate our subject.

No movement ever counten<anced by the authorities at Washington
g-ave such a stimulus to a subject, or did so much for agriculture and
maritime pursuits, as the establishment of the Weather Bureau at
Washington. This bureau, established in 1870, requires all observers
to take three observations daily, at the same hours, 7 A. M., 2 P. M. and
9 V M.

By this method the changes from hour to liour, and from day to day,
and the effects which are the out2*rowth of these changes, are mapped,
published, and ])ermanently preserved, thus placing before us a com-
plete "Geography of the Atmosphere."

As in other branches of i)hysical science, the sun is the one great
factor or creator of the weather. Without the sun Ave could not have
our i)resent form of weather prognostication, and only with the sun
can we have the chaiiires which we term w(^ather.

The movement of the earth about the sun, the daily motion of the
earth on its axis, the parallelism of the earth, which causes the changes
of the seasons, alternately transferring the heat of the sun from one
side of the equator to the other necessitating a change, relieving
monotony. The slight oscillations of the earth, wluTcby its polar axis
slowly describes a grand circle of some 25,000 miles in the heavens, all
are caused by the sun.

To day our northern inclination is towards the star Polaris; 12,000
years hence our earth v/ill point toward the bright star Yega in the
constellation Lyra. This movement is, however, so gradual that it has
l)ut little effect upon our weather, yet there was a time, juid undoubt-
edly will be again, wh(^n this motion will be a factor in the changes of
our weather ; but that time is so remote that it does not concern the
pre,s(^nt inhabitants of the earth.

In tliis ])aper I shall speak of high and Ioav barometer. In the whole
of nature there is ju'obably nothing more curious or difficult to under-
stand than tlui curious freaks of low barometer. Ikd'ore the era of the
weather bureau it was impossible to understand many curious freaks
of nature, which may now be readily explained by the movements of
the barometer.

Every department of nature has its first cause, and it remains only
for inquiring minds to learn this cause — nature has revealed to us, what
is t(3rmed low barometer.

You may ask, not simjily what loio barometer is, but what causes it,
and why should it possess such important properties in tlie realm of
nature.

I think we may best understand what creates low barometer, if we
imagiiKi that where there is heat and water, there will aft(U' a while be
developed sus))ended moisture, which we term clouds. The concentra-
ti(m of this suspc^nded moisture into chnids has a two-fold effect, to
l)reserve or retain heat over nig-ht, and to sliut off during the day the
heat of the sun. At times, for some reason unknown to us, the heat

24

QuAltTEKLY IlEPOirr,

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

of the sun by a natural tendency concentrates its rays u])on such x)or-
tions of the earth where there was already the most heat. As the
eastern sections, or localities, are the first to receive the benefit of the
sun, the tendency of which would be to heat those ])laces, and to rarify
the air, this causes the air of surrounding- localities to move toward
that point, and the moving- air will transport the clouds to the point
of g-reatest concentration and results in an area of low barometer or
storm center. These areas of low barometer, as a rule, move toward
the rising sun, and we generally have tw^o such areas moving- over the
United States at a time.

Whenever or wherever this area of low barometer exists, the aii- is
heavy with moisture, the air being- displaced by the concentration of
heat.

A low^ barometer denotes a storm, no low^ barometer, no storm. A
high barometer, clear, or dry sky, or erron(3ously light air.

Water is one of the essential elements that our nature demands ; we
could not exist without it, nor could agriculture flourish without this
wise provision of nature. The more we study the important part water
plays in our meteorolog-ical economy, the more we become impressed
with the importance that meteorology as a study has to the agricul-
turist.

Without water we have the desert, hot while the sun shines and cold
when the sun sets, there being no moisture to form clouds and retain
heat. Over an extended area where there is no water a low barometer
cannot exist. Low is repelled and will not stop over nig-ht hence no
rain. Here then is where the meteorologist comes to the rescue of the
agriculturist. The meteorologist says to the farmer, encourage water
by irrigation, encourage the growth of trees, or anything that will
retain nioisture. Water is necessary for foliage, and foliage will at-
tract water, thus acting: and reacting upon each other.
^^ Clouds are known to meteorologists by various* names, such as
^cirrus very light clouds ;" stratus, " long narrow heavy clouds;
cumulus the thunder clouds, and " nimbus, " the rain cloud. Then
we have the so-called "mackerel sky," the "wind sky," etc. The
latter, however, have no power over the wind, they are simplv moisture
transported by the winds, they are subject to the wind, and the wind
IS governed by the area of low barometer created by the sun

Ihe winds are the agents of storm, the propelling power which car-
ries the moisture froni p ace to place, as the storm center dictates. We
read that The wind blowetli where it listeth," but it always blows
toward the storm center.

When wo can fully comprehend the g-rand and i,erfect system of na-
tuiv, whereby our earth is watered, our temperature regulated and
changed, the air renewed and purified, then, and not until then, shall
we understand the beauties ot nature in this de])artment. The weather
bureau will eventually prove one of the grandest inventions, acquisi-
tions and incentives to the agriculturist, that the wwld ever had
Facts have been attained and utilized that, but for this system must
have l^een concealed lor ages yet to come. In Noah's time they had
crude notions and ideas about storms of wind and rain, but they could
not understand the whys and wherefores, " nc ,r ihr direction of storms
Il.ven at present there^is an nlea prevalent that one storm may continue
two or three weeks. Tins is erroneous, but conhl not have wHiX^^
stood years ago. One storm lasts from one tc , tliree davs. But a suc-
cession ot storms may last weeks and even months. During- dry spells.

25

in summer, the storm centers are passing over the country quite as
regularly as in the wet seasons of the year. But they have so little
moisture in them, they fail to precipitate rain, at least in our parallel
storm centers are constantly ])assing over the globe. Their startuig-
point is a perpetual surinise ; it cannot be tVn-eseen, but tlieir trend is
generally toward the east. The speed at which tlu\y travel is from
one to twelve hundred miles a day. The wind is always towards the
center. Mountain rangers may deflect or divert the wind, but the storm
center travels on. If low barometer ranges in a high line as it did the
present season, it will be warm ; if a low line, it will be comparatively
cold. The location of the area of low barometer defies times and sea-
sons, it is the gieat leveller or intensifier of heat and cold, at will, de-
fying the ap])arent natural condition of summer and winter, tempering-
the heat of one and neutralizing the cold of the other. It is probably
the most capricious, uncertain and mysterious ])ower in nature. If
one could sj)end his whole life in following the variables tracks of low
barometer he or she could not draw lines suflicient to rei)resent the
variety of nature.

If one will comprehend the system of nature, bearing in mind that
the wind is always toward low barometer, the mystery of Avarm weatlier
in the northeast, while cold prevails throughout the rest of the country,
is readily explained. Indian summer is likewise no mystery ; low bar-
ometer explains it all— low barometer on the high line — and here is
where it is rather bad on our weather i)rophets, for they, being unable
to foretell the varieties of low barometer, show the absurdity of attempt-
ing to prognosticate the weather on unscientific lines.

Science must controvert many old notions, among them the idea that
the moon, the icebergs, or planets, effect the weather. Whenever we
have a high barometer it will be pleasant, and wh(^n low, it will be
stormy ; tornadoes or other violent conditions of the winds or rain are
always found in the path of low barometer. Thunder showers always
occur wlit^re there is a concentration of heat. So when we find a high
low barometer, a thunder storm is in order ; but who will determine
beforehand which way it will travel, or the exact lines where it will
rain?

On an examination of this subject, I think it will be readily seen that
the only plan whereby agriculturists may be benefited by the study
of the weather, is to apply to the weather bureau for a daily weather-
map. Only through this system can the meteorology of our globe be
exi)lained and ap])lied by the average agriculturist. Nature's ])rin
ci])les ever remain the same, man comes into the winld ignorant and
helpless, and he accumulates knowledge by slow process. In time he
is able to reason, to investigate, and if his years are prolong(3d to
threescore and ten, yet is there scant time for the strongest mind to
embrace more than a small numbcu' of nature's principles. As prin-
ciples are unchanging, the most vigorous mind soonest compn^hends
such as are brought within its scojje, and endeavors to a[)[)ly them to
useful pur[)oses.

Age after age these etTorts are the same, as is manifested by our sci-
entists, wliej(^ continued applications are made to secure results of long
find toilsome investigation.

The aim, tluMi, of faniers should be to avoid fruitless attempt to (bs-
cover new ])rinciples in nature, for such are not, but by investigation
and research to comprehend and act u])on i)rinciples established from
the beginning, and where by study and patience he has learned to in-

26

Quarterly Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

27

crease his cro]is, then freely to g'ive that kiiowledg'e ; by so doiii^' his
wealth will not be diminished, but the success of others may be created
and distinction, if meekly borne, will be an abiding", honorable estima-
tion among his fellowmen.

It must be apj)arent to every discerning mind, that the car of scien-
tific agriculture is destined to pass all over our land, and that all who
do not fall into it must of necessity fall under it. It will carry or crush
all within its reach. There is no such thing in this world as really
standing still ; it is a world of progress, and all who are not moving
onward are relatively moving backward. Natural history and natural
science, so much neglected by the average farmer, should be carefully
studied and ap[)lied. Add mind, science, to yourselves, and you will
have secured the lever that moves the world. Numerically you com-
jiose aV)out three-fourths the population of these United States. Your
property |)avs a large proportion of the taxes, your votes elect the
great majority of our lawmakers and your moral influence controls
the country.

THE NEED OF IMPROVED PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.

By Samuel C. Eastburn, Langhorne^ Pa.

(Read at Langhorne Institute. )

This is a subject which I have for years called the attention of our
people to, urging it from selfish and economic motives, if from no other,
for it has never seemed to me to have that importance given to it which
I believe it bears to the profits of farming and the values of property
and farm land. In these days of telegraphic intelligence and the daily
l)aper, you find many who can tell you about the great lines of railroad
and the money invested in tliem, and the executive ability disi)layed
in properly running them, but who seem to entirely ignore or overlook
what still remain to be the most important ways of commerce by which
the greater i)art of intercourse and trafiic are carried on, viz : our com-
inon roads ; for almost all the traffic of (nir railroads or waterways is
first brought to tlu^ni by transporting over the ordinary dirt roads, and
the proportion, taking our country over, is fully 1,000 to 1 in number,
yet the latter, and so much the less traveled, employs educated talent
at good salaries to give particular intelligent attention to every detail
of such roads, finding in that the wisest economy. How much more
important is it then that we have the same means and talent employed
to make our common roads, which in so many directions are used by
so large a part of every commiuiity as means of intercourse and trafiic.

There is not in the time allotted me a chance to speak of roadways
and their development in the past, but there is not a single exception,
from th(^ tim<' wJH^n Imperial Rome followed her ('()n(iuering armies
by building good roads direct from the sul)jected countries to her gates,
but that such a, course has develoi)ed and increased the value of the
country througli whicli they passed. Probably in no country in the
world, with a civilization eciual to our own, has as litth.' attention been
given to this subject as in the United States, but as dail v we are forced,
on account of competition in all business, to look up the economies of

A

the business, so in this matter, I venture to say there is no single sub-
ject which is of such general interest and demands our attention so
strongly, as the condition of our roads, and there is no one tiling which
would yield so large a return for the money expended in it. When
I read the various questions given farmers to answer, as to the most
profitable croi)S to raise, I have claimed the best answers would be-
even a small croj) of good roads. If, as I heard stated the other day,
the only way to make money farming at the ])resent time, was to sell
your farm and quit, even then my claim conies up strong, as in our
community here so near the city, good roads to a place adds from 20
to 40 ])er cent, to its value.

Looking at it from another view, few people have any idea wliat the
miserable roads we now^ have are costing, and have been costing as a
tax or drain on the community, without any return in saving or com-
fort. I was told by a gentleman who had studied up the subject, and
had made a careful estimate from available data, that Chester county
since its formation had spent over $4,000,000 on its roads. It has been
estimated tliat counting loss of time, (^xtra power required to haul
given load, wear and tear on wagons, beasts, etc. , and the taxes now
assessed, that our ])resent disgraceful roads cost us as much as the sum
of our Htate and Federal taxation together. It seems impossible to
get this inatter or even a part of it, into the minds of tlie people, and
until this is done we cannot hoi)e for much im[)rovenieiit. To get
them to see these things, and to feel that it is money in thcnr i)ockets
to change the metliods of roadmaking, seems to be the difficulty; to
bring the need clearly before them, as they seem largely content to
churn through mud, enduring a grinding taxation for generations w ith-
out knowing the burden that rests on them, or making any effort to
relieve themselves of it. That we have not good roads, not as good as
they might be or ought to be for the money expended on them, no one
will deny, and the imi)ortant question from every point of view is to
see if they can't be made better. At the risk of repeating what I have
previously said on this subject, I would say that this is a matter in
which every land ow^ner has a pecuniary and active interest, that it,
in correcting or imi)roving our system of ignorant mismanagement in
the construction and maintenance of roads, and sto])ping so vast and
purposeless expenditure. And I believe the more it is discussed and
intelligently looked into, that you will agree with me that (nir i)resent
system is the most costly and the least business-like and effectual that
could be devised.

It is one of those things, a heritage of the past, that there has been
little or no effort to improve, and that so im])ortant a matter should
not be brought up now, in keeping with the times, is not to our credit.
The supervisors are not coinpt^tent men, often markedly incom]ietent
for the position ; their labor is of the poorest, for which the highest
price is ])aid : their work lacks ])oth knowledge and method, and tlie
results reached are the most common place and imperfect. That it has
been continued so limg is only because the most of you have never
stop[)ed to consider the immense aggregate cost. It is a difficult mat-
ter to get at, as it is purely a townshij) matter, and the records as a
rule are kept much as the roads are made, but liaving occasion to look
the matter up some years back, I am safe in saying that this township
of Middletowii has spent over $150,000 in roadmaking since it was
organized. This is a sum at 5,000 per mile (which is above the nec-
essary cost) , would turnpike every leading road, not already in the

28

Quarterly Report,

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

29

liands of cori)oratioiis, in tlio township. And wh«at have we to sliow
for it to-day, and what will oiu* children have to show for it fifty years
hence iind(;r the same methods? If you were now enjoying* the g'ood
roads which this expenditure oug-ht to have brought you, you would
not now be complaining- of heavy road tax, wear and tear on teams,
loss of timi^ in hauling half loads or less, depreciation in value of land
because the road from it to the railroad was in such bad condition, of
having- to pay toll, which comes out of the ])ockets of those little able
to pay, and g-oes into the i)ockets of retired local capitalists, who may
loan it to you ngain at a good rate of interest. And those who come
among- you on account of your fortunate situation near the cities, to
make suburban homes on our beautiful hills, would not unite as they
usually do now in |)raising- the beauties of our county g-enerally while
anathematizing- our roads ; and this is a niatter that makes g*ood roads
peculiarly important in a pecuniary sense.

Lying- as so much of our county, especially the lower end of it, so
that all parts are near to railroad stations either present or pros[)ec
tive, I ventu)-e the assertion that if we had the roads to and from which
all this expenditure ought to have made, that the land in many of our
townships would increase in value more that $20 an acre over the
whole township. This would be particularly so of this township, no
part of which will shortly be over one and one half miles from one of
the two leading- railroads of the state. If it was but $10 an acre, what
an addition to tlie general wealth of the town«hi]).

I do not know whether it was intended that I should go further than
strongly call your attention to the" need of impoved roads, "but it would
seem hardly fair to so strongly insist on defects of present methods
without suggesting or proposing a remedy for them. My idea is that
the care of roads for each townshi[> should be put in the hands of five
public-spirited, not political spirited, men of the township, who might
have the title of trustees, and be elected at the regular elections.
These men to employ a competent engineer at such a salary as would
secure a good man, buy him horses and carts if necessary, good tools,
a stone crusher, a road scraper, in short, the entire outfit necessary for
liis work. Put on liini the ])ro])er care of all these things, the same as
any superintendent would have. Let them give him at the start their
general ideas as to certain roads or parts of roads, and at montldy
meetings thereafter further special instructions, if necessary. At these
meetin«-s let him leport to them the probable cost of removing hills,
establishing proper grades, or turnpiking those that it had been con-
cluded to do as i)revious meetings. The matter of widening or
straightening roads, or such obstacles as might arise, could be brought
to their attention at these meetings. These trustees could and would
serve without salary, as their duties would not be hard if they secured
the right man. By this method they would know what it was costing
monthly, how much more they proi)osed to do would cost, and tliat
they were getting something i^ermanently and w(?ll done for tlieir
money expended.

But some one says, " How would you pay for all this, and it would
cost too much." My idea would be that the county or township
sliould issue bonds for that special purpose to an amount based
upon an a])praised value of its ]»roperty, real, personal and cor])orate.
Taxing this township two dollars and fifty cents an acre would raise
nearly $40,000. Tliesc^ bonds would be secure enough to sell readily
and at a low rate of interest, many being taken locally. They would

I

be safer, and in the increased value of all propery adjoinnig pay a
larger interest than western mortgages, which have taken so many
thousands of dollars out of the county, and whost^ onl}^ merit as an in-
vestment is tlieir distance, and the big commissions made by agents.
If the money put in them by our people south of Doylestown for three
years past had been intelligently expended on the roads in the same
district, I have no doubt every road could have been macadamized and
real estate values increased from ten to forty ]>er cent. After taking
out of the sum received from sale of these bonds suflicient to pay
salary and secure equi|)ment, there would be some $35,000 immediately
available. This sum spent on the leading roads would Telford or
McAdani the most of them, and this could be done in two years after
it was begun. After that was well done a man and wheelbarrow ten
days on each mile of road at the pro[)er times could kee^) it in good
order. Of course I have to take a township like my own, and with
which I am familiar, as an illustration. The interest on $35,000 at
four ])er cent, is $1,440. Our present yearly expenditures is nearly
four times that amount. This bonding the land would take no outlay
in money and save tax, unless you chose tc) continue the jiresent tax
rate, when the bonds could be paid off in twenty years without figur-
ing on an increase in the value of property, which is sure to follow.
Lender this plan you would have good roads from the start, with all
the economies and comforts that follow. But it is not necessary to keep
the tax rate where it is now and pay off the bonds so early. They
would sell at as low and ])robably lower rate of interest if they run
forty years, and in a permanent improvement like this, from which
future generations derive profit, they should at least pay their part of
a thing so well begun.

I am well aware that there is a feeling against borrowing money,
but there are many times when it is prudent to borrow. If it were not
so our best business men would not need and so largely use this
method to improve and extend their business. Borrowing money to
construct roads must commend itself to all thoughtful persons as a
perfectly legitimate, a wise and x^i'u<^lent measure, because it will be
nniversnlly admitted that good roads will surely add to the value
of neighborhood i)roperty, and the securing of this capital means the
power to build them. It also means a quick completion of them, so
we can immediately begin to reap the good results. It is true that
borrowing the money means that it is requiring an interest which
must be ])aid, but it is with an equal certainty early stopping a waste
of money we are yearly making more than three times as large as the
interest. It means a relief to taxpayers, or if you do not wish to
admit that, then say it makes an investment and a good one of what
you do pay, at once yielding a daily and annual profit, while what
you are taxed now is practically given and is not returned to you or
your childr( 11 or your estate, this year, any year, or ever. It means
comfort and pleasure in our daily rides for a less amount expended
than we often spend for a week, only of less real comfoit and ph^asiire.

To our beasts of burden it allows us to be that merciful man to
whom the good book has promised he may expect mercy. It surely
means an increased estate. For how many puri)oses less important
than the least of these do we daily borrow money, and if we add
these many other reasons together, what is there that we do borrow of
the future for that equals in all human probability and experience so
sure a return"?

30

Quarterly Eeport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

81

These figures will apply more or less correctly to all townships.
Of course size, number of roads, roadmaking material and other
circumstances will modify the })lan for certain localities, but I am sure
this can be done in the general way indicated and with good results.
Much might be done by cutting down sharp hills and using the
material of which they are made — generally stone — in some other
part. A portable steam crusher would also find much material from
the farms along the roads tiiat in the dull season could be made into
road material. There would be found many rough pieces of land near
the roads it would pay to clear for the material, if the owners had not
sufHcient public spirit to do it. I could continue on most indefinitely
urging reasons for better roads or suggesting improvement in them
and showing clearly profit and progress, but I have sufficiently in-
dicated my trend of thought on this matter.

Now what would we gain by all this? First, good roads and at
once and always and everywhere. Second, less wear and tear on
carriages, wagons, men or teams: less expensive teams to do a like
amount of hauling ; less cuss words ; more comfort ; a higher self-re-
spect and pride in our neighborhood and surroundings ; higher prices
for the land bordering on such roads, and all at not one-half the
yearly expense we are now put to, for which we get practically noth-
ing except further expense. It would be too much to expect these
ideas to meet the views of all, or however correct, to have them at
once ado])ted, but I do ask in your own interest their careful con-
sideration.

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR MILK?

By C. S. Balderston, Solebury, Bucks County, Pa^
(Read at Doylestown Institute.)

To lay down any prescribed rule by which every one engaged in the
dairy business could be guided would be im]^ossible. The nature of
surrounding circumstances w]ii(^h so largely affect the methods of
every individual must decide the matter in which he disi)oses of his
mdk. The enormous i)roportions that the dairv business has attained
mak(^ it necessary that established rules of 'trade be adopted for
marketing the product. One of the great fundamental princii)les
upon whicli the success of all business transactions of this kind is
based, is to bring producer and consumer as near together as possi-
ble, thus saving the expense and risk incurred by allowing th<^ goods
to pass through tlie Ininds of intervening merchants and middlemen

The man who comes the nearest to this perfect method of econom
ical business management is, i)erhaps, the suburban city farmer,
who can takci Ids milk fresh from the cow every morning and deliver it
to customers in the city himself, receiving the full retail price as a
c(mii)ensation for his labor, and commanding his choice of customers
on account of tJK^ freshness of his goods.

The careful, painstaking farmer, who makes a superior article of
butter and takes it to market himself along with other ])r()ducts of the
farm, retailing it to friends and customers, also receives the full value
lor his labor.

But the great army of milk producers who constitute^ the backbone
of our agricultural i)opulatioii must seek some other method of selling
their goods. Every farmer cannot live near a city, and few i)ossess
the knowledge and skill required to make a really first -class article
of butter.

The x)roblem of domestic labor enters so largely into the business
of home dairies that the class that (^an enjoy the advantages of this
system must necessarily be small. The shipping of milk to city
dealers to be retailed to i)rivate families has engaged the attention of
many dairymen and in si)ite of the many discouragements attending
the business it has grown to great )jroportions where railroad com
munication is available.

The objectionable feature of this method of disposing of the milk
consists in the early hours which the farmer is forced to add to his
already long day's work. He must provide about three times as
many cans as will hold his milk and likely lose abcjut one set of cans
a year ; he is often compelled to ship his milk to irresi)onsible parties,
trusting entirely to their honesty and frequently lose a month's pay
for milk on which he had to pay freight in advance, and he is com-
pelled to accept the j^rice for his milk that the milk dealers' organiza-
tion sees fit to vote that he shall receive.

Various organizations have been formed from time to time which
have but ])artially succeeded in removing these difKculties, and many
farmers have abandoned the business and are taking their milk to the
creameries. The creameries and cheese factories of the country are
a godsend to the farmer. They can be built in any locality and they
take his milk and make it into butter and cheese, placing it on the
market in the shape of a manufactured article. Since the great bulk
of the milk is handled in this way, the best manner of disposing of
these products is what concerns the farmer most. How then can he
get the most money for his butter and cheese? In answer to this
question I would say, that since they must be sold on i\w o|)en
market, the quality of the goods will go a long way toward selling
them. Farmers are disposed to think that after the milk reaches the
creamery they are done with it, and it matters little to them since
their milk is ])ooled with that of the neighborhood whether it goes in
good condition or not. No creamery man can make good butter from
a number of poor lots of milk any more than he can from one i)oor lot,
and it is of the utmost importance that every man's milk be of the
best ({uality i)ossil)le. An extra quality of butter will always com-
mand a higluu- price than an inferior quality, and a reputation once
gained always insures a ready sale for the goods.

Kegarding tli(^ manner in which the goods are sold I would say that
they are sold very much the same as other farm products are sold, the
buyer fixing the price and the producers taking what he can get.
Farmers might combine and restrict production like men in otlier
branc;h(^s of business, but that would be forming a trust and farmers
are not su])])osed to do such nngi'acious thiiigs.

It has b(M3n found profitable in some h^calities to establish a board
of trade where the goods could be taken and sold to the highest
bidder, but it is doubtful if that would ])ay here. The creameries that
are selling their butter at the door and getting the hicfhest wholesale
price or a little more, are doing well, and if ])rices are low it is l)e-
cause the su])ply is greater than the demand.

I know that there is a dispositicm on the part of some people to

82

Quarterly Keport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

33

think that the prices received at home and that paid by the consumer
are too wide a[)art, but they are people who have had little experience
in attending" market and a few trips mostly causes them to chang-e
their minds.

I do not find that creamery men who market their own butter do
any better with it than those who sell it in the usual way. TIk^ i^ros-
pects are that dairy products will continue to be sold very much in
the same manner that they are at the present time.

THE BllIGHT SIDE OF FARM LIFE IN BUCKS AND MONT

GOMEKY COUNTIES.

By Jonathan Lukens, Horsham^ Pa.

(Read at Doylestown Institute. )

A quotation from " The Merchant of Venice" says, " So doth the
great(ir glory dim the less. A substitute shines ])rightly as a ring*
vnitil a ring be by." Therefore I do not propose to comparts the condi-
tion of the average farmer of Bucks and Montgomery counties with
the ])ossible g"lory and luxury enjoyed by the Vanderbilt's, Astor's and
Gould's, though I really fancy the former enjoys as much solid peace
' and pleasure as the latter.

Assuming as I do that there is a bright side to farm life in our
sister counties, it now becomes my duty to give my reasons for the
X)osition I have taken that they may collectively add to the brig-ht
and rig-ht side, thoug-h the first named is slig-htly older than the
latter (102 years) it would seem entirely fitting that the younger
should look uj) to her older sister for advice and assistance in the time
of adversity or that of prosperity. So after Bucks county set the Ex-
ample by organizing" a farmers' elul), and Montg-omery, like a dutiful
sister, after due deliberatioji, follows suit by forming- tlie Horsham
Farmers' Club, and now we find them joining hands and standing- side
by side for the common cause, Bucks county now having two live far-
mers' clubs, and Montg-omery countians are already discussing- the
feasibility of forming a second one. New the very fact of these vari-
ous active clubs being formed shows that there is more interest taken
in the cause than was formerly the case, out of whose works we will
no doubt derive beneficial results.

We must all admit that the bright side has not for several years
shone forth with so brilliant a light as would have been desirable to
most of us ; neither has the merchants, mechanics and members of the
various professions been always favored with smootli waters and i^aths
strewij witli flowers.

When the alarm was sounded from the east, and south, aud west
that clouds were gathering which seemed to some to threaten to obscure
th(^ agricultural sun from view, and finally to settle directly over our
grand old counties, then we found work for our clubs to do — real,
active, practical work, both f(;r th(» organizations and for each member
individually. The time had come, the time has undeniably arrived,
for earnest and true work, and we can only expect good results by
each one doing their share of the task before us to reburnish the right

i

m

side of farm life, and right here I cannot do better than to quote
George Sand, who says : " Work is not man's punishment ; it is his
reward and his strength, his glory and his pleasure." So in that fact
we have one bright star.

In order to renew our strength and prescribe the proper remedy we
must inquire into the cause of this turmoil and general confusion and
its nature-— whether its life is nearly exhausted, or whether it is a young
and growing creature yet in its infancy and daily gaining strength.
So in order to get at the question rightly, we nuist take a sort of
bird's-eye view of the United States ; nay, even of the whole world.

First we find that all history will bear us out in the assertion that
farming is a thoroughly legitimate occupation and will remain so for
all time to come, thus giving us another bright light. We find by
history and statistics that but three per cent, of the population of the
ITnited States lived in cities in 1790, which percentage has been in-
creasing ever since that time. In 1880 it reached twenty -two per
cent., and now the cities apparently have about thirt^^-three per cent,
of the population of the United States besides the numerous towns,
boroughs and villagres. Hence we find another bright star in tlu^
fact that the rural and city i)opulations are steadily changinir in re-
lation to each other, so that with the aid of judicious legislation it
would seem very clear that the law of supply and demand is now
about to shed its great and all-powerful light on our occu])ation ; for
while we here have ior the past twenty -five years witnessed the rapid
development of western farms and their products brought to our
eastern markets — more than keeping pace with the increase in popu-
lation, we are now satisfied that whih^ the population will continue to
rapidly increase the acreage for farming purposes will not increase in
anything like the same })roportions that it has for the past two or
three decades. While it is a good thing to have a foreign market for
our suri)lus farm products as well as the products of our factories, it is
the home market that is desirable for our agricultural productions,
as the output of thc^ factories and shoi)s can be transported at a
much less i)ercentage of their value than is the case with the farm
productions ; after viewing the situation with an im[)ai'tial eye we find
the resources of power available for manufacturing purposes practi-
cally unlimited and in a form which can be so economically ap])lied
that no other nation c^an wrest our manufacturing interests from us and
we will be able to compete in the markets of the world with our man
ufactured goods.

In an artic^le in the Philadelphia Ledger of the sixth instant, we are
told that the Baldwin Locomotive Works, after entering into competi-
tion with the great locomotive works of the world, captured the contract
to furnish locomotives for New South Wales, Australia, thus proving
that Bucks and Montgomery counties have the workshops of the world
at their doors, another bright star, which should kindle new (enthusiasm
within the breasts of every citizen of our counties. Little did Mathias
W. Baldwin think, when, in 1882, he ])uilt the first American steam
locomotive, and said to one of his employes " this is our first and our
last locomotive," that the same man would be in his employ when he
])ut numlxT five thousand on a locomotive, Imt such was the case.
Little did In^ then dn^ani that the workshops bearing his name, would,
in 1800, be turning out three comph^te locomotives per day, and, in
o\Hm com])(^tition with Uw world, get the contract from countries that
were formerly supplied by England.
3

34

QUAllTEKLY EePOET.

Pennsylvania State Boaud of AcaiicuLTURE.

35

I !

^Vi^ will now take a closer view of our homes, which reveals the
fact that the two counties have over thirty miles of border on Phila-
delphia, thus showing at a <j:lance that ([uite a ccmsiderable area is in
close proximity to the city of homes and factories, with its populaticm
of more than one million persons to be fed, and while the more remote
portions of our counties are not so easily accessible to the markets,
they both have considerable and increasing railroad facilities as well as
water wavs for reaching- the mark(^ts. As in Mcmtgomory county there
is ])robably no farm more than seven or eight miles from one or more
railroads, while in some i)arts of Bucks county the distance is some-
what greater. Still it is only a question of a few hours time and
attendant expense to reach from any part of our counties the two
larg"est and best markets in the eastern ])art of the United States,
wherein we find the brig-ht and ever-shininir light which brings glad-
ness to the farmer's heart.

In the year just closed we find Philadelphia has built enough of new
dwellings for the accommodation of at least 50,000 persons.

The ocean's tide is lowest just before it begins to rise, the days are
shortest just before they begin to lengthen ; upon taking a careful view
of the situation we may safely conclude that the low tide with the
farmers of our counties was reached in the years 1888 to 1890, and that
with the advent of the year 1891 we find the tide slowly but surely
and steadily rising. The passage of the Beading Terminal and Belt
Line bills, together with other great improvement ^>ro])Osed for the cur-
rent year, will add new strength and vigor to trade in the city which w ill
soon be felt in our counties, and every true farmer in Bucks and Mont-
gomery counties will be rewarded for his labor so hmg as the historic
Delaware flows on the east and the beautiful Schuylkill on tln^ west.

Lander says : " TIk m) \\ ho are quite satisfied sit still and do nothing ;
those who are not quite satisfied are the sole benefactors of the world."
If that be true we as a class must surely be in a possession to work
grand results in the w^orld. While it is perfectly right that we should
oriranize and work and think to promote the best interests of our call-
ing, we must not elevate ourselves by pulling down other thoroughly
legitimate industries.

In order the better to see the bright side we must study our business
and its possibilities— first our soil, both as a whole and by divisions,
and what cro])s it is best adapted to growing and which crox^s cau be
most profitably grown, and marketed from your particular farm, not
for one year aloni^ but for a series of years. Consider your facilities
for labor. Study what style of farming is best suited to your family,
a wide aw^ake farmer and his family will find i)leasure in discussing
these details in relation to their own particular farm, for it is absurd to
follow^ in the footsteps of another simply because he has been success-
ful in that line, w^ithout stopping to consider w^hat our conditicms are
in relation to that kind of work For instance, it may be profital)le
for one farmer to kee]) a butter dairy, wlii1(^ for his neighbor that
branch of business would only be a sinking business, wing to difi'erent
conditions. '

T. B. Terry, of Ohio, tells us that he makes farming profitable on
a fifty-acre farm without either pigs, chickens or dairy, exce])t one cow
to furnisli milk and cream for family use, yet they use butter, eggs,
poultry, etc., which must be produced by some other farmer w^ho is
differently situated and can lu'ofitably raise them for the market, and
so we will find it in our counties.

Having selected our standard crops and tlunr suitable acconi]>ani-
ments next comes tln^ question of marketing with the view of obtaining
he best net results, and here again we find a broad field for labor and
for pleasure if we choose, for do Ave not frequently see the unthinking
person spend two dollars worth in labor to get one dollar more in
gross receipts ; therefore w^e sliouid study our local markets, of which
class there are very many and important ones in our counties and near
them, and find out wdiat they w ant and what we can supi)ly them with
to advantage, and so l>y selling to the consumer when practicable you
reaj) your reward in dollars and the pleasure of being brought into
the intimate association with the consumer of your products.

And when our smaller local markets have been fully supplied from
oTu* farms w^e find the great market of Philadelphia right at our door
ready to take every cent*s worth of our surplus i)roducts and if not
now in all cases at an appreciable ]irofit, the time is certainly not far
distant wluni they w^ill all be wanted at a i)rice that may be made to |)ay
the producer, but in this day of sharp competition it will be useless
to tlunk of sending to market articles below the standard grade of ex-
cellence. In this very fact w^e find a bright and ever-shinmg lifrlit, as
l^er force of necessity we are s[)urred onward with the attendant result
of elevating our ])i()fession to a higher plane, where science and
philoso[)hy will ])econie our aids, and where more skilled labor wdll be
demanded and supjdied; for when we consider the increase of city
population at tliti expense of the rural districts, both in the United
States and in Europe, it would seem but a natural result that there
will soon be at least a slight reaction in that direction, and that faim
life will become more popular, both indoors and out. I wdll venture
the assertion that there is no spot in our nation's domain where this
result wdll be sooner felt than within the bounds of our own counties. •

Neither let us forget amidst all the rush for the dollars that it is not
alw^ays the one who has the largest bank account to his credit that has
contri])uted the most to the sum total of ha])V)iness in the world.
Webster has said, " One may live as a conqueror, a king or a magis-
trate, but he must die as a man. "

Now let us for a moment compare our condition with that of some
parts of the much lauded west, and we find thousands of families in
utter desitution in a land where they had gone with the ex])ectation of
reaping a rich rew^ard of gold, and their ho])e of relief is with the
government or individual friends. AVhile it is perfectly right to
emigrate to the west for in some cases to leave our farms here for city
life, let such moves be made only with caution and forethought, as tlio
writer well remembers the case of an intimate acquaintance who left a
good business in the east and took up lands in the west with the ho])e
of growing rich, with the result that in about two years he was again
in the east looking for employment, having lost several members of
his family by death, and, to use his own words, they did not raise
enough from their farm in a year to kee]) them two montlis.

Also let us recount our social advantages of a comi)arativelv thickly-
settled farming district ; the easy access to churches and libraries, stores
and i)ostofiiC(*s and schools, both jirivate and i)ul)b'c, in all of which
our countic^s abound, and which is always an index to progressive
society. We should also remember the value of being located near
our relatives and friends, and as our counties were settled by William
Penn's early followers, two hundred years ago, our present population
is largely made up of their lineal descendants, Avhich has formed ties

36

Ql AKTKRLY "RePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of AGRTrT^i.TntE.

37

of friendsliii> not to be broken iu> by li^>-lit and trivial causes. And
have we not additional reasons to be of ^ood c-heer when we contoni-
plate the choice of h)cation made by William Penn and his associates,
and that our homes are so near the birthplace of liberty of the Ameri-
can colonies'?

I must now recognize another source of never-ending pleasure and
inspiration— that to be derived from our communion with nature's
works while i)ursuing' our daily occupation and most esv)ecially in this
locality by the opportunities we have of enjoying the varied landscai)e
views/places us in a position that might we41 be envied by a king ; and
while even working at home on the farm, to the wide awake person
there is always something new to invite investigation. Then, agrain,
the drive to market, whether it be to the nearest village or to the city,
adds its mite to the bright side of the farmer's life, and should be a
source of healthful recreation and pleasure to every member of his
family occasionally, as every member of a ])ractical farmer's family of
our counties who misses the opportunity of driving to market with a
team such as only goes to Philadc^lphia market from Bucks and Mont
gomery counties, most certainly loses a very important part of their
education, in fact it is a part of their education, which, if assisted by
suitable instructors, will go a great way towards roundijig u]) the
character and laying the foundation for good citizens. The writer,
though traversing the same road hundreds of times in going to and
from the city, can always see new beauty in the landsca])e view, which
is ever changing by a new building springing up in one place and an
old one demolished in another, a tree planted here and one cut down
in another place, thus opening a view of some distant hill or valley
not before seen.

It is said that there is a superstitution among some savaere nations
that he who wrestles with and kills a wild animal receives its strength
into his own body, and so it is Avitli the farmer that meets and success-
fully overcomes the obstacles in his chosen i)ath will be rewarded by
new strength for other conquests.

PAYING FOE MTIJv ACCORDING TO ITS QITALITY.

By Hp:nry W. Gross, Doylestown township^ Penna,

(Read at Doylestown InHtitute.)

Picking up a Doylestown daily in a lawyer's office one evening a
few weeks ago, I noticed that I was a[)pointed to say something ])efore
a body of creamerymen at some indefinite futures time, upon tln^ subject
of paying for milk at creameries according to (juality. That same
evening I foiinulated souk^ questions which I forwarded to creameries
where some such plan had been adopted.

Resolved, That creameries should ]iay for milk according to quality,
ac(^ording to the amount of butter fat in it.

This is not a thread bare, worn-out resolution thnt has been dis-
cussed every wintcn* for years past at all country debating societies,
but it is a new, live practical subject. A subject that c(mcerns every
honest dairyman that furnishes milk to a creamery. Neighboring

farmers shipping milk to Philadelphia have for years and are to-day
all receiving about the same per quart for milk regardless of the amount
of butter fat in it. Probably it is this custom, in part, that caused
our first creameries in eastern Pennsylvania to pay for milk upon the
same basis. And to day that plan has but few exceptions with us,
outside of tin occasional reduction or fine, or both, for furnishing
tampered milk.

Hence there naturally has arisen among farnu^rs a desire to get
dairies that give pounds of milk regardless of pounds of butter ; a de-
sire to sell poor milkers, though extra good butter cows, and to buy
instead big milkers— "big baggers"— seemingly losing sight of the
fact that the bulk of the money to pay for milk must come from the
amount of butter sold and not from the amount of skim milk or skim
cheese sold.

I have heard farmers say, "The milk from this cow too good to
send to the creamery ; we keep her milk at home and make butter."
If milk were paid for according to quality would not the milk from
the Alderney cow also get to the creamery and pass through tlie sepa-
rator? But is it advisable or even desirable so to pay? Notice the
questions sent out to quality paying* creameries:

1. Is there any opposition to your mode of ])aying?

2. Is it any more just or equable?

3. How often do you test each dairy?

4. How long does it take to test all your dairies'?

5. Does the same dairy test the same six consecutive days; and if
not, wh^^ not?

6. J)id it increase your yield, and how much?

7. Do tlu^ churn's yield and the test agree?

8. Do you rely wholly up(m the butter test?
Now notice some of the answers :

*' I think it is the only fair method, as each man gets his dues. "
"I do not think our patrons would be satisfied or willing to aban-
don the butter test".

"We use the butter test only."

I'For twenty-eight i)atrons it takes two and a half hours."
"Our])resent plan for paying out did not increase our yield worth
speaking of. "

"Our lowest dairy for the month was an average of (S.P)) three and
six-tenth pounds butter fat to one hundred pounds milk. A small
dairy of Alderneys average about five pounds."

Another one replies thus :

" It is more accurate and just".

"Sixty (60) test in (3) three hours.'*

" We use the butter test alone. "

" The lactometer test and cream test are things of the past with us.
In a little time after adopting the new plan our yield increased one-
fourth pounds of butter to one hundied pounds of milk."

" Tli(*. sani(^ dairy very rarely tests the same six (G) consecutive days.
It is hard to account for this at all times. A change in the weather
has a great deal to do with it, so jlso careless milking, not getting
the stiippings ; abuser of th(^ cow while milking is another cause. Ir-
regular time for milking, foi* fefuling, change; of feed, exposure and
failing to drink one day and diinking to excess the next are all things
to be avoidiMl when unifoimiiy of test is desired."

Sonae of the answers from a third party are these : v :

38

QuARTERiA Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

39

" Under our present system each dairy is paid what it earns."

" AVe have <2:ained under our present test system froin one-half to
three-quarter pounds of butter to one hundred ]K)unds of milk. And
our patrons take home for their family use more than three times as
nuich butter now as they did before we adopted this system of paying-,
thoug-h they no doubt used as much butter before. "

"The rivalry now is to make or have the most butter; it used to be
to furnish the most milk. "

Now as to the system being* practical, advisable or even desirable, I
think the experience of those quoted answers that without a doubt.
Two of those creameries hav(5 in the flush of the season from 15,000 to
20,000 pounds of milk daily. Surely if those mammoth creameries
make it a success then the average size creameries should have no
difficulty in carrying out the plan. Why, then, do we not ])ay upon
the quality basis? Why did we not do it long* ago?

On the morning of July 3, 1879, eleven and a half years ag-o, the
first creamery erected in Bucks county commenced taking in milk.

It was something" new ; j^eople ojiened their eyes and looked on with
astonishment ; talked about it on the street corners of Quakertown, at
the blacksmith shop and the country store. Many knowing ones shook
tlieir heads and ])ro])liesied a very short existence to such an enterjnise,
in proof of which they recalled some " Wild-cat scheme" that soon
fizzled out and so would the creamery. But by and by a second com-
pany was organized, a building built and a creamery stai-ted. Then a
third, etc. , until now the creamery business has spread over the entire
length and breadth of this land — from beyond the great lakes to the
Gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific so that, as stated yesterday,
it has assumed immense proportions and cotton is king no longer.
And does not common sense teach us that to be fair and just to all
we should treat this immense industry the same as every other busi-
ness, buy as well as sell according to quality?

In its beginning we were untutored, unlearned in creamery affairs ;
and while it may Ijave been a mistake that we ever commenced paying
for milk regardless of quality, it may be well to remember that creamery
work was new to us, we had much to learn and many of us paid veiy
dear for our creamery education, but this vast industry had to have a
beginning here even though thousands of dollars were lost and misap-
plied for the want of experience, knowledge and needed apj^aratus.

Inventors have had their eyes and brains active and appear to have
anticipated some of our needs, giving us various new devices and appli-
ances for im])roving and systematizing the business, and now we have
instantaneous and continuous cream separation by centrifugal force,
ca]>])ed by butter, fattest machines upon the same prin(i])les, besides
other devices aided by chemicals, thus giving us the commercial value
of every dairy— the leal value of the milk brought to the creamery,
whether skimmed, watered, salted or soured.

Having iha knowledge and the ap])liances why not follow right up
and tak(^ liold of a system that is on the way and sure to come— paying
for milk according to Cjuality?

While we eastorn people were ^us])ioiously looking (m our western
competitors took hold of centiifugal cream separation and made money
a year before we were ready to venture here.

Today our western people are adoping the Initter-fat system for
testing milk by the dozen, a Philadel]:>hia manufacturer having an
order from a Chicago firm for six hundred (600) test machines and

we stand here debating tlie question and continue paying full and the
same [)rice for thin milk, skimmed milk and watered milk.

Many an honest farmer gets discouraged, knowing that some of his
dishonest neighbors get a benefit from his well-fed and well-cared for
dairy. And what does he do but reduce his dairy and take but little
interest in dairying, as it is a losing game for him. If, on the con-
trary, he were paid according to (luality, he would receive five, ten,
fifteen and even twenty cents more per one hundred pounds of milk
than his dishonest neighl)or, and that means a paying price for milk,
a larger dairy, an increased supply of milk at a creamery and honest
effort properly rewarded.

Mr. Balderston says, "Tiie creamery and the cheese factories of the
country are a godsend to the farmer. " But I iiave often thought and
said that i\u) creameries instead of being a blessing appear to be a curse
to many of our farming ])eople.

The business is the cause of more falsehoods ; yes, I know I voice
the sentiment of a lage majority of our creamery managers when I say
it is the father of more prevarications and dishonest practices by some
of its i^atrons than any other business. If I had tim<» I would like to
enumerate about one hundred of the mean, paltry, little excuses made
and given by a certain class of milk producers when their attention is
called to the leanness of their dairy product. But some of you aln^ady
know and every creamery manager knows what they are, such as,
*' Well, I do not feed much." Another thinks he feeds too much, as he
has heard it said that very rich milk does not test as well with the
lactometer as milk of a poor quality. One has changred his feed or
intends to change that day, and next morning he wants his milk tested
again ; thinks it is all right now, and frequently there is a big im-
provement.

Some get excited and use many loud and strong epithets, while
others get " on their ear" and are ever and always ready to haul their
milk to some neighboring creamery if the milk is not satisfactory h^^re.

It was always right before and never had any fault found while
living in an adjoining: township and hauling to Mr. Smith's creamery.
The operator always pronounced his milk about the best he had.

I at one time wrote a note to neighbor manager, inquiring " How did
Mr. Jones' milk test at your factory?" The answer came back: "I
always though he rinsed his buckets well. " Another one said : " Ugh !
he never did bring his milk straight."

Some ])atrons suddenly find out that the dog or the cat had access
to the milk and |)robably took off the cream ; oi- that the hired help had
been taking of the cream and adding water to make up the usual
weight, and even t\w wife, as a last resort, is accused of tami)ering with
the milk. Probably the lids were off and during the night it rained ;
or the spring house was flooded and the cans dipped water ; or the can
stood in the water baiTel under the spout ; the cows were out in the
rain all day : or thf\y had more salt than usual and drank too mncli
water ; one of the cows had been susi)ected for some time of giving
poor ]uilk and now th(^ ])oor old cow must be sold. There is scarcely
a man but what brings th(^ milk just as it comes from the cow, and of
course if the milk is not satisfactory he does not know wliat to do — he
cannot bring it any better.

Some of you who are present to-day, not conversant with the facets
and the tricks prol)al)ly iliink the picture overdrawn, but if you re-
member that a secretary of a Chester county creamery, the county

40

QUARTEKLY liErORT.

Penmsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

41

mil

ill

m \

where we would fain believe none but honest people lived writes of
his one hundred and twenty-five milk producers : Our patrons take
home for their family use more than three times as niucli butter now
than they did before we adopted this system of paying', tho^igh they
no doubt used as much l)utter before. " If you remember that and take
it for trutli, which I know it is, then you will not blame me lor any

exaggeration. ^. i i i i i i

I tell you it is a "burning shame," it is a dis^^race, that the morals
of so many of our people, the morals of a certain class oi farmers do
not rise any higher, yea, is it not about time that we change our
tactics and try to remove some of those temptations, instead of aiding
to lower human depravity^ Yesterday the oleomargarine trafhc was
branded as the biggest fraud in the United States, but let me tell you
the honest dairyman considers paying the same price for milk, regard-
less of quality, also a big fraud. .

Why not jniy for milk according to quality and throw out induce-
ments to be truthful and honest? It certainly would avoid much of
the contention and differences that now occur at the. creameries and aid
to improve the morals of some of our people. It is a fair, just and
accurate business-like way of doing business.

SILOS AND ENSILAGE.

By B. C. Mitchell, Brandamore^ Pa.

(Read at Bath Institute. )

It is not a treatise of natural history that I have written, but simply
the results of my observations and experiences. In stating these re-
sults I use the Language of daily life, believing that thereby I shall
be better understood l)y those to whom I address myself, and who, like
myself, are not familiar with the technicalities of science.

In 1886, I built a silo or rather two silos under one roof, the size of
them being 14 feet wide, 32 feet long and 22 feet high ; the walls are
constructed of stones laid in mortar, and are two feet thick and ce-
mented on the inside with Portland cement.

Stone silos require to be well cemented to keep ensilage well, as it
is very im])ortant to keep the ensilage well protected from the air,
frost and water. I think it is well that the silos should be built as a
separate structure, but adjoining and as convenient as i)ossible to the
feeding stable. If the silo is built on dry soil much labor may be
saved, as well as expense in building expensive foundation and drain-
age. Much has been said and written upon the various modes of con-
structing silos. Some advocate wooden silos as being far cheaper and
better for keeping ensilage in than stone ones, but as I have had no
experience with anything but stone, I cannot speak with any practical
knowledge upon the wooden silo, suffice it to say that the stone silo
will do me. I think tliem almost indispensable in the way of eco-
nomical farming. (But I wish to say riglit here that a farmer never
need to expect anything better to come out of a silo than he puts into
it.) I would not attempt to farm without silos after having five years'
experience in farming with them. The idea of a silo is to intensify

farming and, reduced to practice, is to raise the largest amount of the
best material with the least possible amount of labor consistent with
good culture.

It is a great source of economy because you can keep, I can safely
say, three times the number, and some say four times the number, of
stock upon the same amount of ground that you can in the old dry
fodder way of feeding stock ; for instance, I can raise ten tons of green
corn ensilage upon an acre of ground that will raise but one ton of hay ;
or, in other words, I can raise twenty tons of green corn ensilage u|)on
the ground that it would take to yield two tons of dry hay, and two
tons and a half of ensilage will go as far in feeding stock as one ton (jf
dry hay, and will keep the stock a great deal better. With dry food
nature is heavily taxed at all points to make good the lack of the
natural juices of the plant ; the woody fiber of the j)lant must be
broken down and disintegrated by the power of the gastric juice in
the stomach in order to set free the nutriment contained in the plant.
The force thus required is several times greater than when succulent
food is fed. I have had considerable experience in feeding stock with
green corn ensilage ; therefore, what I say upon the subject is from a
practical knowledge and not from hearsay or what I may have read
from books. One year ago this winter I fed about 140 head of stock
all told, of various kinds, and this winter I am feeding about seventy-
five head, all told, consisting of twenty head of horse kind, such as
work horses, driving horses, brood mares, colts, ponies and mules,
and fifty -five head of cows, the most of which are giving milk. I have
never fed anything to stock of any kind that was more satisfactory
than green corn ensilage. It is said by good authority that ensilage
is good and economical for feeding sheep, hogs and even poultry, but
I have never had any exj)erience in that line, consequently I cannot
vouch for it, but I believe it is good. My horses have done splendidly
on it, and for feeding dairy cows I think there is nothing that equals
green corn ensilage. Cows fed upon green corn ensilage will give
more milk and of a better flavor and quality than any other feed that
you can give them, but T would not recommend feeding ensilage alone.
I think cows need a mixed feed.

As to the chemical action of ensilage in the silo, when the corn is
cut in the field and \M\i into the silo it at once begins to heat. A cer-
tain amount of this cannot be avoided, and experience has shown also
that a certain amount of it is desirable, both to kill the bacteria, which
causes the heating, and also to properly cook or prepare the ensilage
and thus assist digestion. If this fermentation does not take place in
the silo it must in the stomach. All sugar or starchy matter contained
in food and taken into man's stomach must undergo a fermenting ac-
tion in the stomach before it can be digested. This also holds good
with the brute family, and before the sugar and starch passes succes-
sively through the several stomachs of the cow this action must take
place to ]>roduce a perfect digestion, so that with ensilage this moder-
ate fermentation and ])reparation of the food in the silo assists very
materially tlu^ digestion of the animal, enabling tlu^ cow beifter to as-
similate her food and to ]>roduce more largely of milk and fat. To
this and the excellent laxative effect of ensilage upon tlu^ bowels in
part may be attributed a large share of the benefit cattle universally
derive under the system of ensilage feeding.

Now as to the modus operandi of getting the ensilage. As I have
no experience with anything but corn I cannot speak intelligently upon

#-m-^^v3-

I '

i, : 1

42

Quarterly Report.

making ensilage of any other material. As to the kind of corn it seems
to be a matter of eoutroversy, as the wide ran^e of the silo carries it
into localities out of the corn belt where seasons are short and condi-
tions not always favorable to the best corn g-rowth. For each locality a
particular kind is pointed out. My experience is that here is nothing-
tliat equals the big" southern white corn for this section ; it will keep
^reen longer and contains less woody fiber. It would be useless for
urn to say to an intelligent class of fanners that it requires good, well-
nianur(3d and well tilled soil. Plant as early as the time and season
will permit of: drill in rows not less than three feet six inches apart,
using from eight to twelve quarts of corn i)er acre ; as soon as the
corn is up, or even before it is up, harrow the ground well with a smot-
hering or slanting tooth harrow. I have had i^rood success in har-
rowing corn with a twin spike -tooth harrow.

The best time to cut corn for g(jod t^nsilage is when it gets to l)e full
roasting ears, and if the corn begins to glaze it does not hurt it. The
way that I cut and haul corn to the silo, after trying many ways, is,
I cut and lay in gavels as large as a man can easily lift uj) on a wagon,
or rather, it takes two men to hand it u[) to the loader. We generally
haul with three teams, but that is owing to the distance we have to
haul. AVe run our cutter with an engine ; we cut it in one half inch
lengths and run it into the silo with carrier attached to the cutter, and
we can cut a ton in from eight to ten minutes. There are various
opinions as to the best plan of covering and weighing ensilag'e. I
have tried trami)ine:, covering and weighing, and have finally con-
cluded the best and chea])est way is to i)ut it in loosely, simply level-
ing it down and covering it about two feet deep with chafi*, straw,
swamp grass, or cut cornfodder, and in about twenty days the ensilage
will be ready for feeding.

CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

By Casper Hii.ler, Conestoga, Penna,

I need not give you the history of corn— tell you of the millions of
bushels raised every year, and of the many uses to which it is applied.
With all this every reader is familiar. The interesting question is how
to produce it cheajdy and plentifully. Necessarily cheaply, because
cheap freight from the west has made cheap corn. The average price
of western corn at our railroad stations has been of late about forty -
three cents a bushel. On this the western producer had to pay the
freight, and therefore realized only a few cents a bushel.

We, having a home market, have the forty-three cents net. Freight
discrimination does not affect us here. In Conestoga township we raise
50,000 bushels of corn, more or less, which we use at home, and in ad-
dition we* bought about 15,000 bushels of western corn.

Why do we buy thirty i)er cent, of the corn we use?

Can we not raise it for forty-three cents a bushel, or have we reached
the limit of ])roducti(m?

It is said the average qyo\) of our county is under fifty bushels per
acre. The margin of ]n'ofit on a fifty-bushel crop won't make the
grower rich very fast. But why raise only fifty bushels? How much

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

43

should we raise In theory, 150 bushels to the acre. Plills three feet
by three feet with two stalks to the hill make 9,G00 stalks; 9,(J00 ears
with a pint of corn to each ear make 150 bushels. It looks very easy
on paper. In practice, from 80 to 120 bushels are often obtained.

In studying the possibilities of corn, I last year had under special
observation three tracts.

One produced eighty bushels. This was grown on a plot of natu-
rally poor soil, whi(;h was farmed for several rotations in corn, rye and
clover, and was fertilized in all that time only Avith phosphoric acid.
The peculiarity of this crop was that it had less than a stalk to the
square yard, having by count oidy 4,400 plants to the acre, showing
that on an average each plant had a pint of corn.

The second tract made 118 bushels. This was on fairly good land,
with a good clover sod, and was fertilized with five hundred weight of
South Carolina rock ; was planted three feet four inches by three feet.
At two stalks to a hill it would have had 8, 700 stalks to an acre, but,
from failures to grow, had only 7,500. This, too, made a pint of com
to each plant.

The third tract was good land, and was manured with five hundred
weight of a complete fertilizer, four hundred weierht at the time of plow-
ing and one hundred weight scattered between the rows in July, be-
fore the last cultivation ; drills three feet four inches apart, and the
plants seventeen inches ai)art in the rows, making 9,000 [)lants to the
acre, yielding 123 bushels. This did not make a pint of corn to each
stalk. Part of this tract was flat where the excessive wet of last season
was perceptibly injurious. On this ground the i)lants made excessive
growth, many of them measuring fourteen feet, with ears eight feet up.
The rows ran east and west, which shaded the ground injuriously.
Rows on such rich land should be north and south. Com Avants sun-
shine and rain.

The princii)al elements to success in corn culture consist of manure,
good plowing, good seed and good cultivation. Manure is the prin-
cipal element to success. For want of it I have, in my younger days,
raised fifteen bushels of corn on an acre, and I think I was not the only
one that did it. It is a good thing to have plenty of stable manure on
hand, and to the farmer who has enough of it, little need be said — he
will know what to do with it.

Witli our present facilities of manuring we must not spend too much
money in building up the manure ])ile, and we should not spend a dol-
lar in buying stable manure. Stable manure is not a wtdl balanced
corn manure. It has too little ])hos))horic acid in proportion to potash
and ammonia. A corn fertilizer should have about fifty pounds of
phosphoric acid to an acre dressing, and to get this in stable manure
you have to ai)ply at least ten tons of stable manure per acre. In these
ten tons you a]iply eighty pounds of ammonia over the wants of the
corn, which at its commercial value represents a loss of $12.

Three or four tons of stable manure and two hundred weight of South
Carolina rock make a good com fertilizer. But on most of the soils of
lower Lancaster county, ammonia and [)otash are present in sufiicient
quantities for a corn cro]), and they appear to be exhausting very
slowly, as I know from experience and observation. For example,
I know land in Martic townshi]i, where the original Scotch -Irish set-
tlers farmed all the ])lant life owi of the soil and then threw it out into
commons, where it lay idle for half a century ; too ])oor to grow biiars
and weeds ; too poor to grow ten bushels of com. On this land, by

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Pennbylvania State Board of Agriculture.

45

the application of eight hundred weight of South Carolina rock, over
fifty bushels of corn were raised and the wheat and clover following
were all that could be desired. Some of this land thus treated for fif-
teen years is still improving. Stable manure can be spread over the
clover sod at any convenient time during winter or spring ; the South
Carolina rock three or four weeks before plowing. If your land must
have a complete fertilizer, sow half of it before plowing, the rest be-
fore the last cultivation.

Manure is a costly article, no matter from what source you obtain it,
and must be used with judgment. But saving it is like saving at the
spigot and leaving run out at the bung hole. I take no stock in the
declaration of some that it don't pay to apply artificial fertilizers. In
all my experience I have not known of a failure from their application,
where an honest article was used and properly applied. In unfavor-
able seasons we may not have much benefit from them, but good pay-
ing results will crop out before the rotation is over. It will pay to
apply proper dressings to land already rich enough in all the elements
necessary for a corn crop, even if you do not get an additional bushel.

It is worth something, that your land is little or no poorer after an
eighty bushel crop of corn has taken up the elements for its perfection.

How shall we plow? You, no doubt, have observed that the best
corn irrows where the furrows are turned up hill — half turned round.
Turning all furrows up hill is not practicable, but we can attain nearly
the same results by plowing sods and manure under only three or four
inches.

The plow, with the jointer that gathers the rubbish and manure
nicely into the bottom of tlui furrow is a humbug in com farming .
Manure covered six or eight inches is beyond the influence of heat and
moisture, and will not change into plant food — will lay there inert
until the next plowing.

True, this shallow plowing, in some soils and in some seasons, may
be an injury, but this may be remedied by following the plow w^ith a
subsoiler, stirring ui> the earth a few inches deeper. On this shallow
plowing a roller seems indispensabl(\

Spike liaiTowing and marking should be done so as to disturb the
inverted sod as little as possible.

No definite time can be g-iven for X)lanting. If we knew whether
earing time and rain would come together, in July or August, we
would know whether to plant early or late. But as we do not know%
we may as well i)lant as early in May as the ground is in good condi-
ti(m. It will be a hit as often as a miss.

Good soil will allow 9,600 plants to the acre— that is, three feet by
three feet, with two ])lants to a hill, or single plants eighteen inches
apart in the drill. If my land were not so hilly, which i)revents me
from making my drills north and south, I would be crank enough to
make my drills next year five feet apart, with the corn eight inches
apai-t. This would give me 13,000 plants to the acre. Thirteen thou-
sand ])ints, you know, make two hundered bushels. Don't forget the
pints! I ho])e that in tliis audience there is at least one who has a
nice ])lot of ground tliat is crank enough to try this. To make sure of
a good set, we must use seed liberally.

Tusser, an old English farm poet, wrote many, many years ago—

"Two for the blackbird,
Two lor tlie crow,

Two for the cutworm,
Two left to grov ."

In our practice we usually succeed with two seeds where one ought
to grow. Replanting rarely amounts to inucli. Good seed means well-
ripened ears, kept dry over winter. Our ideal corn should have long
ears, dee[) grains, thick cobs. Bear in mind that a two-inch cob has
100 i^er cent, more seed foundation than a one-inch cob. It is import-
ant that we have a good variety — one that produces few barren stalks.

In looking over two varieties growing in the same field, one a Ches-
ter Gourd, the other Early Mastodon, I find many barren jilants in the
former, w hile in the latter (half acre) not one. It is said these barren
plants can be bred out by persistent cutting out before they shed their
pollen. I have not much faith in this, but the aforesaid seems to in-
dicate that some varieties are more subject to it than others.

Cultivation, one of the most im])ortant elements in corn culture, ap-
pears to be imperfectly understood by the farmer. He spike harrows,
shovel harrows, plows, hoes and scrapes in the soonest possible time —
finishing up when the corn is not more than four or six inches high.

What do we cultivate for at this season ? To kill weeds or to make
the corn grow^ Weeds must be destroyed. If it were not, then the
less we would cultivate during growing June weather the better for
the corn.

A healthy one-foot plant at the end of June is more desirable than a
three -foot plant.

Quick and rank growth in June does not advance ear production —
that is a matter of about seventy days for the dent varieties.

Quick growth, then, makes long joints with the ears six or eight feet
up ; slow growth, short joints with the ears three or four feet uo, and
with equally favorable weather in July and August, the latter is the
best. If you must cultivate in growing weather — the last of June — let
your shovel harrow run close to the corn, and deep : a little root i)run-
ing will do good.

When the corn plant is foiiy to fifty days old, soon in July, then is
the time to commence cultivating for the development of the plant and
ear. If the weather is just right, little of it, but, if dry, we should
cultivate often enough to keep the soil from baking, and follow this up
to earing time, being stire, however, to make our last cultivations quite
shallow. Root pruning now is very injurious.

THE HORSE AND HIS BREEDING.

Bv Ephraim S. Hoover, Lancaster, Penna,

(Read at Lancaster Institute.)

The horse, the most useful of the brute creation, is an important
servant to man. He adds much to man's comfort and happiness.
And yet how little man often does for him. The success of any coun-
try de])ends much on her horses. What speaks more forcibly to the
traveler, passing through a country, of her thrift, comfort and (mter-
])rise tlian a fine breed of horses owned by her? It means good, pru
dent and thoughtful management in almost everything else. It shows
intelligence of her peo])le. It does not happen by chance that this
noble animal is more superior in some ])laces than in others, but it is

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Quarterly Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

47

'I

the result of briiij^ing" tog-etlier the best breeds of horses and combiiiiii<>'
their lii^^her qualities and ^^ettiii^ a better and higher quality.

In treating: this subject, let us first take into consideration the breed-
inir of this animal so inij)ortant to man. Be particular in selecting
the stock you ex])ect to breed from. "Like i)roduces like.'' A good
colt costs no more to raise than a i)Oor one, and liardly as much, and
when ready for market will often bring threefold as much as an in-
ferior one. The offspring will inherit the (lualities of the stock you
breed from, and this is an im])ortant consideration, and should be borne
in mind when selecting breeds. One rule can never fail. The breed-
ing mare should be as free from blemishes as possible, and of a gentle
disi)osition. The kind of horses to be bred from must be regulated
for the purpose you w'ant them. If horses are wanted for slow heavy
hauling, and are expected or intended for such uses and purposes only,
then get all the bone and muscle you can as well as Aveight, for just
such horses are w^anted in our large cities in drays and wagons, w^here
great weights must necessarily be transported on i^aved streets, where
horses of light wtught and less bone and muscle would soon be jaded
and worn out. If great speed and physical endurance, light draught
and a good record on the race course are wanted, then select the Eng-
lish blooded horse. This horse, the Engisli tell us, is a cross of the
old English road horse, and tlie Arabian horse, but the finer and better
kind of English horses are descended from tln^ Arabian and Bard.
TlHjy claim for them, that foi* })hysical endurance, perseverance and
speed, they surpass all other breeds of horses. The English hunter
and hackney are, we think, so closely related to the one just described
that they may be classed under the same head.

But we want still another kind of horse, different in some resi)ect8
from the breeds just described. And what shall he be? We will call
him *'an all purpose horse," a combination of the two classes just de-
scribed. This horse has the bone and muscle to do all kinds of ordi-
nary farm work, and, at the same time, is a good speedy driving horse
with a good elastic stei), kind and gentle in dis]iosition— an ag(^d man's
horse as well as a young man's horse, one that iij lofty in his bearing, a
pleasure in using him and a profit to raise. Such a horse as this is in
demand always, and particularly at this time.

Farmers and others using horses for different purposes, owning ani-
mals as I have described, need not keep and feed an extra driving or
pleasure horse, as is often the case, at an extra expense, for they have
all tlK^y neful combined in this animal. The question may here arise,
where will you fjnd this kind of horse? My answer is, by getting a
combination to some extent of the two breeds of horses I ha\ e just de-
scribed. The English blooded horse, crossed by some of the best
breeds of draught horse, of ordinary weight and a reasonable degree
of action, will jnoduee, we think from some of our experiences, good
results in this direction.

Some of our best stock raisers tell us that France has been crossing'
the English blooded horse with the fine draught horse, [)roducing just
the kind of horse most desirable for all purposes. From this cross
there has been imported into our country a very superior horse of this
kind known as the French coach horse, that, w^e tliink, more nearly
possesses the qualities for an all-purpose horse than any we know of
being of good size, fine in ai^pearance, gentle of disposition, sufficient
m strength for all draught necessary on the farm, speedy drivers and

profitable to raise for market. This kind of horse will always be in
demand.

Having aimed to point out some of the important points in breeding
the horse, and the kind of stock to breed, I shall next give some of the
most essential ])oints in feeding and raising the colt and his treatment
while quite young until old enough for light work. The new-born colt
is a very tender creature and must be carefully handled and made as
comfortable as possible, in a warm, light, roomy stable, if the weather
is still cool. Great care must be taken not to feed the dam any strong
feed, for fear of causing her milk to become too strong, causing gripes
and pains in the young colt and soon end its existence, for the least
ailment of the colt, the first second and third week of its existence, will
soon be fated, if not speedily remedied. The feed for the dam during
this period should be oats and bran — say two-thirds oats and one-third
bran. An occasional bran mash is quite beneficial. During this
period the mare should do no Avork, but allowed to roam about with
lier colt a few hours each clear day in some lot or field having good
pasture. B(^ sure to stable at night and rainy days. After three or
four weeks the mare may be put to moderate work again and* gradually
fed stronger, but never left aw ay from her colt at any one time longer
than from four to five hours, so the colt does not suffer for want of tak-
ing nourishment regularly. "When the colt is six or seven months old
it should be weaned. The dam, if possible, should be put out of sight
of her colt and beyond her hearing. After weaning, feed liberally
with bruised oats and bran as a mash at first and later whole oats and
bran, and Avater regularly. Care should be taken neither to feed too
mucli nor too little. Both extremes should be avoided. Feed just
sufficient to keep the colt thriving. A mistake is often made by feed-
ing Golts too much and keeping them in a close, dark stable, which
often affects their eyes and makes them sluggish for want of exercise.

Turn your colts out on all clear days into some roomy pasture field
or lot. Let them have an abundance of exercise, sun and pure air.
Stable them only at night in winter and on rainy days or extremely
cold weather. The second and third years of a colt's life he can almost
be kept cm i)lenty of good ]^asture in summer, and a sufficient (juantity
of g(^()d hay in winter, exce])t the last ])art of his third year; which,
if he is intended to be broken in for light work, he should be fed a
reasonable share of grain. My experience in colt raising convinces me
that two colts a year can easily be raised on an ordinary farm, and
with profit, too, if the right kind of colts are raised, which, when well
trained, will sell for at least $150 to $200 a])iece, ancj even for more if
of superior (piality. Can the farmer do anything on his farm that will
pay him better, considering risks, labor and investment?

I shall give a few ])ractical suggestions in training colts and young
horses. This should begin at the mother's side the first day of the
colt's existence. He should be made familiar with man; should be
caressed and fondled and all fear removed as much as possible. This
should be done repeatedly, until he grows fond of man. Train early
and train right, for by your acts he learns. Teach him early in the
way he should go, and he wdll not soon depart from it if pro]>erly
handled and treated. He should be early haltered, and handled when
not yet a mcmth old— not tied for any length of time, but so as to know
what it means. He should at the same time be taught to lead and
turn right niid left, and back. Never tie a colt so young and leave liirn
to himself for fear of strangling, but keep a watchful care over him.

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Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

49

When ho becomes submissive caress him for it, remove the halter and
let him roam about the stable at pleasure. Repeat this frequently
and you avoid much future trouble. Never punish a colt so youn^ if
not willing- to submit. In nine cases out of ten he will do what you
want of him if he understands you. Convince him you are his friend
and he will be fond of you. Do not expect too much from a colt.
Have patience and teach a little at a time, repeating until he f(/lly
imderstands you. Time spent at this period in training* what must
be taught him at some time will prove valuable. It is much easier
done now before he becomes more set in his ways and of more strength,
and Avill enhance his value, make him more useful and more salable.
As he grows older he should g-radually be taught those thing-s he will
want to know when he is put to work. Have head stall that can be
made small and larger to suit his size, have an easy bit on the head
stall, so you can easily put it in and out of his mouth by buckling.
He will soon know what it is to be bridled by repeating" this a few
times. In this way accustom him to harness and in all things that he
must have on him when he is of the right age to beg-in work, and you
will have* very little trouble with him if properly handled after this.
A few lessons now and then before he is hitched to anything by driv-
ing him about harnessed and bridled with a pair of long" lines, so as to
be out of danger of his heels, turning him right and left and stop])ing
at the word of command, and a firm hold on the lines, would often
cause much less care and trouble later. Do not ride a colt as a first
lesson when putting him to work. He does not know what it means.
Serious residts have followed such imprudent acts, and it is not neces-
sary at this time. Never trust a young horse or colt into the hands of
an ill-natured or inexperienced person. Horses are not naturally born
to bad habits until made so by ill-treatment and improper manag"e-
ment. Never whip a colt to make him ])ull when first hitched up.
Treat him kindly and let him go along at the side of an old well-broken
horse. He will soon learn from the old horse by instinct, and so in
many other things he will follow after old and well-trained horses.

I have now dealt with the colt from the first ])eriod of its existence,
and would expect little trouble from him, if of my own raising- and
training-, but we do not raise all horses we come in i)ossession of, and
consequently get some that have bad habits, a few of which I shall
notice and the manner of breaking them u]).

The hjibit of kicking in voung horses may be broken up, but never
whi]) your horse to bnmk him of it. Nothing so completely subdues
a vicious horse a^s throwing him or laying him down and keeping him
there until fully conquered. I am willing to show in what manner it
can be d(m(^ without injuring the horse. In many cases this alone will
break u]) the habit, for, as Gleason says, "It takes the conceit out of
him and makes him sumbmissive." But a safer and surer way is this:
Have a strong hainess, imrticularly the bridle and bit, have a strong-
ring on to]) of your bridle, also one equallv strong on top of your
crupi)er. Take two one-half inch ropes of the best material from ten
to twelve feet long. Ti(^ one end to the ring of the bit, run it uj) at
the side of the horse's head, through the ring on top of the l)ridle, take
it back through tlu^ tenet ring on the harness and through the ring on
the crui)])er, down to the shaft and tie around the shaft, so that the
rope IS barely stretched. Do the same with the other rope, and you
are ready for action. Have your horse reined up as usual. * Now if
he attempts to kick he must throw his head forward (or wants to but

can't) and his other extremities up. If he wants to kick this will set
him down and jerk him in the mouth, and punish him severely, and in
a short time he will quit the habit. In short, he can't kick when he
has this on.

Another bad habit is rearing. This is often caused by too severe a
bit for a soft-mouthed horse. In young horses this may be broken up
by using an easy bit, if patience is exercised, but a more effectual way
is by throwing the horse by a long pair of lines, to keep out of harm's
way. Another very general habit some of the best and otherwise ex-
cellent horses have is shying" at objects along the roadside--at steam
engines, bicycles, hand-carts and a number of objects often met with
on the road. Do not whip your horse when scared by an object any-
where. If he is an intelligent, well-bred horse, you can teach him to
care little or nothing about objects he so much fears. If your horse
wants to start back, and wants to ran away from the object he so mu(*h
fears, speak kindly to him. Never whip him for being afraid of any-
thing, or he will soon associate the whipping with the object he so
much fears, and get worse the oftener you do it. Get him past the ob-
ject by kind, encouraging words, if you can, but if lie sliows a great
deal of fear, go to his head and get his confidence by kind treatment
and get him to the object he so much dreads. Let him smell of it, and
examine it. His nose is his means of examining tinners for himself,
and when he is convinced an object will not hurt him he will care no
more about it. Some of the best bred horses are very nervous and
spirited, and at the same time very intelligent, and by patience and
educating them in this way the habit can be effectually broken up in
most cases.

A number of other bad habits might be considered, such as halter
breakers, balkers, cribbers, obstinate disposition, lying down, etc. To
treat all these at length would be tedious and too lengthy at this time.
When you want to purchase a horse you never saw before and know
nothing about, look well to his natural disposition. Some horses are
naturally kind and obedient, while others are more obstinate and harder
to govern, and never show that attachment to man that others do.

The ])oints of a good horse, says an eminent horseman, are these :
"A small, thin ear, furry inside; large, round, full eyes, standing out
well from the head ; large thin nostrils and broad between his ears
and between his eyes, and narrow from his eyes to his jowl. Such a
horse has intelligence, will learn quickly and remember well. " Let all
horsemen, and those who are about to engage in any of the ])ursuits in
life requiring this faithful servant of man, consider this subject and
aim at that breed of horses and their breeding, rearing and training
that I have aimed to show, and I'll venture to say that it will bifng
about a su]>erior stock of horses for quality, usefulness and profit, and
the horse, the noblest of all God's gifts to man in the animal kingdom,
will then be, as he should be, and ought to be, better cared for and
more appreciated b}^ man.

1 1

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QuAiiTERLY Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

51

WAYS AND MEANS ON THE FARM.

Bv Henry Cm wake, Oreencastle^ Pa.

(Read at Greencastle Institute.)

We are here apiiii to-day in the interest of agriculture, which, ever
since the energ'y of man has been exercised on earth, took precedence
and has stood first in honor among- the vocations of lif(\ As in ancient
days, so now it is the chief agency of support for mankind, and the
great source of solid wealth. Her garners constitute the treasury of
real value and are one of the chief sources of revenue to the state.

An ancient author speaks of the island of Sicily as the magazine
and nursing mother of the Roman i)eople, because from that small
island Rome drew almost all the corn for the su])])ort of the city and
for the maintenance of her armies. Yet Avho Avill maintain that the
soil on the island of Sicily and the region of Carthage on the coast of
Africa was naturally more xu'oductive than the garden spot of the New
World, which we designate the Cumberland Valley--a name which
throughout the country is regarded as a synonym of i)roductiveness.
Scarcely a tourist that visits our valley but makes note of the sure
crop getting cpmlity of our soil. The hordes of Lee and Longstreet
were astounded at the prospect and spoke in the highest praise of our
agricultural wealth. And yet, to-day, after a number of the most fruit-
ful seasons and with agricultural plenty, there are those who look only
at the dark side and deplore their calling as one fit to be abandoned in
despair.

Being together on thi^ occasion in the interest of our calling, let us
try and look at the bright side for the purpose of encouragement,
rather than dwell on the gloomy prospect, as it is presented by so
many writers on the thread-bare topic of agricultural depression.

Whatever ground of complaint there may be in other sections of the
country, wliere the ravages of drought and frost have bnmght on a con-
diti(m of want and dc^stitntion to be deplored wdtli sadness, surely with
cribs and garners replete with grain and with beef, pork and vegetables
in abundance, there is no reason for despondency among farmers here
in this favored valley, where the labor of the husbandman has been so
bountifully rewarded.

AVould thos(^ who see nothing- but agricultural depression and are
ever disparaging th(^ value of their own goods by the oft-repeated as-
sertion that " farming don't pay," put as much energy and vim into ex-
alting the industry there w^ould be less discontent and more success ;
for nothing is more prolific of half hearted effort and failure than this

Will not do to l)e thus unfair. If when skill and industry on the f;'irm
directcMl by the light of science under the economic management of the
faithful husbandman will not yield a fair income then only can it be
said that "farming don't i)av."

lake th(^ one hundred-acre farm with thirty acres in com, forty in
wheat and thirty in grass, ])()tatoes and orchard— and there are many
in my ])resence who can certify that their corn for the last eight vears
has averaged not less than fifty bushels ]»er acre —allowing the half of
the corn to cover the exi)ense of cropping, the remaining half at forty

cents would be worth $300, which is equal to six per cent, on half the
farm vahied at $100 i)er acre. And surely tlu^ income from tlie remain-
ing seventy acres from wheat and potatot^s Avith orchard and dairy ])ro-
duct, supplemented by the profits on poultry and other live stock, w^ould
meet the interest on the other half of the farm. It may be objected
that only farms in a high state of cultivation will meet the require-
ments of this calculation. We answer that the poor farm need not pro-
duce half as w^ell to meet the interest on the investment because it can
be bought for less than half as much.

He that travels through this valley in the growing season cannot fail
to observe that some farms produce 100 per cent, more than others
equally well situated, and that this difi^erenc^e in result is a sure index
to the management. Where industry, enforced by method, and ])rompt-
ness is practiced, reasonable success is assured, but where slipshod
methods prevail and tlie 10th of June is made the farther limit for
planting corn, all hands feel easy and are in no hurry, witli the sure
prospect of reaping light and ill matured crops which are quoted in
evidence that "farming don't pay." In view of the fact that govern-
ment bonds and others safe securities, bearing four per cent, sell at a
premiuni the charge that "farming don't pay" cannot be maintained
by any just calculation.

Whether success or failure is in store for the farmer depends mainly
upcm the ways and methods in the handling of the means. Dry sea-
sons and the grubworm are too often charged with being the cause of
failure when improjier tillage and neglect should bear the blame.
Some succeed in the raising of crops but fail in turning them to profit-
able account. Failure of any kind begets the habit of casting the
blame elsewhere and leads to com])laining where there is little cause
for it. The case with many is like that of the man who was pushed off
the ]>latform of the horse car and brought suit for damages. On enter-
ing court for trial when not a scratch or pain was seen or felt to remind
him of injury, yet when his counsel with tragic mien depicted the
horrifying details of injury to his client — who was then found crying,
and when asked what was the matter, sobbed out — "Oh ! 1 didn't know
/ was huried so had till I heard my lawyer tellin' it all." So it is with
some farmers, all is well till some solicitor comes around in the cam-
paigning season and magnifies their grievances and tells them " how
bad they are hurted. " We must not forget that in farming, as in other
departments of business, the ])rofits are gauged by the character of
the business management. The banker who puts out his money on
securities that will be found unavailing at maturity will as certainly
be short in account as the farmer who exchanges his earnings for prom-
ises made by the vender of Bohemian oats. The grocer or dry -goods
merchant who leaves his business in the hands of disinterested or in-
competent clerks while he sports at gaming centers, is no more certain
to fail than the farmer whose a])[>etite and desire for pleasure keep him
away from home to the neirlect of his farm.

Other industries, to prove successful must be conducted with the
utmost ])recision and u])on the best known methods, and to keep even
jiace in this age of keen, shar]) cutting competition, the farmer must
imbibe something of ihc same s])irit or be left in the race. Wliat is
chiefly w^anted by farmers is more study and improvement in their
ways and a more judicious use of the means put at their disposal. It
has been said of the professions that while seemingly crowded in the
department of common attainments, "that there is room at the top."

52

Quarterly Keport.

and here is a lesson for the farmer who will find that it is the inferior
articles mainly which crowd and suppress the market, and that the
much talked-of ag-ricultural depression falls most heavily upon those
who fail to meet or comprehend the demands of the market and crowd
it with three cent cattle when five-cent cattle are wanted ; with forty-
cent potatoes when dollar potatoes are wanted, and with ten -cent butter
when twenty-hve-cent butter is preferred. These are thing's which
Alliance platforms and legislation will not correct. The law of supply
and demand will regulate the price of our surplus, and as long" as we
must sell it in a market where we must compete witli other nations who
are as eager to sell as we are, neither retaliation or reciprocity will g-ive
us better prices than our comi)etitors can get.

A redaction on railroad freight of two cents a bushel would give the
farmer who sells 600 bushels of wheat an increase of $12, but if, by
more judicious methods and a higher fertility, he can larg-ely increase
the yield and reduce the cost of [)roduction, he is in the way of a per-
manent l)eneht. A closer looking into causes near home and about the
farm will ])rove an efficient aid in reaching, not only a higher standard
of ])roducts but also larger yields. An inquiry into the cause of leaks
and avenues of waste cannot fail to bring good results. The hog that
was tanned brown in the manure heap will not be made to look fine or
reach the [)oint of i)roht after a whole summer's good feeding. AVlien
a farmer dei)ends on the fermentation of barnyard deposits to keep u])
the animal heat of his swine, it is unfair for him to say that hog" rais-
ing don't pay, and that they eat their heads ol!' when all dependii on
the character of his oivn head. It is yet too common on many farms
that hogs and cattle on the approach of spring bear too many marks
of wintering*, and if put on the scales would weig-h less than they did
in early autumn, and are a standing index of the fact that this kind of
farming " don't pay. " In feeding, regularity is in the line of economy,
but more is implied than the mere distribution of provender at stated
hours. The good feeder is not the one that is most lavish with the
feed, but the successful feeder whose methods are the result of study
and observation. He keeps constant watch, and not only feeds the
animals but observes their manner of eating and chances of fair play
with a view to better supply their real w^ants at the least cost. When
some eindemic disease makes its appearance in any of the cities the
first act of the authorities is to enforce cleanliness as a means to pre-
vent fatality. This lesson sliould not be lost sight of in the treatment
of farm stock, for it is a well authenticated fact that filth, vermin and
staivation are the chief agents to generate disease among- animals.

Science is knowledge, and practice is knowledge turned to accoimt,
and correct practice on the farm must be in agreement with the rudi-
ments of science. Chemical science teaches the composition of farm
pro(lucts and points out the elements of fertility necessary for their
production.

In order to reach a point of higher success in farming, we must aim
at more logical conclusions, in dealing with the questions of soil ex
haustion and soil imi)rovement, we must throw aside the factor of in
dehniteness which has its origin in guesswork and be guided by the
tacts as presented by the light of science. If we i)lace a number on

.. ... ...,., .,,... ,^c:..ii »itii inusi ()i our neius : since tliey were first cleared

ot brush and trees they have been treated to a process of subtraction

-ev«-r-

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

', -^j

53

without corresponding additions. This is soil exhaustion pure and
simple, and is as vigorously practiced by many to day as in any period
of the past. Take the nitrogen, the phosphoric acid and potash—
which are the essential and universally recognized elements of fertility
—contained in a ton of clover hay as rated in commercial fertilizers
and their value is $8.50, whilst the same in timothy hay is worth $7.25.
From this it is ])lain that to raise and sell hay crops— with $3.50 worth
of work included at $6.00 a tern is not only bad economy in that it is
giving away for an actual return of $2.50 an amount of fertility which
is badly needed and cannot be bought back for less than $8.50, but in
its effects upon future i)rospects it is killing the goose that lays the
golden e^g. How few consider that in selling a hay crop from a field
they part with as much of the element of fertility as is contained in
three crops of wheat or tw^o of corn, and that he who sells his clover
hay for six dollars practices worse economy than he that gives jiway
his wheat straw for nothing. Recently I heard a farmer say he had
thirty tons of timothy hay to sell, for which he was getting $().00. In
the sale of this hay he is parting with as much potash as is contained
in four thousand bushels of wheat, and as much nitrogen as is or-
dinarily contained in ten tons of so-called high grade fertilizer.

And in the aggregate he gives in exchange for $180.00 an amount of
plant food which, rated at its market value, would be worth $37.24
more than he gets for his hay, and considering that the cost of labor
on each ton for making, storing, packing and delivering is not less
than $3.50 the profit will show up just $142.24 on the wrong side of the
account. Who will not agree that the feeding value of good hay, as
compared with corn is not alone more than $6.00. Yet there are many
empty stables in which cattle might be fed with profit and the money
which must be spent to replace this plant food retained in the purse
with no one's back sprained in lifting bales of hay.

Another barrier in the way of success with some is the unknown
quantity, guessing and estimating by the eye, instead of weighing and
measuring, by which the seller is often cheated or in danger of accpiir-
ing a re])utation for trying to cheat the buyer. This ])ractice too often
has to do with reported yields as in the case of the tliirteen-acre field
whi(;h a man ]dowed in six days and sow^ed to wheat in one day to the
credit of his team, and after the threshing to ascertain the average
yield per acre divided the aggregate of 250 bushels by ten which grave
the respectable showing of twenty -five bushels jier acre. In live stock
deals it w^ill generally be to the farmer's ad\antage to have the scales
determine the basis for calculating the prices.

There are but few farmers who are not ]uit at a disadvantage with
the practical stock dealer in estimating on the hoof. As a rule such
estimates are in excess of the fact. How often is it that the big load
of hay of two and a half tons when ])laced on the scales will not exceed
three fourths of that amount^ As long as a rail — and as bier round as
a tub — indicate the indefiniteness, as in the case of the pumpkin which
a man raised in his fruit-lot, when describing its immensity, after a
pause, he said it was so large that six men could stand around it. In
cropping a field we should know the exact number of acres it contains.
Unfavorable seasons, with the accidents of weather and other unfore-
seen events over which we have no control, occasion sufficient uncer-
tainty w^ithout taking the risk of loss by making guess-work the crite-
rion for decision and action. There is not a doubt but Ihn^ a strict ac-
count with business would prevent many a failure among farmers. Ac-

54

QUAKTKIILY EePOIIT.

cording' to Bradstreet, about fourteen hundred business nuui in the
United States fail (^very year. It is estimated that ninety out of every
huiidn^d fail in their l)usiness career. Does fortune play so fickle
with the farmer? ( )f less than ten per cent, that fail amon^^- farmers the
greater part go under from an attempt at speculation that does not be-
long to farming.

Most of l)usiness men are adepts in I'eckoning percentage. Their
objectivti ])oint is resulting gain. A little more calculation and not
acting so much by random would often result to tln^ advantage ()f the
farmer. And less drudgery on tlie part of some with an aim at higher
intelligence, with a view to greater usefulness in the community by a
l)etter and more liberal sup])ort of school and church, and the exercise
of such good offices as would enlarge their charity and entitle them to
special regard as benefactors of their race, would izive tliem some fore-
taste of tlie blessings of real enjoyment. Discontent and a disi)ositi(m
to grund^le become a basis of ingratitude, and ingratitude is one of the
chief sources of unhappiness. It is said the heathen of ancient days
statedly offered u)) prayers invoking the good offices of thidr gods, and
failed not in thanksgiving at each repast. Confronting tliis example
of the heathen, is it not a reproach to many professed christian hus-
bandmen that they receive without asking and ])artake without thanks-
giving, llather than others, should not the farmer in his constant in-
tercourse with nature, in being made the daily recipient of her l)ounty,
realize his dependence and yield a grateful response?

Surely his aim should be higher than that of him who wields the
muck-rake. In receiving nature's tribute as the reward of his labor it
should impart inspiration of gratitude and a holier devotion to Him
who has ordained nature and shows his love and beniiicence in all her
operations. With our more intimate introduction to nature should
come also higher aims, purer motives and a loftier ideal of true man-
hood and womanhood.

FARM DRAINAGE.

By Wm. Wiblk, Getty sburfj, Pa.

(Read at fJettysburg Institute. )

Underdmining will imi>rove three-fourths of the land now under cul-
tivation in this county, and full one-half will abundantly pay for the
expense. Drainage deepens the soil, assists vegetation, lengthens the
season for labor and vegetation, ])recludes the necessity for re])lanting
prevents the freezing out of winter crops, promotes the absorption of
fertdizers,sui) plies air to the roots of i)lants, improves the quantity and
quality of crops, and tends to i)revent drouth.

The8<^ are facts established bevond all doubt bv many experiments
in nearly every state in the Union. The lesson this teaches to everv
farmer is : Dram your wet ImihI. '*

I ani fully aware of \hv fact that about all that can be said UDon this
sul)ject of di^a,iiiag(^ has already l)een said by those far more abh^ than I
lS()t having had thc^ same experience that many others have had I mav
not be able to explain the subject of drainaga as I would wish to do '

Pennsylvania State BoAiiD or AaiiicuLTUiiE.

55

I am firm in the belief, however, that tlun-e is no question before the
farmer of to day, touching the matter of the growing crops that is of
more vital importance than this. It is the question, and we sliall never
attain to what may bt? termed the farmer's millenium period until this
is accomplished. For when we begin to examine th(^ subject we shall
find that all such questions as dee[) and shallow j)lowing, manuring
and fertilizing, wet and dry, or long and short seasons, all turn upon
this.

He who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew be-
fore is a benefactor. Sentiment contains tlie key to success in all kinds
of business. Increased production gives increased wealth, and wealth
gives increased power of doing good, and the consequent conferring of
ha[)piness upon mankind.

If it be true that no man owns deeper than he plows, is it not
equally true that no man owns deeper than he drains? In treating
this subject I sliall have no reference to the drainage of swami)s or
m(n-ass, or "iihe cutting off of spring's at the base of hills. The man
who is not up to the necessity of this, belongs to the past age. My
first proposition which I shall try to demonstrate is this: AH soils
not classified under the head of sandy, gravelly or light loams need
draining.

Poor crops, when cultivation is good, may be traced to two soucres,
viz : Inherent [)overty of the soil, or too great moisture during the sea-
sou of early growth. Manure may remedy the first, but drainage is
the only cure for the second.

Too much wat«r in your soil prevents your seed from germinating
and causes a ])oor and sickly growth ; but soils properly drained, pass
the water by slow degrees to a much lower, level and thence by drains
outward. The moisture needed for the soil to perfect growth is ob-
tained from the warm water in the clouds, and as these waters p)ass
downward and through the canal pores or openings, the warm atmos-
pheric air fills the places thus emptied.

All \N'aters falling u[)on a field in the form of rain or snow belong of
right to that field and ought never to be allowed to pass over it but
downward and through it. Water running over the surface of the
giound is always carrying away the very ingredients most needed and
in the best f(^rm for the nourishment of plants.

AV^hat lands require draining, and how it shall be determined, are
questions we must answer before going further. Evidently swamps,
marshes and all visibly wet lands require drainage before they can be
profitably cultivated. All high lands holding too much water at any
season of the year, recpiire drainage. Most useful plants are drowned
by being overflowed, even for a short time, and are injured by stagnant
water al)out their roots. All lands in which planting is delayed in the
spring by reason of their wetness, require drainage. In the northern
states, also here in Adams county, nearly two weeks may be gained by
thorough drainage, an advantage which only those can appreciate who
have been obliged to haul their manure over soft ground and plough
tluur land when too wet. Land on which water stands and freezes in
the winter should be drained.

How many of you present to day have not just such land as I have
described, upon which the water will stand and freeze? By allowing
it to remain there you destroy your crops. During the summer season,
your crops are similarly affected on such soils, either 1)}^ drouth or too
much water, when your corn will have a sickly look. As a result your

56

QUAKTEllLY KErORT.

cribs can only be filled by nubbins and your granaries with gi-ain of an
inferior quality.

I know of no remedies for such lands except drainage. Crops grown
on drained lands grow much more rapidly on account of increased
temperature, and therefore In-ing about earleir harvests and earlier
fall seeding. There again we lessen the contingency of a failure of
crops.

An early harvest is always desirable, and it we use all the means at
our hands for the [)erfecting of our lands and growing of crops, we have
gained the object sought for.

I am told by ] physicians that there are times in the history of disease
when heroic treatment becomes necessary, and that it is often tlie last
resort. Drainage is the dose of croton oil, or the surgeon's knife, it
brings speedy relief or equally speedy death.

Drainage is the heroic treatment in farming, but to be heroic is to
be plucky. It is to know what is best to do, and then have courage to
do it. But will it pay ? is the everlasting question that comes u[) to
the universal experimental Yankee. Of course it will pav, but in this,
as in many other things, we must learn to labor and to wait.

But let us see what Mr. Johnson, the old ]noneer drainer says upon
this point " Tile draining will pay for itself in two years on drained
land. One-half less manures are needed for a maximum crop. 1 never
made money until after I drained. "

And so convinced am I of the benefit accruing from it that I should
not hesitate to borrow money with which to drain. As we have before
hinted, nearly all land will be improved by drainage, for the expense is
a permanent investment. A brush drain will last ten to fifteen years,
a well laid stone drain twenty to forty years, and there is no reason
why a perfect tile drain may not last one hundred years. In all this
time the crops are improved both in quality and quantity.

Elaborate tables are pre]mred by some writers to show how many
gallons of water will be discharged per minute bv difierent sized pipes
but they are of no practical use or value to the farmer, for it is impos-
sible to calculate the amount of water that they will have to discharge
in any given time.

The question may be asked, what kind of drains are the best and
cheapest? We say every man must be his own judge and be governed
by hissurromubngs If stones are plentiful, we believe stone drains
tol)ethe cheapest but where stones are scarce, tlu^n tile should be
used Draining tile are being extensively manufactured all over tlie
country They are now manufactured at Gettysl)urg, where thev can
be purchased at from twelve dollars up to thirty -five dollars p(T tliou.
sand feet, according to the size. I prefer the round tile, for thev are
tlii^ cheapest and I consider them the best '

About twenty-four years ago I drained a field, a portion of which
could never be farmed, owing to a number of springs and a stifi'-clay
subsoil I used the round tile with entire success The soil is st i U
free of surface water and m excellent condition for farming and is pro
ducingwell. Not having an outh^t for the water, I dug 7a well about
twe ve feet deep into which I drained the wate •. Tlfis rsij^^-ed
double purpose, both for receiving the drainage and ^I^te^; sto^^
It IS at this date still m use. I also built several drains about twelve
years ago, using stone, at very little expense and with i, erf ec "success
drying the land and at the same time feeding a carp pond '''''''''''''' ^

As to the depth and width of drains, it depends entirely upon the

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

67

quality of soil and amount of water to be drained ; but a drain should
never be less than three feet deep.

Every farmer should have sufficient judgment to determine what part
of his land needs draining ; but if he is unable to determine he should
call iipon some expert in the business for some assistance or help.

It is not necessary to add more on the subject, for the necessity must
be apparent to all close thinkers. It must also be equally apparent
that if we use all the means at our hands for the perfecting of our lands
and the growing of crops, the most of the uncertainties connected with
farming may be guarded against. Why, then, do not more farmers
underdrain ?

Add to this the increased healthfulness and a greatly improved cli-
mate and you have, in brief, some of the valuable results that would
fiow from a thorough draining of our lands. But these are not all by
any means. How it would tone up and invigorate our sleepy plodd-
ing farmers ! The uniformity of crops, and greater ease of working
soils could not fail to put new life into the toilers, they would be better
contented with their vocation, they would not farm to Vwe, but live to
farm, because it would be a pleasure, and last, but not least, it would
pay.

i

1

THE CHEMISTEY OF THE SOIL.

By W. T. Alan, Esq.

(Read at Greenville Institute.)

Plants resemble human beings ; in their lives they come into exist-
ence from a germ, grow into form and color, each after its kind : have
their tender days of infancy and youth, their green age in which they
are soft, when they array themselves in gaudy colors, fall in love with
opposites, unite, and bring forth after their kind, finally ripening into
old age, when they die, leaving behind them the fruit of their lives
either to bless or curse the world. Like human beings they also have
ai:>petites and must have food and drink, for want of which they often
suffer and die. Like their human dejiendents and associates they are
divided into races and each seems to be struggling for the survival of
the fittest. They develop under proper cultivation and degenerate
with neglect ; they are subject to disease, and are often attacked by
])arasites ; they have veins and arteries ftn^ circulation ; can be bled
to death, ])oisoned, gorged or starved. Their leaves are tln^r luners
through which they inhale and exhale the ])ro])(^rties of the air. They
depend on animal life for their existence, without which they would
perish, and animal life is as equally dei^endent on vegetable life.
Many at this season of the year seem to be dead, while they are but
slee]ung for a resurrection morn, when they will come forth again
clotlu^l with new life.

Plants, like men when hungry, will not eat everything set before
them, but must have certain kinds of food ]^repared so that it is avail-
able and suited to their wants, and readily approoi-iated for circulati(m.
Like men, plants differ in tastes, one using food in which one elennnit
predominates, another using another kind; each variety of good nnist

58

QUAJilKlilA' IvEl'OliT

Pennsylvania State Boakd of AciiiKTiLTUitE.

59

be coii^^eiiial to their peculiar individuality and easily assimilated and
digested.

Plants do iiot always show tlio benefits of the food or fertilizer ap-
[)lied, for various reasons, one of which may be a dry season ; for be
it known that they take their food in a liquid form, and it is therefore
necessary to have moisture, that the element necessary to the deveh)])-
ment of the ])lant may be taken into its circulation, and deposited in
the new cells that are being- formed in the young- and terminal Growth •
and many a man has condemned (chemical i'ertilizei-s for no other reason
than the abovt^

Four sul)stances or elements that need to be supplied by artificial
methods enter into the composition of all plant structure that nre more
or less necessary to growth according to the nature of the plant and
Its afhnity lor the substance predominating in its make up -nitro^-en
phosi)li()ric acid, i)otash and humus. The most subtle of all of them
IS the hrst on the list, and whether this substance be applied to the
land 111 the lorm of ammonia or nitrates, it must underg-o a chemical
cliang-e in the sod and be converted into a nitric acid solution before
the plant can take it up ; hence the necessity for moisture in the soil

m^'"^^ about this chang-e and form the solution

The amount of nitrogen in a load of g-ood barn-yard manure will
not cost halt or quarter what the same amount of that element would
m a high grade fertilizer, yet the nitrogen in the fertilizer is worth
double what the manure is because of its ready availability. Manure
plowed under m spring often lays in the soil until half the season is

fX'h :f^f H^" ^^^^^ i' ^^^'1 *^ ap])ropriate it, because the soil must
take hold of the elements, unlock and change them from one combiu'i
tion to another, until fit for the plant's service. NitrL> ackUs t^ oi i y
available form m winch the plant can use the nitrogen of the soil ad
barn-yard manure, thou-h containing probably fiye or ten tbnes 2

mysteries that we cannot penetrate, and we must be Jon ent^^^ ^w^
knowledge we can gam by investigation and research and the ex er

al" L^llh^n 'li!^^^^^^ ^^""^^^'^- Nitrogen seems Eol^lm "

P- vnvn T 1 I "'^' h-ummous plants as peas and clover are

C^t M^lTf^^^^^^^^^ ^^^'''^-^ atmosrdiere

almost AV]ioi!\, so that nitrification or the fornviti'oTw.f i.u,. i- •

result, and tl.ey are found to l.ave increased in t^'o a Le^^^^^
of a cr.),. ,.f tliese plants. The nitrification curiously depends unon 1

nitrates thTt 'li^ oWr or' iea Vi^rtXTi^^ "'"", «^«

through its leaf pores, and Lpodts' it hy^^ o "ui '^l/;! S^^^^^^^^
in the lorm of nitrates of potash and otlier nitr-.t. « T • *^^*i'"*;"*^

^1
I

I

int(j the atmosphere or leaches out of the soil with the rains of winter.
When leguminous ])lants,such as peas or clover,are grown, lime should
be used liberally in the soil to assist in the process of nitrification
and decomposition. For the same reason lime should be ap]>litKl to
land as a top dressing when manure is plowed under in large quanti-
ties, but lime should never be mixed with manure in the heap, as it
liberates tln^ nitrogen while it is in the form of ammonia, the most
subtle of elements. To test the validity of this statement shut your-
self in a close room on the fioor of which you have emptied a barrel of
hen manure ; mix with this a half bushel of quicklime, and so quickly
will the elements combine and the ammonia be liberated from the
manure that it will be impossible to remain in the room but a moment.

A strong smell of ammonia about the stables or manure heaps is
evidence that ammonia is escaping and that you are losing a very
valuable and high-priced element, which should l)e arrested l)y the
process of precii)itatioii. The best precipitant of this is sullphate of
lime and its cheapest attainable form is that of land plaster, which
is suli)hate of lime in a crude state. A barrel of dry road dust through
which a half bushel of land plaster has been mixed makes an excellent
absorbent and depositor that will add many a dollars' worth of
ammonia to the farmer's source of this most expensive and subtle of
elements ; and it is for this reason that land i^laster used on the surface
of the soil so benefits the hill of corn. It precii)itates the ammonia
contained in the dew that falls night niter night, and the rains wash
tliese deposits into the soil where they are available for the working
roots. Land plaster furnishes the nitric acid necessary for all plants
by its power to deposit the nitrogen of the air but should not be used
aione year after year and depended upon solely; for potash, i)hos
phoric acid and humus are just as necessary for the use of the plant as
the nitrogen, and a continuous use of any one element without the
addition of others will soon ruin the land, by drawing upon its resource
to such an extent as to cause it to bake and become lumpy. But the
farmer who fails to use plaster in his farming o]ierations either as
a deposit about his stables or on the soil, fails to avail himself of the
liigliest priced element used on the farm. I have dwelt more upon
this element than upon the others because it is least understood and
tlie most expensive, and though more abundant by far than tlu^ others
the hardest to g-et at and the easiest to slip away when you have it.

If you burn wheat to ashes all the nitrogen i)asses off into the air
and the analysis shows that it contains thirty-two i)er cent, of .potash
and fifty-three ])er cent, of ])hos])li()ric acid, and Imt two i)er cent, of
lime: and though lime is good for wheat land it is easy to see that
when but a twenty-sixth part as much is found in the grain as there
is of i^ohsphoric acid, the lime acts as an assimilator and briuirs about
chemical changes in the soil necessary to make available otlnir elements
for the plant. It follows therefore that i)otash and ph()S]dioric acid are
left behind in the burning v>rocess and will conse(iuently be retained
by most soils if not too l(\achy or so hilly as to be washed out by rain.

Humus is necessary for tlu^ structure of the ]dant as well as the other
eleuKMits, and is a term ai)i>lied to a grou]) of elements or substances
which form the organic matter of the soil. These i-ange in color from
dark brown to black and are the products of decomposed vegetable
matter, conscMjuently all clover and other h^guminous ])lants sui>ply it
to a more or less extent when p1ow(m1 under. T have classed the humus
as an element of the soil, though it is not such in the strict sense of

60

QuAltTEKI.Y RePOHT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

61

the term, but is a comi)ouiKl of carbon, hydrogen and oxyg-en. It acts
powerfully in fixing ammonia and is necessary in the soil to keep
it in a loose or loamy condition. A fair test of the amount of humus
in any soil may be ascertained by taking a certain quantity of soil and
drying and then weighing ; then by burning it jmd weighing again ;
what is burned up is the humus or vegetable matter of the soil.

Plowing ujider green croi)s adds greatly to the fertility of the soil
and is a cheap source of humus, but it should be done in the spring or
fall when the weather is mild, as such a process in midsummer when
the thermometer is among the nineties is apt to sour the soil, from
which it often takes years to recover. A top dressing of lime after
plowing under green croos is beneficial and will prevent the souring
process and assist in the decomposition of the crop.

As in the case of lime, ])lants need elements applied to the soil that
they do not use as food. Por instance, salt is not a food for man, yet
he needs it to assist in the process of digestion ; so the salt applied to
land, though not taken up by the plant, wdll be found to benefit the
land by decomposing and digesting other food that can be taken into
the circulation of the i)lant, and also by driving out worms and grubs
and causing the soil to retain moisture. ^ ••

The one who made chemistry and knew all about it said, "Salt is
good, but if the salt hath lost its savor it is not fit for the dunghill,
but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men;" and so it is the
savor of the salt is the chlorine, for it is composed of two deadly ele-
ments, chlorine and sodium. Take out the chlorine, the savor, and
we have left only an oxide of sodium, a substance never found in plants
and not possessing the savoring qualities. The chlorine of the salt is
the element found in the horse radish, mustard, pepper, cinnamon,
cloves, etc., which giv(^ them their peculiar pungencv when united with
others ; substances peculiar to each variety, and all these w^e use in
pickles and preserves as a preservative or savior, just as we use salt as
a preservative of meat, etc. Nearly all soils contain enough chlorine
to give imiigency to any variety of plant or fruit of that nature but
salt will be found to assist much in the development of many ])lants of
this nature where large quantities of manure are used, as, for instance
the onion. '

Other elements that are sufficient in the soil for all practical pur])oses
will be found to benefit plants if added to the soil m excess of the
heeded supply.

A pint of iron filings worked into the soil about a ])lant will chan-e
Its CO or, dee])ennig the hue to a darker green, and if a flowering plant
it will add brilliancy to th(^ flowers. The pink flowering Hydran-ea
changes in color to a bright blue, and if it is a large plant in a box'bv
putting the iron on one side only part of the plant will show pink
ijowers and part blue. ^

It is often recomm(3nded to try the land by using ]ihospohric acid
on one plot, potash (m another, etc., and see wjiat the soil needs- but
such a result though it might l>o interesting for the time, would be
very detrimental to the land if continued cropping was pursued on the
basis ot such an experiment, foi- the reason that one or two years would
change the whole matter by drawing upon certain elements according
to the nature ot the_ plant. Suppose I found that a piece of land (.(m-
tained very little nitrogen, very little phosphoric acid, but a fair per-
centage of po ash, and on this test I proceed to plant potatoes Jear
after year, adding only nitrates and phosphoric acid to the soil ; it is

easy to see that one or two cro]^s would draw so on this element that
I would soon have land deficient in potash, and my potatoes would run
small, and my first thought would be to condemn the fertilizer as worth-
less. It is better to use fertilizers prepared for special crops. If you
plant potatoes, use a potato fertilizer ; if corn, one suited to corn ;
but whatever vou do, use ])lenty of common sense and don't jump at
the conclusion that fertilizers are a humbug, and " bite off your nose
to spite your face" by discarding them altogether. The farmers that
I know that use the most fertilizers are the most prosperous, because
they have the largest crops. Most farmers buv a bag of two hundred
pounds, put a teaspoonful in a hill and exi)ect it to do wonders. Buv
half a ton, use it broadcast and some in the drill, and what you have
over and above that adjoining land credit to the fertilizer. " Feed your
land and your land will feed you ;" this is reciprocity pure and simple.

WHAT SHOULD CONSTITUTE THE FARMER'S EDUCATION?

By Mrs. Andrew Crawford, Cooper stown^ Pa.

( Read at Franklin Institute. )

By farmer we mean a tiller of the soil ; but all tillers of the soil are
not necessarily farmers. Our observations will hardly a])ply to the
numerous so called farmers who "work out" for a few dollars per
month; for this unfortunate class of persons, properly designated
laborers, do not enjoy many of the advantages of the ty])ical American
farmer, traditionally famed for his " independent way of getting a liv-
ing." A farmer who is not lord of all the land he tills is one of the
least independent persons imaginable.

Neither are our remarks intended to apply to the few^ possessors of
vast portions of the soil who are i)ractically "lords of all they survey"
nor to those who keep u]) country places, that they may have con-
venient resorts when it is desirable to escape from city life — the w hirl
of societv, or the cares of business.

By farmer we mean one whose business is farming — wdio toils, indi-
vidually, for i>rofit. That there is little profit in farming by proxy is
allowed by most [)ersons in this country who have tried it.

In some parts of this country farmers are known as planters, and in
Europe they are called peasants. The tenant in Great Britain, who
tills the soil for another bears practically the same relation to his land-
lord that the slave formerly bore to our southern ] planter ; in either
case we see the oppressor and the oppressed. To-dtiy, however, no
class of working people have more reason to rejoice in that they are
Americans than the American farmer; for with due regard for all the
disadvantages under which the labors, it is impossible to overlook the
fact that these are few and of small import as compared with the lot
of the farmer in most countries. Seven of the best years of the life of
every German are wrung from him to sup])ort his government. Large
standing armies are supported by most countries, w^here the best men
of all classes are compelled to be maintained in idh^ness the best part
of their lives, the burden of their support falling,in the main, upon the
farmer.

I

(52

QUAItTERLY REPOirr.

Pennsylvania State Boaud of Agkicultuiie.

63

This sing-le circuinstance, lierliaps, more thau eomi)ensates the
American farmer for all that lie has not which the farmer in other lands
enjoys.

' You will note that the degree of education nu^n have usually cor-
resi)onds with tlie quality of other good things which, as a class, they
possess. Where farmers make most money, enjoy fullest freedom
have th(^ best food, clothes and healtli, you will find them, as a class'
to be most highly educated as compared with other farmers. ' However'
it is not our purpose to si)eak of what farmers have not, but of Avhat
they should have ; and as this embraces so much, I will contint^ niy
remarks to a discussion of only what they sliould have and could have
if they would ; moreover we will further limit our observations to a
consideration of but one topic — education. And to keep within these
prescribed limits our subject becomes— What sh(3uld constitute^ the
education a farmer sliould and could have?

^ The most desirable thing a farmer, or any otlier ])erson, can attain
IS a good education. The assertion that every farmer— aye, every
intelligent jierson— could have a good education if he would, m'ay ap-
pear startling to the boarding school young lady who has' just
"finished" hers, or to the collegian who has just *' completed" his
The practical value of the average collegiate education is well expressed
by the following lines, the soliloquy of a graduate :

'* It is really most distressing

That, although my needs are pressing,
I cannot make the money that inferior fellows can ;

Nor find an occupation

In this Philistinish nation,
Congenial to a college-bred and cultivated man.

My talents— they are many —

Do not bring me in a j)enny,
While the unenlightened vulgar go on heaping up their gains •

I can do so much they can't, '

But all * situations vacant '
Are reserved, as I discover, for the men of vacant brains."

But those who are really the men of "vacant brains" are those vou
do no think.

The collegian who lives in an ideal world is educated ; his education
IS not practical, and he is likely to mistake the practically educated
man lor an ignoramus. Let us try to a^ree as to what is meant bv
an education. I it were merely a diploma to be hung up to decorate
the wall of a «tudy ; that is if it were something money alone could
buy it would be foolish indeed to assert that every intelligent persons
could have a good education if he would. No education was ever com-
pleted : no two educations were ever of exactly the same quality To
what extent a mind becomes educated depends upon many thin-s of
which we would mention its social environment-the education of ¥ose
with whom it comes m contact— the circumstances which determine its
haiutual employment -and mainly, perhaps, the quality of the mind
Itself, which so laregly dc^termines the state of bodily vigor and the
desire to progress. Tlie educated man is a progressive man ; he ob-
serves, reasons, thinks, theorizes for himself, and profits by the ob
servations, reasoning, thoughts, theories of others : he is not neces
sanly a sage or a man of much booklore ; he need not have attended
college. The typical college education" is not always the edu^ltion
that fits a farmer, or any one else, to live a successful" life A vw^on
who can do anything at all cannot be said to be totally devoid of edu

cation ; everything we do gives us some sort of discipline^ proves that
we possess some degree of ability. Education is ability. Knowledge
alone does not constitute education.

" Knowledge is power," and education enables us to utilize and direct
this " power" — by which we mean any of our forces— mental, moral, or
physical. When one is able to accom])lish some mission in life we say
he is well educated. We can educate our fingers, our hands, our
heads ; but we may be so educated as to be uufitted for the duties of
life ; we may become well educated in wickedness.

AVhat the farmer and every one else sliould have is a good education.
Whether an educatitm be good or bad is more important than whether
it be extensive or limited. To be liberally educated in some wrong
direction may be worse than to be as nearly as possible devoid of edu-
cation entirely.

Dr. Holmes says a man's education begins two hundnHl years before
he is born. But, supposing it to begin at birth, for a time it must de-
pend upon others ; upon circumstances over which he has no control,
conditions he could not have been instrumental in bringing about or
capable of averting. In their zeal to impress children with the mag.
nitude of the obligations due their progenitors, parents too often over-
look the duties they owe their offspring. All parents are responsible
for the foundation of the education of their children, from the time
they are born — or even before, if science be not at fault— until they
have reached a state of discipline and development that will enable
them to depend upon themselves.

A child is not bound to feel under obligation to parents for the mere
fact that he owe^s his existence to them. It is proper that his grati-
tude be in ratio to the desirability of his existence; and whether ex-
istence in this world be desirable or not depends largely upon whether
early education — physical, mental and moral — was attended to or
neglected. So much applies to all people, in whatever station, of
whatever rank, condition degree, art, craft, or trade. But at a certain
age — I shall not presume to say at what age— every one should begin
to accpiire an education ])eculiar to himself that will adai)t itself to his
individual needs, and enable him to cope with the difficulties to be
encountered in his i)articular walk ol life. His success in life will
depend, for the most part, upon the extent and quality of this early
education.

Some farmers (I hope there are but few of them left) regard
muscular training as about the only kind of education consistent with
their work. They seem to think that education is tlu) bo(m com])anion
of idleness. They are led into this error because of the conduct of
young men of "completed" education and abundant leisure. The
truly educated man has never a moment to spare. This is true alik(^ of
farmer, physician, mechanic, laborer, ])liiloso])her, poet, merchant and
monarch. Muscular training, then — idiysical culture — should consti-
tute a i)art of everybody's education, whether his work be manual or
mental ; for the health of body and mind depend each upon the other.

A farmer has no more need of bodily vigor than has a ]^liysi(^ian or
stud(Mit. The farmer's moral and physical education should not differ
radically from th(^ moral and physical culture of others.

We will not attempt to say here what should constitute nioial or
l)hysical education, it being the object of this essay to show whercuu
the education of a farmer should differ from the education of those of
other pursuits, insomuch as a true farmer is a specialist in his way. A

:j

64

Quarterly Report.

man in the nineteenth century must be a specialist to succeed in his
callin^^ ; and there are fewer specialists, perhaps, among- farmers, as
a class, than are to be found in most other professions.

Farming a profession? AMiy not? Farming is both a science and
an art ; and, first of all, it is inqjortant that the farmer be educated to
see and feel this. Carlyle says, " There is perennial nobleness in
w ork. " The foundation of the farmer's special culture should be a full
realization of this truth. H(^ should feel the dignity of his profession :
he should know his real worth as a farmer, and feel an honest pride in
his work.

We might fight our own qurarels— or what would be better still, we
might dispense with quarreling— without the assistance of the leg-al
fraternity. We might trust to the observance of nature's laws to pre-
sei-ve our health, and in some instances save our lives without the help
of physicians.

We might make our peace with God without the prayers or interposi-
tion of ministers. We might enjoy life, in a measure, without the
luxuries of modern civilization. Owen Meredith says :

We may live without friends ;
We may live without books;
But civilized man cannot live without cooks.

And he might have gone a ste]) further and noted that unless we
have something to cook not even cooks can save us. The farmer is
the only i)rofessional man whose services the world could not disi)ense
with m any emergency. Every educated farmer feels this, and as soon
as larniers generally shall have become sufficiently enlig-litened to
ralaize that they are the only class who can depend u])on their own re-
sources entirely if necessary, their inde])endence will have become less
oi a tradition and more of a reality. If farmers knew their power •
that IS, li farmers as a class were not deficient in the primary princii)les
of what should constitute a farmer's eduction, they would dictate
terms to the capitalist ; they would organize and say to the world -ive
us our due or starve ! ^ t.^ ^

Population increases but land does not increase. Every year it be
^ome^^morenecei^stiYy that the farmer be specially educated in his pro-

The question of over-population is not yet an issue of the day in this
country, but it is in some countries; and if the farmer of those coun
tries can produce as much iiom ten acres of land as the American far
mer can grow ou a hundred, every farmer should know it. Hel^lmuld
know how and why ; and it should constitute a part of his special ed

of, and earned his liv.ngr l.y faming-he would j>robablv never have
written What I know about farmiuf^." In eveiy luZV of art ami

=th^ t: T,rS^* fef;'rn'itf "i^-rt^ rp^

the subject, in all i^robability!". -K skll f.l ylXVeS:!^ la'Xf
He may even acquire a farm amon- farmers tliemsoW ii li

wonder unceasingly that such a ,.arag7,n of tomfoS^'S^^^
such logical and rhetorical ability mooieiy biioukl exhibit

But suppose the town-bred man tries farming ; he is at once surprised

Pennsylvania State Boahd of Agkiculture.

G5

to find phosphate so much more pleasant to contemplate in fancy than
in fact ; astonished to learn that there is a bug' for the potato, a worm
for corn, a fly for wheat, and sometimes a g-rasshopper for the grass ;
hollow-horn for the cow, foot rot for the sheep — in short, a })light for
everything. After a sin^^le season has passed over Ids devoted head,
if he still survives, he begins to set up Gradgrinds's cry for *4'acts,"
and as these fail to materialize in semblance of apples, potatoes and
other " vanities," he is likely to feel that, in his case, life is only " vexa-
tion of spirit, "and to agree with Bishop Berkeley in doubting the ex-
istence of matter, and later to don the sackcloth and ashes of his ex-
perience and betake himself townward, a poorer but wiser man. This
has been the experience of thousands ; for which, in almost every in-
stance, the reason has been want of that practical exi)erience which
should form a part of every farmer's education. The educated farmer
enjoys his work. To do any kind of work well a man must love that
work.

It is only the uneducated man — the man who does not think— who,
like the horse, works because he feels that he must, w ithout regard to
ira[)roved methods, or indeed to any method. It is a fact well known
to contractors, that an intellig-ent man will do more oij any kind of labor
than the man who can neither read nor write. Three men, with only
a few ropes, pulleys and mathematical and mechanical princii)les to aid
them, will raise a barn within less time than twenty -five uneducated
farmers whose motive power is main strength, awdiAvardness and a bar-
rel of hard cider.

The farmer in this age who hurts his back lifting deserves no pity.
It is more than 2,000 years since Archimedes raised the world without
sustaining* any injury. Go ye, who know not how he did it, and raise
yourselves. Take hold of the straps of your boots. Give your l^acks
another twinge, and if you do not raise yourselves learn more of Arch-
imedes. Depend u]>on it, the research will raise you miles higher in
the atmosphere of mental development.

So much for the special education of the farmer. I have briefly at-
temi)ted to show that farming is a profession ; that the farmer must
be specially and practically educated in the science of asrriculture and
the various arts pertaining thereto : that all 'mankind is dependent
ui)on the farmer, and that, therefore, the occui)ati(>n of farming is the
most honoiable — or at least oik^ of the most honorable — of all pro-
fessions: that muscular force, to acconijdish good results, must be in-
telligently directed : that true education is discipline, rather than that
quality of knowledge which unfits men and women for doing the duties
and bearing the burdens of life ; that the American farmer, as a class,
is more enlightened and less imposed uixiii than the farmer in other
lands ; and that when the farmer is educated to see his position, to real-
ize his value, to know his power (which is " knowledge," or the legacy
of knowledge) , he will assert his rights, dictatorially and al)solutely.
This, in a general way, has been the object c^ this essay.

In conclusion I will note briefly the op])ortunities of the farmer for
attaining that degree of culture and educaticm peculiar to broad-minded
men and women of every profession and calling.

It is sup])osed by many that tln^ drudgery entailed by the primal
curse has barnMl the gates of liberal refinc^mc^it against the farmer in
particular; that the amount of labor that falls to his lot is more than
is conducive to ))hysical comfort, and more than will ))ermit of mental

5

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66

QuAiiTEiiLY Report.

Ill

development. But these fail to eoiisider that a larger number of great
and useful men have been farmers, or farmers' sons, than have l)een
evolved by any other class, which could not happen were all the condi-
tions unfavorabhi to their development.

The farmer serves no master ; his time is at his own disposal. If he
takes a day or an hour his cro])S do not stoi) crowing in consequence.
Nature continues what he has begun. Even while he sleeps his work
has been carried gratuitously on. Is he sick for a day, his em-
ployers—the people—do not complain ; he does not lose his job. To
feed his mind restores his body ; and a day spent in study or in some
intellectual i)ursuit is more needful rest than pure innocuous desuetude.
The man who has nothing to do and does it, is the most perniciously
over worked mortal in existence.

That which the farmer may conceive to be his greatest disadvantage
may be the most i)owerful factor which has tended to influence ai7d
develop many of our best minds.

The fanner receives directly at the hand of the Almighty, as it were,
thos(5 things upon which the life, health and strength of mankind de-
pend He is the Creator's commissary. He is in direct and daily com-
munication with MothtT Nature, whom he loves and trusts. If for
once she withholds or limits some crop, it is only that she requires
time to recuperate her strength, that she may yield ihv, more bounti-
iully another year. Her Bible is forever unclasped before him.
Happy IS the farmer who can assert his indigenous right to say with
the great poet :

^' And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Fmds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in evervthine,
I \vould not change it."

All our most useful knowledge of art and science has been gained bv
the study ot nature. . & j

Who than the farmer has freer access to her laboratory ? Who has
better o])i)()rtuni ties of amounting to something— of benefiting himself
and othei>^ than the larmer^ The means are at his hand on every side
dispensed with a lavishness that is almost prodigal. He has his fuli
sliare ot pure air, of food, hapi)iness, strength and health. Does any
man re(piir(^ more? "^

The uneducated farmer, iflie had been bom a prince, would die an
uneducated monarch— as monarchs often do die. The class ''who
having eyes see not, aiul having ears, hear not," has bv no means be-
come extinct. Even in the nineteenth century there are many farmers
^hoare satisfied to limit their mental research to an occasional look

Zor.^Jf/ 'r?;M^^'/^'''^ ^^^^^^^' intellectually, mere masters of
moon-signs. Lntil the farmer ceases to make hay in the moon, and to

A^il)>l'wnn^ scandals of the local newspapers, the Farmers'

p

■l

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agiucultuke.

BEACONS ON THE EAllM.

67

By Miss Bella M. McSpakkan, Furniss^ Pa,

(Read at Doylestown Inistltute,)

y All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players,

And, as realization dawns, there is much truth to be found in tlic^ as-
sertion. As the various actors have eacli a separate and distinct i)art
in representations on the stage of art, so each creature of humanity has
his own particular, selected and distinct part in the scenes of the drama
of life. Each actor should carefully consider what part his capabilities
fit him for, and what part seems to suit him in every way, so that the
effect and result may be satisfactory to his emi)loyer, to himself and to
his observers and friends. No worldly question should desman d so
much consideration ; and when once the decision is made, every exer-
tion should be brought to play to make a success of the choice.

What a throng of confiicting thoughts and feelings crowd the mind
of the youth or maiden, as he steps froiM the stage, on his graduation
day, into the world ! So far his life has been so free, so happy, that
no one has been his envy. Now he begins, for the first time, to gaze
into the great unknown and untried future. And what does he behold?
Oh ! always the brightest and fairest pictures, while thc^ darker ones
that the poets tell us must go with the bright ones, to temper their
brilliancy, are reserved, unseen and undreamed of, for realization.

To live contentedly and happily, one must l)e in sympathy with his
surroundings ; his associates, his amusements must be congenial, and
love for something or for somebody must be the inspiration of his life.
He who continually longs for a noisy bustling life, can never be
content on a farm ; neither can the absorbed student endure with ease
the gaieties of a city life. The real lover of nature must, and will, cling
to the farm, for he does not love merely the beautiful things which he
culls here and there ; he loves the earth itself, the faces of the hills
and mountains, the rocks, the streams, the naked trees no less tlian
the leafy ones, a plowed field no less than a green meadow He does
not know what it is that draws him. It is not beauty, any more than
it is beauty in his father and mother that makes hiin love them. It is
"something far more deeply interfused." Something native and kin-
dred that calls to liini. The rind of the earth, of this "round and de-
licious globe" which has hung so long upon the great Newtonian tree,
ripening in the sun, is sweet to him. Tliink of Wordsworth shut u])
year in and year out in the city. That lover of sheidierds, of mount-
ains, of lonely tarns, of sounding waterfalls.

*' Who looked upon the liills with tenderness

And made dear friendship with the streams and groves."

And who loved sheplierds "Not verilv

For their own sakes, hut for the fields and hills

Whore was their habitation and abode."

On the other hand, think of the society belle spending the long
winter months in the country. Prison bars, in her mind, could not be
more confining, and lier thoughts would be continuall.v of her release,
and a return to the gay old life. So the farmer and his family must
first of all and chiefiy have this affection for the country itself, for the

i

;

68

QUAltTEKLY RePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

69

pure iiir it breeds, for the freedom of life it [)ermits, for the quiet hours
of thought and reading-, uniiiterrui)ted by empty calls and chit chat
that fritter time away, and not a mere passing- admiration for nature's
beauties, which many poets love to dwell upon and artists love to
sketch.

When we consider the hig-h estimate of the farmer's dig-nified calling-
(this too (>ften reg-ardinl otherwise than with dij^nity) , and its benefit's
to humanity, every effort in advanced civilization of which we, as a
nation boast, should be furthered in the interests of agriculture. ' For
agriculture was the lirst, and, as bread must be had for the sustenance
of the human race so long- as the latter exists, it is likely to be the last
occupatum of man ; so that co existent with the history of the birth
and progress of the race, we have the history of the development of
apiculture. And, as education and genius bring- to lig-lit new methods
ot work, and improved machinery, the farmer is benefited to the extent
ol fewer hours of personal labor, less exhaustive drudgery and chea])er
productiveness. In the first he finds leisure to devote to his family
and to selt-improvement. Less exhaustive drudgery fits him to com-
prehend what he reads and hears; for with a tired body there's a cor-
responding restless and listless mind. By cheapening the cost of i)ro-
duction the farmer finds himself able (if he can sell what he produces
to advantage) to better provide for his family. But herein arises the
questions ol taxation and the growth of monopoly. The faimer should
be ever alert to his interests, should be beaconed on every hand for the
iron Jieel ot monopoly will grind him whenever he succumbs, and the
legislators will exact every possible penny from the farmer and every
other laborer who will not care for himself and his own interests

We are glad to live m this age of progress, to share this higher civili-
zation and we are not content that the farmer, his wife, his son or his
daughter shall not be one to assist in the advancement. Hence we call
attention to and encourage many of the beacons that would hasten this
nW fl T^ ^""^^'^ ^"^ improve the public school system, we may
close the saloons we may organize helpful societies, we may institute
reform on every hand, but the home is the great influence of the life
ilere are practiced the virtues and the vices that tell on the future life*
Sufhe^T" ^\''''^' "^ ^^V"^^"^^' ^^ ungratefulness, of selfishness;
i nirv\!r' ^?,*^^%^^r^ 1'^^^^ ?^'^ "^'^'^ ^^'^ «^^^« ^^f kindness, of

poe^r/.v fL. ' ^'t '^?^ ^'T^ '^ "^ ^"^^ l^i^^"^'^^ l>y artists, by
eTcl ;>m^ w'T* P' graduate, ' and yet it's so nea/tlie heak li

t^Ts of doi;«^^^^^^ ^' '^^ 'TVf^' ^^^^ every thing lacking the many quali-
early fSfb^ comforableness natural^ invites comparison tc> the
WGoK A ?M ^'2-' ^^ Wakefield," so delightfully depicted

tiL 1 1^^^^^^^^^^ Sigourney says that "the strength of a na-

S Tts people^^^^ ^ republican nation, is in the well-ordered homes

plSy Wk^n^rt^ management and example in the home

Plainly tells on the after-lives of the boys and girls If they hive been

arSd ZrT^T'ri "' -^"-^ ion, "of ^elf^levatifrSl o^^ ^^^^^^^^^
ne?4s4y ^^^^^^^ ^^ neatness, the elements of true politeness, the

necessity oi purity in conversation and living by precept and by ex
ample they are sure to perpetuate them in iKmfes oftTeir o^^^^^^^^

nti d^^^^^^^^^^ '''^^''' ^-'^^^ ^1- i-^-i^^--l life anTindi'dual

sunoumiinga. Hence, we encourage comfortable homes, well-fitted

^

and tastefully furnished ; which includes not only comfortable furnish-
ings, but conveniences everywhere, and especially in the farmer's
kitchen Here is room for vast im[)rovement on the average; a well-
equipped kitchen is the keynote to a well regulated household , garden-
ing and fruit cultun) should be practiced for household use, but do not
expect the wife or daiigther to do the work whicli only a strong man or
a horse can with ease accomplish. We encourage clothing suited to
the changing seasons, and to the health of the wearer ; choosing and
preparing of wdiolesome foods.

The Levitical laws arranged a list of viands suited to the climate and
to the conditions of the chosen people, and strict obedience was re-
(piired in this respect. What might ordinarily be eaten, also the times
and occasions for feasting and fasting, and what meats were approved
for each occasion, became matters of conscience to the honored Hebrew
nation. Individual a[)petites and individual tastes were not indulged ;
and the history of this people makes little or no mention of invalids,
and certainly not of that scourge of the ])reseiit time — dys])ei)sia. We
could scarcely advance the use of the old Levitical laws, but would
encourage great consideration of the diet, wdiich effects so largely that
needful requirement to perfect enjoyment — health. And there are
other requisites to the latter which are quite as imi^ortant. Perfect
health is the choicest blessing, and it should be eruarded with our lives.

Then the country roads are not as a rule what they should be. Many
beacons have been cast in this direction, from time to time, still the
case im[)roves very little. If the farmers could realize that the wear
and tear of his wagons and horses would be greatly diminished by the
effec*"; of an increased road tax, and a little labor, and that society de-
man Is better roads, he would use his means and influence to overcome
this want of neatness and convenience. In every farming community
there should be an organization where farmers with their families can
meet socially and discuss the question of the day in reference to their
interests. There are the Grange, Alliance, farmers' clubs, institutes,
fairs and other organizations, all aiming to benefit tli(^ farmer, and he
should go hand-in hand with their movements. Many farmers assume
the attitude of the immortal MacaAvber, and instead of i)utting their
shoulder to the wheel to assist in hastening a reform, sit with folded
hands "waiting for something to turn up." The strength of many
organizations lies in their wealth and the abuse of money to further
their ends. The farmers can scarcely ho))e to wield cai)ital in this
manner ; but th(\v have certain lawful rights as citizens, and th(\y may
be stronger than the wealthy corporations if they make good use of
their numbers.

W(^ hear talk about the " servitude of farmers. " If there is any class
of i^eople in this country who should know nothing of what servitude
is, it is the peoide who have not only the i^olitical majority, but who
stand in the estimation of all thoughtful i)eoi)le as the soild basis u])on
which the per]>etuity of our institutions rest. If farmers are to be a
unit of power they must stand shoulder to shoulder, and by such jn-ox-
imity the entire line may be unified and become a formidable faction
in influencing national affairs.

In the meantime the young people on the farm dis(!Over the best ways
of making their life attractive and ha|)])y. For tlna-e seems to be in
liumMu nature an instructive craving for excitment (noticed mon? par-
ticularly in the young) which is not found in the ordinary pursuits of
life ; and pleasures of some sort have been resorted to, encouraged and

If

^ \

70

QlAKTKIiLY ReI'OUT.

::|li

»ll

I lit

practiced by every nation and tribe, and they seem essential to health
and hapi)iness. Th(^ savage finds satisfaction in sitting- silent with
perhaps a X)ipe in his month, or engag^ed in chewing" some drng. The
Indian causes the hours pleasantly to pass in exercising his skill with
the bow and arrow. The ancient Greeks took great delight in their
athletic g-ames, which, besides being enjoyable, were aids to physical
develoi)ment. Outdoor games of the i)resent tend to develop the
form, strengthen the muscle and g*ive a rich color to the complexion.
Let the old-time farmhouse sometimes lay aside her staidness and be
the scene of merriment and laughter. For, says the poet,

" Little by little the time goes by;

Short it you sing thro' it, long il* you sigh."

And at all times encourage cheerfulness of s])irit and laughter.
They are beacons to ward off prosy melancholy. The occasioned i)arty
and picnic must not be overlooked, with their attendants of pleasure.
The young people will enjoy the quite hours all the more, and will
perform their tasks all the better, for the variety. Let music be en-
couraged in every household ; for its soft and mellow strains lure many
a wayward boy from, the village shop or saloon, where undue gossip
reig-ns as the evening's entertaimnent, and proves a very den for the
pure minded farmer lad.

Some one tells us "books are lighthouses erected m the great sea of
time." So we would have in the ideal farmer's home a well-selected
and well-filled library, with the standard periodicals of the day, in-
cluding a good faim journal (which the farmer cannot afl'ord to do
without) , where young* and old can have easy access to the g-reat, the
good, tlu^ wise, the practical, the humorous, the poetical of all time:
and their beloved voices will never be stilled, their influence will ever
be felt so long as librar}^ doors are open.

Shakespeare clubs, Chautauqua circles, lyceums, musicales, lectures,
all beacons of information and enjoyment, are the necessaries of an in-
telligent country community. Yet ideasure may l>e in excess. Young-
persons, especially, often conceive the idea that life is short and they
should make tha most of it for ])leasure. A rightminchHl person will
guard against the immoderate use of it. Dissipation of any sort is
always followed by an unpleasant and injurious reaction. Robert Burns
beautifully shows the uncertainty of the result where the chief 'quest
IS for amusement and gaiety. He had learned the sad experience
that —

" Pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower its bloom is shed ;
Or like tlie snowfall in the river,
A moment white— then melts forever."

Yet ])leasures encountered in the way of duty or eamed as the recrea-
tion after toil, are substantial and lasting. It's the "unexi)ected that
occurs " says the French proverb, and often, with all our i)lannina-
quite the o])posite takes place. The same stem that bears roses bears
also the thorns, and often Avhen seeking the roses we are pierced by th(»
thorns. But, also, when toiling among th(^ thorns of self-denial and
sacrifice, we quite as often come upon the roses of ])leasure

Often we hear the cry, " tlu^ farmer lives too well. " Such an argu-
ment tires the patience of a common sense person. When it comes to
the enjoyment of the luxuries of life, there are many things which far-

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agriculture.

71

mers, because of their isolation, find beyond their reach ; but there are
many things available which they can rightfully enjoy. All of these
things a farmer has as much right to as anybody else, and his income
should be sutlicient to allow him to procure them. In these progressive
days men in all i)ursuits are better livers than their fathers were, and
the line should not be drawn in the case of the farmer.

Then also we demand /Ac f/rea^ beaccm—ixu education. Any parent
who brings ofi'spring into the world and does not provide a foundation
for them in this way is unworthy the name. He owes it to them even
if he has not been so blessed himself, and it is his duty to advance
them to their inclination and his means. They can then advance for
themselves, for education ends only with life, and " education is life."
This and this alone evidences real citizenship ; this alone gives real
enjoyment. And education is not merely for the preacher, the tea'cher,
the professional man or woman, the gentleman's son or daughter, but
for every human being who opens his eyes to bless the light. Nature
speaks to her subjects, but the uneducated one " has ears, but he hears

not."

Pollock wrote of a man (and many such there be) " who never had a
dozen thcmghts in all his life." He lacked the ability for thought, be-
cause he never practiced thinking- for himself. And liovv sad the con-
dition of such an one ! While an educated person's mind is ever active,
he mounts into live interest in everything in life, in his sphere. Every
item of information he gets is ins])iration : it is new power; it is new
ho])e for daily duties; it takes the drudgery out of life, and gives an
inheritance to a])|)reciate the largeness, the wealth, the growing value
of present existence America has so many problems at })resent to
solve. There are ethical questions that the newspapers from day to
day are teeming with— theology, education, politics— everything is
stirring. Farmers must be active, and farmer's boys and girls must
help to settle these. The youth of to-day are the hope, the beacons of
the future. In their hands rests the destiny of a great nation. Will
they dare shirk their duties.

Then, too, what avenues of thought, of pure enjoyment are traversed
by the educated. If a firm, substantial, educational foundation is per-
mitted a \Uo, the creature is in relation with the great life of the past,
with that also of the present, and reaches on to the infinite hope of the
future. Many farmers who may a]>]^rove of some educaticm for their
children, think their boys and girls do not need Greek or Latin on the
farm ; so they omit the mental develoi>ment that is derived from a
study of the lauguag(;s, simply because the practical knowhxlge may
not bo needed. There is not ai^ existence whose life may not be, and
ought not to be, a richer, sweeter thing because Pla'to walked m the
old olive groves of the Academia, and because Socrates believed in
ideas and t\u) division of them, and because of the heroes, saints and
martyrs who fought the good fight and kept the faith. And every dio])
of blood that surged in the veins of Shakespeare, Milton or Pitt, has
mad(^ life a ditferent thing for American people and the boys and girls
of to day.

The need, then, is to know the power and potency, and the greatness
of life that is made richer by ideals and ideas— the life that is of higher
thinking and plain, comfcu'table living, not the life that stoops to
pettiness in i)olitics, in religion, in society. The future of such a lite
beaconed by the model home, enlightened by education m its practical
and elevating form, will have no painful surprises, and no bankruptcy,

72

Quarterly Report.

that iH total, will ever tonch his heart or home. The halcvon davs for
stillinr '••\^*'''';r;,^''^'^«'l' the ravages of King MonSy w^H be

versa 'edt..'/S*' ^>* «^V'^f?"' ^^" ^'^ respected with thi day of uui
verbal educatioii aud eiihghteumeiit of his couiiuunity.

GRADED SCHOOLS.

By A. P. YouNO, MiUvilU; Pa.
(Read at Milton Institute.)

■»Ili't„%l;r„si:„t:l'™,\rTa„tar\t'';'rf'n''f;

amount of g<)od done in tLm S% w l • ^'V, ""''^ "* I '^o portion to the

1-m homef.t l/aJreVpel'if tl^ S'eltti^n'be;^^^^^^^^^^ "'"^ -?
nidiineiits. The ednp-ifinnol o.l.. ! T l x ^^.V^i^c I the merest

uneoval. SchJ'lslridr L at ^f a^ to f uSfi^^'f T T
employinent to teachers to raise the callin- t H , r ."'"^ ""^""''^y
fessioii. At present in many districts S ,.?, rfi 5'"*^ "* ^J""*'-
Bchool .lirectJrs i« the abil^^o et.ty 'c^hlaHea Jw^^^^ ''^

houses and m general do a cheap sclio,,! business T.Vl ''^*

people a school is a school, without reference to the Ji ■ "f"/

just as a man is a man when he goes to the polls '^""'^ "' '*'

schoo^l'^'^ if Slerr ;.S t f ';^e'lul^n^''t Trf^' '^ ^^^^^-^
graded schools whenever hey think it nos^n.lef'? ^^'t^T ^'^""""^
together. In years gone »/the country 1 1 ,nlhf? '^^'°^^^! ^"""«'^
.voung men, and youn^ womei llio t./ U f • ""IV^''^^ !*« I>"l'ils

what and feding the iieed Cf more scl, If W ■""* '" *''« '^o^l'^ «o^«e.
to be foun,l at the .>uS sclfort^^t r:S "^"11"^""*^
of this now than thirty or forty years a^n Wi • 7i ?'^'' ''' "'"^'^^ !«««
in the good old days went two ?.. fr,^ \\ '.V is this so? Scholars
woods, Cy road or^h, ^y wly to gl ThM^^' r!;^^ «"ough

schools of to day are certainly ir, ..?lf , ^^ tie start m edu.-ation. Tlie

disposition to ^Vt'tlie'^o^rl^iror iTadvl geTK^^^^^^ ^"* *'-
tainlv not bo ^reat Now -m Knnr^ oc. ^, '{' i^^^'^^^^/'^ey otter is as cer-

or fifteen theyltre out of s .hooH? hnst oS H^'^ !'i'^' '"^^f °^, ^^'^'^'^

that they have leaioied all ^mtni^ht" leaded 'itle T'T^^^ • ^"*

longer to their taste. If a graded or nmmuU .1^^ i -1 ^"* '* ^« "o

they cannot go away to Hoh^l to fteiTw^r'^^^^^^^^^^ !" f-'' -hI"

hood or womanhood with the Mic-io-or ,.rJl "^ f- ^"J *^"t to face man-

cationally. Tliore are reasons fowl .l'^«l^«™t'on thus far made edu-

conunon s.-hools .,' Td'^ Onrreason^if ' 'I' "^'^ '^'^^'^^ -'^'' the

of the schools change tea^lu.1^" VryTear^nd uJT'^ '" H'^^ = ."^'"'^

go over the same ground with each , Tew t.ol, '''\^"*^'* ^**^'"* "' '""^

a little beyond last year's stonnii,^ teacher, sometimes a.lvancing

growing alsinclinatiTn to plocl^C ftl i Ta;';tr;''V"'^'^^ -"^""^ *" ^
opp<.tunity to be somewjiere elsfrlt lallTnlL^'^l^.TJ^'^^-^

Pennsylvania State Board of Agkiculture.

73

reaching- the mark of the year before ; thus not only losing time but
forming- habits disastrous to future advancement and usefulness. Then
ag"ain directors in their wisdom sometimes divide the school term,
liaving a two months by a i)oor teacher and four montlis l)y it may be
a poorer one, a little abler physically. Another fruitful cause of the
inefficiency of the public schools of to day is the em])l()yment of un-
trained, inexperienced teachers. Every teacher must commence some-
time, must have a first school, but it does not follow that all the girls
and boys who are looking- out for some kind of business and are not yet
quite ready to start in at that business should play keej) school a while
for pastime. In the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
for 1888 a county superintendent of a county not far away, says : '' Our
statistical report shows that forty eight out of the two hundred and
sixty-two teachers employed in the county or nearly one-fifth, had no
previous experience. In examining former reports I find that this
number does not vary much, being the same last year, and one greater
the year before. This is the g-reat hindrance to the i)rogress of our
schools; and untiV all our districts that are able to do so will pay
salaries suf]ftcient to keep ex]ierienced teachers in the i)rofession, we
cannot expect to see the continued advancement in oiir scliools that
we ought to see. " Can any county ])ay enough for six months w^ork
out ot* twelve to satisfy a Y)erson of the proper ambition and qualifica-
tion? Can a business that employs those eneraa-ed in it only half the
year and compels them to seek other em})loyment the other half to
eke out subsistence be called a profession ?

A connec^ted g-o-aheadative arrangement is needed for teacher and
pupil to do the best work. Under present conditions this cannot be
realized in country districts. In the eagerness to have school hand}^
districts have been divided and sub-divided until the schools are, many
of them, too small to admit of good results in teaching. They cannot
be properly classified with enough pu])ils in each class to make it in-
teresting^ and get u]^ proper enthusiasm. A teacher can do better
work with fifty scholars of one g-rade in a properly arranged and
equip])ed room that he can with twenty-five or less of all grades. He
can do better work w itli forty of all gi'ades than with ten. The schools
of our towns and (iities are much superior to countiy schools by reas(m
of th(^ larger number of pupils admitting of iiro]>er grading and the
emi)lovment of teachers specially qualificMl to do the work in each de-
])artment. Books of reference too are to be had, so that pu])ils can
follow ui) and search out many ])roblems that under less favored con-
ditions would pass out of mind and remain unsolved. And notwith-
standing the increased efficiency of the scliools, by reason of employing-
better teachers, having libraries and books of reference at hand, toget-
her with a])proi)riate apparatus for demonstrating to the eye,mucli that
is better taken in that way, the cost per scholar as found by exami-
nation of recent re])orts frequently fails below the cost of the most
inefficient schools in the country. The reason is obvious on investiga-
tion. Take a school of eight or ten i)U])ils in average attendance, a
house is to be provided, warmed and cared for, teacher employed at,
say, twenty-five dollars i)er month, the cost leaving out all ex])enses
except teachers wages will be about three dollars per scholar per month
or nearly equal to the tuition in a normal school. Take another schcx^l
properly graded, fifty scholars in daily attendance, teacher, fifty dollars
per month, and the cost per ])upil one dollar per month, with the ad-
ditional ])r()bability that the work done will be much better done.

'a

74

Quarterly Keport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricuuiure.

75

Coimtiy scliools fluctuate veiy much in number of pupils in attend-
ance. So much in this case that an ordinary district may to-day have
withm its limits fifty childi't^n of school ag"e ; within ten years, by the na-
tural course of events, this number may fall to twenty five or less. The
larger the district th(^ less it will be affected by this fluctuaticm. The
expense from year to year Avill remain about the same whether tliere be
twenty-fiv(^ or fifty scholars. A traded school can without detriment be
made much more flexible. A competent ])rincii)al can be placed at the
head— a permanent fixture— a ])rofessional teacher— and as many more
])r()fessors and assistants may be employed as may be needed to pro-
perly handle the scholars. If for a small part of the year the school
should hll ut) to overflowing- in some departments,the advance students
those perhai)s looking- toward making- teaching- a profession could be
detailed to their own advantage for duty as instructors. The fluctuatino-
element could thus be handled without much additional expense or
trouble and be better cared for than under existing conditions. In a
g-raded school tliere is a constant incentive, something- farther ui) to
draw the pu])il on. '

It is a well-known fact that several rooms in one building can be
warmed more cheaply than several separate building-s. We hear much
m favor of the g-raded school, increased efticiency, permanent emi)lov-
ment lor worthy teachers, less cost per scholar, an opportuniy for a
good education, to be off set against the one great diflicultv of getting-
the scholars of the rural districts g-athered together. Is tins diflicultv
insurmountable? Take a district with twelve schools numbering
three hundred pupils in daily attendance. If these pui)ils can all be
b]-oug-ht together at one jdace they can receive better instruction from
one-halt the number of teachers. In one case twelve houses are to be
warmed and cared for, in the other, six rooms will be required and
maybe m one house. The saving here apparent would go a long- wav
toward providing means to have the scholars taken to school : to sav
nothing ()t the great advantage they would enjoy after getting there

Now a lew suggestions as to how this matter of getting the scholars
to the school cont(^mplated might be managed. All scholars within a
a certain radius could get to school as they do now. Those beyond a
reasonable distanc^^ to be carried by contract. Having a letting yearly
ot this in^ivilege of delivering the scholars to school Let the lowest

i!l vf^LfV'TT ''*' ^'iT' ^^'^ ^T.t,r?^t, reserving to the individual
the light to take or send his own children. A shed could be provided
tor teams and wagons and ])upils would often be found capable of
managing a team that would bring the scholars along a given route
and take them home again at night at a nominal cSst. By such a
system the scholars of the country districts would have placed within
their reach training (>qual to that now given by the town high schools
to their giaduates and at a cost-after the system were inaugurated -
no exceeding that now paid on account of schools

And there are other reasons why an equal chance educationally is
deserved l)y the children in the country. In a recent periodical I find
the lollowiiio^. "in-i

"It is a ^^■i']] known fact that pliysical decay takes place at a much
earhfvr ago n, lu- e. y than the country. The popnhition of to vns
and cities is contmnally reneAved from the affriculti.ral class ; othorwise
tliey woidd soon run out. A ,.rominent scientist dechires tliat'T, n
parativf^ly few Parisian families sim-ive the third generati.m In New
York, Boston, Chicago and other leading cities of the New World the

)!

%

decadence is less swift but marked. An observing elderly gentlema
who has lived in New York during forty years, states that the childre
of robust men who were reared in in'ovincial i)laces,
featured, ])ale, and stinted. The grandchildren are still

grow

an

en

sharp-

iccti-vcxvvv*, t , ^ more dwarfed

and hatchet faced ; sharp in mind but small of brain and limb;
cunning, given to much pleasure and little thought; the family dies
with them or with their scrofulous progeny. Nine out of ten of the
heavy business men of the metropolis," says he, " are country born
and bred. They are head and shoulders above their associates who
have been reared within brick walls. Do you ask why !" he continued,
" because the majority of young men live fast artificial lives. Impure
air alone would shorten life and Aveaken children. But add the estimu-
lating condition which surround them, especially the tobacco habit, in
which all young men, or almost all, indulge, and you have cause enough
for tlieir retrogression. Why in every walk I take I see young lads
of ten or twelve smoking cigarettes. The l)Ootblack and street gamin
seize the stump of a cigar and greedily finish it. Do you not su]>pose
the blood is tainted, the very fountain of life tainted through nicotine"?
They would ])etter be fed on small doses of arsenic. Of course drinking
follows. They belong together, one paves the way for the other.
And so they who are subject to these habits stultify their manhood and
poison the lives of their growing- children."

Governor Hoard, of Wisconsin, in a recent address before a farmers'
institute in his state said : " Standing in ,the Produce Exchange in
New York City, a few years ago, I looked over the five hundred men
who to day represent and control the commerce of this nation, and I
said to Mr. Armour, one of the Armour Brothers, who was a farmer's
bov, " How many of these five hundred men do you think were born
on a farm!" I was astonished when he told mo that eighty out of
every one hundred of these men who were controlling the commerce of
the nation were bom on the farm."

Then I asked him ^' What about their sons?" and he shrugged his
shoulders and said : " Degenerate sons of worthy sires. The city is a
great maelstrom : it is a great hopper; it grinds up human flesh and
blood, but the farmer's boy of all other boys, is the boy who can stand
the grind." If these things be so. If these children of the country
are superior phvsically to their urban cousins by reason of their more
fortunate surroundings, let us make an earnest and determined effort to
place them on equality, educationally at least, so far as ])ul)lic school
training goes. The countrv air is not only more conducive to health
of bodv, but it is better for the morals. It is only fair- if it can be
done— that all have the full advantage of graded schools with cultured
professors, libraries, ai^paratus and all the trimmings necessary for
intellectual, moral and social culture. It is i^ossible. We can have it
if we will. What say you of the rural districts, shall we push m this
direction for what is ours by right? -i i i

In the rural districts is the place to establish the ideal schooL
There is room tln^re to surround it with picturesque grounds, beautiiul
shade trees, flowering shrubs, creoping vines and beds of common and
rare flowers: not alone for ornament, but from which to dcMive instruc-
tion and inspirati(m. iVfake th(^ princi])al of the schools chistered there
a fixture during good behavior; the grounds and surroundings, his
domain, all under his care, and from many very many of thes(^ spots
an influence will go out and widen as ripples widen from a pel)l)le cast

if

i

76

QUAllTEKLY EePOKT.

into a placid lake until tlie circles break upon the farthest shore of
time.

** There is always a river to cross ;

Always an ettbrt to make
If there is anything good to win,

Any rich {)rize to take.

Yonder's the fruit we crave,

Yonder's the charming scene ;
But deep and wide with a troubled tide,

Is the river that lies between."

LESSONS FliOM TEEES.

By Prof. H. O. Hine, Hambuiy, Peityia,

(Read at Hamburg Institute. )

Not more than fifty years ago, within the memory of men now living,
the broad acres of our beautiful farms w ere covered with a dense forest
growth, and from Maine to Georgia the woodman's axe resounded
through the depths of the silent w^oods, brincring- to the ground, one by
one, these monarchs of the vegetable world. Through the agency of
horses and oxen these prostrate trunks were dragged through deep
snows to some convenient stream to await the time when the spring
freshet should break the icy embrace of winter and carry them to the
nearest sav/mill.

We need not go much fartlier int(^ the past to find the husbandman
cutting down his woodland and literally burning much excellent timber
for the sake of widening: the extent of cultivated farm. AVood trees
and lumber were often destroyed simply for the sake of getting rid of
them.

This wholesale destruction of the forest has not been without its
results No mor(^ do the merry raftsmen in the east bear their pro-
ducts down the rivers to some flourishing city : instead, the freighted
trains witli lumber come largely from Michigan, Minnesota, and even
larther west.

The axe is not the only agency which has been devastating our
torests. ihat harbinger of civilization, the locomotive, carries with it
death to the trees, not only in the incendiary screech which sends forth
flame to set on fire many square miles of territory, but also in th-
wholesale use of trees neessary.

Thus there are sacrificed, annually, according to Mr. Butler (in the
Chautauquan of 1886) , $60,000,000 worth of fuel and timber-not to
mention that 60,000 acres alone are cut to meet the demand for railroad
ties, besides the devastation by fire.

A very proper question to ask is, ''What effect will the reduction of
our timber acreage have?" Will it render a famine in the supply of
wood for various building purposes? That is hardly probable, because
as lumber advances m price, other articles will be substituted for wood
Necessity IS ever the mother of invc^ntion. 13w(^lliugs, churches, bridges'
public buildings, etc., are now largely constructed of brick, marble or
iron, even the fences of the farm and the lawn are being made of wire
of numerous designs Coal, and natural gas has superseded th(^ use
of wood and charcoal as a fuel.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

77

But a most alarming fact stares us in the face as a result of the
criminal denudation of our hills and valleys. It is the effect upon the

climate.

The peculiar weather of the present winter, together with the general
climate changes tor years has caused much remark.

Each year the weather is becoming more and more uncertain until
President Adams of Cornell University, humorously remarks that " this
country has no climate, only samples of weather."

The annual rain and snowfall for many years has shown much irregu-
larity ; spring seems to be ushered in later each year, summer is tardy,
and rushes to the extremes of wet or dry, autumn extends into what for-
merly was winter, wdiile winter fails to answer to roll call entirely.
Springs, once never failing, have lately ceased to exist, streams carry
but a fraction of their former volume of water in summer, while in win-
ter and spring they are liable to be transformed in a day into rushing
rivers fed by the sudden melting of the snows ui)on the exposed sur-

face

A glance over the geography of Euope and Asia now in connection
with a hint as to its past may illustrate this argument. In Bible times
the Holy Land w as not the arid and desolate tract it now is, but the
devastation of the cedars of Lebanon made it so. Centuries ago one-
third of the entire area of Spain was rendered unfit for agriculture by
the denudation of the sierras and mountain slopes, in the time of the
Moorish kings. The eastern coast of the Adriatic was reduced to
sterility bv the devastations of the Komans who razed its forests to
secure the foundation i)rops in building Venice, that city built on
seventy islands, with canals as streets. Many of the artificial deserts
of China, India, Persia, and Algeria can be traced to a like cause.

A forest in its natural state is a great reservoir, admirably adai)ted
to receive, and gradually distribute the supply of moisture furnished
in a rain or snow-fall. The ground is covered with a thick layer ot
leaves, twigs, fallen branches, remnants of logs, etc, and become the
means by Avhicli the moisture is held until absorbed below, and not
evaporated into the air.

The slight effects that we are now noticing m our own country
already cause our leading scientific minds to view this mater with
grave apprehension, and have set on foot various means to counteract
it. The subject of forestry is becoming a study, and the University
of Pennsylvania, has lately endowed a professor's chair with that sub-
Arbor Day exercises in the public schools are common in many states,
and in pursuance of the wish of the Governor of this Comnion wealth
the schools hold special services in which tree planting and literary
exercises ])ertainiiig thereto are discussed. This has a tendency to
instill the principles of scientific caution on the mmds ot the rising

Many a farm now has no woodland whatever, not even shade during
the summer months for their cattle in the pasture field, io encourage
tree planting, the law even in our own state r)rovides an abatement m
the taxes of any one who will plant trees of fixed sizes at suitable
distances from the i^ublic highways. , ,

In the care of trees Germany has set the entire world an examt)le.
Her forests to-dav ari^ in as good a state of preservation as tliey were
in the days of Chailemagne, one thousand years ago VV iienever a
tree is cut down another is planted in its place, only dead sticks, or

m

a

78

QuAIflEliLY BEPOJiT.

twig-8 are o-atlierecl for fuel by the poor jmajsantry. A certain propor-
tion ol the acieag-e of Germany is always in wtH)dlan(l and tliis is
caretnlly distributed.

There is likewise an element of beauty and taste arising- from the
study ol trees from an ornamental standpoint.

Neatly arranged shrubbery, around the home and in the lawn, trees
sendmo- lorth Iragrance from blossom and coolness from their shade
Iruit rich and luscious, delighting the eye and tickling the palate all
consi)ii'e to man's direct taste and comf(^it.

Another lesson drawn from trees, and indeed all forms of the
vegetable kingdom, lies in the nice exchange of gases between i slants
and animals. i i »

No merchant ewer made an exchange or ])arter more successfully
than nature in this respect. Man and animrds are giving to the air
slight impurities at each breath, in the shape of carbonic acid gas and
using the oxygen of the atmosphere. Vegetation very gratefull'y ac-
cepts this gas, takes it into its lungs, the leaves, and uses it in build-
ing up its tissues, giving m return pure oxygen so necessary in animal
lespiraric )n.

Howeis 1111(1 i.lants are thus great fac^tors in purifying- the air of tlie
par or and sitting ro«m, but dangerous in a sleeping apartment at
night as they then exhale carbon.

In some countries tr(;es furnish almost an entire storehouse of sup-
plies. This IS notably true in the tropics, where their products suou
taneously su,.port almost all the needs of the natives ^""''''''*" '"l'*'"-

i.ver since the memorable gathering of our first i.arents in the Garden
ot Eden where they partook of the forbidden frui from the tree of the
Kn.,wledge of Good and Evil, man lias been interested in trees

i iiey are often the retreats for recreation and worshii) In ' India
to-day many heathen worship in nature's temple under tlie banyan
tree, while many christian people here seek he invthig shades o^
weTk i:^Sj:'''^' '"^' ^I^H't"^! --Citation and imrnZ^^ZZ'l

.l,i^,^f rif*""* '^'-y"^^ "*' l'!"l"«"l'l'y led their votaries into the -roves
abo, t Athens, as if more direct contact with nature won],! .MmbU^E

forest T "^ '"''"*' *^^''°"^''- ^'"'^ ^'y^^' «'"« speaks of the

^'Tho grovos were God's first temples,

Ero man learned

To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave

Tha^1S^'''^ the roof above then, ; ere he framed
The lofty vault to gather and roll back,
The sound ofanthems,-in the darkling wood
Amid the cool and silence, he knelt down '
And oliered to the mightiest solemn thanks
And supplication/' ^nanKs

J-Irer^JaTe i^tLtXg^X^^thl^if tZ7T "' "^« ^^^ ^«'

lose more of their reguJarfty, any^ur'eo^un ry"m^Xon[s7^^^^^^
productiveness. "^u^u oi jis leitjlity and

v%

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agkiculture.

SOME THINGS I DON'T KNOAY ABOUT FARMING.

By W. B. Shed DAN, Pott.sf/rove, Pa.

79

When Henry Ward Beeclier was to lecture in Lynchburg, Virginia,
in 188(),his advertised subject was " Evohition and lievohvaon." Wlnm
he came in person, the committee tohl him tlie people were too orthodox
to meddle with Darwinism. Be-echer said, " Tell them I shall s|)eak
on ' The reign of the ccmimon people,'" and he did, but Judge; Bond
says he beat them in the end and changed only the name and iK^t the
lecture.

So when I was asked to speak here, I thought of calling my talk
"What I don't know about farming," but some of my friends thought
that a twenty minute speech would hardly be more than sufhcient to
introduce so broad a subject. Led by this consideration, 1 went to
work to gather material for iny talk, trusting the task of naming to
the future.

You wh(^ have never tried, do not know how hard it is to tell what
you do not know. Long I i)()ndered over my theme and often when I
went to bed at eleven thirty I lay awake until twenty-nine minutes of
twelve trying to think of things I did not know. In the still early hours
of morning, steadily I pursued my relentless search in tlu^, to me, un-
known realms of farming ; while the shadows even yet were lingering
on the eastern hillsides I kept at my work of investigation ; not exactly
in the way which you call practical, but the way in which a great deal
of information is gathered for farmers by the editors of many agricul-
tural [)a])ers, namely, dreaming.

But the more I studied the more I became convinced that a huge
pamphlet or possibly a volume the size of Webster's Dictionary would
be needed to hold all the things I have yet to learn about farming ; so
I adopted my limitation "Some things I don't know about farming."

And now as I i)ut forth upon this deep where I am but a cabin boy
while so many of you are captains, I hope you'll be lenient with me.
If I do now and then create a stir in your corner of the deck by knock-
ing down a coil of worn rope or by running against the first mate,
you'll know I do it in ignorance and am not to blame when I did not
know it was you I should strike.

It's a fine thing to know all about farming. I have seen men who did,
or thought tliev did. I don't, and if I did, I shouldn't be here making
addresses for my board. I'd be down at Washington marrying Baby
McKee or some of President Harrison's relatives and drawing a salary
in the Agricultural D(^])artment. lam here to stir up things a little.
To stir up anything is always an advantage ; well, no : I believe I shall
take that back in case of these muddy roads or a bull dog with noiK^
of his front teeth filed : you'd best not stir them up. I've tried it
and the result is never satisfactory, that is to you. Sometimes it is to
the owner of the dog when you are book ag(mt. T sold books once
myself so I speak from experience. But will drop this as it is too

])ainful a subject. ^ i.- i

We often find, however, that it is a benefit professionally to be stirnMl
up. We wake to find that some of our pet theories or habitual
methods is not just the most sensible or successful. We need a house
cleaning occasionally to brush down the cobwebs, polish the glass and
])ut down a new carpet.

80

QUAKTERLY RePORT.

But I fear I um wandering" and you will beg'in to think that there
isn't anything that I don't know about farming'; but there are several
things I don't know ; i)ossibly ten or fifteen — hundred.

The first thing I don't know is why we so often measure our farms
by acres rather than dollars. Farmers, as a rule, seemed possessed
with the desire to bite off more than they can chew. Not long- ago a
convention of farmers in St. Louis, Missouri, declared that farming" is
a failure in their section. What is the trouble? Just what I said;
biting" off more than they can chew and getting financial dyspepsia as
a result. It is not the large farms thut give largest returns, never.
It's the small, w^ell worked, well watched farms which yield the best
income i3er acre.

Thoroughness in farming pays as attending to your own business
always does. Why, do you know, I have actually known men who got
rich at farming. I admit it does not look reasonable to you but it's
tnie. How did they do it? ])rincii)ally by attending to their ow^n
business and doing it well.

Another thing I don't know is why farmers ])ut their money into the
fire I think that is wrong. It's unbusiness like. Do banker's put
their money in the fire? Not often. They put theirs in a cooler place
— usually Canada- and the money of the depositors goes to feed the
fire on Wall street or the Chicago Wheat Exchange. But farmers
burn uj) their own money when they leave their farming implements,
their wagons and even, in some cases, their rain barrels unsheltered.
Of course none of you do that. The ones who attend farmer's insti-
tutes aren't of that sort ; but there are sucli farmers and you ^^'ho know
better ought to tell them that it doesn't pay to give one hundred forty
dollars for a binder and throw it away in five years because it's worn
out by being kept a large part of the time in a shed which has the
ends of the earth for doors, the sun for a window and the clouds for a
roof— which often leaks. You must teach them better and the best
way you can do it is by bringing in your own idow which stands in
the place where you quit plowing last fall.

Another way in which farmers put their money into the fire, is by
keeping poor and scrubby breeds of stock. Does'^it cost more to keei^
a thoroughbred Percheron than that slightly enlarged edition of an
Indian pony you have? Very little. It may take a little longer to
curry him as he is laiger but there would usually be fewer hills and
hollows on his skin to explore. Couldn't you do more work with liim?
Yes; fully one-third more. AVouldn't he bring more if you tried to
sell him? Ah, that's the rub ! You can't sell that cross-eyed, shrivelled-
up, short-eared mule you have or you would. No good farmer will buy
such a horse. Better sell for less than his leal value if he loses money
for you where a better horse would make it. In these days you must
be ahve if you want to keep up with the procession and hear the band
play.

Again, I don't know why farmers like to work so hard and get so
little pay. Look at tliose two fields of wheat lying side by side with
the same soil and ecpialjidvantages as to culture and fertilizaticm.
Why IS it that tlie one yields fifteen bushels to the acre the other
over twenty ? Is that one of the things you don't know abou't farmiii-?
I have the answer for that : it is in the variety of secul sown Why
are you satisfield witli two-thirds of a cro]) when you could have three-
thirds, or, ]K>ssibly, four, by selecting caivfully your seed^ Too many
are like an Irishman, I should have said Hungarian, for it's a foul libel

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

81

on us poor Irish to believe all these mean things of us, but I said an
an Irishman and I'll stick to it now. Well, this Irishman had a potato
patch. Now he did the very thing which I have known a great many
farmers to do who have potato patches ; he i)lanted it with potatoes.
In the fall a neighbor asked him how his potatoes had done. "Ah,"
said he, "illegantly, illegantly." "How many had you?" asked the
neighbor. "Two bushels, soir," "Why, wasn't that a small yield?"
" Ach, faix an oi planted but one bushel, Begorra oi doubled me
money. " Thus many farmers seem to put no value on the labor which
a cro]) costs.

Will the additional cost of good breeds of stock and of choice varie-
ties of seed be justified? If you doubt it, ask some one who has tried
it, or try it yourself, or-or or come to me. I won't lie. I never do,
wlieii the tiuth suits. But let me urge you to be more businesslike.
Count the work and find what varieties of grain or potatoes cost dol-
lars and grow cents. You want the ones which grow dollars. W^atch
for new varieties. The first man who tests and proves the new kind of
seed is the one who reaps largest returns. Why aren't you that man?

Next I want to relieve my mind of some things about care of farm
animals. Do not only take care in selection of gooil breeds, but take
good care of them afterwards. Many horses are. kept, during the
winter in a stable which has little light, less ventilation and no
drainage. Don't you think a horse enjoys standing half way to his
knees in a jxile of fermenting manure Avitli foul gases rising to his
nose? You'd enjoy it yourself, that is if you were a horse.

Then did you ever know any one who ate buckweat cakes and sausage
from seven o'clock in the morning until fifty -nine minutes past eleven,
whose dinner lasted from twelve until dark? Ladies and gentlemen,
I have — never known very many but I have seen people feed their
horses on that ])lan. I do know a man who never enters his barn that
he doesn't throw a few handsful of oats or half a dozen ears of corn to
his horses. Another goes to town and his horses get nothing from six
in the morning until six at night, yet when he is at home he doesn't
feel satisfi(Hl if the horses' racks are emi>ty. It isn't very suiin-ising
that these horses aren't in first class. If they were like some people,
they would have taken to the use of Dr. Snoodle's Pepsin Tablets or
the Climax Ijiver Invigorator long ago. But they live as long as they
can with such feeding as would discourage the cast iron digestion of
an ostrich, then they get sick. AVhat now? Send for a doctor? Oh
no if it Avere a ])erson, we might, Vmt we'll just call in a dozen or two
of neighbors and they will doctor liiin. The first comes and we ad-
minister a gallon of hot water and a quart of salt. We wait ten
minutes. Another suggests that as the horse is slightly feverisli he
should be bled. We bleed him. Fifteen minutes go by. Why doesn't
he get up and eo to eating? Some one says he is bleeding too freely,
he'll be dead in twenty minutes if that flow isn't stopped at once.
Great excitement ]n'evails. A red string is tied around his ear, still
he bleeds. A cha])ter in the Bible is read backwards. Now it is dis-
covered that only a little blood has been lost. It's the water from a
broken spout which runs into the stable and makes it slo])i)y there.

Next we give a (piart of wliisky a pint of vinegar, two ounces of
ginger, a teacupful of lard, four (Minces of pei^perniiiit and half a-piiit
of wood ashes. These don't cure him. Now we get a rop(^ around
liim and pull and spur until he gets up. Somebody has now settled it

v.:

I'

f

82

QUAKTEIII.Y KePC^RT.

Pennsylvania State Board oi' Agrkttlture.

83

that he has huio: fever. STuldenly it dawns upon ns that standi ii«^' is
the worst ])ossi})le position for a sick horse. Then we study how to
^et him down. AVe nii«:^lit throw liini but tliat seems a littk^ ronizh.
8o}]i(i one su^^^ests tliat w(^ tie liis front foot no until he g-ets tired and
has to lie down from exhaustion. In the midst of our planning;-, the
horse walks out of the stable and lies down in the yard. The latest
arrival says there is no doubt that the horse is strained in the hack
He saw a man two months a^^o who told hijii that his wife's uncle, who
lives m California, once had a horse whicli hv. thoui>ht w^is strained in
the back and it acted just as this one does. In a week the horse is all
ri^Jit and wouhl have been so in ten hours if he had not been treated
by a band of savages. It would liave been no surprise if he had died •
it s more of a suri)rise that he did not die.

Another tiling- 1 don't know is why farmers like to encourae-e sick-
ness. Th(5 owners of some farm houses ou«"ht to be in jnil for endang-er-
ing- the public health. I know a farm house which has a well ""not
twenty -hve feet from the kitchen sIod i)oo1. Another has a water
closet above and within sixty feet of the well. I can take vou to a
tarm house whose water supply is a spring- in a hollow. Not a quarter
ot a mile u]) that slope is a town cemetery. My friends, if any one
sliould containinate my water sut)ply by idacing- festering cori)ses a) )()ve
it, Id either close u]) that cemetery or I'd emigrate. Yet this farmer's
tannly seem to care little for the danger. Pure water and pure air nmst
be had at any cost. Dollars won't offset health or lives Farnn^rs

you have the best opportunities for the best of each, why don't vou
have them? > j .y ^

In a certain farm house the wife lay sick for six months and duriiu-
that time a weel or more would go by without a bit of pure fresh air
being admitted tx. her room Is it any wonder that the patient lingered
slowly along and never fully recovered? Oh ! don't, don't shut the air
and sunlight out of ycmr homes ! They cost you nothing but the loss
of them may cost you all you hold most dear. Twice a day open the
doors and windows-not ot your parlor which you enter only when vou
dean house or when your are married or buried, but of your kitchen
your livmg room and let the air cleanse it. But, you say it\wil be

stii up Urn fire and stir youi'sell u]) by movine- nuicklv in thi^ Mfmn«
l)here of jmre oxygen. Both you and the firrfvin be bitter r 'Ihel

^& tW dTr" 'Tf' ^Vl^ '''^''''^^ '^y little gi^ALh^^^^
received the r dar ings before they were six years old ^ One child in

( '^^nigiiig summers On how many little breasts are the dimpled hands
folde<l hat would have wrought mighty works if the delicate body hS
had only the pure fresh air ! Oh, sometimes when T S a , ^^^^^^^^^^^
^"^^^ '\-\^^^^^^- and blankets and hoods and vails unt 1 ?t Lc^ks ike

)

^

"mysterious dispensations of Providence" when some memb<;r of the
family sickens with scarlet fever, di[)htheria or consumption. It wasn't
Providence that brought the disease. God gave the pure air and fixed
the laws for the [)reservation of health and if peo[)le will get sick from
such simple causes, it isn't a " mysterious dispensation" it's lack of
common sense.

You will be surprised to learn that farmers furnish a large propor-
tion of the inmates of our insane asylums. I hav(^ this on the authority
of the expert. Dr. J. M. Buckley. He attributes this to the disregard
of hygienic law and lack of mental food.

Farmers as a rule, live too much within themsc^lves. To be sure
farming is your business and as such must take u[) the largest portion
of your time and thought, but if you never rise above your profession,
you con never rise in it. Dr. Buckley says every one is insane to a
degree, and many a farmer's life by its isolation, tends to develop some
hidden monomania. What's the remedy? Travel, reading, healthful
amusement and a jolly laugh.

Among the subjects uj)on which I find indications of insanity among
farmers, is that of education. Many Avill not educate their children
lest they leave the farm. Would they be better farmers if they were
educated? No: education has nothing to do with farming. Let me
tell you that in the next generation the educated farmer will not be
the rare exception he is now. It isn't education that makers boys dis-
contented with the farm. Often it is the little interest that the fathers
take in the boys. If you had to get xip at four o'clock, milk live cows,
feed a flock of sheep and curry three horses before breakfast, if you
had to set out half an acre of cabbage plants because you're little and
it won't tire your back to stoop, if you had to shock wheat with ten
th(3usand beards inside of your shirt and every one scratching like an
old hen in an onion bed, if you had to do these things and four hun-
dred ninety nine others equally aerreeable you'd swear you'd never
be farmer. Come now, you know you ^vould.

Then see what mig-hty men have come from these educated farmer
boys. Bead the thoughts or follow the lives of Burns, Trowbridge,
Webster or Lincoln, and tell me that the farmer boy should not be
educated ! Do you say that you would rather have your boy follow
the plow, a discontented and therefore unsuccessful farmer, than be a
blessing to his race by scientific discoveries w^hich may rival those of
Edison, Pasteur or Hug-li Miller? Would you cut off or turn away the
current from the reservoir which has given this country and the world
its most eminent scientists, i^rofoundest jurists, and most elocpient
orators? Never ! Never ! Let the boys be educated and thus blotter
fitted for life, not for farming nor teacliinpr, nor business, that is later
work, the foundation must be the same always and everywhere.

And lastly, as the old Scotch minister used to say when he was just
half way thrcmgh his sermon, I don't know Avhy farmers are any better
than other men. I have seen men, men wlio knew nearly all about farm-
ing, but mad(^ tli(Mr living by telling other men how to farm, I have
heard the.sc^ men say that the farmer's life was the freest, the noblest,
the most indei)endent and enjoyable that any man can lead. In fact
it was "perfectly lovely." WhV did they say so? Let me tell you.
It was because they had never tried to drive a hog into the jien when
he had an urgent enirageuK^it down the road: they never found the
nei<rhbor's cows in the wheatfield when the family all had then; best
clothes on ready for church ; they never had a load of hay fall oil on a

m

84

QUAKTEIILY EePOKT.

II

if

liot afternoon when a thund(u* storm is conjin^^ up ; if they had, do you
think thc^y'd say that. a fanners' life is all they desire? No, sir they'd
say 'Mkhosaphat!" so loudly that the neiofhbors would think they
were swearing. But is the farmer any wors(3 off than other men ? No,
I don't think he is. I know men who spent all their lives in search
of the i)ursuit that ])aid the lar^^^est wa^es for the least work, and do
you know ui)on what tliey settled? It was farming- on the poor house
farm. The majority of those who try to hnd a places where thert^ is
l)lenty of pay and no work settle down to farmin<^- on the i)auper farm
or study harnessmaking- in the ])enitentiaiy.

In c(mclusion, let me sum up, make the farm produce the larg-est
possible cro]) to the acre ; to do this, use best varieties of seed ; don't
keei) scrubby breeds of stock ; take good care of a farm animal and
farm implements: breathe ])ure air and drink [)ure water; take some
relaxation by rc-.iding, by traveling (h- by ]> roper amusements; edu-
cates the boys and g-irls, and, lastly, don't consider your calling any
better nor any worse than any other. You have to work and work
hard. So do other men. You enjoy, generally, the rewaid for your
labor. So do others. Who does more or g-et more? No one. Then
surely you are neither the inferior nor the superior of the rest of man-
kind. There is only one thing that lifts a man above his fellows or
lowers him beneath them. That is true manhood or the lack of it.
-Let a man be true and honest and upright, let him be a man n<^t alone
m years, m stature or attainments, but in goodness and g^reatness of
lieart then, though he be the sweeper in the city streets or the movin^r
spirit m the g-reatest iron mill in Pennsylvania ; thoug-h he maV wander
to-night along the lonely country road in the g-uise of a tramp, or sit
by g-lowmg- fire amid cushions of velvet and fur ; thoug-h he be news-
boy or member of Cong-ress ; lawyer or farmer, if his be the si)irit of
true manhood, he's a man " for a' that. "

Oh, yes : the pen of the Ayrshire farmer dropped a gem when it g-ave
being to those words of the Scotch bard :

"What tliou^h on homely fare we dine,

Wear hodden gray and a' that ;
Gie tools their silks and knaves their wine

A man's a man for a' that,
For a' tJiat and a' that,

Their tinsel sliow and a' that,
The honest man, though e'er so poor,

Is king o' men for a' that.

" A prince can make a belted knight

A marquis, duke, and a' that ; '
But an honest man's aboon his mightr-

Gind faith, he maunna fa' that!

For a' that and a' that,

Their dignities and a' that'
The pith o^ sense and pride o' worth

Are higher rauka than a' that."

\1

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

THE POTATO, HOW TO CULTIVATE AND WHEN TO

MARKET.

85

By Isaac Richards, Tou(jhkenamo7iy Penna.

(Read at Unionville Institute. )

The early history of the potato is involved in obscurity. We have
no account of it earlier than 1550, when it seems quite certain it was
cultivated in Spain. It was taken to Ireland from Spain by a sea cap-
tain about 1565, and was introduced into Germany and France many
years later; here it had to fight its way to popularity, as the phy-
sicians pronounced it poisonous, and the priests called it an evil root
because it was not mentioned in the bible. It seems stran^re to us that
a |)lant that has so many qualities to commend it should have required
two hundred and fifty years to make its way to «-eneral popularity, but
such is the case; and it was not until the beginning of the present
centiuy that it came to be appreciated as its merits deserve.

The' best soil for the ]K)tato is a good, rich, sandy loam, so located
as not to be too wet during a rainy season, or to suffer too nnich from
drouth (the most frequent cause for failure of the yield) if there
should be a dry season. I usually select a portion of tlu^ field in which
corn was grown the previous year. A proper place having been se-
lected, the next question is how to manure or fertilize it.

The qu(^stion as to whether barn yard manure or commercial fc^rtil-
izer is best suited to the wants of the potato crop has been' much dis-
cussed by scientific people the country over, and many experiments
have been made. My plan has been, a medium coat of good barn-yard
manure, applied the fall before, or as early in the spring as possible
and plowed under at planting time, and also an api^lication of a good
commercial fertilizer at the rate of eight hundred to one thousand
pounds per acre. At this point I cannot do better than (piote from the
report of the experiment grounds of a prominent agricultural journal,

as folh)WS : , n. ^L f L\. e

" On no other crops have we had such telling results from the use of
commercial fertilizers as comi>ared with farm manure as upon potatoes
and this has been the case dining the past eight years without any
exception that we now recall. U])on corn, oats and vegetables of vari-
ous kinds fertilizers have occasionally failed to increase the cro]), while
farm manures have produced marked results. The experiment which
we now record is no exception to the general rule.

" The land had received no manure of any kind for several years.
Two ]dots of one tenth of an acre each were measured off. The first re
ceived three tons of stable manure,or at the rate of thirty tons per acre,
in October The i)otatoes were planted April 22 ; were cultivated and
hoed; the soil bein- kept level about the i^lants. The yield was
twenty four and thivo fourth bushels, or at the rate of two hundred and
forty seven and one half bushels per acre; of which eighty per cent.

were marketable. , , i i i i

" The. second plot received in place of the stable manure two hundred
pounds of Map(^s Potato Fertilizer, or at the rate of onr ton per acre.
The seed planting, cultivation, etc., was the same The yieh was
twenty-seven and one half bushel, or at the rate of two hundred and
seventy five and one half bushel per acre; of which ninety per cent.

|!

8r»

Qt^a.rtekly Eepokt.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of AaiacuLTUiife.

87

Wl

were marketable. The potatoes were smoother and bri^-hter, and less
injured by scab tlian those in the manured plot.

"The cost of the manures was three dollars per ton, or nine dollars
for the i)lot. The cost of the fertilizer was forty eight dollars per ton
or four dollars and eighty cents for the plot."

From these experiments, and others fnmi various parts of the coun-
try, the odds seem to be favorable to the use of a properly compounded
connnercial fertilizer, rather than farm manure in any quantity or con-
dition. Still I feel that I will continue to use sotne manure with the
fertilizer for potatoes ; as the succeedin*>- croj) is to be wheat in most
cases. And I find from experience that the potato [)atch does not need
another dressing- of the stable manure to raise a ^-ood crop ; a li<>iit
dressinof of phosphate sown with the wheat being* suHicient.

Now for tlu^ potatoes : most agree that we should select g'ood-shaped,
well njatured, medium-sized tubers. There is a diversity of opinion
in regard to how they should be cut, if cut at all. Some of the most
successful growers plant the whole potato, others cut to one eye pieces,
but most rec(^mmend and practice (as I do mvstdf) cutting- to two eye
l)ieces, and if the seed end has too many eyes to allow sufficient flesh
with each two eyes, cut off and throw away the tip end. Potatoes
which have been cut with the ]dow when digging are good for planting.

As to what are the best varieties for cultivation, there seems to be a
great diversity of opinion. It would be as impossible to describe the
ideal potato, as, in a few words and to the satisfaction of all men, to
describe the ideal wife. In fact each locality seems to have varieties
best adapted to their own wants, but few, if any, do well in all cli-
mates. I myself have for some years raised only White Stars. They
yield better, and sell for as much i)rice in the markets as any other
kind. In regard to seed potatoes, it must be borne in mind^ that if
they si)rout murh during the winter or early spring, they will not grow
when planted; therefore for those varieties which have this fault, such
as the Early Rose, it is always safest to procure seed from a colder cli-
mate. This is one of the good qualities of the White Star ; it will not
sprout m an ordinary cellar sooner than the middle of Ai)ril or first of
May. I have not bought a bushel of seed potatoes for more than five
years, but have always i)lanted my own growino- of seed. T plant as
early m the si)ring as I can get the ground in (/ood order.

My mode of planting has been to dro]) the sets in each third fui'i-ow
or rather to place them in the mellow soil on the right hand side of the
furrow o])p()sit(> the land, one or two inches from the solid bottom.
Ihis plan Jias these advantages: the sets are surrounded by nu^llow
earth, the phosphat^^ does not come in direct contact with the i)otato
thev are not idanted too deep, and the horses' feet do not knock them
out ot place. ()f course the next furrow covers them. But the manner
ot planting potatoes seems to have been entirely changed by the in-
troduction of the Aspinwall Potato Planter." I wish to say here that
J Ix heve I never i>urchas(Hl any kind of farm machine which has proved
more satisfactory At one operation it marks out the trench drops
the potatoes and the feiidizer, covers them, and makes a mark for the
next row ; and does it all Uffer than we can get it (hme by hand
^ Ihe manur(^ should be ])lowed under, a portion at least of the fertil-
^.d^frr f r'l 'V '''''\ ^\''^'':'^}'^y l\aiTowed in ; then the ground is

from tl ?vf Tl ^ '"'•^'^V ! ^'}l^\ ''^'^^.^"^ ^''^'' ^'^^^^^^ ^^^^P' make the rows
fiom thii ty three inches to thirty six inches apart, and tln^ set3 one foot

,0

'fii

apart in the row. Varieties which make a very large growth of top
should be planted farther apart.

If the ground has been well prepared there will be no attention
needed until the earliest shoots begin to mak(^ their appearance, when
there should be a thorough use of the spike harrow. Don't be afraid
of hurting the potatoes, but mellow up the ground. It will kill mil-
lions of weeds just starting. , , . . , i

I do not ridge up the soil to my i)otatoes, but practice as near level
culture as possible Avith a thorough use (^f the cultivator and hoe harrow.
If these imi>lements are Avell used, but little hand hoeing will be
needed ; but don't allow any grass or weeds to grow among your pota-
toes ; it does not pay ; two crops Avill not do well on the same ground
at once. The weeds not only reduce the yield, but are badly in the
way at digging time. I have always dug my potatoes with the ])l()w,
as I have never yet seen a digger that I thought was what the farimn-s
want; but I have no doubt that in the near future we will have it.
The McCulum, a high-priced digger used in the west, is highly re-
commended. , . ,

In regard to the diseases of potatoes, we are seldom troubled with
the rot in this section, as we were last year, owing to the extremely wet
season. The scab is more common ; its cause and nature seem to be
an unsolved mystery to scientific ])eople. It is attributed to various
causes, and more numerous than its supposed causes are the preventa-
tives which is usuallv the case when tlie cause is not well understood.
I believe there is no doubt that the use of commercial fertilizer instead
of stable manure is more likely to secure a clean crop. Some varieties
are more subject to scab than others. , . r

Tliere seems but one way of subduing the jiotato bug, that ot poisom
ino- him Here again the use of machinery comes m to save labor.
Townsend Wickersham, of New Garden, Pa., has invented a machine
to distribute paris green in solution with water, doing two rows at once
as fast as a horse will walk, and doing it so well that I have not tound
it necessary to give a second application. I have used the machine

the three past years. , . . i . . -xi i.

I should not leave this branch of the subject without urging upon
farmers who raise any considerable quantity of potatoes, the advan-
tao-e of 'using boxes or crates for handling them. Mine are made ot
pine • sides and bottom one-half inch slats, two or three inches wide,
nailed upon ends of one inch stuff; a hand hold in each end ; they are
seventeen inches long, twelve inches wide and twelve inches high m
the clear inside ; they liold about one bushel each ; thirty-six ot them
fit nicely in my wagon bed. They are much handier than bags m
gathering the crop, and save much labor. r xi i v

\Vh(Mi to sell. The farmer who does not read some of the leading
agricultural iournals, as well as the general newspapers of the day, is
not up with the times. In these papers there are published from time
to time, reports from the agricultural department of our natumal gov-
ernment, giving statements of the yields of different products, madt^ up
from reports from correspondents in various parts ot the country, and

thev are reasonably correct. i. • i i n,..>»

From these reports, and other sour(^^s, farmers must pu ge ^^ l^^'tliey
the crop is a large one or otherwise. If they have reason to l>^^lie.e it
is short, it may be best to hold for a s]u;ing mai;ket ; but in legaul to
this there are some things to be considered. The a( diti()nal .ao k
hard work of putting them in the cellar and of taking them out again

88

QuAiiTERLY Report.

m

must be thonq-ht of; and wliat is still more important, the loss in
weight which will take i)lace. A year n^o last summer, I placed in a
bag" and weighed just sixty pounds of potatoes a few days after they
had been dug ; about the first of November, when time to put them in
the cellar, they weighed fifty six pounds, and in April next weighed
fifty -four pounds. So you see there was a loss of ten per cent. Notice
though that most of the loss was during the fii'st two months after dig-
ging. I have no place to store my crop for winter or spring market.
So I have for some years sold as soon as i)ossible, jind I have been
doing as well as any of my neighbors, and last year a good deal better.
If farmers wish to get good prices for their produce they must have
good produce to sell. In sorting ])otatoes make them nice; do not
send any cut or scabby ones to market, and you will get a reputation
for good stock. We cannot expect to realize such prices as a few years
ago, on account of foreign potatoes coming into our markets.

I feel that I am making this paper too long, but I cannot close with-
out urging upon farmers the profit of raising potatoes as com])ared
with that on most other cro])s. The average yield per acre in Penn-
sylvania is only seventy six bushels, while at the rate of seven hundred
to one thousand bushels have been raised on experiment ])lots. I my-
self raised last year, in spite of the rot and blight, at the rate of four
hundred bushels per acre on a small patch. So you see there is room
for a great increase in the ])roduct per acre. Last year was an un-
favorable one for the crop under discussion, as well as most others, but
my potato crop will make me about one hundred dollars y^ei' acre. I
sold from the 1888 crop of two acres, two hundred and twenty -eight
dollars and thirteen cents ; and from the croj) of 1887 of one acre, one
hundred and forty -five dollars and sixty cents. These are what T 'sold,
no addition being made for those used for seed, or for fifty^ bushels or
more eaten by the family. There is no mistake about these figures,
they are taken from my note book, and the acres were measured care-
tully. T do not mention this for the sake of boasting, but to show what
any common farmer can do.

Prei^are the ground throughly after selecting a good location ; use a
good commercnd fertilizers, with plenty of iKitash in it (most first class
manulacturers make a special potato manure) i)ut it on liberally a ton
to the acre I believe will pay ; use labor-saving machinery, which we
now have at our disposal. It is not necessary that each faruK^r should
own a maclime, one of a kind will do a whole neighborhood. Attend
to them cultivate well, and at the proper time, and raise a good crop
of v)otato3s not we^ds ; watch the markets and use iudgment about
selling, and the culture ot potatoes will pay as well, if not much better
thjm any other cro]i to which we can devote our attention

Ut course It is not expected that every farmer will rush into the cul-
ture of i)()tatoes on a arge scale next si)ring, any more than that every
dairy far-mer will bnild a silo ; better that it should not be so I am
IlZl n fT tf :^;^'^^^^^^[^^ possibilities of tlH^ potato as a cash cro].,
tZl f 1 f' ^^^^^^^^^"^?* becomes overstocked they can be fed to

Fti s hi.;n?r ^•^^\^\^^r*^ «^^>re than the cost of production,
laimei^ think oi this, and I believe you will be the better for it

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

FRUIT AND FKUIT TIIEES.

89

By W. B. K. Johnson, AUentown, Penn^a*

(Read at Macungle Institute. )

The subject we are about to consider is so broad, so deep, that its
length and breadth cannot be measured by an article of this nature,
therefore we must confine ourselves to but few varieties ; and as there
is no fruit so universally liked, or generally used, as the apple, we will
consider it first. We read in the sacred history that a tree stood in
the midst of paradise. Ancient i)oets and mythologists endowed this
fruit with wonderful virtues. We read of the golden fruit in the gar-
dens of Hesperus, guarded by the sleepless dragon ; and among the
heathen gods of the north, apples were supposed to possess the power
of immortality ; carefully guarded by the goddess Iduna, were used
only by the gods felt themselves growing old ; tliis fruit was revered
among the ancients as much, if not more, than the sacred cattle of
India are revered to day. A])ples, in the early history, did not ])ossess
the excellence tln^y to day possess, for as much as we can learn, the lus-
cious fruit of to day originated from some wild crab ai)ples of Euro])e.
We have two or three varieties of wild crab apples growing in this
country, but none of our varieties were raised from them ; there seems
to be no country where the apple thrives so well as in America. Down-
ing gives us an account of two trees grown on the grounds of Mr. Hall,
Raynham, R. I., which in 1862 were one hundred and thirty years old,
and that the trunk of one of those trees measured, one foot from the
ground, thirteen feet two inches ; and the other, twelve feet two inches,
bore that year from thirty to forty bushels of ai^ples. Aerain, in Dux-
burg, Plymouth county, Mass., is a tree twelve feet five inches in di
aineter, which yielded, in a single season, one hundred and twenty one
and one half bushels. Mr Downing has not forgotten little Lehigh,
for in Lehigh county an apple tree is reported to measure seventeen
and one-half fet^t in circumference, one foot from the ground, fifty-four
feet liigh, branches extending thirty-six feet each way from the trunk,
or, in other words, seventy -two feet in diameter.

To day there is no fruit in the temperate belt so extensively used for
so many purposes than the apple. It is used as a dessert, at lunch, in
cooking and baking, made into apple-butter, into vinegar, into wine,
and even into aj)ple jack; all these can be had during the whole year
round, as the late kee[)ers will last until June, wh(^n the early varieties
are already appearing on our markets. By the centuries of cultivating
and crossing, we have them from a light green, or yellow, to a dark red,
almost black ; from a very sweet, unto a very sour fruit ; requiring a
short season to suit the cold Eussias, or a long season suiting the gulf
states ; yet, bring the apidos from the cold north into the longer ])eriod
of growiDg, as in the gulf states, and instead of having a wint<n- keep-
ing variety, as in Russia, it will be a summer, or an early fall apple.
Take those from a long-season growing into a short season growing
and the apides could not ripen Ixd'ore frost, nor mak(^ more than ])rob-
ably half growtli. The several thousand varieties of apples and their
thousands of synonyms are not suited for any and all locations and
soils, as well as climat<\ then^fore, the varieties must be selected for
parfirnhir .W/ and rlimafe. Our growers of this i>articular fruit are
not careful enough in selecting such varieties that suits our Lel^igh

o

90

QUAKTEHTA' EePDI^T.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

•
county soil. Another mistake is made, tliat in an orchard of one liun-
(h'ed trees are found fifty varieties, Avliere ten clioice varieties wonkl be
more profit«d)le ; again, tliere are entirely too many summer varieties
and t(j() few winter varieties for j)rofit. As we have already mentioned
tliat the a[)))le is as old as mankind and probably long- before man
found it in the Garden of Ellen (I might have said woman) , yet, is it
not astonishing to thiuk how little it is studied by our farmers, how
little care or pains takrn to develop this fine fruit. I may touch this
point later on under fruit trees, and must i)ass by tht^ '' Fyrus Mains."

We will now say sometliing about the pear, next to the apple, the
favorite fruit of modern times ; science and skill of the horticulturist
has brouglit the i)ear of a few centuries ago from a rough, coarse, chok-
ing fruit, to one filled with nectar and and)rosia. Among the early
liomans, the peai- was considerably cultivated: it was common in
Syria, Egy[)t and Grc^ece, and from Greece found its way into Italy.
])uring niany centuries the pear reinainc^d in its originarstat(^ for as
Pliny pithily said, "all pears whatsoever are but a heavy meat, unless
they are well boiled or baked. ^ Within the last eighty years, sub-
jected to constant ])r()duction from seed, by hybridizing aiid crossing
and th(^ untiring efforts of the French, English and Belgians, th(» eden
of tlui ])ear, it was brouglit to such excellence that we think it near
perfection. The small seckel pear, a Pennsylvania variety, the orig-
inal tree stdl stood in the lower i)art of the city of Philadelphia a few
years ago ; m quality and flavor it stands unsurpassed to this day.

Th(^ pear IS not a native of America. In China, western Asia and
Europe it is growing wild, in com pan v with the a])ple, in woody
wastes, etc. M. Bosc mentions several that were near four hundred
years old, in Holme Lacy, Herefordshire, England, a perry pear, from
which were made, more than once, fifteen hogsheads of peiTV in a
single year. In 1805 it covered more than half an acre of land, the
branches bending down taking root, and, in turn, producing others.
We will now leave old England and droi) into the State of Illinois.
About ten miles north of \inceimes stands a tree 8U])posed not to be
M^'^'^'n'^'i . ''^^ years old at the time it was reported; planted by a
Mrs. O Kletrer about 1805 would now be about eiglitv five year old ;
the girth when reported, a Xmt 1840 or 1845, was then, one foot from

^[wvf '^^^^\^^f I^^^^V^^^^^^^^^^^ '*" branches extended over an krea of
^/^L r/'''"! 1^ i" '^}'''}'^^^\' I^» ^834 it yielded one hundred and
f S Suln Y^^'^' ' /^ ?-^^^ 1 ^'"^^^^ ^^^ l^^^^^l^'^^^ ^^^^ i'^^tv bushels :
rneniun ''^''''^V ^^^^' Prettv lar^e : early autumn

c ses anil V.^^^^^ tolerabe flavor. I wish to say that these are isolated

^ not Ti n£l^ of r'l V ^^;' i'^'^ '^^''''^^'^ '''' ^"^1^ authoritv that there
IS not a paiticle of doubt of their genuineness

oli'tLd bv Vir^^n **'" ^^^^y^^^i^t pear tree, destroyed in 1867, was
an to n V 1 ^^^^^^^"^^^' «^ the Dutch colony of New York more

fuHvlJrow^f or'U^^ ^^^''1'- ^ i^^^^^ ^'^^^^^^^ 1>^ ^'-«iered as soon as

luiiy ^H>^^n, oi as soon as the stem loosens from the twio- bv bendiuP- it
upwards: then most varieties should bp U\A I Y * ^ ^^J^^^'V^ ^^

rather <]nxvUT . if ,.,..., {' ' '* '^ sjiouki be laid in a cool place to ripen

X uhl ne Ir u 1 ^^f ^^"J^ ^^^^^^ [\ '^ .l^^^v, rich and aromatic. Pears
ttv Wo^^^^^ t^'^' ^T'' ^^^^"^ '^Voniu^ on the tree

91

)

ground for from three to four weeks after being taken off tlie tree —
care must be used so as to keep water and ground from the fruit then
removed, i)laced in a cool dry ])lace, rather dark, and you Avill be
astonished what a fine pear the Vicar then is.

I might name a few varieties that should be more generally culti-
vated than they now^ are; for instance, Clapp's Favorite, Burre Clair-
geau, Burre D'Anjou, Lawrence, Burre Diel,BuiTe Giffard, Burre Easter
and some others.

We will now turn our attention to " vites vinifera,'' the grape. There
is no fruit equally disseminated throughoat the whole world as the
grape. As there are only four of its distinct families succeeding well
in our climate — the Biparia, Labrusca, Aestivalis and Hybrids — we
will consider those first. We will nanu^ a few varieties coming under
these four headings, for instance, the Clinton, Bacchus, Elvira, and
many others of this same class are under the Iliparia family ; Concord,
Hartford Prolific, Moore's Early, Worden's Seedling, Pockiiigton, etc.,
are coniing under the Labrusca family ; Moore's Diamond, Eumt^lau,
etc., under the Aestivalis, while about all of Rogers', Jefferson, High-
land, etc., are under the Hybrid family. You will perceive that under
the Ri]niria family are found nearly all the wine grapes, generally
small in berry. Labrusca contains varieties not particularly suited
for wine, but for table use. Aestivalis are also good table grapes,
while the Hybrids are crossed and were considered good table grapes ;
but many, particularly of Rogers' varieties, are thick skinned. A little
south of us we find the Rotundifolia, which is an immense grower. I
saw this grape that a single vine covered all of half an acre; fair wane
is made of it. AVhile in California the Tokay and Muscat families are
their heaviest yielders. During the last twenty -five years great im-
1 n-overaents were made in our native grai)es ; great credit must be given
to such men who gave the best of their years in producing new varieties
of merit. However, during this short ])eriod there were many new
varieties sent out, entirely worthless ; and yet to day there are some
new varieties, as monuments of time, equal to the old Concord which
surely was the grape for the millicm, but is now in its dotage. The
Isal)ella has almost ceased to live, nor is the Catawba any longer a
profitable grape with us. During the last ten years I experimented
with a hundred or more varieties, and now have sixty nine : and in
these sixty nine varieties not more than twenty are fit for general use.
The amateur may find twenty or thirty more, but as I am not here to
advertise, or talk about such varieties you should get and which not,
I wdll devote a little time on soil, ])lanting, ])runing and trimming
fruit. For a vineyard, the ]dace must be carefully selected ; soil
should be of a deep, rich, sandy loam, en- gravel ; before setting the
vines, the ground should be well worked to the depth of fifteen inches ;
in setting your vines the roots should be well si^read, the lower roots
not to l)e over about ten inches in the ground, the uv)i)er roots prob-
ably two inches under ground. The first season but one cane should
be i(^ft to grow ; if this single cane makes a good growth the first season,
the second season cut back to i)robably two feet from the ground, and
then two canes may be left to grow, when it is jnobable a few grai)es
may Im^ made. I had one vine that the second year i)roduced four and
a half i)ounds of fine grapes. A mistake is often made with somewhat
iuexpiuienced amateurs, to let all the canes grow the first year that
may be likely to start; the following season the superfluous canes
are cut out, or at least should be, then all that growth is lost, and the

92

QUAIITEIILY RErOliT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agkicultuue.

93

one cane left is g-enerally weak, bein^^- robbed of the amount of wood
cut out or tlirowu away, setting the vine ])ack g-enerally one year. In
thinning" oat the fruit, all imperfect bunches should be removed as
early as possible ; it will improve the perfect bunches. In cutting
g"ra])e vines, I may not have room or time to ex[)lain the various meth-
ods, but g-enerally there is too much wood left. I cut my vines back
to leave but two fruit eyes to gfrow, after having- formed my vines ; then
after growth (^f a few inches is made I pick oat all the laterals. The
gra{)e vine is a great feeder ; it should receive every year a dressing- of
good manure fertilizer, and as the w^ood contains a larg-e i)er cent, of
potash, it should b(^ placed within reach that the vine may utilize it.
Good cultivatnm is an important ])art in g-rape cultare ; grapes will
not thrive in sod, no more than corn or potatoes. Some varieties
grown in sod are often entirely destroyed by the " lohesia vatrana,'' or
grai)e Avorm, while under good cultivation only slig-htly affected. As
time will not permit me, I will leave mildew, black and brown rot for
another occasion.

I will now^ draw your attention to that much neg-lected fruit, the
(piince. The first notice we have of this valuable fruit was in the city
of Cydon, in Crete or Candia, whence it received its botanical name,
Cydonia. Among the Greeks and Romans it was used as a preserve,
and more highly esteemed as with us. The apple shaped quince is'
best for early purj^oses, and the ])ear-shaped for later use. Its uses
are so well known that no remarks need be made here ; however, I wish
to say that this fruit tree is more sensitive to good culture and good
feeding than perhaps any other, and yet the i)revailing opinion is to
plant the quince in any out of way sort of ]>lace. The (juince naturally
thrives best in a deep and moist soil, but as all deep soils retains mois-
ture better than shallow soils, whether on the liillside or in a valley,
therefore, it is not necessary to have a brook or a s]n'ing to ])lant this
noble fruit on its banks : but w^hat is more essential is good cultivation
and a yearly top dressing with good manure. What a ]ntiful object
the (piiiice tree makes standing in sod, with its dark colored branches
sickly growth and imperfect fruit ; no wonder the fruit is wormy the
borers m the stem, or trunk, the leaves affected with mildew The
effect of this will be considered under fruit trees. Take away tlie sod
dress it with good barnyard manure, take out those spindly twigs'
dead and crossing limbs, let air and sun enter the head of the tree and
It the vitality has not been stanted by too long neglect, it will prove
to you tiiat a little care and attention bestowed on this fruit will renav
its owner by its golden fruit.

We will now tuni our attention to another fruit, which of late years
has become an article ot general cultivation in this country— the peach
Ihisfruitisa native of Persia and China; was brought from Persia
by the Lmi)eror Claudius into Italy. It was considerably cultivated
m Britain as early as 1550, and brought to this country by the earlier
settlers. China and the United States are the only temperate coun-
tries where it attains its gi^eatest perfection. There are some very

TVr«T.^ Trn'-""V^.^^r ''^ ^^'^' <^^^licious fruit recorded in the ancient
i ersian and China history ; among some it w^as consideivd poisonous •
amoiig others the tree of life ; among others that it would bUi bu ce
in a tliousand years, etc. It is safe to say that there is no comitri in
the world where tlie peach is grown to the extent as in ours Tid we

tL Ei^ r T "^^^"" -^'Vr^^V"^^^ ^^^^^— eff'ects from H
Ihe truit is not the only part ol the tree used, but the leaf, when

bruised in water and distilled, i)roduces the peach w^ater so much es-
teemed in flavoring delicate articles in cooking ; and as there may
be good temperance inclined hearers, I will not say what it jnoduces
when steeped in brandy, for fear it might upset their equilibrium in
trying it, for you know Americans would not be Yankees without try-
ing tlie ex^periment themselves. Peach growing in our country is in its
infancy, and it might be w^ell for me to make some remarks on this
particular industry before taking up another ])art ; and in order to give
you a better idea, I must commence with the seed ; aud let me illustrate,
by this, no farmer would sow im[)erfect seed wheat if he could help it ;
aiid what is true in wheat, is also true in fruit seeds ; varieties may
differ, but nature is the same in either one or the other. A perfectly
grown i)each, well ripened, has naturally a well matured i):t, or seed ;
an insipid or bitter peach which sometimes is growing on the inner
side of the tree, while the perfectly ripened one is basking in the sun
and light of the same tree. Now let us take the pits of those two
peaches, from the same tree, and plant tliein, and mark the diff'erence ;
the one perfectly grown seed will make a tine thrifty young tree, while
the insipid, imperfectly grown peach, in the shade and the sun's rays
not reachiner it, w^ill produce a feeble growth, and w ill stay a culling,
or runt as long as the tree exists, and naturally will not bear the same
luscious fruit as the i>erfect peach pit does. Yet tliis very class of
trees our farmers are buying, because they are cheap. What a mis-
take they do make. I can scarcely leave this w ithout drawing the at-
tention to another equally as great a mistake. Pits are classitied into
two classes, namely, natural pits and Jersey pits; the natural pits
are from trees which never yet had been budded: the Jersey pits are
all such pits that come from budded trees, prol)ably ten, twenty times
over. By this budding and using the i)its of budded trees— and the
buds from slightly diseased trees wdll communicate the same disease
to the pit or kernel, until finally the fresh cut of a root is reddish-
yellow, or already slightly l)rash— it may grow for a few years and bear
a few crops of peaches, but, just as soon as the wood becomes more
brash, or of a deeper red color, unable to make good and wholesale
sap to send forth into its l)raiiclies, the chemical action of the sun sours
the sap, the tree forms gum at every leaf as clear as droi)S of water
after a rain. As soon as this takes place the tree is done, and there is
but one remedy— cut it away. The other, or natural i)it is having a
solid root of a yellowish -white color: this is the tree that lasts and
may bring you a dozen full crops. Which do you think pays you best
to plant, tiie tree from the natural pit or the Jersey ]ni : the one
bringing a dozen croi^s, the other two or three crops'' Well, then, I
know your answ^er. Why do you buy that class of trees? Because they
are cheaper. I had at" tree in my yard, variety "Stump the World,"
l)lanted by my father-in law the spring following the fire of 1848 :
about five years ago that tree bore its last fruit. One year I gathered
nine and one half bushels of peaches from that tree ; some were picked
by the school children over the fence, making at least half a bushel
more. TIk^ Innglit and breadth I never measured, but the trunk at its
thinnest ])art between the roots and limbs measured eleven and five-
eighth inches of wood, without the barkjn diameter. It may be that
there are those here who are planting Jersey pit trees, doabting ray
saving; and well tliev mav, if they take their own ex])eii(^nce as a
basis. We read that'a peach tree on M. Joubert, near Villemuve le
Roi de rZoime, France, is ninety-three years old, and believed to be

If

m

'm

1

94

QUAKTEltLY IiErOKT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agrtcultuue.

95

over one liuudred years, is in perfect health and vigor. Our larmei-s
should i)ractice the shortening-in mode, for all long-lived peach trees
we read of the shortening in system was i)racticed. Alas ! for our
poor peach trees after they are planted. The mode generally applied
is help yourself, or as the German saying is, "Eat bird or die." Far-
mers have learned that peach growing pa3^s even with the pooler class
of tn^es generally i)lanted, and would pay them much better were tliey
to plant a better class of trees. About the much dreaded " yellows" so
destructive in some parts of our country, we will mentioii later on.
AVill next mak(? some remarks about the plum.

The i)lum is a native of Asia and southern Europe. We fijid that
the soil and climate of tlu^ Middle States is admirably adapted for the
l)luni culture; and such varieties as the Washington, Jelierson and
several others sorts are suri)assing in beauty and flavor the most cele-
brated varieties of England and France. Plums for dessert shoidd be
fully ripe; but as they are so well adai)ted for preserving, canning,
tarts, pies, etc., that the housewife is not willing to do without, even
though the curculio and black knot may interfere with this favorite
fruit; and as these diseases and insects are made a close study by our
gov(a-nment, it will l)e, and is even now, that whoever will follow the
(br(^ctions of those careful investigations can have the fruit.

As my time is pretty well exhausted, I will not enter into other varie-
ties, but enter into fruit trees, their production, cultivation and general
trccitment. The first, and of no small importance, is the young tree
set m the orchard for fruit bearing. The best trees are thos(^ budded
near the grouiid,so that in transplanting tlie bud will be set a few inches
in the ground; if thus planted, the joint or bud will strike root and
as the surface roots are the feeders, or first roots, tliev will work' har-
moniously with the fruit, ripening at their pro])er time and having the
light color and fiavcn- : while the bud or graft mav have some consider-
able infiuence over the root on yomig trees. In old trees, being top
gniftrd the mfiuence is very little, as the roots are about all inade ;
therelore care should b(> exercised in grafting a large tree with such
varieties ripening about the same time as those on which the grafts are
to be set; for instance we take a Baldwin apple and set the grafts <m
an Early Harvest as the roots are formed; the Baldwin grafts have
ittle infim^nce on the roots, consequently the roots work hard to make
tlH.r Early Harvest apple, which causes our Baldwin to be forced out
oi Its season. After the time for ripening the Early Harvest, the roots

Vnirunf'^'f ' ^' ^^'"'Ir T^"' *.^^ effect will be that the Baldwin
.i|)l)le NMl s, Oosens on the stem, drops and rots. There is scarcely a

S™ ch hi;.^'^ -nsiderable grafting done, but who has morfor less

of Un^lni^t'^^'L^^^^^ "'^* grafting has much to do in color and shape
same an 1p fhp tIh'''-' ''^'^''^'^ ''^ the county fairs and examine this
same a]iple, the Baldwin, its varnms colors, and even shanes C]oH
grafting should never be done to small trees as tt7aklThZ, tw to

yomisr tree; and as tlie cleft never closes ui, cntiiclv excent in vew
sma 1 trees, an.l as t je wax frequently looseni l„.f.„v tlu'. deft is covere-d
on the to,,, water will .nter and affect the h.art of the youno- tree wit
rot; sinall as it may ,e, m tin,e it is almost sure to telT Under the
head <»t apples, I said we wonld have something to sav of its^eneral
treatment. Many points I nnist leave, bnt will now ?oh t o„t a few
.vhich the mo«t inexperienced may notice and ask thi r"ln whv aU

i

)

i

. ^

'^^

this It i« St) common a practice that it has come to be a second nature
that two croi)s sliould be had from the orchard, one of prass or gram,
the other an abundant sup [)ly of apples: besides used for a pastnie,
•xiid o-enerally giving the orchard less manure or tertilizer than the
opeultield adjoining. For one moment think what you are doing, ami
will use the old saying familiar to all of you Lehigh countians, der
e-aul wo der hafer ferdieut, griet en net. " What arc the eftects or con
sequences, the tree will take up all material m the ground to make
wood and fruit. When the ground becomes poor or exhausted tlie
first signs are that the bark loses its color, becomes of a dark miklewy
or mossy nature, dead limbs appear, stunted growth, and hiialfy the
tree dies, one limb after another, until the whole tree is gone it (Jut
not die from old age, nor from any sickness (yet parasite and .lisease
are more apt to i)rey on such trees as on healthy ones) l>nt troin neg-
lect; the tree died of starvation. Being the orchard a young tree is
trenerally set where the old one stood; and what are the results'? the
boress, mildew and blight soon attacks the young tree and it dies :
then the tree is complained of, and the nurseryman aV)used, when the

fault laid much nearer home. , , i i i.

There is another effect often produced by trees neglected ; what we
call bli'dit Pear trees are more siftected, or more sensitive than per-
haps any other ; but as others are more or less affected from the same
caAse in somewhat different ways, as it may as well be here described
as anywhere else : All warm-blooded animals have lungs supi.lied as
the breathing apparatus, to take in the oxygen and throwing >>« car-
bonic gases. The leaves of trees are to the roots and growth ot the
tree ^^^lat the lungs are to us- their breathing apparatus. JNature
has carefully guarded the cells to take in the gases necessary, by plac-
ing them on tlie underside of the leaf, where dust and rain are not so
ap"t to close up their cells or when the growth ot the tree is s unted or
the lack of proper ingredients necessary to health. The leaves aie
affecied Hkewise ; and as the roots are sending sap upwards to form
Laves no sooner kre those leaves started than there is a reaction, which
the leaves pro.luce on the sap flowing downward forming new wood.
Yma win I think, perceive what influence th. leaves hnve on such new
wood if the leaves are healthy it is quite natura tha the new growth

^a iienlthy one, but when the leaves are attacked by mildews and
Snno do their work properly, being weak and «»f-^ -^I -':^";:'; /^^^^
i,ect the new growth no l)etter : consequently, dark spots an ill ap,)e,u on
ti^ bark 'ill the course of a year or t^.^.scabs or sc^ks are h.rn.ed^b.^

here is a
One is

movt g at wX the other is fixed ; and yet, in ^--^^w W wat"

• -1 T ,„ni /irow .ii> lustration • a COW ted on Straw aiin waiti

very similar, i will draw an iiiusiiauoii. <i<.j „ i.^^^ „,,+

he day is not far off, when, instead oi nuyiif; ^"'".'^'Vrf/.v vnr own
n Y..rk state, Mi.'higan and elsewhere, you •)f^:^ltvS.. ud ^ X'
use and to sell, ft does seem strange with all this J •' '1'' '"^ 'J.f,'^,; , .
adapted for fruit .•nUur<., lying around us that we ha e *" J^*^^ 7^'^'^^^^^,^ "
n..ighb..rincr states to supply us with imit, ^^1' *' ' ^^f ,' X^ \Y"';
better adapted to fruit .nltnre than our own, and Jl^^*;;*^,^^;"''^; '^'^^^
are as well a<lai.ted as our own state. The only difference I can see is

96

Quarterly Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

97

that their land, in many respects, is not as well suited for cereals as
our fertile valley. When they began to study what else they could use
in ])lace, and as fruit seemed to do well under proper care and culture,

J_1i1 1 T*J *i1 *11 T AT* J

better i)rices; we will see less handbills drawing the attention to as-
signee sales, and the sheriff's office will not be such a lucrative one ;
pros])erity and imi)rovements will be noticed until our country will be
as one beautiful garden. Then l)e ui) and doing ! Lay off that sleex^y
business sort of -VNay ; form yourselves into farmers' clubs in each town-
ship ; devise plans, methods for the general welfare of your own in-
dividual selves. In so doing you will raise yourselves above the gen-
eral tide or cuiTent. Times were when a farmer had only to make both
ends meet; while the increase of lands made him rich. That day is
l)ast. And I will warrant to say that the rising young man is he who
makes his crops a study, whether fruits, tubers or cereals, however
poor he may be when setting out in life, is sure to lead onward and
upward to influence, affluence and ability. What are we to do? Are
we too old to learn? Must we sit with our arms folded, constantly
comi>laining to others about our misfortunes, fault finding with the
more energetic ones, complaining that the goods of this world should
be more equally divided, forgetting that all these blessings were put
witlnn our reach? It was Dr. Fi-anklin, I think, who said "He who
woukl thrive must hold the i)low himself or drive." The thrifty man
has no time to complain ; he repairs the damages as soon as he can
get at it.

I have made some promises to treat peach "yellows, "and perhaps
one or two others, but as my time is about all taken up, I must leave it.

Ihe currant, the raspberry, the strawberry and others, are all fniits
well worthy of notice m an article of this kind, but as each one of these
varieties should be taken up separately and not collectively, to do jus-
tice. Hoping you will bear with me, as only allusions in a e-eneral
way were made, and not supposed to enter into minute details ; hopin<
the little that was said may cause an impetus to search into fi-uit cul
ture and fruit trees, until every farmer is not onlv following the diiec
tions and advice ot others, but he himself an experimentee discussing
the causes, influence and effect of bacteria generally.

>'

OUE AILMENTS.

By Mrs. Lizzie S. Parry, Breadysville, Pa.

(Read at Doyiestown Institute. )

There was once an old colore.l woman, so the story runs wlio aT.nHed

to tl... doctor for medicine. " I'm so de.lwak, " she said " Well wW

seems to ,e the matter with you ? Yo„ look'stont an 1 hearty " "Yes

,' ni"",^ '''''''*^' 7'""-^'' '•"* I'"i ■"" 'lelicate." "Do you sleep

;;: • . U.?Vi!!; L11TY5J-U aon't seem to want ti'doir

thing; it's
your appe

'ti'lo^ood*'""''oi^M "'" ^'^ n\ove: I'm so .leliraie."
t.tc good? Oh ! laws yes, honey ; I eats plenty ;

any
"is
but I

ti-m

don't seem to want to cook anything, or have much to d(j but sit in my
chair. I'm .so delicate." There are others in this world who, like fat
Aunt Becky, are able for the eating and sleeping and the easy chairs,
but who, when it comes to the work and worry, are entirely too deli-
cate. The reason I mention this little incident is to show that the
ailments of which this paper shall treat are not confined altogether to
the farming community, as this kind of delicacy is one in which they
cannot afl'ord to indulge.

We do not think farmers, as a class, are any more susceptible to the
ills that afflict mankind than are other members of the human family ;
differing from tlie rest of the world in being, not, i)erhaps, so delicate,
only a little more sleepy. You see during and just after the war, every-
thing they had to sell brought such good prices, it made them feel so
cozy and comfortable. They fell aslee]), and, like Kip Van Winkle,
took such a long na^), that when they awoke they found the world had
forgotten them. No farmer had been seen in the halls of legislature
looking after the interests of agriculture for so long a time, that when
any laws affecting it were brought l)efore that body, they died for want
of proper atttention, or were looked upon as obsolete. Whether the
Farmers' Alliance will be the i)hysician that can cure these symptoms
of lethargy remains to be seen. People cannot always be trusted to
tell what iiils them. Tlu^ patient knows he is suffering, Imt he does not
always discover the nature of his malady : and Ave doubt very much if
even farmers will think they are sick enough or be willing to be cured
by swallowing such ])ills as— the abolition of the national banks, and
tiie establishment of Dawn shoj^s over the country, where the farmer
may receive two i)er cent, on deposits. And here is another silvta-
coated this time. ' We demand that the amount of the circuhiting me-
dium be speedily increased fifty dollars per capita. According to Sec
retary Noble's last rei>ort, it is now about twenty-four dollars to each
person. Even if this is advanced to seventy -four or to over forty -five
billion dollars, I cannot concieve how this is to benefit you or me until
we have earned it. Perhaps a government official is to go around the
country and give to each intanber of it an extra fifty dollars; but if he
did by he time he was through, in every half dozen persons one would
have the three hundred and the other five be as poor as before. But
farmers do not iiropose to live upon government charity ; although it
is quite as honorable to feed a nation as to fight for it, and just as de-
Kervincr of help Another thing to which we have taken exception.
*' We dcMuand" such and so. That article has been out of use ever since
one memorable fourth of Julv, when we added the ingredients, liberty
and ecnialitv, to the National i)harmacy. These, propounded by an
intelli<>-ent chemist, with a number of grains of common sense, make a
most delightful mixture. ,

The people have been taking such large doses of it, and it has agreed
with them so well, it will be troublesome to get them back to the old
method Speaking of equality reminds me of something 1 heard the.

equal privilege wiiii iier iiunu.tiivi m iii....v.x,)^ ,. . -

boasted declaration of inalienable rights! Wmnen have no part in
them. Thev mean men; men to the end of the chapter and then
they finish with amen !" And she went on to say, Didn t I hcli- you
to earn our farm' l>idn't I. when we married, have three hundred

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QuAitTEitLY Report.

Pennsylvania State Boaud of Aguictjltuue.

99

uui one gni as jieip in ine nouseT iiasn t it cost Jinn three times as
mucli for cig-ars as it has me for candy and ribbons, to say notliino
about oysters and peaunts bou{?lit at sales? Hasn't he had two mow^-
ing machines to my one washer"? Maybe my bonnets do cost more
than his liats, but wlieu it comes to boots and shoes the l)a]ance is on
tlie other side. And yet, if he so please, he can will half the pro]ierty
away, or if he leaves no will, the law gives half our property— as we
have no children— to his relatives. I'm not saying- what he will or will
not do ; only talking about the justice of the law, as viewed from a
woman's standpoint. Strangers will have a right to i)ry into our
affairs, to turn me out from the old home, and to break up'the old as-
sociations, just at a time when my eyes will be so dim I can but stum-
ble alone, on life's pathway, without the strong arm that liad guarded
and supported." I tried to console her by saying if lier husband did
allow such a thing to hap[)en, it would be because he was afraid some
man might marry her for her money ; that the idea was to protect her
from fortune Imnters; but my words had no effect. She said it was
more likely some second wife would have the chance to spend the
money she had lielped earn and save; that she didn't care for that
kind of protection ; it was like some folks hold an umbrella, so the one
walking with them gets too much of the cold dripi)ings Well there
are some women who are afraid of being widows, and some who are
not. My friend did not ook on the bright side of life ; just then she
was not count.ng over the "marcies." She forgot what a dreadful
thing she had escaped-that of being an old maid. She forgot about
the courtesy a woman receives, because she is a woman, when she gets
into a crowded street car, and is allowed to hang on to the strap. Re
membered not the onerous burden lifted irom her when she obtained a
husband able and willing to cany the family pocket book Recollected
not who It ^-as pumped a 1 the water, carrie.l all the coal, attended the
young ,.ouitry, hung out the clothes in winter, made the bu ter in
mimmer for fear the spring house might be damp, in fact has not al
lowed the winds of heaven to visit her roughlv-on calm days

It seems as jf married women forget their blessings, and tJiink be
cause they have been allowed to serve as candidates for tl e resi^clencv
to -.vrite essays for iflstitutes, etc., they should go to the ol s ti dTote'
attend conferences as delegates, make wills, buv Ld seH propert? of
join.t ownership, or have any money to call their own witlloutTskiii

a JenrnTrkn "' HifiSff ' ''\^"'- 'V^l '^ l^^^^^^^ '^ f""*^ral sermon of

rctTs* =frsi'^ ^^S':;:/:d:^ ^^PF

came he related, one after another the stirrL^ pvW f^l\ "'*' '"^*'
wh <h th(> old mnn h-^A i;„^.l ^r • Si"'!! ig events of the age m

his hc^I^r: id^omdioi Tver S^^- C rnecrtJ:!'^^"-^^ ' ^f-V'"""
with the incidents related it Ids fSal tW wf *''f '^"'"^ '"••'"

body wonderful, and the mini^t™ was c ^^^^^

have had the oiiportunity to nerfcJrm tV.V W^t f ^ favored to
sonage. I am sVve that eJlmmSy was an ^i^ Wd'onr*'^ ? .'r"
have been doing that thing ever sLce-coSLd^I!'l";;Ln wilh'iZ

I

environments. It is a good thing to hav.> iv good name ; but many a
man and many a name that have been looked up to in the past, had no
more claim to such honor than had the (ientenarian whose tuneral
sermon was all that made him famous. Farmers have seen a certain
other class interi>reting what that calbnl equity ; have looked m and
somethnes been the tiy that has walked into these law parlors, where
ponSus volumes, in formidable array, met the eye; have tound, by
exnerience, how costly was the information obtained trom these books :
and being deeply impressed by this legal atmosi-herfe, have come to
the conclusion that law and justice were mea and <l""k, an- and s^un^
« due to every member of the bar. And so strange are the \yoikmgs
o the huma^i m^nd, when any one is wanted to attend to tl-ir in ei.^^^
ill the halls of the nation, instead ot enqmring among those « ho know
est- as to this man's capabilities, whether he has a correct idea of
wluit we Z a agricultural community, need in the way of legislation ;
V etirer 1 e has been just in his dealings with his te low citizens, econ-
omic 1 in the use of his own money, successful in the management o
hi^ on affairs, and thoughtful and unselfish in promoting the good of
s lie -hbors-^rather have they not relied upon the old tradition, rea-
sonin-'somewhat thus ; Daniel Webster was a great statesman. Darnel
Webster was a lawyer , therefore all lawyers are great statesmen.

When Ss were scarce and schools expensive luxuries, some excus^e
could be imide for a sparsely -settled community - y-F ^>My «^^ ^^^^
the stumi) orator or the county editor told them ; but m tins age tliei©
is mfam o-v for persons possessed of any brains not using them in
dohi- ei^^owi t linking and their own talking. In this latter par-
Slar the farmers' clubsluul farmers' institutes are being good educa
toi^ And we doubt not in the future, as tins friendly spirit which
thev ha^e engendered is cultivated, as we leani to know each other
better and reS each other more, we will think less about ourselves ,
about our possible or i.robable blunders in expression and what others
may sa^of then-fo • these have v>roduced great defects mspeech-
Td win feel UKit the spirit of citicism is not among us, but a desire

%ne thing 'StaTadSto our discomfort, and we think should be
classed amoVg the ailments, is the Bl-it of a^^^^^^^^^^ Zi'l^'Z

hear so often the expression. Farming don t pay '. it must oe ine
St uida rd is o vered the material out of which farmers are made has
£ienerated for we hold there is more in the individual than in the
usiTess If some were given but a cobbler's bench and tools they
^^uld soon have a shoe store, and a little later on a factory ; win e
Xer po m creatuies would never have money enough to pay for a side

frniiiincr be beo-uii eai'lv and the oversight ot th(i paient ne given, uul
subdivided, the same torces ^nun »''^^^ ;2 u i,pvp The fear of keep-

t3 K/

^.'1

I

i

100

Quarterly Report.

growth, has kcyd many a parent fn^m that intelligent affec donate
pruning whieli miglit liave resulted in best good for both Or i)erhaps
it lias b(HUi indiflerence to the son's Avelfare that has compelled the boy
to leave the farm. The father, tliinking he could get ahmg having
learned to niak(^ his wants few — refuses to engager in any of those new
de])artuivs th(^ times seem to have comi)elled. He does not consider
what new life, young biain, and muscle can infuse into the old time^
honored calling; that something can, and nnist, be done beside the
raising of those cereals, where the demand does not equal the supply.
Gladstone, in a si)eech to tlu^ Scotch farmers, advised them to make
jam to supi)ly the city markets. The Scotch editors made great sport
of what they caned his kitchen gardening; but the farmers availed
themselves of this idea and found the business very ]>rofitable. The
Buri)ee seed farm is another example of 'what enter] )rise and industry
can accom]disli.

It is not altogether the fault of the father that new branches do not
shoot out from the old tree. The women of the home are sometimes
not willing to do their part of the work that may result in the family
prosperity and in the keeping of the family together. They are im
bued with the idea that in genteel farming the work hands should be
boarded out of the house ; that their mending and washing must be
taken to some woman in the neighborhood— who, perhaps, does not
know how to i)roperly patch tlu^ clothes of husband and children, they
are not willing that those who are h(dping them turn the wdieel of for-
tune should have the advantage of their well cooked healthful victuals
and refined table manners, forgetting " that even as ye have done it unto
the least of these my brethren.*' Yet these same wives and daughters
would think it quite the thing to ])atcli old clothes and send tlu^m to
the colored people of the south, or to the different missions, both home
and foreign ; to gatlu^r the ragged and neglected children of a neigh-
borhood, and teach them the beauties of refinement and morality • to
give of their time and talent to convert the heathen of a distant land
but this duty wliKih is so near them is not taken up. In farm work
especially, there must be cooperation. Indoors and outdoors must
be alike wdlmg and interested. When one branch is for curtailino- in
every possible way to make less work or to live in a more stylish inan-
ner, the other has not much chance for development

Health is the greatest treasure mankind can possess, but there seems
to be such different times and kinds of health. Some are so miserable
m the morning: they are unable to Ix. out of bed wlien the rest of the
tamily take bi-eakfast. By noon they can just crawl ; but when even-
ing comes, if It is s eighing time or a party in ])rospect, thev have en-
tirely recovered ; whose olefactory nerves are so sensitive thev cannot
help with the cooking, the rendering of the lard or the making of the
soap : but who can endure the fumes of tobacco, or some of those vile
extracts, without a murmur. Others who can ride a bicycle all day
and not be tired m the east, but to follow the plow half that time
would entirely disable them : who would be sure to suffer from sun-
lit! 1 field '''''^ '"^ '''''^^' ^""^ '''^''' ''^^^'" ^^^ '''^™ ^^ *'^^ ^^^^
Do not think we do not believe in pleasure, for we do- but we are
also ot the o]>nnon that our physical ailments are often but the childrvn
o our menta tc^ndencies ; that what we wish to do, that we are g(mer
ally ;d>le to do. We are glad to live in nn age thkt re-ards uhvsical
training as an important factor in a perfect educatio ^ But seems

1

t

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

101

to us that an advanced step will be taken when hardness of muscle
ol)tained by useful service will be more honorable than that produced
merely by what is called athletics. Then the tan, air and sunshine
spread upon healthy hai)])y faces found in harvest field, garden, or door
yard, will be as desirable a cosmetic as that fashionable brown sought
for by our city cousins, in row boat, tennis court or along the seashore,
and of which they are so proud. A person that is healthy morally and
boilily, that has not had his religious nature tainted by false doctrines,
his intelligences diseased by too much cramming and too little digesting
his sympathies blunted by too much luxury, has the l)est possibilities
of life before him. Success lies not without it is evolved from within.
A mustard seed will not produce an oak, although every other ccmdi-
tion of nature seems favorable. True, some acorns have been so trodden
u])on, so much the s])ort of wind and weather, they did not exi)and to
that noble growth which is the true proportion of the sturdy oak This
is eminently true of that oak among the avocations of life— agriculture.
It has not brought forth that luxuriance that affords shelter to the
weary laborer ; but we trust these hindering things— whatever they
may be— will be speedily removed ; that trunk and branches which now
look so bare and lifeless are not dead nor diseased, are resting, waiting
for the springtime.

DAIRYING.

By B. LuTHKR Shimer.

(Read at Bath Institute )

One of the nriiiciple branches of farming in the United States
to-dav is dairying ; and as the v>opulation of the country increases and
there' is a greater demand for the products of the dairy, farmers have
began to turn their business in that direction to supply tlie demand

An American analyist, in the American Dairyman of October, 18J0
says : "That there are $2,000,500,000 invested in the dairy business ot
the coinitry. It requires 15,000,000 cows to supply the demand ot
milk and its products in the United States. To feed tliese cowh 60-
000,000 acres of land arc under cultivation. The agricultural and dairy
machinery and implements are worth $200 000 000. Ihe men em-
ployed in the business number 750,000, and the horses over 1,000,000_
The cows and horses consume annually 30,000,000 tons of hay and
nearly 90,000,000 busliels of corn meal, about tlie same^ amount ot oat-
meal 275,000,000 bushels of oats, 2,000,000 bushels of bran, and 30 -
000,000 bAshels <,f corn, to say nothing «.f the brewery grams, sprmits
and other questionable feed of various kinds that are used to a great

*^^These figures go to show that dairying has coino to be the most valu-
able business, and we should look into the various points which ctm-

''^Tllrfarm must be such as to grow a, large variety ..f crops and be
made exceedingly productive by the large amoun of ™^n f «/i:, ' -^
make and gather. If the produ<-t is t<. be milk «i^ situatio shm.Ul

d market. But if it is to be butter, there is no need ot

be

near u

goo

Htl

!^r^

I

i'M.4

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QUAliTEKLY KePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

103

such a situation, for the cost of the farm a distance from market is not
so «rreat ; and the product can be made cheaper, and easily transported
to market.

All the food should be grown on the farm, at least the fodder. The
grain food can be bought and transported more easy.

The building should be so arranged as to give ample room for the
dairy, the storing of fodder, and both the liquid and solid manure. The
feeding and v/atering of stock and manuring of the stable should all
be made easy and economical. The stable should be warm, with plenty
of light and good ventilation, so that in winter the stock may be com-
fortably stabled and not left on the barn yard to chill and hel]) them-
selves.

Food. Too much care cannot be exercised in the kind and amount
of food given to cattle. Each dairyman should exueriment, and kee[)
an account of the cost and amount of the various kinds of food he feeds
to each cow. Then, by watching the amount and quality of the milk
she gives, he will soon be able to tell what kind and how much food
she is able to digrest Avith jn-ofit.

Th(^ cow is our machine that converts food into milk. She may be
compared to a threshing machine, engine or treading power. The
price of these machines are determined by the amount of work they
are able to perform. The same with the cow. Her value should be
determined by the amount of milk she ])roduces from a given amount
of food with the most profit. To feed this cow, food should not only
be fi-iven her io sustain her body naturally, but as much more, that she
will convert into milk with i )rofit. It is the extra food after the su] )port
ot the animal, that makes the profit, for example, if we have an engine
and just feed it enough coal so that it will be set in motion and kept
there we cannot attach any machine to it and get any benefit from it
and all the time it is consuming the fnel and wasting it. But now if
we add a little more fuel and cause the engine to run faster, we can 'at-
tach a machine, and thereby obtain some benefit ; and the fuel is not
wasted l)ut brings m some return. So with the cow ; too many in this
county are ]ust fed enough so that they can live, and are every day a
(>ss to her owner. If she would be fed some extrafood, she would per-
haps, be a profit to her owner. If she would not gain with proper fo.)d
and care, she should be at once discarded from the herd

A poor cow, like a poor machine, is not worth more than what she
can be made into at once with the axe

mJwr''''^''f{'' of a cow that I have aimed for, and that do the best in

quarters; Riy uglier the general api^earance of a wedge both horizon
tally and vertically. The udder should have a long and broad a tac '
ment, running well up behind, not fleshy, but of a^i elastic fi^^^
'S\:::^J^^^^^'^ teats^squarely placed. The milk v'eJr^Zdd

— r, ' , . "Ill .-ipiinf^ Hilt II us

witli soft silky hair, is important

But where js tliis cow to be found? M,ist she be black or white • a
Holstem, Dntcli Belted, Jersey or some other breed? Not neeessariiv
.f fi"'"w '; Y^'^- " ^}'\ «>^v does not determine her value tTu' co or
of a fine Holstem is b ack and wliite : now if we could change th s co •
to a dark red and wlnte we would liave a fine animal wh ch could e
passed as an Ayrshire. It is the true dairy qualities t a t e Se

for there are many of the so called thoronshlneds that don t pay for
Iwii keep The "best way to ^et good animals is to raise calves trom
cows that are known to be good producers, and then breed hem o
some bull whose ancestors are also known to be good and n..t to any
S> bull bou£?ht from some drove. It would be much better for tl s
coui'tv if these bulls had seen the butcher's block when one mouth old.
Milking should be done regularly -. the same time m the evening as
it w- s done ill the morning, so that the machine has equal periods be-
tween he milkings to fill her udder. The udder, betore milking
should be washed and then dried with a cloth, and steadily and quickly
nSked cleln with dry hands. The milk is then weighed and the
^Bouiit record^ on a paper placed handy for the purpose This i-^
Lwd tells how much the cow is giving every day, every month, and the

''Each cow has a card tacked up at her place, telling the feeder how

nuSh o^rZ s e is to get. This amount can be increased or diminished,

1^1 th^e record will b">on tell him which will pay him the best.

TlemUk record also tells whether the cow is sick, ill-treated ai d

• r ,,;.+ Wl or watered properly. The record is very imi.ortant

rasid dLcHy o^^^ iirtiie fresh.sweet air, where it is strained, ™ted
Kootl aiomatically. A ^^^;^i^!;^:\^-^.. and

The arrangement -^''^^IXdi one-kS h h f nmi tS^e bottom edge,
one half feet long; a pail, av men, one luui n ,i;.,rvieter- a large

has a circle of small - -' P-^-^Vl"^^^^

pan three and one-halt by ^^^ /''f, ; ,L 1 -oi Ai a hole in the windcw,
kn.. The funnel leads froui the sa^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ j.^^j ^

out into the fresh air. .^-''"^^ f f ,Xe^{ '^^ch then passes through
the strainer, mto whic ^^^^ 'f ^.^-^^^^ ^^X milk comes into this pail, it

a fine musliu cloth to strain it the second time.

The results of this system are : through the funnel as

"^^ itSates each cow'« -ilk ^ ^^^^^^^^^::^:J^^
which expels the animal heat, noxious ^>^^l ^^ *f [, -''^^Ik sweet much
the milk (which cause it to spoil) aud preserves tlie muK

longer. , ,,, , , ,i • ^^vono-pnipiit but as it passes

3d. The milk is not c nlled by * f ^"^"^^ ^ Milk cl.iUed.
over the large surface of he pan it ^9"f ^^\f Xn it gets warm the
causes the gases to be retained m ^If """^ X\ ^^^^^j^\ ^
gases react and rapid f«r«ienta ion so n spods the .^^^ ^^^ ^^^

4th. The cost of the '/P'^^r*} ."^^^^1 fr V-fiverfi ty dollars,
patented creators, which sell [i^''^,^' ^^1" i^elf there is a great sav-
5th. Being that this apparatus works toi itselt, lueie

ins of time and labor. .,, . i., u„.. j„to the milk room

After the milking is finished the "^Vv for the milk deliverer.

un.l then bottled and \'"V"*^'''''' .Z^i loiVeTan^^^ ^.eing

Milk delivered in this form keeps much lon^ei ana

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QuAirPKRLY Eepokt.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

105

bottled on the farm, no dust or drij) from the liands while tapi/iii^jr on
the street comes into the milk. There is no churning of the milk in
the bottles, and these bottles, being" clear and white, it shows the color
of the milk, whicli is a g-uarantee of its richness. In this system tlie
last customer g-ets an article of the same quality as the first.

The cows should not be beaten, whii)pd or worried by do^s and
small boys, but the attendants should oet and treat them kindly,
teaching- them that they are their friend, "but still their master. The
dairyman should keep his dairy Avorking- the whole year, not only six
months ; for there are few men, having occupations that can live twelve
months and work only six. Some of our grain farmers are an example
of this, and you find this class live the poorest.

A stricit business account should be kept of every detail ; then by
studying it, and watching other dairies, by reading the diairy i)a])ers
and experiment station rei)orts (which every farmer has a privilege
of getting simidy for the asking) many points may be learned and
gained.

Every utensil used in the handling of milk must be kept sweet and
clenu.

In fact, all through the business, from the preparing of the ground
the growing of the crop and feeding thereof, the iudo nient, buying and
handling ol cattle, and the marketing of the finished product, should
be studied and systematzed in order to make dairying a succciss.

THE PROPER EDUCATION FOR FARMERS' BOYS.

By James L. Branson, Langkome^ Pa.
(Read at At^Ien Institute.)

Let me start out by asking tliis <iuestion : What is a s?oo(l ednoatioii^
The modern cry is educate ! educate ! But what instruction shall we
Rive to our children? Must all children be drilled in the same routine
ot studies learn the same things regardless of the future of the boy
or girl? Must the ad who has fixed in his mind to be a physician
be taught the same things as the one who purposes to bo a med.anic"
Has the future of the boy nothing to do with the things he o ' to
learnt Has the boy's adaptation to a particular pursuTt in li^' n th
ing to do m th<. matter of his education? If we answer that a ^ . d
education IS that wjiich fits us for the peculiar du ierwli cl deXe
upon us through life then the boy must be educated in the direct on
of those duties. If ,t ,s intended that he shall be a merchant educate
h.m m the things that will benefit him in the purrit of rn'ercaS

i'\:aV?.a^"iirsav *'S '"-in""' """•"^^•"" «-* '^ seleS" W^

we will d^^fe^V^S belt tllj^l ^^^n^^Tol^Z^; 'T'' ^y T' Vt
be his c-iDifnl fr. «fovf kT -If » iV ? '^^^^^^ education, which shall
oe nis capital t() start life with. But whatever of that education is

not avadal)le m tlie bus mess or ])rofession in wViir.1^ l ^^^"^^^^^V^^ ^^
^r.n..]. 11 11 T '^"^ y* j'iint.?5j-»iun in wnicn lie en2*af>"eK i« so

much dcM.l ci.pital, and precious time lost too, because lofiv^l ,mv
pose was ,n view in giving him his education '

Jt is true certain elementary thinsrs mnv 1.,. +.,„„!.* ii i i i
common, but to continue to tli^is S^^l^S^^^^'Z^^

uot looking at the differing duties that Avill devolve upon them through
life is in many cases a waste of educational cai)ital, and the time and
stren"th of his young life. The best and most economical education
you ckii give a i)oy, is the one which most specifically fits him for the
occupation and duties in which his life is to be spent. And I hold
that the father and mother, who wisely look to the future of their boy,
may, in educating him, so direct the current of his life, as to form a
channel out of which be will rarely pass. Indeed, lio\v many fathers
and mothers have thus turned the course of their boy's life towards the
great city, and the strife and turmoil of trade, where, amid the rush
and roar of the torrent of human selfishness and greed, they are
wrecked, and go down to be seen no more. They were made to believe
that to educate the boy was to unfit him for the duties of the farm ;
and the drudgerv of farm work was a calling too low for an educated
vouii"- man aull'he must go to the city to make available his educa-
tionaT capital. What a shameful thing it is that such a thought as
this should have ever gained a lodgement in the minds of the iKiOijle.
The truth is that there is no business in which a man can engage that
requires more skill and forethought, rii)er mental powers, mon! varied
and thorough education, than farming. I want to say, that it is a
shame that farmers themselves should encourage the sentiment tliat
education unfits the boy for farm life. The ignorant boor may be a
sort of farm hand, but never a farmer. Do you think your boy will
stay on the farm xNhen you thus decry and slur it? larnniig is the
most exalted and refining of all occupations There is no business m
which you can engasre where knowledge can be so iirofitably employetl.
I need not mention those branches which are called elementary in the
education of the bov ; but chemistry, in the analysis of food and soils ;
botany, in the knowledge of grain aud plant and flower; anatomy and
physiology, in the knoweldge of the structure and uses ot the parts
of the bodies of farm animals; medicine, in the treatment of diseases;
mechanics, in the care aud use of farm inachinery. These and many
other tilings enter into the proi)er education ot the boy if you design
him to be a real farmer. No business can be made to pay unless you
1

boy

l)udiate tlie idea mat nic (iiiino ueiiuc^i i.w.y yj. .^.^ ^ — --, — ... ,

the farmer, and th.' bright lad sent to school to be ed«cat«M or pia

fessional or mercantile ,M,rsuits. It takes more genuine I'^actic^^l '^l; ^^

to be ii farm.T than either merchant, physician or '^^J^; .^^^^J '^^

of the reasons, and I think the paramount one, ^V'^AT l^.^.wLrl

more successful, and does not pay bet er, is the lack ^f *! ' ^"<Jjl«;l^'«

requisite to snccessfnl farming. , And it is he '^PF'^^^^^ f ' f/.^^^'S

farmer, to show his boy how the education he is acquiring can be

applied and brought int<. use in the business of the farm «« 'J*;"''^

be shown thatit^s not true that his e( "cational capita,l can onlj be

made available in the city, but the broader ^"'l<\t''^T''Slr Cl n ore
the more varied and extensive his acquirements «'« 'lapiner a <1 "^^^^^^^
successful he will be on the farm. Here he will hn.l tjfj'^l^f^^^crea
is the inspiration of the poet; here he can see the ^^f }"" "* *|^^
tor in tlie skill and design shown in the beauty and harmony ot His
works, and His power in their greatness and P'-ff Jf"^^" ,, j, f "^-i.^'h
some >f the monll lessons the farmer's boy ^^'V • f 1 tl e nsilio s
will be as a hedge around about him, i.resei-vmg him from the in.uluou^

seductions of sin and crime.

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QUAKTEKLY REPORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of AcxRiculture.

107

And another and most important lesson lie should bo taught, is econ-
omy. He should be taught not only how to makt^ but ho\v to save
money. Give your boy something- that will be his own, a ing-, a calf
or a colt, and teach him how to feed it so there may be a profit derived
from it oyer and above the expense of raising-, and when it is sold,
counsel him as to the investment of the money in something that is
connected witli the farm, and tax his skill to make the orig-inal capital
accumulate. In this av ay you identify him in his lessons with the farm
and lay the foundation on his future prosperity. Mere theory is the
Avind work of life, whilst i)ractice is the building- of the structure out
of the material we g-ather by the way. This is an ag-e of extravag-ance
and ])leasure seeking, and no lesson is more imperative than economy.
For economy is a child of habit, but extravag-ance g-rows without cul-
ture or encourag-ement. Economy leads up the acclivity to the hig-h
lands of health and wealth ; but extra vag;ance down thfe incline to pov-
erty and death. This teaching- of the child financial manag-ement and
economy, is often overlook(^d by parents. How can you expect your
children to understand the details of business in which they are taught
neither theory or juactice. It is too often the boy leaves home with-
out a smg-le lesson in financial economy. Thev start out likc^ the in-
fant learning- to walk, without a helping- hand,"^ stumble and fall, g-et
up and try ag-ain, and only throug-h repeated failures finally succeed
in maintaining their feet. These first lessons he should have had at
home, and many a father will find in teaching- his boy, that he is him-
selt benefited almost as much as his son. Economy in farming- covers
a vast field : it relates to the plowing- of the soil, Avhen and how : the
sowing- of the seed, in kind and quantitv : the care of crops, the time
and manner of cutting-, so as to preserve the nutriment ; the best way
to maintain the productiveness of the land, involving- the whole ques-
tion of manures, and many other thing-s which cannot even be referred
•iT''^'. s^'\^\ t\<^m this the importance of this line of education I think
will not tail to be impressed upon your minds.

We must do all we can to keep the boys upon the farm, and not by
continurdly gi'owlnig- at the drudgery of farm work, as compared with
tlie talse and fictitioiis ease and luxury of city existence, make him dis-
satisfied with It For all this is an illusion and a snare. Would vou
change that ruddy rosy-cheeked rollicking: boy, for the ])ale faced city
lad? \\ouldyou send him to the city to spend the hours he m)w
spends in the sleep which bring-s health and vigor for the morrow, to
make the rounds of gilded dens, where he inhah^s tlu^ poison of moral
and physic^Ml deaths Suredy a false ambition for vour son will not
l)lind your love like this. Because your boy is not strong- is the very
reason why he should remain (m the farm where he can gain health
and streng-th. What folly to imagine he will be better of! amid the
ow!'l! «^^^rs of the sewered city, than breathing the salubrious
^rL\ country Educate him for the farm, and the more liberally
you educate lnm the better : but educate towards the farm and not
ii^^-^y, from. It We must cease to give out the false impressicm that
education unfits a man for farm life, for it is not true, but the very re-
2J:lf f r f "^^' The real reason that farming has not been as suc-
cessful ot late years as It should have been, is that the acquirements
rnL 'l"' '''' educational way, have not kept pace with the times. We
may chmige all this by (nlucating our bovs, so that skill as well as

Sv T f\ ^^^"V^",* ''\'r'' ^^''^'^ industry. Farmin- can utilize a

WKlei langeof knowledge that any other occupation. Educate your

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hov theifeore, in every branch of practical knowledge, ami show him
how to utilize this knowledge upon the farm, and we will thus elevate
farming and agriculture to the place they should occupy, as the high-
est and noblest of all callings.

WINTERING STOCK WITH ECONOMY AND PROFIT.

By. H. W. NoRTHUP, Ole7iburn, Pa.
(Read at Mlllville Institute )

The most successful agriculturists in "orth^asteni Penns>av^ at
+Vio ,%rP<^pnt dav are those who are engaged largely m the keeping oi
the Piesent nay, < e I number, at the same time, keeping

farm animals, llieieaiea lai^^e uimiu^ . f„,.-„„-. ;,, manv n-

+liAm niidoubtedlv, at a very small profat. ilie laimer, in md.u;y iu
sUn is co3e " the keeping of these animals almost a necessity ^ It
KTeiv' little pleasure for him to do so, but the requirements of the ex-

sufficient amount of pasturage and puie \\arei ^i^^iii^ in verv

"ns they will ^o into winter quai^ex-s m A- -"dit- = ^ X'e
desirable indeed that they shou <1 < «». It^^ "^^Pa^^^ ^^^^ ^o

when the weather becomes cooler i eailyaiit^^^^^ as a needful

increase and cons^uenyfle^^

preparation for the natuiai *''r^"'''.f^, "„_.„.;„,. f^om our western ter-
trice of beef, its cheap f"^\:/;"^-^ •^^j'^^f.l'^j/'lra , we cannot

tile fields, and the high P"*:,;*l'"^,°to winter-feed farm animals,
think of making it >'ery P«>fit'ib!« ^ ;^ Article The day for doing
with a view of making and "^'^ ]'f *S;\^^,'^i\,ieory must be presented,
that with us has passed away,and a ditteient tlieoiy m i

in order to allow ns any reasonab e l^'l^^ -^^^^J^Ji^'f";^^; ye^^ to year,

edge, has been keeping f "^^ ^^^^^^fiXIu '^^^^^^^^ ^ -«"

until last autumn, when they ^^'^^^ "^.'^Y^i^'g^ ,Vid not c<ime, and they
of getting bette^ pnces _ The ?.«ttex V^^'^^ ^^^^„^,.^^, tliis kind
were undoubtedly sold at a f^}!":^' ■ The farmer is indeed a

of management m general, f»r 17 +r.«nme compensation for his ser-
willing worker, but he is entitled *« f ™^, fJCXll we wint, -r,
vices. The qu..stion then arises, ^vhat ^"'^^ "J Xl fS'entlv located,
in order to expect a r^f^onable prohU A^ e -.le alU^ Ite^^^ ^^^ ^^^

Some of ns are "Xrs'a^rSithSTheir VmT and energies to the
keei)ing sheep; others aie uev ^ ^,,ii;,,o- milk- others are manu-
dai y cow. f ome are produci^^ , ,f .^e.

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108

Quarterly IIeport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

109

horses ; others are tiirnino- their attention to fine young- roadsters So
tins matter must be decided by the individual farmer. The g-reat and
important question with each of us is, to know how these shall be win-
tered m an economical and profitable manner. We will now consider
some ot tlic motliods.

The lirst cousideration is a warm and comfortable stable. This can
be funiishod at moderate expense, and is far more economical than to
allow tlie animals to sntfer with exposure. The material and labor in
the cost of construction is a small item, in comparison with the amount
of extra food consumed as fuel to keep up bodily heat, and cause a free
circulation of the blood to support animal life. About two-thirds of
the amount of food assimilated g-oes for tliat special purpose. Proper
ventilation in the stable is as essential to the health and vigor of the
animal as it is to shield them from the cold. No foul odors should
there exist. Absorbents, such as saw-dust, pulverized muck with fine
litter, and good ventilators, will remove these obstacles, and make the
])lace desirable and inviting. Sudden changes in the atmosphere affect
the condition of thiusrs, and should receive careful attention in regulat-
ing the ventilators. The kind of food ).rovided for the animals has
much to do in increasing the jaofits. The early cut hay is taken by
tlie animals with far gi-eater relish, and with the clover this especially
so. It IS one of the best gifts to man. and is in itself nearly a balanced
food ration.

As we come to the consideration of food, we will take that class of
animals that are kept the most extensively among our farmers, namely
the dairy cow. Perhaps there is no animal given to man that, many
times, IS more generally neglected, than the cow. She is an animal
that requires constant care and attention on the part of the owner if
he desires to reap the full profits of reward, by the wonderful transfor-
mation ot her subsistence into the production of milk and butter
How to teed her in order to get the most satisfactory results and retain
her bodily health, requires some knowledge of the amount of food she
is able to assimi ate as an individual cow. It does not require any
very great skil for the intelligent f.u-mer soon to ascertain about the
amount ot iood his cow will eat, and that there is a very great difler-
ence m this respect, among those in his stable. Those^that produce
the most will usually consume the most to do it. To feed the cow a
large amount when she is unable to use it, is merely ruining her app.-
ite and wasting extm food. The question of size comes int.rcmsidem-
ti«)n, .•uid sh( .ul ,1 not be disr(>ga r.led. Practical results have f ull v de ■
bS« ^t .r'^li' ''"•'^l^tif "f f'^o^^. <>!• f<'o<l <'lem,.nts, known as ali.um-
X, f ;. 1 .^f ''J?^ ^"? fat are essential to the animal support, and
S. ir „i f'^™ «f T/*^ ""'''• ^" «^^^*^^'- 1" f«ed with economy and
wnv^r '""fSl »>ecomes necessary for us to ascertain, in some
wa> the amount of these cements our food contains, in order to feed

lemisVSi ■' ''f"'^'^'\^-^ l^ii-^\^ The average farmer is not a
chemist, and is not expected to be. To acquire this knowh-d-e it is

food ^r?/" ;• -t-n a table of the analysis of different ki^i'ds of
food, and then for the farmer to apply this to his food STini-lv and mix

contain" S^n -^'^'l ?*'^?1 ^^'^'iV^T ™'^''^" ^^^ ""is is,' that it all
norii n't 1? ™'f *\ t»f *'»«• and fed to a cow, albun.inoids in pro-

theK er .i f f '^'^'■''*''^V''^°"t*^? ^^«' or five times as much of
the latter as of the former, and about sixty one-hun.bvdths f-i.t Tlie

hunckedth n^'r' \T '''■' '^T^'.^r ^« ^^^^ and se^e^tvle-oi:
huuaiedth pounds albuminoids, eighteen and seventy-five' one-hun-

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dredths jiounds carbo-hydrates, and sixty one hundredth pounds tat.
If milk is desired, carbonaceous and nitrogenous food will be required •.
•lud if butter, then feed food tliat is rich in fat. There is no one tood
excepting grasses, and especially clover, that is properly balanced, and
the best combination of food for the farmer will dejieud upon the cost

of the article. t • j.i i V i

The corn crop is the farmers best production. It is the best and
cheaoest food for animals he can produce. Even without a silo, there
is no croi) that will produce as much milk or butter per acre as corn.
The silo however, is the proper place to preserve and store tins ex_
celleut food Every vear finds a large increase in their number ; and
in mv iudgment the time is not distant when nearly every tarmer will
depend upon them to furnish succulent food for his dairy. It enables
the farmer to keep more cows on the same acreage than m any other
wav • hence it is the most econ.jmical and iiractical method he can
adoo't It takes the place of growing and feeding roots, and with the
addition of a little nitrogenous food, like wheat bmu or cottonseed
meal it forms a balanced food ration and accomplishes all that is de-
sired' See to it that the cow does not suffer a shrinkage in her milk
untilyou wish her to go dry, which should be about four weeks or
nearly, as a rest from her services. , ui t i .

Farmers never get richly paid for keeping a boarding stable tor dry
cows. It is considered expensive business. Beside proper food the
cow needs a sufficient quantity of pure water to drink, and ^^f^^^^\^f
be forced off to a distant brook, through the cold, to receive it. It is
said tliat the quantity of milk produced by a cow is proportionate to
the am of\ater she drinks -, and that is one reason why succu en
food mduces the most milk. There is another consideration that
effectithe profits of the cow, and that is, the treatment she receives
If she is treated with gentleness and kindness, the farmer's reward will
be a bountiful supply of her products. On the contrary, if she is
abused she has the power to withhold, and in every instance she is apt
to do so What is true in regard to the care and special attention of
tie c,nv is also true in regard to all the farm animals. They need
comforfable shelter, regularity in feeding and a general oversight in

kee))ing them from suffering harm. , , . , .,,..„ ;. j„„„ f^ retain

T always costs more to replace a pound "^A^fh than t does o leUin
it nnon tlie animal It is far more economical to keep them thiiving
and in a ea t lu « ndition . On the , .riuci, .le that what is worth (h .ing
at all is worth cloi no- well, will applv to the farmer m the wintering of
his stock if it is done with economy, which is necessary for .profit,
he has become master of the situation and will be pleased with his
business.

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QUARTEliLY EePORT.

WINTEK DAIRYING AND SILOS.

Peni^sylvania State Board of Agriculture.

Ill

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By A. L. Wales, . Carry y Pa.

(Read at Union City Institute. )

The subject of winter dairying- is demanding- more attention from
progressive dairyman as each year shows the need of some chang-e
from the okl methods to something- that will return a profit. That
the old method of six months' summer dairying- with a cow tliat Avill
not yield milk a much long-er period is a losing- business needs no
reassertion to-day, yet there are a great many ifs and ands to consider
before embarking- in this winter's job. The first and most important
factor in this business, as with all others, is the man. It is a l)usi-
ness that will not run itself, neither is controlled by luck or chance,
weather or the moon ; it must be intellig-ently conducted in every
particular, or the returns or profits will g-o to the g-rain dealer. We
will not attempt here to discuss the merits of the different breeds of
cows or the one m our opinion is the best for the purpose, but whatever
we have, do the best we can with until we can imi)rove them. And I
think the most of our lierds of native or g-rade cows would suri)rise
their owners if g-iven the care and ration that fall to the lot of tlie
thoroug-hbred herds. A cow will g-ive more milk in a year and a better
calf can be raised to come in October than one in the spring-. But the
first thing- to do is to fix up the old stable so that it will be warm, I mean
so warm that it will not freeze, in fact it is absolutely necessary to
g-et the best results. You may say you do not believe it can be done
in most barns, well I admit there would be some bad cases to attempt
out it can be done and not cost very much either. Then they must
have easy access to water, not ice water either, althoug^h I am not con-
vinced that it j)ays to artificially warm water, if g-ood well or spring-
water is convenient ; but I protest ag-ainst the methods of a g-reat many
m tact I used to do it myself, that is compelling stock to go a long-
distance down the old lane, either full of snow or covered with frozen
hubs, to g-et water at the creek, g-enerally frozen over ; tliis would never
do for vvmter milkers. And next the feed which must be not only
liberal but otdilterent varieties, as each must determine for himself
will produce best results, and here is where the silo shows to its best
advantag-e, in lact it is one of the best feeds for milk cows that can be
growu, l)ut do not think success is assured where you have a silo and
filled, as nothing: is added to the feeding- value of the corn, it is simply
the best and cheapest way of getting- the feeding value from a crop of
corn. A liberal g;rain ration is necessary for milch cows in connection,
with silap, and I prefer a grood proportion of that to be yellow corn
meal. Now to succeed you must be able to make g-ood butter and here
is where there is more self-conceit shown and unwillingness to learn
than any other part ot the business.

We are very likely to think and perhai)s say well ! we, (thev mean
tlH^r wife, can make just as g-ood butter as they can witli their creamer
\niYiv\ c'hurn, tliermoneter, etc., and we use the small pans set in the
pantry and a dash churn that mother gave us wlien we set ui) house
keeping and as for a thermometer, I would not take one as a gift,
as 1 can tell well enough with my finger. Now that sort of disposition
will never succeed We must ever be on tin. lookout for the best wav
and ever ready to learn from any and every source, anythin- that will

hell, us to do better. It is the gilt-edge goods that bring the top
m-ices and none shoukl be content until the toi) is reached And when
vnii know von have succeeded iu producmg a fane article, tinU a
customer that is willing to pay for it, put it iu sudi shape and packages
as will suit him and he is willing to pay for. ^. Do not i.ut it up m the
shoe box style wrapped iu a piece of old muslin ot questionable pedi-
tree that nobody wants, and take it to the grocery and trade tor cod
fish etc Nor do I advise selling good goods to our local buyer^,
who has one price for all, thereby eucourageiug the poor butter As
the few lots of prime butter goes into the consumers' hands that you

sliould find and gain the premium. • i i tj.

I would advise a trade at a iixed price for the year, as good butter
sells almost anvwhere during the winter when it cost tlie most to pio^
duce Have or send a sample of your goods and try and have one -half
the sav as to what you shall receive for it. Our present ways of selluig
our pTocW is all 4ong, the merchants set the price for both parties

'^Thlre'^iilSumertt-t might be said on this subject by one com-
loeteut but there is only one more point that I will dwell on as being
peteirc^ out ^ the neglect of which would be ruinous to the whole

bu'ines aJt K t is cdeanbness. Why ! Professor Gilbert, gives a
wlK le UKCe on this one subject, and it would be t^reBome now to
enumerate all the different opp<.rtunities tor labor on tins PomY' V
enuiuei.itc herself it must be observed trom first to last.

'\lfs tiiri wTu s^^ that no man thoroughly fumigated

and smoTed likra ham with tobacco is unfit to even milk a cow much
less make butter.

CHESTNUT CULTURE.

By Wm. H. Brinton, Parry P. O., N. J.
(Read at the Atglen institute.)

rhestnnt culture is an industry that has but of late yt^ars received
perquisite which at tn^^^^ . ^^^^^^ ,„,a what wil be dcme

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Quarterly Repokt.

Pennisylvama State Boakd of Agriculture.

113

much poorer than those of home raising-, even those from foreig-u
varieties.

We already have evidences of what i)lanting' of improved and foreign
nuts and trees has done here. Wlien the DuPonts came from Frances
to this country and settled on the Brandy wine, they phmted quantities
of choice European nuts, and soon had fine bearing- groves of g-reat
value. And at different times the surrounding- farmers planted^^nuts
from the best oi these trees in the UuPonts g-roves, and from these
plantings obtained several new seedling-s, from which have been pro-
pagated and i)lanted many trees of g-reat nuts, as well as money pro-
ducing- value, and the farmers of that section are now reapin*^- the
profits, coming into Philadeli^hi;i markets once and twice a weeTv for
several weeks, in the fall of the year, with an ordinary sized bag of
chestnuts on their usual two liorse load of otlier farm i)roduce, which
IS of times very bulky and weig-hty, and will receive in Return as much
money for their bag- of nuts as all the rest of their marketing-.

Other proofs of the profits and benefits of planting improved and
foreign nuts and trees, are the results that have been obtained by some
ot our most reliable fruit growers, who have already emerg-ed into this
industry and have been very pleasing-ly surprised, of Avhich one is
Henry C Comfort, ot Fallsington, Pennsylvania, an energ-etic farmer
jind iniit grower, and one who has ol)tained excellent results from
having planted one acre of Nuinbo chestnut trees (a variety which we
do not consider the most profitable) , about eight years ag-o. He com-
menced two years ago to g-ather remunerative crops and they are on
the increase each year and he considers that this acre will in a few
years be the most profitable acre of fruit he has, Kieffer pears excepted
and several otlier gnnvevH are g-iving- similar results. In fact I gathered
this last season with my own hands for the firm with whom I am em-
ployed, quarts of larg-t^ brown nuts, from some of our best seedling-s
and grafted varieties, not over fifteen feet in height, many of them I
could reach the toj) ot the trees while standing on the ground, some of
the smaller trees producino: two and three quarts per tree, and sold
the same at the rate of fifty cents per quart

Varieties of chestnuts have already become numerous and,lik(^ other
fiuits,are a grreat many not worthy of cultivaticm, some more desirable
than others and some I supi)ose better adapted to some localities, but

and theie is also a wide diifcivncc^ m their characteristics, for instance

ported Irom Japan tnmi which a great many of our best and most
profitable varieties have been selected, such as the Early Prol ifi E
vervZrl^U^^^^^^^ f very productive and vfduable nuts,'

LulCrv^.li J^ 71 I^^f/^?"^ ^".^^' ^hi^^li is often seen on chestnuts
and very obiectionable to their selling qualities ; trees, vigorous i^row-
ers and early bearers producing three and four r,uartsTmfts at
three and four years of age: there are Japan Gian s Parry's Xpan

t^e'ti'dW^^^^^^^ ''^^ ^'"^'^ ^^ '^'^^^-^ or Euroi)Ln varTe

TedVmiir^^^^^^^ '^''"'' ^'^^ ^'^:.^. T'^y ''^^'^' varieties, some of

reaeeming (iiialties too numerous on this list. Japan Giant is an im

pox^ed variety and is not always reliable,either in size oi nut < r gr >w i'

of tree, but there have been some trees of most excellent rcnle^^ ii i

qualities ot which Parry's Japan Giant is one,this varTe v is mia n nl

to all others, in most all respects, bc^in^ tl <• largest In sze of ^

good color,free from fuzz ; the tree a good growe^wlth con p^^^^^^^

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bright foliage, very ornamental, commencing to bear early and con-
tinue to increase in bearing. Paragon and Numbo are nuts of medium
size and good (;olor. The trees come into bearing early and are good

trrowers.

'11./ VY C/XO.

' lu selectiiis: varieties for the most profit, two things are important ;
first clioose those earliest in tlie season to ripen, before the market
becomes to much filled uii, and, secondly, those that bear nuts that are
large, bright in color and free from fuzz or wooly coating. The
Advance and Early Prolific iMsing the earliest varieties now known, are
very profitable to i)laut, but Parry's Japan Giant, being much superior
in size and appearance, and ripens so short a time after the Advance
and Early Pi-olific that it rates first, on the list in this respect. The
Mammoth is also very profitable, being a very large and fine looking
nut coming into profit early and ripening in good season. The above
named varieties ripen from Sepetmber 15 to October 1, which is early

for chestnuts. , , , ^ •, i • i .i

In planting a chestnut grove or orchard select a soil upon wlucli tlie
natural tree grows luxuriantly, or a soil that is loose and open with the
heavy clayey sul)soil or solid rock is some distance below the surface,
as it does best where their is good drainage.

The chestnut is a tree rather more difticult to transv)laut than a ))ear
or apple, and care should be taken not to let the rot)ts once dry out,
or the tree will surely die. *

The ''■round around the trees should never be allowed to become dry
for thelirst season after plantinar. The best and cheapest method ot
ivmedving this difticulty, is by mulching with litter or coarse stabh>
mmure • l)ut « here vou have invested in high priced varieties, su(!h as
cost from one dollar to three dollars per tree, the time in watering
during dry si)ells would be well spent. , , ,, i n ^u

The mode and i.lan of i)lanting a grove may be left somewhat to the
pleasure of the planter, the Japan varieties, w-hich are rather dwarf in

heir nature, are mostly planted fn.m twenty to twenty -five feet apar ,
and European and American varieties, forty to fifty feet, the space bet-
ween can be utilized in growing other fruits, vegetables or any fan"
crops which will at most times pay all expenses of attention and ieiti-
li/iU There is another way of obtaining a grove that is bv selecting a
plot of ground that is already set naturally with chestnuts, from two to
ten years old being the most desirable size, thm out under brush and

in Cal.le ti-ees, chitting the others back *- f^-^^r'TrilfeX red"
one to two indues in diameter, and insert grafts ot the varieties desired.
This can be done by an ordinary grafter at a very °i-l«-f« «?1'«"^^;,
Always insert about thre.j times as many grafts as yon expect to gun>
as tSrtv three and one third per cent, is a good take in chestnuts.
This 1ms fast comin- into favor, for two reasons, first, that the tree
I ibL g t Tnto be^ secondly, that the land of thisdescnp

tkm can be had at very reasonable rates, as chestnut sprout land has

'iwryS r a'g:;;:'Tunng have not their stock of chestnut
trees ven•^^^ 1 establish.d as yet, ami the proper varieties cannot
aWs be 1 ad but when this is overcome, there is but one drawback
In T have a ready spoken of, is that this tree is one that is somewhat

Stead of a tap root. Many luir.eryuien are adopting tins pian

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QUAKTEKLY PtEPORT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Aguicultuue.

115

difficult to transplant, but as it requires so little attention after once
established, and will yield large crops with absolutely no fertilizing-
or cultivation that it well repays for the extra care and expense of
startin<>-. For an orchard of one acre which will contain about one
hundred trees of the Jai)an strain, once set will at four years of aire
yield about four quarts of nuts per tree, and seven years about eio-ht
quarts, and will at least double the quantity every three years^at
twenty five cents, per quart, which would be a fair average price would
be one dollar per tree, or one hundred dollars per acre, at fourth year
of age ; or two dollars i»er tree, or twelve dollars per acre, at seventh
year of age, and so on doubling itself every three years, for several
years to come, as the allotted time for a chestnut orchard is from sev-
enty-five to one hundred years. Orcomiuiting it at one-half this amount
it makes an enormous profit comi^ared with that of any other fruits ;
for instance, the strawberry wliich produces as many gross dollars ])er'
acre as any other fruit that is raised, after counting out the cost of
manuring and constantly weeding, hoeing, and hoeing and Aveeding,
for if you cease to cultivate and fertilize your strawberries and other
fruits, your land ceases to produce aynthing, while that ])lanted in
chestnuts may be allowed to go down to grass and be used as a range
lor cows and shec]) or mode as the owner may desire, and th(^ tret^s bear
as well as ever* ami all that you have to do is to go once a year harvest
your nuts, ship them to market, and deposit the money in 'bank ready
lor any use that you may desire it for. '

There are but few farmers but who could find room on their land
to ijlant at least one hundred chestnut trees along the road way, who
could plant them as shade along drives or lanes or in some corner of
the pasture, and the ground would never be missed, and trees once
established require little or no attention, but to gather up the nuts
with the product of one to two dollars per tree, or one hundred dollars
to two hundred dollars or more a year would oft times come in good
to many farmers m the month of October.

Now you may think that I have used consideral>le flattery upon this
subject, but I have by no means exaggerated any of my figures and
can furnisli evidences of ]n'oof for any statement inade in this article
And m conclusion I will sav that a chestnut grove once established and
111 Inll bearing could be laid down in ])asture and would require neither
cultivation, attention or manure. All that would be required would
be lor the owner to come once a year and take off the corp,like cli]>i>incr
coui)ons from Govermnent bonds, the i)rincipal would be there still a"s
good as ever a bonanza to the owner and mine of wealth to his chihlren
and grand children after him for years to come.

y:u.Tti^^iU'z -^^--^-- -^ ^-'tiiizing whii;

THE FARMER AS A CmZEN.

By G. K. Finney, BreadyviUe, Pa,
(Read at Uatboro" Institute. )

Webster gives (among other meanings) the farmer as one who tills
the s-rouiid for his living: ; and a citizen, a yemju born in, or has tlie
ridit of elective franchises of, any country. Thus we have the tanner
as a citizen, a native or naturalized tiller ot the soil of any country.
Now n the hasty view we shall take of this subject, let us look hack
aiKl trace as far as we can, the farmer as a citizen. The Good Book
tells 1^ m the beginuins G.xl created all tldngs, and among other
thinc^s lie created man ; and he stopped his work and was well i deased
He nl ced him in a garden where he did not have to farm, he cuiused
"m ml the beasts of the held and every living thing and gave
a o er over them all. Now you will notice that all this time (and
w Ion- a time it was we know not) Adam was a bachelor -, and while
it started off all right at the first, like all old bachelors, he grew lone-
^>me and no doubt crabbed and hard to get along with, and the Lord
s-^kl "I will fashion him something ho can get along with ; and you
all know ho fashioned him woman ; and now things seem to go all right
1 in Tor a time. But it is the old s.ory of an old bachelor, and a
veiT V0uu<^vife ; after tiring herself of trying to please h.m she turns
him over Fo the tender mercies of the devil; and the Lord, disgusted
Si the n all drives them out into the world and says, farm lor a liv-
u" " and you have before vou the first farmer as a citizen. And from
thfs'it would seem that the first farmer did not take up he occupation
from choice but from compulsion ; and the business of farming com-
menced undeiveiy much o a cloud and unfavorable circumstances

S second famier was a mur.lerer, and still more is the occupation

blackened Aud as generation after generation passes we see but l.ttl.

flu^^ CO aristn.' from the farmer. The old rulers seem to have been

n-eat f ttl kk:-s Their wealth was counted by their great liei-ds,

?ud tlH^. ..w.'rlty the number of subjects they ruled over ; and thus

has'talwliys beenin all old countries, and is to day. the farmer, as

a citizen, has but litttcj"^ ^Jl^^^VcoSiy of ours, it seemed as though

thehme? vtTcTl A-L tLin^^^^^^ yea- tiie Dutch far.ners

t"e ia»™e\ ^^ '';'?';" "" " ,.„i i.i,,, firrners from all nations came and
am the English ''J^^'^^^^' \";^^^f i;^^^^^ contented lives, died,

of his acres of ground. . . XTr^v^TYiber T met an old

Beiug iu the southern part of ^irgmia last Noj^°^^^^^
Virginian on his own phuitatjom "e^^^jfj "t^^f^^^^^
if I had anything to do *\th Jhat nevv -t n e Jo ^^^^.^

reference to a land association that l'| ''^'^M' j-;;,,^ to do with
and making great i>nP'-rT''*''7nr o n.X tol '^^^. fif-

it, and thought it would «f ^™^'";Vea by ."is^^ '"^^^ '^^^ '>^»

teen hundred acres of land, " ^,\"™^re\, ,ied .xi.ectod to be laid
graveyard, where all his f«";f= t}'*^>? '\®/®,^'^^^^ there; wanted

there himself, and wanted all his <le™fr;i ^^^^^^^ I thought to
everybodv to let him alone and he ^^^ l^^/l'^"^?^ '^;^J_ No doubt
myself, there is a true and genuine type of an old laimei.

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QUAKTEKLY EeI'OKT.

Pennsylvania State Board oi^ Agkicultuhe.

117

happy juul honest, but is he a g-ooJ citizen? He buikls his hig-h fence
around his farm, wraps his inantk' around iiis shoulders, g-oes inside
and says to the world of improvements, ''stay out, and I'll stay in."
You say he was contented and happy ; what more? I saw an old dar-
key, with his curly hair as an hite as snow ; he had been a slave. Dur
ing" his lifetime his master had made him a present of twelve acres of
a miserable steep hill along New liiver. Iron has been discovered in
this hill, and a party of iron capitalists offered him twelve thousand
dollars for it— a veritable mint of monc^y to the old darkely — but he
would not sell it. He said to me, " do you think I wouhl sell what
my old marser g-ave me?" and, by his genuine southern laug-h, I knew
he was contented and happy. Says some on(^, "that is enoug-li." I
say to be a farmer it is enoug-h, but to be a good citizen it is not
enough. This farmer will awake up some of these times to find a rail
road runninir throug-h his farm : imi)rovements g"oing' on all around
him ; laws of his state being chang-ed ; money by the thousands being
spent ; and it all will not suit him ; he has stayed at home, contented,
too long ; he has no influence or say that he miirht have had ; he can
pay his full share and more of the expenses, but someone else is boss
ing the job.

Our old Dutch ancestors that built Dutch lanes along the cow-j)aths,
would never have built Broadway or Brooklyn bridg-e. Our good
Quaker forefathers that laid out Water street in Philadelphia never
dreamed there Avould be a necessity of a railroad there ; never thought
of Market street reaching- beyond the Scliuylill ; never dreamed of the
Beading Terminal or the wants of an elevated on Market street, and
safely, we think, we can say it never Avould have been wanted had we
de])ended on the farmer to create the necessities for it. And why is
this so? Sim])ly because each farmer tries to be a nation to himself,
not recog-nizing the fact that he lives in a world of nations — a nation
that is improving more rapidly every year. What is done for our im-
))rovements last year will not do for this. Capital is being- i)oured out
by the milli<ms. Trusts are being formed for everything- but the far
mer. If prices get too low, they are regulated to keep tln^m to a ])oint
it i)ays to ])r()duce. Not so with the farmer. If tliey will not pay four
cents for milk, he sells it for what they will pay. If he cannot g-et one
dollar for hay, ]w hauls it for fifty cents. And not a particle more is
consumed at 'the low ]irice than if it were double. You will say the
farmer cannot do it ; all other branches of trade do. But two or three
years ago a snow storm, in three days time, doubled the price of milk :
and yet you say the farmer cannot do it. We say, be honest witli your-
selves : work together for the interest of tlie farmer ; elect men to ofiice
that will represent your intel-est as well as they do others, and you will
find you have done much to elevate the occu])ation of the farmer as a
citizen.

In reading an extract from a speech delivered in New Hami)shire
but a few days ago, the speaker said if the farmers do not arouse and
take care of themselves, soon they would have nothing there but flsli
and granit(\ when* once* was one of the most pros])erous farming states
of the country. Scarcely a farmer's son stays on the farm any more.
()tli(3r occupjitions pay better and g-ive them more influence. AuK^rican
farm hands, by the year, can seldom Ix* found, and their place is filled
by the foreigner This is not as it should be. Says some one, *' I
don't care, farmers are honest: and that is more than you can say of
the storekeepers, coabdealers or bankers." And this, I g-uess, is true,

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•ilthouffli there are a j?reat many bags ot potatoes go to uiaiket we do
nt see the iiiside of, and a great many loads ot hay go down the ro=id
Uiat would not carry so well had it been a dry time betore they lett

'"Many honest men there are in all callings, and the farmei-s have
theii Ml share ; but with all the honesty, if you will be good citizens
t ere must be s omethig more. In the War of the llevolution our tore-
t1 erl 5 e majority of them farmers) gave their lives and treasures
and suffered hardships untold, to give us our nation. In the \Var
of the Rebellion the farmers were not behind any class of men in de^
fendfng it; in t.ther words you help make a machine ; do your lull
sh ire hi helping preserve it, but refuse to help run it You say we
t i k we have mide a pretty good showing last fall to help run it.
Wliis-as there are others to follow who ^f^-^^^^'^'T^^Z
ablv tlian I-we will say nothing, only do not drive too fast = do not
exoec to do all at once We might say, if you run it like, it was i
nrnv places wliat the man said when about to start with his wife s
miera he was told he must walk with his mother in law, it I must
I must • but I want you to understand it takes all the pleasure out of
it fo me •'^ i'iviners': go slow = but be sure to go -, go forward and not
bac kwanl Organize as other branches of industry do ; don't submit to
be cX 1 old hay seeds any longer. Make your occui-atiou what it
shou 1 be tlie nost honored in the world. Then will your occupation
urosper and von will not only be good farmers but good citizens as
mners' TWs t„ the rich and influential farmers, we find, makes up
the Ho^^ham Farmers' Club may seem harsh. Yon all have y<nn- hap,>y
omes and Isses^^ of full and plenty, but you are not .pute lin,,.,.y
n^iu pocket. A few years ago your homes were ^^^^JZJ^l^
niul to (lav we hear you complahnng ot hard times and low paces.
While y oil have fuU and plenty think of your brother farmer who is
stniV-bne from year to year to keep his head above water ""« ^ ='"y
sinkrili Imnki-uptcy. If you would be a good citizen, come out to the

'"l^LleSariuul farmers' ii^titntes are d^

l^v'A\<^^ ."innot be "-iven to the Solebury and Hoishai i l.uniers ciuos
oi e w "k hev are doing. Would there were tenloW >"<--\ «--
then could we say the farmer's day is dawning; and yet theie is hope
for the farmer as a citizen.

ADVANTAGES OF A CEEAMERY TO THE FARMER.

By MiLFORD S. RiTTER, Wm^lsov Cai^tle, Pa.
(Read at HamburK Institute. )

The benefits of associated dairying are n.any. ]lf]^Zr^U^^Zl
regularly weeklv or monthly pay ; and, =;lt'V'"f .J^ V^^X ^r excha ge
be^large, he has the ..ish to buy with instead ot t le alter <^^^^-^
of his butter, as was tlie custom years ago. ilus places
on a better footing. . i , xi.^ ™coin.. vies than can be made

A bettor article of butter is made by the P;^^ "V " ^JJ^^ ^^ „f the pro-
in the old dairy way. There is a "»'*?""' y'''^^' 'l"''*'*^ ' ■ ^
duct that can be secured only by a luiiform systom

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Quarterly Keport.

Pennsylvania State Board of AcxRIculture.

119

An exptu't butter maker looks after all details at the factory, and is
expected always to ])rodnce a first class article. Every step is taken
in the best way to succeed in keeping- up the standard of the product.

This is what makes creamery butter command more i)er pound in the
market than dairy butter. I concede at once, of course, that it takes
good milk or cream to make ^>"ood butter ; and it is equally true that
the mass of the condemned butter that goes to the g-rease tub in million
pound lots every year was made from g-ood milk and cream.

An experience of a good many years in presiding- at the weig-h can
and the cheese and cream vat convinces me that the howl about factory
milk being less cleanly than that made up by the averag-e dairyman,
is founded on conceit, cheek and ignorance, and the whole sometimes
mingles with a selfishness that borders on meanness. Cooperative
dairying for the mass has come to stay. The private dairy, for a few,
has come to stay too; l)ut those that do stay in the near future will
have to do business on a scale that is equivalent to a successful factory,
and will have to use the method and the tools of the modern creamery'
or the owner will either work cheap or go to the wall.

Factory paactice has not only raised the standard of excellence in
batter, so that the j)rivate dairyman must stretch ui) to it to make sales
at all. But hundreds and thousands find that the factory, with its
weekly supply of a first-class article, has supplemented them. Other
thousands will find they have to meet the inevitable, as the better wav
to prevail.

Factories are labor-saving and capital-saving- instrumentalities, and
the skdtul and honest operators are benefactors— not blood suckers

The middleman in his place, is just as useful and essential as the
farmer m his place, and the consumers in their i)laces ; or, as the rail-
way or the ocean that lies between them.

We are nearing the point every day, when there has ^ot to be a more
e^act equipoise between efforts and results; and such an end forbids
the useless waste of labor and the partial waste and damage of o-ood
material, in small private dairies. * *^

One of the serious drawbacks to the making of money in dairy in o-
IS the small number of cows farmers usuallv keep to the number of
acres of land employed for their suoport. We have evidence of this
on every hand.

The cost of running a creamery d(^pends, in a great measure, u])on
the density of the cow, the population within the working area of a
creamery J he smaller the nunilx^r of cows, the greater the cost per
cow, and the less profit for the farmer.

It has been well said that necessity is the mother of invention A
number of times have the farmers in diiferent sections of the country
been induced to change their mode of farming, but generally not until
driven to it by force of circumstances.

The farmers in this section of the country are mostly grain farmers.
Does It i)ay them to devote most of their time to the raising of grain ?
I say no. The price of all farm products are hanging in the lowest
notches, rhe farmers are almost compellfMl to resort to and put their
lull force to that i)art of their industry which is the least effected by

feUTf^'fL? ™V'''t/^^ ii .'^^''y^'l?- Dairying has suffennl tlie

least m this respect. It has this ]>eculiar merit over the business of
gram raising- that as its i)roducts drop in selling ])rice there is still a

Sml^^^^^V" "TV "^ i-reasing nk profit; wllile in^i «^e is
a sliiinknge m yield as well as in price-the line of profit is shortened

at both ends. It is objected to that the average farmer cannot be a

^''^^o!!^iou that he is not will hold good, becaiise he keeps an
average c^w that only yields from fifteen hundred to three thousand
n.W^ of milk or eighty t-o one hundred and twenty pounds ( f buttei
Hlv B t tlie idea that he has not the capacity to earn the dairy
business is absurd. With him it is a matter of attention, not of in-
f^lleet He does not want to be a good dairyman.

T^^^^^ lias mind enough, but he is mentally lazy or

.lee y 1 he only knew how much undeveloped unused strength he

Kte^l a^I rr^oVd'truVi keep a full head of .tea. on
Idahiukiug- maehine^^^ fre<iueutly takes the

Theie L a SiTof X^^ butter because it is poor, aud Pfople d.. n. t
iheie IS %»"",}•';"'" ., . ,^,1 ,,f „oor l)utter lasts three tunes as

want it. W e all ku.)^^ 7^* ' V;*?""jY;,/^ i,^,tter that is to be consumed

long as '\l'"'"';Vrnf ted States could be tinned through some mysteri-
uext week "^tlieLnited States cm^^^^^ ^^^^^^ j^^^

'^TC'viil n vJ be an over^^^^^^^^^^^ if our farmers -d dairymen

win tie their ndlk to the creameries and have a uniform article made

y^^. shoemaker J^^^J^^^^J^^^^^^^^^l ^t
S/cfrx'inS of ttlit'iu-e tltsame with the fruits of the cow.
i:Z.^veo,L eat aiid enioy « ^.tv to UT tWlairy business.

'••X^to^ iVwolihl be a rt nXmSSe.^ ti"^^\^.
of success to the sea,sons to dl l^^.'/^V^Y^^H-ood sense or per-
So many men can't bear to face "f l^ «;;"i.^.fi,f i,f:,"°e to something

^ofsottT^tsid? '^^;^^t^'-y — ^-^^y -^

men never improve or love anything.

BREEDING AND^AKINCx POULTRY

Bv W. A. YERKES, Richhoro\ Bucks countu.
(Read at Hatboro Institute. .)

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Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

121

To the raising- of ijoultry I am now clcnotiiii::' considerable of iny time
and therefore am somewhat interested in it if my knowledg-e is nut
very extensive.

Althono'h I do not think the method I am now emi)h)yin^ is the
one best suited to the farmers in general, yet as I am somewhat more
familiar with that than any other you will pardon my dwelling on it
somewhat. v.

Now some of you are i)Ossibly thinking of buying an incubator, or
maybe have just bought one, and you will want to know why I'do
not think, so I will try to make this plain to you.

In the tirst place, the hatching and rearing of chickens by artilicial
means, to be in any dergee successful, requires closer ai)plication and
more time than most farmers are either able or wdlling to give to any
one branch of their business, for, in order to succeed, you must see to
it that tlie conditions are all favoral>le from the start to the finish, or,
m other words from the time you i)ut the eggs in the incubator until
you get your chic^ken or duck, as the case may be, into the market ; and
here let nn^ say these two varieties of our domestic fowls are about all
that it will pay to raise in this manner.

Now the makers of almost all of tlie self -regulating incubators will
tell you that all you need to do is to i)ut your eggs in the machine,
light the lamp and the machine will do the rest : don't do it that way'
for the health of your chick after it is hatched will depend largely on
its having passed through the period of incubation without any hatch
whatever.

Or it may be you have gotten through this i)art of the business all
right and have a nice healthy lot of chicks to put off, and you are con-
gratulating yourself on your success when suddenly the heat in your
brooder goes away up ; in your haste to rectify this you get it too "low
your nice healthy lot of chicks are done for.

Now unless you are willing to practice a great deal of self-denial
and to forego a considerable portion of your accustomed recreation. I
would say to you, don't invest your money in a costly incubator and a
lancy brooder house.

But I do not mean to say that this manner of raising poultrv pro-
fitably IS imi)ossible to all farmers, for where there is a large family
or plenty of help emi)loyed, some one or two of them can make this
their especial care and meet with good success.

This is however by no means all there is of poultry raising • on every
farm you will find at this time of the year, a flock of hens, how many
of them are paying for the feed they eat, in the eggs they lay, let us
consider how this may be remedied. The normal condition of the hen
IS to lay eggs. And why should she not lay them as well now while
they are high, as after while when they sell for almost nothing: there
must be some reason for it.

In the first i)lace no hen kej^t in cold quarters will lay eggs in cold
weather, no matter what the feed may be, in the next no matt(^r how
coml(ntable the quarters are, if she is not fed i>roperly she will not
lay. Or the house may be of the warmest and the feed all ri^dit if
proi)er attention is not given to cleanliness the result will })e the same
Did it ever occur to you to consider how much time vou o-ive to the
care of your poultry. " '^

Your horses must be groomed well everyday, their stables well
cleaned, your dairy ditto, but if your hen house is cleaned once a year
it IS as often as y(^u consider necessary.

The claim is often made that the way to raise healthy poultry is to
allow them to roost out of doors. Now^ would you expect a hen to come
off such a perch in cold winter weather, go hunt a nest in the edge of
a rick of cornfodder and lay an efi:g, I think not. Yet between the
house cleaned once a year and the out door roost, 1 think the out door

You do not need to build expensive houses, but see to it that they
are built so as to secure plenty of ventilation in warm w eather, as well
as to shut out the cold winds in winter. Keep them well cleaned and
free from vermin ; give your hens plenty of a variety of feed, and this
means about all they wdU eat ; clean fed three times a day and you will
be suri)rised at the returns. wi • i

Farmers are very apt to pooh, pooh, the poultry business, and think
about the profit there is in it, is what is got for that flock of turkeys
ihat were raised i)rinci pally on their neighbors. . , , , i n i

Now let me give you some facts ; there is in my neighborhood a tiock
of last year's pullets that have been laying for the past two or three
months an average of three and one-half dozen eggs per day ; take
these eggs at the i)resent price of thirty -live cents per dozen ; you have
an income of eight dollars and fifty-seven cents per week ; allowing
them a ration of two bushels of corn, one bushel of wheat and one of
oats for the week, with the additi(m of some meat scrap and oyster
shells • the whole cost of feed would not be more than four dollars
and fifty-seven cents, leaving a profit of four dollars or almost one
hundred per cent, for your labor.

It has been a question with me whether the practice commonly tol-
lowed by farmers of allowing poultry to roam at large, to forage tor
themselves, was the proper thing to do. Now with thc^ laying hen m
summer this mav be well enough, but take the hen with young
chickens, you shut her in the coop until the chick is a lew^ days old
then you open the coop in the morning and leave her free to wander
where she pleases, and, with all her motherly instincts, I doubt very
much whether she is a good judge of just how much excerise is needed
bv the young chicken, and is very likely to give them too much re^
sultingin the death of some of them every day and beside this constant
drain on the strength of the young chick prevents it making the growth
that it would if more closely confined.

I know this is contrary to the notions generally prevailing on the
subject, but when y(Mi make a chicken raised in this maimer weigh two
and one-fourth pounds dressed at nine weeks old, I will give m.

Now there are two ways of confining the hen, one is to leave her shut
in the coop all the time until the chicks are three (n- four weeks <>ld^
and if she is well cared for this will do her no harm win e the young
chicks will know just where to find her when they want to rest oi get

""'The other plan is to make a small yard which can be cli«^ply;};>;;^
by using pou trv wire fastened to stakes place the coop m it and allow

the heiAo have the run of this yard, the young ^^^^jf-. ^^^^^^^^.^'^^^^^^^
the meshes if they want to. If at any time you wish to move the yaid

it is very easily done?. , . , . • • ^..,.^v. ^.rUV. r»imiv

I>.ut tiioro is still an..ther way wlncli is grrowing n. .^^y,;^'*'! " ';' f
and it does away witl. the hen altogether after the «'7< f_s are h d ul,
a very inexpensive style of brooder may be in ad, ^ T ul nine.' louds
out <;f doors which will ax-eommodate about htty ^.''"'^ks place bo. ds
around this bo as to ccn.line you c:hickens near by tor a te^^ days ^vhcn

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Quarterly REroRT,

Pennsylvania State Board oe Agriculture.

123

the boards may be removed entirely, they will never \n ander very far
and if your brooders are not set too closely tog-ether they will all re-
turn to their own I'oost and feed.

Now I take it that a <^reat deal of the profit in raising' poultry is
lost in the time it takes to grow it, of course it takes a certain amount
of feed to sustain life, and if you give your chicken just this quantity
it is not going to grow very fast. Go around almost any farm and you
will see chickens from six to ei^ht months old that will not weigli
more than three or four pounds, now any good healthy chicken, i)ro-
l)erly cared for and well fed, will weigh that much at from three to four
months and just here is where you will get your profit, always see to
it that your young chickens have all the feed they will eat clean three
times a day, and if closely confined give them some green food between
times with jdenty of good clean water to drink and they will more than
pay you for your extra trouble.

The change in the times has its effect on poultry raising* as w^ell as
on every other business, and the tendency now is not so much to raise
prices as to see who can produce an article of the best quality for the
least money.

Of course if we could get the price for spring chickens now which
were obtained fifteen or twenty years ago, the i>rofits could be hand
some. But com])are the prices now received for these with the other
products of tht' farm, the reduction is considerably less, Avhile if you
take the price of poidtry all the year round it will almost if not quite
equal what you got when you were receiving double what you do now
for tlu^ other products of the farm.

You often hear the question asked if so many turn their attention to
poultry raising will it not be over done.

1 think not, the demand in general seems to be in the excess of the
RU])ply, of course just now there seems to be a glut in the poultry
market, and for this many reasons might be given ; but I think the true
reason is that too much of last year's supply of i)oultry was hoarded
for the holiday market.

Now, in conclusion, I would sav to vou if vou have a large farm and
are not overstocked Avitli lielj) don't go into the business too extensively
but as far as you do go do it thoroughly.

If you have a small place and jilenty of helj) you can add several
dollars to your yearly income by giving close attention to this busi-
ness.

I would also extend an invitation to any one feeling an interest in
this subject to visit my ])lace in Richboro', when I shall be very glad
to show them what we are doiuij iu the business.

t.

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS.

By F. B. Martin, Mnf, Pa.
(Read at Dayton Institute.)

This subiect is of inaKnificeut breadth, stietchiuff back from the pre-
sent hue > the begiuuiiig of the race. What a field for imasiuation
as well as for facts-facts, as to what has been done in th.- past, and
im-io-ination as to what may be accomplished m tlie tnture.
'^te do not mean to outline the progress made m a^-H;" »- * ^^^^^^^
the be-inninK- to the days of Uncle Jeremiah Rusk. Of this buj.ei
stmctme of agricultural progress,its foundations have been laid strong

"""itrrecord in the past in our own country is safe and secure : the
.nl of t^me is U1.0U it It is deposited with the records ot the govern-
r^eit itirand by the Dei^artment of Agriculture it has been scattered
f^ .Vlfi over the land giving information to those who care t<) read
oir e ^lu me o i ScUon "of the different branches that cluster
aimmd agriculture' Giving information as to how this production

these terms imply only i^latixe values wmciiser

tnese tniet '^^^ its industry or commerce has arrived, i^oi at <ii

veh)i)ment at ^^hlcll its "^^^^^^^-y^r" Hip " nursing- moth^^r of nations,
times,and in all ^'-''''^'}^^^^^^^^^ anH^^^ in its modest

trade and industry i()i in the basis oinei I ' i ^11 her maim-

should be attributed to the 'f "^^'PVf'^^f^'^.'^,: "h interest of an indns-

The i>nrsuit of agriculture Im m i*^^™. in the country. Strange

trial class far more numerous than any o^^^^ ,„,,.

stream of agricultural ^--i^r^on J-unn^^^
constantlv increasing advantages deiuea iioiu i

'"liTsX^ wSv of note that on every hand can be f<.und an in-
creased intei;est in the farme^^^^^^^ ^^^ multiplying in
Local societies in tV« '''\'^\'g^;J^^ upon agricultural
number as well as m size, interest lu

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124

QUAKTEllLY RErOHT.

topics is everywhere increasiii**', and iii(l(H'(l u)_)oii all sides can be seen
encouracrinjt>' evidence of the desire on the part of tlie farnu^r for the
latest information upon timely subjects which shall enable him to
cultivate the soil more intellig-ently than those who have cultivated it
before him, and which shall enable him to leave it licher and more
productive for tliose who are to follow him. AYhen the United States
weie first visited by Euro[)eans, agriculture was here practiced in
limited areas by the wives of Indians, without the aid of domestic
animals or any imi)lements excei)t clam shells, the antlers of deer or
elk, and pointed sticks of wood. European settlements be^an and
civilization «-radually extended, heralded by the sound of the wood
man's axe and the crash of trees. As the country- Ix^came more and
more settled, consideral tracts situated in what now constitute tli(^
Atlantic and tlie Gulf States were cleared, laid open to the sun and
ccmverted into hixuriant mead(jws and fertile states producin*^- all tJie
di liferent t»Tains.

As all inquiries (^n the subject of agricultural [uogress must be de-
rived from facts they can only be answered by history or statistics,
which throw com] )aratively but little light on these topics up to the
period of the formation of our g-overnment. It app(^ars, however, that
it was the wise and farsighted ])olicy of all the civilized nations who
laid claim to American soil, except in some cases where an insatia})le
avarice lu-evailed in subjecting the Indians to involuntary servitude
or oth(nwis(\ d(q)riving them of their nautral lig-hts, to encourag-e the
ag-riculture of their respective territories, by inducing emigration in
making free grants or concessions of land t() com])anies as well as to
individuals.

By the means contributed by the appliances and imi>rovements
which have resulted from modern art and discovery, forests have been
ccleared, marshes and lakes drained and converted into arable fields
hillsides and jdains made fertile by irrigation ; useful products intro
duced or im))roved and their properties recog-nized. represented and
C()mi)ared with tliosc^ of the soils in which they g-rew.

From the earliest history of our government, g-rants of land have
been made for the encouragement of ag-riculture and intleed before,
from 1528 to 179() different grants had been made which irave such a
stimulus to ag-ricultuie that Congress, in 1817, g-i'anted four townshii>s
of land, comprising 92,100 acres, in the State of Alabama to agents for
the purpose of settlemenit and on certain conditions. To each adult,
one quarter section of land to pay the sum of two dollars per ac^re

The pre emption system aft(>.rwards expanded into one of vast i>ro-
porti(ms under the different acts of Cong-ress.

Another interesting- feature in our ag-ricultural progress is the annual
api)ropriations by Cong-ress for the collection of agricultural statistics,
mvestig-ations for i^romoting" ag^ricultural and rural eccmomy and the
procurement of cuttings and seeds for g-ratuitous distribution among-
the farmers.

Another object of encourag-ement fi-oni the ]>ublic purse, and one
which was advocated by Washington and Jeffcnson, as well as by other
Presidents since, is agricultural education. Direct aid has Innm
bestowed ui)on it by the greneral g-overnment and bv the difTeivnt states
m erecting agricultural colleg-es. The ultimate end aimed at bv found-
ing- these educational institutions is the united d<'velopnH^nt and in-
struction of the religious, the intellectual and the physicial qualities

II

Pennsylvania Static Buaud of Agkicultuue.

125

of man. It recognizes the whole man in all its dei)artment of his

being the object of his care. . , i . ^ .

Its aim is not merely to instruct or to impart knowledge hnt to
awaiceu, develop, train and discipline all the talent inborn powei^
and faculties of man, that he may command them tor the high and
uoble use for which they may be capable or for which they were de-

'^'It claims for the farmer, first, his as a man, trained and fitted to the
full extent of his capacities for all the duties of a good citizen.

The scheme embraces the best practical training m agriculture,
second in connection with it studies a patriotism which shall embrace
his whole country and devotion to the principles of the gov.nnment
will be faithfully instilled. Its teaching will rise above section and
Dartv will know" no dilfereu(!e of class and acknowledge no personal
supeViority but what is due to worth and excellence of character, it
also embraces an experimental and model farm with a plan tor the ad-
vancement of agriculural science based upon practice In the een.^ral
management of the farm it is pro]>osed to make a model and an ex-
anii)le of the best modes of culture in the several deiiartmeuts of agn-

''"it"is to be stocked with the best breeds of cattle, sheep and horses,
and the most ai)proved tools imi.lements and machines

The! progress of agriculture in the United States is obvious from
the paucity of statistics, prior to the year 1840. It wouhl .e d.thcult
to arrive at anv fixed ratio of increase of any particular pro.hu't.

i the prodution of wheat in 1840 amounted to eighty -tour and one-
ha nllion bushels; in 1850, a period of ten yeai-s, the production was
one In S million bushels and in 1884, a period of tlnrty-tour years,
the wheat crop was about five times as large as m 1850, amounting to
nfarW fi^e hu d ed million bushels and all the other farm productions
have a corresponding increase. What a progress m production in this

one branch of agriculture. • .i tt u^a cif<.fou wn« x <l^fi 719

In 1850 the number of horses m the United States was 4,.Wb, a J

Wldle in 1884 the number was 12,077,657, an increase of nearly eight

'" TnTsSO the sheep numbered 21,723,220 and in 1884 they increased to
48 S32 331 So in all others, the increase has been as great. So t
?s 'plain fr7>m these figures and facts that great progress has been made
and judging tlu. fntun- by the past much may and will be attained in
the years to come.

COMMEKCIAL FERTILIZERS.

By E. F. Heil, Nazareth, Pa.
( Read nt the Farmer^- In^titute.'i^IiT^Bath. Northampton county. Pa )

This subiect of commercial fertilizers is of greater importat^ce and

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126

Quarterly Report.

I say that there is no one article or commodity generally pnrcliased
by the farmers of which less is known.

I shall endeavor to enlig"hten you on this point as w^ell as I am able
from a farmer's standpoint, and for the benefit of the farmer, well
knowing that I am not competent to do the subject justice as it deser-
ves.

In my endeavors to give you a proiier understanding of this subject,
I will have to take you away in your thoughts (so to say) from your
homes and bring you in the laboratory and experimental field of a
chemist. But if you will kindly give me your attention I will bring
you back to your own farms.

As early as 1830, commercial fertilizers have been in use, at that
time, and for some time after guanos were mostly used — that they had
manurial value was well known, but as to the substances which made
them of value as a manure little was known or, at least, the}^ were but
imperfectly understood. Later on chemistry came to the aid of the
farmer.

Between the years 1867 and 1875, a period of time extending over
a series of eight years, George De Villie, a French chemist, under the
patronage of the French government, commenced a series of experi-
ments on the experimental fields, at Vincennes in France, which were
later extended to various jmrts of the country and to England and to
this country, for the puri)ose of finding, in the most i)ractical way, not
only just what were the most necessary elements in ])lant production,
but just in what measure the soil would naturally suj)ply them, as well
as to determine the exact difference between soils that had been re-
duced to an imi)overished or v)oor condition by successive cropping
and tliose that were in a high state of i)roductiveness. Villie's theory
was of a practical nature; he commenced with the wheat plant which
he analyzed. The elements of the plant were prepared in the shape
of chemical i)owders, in the same proportion in which they were found
m the i)lant. Soil was prepared by taking pure sand, washing and
burning the same by heating, so that no i^article of manurial substance
might be retained therein. Glazed earthen i)ots were employed,
wherein the seed was i)lanted, to the number of the various elements
of the i)lant, the whole being watered from time to time with distilled
water, so that no i)article of manurial sul)stances might be contained
m the water. After experimenting a long time he at last found that
lonrteen sul)stanc(^s entered into wheat and its straAv. These fourteen
substances he divided into one hundred parts and also in tliive divi-
sions, the substane(^s m the first division are carbon, hvdrogen and
oxygen, these three substances constitute ninety-three and fifty-five
one hundreth i)art of the one hundred parts, and are derived Irom
the air and ram and is furnished by the all wise Creator.

The second division is composed of soda, magnesia, sul])huric acid,
chlorine, ferric oxide, silica and magnesia.

These seven substances constitute three and two hundred and ninety-
six i)arts or a little over three and one-fourth parts of th<^ aforesaid
one hundred parts.

These the soil is superabundantly provided with, and it is unneces-
sary to add them.

We now have four more substances to account f()r,they are nitrogen
one and sixty -one hundredths; i)hor]>h()rie acid, f( n't v five one hun-
dredths; i)otash, sixty six one hundredths, and lime, twenty-nine one

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

127

hundredths. These four substances constitute three parts of the one

hundred parts. ^ ^ ^' -^ -^ t ^ a

These k>ur substances the soil preserves only to a limited extent and

the deficiency is supplied by artificial means or manure.

Is it not a wonderful thing to contemplate that we have only to

supply three |)arts out of one hundred to produce our crops.

We are now in a measure prepared to proceed in a more practical

manner. . -, ^ - - 1 l i i i- r.

These substances, viz : nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and lime
are and must be in the soil to make it at all productive. They are also
mesent in our grain, straw, hay, in the different foods we teed, in the
bodies of the animals we have on the farm, in the manure we make,
the manurial value depending ui)on the quantity of these substances
they contain and in various degrees. And by selling and taking them
away we are taking these substances away, thereby depleting our

' 111 selliuf? and taking away one ton of timothy hay fioiii our farms
we remove twice as mucli fertility as we do by lemoviufiT one ton ot
wheat straw. And by removing a ton of clover hay ^ve. remove over
three times as niueli as we do by taking away a ton of wheat straw.
How and whv does this come to take place, all three being but a ton,
no more nor ■iess,aud nearly the same ih bulk? Simple enough, the ton
uf straw contains ten and two-tenth pounds of iutrogen,one and eighty
tenth pounds of phosphoric acid, fourteen and eight-tentli l'<>niids o
Dotash which have a value of two dollars and a half, ihe timothy
hav contains twenty pomids of nitrogen, seven and two-tenth pounds
of phosphoric acid and twenty -six pounds of potash, having a value ot
five dollars which is twice as much as the straw. , . , ^ , , , ,

The ton of clover hay contains thirty -nine and eight-tenth POunds
of nitrogen, seven and two-tenth pounds of phosphoric acid and thirty
Sree and six-tenth pounds of potash, having a value ot eight dollars
and sixty cents, which is over three times the value ot the wheat straw.
Ymu^ll naturally want to know upon what these values are based
becul tlese substances, viz : nitrogen phosphoric acid and potash
are sold daily in tlie markets of the world, and then come under he
head of commercial fertilizers, or raw materials to makr tht^.i ot, and
ilave a nSet value, as well as our wheat, corn or other farm pro-

'^"bv sellin- one hundred bushels of wheat we remove twenty dollars
wortl of fertility, so of everything we are taking away something of
crvpiter or less manurial value. p i.i •

ifis therefore plain, that we must look to some other source for this
deticiencv there are several ways of doin^r this as you all know, and
which i?tho best and most economical I do not pretend to tell you,

'''%l:^l^t^Z.^ i^^Mi'h^ny^^ manure. A ton of stable

phosphoric acid and ten i.ounds^ of potash, depending to a ^^ly^^'^,^^
Ltent of what it is composed the t"tal quantity lavg.fcrm

value will vary J^^;-- tw^^^^^

o^^^^&^l^^^ -aTmrial value except to retain moisture
alul S: trtoU' loole and pliable and in a better mechanical con-

^'*'i^' t in putting the manure on the farm mad., from materials raised

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128

QuAiiTEiuA Report.

thereon ana fed ont on the bame we are still shc.rt of that which we sold

stanr-ef tlT^.f' ^""''"^^f'^* fertilii^er we are ]>uttiu- on tlie same sub-
stances that are contained m onr croi.s and in the stable manure
Provided we use reasonable (^are in selecting them "wmue.

lliere are also substances which contain nitrogen, i.hosnhoric -icM
and potash in a very much greater degree than our iL ira^ s i w
or stable manure. '"^.y. r^itun, sn,.w

Ground bone contains from two to five per cent, of nitrogen eio-l,
teen to twenty -fa ve per cent, of j.hosphoric acid and whidifs Ltv ,
one hundred pounds of nitrogen and three hundred and sixty to fa ^

Phosphoric acid is mostly derived from bone «-uano from ^n„fl.

Carolina rock ground fish, bone black, etc. " ' "' ^"''^^^

Ihis bone bla(ik is also a true bone, but is burned or ch-iiifvl o,„i

others conunercial ferti Ws are n^«S. it' ''^ tliese and some

as we call thein i^eVl^^^^^^ commercial lertihzers, or ,,hosi,hates

had very mi:'sl;^tJ^ ^S^^ ^ ^^^ I.^^^^^S^ -^ ^^-^^
that finally tlirouo-h the pffmfJ^^^^^ .^ ^^"^^ became so bad

law was l)as8ed 1879 Lr tbi^^ the State Board of A^ricnltnre, a

Tliat every iw-k lie for comm^^^^ ^^''' ^'^^'^^^^ ^« f^>l^<>^^'«:

salewithin t esf eshan^ ^f^^'^^^ «^ ^^P«^^^^ for

the mamifactmer th^^^^^^^^^^^ '^^""T'^ ^^'^^'^on the name of

percent, of intn>^en or an S ''"^.f [f %^tatin^ therein the

verted and insobn,le Sos C ^T' "/ ^^^^^^^^'^'^^' ^^-

mannfactnrer before oft r m^ VL . 'l'^ ^>f Potash. And that every
surer from ten o thirtv 1 1 f^^^^ ^""^ ^^'ll '^'^''^^ '^^^>^ ^o the trea-

for offering or expS^for^I^^^^^^^^^ ^'' the amount sold. And

^hall be punishable V fine f, a U^^^^^^^ ^ "^^ ^^^>^>-' -"^^«'

The fees of said license shall bru.lf''^^ ^"^ '"^^^^^^^^^ ^^^>"^^^«-
analysis of sami>les "^ ^"^ ^'^^ ^^^ exi^enses for making

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

129

This is the reason we see stami)ed on every ba,^' what they are to
contain and show with a reasonable certainty wliat farmers are buying.
It ought not to be necessary to bring this before you, but as it is of im-
portance, and as I know from personal knowledge that nine out of every
ten purchasing fertilizers take it simply as some trade mark, or some-
thing of no consequence. But it is a guarantee that they do contain
that amount and quantity of fertilizing materials between the maximum
and minimum numbers as stamped thereon, which manufacturers are
compe^lled to put on for the protection of the purchaser by law. And
if found by analyses not to contain the amount of^ in gredic^nts^ they
purport to contain they are punishable with a fine from twenty -five to
cue hundred dollars, provided the informant is the purchaser and user.

The samoles are drawn by agents of the state who collect them,
under oath, without the knowledge of the nnmufacturer ; these are ana-
lyzed by the state chemist and are published by the state, in sheet
form, and are distributed free to all who apply for them. Prices are
fixed by the state chemist for the difierent substances for the fertilizer
year which begins on the first of August and ends on thefirst of August
the following year.

These are somewhat more complicated although more just that under
the former state chemist, Genth. Valuations were based on eight cents
per pound for soluble and reverted and five cents for insoluble phos-
l>liori(; acid if from bone. Four cents in unmixed fertilizer which derive
it mainly from fish tankage, etc., and two cents if from South Caro-
lina rock; potash, five cents and ammonia seventeen cents, all these
have to be soluble in water except i)liosphoric acid, which is di-
vided in three grades, viz : soluble and reverted, these two together
make the available, and insoluble. The soluble portion is first taken
u]) by the plant, the reverted part is next taken by the r)lant, the in-
soluble probably of no value to the i)lant to which it is applied, but
may and doubtless does become valuable to plants if the same is de-
rived from first class material ; if from hair, horn shavings and coarse
fish scrap, we cannot depend much on insoluble phosphoric acid.

In selecting a fertilizer, first examine an analyses list to find if the
brand you intend to buy does contain what it purjxnts, and its com-
mercial or manurial value, for there are, in spite of the stringent law,
fertilizers sold which have not near their cost value.

A few years ago a fertilizer was sold having a manurial value of
three dollars and eight cents per ton. Another having a manurial
value of two dollars and fourteen cents a ton and selling at twenty
dollars. Still another having a value thirty-six cents a ton and selling
at eighteen per ton. This would go to show that it is very important to
select by analyses, but such brands are getting fewer every year. For
this we are indebted to the State Board of Agriculture.

Still we have to be on (nir guard and buy only from reliable firms.

The state in analyzing the fertilizers divides them in three classes.

The first is what is called a complete fertilizer, because it is to con-
tain all the manurial substances necessary to crops, viz : nitrogen,
l)hosphoric acid and potnsli, in varying ])r()portion, it also includes
special fertilizers, as for C(n-n, i)()tatoes, tobacco, etc., they containing
more of th(^ ingredients than those crops require.

The seccmd class is ground animal bone, and contains tiom two to
five per cent, of nitrogen or ammonia and from thirteen to twenty-
four per cent, (^f insoluble phosphoric acid.

urn

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130

QuAitTERLY Report.

. Ihe third class is acidulated South Carolina rock this contains uoth
n- but phosphoric acd from thirteen to nineteen , .er S when
treated with sulphur.,- acid, to make it available, and is therefore S
a i,ertect p ant too.l . when used it usually brings good results it ?s
mostly used in low-priced fertilizers. Biit as it contains bu one of
the substances needed by the i-lants, by its continued use the sod wi!
become depleted ot the nitrogen and potash ; the soil wiU hen letV^se
to produce paying crojis. ^euihe

This is the reason that some farmers come to say tliev had iust as

In selecting a fertilizer it is economy to buy a hie-h omrlp o,4,Mo
ms ea< ot a low grade, because these Jubstances arfalwayrbm i t
and sold m their raw state, by the per cent, and not by tKosrio,
For example a ton of raw materials, as bone for instmice a ton IZ
tainmg ten j.er c^nt. of phosi-ln.ric ^cid an.l two per c^.t of IZoZl
or ammonia would sell for just one half of what one tn ^MeoT
taining twenty per cent, of phosr-horic acid and four per cent of
mtrogen or ammonia, notwithstanding both being a ton in bu?k n^d

freight, agents commissions, on two tons instead of one lh;„ hi
therefore be economy to put only half the quantity on an acre ^1;
high-grade article as was intended of the low grae ^

a„d fiffv^'V T'"!- "* 'i^"V* t^-« l»'»«li''<l and forty to two hundred
and titty .pounds ot a high grade fertilizer mndo <^„f t """'"*"

materials, to an acre, haviifg from ten to t^vdve pfi cen o ^vS.le

and also twenty bushels f w eat .nd 1 n • ^ ^"^ 'r' ''^'"^ '* ''^^^''^y'
and fifty to h.iir huiXed and sivtvnn^ "if ''^'-'^"''] ^•''"" l'"»^lred
acre, the soil on the acre w d' IcoZb ' H ^^'"^ ''''T ^-V?*'*^^^'^' *« ^^e

value,as it did before Xcro Is taken off' Tto h"^'*^' "'T'^'^
stitucnts it would c,.i,t-m, ^mn^wW T .^^« to the manurial con-

somewhat more ,,hos o^ . ac if 0^^! ''''l?^^l '-^"'^ V"*'^'^'' '-^"'^
not pro.h,cM twenty bushels of whe./' oil'' "A'''"'' ^'"''^' *'"^ '^"" '^'^^
straw, it wouhl be in a bettpr ^llf V V M' *'',''" ^ *"» "^"^ " ^"^1^ of

the c^rp was taken"off "and tt bllc^'o'ti '7^-^* """ '"^^ *'"'
would remain in the soi until used bv f1,/ '\ ^^^f*'''^;^'?? H"l>stance

case of nitn^gen there wo db^som^l,t"'T^ ■^'^"n** '" *''«

to the farmers is will it pay to use^™l • f f Y^?^^ important part

This can be answered b7lotyesT.dtrT;"'*'^'^*''^-S •
abundantly supj.lied with these in^mn 1 i ." •^'*"'' ^"'^ ^" '^'«11 '-^'"^
deavored taexplain to v u i?l n I ''' ^"^^tances, which I have en-

these substances tl^^s i 1 '1 'i"* i"'^ T'' .^^^^"«*^ '» ""tting
farm animals with the diff:.!..:,! fo^d Thly'L' d JJml if f uf '^"' ""

Pennsylvania State Board of Agiucultuue.

131

different manner. On the other hand if wo know that our soil is lack-
ing in the elements of fertility it would just as surely pay, and perhaps
more, as it will to feed well a half starved farm animal. On this point
I cannot do better, nor as well as by quoting to you what was sanl by
Joseph Wilcox, mineralogist of the State Board of Agriculture, a few
years ago at a lecture, it is this : If a stalk of grain could SDeak it
might truly say to the farmers, like you I livf^ like you 1 nnist liave
food and drink to support life if you wish me to grow fast and larire ;
and yet you stint me in sui)plying the substances necessary to my de-
velopment. You feed your own children liberally to make them grow,
wliile vou put me on a low diet, expecting me to perform what you
should know is an imi)ossibility. Your prosperity depends iipon the
vigorous growth of mine and kindred species of plants, let how
litUe thought have you given to the study of our haV)its and needs
We do succeed to a moderate degree, in si)ite of your negligence and
that fact encourages you to continued negligence. Feed me and I will

feed you. . , ^ ^i-

The most ])eneiicial way of using a commercial fertilizer in my ex-
perience, is if your soil is in a i^oor or only a moderate state of ferti
lity, and the field is intended to be laid down in grass the following
vear, to a[)i)lv from two hundred to two hundred and fifty pounds or
even more of '^ a fertilizer made of standard materials, and containing
from three to four per cent, of ammonia, from twelve to sixteen per
cent, of phosphoric acid and three to four per cent, of potash, and
sowai witli wheat it will i)ay you for the fertilizer and perhaps more in
increase of the wheat alone, whilst it will also increase the yield of
straw, and the following year it will increase the yield of grass, and
consequently a heavier sod which will be an indirect benefit to a very

great extent. i. i-Ti e xi -i

It is sometimes contended by farmers that the fertility ot tlu^ soil
cannot be maintained by the use of commercial fertilizers alone. This
can hardly be possible, for in a standard fertilizer we are applying the
same substances that are contained in stable manure, as I have en-
deavored to exi)lain to you. .

It has also been i)roved by experiment. On the experimental farm
of Laws cfe Gilbert, at Eothamsted, England, they have experimented
on the same field for over twenty-five years. Without vard manure,
but by the use of fertilizers alone, have annually increased the produc-
tion of the field, the land producing better crops each year ; it has also
been shown at the experiment station of this state, that the soil can be
kept up in its fertility by its use alone. Aiul I have myself seen m
our neidiboring county of Lehigh as heavy a crop of wheat as ypn
w(^uld wish to se(^ which had l)een in Avlieat before for five consecutive
years and nothing having been applied but commercial fertilizers.

I could o-o on aiid tell you of numerous experiments and use of com-
mercial fertilizers and their results. But I presuuK^, you would ]>refer
to have me sav something of my own experience, and exj)eriments m
the use and purchase of fertilizers, for they come nearer to our own

farms. • . . • i r i^i-

Two or three years ago I, at ont^ time, got a circular on tertiiizers
which contained a great manv testimonials from all over the country,
so I made up my mind to get some of this much huuhnl brand: acci-
dentallv it so haopcMK^l that T c(^uld not get it. Some time later I got
an analyses list and found it contained manurial substances to the value
of six dollars and fifty f(mr cents and selling at twenty-five dollars.

'11

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132

Quarterly KEr6ir

'K

Tills was a case were an accident turned into luck. This tauHit nu.
a lesson, to tnst examine the analyses list before purchasiuc- "

At another time I wanted a fertiliz.u- to a,.i.ly to corn and potatoes
Yvmg a h.ffh per cent, ot potash, from six to eight per cent- on hun
dred and twenty to on<. hundred and sixty, for the reason that these
cro,.s i-equu'e a lush per cent of potash. J3ut as 1 could not readily
get It 111 that way.I d.nie the best I could.and jfot one which purported
to contain from three to four i>er cent, of potasli,or from sixty to eio-litv
pounds per ton, afterwards in examining a fertilizer list I found Ihat
It contained manunal substances to very near tlie vahie I paid for
It But It onlv contained three fourths of one per cent t)f n, tash or
hftc^n pounds to the ton. This was a case like'going to the sW 'fo
a dollar s worth of coftee and -ettni- a little coffee and tlie balauc.. in
sugar, get „ig he worth o your money, but not what you wan el
Uiis aught me ho lesson that it is not only necessary to see that you

In the use of fertilizers I made an exi^eriment on wheat to see whether

Til,, lield upon which the (experiment was made had been in wheat
the year betore, and had then received a dressing of about eight two
hor.se loads of stab e manure to the acre, in the fall of 188G it w^s
again sown to wheat, with two bushels seed to the acre arul tw, Imn
dre.l pounds o a complete fertilizer, contning, by analyses tu-ee J
tor y one liuudiedth per cent, of ammonia, eleven per cent o f s«d, «
and reverted, or available phosphoric acid and two and J^h 'on^
hundreclths per cent, of ,.otash, the whole having a manurialvahinf
th.rty.four dollars and twenty-eight cents per ton, for w i cli I ^11
thirty-six dollar.s, making the cost of the fertilizer thrL dollars md
feefof/f '"'r'^ V'"" «-Periment was made on a plot te.i ^ ^liiiy

st:it th^trr^TheTlo^^^ Irrf e^ -Hhirtyight M^
parent and could^be ^n^^aiZ.tV^^^^:t^:, ^»'-

st.?t!>':;rriiS^Xriyh "^

and applying X.o luimlrl'l p<,uiX\ oil '^er "Tt tl^f' T' T
fertilizer in a direct way, and will still Iw yr' ^r hi r' indirect

wel'tron^ttfof <:;;e1wniVfi'fti:Tf " ''^s^'^j -^-^ ^«««- *'--

one hundred u.d nuZt^uU^^^^^ application of

thirty -six dollars a ton, makino. the cost of L% yfi'''''' ^"''*'"- ™^

, luai^iii^ Liie cost ot the tertilizer per acre two

i

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Aohicultuke.

133

dollars and sixty -two cents, the corn was planted with a cornplanter,
one ^rain every^twelve inches, and dropi)ing' the fertilizer along- the
whole row. The corn was husked, put in separate bags and kept in a
dry place until about the lirst of January, then husked and weighed,
and the amount calculated on an acre ; this same process was repeated
in each year, the soil in each held being also the same. The yield
was as follows, in 188(), with fertilizer yielded fiftv-four bushels, no
fertilizer, thirty -four bushels, difference, twenty bushels to the acre.

In 1887, with feitilizer, yielded forty-nine and one-half bushels;
with no fertilizer, forty and one-half bushels; difference nine bushels.
In 1888, with fertilizer yielded fifty bushels, no fertilizer, forty-four and
ten hundredth difference, five bushels and fifty i)ounds.

These are the facts and they were carefully made. But beyond all
this lies a tale untold, we might su])pose the season had something to
do, not to my mind. The field or plot that made the extraordujary
increase of yield of twenty bushels an acre was a thin timothy sod.
The next, the one that made an increase of nine bushels per acre, has
an ordinary clover and timothy sod.

The next or the one that made an increase of five bushels and fifty
pounds, this field made a very heavy aftergrowth the year before and
was onlv partly eaten oft' by the cattle, and the rest tramped down.
This would go to show that where the soil is well supplied with the
elements of fertility, as was the case in this last trial, which, by the
])resence of the clover which remained on the field, it had all the
fertility needed, and it took only a limited quantity of what was ay)-
])lied and 1)arelv paid the expense.

On the othei- hand where the field made an increase of twenty bushels
to the acre, which was lacking in those elements, it paid a very hig-h
per cent, of i)rofit. On this field the fertilizer may also have had some
thing- to do by rei)elling the attacks of insects which work on the roots
of tlie corn which they are likely to do on a timothy sod.

The average increase in yield of the three trials is eleven bushels
and thirty -seven pound per acre, calculating the corn at fifty cents a
bushel, tiie value of the increase would be five dollars and eighty one
cents per acre, and the cost of the fertilizer was two dollars and sixty-
two cents per acre, would leave a balance of three dollars and nineteen
cents per acre, which ])aid me a dividend of over one hundred per
cent, on the investment.

These experiments teach me the lesson that fertilizers pay, and ;ilso
that the previous fertility of the soil has as much to do as the fertilizer
which is applied to make it pay.

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^

THE RELATION OF FAKMING TO OTHER OCCUPATIONS.

liy liev. David M. James, Bat/iy Pa.
(Read at Bath Institute )

An occupation is that business which engages the time and atteiition
of any one. T\w ])rinci])al business of one's life, the wants of mankind
and the welfare of societv, require many occupations, grew out of
man's wants. Among the first wants of men, are houses to shelter us,

4

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Quarterly Report.

clothiii^- to protect us, shoes to cover our feet and food to streii^Hlien
our bodies.

Hence ainoiit>- the first emi)h)yinents of mankind we have carpenters,
tailors, dressmakers, liatters, brickmakers and hunbermen, boat car-
penters. Besides these necessary calling's to furnish us with the com-
forts for our bodies we need churches, schools, colleges, government,
books, liiachint^ry and the like. Plence we have the various ])rofessions.'
The learned professions are, especially, theology, law and medicine
The needs of the people call forth the occupation. Thus you look out
over the country and you see every wheie, people eng-ag-ed in difierent
affairs, in matters of relig-ion, law, education, g-overnment, state and
national, manufactory, private individual and public business.

Many of the affairs, however, in which men eng-ag-e are not worthy
to be honored with a name, and are beneath the capacities and obli-
g-ations of mtellig-ent beiug-s, and liarmful t(j so(;iety. Such a life, it
may be said, is not worth living-. Evils of man orig-inate demand. '

Very few of the natural production of the earth are ready for im-
mediate use in the forms in which we i)rocure them. Therefore many
are occuoied m oljtaining- the materials, while other are eng-ag-ed in
manufacturing- them into useful fabrics and implements of traded

Some include in six occupations, those bv which the common wants
ot man are su]^plied : 1, ag-riculture ; 2, grazing ; 3, fishing- : 4, lumber-
ing- ; 5, minings, and G, manufacturing-.

Theg-iaiii into Hour and meal. The wool and cotton into cloth
1 he hides into leather for shoes. The iron into iron for plows stoves
heaters and farm, implements etc. The slate into roofino-,curbnio- and
pavements Clay into earthenware, bricks and the like. Every honest
and useful business contributes to the benefit of society.

All should be occupied, and in a civilized community most persons
haying- sound bodies and minds are.

Savag-es and uncivilized tribes have no calling-, but live a mere animal
lite without developing: either the countries in which they live or the
j)owers which nature has intrusted to them.

\\ hat relation does the occupation of the husl)andman sustain to
other emph)vments of men?

Tt stands fust in the catalogue. It sustains all other callino-s It
was the hrst occu])ation of man.

According to Moses, the first human pair had their first earthly
wants supplied by tlieir creator in a home in a -arden in Paradise, a
qun^ beautiful spot, planted with trees of beauty for the eye, and fruit-
tul for food The food that sustained animal life -rew out of the
g-iouiKL ijut even in a state of innocence, when everything was very

T-u i? ^'^""^H ""l ^^'^ ^^^*^' ^'^^'^ *^ ^^ improved by man's care and
skill. He was to be occupied.

He put the man in the g-arden to keep it and to dress it.
Man beg-an in his first state with fruit culture -horticulture
dp^'^il fW ^^^'^\^^ViT'^ and was excluded from liis fiist home,it was

..! f > ;{ 1 "^ ""'"'^ ''^^ ^''^ descendants should eat their bread by the
swejit ot the l)row. *^

After the fall he descended to the culture of the field and thc^ tending

Zn!!: y l^V -. ^''y ^''^^ ^'"'"^ -^'^^^^^ t^ ^'' ^^^^ thev cliose tluur

oc(upMti(>ns. Cam turning to a-riculture, and Abl(3 to pastorial life.

ground''' ^ ^^^'^"^ ^ ""^ ""^ ''^'^^^'' ^""^ ^'^^^ ''''^ ^ ^^^^^1' ''^ ^^^

In the occupation of these two sons of Adam, we trace the two g-reat

Pennsylvania State Board oe AciRKTi/ruRE.

135

branches of productive industry pursued by men in the primitive

state of society. -r. -, ^^

We include therefore in farming or agriculture : 1. In-uit culture.
2. Stock raising, and, 3. Farming or a-rain production. This is the
order of the divine government. Solonum places the highest honor
uixm the farmer when he says, "The profit of the earth is for all: the
king is served by the field." King- to farmer. This calling is the
most necessary of all others to supi)ort human life. The profit to be
secured from the ground is for all. All need it, all men, and all in-
ferior creatures. The same earth brings forth bread for man and g-rass
for the cattle. The kino: himself is served from it. There is enough
for all and will be as long- as the earth remains.

Seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter,
day and nig-ht shall not cease. Only once in the history of the world
was there no harvest, that year when the flood came.

There is a level to wliich we must all come, bread must be furnished
by the sweat of some one's brow. The many have the benefit to it, the
mighty cannot live without it.

The farmer may take up the lamentaticm now so common, and so
often repeated—" There is no money in farming," and reflect u])on it
as menial occui)ation. Yet there is honor in it. There is antniuity
in it. There is necessity in it. We cannot live without it.

The President of the United States, the Senators, the memljers of
the House, the Governors and all professional and laboring- classes
depend ui)on the husbandman for daily supplies. The king is more
dependent upon the farmer than the farmer is ui)on him. Queen
Victoria eats her bread from our wheat. And Bismarck eats our beef
and pork, and canned meats. The relation of the occupation of farming^ .,
to the other occupations then is. the farmer solves the food problem.
The first thing- a man wants is something' to eat, that is an absolute
want. Bread is the staff of life.

To furnish food for the population of the nation, and for the animals
of the nation, is no light work. There is money in it too. It re^
quires more labor and food to keep the animals than it does to supv)ort

the po[)ulati(m.

This want must be supplied every day. The first thing the ciiild
wants is food, and if it is not furnished the child will cry. If all the
farmers should strike that would block the nation and block them-
selves too. 1 * 1 •

If food is withheld all other occupations must cease— the mechanic
cannot work, the lawyer cannot plead, the physicain cannot heal, the
ineacher cannot preach, the teacher cannot teach, the soldier cannot
fight, the prophet cannot i^^redict, he must be feed either by ravens or
in some other way. So must the animals have their food. The ani-
mals cannot thrive without man's care. God assigrned this care to man
in the be^innin^. That he should have dominicm over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over all the cattle and over all

the earth.

They degenerate without the husband man's care. And we are in-
debted to the farmer for the great improvenieiit in stock, in cattle,
horses, sheep, swine and improved breeds of fowls. And if thc^y are
neglected tliey have a way of calling man's attention to them. They
must have thinr food.

The hung-ry native calf will bawl. The i)ig will squeal, ihe iamo
will bleat. The ox will bellow. The ass will bray. The colt will

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136

QUAItTKItLY RErOTiT.

nei^h. Tlie cliicken will peep. The duck will quack. The tnrkev
Tl.e S'will Jw' '""'*"' "'" ""' """• '^'''^ '^°^ ^^''1 ^""'1^ --1 "-vf
wiJh'ltir ^il^^l '^'''"^'^ '"''"" hereabout if the farmers .hould fail

No other oc,ii)ations could furnish the supplies. No other produce
The farmer Ktops such disaster every mouth ouuce.

A nation without food would be like Nineveh in the days of Joicih
iheKmg, m order to call the people to repentance, proclaimed "Let
nei her man nor beast, herd nor Hock ta^te anytliinj,: let them not
feed, nor ,h-ink water, but let them cry mightily unto God." Hence
a people.''*' "" '''^''' ^'''''*''^* temporal calamity that can afflict

ful^i'""'^ nation, in its cities, in its towns and in the country from
the President doxNu to the humblest citizen, sit down to dinner evrrv
day, they may hnd wholesonie supj.lies of bread and vej^eta e.^ fn^\s
and feats, lurnished by whom? AVho sowed the whe.at^ Who ed
tl)e stock? Who tilled the vegetables, and whence came the butter an

tTeirme '"l }-e' • h!T "" 'tTl " ^^^^ '''''' '^ ^ -»-" «i'le
tJie laimer s lite. He is a great deal m the sun, and the sun shines oi>

al sides ot him and also above him, and there is some c mpensatio

ing supi^i?f:rth 'r*^"" ^^ ^^« ^-«^ ^^ -^ — i-^^i^ ^^^^^^

How entirely was the nation dependent ui)on the farmer tor sumdies
during our last unhappy war. While more than a million of ou^. e,S
were called from the industries of life, and many o them from e
IZr' *°,«"^^^« •" «'f rfare for the preservation ot" the unfon he t^r
. ners at home applied renewed activity to their occunation m,l ,t \f'
aid o machmery and additional help,'^aiKl tliTaS kn Un^^^^^

ior^^exportation to other couuiriefand X^^V'Z ISt^

th^difraiuftend^l'clX'^ '""""r "''^*^""'' ^^ «'« ^^"^''^ ^"^^ '^«l^<>ld
selves "aildepSj^ tif ^ "Lr" hT ^^TVf" '^""^^t"!-**' -"-

ofhcer a member of ihi^ eabiiient ^^^^riiment, and made its duel

wh^'trs"et«eiuf;id^ "- Pi—r f—

land, bridged the ^^^I^J^^^^i^'t^f.^T'''' ''''^
orch.uds, removed obstructions built f^.n, 1?o,,^ Planted the trees and
pared the wav for the growth an 1 ,.,nL? T f *"",'? ^'•""^' ""^^ l''"*^-
commerce? these fatlnTrilnrl 1 '""'j'''''^^^- "f tillages, cities and

labors, they did morf '^h J;t'r''Th^\.:.™irn; T'T' "'*'' ^Jl^"'
class or occui)ation laid tl... f! „' i 7- ''"mei, i i,,iv than anv otlier

whi.h have had sUTan i..i r" i^^onr chuivhen and scIkx.Is,

History corroboratl he fa^ t T! ,*" "'"'^" V'" "^t'"" "''"* i* i«
of the most usS anS lovtl if om tfr'""'-''""' '^ '•'"* a majority,
.ospel, honest lawyers. ^^r^l/^^^^^^rZ^-I^^L:!^

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricultuue.

137

successful niercliauts and mechanics had their original training on the
farm and in f aimers' families.

Let the farmers honor their occui)ation, maintain their dignity and
character, and not decry the first and most necessary of all the occu])a-
tions, we cannot live without it. It is the decree of heaven, that man's
bread must be procured in this way. The occupation will lionor him
if he will honor it.

Our own government has advanced it to the front by constituting
the Dej)artiiient of Agriculture and choosing a secretary equal in
jank with the other cabinet officers, who in his last report, at a low
estimate, values the farms of the United States to exceed ten thousand
million dollars, and these farms by the industry of their owners and
workers yielded an aggregate annual value of nearly forty thousand
million dollars.

In th(^ ])roduction this wealth, eierht million farmers were occupied,
families comprising 30, 000, 000, making use of five hundred million
dollars worth of farm implements.

" The value of live stock on farms estimated in the last 1880 census
to be worth over one thousand five hundred millions of dollars, is
shown, by the reliable statistics collected by the Department of Agri-
culture, to be worth now 1890, two thousand five hundred and seven
million dollars."

These figures are surely enough in themselves to convince every
thoughtful man of the responsibility and worth of the farmer's occupa-
tion in contrast with all other industries of the country.

It may be i)ositively stated that upon the ] productiveness of our agri-
culture and |)rosi)erity of our farmers the entire wealth and prosperity
of the wholes nation depend. The trade and commerce of this vast
country of which Ave so proudly boast, the great transportation facilities
so greatly developed during the past quarter of a century are all ])()ssi-
ble only, because, the underlying industry of them all, farming, agri-
culture, has been called into being, even the products of our mines and
quariies are only valuable because of the commerce and the wealth
created by agriculture.

True that though the country, from time to time, and at all times
some parts of this great country, may be depressed in its farming: in-
terests. These are not always flourishing-. But what other dei)art-
ment of business is always flourishing? In all human afl^airs, "there
is a day of adversity set over against a day of prosperity."

But farming is the surest occupation on the earth There is always
something to do.

Ships with tlu^ir cargos may sink, warehouses and goods may burn
up, mines may become exhausted, oil wells and gas mains may fail,
goods may depreciate on the market because fashions change and de-
mands cease, the i)rofessions may become overstocked, and men of
average abiliti(?s are ground between the niillstones of too much crowd-
ing and too little capacity.

But farming, more than any other Imsiness has the warrant of a
covenant k(^eping God, that seed time and harvest shall not fail, the
land needs no insurance, it cannot bufn up. It cannot sink beneath
the water, there is more certainty in every square yard in farming
than in any other business. But it must be valued, and not neglected,
it must not be denied.

Mr. Greely used to say : If you take a thousand farmers and com-
pare them with a thousand business men as they come along, they will

138

QuAiiTERTA- Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

139

possess 111 the a^^oTe^^ate as much property and do as much o-o^kI as
any class. In the averag-e more streams of money flow from tlie towns
and cities into the liands of the farmers than flow the other way

farmers have less to do with notes than anv other class If you o-o
into the commercial or manufactory communities, notes are payino-
Irom Jiand to hand, and from bank to bank, and as a g-eneral order he
>Wio g-oes borrowing g-oes sorrowing. The farmer can snap his finders
at the l)ears and bulls at Wall street, banks may shut up, manufacturers
may shut up, but they cannot shut the farmer up. Stick to the farm^

INDUSTKIAL EDUCATION.

By Prof. N. S. Davis, Superintendent Puhlie Schools of Lackawanna county

(Read at Wuverly Institute. )

You will see by lookius: at the programme that the topic assi-ued
me IS ludustnul eductilion ; a topic upon vv]iicl, thcn^ has been more
or less disasreemeut. The term " industrial education, " as currently
used, ineans that educationon «hi(h trains the hand, the eye and the
Dram to work in unison Under our present system, the mind only
IS trained the hand and the eye are ne-lected. , The questions to be
presented beiore this institute are imi)ortant to farmers, vet it seems
to me that the f?reat question after all is the educational one

1 erhaps some may wonder why such a question as this was placed
on the pro-nimme at a farmer's insittute. I would say that it was
placed there because it relates directly to the most important crop i.ro-
duced in his country, that crop of boys and ^iils growing up in every
neighborhood and almost upon every farm. The f^i-eat questions fol
discuss^n amonp: farmers now days are : How shall we make the farm

^nv .f?r''T r "'' '"/'''*' ^H l'""'*»'>' !•»>■> "'« f™it pay, the dairy
Cw?, .: « Jl fwM"''*' 'l''««t'»"« t» tlie members of this institute,
f. ofTf r, \f * f'*"^ I'T '-^l^'"" '^^'tly al>le to dircuss them with

i^ 0« ,.oT f "^'^'="'*;,'"'^ l«t "« 'nq'"re how we may make the boys and
?''!'%' ""* '" ;^" '••"••'^ and cents, but in something of far greater
)alue Paivnts ^^ l,o have the happy faculty of educating their children
m sm-h a way that their mental, physical and moral nature are deve
fllh 1 m'tld's'Tf -r '"'■" '"«-tSly better off than the parents wluX'4
n seen th. I ! f" ""ff^^l'^P amassing thousands. Who has
not seen the son ot a well-to-do farmer, strong and healthy every
toZL tu'i'n h"'^' <V>«^'fect picture of health and strengUi d!^^
wofk mav it v^l -h''"""" {""^'^^^^ '"^'^ *''« ^^«*' "« "latter what the
Ts far n J nnk« '' """''^ i'"''^ }fv\\^y developed, his education,

as tai as books are concerned, neglected, riiysically he has been

£ted'' Who hl^r.?' 7''^- ^''^ '^--'-l-ent^ias been sadly ^g
SliA nni.nof o„f ? V '^nt- can sing, she can plav, she can paint

veh.n f eitl : , ?,^, t V^"''^ ""•' '\ '"*'"''■ «"« voung lady has been de-
tail s,'. •. " '"t"".y, physica ly or morally ; but <,ne thin- is cer-
educ.ti n ?r 1 r l";>l'''iy. educated. There has been t.H, much

education of a character that brings about a dislike for manual labor.

The idea that labor is degrading- works more niischief than a little
among our young [)eople. Industrial education is intended to remedy
this defect m our system, and the subject is of sutHcient im[)ortance to
warrant thorough investigation. Several years ago i)roininent educa-
tors began to find fault with the j)resent system. They exi)ressed
themselves in a plain forcible way by saying, " put the whole boy io

school."

The outcome of this agitation was the establishment of the first man-
ual training school at St. Louis about twelve years ago. How does
tliis school differ from the ordinary school? The difference is just
this: The students divide their school hours equally between mental
and manual exercises. The manual exercises are for discipline only.
Trades are not taught. Articles are not manufactured for sale. The
course of instruction in the school room is about the same as a high
school course. The shop instruction includes carpentry, wood turning,
pattern making iron-chipping, forge work, etc. Industrial education
in schools is now iii o])eration in most of the leading cities of this coun-
try, and in most of them much less than half the time is given to shop

work.

Superintendent MacAlister says, "the object of the public school is
education in its broadest sense. If industrial or manual training can-
not be shown to be education in this sense, it has no place in tln^ imb-
lic school. We have no more right to teach carpentry or blacksmith-
ing than we have to teach law or medicine.

The supreme end of education is the harmonious development of all
the powers of a human being. Whatever ministers to this end is edu-
cation ; whatever interferes with its accomidishment, no matter how
valuable in itself, belongs outside the elementary school. The pro-
cesses of manual training afford a better means of cultivating the facul-
ties of reason and judgment than many things which now tind place in
the courses of instruction. We do not need to depend wholly upon
tlieory for the correctness of this view^ of manual training. Men who
have had these schools in charge tell us that the manual training so
stimulates the general intelHgence of Dupils that the time occupied at
such work more than compensates for the amount of text book work
which it sui:)plants . It would be easy to find plenty of testimony to
this effect. The schools of a generation ago were certainly inferior to
the schools of to day as to teaching, text-books and other appliances ;
but no one will gainsay the statement that they i)roduced men and
women possessing a mental and moral force of character (juite ecpial to
those of our own time. Is not this largely to be accounted for by the
fact that whih^ tlu^ advantages were poorer and less time was spent in
school, the boys and girls in the rural life which then chiefly prevailed,
were brought morc^ largely into contact with things, through work upon
the farm and in the liome, and their mental resources were thereby
increased to a degi-ee that the ])urely intellectual drill and the memo-
rizing process of the present day cannot yield?

Having detined industrial education in the first part of this pa])(T,
and having given a brief account of its status in this country, the (lues-
tion naturally arises: What is there in it f(^r us? Will it benefit our
schools if introduced there, and if so, can it bc^ introduced ^^

Let us look for a moment at the situation in this state. Three years
ago Governor Beaver ai>i>ointed a commission of [)romiiient educators
of this state to investigate this matter carefully and re])ort, making
such recommendations as they thought proper. The commission after

■I
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140

QUAltTFJtl.Y RePOH'I'.

having: made a tliorougrli investigation of indnstiiul education as con
ducted m tins country and Europe, made a report with the followinc^
recommendations: . louin^

1st T]iat industrial education be taught in each of our norm-d
schools and that hve thousand dollars be appropriated to each school
to establish the i)lant. o^-uooi

2d. That a moderate ai)i>r(.i)riation be made to each school district
as shall undertake to establish manual tiainin- in connection with the
public schools, and that in the erection of school buildings hereafter'
suitable provision shall be made for a room or rooms to be used for the
jiuri»oses of manual trainiii}?.

+vn^;',^;7'-"* l''[*''«^"^' be made for groupincr rural schools for manual
training- m such a way that scholars may go in sections from each schoo
to one conveniently located or a si.ecial instructor be em). loved to -ive
to each school m turn. - "'"»'*«

.v,}?/^/^*'*"'''"* ""•*" ^^''""^ ''*''* ''«®" ^^""*'^ '"^"'^ what has been recom-
mended l)y a commission, may seem somewhat dry, but it is necess-irv
to a j.roper understanding <.f the prese-nt sitution. I prLimie hat w h
many people the suggestion that a work bench be pkced in one corner
of the room would appear ridiculous. But when we stop aid rXct
for a moment, we realize that after all there mav be son^etWinTt
Children cannot learn everything from books. A great ,mrt ot^our ed
ucation IS obtained outside of books. The book su,.,>lies the theor
but we want something else. Look at the followiu^ llu^r tio ai d

In ««t fl^ t'''it c'^^'' ?* twelve-year-old boys in the country school
and ask them each one to draw a plan of a bird -house to be placed
about their homes n.-^t spring. After the plans have been dra^^^, Te
Zi •7P'l;:o''f.r"'-t IV*^ '""«« according to his own plan Ii2ey -o
I M Wp'^'i ' "'• ' ^' v^' '' W'T ^"y"""^ «f educational value fn ft"
Ld 1 oTses 'twI''" w'l lliave a variety of plans and a vairetv of
D HI nouses Ihese boys will not be able to draw a sin^'le line of tiieii-

memoril"g*so mSV TV' "^ ^ ''^''^ '-'"l^-" *" tl.tk InsW of
iiiemorizing- so much, we have done a o-reat work In drnwi'iip. ih\^

£ow ^VZs/T* "T '"' niind,andif he uTe. it pro," y ft
mie the slo, e of ttro'^n/^r^ V-'""'" ^/f""'^ ^" "«^'' the size of each
l?e muLt make^^^ TJ' *''^,^«':;t'«" of doors and windows ; in short,
the exercise is "ood , •'" ^''*t ''"^'' "''^^ ^"* "^ '^'^ ^^^ ^^ad," and

as hels abfe'the i.nl'n'*' ll'l"".,"^ "" ''"""? ^'•''"' '^^'' <^»-'^wi"S- As far
and fronf W i\ ir ' .1 ''' '^^.^'"^ P'^""* "* *'>« ^^^r^ carefully and well
and tiom first to last, the pupil must think. This is tnie from tl,P fir^f
line drawn to the last nail driven

rea^-hId"tLlte of tliv"^'"*"^ t'^^* ^'l^^" l>-vs have

or>^m thir^lfke if T r'""'" fe«l?""l<l Ije ffiven work of this kind,
onh me t i ,vork .ml Vh? '''^' *^^l"'^ ^f"*"" '» ^^^ ««l'«'l l"«m ^^ith

s .Int i mWri'^l 1^^^^ ""^ l^'^y'*''''''^ f^*^'-^^^*' j« not good for the

srudent industrial education, as common v understood will <nv,. tl.o
pupi i)liysical exercise along with mental Jorl tuA^ht ^^ ' V

be P-ivpn wifl. o >^„,..,„ fl • "'eiiidi Work, and tins exercise wi

SncXn Men w^^^^^^^^^ ./Vf T^ ^"^ '^''^ objectionB to indnstri.l
that ?s ^enemlfv t^^^^^^^ V^^ ^'^ *^™"" ^^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^^'i^^^ ^^^^on^h, and
tt col^tTS ^r-^ ^lifferenee l^^tween

a pail of coal ? Thmv. f i ^ i /^'e bird-honse and brin- no- in

pan ot coal . Iheio is physical exercise in bringing in a i>ail of ?oal

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculi^re.

141

or water, but there is not much development of mind in the operation.
Industrial education develops both mind and muscle. Some may say
that the exercise is given under the head of industrial education should
be given at home. The fact remains, however, that they iire not given
there. Boys grow up sadly lacking in the use and care of tools. As a
rule, what the boy learns about tools and their use is picked up by
chance and by stealth. My ex])erience is that the boy who is learning
to mow must take the poorest scythe in the lot. The best tools on the
farm are kept away from the boy. If he wants to make a box trap or a
dog kennel, he is expected to whittle it out with a jack-knife. Now,
is Ft not a fact that l)oys at ten years of age should be taught to use
and take care of tools? " If this can be accomplished at school in a sys-
tematic manner without detriment to the present course of study, then
surely the cliange Avould be beneficial.

The useful things that may be taught at the work-bench are without
numbers, but a regular system of exercises has been arranged for pui>ils
that will give them a knowledge of the use of tools and will also show
clearly whether the work has been done in a workmanlike manner or
otherwise. A thorough test of industrial education has ben made in
Philadelphia, and the superintendent tells us that it is a success. Two
years ago there were thirty five thousand school girls in that city tak-
ing regular lessons in sewing. He says, " The testimony of the ])rin-
cipals iii unanimous as to the beneficial influence of the sewing lessons
u])on the pupils. They break up the monotony of the s(;hool ; they
afford a ])leasant relief from the pressure of purely intellectual studies ;
they cultivate a respect for the work of the hands ; they train to habits
of neatness and order in practical affairs, and they confer an accom-
plishment which every girl will learn to value in after life. " It may
occur to you that we are now teaching as much as we possibly can in
the public school, and that any attempt to introduce more work is ill-
timed. We must remember, however, that our present school system
is in its infancy. No matter how much we may admire it in its i)resent
state, it would be folly to say that it cannot be imi)roved. I speak
only the truth when I say that a vast amount of time is wasted m the
school room. It is simplv im])ossible for any pupil to devote six hours
a day to pure mental work. More variety is needed. The change
may be such a one as to bring rest wdiile it continues to educate.
Much useless lumber should be eliminated from the text books and
something better given. If not industrial work, at least something
that will V>e of practical value to the i)upil. Mc Allistf^' says, "It is
not our business to train boys and girls to be mere bread winners, but
we must see to it that the education we give to them confers the power
to hold their own in the struggle of life upon which they must sooner
or later enter. " I have no sympathy with those who claim that the
])ublic school gives too much education to the masses of people. It is
impossible to overeducate any human beine*. The only question is as
to the kind of (ulucation that shoidd be furnished. We must tram our
childr(ai to believe in work ; to res]^ect work ; to seek work

This should be a part of their education ; and th(^ way to do it is not
to teach tln^m trades in the i»ublic schools, but to broaden the general
cultun^ which those schools give, in such ways thnt tlu^ young [)eople
shall bcLrin their career in symi)athy with the social conditums which
surround" them. As at present constituted, the schools an^ directed
almost wliollv toward a literary outcome. The traditions of the past
are still all powerful in the common school as well as in the college.

if ;

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142

Quarterly Rkport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

143

We need to make our education more real. In doin^^- this we shall
not make it less noble and refining-, but we shall gi\e to the children
a wider vision and a braver heart, and we shall send them forth into
the world better able to deal with the realities of life and to discharo^e
its duties fitly and successfully. Professor Miller says, " When youno-
America is trained for mechanical pursuits under the same roof and
amid the same surroundinofs as he is trained for preaching- and plead-
ing ; when he is made to feel at school that the same distinction is to
be earned by skilful doing as by skilful daring-, the necessity for all
this talk about the dig-nity of labor which employs so much of our en-
ergy at i)resent will be removed.

And when he acquires industrial skill, not at the expense of his
mental training, but along with it and as a necessary part of it the
crafts themselves will assimn^ the old dignity and importance which
once they had, but which fhey have lost in these days of false and
foolish artificial standards by which men measu}-e each other. " I would
not ask anyone to accei)t the plan of industrial education without con-
sideration. Investigate, exi)eriment and find out if there is anything
in it. It is not well to be radcial, either one way or the other. We
must admit that there are defects in our present system of education
It is not, by any means, perfect. On the other liand, we must not
overturn the old established order of things for something new simply
because it is new. Such a complete revolution of teaching as is ])ro-
posed by the extremests of industrial education should not be under
taken without careful and thorough investigation. That old couplet
IS a good one which says :

♦* Re not the ftrst by whom the new is treed,
Nor yet the last to cast the old aside."

This is an age of improvement and advancement. It would be
strange indeed if prog-ress were made in all other lines of thoug-ht and
teaching itself left at a standstill. '

DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF WHEAT AND THEIR FLOUR-

ING QUALITIES.

By D. L. Ellis, PutneyviUc^ Pa,

(Read at Dayton Institute. )

The question in subject is one of vital importance to every man
woman and child. Good wheat-bread and butter is the staff of civilized
lite. lake away wheat-bread from our families for a few e-enerations,
and who IS so prepared to say that civilization would not ^lide easily
to a state of barbarism. Why could this statement liav(^ an y foundation
or bear any phdosophy ? INFost assuredly it is sound philosophy be-
cause there IS no other kind of human food that is so admirabl v adapted
to the development ot tin. human family. Examine th(^ history of na-
tions and study their habits and food ; you will find a de-ree of intelli-
pnce standing on the potato ; another step hi-her standin- on the
hoe-cake ; one step higher on the pan-cake ; and-head and shoulders

above all- we find the higliest order of intelligence, with lai^^e and
well-develo[)ed brains and noble characters, standing- securely on the
wheat loaf. No other food can excel the loaf Avhich is baked from the
flour made from wheat kernels that contain the hig^hest percentage of
nutritious substance, because it furnishes more and better brahi,nius-
cle, and bone than any other article of food. Consult history and you
will iind abundant evidence to verify the truth of the statements.

Take the crafty Hindoos, w ho subsist upon rice. They have never
been able to defend their independence against enemies from with-
out, and the truth is, that nearly all a^res, and in all climates, the
spirit of combine progress and conquest has been most fully exhibited,
and has been only permanent in its results among those nations whose
principal food was bread prej)ared from wheat. Progress and con-
quest have been made, indeed, by luitions who subsisted on other
foods, but both have proved to V)e of a more transitory nature.

The chief g-lories of even the fervid and persistent Scotcli were not
won until thev had added the wheaten food of the English to the pro-
duction of the barlev of their own fields and hillsides. Therc^ are ex-
amples of this interesting theory everywhere. They are to be met
even in the verv dawn of history in that first great kingdom founded
on the banks of the river Euphrates by Nimrod, two thousand two hun-
dred and thirty -four years before our era. The Chaldeans and Assy-
rians at Nineva on the Tig-ris, the two earliest well-org-anized societies
in Asia, the fertile mother of nations, paid in the very earliest times,
the greatest possible attention to their vast fields of waving wheat.
History informs us that the Assyrian Empire was the most powerful
of all antiquity. Their wheat fields demanded even more care than
those of the Babylonians ; and histcny has proven their far longer dura-
tion as a great power. And so on down we could folloAv its trace and
effects on the inhabitants. When Abraham left Yir of the Chaldees
and began that long journey which eventually conducted his descend-
ents into the promised land, and to the conquest of Canaan, there is
abundant evidence to prove that wheaten bread or cakes were then an
essential article of food for the Hebrews. And no race on earth has
preserved its vitality and the intense individualism of its character
with half the distinctive force of the children of Israel. Amimg all
these ancient people the millers were always women, and the nulls
were of a most i)rimitive description. You all, no doubt, can recall
the familiar cpiotation in the Scrii)ture: "Two women shall be grind-
ing- at the mill ; the one shall be taken and the other left." Your hon-
orable committee may think by this time that what we have been recit-
ing to thus far is not Avliat was expected to be learned on the question
iirsubject. The object in view^ of your humble servant is to draw the
attention of the farmer to a more careful and practical study of the real
wants of tln^ human organization. And when the time comes that the
great mass of our farmers understand that there is in certan varieties
of wheat a combined and well balanced nntrifive value so well adapted
to the human organization in forming a sui)ply f(n- bone, muscle, fat,
nerve and brain, it will be an easier task to induce him to cultivate^ that
variety The age has already dawned that a discrimination is jjlaced
on different varfeties of Avheat to some extent for the intrinsic valiu' of
the nutritious substances they contain. The farmc^r, as well j|s the
miller and educat(^d baker, and consumers of bread, is aware^ot this.
Your humble servant could sight you to scores of fjirmers Avho culti-
vate now and persist in still a continued cultivation <jf certain varieties

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144

QuAKTEinA' Eeport.

Pennsylvania State Boakd oe AgricultI'Iie.

145

i

ot Avheat which is almost entirely void of the most essential nutritive
substance, so admirable and essential as food for the human family
And strang-e to say, but it is a fact, that some of these farmers who
produce this variety do not want to, and will not consume a particle
of the Hour i)roduced from such wheat if they can ix)ssibly evade it
and evidently ho is so justifiable in not wantiner to admit sucli flour in
whole or m part as his daily bread, for undoubtedly it lacks almost
entirely any trace of food for the brain ; and undoubtedly brain food
IS what he should have by all means. We in the outset", said that it
mioht be possible to o-lide into a state of barbarism ; and it not tso far
from l)arbarism to cultivate a variety of wheat that we know lacks thc^
proper elements of human food and want to put it on the market as
such at a full price, while we ourselves Avill not use it. This part of
our arg-ument is not directed to the bulk of our noble farmers who are
anxiouly seekinor for information to place them on the road to honor-
able success. And we have not the least doubt that success and
abundant success, will crown the honorable farmer, who intelligently
tills and cultivates his land and produces the product of his farm of the
best possible variety bearing- a reputation of an intrinsic value If any
ot our eastern farmers are disheartened with your present circumstan
ces, do not despair. Stoj) ; consider ; look about you and see if part of
the blame does not rest on your own slnjulders and doorsteps Can
you not raise a rich variety of wheat at a fair profit at present prices?
1 can ahnost hear the ready answer to this question in your minds
It IS almost universally, "we cannot." I will not attemi>t to instruct
you how you can do so ; as others of ability in this line are so anxiously
waiting to explain to you that it can be done. I would like you would
indulge me a little and think for a few m(Mnents on what some of our
northvv^stern farmers are doing- with Scotch fife wheat, a variety which
18 head and shoulders above most all other varieties, on account of its
containing large proportions of albuminoids and plutin. By an ex-
periment conducted by Hori. L. H. Hale, of Herron, and 0. E. Bost
wiclv, of Hitchcock, South Didiota, fifty acres of land was sown broad-
cast, using one bushel of wheat per acre of the celebrated Scotch fife
variety The entire fifty acres lay in one body, and was selected with
a view to Its uniforuiity of soil ; being: cultivated ei^ht years in suc-
cession m wheat, without any fertilizer xs hatever. Twenty-five acres
was arranged so as to irri-ate it from an artesian water well : which
water showed by analysis t(> contain a presence of sulphur, iron and
lime and epsom salts. Ihr actual cost of production per acre of irri
g;ated and was seven dollars and forty cents, and the non-irrigated,
six dollars and twenty-five cents i)er acre. The irrigated land pvo-

P ^Ti^ ^''t^^^ V^ ^t^^ ^'''' ^"^'^"-^ '''^'^'^' ^'^^^ marketed at

eighty-five cents per bushel. The non-irrigated land yielded four

bushels per acre and was of such i)oor cpiality that it had to be mar-
keted at no grade price, which was fifty cents per bushel.

1 quote this test to show that to raise a rich variety of wlu^at in i)ay-
IlTTVf ' M ^^^1 ^^^^.^ ^^>^^tain the proper supplies; and if U
does not, It must be pu on m some form. In this case, if you figure
It out, one system of cu ivating wheat ^ave a net profit of fifty three
cents per Vmshel, wlnk^ the other and old svstem of cultivating wheat

this test was made, you will remember that wheat had been grown for
eight years m succession without any organic or mineral fertilizer ; and
the substance which once was there to produce an abundant rich wheat

kernel was exhausted. So it is in any soil. If th(* proper care and as-
sistance is not given it, wheat of a variety that fills out round and
plump on worn-out soil is as worthless in its [)roi)er food qualities as a
farm which will not produce enough revenue to pay its taxes. But as
to the varieties of wheat, I will not attempt to name the many, as there
is on record many hundred. We will confine ourselves to a few that
are so familiar to us all.

1. Lancaster Bed ) ^^^^^^ ^^^^.^^ varieties will and all do grade

2. Mediteranean - Long-Berry Bed.

3. Bed Chaii Bearded, ) *^ -^

4. Fultz.

5. Michigan Swamp.
G. Clawson.

7. Sugar Valley.

8. Centennial.

9. Ontario. ^ t

10. Fulcaster.

11. Michigan White Hard.

We might go on and enumerate many others if it was thought nec-
essary, but as the object is to learn what variety in best adapted to our
section as a prolific ])roducer and contains rich and strong fiouring
cpialities, we can find this in the number ([uoted.

The most important feature in wheat culture is to produce a variety
which is rich in albumen and gluten. It is the large proportion of this
substance in fiour which regulates its value, examine the markets ; see
always that the highest market prices are on fiour manufactured in
the northwest— Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Louis, etc. Why is it that
their fiour is anxiously sought after in all fiour markets, even to Europe?
Their fiour and wheat is both head and shoulders above all others,
because it contains a large percentage of albumen and gluten, and
makes more biead, better bread and richer bread than that fn^m
any other section of our country. Do you ask what this substance is,
and do not all varieties of wheat contain hi Ah ! This is just where
the largest imijority of our farmers, millers and domestic bakers are in
darkness. If we all had a reasona))le knowledge of the chief C(m-
stituents of the wheat kernel, and what varieties containcMl the best
average ]>ro]iortion of the same b(^st adapted to the human family as
a princii)le food, and especially the baker ; if they would study the an-
alyses of the substances in their original state, and the chemical
changers that takes ]>lace in the process of fermentation of the sponge
and baking of the bread, we would all be a hai)py trio. But as it is,
you are aware, the routine goes ; the wife or daughter complains of the
bad Hour and miller to the husband or father; the latter pours the
double oath on the miller when he meets him, and is not m a good
mood to receive any explanation that would, in most cases, exerauthim
from all blame. But come back to the question, the wheat berry,
so composed of— as its chief constituent— starch, gluten, albumen
sacchariiKi matter, gum, sugar. Super] )hosi)hates of soda, lime and
magnesia, also nitrogen, is traced out in analyses. AVe will not at-
teinpt to explain all the different component i)arts and their infiuences,
as this would consume considc^-able more time than could be allotted
on an occaion of this kind, but you will please indulge^ me in a, little time
in wliich we will confine ourselves to the albuminoids, or glutuKms
matter, and its influences, and starch and its influence, and changes
10

•4

14G

QuAirrEiiLY IIeport.

Pennsylvania State Boaud oe A(niicui.TURE.

147

to wliicli it is subject in the usual process of l)cikiii^. All tliis will bo
sufficient to show that a [)roi>er percentag-e of <>luten is absolutely iiec-
essary, it' ^ood, wholesome and nutritious bread is desired, and when
we fully understand this, it av'11 be but a few moments' work to decid(^,
on tlie pro})er varieties of wheat to adopt in our cnltiu'e.

Gluten bears a jjale yellow color, is ndln^sive, and of an elastic
iiature. It is insoluble in water, alcohol or ether; neither in oik
fixed or volatile. It is soluble in dilute acids and alkalies. It exists
in various (juantities in most farinaceous grains. It is accomi)anied
by albumen, which bears a brownish color, beforecoa^-ulation. A]
bumen is soluble in water. By heat it coagulates, and is insoluble in
water, but dissolves in caustic alkalies. Most of acids, if added to its
soluticni in excess, precipitates compounds of acids respectively with
the {dbumen, which, thoug-li soluble in pure Avater, are insoluble in that
liquid when acidulated. It is not, however, ])recii)itated by an excess
of T)hosphoric or acetic acid. Its relation to tlu^ metallic salts are
similar to those of ^irluten. As we stated before, it is associated with
g"luten in Avheat and veo^-etable juices w^hich coa^^ulate by heat. The
ruixture of vegetable iibrine and albumen which constitutes g-luten ex-
ercises an ini))ortant influence over starch, Avhicli, with the presence of
\vi\ivi' and acid of moderate heat, it converts partly into <rum and i>artly
into su^ar. It is all important that the ^ases which g-enerate in the
si)onoe, while in the several stages of fermentation, be retained. This
gluten is what gives the si)onge an elastic nature, cai)able of expanding
to a large proportion with an almost air tight surface and a lighl;
porous interior, full of the proper accumulation of acids and gases
which, when baked, yields a light, white and spongy loaf. If the
proper amount of gluten does not exist, the result is tlia the gases are
not.retamed, and, before a lierlit, spongy sponge is ])roduced, the stage
of fermt^ntation has gone too far, and a i)ortion of the starch has been
converted to such a state as to create a substance called dextrine.

The nature of this substance is gummy and when fully develo])ed
IS of a brown or gray color and very close and solid, resembling some-
what m appearance a carpenter's Avhet or oil-stone. No doubt many
of you have heard the servant maid say in reference to l^ad bread^

I, or we, are getting tired of eating whetstones;" or, "here the kind
otvyhet stones the flour makes that we get at so and so mill; that
miller can't make flour fit to eat," etc. Where, if the partv had a
knowledge of the true facts 111 the case, the miller's reputation would
not have had to bear the blame, but as we are not appointed on this
occasion to shield the miller from the fiery darts of the wicked we will
return to our subject, and proceed to classify the varieties of wheat
according to their value as good bread ] producers.

The three first named, Lancaster, Meditenanean and Red OhatV
Bearded, come so near an average in albuminoids and gluten that
t ley can be ])laced m one class. The Lancaster Red, however, is the
choice ot the three, and is highly recommended. 8a,m])les of it being
tested showed a })resence of twenty-five one hundredths albumen and
ghiten. And when first introduced into this country it proved to b<
a very i^rolihc producer, well ada]>ted to our climate; so much so
that many ot our farmers adhere to it to the present time. And the
wTiter has, as late as five years back, milled of this variety that
yielded thirtv five bushels per acre, not more than thirty miles from
tills i)lace. Ihe species we have of it now is not, however, what it was

in its original state, as it has deteriorated by hybridizing with poor

\arieties.

4. The Fultz wheat is largely grown in this state. It can, at i^re-
sent, be classed as a medium variety for milling and fiouring purposes.
it is a varietv that imi)roved in duality of gluten and albumen since
its arrival with us, ten to fourteen years ago. It was low in gluten and
albumen when first introduced into some of our eastern counties. In
Its first original state it was found to run as low as four and one half
to six per cent, in albumen and gluten. Several large mills suff(^red
heavy loss by milling it for their market or trade, so much as to lose
their entire trade. The writer had the honor of being on the state
committee of the Millers' State Association, for inspection and grad-
ing grain for milling i>urposes at that time, and tests of the Fultz
tlieirshowed,as I stated above, to contain as low as iour and one half one
hnndrcHlth to six one hundredths gluten and albuminous substance.
In the markets then it rated from ten to fifteen cents per busln^l below
Lancaster Red, and notwithstanding the vast imi)rovement it has un-
dergone since then it is still below par. The large mills which are
coiupelled to use it largely in manufacturing fiour find troul)le to mar-
ket their fiour in localities or markets where fiour is put which is
made from the richer varieties of wheat, so much so that many find it
necessary to buy strong, rich, spring wheat to mix with their own pro-
duct to raise its standard to a reascmable com])arison.

5. The Ontario is a variety not largely adopted as yet. Its intrinsic
value as a flour ])roducer averages with the Fultz, with a balance in its
favor in gluten of a small amount.

C). Olawson; 7. Sugar Valley; 8. Centennial; 9. Michigan swamp.
All four of these can be classed together, and multiplied by hundreds or
more, if you choose, of the same substances class ; and then you could
find nothing in their favor as a wheat for flouring for the market, as
the albumen and glutenous matter run very low in all of them, and
what is found is of a poor quality,and has not got the elasticity and in-
soluble qualities which is indisi)ensabhi when good bread is desired.
These are some of the varieties which i)roduc^ a flour which even some
that raise such wheat despair of eating any bread made wholly from it.
With a scientific ])aker, who understands handling Aveak flour and un-
derstands the chemical changes which acts on the starchy ])ortion that
readily converts to dextrine and makes a heavy black loaf, can, by
careful management and use of drugs, ju-oduce a fairly light and re-
spectable loaf, but must be used Avhen fresh or not at all.

Draw your oAvn conclusions. Is it Avhat Ave want or is it not ? Ihe
imanimous cry should be " awav Avith them ; give us something- better.
If this is your decision, and I sincerely hope it is, Ave will refer to

one that is better. . i i j. i • i.

9. Fulcas+er. This is a kind that has l>een intrcKluced lately into
our locality and bids fair to becomes the leading variety. It finds its
place, in flouring (pialities, next to the first named, and derives its
name'in oart from it, viz : Caster ; it bcnng a production from a careful
crossing of the Fultz and Lancaster, for, I believe, seven years ))rior to
its appc^arance in th(^ market. It can be said of it that it comes next
to the Lancaster in richness of albuminoids and glutenous matter ; and
is said and ])roven, to be a prolific producer. TIh^ author of it claims
to have raised, cm small i)lots, an average eciual to sixty tlnve busu^s
per acre. Is this not encoura<ring ? There should be a pm stuck m
(wery farmer's tally board at those figures. Sixty-three bushels per

i

■ i

!»{

i*

> ^

'li

148

QuAltTKItr.Y Rkport.

Pennsylvania State Boaiid of Ac.iiicut^turi;.

149

acre! Ihere is pounds, yes tons, of fooil for tliou^^lit between sixtv
three bTishela per mae iuul what the iiveraso fanuer f?ets per acre- hi t
as I am not detailecl to inform you just what to do to hrinf? your 'farm
up to such a state ot hifrh cultivation as tliat, I will not dux-ll, but wV
intorm you that the first Fulc£ister wheat ever milled growed thirtv
Imsliels per acre on a tifte^.n acre lot. This dates four years back ■ am)
]t all our farmers could get their fields that are naturallv adapted for
wheat culture m. to a fair state of cultivation, you can all do as welT
and no mistake. I don't think that most of you have ever realized the
height which you might attain in this lino. It would seem to me tli t
the farm which has the natural features of a wheat farm, facing the
east or morning sun, etc. natural limestone land, that thirty or fortv
bushels or even more, should be the usual crop per acre in or on
lavorable seasons. ' '

In conclusion, we will say that, from a ])ractical and profitable view

we should discard all varieties of wheat excej.t the best ; and f rem

these numbers select not more than two or three vari.-ties at the outside

()ne IS enough,and has been in former days i>roveii to be more profitable

Imn more. Go back to our fathers' days. Di.l thev have such nun

wl i'rr"''*''''' '''" '"'' •"'''; ^"^*r'^^*? • ^"^ *l^«y '•^'^^ more and better
wheat than you now raise f Was there not, in those days, more farms

deared of mortgage.s l,y money realized frem the crops? Was the

l.rice always higher than the range of prices now; or did not some of

.1 their farms? Some of the older of this assemblage can answer
this correctly. I can remember hearing my father tell oi milling fiour
in Indiana county and shipping itto Philadelphia, and the price
ranged ironi three dollars and a half to four dollars per barrel You
say the land was new and fresh then. We admit it ; but has it no
been ,,roven by actual test and experiments that old soil wilH^rod ce
better crops if kept in the proper state of cultivation ? Then if this is
a fact, who is to blame? If we cannot make a living nd pav our

ort";J"-lfeir Z *•"''' "Vf -""^ fence rows clear of'-iiriers'^dTd
sorts of lul.l) sh, there is something wrong ; and we are fully convinced

that part ot the wrong exists is a neglect in allowing our wK culture
to drift gradua ly down in both quantity and quality. A3Tn concr
sion, if my advice is; of any value, you have it i, this form : Sdect vo r
best field ada pted to wheat culture, in view of the morn n- sun pr
^uhTXtT ;? '"•'"' T^ .;.>.thw,.st winds, etc. Raise U.estU^ of
of fl « +w V- *"""'• ^"^ ''V'"-'' standard. Select your seed frem one

of the two varieties, viz : Lancaster Red or Fulcaster Be sure vo i
seed ,s pure, and keep it pure. Exchange of seed, ofte^^if InnuHit from
easteni or northeastern crops is said to be of great advantage And vou
should not be satisfied until your yield ,>er acre wi 1 avfrage thh-t-
I ii< es on account of an over-production. If any of you hav(> fear in
this line, look up your old memorandum book: uiul sV ho v price"
ranged m the years 1854, 1855, 1857 ami 18fi4 ; the wl earcn.p was he
arg..st ever i.roduced up to that date. Later yet in 187 vou w I

U:lve wt km!;:n'' {'7"""'"" *" ^''^ l-Pnla'ti.;n:'wL''he\Tr;esi
tii<it(\ei Mas k7lo^vll \et yonr price was twoiitv per cent Hhove the
precedm^. y.ar, and lno:lH;r timn any Bubseqnent ye u w one ex^^^^^^
tion Good whoat, sound, plump and well Vl<^.^led of a^oo^^^^^
8 always in den.nnd at the Ir^host market priee; AiK™^^^^
farnnn.,, as well as nHllin^^ depends on ^^ood wheat. No an cT^^

a poor variety of wheat and market his Hour. And if the miller or mill
owner cannot market tlour, the farmer cannot his wheat. The farmer
and miller are in the same boat, closely allied. I cannot see how so
Itiuc^h enmity has crept in between us. . •

We must work to each other's interests if we desire success, ihen,
if we are so closely allied, let us have harmony ; let us consult one an-
other's interests; let us recognize each other's rights, and be content
to live to«-ether in peace and harmony. Eemembering that judgment is
li^ced; house divided against itself cannot stand. Then where w'e will
laud who knows? We, as millers, may have to engage m the tilling
of the soil, and then we will all be farmers. Then there is a^wx)rse
feature than the change of the i)resent miller to a farmer. Might it not
be said again, " Two women shall be grinding at the mill ; the one
shall be taken and the other left." Moral : Wife, daughter and sister
persuade your hus])and, father and brother to cultivate lulcasterand
Lancaster wheat, and none other.

A PllACTICAL EDUCATION

Ky D. M. Brunoari), Esq., Lock Haven, Pa,
(Read at hamar Institute.)

We live in the grandest age that has ever dawned on a people. To
a great extent it is a utilitarian age. Every field ot human action is

pervaded with the spirit of utility. ^ i, ,, i „„..

Oar schools are frequently criticised on account of the work pei-
formed in tliem. The boy enters school at six and spends eight or ten
years, often irregularly, within its hall, then passes out into the broad
and. busy -arena of life, to fail or succeed. Should he succeed l.tt e
of tlie success is attributed to the training and t..aci.ing received %vhiie
attending school in the little school house on yonder "l' t^l',^^;*^^;'^
ill the valley by the silver stream. Slionld he ia.l m bemg ^^^'r^^™
in his chosen calling, censure, keen and sharp, is visited on the heads
of those to whom his early school training was entrusted because lie
was not bett.u- fitted for the discharge ot his duties. In a meas.i e
we are obliged to give respect to those opinions and cnticrsms. (>ui
boys too frequently leave school unprepared t^ «'l '.'1.^^7*1' t^'*;.'"^,
ness pursuits of life. But shall all this censure and criticism be viMted
on the heads of our teachers, and they not allowed to remonstrate?
Some mmi remonstrate, the many inay mA,v;vf not

Charity brethren. Let us look into the lnst<:ry of the past and see
what a sad scene of darkness is revealed. Men lave always I'^en pos-
sessed with all the mental faculties they now have tlH.ugl.j.t.> un-
developed unaroused and inactive, hence the reign ot io„o,,.n.e.
FornJarK-a thousand years prior to the reformation ignonmce was
the rule L\ intelligence the exception. At first the I'f '^;', -;;-*;"'
shone dimly, like a small taper, from out this almost Styyi.m d.iik-

ness 11 i.

The light of new centuries slowly adde.l imreased lustre and ...uity
to it until it has accpiin-d its present magnificence. In tliose ilays ol

ir^o

QUAKTEHLY T{ET»0]rr

darkness barbarian hordes overran, devastated and destroyed abuost
every vestioe of science and learnino-, found in the principal seats of
knowledge throu^^hout Europe and Asia. Nations were convulsed and
ruined; learning- set at naucrht, and moral princii)h's trampled upon
-bmijerors, kings and princes knew comparatively little of the arts
and sciences. Writing- and literature were the acquirements of the
very tew. King's, and those in authority, in subscribing- to documents
used the sig-n of the cross, a thing- not unusual at })resent. As the
g-enerations of man die and j)ass away each succeeding- one improves
ill the deyeloinnent of the other until we, who live in the last decade
ot tJie nmeteentli cenutry, recog-nize the i)otencv of the influenee
wrought upon our children who attend school in the city, villao-e or
hamlet. It is there our children actpiire that which makes Uiem
g-reater, better and more useful to home and nation than were the
king-s and lords of long- ag-o. There is still mucli darkness. We de-
plore the fact very much. But to-day the eates of the teni])le of learn-
ing- are oi)en to all reg-ardless of lineag-e or dollar standing The
treasures of knowhMlg-e may be explored by the humblest, assimilated
and become part and i)arcel of himself. In this ag-e of public schools'
nornml schools and colleg^es, inventions, useful and otherwise, abound
plentitully as the result of the thought training- acquired in tlnur halls
Cxalliieo, Newton, Whitney, Fulton, McCormick, Morse, Field, Edison
and others have all followed successively in the wake of the practical
m education. Each has g-iven new impulse to the other, openino- the
way tor niore extended communication of j.ractical knowledg-e to everv
rank in lile. The stream of the i)iactical in education is widening: ^^nd
broadening to all orders and conditi(ms of society, and will continue to
flow on until all mankind shall be tilled and satisfied with its fullness
Ignorance is growing less with each passing year; the enslaved
have the oonds cut asunder, and walk in the marvelous light of libertv
and Ireedom. The mass of humanity are bee-inning more and more to
assert those rights and privileges to which a loving Father entitles
them as beings of his design and creation.

The imimnement and develo])ment of tln^ coming man is studied-
inquiry and investigation are stimulated to bring about all the usefub
ness and ha])])iiiess to which he is s^isceptible

rheli(>nie^ thes(.h(,()l, the church, the state, must supplement each
other it a still better condition of things is to be a chieved In 1880
tJiere were m the grand old Keystone state 146,(M)(i pc^rsons over ten
years of a^;^^ who could not read. By the same census there were in
tlie Unted States, 1,908, 801 voters who could not write

glory and our ])ower

We are Americans ])y birth or adoption, proud of our broad domain,
our governmentour institutions of learning, but still look at our brother

...V. x.^xa.; «txiv4 i/it^iu^aiivt^ oi sunrage, oit
some unprincipled demagoo-ne or i)olitical trickster.

We want schools, an (ulucation whose aim and accomplishment shall
be the ivgeneration ot the community, state and nation. Tlu^ present
ch^mnnds more ot us than the past did. The school must mean more,
do mor(^ juid better work.

4ii!

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

151

It must be practical indeed as well as in theory. It must mean the
education and development of every capability possessed by every
child. We owe this to every child. Every child must be made a
student, thinker and reas(mer. , i n- ^

Farmers, mechanics and toilers in every honorable calling must
think intelligently if they would toil intelligently.

That mental discii)line acquired through well-directed study, trains
the mind, stnnigthens the mental fibers, <levelops concentration of
thought and enables the toiler to do his work more easily, thorouiihly,

and with less friction. • ^ mi . • *.

But we must dt^al with things as they now exist. Ihe past is i)ast,
we live in the present, and should earnestly strive and hope for the
future. Even with present conditions and facilities it seems much
more might be done in the practical in education than is done.

From observation we are sometimes led to infer that either the
studies employed in our scliools are not adapted to give proper mind
develoi)ment, "^or the methods employed are very imperfect. It is
most self evident that practical teac^iing will give the boy a practical

education. .

Patrons and children clamor for the more practical in education.
We need an education that has for its object the better preservation
of our lives. Practical in. this, that we not only know the right but
execute the right in subserving that preservati(m. We need an exe
cutive knowledge in Hie better development of our muscles, the
sharp(^ning of our perceptive powers, and the greater (puckening ot

our judgments. ^ • n . • i l- \l- ii

AVithout these the imrental, the social and industrial activities aJi
suffer more or less. We need an education that will teach us. that
when the body is fatigued, we desist from labor ; that we eat not
unless there is a craving for food. ,. ,, , i? i •

The importance of a more thorugh familiarity ot the laws ot pliysi-
ohx^y and hvgiene are underrated by many peoi)le. How many people
at forty years of age are in good health? Right knowledge, im-
pressed in the right way, woukl result in much good. The ornamental
in education, in manv instances, crowds out the useful. ,. . ., ,

In this life our mission seems to be to produce, prepare or distribute
the commodities of earth. Our schools do not recognize this fact or

condition as it merits. i, i (

Why not present the lessons of school and home as the lessons ot
life will be presented? But here I find this obstacle or ddhculty in
the way : too many unirained teachers Happily, howe\'er, each year
gives us better trained and more practical teachers. The untrained
are growing fewer in number as the years pass by, and justly m.
Your legal adviser must be well trained in some good law school ;
your medicial adviser in some reputable medical college ; otherwise

you refuse to recognize them. ^ ■ l i.

There must be no uncertain tone when life and moneyed interests

are at stake. ,111- i

But how and what, when the l)ody, miiid and soul of your boy are
at stake"? The sucess or failure of that boy will depend largely on the
nature of the education he receives. The man or w^oman who shapes
the destiny of my boy and your boy must needs have the best ot tram-
Do you see it? Not any one may slioe your horse, build your barn,

m

152

QUAliTEHLY IIePOIC

Pennsyia'ania State Board of Agriculture.

153

infuTl"'.""''' ""*'' V-^" '""^ ^"ll Hatisfied that he can do it w.dl and

Oh! tlio hlind, tlie Jaiue, the halt, tlneading- tlieir way dovvi) th^>
avenues ot hle's pathway, miserahl,. in body, mind and Li idal
because .omeWy was in.lifferont-eoul.ln't see it- didn't Want to

^^ Yonn- niaii if y,m deplore l„st tin.e spent in i.raisincr and analvzino-
Ihonisons Seasons," it is not your fault- not the author's faiir H
your kn<.w edoe of spelling- does not help v.m it is not Webster" fault

t nfc^r Yfr'i" '"^ "-"ffi^'i-'t f«'- eveiV'ne<.d, it is no^w at "ou w^
tai grht but what you were not tausht that must be censured It is not
natur., s iault, not all yours, nature has done her part and you i\
yours as well as you knew how in the light of the knolleds^ ossessed
1 ou imag-me I mean the teaclier, do you ^ I do Eut 7.e, mif r^w. + '
say that the teacher is human in all pofnts as w^^u-e T e same co ,"
s.derations that affect you affect him' He says li s tenux-e of ^siS
IS uncertain, his salary is ofteu times mea/re. He doesn't care n^
much as lie m,<,ht. It's his last term He takes all he can ^e lud

tues his hand He needs money to prepare his way to some other n.r.
fession. He teaches a few years. Leaves the work. S^neoneese
takes his place and so on ad infnitum. Th<. bovs come an Lo F n
ally la^uich out into life's great field of labor, poorly eq inpf d N f
much knowledge. Poorer yet in the acquirement fordid™ power
A proi.er educa ion is the only pow^r that can le ch dow^to the

hood should be the guiding princ^le <^ ev^ry t'eXr'" eart Z"rd"
essot a moneyed consideration. Where oarent and guai^Hi s ^e d

of the rp,f iSiiS* ^'do ^!:^'^:^^ otet^ pt^^stroi!
i^n: .;;^s.dXSniis Z^-- ^^'^ ™^^^:

ieaclmig and learning the seven arts, reading lan-ixao-e i„,ml,.>r.

thiiigs must be studied, l=u,ght ^Hid 1™]'!"^^ ^"'^" '" '^"

Some one says. The chief curse of man is his effort to avoid l.,l.nv

l>owo«r heart. i,M,,,ml,l,,lfeeuc/t. XI Cj'n^ ?",'' "'""''''

ll■|i;i"^;!Ar:lr,^^c^J;x '■■■■■ ' " '■■"^- ' ^'^^^'

Some one, no doubt, may be cenmimbl^ ii^^' fi.^ i, i i i .

selecting a life pursuit. cLsc^^filslJlt'^thTr^t!'!™ ^^i^^Ltte^

g"

tauerlit that respectability follows only in the wake of certain pursuits,
forgetting" that it is just asg^enteel and respectable to follow the plow,
forg*e the iron on the anvil, build a l)arn or dig in the mine as to pursue
one of the professions, clerk in a store or in a railroad oitice. The
teacher or parent who says to sturdy John tliat i)lowing' in yonder ten-
acre field is beneath his dignity, or to rosy cheeked Mary that washin
aud drying dishes, and assisting mamma in the kitchen is not becom
ing a girl of her powers, is not worthy the name teacher or parent.
They may advise to attend college and seminary, but must not alien-
ate education and honest, dignified lal)or from each other.

Hope, hai)i)iness and usefulness are blasted through the influence
of such teaching. Couple a fair common school education with a boy
in any honorable pursuit in life and you make l)oth eminently respect-
able, and consequently happy. Teach the three B's, the arts and
sciences Avell and skilfully ; but with all your teaching forget not to
teach economy, temperance, industry and honesty. So lone: as book
knowledge is preferred and used in perference to fact knowledge, so
long will a ])ractical education to all in our schools be imi)ossible.
The mind must make what it receives, its own. Examples must ])re-
cede and laws follow^ ; the easy must i)recede the difticult ; and tlie
concretes the abstract. Education must be fitted to the child and not
the child to education. The farmer never fits the horse to the har-
ness, but always the liarness to the horse.

Train the power of a]ipli cation in every child most carefully on
account of its great importance. The hours spent in thinking over a
difiicult i)roblem are not misspent. All cannot rise to the same })lane.
It is not so in nature anywhere. The same end in the same degree
cannot be reached by all though we are born free and equal before
the law. In mind we are not born free and equal. Hence the
necessity of every teaclier understanding the science of mind. A
clever knowledge of the nature, powers and processes of mind is
essential to those whose duty it is to train and develop immortal
souls for this life, as well as that which is to come. Everything comes
through the mind. Tlie hand, the foot, the eye, the ear, the wliole
man, is trained tluough the mind, the medium of intelligence.

Tlie causes why many leave our schools without acquiring what we
consider a practical education are many. The means appropriated
for bringing about a better condition of matters in our schools are in-
sufficient. The facilities for better work are not at all ample in many
instances. Irregular attendance of many children. Want ()f co-
operation on the part of i)atron and teacher, and teacher and director.

What was sufficiently good enough for us is not adequate for our
children. We do not believe it for we do not exemplify it in our
course and conduct of life. In reaping the golden harvests when we
were boys we used the sickle and grain cradle. Why not use them
now?

^ly friend, let us be honest and candid in the matter. We are not
sufficiently interested in the children as we should be. Our interest
in the matter of thcMr educational tiaining is, perhaps, somewhat
superficial. T have known a man to build a two thousand <lollar barn
and then grumbh^ like a Turk because the district school board
erected a school house costing only half the same amount. That same
character will pay thiity dollars a month to some trustworthy man to
drive l)is magnificent t(!am of bays, but will reproachfully speak un-

f

154

QUAKTEKLV RePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

155

i)

pleasant tliino-s of the men who pay a teacher the same amount for
teachin^i- forty or fifty school children.

Let childhood he well taken care of. It is the formative period of
lite. It IS ri-jit to have finely furnishcnl homes, sleek lunses, mowino-
and reapm^^ machines, etc., etc., but let us not be immindful of the
chihlren. (tivc tliem the l)est teachei-s that can be found in the
market; ^ood scliool houses well supi)lied with all needful apparatus,
encom-a-e teadier and cluhlren by prayer and deed, and soon thrift'
contentment and liappmess shall dawn in upon heart and home The
])ractical in education will have been realized.

And now, in conclusion, let me say, encomi)ass the whole with the
strono. chum of ^ood character. It is the essential thing- in the make
up ol every child's education. Some one has beautifully said : Cliar
acter IS formed by habits, habits by repeated actions, and actions
result from awakened feelm-s. This best part is too much neHeeted
in home and school training-.

May the true and -ood be kindly touched in every nature by soine
master hand so that it may unfold itself, sheddin- forth in word and
deeclall that Paul gave utterance to in one of his beautiful exhorta-
tions : Finally brethren, whatsoever thincrs are true, whatsoever
things ar(^ lionest, wliatsoever thing's are just, whatsoever thing's are
I)ure, whats()(n^er things art: lovely, whatsoever things are of -ood
report, it there be iiny virtue and if there be any praise, think on these

mn\ TO MAKE FRUIT CULTUEE PROFITABLE.

By D. K. Laubach, Fairmouyit SpriuffSy P<i
(Read at Benton Institute.)

In lookiuo: over the subject we feel somewhat like Rev. Dewitt Tal-
niiise tells u« he felt when he wrote his first composition, he took the
world for his subject ; he saul h,. ,11,1 „ot know what t<; do with it
there was too much of it, and the more he tiiouoht al)out it the bi-mn-

*^" !yi't> whole wor d was encra^ed in fruit culture, for we read
tlutt^'Ca.n brought of the fruit of the ground an offei'inj unto the

But we shall confine ourselves to a few jdain practical thoughts on
this imiu.rtaut branch of our national industries and if we shall b'

fruit lor? Is It lor our imlividual use or for markets Now in answer
to the first quest,,.,,, we hohl that if a person is going to grow or <"ulti
vate f,u,t tor Ins own use,or that of his family, then the appetites of
himself an, ta^aily a,-e paramount, his own table and not a,,' .ther's is
to be consults, and he should make his .selections accordin-lv But if
he IS going to cultivate for mark,.t.then the market whi.l, he wishes to
supply must be consulted and whatever kinds are most i„.,.,l,.,l or will
pay l„m best are apides, i.eaches. or .small fruit, or all ,,f thim b„t
the .selections must be made of such varieties as his soil will' host

produce, and none others and then every energy must be made to
their successful cultivation. . ,,' , ,, i

Now ri"ht here let me urge UDon vou, fellow farmers, the great
necessity^of making the riglit selections, those that produce well in
vour soil and sell readil v in your markets. Not from some beautitully
jllustrated plate bot.k or the siren voice of some agent. It is said
there was an island somewhere in th<i Meditiinanean bea on which tlie
Sirens lived who sang so sweetly that any one hearing them became
so enraptured that they forgot their own home and were lost and never

T*pturned

Now what we mean is that a great manv or the majority listen to
the oily words of some agent, and become enchanted so over his beauti-
ful descriptions, that they forget thir own business and jnit down just
what the agent tells him. Now we hold that m making his selection
he should have consultc^d some successful fruit grower.

This was forcibly brought to our notice by a German who was
ridino- with us when Squiers, the "peach tree man," drove by, and
our fneud remarked, " Dot man ish von tam humbug,he humbug every
bodies in dis country,and he humbugs me do ; he comes to mine house
and I ^•as mad ven he com, und I say I vonts nothings to do mit you
but before I know it, he had me down for eleven (lollars worth peach
tree : dot man does me not von bit goot." And indeed he did humbug
the people for he had a delivery we have been told ot eleven thousaiu
trees (principally peach^ the next spring. He represented that he liad
a few new varieties of peaches that would stand our luuthern climate.
Such as the Canada Snow, Old Mixon tree, Crawford Late and Larly,
etc etc Now all these varieties we had tried a quarter of a century
a<-o' And had found by experience that growing peaches in our section
w^as a thing of the ]iast. Now we have given this instance to show
you the great need of relying on your own judgment or on that of some
one you can depend on and not the " middle man. His is not to do

and die, but to make money," or as was said to get the tin.

Now we have had little or no experience,comparatively speaking, in
the cultiuv of small fruit, but believe it can. from what we have heard
from otluMs, be made quite profitable. We have tried various, or
several varieties, of grape but the Concord is the only one that seemed
adapted to our soil, and does very well and sells readily m our in.uk,4
and we have confined ourselves to its cultivation only until we hud
abetter, although we cannot recommend it to you lor it may not be
adapted to vour soil or market. ,

We wish to call your attention more especially to the cnltiiiv "t the
apple in which we have had the most experience and indeed it seems
to be the fruit of fruits to us all. It is a commcm thing to locate an
orchard by the buildings but if I had mine to replant, I would set it
away from them on account of the ]>oultry. 1 1 i x i *

Now in making selection of apples, great care should be taken to
get those that produce well in your soil and se 1 readily. We would
not advise the growing of much sumni..,- or fall fruits only for your
own us(!, unh'ss close to market, or so close that you can or that it will
pay to haul tluM,, to it. Otherwise they are a faduiv. W e think in
this locality winter vaiieties are by far the most profitable, or at least

such has bc-u our experience. .

Another important thing in the cultm^ ot al kinds of fruit, is proper
care, the loosening of the soil around the roots, ridding th.M,, of th.M.

I

I

I

15C

QrARTEULY REI'OJtT.

deSti.^r''''' ''""'''■'' *^''^**^'l"''l'"-« ■''^^ ^^•^'""'^ '^"^ insects of every

vomi^rL'i'niK*^''ih "^ *''^''°r«'' ^l^o^^f g^-'^atest depredations are on
young- tiees (hke the great enemy of man who always chooses t}.,^
young tor his j.rey) and like him, none are exempted from hTs de
structtu lavages, apple, i.ear, plum, peach, quince, and, in fact eveiv'
kind ot tree bearing fniit fare the same ' ^

The larviB is deposited in the f.ark under the outside coverino-
near the ground, m June and September, by a beetle, where it spied W
hate u-s and then commences to work its wly to the wood and then o
girdle the tree by passing around it in a downward directi^On ^rms
rai-Klly, and at a certain age turns upward and inward unt j h^ '
about eight or ten inches, above the ground he now appimdres the
bark, caits almost through it an.l then backs into the ipen c mmber
where he trans orms into a l)eetle, passes to the thin bark v^Le he Irts
but h tie trouble to make his exit, fles away a beautiful bug or beet'e
with bright strii.es one on each side, and one on the back W we re'
member rightly) , seeks a partner, deposits its eggs (w ich in turn
repeats itself, flies around awhile and dies.) I Lre , resent vou a
samj.le of his workmanshij.. i>iebent, you ^

1 T%''ri "'"'' ^I.'*'^'' °^ *''^ ^""^ ^'orm which is of the borer familv
but of different habits; he goes in the branches and we ha^ tS
hmbs with forty. SIX almost full grown apples on, which had been cut
oft by It. I here present you with a s,,ecimen of ts work mu.shin too
It commences and goes directly aroun.l the limb underm™ the baik

'^i^f.fu^' 'I "-^^ ^'"""^ T ^t"^^''"^ '-^ ^«'-y litt>« «f the wo to t L bark
so that when he ,s around the wood except the part spoken of is all
cut off ready to break at the slightest wind, it now start m the Hnil
in the heart where it lives a short time, then trrnsfo rms as be « re
descnbed passes out where the limb brok^ off and flfes aC We can
not descnbe the beetle, never having seen one. but the fiist or tZ'
boi^r we kept m our study until he made his transfoTmatfon
w! 1 " ^"^ f/ '\ few words about the caterpillar wS like the
borer has several tamihes, but all feed on the leales of the tree nd in
this way do great damage to the life and health of it The firs o
appear mtiie si.r.ng is what we term the old apple cater,. IKrwhi.^^
comes.M tins seetion with the first warm dayL of" Ma? ThVkrv*

!;:n.":^hT.'!.SeTS;rr ^"'"'""*'^^ ^"^^ -^ ^ Hmb^•b7^i;:

a rtch s l;s:'coLiiL?sVS,d f^rurex,r^™^' v

from which it sallies daily and feeds on the tSer leaveSbL^^^^^^^
and as they grow they build their house larger. anTwhenhtvT^^^
their full growth they creep away to some secure place w e?e a sort o
sleep or stupidity comes over them, and some unseen piocess ca^rses a
web or cocoon to form around them, and they are a chrvsaffs wh h in
about two weeks breaks open and a brown' inilljrcJmefouIw

r^hfle andlieT- '' '""' ""'^'^ ' ™^*'^' '^^« "^ «^^«. «i>ortraround

^een edges on its wings. Their mamlel- o^lV. k'l d'j^'; Ijl,;.'^^
commence ,.n he top of a leaf which soon dies, iexteXit^ web
wherever it feeds, ami many times covers the whole tree They mide

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

157

their appearauc-e first in this section a few years ago on the wild cherrj^
and black ash only, but have extended to peach, common cherry aiid
■iDple and in fact almost every kind of tree. Last summer we saw a wild
cherry common cherry and an ai.ple tree all covered ai.pavently by one
uest and every leaf taken off and the grass at the butt of the trees eaten
Either kind is very easily destroyed at first by taking off the dead leat
or the little nest in the crotcli of the tree, when they are not at work and
placing the foot on it. The last named seem much the worse pest.
" Wo mi"-ht if time jiermitted, sj^eak of the curculio, the great enemy
of the plum,the black knots on the cherry and other topics, but tearing
that we may have taken so much of your time already we will close by
telling a little story we once read. But do not serve us like a trieutl ot
ours said he was served once. He was considered a good talker and
began his lecture by telling the story of the boy that drove the nails
in^he iwst for his bad deeds; after he told it a little boy back called
out " ha ! mister, that is too thin. We have heard it before It raised
the' laugh and so took down the speaker that he could not do anything

^ A father gave his two sons, James and Henry, each a beautiful
apple tree and a place to jdant them as their own. James immedi-
atelv began to bestow all his leisure time on his tree, keeping the soil
loose around the roots, clearing it of insects, etc., and was «oou re-
warded by seeing his tree well loaded with uic(. large iin<' truit But
Henry on the other hand, spent all his leisure time at the smith sliop
pitching quoit, or loafing in the store rooms. One day he hap-
pened to go by James' tree and saw it loaded with such tine appi.-^,
when he said to himself, why I have an apple tree too, and hurrying to
it expecting to find it loaded with fine apples too. When,lo, to his great
surprise, it was scarcely any lai;ger than when he set it out, a jarge
worm nest was on it, and they had eaten all the leaves off. He now
hastened to his father and accused him of partiality to James and tliat
he had given him a worthless tree, and claimed that James ought to
divide Thus it is, and will be, two men will set out an orchard side
by side one, like James, will devote his leisure time on his, the other
like Henry, will spend his leisure loafing, and at the grog shoj. and
forgets he has an orchard, until he sees his neighb..r hauling oft load
after load of tine fruit and returning with his i.ockets full of cash.
When he goes to his trees expecting to find them lull ot hiH> fruit too
but finds them covered with the same kind ot truit that Henry did and
like him begins to blaspheme his Heavenly 1 athcsr because he does not
bestow his 1 .rovidences alike. Hence, from what we have said, we de-
duce the following :

That in all successfid fruit culture :

Fir,st. The object. ■-■'

Second. The kind.

rhird. The proper varieties.

Fourth. The proper location.

Fifth And m(.st important, proper care and attention.

Sixth. That we urge iq.on all of you fellow truit growers the necessity
of a united effort to destroy all natural enemies of fruit growing.

158

Quarterly Repokt.

Pennsylvania State Board of Ac irk culture.

159

THE CARE ()F POULTRY.

By Miss M. Ai.ick Meyer, CHntoiidale, Pa.

(Read at Mill Hall Institute. )

I have chosen this suhjoct, not because I know all about it but be
cause i want to know. 1 have been studying theories, but have not
Jiad the necessary exi)erience to prove tliem

I will try to give you the results of my investigations, hoping to gain
li'om you more information than I am able to give.

There is no other department of farm industry so generally neglected
as the poultry yanl Perha, >s if the farmer were better acquainted with
his leathered triends and kiunv wlnit business capacity they were can
al)le ot devej^opmg lie would see to liaving them properly c'iired for

i5otli the flesh and eggs of poultry are standard artich^s of food for
which th^ve IS a constant demand. In order to meet this demand three
milhon dollars worth ol eggs are imi>orted every year from Germanv
beside large quantities from China and Canada. Of these imported
eggs hye out ot every dozen, it is said, are unfit for use

All Avho know the difference between a fresh egg and a stale one will
agree that it would be much better to j,atronize the American hen and
give her a chance to sui)])ly the market with fresh ego-s

Ihere is ready sale lor both fowks and eggs if tlu^y a7-e sent to market
m the very best condition. The secret of success in the poultry busi-
ness IS mainly m the .tmount of care given to it

The care of poultry should really begin before we have the poultry
II our premises are infested with rats, we should first get rid of tlieni
Many a fanner s wife has learned from sad experience hr,^w destructive
they are, both to eggs and to young poultry

Comf()rtable quarters should then be arranged for grown fowls and
for httle chicks. Many people build their hen houses as if they thouTfc

I'Za r''l^^ "^ ''™"'^' ^^^ H^^ y^'^'"' ^•^>^"^'^ ^»^^'^^ Pl^^ce that is en-

closed lor them may seem a i)erfect paradise for poultry throuHj the

summer months, but with two feet of snow on the ground and 111^ her

monieter beh>w zero, we get a better idea of what is lacking t n ake

the fowls comtortablc^ through the winter. We should , .Ian tlie house

ZI\TL'TI ri'^Z^^^ -'"''^ ^^^^"^ "^^'^^^^-^ '-'"''''y ^^^^ "^^ Vhuu if it is
put u]) on the hottest day m summer

fo,M)m^lu>u provide a good supply of feed, then we are ready

The Brahmas, Langshans, Cochins, Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks
are recommended as the best breeds for general purposes

stSl\lrT rV'fi *? ''^'T ^'" V"^: ^^^^^« intelligently, we must
stu y hciu. AVe hnd hat each hen is in herself a small mill with a

Ki Xr^'T T "''''''I ^" ''-^^"'* ^^^^^ "^ ^^^ ^^^^"^^^^y ^^^ proportion
vJll^^^t T' 7 tbe gnndng a])paratus in repair, we must nro
Tf l^^l!irTf^ "''f^ ^'-K^'' crockery, cinders or crushed glass.
.Ill] % rl^'T' ^'''"'^ i^^to conditicm for market, we give them

all the Hesh and fat forming matcM'ials they can use, but if we expect
to produce eggs we must feed differently , n ii ^^t expecD

In order to give the projKn- egg-forming material we must know what
au egg IS composed of. Wc find that it has a larger proiK rtion o^ ' er

^vatel. A\e see the importance, then, of keeping them supplied with

plenty of good, frc^sli water. The white of the o.gg also contains fifteen
and one half parts albumen and four and one half parts mucus. The
yolk consists of water, oil, albumen and gelatine.

The following bill of fare is recommended as the best for forming the
interior of the itgg : For breakfast, one i)art meal, one ])art shorts and
one i)art wheat bran, mixed witii milk or water. It should be given
warm in winter, but never enough of it to satisfy the hens. The main
]»art of their breakfast should be wheat, or a mixture of grain put into
straw, chaff or old leaves to keep them busy through the day. We find
hen nature is like human nature in this res])ect, that they are l)oth
healthier and hapirier where they make a living by their own exertions,
or, in otliei* Avords, when they scratch for a living. This exercise is
very necessary to kee^) them in good condition in cold weather.

After their day's work is done they should be given all the corn they
can eat, without having to scratch for it They should also have an
occasional feed of vegetables and meat scrai)s.

Oyster shell is recommended as the best material for hn-ming the
shell of the egg. Egg shells, burnt bones and lime are also good.

A very imi)ortant i)oint in the care of i)oultry , and the very best pre-
ventive of disease is attention to cleanliness. The poultry -house must
be kept clean and free from vermin.

It is in raising young poultry that the greatest amount of care is
needed. But there is a great deal of i>leasure in it to make n\) for the
extra care. Nothing can be prettier or more interesting than a large
flock of little chicks or ducklings. Yet thousands of them die every
year through ignorance and neglect, as well as from disease and ac-
cident.

The poultry raiser can expect to meet misfortunes all along the line
of operation, horn the setting of the hen to the marketing of the chicks,
but Avith proper care, many of them may be avoided.

There has been such an amount of evidence brought in against the
hen as being unrelial)le and unfaithful in hatching out the brood, that
she is in adanger of having this part of the wcnk taken from her and
given to the mechanical hen, called an incubator. It is claimed that
this machine does as good work as the best hen can do, and that it will
do the work of fifteen or twenty hens without half tlie care.

Whether we use natural or artificial means in bringing out tlu^ brood,
it is well to have a large number at one time. It is as easy to take care
of a liundnMl or more as it is to take care of ten.

Until the little chick is twenty four hours old, it n(HMls no care, ex-
cept to be kei)t warm. After that both the temperature and the food
need constant and careful attention. .

For the first three or four weeks of the chick's existence it sliould
have a very little space outside of the mother, but may be given gieater
range as it grows older. I'lenty of heat, and at all times, is very es-
sential. The teni])erature should never be lower than ninety degiees,
and may b<^ as high as one hundred. By the natural method of raising
chicks with a hen, we can have this tempcratuie only in midsummer.
In raising early chicks this difiiculty has been lu-ovided for by an aiii-
ficial mother called a, biooder.

By using tin; brooder an even temj.crature is secured and many more
chicks can'^lx^ reared together than with the natural mother.

They should be fed every two hours for the first three or four weeks,
but never more at a time tlian they can eat. Hard boiled eggs an^ said
to be the best food for them. Bread moistened with milk is also goijii.

leo

(^UAIiTEIU.V KePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agriculture.

161

and may be mixed with a little coru-meal : but corn-meal alone is too
stron- lor the chicks. A« they c^row older thev can use cracked wheat
and corn, and a variety ot <?iain and vegetables

Little chicks and ducklin-s should have all the water they can drink
but It should b.' given m such a way that they cannot get into it'
Iliey siiould never get wet while thry are quite young

Ihe main points, in raising early chicks, are to keep them warm
dry and clean, to teed and water them judiciously and give them i)lentv
ot exorcise. i ^"I'j

Later in the season we are likely to have gapes to c.mteud with To
prevent this trouble it is recommended to sj.rinkle the yards with ,-,
solution ot chlorid(^ of lime or copperas

At;t.er all our faithful care of our little feathered pets, it seems a sad
late lor them to go, at so tender an age, into the frviug-pan

THE AETIFICIAL HATCHING OF POULTKY.

By S. V. Bennkt, WelUboro\ Pa.

(Read at the Wellsboro' Meeting. )

o, T'"** f *'i"-^' l^'"" ^"? ""! "'■®''* achievements, and among the manv
T^aT" ^"i'-'-'^'/f 'I'V'-'' ^^^'"^ ^^/^--'ipied the attention of the thinking
worl.l artifacial hatching has for the last few years received its share

Iicuba ion, by artificial means, is no longer a disnuted point nor
^vould It have been had we been more conversant with history or at
least have been willing to accept the statements of ancient writers

ilie ligyptians, centuries ago, were most successful in this enter-

fllT; InfrV;* ^^'f ^'r" '^•^^f^°f *«'^^>'' ^vith a capacity for less
and v^nl^K ed in 'th tJiousand eggs, large rooms weil usei heated
and Aent lated in the most scientific manner, surpassing anything we
can boast of, m this, our nineteenth century

However as we have regained this lost art, let us proceed.

We will first discuss tlie incubator.

It might be well to state here, that the operator, while eutirelv dis
tmct in one sense of the word becomes lost as it ^J^h^Z^^
he and his machuH* are, as m matrimony, two in one

..-."I'f f I^^^^ '"" ^""'1 '"}''"."^ *''« ''''>'-^ by separating its two prin-
cipal factors, the man and the incubator <M"i"
There are now so many incubator factories, each claiming their ma-
chines to be the best, one is at loss to know Which to choose therere
some points to consider before making a selection '

Jdir .^Lw 'iTr":"" ""''^' "°* recommend a cheap machine, they

chfne*in'Ii.,?r..'tV?" *" ''•'* ""■ ^f^'^' "' «>"^«"ent, and see the ma-
chine m opeiatioin examine into its construction, and thorouo-hly un-

chinen ^■^'T:\ '^'"V'*^-*^^ f^<^ -<•--" *'"" working of 1' m .
chineri ■ Like nothing for granted, let there be a reason for everv-

el;;:;:^^irl;i'X';;t'" "•"" "-»- "■■■■'■'■•- »"'• "«' i""-

Again and again we hear the cpiestions : " Are incubators necessary
to a successful poultry business r " Do you think the 4icksrstrii

as those hatched under a heiif ' " What incubator do you consider the
bestf and, hist, but not least, "Does it payf

To the question regarding' the necessity of incu})ators, I would say,
uo poultry business of any pretension can be })roperly conducted with-
out the aid of incubators. The very convenience of hatching chicks
when you desire, without having to consult a fussy old hen, is enough

to recommend them. , . . i i .^ xi if

The cost and care of running a machine is much less than the cost ot

keeping hens for setting, to say nothing of the broken eggs, vermin,

and a dozen other provoking things, which will occur among a number

of setting hens. , . -i ' t i i.

With an incubator, the subject ot success or faihire lies almost en-
tirely in your own hands ; the time when the old hen can monopolize
the hatching business is past. -n x n

There is no place where strict attention to business will tell more,

and pay better, than here. i . i i

" Do I consider the chicks of an incubator as strong as those hatched

under a setting hen'? "

Most emphatically I say " yes !" all conditions being equal, i. e. , with
fresh eggs from vigorous stock, and good care during incubation, a
reliable^ machine will produce as strong, active chicks as any hen can
boast of ; lacking only the proverbial hen louse

After carefully examining many machines, I have come to the con-
clusion that, so far as I am concerned, the "Perfect Hatcher is the
one for me It is well-built, {lutomatic and reliable : will do its work
well if you do yours. Here is a i)oint which must not be forgotten.
Do not expect too mucli of any incubator, remember you have a duty

to iierform. . ^ i. • • i •

That artificial hatching and rearing of poultry is a paying l)usiness,
there is no doubt, but bear in mind it takes money to make money,
and unless one has some little capital to invest, I would not advise any
one to expect to make a living by it ; to say iiothing ot the fortunes
that poultry ])apers often promise to those who will get- a tew hens

and make a start. " „ ,, ^ i • j. i

It is true one may begin with a small outlay and work into a good
])ayino' business, yet remember it will take time to accomplish this,
and you must have some other visible means of supj^ort, till your tlock
has increased to sufficient size to earn you a living.

After your luive gainc^d this end, sum up what your outlay has been,
and I am confident you will be surprised at the magnitud(> ot your in-
vestment. It will not be fai' from two or three thousand dollars, and
I am certain you would not then take that for it.

Now after we have chosen our incubator, let us look a little to the
care it 'will require. First of all, we must.be particular m the selec-
tion of the eggs we use. , i r i i e • ^

As I have mentioned before, the eggs must be fresh and from vigor-
ous stock. Bv vigorous stock I mean fowl m perfect hralth, made
so bv good care and plain food. None ot your art ihcial Ijeauties, ted
upon the socalled poultry foods and tonics, and kept in close confine-
ment, will do. Eggs from such stock are almost worthless

Before ]>utting in Ww eggs, it is well to run your incubator a few
days in order to become thoroughly familiar with its workings. Next
arrange the eggs ui)on the trays provided fm' that pur] >ose being sure
to place each egg with the larger end up. The reason ot placing eggs

11

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162

QUAItTEllLY KePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

163

t

<\

I.

m this position is very important, as the chicken tlien be"ins iU
growth ill the hirfre end of the shell, just where yon want it

ihe result at the time of hatching is anything but satisfactory
where attention is not paid to this point ^^iacioiy

Clhicks allowed to grow in the small end of the shell will die for the
want of room to free themselves from their narrow quarters

Ail things are now ready, and the real work begins. It'is not nee
essary 1,1 my opinion to tuni the eggs for the first twenty four hours"
but alter that time let them be turned every night and morning tak n-
care not to shake them more than is absolutely necessary "

wJfi!'""; 1 ! '"i' • *" .1'' -^"l"' ^'"'?1'** ""^""^'y ^^^onnuir. Fill them at night
without detaching them from the machine; this latter care will ensure
t eir burning more evenly. In placing lamps in position, be sure that
the connections are properly made, that nothing binds o • hinders he
t'Sr "^^ °^ "'" ''''^'' '*'• = .'" ''"'" negligence here will ckuse
After the eggs have been in the machine for four or five days it i's
well to test them ; taking out all unfertile or clear eggs, and fiUin.. he
space thus lelt with other eggs. 'uiin„ me

ih'fr *tf ""^nl '- -^^'"''' 'T '^^-, '^^ *^'® """"^ of *^ t"^e, holding it toward
feHilf ' "■' ' T%*'-^*' look through the tube.and the app^xrance of a
feitile egs; is that of a cobweb, composed of red material with a spider
m the centre. This is the growing chick. A little practice wilt enable
one to tell almost instantly the fertile from the unfertile

>.xamine e^^ery morning all parts of your incubator,' and see that
everything is m working order. Do not forget this Keen the nam
for supplying moisture full of water at all times. KeepTvSythfi g
clean about the incubator room, and avoid dust. Thus you may con
tiuue, and if your work has been well done and no accidents occur vou
will be rewarded very often on the nineteenth day by the shriH tmv
chirps ot your brood, announcing their advent ; and upon exam na in
yo,i will tmd many of the eggs " pipped, " as it is term'ed Do o d s
tiirb the eggs. Let nature do her part, thou hast done thine, ad by he
morrow you will find all sorts (_,f youngsters, from the downy chck to
the poor, wet, struggling something, half out ..f the shell

It is well to put tli<" dry chicks in a small basket by themselves in
the bottom of tlie incubator. Remove all shell.s from the mSue ;i d

chicks l\'vHie3 17^ ^r T rf i'"'?,^'' ':' *""«• '- it oS^t/,^
cliuks. Jn the end of the twenty-first day the hatch should be nearly

desS' '" ''" '""^' ^' "^"'^""^ ""'"'^ '' "«^ liatching be^hrif

Do not feed chicks anything for the first twenty. four hours- more
loss comes from being too kind than peoi.le are aware "

1 wil now leave the operator with his brood of artificially hatched
motherless chicks. His real trouble has just begun ; however I ws
him the best of success with his undertaking. Not! ii l l^t sten^^ex
penence can teach him how to raise and care for incubator chiek^

GOMFOKT AND ECONOMY IN THE BAllN.

B.y J. B. Johnson, New Wilmington, Pa.
(Read at Mercer Institute. )

Those who have been accustomed all their lives to comfortaV)le and
convenient barns, do not know Ikjw much they enjoy until they do the
work for awhile in one of the ill-arranged structures that serve the
place of barn on so many farms. No building on the farm should be
more carefully planned for labor-saving than t\w. barn. Yet how often
the barn seems to be merely a combination of posts, boards and logs,
w itliout any plan. There is certain work in the barn that must be done
three times a day, and one thousand and ninety five times a year.
This kind of work should be especially planned for.

As the most imi)ortant i)art of a house is the kitchen and convenient
arrangements for doing work there, so in the barn the most important
part is the stable and convenient arrangements for supplying food,
water and air, and removing manure. „..,,,' ^,

The parts of my subjects are so (closely allied that we cannot liave
one without the other. We cannot have comfort without the practice
of economy, and we cauuot have economy without the requisites ot

One essential to comfort and economy in the barn is heat, with the
aiTan«-ements for ventilation. We can keep our mature animals w^arm
enough to live by supplying heat -producing foods, without shelter,
but there is neither comfort nor economy m such a measure. .A judi-
cious use of lumber, straw and building paper is more economical and
more comfort-giving than to try to keep up the animal heat with teed,
when oil, meal and chop are twenty-seven dollars per ton.

Let us close up every crack and cranny about the stable, so that such
winds as howled about our barns on February 3, 1801, cannot reach
our stock ; but let us also arrange to give them plenty ot tresh air. 1
have gone into stables where the owner said, " his sheep were doing
no good, he didn't know why," and I have found the air so unwh()le-
some that the only wonder is the sheep were alive. Very often the
only prescriptions ailing stock needs is, " open those windows, or knock
off a board, and let God's free air blow out the dcradly carbonic acid
gas " This whole matter of ventilaticm in th(> barn must h<^ under the
owners control, and it must be controlled with judgment if you would
have comfortable, healthy animals, economically stabled J am a
great advocate of fresh air, but I want to be able to control the amount
of it that comes into the barn and the direction it comes from, so that
when a winter calf or lamb com<>s it will not need to be carried to the
house for heat. This subject of ventilation is a large one, and the
half would not be told when many lengthy papers weie written upon it.
The water supply is a source of comfort and economy or else ot dis-
comfort and expense. If the stock must go ten rods tlirough snow and
mud and stand shivering in the sleet while they drink ic; watcT through
a hole in the ice, the chances are that the owner is looking lor some
one to lend him some money on a second mortgage. I would advise
a pump in the basement, if there is room for watering stock there and
if there is not room there, then let the water trough be in a building
verv convenient to the stable. A certain amount of liquid is as es-
sential in the daily ration of man and beast as food, if the water is

I

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164

QuAitTEUiA' Report.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agricultuke.

165

not i);iliital)l(3, IS too dirty or too cold, aninmls will frccinentlv drinl-
iione on.3 day and too nnu.ii the next, to the detriment of luuilth ai ,1
condition. Water coinin- from an ordinary twenty-foot well is about
forty-four degrees. Let it stand in an icy trouf-h half an hour when
the mercury is at zero, and it will ^o down to thirty-two dcOTees Let
the stock drink it at thirty-two, and it chills them, and they stand in
the stall tor an hour trembling- with the cold. When water i"s drank •.>
this temperature, it must be l)r()n<,dit up to ninety-eight degrees blood
heat, by burning- your corn and mine in the stomach. It will i,av in
dollars and (jents to heat drinking water for farm stock

Comfort and economy demand that the water supply be pure An
epidemic of typhoid f(n-(^r has raged in one p.irt of Albany, New Y(jrk
this winter. The health officers investigated the matter and found tl.-it
in every family where the fever raged river water had been used for
household i)uri)o.ses— water that was contaminated bv the sewa-e of
Iroy, SIX miles above; while families using water from other sources
escaped It is a mistake to sujipose that water from a spring is alwavs
pure. Spring water, that has received the sewage of either the house
or barn is sometimes very unhealthy. And \Nells that are very near
the barn-yard sometimes become so imi)ui-e from the drainage of the
barn-yard, that is more like manui-(> water than drinking water Fill
up such a well and dig a new one, further from the barn, and I'.ut the
pump wherever it is most convenient, connected with the well bv 2-al
vanized iron pipe buried three or four feet in the ground. Be sure the
water supply is ]>ure.

Comfort and economy require good feed, and jdenty of it It is a
mistake to stmt our farm animals in feed or care

\Ve boast that we live in this enlightened nineteenth century and use
all th.3 labor-saving appliances for the easy and rapid accomplishment

oi^wort™ iv"'^- ^fF *r-^- I ?"*, to" «el^lf>™ do we mix brains with
oui work. We go with a friend to his barn to get hay for my horse
He throws it from a high mow, carries it the length of the barn floor
and across^ the floor, thi-ows it down the stairs and climbs down on it
cames it the length ot the entry and through the colt stable to my
horse, almost exactly under where he got t\w hay. All this work must
be done for his own horses three times a day for six months or more
eacli year. A chute in the corner of the mow would deliver the hay
almost exactly in the horses manger. Another fri.^n.l who wants ten
ears of corn for my horse must go three rods through the mud or snow
o the crib, making a six-rod trip every feeding time. No entry is com-
plete without an ami. e corn bin to be filled from the barn flool^ an oids

above iT^rr *''""V*'^? ^•'^^r r^ ^ '•">' ^^'^^^^ ^^om the mow
above. 1 speak thus T)articularly about economizing the work of feed-
ing horses, for on almost every farm this is work that must be done
three times a day in the heat and hurry and weariness of summer as
well as in the cold of winter. summtr, as

bnSiT^v!?^ T] ''""'/'"'* 1 'T*.^ """'r]' ''"'^ ^^^^J^ ^^"^••i'"1 ^ covered
barn-yard. I do not say that th.. whole yard should be covered but

enough of It should be covered t,. have a large straw sta.-k undercover
We depend upon straw as one of our principal absorbents AVhat is
Wn ?^,;:'V'' "'"'r,"^ ^^•''•■" I' i" tin-own to the stock soaked and
of T^.ih. r fl' ''•"■"-y^»-d I"'-^"'"-® whi<.h we so often see spoken

of. IS estimated on the commercial valu,^ of a ton of manure, not a ton
of straw and rain-water. We must not imagine we are puttin- four
dollars worth of plant lood on our ground every time we haul a load

„f wet straw from the manure ht>a|.. To make goo<l manure and cm
fortable bedding for the stock, the straw must be kept dry until it is
Iced under the stock. And the manure must be kept from burning
il from tte miu until it is placed on the field. It is n,»t always con-
ve ient to'haul and spread 'manure as it is made; tlien it. should be
Sin a manure shed-part of the straw shed it you wish-.and it
need not be a foul smelling place as the manure heap too often is^^

? will not sav that comfort and economy require a silo, for I know
uothin- of the silo bv experience. The silo has its friends and its
euemie°s, but I believe that ensilage is the coming teed.

B tl know that comfort and economy demand good ,.aths from bain
to house^^nvenient arrangement of stables, outside buildings, gates

p. hs'nd roads, the use of well-made and -^l^^-f ^^^'^j^^^'X^^^^^^^^^^
the basement and super-structure, and demand also that the ownei i)e
a man oTwomau with a head above his shoulders and something m his

^'""in all the list of trades and professions there is probably none that
remiires as extensive and varied knowledge, and the exercise of so mndi
Xmentorgood, solid, common sense, as the pro ession ot tarining
&US magnU'v o ir calling and never say as a candidate once said to
ms •' I am only a farmer, but I would like to have you vote for me ad
use voui influence for me." My thought was if you are one ot tl e
men who ^all yourself "only a farmer," I shall "use "'V/^fl^^nce to
rive vou remain only a farmer. Let us be men, and i^lan oin taini
work and f"r buildings for the comfort of ourselves and our stock
rndfmiie economy of time, labor, feed and money, for economy is
wealth/'

PURCHASE AND CARE OF FARM IMPLEMENTS.

By J. C. Bei.1., West Middlesex, Pa.
(Read nt Mercer Institute )

Tlvd which I have to say on this subject will have reference more
particitoly to tl!^com,.licLd and expensive class of machinery than

to the plainer and cheaper class. . , ,, ,,,,,.,.i,,.ue

The subject is naturally divided into two parts : first tlu pui* Uase,
ond «Pcond the care of implements and machinery.

Onll rsubiecu'f i.urchase, I will first endeavor to show he necessity
of ?eVsorai d i , el ijence, to determine whether it would be prudent
to mrcTiase or not a^d second to throw out some hints that might aid
you in L^^^^^^^^^ machinery that would be likely to give you satis-

H*t?r;,o uncommon thin- to meet with men who have become, to some

ex '.d at lelX'final/cLlly cniban-assed thnn^^^^^^

chinery that might have been dispensed with until tl.cy were better

'%'his 'tWd.'*s not so much due to the purchase of that which was
real Iv^ieeded or that which could be used to the best advantage, as to
the imrchase of new inventions at hid. prices and J.efore such in ple-
menrwercbroSht up to the . proper stage o T-feetion, and which
soon gave out at some vital point and became useless.

1-

Ififi

QUAUTEUI.V rvKI'OlCl'.

Not many m(.n who buy only first-class machinery tliat has been full v
tested, and buy only that which is actuallj' needed, are any worse oft

mSeTi'iir '"""''"'• '''" *^'"^^'^ '^'""^ ^"^>' ^'-^'^^ '-'^ tic SSest
The great improvements that have been made in a{?ricnltnral imi.le
ments m the last forty years have progressed much faster t mn th" S
ucation o± farmers m the art of purchasing, using and taking (^ue of

It requires more intelligence in 1891 to purchase a mower reaner ov
binder than it did in 1850 to buy a sickle, scythe or grain Tmdle

It requires more brains to keep in order and run the improved imnle
men s th=ui it did forty years ago to hang a mowing Sthe or grafn
crad e. Hence, more mechanical education and skill is necessan o
purchase aud handle intelligently the im,ilements of the presenTdav

A really valuable, well-made machiue which is a time m<1 1 .1
saver.is ,>ractically indispensable to the entei r singia imer o modem
times. Therefore m the purchase of these veil i^h Tndispen^ ble
implements great caution and good common sense shou d beCed

cw/n^fe JTr^ ^f ^^^l-^-has^"?^ -'^"-^ ^'^ ^^^ """re Lpensive
Class ot machineiy, will first make a calculat on of their cost and com

pare ,t with the benefits and profits likely to be derived torn the r u^e"

sl,onlT*r'^*'ii?"t''"'-''f*« ^"y"'g ^ l'""^«^- The fi-rst t in" you
should do would be to make a calculation of what it will have cost vo
by the time it is worn out. Then, over against that, makt a calcu
tion ot how much time and money it will save you ; the i creased acre
age you may be able to harvest ; how much you may saveTn securing
your crops m pro,,er season, and how much bone laborjou mav save

S doi;l ou^k" bv ^' ^^^ *''r, ''^^r' ^-«- w'^'LlS tS

fat P^'^l.V P %• ^- ™^in strength and awkwardness," as our fore-
tatJieis did. Continuing the illustration, we will suppose voii are o,,

Sf L ™wh^Srd' "^7^'^^ --«y 1-"^. o> "S7?r -ai e
twene acies ot wheat and eigrhteeu acres of oats as vonr aver-i^o mmnnl

SldSi'lnlJ^r^^ ^^^^^ "^ ^" ''-' ^- -11 --* to curs Ui "con^

Suppose the binder to co.st you one hundred and thirty dollars -ind
to last you twenty years. Th<, interest on one hun.lred ami thirty dol
lars for twenty years, at compound interest, is two hu , htd uid ei-htv"
SIX dollars, which, being added to the princ pal, will keforLl.W
and sixteen dollars, to which sho.ild be added for storage fi^^^^^^^^
lars; probable repairs, fifteen dollars ; and for insurance fouSi^^
|-^l<m^ m all four hundred and fifty dollars the 'Si cost of v'ur

As thi.s look.s^like such a large sum, you will itaturallv Uuid pro,.orlv
too) begin to figiire on what it will cost you to hire the work lone
Suppose you can hire your neighbor with his binder to cut vonr tldrtv
acres at fifty cents an acre, you to find the team and twine his was
the price paid last season in o,n- locality) . To get at th real hJnf

he binder, you might deduct somethingfory<»^-f.dg 11 <^^^'s Urn ,«.r
haps thirteen cents an acre would be enough for that whic w, Id

eave thirty -seven cents an acre as the real hire of t lie i.iT.der Ym
thirty acres at thn-ty-seven cents, wonhl cost eleve d, rs and te,
cents annually, say eleven dollars in round nund.ers T ■ clven do

,i

Pennsylvania State Boakp of Agricultuee.

167

of the binder. But these are not all the items that should enter into
the calculation. You sliould consider the annoyance ot hunting np a
bindei to liire, also the possibility oi not getting your graiij cut when
it L ready, the i.robability of making something cutting gram tor your
neMibor f you owned a machine yourself, and the probability ot sav-
fn^s oniethiiig by running the binder yourself instead of paying your
Sw for his time. By considering all these uncertain quantities
vou would likely decide in favor of buying. .

^i do not use this illustration for the i.nri.ose of prejudicing nnyone
eithe. for or against the purchase of a binder, but merely t(. suggest a
fonnula by which you should make a mathematical calculation before
vou purchase any kind of machinery. ,■-,,■ ^ .*.>..,„..

When you have decided to purchase any kind of imi.lementoi ma-
chine: "ou will often be perplexed to know which make is best, or

""' When we\Ty to suggest any rules to guide you in making a decision
we haverbig contract on hand, because anv rules we might suggest
will julmit of so many exceptions. , , .,

L general rule, do not buy an implement because yo" ^^gf*^
foi the least money, because its cheapness is prnna farm evidence ot

'* Neit7i\m-chase the highest priced implement simply because it is
i^'l^ir^^Vl^i ^^iWyo-r.eM whether the superior merits
claimed for it will justify the higher price asked for it.

Do not buy a machine simply because your neighbor, who kno^s ut
little about any other kind than his own, recommends you to 8<^t one
like his, be«mse he may have the most worthless machine on the

"fSiV^^^tJrr name of a farmer in this county who bought an
imidement after he had tried it and paid full retai price for it, who
h^dW offered one of another make, and which he had also tried tor
less tha °wo thirds of the price he paid for the one he bought. And
Smanv fanners who own the kind he rejected, declare it to be as

rr/^rk^l U' nof tlio best kliul manuf actureu. , , i

^"do o buy a machine that has just come on the nmrke^ becau- m
nine out of t«i cases it will be far from being perfect, ^or fj^^ \*^"-
ment for the benefit of manufacturers ""less yo" i^;^;.,^'^.^ ^ ^^^''l^^fV
Remember that experience costs money. An old Lrei man oiu c saui,
"ExSLnce v^s a goot teacher, but de great drouble nut Inm vas
±.xberience vas a f > us farmers: the lessons we

he goom too late. ^''"^t is tm^ wa> wii j j^.^^ ^s

Ipnrii bv exTx^rience come too late, it our ioiehi,_iii "o--
m, himlsSht it would save us many a dollar. N.Mther would it be
Tod nobcy to dilcard new machinery altogether because here are
flways innfrovements being made ; btit it would be as well to let the

'wf h:vfa*ferd '^^^^^^^^ the merits of . competing ma

chfn^, 1)~%S; ^hown up by their representatives they -e ;dl
likely to do good work, and besides such a contest is no test ot cluia

^'unless you are a mechanical exr-ert you could not tell which was the
best machine, and would probably buy the -fj^" M ul^it ture s
least money, which would likely be a «<'"<>"« nnstke Manututu, r^
of first class and durable machinery cannot aftoid to cut prices low
enough to ct.mix^te with lower grades.

I

168

Quarterly Report.

In bnying: yonr im]! oments aud maehinerv, the best way is to i.nr
• base thro,.f,h the zec^u ar diannels of trade. ' It is better to^pay a I
Tilar dealer a tair profit and get a -ood inipl.mient, than to bi.y iS

The ffoods of the better class of manufacturers are sold throui-l,

_ A farmer m the western part of the county, wlio wanted a certain
implement, and wanted to save a dealer's profit, wrote o a firm 5 o
advertised libera ly. The result was. he -ot he implen en™ t t «
wholesale price, but he was so disgusted with it thafhe wo, V h tve
been willing to pay full retail price for a similar one that h ul been
offered him before he began his correspondence

by^xi^nsive'Sr^ing"' '""'^^"'^^ ^""'^^ ^^^* "'«™ ^^'^' '" «- -'^
We know of no better way of deciding whicli is the best implements
?3Jf \'" *^Vr ^^ «'.\»«^«",S: yourself by general observa^ii an dby
mvestigatmg the merits of the different kind of machines that coim-

^e At'tend 'tt'f • ^"•''^ ^* ''^T^^^ T"" "^^^-ti^'-^t^ -ery mach ne you
see. Attend the fans go early in the morning; scrutinize careful! v

every implement on the ground; ask questions of (leale f tlfey t kl
pleasure in explaining and showing thei[ goods. Don't ^'rkt to ' ke
.your wite with you, she will want to look at the sewing mac fnes wash
ng machines, wringers, churns, etc. Get the opinions of i^^telEut
hvrmers who have had experience with different iiu-l.^nients and hose
who have some mehanical genius. If you do this you will kee vour
Plenirts "' >'«/«'l"-'*^n'ents and superior point's of the various in"
plements ; and «hen you are ready to purchase, the knowledo-e tlms
gamed will be of much advantage in making a sdecLm ^ "'

WJien you want to purchase and have failed to use your onnortunitv

seierthfv:t"st n;/^^7 r "-^ t"^* ^? *« «- ^-^^-^ zs^z

remSit n tltw}^ r ^''^^""^ '^ *," Purchase from a dealer that has a
reputation toi fair dealing— one who va ues his reputation more tlian
money, one wliose word is as e-ood as hi« bm>V 4 , i "i*^^.® "'an
knowiiio-lv 1...1,.. ->fF ,„> +1 ■ i • , "*'""• ^"•■" 1"^" will not

faction ' ^"'^'''"'' ""l'l«'nKi,ts that wont give satis-

eoodTulaJ wmTff *«/7""'"l''''- t<'.-it dishonest dealers i-refer to han.lle

Smle th^t ev trv In ipll" "",' T'* 'T'f^^ " ''"''^ ^« "^^^^H^ ^" inferior
giaue luai tliej try to sell as high as better grades

verTbestlmiai:: J^fjf «'"./''<; '"'-l-ine you will purchase, make the

unless you ail fulll^ satisfied thSltwMli,. thf work Get as^X^!^
aiKlas long a warranty on it as vou can get. WhSver the contr.^^
may be h.f there be a memorandum made and s^d by both parties

sale oi altei trial, and insist on a reasonab e reduction for cash Notl.

par f'^ir h Wt 'L>t 't '^"^^* *1""^ '^^'^^ than casl. or pitflt
pay. ji yon Ihiven t ^ot the money borrow it. Blotter do tli'it \^^\^^

o me^H? "you wouii; b* '""^ '^ l'-^ *""« ^''^y^ -' - -ady
thfMnM,. v,.,, K " ('^ •'^ '"'T 'lively to get an extension of time from
the man you borrow from near hom<., than fi-om a forei-n nianufac turer

^IT n 'r '"''''^" ^'"" '" '^d'xtion for cash or for ai /X. Iv™
.VOU should have sense enough not to tell it, because you mighlwant

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

109

favors from dealers some time again. Show your appreciation of his
favor by kee[)ing' it to yourself.

On the second part of my subject, which is " caring for farm imple-
ments," I will remark that most farmers think they know all about
it. They think if they kee^) them in the dry, and well painted, that
they have fulfilled the moral law in all its precepts concerning the care
of their implements.

While this is important to its durability, the careful usage, oiling
and kee])ing in good running order is another point we think is equally,
if not more important. This is more ^Particularly true of machinery
with quick motion, such as mowers, binders, thrashers, engines, etc.
Most farmers know more about the inqjortance of keeping their imiile-
ments sheltered and i)ainted than they practice. How often we see a
man vuihitch from his farm wagon at his coal house, or possibly at the
door of the wagon shed and let it stand a w^eek or more exposed to the
weather, when a half minute's work would have run it under shelter.
Or how often we see him in the evening unhitch from his sulky culti-
vator in the field, when he could just as easily have driven it to the
barn and sheltered it over night or from a week of unexpected bad
weather. Have you not seen him do the same with other costly ma-
chinery. It is not for lack of knowledge, but it is simi)ly inexcusable
negligence, that these careless tricks are done. If we could cure him
of his negligence rather than increase his knowledere we would be do-
ing him a great kindness.

If you were to ask me for a prescription that would cure negligence,
I would write just two words : think, act. Negligent farmers are you
willing to try the medicine ])rescribed? You may gag a little at first,
but you will soon become used to it. As the prescription is free, and
the medicine cheap, it should be applied freely, externally, internally
and eternally, until a cure is aflfected.

I believe that many kinds of implements such as farm wagons, sleds,
harrows, cultivators, horse-rakes and implements of that class, will not
last one fourth as long if carelessly left out to rust and decay from one
season to another, as they would if kept painted and sheltered when
not in use.

The farmer that is too poor to ]n'ovide a covering for his implements
is too poor to own them, and, unless he is lucky, he will soon be too
poor to own his farm Bear in mind that paint, boards and roofing
material will save you at least three hundred jier cent, of their cost in
saving your im])lements.

The next thing is oil. Use good oil and i)lenty of it. The best
castor oil for s]iindles, and No. 1 lard oil for machinery. Many far-
mers do not know^ how to use oil on their vehicles ; they don't seem to
know that the spindles of their vehicles would w^ear as long again if the
work of oiling was properly done. Every time you oil spindles, clean
them off thoroughly ; the theory is that the particles of iron which are
worn off are mixed with th(^ oil, and while it may not be as injurious
as sand, it has a tendency to wear the spiiidh- and boxes very fast.
Rags are cheaj) ; keep them handy for wiping spindles. It would be
impracticable to open u]) and clean the boxes and journals of mowers,
etc., yt't the accumulaticm of this injurious substance may be avoided
by a free use of oil. When you have machincTy with oil cui»s j)ut a
little tuft of wool in each cup, which will hold the oil and let it down by
degrees. When vou are oiling your machine don't forget that a few
extra gallons of oil w(>nt cost you as much as a new macihne.

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170

QUARTERTA' RePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

171

i

^ There are some other points in the curt^ of a machine that to my mind
IS ahnost, if not altogether, as im})ortant to its durability as sbelter
or paint , that is careful handling- and kee|)in^^ it in good runnng- order
Many of us could make our machines last nearly twice as long- bv
keeinno- everything m -ood order, by tightening ui) and getting- a few
repairs at tJie i)roper time.

Some men will run a machine as long as a wheel will turn without
])aying any attention to it ; and when it wont run any longer they look
It over and find bolts lost, l)oxes shaking loose, shafts out of line and
probably something broken that might have been avoided if a wrench
had been used to tighten up bolts, or a screw or rivet put in at the
proper time.

To keep a machine in good running order it is necessary that the
operator knows the use of every cog wheel, journal, ratchet or sprin-
iiie man that don't understand his machine is no more competent to
run and take care of it than a physician is competent to diacrnosticate
and treat your disease who does not understand the anatomy of the
liuman body.

If the knotter of the binder fails to tie properly, vou should so un.
derstand its construction that you could adjust it. * When you purchase
a machine have the dealer exj)lain the working of every Part then
study it yourself.

The ])itman connections of mowers and binders should receive the
most careful attention. If these get worn and loose, the jarring at
every turn oi the crank-shaft will soon play havoc with other i)arts of
the machinery. Some kinds of machines are so constructed that
wooden boxing may be used on the ]iitman at the crank-pin Anv
hard close-grained wood such as sugar or cherry, neatly fitted to the
crank-pm, will wear almost as long as the common brass or composi-
tion l)ox. ^

Many a farmer lets his machine go to rack for want of tools to keen
It m order. T\ hen he is in a hurry he will run it when he knows it is
out of ord(UM;ather than take time to get it repaired; when, if he had
tools, he coukl ])ut in order it in a few minutes himself

I cannot begin to enumerate the advantages a farmer would realize
by having a supply of toc^ls suitable for his work. Possibly some of
you have had to stoj) mowing in the middle of the forenoon and go to
the blacksmith shop, losing half a day or more on a good hay -day to
get a guard or section put on your machine; when, if you had had a
puncJi cohl chisel liamnier, and some rivets in the tool-box, you could
hav<^ done the work m htteen minutes without leaving the field

Irom twenty to twenty-five dollars will 'get you a i)ortable' for-e
drill-press, screw-plate and taps, anvil and vise, tongs, hammers, fifes!
etc. A similar amount wil get you a good lot of tools for working
in wood. You will need a hand-saw, scpiare, brace, a supply of bits
ranging in size trora a small -imlet to an inch, then an incli and a-
quarter, an inch and a-halt and a two-inch auger, wood-rasp, drawing-
knile, spoke-shavc^ a few chisels and two or three ])lanes AYith these
you can put yourself up a work-bench which should have a wood vise
a shaving lH)rs(> and, if necessary, a building in whieh to keei) thc^m'
You would be surprised to find how much time in rnnnin-to the shop
or going to your neiglibor to l)orrow tools it would save you

A few days ago I read of a farmer who owned over one himdred acres
of land, and ^liowalked to a neighbors that HvcmI over a mile away to
borrow a small bit that cost but twenty -five cents. The neio-hbor was

a mile from liome, and he had to travel another mile to see him to find
out where he kept the bit, then another mile back to the house to get
it, another mile to his home, then two more miles in returning it, mak-
ing in all over six miles of travel or nearly as far as he would be re-
quired to plow an acre of ground.

Many farmers spend more time borrowing little articles like that
than would buy them ; and some think, too, tliat it is trouble enough
to do the borrowing without taking home the borrowed article.

If any of you farmers here have no tools for the reimir of harness,
and are lucky enough to have a dollar in your pocket, before you go
home spend it for some harness needles, a ball of thread and some
wax, an awl or two, a box of five eighth copper rivets, a leather punch ;
and the first wet day that comes go over your harness, fix up the places
that are ripped or broken, and when anything in future breaks, fix it ;
and you will save enough the first year to pay you five hundred per
cent, on the investment.

The other tools I have mentioned will pay you twenty-five per cent,
per annum in time, dollars and cents saved in the caring for and re
pairing of your wagons, i:)lows, harrows, single trees, double trees,
rakes, pumps, and machines generally.

With a little practice you will soon learn to handle tools with some
degree of skill, and besides the boys will learn to use them, and when
they become men their education in -this line will be of immense value.

We make a great fuss and ado about corporations and manufacturers
becoming wealthy at the expense of the farmer ; that we are down-
trodden and oppressed with taxation and high prices for that which
we need and consume.

While we are justly crying out for equalization of taxation, and while
we shout for a " protective tariff" or a " tariff for revenue only", as the
case may be, let us begin a reform at home. Let us protect the labor
of hands by diligence, carefulness and thoughtfulness. By our own
stupidity and negligence in the selection, ])urchasing, caring for, and
handling our farm implements, we contribute annually tens of thou-
sands of dollars to the pockets of inventors, manufacturers and dealers
in our farm implements.

CARP CULTUEE.

Bv Henry Pence, Kellersburg^ Pa,

(Read at Klttannlng Institute )

The carp is a native of the central countries of Europe, and corres-
ponding latitudes in Asia. But cm account of its value as an article
of food, it has l)een long naturalized in many countries m which it is

not a native.

No fish except the gold fish, has been so much transported by man
from one ])lace to another. And this has been the more easily and
successfully accomplished, because the carp can live longer than most
fish out of the water if only kept moist.

In northern countries, it neither increases so rapidly m size, nor
exhibits so great fecunditv as in more congenial climates. Its fecun-

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172

Quartp:iily REroRT.

dity in favoral)le circumstances is i>ro(li<4ions, more than seven liuiulred
thousand egg-s have been found in the ovaries of a single carp of
moderate size. The carp is rather an inhabitant of lakes and ponds
than of rivers, in which, if it is found, it shows a preference for the
stiHest i)arts.

It feeds chiefly on aquatic plants, and can be fattened on g'rain and
vegetables. It naturally deposits its spawn on weeds and the depth of
the water should be six inches. It is said to live to a g-reat ag-e, even
one hundred and fifty or two hundred years, its scales becominir ^-rav
and white with ag-e. ^

Thirty or forty i)ounds is not an unusual size in some of the German
lakes. In Austria and Prussia many lakes and pcmds are let at a lii^^h
rent for the car[) which they contain. *^

In the ponds the carp is a fre(3 biter, when hooked he runs strong-ly
and fig-hts with considerable determinaton and cunning-. It is advisable
however that the line be so i)laced that the bait may be just off the
bottom of the pond. Tlie best bait is bread worked into a paste. When
a carp bites he nibbles at the bait for some seconds before he takes it
but it is useless to strike until he strikes.

Carp as a food fish is of a good g-rade, is free of the bunch bones that
are found m many fish of a lower order, and when properly prepared
have a phnisant taste to all lovers of g-ood fresh fish.

Carp culture is almost in its infancy yet in the United States of
America, being- not more than a quarter of a century since they were
first transported to this country. If they have been g-rown successfully
m Europe, why can't we do the same here in this country?

There are very few farms in Armstrong- county, which have not a g-ood
situation tor one, two or three carp ])oiids. The swamps and g-ulleys
can be turned into more profit than the most fertile part of the farm
by stocking them with carj).

^ There should be at least two or three ponds on every farm a spawn-
ing- pond a pond for the fry (the small fish), and' a j)oiid for the
marketable fish.

The si)awning- pond should be sliallow water, the pond for the small
hsh of medium depth from three to four feet, and the pond for the large
hsli from four to six feet. The fry must l,e taken out of the spawning
pond eacli year, before spawning time (which is about the last of May
or hrst of June) .

Carp ponds are best constructed of earth,clav being the best material.
1 onds sJiould have a slope on each side of forty -five degrees, sown with
grass, well cared for, and with some trained spruce around, can be made
quite ornamental. The j^onds should be fed by never failing si>rings,
or the water can be taken through pipes from running streams.

ihe ponds can be drained tlirouo-li lu'pes, trunks, or through syp-
lions ; they should be so constructed that no rain or snow water can
run into them. A i)ond can be made to answer for several purposes in
addition to growing fish. The farmer needs a pond to gather his croi)
ot ice lor summer use, and in winter time a fish pond makes a good
skating rink for the boys and girls.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricut.ture.

IDEAL STANDARDS IN FAEMING.

173

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By George E. Hull, Orantjeville^ Pa,

(Read at Mercer Institute )

A successful and wealthy manufactuer of railroad iron_, when asked
the secret of his success, answered, that Ins success lay in his^^er^z.s/-
ent endeavor to make each succeeding batch of iron better, if pos-
sible, than the last ones made. And that all should ai)i)roach as near
as possible to an ideal standard, or model of merit, as a manufacturer

could produce. -,^. , i • i

The celebrated Madole hammer,and Henry Disston saws, which every
carpenter recognizes among the very best tools of their kind, the
mowers, the reapers and the binders, which have successively come to
the front and to the aid of the farmer, and every other article which is
to day manufactured, which has a recognized merit, and standard
value, won its reputation through the determination of the manu-
facturer to produce and |)ut u})on the market a first class article. This
princii)le of honorable success, so applicable to the manufacturer, who
successfully manufactures his goods after an ideal standard, is no hss
applicable to the breeder, the stockman or the general farmer The
iarmer, like the manufacturer, who is ambitious to be successful in his
calling, should ever be guided by an ideal standard, or model of merit,
which'^should lead him onwardand ui)ward,m)tniorally and socially, but
also as to his farm, its managements, its equipments and conveniences
the selecting, the breeding, and marketing of his stock. In lull heart
and symmthy with this spirit of progress, and always prohtmg by
his own experience, and also by the experience of, and mtormation
given by others in social intercourse and through the press, with that
foresight and discerning judgment which becomes the progressive
farmer he should endeavor to make every step taken one ot progress;
and this must necessarily be to insure future prosperity to the farmer

in this country. , ^ i t

The brood mare, the brood sow, the bunch of breeding e\\^es, every
bunch of sheep selected and fed for the shambles, every bunch ot
laml)s bred, should be the most even in size, the finest aiid best in
quality and in every way the most desirabl(N and salable, ot any stock
preceding th(^m. Finally th(^ standard of their excellence should be
their advertisement and their market. The credit or debtor balance at
the year's end on the pages of tlie ledger devoted to the farm stock, de-
pends not only on the management and the feeding of the stock but
also on its yearly weeding and selection. And upon the quality ot
the standard chosen as a model or guides m the management, settles
the problem as to ])rofit or loss in labor and investment.

It is a maxim, '^ That the sheep possesses for the farmer a golden
hoof " and while this should be true, comparatively speaking, the say-
ing is just as likely to be erroneous, as the remark we have often
heard made "that sheep were profitable as grubbers. Do men

gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? There can be but (me
answer to this question, and that in the negative. And I do not know
of a single instance in my recollection where any man ever gathered
successfully wool and mutton from hazel, burdock, or thistles. We
often see the plan tried but the scheme is never successtul.

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QrARTERT/r EePOUT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

175

The ytart in a race frequently determines the result. The meDura
tton ot a seed bed often deterniines the result of a crop. Hence also
in tiie beginning or start in a farm enterpiise, upon the standard
cliosen by which we select, or breed our farm stock, with clear and
weJl-dehned ideas as to what i)urpose we select for, or breed for de
termiues whether or not the enterprise is to be crowned with success
and the Jioots of our farm stock prove to be gulden ' '

The farmer whose ambition is guided by cool and judicious judgment
m the management of a mixed husbandry is probably as likelv to
succeed at present under the influence of prevailing circumstances to
send his grain ted to stock and the stock itself frt)m the farm on
golden hoofs as any other class of farmers. And yet we can confound
this i.rinciple of a mixed husbandry with a principle which often
breeds disaster as m carrying some of all kinds of stock we are liable to
overcrowd our teedmg capacity in winter, and our pastures in summer
Ihe sales are not so sweeping at any one time, lessening the amount
of stock at a single sale, to the capacity of the amount of feed on hand
to can-y the stock through a protracted drouth or long winter Every
careful and foresighted farmer who foresees the unwelcome expense
oi liaying to buy feed in seasons of scarcity, to carrv his stock through
a protracted drouth or long winter, will avert the danger bv adjusting
the amount of ins stock to the corresponding capacity of his feed Ii
IS an old adage and a true one, that, " a danger foreseen is half averted "
Ami the farmer who realizes this standard fact that we are at all times
subject to late spring frosts, drouths in summer, long winters and
frequent shortages in s^ome of our various kinds of feed crops, and at
all times is prepared for the emerging by a resource sui.ply of feed
is not the man who is ambitious to sell his farm in this communitv of
home markets and go west. As we think over the list of names of
thif In^/' tY '^,^*l"?if t^nces in almost any neighborhood, we observe
this fact. That, with possibly the dairymen excepted who has all
necessary help within his own family, the farmers hive been the most
prosperous and progressive, who have carried out a plan of mixed
farming or mixed husbandry. Farmers who have not gone wlu'.lly
int.. sheei» raising every time sheep were high in j^rice, or princii.ally
into horses when they were the most wanted, or into something else
t^nr.JZJ '*' ''T ' >"*' °" *'^^ f""trary, have gone on in the even
JZj 1. ii ''^'' "^•^'^'•'nf^^^^T of most all kinds of stock, whose
ideal standard is ever a {,ood and markefahle quality, instead of ,,uan-
tity, and whose ideal hie as a farmer is independence and contentment
for contentment if under comfortable, circumstances in the mi Idle walks

told haUheX?,f r- ,^,'" /V' ^" "'^^ I'^^^^'-b ^lW« truthfuHv
told that the greatest wealth that a man can jwssess is contenlmeeni '

Ihere never was a successful manufacturer of any kind of a com

modify, or any man who had under his care, and control a compHca

tion ot affairs, who had foresight and discernment enough toXect

govern, and successfully manage his own business, but 'diat was

necessarily an independent thinker. This is equally true c.nwnh''

the farmer. A man may follow some anti.p.ated system of man "e"-

me tashe has always done, and also his ancesters before him , he

dX't ''''■I ^"7"'"'' '-' '•«T?'*'^f?« of g^^i". and mecluuiicalh- com
plete the circle of an annual business by rule. But the m-in wo
stands ,„«../«- of the situation in his business in ««,/ S/, i„7ife m s
realize tha we have entered an age of iin,.rovement, and undei he
almost startling changes from the old modis to the new ways wh ch

are to day successfully en^jfaging our attetion, he must think and act
for hiuiseif or get left in the race. And any move that he may make
in any way in the management of his aHairs, should be made so far as
possible with a knowledge of what others are doing in the same line
of business as his own, but Avith a considerate independence of the
cause that they are pursuing in that line of business. If the majority
of the merchants through the county that are engaged in the dry goods
trade, should change and go into the hardware or into some other
speciality because the merchants in that lino of trade had done the
best during the last year, iJHii business Avould then be overdone, and
many of them would see hard times and even fail.

Should the majority of the men in the professional callings through
the country adopt one, there would not be room enough in Webster's
proverbial, "up-stairs" and the majority would fail, while those who
remained true and unwavering in their special branches i)reviously
cliosen would do well.

And yet we as farmers in this country too frequently make just this
kind of a mistake. Too many of us do not do enough independent
thinking and acting. Like drowning seamen we are too apt to
grasp some project of bright promises that unexpectedly looms up, and
swamp it to the inconvenience and peril to the majority. The man
who is continually changing the standard of his farm operations, shift-
ing from one speciality to another, in constant pursuit of that line of
farming which is paying the best at the time of the change, usually
hoes a hard row. Said a man to me a few years ago, I do not know
why it is so, but it is just this way with me, when I get anything to
put on to my farm, let it be stock, or seed, I have to pay an exorbitant
price for it, and when I get any farm stock, or produce ready to sell,
it seems that all creation has the same article on sale. The price is
then always low and I do not get much for it. If I could sell my farm
I believe that I would go west.

The simple story of this man's experience, so honestly and dis-
couragingly told to me is not an uncommon one, and is easily ex-
plained. He was always ready for the commencement of a new race,
for which he paid large entrance fees, and in which ho \\i\^ just as
svre to get left. Always paying inflated prices, for the article the
most in demand at the time of its purchase.

To illustrate, when butter was bringing a good price, this man was
always looking around for another cow or two. Because, as he said,
butter paid now better than anything else on a farm. When the usual
periodical high prices in sheep came around, he found himself out of
that kind of stock, since he had sold the last ones that he had at a
sacrifice to get rid of them. But as he always went into the business
of sheep raising under just these circumstances he never failed to buy.
But when he again got his stock bred, grown and ready for market he
found that thousands of other farmers had done precisely the same
thiii*>- The markets were now glutted with the article that he had now
on sale and our friend would again be obliged to sell his surplus st^x^k
at a sacrifice to relieve his yiastures or get througli the winter. \V hen
potatoes were scarce and high in price, he bought seed and ])lanted
more than his usual acreage to ])otatoes, and was usually disa])])ointed
at the ]irice he was obliged to accept for his crop after digmg, storing
and hauling to market. He would sell his team in seed time or m
harvest. Lose valuable time in looking for anotlier, and final I v my
as much or more money for another team than he sold for. riius

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176

QUAliTEKLY liKroUT.

Tacillatiiio- and ever chano-in-, his proi-ress was always slow alwavs
Clamped and discoura^iu-. His row a hard one. This man and his
lamily were known m the nei^rhborhood where they lived to be hard
Avorkers from morning until night the year aixnind. '

This man and his family were seemingly busy at somethin^>- His
crops wei-e usually good as they were well cared for. But the finaneial
part ol his management always seemed to be a succession of failures
By way of comparison let us make use of a brighter illustration as -i
proof that farming as an enterprise need not necessarily prove to be
unreminerative and disastrous as to botli pleasure and profit on an
eastern farm. A neigh])or of the farmer on a farm no hirger or iio
better witli family expenses no less, with no better start in life aiul
yet a farmer who lias always seemcnl to hold time l)v the forelock
jyever being driven to a financial move but successful as a practi'
cal business farmer. Whose i)r()ducts usually brou-ht remunerative
prices, and whose farm stock seemed to all go ofi^ on golden hoofs
Ihe key to this man's success lay simply in this fact." He adhered
strictly to a i)rinciple of a mixed husbandry. Never being (enticed to
deviate trom or change his well chosen standards as to kinds quality
or capacity, no matter how strongly the attention of other' farmers
might be turned towards something else, which seemed to be paving-
best at the time. He could always be found in possession of one o"-
two g()od brood mares a brood sow, a few good stock and butter cows
and a lew well selected breeding ewes.

Every year he turned off one or two good horses of his own raising
at prices winch made his neighbor nervous to hear about. He usualfy
sold his calves thrifty and shapely in the fall. And it was always a
matter of encouragement to disparaging ones to hear this man tell
what he had made from his cows that year His stock ewes were
always of the very best of the larger grades, irrespective of any parti-
cular fine breed, except in the cease of the sire which he continually
weeded from year to year. Throwing out the weak, old, or defective
OTies, and drawing his recruits from his ewe lambs which he rarely sold
He invariably liad a few premium buck lambs which brought good
prices among his neighbor farmers in the fall for stock, and raised the
average ol all the lambs sold. Which, added to the amount of money
the wool sold tor, from the ewes, netted him an income from his fiock
the exact amount of which never indicated hard times. Haviiio- to buy
nothing on the top of an inflated market, but often being enal)led to
sell some of his various kinds of stock on such a market, it always
seemed that he had some kind of stock or farm i^roducts, that every
body wanted and by keeping within the capacity of his farm, and by
being subject to disappointing failures in scarcely anything he was
m the majority of cases, enabled to feed his hay, forage, andlrrain, to
his farm stock at a profit, and finally turn everything oft' on qolden
hoofs. Two examples which we commonly i)ortrayed in the dilierent
phases ol farm management and farm life.

Finally farmers, upon the standard which measures our asi)ira-
tions in the (lifterent branches of farming, largely dejx^nds our suc-
cess or failure in the special branches chosen and /o ,r/n'rh we must
now be liil V awake and upon the standard chosen as a model for our
guidance, depends the siuxvss or failure and worldly i-ating of all men
in any occu|)ation in life Let us then as a means of information, and
m;d.iiig our farm life lighter, our rewards greater, and our lives
brighter, take advantage of every opportunity that presents itsself to

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

177

raise the standard of our ideas, as to our homes, our farms, our conven-
iences and j)rivileges, the (piality of our selections and products, and
through the influence of standard books and periodicals, which should
adorn our tables, and through social intercourse with one another, as
as on occasions like the present, circulate an exchange of opinions,
that will tend to lengthen, deepen, and broaden, everything con-,
uected with farm life. Born of those privileeres vyhich is said to make
it honorable, independent and desirable.

SCIENTIFIC FEBTILIZATION

Bv A. J. Breinig, Allentowuy Pa.

{ Head at Macungie Institute. )

In discussing fertilizers with reference to their scientific use, I do
not expect to present anything new to the intelligent reading farmer,
and we may congratulate ourselves on the fact that we are living in an
age when, through books and papers, the developments of science are
so largely disseminated. I shall f(H'l proud of my audience if all can
say, "we have known and practiced all that you have said." Should
any be present who have not made the science of using manures a
study, I trust that they will recongnize a something in the matter ])re-
sented, that will stimulate them to lay hold of and ap])ly in farming
the results of the studies and experiments of others.

Many ])roducts are made to-day successfully, in the discovery of
which the manufacturer had no part. Common sense availed itself of
the sci(^ntitic investigation of others, and by a judicious application of
maiiufacturin<r and business tact, the result is success in product and
success in business enter)n'ise. It may be precisely so with tlie farmer.
He need not be, and scarcely can be, ex])ected to be a chemist, a l>ot-
anist, a mineralogist, Imt if'he is up to the times and acciuaints him-
self with th(^ scientific facts developed by experts, he can ])ractically
and successfully avail himself on the farm of the discoveries m the
laboratory. Tliere has been a well-known prejudice amc^ng men ])rac-
tical with their hands, against the ecpially practical work of students
but who (h) their work with tluur heads. We hope this ])rejudice has
been and is being largely overcome as the great triumphs of science
manifest themselves. A mechanic who has never worked a day in the
field, may so a])ply his mechanical art that he may invent a reaper that
will 'save thc^ farmers of the land many days of hard toil and m.my
thousands of dollars. Just so the agricultural chemist, surnninded
with his chemicals and retorts, omded by laws of cause and eflect,
not only may but already has made the discovcnnes, by which the
f.iniHM- can mnko his poor land good and his good land better.

In no department of knowledge has such extraordinary pro^rress been
made within the ])resent generation as in the develoi)ment <)f the laws
of iiatuK^ which govern the growth of seeds and ])lants. The simide
truth that plants, like animals, have their peculiar food m the soil
unlocks the whole mystery of agriculture. Mod(4'n chemistry, although
it may not have discovcrtHl this truth, has illustrated and established
it, and given it a force and ai)plication of which oui fathers had no

12 -

1

f

178

QUAKTEKLY RePORT.

Pennsylvania State Boaiid ue Aguicultuke.

170

i^:

|i

conception. Every iutellig-ent farmer now knows that he must feed
his wheat, his corn, his barley, his oats, iiis potatoes and turnips, witli
the same care tliat he would feed his cattle, his horses and his sheep.
Yes, and the agricultural chemist tells him with what he must feed
them. By the analysis of the component ])arts of plants, it is ascer-
tained of what elements they are constituted, and then the api)lication
of these elements to their subsistence becomes as easy and familiar as
the application of food for cattle.

However much the chemist has told of the effects of the light and
heat of the sun, and the constituents of the atmosphere and rain, yet
with these the farmer has nothing- to do except so far as proper (cultiva-
tion will enable these elements to work to best advantage. The farmer
can not make the light and heat, but he can so regulate the location of
the crop that these may have their pro]3er effect. He can not make
the rain but he can so cultivate the ground that it may more readily
retain the w^ater that is necessary ; so drain as not to be injured by ex-
cess of water ; so pulverize the soil that the rain will be more available
to the roots of the plants. Chemistry tells us that about two-thirds of
the nutriment of plants is derived from the elements. Granting this
to be correct, then the farmer can control but one-third of plant food.
The proper understanding and application of this one-third of plant
nutriment will constitute what may be called ''scientific fertilization."

If the farmer will understand and api)ly the four laws of liusbandry
as established by Professor Liebig, he will have in a "nut shell" the
entire science. These laws are as follows :

1. "A soil can be termed fertile only Avhen it contains all th(^ mater-
ials requisite for the nutrition of plants in the required quantity and
in the pro})er form. "

" 2. With every crop a portion of these ingi-edients is removed. A
part of this portion is again added from the inexhaustible stores of the
atmosphere ; another part, however, is lost forever if not replaced by
man."

3. " The fertility of the soil remains unchanged if all the ingredients
of a croi> are given back to the land. Such a restitution is effected by
manure. " (The word manure must not be comfounded with stable ma
nure, but it applies to anything and everything that contains, in an
available form, the required plant food.)

4. " The manure produced in the course of husbandry is not sufficient
to permanently maintain the fertility of tbe farm: it lacks the con
stituency whicli are annually exported in the shai)e of grain, hay, milk
and live stock."

Inasmuch as no soil in our long established farming districts is
truly fertile, that is, contains " all the materials requisite for the nutri-
tion of plants," the above laws resolve themselves into the following:
The farmer must apply all the materials, both as to quantity and
quality, that a particular crop requires, in order to insure a i)erfect
growth : except so much as the soil is known already to contain. To
ap|>ly these materials he must necessarily know what are the constitu
ents of the jdants. The knowing and the application constitutes
" scientific fertilization. "

As a matter in point right here, allow me to quote from "A Treatise
on Manures -:' " One of the most serious points at issue between science
and agricultural practice at present, appears to ])e the com])arative
values of farm yard nianim^ and artificial fertilizers. So far as absolute
experiment goes, the evidence seems to be in favor of the application

of the latter, while on the other hand, the i)4eponderating opinion
among farmers is on the side of farm-yard manure. Does this not
show a want of judgment on the part of the farmer for applying arti-
ficial manures 1 His failures are due to the ignorance of the exact
nature and requirements of the soil and crops he may desire to grow,
or to the prejudice against artificial manures. It appears that the
innovations of new systems cause deep regret in the minds of some
men who are wedded to their predjudices, but those who attempt to
relapse into old by -gone paths will find themselves left out m the race.
It may be said that the farmer has dispensed with science m the past.
Very true, science was dispensed with in times past, because, while the
area of the country was as now, the population was vastly less, and
their requirements far more limited. The virgin soil contained natur-
ally a sufiiciencv of jdant food, and by the cultivation ot alternate
plots the standard of fertility was kept up by nature. But now that
the land has become, and is daily becoming, more incapable ot pro-
ducing- remunerative crops without artificial assistance, it is necessary
that the farmer should have a thorough knowledge of natures laws, as
re-ards both the soil and ulant life, before he can successfully manip-
ulate thesB i)rimary agents to his own advantage He must know tlie
requirements of croj) and soil ; for " life" according to Mr. Herbert
Spencer, is the '' continuous adjustment of internal relations to external
relations, " In " the plant lies the principle of life ; in the environments
are these conditions of lite. Without the fulfilment ot the conditions,
which are wholly supplied by environment, there can be no life, iiiere
fore the farmer, to understand his part of the business, must know
what to apply, and how and when to apply it most economically and

^^LeT ui^ now, as briefly as possible, be guided by the agricultural
chemist in his experiments aiid the results which they have given him
in our eff-orts to acquire a knowledge of the fertilizers which can and
must be furnished in successful farming. If we desire to know the con>
stituency of any compound, natural or manufactured, we go to the an-
alytical chemist who reduces the article into its elementary compounds,
ascertaining not cmly the elements contained therein, but the propor-
tion of each. Having these we can, as a rule, reproduce these com
pounds It is precisely on this )>rinciple that we miLst i)roceed with
reference to the requirements of any plant or crop. We question the
agricultural chemist who, by analyzation, refers us to the elements he
finds in that i)lant or crop and the quantity of each. In his investiga-
tion the chemist ascertains that the constituents of all plants are ot
two general characters, atmospherical matter, so designated because
derived from the atmosphere, and earthy matter, because derived from

' A^already intimated, the farmer cannot supply the atmospherical
matter, and we will content ourselves by simply stating that they con-
sist of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen ^ .^, ^, . , . ..

Nitrogen should properly be classified with the atmospheric matter.
Although it forms about four-fifths of the air about us yet plants do
not cretthia nutriment directly from the atmosphere. Nitrogen is ob-
tained bv plauts from some of its compounds, and as these compounds
can be procured by th(^. famer, it becomes one 5)f the princi]>al in-
gredients coming under his consideration in scientific fertilization As
nitrogen in food is of absohite necessity to th(^ growth of animals, so
nitrogen in the soil is indispensable to the growth of cultivated plants.

^

180

QUAliTEULV ReIOUT.

Pennsylvania State Boakh of Agiucui^tuke.

181

It IS obtained by the soil m the form of ammonin from th.> atmosphere

."«n/l -."^1' "'"VrV" V^ ''""''''* *""^ vegetable matter and the mauures
called nitrates The larg-est and most readily available supply ol"Lf
trogen is found in blood meat-tanka-e, bones, sulphate of ammonk
nitrate of soda and nitrate of potassa. '

By the process of burning vegetable matter, whether it be the o-r-.i,,
and straw ot cereals, garden truck, the root-croi)s or the fruit -bear
mg plants and trees, we drive off the atmospheric constituents an 1
reduce the earthy matter to ash. The analysis of this ash g Sslhe
kind and quantity crt earthy constituents which the plant in its -rowth
and formation nius derive from the soil. These ingredients J^-reu

AlSlii''""t l*^"'^^"" r '^"^ '^'"^'^^ ^°*" "'^«*^ classes as tXws •"
Alkalies-potash soda, lime, magnesia. Acids-phosphoric suh.hu
xiCj^ sihcic. Neutrals-chlorine, oxide of iron suipiai-

Our state laws, and those of other states, recognize but three in
gredients as entering into the value of a commercial fertilizer nameh- •
nitrogen or amiiKmia, i>hosphoric acid and potash. While'it is nee'
essary thus to discriminate for the protection of the farmer, and while
one ingredient has a higher chemical rating and moneyed value than
another, yet the plant knows no such discrimination ; that is a perfect
plant must needs have all and on.^ ingredient becomes iust as neces-
sary us another. If a soil could be found in which there is no silicic
acid, the supply ot that ingredient would be just as necessary as now
It IS iound necessary to add potash, ammonia and phosphoVic acid
Almost every farmer using artificial manures knows that the reason for
designating only the above three ingredients, is because all the others
are eitlier iound in all soils or they are readily available at a nominal
cost. Ihese other ingredients -however non-essential in the manu-
SaSr ^*'''*'''^®'~^ '"'• *^1^« "P i» «rf^*'J' "itli >i few explanatory re-

Soda. As is generally known this ingredient is found in common
salt, known as chlond<> <,f sodmm or muriate of soda. Soils not near
the sea-coast are generally deficient in this ingredient, and, while it is
a disputed point with some, there is suflieient evidence from results

nect on «ith all our crops. S..m(> absolutely demand it. Besides salt
sulphate of soda and nitrate of soda will furnish the same ingredient
in connection with their valuable acids. mgieaient

Ltme. The imryoses served by lime as a chemical constituent of the
soil are at least ot iour distinct kinds.

1. It«"l'l'liesa kind of inorganic ifood, which appears to be neces-
sary to the healthy growth of all cultivated plants

2. It neutia izes acid substances, and decomposes or rendei-s harm-
less other noxious compounds.

3. It changes the inert vegetable matter in the soil, so as to "-radu
ally render it useless to vegetation. "

4. It causes, facilitates or enables other usefid compounds both or-
ganic and inorganic, to be ].roduc.>d in th.. soil

While lime is found in many componn.ls it is needless to tell a
I^ehigh county farmer that the cheapest and most avMilable is our
common imestone or carbonat.. ..f lime. As is well known it is freed
troni carbonic acid during the process of burning, i.ruducing- a lime

^Tth^Jhi'.";^"'''? "^': *V' '•',":••;"■*?• "*■ *'■>• '""""^"•- In <-..nnectnm
wi I tins ingredient It should be borne,,, mind that either bone or

.^outli Carolina rock contain about fifty to fifty-five per cent, of phos-

phate of lime, of which about one-half is lime. In using either dis-
solved bone or dissolved phc^sphate rock, lime is introduced in an avail-
able form.

Magnesia. This ingredient is found in most soils and is rarely ap-
plied" as a fertilier. While it is a necessary ingredient in plant life,
yet if used largely it becomes decidedly injurious. One of the chief
sources of magnesia for agricultural ])urposes is from magnesia lime-
stone. It, however, need not be considered by our farmers.

Suiphuric acid. This ingredient is often used as a manure,^ and is
most available in the form of sidphate of lime or plaster. The soil
uiion which plaster operates most beneficially are those that are light,
dry and sandy or open, as they soonest admit the rain-water which
dissolves and conveys it to the roots of the plants. Anyone acquainted
with the manufacture of so-called " i)hosphate of lime," knows that the
phosphoric acid is rendered soluble by the use of sulphuric acid, which,
combining with the lime, forms sulphate of lime. Hence, by the use
of .soluble phosphates the soil is furnished with sulphuric acid

Silica acid is common sand. By itself silica acid is iusolul)le, but
compounded in the soil with potash, soda, lime and magnesia, it be-
comes soluble and forms a very necessary part of all plants.

Chlorine is a constituent of common salt (chloride of sodium) aiu
from this source may be obtained in sufficient quantities for manurial

purposes ,. . , , ,

Oxide of iron. It is seldom that this ingredient is referred to as nec-
essary application to any soil or crop, and yet experiments have made
it evident that iron in the form of sulphate of iron can be used on cer-
tain crops with advantage. . . ^. , t i\

Phosphoric acid. "We come now to the consideration ot one ot the
most important of all subjects connected with fertilization. 1 1h)s-
I .horic acid forms about one-half of the ashes of wheat, rye, corn, l)uck-
wheat and oats, and nearly the same proportion of barley, beans and
peis In fact no cultivated v)lant can grow without it. ihe cultiva-
tii.n of our whole country has been such as to take away the [.hosphonc
acid from the soil withou't returning it except in very minute quantities.
Every hundred bushels of wheat sold contains (and removes t'erma-
iiently from the soil) about sixty pounds of phosphoric acid. Other
grains, as well as the root crops and grapes, remove likewise a huge

(inantity of it. , ,, .., , , , , -i

That'this removal of one of the most valuable constituents ot the soil
has been the cause of more exhaustion of farms, and niore emigration
in search of fertile districts, than any other effect ol injudicious tann-
ing is a fact which multiplied instances most clearly prove.

Manv suppose that .soils which produce good crops, year aiter year,
are inexhaustible, but time invariably proves the contrary 1 hey may
possess a sufficients large stock of phosphoric acid and other plant
constituents, to last a long time, but when that stock becomes so re-
duced that there is not enough l.'ft for the use ..f full <Tops, the pro-
ductive power .^f the soil will yearly decrease, until it becomes worth-

Tills ine-redient being so necessary for all crops, and all soils being
more or less deficient, th.^ important (luestion for the farmer to ask is,
how can T best return to the soil the n<'eded phosphoric acid? it the
farmer will f<n-a moment consider that the bulk of the phosi-horic acid
enters into the grain which he feeds and sells, he must conclm e t lat
it is impossible to ,-eturn to the soil an equivalent for what he has

t

r, ■

182

Quarterly Report.

taken out b}' the use of the stabh3 manure of the farm. To raise pav-
ing- crops the farmer must find his source of supi)ly of phosphoric^ acul
outside of the farm.

Phosphoric acid does not exist in nature in a free state, Init is always
found in unicm with the alkali bases, lime, soda, potash, magnesia and
ahimina, forming phosphate of lime, i^hosphate of soda, phosphate of
[)otash, i)hos})hate of magnesia and phosphate of alumina. The most
abundant, most available and most useful in airriculture is the phos

phospJ _ , , ^ ^.^^.._.^..,

of Florida. All animal fertilizers such as tankage, fish-scrap, etc.,
contain more or less of phosi)lioric acid.

As is generally known, the phosphoric acid — as well as other in-
gredients of plant food— must be in a soluble form l)efore the roots of
the plant can absorb it. In phosphatic rock it is doul)tful whether anv
material portion of the phosphoric acid becomes soluble in the soil, and
hence it is absolutely necessary that it be treated, after pulverization,
with sulphuric acid, which, combining with the lime, forms sulphate of
lime and leaves the i)hosphoric acid free, or, in other words, solubh^
For quick action it is also necessary to treat ground bone and other
animal mattcu- in the same way. In time the insoluble bone and ani
mal ])hosj)hate of lime will dissolve in the soil, especially if ground into
a fine state, hence whether dissolved by sulphuric acid or undissolved,
bontis are the most valuable soucres of phosphoric acid.

Potash. This, last but not least ingredient, is often deficient in the
soil. Its deficiency may have been caused in two ways. Either it may
not have existed largely in the rock from which the soil was formed,
and consequently is equally absent from the soil itself, or it may once
have been present in sufiicient quantities, and have been carried away
m crops, until too little remains in an available form for the require-
ments of fertility.

In either case the deficiency may have been made up and it may be
supplied by the farmer in various ways. Potash, as well as alf the
other mineral mammas, is contained in stable manure, l)ut not (as is
also the case with tlie others) in sufficient quantities to restore the
pro|)er balance to soils where it is largely deficient, nor even to make
uj) lor what IS yearly removed with each crop. It is necessary to ap]>lv
more i^otash than is contained in the stable manure of the farm.

Were we iii a wood burning country, wood-ashes would be a cheap
source from which to obtain our supply of i)otash : but this su])plv
not existing, w-e find the most available source in the German i)otash
salts now largely imported into this country. The names of the i)otash
productsarekainit kieseriteandsylvinite, and the concentrated pro-
ducts ot muriates of potash and sulphates of potash.

As in the matter of scientific knowledge, the farmer owes much to the
untiring efi"orts of the students of science, so he is under obligations
to the men who have given time and immense outlays of capital for the
manufacture of fertilizers on scientific i>rinciples. ^ In the al)sence of
the possibility of each farmer being his own cliemist, or the ])ossibilitv
(>t knowing the requir(>ments of the soil of each farm and of (^ach pl(;t
on the same farm, the most ]>racticable and j.rofitable method is for the
armer to avail himself of the fii-st-class fertilizers manufactured, con-
taining ill th(^ proper i>ro])ortion and most avilable form the three

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

183

principal ingredients of a complete fertilizer as already described ;
• Jl w fwftLre has been no allusion to method ot application

books Sivmg au uit ^^ succeed from lack of

'T SSn'Iil™ m"f"''Sui»t .-tatever are the «ire"»..t.„<«>

illua-e richer soil, and consequently larger crops the laiinei mu
w'rd nWe to make ends meet with a free and independent liMugr,

pay.

K

DOES FARMING PAY

Bv David R. Hindman.

(Read at Clarion County Institute. )

I tUi.k> 1K.« »o„» „. you «y ;»^^^^^^^

complaining of troul.les little Pe"y """-t?,;'!; ^„,,,..[ne their business

sbadows'that a little effort might -^J^l^^'J^',^:;^^

spirit is shorn of \t? «"f ^^^^^^/^/^VS^t fir vi K^^^^

whereas a little exertion on om part niuiix ^^ ,„^,. tj.j^ jjfe i„

T r f iTa ™f "MLnr:Vposilfonrrave tlieir skeletons in the
what we make it ^^^i / Lvl fhpre and not paraded before the

i;'f :iard tinls will pass, and Wt ^l^^ ^ ^TieT^^^ ^
the degenerate sons of sires * -\ -,-> .J^^altion. and trying to
prices, without ^^, '"'''f, ^^t rs a v going to financial ruin? It is
make every one think ^'''^t; /■;'" '^^ *"' *^^^^^^^^^ ,^„a bring out the latent
these years of hard times *' f^^^^Y^^";,-":^.^^^ life, and we

\i

184

Quarterly Report.

Jiiaiiy boys who are ashamed to take up anything- that is not iu the
|)i'of(!ssioiial line.

Veiy little attention is given to the fact, that one sliould first find
for what lie is best suited in life.and then g-o ahead if possible If you
have talent and taste for a professional life, then follow that in which
you can be most successful, and on that let your energies be conceu
trated. It seems to be the disposition of some farmers to court or
envy the success of other business, this feeling- nourished and agitated
results in them being- dissatisfied with their own occupation AVe
should not allow ourselves to be thus deceived if their business is so
profitable Why do so many of them fail ? In making a comparison
between tarnimg and other i)ursuits, how does the farmer ascertain
their per cent. 1 First they want to live comfortable, well fed and
clothed. Have sleigh, buggy, carriages, etc., as well as all the neces-
sary conveniences around the house, all dressed in the latest fashion
and so forth. When these expenses are all paid, then he thinks his
profits only consists in tlie cash he has at the end of the year It is
true our farm property has suffered a shrinkage in value' in the last
lew years, but they answer us the same purpose that thev would if
they were now valued higher Our Short Horns, Jerseys, Clydesdales
and Percherons are yet salable at reasonable prices. Yet it is not
merely a question of (lollars and cents. See the advantages a farmers
ife gives in the training ot his children. We must judge the future
by the past ami i)resent, who on an average have been the most
successfu in all pursuits in life. It has been the farmer's son and it
can be attributed to no other cause than the early training of industry
and economy which has prepared them for the success in life which
they have reached. And their sons not having early the training wliicli
they received are not able to hold the position of their fathers, but are
again succeeded by the farmer boy. It seems as if the f^-ni was
nature s school for developing both mental and physical i.ower in tlfe
youth, which prepares so many of them for the successful part in life's
battle. Then let us let well enough alone, and keep right along wfth

XiX^Hts tt"h t^re^f^^r S---^^*-li«^ - I-1-tion^to th^
If we calculate our profits the same as the business man we will find

and Is' W if;?*"^ '"" '^™'f r ^■°^>'^^'l-^ ^-"J' t''« '•««* «f •"•'^■'kS
and as long as the farmer is able to ra se his family well and 1-iv ui>

a competency for old age, we think farming pTys S t i„ order to
ifetoTnJctice.'""'* "'-l^^rstand the business! aLl reduce his know"

PROFITABLE FARMING.

By Daniki, Dkvlin, Olter Creek, Pa.
iKwirt at Meroer Inntltitte.l

exSliH^v" in'^ ^^^*''"' ''*' ^'"™"'^' *'""*'»- »« '"«'-e lal'or, requiring no
ProfiUbl.. t„™,„s. ro.,„ires lo lie Lau,,lc;i .Vlrue a„,l h„„e,t „rm.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

185

ciples, demandino: of the soil only that which it is capable of produc-
ing, and arranging the mode of farming- to suit existing conditions.

A certain knowledge of soils and plants becomes necessary to suc-
cessful farming.

Plants are divided into orders and sub orders or classes, and some
orders of plants require less nutriment or ])lant food for their growth
and maturity than others.

The grasses require less nutriment than the grains ; oats requires
less than wheat, wheat less than corn, etc.

Soils also differ in their fertility ; some are i)oor and almost barrren,
while others are rich and productive. Plants requiring but little
nutriment should be grown on the poor soils, those requiring a greater
amount on the richer soils.

The farm sliould be fitted ])y the proper application of manure to
grow full crops of such plants as are adapted to its soils, without
which there is little or no profit And as machinery in modern times
is a potent factor in planting, growing and gathering the crops, the
farm should be as free as possible from stumps, stones or other ob-
structions, hurtful to machinery, or causing a waste of ground, or delay
in the prosecution of work.

Although plants are differently constituted, their work is the same
everywhere; individual growth, and the production of seeds to per-
l>etuate their kind, beinc their chief occupation or sole design.

To Jiid and facilitate plants to perform their work in a more vigorous
or fruitful manner is plant culture, or that branch of farming having
for its object the care and growth of plants.

The plants of agriculture in this section, are chiefly restricted to
fruits, grains, grasses, vegetables, etc., all of which can ))e grown with
profit to the farmer, if proper care and attention is paid to their culti-
vation.

To grow grains, the ground must be rich, thoroughly plowed and
properly fitted to receive the seeds : conditions which are necessary to
promote a healty and vigorous growth.

The planting should be accurately done and in proper time, using
for seed, grain of varieties of the diflerent cereals that mature early
and are hardy and prolific. If due regard is paid to the prei)aration
of the soil and the selection of seeds, full crojis can generally be grown,
and are essential to profitable farming.

The grasses have a greater range of ada]itability to soils than the
grains; dry soils are suitable for some, damj) for others, while a few
grow on poor or w^et soils.

By fitting the soil to produce a strong and abundant growth, the
grasses become of great value to the farmer if properly utilized.
Grasses, like all other plants, absorb from the soil, by their roots, de-
composed mineral and vegetable matter in a soluble state ; this is
carried by the stalk to the leaves and there manufactured into cellulose,
starch, albuminoids, etc. ; the cellulose^ for further growth of the plant,
and the starch and albuminoids for the seeds. When growth ceases the
cellulose composing the stalk becom(^s fixed, hard and w<)ody, and
when the stores in the leaves of structural mattei- for the seeds are
exhausted, only a woody texture of ripened cc^lhilose remains.

For pastures a mixture of the grasses is preferable, which may con-
sist of red and white clover, timothy, june-grass, red-top, etc.

While some of these grow and mature early, others remain in the

186

Ql AKTEKLY RePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agriculture.

187

grass state much longer, thus affording a greater sui)ply and a better
quality for food for stock.

For meadows, the grasses should be kept separate as much as i)ossi -
ble, as the disparity in their growth renders a mixture unlit for hay ;
some varieties being almost matured while others are giowing. To
make nutritious hay all grasses should be cut as the heads api>ear,
they then contain the greatest amount of animal nutriment, the plant
food manufactured for the seeds and further growth of ]dant is still in
a transitory state and is yet easily assimilated by animals, nor has the
celluolse already forming the stalk yet became fixed or woody, which
renders it unlit for animal food ; grasses cut at this stage of growth
will grow and fatten all kinds of stock requiring it.

The nutritive qualities of grasses decrease as the plants mature,
and when ripe little remains but that which is contained in the seeds.
Hay made at this })eriod of growth is of but little value for feeding
purposes ; stock depending entirely upon it for subsistence fall away
or grow poor ; an evidence of an insufficient supply of nutriment in the
food, as a consequence the farmer cannot have profitable returns.

Clover has a larger percentage of nutriment than the other grasses,
and if cut at the ]H'oper time is of more value to stock men.

In this section clover should be cut by the fifteenth of June if in-
tended for liav ])ur])oses, commencing when the heads first appear
and terminating when the cro^) is half in bloom.

Clover should, if possible, be the exclusive hay diet of sheep, calves
and milch cows, as it affords as great a su]^ply of nutriment and pro-
duces as beneficail results as the best pastures, and besides being valu-
able as a hay crop there can also be grown a crop of seed which gives
additional profit to the farmer.

Stock is an important branch of farming, and if conducted right
affords good returns to the farmer.

Breeds of the different classes of animals that are best fitted for the
intended purposes should be selected for stock raising. For meat
producers, those breeds that have good growth, early maturity, and
possessing the largest amount of tlie most valuable meats.

For dairy j)ur[)oses cows that produce large quantities of good rich
milk. For wool growing breeds of sheei) should be selected having
th(^ greatest combined values of wool and mutton products.

In producing beef breeds, cattle possessing the qualities most re-
quisite for this should be employed such as Durham, Devon and Here-
ford.

To grow beef ])rofitably calves should nm with the cows, and where
cows have a sui^erfluity of milk, milking should be done until the
calves beci>me large enough to utilize the whole product. In summer
they should have good pasutre of suflicient growth to allow them, in a
reasonable time, to obtain a ]^roper supply of food.

Where pastures are short and more traveling requirea to obtain food
the consumption is greater and profits less.

In winter they require good shelter and sliouhl be fed hay, clover
if possible, tliree times a day. The calves should not be taken from
the cows until weaned, which is (hnie by the cows at the pro])er time;
most c(nvs wean their calves when about a year old ; calves raised in
this way grow from the start and are neither dwarfed or stunted.

At one year ()ld they weigh eight or nine hundred pounds. The
best strains, witli the care taken by some farmers, weigh, at one year
old, <me thousand pounds,at two years, old with proper food and shelter,

they weigh from fifteen to eighteen hundred ixmnds, at three years
from twenty to twenty -four hundred pounds.

On farms where the milk product is emi>loyed for butter purposes,
calves, if raised, must be hand fed, they should receive the milk as it
comes'from the cows, for at least a month, five or six quarts at a time,
twice a day ; they should also be fed hay or turned on pasture, as cir-
cumstances recpiire ; the change to skim milk should be gradual so as to
keep them growing, and without this there is no profit ; grain should be
fed. Corn and oats mixed and ground is the best feed for calves, small
quantities of which are required at first, increasing until at the age of
three months, two quarts per day is fed Calves should receive the
milk ration until six months old, and the grain at least for a year.

Calves raised in this way not having their growth materially injured,
class next in profit to those whom nature has fed and fitted. Calves
never should be fed sour milk, ripe hay or any imiiroper food, as it
permanently iniures them. . -n • i

Successful dairying requires that the quantity ot milk given by
each cow be sufficiently large, and that the products manufactured
therefrom be of the best quality ; otherwise there is little or no profit.
As cows of no one breed of cattle are more permanently fitted for the
dairy than those of another, it follows that the common cow or those
most numerous must be utilized. Cows of whatever breed that have
been kept i-^i when young are poor milkers, and those that have been
kept in medium or only grooving condition are generally good milkers.
As butter is one of the leading products of the dairy and as the profit
to the dairyman depends on the quality, it becomes necessary that
great care be taken in its manufacture. 11..

The milk when taken from the cows, should be strained and kept at
a temperature ranging from forty-five to fifty degrees, until the cream
is removed, and this should be done at most in twenty-lour hours ; the
cream must be churned at once if the V)est grade of butter is desired ;
the cream of each milking should l)e churned separately ; where the
cream of several milkings is put together for churning the atoms
differing in age and ripeness will impair the quality oi the buttter.

Where the milk is kept at too high or too low a temperature, or
where the cows are fed impro])er food, such as ripe hay, straw, etc
or kept in ix.or condition, the butter will be of an inferior quality and
when st^nt to market will sell at about one-half the price paid for

choice butter. , ^ ,, n • j £ i '

Cheese is another important pnKluct of the dairy, and if properly
made is more remunerative to the dairyman than l)utter ; to make good
cheese the milk must not be skimmetl, the utensils used in its manu-
facture must be kept scnipulously clean, the temperatures recpuivi I at
each stage of its manufacture must be strictly complied witli the
manufacture or fittin^r of the cheese must be done m a skiUtu an(l
proi^er manner, and if necessary care be taken the cheese will he ot

best quality. , , .. ^ - -j. • l \

In some dairies the milk is skimmed betore making it into cheese,
and annato is used to give it a strong rich color, and lanl lor sliorten-
ip<- making a compound but little sought tor and unht for table use.
Shall I say that through ingorance or the greed ot gain large
(juantities of' those valuable dairy products are rendered unht lor use
and their values thus depreciated. ^ . ., p j:

Raising horses is a source of much profit to the farnu^r, if proper
attention is paid to the business. Soundness, durability and style are

r

188

QUAKTEKLY llEPOliT.

points of much value in liorses, and should not be overlooked by
breeders. Animals of either sex inheriting ini])erfections should not
be used for breeding purposes, as their offsi)ring- would be more or
less affected and values diminished.

And as a proper selection of animals and plants must be made, in
order that farming may be i)rofitable, it is equally necessary that tlie
farmer should have the i)ro])er acquirements or cajmbilities to manage,
or conduct the business. A knowledge of the habits and wants of
animals and plants, with a disposition favorable to their growth and
development, manifesting its earnestness in acts of aid and comfort in
the struggle, is necessary. He should also be so fitted nnn-ally that it
would be contrary to his inclination and belief to over load or run
liorses, or to be unkind or vicious in any way towards animals : quali-
ties and accomi)lishments which are of vital importance in ))rofitable
farming.

Stock of all kinds require a suificient quantity of food of a proper
quality for their errowth and maintenance, when growing they are their
own guides as to what is sufficient or proper ; their sense of smell teaches
them what is nutritious or not, and obedient to its instructions they
only use that which it designates as beneficial, unless compelled by
hunger, to disregard its teaching.

In winter when hay is fed ri]:>e, hay or straw which their sense of
smell teaches them to reject, should not be used for feeding purposes.

Cut straw and chop, device of artful man, may deceive their sense
of smell and be consumed for food, the nutritive qualities of the g-rain
inducing the animal to partake of the straw which is valuable for food
and injurious to the system.

Cob meal or cobs in any way are worthless for feeding stock. The
proper place for corn cobs, straw, ripe hay and oil cake meal is the
manure pile. When decomposed they will be of some value as plant
lood.

Fattening stock by impressing it with the belief that food is nutri-
tious, when not, is a deception and those who practice it have but
small ])r()fits.

And why should farming- not be profitable, when all the elements

of nature teeming with life and energy, skilled in the structural

mechanism of })lants and animals, but ask the farmer to plant the

seeds. The sun by his rays of heat calls forth the idants and dailv

feeds them carbon. The shades of night bring rest, to animals, their

needed rest ; to plants, refreshed with crystal dews. The breezes waft

with gentle breath the fertilizing- elements upon tlie l>looming ])lants.

At last the maturing energies of nature are called upon. The leaves

wither. The stalks become dry. The fields of ripened grain appear.

ihe farmer has but to put forth his hand and receive the bountiful
gifts.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricitlture.

OUR PUBLIC ROADS.

189

By (teorge T. IIenery, Clarion county.

(Read at Clarion County Institute.)

An eminent writer says : The road is that i)liysical sign or symbol
by which you will best understand any age or i)eople.

If they have no roads they are savages, for the road is the creation
of man and the type of civilization.

The best roads in the world to-day are those of England, France and
Germany, the excellence of which is due to the fact that these countries
were the first to awaken from the long sleep of the dark ages, and the
growing rivalry between them necessiated attention to their roads for
the proper prosecution of both their military and mercantile interests.
In each country they early came under the national supervision. The
results of which are seen in the most splendid highways in existence,
costing the least to maintain, and in every way the most satisfactory
and economical for those who use them.

No country has a greater road mileage, in proportion, than the United
States. But, while with characteristic American push and hurry, the
most extensive means of communication and intercourse have been
provided, we have suffered the consequences of a lack of any general
system of public policy covering the location, construction and main
tenance of our public highways. American roads are far below the
average, and they are certainly among tiie worst in the civilized woild,
and always have been, largely as a result of permitting local circumst
auces to determine the location, with little or no regjird for any general
system, and haste and waste and ignorance in building.

A good road is always to be desired, land is a source of comfort and
convenience to every traveler. Good roads attract population as well
as good schools and churches. Good roads improve the value of prop-
erty, so that it is said a farm lying five miles from market connected
by a bad road is of less value than an equally good farm lying ten
miles from market connected by a good road.

A larger load can be drawn by one horse over a good road ihan by
two horses over a bad road. Good roads encourage the greater ex-
change of [)roducts and commodities between (me section and another.

The amount of taxes levied in Porter township for tli(^ last ten years
is as follows : Work tax, nineteen thousand three hundred and (ughty-
sixMollars and seventy cents. The amount of cash levied is five thou-
sand four hundred and ninety-three dollars and sixty-two cents; mak-
ing in all for road puri)oses, twenty-four thousand eight hundred and
eighty dollars and thirty-two cents. Has this money been judiciously
exi)eiided? Or has it been stood out or crossed out? I think some of

both. ^ ^ . • ii • e

One of the bad effects of our present road system is, m the spriiiL'- ot
the year, after corn-planting, the sui)ervisors notify the citizens of the
time and ]>lace to commence work, and every (me in the neighborhood
goes to the roads : from thirty to fifty men and boys come m the morn-
ing ])erhap one team and plow. How can one man manage this crowd
on'the road ? As Judge Blinker savs, " If he has anybo(ly on the farm
who is no ust^ to him, he sends him to the roads," and I think this is the
rule and not the exception.

P

190

QT^\KTEra.Y Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

191

^

How can this system of roaclinaking he improved? First, by levy-
iii^^ a cash tax the same as other taxes are levied, and ^ivin<^- the party
who is to pay the tax tlie privileg-e of working- out the tax, if he will do
it at the right time and for the same compensation other g-ood men
would do the work for. All work to be let by contract. The-plow and
shovel brigade should be a thing of the past. With the improved ma
chinery for making roads, the one-half of the tax will make more and
better loads, if the right kind of men have charge of work. You have
tlie remedy in your own hands, the ballot-box. Elect none but the best
men, men who will see that the tax is properly ex[)ended and at the
riglit time. In the spring of the year, the earlier the better, and see
that the road is kept in good repair, properly drained, no ditches for
tlie water to stand in and soak through the road. Let every taxpayer
take an interest in the road that runs through his farm, and turn oh
the water on the road instead of running after the supervisor to do the
work, and we will have better roads.

UNDER DliAJNING.

By William M. Glenn, Wtiit >Su7it)ury, Pa.

(Read at Renfrew Instltme)

The first mention of under-draining is by Oliver de Seres of France,
in 1600. He recommended that drains to be du^ to a depth of three or
four feet, lialf filled with coarse gravel and the balance of the ditch
with the dirt thrown out.

Walter Bligh, an English writer, in 1650, recommendfxl drains to be
dug four feet deep, filled i)artly with coarse grravel, covereil with rye
straw, with twenty inches or two feet of dirt placed on the straw.

The next record of note is that of Joesepli Elkinton, of Warwickshire,
England, in 1764. He concluded that bogs could be drained by under
ditchers and began the work, using coarse gravel and stones, and even-
tually board drains. He introdueiHl what was afterwards called the
Elkmton system of drainage, that is, to cut ofi" the water supply to wet
land by laying drains on the water sup])ly side.

The use of tile was first introduced by James Graham on his favm
in England, in 1810. The tile were madc^ by hand, the clay beijjg
rolled out in thin cakes and formed over a block, giving- them the form
a horse shoe, and they were and are still called horse-shoe tile. They
had al8(^ flat bottoms made of clay of suita}>le dimensions to set the
tile on. Both tde and bottoms were baked as hard as we usually burn
tile now; and Mr. Billingsly, of Indianapolis, says these tiles laid
eighty years ago are doing good work to-day.

Thorough draining was first introduced by a Mr. Smith of Deanston
Scotland, ill 1833, and included the layinc of the drains at such a
distance apart as to secure the thorough drainage of the soil to a depth
of thrc^e or four feet. This was called the "new drainaire " and the
fame ot it spread rapidly over Scotland and England. Li 1840 the
l^nghsii government appropriated two million ])ounds ^('n milli(m dol-
lars) to be loaiKMl to farmers to carry forward the work of draining

.^lM,nt this time Mr. Irving introduced a machine for makin- drain

tile, which was ()i>erated by hand, makincr the horse-shoe tile. In
a few years machines were made to be operated l)y horse power.

About three years, Mr. llobert Thomas, of Indiana, visited England,
and he estimates that seventy-five per cent of the farm land of England
lias already been drained and the work still going on.

In the year 1835, John Johnston, of Geneva, New York, constructed
the first under-drains of which we have any knowledge m this country
They were made bv using stones to make the water ways. In a short
time Mr. Johnston sent to Scotland, his native place, lor dmm
tile He soon brought over a hand machine to make his own t or
years he was the only patron of his factory. His neighbors thought
him insane or, to use a latter day term, they thought liim a crank.
Mr Johnston knew what he was about, however, and kept on his
way until at the time of his death, which occurred a few years ago,
there were fifty milet^ of under-drain on his three hundred- acre t arm.

The enormous cro^js he raised and the ease and comfort with which
he worked his under-drained land, at last had its eftect upon his neigh-
bors ; they began to drain and Mr. Johnston's little machine had to
be multiplied many times to supply the demand.

In 1848 John Delafield, of Seneca, New York, made and operated
the first horse power mill to make tile ever used m this c()untry . I iiese
tiles were of the horse- shoe pattern and set on boards or fiat clay

bottoms. ^ 4 11 • A^

The horse-shoe tile is no longer made. All sizes are now made

round, and about one foot long. ^ni t f

Owin-- to th(^ interest taken in farm drainage, the establishment ot

tile factories in this country from 1850 to the present has been mar-

^' Ohfo our nearest neighbor on the west, has five hundred and fifty
factories, turning out annually sixty-five mil ion tdes, thirteen tW
sand miles of under-drain. Indiana and Illinois each manufacture
more tile than Ohio and the demand still increasing. Most of these
factories i-ui I by steam i)ower. , -, i. ^ • v.'i

Iowa and Michigan have each about one hundred factories while
western Pennsylvania has but four. i.i i. ^i.

There is perhaps no part of this great country of ours that needs
under-draining more than tln^ bitumipous coal region with which we
are here surrounded. The rain falls and descends through the ground
until it reaches tlie almost impervious fire clay underlying the coa
when it is thrown out and chills and wets the land below, making it

1 4-*

""wot "-nmiul V)e it ever so full of plant food, will not prodnce a crop,
riants want d.inp. not wet. soil. What we want ,s to remove he «ur-
, ,1ns watfr f rotn our fields and we do not want it to mn off ovei the sur-
a<-.- an.l carry ofT the s<nl with it. If we lay a drain in the snl.^sml
that will carJv off all the water that reaches it, we have provided for
the k)werinsr of the water line to the level of that dram.

Th^wle^n the rain falls, brinfjinj, with it from the atmosphere (as
cheSs tell ns) the fertilizing eh.m.-nts ot the sod, they are not
dlowd to run off over the surfac and lost, l.ut the •\-''' -y'";, ^i;;
tied th.- soil of its surplus water, there is room for th. .-t n ^''t' > "^
the soil and in the percolatin- hrou<rh it to the drain helm it falters
and leaves its plant food iust wliere the pJMiits <"iri take it up

Go to^the outlet of a drum and see how clear the water is after a

heavy rain.

I

192

QUAKXEliLY EePOUT.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agiuculture.

193

Air cannot enter the soil to loosen it below the water line. Plant
roots will not go into the water for food, esi>ecially if that water is
cold.

A deep, as well as a fertile soil, is what we want. The deeper the
soil the better the crop. Now, if our land be clay — and clay land is the
best in the world— there is no way to deepen the soil but by means
of under- draining.

If the excess of water be removed, say from two and one -half or three
feet of the surface, we liave all that to work upon. We can plow a
little deeper each year and eventually have all the depth we need, but
to try to deepen the soil without providing* a way for the escape of
sur[)lus water below, is only to deepen the mud. Another well known
effect of under-draining- is that crops suffer less from drouth on under-
drained land.

The water does not stand on it in the spring of the year until the sun
evaporates it, and then bakes the ground as liard as iron.

The water being removed the frost in w inter penetrates and loosens
it, and the air in spring will follow the descending water down and
help loosen the soil, and we all know that loose ground is more reten-
tive of moisture and better fitted to ])roduce a crop than hard ground.

In under-draining we are fortifying ourselves against dry as well as
wet seasons. The condition of the soil improves year after year by
draining. The dry strip over a drain will widen for many years.

When we lay a drain it is not a temporary ex]KHlient to be gone
oyer the next year, but a permanent improvement, that is, if it be done
with care and good material.

Some twenty years ago we dug a drain about thirty rods long (m the
farm where I now live and where I have spent my entire home life.
We dug it about sixteen inches deep, made the water-way of stone.
It drained a narrow strip of land for a few years, but being itoo shallow
and the mice wx)rking into it from the surface, it soon filled up and left
us where we started.

Some years after that we had a two-acre lot cut off fi'om the rest of

the farm ])y th(^ i)ublic road on one side and an open ditch on the other.

Swamps and old run channels comi)elled us to mow it in three pieces
when in grass.

We dug two drains partly through it (we had learned to dig deeper
by this time) in one of these we made the water-way of stone, the otlier
of wood : tile at that time could not be had. Five years ago we finished
the draining of tlie piece with tile. Since that time we have iiad it in
corn, oats and grass, always a good crop and when we go into it now
witli the mowing machine, we do ]iot divide it into three ])arts. We
look f()r the wood and stone part to fill up, but the tile will l)e good for
centuries.

Another improvement since tile in reach was the diggiuL^ of a ditcli
from our barn up to tli<^ out-crop of a coal vein, then running Immches
K)tli ways along the out-croi)s of the coal. Now instead of wet ground
below the coal drip we have? dry ground.

Instead of wading our stock through mud to a distant watering place
we have water m the barn-yard nine months in the year. A number
of our neighbors havc^ brought water to their barns the same way and
many mon? can do the same.

Most farms have somi? land that is naturally drained : let us jjut our
manure on that i)art until we get some of our wet land draintMl.

If Ave have no place to put our manure but on wet land, let us con-

sider whether it is easier to si)read it on the land or dump it in the creek

nnd then let us do the easy thing. ,\ , l a

Ky pound ^^^ manure on dry ground will count, but on wet ground

'' n we cai^i^ i!il^ us use it ; if we can't, let us use wood and stone.
If these materials are carefully put in they will last nnxny years.
We have dx^ns on different pax^s of the farm that l--?/.--.f--f
oood work for ten years; but if we can get tile and put it m Avith m-
irm™ and care: we are building for all time We have tile drains
fn oui far^^^^^ to-day, that I believe will continue to work on

r3Wirthough the centuries of time, until Gabriel's trumpet shall re-
Se them from further service. If our farms were pmper y drained
e could -^ to work earlier in the spring ; we could cultivate our hoed
^i^^^^^o^^^^^^^^^ a rain : we could put our manure -;^-r^^^^^^^

most e-ood • we could raise bigger crops ; we could pay oui debts and
we would n(> care whether the Alliance men get their sub-tiYisury
fillenith dollars to loan at two per cent, or not, for we would not
want to borrow.

SOME THINGS OF INTEKEST TO FARMERS AND OWNERS
hOML. iiiii^v^o yj ^^ ^^^^^ ESTATE.

Bv Hon. J. C. Hkown.

(Read at Mercer Institute. )

"■noP^ farming payf is a question often asked and as variously
«n,wei^d asTrving circumstances and conditions surround and mod^
answeiea, ab vaiyiUte ^.x umi „ +Viiiicr ihni hath been, it is that

lr,„u., "; f > , "Vfl • toe "^^ '■'« '«»" ™<te'rion«, l»» tLnfty

their condition nt me past «^^^^ .^^^^^^^^^ ,^f ^^^

who has not al^eacly cliscovereu ii a ^^^^

diminishi'd dun nf? that ])eriwh o,,,erver who has faihxl to note

the tact that «i«,.^ ™;,^}^'^^^^^^ surrouiidin-s, has depreciated during
more than ordiiianly i'''2"^e '^'®. "//x" , "eent Why shouhl these
that period /--,^ -e-^^J- ^t St'T.r.'a'iVn.s/ ll will not do to
d"a"|eit^al up\o;h:a:itofa^^^^^^^^^ to specie payment, a con-

13

ll

II

194

QUAltTEBLY EeI'OKT.

sequent settlini:: back to normal values. As early as Decembei-, 1871
nearly twenty years ago, the premium on gold had fallen to a fraction
over ten per cent, and many months before^ the first of January, 1879
when resumpticm became an accomplished leg-al fact, the premiuni
on gold had almost entirely disapi)eared. Other (pauses must have
operated to bring about the depression to which we have referred.
Who can tell us what they are and who can prescribe remedies'?

Among these causes, doubtless, has been the oj^ening- up of a vast
acreage of fertile land in the g-reat west, and the consequent un])re
cedented increase in the aggregate of farm products. In 1870 the total
acreage of wheat in the United States, in round numbers was 11
000,000, in 1890 it was 36,373,000, and the previous vear it 'was even
greater by more than 2,000,000 acres As ag-ainst the farm of the east-
ern and middle portion of the United States, this immense increase in
the acreage of cheap and cheai)ly cultivated land in the west, tog-ether
with cheap transportation and discrimination in freight charg-es, has
operated with telling eflect. But all these, added to the resumption
of specie payment, unfavorable as they have been, are not adequate
causes for the existing: depression in real estate and in farm produc^ts.

Furthermore the observing man has not failed to note the fact that
while the farming interests of the country are depressed, and as a class
farmers are poorer than they were twenty years ag-o, other interests
have prospered in a most remarkable degrree, so that the increase of
the aggregate wealth of the country is simply marvelous. It has been
estimated by some curious statisticians, taking official facts and figures
as the basis of their calculations, that during- the period from imo to
1880, notwithstanding the immense losses and waste incident to the
most destructive war of modern times, and the entire wiping- out of
four billions of slave proi)erty, the wealth of the country increased at
the rate of $250,000 i)er hour for the whole period. Truly this rivals
the pictures of the Arabian Nig-hts, and there is nothing in the story
of the lamp of Alladin to surpass it. It is unparalleled and un])re-
cedented. At this time the aggreg-ate wealth of the country is not less
that $65,000,000,000. Some place the figures much liigher The
lamentable thing about all this, however, is the indisputable fact that
the great bulk of this marvelous wealth is rapidly i)assin^ into the
hands ot a few individuals. A table has been recently completed by
a well iiiiornied statistician, for the pur])ose of showing^ how the wealth
ot the United States^ is distri])uted, and this table is full of the most
startling tacts and figures. It shows that two hundred persons are
estimated at more than $20,000,000 each, and that one man during- this
century acquired within less than the ordinary lifetime of a sing-le in-
dividual a sum larger than the assessed valuation of four of the smallest
states of the union, and more than the assessed value of the entire
coiintry at the time of the adoption of the national constitution Two
?JL • rfu • ^'*^- ''''f T^'""^ ^^l^^'^ ^*^^^^^ towards the financial goal at
the late W H. Vanderbilt. By tJiis table it is shown that 400 v^n^-

Snn ' l^ r^^^\^?l persons, $1,000,000: and 15,000 persons,
!;lfSp^t'^(U^^ ^^''' persons own and con-

rZu7:. ^^^^V.'\lv^f^«^^t^^^-. ^Vhat a magnificent exhil)it of the
results accomplished by organized and confederated capital ! How

Pennsylvania State Buaiid of Agkicultuhe.

195

I

threatening, moreover, to the well being of society and the individual
interests of the masses !

Farmers are not communists. Sensible men do not adopt their
fanatical notions as to the distribution of i)roperty, nor do they believe
that an equal per capita distribution of the country's wealth to day
would remain intact the first twenty four hours after the distribution ;
but can it be possible that a finan(;ial system under whi(;h such glaring:
inequlities si)ring up can be perfect"? Is it not rather clear to tlie or-
dinary mind that something is wrong which calls for readjustment?
What means all these evidences of unrest, especially on the part of
farmers? What mean all these frantic efforts at organization under
variously emblazoned banners, and differing platforms, but idl tending
in the same common direction? What means the great political
upheaval of 1890, l)y which the popular branch of Congress has been
so thoroughly revolutionized? Do you tell me that these things are
but passing episodes, incident to the history of a republican form of
g-overnment, or an exhibition of the handy work of unscrupulous de>
magogues? Do not be deceived. They are not the evanescent ebu-
litions of an unduly and unnecessarily excited populace, but iv\ agita-
tion that has come to stay, till at least some of the wrongs whicli the
oppressed interests of the country have long and patiently borne have

been righted. , i ^

Possibly I will be met with the fiii)pant rejoinder, what are you
going to do about it?" Can you brine: about general i)ros))erity by
legislation or cure the ills by which the body politic is afflicted by
acts of congress or assembly? We readily admit that more than
these may be necessary to bring about desired results, but wlio doubts
that unwise legislation, national and state, has had something to do
with the gross unequalities among our jieople to which reference has
already been made? No one who loves his country will spend much
time in deploring the existence of our public debt, so far as it was
necessarily contracted to save the nation's life, however much they
may deplore the causes which created that necessity. The reunited
country is worth infinitely more than it cost to save it. But has the
management of our public debt always been calculated to promote the
general good rather than that of a class? How have the farming and
fandholder's interests been affected by its management? We bring
no railing accusations against congress. Mistakes are not mcompji-
tible with honesty of purpose. Mistakes made whilc^ the war lasted,
we are disposed to pass over without severe criticism. " We were not
then studying the philosophy of trade relations, but how to save the

nation's life." -,..,1.11 • .i n 1

During a few years immediately following the war, as will be re-
membered by those of us who were old enough at the time, what a
wonderful era of prosperity, in almost every brancli of business, and
especially in tliat bf agriculture, i3revailed. The government was then
raising large revenues and paying out immense sums of money Ihe
circulating medium, inchiding the class of bonds winch passed from
and to hand as money was abundant. Every body who had anything
to sell sold it without difficulty at satisfactory prices. The denaand
for labor was active, and wages good and land sold readily at high
r)rices It was, possiblv, unreasonable to expect that this state ot
affairs should be ke])t up indefinitely. The necessary steps looking
to the n^turn to specie payment, a thing desirable m itself, and otlu^
inevitable causes forbade any such expectation, but as we verily be-

Pennsylvania State Boabd of Agriculture.

107

196

Quarterly Report.

iieve unfriendly, and therefore unfortunate legislation rudely and
unnecessarily checked the prosperity of some of the leading interests
of the country including agriculture, and at the same time gave to the
moneyed interests of the country advantages which started our money
kings on the highway to marvelous prosperity. To a lew of these
leirisiative blunders let me call your attention brietiy.

The first in the line to which we shall refer is tlie act ot March 1,
1869 known as the "act to strengthen the public credit," by which the
government was pledged to pay in coin or its equivalent, all obliga-
tions notes and bonds, except those where the law authorizing then-
issue stipulated that payment might be made in " lawful money. " We
do not forget what this act did towards enabling the government to
re fund a large ])ortioii of the public debt at a lower rate of interest than
existed when the act was passed ; nor what it did towards hastening
the resuni])tion of specie payment. Nor has the country forgotten
the egregious blunders subsequently made by congress in the re-fund
ing of our ])ul)lic debt in the way of understanding the ability of the
go'\^ernment to pay off its bonds, and hence in extending the period at
whicli tliey matured and are to mature, so far into the future as to cost
the government, m any millions of money in the shape of unnecessary
premiums and interest. Making due allowance for everything valuable
to the country accomplished by the act referred to, it was nevertheless
an undue concession to the bondholders and moneyed men of the
country, and a severe blow to the owners of real estate, to farming
interests, and to the debtor classes generally. Prior to the ])assage of
this act, concessions had already been made to the purchasers of gov-
ernment securities, notably the exemi)tion from taxation - which (night
to have been sufficient to make theni willing to accept from the gov-
ernment payment in money of equal value with that with which they
purchased their securities.

Following the act of 1869, came the act of 1873, demonetizing silver,
an act so infamous in its character that no public man of reiuite has to
this day been willing to father the measure. The history of this act
is as remarkable as it is discreditable to the Forty -third Congress, by
which it was enacted. A revision of the laws had been previously
ordered, and the report of the commission came before the Forty -third
Congress. The commission had been simply authorized to make a
code including the recent laws, and leaving out what had been repealed.
No authority had been given to make any change in legislation. The
necessarily voluminous report of the commission was read ])rincii)ally
at night sessions, when few members were present, and ])robably those
who were present found it im])OSsible to follow the reading, and know
with certainty whether changes were being made or not. To do so
would have required careful comparison of every section with the whole
seventeen volumes of the statutes. No act of congress, had ever
imssed demonetizing the silver dollars, or suspending their coinage.
When the revised statutes came to be printed, it was found that several
changes had been made, and among those was one leaving out any
provision for coining American standard dollars. President Grant
signed the bill embracing the work of the commission, but in justice
to him, it should be said that it was not until months afterward that
he was made aware of the fact that by that act silver w^as demonetized.
That the whole affair, however, was i^irely an accident, re(|uires the ex-
ercise of much of that charity which "thinketli no evil." If there has
ever been anything dishont^st connected with "the dollar of our dad-

aies ' it was probablv this disastrous manipulation of the act of 1873^
fct our m'blic debt was made payable m com, and them lol owed the
Spnione^^^ of an imi)ortant part of our com, which had been re-

ern^zed af go^^ even before the day when the patriai^h Abra-

S wetted^ to Ei'hron, in v>ayment of the burial place of his wife
sTliT the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of
Het ''our hundred shekels of silver, current money, with the
merdmnt The disastrous effects of this act soon began to show
t^ri^e v^^ in the rapid decline in the prices of much property and

SS^^^^^^^ ^^nd farm products. Wages of la >or ;vei t .

ovta everything was ^Wnec.ated as measu^

goUUtandard except, government ^^^^^'^^^^

^i. u- Th.^ r-iivj pi fv to iiav was crippled; the accumuiauons oi^t^cim

leiauve y^'Y.v^^ , offm^.Tino- navment as legitimate results, ot a
«,<.tnHsfs broke out fiercely after the passaf-e ot the act ot 1873, and

sim^^it^,!^ .y. crovernment has been careful to keep tue

SnSe o{ .liver dolhS'ui this act, close to the mhnmum rather

than the "-^^i^j-^^nsW ^^^SS for the purchase by the f^overu-

^Y^ Ta r /uS o,mcs of sUver bullion per month, should so much
ment ot 4.500,000 onucis oi sii\ei' • i ;«u„nio- of treasury

be offered, at the market pnce /ffj^?^-^,, J^\^t ^^^ ^^^

notes in payment thereof, was '"''*«;,;" l^^'Jf/'iglsbt full justice

I' 'nTeT b Sn^LrJs ri^^^^^^ Y r"^^*^

has not yet heen aone, cimi ti .1^,, ,,,,,... the exact legal ratio now
of silver not necessarily for all t^^^^ equitable ratio,

existmg J-t--;.,^;;!; Ji^t may c^^^^^^^ to do service as circulat^
to the end that gold anci siivei '''' '\ , , i.-rtv is what is demanded

ius medium, on both -^If^^^^lf^f.^M^^^ of the

by the farming n.teress ^^^^ '^^^^^^^^Xare subserved by an abun-
country fff^« .^\^y,-^ Jiiy"":,^ at least for the convenient transact
dant supply ot S"0(i money, '^" ' . ™,-,vipv is scarce its purchasing
tiou of legitimate business, fj^"' '"V^'^J,'^j„Xlfnff la, d and t=^
power increases, ^^'^ tV\\*l"« ^Ij'^St^^^ i„ abundant it

produ..ts. as {"--"^^ ^^^ tW^^^^^^^^^ business and

naturally hnds its way mo">. » ^ ^^i.^^ .^ ^^^^^^_^^ ^^^^^^^^ ,,stabbsh

^

fl

198

QuAiiTEiii.v K]:roiiT.

Pennsylvania State 'Boaud of Aguicultuke.

199

liow it comes ubout. Wlit'ther mon<\y he i)lenty or scarce, it is very
true tliitl an indivdiniil nuist have something- to exchange for it, or
receive it as a gift before he can hiwfully or lionestly obtain it, but the
admitted fact remains, that the quantity of money in a country as well
as its quality, lias much to do with its purchasing- i)ower and the regu-
lation of prices.

But some friend of a single gold standard will re]ily, " The free
coinage of silver in this country will inevitably result in tlui with-
drawal of the gold now in circulation, and to that extent cause a con-
traction of the currency and a corresponding depression in the price of
commodities, including land and farm products." To this we reply
that no such result need necessarily follow the free coinage of silver.
If the legal ratio between gold and silver money, now existing is not
such as to make certain their circulation as monej' upon a complete
parity, let a proi)er readjustment of the ratio be made; which will cer-
tainly secure that result. Let free coinage be ado[)ted by the ITnited
States, and then hit an earnest effort be made to secure an international
conference for the ])urpose of readjustiug the ratio if necessary. Don't
discredit silver and then ask other nations to join in forming a new
ratio. But even uiion the basis of the ratio now existing. ofHcial
facts and figures do not show that the increased coinage of silver, the
increased volume* of silver certificates, or the increased purchase of
silver bullion, has had a tendency to drive gold out of our circulating
medium. When the act of 1878, above referred to was passed il;
was gravely predicted by Wall street and gold monometalists gen-
erally, that the effect of the act would be to drive gold out of the
country, and leave us with a contracted, instead of an inflated cur-
rency. Official figures show that the reverse of this result has come
to pass. We have not before us official figures showing the exact
^^o" , 1 ^ , ^" circulati<m at the date of the passage of the act of
*oZ?' Jon ,.a« the first of October, 1880, the gold coin in circulation was
llrl'ilA^?: ''''l^ tli^/ol^^ certificates $7,480,100, or an aggregate of
?!2fi8,801,02() On October 1, 1890, the amount of gold coin in circu-
lation was $38(i,939,723, and the gold certificates, $158,014,739 or an
aggregate of $545,044,4(52, an increase of gold coin and gold certifi-
cates in ten years of $270,243,442. How does this tally with the pre-
dictions of the gold monometalists in 1878? Again when the act of
July 14, 1800, already refeiTed to, was under consideration in congress
the same dolorous predictions were heard from the enemies of silver'
and l.ow have they been justified by the practical workings of that act?

ooi '1 ii ' , -.•■^' .^n ^'"'^^ *'°'" '" circulation amounted to $374,396,-
381 and th«. gold tH)rtificates $131,380,019,an aggn.gate of $505,77(5,400.
On the first of October, 1890, three months afterwards, the gold coin
in circulation was $380,939,723, and the gold certificates $158,104 739
nt%l%tt%i *'\^5'»4M02 or an.1 aggregate increase in three months
ot W.), 268,062. Does this look as if the tend.^iun' of the act of 1890 was
t^ T %Z ""* "^ ?•"'■ cii-^'lating medium ? It is true, that during a
st^n™,^ f !r'««''"'- "'« n}"»tli of October, iHi.O, the remarkable

rp« ufrr * • ""-'f^' iT''^*'* '° ^'"■'*1'" ^^ «"11 '-^^ in America,
fiZnntJi''" "K-ons.derable outflow of gold from this <«untry, but

ot 18.10, this outtloxv, but admit that the stringencv of the money

rcSflH-i;r.n'l'r''":r"n'"*'Vr'^^'-''^*'^«^ ^'^^^^ intensified by the
act ot ]8,.(), and the outflow ot gold rendered less rather than increased.

But there is another view of the case in which the increased coinage
of silver becom.es a matter of si>ecial importance to the farmer, ilie
price of the great staple, wheat, is largely determined by the price at
which our surplus can be marketed in those countries where a sulhcient
quantity is not produced to sup] )ly their own demand. We will not
stop to discuss the point at length whether or not tins his should be tlie'
case It is a growing opinion among farmers, that by some plan ot
co-operation a system should l)e gradually develoi)ed by which our
suri)lus of farm products could he marketed at home, and only so fast
as the demand calls for them at i)i-ofitable prices. We do not care to
be committed in favor of what is known as the sub-treasury scheme,
neither as a means of putting money into circulation, nor as a "leans
of withholding from an unprofitable market, suridus farm products till
satisfactory prices can be obtained, but the scheme is not wholly with-
out merit. Put in a nutshell the provisions of the bill prepare.l l)y the
St Louis convention of the Farmers' Alliance, held m 1889 are that
the o-overument shall warehouse non-perishable farm products, and
uooirthis security shall loan to the producer or borrower (80) eighty
per cent, of the market value of the goods in h^gal tender money, at
the mominal rate of one per cent, interest. To illustrate, A farmer
has one thousand bushels of wheat which at current rates is worth one
dollar per bushel, but he wishes to hold it for a higher price, and yet
needs some ready money. He puts his wheat in a government ware
house and receives a certificate of deposit wluch itself is negotiable
and also, eighty per cent, of the value of the wheat in cash. He can
redeem the wheat at his pleasure on payment ot the principal and in-
terest and such moderate incidental- expenses as may be incurred in
handling and caring for the wheat. If not redeemed within a specified
time, provision is made for the sale of the wheat, and the reimburse-
ment of the government. Some branches of the Farmers Alliance
have made this their pet measure, but it is hardly probable that they
will be able to so commend it to congress as to secure its adoiition at an
early day. Bankers and moneyed men genera ly laugh at the scheme
and pronounce it wild and visionary, and probably it is; and yet it
mi-1 t be somewhat difficult for these men to point out definitely
wherein it differs in principle from, or is less worthy of respectful con-
riMon, han the\iationar banking system. This system permits
associations of individuals who have their money invested in govern-
ment bonds to deposit them with the government and receive not
e thty but ninety per cent of their face value in currency, which they
ai-; e^-mitted to use in the transaction of their business and at the
same time are permitted to draw thr accumulations of mterrest upon
their bonds instead of paying the govenimmei.t for the accommodation
The advocates of the sub-treasury scheme only ask for a loan of eighty
per cent upon the current value of their noii^penshable products and
ropose to\my moderately for the accommodation. A\ herein is their
scheme ra.jre inequitable than the national banking scheme?

We do™ ot feel disposed to make hasty war upon the national bank
in" svstem We have not forgotten that wh.m the system was estab-
lished' it created a market for an immense quantity ot our bonds, and
it a time when the life of the nation depended somewhat upon the
bi itv of the government to secure sufficient money to cany on the
war at a ime too when the ultimate value of these bonds was ex-
ceedi,:'*iy uncertain: Nor has it been forgotten that these banks
K given to the country a bank currency absolutely safe in th.- hands

* 1

I i

200

QUAKTEKLY llErOltT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

201

of the noteholder, ciiiTent everywhere throughout the country, no
matter whether issued in Maine or California, and as good when the
bank issuing it lias become hopelessly insolvent, as when in the full
tide of ])r()si)erity. To attempt to break down a system such as tliis,
even in full view of its objectionable featun^s, witliout offering some-
thing better, would not bo a wise proceeding to say the least.

But without further digression, we accev)t as a fact the statement
that the price of wheat in Liveri)ool has mucli to do Avith the j^rice of
the same article in our AmcTican mark(>ts. How, then, is that price
affected by thc^ silver question? Since 1880 \vh(Mi India began to ship
her sur])his wheat, by way of the Suez Canal to European markets,
she lias been a sliai"j) competitor for markets heretofore largely sup-
plied l)y the t'nited States.

By reason of the cheapness of farming land and labor in India,
wages being a mere fraction of the cost of labor in this country, not
withstanding the long distance of shipment, India wheat has been laid
down at Liverpool at such low i)rice as to drive out large quantities
of our wheat and thus reduce its price at home and abroad. It is
furthermore known that ever since 1835, silver has been the only legal
tender money in in India. The standard coin is the rupee, containing a
fixed amount of silver, one hundred and eighty grains, eleven-twelfths
pure. With this coin wheat and other commodities are measured in
that country. This being so it is not difficult to see that anything
which affects the price of silver bullion, affects the value or i)urchasing
power of the rupee, and through it the price of wheat, in India, in
Liverpool, and in every market of the United States.

No one pretends to dispute or disguise the fact that the increased
coinage of silver in this country, and esi)ecially upon the basis of the
ratio between gold and silver, as fixed by the act of 1837 (about one
to sixteen, or more accurately, 1 to 15.988) or the increased i)urchase
of silver bullion by the government will increase the ])rice of rupee
bullion everywhere. This fact was made clearly manifest for some
time subsequent to the passage of the act of July 14, 1890. Before
the passage of that act silver bulli(m was worth in New York about
ninety-four cents per ounce. After its passage the ])rice advanced till
at one time it reached one dollar and twenty-one cents ]ier ounce.
Considerable of this advance was evidenCly si)eculative, and the price
has since materially fallen off. Those who watched the wheat market
after the passage of the silver bill refeiTed to, will rememl)er that the
price advanced ra])idly for several months. Owing to other causes
operating with the advance in silver, the advance in the i)rice of wheat
has since been better maintained than the advance in silver, but
doubtless the increased value of the India rupee, following the advance
in silver bullion, advanced the price of wheat in India, in Liver])ool
and in the United States. How far reacdiing in its effects an act of the
American Congress may, indeed, become !

In all we have thus said conceniing the free coinage of silver on a
fair and eciuitable ratio as between gold and silver, we do not wisli to
be understood as offering any apology for the mere speculator in silver
bullicm. The friends of irvr coinage deprecate his mani])ulations, for
the obvious reason that they tend to discredit tlu^ measure and render
it more diflicult for it to secure a fair hearing before congress and the
people. But just as little do we feel dis])osed to condemn an act of
congress because it may affect some interest in such manner as to
enable sj)eculators to turn a jienny readily. To condemn all such acts

our pension legislation, notwitlistanain^ c n ti

.eusion, uot of our terntory, but of oiu toieiMi ^;^^'^^^^^^^^ that
t.) all closi'. observers ot the statistics ''^ o" J 'j.'r ■" rpj f.^^j^jg <,tT
i„ s,>nie respects it is in a -eryj"!;"^*^^^;*^'^^ eouutries sSuth

iu some direcitious is alarming, ^li^j ^l" ti'^\\*^. ^Xl exports of all kinds
of us has never been ^'--V^^tf ^•^J,,,,^ S^^^^ and Africa

to all the --"t"^« «t^f «^ X SdwiclTlslanrimounted, in round
and -^>»stv,alia U ada ^^^^ ^.^.^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^ cauntr.es

numbers to ^^'ll'^Ji^JJ" ''"hus show iig a balance in our tayor of
amounted to $529,1)00,000, tnus suox p j j^^ ^^^^.^

$129,000,000. But when our accounts with th^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^

all closed, instead of having f 129 000 00 to ^^^^^^

$13,000,000 against us, f ^-^"f^^^'t^V St sX^^^^^ We lost

with the countries "«* ,^" ™^J^ff ^itl Bmzil. and $10,000,000 with
$41,000,000 with Cuba, $51,(100,00 wii 1^^^ iusular and

Mexico. In short our "'M-or « ti.«nij^o"^^*^\\^o^^^^ exports

continental were, m ---\;-f^^^'^^;3r*SSt o.u- Secretary of Sate is so

were but $74,000,000. is ii '^^^^ rr",, ^eutswith these countries,

earnestly at work trying to complete arrangem^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^

which will result lu increasing 3' «^|^^ '*fX^l,ie state of accounts?

national ledger- ^f ^/-'"XSif S^^ ""^^ *"'"™ n"^'^'"'

And in view <' , J.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 'their markets by excessive duties,

have been Pi-a«ti^'^"y ^^^'i | ^'' "t farmers in this country regard with
is it any.^n*^^;- . f t "\tdligmj l^^^^^ ,^ ^j.i„g .^i,out reciproca

so much interest, the ettoits 01 oui„o opening up new and

trade on such equitable basis '^^ XtsT Tudeed ?t is grixtl^ to be
,n<,litable markets for our tf '" 1'' "^^f ^^ii thr^^^^^^ the way of this
l-egretted that.so "j-ny .«^f if^^^ if" 4iriuve evidently been born of
grand economic enterprise, B»me ot ^^ nuii ^ ^^^^ others, and

a misconception of the ii^l^"^*'^J^the petty Wousi.Js of public men
the more formidable, we fear, "^ * i« f S ^^^' .^t
^vho are slow to «n<^<^;r i^'T Hv^, J"omel.od^ek Despite all this,
or which might ^-f /^."l^/i; ffi wherevL attainable

however reciprc>c.a trade witlUm ^^^^ ^^^^^ .^ ^t this

upon satisfactory teims, is ceiiam j^ country, and especially

country. It is remarkable hat H.pleot^l^^^^^ of foreign markets

farmers, have so long ^^>*'fff f J^^'i^'t [. diff'^rence. Look at some
tW ,.ur surplus products ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^.^^,, taken off

of the fvnits ot tl'f. ""''"ff^^m,-^^ .,,„^ ^ matter of immense benefit
<.offoo imported to ^ns couidry Tins w^^ j^

toBrazil,an.l(>..ngressladd nanle.^^^^^^^^^^ hr<.adstnffs, leading

only have been /M-ntabl. ^^.tll leierenc^^^^^^ ^^^^^ subsequent

^a^ KSX: t^o- copies would have been mutually bene

.It

202

QlTAKTERLY RePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

203

fic'ial to each. No concessions were demanded by this countrj^ and
wliat has been the result"? Brazil placed an export duty uj)on coffee,
about (Hjual to the tariff removed by the United States, thus transfer-
ring- the revenue realized ui)on that commmodity from the United
States treasury to that of Brazil, while our people continued to pay
about the old prices for all they i)urchased from that country. Stati-
stics si low that sinc(^ 1872 we have imported from Brazil, in round imm-
bers, $880,000,000 worth of her ])roducts and have only succeeded in
selling- to her about $165,000,000 of our ])roducts, thus showing- a
balance against us of over $700,000,000.

Fortunately for this country this unequal and unsatisfactory con-
dition of trade between the United States and Brazil will continue no
longer. An arrang-ement has just been completed between them,
under the reci])rocity ])rovisions of our late tariff' act, which will open
Brazilian ports free after the first of April next, to many of our farm
])roducts and articles of manufa3ture, and will reduce her tariff' twenty-
five per cent, ujion many others. And now the prospects are that
like arrangements will be speedily completed with many other South
American countries, and with Spain with reference to Cuba and Porto
Kico, all of which will work immensely to the advantag-e of tlie Ameri-
can farin(^r and manufacturers. The countries from Avhich we now
receive coffee free, and from which, after the first of April, we will
receive sug-ar, molasses and hides free, already see the im])ortance of
moving- i)romptly in the way of removing the heavy duties which have
so long almost practically excluded our farm products from their
markets, and before the first of July, 1892, the time when the President
is authorized to re-impose duties upon sugar, molasses, etc., imported
from countries where satisfactory concessions have not been made to
us, such concessions will, in all probability, have been made, and
suitable arrangements concluded. The wisdom of this policy will be
fully made manifest by its practical workings, and the farming in-
terests of this country will be among the first to feel its beneficent
effects.

Objecti(m is made to this policy on the ground that it is limited in
its scope. Enemies of our protective system ask, why not have abso-
lute, instead of jxartial, free trade? We do not care to enter upon
an elaborate discussion of this objection. Time will not permit and
if it did, such discussion would hardly be profitable at this junction of
our proceedings. In general, it maybe answered that because the
United States may make a favorable trade with ojie country to-day,
touching certain of her products which we need or cannot profitably
produce, we are under no obligations to make a bad trade with some
other country tomorrow, touching some of her products which we do
not need or can i)rofitably i)roduce. Nations stand upon no higher
plan m matters of trade and commerce than do individuals. Because
I may make a trade with a neighbor to-day which suits both of us,
IS no reason why I should make a trade to-morrow with another neigh-
bor, which does not suit me, and possibly neither of us.

Others object to this policy for the reason that they deem it an im-
l)ortiint step in the direction of free trade, which they (h^precate, and
see m it a policy which will ultimately rc^luce our national revenues
below the legitimate demands of the government, and at the same time
seriously in terf(U'e with our home markets. We apprehend no such
undesiral)le results. The reciprocity urged and that alone which
should receive the sanction of our govermnent, is upon the line of a

iudicious protective policy. Under its operaticms our home markets
Sn ot be forgotten or injured. It is well understood by the advo-
cates of reciprocal trade relations with foreign countries that our
domestic trade IS probably ninety -five per cent, ol j^. f ^?^J ^^^^^^^^^
corresponding with its paramount importance .^ i^^^^^}^^. J^^^^^^^^^^^
of our statesmen to encourage and wisely protect it Neither is it to -
rotten that the prices, favorable or unfavorable, at which we can dis-
r,ose of our surplus agricultural and manufactured products m foreign
markets, has much to do with prices at home „,i,,,ik.

The outlook for the farming interests of this ^^^^^^ ^^^^ l!^!lf >
gloomy. Hopeful signs for the future are apparant. Not the least oi
these IS the significant fact that farmers are awake and realize that
something is wmng and that it is their legitimate business, if possible,
tXri what it is, and apply the remedy. So far as the trouble W a
political character, they understand that in a government of the people ,
C he people and'for the people, it is then right, m ^^o-moii wi^^i ^^^^
representatives of other interests, to so direct their political influence
Ts o cwect as far as practicable the wrongs of which they complain
They cannot reasonably expect to secure all that ^^^^:^^;^^
and radical ask, and it is probably better they should ^^^^J . A/^^^.^^
movement has as much to fear from the lead of ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
gogues as from the open opposition of ^^^Y^^^^^^^^^^^f^^* . fn the near
prosecuted the farmer's reasonable demands wdl be heard m the near

satisfactory revision of our state tax laws m the "^^f^^^f ^^^^^^^
oi.rl onu\iv is amono- the early probabilities. I am not piepared to
b lieTi^^-I prernUe^iBlaturo. will adiom^^

honest uml ec.uitable revision of these laws. 1 hesitate not to lepcat
hT' e ction heretofore made that if by from any «f ^f «' ^i'S^J^
alone to the legislative branch of our state government, these la^^baIe
not thus revised at the in-esent session, the party now m power m that
bod wnnmve no further opportunity to make such revision dunn^
H^ next decade and possibly for a much, longer P«""f "'.* ,. f ^
Farmers and landowners of I>ennsylva,nia have '^'^k«Hl f 1 u^^^^^^ and
received a stone, as long as they propose to be thus ^''"' l"«*f';, "
the nowers that be will not hear them, other powers will ""PPh"'* * *>"^
who are willing to listen to their reasonable demand, and grunt them
The relief they deserve. Time will make all things right.

'* As round aiul round we run,
Ever the right comes uppermost,
And ever is justice done."

Notwithstanding all the disadvantages and 'IY^^^^^^^J'^.X^?,

18 sufficient t( .m J*'.';, ^^'pv,,„ j, .,,,„.^i e(mimerce exceeds the toivign
en<,rmous l"/''!';.- '|"' ...^ ' Tr a France, Cxermany, Russia, Ho -
coinnierce of Great I iit.nn, '»•''.""'/ '^'^^/,.-,„^„,i ,'.,„n,,anv in tins
land. Romania and T,.agium «""'"""•'• ^ 'wo^ sa ling under the
country carries more tonnage than all tlie shii)s sailing uuu

ii

■ t

rV:-*Si#:AS^*^

204

QUAliTERLY EePORT.

fla^^ of Great Britain. We have over 150,000 miles of railroads and
can travel, if we wish, 3,000 miles without ehan^^e of cars. AVe have
770,000 miles of teleg-raph wires, sufficient to ^^irdle the earth thirty
times. Our soil in ))oint of average natural productiveness, and our
climate in point of variety, are excelled nowhere, and are the admi-
ation of the world. Our common schools, colleg-es and universities
are the pride of our p(H)ple, and a sure g-uarantee of an educated pos-
terity. Our churches, whose spires, in close })roxmity, point heaven
ward all over the land, constitute a moral and religious force which
none but the infinite can measure.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agiucultcre.

205

ENSILAGE.

By J. H. Denham, St. Clairsville, Ohio.

(Read at Canonsburg Instltutel )

After live years of actual experience with ensilage, T am convinced
that it is no longer an experiment, but it is a matter of study in the
economical feeding of farm stock.

No one who has read carefully the agricultural joujiials of the day,
unless he is intentionally prejudiced, can fail to be convinced of the
fact that ensilage is one of the most economical, healthful and profit-
able foods known. Dairy cows, feeding cattle, and farm stock of
all kinds, eat it greedily and thrive well upon it. Dairy cows will
yield a heavy return. Beef cattle will take on fat very rapidly, and
both butter and beef made by feeding ensilage are Al. in quality.

These are matters I need hardly spend time in discussing with
an intellig^ent audience as this and it is no use for any one before
me to deny what I say, as I can draw ])l(^nty of witnesses from this
audience to ])rove what I have said are facts; and if there are any
doubters in this audi(nice I would invite them to my own or any other
stable, during the coming winter, where ensilaere is fed and they will
be convinced.

The question is not, then, can green provender be kept for winter
feeding? This has been proven beyond a doubt, but the is (]uestion,
how can it be raised the most economically, and kept with the least
per cent, of loss?

The ciuestion of what to raise, is not, in our estimation, a difficult
one to decide, that is, if taken from a profit standpoint: and we be
lieve it is generally considered by those who have had exiierience, that
corn is by far the best ensilage crop that can be raised. Our own ex-
perience has been confined to corn entirely, but tlie kind of corn to
plant, how to plant and cultivate the crop, are questions for our study.

What we need is, first, a good rich soil, the richer the better, and to
have it as thoroughly ])repared as you would for field com. The ques-
tion of fertilizing tli(^ soil, ])lowing- the grcmnd at a certain season, do
not ])roperly belong her(\ but are important ({uestions for considera-
tion at i)roi)er tiuK^s, and which we have not the time in this paper to
give that consideration due them.

Th(^ soil having been ])ro])erly prepared, we would drill in the corn
in rows about three and cme-haif feet apart and the grains about six

inches apart in the .ows .this i« a^ifth, d^. tm\riXand'whaUs

corn when grown, but in /*'« ^^i*;;'^^^\*^XXrSht. Of late there have
lost by other causes will leave the uoi) '^'^*^"^ ""T,' i ^e are not

been Several ad^^cates of «- Pl'SSf v wt aS' -n^- raised in
Hure but it n^ay be proven tluitim as vahiaWc^ .^ ^^^^^^

it:;u\d noTbT planted si dose \S. J will not properly ear, or make a

^'-^^tS'^^^iIount of corn that can ^^^^^^JZ^^^^X^^^'
on the soil. From ten to t^fyjons bring the si i . ^ ^^ ^^^^^^

eral rei)orts have come m ot twenty -hvet^onsanu ^^^^^.^

ast hirty tons. We never saw a crop we ^a^ th-^^^f^i^ ^, fifteen-ton
averaged over twenty tons and we ar« we s« ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^.^^^

^^::trcuUivation of the ^0^,1^ ^^^^^Z^J^^

Thomas smoothing l^uTow.or Bome 1 gl't -moj ^

this will loosen the soil and pu '"J^ li«l; ,^.^^^^./^„ ^i,,,„i ^ ,,,Ue

rowed the second time «ith I'^of*.. ^j-"f 'ugg above the ground, and

place when the -m ^« --, ^^ Sy'touSStei the first rain ov within

the second as soon as the soil ^''."If *'",,,r- .^^r or plow as you usually

one week. Then follow tins .1 a <^u\t -^^^^^^^^^^ \i,, better the culti-

do with your corn crop. All tilings uciufo <- 1

vation the better will ^f *l'^^';;i|'l'-,.,ii jt is pretty thoroughly matured,

'^IneeA not go into all the details in t'"%^\"J;;\"ii; ^.^.^unfwas^^^^
ohl Thety tha? the silo must ^fi-«;f«4«^irstLs^are those built
ploded long ago and t\i« ].f ^* f '"^^"^a Any good strong building or
entirely of wood ^"^\'^^«^f/ f,,f ft 'an be constructed in the barn bay

StuSnutTw'ou^^^^^^^^^ ^^^« -1--*^ ^-" ''^ ""■''-

aiid as close as POf ^ible to it thorough drainage at the

complished by laying ^^^ /^J tlfrith go d yellow clay thoroughly

the inside to the top ot *f ®J'i^_ :„ a^und t^^ building, will insure

packed. ^ This, -f\^,,^l'^ZtnMSgZ a hillside and have to wa U

perfect drainage, but i^^ni the dra na-e is not so easily accomplished,

u„.,n the side next the lull t'\^,f/^'"'^f„ture of the ground. , , .„

and must be done ac<^o»*\'''f, f ^^^^^^^ lower side of the lull

T would much rather build my wan " ' • ^ My advice to

and fi 1 in and level up, than -^\ "j^";; ^ . V^^^^^^^ the dvaiimge The

every one bnild.ng \«?1*M« " 'siW Liure the silage, and the

^n ?i;:tSKTa;l alrt^. tl... are a number of ditrerent
plans, all having strong claims m their lav or.

20G

QUAKTEKLY liEPOliT

Pennsylvania State Board of Agkicultuke.

207

One i)laii is to board up the inside witli common roug-li boards and
lath and phister on these, boards witli water lime or cement.

1 have no experience with this plan, but I have always been d()ul)tinl
of its efficiency or durability. I have always felt that there was a lia-
bility to crack and so allow the air to reach the ensilage.

Some use two thicknesses of roug'h boards with tarred' i)aper between
and I think that if two thicknesses of tarred [>aper were used and the
boards were pretty well seasoned this would answer well, especially if
a g-ood coat of coal-tar was used on the inside layer. Another plan is
to seal ui) with <>*ood hard pine flooring- and then at)ply coal tar and
many claim that this ])lan works well ; but if I wanted "^to be sure of a
^ood air-tig-ht wall,! would first seal with good common well-seasoned
barn, sidino-, then two layers of tarred i)aper, one vertical and the othn*
horizontal, and seal the inside with good, yeHow pine flooring- well
coated with coal-tar, to which was added live pounds of asphalHo the
gallon and applied hot. This, in my estimation, makes a thorough air-
tight wall, and one that will last ior years. Witli drainage and walls
as above, 1 feel sure that ensilage can be kept without a loss of more
than troni three to live per cent.

Now comes the point of filling the silo. This is an important point
ihe crop must be m pro])er condition, well matured, and cut wlien dry
1 have cut the corn when dew or rain water stood upon it, and I know
it is sometimes almost imi)ossible to do otherwise, but I would in no
case advise it. The corn sliould be thoroughly dry, and about as ripe
as you would desire field corn, to place in shock. ' I have never tried
anything on our rough hill land for cutting the corn that would ecpial
cutting l)y hand. I have used a mowing machine some, but it would
require about as much labor to i)ick up and i>il(^ the corn, as to cut it
by liand. 1 would cut by hand and pile in bundles or bunches as large
as a man can conveniently handle. >

_ If your corn is convenient to the silo, I would haul on sleds ; I think
this less labor and faster than using the wagon. We place the com
lengthways ot the sled, using standards four feet long, and can put one
tliousand pounds on a sled, a two horse load, and when we drive in we
take out the standards on the side next our cutter, and catching the
other .side of the sled we unload it very quickly, and in good sliape
In tins way we have with two teams, hauled as fast as we could cut,
or eight loads m one hour, or at the rate of four tons per hour If I
had to haul long distances, I would use sonn^ kind of a wagon but I
am not prepared to advise how to i u-epare your wagon. I would always
use an engine for power to cut with ; it is nnicli more regular than horse
power and much cheaper. We get an engine with a man to run it, for
three dollars per day, and the engineer usualy helps with the cutting,
in the filling of tlu' sdo care sliould be observed to keep the en-
silage as level as possible, and to tread it well around the sides, and
especially in the corners. I think this of very great importance : the
center of fhe silo needs but little tram])ing, just enough to level it will
answ(^r. The great weight will settle it solid enough, but there will
not bn so much weight around the sides, and the fricti(m against the
Tdv l''fi '" '^'^^'^^'^^^ to do a good deal of tramping. I therefore
advise thorough tramiung around tin. side's ; and just here let me say
lat you will hnd ,t a little difHcult to get your corn evenly mixed as
iCtt fll silo; the heavy portions will be thrown further from

dnln i' '''7''^'*! ^^'^"^ ^^'^ ^'^^^^« '''''^ li^^^*«^' ix.rtions will drop

doxvn sooner, and unless great care is used in spn^ading you will not

have it well mixed, and so it will not settle regularly. When you
begin filling your silo lose no time you can possibly help, until it is
full and your corn all in, and then cover.

For a covering you can use cut straw, hay or sawdust. I have tried

each of these and although I leel sure that sawdust will preserve the

ensilage better than anything else I have used, 1 am not sure 1 wouhl

use it again, as it is more difficult to remove, and while I ieel sure that

it will exclude the air better than anything else I have used, i am not

sure that that is all that is needed ; for 1 am sure a lig-ht cover ol hay

will not exclude the air entirely, while some claim that they have had

but little loss from this plan. I once used a cover of tarred paper with

boards laid over the laps and had but little loss, but I have used cut

straw and nad good success, and again very i)oor success. Last tall i

covered with straw nearly one foot thick, and lost five or six inches ot

ensilage. I think this is still a matter for study, and an exchange ot

ex])erience would no doubt be of benefit to us all. i v r i

Now if I have succeeded in convincing any one that the building and

filling of a silo is a simple thing, the question will no doubt arise with

manv, what will a silo cost. n n .

I would reply that a good silo that will hold one hundred tons can
be built for one hundred dollars, and the lumber all purchased ; but it
vou have the lumber of your own, you can build one for a good deal
less And as to raising the crop and filling the silo, the expense need
not exceed seventy-five cents per ton. So any one can see that ensilage

is a cheap feed. ., .,i ^ n i

Mv exi)erience is that three tons of ensilage will feed as much as one
ton of hay, and is a far better feed for milk cows or young catt e. i
have fed 'it in small quantities to horses, sheep and swme, and also
Tioultrv with good results, and I am satisfied that there is no other ieed
that so nearly fills the ])lace of June grass as ensilage. My experience
in feeding beef cattle leads me to believe that beef can be made with a
profit at two to two and one half cents per pound, and that the beet was
first class.

HOW TO GET A BASKET OF EGGS IN JANUAllY.

By ToHN D. Harp, Millvifle, Fa,
(Read at Mlllvllle Institute. )

First. Give the hens good warm and comfortable quarters.
Seccmd. Give them a variety of food. ,i x i i i^

Third If winter eggs are desired, it is necessary that hens should
have, in addition to corn, some sort of small grain, as wheat, oats or

^'""iSr only two meals a dav is allowed, the sniall grain should be
given in the morning, for soft food digests rapidly, and hunger fol-
lows soon afterward. 1 • i. f f.wwl Arr^n
There is much in knowing the proportion and varnity of food you

should crive your fl(^ck. ^ ii r i^

Tn •itten.liii- t.) tlH> iioeds of the poultry deparfnont on the farm, do
not forget the fact that hens require exercise as well as animals.

^

f

(

1 1

.,:-si'x<^a» %t<mMMm

208

QUAKTERLY EePOKT.

This is especiallv true of luyiug" hens; cooped in narrow quarters,
particuLarly late in the season when the yard room is not avaihible be-
cause of snow, they often become inactive, cease laying-, and [lerhaps
become sick, for no other reason than because they have nothing- to
keep their blood in circulation. Hang- up a head of cabbage or a bunch
of beets or carrots, or otlier roots, or a piece of meat, where they can
pick at it. It must be just high enough so that a little juni])ing- is
necessary to secure the coveted bite. This allowance must not be cal-
culated as a i^art of food, because the amount which each lien gets w ill

be small.

Another good way to secure exercise is to litter the floor ot the hen
nery heavily with straw, and compel the hens to search vigorously in
it for au early supper of whoh^ grain. But the best way I have ever
found on cold and stormy days to keep them exercising is to hang up
sheaves of grain. If that wont make music, there is no music in tln^m.

Perhaps no other farm product will give better results than sweet
and sour milk. Thicken with shorts and meal. Nothing is better
for moulting fowls or chicks than oats. It will form nniscle, some-
thing needed during weakening process. Sulphur should be mixed
with the soft food in the morning.

I think ground oats,meal or bran is the i)r()i)t^r food at moulting sea-
son. Bear in mind that hens need drink in cold weather, and where
water or milk cannot be kept by them all the time, it should be sup-
plied twice a day, and it should be clean.

Besides the food and drink, the winter laying hens must have a sup-
ply of gravel and crushed oyster shells, or lime in some form. If you
can give raw or crushed bone two or three times a week it will do more
toward filling the egg basket than all the " patent egg food" ever man-
ufactured.

THE PROFITS REALIZED FROM THE LIVE STOCK ON THE

FARM.

By D. K. Laubach, Fair Mount SpriiifjSj Pa.

(Read at MillvUle. Pa.)

In order to realize a profit on live stock we wish to call attention to
the following [)ropositions : and we say that on them is based all the
profits or loss involved in this subject :

First. The object for which stock is kept is to be well considered.

Second. The kind kept.

Thii'd. The amount kept.

Fourth, and most important, how kept.

"NVith regard to tli<' first we say, every successful farmer should keep,
yes, we will make it im])erative, must kee]), all the stock on his farm
necessary to su[)])ly all the (h^mands of his farm for such stock : that
is, he must kee]) all the cows necessary to supply his tabh^ with milk
and 1)utt(^r ; cattle for his beef, hogs for his pork, sheep for his mutton,
etc., and he who fails in this is not a "business man." You know^ our
present secretary of agriculture said, "The successful farmer of to-day

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Aguicultuue.

209

must be a business man." He must keep all the horses, and accoid-
ing to proposition second, of such kind to meet the demands of his
business. If his soil is hard to break or he has heavy drafts to
d w his team nnist be heavy loo ; but if his farming is light and he
hariong d^^ to make with light loads, then we think a small, ()r at
e!as a medium-sized, team is preferable. By ^^:ay ot illustration alkm
me to relate the experience of a friend and neighbor of mine. He lived
on a fi%-acre farm of loose soil and easily farmed; he was a wide
^iwake man always had his work done in time and made it a point to
gl^t S.t:n,tf distaiice of thirty -two miles, --'e a mo^^^^ in busy
times, and at other times every week, with a light l^^^^J/^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^
fifteeii ei-hteen, or perhaps twenty hundnnl pounds ot eggs, buttei
uodrbeef o wha ever he could find that would pay. He drove a pair o
ili l^rses, say nine hundred or nine hundred -^^f >X^^
fhpso he did all his farming, and when the time came, tiottecl ovei ine
U^ on ?u5 HScsbiuny, aHd the Berwick and Hazletou tu„nnk^^^
back a-ain.aud thus inado these little horses serve him loi ten o twelve
vf rs when he tliou-ht a lar-er team and heavier loads would paj
>et te; S he b Iht a teanrthat wei^^hed twentreight umdi-ed or
three thousand pounds and in less than one year killed both "t them ;
t en he b ou-ht L small team a^ain which he drove as on^as li« li^e* •
Now Sdoesnot take a philosopher of the Dr. Benjamin Franklin cal-
iKrA fn fpU wdiere he failed to realize a pront. , • £

^'uidiom-liStLlsecon^^

especially do we refer to those who live with Lncle bam '""f * ^""^.^f ?' '
fir«t the obiect for which he keeps stock; second, the kind it he
£epst>wS1upply a creameiyU if he -ishes to ma^^^^^^^^^ o
sale he must keep such as produce the most of that.aiticle ii loi
dair'y or for sale to dairymen, then the quantity of milk is the object
which demands the his?hest price. , u„t

With regard to horses-, if they are raised lor «aie then tlie maiket

1 1 1 1 4^ffA- rlnllnrs while our neighbor sold nis reicneioniiu
hundred and htt> cloliais, ^^nni_ oui j^ Then we tried the Per-

two hundred or two hundred and fifty J ^^^^^^;. ^^ our horse.

derived from them second to ""'^^'?" «^« J\™^ ed how much are thev
short time ago was adminne: our shee^i and asked, Jo^| ;\!"^'. , , u j
snoii uiii « ^.^,j dollars. Oh! said ne, i.

'''" 1 I .m tl e h£ I want for two dollars and a half and three dol_
Z.Z^l " T a^ s another qestion. we. remarked and 1^ way o
^.darthm, replied •' the lambs will ^^J^l^^^'ol w^^
and a-half to five and six dollars ^I'^ff '^^"J *^^^^^^^^^ Tn a quarter a

^-'l^jtr:^fl^^:i^^^^^ twins L which
we received nine dollars. -i-.r^r^ wp ^fiv everv farmer should

his o^^" use, in order to realize the greatest profit.
14

. ..■>^jfiV7,.T:i.r'-:

210

QlTAKTEKLY IIePOKT.

Pennsylvania State Boaud of Agriculture.

211

Third. The amount of stock kept. There should be enoug'h stock
of various kinds ke]it on every farm to use up all the hay, straw and
fodder, etc., that can be i)roduced, in order that a plentiful sup[)ly of
barnyard manure may be had, and in this no small profits are realized.
Now this brings us to our foiu'th proi)osition,and most im])ortant — how
kept. It was our pleasure last summer to visit, as enumerator, every
family in the township and inquire in their business and thus had a
g'ood chanc(i to see how the stock was kept and to a certain extent to
know how much profit was realized from it. No man deserves the name
of farmer who attempts to keep more stock of any kind than he can
feed and shelter well. How many times we heard the phrase "we
had bad luck," while on our visits through the township. "Our
lambs all froze, our ])igs froze, the dogs killed our sheep, the cows fell
on the ice." Why I say there was no bad luck about it, nothing but
carelessness. Sheep, pigs and cattle allowed to run out and exposed
to the winter's blast, is it any wonder the lambs and pigs froze and
the cattle fell. One man actually told us that his old sow got so poor
that he had to soak her in alum water before she would hold swill, but
we thought he exaggerated ; but we really sometimes thought it would
take two men to hold u|) a beef while the third could knodv it down.
. As to this bad luck we hear so much about, we would do well to
remember what Dr. Franklin says, " We must be careful and over-
see our own aifairs with our own eyes and not trust too much to
othei«," Again he says, "Want of care does us more harm than want
of knowledge ; " and again, "not to oversee workmen is to leave your
purse open." "Trusting too much to the care of others has ruined
many ;" and again, " a little neglect may breed great mischief." Thus
it is for want of a little care to have a pen for the pigs, a fold for the
sheep and a shed for cattle, and then see that all was carefully housed
and fed, that these slovenly farmers com[)lain of bad luck, and murmur
at a kind Providence for the unjust visitations of his benefits. But we
are glad there is only a small j^ortion of the mass so thriftless. Many
keep fine stock and keei) it well, which is seen at a glance by the tliritt
around, which tells plainly of the i)rofits realized, as the Psalmist says
in sacred writ, " their eyes stand out with fatness," and indeed if it had
not been for the stock we cannot see how the ]ieo]de could have lived
two years of almost entire failures of crops and the third not much better.
We found some very careful to keep an account with their stock, even
as to how much milk received and butter made, which enabled us very
much to make out intelligent returns. One woman who kei)t account
from two cows said,and had the figures to prove it,that after supplying
the table for four children, herself and husband she sold four hundred
and thirty six ])ounds of butter. W^e were pleased very much when our
attention was drawn to two fine Sjiecimen Jerseys as they stood on a
bright June day in a i>()ol of water under the broad spreadintr branches
of a pine chewing their cud, on whose backs not a fly dared to alight,
or if perchance one did, he quickly slid oft' in the Avater and thus filled
a watery grave ; ond as we drove, away we saw six fine Chester Whites
lying m the shade of a chestnut, whose broad backs told jdainer than
words who drank the milk and realized the profits. Not far from this
place, we found (piite a difi*erent state of affairs ; here we found four
cows and the wonderful tale of bad luck was freely told. To thc^ rpies-
tion how much butter was made during the last year, " O, well, T
hardly know ; not very much ; our cows didn't do well, one of them fell
on the ice and is not over it yet." " Well, did you make two hundicHl

pounds^" "No; I donH think we made half of that." "Well, how
much did you sell?" O, " we didn't sell a pound, we had to buy.

Now notice there were six in family. Had bad luck with the sheep,
more than half the lambs froze, the dogs had done their share to the
sheep the pigs did not do well, they had lain m the manure and got
to sweating, etc. And thus did we hear nothing but a tale ot woe trom
beo-iiming to end, and as we looked around we did not wonder at what
we"" heard, for we did not see a pen or a hovel of any kind. An open
yard fenced off with rails on the north side of the barn was tne only
protection and this Avas home for cows, sheep, hogs, and all the vanous
kinds of stock. As we drove away we saw a halt dozen cattle in a
field, and although the weather was hot, some of them wore their. winter
coats yet, and an old brood sow that looked as if she was brooding
over tiie fact that Satan was once permitted to enter her race, while
half a dozen of her ofi'spring with their long noses were reaching
through the fence and taking out the second and third rows ot pota-
toes, while many more were in the i)atch standing on their noses ex-
amining the roots to see if the potatoes were setting all right ihese
were all pure specimens of the turn bristle, that is, bristles all turned

toward th(^ head. ^ i • 4... -j-i.^

From these quotations you must draw your own conclusions as to the
profits realized frcmi the live stock. And now, ±^llow lai-mers, if you
lish to realize a profit on your live stock, first, consider the object loi
which you are going to keep the stock. Second, keep the very best
kind for that object. Third, do not keep more than you can keep well.
Fourth o-ive them the proper care and attention by your own supervi-
sion ghnng them good and comfortable shcltc^r from the storm and
wntry blast; remembering, as we said before, a litt e neglect may
brood great mischief. As Franklin said : " For want ot a nail he shoe
was lost ; for want of a horse the rider was lost being overtaken and
slain by his enemv. All for want and care ot a horse-shoe nail.

THE FAKMER'S HEllITAGE.

By F. M. Evpjs, Millviflr, Pa.
(Read at MJllvllle Farmers' Instltutr.^

We have been confronted again and again by complex qnestions as
we have h)oke(l over this hirge and intidhgent audience that has con-
vened here from the opening of this series ot meetings with an ar.hn-
and unabated interest worthy this (.tiling, and responsive to the call
of our member of the Sate Board ot Agriculture.

What m.>ni.s this movement, sustained and endorsed by our great

con)nu.nw,.alth ; of affording tli.) humblest Imsban.luian the orivdege of

Vetoes and .liscussi..ns free upon subjects pertinent to their respective

ocalities, and thus foster an especial pride in his calling, an.l deAclo

a latent love that lies very near the heart of every man and woman for

'■' wl^'Sif th'd' all Pennsylvania farmei;s need to be educated as
thoro ighly as men in other professions, for the mmd has more to do

212

QUAKTEKLY KePOKT.

I

m

m

with successful fanning than the muscle, and the broader the educa-
tion the better the chance for signal success. The more abundant
the reward for their toil, the more fully will they anticipate their future

Vvl pC til 11 CTK

"What is the significance of the Farmers' Alliance, including the Na-
tional Grange, Farmers' League, National Colored Farmers' Alliance,
Patrons of Husbandry, and othc^r organizatiDns, that have spread as
a tidal wave over the south, west, and great northwest, that reckon
their hosts by millions. ..

At first they claimed they were benevolent, social, and cooperative
alliances, working out purely social, educational and economical prob-
lems. But later developments showed that they had banded together
to etlfect political reforms, in which they were particularly interested.
But reforms were so necessary they were welcome from any quarter.

Did it mean that the intelligent farmers wlio form the solid basis of
our republic were devoting their energies to their farms and dignifying
their employment to the exclusion of other duties?

It was a little late in the nineteenth century that they discovered
their heritage slipping away from them. That over twenty one mil-
lions of acres of the best lands in this country that should have been
an inheritance to your posterity are owned by men or companies who
owe allegiance to governments of Europe.

Instead of a solidly virtuous, trustworthy and useful people that we
love to recall in the yeomanry of our ancestors, you were becoming the
dupes of demogogues and wily politicians whose promises of doing
something for the poor distressed farmer were made to the ear and
broken to the heart. And you ignored your civil duties when you
knew they involved protection in person and property, nationality and
human rights ; and for want of your healthful influence in enforcing our
local laws our country is almost submerged with intemperance and its
attending train of evils, ignorance, poverty and degradation, tempting
your sons and daughters on the right and the left, and luring them
away from pleasant country homes by the false glitter of city life and
the unequal chances of competition, their honest ventures too often
ending in failure and humiliation.

It is a startling fact shown by statistics that seven-tenths of the de-
graded in our larg(^ cities came from resi^ectable country homes.

With the dawning of this new era the farmers have conclusively a
capacity for doing something for themselves. They have united in
such vast numbors they can demand reforms instead of petitioning for
them.

Tlui keynote of this hopeful present and future was touched by R, G.
Horr in a recent article in the New York Tribime. He says, " if farmers
will depend on their own industry and skill for the])roduction of wealth,
and keep clear of visionary schemers who claim that there is a way U"^
make every one well off by simply ]>assing statutes, this country will
soon 1)0 th(^ best land for the tiller of the soil on this green earth."

Will th(^ farmers of Cohnnbia county do this? Our countrv is rich
in all that nature gives to make the earth beautiful. Grand old forest
trees, upland vales and glens, and rich in mineral resources.

The discouragements you meet are incident to all i )rofessions. From
observations made at life's noon-tide, we can say that our farmers to-day
are the best fed, have the best homes and are the best looking peo])le
in our c(mimunity. A glance over this sua uf faces will bear me out in
this statement.

Pennsylvania State Boahd of Agricultuke.

213

And here are your sons, restless and enterprising young men, (after
weXe humaifely provided for oiu ^-ff\^^i:^
fli^m it least a Dartial evidence ot good faith m the tieaties mauo

ranges that border the Pacific coast ai-e waiting the tout ot the .ettlers

to (levehiD all of the iudustries ot agncultunil lite.

* And IhLe young women quietly and --''^y -<;«f\!"^,^^^^^^^^^^^

lems in your secluded homes. With what words of cheei shall we ^leei

^"if you mi your days with industries and your years with recor-ds of

hrnw He made every human being to be practically useiui ii
day and genSion, and whoever seeks to be a mere ornament oi paia-
site encumbers the state. . u.^vm^^iw nntil everv man

ai^o^rieSm^: ^ = ^ ^ S^^ aid gloLs in
'^Xlotnce is a bad symptom for the moral health of our people and
the permanence of the republic Columbia county, although

emulated, a character above r«l!^«^^i' ^"1,^" ^^^^^^^^^ That they
exercised a ^^^ -«---:.;^^^ *o\TuS£ldToriid be enabled

rUvrout^hefr roblc^t"»utes and iarmouize with the purposes of
the Creator.

MAKING AND FEEDING ENSILAGE.

By M. G. Brosius, Chatham, Pa.
(Read at ITnlonvllle InBtitute.)

I am uiicler .the i-l-si^^^^^^^^^^^^^

about to day is not "»t«\e%*Vk?niit^r.lIce among the more important
lieve the stib ect is ^aind y ak ng its rdace amoj ^^ ^^^^^.^^^

interests of «iefarmei% ^v ho h.is taken ti^^^^ ^^^ ^^,^g.

for Ins profits, I am -jf-,: con Ser fr ten years ago the silo was
fited by my effoit. W ''«" Jf^\"L. . _ ^^^\ to-dav thev are numbered
almost unknown m the United ^tf*^^', 'J°'|^^^4tKv of investigation,
bv thousands, there is ample P^c "J hat it i-Jor«iy ^^

When we take i'\t'>/'""^;,^^*''^f, ,*\Tie hostlSv to which has been so

'-Jat^S^Xil^f ^ -^^^^^ -^^^ ^*^ ^^^— ^ -

new places, and it must have meritb^ introduced it was supposed

!

214

QuAiJTEiaA' Hepokt.

i

li<

ii

sown too tliicklj^ to produce ears, and although that was a great step
in the economy of feed, it has been superseded by the generally
adopted practice of using the full cro]) of well -matured corn. I have
been feeding ensilage for three winters with a geat deal of satisfac-
tion. Stock will eat good ensilage in preference to good hay or corn
fodder, and will eat partially spoiled ensilage as well as partly spoiled
hay or fodder. We have had the milk tested with and without
ensilage, resulting in favor of ensilage of one and one-tenth per cent,
of butter fat which is equivalent to a gain of one-fifth. There is also
some gain in quantity. We think we are justified in making the fol-
lowing assertions : That there is no risk in storing away corn ears and
fodder together if the silo is i)roi)erly built and the crop i)ut in with
That it is no more work or expense to silo corn than to harvest

care.

it in the usual Avay, and much less labor in feeding it. That unless it
can be proven that the full ripening of the corn, taking the grain and
fodder combined, adds to its value as food, there is a gain of one-fourth
on all corn siloed, as it costs about one eighth to husk it, and one
eighth to grind it, the cutting and hauling being the same in both
methods, not counting the exi)ense of hauling it to the mill through
mud and over frost. That if it is desirable that the cow should have
mixed feed in order to have the same pass into all the stomachs of the
animal, we have it at once by putting the meal or bran upon the wet
ensilage, and also have a warm and partially cooked feed as food, kept
at a temperature of 140"' for a month or six weeks, must in some de-
gree be cooked ; that stock fed largely upon ensilage will drink but little
water, which is desirable by those having cold water for their stock.
The danger of over feeding so much to be dreaded by the heavy
feeder, is in a great degree avoided, as a surfeit only lasts a short time.
That cows fed with ensilage will give more and better milk than with
the same cost of other kind of feed, ])rovided there is i)roper care taken
to keep the cows in warm stables during very cold weather ; as it is
only reasonable to suppose that if fed on green summer feed, which
we claim ensilage to be, that they cannot so well withstand the severe
cold of winter. With these conclusions granted, next comes the
question how to make good ensilage ; how to build a silo that a good
article may be assured. It is unreasonable to supjiose that a silo can
be built that will secure every particle of its contents. The curing of
green croi)s depends upon the proper attention being given to all the
principles involved. In building a silo the first consideration is its
location. It is very im]iortant to have the bottom on or near a level
with the entry floor, as the taking out is done l)y manual labor, the
filling with horse or other power, and with a carrier attached to the
cutter, the corn can be elevated as desired. Most situations will admit
of both filling and emptying on or near the level. As to the sha]ie we
prefer the rectangular with the entrance at one end, so that the feeding
which should be done from the bottom of the silo woukl not neces-
sitate the exposing of any more ensilage than is necessary, as it soon
spoils when exposed to the air. We think with a stock of twenty
cows, the silo sliould be about Um feet wide, twelve feet dee]^ and
length according to the amount of corn you wish to cure. These dimen
sions thirty feet in length will hold about five acres of corn, that woukl
niak<' filty bushels per acre; with these dimensions there would be
eiioiigli taken out at one time to prevent any part of the surface re-
maining undisturbed long enough to damage.

The material of which to build, and whether above or below ground.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agriculture.

215

has been very much discussed in agricultural papers. I think it would
KS unwL for any one to build a silo without seeing one tlmt was
know/to be a success' The last account I read was that any silo t at
mmld hold water would keep ensilage. This was on the «^^1> > >«^^;^^
Sto be air-tight was all that was -^^^^-^l^^^^^
mistake • if we were to build a glass, airtight silo on top ot the .^rouna
^nd fill it wfth green corn it would be no more likely to keep than
r^l^cZn would fill a glass jar with cold tomatoes, seal it up and set it

^^^^^"^ Piakesno difference where the silo is built; or
wlLrmatS^^^^^^^^^^ If it is 1-operly protected and s^^^^^^^^^^^
non-conductor to such an extent that its inclination to^
olw^nf 14-0° will not be in any way retarded, it this protection is not

the outside rotting, the remainder will be likely to cuie in some ue

^^^xT ' ..A +Lof in Vkp heatino- lies the whole secret, that it

isTh^eTeaTthr:i.elfthe Sr. ' MaicYng ensilage is f^^;^^^
Ireen cro,>s and the success depends upon the ability of the operator

:o{d maleHal of wMch ^tl^^ilo is built wiU ^il to ^^^^^ ^^^^^

KlriXiftti^^g^dt^^^^^^^

i?"t' *^^i^'btrd^"^^ li'wTar- '%

great interest at the present tmie a^;/;;X'^^"i^;;^^l^"\!'uch that requires
fhe weight can be ^^^ ^^:'^^^tZ^:r:^ to be fed from
us to say that with the ileep n*^""''^"^' " , , ^^jth the horizontal re-

thetop, n^l^t '^?««;"?* r:™ XX^^^^^^^^^^^ be dispensed

commended m this article «"'^«"|r^<*';^^ experience is that tlu^ com
with. In regard to filling «»t iw!Vntn.s short as circumstances will
should not be put in wet, should ^ec as short <^^

P^""^VXJ '^^X^'^mT^oi:^^^^^ longer tijne will

coming in contact with the '^j^X ™1"'' jts l-o >\i\i„ility cannot be
green corn, and once damaged m this way i^je'^^^rin"- of any com in
Ltored but will have no ba^^

after filling. Ihere ^^ '""^f'"' „:.,,,„ claiming that t should be
time tocut the corn - 1^-*-^^-^ while

wel inatim d almost f 1 ;; We ^ .^ .^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^

we think that it *''io"'<i »'. ,^ ^ ^^ ^i^g succulent state and

far, as it ^^ nt-e««f7. 1',^/, l to and the liability of being detained by

if too ripe it ^"[1 f' ;^*;;;\\:^'' ^postpone the cutting this long In
bad weather makes it ^^ry i «Ky ^ j i j^ j. .^ j.^j.^^

conclusion I want *" "'^^ t^^'^^jiV 'j'iiY."^-^ T am confident that the
portion of m.y hearers^^^^^^^^^ bu.jd a silo,^I^ an ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^

doubt'anf feS! but'wiU be hailed with joy by the young man who

21C

Quarterly Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

217

■^

has chosen the cultivation of the soil for the medium by which to obtain
an independence. It becomes us, as farmers, to be ready and willing to
accept any opportunity to advance our interests and make our pro-
fession more pleasing and profitable.

SUCCESS IN CATTLE FEEDING.

By Forest Preston, Spruce Grove, Pa,

( Read at Oxford Institute. )

Success in cattle feeding is the subject that has been assigned me for
your consideration this morning. Probably nine-tenths of the cattle
feeders of eastern Pennsylvania if asked to day whether cattle feed-
ing IS profitable, wdl answer that it is not. Let us examine this
question closely, and see what are some of the causes that have brought
this result about, and Avhether there is any remedy for it.

No doubt the princiv)al cause for the 'low price of beef to-day is
the fact that the great West, with its cheap lands, and good facilities
for cheap and rapid transportation to the east, is the most important
factor in the case.

B(^th live cattle, as well as dressed beef from the immense slaughter-
ing houses of Chicago and Kansas City, are laid down in our eastern
markets at prices that fairly paralyze the eastern feeder of cattle
Probably not one feeder in a hundred can tell you exactly what he has
made or what he has lost in feeding a lot of cattle.

This is principally owing to the fact that most of us follow a mixed
order of farming and feeding, so that cattle and horses, and often sheep
and swine, are fed from the same bin and mow. Consequently we can-
not tell how the account stands. If cattle are bouglit at four cents in
the fall, and well fed all winter, and sold for four cents in the spriijo-
the ma]ority of feeders will tell you that they have lost money and
without doubt they have; for the gain in weight is insufficient to pay

m, ^^.^^^^^^'^"^^^^ ^^'^^^""^^^ aii^^ ljil>or bestowed ui)on them

The farmer of to-day in order to ho successful in feeding cattle must
consider three points. First, buying ; second, feeding, and, lastly,sell-
V"^; .1 "^ consider these points separately. First, as to buyins-
Let the prospective buyer consider first what kind of cattle his market
demands^ When he goes into the market to purchase stock cattle,
he has three grades to select from. First, the extra fine and heavy
ones; s^econd the grade known as ''good common," and, third, the
sc^rub. Now which ever one of these classes sells the best in his market,
when fattened, let him f^elect from.

It, may be added here that it has been the experience of most
teeders tliat there is more i^rofit in the second grade than either of the
others. Kecent experiments have shown that the average gain of
year lings was about two pounds per day, of two years old about erne
and three-fourth, while the three year olds gained al>out one and one-
Halt pounds^ As the yearlings are not what butchers desire we must
necessarily take our choice between the two and three years old

As the gain is more rapid in the two years old, we will select these
tor our purpose. As to time of buying let him purchase whenever they

are offered at fair rates, avoiding the months during which Texas or

^tntedTng L^'tirtds be at regular intervals, whethei- they are
fed twice, three or even five times a day, as some ot our most succestiii
feeders do. Let them be watered in the same way, and always m the
barn yard and not at a stream one-fourth mile away. If possible avoid
Svhig them ice cold water to drink. With plenty ot good clow hay
brioh^ and clean corn fodder and corn meal as essentials, cattle that
areliandled properly must put on weight rapidly^ See to it that thev
are never over fed as this is worse than to under feed. Above all
handle them gently and quietly. .„ . , t .1 • i u,r

Not since 1882, has there been much, if indeed anything made by
sellin"- cattle in the Philadelphia or New York markets. , . ^ .

In everv neighorhood the^ is some kind of a home market. Let
cattle feeders see to it that this market is enconraged a"^;^snpi ed
and each succeeding year it will demand inore '^"^^ "^:^',f , • J^'^^^^^^Si
cans, like their English ancestors, are a ,V««t-«'**»'§ "^*^°^^Xce of
vear demands more beef than the preceding one. As an instance oi

StheTo "n of Oxford,fifteen years ago, l--\f>"t «- ^V ,f ^^7^'^^^^^^^^
had you gone there at that time and offered them a stable ot tat cattle
thev woukl have looked at you in blank amazement It was their
m-actice to buy a chance heifer or cow. Sometimes perhaps a steer.
^Du^n-th^past summer three first class butcher shops have supplied
the town and country around with beef and other meats. Probably
S^rov tlenTl-ad of cattle were slaughtered every week duru.g
the summer months, besides sheep, ambs, hogs ^nd calves, ihese
butchers have paid about Philadelphia prices tor such as they could

get that suited them. . -, y i i „„.. i«,.<ia of western

In addition to the home raised beef, several cai loads ot western

heifers have been slaughtered „.ffi^ ^^ wpII «« other

As to time of selling the old maxim applies to cattle as well as otner

})roduce.

When first the market otters weU,

\t once your vearly produce sell.

A larger price you wait in vain,

And nine times lose when once you gain.

A • ^ .V.0I.0 ^rr^^^v o^H\e SO ^^ood that iustcad of dressing fifty or

fiftv'six poTndl ^er liuS^U^^^^^^^^ they will dress sixty or above
btty-six poumu I ^ ^ t^],, feeders in the lower end of the

CL ,tt«urvS,:' etZl hi Stk .t ...,. ..Iv,,.,., of torn

r„r^WnJtelL.mTm.l«uTLm.rs buy l,ben.lly „( tre.h b,,!

"FeT'i;:;rJr;etl.t'tr»,eat .M.™,,., beW„ sem.? at a cent

ijew laimtjih, it^ui j «qrYip advance on six cents. It the

"S™"' : ""r °»;'' r ,« noS iU» m u-h bettor that he .h.rnl.l

218

Quarterly Report.

cents, g-ains the same weight, and this weight is sold for twenty-eight
doHars, ahnost double the profit of the first.

During the past few years we have been afflicted with a new pest in
the shape of the Texas fiy. It makes its a])pearance as early as the
twentieth of May and stays until frost. During this time cattle will
not thrivt^ but will })08tively lose flesh. Until some sure and efticient
remedy is found for this pest, we would recommend that, if possible,
the cattle be disposed of i)rior to the first of June.

The cattle market like every other one, will sometimes run to ex-
tremes. Let us hope that the lowest extreme has now been reached.

Already we see signs of the great cattle ranches of the west dis-
integrating. And when the syndicates that control tliem g*ive up or
are crowded out by the influx of settlers, then a brighter day will
dawn for the eastern feeder of cattle.

In conclusion, let the feeder remember to purchase his cattle at the
right time and the right prices. To feed them judiciously, and lastly,
to sell them whenever he is ofl'ered a good advance and for cash.

t

1

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE POULTRY BUSINESS.

By Wm. T. Creasy, Catawissa^ Pa.
(Read at Benton Institute.)

Success and failure in the poultry business are two very different
results ; one of which every poultry man gets as a reward.

In this paper I will only discuss it as an adjunct business.

In recent years a great deal has been written and published ; poultry
journals have multi[)lied wonderfully, and if everything Ave read was
true we could get at no better paying business. But outside of this
poultry farming on i)aper, there are some such obstructions marked
failun^ ; and to make money with ])oultry is not so easily accomplished
as some may imagine. Yet poultry can be made to pay on a farm
under ])roper management.

I will give you several i)oultry accounts : the first one my own, and
the only one I ever kept, though it was not every year as g'ood.

Number of hens kei)t, 48. :

Value of eggs gathered during year $103 44 .

Poultry sold during year 87 57

Making a total of $141 01

This netted me about one hundred dollars.

The chickens we ate, the hen manure, and the work are not counted
in the above account nor in the following ones.

A friend of mine who has kept an exac^t account of his poultry for a
nuTnl)er of years has furnished me with his best and poorest accounts,
which I will give as taken from his books :

Average number of liens during year, 38.

Number eggs gathered during year, 461 1 dozen.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture. 219

Value of egss gathered during year ^'^o cr

Poultry sold during year ___^.

Making a total ^^aq or

Cost of feed __!„

Leaving a balance of mi_^

The cost per hen was ^^ |^

The number eggs laid per hen was ^^^^^

Profit per hen was *

His poorest account is as follows :

Number of hens kept during year, 40.

Eggs gathered, 393i dozen. ^^

Value of eggs 36 11

Chickens sold

• $102 03
Value of feed '_

alaiice ■■

Eggs laid i)er hen $1 32

Profit per hen -j^ 23

Cost per hen ; -

The average profit per hen would be nearly two dollars in a flock of

^^Ttsl^'Ssi^^^^ accomplished with a comfortable hen house and

^ood care The feed was mostly corn, wheat, buckwheat aad milk
fndbnui mixed The chickens had access to ground oyster shells and
nil nppasioiud treat of raw bone cracked. ^ ^ _ ^ ., . . , ,

But reinem^ lien produces a profit of two dollars, it does not

follow tHKlu^ hens will produce five hundred times two dol>

K or one thousand dollars, for the same rule does not apply to hen
cultlirrf or tl^ r^^^^^ the number of fowls is increased the

cultu e, toi t ly ec creometrical ratio; double the number of

hens win eq^^^^^^^^^^^ the care to prcKluce the -me j^^^^^^^

BvT)rictical experience I find that a flock of fifty hens left run at
laSl Ta fa'l^w^^^ thrive better --^ cost less and give a k^^^^^^^
onZl than the same number enclosed on a halt-acre lot. But where a
^::ZnZ^^^^ else but tend poultry, and on a large scale, the re-

'''lluc"ks''iresrturkevs, guineas and pigeons are profitable where one
. L . .IpbVht'in la^^^^ them, but without taking a pride 111

takes a delight mia sing ^^^^^ Gentleness and patience are two irreat

virti7eTL1h: poX W as well a^^^^^^ A rough master

has s^^^^^^ rule the profits on the wrong side ot the

%1iT' value of the products of the poultry yard exceed the value of
tlJwucts^ manufacturers, and besides his we impor

Zuif U Pi^due- at home. But in trying to accomplish this and

220

Quarterly Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

221

n

make the jioultry business pay we meet the other side of the subject—

faihiie. , .i i. • i i

I g-ave you several ac^eouiits where the enterprise was reasonably
successful. Now I will g-ive you several which are types of those that
are on the road to failure. A certain person read a great deal about the
profits of the ])oultry business and commenced to figure if one hen
yields a profit of three dollars, four hundred luais will g-ive twelve hun-
dred dollars. And the more he read and fig-ured tlie worse he g-ot the
hen fever, until finally, without any experience but his paper knowledge,
he made a start. The sceue was on a thirty -five acre lot near Nor-
ristown, a few years ag^o ; invested one thousand dollars as follows :
Four hundred dollars in a fine ])Oultry house with nicely divided yards,
etc : two thermostatic incubators at a cost of two hundred and fifty
dollars ;• the balance, three hundrcnl and fifty dollars, in poultry, eg-g-s,
brooders, etc. He commenced to hatch cliicks by the hundreds, and
in a few weeks they commenced to die by the hundreds. He con-
tinued the business one year with an additional five hundred dollars
invested, and then stopped Avith a loss of fifteen hundred dollars, but a
vast amount of experience. He is satisfied there is money in it lie-
cause he lost some there.

Another man bought about one thousand hens, ]>ut all in one tlock,
and commenced counting- profits, but before he had rig-htly decided the
case the cholera came along and closed out the business. These are
examples of a large class of which no records are published.

There are other troubles on the road to success ; hawks, cats, rats,
crows and lice, and among diseases, g-apes, cholera and roup.

Hawks and crows get about two per cent, of the chicks hatched as
they are generally cared for on the farm.

Even with the best care they get a good share of them. In one
summer I lost one hundred and fifty chicks out of two hundred and
seventy five by hawks, and they did it so nicely that I only saw them
take two of them. There is no let u]) to them if they can find them
out. The best remedy is to shoot them or raise your chicks in an en-
closure until the grass is high enough for a ])rotection. In this enclos-
ure we put brush so as to shield the chicks from the liawks when they
dart for them.

Cats do mucli damage in a ]ioultry yard. We had thirty chicks and
a cat caught fifteen loefore I missed any, and on the same day she
caught six more, yet she seemed so innocent that we could not believe
tliat she did the miscliief until she was caught at the act. We then
ap|)lied the shot gun remedy.

Cleanliness will prevent lice White-wash your poultry house occa-
sionally, use coal-oil on the poles once every two weeks, set hens only
in clean new nests, coal-oil the boxes before setting, and sprinkle sul
])liur on the hay or straw. If a hen breaks anv eggs wdiile setting take
mi Ik warm water and wash the nest; lice breed fast in a filthy nest.
When the chicks are hatched grease them with a little lard under the
wings and (m the head. Keep hen coops cleaned.

The three diseases, gapes, cholera and roup are not the only diseases
which one meets in the poultry yard, but they are the most formidable
ones. Gapes, thoiigli never troubled witli them, I think is' the worst
one. There are (bff(M-eiit theories in regard to the cause of gapes. It is
a worm in the windi»ipe as you all know, and when too many get there
the chicken cliokes to death. T think it is l)red during one of its stages-
in the ground and r<Mpiires warmth and moisture. To prevent it is the

J. tlZ everythh., clean ^-^;\^^Ji^ ^ :^:^:t:^t
every year. Cholera I tluiik is next ^^^^^^ fifteeu years. I

appearance as an epidemic ^et wee e^e y seven a ^^^

cannot assign any particular cause no •"»>' •^""'"^^J^ i.reventivo I would
hot and drv weather seem most tavorable to it. As a prevcmi
.rcommeiul keeping clean water betme tlumi

When it appears as an epidemic theie is "'^, ™ J*" '^^^^^ ,,^ those
fed chickens and those kept m «-«^;X'fhe firTtrbe a^^^^^^^^

In Us miuL^tn: I hav^ known cases wl--*^;- Xlse. I have
Roup is next m order ^J" \,.\^^^^^"4t'fu Se localities it is worse
never considered i a very '\t^\J^/^;":V^^^^ catarrh. The

than others. Its is %«"} V", l^'^ l.^s wet and cold, and keeping
causes are over-crowded l'^^* ^ ^^"^ f ^^^^ them other nights,

poultry houses o^en^^^'^^^^^^^ hens to get damp
. causing an unusual l'«\*'l'"7„\'^, ' ^' , i„xative diet and good nursing,
and take cold. I would i-e«ommend a 1^^^* ;^;^ ^j ^^jtry business

These are the I'^^^Vl/must ex ,ect to meet them and sometimes
where care is given and one -^"^t ^^•^^y;;^ don't lose vour courage,
it may cost every ^^^^SrhnporS' poh^tl in raising poultry ; one

There are several otlier ""!'""', ^ I /^-.^tlipr vour eggs every day,
wants to be posted in the egg .V^-Xmsti^emZimo^^y. Of course
fresh and clean,and sell ^^'^'f ^t; f ^ ou c fu delWer the eggs to the cm,s-
where one lives near %^^^,S«J ^^ ' f.^^^Xe are not so situated.. But
tomers yourself and get a f'^"^ l'",'^^;^, "a \,, first-class articles in any

which will lay in the ta 1 =;^':;V ^ ^^ ^ ^J f ey bring a good price, in

during the summer and *'^',\> *;';'; I'^^.k^U Vmlance of old hens,un-
the fall or early ^^n'ter.weexl m t your stoc k s ^^^^^^^^ .^ ^^^^

less extra layers, and all scrubby stock , Ke^l y ^^^^.^^^ ^^^^^^^

want eggs when they ^<?i^m'^."J,^/Xck of poultry.

irifer.™ t'T'Sli''"" iS Vy are crt^lv .o.

X'"';.o«k,T «..! .s«= y"»-i<- -i""'' '-'' '"""■ '""'"'■ """'"■"""

"yiage y- clnlcW.., to »i«. ..o»Ur,, even if they c.'t ,lo .t a»
„.Uv Zl Wm «» mak.- « «""'» «~1' '"'■

Ik

222

Quarterly Eeport.

Build yourself a comfortable hen house if you have not one already.

Finally, do not starve your poultry nor feed them to death, but use
a variety of healthy food. Study your business, stick to it and ai)i)ly
good common sense.

CLOVEIi AS A FERTILIZEK.

By Henry Omwake, Greencastle, Pa.

(Read at Greencastle Institute.)

Almost any soil contains a large amount of the elements of fertility,
both mineral and organic, but only a very small quantity is available
at any one time. Plants take up food only when it becomes dissolved
in water. Therefore, whilst it is difficult to exhaust tlie soil of all the
elements of fertility, it is not difficult to exhaust it of the soluble portion
wdiich is in condition to nourish the i)lant. Heat, moisture and thor-
ough tillage hasten the dissolution of inert plant-food in the soil, l)ut
besides the aid of these natural agents supported by the industry of
the farmer, in making feritilty available, we have also a choice of crops
which we can make use of with erood effect upon the land in developing
7)ortions of the inert plant-food, so as to make it soluble that plants
may feed upon it and make a vigorous growth.

There are several s])ecies of plants that possess the property of
assimilating and storing in their tissues nutriment in available form
for the wheat and corn that are to follow in the rotation, but the most
useful of them all is clover ; the common red clover which emits such a
sweet odor when in bloom, and which for ages has occupied the front
rank among the cultivated grasses, not only as a most nutritious cattle-
food, but also as a fertilizing agent. Upon its introduction into Eng*-
land and Germany it is said agriculture was completely revolutionized,
whilst in Holland it has been a factor in successful farming" ever since
its introduction into that country. Above all other means it is relied
upon as a successful renovator of worn-out lands. Nearly a hundred
years ago it was introduced into tins valley by bringing seed from the
eastern counties of the state, and the seeming-ly mag-ical effect of its
use upon exhausted soils so gained for it the appellation of " the far-
mer's friend," a title which it has well sustained during fourscore
years of use. For feeding purposes it has no superior among cultivated
grasses, and in its value as an adjunct to the manure hea]) it stands
second only to oil cake. That it is a fertilizer, and that it enriches
the soil by preparing" it for the production of better crops is a well
established and g-enerally accepted fact. And thougrh not doubted by
the more experienced in the luofession, that clover is at the bottom of
successful farming in this valley, it is yet evident, from th(^ numb(U' of
bare fields to bo seen every summer without a crop of any kind, that
its agricultural value is but poorly appreciated by many, who are every
year com [)elled to lay out their hard earned cash for nitrogen at seven-
teen cents a pound, whicli they ap])ly in the stinted cpiantity of five
or six pounds to the acre, when, by growing clover, they mig^ht, without
cost, and often at a profit produce from a single acre one hundred and
twenty pounds of nitrogen, or as much as is contained in two tons of
the ordinary ammoniated fertilizer.

Pennsylvania State Board oi Agriculture.

223

The chief element of value m our barn-yard product is nitrogen
TT^fr^e a noted ^^^ asked " in what way can nitrogen be

was ^^^T^^temeui, though --'^^-^ -^^^f'""^ ^^f^iZ
firmed by staudanl chemical authority; and ,t ^^ >^„ s f i itru
analyBis that a ton of dried clover, hay .contains ^fy^^'^^^ ^ J^^,

rrreirthe^bS^^^^^^^

"^Srlr Jordan says clover adds JK^hing to the -d -ce,t^th.
carbon taken ivom the atmosphe^-e ; ^^^^ wlu u. ^^J ^^^^

in order to i.roduce ^^^^nty-hve bushe s ot wlie^^ »^^^^ ^^^^^^ -^

pounds of nitrogen, must C'f ^^in much moie oi i^^^ hundred and

liecessary to P^^'l^^'^.^i^-*^^ tons of cW ^.^^^^ ^^^

twenty pounds with sixty pounds a^^lit? "''^Z ^"^"^^^ ^j^^t clover can
stuff left on the ground f«/;«^'«J,"f^if^,ows that his mind is not

gather nitrogen more easily «^" ;™*\^\fcoT ^ ' •"'"^'^^"* """*''''^'
too clear about the matter. ? «^^';'^,\^ uitn>'"en from the air, and
ogist, remarks «-* c over ca^i obt^n i s nitio„ei .^ .^^

gives m support of the ''tate'uem, m ^ • j ^ there could

Sn a dump-heap of feldspar haidc^lioni^thcinme^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^_

have been very little or no nitiogon j^at^ij , ^v nitrogen and by
have taken soil entirely divested o^ e^ery t^^^^^^ ^

watering, clover ^rowinS m ^ich ^oi , ^;'JJ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ to grow, and

trace of ammonia, tlie.V^'Tofv further addition of nitrogen in any
continued to fV:oy^,:^:}^',^^J:^'iZ{d^ grow after rtie slight
for

;tinuedto grow, ^vithout any turtnm ^^^^^^^ "J^erihe slight

rm. while other species "V l 1 >n K -uish ed and died. The
supply of ammonia wa_s ^,ex^iausted. b^ t an u^h . ^^.

supply of anmionia was ex^aus^;;. J u- --^^^^^^^ contain nitrogen
clover ahme survived and "Pf//" ' [.^(„g j i,j the watering,
largely in excess of he H"';^* ^^^^Xf any of the solid rocks which
N trogen is not found as an ";"^V'"\' , , ■{ ^ j^ the atmosphere,
constitute the crust of the ^/'^f ^;.J ^^ J^*^;, ffo r^t that the atmosphere
and though found in a^' 'll'-^^t'.Yn n u ) S^ orff^ substance, as hay
is its original source. When we J;';\}" "'^ ^^^^^^ ^^„a goes into the air.
or corn, the nitrogen contained mis l^^^^^^^^ ^ .^ ^^^^ liberated

In this way, by <^'^f^^;^'^^'^7hZ:. the query, " how is the
from the surface of the eaitli every " > ' j j^^ restoration

stock kept up if liature '|of ,,"^* j"'r;„,\esteni prairies by the

to the soilf Tli« f?f^''^'.,^"™";o tabled ftb^ growth
Indians, by which all tl\«;» «J«^^^^X '^'^^^^^^^^

of grass was sent up in the fii; 1 e«ent ^ ^^ ^^^ ^.,,,,,^

for only the mineral ^i^i^T 'if ilerv acre fro^ fiftv to seventy p.Huuls
in the form of ash whilst ^ '•"" /^f ^ '^^^Vl 1 this whohsah' robbing of
of nitrogen wouhl be ''^'f,'-'^* V^.f ^^\^^^^^^^^ be richer than the tim-

pi

5 '■

V

I

224

QUAKTEKLY liEPOIiT.

Pennsylvania State Board of xVgriculture.

225

of Pennsvlvania State Collesre, says, "tliou<-li clover contains much
more nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash tlian timothy, yet it leaves
the surface soil much richer in these elements of plant-food." Henry
Stewart, another i)rominent ag-ricultural author, after speakm*? ot the
fertile elements contained in clover, says, " there is reason tor believ-
ing that a part of its nitrogen is drawn from the air and the remainder
from the soil," and says furtlu^r, " clover feeds upon the nitrogen m or-
o-anic matter which is not available for other crops. Whether or not we
accept the statement that clover assimilates any of its nitrogen from the
air we are assured that it gathers it in larger quantity than the three
croi)S, corn, oats and wheat, which i)receded it in the rotation ihis
fact contains a pointer for the practical farmer, who, instead of iisini>-
an expensive agent like lime, as a decomposer to make inert plant
food available, may use clover in rotation with both i)rofit and effect,
for it not only (airiches and mellows the ground on which it grows, but
the crop which is cut and gathered becomes the means of enriching
other fields. It must be borne in mind that it is not the food which
contains the highest fattening qualities that makes the richest manure :
a ton of clover furnislu^s more of the elements of fertility than a ton of
corn-meal. In its manurial value it stands second only to wheat l)ran
and oil cake. It performs a very imi)ortant office in the rotation of
crops. All plant food must be soluble in water before plants can feed
upon it, and when thus soluble, if not taken up by the plant is in
danger of beina- washed beyond its reach by the rains, and when once
beyond the depth we plow, would be lost forever, but for some agency
to bring it to tlu^ surface again. Clover sends down its long taj) roots
like faitliful scavengers into the subsoil, and they perforate the solid
earth in search of the necessary plant-food, which by the action of the
rains has been carried beyond the line of cultivation, and much of the
nitrogen and phosphoric acid which would otherwise be lost as ])lant-
food are thus assimilated and become stored in the tissues of clover.
In order to appreciate the force of what has been said of nitrogen in
clover, let every farmer keep steadily in mind the fact that when he buys
it in fertilizer he pays seventeen cents a pound for it, besides taking
the risk of being cheated, and also let him remember that one hun-
dred and twenty pounds, the ])roduct of one acre, would at the same
rate have a manurial value of twenty dollars and forty cents. To know^
how to make good mnaure at the least cost is tlie first secret of good
farming, for the soil must be fed. We hear frequent recommendaticms
of corn fed manure, but when it is remembered that the manurial value
of clover is estimated to be one and a half times that of corn, we deem
it in place to put in a plea for clover-fed manure. In addition to the
nitrogen a season's growth would contain also thirty-four i)ounds of
phosphoric acid and one hundred and twelve pounds of potash, which,
at regular commercial rates, would give it a manurial value of twenty-
six dollars. And here it may V)e asked if "clover takes from the soil
these valuable elements in such large quantities is it not one of the
most exhaustive croi^s that can be raised?" We answer, " if raised and
removed ofT the farm this would prove true, but the jircatical farmer
who knows its value and makes a judicious use of it, will not allow its
removal, but will carefully utilize all hay, good or bad, and refuse of
clover of every sort and safely deposit it in the farmers' bank, as avail-
able agricultural assets."

To raise clover and sell it off the farm for a succession of years could
not fail to exhaust the land, and when a farmer sells clover-hay for

less than its feeding value and without any regard for the fertility
it contains, it proves either that he is ignorant of its value, does not
care for consequences, or has not learned to make a proper use oi his
arithmetic. Farmers in general concede it to be beneficial to have land
lie in clover, yet a little observation will convince one that some by a
more judicious use are doubly benefited. Clover does not acquire its
full manurial value until it is full-grown and begins to ripen tliei-etore
to prevent its growth, by having it eaten off and tramped down by
cattle, is the abuse rather than the use of it. , ^ , ^, . n •

From the foregoing observations, then, we are led to tlie tollowing
conclusions concerning the most judicious use of this yaluabh^^ grass :
Inasmuch as soluble plant food is continually being drained beyond
the reach of the plow, and as growing clover is the only known means
within our reach for bringing it back, it is plain that the more fre-
quently it can be employed in the rotation the better, and as its value
consists in what it is composed of and not in the nanae, the farmer
should have it as often as he can, and should use it as often as he has
it The right time to turn over a clover sod is after taking oil the hay
and seed crops of the first season, for at that stage the root is m the
hio-hest state of develpement. A crop of clover compared with wheat
contains as much phosphoric acid and three times as mucli potash.
There is also another element, viz: carbon, ot which clover is largely
composed. This is drawn from the atmosphere and has on that ac-
count, not quotable money value, yet it performs an important office
and is as indispensable as water. Every soil needs carbon to loosen it
and to warm it by its combustion. It increases its capacity to retain
moisture, and imparts to it a richer and darker color, and is necessary
in the soil to keep up a stock of humus, without which the operations

of nature's chemist in preparing plant-food, ^^^''''\}^XT'J^^^^^

A clay soil, with no organic matter m it, is too tight and compact
for the roots of plants to thrive in and nothing so tends to loosen and
mellow a soil as cropping with clover. Its roots make their way from
Wo to thiee fee\^ sul>soil, and but for the agency of thissoi

trnova^^^^^ that is washed beyond the limit of the suiiace soil

wS be past recovery, because shallow rooted crops like corn and
V he will not go on a mission to recover it. To show by illustration
The W has been stated, suppose A. and B. have each forty

Teres in clover • A turns over the entire forty acres each year ; B., to
save seed a^^^^^ the plea of letting his land rest permits the sod

rfie two vears nd so plows only twenty acres each year. A. gains
on B bv plowin- down twenty acres more clover, which is the ecpial
o^Simfdffi^^^^^ of bam-yarn manure and only needs one rotation to
niit A 's farm in a manifold richer condition than «. s.
'wt' close™ viih the further observation, that tlie farmer who has
learned to appreciate the value of clover, and makes a judicious use of
r vTas nC oecaSoi for laying out his money for ammoniated pl.os-
phates fm- l-etZ known laTul, which years a^o ^v;ould scarcely pro-
dn,.tl'.-tv five bushels of corn to the acre, which has been broucrht
X such rcoiidS of fertility from natural sources aW, -thont
the purchase of nitrogen, that it now produces double that quantity.

i

1'

16

.PVff

226

QuAiiTERLY Report.

CARP CULTURE.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

227

By S. Shillinger, Lmniida, Pa.

(Read at CanonsburR Institute.)

The cultivation of car]) is an industry of sufficient importance, to
fully warrant the construction of !)onds for the purpose ; but there
exist in many i)laces, ponds used for the collection of ice, or for sup-
plying" water for live stock, which could be converted into carp ponds
at^i moderate cost. There are also many depressions of surface in the
land (otherwise almost worthless) which could be filled with water, with
comparatively a small amount of labor and made answer the purpose

very well.

Carp culture is growing so lapidly in favor in some localities, that
every farmer that has wet, swam])y lands, heretofore considered not
wortli the taxes, are rapidly converting- such land into ponds and sup-
plying" their tables with fresh fish to take the place of salt fish, salty
pork, etc., which establishes a diet more palatable and wholesome.
Carp are evidently equal in fiavor to catfish, sucker, ]^erch and other
native kinds. The time that carp are fit for the table is from Octol >er
to May. During- and for several months after spawning- time the fiesh is
soft : and no fish is in g-ood condition to eat for some time after spawn-
ing-. As to the growth of carp (J think I hear some one say, '' how
heavy will they grow in a year?") This depends chiefly on the climate
and how your fish is taken care of. The Ignited States fish commis-
sioner, Spencer F. Baird, informed me that in Pennsylvania, at the
age of three years, four pounds, but the writer has one when foui
years old tipped the scales at fourteen pounds, and measured twenty-
seven inches in length, and that without being fed one pound of feed
of any kind, except what was naturally ])roduced by the pond. This
may seem to some to be rather fishy, but I have repeatedly drawn off
the water to show visitors the constnicticm of pond and what it con-
tained and would be perfectly willing and well pleased to do the same
for any one here i)resent.

Let me add that one acre of shallow water can be made to produce
more profit in dollars and cents, with the same amount of labor that
would be recpiired for any farm corp imaginable. The pond would
be all the better for being su[)plied with the following acjuatic plants,
namely, water cress, water-rice, water mace, water-oats, indian-rice and
water-lillies.

A few words on the construction of ponds then will let some one
else more able to give information on some imi)ortant topic. Stone
and gravel constitute the best material for the purpose^ ; the first step
to be taken, dig down to the clay or solid bottom two and one half feet
wide, according to size of stone, and build the wall sloi)ing l)ack and
fill all oi)enings with wedge shaped spalls, filling up breast with gravel
and clay. It is absolutely necessary to have some way })rovid(Hl to
drain pond, in case vou want to get some of tln^ finny tribe, or to see how
they are getting along. Some use tiling while others use oak plank to
lay in bottom of pond for drainage, but the writer prefers neither, for
a few sim])le reasons, first, because they become clogged with mud
and sediment : second, because they afford a harbor for water rats,
minks, and frogs, and all such fish enemies. W! n you wish to drain
the water from your pond, it can be done with a large ruhbcn- hose or

P-as pipe by siphoning over top of dam. Every pond should be sup-
STerwith a siive or screen to let the waste water escape without le-
tint the fish pass through. Care should be exercised to have one deep
^ 1 rce i^Q pond for convenience, that location would necessardy be near
t^h^^^^VL in the deep' water that ^arp hibernate d^^^^^^
weather The pond should as much as possible be shallo^v Nv.itei-
^•om s'x to twelve inches, for shallow water becomes warmer m sum-
mer, consequently the carp and acpiatic plants f ^-^^^J ^/^^J.^J'^^. ^.^^
stream of water could be led around the mam body ot ^- ^^ttei
made to pass through only one corner near the outlet, all the bettei,
as then the hot sun would warm the water very nicely.

My advice to all contemplating budding a pond is ^o stockj ith c^^^^^^^

from'^six to eight inches in length, for such ^^^^^ devcn™
fendin- themselves against their enemies, such as de\oui > ^^^^^^/; 1^
S W Home mav think or even say probably the writer o hib
M tide has an axe to grind. Not by any means ; I would rather buy a
t^^::^^l^elo^ nearly all «- Y^-^^i;^^
fish commission, either by accident or probably by some caielessness

"'S^rciosing I earnestly invite all those who ^}^--y^

in carp culture to impart some ot your knowledge to me, as i am

anxious to learn all I can.

WHO SHOULD PAY FOIl THE TELFORD ROADS
WHO ^^^^^^^^ ARE GOING TO BUILD.

By John L. Balderston, Kenneti Square, Pa,
(Read at Kennett Square Institute.)

hnndreds of m les ^^J^^ ' somewhere, yet we see our public

over the laud auci the m^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ and sit

\^:t aXS-teXtn ou the great moderu .lupiter, the sun. to save

of the necessities oip-vdjza^^on ^bu i^^^^^

civibzat.on f,^ "• ^, J^^^^J^i Se to reach the station to avail ourselves
py thew>u bnt>^em^^^^^^^ roads in all wet weather are

of it. At 'resent tne 1 • ^ ^ ^ produce to the railroad and

those winch "^UHt be tm^e^e to^^^^ I^^^^ ^^^^^ hmnanity alike

supplies mm '^^ ^^.X^ys be immediately constructed le.ul.n- out
froTal "i^^^^^loi^- Let the cost of these roads be ap-

■M

228 QUAKTEKLY llEPOKT.

portioned between the townships through which they pass, the stute,
a ,1 h property and persons most beneiited, those for instance hvins
w iiu one mile^.f thL imr^rovenient. In this way 1 believe they can
be built immediately, and without hardshii> to any one. .

Why t will be asked, call on the state, why send mouev to Harris-
bu - o.'.e year to be dole.l out to us, the tollowmg year, less sundry
items expense. Sim, .le because the state collects tax by our present
systein of ■ taxation from many large interests which the township u>l-
iJctor cannot reach, and these are sources which are all mterestod
n the improvement of our public roads. It would be ditticult to name
lu iiic luipi" ^ .•,'^ i„- .„ i.„..;„^ao wliK.li iw not iTitwested ill

its owners it its stations were ui.icutin.-M.Mc = ^'^.j t , . "P . -
leadhig to them is a feeder to the road. Let them assist in the im-

^Tv*e'ry "corporation which manufactures anything for sale in the
country or which deals in commodities which go broadcast through the
land is interested in easy communication and should contribute some-
thin- toward the construction of the roads which make easy communi-
cation possible. The hard drivintr-doctors and the glib-talking agents
are a ike iSested in getting about smoothly and would probably
find tlieir self-respect in no sense lessened, when thev were conscious
that they were paying something toward the smoothing of their ways
Last but not lealst, our men of leisure who ride iov ideasure, will of
course be much obliged to the state for reminding them ever so gently
that they who drive should substantially remember the men who toiled
tliat thev mif^ht have a road to drive upon.

Manv'of our public men are convinced that the state should do sorae-
thino- but the proposed assistance is mostly embodied in the proposi-
tion'that the state build one or two state highways in each county.
Governor Hill, of New York, has laid such a proposition before tlie
legislature of that state. Now, at first glance, this looks very nice but
it does not fill the bill. The immediate want is not tor a few long
boiilevards, the length and cost to which will make them grand but
for the short spur roads at right angles to the railroads. We ot Ken_
nett, sometimes drive to West Chester, if the road was better we would
drive more frequently, but we can take the train, but it we would go to
Unionville, or what is more likely, they of Umonville could come^ to
Kennett if the road is not fit to drive over or thvongh they can stiiy
at home Within twelve months this town was bhx'kaded by slouglis
on every road ai)proachin2' it. not a few of them in the borough limits.
It is to be hoped that before the new century such a state ot aflairs
will be considered disgraceful. ^

Now why should we assess property most oeuefited to pay a portion
of the cost of these highways^ Simply because we cannot do all our
roads at once, and without such a provision we can scarcely make a
commencement without causing jealousy among those who do not
hai)pen to be m a situation to use the proposed road. Secondly, be
cause it would be substantially just to do so, as thosc^ against whom
the assessment was laid would find their property increased in value
much more than the amount of the levy. One-third of tlie cost ot the
stone work upon a first class Telford road, fourteen fet^t wide, would
be a tax of but little more that one hundred ])er acre upon a strip two
miles wide, through wliich it w<mi1(1 pass. What reasmiabh^ man
would begrudge that amount to hear his horses footfalls ringing on a

Pennsylvani.\ State Bo.mid of Agiuculture.

229

hard road to the post ofllce and the station, three hundred and sixty -
five days in the year. This assessment be it remembered should not
be in boroughs, according to frontage at all. It might otten happen
that of two neighboring farmers to whom the road was an eqaul con-
venience, one might have a mile of frontage and the other none. Ijet
those having equal advantages pay an equal amount. .

Factories, mills, nurseries or quarries, or other large freighters might
properly have proportionally large assesments if their teaming would
thereby be greatly relieved. It would not be difiicult tor a judicious
iurv to do approximate justice. There would of course be some ap-
peals and some second juries called for, but the fairness and justice
of the plan, would commend itself to our people at. large.

An incidental but important advantage of this plan is that it would
discourage the wasting of much money on by-roads. Persons will be
likely to stop to consider whether a proposed improvement is woitli
the cost if a considerable part is sure to be assessed against the peti-

*' Lefus have a plan which will assist in making genuine highways
of those roads which mu.-h travel must pass over. The by-roads can

'"^ There^'i^a bill now before the legislature, prepared by the road
commission, which deserves the careful consideration of our people.

it™ as been drawn with care and c.Mitains s<5me excellent provisions
iinrticularlv that which provides for the election ot an ofiicer to be
caUed the county engineer. Such an official will be necessary tor
several reasons, especially when an improved highway is to be built

ill nv 'ir^ross twO Ol* 11101*0 toWnsllipS. -ii i

sLaon eight of the bill says that supervisors shall serve withoiit
pay SectTon twenty-three says that penalties shall be imposed upon
them foi failure or neglect. An old law.periaps unwritten but a ways
n force says no pay,"iio responsibility. There is l^^^i'ie ^Jjt'rely too
much work in an ordinary township to be done gratis. Let them be
naid as at present and then they can be lield responsible.
^ "n iteni in section three says that no unnaturalized person can be
emSoyed upon a public road' This is utterVv uncalled for, and may
3 serious inconvenience at a busy time. Strike it out.

Sectfon twenty is the kernel of the whole bill, it reads as follows :
" That a moneys approm-iated from time to time by the legislature
for road mZoses, to be paid out of the state treasury, shall be divided
J, i V P ipveral townships of this commonwealth m proportion to
'Snmontorretlt^^xes collected and expended by each township
the t""'^'" ;,','" ,^,„.ii,„ the preceding year, and such share or por-
thwi^eac r owiS be paid by the State Treasurer to the

iownship or d stiict treasurer, or the treasurer appointed by thesuper^
township or "i^" ^ rpj i,,ipervisiors of each township shall set

visor as the c<ise may be^ l i ^^^^^^ collected each

'^^^ri^^tl^^o^.^s^ received from the state
L™ purposes shall constitute a special fund to be kept by the
IrL^urer in a semrate account from other roa.l funds, and shall b.. ex
treasure! '" ^j?^l "^ . ,. ^jj^tin^ of macadam or other iiermanent
pended «fj"^; «J,>^. ' ^^conif,,^ to the provisions of se.-tion fourteen:
'°'i"tt s ioum ^^^^^ P-bapsit i.s the best that

;.o^«I It present if so let us not antagonize it, but I believe
the X m tt ned^ LTtl^^ paper would aUow the good work to go on
miich more rapidly and that without running us into debt.

U

230

QUAKTEliLY liEPOKT.

SHEEP HUSBANDRY.

By A. H. Olmstead, West Spri7ig Creek, Pa.
(Read at Union city Institute.)

I was iuvited to atteud the fanners' institute at Union City, and
piei)are a paper on sheep husbandry. I consented on the g-round that
I would not be expected to advance any new ideas ; simply my own
experience and the ideas of others, with the expectation that practical
farmers would take u^) the subject and brin^' out all there is m it.

A «-reat deal has been written and many have spoken upon the sub-

It is generally conceded that any one can write or sjjeak on thi' sub-
ject of sheep husbandry.

I find it very much as Pat said, "every man cannot be a poet any
more than a sheep can be a goat. " ^ i i •

So I find every farmer like myself who expects to soar to the skies
in fiowery imaginations will soon find his wings clipped and be left
in a barren waste where thoughts do not abound.

I have kept sheep for several years ; I have tried to post myself with
regard to the subject. You ask the man that keeps the fine merinoes,
and he is apt to think they are the only sheep of any profit or from
which a person can receive any dividend ; he will spend hours m prais-
ing the quality of the wool ; generally has not much to say about the

l)rofit from early lambs. mi i i.

My fiock is crossed with the Southdown and Cotswolds. Ihe last
two years I have been crossing with the Shroi)shiredowns. I do well
with lambs and wool. Last year my flock sheared on an average seven
pounds i)er head.

A couple years ago I happened to sell my wool at the same time and
place that a merino man sold his. He received foui* cents per pound
more than I did : it made me feel a little sore ; I asked him the number
of liis fleeces ; 1 then found what an average fleece was worth ; I then got
my average. I had received forty cents more a fleece than he did, so
I found pounds was what counted. Many of the new grades are like
the new varieites of ])otatoes, have a weak si)ot.

My idea is, a person must get a flock that is adapted to his locality ;
for hilly, rougli land the long-legged sheei) do the best ; for more level
land the heavy, shorter limbed sheep are required. I have noticed
that the man that cares for the sheep has as much to do with the gen-
eral welfare of the flock, no matter the breed. If he is gentle and
liberal with his feed, and provides warm quarters in winter and shade
in summer and is regular with them, they will acknowledge him as
their keeper and i)rotector ; he will always have a contented fat flock.
One of the worst things a person can do is to sell your best lambs
and sheep. I did that a few times and I soon saw my mistake. Let
a person follow that only a few years, and his flock will run out and
then he will quit the shee]) business. Save your best and sell such as
you do not want and liow soon your flock gets hardy.

There is an old fogy notion that in V)reeding is not ]»rofital)le : that a
person must not kee]) one flock on a [)lace more than foiu' years. I
have watched this, and T find a strong ram from a few miles away w^ill
cause a change all through the flock, as well as to sell and buy a new
flock.

Pennsylvania State Board of Aguicultuue.

231

From the earliest period of the world sheep has been /^omestic ate^^^
bv man and ai)propriated to his wants. Cam brought ot the hist Iruits
o the ground an offerinc, to the Lord. And Abel he also >rought ot
the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. During the ante, i^
luvian age there is no authority for supposing ^^^t the fl|^h (^^^^^^^^^
sheep was used for food, vegetables and bread being the only mattiidl

of human sustenance. , . ., i r 4.i,,r oni^^. . in

The sentence to Adam is: " Cursed is tie sroiuul for tl>y sake »

sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy lite, '^"^ ,*;1^«" f ' J^^^^"*
the herbs of the field ; in the sweat of thy. face shalt tluu «'it>'i«;^^.„

The lau-ua-e to Noah after the deUiffe is very dittereut : T e feai
of you aiid^he* dread of you shall be upon every beast of he eaitl , . d
ii,;on every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon tlie eaitu, ana
u on ?JltL fishes ; into youi' hand are they ^^*^liy-tt,rS Miil
thin- that liveth shall be meat for you. Even as the Sre'^'^l « [' j;;^ ". ,^
'!^ls fornierly appointed to be your food) have I now given you all

*''But^many centuries elapsed, notwithstanding this divine permission,
before the flesh of animals generally was used.

Although the flesh of the sheep was so long exc uded as ^n a tide ot
siittenanc". the milk of the ewe was appropriated to that pu, pose by
r a nSiluvians. Ewe's milk was used in Uie '"^t of Ln an^s

KcrS^^dtc^rtirLK^^^^^

w^Xn made in the early times on a large scale, and was a very ma-
*l!; XSltS: tt'Tolwing account of the manufacture of

IS left wholly toi the lamu , ^^^^ ;''* i .„ . ..hich is mixed together,

SfuiaTLre Sahar thev may not be surprised, having nothing

'''^l^X\^f traveler, says : It 3 ^^^^^^^^ [o see^Uie
horde of A-bs de.^^^^^^ F^s -nt «- ^she^, |

divisions, then tonouinec followed by the okl mett-^ud

niture and kitchen "tensils tuese children that could not

women and the boys and gulb on '"t; ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^

walk were carried ^^ J» J'Ss and 1< ids were can-ied under the arms

lite I^^'^^^ - ^-^' ^^ ''- '''-' "'• *'"■ '■••'^^
mounted on the very best hoi se abounded in Tales-

tii2'^.?r: triniL-t.'"j^^^^^^^ thousand sheep, besides

'*''Kn\hrtweive tluMisand Israelites made an invasion into :^ridinn

it;
If:

^'A;

232

QUARTEIILY EePORT.

Pennsylvania State Boabd of Agriculture.

233

ig

LTsolomTn'ottered 12o7oOo7t the declication of tlio temple

There are several circumstances which will readily account tor these
numerous flocks. They constituted almost the only riches ot the people.
Comparatively few were slaughtered for their Hesli was rarely eaten.

There is reason for believin- that the ewes had lanibs txyice m a
vear The first, and indeed the only, im})rovement m sheep breeding
which the Sacred Book informs us, is relative to the Heece the color ot
which it is g-enerally believed was originally tawny or dmgy black
Although tlie fleece is now so generally white, yet instances are not
uncommon in some of the best bred flocks which mclicate the tendency
to return to the original color. This is perceptible m the legs and
faces of the distinguished Southdown.

The motive which prompted Jacob to attempt a change ot color
orio-inated in a bargain between himself and Labaii, that the tornier
should have the speckled or ringstreaked sheep and goats as a com-
pensation for his services. There could hitherto have been very tew
and were of course accidental, or the sefish and avaricious tather-iu-
law would not have consented to the proposal. . . i . t

The Scriptures are silent relative to any i^eculiarities ot the torm ot
the ancient sheep, saving that the ram was horned. ^ ^ >

When Abraham, in obedience to the divine command, was about to
sacrifice his son Isaac, his arm was arrested by a voice from heaven,
and he lifted up his eyes and looked and beheld behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns. The trumpets used in war were

made of rams' horns.

The polled sheep were probably an accidental variety, and wlien tirst
occuring, cultivated ]3artly for their singularity, and more tor their
' utility the closeness of folding of which they were capable, tlie tewer
accidents that were likely to occur, and most of all from the su-
perior docility and quietness of those to whom nature had not given
these weapons of offense, the use of which all animals soon become so

conscious. i.i • i

A prominent characteristic of the ancient shepherds was their hu-
manity and extreme watchfulness of their flocks which should put the
blush on very many modern shepherds.

The time appears to be past that a great amount of care is given
to sheep ; many think a yard around a stack of straw or hay, is sufti^
cient shelter for sheep. I know that sheep suffer from the heat ot
summer, the cold rains of fall, winter and spring, and are very sensi-
tive to cold winds of any kind.

With regard to the different species I will not have anything to say,
for all have their friends. My experience is that six or seven shee))
will eat as much as a cow, and I believe the sheeo pay best, taking
into consideration the care, labor and the cheai)iiess of the products ot
the cow.

Many claim they cannot keep sheep as well as c(nvs, on account ot
their fences, if a sheep has identy to eat and a good place to be
tlirougli the heat of the day, where they can be secluded and cool and
dry, tliey will not wander away, hunt far holes nor climb very high.
About tiie year 1800, mv trrandfather settled in Tllster county, New
York State, near the foot of Catskill mountains: he purchased a small
flock of sheep and intended increasing so he could afford to tend them,

abourseveu feet high to keep ^}^;^:^^\^'^^^ry of the
The disposition of the sheep is of a timid "-f "^ ' '^f^ ^^.^^J^ i^^foi-e

doR will keep them near the ^.'"|1J^"^;^= *^f fJ^ViU nm w thout even
they will veutuie tar; let a bird ^^ J^i^i""! Ss I ave heard men re-

';^^r{:Zl^i;t^^e^^^^ all my best

oui^ thi Lance were so timid they -o^^{--t f^Vm e hundred and
JJl^rthotrX^tSrEp^li^^^ connty pays

thousands of dollars yearly for sheep killed by dogs^ ^^^

Still the dogs kill sheep, ^^f ."Sf "/^^^ dorimt ex, erience has
taxed. I do not keep a dog ; I like ^ good dog' ^^"^^^^^^^ j ,,^ per-

taught me that a dog and «1^«?P,,^^£ "f ^^' ^^t ^^^ ^^^^ve my

fectly willing my neighbors ^l^^U kee dc.gs but tn y ^1,^,1,^,,,^

sheep alone. All around me my neighboiske^.p dog^^^^^^ niy beds of
barking and mine too, they tramp my Xi-"^,^' ^^''i^^^^^
onionsrrun out and scare my horses, bai;k »{ ^y he«ls even

8 t n mv door yard and bark at the man m fl"^^ "T^, '^7e\y and

sheep land of my own, I teach n^Y f eei^ o ^^ne^^^e^y^ J,^ aowii
lay in a yard ; if a dog goes in *^f ^f ' ^.^J ' ''""'^^l i find the dog is
comes the dog. I have not lost a « \f, 1 ^^;^ *^k^^^"^l,t o^ early in
like his cousin, the wolt -, he puts " "*- ^/^ '^^ ^-' ^ ^J^^. ,heep,

;;ir youttrheS tl'^ rg dl^V^^utVbe caught at his mean-

ness. .. ,. « .1 4-1^ of flipvp are not so many sheep

According to statistics we find that the^e ^are 1 .^^ j,;^

raised by a large percent. .J«'^^«*'"y^,tfiycall your attention to a
report of sheep and ^^ooV«'^«^;. J/^'^^lS^^ has recently been

fact full of significance 111 ti^^^,^^^'^f*nool growers. Since the re-
serious interruption to «i« P^.^^ f ^ f^rof sheep have apparently

ests are threatened in «X discouragement of having them killed and
I think on account of the ^H^'^o^yf ^^' .^^i soon bring it m

frightened, I -^f * Jj^ inTm^ie^^^^^^^^^^ they would destroy the
good pasture. It i coulcl c(jnnue y , ' ^ ^ ^ ^■[^^ it.

briars and young. «|'[0'its but ^ J Xee,"tliis winter ; I never lost any ;
Some of my neighbors have lost f^^^l^^^ j ^-^^^ ^ame to me and

the cause of this is .^^'f f ^1 ^^Tiost severa and I want to know what

said my sheeo.are sick, T have lost seve^ ^ , ^.^^^ ^^ ^.^^^^ ^j ^

to do : I inquired how do yon fee them ^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^

feed? I am not ab e to teed gi^m ^ut i ^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^.

they can eat ; I told him to go home ami ^1 . ^ji ^liey began
cu'f of hard and suli.lnir mixed morn n^^

to eat, and let the sound on««/,^;« I'^Xto^ can-ots or anything re -

l-ry^ Sr ^otrlSls^^f^r^^^ -t them down, see how

^Mi (■

t

234 Quarterly Report.

quickly they will empty them. One of my neighbors lost several sheep
with the grub in the hoiul. I never lost :iny. I tar their taces early m
the si)riug, ami then in shearing time again.

I was talking with a gentleman a tew days ago, who said Ins ran out
with the foot rot. i always keep a bottle of vitriol water, and a couple
of applications always cure. Take a quart bottle ot any kind, and place
two ounces of blue vitriol and one ounce of carbolic acid in it and hU
ui> with water. I have used this for years, aiid it will cure it used early ;
vour sheep will not be lame long. Some claim a sheep is a coward ;
thev are so timid, they will not tight for their young nor resist disease,
nor fi'dit for life like another animal ; they know a great deal,and it you
are aldose observer you will soon see it. A few days ago a ewe came
up and began to bleat i.itifully. I went out, she came up to me and
bleated aiul started off and stoi^ped and looked back ; I followed she
led me to her lamb a long distance from the building : her lamb had got
in among some logs and could not get out. 1 took the lamb m my
arms and she trotted by my side perfectly satisfied. Be kind to your
animals and they will reward you tenfold.

Pennsylvania State Boahd of Aokktlture.

235

WHAT FARMERS SHOULD READ TO PROMOTE THEIR

INTEREST AS FARMERS.

By Samuel Shillinuer, Lacinda, Pa,

Before making any remark on what farmers should read, I beg leave to
say a few words on what they should not read nor suffer to be read by
any member of their family. No trashy literature of any kind what-
ever Any man of ordinary intelligence can at a glance see by looking
through the advertising columns of a paper, if the editor of such paper
is of good or bad moral character. (By their fruits ye shall know them )
If you find advertised whole pages of quack doctors, wonderful cure-alls,
photog-rai^^hs of female actresses of ill repute, matrimonud pjipers,
counterfeit money and many other clap -traps, that they themselves
would not dare to invest any mcmey in, and last but not least, those de-
grading, brain-softening, love stories. Now, if you find any such quack
besmeared sheets, pass them by and bear in mind the editor is one ot
those trees that bring forth evil fruit. This country is floocled with
cheap worthless reading matter of various kinds. If you don't take a
paper worthy of tlie name, it will be some of the above-mentioned
kind that your children will read. Nearly every farmer has parental
duties and res]^onsibihties which he cannot evade without the most
serious consequences. The most important of these responsibilities is
his children. The i)roi^er educational influence of such papers as the
Ohio Farmer, the Farm Journal, and the American Agriculturist,
upon cliildroii cannot be estimated. If the sons are to be farmers they
grow up under tins influence with such a knowledge of their vocation,
as will enal)le them to take their place in the front rank, and success-
fully compete with his less informed competitor. In these days ot
great competition and small profits, it is onlv the farmer that is pos-
sessed of every advantage which science and inventive genius have

..de available^;-;; -^- ,:f^ J^^tl^SttSaf ^-

ing about sncli a preparation is a live ^Siicultm a jo m^^^ examination

in the matter will be laid f i^\^^l^^" ^^^^a imei a^id ^ ^« J«*^*

of the different departmen s o «;« O^'^^^f "^^^'^^^^^^^^ up in its

such a paper as is adapted to o"\ J/^"*^; .,,^;''j^''.^j,,^ experience of far

practical departments is "V^'^'^'l .?f;iaTns da ™ stockmen and
mers, fruit growers, pmilti-y l^eepers, a\iauans, da^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^

their wives and daughters, and is a f ^V^-*f "^^^,*^^3,\ ;4 making the

twice a month an ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^t^^y ^ of oi.

*-i- ^ "!i"a SenwToTXmrp:;rr:;t the paltry sum of one

^S^ "it" iSd beT:eelly visitor at every farmers honn. i:
uuiirti , i,oe mn rift money out oi Ills laini,

Jlar -.it should be a weekly visitor at every lar.u.x. ^^.^ '"„)}'' j'\vill
"Take any farmer t^-^ has made money ^^^^^^^^^^ ^,^^^ ^^.^

show you a man who ^'^f ;\.^ "J "'l^^^i^^^'' ^^ kind of stock that expe^
suitable for his s<ul and climate I'^-i^^s \u« ^ j ^ approved

rienced lireeders found the "»>«* !• n htab e, ^^^^s the m ^^^^ l.^^^^ ^^
machinery, takes care of his stock amU^^^^ ^^^^^ j^,^,^^^ ^1

read a good agru^ultural pa ei as eveiytlui ^^.^^^^, ^. ^^^.^^ ^

Sepln^^sSron l^^^^^l^ iXniation which he draws from

^^-ithout the least shadow ot doubt that so^^^ ^^ ^ ,

bad or indifferent, as the ^aseniay happen to oe , ^^^^^ ^^^.^^

takes a like effect on P^l'l/"^, * '^^^ft^ind fee the youth to read

Parents should use their ^^^^ " f4°";;in form a habit of spending
eood books and papers, and finall.y they will u ^ing we gam

Teisure hours in a good and "«eful mam^r i.j r ^ j^^^^^^

knowledge, and knowledge is ,\X?o'iXlCi^ man will deny, that.it
of the fortunate Possessor, and no mteligentn ^^ essential

pays to take time to read. Head ^oik on tj^^^ un^^ ^J^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^.^. ^,,
lo success as is manua labo Bi^ th^en ^ou m^^^^^ j^^^^^^^ ^^
persuade a child to fall up «\e sUn % ay ^^ .^^ occasionally

Lme men to do a"yte aga^ the -il^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^
meet an ludiyidual who ^^ll gain ., ^^^j.^ ^^ paper for my

and yet their plea will be, 1 <'•'•" ^.'^^^^^^^jne thev know all about
children to read; its such '"f^ that in ag^Lue t»^ ^ j^ ^^^.^ j ,,.ill say
farming that won't take an agn .^^^^^^^^^

there is always room to l«anvviHi i cio u ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^

in life, the nnn-e you learn the moie yoii s^ ^^ acknowh'dge your
you become informed the more you arej^^i'^^^r ^ ^^^ ^.^^ji,,^ ^f some
guorance. You can. liar'^'j, l',*^^^^^!^ T e an^el unawares appears to
victim being taken "V^l ^ ft^and stil a slifker tongiie, and quietly
the farmer in a very slick *'"it, and ^"'^ a j j^ to sign a c.mtmct,
pulls the wool over l'i« ^^^Vf^S amount of property. This
and finallv fleeces l'"",«^* A'ih^rtl e unfortunate parties are not
kind of affair is due to the fact that the u .^^^^^ ,, ,,„,.

well posted and n.'f'>"»ed An ^'l^^Pj" ^^^ , contracts with strangers
^^f^S::'^o::tr:X^^^<^ U^^ -tUcr take no good
pai^r or don't take time to read at all.

I

286

Quarterly Report.

I

SMALL FEUITS FOK THE HOME AND FOR PROFIT.

By John G. Rekd, West Mill Creek, Pa,

(Read at Erie Institute.) ' •

It has been said that when a man liuds he lias started out on the
wrong road the best thing- he can do is to turn squarely around and
go back and start right. '

Happily lor the farmer, he need not go back to make a new start
but can start a retorm at any time when he finds he is wroii"-

My subject, Small Fruits for the Home," <.r for the farmer, is one
that has often been advocated in the papers of the day and a few f-n
mers lia^^ profited by the advice, but, strange to say the" e are m ui;
armers that do not know the value of 'fresh tVuit in i\s s^Jon 0,1 "h ^
tables. No doubt any one here to-day could name many of their neio-h-
bors that have not a single strawberry or raspberry plant o-rowina-"<,„

pioduced a few wild ones m some neglected fence-corner

Many persons think that it re<iuires a large amount of both time and
money to produce small fruits sufficient for family use while otWs
think It such small business that they will not botl/er with i and s^^

sav ^"ohYl''''^*''? f'"^ • I^"^^l»en the season comes around tW
say. Oh ! how high hemes are !" and buy few or none, and so de.)r ve

raspberry and blackberry, and you will have a healthful dessert f.ir the
£t ira'f ""* *"" "^°"*^^ "'■ *^« y^^'' --^^ =^ '^^' -1-" other fruit is nl^

grfw sma/i f^^7 tI"'' ^^'^ ^""''^ T^^ ^« °^ «o^« particular kind to
grow small truits. Ihis is a mistake m a great measure Of ,.niiv««
some land is better adapted to growin- ulants tl.-m fLv ll ? t
almost any land can be fitted for thTi lints Nnfn, .H^^^^^ l^ 11' ^

anxious to o-pf fL fvnA.'; • ^^ *'^^ *^^^^ reason they are always

obtaS" Men': W^^ ^1]^'^ ')''' " "^* ^^"^^^ ^^^^-^

tliey can concernin^l e ctood nn^ ^* '\^^'T ^^^^^^^ «ay ^11

nothing of its (kfects .nrT fh^ {l"^^^*^^^ «^ ^\'^ particular variety and
tin^ only ,mV f th^t^f J the mexj.erienced are often misled by -et-

^ik^^^ L^tl^^'l^^otftt™"^^ r''^'' '^' l>lantToT.hfbe to plant
.your main crmfamU -^^"^ immediate locality for

yourself in re^^ard to Ue^^ ""'' ^ "^^^^^^ •^^•'^^^'' '^'"'^^ ^'^^^isfy

been imr>rove'f cl L^c to ^ ^^^ ^^ ^" .^^^- ^'^^^'^^*^^« ^^^^^

and unless we i^t e new t J^^^^^ ^^^Yu"^ improved every year,

J liie lle^^ soitb we will get left m the race of progress.

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agricultuke.

287

It would take a very smart man to say which is the best variety of
any of the fruits now in cultivation, as some succeed better in some
localities than in others. . Then your market will in a measure decide
what variety to plant. Men who plant largely should, as a rule, raise
their own plants. They will then know them to be true to name and
well grown, and they can plant them at the most favorable time, and
are almost sure of a good stand.

In selecting varieties one should choose such as will make a succes-
sion from early to very late. This will lengthen the season, with most
sorts, nearly two weeks, and need not include more than two or three
varieties of each kind of fruit. Crescent, Sharpless, Manchester and
Kentucky for strawberries ; Tyler and Gregg for rasi)berry ; Britton,
Snyder or Erie for blackberry.

Time to Plant. I have always taken an interest in the fruit business,
that is, ever since the time I was sent out to the fields to pick wild
berries, but a change came in time when one of our neighbors ])lanted
a i)atch of the Old Wilson strawberry and raised such large berries
that astonished the natives. Of course everybody wanted ])lants, and
some succeeded and some failed. But this was the start of the small
fruit planting in our locality.

Now as to the best time to plant, my experience has tauerht me that
the spring of the year is by far the best for all small fruits. Then the
soil is in the best possible condition, and the plant, just starting a new
life, will quickly take root and have the whole season to develop and
prepare for a crop the next season. The only reason I can give for
planting in the fall is to save time the next spring, but in our climate
it only makes double work and loss of plants. For most likely nine-
tenths of them will be dry and dead by the next spring.

With my experience as a fruit-plant grower, I cannot recommend,
fall planting and do justice to myself or my customers. Of course I
am only speaking of Erie county climate. In a more mild climate it
might be different.

To gain the benefit of spring planting it should be done as soon as
the soTl will w(n-k light, say the latter part of April, or the first of May.
Time to Secure Plants. If you have to buy your plants you may get
your strawberry, blackberry, currant or gooseberry plants or grape-
vines some time before you can plant, and if proper care can be taken,
they may do well. But for raspberry plants the sooner they are set
after they are received the better, as they are very tender, and if they
get once'dry or heated they will not grow. „ -^ . ^ ^, tt

My subject seems to be a double one, " Small Fruits for the Home
and for Profit. " As profit comes largely from the money received foi-
the crop, it is his-hly imi)ortant that the fruit be well marketed:
and to do this to the best advantage requires personal attention to, and
a fair knowledge of, the markets. As a rule the home market is the
best Sales made either to the consumer or the retail dealer will give
the best results. Then you know what you are getting every day. If
you trust to shii^jHug and the commission merchant you may and
vou may not do well ; sometimes you will not get more than will pay
commission and express charges, and probably lose your boxes.

In preparing for market put the fruit in such shape as the particular
market requires. Always remember to have your fruit uniform through-
out If you have any poor fruit, better leave it at home or i>ack by
itself, and sell for what it is, than to face it with good fruit and loose
your reputation.

ti

238

QuAltTEKLY liEI'OliT.

rh(3 ideal strawberry has not yet ai)peared, and so we will have U
get aloii- witii the best we have until some one brings out a varief^
that will grow ubcHit two feet high and j.roduce fruit about as large as
tomatoes ; until then let us raise for our main crop some standard va
riety.and try the new sorts as they appear and keep up with the timis"

It costs but little to try a new plant or vine and know for one's seK

for fn^t o? ..11^- ■ T""*'^ '" ^'^*'"^ ^^'■^'"^' ""^""'y y^'"-' '-^"^^ tl^« Pieman
toi tiuit of all kinds is increasing, so we must inform ourselves as to

what varieties are the most productive and the most profitable for ,is

o raise and be carettil about going into that which we know no hing

about. Let us always remember that " Nothing succeeds like sue

THE JERSEY COW.

By J. C. Sibley, Esq., Franklin, Pa,
(Read at Titusvllle Institute. )

The most hopeful sign of the times to the agriculturist and dairvnvn,
IS such a gathering as this one. Here we can work toSer to d"nw
ruth from the bottom of the well, where she is said to He ldd,len m 1
by the interchange of thought, the gentle friction of one's S •' i^d
experiences with another's, we shall do much toward perfecting ' d
polishing the setting which encircles the precious -em ^'^'^'''^^'^^ '"^**
Another and most hopeful sign, is the agricultural press of to-dav
The one hundred and upwards of agricultural papers published most
of them of high order of merit, and presumably, financially succesZl
are indicative of the fact that tiie American LmeroTtlie present k
keeping posted on what j.ertains to his vocation. Some one asked one
ot the old master artists, with what he mixed his coW t> .f, . i

sXnsr'Thff *" ■' \ ?'^"^^?^ ^"*'' mrbi'il '^amrthe^^yr.
K^t ^^f=^rmer of to-day is not necessarily any longer a mere
diudge. He IS mixing the labors of his hands and brain TSome "reat

ttetClnSr^fLXtcfi?^^^^^^^^^^^

great educator, is abroadh. tl^ tj'and h^w^TSlr inLnt'

of another, is the truly wise man T do n^.^^ * * -^ *!'® experience
you hear and read in tLTgricultural papS iL^T^^^ to be , eve all
cannot by taking two or i\m'o,T^\lF\T^^ ''"* I ^l" S'^v that he who

tap ..e,. .ift t., ii'irrd nS «;rvr„Tfc;;iiisr''Tr:?:

Pennsylvania State Board of Agricultuke.

239

has come into the mind of the eastern farmer, owning- hig-h priced
lands, the question how to compete with tlie cheap and fertile hinds of
the ^reat west. Clearly, he cannot compete in their specialties, and
therefore must school liims(ilf to the new order of things.

He must make one acre of land pjoduce double what it did before.
He cannot grow beef as cheaply as it can be done ui)oii tlie great grass
ranges and the fertile corntields of the west ; but he can produce an
animal which will give him twice the quantity of milk, butter and
cheese that his scrub cow has been yielding for bim. Thousands of
carefully conducted experiments, always with similar results, covering
a period of over a third of a century in this coimtry, clearly prove that
the Jersey cow can perform this self -same task, of doubling the ])ro-
ducts of tiie dairy. This is a matter of vital imi)ortance to all tliought-
ful and prudent men, and I trust will command your attention, while
I go into it in detail. The early history of the Jersey breed is ob-
scure. From their delicate shadings, large and mild eye and fawnlike
appearance, arose no doubt the tradition which is still cherished on
the Island of Jersey, that the breed originated, through a union of the
cow and tlie deer. It at least remains as their history, that over one
thousand years ago their peculiar qualities were such as to excite
among writers the presumption that they originally came from Nor-
mandy, as many of the characteristics of the breed are observable in
the cattle of Normandy and Brittany. The difference existing to day
is doubtless owing to the difference in climate, care and surroundings.
It may be of interest to some if I give a slight history of the home of
these cattle. The Channel Islands are four : Jersey, Guernsey, Alder-
ney and Bark. They have been part of the possessions of England
since the days of William the Conqueror. They are in the English-
Channel, sixteen miles from the coast of France.

These islands, washed as they are by the Gulf Stream, possess per-
haps the finest climate in the world, with the fruits of the troi)ics and
the far north. The Island of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Is-
lands, is but seven miles wide by eleven miles long. The total amount
of tillable land is but twenty-five thousand acres, and the population
sixty thousand ; or ui)wards of two ])ersons to each acre of land ; and
one cow to each one and a-half acres of land. This may seem like close
farming. Nevertheless, these islands i)roduce sufficient for their own
needs, and these peoide, per capita, are the richest agricultural com-
munity in the world. Necessarily the cultivation of this land must be of
the highest order,and the availabh? i)]()duct of ea(;h foot of land carefuly
considered. Within the limits of this address it will be impossible
to state the methods of rotation and tillage. Such as are interested,
I would refer to the Encvcloi^edia Brittanica, or to an admirable essay
by Col. Geo. W. Waring, published by the A. J. C. C. Suffice to say
that the rich and succulent forage, long continued, has l>een no doubt
a great factor in the development of this marvelous butter breed. An-
othor aid in the develoi)ment of this distinc^t species is that of in-breed-
ing For generations, so highly has the Jersey man prized his cow,
that their most ancient laws enact the most severe punishment for the
importation of any cattle to these islands : even a ship for landing sucli
animals being subject to confiscation. So much for the original home

of this cow. ... 11 i.- 1

The history of the Jersey cow m America covers but a comi>aratively
brief period T the first importation having been made in 1850. These
animals were bought more for beauty than for any belief m their dairy

240

QiAiiTEitLV Report.

capabilities: but one f^eiitleman, Hon. Thos. Motley, was so ini
pressed with the earnest protestiitions of tlie Tsluiulers \ipoii the rich
ness of the breed, that he was in 1853 induced to set the milk of one of
his cows separate for one year. The result was 511 pounds of butter
considered, in those days, a marvelous yield, l)ut since then over and
over ag-aiii, greatly exceeded. The attention of the public was not
called to these cattle to any extent until the formation of the A J C
C. in 1808. From that date until within the last six or seven years
the Jersey cow was still considered more in the lig-ht of a luxurv -md
an ornament for tlie rich ; althoufrh remarkable butter tests were b'eine-
trom time to time reported. Some of these run from fourteen to nine
teen pounds in seven days, on grass alone ; and some with a moderate
pain allowance, at the rate of twenty-eight pounds per week Some
few years since Peter 0. Kellogg, under the nmn de plume of Hark
Comstock, wrote several articles under the heading, " Look into the
Oliurn. Ihe result was that Jersey breeders commenced lookin"- into
the churn. '^

The owner of Jersey Belle of Bcituate looked into his churn and
lound that his cow gave him twenty -five pounds three ounces of butter
m seven days, and seven hundred and five pounds in a year The
owner of Eurotas looked into the churn, and found his cow -ave
twenty -two I'Dunds in seven days, and seven hundred and seventy -eio-ht
pounds ma year and dropped a live calf; the highest grain feed for
any one day during her whole year having been eight quarts The
owner ot Mary Anne of St. Lambert, looked into his churn and found
that on pasture and five quarts of ground oats daily, his cow gave one
hundred and six pounds in one month and eight "hundred and sixty-
seven i.ounds fourteen and three-fourth ounces in eleven months and
five days. She has since tested thirty-six pounds twelve and one-half
ounces in seven days. Ida of St. Lambert, gave thirty pounds two
and one-half ounces in seven days, and Princess Second, forty-six
pounds twelve and one-half ounces in seven days. Oxford Kate lave
tiurty nine iiounds twelve ounces in seven days. Th.-re have been
separately tested something over fifteen hundred cows, that have pi^
duced from fourteen pounds to forty-six poun.ls tweh-e and one-haH
ounces m s^even days : and right here allow me to state tliat aH these

W ttrl' J '( "r' ^'" "^^V^"^' r^^-^^l*^'^ ^•>- -'"""ttees Appointed
by the A. J. C. C by agriculttn-al societies and by those in many in

t Jr^ffi ^1'°. ^^'f %'""'^'"* "^ ^^''''' criticisms. The rules povh i ^ o
the oflicial test of cows are so stringent that there couhl be nc dece -
tion, were the owners ever so anxious. I do not wish to be considered
as boasting in referring to our own herd, for we recdgnize the ac tha
here are many herds equal in butter production, and I inerSy rffei to
It as showing the uniform butter i,rodueing j.ower of this breed Last
season we set separate the milk of nineteen cows, an b t^vo of u'e
nineteen failed to give from two to four pounds o but e r pei day

These tests have been on moderate feed. Not on the h Hi re;sure
pla, of risking he bfe of tlie cow to make a great test We w^'sl ,

be distinctly underst 1. A^^e liave some pooi cows in our herd ,„

we want i also to »)e understood that no man can ,.,>k ou ,.f ou rh -d

oTbreTd rrSf T''' ""T r^ ''^^*"\'"- -i-<'l"'i.. "lis kept on y
lur Dreodiiion ) n^^^^ cannot make over tlirpp hnn/lvoJ .. i -1. a '

pounds of butter in one year. This st'teJ^^^t s^T.^ ^^^^^^^ ^^
fidence in its correctness, and we think it is under, rather £ov^:

Pennsvlvaxia State Boakd of AGiacri/ruitE.

241

stated ; and we doubt if there is a herd ot* averaae exeenenee that cannot
do as much or more.

It is a matter of some extra troubh- to set the milk of cows sei)arately
for long- ])eriods, and churn eacli by itself, but many of our cows by
tests for shcnter periods have indicated a capacity of over six hundred
pounds of butter per year. We have one cow, Matilda 4th, that for
the present twelve months we exi)ect will make between nine hundred
and one thousand pounds, without forcing. For the eight months to
December first, the lowest i)ossible estimate on her production is G5(>i
pounds. Her milk was set by itself for periods from one day to seven
days in May, June, July, September and November. For all the time
prior to October, each day was estimated at less than her lowest tested
day. Since that time she has been estimated daily by the average
yields in the subsequent tests. Her feed has been [)recisely the same,
both in amount and kind, on the days when her milk was churned
by itself, as when it was churned along with that of the other cows in
the herd.

But it is urged ag-ainst the Jersey cow that she is small and of no
value for beef. Allow me to repeat what I have stated on previous oc-
casions, that as yet I have to tind tlui owner of a Jersey cow who is
desirous of converting her into beef. So long as she will breed she is
more valuable for other })urposes.

Bat let me be clearly understood in the foUowing statem(^nt,that give
me a Jersey cow dry —if it be possible to dry her off —and I will make
beef chea])er and quicker than Avith any other breed with which I am
familiar ; and that beef will be of as delicious quality as man ever put
into his mouth. We grew tired of hearinjr the claim that the Jersey
cow was no use for beef, and gave it a practical test, Avorth at any time
a ton of theory. We took a cow which was no longer a regular breeder,
and on a feed of three hundred and lifty pounds corn meal increased
her live weight two hundred ])ounds in eight v.eeks. Now that I have
shown you the fact, I will give you the theory, which is this : The
Jersey cow excels all others as a butter producer because of her perfect
organs of digestion and assimilation, which extracts the fat from her
food and d(^posits it as butter in her udder. That which in the ordin
ary breeds is laid on the carcass, is in the Jersey })ut into the churn.
When the Jersey cow is dry, you have to reduce her allowance and
use the greatest care that in the interval before calving, she does not
become too fat for safety in calving. That which she put into the churn
wlien milking, she is, when dry, putting on her carcass. When a cow
that makes nearly seven ])ounds of Imtter \)ev day goes dry, she places
that fat on lier ribs ; and I guess she does it as quickly and as chea]>ly,
pound for pound, as any cow in thi^ woild. Pardon my digression,
for I am not advocating the Jersey cow for a beef breed. The first cost
is too high. The cow is worth mcn-e for other pur]ioses ; and the east
with high priced lands, cannot compete with the ])lains of Kansas,
Colorado and Texas in the producticm of beef. And yet the average
dairyman saj^s he don't want the Jersey cow ben^ause she cjmt make
beef. What does he want? He is not in the beef business. VVliat
would you til ink of the man who would say he would never buy a sulky
hav rake, but would stick to the wooden hand rake, because when it
was worn out it would make a mop han(ll<»^ But it is said that while
tlie milk of the Jersey cow is rich, she gives but little in (piantity.

We will grant that there are some larger records in other breeds, but

16

242

Ql AJri EKLY KkJ 'OUT.

:.

it must be borne in mind tluit very little attention has been paid
hitherto to the amount of milk that Jerseys would ^ive ; the interest
having- been centred, princii)ally, in the amount of butter that they
would make. Nevertheless, Ave believe tliat Jerseys are far above the
averag"e, even in the amount of milk yield. The following are some
of the yields in our herd : One cow has g-iven sixty-seven pounds of
milk per day, and averaged over sixty -five Dounds of milk per day for
a week. Another given sixty pounds of milk a day and has averaged
oyer fifty-seven pounds of milk [)tn- day for a week ; another has given
fifty six pounds i)er day and averag-ed fifty-three pounds for a week.
Many of our cows have given from forty to forty eig-ht i)()unds per day.
All our milk is Aveighed just as soon as milked, and all the records
kept of every cow. Here are some of the yields : Matilda 4th, ll,ir)7i'
pounds for the eig-ht months to December first ; will probably yield
over 16,000 pounds for the twelve months without forcing-. La Petite
Mere 2d, 10,329 pounds in one year, on ordinary feed ; in calf seven
mcmths of the year; With a little extra feed we believe this cow cap
able of yielding 15,000 pounds j)er year. Fawn, of 8t. Lambert,
10,101| i)ounds with her first calf, in twelve months, ending- before
three years old ; had extra feed for four months only. Queensboro',
8,622 in eleven months; in calf eight months. Cill, of Glen Rouge'
7,008 ])ounds in one year, with first calf on ordinary dairy feed. Duchess
of Darling-ton, 7,936 pounds in twelve months : ordinaiy feed ; in calf
eight months. Butterfly, 7,806 pounds in eleven months; ordinary
feed; mcalf eig-ht months. Mary, of Pleasant View, 7,655| pounds
in ten months; in calf seven months. Silverstraw, 7,461 pounds in
eleven mcmths ; In calf eight months. Golden Zoe, as a ten year-old
cow, 7,277 pounds in eleven months: In calf seven months. Nerissa,
of Nyack, 7,136 i)ounds in ten months; In calf seven months. Gold'-
straw 3d, 7,036| pounds in eight and a-half months: four and a-half
months in calf. Our cow Ida of 8t. Lambert, who has milked sixty
seven ])ounds ])er day and averag-ed sixty five i)ounds per day for a
week, gives indications of yielding- for the year between 18,000 and
20 000 ])ounds. I will ])romise you beforehand, too, that she shall not be
fed one drop of milk or have any stimulant, tonic (n- drug- of any nature,
for the i)iirpose of creatines an abnormal aj^petite, or flow of milk I
do not wish to throw discredit on the performances of other breeds
but it IS nevertheless current statement that the hig-hest records iil
some l)reeds have been obtained by feeding milk in larg-e (piantities,
and by abnormally stimulating the appetite. In the publi. i)rints
time and a g-am Jersey breeders have called upon the owners of some
of these g-reat yielders to state what articles the animals were fed, and
so tar iiave not been favored with replies.

The Jersey cow is a persistent milker from one calf to another, and
It is grenera ly necessary to force her dry. Manv we find it impossible^
to dry at all. The diminution in their flow of milk does not seem to
imply a corresponding loss of butter. It is often found the case that
a cow g-ivm.g- twelve quarts i>er day is making more l)utter than when
she was g.vin.^ sixteen quarts ])er day. But there are those wlio will
tell us that if they were to ff^ed their cattle of other breeds as highly
as Jerseys ar(> f(Ml they would make as much butter. Well, my friend
you try it and see. I predict that ycm will not have as much butter
within a great many pounds; and you will probably have a dead cow
If you feed one half as much as some of these Jerseys have eaten -one
cow during- an ofhcial test having: been fed as high as fiftv quarts of

• I

Pennsylvania State Boaud of Acatic'ULTUKE.

243

g-rain iii a single day. The Jersey cow, with her perfect organs of as-
similation and digestion, will take care of such a quantity of grain as
would kill tli(^ average cow. High feeding to this extent is not to be
commended. But many of the largest tests have been made on ordi-
nary dairy feed. The high feeding- only shows the i)owers of the cow
to {issimilate a vast amount of feed and convert it into butter fat.

To n^turn to the (piestion of whether it is the breed or the feed which
makes the butter cow, I beg to (luote from Professor Jordan's address
to the State Dairymen's Association, February 12, 1885: "Ex[)eri
ence is the test of theory, however, and on the point under considera-
tion careful and extended investigations are not wanting. I know that
the verdicts of German investigations have been much criticised, and
even their correctness has been doubted ; but I feel sure that some of
this criticism and distrust has resulted from a misunderstanding of the
facts as they really are. I have noticed within a few weeks in two of
our agricultural papers, statements to the effect tlnit the German ex
perimenters claim that the milk is not influenced by the food. Noth-
ing can be farther from the truth. The results of these searching and
elaborate investigations declare, if they declare anything, that while
in certain respects a cow has certain fixed characteristics which are be-
yond the influence of food, in other respects it may be greatly modified
by the kind and quality of the food. There is no farmer of ordinary
intelligence who does not know that some foods produce milk richer
in fat than is the case when other kinds of material are fed. It would
be useless to claim that one hundred [)onnds of milk from a cow well
fed contains no more fat than one hundred pounds of milk from the
same cow poorly fed, for all experience would deny the claim. The
following are conclusions which the German investigations certainly
warrant: 1. The percentage of total solids in milk is greater with a
rich ration than with a ])Oor ration. 2. The composition of milk solids
is, on the other hand, little influenced by the amount and character
of the food. In other words, if these solids are one-fifth fat when the
cow is poorly fed they will be one-fifth fat when well fed, although the
total (piantity of the fat will be greater in the latter case because the
total quantity of solids is greater. Let me illustrate. My cow gives
milk with twelve pounds of solids to the hundred when I feed her on
timothy and roots, but Avlien I begin to give her a liberal amount of a
mixture of corn meal and cotton seed meal, the ]iercentage of solids
increases until one hundred iiounds of milk contains fifteen pounds of
solids. The solids were one fifth fat in the first instance, and all pre-
vious experiments give me no reason to suppose that they will vary in
composition under the influence of the richer ration. But one-fiftli of
twelve is two and one-half, while one fifth of fifteen is three, so that
the liberal feeding has caused an increase of one-lialf pound of butter
fat to each one hundred i)ounds of milk.

This hypc^thetical case illustrates exactly what takes place in actual
practice. A cow produces more milk when Avell fed than when kept
on short allowance ; but this is not because the solids of the milk ('hange
in composition, but because there is mor(M)f them. When one con
stituent of the milk solids increases, they all increase in al)()ut the
same ])rop()rtioii. I do not mean to say that there is absolutely no
change in the com])osition of the milk solids under the infliKmce of
(lifTerent kinds and (pialitt^s of food, but I do mean to say that the
food is unable to overcome to any great extent the fixed constitutional
habits of the animal. You cannot by any manner of feeding obtain

■Pi!

- \

244

QUAKTEKTA' REFOltT

Pennsylvania State Boakd of AdKicuLTUKE.

245

Jersey milk from a Sliortliorii cow. Sncli evidence as Professor Jur-
(lull's is Avell worth your attention. It simi)ly givtis facts without bias
as to breeds. It will never do to train Maud S. for a drau«j:ht mare ;
nor a Clydesdale for a trotter. Each lias its si)here of excellence, out-
side of wliicli it is as worthless as tlit^ veriest scrub. He is a wise man
who can accei)t accomplished facts. 8ui)i)Ose you were to say my
native horse can trot as fast as a Hambletonian, oi* some of the other
families of horses that are recog-nized as carryiiii*- speed in their l)lood ;
an<l upon that theory you would commence traiiiin*>- Pete and old Dolly.
How lon^' will it take you to breed a family of trotters from that
train. Why, my friend, you would lose the last nickel in the venture,
and in the end your horse will not be able to trot fast enouj^h to keep
you ahead of the slu^riif. But some wise and prudent farmers say that
Jerseys are held at fanc}' fi«"ures, and that no man can g"et his money
out of them for the dairy. Let us make some computations. The
scrub cow, costing" thirty dollars, and makin^^: one hundred and fifty
pounds of butter per year, wdll make, in ten years, fifteen hundred
pounds, which at twenty five cents per pound equals three hundred
and seventy -five dolllars. Will drop in ten years, ten calves worth,
when two months old, three dollars each, equal to thirty dollars. She
will herself sell for thirty dollars. Total received, four hundred and
thirty-five dollars. At thirty -five dollars per year for keep, the cow
will cost, in ten years, three hundred and fifty dollars. The first (^ost
of the cow, thirty dollars. Total ])aid out three hundred and eig*hty
dollars, leaving a ])rofit, on thirty dollars, of fifty five dollars, or one
dollar in the sjime has brought in one dollar and eig'lit}^- three cents.

The Jersey cow costing two hundred and fifty dollars, and makin«"
four hundred pounds of butter per year, will make, in ten years, four
thousand pounds, which, at twenty-five cents per pound, equals one
thousand dollars. In ten years Avill drop five heift^rs worth, when two
months old, one hundred and fifty dollars each. In ten years will dro])
five bulls w^orth, when two months old. tw^enty-five dollars each. Will
herself sell for beef for twenty five dollars. Total received, one thou-
sand nine hundred dollars. At thirty fiv(^ dollars per year for kee]) in
ten years amounts to three hundred and fifty dollars. Original cost
of cow two hundred and fifty dollars. Total ex]^ended, six hundred
dollars. Leaving a profit of two hundred and fifty dollars on thir-
teen hundred dollars. Every one dollar invest(*d in Jersey has cleared
five dollars and twenty cents. This calculation, althoiigli making a
showing^ for the Jersey far preferable to the scrub, is nevertheless un-
just to the Jersey, in placing the same ])rice on the butter, whic^li is
of a high quality, as on that of the scrub, which is of a bad cpiality.
As a matter of fact, in any larg-e market, the J(^rsev butter will Imng-
anywhere from ^\e to fifteen cents per ixmnd more tlnui scrub butter.
Taking", however, this low^est amount of five cents per pound diflFerence,
and reckoning: as before, we shall have as a showine* a ju'ofit for the
ten years for the Jersey cow six dollars fen- every dollar investcnl in
her, as against the one dollar and eighty three cents |)i()fit to the dol
lar invested in the scrub. If interest be reckoned in each case, wdiich
is the mori^ fail- nn^thod, the result will be strikingly more favorable to
the hierh ])riced Jersey. If the females in each case be retained in the
herd until the end of the ten years, and interest reckoned on tlie butter
product each year, the results would be so amazingly in favor of the
high priced Jersey that I fear none of my liearers would believe my
fierures to be true until verified by actual computation. But it is said

by some that the Jersey is delicate and must hav(^ warm bains, etc.
Well let me say, I have ever yet to see the breed of cattle that would
be i)rofitai)le in the dairy if their only winter shelter was tlu^ south
side of a straw stack or a fence corner. The Jersey at least is not that
kind of a cow ; but she has shown that Nova Scotia, Province of (Quebec
and Provinces of Ontario, of Canada, with fair farmers' stal)ling, have
produced some of the largest tests, and that with the thermometer
twiiiity decrees below zero. She seems to do as well in Montreal as in
Mobile ; as w(^ll in Maine as in Maryland and Virginia. It is said,
" Well, they may be g-ood enough, but they are so small." W\^ll, do
you want a Jumbo? Among men David was small, Napoleon was
small, but size is not always the true measure of value. A diamond is
smaller than a cobblestone. I attended a fair last fall and on the
<?rounds was a steer that by long feeding- had been made to weigh over
two thousand pounds. On the same grounds was a littler Jersey cow,
making w ithin one-half ounce of four pounds of butter per day. More
peoi)le went to see the fat ox at an admission fee than looked at and
examined the marvelous dairy cow, free of cost ; and I sui)pose one
hundred coveted the i)ossession of the fat ox where one coveted the cow\
The one had neither pride of ancestry or hopes of posterity. From
the womb of the latter may come many whose descc^ndants shall enrich
the land. But it is further said by some that they will w ait ; prices
will be down. That may be. I for one hope so. Prices may go down
to one third what they are now, and yet we will make more out of
Jerseys than a like investment will yield in any other legitimate busi-
ness with which I am familiar. However, it is not to })e considered
witliin the probabilities that prices will grow much lower. Let us

look at some statistics : . i i • i i •

The American Jersey Cattle Club Herd Ptegister was established m
18()8. At its establishment, many animals of extreme age w^ere en-
tered ; also many dead animals have been entered to complete pedi-
grees. At ])resent, not far from 33,000 females appear as registered.
Is it not fair to presume that about one hundred and twelve of thest.^
animals are dead or non-bredeers at this time? leaving but, say, 17.000
livin«- females. The number of milch cows in the United States, as
per tlie census of 1880, was nearly 15,000,000. These cows produced in
that year, 1,300,000,000 pounds of butter and 450,000,000 pounds of

cheese.

The value of the butter, at 20 cents per pound, would be $260,000,00 ;
the value of the cheese, at 8 cents per pound, would be $36,000,000 ;
aggivgate value, $296,000,000. , .i. x

The value of the butter produced exceeded the value ot the cheese
as seven to one showing that it is the butter cow, rather than the
ciieese cow that is in demand. AVe ask, "Is it not fair to presume
that as the' merits of the Jersey cow come to be better understood, she
will' within tln^ next twentv five years, displace and re]) lace at legist
twenty five per cent, of the scrub cow^s? To do this, the 15,000 Jer-
seys of today must increase to 8,000,000 in order to bear the same
pro]>ortion to" the 10(),0()0,00() of residents of the I;nit^;l ^tiit^^ "i the
year 1905 While prices on Jerseys may not rule fabulously Jiigh, yet
we coiifidently believe that, for the next twenty -five years, the business
of tlK^ir breeding and development will prove both a pleasant and lu-
crative branch of agriculture. That for tlie family and tor butter, tlie
Jersev cow is i)re emiinnitlv the animal, T cannot doubt. 1 believe m
the^ Hereford and Shorthorn for beef. In the scrub cow to help us on

24(]

Ql AKl KliLV liEl'OllT.

to poverty : but us the choicest morsel to the eye, of all the bovine
tribe, for milk for children and invalids, delicious butter and cheese
for the table and for money in my ])o;*ket, the little Jersey cow, first,
last and all the time.

DOES IT PAY THE FAKMEll TO GO TO MARKET?

By Joseph Carreli., Jr., Neshaminy, Bucks county^ ]*<(.

( Rej^d at Hatboro" Ifustitute. )

To this the answer will be almost universally, yes. We all liuve in oui-
minds, no doubt, instances where farmers would be better off at home,
but in tlie majority of cases it does pay the farmer to attend the Phila'
d(^li)hia markets. We are now writing- for the farmer that lives fifteen
to twenty miles from the city. Nearer to or farth-r ofi', the situation
changes on account of tlie difierence in hauling- : farmers five to ten
miles from the city can haul their manure and deliver their i)roduce so
much cheaper than those twenty five to thirtv miles distant. If it
l)ays the farmer with twenty to thirty i)ounds of butter, two or three
pair of chickens and five to six dozen of egg's oer week, and other pro
duce in proportion, the question is how to 'make it pay him better.
Certainly one living so near one of the best markets iii the United
States does not live up to his o])portunity if he does not deal with the
(•onsumer direct ; in fact, he might as well live two hundred or three
hundred miles away or even in the west where land is cheaper.

But to return to the question. As it does r)ay, how shall we make
it pay better. I would not presume to lay down any arbitrary rule and
in fact scarcely like to formulate a i)hin, as no d()ul)t many of the
audience are far more competent to advise both from experience and
practice. The first requisite is g-ood health and streng-th and no fear
oi work, as farming- and marketing- together is Inird work. The farmer
should own his farm and i»lan with the object in view, as it is not a
question of a year, l)ut of years. To carry it out successfully, it will
dej^end on the fruits on thc^ farm when purchased, but on almost every
tarm it will l)e a numlx^r of years before you have everything in com
plete running order. In regard to the size of the farm— we will sui)-
poseafarmof one hundred acres; on this you should keei) ten to
twelve cows and if possible make the butter at home, if you cannot
sill]) the milk to the city, or, if you ]3refer (on account of distance to
the station or dislike of getting- out of bed at four o'clock in the morn-
ing) ,to the creamery and take as much l)utter out as you can market at
a Pi-oht It you have no aversion to marketing- them, would keei»
during the year, about two hundred sheep ; at no time more than one
hundred, and these in the winttn-, depending on the increase of lambs
tor s]ning- and summer marketing.

The main thing in marketing is always having something to mark(^t
not a surjilus at one season and notliiug at all except trifles at another^
but plan ahead so as to have a constant succession. Poultrv and (»po-s
are very desii-nbh«,and if well attend(Ml to are very ])rofitabh^^ Pork and
its ju-oductsare necessary adjuncts and if attended to with foresight
will furnish marketing in small pork, sausage, lard, hams, etc., for
almost every week in the year. We do not wish to infringe on the

Pennsylvania State Board of AGiacuLTriiE.

247

market gardener, but a farmer that attends the markets regularly should
raise some vegetables. A small asparagus bed, about a fourth of an
acre, will pay ; a larger one might pay better. But we have to keep
in view the work to be done and not pile up so much ahead of us that
all of it will be half done and consequently at a loss. You should plant
a large acreage of sweet corn, dividing it into five or six plantings
- Early Crosby is the best for early, following with such kinds as your
ex|)erience tells is the best. Lima beans are profitable if well taken
care of — would plant a few Landreths' extra early [)eas, a few beans
following with Stratagem peas about corn planting time. Also in the
youns: orchard plant a row of cucumbers. Don't forget the potato
' crop ; three to four acres are enough. Early Rose, Hebron, White Star
and Mammoth Pearl are the most profitable. As soon as the second
year's timothy is cut, plow and plant one to one and one-half acres of
rutabagas for the sheep ; if they will bring fifty cents ])er bushel sell
them : drill in five or six rows of Landreths' extra early i)eas and a row
or two of Valentine beans : they sell well at this season. Every farmer
that markets should have i)lenty of ai)])les, pears, cherries, peaches and
g-rapes, not too many of each kind. If you attend to all these different
. varieties of fruits, vegetables, etc., as they should be, you will be a
busy man.

We now have the stock for the market. The ])repaiation is important.
The fruits should be selected carefully, the meats well fattened, the
l)oultry fat and properly dressed, the eggs fresh, in fact everything in
the best and most presentable manner. Select a stall in a good market,
in a neig-hborhood where the people are in moderate circumstances
and do not all g-o to the seashore or the mountains in the summer time.
Make it a point to be at your place of business on time, do not misrep-
resent anything, and you will find your customers coming week after
week to be served, and as you establish a reputation for good prices,
your neii^hbors wlio do not care to go to market will wish you to take
their poultry, eggs, etc., which will add somewhat to your income if
you choose '^to do it. In regard to the hay cro]! I should say that as
we have the teams to farm with it will pay better to liaul our surplus
hay to the city rather than to the hay press. The farmers of this ] x^nod
have to face conditions that our fathers did not. Once the city markets
were in a great measurt^ ours, but numerous railroads, cheap lands in
the west, and freights from the central west almost as cheap as from
here to the city, make it im])OSsibl(? f(n- us to cling to the old methods
of farming and prosi>er, so as we have our choice, change our methods
or cliang"e our business.

THE FARMER'S GARDEN

Hv Col. J. A. Stahle, York, 1*0.

(Read at Adams County Institute. >

Some one has written that a wicked man cannot make a garden, for
th(^ very labor is so virtuous and beautiful that it will rebuke him, and
the things he produces will ]>reacli him sermons (m morality and

vii'tne 1

Perhaps no acre of the farm pays half so well, in every way, as the

248

QUAIITERIA' ItEPOKT.

m

one 8et apart for the garden. It is \eiy iniportaiit that in selecting- the
location, you have it with a southern exposure. Let the soil be well
drained and if possible^ be a sandy loam. Protected on the north by a
line of trees, or, better still, a ti^lit board fence five feet liig-li. Let it
be twice as long- as broad, and make the horse do much of the work
that usually falls to the lot of woman. Make your poultry yard so
hxroe that you will need no other inclosure around youi- o-aiJen ph)t.
When spring-time comes have on your ground Avell rotted manure, and
then let the boys and horses of the farm do your spading. Cultivate
thoroughly, and having- made your plans during- the winter, and
g-athered such seeds as you desire to phmt, wait tln^ first favoral)le days
of late March and put in your extia early peas, and by the early days of
- June you will be able to place before g*ood ai)petites one of the best
veg-etaWes grown.

Follow your early peas with cabbag-es and other hardy varieties of
vegetables in A])ril, the most important being- a few rows of early ])o-
tatoes. These should be covered i)retty deeply to protect from frost.

After the first day of May, in this latitude it is safe to plant most of
the vegetables and flowers that usually are grown in our soil.

Tomatoes, however, are not entirely safe from frost, until about the
fifteenth of the month.

Extra Early Adams corn can be j)lanted alxjut the fifteenth of A|)ril ;
but the evergreen corns will rot in the ground and had best be delayed
until later.

But I cannot in tljis short article enumerate all the fruits, flowers
and vegetables that can be grown in a farmer's garden.

If, as sup])osed, you have a location that secures the early morning
sun, and a fertile soil, and plant good seed your successs depends
largely upon how much attention you give to culture, cleanliness and
the vagaries of the weather.

No well-regulated garden should exist without having a large bed of
asparagus, and this should be planted on the extreme southern edge
of the ])lot. About three rows through the piece will furnish enough
for a large family twice a day, and leave a nice quantity to sell in the
market, giving you as early as April, a very delightful dish to bt^gin
on, after a season of sour krouts and tough nu^ats.

To prepare a bed for the i)lants is a simi)le thing for anv farmers
boy, and to keep it jjroducing for twenty years a simph^ orocess. An
occasional top dressing of salt will i^ay a large interest on the invest-
ment. After selecting the ground for your bed, haul manure about six
inches thuk over the entire piece, and then i)low under as deep as you
can with a s1;rong team. Put your ground in fine conditicm, draw vour
rows three feet apart, ])lant about two feet apart in the rows : be sure
to cover the ci-owns a few inches, and then keen clean, and in a few
years you will be comj^elled to say that it is the most profitable crop
or the I arm.

Aparagus when at its best should bt> cut at h^ast twice a day, and if
packed in dry sand, m a cool, dry cellar, will remain good for several
days, it betore using you ])lHce it in a vessel of cold water for a f(^w
hours.

In th(^ arrangement of your j)lanting, next to asparagus, i»ut vour
early potatoes, then peas for th(^ crnps ctiu bc^ harvested and a 'suc-
cession of sweet corn follow the same season. Then cabbage, early
and late beans, eggplants, tomatoes, onions, salsify, beets, cucumbers,

Pennsylvania. State Boahd of Agiuculture.

249

etc., all to be worked by Innse hoe or cultivator, saving a great deal of
valuable time and reducing the labor of the farm woman.

I have neglected so far, to say anything about a very im[)ortaiit
matter, in collection with your garden. The board fence on your north-
ern line you can utilize for hot beds.

These you can construct yourselves, after purchasing the sash for the
glass, and in a few hours arrange for a variety of early [)lants.

Take fresh horse manure, make a bed three feet longer than your
frame, about eighteen inches or two feet thick, sprinkle with hot water
in between the layers of manure as you build n\^, place your frame upon
it, then four inches of fine soil on the manure, put the sash in ])lace,
bank up manure on the outside of the frame, and let it remain a day
or so before you plant your seeds. Be careful to open the sash in the
heat of the day, but close in time in the evening. Now, with a little
care each day and a cover in cold nights, you will secure a tine lot of
early cabbage, beets and other plants that will repay all care and
trouble.

You may say these are all useful articles to produce *, but have you
nothing to make the place beautiful — homelike—attractive — nothing
for woman to do? Yes, and perhaps the only thing she ought to do.
Make the whole place beautiful with flowers and shrubs between the
hot beds and that part farmed by the men. Let there be a few rows of
strawberries, raspberries, currants and blackberries, and then get some
of the early spring flowers, and follow along all the season with what
will suit your taste, from the earliest crocus to the latest chrysan-
themum.

Let the yard ot your home be embellished by the burning bush,
bleeding heart, roses and ferns. The snow ball and lilac, sweet wil-
liam, mignonette, lilies, dahlias, myrtle, and from your mountains get
bitter sweet, trailing arbutus and the almost numberless little bloomers
that peep out to get the morning dews of heaven, and you will have a
place that in after years you will long for amid the struggles of life,
and pleasantly remember when you go into the sear and yellow leaf.

DO CEREAL CROPS PAY?

By C. C. Kkan, Franklhi, Pd.

(Read at Franklin InHtltute. )

No doubt there are many farmers who would answer this questicm
in the negative, and think, too, that their position was iron clad and
could not l)e i)enecrated by any showing that might be produced by
by those who entertain different views ui)on the subject.

They might say that the farmer's life is one continual grind, year
after year— always the same old story, all work and no i)]ay, all ex-
pense and no profit, and that in.niy times they do not possess the nec-
essary requirements to sustain life. » i i i •

I admit that t]\c picture thus ])resented looks dark. And dark in-
deed would be the farmer's existence while hereupon earth if there

was no reverse side to the drawing. • i t i.i • i

But when we turn the i)icture over and view the other side, I think

250

QuAKTEltLY KePORT.

Pennsylvania State Board of AcatKiui/ruuK.

251

I Pi

, s

that we can see an abundance of sunlig-)it for the farm(^r as well as for
those who labor in some other way.

\\nien \\i) turn our eyes and behold the many farms upon which are
erected tine houses, and barns and other buiklin^^-s, witli fields laid
out in perfect order, in whicli may be seen horses, cattle, sheep, swine
and poultry; in other fields, the cereal crops; wheat, rye, oats' buck-
wheat and corn stand, wavin<^ in the sunlight and noddin«- obedience
to the tillers of the soil ; and the orcliards bearing- many varieties of
fruits, ready to drop their golden harvest into the farmer's lap, would
seem to indicate that those ni^hest to the Creator and governed by
Him who " withholdeth no good thing," might after all be the farmer.

The raising of cereal cro])s in this county for profit is attended with
many considerations, many of which farmers should be familiar with.

Invariably the first consideration to successful farming is intelligence.
and a disposition of mind to be pleased with the occupation, without
whicli none should expect to accomplish much. By intelligence I do
not mean a college graduate unless he possess good common sense as
well. Yet it cannot be successfully denied, but tliat the schools and
higher institutions of learning have elevated the methods of farming
worn out land scarcely cai)able of ])roducing a healthy thistle or weed,
u]) to an easy production of seventy-five bushels or more of shelled
corn x)er acre.

The proj)er treatment of the soil is to bring it to a liigh state of culti-
vation and then maintain that conditi(m of excellence, Avitli a knowl-
edge of when and how to cultivate the land, what crops are best suited
to the different fields so that the crop may hel]) feed the soil as well as
the soil help feed the crop. For it is a w(41 known fact among suc-
cessful farmers that while any of the fields of the farm would be (tap-
able of producing a large yield of any variety of grain that might be
sown, yet there are varieties that are better adapted to some of the
fields than others. This the skill and ex])erience of the farmer must
determine, and when no mistake is made, the best possible results will
follow.

It might l)e well to know the i)ossibilities of soil when under a liio-h
state of cultivation. *^

It is said that in China there is land that has been under constant
tillage for a period of over 5,000 years with no apparent decrease in
vitality and capable of ])roducing vegetation, the value of which per
acre is equal to $1,000 in American money.

The capabilities of the soil of poiti()ns\)f this country are yet in its
infancy, and I believe that the time may come when the fcjtih^ ])lains
of the south and west will equal in value of vegetable production the
most favored land of the flowery kingdom.

In a state of nature the soil of this (Venango) county is not equal to
that of some other localities of the country that could be menticmed •
but in some instances art can supply that which nature has left uiuhme'
a>s can be shown m many cases. Tests of the ca])ability of tlie land in
tins county have often been made, and nearly always with flattering
results. In this county forty-four bushels of first-class wheat have
been produced from one acre of land ; one hundr(^d and fiftv bushels of
ears of corn per acre hayeoften been raised ; sixtv bushels of buckwhc at
and seventy six bushels of oats per acre has also been raised in Ihis
county.

A field containing twelve acres of land not many miles from this
city, produced at one cutting over forty-eight tons of prime timothy

hay. Another field of four acres produced sixteen tons in one season.
From this showing who will say that the soil of Venango county, when
under thorough cultivation will not pay fair returns.

As a rule farmers in this section of the country have been in the
habit of raising all kinds of croi)S, not confining themselves to cereals
only. In fact, the soil of this county, in some localities, is better
ada[)ted to the production of hay and root cro])S : this the farmer should
determine for himself and be governed accordingly.

But the question is asked: "Does the raising of cereal cr()i)S pay in
this county f Prol)ably the best answer to the question wcnild be
that the farmers have always raised those crops, and still continue to
do so. To say that at least four generations of fanners who have lived
and labored in this county, for no ])rofit but just for the pleasure that
the work afforded, would be casting reflection upon their intellig(nice,
and that I do not ])ropose to do, for I believe that the farmers of Ven-
ango county are fully abreast with the times, not only in practical but
scientific farming as Avell.

Those who travel through the different sections of this county during
the crop growing season of the year, cannot fail to observe the bounti-
ful a}>pearance that the eye beholds. Everywhere fields of wheat, rye,
oats, buckwheat and corn wa^ ing in the sunlight and beckoning the
farnu^rs to thrust in the sickle and reap of some thirty, some sixty and
even a hundred fold.

The soil of Venango county may not be as rich in grain producing
qualities as the prairies of the west, but when it is known that it takes
about two bushels of western grain to equal in value one bushel raised
here, or,in other words, it takes one-half of the western grain to market
the other Indf, I think that the farmers of this county have a strong
point in their favor.

The worth of the grain that is raised here is not all the value that
the farmers receive from its production. During the year that the
gntin is being produced, the farms are being improved, buildings
erected, fences straightened, obstructions removed, homes beautified,
while near by towns and cities are built, school houses and churches
dot the country everywhere, bridges span the creeks and rivers, and
the iron horse proclaims one hundred dollars an acre for land that
originally cost less than one dollar an acre.

I think that all the additional value accruing to the farm from im-
provements, the nigh i^roximity of school houses, churches, towns and
cities, bridges and railroads, should be considered by the farmers as

profits . i.1 • • • -i. 1

There are a large number of i)ersons residing in tins vicinity who

are considered rich. That is, they own their farms and city property
too, and can afford to enjoy all the luxuries they desire besides, much
of which has been made by raising grain on the farm. Could farmers
in auy section desire more?

Another point I wish to make is that farmers here can have ( it tliey
choose) more leisure than any other class of men. Better health too,
caused probably bv the ])ure air of their rural homes, and the frc^sh
and delicious food to which a sharp appetite can always d(^ justice.

Another item that should be considered while passing along is what
time and labor brings to the farmer and his home.

It may be that he has been toiling for many a long year, and now
that he 'is growing old, he can look over a productive farin with tine
bnilding-s live stock of all kinds, with machinery tor profit and tor

252

QUARTEliLY RErOKT.

Pennsyt.vania State Boakd of Agkicultuke.

253

pleasure. He owns it all, with probably a nice sum of money in tlie
bank. In addition to this he is the father of a family of boys and ^irls.
Noble boys and girls, worthy to adorn the farm and the old home,
when the father and mother have retired across the river.

Now, farmers, what I have written is for yonr consideration. The
thong-hts that I have tried to present in this essay are for you, and I
think that you will agree witli me, that the raising of cereal crops in
connection with the advantaizes that naturally conu^ to the farm, pay
as well in Venango county as in many otlier counties in this or any
other state. I am aware that there may be those who will take excej)-
tions to what I have written. They may say that the farmer's occui)a
tion and life is too highly colored, and tliat many farmers are not
successful, and end their days at the foot of the ladder.

To such I would say, that all occupations and business enterprises
are strewn with wrecks. Not that the occupation or business is at
fault, but that the failures mostly c(une horn those Avho are incapable
of success in anything they undertake, unless it be death, and they are
not always sure of that.

And now, ladies, permit me to address a Avord to you. I take it that
yoiir i)resence here at this agricultural meeting would indicate that if
you are not farmers' wives, you would like to be. To preside over the
farmer's home and what it contains, not only with tlie skill of your
hands, but with the counsel of your wisdom and love as well, wouhl
be occui^ying a position well suited for those who are created only a
little lower than the angels. The farmer's home may not be all sun-
shine, nor yet flowing with milk and honey, but with a fair queen to
preside over his mansion and help to direct his tlioughts, would be to
sweeten toil, elevate the mind and smooth life's onward march to the
better land.

FETTTT OBOWTNG.

■Rr W. M. Benninoer, Walnutport^ Pa,

(Read at Center Institute. )

Fruit growing lias been successful in every part of Pennsylvania,
wherever it lias been i)roperly conducted.

My object is simply to create a discussion on this subiect which will
point out, and undoubtedly correct, some of the errors that lead to
failures.

Pennsylvania l)eing a net work of railroads, together with an un
limited number of iron mining and manufacturing towns, more so then
an}^ other state in the Union, therefore the consumption of fruit is
larger, and the market more easily reached then in any otlier state.
I see no reason why Pennsylvanir, should not become the leading fruit
gi'owint: stnte in the Union, and I am sure this will be so, (^specially,
if all the ccmnties make such solid eflbits as Juniata county has made
for the ])Mst several years.

The climate of Pennsylvania is so divc^-sified on account of its
general profile, that it has localities that are especially adapted to the

different kinds of fruit culture, and as a state it has advantage over all
other states. We can grow fruit with profit for what it costs other
states for freight and packing.

But I shall confine my remarks more exclusively to the culture ot

I would recommend a three year-old tree, which is generally from
five to eight feet in height, and from three-fourth to erne inch m
diameter ; this 1 recomnu^id as the i)roper tree for planting ; these trees
should be lifted and shii)i)ed, properly boxed or packed, and roots well
i)rotec^ted, after the ground is sufficiently thawed, when they will carry
from here to any part in the Union. • i. n 4.1

These are annually shipped in car loads from nurseries to alx tlie
western states and territories, with perfect safety and success.

The prevailing opinion that a tree must and should be planted im-
mediately after being lifted is, therefore, without foundation as is also
the opinion that nursery stock should be planted early m the seascm,
but on the contrary it should not be planted until the ground has sutti-
cient warmth,and in a fair condition for any other crop ; the only neces-
sity is to get the tree lifted before the buds are started, and properly
cared for, but never forget an infallible principle, to transfer nursery
stock from a cooler climate into a warmer, and never ince versa.

Immediately after the arrival of stock it should be planted or covered
Dioperly, with plenty of water, so as to swell the buds, riie necessity
of root pruning cannot be over-estimated; all daniaoed, together with
some of the larger roots, should be clipped or cut back ; the top should
be pruned in proportion to the loss of root fibers

The tree should be planted in good, rich, cultivated sod with hole
sufficients large so as to admit the roots freely, without crowding, and
the heavier portion of the tree towards the southwest It the ground
is not well saturated with water, I would recommend a half a pailtul
of water to each tree, after the hole is partially filled with earth.
Work the tree slightly up and down, so as to get the ground perfectly
com^^^^^^^ and around the roots, fill the hole, press gently with

feet and walk away with the assurance that thorough work merits
rewaS and niay well compare witli the beautiful lines by Bryant, who

says :

"Come let us plant the apple tree ;
Cleave the toiiuli sreon sward with the spade ;

Wide lot it-i hollow bed bo made:
Then (rently lay the roots, and tl'.en

Sift the dark mould v ith kindly care.
And press it o'er them tenderly,

As round the sleepinj; infant's feet
We softly fold the cradle sheet :

So plant we the apple tree."

Th« oiclKii-a cauiiot 1)6 cultivated too much and sUould be planted,
with hoed crops for a tcnn of ten years kept, clean from weeas throue:!.-
out as ft i^fmpossile to raise two crops at the same time and place,
ft^r which clcselv grazed, or lawn grass may be permitted, with fre-
; . nt toriressSg, and this must vary with vigor ot the trees. Young
u'Ls should grc.w two or three feet yearly, and beunny ones f..>n> a

^'iV^ili"'' depends more or less on taste; the prevailing custom of
rais n" H tops is rather an inconvenience as c.mpared with he h.w
and HPre d ng as the latter aflfords better op,K.rtun. les in feathering
the fn r 1 runi ig can be done during any portion of the year.and with

254

Qua htekly E kport.

h
'^ II •

i

perfect success, and particularly , should tli(^ luxurious suckers be re-
moved, as they are robbers of vitality. If an orchard is thus treated
it will commence bearin*2: a i)ayin«' crop after the eighth year, aftei-
which the cultivation should not be so constant. Especdal carti should
oe taken not to disturb the roots more than is postively necessary.

The American market depends more on appearance than quality.
It invariably i)ays to thin the fruit in case the tree has a tendency to
overbearing, and to accomplish this satisfactorily requires JTidgment
and dcH'ision ; always remove the imperfect and clustt^rerd fruit, less
on the sunny, than on the opi>osite side of the tree ; fruit always colors
better and increases in size, making- after all just as many bushels,
with a much advanced price. All early or summer ax)ples should be
picked, sorted into fancy firsts and seconds, and marketed at once.

Here honesty is one of the essentials to success, both as to making-
sales and to create a constant market. It is generally advantag-eous
to sell the fancy and first quality oidy, realizing more for the two
g-rades than is generally done by a combination of all.

The winter a]) pie should be carefully i)icked, nicely siu'ted, as before,
packed in clean barrels, and at once stored away in a cool cellar or a
place of even temi)erature. In order to realize the best and hig-hest
price, I would advise to keep posted, and watcli the fruit market in
different localities and exercise good juderment in their disposal.

A rule followed by many successful fruit growers, is to sell at first
o[)portunity that offers a fair price, thereby saving all troubh^ of re
packing, etc. If the surplus of inferior fruit does not ])ay by tuniing
into cider or vinegar, there is another plan that will certainly pay, and
of which I have personal experience. The value of ax)iiles or pom-
ace feed to stock is, as yet, too much ignored ; they do not only increase
the flow of milk, but also ])roduces flesh and fat, and this is more
especally true to pomace. My cattle never dime better then when I
fed them all the pomace they would eat : some ate with a relish one
bushel a day.

Apples. I would rt^commend the follow^ing for early : Red Astrachan,
Benninger, Early Harvest, Fall Pippin, Maiden Blush, liambo, and
Gravtmstine, Winter, Baldwin, Smith, Cider, Ben Davis, King, Smoke-
house and in some localities Falla water ; for |)rofit I would recommend,
Baldwin, Smith's Cider and Ben Davis only.

The ])rofits of an a])])le orchard, compared with ordinary farming,
are enormous. A good orchard will bear fifteen bushels per tree ; allow-
ing fifty trees per acre, thirty by thirty feet, would yield seven hundred
and fifty bushels; at one dollar per bushel, would net seven hundred
and fifty dollars per acre.

How long will it take the ordinary farmer to see and experience
this"? I would advise to touch new varieties lightly, as they are few
and far between that give satisfaction and prove a valuable acquisi-
tion to the already well-tried sorts.

The varieties that give good satisfaction in a locality are the kinds in
which to i)lace confidence.

Pears. I w^ou hi recommend, Bartlet, Cla])i)S, b. d. Anjoue, Seckle
and Sh(^ldc]i. I will omit i)lum, cherry and apricots, etc.

Quinces. I would recommend, Orange (mly, and they should br grown
on rich soil and rtMpiiie special care; they are very profitable.

Pennsylvania is fast becoming one of the leading peach-growing
states, as the south is retiring from the business. Brother Hale, says :
They are starving their orchards, and there is no such thing as yel-

Pennsyt.vania State Boakd of AciKicui/ruKE.

255

i f

lows. Mr. Hale had the fortune of clearing twenty five thousand dol
lars on his peach orchards, way up in little Connecticut, years ago ; he
also said that two years ago he had a committee of expert truit
o-rowers and nurserymen visit his orchard who condemned several rows,
as having the yellows ; he did not believe it and did not root them out
but gave them a severe pruning, and a double ration of potash and
raw bone, broad cast, and a thorough cultivation, and the next year he
sold the fruit from tlu3 same trecis for five dollars a basket, and they are

now his best trees. i\t tt i

I hoi)e you will i)ardon me for quoting so much Ironi Mr. Male,
but 1 consider him the must successful peach and fruit grower m the
country I had the pleasure of meetina' him m New York city, at
the meeting of the Nurserymen's Association of America, where tiiese
facts were solicited personally.

I also had the ]deasure of speaking from tht^ same plattorm. and
immediately after him at the Centre Hall i)icnic.

Peach trees should not be more than one year old ; they have more
fibrous r.Dots ; the roots should be closely ]jruned,and tlie top cut l)ack
They should be planted sixteen feet square in well cultivated and good
rich soil I prefer s-ravel soil, natural drainage, and northern cxi)0-
sure • and the plantms- should in all cases be done in the spring, as ^
soon'as the soil is dry and warm enough to plant other crops

The ground should be plowed deen and well worked, and tertilized
with potash and raw bone if good results are to be exTected ; all small
lots unless car loads, sliould be ordered in boxes as the fnnght is less
per one hundred pounds and they will in all cases reach their destina-
tion in better condition, and can be better cared for after arrival.

A peach tree should be pruned every year; the best time is when

the trees are in blossom, as you can prune and thin at the same time.

(This I also have from Mr. Hale.) i i • j • ^u^

The thinning and sorting should be the same as already said m the

fore part of my remarks. n i i i i i

I would recommend such varieties as have been xyell tested, and do

well in your vicinitv. Let the new and tancy varieties be tested at

the ecperiment stations and airricultural colleges. ^ • t^

The following are well tested and reliable varieties, Mountiiin Eose,

Early Crawford, Stump the World, Old Mixon Free, Late Crawiord,

"^Tt ^tK^on that the early varieties will be more iii dcnuuul
in the future, as they are better in quality, and more sure ot a croi) m

''^ ircSision, I must not omit the small fruits, such as strawberries
raspbe^Ties, blackberries and currants, for upon these depends the
he^i th of he farmer. These occupying a season of ripening irom
Tune till almost Fall supply the farmer's table with a medicine hn
more xllmMe than all drug stores combined. And not only this but
Teya^e easily and successfully cultivated, and yield a larger return

'^^Fli^ty^:!; "!^^^ the strawberry, ripening in Tune, beautiful,

" H^;:?"?^ Mid^XXM September and October, on go.>d soil
well manu^^^^ ^ preferable, plenty of hard wood ashes or

bone Ts for field culture plant four feet by fifteen inches in rows.
Thf^^^^^^ Crescent, Sharpless, A\ ilson, Al-

bany and the Jessie.

! I

256

QUAllJEKLY KePOIIT

Next ill order come the luscious raspberries, which if properly cul
tivated are also i)roli table.

riant ou strong- ground, with rotted manure, cultivate freely, rows
seven feet apart by three feet in row^ pick oft" canes when two and one
half feet high to make them stocky and self-supi)orting , cut out old
wood each year. The best varieties are Cuthbert, Shaffers, Colossal,
Gregg, Mammoth Cluster and Ohio.

Blackberries are next in order; and who does not know of the ex
hilarating effects they produce, seasoned with plenty of sugar and
milk. This crop is receiving more attention of late, and present iiidi
cations are that 'the blackberry has a briglit future.

Cultivation and planting similar to raspberries, with the exception
of more shallow. The best varieties are Early Harvest, Kittanning
Erie, Snyder, Taylor, Wilson, Junior.

The currant, is the most neglected of our fruits, and I doubt whether
this fruit if pro|)erly cultivated, Avould not rank second in profits. Be
cause the season extends over such a long period, a good market is gen
erally found for green currants, which sell from seven to ten cents per
box, with stems.

Another advantage with this fruit is, it is a much better keeper, as
it hangs for quite a long time after being ripe. The reason of its
neglect is on account of the currant worm, but white ])owdered helle-
bore is sure death.

Plant four feet, each w^ay in rows, in well enriched ground, with
plenty of manure, cut out old wood, and thin enough so that each
shoot has a chance to grow, and thus produce perfect clusters.

The best varieties are Cherry, Fay's Prolific and La Versailles. T
reluctantly omit so many good varieties, but time may j)rove more
valuable, by a discussion of these several subjects, and Iwant you all
to feel at liberty to interrogate me on any subject pertaining to fruits.

CAKE OF FAliM MACHINEBY.

By John A. Warden, Mt. Pleasant^ Pa.

(Read at Mt. Pleasant IriHtltute.)

We are living in a time that demands strict economy on the i)art of
those that till tlie soil for a livelihood. We are beset with many dis-
couragements owing to the reduced price of our produce, so that it is
by economic effort alone that w^e can make the debit and credit columns
in our ledgers tally.

Since economy is demanded of us, in w^liat shall we l)egiii'? To mv
mind, it should be made, first of all, in a judicious use and care of the
instruments wdth w^hich we iierform our labor. It is not my pur]K)se
to advance.' any scientific theories: but, in a plain, practical coiiinion
sense w^ay, show the imi)()rtance of taking the best care of our imple-
ments, both in the using and during their resting season.

Every im^dement that the farmer has is gotten for a special purj)ose
and in order to obtain the best results, it must be in the best possible
order and handled by a competent o])erat()r.

The first great principle in the ])urcliasiiig of all implements or

Pennsylvania State Boaud of Agriculture.

257

machinery, Avhether for farm use or for the multitude of other purposes
for which mechanical instruments are used, is to buy none but the
very best, both in kind and quality. The implements of the farmer,
some suppose, consist only of wagons, plows, harrows and the like ;
but to these must be added reaping machines, mowers, grain drills and
binders. The tools of the farmer— picks, shovels, forks, rakes and
some carpenter and blacksmith tools— all properly come under the
head of farm implements.

In making his purchases, it may be necessary for the farmer to make
a study of the character of the soil, whether light or heavy, in which
he intends to work his imi)lemeiit, or of the ground, whether hilly or
level for a machine, so as not to purchase either implement or machine
heavier than necessary to do the work. The princii)al part of power
that is used in farming is either horse power or manual labor, and when
it is the former, the good care of his horses should l)e incentive enough
to the farmer to purchase light, easy running machinery, and when it
is the latter, he wdll find that the laborer will accomplish more, and
do his work better and more cheerfully if the tool or implement is
light and graceful. More than that, he will be apt to take better care

of it. . ^ 1 • i

Care in the using of an imi)lement or machine is of much importance,

as a careless or ignorant operator may, in a very brief period of time,
allow a piece of machinery to become almost useless for the want of a
few drops of oil at the proper time ; or some part may be displaced by
the loosening of a bolt which he fails to detect, thus allowing wear and
tear where there should be none. For any implement to be m perfect
order every [)art must be in its proper position, thus avoidiuL^ in-
creased friction and also heavier draught or power. So that much de-
pends on the operator. 11. -, . ^1 i- -i. iv

He who handles a machine is so closely allied to the machine itselt,
that the one is ])ractically useless without the other; so that ^ve must
not only provide the best machinery, but employ competent aixd care-
ful laborers, thus avoiding unnecessary wear and breakage at the hands
of an incompetent w^orkman. .i x •

The season of rest for farm im])lements is the time that is very
necessary to give them i)roper care and attention. There is no other
occupation in which man is engaged, that his instruments of liyeli^
hood have as much resting time as those of the farmer. Most ot
them, at a safe estimate, rest eleven-twelfths of the time, while others
are not in actual operation one fiftieth i)art of the year.

Every farmer should have a convenient implement house, easy ot
access and roomy enough to hold all implements without piling them
one on the other, so that one can be taken out without much trouble
and also replaced at the end of its season ^ • x x 4. •

Put each away carefully. Sometimes it is convenient to put an im-
plement away that needs some repairs, such as the farmer can make
himself He can do this on wet days and during the winter season ;
but by no means allow it to stand out of repair untd wanted for use.

Every farnnu- should have some tools, carpenter and blacksmith ;
he does not need an entire outfit of either, still there are some of both
that are not only convenient to have, but are also necessary These, as
well as other imph^ments of the farm, should be kept m the very best
order possible and ready for service at any time.

Some tW^^^^^ for farmers to bear in mind are that pamt i)reserve8

17

258

QUAKTEHLY EePORT.

In

I

woodwork ; that rust softens iron or steel ; that tools, such as shovels
and picks, left where they were last used, are sometimes hard to find :
that cheap machinery is dear at any price, and last but not least the
old motto that has graced the walls of our school houses for many a
day: "Have a place for everything and everything in its place."
There is many a farmer who, had he heeded this injunction, might
still be the happy possessor of tools that have long since been
thrown aside as useless, because he never had a proper place to keep
them consequently, never had them put away.

THE SILO.

By L. Denning Clearfield Pa.

(Read at Grampian Htll Institute. >

Francis Morris of Maryland, in 1876, was the first to build a silo in
this country ; in 1880, there were but six.

Ensilage at first met with a persistent opposition from men not only
familiar with the ]:)ractice of the farm, but also from those who make
the science of agriculture their professional calling, and yet, step by
step, and in the face of the most determined opposition, this food for
the dairy and stock farm has made its way to public favor steadily and
rapidly, as shown by the increase of silos which last year numbered
over ten thousand. It is true there was some poor ensilage, and sev-
eral failures where "any way to get it done," and "almost right," was
made to do instead of just right.

Cost.

The cost of a silo it is impossible to tell without all the incidentals
and conditions of building, but it may be safely said that it varies
from about fifty cents per ton for the cheapest, to one dollar and fifty
cents for the more expensive. Its cheapness, however, is apparent
for the outlay for storage. One ton of ensilage occupies about ninety-
three cubic feet, a ton of hay, five hundred feet.

The facts concerning silos are few and sim])le, and in no way diffi-
cult to understnd. We already know that any kind of green crop
can be preserved in a silo. But why does it keep 1 Is it because of
heavy presssure? No : because it keeps good without pressure. Is it
because it has been well tram])ed (as they used to with a horse) ? No.
But it is simply because the silage has been allowed to heat up to the
temperature of one hundred and twenty five to one hundred and forty
degrees, and thereafter remains in an air-tight non-conducting en-
closure.

Preserving Fodder Corn.

Many columns and V)ages have been written to prove that dry fodder
corn is equally as good out of the silo as in it: that ensilage has no
more nutriment than it had before going into the silo. These state-
ments hardly settle the case We do not [)ut corn into the silo to
gain nutriment but to preserve from waste the mitriment already in it.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.
Yield of Ensilage Corn.

259

A fair yield would be, fifteen tons or thirty thousand pounds per
acre. Fifty pounds per day for a season of two hundred days, would
be ten thousand pounds or five tons. At this rate one acre would
produce enough to feed three cows, the entire season of two hundred
days. So you see that an acre of fodder corn of fifteen tons, green
weight, woidd, if well ])reserved in the silo, keep one cow six hundred
days, giving her fifty pounds per day, and that one acre of hay that
would produce two tons of well-cured hay, would feed one cow one
hundred and sixty days giving her twenty-five i)ounds per day, the
feeding value being three and three-fourths times greater in the acre
of ensilage than in the acre of hay.

Does the Ensilage and Silo Pay.

Yes, the ensilage feed does pay ; it pays in many ways. In the
furnishing a food for the cow which is largely similar to the ]iasturage.
grasses of June and October. It prepares the farmer to laugh at the
drouth. It enables him to keep twice or three times the amount of
stock that he formerly could, and he can keep his steers growing
almost or quite as fast during the winter months as in the summer.

Feeding Ensilage.

It is best to feed about six pounds of cut hay to fifty pounds of en-
silage, and if you feed grain, feed different kinds, so as to take a
balanced ration of albuminoids, carbo hydrates and fat. , . ,

Bat, if you intend to keep your cattle with only the shelter derived
from the warm side of a wire fence, don't build a silo.

THE TRUCK GARDEN.

By J. P. Watts.

(Head at Grampian Hill Institute. )

In a general way, I think we can safely say, that unless the soil and
climate are naturally adapted to the growth of that which we wish to
produce, we cannot make a general success of the crop.

Nor can we be successful financially, though we have the soil and
climate, and grow a good crop, if we have not a fair market in which
to dispose of that crop. Ho the question first to be considered is, have
we soil and climate adapted to the growth of berries and vegetables?
I think we have, and if I wished to convince any one of the adaptability
of these to the growth of berrfes, I thnik I could do no better than to
induce him to take a trip through some of our old ch()])i)ii]gs, right in
the h('i«^ht of ben-y season. If this had been preceded by a visit to
some of'^the old mf^adows in strawberry season, I think he would agree
with me, but would i)robably go on to say, that there would be no use
of cultivating any because of the abundance of the natural fruit : and
this is I think one of the reasons why there are not more cultivated.
People reason 'that the natural fruit costs nothing, it may not cost

260 QUAKTEllLY KePOKT.

those who live ri^ht along side of it much, but as a rule, several miles
are h\aveled before reaching the berries, and then often none are gotten,

because others were ahead. . . i ^ ^ i • x' u

If the time spent in lying awake at nights, watching tor three or
four o'clock so as to get an early start, early enough to be ahead ol all
othcn-s, and the time spent in going to and from the beiTy held de-
voted to putting this knowledge into practice the result would be

more satisfactory. i -i i i.i i i? i i*

If there is anything Clearfield county farmers should be thankful tor
it seems to me that thing is a good market for almost everything that
we can produce. This, of course, is due to our large coa and iumber
interests ; interests which bring to our county thousands ot dollars
daily I ^vish I could tell you how many berries the people ot our
county would use, were they brought right to their doors, at ten cents
per quart, which is a good price.

I do know that it is away up m the thousands of bushels ; it you think
not just put out an acre or two, give them good cultivation the best
you know how ; advertise a little, not much, as you will have to devote
too much time to replying that orders are away ahead ol your supply.
The people of our county will have fruit of some kind l)ut preter the
home raised. When these cannot be had they resort to the foreign
raised apricots, i)runes, peaches, raisins, etc. -, • . i ui

Most autliorities teach that the use of fruit is conducive to health.
This too notwithstanding the small boy ^s verdict who had eaten the
o-reen apple If this be true we are to a certain extent responsible
for the good health of our neighbors. They are wilhng to pay us a
good round price for our medicine, and we should be willing to sup-
ply them. I know they would rather take, our rhubarb than that

furnished by the doctors. _. . , i

Now a little talk about vegetables. There is only one reason why we
should not ])r()duce enough vegetables to supply the demands of our
county and have some to ship away. That reason is that it would
somewhat spoil the sales of our brother farmers m Jersey, Maryland
Michigan and other i>laces. As they are rather distant relatives, I
think this reason would not keep many from engaging in the busines8%
providing they thought that they could be successful financially. A
few weeks ago, I hoped to get a pretty full account of all the vege
tal3les shipped to one of our mining towns and from that make a rough
estimate of what is shiv>ped to our county. But I was disappointed.
However I found that this town alone had received fifty full car loads
of potatoes last vear. besides those shipped in smaller quantities.

Who shall engage in this business"? We often hear remarks some-
thig like this:— "Yes, we will have to quit general farming and go
to trucking. " Were they all to put this into practice, I «am afraid their
would be a good many disappointments. Not that I think there is no
profit in the business, but because only a very few are calculated to
make a success at market gardening. This has been proven time ami
again. The n^ascm of this is that the tendency of almost all is to i)ro
crastinate, and this will not do in this i)ursuit. When the time corner
for ])lanting it must be (h)n(^ without delay, so with the cultivjit-
ing, gathering and markc^ting. The next reason why more do not suc-
ceed, is becausti thev are not thorough enough, and have not a very
large sup]dy of patience and firmness. Their wives would do much
better in this respect.

Unless a person contemplating raising truck can make up his

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

261

mind to cultivate his crops after every rain, just so soon as the ground
is dry enough, he would better not engage in that business. If this
repeated cultivating is practiced, a crop will seldom be an entire failure
because of dry weather. The reason is that the loose soil acts as a
mulch.

You have probably noticed that the surface of a track made by a
horse or other heavy animal, is almost always moist ; although the
surrounding ground is dry, and though the sun be shining, and a hot
dry breeze be passing over the ground ; this would certainly make
the track dry in a few minutes, were it not supplied from beneath.
The reason is, that the soil has been firmly j^ressed together, makes
it act on the principle of an ordinary ink pad. If the track be covered
with an inch or two of loose earth, the sun and wind cannot get at the
moisture to carry it away, and the moisture cannot get out because the
soil is too loose to allow it to come to the surface. By making use of
this knowledge, we can make better use of a part of the great amount
of water which enters the soil during wintc^r and early spring.

ECONOMY ON THE EAKM.

By Hon. W. S. Walduon, Evans City, Pa.
(Rend at Renfrew. Butler County, institute.)

Next to thorough draining, the great lack, in our farming, is a pro-
per economy in the application of manures, and fertilizers. By man-
ures we mean that produced on the farm : and by fertilizers, guano,
phosphates and the like on the market. No farmer should buy ferti-
lizers until he saves and applies,his manures, and never on credit with
the expectation of realizing a crop, to reimburse him for the outlay.

From extensive observation we conclude that not one farmer in one
hundred makers the most of his manures.

It is not economy to permit the licpiid manure from stable and barn-
yard to run to waste on the public highway, and on fields where it is

not need(Hl. , i • . -i-i i • ^.^

The barn-yard should have a cessDOol, and a cistern with drams to
conduct the liquids into it ; near it should be hauled muck, leaves, straw,
and any kind of vegetable matter when the team and hired man are
not otherwise emjdoyed on the farm

Let the contents of the cesspool be poured on to it. When this
heap is thoroughly saturated, fork it over, haul it away and bring new
material. Don't pay out one dollar for artificial fertilizers until you
have made the most of this valuable matter right at yoiir hand.

Some soils may need chemical treatment, and esj)ecially run <h^^^^^^^^
or non productive lands. The (piestion is whether it is l>^f f . ^^^^^^^^^^
individual farmer, to buy the raw material and '.^''^'^''''''^^^^^^
lizers or buy them already mixed m the f()rm of ammoniated sui)ei-
posphates, complote fertilizers, and other special fertdizers lor dif-
erent corps and soils, prepared by form u as of one kind or^^^;^^^!^;^;--

You are aware that the analyses of fertilizers offered for «ale in the
market shows the quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash

262 QUAKTEllLY EePORT.

and the forms of combination of these inofredients, and the intelli-
o-ent farmer shoukl be able to mix, and ai)i)ly them to the soil.
"^ Finally on this point we conclude it very bad economy to expend
two dollars for artificial fertilizers, to add an additional dollar's worth
of ae-ricultural products to farm. , . , . , ^ • xi

The amount of capital now invested m farm implements in the
United States, bv a reasonable estimate, exceeds nine hundred million
dollars. No arg^ument, therefore, is needed to show the importance of
its being well invested and i)roi)er care taken of it.

The difference in economy between working at a disadvantage witli
poor tools, and the use of modern api)liances to lighten labor and save
time is clear to everv farmer of even ordinary comprehension, ihen
in the iiurchase of farm machinery, buy the best; it will be the
cheapest in the end. Buy it early in the season, that you may be able
to commence in proper time, to drive your work. But never let the
farm work drive you. On every well-regulated farm, a tool house is an
obvious necessity ; and all the tools and implements of the farm, should
be kept there, and immediately returned after use. But farmers are
notoriously negligent. A valuable mowing machine is not uncom-
monly left, after its work for the season is done under a shade tree in
the field, or by the roadside, uncleaned and unoiled, where it is liable
to rust, and be injured by neglect far more than the wear and tear of
a whole season's usage. Is this economy? I should say not.

A rotation and variety of cro]is are the true theory on the farm, and
should be carried out practically to make the farm pay. The theory
of rotation is that the soil contains, in a greater or less degree, all the
elements of ])lant food, and that each crop extracts its own ])eculiar
elements and no other. This is undoubtedly true.

Agricultural chemistry shows by analysis what elements are ex-
tracted by each crop. For instance, it is shown by the result of various
chemical analyses that red clover, is composed principally of potash,
lime and carbonic acid, and that the grain of wheat, consists, for the
most part, of phosphoric acid and i)otash, and the straw of silicas.

Potatoes are composed principally, of potash, carbonic acid, and
phos})horic acid ; turnips, of potash, lime, carbonic and sulphuric acids :
peas consist ]irincipally of potash, and phosi)hate of lime, the rye oi
phosphate of lime and potash, the straw of potash and silica.

This is ])erhaps too scientific for the ordinary scholar. But the in-
telligent farmer will alw^ays be aided by a knowledge of the principal
elements of the crops he cultivates, of the soil on which he cultivates
them, and the manures applied, but the rain and dew, the air and the
sunshine which he cannot regulate, will often change his best i)lanned
results.

Permit me to offer a few thoughts on the planting of ])otatoes.
There is scarcely any need of urging the cultivation of potatoes, as the
farmer wants these himself and will have them, even if they should
cost him one dollar a bushel or more.

In planting early varieties, select warm mellow land, a sandy or
gravelly loam, manure well, ])lant as soon as the weather will permit
ill A])ril, plant more liberally of the early varieties than is usually
done as they will be matured Ix^fore tli(^ summer drouth sets in : later
varieties can be ])lanted in May ; have good seed and cultivate
thoroughly, and lot no weeds stand either in or between the row^s,
then you can safely trust to Providence for a crop. .

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

263

i*

Indian corn should be more extensively grown, even in this locality,
as is it is indispensable as food for all live stock on the farm, even the
family not excepted.

Wheat and rye may be cultivated with some profit. Rye I w^ould
grow on the farm for the straw ; and you are almost certain of a good

crop yearly. •

Oats is a croi) the farmer cannot afford to be without, and at present

prices pays well. t, i ii e

It is said their can be no "best farming," without a liberal culture ot
roots, and we admit the economy of root culture on rich soil.

But in this locality, Ave consider grass the foundation for good farm-
ing ; without grass, no live stock ; no live stock, no manure ; no manure,
no'^productive soil ; no productive soil, no profit in farming.

The man w^ho succeeds in growing the greatest number ot blades ot
grass to the acre is the successful farmer.

On a farm of one hundred acres of well cultivated land, there should
be produced annually not less than sixty tons of good hay ot which
forty tons ought to be fed on the farm to maintain the fertility ot the

No farm can be considered properly cultivated without its clover-
fields : valuable as clover may be for both hay and pasture we con-
sider its greatest value to be as an improver of the soil. As to the
most profitable breed of cattle, stockmen difier ; undoubtedly, blmrt-
horns take the lead as feeders. For the dairy the Ayrshires and Hol-
steius, and for rich milk and cream, the Jersey stands at the head.

A cross of the Ayrshire with the Shorthorn, is highly recommended
as combining to a greater extent than any other cross, and m yielding
a greater quantity of good milk, and beef in proportion to the food con-
sinned or cost of keei)ing. , , , . n n i • i „

We think it very poor economy for the farmer to sell all his calves,
wlien but a few weeks old to the butcher, for five or six dollars ; it is
much better till keep them to they are three years old, for they will not
onlv enrich your farm, but will increase your bank acc.wnt.

In breeding horses for farm use and market, we should look to siieed,
wei-ht or draught, and endurance. Heavy draught horses are .loubt-
less"tlie most profitable because they bring the highest prices m the
Sy aiiet! and cost but little if any more to feed to raise them. We
should also breed some roadsters, or what is called general -purpose
horses But do not believe it economy for the farmer to waste much

time with race horses and trotters. . • j u „i i.,, R„f

Hogs fill an important i^lace in our place of mixed husbandry, lint

few farmers raise as much pork as they might with profit.

In the first place there is no use in feeding a long-thin, slab-sided

^'llfe miSn is, what are the best breeds? Tliere are several good
breeds The " Chester Whites, " " Berkshire, " " Po hmd, and York-
bieeas i»« , , " i},,,.]^siiire" with the Yorkshire," combines

to qualitiesTe^i or lean in the "Berkshire," and fat in the " York-
shke" and make light feeders; they will grow and do well in summer
on cWer Jth ver^ little grain ; would advise m the selection of stock
fr breeding and to avoid gross feeders. Have your sows to urrow in
toi '^f'*'^''"" '"'? , "it makes less trouble iii rearing the pigs-.

S»?c1kI I.S,t"i "other a,™a) win yield «, ■.,»!., i. »o .hort

" 'Se%S."Therr"olSalS'^^^ t u» „.o„ey i„ quicker

m

264 QuAKTEKi.Y Eeport.

V

than in sheep The question is asked, Avhat breed is the best, or most
proti table on the farm? I would say you must be o.overned by the
distance from railroad and laro-e cities. ' i , i ^ n

' The " Southdown" for both mutton and fleece are claimed to be tully
equal to any other breed ; they are hardy and mature young and are
ready for the butcher from three months to hve years old ; therefore,
takii> every thing into consideration, conclude they are the most pro-
fitable and best suited to the farmers of this locality.

Finally, in conclusion, would say to my brother farmers take cour-
age and adopt system in your farm work, and the soil will yield a gen-
erous return for your labor ; strive to have something to sell on the tarni
for cash every month in the year, and do a little book-keeping.

We can scarcely appreciate the advantages we have over the farmers
of forty or fifty years ago, when I first began to swing the scythe and
mow With the modern ai>plianc(^s and intelligence of to-day we are
enabled to leave our farms richer and more productive to those who
are to follow us.

Pennsylvania State Board ov Agkiculture.

265

;e-

CARP CULTUPtE.

By Rev. L. A. Wickey, Esc.holy Pa.

(Roart at New Bloomtleld Institute.)

The ])resent article is intended to give a brief description and ac-
count of a well known fish of Euorpe called carp : its nature, way of
living, and its ada])tability to the waters, and the wants of our own
country, for it certainly is a most valuable fish.

The carp, cyprinus carpio, of the family, cyprlnidac, has a toothless
mouth, thick li])S and four barbels on the up])er jaw. In place of the
usual teeth of the mouth there are said to be a number of stout teeth
on the pharyngeal bones, which are arranged in three rows. It has
one single dorsal, which is longer than the anal. Both these fins have
at their oiigin, on the interior edsre, a strong ray, which is serrated m
a downward direction, the scales have an entire edge, and the body
is compressed on the sides. The general color of the back and sides
is a dark olive brown, the abdomen often of a whitish yellow or orange
tint. The coloring depends, as with all fishes, imrtly on the age and
season, partly upon the water, the soil, and also upon the food of the

fi^h.

It is supposed that the carp was originally introduced into Euro])e
from central Asia, many centuries ago; and is now common in most of
the large rivers ; in some ])arts of Europe, principally Bohemia, Austria,
southern, central and northern Germany, it has become domesticated.
It is said to have been brought or im|)orted into England in the year
1504. In Austria, which lias the most extensive carp fisheries in
Europe, the culture of carp can l)e traced as far back as the year 1227.
The Emi)()rrr Charles IV., (^f Germany in granting certain privileges,
favored the establishment of ponds in his domini(ms, and the monks
were especially assiduous in the culutre of fish in ponds. In the be-
ginning of fourteenth century Bohemia had its first large car]) pond.
The manor cf Wittingan suffered greatly from the calamities of the

thirty years war, and with it also its fish culture. The latter* only n
covered the effects of it after passing, <:ogether with the large estate of
a rich monastery of the same name, in the year 1670, into the ])osses-
sion of princes of Svvarzenberg.

These artificial ponds comprise an area of no less than twenty thou-
sand acres, and the proceeds amount to no less then five hundred thou-
sand pounds of cari) per annum. These carp are divided into three

distinct groups.

First.— Cyprinus carpio communis, the scale carp : with regular con-
centrically arranged scales, being, in fact the original species im-
proved. • i.1 1

Second.— Cyprinus carpio specidaris, the mirror carp ; thus named

because of its extraordinary large scales which run along the sides m
three or four rows, the rest of the body being bare.

TJiird.-— Cyprinus cmpio coriaceus sive iiudus, the leather carp ; which
has on the back either only a few scales or none at all, and possessed
a thick soft skin, with velvety touch. • • i i- i

The two last named are distinguished from the original form by a
shorter and stout, but more fleshy, body. It is hard to determine
which of the three species is the most suitable for culture, ihere are
places wheie only scale carp are bred and mirror car}) are not valued,
as there is no demand for any but the scale carp m the m^^rkets as,
for instance, in Bohemia, in the above mentioned domain, Wittingan.
Again, in other districts, as in parts of Bavaria and Saxony, etc., tor
the same reason mirror carp and leather only are bred. Ihere is in
fact no suflicient reason for making any distinction among the tore-
going varieties,for if they are genuine types of their respective species,
tiieylire an excellent and desirable fish. . , ^^ i i. i

It has been asserted at times that the scale carp is better adapted
for transi^ortation than either the mirror or leather carp, by reason ot
its scales, which would, as is supposed, protect it more completely
against attack, in the ponds; the minor carp having but few and the
lelither caro no scales (this assertion is however not well grounded)^
For the reason than in transportation scales are frqeuently torn ott
and if this occurrs only in part ulceration wil ensue, and the fish will
die ; on the contrary the leather carp, which like the hog, is without
coverin- will beaf a great deal more hard usage and injury, wlu^tlier
youn- or old, than the scale carp. I know of personal experience of ^m
instance in which a six and three-fourths pounds mirror carp was left
fall on tlie edge of a vessel causing a wound seven-eighth ot an inch
deei^ on the back ; this was supposed to be a mortal wound, but at the
Sest soUcition of Bev. Hamilton and others, the fish was returned
trthe^STL^ in about six weeks later taken aga.n 1- wouml
entirely healed over, although the cavity was not quite filled up. The
car will sometimes cross with some rela ed species (7?/pW«c, and
inconsequence hybrids have been engendered, wliich sometimes re-
semblTthrgeniiine carp so fully that it is often difiicult for the
Sent as well as for the culturist and fisherman to imniediately
rS^^^^^^^^^^ Such fish are valueless as food, on account of their

nfer^'rtnd bony flesh. Hessel says he has taken the trouble to teed
tl '^ yS^ for three years in order to try their fitness for the table
llutfinmd their flesh exceedingly poor and very bony, and could be
compared by means to our common carp.

ThrcSp is partial to stagnant waters, or such as have not too switt
current with J loamy, muddy bottom and deep places covered with

266

QuAUTEitLY Report.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

267

vegetation It inhabits most of the rivers of Europe, and even salt
waters seem to agree with them very well. In tlie Black Sea it is said
to have been taken where its weight often amounts to from lifteen to
twenty pounds It is an advantage that the car]) is able to live in
water wdiere other fishes could not possibly exist, in the pools of bog
meadows from which it is evid(uit that any one having a place where
they can collect the water may have a carp pond, and cultivate his own
fisli. We must however not infer that the bcM locality for a carp pond
is in such a ])lace. The presence of too much mud and vegetable
matter producing humid acid is unfavorable to the well being of tlie
carp. The carp lives upon vegetable food as well as upon worms and
larvse of aquatic or w^ater insects, which it turns up from the mud with
the head. It is easily satisfied, and wdll eat the oftal of the kitchen,
slaughter-house, etc.

In central Europe the carp w^ll, at the beginning of the cold season,
seek deeper w ater, and invariably in groups of fifty to one hundred,
w ill congregate in w hat we call kettles, in which they pass the winter,
with their heads together in concentric circles, and without partaking
of a particle of food from the beginning of October to Mar(;h, and even
in some instances later. There are some who claim that the carp will
take food in Avinter. But I never yet knew a carp to take hold of food
in the cold season. It is a most striking fact that the carp takes no
food during winter, yet he will not diminish in weight. On the Satur-
day preceding Christmas, 1889, I caught a carp called Ben. Harri-
son, and carefully weighine: him found that he weighed five and one-
half pounds ; on or about May first, 1890,1 weighed the same fish agtiin,
and found he still weighed five and one-half pounds, from which fact
we readily learn that the carp does not grow during the winter.
Warmth.alone will promote growth. It is said to grow only in months
of May. June, July and August, at least in this latitude, July seems
to be the most favorable month for its grow^th.

I think feeding carp should not be resorted to, except in small pcmds
w^th a small stream.

The s]>awning season of the carp begins about the middle of May.
In ponds having a w^arm situation, and sheltered from cold wdnds, it
continues, in some countries until August. This latter s]mwn is how-
ever not so good to breed from. As the fish grow but little during the
fall, and are likely to be dwarfed, the simwning of the individual fish
does not take ]dace all at once. Days and weeks sometimes pass,
before it surrenders the last e^^ to the care of nature. Cold rainy
weather during the spawning period, often interrupts the w^ork, but on
the return of fair w^eather the work is again resumed. Wet cold
summers are no more profitable to the culturist of carp than to the
agriculturist. The number of eggs in the carp is very great, w^hieh ex-
plains its wonderful increase in the natural stream. A carp weighing
from four to five pounds is said to contain from four to five hundred
thousand eggs.

Some days before spaw^ning the fish show an increased activity ;
they rise more often from depths below^ to thc^ surface. Two or three
of the male fish keep near the female ; the latter swims more swiftly
on a warm, sunny morning, keeping mostly close to the surface, fol-
lowed by the males ; this is called running spawning, and happens
oftener in fine warm weather than in windy and rainy weather. The
female prefers spots w^liich are overgrown with grasses and otlier
aquatic or water plants. The male fishes will follow the edge of the

water or as near as the dimiuishmg depth will permit them^ They
lose much of their timidity. They lash the water iii a ne > m< •>-
ner With their tails twisting the i)osterior portion ot the b.xly
euergetica Iv and shooting through the water near its «"i'J^^-f J'tJ^
Ihort, trenm ous movements of the fins, and in ^loups ot two or

fo" the culturist, as well as for stocking rivers and lakes.

Third. Its growth and size. inhabits cold or warm

Its growth 'liffers^rw^foml therein or behig fed And the

SS'I» on^nu'^lred a„<Hort^^^^^^^^ 3„. ;.,

Its iucreiise iii lenstli. »"ly "°"™,'ff.l' ,i,iitv fifth yea?. Kiidoll*

Hessel, says: / ^J'^^V ff Wmio-arv Servia Croat a, Wallachia, as
Europe, in th§ l7:l\^"t.de^ from thirtrto forty poAnds, and meas-
also Moldavia, which ^^^'^M'J rTionrLd two'^^^^^ three-fourth feet
ured nearly three and oneJ^J^^^f^l'^^^i during the Crimean war,1853,
iu circumference :" liei"^'*'^®*^, ''it*^^! at W ddin on the Danube, in
a French engineer oftcer, stationed ^l^eTti^nc^ below the city ;
Turkey, killed a carp by a bullet «•"'*' ''^V^^tfeiiad some of its scales
this fish weighed sixty seven pmimK '^"JJ ^*J^V^^^f'\"„,, ^nd one-half
in his possession of ^^'l^^VtWv^^^^^ It is a well-known

inches, suiM'osed to be only twenty *""^y[ ^ ^^^.^ to fifty -five pounds
fact that two large '^arp weigh ngfrj^^^^^ ^^^ only fifteen years

I

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208

QuAiiTEKLY Report.

Pennsylvania State Boaiid of Agiiicultuke.

269

taken in a colder climate tlian ours, and iu some instances where it had
to s])end nearly seven months of the year in its winter sleep.

Are not the waters of America better than all tln^ rivers of Euroi)e?

It is to be considered that the waters of the milder climate of this
country possess the advantage of greater abundance of food. Scarcely
to be judged or estimated as to its proper value as yet, the carp may
be able to take food, three-fourths or nine month of year, and even
in the south perhaps the whole year, and omit its lethargic winter
sleep, conditioned by the cold winter. There is scarcely a comparison
to be made, so far as the carp is concerned, between the rivers of this
country, so richly suiii)lied with food, where it will not be compelled
to seek for food under constant strife for existence, and those much
poorer waters of the Rhine, Elbe, etc. If in the ponds of Perry
county, the carp has attained to the enormous weight of live and one-
half pounds at the age of two years, and without artificial feeding,
what may be ex|)ected from the warmer sections of our country, and
why should we not make an effort to secure the benefits of so valuable
a fish?

Fourth. Construction of j)onds.

Ponds should not be too deep, as the water will be colder, and will
harbor fewer insects, larvae and worms, which form part of the cari>'s
food ; besides this fish does not grow fast in cold water ; a depth of say
three feet in the center is sufficient : towards the outlet sluice it may be
from six to eight feet deep. The outer ])art of the x^ond should not be
deeper than one foot, so that the water there may he warmed by the
sun more thoroughly. The inflow of water into the pond should never
be direct, as, for instance, a brook falling into it. The water should be
conducted into the pond sideways from the stream- The ponds should
be constructed so that they can be entirely drained or drawn off, in
order that the fish may more readily be taken.

MANTTRE8 AND FERTILIZERS.

By D. B. McWiLi.iAMS, Walntff, Juniata count i/, Pa,

(Read at Juniata Coiintv Institute. )

By the term " manures", I wish to be understood to re^'er to stable or
barn -yard manures and I will treat first on their composition , second,
their value ; third, their application, to obtain the best results and re-
munerative returns.

Stable manures are composed of litter and vegetable matter, grain
excrement and uric acid. These are the comv)onent parts of good
stable manure . although there is much termed manure which is void
of at least two of these elements. The uric acid being the most im-
portant factor in composting or preparing the manure heap, it is neces-
sary that tlic^ straw produced on the farm should pass through the
stables in order that it may al)sorb and become saturated with it, and
become submissive to the chemical action, which naturally and neces-
sarily must take place. It is still more important that the three com
ponent i)arts be combined in the stable before it is added to the

I

4

■;

manure heap or luiuled du-ectly to the field. . The an.ouut ot mauu e
produced on a farm may be calcnlatcnl approximately trom the amount
of grain, fodder and litter used. But in some instances it may vaiy,
for the fact that throu-h carelessness and slovenliness, teed ami Uttei
is scattered around profusely and promiscuously, the manui-e heap
covering perhaps one quarter ot an acre ot ground. 1 am, howevei,
t-kd to siy that my observations have reveided the fac-t that such in-
stils arJ seldom met .ith. But there is a ditlerence m farmers on

this point; some farmers will accumu ate a l'"f«;;\'"": !""*;' V™ri^
from the same amount of raw material than others. Pnect xpu i
ments have sliown that,of one hundred pounds ot dry ma tei ot th -
der the following amounts pass into the excrements (solid and luiuul
together Horse, fifty -thr.^ pounds; milch cow, forty tour i.ounds;
ovfiftv two sheen forty-eight i-ounds. We may say then that on the

nimure The fresh manure contains only one fourth its ^v eight ot my
: tor the rest being water. We assume that a 1 liquid excrements
a 4 saved and go intolhe manure, being largely taken up and absoil>ed
bv thJlittei When they are allowed to flow off along the dnuns mio
Kublic iVighways, or sU into the ground, a very o-u-dera b e oss
of the most valuable portion of the manure will take place, ilus loss
^! the more serious, since the solid and liquid excrements of 'irm ani^
n*s nmtmdh s° P .lant each other. But it has been =f verted that the
d rk Sers wliich flow from the stable yards are not always the leedi-
iu" from the manure, but may in some instances, only be water colored
V the clrbon But I do not offer this to you to soothe your conscience
So sed by youi neglect or oversight, but to show you that colored
watert iSt 'always manure. But in no sense should you allow any of
u f^ o-n Qwiv except upon your fields on the larm.

Thf eSnts of i.lant food which are found to exist m rich stable

"'SsoMttSnl'iSrnost of the organic matter and almost
all of the phosphoric acid and lime, while the urine contains by fa
fhP Kr-er .)ort <m of the nitrogen and nearly all the potash. Eithei
the If =«\';^ |V', J t^i^jned a oae-sided manure as it requires the two
Ce£ tH mish aUttie dements of plant-food necessary for plant
S5^h Having considered the component parts or composition, we

into the rations at all wd^ not be c^ a^ m,^c^^^^^ ^^ plant-food will be
?iund rSL't Ttie^mtnuret^st in proporticm to the richness of the

nt estimated value of a W f^^^^^^Z 'Zm'^S^

dollars and ^ ^ja J^^'j *f ^J^'^t* Ly double them. It cost you Jnst
figures at l-'ast oie-hal ami it may ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.,^^^j^

the amount of hay, ^oddei stra^^, coin ,

270

Quarterly Eeport.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

271

f

with his labor. Some men hokl the idea that the time spent or
labor ])erformed in preparing" the manure on the farm, should not be
counted, as it is done at a season of the year when he could not do mut-h
else on the farm ; but I hold a different view. A farmer's labor should
be worth just as much at this work as when he is sowing- the seed.
From the v alue of the material and labor deduct, the increase of growth
and improvement in the value of your stock, the product of your cows,
it from the cost, and you will very closely approximate the value of
your manure. The remainder divided by the number of tons would
show you its value in dollars and cents.

Its agricultural value will depend upon the percentage of plant-food
it contains. This is also an important factor in determining- its com-
mercial value. You cannot tell nor determine w hether the elements of
plant food are in an available form or not. You must " hope and wait. "
Its value will also be increased or diminished in accordance as to
whether it has been kept under cover or not. Also the location of the
yard : whether the liquids are held or allowed to waste. Its value, I
think, can be increased by the use of gypsum or land ])laster in the
stables and on the heap. And in this connection its offices are two-
fold : retaining tlie ammonia and hastening the decomposition of the
veg-etable matter and converting it more speedily into plant-food.
Now, if seventy-five ]ier cent, of the fresh manure is water, what per-
centage of water will it contain when it lies eight months out of the year
therein, and especially in a wet season like that of 1889?

I would recommend hauling direct from the stables to the field and
spread either off or after the wagon. By doing this there is no waste,
as the leeching would otherwise run away or soak down into the
soil in the barn yard where it yields no return. If the manure is not
hauled from the stable to the field, but deposited and remains in the
yard until fall seeding, it should be hauled out and spread two weeks
or more before you wish to begin to plow in order that it may leech
out and the licpiid be taken u]) by the soil. It is a wrong ])ractice to
haul manure and leave it in piles for from three to five wrecks, as I have
sometimes seen the leechings or liquids bein^ absorbed by the surface
covered by the heap or ])ile. If manure is ])lowed under it should not
be plowed too deep. If to deep you get the plant food too far away
from the young olant. Some argue the roots will find it. So they
will, or may; but the time the ])lant needs the best nourishment is
at the start. My objections following down manure just after it is
spread is the fact that the liquids are taken up l)y the subsoils and are
liable, or at least part, to ^ret beyond the roots. If manures are applied
after plowing it should be also spread immediately and worked or
thoroughly mixed with the surface soil. It is very important that the
farmer should have some idea of the value of his manure, and also of
the elements of ])1 ant food it contains ; this he should study and learn
so as to produce a g-ood quantity and quality.

By the term "fertilizers" I am to be understood to treat the subject
of commercial fertilizers. I shnll use two terms here, that of a fertil
izer and a comjilete manure. By a complete manure I refer to a brand
of goods which contain all the elements of i)laiit food, as they are
found to exist in th(^ cei(^als, namely : ])hosplioric acid, ammonia and
potash. A brand which contains only one or two of these elements of
T)lant food is not a complete manure, nor is it a cc^niplete fertilizer
Phosphorus is found in animal bone, fish, phos])liatic guanos and min-
eral jjhosphates, When treated with vitriol the lime has a g-reater

afiinity for the acid or vitriol than it has for the phosphoric acid (an-
other element found to exist in these materials) hence they are separ-
ated and the phosiihoric acid, which was insoluble has been changed
and a large percentage has been made soluble. The degree of solu-
bility will depend somewhat upon the substance, the degree of fineness
it is ground and the amount of acid uesd. What is meant by the term
soluble i.s that it will dissolve in water.

Nitrogen is commercially the most costly fertilizing element, yet its
office seems to be that of a stimulant and to force rapid gro^yth. It
exists in some forms of a volatile substance, whilst in other forms it
is not so. Organic nitrogen is the nitrogen of animal and vegetable
matters generally existing in the albumen and fibrin of meat and blood,
in the uric acid of bird manure and hippuric acid of urine. Ammonia
and nitric acid are results of the decay of organic nitrogen m the soil
and manure heap and are the most active forms of nitrogen. In ccmi-
merce the former in sulphate of ammonia, the latter in nitrate of soda ;
their ratio being seventeen parts of ammonia to fourteen paits oi nit-
rogen. ^ . . T , . 1 i ^

Beverted phosr^horic means phosphoric acid which was once treely
soluble in water, but from chemical change has become insoluble m that
liquid, although they are readily assimilated by crops but do not dis-
tribute freely by rain. Insoluble phos|)horic acid is beneficial to future
crops when obtained from some material. . .

Potash is the substance known in chemistry as potassium oxide
which is the valuable fertilizing ingredient of potash-salts. It is most
costly in the form of high grade sulphate and less so m the form ot
muriate or chloride. These three elements of plant-food are what is
found in a complete fertilizer, and a fertilizer without these is not com-

^ \liexr value. A fertilizer has two values, commercial and agricul-
tural The former is the result of a chemical process, the latter is
shown by the results on the crops. Both these values can best be esti-
mated or will depend ui>oii the materials from which they are made and

the manner of manufacture. • i i„^

A hi^-h percentage of ammonia will increase the commercial \alue,
but m^y not be of a corresponding value to the user, except it be lor
vegetables. Where stable manure has been applied liberally and
other vegetable matter turned under or incorporated with the soil the
farmer has an almost sufficient sup]>ly of it. But some should b(^ used
to start the ])lant, for we camiot tell whctlier the ammonia already in
the soil is in an available form or not. So then the real value of a
fertilizer can only be fixed in accordance to the return m crops and
qd'iotation to soils. But my experience has proved that their agri-
St ?1 v^^^^^^ increased by a liberal supply of potash. Bone phos-
phates are to be preferred at all times to mineral phosphates, or guanos
Farmei^^l^ users of fertilizers,^ when phosphoric acid only is needed
generally supply it by the u«e of mineral or acid phosphate. It has
Kys been a doubt in my mind whether this was good economy
owing to the fact that we get it at an expense of a large per cent, of
siTl >lfur?c acid and the large percentage of insoluble matter they con-
f.iii\ which in mv judgment never gives any return.

H^o^. ) i;>> J /li^ I would recommend their use or application in
connect on with stable manure, for two reasons : First, we supply al
tl^e eTeme^its of plant-food. Second, their chemioxl and mechanical
actioi Tn the vegetable and undecayed material m the manure will

272 QuAUTEULV Eepout.

hasten the decomposition and sohibility. For this I wouhl recommend
croods with a k)w per cent, of ammonia, about eiglit to ten per cent, ot
phosphoric acid and four to six per cent potash, although more wou.l
be better The mannuer of applying should be with a fertilizer drill,
as it is more convenient and distributes more evenly.

Thev should be sown when the soil is damp ; it possible, after a ram,
when the soil will close in the drill holes sufficient to coyer the seed.
The thorough i.reparation of the soil has a very great part m the results
of fertilizers on a crop. A well ].ulyerized seed bed and sowing shallow
bv all means, for wheat and oats ; for corn and root <-rops it should be
sowed deeper. As to best mode of applying the tvyo latter men dif-
fer and generally use their own method In applying fertilizers the
farmer should form some idea of what he needs. It he has nitrogen
already in the soil fr.nn manure or some other source of yt^etable
matter he does not need much ammonia in his tertilizer 11 his land
has been recently limed he will not need as much potash, it his soil
is worn out and Void of nitrogenuous matter he then needs the tliree
principal elements, and especially a good percentage ot ammonia.
The kind of crop lie wishes to grow has something to do with it also.
If notat(^es, com, and root crops, he wants a iberal supply o potash ;
and he should apply it liberally. It is said, the liberal soul is made
fat" You can make your land fat if you are liberal in supidying
plant-food. It will pay you better to iise it liberally than sparingly^
It will cost you more money at the time,but you will find the promised
laud" is only in the near future ; ind<"ed it is the sure road to the ful-
filment of your hopes and expectations. ,, , ,,^, ., ., . r ■

In remrd 1o lime. Scientific men generally hold the idea that lime
is not a fertilizer in the strict sense of the term and that our croi)S
do not require as much lime as farmers generally suppose. It sup-
plies potash and the alkalies, hastens the decomposition and solubility
of the vegetable and other inert matter, and converts it into plant_tood^
In a discussion on this subject at a former meeting of our State Board
of Agriculture, our honored secretary of agriculture advanced the
theory "that quick lime, when j. laced in the soil, absorbs carbolic acid
and goes back to its original state of carbonate of lime, or the original
state of limestone. Mr. Edge also says that in)m nine to fifteen pounds
of lime is all that any crop will take out per acre. Now it thest> two
theories be true (and it emanates from good authority) the putting on
of one hundred to two hundred bushels of lime per acre, is the i.r()per
thin"- to do If lime reverts or goes back to the original state, how
much benefit do you derive from it,or,in other words, does it pay"? rius
should be the standpoint from which it ought to be viewed. 1 believe
many agriculturists are of opinion that lime and manure, also lime and
fertilizers, should not be used together. But my experience has proved
to me that this theory will not hold good. Lime must hnve some vege-
table matter to work on. If it does not, its action will be very slow.
Now fellow farmers, what you want to do is to experiment for your-
selves, and if possibh^ ascertain what your soils need, and the best man-
lier of applying them -, stop the leaks of the manure bank, which is
the farmer's" bank, and be careful where the surplus goes,— not along
the roadside but on the field.

Pennsylvanu State Boakd of Agriculture.

273

BEAUTIFYING HOME LIFE ON THE FARM.

By Mrs. Minkbva Gabreston, Ardentsville, Pa.

(Kead at Mlllvllle Institute. )

There is a garden in lier grace.

Where roses and wliere lilies grow,
A heavenly paradise is that place ,

Whereiii all pleasant fruits do grow.

Since the days in the long ago, when Adam and Eve dwelt in the
Garden of Eden, and the beauties of that i)aradise was theirs, to enjoy,
the chief pursuit of man has been to search out happiness.

The ideal of that happiness is to gain tor himself an abode like unto
that of our first parents, and call it his own. .„f:f„i

Each of us can make for ourselves a home adorn it with beautilul
thin-s nature has so lavishly given, if we so desire, and all she asks in
return is the care and labor bestowed on her treasures.

Those whose heart's desire is to have for themselves this ideal of a
home-this little Eden all their own-have only to bring to their aid
tirbeautiful things nature has provided, and with willing hearts and
ready hands rear for themselves an abode of peace and plenty.

Iti not wealth that gives to some homes that air of attractiveness
so inviting. It is the fndividuality of the inmates that is impressed
uiion their surroundings and gives character to all about tliem

There is no surer exponent of the refinemnts and high moral culture
of a neighborhood than the appeearauce of the homes and their sur-

'■°Tht"lfumblest cottage, about whose doorway are climbing vines
and whose windows ai^e draped with their clinging tendrils, presents
to us a much more inviting picture of V^M^l^n^ess and homely pWir^^
than its more pretentious neighbor ot stone, with its bauenuess ot

"'TheTnspired writers sang of the lovliness of nature, and the grand-
est insjkitions and illustrations were drawn from the same mexhausti-

^^rKard of all ages have taken up the refrain, and it shall continue
to echo down the halls of time till time shall be no mol^B

It s our privilege and our duty to gather about us all that will help
to make us better and to make for ourselves such a home as will in-
fl^irce our character for good,, and develop in us higher ideas of living
fli'iii that of a mere animal existence. i. e i. ^

lU us s^ir 'ound ourselves witli the luxuriance and beauty of nature,
become famdiar with her charms and graces, and bring ot her stores

^'tS h\n"inCnce emanating from an intimate association with
nnfne that is ennobling in its tendency, and which will lift our
thmi<dits above L grosser things which are physical to things in-

*lfjh!s iniL'oSwith nature we are developing a love for the truly
good and beSul, and receiving a refining mfiuence that caniu.t fail
in having its efPect on our lives. ^^ ^ , „ ,

Wp hiok thi-ou"-h nature up to Nature s God.

When its riche'; are brought into the homes of the poor even the

18

274 QuAKTEiiLY Repokt.

squalor of poverty disappears and a ray of the brighter light from

above takes its i)Uice. i- i i .^ t

What endearing recollections gather around the scenes of early days !

"The orchard, the meadow, the dee]) tangled wildwood were tree
and unfettered as the mountain air we breathed. i i i ,,

How plainly we can see the rustic church to which we were led by
the hand of paternal affecticm on each returning day of peaceful, holy
rest • but prominent in the foreground ot this picture stands the home
of our domestic enjoyment, the sanctuary oi the iamdy circle, where
under the guidance of a father's counsel and a mother s love we passed
the sunny hours of life's sweet spring time, i ull oi the purest delights
and tenderest associations. ^ . ,, ij.-^ i u -.

Sid indeed it is that there are hundreds m the multitude who in-
habit this beautiful world of ours who do not know the true meaning
of the words " home" and " mother ;" others who physically have been
well cared for, but whose mental training has been so wholly neglected
that they have been robbed of an education, which is the richest in-
heritance that God has given parents to bestow upon their offspring.

" Habits formed in youth go with us through lite.

How necessary then that the parents should exert a good influence
over the children-train them while young and under their immediate
care-so that when the time comes for them to enter upon the various
duties of life and they find that the career ot man is beset with trials,
disappointments and temptations, they can look back to their early
days and lean upon that strong staff, home influence which has saved
many a man from ruin and many a woman from everlasting disgrace

The idace called home should be adorned and attractive m all its
surroundino-s for he only who has a home to love and a home to detend
can best do'his duty to himself, his family and his country.

Magnify as you please the laws and the constitution, it is the strong
homeleeling that gives the potent influence. , , . ^ ,.

The man who has a spot on earth where he planted a tree, or his
wife has nursed a flower, will, in the hour of trial evince a heroism
that will put to shame the hollow pretensions of all the blatant poli-
ticians in the land. ^ -, . i i • i • ^i.^
Added to this is the happiness and independence enjoyed m the

possession of a home that you can call your own.

When beholding the beauties of nature, the everlasting hills and
lovely vallevs, carpeted with living ffreen, the whole riclily colored
with the full blooming fruit trees, or their bending boughs loaded with
growing ripening fruits, to which the lofty oak, spreading chestnut
the pines and the cedars lend a pleasing shading, or of fields covered
with growing and maturing crops of waving gram or corn, while m
other fields are noticed herds of lowing, patient cattle, neighing horses

and gambling sheep. . . u ;i i

How one loves to revel m the memories oi by -gone days !
Associations come drifting down the years in romantic and pictur-
esque^ beauty.

We ask will such ages come aeram? . i ,

The present is too real to be romantic, too practical to be poetic.

In this age of unrest and excitement more than ever do men look

back in vain.

The eras that have gone have gone forever.
Life is a stream ever flowing onward.

Pi

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

275

The river broadens, deepens and changes as do the ways of the
ever busy world.

Give your sons and daughters the best education your means can
command. They will find that agricultural pursuits, to be successfully
conducted, will fully employ the highest talents and the largest mental
gifts.

Farmers have on their table agricultural newspapers and magazines
in which they glean how best to raise cattle. And are their children
not as necessary to have educational journals also on their tables, and
therein study well how to rear their sons and daughters? Let us glance
at a few definitions of education.

We find the ideal of the founders of the Prussian national system is
given shortly as " the harmonious and equable evolution of the human
power." James Mills says, "The end of education is to render the
individual as much as possible an instrument of happiness first to him-
self, and next to other beings. "

But ha[)piness is not the end of life— character is. Hence, there
should be symmetrical development. The improvement of the spir-
itual, mental, social and physical condition of the sons and daughters
of farm(;rs entitles them to the respect, confidence and closer sym-
pathy of the community and public.

Look how the plant develops. It first breaks through the crust of
the earth, it keeps growing, and presently a leaf ])ushes forth toward
the rising sun, then another toward the sinking sun, expanding, as-
suming beautiful shapes, webbed and veined with delicate arteries ;
other leaves follow, one above another, until it bcomes a beautiful
plant and we see waving and nodding upon its crest a full blown rose
of color, dyed in the sun, fragrant with the breath of perfume.

But there is the peculiar isolation of farmers' families ; their sons
and daughters are withdrawn into a world of their own.

They feel out of practical relation to the community, its affairs and
enterprises of the surrounding country and adjoining towns ; hence
arises selfishness and also the prevalence of that pernicious idea that
no direct and eflicient service to public affairs, no immediate or future
eminent usefulness to others is, or will be, expected of them.

Educate your children with practical truths evolved from your own

ex]>erience. i ^ i . • i x

Let them learn to use, not the willowy reed of seli-importance, but

the stout hickory of self-dependence.

Do not make of your homes mere workshops. Let them be resttui

places havens where they are safe from the deceit and malice of the

world ;' from the threshhold shall cross pure, healthy, God fearing men

and women, bearing with them bright ])ictures painted by the brush

of memory,' for these will feel through the ever-widening circle of their

lives those waves of influence which began with their birth and shall

follow them until both are lost on the farthest shores of time. Tt never

seemed to me that there was as much of real joy and comfort shown by

families who only had tlu^ money-making motto before them as there

was by those who used it with moderation and intelligence as thev

went ahmg. . ., . ii i x -4. i

I have been puzzled some times t(^ know where the brute ((uit ancl

man began, for, like beasts of burden, they arise in the early hours of
morn toil till late at night, then lie down and are soon oblivious to all
surroundings. The next day is a repitition of the last, thus year m
and year out they wear their lives away.

276 Quarterly Report.

Thcv die, and the ouly true eulogy that i« pivjuounced over them is :
" He was a bard-workhig, industrious mau. She was a hard- work-

ino' industrious woman. „ , ^ • i i -i-i

Thev who work in this great laboratory of nature are iurnished with
elements of natural history on every side and abundant material tor
exDeriment and profound thought. . , , -.i i i i <.„

So when the joyous spring time comes again, let us with glad hearts
nlace tl e seed n the ground, then with patience and confadence await
tl e -eiTiiintt io and the fruition that shall crown our labors with suc-
cess^rejoicing that we are counted among the avored ones, who, while
pursuing their vocations, may reverently worslup in

That grand cathedra! Iiouiidless as our wonder,
Whose quenchless lamps the sun and moon supply,

Whose choir the winds, whose organ thunder.
Whose dome, the sky.

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

277

HOW DO WE WANT OUK CHILDREN EDUCATED?

By John R. Robinson, Piumcr, Pa.

(Read at Kranklln institute. )

The subiect is an appropratiate one for two reasons :

1 Oh 1 ges in our schools, as agitated of. late concern our cities
onlv • the plan being to erect central industrial schools in large cities
whicii would be of little or no benefit to our country schools.

2 Legislation is proposed this session of the general assembly to
enable the state to publish and furnish, free or at cost, the books nec-
essary for use in our public schools ; and here is an opportunity tor the
members of this convention to express themselves i,ositilvey as to what
they desire their children to be taught, and how

Much of school study is stoutly de ended on the S^^^^'"'^ !^'^^.^^'^^^
disiciplinary The argument is valid as far as it goes. Muscle may
be develoi.ed by lusty use of a dull ax : the duller it is the greater the
exertion required to do the same work. Effort, however shouhl 1 -e , .ut
forth with a more laudal)le motive than one purely subjective, it is
well to wish to be strong and to exercise to be so; but when possible
the subjective should be followed by the objective results m the shape
of work done. Do something and the worker will be benefited, it lie
wants muscle, use a sharp edge and see how big pile will grow untler
his strokes ; then is there zest given to the eft(n-t made. Our educa-
tional system is an adroitly concocted affair calculated to give the vic-
tim a considerable amount of discipline with little else to show as the
result of years of study in tlu^ matter of work done. Our schools have
been piiilcipa-lly regulated by theorists and l)ook ])ublishers. ilie the-
orist would impart information and oiiiiiions that are of service to the
man of means and leisure, but (or the poor boy, it not only does not
teach him how to make <n- use money, but often makes liim terribly
discontented with his lot. His mind is trained for future or scientific
research but his hand and common sense are not trained to win what
he wants. Result— blank failure; the history of thousands of our
school men.

In this compatitive era the first thing to do is to teach our children
how to win bread and butter, and, second, train the mind to appreciate
the aesthetic in life. Our school system tends to rev«i;se the order and
the reflective student is liabh^ to become a dreamer while the stolid boy
on whom books make less iminession is better able to settle down to
the practicality of financial accumulation. The Ijoy whose mind is eii^
grossed in literary and scientific studies can concentrate his mmd t,«s
forcibly on his everyday work. Some one suggests that if he has made
a specialty of that kin.l of study let him follow- a ca ling that will most
fully utilize his knowledge of it ; but does not that Proposition sti.ke
you as something ludicrous ^ It surely is in strict contormitywti the
theory of the visionary-adapt the calling to the study ; adaiit th« l>oy
to the books. Even then much of this stufling cannot be applied.
Years are spent learning the locality of the Pyirus, Caral Sea, Co ombo
ad nausenm, also learning to conjugate and dispose of fine S^'^"™^^'
construction ; do we not admire the person whose kno^vledge extends
to so niauy points of which we are densely ignorant? ^o; tieie is
no reason why we should, for such acquisition is P«c^aiitry^ {* >f ' ^«
useless to the professions and trades. It may aiiord «X!./ 3 in
to the mind but life is too precious; we must make effort lesult m
objective work done as well as mental training acquired.

ilow do we want our children educated? By '}f ^^^^V^Hi?! iJ tde
manly or womanly in them ; by impressing uj^on them that lit« i^ •"'^•■le
UP of a series of efforts backed by indomitable determination to ac-
complfsh something. The lesson to learn is how to earn and si>end
?h lo Ir. Li school studies are reduced to a mechnani«tl samene^^^
so that desire to study for its own sake is often effectua Y st d ficd,
and when released from school the studies are abiuutly diopped.

Special aptitudes of pupils are repressed. „»««iUle t-deut

All are drawn to a common plane ot mediocrity with Possible Uleut
unreco-nized, and those who go higher must needs do so ?" «Pit«^. oj
Til- c"onditions. Our school studies are not ^^^^^^^
the latent germs of inventive genius, of oratory,, that "^pa *^ t^^^^^^'
chant or farmer for their vocations either m thought <n i)ractical

*' We"want the eye and hand trained ; the faculties for measnnng and
calcui- 1 n- to learn how to get good valu.. for money or effort ex-
Siulth Om boys and girls should be J^^^'-^^^'^K^ "^l
.vP^ent events of state and with the possibilities of the futuie. We
want every boy to realize that tliev will one day be^factors m politics,
md to -'w up ready to clinch with the questions of taxation, coinage
Zrehxt\on of capital to labor, the adaptation o farming m?t''od.to
S ii-ed cond tions resulting from settlement of the west '^i^'\""Pfove
m tc rineiy r o stand side by side with persons .. any condit on and
r/.Vl f e r own intc^leetually, as men, and why not financially ? .

S» fn )>^t7m m'ssive school to the child is the home and fireside ;
and t"' ::U r greatest attention to educatiomd mat^^^^^^
•ected there. Listening to or conversing with his fathei, ^''^^f^^^'

iSing his example, -ejj^ «^-^-^^^^^^^^^^

men make companions of theu boys and converse ^^^^^ „„„„,t,n.ities

as
to

out

*^ GiveuTrboy a defined interest in what he works with, compensate

278 Quarterly Report.

him fairly for his efforts or rather for work performed, and you will be
a most certain to make of him a bright, thoughtful far-seeing business
man even though he has seen but little of a school interior. Old-
Miioned horse-sense will go further than schooling any day though a
combh ation of them is still more desirable. The ancient bpartaus set
a notable example in training tlieir boys by encouraging them to linger
in the presence of the wise men and hear the weighty words which

dropped from tlieir li]^s. , . _ i -i i.i

Our boys and girls are confined to the stupid grammar while the
fiscinatin- study of natural science is allowed to go by detault : and
yeT the alteAvill develop the faculties of perception reflection and
comparison more fully than ^yill grammar. Take «!« f .i^, f ^' f ^^i^^}^!
eight years old or younger, it drives it into wild ecstasy to get hold
of and examine sonie animate thing. The very baby is "'tensely in-
terested in observing the movements of a fly and desires to handle it.
The p • nciples of natural philosophy and rudimental mechanics are
more readily learned than the locality of place only t(. be forgotten on
deserting the school room ; neither will a knowledge ot natural science
become a dead letter in after life. The introduction of natural science
into the schoolroom would not necessarily mean hideous technica
and formal study of entymology, etc but divested ot the phrase ot
dead language, the child would be brought into intelligent contact
with things, and knowledge would find easy vent m action and we
would then have reached what educators novy seek a natiival and im-
mediate connection between learning and doing. It means the study
of things and working with tliem. Is not the proper test ot ^vl"^t cmi^
stitutes a profitable study whether it be utilized m after life? T leie
is but one way to make our schools successful, and that is to combine
theory of the school room with the practice obtainable outside, teachers
exercising a general supervision over both with the assistance ot par-
ents This method can be easily adopted without much expenditure
and would be fascinating and profitable to parents, teachers and es-
pecially pui.ils, and is varticulurly applicable to country schools. In-
troduction of industrial training Schools into our cities means enormous
financial outlay ; the adoption of it in our country schools by combina-
tion of school iind home work is more feasible and has economy to re-
commend it, for it requires simi)ly a change of plan, not great outlay

of money. . , , , ,, -i i i. 1 1

School study is mainly a receptive matter to the pupil, and to enable
him to benefit fully by the in-pouring process, it must be accoiiipaiiied
by a heartv exercise of the executive faculties, a vigorous application
of what he has learned to somethinsr he Avants to accomplisli. How,
now, is ho going to use his profound knowledge of Patagonia or dis-
play his skill in the analysis ot relative ]>i<mouns'?

The child more than the adult should learn a thing and then do
something with that actpiired knowledge. The right test of what con-
stitutes a i)roiier study is whether it be utilized after leaving the school

This world is becoming terrilily wide awake and anytliing our ehil-
dern are taught must be to the |)oint and of use to them in fighting

their way. . i i xi j.

Tlic people of this countrj' have momentous issues on hand that can-
not be met by indifference or passive thought. Th<> 1 )rains of the Amer-
icans are goinjr to be racked in the effort to solve knotty pi )btical
problems. " Feeding the minds of the chiklren with food for which

Pennsylvania State Board of Ar.iucrLTURE.

279

they have no natural taste must give way to «»M>l'lyi"K tl/^f^^^^^j^f f
nutriment in the shape of impending questions oi -7} J^^ ^Ji '^^^f^
We want our children to be positive, aggressive and comi)iclicUbive

^^lUrsomir'alSsfortune of the teaching profession to have it con-

that pupils have to be adapted to books. It t<^^'^«^,f,,\'f ^."" f, j,^"
experience to be an efficient teacher ; he must be able to uaUi aA^ay

t„„ltie. ,ue still active oi- smw,„g, ";,»^f ^„ ,,''^J "t^^X J. ^uS

ufacturers ; their pupils are their cluldi;en ^ ■ ^^

CATTLE FEEDING.

By R. S. Bream, Oettyshurg, Pa.

(Read at Adams County Institute. )

^rl.ilo li^ifpnin^' to a conversation between three
or'r: tfe mo^t^h^tXentlSnien of our county. I heard one (a

^hj^^'ian by.the way) -=f ^^^.^S^vuZi^'making any inquiry,
^ " While ^<1"7",^ thix>ugh „*\[^^^^ ,^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ttle feed^
I can point out .t^e t*^ ™s «" Ue assertion a rather strong one, I at
ing a business. Thinkin^ tiie a s immediate neighbor-

ed':^af\^a1e^vm:nS;t^t^^^^^^^^^^ to the conclusion that

With cattle ff *}{"S' ^'XTs'^ccS.d o^^^^^^ depends very largely
ness side, and whether a "^^^^^^^d In the first place, it is necessary
upon how the business is con<i?c\^d.^ in tue n 1 ^^ ^^^ ^^.j^^^ to

to know what kind ot/'\**\*^v"'Jj;f •„ o^^^^^^^^^^ get the best results,
buy ; second how and «;^iat to^e^d in o^J^^o^ ^^^^^ . ^ ^^^^^ j^^^^j.

and, last, but not l*;-;;^*' ^X^^^tife eedin

ligent farmer who l^f "^^^^^^^^^^^ been profitable?" he will

■iZt^ OrS:Z\^f^^i^^^^^'^y .ot'vevy large, ne.the.

\' \

2g0 QUAKTEHI.Y RF-rORT.

are tliev very lart^e iu any other of the branches of our business. For
example, we will say a man buys ten head of youuf? steers, average
weis-lit nine hundred pounds. He ])ays three dollars and tw^nt.v-hve
cents per hundred for them; whole lot cost him two hundred and,
ninety -two dollars and fifty cents; say he feeds them oi-ty-fave bushels
of corn, ears, apiece, or four hundred and htty biishels to the lot one
and one-half tons of wheat bran, making titteen bushels to tlie head,
in all about sixty bushels of srain to each steer (.ountm- the corn
worth fifty cents a bushel and the bran twenty dollars per ton the cost
of feed amounts to one hundred and forty-two dollars and htty cents.
This amount of ?rain fed in five or six months, should proiUice a gum
of three hundred pounds to each steer. The lot then avera-e one
thousand two hundred pounds apiece; selliiis' them at one dollar a
hundred more than cost they come to five hundred and ten dollars.

This stable of cattle cost ^292 50

Value of -rain fed • • • • 1*2 50

Interest on money invested six months » <d

Total ^^^3 ^^>

Deducting tins from what the cattle sell for, Ave have sixty-six and
twenty four liundredtlis left, or about sixty-five cents a bushel for our
corn, allowing the hay to go toward what the manure is worth, as we
claim it is worth much more fed on the farm than it is to sell. The above
calculation I only give as an illustration. Some feeders prefer feeding
a certain quantity of oats, others rye, and so on. A man should teed
whatever he thinks produces the largest gam at the least expense.
There are also many farmers who claim to put on a much larger gam
than I have given in my calculation with less feed. This, of course,
makes larger profits. Then again, we sometime sell for more than
one dollar advance. on first cost. True sometimes for less, my ex-
perience has been oftener for more than for less. We admit that the
profit is very small, counting market price for grain fed, but it is for
the purpose of converting the grain and hay into manure and by this
l)rocess returning it to the soil, where it should remain, instead of
hauling it away to market. For this reason cattle feeding should be
encouraged. Of course, it is not necessary for every farmer to feed
cattle in order to convert his hay and straw into manure ; if there are
a hirg(^ number of cows kept for dairy purposes, or stock raising is
madeli business, either will answer the purpose very well, and probably
more money will be made than by fattening cattle for market. One
of the reasons why many farmers prefer fattening cattle for market to
stock raising or dairying, is they do not have them on their fields
during the summer months, when, as is very often the case, the land
is either too wet or too dry, and consequently a great amount of in-
jury is done.

i venture the assertion (and I believe that almost every ]nan who
gives any attention to agriculture will agree with me) , that if a farmer
were to buy one of the best farms in Adams county and then make it
a rule to sell all the grain, hay and straw, keeping only enough to
feed the number of cows usually kept on a farm and the horses used in
cultivating it, in ten years' time he would own one of the poorest,
even if he did buy a few tons of commercial fertilizers. Another very
important matter that can be traced directly to cattle feeding that must

Pennsylvania State Boakd of Agiuculture.

281

not be overlooked is this : Any one who has given any attention to
the markets is aware of the fact that corn in southern Pennsylvania
usually brings as high a price at our cribs as it does at the city markets
it is also the case with oats and rye. The reason of this is home con-
sumption. 1 i- ii.1 i- 1
It is estimated that there are about three thousand head ot cattle led
in Adams county alone, annually. Allowing only fifty bushels ot corn
in the year to each steer, the amount recpiired to feed this number ot
cattle would be just one hundred and fifty thousand bushels, ^ow
suppose we would quit the business, say for just two years, what woiild
our grain be worth'? I am sure the price would not justify our raising

it at all. . , . in i.1

In conclusion, I will only add that to maintain and advance tiie
fertility of our soils under cultivation is a quesiton that should demand
the most serious consideration of every progessive farmer.

A DIVERSITY OF INTERESTS THE NEED OF THE

FAEMEE.

Bv Thomas Baker, Octoraro, Pa.

(Head at the Atglen Institute. )

It has long been a maxim in agriculture, that several kinds of crops
are safer to depend on than to expect profit from some one or more
leading- staples, so that if from any cause, one and that perhaps tlie
main one, should fail, the remaining croi)s would be left to recompense
the cost of production and something more ^ i . ,^

Eecurring to examples to illustrate this, I beg leave to refer to the
Irish tenant farmer, whose main dependence is for the subsistence ot
his family the potato and oat crop, for, though wheat and rye generally
do well iu ills land, yet potatoes furnish a cheaper and perliaps i miglit
sav abetter diet, for its peoide.

The stalwart limbs, the brawny muscles and the enviable constitu
fions of the Irish race, attest the suitjd)le food that induces these in-
>'iluable (pialities, that go to make the robust frame that these peo-
i»1p iindoubtedlv possess. ^ , .,

^ There ore ^vhen the potato crop fails, either from rot, or any other
cause the iioor Irish have but little else on which to subsist, so that a
?nore varied a-riculture would not only conduce to his independence
ndcomfntlmrtohis purse as well. The climate wil not mature
I i in corn, but it seems to me there are many vegetaWes that micht
be cul ivated there that have not yet been introduced. The Dutch far-
mer n about the same latitude has a much more varied agriculture ; he
has all the crops his Irish neighbor cultivates, and some more ; quite a
cons^demble part of his living is derived from the produce of his mcom-
uarabe dairy; beef, butter, milk, cheese, whey and I hardly know what
pise all w-ldch largely contribute to the su.stenance of the hardy,
healthy race that rejoices in the plenty that prevails from year to
year n the lowlands of H.-lland : he hardly fears a deaiih of food ; if
the „ atoes fails, ho has other kin.ls of food un.er cultivation, that
shut ou all fears of starvation. an<l he seldom needs the aid of charity.

i ,

i » I'

282 QuAiiTEiiLY Repoht.

His inclustrv, his perseverance has almost created the country in which
he resides ; where once, rolled centuries ago, the slupish waves ot the
North Sea, over shitting sand banks, there now dwells and inhabits the
most densely population of any land upon the globe, China only ex-

""^The climate of the middles states of this XJnion is upon the whole an
admirable and a safe one for the careful farmer All crops may not be
lar^e the same season, neither have all failed to remunemte the culti-
vation, some are fairly good and none rarely fail altogether so that
there is a fair average, taken from year to year. It dry weather pre-
vail in the spring months, plenty ot ram tails m the alter part ot the
season, for the average yearly rainfall ot from thirty six to forty inches
seems as yet invariable and absolutely certain, it we do not get it in
the early T)art of the season it will come afterward, and a large alter
harvest crop is sure to succeed a scanty crop before mids^ummer We
are equally exempt from the terrific rains that often Hood out our
western neighboring states, and equally secure from the extreme
drouth, that, lasting for months, starves out vegetation and leaves to
the cereals, little or nothing. As farmers we have had as yet, no such
experiences. It is not beyond the power of eastern farmers to raise
average good croDS. What more should we desire,only to know what
to cultivate, and how to do it ; that is the whole secret. Our situation
in respect to markets, is perhaps enviable, and will not lessen as time
progresses for the cry of many now is that city populations are in-
creasing faster than the Dopulation of the rural districts ; and it that
be the case, better markets must follow in the future than have pre-
vailed in the ]>ast. ^ .

So now in this beautiful rural district possessing so many advantages
of the soil, of climate,and of regular seasons, let us dis]day our wisdom
bv striving to introduce an agriculture more varied. Let us inqure in
what undiscovered field we may find, something hitherto untried, that
will furnish labor to the workingman, and remunerating profit to the

landowner. * ^ .. ^ .. ii i i i. i-i

In the days of Napoleon, that man ot destiny, that burst like a
thuud(abolt uDon the destinies and effete dynasties of Europe, his
ever watcliful eye, keen to overcome a rival, not only on the battle
field but upon any other, introduced and establislied the sugar beet
root culture in middle Europe, and thus rendered not only his beloved
France, but many other neigliboring ])owers independent of English
ships and English colonies for their supply (»f sugar.

He thus not only inflicted a peaceful and innocent blow uj^on his
greatest enemy which was England, but he established and fostered
an industry that yet exists there. It has not been supplanted by the
sugar cane products, increased as they have been in both hemispheres,
and the best sugar is a common article of commerce in the great mar-
kets of Europe to this time, and so far as human wisdom can see,
is now firmly established.

Moreover the beet is extensively cultivated in Europe for^ feeding
cattle, its leaves affoiding a very nutritious food for all kinds of live
stock,' its roots, from their exceeding sweetness, being considered
one of the most valuable plants on which cattle can be fed in winter.
There are few crops so valuable for this ])nr])ose. Swedish turnips or
ruta baga exceed them in the quantity of nourishment, weight for
weight, but on good light soils the produce of the best, per acre is
mucii greater. The proportional value of hay, potatoes, Swedish tur-

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

283

nips and beets, in feeding cattle is stated by good authority to be as
follows : eighteen tons of mangel wurzel are equal to htteen tons ot
Swedish turnips or seven and one-half tons of potatoes, or three and
one fourths tons of good English hay, each quantity containing the
same amount of nourishment ; but the roots may be grown upon ^less ^
than an acre if ground, while two or three acres of good gmss land
are required to produce the equivalent amount of hay. I he beet root
is also deemed the least exhausting to the land, ilie white beet has
been chiefly cultivated for the purpose of extracting sugar from its
iuice The manufacture of sue-ar from beet roots was first conimencecl
in France in consequence of the Emperor Napoleon's scheme tor
excluding British colonial i)roduce. It was known that a crysta liz-
able sugar could be obtained from the juice ot the beet root, and he
encouraged the establishment of beet root sugar manufacture on a
lar-e scale, bv every advantage which monopoly and premiums^ could
ffiv^it Colonial sugar was sold as high as a dollar a pound ; and
assu-ar had become an indispensable luxury m France, the maiiutac-
ture had every chance of rapid and complete success, although the
process was expensive. It has since been much improved, and beet
suo-ar now competes on nearly equal terms with colonial or cane-sugar
in the markets of the world. Most of the operations in manutactunng
beet sugar are nearly the same as those by which the juice ot the
cane is prepared for use, hut much greater skill and nicety are requu-ed
in rendering the juice of the beet roc^t crystallizabe owing to its greater
rawness, and when beet sugar is refined it is said to ^^ ™l>^^^^;^^;i\^^
the most experienced judge to distinguish it from the other, eithei bv
taste or appearance. Five tons of clean roots Produce about four and
one-half hundred weight of coarse sugar, about half of this amount of
the refined article, the remainder being made into molasses as in the

""^ As'i further niustation of the benefits to be derived from a greater
diversity of agricultural products, I would refer to the southern states
of this Union at and before the inauguration of the late civi war
Possessino- as they do, an eminent domain ot as fine agricultural land
Ts Tan scar^^^^^^ be found elsewhere, a genial climate, their rich mines
of theiis^ful minerals, their abundant water power, all tend to nmke
?hem! t would seem, the richest of agricultural people. Cotton how-
ever had the supremacy, it had even the name ot king, and the culti-
vatLn of it so largely, to the exclusion^of other crops, made them de-
pe dent upon the ndghboring states for their supplv ot to(>d pro-
ducts They did not raise the corn the hay nor the flour needed for
Sestic consuniption -, this was produced elsewhere. The result could
IXhive been foreseen; they were not a prosperous people because

Sist their sister states, their ports were b ockaded, and they were
Spelled to try to live without intercourse with the rest of the world,
3h istory of the four years of war that followed revealed their
; 11. w^nkness I will weary this audience with but one more in-
:t1"c"L utS my "bject. idam Smitli in his Wealth of Nations
stance to ill people and communities depend upon the di-

Sficatiroi th^^^^^ '^^ --1^^--' -^---

istration of good laws over an educated people.

^. y*

284

Quarterly Eeport.

Hi

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT FARMING.

By James L. Bkanson, Langhorne, Pa.
(Read at Atlgen Institute. )

AVhat I know about farming may be very little, and it is not because
I think I know so mucli, that 1 chose to tell about it, but because i
thou-ht those who listened to me would be able to set me right where
my experience liad led me wrong. One can hardly ever be certain
tlmt he is right, if the experiences of life have been learned correctly.
And this is especially true of farming, as we all know. It will, there-
fore be a favor to me to have he most liberal criticism that can be
inven and it will be taken in the kindliest way.

" I set out with this fundamental principle, that a proper condition of
the soil is the beginning of all good farming. And the hrst step to-
wards this, is good plowing. I learned from the good book where we
learn all good things, that the sower who sm^;ed seed got the best
returns hom seed sowed on " good ground," but that sowed where
" thev had no deepness of earth," came up quickly, but were soon
scordied because they had no root." I have my ground plowed at
least seven inches on the land side, and have the subsoil plow run down
at least live or six inches in the furrow below this, leaving the sub-
soil in its own bed, being merely loosened up. In this way, rhere is six
from twelve to fourteen inches of loose ground, for the plant roots to
crrow down into for moisture in case of drouth, and a porous subsoil
to receive the water in case of heavy rains. It is almost incredible
what an immense amount of water will be held in the ground prepared
in this way, stored against drouth, ready for use, and being thus ab-
sorbed, prevents suHace washings in time of heavy ram J^li^n ^^^
plowing narrow even furrows are insisted on. I was taught that tlie
share of the plow should cut all, or nearly all, of the ground, and
there should be little or no breaking over of the earth between the
furnnvs. In order to this, straight furrows are necessary No man
can be called a good plowman who gets his furrows crooked ; it shows
that he is either too careless or too lazy to attend to his work. I have
seen farms that were considered worn out, made to bring tortli good
corps, simply by being well plowed. It needs no proof that it takes
longer to exhaust six inches of soil than three. It is best always to
plow dee]) for all crops. It may not be essential, but it keeps the
ground friable and in better condition, and it is harder to plow after
being once plowed shallow. -i tj

The next point is how to keep up the fertility of the soil. How
can we best repair the Avast(^ occasioned by the crops taken off. I will
say frankly I never use what are called "commercial fertilizers." I
think the benefit derived from them deceptive and illusory. I have
never seen anything that would take the place of good barnyard
manure. Decomposed vegetable and animal matter is the basis of
all plant growth. You may produce an artificial vitality in Hie soil
by the use of stimulating compounds, but just as in stimulated animal
life, it is unhealthy, because unnatural. The ground should produce
good crops, frcmi its natural In^althy condition. To get it in this con-
diticm and to keep it here, is the great desideratum of farming. And
to this end, two most im])ortant things must be considered. It must
have plenty of manure and occasional rest. The land must have food

^

i:

V

Pennsylvania State Board of Agbicultuke.

285

and rest as well as auixnal life. Tl^ W ^^^^^^^^^ Jt^
grass that will fon.i a conipact dense sod „ J,*^" J'^'^^'" ,^/,ua at the

and stock will thnve -^ ^f ^ ^'J^^*' ^w t> and see what a grand
same tune, and atter hve oi six y^. is uo« i l ^j f ^ ^s well
good cori. of corn it will raise. I' ^^J^^, "'^^^^.^S u of nmnnr(j as a
as a rotation of crops. Then ^^''^ ff * "^,{ Xws s the natural and
top dressing in these pasture 1^ ;^. ^^ '^^^ 'tW^to nit manure on my
proper way ot applyins it. f ;"''"'', VtlT.lifference between that put
corn ground in the fa 1 ami ^"'tf ; f "^ ' .nJ^o- arshowu in the corn,
on at this time and that put out "\ ^^^^ sprin as «»o

is so apparent that the man that runs '''f ,''^l'^...^,J'u^,, i^ time to

waste. For hay there is "«thing thaj , ays ^ Wl as a m ^^^^^^^
of manure. The addition ot lime which ^^^^'^J^^l^ ^^t benefit,
plant food available to P^"* g^o]^'";' ^ "^^ And

besides sweetening soil that has ^f'^^X^I'^'I'^iwvo^e bv neutralizing
I have found t vei;y '^^^^■''^^'"'^ ±^^^^; me t^ definite impressions

{tirei^iSe^^Ss^r '"^ ^^^ ^'1-^- ' ''-

not sure of this, but it will ^'^f "'^te^'^Jre the .greatest weed killers

Another thing- 1 have learned tl\'^\^^^^^l'^/^^JteUl ut sheep on it,

that can be put on a farm. It you J ^^^«^ ^^^^ Jf^ \^'^t a single weed

and let them ftay-'-*ti/;?;t on 'he clofe' cropped grass and weeds
can go to seed, iliey "inve o" ^ ^ ,j, prisonous ivy

sell enough ..f the product to le-^l ^^ a P««^ • ^^i^austion caused by
oats, etc., where -;:>"»;i,^V'can'rbu t "^^^^ to repair the waste
the raising of these ciops? ..V,t"m left? You analyze the body of an
in raising ^'I'^lf ^""^^'T f H f imstituterand then ascertain food
animal and find out of what ^t i'' ";'»^iti^^^^ ^j^^ ^ght proportion,

substances containing these ^'^^'fj^^^ ^°iX^^^^^^ and it dies. You

You feed a cow or horse o>' ^.^Xufsuri us to food, something to

find the animal wants ««'^f .^^"f^*^^* ^\fe V'X^"'""* "' '^^ ^* """ i'
fill UP the stomach, even if it 1''^^^";;,; ™|u" "' ,,o.i, substance to work
corn fodder, or wheat straw or «"n;7^^^^f\; i;;'^!" the soil, it needs
on, and to fill up the st.miac^i- The s.^^ eoncentrated fertilizer

something to make it ^ Y/I^JonceitSed' fc,^^ the animal, if used

kills the soil, just as tli« «».c™ and sheep to the

ahme. Tlien agan. can I atto d se I > ^^.^^^ ^^.^ ^^^.^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^
butcher, and buy it^^J'^ck as PlU^u , ^^^^.^^_ ^^^^ ^^^

On its face, is i j'/; ,?"«^*^VuureTl U >W that we must keep enough
hay, and I'-^^^t back as mauur^^^^^ .^^^^ manure a quantity

u •

286 Quarterly Eeport.

always shown in an imiiroved bank account, but the improved pro-
ductiveness of the farm 'may amount to more than the cash. Just
as we deplete the productiveness of the soil, we are drawing on our
capital in business, and this way cover our cash balance. We cannot
count inofits till we can show that our original capital is intact, it
is in this way, I think, many of our farmers are deceived by the use of
stimulatino- Jompounds, which draw on the original fertility of the
soil until little or none is left. Its rich blackness is gone, and the
moiley is gone into the Doc^kets of the fertilizer man.

Why should not the farmer be independent, having the resources in
himself i Why should I blame others and Providence for my impro-
vidence^? The drouth kills my crop and I blame Him who sends ram
on the evil and the good, when I alone am to blame for giving my
plants no deepness of earth in which to find moisture. I wear out my
land by continual use, Avhen it is decreed that the land shall have its
sabbaths as well as man and beast. We seek all manner of devices to
make the earth yield u]) her stores, until they are exhausted, and then
blame the bounteous giver of all good because they are no more. I
do not believe after six thousand years of agricultural experience,
which this world has had, that he will find many very startling im-
provements over the past. Indeed while the hue and cry is going up
on all hands that farming don't pay, may it not l)e better to go back
to methods, in vogue when it did pay. With all of our boasted im-
provements, three things will remain fixed as essential to all successful
farming, deep soil, plenty of manure, and occasional rest.

It may not be out of place to add one item of experience to these
general thoughts. I have learned by practical tests, that the raising
of roots, such as beets and turnips, is of great value to the raiser of
stock. I would hardly know how to get through a winter, without my
root cellar full of sugar beets. There is nothing my cows relish more
than their daily ration of beets. And to these as much as anything
else, I attribute their continual healthy condition!.

And then for ewes raising lambs, there is nothing I know of equal
to them. Then, the large quantity of beets you can raise to the acre,
is a comfort to those who raise them. I have thirty tons from three
acres tliis year, by actual weigrht, and this has been about the aver-
age crop with me. I raise the deep growing sugar beet, and not the
large woody mangel wurzel. There is as much difference between
them as between clover hay and wheat straw. It takes deep rich
soil to raise beets successfidly, with early planting, and cultivation
at the proper time. Plow deep and plant early, as soon as you can
get the ground ready, put in plenty of seed, and get them thinned to
ten inches in tlie rows before the weeds get started, and you will l)e
surprised how easy it is to raise them. Put ])lenty of good barn-yard
manure, especially cow manure, on the ground intended for beets, in
the fall or winter, and some good stimulating compost in the rows
when you plant the seed to ]uish them ahead at the start, and the result
will make your heart glad. They are easily kept through the winter,
if not kept too warm. To those who keei) cows, either for butter or
milk, let me say there is no mistake about beet raising. They add to
the delicious flavor of both butter and milk, and if you feed your cows
one month witli, and one month without, you will not be puzzled to
know how much lias been added to the (piantity. I conclude by saying
it is poor comfort to the farmer to get a poor crop of anything, and
as a rule a poor croj) is indicative of )ioor farming ; and the better the
farming, the bigger the crop, and the larger the crop, the more money.

V^

Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture.

287

FRUIT-ITS CULTUEE, CARE AND POFIT.

By Samukl Bbkam, Bii/lcrville, Pa.
(Bead at Gettysburn Institute. )

Will take the apple first, ^-t^ble f.r^l.tTt'^' WbtTna t
deep gravel soil somewhat ^-fi^^^Vhentreerare to be planted the
too level it is apt to be too we^, VVheu .;»?f."tood condition after

sod should be destroyed I think t/'^,^*:;^; j;;\\^,^;,^,,^;;a^^^^^^^^^
being farmed in corn. The ground shonW^.w^^ ^^^^^

and ploughed up deep and Yt^'lV f I!ni; be du f rom fourteen to
laid off in straight rows and th« \<;^1^« f ^^^ '^^ ' ^^T S\ the hole is
sixteen inches deep, '"'^^t^i*^" fil\*^{\"j' 7,X wi e e^^^^^ to admit all

the depth required and also should ^« '"^f^JXuia m be less than
the roots without doubling around. {^^ "-ff "J^f/'^.;;^^^^^^^^^^^ should be
thirty-five feet apart each way. In I'l^^utiug all ca^etmne ^^^^

used in getting fine ground to the roots, and pie.s dow
roots. I would recommend puddling The ^^ ater^^^^^^ ^^^^

quiet thick with ground which will ^f^^^k well to m^ fifty trees,

spring of 1888 I planted '^'i «^«l^f;"J "\*;;'' Had mv ground^n the

taking this Pl'^li.'""\:ll^^"'^\|°?trt,llntin- brveryc^^^^^ to £ret
above described condition. I^«*".^,^ ^H^*^^^ They should

good trees and such varieties as ^^'i"J'« "^"^^^^^^^^^f^rifor potatoes. I
be cultivated at least two years as v^'J/y^'^^^JJ;^^^ for them ; after

would recommend Pof '^^^-^^ !f- j^ , f r^b^^^ ^-^

that it may be farmed m its leeulai o^'\^\ ''? ^^^^ J^und the trees,
the trees. All. care uln.essslumld be used nt^^^^^^^

so as not to skin or bruise the .^^^ . . Jy^'^^^'.'th^f to bear it should not
careful «^/- .-J.^^y^^f,,, ^^ ^^fw^lwommend top cultivating
be farmed with the barsneai V^^^^- ^ nnUivator also top dressing of
with the spring tooth harrow or .^'^^.^'""ZX;,^ ^ Pr„ ,ing is also a
barnyard manure or some good 9\'«'^i«^'i^^^^^^ to fork tree

very important Y'^'^ttl^^rLtS^V^^^^^^^ ^-' ""'^f

as they are apt to si-ht ; should ^«^^1' V 1 ^ t< examine the roots

with a medium-sized ;X^.n?l tr^Ts sXec to the borer, especially
once a year at least, as tb*5/l'i;\*^;'.^„^ '^^^^^ be taken off in July

the Pound and King apple^ be taken off very easily. If left until
or first of August: can tiien be taken on ve j k • ten^e from the
spring it is double the labor, and has taken «f ,^^ f ^^^'^^^'^.^ ^,i,,,, to re-
S and tree. This is an ^n^l-^^* '^^^/Jetoi „^^^^^

have more than you can use or se 1 f* ''J i''^^, \ to buy : tell them to

some neighbors that ^-^^ "^^^J^^^^y. I^^^^^^ «^-^ ]''

come and get them so as *" ^^t them ^^J^y. ^ ^^ ^^^^ tree too ear y,
them rot under the trees. .^^^r^TXin and some other varieties
as they are more apt t°/^ • ^ JJ\",^i « \ st of September ; the York
mav be picked from «»\n"/;'HUober Should be kept in barn or

a

\t\

288 Quarterly Report.

rows about tliiee feet in center and cover with corn fodder. My ex-
peTfence is those kept in the stables and on the ground by putting
some straw under them keep more firm than on the fioor. Have put
on an over jet that has no tif?ht fioor, i.ut a quantity ot straw undei-^ but
the air -etting throvijrh caused tliem to wi t more than those on a tight
floor I put them tVom two and one-hal to three teet thick. Some
people Je afraid of getting them too thick ; this does no cause ro*;.
Thev may be put in the cellar when picked with safety. It "le cellar
is not kept foul and sultry it should l)e kei)t cool and dark. Last fall I
Lol o A J koser & Son, of Sunny Side, oyer five hundred bushels
wl eh were put in the cellar from the trees when picked to the depth
of over six feet. I told him that I was afraid he was getting tliem too
thick When he had taken them out I asked him how they kept ; he
tol 1 me that they kept well and that the center of the jnle was the befe_t.
It win save a great deal of labor to put them in the cellar when picked.
Be careful to know that you have the right kind of a cellar, as the apple
5u>ukl be kept as cool as possible, just so they do not freeze . I have
noticed that when there are a few days ot warm wet ^^ather tha they
rot so much faster than when it is clear and cool. Have sold to
ditiereiit parties the same variety : some would tell me that they kept
well and iome would say that they did not keep, showing neglect or

"^Will o-ive my experience in the profit of the apple The orchard
that I wTu refer to contains eiglit acres, two hundred and seventy trees,
thirtv-five feet apart each way. It was planted and raised by A. J
Kos*^- of whom I purchased the farm five years ago. He deserves all
the credit of so carefully planting, pruning and taking care of it. Was
panted about twenty -one years ago and farmed m its regular order
nntU it came into bearing. Mr Koser had three crops that were wor h
fiom nine to twelve hundred dollars ; since I own it I had crops worth
from twelve to fourteen hundred. Last year had 3,680 bushels, winch
were worth $1 400. I have summed the whole amount, averaging Mr.
Koser's crops $1,000 each, and my three crops $1,300 each, making
fc 900 We generally have on the off year 500 or 600 bushels worth
from $1.50 to $2.00 a bushel, which will pay all expenses of gathering
the large crop In the five years that I own it I spent $60 for fertilizers,
and top dressed onc.> ^^ ith barnyard manure, which I value the same.
Am taking off each year fully one-third of a ci-op of hay, so you see
mv ground is not alllost that I have in orcharcb Have ,n my orchard
100 trees that have not been worth $50 a year. They are 85 lork Stripe
and Early Eipes. Had 78 of them top gi-af ted with York Impei-ial that
will come into bearing in a few years on the Early Eipes, Seek-no-
Further and Benoni, so you can see that more than one-third of my
orchard has not been at all profitable. AVhile on some soils the York
Stripes are in-ofitable, and are a good market ai)ple, the York Imperial
is bv far the most profitable to me on account of its wonderful bearing
audVood keeping quality. From 84 trees picked last fall I had over
1 800 bushels The Baldwin is also a profitable apple on account ot
its o-oud bearing and cooking and eating qualities They are one ot
theleading market ap))les, do not keep so well and commence to fall
earlv The Greening is also a very good apple, not as good a bearer as
the TBiddxvin, and keeps almost equal foi' fall use I would recommend
the Maiden Blush, Porter and Seek -no-Further : they are all good cook-
ing and marketing ai.i^h's. For a summer a|.ple the Red Astrachan
ha^ been profitable to me on account of its earl mess. Don t think that

Pennsylv.\nl\ St ATI-. Boarp of Agriculture.

28i»

many summer apples are i^iofitable. as we don't have time t" marke^t
thenland so often the market i.s overstocked with no sale tor them. A
few trees of summt^r varieties is all we need.

Ha4 now given the profits of my orchard. Perhaps some will say
" but your orSiard comes in on the off year." But I will be liberal and
di^"dJone-half ; and what can vye do better on. that "-/J p~^^ «-JJ
plant an orchard, making use of valuable varieties and tak ng go d
care of it Do not, after you have planted, let the live stock bieak
thLm down as some'people do We might as well f^^^^^l^Z
of wheat or corn with the cattle m it as an orchard A gocxl oic iuiul
adds Greatly to the value of the farm. I would adv.se all farmers to
be inrJi'sUd in fruit growing. I have so o ten been -ked wh>-^it i
that this orchard bears on the off yf ^^ ^"4 'f '<f « ^ ^ "^^f-^..^ ^f,^'^*
tell whv but I can tell how. When it came into bearing it \\as not so.
A to he a pie was fonaed and about as large as a ch^^^^^^^^

a frost and Uery one fell off. The next year it ^oomc^a aru h^ a
good crop, and has done so ever since. I hoi.e it ^Mll lemam so.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSEKEEPING
WHAl ir^ inr. ^^^ HOMEMAKING?

By Mrs. Hannah Kkni>kri>ine, Lumherrille, Pa.

The Question submitted to me pre-su|.poses a distinction between a
homemXr a d a housekeei.er, but Webster describes as follows :
Eemaker one who stays at home, not gadding : and housekeeper
Honu rnakei one .y ^j concerns. A housekeei .er has a

fuNoer week while the homemaker fills a position not estimated at
: V vahie It is thoud.t bv some that the labor connected wit i house-

q;^ r ^;;-:S'i^bor^'^w "' a c^^:^^m S^r ^

thl "r^rC^uin";: ^T^It::^^^^.. 1^ of duty from

SneTS^'i^n'^s o'el^ujtul^^^^^^^^^ the s.,nse.of the di-udgei.

maciiiuei:> i^f m ■ i . i ^ ^^^^t perfect justice to all the

of work r-°^« 1;;^*^;,^;'^/ re'J one recognizi systematically

household it is "^'^ei'Sarj inai' matter to leani

the wants and needs o each othe. It s not t y .^^ ^^^^.^^^

that the r-roper amount of t me ^l^";^ P« '>;,^\;;;^,,g thi^ and every -

?i:i^:;rSrunr'Tu^^

scarce y ''ff';'^!- ,,^' .^J^ ,. K n.uLt be well qualitie.l to till tl.e many
calling thalsooner "later devolve upon her. L. th. first place she

19

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^,^Q QlTARTEKLY RErOBT.

1 1 1 .4* i^^i^ .ivf nf p(^()kiiit>' for a ^^ood eook lias
should have some ^'"'^^'l^Y l\ ,f , iti. • c on L^^^ eoiulitions for

a high art; ''Y /"'^^ t^^'^^^f • l^te,"4d^ S dimier uv.y be

domestic luM'inuess^. ;\,; i^'^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and culture of the in-

just as much a 1 root ol t u^ t+V- h. neiit A hireling can never take the
<lividual as any i^^^ll^f *";^\ ?>""\"Tonie m who is interested in

l.laee of the l-^f -"^^^^^^^^^ ^^^s 1 ve ne'economy, and away from
"'f "''-' 'rl Some luwfa^^.ver^f for music, others for ch.ua

Sfc^S^^^nd^ZJSy, but in .^ij^i^ th^^^^ste. do not let

of 17'"«;^X h th It feeS and unmortgaged ownership

pendence vhch "^-^t ^^^^^^^^^^^j ^i^ t furnishings are very desnable

f:eK Home is not a ^^^^ ^'JS:;nm''uo^ ^^
l^riuSS^L liSSd sw±'L from those who inhabit it.

THE NEED OF COMMENT ON INSTITUTE ESSAYS.

Bv Edward Ivins, Langhorne, Pa,
. Read at L ngborne Institute. )

" How are we to derive the most benefit f^^^" }- ^^^y.^i^^^^Xtr^iv^^
\^ o r.nPQfii^n wliicli needs eonsideratioii. Wlietliei it is oesL lo „iv«
our rentkmTo the reading and pass it by without comment, or be^
Uevino- that the author has embraced so much and tf'^^^^^^J '^, *:"f ^^''^
in fnlU that any remarks by another might detract rather than add
so fully ; ; \ .M^jYtself I thiidv there are occasions when the pursu-
value to the ,1 t ae itseu .i tm^^^^^^ ^ for various reasons ; but even

th^n Tt seems f the a;^!.?^"' must feel there was little strength of argu
ment and e^^^^^^ contained in the essay -. or, with presumption, s-
'"no that it was a. master-piece and is approved by ^^^^^^^„
ence because no one exi)ressed any opi.osition to the plan ot taiivm^

'"'^'^^il^'^^S:^'^^^^^-^ in beated discussions.
wSwe^admit; if carried to excess. Because I appi-ove o crihc.-
■uid comment is no more worthy the approval of otheis, unless it is
«er hones opinion, than I should approve and endorse all I niay
car One mind could not conceive and dictate the formation ot a
<^ui foVm <. g..vermnent for the people, but the voices of that people
Tm s bJ heard bv consultation and interchange and the best uleas ex-
ressed nited upon and approved. If one of our Bucks county far^
me^s lire should have an article on taxation and claim that real estate
siioul pav 11 the tax. all otlu-r property to be exemp . and that essay
msse . of tl... hands of its author without comment or controvei^y,
Te w'mld probably see in our city Papers before the close ot the
week an account of this meeting somewhat in this^ wise : At a tar^
mers- institute held at Langhorne, under tlie authority ot tlie State
Board of Agriculture,a paper was read by one of tliose farmers advising

PeNNSYLVANI.\ SrATK Bo.MiO Ol- AtUilCULTlUlE.

291

the powers that be.to have real estate pay all the taxes, which appc>ared
to be the unanimous sentiment of that large gathering of tarmers ioi
there was not a voice raised in opi-os^tion to it, thus l-la«ng us ia sely
before the world. Time was when it was a trite saying, ihe laiKets
are^ i.eople of great knowledge," and much of it acciuired J'Y askmg
questioi J, discussion and consultation ; and it seems evuhmt to no hat
is the proper plan to gain the most advantage troni anything ^^e may
hear— to ixmder. to weigh, to discuss and to question.

It is rather discouragiBS', ior a farmer at .least, to use his best ei.
deavor to prepare and write an esasay, m which i^««".'-\\;.»';i,^*Xm'^ •
may have been needful, an.l nui.'h tin.e ^^I'l^ved b theme

treated, so that it shall i«>t be discreditable to the autn an ^^^
Dossible worthy of a professed higher calling to re^id it in the pres-
ence o a kie audience, and not a^^ord of comment pro or con and
when t is thus passed unnoticed, the author, with a semb ance of jus-

ce lu y thus soliloquize : " My ! but I Mt the nail and «i^^';';l»^'J ^.T^^
bodv else's opinion with my own, for all seemed to approve it, oi
"i am sorry I made such a dmice of myself, as to attempt to write and
read ain tl hio- here for it is now plain that it is not appreciated ; even
those o kowi opinions averse to what I have advocated do not deem
worthv of remark," or, others may -*- " /«•- -i icism tor eai^^

giving ^^^^^l^^r^^t^^:: £ ':.^ tyist ilould -be^rl
Wef* Thli^wrSl % itls Ule ideas advanced that are subject
h. comment and not the manner of expression.

AsThis is not an essay <m any particular sub ect relating to farming,
•nidthe^ar others that will instruct us, I do not wish to consume
tme hat mavbe more profitably spent in their l'^'^- -f '^^^^^^^^^^
sions ; hoping what 1 1-- -i; mayitTin the l^^d f.i-oVe -i? '^^^^^^^

uted.

/

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V?

INDEX BY AUTHORS AND TOPICS.

PAGE.

7-61

Allen, W. T., Chemistry of the soil,

•1W9 30-31

iv.l<ler«ton C S., What shall we do with our milk?

Balclerston, K.. »., w . „,,i.i ..^^ for the Telford roads we are going

Balderston, John L.., Who should pay lor m^ 227-230

to build? • • g _y

j«ashore,M.R.,TheobjectsoftarmersMnstitutes,. .^. .^ • ^^ • ^^^_^^

165-171
252-256
160-162
104-107

284-286
279-281

287-289

lUikeisTho.nas, A diversity of interests the need of the farmer

Bell, J. C, Purchase and care of farm implements,

Benninger, W. M., Fruit growing, ...

Beniiet, S. V., Artificial hatching of poultry, • •

Branson, James L., Proper education for tarmers boys,

What I know about farming,

Bream, R. S., Cattle feeding, ^„._^^.

Bream, Samuel, Fruit, its culture, care and profit, ^^^_^^

Breinis, A. J., Scientific fertilization, ^^^_^^^

Brinton, Wm. H., Chestnut culture, 213-216

i> v^.;«c TVf O Makinir and feeding ensilage,

«;::"! H^;n;i.CSof„e thi,.,. or ^tere^t to far.ners a.ui owners o. real

estate, ...

B. unttarci, !>• M., A practical education

,. T 1. T.» nnps it oav the farmer to go to market?

r, W. T., The ups and downs of the poultry business,

193-204
149-154

Creasy,

246-247

61-66

218-222

139-142

Davis, Prof. N.S., Industrial education, • • 204-207

Denham, J. H., Ensilage,

Denning, li.. The silo,

DrvUn. naoiel, Profitable farming,

. rf. Tho need ot improved highways,

^rrr;::. mr;nt vaH^tror w..eat^a„a U.e1r nouring ..ualiti^

Kves, F. M., The larmer's heritage,

258-259
184-188

26-30
142-149
211-213

115-117

15-19

the farm, '.'.*..... 273-276

19-22

Finney, G. K., The farmer as a citizen,

Foriiev, David P., Cattle feeding, • • •

GT,^eL>n, Mrs. Minerva, Beautilying home life on

Golclsb<>roi.gh,l>i-.C.E., The carp and its culture, ^^-

GroHS, Hen. y P., Paying f ' '

Harp, .h>bn D., How to get a basketful of eggs in January, ... • • •
Uril, E. F., Commercial fertilizers,

207-211
125-133
189-190

Henery,(ieorj?eT., Our public roads, . • ^^^^

Hine PiM.f II. O., Lessons trom trees, 18.3-184

Hi.Mhnan. David R., Does farming pay • ' ' ' ^,^_^^

4.5-49
^'^

(2<)9)

Hillor Casper, Corn and its culture, • • • • .' '
Hoo;er?Kp..r;.... H- The .,orse an. '.JH^^-d.ng,

A

ll

3QQ Agriculture of Pennsylvania.

Page.

173—177
Hall, UeorseE., Ideal standards in farming, 290-291

Iviiis, Edward, Need of conunent on institute essays,

James, David M., The relation of farming to other occupations, 133-138.

.,,,nnson,VV. U.K., Fruit and fruit culture ^^^^j^.

Johnson, . I. B., Comfort and economy on the tarm,

... 249-252 ,

Uf»jin C C, Do cereal crops pay .' .' ' ' W

Keaii, i.. ^., 1 K^ Dirterence between housekeeping and home-

Kenderdine, Mrs. Hannan, uiut!itfiiv.c 289-290

making,

Laubach, Oh«Hes, Meteorology in its relation to agriculture,

i....i,.wh I) K. How to make fruit culture prolitable,

1:;:::;:^ :,.luha„, The .night «iae of farut life in Bucks and Montgotrtery ^^_^

counties, ,

12*^-1*^5
Martin, F. B., Agricultural progress, ^_^^-^

Meyer, Miss M. Alice, The care of poultry, ^__^^^

Mc.Sparren,MissBelle, Beacons on the farm ^^^_^^^^^

McWilliams, D. B., Manures and fertilizers, ^^_^^^

Mitchell, B. C, Silos and ensilage

•1 . . 9-12

Northup,H.W., Restoration of our sods, ' ^f,, uyZ-UO

Wintering stock with economy and profit,

.... 230-234
Olmstcad, A. H., Sheep husbandry, . . . .^^

Omwake, Henry, Ways and means on the farm ^^^^^

Clover as a fertilizer,

. . . 96-101

Parry, Mrs. Lizzie, Our adments, 171-172

Pence, Henry, Carp culture, • 216-218

Preston, Forrest, Success in cattle feedmg,

, «+ 236-238

Brad, John C, Small fruits for home and proht, .. • . •

KiHutrds, Isaac, The potato-How to cultivate and market, 8o-8«

Utter, Milf<>rdS., Advantages of the creamery to the farme^^^ n7^^9

Robinson, John B, How do we want our chddren educated? 276-277

Shedrton, W. B., Some things I don't know about farming ^^^

BhiUin^er, Samuel, ^^^^^^ ^^^^, ,,,, ,, promote their interests, ' 234-235

101 — ivri

Shimer. B. I^iither, Dairying, 238-246

Sibley, J. C.,Tlie Jersey cow, 247-249

Stable, Col. J. A., The farmer's garden,

w 3-5

Tonilinson, William, Grazing r.s. gram culture ^^_^^

Tomlins<m,AlvinH., Profits in finer products,

. ., .... 110-111

Wales, A. L.., Winter dairymg and sdos, 261-2(i4

Wablron, W. S., Economy on the tarm 256-258

Warden. John A., Care of farm machmery, ^^_^^^^

Waus. J. P.,Thetruck garden, 264-268

Wickey, li. A., Carp culture ^^^^

Wiblr, William, Farm drainage

Yerk.'s,W. A., Breeding and raising poultry, ^^n-76

Youn^, A. P., Graded schools

0

■^'

END OF NUMBER