-^ /'Sf:
rH.s
M \
r
(
i
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Lyrasis IVIembers and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/lancasterfarmer05jbde
A
1
THE
LANCASTER FARMER,
PUBLISHED MONTHLY,
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
LANCASTER COUNTY
Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
Terms— $1.25 Per Year, in Advance.
V^OT.. V^.,1873.
J. B. DE\^ELIN, PUBLISHER. .
LANCASTER, PA. ;
T.NQUIRER PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, 53 & 55 NORTH QUEEN STREET.
INDEX TO VOL. V,
A
A Bee-Sting, 5,
About Deep Plowing, 16.
A Bee Story, 52.
A Curious Climate, 140.
Agriculture, 1, 48, 63, 93, 107, 124,143,^63,
207, 232.
Agricultural College Again, 1.
Agricultural Education, 63.
Agricultural Fairs, 124.
Agricultural Meeting, 11.
Agricultural Notes, 147, 190.
A Happy New Year, 13.
Air Beds in the Morning, 191.
Alfalfa, not a Grass, 174.
A Lesson in Stock Feeding, 35.
Alden Fruit Drying, 157.
Amateur Asks, 9.
American Salmon, 77.
American Farmers' Club, 188.
Annual Address of H. M. E., 21.
An Important Discovery, 48.
An Acknowledgment, 118.
An Inferior Race, 122.
A Neat Room, 59.
A New Kind of Butter, 161.
A New Tree iu California, 161.
Apples, 27.
Apple Eating, 192.
Artificial Butter, 71.
Arresting Decay in Potatoes, 170.
A Royal Ant Battle, 210.
A Spurious Promissory Note, 138.
A very Valuable Book, 182.
A "Word for the Agricultural College, 1.
Agricultural Report, 234.
Acknowledgment, 245.
B
Baltimore Market, 250.
Bark-blight ou the pear-tree, 132.
Bechamel Sauce, 170.
Berks county Farmers' Club, 185.
Best Work on Dairy Products, 9.
Blonde Sauce, 170.
Boiled Lettuce, 72.
Brains in Agriculture, 248.
Bread-making, 71.
Breakers Ahead, 130.
Breeding Colts, 157.
Breakfast Rolls, 193.
Bulb Culture, 214.
Butter and Cheese Exchange, 218.
Butter Made Without Milk, 226.
185,
Butter-making in Small Dairies, 226.
c
California Letter, 162.
Can Hens be Too Fat to Lay, 163.
Caper Sauce, 170,
Cause of Fruitfulness of 1872, 30.
Care of Lambs, 73.
Census Returns, 118.
Cecidomyia Destructor, 5,
Celery Sauce, 170.
Changing Pastures. 108.
(Jharlier Horse-shoe, 193.
Cheap Labor, 121.
Cheese-making in Small Dairies. 168.
Chedder and Chilton Cheese, 169.
Cherries, 29.
Chemical Compounds of Grain, 156.
Cherry Bounce, 193.
Chicago Markets 40, 60, 80, 100, 182, 228, 250.
Chinaman or White Man, 121.
Cicada 17-decwi, 194.
Clover, 126.
Corn Fodder, 118.
Corn-meal Bread, 193.
Colorado Potato-beetle. 170, 131.
Correspondence, 10, 32, 64, 65, 66, 97, 162, 198,
219, 240.
Cranberries, 90.
Cream Puffs, 78.
Cucumber Sauce, 170.
Cream Sauce, 170.
Curiosities of Planting, 210.
Curious Hybrid, 247.
City and Country, 244.
Dairy Farming, 213.
Delicate Cake, 78.
Dense Population, 139.
Depth of Soil and Length of Roots, 90.
Desirable Qualities in a Pig, 107.
Deviled Turkey, 78.
Discriminating Fruit List, 33.
Domestic, 7, 71, 167, 191, 237.
Don't Pay Taxes, 122.
Donyphora IQ-lhieata, 131, 170.
Double your Corn Crop, 38.
Dutch Method of Fertilizing, 169.
Durham Bulls, 192.
E
Egg Sauce, 170.
Editorials, 13, 34.
2
Index-
Essays, 21, 41, 61. 81, 101, 121, 161, 183, 205, 229.
Entomology, 5, 51, 131, 150, 170.
Excellent Domestic Confections, 193.
Excursion to West Virginia, 201.
Exhibitions, 134.
Experimental Farm Statistics, 163.
Extract from the Irish Far-mer. 35.
Early Importation of Cattle, 233.
Effects of Manure on Weeds, 237.
F
Facts for Farmers, 9.
Facilities of the Season, 25<
Faith in Farming, 126.
Fall Plowing for Potatoes, 17.
Fattening Sheep, 23.
Farming Institute, 139.
Fawk's Steam Plow, 106.
Filberts, 3S.
Filler for Cistern Water, 209.
Fish Culture, 96.
Fences of the United States, 41.
Fertilizere for Potatoes, 109.
Fluctuations in Fanning, 159,
French Hot Beds, 96.
French Fritters, 110.
Fruit of PennsylTania, 110.
Fruit Culture and Keeping. 117.
Fultz Wheat in Pennsylvania, 19.
Facts in Fattening Cattle, 237.
Farm and Household, 241,
Farmers' Club, 245.
G
Galls on the Grape, 132.
Gapes in Chickens and Pheasants, 7.
Garden Seeds, 96.
German Prejudice vs. Potatoes, 18.
Glycerine Boot-blacking, 178.
Gossip about Grafting, 5.
Gossip about a Pear, 22.
Gossip about Water and Plants, 53.
Gossip about Food, 61.
Gossip about Potatoes, 93.
Gossip about Water, 101.
Good Rules, 141.
Good Effect of Mulching, 202.
Gorged Stomachs in Horses, 221.
Grapes, 27.
Grape Grower's Maxims, 68.
Grated Cheese, 110.
Grafting Grapes on Laterals, 214.
Green Manuring, 161.
Growing Asparagus, 108.
Growth of Horses' Bones, 37,
Gum Arabic, 174.
n
Heeling in Trees, 8.
Heat for Rooms, 110.
Hens Eating Eggs, 191.
Hickory Bark for Coloring, 181.
High Priced Cattle, 222.
Horticulture, 5, 22, 65, 103, 132, 171, 199, 209.
Horticultural Exhibitions, 200,
Hyppo-Zymosis, 45.
Hominy FuddingJ 78.
Household Notes, 78.
How to Plant Apple Trees, 38.
How to Make Soft Soap, 71.
How to Get Along, 141.
How to Wash Summer Suits, 178.
How to get the Weight of Cattle, 190.
How to Cm-e Hams, 192.
How much Butter from a Cow, 49.
How much Milk for 1 lb. Butter, 169.
How Shall We Spend Time, 58.
How they Raise Peaches in Delaware, 138.
Hungarian Grass for Hay, 224.
Husman's Method of Pruning, 167.
Hens.and What they Eat, 239.
How to keep meat, 248.
Iced Apples. 226.
Ideas of an Old Farmer, 118.
Immense Wheat Farm, 16.
Important Dates, 140.
Industrial Exposition, 136, 139.
Indiana Wheat, 166.
Insects, 29.
In-door Gardening, 239.
Jos. Harris's Plan, 147.
Keeping Eggs for Winter, 7.
Khedive of Egypt, 31.
Keeping Cabbage in Winter, 249.
Keep the Cattle Growing, 241.
Land-sale Company, 127.
Lancaster Farmer, 14.
Laying Grape Vines, 227.
Leached Aashes as Manure, 109.
Lime vs. Plant Poisoning, 140.
Linseed Tea for Sick Horses, 36.
Literary Notices, 19, 39, 59, 79, 99, 119, 141, 163,
181, 203, 227, 249.
Lobster Sauce, 170.
Look to your Orchards, 7.
Live Stock, 238.
Laying Hens, 239.
M
Maitre d'Hotel Sauce, 170.
Make a Map, 105.
Making Sour-kraut, 168.
Making Butter, 214.
Management of a Dairy Farm, 213.
Manure in Orchards, 68.
Manure for Fruit Trees, 172.
Manure on Wheat, 190.
Manure for Grape Vines, 221.
Manuring Lands, 208.
Manufacturing Manure, 107.
Mattresses. 9,
Meteorological Notes, 88.
Meeting Pa. F. G. Society, 14.
Meetings Lancaster A. and H. Society, 13, 34, 57,
74, 95, 113, 134, 156, 176, 200, 220, 24 .
Index.
Mexican Dishes, 227.
Minute Insects, 196.
Miscellany, 139, 178, 222.
Model Potato Culture, 84.
Mussel Sauce, 170.
Meeting of Pa. Fruit Growers' Society, 245,
Mushroom Sauce, 170.
Mushroom Culture, 211.
Mice in Orchards, 249.
N
National Fish Culture, 96.
Nutritive Value of Feed, 172.
New Work on Butterflies, 1.51.
New Fruit-drying Process, 209.
Newspaper Decisions, 209.
New York Markets, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 142,
164, 182, 204, 228, 250.
Novel Way of Serving Peaches, 193.
Oats for Soiling, 49.
Oh ! Mother, "I Smell a Cow," 148.
On Climbing Plants, 161.
Order of " Patrons of Husbandry," 134.
Origin of Aroma in Butter, 191.
Our Grain Crop, 225.
Our National Wealth, 225.
Oyster Sauce, 170.
Our Journal's Future, 243.
Our Fifth Volume, 242.
Oyster Progeny, 246.
Pastry, 8.
Painting Shingle Roofs, 73.
Parthenogenesis, 51.
Patronizing Home, 116.
Patrons of Husbandry, 155, 244.
Pasturing too Much, 166.
Pennsylvania Fruit Grower's Society, 32.
Pears and Pear-Blight, 28.
Pears — to Prevent Rotting, 211.
Peach-Bark Heetle, 195.
Pequea Farmer's Club. 164, 198, 207.
Percheron Norman Stallion, 128.
Personal, 57.
Peat. 114.
Philadelphia Markets. 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 142,
164, 182, 204, 228, 250.
Phylloxera Vastatrix, 196.
Picn's Eapce, 73, 153.
Pierre Blot on Sauces, 170.
Pittsburg Markets, 20, 80, 120, 182.
Plant Trees, 31.
Plant Life, 144.
Plants and Philosophv. 205.
Plaster— How to Use It, 160.
Plowing by Steam, 10.
Plowing out Potatoes. 181.
Plums and Peaches. 29.
Preserving Germination in Potatoes, 8.
Preserving Grapes, 174.
Preparing Fruit for Preserving, 153.
Predisposition to Spavin, 36.
Preventing Potato Rot, 173,
Propp'ing Fruit Trees, 170.
Proper Feeding, 193.
Proceedings Pennsylvania Fruit Grower's Society
24.
Protection against Freezing, 67.
Providing for Short Pasture, 215,
Pruning Fruit Trees, 173,
Publisher's Appeal, 14.
Poultry Question. 246.
Peculiarities of Birds, 247.
Q
Quaker Plum Pudding, 193.
R
Random Sketches, 15, 70, 157.
Reply to " Three per Cent.," 104.
Rolling Wheat, 208.
Runaway Horses, 36.
s
Salt as Manure, 189.
Scotch Cake, 78.
Seed for Early Potatoes, 94.
Separating Honey from Bees-wax, 8.
Sheep as Weed P]xterminators, 169.
Shelter for Cattle in Winter, 190.
Shall we Feed Straw ? 222.
Shad-breeding, 129,
Short-horn Cows, 4.
Should the Currency be Increased? 84.
Shrimp Sauce, 170.
Sixteen Good Habits, 109.
Slaves, 122.
Small Compost Heaps, 18.
Small Fruits, 27.
Soil for Sweet Potatoes, 103.
Soiling Farm Stock, 221.
Some Facts about Rain, 187.
Spanish Mackerel, 175.
Special Notice, 100.
Strawberry Beds, 7.
Strawberry Culture, 118.
Sulphate of Ammonia, 38.
Supplement to Lyceum Echo, 176.
Sowing Wheat — Late or Early, 229.
Salt, 248.
Scratches and Cracks, 239.
T
Tapioca Cream, 140.
The Apparent and the Real, 216.
The Ant and its Habits, 217,
The Cost of Royalty, 36.
The Crops of 1873, 57.
The Country of Butter Ranches, 213.
The Crop Prospect, 115.
Ilie Crops, 137, 158.
The Cellar, 140.
The Baldwin Apple, 7.
The Bee and Bee-keeping, 12.
The Berks County Fair, 177.
The Best time to Kill Bushes, 171.
The Apple-tree Borer. 194.
The Corn Fodder Crop, 209.
The Domestic Sheep, 50.
The Domestic Cow. 148.
The Decay of Wood, 111.
'J'he Economy of Soiling, 164,
4
Index,
The Financial Crisis, 218.
The Future of Agriculture, 125.
The Eamelan Grape, 68.
I'he Greatest of the Crops, 145.
The Harvest is Past, etc., 203.
The Hog, or Swine, 69.
The Human Eye, 140.
The Horse, 91.
The Financial Question, 81.
The Cholera, 153.
The Colorado Potato-beetle, 170.
The Hessian-fly, 5.
The Land-grant Business, 17.
The Late Rains, 178
The Micros copeand Milk, 59.
The Mangel Wurtzel, 174.
The Mustang, 179.
The Nag, 215.
The Old and the New, 37.
The Prospect, 219.
The Promise of the Peach Crop, 137.
The Patrons of Husbandry, 184.
The Persimmon, 199.
The Seasons, 96.
The Scotch Dairy System, 9.
The Sweet I urnip, 174.
The Seventeen-year Locust, 194.
The Telegraph Grape, e'i.
The Use and Action of Lime, 144.
Three Per Cent., 75, 98. 117,
Tilling Orchards. 199.
To'Avoid Cut Worms in Corn, 155.
To Have Apples Every Year, 215.
To Make Boots Water-proof, 109.
To Mend China, 218.
To Make Sheep Own Their Lambs, 10.
To Make Boys Farmers, 38.
To Keep Milk Sweet, 8.
To Purify and Preserve Cider, 9.
To Soften Putty and Paint, 9.
Trees, 90.
Treat the Cows Kindly, 58.
Training a Heifer, 218.
Trimming Fruit Trees. 112.
Trumpet Grape Gall, 150.
Turtle Sauce, 170.
To Pleasure Seekers, 157.
The Fall Aspect, 247.
The Visit to Pennsylvania Agricultural College,
234.
To Kill "Live Forever," 241.
To Our Patrons, 242.
u
United States Corn Crop, 1873, 58.
Useful Receipts, 193.
V
Varieties of Fruit, 30.
Veal Cutlets, 193.
Vitis Lituus, 150.
Y
Younsr Orchards, 33.
w
Watermelons, 18.
Water House Plants, 49.
What Causes Hair-Balls ? 133.
What a Heavy Soil Will Do, 163.
AVhat the Birds Say. 227,
What Subsoil Did, 226.
Wheat Caterpillar, 152.
Wheat and Cheat, 183.
White Cabbage Butterfly, 73, 153.
Whitewash and Plastering. 110.
Which the Best Breed of Cattle, 140.
When to Plow Deep, 225.
Who Buys our Grain, 108.
Why Clover Improves the Soil, 147.
Why Apple Trees Die, 199.
Wine Making, 191.
Winter Work on the Farm, 189.
Wintering Celery, 214.
Wonderful, 53.
Worms in Flower Pots, 162.
Wheat, 237.
Wolf-tooth Question, 245.
LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Short.Horn Cow. 4.
The Domestic Sheep, 50.
The flog, or Swine, 69.
The Dray Horse, 91.
I^he Steam Plow, 106.
The Percheron Horse. 128.
The Domestic Cow, 148.
The Mustang Horse, 179.
The Durham Bull 192.
The Nag, or Driving Horse, 215.
a; he
CHSter ^iHrmer.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic Econoniy and Miscellany*
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVOX AND ALEXANDER HARRIS.
'* Tiie Fanner is the founder of civilization." — WEBSTER.
Vol. r.
JAjYUAR.Y, 187S.
JVo. 1.
AGRICULTURAL.
PENNA. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
AGAIN.
[Having published (by request) in our Decern,
ber number of the Farmer an article sharply
criticising the management of our Agricultural
College at Bellefonte, and, believing that the
welfare of our public institutions, as well as the
credit of the State, requires that both sides of the
question should have a fair hearing, we, in our
present issue, publish the following from the
Reading daily Times and Dispatch of the 20th
ult. We confess ourselves not at all advised
upon the subject, for we have not learned that
any members of the Lancaster Agricultural
Society were in attendance at any of the public
meetings held in the interest of the college, and es-
pecilaly not at the one referred to in this discussion.
We therefore publish these papers without repu-
diation or endorsement, and without any speciaj
reference to the facts they profess to proclaim,
but simply as an act of even-handed justice to
toth parties. We do not promise to publish any-
thing more on this subject, except it might be
the substance of a report of a legally constituted
committee authorized to investigate the matter.
If we have any suggestion to make in the
premises, it is this : that whatever discussion may I
grow out of the publication of these papers it
should be conducted with no more personality I
than is absolutely necessary in developing the
whole truth of the case. Even the truth may
sometimes become so ensphered in personalities
and individual prejudices and partialities that
the public may entirely fail to see it. We deem
the subject too deeply interwoven with the most
important domestic interest of Pennsylvania to
become a subject of partisan controversy, whether
political, educational, economical or social ; but
if there are any grievances, either pro or con,,
they should undoubtedly be redressed as speedily
as possible.
The agricultural interests of our State underlie
and constitute the very foundation of our material
and social superstructure, and if those interests
become impaired or destroyed all others will cor-
respondingly suffer ; for in them are involved the
daily bread ot our people. We verily believe^
that in the present state of society, a properly or-
ganized and conducted agricultural college is an
institution that is needed ; and that in its manage-
I ment reference alone should be had to its legiti-
mate aims and ends in order to insure its success.]
A WORD FOR THE AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE.
Philadelphia, Dec. 9, 1872.
GENTLEMEN :— The issue of your paper of
October 1st, containing the report of the
delegates of the Berks County Agricultural So-
ciety to the convention for electing trustees of the
Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, was handed
to me a few days ago. I can truthfully say that
I never read such a scurrilous and untruthful
article.
After speaking of Bellefonte and the kindness
of the citizens, etc., the delegates commence their
criticisms at the time they come in sight of the
college and the lands belonging to it. In their
criticisms upon the college lands they say: "They
areas poor as nature could well supply for agricul-
tural purposes, and there are but few traces of any
attempt to redeem them from their native rude-
ness." In answer to this I will say that these
gentlemen have clearly shown their utter unfit
^
THE LAJs'CJlSTER FARMER.
ness for the duties imposed upon them, and their
ignorance of the cultivation of soils. I suppose
they referred to the large field in front of the col-
lege, which was sown with grass seed last spring.
At the time these gentlemen looked upon it it did
not present a very comely appearance ; the ground
being unusually dry, and fearing the loss of the
crop, the college authorities did not dare to mow
it. But these intelligent gentlemen supposed the
field had not been redeemed from its " native
rudeness."
All of the fields intended for the growth of
crops are in a 'high state of cultivation. In re-
gard to the criticism upon the fact that the col-
lege had no wash-room, I will say the coflege has
five, but, as the gentlemen well knew from the
remarks of Mr. McAllister at the meeting of the
delegates, these rooms could not be used, as some
of the students who attended the college a couple
of years ago abused the privilege. Yes, gentle-
men, boys engaged in practical farming in this in-
stitution travel to the third, fourth or fifth stories
to cleanse their soiled hands and faces. Why did
they not ask the students if they objected to it ?
They would, without doubt, say they preferred to
retire to their own private apartments to perform
their ablutions.
With what a burst of amazement do these gen-
tlemen utter, "think of it, six stories to get to the
attic and land dear at twenty dollars per acre."
The price of land at the college, and for miles
around it, ranges from sixty to one hundred dollars
per acre.
The assertion that wide cracks are open all over
the front of the college building is false, for there
is not even one. They say they noticed " the
armory as being well kept and judge there were
from twenty-five to thirty stand of arms." The
armory of the college contains between eighty and
ninety stand of stnall arms and accoutrements and
fifty cavalry sabers with belts. They say they
saw " uncouth ground, weeds everywhere, piles of
rubbish everywhere." They saw no such a thing.
The grounds of the college are kept neat and cl e an,
and they were neat and clean the day these gentle-
men saw them.
Again we quote : " We peeped into the stables
but^bund them unfit to enter; they were Augean
in their filth." Such an assertion as the foregoing
I pronounce an infamous fabrication, having not
even the semblance of truth in it. There is not
a farm in the State upon which the grounds and
outbuildings arc kept cleaner than at the Agricul-
tural College of Pennsylvania. What a heart-
less criticism they make upon the beautiful garden
and grounds belonging to Prof. McKee's resi-
dence ! The garden which they referred to as
being composed of "common showy flowers" is a
model of beauty and neatness, the flowers in it
being of the most select and costly varieties, and
it was praised by all the delegates who were intel-
ligent enough to comprehend what a beautiful
garden is.
After leaving the refectory these gentlemen re-
tired to a circular enclosure (commonly called by
the students the campus or ellipse, it being ellipti-
cal in shape), in front of the college to enjoy a
smoke. This was entirely against the college
rules, as no one is allowed to smoke in or about
the college building.
Their criticism upon the chapel of the college
is about as mean as usual. They speak of it as
being " a mean low-ceiliuged room," capable of
holding perhaps two hundred people, and either
through carelessness on the occasion not ventilated
or incapable of being so. The chapel is a comi
fortable, well ventilated room, has not a low ceil,
ing, and is capable of holding four hundred people
The reason that Mr. Taylor, of Indiana county
and Mr. Turner, of Chester county, were elected
trustees was fully explained by Mr. McAllister.
The Western ExperimentaUFarm being in Indiana
county and the P^astern Experimental Farm in
Chester county, it is necessary to have some one
to represent the college in these localities.
In Dr. Colder's address he said the education a
student obtained at the college was equal, as far
as usefulnees is concerned, to that obtained at
Harvard or Yale. Does any intelligent mind
doubt this ? What finer country would any one
wish for the practical study of botany or geology ?
What better college would any one wish to attend
to learn practical surveying? What better col-
lege would any one wish to attend to study prac-
tical and scientific agriculture ? Ask any of the
graduates and students of the college these ques-
tions, and they will answer them as I answer them •
we can wish no better.
Farther on in their report I read, " of the num-
ber of students, a certain proportion are girls ; the
Professor did not say what proportion, but judg-
ing from appearances at the dinner-table we should
say one-third." At the time these gentlemen
were at the college there were exactly six young
ladies in attendance as boarding students and about
ninety male students, of which fact the delegates
heard Dr. Colder speak. With what candor do
they say, when speaking of the President's ad-
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
3
dress, " we do not think we have in any particu-
lar exaggerated it, but we must confess we could
not comprehend many of its parts." What better
evidence do we wish of a triumvirate of muddied
brains and ignoramuses. Yes, the graduates of
the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania could
not only enter the Freshman class at Harvard or
Yale, but they could compare favorably with its
highly polished graduates. Your dele gates say
they could not understand ' ' how an institution re-
ceiving $30,000 from the State and a like subsidy
from the United States Government should be so
involved as the Doctor represented it." The coL
lege does not receive a " like subsidy" from the
general government, nor does it receive a cent.
The total income of the college this year from the
endowment is $30,000, heretofore it was $24,000.
Out of this is paid $6,000 to the experimental
farms, and about $6,000 for interest upon the debt
of the college building. The remainder goes to
pay the salaries of the officers of the institution
and in making as many improvements as such
limited means will allow. This same statement
was made by Dr. Colder at the meeting of the
delegates, but these gentlemen had an axe to
grind and as it was not ground, the statement
must be misrepresented.
The investigation which they speak of as being
expedient, is just what the college authorities
wish, for by that means the members of the Legis
lature can sec that the college is struggling under
an insufficient income. They also wish upon that
investigating committee men who will criticise
fairly and honestly, those who have principle
enough to set a good example before the students,
and not sigh for " their ale," as the college is a
poor place to sigh for any intoxicating drink.
Some of the delegates got over this difficulty by
bringing it along with them, especially those who
bitterly complain of the want of water. After
further unjust criticisms they ask this question :
*' Does the school we have visited come up to the
idea of what an agricultural college should be ?"
They answer emphatically, " No !" I answer
equally as emphatically. Yes I Its lands are
naturally good, and art, labor and science have
lent them aid. The immediate surroundings are
kept in good order. Experiments on soils, crops,
manures, and varieties of seed are made upon
each and all of the experimental farms belonging
to the college. The admission of females to
the college has been found to be a perfect suc-
cess. The courses of study are as high as those
of any college in the State, and more numerous
than many possess. The scientific course can com-
pare favorably with those of Harvard and Yale.
These delegates, in conclusion, say : " As to the
Trustees of this ill-fated, abortive institution, we
know of no language sufficient wherewith to con-
demn them." Messrs. Lauer, Wanner and Stew-
art know of no language sufficient wherewith to
condemn such men as Hon. Francis Jordan,
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Hon. H. L.
McAllister of Bellefonte, James Kelley, the
philanthropist of Pittsburg, Hon. Frederick
Watts, Commissioner of Agriculture at Washing-
ton, and other eminent men. The Trustees of
the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania are, un-
like a few of the delegates sent to the college,
gentlemen and eminently fitted for the duties im-
posed upon them, faithful to their trust, and re-
spected among their fellow-citizens as men of
honor, intelligence and sobriety, the last virtue
being one in which, are not the aforesaid dele-
gates fearfully lacking?
If Augeas in his filth could hare smelt the
stench which arises from the lager beer breweries,
of which certain delegates are large stockholders,
he would undoubtedly have had a committee ap-
pointed to bore for Mr. Lauer's " artesian water."
This article I have written because I thought
an institution, which is eminent as an educational
school, should be protected from calumny and vi-
tuperation. I believe the college invites those
interested in agricultural education to visit it and
see for themselves; and come to the same conclu-
sion as many delegates have come to, viz.: that
such a report was written because the axe was not
ground as they wished it to be.
The college was never in a more prosperous
condition. There are 110 students in actual at-
tendance at Ihe college at this time, about 18 of
whom are females. I am told a full report of the
experiments of the last four years, made upon the
experimental farms, is being made out, and that
the financial status of the college will be present-
ed to the Legislature at the proper time.
In conclusion, I would say that the foregoing
statements are made from my knowledge of the
college and from having been present all the time
that the Berks county delegates were at the insti-
tution.
Hoping you will insert this, I remain
Yours, very respectfully,
B. W. Thomas.
I^Subscribe for the Lancaster Farmer. $1.50
per year.
Jf
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER,
SHORT-HORN COWS.
SHORT-HOEN COWS.
ALL the animals of the ox kind belong to the
order Rtjminantia — animals chewing the
cud — and the family BovidjE, in the great class
Mammalia — that is, animals having teats, or
mammce. In this family there are usually estima-
ed to be eight distinct and original species — the
different domestic breeds being merely varieties.
1. Bos urus, is the ancient Bison. 2. Bos lison,
the American buffalo. 3. Bos moschatus, the
musk ox. 4. Bos frontalis, the gayal. 5. Bos
grunnicus, the grunting ox. 6. Bos caffer, the
South-african buffalo. 7. Bo-i huhtdus, the com-
mon buffalo, and 8. Bos tawus, the common
domestic species. All the different varieties —
good, bad or indifferent — long-horns, short-horns
or middlings— ^are said to have been produced by
culture and crossing, from the original Bos tauriis;
and from Scripture records we have ample testi-
mony that oxen were owned by the patriarchs at
a very early date, and are supposed to be the same
species that are now domesticated in the different
parts of the world, both civilized and savage.
The most approved varieties are now included in
three general divisions, namely, short-horned, long-
horned and middle-horned ; but the distinctions
between these classes are becoming more modified
or diminished by crossing, and therefore it re-
quires somewhat of an expert to determine to
what stock some of them belong. In all ages and
climes these animals have been most highly
valued and prized, and among some nations they
have been deified. And well they might, for in
the abs jnce of any other god, commend us to a
cow in preference to a block of stone or wood .
Our illustration represents a Durham, or perhaps
a cross between that and a Yorkshire — a breed
which, on the whole, yields more milk than any
other variety known, although it may not be of
so rich a quality as some others. An experienced
stock grower, in scanning a cow, looks for a very
different outline in form, from what he does in a
horse. Dorsally and latterly, he looks for a
parallelogram, with very little projecting be-
yond, save the head and feet. Transversely, or
from an anterior or posterior view, he looks for a
right-angled, or cubic outline, with only the four
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
corners vacant — in short, the breadth and depth
should equal the length. These are, however,
only the superficies ; there are a hundred other
things between the head and the tail — the belly and
the back — the bone and the skin — which enter
into the composition of a good cow.
But a cow of any degree of good, and under
some circumstances even a bad one, is the greatest
animal blessing that has been vouchsafed to the
human familv.
ENTOMOLOGICAL.
THE HESSIAN FLY— (CECIDOMYIA DE-
STRUCTOR.)
FROM various sources we learn that this in-
sect has shown itself very destructive to
the wheat crop in the early part of the fall and
winter in diflPerent localities in this county. In a
conversation with Mr. Benjamin Pownall, an in-
telligent farmer of Christiana, we elicited some
facts from him on this subject of a very practical
character, and as they are suggestive of what
ought to be done in the premises we print them
for the benefit of farmers generally. Mr. P. in-
forms us that, for the sake of experimenting, he
sowed a field in wheat on the 20th of August last ;
also one about the 1st of September ; one on the
15th of September, and one about the 1st of Octo-
ber. The earliest sown was entirely destroyed by
the fly ; the next in date was nearly all destroyed,
but the last two were entirely free from their
ravages. From this it would appear that it is best
to sow late in order to escape the fly. But just
here comes in another '' trouble." It has been
found that late sowing in the fall — except under
peculiarly favorable circumstances — generally re.
suits in a late start, and consequently a late crop
in the spring and summer, and the trnuhle referred
to is this : The Hessian fly has a very near rela-
tive called variously the " wheat fly," " wheat
midge," or the " red weevil " — it is the cecidomyia
tritici, of naturalists, and consequently is a Jly.
Now, it has heretofore been found that wheat
sown early in the fall has matured so early in the
succeeding summer that the grain had hardened
before the fly made its appearance, and thus es-
caped it; whilst that which had been sown late fell
a prey to it. The Hessian fly attackg and exhausts
the stalks of wheat, whilst the midge attacks and
exhausts the grain while it is in the milky state.
Betwixt these two enemies, it will be perceived,
that the wheat crop has a fearful gauntlet to run,
nd the question arises, " How shall we get outo^
the frying-pan without falling into the fire ?" We
might perhaps circumvent the Hessian fly by sow-
ing only spring wheat, but then, except under
very favorable circumstances, resulting in early ri-
pening, this is the very kind of wheat that usually
falls a prey to the midge. If late fall sowing will
defeat the fly, then the sowing of those varieties
of wheat which are known to develop rapidly and
mature early will defeat the midge, and thus the
crop may be saved. It, however, does not follow
that these two enemies will succeed each other the
same season, for one or the other may occur in a«
succession of seasons and the other be entirely
absent. B.
•
A Bee Sting. — The sting of a bee is naturally
more violent than that of a wasp, and with some
persons is attended with fatal effects. Two
deaths from such a cause have occurred. The
sting of a bee is barbed at the end like a fish-
hook, and consequently is always left in the wound ;
that of a wasp is pointed, so that it can sting
more than once, but a bee cannot. When a per-
son is stung by a bee, let the sting be instantly
pulled out, for the longer it remains in the flesh
the deeper it will pierce, and the more poisonous
it will become. The sting is hollow, and the poi-
son flows through it, which is the cause of the
pain and inflammation. The extracting of the
sting requires a steady hand, for if it breaks in
the wound the pain will continue for a long time.
When the sting is extracted suck the puncture,
and thus prevent inflammation. Spirits of harts-
horn, if applied to the affected part, will more
fully complete the cure. The poison is acid, and
the alkali will neutralize it. If the hartshorn is
not at hand, saleratus can be wet and laid upon
the place ; and soft soap will often ease the acute
pain. On some people the sting of bees and
wasps have little eff"ect, but it greatly depends
upon the state of the blood whether it will prove
injurious, and these simple remedies, if applied at
once, will soon effect a cure.
HORTICULTURE.
GOSSIP ABOUT GRAFTING.
BY J. STAUFFER.
SOME one who signs himself as "Logos" sup-
poses he has discovered the true secret for
grafting. He starts out with the well known
views of Dr. Lindley — " Tliat each cell must have
its own inherent 'power of secretion" — which, he
6
THE LA JV CASTER FARMER.
continues, " has often struck me. I once saw a
white Muscat of Alexandria grape grafted on the
end of a cane of the black Hamburg. It, of
course, always bore white Muscat grapes in every
shade of color, every form, and every peculiarity
of taste the same as other Muscats not grafted .
yet all its sap had to be drawn through the cells
or sap vessels of the Hamburg. If the first had
the power of forming its own peculiar secretions
so as to retain its exact distinctiveness, why should
the wood-producing principle be deemed an excep-
tion ?" " Logos" then concludes : " If wood loas
formed, corporeally, from above downward,
would it not in time so incase the wood of the
stock, that when a shoot sprung out of what was
once the stock, it would be of the same character
as the scion ?"
So long as it was believed that absolute wood
was formed corporeally, from above downward,
such an inference was natural. The idea prevailed
that a scion would speedily form a sheath of wood
over the stock, and thus secure itself permanently
once a good union was formed. But Dr. Lindley
has shown years ago " that, although wood is
formed by a descending process, yet that its de-
scent is not in an organized state. Fluid matter,
out of which it is produced, passes, indeed, from
above downward, but the formation itself is wholly
local and superficial, and, consequently, there is no
such thing as an incasement of a lower part of a
tree by wood descending from above." Thus ad.
hesiononly takes place ingrafting, and no junction
can be permanent unless the stock and scion have
a great similarity, not only in every part of the
structure, but also in constitution, and that the
strictest consanguinity alone offers security that a
grafted plant shall be as durable as each of the
two individuals thus artificially joined is, when
left on its own root. Temporary unions are often
formed — when this rule is violated, to some de.
gree. Yet no intelligent grafter will depart from it.
" Logos" states a case that may be useful —
which I will give in his own words; " Two years
ago I received a lot of pear grafts from a distant
friend. They were buried in the ground at the
ends, so as to preserve them a few weeks till the
season was further advanced. When that came,
the closest search could not find them. In July,
while budding pears, I ' ran against' the grafts.
They appeared green and tolerably fresh, so I
budded them as I would do with young wood.
Every bud had started to grow immediately, and
made on an average, shoots a foot long before fall.
The result was that, though I had not quite as
strong plants as I should have had by March
grafting, I had double the quantity I should have
had ; beside, no failures" Cases of this kind give
practical hints which may be turned to some ac-
count.
A method for grafting the grape which proved
highly successful was, " by shortening a strong
cane in the fall of the year to within six or eight
feet from the ground ; it is then grafted wedge
fashion, and tied with grafting twine. The vine
is then bent down so as to bring the graft below
the ground, as in layering, a single eye only be-
ing allowed to remain above gronnd, and left so.
Another recommends the use of a narrow and
sharp blade ■ of a knife for grafting — by simply
making a smooth, narrow, oblique stab, so as to
get between the wood and inner bark to the depth
of about \^ inches, then to cut the graft so
wedged as to adapt it to the stab and to fill it
completely, to bring the edges of the bark to come
in close contact ; no evaporation or bleeding will
follow ; no open gap, if skillfully managed, so that
wax will not be required, unless to make it doubly
sure. Much more might be said from the varied
experience of practical men, but as the readers
of The Farmer are such, as a general rule, I will
only add by way of gossip, a kind of grafting
which really may be new, if not especially edify-
ing or useful.
Our savans" seem bent upon discovering
the hidden mysteries of nature, and to discover
the nature of engrafted tissues. The experiments
of M. Bert are of the highest interest, as they
show that the tissues of one animal may not only
be engrafted on those of another, but that after
a time they become supplied with blood-vessels,
etc. The following case, as published, is very sug-
gestive : " The tail of a full grown rat was re-
moved from the body and then inclosed in a glass
tube and maintained for 72 hours at a tempera-
ture of from 7° to 8° centigrade. It was after-
ward deprived of portions of its skin, and intro-
duced into the subcutaneous cellular tissue of an-
other adult rat. Three months afterward the
second animal was killed, and coloring matter was
injected into its aorta. This coloring substance
absolutely penetrated the marrow of the engraft-
ed vertebrae, thus showing that the tail had been
supplied with vessels communicating with those
of its host's body."
The above being vouched for by undoubted au-
thority, it would seem to prove that this graft of
animal tissues was more than simply adhesion —
a true circulation of the blood, it would seem,
TEE LA^r CASTER FARMER.
7
had been established. Well, it's curious, but
rather cruel to dismember even rats. But curi-
osity will investigate and science dissect and
analyze matter, as critics will writers. This ad-
moaishee me to " quote" Burns and " quit" :
Conceal ycrser as wool's ye can
Frae critical dissection';
But koelc thro' every other man
With lengthen'cl sly inspection."
DOMESTIC.
The Baldwin Applk. — Not more than one in
ten of those who enjoy the superior flavor of the
Baldwin apple knows from whence it originated.
For the enlightenment of the ignorant nine, we will
inform them that this peculiar species of fruit
came from a seeding planted by Josiah Pearce,
Esq., of the town of Baldwin, Me. From this
stock innumerable grafts have extended the fruit
far and wide ; but from a well known law of ex-
tension, the Baldwin apple is rarely found in per-
fection when far removed from the place where it
originated. In Maine, the color, texture, aroma
and solidity of the apple have nothing to desire,
being in truth so delicious that it might have
been akin to the one said to have brought difficulty
upon mother Eve. In other localities, where the
soil, climate, or culture may have proved unfriend-
ly, what is called the Baldwin apple may often be
found a total failur , being puffy, insipid, and sub-
ject to early decay.
Look to Your Orchards, — No investment of
the farmer pays so well as a good orchtird, and
every one should now attend to his fruit trees.
Cut out the dead ones, trim in time, plant thrifty
trees in the place of those taken out. Examine
the trunks and kill the worms, and see to it your
trees have a fair start in the spring. What better
crop can you raise than good apples. If you plant
out a young orchard, select those kinds that have
been proved most fruitful and the best adapted to
the climate. Select fruit of fine flavor, and those
that grow to perfection.
Gapks i\ Chickens and Pheasants. — In speak-
ing of the above dLsease among fowls, AV. B. Teg-
etmeier, the celebrated English breeder and
author, says, in a late number of the London Field,
that the " fatal disease, caused by the presence of
the gape-worm, appears unusually prevalent thi.s
season. I have had it in ray own runs, where it
has attacked some Sebright bantams ; but I have
found no difficulty in curing it by the means of
carbolic acid, which I first re( om nended for this
purpose last year. So potent are the fumes of
this powerful remedy, and so destructive are they
to parasitic life, that their inhalation for even a
few moments seems perfectly effectual in destroy-
ing the life of the worm. It is not even neces-
sary to employ any special apparatus ; a few drops
of carbolic acid may be placed in a spoon and held
over the flame of a candle until the vapor is seen
to rise, when the head of the young chicken or
pheasant (held in the other hand) may be placed
in the vapor, which the animal is forced to inhale.
Care must be taken not to carry on the process
until the fowl as well as the worms are killed. I
find after exposure to the fumes for a few seconds
the bird may be regarded as cured, and may be
seen running about quite well on the following
day; if not, the treatment should be repeated.
The medicinal carbolic acid is preferable to the
tarry liquid used for disinfecting sewers and
drains."
Strawberry Beds. - Make the soil deep, rich,
• and pulverize it thoroughly. This is all the most
successful grower ever attempted and accomplished.
When the soil is put into such a state, a man
may plant strawberries with a pretty good expec-
tation of obtaining a strong, vigorous growth, pro-
vided he obtains sorts adapted to his locality.
Whether he ever gets any fruit will depend some-
what upon the variety planted and the method of
culture adopted. But the ground- work and foun-
dation of success is in putting the land into the
condition we have described.
Keeping Eogs for Winter. — A lady reader
of the Rural Neiu Yorker sends us the following
recipe for preserving eggs for winter use, which
she says she clipped from the Country Gentleman.
She has used the recipe for several years with suc-
cess, and desires that the readers of the Rural may
also have the benefit of it. Though rather late in
the season, we give it more particularly for future
reference. The writer says : " In August I gen-
erally commence saving eggs, and am very careful
to save only good and fresh ones. I take boxes
which hold about 1.200. put on the bottom a layer
of oats, and set my eggs all point downward, so
that not one touches the other, until the layer is
full, then cover with oats and make another l-ayer,
and so on until the box is full, and then cover and
set in a cool, dry place, where it docs not freeze,
until used. I have followed this way for the last
twenty years, and cannot say that I ever lost more
than one or two out of fifty, and then generally
found that it was knocked or put down unsound.
8
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
I use small boxes, so that I can use first the eggs
which I put down first. I have never thought of
changing my way, although I have read so many
ways to do it, for instance, in ashes, in fat, in lime>
in lime water and even varnishing them, because
my way seemed to me the simplest and cleanest*
and I am just as sure to have good eggs next
February and March, which I lay in now, as I can
have good eggs now. There is no danger of hav-
ing any muBty taste to the eggs if you keep them
in a dry place and are careful to use dry oats,"
Prkventino the Germination of Potatoes
IN Cellars.— Much trouble is^experienced by
farmers.and others who have occasion to store po-
tatoes for a considerable length of time, in pre.
venting their germination, and consequently de-
preciation in value as food ; and our readers may
be interested to know that experiences prosecuted
in Germany, have shown that this may be meas-
urably prevented. This is accomplished by ex-
posing the potatoes to the va,por of sulphurous
acid, by any of the various well-known modes, and
a large mass of potatoes can be treated at the
same time. This process, if not entirely effective
in accomplishing the object, will retard or modify
the sprouting of the potato to such an extent as
to render the injury caused thereby very slight.
The flavor of the potato is not affected in the least
by this treatment, nor is its vitality diminished ;
the action being simply to retard or prevent the
formation and growth of the eyes.
Pastry. — Every housekeeper is supposed to
know all about pastry ; and yet it so often fails to
be the light, flaky article which it should be, in
order to be delicious and wholesome, that a few
suggestions may not be de trop. Very good
pastry may be made by taking two-thirds the pro-
portion of butter to flour, instead of the old rule,
" pound to pound all the world round." Be sure
that your materials are perfectly nice. Pastry
being made only of flour, butter, water, and salt,
should never be imposed upon by inferior ingredi-
ents, or it will tell the tale very quickly. Hav-
ing weighed your butter and flour, take out one-
third of the butter and crumble it into the flour,
adding salt if your butter is very fresh ; but this
is not generally needed. Then get ice-water, or
the coldest water you can find, and pour it gradu-
ally with one hand while you stir it with the other,
uijiil the paste is of a consistency fit to roll out.
Flour the board, and roll this out, and put over it
small pieces of the butter you have saved out, say
as large as a bean, and about two inches apart ;
after this is covered, dredge in some flour lightly,
turn over the edges of the pastry, pound it once
or tvv'ice with the rolling pin, and roll out as be-
fore, using your butter in three or four rollings.
Bake in a quick oven and do not open the door to
look at it for a few moments.
Heeling in Trees. - The Gardner's Monthly
says: "We have no doubt that more trees are
lost from imperfect heeling in than from any other
cause whatever," which every observing person
who has seen the way in which the roots of trees
are buried in masses with large interstices of air
among the roots will assent to. Trees badly
heeled in should not remain so twenty-four hours
before planting out. Clods and masses of earth
are merely thrown on the tops of roots, and only
shade them from the sun's rays. In a few days the
roots will become dry, because they are not in con-
tact with the moist earth. If the heeling in is well
performed, every crack and crevice will be com-
pactly filled with fine pulverized earth, and the
trees will keep a long time, as well as in the
nur ery rows. If badly heeled in autumn, and left
till spring, trees are nearly, if not wholly, ruined
by freezing and drying combined.
To Keep Milk Sweet. — A teaspoonful of fine
salt or of horse-radish, in a pan of milk, will keep
it sweet for several days. Milk can be kept a year
or more as sweet as when taken from the cow by
the following method : Procure bottles which
must be perfectly clean, sweet and dry ; draw the
milk from the cow into the bottles, and, as they
are filled, immediately cork them well, and fasten
the cork with packed thread or wire. Then
spread a little straw in the bottom of a boiler, on
which place the bottles, with straw between them,
until the boiler contains a sufficient quantity. Fill
it up with cold water, heat the water, and as soon
as it begins to boil draw the fire, and let the whole
gradually cool. When quite cold, take out the
bottles and pack them in sawdust in hampers, and
stow them away in the coolest part of the house.
Separating Honey from Bee-brkad.— A lady
correspondent of the California Agriculturist
gives the following convenient and old-fashioned
way for separating honey from bee-bread :
Put such pieces of comb as have bread in them
into round tin butter cans (those a little flaring at
the top are best), until nearly full. Then set the
THE LA J^'C ASTER FARMER,
9
wash-boiler on the stove with water a few inches
deep in it. but not enough to boil up into the cans ;
then lay a few pebbles or an iron chain evenly on
the bottom and set the cans on them ; put the
cover on the boiler and let the honey steam until
all the wax is melted, which can be ascertained by
a small stick or wire. -The honey must not be
stirred if you wish it clear. When it is all
melted, lift the cans out and set away carefully to
cool, and when just about milk warm, with knife
and fork lift the wax and bread off the top, and
yourhouey will be clear and nice in the can.
Facts for Farmers. — A series of experiments
instituted to test the average loss in weight by
drying show that corn loses one-fifth, and wheat
one- fourteenth by the process. From thi-i the
statement is made that farmers will make more by
selling unshelled corn in the fall at 75 cents than
the following summer at ^1 a bushel ; and that
wheat at $1.32 iu December is equal to $1.50 for
the same wheat iu June following. This estimate
is made on the basis of interest at 7 per cent., and
takes no account of loss from vermin. These
facts are worthy of consideration. — Ex.
To Soften Putty and Remove Paint. — To
destroy paint on old doors, etc., and to soften
putty in window frames, so that the glass may
be taken out without breaking and cutting, take
one pound of American pearlash, three pounds of
([uick-stone lime, slake the lime in water, add the
pearlash and make the whole about the consist-
ence of paint. Apply it to both sides of the
glass, and let it remain for twelve hours, when the
])utty will be softened so that the glass may be
taken out of the frame without being cut, and
with the greatest facility. To destroy paint, lay
the above over the whole body with an old brush
(as it will spoil a new one) ; let it remain for
twelve or fourteen hours, when the paint can be
easily scraped off.
To Prkserve and Purify Cider. — The Cleve-
land Leader says the following was sent by a
well-known gentleman of that city, and his recipe
is entitled to consideration :
Use five eggs for each barrel, and beat them
well, yolk and all, and pour them into the bung-
hole, stir well with a stick, and add a spoonful of
coarse salt. In about two weeks the cider will be
as clear as crystal, and of a light amber color.
'I'liose who like sweet cider can do it while new,
but fermentation will be immediately arrested at
any desired time. It will keep in the same state
for years, if drawn off down to the sediment and
put into a clean cask, which should be done after
it becomes clear ; but without that process it will
keep for a year, but lose some of its fine fliavor,
unless separated from the must and dregs at the
bottom.
TiiR Scotch System in the Dairy. — The F^cot
tish Farmer says the manager of a large dairy in
Scotland gives the following as general orders for
all hands employed about his stock :
1. Every cow must be in her stall at the ap-
pointed time of milking.
2. Milkers are expected to be on hand at 4| A.
M. and 5J P. M., Sundays excepted, when milking
will commence at 65^ A. M. and 5|^ P. M. -
3. Each milker will have charge of a definite
number of stalls, and will be held responsible for
the thorough milking of every cow occupying
them.
4 Gentle words and kind treatment are en-
joined. Striking cows with stools, clubs or heavy
sticks will under no circumstances be allowed.
5. In driving the cows to and from pasture,
great pains must be taken not to hurry them.
Mattresses. — For the majority of farmers husks
are the most available material for mattresses.
They may be prepared by children, or, on a rainy
day, all hands can assist in the work. The ruts
and refuse should be rejected. A well made
husk mattress on an underbed of straw or laid on
springs makes a very cheap and comfortable* rest-
ing-place. . In the coldest weather it may be
necessary to lay on top a thin hair or cotton mat-
tress for warmth. Those living on a sheep farm
can have a first-class bed by saving the tags and
coarse wool and making it into a mattress. Wool
never wears out, and for softness, warmth and
elasticity is preferable even to hair. The only ad-
vantage the latter has over it is in the fact that
moths never molest hair mattresses, but if the
ticking is good they cannot infest the wool.
Thirty-five pounds of hair or wool will make a
f^ood mattress, though forty-five pounds is the al-
lowance for those of greatest thickness.
" Amatrl'r" asks us to name the best work on
dairy products.
We know nothing better, or, what is more im-
j)ortant, more practical than WiUard's Practical
Dairy Husbandry, by X. A. Willard. It con-
tains 546 pages, and is a complete treatise on
10
THE LAKCASTEU FARMER.
dairy farms and farming ; dairy stock and stock-
feeding ; milk, and its manufacture into butter
and cheese. We know of no work upon this ques-
tion wherein the writer has better proven him-
self to be possessed of a practical knowledge of the
question. We consider it better than the work al-
luded to by our correspondent.
He may also obtain much valuable information
from the annual reports of the American Dairy-
men's Association and those of the Northwestern
Dairymen's Association, the former, published at-
Syracuse, New York, and the latter at Madison,
Wisconsin. They both give the practical results
of practical men, who discuss various questions
of interest at the general meetings. Both reports
refer more directly to the manufacture of cheese,
but contain a fair amount of information with re-
gard to butter. If he wishes to direct his atten
tion to butter-making, we would advise him to ob-
tain " Practical Hints on Dairying ; or, a Manual
for Butter-Making," by John P. Corbin, New
York.
To Makk a Shekp Own a Lamb. — A correspon-
dent writes : " Sometimes it is desirable to make
one sheep own the lamb of another, but often it is
a difficult task. An experiment that we tried a
few days since proved a perfect success, and was
easily conducted ; and for the benefit of those who
may be similarly situated we communicate it to
your columns. One of our sheep lost her lamb.
In a few days a yearling dropped a lamb Jwhich
she id not own, and, in fact, had no milk for it_
We took the lamb immediately after it was
dropped and sprinkled it with fine salt and placed
it with the sheep that had lost her lamb, and in a
short time was as fond of it as she was of her own-
She is now taking the greatest care of her adopted
charge." — Western Rural.
According to Dacaisue, the rolling of fruit is
caused by two microscopic fungi, which are devel-
oped in moist or confined air. If the fruit is
wrapped up in cotton or with soft tissue paper, or,
still better, in waxed paper or tin foil, the intro-
duction of these germs, will be prevented, and
the fruit may be kept for a long time without any
change.
The names of these two microscopic fungi are
mucor mucedo, and penmciulum ylaucum, but we
don't know any more now than we did before. —
Phila. Age.
I^Subscribe for the Lancaster Farmer. $1.50
per year.
CORRESPONDENCE.
PLOWING BY STEAM.
TO THE EDITOR OF FARMER :— The
numerous inquiries addressed us in respect
to steam plowing by direct traction, as opposed to
the more cumbrous and costly ''double engine and
rope system," induces us to request space for a few
remarks which may interest parties who desire
information as to our experiments at Bloomsdale.
The engine used by us mainly is the three
wheeled, rubber-tired, of Thomson, of Scotland,
improved greatly ))y Williamson, of New York,
the American patentee, and sole builder in this
country. One with four wheels, the drivers being
fitted with rubber tire (also by the same party),
has been experimented with, but the first-named ex-
cited most interest, and probably will be generally
preferred ; though the latter has some good points
which are not to be overlooked.
In this communication we shall confine our-
selves, however, to the three-wheeled engine, the
special advantages of which are fully set forth in
various publications on the subject, to which the
reader is referred.
Our experiments were commenced in August, of
the present year, under the direction of an aid of
Mr. Williamson, who, though not a professional
engineer, was quite an expert in mechanics; he
proved to be ever ready to acknowledge minor de-
fects as they were exhibited from time to time,
and prompt in a desire to amend them.
At first some difficulty was found in steering the
engine, so as to have each furrow swath regularly
and uniformly lap the preceding, but a little prac-
tice overcame the inclination to vary from the
proper line. The gang of five or six plows, (five
being principally used), are of steel, made by the
Ames Plow Company, of Boston, and are affixed
to an oblique rigid beam, so inclined as to cause
each furrow slice to fall into its proper place, and
with levers so adjusted as to run the plows to
the desired depth, say eight inches, as in our trials,
though a shallower or deeper depth may be adopt-
ed at pleasure. Each plow turns a slice of four-
teen inches, and when five only are used the
breadth simultaneously turned is nearly six feet.
The speed usually exceeds that of mules or horses
when engaged in plowing, and we have, without
difficulty, accomplished an acre in an hour. With
greater experience and proper facilities for sup-
plying fuel and -water, there is little room to doubt
tight acres a day, with full allowance for deteu-
THE LAJ^CASTEB. FABMER
11
tions and stoppages, may be set down as an aver-
age result. Indeed we hope, with increased prac-
tice, and the more thorough removal of obstruc-
tions, to exceed that area.
It is not, however, from the plows that we
look for the most important results, but from an
implement, termed by the English a " breaker."
which is simply a series of iron coulters or sub-
soilers, so arranged on a frame as to cover a.
breadth of nine feet, which, as it offers less resist.
ance than plows, moves with greater facility,
and prepares many acres a day. This breaker is
designed at one operation to disintegrate and pul.
verize the surface soil, and also disturb the hard
pan below it may be months after it has been
plowed — and with a harrow attachment used
simultaneously, leave the surface smooth and ready
for seeding. Practical men can at once perceive
the advantage of this process.
In our own culture, with five hundred or more
acres to prepare for seeding, if possible betwixt
the opening of spring and the first of May ensu"
ing, it may be difiBcult to estimate its value, es-
pecially as we propose to execute the plowing
in autumn, and early winter — only using the
breaker end harrow in spring to lighten up and
further disintegrate the soil. Such, it is certain,
may be a profitable practice in the preparation of
oat and corn lands, and also emphatically so with
exhausted cotton lands of the South, allowing the
plant as it were to revel in fresh pastures ; and with
an imperfect knowledge of rice culture, obtained
by casual observation, we do not hesitate to say
the traction engine and breaker is destined to re-
cover our almost abandoned interest in that crop.
Not only will cropping be thus facilitated, but if
the experience of our English brethren be con-
firmed here, of which there can be no doubt, en-
larged products will attend the more thorough
tillage which steam-pow er may enable us to prac-
tice.
"VVe do not purpose, on this occasion, to enter
into details as to the relative cost of muscular, ani-
mal and steam plowing, but we may say, that if
with steam eight acres a day can be counted on
as an average day's plowing, and twice that
number with the breaker, there ni ed be no ques-
tion as to its economy oq large plantati-ons ; no.
body, it is presumed, imagines steam is adapted to
the tillage of small farms, except through a sys-
tem of co-operation among farmers.
It is hardly necessary to say that, in addition to
plowing, the Williamson steamer will be of
great service in hauling farm produce and manure
threshing grain, sawing wood, grinding fertilizers,
and in many similar employments, which the pro-
gressive farmer must adopt in self-defense.
David Landredtii & Son,
Bloomsdale, near Philadelphia, December, 1872.
AGRICULTURAL MEETING.
MESSRS EDITORS:— It appears by the
report of the December meeting of the
Horticultural Society that a proposition for hold-
ing an exhibition next fall of agricultural, mechan-
ical, horticultural and otlier productions was ap-
proved generally. There is no doubt in my mind
but that Ijancasier city and county can, or ought
to, get up such an exhibition as would be an
honor to all concerned -if only the people gener-
ally will aid the society by taking as much interest
in the affair as they do in many other counties.
York county has been holding such fairs for many
years, and the interest taken by the people in ex-
hibitiuff and visiting does not decrease ; but. as
we can say from being present, that last fall was
the best show out, and the greatest collection of
people of any preceding fair.
Chester and Berks and many other counties are
holding such exhibitions annually, and from what
we hear, generally very successfully. Then why
should not Lancaster " go and do likewise ?" We
certainly have the material, if only the people will
encourage it to get up a first-class exhibition.
However, as the experiment has been tried years
ago of getting up such exhibitions in the usual
form, which proved failures, would it not be worth
while for the society to at least take into consider-
ation the propriety of changing the pro-
gramme, and instead of getting up a mere show
of fa?t horses, big pumpkins and raree-shows, as
the usual custom of such fairs, and, for a change,
to get up a regular market fair. This would give
variety, and 'tis said " variety is the spice of life."
You would then have the substantial and business
men to take part and encourage the institution.
People who have anything to sell, and those de-
siring to buy, would here come together and ex-
change their articles to the mutual advantage of
both parties. Such an exhibition would not be a
mere show to amuse, but can be made of sub-
stantial benefit to all parties.
This plan is found to work well in Europe, and
has been tried in some of the Eastern States with
success. Will the society take this matter into
consideration and judge if the plan is feasible or
not? It would be "something new under the
sun," for Lancaster county at least ; and the very
navelty of the affair would, I believe, attract
notice, and be approved by a majority of the
people. I merely throw out these hints for the
societv to consider. Respectfully,
J. B. G.
Dec. 14, 1872.
[Although our society, at the meeting referred
to, expressed a desire that our annual exhibitions
ought to be gotten up on a more extensive and
improved plan, yet no special system was then
suggested or adopted. We confess that we like
1^
THE LA J\' CASTER FARMER-
the idea suggested by our venerable correspondent,
and hope that something of that sort may ulti-
mately prevail in Lancaster county.]
THE BEE AND BEE-KEEPING— NO. 5.
BY URIAH STRICKLER.
HIVES.
DURING the season in which there is but
little work to do hives should be prepared
for next season. All hives should be painted,
and since bees do not like the smell of paint, it is
necessary to paint them some time before the
swarming season, so that they may be perfectly
dry and free from smell before using them. All
bee-keepers should give due attention to the style
and size of their hives, upon both of which de-
pends in a great degree whether keeping bees be
profitable or not.
There are hundreds of worthies^ patented hives
scattered all over the country, against which we
would caution the readers of The Farmer. Pat-
entees and their agents, or those having bought
territory, travel around among bee-keepers, ex-
tolling the virtues of their hives, claiming that
they are superior to all others. With few excep-
tions they are provided with certificates of the
enormous quantities of honey produced by their
hive, and premiums for " best bee-hives" from
county and State fairs throughout the country.
Everything is now recommended as well as pat-
ented, and " diplomas" and premiums from fair
committees is no longer a recommendation. If
one has nothing to offer in favor of his hi'^e, ex-
cept Ihe large amount of honey bees will store in
it, and a favorable notice from a committee, set it
down at once as a humbug. All variations trom
the common box hive are for the convenience of
man, not for the benefit of the bees. Bees will
store as much honey in a box, keg or hollow log
of the proper size, as in any patent fixture made
for this special purpose.
We do not condemn all patent hives, for there
is one really valuable improvement made in hives.
We have reference to the movahle comb hive.
For the introduction of this valuable improve-
ment, which has completely revolutionized the
science of bee culture, we are indebted to the' Rev.
L. L. Langstroth. All patented hives without
the movable comb improvement are unworthy the
attention of intelligent bee-keepers. In the next
number of The Farmer we will speak of some of
the advantages of this hive, and also of some of
the disadvantages of several other styles of pat-
ented hives.
The size of the hive is a very important matter.
Some English authors recommend hives containing
about 1,200 cubic inches, while bee-keepers in the
United States, a few degrees north of us, say they
should contain not less than 2,000 cubic inches.
Our experience is that in our latitude hives con-
taining from 1,700 to 1,800 cubic inches, in the
clear inside, are the proper size. The queen needs
room for all her eggs, and the bees need space to
store their winter provisions. When this is too
small, their supply of food is liable to be exhaust-
ed. The swarms from such hives will be small,
and the stock liable to accidents. If too large,
more honey will be stored than is required for
their winter use. It is evident that a portion of
this might have been stored in surplus boxes and
thus secured, ifthe hive had been smaller. Swarms
will issue but seldom from such hives, and will not
be proportionately large. A medium between the
two is no doubt better adapted than either ex-
treme. In this latitude hive^s containing from
1,700 to 1,700 cubic inches contain room enough
for breeding and for winter stores, while several
degrees farther north, where the winters are longer,
and consequently more stores required to winter
on, 2,000 cubic inches is not too large,
HINTS FOR JANUARY.
Whether it is preferable to winter bees on their
summer stands, or in a building, in this latitude is
still an open question. We have tried both plans,
but finding advantages as well as disadvantages
in both, we are still undecided. Strong stocks
can, we think, be wintered as well out as in-doors,
but weak ones had better be housed as they fre-
quently freeze when out-doors during very cold
weather. When wintered in- doors less bees are
lost and less attention required, but wintered out-
doors they begin to breed earlier. Prom Novem-
ber to March is too long to keep bees confined
without flying out. If mild weather occurs, they
should be taken to their summer stands at least
once, but better twice, during the winter, that they
may fly out to discharge their faeces.
If very cold weather continues more than two
or three weeks in succession, bees will frequently
starve, although they may have honey enough.
At the beginning of cold weather they crowd
closely together, in order to keep warm —the
whole colony often occupying less than one-fourth
of the combs. The cluster is in that part of the
hive where there is no sealed honey, where the
combs are thin, and where there are many empty
cells into which the bees creep. They pack them-
selves more densely as the weather grows colder.
When they have consumed all the honey contain-
ed in the few open cells widiin the cluster, if cold
weather continues they must starve. Moderate
weather usually intervenes in time to save them ;
but if it does not, the hives should be taken to a
warm room for a short time to give the bees an
opportunity to reach the honey. In handling the
hives, jarring and any unnecessary disturbance
should be avoided. (Occasionally, when there is
no frost in the hives, they should be raised care-
fully and all the dead bees, dirt, etc., swept out.
If there is sufficient snow at any time to cover
the hives entirely it may remain, as it affords a
good protection in the coldest weather. When
there is but a little around the bottom board it
should be swept away. When a warm spell oc-
curs, the bees may and ought to fly out, if the
ground be dry, or the snow covered with. a hard
crust, but, if a light snow is on the ground, every
means should be used to prevent it. A bee can
alight on an icy crust and rise again, but in a
soft snow it sinks to die. Careful shading helps
to keep them back.
THE LANCASTER FAKMER.
13
ihe Jautasitct
gmwu
LANCASTER, JANUARY, 1873.
3. S. RiVlHVDi^ Ai^O ALEX. HASrSIS, Ediljrs.
Published monthly under the auspices of the /*gi!IC0L-
TUKAL ANDHo -TICOLTDUAL SOCIETY.
01 a^ per YoHr in Aflvanec.
A ronsiderable deduction t" clubs of five or more.
AH commucic tions, to iti.suie insertion, must be in the
hands of the fditors before the 20th of each month. Ad-
dress Ra'livon & Harris, Lancaster, Pa.
All advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
addrrssofthepuMLher, J. P. D1':VELIN,
Inquirer Building, Lancastt-r, Pa.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
l*^ ENTLE patrons every one" — a thrice
\ X l^cippy -^^^ Year. Perhaps at no
period since the origin of our journal have
Me. and all mankind, been so peculiarly and
so propitiously situated as at this time. All the
world is at this moment in the enjoyment of a
more profound state of peace than has prevailed
in the human family for very many years. We
do not know a single part of the inhabited world,
at this moment, where it can be said a war of any
kind exists, unless it may be those hidden con-
flicts which do not come fairly within the sphere
of human vision, except so far as may relate to
the knowledge of the individual man — the con-
flicts between the natural and the spiritual ele-
ments of his organization.
Under the auspices of this profound state of
peace — which we fondly hope may result in a cor-
responding state of prosperity — we again launch
our unpretending bark upon the sea of journal-
ism for another annual voyage ; and we earnestly
invite our old passengers, and as many new ones
as may feel a disposition to sail with us, to take an
annual passage on our craft. The Farmkr is be-
coming a " fixed institution" amongst us, and so
long as its friends desire its continuance we will
endeavor to gratify that desire. And we will
labor in that behalf the more cheerfully because
the work is in harmony with our own sympathies,
and because we have ever f It, and still feel, that
a journal devoted to the agricultural and horticul-
tural interests of our great county is a thing that
is needed, whether all those who are devoted to
those occupations appreciate its necessity or not-
And now, having started out again, we as earnest-
ly solicit those valuable cargoes of freight which
we know our agricultural friends can contribute
if they only will, and which are the chief instru-
ments in the dissemination of practical agricul-
tural knowledge. We do not expect elegant or
grammatical compositions, in every case, for we
know that these are not always procurable ; but
we desire facts, as they come within the compre-
hension and experience of practical men. No
matter how crude these facts may be, we will en-
deavor to give them a " top-dressing" that will
make them intelligible, useful and symmetrical, if
we cannot impart to them acknowledged ideas of
beauty.
Thankful, for the favors of the past, and im-
bued with the virtues of that profound peace
which now pervades our country and the world at
large, we repeat to our patrons the usual — " covi-
plimeuts of the season."
MEKTING OP THE LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIP]TY.
THE December meeting of the society was
held in the Orphans' Court Room, Mon-
day tht 2d of the said month ; Henry M. Engle in
the chair, and Alex. Harris secretary. After the
reading and approval of the minutes of the last
meeting several members reported the condition
of the crops in their difierent localities.
H. M. Engle said the last corn crop was one of
the best that had been raised in the county for
years. Potatoes were also very excellent. The
apples, though fine, were rotting considerably.
The fall wheat was well set and promises a good
crop.
Milton B. Eshelman remarked that the wheat
of his section had been injured by a white worm
to a considerable extent, and one which was new
to the section.
Mr. Engle had not as yet seen or heard of this
worm.
A. D Hostetter said apples are already becom-
ing scarce, although the crop was so abundant ;
the rot has been very destructive.
Mr. Engle thought apples grown on heavy
limestone soil are much more li-kely to keep well
than those grown upon low, moist ground.
Mr. Eshelman attributed the rotting of the
apples to the fact that they had matured too
early.
Ephraim Hoover reported his apples as keeping
well. Heretofore he has been in the habit of
turning his swine into his orchard, which devoured
u
THE LANCASTER FABMER.
the punctured apples, and this had a iendency to
diminish the enemies of the fruit and prevent
their propagation. He thought his course in this
particular had much to do with the present con-
dition of his apple crop. In this Mr. Englc con-
curred.
Casper Miller was of opinion that apples
grown upon moist soil will keep better than those
raised upon dry.
Levi S. Reist believed in high ground and red
shale soil for apples. Plums had done remark-
ably well with him this year.
Henry M. Engle attributed the increase of the
plums to the fact of having had such poor crops
for years [past. The absence of the crop for sev-
eral years had prevented its enemies from propo-
gating.
Levi Shenk of Rapho, was elected a member of
the society.
Henry M. Engle next proceeded to read an essay
upon the method of making unfermeuted bread.
Levi S. Reist doubted if it were possible to ever
get the people to adopt Graham bread ; this he
thought would be the case even though it could
be demonstrated that it was the most wholesome.
S. P. Eby in this differed with Mr. Reist. If it
can be established to be the most wholesome, the
difficulty would be overcome as to its general in>
troduction.
0. L. Hunsecker illustrated by an anecdote the
variety of many tastes, and that they will indulge
their tastes. He believed Graham bread to be
wholesome, but the trouble is that men will eat
what their appetites crave. He regarded it quite
as injurious to overload the stomach by too
much food, the same as by having too dainty a
quality of diet.
L. S. Reist firmly believed the day would come
when Graham bread would be generally used, as
he had no doubts of its superior wholesomeness.
D. G. Swartz favored going back to unbolted
flour for bread. It was clear to his mind as being
the most wholesome.
M. D. Kendig desired to see the Graham bread
have a fair trial.
After some further discussion of the question
society on motion adjourned.
"We are sorry to say that we are again compelled
to call the attention of our Bubscribers to the
yellow slips on their paper. There is no reason
why every one of them should net read January
or February, '74. We know it is only negligence
and forgetfulnesa. We trust all will pay particu-
lar attention to the bills enclosed in the journals,
also take advantage of the inducements we offer
in our advertising columns. We want to increase
the circulation of The Farmer to a paying basis,
and are willing to work for our expenses until
this is established. In addition to the induce-
ments offered in our advertising columns we will
present to the person bringing us one hundred
subscribers at $1.25 per copy and $2.5 additional,
a first-class Howe Sewing Machine, warranted t^
be worth $100 in cash, or to any less number of
subscribers at same rates a proper equivalent
in cash. Any person sending us a club of five
subscribers at .f 1.25 each will receive a copy of
the great Industries of the United States, a large
volume of over 1300 pages and 500 engravings
handsomely bound. For eight subscribers at
$1.25 each, an extra copy of the same will be sent
in addition. We trust our friends will take ad-
vantage of these^liberal offers and those in arrears
we hope will pay up promptly and send us in large
numbers of subscribers.
The Lancaster Farmer. —What a "household
word " that name has become in our land— not
only in its application to the yeomanry of our
county, but also in its application to our journal
— thrilling the hearts of its former citizens in their
new homes abroad, and looked for, with welcome
expectation, by its friends at home. We would
infinitely rather have the title of ''Lancaster
Farmer" applied to us than that of general, king^
prince or president — that is, deservedly applied —
although we cannot say we have any hankering
after titles for their mere sake alone. What a
noble title is that of simply farmer, or, as " Zach.
Meanwell " has it, American Farmer — " Now do
I feel the enviable independence of an American
farmer, for while he turns the furrows and scatters
the seed he feels that he is not laboring for a
master." The name of farm, or farm,er, enters
into the titles of the most respectable and impos-
ing agricultural journals of our whole country.
1 hese names, and the material interests they rep-
resent, cannot be ignored, because they constitute
i\ie palladium of our Stale and national prosperity.
There is a magic power in a well-earned name.
Farmers of Lancaster county, help us to build up
and perpetuate an honest and an honored name — ■
the simple name of Farmer.
Meeting of the Pennsylyania Fruit-Growers'
Society. — We hope our horticultural readers will
bear in mind this live association meets in the city
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
15
of Reading, on the ISth of the preKent month.
From the published programme, it promises to he
an interesting and instructive occasion, and we
hope the fruit-growers of Lancaster county will
help to make it such, by sending a large delega-
tion. All interested in fruit culture are invited to
be present, and aid it in disseminating practical
knowledge on this subject among the people ; and
from the experiences of the past, we think we can
assure our readers of a useful and entertaining
time. Fruit culture, in spite of counter oppera-
tious, is becoming a leading interest in the indus-
trial pursuits of our country, and the more that is
done in that behalf now, the more earnestly pos-
terity call the present generation blessed.
IVIISCELANEOUS
RANDOM SKETCHES AND FARM VIEWS.
BY H. M. ENGLB.
No. 14.
^ARM life is by many considered monotonous
and drudging, while by others it is pro-
nounced all that a man need desire as regards
earthly happiness and enjoyment.
Both these conclusions are arrived at honestly,
but from far different stand-points. Both are
correct according to practice, simply because we
live and practice so widely different.
There are thousands of tillers of the soil who
labor and toil almost incessantly, early and late
they work, work, work, of which the good house-
wife has generally more than her share. Children
are trained up in the same routine, having no time
for recreation except Sundays, which time is oft-
times appropriated with a vengeance. Their
school term and even their school hours are often
cut short for the purpose of wresting a little more
work from their growing muscles. Mental disci*
pline and training is in many cases considered of
secondary importance.
We need, therefore, not wonder why farmers and
farmers' sons and daughters are generally looked
upon by town and city people as being a grade or
two lower in the scale of intelligence than they-
Many of the above class of farmers accumulate
wealth more, however, by saving than by enter-
prise, and seemed to be well satisfied with their
lot; of their sons and daughters, however, it is
different, for a large proportion are dissatisfied
and long for a change.
Many young farmers possessing advanced ideas
have left their father's avocation and are engaged
in other apparently successful pursuits ; whether
for better or worse results only will prove ; others
nevertheless will follow, as young America ig
bound to go ahead whether right or wrong.
One thing is certain, that many of the most suc-
cessful business men in towns and cities have been
either farmers, mechanics or laborers. Although
many of these appropriate their energies to busi-
ness only, there are not a few among them who are
of very high intelligence and refinement.
This fact proves that muscular labor does not
preclude either business, intelligence or refinement.
There is also a class of farmers who do not labor
but have their farms well improved and every-
thing belonging thereto in the best of order. They
are men of extensive means. They superintend
and give directions behind a span of 2:40s, and
may be termed a kind of kid-glove yeomanry.
They live on the best that their land produces,
and would not dispense with farming under any
circumstances; are generally intelligent, and give
their children a good education. Life with them
passes smoothly, as farming in their style is no
drudgery. This class of farmers, however, have
not accumulated their wealth by farming. They
have either inherited wealth, or made it by some
easier or quicker way, and, therefore, are not
proper patterns to copy from.
There is, however, a third class of farmers which
are worthy the name of true yeomanry. They are
not above laboring with their own hands, nor be-
neath the dignity of true gentlemen. They apply
their mental as well as their physical energies to
their avocation. Farming with them is a suc-
cess. As a class, they, perhaps, do not accu-
mulate as much wealth as either of the former,
but they never stint themselves nor their stock,
and pay their laborers and mechanics fair wages,
and all they owe. They give their children a re-
spectable education, and keep posted with the age
in which they live. A library is considered a ne-
cessity, and a few good papers and periodicals in-
dispensable. The good wife is not subjected to
continual drudgery, but enjoys intellectual treats
and recreations. A taste is shown for the orna-
mental as well as the useful. Not only orchards
and fruit gardens are planted, but also ornamental
trees, shrubs and flowers. Things around their
residences look fresh and green both summer and
winter. Musical taste and talent is also shown
by the presence of a melodeon or organ in the par-
lor, to which their youths of both sexes resort and
16
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
make the interior cheerful also. Neatness, thrift,
and an abundance of life's comforts are general
characteristics of such homes. With all these ap-
parent expenditures, which the former class alluded
to would consider extravagance, these live in com-
fortable circumstances, and when reasonable de-
mands are made on their philanthropy they are
not found wanting.
These characteristics so far as enumerated are
our ideal of what farm-life should be, and gener.
ally may be. Agricultural and horticultural so-
cieties and colleges are now doing much toward
elevating the tillers of the soil to the standard to
which they are entitled. May the time speedily
arrive when none shall have occasion to look upon
farm-life despisingly, for if not already a profession
it eventually will be, and stand in honor, dignity
and intelligence equal to any other profession.
IMMENSE WHEAT FARMS.
THERE are three wheat farms in the San
Joaquin Valley with areas respectively of
36,000 acres, 23,000 acres, and 17,000 acres. On
the largest of these farms the wheat crop this
year is reputed to be equal to an average of 40
bushels to the acre, the yield running up on some
parts of the farm to 60 bushels. The product of
this farm for the present year is 1,440,000 bushels.
The boundary on one side of his farm is 17 miles
long. At the season of plowing, ten four-horse
teams were attached to ten gang-plows, each gang
having four plows— or forty horses with as many
plows were started at the same time, the teams
following in close succession. Lunch or dinner
was served at the midway station, and supper at
the terminus of the field, seventeen miles distant
from the starting-point. The teams returned on
the following day. The wheat in this immense
field was cut with twenty of the largest reapers,
and we believe has now all been threshed and put
in sacks. It would require over forty ships of
medium size to transport the wheat on this farm
to a foreign market. Even the sacks required
would make a large hole in the surplus money
of most farmers. We have not the figures for
the product of the other two farms, but presume
that the average is not much below that of the
first. There are thousands of tons of wheat
which cannot be taken out of the valley this sea-
son, and must remain over as dead capital, or,
what is nearly as undesirable, will only command
advances at heavy rates of miQiQsX.— Bulletin.
ABOUT DEEP PLOWING.
THERE was never, perhaps, a better illustra-
tion of the truth of the moral drawn from
the old fable of the chameleon than has been ex-
hibited by the learned discussion of the past year
about the value of deep plowing. This discussion
is still continued in agricultural papers and
farmers' clubs. Indeed, it was in one of these last
that the discussion first opened — the celebrated
Farmers' Club of New York. It has been a gen-
eral truth that deep soils were the best, but some
one of these modern philosophers started the idea
that deep plowitig was a great injury. He had
tried it and knew whereof he spoke.
It is hard to get over the statement of that man
who avers positively that the animal is black.
There could not indeed be the least doubt but
that those who had spoken this way found the re-
sults to be injurious just as he stated they were.
Moreover, now comes a very careful set of experi-
ments made on corn by the Michigan College,
in which many tracts of corn plants, with the soil
plowed of different depths, and just in proportion
to the different depths of plowing did the amount
of the crop decrease. Besides this there are score
of cases, undoubtedly genuine and truthfully
stated, wherein there was loss from deep plowing.
On the other hand thousands can testify to the
fact that deep plowing has been the great founda-
tion of success with them ; and they would as
soon abandon their hope of all that is blessed as
to give up this time-honored and time-proved
practice. The animal is red to them.
There would be no harm in this if each party
would only admit that the other might possibly
be right. But they will not. Each fights for his
favorite color. With one side there is no belief
that any good crop ever came from shallow plow-
ing, and with the other the skinny plow in the
deep sub-soil Ib but the veriest moonshine.
But we can look on and declare the animal
white. It is either or both of the others to us, or
there is the absence of any particular color, as the
philosophers tell us white is. We know that deep
soil is sometimes an injury ; and sometimes — and
most generally — the deep soil has much the best
of the argument. Why then do these experiments
vary so ?
There are two reasons why. The term soil is a
very indefinite one. It is not the soil which
operates on plant-growth. If what is in the soil
be good, the better. The deeper the soil the more
food it contains. On the other hand, if the soil
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
17
contains bad matter ofxjourse the more of this the
worse for the crop that grows in it.
Now suppose the subsoil to be filled with an
overdose of iron, such, for instance, as many of
the Montgomery county soils are ; the turning up
of this to the surface, and the turning of the good
earth down below, would be very bad. The deeper
it be buried the worse of course. The young
plant, feeding in its earlier stages in the surface,
can make no headway through this infertile stuff.
There can be no circumstances more favorable for
the " heart worm " or the many other excuses
which poor farmers give for having bad corn
crops.
Another case: we all know how much water
which lodges in the soil injures a crop. Under-
draining is founded on this fact. Water must go
through the soil rapidly before plants will grow
healthy in it. Now, if a soil is wet, retains mois-
ture long, the deeper it is made the more water is
in there, and the worse for the crop ; hence has
arisen the dogma in good soil culture that under-
draining and subsoiling should go along together.
There are many soils which may be subsailed
without being undcrdrained. But these are not
those which have retentive hard pans below where
the soil is stirred.
This lesson is not only profitable in connection
with this subject of deep plowing, but is applica.
ble to a great many things in agriculture where
reports of experiments seemingly contradict one
another.
FALL PLOWING FOR POTATOES.
EVER since the period of the appearance of
the potato rot in this country, farmers have
been studying, more or less closely, the potato
crop, and we believe we speak within the bounds
of truth in saying that all who have had the best op-
portunity to judge have decided that the applica-
tion of mineral manures will give the best results,
and the use of strong horse, or other fermenting
manures, the poorest return. Especially does this
prove true in seasons when rot is most prevalent.
In New Jersey the green sand marl used lavishly
supplies all the mineral elements. In other lo-
calities where this cannot be obtained, ashes,
lime, plaster and superphosphate of lime are em-
ployed with certainty, when properly applied in
sufficient quantities.
All strong soils yield a better crop of potatoes
when plowed, and completely pulverized in {
autumn, and we suppose this to be mainly due to i
i the elimination of the mineral elements, conse-
quent on the comminution of the soil, and its ex-
posure to atmospheric influences during winter.
In the spring the more thoroughly the ground is
again plowed the better for the crop.
♦
THE LAND-GRANT BUSINESS.
MR. POOR'S Railroad Manual for 1872-3
contains a statement in detail of the amount
of public land granted by Congress to States
and corporations, in aid of railroad construction,
since Sept. 20, 1850, when the first grants of the
kind were made, in aid of the Illinois Central,
and the Mobile and Ohio roads. Acts have been
passed at different times granting to fourteen
States an aggregate of 57,066,240 acres, in aid
of sixty-seven roads, being an ^average of 851,735
acres to each road. Assuming the lands to hare
brought Government price, $1.25 per acre, the
companies have realized an average of $1,064,669
each from their grants. It is probable that the
companies which have availed themselves of the
grants, and actually constructed their roads,
have realized very much more than thi.*?.
They have, it is likely, derived not less than
$8,000 per mile of the road, on the average, from
their grants. The following table shows the
States to which grants have been made, the num-
ber of roads in aid of which the grants have been
applied, or were intended to be applied :
No.
States. Acres. roads.
Illinois 2,595,053 2
Mississippi 2,062,240 3
Alabama 3,729,120 8 *
Florida 2,360,014 4
Louisiana 3,178,720 3
Arkansas 4.804.871 4
Missouri 3,745,170 4
Iowa 7,207,837 8
Michigan 4,931,361 8
Wisconsin 4,328,360 5
Minnesota 7,783,403 7
Kansas 5,420.000 6
California 2,006.000 3
Oregon 2,860,000 2
Totals 57,066,240 67
The above shows i)ia.i fifty-seven million, sixty-
six thousand, txoo hundred and forty acres of the
public land has been given by the General Gov-
vernment, to sixty-seven railroads, in the form of
subsidies, which will ultimately inure to the bene-
fit, if not the enrichment, of the individual mem-
bers of the companies controlling those roads.
We are not, in this place, nor at this time, finding
fault with these bounties of the Government.
18
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
These stimulaids may have been necessary, under
all the circumstances, to insure the building of the
roads, and for the settlement and improvement of
the lands. In not many years hence these lauds
will be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of mil-
lions of dollars.
How little, comparatively, has been done by
the States and the nation in behalf of agricul-
ture? Without the practical and energetic de-
velopment of the agricultural resources of the
country, what would all those public lands be
worth? How meagerly and how feebly are the
agricultural interests of Pennsylvania supported
by the Government ?
Nine millions might easier be abstracted from
the " sinking fund," under the forms of law, for
the benefit of railroads, than nine thousand — in
any wise — could be obtained for so important an
industry as agriculture. Discourage, cripple or
destroy agriculture, and you work the same effect
upon manufactures and commerce, and without
this triple base in material progress, what is a
railroad worth ?
GERMAN PREJUDICE AGAINST POTA"
TOES.
IN Germany there exists a decided prejudice
against potatoes, because they are composed
of three-fourths water, with but ten to fifteen per
cent, starch contained in indigestible cells. The
French, who make a perfect science of the whole
business of nourishment and cookery, rarely eat
•potatoes except occasionally fried for the second
breakfast. They consume beans more than any
other vegetables, and with reason', for dried beans
contain twenty -two per cent, albumen and fifty of
starch. In the monasteries of France and Italy
great quantities of beans are used, especially du-
ring the Lenten seaaon. German naturalists are
now searching all over the world for a substitute
for potatoes, and this is believed to have been
found in China in the dioscorea japanica, which
endures the greatest cold and is more nourishing
and better flavored than the potato. In the Mu-
seum of Natural History at Paris a specimen
three feet long and weighing three pounds was ex-
hibited.
Several German writers upon races predict that
nations, far from improving, will deteriorate both
in physical and mental characteristics, if potatoes
become a principal article of diet. The cele-
brated Carl Voigt says, "that the unnourishing
potato does not restore the wasted tissues, but
makes our proletariats physically and mentally
weak." The Holland physiologist, Mulder, gives
the same judgment, when he declares " that the
excessive use of potatoes among the poorer
classes, and coffee and tea by the higher ranks, is
the cause of the indolence of nations." Leiden-
frost maintains that the revolutions of the last
three centuries have been caused by the changed
nourishment. In former days, the lowest work-
men ate more flesh than now, when the cheap po-
tato forms his principal subsistence, but gives hiui
no muscular or nervous strength. — November
Galaxy.
SMALL COMPOST HEAPS.
ALL farmers know the value of " compost'
and how to prepare it. Many farmers
manufacture hundreds of loads of the best manure
in this way. They gather together on the prem-
ises forest leaves, corn stalks, including the roots,
weeds, vines, offal from fence corners, muck from
ponds and ditches, occasional sprinklings of lime
through the mass, layers of barn-yard manure, and
thus build up oblong squares and let remain over
winter. When April arrives the mass has gone
through fermentation and comminution and pre-
sents a mound of fertilizing matter better than a
small gold mine would be to the proprietor of the
farm.
But we want to see these compost heaps in the
garden, and there is no reason why they should not
be there as well as upon the farm. There is rub-
bish enough in the garden, with the assistance o^
leaves, some mold from the woods, if attainable'
if not, from portions of the premises where it
can be spared ; scrapings from the turnpike ; ma-
nure from stable, and every attainable substance
that will decay through the winter. A little
slaked lime will be a good assistance. A half
dozen loads of excellent manure will be manufac-
tured by the time it is wanted in the spring, with-
out incurring a cent of actual expense, and at the
same time the garden will be cleared of its
vines, stalks, weeds, and all otherwise worthless
trash.
Watermklons. — In California an immense
watermelon has appeared on the farm of Mr,
James M. Short, of Santa Barbara. Mr. Short
was working on a side hill when the watermelon,
weighing eighty-six pounds, broke loose from the
vine and started for him. The farmer saw his
danger and tried to run from it, but the vine
treacherously caught his feet, and the ruffianly
vegetable came thundering down upon him with
terrible speed, striking him to the earth and roll-
ing over his prostrate body.
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
19
FuLTZ Wheat in PENNSYLVANiA.-Mr. Wni. Ru-
ber of Chambersburg, Pa., reports that last fall, oa
a field of 6 acres, limestone soil, with gravel, which
had been in corn and potatoes the preceding sea-
son, he drilled in 1^ bushels of Fultz wheat per
acre, applying no manure. A dressing of barn-
yard manure had been applied for the potatoes,
but no fertilizer had been used since then. From
this field he has obtained 231.3 bushels of wheat,
by weight, or a little more than 38^ bushels per
acre, beside a yield of good straw amounting to
about 1^ tons per acre. The yield was especially
remarkable in view of the greatly reduced yield
of the general crop.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DEPAllT-
MENT.
LITERARY l^OTICES.
The PKtfN ''/[ONTHLY.— rha December number of this
excellent magizine bas been received, and is " chuck full"
of excellent aud instructive reading matter — and not only
this, but it is aldo readable — a tning that cannot be said of
eU publicati'jus oi the kind. This number concludes the
third volume, and we find that subscribers get seven hun-
dred pa^es of residing matter, with a title page and copious
index, for S2. )'>, and a'so sevcfrai fine steel-plate engavings
Tnis number contains iutaresiiug biogripnical sfeetcues of
the late Jacob Bal.kbr and of Prof. John F. Frazbb, of
PhiladPlphia ; both emi'iently distinguishea in their dif-
ferent spheres of life. The other If&ding articles are
■' The King i» id the Prof sssrs," "TheSirvice of Sonu,"
'• Household Taste," and the editorial or monthly gossip
Nothing in art ecu d well be flier than the engravings
representing the portrait of Mr. Barker, wliich embeP?he
this number. The size is a royal octavo, and the paper is
80 opaque aud white, the type so distinct and plain, that it
can be freely reiid by au ordinary li^^bt, aad this is a great
dec'dbri.tum to p*:' pie who are advancing in life, and
whoie physical sight is on the wane — asu)« know from per_
sonai experience. As the journal is devoted to ' Litera-
ture, Science, Art and Politics '' it cannot fail to meet the
wants of readers of diversided tastes.
Published at 506 Walnut street, Philadelphia. Wiley &
Griest, printers, Lancaster, Pa.
SupPLKMuNT TO Farmers' Advocate. — The subject of
co-operation among farmers is beginning to attract very
much attention in a 1 parts < f the country. At St. Louis,
last May, the National Agricultural Congress was or-
ganized by the consolidation of the National Agricultural
Association and the Agricultural Congress, and^at once by
wise and judicious action secured tbe confidence of socie-
ties throughout the country, both collectively and individ-
ually. In many parts of the country district conventions
have been called and numerously attended by the farmers,
and the resolutions adopted evince a growing appreciation
of the value and necessity of co-operative action.
The American Farnitrs' Advocate, which has espoused the
cauSf of the C ougress, has, with full confidence in the grow-
ing popularity of this movement, been sent to every agri-
cultural society and to all the newspapers of the country,
at the individual expense of the publishers. It has perse-
veringly presented the benefits ot the Congress, and we
c«n heartily commend it to the attention of every farmer
The Congress holds its next meeting in May, at Indian-
apolis, Ind., and it promises to be an occasion of much in-
terest tr) ag iculturists Every society in the country
should be represented there.
Full in'ormitiou in reference to it may be obtained by
addressing the Secretary, Chas. W. Greene, at Jackson,
Teun., at wh'ch point also the Axlvocate ia published.
The amkrican 6tock Journal for 1873 will be greatly
enlHigrfdand improved in every respect. The price will
be $!.50 per ainum, and a $5 00 picture /ree. We hjpe all
our farming friends will send for eample copies, as the
publishers, N. P. Buyer & Co., Parkesburg, Chester
county. Pa., otter to send three numbers /re« to all who
send stamps to pay postage.
Ws bav received a copy of the Argus, an illus.trated, iu-
depeirfeut Dem(;cratic paper, devoted to Politics, choice
Liter.iture, Romance, News, Fashion, Arts, Science, Agri-
culture, Horticulture, Finance and Commerce. The pub-
li>her in his prospectus says: "We shall endeavor to make
the Argtis in every way a first-class family journal,
which will be so conducted as to cheer the sorrowful, en-
courage the weak aud amnse the weary — a paper that no
parent need fear to take to the circle of his sacred home."
Terms $2.0u per annum, in advance. Address C. P. Sykes,
New York Argus, New York.
The Lady's Friend for January —The engravings
ot this charming Magazine are apt to be above the usual
common-place round which we see so generally, and this
month we have a romantic picture of " The last ride of the
WiH Huntsman," another quieter one of "Two Widows,"
and anotber called '" With the Bloom on " — all handsome
and successful pictures of their kind. In literature, Mrs.
Henry Wood begins her new story, " The Master of Grey-
lands," which, judging from the opening chapters, will
prore one of the most successful stories. There is the
usual piece of music — this time it is the song " Only be
Ivind"— with Fashion Cuts, Work-Table Varieties, and
other matters interesting to ladies.
Besides Mrs. Wood's story, novelets are also announced
for this year by Daisy Ventnor, Miss MuzZey, Miss Doug-
las, and Fannie Hodgson. A beautiful premium chromo
(Little Samuel, the Child-Prophet) is also announced,
whilealoDg list of premiums — fromSewlng Machines and
Gold Watches to Plated Tea Spoon?, etc.— are promised to
those who get up lists of subscribers. Send for sample
number containing all the inducements. Price $2.00 a
year, or $2.50 with the Premium Chromo. A Premium
Chiomo or a large Steel Engraving is alsj given to the
sender of every club. Published by Deacon & Peterson,
319 Walnut street, Philadelphia.
Vegktable and Flower SEBDS.—Mr. J. F. Gregory,
of Marblehead, Mass., is well known as one of the few
leading seed growers in this country. He was the original
introducer of the Hubbard squash and many other of our
new aad valuable vegetable?. All seeds from him are
warranted fresh and reliable. His advertisements will bo
found in this number, and we invite attention to them.
His illustrated catalogue for 1873 (now ready) will be sent
free to all applicants.
The annual compliments of Geo. W. Childs, publisher
of the Philadelphia Ledger, are on our table in the shape of
a ijeatly printed Almanac full of good and ioterestinj;
reading matter. It is issued free to all the patrons of the
Ledger.
The attention of capitalists is invited to the advertise-
ment headed 10 per cent, investments.
The National Live Stock Journal is certainly the
finest publication devoted to that subject that is printed on
this cai\tinent ; an4 its 28 columns of compactly printed
index, indicates the vast amoant and variety of nutter
w
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
the last year's volume of 448 royal quarto pages cont ains.
The full page embellishments of horses, cattle, pi!?s, sheep,
etc., in the bast style of art, will compire with tha best
journals in the country, of any kind. Each number con-
tains 40 pages, and only $2 a yepr in advance. Geo. W.
Bust & Co., 173 Madison street, Chicago.
Other books, magazines, pamphlets, and papers re-
ceived :
" Gardener.s' Monthly," " Rural New Yorker," " Practi-
cal Farmer," " Germantown Telegraph," " Wood's House-
hold Magazine," " American Homes," " Independent,"
"New York Observer," "Oil Journal," "Our Church
Work," "Pen and Plow," " Bright Side," all of which
are worthy of a special noticf, but our space just new is
too limited to afford it.
"History of Department of Agriculture," "Monthly
Report of Department of Agriculture," "Maury's Ad-
dress before National Agricultural Congress," "Free
Press," " Manheim Sentinel," beside many others, a
notice of which we must -defer to " a more convenient
season."
Ambrican Hc'Mbs for December is the best issue of that
standard magazine, and is full of amusing and interesting
reading and beautiful illustrations. It employs only good
writers. The Boston Daily Globe well says that " American
Homes aims to occupy the whole held of literature, ma-
t»re and juvenile. The publishers may well call' their en-
terpiise 'the succens of the nineteenth century.' If we
deduct the price of the oil chromo, 'The Two Pet',' the
magazine practically costs the subscriber nothing. The
whole English race should rush to subs' ribe for such a pe-
riodical." The beautiful oil ch.omo is mailf d immedi-
ately to subscribers on receitt of only Si 25, the subserip-
tlon price, by Chas.H. Taylor & Co., 51 Water street. Bos
ton. Agents everywhere are doing splendidly with this
chromo. as they deliver it when they take the names.
NEW YORK MARKETS.
New York, January 4.
Flour, Ac— The Inquiry for flour is. limited, but with
very light ar ivals, holders are confident. Tbe low grades
are held higher, other grades strong. Good superfine sal-
able. At tbe close the market is better for most grades un-
der 810 with an active demand for the close of the week.
We notice a more active demand for tha future. We quote
as follows: Sour, ^ bbl., S4 60a5 60; No. 2,$i35a5 30; su-
perfine $6 00a6 35 ; State extra brands, %1 10a7 30 ; State
iancy do., $7 7ea8 00 ; western shipping extra, $7 00a7 25 ;
Minnesota extras, common to fancy, $7 50a9 50 ; do. super-
lative extras, }i9 50al3 50 ; good to choice spring wheat ex-
tras, 87 70a920; extra amber Indiana, Ohio and Michigan,
$7 30a8 55 ; Ohio Indiana and Illinois superfine, $6 00a(> 35;
Ohio round hoop extra shipping $7 I5a7 35; Ohio .xira
trade brands, $7 70a7 90 ; white wheat extra Ohio, Indiana
and Michigan, $8 oOa9 15 ; double extra do. do.,$9:i5al0 00;
St. Louis single extras, $8 00a8 75; St l^ouis doub e do.,
$8 75a9 75 ; ft. Louis triple extras, $9 90al2 50 ; Genesee
extra briind, 88 OOalO 25. Rve Flour Is strong but quiet.
We quote : Western, S4 55a5 50 ; State and Pennsylvania,
85 76«6 50. Corn Meal less plenty and firm. Sales of 200
bbls. We quote : Jersey, $3 35; western, 82 20a3 50 ; west-
ern white, S3 25a3 35 ; barrel,$3 80a3 90; golden ear, S3 7\
Buckwheat— The market is steady, the demand fair. Buck-
wheat Flour is In moderate demand and is easier. Sales
of State at $3 70a3 80, and Pennsylvania at |3 85a4 00. Cali-
fornia and Oregon Flour is quiet at 88 60a9 75 ^ bbl.
Gkain.— Wheat at the opsning was held higher, with a
fair demand for Spring for export. Winter is scarce anti
firmer. The market for Wheat closes quiet butfiim at the
advance. The demand is chit- fly for export.
Barley is firm at the advance, but buyers hold back.
Barley malt is firm and in fair demand. Hales of 6700
bushels at $1 35 for Canada western, and $1 50 tor City.
Oats are dull and close tame lor mixed. The sales are
37.600 bushels ; new Ohio mixed at 46a48)ic ; white at 50a
51c; black at 46a47c, and good white on the track, 5lc;
wettern mixed at 44a48j^c; white at 50a5li^c. Rye is
strong but qalet. Corn is better and in fair demand to hold
and for investment ; the local inquiry is fair. Unsound
mixed in store at 63 ; old westenn mixed at 66a66i.<c, and
<^o. in store at &i\<,a, and new mixed afloat at 66p ; western
white at 72c; do. yellow at 67 j,^ c ; southern white at 75a
75>^c; Jersey yeli'xv at 613^a62c.
Provisions —The Pork market is better and the demand
more active for the future and the trade. The sales cash
and r-gular, are 450 bbls. at .$13 75 for new mess, Sll .S7 for
extra prime, $14 25 for western prime mess and f 13 50 for
thin mess. For future deliveiy we Lear of 7.50 bWs. sell<=r
February, at $13 25, and 250 bbls. seller, March, at S13 5o!
Beef i.s titeady anil qu et. Sales of 40 bb!s. at S1I11I2 for
plain me^s, and Sl3ai4 for extra mess Tierce beef quift
and steady. Beef hams htavy ; sales of 75 bbls. at $32 for
western.
Cut meats are in fair Jem^nd and firmer. Sales of 2,000
fresh hams at 8%a9c; 100 tierces choice pickled hams at
9;j'al0c ; 1.000 smoked shouldeis at 5»^c ; 225 boxes drv
salted shoulilers on the spot at 4?4C. Bacon is stronger and
in fair demand ; sales of 225 boxes long clear at 6^c for
western ; 175 boxes do city at 6J^c. Dressed hogs are lams
for heavy and strong for light. We quote at SaS^c for
western, and 5%a6% Jor city. Lard is stronger and in de-
mand in part for the future. Sales of 870 tierces at 7 Xc
for No. 1 ; 7?ic for city; 7Jia7 15-16c for fair to prime
steam j fancy at 8;^c, and 8^ for kettle rendered.
PITTSBURG CATILB MARKET.
Pittsburg, January 4.
Cattlb — The receipts of cattle to-oay have been light
of ihroug and w<iy stock. There have been some hunches
of fine cattle on sjle since our last report, but the prices at
which buyers wanted to purch-se did not meet the xiws
of sellers, severrtl parties shipped east expecting to do bet-
ser. Trade to-day is very slow and dull, and few cattle are
sCiling. Mo.st of the buyers have left tor home. 'J here
is some cattle left in the yards unsold, and tbe holders at
the time we left the yards weie talking of sending some to
Allegheny for retail. Below wi 1 be found the rates at
which the market closed : Extra 1500 ft) steers, fine and
smooth, S6 87 ; extra 1400 lb steer", fine acd smooth, S6 50a
6 65 ; prime l3i 0 ft) cattle, Hne and smooth. 86 to 6 25 ; prime
1200 lb cattle, fine and smooth, $5 2fa5 50 ; fair Uno lb cat-
tle, fine and smooth, 84 75 to 6 25 ; cnrarDon, .$3 50a4 00 ;
bulls, $2 50 to 353 50 ; CijWH, 83 26 to $4 50.
The receipts of Hogs to-day have been light. There is
a better feeling ru ing and prices are quotable 10c fi hun-
dred higher tban yesterday. The lieht run cau.ses a dispo-
sition among buyers to purchase, and at t' is writing the
yards are better cleared of stock than for Fome time.
Yorkers are purchasing freely this evening, and the mar-
ket closes firm at th« following rati r ; Extra Philadelphia,
•S4 '5 ; prime do., $4 05a4 10 ; prime Yorkers, $4 ; common,
83 90.
The run of Sheep to-day light, the market inactive and
most of the buyers have lelt for the E.st. Prices are off
from ji to )^c since Monday last. The fo'lowing are the
current rates: Extra, 100 lbs, tine wool, $6 25 ; extra, 100
Ib.s, open wool, $5 50a5 75 ; prime, 9-5 lbs, fine wool, 85 75 ;
prime, 90 lbs, fine wool, $5 50; prime, 86 lbs, tine wool,
85 25.
PHILADELPHIA. MARKETS.
Saturday Evening. January 4. Bark— No. 1 Quer-
citron is quoted at $-'ll 50 ^ ton.
Flour — The tone of the market is firm, but there is less
doing; the inquire i« mostly from the home coasumers,
whose purchases foot up 1 200 bbls., including superfine at
8i 5na5 50 ; extras at. $5 75a6 50 ; Iowa and Wisconsin do do
at $8 25a8 75 ; Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana do do at
$8 25a9 25, and fancy brands at S9 25all, as to quality.
Rye flour is quoted at $5 50. In corn m-^al no sales.
Grain — The receipts as well »s the stocks of wheat are
small, aud prices bave advanced ; sales of 3,000 bushels
western red at 8195a-^; No. 1 spring at $1 70al 75, and
white at S2 05a2 10. Rye is nominal. Corn is in fair re-
quest, with limited receipts and otterings; sales of yellow
at 65c; new doandi) ixed at61a64c. Oats is without change;
sales of 7,000 bushels western while at 50a5lc, and mixed
at 45a47c. The receipts to-day are as follows: 1,275 tibls
flour, 8,800 bushels wheat, 6,8l<»0 do coin, 4,900 do o»ts, 2,500
do barlev, 415 bbls whisky.
PKOViaiONfi.-Theie is very little doing, but pric^^s are
unsettled. Mess pork is selling in lots at 813al3 50 for old
and new ; smoked hams at U^aiec, do. sides at 1}ic.;
ealted shoulders at 4%a£c, smoked do. at 6c, and lard at
7xa8c.
Seeds.- Cloverseed is in fair demand ; 700 bushels sold
at 9alOc ii lb, the latter rate for reclaimed. Timothy sold
at 83 50, and Flaxseed at 82 ■f. bushel.
e
Hf
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Boniestlc Econoniij and Miscellany-
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVON.
♦* The Farmer is the founder of civUiziitiou." — WEBSTER.
Vol. V.
FEBRUARY, 1873.
^0. 2.
ESSAY.
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
DELIVERKD BEFORE THE SOCIETY AT ITS JANUARY
MEETING, 1873.
BT H. M. ENOLE.
FELLOW-MEMBERS of the Agricultural
and Horticultural Society of Lancaster
County:
My annual address on this occasion will be
brief, not from want of matter in the prospective
or retrospective of this society, but from want of
time. A kind Providence has, during the past
year, bountifully blessed us, not only as a commu-
nity, but as a nation. Though in some vicinities
crops have been partial, or total failures, in the
aggregate there is still a surplus for man and
beast, and with the facilities for transportation,
there is no occasion for real want. Fruit has been
«o unusually abundant that the demand and anxiety
for it in former years was lost in a general surfeit
that could not appreciate its real value.
The mission of this organization is, however, the
irabject of this essay. The small nucleus from
which this society sprang is still fresh in our minds.
That it has accomplished much during the brief
period of its existence we strongly claim ; that it
might and should have accomplished more we do
not deny, but the field for its useful mission has in
no wise contracted, but rather widened.
The first question that arises is, in what have
we, as a society, been derelict of duty, or failed in
the object of its mission ? 2. What is the duty of
the hour to shape its course for greater usefulness
in the future ? The past, if viewed, will
always teach lessons for improvement in the
future. Our society must necessarily be an
educator in the branches of industry which it pro-
fesses to represent. Very excellent essays have
been produced and read at our monthly meetings
by some of its members. Many subjects of vital
interest to agriculturists, horticulturists and others
have been ably discussed, and the experience and
sentiments of members freely given for the benefit
ofaH who wished to avail themselves thereof.
Valuable seeds, cuttings and cions have been dis-
tributed, of which not a few have taken advantage.
Our exhibitions were generally a success, but were
not sufficiently extensive to keep pace with the
progress of the age ; and let me say here that
since our late exhibition at Fulton Hall proved
so generally satisfactory that the members of our
society have resolved to hold a county agricultu-
ral and horticultural fair during the coming fall
that shall be a credit to the great county of Laiv-
caster. Now for the purpose of making such an
enterprise a complete success, it is necessary to
begin early and keep the matter before the people.
Plans may be laid and calculations made at any
time. The farmer must put his land in the best
order, plant the best seed, give his crops the best
cultivation, ha\ e the best stock, and all in the
best condition, if he expects to make the best show
or win the first prize. So the fruit grower must
prune and feed his trees, thin out fruit where too
full, and keep off destructive insects, if he wishes
to stand at the head of his class. The gardener
also must make early calculations if he wishes to
show the finest vegetables. The florist must not
forget to prepare for the completing of the orna-
mental department. The mechanic is supposed to
exhibit the choicest specimens of his workmanship,
and so to the end of the list of the industrial
n
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
branches — all are expected to do their share and
ihould therefore be at work in good season. Tlie
ladies' department must not be overlooked, and to
them we would extend a cordial invitation to lend
a helping hand.
In order to have our organization do more ef-
fective service to the community, a more punctual
attendance is required at its meetings, and less
disturbance during the reading of essays and dis-
cussions. The prompt payment of dues would
also greatly enhance the usefulness of the society,
and the enlarging and improving of its library
ehould be kept constantly in view. There are
other items of importance that demand the
attention of our society, but want of time forbids.
In conclusion I would heartily thank the society
for the many and oft-renewed expressions of con-
fidence received at your hands, and assure you
•that the part taken in our deliberations was
prompted by a love for the noble calling we are
Btriving to encourage, and that my hearty co-ope-
ration may be expected in the future as it has been
extended in the past.
H ORTICULTURE^
GOSSIP ABOUT A PEAR.
BY J. STAUFFER.
AT the close of the last meeting of the Lan-
caster County Agricultural and Horticul-
tural Society, the worthy president, H. M. Engle,
presented me with a fine-formed and luscious-look-
ing pear. I really forgot what he called it ; but
DO matter about its name. I simply wish to re-
cord some reflections suggested upon enjoying its
delicious flavor, so rich and juicy, that strong as
the temptation was, I felt as if it were selfish to
enjoy it alone, and hence divided. Left to myself
with thanks to friend Engle for the pear, my
thoughts arose to that wonder-working Power
tliat formed the pear What has science revealed ?
What do we know of this mysterious chemistry of
nature ? Let us briefly review some ascertained
facts. We will consider the pear tree, with its
woody stem, branches, roots and leaves, as the
type of deciduous fruit in general — the trunk,
branches, leaves, flowers and fruit exposed to the
air, its root spread around the trunk in the soil.
As it draws all its nourishment from the soil and
atmosphere, let us briefly consider the component
elements of the soil and subsoil : First, in the sur-
face soil we find organic matter from decayed
plants previously grown or put upon it; in the
subsoil very little organized matter is found. This
may be denominated earth, clay, sand, gravel, lime,
or mixed earth formed from rocks or stones, as the
case may be. All rainaral misses underlying the
soil have certain basis, whether stratifi^^d or un-
stratified. The compounds have been more or
less bicDit. The mitals potassium and sodium
burn if put in contact with water and become
oxydcs, and thus form the oxydes of pntash and
soda. Calcium also b3cora3S /me. So with mag-
nesium, silicon and aluminum. In these mineral
bases we discover Ihe formation of other com-
pounds which constitute plant food. These ingre-
dients in the soil are mixed with water to moisten
the soil, water itself being a compound of hydro,
gen and oxygen. From those ingredients the
roots absorb what they select or find essential to
the nature of the plant. Those blending in the
sap with those abstracted by the leaves from the
atmosphere, which is also a mixture of nitrogen
and oxygen gases, with a small portion of car-
bonic acid gas and of the vapor of water. Thus,
we find the primary elements in the soil and air
that go into the structui'e of the innumerable pro-
ducts of the vegetable kingdom so numerous that
we will not attempt to specify them, but come
back to the "pear tree" in order to reach the
pear, not forgetting heat, light or sunshine. Let
us first examine the component parts of the pear,
and briefly Bum them up according to the re-
searches and patient analysis of Fresenius of the
sweet pear : First, saccharose and fruiticose, which,
in plain words, let us call sugar 7.940, with a trace
of hydrated malic acid, and 0.287 of albuminoid,
gum and organic acid 4.409, soluble ash ingredi'
ents 0.284. These constitute the soluble matters.
The seeds, skin and insoluble matters consist of
tectose, etc., 4.123, and water 83.007 in 100. The
analyst finds the component parts to be sugar,
malic acid, albumen, gum. tectose and water, to say .
nothing of a few minor ingredients. What is su-
gar? Saccharose or cane sugar is put down C.
12, H. 22, O. 11. Fruit sugar, tructose, has a lit-
tle more hydrogen, H. 24, and oxygen 0. 12. Car-
bonic C. the same, and is called grape sugar or
glucose, formed from cellulose, starch, and dextrin
in combination with water — starch, etc., C. 12, H.
20, 0. 10 X water or 2 H., 2 0., =- C. 12, H. 24,
O. 12. In this process 90 parts of starch, etc.,
yield 100 parts of glucose. The formula is vari-
ously stated for grape sugar — C. 12, PI. 14, 0. 14,
This modification also abounds not only in grapes,
but plums, and other fruit which is more or lesa
uncrystallizable, called fruit sugar.
THE LAJ\''CASTER FARMER.
0j^
Albumen, a peculiar organic principle, entering
largely into the composition of animal bodies,
such as the blood, muscles, membranes and most
of the soft organs, such as the liver, lungs, kid-
neys, etc.; also the chief component of white of
^%^\ this consists of nitrogen, carbon, hj'drogen
and oxygen, in the ratio of 1.5, .51, 7 and 24 per
cent, in round numbers in the order named. This
is a proximate principle of many vegetables found
in their sap and in some of their solid products.
It surrounds the seed or germ in the seed to nour-
ish the young embryo when it first springs into
life, and the parts that furnish the flour of corn,
the flesh of the cocoa nut, the great mass of the
seeds of coff'ee, are albumen, and never found poi-
sonous, no matter however the plant may be that
bears it. There are sometimes parts connected
with it (the seed) that may prove deleterious.
Gum is a vegetable product, soluble variably in
alcohol and water. It consists of carbon 41.4,
o.xygcn 52.09, hydrogen 5.51 — in short, simply a
compound of carbon and water, as is the wood it-
self, or pure woody fiber called lignin ; this is the
same again as cellulose. Its ultimate composi-
tion is represented by C. 6, H. 5, 0. 5. Tectine,
tectic acid and tectose, is a gelatinous principle
also called vegetable jelly, usually associated with
the cellular tissue, and which is insoluble in water,
alcohol and ether, but which, under the influence
of acids, aided by a gentle heat, becomes con-
verted into a soluble gelatinous snhst&nce, pectine,
represented by the formula C. 64, H. 48, 0. 64.
This latter is found ready formed in the juices of
ripe fruits, in consequence of the action of their
acids upon the original pedose. It may be ob-
tained from the expressed juice of ripe pears or
apples (after the lime which it contains has been
precipitated by oxalic acid, and the albumen by a
strong solution of tannin. The oxalic acid and
tannin are also of vegetable formation. But I
must not stop to follow up the diverging lines —
as such would ruu me into the whole vegetable
Materia Medica- and physiology— and what else
besides I cannot stop to consider — because the
Japan Isinglass is a product of a plant — the gel-
tdiamcorneum, having the formula C. 24, H. 21,
O. 24, and so on to the end of the chapter. "We
have now examined into the component parts of
the mixture in making up the pear. But it is be-
yond the art of man to combine these ingredients,
even when placed to his hand, manufactured
from the vegetable productions with all his knowl-
edge and skill, so as to restore the pear — nay, in-
deed, he cannot manufacture one article of nutri-
tion from the mineral elements, from which plants
elaborate all our food. Oh, how wonderful and
past finding out are the works and ways of God 1
Yes, we see here the diversity resulting from mi-
nute changes in the proportions of the elemen-
tary ingredients. The starch deposited in the
cells, the glucose and albumenoids manufactured
and interchangeably acting from the swelling of
the bud to the elongation of the branch, the
leaves transformed into sepals, petals, stamens,
and pistillum, or seed vessel — the various ways the
seeds are ripened, whether in stone fruit, the pulp
of the apple, pear, etc., nuts — and in short the
endless varieties of seeds and fruit. The more ex-
tended our knowledge of this multiplicity of pro-
ducts, from a few elementary principles and com-
pounds, the more do we adore that goodness and
wisdom that manifests itself so wonderfully — ala
why do these evidences, in connection with the or
acles of God, not more fully realize the language
of holy writ in Isaiah Ixi. 11, " For as the earth
bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth
the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so
the Lord God will cause righteousness an^d. praise
to spring forth before all the nations." . ■
In conclusion I will only add, that a .scientific
friend of mine found fault with me for quoting
Scripture in connection with scientific subjects.
" It always seemed to him," he said, " to be bad
taste or manifesting a disposition to ingratiate
yourself with those who hang on to the. .old Jew-
ish dogmas perpetuated in the church." In short,
he repudiated the Bible and its precept. The
Gospel of Christ, so beautiful and essential to
happiness, in my humble opinion — he simply
said " he did not understand it, but that he be-
lieved in a God." I replied, "Well, I love science
and the facts it reveals, but cannot help quoting
Scripture to such language," and referred him to
James ii. 19, " Thou believest that there is a God,
thou doest well ; the devils also believe and trem-
ble."
Fatting sheep should be allowed from a pound
to a pound and a half of grain per day, accord-
ing to their size, and it is well to give them one
foddering of hay per day and all the straw they
will eat. Wool is in demand, and most farmers
will desire to keep their sheep and clip them be.
fore selling. On this account it is not improba-
ble that those who sell fat sheep the latter part of
February or the first of March, may realize more
profit than by keeping them later.
^A
THE LAJ\'CASTER FARMER.
PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT GROWERS'
SOCIETY.
[From the Reading Times and Dispatch.]
FOLLOWING are the letters addressed to thg
chairman of the General Fruit Committee
of the Fruit Growers' Society of Pennsylvania,
and read by him at the last annual meeting of the
society. The chairman in his report says of these
letters that they contain " many valuable ideas
and interesting facts," and that they " have been
carefully prepared and contain the right kind of
information in as good shape as could be desired."
LETTERS TO THE GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE.
Columbia, Pa., Dec. 19th, 1872.
E. Satterthwait, Esq.— Jfy Dear Sir .-—Your
letter of the 9th inst., asking me to aid you in
getting up " a full and interesting report" on the
condition, etc., of the fruit crop is received.
Gladly would I aid you, had I anything of in-
terest to communicate, but the fact is the crop of
fruits of all kinds was so extraordinary, and of such
invariable good and fair quality, that there is no
distinction to be made in varieties. Even our old
Bellfiowers and Rambos once again produced full
crops of fair and sound fruit — had failed for over
37 years. Our apple trees all were overloaded ;
our pear trees bore full crops ; our peaches, cher-
ries, with all the small fruits, were fuller, fairer
and freeer from insect depredations than*for many
years. Even the plum, especially the Richland
filum, had so large a crop as to defy the curculio
rom taking all, and a large crop ripened on the
trees. Grapes, too, generally produced fair crops
free from disease. To particularly describe varie-
ties that did best would be a difficult undertak-
ing, where all did well. The " All Summer apple"
of Casper Hill, is however, an apple that deserves
special notice, as it is a medium early fruit and
continues a long time in use. It appeared to be a
general favorite, as every person going into the
orchard started in the direction of that tree. Also
an apple received from Thos. Harvey called the
" Pearl" Sheep or Bland apple, a very mild and
pleasant eating apple. Then I have a number of
apples from Georgia, of excellent quality, with
the usual number of local varieties. Tho' the
trees all bore such heavy crops, I may mention
that all varieties that we consider winter apples
ripened too early to keep well. The Fallowater
and Winter Sweet Paradise, that forty years ago
remained sound till April and May, this last fall
nearly all I'ipeued or rotted in September, and
now only a very few remain. As to culture, last
season has dispelled all ideas of "citlture or no
culture," as trees the most neglected brought as
heavy crops as those treated on the most scientific
principles, though of course such neglected trees
had a surplus of small and inferior fruit.
Since the cold winter of 1835, we have not had
a fair crop of apples until last season. And now
the crop was so abundant that thousands of bushels
rotted on the ground in Lancaster county. The
price was so low as not to pay for gathering and
marketing ; and to turn them into cider, the bar-
rels would cost more than the cider would sell for.
Farmers, however, again have a good supply of
apple butter, vinegar and dried fruit, that will
last them several years.
Why don't the Gardener's Monthly for Decem-
ber give tho time and place of the meeting of the
society in January 1873?
Hoping, health and weather favorable, I may
again have the pleasure of attending the meeting,
Yours most respectfully,
J. B. Garber.
The Cumberland Nurseries, ]
Shiremanstown, Cumb. Co., Pa.. >
December 21, 1872. )
E. Satterthwait : — I received your letter on
the 19th inst. in regard to fruit growing. I
hardly know what to write. We had an unusually
good crop of all kinds of fruit the past summer.
The varieties of apples considered (at this time)
by the best fruit growers the most profitable in
our valley, are the Early Ripe and Astrachan, for
early ; Porter, Summer Queen, and Summer Pip-
pin, for summer, and Smokehouse, Fallenwalder,
Smith's Cider, Winesap, York Imperial, Krauser,
Cheese, and Dominie, for late fall and winter, and
the Ortly Pippin, Lancaster Greening, and Mum-
per Vandevere for late spring. The above are all
good bearers ; hang well to the trees, except
Smokehouse and Fallenwalder, but even of these
we have good crops nearly every year. The
Smokehouse sells the best in the market ; no ajv
ple can compete with it in its season. The Bald-
win is not worth much here, as it drops too easily.
Ill peal's the Bartlett takes the lead, next How-
ell, then Seckel, Beurre Diel, Osband's Summer,
Cressane, Ducheron Dwarf and Vicar. These are
about all the varieties that are reliable ; the
Flemish Beauty and Buerre Clairgeau bear well
and are generally fine, but the trees drop their
leaves, so they will not ripen as they should.
The grape business in this valley is about fin-
ished up — that is, cultivating fancy grapes. The
bulk of the crop is Concord, with some Clinton
and Muscadine. I had some fifty varieties plant-
ed in my vineyard ; I dug them all out last spring
except the Concoi-d, Catawba, Clinton and Musca-
dine. They do no better all through the valley,
except for a few years on some very favored spots.
There are a good many raspberries and straw-
berries grown for the Harrisburg market, which
pay rather better than any other fruit. The Black
Cap raspberry is principally planted, with some
Philadelphia and Purple Cane. The Philadel-
phia AVinter kills badly some winters ; is not re-
liable. About nine-tenths of the strawberries
planted are the Wilson ; some Green Prolific and
Russels.
The finest peaches grown here are the Craw-
fords, Susquehanna and President. The past
season was a very good one for peaches ; never
saw finer.
We have no particular method in cultivating
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
25
fruit, though I can say we have a good many men
who take very good care of their fruit trees, vines,
etc. We are only getting into the business of
fruit growing in this section. The large farms are
being divided into small tracts, and the Harris
burg market being convenient and good, the peo
pie find that fruit growing and marketing pays
them better than farming grain; consequently
they take more interest in it.
I think, after all is said about the different
methods of cultivating, locations, soils, etc, the
great point in making fruit growing pay is to
know what varieties to plant, and this is frequent-
ly not discovered in time, and disappointment
and losses are the rewards of the planter.
Yours, very respectfully,
Henry S. Rufp.
Wir,Low Dale, Jan. 7, 1872.
Mr. Edwarp Satterthwait — Dear Sir : Your
favor of the 19th inst. was received. I will en-
deavor to answer your letter hastily. If I fail to
give you such information as you desire. I shall
have the satisfaction of knowing that I have at
least shown a desire to aid you. The fruit crop of
1H72 in this part of the county was an abundance.
No kind of fruit was an entire failure, and all the
small fruits were far above the average for many
years.
Strawberries — Not more than one-fourth of a
crop, on account of continued dry weather during
the time they were in blossom and while the fruit
was ripening. Varieties : Wilson's Albany and
Charles Downing.
Raspberries — CJanes badly winter killed, espe-
cially the Philadelphia ; even the Black Caps were
somewhat injured. The drought reduced the
yield very materially. Crop about one half. Va-
rieties most popular : Mammoth Cluster and ISus-
queeo or Brandywine.
Blackberries — (^rop almost a failure. Canes
badly injured by the hard winter. The fruit upon
what canes were livinii was very imperfect. Va-
rieties : Lawton and Kittatinny. Wilson's Early
does not make enough of cane here ; it is a very
poor grower and the berry is insipid.
(j\nTants and (iooseberries — An abundant crop.
l*eaches — Crop was the largest for many j'ears.
Best varieties for market orchard. Troth's Early,
(icorgc TV., Crawford's Early, Old Nixon Free,
Crawford's Late, Stump the World, Ward's Late
Free and Smock Free.
Pears — A'^ery abundant. Varieties that seem
best suited to this section. Doyenne D'Ete, lilarly
Catharine, Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, Seckel,
Beurre D'Anjou and Lawrence.
Cherries — Not considered a reliable crop here,
but the past season were very imperfect and plen-
tiful.
(i rapes— Crop large and perfect. Reliable va-
rieties : Concord, Ives' Seedling and Christine.
One party who has two hundred vines of the latter
in bearing, and has sold two crops in the Pliila-
doljihia market, contends that they are much more
profitable than Concord, being fit to market ten
to twelve days earlier, rnd bringing this season
five cents per pound more than the first picking of
Concord.
Plums — A pretty good crop. Probably the
curculio, having had such a variety to contend with,
was why we were favored once more with this de-
licious fruit.
Apples— Crop was immense and fruit very per-
fect. Winter fruit dropped from the trees very
badly during the months of September and Octo-
ber. The old winter varieties seem to be our best
keepers, viz. : Red Romanite, Gray House, Pen-
nock and Betsey's Fancy ; for early winter, Smith's
Cider is very popular. Fall varieties, Smoke-
house, Jefferies and Maiden's Blush; summer, Early
Harvest (Prince's). Red Astrachan and Townsend,
As to cultivation, 1 do not know that I can offer
anything that will be of any instruction ; it is
generally admitted that to secure the best results
from an orchard it must be planted in good soil,
well cultivated with some A'egetable crop the pre-
ceding year, and continuing to cultivate the ground
for several years in some hoed crops that receive
a liberal quantity of barn-yard manure annually.
Bv neglecting to cultivate ground set with a peach
orchard for two years, is always followed by the
loss of the trees entirely, or damaged to such ex-
tent that they yield no profit ever afterward. We
set a small dwarf pear orchard in 1866, and at the
same time planted the space between with straw-
berry plants. The following year, in another plat,
we planted with standard pear trees and straw-
berry plants betwe(*n. Our trees made a beautiful
growth the first season, but the second season al-
most no growth at all. In the standard pear or-
chard we were so well satisfied that it Mould be ar
loss to leave the strawberry plants remain, that
they were removed. The following season we aguitt-
got a good growth of tree, and by cultivating
vegetable crops our trees continued to grow well.
In the dwarf orchard the strawberry plants re-
mained for three years, and most of our trees have
died or are so far gone that they are worthless.
We believe no Avorse crop than strawberry can be
planted in ground set with an orchard, and merely
mention it, as we have never heard any one meiv
tion the matter before the Fruit Growers' So-
ciety. Yous, very respectfully,
J. W. Pyle.
CoNESTOGA, Lancaster co., Pa.
Mr. E. Satterthwait, Chairman of Genei'al
Fruit Committee of Penna. Fruit Growers' So-
ciety : The apple crop of this locality was enor^
moiis. We had nothing to equal it for 20 years.
The quality, too, was very good, being fairer and
less affected by insects than usual. The only
drawback on its being perfect was the great and
continued drought and heat o*" summer, which
caused the fruit to ripen prematurely, making our
winter apples fall apples — for nearly all fell off
the trees before the usual time came for picking
winter apples. The consequence is, our crop of
v.'inter apjiles is small. The idea, too, was general,
that it would be labor lost to store up many,
thinking that they would not keep, but in this we
were much mistaken. I have a lot of Baldwin*
26
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
that fell in September that are in good condition.
This year should set at rest the oft reiterated
question, "Have your apple trees deteriorated ?"
Bellflowcrs, Paradise, Rambo — varieties that were
said to be. worn-out, were very fine this year. The
ca\ise must be laid to other causes. Perhaps to
climatij--. But it matters little to us what the
caus(; i.'^, for we cannot control either.
We have, however, a partial remedy, and that
is by selecting such varieties as are by some pecu-
liarity able to surmount those influences.
In this locality, during the period of eight
years. .AH Summer, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Ben
Davis, have produced fair crops every year. While
riiiie Qua Non, Benoni, Red Astrachan, Graven-
stein, Krauser, York Imperial and Baldwin, have
been pretty sure in alternate years.
In pear culture we are comparatively young.
Very few persons 20 years ago could boast of more
than a few varieties. Now we have most of the
leading varieties on trial. The crop Avas good the
past season, though the later sorts, such as An-
jou. Lawrence, etc., did not fill up as well as usual
and ripened several weeks before their time. The
crop is not so easily afifected by colder rain as the
apples, and has been quite sure for ten years past.
Blight is about the only trouble that we have
to contend with. My annual loss is about, on an
average, .5 per cent. I have tested about 75
Varieties, and out of that number the following
are all that are really first-rate in every particu-
lar, viz. : Manning's Elizabeth, Bartlett, Seckel,
Lawrence, and Beurre D'Anjou.
In this "first-rate in every particular" is speci-
ally included the important fact : they sell. Years
ago the cherry flourished on hill tops and in the
valleys. The fruit would ripen and hang upon
the trees for many days. Now it rarely ever
succeeds. The past season was better than usual.
The main trouble is, rot about the time of ripen-
ing. Early Richmond is the most reliable. Gov.
Wood and Rockport Bigarreau are No. 1 in quali-
ty and produce moderate crops. In reading over
the grape literature for years past we were led to
expect that long ere this we should have fruited
varieties, exceeding in quality some of the famous
European varieties. I have spent some dollars,
which I had not well to spare, in seeking and cul-
tivating the "pets," and the result was that after
every trial I loved the Concord better and better,
until I begin to think it is good enough* for any-
body. Respectfully submitted,
Casper Hili-er.
Picture Rocks, Dec. 26, 1872.
E. Satterthwait, Esq. — Dear Sir : — Yours
of the 19th is received, requesting information,
etc.
With few exceptions we have had good crops
of fruit generally. Apples better than average.
Peaches, few are grown ; the same with pears and
grapes. Strawberries good.
As to failures and disease :
Apples had a remarkably good setting. All
appeared well until midsummer, when some varie-
ties were attacked with blight, first appearing at
the ends of the new growth, extending to that of
the old, appearing as if stung by an insect, biit no
puncture to be found. The Golden Pippin and
Rhode Island Greening suffered the most. The
crop seemed to ripen prematurely, so that before
time to harvest it was two-thirds on the ground,
but still we have an abundance for all pur-
poses.
Pears suffered the most from the blight,
many trees being killed outright. Tho^ft that
were the most affected were Summer Doyenne,
Dearborn's Seedling, Louis Bonne and some
others.
Peaches — Trees that were well cared for look
well and bore well. The curculio is its worst
enemy. Grapes, quinces and raspberries were
much injured by the previous winter ; also the
evergreens suffered. Grapes— Of those that were
killed, were Isabella, Catawba, Creveling, and
some of the Concord. With me the Diana and
Rebecca stood the test and fruited well. The grape
crop was generally light. Strawberries were fine.
Mine cultivated in hills produced six thousand
qts. to the acre, sold by the crop all to one party
at twenty cents per quart. The Gift box and crate,
costing 2^ cts. per quart., gave me at least 3 cts.
per qt. the advantage of my neighbors. I recom-
mend them.
All in ail, the show of fruit at our fair, that of
Muncy Valley Farmers' Club, held at Ilughes-
ville, was pronounced the best ever exhibited in
the county.
I would recommend the free and generous use
of lime and wood ashes for all kinds of fruit.
Cultivate and mulch, and still apply the lime and
ashe.s.
I hope to meet you at the meeting at Reading,
but if I should fail to be present, you may be as-
sured of my interest therein.
Respectfully yours,
A. RE.\ssEt.AKR Sprout.
West Grove, 1st mo., 10, 1873.
E. Satterthwait — Esteemed Friend : — With
us the past season was a very fruitful one ; every-
thing in the shape of a fruit tree bore fruit, and a
difference from other years was perceptible in the
character of the fruit - nearly all of it perfect and
very little injured by insects. We have to re-
mark, however, that there seemed an increa.'-ing
disposition to fall off too soon in such varieties as
Fallowater, Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, etc.
What caused this unusual yield of fruit ? is an in-
teresting subject of inquiry. The spring was re-
markably favorable— both dry and clear of frosts
to injure -but can this be all? We have a few
neighbors who scarcely ever fail having a fair crop
of apples ; they feed their trees well with a coat
of stable manure, say about one-third of a cart load
under and around each tree annually, and they
seem to be in strong and healthy condition, and. as
one of the proprietors remarked, they seem " to
laugh at the storms."
I don't know why all the poor, neglected trees
should bear, unless it be the long years of rest and
the very few insects. Remain very truly, etc.,
Thos. M. Harvey.
J HE LA.YCASTER FABMER.
27
HKrOIIT OK THK GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE.
Ill atrain representing to the society the report
of its Goneral Fruit Committee, the chairman
has the satisfaction of stating that he has received
more than usual amount of assistance from tlie
monibors of the committee and otliers, his letters
Bolicilinjr information upon the subjects proper to
be treated of in this r-^port having been generally
responded to, and many valuable ideas and inter-
esting facts have thus come into his possession,
and as some of these letters have been carefully
prepared and contain the right kind of informa-
tion in as good a shape as could be desired, he has
judged it best to present the views of the writers
entire. As, however, the territory covered by the
reports contained in the letters alluded to, and
which are hereto annexed, does not embrace
nearly the whole of the fruit growing region of
the State, and as it would seem to be proper that
such a remarkable fruit season as the past one has
been should not be suffered to pass by without
more than ordinary notice from this committee
and this society, the undersigned has thought
proper to present some observations of his own
derived from other sources of information and
from the results of his own experience.
THE PRCl'I.IARITIES OF THE SEASON.
The year just past must certainly be set down
as one of the most extraordinary on record, and
one that those interested in fruit growing will not
be likely soon to forget. And it is to be hoped
that the valuable experiences of such a season will
be turned to good account by those whose interest
it is to profit by every opportunity of acquiring
knowledge upon the subjects that so deeply in-
terest them. The question of how much the ex-
traordinary fruit crop of the past season was de-
pendent upon the extremes of weather which pre-
vailed during a large portion of the years, is an
important one for fruit growers to solve, certainly
both were very remarkable. A long and extreme-
ly cold and dry winter was followed by a cold and
exceedingly dry spring, the drought continuing
in some sections of the State with great severity
nearly the whole season The summer also was
a remarkably hot one, the temperature averaging
higher than any on record. The long and severe
winter, extremely dry spring and hot summer
made the season a most unfavorable one for plant-
ing ; in some sections where the drought contin-
ued during most of the summer transplanting was
almost a total failure, and trees generally made a
poor growth. It would perhaps be well to note
here
THE EFFECTS OF THE WINTER.
upon the different kinds of fruit and fruit trees. It
is certainly very remarkable that a season of suoli
extraordinary severity and which proved so de-
structive to many kinds of vegetation, should ap-
parently be so favorable to fruits. Not only did
all kinds of fruit trees escape with less injury than
usual, but appeared, in some unaccountable way
to be greatly benefited ; the extraordinary, and io
some instances unprecedented, -crops of fruit beinj
by many ascribed to some mysterious effects of the
extreme winter weather. It is not easy to see how
there can be anything in this, except it may b«
that the sevcritj^ of the cold and perhaps the ab-
sence of snow proved destructive to curculio and
other fruit-destroying insects.
SMALL FRUITS.
however, did not fare so well. The berry crop
was generally poor, much below the average, all
kinds being more or less injured by the winter^
and all suffered severely from the drought and in-
tense heat of the summer. The season havin*
been such an unfavorable one for these fruits. ther«
appears to have been very little said as to the
relative merits of different varieties, and as w»
know of nothing of special interest to report shall
defer saying anything on the subject. Currant*
and gooseberries, though hurt somewhat by the-
drought, were a fair crop.
GRAPES,
though in some instances hurt by the winter, seem
to have generally done well, the Concord in par^.
ticular fairly outdoing itself, as the manner ia
which our markets were glutted with it for a long
time fully attests. The quality also seemed bet-
ter than usual and appeared to give universal sat-
isfaction. The amount of this wholesome and de-
licious fruit that is now annually sold in our mar-
kets, at prices so low as to be within the reach of
all, is one of the best proofs of the progress that
fruit growing has made within a few years, result-
ing in great measure from the influence of suck
associations as this.
APPLES.
The great fruit crop of the season was the ap-
ple crop. Never within the memory of the oldest
inhabitant has there been seen in Pennsylvania a
more magnificent crop of this fruit, and not for a
generation at least has there been anything t«
compare with it. From every section of the State
comes the same report — apples have been s*
abundant as to be almost a uuisauce. Nor han
^s
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMEJR.
the tremendous yield been confined, as it general-
ly is, to particular varieties. Neither did soil,
situation or culture seem to make the least differ-
ence, but utterly setting- at defiance all rules and
theories, every old, neglected and apparently worn,
out tree, trees by the roadsides, and in hedges
and in neglected pastures, trees that had never
been pruned or otherwise cared for, and whether
' grafted or natural fruit, all alike were loaded and
with fruit the best of its kind. Where all did so
well, it seems utterly useless to attempt to par-
ticularize varieties, but it does seem too remark-
able to let pass without particular notice, that
all the old and supposed-to-be worn-out varieties,
euch as the Yellow Bellflower, Newtown, Pip-
pin, llambo and many others that might be men-
tioned, never were finer than they were last year.
There was one drawback only to the satisfaction
of beholding once more in Pennsylvania a regular
old-fashioned crop of apples, and that was the
mortifying reflection that no use could be made
of it, but that the greater part must inevitably go
to waste. However much this may be regretted,
it is not at all strange that it should have hap-
pened under the circumstances. It having
been many years since there had been a general
large crop of apples in these parts, it had become
common to plant a large proportion of summer
and fall varieties, and the season being an unusual-
ly hot one, and most winter apples ripened early,
and the consequence was a great super-abundance
of this fruit during the peach season, when apples
will not sell, and as cider making and drying
apples in the old way pay very poorly, and far.
niers not being supplied with the improved appa-
ratus for drying. fruit, but a small part of the
crop was utilized in that way. Though probably
more than half the apples grown in Pennsylvania
last year were thus lost to the producer, a large
part of what was sent to market in peach time,
not bringing enough to pay expenses, yet the
amount of winter apples grown in the State is
not a tithe of what the market demands. The
moment that peaches were done, apples began to
pour in from other States as usual and command-
ed the usual good prices, the crop produced here,
large as it was, not seeming to have the least
effect on the market, so immense was the consump-
tion of this fruit when peaches were not to be had.
As it seems to be demonstrated that the people
will not buy apples when they can get peaches,
and it being more than probable that we shall
continue to have a glut of this fruit, during its
season (the area of peach culture for the eastern
markets having become so extended), there are
certainly some important lessons for fruit growers
to learn from these siginificant facts ; and the
first of these seems to be to plant only late varie-
ties of apples for market. It is also strongly re-
commended to examine into the merits of the
new methods of drying fruits lately introduced ;
some of these it is believed will prove to be very
valuable.
PEARS.
Pears also did well last year, though the crop
was not universally a large, one as was the case
with apples. As doing remarkably well every-
where, may be mentioned, among the leading var
rieties, Bartlett, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Lawrence
and Howell. Amongst the early sorts, Beurre
Giffiird was uncommonly fine. Manning's Elizabeth,
as usual, did splendidly. Amongst the newer
sorts the Rutter should be mentioned as doing fine
as usual. But the most remarkable thing about
the pear crop and which must be ascribed to the
peculiarities of the season, was the entire absence
of any tendency to crack. Many varieties that
are usually worthless from cracking were all fair
and fine this year, even the old white Doyenne,
that for a great many years in most localities haa
been only a nuisance from this cause, was perfect
and fine as it ever was. Another remarkable case
was that of the Glout Morceau, which in this sec-
tion of the country has long been set down as
worthless, except for city planting, where it always
does well, was last year so remarkably fine that
nothing could excel it. In the grounds of the
writer, amongst some hundred of varieties that
did well, the crop of Glout Morceau was about the
best of all, taking into account both quantity and
quality ; the only one that approached it were
Duchesse d'Angouleme and Rutter. Lawrence
was not far behind, but the trees of this variety
having all borne a splendid crop the previous year,
were not so generally loaded as were the others
mentioned. The instances above mentioned as re-
markable exceptions to the general rule of failure,
are thought worthy of particular notice as being'
among the peculiar incidents of a most remark-
able season which are calculated to awaken
inquiries of surpassing interest to fruit growers,
PEAR BLIOHT.
There was one serious drawback to pear culture
the past season that must be mentioned. 'I~he
blight appears to have been more than usually
prevalent. From pretty extensive observations
that have been made the past two seasons, the
undersigned has been forced to the conclusion,
TEE LA J^ CASTER FAEMEB.
29
that the theory of Mr. Downing in regard to this
disease, which has been generally accepted as cor-
rect, is not the true one, but as it might seem to
be presumptuous to attack such high authority
without the most conclusive testimony, we will
leave that for the present. Whatever may be the
cause of this direful malady, there seems to be but
one remedy, and tliat is to replace the stricken
trees with more healthy sorts and avoid planting
those kinds that are much liable to blight. And
it fortunately happens that the greater part of
the most valuable varieties are almost entirely ex-
empt from this disease. Perhaps we caimot do a
better service than to give here a list of those va-
rieties that seem to be peculiarly liable to blight,
and also of others which are exempt, or nearly so,
from its attacks, confining ourselves, of course, to
the leading varieties. ^Ye notice as blighting
badly, Madeleine. Dearborn's Seedlings, Osband's
Summer, Belle Lucrative, Louise Bonne de Jersey,
Maria Louise, Beurre de Montgeron, Forelle,
Urbaniste, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Passe Col-
mar, Catillas, Glout Morceau, Vicar of Winkfield,
Easter Beurre, and some others of lesser note.
As not blighting at all, or very rarely, we men-
tion Seckel, Lawrence, Duchesse d'Angouleme,
Beurre d'Anjou, Buffam, Manning's Elizabeth,
Kingsessing, Rutter, Doyenne, Boussoch, Kirt-
land, Beurre Clairgean, Beurre Bosc, Gushing,
Ananas d'Etee, Dix, and many others not so gen-
erally known. Among the valuable varieties,
blighting some but not enough to condenm them
for general planting, might be mentioned Bart-
lett, Howell, Doyenne d'Etee, Beurre Giffard
and St. Michael Archange.
CHERR'B^.
The cherry crop was a magnificent one, as re-
markable in fact as the app'e crop. For many
years cherries have done very poorly in this re-
gion, almost always rotting so badly as to be
worthless, but the perfection and abundance of
this fruit the past season could hardly be ex-
celled. As with apples, every variety did its very
best, and as there was no rot to interfere, the
whole crop could be marketed and sold well, in
the absence of a large crop of strawberries. As
was the case with apples, all varieties did so well
that it seems to be a needless task to attempt to
particularize. One variety, however — the yellow
Spanish — we cannot avoid mentioning as being
conspicuously magnificent among some forty va-
rieties fruited in the grounds of the writer. This
is the first time in many years that this crop has
generally been a satisfactory or profitable one.
This may be attributed in part, but not altogether,
to the small crop of curculio, and the favorable
dry weather during the time the fruit was matur-
ing. But besides these causes there must have
been something else in the peculiarities of the
season particularly favorable to healthiness in this
fruit, as has been noticed in both the apple and
pear.
PEACHES.
Notwithstanding the extreme severity of the
winter and the many predictions of the destruc-
tion of the peach crop from this cause, the great
superabundance of this fruit in our markets, and
for a longer period than usual, is sufficient evi-
dence that the crop must have been a bountiful
one, or else that more ground has been put under
culture with this fruit than the present demand
would seem to warrant. All our reports agree
that peaches have done well throughout the State
the past season, but enough reliable information
on the subject has not been received to warrant
an expression of opinion as to the merits of par-
ticular varieties.
PLUMS,
also, for the first time in many years, for a large
portion of the State at least, were last year a fair,
and in some localities an enormous crop, and were
far more abundant in our markets than probably
they ever were before. The comparative absence
of curculio may, perhaps, be sufficient to account
for this. Though the ravages of this insect have
been perceptibly decreasing for two or three years,
we can scarcely consider ourselves out of the
woods yet in regard to it, and consequently, it
hardly seems worth while to say much
about varieties of plums until there seems to be
more certainty of getting rid of this one great
enemy of this fruit, and perhaps it would be as well
to say here what we have to say on the subject of
INSECTS.
This is probably the most important question
that could claim our attention and needs all the
light that can possibly be shed upon it. It is
supposed by many intelligentjpomologists that the
unusual severity of the winter had much to do
with the comparative scarcity of both curculio and
codling moth, those two merciless destroj'ers of
fruit. This, of course, is only supposition, and I'e-
mains to be tested by future investigations, and in
the meantime no moans should be spared in en-
deavoring to find out a permanent remedy for the
evil; and it is with pleasure |,we mention that a
plan of destroying effectually the codling moth has
so
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
come under our notice and has been partially test.
ed with a success that seems quite encouraging.
This plan consists in a very simple trap made by
taking two or three rough pieces of thin boards or
old shingles and attaching them together and to
the trunk of the tree with a nail or screw so that
they can be readily separated and the worms
taken out and destroyed, which should be done
about every fortnight, commencing as soon in the
summer as the fruit begins to fall. It is found
that these worms (the larvie of the codling moth)
leave the fruit mostly before it drops from the
tree, or whether before or after it falls, they leave
the fruit and immediately commence to hunt for a
suitable place to retire to make their cocoons and
pass through their transformation to the winged
state, and if all the loose bark has been scraped
from the trunk of the tree as should alwaj-s be done,
the insect can find no place to suit it so well as
between these shingles, and there they all appear
to congregate and may be quickly destroyed. It
'g claimed by the inventor of this trap, that or-
chards may be entirely rid of this pest in one sea-
son, by placing one of these simple traps on every
tree and properly attending to them. From the
success attending a partial use of this trap, we do
not hesitate to recommend it as worthy of a gene
ral trial, as the cost would be so trifling and the"
result, if effectual, would be of such incalculable
value. It seems proper however to mention that
a patent has been taken out for this invention, and
trouble might arise from using it without the con-
sent of the patentee, and we do not now remember
where he is to be found. It cannot be too strong-
ly urged that the great obstacle to success in the
growing of tree fruits is the ravages of these two
insects, curculio and codling moth ; once rid of
these and the road would be easy.
VARIETIK.S OF FRUIT.
Before closing this report it seems proper to ob-
serve that less than usual has been said upon the
all-important subject of the best varieties for
planting. The reason for this has been stated that
the season did not seem to be favorable for form-
ing correct judgments as to this question, for, as
was observed in regard to small fruit, the weather
was so unfavorable, all varieties suffering from the
extreme drought, so that no satisfactory conclu-
sions could be formed upon the respective merits
of particular varieties, and with most kinds of tree
fruits every variety did so well it was alike difficult
to discriminate, and it will, perhaps, be better to
leave this question to be discussed in other less
fortunate seasons, when the question of " what
varieties succeed best," will probably possess more
interest.
WHAT CAUSED THE WOXDEKFUL FRUITFULXF.SS 01'
LAST YEAR.
Just now there are other questions of surpassing
interest to fruit growers, which the peculiarities of
the past season have forced upon our attention,
and which it would seem most fitting at this time
to consider. The question which above all others
now forces itself upon our notice and claims the
earnest consideration of fruit growers presents
itself in this form : Why is it that after a lapse
of thirty years or more of almost total failure of
our most important fruit crop in Pennsylvania,
that all at once, all over the State, as if by some
magic influence, we find ourselves alike astonished
and perplexed by such an overwhelming abun-
dance as to make the crop absolutely of no market
value to the producer ? And not alone the apple
crop is it which seems to have been thus suddenly
rejuvenated, but as has been noticed, the (therry,
the plum, and to some extent the pear, were alike
favorably affected. The questions which right
here press upon our mind with overwhelming
force are of the deepest significance. What Inis
caused this sudden and unlooked for change ? Is
it only a spasmodic effort, to last but for one
season, or have we again entered upon another
bountiful era, such as a few only now living re-
member to have seen ? Can it be attributed to
the extreme and long-continued cold and absence
of snow, whereby the soil was loosened with iVost
to an unusual depth and thereby inparting fertili-
ty to old and famished trees ? Was it that the
extreme severity of the winter destroyed in a great
measure the fruit depredating insects? Was the
almost total absence of moisture in the soil during
the winter and spring favorable to fruitfnlness?
Had the dry weather and absence of storms during
the blossom season anything to do with it ? And,
lastly, was the unprecedented heat of the summer
favorable ? or did some or all of these causes com-
bine to produce such wonderful i-esults ? These are
questions of the deepest interest to fruit growers,
because, though we may uot be able to control any
of the influences which may have tended to pro-
duce the results in question, it is always important
in the pursuit of scientific knowledge on any sub-
ject to ascertain facts and discover causes, no
matter how much they may seem to be beyond our
control. Mere abstract truth is always valuable,
and its discos ery will, sooner or later, always lead
0 useful practical results. It would be out of
place here to pursue this subject further, f to
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
31
attempt to discuss these (|Uostioiis at length would
be to trespass on your time and far exceed the
proper limits of a report like this, but it seemed
proper to call your attention to a subject of such
importance, the investigation and discussion of
which cannot but be interesting!:, and may lead to
important discoveries, for surely a season so ex.
traordiiiary cannot be without its lessons of great
practical moment, and what these may be must
pre-eminently concern a society like this to find
out.
Respectfully submitted by
E. Satterthwait,
Chairman of Committee.
PLANT TREES.
AS our forests are annually fast disappearing i
to make way for the tiller of the soil, and '
being converted into all kinds of material for I
manufactories, railroads and fences, the qnestion '
natiirally occurs to the thinker, What will we do as |
a nation in future years for timber for building \
and manufacturing purposes? It naturally fol-
lows that taking away and not replenishing again,
or, in other words, keeping up the supply, will
Boon exhaust the source or head, taking out of the
meal tube often, and not replacing any will soon
find us at the bottom, tn some of the foreign
countries forests are protected by the government
and he who cuts down a certain amount of timbci-
must plant the same number of acres again or be
subject to the penalty of the law, while here in
the United States, in nearly all newly-settled u
tricts that are heavily timbered, it is often the ob-
ject of the possessor thereof to clear his lands of
timber in any manner he can. AVhile he is destroy-
ing it in the most reckless manner, future genera-
tions will be in want of it on account of this
great destruction. This is the case of those
heavy timbered districts in the far West. Let us
now come home to our own Stale, and. more di-
rect still, to our own county. Land being in de-
mand and sc'ling at high prices, nearly all good
land has been converted into arable land to pay a
good interest, as some would say, as it does not
pay to have lands in that condition and annually
get but a small return for present use. It may be
said by some that their timber land is at its best,
and soon will be on the decline, and in this case
should be cut and used to the best purpose. But.
as is too often the case, hardly a single tree is
planted to replenish acres that have been re-
moved, and thus we in our county, noted for its
fertility and abundance in nearly all other things,
are annually getting more iu want of building and
fencing materials, and at no very distant day we
must get most of our supplies of this kind from
some distance place at steep prices. This can be
remedied to a great extent if each one who is the
owner of a tract of land, be it large or small,
would plant from time to time a eertain number
of trees. This may be done on such portions of
the farm that cannot be cultivated to a good ad-
vantage. For instance, along permanent foncea,
broken lands laying in an angle of a field often
left uncultivated, still having sufficient good soil
on it to grow trees to a good advantage along
streams fiowing through the farm, etc. Thus, the
owner of the farm may at least grown a good por-
tion of his fencing material. One of the best
kinds of trees for this purpose is the yellow locust ;
it is a quick grower, and is one of the surest trees
to grow, if properly planted, and when once a
good sized tree, it may be cut, and the stump, if
protected from cattle, will soon send forth sprouts
again which will in a short time be fit to cut
again, and thus it may be continued perpetually.
For rails chestnut is mostly used, and those who
have that kind of timber land can continue it the
same as locust trees. In marshy soils and along
streams willows may be planted and used for fence
rails, and often answers the purpose quite well.
Then, again, we must not forget our fruit trees.
What makes the farm more attractive and hence
more saleable than an abundance of fruit, and this
can so easily be done by planting a goodly num-
ber of trees each year, amounting to but a few
dollars, and requiring but a short time to do it.
In this way we can keep up the supply. Some of
the finest farms are often sadly neglected in this
respect. Then, again, the yards and buildings
should be adorned and made comfortable by plant
ing shade trees. Nothing is more delightful on a
hot summer day than a social group in a well
shaded farm-house yard. Let the owners, then,
of the farms of this great county of ours plant
trees of various kinds, so that we can hand down
to posterity, to some extent as we received them,
farms not wholly destitute of trees.
E. S. H.
East Hempfield, January 18, 1873.
The Khedive of Egypt is believed to be the
richest person in the world. Some report his in-
come to be .§50,000,000 per year. He indulges
in twenty-five magnificently furnished palaces,
s^
THE LAMCASTER FARMER^
and has his private steam yachts for sea and
river service. With all his wealth, however, he
is far from being a man of leisure. He is not
only the ruler of a vast country, but a merchant,
manufacturei", banker, statesman, shipbuilder and
farmer. He is represented as being the largest
farmer in the world, and one of the most enter-
prising. His experiments in agriculture extend
to almost every department of the business, and
embrace tillage, manures, stock breeding and the
acclimation of plants and animals. Among the
little enterprises he has now on hand is the con
Btruction of factories to work up the raw pro-
ducts of his vast plantations of cotton and sugar
cane, and the construction of a railroad the en-
tire length of his dominions. As he is giving
great attention to the improvement of his army,
many believe this railroad is undertaken largely
■with a view of carrying on a war of conquest with
the savage nations that live to tho south of him.
His industry is remarkable. He sleeps but six
hours in the twenty-four, after which he attends
to matters of state ; then to public enterprises,
and lastly to his private business.
CORRESF'OiMDENGE.
PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT GROWERS, AS-
SOCIATION.
THE fourteenth annual convention of this
Society was held in the city of Reading, 15th
and 16th inst. This sooiety was organized and
held its first meeting in the city of I-iancaster,
February 1st, 1860. A large majority of its first
members were from Lancaster and Chester coun-
ties ; since then nearly all the counties of easteru_
and middle Pennsylvania have been represented..
A number of members were present at Reading
who were also at the first meeting of the society.
President Hoopes, I believe, has not missed a ses-
sion since its organization. During its existence,
meetings have been held in Philadelphia, Harris
burg, Easton, Pittsburg, West Chester, Bcthle
hem, Chambersburg, and other places; thus dif-
fusing pomological and horticultural knowledge
throughout a large proportion of the State, and
its mission is thus to continue until horticultural
knowledge and interest shall stand second to no
other calling, and until our State shall export in-
stead of import such fruits, etc., which her soil and
clinuite will yield in abundance whenever proper
attention is paid to them.
The meeting at Reading was consisdered one of
the most interesting which the society has held.
Nearly all to whom subjects were allotted
for the occasion responded either verbally or by
essay, consequently much valuable matter was
brought before the meeting and much thereof
ably discnssed.
The fine fruits on the tables were very much
admired. The largest proportion of the applea
were from Berks county, among which were quite
a number of seedlings, or having only local names,
but no doubt well worthy of dissemination.
It is becoming more evident Avith each year that
Pennsylvanians have committed a serious mistake
in introducing and planting so many New York
apples instead of selecting the best of our native
State for general planting. The society will of
course do, and is already doing, much to correct
this error.
At its annual meetings the merits of the various
fruits are considered and a correct conclusion will
be the necessary consequence.
It is to be regretted that so few among those
who are interested avail themselves of the ad van.
tages gained by attending the Society's meetings
or receiving its annual reports.
At the late meeting a new feature was intro-
duced which will interest an influential class of
our citizens. It is the adding of " Landscape and
Ornamental Gardening" to the subjects usually
discussed at its sessions. These discussions will
have an elevating and refining influence. In thia
age the useful and the beautiful are becoming
more and more blended and will eventually be
considered inseparable by the raassess as it is now
by the few.
With all the importance that attaches to this so
ciety I feel sorry to say that Lancaster city, where it
was brought into existence had only two represen-
tatives at Reading although the county was fairly
represented.
Jan. 20, 1873. H. M. Engle.
EDITORS FARMER: In looking over nursery
catalogues of pears, we find varieties without
number described, all said to be good. But ex-
perience has taught many that at least a few were
poor, worthless stutT. Many, too, desirous of
planting, are confused by this long array of names.
If any one should be able to draw any crumbs of
comfort from the twenty years' experience which
the writer had in the described varieties, they are
welcome thereto. The varieties ripen somewhat
in the order in which they are described.
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
33
Doyenne d'Etc— a good little pear, but some-
times cracks.
Maynard — fair size, second rate quality, but in-
dispensable on account of its productiveness.
Bcurre Giffard — fine in quality, size and color —
cracks sometimes.
Osband's Summer— generally of fair quality
and productive.
Madeleine - good, but rots too soon.
Ou — nearly always good, small.
Manning's Elizabeth— first rate in every re-
spect ; productive and profitable, if small.
Rostiezer — some years very good, but mostly
poor.
]31oodgood — a rich russet color, good flavor ;
rather poor grower.
Tyson — good quality, poor bearer ; have a
standard twenty years old never fruited.
Dearborn's Seedling — small, productive, good.
Julienne — quality medium, productive.
Clapp's Favorite — a splendid fruit in size,
quality and color, but rots entirely too soon.
Bartiett — first-rate in every respect, deservedly
stands at the head of the list.
Hosenshenk — large, good quality, but the fruit
is not fair.
Kirtland — fair size and quality, rots at the core.
Belle Lucrative — quality mostly excellent, does
not sell well on account of color,
Beurre de Amanlis — poor, rots badly.
Flemish Beauty — a splendid pear, sometimes
difficult to ripen, rots soon.
Brandywine - good quality, poor bearer.
Nixon — small, poor.
Henry IV. — green, insignificant.
Doyenne Boussack— not of much account.
Andrews — fine size, medium quality.
St. Ghislain — good, productive.
Buerre St. Nicholas — beautiful, poor.
White Doyenne — cracks, worthless.
Gray Doyenne — sometimes good.
Westcot — fair quality, not productive.
Howell — fine size, good, promising.
Philadelphia — large, poor.
Oswego — sour, cracks, worthless.
St. Michael Archange — sweet, excellent.
Urbanite — sub-acid, good, slow bearer.
Onondaga — large, coarse, poor,
Stevens' Genesee — worthless.
Canandaigua — large, poor quality.
Kingsessing — large, good, poor color.
Chinese Sand — beautiful, good for preserving.
Leon Le Clerc — large, not productive.
Noveau Poiteau — medium quality.
Pius IX. — of no account.
Petre — of no account.
Chaumantel — large and mostly good.
Beurre Superfine — sub-acid, good, rots badly.
Brown d'Ezee — ^jnicy, good.
Brown Beurre — acid, poor.
Forelie — beautiful, poor.
Martin Sec — worthless.
Belle et Bonne — the name beautiful and good,
docs not always hold good.
Democrat — rots badly at the core.
BuflFum — good, productive.
Seckel — first rate quality, productive.
Louis Bonne de Jersey — large, nearly always
good.
Duchess de Angouleme — very large, good,
great bearer wants thinning to bring the fruit to
perfection.
Beurre Diel — large, good, productive.
Sheldon — a promising fruit.
Beurre Bosc — good and productive.
Dix — will bear little before fifteen years old^
Very good, promising.
Beurre de Anjou — first-rate in every respect.
Beurre Clairgeau -large, showy, medium qual-
ity.
Triomphe de Jodoigne — very large, medium
quality.
Lawrence — always good.
Winter Nclis — not always good.
Vicar of Winkfield — large, productive, mostly
poor quality.
Glout Morceau — sometimes excellent, but does
not oft«n do well.
Doyenne d'Alencon — does not ripen well.
St. Germain — good, not productive.
Reading — promising.
Easter Beurre — good, not easy to ripen.
Of the foregoing varieties there are perhaps
not a dozen that are always first-rate in every par
ticular. Quality, productiveness and season'
could i>e covered with five varieties, viz. : Man.
nings Elizabeth, Bartlet, Seckel, Lawrence,
Beurre de Anjou.
It might perhaps be well enough for many to
stop here.
But when we take into consideration the great
difference in taste, productiveness, beauty, season
and the effect that different soils and locations
have, those who have time and means should
plant a greater number of varieties. Q.
Conestoga, January 1, 1873.
Subscribe for the Lancaster Farmkb.
SJf
THi: LAJ\'CA8TEM FABMER.
ihc ^mv^k^itx ^avmev.
LANCASTER, FEBRUARY, 1873.
S. S. RATHVON, Editor.
Putilit bed monthly under the auspiee? of tlieAouicuL-
TUKAL ANDHoRTICtn.TURAL SOCIETY.
§135 per Tear in Advance.
A consiflerable fieduction t ) club.s of five or more.
A'l coinmunicitions, to insu-e insertion, must be in the
hands <if tlie editors befort^ tl;e 20th of each nunth. Ad-
dress S. P. Ea'hTOTi, Lincaster, P;;.
All ajvei tisemants, tubscnptions and remitrancep to the
addre^3 0f the publisher, ,1. P. DEVKMN,
Inquirer Building, Lancaster, Pa-
We devote much of our present number to
matters relating to the late meeting- of the Penn'a
Fruit (Jrowers' Society, held at Reading, Pa.,
commencing on the 15th of January last. As
these papers eminate from such a respectable and
reliable source, and are of such a practical charaC'
ter, we feci they will amply compensate for the
absence of our usual variety, and that our readers
will, therefore, need no other apology. This insti-
tution is composed of some of the ablest and most
intelligent fruit-growers of our State, and is
gradually attaining to a distinguished rank in the
country. AVe take a special pride in its progress-
and often regret that the stern and irrevocable
circumstances in which we are placed, disables us
from an active participation in its proceedings.
We have some good members in the society from
this county, but not nearly so many as its position
in the material annals of the country would seem
to demand. Lancaster ought to be a fearless and
intelligent leader in fruit culture, and give charac-
ter to the institutions of the State ; but instead
of that, she has thus far been content to occupy
rather a subordinate position. She seems slow to
comprehend that the cultivation of fruit maybe a
better paying crop than many others upon which
quite as much labor is bestowed, and as much re-
sponsibility is involved.
R.
MEETING OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
THE regular monthly meeting of the Society
was held Monday, January 6th, 1873. in
the Orphans' Court Room. Henry M. Engle in the
chair. Minutes read and approved.
Milton B. Eshelman proceeded to read an essay
upon, " What shall we do with the Coal Ashes ?"
One of the uses proposed by the essayist wa.s to
make of them an absorbent of unpleasant, unsalu.
brious and pestilential odors. He referred to the
earth-closet system patented by E. Magee KeifJer-
H. M- Engle remarked that earth-closets were as
yet but little known, but said that those who had
used them would be very unwilling to dispense
with them. He narrated the views expressed coa-
cerning tbem by President Colder of the Agricul-
tural College, who regarded them a great family
convenience.
Milton B. Eshelman had introduced the earth-
closet system in his section, and he would now be
very unwilling to be without them. Jacob (».
Peters commended this use of ashes that several
of the mcMTibers were recommending.
E. Magee KeiflFi^r, who happened to be present,
explained the advantages of the earth-closet sys-
tem, and said he believed the time would come
when they would become as generally used as is
now the sewing machine.
Casper Hiller thought the only question before
the meeting was whether coal ashes would answer
for earth-closets instead of clay. E. Magee Kief-
fer regarded coal ashes as good for deodorizing
purposes as anything else except perhaps swamp
muck. He had used ashes and they answered the
purpose remarkably well.
M. B. Eshelman remarked that all that was ne-
cessary with coal ashes was to sift them carefully
in a sieve and extract therefrom the cinders.
Magee Kieflfer spoke from experience when he
asserted that coal ashes constitute oik; of the best
fertilizers imaginable after they have been used as
deodorizers.
A bill of Joseph Snyder for $300 for services
was ordered to be paid. H. M. Engle next deliv-
ered his valedictory address upon the close of offi-
cial term for the year 1872.
Levi S. Reist addressed the society and said
that our organization was of great utility to the ag-
ricultural interest of our country and he thought
much yet remained to be done in the way of in.
troducing and trying varieties of fruits. The so-
ciety had labored under great disadvantages, hav-
ing been obliged to hold exhibitions at their own
expense, but he hoped the future would be bright-
er. The study of })otany he regarded as very
necessary, and indeed thought it should be made a
branch of study in the common schools.
On motion of Johnson Miller a vote of thanks
was unanimously tendered Mr. Engle for the full
and efficient manner in which he had discharged
his duties as president during the past year.
THE LAJSrCASTER FARMER.
35
Jacob L. Landis next read an essay upon the
subject of " Fences of the United States."
Johnson Miller remarked that though the fence
expenses as given by Mr. Landis in his essay
eeemcd large, yet he believed they were fully sus-
tiiiued by publications from the agricultural de-
partment, and he moved a vote of thank ■ to the
essayist, which was adopted.
Society went into an election of officers to serve
for the ensuing year. Henry M. Engle was elec-
ted President.
Levi S. Reist, Ephraini Hoover, H. K. Stoner,
and Johnson Miller were elected Vice Presi-
dents.
For the remaining offices the following were elec-
ted : Secretary, Alex. Harris ; Corresponding Sec-
retary, Calvin Cooper ; Treasurer, Dr. J. W. Hies-
tand ; Librarian, S. P. Eby ; Botanist, Jacob
StoulTer ; Entomologist, S. S. Rath von ; Chemist,
Dr. W. L. Difxenderfer.
Levi S. Rsist was chosen to read an essay at the
uext meeting. Society then on motion adjourned.
MISCELLANEOUS
A LESSON IN FEEDING STOCK.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Maina Far-
mer having made the statement that among
the valnab'e essons that the past winter had
taught him in feeding stock, was the conviction
that he has heretofore " fed nearly double the
amount of hay needed," another writer for the
saino paper comments as follows on his remarks :
If feeders have learned, as many no doubt have
done, that it is better to feed less hay and substi
tu e meal or some other concentrated food in
place of the hay withheld, then the lesson will
not be controverted ; but if they mean what they
say. that they have been feeding too much hay to
the stock - have been giving much more nutri-
ment than was needed — it is cjuite another thing.
1 have learned no such lesson. I have learned
(from tlie experience of others) that stock can
be wintered— can be kept alive — on much less hay
than has usually been fed to them.
AVhen you want stock to grow during the win-
ter, oxen to lay on fat, cows to give an abundant
flow of milk, you must give them something to do
it with. Muscle, fat, milk, are all in the feed
given, be that grain or hay. It comes from no
other source, and can be obtained in no other way.
A certain amount of nutriment is required to suj)-
port vitality in an animal. If yon get growth,
fat, or milk, it must come from nutriment digest-
ed and assimilated in excess of what is reciuired
to sustain vitality. If you desire rapid growth,
much fat, or an abundant flow of milk, you must;
leed liberally, and at the same time feed such food
as Avill keep all the organs of the animal in a
healthy, active condition, that they may be en-
abled to digest and assimilate the greatest possi-
ble amount of food. Milk producers understand
this well, and you have not heard them say they
have learned to keep their cows on a, small amount
of food.
They all feed shorts, and feed them not to save
hay, but to make their cows eat more hay. Shorts
are heatlhy food, and promote the health and ac-
tivity of all the organs of digestion and assimi-
lation, and thus the cow is enabled to convert
more hay into milk. I have been feeding c()ttoa
seed meal with the greatest satisfaction. It saved
me no hay, but it gave the cows a voracious ap-
petite, and that appstite, created by a
healtliy digestion, converted a larg.; quantjlV of
hay into milk.
My expL'rience has taught me, and last winter
confirmed it, that the profit from keeping stock
comes from the food digested and assimilaled in
excess of what is.rcquircd to support vitality, a id
the more we can get a single animal to digest and
assimilate, and therefore convert into the desired
product, the greater the profit.
W¥j extract the following from the Innh
iSporbnan and Fanmr .-
" With respect to the growth i>\' horses, as far
as regards height, it generally discontinm.s be-
tween three and four years old. After three years
old the limbs very seldom become longer, but the
carcase increases in depth between the top of the
withers and that portion of the chest immediately
beneath it. Professor Ferguson some years ago
discovered that the measure- of tli(> fore-limli of a
three-year-old colt or filly, from the center ■ r the
l)astern joint, is the measure of that ))(trtinn .>f the
adult animal between the center of the elbow
joint and the top of the wither. Tlin-'. it is want-
ed to know what increased height a thi'.v-year-old
will attain when he or she shall have reacfied ma-
turity it is only necessary to ascertain how much
greater the distance is between the elbow joint
and the top of tlie wither. The diffcrenr,;" be-
tween these two measurements will nearly exactly
indicate the maximum height the animal will at-
tain in the ordinary course of nature, on an viiig
at maturity This rule has for some time bei-n
recognized in the cavalry of the English and Con-
tinental armies as almost infallible. Doni's are
continually, though slowly, chaniging their strnc-
ture ; but as to their length, the bones of horses
generally discontinue their elongation at about
between four and four and a half years old. With
respect to substance and structure, they are nc*
quite developed until the animal is about five
years old." There is also in the same ])aper a
letter from a " Netrinary Studen," of which the
annexed is a portion, but which hardly displays .so
much practical knowledge : " I i)erceived a par-
agraph, signed ' RoAvel,' condemning the use of
bearing rains, and, as I fully concur with the
views of the writer on the subject, you will per-
haps allow me to observe that he has omittud ia
S6
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
his list of diseases, vices, etc., consequent upoa
the continued use of the bearing-rein, a vei'y com-
mon and at the same time rather dangerous affec-
tion, viz : poll-evil. When the head of the ani-
mal is elevated for a length of time, the muscles
of the neck —especially the longissimus dorsi —
being placed in an abnormal position, that is, too
long contracted, become irritated, and a certain
amount of inflammation is set up which ends in the
formation of an abscess, constituting the so-called
poll-evil ; and owing to its proximity to the spi-
nal cord, there is danger of the pus burrowing in
on the cord, causing paralysis and death. Then,
in the operations for this disease, it is almost im-
possible so perform successfully unless conversant
with the anatomy of the parts, as the ligamentum
flucha; is situated there, and if that is cut the head
immediately dropsj."
R UNAWAY HOESES.
R REALIZING that it is very easy to give
directions about stopping runaway horses
much easier than it is to put them in practice, the
Christian Union ventures the following hints :
" If you ai-e in a wagon and the horse takes fright,
and gets on the full jump before you can bring
your strength to bear on the bit, there is nothing
for it but to hold on and try your best to stop
him. " sawing," if necessary, on the bit. Failing
in this, you can perhaps keep him in the road until
his wind gives out, or should a good opportunity
occur you may turn him against a fence or the
eide of a house, or in fact against anything that
will stop him. The last is a dangerous recourse,
Vtut we have seen it done with success. When a
Bpan of horses arerunning the difficulty is increas-
ed, and more strength, more skill and better luck
on the part of the driver are very desirable quali-
ties. A strong hand and a determined will nearly
always sufBce to stop runaways, if nothing breaks.
If the lines break or the bits give way, an active
person may, without much difficulty, climb over
the dash-board, get on the animal's back, and
check hmi by grasping his nose. Leaping from
the carriage while the horse is running is almost
certain to involve more or less injury. An active
person may do it safely, but it is the part of pluck;
and generally that of wisdom, to stay by the car-
riage as long as the traces hold. When the horse
is fairly stopped, treat him kindly, and, if possible,
let him stand until his nerves are quieted. If a
horse is running toward you, courage and adroit-
ness may enable you to stop him. If you can
secure a hold on the reins, or one of them, near
the bits, you are all right. Hold on, and within
a few rods at most, the horse will stop, unless he
is a most extraordinary animal. In the case of a
span, if you stop one horse, the other must stop
too, if nothing gives way. We can tell those
who have never tried it that it is not a pleasant
pastime to stand by the roadside and watch the
approach of a frantic horse, making calculation
the while to catch some part of the harness. Still
it can be done, and is done many times during
every year. A runaway was stopped in this city
a short time ago by a boy, who climbed into the
wagon from behind, passed forward and along the
thills till he could reach the reins, when he placed
himself astride the animal and stopped him within
three squares. An equestrian has a better, chance
every way to check his horse than has the driver
of a vehicle. One trouble is, that the motion of
the animal causes his mane to stream out, and
embarrass the rider's hold on the lines. This,
however, is a minor difficulty, and an equestrian
who has a firm seat ought to be able to check the
horse or steer him clear of all obstacles until he ia
glad to stop.
LINSEED TEA FOR SICK HORSES.
THE following item, which we find credited
to an exchange, is well worth perusing :
" Linseed tea is not only a valuable restorative
for sick horses, but is exceedingly useful in cases
of inflammation of the membranes peculiar to the
organs of respiration and digestion ; it
shields and lubricates the same ; tranquilizes the
irritable state of the parts, and favors healthy ac-
tion. We have prescribed linseed tea in large
quantities, during the past month, for horses la-
boring under the prevailing influenza; they seemed
to derive much benefit from it, and generally
drank with avidity. Aside from the benefit we
derive from the action of mucilage and oil which
the seed contains, its nutritive elements are of
some account, especially when given to animals
laboring under soreness in the organs of degluti-
tion, which incapacitates from swallowing more
solid food. In the event of an animal becoming
prostrated by inability to masticate or swallow
more food, linseed tea may be resorted to, and in
case of irritable cough, the addition of a little
honey njakes it still more useful. In the latter
form it may be given to animals laboring under
acute or chronic diseases of the urinary organs,
more especially of the kidneys.
" To make linseed tea : Put a couple of hands-
ful of the seed into a bucket, and pour a gallon
and a half of boiling water upon it. Cover it up
a short time ; then add a couple of quarts of cold
water, when it will be fit for use."
THE COST OP ROYALTY.
THE English Cabinet is compo.sed of sixteen
members, who are receive annually between
them in salaries £G6,000. The American Admin-
istrative Department is composed of seven mem-
bers, who receive a sum equal to £8,400 among
them. In England some members get £5,000,
others £7.000, and one as much as £10,000 a year.
In America no member gets more than £1,200.
The entire English Administration is paid, in
salaries alone, £176,718, which, with the £4.5.023
for expenses of the House of Lords, and £49,806
for the House of Commons, together with £G92,-
373 paid to the Royal family, make the cost of the
English Government to be £963,920, while the
THE LAJsrCASTER FARMER.
37
Kepublic in America costs only between £700,000
and £800,000. Out of tliis sum tlie Americans
pay their representatives. In America the sov-
ereignty is the people. The people pay to rule
themselves, while in England they pay royalty to
rule them. In America the sovereignty supports
itself; in England it is supported by something
outside of itself. Surely then that which is self-
supporting is more economical than that which
depends on something extraneous for its existence.
In America its £700,000 or £800,000 are dis-
tributed among nearly five hundred persoms, but
in England the £903,920 are given to less than
one hundred individuals. So that in England
about one hundred Government officials cost over
£163,000 more than five timep that number in
America.
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
WHAT is Stewart, or Belmont, or the Mar-
quis of Westminster, to Ptolemy Phila-
delphus, of Egypt, who amassed a little property
of $350,000,000 ? And which of our extravagant
young ladies in these boastetl times ever gave to her
lover, as Cleopatra did, a pearl dissolved in vine-
gar (or undissolved) worth $400,000. Then there
was Paulina, one of the ton of Rome, who used to
wear jewels when she returned her visits worth
$800,000. Well, they boast of Mr. Stewart's
"marble palac-e" on Thirty-fourth street and Fifth
avenue. We do not suppose this house, which is
about the best they have in New York, cost more
than half a million of dollars. Cicero, who was a
poor man, gave $150,000 for hLs house, and Clo-
dius paid $650,000 for his establishment on the
palatine, while Massala gave $2,000,000 for the
house at Antium. Seneca, who was just a plain
philosopher, like Mr. Greeley, was worth $120,-
000,000. They talk about a man's failing iuNew
York for a million fis if it was a big thing. Ca;sar,
before he entered any office— when he was a young
gentlemen in private life — owed .$14,000,000. and
he purchased the friendship of Qua?sor for $2,500,-
000. Mark Antony owed $1,400,000 on the Ides
of March, and he paid it before the Kalends of
March. This was nothing ; he squandered $720;-
000,000 of the public money — Maj. Hodge's de-
falcation being for the contemptible sum of $470,-
000. And these fellows lived well. Esopus,
who was a play-actor, paid $400,000 for a supper.
Their wines were often kept for two ages, and
some of them sold for $20 per ounce. Dishes
were made of gold and silver, set with precious
stones. The beds of Heliogabalus were of solid
silver, his tables and plates were of pure gold, and
his mattresses, covered with carpets of cloth of gold,
were stuffed with down from under the wings of
partridges. It took $80,000 a year to keep up
the dignity of a Roman Senator, and some of them
spent $1,000,000 a year. Cicero and Pompey
" dropped in " one day on Lucullus — nobody at
home but the family — and that family dinner cost
$4,000. But we talk of population. We boast
of London and New York. Rome had a popula-
tion of between three and four millions. The
wooden theater of Scarurus contained 80,000
seats ; the Coliseum, built of stone, would seat
22,000 more. The circus maximus (think of it,
old John Robinson !) would hold 385,000 specta-
tors. There were in the city 9,000 public baths,
those of Diocletian alone accommodating 3,000
bathers. Even in the sixth century, after Rome
had been sacked and plundered by the Goths and
Vandals, Zaeharia, a traveler, asserts that there
were 384 spacious streets, 80 golden statues of
the gods, 46,097 palaces, 13,052 fountains, 3,785
bronze statues of the emperors and generals, 22
great horses in bronze, 2 colossi, 2 spiral columns,
31 theaters, 11 amphitheaters. 9,026 baths, 2,000
shops of perfumes. 2,091 prisons. As a setoff to
Mr. Sprague's " monumental tombstone," we may
merely mention the mausoleum of Augustus, in
the northern part of the Campus Martius, consist-
ing of a large tumulus of earth raised on a lofty
basement of white marble, and covered on the
summit with evergreens, as in the manner of a
hanging garden, and the whole surmounted by a
bronze figure of Augustus. At the entrance were
two Egyptian obelisks, fifty feet high, and all
around was an extensive grove, divided into walks
and terraces.
PREDISPOSITION TO SPAVIN.
Every horsemen knows that a certain form of
hock is predisposed to curbs, and the bulging back-
ward of the hock at the place of curbing is a for-
mation that condemns a leg in the mind of any
critical horseman, about as certainly as a curb it-
self would if seen on a well formed leg. It is
also well understood that knees that bend natur-
ally a little forward of a straight line are more
likely to become " sprung." or to " go over" by
hard usage than knees that are naturally straight,
or a little set back, in the form designated iis
" calf-kneed." These facts prove nothing in re-
spect to spavin, but they seem analogous to what
I believe is a fact in relation to that disease.
There is a form of hock that looks like a spavin,
a prominence of the bone at the lowest part of
the hock on the inside that gives a square appear-
ance to the joint when viewed from the front by
looking between the forelegs, and that would often
be mistaken for a spavin, if only one leg were
seen, but a comparison of the two legs shows that
it is a natural formation. I believe that examina-
tion will show that nearly all the spavins are to
be found on hocks of that form. The opposite
form of hock presents a very different appear-
ance. In it the hock, on the inside, tapers
smoothly down to the shank bone, and, if my ob-
servations are correct, that is the safest kind to
invest in so far as spavin is concerned.
GROWTH OF A HORSE'S BONES.
Oats for Lambs. — The importance of having
lambs ready for market at as early a period of the
season as possible, is a matter which every farmer
38
THE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
who lives in the vicinity of large markets under-
stands, or at least onght to. It may perhaps not
be known to all farmers that lambs are able to
eat oats when from three to four weeks old, and
my experience has been that there is no provender
with the use of which I am familiar, that appears
to have such immediate and salutary effect upon
them. All that is necessary to be done is to
moisten the oats and place them in a trough
raised about six or eight inches from the floor, and
where the old sheep cannot get at them. Those
who are skeptical in regard to this matter, can
very readily test the value of this suggestion on
a single lamb or a pair,
To Make Boys Farmers. — I wish all the far-
mers would heed what the American Agricultu-
rint says : " Induce the boys to take an interest
in the farm, in the imi)lements, in the stock ; tell
them all your plans, your successes and failures;
give them the history of your life and what you
did and how you lived when a boy ; but do not
harp too much on the degenerate character of
young men of the present age ; praise them when
you can and encourage them to do still better.
Let them dress up in the evening, instead of sit-
ting down in their dirty clothes in a dirty room.
Provide plenty of light. Thanks to kerosene,
our country homes can be as brilliantly lighted
as the gas-lit residences in the city. Encourage
the neighbors to drop in evenings. Talk agricul-
ture rather than politics ; speak of the importance
of large crops, of good stock, of liberal feeding
and of the advantages of making animals com-
fortable, rather than of the hard times, low
l)rices and high wages. Above all, encourage the
boy to read good agricultural papers. Get him
some good agricultural book to study. Read
with him and give him the benefit of your expe-
rience and criticism. When he has mastered this,
give him another. In our own case, we owe our
love for farming principally to the fact that our
father told us of everything that he was doing on
the farm ; answering all the questions, and en-
couraging, rather than refusing, our childish de-
sire of helping him to plow, to chop, to drain, as
well as firing the brush heaps.
Filberts. — The Turf, Farm and Fldd has the
following in reference to the cultivation of filberts :
We were surprised, on visiting one of our Broad-
way fruit shops, to find fresh filberts, imported
from Kent, in England, selling with their heavy
j!;reen husks on for eighty cents per pound, and
this has been the average for several years. Why
should not our farmers in the Middle and Southern
{States grow filberts ? The climate which will
produce good peaches will also produce filberts,
and all of our light tobacco lands in the basin of
the Chesapeake are as well suited to their growth
as the soil of Kent, and certainly at the prices now
ruling in New York, or at even half these prices,
filberts would prove the most profitable product
within the whole range of agriculture. Nor is
the adaptation of the soil and climate of our Mid-
dle States to the growth of these nuts at all prob-
lematical, for they have been grown in a small
way on some of the old homesteads in Virginia for
more than a hundred years.
Double Your Corn Crop. — Now is the
time to secure your seed corn. Do not
postpone it until planting time. By
careful selection, and proper culture, corn can be
made to produce two or three ears, instead of one.
Every farmer should secure the best seed offered
for sale, and, after the crop matures, select the
best at the time of husking the corn, always choos-
ing from stalks that produce two ears. Take the
lower one. But why take the lower one, you in-
quire, when the upper one is generally the lai'gest?
For two reasons — first, to have your corn throw
out ears near the ground, and, second, to make it
mature early. By selecting seed corn from the
field in this way from year to year you will find
that the corn will produce two and three ears to
each stalk.
How TO Plant Apfle-t'rees. — It is astonish-
ing how much diversity of opinion there is and
has been about the distance apart to plant apple-
trees. After an experience of fifteen years I
would plant apple-trees not less than twenty-four
feet ajjart, from that to thirty-two feet. Apple-
trees planted sixteen feet apart, when they get
large enough to bear, are found by experience to
be entirely too near each other, the limbs inter-
lock, and it is difficult to get through the ore"
with a wagon ; and the want of light and ' ^d
causes the leaves to fall from the lower limh.s •>'
the other trees become unhealthy. ' .."" '
Youxa orchards should be cultivatecj like a
corn field until the trees begin to bear, and there
is no better crop to grow among young trees than
corn. Let the row of trees have the ground of
the row to themselves, and then cultivate the row
of trees the same as a row of corn, but let it stand
as it forms a protection to the trees in winter.
After the trees begin to bear, seed the ground to
clover — clean, no blue grass or timothy mixed
with it and don't take the clover off for hay, but
either turn in the hogs or cut the clover and let
it rot under the trees ; and whenever the clover
gets crowded out by blue grass or timothy, plow
It up and seed down again with clover. This is
not theory with me, but it is based on observa-
tion and successful practice. — Iowa Homestead.
The sulphate of ammonia is excellent manurial
liquid to apply to verbenas or any other flower,
giving to the foliage a dark green, luxuriant and
healthy appearance. It is economical, clean, and
easily api)lied. Prepare it in the evening before
using, b}' dissolving one ounce of ammonia in two
gallons of water. It may be applied once a week
with safety.
THE LA J^ CASTER FARMER.
89
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DEPART-
MENT.
[For Tlie Faimer.
Dblhhi, Indiana,
January 0, 1873.
Eds. Farmer :—
According (o promise made you last,
M ay, 1 now offer ih rough yi>ur advertising ca'nmns a few
varieties of Grapes aud Pears, which I aiu certain are
■worthy of exteasiTO trial, for their many merits and good
qu aliii.s.
You will See my prices are very reasonable, when the
c ost at which most of thtm were procured is considered,
and should they prove ts worthy in the succeeding years as
they have in the past, their price will materially advance.
And lay desire is to give lovers of choice fruit an opportu-
nity to test thim wiih is little expense as possible, only so
that I am reasonably paid lor my labor. 1 have secured
now for me in Europe a very large selection of fruit trees,
etc., which will be sent me next month, and I will let no
pains or expense prevent me from, giving them a tair
trial,
'io all Horticulturists let me say, See Advertisement.
J. H. HAYNES.
LITEEAKY NOTICES.
"The South, deToted to the material interests of the
Southern States." This is an eight-page fol.o, published
at Ko. 161 "W illiam street. New York, at $3 00 a year. To
any person desiring to emigrate to the Southern States, or
to engage in southern enterprises, whether agricultural,
•ommercial, or mechanical, this journal must be of great
value. It »bly illustrates southern fini-nces, property
'•O^' Tiirists, ptrsonals, iijarketB, improvements, emigra-
jp^^' , buciety, and southern interests in general, in so co-
J^, • lucid aLd rational a manner , that reliability seems
"Cuipresftd on tvtry page. Those intending to make in-
vest ments in southern lands, railroads and manufactories,
should by all means consult the columns of this paper, and
as an a ".vertiting medium it has perhaps few or no superi-
018. It doi s not confine itself merely to home interests,
but also taXes in our foreign relations, and gives ample
reports of all foreign markets, in which Americans are
interested.
Livic Stock, Farm and Fireside Journal. — A mag-
niflctnt roj jil quarto, ol 32 pages, published by Haas, Kel-
ley & Co., 191 William btieet, New York, at i82.0C a
year, with a m»gnificent chromo as a premium.
This really is, ae it professes to be, a journal ''for the
arm, the turf, the dairy, the poultry yard, the apiary and
the lamily," ai.d durirg the ye^r the subscriber gets 384
pages of choice reading on all these subjects, printed on
fine white paper, and in clear type, together with from
three to four well-executed iliustrations in each number.
Its content* are of an unexceptionable cider.
The American Laud and Law Advisor —"A weekly
j ournal of rtal estate, finance, building, and popularization
of law'"— conducted upon the principal that "land is the
basis of pr(!perty." This is a semi-tolio, of 16 pages, pub-
lished by Croft & Philips, Pittsburg, Pa., at $2.50 per an-
num, with a S5.00 chromo premium. In the specialties to
which it Is devoted, we consider it eo[Ual, if not superior,
to any other jcurnal In th« country.
The Aurora Borealis. — A temperance and literary
quarto, of 16 pages, issued quarterly, by Maaaonean Broa.,
Red Hook, N. Y., at 25 cents a year— in all respects the
cheapest paper devoted to that cause in the country.
The Farmers' Club.— A 12 pa^c semi-folio, "a radical
agrirulturaljournal," devoted to the Interest of the farmer
and the entertainment of the home circle, published by F.
P. Lefever, Oxford, Chester county. Pa., at $1 00 a year,
with a . eduction to clubs. A spirited paper identified with
mental and material progress.
Landreth'b Rural Register and Almanac for 1873,
published by David Landreih & Son, Nos. 21 and 23 South
Sixth Street. A perfect vaae mecum for tke faimer, the
fruit-grower and the kitchen gardener, for gratuitous dis-
tribution.
Our Dumb ANiMALS.~An eight^page quarto, published
monthly, at 46 Washington street, Boston, by the " Massa-
chusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,'
at 81.00 per annum.
The Eclectic Ruralist and nursery exchange journal
devoted to commercial, botanical and sesthetkal horticul-
ture. IsFued bi-monthly by Geo. T. Fish, 36 Arcade, Ro-
chester, N/ Y. 16 p^ges octavo, free.
Our Church Work.— A semi-folio, of 16 pages, publish-
ed monthly, by the Church and Press Association, Nos. 3
and 5 Post-Office Avenue, Baltimore, Md., at $1.00 a year
contains a large amount of interesting reading on practi-
cal Christianity, and the progress of Church matters in
general.
"Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture'
for November and December received. Also "The Drug-
gists Journal," the " Industrial Bulletin," "The Evening
Post," the "National Oil Journal," "Bamberce's Newspa-
per Reporter;" "The Farmer and Gardener," the "Penn-
sylvania School Journal," "College Days," "Free Press,"
"Manheim Sentinel," and ether excellent publications
for January, 1873, snd will receive our future atten-
tion.
The Land Ownbr— A journal of real estate, bnilding
and improvement. The December number of this royal
quarto is full of illustrations of the restored public build-
ings of Chicago, and in looking at them we cann»t but re-
gret that eo much mechanical labor and artistic magnifi-
cence are subject to casualties so destructive to their per-
manancy. The Colonnade Building, State «t., the Andretvt
Building, Lasalle and Arcade Court, the New Criminal
Court and Jail Buildings, Peter Page's Building, Wabash
Avenue and Washington street. Our Manufacturing Zi^^r-
ests and the A^ew U. S. Branch Mint, San Francisco, Oal.,
are among those of this number.
The Index. — Devoted to "Liberty and Light," Toledo,
Ohio, and New York ; a royal quarto of 16 pages, at $3.00 a
year. A progressive journal advosating Union in essen-
tials, and In non-essentials Liberty.
Dreer's Garden Calendar for 1873.— A 12 mo. of 161
pages, containing full descriptive lists of Garden and
Flower Seeds, with directions for thalr cultivation ; price-
lists for Market Gardeners, Horticultural Implements,
books on Horticulture and rural affairs. Rustic Work,
fancy Flower pots, terra-cotta ware, Immortelle Flowers
improved vegetables, and all that relates to the truck and,
flower Gardens, wHh a large number of illustrations, ia the
mest complete publication of its kind that has fallen under
observation the present season. Published by Henry A.
Dreer, Seedsman and Florist, NOv 714 Chestnut street,
Philadelphia. Pa., for gratuitous circulation, amo»g his
patrons, present and prospective.
The Journal op Industry.— "Devoted to the industries
of the country." A royal quarto of 16 pages, and a tinted
cover. This Is an entire new candidate for natronage, and
from a cursory view of the contents of this its first number,
we have no hesitation in saying that it deserves a liberal
encourage ?nt, and no doubt will receive it.
Published by Richard Irby and associates, Richmond,
Ya., for $1.0« a year.
JfO
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
Thr Annual Report of the Chief Signal Officer, for the
year 1872. This is an octavo volume of 2 2 pagps, with
numerous engravings. This volume contains an immense
amount of statistical and < ther information, on a sut>jf'ct
Comprehending the meteoiological interests of the entire
country.
A Manual of Weeds, or the "Weed Exterminator,
"being descriptive, botanical and familiar, of a century
of weeds injurious to the farmer, with p actieal sugges-
tions for their extermination, by Ezra Michener, M. D."
This is a very neatly printed little 12 m'o. volume of 148
pages. Published by Henry L. Brinton, Ed. Oxford Press,
ana will ba t-ent by mail, pos^t-paid, for the low price of 75
cents. A. useful little volume, and ought to be in the
hands of eveiy intelligetit farmer — ignorant ones will have
no use for it — in the State, and out of it. We shall take
occasion to publish some useful extracts from it in future
numbers of the Farmer. Dr. Michener's reputation as a
Botanist, furnishes a sure guaranty of the real value of the
book, and ought to secure its ultimate succeirs.
The GARriENEEs' Monthly — The January number of
this excellent periodical, now before us, commences the
15th volume ot one of our country's most invaluable jour-
nals. This is really, as its title implies, a "Horticultural
Advertiser," and is filled from "stem to stern" with choice
reading on all that relates to the kitchen and flower gar-
dens, ihe orchard, the grapery and Ibe gr'en-h<.use, both
foreign and domestic. Edited by Thos. Mechan, Esq., who
occupies a distinguished rank among the Horticultural
caterers of the country. Published by Ohas. H. Marot, No.
814 Chestnut street, Phila.. Pa., at two dollars ptr annum.
For a practical and reliable jouri.al, commend us to the
, 'Gardener's Monthly."
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Philadelphia, January 29, 1873.
Flouk —The market is unchanged, and only 900 barrels
changed bands, including supertioe at S4 75«5 50; extras
at $6®7 ; Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota extra family at
$8ffl9 121^; Pennsylvania and western winter wheat do do
at $8 25(a»9 5u and fancy lots at $8@11. Nothing doing in
rye flour or corn meal ; no change in prices
Grain. — The market is poorly supplied with wheat, and
prices are steady. Sales of fair pnd good western red at
$1 93ffil 9*4 ,and amber at $2 f. bushel. Rye is selling at 87c.
vornis rather dull; sales of 5,000 bushels new yellow at
68(a59c. and some white at G7c. Oats are very quiet ; sales
of 4,000 bushelrt white at 49m.52c, and mixed westernat 46@
47c. The receipts to-day are as follows : 3,062 bhls flour,
S.OrO bus wneat, 6,800 do corn, 8,400 do oats, 4,000 do barley
and 30 bbls whisky.
Peovisions There is very litt e doing, but prices are
firmer. Mes-s pork is selling in lots at $1S25@14 for old
and new; smoKed hams at 12X®14c; do sides at 7^0 ;
saUed shoulders at 5c ; smoked do at 6c, and lard at )*@
Seeds.— Cloverseed ie in fair demand-; 200 bushels sold
at 9X@^c ^ ft, the latter rate for recleaned. Timothy
sola at ^ 7C@4, and flaxseed at $2 10 ^ bushel.
CHICAGO CATTLE MARKET.
Chicago, Jan. 27.
Cattle dull ; demand mainly from local butchers. Most
of the sales were cows and Texan steers, at $2 85@3 10 for
former; $3 87>i'«»4 50 for Cherok«;e8, and 12 cwt Texans ;
few lots good Cherokee native steers, $5@5 75 ; good many
cattle unsold, bxt mostly common qualities.
Hogs active and firm at $3 90 for fair to choice packing
grades, and$U0@415 for choice smooth shipping grades,
closing steady.
Sheep steady ; fair to good, $4@5 12^.
NEW YORK MARKETS.
New York, Jan. 28.
Flour, e*c.— The flour market is very quiet chiefly
owing to the inclement weather. The little arri'als in-
duce much confidence on the part of reee.vers generally.
Family grades are strongly held. Shipping brands scarce.
At the close there is rather more steadiness, with a good
Inquiry for menium spring wheat, extras and good super-
fine. Sales of 5700 bbls we quote as follows : Sour, "f, bbl.
A4 60ff6. No. 2 $3 90@6; superfine, *5 50@7; State extra
bracds, $7 tdol 80 ; State fancy do ^7 90ai8 50 ; western
Bhippinir extra $7 40@7 75 ; Minnesota extras, common to
fancy, $7 90@10 00 ; do superlative extras, $0l0ffll350
good to choice spring wheat extras, $S@9 50 ; extra amber
Indiana, Ohio ai;d Michigan $S«.9 2.j ; Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois superfine, $6 5007 ; Ohio round hoop extra ship-
ping, $7 55@7 80; OMo extia tiade brands, $8@9; white
wheat extra Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, $'i76(a 9 60; dou-
ble extra do do, $9 75@l(i 50 ; St. Louis double do. $9 50@10;
St. Louis triple extras, $10 25@13 50 ; Genesee extra brand,
$SS0@10 75.
Kye Floi I is quiet and tame. Sales comprise 75 barrels.
We quote: Western $l50ffl5 50; State and Pennsylvania
S'ie @6 to. Corn meal is dull, prices comparatively firm.
.-ales of 50 barrels. We quote Jer.sey at $'i 60 ; western
white $3 3003 45; Brandywine $i 90@4; golden ear $375.
Buckwheat Flour is nactive and tame; State $3 10ia325,
and Penn.'iylvaula $! 25(6 3 40.
Grain.— There is no inquiry of moment for wheat, and
in the absence of either shipping or local inq iry. Sales
could only be made by submitting to lower tigurts. The
market fur wheat closes tame for car lots of spring ; large
steady; winter firm, but quiet. Th^ sales are 15,006 bus ;
at $1 55 il 60 for No. 3 Chicago spring ; $i 65 lor No. 2 Chi-
cago sitring afl lat; $170 for No 2 Milwaukee , iSsi lor red
western. Barley is nrmly held and is quitt. Baney malt
is stea'y and in limited demand ; sales of 4800 bushels at
$1 40 for Canadi n, and $1 55 for city.
( ' ats are firmer and more active ; the absence of supplies,
afioat ciiecki- bu.siness. The sales are 46,000 bus new Ohio
nixed at 52y^a.5ic ; white at ,'ioao7c; black at 52>^ao3c ;
western mixed at 53a54c,a d 15,000 bus old. In store early
at 5234c; white at 55a58c. Kye is neglected. Corn is less
active ; old sells less freely; the trade gives new the pre-
ftrence. The sales are 39,700 bus ; unsound at 633^a64c for
mixed, in store; oid western mixed at 66>ia66^c nfloat,
and held at 64}/^c in store, and new mixed at 65=s,'a66c
afloat; western white at 67>^a68c ; western yellow at 66 ^^'a
66^^ ; southern white at 75c ; Jersey yellow at 61a62^c.
Provisions. — The pork market is firm and fairly active
for the day. The sales, cath and regular, are 650 bbls, at
$13 37al3 50 for old mess, $14 37al4 50 for new do, and $11 50
for extra prime. Beef is in fair demand and is steady.
Beef hams steady and quiet. Sales of 80 bbls at $30 for
Ohio pd Texas. Cut meats are less ac'ive ; the higher
prices checks the inquiry. Sabs of 176 tc« western pickled
hams at 9>ial0, and 2000 fresh hams at 9Xa9>ic and 1000
smoked city at 12^0 ; 700 iresh shou'ders at 5^a6c ; 1000
smoked do at 7c, and 71 boxes dry galied at 5^c.
Bacon i.- scarce and again stronger ; the supply of heavy
is moderate. Sales of 350 boxes long clear at 7Jsa7,:^c,
500 boxes do T ^c ; 180 boxes short rib at 7^a7Xc ; dresKQ
nogs better and in demand. We quote at 5>i^a6xc f<r
western, an Ca" j^ for city. Lard is firm but quiet for pp/t,
but time for ttie luture at the close. Sales of 1170 tierces
at 8c for No. 1 ; 8;^' for ctty ; S!^ lor fair to prime steam ;
8;^c for kettle rendered, aud fancy steam 8 7-16c
Feed.— The m:irket is qui' t ana unchanged. We quote
40 lbs, 60 lbs, 80 lbs and 100 fts at $.'3a24 ; sales of 10 tons
Rye feed quiet but steady at «24 ^ ton.
There has been a good inquiry, and the market remains
firm. We quote North Kiver shipping at $1 15al 20 ; re-
tail lots $1 30al 70 ; salt hay at 80a8ic and clover at 81ca
1 05. Straw is without important change ; quoted at »1 30a
1 40 for long rye, $1 05al 15 for short do, and $lal 10 for
oat.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
MoMDAT, Jan. 27.
The disagreeable weather to-day interfered with the
trade in beef cattle, and th > market was in a very quiet
state. We quote choice at 8a8js^c. Fair to choice at 6a7>ic
and common at 4a5^c fi ft gross. Receipts 2300 head.
Cows and calves were du.l and nominal at $ SacO. Re-
ceipts, 200 htad.
Sheep were wanted and at fnll figures ; sales of prime at
7a8c, and fair to good at 4>ia6>^c. Receipts 10,000 head.
Hogs sold freely at $5 50 ;or corn-fed. Receipts, 5000
head.
NEW YORK CATTLE MARKET.
New Tork^ J»d. 27.
Beeves strong ; poor to medium cattle, '^ ft 8allc ; medi-
um to fair steers, ll;^al2c ; good steers and fa' oxen. 12i^a
IZ/^i'c ; prime to extra steers, 13al3Xc ; choije, 13>^al4c :
fancy, 14rl4Xc. Veals fair ; prime calves, 9>ial0i^c ; good
real. Si9)4c ; common to tair, 6a8c. Sheep and lambs un-
steady ; common to fair, $5a6 ; fair to good, 6a6Vic; extra,
6Xa7>^c; choice, 7>^a8c. Swine firm; medium to prime
live, $5a5 25 ; dressed, 5V^a7c.
^Ixt %mxtmUr ^im\m\
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture. Domestic Economy and Miscellany,
EDITPJD BY S. S. RATHVOM.
" The Farmer is the founder of civUization." — WEBSTER.
Vol. r.
APRIL, 187S.
JVo. 4.
ESSAY.
GOSSIP ABOUT
[For the Fanner.
FOOD."
BY J. STAUFFKK.
IT seems the word food is derived from the An-
glo-Saxon./c(Za, hence, also, fodder. We of
course are not expected to prove that man or beast
needs " food or fodder," to keep the vital machine
in motion. It is asserted by those who seein to
know, that to keep a man living and able to work.
he will require daily five ounces of nitrogenous or
flesh-forming food, and ten ounces of calorific
matter or carbon, for heat-giving or breathing.
Women and school boys require two and a half
ounces of flesh-formers, and about three-fourths of
the man's amount of carbon or heat-givers. This
amount is required daily by a grown man, to re-
pair the waste and yet retain his weight.
The food required by the body consists of glu-
ten, fibrin, albumen starch, fat, sugar and saline
matters. As regards vegetable food, wheat and
almost all the esculent grains consist principally
of starch and gluten. The same ingredients are
found in many fruits and roots. Sugar, gum, or
vegetable-jelly, together with minute traces of
aromatic principles, which give flavor, more or
less abundance of water and vegetable acids, are
the chief component parts of apples, pears, peaches,
currants, gooseberries, and all analogous tribes of
fruits. A very few contain oil. Then, as regards
animal food, the muscular parts of various ani-
mals closely resemble each other in composition
and nutritive power ; in some cases texture merely,
and in others, minute additions of foreign matters,
confer upon them their relative digestibilities, and
their different aspects and flavors. Albumen, or
fibrin, and gelatine, small portions of saline bodies,
and a large quantity of water, are found in them
all. Gluten contains nitrogen ; the fibrin of meat
and the albumen or white of an Q^g also con-
tains nitrogen nearly in the same proportion as
gluten. In these three similar substances, there-
fore, the nutritive or flesh-forming parts of food
are chiefly found. We may say here, that the al-
bumen in 'plants is not the same as that in the
white of an egg. It is, however, the white inner-
side of the seed, on which the plants feed, as the
chicken does on the albumen of the Qgg. Albu-
men has a close chemical relation to gluten and
fibrin, and serves nearly the same purpose in feed-
ing animals.
The heat-givers, to keep up the internal com-
bustion always going on to enable us to breathe
and live, is the fuel to the engine that generates
the motor power, such as the fats and oils, sugars
and starch. Human fat feeds the animal heat. in
combination with the oxygen of the air, and con-
sists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and is
transformed into carbonic acid and water by the
oxygen of the air we breathe. This oxygen taken
into the blood circulates through our bodies, unites
with the carbon and hydrogen of the fat, and
changes it into carbonic acid and water, to be
breathed off again through the lungs. Starch
and sugar take the place of the animal fat, and
thus prevent its diminution. Starch consists of
half its weight in carbon, oxygen and hydrogen*
in the proportions found in water. It is th&
source of muscular force and animal heat, but is
not either a flesh or muscle former. It is essential
that starch and gluten be united in vegetable food.
Hence we like butter on our bread, or in our pie-
crust. Wheaten bread will support life; but to
62
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
repair llie waste of animal fat, and to help diges-
tion, it needs a little extra fat in the form of but-
ter. One pound of wheat flour contains,
OZ. GR
^nter .' IWJ
Gluten 2 21
oz. on.
^^^um 0 119-) .yy o2 pf ,,vi,eat
Filt 0 84
,,.,•,,. , ^, A n,, I ure required to
Albuiueii...O l'2(i Woody tiberO 119 r,nakc 1 11) of
Starch 9 242 | Ashes 0 H- 1 dour
Sugar 0 3S5 I Carbon 7 OJ
The woody fiber, or lignin, will often resist the
joint action of the stoniaclv- and bowels, and pass j
off, as many seeds and husks of fruit do which are
composed almost exclusively of this material. It ;
is in this way l)irds become the carriers of seed, ]
which pass through them undigested, retaining \
even their vegetative powers. Hence it is neces- I
sary to break down the envelopes of seeds by mas- :
tication so as to subject them to the digestive I
powers. In reference, however, to the food of
man, much of its digestibility and nutritious power
depends on important chemical operations, pre-
paratory to its use, which are carried on in the
kitchen — in other words, cookery — to render raw
materials fit for digestion and nutrition, and make
them palatable.
Salt, and a variety of condiments, as they are
called, and which are aromatic and stimulant sub-
stances chiefly of vegetable origin, play an
important part, together with heat, which of
course is essential in the art of cooking, etc.
Meat is not only softened in its fiber by proper .
boiling and roasting, but new substancesare gen-
erated in it, such as an extractive matter, and
that peculiar principle which gives an agreeable
flavor and odor to dressed meat, called osm,azone, '
readily recognized. So, also, with vegetables the
influence of heat is equally important. There is
another important point in the history of our food,
namely, its ultimate composition. Starch, sugar,
gum, albumen, etc., are i\ie proximate principles
upon which we live ; but what is the ultimate con-
Btitution of these secondary products ? What are
their true elements ? Like in vegetable physiol-
ogy and plant food, considered in a former article,
it is curious that four elements only are princi.
pally concerned in the production of our food.
These are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen ;
and of these the bulk of our food is composed ;
but sulphur, phosphorus, lime, iron and several
other substances must be present in it.
Habit, as is well known, will do much in accus-
toming the stomach to particular kinds of food.
Many persons live exclusively, or almost so, on
▼e^etable, others on animal, matters. A proper
mijKtnre of the two seems to be the general rule,
if not compelled of necessity to exclude one or the
other. We must not forget milk, the most im-
portant of all food — in which nature provides a
mixture or combination of vegetable and animal
matter. The curd, or caseine, abounds in nitro-
gen and a principle called sugar of milk. This
latter, in composition, is intermediate between the
vegetable gum and sugar. 'J he third component
of milk is butter, i his partakes of the nature of
vegetable oil and animal fat ; besides there are
certain saline and other substances in small pro-
portions, and all these matters are suspended or
held in solution in a relatively large proportion of
water.
For the curious. I will append a table drawn
from the best authority, showing the average
quantity of nutritive matter in 1.000 parts of
several varieties of animal and ve"-ctable food :
Blood 215
Beef 2K0
Veul 2r>0
M utton V'M
Pork 40
Brain 2(J0
Chicken 270
Cod iJO
Haddock 180
.^ole 210
Bones 510
Milk 72
V\hiteof e<'tr...l40
Wheat a-)0
Rice 880
Barley 920
Kve 792
Oats 742
Botatoes 2G0
1 arrets 98
Turnips 42
Cabbage 73
Beet root 148
Slrawberries.l 0
Bears KiO
Apples 170
Cooseberrics. 190
Cherries 250
Plums 290
Apricots 260
Peaches 200
Grajx's 270
Melon 30
Cucumber 25
Tamarind .340
Almonds (55 >
Morels ..69S
The above table represents the '-dative propor-
tion of solid digestible matter contained in 1000
purls of dillbrent articles of food which are con-
sumed or enumerated.
As much attention has been paid to this sub-
ject by scientific men, I will append a table, also,
showing the ultimate elementary composition of
1000 parts of the following proximate principles,
of animal and vegetable food :
. 516
. 4s;5
i'at
. 7!<0
1 uril of milk.. .
. 009
Sugar of milk...
. 4.54
Glutene
. 557
Starch
. 438
. 419
Sugar
.. 444
Liirnin
. 500
Hydrogen
Oxygren.
76
2.58
80
276
122
98
73
116
61
485
78
220
62
.500
68
.513
1 62
494
1 56
444
150
161
203
145
The ultimate and proximate components of food
is elaborated in the vegetable world. Vegetables
absorb certain substances from the soil and from
the atmosphere, and appropriate to themselves
these substances in a changed condition, from in-
organic compounds into organic products, and it
is through their functions, and in their structures,
that the water, carbonic acid and ammonia of the
atmosphere, together with various substances de-
rived from the soil, are thus converted into the
innumerable products of the vegetable world.
The reciprocal action between the animal and veg-
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
68
etable kingdoms has often been repeated. ThesR
are beautifully contrasted by Dumas and Caliours :
VEGETABLES.
Produce : Azotized sub-
stances, fa t ty
matters, starcli,
gum, and su^ar.
Decompose: arbouicaeicl,
water and aui-
monia.
Evoia^e: OxvK<'n.
I ANIMALS.
Consume : Azotizcrt sub-
stances, tatty
matters, starcli,
gum and suf^ar.
Produce: Carbonic acid,
water aud am-
monia.
Absorb : Oxygen,
Constitute an apparatus Constitute an apj^aratus
of rcduclion : arc sUUion- of oxidizement : arc loco-
ary. \motive.
AGRICULTURE.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
WHAT changes it has efTectcd ! Sixty years
ago wc had plows with wooden mould-
boards, and harrows with iron spikes and wooden
pegs for teeth. Now we have many improved
kinds of plows, with iron and steel mould-boards
and in some cases the whole plow is made of iron
and steel, besides a great variety of cultivators.
In the Western States they have what is called a
" Sulky cultivator." A man starts in a 40 or 50
acre corn-field, perched comfortably upon the seat
of his implement, with his span of spirited horses
and check-line, furrowing, planting and covering
a row of corn every round he makes of the field.
At the same period we allude to above, we had to
rake our hay by hand, and gather it in the same
way. Next we had a wooden rake with wooden
pegs about six inches apart, fixed in a beam four'
inches scjuare. To this sometimes a man was at-
tached, and other times a horse, and this another
man would follow on foot, and lift it up at every
"winrow" in order to empty it. After this fol-
lowed the " self-revolving rake," which had to be
reversed to make it empty its gatherings ; but, in
following a smart horse, the operator had to be
quick in his motions. Another objection to this
rak(! was, in reversing the teeth came down like
the fingers of an old-fashioned flail, and would knock
the best grains of wheat and rye out on the ground.
Afterward _the " sulky-rake " was introduced, with
a boy or a superannuated man as a driver, because
it was considered next to doing nothing (some
old fogies still think that every mouthful of bread
ought to be laboriously earned) ; and according to
the old way it required an able-bodied man. Theru
our grass was cut with the old Dutch scythe, and
the wheat and rye with the sickle. Oats was also
cut with the scythe, and was tossed and raked up
into winrows and ricks, or heaps, like hay. Then
came the era of the grain-cradle, which seemed the
very ne plus ultra in agricultural implements.
But, alas, it was doomed by the supersedence of
the patent horse-reaper and motvers. It is note-
worthy to 'remark, that all these improvements
and evidences of agricultural progress were at
first regarded with distrust, and were considered
an impious innovation upon the legitimate and
settled order of things. The mode of thrashing
run parallel with other implemental improvements.
Sixty years ago, and even ten or twenty years
later, all the rye was thrashed out with the flail
— " The suple and the couple 0" — and the wheat,
oats and corn were trodden out by horses. A boy,
or in some instances, even a girl, would have to
lead or ride the horses round in a circle on the
barn-floor, shifting its center and circumference,
until the whole mass was brought under their con"
tinuous and fatiguing tread, whilst one or two men
were in attendance " shaking up " and turning the
straw, and only treading out about four hundred
sheaves of grain per day ; and often much less,
('old. dry weather, in January and FebruaVy, was
usually selected in'which to thrash the grain, and
the children employed were often in a half-frozen
condition when the day's work was ended, and
there is reason to believe that some died prema-
turely in consequence of the exposure to which
they were subjected. Then, in rapid succession,
were introduced the various invention? of horse-
power thrashers, by which one hundred bushels of
grain^aided by five or six men— could be thrashed
out in a day. Now we have the steam-power im-
proved machines, which, with seven or eight men,
will thrash out three hundred bushels as easily as
could twenty under the old tramping system. Now
our boys and girls can attend school during the
autumn, winter and early spring months, and have
already a better education than our grandfathers
and grandmothers had at the end of their lives.
Forty years ago, with one heavy Oonestoga team,
we could only haul twenty to twenty-five barrels
of flour to Philadelphia at a load, realizing about
one dollar a barrel as freight, requiring from eight
to ten days to make a trip. We can go to Califor
nia or to Ireland in that time now. On the re-
turn trip, store goods for Lancaster, Harrisburg,
Pittsburg or intermediate points, would be shipped,
requiring at least four weeks to reach the last-
named town. For the round trip from Philadel-
phia to Pittsburg the team would realize about
one hundred dollars. Now we can send our flour
to Philadelphia by railroad at 25 cents per barrel,
aiid freights to the city of Pittsburg are almost
nothing compared to what they were then. Not.
withstanding all this, when a charter was first
eji-
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER,
asked for to build a railroad from Columbia to
Philadelphia, it found strong opposition in the
Legislature of Pennsylvania. When the bill au-
thorizing the road was put upon its final passage, a
well-known fanner from the neighborhood of the
Gap, who was then a member of the " House,"
took the floor and made what purported to be a
'■ solid speech " against such a ruinous and reckless
enterprise, wliich, he alleged, would break down
the farming interests of Lancaster county, and to.
tally destroy the market of our Conestoga horse ,
and bankrupt our wagonmakers and harnessma-
kers, and thereby produce a blighting effect upon
the interests of mechanics and workingmen in
general. Well, the bill nevertheless was passed,
and the railroad was finally finished ; and the re-
sult was that Conestoga horses advanced in value ;
for horses that sold for one hundred dollars before
the road was built are. now sold for tlxree. hundred.
And this is not all ; one htindred dollars are in-
invested in harness and wheeled vehicles now to
every twenty that w'as then,- and other interests
have advanced in the same proportion.
Are we not, then, in that measure, a progressive
people ? and has it not been agricultural education,
or what is practically the same thyig, the educa-
tion of the agricultural classes, that has wrought
all this change in the condition of the fanning
people ? Has it not been this enterprising spirit
that has stimulated and built up all the agricul-
tural and horticultural societies and printed jour-
nals of the country ? Hoping that our people will
manifest an increased interest in agricultural mat-
ters, especially since the political atmosphere has
been cleared, and the press, without a single ex-
ception, to aid in the diffusion of agricultural
knowledge. L. S. E.
MESSRS. EDITORS: Inclosed please find
an article from " Colman's Rural World,"
published at St. Louis, Mo., showing the great
disadvantage that the farmers labor under in the
interior of the great West — from the exorbitant
charges for transporting their produce to a market.
In many instances the freight to the sea-board
exceeds the value of the article. Thus placing
the farming community of the great West in a
most unenviable position.
They can raise any amount of " bread and
meat." They can also grow " flax and wool," so
as to have enough " to eat and wherewithal to
clothe themselves." But that is about all.
Store goods, coffee, tea, sugar, etc., what we here
^hink a necessity to our comfort, where are they
to get the cash to purchase, when their produce is
unsalable, or costing more to transport to market
then it will sell for ?
I have often thought of the great inconveni.
ence of farmers locating thus in the interior of
our country, far away from the sea-board.
Only a few years since, the Western farmers
were clamorous for railroads. Now when railroads
are passing almost every man's door, they find
that railroads and middle-men use up all the
farmer can produce — thus he is barely able to
make shift to live. 1 here is at present, much
feeling in the West against the railroad managers-
J. B. G.
Columbia, Feb. 14, 1873.
Appended is the article alluded to above :
IMPORTANCE OF UNITED ACTION.
The tendency of our population to concentrate
in large cities still continues, and there is evident,
ly to be no limit to it ; and what is worse, with
this concentration comes political power, which
virtually rules the agricultural districts of the
country. The true remedy for this alarming con-
dition of things is counter-concentration in the
country and rural districts. The country is being
ruled, and will ultimately be ruined, by trading
politicians and gigantic corporations. The latter
mean to control the markets, the labor of the pro-
ducer, the transportation of his products and, if
possible, his vote. To avert such a calamity, ring
after ring must be broken by the power and influ-
ence of honest men, who are yet to be found en-
gaged in agricultural and mechanical pursuits.
These constitute the world's workers, and they
should control its political destiny, th assessment
of our taxes, the transportation of our products,
or any and every element that has a direct bear-
ing upon our material prosperity. In spe9.king
of the efforts of rings and combinations, their en-
croachments and arbitrary dictations, Commodore
Maury says :
According to the census returns of 1870 — as far
as I can see, and as I can understand — there are
in the United States, using round numbers, 12,-
505,000 " bread-earners." These twelve and a
half millions subsist nations with the fruits of their
labor ; they give food, shelter and raiment to the
39,000,000 of souls that inhabit this country.
Thus, you perceive that every " bread-earner" has
on the average to fill a little more than three
mouths.
Of these "bread-earners," 5,922,271 were en^
gaged in agriculture, and 1,765,010 in other rura^
trades and callings — such as blacksmithing, car-
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
pentering and the like — making, with their food
dependents, a total of 23,830.000 souls, in round
numbers, out of the 39,000,000.
The manufacturers, including operatives and
servants, earn bread for 1,117,000 souls. Com-
merce, including merchants, shop-keepers, sailors,
clerks, pedlars, bur-keepers, etc., earn bread for
2,250,000. Railroad and expressmen earn bread
for 595,000. Miners earn bread for 472.000.
So it' comes to this, according to this census;
■while agriculture and mechanics fill ten times as
many mouths as commerce, twenty times as many
as manufactures, forty times as many as railroads
and fifty times as many as mining, yet the least of
these, by combination and management — as one
of your orators on a former occasion has told you
— exercises three times the influence in the coun-
try, and thrice the power with the government,
that you do-all for the lack of proper spirit
among farmers to work and pull together.
These facts, the power of " rings," and the lee-
ward drift of our rival industries, have not escaped
the attention of our thinking men.
The farmers and producers, who should in real-
ity constitute the governing power, must cease to
be governed; they must claim their natural
rights, and maintain them by means of prompt
and efficient organization. Farmers' clubs may
serve as a basis for a township organization — these
to form the basis for a county, state and national
one. It is not desirable that such an organiza.
tion should be politial in character, and its whole
aim should be to accomplish the greatest good for
the greatest number. The time is at hand for the
marshaling of the mighty forces that have hith-
erto been apparently at rest. The worth and
value of the producer must be acknowledged. It
is time that equitable and just laws be enacted in
the interest of farmers and workingmen.
In order to effect this an organized effort must
be put forth. I^et it be done at once. The be-
ginning of a new year is an appropriate time to
commence this work of reform. Let us begin it
by placing intelligent, conscientious farmers and
mechanics in all the public positions of honor and
trust. This done, we may confidently look to
them to thwart the unlawful schemes of designing
and unscrupulous men, who now have the power
to bind us hand and foot. In order to effect the
reform so much needed, unity of effort is desirable ;
what we now need the most is, united action.
HORTICULTURAL.
The men with horny hands are the peers of the
idle kid-gloved gentry.
EDITOR OP THE PARMER: Having
been requested to contribute to the
columns of your journal, I cheerfully
do so, after ray own peculiar manner,
and trust you will accept the willingness, as a
compensation for the lack of quality. I attended
the meeting of your society in February last, and
exhibited thirty-two varieties of apples, raised on
the farm of H. S. Landis, last year. The follow-
ing is a list of them : 1. Jucy-bites, or eating
apples ; 2. Black Bell flowers ; 3. Flat Pippin ; 4-
Hubbertsou's Nonsuch; 5. Bellflower; 6. Northern
Spy ; 7. Roxbury Russet ; 8. Smoke house Ven-
dervere; 9. Wine-Sap; 10. Hoops; 11. Rusti-
cote ; 12. Winter Paradise ; 13. Rambo ; 14.
Large Paradise; 15. Long Island Russet; 16.
Seek-no-Further ; 17. Pinick; 18. King of Tomp-
kins Countyj; 19. Monmouth Pippin ; 20. Hamaker ,
or Cut Pippin; 21. Smoke house; 22. Grind-
stone; 23. Pound Apple; 24. Romanite; 25.
Green Pippin ; 26. Sugar, or Tough-skin ; 27.
Baldwin Pippin ; 28 Golden Russet ; 29. Smith's-
Cider; 30. Swarr; 31. Nameless; 32. do; and
one pear nameless.
The foregoing ai-e varieties in season at the
time, not including those that are past. We cul-
tivated over sixty varieties of apples on our farm
last season, some of which have not yet come to
perfection Our crop last fall amounted to more
than three hundred bushels. About two-thirds
of these were stored away in an arched cellar, but
their keeping was none of the bfest The Bell-
flowers and some other varieties we were com-
pelled to market, on account of not keeping.
Our orchard contains about two acres of land,
in which arc about seventy apple trees, mainly
survivors of the great tornado of 186G. Fourteen
of that number had been entirely torn up by the
roots. They were afterwards set up straight
again, and a cart-load of earth placed at the base
of each, and they were otherwise secured with
props Some of them afterwards fell down again,
but most of those that remained standing are in a
prosperous condition, some having had a full crop
last fall. The whole orchard is now replanted
with young trees. Before the storm above allud-
ed to, this was considered the best bearing orchard
in this part of the county. The young orchard
is just beginning to bear It covers about one
acre of ground, and contains about thirty trees;
this we distinguish as No. 2. Both orchards lay
66
THE LAJ^'CASTER FARMER.
toward the east ; and, according to my experience,
every orchard should be so planted, as to give
them the benefit of the morning sun.
An orchard will be more thrifty and produc-
tive than one deprived of it, even if
it should have the unobstructed rays of the sun
for the remaining portion of the .day — especially"
when the dew is falling, when all vegetation drinks
it in, as though it were the sap of the plant.
Orchards should not be planted on very high
ground or a hill; neither should they be planted in
low or swampy ground. For example, look at our
native forests, and it will be evident, as a general
thing, that the largest and heaviest timber will be
found in the best soil, which is intermediate, be-
tween the highest and lowest grounds. I think,
therefore, that we should imitate nature in the
planting of our orchards, for a soil not too wet
and not too dry is as necessary to the thrift and
productiveness of a tree, as education is to the
moral and intellectual thrift of a child. The
mind is the soil— the spiritual and intellectual
soil — of the child ; and those are the best teachers,
who know best how to stimulate and direct the
energies of the mind ; and also on what plane of
mental altitude it will be capable of performing
the greatest moral and m!lterial use — that is, grow
up in the right way and bear good fruit.
Some farmers think if they have a tract of land
that is not very valuable for farming purposes, it
will still do for an orchard ; but this is a most
egregious blunder. I know examples of this kind,
but the trees are not making much progress, either
in growth or bearing. The reasons for this are
fimt, our winters are too severe on elevated lands,
causing the trees to bend and bloom late in the j
spring, and mature their fruit late in the fall ; |
second, if the summers are a little dry, it will
affect the trees injuriously, for they too require a
certain amount of moisture to secure their thrift.
The water that falls on an elevation will run off
and not sink into the ground, unless special pro-
vision is made for its retention. This may be
done by running furrows along the hill-sides with
a plow. This will to some extent keep the water
where it falls. The ground should also be culti-
vated, by letting in the hogs, in the spring or fall,
to root it up ; I prefer the fall. But the ground
shouid not be cultivated with plows, as they go
down too deep and break or loosen the roots, and
often bruise the trees, or break them down en-
tirely, when they are young and tender. Farmers
cannot be too careful in planting and nurturing
fruit-trees. Yours truly, H. K. L.
[The above, from a young and new contributor,
seems to contain some valuable and practical
hints, which may be of service to fruit growers,
especially since they were backed by an abundance
of material evidence, at the meeting of the
society alluded to. We hope that experimental
farmers generally will follow his example in con-
tributing to our columns. — Ed.]
EDITOR FARMER : The cherry bemg one
of the earliest of all fruits, is much valued on
that account. But this is far from being its only re-
commendation; its juiciness, delicacy and richness,
together with the many uses which can be made of
it, especially since canning has become so general
make it always acceptable.
Unfortunately the cherry has for some years past
failed to a great extent. The time was, not many
years ago, when the cherry was a very sure crop.
It ripened finely, and often hung many days on
the trees before it decayed.
There was fun then in picking them. They could
be grasped by the handful, and wanted very little
sorting.
Now the crops are usually light, but the chief
trouble is that fruit rots prematurely, very ofteii
before it is fully ripe.
Lest some should think that this state of things
has been brought about by the introduction of del-
icate and choice varieties, it may be said that the
native wildings are very little more exempt.
Nor is this owing to the ravages of noxious in-
sects. Although the curculio has very much in-
creased of late years, still the great bulk of the
fruit is not injured by them. Rain has always
been an injury to the lighter colored varieties, and
we have been saying for years past, " the rain de-
stroyed all our cherries," and it undoubtedly had
something to do with it ; but last year we had
very little of it, and yet many of our cherries per-
ished, though to a less extent than usual. One of
the pests that formerly made mischief among the
light colored Bigarreans, has nearly disappeared,
viz. : the rose bug [Macrodactylus suhspinosus).
May we not hope that the curculio may share its
fate ?
The causes of failure are most readily accounted
for, by assuming that the atmosphere has become
somewhat changed, perhaps we might say denser.
I believe that if there was in the county an ele-
vation one hundred feet higher than the city of
Lancaster (soil being equal), the atmosphere
would be sufficiently rarified, to raise cherries as
fine and as free from rot as ever.
THE LANCASTER FAHMEB.
67
1 am led to this belief, from the fact tliat on the
high land in Martic township, ten or twelve miles
south of Lancaster, there are seldom late spring
frosts, nor fogs in summer, and there the cherry
fldurislics remarkably well.
Whether these atmospheric influences will re-
main, or what is their cause, is not for me to say
We shall have to search into nature's laws deeper
than we yet have done, before we obtain a satis-
factory answer.
In the meantime we will ti-y to grow cherries as
best we can. If we cannot grow enough for prof-
itable marketing, we can grow enough to sup-
ply our own tables.
The early varieties are somewhat less liable to rot
than later kinds, and if it were not for the birds
they might be profitably raised. The robin,
thrush and cat-bird, all pretty good fruit eaters,
need not be dreaded very much, for a few extra
trees planted, will supply them. But the little
crested cedar-bird, is not easily satisfied. Perhaps
if every farm in the country had a grove of early
cherries, a few might be saved. I have not
less than a dozen trees that some years had
many bushels of fruit, and yet we often have a
difficulty in saving as many as will make a few
pies. Some years ago we used to shoot them,
sometimes as mauy as one hundred a day, bu
found it a non-paying business; for we lost time>
powder and shot, as well as the cherries.
These birds are gregarious, but mostly pair and
scatter over the country to breed, before the cherry
season is over, and are then no more trouble.
Any one that has a suitable spot near the house,
and is willing to make a scare-crow of himself,
may have good early fruit by planting early Pur-
plfe Guigre, May Duke, Karly Richmond and
*Ilockport Bigarrean. Early Richmond is a sour
cherry, and is the most reliable of all cherries.
Some of the later varieties of merit are Governor
Wood, Coe's Transparent, Conestogo, *Cumber-
laud Seedling, *Napoleon Bigarrean, and *Bigar-
rean d' Mezel. Those marked with a star are
especially fine for canning. Caspek Hiller.
Conestoga, Feb. Ifjth. 1873.
THE TELEGRAPH GRAPE.
FROM the report of Mr.Reuben Weaver, made
at the meeting of the Lancaster County Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Society, it appears that
the above-named variety of the grape stood the
intense cold of January and February last, with
less injury than any other variety he has under
cultivation — not even excepting the Concord, Isa-
bella, and others, usually esteemed the most hardy
This, to our apprehension, is a fad that is notc-
wortliy, and in which grape growers in this latitude
should " stick a pin." True, we may not have to
record tlurty degrees heloro zero in Lancaster
county for many long years to come, but then
again we may, and therefore this forewarning may
illustrate the M'isdom of forearming against future
contingencies. Not that other good varieties
sliould be neglected or discarded, but that a goodly
proportion of the Telegraph should be cultivated
as a reliable reserve, in similar emergencies. It is
true also, that other varieties were not entirely
destroyed by winter freezing, but the prospects of
a crop the coming season, from present appear-
ances, are exceedingly unpropitious. How the
matter may stand, by comparison, in other locali-
ties, has not yet come to our knowledge, but the
reports made thereon are anything but favorable.
If such has been the effect in Mr, W.'s district,
where the mercury fell to 18'^ below zero, there
can be little hope for those districts where it fell
down to 30 and 32.
PROTECTION AGAINST FREEZING.
1 here is another item in the report of Mr. Wea-
ver to which we desire to caH the attention of our
readers, and that is the exemption which Mr.
Wenger's grapery seemed to enjoy from the effects
of frost ; and supposed to be owing to the western
and north-western protection afforded by a large
barn and sheds in the foreground, and forest trees in.
the background. Mr. Wenger's grapery is not
more than half a mile east of Mr. Weaver's. It
slopes gently from the eastern gable of his barn,
and it was at the eastern limit of the enclosure
that any of his grapes were frozen. The appear-
ance is, that so far as the north-west winds were
warded off by the interposition of the buildings
and the trees, so far they escaped the effects of the
frost. Some years ago, when we were on the
" Summit level " of the Alleghany Mountains, we
noticed that the apple and peach trees were break-
ing down with their superabundance of fruit, in a
season when their were but few apples, and perhaps
not twenty bushels of peaches in the whole county
of Lancaster. On expressing our surprise, an aged
amateur of the locality pointed to tlie towering
trees on the west and north of the inclosure, and
remarked, than when our orchards in Lancaster
county had the same protection — other things be-
ing ecpial — we M-ould have an abundance of fruit
without fail. Of course there may be other and
exceptional causes of failure, but protedion is
certainly a matter worthy of some consideration.
R.
68
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
MANURE FOR ORCHARDS.
WOOD ashes are doubtless excellent for
orchards, but instead of being put round
the trees they should be spread over the whole
land. But where are the ashes to come from in
this region ? We have little or no wood, and of
course little or no ashes. In our limited experi-
ence we have learned one thing in regard to or-
chards as well as fruit trees of every kind that
we have cultivated, and we believe the principle
can be applied pretty much to everything that
grows upon the earth, which is, that the applica-
tion of manure benefits them all.
Ground occupied with fruit trees should be ma-
nured as are other portions of the land used for
the raising of wheat and corn. It is the neglect
to do so, in connection with the general negli-
gence with which orchards are treated in many
sections, that makes them unprofitable and worn
out prematurely. And as to the kind of manure
with which orchards ought to be treated, while
any kind, almost without exception, will prove of
advantage, there is none in the world to be com.
pared to stable or barn-yard manure. A liberal
application of this only every third year, with
careful pruning and scraping of the trees and
ferreting out the borers, will make prodigious
change in an orchard. Autumn, and even in
December, if the ground is not frozen, is perhaps
the best time to apply it. — Germantown Tele
graph.
GRAPE GROWERS' MAXIMS.
1. Prepare the ground in fall; plant in spring.
2. Give the vine plenty of manure, old and well
decomposed ; for fresh manure excites growth, but
it does not mature it.
3. Luxuriant growth does not always insure
fruit.
4. Dig deep, but plant shallow.
5. Young vines produce beautiful fruit, but old
vines produce the richest.
6. Prune in autumn to insure growth, but in the
spring to promote fruitfulness.
7. Plant your vinos before you put up trellises.
8. Vines, like old soldiers, should have good
arms.
9. Prune spurs to one well developed bud ; for
the nearer old wood the higher flavored the
fruit.
10. Those who prune long must soon climb.
11. Vine leaves love the sun, fruit the shade-
12. Every leaf has a bud as its base, and
either a bunch of fruit or a tendril opposite to
it.
13. A tendril an abortive fruit bunch ; a bunch
of fruit a productive tendril
14. A bunch of grapes without a healthy leaf
opposite is like a ship at sea without a rudder — it
can't come to port.
15. Laterals are like politicians — if not checked
they are the worst of thieves.
16. Good grapes are like gold — no one has
enough.
17. The earliest grape will keep the longest,
for that which is fully matured is easily pre*
served.
18. Grape-eaters are long livers.
19. Hybrids are not always high bred.
20. He who buys the new and untried varieties
should remember that the seller's maxim is : "Let
ihe buyer look out for himself."
The Eumelan Grape. — The Eumelan grape
having done so well with us for the last two years*
I would call the attention of your readers to its
great value. Of all black grapes that I have
seen or tested, the Eumelan is the earliest, best
table grape, splendid in bunch and beri-y, very
salable, first in market ; a prodigious bearer, al-
ways ripe before early frosts ; strong grower,
hardy vine, ripening more wood than any other
vine we had, notwithstanding it yielded double
the fruit of any other vine of its size, the yield
being some seventy-five pounds. Every bunch
ripened evenly, though only ten feet of space on
trellis, whilst two Concords, same age, each near-
ly as large (thirty feet on trellis), yielded only
about twenty pounds, same soil and culture, less in
bunch, and not so good in quality. Evidently the
Eumelan is the grape for the North. Safe in
seasons, and no dropping of berries if left out as
long as any grape dare be left out of doors. But
as to its wine qualities, I can't say; don't care. I
grow grapes only for the joy and comfort of
home.
If short of space, the Eumelan is the grape.
It gives the greatest yield, is sure to ripen, and
is the most luscious of all black grapes we have
yet seen. But, if there is space, and a variety is
wanted, then for quality, and a sure crop, early to
ripen, the Croton has no superior among the
white grapes, so far as we have tested.
Subscribe for The Lancaster Farmer.
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
69
THE HOG, OR SWINE [SUS APER).
THE swine belongs to the order Parliyder-
mata, or tbick-skinned animals. There are
several species belonging to the genus Sus, but all
the different domestic varieties are said to have
sprung from the wild boar of Europe, Asia, and
Africa {Sus aper). Then there is the " Babiroas-
sa" {Sus hahiriissa) of the islands of the Eastern
Archipelago, which is of a much lighter form than
the common wild-hog. The " Papuan hog" {Sas
papuensis) of New Guinea; and the "masked boar"
{Sus larvatus) of southern Africa and Madagas-
car. Allied to these are the " collared and white-
lipped Peccaries" of South America {Dicotyles
torquatus and lahiatus) inhabiting the Atlantic
countries from Guiana and Paraguay, as far north
as Eed River within the limits of the northern
continent. Also the " wart-bearing hogs" of Afri-
ca, belonging to the genus Phacochcerus. There
are no species of the genus Sus that are indigen-
ous to either North or South America ; all the
swine in this counti-y, either wild or domesticated,
having been introduced from Europe, through emi-
gration. There is no animal so susceptible to
improvement under domestication, as the hog.
The large head, the muscular neck, the formida-
ble tusks, the stiff bristles, the long limbs, and the
thick bones, all have undergone a radical physical
change, tlirough domestication. Not only has this
change taken place in tho form of the animal, but
also in its habits, its texture and its qualities in
general. The wild hog is solitary and nocturnal
in its habits, whilst the domestic hog is gre"-ari-
ous and diurnal. The female wild hog litters but
once in a year, whilst the domestic female will
litter two or three times in the same period. A
great change also takes place in the dental econo-
my of the animal. The wild boar has six incisors
in the upper, and six in the lower jaw, but under
domestication this number is reduced to three or
four in each. Wild boars have been known to
have lived from thirty to forty years, whilst that
age is never attainable in a domestic state.
Swine may primarily be divided into two great
classes ; namely, those of small or medium size,
with ears erect, or partly so ; and those of a larger
size, with long pendent ears ; and these classes are
composed of many different breeds or races, more
or less local in their characters ; and among these
races or breeds are many varieties, produced by
almost innumerable crossings. The English breeds
are the BerJcshire, the Hampshire, the Shrop-
shir,e, the Norfolk, the Suffolk, the Tonquin, the
Dishley, the Essex, the Wiltshire, the Glouces-
ter, the Hereford, and the Northampton. ; many
of which are crossings between the Berkshire and
others, producing many varieties, better known
under the names of the swinc-brcedors, who make
them a specialty. The Pays d' avge, the Poiton,
the Perigord, the Champagne, and ihtiBotdonge
are the most prominent French breeds. Other
European breeds are the Jutland, the Stvedish,
the Polish, and the Russiaji. In addition to
these, are the South African, the Siamese, the
Chinese, the Zealand, the Turkish, the Guinea,
the Maltese, the Australasian, the South Ame-
rican, the Mexican, and many others. In the
70
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
United States we have representatives of many
of these breeds, and some of them are popularly
known as the Chester County Whites, the Blacks,
and many others — indeed, their name is almost
legion.
According to the census of 1870, there were in
the United States, 25,134,560 swine, of which
there were 807,548 in Pennsylvania, and 50,070
in the county of Lancaster. Our county is, there-
fore, not so remarkable for the quantity of its
pork, perhaps, as it is for its quality. But, under
any circumstances, it cannot be regarded as a
swine-growing county ; which, considering the
strong prejudice existing in many of the districts,
and among many of the people, against the use of
pork, is nothing to their disgrace. Our illustra-
tions exhibit varieties of the Chester county breed,
distinguished by their long and large bodies, short
and erect ears, low limbs, light bones, and many
other points. Of course, so long as pork is used
as human food, the most economical system should
be pursued, and, unquestionably, that system in-
cludes the best breeds to be had. R.
RANDOM SKETCHES AND FARM ITEMS.
No. 15.
BY H. M. EXGLE.
THE short crop of hay and straw the past
season compels many farmers to econo-
mize feed. Various measures are resorted to in
order to have stock to appear well when spring
ari-ives, and in many cases on short allowances.
Cut-feed steamed — scalded — soaked with cold
water, or fed dry, are, in their order as mentioned,
decidedly better than the common method of feeding
provender in an unprepared condition. Yet with
the best of the above methods, a certain amount
of bulk, as well as nutritive matter, is indispensa-
ble to keep animals in a thriving condition.
The custom so prevalent, to let stock lose in
the winter what it has gained in the summer (or
nearly so) should be condemned by every humane
citizen. Whether the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals would be justifiable in tak-
ing such (Jjees in hand, is not for me to decide,
but extreme cases of neglected stock certainly
come under the purview of the law; the fine
point is, where to draw the dividing line.
Agents whose business it is to look after such
cases might find something to do this spring.
The past severe winter has injured not only
the fruit prospects, but also trees, vines, etc., to a
great extent. Some are past recovery ; others by
judicious management may be saved and restored
to fruitfulness in a few years. Early and severe
pruning is of first importance to save trees that
are severely frozen, for if left until the sap circu-
lates through the injured branches, it will carry
disease throughout the entire tree. It is a mat- •
ter of life or death to the tree, and therefore the
motto often quoted "spare not the ' knife" is
strongly applicable in such cases.
Strawberry beds are worth all the care and at-
tention ihat can be reasonably applied to them,
as it is the only fruit crop that has entirely es-
caped injury the past winter, in this section,
The continuous snow having protected it from
heaving out, which is often very injurious to the.
crop
The fine weather just breaking in, will cause all
tillers of the soil to bestir themselves to get first
crops planted, which is all right and meritorious ;
but very often in the haste to be ahead of their
neighbors, some will work their ground and plant
before it is in proper condition, and thus fail to
accomplish the desired object.
Soils vary so much that fields in close prox-
imity may be a week apart in time of tillable
condition ; some soils will bear working pretty
wet without injury to the immediate crop, while
others can hardly be put in friable condition" all
season, if workecf too wet in the spring, conse-
quently the crop will be a partial failure, al-
though a favorable season and good culture may
follow.
The potato is such an important crop, that no
means should be spared to bring it to, and keep
it in, its greatest perfection, and all customs and
methods of cultivation and management which
tend to its degeneracy should be discarded and
discouraged. "When the planting season arrives,
there is always inquiry for seed potatoes, which
by a majority means culls, or such as are not
otherwise salable. It seems strange seed pota-
toes should be an exception to the general rule ;
perhaps it is because sometimes a good crop is
grown from poor seed, and vice versa, but such is
the case with everything we plant ; yet as a rule
the best seeds are selected from all other crops
except the potato. Trust it will receive justice
by and by.
The prospect for a good wheat crop is very
fair at present, so that if nothing untoward be-
falls it, there will not be so much trouble with
chess as when wheat fails.
Wonder whether those fanners who are so
IHE LANCASTER FARMEB..
71
much troubled with chess believe in the Darwin-
ian theory ? If they do they must have got it
muddled up or reversed, because Darwin ajivo-
cates progression, while the chess theory is cer-
tainly retrogressive. Our advice to such as be-
lieve in the transmutation of wheat to chess, to
trust to Providence and keep their seed wheat
strictly clean.
'J'he necessity of planting trees for timber is
entirely underrated in our Eastern States, while
in the West it is one of the important questions.
Legislatures and R. R. companies seem to vie
with each other in this important work. Judg-
ing by the interest which is shown at present, no
one need be surprised to hear that a quarter of
a century hence the West will be the timbered sec"
tion, while the East will be bleak and bare of
woodland.
Why should not our legislatures pass laws hold-
ing out inducements to all who will do something
toward replenishing this portion of our country
with timber ? It is high time that public senti-
ment be educated to a stand-point from which the
necessity of such a work will be seen and appre-
ciated.
DOMESTIC.
ARTIFICIAL BUTTER.
AT the request of the victualling department
of the French navy, for some wholesome
Substitute for butter, that would keep well, Mege
Mouriez, after a long course of experiments, has
succeeded in producing an excellent substitute for
genuine butter, that does not become rancid with
time, and is otherwise highly recommended. Ex.
periments made with cows submitted to a very
severe and scanty diet, led to the discovery that
they continue to give milk, though in greatly di-
minished quantity, and that this milk always con
tains butter ; whence it was inferred that thig
butter was formed from fat contained in the ani.
mal tissues, the fat undergoing conversion into
butter through the influence of the milk-secreting
glands. Acting on this hint, Mouriez's process
begins with splitting up the animal fats. Finely
divided fresh beef suet is placed in a vessel con-
taining water, carbonate of potash, and fresh,
sheep's stomachs, previously cut into small frag-
ments. The temperature of the mixture is then
raised to about 112° Fahr., when, under the join-
influence of the pepsin and the heat, the fat be
comes separated from the cellular tissues. The
fatty matter floating on the top is decanted, and
after cooling, submitted to a very powerful hy-
draulic pressure. T he semi-fluid oleomargarine is
thus separated from the stearine, and becomes the
basis of the butter to be afterward produced.
One hundred pounds of this oleo-margarine, along
with about twenty-two quarts of milk and eighteen
(juarts of water, are poured into a churn, and to
this mixture are added a small quantity of
annatto and about three ounces of the soluble mat-
ter obtained by soaking for some hours in milk
cows' udders and milk-glands. The mixture is
then churned, and the butter obtained, after being
well washed with cold water and seasoned, is ready
for use. If required to be kept for a long time, it
is melted by a gentle heat in order to eliminate all
the water. — Popular Science Monthly for Nov.
♦
HOW I MAKE SOFT SOAP.
I keep my ashes dry, and when put in the hop-
per preparatory to making soap, I have from a
half to one peck of unslacked lime put in with the
ashes. Before putting the grease in, I swing the
kettle off the fire and let it hang a few moments.
If there is any potash in it, I take a shovel and
take it out, for if there is much potash in it it will
not make good soap. I pack the ashes well, add-
ing water enough to dampen them. Then I put
three or four buckets of water on each day for two
or three days, until I think it suSiciently soaked.
And lastly, I pour on boiling water to run the lye
off. As soon as I have enough run off to com-
mence boiling, I put my kettle over the fire, and
boil the lye as fast as it will boil, still adding
more lye as it boils down. In this way I continue
for a whole day. By evening it will probably be
sufficiently strong to eat a feather in passing it
three times across the liquid. I now put my grease
in (all I think it will eat), still boiling as fast as I
can without its running over. If it eats the grease
all up I add more. I now leave my kettle to hang
over the fire all night. In the morning, if there
are any scraps of grease that are not eaten up, I
boil again for an hour or two, and if they do not
dissolve I take them out. Then I take out a few
spoonfuls of the soap, and set it away a little
while to cool. When cold, if there is no lye un-
der it, and it appears free from grease, I set my
kettle off, and hang another one to boil more lye.
Managing in this way, I generally can make from
sixteen to eighteen gallons of nice white soap in
two days, and often in one day and a night. — Cor.
Cincinnati Gazette.
7^
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
BREAD MAKING.
AN experienced housewife says: In making
bread always use potato es or nice corn-
meal. I do not feel as if I was doing the correct
thing if I use only flour. The corn-meal need not
be made into mush ; scald it first in the mixing
pan before adding the flour, then set in the usual
manner. The most prejudiced person cannot de-
tect by the taste any corn in the bread, but there
is an increased sweetness, and it keeps moist much
longer. Of course, the best corn meal must be
used, not that rank-chicken feed kind. Besides
the improvement in the bread, the flour barrel
holds out m uch longer, and health is promoted.
I put about one part of corn to three parts of flour,
when setting the sponge.
Graham Bread. — One woman wishes to know
how to make good Graham bread. It is never
made successfully after the usual recipes for bread
of fine flour. To all who have thoroughly tried
the Graham gems, I think that form of Graham
bread is most acceptable. The method of making
these is very simple. The essentials are patty-
pans, buttered and well heated, and a hot oven.
Nothing else but the meal and water. Inexperi-
enced persons will probably make the batter too
stiff", and it may take them some time to learn that
^he gems seem lighter and stveeter if made with-
out salt. I am no vegetarian, and use salt daily
in my food, but I think it a mere superstition and
a gastronomic mistake to put salt in some
forms of bread.
Our inquirer may have no patty-pans (the iron
clusters are best), or she may wish especially to
learn how to make Graham bread with yeast.
In an August number of Hearth and Home for
1871, "Mrs. Hammond" gave a recipe, which is the
best I have found. She always sifts Graham flour
to make it light, but mixes the bran again thor-
oughly with the flour. This is an improvement'
certainly. For one quart of flour thus prepared,
use half a cup of good yeast and a little more
than half a pint of warm water. Stir this well
together at night, and set in a warm place. In
the morning add more flour, but not too much to
stir with a spoon — for Graham bread should not
be kneaded. Stir it well, pour it into the pan, and
let it rise an hour. Some prefer to steam Graham
loaves, as well as those of corn-meal, before baking
This prevents the formation of thick hard crust so
dreaded by poor teeth. Many suppose that
molasses is essential to good Graham bread, but
some of the best cooks do not use it.
Care of Cisterns. — Water may be preserved
pure and whole in rainwater cistern, by letting the
supply pipe connect at the bottom of the cistern.
The fresh water being heavier than that already
in the cistern, will force the stale water to the top
so that it can be used before it becomes offensive.
It is well known, however, that cistern water be-
comes impure from the organic matter it contains,
and if this can be got rid of by destroying its
vitality and precipitating it to the bottom, it will
leave the water pure. .It is claimed that there is
nothing better to effect this than permanganate of
potassa. used in the proportion of about an ounce
to fifty sections of water. This causes the inor-
ganic matter to sink to the bottom an innoxious
sediment. But the permanganate must be con-
tinued as long as the water has a purplish appear-
ance, indicating that the offensive matter has not
all been precipitated. Though this is not a pois-
onous drug, and is, we believe, in no way hurtful,
still no more should be used than necessary.
Every druggist has it for sale. Care must be
taken to have the cistern thoroughly cleaned at
least twice a year, as well as the troughs upon
the buildings supplying the water.
Boiled Lettuce. — This to our taste is a deli-
cious vegetable, and the gout is something inde-
scribable, resembling asparagus or sea^kale, and
yet not quite like either. Lettuce may be simply
boiled and eaten as other greens, but they can be
bo iled and served as entremets in a variety of
ways. Have ready some neatly-cut pieces of toast*
a pale brown color ; lay them on a dish, a hot
one ; let each piece be of a size to hold the let-
tuce and one poached o^g ; pour over the toast a
little of the water and some good gravy ; if the
latter be not handy, a little fresh butter should be
spread on the toast previous to pouring the water
from the lettuce ; place on each piece of toast
enough of the boiled lettuce to form a flat layer ;
neatly trim the edges of the vegetable, and place
a poached (^gg on the top, or prepare some toast as
above, and spread over each piece a thin layer of
anchovy or bloater paste on which lay the lettuce ;
then season to taste. To prepare the lettuces for
boiling they should be well cleansed, and the top
of the leaves, if they have the slightest appear-
ance of fading, cut ; leave as much of the stalk
as possible, cutting off the strong outer skin. The
stalk is, when boiled, the most delicious part.
The large coarse lettuce makes the handsomest dish,
though we prefer the flavor of the drumhead.
THE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
73
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.
Prof. "Wilder, of Cornell University, gives the
following short rules for action in cases of acci-
dent, which it will be found useful to preserve or
remember :
For dust in the eyes, avoid rubbing; dash water
into them ; remove cinders, etc., with the round
point of a lead-pencil.
Remove water from the ear by tepid water;
never put a hard instrument into the ear.
If an artery is cut, compress above the wound ;
if a vein is cut, compress below.
If choked, get upon all fours, and cough.
For slight burns,- dip the part in cold water ;
if the skin is destroyed cover with varnish.
Smother a fire with carpets, etc.; water will of-
ten spread burning oil, and increase danger. Be-
fore passing through smoke take a full breath and
then stoop low ; but if carbonic acid gas is sus-
pected, then walk erect.
Suck poisoned wounds, unless your mouth is
sore, enlarge the wound, or, better cut out the
part w ithout delay ; hold the wounded part to a
hot coal or the end of a cigar.
In case of poisoning, excite vomiting by tickling
the throat or by warm water and mustard.
For acid poisons, give alkalies ; for alkaline poi-
sons, give acids— white of e^^^ is good in most
cases ; in a case of opium poisoning give strong
coffee and keep moving.
If in water float on the back with the nose and
mouth projecting.
For apoplexy raise the head and body ; for
fainting lay the person flat.
PAINTING SHINGLED ROOFS.
The Industrial Montldy strongly advocates the
painting of shingled roofs, and gives some facts to
show how remarkably their durability is promoted
by the process. 1 he following suggestions with
regard to the kind of paint to be used, and the
mode of applying it, are very sensible : The true
way to paint a roof is to apply paint of some kind
to both sides of the shingles. It is quite as im-
portant that the under side of every shingle be
covered with paint as the surface, to prevent the
water from being drawn up between the courses
by capillary attraction. If good shingles are
painted on both sides, and good paint be applied
to the roof once in ten years, it will continue leak-
tight for more than a hundred years. When roofs
are not painted, moss is liable to collect at the
buts of every course of shingles, which promote
their decay more rapidly than alternate rain and
sunshine.
When oil paint is used for painting shingles, it
is always better to employ some light color rather
than black, as the apartments of the attic story,
beneath a black roof, are liable to be uncommonly
hot in the summer ; and more thau this, as black
paint absorbs more heat than any other color,
neither the paint nor the shingles will endure as
long as if the roofs had been covered with some
light-colored paint. A metallic roof covered with
light-colored paint will last much longer than if it
had been painted with black paint. The most
economical paint for a roof is a generous coat of
coal tar, once in a few years ; but coal-tar will
color the water for five years after a coat is ap-
plied to the roof.
CARE OF LAMBS.
Sheep are not the only farm stock that have re-
tained or advanced their actual value in the market
during the past year. Is is therefore for the
farmer's interest that he carefully watch his ewes
and lambs at this season. Ewes need better care
thau wethers, and should be removed to pens
where they can be looked after daily. As they
near the time of lambing, they should be again re-
moved to a warm, dry pen and watched closely. If
the lamb comes weakly, it should have a mouthful
or two of warm milk until it is active enough to
suck. If it should become chilled, let it be re-
moved at once, and warmed and fed until restored.
But there will be few weak lambs if the ewes are
fed previously with good clover hay, a few roots,
and a handful of oats daily. No hogs should be
permitted near a pen of lambs; and the tamer and
more gentle the sheep have been made, the less
danger there will be of the ewe resenting any in-
terference either with herself or her lamb, and dis-
owning it in consequence.— ^H;er. Agnculturist.
Ox the 16th of February, and on the 3d of
March last, living specimens of the " White Cab-
bage Butterfly" — Pieris rapcc — were captured
abroad in Lancaster city. This fact seems to in-
dicate that the past intensely cold winter has had
but little effect upon the vitality of this insect,
and that consequently, we may look for a goodly
number of them next summer. Deplorable pros-
pect— and ought to stimulate cabbage growers to
early and energetic vigilance.
74
THE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
LANCASTER, APRIL, 1873.
S. S. RATHVON, Editor.
Published monthly under the auspices of the A gricul-
TURAL ANDHoHTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
91.$S5 per Year In Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
All communications, to insure insertion, must be in the
hands of the editor before tue 20th of each mouth. Ad-
dress S. S. Rahvon, Lancaster, Pa.
AH advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
address of the publisher, J. B. DEVELIN,
Inquirer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
MEETING OF THE AGRICUL lURAL AND
HORTICULIURAL SOCIETY OF
LANCASTER COUNTY.
THE Society met in the Orphans'Court Room,
on Monday March. 3d, Henry M. Engle
in the chair. Ihe minutes of the hist meeting were
read and approved by acquiescence.
Henry M. Engle remarked in confirmation of
his statement made at the last meeting, that the
peaches, pears, cherries and apricots were, in
general, killed by the severe cold of the winter ;
also the raspberries and blackberries. A large
portion of the apples are likewise killed, and
large numbers of the trees of the tender varieties
are frozen down to the snow line. With him the
thermometer ranged from 20 to 25 degrees below
zero on the coldest morning.
Other members reported even lower degrees of
temperature than that given by Mr. Engle.
The Secretary here read the report of Reuben
Weaver on the condition of the fruits, the passage
of the winter and the prospect for the coming
year.
John Huber reported that pear and peach-trees
on high ground are not killed, but that the buds
everywhere are frozen.
Levi S. Reist moved the appointment of a com-
mittee on nomenclature, which was adopted. Com-
mittee, Levi S. Reist Jacob B. Garber, John
Huber, Casper H iller and Henry M. ?]ngle.
Israel L. Landis moved that the Corresponding
Secretary be authorized to secure the National
Census. Agreed to.
Johnson Miller proceeded to read his report
which he had prepared for the Washington Agri-
cultural Department. The report drew forth
quite a discussion on questions touching upon
husbandry.
Jacob Stauffer remarked that in Europe, green
soiling is a customary mode of fertilizing land but
in America little is plowed down except clover.
Levi S Reist thought several reasons might be
assigned for the decline of land in price. Crops
have been so poor for years that farming no longer
pays. This he has from many farmers with whom
he conferred. Another reason for the decline, is
that money can be invested in the AVest at such
figures as cannot be obtained in farming. Land
sells 25 or 30 dollars less, per acre, than it did four
or five years ago.
Henry M. Engle thought that land had d^^pre-
ciated in price on account of a change in the state
of the currency, but not intrinsically.
B. C. Kready also recognized the fall in the
price of land, and he thought the low price of farm
products the reason. Several causes may have
combined, but that would by him be considered
the principal. He is not disposed to believe the
depreciation so great as supposed.
Dr. P. W. Hicstand did not see in the lower
price of land anything but its recurrence to the
normal prices that obtained before the war.
Prices during the civil struggle became exorbitant,
and they are gradually resuming their old posi-
tion.
Wm. McComsey did not deem it judicious to
allow the impression to go out that laud is depre-
ciating in value, and he is simply of the opinion
that prices are coming back to what they were
before the war. In the main he thinks land is go-
ing up ; especially is this the case in and around
the city.
Ephraim Hoover did not think a few exceptional
cases around Lancaster can be adduced as evidence
of a rise in the price of land elsewhere. He is
satisfied that for a few yoars it has been falling in
price, and he believes no other reason can be as-
signed save that the old style farming will not
pay. No man can do a profitable business at
farming at the prices now paid for land. A farm
near the city for dairy purposes may pay, but not
for general crops.
Wm. McComsey knew a farm that sold twenty-
five years ago for $110 per acre that could not
now be be bought for !$300 per acre.
Levi S. Reist— Land from 1800 to 1810, sold
from $90 to $100 per acre ; from 1810 to 1817 it
sold up to $300 per acre. Some few years after-
wards it sold from $30 to $35 per acre. In 1 846
land could be bought for $80 and $90 per acre.
Shortly afterwards it rose, and sold up to 1865 at
prices ranging from $150 to $250 per acre. It is
THE LA J\ CASTER FARMER.
75
now soiling considerably lower than during the
war. It often sells $00 and $70 per acre lower
than it did some j'cars ago. If crops continue to
fail prices will go even lower yet.
B. C. Kready remarked that in the city of Lan-
caster property sells by a half higher than it did
during the war.
H. M. ?ingle thought the great cheapness of
"Western lands, and the opening up of the country
by railroads, were among the causes for the sink-
ing of land in price. If we want to keep up the
price of our lands we must turn our attention to
growing something besides the old crops.
I). G. Swartz. entirely agreed with Mr. Engle.
that the cheapness of Western lands and abundant
railroad facilities was lowering the price of our
farms. Since the war almost the whole West has
been opened up by new railroads. Much, however,
of the fluctuation of land prices has been owing to
monetary changes, since the war. Upon the close
of the war, confidence being again restored, the
price of land went up at once and above its value.
It is now resuming its natural condition, and
must come down somewhat. In the city, on the
contrary, it is going up, and must so continue for
an indefinite future. Interest must come down in
years to come; but all these matters are regulated
by the laws of trade, over which we have no con-
trol.
H. M. Bngle was glad to see this discussion.
Farmers should know something besides the mere
raising of crops.
Johnson Miller thought farmers should keep
accurate accounts, and in this way they would be
able to determine if farming pays or not.
Peter S. Reist thought when the Eastern and
Western prices of land are taken into consideration,
and the prices obtained severally for the crops, it
will be seen that the land in the East is not so
much too dear after all. He once thought that
money invested in bank-stock would pay so much
better than in land, and when young he tried it
and lost all his bank investment. Land in Lan-
caster county should not sell for more than $150
per acre, and that would be a fair price. Land
and real estate may pay less percentage, but
there is no loss in them.
Johnson Miller does not think there is a farm
of over one hundred acres that for the last eight
years has paid over three per cent.
Peter S. Reist agrees in the opinion that if we
desire to make our farms pay large percentages we
must go out of the old ruts and raise new products.
H. M. Engle thinks in addition to all this we
must secure consumers in abundance by building
up diiferent kinds of manufactures.
Levis. Reist thought farmers may make as high
as four per cent, on their investments in their
farms.
Israel L. Landis knew farmers that were renting
their farms at prices that paid them six per cent.
Levi S. Reist said that the cases referred to by
Mr. Landis were instances of farms near the city,
and where they were used for dairy purposes.
H. M. Engle thought in the midst of land con
sideration, that the fruits should not be overlooked.
In view of the reports submitted by Reuben
Weaver and others, it became of the first impor-
tance to ascertain the kinds of fruit that do the
best, and escape the severe freezing of such a
winter as we have passed. If it can be ascertained
that some kinds do better than others, the most
successful should be known by the people. A fail-
ure of fruit may be expected the coming year, as
reports from various States seemed to indicate this
result. A matter of interest he here mentioned as
regards grapes. Where they have been badly
frozen, they should be pruned back very severely,
if the vines are at all to do any good. When trees
are winter killed the pruning-knife must be vigor-
ously used, and they will revive and regain their old
vitality. Have plenty of courage, therefore, and
prune back severely.
Johnson Miller having obtained the census of
the United States from Col. Dickey, presented the
same to the Society.
On motion the following new members were
elected, viz. : B. H. Hershey, David R. Diffender-
fer and Henry B. Buch, of New Haven.
Society now, on motion, adjourned.
THREE PER CP]NT.
IN connection with the subject of "cent per
cent.," we often hear the hackneyed phrase of
" Does farming pay ?" some answering the ques-
tion affirmatively, and others negatively. Much,
of course, depends on what is relatively meant by
pay. A thing may ultimately pay, without re-
gard to a mere dollar and cent value of the sub-
ject. Sometimes even pecuniary loss, is, in the
end, a great physical, social, or moral gain. But
to confine the subject to mere per cents., we
think — indeed we happen to knoio — that many
farmers are in the habit of committing great
errors in their modes of calculation.
If a merchant invests ten thousand dollars in
goods, and continues in business a year, and finds
76
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
at the end of that time he has ten thousand
dollars' worth of goods on hand, and one hundred
dollars in bank, his rent and personal expenses,
amounting to one thousand dollars, all having
been paid out of his profits, he never dreams of
saying that he has only realized one 'per cent, on
the sales of the year, no matter how often his
stock may have been exhausted and replenished
durin"' that year. This would be a sophistical
mode of mathematical calculation that he has
never learned ; for in reality he has made seven
per cent. ; or, duducting one hundred dollars for
natural depreciation of goods— but this is not
absolute, for they may have been appreciated—
he is still a^lear gainer of ten per cent, on his
original investment, and so he accustoms himself to
regard it.
Another man invests ten thousand dollars in
lands, improvements, stock and implements, and
conducts farming operations for a year. If at
the end of that time, deducting one thousand
dollars for his personal expenses and " wear anj
tear" of implements, he has only three hundred
dollars left in cash, he complains that he has only
realized three per cent. / or, if he deducts one
hundred dollars for depreciations, he will be apt to
call it two per cent., and then alleges that " farm-
ing don't pay." Could anything be more pre-
posterous than this mode of calculating per cents ?
" Why," he would perhaps exclaim, " I could have
realized six per cent, by loaning my money out at
usuary." fcfo he could, and so also could hitve the
merchant, but both would have been compelled to
work at some other kind of business, to make up
the other four hundred dollars that it cost them
to live, and neither of them might have gained
the one hundred or three hundred dollars sur-
plus. Under any circumstances - even allow-
ing the deduction of one hundred dollars for de-
peciation— the farmer has really gained twelve
per cent, on his original investment, and so he
ought to regard it ; because his income has been
the legal interest of twenty thousand dollars,
instead" of ten Even at the low estimates we
have made, there are millions of farmers
in the world who consider this a paying income.
We would by no means limit our farmers to this,
or double or treble this--amount of profit on
their hard and honest labor, but we would have
per cents, called by their proper names.
This mode of reckoning per cents, is not more
fallacious than that of the old shop-keeper, whd
claimed that he never charged more nor less than
one per cent, on his investments. But as his sales
were very limited, his mathematical neighbors
could not conceive how he could live on so small a
profit. They told him that he ought to realize at
least twenty per cent, or he would surely fail. But
he insisted that one per cent, was enough for any
honest man, and in order to demonstrate the case
according to his practice of reckoning per cents,
it transpired that he was exacting just one hun.
dred per cent., for he made it a universal rule to
charge just double what he paid for an article,
and this he called one per cent.
Suppose a farmer retires with twenty thousand
dollars, which he loans out on mortgage at the
legal interest, and it costs him one thousand dol-
lars a year for personal expenses. Can he say that
he realized tivo per cent., and therefore loaning
money at six per cent, don't pay, because he has
only two hundred dollars left above expenses ?
Suppose his neighbor loans out the same amount
of money, at the same rate of interest, and his per-
sonal expenses are only five hundred dollars a
year. According to this mode of reckoning, his
neighbor has made seven per cent out of his money,
whilst he has has only made two ; when, in reality,
they have both realized the same, the amount
of surplus being determined entirely by their cost
of living.
We know that some persons contend that their
personal expenses ought not to be included as an
item in their gains, alleging that they give their
labor, and that that is surely worth as much as
their living costs them. So must the merchant
give his labor — so must the manufacturer and the
mechanic. If they did not. they might find them-
selves at the end of the year, coming " out of the
little end of the horn." A skillful mechanic who
can earn six hundred dollars a year, is practically
as well off as a man who owns ten thousand dol-
lars, and is at the same time destitute of all busi-
ness or mechanical qualifications ; for, the former
has possessions which — except under extraordi-
nary circumstances — cannot be taken from him,
whilst the latter, through injudicious investments,
profligacy or robbery, may soon lose all he has.
Yet that mechanic would say that his profession
was worth the interest of ten thousand dollars at
six per cent., even if it cost him all of that amount
to live. In the assessment and collection of the
United States taxes during the late rebellion, the
manufacturers and mechanics, at least, were taxed
on their gross productions, without regard to per-
sonal expenses. Indeed such a tax could not have
been equitably assessed, for the personal expenses
of some men were twice, or thrice as great as
THE LAJ^CASTER .FABMER.,
77
others in the same business ; besides, such an as"
sessment might have been a temptation to con-
sume aU their profits, in order to evade the taxes.
True, some legal deductions were made, but they
did not include personal expenses.
AMERICAN SALMON.
STOCKING OUR RIVERS AND LAKES.
PROSPECT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF THIS DELICIOUS FISH.
IT is well known that not a great many years
ago the rivers of New England and the
tributaries of Lake Ohamplain and Lake Ontario
abounded with salmon, during the proper season
of the year, to such an extent that apprentices,
paupers in workhouses, and others objected to be-
ing fed with them more than three times a week.
From the St. Croix to the Connecticut, inclusive,
on the sea-board, the numbers of salmon were very
great, and they were but little less common in the
lakes just mentioned. At the present time the
case is very different, the only United States
waters where salmon occur being a few streams in
Maine. The causes of their partial extermina-
tion are to be found in the erection of impassable
dams, which cut them off from access to their
spawning-beds; in the discharge of sawdust into
the streams, by which their eggs, when laid, are
covered up; in indiscriminate capture at improper
times, etc.
Similar experience abroad as to the reduction in
numbers of this valuable fish, and the desire to
restore it to its original abundance, especially in
view of its commercial and economical value, led
to experiments for its restoration, and with such
success as greatly to stimulate effort throughout
Europe. More recently the subject has attracted
attention in this country, and for some years past
the Fish Commissioners of all the New England
States have been earnest in their endeavors to re-
new the supply. Their first efforts were directed
to the gathering of eggs in the rivers of New
Brunswick, and were not very successful. They
then applied to the authorities at the Canadian
Salmon Breeding Establishment, at Newcastle,
not far from Toronto, and succeeded in procuring
a few thousand, at a cost of $40 per thousand in
gold, a price which prevented their securing a
large supply, or one sufficient to make a satisfac-
tory experiment. As may be readily imagined
the young salmon when hatched and place^l in the
water are liable to be devoured by their fellow-in-
habitants, and it is only after these have taken
their toll that a surplus can be counted on. For
this reason, the larger the number introduced at
at one time, the better the chance of success.
Limited, as above mentioned, in their efforts to
obtain a sufficient supply of eggs for their pur-
poses, the State Commissioners and the leading
pisciculturists of the country, at an annual meet-
ing of a society established by them, determined
to ask Congress for aid in accomplishing their ob-
ject. Their appeal was met by an appropriation
during the session of 1871-'72, the disbursal of
which was placed in charge of Professor Spencer
T. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, and at
the time United States Commissioner of Fish and
Fisheries. After consultation with gentlemen in.
terested and realizing the importance of leaving
no effort untried to accomplish the object, the
Commissioner determined upon three methods
looking toward this end, excluding at the same
time any idea of dependence upon the Canadian
Government with its exorbitant charges. The
first method was found in a plan devised by Mr.
Charles Gr. Atkins, formerly Fish Commissioner
of Maine, and practiced by him with much success
in 1871. This consisted in securing the living
fish (principally by purchase at the weirs and
ponds) from the period of their first entrance into
the Penobscot river, in spring, and transferring
them to a fresh water pond near Bucksport, Me.
until their spawning season should arrive. About
600 fish of both sexes were thus secured, and the
eggs stripped from the females when ripe (about
the end of October) and fertilized by the milt of
the male, the total yield being about a million and
a half of eggs. Half the e.xpense of this experi-
ment was borne by the United States, and the
other half by the States of Maine, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Rhode Island. It has been a dis-
tinguished success, and will, we hope, be repeated
on a larger scale during the coming season. The
next source of supply suggested was the Sacra-
mento river, the salmon of which, though of a dif-
ferent species from that of the Atlantic waters, is
equally good, and has the advantage of thriving
iti much warmer water, and thus of being fitted for
introduction into such States as Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, and possibly the Mississippi
Valley. To turn this opportunity to practical
account, Mr. Livingston Stone, a well-known pisci-
culturist, was sent to the Sacramento river, and
erected a hatching-house on the McCloud river,
one of the tributaries. Misled by the informatioa
78
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
furnished as to the spawning season of this fish,
Mr. Stone arrived on the ground a little too late
for the full realization of his purposes, and suc-
ceeded in obtaining only a few eggs. These were
Bent East, and hatched out at the establishment of
Dr. Slack, at Bloomsberry, New Jersey, where, to
the number of 6,000, they are now awaiting the
period of their transfer to the Susquehanna river,
their ultimate destination. They prove to be
very hardy, and there will be no difficulty in
greatly increasing the number another season.
These two efforts not promising a sufficiency.
Prof. Baird directed his efforts toward obtaining
a supply from Germany, and, on application to the
Deutsche Fischerei Verein, was informed that the
(Jerman Government would give orders to the
Director of the National Establishment at
Hiiningen on the Rhine to reserve at the proper
season 250,000 eggs as a present to the United
States. To supplement this generous act, and to
make sure of an ample supply, an additional 500,-
000 was ordered from Mr. Schuster, Burgo-
meister of Freiburg, at the low rate of ^2 per
1,000— a considerable difference from the Cana-
dian ^40. These eggs were duly packed up by
the middle of January last, and delivered to Mr.
Rudolf Hessel, an experienced fish-breeder of Of-
fenburg, Baden, who sailed with them on board
the Bremen steamer Weser, which left for New
York on the 1 8th, arriving on Tuesday, the 4th
of February. By the courtesy of the officers of
the ship, who rendered evei'y facility in their
power, the boxes containing the eggs were placed
in a small house on deck, where they could be read-
ily attended to by Mr. Hessel. They filled sixty
boxes, occupying about seven tons of measurement.
The unprecedentedly warm weather which pre-
vailed in Gei'many during the last of 1872, and
prior to the sailing of the Weser, was very un-
favorable to the success of the experiment, as it
hurried forward the hatching of the eggs, and ren-
dered them much more delicate than usual. It
was, therefore, not surprising to find, on unpack-
ing them, that a considei'able number of the eggs
had spoiled, though it is hoped that the majority
will be saved. As soon as the vessel arrived, the
eggs were transhipped to the fish hatching estab-
lishment of Dr. Slack, where they are now under-
going the necessary treatment. Whatever be their
fate the experience of the past season will, it is
hoped, make further eSbrt a distinguished suc-
cess. The Commissioner expects very shortly to
transmit the eggs at his command from the differ-
ent sources mentioned to various establishments in
the New England and Middle States, and tjiose
bordering on the lakes, to be hatched out and in-
troduced into the waters. Where there are State
Commissioners the charge of the supply for their
respective constituencies will, it is understood, be
given to them. — N. Y. Tribune.
All communications for any current number of
the Farmer should reach us by the 20th of the
month. T his may explain the non-appearance of
articles fi'om our contributors.
We desire to express our sincere acknowl
ments to friend Cochran, of the State Senate, for
regular and consecutive files of the Legislative
Journal for the session of 1873.
Household Notes : To Make Sausage.— To
ten pounds of meat, add four and a half ounces
salt, one ounce pepper, three-quarters of an ounce
sage.
Delicate Cake.- — Take one pound of flour, one
of sugar, three-quarters of a pound of butter, one
wineglass of wine, one of brandy, the whites of
sixt een eggs. This makes a delightful cake, well
named.
Cream Puffs.— Boil together one gill water and
one-eighth cup of butter ; while boiling stir in
three-quarters cup of flour. Let it cool ; then
add three eggs well beaten separately. Butter
and flour your tin, and drop the mixture upou it.
This quantity will make ten puffs.
Hominy Padding. — Prepare as for batte
cakes, add one egg for each pint, some whole cin-
namon, sugar to suit the taste, and a few raisins,
and bake like rice pudding. A little butter or
chopped suet may be added. Serve hot or cold,
with or without sauce.
Scotch Cake.— Take one pound of fine flour, a
half pound of fresh butter, a half pound of finely-
sifted loa f sugar ; mix well in a paste, roll out an
inch thick in a square shape, pinch the edges so as
to form small points ; ornament with comfits and
orange chips ; bake in a quick oven. When of a
pale lemon color it is done.
Deviled Turkey. — Take the legs of a turkey or
large fowl, cut it all over to the bone, pepper and
salt it well ; then take mixed mustai'd, mix it with
one-third its quantity of flour, and plaster the legs
over with the mixture as thick as it will stick,
also stuffing the gashes in the legs with it ; when
this is done put it on a gridiron over a clear fire ;
serve hot.
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
7g
We hope our subscribers will not forget their
subscriptions when making their yearly payments.
"We have a large amount due us in small sums
which would aid us very materially in improving
the Parmer, if prompt payment of same was made.
The yellow slip on each number will assist our
subscribers in calculating the amounts, and we
hope none will fail to give it their closest atten-
tion.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DEPART-
MENT.
LITEEARY NOTICES.
" Practical Am: rican Fences and Gates." — An illus-
trated oclovo pamj h et ol 20 psges, by Is ael 1j. Lrinlis,
giving a history ot tlie latet-t anil the most important
ac.hievem nt lu th s line of imiTOvement. This htt'e work
contains 2.5 well executed tigures, together wi^h descrip-
tive 'et er jirefs, explanatoiy of a new, economical and
durable syst< m ot fencing, wliieh cannot but bp of iutrrest
to all farruers ai.d lamlholders. So long as fences seem t >
be ne fssary, in the domesti/! eronoray of the farm, we
thiuk the farmer miglit learn something to his pecuniary
and focial advantage, by consulting the pages of this
pamphlet. Address Israel L. Landis, Lancswter, Pa.
^ HE GermantownTklkoraph. — Few. very few. papers
in this country, have so hontstly aid ably liuilt up and
FU.«tainc(l the n putalion that this veterati paper and its
Veteran editoi have. It has been unusually ard uniformly
sound and reliable in literature, politics, <gii cult lire, gen-
eral husbai'diy, and the current news. Puh^ih'sd ina large
lolio weekiy, by MHJor Fitas, at $2.00 jer annum.
The Carthagk Gazette— a spirited folio, corai s to us
regularly every week, from some unknown frier d; a per-
fect budget of interesting reading matter. Carthage, III.
T. C. Sharp, editor and proprietor. $2 00 a year in ad-
vance.
MoNTHLV Report of the Department of Agriculture,
for January, 1873 Vanderbilt's Seed and Implement
Li.st, lor 1873, No 23 Fulton street, New York ...Peter
Henderson's Spring (Jaialogiie ot new, ra-e, and bf autitul
plants for 1873, No. 35 I :our land street, New York..,.S.
H. Purple's Descriptive Catalogue of roses, bedding and
greenhouse plants, trnes, shrubs, flower and vegetable
see's, nnd summer flowerin^j bulbs, for Spring, 1S73, Co-
lumbia, Pa Fifth Annual Report of the Pennsylvania
SO' it ty, for the Prevention of Cruelty to Aniniala De-
scription I t the Oper ition of thi" Willia'tison Roal-steam-
er and Steam-plow, on the ^ seed farm of T>. Landreth &
Son, at B;oomingdale, Pa The New York fi y "Ring,"
its iriyin maturity and fall, etc , by S. J. Tilden Pen
and Plow, P. O. box 3242, New York— all have been
thankfully received, and are worthy of a more extended
notice, but our time abd space loriiids,
Thb Model Potat(>. — An exposition of its proper culti-
vation ; the cause of its rotting ; the remedy therefor ; its
renewal, pres' rvation, productiveness and cooking. Bv Dr.
John Mctaurin. l:;dited with annotations, by R. T. Trail,
M. n. 12rao, 102 pp. Price 50 ce: ts. S. R. Wells, Pub-
lisher, 389 Broadway, N. Y.
A work in wbieh every farmer, every gardener, and
ev.ry reader is interested. Any effort made to improve
this universa'ly used tuber is worthy of commendation.
Her are new views on the subject of Potato Culture, and
a plan to prevent ite rutting and " runniui{ out." The
work is the result of twenty years' experience andob.serTa-
tion.
Amrrioa'n Sunday-school Workkr. — We have re-
ceived the January and February numbers of this maga-
Bine which has entered its fourth year. In its Sunday-
»choal Less ins it follows the popular course known as the
International Course of Lessons. This ia regarded as one
of the best Sunday-school journals of this country. Many
teachers tiike several journals this year to =id them in ex-
f>laining the same lessons. We ndvis* schools about adopt-
ng a course of study to' send for specimen of this Journal
for examination. Subscription, $1.50 per year, single copy
15 cen 8. The publii-her is J. W. Mclutyre, St. Louis, Aio.
Don't Forokt thb Children.- When providing your
supply of reading for the next year do not target the- chil-
dren. They need a weekly paper as well &> the older
folks Noihiuij better cin b' found forthrtn tJian the
weekly " Brij^ht .Side and Family Circle," which is de-
sign d especially for them. |i it, edited by O. b. G. Paine,
A. M , a teacher in the fhioxgo Hi{:h School, arid has
anions its contributors some of tho best writers of the
country, such as Rev. Dr. A len. President of tne N. Y.
Mate Normal School, Prof Saiilioni Tenney, of Williams
'oUege, Mrs A. E. Sherwood, Ina Claytoo, Ameiia E.
Daley, and others. It is designed to interfSt a-> well as in-
struct, and is ^uch a (.api r as any parent or teacter may
give to his children or puj-ils, a>sured that tiny will be
b .11. fitted by it. It is lurui-hed at. the low pncc of ■CI 60
per year, and every subscriber receives a havid.-ome Chrome,
the t^alla Lili. s. Published by the tirighi Side Company,
Chicago.
.Supplement TO FABMkR's Advocate.— The subject of
co-oj erat on among tarmeis is beginning to attract very
much atteution in nil parts of the country. At St. Louis,
1 St May. the Niitional Agricultural Congress wan oraariz-
ed by the consolidation of the National Agriculturwl Asso-
ciation and the Agricultural Congress and Mtoiicb by wise
and judicious acuon secured the eoutidrfuce of sooi'ties
thou^hout the country, both coilectively and individu-
ally- In many parts of the country distric convent ons
have been called and numerously attenoeu by thi farmers,
and the resolutions pdopt*"- evince a >;rowing appreciation
or the value an;l necessiTy of co-operative action.
'I'he AiWi ican Farmer'^ ^dvvcat-. which has espoused the
cause of the * ongress, has, with full coiitidenee in the grow-
ing popularity of this movenieut, b. en sent to > very «gri-
cultural society and to all the newspap rsof the co-intry,
at the individiial expen^e ot the publishers Jt has per-
.severingly prtsent'u 'he benefits of th«; Congress, and we
can lie/.rtiiy commeiid it to the ettention of every f;<rraer.
The Congress holds its next meeting in viay, at Ii (1 ana-
polis, Ind., and it promises to be an occasioa of much in-
terest to agriculturists Every society m the country
should be represented there-
Full information in reference to itniiy ba obtained by
addretsipg the Secretary, Ohas. W Cireene, at Jackson,
Tenn , at which point also th.' Advocah is published.
Wood's Household Magazine for April, inv'tes us to
the following " f.^ast of reason and flow of soui": Tha
Good Goddess; Mid-"^uinmer Dream; The Slosv Poison-
ing; Wuiius, by Aadison ; Miss "Pop-In"; Mnsii', Make
Your Opportunities; A Prize Story; An Honest Rum-
seller's Advertisement; Unreasonable Devotion, by Gail
Hamilton; Simplicity in Prayer ; My Little Gentleman,
by L. M.Aitott; Cradle Song, by J. G Holland, Kikke-
Tikkc- lak; tiood Advice, by Harriet Bi^echer Siowe ; and
Editorial, including The Pictures i.o Our Home-i, I'orres-
pondence, Hout-ekeeper, Fashiou Letter, Sense and Non-
8' use, Home, etc. W e alsonotice that about four thousand
professional men and women, farmers, etc., who want
•' something to do," may be accomuiodat- d by ad -r 8>-ing
the Editor. For specimen copv, enclose two stamps and ad-
dress "Wood's household Magazine" (Times B.ilding),
New York city, or 81 and 83 Front street, Newburgh, New
York.
The American Sunday-school Workkr "for parents
and teachers." The January and February niimlnrs of
this " Worker" in the vineyard of practual teaching, have
been received ; and we must contt^s?, that, so far as coi-
cerns the ciassitication and arrangement of the lessuns im-
I>res' ifig the histor cal signiticanee of the Scrip un s,
nothing has come under our observaiion that is iie^ter.
But, uiid' r the editorial cor«Zue/ of sevi n Heverendg' iitl -
men, six of whom are Doctors of hivinity, it cou'd not well
be less, aud cannot fail to be an efficient instrument in iha
caii.se of Sabbath-school instruction. Thirfy-twi paiiea
royalo' tavo, well executed, and published at SSl.fiO a year
by J. W. Mclnlyre, No. 4 oouth 5th sir et, .St Louis, Mo.
Moore's Rural New Yorker for Man h, 1S73, is on our
table, and is a Juper-excellen'^ number; full of Hiiely ex-
ecuted i lustrations, ano ably written and instructive letter
prtSH. As this journal is one of thefixed rural inititiit'ons
of the country, and has nearly completed the 27ih volume,
it is too well known to nffd any special recominendati'jn of
ours. Published at Rochester, N. Y., at $2 50 pei annum.
Thk Evangelist, " devoted to the promotion of a
rational understanding of the sacred Scriptures, a firm
faith in the Lord, and a life of obedience to His command-
ments." L. P. Mercer, editor Filty cents a year in nd-
Tance. Detroit, Mich. Published monthly. 16 pp. Quarto.
80
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
Thw New Tobk Independent. — This mamiuolh relig-
ious iiewspape burpaesrs all of the kind of which we have
smy knowl- dgp. It is filled with articles writt«n by the
best of our Anifrican writtrs upon sulject?of almost every
varifty, and yet all breathing a motal, religions and intel-
lectual air. &» it set IBP to us, the paper sioulil become an
irmate of every American houstbold.and it wi'l nowgen-
eially tie disrovertfl ll^at the ]jidejie?idenleiitvTi^ the families
of those who are at all familiar with progressive life and
the ^dvance of literature tied culture. Jtis and has been
for yeais one of the leading educators of moral and social
progress and as our country develojs its ir,tlu<rep must
sllH contji ue to nnfold. It i.M worth its price ($3.00 per
year) iourt mis over. Addrfss Henry 0. Bowen, Publish-
er, ISo.SPark Place, Kew York.
x
LANDRETHS'
SIZBDS.
] Have spoken their own
I praise for upwards of three-
quart^^s of a Century.
O^'The attention of Mar-
1 ket Gardeners is particular-
' ly requested.
Landreth's Rural Regis-
ter and '\lmanaf, will be
I mailed without charge to
J all who apply.
DAVll* LANDKETH & SON,
21 and 23 South 6th St., Philadelphia, Fa.
NEW YOKK MARKETS.
New York, March 28.
Flour. — The inquiry for Flour is limited, bat
there i.'* little change to note in values. Choice spring
wheat Flou' ((avor>te brands) scarce and wanted at ex-
treme prices. Good No 2 and superfine scarce and in fair
demand. Choice amily grades are heavy and irregular.
Flour closes quiet and irregular. We quote: Sour per bbl
&4 60a5 80 ; No. 2 $4 OOao 55 ; superfiue, $6 10^6 75 ; State
extra brands, $7 10.7 iO; St ite lancy do. $7 70a8 25; wes-
tern shippinsi extia $6 95a7 30.
Grain — Our wheat market Is extremely quiet, but
th re is little pressure to sell. Prices of spring favor the
biyer. Millers are holdirg oft' Choiie white is scarce
and firm. The market for wheat closf s dull and unset-
tled. Sales at SI 62 ft.r Iowa spring; rgected do at $1 48;
$1 81 fur red western; 81 '1]4{«t led State ; Si 20 for choc -
white Michig'.n, and JH9.5@197 for white Gentsse. Barl. y
is inact Te and is heavj'. Sales of small lots of western
No. 2 atjfllS ^ti()at. Bar'ey Malt is quiet and steady.
Sa1<-8 of 3000 bu.-hels city at f 1 55, time
Oats are without imi ortant change; the demand fair.
The sales are 61 (iOO bu^beis; new Ohio mixed at 48(ai50c
afloat ; white at 5i@55c; b ack at 47x@49c; western mixed
at 4.Sj-^@fOc, and old afiiat at 54o ; white at ol)^(aj55c ; State
mixed at 49X@50c, aflorst, Kye is quiet and prices are un-
C rtain. Corn is in limited dtm^ntl and prices of o d are
firm, but new is dull and heavy ; the inquiry is chiefly for
the tr.*de The sales are 41,000 bushels ; western mixed at
64>^c in store for old and CO^jc afloat, and new mixed afloat
at 66(gj66;^c ; very choce high mixed old in store at 65e;
western white at; 69(a)7Uc ; do yellow at 6631^ c for new afloat ;
southern white at 71@72c. Jersey yeilow at 64>^c on
pier.
Broom Corn AND BROOM.S. — The market firm, with a
fair jot)bJng demand. We quote at 3@4c lor old mixed ;
4a'5c for new mixed ;5a6c tor fine new green, and 7i^c for
new hurl. Brooms are quiet and unchanged at $n5a2 50
per dozen.
ASHKs. — The receipts to*day are 31 pkgs. Pots are
steady with a moderate jobbing demand. Quoted at $3.
Prarls are inactive and nominal.
Hat. — The demand has been only moderate'and the mar-
ket is steady. We quote Timothy fancy at $80 per ton ; do
prime $27 per ton ; do fair $24 per ton. Shipping grade
!tf20 per ton. Straw is steady ai a in limited demand. We
quite long rye at$22a24 ; short do $16 ; oat at $15 and wheat
at #13 per tea.
SKBD9. — I ;lover quiet and steady at 8>^a8J^cfor prime;
the demand confined to the wants of the home trade. Timo-
thy dull at $376.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Philadelppia, March 28.
Flour.— There is a fair demand from the hom« trade at
fall prices. 3000 bbls of City Mills family sold on private
terns, ?nd 1000 bbls. in lots, including superfine at $4 60 a
5 .50 ; extras t $6a6 75 ; Iowa ard Wiscon.'in extra family
at 917 50a 8 ; Minnesota do. do. at $7 75a8 40 ; Pennsylvania,
Indiana and Ohio do. do., at $8 o0a9 2.5, and high grades at
*975all50. Rye Flour sells at $4 75. In Corn Meal no
sale 8.
GRAIN. — There is but little prime Wheat here, and it is
in fair demand at full prices ; sales of 3000 bushels at $1 94
al96for>ed, $198:i200for amber. $1 >'3al 8,5 for amhec
spring, and J2 10a2 30 for white. Rye is quoted at 85c. for
Pennsylvania. Corn is less active ; sales of 3000 bushels at
60c. for yellow, 61c for mixed, and e^'c. for white. Oats
are quiet ; 40o)0 bush, sold at 48a49c. f^^r white, and 46 and
47c. for mixed. The receipts to-day are as follows : 2104
bbls. flour, 11,200 bush, wheat; 6400 bush, corn ; 4900 bush,
oats; 51,500 bush, barley ; 362 bbls. whisky.
Provisions. — There is less doing, but prices are firmer.
Mess Pork is selling in lots at $1650 ; smoked hams at 14a
15c.; do. sides at 8)^a9c. ; salted shoulders at |6a6'!^o. ;
smoked do. at 7^a8c., and Lard at S^^c.
Seeds — Clovf-rseed is du'l. 500 bushels sold at 8fi9c. per
lb. Timothy sold at $3 25, and Flaxseed at $2 lu per bushel.
PITTSBURG CATTLE MARKET
Pittsburg, March 27.
The receipts of cattle to-day light, both of through and
way stock. The attendance of buyers isjgood all the eas-
tern markets being well represented. Trade to-day has
ruled a little slow on account of the advance in prices,
buyers are unwil ing to pay the fii?ures demanded by hold-
ers, and hence sales are not made so fast a- when the
opinions of dealers are the same. Sellers say there is an
advance of from }^ to J^c. over last week's rates, while
buyers cloim sellers ask figures from %c. to >^c. higher.
The market, however, is firm , with the advantage on sel-
lers' side, and if buyers purchase a cupply it will be pretty
near at holders' rates. Market closes to-night firm, at the
following prices : Extra 15"0 ft) cattle, fine and smooth, $7
to 7 10 : extra 1400'do. do. $675 to $6 85 ; extra 1300 do. do.
S6 25 to $6 50 ; prime 1200 do. do S5 75 to #« ; prime 1)00 do.
do. $5 to $=! 50 ; fair 1000 do. do. $4 25 to $475.
The run of hogs light of all grades and kinds and we
have to note a general advance. Advices from th« eastern
markets are better, and this fact, coupled with a light run,
has made a dec ded improvemont To-day trade ruled ac-
tive both on Philadelphia and York grades. The quality
of the hogs on sa'e was not th»^ br'.st, and it was the opin-
ion of some dealers that a bunch of choice hogs would have
sold as high as $6 12 or $6 15. Following are the rates rul-
ing on difterent kinds : Kxtra Philadelphia, 86a6 10; prime
do. $5 80a5 90 ; prime Yorkers, 85 75; fair do. 85 50a5 60;
common, $5 25
The run of sheep was light. The market, in consequence
of the light run and a better demand, is good, and sales are
made soon after arrival. Dealers report trade fully ^c.
better. Market closes firm at the following rates: Exira
no fi)s. fine wool. 87 50 ; extra 100 lbs, fine wool, $7a7 30;
extra 90 lbs fine wool, 5?6 75 ; prime 85 lbs, fine wool, $6 58 ;
prime 80 lbs. fine wool, S6a6 25.
CHICAGO CATTLE MARKET.
Chicago, March 28.
Cattle fairly active and prices steady, though the sales
were not as large as yesterday; medium 10>^al2i^ cwt.
.stf-ers $4 75a85 ; good well-fatted steers 85 25a5 on ; choice $5
75a86 45, and au extra lot averaging 1521 lbs brought $6 80 ;
corn-ff d Texans ranged from $4 25a85 2" ; fe? ders $4 fO a
4 85. Hogs fairly active and steady at f5 li a5 t8, with an
extra lot at 85 75 Sheep firmer and higher and fairly ac-
tive; good extra $5 25a$6 50, outside price for lot avertging
115 pounds.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Philadelphia, March 24.
Beef Cattle were In fair demand this week and prices
were firmer. 2000 head arrived and sold at 7^a8xc for
extra Pennsylvania and western steers j 63,^a7xc. lor fair
to good do, and 5a6c f( ft gross for common.
Cows were unchangt d. 250 hf ad sold at 825a50 f* head.
Sheep are in fair demand. 9000 head sold at 6a8c. per ft
gross, as to condition.
Hogs were dull. 6000 head Bold at $8a8 25 per 100 fts
net.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic Economy and Miscellany.
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVON".
The Farmer is tJie founder of civilization." — WEBSTER.
Vol. r.
MAY, 187S.
j\ro. 5.
ESSAYS.
MODEL POTATO CULTURE.
Compiled and Read Before the Agricultural
and Horticultural Society, April 7, 1873, by
S. S. Rathvon.
MR. PRESIDENT : Samuel R. Wells, of
New York city, has published a duode-
cimo of over 100 pages, entitled " Model Potato,
or Potato Book," being an exposition of the
proper cultivation of the potato ; the causes of
its disease, or " rotting ;" the remedy therefor; its
renewal, preservation, productiveness and cook-
ing, by John McLaurin, M. D., and edited, with
annotations, by Dr. R. T. Trail.
Of course, I am not enough of a potato cultu-
rist to corroborate a theory which the author
claims to havfe been founded upon the facts of ac-
tual experience, nor yet to yield an unqualified
assent to it an}- further than it seems to be in
harmony with the acknowledged principles of.
vegetable physiology; but, as the season is ap-
proaching when the farmer and gardener will be
making the necessary preparations for the culti-
vation of next season's crop, I have thought a
general outline of the subject might be of some
interest, if it done nothing more at present than
to elicit reflection, and a desire to know more
about the matter in the future.
The author starts out with the proposition that
the larger number of potatoes consumed by the
human family, are more or less diseased ; and
that, although there are at least ten different kindg
of insects that prey on the potato vines, and
that innumerable parasitic /w7^^^ also infest them,
yet these are not the causes but the incidents
of the disease. He alleges that undoubtedly
the essential cause, and perhaps the only cause,
of the deterioration, decay, failure, and rot-
ting of the potato, is the erroneous and unphysio-
logieal mode of its culture, or preservation, or
both. Indeed, if the assumption of the editor is
well-founded (and sometimes when we look at a
dish of cooked potatoes and notice the difference
in size, texture, color and taste, we cannot but
conclude that something is wrong in many of them)
if his deductions then are correct, there are but
few of us, who really know what the proper taste
and texture of a good, healthy potato is. The
deterioration of the potato, the author alleges, is
caused by the following seven prominent errors in
the methods of cultivation, and to each error is
attached the remedy, based upon the laws of veg-
etable physiology : First, bad seed and neglected
renewal; second, bad seed and promiscuous mix-
ing; third, vivisection or cutting and slicing;
fourth, dwarf planting; fifth, crowded planting ;
sixth, deep planting, and seventh, excessive cov-
ering. There are also other causes of deteriora-
tion and decay, but these are secondary in their
character, and do not properly belong to the cate-
gory of culture. Of course, in a limited paper
like this must necessarily be, I can only notice
very briefly these various divisions of the subject,
but enough may be elicited to exhibit the sub-
stance of the argument, leaving those who desire
to pursue it further to procure the book, and ex-
amine the details for themselves.
Error 1. Bad seed, through the absence of
reneival. It is emphatically stated that no kind
of potatoes will attain a large size, or continue
productive, if unrenewed from the apple or seed-
ball, for more than twenty years ; indeed, some
kinds will not thrive without such renewal, for
more than ten years. The rejuvenating and re-
8S
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
producing resources of nature, are located in the
seed-ball, and from this fresh varieties are derived
Conscious of decay, yet ignorant of the cause,
planters sometimes exchange seed potatoes from
distant localities, and so far as change of soil and
climate may be beneficial, this may be temporarily
effective, but no remedy short of a compliance
with the law of renewal, will restore the plant to
its primitive vigor. For this purpose, when fully
ripe, the apples or seed-balls from the best kinds
of potatoes should be selected -the largest and
healthiest seed-balls — dry and preserve them from
frost or dampness, sow them in the nursery in the
spring, and afterward treat them as other potatoes
are treated ; from the product of which the best
specimens may be selected for field planting.
Error 2. Bad seed, through mixing. It is also
claimed that the promiscuous method of planting
potatoes is another cause of their deterioration
and disease. Mixing together indiscriminately all
kinds of seed potatoes— good, bad, old, young and
indifferent, affects the crop as deleteriously as a
similar process would the breeding of animals ;
and no good crop can ever permanently come from
such irregular planting, no matter how the season,
or the soil, or how skillful the tillage may be. Dr.
Trail remarks that he is not aware that any other
kinds of seeds, whether grains, fruits, or roots, are
selected and treated by farmers in this promiscuous
manner, and there is no reason in the nature of
things, that the potato alone should be.
The author reminds his readers, that in choosing
the kinds of potatoes for planting, it should be
remembered that the most profitable, if not the
most palatable, grow large in size ; in shape they
.«re round, egg-shaped or oblong ; in color red, pink,
or white, or these three colors intermingled ; and
the eyes are few and protuberant. The potato
.should be hard, heavy, dry and sweet, and when
perfectly healthy it will have all these qualities ;
and from these the seed for planting should be
;selected. No injury necessarily results from
iplanting different varieties in the same field, if the
iselections are made in conformity with the fore,
igoing rules.
Error 3. Vivisection, or cutting. Although
-cutting, slicing, and gouging out the germs, or
leyes, of potatoes for planting is a method that
has been practiced by nearly all planters, yet the
author alleges, that it is the chief cause of the
potato disease. The use of his own language,
" the sundering of the bud from the body of the tu-
feer, under the impression that such mutilated frag-
ments will produce healthy and vigorous fruit, is
most fallacious and absurd, and has no parallel
among the many blunders in agriculture." This
is regarded as an unnatural severance, which dis-
sipates the vital forces of the seed, and produces
debility and disease in the offspring. In propor-
tion as the unity of the tuber is destroyed by
multiplied sections, in that degree is the progeny
derived from it enfeebled and rendered liable to
disease. Nothing in the anatomical structure of
the potato, nor in the physiology of its functions,
gives the least countenance to vivisection, nor is
its analogy found in nature. In its effect it is the
inoculation of the rot. It neither saves material
nor increases production, but, on the contrary,
wastes the one and diminishes the other. Each
single potato, like each single grain of corn or
wheat, is a perfect organism, and just in the ratio
that either is mutilated, its generative powers are
weakened. [Without denying the effects, yet
the parallel is not well drawn here, in a botanical
sense ; for, the potato is not in reality a seed, but
a tuber, the eyes of which are analogous to the
buds of trees, shrubs and other perennial vegeta-
tion.]
The simple remedy for this error, is thus em-
phatically stated : " Never touch the seed potato
with a knife. Do not mar, mangle, bruise or
mutilate it in any manner. Drop it in the earth
whole and sound." It is impossible to give here
all the reasons for this method of culture, suffice it
to say, that the author only asks the farmer to
test this mode side and side with the old mode,
and note the difference himself; admonishing him,
however, that should his neighbor continue to
cultivate on the old plan, while he adopts the
new, the diseased potatoes of his neighbor may
infect his, more or less, in the bloom.
Error 4. Dwarf planting — that is, selecting
the smaller, poorer, bruised and scabious pota-
toes for seed, whilst eating or selling the larger
ones. This is branded as a most pernicious error,
and the farmer who should apply such a principle
to the raising of domestic animals, a field of
wheat, or a patch of corn, would be suspected of
idiocy or madness. Yet the priifciple in both
cases is precisely the same. Farmers are advised
to reserve their best and largest potatoes for
seed, just as they would act in the business of
raising animals, or as they would do were the
seed anything else but a potato, for that which is
not fit to eat or sell is certainly not fit to plant.
It is claimed that potatoes will produce more
THE LdJ^CASTER FARMER.
83
abundantly by weight, in an equal ground or air
space, if the number is smaller and the size larger,
than if the reverse is the case. Dividing large
potatoes into two or three times as many small
ones adds nothing to the quantity, while it
impairs the quality, besides it increases labor and
consumes time.
Error 5. Crowded planting — that is, insuffi-
cient allowance of space for potatoes to grow in.
This is regarded as a grave error, and the in-
jurious consequences are second only to vivisec
tion, or seed-cutting, and yet among farmers,
with but few exceptions, it is an invariable rule-
Although there is a continuous circulation, ad-
mixture of properties derived both from the earth
and the air, and a constant reciprocal interchange
of elements through and between the stems and the
roots, yet the growth of the potato receives much
the larger proportion of its nutritive material from
the atmosphere ; therefore, it is not so much for
the want of earth-room as for the want of air-
space, that the potato suffers, under the common
methods of culture. The potato, as well as an
animal, must have sufficient breathing room ; its
foliage constituting its lungs, and with its stem
its respiratory apparatus ; and hence without a
given space it cannot maintain its normal condi-
tion, nor produce sound structures. Potatoes,
therefore should be planted uniform distances
apart, according to size, from three and a half
to four feet is the general rule. Seed potatoes
should be unsprouted and carefully dropped on the
ground, and if they have been properly preserved
for planting, there will be no sprouting until
they are placed in the ground, tierminatiou im.
pairs the quality of the seed, and if the sprouts
are long or have been broken off such potatoes
should never be planted at all.
Error 6. Deep planting — treating the potato
as if it were dead matter. Burying the seed in
the cold bottom of a deep furrow, where the
undrained moisture settles, and the vivifying heat
of the sun never sufficiently penetrates, is re-
garded a;- another egregious blunder. The ordi-
nary deep planting retards growth, delays matu-
rity, and enfeebles the whole plant. It also
predisposes the tubers to disease. Different lati-
tudes, different soils and different elevations might
suggest different methods of planting ; but in
northern New York and Canada, where this sys-
tem has been successfully pursued, it is recom.
mended to run a furrow with a double-moulded
plow, capable of opening a furrow from twenty-
one inches to two feet wide. Not in this furrow.
but on the surface, the seed should be laid, and
the return trip will sufficiently cover it, and at
the same time turn over a new sod for another
row of potatoes. It is claimed that double or
treble the quantity can be planted in one day
by this method, than that which can be in the old
way. The advantages of this method are stated
at considerable length, also the variations accord-
ing to soil, elevation, etc., but I cannot give them
here, as they would occupy too much lime and
space.
Error 7. Excessive covering, or smothering the
potato by an over-abundance of earth, is also° one
of the evils of common culture. Heaping too
much earth on the seed, even when planted on the
surface of the ground, instead of in the furrow,
hinders a speedy development of the shoot, pre-
vents a rapid growth, retards maturity, impairs
the quality and diminishes the yield. It is also,
among the predisposing causes of disease. Two
or three inches of earth, and sometimes even
less, according to the^ dryness or moisture of the
soil, are quite sufficient. The principal objects of
covering the potatoes with earth are, to obtain
and maintain both heat and moisture in due pro-
portion, without exposing them to light and air.
Potatoes should never be planted under the shade
of trees or high fences, and the growing plant
should always have the benetit of air and light, of
winds, sun, moon and stars. Of course, freedom
from grass and weeds, is an indispensable requisite
to perfect a crop. These rules are as applicable
to the sweet potato as to the common potato.
Thus far these remarks relate to what are re-
garded as the errors of culture, and the remedies
therefor. But according to this author and his
editor, there are errors and <ivils in digging and
preserving potatoes, which eminently influence the
health and quality of the crop. The maimer of
digging may be left to the machinery of inventive
genius ; but the time for digging must be deter-
mined by physiological laws, demonstrated by
experience. In the long catalogue of errors pecu-
liar to the potato crop, one of the most uutrageoua
is, the neglecting to harvest them as soon as they
are ripe. When any other crop is fully matured
the farmer secures it at once, lest it should wast«
and decay. But not so with the potatoes ; when
he can find nothing else to do, then the farmer
condescends to dig them, and perhaps indulges in
complaints because of their inferior character. To
suit the pleasure or convenience of the grower
potatoes are left for weeks iu the ground after
they are ripe, as if they were dead and undamage.
8Ji,
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
able stones, instead of living, perishable organ-
isms, subject to all the conditions, changes, trans-
formations and diseases that pertain to all vita,
structures. When the tops of the potato plants
wither, it is an indication that the tubers are ripe
and, like other crops, they will be injured if not
immediately gathered and cared for. If allowed
to be once soaked in the ground by a prolonged
rain, after they are ripe, they lose some degree of
their flavor, and some portion of their nutrient
properties — some of their soundness and vitality
as seed.
Potatoes should not be exposed to the air
sun or wind, to dry them, after being dug. Every
potato that protrudes above its earthly covering
Boon becomes blighted in its exposed part— a fact
which proves that it is defenseless against the
serial elements, and its need of protection imme-
diately after it is dug. The principal of protec-
tion applies equally to sun, light, air, rain and
frost. They should be kept by themselves in
closed cellars or bins, or in an underground pit, or
root house. The temperature should never be
below thirty4hree degrees, nor rise above f/ty.
The more constantly the temperature is main-
tained at about forty degrees the better. The
normal condition of the tubers of the potato plant
is darkness. Had it been otherwise, the Deity
would doubtless have caused them to grow on the
tops. And whenever, through an abnormal freak
of nature, tubers are found on the vines, they are
always greenish, acrid, or bitter, and entirely use-
less as food for man or beast. The washing of
potatoes, and long exposing them to the sun, and
the air — as for instance heaped up on market
stands, or open barrels in front of grocery stores —
is to be condemned,, because many of them are
actually dangerous to health, and are unfit to be
planted. The book contains a treatise ' on the
proper mode of cooking potatoes, but I cannot
possibly introduce any portion of it here. The
work also contains an interesting paper on " Agri-
cultural Chemistry, and Chemical Fertilizers,"
with tabulated results, by some of the most
eminent experimentors in Europe; the general
argument of which is, as water, ammonia, carbon,
and a few earthy and saline matters constitute
the food of plants, and as all those are constitu-
ents of the mineral kingdom, it is certainly a
round-about, expensive and troublesome business
to keep animals, merely for the sake of manuring
the soil.
^* Subscribe for The Lancaster Farmer.
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION.
SHOULD THE CURRENCY BE INCREASED?
A Paper Read before the April meeting of the
Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticul-
tural Society, by D. G. Sioartz, Esq., of
Lancaster.
THE volume of the currency should be gov-
erned by the legitimate demand for the cir-
culation. Too much will produce inflation ; too lit-
tle will paralyze business and diminish production.
As the currency is made the standard for measuring
values, it should itself be made as stable and fixed in
value as possible ; for if you diminish or increase
its value, you transfer that much between debtor
and creditor, without consideration ; and positive
injustice results to the debtor, when its value is
increased, and to the creditor when its value is
diminished. Therefore, in justice to all, neither
contraction nor expansion should be attempted.
But contractions and expansions are relative
terms compared with the service the currency has
to perform. Primarily, supply and demand govern
prices, and where the demand is increased the
supply should necessarily be increased. As well
say that the amount of gain that was raised
twenty years ago is sufiicient for the consumption
now, as to say that the currency required now is
no greater than it was at that time.
It cannot therefore be expansion when the cur-
rency is increased no faster than the legitimate
use for it, increases. To keep it restricted to some
arbitrary sum, while the population, wealth, busi-
ness and area over which it circulates are constantly
and largely increasing, must operate as ruinous — •
contraction most disastrous to the interests of the
people.
The growth of this country is unparalleled among
the nations of the earth. The increase of popu-
lation from 1860 to 1870, though covering the
period of our great war, was over seven millions.
The wealth of the country increased in a much
greater ratio. In 1860 it was $16,159,616,068,
and in 1870 it was i$30,068,918,507.
The area of settlement has been widely ex-
tended. Some six to eight thousand miles of rail-
road are built each year, and at least two more
railroads are rapidly constructing to the Pacific
ocean, and the vast territories are rapidly opened
out to settlement and civilization ; and constantly
drawing the currency to new fields of usefulness
where it is required in developing and utilizing
the resources of the country.
TEE LA J^ CASTER FARMER.
85
At the late stockholders' meeting of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company, Colonel Thomas A.
Scott made these significant remarks :
" When you take into consideration the simple
fact that every four years from 1857 the business
of the Pennsylvania Railroad has doubled on the
preceding four years, you will understand that the
wants of the company are becoming greater con-
stantly. Thus, if we have seven hundred locomo-
tives, and twenty thousand cars on the line in ac-
tive business, in four years from now, at the same
ratio of business we are making now, we will want
fourteen hundred locomotives and forty thousand
cars."
This is an illustration of the wonderful growth
of business. The cars produce nothing, but they
transport products, and are a necessary medium
to effect exchanges of values ; and in this respect
they bear a striking analogy to the money circu-
lation which is a medium for effecting exchanges.
If growth of business requires more cars to
transport the increased production, between pro-
ducer and consumer, does it not also require more
circulation to make the payments between buyer
and seller? As more cars, boats, wagons, and
drays, are required to accommodate increased busi-
ness, so more circulation is required to make the
payments of that business. A portion, it is true,
may be represented in bank checks, drafts and
credits ; and the rapid transmission of money by
steam locomotion, and transfei'S of credits by tele-
graph, all help to make the same circulation more
available and speedy in performing its functions .
so that the increase of business does not require
an increase of circulation in the same ratio. As
business extends over the new and distant sections
the currency will be much slower in performing
its work, so that a larger amount is required.
The business of large cities like New York is
nearly all done through the banks. Payments
are made by checks, and checks are settled through
the Clearing House, where each bank has an ac-
count, and the balances between them are also
paid by checks on currency lying idle in the
vaults.
A day's business often represents one hundred
millions of dollars, an amount larger than that of
bankers' clearing house of the city of London, yet
the balances between the banks may be only one
or two millions, and as these iare settled by checks
from the debtor to the creditor banks, no currency
is necessarily moved in the whole transaction.
Yet the currency in reserve is the basis of the
whole business, and has performed an immense
work though apparently idle. Instead of acting
as circulation, it does its work by proxy, through
checks and drafts, which serve the purpose o^
circulation.
Thus, in densely settled localities, the circulation
required is much less compared with business thau
in sparsely settled regions.
If all the people kept their accounts at the same
bank, and made their payments by check, the cur-
rency would not circulate at all ; it would remain
in that bank to be transferred from one account
to another, from buyer to seller, or from debtor to
creditor, and would make all the payments ^f the
country without being moved, and no actual cir-
culation would be required.
But when we consider the vast area of our
country, extending from ocean to ocean, the new
fields opened to the enterprise of the farmer, the
manufacturer, and the merchant, the new rail-
roads, cities and States building up with such
wonderful rapidity, the 1,960 National banks,
with perhaps as many more private and State
banks, acting as the reservoirs of capital and
credit, and as the foci from which the circulation
radiates through all the ramifications of business,
stimulating production as the sap in spring invig-
orates and fructifies the trees, it becomes appar-
ent that the currency has an immense work to
perform, and that it must be kept in some
proper proportion to the work to be done, or the
consequence will be that the business itself must
be diminished to seek its equilibrium with the
circulation.
That volume of currency which is most favor-
able to healthy production and substantial pro-
gress, is what is required. Its proper ratio to
business should be neither increased nor dimin-
ished. There should be no contraction or expan-
sion, relatively considered.
To make it an arbitrary, fixed sum, with no
expansive element to accommodate itself to the
wants of the times, is to fix a limit to the nation,
as if to say, "Thus far thou mayest go, but no
farther." The circulation that may be sufTicient
now will be quite inadequate some future day.
Its relation to business should govern its vol-
ume, and neither expansion nor contraction can
take place without changing its purchasing power.
Contraction takes from the debtor, and gives it
to the creditor. Expansion takes from the
creditor, and gives it to the debtor. Either,
therefore, works injustice to individuals ; but
as each debt has a corresponding credit, it
follows that the aggregate debits must equal the
86
THE LAJiCASTER FARMER.
aggregate credits, and taken as a whole there is
no change of value. Double the currency price of
all the property in the States by inflation, and the
real value remains as before. Value cannot be
created by issuing paper money ; but paper money,
as far as needed for circulation, will set a thousand
agencies at work to produce value. It is the car
that transports merchandise, but does not create
it. It is the mason's trowel, the farmer's imple-
ment, the miner's pick, and the merchant's ship.
It performs a thousand offices, and remains intact,
ever ready for the next transaction.
Its volume may be too large or too small by
only a small sum, and yet the effect be very
marked on the price of the whole. A small
weight tips the balance, and it is the last feather
that breaks the camel's back. A small deficiency
will make a great demand for and scarcity of the
whole. In illustration of this, suppose the supply
of flour in an isolated city to be larger than the
consumption, the whole will sell at moderate
prices ; suppose it be slightly less, and the whole
bulk will sell at high prices.
Thus a slight deficiency in the currency pre-
vents A from borrowing one thousand dollars
from his bank with which to pay B, and so B does
not pay 0, nor C D, down through the whole
alphabet to Izzard. Now, had Izzard received
the money which Y owed him, he would have
paid a note which he owed at the same bank
where A had vainly tried to borrow the money to
pay B. So a deficiency rings its disatrous
changes throughout the whole community, one
payment depending upon another, like wave im-
pelling wave. If a short supply is embarrassing
to the payment of existing debts, it is equally un-
favorable to all new enterprises requiring capital.
A surplus of currency, a larger volume than circu-
lation requires, will reduce the rate of interest, or,
what is worse, 'equalize itself by an advance of
prices, producing inflation, and fostering specula-
tion. Either evil should therelore be avoided
with the skill of the mariner who steers his ship
in safety between the Scylla and Charybdis — the
rock on the one side the whirlpool on the other.
Should the circulation be increased ? Secretary
Chase, in 1861, estimated the gold circulation at
not less than $275,000,000; the bank circulation
at the same time was $202,000,000, making in alj
$477,000,000. Now, we have legal tenders,
$356,000,000 ; and national bank notes, $343,000,-
000— say, in, all, $700,000,000, omitting the
fractional currency and the gold in circulation on
the Pacific coast. But the law requires fifteen to
twenty-five per cent, of the circulation and deposits
of the national banks to be kept in hand in legal
tender notes as a reserve. This reserve cannot be
used as a basis for new issues, and gives no
expansive element to the currency. It is effectu-
ally embargoed, and does not enter into circula-
tion.
The amount of reserve held by the banks
October 3, 1872, was, in round numbers, two
hundred and ten millions, of which one hundred
and two millions was in legal tender notes and
the balance in three per cent, certificates, and
deposits with their redeeming agents. Deducting
one hundred millions for reserve, we have six
hundred millions as the present available circula-
tion, which hardly beai"s as large a ratio to the
present population and business as the circulation
of 18G0 did to that time.
Assuming the circulation of 1860 to have been
$477,000,000, it was fifteen dollars to each inhabi-
tant, and about one dollar to each thirl y-three
dollars of the wealth of the country. The same
ratio to the population of 1870 would require
$578,000,000 ; and the same ratio to the wealth
of 1870 as returned by the census, would require
$911,000,000 circulation. From this it will be
seen that the present circulation bears nearly the
same ratio to the population of 1870, as the circu-
lation of 1860 did to the population then ; and that
to give it the same ratio to the wealth 1870 as it
had in 1860, the present circulation would have
to be increased more than one-half.
In the United Kingdom of England, Scotland
and Ireland, the specie and bank notes amount in
round numbers to $600,000,000, which is nineteen
dollars to each individual ; but as the population
of the United Kingdom is about 7,500,000 less,
and the wealth $10,000,000,000 greater than that
of the United States, it has more money to the
inhabitant, and less in proportion to the wealth of
the kingdom.
In France the specie and bank note circulation
is $952,000,000, or twenty-five dollars to each
inhabitant ; and the ratio is only slighty less than
in the United States. It w'U be noticed that
England and France each has more circulation
to population, and less to wealth, than the United
States. As they are compact, embraced on small
territory, the same circulation is made available,
and interest is low and business stimulated to great
activity.
The government's policy has been contraction.
Secretary McCulloch withdrew $44,000,000 legal
tender notes, and would have ruined the country
THE LAjYCASTER FARMER.
87
had not Congress stopped him. Secretary Bout-
well recently withdrew all of the three per cent,
certificates, which were mostly held by the banks
as reserve, and their place had to be supplied by
legal tender notes. In place of these three per
cents., national bank notes were Issued, not avail-
able for reserve. The currency to be redeemed
was increased, while the reserve for its redemption
was decreased. Thus severe contraction has
taken place, and it is beginning to show its
embarrassing effects. Money all over the'land is
quoted in great demand, at high rates, which are
severely bleeding the productive interests of the
people, for the benefit of money lenders.
For this want of circulation for the rapid liqui-
dation of debts, business is forced into the credit
system. Before the issuing of legal tender notes,
mercantile credits were stretched to a greater
extent, and over longer time than afterward.
With ample circulation, debts were rapidly paid,
and credits diminished, business was vitalized and
flourishing. With inadequate circulation, busi
ness will run on until the credit system is over-
done and exhausted, when it must collapse in
panic and revulsion.
Prompt payment is the life of business. It is
the lubricating oil that keeps the machinery in
rapid motion. It keeps capital available instead
of locking it up in book charges and promissory
notes, and enables men of moderate means to
keep their capital turning instead of having it
tied up and represented by the figures on their
ledgers.
But prompt payment requires more currency to
be kept in circulation than when business is only
represented by debits and credits, which, as a
system, encourages extravagance and generally
precipitates an evil day of accounting at last. As
the contraction has already been severe, in the
face of a growing demand, the currency should be
gradually and moderately increased to keep up to
the amount necessarily required. How to increase
it is a question. To issue legal tender notes
saves interest to the government and aids the
banks in keeping up their reserve. But to in-
crease the irredeemable issues of the government
is a direct departure from resumption ; and the
greatest objection to it is, that no legislative
power can determine the ever-changing wants of
the community.
The wants of trade would be better served by
making the national banking system free, allow-
ing banks to be organized wherever wanted,
and giving them national bank currency, on
deposits of United States bonds. If it be sup-
posed that too many new banks would spring up,
so as to cause inflation or an excess of currency,
they could be restricted by giving them a less
proportion on the bonds pledged to secure it.
But with the amount of taxes, state and national,
which the banks pay, being over four per cent.
on their circulation, it is not likely that banks
wculd organize faster than required for use-
ful purposes.
No good reason exists why banking should be
restricted. It should be made free to all, and
governed for the benefit of all. In case of re-
sumption, each bank has only its own circulation
to protect, and each bank is an additional power
to protect it. The more active the circulation is,
the more scattered and distributed, the greater
the number of individuals and banks that hold it
the slower will be its return for redemption and
the easier the resumption of specie payments.
The members of Congress who recently dis-
cussed the question, did not seem to fully realize
the gigantic growth and progress of the nation.
They seemed to forget that the Union of 1873 is
quite different in extent and wealth from the
Union of 1860 ; and that the largely increased
area over which the currency must circulate, as
well as the greater service it must perform, is
relative contraction too great to be long endured
without disastrous results.
The idea of resuming by first grinding down if
not destroyed the producing interests by contrac-
tion is vei'y erroneous. If it could be successful
it would be a dear-bought achievement, ten times
worse than suspension, against which the whole
community would revolt long before its success
could be assured by the last agonizing throbs of
business prostration, revulsion and bankruptcy.
Keep the curnaicy of that volume which will
cause the greatest production of wealth, manufac-
tures and commerce, and they will be footsteps in
the way to resumption. The balance of trade
against us must be earned ; and it will be earned
much faster when all the wheels of progress are
kept in busy motion by a sufficient currency, than
when they are impeded for the want of it, and
impinged upon by high rates of interest.
Men like Cornelius Varderbilt and Thomas A.
Scott seem much more keenly alive to the pro-
gress of the age, and much more prompt to use
means to aid that progress by building up and
developing the resources of the land. They look
to the future and anticipate what the country
shall and will be, and give their best eff'orts to
88
THE LAJ^'CASTER FARMER.
make that future greatness; while Congress seems
to be retrospecting for some past standard to
which to limit and restrain the struggling ele-
ments of progress, which, however, like the Ghost
of Banquo, will not stay down, in spite of their
efforts. We need more enterprising business men
in Congress, of enlarged practical views, untiring
in their efforts to foster all public interests, and
more anxious to use the money and credit of the
nation, to advance and build up and develop the
country, than to vote increased salaries into their
own pockets.
METEOEOLOGICAL NOTES.
BY S. S. RATHVON,
Read before the last meeting of the Lancaster
Board of Trade.
MR. PRESIDENT: As the cold winter
through which we have recently passed
has been the subject of very general remark, as
well as a great deal of speculation among people,
both at home and abroad, and as the meteorolog-
ical character of the weather has always exercised
an important influence on the productive interests
of the country, it has occurred to the Committee
on Agriculture that it comes within the sphere of
its functions to offer a few remarks upon the char-
acter of preceding winters, and especially
those that have occurred within the period of the
present and the immediately preceding generations.
>And here, it may be respectfully suggested that,
judging from appearances alone, and in the
absence of actual records made at the time when
particular events transpire, present heats and
colds, joys and sorrows, pains and pleasures,
always seem to be greater than those which are,
perhaps, nearly obliterated in the dim vista of the
past. Again, a phenomenon, an event or a special
circumstance, nearly always appears different to
the youthful apprehension from what it does to
those who have had the experience of maturer age;
and even the minds of men outgrow the status of
objects and events that are past, as absolutely as
boys outgrow the amplitude of their jackets, their
breeches and their boots.
We have indulged in these preliminary re-
marks, because the winter just past, by way of
distinction, has been almost universally regarded
as an " old-fashioned winter " — implying that the
winters of the olden time, or even those of our
boyhood, were more severe than those that we
have experienced in our later years; and upon
which are predicated the theories, that the tem-
perature of certain latitudes are gradually sinking
lower, or rising higher, as time progresses ; when
in point of fact, intensely cold winters and extra-
ordinarily mild ones, are intermittent in their vis-
its, occurring usually at long intervals ; the mean
temperature in the same latitudes having very little
variation. It is very seldom that two intensely
cold winters or intensely hot summers follow each
other in immediate succession.
We are told, for instance, that in the year of
the Christian era 762, the ice in the Black Sea
was eight feet thick, and in the winter of 1323 the
Mediterranean Sea was entirely frozen. Here
was an interval of 561 years, during which time it
may be supposed no such events occurred as those
above recorded. We are also told that in 1405
an invading army in China lost nearly all its men,
horses and camels by the excessive cold. Here
was an intermission of 82 years. It is said that so
intense was the cold in 1420, that Paris was
depopulated in consequence, and that animals fed
on corpses on the streets ; and that in the winter
of 1460, both in France and Germany, wine was
frozen so hard that it was cut in blocks and sold
by weight ; and that Mass was suspended in cer-
tain provinces, because the wine could not be kept
in a fluid state. In 1735 the thermometer is said
to have fallen to 97 degrees below zero in Chinese
Tartary. Here was another interval of 266 years.
Of course, we cannot suppose that these ancient
records could be as reliable as those of more
modern times. If these are the winters to which
people refer, in their remarks on cold weather,
then we presume last winter may be called an
" old-fashioned" one, but under any circumstances,
these cases can only be fairly regarded as excep-
tions and not as a rule.
But, coming to our own couurry, it is on record
that the winter of 1742 was " one of the coldest
since the settlement of the country," and that " a
gentleman drove a horse and sleigh through Long
Island sound to Cape Cod." In 1764 and 1765
the Delaware was frozen over, and on the 19th of
February of the latter year, an ox-roast was held
on the ice. Here were two cold winters in succes-
sion. In 1772 the Delaware was frozen over for
three months, and in 1780 the same river was
closed from the 1st of December to the 14th of
March. So cold was it that the ice was from two
to three feet thick, and the thermometer stood 10
to 15 degrees below zero for many days in succes-
sion. The winter of 1783 was also a very long
and severe one, the Delaware closing on the 28th
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
89
of November, and remaining closed until the 18th
of March. The winter of 1788 was intensely
cold, forming a kind of landmark in the meteoro-
logical records of that and subsequent periods ;
indeed, it is stated that since that year the
mercury has never fallen so low as it did on the
30th of Jan. last. Still, there arc some intervening
cold winters ; for on the 1st day of Jauuary, 1795,
the cold was so intense in England that the river
Thames was frozen over while the tide was turning.
In 1797 the Delaware was ice-bound for several
miles below Philadelphia, and sleighs were driven
on the river from Philadelphia to Trenton. We
have also had some cold winters within the pre-
sent century, one of M'hich was in 1835, when the
Susquehanna remained closed until the first week
in April, and footmen crossed it on the 28th or
29th of March. The winter of 1872 will long be
remembered as a cold one, the Susquehanna being
closed for one bundred and ten days in succession,
although there was little or no snow on the
ground for nearly all that time. With all these
records in evidence, the winter of 1873 can hardly
be regarded as an " old-fashioned" one — if indeed
we may not justly call \i new-fashioned —iov at
no period in the history of this country has the
mercury fallen so low as it did last winter ; the
temperature being, in some of the higher lati-
tudes, from 42 to 48 degrees below zero, and in
our own county, not more than one mile from the
city limits, it rrgistered 32 below. It is true that
if as careful a record of the state of the thermom-
eter had been kept, at the periods alluded to in
this paper, as they are now kept, they might
have evinced colder winters than the last ones ;
but, in the absence of these records, the winter of
1873 must bear the palm. But, then, there have
been many moderate winters during all this time,
some very moderate, and also some exceedingly
mild. The winter of 1779 was so mild that trees
blossomed in February, in the latitude of the
Middle States. The winter of 1781 was also very
mild. In 1784, 1785, 1786 and 1787 were four
very moderate winters in succession ; no instance
of which occurred in very cold winters.
In January, 1790, we learn that the average
medium t( mperature was 40 degrees above zero ;
that fogs prevailed in the mornings, but a hot sun
soon dispersed them, and at midday the mercury
rose to 70 degrees. Roys were occasionally seen
swimming in the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.
The meridian temperature for the same month in
the years 1791, 1792, 1793 and 1795 was from
30 to 40 degrees above 0, notwithstanding, it was
so intensely cold in England on the first day of
the month, in the last named year. These records,
therefore, do not sustain the theory that our
winters are gradually getting colder, nor yet that
they are gradually getting warmer, according to
the opposite theory. On the whole, for hundreds
of years at least they have been very uniform in
their degrees of coldness. As an evidence of
this, we have only to refer to the last report of
the " Board of Commissioners of Public Parks,"
in the city of New York. From statistics
gathered from various places in the country where
records have been kept for over one hundred and
thirty years, it appears that although there often
had been a great difference in the temperature
between two succeeding winters, yet on the whole
very cold winters were not more frequent fifty or
one hundred years ago than they are now. For
instance, the mean temperature of the first three
months in the five years ending Avith 1826, was
33:48 in New York city, while for the same three
months, in the same locality during the five years
ending with 1871, it was 32:73, showing that it
has been — during our boyhood— slightly warmer
in winter than we have experienced in our later
years, practically dissipating our i-omantic ideas
about " old-fashioned winters." The same general
truth is shown in the records kept of the number
of days the Hudson has been closed with ice, and
is entirely in harmony with records kept in
Europe for the last three hundred years, in regard
to the time of the breaking up of the ice in some
of the great rivers flowing into the Baltic and
White seas. Intensely cold winters and re-
markably mild ones, as well as intensely hot
summers and remarkably cool ones, are, therefore^
irregularly intermittent events, depending on
causes not yet sufficiently understood to establish
a certain system upon.
During the last winter, whether it is regarded
as an old-fashioned or a new-fashioned one, in
addition to the extreme low temperature, it has
been characterized by a fall, of over seven feet of
snow ; and if much of the vegetation above the snow
line has been injuriously affected, that which was
below it has been unquestionably protected, if it
has not been actually benefited. So far as these
injuries can be estimated at the present time, they
will result in the almost entire loss of the peach,
plum, apricot, nectarine, cherry, and perhaps
grape, blackberry and raspberry crops, of a large
portion of the country that lies in the latitude of
New York, Pennsylvania, and the northern bor-
ders of Maryland and Virginia. Apples, quinces
90
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
and pears, are also more or less injured in many
localities, but especially the fruit last named.
Under any circumstances, however, we could not
have reasonably expected two such fruit crops as we
had last year, in immediate succession. But the
great body of snow which has covered the ground
during the entire winter, and the manner of its
passing away, will greatly benefit the grass and
the winter wheat that has not been injured or des-
troyed by the " Hessian fly " early in the fall of
1872. The effect of the past winter upon such
insects as hibernate underground, or in debris, or
rubbish on its surface, vve apprehend will not be
very serious, and even those favorably situated
above the snow will sustain but little injury from
the effects of the cold. On the i7th of February
and on the 3d of March living butterflies were
brought to us, that were taken at large. These
proved to be Pieris rapce, the same species that
was so destructive to cruciferous plants — especially
the cabbage — during the latter part of last sum-
mer. On the 10th of March we had in our pos-
session a living caterpiller. These facts exhibit
the extraordinary power of insects to resist the
effects of cold Saturating winter rains, with ex-
treme alternations of heat and cold, are, however,
destructive to insect life, but this was not the
character of last winter. All these things have a
near or remote relation to the agricultural produc.
tions of the country, and as such they are respect-
fully subm itted.
DEPTH OF SOIL, AND LENGTH OF
ROOTS.
THE average depth of New England soil is
probably somewhere between four and six
inches. Some of the alluvial, or of the heavy up-
land soils. v^W be more than that, but the plains
and much of the sandy loams will be less. In
the highly cultivated parts of Europe, the average
depth of the soil is put down at six inches. Un-
der proper cultivation, any soil can gradually be
made deeper ; and the deeper it is, the more luxu-
riantly plants will grow. By the most careful
observations and experiments made in Germany,
it appeared that if a soil six inches thick was
worth fifty, that seven inches thick was worth
fifty-four, so that going back in the scale, that
only three inches thick would be worth thirty-
eight.
A little deeper plowing annually, and a regular
increase of the vegetable matter, would constantly
increase the depth of the soil, and as constantly
increase the value of the crop. The importance
of a deep soil will be seen when it is noticed that
it costs about as much to work a soil of three
inches as it does to work one of six, and that the
crop on the latter would usually be double of that
on the thinner soil.
Where circumstances are favorable, the roots of
plants i^enetrate the soil much deeper than they
are usually supposed to do. In certain places,
the roots of red clover will go down six feet. By
careful examination, Schubert found the roots of
winter wheat as deep as seven feet, in alight soil,
forty-seven days after sowing. The roots of clover
one year old were three and one-half feet, those
of two year old clover but four inches longer. A
parsnip will ordinarily grow in a common soil to
about one foot in length, but dig a hole five or
six feet deep, fill it with rich loam, sow a few
seeds on the surface, and some of the plants will
be quite likely to find the bottom of the hole !
One of the great advantages of a deep soil,
therefore, is a large accumulation of roots ; these
decay, constantly increase the amount of vegeta-
ble matter in the soil, counteract the effects of
drought, and greatly increase the amount of
crops. — New England Farmer.
Trees. — Almost every kind of animal matter
appears to be offensive to rabbits, and they will
not touch the bark of a tree that has recently
been smeared with blood, grease or offal of ani-
mals. Several correspondents have written us
that they protected their trees by smearing the
stems with blood, saved for the purpose at the
time of killing animals in autumn. Any old lard
or soap fat will probably answer the same pur-
pose, but if mice are abundant then a little poison
should be added ; but it would be necessary to
keep your fowls out of the orchard, for they
would be sure to pick up any small pieces that
were dropped or found adhering to the trees.
Cranberries. — There are now planted in New
Jersey, according to the most reliable authority,
6,000 acres with cranberries. Two years from
now these will be in full bearing. The value of
this crop the past year is estimated at about
$600,000. There will be large additions made to
these acres during this year. Hundreds are now
preparing to plant, and the price of unimproved
bogs has rapidly advanced. New Jersey has
taken the lead in cranberry culture, as she did a
few years ago with strawberries, raspberries and
blackberries. — Vineland Independent.
2EE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
91
THE HOESE, [Equus cahelus.)
SCIENTIFICALLY classified, the horse be-
longs to the tht'rd family (solidungul^)
of the seventh order [Pachydermata] of
hoofed* mammalians. As a pachydermous animal
he is in company with the elephant, the mastaden,
the hippotamus, the rhinoceros, the tapir, the
peccary and the pig. There is but a single genus
belonging to the family solidungul^e- quadrupeds
with apparently but one toe and a single hoof on
each foot, although beneath the skin, on each side
of the metacarpus and metatarsus, there are
stylets representing two lateral toes — and that is
the genus Equus. 1. Equus cahelus -ih^ com-
mon " horse," of which there are a great number
of races, breeds, and varieties, pretty much all the
world over. 2. Ecjmis hemionus — the, "Dzeg-
guetai," a species intermediate, in its proportions,
between the horse and the ass, which lives in
troops, in the sandy deserts of Asia. 3. Equus
asinus — the " ass," known by its long ears, the
tuft on the end of its .tail, and the black trans-
verse line crossing the dorsal line,ovcr its shoulders,
which is the first indication of a cross stripe, ally.
ing it with the following species, originally from
the vast deserts of the interior of Asia. 4. Equus
zebra — the " Zebra," indigenous to the whole
of South Africa, nearly of the form of the
*Cuvler.
ass, and everywhere transversely striped with
black and white in a regular manner. 5. Equus
Montanus, the " Quagga," another African spe-
cies, inferior in size to the normally developed ass,
but with the beautiful form of the Zebra, and
striped with alternately broader and narrower
black markings on the head, neck and body.
These* five are all the distinct species, known to
the genus Equus ; but we have only to do in this
paper with the first named — the horse. This
noble associate of man in the chase, in war, on the
turf, and in the labors of agriculture, arts and
commerce, is the most highly valued, the most
important and carefully tended of all the domestic
animals which have been subordinated to his use
and service. The horse does not now appear to
exist in a wild state in any part of the world,
except in those countries where the offspring of
tame individuals have been suffered to run wild,
as in Tartary and America, where they congre-
gate together in troops, each conducted and de-
fended by an old male. As soon as the young
males have attained the age of puberty they
are expelled from the troop, but they continue to
follow it at a distance until they have attracted
some of the young mares, and these form the neu-
*Some authors, however, recognize a sixth ppecies —
namely, Equus hurchelCi, the "Zebra of the plains."
92
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
cleus of an independent troop. The period of ges-
tation in the female horse, or mare, is eleven
months, and in a state servitude the lacteal period
continues from six to seven months, but in a wild
state this period may not be so long.
The mule, which is a hybrid between the
female horse and the male ass, has not been
named in this category, but as it is specifically
distinct from either of its progenitors, and now
occupies a very prominent position in human
economy, it cannot well be ruled entirely out. If
it has never been scientifically "dubbed," it might
be appropriately called Equus Hyhridus. But,
then, there is another variety produced from the
male horse and the female ass, called a " Jennet,"
but it is not so hardy as the former, and therefore
is not so often bred. Generally speaking, mules
have not the powers of procreation.
There seems to be little doubt that the horse ig
a native of the warm countries of the East, but it
is so very long ago that the special traces of his
origin are not easy to determine, for, according to
the best authorities we have on the subject, the
wild troops still existing in the old and new
worlds, as we stated before, are domestic subjects,
which have been permitted to run wild. The use
of the horse, both as a beast of burden and for the
purposes of war, early attracted the attention of
mankind. Thus, it is recorded that the Canaan-
ites went to fight against Israel with many horses
and chariots, and 1650 years before Christ, when
Joseph proceeded with his father's body into Ca-
naan from Egypt, there accompanied him both
chariots and horsemen. The horse was also very
early employed on the race-course, for 1450 years
before the Christian era the Olympic games were
established in Greece, at which horses were used
in the chariot and other races. If the claim of
antiquity is a justification for modern horse-rac-
ing and trials of speed, the patrons of the turf are
abundantly supported. If it is difficult to deter-
mine from whence the horse originally came, it
seems just as difficult to determine which variety
of the horses now in use constitutes the original
breed — some horse savans contending for the
"barb," while others prefer the "wild horse of
Tartary." The horse must have been introduced
into England at a very early period, for when it
was invaded by Julius CiEsar he found the Brittons
possessed of large numbers of war chariots and
powerful horses attached thereto. The first race,
horses, however, are said to have been imported
into England from Germany by ^thelstan, in the
year 930 of the Christian era, and the first organ-
ized race-course was established at Chester in A'
D. 1121. Although horses were known to have
been used at a very early day for the purposes of
war, amusement and hunting, yet the first record
of their employment in agriculture was about the
year 1066.
The Norman horses were introduced by " Wil-
liam the Conqueror," and soon thereafter the
Lombardy and Spanish horses came in. The first
introduction of the Arabian hoi'ses into England
is supposed to have been about 1121, or perhaps a
little earlier. When America was first discovered,
in 1492, there were no horses on the continent.
Therefore, all the horses in use now are the off-
spring of the Arabian, the Spanish, the French, the
English and other breeds of horses, which have been
at various times imported. Prominent among the
working-horses of England is the Cart-horse, of
which there are several varieties, called the Cleve-
land, the Clydesdale, the Suffolk, the North'
amptonshire and the Dray-horse, the latter of
which is represented by the illustration at the
head of this paper.
In addition to these, among the the English
and Scotch breeds of horses, are the Hunter, the
Galloway, the New Forester, the Exmoor, the
Dartmoor and the Devonshire, and an almost end
less variety oi ponies, prominent among which are
the Welsh and the Shetland. Many large, thor-
ough-bred horses arereared in the rich grazing dis-
tricts of Roscommon and Meath, in Ireland, known
as the Irish horses. The Percheron is a strong
heavy horse, imported from France, and is becom-
ing popular in this country ; but we have a num.
ber of breeds which were long known in America
— such, for instance, as the Canadian, the il/or"
gan, the Goss, the Virginia, the Kentucky, the
Mustang and the Conestoga, the last of which is
mainly confined to Pennsylvania, and is one of the
most remarkable in the whole list of working-
horses for its strength and endurance. No better
horses than this breed are known for heavy
draught, and they also make good carriage horses.
There are about 9,000,000 horses and mules
in the United States alone, valued at $500,000,-
000. Of these, there are in Pennsylvania 612,-
000, valued at .$36,000,000, and in Lancaster
county 24,500, valued at $2,100,000. Perhaps no
other single government on this planet can ex-
hibit the same amount and quality of subordi-
nated horse-flesh. The wild troops of Africa, of
Tartary and of America are not to be compared
with it. This admonishes us of the immensity of
the subject, and therefore we must stop. R.
THE LdJ^CASTER FARMER,
93
AGRICULTURE.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE POTATO.
BY J. STAUFFER.
*' Leek to the Welsh, to Dutchmen butter's dear,
Of Irish swains' potato is the clieer."
Dean Swift.
THERE is much of interest connected with
the eark history of the potato. Sir Walter
Raleigh has the undoubted credit of bringing the
potato into notice. The jDOtato was grown in Ire-
land before it came to England ; first on the estate
of Sir Walter Raleigh, near Youghal, county
Cork, where it grew and bore flowers. The gar-
dener gathered the " apples" or " berries," and in
showing them to his master, said, "Is this the fine
fruit from America you so highly praised ?" Sir
Walter pretended to be ignorant of the matter,
and desired him to dig up the weed and throw it
away. The man, in following his directions, find-
ing a large number of tubers, saved them. It
took some time to introduce this valuable plant,
and was only met with in the gardens of noble-
men as a " curious exotic ;" yet we read that in
the reign of James I. it was considered ^uch a
delicacy as only to be provided in small quantities
at the cost of two shillings a pound for the queen's
household. Through the succeeding reign and
the commonwealth the potato remained extremely
scarce, and its culture was not universally ex-
tended till more than a hundred years after the
discovery of Virginia.
Ray (1662) scarcely mentions it, and Evelyn
does not name the potato in his " Sylvia," al-
though specially asked to do so by the Royal
Society ; but thirty years after, in his " Kalenda-
rium Plantarium (1664), says: "Plant your pota.
to in your worst ground ; take them up in No-
vember for winter spending ; there will be enough
remaining for stock, though ever so exactly gath-
ered." Much interesting matter appertaining to
the spread and introduction of the potato is
recorded. And the cultivation of improved
varieties and sorts evidence a great advancement.
Then comes the history of its disease and retroga-
tion, and speculations as to the cause of failure.
This leads me to notice the article compiled from
a late publication, by S. R. Wells and Drs. Mc-
Laurin and Trail, on a new plan of culture, read
by our worthy editor, S. S. Rathvon, before the
Horticultural Society, April 7th, 1873.
The only new things I notice are truly very
new, and inclines me strongly to question their
practical understanding of vegetable physiology.
The prize essay on the cultivation of the potato,
by D. A. Compton, 8vo. pp. 30, New York :
Orange, Judd & Co., 1870, contains practical com-
mon sense directions, and like Scripture passages
in the " Koran," much that is true is found in this
new book, and can not be controverted. Mr.
Rathvon notices the blunder they make in regard
to the nature of a tuber, the eyes of which are
analogous to the buds on branches. They evi-
dently confound matters, in assuming that if their
" new plan" was adopted it might fail if a neigh-
bor had his potato patch under the old plan of cul.
ture. " The diseased potato of his patch may
infect them more or less in the bloom." I believe
in hybrids and crosses, but that the pollen of
one plant could effect the bud (and that under
ground) in another plant, is a new doctrine, truly.
The apples, in order to raise new varieties, might
be influenced, as seed to start from, but the tubers
in the ground, never. The eye is a bud, and the
tuber a thickening of an underground branch,
arrested in its elongation by an accumulation and
conversion of the crude sap into starch, water, etc.,
by a chemical process (of the plant-food supplied)
within the tissues, well explained by writers on
vegetable physiology, who have ascertained that
one pound of fresh and good potato, contains as
components,
OZ. GRS.
Water 12 0
Flesh formers 0 100
Starch 2 219
Sugar 0 223
Dextrin or Gum 0 30
Fat 0 15
Woody fiber 0 228
Mineral ashes 0 64
How these parts are formed, differing but little
among themselves, and yet sufficiently distinct to
be readily separated, is one of the mysterious pro-
cesses of nature.
This new book also teaches : "Never touch the
seed potato with a knife. Drop it in the earth
whole and sound." Farmers are advised to
reserve their best and largest potatoes for seed ; &c.
The idea is, by planting them whole a greater
supply of starch is furnished and made available,
until the plant can draw support from the soil
and atmosphere. If the crown of a tuber other-
wise good, or any portion having two good eyes
or buds and flesh enough to give them a fair start,
left on the slice, and prepared a few days before
planting, so that the external juices of the slice
form a starchy film by the action of the air ;
this protects them nearly as well as the delicate,
94
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
corky skin of the outside ; and when properly
covered, so that the moisture and action of the
sun's stimulus puts the starchy matter again in
motion which was ready prepared for its future
growth, or to nourish animal life, it is now spon-
taneously reconverted into dextrine, mingles with
the sap, and at the expense of the portion of the
old tuber starts a new being and plant, which,under
fair play and proper culture, will yield full crops,
and potatoes saved for food by the process, of
course. Newly cleared rich land, soil not too
heavy, all things right, a good crop of potatoes
can be raised from cut potatoes, if judiciously per-
formed. Once fairly started, like other plants in
which the seed or germ is surrounded with albumen
simply enough to start the plant, and sustain it
until it can sustain itself; so with a bud : it only
requires a certain amount of nourishment ; but in a
graft, the parts remain together. Potatoes have
been grafted by cutting a wedge of flesh to an eye
out of one sort of potato, and a notch cut out of
another, into which the wedge is fitted and held by a
fine wire or hair-pin. Thus, two opposite sorts in
habit have been combined and blended into a new
variety or sort. Plaster of paris is of great service
in potato culture, dusting the vines with it as soon
as they are fairly through the soil. In short, the
culture is pretty well understood ; not so the dis-
ease.
The curl is a well-known disease among cultiva-
tors. This arises like the rot, in many cases from
using over-ripe seed stock. Potatoes intended
for seed should be taken up before fully ripe and
put into a dark, dry place and covered with straw
or dry sand— protected from the light and air.
Those for table use may be allowed to ripen fully
and develop all the starch, care being taken
against exposure to rain and damp. There is a
point or extent, if driven beyond by over-manur-
ing with strong barn-yard or raw manure. Weak-
ness or disease of the tissues follow the same kind
planted in the same soil is deleterious. Besides,
there are conditions of the air, a kmd of floating
blight, be it fungoid or electric, has been observed,
and which, coming in contact with a wall
or hedge, the evil was prevented. This
condition of the air has been observed to set-
tle, if a fog or light rain came on during its flight,
and to blight all kinds of vegetation more or less
on which it settled ; hence, culture and care, how-
ever vigilant, will not always avail ; insects can
also weaken the growing plants, but when we re-
flect that the same sap in the stem or tuber is dif-
ferently affected— tubers above ground become
hard and green, like the stem, charged with chlo-
rophil instead of starchy accumulations formed
into nutriment protected by the soil from th^
direct action of the light and air. In short, I do
not see that the old school of experience is much
improved, as soils and seasons differ as well as
potatoes, and favorable or unfavorable conditions.
It is, however, worthy of all attention to ascertain
facts and their bearings on the main question by
interchange of opinions and making known the
results of certain experiments — these may lead to
useful hints and be made available by others, as
facts and knowledge increase.
To conclude among many interesting experi-
ments, I will mention but one. A person near a
wash-leather mill took wash-leather waste, as it is
called, in a field previously well trenched but not
manured, he dibbled the potatoes in the ground,
placing in each hole a piece of the leather with
the potato, with a small portion of the dust, filling
with soil in the ordinary way. The potatoes used
were the common " Early Shaw," and the result at
first sight seems incredible. Many of the potatoes
weighed from one to two pounds each, the largest
one noticed being within an ounce of three pounds.
Forty potatoes could easily be found from a few
roots to fill a bushel measure, the largest number
of tubers on one stalk being seventy-two, and de-
spite their immense size, none were discovered hol-
low in the middle, nor on being cooked was there
any bullet-like appearance in the center, so often
found in large potatoes. I copy the foregoing
irom Ross Murray's Domestic Economy, and
deemed good authority, he being a member of the
Koyal College of Surgeons,
SEED FOR EARLY POTA lOES.
A correspondent of the Maine Farmer writes :
Within a few years farmers and market gardeners
who grow early vegetables for Boston and other
large cities, have found it to their interest to come
north for their seed potatoes, especially the early
varieties, as those raised in our latitude usually
germinate stronger and mature earlier when car-
ried south than those raised in a warmer clime,
I have just received a letter from an enterprising
young New Jersey farmer who markets his produce
in Philadelphia, in which he asks at what price
50 to 100 barrels of prime Early Rose potatoes
can be delivered in Philadelphia during February,
1873. They are wanted for seed.
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
95
LANCASTER MAY, 1873
S. S. RAiHVON, e.^it>r.
Published monthly iirider the auspices of the ^ouicul-
TUkAL ANDHo ITICULTDRAL SOCIETY.
$1 % ^ per Year In Advance.
A considerable deduction t » clubs of Ave or more.
A 1 coinm-inic ttions, to Insu'C insertion, must be in ths
hands of tlie editor betors the 'iOtti of each month. Ad-
dress «. '-'. Ra livon. LtncJiHter, P.i.
All ;idvi;rtisemeMt-i, subscription'* and remittances to the
addrtss of the publisher, ,1. R. DKVELIN,
Inqu'rer Buildine, Lancasti)r,Pa
MEETING OF AGRICULTURAL AND
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
THIS society met on Monday afternoon, April
7th, at two o'clock in the Orphans' Court
room. The attendance was fair. The minutes of
the previous meeting were read and approved.
Jacob Bollinger, of Warwick township, was
unanimously elected a member.
Prof. S. S. Rath von read a very interesting and
instructive essay upon the subject of "Potato
Culture."- This was followed by an able and com-
prehensive paper on finances from D. G. Swartz^
Esq., under the question " Should our Currency
be Increased ?"
The financial essay gave rise to a lively discus
sion, which was participated in by Dr. Elam Hertz
and Peter S. Reist.
Mr. John Brady presented a new variety of ap-
ple, raised by Mr. Ritter, of Highville, this
county, which all pronounced a valuable apple.
On motion, it was named the Ritter apple.
S. S. Rathvon presented eggs of the Japanese
silk worm, received from the Agricultural De-
partment.
Mr. Johnson Miller, of Warwick township, read
the following report :
The fields arc again clear from snow, which
covered them for nearly three" months ; the wheat
has come out green and promising, and the wheat
fields look one hundred per cent, better than they
did at the same time last year, so that with a
favorable season from now on to harvest, we have
a prospect for an ordinary crop; although some
fields look poor, but these are few, and are such
as have been sown entirely too early. Wheat
sown on the 1st of October looks much better
than that sown on the 1st of September ; the best
is the late Fown without regard to variety or soil.
As to varieties, I will report at our next meeting.
I have a number from the Department of Agricul-
ture, at Wnshingtoa, for experiment. It is too
soon to report the prospect; but they look re-
markably well, and have the appearance of being
a success. Rye looks well all around ; and if the
wheat crop should again be a partial failure, which
we hope it may not, fa'-mers ought to turn their
attention more to this crop, as the prospects are
again very flattering for a full yield. The grass
fields have not frozen out much during the past
winter, and with a wet and warm spring we will
have a good hay crop. Fields look promising. As
to fruit, the indications are that grapes, apples,
peaches, cherries, pears, etc., are pretty much
winter-killed from the intense cold weather on the
Snth of January last ; but it is too soon to give a
correct statement ; at our next meeting the result
can be better seen and the prospects can then be
more correctly reported. The farmers have at last
come out of winter quarters ; after a rest of nearly
five months, in the enjoyments of sleighing, and
eating apples, drinking hard cider, etc., we see
them again in the fields, in all directions, in vari-
ous works, such as picking stones, sowing clover
seed, plowing for oats and corn. Spring is at
hand, and the farmer wlio wants things in order,
finds himself crowded on all sides by some work at
this time. I have now given a brief report of the
condition of the crops and things in general, set-
ting forth prospects and indications, which we can
all see : but the result of all is the hands of an all-
wise Ruler, and let us hope and trust that He will
again bless us with all we need and desire.
The bill of Janitor Hubley, for ^12, was order-
ed to be paid.
Dr. Hertz thought it time to take some step
looking toward an exhibition next fall, which gave
rise to a discussion of the question of a County
Agricultural Fair in the fall of 1873. The dis-
cussion resulted in the appointment of the follow-
ing committee to confer with the Park Associa
tion, as to the terms of holding an exhibition on
their grounds: Messrs. Wm. McComsey, S. S.
Rathvon. Alex. Harris, Milton B. Eshleman and
Levi S. Reist.
A vote of thanks was unanimously tendered to
the essayists for their admirable productions-
Apples were exhibited by Messrs. Levi S. Reist
and Jacob B. Garber, in addition to those already
mentioned. After testing the fruit, Society ad-
journed.
Thr farmer who plows deep, manures liberally,
and keeps down weeds, will prosper.
96
THE LA JVC ASTER FARMER.
FISH CULTURE.
WE are pleased to learn that Mr. H. H.
Hershey, of Nine Points, in Bart town-
ship, Lancaster county, is about fitting up the ne-
cessary pond £^nd appliances requisite to enter suc-
cessfully upon the enterprise of artificial fish
culture.
He is desirous to form an association of a few
live citizens, either as a stock company or joint
co-operative institution, as a mark of encourage-
ment and approval.
7'here is on his farm a large and never-failing
spring, which forms quite a stream, that flows in
the valley run and empties into the Octoraro
creek. This run and stream was at one time cele-
brated for the abundance of native trout, which is
a guarantee of the natural fitness for the purpose.
It is not necessary at this time to argue the
great benefit to the public in stocking our streams
with black bass, salmon or trout. The success
and experience in other localities has clearly de-
monstrated this fact. The manner of manipulat-
ing and arranging the necessary appliances is now
established by several years' successful culture, of
which full instructions are had which remove all
the risk incurred by the originators, and by proper
attention warrants success.
"We can see no reason why Lancaster county
should be behind the age, nor why an enterprise
of this kind would not command the co-operation
of every public-spirited individual. We therefore
cordially recommend Mr. Hershey, and do hope he
may be encouraged and fully sustained in his laud-
able undertaking, and that success will crown his
efforts and rank him among our public bene-
factors, Ed.
THE SEASON.
It is perhaps hardly necessary to say — except
as a matter of record -that the season is very
backward. At this writing (April 23) the weather
is cold and during the preceding night, a slight snow
with rain, has fallen. Vegetation of all kinds is at
least a month behind that of an ordinary spring
in this latitude. Not a single tree is yet in bloom,
and we are yet in doubt as to the real extent of
last winter's freeze. The grass and grain, however,
look well, and unless the tardy spring may pro-
duce a tardy summer, and by that means subject
the wheat to the attacks of the " Midge," or the
" Hessian," the prospects for a good crop of that
staple cereal are favorable. The saturated con-
dition of the soil, after the slow removal of last
winter's snow, has much delayed the spring plow-
ing and putting in of the spring crops, and those
that are in cannot germinate and grow, with
such a temperature as we have had since the snow
passed away. Some good, however, may come of
it all in the end, and, therefore, we by no means in-
tend to indulge in complaints.
GARDEN SEEDS.
We have still a few of Landreth's choice gar-
den seeds on hand — beans, peas, cabbage, beets,
etc., etc., which we will cheerfully give (gratis) to
our subscribers, by calling at our place of business,
corner of North Queen and Orange streets ; and,
as the season is backward, it may still be early
enough to plant them after they read this notice.
The surroundings also are well adapted for the
necessary ponds, and, altogether, is the most desir.
able location for an enterprise of this kind, as all
will admit who inform themselves of. the facts in
the case.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONGRESS.
President's Office, ]
Chicago, March, 1873. j
THE next, being the second meeting of the
National Agricultural Congress, will be
held at Indianapolis, Ind., commencing on Wed-
nesday, May 24th, 1873. The necessary local ar-
rangements for the occasion, it is now fully under-
stood, will be ample and complete.
By the constitution of this body, each State and
Territory is entitled to two representatives for
every State organization engaged in fostering ag-
ricultural pursuits. The United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Agricultural Schools and
Colleges with an endowment of not less than
$20,000, and Agricultural and Horticultural So-
cieties of not less than fifty membere contributing
to the support of this Congress, are entitled to
one represeatative each.
In urging the appointment and attendance of
delegates as thus provided for, very little needs to
be said. The purpose of the organization i,s to
afford an opportunity annually for an interchange
of views and opinions upon all subjects affecting
the interests of Agriculture and its kindred indus-
tries, and to promote cpncert of action among
those engaged in these pursuits, in all matters re-
lating to them and of national importance.
The advantages to be derived from such a me-
dium, even in ordinary times and under ordinary
circumstances, are quite apparent, and now that
the public mind is thoroughly aroused to the ne-
cessity of considering with the greatest delibera-
tion many questions touching the industrial pur-
suits of this country, there is good reason to ex-
THE LAJ^ CASTER FARMER.
pect a very full representation. No similar body
has ever assembled in the United States upon
whose action rested a more serious responsibility
than will rest upon the action of this, in many im-
portant respects. I hope it will be the pleasure,
as it certainly is the duty, of every organization
entitled to participate, to avail itself of the privi-
lege. The constituent bodies which have ap-
pointed or may hereafter appoint representatives
will please notify the Secretary, Chas. W. Greene,
Jackson, Tennessee, who will in due time advise
them of the subjects to be presented for consider-
ation at the meeting.
John P. Reynolds.
Pres. Nat'l Ag'l Congress.
[Do any of the leading agriculturists of Lan-
caster county feel sufficient interest in the "Na-
tional Agricultural Congress" as to attend its
sittings ? Do our local societies desire to place
themselves in representative communication with
jt ? If so, now is the time to move in the matter.]
FRENCH SYSTEM OF MAKING HOT-
BEDS.
The French do not make up a bed for a single
frame or a range of frames, but the commercial
gardeners collect a large quantity of material —
manure, garden refuse, weeds, etc. — and having
mixed and left it to ferment a time, as soon as it
is in a fit state, they form it into one large bed
twenty to fifty feet square, and then cover it with
frames, just leaving sufBcient room between each
range of frames to get between to perform the ne-
cessary work of cultivation. The beds are made
of the depth necessary to give the desired temper-
ature, three or four feet, and they present the fol-
lowing advantages : 1st, a large mass of ferment^
ing material in a state of slow decomposition; 2d
a very small space exposed to the cooling effects
of atmospheric changes, merely the pathway be.
tween the frames ; and 3d, economy of material,
inasmuch as the dung necessary for a two-light
frame with ua would be sufficient for a three-light
one on the French plan. The drawback is that
of inability to replenish the heat when the first
supply becomes exhausted, and no linings can be
applied. Still as a means of growing a summer
<yop the plan is worth following, especially fot
market purposes. A bed twelve feet wide mighr
be made, facing east and west; upon this two
ranges of frames might be fixed back to back and
close together, and upon such a bed it is fair to
infer crops or either cucumbers or melons, or in
fact any crop requiring bottom heat, might be
grown with a certainty of success. — Rural New
Yorker.
DRIED DUNG IN FUMIGATING BEES.
Rev. L. L. Langstroth writes to the Bee Jour-
nal : ,
Nearly two thousand years ago Columella re.
commended the dry dung of cattle as the best
thing for fumigating bees. Learning soon, after
importing the Egyptian bees, that the Egyptians
made use of the smoke from this substance in all
their operations upon their irascible bees, we be-
gan to use it largely in our apiary. The smoke
from burning cow dung, while very penetrating,
is not offensive. It can be blown so as to diffuse
itself very quickly through the hive, and yet it
does not seem to irritate the bees, and our own
experience confirms the very strong commenda-
tions of Columella. Wherever rotten wood is not
easily procured, it will be found of very great
value. When thoroughly dried, it will burn
slowly but steadily, and by slightly dampening
the outside after lighting it, a piece not larger
than the hand may often be made to last for sev-
eral hours. It does not always ignite as readily
as one could wish. Dr. E. Parmely has obviated
this difficulty by dipping one corner in coal-oil.
The odor is so litlle offensive that it may be used
instead of pastils in the sick-room, a little sugar
being sprinkled upon it while burning. Those
who know how universally the dung of buffaloes*
called buffalo chips, iis used for cooking purposes
on our great plains, will feel no prejudices against
this seemingly uncleanly substance. We shall
call it buffalo chips.
CORRESPONDENCE.
SS. RATHVON, Er., Dear Sir: In the
March No. of the Lancaster Farmer, we have
a. very interesting and lucid exposition of Veg-
etable Physiology, in the article — "Gossip about
Water ard Plants," by our friend J. Stauffer, Esq.
Though I do not intend to criticise his article,
all through I yet wish to notice what to me is
incomprehensible, or I might say, far above and
beyond my dull intellect. Thus : " To fill a large
thermometer tube with water, at the temperature
of 60°, and by placing this tube in a vessel of
pounded ice ; the water goes on shrinking in the
tube till it has obtained the temperature of 40°.
and then instead of continuing to shrink, or con-
tract, till it freezes, begins slowly to expand, and
actually rises in the tube until it reaches the
freezing point ! " Now I cannot understand how
the water by contracting in the tulje down to 40°,
and then expanding till it reaches the freezing
point. The freezing point we know to be 32°,
so that at 40° instead of expanding, it will have
to still further contract to fall down to 32° the
freezing point ! Is'ut this clear as mud ?
98
THE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
But I wish to notice another matter, while I've
pen in hand : The ascending and decending sap,
or water taken up by the roots of plants and trees,
whereby the trees and plants increase or enlarge
their growth. There appears to be a difference of
opinion on this subject among physiologists : some
elaiming that the down-flow of sap is what forms
the annual growth, or rings on the wood of trees ;
while modern investigators claim as a new idea,
that there is no downward flow of the sap ; yet
all appear to agree that the sap in trees, plants,
and vines, is received through the agency of the
roots, from the ground, and from that source
carried through the living and growing tree, to
form wood, leaves, fruit, etc. etc. Which then is
it that forms the annual growth and rings of wood
on trees — the sap while it ascends, or when de-
scending.
There is a circumstance to me inexplicable about
this circulation of sap through the tree, or inner
bark. On cutting down chestnut trees for fence
rails, we desire to have the bark taken off, so as
to have the sap-wood dried and hardened, as the
rails we know will last much longer. This we also
know is easiest accomplished in spring, as the
bark then peels off very freely. But when we
wish the roots. also to throw up sprouts freely, to
again give us sprout land for future use, there is an
objection to felling trees when the sap flows freely,
as then many of the stumps will die outright, and
others throw up only a few feeble sprouts. Then
again, if we cut down the trees in mid-winter, and
split them into rails at once, the bark cannot be
taken of, but will remain on the timber or rails
for years ; worms or borers will enter the sap-
wood, eating their way through in all directions,
leaving openings for water to enter from rains,
and by the time the bark comes or falls off, after
three or four years, the sap-wood will be rotten,
thus greatly injuring the timber. Now to steer
clear of both these drawbacks, we cut the trees
down in mid-winter, November, December or Jan-
uary, and let the trees lay on the ground as
they fall till vegetation is in full growth in spring,
say last of April or early in May, according as the
season is early or late. Then cut up the trees,
split them into rails, and the bark will peel off
quite as freely as if the trees had been just cut
down. I have frequently had chestnut timber
cut down between Christmas and New Year, left
them lay on the ground until spring opened fully,
then had them made into rails, and always found
the bark come off freely and full of sap, and no
worms to enter, and the sap-wood becoming hard
as the heart-wood.
Now the question with me is — how does the
sap or water enter into the trees so as to loosen
the bark, when the tree is severed from its roots ?
In this case there can be no ascending sap !
I have never left the trees lay on the ground
till fall, so as to find out if there would also be a
descending sap, to form another annual layer of
wood, but of course the heat of summer, would
dry up all moisture in the trees. Some trees as
gum and willow, if cut down in winter, and left
lay on the ground, will throw out sprouts freely.
From where do these trees procure their sap or
water to make so strong an effort to continue
their growth ? J, B. Garber.
■ Columbia, Pa., Mar. 24, 1873.
"THREE PER CENT."
EDITOR FARMER : In the April Farmer I
find an article under the above caption that
must be very encouraging to the farmer if he can be
induced to believe it. You suppose your farmer to
have ten thousand dollars invested in farm and
stock. At the end of one year he has three hun-
dred dollars in bank and has expended one thou-
sand dollars in "wear and tear of implements"
and expenses of keeping family. You allow one
hundred dollars for depreciation, and say the far-
mer has made twelve per cent, on his investment.
Now, let us suppose he has borroived his money
at six per cent, and his account will stand thus :
Farmer DR.
To interest 8 600.00
To keeping family 1,000.00
To depreciation 100.00
1,700.00
CK.
By family expenses $1,000.00
By balance in bank 300.00
Total income 1,300.00
Loss 400.CO
Here we have the paradoxical statement that a
man borrows at six per cent, makes tivelve per
cent, on his money, and " comes out at the little
end of the horn."
The farmer who is in debt (and a large propor-
tion of our farmers are working partly on bor-
rowed capital) cannot be induced to see the sub-
ject of per cents, in any other light than this.
If he can be induced to mortgage his farm at
twelve or even six per cent, he will speedily "go
up the spout."
But suppose he has ten thousand dollars " clear."
He invests it at six per cent, mortgage security,
and at the end of the year he has six hundred
dollars net in place of two or three hundred as in
the other case.
He and his family can, if they work as hard as
they did on the home-farm, earn as good a living,
for every farmer's boy is put to work as soon as
he can pick up a potato, and girls are initiated into
the mysteries of dish-washing at the tender age
of four years. This much for per cents.
The fact is, that stripped of its poetry (and few
of us who are engaged in the business see the
poetry of it), the life of a farmer is one of hard;
incessant toil and little pay.
Says Emerson ; " The farmer's office is precise
and important, but you need not try to paint him
in rose-color. You cannot make pretty compli-
ments to fate and gravitation, whose minister he
is. He represents the necessities. It is the
beauty of the great economy of the world that
makes his comeliness. He bends to the order of
the seasons, the weather, the soils and crops, as
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
99
the sails of a ship bend to the wind. He repre-
sents continuous hard labor year in, year out, and
small gains. He is a slow person, timed to nature
and not to city watches. He takes the pace of
seasons, plants and chemistry. Nature never hur-
ries. Atom by atom, little by little she achieves
her work. The lesson one learns in fishing, yacht-
ing, hunting or planting is the manners of nature.
Patience with the dela'^s of wind and sun, delays
of the seasons, bad weather, excess or lack of
water— patience with the slowness of our feet,
with the parsimony of our strength, with the
largeness of sea and land we must traverse, etc.
The former times himself to Nature, and acquires
that livelong patience which belongs to her.
fcslow, narrow man, his rule is, that the earth shall
feed and clothe him, and he must wait for his
crop to grow. His entertainments, his liberties
and his spending must be on a farmer's scale, and
not on a merchant's.
"This hard work will always be done by one
kind of man — not by scheming speculators, nor by
soldiers, nor by professors, nor readers of Tenny-
son, but by men of endurance — deep-chested, long-
winded, tough, slow and sure and timely. The
farmer has a great health, and the appetite of
health, and means to his end. He Lias broad
lands for his home, wood to burn great fires,
plenty of plain food. His milk, at least, is un-
watered, and for sleep he has cheaper and better
and more of it than citizens.
" He has grave trusts confided to him. In the
great household of Nature the farmer stands at
the door of the bread-room and weighs to each his
loaf."
In conclusion, I need scarcely add that the far-
mer never gets rich. We have no millionaires
among us. Ihe Rothschilds, the Stewarts, the
McCormicks are bankers or merchants or mechan-
ics. J, C L.
Salisbury, April 14, 1873.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PARTMi^^NT.
Bbhind the iScKNBS IN WASHINGTON is the title of a
book just Issued by ibe Mtttiouiti i-UDiisliing Co The ad-
vance suet ts are on our table, anu the annexed extract
Bhouid be sufficient to excite atiention. Tne author iu liia
preface bays : "It i» our aim to make this a faithful picture
of life at the Capital. The accounts of the Ureail Mobilier
scandal, tne Loouy, and other peculiar features will be
given Without bias." '-It Is a wc akne^g of the good people
ot WftshiUKtou to believe that tuey are politicians. Dwell-
ing under the shadow of the general government, they
imagine that they inhale politics with every breath they
draw. You will hardly find a male reideut of the Capital
but is tirm.y convinced that he has influence with some
branch cf the government." "Reduced to plain English,
the story ot the Credit MubUier is simp.y this: The men
entrusted with the management of the Pacitij Road made
a bargain with themsetves to build the road for a sum
equal to about twice its actual coiit, and pocketed the
profits, which hive been estimated at about Thirtt
Millions OF Dollarb — this immense sum coming out of
the packets of the tax-payers of the United 8r«tes. Mr.
Ames was not the only m«.uberof the company in placing'
the btoce where it woul.l benefit the corpora Ivh. l>r.
Durant , the president of the Pacidc railway, was engaged
in securing his triends in the same way, and he received a
portion 01 the stock to be used in this manner." Agents
wanted, apply to National Publishing Company, Philadel-
phia, Pa. ; Chicago, 111, ; Cincinnati, Ohio ; St. Louis,
Mj.
H. N. MoKiNNEY & Co., of No. 16 North Seventh St.,
Philadelphia, have just issued one of the most valuable
books, lately published, entitled '• Evkrybodt's Own
Physician" or " How to Aoquirk and PRtsERVK
Health " by Dr. C. W. Gleasou. Dr. Gleason is well
known all over the count, y, having devoted much of his
time during the last thirty years to lecturing in the prin-
cipal towns on medical suljects, and has acquired a high
reputation, both as a popular lecturer and physician.
Having now retired from the lecturing field to aevoie his
timi^ to hij extensive practice, his miuy fritnds will be
pleased that he has put 8'> much of his valuable knowledge
in suoh a shape that they can obtain and understand it.
There has been a great need for a woik that will give, in
plain terms, the cau-es, symptom.s and remedies for com.
mon disease. Not only dues tins book meet the want, but
it tells how to acquire and retain health and strength.
The volume is appropriately nau^ed and if every family
would study it carefully, and follow its teachings, there
would be much less sickneB>. It is beautifully printed
and bound, anl is illustrated with over 250 engravings
The book is sold only by subscrpltlon, and the publishers
desire a good agent in eve-y town, to whom they otter
liberal iuilucements. We copy tne following irom the
advance sheets of the book :
Diphtheria — This alarming and terrible disease usually
first makes its appearance in the cavity of the throat, in the
form of violent inflammation, tccompanied with high
fever, which soon extends downward to the cavity of tue
larynx, and is followed by the effusi.>n of small patches of
grayish lymph, filling che cavities of the throat and larynx,
causing difhcult breathing, gi eat exhaustion, feelings of
suffocation, and death
Treatment. In all such diseases early treatment is of the
greatest importance The invalid shou d at once be placed
in bed in a large, well aired and well-ventilated room, and
carefully kept warm. At the commencement of the at-
tack administer a warm tiath for ten minutes, and then
apply fomentations or poultictis of warm water to the skin
outside the throat, changing them often; fil an inhaling
bottlehalff.il of warm water, and add a teaspoonf U of
fine salt, thirty drops of carbolic acid, and a few drops of
laudanum; inhale the hot steam or vapor from this frtjely
several tim^s a ay. Put a teaspoonful of cholrate of
potash in a cup of warm water, aud with a cim I's hair
brush ai>ply freely to the inside of the throat. Keep up
the patient's strength by the administraiiou of beef tea,
giving 9 teaspoonful of the lohowing mixture three or
four times a day.
Men ARE what Women Make Them.— This isthe title of
a new hook just issued by H. N. McKinney & Co., 16
North 7th St., Philadelphia. We have beiore us a copy of
this truly interesting work, and upon a glance over its
p-.iges, feel free to confess it bears no talte iitle. It should
meet with an extensive sale. We copy a few extracts:
•'A thousand thunders! I dare not kill you. ' 'Do you now
swear that setting sun betrayed me?" 'Come with me
and you shall see setting sun." " tJ .t I .shill kill her!"
"That is your own business, I am tlmply charged with
your arrest." The bojk Is exciting ana lustru tive, fully
illustrating the powers of woman over man it is a trans-
lation from the French, and written by one oi the most
noted novelists
LITERARY NOTICES.
Tlie Journal of the farm ; Gardener's Monthly ; National
Live Stuck Journal ; Practical Farmer ; Farm'.r ami Gardener-
Live Stock, Farm, and e'irssd: Journal; Moore's Rural NewL
Yorker; American Farmer's Auvo:aie; Liws of Health-
Pen ii.nd Pi.jw ; Genuantown Telegraph ; Wood's Household
Magazine; Inuustrial BulUtin ; Oil Journal; Manhi-im Sen-
tinel; Volhsfreund ; Strasbtirg Press ; Fvery'^oty's Juumal ■
and other current publications for April, ha»e been received
all laden witti the intellectual wealthofiheir various spheres
in the literature of life ; also, monthly. Agricultural Re-
port for March, and a pamphlet on VVilliamson's Steam
Plow ; the Manual of Evergreens and Forest Trees, a practi-
cal and concise treat.se, adapted to the wants of the buyer
—in two parts— by Geo. Plnney, Eaitor of the Evergreen
(n^d Forest Tree Grower, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin ; a use-
ful little l2mo. ol 20 pp. to those intending to purchase
trees.
The American Farmers' Advocatk comes to hand
for March, a little behind time, but the delay is accounted
for by Its Improved appearance. The publis.iers, who
have from the commencement shown unusual enterprise
in giving a greater amount of reading matter, and of a
quality unexcelled, have made one improrement after
100
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
another. "With this No. they commence printing upon fine
naner from clear, new type, furnishing as heretotore Six-
teen large pages of reading matter, stitcHed and cut.
Every farmer and every business man should take it, and
the publishers have adopted a plan which enables every-
body to obtain it without cost. By sending them a sub-
scription for any $2 or higher priced paper or magazine
they furnish the Advoca e as a premium, without extra
charge. The subscription price ia singly $1, or in clubs at
60 cents each.
Lyceum Echo, a spirited little monthly folio, published
at Marietta, J'a., under the auspices of the "Lyceum As-
sociation" of Lancaster county. 25 cents a year, in ad-
vance. B. H. B. Cameron, D. L. Besh, Frank Mehaffey,
Editors.
Ambkican Sundat-school Worker. The last number
of this iour«al contains an able urticle by one ot its
editorial committee, Rev. T. M. Post, D. p., on Early
conversions, and a variety of choice, selected and original
articles Inteligence, Book Notices, etc., besides twelve
T>a?e8 eivento the education of the International Lessons.
It is published by J. W. Mcln yre. No. 4 South Fifth
Street, St. Lonis, at $t.50 a year. Single copies 15 cents.
The April number of Sanitaria v, a monthly journal,
of 48 pages, octavo, published in New York and Chicago,
bvA. S Barnes and Company, and edited by A. N.Bell,
M D .has been received and chee/fuly placed upon our
list of exchanges. The typographical executiou of this
iournal and the quality of the paper are almost fault-
less and it contains three large charts of New York
harbor, West Bank Hospital, and Hoffian's Island. Sub-
scription $3.00 a year, in advance. The contents are the
most valuable among the sanitarian literature of the coun-
trv and judging from the ability of its contributors, and
the subjects discussed, it cannot fail to pe form an im-
portant use and ought to receive the necessary popular
support, to sustain it handsomely. Address, 111 and 113
William street, N. T.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
p^jjj.KiLLKR. There can be no necessity, at this late
day> ^'^^ *^® VT^^^^ to speak in commendatory terms
f this remarkable medicine, in order to promote its sale ;
f .^jg a medicine that is known and appreciated the
de world through. Whenever we speak of the Pain.
K^ier as in the present instance, we do so in behalf of
afflicted, rather than with the view of advancing the
* fereets of its proprietors. For various diseases, such as
^h uroati^^' cholera, cholera-morbus, burns, sprains
1 \geg and so on to the end of the catalogue, we are con!
•need that there is no remedy before the people equal to
T)avi9' Vegetable " Pain-Killer," and we know thfH thous
ds upon thousands entertain th« same belief. Certain-
f!' ve cannot refer to the history of any medicine which
uals that of the Pain-Killer. It was introduced in 1840,
^\''from that time to this its sale, both at home and
*^Toad has constantly and rapidly increased, and we re-
*nloe at the high reputation it has achieyed, because
this reputation shows that it has been the means of re-
lieving a vast amount of liuman suflering. We hope
the present propriet is of Davis' Vegetable 'Pain-Killer"
will live long to eajoy the prosperity they have so fairly
won. °^ylt-73
CHICAGO CATTLE MABKET.
Chicago, April 22.
Cattle.— Market for shipping grades rather quiet;under
unfavorable eastern advicea, but prices were steady :
sales good to choice ranging $5 50a6, and one lot extra.
6 cwt. brought $6 75 ; a number bunches good to extra
Cherokees sold at i4 80a4 95 ; corn fed Texas 85 12>ia6 25 ;
common to good^butchers' cows $3 75a4 60. Hog market
fairly active ; prices firm ; sales common to fair at J5 25a
6 40; good to choice $5 50a6 60. Sheep; market fairly
active, scarce and firm for the best grades; sales choice
lotaat$s»a50.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Monday, April 21.
Beef cattle were in fair demand at about the former
rates. 2,100 head arrived and sold at 7xa8 cents for extra
Pennsylvania and. Western steers ; 6Xa7 cents tor fair
to good do., and 5a6 cents per pound gross, as to condi-
tion.
Cows were unchanged. 200* head sold at $55a75 per head
as to quality.
Sheep were rather dull. 10,000 head sold at 7a8c, per
lb. gross as to condition.
Hogs were dull. 5,000 head sold at $8 60a8 75 per 100
lbs. net.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Wednes ay, April 23.
Flour.— There is more doing both for loeal consump-
tion and for exportation, but we cannot record any
change in prices. Sales of 900 b&,rre!8 Ohio and Min-
nesota extra family on secret terms, and 1,200 barrels in
lots, including superfine at |4 50a5 25, extras at 86a6 75,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana extra family at »8a9 5u,
spring wheat ext:a family at $8»9 50 spring wheat extra
family at $7 5Da8 25, and tancy brands at $9 75all 25— the
latter for St. Louis No change in Rye Flour Or Corn
Me a! ; no sales of either.
Grain.— There is a fair demand for choice Wheat at
full prices, but poor quality is neglected. Sales ot 5,500
bushels at $1 90 per busbel for pood Indiana red : $1 92a
1 95 for Amber ; $1 70 for No. 1 Milwaukee spiing ; $1 80
for amber spring, and S2 for white. Bye is worth 85c. per
bushel ; there is not much offering. Corn is in good re-
quest, and 6,000 bushels Penns%lvania and Southern
yellow sold at 624463c. Oats are "active; sales of 17,000
bus. Ohio and Indiana; white at 51a52c., and Western
mixed at47>^a49.
Provisions — Prices are firmer. Mesa Pork is selling
in lots at $18al9 50; smoked hams at 14al5c. ; salted
shouldeis at 7;!^a7>^c. ; suioki^.d do. at 8c., and Lard at 9>^
NEW YORK MARKETS.
Apbil 23. 1873.
Grain.— The Wheat market opened stronger, with mo.e
inquiry for the lew grailes of Spring, and for these higher
prices were obtained ; Winter i<* scarce and held higher.
The market closes better and active, the demand chiefly
for export, though fair for Milifng ; the sales are at $1 57a
1 59 f r No. 3 (Jhi-'ago Spring ; $1 6U lor No. 2 Chicago
Sprint?, in store ; SI 43 for Kej cied Spring ; $1 65i^ for
No 2 Milwaukee, afloat; ; SI 67 tor Nos. 2 and 1 Mixed, in
store; *2 12 for White Mich'gau. Barley is quiet and
tame, especially for Western ; small lois co d 90a91c. Bar-
ley Malt is quiet and heavy : Choice Canada West at 8l 40,
short time. Oats are better, and in demand for the trade ;
the sa'es are at 63;4a51c, afloat ; White at 5oa56J-^c; Black
at 51a53!4c ; Western Mixed at 53>2a51r, and Old, in store,
firm at 54c ; Whi'^e at 55a56i^ ; Stat^ Mixt d at f 2c, in store.
Rye is less plenty, and is heTd higher; small sales of State
at 88a88i%c. Corn is better, and in demand for export and
the traae"; the oflerings ot Ne* are moderate; Unsound
at 64},^<-. ; Western Mixtd at 6Kc, for Old, in store, and 67a
671^0, for New afloat ; Western White at 72a73c; We: tern
Yellow at 68c.
Hay.— There has teen a good demand for prime qualiti'^'8
of Hay, which are scarce and firmly held. Straw is more
plenty ; the demand is fair and the market is steady ; the
arrivals are more liberal. We quote Prime Hay at P 30a
150; Good do. $115al25; Shipping do. at 90c.a$l, and
Clover at 75a90c ; Rye Straw is quoted at $1 05»1 10. and
Oat at 70c.
Flour and Meal.— The demand for medium grades of
Four is moderate, but there is less pressure and more
steadiness in the market ; the low grades are firmer and in
fair demand for the trads and for shipping; Family
grades are steady and fairly active. At the close the mar-
ket is better for most grades.
NEW YOBK CATTLE MARKET.
New York, April 21, 1873.
The m&rket for Beef Cattle is firm with a fair demand
at 10j^al2>^c for common to prime, with some few sales as
high as 14cT
Cows and Calves have ruled dull, and prices are unset-:
tied ; we quote at $30a80 for poor to choice fresh cows.
Veal Calves are dull and decidedly lower ; quote at 7a
7i^c.
Sheep and Lambs are easier ; the demand is chiefly for
clipped stock ; quote clipped at 6J^a7^c ; wooled at 8»
8%c; Spring Lambs quiet at $7al2 per head.
Swine. — Live Hogs are nominal at 6a6i^c ; dressed are
firmer at7>^a8c.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulti re. Domestic Economy and Miscellany,
EDITED BY S. S. RATHYOX.
'* The Farmer is the founder of civiflzat ion. "—WEBSTER.
Vol. V.
J TIME, 187 S.
J^o. 6.
ESSAYS.
GOSSIP ABOUT WATER, ETC.
BY J. STAUFFER.
MY higlily esteemed friend, J. B. Garber, in
the May number of the Farmer, com-
ments upon my gossipping article about water
published in the March number of the same. He
cannot understand that matter about freezing, and
concludes, " Isn't this clear as mud ?" To make
mud we need a mixture of soil and water, and
there are no two things more common than these
same elements, and yet so wonderful in their
properties. I am not surprised at what my friend
says. My remarks are based on the facts devel-
oped by actual test and experiment, by men who
devoted especial attention to the subject. I am
only a disciple of their school, and lay no claim to
originality. But this will not prevent me from gos-
siping about water. Everybody knows that water
is said to be a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
But what is this hydrogen, so called ? The name is
compounded from the Greek, and signifies, I create.
What does it create ? The fact is, xoater is the
onlxj source from which hydrogen can be obtained,
and when burned in half its volume of pure oxy-
gen, the only product of this combustion is water.
When a boy I tried the experiment, by putting
iron filings into an inkstand, and mounting the
stem of a tobacco-pipe fitted into a cork, a mix-
ture of ten parts of water to one of strong sul-
phuric acid was poured on the iron-filings. The
gas escaping from the pipe w;xs lit, and while ad-
miring my philosophical candle as it burned, the
pipe became clogged up, and an explosion was the
consequence. I was lucky in getting off with
singed eyebrows. This shows my early curiosity,
if it is no evidence of good management, and I
write it for caution to boys prone to experiment.
I know from experience that hydrogen "will
burn." The ancient philosophers called it in-
flammable air, and deemed it equivalent to phlogis-
lion, or the matter of heat. This very idea has
much to do with it as a compound element of
water, and produces, perhaps, those paradoxical
conditions developed in freezing that has per-
plexed and does perplex men of deeper research
than myself or friend Garber.
As regards the other element, oxygen gas,
which is insipid, colorless, inodorous and perma-
nently elastic, Tyndall tells us it has. in reference
to heat, a lower absorbing and radiating power
than other gases. Farraday has shown that it is
the most magnetic of all gases; its magnetic force
compares with that of the atmosphere, being as
17.5 to 3.4, so that it occupies among gases the
place which iron holds among metals, and, as with
iron, its magnetic force is destroyed by a high
temperature, but returns on cooling. Oxygen is
dissolved by water, but only in small proportion.
At 60^^, iOO cubic inches of water dissolve Z.
cubic inches of gas ; and at 32°, about 4 inches.
Water itself is composed of 1 volume of hydrogen
and ^ a volume of oxygen, or by iveight, as 1 to
8. The equivalent or atomic weight of water thuS
becomes 9. So it is taught in our school books
But, ac«ording to Gerhardt's notion, this equiva.
lent of oxygen is doubled.
The use oxygen may be to the aquatic creation^
or in promoting acidification, etc., we shall not
stop to inquire. The fact is, we know about as
much and no more about water now as we did be-
fore we knew of its combination of two gase«, and
for that matter we might call them by any other
102
THE la:n'CASTer farmer.
name ; the result would be the same. Water is
water still, and we also know that at a tempera-
ture of 32° it becomes ice, under proper condi-
tions.
A cubic inch of water at the temperature of 40°
weighs 252.952 grains, at 60° 252.72— less by .880
of a grain, so on as the temperature increases up
to the boiling point 212°, when vapor is given
out, and notwithstanding heat is still applied
the thermometer indicates no higher temperature
of the water, so the cubic inch will expand to fill
a tube of the capacity of 1,700 cubic inches.
That is the effect of heat to turn the water into
steam, an elastic fluid, increasing its volume. Here
we have another puzzle. Since the difference be-
tween 212° and 30° is 180°, and since ^ times
180° is 990°, it follows that to convert the water
into steam after it has attained the temperature
of 212°, as much heat must be supplied to it as
would suffice, if it were not evaporated, to raise it
990° higher. Hence it is said this heat is latent
in the steam, and although actually there it is not
sensible to the thermometer. This phenomenon is
the foundation of the whole theory of latent heat.
To prove that this heat is actually in the steam,
let a cubic inch of water in the form of steam at
the temperature of 212°, be introduced into a
vessel with b^ cubic inches of water at the temper-
ature cf 32° the steam will be immediately con-
verted into water; the temperature of the 5^
inches of ice-cold water will be raised to 212°, and
there will be found in the vessel 6^ cubic inches
of boiling water. Now these are facts — and facts
are stubborn things if they — " Is'nt any clearer
than mud." We have seen that heat erpands
water. The expansion of water in the act of
freezing takes place with irresistible force, and the
frequent rupture of thick iron and leaden pipes
from this cause is a familiar instance of this.
ProfessorFarraday discovered the remarkable prop-
erty of two pieces of melting ice being placed to
gether in a warm room; the film of water between
■them soon freezes and cements the two masses
together, and this effect also takes place beneath
the surface of warm water. 7'ry it — it is very
simple. Well, we must conclude that as heat ex-
pands water, and cold or the absence of heat also
expands it, whether water is freezing or boiling it
is expanded. This being clear, there is a point of
temperature when the density is greatest, and ex-
periment has proved that its greatest density is
not at 32°, but somewhere above it. Some experi-
mentalists place it at 38° ; other more modern in-
vestigators at 40°. It is imagined that cold or the
phenomenon of the congelation of water involves
several conditions :
1. the specific gravity of ice is less than that of
water in the ratio of 92 to 100.
2. When water is exposed in a large suspended
jar to cool in still air of 20° or 30°, it may be
cooled 2° or 3° below freezing ; but if any tremu-
lous motion takes place, there appear instantly a
multitude of shining hexangular spiculae floating
and slowly ascending in the water.
3. It is observed that the shoots or ramifica-
tions of ice at the commencement, and in the ear-
ly stage of congelation, are always at an angle of
60° or 120°.
4. Heat is given out during congelation, as
much as would raise the temperature of water 140°
or 150°. The same quantity is again taken in
when the ice is melted. This quantity may be \
of the whole heat, which water of 32° contains.
5. Water is densest at 38° (40° new scale).
From that point it gradually expands by cooling
or by heating alike, according to the law so often
mentioned, that of the square of the temperature.
6. If water be exposed to the air and to agita-
tion, it cannot be cooled below 32° ; the applica-
tion of cold freezes a part of the water, and the
mixture of ice and water acquires the temperatur*^
of 32°.
7. If the water be kept still, and the cold be
not severe, it may be cooled in large quantities to
25° or below, without freezing : if the water be
confined in the bulb of a thermometer, it is very
difScult to freeze it by any cold mixture above 15°
of the old scale (Fahrenheit's) ; but it is equally
difficult to cool the water much below that point
without its freezing. Daltou says — "I have ob-
tained it as low as 7° or 8°, and gradually heated
it again without any part of it being frozen.
8. In the last case of what may be called/orced
cooling, the law of expansion is still observed as
given above.
9. When water is cooled to 15° or below in a
bulb, it retains the most perfect transparency ; but if
it accidentally freezes, the congelation is instanta-
neous, the bulb becoming in a moment opaque, and
white like snow, and the water is projected up the
stem.
10. When water is cooled below freezing, and
congelation suddenly takes place, the temperature
rises instantly to 32°. This is according to Dalton's
new system of chemical philosophy, which, however,
has become old, but the facts remain, account for
them as we may. So that from 40° as a starting
point, water may be said to begin to freeze or to
TEE la:n'caster farmer.
103
boil, as the effecfcof heat or cold produce the same
result. Should you be silly euough to clap your
warm tongue on a pump-haudle when the temper-
ature is at 0°, the effect between that and an iron
at a red heat, would prove equally conclusive, that
cold and heat are relative terms — the effects be-
ing the same under certain conditions.
The reader may thank friend Garber for hav-
ing this long yarn about water inflicted upon them
and yet I will venture to affirm that few have paid
attention to the subject as it deserves. Chemis-
try shows the necessity of certain proportions of
materials to result in definite compounds ; so in the
aboratory of nature all the diversities of products
are brought about by a kind of arithmetical pro-
gression ad infinitum. I shall not stop to con-
sider the sap-question of friend Garber. The facts
he states are no doubt correct, and are |as easily
accounted for as other facts, whether we understand
the explanations or not.
The short of the whole matter is, there are latent
forces, as well as latent heat, that are not physi-
cally sensible until conditions arise to develop
those latent forces. The unseen imponderable el-
ements underlie the whole question — of water as
well as life or vital action of any kind. The high-
ly electrical qualities of the oxygen — the phlogis-
tic nature of hydrogen being like a balanced scale
at equipoise at a temperature of 40^ ; the beam
rises or falls by a disturbance reciprocally — in a
two-fold manner, and produces these apparently
conflicting phenomena.
This confliction is, however, a harmony we do
not understand, since our knowledge at best is
but partial — because we are finite creatures. The
mysteries of creation in their essence are infinite
and past finding out. Vain man may claim to
have found out much, and dig up fossils or test
the different planets, and ytt, after the accumu-
lation of discoveries for ages, we do not know
whether the center of the earth is a mass of fire
or "iSym's hole" goes through it. Nevertheless
let us live and learn.
HORTICULTURE^
EDITORS FARMER : I send you a report
of the condition of some things in my Beaver
Valley fruit garden. The past cold winter has
ruined the crop of many things for this season.
Peach and quince trees will take a few years to
get into bearing order ; had to cut them down
near the ground. My peach orchard on the hill,
250 trees, all froze. No difference in location
with me — all fared alike. Apple trees very much
frozen. Bark sprung loose on a few ; blossom
buds more or less injured on all ; but a few will
blossom middling well. Pears considerably hurt ;
but will blossom some. Cherries all froze in the
blossoms' buds. Sour cherries, too, all gone.
Grapes — Telegraph, lona, Hartford, Martha, Con-
cord, Clinton, and others — buds frozen, down to
within about 8 inches of the ground. A few
vines that lay on the ground are saved. No dif-
ference in the location. Those facing south to
east from buildings, and the lona, trained on south
side of house, were frozen as bad as those facing
north, etc. Currants and gooseberries are good
and very full of blossoms. Raspberries facing
south stood the winter well, including Ijight Red,
Purple Cane, Davison Thornless and Mammoth
Cluster, but the Philadelphia are considerably
hurt. Grapes froze alongside. Raspberries
facing north a little more frozen. Had to trim
shorter. Lawton blackberries were all frozen.
Kittatinny's blackberries badly frozen, but will
have a few blossoms. Wachuset Mountain black-
berry not much injured in buds. Canes are very
fersh; a new variety. Had it in fruit last
season. Berry looks well ; not quite as large as
some Lawtons ; called thornless, but not quite
free from thorns ; still there are not near as many
as the other varieties have. I may have more to
say about it when the fruit gets ripe.
John B. Erb.
SOIL FOR SWEET POTATOES.
The author of a circular on sweet potato cul-
ture says :
The quality of the sweet potato greatly depends
upon the soil it is grown in. On our common up-
lands of a light, clayey texture, they grow short
and of a light color and excellent quality.— New
land, if dry, produces bountiful crops of fine pota-
toes. In our loose prairie soil they grow long and
of a darker color. Wet or very rich soil produces
plenty of vines and few tubers. In all cases the
ground should be well worked and finely pulver-
ized to a moderate depth. If worked very deep
the tubers grow long and stringy. When the
ground is warm and moist, and your plants are
ready, throw two furrows together with a large
plow and form high, sharp ridges, three feet apart,
going up and down hill. If the ridging is done
in dry weather, and two furrows thrown together,
the center of the ridge will be dry dirt, not fit to
plant in until wet and settled by rain. If the
soil in the ridges is quite moist, the planting may
proceed all day without watering, if properly done
10 i
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
CORRESPONDENCE.
REPLY TO " PER CENTS."
MR. EDITOR : AVe would reply to the two
articles, previously published in your
magazine, on per cents.
There is one point in^the supposition that does
not seem very clear. A farmer is supposed to
expend one thousand dollars for his family, yet
they all clear but three hundred dollars.
Figures tell the truth /rom the basis, or accord-
ing to the basis laid down. But when the start-
ing-point is entirely wrong, how about the result ?
A family whose expenses on a farm are one
thousand dollars, are either living very genteelly,
or their numbers must be very great. If they
live ivithout work, and use very much beyond
what they earn, farming is not responsible for
the result. If fine carriages are demanded ; if
useless, high-strung horses are kept to eat up the
crops and the profit ; if riding about is so pleasant
and is the rule ; if a family expects to support the
style of two or three thousand a year from a
little over one, while the fields are half barren
and the soil is very poorly tilled, lay the blame
on the manner of farming and not on farming in
general.
But if, on the other hand, the family is large,
there should be more work done; greater crops
should grow ; a greater income should be found
iu the bank at the close of the year. Certainly a
thrifty family ought to make twice as much as
their expenses.
The writer can give some idea of expenses and
income from personal experience.
From a farm of eighty-five acres, the income
was fifteen hundred, aside from the feed, etc., con-
sumed on the place. Total farm expenses for the
year, including board for self and hands, and im-
provements, were a little less than eight hundred.
Thus the balance was seven hundred, a much
b etter showing than the supposition of the previ
ous article. At least one hundred dollars were
expended in fitting up sheds and in ditching. So
that the strict farm expenses were less than half
the income.
And all of the help had to be paid for, even
the boarding for as many as six hands, at time».
Or take this view of the question : How much
would it cost to keep this supposed family in
town in the style of farm living, with farmer
plenty and comfort, and advantages ? If one
thousand dollars are needed on the farm, without
rent, or retail prices for food, how great would be
the sum for living in town ? At least fifteen
hundred would be demanded to live cluttered up
in a medium sized house, with none of the con-
veniences found on a farm. And we know of
farmers who think they are moderate in their ex-
penses, who think they enjoy so much less than
their merchant friends, and yet if these farmers
lived as well, and as bountifully, and as stylishly
in town, three or four thousand a year would be
the expense.
We know of many good mechanics, and work-
men of different trades, who are compelled to sup-
port large (and often necessarily unhelping fami-
ilies, because of living in town) families on less
than si x hundred a year, all told. Out of this
must come the rent, which is more than one-fourth,
and often nearly half. They must buy nearly
everything at the retail price. Yet they are
looked upon with envy by many of their farmer
friends ; they are supposed to earn their living so
easily ; are looked upon as doing better than far.
mers possibly can.
Some mechanics get large wages, are economi-
cal and diligent and as a consequence get rich.
So a farmer of talent and action can get rich too.
And some are abundantly wealthy. In central
Illinois lives Mr. Sullivant, who is worth his mil-
lions. And he made this property by farming,
and continues to make it thus. There are other
very wealthy farmers in Illinois. In Kentucky
there are many wealthy farmers ; in south-western
Pennsylvania there are very many ; and through-
out New York. And we can tell J. C. L., here
and now, the reason why there are no Rothschilds
among farmers. Generally farmers are afraid to
give their children any chance at home. They
are eminently selfish and domineering in their
bearing to their grown-up sons. You scarcely
see a farmer and his son working together as a
firm, unless the father is boss altogether and the
son is a boy, even at forty. The Rothschilds
have clung together for generations, and hence
their wealth. Any and every Rothschild lad at
the age of discretion, has the idea and the spirit
of family union for the dollar, well instilled into
his brain, into his very life. They are united at
all events ; and everyone has a place waiting for
him, when years or ability will permit.
So, farmers might cling together if they would.
If they will try to learn to be business men ; if
they will study books that tell of business and of
the laws of trade ; if they will take, and read,
and support their farm papers, instead of buying
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
105
the trash that shall fit their children for the gal-
lows and the haunts of crime ; if they will pur-
chase books of value, and deny themselves the
luxury of the chew, of the cigar, of the glass of
rum or beer ; if the mind comes in for a reasona-
ble share of culture so that the acres can be prop-
erly and profitably tilled, according to wise plans,
and for the best and noblest results ; then farm-
ing can be successful and as aristocratic as any
legitimate business that can be named.
We need not say much about the figuring, when
the base is wrong. Besides values are wrong.
Land is'nt worth any more than ten times the net
profit it brings. But so-nehow the price is infla-
ted, and with this increase of price, the value of
the acres, the fertility, is being used up.
One thing, though, about trade. Many outsid-
ers seem to imagine that it is easy to take ten thous-
and dollars and go into trade, with a great hope
of gain in the form of big hundred thousands or
greater millions. But it is all and forever a great
mistake. Out of ten thousand men, taken at ran-
dom, we suppose not more than one hundred can
make more than a fair living in trade from ten
thousand dollars. Men and firms with one or
more hundred thousand dollars control and cut up
trade, so that few make anything at all from
smaller sums.
Tact is required in a merchant. And but few
men have that faculty or power at all. A dealer
must always and in every place be himself, and
never at the mercy of another. Perseverance is
demanded, or the profits will be losses instead.
Diligence is needed. Yet most people imagine
that trading is based on sitting around in splint
chairs, or lolling on the handy counter and taking
life easy and as it comes.
Now, there is not one farmer in a hundred who
can't make more money on a farm than he possi-
bly could, or would, in trade, or as a mechanic
Especially all farmers who scoflF at learning, who
dread to budge from the old track ; who naturally
and educatedly despise anything new or the per-
son who would dare suggest that they are wrong,
that farmers could make more if they would try ;
all such farmers would not only not get rich in
town, but would likely lose all they have and be
compelled to rent a farm and begin anew.
We have seen farmers who have tried the
change. Great hopes were entertained ; but hopes
are not dollars, nor is talk the secret of trade.
Also have we seen farmers who would not change
places with the hard-working capitalist ; for well
they know that it is ability, a rare gift of our
Creator, that enables a man like A, T. Stewart to
be successful in trade. Yes, it is talent that is
demanded; talent to be a man as well as a
scratcher of acres ; talent to be a man with a
heart and a soul, as well as with mere cloyed greed
for gain. This talent is needed in every business,
to insure success. Such talent will hunt the dol-
lars among rocks or sands. On a farm, talent will
gather all of the available forces for the best
eventual gain. And combined effort and talent,
and study of a family line, for generation after
generation, would most certainly heap up a great
fortune like that, (and more noble) of the world-
renowned, Rothschilds of the East.
J. 6. H.
of the Farmers' Club.
[As the discussion has taken a turn that we
never intended when we penned our waif on
" Three per cent," we may as well remark here,
that successful farming does not always depend
upon literary, or book intelligence. In the north
part of Lancaster county, or rather, just where
the counties of Lancaster, Berks and Lebanon
meet, part of his domain lying in each of these
counties, there resides a farmer who is the posses
sor of fifteen hundred acres of as good average
land, as can be found in the State of Pennsylvania;
and this man reads little or nothing, if he can read
at all ; never has subscribed for a newspaper ;
and is said never to have had a book of any kind
in his house, except perhaps the Bible, and an oc-
casional copy of " Baer's Almanac." We have
visited this immense farm, and although things,
in general, have an untidy appearance, still, his
stock of all kinds is fine and well kept, and his
crops equal to any in either of the three counties
in which the farm is located. This man (old John
Texter) is either the son, or grandson, of a " Re-
demptioner," his maternal ancestor having been
" sold into service " for his passage across the At
lantic.
Somehow, they have made farming pay. — Ed.]
Make a Map. It is always desirable to know
the name of a variety of tree or vine — labels will
decay or get broken down — but if a map or book
record is made of the position of every tree of
value, its name, when planted, and from whom re-
ceived, it would give groat satisfaction to the
owner and be one of the checks against too many
of the present items of new productions by igno-
rant growers, under an impression of its being a
seedling, because they happen not to know the va-
riety and have lost all remembrance of its period
of procurance or planting. — Ohio Farmer.
106
THE LAJS CASTER FABMER.
FAWKS' STEAM PLOW.
OF all the departments of human husbandry-
there is perhaps none in which less ad'
vance seems to have been made than in that of
plowing — bi'eaking up annually, and preparing
the soil for the reception of the various kinds of
seeds. During the last fifty years — which is about
as far back as we can remember, in relation to farm-
labor — a great many improvements have been made
in farming implements. Any number of reapers,
mowers, threshers, winnowers, corn-shellers, rak
ers, tedders, grain-drills, corn-planters, culti-
vators, harrows, apple-parers, and numbers of
other implements for the purpose of lightening,
facilitating and expediting farm-labor, the very
worst of which have been a great advance upon
modes previously in vogue among farmers, but
the plow and plowing, during all that long period,
have remained stationary. It is true some im-
provements have been made in coulters, mould-
boards, gearing, and the general shape of the
implements, whereby some degree of ease in the
process of plowing has been attained ; still, plow,
ing, to all practical appearance, is the same slow, la-
borious, and patience-enduring process it was half
a century ago.
Various inventions of steam-ploivs have been
introduced and tried in different parts of our
country — the first of which, as far as concerns the
the county of Lancaster, was that of Mr. Fawk s ,
of Christiana — but we believe none of them have
yet become such " fixed institutions " among the
farming public as a thresher or a movjer, and in
all probability it may be a long time before they
ever will be. All the other implements we have
named have but a secondary — some of them a
still more remote — relation to farm labor, but the
plow in its relations is primary; for, until the
land is broken up, and the soil turned under by
the plow, there can be no effectual planting, reap-
ing, mowing, and threshing. Here, then, in this
primary department of husbandry, is still a wide
field for the exercise of human ingenuity, A
good, cheap, durable, and easily handled steam-
plow is still the great desideratum of the farming
occupations. It seems to us that all inventors of
steam-plows, thus far, have been attempting too
much, and therefore have accomplished too little.
Would not a machine that would turn one or ttoo
furrows at a time with speed, accomplish more in
the end than a great lumbersome and unwieldy
affair that turns six or eight, and be nearer what
is now wanting ?
The largest and most powerful thresher, pabses
a single sheaf through at a time, but it has an im-
mense advantage over the old ways of threshing,
by the speed it gains. A grain drill will not dis-
tribute the seed over as great an area, at the same
time, as broad-cast sowing will, but it does the
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
107
work speedier, more thoroug-hly and evenly, and
saves the after-labor of harrowing. Now some
thing on this line of principles seems to be want-
ing at this time, although it must be apparent to
the most ordinary ol)servation that there are
localities under cultivation where a steam-plow
never can be successfully manipulated. Although
a plow, of some kind, is a very ancient implement
— traces of its existence being found in the very
earliest written records — and although plowing
has always been considered inseparable from sue
cessful farming, yet the application of steam to
plowing is comparatively of very modern date.
And furthermore, although stationary engines, by
a system of " Rope Traction,"* have been applied
to gangs of plows in England, and somewhat
antedate steam-plowing in America, yet, the in-
vention and application, as well as practical work-
ing of " Direct Traction" steam-plowing, is due to
America, and so far as we can recollect, Fawks'
experiment with his invention at Christiana, in
1858, was about the first in this country.
After various experiments, accompanied by em-
barrassment, discouragement, and buffetings in
the West, Mr. Fawks and his plow are enjoying a
kind of oblivion, and probably his name, in the
future history of steam-plowing, may occupy the
same relation to the subject that Fitch's does to
the steamboat. We regret this, because we were
present at the trial referred to — were pleased with
what we saw — and expressed our satisfaction in a
newspaper article on the subject, perhaps the
first favorable notice of his plow that was publish-
ed. During the fifteea years that have intervened
since then, very little has been done in steam-
plowing of a very practical character, but now we
have a pamphlet before us, giving a description
of the operations of the " Williamson Road Steamer
and Steam-plow," on the seed farm of Messrs.
David Landreth & Son, at Bloomsdale, near Bris-
tol, Fa., in the autumn of 1872, although at sev-
eral Agricultural Fairs, previous to that period,
gold medals, and other premiums had been
awarded to it. The Bloomsdale exhibition of the
work and capacity of this plow, seems to have
been highly satisfactory to a very large number
of the most intelligent agriculturists and machin-
ists who witnessed its operations, and was in a
measure looked upon as the ■inauguration of a
new era in agriculture. Every friend of agri.
cultural progress no doubt desires that these
hopes may be abundantly realized. R.
AGRICULTURE.
MANUFACTURING MANURE.
I HAVE a place for the manure heap conve
nientto the stable ; clean the stalls every morn-
ing, or when necessary, and throw on the heap
keep it well together, with a flat and broad top-
it will soon commence to rot, and by the time
there are eight or ten loads accumulated, take a
day and haul to some suitable place for manufac-
ture. As the manure is hauled keep it well to-
gether, and not less than three feet deep ; keep
the top always flat or a little concave, as in this
way the valuable quality is better retained. When
manure is heaped conically or spread carelessly
far around, and remains so for any length of time,
its value then would only be about equal to straw.
The heap should be regulated in depth according
to quantity. By hauling a day at intervals in
winter, the yard may be clear by the time of turn-
ing stock out to pasture. When the pressing
work of spring is past, turn the manure-heap over,
mixing it thoroughly. It should be finished square
or oblong, with straight and nearly perpendicular
sides well packed all through, and not less than
four feet deep, as the deeper it is the better ; fin-
ish the top about level, with six or eight inches
of soil, which will prove valuable in saving the
good qualities of the manure. When application
time comes there will be found a rich heap of
manure, black and greasy.
* Nine hundred of the plows were In operation in
EngUuul, as curly as in 1S54. Steam-engines are fixed
tcn"ii)orarilyat each side, or end of the field, and gangs
Of plows are drawn hither and thither by means of
endless ropes. The Ainm-iean steam-plow, however,
drags a gang of trom five to eighL plows after it, and
is propelled back and forth across the field.
DESIRABLE QUALITIES IN A PIG.
Of all the desirable qualities in a pig, a vigor-
ous appetite is of the first importance. A hog
that will not eat is of no more use than a mill that
will not grind ; and it is undoubtedly true that
the more a pig will eat in proportion to size, pro-
vided he can digest and assimilate it, the more
profitable he Avill prove.
The next desirable quality is, perhaps, quiet-
ness of disposition. The blood is derived from
the food, and flesh is derived from the blood. An-
imal force is derived from the transformation of
flesh. The more of this is used in unnecessary
motions, the greater the demand on the stomach,
and the more food will there be required merely to
108
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER,
sustain the vital functions— and the more frequent-
ly flesh is transformed and formed again, the
tougheu and less palpable it becomes.
This quality, quietness of disposition, combined
with a small amount of useless parts, or offal, has
been the aim of all modern breeders. Its impor-
tance will readily be perceived if we assume that
seventy-five per cent, of food is ordinarily consumed
to support the vital functions, and that the slight
additional demand of only one-sixth moie food,
is required for the extra offal parts and unnecessary
activity. Such a course, restless animals would gain
in flesh and fat, in proportion to the food consumed,
only half as fast as the quiet, refined animal. To
assume that a rough, ill-bred mongrel hog will
require only one-sixth more food than a quiet, re-
fined, well-bred Berkshire, Essex or Suffolk, is not
extravagant. — Harris.
CHANGING PASTURES.
A correspondent of The Weekly World asks
farmers to give their experience as to the advan-
tages and disadvantages of changing cows from
one pasture to another during the grazing season ;
that is, is it better that the pasture be in one field
or in two or three, so that there may be periodical
changes into fresh feed. This matter deserves the
attention of graziers, and some with extended ex-
perience have emphatic opinions relative to the
matter, that it is far better that^there be no change,
care being taken not to over-stock the pasture, and
to provide soiling material (sowed corn, rye or
oats) with which to supplement the grazing in
case of continued drought or the falling off of
grass supply from any cause. On the other hand,
others deem change essential, care being taken
that it be at regular intervals, and at such inter-
vals as not to allow too rank a growth in the fresh
pasture, thereby deranging the appetite and stom-.
achs of the animals. Others think all the change
needed — and the wisest one to make — is from the
pasture in which the cows have foraged during
the day to another at night after milking. Facts
and figures, the critical experience and observation
of our readers are solicited in reference to this
matter ; for the time is at hand when the arran^-
ment of pastures must be made for the coming
season, and those who may be doubting what to
do M'ill be glad to be aided to a conclusion by the
testimony of their brethren.
GROWING ASPARAGUS.
One of the vegetables which every farm might
have at very small trouble and cost, and yet
which is one not often found in the farmer's gar-
den, is asparagus. It is at the same time one cf
the most desirable. It is very rare to find a per-
son who does not like it. It is probable that the
reason it is not more grown is an idea that it is a
costly thing to start. There is some reason for
the prevalence of this idea. Almost all the
works on gardening would indicate that a great
deal of labor and trouble was necessary in order to
start an asparagus bed properly. They say the
earth must be dug up two feet deep, that load on
load of manure must be incorporated with the
earth ; and possibly they will urge the importance
of some rare and costly fertilizer as an essential
ingredient in a proper asparagus bed.
But all these things are unnecessary. Any rich
garden soil is good for asparagus. It need be
pL nted only as other things are planted. Some
say set the roots a foot deep, but four inches be-
neath the surface is plenty. It is not well to
plant them too thick, or the sprouts will be
small. Twenty inches or two feet apart is a good
distance. Plants one year old, or two if they can
be had, are the best. If one be at a distance
from stores to get roots, seeds may be sown and
the beds made the next year. These caii be sown
in rows, like peas.
An asparagus bed once made will last for
years, with no trouble but an annual manuring
and forking over every year, and one or two hoe-
ings during the summer to keep the bed clear of
weeds ; but, except on the score of neatness and
cleanliness, this is scarcely necessary where an
annual spring forking over is given. Almost all
other crops have to be reset and otherwise cared
for every year, while this is an enduring crop ; and
we are quite sure there is nothing which will give
one so much pleasure and satisfaction as a good
asparagus bed.
1^ Now is the time to get up clubs for the
Fakmer. It pays.
WHO BUYS OUR GRAIN ?
As showing who are among our best customers,
we give the following extract from the Boston
Advertiser, showing the amount of wheat pro-
duced by the New England States:
Of the six States west of the Hudson, Vermont
comes nearest raising its own bread, producing
354,000 bushels of wheat in 1869, or about a
bushel and a peck to each inhabitant. Taking
THE LAKCASTEU FARMER.
109
the army ration of twenty-two ounces of flour a
day as a basis for computing the consumption of
bread enough to supply the people of the State
thirty-seven days, and to make up the deficiency
they are obliged to purchase 8,836,900 bushels per
annum.
Maine makes the next best showing in the cul-
tivation of wheat, producing, in 1859, 177,100
bushels, sufficient to last eleven days, and pur-
chasing 8,300,000 bushels.
New Hampshire, with decreasing population,
was a little behind Maine, producing 194,000
bushels — a little more than half a bushel to each
inhabitant^aud purchasing 4,100,000 bushels.
Connecticut makes a much poorer showing than
New Hampshire, producing 38,000 bushels-enough
to supply the people vvith bread for ten days — and
purchasing 7,218,000 bushels.
Massachusetts, though having a larger area
than Connecticut, raised only 34,000 bushels,
which, ground to powder, were sufficient to give
the inhabitants of the State bread enough for
breakfast and dinner, but not enough for supper!
The people of this commonwealth purchase 20,
000,000 bushels of wheat.
Rhode Island raised 784 bushels of wheat in
1869, and purchases 3,000,000 bushels per annum.
The six States together purchase in round num-
bers from forty to fifty million bushels of wheat,
and as much of other grain ; or 100,000,000
bushels of grain.
FERTILIZERS FOR POTATOES— PLOW-
IN (i OUT.
LEACHED ASHES AS MANURE.
Will it pay to put leached ashes on ground ? I
have about two acres that I cultivated last sum-
mer for the first time in a number of years ; it has
been in grass. I put a heavy coat of good ma-
nure on it last spring, and last fall another coat,
and plowed it under ; and now I would like to
know whether it would pay to haul ashes on it
from an ashery about one-fourth of a mile ? I
want to plant such crops as peas, onions, lettuce,
beans, etc. N. S. L.
Maryfiville, Union Co., 0.
[If the leached ashes can be had for the drawing
only, it would probably be quite profitable to ap-
ply them, although the results are not always the
same. In order to judge whether it will " pay,"
we want to know the cost of the dressing and the
increase of the crop, which can be determined
only by trial, but the experiment is well worth
performing. A hundred bushels or two per acre
would be a good application.] — Country Gentle-
W. J. Pettee inquires as to best fertilizer for po-
tatoes to be applied in the hill — whether bone,
phosphate of lime, or fish guano. In the last
twelve years I have tried a great many experi-
ments in reference to the best fertilizer for pota-
toes, and have seen many more tried. I have
found invariably that the best yields were got by
applying coarse Manure as a top dressing on the
hill after planting. Take a good clover sod ; have
it well drained (this is indispensable in such a wet
season as the last) ; plant in hills about three feet
apart ; give a good top dressing of coarse manure
of two good forkfuls to each hill. Tend well and
do nothiW; get a growth of top that will cove^
the land at the time the tops fall to the ground,
and a glorious yield is insured. I have known
this amount of top dressing more than double the
crop. Mr. Pettee also inquires as to the feasibility
of discontinuing the plow in digging. It is the
opinion of potato raisers here that a plow is more
bother than benefit. E. A. K.
Cayuga Co.
TO MAKE BOOTS WATER-PROOF.
Boots that have undergone the process of
Water-proofing are useful for occasional shooting
and fishing, or for extraordinary inclement weather ;
but for common wear they are unwholesome, on
account of confining the insensible perspiration.
Various preparations have been made to brush
leather and render it water-proof ; these are gen-
erally composed of oil, turpentine, rosin and wax.
The following is an excellent recipe : Melt in an
earthen vessel, over a slow fire, half a pint of lin-
seed oil, one ounce of beeswax, one ounce of oil
of turpentine and half an ounce of rosin. If new
boots are saturated with this composition, they
will be impervious to the wet, and likewise soft
and pliable. To obviate the objection urged
against the water-proof mixture, cork soles may be
worn, which will be found to absorb the moisture
without impeding the perspiration.
Sixteen Good Habits, — 1. .Abstinence from
tobacco and intoxicants.
2. Temperance at meals.
3. Daily attention to all the conditions of health
4. Constant occupation.
5. Doing at once whatever is required.
6. Having a time and place for everything.
110
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
7. Fidelity to all appointments and duties.
8. Paying for everything in advance.
9. Regular pursuit in some science.
10. Giving as well as receiving.
11. Aiming at harmony in conversation.
12. Looking always on the bright side.
13. Associating with some favorite minister and
society.
14. Talking on edifying subjects.
15. Acting always in the right spirit.
16. Realizing the presence of God at all times-
Fruit for Pennsylvania. At the late meet
ing of the Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society
the voting indicated the following fruits most in
favor : Apples — Smokehouse, Smith's Cider and
Fallawater. Pears — Bartlette, Lawrence and
Sickle. Peaches — Crawford's early, Crawford's
late, Old Mixon and Smock. Strawberries — Wil-
son's Albany and Triomphe de Gand. Grapes —
Concord. Mr. Tobias Martin, of Mercersburg,
read a paper upon improved apples and pears, in
which he said the Summer Rambo was the best
summer apple for Pennsylvania, and added the
following list as the most desirable : Smith's
Cider, Imperial, Russet, York Imperial and Hub,
bardson's Nonsuch. Of pears, he recommended
as among the best — Tyson, Brandy wine, Kingses-
sing, Dana's Hovey, Dix, Glout, Morceau and
Lawrence.
French Fritters. — One quart of milk ; boil
half of it ; mix the other half cold with one quart
of flour. With this last thicken the boiling milk,
and let all cook together till well done. While
cooling, beat ten eggs light. Add a teaspoonful
of salt. Beat the eggs into the batter, add a
teaspoonful at a time until all is in. Have a
small oven half full of boiling lard. This will
require at least a pound. Allow not quite a tea-
spoonful of batter to a fritter. Take them out
before they turn dark, put them in a drainer bowl,
in order that they may be well drained from the
lard. Begin to fry them before your meat dinner
is sent to table.
Fritters (another way). — One quart of flour,
with two eggs, or four if convenient ; one tea-
spoonful of flour stirred into one quart of butter
milk. Drop from a spoon into boiling lard
Drain well. Serve with wine and sugar, West
India syrup, or French sauce.
Grated Cheese. — A fine appetizer is furnished
by simpy grating up the rind of any nice cheese.
Eat with butter, crackers or thin biscuit.
HEAT OF ROOMS.
The purchase of a thermometer will make
paying returns in health. The great ten-
dency in winter is to keep rooms too warm.
The foundation of pneumonia, pleurisy and
pulmonary consumption is frequently laid
in over-heated, ill-ventilated apartments. The
inmates become accustomed to breathing hot,
close air ; the system is toned down and relaxed,
and a slight exposure to cold and wet results in
serious illness. " Some years since," says a medi-
cal writer, " we called one winter evening on a
friend, whom we found in a cosy sitting-room,
with a large fire, a low ceiling, and the heat rang-
ing about the eighties. She was suffering with a
severe cold, but could give no account of how she
took it. A. month later she was prostrated with
pneumonia, and she and her sister died within a
week of each other, and were buried in the same
grave. The intelligent use of a thermometer
would doubtless have'saved both of those valuable
lives."
The mercury in the tube should never be per-
mitted to stand above seventy. If that tempera-
ture is not sufficient to give warmth, it is an indi-
cation that the person does not take sufficient ex-
ercise, and the cure for it is more miles and more
flannel. In the coldest weather, when the ground
is like stone under the feet, when there is no drip
from the eaves, and when snow lies on the roofs >
rooms should be ventilated. Pure air should be
admitted through the open doors and windows, so
that the oxygen consumed by flame and respira-
tion may be replaced, and the efiects and poisonous
matter thrown off the body thoroughly driven
away. As one of our best writers on household
science remarks, ventilation is a question of
money.
WHITEWASH AND PLASTERING.
" The melancholy days are come, the saddest of
the year," wrote Bryant, of the stormy mouths ;
but it is so especially applicable to the spring
time, when all mankind are outlawed from their
homes, that we cannot refrain from quoting the
lines. The rooms are stripped of carpets, and the
whitewasher takes possession.
Ordinarily, whitewash is a trial. Hard-finished
walls are far preferable in most situations, but, in-
asmuch as they are expensive, and are not put in
all rooms, the only recourse to clean and purify the
living rooms and ofiices of dwellings, is lime-
water.
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
Ill
When properly prepared and applied, it neither
scales nor rubs off, but the trouble is, that in most
cases, it is not properly put on. We have tried
all sorts of patent mixtures and concoctions of
lime-water, or whitewash, but, all things consider-
ed, have found nothing better than lime-water and
glue. The quantity of glue to a pailful of wash,
being about three ounces. Slack the lime with
water, stir it all up together, do not make too thick,
and add the glue lastly, having previously dissolv-
ed it in water, ^pply this with a whitewash
brush, but do not put too much on at a time
^Many people have an impression that, inasmuch
as charity covereth a multitude of sins, much
whitewash covereth a multitude of streaks, but
this is an erroneous view of the matter; too much
lime makes streaky places, and is apt to scale off.
Very dirty, smoky walls, often require to be
washed with strong acid, or alum -water, before the
M-ash will lie on at all. If the walls are so treated,
they will hold the lime much better than without
it. A s previously remarked, but little wash must
be put on at a time, and but a small surface covered
at each stroke. A wash prepared and applied as
above, will last a year in ordinary situations.
The walls of houses being particularly exposed,
are always requiring more or less repair. Either
the doors have slammed against them and broken
out holes, or other mischances have befallen them
to their manifest detriment. It is well to know how
to repair them, as it is not always possible or
necessary to call in a mason to do it. More than
this, the price these men must charge for their
time, makes the repairs very costly, although the
work done appears of no amount. People do not
reflect that, although a mechanic may not be over
an hour or two at his work, he may have come a
long distance, and brought many tools with him,
so that he has really lost half a day, and must
charge accordingly.
To plaster, or repair a hole in the wall, first
clean the spot all around it of loose pieces, so that
the rest will be firm and solid. Then prepare coal
ashes (not wood), by sifting them through a fine
sieve, as fine as meal, or flour ; no pieces of cinders
must be left in the ashes. Obtain some plaster of
paris (sold in all stores), and when ready to apply
the cement, mix about half plaster and ashes to
gether, with water enough to form a moderately
stiff paste. Wet the wall, and lather all ove
where the damage is, the immediate spot only, and
then apply the cement with a broad bladed knife,
or, what is better, a trowel ; the latter costs only
a dollar or so, and is always a convenient instru-
ment in a household. This mixture, above de.
scribed, sets hard, aad dries, without cracking, in
a short time, and a knowledge of it will save
many dollars in repairs, to say nothing of the un-
sightliness of a room with the plaster knocked off.
It is more suggestive of squalor and misery, thau
any other mark of time's tooth.
THE DECAY OF WOOD.
Wood being vegetable matter, is of course
liable to decay ; but how to turn it to the best
account with this known attribute to contend
with may be worth inquiry. The closer the grain
and the heavier the wood, the less liability to de-
cay ; but for building purposes, as at present car-
ried on, light and open grained woods must be
used. AVe cannot, in these times of excessive
competition, go back to the old oak timbered and
floored houses of our ancestors. It would, how-
ever, pay landlords to build solid, substantial
houses, and let them even at the present scale of
rental. For instance, in digging away the foun .
dations of the Savoy Palace, built upward of six
centuries ago, the oak piles were found perfectly
sound, as was the planking which covered the pile
heads. But houses are built on a very different
principle now, namely, to sell again, and perhaps
again, before the permanent owner invests in-
thcm, and then a coat of paint and a judicious use
of putty cover all imperfections.
The flooring boards, bein g kept in sheds, pre.
sent quite a different appearance to the same
quality of wood exposed on the quays. Putting
on one side the question of expense, the practice
of matting up the end of the piles, as practiced in
the north of England, cannot be recommended.
It certainly preserves the fresh appearance of the
wood, and makes it appear as if just discharged
from the ship ; but it impedes the full circulation
of air, and anything that does that is strictly to be
avoided. Better by far have the wood shaken at
the ends than sweating inside, with here and there
places where the penknife blade sinks in with
hardly any pressure.
The decay of wood arises from internal and not
external moisture ; hence the danger of shakes, as
they admit it often to the very center; and so
long as free evaporation is allowed, decay will not
readily set in. It would be very absurd to say
that no paint ought to be used in the interior of
& house, but it is certain that a piece of wood
painted on both sides will not last so long as one
not painted at all.
im
TEE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
The reason is evident. The paint effectually
closes all the pores and prevents the evaporation
of the moisture, which even the best seasoned
plank will contain, and hence decay sooner sets in
one shape or other. For the same reason wood,
painted on one side only will last longer than that
painted on two sides. Thus in an old building
the wainscot, doors, windows, etc., will be found to
be affected when the staircases will be sound, be-
cause never painted. The old houses in the quaint
city of Chester Jprove the truth of this. Some
years ago a Liverpool! builder who had some con-
tracts there told the writer that the numerous ex
posed beams were generally sound, and they are all
unpainted, but the inside work had apparently
been renewed. The best that can be done, under
all circumstances, is to give a coat of paint before
leaving the workshop, and this is generally done,
at least iu the large establishments. — Building
News.
TRIMMING FRUIT TREES.
This is a subject concerning which many
false ideas exist. This I think is especially true
of that most important of all fruit trees, the
apple. In a half hour's ride across the county
in almost any direction, one may see a dozen or
more apple orchards with all the trees trimmed
up to anywhere from six tol fifteen feet from the
ground, with long, black, knotty, unsightly trunks
and little, cramped, bushy tops, looking precisely
as if they were cultivated for the express purpose
of affording a building place for crows and
blackbirds. In reality such trees generally do much
more service in this I'espect than in that of bearing
palatable fruit. I think the owners of such orchards
must be actuated by the same motto which once
misled the writer. I used to commence an on-
slaught upon the lowermost and unproductive
branches of an apple or other fruit tree, repeating
as I worked, " superfluous branches we lop away,
that bearing boughs may live." After some moi'e
consideration and observation, I have dropped
both the ax and the motto. If we are desirous
of raising fruit, the first requisite is a tree. In
order to procure this, we must assist nature rather
than resist her, judicious thinning of bi'anches is
necessary, but if we wish a perfect tree, it will not
do to destroy entire portions of it. Pursuing the
same course of reasoning, if we want apples we
desire an apple-tree.
Here again nature should be taken for a model.
Nature has assigned to all apple-trees the same
general form, and we must not endeavor to change
this form to that of the chestnut, the hickory,
the apricot, or the pear. Now to go one step fur-
ther in the same line of thought : we may want a
certain specie of apple, and consequently we de-
sire a tree of that species, and we must not expect
the naturally irregular Smokehouse or Fallawater
to conform to the beautiful and stately outlines
of the Paradise, or the thick-topped Jersey Sweet
to the ways of the Harvest Sweet, or the clubby
Baldwin to be like the slender-limbed Russet.
Now, having the tree, we should endeavor to make
it fi-uitful by giving it thorough cultivation while
young, and liberal manuring at all times. Lime
is undoubtedly an excellent dressing for apple or-
chards. In our climate all apple trees are vastly
benefited by mulching with refuse straw, clover,
chaff, bark shavings, half-rotten wood or almost
any convenient substance. Mulching causes the
moisture to be retained about the roots in dry
summer weather, and also protects the roots from
frost in winter. Care must be taken, however,
that insects do not burrow in it in winter and
injure the bark of the tree. I have known trees
to be rendered extraordinarily fruitful by the
simple accident of having the ground immediately
around the stem covered to the depth of a foot
or so with small stones. Another important
matter is to keep the trunk and larger limbs free
from insects. This may be done by scraping them
(not too roughly) with a hoe, trowel, or large dull
knife, and then washing with a stiff brush and
soap-suds or weak lye. Caterpillars must be
removed from young trees in summer. If they
are not allowed to become too numerous, this may
be done by cutting away the twigs on which they
have their nests and burning them. If the tree
is well treated in these and other respects, it will
bear as much and as good fruit as may be expected,
and if the lower limbs are not quite so productive
as the upper, do not commence to chop them
away, or you will soon find yourself in the pre
dicament of the man who would not plant any
outside row of corn because it always got tramped
iu working. — J. L. Hanna., in the Intelligencer.
Many years ago there was a scarcity of cider-
barrels in Vermont, and linseed oil-barrels were
made use of to supply the deficiency, with no other
cleansing than to rinse them out thoroughly with
water. In the following spring, it was found that
the cider thus stored was better for drinking pur-
poses than that kept in other packages, the reason
assigned being that the oil tended to preserve the
cider mainly by forming a thin film on its surface
excluding the air. Linseed oil, being a vegetable
production from flaxseed, cannot, in small quanti-
ties, be very unwholesome if pure. — Cor, Rural
New Yorker.
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
113
©lie ^muukx ^mmu.
LANCASTER, JL'NE, 1873
S. S. RAIHVON, Editor.
Published monthly under the auspices of the Aguicutl-
TUKAL ANDHoiiTKJULTUKAL SOOIETV.
81 3'j per Year in Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
All communications, to insure insertion, must be in the
hands of the editor beiore the 20tu of each month. Ad-
dress S. !s. Kaihvon, Lancaster, Pa.
All advertisements, subscnption-j and remittances to the
address of the publiaher, J. B. I>E VEHN,
Inquirer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
MEETING OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICULTUBAL AND HOKTIOUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
THE monthly meeting of the Lancaster coun-
ty Agricultural and Horticultural Society
was held at the Orphans' Court Room, May 5th,
1873, Levi S. Reist in the chair.
John B. Erb remarked that it was a mistake
that the Telegraph grape had escaped the sever-
ity of the winter any better than the other varie-
ties. All kinds of grapes have been equally frozen
with him.
Mr. D. Kendig, of Manor, submitted a written
report upon the condition of the crops. He says :
" The extreme cold of the past winter has also
left its impress on vegetation in our vicinity.
Peach trees are frozen so badly that it will take
a season for them to recover ; So there will be
few peaches, if any. So also with the apple —
although they show some signs of blossoms there
is not enough vitality to develop the fruit.
Pears not damaged so badly. Blackberries frozen
almost entirely. Of raspberries, the Doolittle has
passed through the ordeal almost unscathed,
while by its side the Philadelphia is cut severely.
A Delaware grape-vine, trained up on the west
side of a building, badly damaged ; while one
four feet off, and run over a Norway fir tree, all
right — rather suggestive. Farmers are back with
spring work ; very little corn planted yet. Wheat
in the ground looks well, promising, with favora-
ble weather, a good harvest. Grass also has a
good start. Bulk of tobacco crop on hand ;
prime lots sold at 18 to 25 for wrappers and 5 for
fillers. Many farmers are making arrangements
to pack it, which is advisable, as it will then cure
well and can be safely held over for a favorable
market." ^
Levi S. Reist remarked that it had been ascer-
tained to a certainty that there will be no for-
eign tariff on American tobacco. Such a rumor
has been floating around, and raised, as he believ-
ed, by the speculators, to purchase tobacco at
lower prices. He believes there will be a less
quantity of tobacco planted this year than last.
Milton B. Eshleman stated that of the wheat
sown last year, that latest sown looks the best.
He does not believe there will be a much larger
number of potatoes planted this year than last.
H. K. Stoner remarked that the wheat crop in
his neighborhood looked very fine, but as to the
fruit crop, it is, in his opinion, going to be a fail-
ure. Ephraim Hoover said that the cherries are to
a great extent frozen, as also the peaches. The
grapes are not entirely killed. The grass fields
look well, and the wheat makes a fine appearance.
There is going to be a good deal of tobacco this
year again ; but perhaps not so much as was
planted last year. Mr. McComsey said that
there was no prospect for fruit in the city. He
finds his peach trees have been mostly winter
killed.
Ephraim Hoover said the apple crop with him
is quite promising.
William McComsey, from the committee to
confer with the officers of the Park Association,
proceeded to submit the report of said committee-
This consisted of the following letter .
Lancaster, May 1, 1873.
Wm. McComsey, Esq. Chairman, Coimty Agri
cultural and Horticultural Society of Lancas-
ter County:
Dear Sir — At a meeting of the Directors of the
Lancaster County Agricultural Park Association,
held April 28th, the communication of S. S. Rath-
von, Esq., on behalf of the Agricultural and Hor-
ticural Society of Lancaster County, inquiring " on
what conditions the Park Association would lease
their grounds for not less nor more than one week,
to be entirely under the control " of the lessees, etc.,
was read and considered.
Your inquiry brought out several views of the
matter, the first among which was (and it indicates
the friendly feeling entertained by the Lancaster
County Agricultural Park Association for the
Agricultural and Horticultural Society) that the
Directors of our Association thought it would enure
to the advantage of both societies, could they by
conference adopt a plan by which a Grand Joint
Exhibition be given, embracing Agriculture, Hor-
ticulture, Pomology, Mechanism, Science, Stock,
etc., etc. The conferees to assign the control of
the respective departments to the proper Associa-
tion, and what portion of the expense and profits,
if any were realized, should go to each.
The second point in favor was, that if the Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Society preferred, as
their communication would seem to indicate, then
lU
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
the Lancaster County Agricultural Park Associa-
tion would lease them the exclusive;control of their
grounds for the time desired at ^350 : Provided,
That we can arrange (and we think we can) with
our tenant of the re^taurant. Very respectfully
yours, Jno. T, MacGonigle, .Sec'y.
On motion the report was adopted, and the com-
mittee discharged.
On motion of Wm. McComsey the consideration
of the letter from the Park Association was defer-
red to next meeting, and the secretary was requir-
ed to notify the members, by printed circular, of
the time fixed for discussing the subject of the fall
fair. Society then on motion adjourned.
PEAT.
ACCORDING to a statement in the Coal and
Iron Record the supply of peat fuel in
America is one hundred and fifty times greater
than that of Ireland. la Orange and Rockland
counties, New York, the peat beds contain, at a
low estimate, 225,000,000 tons. Beds are also
known to exist in more than one hundred different
towns in Massachusetts. The Dismal Swamp of
Virginia will yield five hundred million tons.
There are thousands of acres of peat bogs in New
Jersey ; and there is a bed in Westchester county,
New York, which will yield nine hundred thou-
sand tons. Long. Island has a million tons. Along
both sides of the Kankakee river, Indiana, ex-
tending from South Bend to the Illinois line, is a
peat bed more than sixty miles in length, with a
width of three miles. In some places it is over
forty feet deep ; but even though it averages only
half or one-quarter of this depth, the aggregate
amount of fuel it contains is beyond computation
This does not include one-fiftieth part of the peat
bogs of the country.
It is surely some consolation to reflect, even at
this early period in the fuel-history of our country,
that if — at some future day — our supply of wood
and coal becomes exhausted, our posterity can re"
sort to our immense " peat-bogs," for the necessary
material to heat their habitations, and " to keep
the pot a boiling." Some ingenious and patient
arithmeticians have already calculated how many
tons of coal are in the mines of Great Britain,
and how long a time it will require to consume it
all ; and perhaps, it will not be long before simi-
lar calculations are made in America in reference
to our beds of mineral fuel — if for no other pur-
pose than to " create a corner " in coal, upon
which to conduct a speculative operation. It
may be a little premature, but we opine that our
readers will nevertheless feel some interest in the
subject, especially as many of them may have
very little knowledge of what peat is, where it
exists, and what use can be made of it. There
are, in Great Britain, and other European coun-
tries, vast amounts of peat, which for hundreds of
years have been used for fuel — especially by the
poor — and this is of two or three kinds.
Peat, of course, originates from decayed vegeta-
tion of different kinds, and these have something
to do in determining the quality of the peat ; the
largest bogs, however, both in Europe and America,
are those containing Moss-peat.
This substance is always found on the surface
of the earth, and never deep down in its bowels
"like coal and many other minerals, although
bogs often occur where the peat— twenty to
porty feet in thickness — covers the natural soil
in a constantly increasing volume. It abounds
mostly in low, damp or swampy localities, although
it is also found on hill-sides and uplands, ihe
principle matter which forms the peat in England
and America is a species of moss belonging to
the genus Sphagnum. This moss continues to
decay below and throws out young shoots, and
increases its volume above, hence the quantity is
not fixed, as it is in coal. Another kind is the
wood-peat. This is composed of decayed trees,
shrubbery and other plants. Of this kind great
portions of the " Dismal Swamp " of Virginia are
formed. A third kind is the sand-peat ; where
sands and soils from neighboring hills have been
washed down and mixed with the peat. Peat for
fuel is cut out in square blocks— sometimes com-
pressed to expel the moisture — dried, and then
hauled home and made into thatched stacks and
used for winter fuel ; and in Ireland and other
places the poor have no other kind. It makes a
hot fire and leaves very little ashes. It is, also,
together with lime, earth and other ingredients,
formed into a compost and used ^for field and
warden manure, and for this purpose the " wood-
peat " is esteemed the best.
Peat-bogs are also sometimes drained, and lime
and earth thrown over the surface, and sometime
thereafter broken up with the plow and converted
into fertile fields. In this manner every kind of
peaty-soil may be rendered available for agricul-
tural purposes, and accordingly in England and
in Ireland excellent crops of corn, potatoes and
grasses have been cultivated, even where the
peat-bed ' below the surface was twenty feet in
depth.
It is impossible to say what may be done with
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
115
our peat-bogs in the far future of America. A
time must ultimately come in the progress of this
country, when all the land will be taken up and
put under cultivation, and there will be no more
room for emigrants. And as, from the very be-
ginning of civilization, the poor have increased
in a greater ratio than the rich, we may infer
that it will continue so for some thousands of
years yet to come. Therefore, if there is not an
immense proportionate decrease in railroad and
other freights, we may picture in our imaginations
a class of poor people in the vicinity of peat-bogs
engaged in cutting, drying and transporting in
hampers slung over the backs of donkeys, the
peaty burdens that are to constitute their winter's
fuel. Or, in a thickly settled country, the de-
mand for peat, as a fertilizer, may furnish new
fields for labor and profitable employment. Ed.
THE CROP PROSPECTS.
FROM the "Monthly Report of the De-
partment of Agriculture," now before us,
we are led to infer that the prospects were never
better for a good grain and grass crop in a very
larger portion of the grain and grass growing dis-
trict of our country, and especially in New York,
Pennsylvania and California. In the last named
State, the yield, from present appearances, will,
perhaps, no-t be so great as it was in 1872. It is
true, that in a few of the States south of " Mason
and Dixon's line," there seem to be indicatioi s of
a short crop in some localities, but this is by no
means general. There is a much greater breadth of
grain sown than there was last year, and wherever
it had the protection of the last winter's long-con-
tinued snow, it is now looking remarkably well.
The cold rains and protracted spring, however they
may have hindred the culture of other crops, have
been rather beneficial to the grain and grass.
The great V^ est will also contribute its usual
amount— or nearly so. The large crops and the
high rates of transportation, have been rather un-
favorable to the interests of the farmers in that
prolific region, but time may work a sufficient
change in this matter, more propitious to their in-
terests. If they cannot obtain the legislation they
need, it will not be surprising if the matter is
taken in their own hands.
But this is not all ; for, there is still a prospect
of some fruit, notwithstanding the predictions of a
month or six weeks ago. The apple trees, in
many places, have bloomed as profusely and as
healthily as usual, and those trees that, were not
overloaded with fruit last year, under favorable
circumstances, may yield generously the present
year. Pears, sour cherries and plums, in many
places, look promising, so far as present appear-
ances are concerned. The sweet cherries are to a
great extent damaged, and are likely to be v^ fail-
ure, although, perhaps, not totally. Grapes and
peaches are badly frozen, and — except in a few
localities, where the " show" for an abundant
crop, could not be more flattering, they are likely
to have all perished. From an article in another
column of this number, it will be seen that the
fruit, of all kinds, fared very badly on the premi-
ses of Mr. Erb, at " Beaver Meadows," in this
county. But this is only one exhibition of the
same effects in many other places. But even
peaches are not a total failure, especially not in
York county. A few days ago we visited the
peach orchards of Messrs. Engle, Spangler and
Musser. and found by far the larger number of
the trees therein, in sound and abundant bloom —
as much so, indeed, as we have ever witnessed be-
fore, at any time, or in any place. If every blos-
som yields a peach, the trees will not be able to
bear them.
Now, herein is involved a meteorological problem
that we confess we are unable — except very con-
jecturably — to solve, and therefore we would like
to have the views of such veterans as Freas and
Meehan on the subject. The orchard of E., S. &
M. contains over four thousand peach-trees, and
a large number of apple, pear and sweet and sour
cherry trees, at least three thousand of which, are
almost unsurpassable in health and profusion of
bloom ; and this is also the case with the apples
and cherries. As we said before, it is in York
county, about a mile and a half above " Coyle's
( forrherly Keesey's ) Ferry," and is situated on a
hill, the summit of which rises about^ye hundred
feet above the level of the Susquehanna. It slopes
both northward and southward, but the longest
and lowest inclination is toward the south. Along
the southern and south-western portions, the
"locusts" of 1872 pierced the young trees very
severely, and these exhibit the greatest amount of
injury the present season ; but even many of these
have pushed out a bloom wherever there is sound
wood enough left to permit the sap to circulate.
But farther down, and in nearly all of " Pine
Swamp Valley," and up the southern side of the
valley — which slopes northward — the peach trees
are all frozen, and little or no bloom at all is visible
This is also the case along the whole length of the
116
THE L A jy CASTER FARMER.
Susquehanna valley, and from thence to Philadel-
phia, pretty generally.
We have noticed this phenomenon on various
occasions, years ago, when we resided at Marietta.
On the top of the hill opposite the town, a little
east of the " Eound-top," peaches and cherries
were in superabundance, when everything was
winter killed down in the valleys. What immu-
nity may be claimed for altitude, in these cases, if
any ? This enclosure is only a small one — five
acres or so — with tolerably high trees all around
it, therefore, these contingencies may afford the
necessary protection ; but this can hardily be ap
plied to the orchards of E., S. & M. which occupy
perhaps fifteen times as much ground — or even
more — with a rather sparse and low growth of
forest trees on the west and north. The peach
trees under cultivation by this firm consist of the
popular varieties in this latitude — namely : Hale's
Early, Smock, Old Mixon, Craitford's Early,
Stump the World, Crawford's Late, Early Eare-
ripe, Troth's Early, Ward's Late, and Susque-
hanna, besides, perhaps some others ; and of all
these, only the Susquehanna seems to have been
injured by the frost alone, and these have sound
bloom enough to " make a crop." Of course, these
trees are subject to the usual spring and summer
contingencies, but now ( May 15th ) the pros-
pects for a good average peach crop, in these or-
chards, are more than ordinarily promising. R.
PATRONIZE HOME.
IT is certainly the desire of every man in a com-
munity to see general prosperity abounding
among all classes of his fellow citizens. If such
desire is not in a man's heart, then he is not, and
cannot be a good citizen. But is it possible to
secure this general prosperity ? Most assuredly it
is. And we propose to briefly sketch the outline
of a plain and simple yet sure plan by which it
may be accomplished ; and we wish it to be un-
derstood that we are talking to home folks. The
business of life is divided into various occupations,
and of necessity this is so ; and all cannot follow
one and the same trade employment or profession.
"Every special business, (that is legitimate) is de-
pendent on the patronage of all who are engaged
in any other or all other employments different
from his own. This being the condition of things
in every community in our country, the secret of
success lies in each business securing the patron-
age wanted. It is included in our simple proposi-
tion ; patronize your neighbor. Now as our ob-
ject is to draw attention to the importance of this
matter here at home, we ask all our readers to
look carefully at this matter and each ask himself
if he is doing his duty as a good citizen. Take
the case of our home mechanics. What could we
do without them, and what immense value are
they as a class to our and to every community.
They do as much, if not more, to build up a town
or community than any other single class. Their
productive industry enters very largely into the
ways and means of creating wealth.
Here is the secret of wealth* to every people,
the creation of wealth. The speculator, trader, or
merchant does not create wealth. Capital does not
create wealth, it only furnishes the conditions and
facilities out of which wealth can be created. The
man who works produces, creates wealth. Tbe
farmer creates wealth, by causing something valu-
able to mankind to exist, that without his agency
and labor never would have existed. Every pro-
ducer or original collector of raw material is a
creator of wealth. The men who toil in the mines,
or he who brings materials from forest or quay, is
in reality a producer. But what are these raw ma-
terials worth without skilled labor to make them
of use to man. Here comes in the mechanic,
and by the labor of his muscles, directed by
an intelligent brain, works up the material, which
in its original state was valueless, into the various
articles not only of conmierce and trade, but of
supply, to all men's wants, in a civilized state of
society.
The statements above are facts which ought to
be known and appreciated by every business man
and citizen. "Now in order to secure that pros-
perity necessary to the successful building up of
our own town, let every member of our entire
community fix it as a principle in his business, to
patronize home mechanics, and home people
who are engaged in any legitimate business what-
ever. If you have a house to build, employ your
home mechanics, if you have any work to be done,
employ the home workmen to do it, and keep your
money at home. If you wish to purchase anything
iu the various line of merchandise, buy it of your
home merchant or home manufacturer. It is often
the case that men, to save a very small and insig-
nificant amount of money, will send their cash
abroad and buy of foreigners, and thus aid in
building up other communities, to the detriment
of our own producer, and the impoverishment of
our own section. Suppose you could save a small
sum by patronizing foreigners, are you justifiable
in so doing ? Can any man who refuses to patron-
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
117
ize home people ask them to patronize him ? It
should be made a rigid law among our home people
not to patrouize any man who send his money away
from home, and thus help to impoverish and crip-
ple every home interest. — Paris Intelligencer.
THREE PER CENT. AGAIN.
WE would just remark in reply to the stric-
tures of J. 0. L. (in our May number)
that he has entirely misapprehended the drift of
the article in our April number on "Three per
cent." The subject had solely reference to the
calculation of per cents., and not as to what a
farmer, or any body else, might make or lose, at
fanning or any other business ; therefore, the
amounts invested and the profits thereon were
mere suppositions in order to illustrate our point,
and not a single line that J. C. L. has written
has in the least degree effected that point. Again,
we of course supposed that both the farmer and
the merchant were each the possessor of $10,000,
without regard to the contingency of borrowing
at six per cent. ; and we very much question
whether more than one merchant in twenty would
succeed any better than J. C. L.'s tabular state-
ment indicates, if he were compelled to borrow all
of his capital— if he did, he would be compelled
to use the same labor, perse verence and economy
that the farmer does. We are not arguing that
farming is profitable, or unprofitable ; we are
merely suggesting that the same rule, in the esti-
mate of per cents., applies to their business that
does to any other business, and that it is subject
to the same statement of results, and can legitimate-
ly claim no exemptions not accorded to other busi-
ness men. And again, we appreciate, and as
fully endorse, what " Emerson says " as J. C. L.
does. But if it is true universally — according to
Emerson — that " the farmer has a great health,
and the appetite of health, and means to its end,
Tie has broad lands for his home, Avood to burn
great fires, plenty of plain food. His milk, at
least, is unwatered, and for sleep he has cheeper
and better and more of it than citizens," then it
seems to us safe to argue, a priori, that farming
has in some manner " paid " much better than
hundreds of other occupations, at which many
people are compelled to delve during those very
hours which it is claimed — in the above quota,
tion — the farmer devotes to sleep. It is nothing
to the purpose to say that the farmer has inherited
these possessions, for this only carries the matter
of pay one or more generations back into the
chronology of farming, even if it had its begin-
ing in the " palatinate," the Tyral, or the moun-
tains of Switzerland.
In conclusion, we differ entirely from J. C. L.
when he says " the farmer never gets rich." Al-
though there may be no Rothschilds, Stewarts, or
McCormicks among them, yet, as a class, they are
absolutely the only rich men in our country, and
their lives and possessions make a nearer approxi-
mation to the true riches, than those of any other
class of men, or Emerson has perpetrated a great
lie. If other men^had the health, content,.economy
comforts and persevering industry that the farmers
have, they might also claim some of their riches.
Ed.
— Since writing the foregoing, we have received
a communication from J. G. H., who professes to
know something about the other side of the ques-
tion, which will be found in its proper place, and
which we publish, not because it is our sentiment,
but in order to illustrate how differently farmers
look at the same subject, and what different con-
clusions they come to in reference to their own
vocation. Whether the strictness of J. G. H. are
just or not, we are not prepared to say, so far as
they relate to farming, but we do know that so far
as they relate to the mercantile portion of the
community they smack strongly of the truth ac-
cording to the observations we have made, and the
experience ive have had. Ed.
[For the Lancaster Farmer.
FRUIT-CULTURE AND KEEPING.
IT may be interesting to your readers to know of
the great fruit farm of Berks county, near
Tuckerstown Station, on the C. and R. road.
Mr. Sherer has some nine hundred apple trees
just commencing to bear, and several hundred of
the Bartlet pears alone. His apples and pears in
general are of the best varieties, and, in a good
fruit season, he will be able to supply the markets
of Reading, Philadelphia and New York with ap-
ples for nine months in the year, and with summer
and autumn pears, up to January and February. I
saw a Bartlet pear from his premises on the 15th
of January, sound and solid, not even soft. He
keeps his fruit in an ice-house, and has a building
for that purpose, capable of holding twelve hun-
dred cart-loads of ice. It has inside chambers sur-
rounded with packed ice, and with sufiBcient capac-
ity to store away two thousand bushels of apples
and pears. His fruit-trees and his ice-house are
worthy of being seen and inspected by the mos
118
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
accomplished fruit-growers. In the summer season
among other things, he retails ice, and in the fall,
winter and spring, apples and pears. He sent
over two hundred Bartlet pears to New York
last year, between Christmas and New Year.
This shows, that if fruit is liept at a proper temper-
ature, its soundness may be prolonged any length
of time. L- S. R.
Reading, May 5, 1873.
J. B. Develin, Esq.— i)ear Sir: My check
is inclosed ($3.75) to pay three years' subscription
for Lancaster Farmer. Don't wait three years
before, sending bill, or call for the ready down, it
is cheap enough without a long credit. Truly,
Isaac Eckert.
It gives us pleasure to make an occasional
record of these little " green spots " in our expe-
riences in journalism, especially since there are so
many people in the world, who seem to think that
editors, doctors and preachers do not belong to
the laboring classes, and therefore are expected to
live without pecuniary reward. Our correspon-
dent seems to have a truer appreciation of per-
sonal obligation, and we feel thankful for his
cheering expressions of it.— Ed.
The following are the ideas of an old farmer in
Maine on seed potatoes, as given in the Lewistoivn
Journal : We use too ripe seed when we propa-
gate from tubers that have lain in the ground till
dead ripe. Plants that are propagated by tubers
require different treatment from those propagated
by seeds. Our corn and grains that we used for
seed we like to have stand a little longer than the
main crop, and become perfectly matured. On
the same principle our corn is selected from the
ripest, best developed ears and kernels. But po-
tatoes for seed should be dug and placed in a cool,
dark cellar, just as soon as a majority of them
will slightly crack open in boiling. This is most
invariably while the tops are yet green and growing
fast. The tubers are then in their most vigorous
state. Disconnect them from the parent stalk at
that time and they retain their vigor. Instead of de-
teriorating, as most all of us know the older sorts
have, their vitality is increased, and they yield
better, with less tendency to rot. As long ago as
1815, and subsequently, observations led him to
make some experiments to test the theory, and he
finds it the proper course to pursue. It is not
often said that the late planted potatoes are bet-
ter for seed than those planted early ? The late-
ness of their planting, presumedly, prevents per-
fect ripening, hence the principle of the above
reasoning would be in force.
A writer in the Western Rural says : "I have
been inventing a machine for trimming ofiT straw-
berry runners, and it works so well that I thought
others might like to try it. The ' strawberry trim- ,
mer ' is a hoop of sawplate, say two or three inches
wide and about three feet long — the lower edge
sharp. Long, thin strips of tin secure the hoop
to a wooden handle, about five feet long. A set
screw fastens the lapped ends of the sawplate to-
gether, and thus allows the hoop to be made
larger or smaller. Use the ' trimmer ' as the
housewife cuts biscuits with a cake-cutter, the rim
being large enough to encircle the plant and cut
the runners.
According to the census returns, which show
wonderful increase in the value and diversity of
the manufactured products of the entire country,
the 11 .States whose manufactured products exceed
$100,000,000 annually, were as follows :
New York $785,194,651
Pennsylvania 711.894.344
Massachusetts 553,912,568
Ohio 269,713,610
Missouri 206,213,429
Illinois 205,620,672
New Jersey 169,237,732
Connecticut 161,065,474
Michigan • 118,394,676
Rhode Island 111,418,354
Indiana 108,617,278
CORN-FODDER.
Persons who condemn corn-fodder as " innutri-
tions" are invited by Paschall Morris to consider
the ways of a prominent dairyman " whose butter
is excelled by no other in the Philadelphia
market," and who " pretty much sustained fifty-
eight cows on sowed corn from the middle of last
July to the middle of October, and that, too, from
the product of three acres." He estimates that
he took ninety tons of this " innutritions " sub-
stance from the space indicated, and he knows
that his cows did not fall off in their milk during
these months of drought, but that some increased
the flow, and that the butter was fully up to the
standard. There is nothing better for wintering
cattle on, or young horses, and especially milch
cows, than good, bright corn-fodder, and where
forage is scarce it is of great value to the farmer.
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
119
Feeding Milch Cows. — I am a beginner in
the dairy business, and wish to ask a few ques-
tions: Is buckwheat bran good feed for milch
cows ? Is it best fed by itself or with wheat
bran? Is it a profitable feed at 12|- cents per
bushel, and which is the cheapest, that of wheat
bran at 18 cents per bushel, or ship stuff at 25
cents per bushel ? My manner of feeding is as
follows : In the morning, one peck of buckwheat
bran scalded to a thin slop, with a few nubbins of
corn, and all the corn fodder they will eat up
clean ; at noon, a little fodder, but not much ; at
evening, for six cows, 1^ bushels of good, clean
wheat straw, cut 1^ inch short, to which I add
four pecks bran, mixed well with warm water. I
think this chopped feed does them a great deal of
good and fills up more than just slop alone, and
seems to satisfy them. Are corn and oats of
equal parts, ground and fed dry, good to make
milk, or should it be wet? Is brewer's malt
good feed for milch cows, and is it profitable feed
at 30 cents a barrel, and haul it one mile ? I sell
milk at 6 cents per quart S^- miles from town —
will it be a profitable business if well managed ?
Auglaize, Ohio. E. M. T.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PARTMENT.
"Behind THE Scenes in Washinoton," being a com-
plete acd graphic accouui of the Credit Mobllier Investiga-
tion, the Congressional Rirgs, Political Intrigues, Woik-
i-gs of the Lobbies, etc.; Giving the f-'ecret History of our
Kaiional Government, Showing how the Public Money is
Squardered, and How Vote? are Obtained, with Kkftchea
of the Leading Senators, Congressmen, Government Offici-
als, etc., and an accurate description of the Splendid
Public Buildings of the Federal Capital. Hy Edward
Winslow Martin. Published by the National Publishing
Company, Philadelphia.
When we see sucu revelations as have been made In
Wtshington during the past winter, we are naturally
lor' ed to i onclnde that these must he but a small out-
croppiDK of the vast harvest of corruption that over-
spreads the country. Every ore feels a keen desire to get
at the facts of this terrible and intensely-interesting
history.
It is no mere sensation-book, designed to pander to a
morbid curiosity. Mr. Martin gives a plain ^'.^d unvarn-
L-hed histo y of the infamous Credit lio'-iilier affair, and
makes disclosures with which every citizen, of whatever
I>arty, should acquaii t himself, and which are terribly
startling. He drags the mysterious lobby and its mem-
bers out into the broad light of day, and tells us all about
them, giving sketches ot the noted Wcmtn of the Lobby.
He introdBces us into the White House and to its occu-
pants. It is a clear and lucid explanation of the manner
in which the great departments of the General Govern-
ment are organized and conducted, and containx full and
aimirably-written descriptions of the magnificent build-
ing» and other works of art, of which the whole land is so
justly proud.
In short, the book is Washington City in miniature, and
we cordially commend it to all. To those who contem-
plate visiting Wash'ngton it is invalnab'e.
It is bOld by subscription only, and the publishers want
agents in every county.
*Pa. 15Cte. ftjMr. SpMiBcMMutflr**. I
LITERARY NOTICES.
Thk May number of the " Patent Right Gazette " has
been received, and without a single question, is equal, if
not superior, to any journal of the kind p\iblished in this
country. It is published by the " United .States Patent
Right association," 94 Chambers street. New York, at
SI. 00 a year in advance (Box 4,.514). This is a large quarto
of 20 pages, with tine readable letter-press, and superb
illustrations, and moreover, is Cosrdopolitan in its charac-
ter, being devoted to Art and Science, Industry, Com-
merce, Navigation, Locomotion and Home Oomlort ; to
Engineering, Manufacturing, Bu Iding, Mliniag, Agri-
culture, Railroads, Steam-ships, Insurance, and a choice
selection of entertaining literature. The description and
illustration of the most valuable Patent of the day, made
a specialty."
The Poultry World, for the Fancier, Family, and
Market Poulterer. Devoted exokisively to poultry. H. H.
Stoddart, Hartford, Connecticut. — Good paper, plain
print, and profusely illustrated, f 1.2.5 a year. This is a
quarto of twenty pages, in whicli is condensed a large
amount of useful inforiaition on it< -ipseialty. aril it there-
fore oughi. to be in tne hands of every poultry-keeper.
Thk Buildiso Associatcom Journal —A large
quarto of four pa»es, in the interest of Building; .Associa-
tions, issued miufhly by Chas. H. Morrot, 814 Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, Pa , at 50 cents a year in advance.
"Pkaotioal American Fences and Gates."— A
royal octavo pamphlet ot twenty pages, full of" il!u.«trations
and statistics," a^sd setting forth ■' th3 litest and mo?t
Important achievement in this line of improvement." By
Israel L. Landis, Lancaster, Pa.
From the fa"r that Mr. Landis his sold over one hun-
dredaad sixty " right*." to m-ike aud use his fence in the
single townstiip of Manheim, aione,it must be inferred
that his improvement really possesses miny advantages
over the old system of farm fencing.
" An Old Establlshed Firm— The firm of S. N.Pht-
TENGILL & C'j., comoien-ed their Advertising Agency in
the oldJourualbuildiiig, No. lOStatestreet, Boston, nearly
a quarter of a century ago (February, 1849), where their
Agency is siill located, carrying on a largi aud successful
business. Tiiey established a branch in New York City,
May, 1852, w lich has grown to be larger than the parent
house, — increasing steadi'y. year by year, until now it has
the agency of nearly every newspaper in th-i United States
and British Provinces, and does a yearly busin>!ss of hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars S. M. Petten^ill & Co.
have recently opened another branch office at 701 Chest-
nut street, Philadelphia, where they are doing a success-
ful increasing business. They have dons advertising ex-
ceeding ten millions of dollars since commencing Inisiness.
This firm is favorably known not only throu ^hout this
country, but in all parts of the w. rid. Tliey ha?e establish-
ed a reputation for honorable and tair dealing which any
firm might envy, and but few have attained to We con-
gratulate them upon their success. We would recommend
all who WAnt advertisi'ig done in any part of tlie country
to call upon tlnm. They can point to hundreds of busi-
ness men who have ■followed their advice, and trusted to
their sagacity, and availed themselves of tlnlr facilitit^s,
who have made fortunes for themselves, and thsy are
daily assisting others in the samj ath." — B)stoi Journal,
May 8th.
Farmkrs' Unions and Tax Reform. — .1 12 mo. tract
of 50 pages, by Saury K.)binson of the D nigUs C >. Kan.
"Farmers' Union" ; puolishedat tlie oftice of American
Farmer's Advocate. It seems to be indicat-^d in various
ways throughout the country, that farmers have been the
subjects of frauds and impositio is ab>ut as long as they are
going to "stand it," and that come what will, they are com-
bining together in "granges" aud "unions" for their indi-
vidual protection.
New Holland Clarion. "A family newspaper devoted
to literature, a^jriculture, and local and general news." If
we have Crtsually failed ti notice heretofore the appearance
of this lively local folio uponthj stag ^ of newspaper litera-
ture in our county, it is not because of any want of cour-
tesy on our part, or merit in itself. We extenl to it a cor-
dial welcome, and assure the piblic, tha* In its mechanical
"get up", and its literary content.'', it will compire favor-
ably with journals of longer standing, and greater preten-
sion. Edited and published by Banok and Sandoe, at
New Holland Lancaster County, Pa., at 81.25 per annum
in adrance.
IW
TEE LAJrCASTER FARMER.
OalifokniaAgbiculturist.— A 24-page monthly quar-
to, at 1.50 per annum, ublished by S. Harris Herring &
Co., In Balbach's Buildings, 8at.ta Clara street, near First,
San Jose, California. This is a /we journal, and is filled
with matter interesting to all elassts of society, but es-
pecially to the farmer. Although it may not be so well
adapted to this locality as journals published nearer home,
sttll it is useful and interesting, fcS showing the immense
ditl'erence in the productions of our wide and much direr-
sified country ; and in their quantities and qualities, the
relative value of each.
No. 1. Vol. 1.— for May 1873— of a new 8-page small folio,
entitled the American Miller "a monthly journal de-
voted to the art and science of milling" ia before us. It
is handsomely printed on tinted paper, clear type, and
most excellently illustrated, at the low price ot 50 cents per
annum, by the "American Miller Publishing Co.," at Otta-
way, Illinois.
• The Ambeioan Farmers' Advocate, published at
Jackson, Tenn., the pioneer paper in the inauguration of
the great farmers' mortment, and specially devoted to the
great subject of co-operation among the tillers of the soil,
should be on every farmer's table. It is a very large and
well filled paper. Single, it is $1.00 per year, or in clubs of
lour or more, 60 cents each. We wi!l furnish it to all new
subscribers with the Lanoasthb Farmer at8l.75 peryear.
NEW YORK MARKETS.
Kew York, May 24.
Floite, &o. — The inquiry for flour is light, and under
stronger disposition to realize most grades under 89 "^ bbl.
are easier, though there is little anxiety to realize on win-
ter wheat brands. Ko. 2 and ordinary extras are very
heavy. At the close the market is weak on most grades,
with only a limited inquiry. We notice more doing in
sour. We quote as follows : Soar, ^ bbl. at S4 50a6 50 ;
No. 2, $4 20a6 25; superfine, 86 05a6 20; State extra brands,
$7 15a7 35 ; State fancy do. $7 65a8 25 ; western shipping
extra, »7 07a7 35. Rye flour is in fair supply and quiet at
onr quotations. Sales of 75 barrels. Western, fine and
superfine, at $4 lOai 50 ; State, 85 50a5 10; Pennsylvania,
$5 2oa5 70. Corn Meal is less plenty and is firmer. Sales
of 650 barrels Jersey at $3 30 ; western at »3 25a3 45
western white at83 20a3 25; Brandywine, $3 60a3 70 ;
puncheons, 818 ; golden ear, $3 50. Canadian Flour is sel-
ling slowly at 88 50a9 60. California and Oregon Flour In
moderate request at 89 OOalO 25 ^ bbl.
Grain.— The Wheat market opened better, the wants of
shippers compelling them to pay some advance on No. 2
epring to complete cargoes. The offerings or good spring
are limited. The market for Wheat closes better, and in
demand for export ; go id qualities of spring are the most
salable ; winter Is firm and quiet ; the sales are 37,600;
bushels at 81 593^al 62 for No. 2 Chicago spring ; $1 54al 5.1
for No. 3 Ciiicago spring ; SI 63al 65>^ for No. 2 Milwau-
kee ; 82 10 for white Michigan ; 82 05 tor white Canadian.
Barley is inactive and heavy. Barley Malt is quiet and
time.
Oats are firm and fairly active for swe^t. The sales are
46,010 bushels : new Ohio mixed at 51a52Xc ; white at 56a
58c ; black at 50a51c ; western mixed at 5la52>^c ; and old,
in store, at 56c ; white at 56Xa68c.
Rye is inactive and tame.
.Corn is in fair demand and a shade firmer, the inquiry
chiefly for export. The demand Is good. The sales are
67,000 bushels ; damp at 62 4^»64c; western mixed at 63i^a
64)^cfornew; 66)^c for old mixed, in store, and 67c for
do afloat ; western yellow, 64}^a65o.
Provisions.— The pork market is a thade stronger In
sympathy with western markets. The demand i« firm.
The sales, cash and regular, are 350 bbls. at 816 26 for old
mess ; «16 87}^ for new do. ; 814 for extra prime ; 817 for
western prime mess, 812 60 for city do., and $16 26 for
sour and musty mess. For future delivery we hear of
1500 bbls. mess, seller June, at $;6 65al6 6JJ^, and 600 bbls.
mess for July at 817. Beef is steady and in fair demand.
Sales of 70 barrels at ^Sall 25 for plain mess ; 811 75al3 for
extra mess, and 150 half bbls. city mess at $9 76. Tierce
Beef is quiet but heavy. Beef Hams dull and tame. Cut
Meats are better and in demand. The supply of western
is light.
Bacon is easier ; the demand moderate ; buyers are tempt-
ed by conceding to their views. Sales of 2000 bxs. short
clear western a^ 9c, and small lots at 93ic; 70 bxs. city
long clear at 9c ; 50 bxs. long and short clear together at
9c. Dressed hogs are firmer and in demand. We quote at
^}i9.1%c for city. Lard is firm, though not so active. Sales
ar 9^c for No. 1 ; Sj^c for city ; 9afl 1-16 for fair to prime
Steam.
Ashes.— The receipts to-day are 37 pkgs. Pots are steady,
with only a limited cemand at 89. Pearls are dull and
nominal.
Tallow dull and weak. Sales of 20 hhds. strictly prime
at 9c ; 8,000 lbs. common in hhds. at 8>^c.
Hay.— The market is steady with a moderate demand;
common grades are more plenty and dull. We quote
prime at 81 40al 45 ; good, $1 lOal 25 ; shipping, fiist
quality, 90c. ; do. second quality, 65c., and clover at 70a
80c. Straw is without important change. We quote long
rye at $1 C5al 10 ; short do., 80a90c, and oat at 50b60o.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Babk — No. 1 quercitron is quoted at 32.50 per ton.
Flour— The market moves slowly, there, being no de-
mand except to supply the wants of home consumers,
whose purchases foot up 1500 barrels, including superfine
at$1.75a5 75; extras at»6a6.75; Iowa and Wisconsin ex-
tra family at $7.50a8 ; Minnesota do. do. at 88a8.50 ; Penn-
sylvania, Indiana and Ohio do. do. at$8^5a9.25, and fancy
brands at 89.50all.50, as in quality. Rye flour sells at
$4.75. Corn meal, no sales.
Grain — The Wheat market is dull, and there is no de-
mand except for prime lots to supply the wants of local
millers. Sales of 3,000 bushels red at $1.90al.94 ; amber at
$2 ; white at 82.05a2 15, and amber spring at $1.85. Rye
sells at 90a91c for western and Pennsylvania. Corn is held
with confidence, and the offerings are very moderate.
Sales of 5000 bushels yellow at 64a65 c. and western mixed
at 64c. Oats are steady, but there is not much doing.
Salesof 6000 bushels western at 48a50cfor white, and 46a4fo
for mixed. The receipts to-day are as follows : 2,108 bbls.
flour, 16,000 bushels wheat, 16,800 do. corn, 7,700 do. oats,
343 bbls. of whisky.
Provisions — Prices remain about the same as last
quoted. Mess Pork is selling in lots at 818 25al8.50 ;
Smoked Hams Rt$l4al6c; do. sides at 10c; salted shoulders
at 7)^0 ; smoked do. at 9c, and lard at 9)<a7-%c.
Seeds- Cloverseed is dull ; 56 bush, pold at SaSJ^c f* ^■
Timothy sold at $4.25a4 50, and flaxseed at $2.25 ^ bushel.
FARMERS' HAY AND STRAW MARKET.
Philadelphia, May 24 — During the past week 348 loads
of hay and 49 of straw were weighed and sold at the fol-
lowing prices : Pi ime timothy , $1.90a2.19 ; mixed timothy,
$1.60al.75 ; straw, $l.60al.80.
PITTSBURO CATTLE MARKET.
Pittsburg, May 26.
Cattle— The receipts a* cattle to-day fair, both of
through and way stock. The quality of the offerings is
good and buyers for choice cattle have no diflSculty in get-
ting the kind they want this week. The market to this
time has ruled slow, most all the sales being made to coun-
try dealers. New York has taken very little stock, and
so Jar as we ean learn Philadelphia not any. Buyers
complain about bad market and seem determined to buy
cheaper. Trade closed dull at about the following rates :
Extra 1500 lbs. steers, fine and smooth, $6.85 ; extra 1400
lbs. steers, fine and smooth, 86 25a6.60; extra 1300 lbs.
steers, fine and smooth, $6.26; extra 1200 lbs. steers, fine
and smooth, $6a6 26.
Hogs — The run of hogs this week, while not heavy, is
still more than sufficient. to meet the wants of the trade.
The market rules dull, and sales are made slowly at prices
from ^ to %c lower than last week. Following are prices
ruling :
Extra Philadelphia $5.70 ; prime do. $5.50a6.50 ; prime
Yorkers $5a5.l0.
Sheep — The receipts of sheep heavy. The market
opened at seven o'clock with some 28 cars on sale. The
quality of the oflTeri .gs is good. Market bad and off at
least ic from prices of last week. Following are the cur-
Extra 100 lbs. 85 75 ; prime 90 lbs. 85.60 ; prime 86 lbs.
%\15 ; prime 80 lbs. f5.
PHILADBLPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Monday, May 26.— Beef cattle were in fair demand this
week, but prices were witho nt material change. Sales of
choice and extra at 7>ia8c; fair to good at 6a7c, and com-
mon at 5a5Xc. Receipts, 18 0 head.
Cows and Calves were dull at |50a76. Receipts, 200
head.
Shkep.— There were no wooled sheep in the market.
Clipped were steady at 4a6>^c. Receipts, 10,000 head.
Hoos were In fair demand at 88 OOaS 2S for corn-fled.
Receipto, 6,000 bead.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture. Domestic Economy and Miscellany.
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVON".
'* The Fanner is the founder of civilization." — WEBSTER.
Vol. V.
JULY, 187 S.
JYo. 7.
ESSAY.
[From the S F. Bulletin.]
CHINAMAN OR WHIIE MAN, WHICH?
Discussion of the Qaestion by Rev. 0. Gibson,
in Reply to Father Buchard.
REV. 0. GIBSON delivered a lecture at
Piatt's Hall, Friday evening, March 14, on
the question " Chinaman or White Man, Which ?"
in which he took issue with the points presented
by Rev. Father Buchard, la a lecture on the
same subject, delivered a few weeks since. The
lecturer corameaced by intimating that it was not
his purpose to defend the civilization or the
religion of China; to offer any apology for the
vices of that people, or to extol the virtues of the
white race; nor to advocate any special meas-
ures for promoting Chinese immigration. But
he did design to defend the fundamental principle
and the traditional policy of the Government of
the United States. It is the principle born of
Heaven, and as dear as life to the heart of every
true American, that all men are born free and
equal ; and the policy which opens our doors to
all mankind, without distinction of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude. He came boldly
forth to defend this principle against the incen-
diary invectives of an unscrupulous politician,
and against the plausible and more dangerous
fallacies uttered by the priest of the Church of
Rome.
CHEAP LABOR.
The argument that had been advanced that
this Chinese cheap labor would reduce ten or
twenty millions of our people to serfdom is en-
tirely absurd, and it was the utterance of one ap-
parently ignorant of the genius and spirit of
American civilization. In comparison with the
monuments of ancient grandeur, reared by cheap
labor, we point to our railroad and telegraph
lines ; our free schools with an open Bible ; our
frt e press, free speech ; our traditional Sabbath ;
our civil and religious liberties. It is with these,
our blood-bought institutions, that a class of
foreigners, not Chinese', are at war. The great
sin charged agaiust our Chinese friends is that
they cheapen labor. If capital refuses to reward
labor, on every hand doors of enterprise and in-
dustry are opened wide, by means of which the
laboring classes themselves may become lords of
the soil ; or by combination of their labor and
capital may monopolize to a great extent the
manufacturing interests of the country.
The same arguments used against the Chinese
might be advanced by native Americans against
the free imraigration of foreigners generally. Com-
pared with other portions of the country, no such
thing as cheap labor of any kind is yet known on
these shores, and any argument built upon the
false assumption tends only to pander to the pre-
judices and fire the animosities of the ignorant and
vicious. The Chinese employed in this city as do-
mestics, receive on the average as fair wages as paid
to servants at the East, as a comparison of the rate s
would prove. There is no doubt that the Chinese
immigration has helped to reduce the price of la.
bor from the excessive rates of early days, and in
this the Chinese have been a benefit instead of a
curse. It is an absolute necessity for the devel-
opment of the material interests of the State.
At the rates of labor that would immediately pre-
vail, were the Chinese removed from our midst,
not one of the few manufacturing interests which
have lately sprung up on these shores could be
maintained a single day. Even with the competi
122
TEE LAJYCASTER FAEMEE,.
tion of the Chinese, the average price of labor is
so high that capital persistently refuses to invest
to any considerable extent in manufacturing enter-
prises. For the want of cheap labor we are comj
pelled to import important commodities that might
otherwise be produced here ; and for the want of
labor at any price fields of wheat are left unhar-
vested, and vast quantities of fruit rot on the
ground.
Thousands of families are unable to pay the ex-
orbitant prices of domestic help, with the presence
of the Chinese. It is a mistake to suppose that
if the Chinese were removed from our midst there
would be employment for more white laborers.
The fact is that the Chinese on this coast, by the
multiplication and development of industries,
have caused a demand for more skilled labor than
could have otherwise found employment. The
immigration of Irish peasantry to our Eastern
States, to dig our canals and build our railroads,
for a time cheapened the price of labor ; but it
also developed and enriched the country, and while
it improved the condition of the Irishmen, it raised
the native American population to higher plains
of industry and more extensive fields of enterprise.
The lecturer himself, while engaged as a farm hand,
at one time, at $12 a month, had been displaced
by a gentleman from Ireland, who did the same
work for $8 a ;month, and he was compelled to
seek a higher sphere for the employment of his
energies. The presence of the Chinese, instead
of lessening the demand for white laborers, really
stimulates the demand and enlarges the field for
their employment.
SLAVES,
We have been told that the most of the
Chinese who come here are slaves. So far as the
male population of China is concerned, no such
thing as slavery in our acceptance of the term
exists. The Chinese people always regarded
with horror the American system of slavery.
Chinese women are brought here as slaves, and
for the vilest purposes, and are daily bought and
sold in this city like dumb brutes. The lecturer
joined with all good citizens in denouncing this
abominable traffic, and it should be suppressed by
legislative interference. The Chinese come here
voluntarily, but many of them are assisted to get
here and afterward find employment ; and for
such assistance they gladly agree to pay a certain
per cent, of their wages until the debt is canceled.
Our immigration societies, importing immigrants
from Europe, act upon precisely the same plan.
This contract system cannot be fairly compared to
slavery, but it is rather an evidence of the good
faith of the Chinese. An efFert to make people
believe that the Chinese are mostly slaves, and
to kindle a political excitement upon such a false
assumption, may be expected from an unscrupu-
lous politician, but from a minister of religion we
have a right to expect better things.
AN INFERIOR RACE.
The Chinese civilization is far inferior to the
Christian civilization, but that does not prove the
inferiority of the race. The civilization of China
reached the highest point of development of
which its institutions and systems are capable
hundreds of years since, and at that time the civ
ilization of the Chinese was in advance of the
civilization of our ancestors. Remove the bar-
riers that exist to Chinese progress, and the Chi-
nese intellect will be found to compare favorably
with that of any other class of the human race.
The inferior civilization of any people, at any
point in the world's history, is no gauge of the
possibilities of that people in progressive devel-
opment under favorable circumstances.
Confucius, five hundred years before Christ,
enunciated the Golden Rule in a negative form.
A few decades since the Emperor To Kwong
when pressed by the ambassadors of Christian
lands to legalize the traffic in opium, exclaimed
with vehemence, " I know that my purposes will
be frustrated by wicked and designing men, for
purposes of lust and profit, but nothing under
heaven shall ever influence me to legalize the cer-
tain ruin of my people." Does that sound like an
inferior race ? Yang Wing, who took one of the
graduating prizes at Yale College a few years
since, belonged to this race. We are told that
the Chinese are an inferior race because they can-
not resist foreign invasion. On that principle
what shall we say of the French ? What of the
Irish ? Have they never been successfully invad-
ed ? China stands before the world to-day ac-
knowledged as having the largest population, and
a government of the longest existence known in
history.
DO NOT PAY TAXES.
It is charged that the Chinese do not pay taxes,
that they came here only to make money ; that
ten thousand Chinamen in the city do not alto-
gether pay so much taxes as a single prominent
citizen. Well, there are fifty thousand white peo-
ple here who pay no taxes at all. ' The Chinese
have not invested largely in real estate for the rea-
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
12S
son that most of them are poor,and invidious legisla-
tion has discouraged them from making permanent
settlement here. Taking the poll-tax, which many
of the Chinamen are compelled to pay two or
three times over the same year, the license taxes,
the internal revenue taxes, stamp taxes, etc., and
instead of $9,000 being the aggregate amount of
taxes paid by the Chinese in this city, as repre-
sented by Father Buchard, the taxes received
from the Chinese last year reached the enormous
sum of $400,000. A part of this money is paid
to the public school fund, but no schools are pro-
for the Chinese. Again, for the last twenty years,
a tax of $5 has been collected from every China-
man landing in the country, and a part of the
time the tax was $50 a man. Hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars have been collected from the
Chinese under the foreign miners' tax law, at the
rate of $4 per month for every miner, and the tax
has seldom been collected frotn any but China-
men. To these facts may be added the assurance
of the present collector, that there is less diffi-
culty in collecting from the Chinese than any
other class of people, and that there are less de-
linquencies among them. Taking the taxes
paid by the Chinese and the duties paid by
them on their imports, the total annual reve-
nue from this source will be found to reach $2,-
400,000, no insignificant sum. The Chinese pay
to the insurance agencies in this city over $.50,000
annually.
The lecturer then drew a large general account
of credits to the Chinese in patronage of all
branches of trade ; and as another offset to the
assertion that the Chinamen take all the money
home with them, it might be stated that the for-
tunes amassed by American merchants in China
and brought to this country, amounts every year
to five times more than all the Chinamen here can
take back as the fruits of their daily toil.
The lecturer made an elaborate reply to the
comments of Father Buchard on the discouraging
progress of Christianizing labors among the
Chinese, and contended on the contrary, that the
results of such cff'orts are very gratifying. He
concluded his eloquent discourse by declaring that
according to the genius and the spirit of our gov-
ernment and our national history, our doors are
open equally to all mankind. The oppressed and
down-trodden from all nations may alike find
shelter here, and under the benign influence of
our free institutions, and our exalted faith, with
the blessing of Almighty God, these different
nationalities and varying civilizations shall in
time blend into one harmonious whole, illustrating
to a wondering world the common fatherhood of
God, and the universal brotherhood of man.
[We give place to the foregoing, not because
we are in harmony with its sentiments— for in
good truth, we, in this latitude, lack the exper i-
mental knowledge upon which to base a practical
opinion upon the subject — but simply because the
questions involved in it may be some day sprung
upon us for intelligent and rational solution ; and
in view of the wonderful progressive changes which
are almost constantly occurring in the social, po-
litical, and industrial history of our vast country,
no man may be able to say how soon that day
will come. But, when it does come, we ought to
meet it " without fear, favor, or affection," and
upon its own intrinsic merits alone ; and in order
to be able to meet it without undue prejudice or
partiality, we ought to be informed upon all its
various phases, and contemplate it from every
practical stand-point. The question comes home
to every one who needs, or who may need hired
aid, and especially to the farmer, the manufac-
turer, and the public and private housekeeper. It
not only vitally interests the employees of differ-
ent kinds, but also employers. The question
seems to be so liberally and so christianly dis-
cussed by Rev. Gibson, that we cannot refrain
from a patient persual of his paper, and no doubt
it will be regarded with equal favor by the read-
ers of the Farmer, if they are even opposed to
the leading sentiment, as giving them an op-
portunity to award a righteous judgment.
We may, however, be permitted to say this
much, which comes to us from an intelligent and
practical correspondent, who has resided in Cali-
fornia nearly twenty-three years, and is to the
effect, that the greatest clamor made against
Chinese labor there is by the very class of men
who are too indolent to work at iny wages, except
it would yield them about twenty-five dollars a
day, and they could obtain boarding for one dollar
a week perhaps. In spite of ourself, we are com-
pelled to confess to a large sprinkling of conser-
vatism in our mental constitution, but at the
same time we could not justify ourself, by any
means, in shutting out real light, and confirming
ourself in the evils of conservative darkness. More-
over, it is often only in the transition of one state of
things to another radically different from it, that
the chaos in sentiment and adaptability becomes
most manifest ; and, in the midst of such a transi-
njf
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
tion, the real merits of the questions in conflict
become the most morally, socially and politically
obscured; So rapidly is the population of our
country increasing, and its multitudinous resources
becoming developed, that we do not think the
prices of labor, and the productions of labor, can
be permanently and injuriously effected, for many
generations to come, and when it does come, it
may bring its paliation with it. — Ed.]
AGRICULTURE.
f From the Examiner and Herald.]
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
THE questions at this time paramount in
agricultural circles to all others are,
Shall Lancaster county have a grand and united
exhibition of the agricultural, horticultural, flori-
cultural, mechanical, commercial and artistical
productions of her people next fall ? Are such
exhibitions useful, and are they in accord with
the progressive spirit of the age ?
"Without presuming to answer these questions defi
nitely, either in the affirmative or negative, at this
time, we may be permitted to offer a few suggestions
having a bearing upon the subject. Suppose
from hence forward every form of religious organi-
zation were to be totally abandoned, and every
avenue to church structures and church meetings
were to be closed, every member becoming a
divided and secluded unit, can it be rationally
inferred that the same religious progress would be
made that has been made on the united, social
principle ? Nay, rather would not Christianity,
and hence humanity, retrograde, and each indi.
vidual become a selfish and morally obtuse heath,
en? It is fair to conclude, therefore, that the
success of the church depends upon its social and
united efforts, its religious organizations, its forms
of public worship, and that without these auxilia.
ries mankind would relapse into solitarian bar-
barism, so far at least as concerns the churchy
Again, what political party has ever been success-
ful without organization and combined and united
effort in the accomplishment of its ends? And
no matter whether those ends have been worthy
or unworthy, a blessing or a curse to the country,
it 'is none the less true that they still were attained
through united and thoroughly organized effort.
Tivo political factions in the same party, or two
parties in the same town, county, State or coun-
try, we believe, have never been successful at the
same election. It is by united energies and pecu-
niary means that all great objects have been
accomplished. Every department of human labor
demonstrates that combined effort has done more
in a month than individual effort has been able to
effect in a year. There are certain enterprises
which, to succeed, require the united energies and
moral support of the entire community, which are
sure to languish when they are divided against
themselves. The whole history of the human
race illustrates that "in union there is strength,"
and that especially as to the three great indus-
tries which are symbolized by "the plow, the
anchor and the shuttle" — " United, they stand ;
divided, they fall." With these illustrations, can
we exclude agricultural exhibitions from the same
category ?
We are far from asserting or believing that
agriculture itself would fail without the union or
combination of agriculturists in associated effort ;
but it is clear that the special advancement of
general agricultural interests cannot be secured
without such combinations. If this is not so, then
the agriculturists of our entire country, as well as
the world at large, are under the influence of a
most egregious hallucination, for there are but
few countries, empires, kingdoms or States — yea,
or even counties and lesser districts — that have
not one or more organizations, professedly work-
ing in the interest of some branch of agriculture.
For this end, agricultural books, magazines, jour-
nals, papers and pamphlets are published, and
scattered like seeds over the whole land. It will
not do to say that men do these things merely to
make money, for, although the making of money
may legitimately be the ultimate root, or motor
power, of all agricultural organizations, and of
their auxiliaries; still, an immense amount of
talent, labor, effort and pecuniary means have been
devoted to these objects, which have been "labors
of love," or which have made little or no pecu-
niary return. But their moral influence has been
immense everywhere, and they have none the less
assisted in developing the agricultural knowledge
and resources of the localities where they exist.
Of course, a liberal system of premiums should
be adopted, and these, by all means, should dis-
criminate in favor of usefulness rather than mere
beauty; therefore utility should take precedence
of luxuries — things beneficial should be in advance
of those only artificial ; things practical, and in
which the whole community have the greatest ma-
terial interest, should be greater objects of solici-
tude than things merely fanciful, and whose high-
TEE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
125
est aim, perhaps, is only personal gratification or
amusement. Mechanical genius and artistic skill
in all that relates to agriculture and domestic hus-
bandry, should find in such exhibitions their appro
priate recognition and encouragement. Domes
tic animals, which are of the greatest importance
to the largest number of the human family, ought-
to be given a premium over those of a less signifi-
cance. Agricultural, horticultural, and floricul-
tural productions, as the very types of such an
enterprise, should occupy a prominent position —
indeed, nothing useful need be entirely neglected-
and discriminations, if any, should be in favor of
local industries. The making of money should
only be an object of the last consideration to the
management of such an exhibition, if they desire
the real success of the enterprise ; and yet they
should sustain no pecuniary loss.
We are led to these reflections because at this
time the agricultural and horticultural organiza-
tions of this district are seriously considering
whether it would be best to unite their energies in
holding one grand exhibition the approaching fall
— that would be a credit to the great county of
Lancaster — or whether they should pursue the
divided, disjointed and inefficient course which has
characterized their previous efforts. Agricultural
organizations are, directly, neither religious, politi-
cal nor social in their objects. They are merely
organized to assist in developing the material
interests of the localities where they exist, without
intending to give aid and comfort to any element
that is in conflict with law and order. But, like
church and trade organizations, without yielding
essentials it may be to their interests to concede
non-essentials for the sake of the end they desire
to accomplish ; and we feel confident that with such
concession, and an honest and zealous effort in the
right direction, an exhibition of the agricultural
and collateral productions of this county can be
gotten up and sustained, that will inure to its last
ing credit ; and, furthermore, that without union
and concession all attempts to hold two or more
exhibitions will result in more disastrous failures
than have ever discredited the county heretofore.
THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE.
"With the rapid development of the agricultural
resources of the great West, and the corre-
sponding increase in the manufactures of the
East, it has become apparent that the agricul-
tural communities of the latter section must de-
vote more attention to the cultivation of those
products, the value of which depends on the im-
practicability of shipping them any considerable
distance. Year by year the West has become
able to compete with this section of the country in
the raising of cereals and culture of live-stock, and
the increased opportunities of that section have
overcome the disadvantages of remoteness from
markets and excessive freight charges. With the
rapid increase in extent and population of New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and the other
large Eastern cities, an increased demand has been
created for household-market supplies. The build-
ing up of large manufactories, the addition of great
work-shops.and the rapid multiplication of material
industries, have- compelled the suburban districts
to engage in horticulture, dairying and " trucking."
Large farms have been gradually subdivided
into gardens, and the fields which a few years ago
were cultivated in grain, now produce garden
vegetables. Stock-raising has been superseded in
many of our neighboring counties by a complete
system of dairying, and the supplying of the Phila-
delphia markets with cheese, butter and milk
is found to be more remunerative and more satis-
factory than the old methods of farming. This
change has as yet been felfc but slightly in Lan-
caster county, though the radius of market sup-
plies for this city has been gradually extending
with its growth, and our wide fields and extensive
■farms have been reduced in area.
For the past few years, however, a large number
of farmers in the lower end of the county have
been engaged in dairying, shipping milk and but-
ter to the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets.
This branch of agricultural labor has proven suc-
cessful, and as the opportunities for its pursuit
become enlarged, it will doubtless be carried on to
still greater extent. With the increased facilities
of transportation for which there is now such fair
prospects in this county, new inducements will be
offered to our farmers to engage in the cultivation
of i-mall fruits and vegetables for the supply of
the metropolitan markets. With this desirable
improvement in our system of farming or garden-
ing, will be found also opportunities for money-
making. Speedy and sure returns follow horticul-
ture and trucking, and these pursuits in themselves
are far more interesting and satisfactory than the
ordinary dull routine of the farm. It is greatly to be
regretted that for the past year our husbandmen
have given so little attention to horticulture. A
number of our farmers have, it is true, been faith-
ful to their duty in this respect, but a great many
have failed therein. In view of the prospect of a
126
THE LAM CASTER FARMER.
ew field being open for the operations of our
farmers, this matter of close attention to the cul-
tivation of small fruits cannot be too strongly-
urged upon them, and we know of no better man-
ner to advance this same interest than active
agricultural and horticultural societies, in which
our farmers can meet and discuss these questions,
and give to their delibertition the weight of their
combined experience and intelligence. When our
farmers shall properly appreciate these considera-
tions, the agricultural resources of the county
will be rapidly developed, and the " Old Guard "
better than ever deserve the title of " the garden
spot of Pennsylvania."
[From the Intelligencer.]
CLOVER.
BY ULKICH STRICKLER.
A great mistake is very frequently made by
many of our farmers in not cutting clover
early enough. Especially is this the case when
the crop is short, and they wish to make all out of
it they can. They say, " I will not cut it yet ; if
it remains another week, it will make more hay ; it
will not dry out so much, and it will also cure
quicker and with less work." This is all true. It
will make a larger bulk, and more weight of hay,
with less labor and trouble. But chemical analy-
sis has revealed the fact that clover contains a
larger amount of nutriment when fully in blossom
than at any other time. After the heads begin
to dry, the juices, the most nutritious part, are
dried up, and the stem resembles wood in sub-
stance. Hence, it should be cut as soon as the
most mature heads begin to turn brown. If cut
at this time, and properly cured, clover hay con-
tains more nutritious substance than any other
kind. Cattle and sheep will flourish on it, almost
as well as on good pasture. It is also good for
horses, but should be dampened before feeding, on
account of the dust, which gives them a dry
cough and sometimes the heaves. This can be
avoided by moistening it ; it is then superior to
any other hay.
More clover and less timothy should be sowed.
Clover enriches the land. As a fertilizer it has
no equal. Alsike, or Swedish clover, is in several
respects superior to the common red. It is a
variety between the red and the white. Its
points of superiority are, first, that it makes a
finer quality of hay, while the quantity is just as
large. Every farmer knows that in favorable sea-
sons, on very rich land, red clover grows too rank,
its stems being very coarse. The hay it pro-
duces, then, is not of so good a quality. Alsike has
a finer main stem, containing a large number of
side branches, or lateral stems, extending from
bottom to top of main stem. The hay consists
of finer stems, with a much greater proportion of
leaves and heads than red clover hay.
Second. It is not liable to "heave" out by
frost. Red clover contains one tap root, with but
few side roots, none of them being fibrous, hence
its liability to be heaved out by freezing and
thawing. Alsike is full of long, fibrous roots,
extending in every direction, hence it will not
heave out. For this reason it is particularly
adapted to low places, where the red will not suc-
ceed at all.
Third. It will stand more drought, owing to the
fibrous nature of its roots.
Fourth. It contains a large quantity of honey,
which can be reached by the native, or black
bees, as well as by the Italians. It is well known
that black bees cannot work on red clover, and
Italians, generally, only on the second crop. On
Alsike they can work as readily as on white
clover.
Every farmer should give it a trial, sowing a
small quantity side by side with red clover, thus
testing it fairly. A fair trial would, I am satis-
fied, establish its superiority over the red, and
bring it into general favor.
FAITH IN FARMING.
The sight of a new barn eighty feet long by
fifty in width, built in the most substantial man-
ner, and with all the appliances for handling
and storing crops easily, and for making manure
on a large scale, is an indication of that faith
which is so often wanting upon the farm. There
is a man who believes in improved husbandry, and
is willing to invest ten thousand dollars, or full
half of his capital, in a good barn. He has no
doubt that he can so manage his farm and barn as
to get back the interest on all the money invested
in it. In his view the barn is worth more to him
than the same amount of money invested in bank
stock or Government bonds. This kind of faith is
still the exception among farmers. Very few live
up to the light they have, and are willing to in-
vest their money when they have every reason to
believe it will pay well. They know very well
the efiSciency of well-made yard manures, and feel
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
127
the need of more of them every year. Yet they
hesitate about putting a cellar under the barn, or
building sheds and hovels around the yard, for the
puropse of sheltering the manure, and the men
while they are at work upon the compost heaps in
stormy weather. They have mulch and peat enough
to learn its great value, and yet they hesitate
about using labor enough to keep a Uirge stock
al ways on hand. Few intelligent men doubt the
great waste of feeding cattle at the stack in the
winter, and yet they do not provide the necessary
barn room or sheds to protect the animals and save
the soiling of the fodder. They follow the old
wasteful methods mainly, because custom has made
them easy.
It is conceded by all who have tried them, that
we have new varieties of potatoes more prolific
than the old, much less liable to rot, and of fair
quality for the table. And yet the mass of the
farmers cling to the old, in spite of the rot, be-
cause they have a well-established reputation in
the markets and sell well when they can be raised.
They hesitate to buy seedlings that have been
thoroughly tested and are fully endorsed by our
best horticulturists. This want of faith is the rea.
son, mainly, why agriculture does not improv-
more rapidly, and why other callings are crowded
with adventurers at the expense of the farm. The
merchant makes ventures whenever he sees a good
opportunity, not only investing all his spare capi.
tal, but often all that he is worth, in a single en-
terprise. The ventures of the farmer would never
be so largely and suddenly lucrative as those of
the merchant sometimes prove to be ; but then he
runs no such risks. It is safe to make ventures in
barn cellars, and in the very great enlargement
of the manure heap, in underdraining, in lime and
clover, in improved tools and stock, and in new
varieties of fruits and vegetables. We should
show by our investments that we have faith in our
business, and that we expect to make a living by
it, and get handsome returns for our capital. Thig
done, our young men will quit measuring ribbons
and tape, and go to measuring land and working it.
Let us have iaAih.— American Agriculturist.
LAND SALE— ORGANIZATION OF A
LAND COMPANY AT lilLLlNGS.
From the Springfield (Mo.) Southwest we take
the following in relation to Southwest Mis-
souri :
1 he Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company
have negotiated a sale of a township of land, in-
cluding the town site of Billings, with a number
of St. Louis and eastern capitalists. The pur-
chasers have organized a land company, purpos-
ing to sell out the lands to farmers, mechanics and
tradesmen in parcels of eighty acres, or in tracts
as shall suit purchasers. Among the list of pur-
chasers of the land and directors of ths com-
pany are Messrs. Frick and Fisk, 1116 Pine
street, and Garland Hurt, 805 North Fourth
street, St. Louis, Gov. Andrew G. Curtin and
Hon. J. P. Wickersham, Pa., Counsellor David
Lewis, St. Louis, J. J. Goodspeed, Oswego, New
York, and others.
The country at that point, equal to the best in
Southwest Missouri, will now become rapidly de-
veloped. Eastern capital and enterprise will
give an impetus to business and improvement
that always accomplish desired results. The
country possesses a genial climate, fertile soil, and
in every respect most ample material resources.
Springs and streams of crystal clearness are
numerous. The forests contain an abundance of
timber to supply all the demands for building,
fencing, and fuel. The land is easily placed under
a high state of cultivation, and produces annually
large crops of corn, wheat and other cereals. Re-
cently parties from Kentucky have engaged
in tobacco growing at this point. Soil and cli-
mate are said to be more favorable to the growth
of this plant in Southwest Missouri than in any
part of Kentucky. Fruit trees, apples, peaches,
pears, cherries, quinces, etc., as also grapes, grow
more rapidly and produce greater abundance and
finer fruit than elsewhere. Society is good.
School and church privileges are such as are de-
sirable to all new settlers. The new railroad
soon to be built, the St. Louis and Gulf railroad,
having a southern terminus at Sabine Pass, Texas,
on the Gulf of Mexico, is to make a point of de-
parture from the Atlantic and Pacific railroad at
Billings. Considering the natural advantages of
the country surrounding Billings, together with
the enterprise here mentioned, we regard the fu-
ture prosperity of our neighboring town as se-
cured beyond the shadow of a doubt.
It is well known that leather articles kept in
stables soon become brittle, in consequence of an
ammoniacal exhalation, which affects both har-
ness hanging up in such localities and the shoes of
those who frequent them. The usual applications
of grease are not sufficient to meet this difficulty;
but it is said that by adding to them a small quan-
tity of glycerine the leather will be kept coutinu-
ually in a soft and pliable couditiou.
128
TEE LAJVCASTEE, FABMER.
. PERCHEliON-NOKMAN STALLIONS.
AMONG the intelligent horse-breeders and
fanciers it seems to be conceded that for
general farm work the common breed of horses
are too light, and that the English " Dray-horse"
and the " French Percheron" are too heavy, and
therefore they are importing the afore-named
breeds to cross with the common stock of the
country. This produces an intermediate breed,
better adapted to the wants of the American far-
mer. A writer iu the American Live Stock
Journal says : " It is possible that in this coun- '
try the extremely heavy breeds of Europe will
never be required iu their purity, for our farmers
seem to require horses somewhat lighter, and
about the right thing seems to be produced by
crossing stallions of the heavy breeds upon our
common mares."
In view of this fact, farmers are admonished
that there is little, if any money, to be realized
from breeding scrub-horses. Tliey meet with slow
sale, and bring unsatisfactory prices, for the rea-
son that the supply is large and the demand
limited — at least, this is the case, so far as the
Western States are concerned, and it is from
these that our Eastern horse markets are sup-
plied, and this accounts, too, for the great losses
so often sustained by dealers in the precarious
substance of " horse-flesh."
It may be true that for heavy draft— as for in-
stance in slow and ponderous city drayage - the
pure foreign breeds may be preferable ; but this
by no means is the case in the general agricultu-
ral demands of the country where good crossed
breeds of moderately heavy, draft horses always
find good prices, and a greater demand than
supply.
The same writer, before quoted, suggests that
a very good plan to diffuse this stock through the
country is for the farmers of various neighbor-
hoods to form associations for the purchase of
stallions. The members of these associations
having the use of them gratis, whilst their ser-
vices to mares belonging to other parties would
pay all the expenses of their keeping, including
the interest on the investment, and in time also
the principal of the investment.
Of course, the number of stallions necessary to
purchase and keep would depend upon the nu-
merical strength of the associations, perhaps from
one individual up to half a dozen or more. About
a year ago a firm in Illinois brought over from
France eight fine Percheron-Norman stallions,
from three to five years old, and differing in color,
from a dapple gray to nearly black, and this is the
third importation of the same firm, and seems to
evince that it is engaged in a paying enterprise.
R.
TEE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
129
SHAD:
THE ARTIFICIAL BREEDING OF THEM.
In the summer of 1867 Mr. Selli Green, the
great fish culturist, wrote to the New Eng-
land Fish Commissioners, offering to come, at his
own expensp, and try to hatch the eggs of thg
shad artificially, at Holyoke, provided the com
niissioners would furnish the necessary apparatus"
Green began his experiments in July. He put up
some hatching troughs similar to those he had used
at Caledonia, New York, for hatching the eggs of
trout, and supplied by a brook flowing into the
Connecticut ; the water of the brook being 12 de-
grees lower than that of the river. Having
caughi his shad by night with a seine, he express-
ed the eggs of those that were ready to spawn in
a tub, and sqeezing the milt of the male over them,
impregnated them as he had trout spawn, and
spread them to the number of some million on fine
gravel in the hatching trough. To his mortifica-
tion they all spoiled ; he could not hatch them
like trout spawn. He found, however, that the
brook varied 12 degrees from night to day-of course
colder at night ; it was also much colder than the
water of the river. This change in temperature
iiiducei'' him to try the river where it was almost
equable. Taking a rough box he knocked the
bottom and a part of each end out and replaced
them by fine wire gauze ; he placed the impregnat-
ed shad spawn in this box and anchored it near
shore exposed to a gentle current that passed freely
through the gauze, which kept the eels and fish ofi".
He was rejoiced at the end of (iO hours to find that
the eggs had hatched, producing young fish, which
swam about in the box like " wiggle tails" in a
barrel of stale rain water. But though he had
discovered the secret of success his contrivance
was still imperfect, for a. large portion of the eggs
were washed by the currreut into the lower end
of the box and heaped up, which caused a large
proportion of them to spoil for lack of fresh water
and motion. He only hatched from seventy to
ninety per cent of the eggs. At last he hit upon
a very simple and ingenious hatching box, which
he soon after patented, and with which he is now
stocking our depleted rivers with shad, being at
present engaged by direction of Mr. Spencer F.
Eaird, U, S. Commissioner on fisheries, in restock-
ing the Savannah, from which, as the season ad-
vances, he will go successively to the rivers of
Korth Carolina and Virginia. This box proved
a perfect success. Of 10,000 eggs placed in it all
but seven hatched, and at the end of the season
Mr. Green had hatched and placed in the Connec-
ticut many millions of shad fry.
If my memory serves me. Green's patent shad
hatching box is about two feet long, fifteen inches
wide, and one foot deep. The bottom is of wire
gauze, about fourteen wires to the inch ; it is
made to set steadily in the water by having a
float bar between three and four feet long screwed
to each side. These bars are not. attached paral-
lel to the top of the box, but at an angle to it,
which tilts the end up stream, and the current,
striking the gauze bottom at an angle, is deflected
upward, causing such a commotion inside that the
light shad eggs are kept constantly free and
bouyed up, with the running water having access
to every portion of each egg's circumference.
The after end of the box has a little gauze cov-
ered sliding door, whic h is raised to allow the fry
to escape. The spawn from one full, well-grown
shad will supply from six to ten boxes. The
boxes are lashed end to end in a line conveniently
near shore, and sometimes a log boom surrounds
them to keep oif rubbish brought down by the
stream.
The mature shad has three sizes of ova distin-
guishable with a common lens. The first have a
diameter of eight hundredths or nine hundredths
of an inch. These are transparent if the fish is
ready to spawn. The second are four hun-
dredths to five hundredths of an inch, and the
third two hundredths of an inch. The two
smaller sizes are opaque, and are still found after
the shad has spawned. This state of a shad's
ovaries has its parallel in the turtle, and possibly
in all vertebratio. When exuded, an egg is about
nine hundredths of an inch in diameter, and on
being put in water immediately enlarges to thir-
teen hundredths of an inch. They are almost as
transparent as water ; those that turn white have
spoiled.
They cover the bottom of the hatching box to
the depth of about a quarter of an inch ; at the
end of sixty hours with water at seventy-five de-
grees Farenheit, and sunshine, they are hatched ;
and the box will be filled with tiny fry, swimming
freely with their heads to the current. The fry
come from the Ggg with a little yolk sack, which
is absorbed by the young shad in from one to two
days, after which it must find its own food.
Green found that when he opened the little
door in the hatching boxes to let the young shad
out, other small fishes rushed to the spot and
commenced jumping at them ; he also discovered
by some most ingenious experiments that the fry
130
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
60 far from seeking the shallows, like so many
minnows, made directly for the main current.
What wonderful instinct to escape from the re-
sort of small species near shore and seek the mid-
dle of the river, where they are too insignificant
to attract the attention of large fish !
Ichthyologists tell us that there are close
afiBnities in many respects between the salmon and
shad ; but what a diversity in the time of incuba-
tion of the eggs of the two, and the compa rative
activity of the fry in their early existence. The
eggs of a salmon require (according to the tem-
perature of the water) from ten weeks to five
months to hatch. The eggs of a shad — also ac-
cording to temperature of water — hatch out in
from fifty-eight hours to four days. The young
salmon comes from the Bgg with a yolk sack two
or three times the weight of its body, which at
first weighs it down, making it an easy prey to
any devourer, and it is weeks or months before
this yolk sack is absorbed and it looks for food.
The yolk sack of the shad is absorbed in a day or
so, and it is a lively little fish seeking its food
and well able to take care of itself almost from
its birth. At Holyoke, Green had a favorite
place for liberating his young shad ; a white flat
rock in the middle of the river, to which he towed
his hatching boxes that he might see the little
fellows swim oS" in safety.
It is well in matters that affect the great ques
tion of fish food to bring the researches of scien-
tists to co-operate vdth actual experience and
practical every-day knowledge, and there is no
man, who by patient application of science, and
knowledge gained from those who follow fishing
-as an occupation, has thrown so much light upon
this important fish, our shad, as Colonel Theodore
Lyman, of the Massachusetts Fish Commission
Amongst other discoveries by microscopic exam,
ination, is that young shad, before they go to sea,
have teeth, which adult shad have not. He has
found out the fly or aquatic insect and its larvas,
that form the principal food of the young shad •
he has also pretty clearly settled the question as
to the growth of shad, and comparative pube-
scence of the two sexes ; but of the two latter I
shall treat in a subsequent number.
A young shad remains in its native river feed,
ing on flies that deposit their eggs on water, and
on the larvae of the same in their various muta-
tions from wormhood or flyhood until autumn, and
then goes to sea. Nature gives them teeth in
their infancy which they lose because they do not
require them when they adults, and visit their na-
tive stream to continue their species. For, as I
have before asserted, shad, salmon, herring, or
other anadromous fishes do not feed in rivers ;
they come solely to reproduce, and on this law of
their nature we depend for our annual supply of
salmon, shad and herring. Either of these from
some remnant of its old instinct which led
it to feed on natural flies in its early days, can be
induced to rise at an artificial fly when full grown,
for shad and herring are deceived by such lures as
well as salmon.
Thaddeus Norkis.
BREAKERS AHEAD.
The future of our American youth is well
calculated to causesaduess and alarm in the
mind of every one who seriously contemplates it.
The great generic idea of American liberty is that
each one is free to follow out any plan of life which
leads to his own happiness and prosperity, and
that the republic encourages every one to follow
some trade, profession or business which will con-
duce to these ends. Labor is considered honora-
ble. Our theory is that, in the absence of heredi-
tary fortunes, each must carve out his own fortune
and push himself forward in the world, and that
no one, so long as the cause is honest and honora-
ble, shall impede him or throw any obstructions in
his way. This is the theory ; what is the practice ?
In nearly every trade there is an organization
generally called a union, which says that only a
certain number of youths shall be instructed in
that trade ; that when instructed they shall work
in strict accordance with the rules of the asso-
ciation, and that no matter how great their skill
or natural aptitude for the business they shall have
no greater wages than any idle, dissolute, careless
bungler who has been admitted into the organiza-
tion. Here, in the very center of free government,
we see an organization whose purpose is to destroy
freedom of choice of business in our youth ; who
restrain skill and talent ; whose purpose is des-
potism, and whose practice is tyranny of the harsh-
est and most depressing character. Under it the
vast majority of our youth must grow up in en-
forced idleness ; the brightest intellect must be
hidden and deprived of dovelopment, and thousands
of busy brains, courageous hearts and strong arms,
whose labor would enrich themselves and increase
the general prosperity, be doomed to the merest
manual labor and to lives of degradation, ignorance
and poverty.
We can hardly find language strong enough
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
131
properly to state our uttter condemiiatioa and
detestation of this state of affairs. While philan-
thropists and statesmen are daily devising plans
of bettering the condition of the masses, of in-
creasing the welfare of all, of opening new chan-
nels of usefulness, these organizations are devis-
ing plots to thwart their measures ; to keep down
every aspiring soul, to prevent skill from better-
ing the condition of any man ; in fact, to prevent
civilization and the equality of man. While our
law-makers are considering whether education
shall not be compulsory, whether every child
shall not be obliged to learn enough to make it a
better citizen, these organizations have already
decided that ignorance shall be compulsory, except
to the few chosen by themselves, and that the
learning supplied by the State shall be useless for
all practical good.
What is to be the end of this ? We can see no
result but that the next generation of mechanics
will be wanting in the skill which makes the
workman rich and happy. The want of this skill
will cause the work to be done by foreign work-
men, either in our country or their own, and the
proud boast that we have here the best, and the
best instructed, mechanics in the world be lost and
turned to our shame, as the inevitable result of
the practical workings of these unions. We boast
that every career is open to our youth ; that even
the Presidency of the United States is a fair ob-
ject of ambition to every one ; and yet these or-
ganizations shut the doors of the carpenter-shop,
the machine-shop, the foundry, of every branch of
trade and business. Is this freedom, or is it
tyranny ? — Everybody's Journal.
ENTOMOLOGICAL.
" COLORADO POTATO BEETLE."
AT the last meeting of the Agricultural and
Horticultural Society, the president — H.
M. Engle — somewhat incidently remarked that
the above mamed insect had appeared near the
locality where it had appeared in 1872 — indeed
that it had appeared on his own farm. The sub-
ject did not seem to impress the members very
particularly, if they did not even forget it imme-
diately thereafter. Of course, the real quality of
this pest will never be appreciated by the farmer
until his potato field is honored by a personal
visit from Sir Droyphora. Therefore, as we
happen to be a potato eater, and feel a corres-
ponding interest in the subject, we think we can-
not do better than insert the following remedy at
this time, whether it is heeded or not :
Potato Bugs. — The time is at hand for potato
bugs, and their deadly foe is Paris green. But all
who use this deadly poison should recollect that it is
composed of arsenic and copperas, and is danger-
ous, especially when used as a powder. In this
state it is so volatile that it is inhaled into
the lungs, and although we have no recorded
death, frequent cases are reported where it has
caused serious sickness. And it is in almost
every case used too strong. When used as a
powder it was used in proportions of one part
Paris green to four of flour. But one part in
twenty is sufficient. But later trials favor using
it dissolved in water. If the Paris green be a
good, pure article, two-thirds of a teaspoonful to
ten quarts of water would be suitable proportions.
This can be used by sprinkling on the potato
vines in any weather or any time in the day. The
dust can only be applied on a clear morning,
when the dew is on the vines. If the Paris green
is pure it will make the water deep green, but if
it is a counterfeit article, it will be a paler color,
and will leave the most of it a sediment in the
bottom of the water. If it is not pure, of course
more will have to be used, and then it may be
none of the genuine is in it, in which case it will
entirely fail of any good purpose. It can be
applied to the potatoes with a syringe, or a small
brush broom, but a rose watering-pot is best.
The garden watering-pot throws too much, but a
rose spout for the garden watering-pot could
easily be obtained of any tinner. As there is no
doubt about the sure destruction of the bug with
this article, and as it can be so easily and safely
applied, the dreaded Colorado bug ceases to be so
dreaded a pest. The Paris green can also be
used for the destruction of other insects making
depredations on plants, shrubs or trees. Using it
on larger trees the syringe would be best.
The following paragraph, on the same subject,
we clip from the editorial columns of the Marietta
Register of the 21st of June, a paper published
near the "Scene of Disaster," and we confess that
we deplore the necessity of doing so, for we had
hoped that the farmers of Lancaster county at
least would have been able to prevent the rapid
increase and spread of this worst of insect pests :
"Potato Bugs. — The Colorado potato bugs
have made their appearance in great numbers,
and are busy in the work of denuding potato
132
TEE LA Jf CASTER FARMER.
stalks. Mr. Hiram Engle informs us that already
they can be numbered by the thousands, and that
the rapidity with which they produce and multi-
ply and at once enter upon their' depredating
work is marvelous. Mr. Gottschall says one
morning he examined and found his potatoes all
right, and the next morning they were entirely
stripped of every leaf. If nothing happens to
arrest these destroyers in their work, much dam-
age to the potato crop will be done."
Dry weather and human neglect is their glori-
ous opportunity. R.
GALLS ON THE GRAPE.
John M. Greider, Esq., of Mountville, found a
conglomeration of excrescence on a Clinton grape
vine, with small, round galls on the tendrils and
leaves. These were left with Mr. Rathvon, who,
being pressed with business, desired me to examine
and report in the Examiner for the benefit of
Mr. Greider and those interested.
I made a careful drawing of it and colored the
same with the original. On inspection I found
the cells scattered, and many of them punctured
and empty ; in one, however, I found four orange-
yellow, maggot-like creatures, with the dark Y
mark protruding from the second joint, or next the
head ; thisis a distinctive feature, and proves them
to be the larvas of the gnat-family — allied to the
Cecidomyia or Hessian fly tribe. I have a number of
galls figured, found on various plants, as also illus-
trations in the first volume of the American Ento-
mologist, in which I find a figure on page 247 of a
large compound gall on grapevines, from a speci-
men sent by A. S. Fuller, Richwood, New Jersey
This accords so well in the general character and
description as to incline me to consider it caused
by the same fly. The color is said to be pale
green and rose ; those of Mr. Greider's are deeper
almost purple and greenish; highly polished. Those
referred to are produced by a pale, reddish Gall-
gnat, the Lasiopteravitis of Osten Sacken. These
have orange yellow larvae, which come forth and
undergo their final transformation in the ground.
•' Sometimes a parasitic larva is found spun up in
a cocoon, which belong apparently to the Procto.
trypes family." Baron Osten Sacken observes
that many of the cells or cavities are abandoned
by their inmates and invaded by numerous Thri-ps,
" and we noticed the same state," says Mr. Reilly .
I may say the same, " the Thrzps being canni-
bal and preying upon the gall-maker "
These Thrips, then, would be beneficial, but the
Tlirips cerealeum is almost as bad as the Hessian
fly, called Cecidomyia destructor (Sax.) This
relationship is by no means flattering, and we
should admonish all who see the earliest form.atioa
of a gall to use the knife, and " nip them in the
bud."
The Thrips are minute and slender insects, with
very narrow wings, which are fringed with fine
hairs, and lie flatly on the back when not in use.
These live on flowers, leaves and buds ; their punc-
tures appear to poison plants, and often produce
deformities in the leaves and blossoms.
But the name Thrips is, however, also applied
to a species of Psylla, which are four- winged and
equally mischievous, but belong to the aphides or
plant lice. The cecidomyia are two-winged, and,
like the gnats, belong to the Diptera. The wil-
low gall-gnat is one of the largest of our species.
Fitch figures and describes it under the name Ce-
cidomyia salicis ; also, a single, orange-colored
maggot, in galls, on the willow.
The Cecidomyia Rohinae, of Prof. Haldeman,
is a much smaller and more common species, inhab
iting the locust-tree.
The Cecidomyia deffers from the Lacioptera
n the shortness of the first joint of its feet, and in
the greater length of its antennae, the head like
swellings whereof are also more distant from each
other, especially in the males. The basal joints ap-
pear to be double joints (14 to 17) according to
sex, being globular in those of the male, oblong ova
in the female — except the basal joint, in which both
are surrounded with whorls of hair.
The verdict is, the gall was produced by the
Lasioptera vitis\ of Oster Sacken. — J. Stauffer
hi the Examiner.
HORTICULTURAL.
BARK BLIGHT IN PEAR TREES.
BY JACOB STAUFFER.
T
HE samples of bark-blight onyourpear tree
seemed like an I the other a C cut into the bark,
and healed over. On closer inspection I find the
one has two punctures through to the wood, besides
a centi'al nucleus with raised concentric rings and
a central perforation, apparently the remains of a
bud. The bark is cracked through the outer layer,
with the edges slightly turned up from the crack ;
THE LAJSrCASTER FARMER,
133
at a central point I notice the growth of & fungus,
resembling, by its branching lamina?, the xylaria
hypoxilon, or a tuft of small lychens, as found on
old trees and stumps. This I deem as secondary
or adventitious, and not the cause of the disease.
The term blight, frequently used, is not yet clearly
defined, Dr. Keith has pointed out at least three
species. 1st. Blight arising from cold and frosty
winds. 2d. From a peculiar vapor supposed to
originated from certain electric conditions of the
atmosphere ; and 3d, From the presence of min.
ute parasitical /jm^ftts. Hence a careful exami-
nation of all the conditions are required in order
to be able to decide which may have given rise to
the cracking — the freezing of certain saccharine
or aqueous deposits under the bark, or the spores
of a minute fungus, like the Undo, that causes the
mildew and the like. These cracks in the bark of
a pear tree are much like those found on many
pears themselves, as to the cause of which many
opinions have been advanced. One opinion is
that, owing to a superabundance of juice, the punc"
ture of an insect, or anything that may cause an
excess of endosmose action over that of exosmose,
certain cells in ' circles or lines, or both, become
surcharged; cold winds may freeze them or so ex-
pand the contents of the cells as to rupture the
epidermis and cause a crack, and simply form the
seat for the fungus.
A dropsical condition from excess of rain and
moisture may induce a collection of sap in excess
between the double alburnem, that is, first a layer
that has been injured by the frost, and then a
layer that passes into wood, a swelling takes place
and may turn into black knot or similar disease.
These cracks under consideration appear to arise
from a case showing the alburnum split into clefts
or chinks, by the expansive force of the freezing
sap. Such clefts often degenerate into a chilblain
or excrescence, just as galls are raised by |the bite
or puncture of insects. The only remedy is the
excision of the part aSected and the application
of a coat of grafting-wax, as the evil will spread
and ultimately destroy the tree.
In conclusion, it is yet a question whether
sickly trees invite the growth of the fungus by
a stagnation of the vital forces through the ex-
ternal pores, which consequently become clogged
and form the niches for the sporules of the fungus
to hasten its decay as a secondary cause, the
sap having been become primarily vitiated, either
through excess or deficiency of moisture or plant
food necessary to its health and vigor, atmospheric
or electric conditions of heat and cold or sudden
changes. The subject involves so many contin-
gencies, of which we have but a partial know-
ledge, which admonishes a modest investigator to
be cautious, not from a lack of knowledge of the
various opinions advanced by scientific men. but
from the disagreement of those opinions which at
best are but speculative in many cases, and this I
apprehend to be one of them.
[Under date of June 17th we received from
Mr. Carter, of the Eastern Pennsylvania Experi-
mental Farm of West Grove, Chester county, a
letter inclosing two pieces of pear-bark, seeming
to be infected by a kind of " blight," said letter
containing a series of queries in relation to the
matter. Mr. C, among other things, states that
these specimens were taken from a Sickel pear-
tree, and that said blight was killing the pear-
trees on the farm " quite rapidly." Their trees
had been scraped and washed in the spring, usino-
soap-suds, sulphur and common manure, and that
otherwise they looked healthy and vigorous.
Being too busily engaged in other occupations at
the time, and, moreover, considering the questions
involved in their investigation more within the
domain of botany than that of entomology, we
transferred the matter to our friend g., and the
foregoing is what he says on the subject. We
have only to say in addition that we have fre-
quently noticed this phenomenon before, but have
never been able to identify the cause of it with
the presence of insects. We once had a pear-tree
on our premises that died from a similar " bark-
blight," as it was called. The edges of the in-
fected surface would turn up, and eventually
small pieces of the bark would drop off, leaving a
dark cavity reaching to the sap-wood, and these
were so numerous that the whole surface eventu-
ally became dry and scrofulous, or scruSy, from
which time the tree became sickly-looking, and
finally died. We regret, in conclusion, that we
are unable to suggest a remedy any better than
the one Mr. C. has tried. — P^ditor.]
In answer to an inquiry as to what causes hair
balls in cattle, the Cincinnati Times says : They
seem to originate from a disordered and irritable
condition of the digestive organs. This causes
animals to lick themselves, and the wool or hair
which is thus carried into the stomach is formed by
the movement of that organ into a ball, which con-
tinues to increase in size in proportion as fresh hair
or wool is carried into the stomach. It does not
often cause death, and we have never yet found
any medicine to remove them.
ISJf
THE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
LANCASTER, JL'LY, 1873
S. S. RATHVON, Editor.
Published monthly under the auspices of the Agricul-
TUKAL andHoutic0ltukal Sooiett.
$1 35 per Year in Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
A'l commun1C''tions, to insure insertion, must he in tli'^
hands of the editor before tUe 20th of each month. Ad-
dress S. S. Ea'hvon, Lancas^ter. Pa.
All advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
addressof the publisher, J. B. DKVELIN,
Inquirer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
EXHIBITIONS.
WE have received a royal octavo pamphlet
of 231 pages, containing the "Report of
the Board of Commissioners, of the Third Cincin-
nati Industrial Exposition," of 1872.
This work contains the entire premium list, the
classification and general arrangement of the ex-
hibition, together with the reports of all the
judges of its last exhibition, and also the awards
of premiums— to whom, for what, and of what
quality and value. In looking over these pre-
miums we find that they consist mainly of bronze,
silver, and gold medals, and that they have been
liberally distributed. For instance, in class No.
60, which consisted of ladies' articles, such as hair
work, wax work, shell and needle work, embroid-
ery, etc., forty-nine medals were awarded, mainly
of bronze and silver. In class No. 69, including
horticultural productions, the premiums were from
$1 to ^150, the ^20, $30 and $50 premiums occur-
ing the most frequent. We may instance that
the best display of flowers, in variety and arrange-
ment, was awarded Mason and Ilamlins' Parlor
Organ, and $1,50 in money. The best collection
of pears, and the best collection of grapes grown
in the air, were each awarded $25, while the high-
est for foreign grapes was only $10.
ORDER OF PATRONS OF INDUSTRY.
The object of this organization is to bring
farmers into council, that, by the discussion of the
various questions that affect their interest, the
welfare of farmers in general may be promoted.
But it is more particularly designed to enlist the
sympathy and co-operation of farmers in all mea-
sures that may be deemed advisable to facilitate
the transportation and disposition of their pro-
ducts ; to devise and execute such measures as
may be necessary to protect themselves against
the extortions of middlemen, and the machina-
tions of speculators, and to secure such legisla-
tion as may be necessary to guard their property
against the exactions of tax-gatherers. None
but farmers, their wives, sons and daughters can
become members. The sons must be eighteen and
the daughters sixteen years of age. An initia-
tion fee of $5, for males, and $2 for females is re-
quired, and this entitles them to all the degrees.
There are no other expenses, save monthly dues,
and these differ in different localities, from ten to
twenty-five cents or more.
Whether there is occasion or not for such or-
ganizations in Lancaster county, or in the State,
at large, is a question that must be determined by
farmers themselves. One thing is certain, they
are increasing in the whole West, the South
South-west and in the Pacific States. They are
also beginning to appear in the North and East.
Things move.
MEETING OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY.
The regular meeting of the society was held at
the Orphans' Court Room, June 2, 1873, Levi
S. Reist in the chair, and Alex. Harris, Secretary-
The condition of the crops being called for by
the chairman, Casper Hiller reported that the
fruit crop, so far as he is aware, is very unpromis-
ing. Pears do not promise much, strawberries
look well, but raspberries are pretty much frozen.
J. B. Erb said that the winter grain looked well
and that the oats had a good appearance. Corn
appears yellow, the ground being dry and much
replanting has taken place. The apple trees
blossomed well, but the fruit is pretty much falling
off. The curculio is busy depredating upon his
favorite fruits. There is the appearance as if
there might be some peaches.
Casper Hiller said grapes with him are pretty
much frozen. The thermometer did not sink with
him below thirteen degrees zero last winter.
John B. Erb said the strawberry crop with him
would be a light one. He expects a good crop of
raspberries. The black cap especially promise
well. Blackberries only make a good appearance.
Peaches need not be mentioned in his neighbor"
hood. In the southern part of the county there
will be some peaches. There will be few cherries
anywhere. The currants and gooseberries first
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER,
135
looked well, but the former were drowned in the
spring rains.
J. Miller read the followinof report upon the
grain aud fruit crops : It gives me great pleasure
that I am able to report a favorable condition of
the crops to this society. The prospects for a good
■wheat crop are, in my estimation about three
times as good as last year on the first of June
"We see, occasionally, a thin field, but with a fa-
vorable season from now to harvest, we may safely
put duwn an average of twenty bushels per acre.
Rye is long in straw, and has every prospect of be-
ing a full crop. Corn is pretty well up, with the
exception of the late or second planting, to which
a number of farmers in my own immediate neigh-
borhood, and I have since been informed that it
was the case pretty much all over the county, the
farmers had trouble with this crop, the seed not
coming to perfection. As a matter of experience
I will report a few facts in regard to seed corn,
which may save all trouble in the future. My
plan is to pick out the finest and largest ears in
the fall, when I unload at husking time, and put
them in a room in a house, and there let it until
I want to plant, when I shell by hand. I have
followed this plan for a number of years, and have
never been compelled to plant the second time.
This year when all around me were planting the
second time, I was cultivating my corn, and I give
this plan to-day to the public, with the assurance
that if followed, there will be no necessity to re-
plant. My neighbors got seed corn from me,
picked out of the crib, and the result was, that
they had to replant. The cause, in my opinion is,
that seed corn will freeze, and the grain will be
damaged when exposed to such severe cold weather
as we have had during the past winter. Corn that
has come up is growing finely, but other fields that
had to be partly replanted, look very irregular.
Oats, although short for the season, looks remark-
ably well, aud is growing very fast. Grass fields
are thickly set, and with an occasional shower and
warm weather will make a large crop of hay. Pas-
ture is in good condition at present. Potatoes are
backward as everything else on account of the
cold spring, have been slow in coming up ; the
Early Rose is far ahead of all others in growth.
Apples have been very full of bloom, and if noth-
ing injures them we may have an an average crop.
Peaches and cherries we will have a few ; of the
former most trees have been frozen, wood and all.
It is discouraging to see a nice row of peach trees
all cut down for fire wood, that had bushels of
peaches last year, yet such is the fact. Pears and
other fruit have not suffered so much, excepting
grape-vines and quince trees, have shared about the
same fate as the peach trees ; but as a whole,grain
and fruit prospects may be summed up with the
following words : what we lose in the one we gain
in the other. We will again be abundantly sup.
plied for our wants.
Israel Landis said the wheat promised as well
as it had done for years. 1 he hay also looks well.
His grape vines are all frozen to the ground.
Tobacco will not be planted to the extent this
year that it was last.
M. D. Kendig said there would be some peaches
on Turkey Hill, in this county, an elevated spot
of the county, but that this was the only place in
the county where there would be any as far as he
knew.
Elias Breckbill said that the grass had a fine
appearance and that the wheat is late with him,
and on this account he apprehends that it may be
blighted. Fruit in general will be a failure as far
as he knows.
Jacob H. Musser said that the grain crop in
East Donegal looks quite fine.
M. D. Kendig said that at first he was doubtful
of the apple crop, but is now satisfied they will do
tolerably well.
Dr. Elam Hertz said the crops in his neighbor-
hood look well. There will be a few cherries in
some places. The grapes are generally frozen,
H. M. Eugle said the wheat crop promises well
in most places, and also the grass. The corn is
thin having come up very irregularly. The apple
trees blossomed well but the fruit is dropping ofiT
much and the crop will be a light one. There
will be some peaches on high grounds, across the
Susquehanna, in York county. Elevation, he is
satisfied, has a good deal to do with the peaches.
Grapes have frozen pretty generally, but the
Concord has escaped the best. The Telegraph,
Rodgers, Hybrids, Creveliug and many others have
been equally frozen. The grape crop will be a
poor one. The Colorado beetle has at length
mae its app earance, and they have been found
in considerable numbers. He found none of them
on his farm last year, but they were found on
adjoining farms; this year they are on his farm.
The cabbage butterfly is this year again on hand.
The caterpillars in York county are very numer-
ous, but are not yet troublesome in this neighbor-
hood.
S, S. Rathvon thought his grape-vines were all
136
THE LAJf CASTER FARMER.
frozen. He had a Martha, a Clinton and some
other kinds that were partially frozen, but having
cut away the frozen parts they are growing well
again and some grapes will be obtained on them.
One stem has already grown four feet. He is sat"
isfied that the fruit on high grounds is mostly
safe. He made a visit to an orchard in York
county lately where he found the peach trees well
loaded and promising a good crop.
Lemuel S. Fry, of Ephrata, was at this point
elected a member of the society.
Jacob M. Frantz said that he would have a
good crop of grapes and plenty of other kinds of
fruit.
S. S. Rathvon related an instance of an amber
cherry tree having blossomed profusely this year,
but that it will have no cherries.
H. M. Engle remarked that when grape-vines
are badly frozen, the old stalk should be well
planed off and the young shoots should be pinched
back, in order to prevent them from growing too
compact. His plan is to train them horizontally,
and he always pinches back considerably.
Hiram Engle remarked that his peach trees in
York county will have about half a crop. They
are upon high ground. Peach trees that bore
last year will have but few this year.
P. S. Reist spoke of the tobacco crop and said
that some one reported to a tobacco journal tha;
the Lancaster crop was a very poor one in qual-
ity, and chiefly fit only for fillers.
Levi S. Reist said that he had sold some to-
bacco lately, and the dealer to whom he sold it
remarked that it was pole rotted, having been
hung too thick. He thinks this has been the case
all over the county. He believes the crop in the
county has been badly managed. Some farmers
have been getting twenty cents per pound for
their tobacco and others cannot sell their crop at
all.
Jacob G. Peters thinks much of the tobacco has
been spoiled by hanging it too close on the poles.
He believes this is an important matter, and
farmers should be careful in reference to this. He
is of the opinion that the reporter who wrote to
the tobacco journal, of which Mr. Reist makes
mention, has nevertheless exaggerated his state-
ment.
Mr. William McComsey now rose and spoke as
follows : For the purpose of testing the sense of
this meeting on the question of holding an exhi-
bition on the grounds of the Agricultural Park
Association, I present the following resolution,
without further remark than that my only ambi-
tion is to assist, in my humble way, to promote
the objects of the organization of the society,
without any disposition to direct its action or
control its policy. It is, therefore, my express
desire that, in case of its adoption, I be left off,
my engagements being such as would prevent a
proper discharge of duty :
Resolved, That, in consideration of the friendly
and liberal disposition manifested on the part of
the Agricultural Park Association, and with the
view of best promoting the interests, as well as
the object of both, five conferees be appointed by
this Society, to confer with a like number on the
part of the Park Association, upon the subject
of holding a joint exhibition the coming fall, em-
bracing agriculture, horticulture, pomology, mech-
anism, science, stock, etc., and make report of
their transactions to this Society on the first
Monday of July.
The resolution was adopted, and the following
gentlemen were appointed conferees under it :
Messrs. Wm. McComsey, H. M. Engle, H. K.
Stoner, Alex. Harris and J. G. Peters.
After the appointment of the committee, the
society, on motion, adjourned.
Wk are exceedingly sorry that we are unable to
say anything definite in this number of our journal
in reference to the exhibition contemplated in the
proceedings of the last meeting of the Horticul-
tural Society. There seems to have been some
mistake or misunderstanding in the appointed
meeting of the committees of conference, through
which a quorum was not present, and therefore no
action was had. In the meantime, and as suggestive
in case an exhibition, is held we publish following
rules of the " Fourth Cincinnati Industrial exposi-
tion," which commences in September next.
" First — The halls and grounds will be open for
the reception of articles on Monday, August 4, to
Saturday August 30. On Wednesday, Septem
ber 3, the exposition will be opened to the public,
and will continue open from day to day (Sundays
excepted) from 9 o'clock A. M., to 10 o'clock P. M.
until Saturday evening, October 4.
" Second — all articles will be entered for exhi.
bition only, except those specifically named in th^
published list of articles to which premiums will
be awarded, Articles named in the premium list
may be entered for exhibition or competition, at
the option of the exhibitor, which must not be
later than August 30.
" Third — Articles intended for competition
must be entered on the books as such not later
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
137
than Augast 30, otherwise they will be entered
for exhibition only ; and all articles must be in
position ready for exhibition by Tuesday, Septem-
ber 2. The driving engines will be in operation
one week previous to the opening of the exposi-
tion to the public, and exhibitors of machinery
in motion will be required to have their machines
in running order on the day of opening.
"Fourth — Each exhibitor (except in the ladies
department) will be required to pay an entry fee
of two dollars. An exhibitor competing for more
than one premium (except in the horticultural de"
partment) shall pay two dollars for each addi-
tional premium competed for.
" Each exhibitor will have the privilege, upon
payment of two dollars in addition to the entry
fee for his articles, of securing a ticket of admis.
sion (positively not transferable) which will admit
him at all hours of the exposition. Not more than
two exhibitors' admission tickets will be issued to
a firm or corporation.
" Ladies entering articles in the ladies' depart-
ment, and not desiring a ticket of general admis-
sion, may have the privilege of entering said arti-
cles free.
" Fifth — All applications for space must be
made on or before the 20th of August, on the
printed blank forms, which will be furnished by
the Secretary, and applicants after that date
will not be allotted space until those entered by
the 20th of August have been assigned.
" Applications for space must state the exact
amount and kind required; and for machinery?
show cases, etc., a plan of the floor, counter or
wall space must accompany the application. The
exact dimensions and style of show cases should be
particularly specified.
" Space allotted to applicants, and not occu-
pied by them on or before Saturday, August 30,
may be assigned to other exhibitors. And the
Board reserve the right to exclude from the expo-
sition patent medicines, nostrums, and articles o^
an explosive, highly inflammable, dangerous or of-
fensive character.
"Ninth— The premium list will be published,
and all awards shall be for the first degree of
merit in each class. No second-class awards
or decisions will be made or reported in any case
excepting in the horticultural departments."
In agriculture, as in other matters, you must in.
vest a capital before you can receive an interest
or profit. The capital may be in labor, or money
or manure.
THE CROPS.
At this writing, June 21st, the wheat, rye and
clover crops, generally, appear promising — al-
though in some places the presence of the " fly "
has been detected — but the oats, potatoes, and
corn, and also the timothy, are much in want of
a good penetrating rain. A continued drought
at this time, would also seriously aSect the tobacco
crop, although, under any circumstances, the con-
tinued dull sale of this article may prevent as
large a crop as would have been planted under
more favorable auspices. The crop of strawber-
ries has been fair, but cherries are short. Apples
and pears not so good as they promised earlier in
the season. Peaches and grapes very short, or a
failure.
Since writing the foregoing, we clip the follow-
ing from the columns of a contemporary, as very
appropriate to the subject at this time. It
may at least direct the attention of those inter-
ested toward the quarter from whence the prospec-
tive supply is expected to come, if it does nothing
more :
THE PROMISE OF THE PEACH CROP.
"We have (says the Wilmington, Del., CommeV'
cial of May 10th) not meant to say at any time
that all the peach orchards on the peninsula, this
year, would bear a " full " crop, it being a well-
known fact that in some of the largest producing
districts the buds were completely destroyed by
the excessive cold. In New Castle county, in-
cluding about one-third of the peach district in
product, there will be a very small yield indeed.
Some large orchards will not produce fifty baskets
of fruit.
But south of the limits of this county, the pros-
pect is as good as it ever was, and far better than
it was last year. In 1872, the peach crop nearly
all came from the latitude of Dover. This year
the condition is reversed, and the orchards in that
latitude and south of it will give the bulk of the
crop. The eastern shore orchards generally prom-
ise well, and there will probably be from the im-
portant districts on Chester and other rivers a
very heavy yield.
We are, therefore, of the opinion that the
aggregate of baskets this year will be one of the
largest ever sent to market. The increased num-
ber of fruit-bearing trees must be allowed for, and
this, with the very promising bloom of the old
orchards, leads us to the above conclusion. The
shipments by rail to Philadelphia and New York
may be less than last year, as it is the New Castle
138
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
county orchards, especially those about Middle-
town, that send a large part of them, and the
water shipments to Philadelphia are quite likely
to show a decrease. But the other routes to New
York and Baltimore, which tap the central and
lower fruit sections, will carry increased quantities.
How THEY Raise Peaches in Delaware, —
The Delaware Peninsula produces more fruit
than any similar section of the world. It is esti-
mated that the receipts from her fruit products
are not far from $3,000,000 yearly. The freight
trafBc alone is worth $500,000. A committee of
one of the New Jersey Agricultural Societies,
having visited Delaware last year, made a report,
and the following is condensed from it, showing
what is necessary to make peach culture suc-
cessful :
1. To prepare thoroughly, clear and enrich the
soil for planting. 2. To give plenty of room
or plant twenty-five or thirty feet apart. 3. Not
to shorten in the branches. 4. To do a great deal
of work among the trees — plowing, harrowing,
cultivating, allowing no grass or weeds. 5. To
hunt the borers once a year, in autumn. 6. No
raising corn or potatoes except the first three
years in the orchard, and then only provided fer-
tilizers are applied. 7. After the third year to
plant nothing, but cultivate thoroughly.
The thorough cultivation was believed by own.
ers to keep the curculios within bound, and so
rapid was the growth imparted to the trees, that
orchards only four years old had trees with heads
nearly twenty feet in diameter and fifteen feet
high. The cultivators are broad, reaching nearly
half way from row to row, and doing work
rapidly.
The varieties preferred are Troth's Early, Early
York, Stump the World, Crawford's Early, Old
Mixon Free and Crawford's Late. Hale's Early
has failed from its liability to rot.
Why Clover Improves the Soil. — Professor
Veolcker thus explains the action of clover in in-
creasing the fertility of soils : All who are practically
acquainted with the subject must have seen that the
best crops of wheat are produced by being preceded
by the crops of clover growing for seed. I come
to the conclusion that the very best preparation,
the best manure, is a good crop of clover. A
vast amount of mineral manure is brought within
reach of the corn crop, which otherwise would re-
main in a locked-up condition in the soil. The
clover plants take nitrogen fx'om the atmosphere,
and manufacture it into their own substance,
which, on discomposition of the clover roots and
leaves, produces abundance of ammonia. In real-
ity, the growing of clover is equivalent, to a great
extent, to manuring with Peruvian guano, and in
this paper of mine I show that you obtain a
larger quantity of manure than in the largest dose
of Peruvian guano which a farmer would ever
think of applying. It is only by carefully investi-
gating subjects like the one under consideration
that positive proofs are given, showing the cor-
rectness of intelligent observers in the field.
Taking a Tour. — Franklin B. Gowen. Esq.
President of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road and of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Companies, will be absent from the
country for two or three months. In his absence,
Mr. J. W. Jones, First Vice-President, will act
for him in the Railroad Company, and Mr. Geo.
D. B. Keim, Vice-president, in the Coal and
Iron Company,
iem ^uU, ind., M' ^sik, Z.?;/.
€nt, jeai ajki da4e, ^ fiioml/^^ io jiaf @^. ^lown oi
oidti §mo <^unditd and Sfev^nii^.jive Wollai^
hi value iecewed, ai hn jiei ceni. jifi
jfiaijaiU ai §au ^aaie, ^nd. John <
Wnei^: Un §Joe.
awnum,
lealei $W when ^ /yell b^
moiik oi ^eedlna oUacninei
l^ald 4tn dolla'iA, when due, lA
lem fol
hown.
The above obligation shows the manner in
■which workless and worthless sharpers "lubricate"
simple but, perhaps, well-meaning "ruralites,"
before they " take them in." By cutting such an
obligation through, between the words or and
bearer, in the first line, it will be seen to impose a
different obligation from that which had been
originally assumed. This is done, and the paper
is discounted or sold, and when it becomes due,
the unfortunate signer of it finds himself also sold
for the amount of its " face," and the scamp who
deceived him beyond the reach of danger.
TEE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
139
MISCELLANEOUS.
FARMERS' INSTITUTE.
THE Farmers' Institute of Eastern Pennsyl-
vania convened at the Experimental Farm
on Thursday, June 12, at 1 o'clock P. M., Thomas
Baker, of Lancaster, president, calling the meet-
ing to order. Henry L. Brinton, of Oxford, sec-
retary, having read the proceedings of the last
meeting, the business for the present meeting was
announced. On motion, several committees were
appointed to examine the diiferent kinds of ma-
chinery on the ground. Other business of minor
importance having been transacted, on motion, J.
Wilkinson, Esq., General Deputy of the National
Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry of the
United_States, and Overseer of the State Grange
of Iowa, was invited to address the meeting. He
made quite a lengthy and eloquent address, show-
ing the workings of the Order in the North-west-
ern States and the advantages to be derived by
the farmers in forming Granges in oi'der to pro-
tect themselves from the thieving railroad mo-
nopolies and middlemen in all produce trade. He
spoke of the many advantages they had derived
from regulating all kinds of farming implemeutSj;
also, that they had in very great measure been
able, through their combined etforts, to regulate to
a large extent the prices of all kinds of store
goods purchased by them for their families, etc.,
etc. His address was well received by a large
majority of those pi'esent, and when he closed he
received a vote of thanks for the information
given, and he was requested to remain in the
neighborhood for the purpose of forming a Grange,
man^ of the farmers present declaring they were
ready and anxious to join such an organization at
once. On motion, the question of forming Granges
was concurred in. The debate on this question
was very interesting, but some of the speakers
on the negative side were most too personal in
their remarks. Among the most able on the
affirmative were Mr. Wilkinson, of lowa,,and B.
I. V. Miller, of Goatesville, and on the negative
Jos. G. Turner, of Ghadd's Ford, and Willis Haz-
zard, of near West Ghester. The debate was at
times very animated, and occupied the remainder
of the afternoon. On motion, the Institute ad-
j ourned to meet at Media, Delaware county, in
October next.
The Cincinnati Industrial Exposition is cora-
p osed of the " Board of Trade," the " Ohio Me-
chanics' Institute," and the " Chamber of Com-
merce ;" and the Board of Commissioners con-
sists of five members from each of the above
named institutions. We mention these facts as
suggestive to those who desire to see a good ex-
hibition of all the industrial productions of Lan-
caster county at as early a day as possible. This
object could probably be best accomplished by a
union of all the elements in the county that are
capable of contributing to such an enterprise, and
working harmoniously together in that direction.
We have in our midst a " Park Association," a
" Horticultural and Agricultural Society," and a
" Board of Trade," and to us it seems apparent
that if these three organizations were to unite in
a solid and vigorous effort, something might be
accomplished that would be a credit to Lancaster
county. Prominent as our county stands before
the country in soil, in thrift and in wealth, it is
far behind other counties less favored in these re-
spects in that enterprise and united energy which
are necessary in demonstrating her resources to
the country, and in securing her that rank to
which she is so eminently entitled. We hope our
citizens will think and act on this subject.
DENSE POPULATIONS.
The Memorial Diplomatique gives the follow-
ing interesting account of the density of popula-
tion in the great centers of humanity throughout
the globe : There are nine cities having a popula-
tion exceeding 1,000,000 souls, viz. : London,
3,251,000; Soochow, 2,000,000 ; Paris, 1,825,000;
Pekin, 1,648,000; Yeddo, .1,554,000; Canton,
1,236,000 ; Constantinople, 1,075,000 ; Sian-tan,
in the province of Hunan, 1,000,000, and Tchaut-
chaon-foe, in the province of Fokien, 1,000,000.
It will be seen that, although London holds the
first place, the Chinese empire can still boast of
possessing more populous cities than all the civil-
ized States of the W est. The number of cities
possessing a population from above half a million
up to a million is twelve, viz. : New York, Vi-
enna, Berlin, Hangkaow, Philadelphia, St. Pe-
tersburgh, Bombay, Calcutta, Fowchow, Tcheh-
ing, Bangkok, Kioto. Twenty cities have a
population of from 300,000 to 400,000 inhabi-
tants, thirty-three of from 200,000 to 300,000, and
ninety of from 100,000 to 200,000 inhabitants.
Europe alone possesses 171 cities containing more
than 50,000 inhabitants, at the head of which
stand London, Paris, Constantinople, Vienna,
Berlin and St. Petersburgh.
UO
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
A CURIOUS CLIMATE.
The climate of Peru is set forth by a corres-
pondent as exceedingly peculiar and strange.
It never rains there, we are told, but during cer-
tain seasons, and when the atmosphere is filled
with clouds, a " dew falls so thick, heavy and
continuous that it will saturate the heaviest cloth-
ing in less than half an hour." The coming and
the going of the clouds that distill this dew is an-
other strange thing connected with Peru. The
changes are reported so rapid and violent as to
startle the stranger. One may be walking along
the street, giorying in the rich warmth of the
sunshine, and admiring the deep, clear blue sky,
when suddenly, and almost imperceptibly, a change
takes place, " and from the southward a mass of
dark clouds come rolling swiftly across the firma-
ment, and soon the blue sky is replaced by a som-
ber pall, and to the glorious sunshine succeeds a
drizzling, penetrating mist." And this is also as
suddenly changed again ; even while one is pre-
paring to guard against the mist, the sunlight
and the sky reappear in all their brightness and
beauty.
Important Dates. — The following will refresh
the minds of our readers as to the dates of the
most important inventions, discoveries and im-
provements, the advantages of which we now
enjoy :
Spinning wheel invented 1330.
Paper first made of rags 1417.
Muskets invented and first used in England in
1421.
Pumps invented 1425.
Printing invented by Faust 1441.
Engraving on wood invented 1490.
Post-offices established in England 1464.
Almanacs first published 1441.
Printing introduced into England by (.axton
1474.
Violins invented 1474.
Eoses first planted in England 1505.
Hatchets first made in 1504.
Punctuation first used in literature 1520.
Beforethattimewordsandsentenceswereputtoge-
therlikethis.
Tapioca Cream.— Soak two tablespoonfuls
of tapioca in just enough water to cover it all
night. The next morning boil one quart of milk
^ith the soaked tapioca, add two-thirds of a
small cup of sugar to it and a little salt. Beat
the yolks of three eggs thoroughly, and when the
milk has boiled for ten minutes, stir them into it,
remove it from the fire, and stir rapidly for five
minutes so that they will not curdle. Flavor it
with vanilla ; beat the whites to a stiff froth, and
put over the top of the pudding dish into which
you have turned the tapioca ; sift sugar over it
and brown for five minutes in the oven ; serve
cold. This makes a more delicious desert than
pastry to my taste, and can be prepared the day
before it is needed.
The Human Eye. —Many tender and beautiful
things have been said of the eyes ; yet how infe.
rior to the sweet things uttered by themselves ! A
full eye seems to have been esteemed the most
expressive. Such was the eye that enchained the
soul of Pericles. The American writer, Halibur-
ton, declares that he would not give a piece of
tobacco for the nose, except to tell when a dinner
is good ; nor a farthing for the mouth, except as
a kennel for the tongue ; but the eye - study that,
and you will read any man's heart as plain as a
book. If there is any feature in which genius
always shows itself, it is the eye, which has been
aptly called the " index of the soul."
Lime for Poisoning by Plants and Insects. —
A standing antidote for poison by oak, ivy, etc.,
is to take a handful of quicklime, dissolve in
water, let it stand half an hour, then paint the
poisoned parts with it. Three or four applica-
tions will never fail to cure the most aggravated
cases. Poison from bees, hornets, spider-bites,
etc., is instantly arrested by the application of
equal parts of common salt and bicarbonate of
soda, well rubbed in on the place bitten or stung
Boston Journal of Chemistry.
Which is the Best Breed of Cattle? — The
question can be answered only relatively. For
large quantities of butter the Jersey is the best
by all odds. For working oxen, take the Devon ;
for abundance of milk to sell, use the Ayrshire «
for beef, take the short-horn Durham. For a
good fair farm animal — good for milk, butter, or
beef — the Ayrshire is most popular; but more
money will be made if particular breeds are chosen
for the special purposes intended.
The Cellar. Whatever you do or fail to do
do not neglect the cellar under the house. He,
move everything that is decaying. Clean up.
Whitewash the walls. Ventilate thoroughly and
often.
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
IJfl
HOW TO GET ALONG.
Do not stop to tell stories in business hours.
If you have a place of business, be found there
/ when wanted.
No man can get rich by sitting round stores and
saloons.
Have order, system, regularity, liberality and
promptness.
Do not meddle with business you know nothing
about.
Never buy an article you do not need, simply
because it is cheap, and the man who sells it will
take it out in trade.
Strive to avoid hard words and personalities.
Pay as you go.
A man with honor respects his word as his
bond.
Aid, but never beg.
Help others when you can, but never give
what you cannot afford to simply because it is
fashionable.
Learn to say " no." No necessity of snapping
it out dog-fashion, but say it firmly and respect,
fully.
Have but a few confidants, the fewer the bet-
ter.
Use your brains rather than those of others.
Learn to think and act for yourself.
Be vigilant.
GOOD RULES,
The following eleven paragraphs are worthy of
a place among the most valued rules that should
govern a well-regulated farm :
1. When fruit trees occupy the ground nothing
else should, except very short grass.
2. Fruitfulness and growth of the trees cannot
be expected the same year.
3. There is no plum that the curculio will not
take, though any kind may sometimes escape from
one year in one place.
4. Pear blight still puzzles the greatest men.
The best remedy known is to plant two for every
one that dies.
5. If you don't know how to prune, don't hire
a man from the other side of the sea who knows
less than you do.
6. Don't cut off a big lower limb unless you are
a renter and care not what becomes of it when
your time is out.
7. A tree with the limbs coming out near the
ground is worth two trees trimmed up ten feet,
and so on until they are not worth anything.
8. Trim down, not up.
9. Shorten in, not lengthen out.
10. If you had your arm cut off, you would feel
it at your heart.
11. When anybody tells you of a gardener that
understands all about horticulture and agricul-
ture, and that he can be hired, don't believe a
word of it, for there are none such to be hired.
Such a man can make more than you can afford
to give him, and if he has sense enough to under-
stand the business, he will also have sense enough
to know this.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PARTMENT.
LITERARY NOTICES.
EvERYBODY'p OWN PHYSICIAN ; OF, Hm to acquire and
preserve health, hy CW. (.ileison , M. 1). We are reading
this excellent work, and find it all, and much more, tha,u
anything that has been said of it by th«) public press.
With its two hundred and fifty illustrations, and its de-
scriptive letter press, its perusal and understandiog be-
comes as simple and interesting as the most plainly written
tale. It ougiit to be owned and read by every intelligen
family in the country at least, for it is certainly a treasury
of useful knowledge in all that relates to human physiolo-
gy and the laws of health ; and those advanced in life who
read it, or who may have suif-^red from ignorance or ne-
glect, cannot but regret that they had not access to such a
work in the days of their j'outh or early manhood. It is
especially valuable to ^females who are afflicted through
violation of those physical laws which come directly in
contact withconventionalism, fashion and improper habits
of dress. It will, however, be of little value to those who
do not read it; understand it and endeavor to carry out
its teachings as practical rules of life. Every page is teem-
ing with knowledge ;!^that cannot be disregarded with im-
punity.
Mystkriks of New York City. — We have received a
new volume, entitled ''The Oai-k Sl'le of New York Life
and its Hriminal Classes from Fifth Avtnue down to Five
Points." This hook is a complete narratire of the iiicide
mystMries of New York life, and will be read with ab-
sorbing interest PubMsh--d in numbers at ten cents eatb,
and for sale by all nowsdealers. P. tJ. box 4001, New York .
Peterson's Magazine for July, 1873, is a superb num-
ber. The raagniticent steel engraving of "The Yonns;
Harvesters" is full of the most suggestive beauty and
feeling The pure, sweet b'"tath of the summer is in this
beautiful picture. Then there isaLadj's Slipper Pat-
tern, colored; a steel fashion plate, tinted and colored
with exquisite delicacy, whofe perfect accuracy of fashion
may be relied upon. Kemember, it is the cheape^t of
the lady's books ! To .><inyle subscribers it is $'2.00 a year.
To clubs it is cheaper still, viz., 5 copies for ij;8.00, or 8
copies for $12 00. with both an extra copy and a splendid
premium engraving to the person getting up the e'ub.
Specimens are sent gratis to those wishing to get up clnbs.
Addre34 Charles J. Peterson, 30G Chestnut street, Phila-
delphia.
"Farmers' Union." and Tax Rhporm."— A 12rao
pamphlet of 56 pages, contaiuiug an address to the tarm
ers of the country by Heury Bronson, of the Douglas
County Farmers' Club, Ka.nsa8, in which he takes a I igh
stand in behalf of the producers and consumers, andagaiubt
the midd'emen or mere stpeculators, as well as the exorti.
tant rates ot transportation by railroads and other forward
ing companies, and makes .^ome powerful hits.
U2
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
Proceedings of the Second Annual Meeting of the Col-
orado Sock Growers' Association, held in Denver on the
3lPt of Jannary and 1st of February, 1873. Also the pro-
ceedinss of the first inet-ting of the "Farmer's Union,'
ard the ■' Roclsy Mountain Poultry Association." A
doublp-column octavo pamohlet of 82 pages full of inter-
esting matter on those subjects.
'• Farmer and Gardbner," by J. G. Kreider, pnrsery-
man, etc. Our enterprisinir contemporary now issues an
8-page quarto on tinted paper and highly illustrated, in
which we wish him abundant success.
" Chuuoh Union," a roval quarto of 8 pages, published
weekly at $2 00 a year, at No. 4 Warren street, N.' Y. This
journal sdvocates the union of church enterprise, and the
relaxation of the lines of sectariauisin, as a "consumma-
tion devoutly to be wishe.i."
" Biographical sketch of WilHan Penn, the founder
of Ptmiis^lvania," by Hon. A. L. Hayes. A. M. An 8-yo.
pampblet of 39 pages. A very interesting and readable
sketch of the biofrraphy of a man of unquestionable vir-
tues and adniinistrative abilities, whatever else he may
have b^en ; and with whose history every Pennsylvanlan
should be thoroughly acquainted.
" TwELVETH Annual Report of the Board of Managers
of the W'men's Hospita^. of ' hiladfclphia." and the
" Twenty-fouith Annual Announcement of the WomerVa
Hedical Col'e.fle, of Pennsylvania," 1873-74. Two 8vo.
Xiam; hHts of 18 and 14 pages, emhwcing the faculty man-
age'-n'^nt, curriculum and general worklne^ of two of the
most imT)urtant and interesting institutions in our country,
and essentially the progressive outbirths of a new age.
" PuLKS Rnd premium list of the 4thCincinnati Indus-
trial Exposition," which i? to open ■ n the 3d of September
next, and continue until October 4th. An 8-vo pamphlet
of 52 pages. (Indeed, this, in connection with the 3d re-
port, noticed in our editorial colunons, may be regarded
rather as beautifully prin'ed paper-bound books) in which
the premium lists are quite as liberal and d iversified as
those of the 3d exposition, and no doubt this will be as
well patronized.
NEW YORK MARKETS.
New York, June 26.
Flour.— The demand for Flour is less active, and the
low grades are tame. Medium extras are lower and irreg-
ular, both spiing and winter wheat extras. Good super-
fine ard No. 2 in fair demand and comparatively firm. At
the cIo-!e the market is irregular and rather easier for
grades under SP8, and other gr^.des are le.ss active and irreg-
ular. S«lef of 13.500 b-irrel.". We quote as follows:
Hour per bbl S3 25a5 00 ; No. 2 S3 50a4 40 ; superfine, $5 ro^,
5 45 ; State extra brands, $6 20 iG 60 ; State fancy do. $6 75a
7 50; western shippius: extra .f 6 fOa« 40; Minnesota extras,
common to fancy, .$6 75a8 00 ; do superlative extras, S7 40a
11 2i; good to choice spring wheat extras. $6 50a7 25;
extra amber Indiana, <>hio and Michigan, f/ 00a7 20; Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois superfine S5 00a545; Ohio round
lioep extra shii^^jg, $6 10a6 50 ; Ohio extra trade brands,
§6 7(la7 ?i ; wh'. :■ whe«t extra Ohio. Indiana and Michigan,
$7 60a8 20; d- lible extra <)o. do.,$8 2.5a9 50; St. Louis sin-
gle extras, $7 60aj 10 ; St. Louis riouble do., $8 20a9 00 ; St.
T.ouis triple extras, $9 lOall 25; Genesee extra brand.
$7a9 65.
Grain — The arrirals of wheat are very light, and with
easier freights prices are firmer. The demand is in part to
complete cargoes. Winter wheat is still neglected, and
prices uncertain. The market closes better but quiet for
spring and uncertain and inactive for winter, ihe latter in
limited demf.nd, for milling cbiefly. The inquiry for
spring for the fi.ture is light. The sales are 78 000 bushels
at S126al28 for rejected spring; SI 47i,^al 48 for Vo. 2
rh'cago spring ; SI 41al 42 for No. 3 Chicago spring; 11 52 a
1 53 for No. 2 Alilwaukee, anil 8000 bushels do. seller first
half of July at $1 48 ; $1 64 for red western ; $1 88 for
wbite Michican Kalamazjo, in store ; -SI £5 for Ciiuadian
club, in bond. Barley is dull and nominal. Barley malt
is quiet ana prices uncertain.
Odts are better and in demand for the trade and to hold.
The sales are 86,000 bushels; new Ohio mixed at 42a44c
and warm at 40a4le ; white at 46i^fl50; black at 40a42>^c ;
western mixed at 41a443/2C ; white at 46>^a£Ic. Rye is firm
hut quiet ; 85o bid for No 1 Milwaukee. Corn is firmer,
but not quotable higher ; the demand is chiefly for export
thfugh fair for the local trade. The supply of No. 1 mixed
and yellf>wis limited. The sales are 91,00i) bushels, damp
and unsound at 47a51c ; western mixed at 52a53c and ''sair'
at C0a61c in lots, the latter for choice southern Illinois ;
western while at70a73c. and do. yellow 65c.
Peovisions— The pork market is lower but more active;
the demand more general and brisk for the future. The
sales, cash and regular, are 1470 bhls. at Sl5 50 for old mess,
$15 75a!6 12^ for new do., Sl6 50al5 for city do. and
$18 37al8 50 lor clear. For future delivery we hear of
3750 bbis, seller July, at $15 50. 15 70 and mess 8l7 50; sel-
ler August, $15 75al5 80. Beef is easier and unsettled;
sales of 270 bMs at .$8alO 50 for plain mess and $llal2 for
extra mes.»; old mess on private terms. Tierce beet is dull
and tame. Beef haras in better demand; sale of 36 bbls at
$30a3l for western. Cut meats are firmer; the supply
light ; sales of 800 pickled shoulders, 9al01b av. , 8^0 ; 700
do hams, ]2al3 lbs av. at 13>^c; 600 fresh hams, from the
block, at 12»,'c; 450 do shoulders at 7>4'ca8.J^, and 27 boxes
clear bellies at lOalOi^c.
Bacon is better and in demand. Sales of 60 boxes long
clear city at 8 ll-16c; 4.50 boxes short clear last night at %%c,
and 100 do to-day at 9c. Dressed hogs are better and le8=(
plenty. We quoie at &%a.l%n for city. Lard is easier and
fairly active, the demand fair for the future. Sales of 970
tierces at 7)^c for No. t ; 8a8V;^c for city, and 8 13-16c for
fair to prime steam. For future delivery we hear of 750
bbls mess (or June ; 2280 tc«., seller July, at 8Jia8 ]3-16c;
2750Jtiprce8, seller August at 9c; 1200 tierces seller September
at9j^^. A large business was done in turning contracts from
July to September. At Chicago we hear of 1500 tierces
for July at 8o, and 128 tierces for August at 8^0.
MoLASSi^s — We notice small sales at 38c for Barbados
and 83c lor choice New Orleans.
Hat— Receipts for the week are 30.800 bales. The re-
ceipts ire falling off on account of dry w^ather,and holders
are very firm ; we quote prime at S24a26, good |20a22 ;
good shipning *15al6; common $10al2. Straw is firm but
quiet, at S18al9 for long rye ; $13 for short do. and $10 for
oat
Tallow steadier but dull; sales of 30,000 lbs good at 8%c;
prime city quoted at 9>^c.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Philadelphia, June 26.
Bark— No. 1 quercitron is quoted at S35 per ton.
Flour-— There is more doing, and prices rule irregu-
larly. About 2700 barrels changed hands, including super-
fine at $4a4 55 ; extras at $4 45a5; spring wheatext;a fam-
ily at $6 1234a7 75; Pennsylvania and Western winter
wheat rto.do.at $7a8 25 and high grades , at $8 e0a9 50.
Nothing doing in Rye Flonror Corn Meal.
Grai."*. — There is a steady demand for wheat, and we no-
tice sa.'es of 50u0 bu.-ihels Pennsylvania and Western red .it
$1 per bushel ; spring amber at $146, and 10,000 bushels
No. 1 spring on secret terms. No sales of rye. Corn
meets a limited inquiry, with sales of 3000 bushels yellow
a*^ 56c., and 10,000 bushels Western mixed, last half of Au-
gust, at 61c., and 15 000 hushe s mixed on private terms.
Oats «re b&tter, and 29.000 bushels at 45a46c for white, and
40a42c for unsound and black. The receipts t0-d=iy are as
foUowi: 3146 barrels of flour, 24.800 bushels wheat, 28,000
bushels corn, 46,900 bushels oats, 100 barrels whisky.
Provisions. — There is very little movement, but prices
are uncLauged. Mess Pork is selling iu lots at $17 60al8 ;
smoUed hams at 14al5c. ; do. sides at 10c. ; salted shouldtrs
at 7a7 j^c. ; smoked do. at 8xa8Xc., and lard at 9 '9j^c.
Seed.-* — '"loverseed is dull. We quote at 8a8i^c. per lb.
Timothy sold at $3 75, and Flaxseed at $2 20 par bushel.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Philadelphia, June 23.
Beef Cattle were dull this week and prices favored buy-
ers; 2 8)0 head arrived and sold at 7,'ia7>^c for ext'ra
Pennsylvania and western steers ; 7^c. tor a lew choice;
5\^?.G]/^c for fair to good, and 4a5c ^ lb gross for common
as to (fuality.
Cows were without change. 300 hf ad sold at $50a75 ^
head.
.Sheep were dull. 9000 head sold at 4>ia6c. per ft gross,
as to condition.
Hogs were firmer. 5000 head sold at $7 25aS per 100 2>s
net.
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER-
151
acteristic of the Cecidomyians or Midges ; we are
therefore not surprised that these little atoms
should have escaped the observation of our cor-
respondent. At this writing (July 20th) these
galls are about a quarter of au inch in length, of
a pale greenish color, slightly curved, and differ
somewhat in form from any we have yet seen,
being more swollen in the middle, tapering ab-
ruptly towards the base, and gradually towards
the apex. These trumpet galls have a wide geo-
grapical range, including the states of New York,
Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, where we have noticed them at dif-
ferent times during the last five years or more.
From observations made by Mr. Walch and others
long ago, this individual may be refered to the
genus Cecidomyia, but its species, so far as our
knowledge extends, is not yet distinctly made out.
We are not able to say whether one or more
broods are produced in a season ; nor how, or in
what form it manages to survive the long Au-
tumn, Winter and Spring ; for, we believe we have
never seen them earlier than the month of June
on any occasion. There is still a great dearth of
k nowledge on these important points of the natu-
ral history of insects, and in many respects, we ean
only form an idea of the unseen , by the analogies
the sucjects bear to that which we have seen.
As to a remedy ; the simplest, and perhaps the
only one, is to immediately cut off the infested
leaves, as soon as they are seen, and destroy them_
If this is accomplished before the fly or larva has
Oscaped, it must finally end in a success. There
would be litttle use in looking for the fly, for it is
too small, and its coming is heralded with too lit-
tle demonstration, even to attract the attention of
the most careful grape grower. But, if the leaves
are all carefully collected, and burnt or scalded,
while the maggots are yet in the galls, even to
the total denuding of the vine and the injury to
the crop for the season, it is very evident there
must be and end of them eventhally ; that is, if
all persons pursue this course. See page 114, of
the proceedings of the Pennsylvania Fruit Grow-
er's Society, from 1867 to 1870, and also Fig. 23
on plate 3 for an illustration of an infested grape
leaf. It is very fortunate that many of the most
noxious insects, or at their most noxious periods,
are too sluggish or too much engaged in the work
of physical development, to be concious of the ap-
proach of danger, if only a universal human vigi-
lence and observation could be exercised in that
direction. We were on one occasion much amused
at the simple and ignorant astonishment betrayed
by an otherwise intelligent woman who had called
our attention to something that was skeletonizing
her rose bushes, when we directed her observation
to something less than a million of "slugs" of the
selandrioe rosce. They were quietly engaged in
doing their "level best" to perpetuate their race,
without sinister -intent to her, or her rose-bush,
and she permitted it. R.
New Illustrated Work on Butterflies. —
Mr. Herman Strecker, of this city, who, it is
acknowledged, is the best posted man in North
America on indigenous and exotic butterflies, and
who has the largest collection of these insects in
the country, is engaged in the publication of a
valuable work, in monthly parts. Four parts have
already been issued, and each one contains a col-
ored lithograph, 12 by 9 inches, of butterflies never
before represented with the pencil or brush. The
object of this work is " to give accurate illustra*
tions of new and hitherto unfigured species, the
preference being given to those of North Amer-
ica." Each plate contains on an average about
a dozen figures, the number placed upon any single
one depending upon the size of the insects. Mr.
Strecker does the engraving on stone and color-
ing himself, and each insect is drawn life size, and
colored from nature. The upper and under sur-
faces are given, also both sexes and larva, with
stages of transformation wherever possible. Ac-
companying each plate are complete technical
description and history of each species, together
with such observations and facts as may be of in-
terest to the entomologist and to the general
reader. The text is printed with large clear typtJ
on heavy white paper of superior quality, the pub-
lication being in every respect of a very creditabld
character. A limited number of copies are print-
ed, after which the drawings are erased and others
placed upon the stone.
Part 1st contains representations of a magnifi-
cent new species of butterfly from Arizona ; part
2d new species from Colorado, Anticosti Island,
near Labrador, New Mexico, and Vancouver's la-
land : part 3d is devoted to North American Ca-
tocalid?e, or underwing moths ; and part 4th to
diurnal butterflies from our western territories.^
The work is both interesting and valuable, and
has already received the highest enconAuma of
American and European entomologists and natur-
alists. Mr. Strecker has obtained the mastery of
his subject, not only by devoting the spare mo-^
nicnts of a lifetime, but also by burning midnight
oil for many years. He is also in constant corres-
152
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
pondence with the prominent entomologists in
various parts of the world.
We cheerfully give place to the foregoing, in
the Farmer— which we clip from the columns of
a late number the Reading Daily Eagle — not be-
cause it needs our endorsement, or that we expect
to influence any one in bestowing their patronage
upon the work — however much it may really merit
it — but simply because we desire to thus recognize
the laudable efforts of one " unbribed by influence
and unbought by gain," and who can have little
other stimulant than an unconquerable love of
science for its sake alone. Under the most favor-
able circumstances, a work of this kind rarely ever
pays those who perform the labor in getting it up,
and who may most stand in need of pay. It is true,
that as an economic or practical work on this
branch of entomology, it may not meet all the
Wants of the public ; but then, entomology can-
not possibly be truly practical, without it also con-
tains the scientific principles which are necessary
in making it intelligible to the scientific world.
No matter how commonplace the subject treated
tnay be, it demands some scientific knowledge, in
Order to have a thorough understanding of its de-
tails. We think that local pride alone ought to
induce eVefy intelligent possessor of a private
library— in Berks county at least — to have a copy
of this Work upon its shelves ; not so much be-
cause of its present worth to him, as it most cer-
tainly will be to generations coming after him ;
for, depend upon it, the time tvill come when a
greater interest will be manifested in natural sci-
ence, in spite of the lumbering — and sometimes,
perhaps, unnecessary — technicalities in which it is
involved. We sincerely believe that to divest
natural history of its scientific names, and to sub-
stitute common English or German names instead
— names which, in most cases, could not possibly
have more than a local significance — more would
be done to complicate the study of the subject
than all the scientific names that have ever been
invented. Scientific entomology is one thing, and
and practical entomology is quite another ; and
although the former may get along bravely with-
out the latter, yet the latter, from a want of uni-
formity in its nomenclature, would be like a vessel
at sea without a compass, if totally separated from
the former.
Therefore, the technicalities of natural history
must he acquired— jnet as they are in any profes-
sional or mechanical calling — if men desire to keep
within the sphere of the progressive spirit of the
age. We therefore hope the public may feel a
demand for Mr. Strecker's work, and feeling it,
may at once proceed to supply it. R.
West Grove, July 21st, 1873.
S. S. Rathvon, Esq., Dear Sir : — I take the
privilege of sending you two worms found upon
some Kansas wheat. They have been quite de-
structive upon a plot of this kind of wheat, but not
noticed in any other part of the field, or on any
other kind. They eat the grain, and if likely to
increase will be a serious injury. When young,
these worms are green ; as .they grow older they
grow browner ; have narrow stripes of dark, light
and brown colors, running lengthwise; and when
grown are about one and one-quarter inches long.
Any information about these worms will be
gladly received. Yours truly,
John I. Carter.
The above letter, and the worms referred,
to, came safely to hand through the U. S. mail,
just as we were on the point of leaving home for
a few days. Therefore had only time to place the
worms and ears of wheat in a glass jar, about half
filled with earth, and they still remain there. We
can only state conjecturally that they very probably
are the larvae of a speces of Gortyna, or "Owlet
moth." On two occasions we found a similar lar-
va on some rank wheat stalks that grew aloug the
shaded margin of a field. One or two were on the
ears, feeding on the soft, pulpy grains, but others
were inside the stalk, excavating it through the
j oint, from end to end. Some of the stalks had
an aperture in the side, through which the larva
emerged, either to ascend to the ear to complete
its larval development, or to descend and burrow
into the ground. Those we collected died, either
from starvation, or the want of moist earth, in
which to change to the pupa state.
There are several species of these insects, and
in the larva state they are usually called " stalk-
borers." One pretty well known species — Gor-
tyna nitcla — often is found burrowing in the po-
tato stalks, but does not confine itself to this
plant, but also occurs in the stalks of the tomato,
the dahlia, the aster, the colia, the cockleburr, and
other plants. Professor Riley says 'he once saw
one boring into the pith of a green corn-cob, and
that a specimen was sent to him that had been
found boring into the stalk of the green corn. The
Gortyna zea, or " spindle-worm," is found burrow-
ing in the heart of the young Indian corn, and in
Kentucky and South Illinois has been considered
one of the greatest pests to the corn crop. In
18G0 this species was particularly destructive to
THE LAJ^CASTEB FARMER.
153
the corn crop of Kansas; for, according to tlie
Prairie Farmer, a single county in that , State,
which, in 1859, produced 486,000 bushels of corn,
only produced 5,000 bushels of " poor wormy
stuff" in 1860. These worms not only bored into
the stalk, but also attacked the soft pulpy grains
of corn in the ears, their excavations affording
retreats for other destructive insects, aad produc-
ing a species of greenish mould, thus finishing the
work of destruction. It is said also to eat into
the green fruit of the tomato, and has been found
feeding on young pumpkins. Mr. Riley says that
specimens of the first-named species had been sent
to him, which had been found destroying the
peach-buds in the Spring, and others boring into
the twigs of the peach. Dr. Harris says speci-
mens had been sent to him, that had been found
boring into the stalks of green wheat. There is
one consolation, however, in the fact that what
• ripens too quickly, after the grain is once formed,
to expose it to much damage from this worm ; for
when once the grains of corn or wheat are hard-
ened, the danger from its depredations is over_
The specimens you sent seem to difiPer from the
descriptions given of the two species above named,
and therefore it may be a new one. We must
wait for the appearance of the moth, before we
can say anything more about it.
Bein^ comparatively a new thing, we know of
no remedy for it, and even those suggested for the
known species are either defective or altogether
impractical and worthless. Ed.
The " White Cabbage Butterfly," or " Green
cabbage worm" — Pieris rapce— so far as we can
learn, has not yet been so destructive this season
as it was in the last ; but we would admonish our
friends that it is the second brood which is gener-
ally the worst, on account of the multiplicity of
their numbers ; therefore, it would not be wise to
indulge in exultations until we are fairly " out of
the woods."
So also in respect to the " Colorado potato
beetle" — Doryphora 10 lineafa— it has not been
so numerous and destructive as had been antici
pated from what is known of its character else-
where—indeed, some confident growers think they
have nearly or quite subdued it. This also may
be a fallacy that may put them off their guard.
This insect undergoes its transformations in the
earth, and sometimes, when it apparently has made
its departure, "lo, and behold," it re-appears in
vastly increased numbers. Nothing would lie
more gratifying to us, than to learn that our
friends have realized their ideas in respect to
these destroyers of their "cabbage and potatoes.
PREPARING FRUITS FOR PRESERVING
Boil Cherries moderately -
- 5 minutes
" Raspberries "
- 6
" Blackberries "
- 6
" Plums
-10
" Strawberries "
- 3
" Whortleberries -
- 5
" Pie Plant, sliced
-10
" Small sour Pears, wjiole
-30
" Bartlett Pears, in halves
-20
" Peaches "
- 8
" " w7io7e -
-15
" Pineapple sliced ^ inch thick -15 "
" Siberian, or Crab Apple, ivhole 25 "
" Sour Apples, quartered - -10 "
" Ripe Currants - - - - 6 "
" Wild Grapes - - . -10
" Tomatoes 20 "
The amount of sugar to a quart jar should be :
For Cherries - - - - 6 ounces.
" Raspberries - - . 4 "
" Lawton Blackberries - . o "
" Field - - - - 6 "
" Strawberries - - - 8 "
'• Whortleberries - - - 4 "
" Quince, - - - - 10 "
" Small sour Pears, vjJiole - - 8 "
'■ Wild Grapes - - - 8 "
" Peaches - - - - 4 "
" Bartlett Pears - - - G "
" Pineapples - - - - 6 "
" Siberian, or Crab Apples - - 8 "
" Plums - - - - 8 "
" Pie Plant - - - 10 "
" Sour Apples, quartered - - 6 ''
" Ripe Currants - - - 8 ♦'
THE CHOLERA.
We deem it a duty incumbent upon us to say
something of a forewarning and forearming char-
acter, in relation to the malignant epidemic which
has unfortunately visited many portions of our
country; and we feel we cannot do better, just
now, than to insert the following, which is going
the rounds of the newspaper press of the country.
If "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure," our readers may profit by it :
Cholera. — For some weeks past the cholera has
been raging to a fearful extent in the South and
West : it has traveled eastwardly until it has
reached the Potomac river. That it will continue
to move North and East is almost certain, and in
view of its possible appearance in our vicinity, it
behooves everybody to prepare for it. A writ3r
who has evidently given the subject much
thought, writes to the Readiujg Eagle:
15Jf
THE LA J^C ASTER FARMER
The exciting causes of cholera are filth, damp-
ness, and foul air, all of which are avoidable. The
required remedies for its prevention are cleanliness
and pure air. Give particular attention to the
cleanliness, ventilation, and disinfection of your
premises Use whitewash freely about your prem-
ises, particularly the cellars, outhouses, stables,
&c., &c. Avoid all collection of garbages, slops
stagnant water, or liquid filth. Sewers, house
drains, water pipes and water-closets should be
flushed daily with water. Be particular in the
ventilation of your premises, especially your sleep
ing apartments. Keep your windows hoisted dur-
ing the day time, so that your rooms may have
the full benefit of sunlight, and free circulation
of pure air. If the weather is cool or rainy, keep
a fire in the house in order to prevent dampness.
Disinfectants arrest putrefaction, and destroy nox-
ious gases. " They are aids in restoring and pre-
serving healthful purity, not substitutes for clean
liness or pure air."
Quicklzme arrests putrefaction, acts as a rapid
dryer, and decomposes certain moist and hurtful
efDuvia. Strew the dry lime upon the earth, or
distribute on plates, &c., &c.
Chloride of Lime. — Employ this for the same
purpose, for mixing immediately with offensive
material ; add one pound to a gallon of water.
Permanganate of Potassa is used as an imme-
diate and most effective disinfectant. "Dilute
the saturated solution of this salt in from 10 to 500
parts of water, according to the requirements of
the occasion." It is the most effective of all the
disinfectants. (May be procured of any drug
gist.)
The Privy Council of the British Government
gives the following advice: "When privies or
cesspools are to be emptied, use perchlorideof iron,
chloride of zinc, or sulphate of iron (copperas).
But where disease is prevalent, it is best to use
chloride of lime." Manure heaps, offensive earth
near dwellings; &c., should be well covered with
freshly burned lime.
The disinfection of clothing is best obtained by
boiling in water in which a little carbolic acid has
been added, and then well washed in the ordinary
way.
Observe strict cleanliness in your person and
clothing. Bathe; (if possible) or wash daily in
cold water. Be regular in your habits of life, in
your morals, meals, exercise, and sleep. Be care-
ful to dress comfortably for the season. Avoid
the use of alcoholic drinks, do not think they will
prevent cholera. Where the disease attacks the
intemperate it is particularly fatal.
Live temperately and regularly ; avoid all ex-
cesses in eating ; avoid raw and indigestible food,
especially cabbage, salad, cucumbers, and unripe
fruits ; avoid pastry. Take your meals at regular
seasons, neither abstaining too long at a time, or
indulging too frequently.
Avoid bodily fatigue and mental exhaustion.
Lead a calm and quiet life, let all exciting causes
be avoided. If you depress or impair te vital
forces, it is prejudicial to health.
That there may be no delay in the hour of dan-
ger, provide yourself with the following articles,
and have them always at hand ready for use in
time of need ;
Laudanum — 1 ounce.
Tincture of Capsicum — 1 ounce.
Spirits of Camphor — 1 ounce.
Solution of Sulphate of Morphia — 2 ounces.
Flour of Mustard — 4 ounces.
At all times during this season of the year, give
particular attention to the slightest deviation of
your bowels from their natural condition. Loose»
ness of the bowels is the premouitory symptom,
and may vary from one to five or more evacuations
daily, with or without pain. On no account allow
this change to pass without strict attention, as
ninety-nine out of the every hundred cases may
be cured ; neglected diarrhoea, which is cholorine,
may attack with fearful violence, oftentimes hur-
ry death ; therefore :
1. — Lie down immediately ; give no attention to
business or household cares ; preserve both mental
and bodily quiet.
2. — Take 30 drops of Laudanum, with 20 drops
of Spirits of Camphor, and 30 drops of Tincture
of Capsicum, mixed in sweetened water; repeat-
ing the dose every hour, or after each evacua-
tion,
3. — If there should be pain or cramps in the
stomach or bowels, with or without looseness, give
a teaspoonful of the Solution of Morphia, with
30 drops of Tincture of Capsicum, in sweetened
water, every half hour. Place the feet in a hot
mustard bath ; apply a mustard plaster, 10 by 12
inches in size (made by mixing the mustard in
warm water to the consistence of paste,) and
spread on a piece of muslin ; after spreading the
mustard, cover it with a piece of lace or tissue-
paper (to prevent its adhering to the skin,) all over
the bowels ; let it be retained 30 minutes ; cover
the patient with blankets, and give ice to eat, or
iced rice water for a drink.
Do not, however, depend entirely upon these
remedies, but send immediately for your physi-
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
155
LANCASTER, AUGUST, 1873.
S. 8. RATHVON, Editor.
rublihbed iiionthjy under the auspices of theAoRicuL-
TUSAL ANDHoHTICULTUKAL SOCIETY.
91 !)9 per Tear In Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
AH communicntlons, to insure Insertion, must be In the
liands of the editor before the 20th of each mouth. Ad-
dress S. 8. Kathvon, Lancaster, Pa.
All advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
address of the publUher, J. B. DEVELIN,
Inquirer Buildinc, Lancaster, Pa.
To Avoid Cut-worms in Corn. — This is the
experience of a man in Indiana, as told in the
Cincinnati Gazette:
" A few years ago my father had a fifteen acre
field, well set in timothy, which he wished to put
into corn. Wc commenced breaking it up in
February and finished before the grass began to
grow. When the ground was dry we harrowed and
cross-harrowed it until it was in fine order, being al-
most as dry and free from clods as an ash heap. We
planted in good time and it came up nicely ; but the
cut-worm destroyed it all, so that it had to be planted
over again, and then replanted after the second
planting, before we could get anything like a fair
stand of corn.
Our neighbor had a field just across the fence
of about the same size. It was on the same
slope, and was the same kind of land exactly. It
had been in timothy the same length of time that
our field had. He broke it up late in the Spring,
and planted it in corn the same day we did. The
grass had gotten such a start, before he commenced
breaking up, that after the field was planted it
looked almost as green as a pasture. His corn
came up nicely, and there was so little of it des-
troyed by the cut-worms that he did not take the
trouble to replant it. He raised a good crop of
corn on his field, while we raised a poor one. His
good-natured remark was that he fed his worms
on grass instead of corn.
The Growing Power of the " Patrons of
Husbandry" in the Western States is constantly
demonstrated. This rising party, in their opposi-
tion to exacting monopolies, and their determina-
tion to bring the unfair railway discriminations
under Legislative control, their anxiety for cheap
transportation, and their denunciation of " back
pay" steals, seem to have a paramount influence
in the Mississippi Valley. They arc administering
to both political parties in that locality some
wholesome lessons, and are firm in the determina-
tion not to permit " ring" leaders or " party
hacks" to control them any longer. They produce
some striking effects in a new way, and by new
means. For several days past we have been receiv.
ing accounts of various celebrations of the Fourth
of July throughout the Western country. Usu-
ally patriotic speech-making and oratorical and
other fireworks mark that happy day; but the
" Granges" turned it to better account. Through-
out the West they mustered in force, and forget-
ting the miseries inflicted by King George in 1776,
they rehearsed the manifold offenses of the politi-
cians of this country and period against the
people. Beyond the Alleghanies, the Fourth of
July seems to have been observed by a general
indictment of the political and other oppressors
of 1873, whose illdoings endanger the prosperity
of the country. It is quite natural that these
things should have a profound effect upon the poli-
ticians, and that all the " caucuses" and " con-
ventions" held in these days should be showing
signs of caution about their nominations and
their movements. Hence we find the politica
resolutions passed by party gatherings now teem-
ing with doctrines that find favor in the eyes of
the new organization. But the " Granges" will
hardly be deluded by any of these old and famil-
iar tricks. Resolutions are simply designed for
use until the election day is over, and they are
then immediately retired from service; and the
successful nominees of the " rings" do the work of
their masters, and not the work of the people.
[The foregoing we clip from the editorial col-
umns of the Public Ledger, of a recent date. We
have not heard of any move being made yet in
Lancaster County towards the forming of a
" Grange" among our farmers. Perhaps the ne-
cessity for their existence is not so imperitive here
as it seems to have been elsewhere, although for
the matter of that, we have had political corrup-
tion and oiEcial infidelity enough to necessitate
some sort of reforming power more effective than
any now existing amongst us. There is, however,
one aspect of the case that may as well be viewed
now as any other time, and that is, " Will these
Granges — admitting that they are necessary —
abandon their organizations and cease to exist
after they have accomplished the objects they
have in view ? Are they not liable ta become
perverted — yea, even corrupted — after they once
become powerful enough to dictate who shall be
elevated to ofEce, and by what policy the country
156
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
Bhall be ruled ? They are composed of humaa
beings— perhaps the better and more politically
and socially virtuous of the people — but still only
human, imbued with human infirmities, and being
such, is there no danger that they may be contin-
ued as a means to attain or perpetuate merely po-
litical power ?
We trust not ; nevertheless, we cannot resist the
thought that such a possibility may exist. Ed.]
MEETING OF ARICULTURAL AND HOR-
TICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster
County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was
held at the Orphans' Court Room, Monday, July
6th., Levi S. Reist, 1st Vice-president, in the chair.
The reading of the minutes of the last meeting,
were, on motion, dispensed with.
P. F. Mayer of Enterprise, and B. F. Ruth of
Mount Joy, were elected members of the society.
Andrew M. Frantz, Esq., one of the committee
appointed at the previous meeting of the society
to meet a similar committee from the Park Asso-
ciation, reported the result of the conference and
spoke encouragingly of the prospects of holding
a fall fair, if both societies harmoniously unite for
this purpose.
Considerable discussion now took place as re-
gards the manner of holding a fall fair, and as to
the propriety of uniting with the Park Associa-
tion for this purpose. H. R. Stoner, Andrew M.
Frantz, Peter S. Reist, Jacob G. Petei's, Levi. S
Reist, A. D. Hostetter and Elara Hertz, took
part in the discussion.
A resolution was offered by A. M. Frantz,
which was adopted, authorizing the committee
heretofore appointed, and such as may feel dis-
posed to unite with them, to make the necessary
arrangements for holding a fall fair in connection
with the Park Association.
Peter S. Reist had on exhibition a very hand-
some box of fresh honey. Levi S. Reist exhibited
two bunches of the Mollcen hierchey, a fine red
cherry.
Jacob B. Garber exhibited a box of the Her-
stine raspberries.
On motion of Peter S. Reist, a committee of
three was appointed to report resolutions express-
ive of the sense of the society with reference to
the death of Dr. W. L. Diffenderfer, and that the
said resolutions be entered upon the records of
the society, and also be published in the I.ancas-
ter papers. The chair appainted the following
committee : Peter S. Reist, S. S. Rathvon and
Alexander Harris.
The said committee reported as follows :
Whereas, This society has been ofificially in-
formed of the death of Dr. Wm. L. Diffenderfer,
one of the original and esteemed members of our
organization : And Whereas, from the protracted
and peculiar character of his affliction, his death
was an event that, in the ordinary course of na-
ture, must have been generally anticipated. Still,
when the announcement of his dissolution came,
it none the less caused a feeling of sincere regret,
that one, who had labored with us so long, and
who, on all occasions, had manifested such a deep
interest in the cause of horticulture, should have
been removed forever from amongst us : And
Wliereas, although we would endeavor to bow with
humble submission to the behests of that Divine
Intelligence who orders all things for the best, we
cannot but be impressed with the sad vacuum
which his removal has caused in this association.
Therefore
Resolved, That, in the death of Doctor
Diffenderfer, this society is deprived of one of its
most intelligent members ; horticulture of one of
its most distinguished advocates ; society of one
of its most dignified constituents, and his family
of one of its most endeared and fraternal elements ;
Resolved, That this preamble and resolution bo
entered upon the records of this society, and be
published among its proceedings, and that a copy
thereof be sent to his family, with whom wc con-
dole in their bereavement.
P. S. REIST,
ALEX. HARRIS,
S. S. RATHVON.
Committee.
A paper was recently read before the Scottish
Society of Arts on " the combustible nature of the
hemical compounds of grain." Flour showered
from a sieve above a gas flame was shown to burn
with explosive rapidity, and the flame to lick up
the particles in the same way that it flashes
through a mixture of gas and air, or that it trav-
els along a train of gunpowder. Explosions of
flour mills, hitherto unexplained, would seem to he
easily accounted for when we know that the air
filled with fine particles of flour is equally inflam-
able as if the mixture were one of gas and air.
TEE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
157
To Pleasure Seekers.— The famous Watkins
Glen, located at Watkins, Schuyler Co., N. Y.,
which has become one of the most popular sum-
mer resorts in the United States, and is annually
visited by tens of thousands of people, from all
sections of the country, will, with its two moun-
tain houses, be open this season for visitors, on or
before the first of June. The entire Glen property
has recently been purchased by John J. Lytle &
Co., of Fhiladelphia, who have made many impor-
tant improvements. Nearly all the staircases,
bridges and railings have been removed, and the
managers will personally supervise and manage the
Glen, and its summer hotels, during the season of
1873, and spare no time or expense in endeavor-
ing to make it an attractive and pleasant place of
resort for the public.
The Watkins Glen, manifold as are its scenic
charms, is by no means the only feature of interest
pertaining to the romantic surroundings of the
village from which it takes its name. Seneca
liake, one of the most beautiful sheets of water in
in the world, with the magnificent views which the
highlands around it afford. Hector Falls, two and a
half miles north of Watkins on the east shore of
the Lake, and the Havana Glen, which has been
visited for several years past by great numbers of
people, are well worth the attention of tourists,
and will be hailed with delight by all students and
admirers of nature.
What do you think of the practice of breeding
colts from perfectly idle mares, in comparison
with an opposite one of breeding from mares in as
full exercise and work as the nature of the circum-
stances will allow ? The large breeders ought to
know, that their brood mares are " brood mares,"
and nothing else — mere machines to raise colts —
but cceteris paribus, it seems to me that in the
case of race horses, for instance, a young mare in
moderate training would be more likely to pro-
duce a more vigorous foal and one more inclined to
be a race horse by nature, than would an old mare
that had been doing nothing but eating and get-
ting dropsical for years.— What is the truth ?— S.
Richmond, Va. Country Gentleman.
The Alden process for fruit drying, which uses
heated air, has much merit, for the fruit is far bet-
ter than that dried in the open air, and it sells for
one-third more at least. The proprietors are send-
ing out circulars requesting farmers to co-operate
on the following basis : Ten thousand dollars are
to be raised by a company, one-half to erect
buildings, and the other half is working capital ;
then, certificates of stock are to be issued for $20,-
000, half of which is to remain, and the other
half given to the owners of the patent.
MISCELLANEOUS.
RANDOM SKETCHES AND FARM ITEMS,
No. 12.
BY H. M. EN'GLE.
THE busiest season for the farmer is about over
and a very good one it was for the harvest-
ing of his hay and grain.
Although the hay crop is not an average one,
it was housed in such good condition that quality
will make up for quantity. The general custom,
of letting grass get too ripe before cutting, still
prevails.
By this practice, best quality of hay is sacrificed
for very little bulk.
The wheat crop is probably an average in this
state, but the loss from late harvesting is even
greater than that of the hay crop; because, in the
latter, only quality is lost, while in the wheat crop
both quality and quantity of fine flo ur are lost
and in addition a large per cent, by shelling in
the field. The only increase by delay is bran.
The united sentiment of millers is in favor of
harvesting wheat as early as it can be cured with
out shrivelling, as being of most value for fine
flour. From a hygienic sta nd point — when the
entire grain is eaten as food the case may be dif-
ferent, but while the mass of consumers prefer the
best white flour and are ready to pay an advanced,
price for such, it seems strange that farmers, who
are generally wide-awake as to dollars and centa,
so many should overlook their pecuniary interest
in this case.
The corn crop will not likely be an average in
this section of country, the season thus far being
generally unfavorable, but one of the principal
drawbacks has been the irregular coming up at
planting.
Many farmers will have learned a lesson which
they should not soon forget, in taking good care
of their seed corn. Although the last crop was
pretty well matured, winter set in severe, so early,
that where the cob was not thoroughly dry the
germ suflercd from frost. Hence the cause of so
much corn failing to germinate this spring, and
very much that did come up had a sickly appear-
ance from the same cause.
The crop may not be so much injured for many
158
TEE LAJf CASTER FARMER.
years ; it is however best always to be on tlie safe
side, as it requires very little extra care to select
the best and ripest ears for seed, and have them
thoroughly dried, after which the severest cold
will not injure it for seed.
For many years the early potato crop has not
been so unpromising as is the present. The con-
tinued drouth, setting in so early in the season,
will cut the crop short beyond hope. There is,
however, a large area of late ones planted, which
look promising, and with favorable weather should
make a good yield. The Colorado beetle having
made its appearance over a large extent of terri-
tory will help to shorten the crop. The new-
comer seemed to create considerable alarm some
weeks ago, and no doubt efforts have been made
to prevent its spread and increase, so at present
there seems to be a little lull with regard to its
ravages. Let no one, however, flatter himself
that Mr. Colorado is subdued or half-conquered,
for unless he acts differently here than he did in
other sections, the worst of his ravages is yet to
come. If not this season, it will be sooner than
we shall like to see it. Although some have
made great efforts to prevent the multiplying of
this enemy, too many have let him have his own
way, and thus the prospect of keeping him in
check is not at all flattering. If one potato
grower in ten will let him have his own course,
the precaution and industry of many who may
endeavor to keep the enemy in check, will be
neutralized and of little effect.
The cabbage worm, codlin moth and curculio,
also do an almost incalculable amount of damage,
yet few make any effort towards their eradication,
as if it were a matter of fate and beyond remedy.
We know of no insect that is so industriously
destroyed as the tobacco worm, as if the safety of
the tobacco crop was paramount to all other crops.
There is, however, no doubt that if the same dil-
igence was exercised against the above named,
and other insects, as there is with the latter, they
could just as easily be kept in check or entirely
blotted out.
It seems evident that the tiller of the soil must
sooner or later make himself acquainted with the
habits of insects, if he would be successful. The
question is how to get him sufficiently interested
to prevent the destruction of so many valuable
products. The loss of a crop now and then might
be sufiRcient penalty for such stolid indifference,
were it not that his neighbor, who does all he can
to counteract the enemy, must share the damages
Query : Would it not be well to have a law in
reference to noxious insects, similar to that apply-
ing: to noxious weeds in this State ?
THE CROPS.
THE reports from nearly all parts of the country
represent the crops of wheat and rye as being
heavier and of better quality than for several
years past. In Iowa and Nebraska the Winter
wheat was' winter-killed, but a large breath was
sown in Spring wheat, which gives a heavy
yield this season. The wheat crop of Minnesota
is said to be the largest and finest ever grown
there. Utah, Montana, Arizona and Nevada will
have a surplus of wheat, while California will al-
most equal the heavy crop of last year. The
wheat crop in the Southern States was scarcely
an average one to the acre, but a larger breath
was shown than usual.
The drouth, which promised to cut the corn
crop short, has ceased, and there are few sections
in which abundant rains have not fallen within
the last fortnight. Illinois will not produce as
much corn as heretofore, but any lack there, and
in Ohio and Indiana, will be more than made up
by Kansas, Nebraska, North Missouri and South-
ern Iowa. This section has received as much as
half a million of people within the last three
years, and most of these are engaged in farming,
corn being the staple product. The farmers
of the Connecticut nalley have been watering
their tobacco plants by hand for weeks, but recent
rains have relievedt hem from this labor and the are
now growing finely. In Maryland, Virginia and
Kentucky, tobacco has generally had a fair start.
It is backward in Pennsylvania, but the recent
rains will bring it out. The acreage planted in
this country is fully a third less than last year.
Oats will be an average crop throughout the
country, its shortness in some dry sections being
compensated for by its fine growth in others.
Reports from Southern papers represent the cot-
ton crop to be in very favorable condition at
present. The rains which prevailed so extensive-
ly in some parts of the cotton region fortunately
subsided in time to allow the crop to be cleared
of the grass. Only the boll-worm or devastating
storms can prevent the planters from reaping a rich
harvest.
In the Southern States the fruit crop is a full
average, and peaches and apples will soon be in
market in good condition and at reasonable rates.
Grapes are promising as far as heard from.
Root crops of all kinds are in good condition?
TEE LAJTCASTEB FARMER.
159
and the potato-bug is only ravaging small sec-
tions.
Taken altogether, the year promises to be one
of extraordinary productiveness.
The foregoing, from the Editorial columns of
the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, {?,, in the main,
a resume of what we had intended to say upon the
same subject, so far as the reports thereon have
come under our observation. We may say, how-
ever, in addition, that although the wheat crop
Lancaster county is far better than it has been for
years ; and the oats, although less straw,
will be better then the drouth foreboded ; yet the
hay crop, as a general thing, was very light ; to^
bacco backward and yet to show itself ; but the
late rains have wonderfully galvanized the corn
and potatoes; "We have seen some fields of as
fiine corn as we ever looked at in any season. The
peaches, however, as well as other fruit, where
there had been a blooming prospect early in the
season, are now rapidly falling off, the I'esult, no
doubt, of last Winter's severe freeze. The "Colo-
rado potato beetle" appeared in East Donegal,
Manheim and Manor townships, and the "white
cabbage butterfly," or perhaps more properly, the
"green cabbage worm," is everywhere ; but neither
of these insects have yet been as numerous this
season as had been expected, but "wait-a-bit,"
their most destructive season is now only approach
ing, and if the present lull is not that calm o^ prep-
aration which precedes a battle, we may be con
sidered fortunate. — Ed.]
FLUCTUATIONS IN FARMING.
The following remarks contain some very good
advice with reference to fluctuations in farming,
and how to avoid their consequences — applicable
to farming generally, but especially in New York
and other older States, where long experience of
the land and its capabilities, of the crops and
stocks that can be made to work together most
advantageously, and of the markets likely to be
available, should enable every intelligent farmer
" to adopt a fixed and definite system of manage-
ment, and stick to it." Mr. Harris, the author,
has written often before in the same spirit, and
so have we ; but it is well, now and then, to go
back to first principles, especially in times of some
uncertainty or trouble. There is one thing be-
yond question, that if these home truths are ne-
glected, permanent prosperity can hardly be ex-
pected from the widest combinations, the wisest
laws, a college of agriculture in every State, or —
an omniscient commissioner of the bureau at
Washington. We quote from the Agriculturist :
Last year the wheat crop of Western New York
Avas the poorest we have seen since I have been en
this farm ; and this year it is worse than it was
last year. That which was sown early is badly
injured by the Hessian fly, and that which was
sown late is thin and poor.
Farmers are thoroughly discouraged. Said one
of my neighbors to-day: "I had calculated on
getting five or six hundred dollars for my wheat,
but I shall not get much more than the seed."
"You farmers must be getting rich," said a city
friend, " with wheat at $2.25 per bushel, potatoes
at .^1.15, and hay $32 per ton."
" Yes," I said, " farming is a splendid business.
Don't you Want to buy a farm ? Farming is not
a monopoly. It is not patented. This is a free
country. If you think we are getting rich, you
will find plenty of farms for sale."
But to be serious, taking the city vieW of th6
matter, farmers, in this section at any tate, ought
to be doing better than they are. There a^e two
main reasons why we are not nlaking money.
First, the extreme fluctuation in prices ; and sec-
ond, the low average crops per acfe.
There is no remedy for the fluctuation in pfices.
It depends on causes beyond the control of ail
individual farmer. It is not caused to any great
extent by " middlemen," or speclilatoi's, or rail-
road monopolies. It depends on the great law of
supply and demand. All that these men Can do
is to aggravate the evil. By refusing to buy
when the supply is large, they may depress prices
to a point far below the cost of production ; and
by refusing to sell when there is a scarcity, they
may force an article up to an exorbitant rate. But
this is all that they can do. Instead of wasting
our energies in trying to remedy this evil, it i^
better to accept the fact that it has always existed
and always will exist, and act accordingly. The
real remedy is for a farmer to adopt a fixed and
definite system of management, and stick to it.
At this time last year, potatoes were not worth
here 25 eents a bushel, now they are worth over a
dollar a bushel. Taking one year with another,
the crop, in favorable localities, can be made prof-
itable. Make up your mind about how many
acres it is best to plant on your farm, and plant
no more nor no less, no matter what the price may
be. And so with wheat, barley, corn, oats and
other crops. And the same is true in regard to
raising pork, mutton, wool, beef, butter, cheese,
etc. Adopt a system and stick to it. These ar-
ticles will always be wanted, and will bring prices
160
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
in the long r*n, in proportion to tlie time, labor,
skill, capital and intelligence required to produce
them.
The other reason why farmers are getting such
inadequate compensation for their labor is the low
average yield per acre. The remedy for this is,
to a considerable extent, under our control. We
must farm better. It is the large area of land
under cultivation, and the low average yield per
acre, that is the chief cause of all our troubles. A
favorable season floods the markets with produce
which can hardly be given away ; an unfavorable
season causes high prices, but we have nothing to
sell. A good farmer would have a fair crop even
in an unfavorable season. If I had been a good
farmer, I should have had two hundred bushels of
potatoes per acre ; but as it was, I had not a hun-
dred bushels per acre — and many of these were too
small to sell. For the good potatoes I got $1.06
per bushel, and if I had had two hundred bushels per
acre, and ten or a dozen acres, I should have had no
I'eason to complain of hard times. As it is, I say^
"The weather was so dry that my potato crop w^s
a failure." But, in point of fact, I know this is
ribt the exact truth. I had a bad crop because I
am a bad farmer. If I was a good farmer I should
kave had a good crop in spite of the drouth. This
I know, because on one row manured for mangles,
but planted with potatoes, I had a large yield of
large potatoes.
"That is all Very well," says the Deacon, "but
where are you going to get your manure ?"
"In your case and mine, Deacon," I said, "it is
doubtful whether we can afforrd to buy any fertil-
jzier eicept gypsum. We shall have to make our
oWn manures. We must make more manure and
of better quality. To do this, we must either
buy more grain, bran, oil-cake, &c., to feed to our
stock, or we must raise more food to feed out on
the farm. The better plan is to do both. We
must drain our land" —
"Draining is all very well," says the Deacon,
"but what has draining to do with making manure ?
The Deacon plays shy of the drainage question.
He has a quantity of low, rich land that is so wet
that it could not be plowed until June. I wanted
to tell him if that land was drained it could be
cultivated with half the labor, could be sown in
good season, and would produce more than double
what it does now, and consequently enable the
Deacon to produce double the amount of manure.
Draining, better tillage, and irrigation, are the
means we must look to for growing larger crops
and making more manure. We have to get the
manure out of the soil, and when we have got it
we must be careful not to waste it. — Country
Gentleman.
PLASTER.
HOW AND WHEX TO USE IT.
The following was furnished to Colman's Rural
World, by Professor Joseph Luce :
Plaster as a Fertilizer. — Among the manufac-
ured products which ought to be employed by
the farmer, in the beginning of the year, as fertil-
izing agents, we will place the common plaster.
Its applications are numerous, and the modes of
applying vary according to the mixtures of the
crop.
Plaster is a compound of salt or lime and sul-
phuric acid, known under the name of gypsum, or
sulphate of lime ; its composition, when pure, is
sulphuric acid 43, lime 33, water 24. There are
often variations in the formula of commercial plas-
ter, due to calcination and the presence of foreign
matter, such as silica and carbonate of lime ; but
none can be injurious in its application as a fer-
tilizer. There are five commonly cultivated crops
which contain gypsum in sensible proportions ;
they are Lucerne, sainfoin, red clover, rye, grass,
turnips ; but its transformation by absorption of
ammonia, enables its constituents to become the
food of other varieties of crops, such as wheat,
barley, oats, beans, peas, and vines.
Professor Liebig contends that the nature of
gypsum consists in giving a fixed constitution to
the nitrogen, or ammonia, which is brought into
the soil, and is indispensable for the nutrition of
plants. He says that " 100 pounds of gypsum
give as much ammonia as 6,250 pounds of horse
urine would yield ; four pounds of gypsum increase
the produce of meadows four hundred pounds."
Grasses and Bed Clover — After seeding, when
the frost leaves the ground in the earlier part of
Spring (April) we ought to sow plaster on the
soil, about one hundred pounds per acre.
When grass or clover are one, two or more years
old, sow the same quantity per acre ; when the
plant is three to four inches high, and, if possible
during wet weather.
Wheat — Upon Winter wheat there should be a
top dressing of about fifty pounds to the acre in
the Fall when it comes up, and another like dressing
after it has started in the Spring. In cases where
it has boen affected by the severity of the Winter,
and especially in all cases where it is uneven in
growth, with spots nearly killed out, a larger ap-
plication should be made, full one hundred pounds
to the acre, and making even a more liberal ap -
plication than that to the poor spots. The effect
will appear marvelous. Upon Spring wheat it
TEE L A J^ CASTER FARMER.
161
should be sown after it is well up, about ond hun-
dred pounds to the acre.
Oats, Barley and Eye. — Upon oats, barley and
rye, the arplication should be the same as upon
Spring wheat, after they are well up, and about
one hundred pounds to the acre.
Potatoes. — Upon potatoes plaster should be
sown upon the hills soon after the plants are up,
same as upon corn, about a table-soonfuU or more
to the hill, scattered upon the leaves as much
as possible, and then should have at least one
more liberal dressing upon the vines after hoeing,
and when well advanced in growth.
Corn. — Various opinions are entertained by
farmers af to the best mode of application of
plaster to corn ; of the benefits resulting from its
use there is no doubt.
GREEN MANURIXG.
" W. A." asks what are the comparative value
of peas, buckwheat, and clover, as crops for plow-
ing under. The chief advantage of buckwheat is
its rapid growth, which enables two crops to be
plowed under in one season. A crop of peas fur
nishes more nitrogen to the soil than buckwheat,
but its bulk is no greater. Clover not only fur-
nishes a great bulk of leaves and stalk, but a large
(juantity of roots in addition, which, on decaying,
leave the soil porous and open, and in the best
mechanical condition ; besides, it will yield two
crops of fodder or hay, and then afterward, in
the second or third year, furnishes a crop to plow
in. On the whole, clover is much the best ma-
nurial crop. — Ex.
A NEW KIND OF BUTTER.
That there is a new kind of butter, or what will
be called and put on the market by that name,
there is no doubt. A company has just been
formed in this city, with a capital of $500,000 for
the purpose of manufacturing this new butter. In
searching for the necessity that conceived this
invention, for it can be called dothing else, it is
necessary to go back to the late war between
France and Germany, when it is found that during
the siege of Paris the markets became bare of
butter, as well as many other articles of necessity,
and the idea of manufacturing something to take
the place of it became apparent ; for butter is now
amongst the better classes, certainly an article of
necessity. From inquiry made of a gentleman
and a practical chemist, who resided there during
that time, we find that very many experiments
were niade to find such a substitute, which was
finally accomplished in tallow, which, chemically
treated, produced a substitute closely resembling
the article that it was intended to counterfeit.
There was still something that would not deceive
any one accustomed to eat our Orange county
butter, and the original inventor, after continuing
his experiments for some time, has finally suc-
ceeded in producing an article so closely resemb-
ling butter that he has induced some New York
capitalists to purchase for a large sum the use of
his invention, he having patented it. They have
formed this company, and are actively engaged in
perfecting their arrangements, to soon commence
the delivery of this butter on the market. Whether
they will convince the consumer that, chemically
treated, tallow is as good as butter made in the
old-fashioned way remains to be seen, and whether
they will furnish it at prices much below the
ruling market price for butter is not known, but it
is made at a cost (taking the present price of
tallow in consideration) of not over fifteen cents,
ready for delivery in the customary butter pack-
ages. In European countries the substitution of
a counterfeit article is a much easier matter than
in America, for the low price of labor, and the
necessity of making every dollar supply, in as far
as it can be made to, the necessities of the family,
readily induces the poorer classes to use what
closely resembles, even where it does not deceive ;
but here, unless it so closely resembles the simon.
pure article that detection is almost impossible,
we do not augur any great success in the under-
taking.— iV. Y. Bulletin.
The Alta California has discovered a new and
valuable tree, or rather has discovered the bene-
ficial uses of a tree already well-known to garden-
ers, the malva. It is a hardy, quick growing
plant, and, according to the Alta, will grow in
any place, no matter whether wet or dry. It does
not even require planting ; will grow from seed
carelessly thrown on the ground, and in five years
attains the height of thirty feet. It blooms for
nine months in the year, and bees prefer its blos-
soms to flowers, while cattle prefer its leaves to
clover, and give richer and better milk while feed-
ing on it. Of these leaves there is a perpetual
growth, a new one sprouting out as fast as the old
one falls or is taken off. Besides, it prevents
fevers. Its bark yields a fibre which is capable of
every use to which flax is put, and in many respects
superior to flax. The Alta says that " one acre
of these trees, after the first growth, will yield ten
times the amount of fibre that one acre of flax
would, and with this advantage that Uttle or no
labor is required.
16.
^
THE LAJVCASTEU FARMER.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE.
Ed. Lancaster Farmer : — You will find ex-
tracts from a California letter below, written on
the ITth of June. Possibly it may interest souie
readers of The Farmer to know what a diiierence
there is in climate in the Golden State to ours in
the Middle States. Here vegetation is suffering
greatly from a drouth of six or eight weeks. Vege-
tation of small plants is at a stand still. Straw-
berry beds are dying out, and transplanting of
such plants aa cabbage, tomatoes and tobacco,
with many other things, is almost impossible, even
with watering to keep them alive ; and as to
growing, the plants cannot get started. Several
light rains have fallen during this time, but the
next day's sun has dried them all up again.
In California they have had no rain for three
months, and do not expect any refreshing showers
for at least three months more, yet vegetation
does not dry out as it does with us. My corres-
pondent says :
" "We have had no rain since the 31st of March,
and having no Spring rains has shortened crops
of all kinds very much. Where I am, vegetation
is about ten days later than in Pleasant Valley
eight to ten miles north of this, but some weeks
earlier than around the bay counties ; and we
think generally that it does not pay to raise vege-
etables here, as they come in from other localities,
and take the cream off the market, in good prices,
and by the time our vegetables are ready for the
market prices are too low to be remunerative.
Now, June 17, string-beans, corn, tomatoes,
&c., bring fair prices. Cherries and plums were
taken to San Francisco May 30th. Cherries
from here are all past June 4:th, but will go into
the city from other localities till August and
September. Apricots are now in full blast.
Peaches were sent to market June 14th. The first
brought $1.50 per lb. Briggs, of Marysville^
sent in some of a new variety about May 30th,
and the next were Hale's Early, June 14th, from
this locality, and Put's Creek. Early Harvest,
and Red Astrican apples are going into market,
ripe, from this and other places. Also, Dyonne
d' Ete and Madaline pears. The season has been
rather earlier than usual, on account, I think, of
scarcity of rain ; but we have had more than ordi-
nary cool winds from the ocean, and the nights are
often decidedly cool ; thermometer down to 46
and 50. For a very few days it stood 90° at 2
p. ra. It is generally at that hour, about 75° or
80°. The air is so dry and bracing that one does
not even perspire at that temperature, but needs
double blankets towards morning. *****
* * The past winter has been such a severe
one throughout the East, that it has caused quite
a rush to our genial climate ; but people will find
that we have our troubles also, in making crops
and getting ahead. We have had two severe
frosts the last spring ; one of them general
throughout California, except in our own valley,
extending up to Putch Creek, where there was
no damage done to either vegetables or fruit.
" The other frost seems to have been felt only
along the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada, and
both were very destructive where felt. Yet fruit
does so Avell here everywhere, that there will no
doubt be full crops, and low prices for everything
shipped fresh. Wine will be a smaller crop by
one third, but our grapes here look fine, and will
be as good as ever. Apricots and peaches are over-
full, and being a dry spring, will be and are small.
Hay crop is light, and price $8.00 on the ground
per ton, against $6.00 last year. Grain -is about
an average through the state of 3-5 of a crop ;
but as the average is larger, we shall probably
have even more than last year to ship.
"We are all glad the Modoc war has ended, as it
is ; for there was great danger of all the tribes
forming a league to fight us. I presume the com-
mission will make short work of some of them.
" Politics are all the talk now, whether we shall
be ruled by railroads and other monopolies, or
whether we shall rule them ! I look for great good
through the Patrons of Husbandry and their
Granges; they are being established in every part
of the State. Farmers' clubs are also popular,
and being extended to every part of the State. I
don't see why farmers did not organize years ago,
when they saw every day organizations of almost
every occupation starting up and dictating their
own terms. Why should we not do so too, and
thereby protect ourselves against all sorts of im-
positions? Yours, etc.
J"M/y 10, 1873. "J.B. G."
WORMS IN FLOWER POTS.
We have often heard ladies, and even professional
gardeners, complaining of the abundance of vari-
ous species of worms inhabiting flower pots, there-
by injuring the growth of plants growing therein
If a little lime is dissolved in the water applied
to the soil, nearly every species of worms that is
found in such position will be killed, and the plants
not injured. Tobacco will also destroy most kind
of worms ; but lime is preferable, because it aids
in dissolving the plant food in the soil, thereby
stimulating growth. Watering the plants with
lime water once a week, will be suflScient to kill
the worms in the soil, and stimulate growth. —
Ex.
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
163
C;iN HENS BE TOO FAT TO LxVY WELL ?
A correspondent writes to the Rural Home
as follows : Old folks used to say: If your hens
are neglected and run down jioor, then you may get
them too fat to lay, but if you raise a lot of
pullets and feed them all they want to eat of corn,
of buckwheat, ashes, burned bone, etc., lime in
the winter, and keep doing so as long as you want
them to lay, then you will find out as well as I
did that you cannot have th(!in too fat to
lay.
I am about sixty-two j'ears old, and have ex-
perimented with hens more or less for twenty-five
years. I raise a lot of pullets every summer for
layers, and dispose of the older ones. I make a
net profit on every hen of about SL50, and not
counting the manure anything ; get twenty cents
per dozen for eggs ; on an average twenty to
twenty-five cents for chickens when they are two
months old. I could give you a list of particu-
lars of debtor and creditor, for a number of years,
but I don't think it necessary. I will say, how-
ever, that I have had from twenty-four bens, in
one year, 257 dozen eggs, and raised 70 chickens.
That year I had a net profit of a little over $2
per hen, not reckoning the manure.
My hens are a mixture or cross of different
breeds— Hamburgs, Polands and Pheasants — I
have no blooded hens of any kind.
We agree with the above correspondent, par-
ticularly in selling off the old hens every year,
and raising pullets for layers. Young hens, dur-
ing winter, cannot well be made too fat for laying,
when they get the variety of feed he mentions.
With old hens, however, it is dilTerent. During
the first and second year, hens lay the greatest
number of eggs, and should not be kept after the
the third year, unless wanted for hatchers.
Cost and Profit.
What a Heavy Sod Will Do. — The sod makes
the corn. This may be taken as an axiom, as un-
doubted as that a straight line is the shortest dis-
tance between two points. If the sod is right the
corn can take care of itself. What is wanted is a
mass of roots, filling the soil to the depth of three,
four, or five, inches, or more, and such a mat of
vegetation on the surface as will inevitably belong
to such a mass of roots. Now, what such an
amount of vegetable matter, easily decomposed,
and such as corn loves to feed upon, would meas-
ure, can, very easily be estimated. It would cer-
tainly be within bounds to say that there v/ould
be on every square rod of ground 90 cubic feet of
matter equal in fertilizing power to average barn-
yard manure. This is over three-quarters of a
cord per square rod ; and 160 rods going to make
up an acre, there would be 120 cords of manure
to the acre. This amount of barn-yard manure
would seem perfectly bewildering to a farmer, and
would be beyond the power of many to haul out
and spread. And here it is, on the spot, in the
most perfect shape possible to be utilized. Does
it then need any further argument to show clearly
that a heavy sod is the best, cheapest and most
easily handled manure a farmer can procure or in-
vent ? The vexed question of whether one should
plow deep or shallow for corn, here gets a satisfac-
tory and simple reply. With such a sod, or any
sod, we must say plow sufficiently deep to get
enough loose soil on the top to allow the harrow
to work and make a seed-bed. No more, no less.
If our sod is such a one as we lately saw cut from
a pasture on a farm in Eastern Peunsylvauia, the
plow must necessarily go seven or eight inches be-
neath the surface before enough soil can be ob-
tained to make a seed-bed. The average crop on
this farm is over 100 bushels of slielled corn per
acre.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE Dfcl-
PARTMENT.
BOOK NOTICES.
What Women Should Know.— This is the title of a
book from the prefs of J. M. Stoddart & Co., Sansom st.,
Phila. It is well printed and makes a liindsome appear-
ance, and is ably edited by a lady who notices considerable
of her own life. Every wife and dauijhter should be fam-
iliar with the teachings of this v ohime. It is sold only by
subscription and can be had of the publishers.
WKhave on our table, the advance sheets of anew book,
trom the National Publishing Co.. North Serenth St.,
Phila. The title of this new work, is" The Undeveloped
West, oii Five Yeaks in the Territoriks," by J H.
Beadle. The reputation of the publishers and the brilliant
career of the author, as a historian and wri er, are sufficient
to make it popular. It pictures the wast in all its charac-
ter. It is printed on elegant piper, with good, clear type,
finely illustrated, and will be not only handuome but
instructive.
The Sanitarian for August comes to us freighted with
a cargo more valuable than gold, and especially at the
present juncture in the health history of the country.
V.iluable papers on "School Pc)is>nln? in Now York,"
' Cholera Stamped Out," "Animal Refuse in Large Cities,"
"Why Ha Smoked," ''Defective Drainage," "Action of
Tea on the Human System," " Death in a Damp ( eilar,"
" How to Cure Dyspepsia," "Cholera," '• Morbid Eflfec's of
Alcohol," '' Health," " Public Health," and much other
V iluable information are among its solid content-*. Price
50 csnta a number, or $3.00 f> year. A. S. Barnes & Co.,
Ill and 113 William St., New York.
" Monthly Repobt of the Departmont of Agriculture
for May and June," occupying a wide field in the realm
of agriculture, and governmental provicion should be
made for a larger distribution of the work among the
farmers of the country.
Quarterly Report of " Pittsburg Medical News and
Health Reporter." 36 pp. 8vo. Illustrated.
164
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
Pamphlets Eeoeived — "Tabulated results compiled
from the Annual Reports of Railroads, Passenger Rail-
ways, Canal and Telegraph Companies, operated in the
State of Pennsylvania, and made to the Auditor General
of the Commonwealth, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1872,"
from Harrison Allen, Auditor General. 91 pp. 8yo.
" List of Premiums of the Kansas State Board of Agri-
culture, with regulations, for 1873." 47 pp. 8vo.
ViCK'8 Floral Gtjidk, No. 2, 1873, of 16 pp. octavo.,
tinted paper and finely illustrated. Condenses a large
amount of information on " Work for thi Season," and
contains the prettiest designs for flower vases, and orna-
mental floral work that we have noticed anywhere else in
small a space.
" Premium List of the Kansas City Industrial Exposi-
tion and Agricultural Fair, to be held in Kansas City,
Missouri, September 15th to 20th inclusive. 35 pp. 8vo.
The Pa. School Journal tor July, is out in an entire
new dress. This journal, now in its 22d vol., and devoted
as it is to " School and Home education," under the editor-
ship of State Superintendent Wickersham, is certainly tke
b"st of its kind in our country. Subscription, $1.50 a year
jn advance. Well worthy the patronage of every friend of
education in town or country.
Pen and Plow.— The raciest little 8 p. quarto in the
U. S. Progressive, and " Devoted to the culture of the
mind and the culture of the soil." New York city. 50 cts.
a year in advance.
The Penn Monthly, devoted to Literature, Science,
Art and Politics. A royal octavo monthly journal, of 83
pp. of solid, readable and reliable matter, at $2.50 per
annum. 506 Walnut St., Phila.
The Patent Right Gazette.— A mouthly Cosmopoli-
tan journal, devoted to Art and Science, Industry, Com-
merce, Navigation, Locomotion and Home Comfort; to
Engineering, Manufacturing, Building, Mining, Agricul-
ture, Railroads, Steamships, Insurance, &c. , &c. Also, a
choice selection of entertaining literature, the description
and illustration of patents made a specialty. Box 4544,
New York. One copy, one year for one dollar.
The National Livb Stock Journal.— The best in its
specialty, in the country. The "Journal of the Farm,"
the "National Agriculturist" and "Bee Journal," and the
" Gardeners' Monthly" for July, are on our table, and each
in their sphere, is unrivaled in variety, interest and
influence.
Moore'8 Rural New Yorker and the " Germantown
Telegreph, have a "world wide" reputation. They need
no commendation of rurs, for they are infinitely better
known than we are. Not. to know them argues oneself
unknown.
The Laws of Life and Journal of Health for
August, 1873, is upon our table, aud contains its usual
quantity of useful and instructive matter ; discussing in
an able, rational and physiological manner, the subject of
female dress reform. This journal is far, very tar in
advance of the times, so far as relates to the fashions,
habits and conditions of American women, but then, if
women, and also the times and fashions are ever to be edu-
cated up to their normal and reasonable condition, a
fte^inmns'- however bootless it may appear on the surface
—must be made somewhere. Our limited experience, aided
by rational reflection, we think, admonishes us that the
greater bulk of the ills to which women are heir to, origi-
nate in the abuses of dreps,
'■ But when will this vice cease? "
Edited by Harriet N. Austin and an able corps of aseist-
ants. Austin, Jackson & Co., Publishers, Danvijle, N. Y.
•SI .50 a year.
NEW YORK CATTLE MARKET.
New York, August 4th, 1873.
The oflfenngs comprised 8143 beeves, 169 milch cows, 2738
veal calves, 21,228 sheep and lambs, and 28,751 swine
Beeves dull, and prices >^@?^c. per ft. lower. The ex-
tremes of the market were 8@13c. per ft. Good stock are
very scarce, but the poorer qualities are abundant. Milch
cows are also lower. The choicest sell at 880@,85, an the
poorest at t35@45. Veals are X@lc. per lb. lower ; in fact
grassers and buttermilk calves are hard to sell at any price.
Common to h&nt milch calvps, 6@8J-^c. ; poo'' to fair gras-
sers, 3@4;-;;c.; dressed calves, 10a>14c. !«ieep and lambs
dull and heavy. Sheared range from 3% to 6c., with a few
choice at eV^c. per ft. Spring lambs, gaSc. Dressed hogs
steady at 6J,^@7X- ; live, 5j^@5>ic.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARET.
Philadelphia, August 4lh, 1873.
The market for Beef Cattle is dull, and fully J^c lower ;
we quote fair to prime steers at ll3i@12xc. Receipts,
8143 head.
Cows and Calves rule duU and in the buver's favor ; wo
qnote at$80@85 for very choice Milch Cows, and$33@46
for poor stock. Receipts, ! 69 head.
Veal Calves have ruled dull, heavy, and )^c. lower than
last week- We quote at 5@83^e. trom common to best
mil'-h calves. Receipts, 2738 head.
Sheep and Lambs.— The market is dull and heavy. We
quote sheared sheep at 3>4'®6c.,and ^®(^%c. for choice.
Spring Lambs are quoted at 6ffl9c., chiefly at 63.^@8. Re-
ce'pts, 21,228 head.
Swine The market is quiet. We quote Hvfl Hogs a
5V^@55^c. Dressed Hogs are steady at G%®1%a. Re-
ceipts, 28,721 head. ^
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
MONDAT, Aug; 4, 1873.
Pi.ouR, etc.-- Receipts of flour, 14,359 bbls. Flour Is
quiet and heavv. Holders are disposed to realize, and the
demand is chiefly to supply pressing wants ot home trade.
Sales 9000 bbls. at *4 90@5 25 for superfine Western and
State ; ft) 85@,6.20 for common to good extra West«)rn and
State; (fS 25(017.10 for good to choice do. ; |7.05@8.25 for
common to choice white wheat. Western extra; $6.10®
8.50 for common to good extra Ohio ; 16 45»10.75 for com-
mon to choice extra St. Louis, the market clo^'ing dull.
Southern Flour is steady. Sales of 050 bbls. at 86 25®
7 85 for common to fair extra, and 87 90;a'.10.75 for good to
choice do. Rye Flour is a shade firmer. Sales of 509 bbls
at S'4.30@5.30. Corn Meal is steady. Sales of 650 bbls. at
|3.15@3.40 for Western, and $3 80@3.90 for Brandywine.
Grain.— Receipts of wheat, 228 707 bush. Wheat open-
ed steady and closed heavy and l@2c. lower. Holders are
disposed to realiz<^. The firmness of freights materially
checks the export demand. Sales of 157,000 bush, at $1 10(0
1.21 for rejected spring; $1.15311.40 for lo^a spring; Sl.23
@ 1.30 for No. 3 spring; !S1.25ol.44 for ungraded spring;
$1.35 for No. 2 Chicago; 81.40ail.41 for No. 2 Milwaukee,
and |1.50 for choice No. 1 Duluth ; also sales of 20 000 bush,
of No. 2 Milwaukee for first half October, $1.42. Rye is
quiet and firm at 81X@82c. Barley and malt dull and un-
changed.
' Receipts of corn, 166,754 bush. Corn opened without de •
cided change, and closed slightly in buyers' favor, with a
limited export and home trane demand. Sales 123,000
bush, at .50®54c. for steamer Western mixed; 55(2)563^0.
for sail • 48(a50c. fcr heated ; 50c. for kiln dried ; 57c. for
yellow Western, and 72(^78c. for white Western. Receipts
of Oats 20 358 bush. Oats are a shade firmer and less
active ; the trade generally are holding oflF. Sales 48,000
bush, at 4lX@'12c. for new mixed Western; 48@52c. for
white Western, and 41ia!42c. for black do.
Eggs are dull at W/2®2Qyi'^. for State and Pennsyl-
vania.
Hat is quiet and unchanged.
Hops are quiet and without decided change.
Provisions— Pork Is firmer, with more doing. Sales
of 2000 bbls. of mess, on spot and for August, at ^ll fi"'@,
17.75. Beef is steady and quiet. Sales of 75 bbls. at $9(®
10.50 for plain mess, and $n@12 50 for extra do. Bepf
hams are unchanged at $25531. Tierce beef is steady at
$17(Sj21 for prime mess, and 822@23 for India do.
Cut meats are quiet and without decided rhange.
Middles are quiet. Sales of 125 bPx«-s of short clear at
lOc. 25 boxes of short ribs at 9'/4c., and 60 boxes light long
clear, 35 tcs. at 9c.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic Economy and Miscellany,
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVONT.
" The Farmer is the founder of civUlzation." — WEBSTER.
Vol V.
SEFTLMBEK, 1S7S.
J^o. 9,
ESSAY
ON CLIMBING PLANTS.
BY J. STAUFFER.
THE Dioscorea batata, or Chinese yam plant,
to which my attention was called by Mr.
John Zimmerman, and of which a notice was pub.
lished in the Lancaster (daily) Express of August,
setting forth the peculiarity of this twining plant,
being one of the stem twiners, that hug up the
stem or plant to which they cling for support,
usually with a firm grasp. But in this instance,
being trained to a tall rose bush, exceedingly
crowded with long and sharp thorns on all its
branches, the dioscorea, embraced the thorny stems
very loosely, keeping a respectful distance— evi-
dently avoiding contact with the thorns of the
rose bush. Mr. Z. having noticed this, concluded
to remove the thorns from several branches out of
the many above the twines, and, rather to his
surprise, noticed that the ascending dioscorea avoid.
ed the prickly branches and selected those that had
the thorns removed from them, indicating plainly
that some law governed which influenced the
plant in its choice. This led to reflections and
remarks which I design to discuss more fully.
With regard to the motion of plants, a communi-
cation from Prof. W. H. Brewer, of Washington
College, Pa., published in Silliman's Journal,
March, 1850, in reference to the common Lima
bean, and common Morning Glory, gives the
following data :
1st. That during the day winding plants, like
others, grow toward the light.
2d. That they possess the property of turning
toward some solid support.
3d. That this is more manifest by night than
by day, and the most so on cool nights following
hot days.
4th. That this is not controlled by any influence
of light or its absence, exerted by he support.
5th. That heat is the controlling cause, and that
such plants will only turn (unless it will be acci-
dentally) toward a support, the temperature of
which is higher than that of the surrounding air
6th. That the color and the material of the sup
port exert no influence further than they influence
the radiation and absorption of heat ; and
7th. That when such plants are in actual.'fcontact
with some support, the tendency to wind spirally
around it is much greater than they manifested
in order to reach it.
The above seven deductions are the results of
Prof. Brewer's observations, and are worthy of
attention. I referred to remarks made by Prof.
Asa Gray (in my former article) as published in
the Proc. of the American Academy (vol. iv. p.
98) August, 1858, wherein he endorses the views
of Prof. Mohl— that "a dull irratability exists in
the stems of twining plants and tendrils." Then
he gives his experiments that tendrils will coil
up more or less promptly after being touched, or
brought with a slight force into contact with a
foreign body ; and in some plants the movement
of coiling is rapid enough to be directly seen by
the eye ; indeed, is cousiderally quicker than is
needful for being visible. " And," he continues,
" to complete the parallel, as the leaves of the-
Sinsitive plant, and the like, after closing by irri-
tation, resume after a while their ordinary expand-
ed position, so the tendrils, of the Sieyos angu-
latus, where the tendril was but slightly krooked at
the end, when slightly pressed made 1^ turn in
four seconds ; then, in a minute after, resume its for-
mer position ; this was three times repeated with
162
THE LAJ^CASTER FABMER.
a like response, only slower in its motions." He
considers the motion is caused by a contraction of
the cells on the concave side of the coil. In
conclusion he says : " But I have not had an appor-
tunity for making a decisive experiment." The
cause then is an open question — since we require
to know why the " cell contracts" on any side to
cause the coiling or movement. So, if caused by
such a contraction, what causes that contraction?
But alas ! such is the learned nonsense when men
attempt to explain certain intangible movements
in the vital organism of plants or animals. Here
allow me to mention some of the diiferent sorts of
climbers, such as hook-climbers, root-climbers,
spiral-twiners, with leaf-climbers and tendril
bearers, which agree in their power of spon-
taneously revolving and of grasping objects which
they reach. The latter are the most numerous in
kinds, and most perfect in mechanism ; they can
easily ramble over the wide-spread branches and
avail themselves of their sun-lit surface. Tendril
bearing plants can cling closer than mere twiners;
in order to withstand the wind, they are not so
easily blown from their support. In the long thin
tendrils but little organic matter is expended in
their development, and yet a wide range of attach-
ment is had.
Thefee tendrils being given for a specific purpose
they are always destitute of buds or leaves. The
tendril commonly grows straight and outstretched,
until it reaches some neighboring support, such as
a stem, when its apex hooks around it to secure a
hold, when the whole tendril shortens itself by
coiling up spirally and so draws the shoot of the
growing plant nearer to the supporting object.
The Virginia creeper, a member of the grape vine
family, climbs the side of the brick walls of a
building, because the tendrils are not sufiBcient, and
no object is presented for it to twine around ; conse-
sequently the tips expand into a fiat disk or sucker j
like the ivy does by its sucker-like rootlets.
Tendrils like in the common pea are at the end of
the pedicle that supports the leaflets, and of course
numerous modifications take place ; but always
apparently for a definite purpose.
In the grape family, vitis, (the grape vine), and
Amplelopsis or Virginia creeper, which has five
digitate leaflets, hence called A quinquefolia, is
the only species like the vine, as its Greek name
implies — yet differs, and instead of requiring a trel-
lis or branches to twine around, it has chosen to
adhere — as if it were by suction. We little under-
stand, why as Darwin says, such selection and
adaption is " developed" as a simple chemical laxo.
The wisdom or origin of this law is still as much
hidden ; we may as well admit intelligence and de-
sign, manifesting a governing mind, which we may
as well acknowledge as God, and the God of na-
ture and revelation will be found the same, how-
ever diversified in the manifestations. But as re-
gards the motion of plants it may be well to
refer to the recent discovery by M. Oohn, a Grer-
man naturalist, of a contractile tissue in plants,
identical in properties with the muscular tissue of
animals, and adds one more striking fact to the
accumulated evidence of indenty between the veg-
etable and animal organizations It is affirmed
that " well-informed biologists have for some time
past been agreed on the impossibility of drawing
any absolute lines of demarcation between the two.
Instead of the marked opposition which may still
be read in popular hand-books, thrown into the
form of tabulated contrasts, we have learned that
the physical, chemical, and physiological charac-
ters, by which the plant and animal were supposed
to be separated are enuquivocally interested in
both. It is impossible to deny that plants have
mobility, ands ome of them even locomotion. If
we deny them sensibility, it is on grounds which
will equally exclude many classes of animals, and
these grounds are anatomical. It is because
we fail to detect the mechaniam of sensibility,
that we endeavor to interpret the phenomena as
physical. It is because we associate sensibiity
and contractibility with peculiar, nervous, and
muscular structures that we deny that certain phe-
nomena observed in plants are what we should
consider them to be, if we could discover nerves
and muscles. Take the case of the sensitive plant,
Dionoea Musciputa or fly-trap. The fringed edges
of the leaves, with hairs like an eye-lid. The ar-
rangement of the hairs on the inside of the leaf —
so that an insect alighting on any part will come
in contact with one of these hairs, which is so sen-
sitive as to cause action and the leaves close upon
each other like a spring-trap and secures the in-
sect, what then ? — it is soon digested ; as much
so by some absorbing process, as if within the
stomach of an animal. The whole leaf does not
appear to be sensitive, the hairs like nerves, how-
ever, communicate action; be it muscular, electric
or what else you please, they close upon the cap-
tive and seem fitted for that object. In polyps
we find muscles, but no nerves, in the plant, neith-
er nerves or muscles. There is contractility in
either case, and sensibility of some kind must be
admitted, plants have a contractile tissue; how
does it differ from muscular tissue ? These con-
tractile cells in the plant, and a diagram of the
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
163
muscles in a fresh-water polyp would differ very
little from a diagram of a cellular tissue in plants.
Thus, research and inquiry lead us to modify
old fogy notions, without leaving the rock, to
which we must cling by a strong cord of faith we
must secure our anchor in the rock, that we may
be drawn in again when out " at sea " in vain
speculation, or scientific skepticism, and material-
istic dodges. The true and spiritual still remain,
however we may differ in our theories or faith. I
verily believe a Holy Spirit can inspire me
with high and holy thoughts, and a devilish spir-
it with low and evil thoughts, a something outside
of my own mind, be it positive or negative intelli-
gent electricity as some would seem to fancy. The
brain is not mind, but, like the muscles and organs
of speech, simply a medium through which it mani-
fests itself to our physical senses. I claim we have
other senses, and are just as much a spiritual body
as we are a physical body. This may seem out
of place, but the same idea pertains to plants. I
verily believe that there are fruits and flowers
blooming in the spiritual spheres far exceeding
anything that our natural eyes have yet seen, or
we dreamed of. Is that a strange belief — nay, is
it not warranted by our sacred teachings. All
have their due relation to each other, and can only
be matter of faith or revelation, when the mind
enters the domain of the physically invisible.
And yet the faculties of men differ : one accepts
as a truth, by some law — be it that of faith or in-
duction, which others reject as halucination, it is
equally true that hallucinations have the same
power over mind as truth has, hence error is as ram-
pant and dominant as truth is strong or patient to
submit. By the fruit we must judge the tree, so
whether love and good-will prevails, or hate and
selfishness, they differ, and for this difference there
is a cause. May God help us to find it out, and
improve by our knowledge.
AGRICULTURE.
EXPERIMENTAL FARM STATISTICS.
FROM the records of the Chester county Exper-
imental Farm we have extracted the following
results of experiments on grain, grass and fertil-
izers :
For the experiments on wheat, the plots were
laid out on oats and barley stubble ; the ground
highly manured with an application of bone and
ash compost, at the rate of 400 lbs. dissolved bone
and 8 bushels of ashes per acre. The manure
ploughed down, and the phosphate sown on top
and harrowed in. The plots contain ^ of an acre,
run east and west, and begin at the south side of
west part of the field. They begin with one drill
breadth of wheat screenings, of Lancaster early
wheat -to compare with plot No. 1, of the same
wheat, only perfect grains. Sown September 28.
Namo of Wheat. Pounds per % Acre.
Lancaster Red. ...... 230
Rough and Ready. - ■ -
Brittany.
Treadwell, (failed to come up)
Rogers. - - - - .
Weeks White.
Lonzelle. - • - - .
Fultz. ----..
Jennings. - - - . -
Shoemaker. - - - - .
Tappahancock. ....
Dot Wheat. . . - . .
Arnold, No. O.-
Kansas, or Italian Red. - - -
Screenings. - - -
Good Seed. -----
271
- 22U
- 216
216J
- 213
282^
- 223|
228|
- 147^
22 6i
- 204i
22\
- 150
150
The following wheat experiments were made on
ground manured in the Spring, and sown with
Hungarian grass, then fertilized with 400 pounds
of bone broadcast, and 100 drilled in with the
wheat. Sown with Fultz wheat on September 18,
except the first plot which was sown on Septem-
ber 28. Plots containing oae-.sixteeuth of an
acre:
Pomicls per Plot.
1. Sown September 28th. . - - . 62^
2. Harrowed in ; 2 bushels seed per acre. - 90^
3. Drilled in 2^ inches deep. - • - 88i
4. Drilled in ^ inch deep covered with roller. 77l
5. " U " " 57
6. " 4 " " 71
7. " one bushel to acre. - - 75^
8. " two " " " 87^
Experiments were made with different kinds of
oats and barley, sown on cornstalk ground, in plots
of one-eighth of an acre, with the following re-
sults :
Pounds per Plot.
Excelsior Oats. - . . . . 176
White Shoenen. 198
Somerset. - 174:^
Surprise. - - - - - - - 195i^
White Poland. ...... 220i
Black Norway. . - . . - 199
Scotch Burlie. -.-.-- 125
Black Hungarian. - - - - - 163
Thanet Barley. 67^
Common "--.--- 66
Probistow" 100
Early Yellow Oats. - - - - 189
Surprise Oats, rolled in. - - - - 157
" " drilled in. - - - 165
" " sowed and harrowed. - 129^
Experiments were also made to show the effect
of different fertilizers on grass :
164
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
The fertilizers were sown March 19th, 1873, on
sod field. Mown one year. The plots contained
one-sixteenth of an acre, and were those used a
programme plowing lots. When in wheat, fer
tilizers were mostly sown at the rate of $10 worth
j^er acre.
Potash and soda equal parts.
Sal. Ammonia.
Plaster. - - . -
Super phosphate. -
Dissolved Carboli.
Kianite. - . - -
Sharpless' Mixture.
Ground Bone (Harrisburg)
Bone and Ashes
Lime and salt.
Cope's Ammoniated.
Goes'. - - . - ■
Baughs. ....
Berger & Bulls.
Moro Phillips. -
Yarnall's Phosphate.
Nothing. . - - -
Warring's Heated Bone.
" Fresh Ground. -
Pennock's Fertilizer.
Weight of
ibs. Cost. Hays
16 4c. 310
U 6| 290
- Ipk. 252
2^ 2i 312
. 37| 1| 366
47 1^ 256
- 50 1^ 267
27^ 2^ 273
30 2 256
- ^bus. 269
Ti\ 2\ 314
27i 2\ 374
27^ 2^ 349
27:i 2\ 361
27| 2\ 400
22 2^ 340
234
- 27 2^ 220
27^ 2i 219
39 206
THE ECONOMY OF SOILING.
Soiling or the cutting of green food for stock in
Summer is by far the most profitable way of feed-
ing the farm animals, and will, I think, become
more generally practised than it is at present. A
few have tried it already and find it to be a great
advantage.
Perhaps it would not be amiss to note down
some of the reasons for and against this method
and as everything that will be of benefit to the
farmer is worthy of discussion, I propose to give
my views in its favor. In the first place we know
that to keep a good sized dairy or several head of
cattle on good pasture from early Spring until
after harvest, or through the Summer season re-
quires about an acre to every head of stock, or at
least we might suppose it to be a fair average as to
the capability of Chester county land to afford
sufficient food. By continual cropping some farms
will no doubt do better while others not so well.
Now, suppose a farmer owning one hundred acres
of land, can, accordi.;g to this rule, keep fifteen
head of stock, a dairy of that size for instance, in
eluding the working animals, by pasturing nearly
fifteen acres of land, could he not by keeping the
animals in the yard on good mixed feed until the
grass got well started, and then using a good sized
lot, or a small field, say from 3 to 5 acres as an
inclosure, which would probably afford about two
weeks pasture of itself and might also be adjoin-
ing those we expected to mow for hay. As soon
as the grass became of any size it could be cut and
thrown over the fence, or hauled a short distance
and fed out to them. Now comes the clamor : " 0
that's too much work," and we don't want to take
up time that way when we can easily turn thera
into another field and let them feed themselves
But, remember that while you are cutting the food
off this small portion of the field, the remainder of
it is contmually growing and you will find when
the time for harvest approaches that you will have
10 or 15 tons of hay more than if all had been pastured
Now I say that will more than pay for the extra
work, besides furnishing a much larger amount of
Winter provender and enabling the farmer to keep
one-half or one-third more stock and consequently
increasing the amount of plant food given back to
the soil, and here lies the main secret of success in
agriculture. Just in proportion as the soil is sup-
plied with nutriment for the growing plant wi 1
nature's bounty be lavished to us. Then in regard
to the extra labor, it is very often work that has
to be done anyhow. After going around the
edges of the field it is all ready for a machine to
start into it, with the fence corners already clean-
ed out and not to bother with in harvest, and as
to the time taken up we will find it to be like a
great many other things. It does not take long
when we once get at it and is very little hinderance
to regular Spring work, besides farming cannot be
carried on without work, nor can any useful occu-
pation merit success unless it has earnest labor for
its basis, and when an increased amount of labor
brings an additional increase of profit, there is no
reason why we should not avail ourselves of the
advantage. We can also dispense with several
fences, which sooner or later will become a neces-
sity, from the rapidly diminishing supply of the
material necessary to keep them up. Try it,
farmers, and satisfy yourselves ; don't think be-
cause we have had but one way, that it will always
be the best way. The march of science and uni-
versal progress, is continually unfolding to the
thinking mind new lights by which to guide the
faithful toiler and honor his calling.— Fi/^a^e
Record.
PEQUEA FARMERS' CLUB.
The Club was called to order at the home of its
President, Mr. John Bachman, Strasburg town-
ship, August 9, at 11:15, a. ra. The members
were all refreshed after their annual vacation
(July being the month they do not meet), and
THE LA J^ CASTER FARMER.
165
were all present except their genial friend, Al.
Herr. Even he was present in spirit, as will be
seen at the close of this letter. KoU was called;
minutes read; no reports of committees.
Mr. Elias Brtickbill was then called on to give
his experience as to his trip to the " Beacon Stock
Farm." "When he went there Mr. Wm. Crozier
was in the barn unloading hay, with a horse.
They went to the house. Mr. B. had the pleasure
of eating a luncheon that was prepared by the
beautiful, intelligent and accomplished wife of
" the lord of the Beacon." The Scotch plows,
drill plows, Scotch chain harrows, iron rollers, &c.,
&c., that he spoke of were worth seeing, but I
have no room to describe them in this brief report.
The engine is fifty feet from his barn, and the
power is transmitted by an endless chain. His
cattle are the envy and admiration of all who see
them. The Alderneys are solid and compactly
built, fine hair, fawn color, broad rump, narrow
withers, small neck, and altogether peaceful. The
Ayreshires are rather nobler looking, lean and fat,
large udders and great milkers. Mr. Crozier is a
Scotchman. His farm is 58 miles from New
York, near Northport, Long Island. He brought
his bell cow (Ayreshire) with him from England.
She is now 17 years old — the best cow in the
United States, and the calves she has dropped
brought her owner the round sum of $.5,000. The
Alderney cow (with bell) took several prizes at
the New England fairs. She gave 3^ inches of
cream from 8 inches of milk. He thinks nothing
better than turnips, cabbages and corn, for soiling,
and says a man is good-for-nothing who cannot
take away an acre of turnips in a day. He has
six Clydesdale and four Morgan horses. They
are well-bred, drooped behind, weigh 1,800, took a
premium in Scotland, and a diploma at the Mas-
sachusetts Society, in 1864. He has Cotswold
and Southdown sheep, and a few Cashmere goats.
His Berkshire swine are superior animals. One
male recently sold for $800. Another, fifteen
months old, dressed, 6 0 lbs. He sent the hams,
and other choice pieces, to printers, for a puff.
Horace Greeley, Orange Judd, and the editor of
the Country Gentleman were the untutored
"starvelings" who made a note of his successful
enterprise and shrewd generosity. Mr. Crozier
thinks his pork the finest in the world. He
once asked a California gentleman to dine with
him. The Californian couldn't eat the animal
that "had the devil in it." It was too near the
dinner hour to prepare chicken. They moved up
to the table. Mr. C. said to his western friend,
"can I help you to some lamb-chop?" The
stranger took it with a gracious acknowledgement,
and ate it with a relish that asked for more. He
was re-helped and told that he had been eating
fresh pork. This bit of information did nut in-
crease his appetite worth a cent.
I have given you a very detailed account of "b
flying visit to a celebrated stock farm. It will
give our Lancaster county farmers a vague idea
of how a first-class farm is conducted and what it
returns. I should have added that he realized
$4,000 from the pigs dropped by a Berkshire sow
in eleven years. He expects to raise 120 bushels
of corn to the acre and will be satisfied with
nothing less. He works his fields in rotation, and
leaves them lay in grass three years. The
secretary now read a letter to the club from Aldus
Oerr. Here is a synopsis of it :
" St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 4, 1873.
" To the Pequea Farmers' Club : — I saw much
that was new and curious since I left you. Coming
through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, I
passed through as beautiful an agricultural
district as man can desire. The poet or the
materialist alike would have been pleased. I left
Sedalia, Mo., came due south and noticed at once
the great change which frontier life suggests — few
ladies, and boisterous conversation. The land
lies innocent of cultivator and plow-share. No
one can pass through the beautiful lands lying
idle for the amusement of the noble (?) Indian,
and have his love for our forest brother greatly
increased. They are a sneaking, dirty, lazy race,
and extermination is the only medicine that Avill
cure this complicated ailment. Texas has every
variety of climate. Their crops are on an
average equal to yours. Texas suffers from ex-
tremes - too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry.
'I'he cold spells are short, but severe from the
sudden change. Some plant a crop and leave it to
the mercy of the elements. Even this return is
fair. Sherman is a small town in the north of
Texas. I like the country around it very much
Dallas is .58 miles farther south. If we were
determined to become a Texan farmer these sec-
tions would certainly receive attention. Houston
and Austin have advantages for commercial pur-
poses. I made it a point to gather all the infor-
mation on stock raising that was afloat. Every-
thing was discouraging. You must have a tract
of your own if you want to make it pay. The
best brander is the best man in branding time ;
and the native Texans and Mexicans can beat us
ten to one. Land is cheap; fencing materia'
166
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
high. I saw excellent land, six miles from Austin,
that could have been bought for from $2.50 to $5
per acre. And between Houston and Galveston
hundreds of acres of beautiful pastures for even
less. Sheep raising has been a failure. The
mountain land is best adapted to sheep, and it is
not cleared. Wild Indians, too, exist, and they
sometimes gobble them up. The cattle and horses
were superior to what I expected to find them. I
will now leave the " Lone Star " and take you to
the farm of Jeff. K. Clark, seven miles from St.
Louis, Mo. This gentleman and W. T. Walters,
of Baltimore, are the only men in the country who
have imported Percheron horses. " Napoleon
Bonaparte " is his favoi'ite horse. He looks like
" Hercules." Mr. Clark sold two Percheron colts
— one a yearling and the other a two-year old — for
$1,000 a piece. One of them afterward trotted a
mile in 3 10 and sold for $9,000. I asked him if
he had a price on his French mare. He said he
was not anxious to sell, but $5,000 would persuade
him.
" Your absent member,
"A. C. Herr."
The latter part of Mr. H.'s letter shows how
rapidly the Percheron horses are growing in favor
throughout the country. We feel a local pride in
knowing that the Pequea Farmers' Club bought
the flower of W. T. Walter's stables at his sale
last Fall. If the farmers in the county knew their
best interests, they would secure the services of
the best Percheron in the country. This remark-
able horse is now at Locust Grove farm — residence
of Aldus Groff — and it would be worth any
horse-fanciers while to go and see him.
The next meeting of the Club will be held at
the farm of Mr. Bachman. Oake Deane.
— Examiner.
INDIANA WHEAT.
I send you a sample of a new variety of wheat
that I have been raising for two seasons, and I
think it is the best wheat I have ever had on my
farm. I ploughed my field, (oats stubbles) early
in August, with a three-horse team, breaking it up
about a foot deep. Before sowing, the middle of
September, I harrowed it, then sowed thirteen
bushels on ten acres, harrowed again, dragged
with a drag made of two-inch plank to smooth
the ground,and I prefer a drag to a roller, as being
lighter for horses, and it grinds up all lumps and
does not pack the land. Then sowed one and a
half bushels of timothy seed (ten acres in the field).
On the 13th of March I sowed one and a quarter
bushels of clover-seed, sowing it across the field
at right angles to the direction I had sown the
wheat and timothy, as by this means I avoid
making unsightly strips that disfigure a field and
will make it appear slovenly. No manure had
been put on the field for three years, and the land
has been in cultivation for sixty years.
One-half the field was sown in Diehl wheat, and
the remainder with the kind I send you. No dif-
ference in the time of sowing or in the quality of
the land ; but while the Diehl was all down, even,
broken and very hard to cut, the new kind all
stood up and could be cradled in any direction
and will yield from twenty-five to thirty bushels
to the acre, or from five to ten bushels an acre
more than the Diehl.
We have tried it for two seasons with about the
same result. Please give your opinion of the sam-
ple I send you, as my axe is sharp and does not
need grinding. I have a splendid "set" of timo-
thy and clover on my field, the best I ever saw.
Albert M. Smith.
Wayne County, Indiana.
RemarTcs — The heads are larger and the grain
plumper than the Mediterranean variety raised in
this section. If twenty-five bushels of this wheat
can be raised per acre, it will prove an acquisition
of great value to the farming interests of the
country. — Germantown Telegraph.
Pasturing Too Much. — It is gradually getting
to be understood that it does not pay to pasture
good grain land in the summer. On lands that
for any reason may not be cultivated— those that
are too moist, too uneven, rough or stony, where
the grass is not easily gathered or may not pay
for gathei'ing — of course pasturing is the only
way to secure the small income such land may
afford. But the better way is to improve such
land. If it is too wet, under-drain it and make it
dry. Low, wet lands are very generally rich, and
pay well for improving. Rough, stony lands also
often pay well for clearing and bringing into cul-
tivation. Hence, such lands should only be left
for permanent pasturage when it is impracticable
to bring them into good condition for cultivation.
Good, permanent grass lands, sure for a fair yield
of hay or pasture, cannot be pastured to the best
advantage. A portion of the growth that may
be secured for hay is lost in a pasture. Land
covered by droppings of stock cannot produce
grass, and the rank growth surrounding it will be
left. The hoofs of cattle, especially of horses and
THE LAJTCASTER FARMER.
167
colts, tread out and prevent the growth of not a
little grass. And then, unless the field is fed
very close, more or less will get old and dry and
not be eaten at all, while, strange as it may ap-
pear, land improves faster when in meadow than
when in pasture. The growth in a meadow
makes a thicker and better sod, and a much larger
growth of grass and clover roots, and both are
left to gradually improve the soil. True, this de-
pends in some measure on the treatment the
meadow receives. If fed close from the time
the hay is removed until winter, and perhaps to
some extent in the spring, there may be very little
improvement while the grass will be more likely
to run out. If not fed close, and something is
left to protect the soil and grass plants in hot
weather, as well as through the winter, the crops
will be better, the grass hold out longer, and the
improvement of the land be more sure and decided
It may not be well to leave too large a growth on
the land through the winter, at least not enough
to smother the plants or induce mice to live and
woi-k under the dead grass ; but this is seldom the
case— most farmers err the other way. Perhaps
two cuttings for hay, one early and the other not
far from the first of September (the fall growth
being left on the land.) will do well. — Cor. Coun-
try Gentleman.
DOMESTIC
HUSMAN'S METHOD OF rfUMMP]R PRUN-
ING THE GRAPE-VINE.
WITHOUT proper and judicious summer
pruning it is impossible o prune judiciously
fall. If you have allowed six or eight
canes to grow in summer, where you need but two
or three, none of them will be fit to bear a full
crop, nor be properly developed. We prune long-
er in the fall than the majority of our vintners,
which gives a double advantage ; should the frost
of winter have injured or killed any of the first
buds, we still have enough left ; and should this
not be the case, we still have our choice to rub off
all imperfect shoots ; to reduce the number of
branches at the first pinching, and thus retain
only strong canes for next year's fruiting, and
have only large, well developed bunches.
But secure these advantages, we have certain
rules, which we follow strictly. \Ye are glad to
see that the attention of the grape-growers of the
country is thoroughly aroused to the importance
of this subject, and that the old practice of cutting
and slashing the young growth of July and
August is generally discountenanced. It has mur-
dered more promising vineyards than any other
practice. But the people are apt to run into ex-
tremes, and many are now advocating the " let
alone" doctrine. We think both are wrong, and
that the true course to steer is in the middle.
1. Perform the operation early. Do it as soon
as the shoots are six inches long. At this time
you can overlook your vine much easier. Every
young shoot is soft and pliable. You do not rob
the vine of a quantity of foliage it cannot spare
(as the leaves are the lungs of the plant and the
elevators of the sap). You can do three times the
work you can perform a week later, when the
shoots have become hardened and intertwined by
their tendrils. Remembering that the knife should
have nothing to do with summer pruning, your
thumb and finger should perform all the work, and
they can do it easily if it is done early.
2. Perform it thoroughly and systematically.
Select the shoots you intend for bearing wood next
year. These are left unchecked ; but do not leave
more than you really need. Remember that each
part of the vine should be thoroughly ventilated,
and if you crowd it too much, none of the canes
will ripen their wood as thoroughly nor be as
vigorous as when each has room, air and light.
Having selected these, commence at the bottom
of the vine, rubbing oif all the superfluous shoots
and all which appear weak or imperfect. Then
go over each arm or part of the vine, pinching
every fruit-bearing branch above the last bunch
of grapes, or, if this should look weak or imper-
fect, remove it and pinch back to the first per-
fectly developed bunch. Should the bud have
pushed out two or three shoots, it will generally
be advisable to leave the strongest, and remove
the balance. Do not think that you can do part
of it a little later, but be unsparing in taking
away what you intend taking this time. Destroy
all the caterpillars, and all the insects you find
feeding on the vines ; the steel-blue beetle, which
will eat into the buds ; but protect the lady-bug,
mantis, and all the friends of the vine.
We come now to the second stage of the
summer pruning. After the first pinching,
the dormant buds in the axils of the leaves, on
fruit-bearing shoots, will each push out a lateral
shoot opposite the young bunches. Our second
operation consists in pinching off these lateral-
back to one leaf as soon as we get hold of the
shoot above the firet leaf, so that we get a young
and vigorous leaf additional, opposite to each
bunch of grapes. These serve as elevators of sap,
and also an excellent protection and shade to the
168
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
fruit. Remember our aim is not to rob the plant
of its foliage, but to make two leaves grow where
there was but one before, and at a place where
they are of more benefit to the fruit. By our
method, our rows of vines have the appearance of
leafy walls, each bunch of the fruit properly
shaded, and yet each part of the vine is properly
ventilated We come now to another one of those
accidental discoveries, which has proved of great
use to us in the management of the Concord,
Herbemont, Taylor, etc. In the summer of 1862,
when a piece of Concord, planted in 1861, was
growing rapidly, a severe hailstorm cut up the
young shoots, completely defoliating- them, and
breaking the tender and succulent shoots at a
height of about two feet. The vines were grow
ing rapidly, and the dormant buds in the axils of
the leaves immediately pushed out laterals, which
made fair-sized canes. In the following fall when
we commenced to prune we found from three to
five of these strong laterals on each cane, and ac-
cordingly shortened them in from three to five and
six buds each. On these laterals we raised as fine
a crop of grapes as we ever saw — certainly much
finer than we had ever before raised on the strong
canes ; and we have since learned to imitate hail-
storms by pinching the leaders of young shoots
when they have grown, say two feet, forcing our
the laterals and growing out fruit on the latter,
thus meeting with another illustration of the old
proverb, " It is an ill wind that blows nobody any
After the sound pinching of the fruit-bearing
branches, as described above, fhe lateral will gen-
erally start once more, and we pinch the young
growth again to one leaf, thus giving each lateral
two well developed leaves. The whole course
should be completed about the middle of June
here, and whatever grows hereafter may be left. In
closing, let us glance at the object we have in
view:
1. To keep the vines within proper bounds, so
that it is at all times under the conrrol of the
vintner, without weakening its constitution by
robbing it of a great amount of foliage.
2. Judicious thinning of the fruit at a time
when no vigor has been expended in its develop-
ment.
3. Developing strong, healthy foliage, by forc-
ing the growth of the laterals and having two
young, healthy leaves opposite each bunce, which
will shade the fruit and serve as conductors of the
sap to the fruit.
4. Growing vigorous canes for next year's fruit-
ing and no more, thereby making them stronger ;
as every part of the vine is accessible to light and
air, the wood will ripen better and more uniformly.
5. Dectruction of noxious insects. As the
vintner has to look over each shoot of the vine,
this is dane more thoroughly and systematically
than by any other process.
«
CHEESE MAKING IN SMALL DAIRIES
A correspondent of the Maine Farmer writes :
' I commenced making cheese to-day from the
milk of two cows, and as some one else just com-
menced as a farmer's wife may wish to use the
milk of a few cows to the best advantage, who, like
'myself, live far from ' cheese factories,' and who
find that excessiveheat and frequent thunder causes
the milk to sour too soon to make it profitable to
make butter. I used to be troubled to get the
curds, made different days, to adhere, but now I
do perfectly. I strain the milk that is brought in
at night in a large pail, and usually allow a table-
spoonful of rennet to ten quarts of milk. After
it ' comes' I cut it in checks and leave it in a cool,
safe place till more ing, when I find it settled suf-
ficiently to pour in a cloth on a basket. I place
the corners of the cloth so that the curd will be
covered, and set a pan of warm water on it, and
when the morning's milk is set in a similar way
and cut, and it commences to settle, (or the curd
and whey separates), I pour it over the curd in
the basket. When drained four or five hours, I
cut it in thin slices and pour over it boiling water,
and allow it to remain till cold, then chop it finely
and salt, and tie it closely in a cloth and hang it
up in the cellar. This process is repeated till
enough accumulates to make a good sized cheese.
MAKING SAUEIi-KilAUT.
The best we ever ate we ni;iili' ourselves for ma-
ny years, and for a considerable time with our own
liauds, and always from Savoy cabbage. It was
manufactured in this wise : In the first place let
your "stand" holding from a half barrel to a bar
rel, be thoroughly scalded out ; the cutter, the tub
and the stamper also well scalded. Take oS" all
the outer leaves of the cabbage, halve them, re-
move the heart and proceed with the cutting. Lay
some clean leaves at the botlmu of the stand,
sprinkle with a handful of salt, fill in half a bushel
of cut cabbage, stamp gently until the juice just
makes its appearance, then add another handful
of salt, and so on until the stand is full. Cover
over with cabbage leaves, place on top a clean
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
169
board fitting the space pretty well, and on that a
stone weighing twelve or fifteen pounds. Place
away in a cool spot, and when hard freezing comes
on remove to the cellar. It will be ready for use
in from four to six weeks The cabbage should
be cut tolerably coarse. The Savoy variety makes
the best article, but it is only half as productive
as the Drumhead and Flat Dutch. — Ed. of Cen-
tral Union Agriculturist.
Dutch Method of Fertilizing Fbuit Trees. —
As I have never yet seen any notice of the Dutch
method of applying liquid manure to fruit trees in
any of our agricultural papers, I now send you an
account of it, as I think it may be a useful way of
watering trees, even when no liquid manure is
desirable. An iron-shod stake of about three
inches in diameter, with a piece of wood nailed on
to one side to place the foot on, is used to make a
circle of holes just under the ends of the branches
about eighteen inches or two feet apart, and from
twelve to fifteen inches deep, and the liquid
manure poured into them : then the holes are easily
filled up again, so that the liquid cannot be
evaporated, or the earth baked hard by the heat
of the sun. In wet weather the liquid manure is
applied alone, but in dry weather an equal
quantity of water is mixed with it. This is used
about once a week. Two precautions are neces-
sary ; first, not to use the liquid manure until the
fruit is well set, otherwise the leaves will grow
too strong, and rot the fruit, causing it to drop
off; and secondly, to discontinue the use of it at
the first signs of approaching maturity. I have
used this plan on applying liquid manure to vines,
and also in watering cabbages, or anything else
either in the flower or kitchen garden ; but in
these cases a common walking-stick will answer.-
Canada Fanner.
Sheep as Weed Exterminators. — The Pacific
Rural Press says : " It may not be known to
farmers in general, that it is a common practice
in some parts of the country to turn sheep into
the potato field to eat down the weeds. The
-sheep will not touch the potato vine. This pas-
turing with sheep is advantageous when the crop
is a late planted one, so that the hoeing cannot be
completed until after the haying or harvesting is
finished. At the growing season it is the farmer's
aim to keep down the grass and weeds so that they
may be covered by the cultivator and hoe, when
they are used. Pasturing with sheep will attain
this object. Early planted crops, the cultivation
of which is completed in the early part of the
summer, frequently become grassy and weedy be-
fore the time of digging, when the size of the top
precludes cultivation. In this stage the sheep are
economical weeders. It is hardly necessary to
mention that the feed thus given to sheep, makes
a double profit, inasmuch as it costs absolutely
nothing, while labor is saved, and weeds pre-
vented from seeding.
How Much Milk to a Pound of Butter. — A
correspondent of the Practical Farmer writes that
he has carefully tried his dairy in order to ascer
tain the amount of milk required for one pound of
butter. The result, given by him, is that 241
pounds and 11 ounces of milk gave 27 pounds 2
ounces of cream, which made 11 pounds 2 ounces
of well-worked butter, or 1 pound of butter from
a little less than 22 pounds of milk.
The American Agriculturist gives an account
of a Massachusetts dairy of thirteen cows, whose
milk was so rich that 18:| pounds of milk made 1
of butter. This, we believe, is the lowest amount
we have had on record for a whole dairy. In
more than one case a lower figure has been shown
in the return of only one cow.
The lowest average we have yet noticed for a
factory is that of the Berry factory when 4,000
^ounds of milk made 200 pounds of butter, or 1
pound to 20 pounds of milk.
In the experiment with the dairy in Massachu-
setts the cows had no other feed than grass. The
feed of the dairy noticed in the Practical Farm-
er is not stated, but from the date we would sup-
pose it to have been hay and meal, or bran.—
Weekly Age.
Cheddar and Stilton Cheese. — The follow
ing extractis from a precent English work :
" The various kinds of cheeses which divide the
public favor owe their character in differences in
the manipulation of the curd, the character of the
pasture, and other less-evident peculiarities in the
manufacture. In Ayrshire the milk is heated tO"
85 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, when the rennet ia
added, and the consequence is a very rapid setting
of the curd. Cheddar Cheese is made by first
adding rennet. The curd is afterwards finely
broken and actively stirred in the whey, which is
heated by drawing off a portion, placing it into a
vessel of boiling water, and returning it to the re-
mainder. This is done twice ; the first time heat-
ing the whole mass up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit,
and the second time up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
170
THE LAJ^CASTER FABMER^
Half a pound per cent, of salt is added to the
crumbled curd.
A Stilton cheese is made from nine gallons of
new milk, and the cream of two or three gallons
of milk. Lamb's stomach is used as the basis of
th rennet, and when the curd is set it is not brok-
en, as in Gloucestershire, but it is laid upon a can-
vas strainer in a cheese basket. After a few
hours, when sufBciently firm, is laid in the vat
in slices, and salt is sprinkled between each layer.
Its own weight is sufficient pressure, and is turned
every two or thVee hours for the first day, and two
or three times the next day. The cheese must
remain in the vat three or four days.
Arresting Decay in Potatoes. — Various plans
for arresting decay in potatoes after digging have
from time to time been made public, such as dust-
ing with quicklime, gypsum, charcoal dust, etc.
Prof. Church of Cirencester, England, the eminent
agricultural chemist announces that sulphate of
lime appears to exercise a remarkable influence in
arresting the spread of decay in potatoes affected
by the potato disease. In one experiment the
salt was dusted over some tubers, partially decayed
from this cause, as they were being stowed away.
Some months afterward the potatoes were found
to have suffered no further injury. A similar
trial with powdered lime proved no be much less
effective.
A French horticulturist has perceived that,
wherever a fruit — a pear, for instance — rested
upon some branch or other support beneath it, that
fruit always grew to a larger size. The support
given to the fruit permits the sap-vessels of the
stem to remain open and the fruit can receive
abundant nourishment. Mr. Thomas Meehan
made substantially the same observation some
years ago.
Egg Sauce. — Chop two or more hard boiled
eggs, mix them with a white sauce, and serve.
Cucumber Sauce. — Chop fine a tablespoonful
of pickled cucumber, mix them with a white
sauce, give one boil, and it is ready.
Caper Sauce. — When the white sauce is made
add it to one, two or three tablespoonsful of cap-
ers, either whole or chopped.
Bechamel Sauce. — Is made exactly like white
sauce, with the exception that milk is used instead
of water.
Cream Sauce. — This is also made like a white
sauce, with the exception that cream is used in-
stead of water.
Blonde Sauce. — Broth is used for this instead
of water, and the rest of the process is the same
as for a white sauce.
Lobster Sauce. — Add two or three tablespoons-
ful of the flesh of boiled lobster, chopped, to a
white sauce.
Shrimp Sauce. — Boil and clean a quart of
shrimps, remove the shells, chop the flesh, and add
it to a white souce.
Oyster Sauce. —Blanch a pint or so of oysters,
mix them with a white sauce, add lemon juice to
suit the taste, and the sauce is made.
MussKN Sauce.— When the mussels are boiled
and thoroughly cleaned, chop about a pint of
them and mix with a white sauce, adding lemon
juice to taste.
Celery Sauce. —Blanch a few stalks of celery,
chop them rather fine, and add them to a white
sauce giving them just one boil after the celery is
in.
Mushroom Sauce. — It is made with either fresh
or preserved mushrooms. A tablespoonful or
more is chopped and mixed with a white sauce ;
then boil for half a minute, and it is done.
Truffle Sauce. — Made like the above, using
truffles instead of mushrooms.
Maitre d'Hotel Sauce.— This name is given to
the mixrure used with broiled fish or broiled meat,
and is composed of butter, chopped parsley, and
lemon juice when for fish, but vinegar instead of
lemon juice may be used when it is to be served
with meat.
Pierre Blot saya : The majority of sauces are
all commenced in the same way. When the but-
ter and flour are thoroughly mixed and cooked the
sauce is more than half made ; the rest of the
work is comparatively easy. The most inexperi-
enced housekeeper will be able to make almost
any sauce after two or three experiments.
ENTOMOLOGICAL.
THE COLORADO POTATO-BUG.
THE Colorado Potato-Bug(Z>or3/p/iora decen:-
lineata, or ten-striped doryphora,) is I under,
stand as far eastward on its travels as the Atlantic
States. You will all soon be as buggy as we are ;
however, we have learned something about this
pest, and are willing to impart our knowledge.
The potato-bug comes out of the ground in the
spring, just when potatoes begin to show, and is
then a full-grown beetle, of a bright yellow,
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
171
striped with black. It does not eat or do any
damage, its only office is to lay eggs. These are
deposited on the under sides of the leaves, are of a
bright golden yellow, are in patches of about an
inch square, quite easily found, and easily des-
troyed by picking off the leaves and burning them.
If the farmer has the hands to put on, he will
have but a few bugs of his oiun. But as these
beetles onl^/ fly at night, if his neighbors are not
as vigilant, he will have ample employment as they
fly from farm to farm. The old method here is to
"bug" the vines by day. Children walk along the
rows and knock them off into tin pans or old fruit
cans with a small stick, and then burn the bugs.
In a few days the eggs hatch into small bright-
red grubs, with a double row of black spots on
each side. These are extremely voracious and
grow rapidly, in a very short time totally destroy-
ing every leaf, and leaving the naked stems look-
ing as if fire had passed through them. This of
course stops all future growth, and the crop is lost.
In due time these grubs mature and descend to
the earth, and shortly emerge again as full-grown
beetles, ready for business.
In the grub state they are very soft, are easily
knocked off the plants, and cannot navigate on
loose soil. In fact this is their vulnerable state.
Acting upon these facts, I have this season
adopted a new plan for their extermination, which
I believe is original with myself, and has so far
proved very efficacious
While the plants are small I go over the ground
with a slanting tooth-harrow, the bars of which
knock off the grubs while the teeth bury them in
the earth. When the plants become too tall to
allow the use of the harrow, I use the cultivator,
(the one I described as being used here among
corn.) and attach by cords three or four bars of
wood, hanging transversely across underneath,
just in advance of the shovels ; these dangling
loosely against the vines, knock off the bugs, and
the shovels bury them. There they perish, as they
cannot travel yet in the earth. I do this in a hot-
dry day. I have this year given up bugging en,
tirely, and have perfect success by my new method-
I have two acres of potatoes, and probably could
not find a gill of bugs in all. I go over them in
this way once a week, occupying about two hours,
and not only keep off the bugs, but benefit the
crop largely by the frequent cultivation.
We read in the papers wonderful stories of their
poisonous qualities, but I have never known any
cases here. My children have been exposed enough
to test that matter well.
We are having now fine harvest weather, the
wheat, oats and barley are all ripe at once this
year, and farmers are very busy and hands scarce.
The grasshoppers have done much damage to
oats, and garden stuff is pretty much eaten by
them. — Cor. Germantown Telegraph.
[As the above-named insect may now be consid-
ered permanently domicilated in Lancaster county
— having been reported from at least a dozen lo-
calities, including Lancaster city — anything and
everything of a practical character in relation to
it becomes interesting ; and accordingly, we
publish the above, as very appropriate to the
subject. And, in this connection, we would re-
mark that many persons consider it too much
trouble, and too profitless, to bestow so much time
and labor to the destruction of the " Potato
Beetle" and the " Green Cabbage Worm ;" and
therefore, through despair, or wilful neglect, these
pests are suffered to increase with apparent impu-
nity. Now, we would respectfully beg leave to
ask, which— on grounds of morality. Christian be-
nevolence, and general usefulness — are the most
worthy crops to be saved, the potatoes and cab-
bage, or the tobacco? Any amount of vigilant
and persevering labor is bestowed on the tobacco,
from the time the seed is put into the ground, un -
til the crop is delivered into the hands of the
wholesale dealer ; and every tobacco grower seems
to know and concede that this labor is required, to
insure a remunerating return ; but they seem to
think that " potatoes and cabbage" ought to take
care of themselves.]
HORTICULTURAL.
THE BEST TIME TO EXTERMINATE
BUSHES.
A correspondent of the New York Herald
says :
Having been brought up on a farm I used to
hear much said by farmers in regard to the "best
time" for cutting bushes, etc., and remember well
the many uncertainties that existed and the
various opinions given on the subject. Some
recommended to cut at one season, some at an-
other ; some regarded the "moon," others the
'signs," etc. I also remember that the same kind
of under-brush, if cut at one season would start
again and grow luxuriantly, but if cut at another
would be completely "used up." I have also,
within the last few years, had opportunity to
notice the same facts ; and the conclusioa to
172
TEE la:n'caster farmer.
which I have arrived is, that different shrubs of
bushes, trees, etc., may be cut at different seasons
of the year. Some are killed by cutting as early
as the first of August ; and so on till October or
even November. The rule is this : " Cut any
plant or shrub about the time that it has done
growing for the season, and its destruction is al-
most certain." If cut before this it will general-
ly start again the next year. The exceptions are
few. So much for the fact, now for the theory.
First, in the spring of the year, all roots are vig-
orous ; hence, if a tree or shrub be cut at this
time, or while in full growth, the root will send
forth a new set of shoots. The exceptions are —
first, evergreens generally, as pine, hemlock,
spruce, etc. ; second, those that have a copious
flow of sap in the spring, as the maple, birch, etc.
Yet even some of those will start again if cut
soon after the buds have opened ; that is, after
the spring flow of sap has ceased ; except in the
case of old trees, in which the root appears not
sufficiently vigorous or the evaporation from the
new stump too rapid to allow of the formation of
new shoots. Second — in autumn, when a shrub
or tree has done growing for the season, the
active energies of the root cease, being perhaps,
somewhat exhausted by its summer action. If,
then the bush or tree be cut, after it has done
growing, but while the stem and leaves are fresh
and full of sap, the vital force of the root will
rarely be sufficient to cause a new growth ; but if
left till the foliage is dead or dying, the energies
of the root are restored by the return of the sap
and are ready for action again as soon as the sea-
son of growth shall return. Hence too early or
too late cutting will be equally unsuccessful. Cut
your under-brush, then, at the time above specified,
and it will rarely start again. If it does, the
growth will appear stunted or sickly, and soon die
of its own accord, or a second cutting at the
proper time will insure success. The same
rule applies to all plants, as Canada thistles,
milk-weed, etc ., with greater or less certainty, ac-
cording to the greater or less vital force or ten-
acity of life peculiar to the root of each kind of
vegetable. The "proper time" can easily be de-
termined by observing whether new leaves con-
tinue to appear at the ends of the prominent
branches. If deferred long beyond this time, or
till the leaves begin to turn yellow or fall, cutting
will be of little use, as the root will be " strong "
for a new start on the opening of a new spring.
1^ Subscribe for The Lancaster Farmer.
MANURE FOR FRUIT-TREES.
It is clear that animal manures are not what is
wanted for fruit-trees, including grape-vines,
berries, etc. There may be benefit, and usually is
at first, but the quality of the fruit will suffer, and
the wood and foliage are not of that healthy
character which is desired. This has been noticed
by Liebig and others. "We have known prolific
grape-vines to bear more fruit, but at an expense
of quality, where the contents of the privy were
freely used for manuring. We have always found
the best success when leaves, the weedings of the
garden, chip-manure and forest mould, either
singly or combined, have been freely applied.
These seem to contain the different materials in
proper proportion, that is, the organic, the car-
bonaceous and the nitrogenous ; the mineral
needs to be supplied and nothing does this so satis-
factorily as wood-ashes. It supplies largely pot-
ash which is needed. The best success, and it has
been fully achieved, which we ever attained, was
by applying a coat of leaves in the fall, worked
into the soil in the spring, followed by weedings
from the garden, clippings of the vine with other
vegetable refuse, as a mulch, sprinkled over with
wood-ashes, leached or unleached ; if the latter,
more were required. This made a healthy, not
excessive growth, and increased both the quality
and quantity of the fruit. It makes a sounder and
better-keeping fruit. This with a variety of
soils, but particularly a clay soil. There should
be a good drainage and exposure to air, or else,
with a green mulch kept moist by the ashes there
might be too much humidity. For grapes this
will not do. Nor will it for fruit-trees if there is
a close heavy top, reaching well down, holding
thus the moisture which evaporates, and inviting
parasitic lodgments, which will appear in masses
of mildew, rusted fruit, etc. Herbaceous material
and ashes, with occasional bone-dust, we have
found the best application for fruit-trees in gene-
ral, for berries, and for the grape. Apply yearly
where the soil is not rich ; and in the spring when
the ground is dry enough to spade it Avell. Use
sparingly, if any, the strong, nitrogenous mar
nures. — Utica Herald,
Nutritive Value of Feed. — The proportionate
values of the following materials used for feeding
farm stock are gathered from published analyses
by the most eminent agricultural chemists, and
have been corroborated by the results of the
practice of many eminent English feeders. They
include the relative flesh-forming, fattening and
THE LAJSrCASTER FARMER^
173
total feeding values of the different articles men-
tioned, and are, probably, the most trustworthy
information that can be gathered from all sources
at the present time. They are as follows, equal
weights of each being considered :
Flesh Fat H
Food. produc- procluc- °
ing. ing. &
Turnips 15 7
Rutabagas 17 9
Carrots I 7 10
Mangels and Kohl Rabi 2 8 12
Straw 3 16 22
Potatoes 3 17 22
Brewers' grains 6^ 18 25
Rice meal 6>4 77 83
Locust beans. 7 72 8i
Hay (early cut) 8 50 W
Mil'letiseed) 8 76 85
Buckwheat 9 60 69
Malt 9 76 81
Rye 11 72 80
Oats 12 63 /9
Corn 12 68 80
Wheat and barley 12 67 82
Dried brewers' grains 16 70 8(
Palm-nut meal 16 98 82
Earth-nut cake 20 40 54
Beans (Knglish-fleld) 22 46 79
Peas 22 60 72
Linseed 23 112 74
Cotton seed oake 24 401^ 8i
Malt sprouts 26 60 bS
Tares (seed) 27^ 57 79
Linseed cake .'8^ 56 i^
Bran and coarse mil i-stuflf 3. 54 /»
Rape cake 31 53 7S
Decorticated earth-nut cake 39 45 7'-
Decorticated cotton-seed cake 41 57 82
In these estimates the flesh-forming value is in
proportion to the nitrogenous elements contained
in the food. The fat formers consist of starch, oil
and fat, and as oil and ready-formed fat are esti-
mated as double the value of starch in feeding,
the total feeding values of different articles vary
in somewhat different ratios to those of the fat-
forming'elements. For instance while bran con-
tains more carbonaceous matter, viz. : starch and
oil together, then rape cake, and exactly the
same flesh-forming material yet its total feeding
value is less than that of rape cake, because the
fifty-three parts of starch and oil in the rape cake
have more oil and less starch than the fifty-four
parts of starch and oil in the bran ; and the oil
being, as we have said, more valuable than the
starch, therefore the rape cake is worth more than
the bran as feed. — American Agriculturist.
[In the destruction of the potato beetle and the
cabbage worm— even by hand-picking — the opera
tion is nothing like as repulsive and disgusting-
as hunting and destroying the tobacco worm. But
the latter has long since become a matter of
course, and the former will have to be ultimately
so regarded, if farmers and gardeners e-xpect to
war successfully against them and finally over-
come them. There are conceivable contingencies
under which all the tobacco in the country might
utterly perish without causing a moiety of the dis-
tress that would follow a total failure of the pota- .
toes and cabbage. It is true, that potatoes and
cabbage only yield, respectively, 22 and 12 parts
out of 100 of fat and flesh-forming substance, but
then even that is better than tobacco or nothing,
in a wide-spread famine, such as that which oc-
curred lately in Persia. "We confess that where
only one, two, or even more, in an infested dis-
trict, battle against prevailing noxious insects,
whilst their neighbors totally neglect to do so,
their labor may seem to be in vain, and is neces-
sarily accomplished by great discouragment.
Nevertheless, let them persevere, and their ex-
ample must ultimately produce a healthy effect.
This subject must, sooner or later, be met and di^
posed of, in a practical manner. R.]
Pruning Fruit Trees. — The Kansas State
Horticultural Society has been discussing pruning,
and it is asserted that the best success was from
low-headed trees little pruned ; in fact this is
said to be proved by the very lowest orchards.
Mr. Grubb, of Brown county, who has a large
orchard, seventeen years old, is decidedly in favor
of very low-headed trees, and he prunes none ex-
cept with thumb and finger ; and the best lesson
he said he ever got in pruning was from the late
Reuben Ragan, of Indiana, who said when he
found that pruning was coming into his mind, the
very first thing he should do was to throw his knife
into the well.
PREVENTING ROT IN POTATOES.
In the year 1850 the wTiter of this was engaged,
in a small way, in the agricultural line — that is,
he was spreading himself on a one-acre lot in the
old Bay State, his principal crop, in prospective,
being potatoes, which for several previous years
had suffered greatly with the rot. Feeling nat-
urally anxious to secure, if possible, the fruits of
his labor, he resorted to the following as a " pre-
ventive" against the fell destroyer with the re-
sults here stated : In a half hogshead, partially
filled with water, he put 20 pounds of the flour of
sulphur, letting the tub stand open to the sun and
air for three or four days previous to use, stirring
it up well several times each day ; then cutting
up his seed potatoes, many of which were seriously
diseased, into very small pieces, he subjected them
to the sulphur bath for 48 hours, stirring the sul-
phur well up from the bottom of the tub at the
time of putting them in, after which they were
planted in hills in the usual way. Result : a crop
TTJf
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
of potatoes that elicited the commendation of a
freshly imported Irishman who dug them, entirely
free from rot, while others not so treated suffered
badly, as did the potatoes in the neighborhood
generally. It will hardly do to build a theory or
base a fact upon a single experiment. So satis-
factory was the result, however, that I shall treat
my potatoes in the same way this present season,
and also roll them in sulphur. And should the
rot appear among them, or in the neighborhood,
I shall sprinkle sulphur over their tops, and burn
it in different parts of the field. — A Farmer,
Warren Co., Penn.
ALFALFA NOT A GRASS.
Certain parties are sending circulars to farmers
and others in the Western States, recommending
the Alfalfa or Lucerne as a most wonderful pro-
lific kind of grass, which will yield six to eight
tons of hay per acre, and never die out. It is also
recommended as a beautiful lawn grass ; in fact,
t is the greatest thing ever discovered, all of
which some persons will probably believe, and
purchase seed of this oldest of all known cultiva-
ted forage plants. Swindlers of all kinds are
usually just sharp enough to tell a story contain-
ing a small moiety of truth with a big lie attached,
which makes their ignorance more apparent to
those who happen to know anything of the sub-
ject referred to. Now, as Alfalfa is not a grass
any more than peas or beans, thoae fellows who
advertise it as such show their ignorance at the
start, consequently, we are not bound to believe
them even if they should in part tell the truth.
Lucerne is far too old a plant for any one to be
humbugged into purchasing the seed for any other
purpose, soil or climate, except that to which it
is adapted. In some localities it is a most excel-
lent forage plant, but it is not valued very highly
where our best species of meadow and pasturs
grasses succeed.
The Stockton (Del.) Republican says :
" We once knew a gentleman who supplied his
table with grapes from one season to another.
His plan was to gather, when quite ripe, the
largest and finest bunches and pack them in saw
dust, using in place of bo.xes common nail kegs
After carefully packing the desired number of
kegs he buried a lot in a trench dug in high dry
ground, beneath a shed, where the water could
neither fall nor soak in. Before using the saw-
dust he carefully dried it, either in the sun or in
an oven, until it was entirely free from moisture
After being buried for months the grapes are as
sweet aud finely flavored as if just gathered from
the vines. The process is cheap and may be easily
tested. If it will preserve the grape, a new and
profitable business may be built up."
Gum Arabic. — Most of the gum arabic of com-
merce comes from Morocco, on the north coast of
Africa. In November after the rainy season a
gummy juice exudes spontaneously from the
trunk and branches of the acacia tree. It grad-
ually thickens in the furrow down which it runs,
and assumes the form of oval and round drops
about the size of an eg^, of different colors, as it
comes from the red or white gum tree. About
the middle of December the Moors encamp on the
edge of these vast forests, and the harvest lasts a
full month. The gum is packed in large leather
sacks, and transported on the backs of camels and
bullocks for shipment. The harvest is one of
great rejoicing, and the people for the time being
almost live on the gum, which is nutritious and
fattening.
The Mangel WuRZEL. — Mr. Dey, of Wisconsin,
recently said : " The mangel wurzel beet I think
the best of all roots. It will take nearly four lbs.
of seed to sow an acre in drills, and there can be
raised on an acre from 600 to 800 bushels. I plan
in rows or drills 2 feet apart, and cultivate with a
horse. Last year I planted | of an acre, and
raised 300 bushels. I think I would have had
more if I had not ridged my ground. I am done
ridging for root crops. I planted three kinds, the
yellow globe, white sugar and yellow .vooid. I
think the white sugar and yellow globe the best.
I think there is no root that equals the beet for
feed, especially for milch cows. They cause a
great flow of milk, and there is no bad flavor to
the milk. They are excellent for sheep that have
lambs before the grass starts in the spring; and
to any fai'mer who has 80 acres of land I would
recommend him to plant at least 2 acres with
roots, which will cost but little more than the same
amount of corn and double the profit."
The Swede Turnip. — Mr. John Dey, in a dis-
cussion on Root Culture by a Wisconsin Farmers'
Club, said ; " The Swede turnip is a good root for
sheep, hogs and young cattle. Cows fed on them
will keep in good heart, but they are not as good
for milk as the carrot or beet. It will pay well to
raise them. If we do not wish to feed them, we
can sell them; they usually bring 40 or 50 cents
per bushel, and if we say 600 bushels to the acre
at 40 cents, we have $240 ; and if we allow one-
half for raising and marketing we have $120,
which would buy 200 bushels of corn, and to raise
200 bushels of corn, we would want 4 acres of
ground and expend more to raise and harvest than
we would the turnips."
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
175
LANCASTER, SEPTEMBER, 1873.
S. S. RATHVON, Editor.
PublisLed monthly under the ausi)ice6 of the Agricul-
tural andHobticultubal Society.
81 ^'i per Year In Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
All commiinicHtions, to insure insertion, must be in the
hands of the editor before tUe 20th of each mouth. Ad-
dress S. S. Rathvon, Lanca.ster, Pa-
All advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
addrtssof the publisher, J. B. DKVELIN,
Inquirer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
SUPPLEMENT TO "THE LYCEUM ECHO."
••^~T~^HB Lyceum Echo" is to-day merged
JL into the Lancaster Farmer. The sub-
scription to the Farmer is $1.25 per annum ; while
'"The Echo" was but 25 cents. We will therefore
furnish three numbers of the Parmer as an equiva-
lent for the ten remaining numbers of "The Echo."
We actually give our subscribers two numbers of
"The Echo" for nothing, and five cents to boot,
besides introducing those who are not already
subscribers to an agricultural paper that deserves
the support of every intelligent man in the com-
munity.
"The Echo" was an ainateur enterprise. It
sought to give force and scope to the f-cientific
and literary attainments of young men who joined
the Lyceum to develop those talents. It sus
pended. Why? Because it was published by
the individual ofiBcers of the County Lyceum As-
sociation instead of the Association itself.
We merged "The Echo" into the Farmer be
cause the object of the two is not very unlike.
The subscription to "The Echo" was but a trifle,
yet we feel grateful to those who gave it, and
thu assisted us in giving a practical turn to
our moral, scientific, literary and benevolent idea.
* By the foregoing manifesto, it will be seen that
the editors of the Lyceum Echo, for the reasons
therein named, have supplemented that journal by
a transfer of its subscription list to the Lancaster
Farmer ; but that transfer does not obligate the
subscribers, individually, to continue their sub-
scriptions beyond the equivalent of their subscrip-
tion to the Echo, unless they choose to do so vol-
untarily. We hope, however, that many, if not
all of them, will continue to do so, and according-
ly we propose to furnish them our journal at our
club rates, published in a former number, that is,
one dollar a year, and a book premium for each
club of fifty. We hope also the former con-
tributors to the Echo will continue their contri-
butions to the Farmer, and assist us in making
our journal a proper medium of the agricultural,
horticultural, literary, scientific and benevolent
thought, of the great county of Lancaster, a dis-
trict, in which, we hope, we all feel a legitimate
local pride. We have long felt that Lancaster
county, from the position she occupies in our
great commonwealth, ought to possess and sup-
port a periodical, by literary contributions and
pecuniary subscriptions, that will enable it to be
come a fair exponent of the mental and materia
progress of our people. We look upon the sub-
scribers to the Echo as eminently the kind of ma-
terial, both in liberality and enterprise, that is nec-
essary in building up and sustaining such a jour-
nal.
Under any circumstances the Farmer can sus-
tain itself, as it has sustained itself though its
infancy, childhood, and youth, for five years, but
it is anxious to more rapidly attain its manhood,
and take its place as "a man among men," in the
ranks of useful literature. It enjoys a commenda-
ble reputation abroad, not because of any intrinsic
value it possesses over other journals in its
special field, but because it hails from Lancaster
County, a name that gives currency to anything
emanating from it, over our own country.
Ed. Farmer.
It is said that 10,000 pounds of Spanish mack-
erel were taken at a single catch off Orient, Long
Island, and sent to New York. The fish aver
aged four pounds each, the usual average being
about two pounds. The fish dealers here expfect to
receive daily from 20,000 to 25,000 pounds of these
fish. The price of course is greatly reduced.
176
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
AGEICULTURAL AND HORIICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
This society met on Monday afternoon, August
4th, in the Orphan's Court Room. President, H.
M. Engle in the chair, and from ten to fifteen
members present, at different times. The minutes
of the last meeting were read and adopted, but no
other very important business was transacted,
many of the members being more or less interested
in the pending meeting of the " Return Judges "
of the late Republican primary election, beino-
then in session up stairs.
Mr. Johnson Miller, of "Warwick, read an inter-
eeting report on the state of the crops, from which
it appears— except in fruit— that Lancaster coun-
ty will realize a very fair agricultural return,
should nothing occur to seriously affect the corn,
potatoes and tobacco.
Mr. Alex. Harris reported that no special pro-
gress, on the part of the Committee on Exhibition
this fall, had been made in that direction, since the
last meeting of the society. A committee meet-
ing had been appointed, but no member of the
Park Association was present, nor had it yet, in
any manner, been indicated, that a similar commit-
tee of that association had been appointed. Nor
was there even a quorum of the committee of this
society present ; therefore, things still remain in
statu quo.
Mr. Rathvon suggested that there is now no
suitable place in Lancaster city to hold an agri-
cultural and horticultural exhibition — the altera-
tions and re-arrangements in the orphan's court
room, and at Fulton Hall, placing those places
DOW out of the question for that purpose— except
upon the grounds of the Park Association, and
there are a numbers of member of this society so
far averse to a union with the Park' Association
in an exhibition, as to either withdraw their influ-
ence entirely, or to give the enterprise only a
nominal support.
Remarks on the subject were made by Messrs.
P. S. Reist, Dr. Heistand. D. G. Swartz, L. S.
Reist and the President, favorable to the enter-
prise, either by the society alone, or in conjunc-
tion with the Park Associat ion, but no definite con-
clusion was come to, any farther than that the soci-
ety's abandonment of the enterprise altogether,
might have u worse effect upon its future prosper-
ity, than an exhibition held under any circum-
stances. It was therefore deemed advisable that
the committee should continue its efforts to effect
some arrangement, through which an exhibition
creditable to the posiiion of Lancaster county in
the agricultural history of the State, might be
gotten up, either by the society alone, or in con-
junction with the Park Association..
It was suggested by Mr. L. S. Reist that the
original committee of conference has the power
to c all to its aid and appoint additional members
and therefore. In conclusion, it was thought that
a sufficient number of influential members of the
society would volunteer to get up an exhibition,
and make out of it what they could leaving the
Society free from pecuniary responsibility. So
the matter now remains.
Mr. Engle reported the re-appearance of the
'Colorado Potato Beetle" in his district (East
Donegal) in vast and destructive numbers and
that the neighborhood had waged a vigorous war
against them.
Dr. Heistand reported the same destructive in-
sect in the potato fields in and about Millers-
ville.
A gentleman from Farmersville in this county,
reported the same beetle in countless numbers,
in that vicinity and that it would cost more time,
labor and money to destroy them all — by three to
one — than the | otato crop would be worth if no
beetles were present
Mr. Engle stated that a western fanner in-
formed him that with vigilance a moderate sized
■'potato patch" could be saved, but that •when the
insect became numerous in a large field the case
became hopeless ; therefore at such times and
places the farmers only cultivated small patches.
Mr. Rathvon, being called upon, stated that the
Colorado potato beetle passed its pupal or quiescent
period in the ground and therefore often potato
growers unacquainted with this fact after suc-
ceding in destroying all the beetles they could see,
and the matured larva having burrowing into the
ground, they have relaxed their vigilance sup-
posing that now thei'e was an end of them But
with utter astonishment they have seen them re-
papear in increased numbers. It . is of little use
to destroy the beetles, if the larvae are not also
destroyed. As these larvae in various stages of
development may also be found on the same stalks
that contain the parent beetle, they must be
looked for, and be also destroyed. Farmers can-
not regard this subject with impunity — they must ,
learn the habits and appearance of the potato*
beetles, in all their various stages of development.
There is money involved in it — ^just as much as
there is in corn, wheat, flour and whisky "cor-
ners," or in patent rights, fast horses and tobacco
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
177
speculations. Bach potato beetle — if a female —
is capable of depositing from one thousand to
fifteen hundred eggs within a period of from ten
to twenty days and each of these may ultimately
become a beetle, and the same season deposit a
like number.
It is very disagreeable to crush them —but not
more so than the tobacco worm — but it is not a
hard matter to beat them off the stalks into some
smooth vessel, up the sides of which they cannot
crawl, and then to scald or burn them. The
eggs, however, in patches of from ten to twenty,
and the young and inconspicuous larvce, adhere
more closely to the leaf; these must therefore be
reached by some external application, and from
the experience of those best acquainted with the
habits of these insects, the best and only reliable
application is 'Paris Green," either as a powder
OT a solution, for the details of which consult the
Lancaster Farmkr for August, 1873, The last
brood of the larvas go into the ground in autumn,
and remain there, as larviB or pup* until the fol-
lowing spring and then come forth matured
beetles in time to catch the early tops of pota-
toes. Some of the matured beetles also go into
the ground, to hybernate in the fall, but the
larger number remain above ground and pass
their hybernating period in chinks cracks, crevi-
ces, or under loose bark of trees and logs, or any
other convenient cover. These also " wake up"
and feed and deposit eggs in the spring. For
further details see Laxcaster Farmer August,
pp. 143-146.
No fruit was on exhibition, no essays were read ;
no members were elected ; and on the whole —
either through the heat of the weather, or the
great outside political heat — the meeting was
rather a tame affair and appeared to be under
the influence of a temporary lethargy, from which
there must be a revival, if the society expects to
carry through a successful exhibition this fall.
In the absence of any special business, the so-
ciety adjourned.
Post Scriptum. — Mr. John B. Albright
gathered twenty-five specimens of the larva of
"Colorado potato-beetle " off a single stalk, in a
po.tato patch on North Lime street within the
limits of Lancaster city, and reported that many
other vines were similarly infested. These may
be seen by calling at our office.
THE BERKS COUNTY FAIR.
The Nineteenth Annual Exhibition of the
Berks County Agricultural Society will be held
at Reading on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday, September 16, 17, 18 and 19. This
is the first of the fall exhibitions iu this State
that we have yet seen announced. A very lib-
eral premium list is offered. The fairs of Berks
are always attended by immense throngs, the
people of the country usually making the occa-
sion a holiday.
^Ve clip the above from the Daily Express,
and would respectfully inquire what Lancaster
County intends doing in regard to an exhibition
of her products this year ? Perhaps our readers
may imagine that we know all about the matter,
but we absolutely know little or nothing about it.
A committee of conference had been appointed a
month or two ago, to meet a similar committee
from a cotemporary association, in order to effect
a union, and hold a joint exhibition on the grounds
of the "Park Association," but the intervening
time has been suffered to pass, without having
made any progress in that direction, and iu con-
versatiou with a member of that committee a few
days ago, we were informed that the enterprise
had been totally abandoned, because there coul(J
not be a sufficient number found who were willing
to assume the responsibility of " putting the en-
terprise through."
We regret this, and are compelled to confess
that our neighbors of •' old Berks " are far in ad-
vance of us in this respect. From the Reading
Times and Dispatch, we learn that the Agricul-
tural Society of that county has completed its ar-
rangement.s, and has also increased it§ facilities,
and more liberally endowed its premium list, thaa
has obtained on former occasion.s of the kind.
Some departments have been increased one-fourth,
some one-third, and others are doubled. Judging
from the latest proceedings of its committee of
arrangements, the Agricultural Society of Berk's
county is a " live ati'air," and is supported by the
very backbone of its farming population. Now
we would not pretend to infer that oar farming
population does not possess the necessary backbone
to get as creditable an exhibition as Berks, but
we fear, that, with all our loyal professions, we
lack "Uuiou for the sake of the union." a land
that cannot po.-sibly exist without making some
personal concession.
At the pre.sent time, we are unable to say.
whether or not, we shall have an exhibition of
any kind in Lancaster county the present year.
If the people who are conscientiously committed
against trials of speed, or "horse-racing" as they
call it, were to rise iu their might, and "com
178
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER,
down with their dust" and their moral influence,
backed with a rea-onable tliare of mental and
physical energy, they might bring the whole mat-
ter under their own control, and put an end to
horse-racing, and we feel assured that the stock-
holders of the Park Association themselves
would assist them in such a consummation. Ed.
THE LATE RAINS.
There have been a succession of rains for about
a month past, such as are not usual in the month
of August, and there are about as many com-
plaints made in regard to the " too much wet " as
there were of the " too much dry" earlier in the
season. At this writing (Aug. 23) the weatheris
very warm, close, and threatening, and from all
appearances, more rain may follow. It is true,
that for purposes of irrigation we have had quite
enough, perhaps more than enough, but then
nothing has yet materially suffered, and from the
thorough saturation which the earth has received,
the good results which may follow will more than
compensate all the injury we may have sustained.
Although the rains commenced too late in the
season to be of any special benefit to the hay
crop, the early potatoes and corn, or the tobacco ;
yet, it has been of immense value to the late corn
and potatoes, and has worked an almost magic
change in the tobacco, the tomatoes, and garden
vegetation in general.
But this is not all, for a handsome second crop
of hay, or at least an abundance of fall pasture,
may be realized through these rains, and the tur-
nips and root crops in general be luxurantly en-
hanced, besides affording abetter growing bottom
for the winter cereals. We have reason to believe
also, that many noxious insects have been "drowned
out," or rotted in the* earth before they could come
to maturity, because it has long been observed that
ese pests, as a general thing, increase more ra-
pidly during dry weather than they do during
long continued and soaking rain. If not too
much longer continued, and if followed by a rea-
sonable advent of sunshine we will have very
much more to be thankful for than to complain
about. All our streams have an abundant supply
of water and are likely to continue in that con-
dition until the winter's snows and rains set in ;
be^ides, as a sanitary contingency these rains have
been invaluable, especially in large cities and
towns, washing out streets and gutters, and car-
rying away the accumulated summer filth. We
think the good, on the whole, preponderates.
Ed.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Glycerine Blacking for Boots and Shoes. —
Many of our readers will remember that some two
or three years ago several patents were issued for
the use of glycerine in finishing leather. We have
not heard of any success attending the use of
glycerine for this purpose, but should not wonder
if the following recipe for making blacking, which
we find in an exchange, was well worth a trial :
Six or eight pounds of lampblack and enough of
ivory black are to be brought to a homogeneous
paste, with ten pounds of glycerine and ten pounds
of molasses. About five ounces of gutta percha
cut into small pieces are then to be melted, and,
after fusion, eighteen ounces of olive oil added,
together with two or three ounces of stearine,
when the solution is complete. This warm solu.
tion is to be stirred thoroughly into the first mix-
ture, and nine ounces gum arabic dissolved in
forty-five ounces of water, then added. To apply
an agreeable odor, a few drops of essence qf rose-
mary or lavender may be stirred in. For use, this
polish is to be mixed with three or four parts of
water and applied to the leather, to which it com-
municates a brilliant lustre, and improves its dura-
bility and suppleness.
How TO Wash Summer Suits.— Summer suits
are nearly all made of buff linen, pique, cambric or
inusliu, and the art of preserving the new appear-
ance after washing is a matter of the greatest im-
portance. Common washer-women spoil every-
thing with soda, and nothing is more frequent
than to see the delicate tints of lawns and percales
turned into dark blotches and muddy streaks by
the ignorance and vandalism of a laundress. It is
worth while for ladies to pay attention to this,
and insist upon having their summer dresses wash-
ed according to the directions which they should
be prepared to give their laundresses themselves.
In the first place, the water should be tepid, the
soap should not be allowed to touch the fabric ;
it should be washed and rinsed quick, turned upon
the wrong side, and hung in the shade to dry, and
when starched (in thin boiled, but not boiling
starch) should be folded in sheets or towels, and
ironed upon the wrong side, as soon as possible.
But linen should be washed in water in which hay
has been boiled, or a quart bag of bran. This last
will be found to answer for starch as well, and is
excellent for print dresses of all kinds, but a hand-
ful of salt is very useful also to set the colors of
light cambrics and dotted lawns; and a little
beefs gall will not only set, but brighten, yellow
and purple tints, and has a good efiect upon green.
THE LAJ{CASTER FARMER.
179
THE MUSTANG.
THIS variety of the common horse — Eqii^us
ca/;rfW(f.s— makes, perhaps, the nearest ap
proacli to the " Shcthind ponies," of any other in
our country. It is the wild horse of the prairies in
Texas, Mexico, California, and other districts of
our vast western prairies, where they still hei-d to-
gether in large numbers. It is small, hardy and
easily sustained, and hence is of immense value to
the wild, untutored, and roving bands of Indians
that still inhabit those prairies and plains. Al-
though it seems to be conceded that the various
herds of wild horses which inhabit our country,
have sprung from those introduced in the early
invasions of the Spaniards, yet recent paleon-
talogical discoveries seem to throw a cloud of
doubt upon that theory. Within the last five
years, at least seven different species of animals of
the horse-kind — some of them not larger than a
Newfoundland dog— have been recognized in the
organic remains discovered on the prairies, canons
"and table-lands of the great west, and it is not
impossible the present race may be but the suc-
cessors of a race that preceded them. If the
American is the older continent, as is alleged by
the latest geological schools, then there is reason
to believe that the present race of wild horses
may have existed here, long before the period of
the Spanish invasion. The horse belongs to the
Pachydemous, or thick-skinned animals; and as io
company with the organic remains of this animal
— and belonging to the same period — are found
the remains of species of elephants, tapirs, masto-
dons, and other animals of that order, it would
not be in very great violence to the facts of the
old theory, to infer that the horse is an original
production of the American continent. The
Mmtang may only be regarded as a larger pony,
of which there are almost endless varieties yet ex-
tant in England, Wales and Scotland. The
Welch pony is said to be the most beautiful of the
class, and is not excelled by any other, perhaps, in
the world. But, what are called the Nexo For-
resters in England, although hardy, active and
enduring, yet, are ill-made, ragged, coarse, but
easily maintained. Of the Shetland ponies, the
Highland is the largest, and the most useful. The
Shelties — from the islands — are, however, small ;
often beautiful, good-tempered, and docile. The
Mustangs, as they roam in wild troops, are also
more beautiful than those that have long been
under the domestication of the Indians, and bear
a strong resemblance to the ponies of Europe ;
and may possibly have originated in that foreign
stock *
Cherry Bounce.— Take one barrel pure spirits,
and put in from one-half to one bushel black
(wild) cherries, and six or eight pounds loaf sugar.
You can reduce the strength by adding pure well,
rain or distilled water.
ISO
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
We have been requested to say something on
the subject of this organization in our journal,
but as we are too remote from any local society of
the kind, and therefore know very little about it,
we propose to let others s-peak, who are located in
the midst of it, and who profess to have had some
experience in the matter. We therefore insert
the following' extracts, which not only present the
subject in a statistical and matter-of-fact form, but
also discuss its merits, both pro and con.
It seems to be a power in the State of Iowa,
where no less than seventeen hundred and seventy
local '•'■ Granges" are in successful operation. But
so long as Pennsylvania has only eleven Granges,
and those probably all west of the Alleghanies, it
is perhaps hardly necessary that we should agitate
the subject here, at least not until our farmers
themselves — who are chiefly the interested parties
in them — first make a move in the matter. It is
for them to say whether they suffer the impositions
that the farmers in the west complain of, and the
time and occasion for the organization of Granges
among them. Until that time comes, we forbear
expressing any opinion of our own on the subject.
—Ed.]
the patrons of husbandry.
The growth of the Granges of the Order of the
Patrons of Husbandry has been extraordinary,
and shows that there is something in the organi-
zation which takes firm hold of the farmer. As
the Order is attracting considerable attention in
this country, the following statistics and state-
ment of its object will interest hundreds of our
readers. The latest reports of the Secretary to
the National Grange in Washington, give the fol-
lowing as the number of subordinate Granges in
the several States named :
Alabama 22 New Jersey 3
Arkansas 2(1 New York 8
California 3.i North Carolina 41
Georgia SO^Oliio 86
Illinois 565 Oregon 25
Indiana 279 Pennsylvania 11
Iowa 1770; South Carolina 1.33
Kansas 412 1 Tennessee 66
Kentucky llTexas 3
Lousiana 11; Vermont 24
Massachusetts Ij VivKinia 3
Michigan 42!We.st Virginia 3
Minnesota 333] Wisconsin 189
Mississippi 202 Colorado 2
INIissouri 523 Dakota 11
Nebraska 305'Canada 8
Total 5229
THE GRANGES AND AN IOWA FARMER.
The Fireside Visitor, of this city, thinks the
present farmers' movement, a mistake, and brings
an Iowa farmer's view of the granges of that
State to sustain it. In this light the Visitor says :
" They who dance must pay the piper. A far
raer in Iowa has figured on the cost of granges —
we give his conclusions. This whole movement
will, we have no doubt, result in great loss and
no benefit to the farmers. That they are labor-
ing under serious evils, we do not doubt, but we
think they have mistaken both the cause and the
remedy.
" A few figures will give some idea of what this
(xrange machinery costs the farmer : The forty
thousand men for four degrees, at twenty-five cents
each, even forty thousand dollars ; the thirty
thousand women, four degrees, at twelve and a
half cents each, fifteen thousand dollars — making
the sum of fifty thousand dollars that goes to the
State Grange. Section five, same article, says :
" that the treasurer of each State Grange shall
pay to the National Grange the annual dues of
ten cents for each member in this State " — seven
thousand dollars for Iowa. In addition to this, the
sum of fifteen dollars goes to the National Grange
for each charter, making another five thousand
and two hundred and fifty dollars, and twelve
thousand fevo hundred and fifty dollars that goes
to the National Grange. Now let us sum up
what this grange business is costing the farmers.
For initiations, ^260,000; yearly dues, $85,000 ; re-
galia, $70,000 ; degrees, $.55,000. Making a total
of .$470,000— in addition to the $55,000 the State
Grange, article 12 says that a tax of six cents for
each member for each quarter — 24 cents a year —
making a total of $16,800— making $71,800 that
goes to the State Grange.
" Brother farmers, I would ask whether the ex-
penditure of $470,000 by us will bring our corn
out of the fifteen cent depths ? "
Another lowaian presents the per contra side of
the question. When a saving in the purchase of
one item alone — that of the agricultural imple-
ments, amounts to $360,000, there ought surely to
be in this ' no benefit ' scheme a crumb or two of
comfort for the Fireside Visitor. When we add
to the above the increased profit of ten to forty
per cent, in selling their cattle and hogs, as com-
pared with prices received through middlemen, and
that one-half the elevators and grain warehouses iu
the State are owned and controlled by the granges,
that 5,000,000 bushels of corn were shipped on
grange account ; that during the present year
$100,000 will be invested by the granges in manu-
factories and elevators all through the State— we
think that which such results we can safely afford
to leave it to the Iowa farmer and the Visitor to
strike the balance. But the Patrons of Husbandry
THE LAJSrCASTER FARMER.
\81
have another object to accomplish in addition to
the improvement of their financial condition,
namely, that of elevating themselves into a higher
social and intellectual life. We take no little
pleasure in presenting the following extract from
one of the Chicago Tn'^^^twe's own correspondents,
■writing over the signature of Mrs. Sam Jones,
showing that —
The farmer's movement has had the effect to
make our people think and to read. You would
be surprised to see how many daily papers, and tri-
weekly and weekly papers, come to our village.
People used to take papers that had stories in
them ; but now they take papers for the news,
and they are learning what is going on in the
world. Some one of the neighbors are at the vil-
lage every day, and they bring us home the daily
paper, and, after the work is done, the girls read
it to us ; and you cannot imagine how much bet-
ter this is than when it was customary to have the
neighbors drop in and deal out gossip or talk
about the last new story in the Ledger, or the
great unknown. The movement will be a lasting
tribute to the whole country in numerous ways,
for it will learn the people to think and to talk sense.
The fact is, we had become too frivolous, and we
needed something to change the current of extrav-
agance, and cheap corn came just in time. We
charged the railroads and the middlemen with the
hard times, but the investigation proved that the
most of it was due to our own folly.
For three years Providence had aided the skill
and the industry of the farmers to accumulate a
large surplus of corn. Then the spring rain came,
and thus ended the further accumulation, and we
had better grass and better wheat, and, as we had
no surplus of beef or of flour, some Wise Power
changed things, and we shall come out all right in
the end. — Coleman Rural World.
Hickory Bark for Coloring. — Hickory bark
will color a beautiful bright yellow that will not
fade by use. It will color cotton and wool. Have
the bark shaved off or hewed olT, and chopped in
small pieces, and put in a brass kettle, or tin
boiler, with soft water enough to cover the bark,
and boil till the strength is out ; then skim out
the chips and put in alum. Have it pounded
pretty fine. For a pailful of dye I should put in
two good handsful, and wet the goods in warm
water, so there will be no dry spots on them ; wring
them as dry as you can, shake them out and put
them into the dye. Have a stick at hand to push
them down and stir them immediately so they can
have a chance all over alike. If the color is not
deep and bright enough, raise the goods out of the
dye, lay them across a stick over the kettle, and
put in another handful of alum. Stir it well and
di]) again. It will want to be kept in the dye and
over the fire to a scalding heat about an hour, but
keep stirring and airing so they will not spot.
Plowing Out Potatoes. — A correspondent
of the Country G entleman v/riie?. : In the absence
of a good potato digger, the idea of plowing them
out is not a bad one. I have tried it with good
success. AVhere land is passably clean, and the
potatoes lie in the centre of the hill, like the
Early Rose, Peerless and Excelsior, take a com-
mon double mold-board shovel-plow, hitch on two
horses and plow out every other row. Have the
potatoes picked up, and plow the alternate rows.
When they are all plowed out, and those that can
be seen picked up, run over the ground with a'
common harrow, (Thomas' Smoothing harrow
would undoubtedly be much better), and the pota-
toes will be out as clean as though dug by hand,
and in less than half the time the same help would
do the work by hand-digging. In two pieces
where I dug them in that way, I think there were
less potatoes left in the ground than would be left
by most hand diggers. The first piece I dug in
this manner I plowed immediately for rye, and I
was surprised to find so few potatoes left.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PARTMENT.
LITERARY NOTICES.
JOUBNAI, OF THE AMERICAN BUREAU OP MINE'S.—
"Denoted to the dev^lopmeut of our mineral reHouroes,
BCientllic mining, science, art an.l mining n ws. i^up-
lished hy the " Amenc .n Bureau of Mines," and e htedby
W C McCarty, Cbicaso, 111. Terms. S3 00 per annum
No 1. Vol. 1— Au«, 1873 -of this new enterprise has been
received and if michan lal ..execution, material quality,
liter;iry ability and solid useful matter, in the spi.ere it
pr.iposes to operate in, ean be a meed of merited support,
then it is bound to suceed. It is alquarto ol M pp.,
printed in clear type, on tinted paper, with heavy Klazed
tinted covers, in colors. As a work of artistic skil', we
cheerfully enter it u on our exchnuce list as A, No. I,
and hope to make extracts from its columns, whenever we
find auvthina which we deem of local or general interest
to our readers. Ah hough published and intended to cir-
culate in districts of county more specially devoted to
mining tlian we are east of the Alleghanies, >et its nonnal
fleld is the mining inierebt everywhere, " assisting m dis-
seminating useful informition to the miner and capitalist.
tHnding to advance our knowledge of our vast mineral re-
sou, ces, and assisting in bringing capital in connection
with the mine, and the investor with property.
pPromthe Republican, August 3 ]
OCR HoMK Journal, a very well printed and aMy con-
ducted agricultural pap°r has absorl)ed tlie Rural South-
land, of that ilk. Mr. Hummel has added the name ot the
latter as a secondary ti«^le to his own publication.
* # ♦* # * * *..*
"We congratulate Mr. Hummel, who is a verv ei.ergetic in-
telligen! and useful citizen, upon the success of Oar Home
182
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
Journal, and sincerely hope he may reap the benefits from
the new consolidation that can be reasonably expected.
He deserves success at all events.
We hav*- receivedthe August number of the above con-
solidated journal-an illustrated quarto of 16 pages-and we
confess a more practical agricu Itural paper has not come
into our bauds for a long time. Its contents, both oricinal
and selected, are of a useful and instructive character, and
embracesthe whole scope of hous>!hoM literature. Terms,
«3.eo in advance, with liberal deductions to clubs. No. 68
Camp St., N. 0.,La,
The abolishment of the " franking priilvige" and the
changes in the " postal laws," have necessarily afTe- ted
our " exchange list," but we »eel more surprised than flat-
tered that so many of our contemporaries should desire to
exchange with us, offering to pay the postage. Ti e Au-
gust number of allth">se journals we nHiced last month,
Hre upon our table, and if possible, more richly endowed.
En passuntAt vfA^ a "small" affair for an American Con-
gress, in the nineteenth century, to interfere with, or to
curtail new^pape^ exch mges. That august b>dy ought to
facilitate the cheap diffusion of newspapur intelligence,
ratbertbau obstruct or retard it; even if it did abriger
their own privileges— wiih pecuniary com sensation— and
for which," newspaperdom" is not responsible.
A VERY VALUABLE BOOK.
"yhe Undevtloped IVest; or Five Years in th-, Terriiorieg'
B"ong a Cnmplet". History of that vast r,gion, between the mss-
isnppr and th^ Pacific; its Resources, Climate, Inhabitants,
JS'itural Curiosities. etc . with Life nnd Adventure on Prairies
Mountains, and Che Pacific Coast. B,. J. H. Beadle, W-slern
Correspondent of thi Cmcinnati Conmerctal, and Author of
Life in Utah^' etc. ''
The National Publishing Co , of Philadelphia, has just
issued one ot the most remarkable, and attractive books
ot the century. It i^ well known to every one that far be-
yond the Mississippi, and stretching over half th« conti-
nent, is a vast region which we vaguely term " The Great
West '—a region abouodins; in the mo^t wonderful natural
formations, rich in pr -cious mineral deposits, and offering
nie greatest attractions to the settler and the tourist.
Tlimicph 80 often spoten of, it is almost an "unknown
1 and."
Wr. Beadle went into this region for the avowed puroose
of seeing and describing it, and his journey ings and bser-
vations were al' governed by a fixed purpose, that of dis-
covering and making known the actual character condi-
tion and -esources of the country visited by him. H» first
t^versed the States of Iowa, Minnesota. Nebraska and
Kansas, examining tbe lands, and living and conversing
with the people of those sections. For five years he kept
moving from point to point explorinj the Territories and
the great and rich States of the Pacific Coast, encounter-
ing strange people and innumerable hardships and braving
many dingers in his wanderings among the.-avages.
To prospective eaoigrants and settlers in the "Far
West," this history o'ttiit vast region will orove an inval-
uable assistance, supplying as it does, a want long felt of a
full, authentic and reliable guid>i to climate, soil, p.-oduf.ts,
d stances, localities, means of travel, etc It maybe relied
upon, for it contains no second-hand information.
It is comprised in one large octavo volume of 823 pages,
and illustrated with 24^1 fine engravings of the scenery!
ands. minps. peopl; and curiosities of the Great West and
a new map of the region described. '
It is sold by subscription only, and agents are wanted in
every county.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Monday, August 25.
There wa.'* a better feeling in the mariret for Beef Cat He
ih s morning, and more demtnd for the better descrip-
tions at a shade higher figures Sales of choic-i at67^a7k'c;
fair to good at 53,^a63.^c, and common at 4a5c. Receipts
3,100 head.
Cows and calves are steady; we quote springers at $35a
50, and fresh cows at S30a55. Receipts, 215 he.id.
«heep meet a fair demand at 4*6c for fair to 'good, and
$2a3 50 for stock. Receipts, 15,000 head.
Hogs are held firmly, and move with more freedom.
Sales of Corn fed at S7.75. Receipts, 5,000 head.
NEW YORK PRODUCE MARKET.
New York, August 29.
Wheat lower; rejected spring, $1.15al.25; northwest
$1.150al.51 ; red western, f 1-56. Eye scarce at 96c. Bar-
ley and malt dull. Corn hiavy ; high mixed and yellow
western, 60a6lc. Oats firmer; white, 4Ga49c ; black
42a43c. Hay fair in request at $27a29. Hops dull at 30a
43c for '72. Pork lower at $17-80. Lard active at 83^c.
PHILADELPHIA MARKBTS.
Philadelphia, August 29.
Flocb, etc.— Receipts of flour, 17,828 bbU. Flour is
scarcely so active, and prices generallv are without deci-
ded change. Sales of U SCO bbls., at $5a5.60 for superfine
Western and State ; $6.20-6 55 for common to goofl ex<-ra
Western and State; S6.60a7.40 for good to choice do.;
S7.30a8.50 for common to choice white wheat Western ex-
tra; S6.35a8.50 for common to good extra Ohio, and S?6.70a
10.75 for common to choice extra St. Louis. Also, sales
200 bbls. extra State, last half of September at $5.60a6.70,
the market closing quiet.
Southern flour is in moderate request and without im-
potant change in price Sales 750 bbls. at $6,50a7 85 for
common to fair extra, and $7.90a10.75 for good to choic do.
Kye flour is quiet and steady. Sales of 280 bb s. at 84.60a
5 70. Corn meal is in fair request and steady. Sales of
490 bbls. at 83 15a3 45 for Western, the latter for fancy
brands, and $3.75a3 90 for Brandywine.
Grain— Receipts of Wheat. 160,018 bu-'h. Wheat Is la
2c. bet' er. and less active. The supply offering is light,
and holders generally are di-posed to insis' on full prices.
Sales of 9fi,000 bush, at *1.30%1.38 for rejected spring ; *1.45
al.47 for No. 3 spring; $i.48}^al 49 for Nos. 2 and 3 spring
mixed ; SI 50 for 2 Chicago. Rve is in good export demand,
and prices tend up. Salesof 83,f00 bush, at 95c. for State
in store and to arrive sooq; 93c. for inferior Western in
store ; 94a95c. for Western for last half and all of Septem-
ber. Barley is dull and norrinal. Barley malt is quiet,
without decided change in price.
Receipts of Corn 257,195 bush. Common and inferior
grades in good supply and heavy ; prime is suarce and in
fair request at full prices. Sales 186,900 bush, at 55a57>^c.
for steamer Western mixed ; 58a59c. for sail ; (;0a62e. for
high m'xed and yellow Weste-m ; 66a67c. for white West-
ern; 52aB5c. for heated Western mixed, and 53c. for kiln
dried.
Receip'^s of Oats 39,300 bush. Oats are firmer for mixed,
and heavy and lower for white. Sales of 38.000 bush, at
44i45c. for mixed Wt^stern, the latter for new ; 46i48c. for
white Western; 43a44c. for black Western, and 44c. for
mixed fctate
Hat— Is steady at $27a29 for prime per ton.
Hops— Are quiet And unchanged.
PITTSBURG CATTLE MARKETS.
Pittsburg, Aug. 28, 1873.
CA.TTLE — The receipts of cattle this week so far are
he^vy of through, and fair of way stock intended for sale
at thi* point. As usual, the quality of the offerings is
common but about as good as those of last week. The at-
tendance of buyers is large. If the run does not prove
heavy from this time the market will be a fair one, as a
good many cattle have already been sold to country buy-
ers, and generally at about last week's prices, which are
as follows : Extra, 1,400 lbs., $6.25 ; extra, 1 300 lbs., 85.75a
6 00 ; prime, 1,200 lbs., )li!'.25a5.50 ; prime, 1,100 lbs., $5.00a
5.2'! ; fair, 1,000 lbs., «4.50a4.75.
Hogs. — The run of hogs has been heavy. The market is
dull and bad, and very little stock changing hands. No
demand for shipments to New York. Prices are off 50c.
per 100 lbs. sin-e last week. Following are the current
rates: Extra Philadelphia. S5; prime Philadelphia, $4.80a
4.90 ; prime light hog8,8:-t.75.
Shbep— The run of sheep has been heavy, an din (juallty
rather common. The martet is active, most of the com-
mon stock in the pens being sold. Prices are about the
same as l^ist week, which are as follows : Extra 100 lbs ,
fine wool, 85.56 ; extra, 95 lbs., fine wool, $5.l5a5.25 ; fair 85
Iba., flue wool, 85.
CHICAGO CATTLE MARKETS.
Chicago, Aug. 27.
Catti-k— Receipts 3,000 bea"!. Market quiet and prices
weak, with sales of good to Ob oico shipping steers at 85 25
aS. 70; choice butchers' steers, $4.85a5.05 ; Tcxans, through
SI .62a3 25. Shipments, 447 head.
Hogs— Receipts ll.OOO head. Market dull and prices
weak and easier at 84.30a4 50 tor fair to good heavy ; $4.60a
a4.75 for good to choice Yorkers. Shipments, 7,612 heal.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic EcoTioiny and Miscellany.
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVOX.
" The Farmer is the founder of civiJizatioti.*' — WEBSTER.
Vol. V.
OCTOBER, 1873.
Jfo. 10.
ESSAY.
WHEAT AND CHEAT.
BY J. STAUFFEB.
IN view of the late discussion had on transmuta-
tion of wheat into cheat or chess, or what the
Germans call " Roggen-trespe," and botanists the
Bromus secalinus, L., which has a spreading, nod.
ding panicle in fruit, the florets elliptic with con.
tracted margins, distinct, longer than the flexuose
arms ; root annual, culm 3 to 4 feet high, smooth
— the nodes pubescent; leaves 6 to 12 inches long;
lauce-liiiear, nerved, etc.; as distinctly marked as
wheat is — and as constant in its generic characters,
Prof. Gray describes five species, the upright. s„ft.
wild and ciliated in addition to the rye bromus.
This latter is introduced from Europe, and i^ the
well known pest among our crops of wheat and
rye, and occasionally appears in the same fields,
for a year or two, after the grain crop ; but being
an annual, it is soon choked out by the perennial
grasses. Yet the fallen seeds remain, like in many
other cases, until the ground is again broken up or
put in a favorable condition for their development.
Thus, in the statement made by a farmer, that
having spilled some seed wheat in a fence corner
in a field in which no sign of the chess appeared or
had been known to be at any time, yet after gath-
ering up all the spilled wheat he could, it seems
the hogs, in searching for the stray grains, rooted
up the ground. In due time the chess made its
appearance on that identical spot and seemed to
confirm the faith that the fe.v scattered seeds of
the wheat had given birth to the chess.
But the stirring up of the ground or rooting up
the perennial grass by the hogs in search of the
grains of wheat may have simply enabled the dor-
mant seeds of the chess to grow. What then ?
The truth is, no positive proof of such a transmu-
tation ha.s yet been advanced, and even when cir-
cumstantial evidence was adduced in proof of such
a change, after more exact investigation the facts
were not only doubted, but it was shown how the
transformation (apparently) was no transformation
at all, as the seeds were recognized as those of
bromus and not of wheat, by the husks and man-
ner of sprouting. Dr Darlington is rather more
severe than I feel authorized to be. I will copy
his own words. He says : "Among the curious vul-
gar errors which yet infest the minds of credulous
and careless observers of natural phenomena, may
be mentioned the firm belief of many of our farmers
(some of them, too, good practical farmers), that
this troublesome grass is nothing more than an ac-
cidental variety, or casual form of degenerate
wheat, produced by some untoward condition of
the soil, or unpropitious season, or some organic
injury; though it must be admitted. I think, by
the most inveterate defender of that faith that in
undergoing the metamorphosis, the plant is sur-
prisingly uniform in its vagaries, in always assum-
ing the exact structure and character of bromus."
He then refers to "similar hallucinations " that
prevail among the peasantry of Europe, some
of which would really seem to be sustained by men
of profound education; and patient experimenting',
lengthy accounts are published, pro and co7i. on the
subject, some denying that which others affirm to
be proved beyond a doubt. Thus it is in relation to
other grand truths — man at best is but superficial,
and while those who have investigated least are
often the most dogmatic, I hold a neutral position.
During a term of upward of forty years I spent
much time in collecting and analyzing plants in
my botanical studies and rambles, and wassurpris-
18Jf
TEE LAXCA^TEU FARMER.
ed to see the constancy and uniformity of generic
characters, as well as occasionally surprised and
astonished by the diversity found to exist in the
same species, so much so as to make it very doubt-
ful whether to place it with one or the other ;
these are then considered varieties. A case in
point occurred a week ago. The common rag-
weed, which covers so many of our fields, is the
Ambrosia artemisise folia, L., known also as
bitter weed. (I cannot divine why such a nuisance
should be named " ambrosia" the Greek signify-
ing "immortal," the food of the gods — as nectar
was their drink — withheld from mortals as con-
taining the principle of immortality.) But my ob-
ject is not to discuss the food of tie heathen gods,
if they do fancy this bitter-weed. Some also call it
Roman worm-wood ; this comes from the German
name" Wermuth ;" the Artemesia, viVxoh is the
true "wormwood;" and the leaves somewhat re-
semble each other, hence the specific name of
this species of ambrosia. There are several
species. The Ambrosia trifida has the leaves pal-
mately3-5 lobed. tall, coarse weeds abundant in
low grounds almost everywhere. The A. integri-
folia with undivided, oval-toothed leaves, is a
marked variety to say the least ; both kinds are
frequently mixed or in close proximity. On the
Gth inst. Sept. 1873), in the alley back of East
Orange street, near Lime street, along the fence
inclosing the grounds of C". B. Grubb, Esq., I
noticed the two forms of leaves of ;different
branches on the same plant, and culled a specimen
of each ; on a closer inspection I found a deeply
ihreo-parted leaf, opposite an ovate 'eaf, barely
toothed on the edges. I showed the specimen to
Pr. Bollinger and others, and took a print from
the pair of leaves on page 4.W of my collection of
prints of leaves and drawings of plants, continued
for many years past, and an:'ong which I have
numerous examples to convince me that many
plants we deem distinct species are dependent on
climate and locality to produce their specific char-
acter as a type of the same genus
I do not affirm that generic differences will be
established so as to transfer one species of a genus
into another genus, and yet botanists are often
puzzled to say what constitutes a constant generic
character that can be relied on. It is found that
there are many deviations and objections, and
although the classification is well understood and
of great assistance, snch is the couuterchange
and diversity in plants as to make their study very
laborious in the details of specific character.
MM. Fabre and Dunal succeeded in producing
the culivated wheat from a variety of grass known
as a common Sicilian grass, and called the jEgi-
lops ovata. This, when ripe, is gathered by the
peasantry, who tie the heads up in bunches, and
set them on fire ; they burn with rapidity, and so
give the grains a slight roasting, which are then
consumed as agreeable food. The grass under
cultivation assumed the form of ^gilops triti-
cides, and after twelve years of continuous culture
it produced the ordinary wheat or form of the
genus Triticum or wheat. Prof. Henslow gives
various experiments to sustain M. Fabre. M.
Gordon says, on the other hand, that the ^Egilops
triticides is not a mere variety from the ^gilops
ovata, but that it is a hybrid from the latter and
the cultivated wheat. Thus we establish the
close relationship between the grass and wheat ;
and what shall we say ? The earth brings forth,
cultivation presents new stimulus, better condi-
tions, plants improve.
These advantages may take place, naturally as
well as artificially, through change of soil, ex-
posure to the sun, or other beneficial influences,
that may enable the plant to make more
or larger cells and improve in quality. In
the nursery of my skillful neighbor. Geo. Hen-
sel, I frequently see great steps of advance in
plants. Under successful management, and by the
art of the florist, various colors are induced by
chemical conditions and local circumstances, acci-
dentally often, and from a source past finding
out. But change, improvement, is allowed, and is
the great encouragement to the horticulturist,
agriculturist or florist to work in harmony
with the laws of nature implanted by wisdom and
goodness, to an ultimate perfection.
Then let us go onward, upward, toward the
grand mark of perfection in the vegetable as well
as in the moral world. Even so mote it be.
Influence of Food upon Poultry and Eggs,—
The influence of the food of poultry upon the
quality and flavor of their flesh and eggs has not
generally been taken into consideration, but it is
now well ascertained that great care should be
exercised in regard to this matter. In some in-
stances it has been attempted to feed poultry on a
large scale in France on horseflesh, and although
they devour this substance very greedily, it has
been found to give them a very unpleasant savor.
The best fattening material for chickens is said to
be Indian corn-meal and milk ; and certain large
poultry establishments in France use this entirely,
to the advantage both of the flesh and the eggs.
THE LAJ^CASTER FABMER.
18d
AGRICULTURE.
[From the Reading Times and Dispatch.]
MEETING OF THE FARMERS' CLUB.
A SPECIAL meeting of the Farmers' Club
was held at one o'clock, on Saturday after-
noon, at the Keystone House, the President, Col.
John A. Sheetz, in the chair.
The Secretary, Cyrus T. Fox, announced that
the object of the meeting was to receive a report
from a committee, composed of President Sheetz,
of Heidelberg, Dr. A. Smith of Lower Heidel-
berg, and John Plank, of Carnarvon in reference
to the best method of preparing the ground for
wheat, the proper time and best method of plant-
ing the same. The subject was an important one,
particularly at this season of the year, and the
Secretary hoped there would be a free interchange
of opinion by the members present.
President Sheetz stated that he had had no op-
portunity to confer with the other gentlemen of
the committee, for the purpose of preparing a regu-
lar report; but, several days ago, while seated in
a convenient spot upon his farm, where he could
overlook a large section of land, he had sketched
a few thoughts upon the subject, which he would
ask the Secretary to read.
The Secretary then read the following, which
had been prepared by President Sheetz :
No labor upon the farm requires greater care
than the preparation of the soil for winter grain.
You must wait patiently for ten months before
you can realize any return for your labor, and
meanwhile the growing grain is exposed to many
dangers. I'he first start is a matter of great im-
portance, in order to make the return for your la-
bor more certain, and to ensure a large and profits
able crop. The manure should be first carefully
scrutinized. Soon after the last seeding there s
either gold in the pile, or something that shines
like it, but of less value. If your manure heap is
large and well rotted, you can go ahead. Plow
deep, and thoroughly pulverize the soil with all
the labor you can put on it, mixing the manure
well with the soil. Put no more land in grain
than you can well manure. Lime is valuable to
use in connection with manure. By following
these directions in regard to the preparation of
the soil, you will find that the roots will become
larger and stronger. A coat of protection will
cover the ground that will protect the grain from
the severe weather of Winter, and prevent it from
being injured too readily by the cold winds of
Spring. When it starts to grow in the Spring,
you will still have the strong roots fortified with
the well cultivated and manured soil. It will,
therefore, be seen that the soil cannot be cultiva-
ted too much.
The quantity of wheat to be sown to the acre
depends, to a great extent, upon the size of the
grain ; and the nature of the soil, whether strong
or light, should be a subject of consideration.
From \^ to 2 bushels per acre is the usual quan-
tity sown. The veteran agriculturist, John Jol.n-
son, of New York, now 85 years old. who was con-
sidered, twenty-five years ago, the best and most
successful wheat grower in the United States, al-
ways said : " Do not fear that you will make your
land too rich, or that you can cultivate it too
much,'but always keep for your motto that you
want to make it better;" and he always found
that by following this rule he was amply repaid
for his trouble.
You should see that no stagnant water remains
standing upon the lower portions of the field, for
it will invariably prove destructive to the seed
and grain. Farmers should also be careful about
changing their .seed wheat every three or four
years, procuring grain grown upon a different soil.
Beardless wheat should also be sown as much as
possible, as there is less waste during harvest than
with the bearded varieties which readily lose their
grain. We must also look out for the midge that
is such an enemy of the wheat crop, and for a
number of years proved so destructive. Every
year we find some new enemy of the cereal crops,
and this is the case in all other countries. In con-
clusion, wheat sh ould be cut just as the grain be
comes tough and doughy ; but it will be impossi-
ble to harvest it all in that condition, as in the lat-
ter half of the harvest the grain will have become
fully hard.
David B. Mauger, P]sq., of Douglas, stated that
the subject was one which he would like to see tho-
roughly discussed. The speaker had been farming
since 1857, and heretofore he had always hauled his
manure on the oats stubble and plowed it down.
Last year he had plowed the land but once, then har-
rowed it, and afterward rolled it. He had an idea
of sowing some phosphate or guano upon the field
this year, but knows too little about these manures
to know of what benefit they would be. He had
tried phosphate in comparison with barn-yard
manure upon a rye field. The rye was splendid,
and best on that portion where the phosphate had
been applied. This had given him a good opinion
of phosphates. The phosphate was sowed at the
186
THE LAJVCASTEB, FARMER.
rate of 3"0 pounds to the acre, and cost $5o per
ton.
Col. Jeremiah Weaver, of Amity, gave his ex-
perience in the use of guano, phosphates, bone,
dust, and other fertilizers. He had at one time
used large quantities of Peruvian guano, but
found it productive of red sorrel, wild carrots, ox-
eye daisy, and other pernicious weeds in his fields,
and he had determined discontinuing its use. He
had found out that barn-yard manure, and plenty
of it, applied to the soil was the best fertilizer.
As for cultivation, it is his practice to spread the
manure on oats stubble, and plow the field a second
time, or work the soil the second time with a
cultivator, according to the season. He had this
i-eason one field of 38 acres in wheat, in which he
had tried three methods of sowing — plowing, har-
rowing and drilling in the grain. The crop was
exceedingly fine, and there appeared to be no dif-
ference in the appearance of any portion of the
field The straw stood .stiffer, and was firmer on
that portion where the grain had been plowed in.
The speaker had kept a mamorandum of the work
upon this field, and the yield, together with the
result of experiments upon a wet piece of land,
and he regretted that he had not brought his
memorandum book with him.
President Sheetz expressed himself pleased with
tlie statement that (-ol Weaver had made of his
experiments and said that in his township, Hei-
delberg, the excellent reputation of the farmers
of Oley and Amity was well known.
Squire Mauger stated that he had sowed a por-
tion of his wheat broad-cast ; a portion he had
harrowed in, an<l the remainder had been drilled.
The portion that had been drilled in he thought
stood the thinnest.
Col. Weaver gave some more interesting facts
in regard to his use of fertilizers, and stated as
the result of his experience that lime and artifi.
cial manures should never be used together, as
the lime would completely destroy the latter.
He was satisfied that lime is an exhaustive and
will not benefit phosphates. He always used
phosphate upon corn with the best results
Dr. A Smith, of Heidelberg, stated that the
preparation of the soil was at the foundation of
successful farming. Let the cultivation of any
crop be properly commenced, and a good crop
must necessarily be expected for the labor ex-
pended. In the first place it is necessary to
have the soil thoroughly pulverized — the soil
cannot be got in too fine a condition. Then the
farmer should be careful not to plow when the
ground is too wet, as the soil will be apt to be.
come hard and lumpy, and this will particularly
be the case when the lime is used. The ground
should be thoroughly manured, and all straw
grown upon the soil should be returned to it
again in the shape of manure. A good crop de-
pended upon the fertilizing substances contained
in the soil.
The speaker adverted to the unwise practice of
burying manure, and putting it out of sight.
Manure should be thoroughly decayed, and then
be spread on top of the ground, after the ground
had been plowed, and be worked into the soil.
Some probably would object to having manure
too near the surface, on account of considerable
substance being lost by evaporation, but we know
if we put straw on the ground, grass will grow up
through it, and develop strength, warmth and
nourishment from the straw, and this was exactly
the case with manures.
Artificial manures are unquestionably good.
The speaker had been experimenting in the farm-
ing line somewhat, and gave an interesting account
of his experiments upon a tract of ten acres. It
had been neglected, and was comparatively un-
productive. He had the ground well prepared^
and applied super-phosphate of lime at the rate
of 350 bushels to the acre. It was planted with
corn on the 20th of May, and yielded forty bushels
of shelled corn to the acre. The yield of the
whole place in a former year had been half a
bushel of corn. He has used super-phosphate
this year, his method of applying it being to put
a full teaspoonful around the plant as soon as the
corn is up, and another teaspoonful at the time
when the corn is ready to be cultivated.
The speaker believed that lime should be used
in connection with barn-yard manure, as the for-
mer would cut up the latter, and the decayed con-
dition of the manure would be obtained much
sooner, and would prove of greater efficacy. The
speaker concluded by hoping that the subject
would be again considered at some future time.
At this point, the Secretary stated that the
hour had arrived for the meeting of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Agricultural Society, and
that while he very much desired that the discus-
sion should be continued, especially as nothing
had yet been said in reference to the different
varieties of wheat, yet he was compelled to move
to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Dr.
Smith, and the Club adjourned to the regular
eeting day, Saturday, September 6th, at 1
o'clock p. M., at the Keystone House
THE LANCASTEB. FARMER.
187
SOME FACTS ABOUT RAIN.
No one who has traveled in the '• lake district "
of England will need to be informed that it is
a rainy region. If the tourist is able to devote
two or three weeks to it, he may not unreasonably
hope to be favored with occasional fair weather ;
but if he can spend only three or four days among
its wild and lovely scenery, let him congratulate
himself if they do not all prove to be rainy ones.
Wordsworth could never have seen and sung the
charms of the district as he did, had he not made
it his home for years.
We have just seen in an English paper an ab-
stract of meteorological observations made by Mr.
Isaac Fletcher, M. P., among these Cumberland
mountains. For nearly thirty years he has kept
rain gauges at various stations, and the record of
some of them for the year 1872 is astounding. The
rain-fall at different points ranges from about 91
inches up to almost 244 inches. At four stations
it was about 175 inches. The highest result was
obtained at a place known as " The Stye," at an
elevation of 1077 feet, in one of the wildest passes
of the region, between the lakes of Derwenter and
Wastwater. Mr. Fletcher remarks : " The amount
registered on the Stye — nearly 244 inches — is
marvelous and is greatly in excess of any previous
record. In 1866, 224.56 inches were recorded.
So far as has yet been ascertained, the Stye is the
wettest spot in Europe, and, except in tropical
countries, the quantities I have quoted represent
the two greatest annual falls of rain that have
ever been recorded.
But we presume that to many of our readers
these figures convey no definite idea of the actual
amount of rain that falls at this " wettest spot in
Europe." A few other facts will serve as a basis
of comparison, and also to show what a capricious
phenomenon rain is — the most capricious, in fact
of all meteorological phenomena, both in respect
to its frequency and the amount that falls in a
given time. There are regions where it never
rains— as on the coast of Peru, in the African
Sahara, and the desert of Cobi in Asia — and
there are others, as in Patagonia, where it rains
almost every day. At most places in our latitude,
if an inch falls in a day, it is a pretty heavy rain ;
but among the Highlands of Scotland and in the
English " lake district," of which we have been
speaking, from five to seven inches not unfrequent-
ly falls in a day. On the Isle of Skye. in De-
cember, 1863, 12.5 inches fell in thirteen hours.
At Joyeuse, in France, 31.17 inches fell in twenty-
four hours. At Geneva, 30 inches in twenty-four
hours ; at Gibraltar, 33 inches in twenty-six hours.
As regards the annual rainfall, the most remark-
able is on the Khasia hills, in India, where it
averages 600 inches, about .oOO of which fall in
several months of the year. We do not know of
any other place where the average rises even to
300 inches, though at two points on the (ihauts
Mountains, in India, it is 254 and 2')3 inches. At
Madras it is 45 inches ; at Bombay 75 inches.
It will be seen that the rainfall on the Stye, in
Cumberland, approximates to that in the western,
tropical districts. The average in the west of
Great Britain and Ireland, in the vicinity of high,
hills, is from 80 to 150 inches, while away from the
hills it is only from 30 to 45 inches, and in the
east of England not more than from 20 to 28 inches.
In France it averages 39 inches ; in the level
parts of Germany 20 inches ; while in some parts
of Russia it falls as low as 15 inches. In this
country it averages in the Southern States from
fifty to sixty-five inches, though at some points, as
at Athens, Ga., it is only thirty-six inches. In the
Northern States it ranges from about twenty-
seven to forty-five inches. On the Pacific coast it
is twenty-two inches at San Francisco, but increases
as we go northward— being forty-seven inches at
Fort Vancouver, and ninety inches at Sitka.
Though the subject cannot be called a dry one,
we should hardly venture to indulge to such au
extent in statistics if the variation in the figures
were not so striking. To those of our readers who
have not made a special study of the [subject, we
believe they will be interesting ; and it cannot be
denied that they fully sustain our assertion that
rain is the most capricious of all the phenomena
with which the meteorologist has to deal. Is it
possible that he can make any orderly arrange-
ment of such a medley of seemingly incongruous
facts, and bring them into harmony with natural
laws ? Can he explain why, within the limits of
a little territory like England, about three hun-
dred and fifty miles long and less than two hun-
dred in average breadth, there should be a range
in the yearly rain-fall from aliout twenty inches up
to more than tenfold that amount? Are such
problems within the grasp of " Old Probabilities''
and his fellow- workers ? That these questions are
to be answered in the affirmative is all that we
will now say ; at some future time we may devote
another familiar article to the rain and certain
related phenomena, and endeavor to elucidate the
great laws by which they are controlled. — Journnl
of Chemistry.
188
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
AMERICAN FARMERS' CLUB.
li. A. Morrell — In replying to Mr. W. IT.
King, of Venango county, Pennsylvania, asking
what kind of food is best for sheep to keep them
in good condition and make the most wool with
the least expense, being ignorant of the soil and
productions of the farm, I am somewhat diffident
in tendering- advice. He keeps the Cotswolds and
Southdowns. The large English breeds require
full measure of food, with a vievv to early maturity?
which is their principal source of profit. Abund'
ant pasture during the grazing season and corn
meal with a small measure of oil cake, rutabaga
turnips two or three times a week, afford the
(juickest means to perfect a condition for the
butcher. Clover hay, if cut in the right time,
which should be when in blossom, is the best
fodder during winter, though a small mixture of
timothy is not objectionable. With a view to in-
crease of wool, either barley or pea meal may be
added to ther food ; pea meal especially, as its
jn'ominent constituent is albumen, which is also
that of wool. Warm shelters during the cold
season, quietude and water daily are indispensable.
The Cheviot breed of sheep he will find in Canada,
which are hardier than the Cotswold and Leicester.
J. A. VVagener— White clover is most sought
for by herdsmen. N o doubt it is one of the best
foods for sheep. Sheep are great lovers of a
variety of food, and help to clear land as well as
fertilize the soil for grain, grass, and root crops.
In many ways they are profitable stock for a
farm.
S. S. Gregory, Berea. Ohio, writes : " Last
spring a peck of the highly-recommended Cooley
corn was obtained at an expense of near $2.60.
We think the corn sweet and good ; but a field of
the common Ohio corn on each side of the Cooley
variety appeared, as near as we could calculate,
to ripen as early as it did.
'■ I have for a few years past been in the habit
of topping my corn about the time that most
other people in this region of the country cut
theirs up by the roots. By pursuing this method,
'I moderate quantity of first-rate corn fodder can
be secured, and the corn is generally dry enough
to husk before the cold weather sets in. WiU
corn that is topped and left standing in the field
get dry and fit to husk any sooner than if cut up
by the roots and put in large bunches, as is almost
invariably practiced in all northern Ohio?
"The crop of apples in 1872 was an unusually
aViundant one in this part of Ohio. We find that
the poor kinds, especially the sweet ones, are valu-
able for feeding all kinds of stock. If people
generally who have an abundance of apple? should
use them for food for ' man and beast,' instead of
making them into cider, with a view of drinking
it, an advantage would be secured instead of a
positive damage."
Mr. Wagoner— Tliere is no great gain in top-
ping corn unless the farmer has waste time. Corn
ripens from the stalk, and should be cut when
glazed, before the frost cuts the stalks. The
whole stalk can be cut fine by a machine, and
should be ground and mixed with meal In this
way a great deal of food is made, and is more
easily handled m niauure-heaps than toppings or
the whole stalk. Apples have no great ad van-
age over corn for feeding stock. Cider vinegar
is of far more value than patent vinegar.
J. Exeter, writes : " I am an old farmer ; been
in the stock business all my days ; in the dairy
business fifty years. I am my own doctor. If
any of my herd is sick, I first ascertain what is the
matter with them'; then I prescribe the same as if
it was one of the human family. They require
about the same treatment ; and with good care
and right treatment are seldom sick. Always
begin in season, though. I recommend, in the
month of March, to shear the hair off the head
between the horns of cows ; then rub a little
spirits of turpentine on their heads. The heat often
causes inflammation in the head. As for horn dis-
temper, as some call it, I have but one medicine,
which I have used forty years, and it seldom fails
to cure. Take one pint of sharp vinegar, two
large spoonfuls of pepper, one handful of fine salt,
put them together in a bottle, shake them up well
and turn it down the cow. That will cure by the
second dose. I never lost a creature yet of horn
distemper, and I have doctored a good many —
only twice since have I resorted to bleeding. I
give stock salt often, the very best quality I can
get. Always have warm stables, clean and dry,
and there is no danger of your stock being sick."
F. D. Curtis — That letter is a concise and val-
uable communication. I would indorse every
word of it as sound doctrine, unless it be the prac-
tice of putting the turpentine on the heads of the
cattle. This I would not do . To shear the hair
oS" in the spring is a good idea, for it is usually
filled with dirt and scurf, and must itch intolera-
bly, and as the letter says, causes heat in the
head. Many farmers do not know that the top of
the head, the base or injunction of the horns,
is the most delicate spot on a horned animal. It
THE Lj1J\/ CASTER FARMER.
1S9
should always be curried or brushed with care.
The medicine prescribed for horn ail is good, and
to it I would add, for three months previous, four
or six quarts of wheat-shorts or bran. If the two
prescriptions are followed, no animal is likely to
die with horn distemper. I feed but twice a day-
'i he recommendation to close the barn to let the
hay dry out is new, and not practiced by many
farmers ; but it is a reasonable suggestion, and
hereafter I shall try it. I am very much obliged
to M r. Exeter for that letter, and 1 hope we shall
hear from him often.
SALT AS A MANURE.
The application of salt has been found in many
soils to be followed with most beneficial results.
In our western country the ordinary farm manures
receive but little attention. On account of the
fertile character of the soil, most farmers are un-
willing to bestow the labor necessary for its accu-
mulation, and hauling upon the land. But in this
we think they greatly err. The application of
three or four bushels of salt to the acre is a mat-
ter of small cost and little labor, which would, in
many instances, be repaid several times in a single
crop ; besides the increased quantity, when ap.
plied to wheat land, the crop is often hastened to
maturity eight or ten days earlier than wheat on
similar land not salted, and this gain in time
may often save the crop by rust or the midge.
The proper time to apply salt on wheat^land is at
the time of sowing the seed.
In the vicinity of towns and cities where pork
packing is carried on to any extent, large quanti-
ties of refuse salt may be had that will answer
even a better purpose on land than that which has
never been used in packing, on account of the
animal matter it contains, and this salt may fre-
quently be bought at a cheap rate.
We should be pleased if some of our friends,
would make the experiment and give us the re-
sult for publication. If they would once try it,
we think they would be apt to repeat it.
A New York farmer was in the habit, for a long
time, of applying salt to his wheat land at the rate
of 280 to 300 pounds per acre. He found it had
a tendency to cause the crop to mature earlier,
gave a brighter straw, more plump and heavy
grain, and of course a larger yield. He thought
400 pounds might be applied to the acre with
greater advantage, h^e sowed his wheat in Sep-
tember and the salt immediately after the wheat,
but said : " Were I to be guided by theory alone,
I would say, sow before the wheat and harrow in
with it."
For other crops, salt may be sown after the
ground is broken up and just preceding the sow-
ing or planting of the crop.
WINTER WORK ON THE FARM.
P. T. Quinn, a correspondent from Essex co.,
New York, says : A heavy fall of snow about
the holidays is a most fortunate occurrence,
and one that is always turned to a profitable ac-
count in getting ready for the spring work. I he
heaps of farm-yard manure that have been accu-
mulating for months back, are now hauled out to
the different fields, and thrown in jiiles, with a
farm sled, at about one-third less expense than if
wagoned. Distances from the farm-yard, when
eight loads of manure is a day's work for a man
and a team, twelve can be more easily made in the
same time with runners with less fatigue to the
horses. It has been my rule for many years, that
by the first of January the area for each crop is
mapped off, and no chance is allowed to pass be-
tween now and the first of April, to get every-
thing in readiness for an active and timely spring's
work. Located near a large city, where there is
always a ready sale for cabbages, potatoes, and
this kind of farming, to attempt to carry on the
business in a slip-shod way, better far to sell out
and go West, and raise corn and wheat, where less
capital is required. To grow cabbages, potatoes
and onions with profit, heavy manuring is the first
step toward success, and where from forty to sev-
enty two-horse loads of manure are applied to ev-
ery acre cultivated, one can readily see how little
chance there is for men and teams having nothing
to do at any time from December until April.
Besides hauling manure on fair days, on wet days
the farm implements are carefully examined and
put in good repair, long before they are needed in
the spring. For the piist dozen years, the team-
sters, at odd moments, mend all their own harness,
saving in this way from i^ftO to §75 a year, beside
the inconvenience of sending broken harness away
from the farm, and the trouble of getting them
back. Then the crops stored in the fall, have to
be disposed of before the spring. In doing this,
when the wagon goes to the city with a load of
cabbages, turnips or potatoes, it returns with a
load of manure. This plan is kept up the whole
year.
The tobacco crop of the county promises well.
190
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
MANURE ON WHEAT.
A correspondent, " F. G.," writing to the Country
Gentltman, says :
If a farmer wishes the greatest benefit from
his manure, he must apply it after his land is
plowed, spread (at once) even, and leave so till
the land is sowed ; then mix well with the harrow
or cultivator — if the application is heavy use the
cultivator ; sow immediately after that. By leav-
ing the spread manure on the surface after plow-
ing up to the time of sowing, the rain will wash
out the soluble parts and soak the soil — the top
soil with them. This is an even distribution — per.
fectly so ; and it is the only way, save by liquid
manure, that this can be done perfectly ; in fact, it
is liquid manure, the drenching and washing out
by the rains. Now, an equal distribution is of
the utmost importance, as it enables the roots to
come in constant contact with the fertility ; they
are immersed in it. If the manure is mixed with
the soil (plowed under or worked in with the cul-
tivator) only that part of the soil that comes in
contact with the manure will receive its benefit,
and that in excess. The rest has none, and is not
benefited by the application. In the other case,
where the strength is washed into the soil, and the
remaining manure is mixed with it by the harrow
or cultivator the seed will at once start and grow
vigorously, and form by winter a thick pelt, which,
with the manure, is a protection. The land, by
this method, it will be found, is in excellent con-
dition, the jeed-bed moist and mellow. Where it
is wanted to seed down the land nothing is better
than such a preparation. Sow the seed (grass
seed, not clover) immediately after the hari'ow
covering the wheat has left the field, and brush it
at once. As to the other question of the corres-
pondent, we do not appove of keeping manure
long and uselessly on hand. The sooner the soil
gets the soluble parts, and the surface the rest for
protection the better.
•
Agricultural Notes.— The Rural Netv-Yorker
mentions an individual who puts down his winter's
milk the same as some people lay in vegetables,
etc. He bottles a lot of milk in the fall, heats
them to the boiling point, then corks the bottles
and covers the corks with wax. This is the same
principle which is applied in canning fruits, but
whether it will do for the milk what it has done
for the fruit, we have no opinion to ofFer in oppo-
sition to that of the " individual" referred to. It
will not cost much to try it on a small scale.
The Prairie Farmer correctly thinks that trees
are as often summer-killed as winter-killed. One
fact will scarcely be questioned; that the weakened
condition of trees passing through a trying sum-
mer, whether from heat, coolness, moisture,
drought, or the attacks of insects, makes them fall
an easy prey to a severe winter.
A "Wool-Grower" in the Live Stock, Farm
and Fireside Jov/rnal, in referring to the weight
of fleeces, frequently published, says that " Such
fleeces, when ' clean-scoured' for the mill, usually
shrink about 65 to 70 per cent., and sometimes
more, in their weight ; and if the sheep had been
washed before shearing, in the usual way, the
fleeces would probably have weighed about one-
half to two-thirds, of what they are stated."
How TO Ascertain thk Weight of Cattle. —
Measure the girth close behind the shoulder, and
the length from the fore part of the shoulder-blade
along the back to the bone at the tail, which is
in a vertical line with the buttock, both in feet.
M ultiply the square of the girth, expressed in feet,
by five times the length, and divide the product
by 21 ; the quotient is the weight, nearly, of the
four quarters, in imperial stones of 14 lbs. avoir-
dupois. For example, if the gir h be 6^ ft., and
the length S^ft.. we shall have 6^X6^=42^, and
.')iX5=26^ ; then 42^X26^=1109 1-16, and this,
divided by 21. gives 52J stones nearly, or 52 stones
11 lbs. It is to be observed, however, that in
very fat cattle the four quarters will be about one
twentieth more, while in those in a very lean state
they will be one-twentieth less, than the weight ob-
tained by the rule. The four quarters are little
more than half the weight of the living animal ;
the skin weighing about the eighteenth part, and
the tallow about the twelfth part of the whole.
•
Shelter your Cattle in Winter. — The
severity of the winter in certain sections has in-
duced greater care and more attention to feeding.
Farmers are learning that care and kindness to
these useful creatures are repaid with increase of
profit. Our correspondent in Labette county,
Kansas, states : " I have learned from observation
that a cow, when well sheltered and watered, can
be kept on less than one half the feed required
when left to the exposure of winter storms,"
Those who now neglect to provide suitable shelter
in winter for their herds and flocks, if they would
carefully observe and study results, would reach a
similar conclusion. The agricultural districts in
this country are very limited in which farmers can
afford to winter stock without any provision for
sheltering and feeding them.
TEE LAJ^CASTEB, FARMER-
191
DOMESTIC.
ORIGIN OF AROMA IN BUTTER.
THE aroma of butter has a very complex
origin. It springs from certain volatile
oils which e.xist in the plants on which the animals
feed. Voelcker reports butter to contain two per
cent, of these oils. To these are given the names
butyrin, caproin, and capryolin, and from them
are formed the butyric, caproic, and capryolic acids>
which are the occasion ot rancidity in butter.
The easy formation of these acids is one of the
greatest obstacles to the manufacture of good but-
ter. But the volatile oils in butter are not con^
fined to three, nor four, varieties. Every species
of herb upon the farm has more or less volatile oil
peculiar to itself, on which its peculiar odor and
flavor depend. It is easy to see how the flavor
and odor of butter are afifected by the food the
cow consumes. A cow eating peppermint into
her blood, and thence into her milk, where com^
biuiug with the cream, it is carried into the but
ter, giving it the flavor and aroma of the mint.
Cows do not live on a single variety of herbage.
Twenty different kinds are more likely to be found
iu a single pasture than one. The mingled oils
of all these constitute the aroma of the butter
made from their milk, each one having its modi-
fying influence, though some may be distinctly
recognized, when, like onions, garlic, or cabbage,
their influence is greater than that of all the rest.
More people are more pleased with the aroma
from Kentucky blue grass than with any other ;
hence, blue grass is regarded as the best food for
the dairy. By a little attention, every dairyman
can determine for himself what food is most suit-
able for his herd ; and that little attention will
impres'i upon him the fact that if he would make
clean flavored butter, his cows must not live on
garbage, litter, or strong-scented weeds.
There is another peculiarity about the essential
oils in herbage, from which the dairyman may
Bometimes derive advantage. It is the different
degrees of lightness they possess, the rapidity
with which their essential oils are evaporated by
heat. For instance, the pungent oil of the horse-
radish is so volatile as to escape in a short time by
e.xposing the crushed radish to the air ; the poison-
ous oil of the wild parsnip and of ivy escape while
the foliage is wilting ; an offensive oil in green
clover, which affects butter unfavorably, escapes
while it is drying, so that the dry plant makes a
better product than the green. The aromas of
turnips, cabbage, onions, etc., are heavier, and are
not entirely carried away by drying. But by heat-
ing the freshly drawn milk, even these oils can, in
many instances, be entirely driven out. — Corres-
pondent Live Stock Journal.
WINE MAKING.
Grape culture and the manufacture of domestic
wines being on the increase in this country, we
publish the following directions for making five
gallons of grape wine, by a correspondent of the
Germantown Telegraph : Express the juice from
twenty pounds of grapes, rinse the pulp and skins
in as much water as will cover them ; mash them
and strain through a coarse cloth ; add to this the
juice, and put in two pounds of brown sugar to
each gallon. When the sugar is dissolved, pour
the whole into a keg, having the bung open, and
let it stand where the temperature will be about
seventy degrees, until fermentation ceases ; then
bung up tight, and let it rest for a month to settle,
when it should be drawn oS" quietly, the keg well
washed and the wine returned to it, adding one
pound of good raisins; and if it does not seem
sweet enough, two pounds of sugar may be added
to the whole. The necessity of doing this depends
on the kind and quality of the grapes The wine
should remain undisturbed until the keg is wanted
the next season, when it may be bottled for use.
Air Beds in the Morning.— The wise house-
keeper should see to it that all the beds should be
aired immediately after being occupied. The im-
purities which emanate from the human body from
insensible perspiration are made up of minute
atoms, which, if allowed to remain long, are ab-
sorbed by the bed, and will then, to a greater or
less extent, vitiate the air for a considerable time
afterward. Let the occupant throw the bed open
on rising, and as soon as convenient, open the
windows and ventilate the sleeping -room. One
hour's early ventilation is worth two hours' late
airing.
Hens Eatino Eggs. — A correspondent says:
" Hens eat their eggs because they desire food of
the kind of which the egg is composed — the shell
to procure lime, and the yolk and white to procure
albumen and other oily substances. Now if the
hens can obtain a sufficient quantity of these oily
substances in their daily food, they will not eat
their eggs. This can be effectually accomplished
by keeping within reach of the fowls a constant
supply of air-slaked lime, fat meat and pulverized
bone.
192
THE LAJy'CASTER FARMEB.
DURHAM BULLS.
ABOUT the year 1750, in the Valley of
the Tees, commenced that spirit of im-
provement in the breeders of the old Short-horns,
which has ended in the improved modern breed.
These efforts, begun by Sir William Quintin. and
carried on by Mr. Milbank, of Barmingham, were
nearly completed by Mr. Charles Colling. The
success of this gentleman was, from the first, con-
siderable. He produced, by judicious selections
and crossings, the celebrated bull, Hubback. from
whom are descended the best short-horns of our
day. Of this breed was the celebrated Durham
ox which was long shown in a traveling van at
country fairs, and which when slaughtered in April,
1807, at eleven years of age, weighed 187 stone;
and the Spottiswoode ox, probably the largest ever
exhibited. In June, 1802, he measured : height
of shoulders, 6 feet, 10 inches ; girth behind the
shoulder, 10 feet, 2 inches ; breadth across the
hooks, 3 feet, 1 inch ; computed weight, 320 stones
of 14 pounds. — Farmers' Encylopoedia.
We quote this to elicit how often, and how far,
an ox of 4,480 pounds has been exceeded in our
own country, and when, and where.
must be rubbed, piece by piece, with very finely
powdered saltpetre, on the flesh side, and where
the leg is cut off, a tablespoonful (not heaped) to
each ham, a dessert-spoonful to each shoulder, and
about half that quantity to each middling and
jowl ; this must be rubbed in. Then salt it by
packing a thin coating of salt on the flesh side of
each piece, say one-half inch thick, pack the
pieces on the scaffolding, or on a floor with strips
of plank laid a few inches apart all over it (that
is, under the meat) ; the pieces must be placed
skin side down, in the following order : — First
layer, hams ; second, shoulders ; third, jowls ;
fourth, middlings take the spare ribs out of the
middlings. The meat must lie in this wise :— Six
weeks if the weather is mild, eight if very cold —
the brine being allowed to run ofl" freely.
How TO Cure Hams. — Here is J. Howard
McHenry's recipe : The meat, after being cut out,
Apple Eating. — An eminent French physician
thinks that the decrease of dyspepsia and bilious
afifections in Paris, is owing to the increased con-
sumption of apples, which fruit, he maintains, is
an admirable preventive against disease, and a
tonic, as well as a very nourishing and easily
digested article of food. The Parisians devour
one hundred millions of apples every winter.
American people should profit by this hint, for
they well know the meaning of the word dyspepsia.
THE LA JVC ASTER FARMER.
193
USEFUL RECIPES.
Veal Cutlets. — Cut off the flank and take the
bone out, then take slices the size of the fillet and
half an inch thick ; grate some bread crumbs and
mix them with two yolks of eggs that have been
beaten ; put it on the veal and press it with a
knife or cake turner, and let them stand to dry,
then fry them in hot lard a light brown. Take
them from the lard and stew them in gravy sea-
soned with wine, lemon, and curry powder ; let it
cook fifteen minutes, then thicken with butter and
browned flour. Leave out curry powder if you
choose.
Quaker Plum Puddinc. — Take slices of light
bread, thin, with butter, and lay in a pudding-
dish layers of thin bread and raisins till within an
inch of the top. Add five eggs, well beaten, and
a quart of milk, and pour over the pudding ; salt
and spice to taste. Bake in twenty-five minutes,
and eat with liquid sauce. Before using the raisins
boil them in a little water and put it all in.
Breakfast Rolls. — Into two quarts of wheat
flour, put a piece of butter the size of an egg, a
little salt, a tablespoonful of white sugar, a pint
of milk previously boiled, and cold, and half a tea-
cupful of yeast. When the sponge is light, mould
for fifteen minutes. Let it rise again, and cut in-
to round cakes ; when light, flatten each with a
rolling-pin ; put a bit of butter on top, and fold
each over on itself. Put in pans to rise, and when
light bake in a quick oven. If the edges of the
rolls are dipped in melted butter they will not
stick together,
Corn Meal Bread. — Pour over a pint of nice
corn meal one pint of hot new milk ; beat this well,
and add a little salt ; then stir in a large spoonful
of nice sweet lard ; beat two eggs very light, and
stir in also ; this must be well beaten, and of the
consistency of thin butter; add some more milk
should it be too thick, and mix in a large spoonful
of yeast, butter the pans, and set it to rise in
steam ; when risen, have the oven of a moderate
heat, and put them in it ; bake two hours and a
half to a light brown, and serve hot.
A Most ExcelViEnt Domestic: Confection. —
This is the season for oranges. The peel of this
fruit, preserved in sugar, is one of the most delight-
ful confections which a family can use, far superior
to the extracts sold in the shops. The peel should
of course be perfectly clean, and should be cut in
long thin strips. Stew in water till all the bitter-
ness is extracted. Throw away the water, and
stew again for half an hour in a thick syrup made
of a pound of sugar to one of peel, with just water
enough. Put away in a cool place, for flavoring
puddings, pies, etc. For this purpose it should be
chopped very fine. No better nor cheaper flavor-
ing can be furnished to a household.
Proper Feeding. — The proper feeding of horses
has much to do with their condition, and likewise
with their remaining sound. Food should be pro-
portioned to work, and it should also be of the best
quality. Hay that has been much heated in the
gtack is, above all things, to be avoided, as, from
its powerful diuretic properties, it debilitates and
creates thirst ; and mow-burnt or heated oats are
equally productive of mischief. Hay which is
produced on dry upland ground is best. Indeed,
we are far from thinking that rich meadow-hay,
finely-scented as it is, and apparently so full of
nourishment, is fitted for any description of horse
that is required to go fast ; and we are quite cer-
tain that thousands of horses are destroyed an-
nually by the effects of hay and water. The lat-
ter cannot be too soft, and when not so it should
be given with a small portion of bran in it. —
Prairie Farmer.
Novel Way of Serving Peaches. — Take good
sized freestone peaches, wipe them with a towel,
halve them, and place them flat side down in hot
butter or lard. Let them fry to a nice brown, then
turn and fill the seed cup with sugar, which, by the
time the fruit is properly coated will be melted
and form with the juice of the peach, a rich syrup.
Serve up hot, and if you don't like them you need
not repeat the experiment. Most persons think
the dish a superb one. Medical writers caution
people against eating peaches served up in any
form in the evening. It is asserted that they are
depressive to the circulation, and exhaust the
system by the prussic acid which they contain. It
is better to eat them in the morning, or not later
than an early dinner, so that some exercise may
follow eating to aid their proper digestion.
Charlier Horseshoe. — A new horseshoe, pro-
duced in Paris by M. Charlier, has been favorably
received. It consists of a narrow rim of iron,
thoroughly protecting the edge of the hoof with-
out cramping its sole in the least. The material
to be used must be of the best quality ; but the
weight being considerably less, the cost is not in-
creased. Thousands of horses of the many public
conveyances in Paris have been provided with
these shoes, and they give general satisfaction.
19Jf
THE LAJYCASTER FARMEB..
ENTOMOLOGICAL.
THE APPLE-TREE BORER.
AT the meeting of the Pennsylvania Pomo-
logical Society held in Philadelphia, last
winter a year, (it may be remembered as reported
in our columns at the time.) there was a remark,
able difference of opinion between two leading
authorities as to the value of tarred paper in keep-
ing out the apple-tree borer. One stated posi-
tively that it would keep the insect out, for he had
tried it ; the other contended that it would not,
for he had tried it also. Now, there was once a
judge who heard a case, in which two men swore
they saw a crime committed, and a dozen swore
they did not see it, and which said judge decided,
in accordance with the majority of the evidence,
that the man must be innocent ; but our sympa-
thies in the great apple-borer case were rather
with the other side ; for if a man really tried tarred
paper, and still the borer got in, the man that did
not see any get in might not have had any borers
try, or might not have seen the damage after it
was done. In short, we preferred the evidence of
the one who saw, to the one who didn't. How-
ever, there was one present who supposed the
truth must be somewhere between these two, and
he went right straight home from the meeting, and
put to the test the doctrines he had heard. He
had one hundred trees, two years planted ; and
after going over the trees, and carefully taking out
the borers that loere in, he wrapped old paper
loosely about the stem for one inch below and two
inches above the surface, and then smeared gas-tar
all over the outside of the bark, just as he had been
recommended. Sure enough, he had not one borer
trouble him all the year, nor this year up to about
a month ago, when he found four of them die away
as suddenly as if they were pears stricken down
by the fire-blight. An examination showed that
the borer had penetrated above the two inches cov-
ered by the paper, and in that way effected the
destruction of the tree. But — and here is the im-
portant point — in all these four cases coarse veg-
etation had grown up around the stem, and the
borers had gone up this sort of ladder to do their
work. He believes they will not go over the
tarred paper unless they can bridge it in this way.
Still he thinks two inches hardly safe, and if go-
ing over them again would have the paper four
inches instead of two.
It thus seems that after all there is something
in this tarred paper plan ; and then it is so simple,
so cheap, so easy of application, that he who thinks
it too much trouble does not deserve apples.
Our friend says he has been troubled in the past,
by mice and by rabbits in the winter season, and
he thinks the tarred paper as good against these
as the borer. He had no losses last year. This
is the time to attend to it. — Germantoion Tele-
graph.
[We believe, with the writer of the above, in
the availability of the protection to the trunk of
the apple-tree, therein named, if it is applied in
the right manner, and in the right season. The
eggs of the female borer are deposited on the
trunk, near to the earth, from the first of June to
the first of August, and if that part of the tree is
properly protected then, there is no danger from
the insect during the other ten months of the year.
Outside of the two months named, there is no ne-
cessity in protecting the trunk at all, after cutting
out the worms, for then there are none o( the bee-
tles in season to deposit the eggs from which the
worms are bred. We would, however, recommend
the protection, whatever it may be, to extend six
inches upward instead of two, and two inches down-
ward instead of one. The insect deposits its eggs
at or a little below the surface, because there they
are protected against the sun, and there is sufficient
moisture to prevent them from "drying out" before
they are hatched. If there is only a one or two
inch protection, and the grass is suffered to grow
about and shade the base of the tree, the proper
conditions for the development of the worms will
exist immediately above the protection, and it
might just as well not be there at all. " What is
worth doing at all is worth doing well."— Ed.]
THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR LOCUST.
[Cicada Septendecim.)
How, and on what the above named insect
lives, during its long larvag period, has long been
a subject of more or less speculation, owing to the
difficulties attending a practical demonstration of
the subject. The observations which accomplished
entomotogists have been able to make, have been
so few and unsatisfactory, that the question be-
came involved in many doubts, and, at best, the
whole theory was based mainly on conjecture.
Notwithstanding, Miss Margaret H. Morris —
late of Germantow n, Pa. — as early as 1846, ir the
proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences,
of that year, gave a description of the larvEB,
of the cicada, which she found in great numbers,
adhering to the roots of a sickly pear tree ; still,
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
195
as nobody else seemed to have confirmed her ob-
servations in this respect, some writers began to
question her testimony in its details, although
they seemed to infer that the cicadas might have
been found in the manner she described, and was
likely to live upon underground vegetation of some
sort. Dr. Smith, of Baltimore, attempted to
demonstrate that the larvse of the seventeen-year
cicada— at least when very young — did not
puncture the roots of vegetation at all, but that it
lapped, or brushed up the moisture that exuded
from the roots, and in that manner sustained itself,
during its infancy at least, its proboscis being
modified into a sort of brush for that purpose.
But however and upon whatever it may subsist
during its earliest larvae period, it is very certain
that it does puncture, and very badly puncture
too,the roots of certain trees, within from two to
five years after its exclusion from the Qgg. On
the 6th of September, 1873, Mr. Geo. Hensel, re-
siding in East Orange street, in the city of Lan-
caster, in digging a foundation trench for an ex-
tension of his green-house, at three feet below the
surface of the earth, in a compact clay soil, came
upon a large number of cicada larvae, of various
sizes, adhering to the roots of a smokehouse apple
tree ; and what seemed mo.st singular, although the
roots of a large sweet cherry tree intertwined those
of the apple, yet no cicadas, not a single larvae,
was found on them, nor was there any appearance
of their having been punctured by these insects.
They were not, however, all found adhering to the
roots, but many occupied cylindrical burrows that
were at right angles from the surface of the roots.
The infested roots were from \ to 1^ inches in
diameter, the greater number being on the smaller
ones. Mr. Hensel gathered at least a half pint
of these larvaj within the few feet of excavation
he made, and he also made the observation that
the apple tree, latterly, has prematurely dropped
its fruit and leaves and seems greatly enervated.
The larger roots do not seem to have been per-
manently injured, but the smaller ones are black-
ened into the heart, and the vitality of the bark
and sap-wood is entirely destroyed.
We have before us a number of these larvaj,
from scarcely a ^ to more that a ^ inch in length,
with the abdominal portions more distended than
it is in the adult larvie. We have also specimens
Of the injured roots, and a clod of indurated yellow
clay, containing two of the burrows, or cells.
These cells are from an inch to an inch and a half
in length, and otherwise adapted in size to their oc-
cupants, but they were, all of them, larger than
was necessary for the accommodation of the body
of the insect — large enough perhaps to turn
around in it — and as they were not all found ad-
hering to 'the roots, but merely, in some instances,
occupying the cells which terminated on the sur-
face of the bark, it would appear that they gorge
them.selves, and then desist, until hunger compels
them to renew the attack. The outer integument
of the smooth bark seems to be perforated, as if
by pinholes, and beneath it, in some instances, it is
blackened in as far as the sap-wood of the medium
sized roots ; but the larger ones are roughened on
the surface only, and inside have a hftalthy ap-
pearance. Whether these cicada larvae are all of
the brood of 1868 or not, is something which, in
this case, cannot be fully determined perhaps, be-
cause Mr. H. has on his premises also the brood
of 1872. introduced by himself from Chester county
more than eighteen years ago. The difference in
size is so great that they may possibly be the
larvaj of both these broods. Mr. H. thinks the
cicadas on his premises have become somewhat
" demoralized," for every year since 1867 more or
less of the mature insects have been developed,
and not a single summer has passed in five years
during which he has not dug up some of the larvae.
It is very likely, therefore, that they are never
more than from two to three feet below the surface,
where there are roots enough for them to subsist
upon at that depth. Notwithstanding these in-
sects are so long and so widely known in this coun-
try, and so much has been observed and written
about them, every additional fact in reference to
their'curious and^unique history is invested with
more than ordinary interest ; a history that never
will be fully known until the consecutive observa-
tions of the whole seventeen years of their larvae
development can be made. Until then such de-
tached fragments must sufiice. — Ed.
WiNCHESTEK, Ya., Sept 8th, 1873.
S. S. Rathvon — Dear Sir: A large number
of our peach trees are dead and some are dying,
caused by a very small beetle. It punctures the
bark near the ground at first, then passing up the
tree, boring holes merely deep enough to cover its
body. It seems to be very poisonous, as the bark
is entirely dead at the ground before the leaves
drop, and the leaves begin to wither when, ap-
parently, but little damage is done.
A brief account of it is given in Harris' Insects,
(fee, on page 88, but is there supposed to be con-
nected with the Yellows, which I am pretty sure
our trees have not got. I mail you, with this,
196
THE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
pieces of wood and bark containing insects. If
you can tell how to check its ravages, or destroy
it, we will be under great obligations, as it threat-
ens to be a most formidable foe to the peach.
Yours truly,
0. H. Anderson.
[The above speaks for itself, and we publish it,
not because we feel ourselves able to prescribe a
simple and unfailing remedy, but in order to elicit
the attention of peach growers in general, if un-
happily any of them may have been similarly
troubled with this comparatively new enemy to the
peach tree. The piece of wood received is four
inches long and one inch in diameter, and con-
tains more than a dozen perforations, from which
we extracted ten little black beetles. The largest of
these beetles is the ^ of an inch in length, and the
smallest, little more than half that length. The
color is black, except the avtennce, and the titial
and tarsal portions of all the legs, which are a
resinous brown. The insect has the habit of
geniculating the antennae at will, the three term-
inal joints of which are enlarged into a club, very
similar to some species of Lamelicomia. The
thorax is con vexed and deeply punctured, and the
elytrcB are punctured in longitudinal rows, or
grooves, and sparsely set with short stiff hairs.
This little insect is the Tomi'ciis [PMoiotrihus]
Ummanous of authors, and belongs to the family
ScoLTTiD(E, or " Typographer Beetles," all of
which burrow under the bark of different kinds of
trees. They appear in the beetle form, from the
1st of August until the 1st of October, and during
that period they perforate the bark, and make an
excavation between the epidermis and the sap-
wood, in which they deposit their eggs and then
die. As we have often caught these insects on the
wing, on warm days in middle October, we are of
opinion that some of them hybernate all winter.
The legs are so short, and the dorsal convexity so
great, that when they have fallen on their backs,
we have seen them struggle full fifteen minutes
before they succeeded in righting themselves.
They have an ample pair of underwings, and in
warm and hazy afternoons may often be seen fly-
ing abroad. If peach trees were treated with a
coat of dilute carbolic acid, or carbolic soap-wash,
during the last half of July and the month of
August, there is a strong probability that these
insects would not approach them. Under any
circumstances, prevention is the only effectual
means to circumvent them, for when the eggs are
once deposited it will be difficult to reach them,
for the larva, in the beginning, must be very
small. But it seems to us that the presence of
this insect in the peaeh tree is only incidental,
caused probably by the rapid disappearance of
other trees, its usual habit ; and, from our observa-
tions, the peach tree is not at all fitted for its pro--
pagation and development. For instance, we cut
a number of them out with a knife, and we found
that in each case, the short burrow they had made,
was filled with the exuding gum of the tree, and
the insects unable to extricate themselves. Dr.
Harris says, p. 88, that he found this same insect
under the bark of the beech tree. Miss Morris,
many years ago, found this insect in peach trees
affected with the '' Yellows," and supposed it had
some connection with that disease. Although
peach trees badly infested by borers are apt to
turn yellow, yet the disease of that name is often
present without insects having anything to do
with it. At the same time it may be borne in
mind, that trees of any kind that^are enervated by
disease, are more favorable to the development of
insects than vigorous, healthy trees are, because
the feeble functional activity of the former pre-
sents fewer obstacles to that development ; but
this is by no means always the case, nor e\en a
general rule. — Ed.]
[From the Gerraantown Telegraph.]
MINUTE INSECTS.
Grape Phylloxera.
I am calling attention to the injury done to
the grapevine by the minute insect called phyl
loxera, a name that I fear will be a terror to all
who cultivate grapes, either out of dooi's or under
glass. This insect preys on the vine in two ways.
First, ,on the leaf. Here it, either by puncturing,
or by laying on the outside of the leaf its eggs,
causes a thickening of the leaf, and this bag-like
thickening is called in Europe a ' gall," after the
larger forms of "galls" or "boles," of which the
nut-gail of the oak is a sample, and a useful one,
as the nut-gall is used in medicine and the arts.
But we Americans like no set, cant terms of arts
or sciences, and hence retain but few of them. So
we speak of the enlargement in small, roundish
protuberances, simply as such and no more. By
cutting open the leaf-nest of the phylloxera it is
found to be the live tissue of the leaf, a sixteenth
or so of an inch in diameter, and often several
joined together so as to occupy a circle a quarter
or three-eighths of an inch in its irregular diameter.
At the proper time these little round spots, cut open,
are full of yellow, red or brown little insects ; and
THE LA:N'C ASTER FARMER.
197
as I have seen them in quite a variation of colors,
owing to the changes of the insect development, or
to slight sub-varieties of the phyllexora. These
points belong to the entomologist, not to me, a
practical writer. I have seen the " gall" spot or
nest, with open leaflets or valve-like entrances to
the enlargement or bag below the leaf on the un-
der side ; and again, the bulb or bag above the
leaf and tightly closed. Very frequently the en-
larged spot is seen, when the most diligent search
fails to discover an insect. The fact neetls an ac-
curate entomologist to account for. But I have
seen it too often to be disputed as a fact. Practi-
cally, I consider this injury to the leaf, if excessive,
as preventing the fall-ripening of the wood and
the fruit of the vine. Otherwise as of little con-
sequence.
Second. The great injury of the phylloxera, now
attracting so much attention of our excellent
entomologists and others of the more intelligent
grape-growers, is to the rootlets of the vine. On
this I have less accurately observed its habits and
appearances. But it is sufficient to know that it
loves to feed under ground on the small roots or
rootlets of the vine and produces here knots or
bunches, each quite small, but in the aggregate
making large masses of black or brown excrescen-
ces. The effect is to paralyze the vine. It either
fails to ripen its fruit, or the grapes ri. en imper-
fectly or late. And careless grape-growers say
. ■• it is a bad year for grapes ; " late sea.son ;" '' my
vine^^ are full, but don't get ripe ; I must buy
earlier sorts," and other phrases that display igno-
nance of the cause of the mischief.
Later, the frosts c »me on the yet immature
canes and yet half ripened leaves, and the conse.
quencc is the vine enters winter before it is ready
to endure cold, and thus it easily perishes. So
also in the following spring the wood and grape-
buds that are ripe enough to have wintered well,
are not early supplied with sap, and the vine dies
even in the parts that escaped winter-killing, by
the drying out of the buds by the hot spring sun.
Hence one may propagate buds cut off of a vine
that dies too near the ground, showing that the
ripening of the buds was perfect enough, had not
diseased roots underground caused the loss, inde-
pendently of the buds.
The phyllo.xera has at least two periods of emer-
gence out of the ground, and appears as one of the
very minute insects that we call flies. I need not
say that in Europe it is said to kill vine, root and
all. So far in this country it does not generally kill
the whole vine and root, but it causes great bar-
ren dead branches on the trellis, in irregular spots,
and there is fruit and leaves near the ground ; and
this is repeated until the vine sometimes dies. Old
vines, trained on buildings or trees, are frequently
killed to three or four feet of the earth, and rarely
recover, or not till the year after such a phyllox-
era year, its vigor. Vines also trained on the spur
systems, as distinguished from the reneioal or an-
nual cane systems, suffer most. So that if this
insect becomes more destructive we will be obliged
to abandon all spur training and grow short canes
each year, or, .get no fruit. Any large and old
vineyard almost anywhere will show to-day (June
18th), the truth of these last remarks : its old, dead
wood, its last year's new wood alive and full of
fruit.
I could continue these remarks as to the " oys-
ter-louse" of the New-Jersey and Massachusetts
apple-trees. Also of the minute insects of our
grasses. No one can see a cloud of insects rise
and fill the air, and not see the causes of barren-
ness and injuries that he attributes to the soil or
other reasons than the insect he considers of so
little moment. I close by saying that though for
these and other minute insects remedy after reme-
dy have been proposed, I can but repeat hoio
powerless is all man can do to resist and destroy
any insect. With ihe kindest regards to my tens
of thousands of readers, I am,
S. J. ParkeA M. D.
Tompkins County, N. Y.
[The above insect is the Phylloxera vastatrix
of Planchon, and is the same as that described by
Dr. Pitch as P. vitifolia. It is indigenous to
America, but has been introduced into Europe,
and is making sad havoc among the grape vines
there, especially in France, in the departments of
Provence and A^'ancluse. Indeed, it has become
so threatening, that the French Academy at one
of its sittings demanded of the government that
the premiums of 20,000 francs, offered for a reme-
dy for its destruction, be increased to 500,000, or
if necessary, 1,000,000 of francs.
During the months of August and September,
and perhaps even later, these minute insects, both
winged and wingless, crawl over the surface of the
ground, and if the surface is then treated with
carbolic powder, quick-lime, ashes, sulphur or salt,
these insects may be destroyed in millions. In
low grounds, where the thing is practicable, sub-
mersion with water is recommended, but of course,
on high grounds this is not available.
This insect is by no means as destructive in this
country as it is in Europe, where they cultivate the
198
J }JE LANCASTER FARMER.
finer and more tender varieties of the grape. We
have seen it very abundantly on the foliage of the
Clinton, but it also attacks other varieties, and is
more injurious when depredating upon the roots,
than when on the leaves. — Ed.]
CORRESPONDENCE.
PEQUEA FARMERS' CLUB.
Wal-Oak Farm, Sept. 18, 1873.
MR. EDITOR : The second Saturday in Sep-
tember the Pequea Farmers' Club met at
the home of Mr. Jacob Bach man. An anxious
desire and a pressing invitation to visit a model
club induced me to be present.
Some farmers' clubs are nothing more than
" dried-up sticks." T like the Pequea Club from
the word go. Its constitution and by-laws are
tip-top. A member is expelled if he is absent
twice in succession. No society can sustain itself
if it allows its members to attend every camp
meeting and cock-fight that comes off on its day.
We are on our way to a farmers' club. They
will naturally inquire after the farming interests
of the country we are passing through. We can
tell them, many of the fences are beautifully sup-
ported by briars, and thorns, and thistles. No
danger of the cattle rubbing them down. We
can also say we saw a number of pasture-fields in
which mud-puddles had been made this spring.
All summer these have been filled with filthy wa-
ter. We stopped and asked one gentleman if he did
not think the water was injurious. He said-
"Oh,no; the cattle prefer it to running spring
water." We told him cattle and sheep would of-
ten eat poisonous plants in preference to delicious
clover.
You see that rule works both ways. But then
Bome men don't like old cows, and this putrid
water kills them off at the right age. The milk
and butter they give contain the germs of fatal
diseases ; but then a man has to die anyhow, and
the doctors have to live.
We left Marietta at 4 a. m., arrived at Stra.s
burg at 10:30, passing through much rich coun
t^-y and many well-kept farms All the members
were present before the hour of meeting, and the
club was promptly called to order at 11 o'clock.
Mr. Jacob Bachman read an essay — " a discourse
on public roads " — which was replete with practi-
cal good sense and useful suggestions. The mis-
erable road system which now prevails was tho-
roughly ventilated. A diversity of opinion pre-
vailed as to the best method of making roads ;
but all agreed that where deep gutters and water-
courses are now used, there should be a bridge.
This was a charming conclusion, and every in-
telligent supervisor should give the matter a
thought ; for road-making is a matter of vital in-
terest to everybody. This discussing a farm sub-
ject, as a Lyceum discusses a literary question,
with the view of arriving at the truth, is the best
and quickest, if not the only method of teaching
farmers to guard their interests and study the
science of their profession. There is double the
money in scientific farming that there is in bung-
ling plowing and sowing, and reaping and mow-
ing— and useful, intelligent, go-ahead farmer^ arc
everywhere giving their old-fashioned neighbors a
practical illustration of its truth.
The "country Jakes" who disgrace the profes-
sion of farming are not graduates of model farm-
ers' clubs. A farmer in a great many places is
synonymous with a man who goes it blind and takes
his chances—don't know anything about his busi-
ness, and don't care to learn anything concerning
it. A great many farmers are as ignorant as
their cii'cumstances will permit. They neither
subscribe for a paper nor even borrow one ; yet I
know a man who owns three farms and borrows
his reading matter from a neighbor who labors by
the day. I knew this fact, and asked him to sub-
scribe for his local paper — the Marietta Register
— and he said: "A farmer don't need a paper.
They do well enough for folks in town." I told
him the town people could hear the news and the
country people couldn't. I thought they needed
the paper. He snapped the controversy in an in-
stant by .saying : "' All papers are wicked. I don't
want them and won't have them." I walked
away from that man with the firm conviction that
canvassing for a local newspaper offered special
inducements to students of human nature. And
I was just as certain that a farmers' club was the
only educating influence in this world that could
reach that man — he having just before expressed
a desir e to attend a gathering of " theoretical "
farmers.
The Pequea club teaches its members to respect
themselves and the dignity of their calling. It
numbers eleven. You could drive through this
country and almost tell its members by their neat
farms and attractive homes. The most of them
are cultivated talkers, and they are all intelligent
men. One black ball rejects an applicant, and
they never think of admitting any one who is not
THE LAJ\^CASTER FABMER.
199
a well-read, social, jovial, and congenial fellow
Qne of the members lives twenty-five miles
distant, and has not missed a meeting since he
joined the club. This fact is more complimentary
than all I could say. It spcakseloquently of how
full of instruction and interest these meetings are.
Each member comes liere to give the others the
benefit of a month's experience. I wish every
farmer in the county 30uld be present once to en-
joy the happy and practical .remarks that crop
out at every turn in tlie discussion ; and, if 1
mii^ht be allowed to use a figure of speech that is
more expressive thun refined, these mex^tings are-
as interesting and attractive to the members as a
dog-fight is to a crowd of truant school-boys.
Oake Saxe
HORTICULTURAL.
WHY APPLE TREES DIE.
IN the fall of 1846 I planted a lot of apple
pumice or apple seeds, of the old Virginia crab
apple variety. In the spring of 1848 we engrafted
part of these trees about three to eight inches
above the ground. I'alance of them we engrafted
ust under the ground. We also took all the lar-
gest roots and cut them up in lengths of about four
inches and engrafted them. T hey all grew about
the same. In the spring of 1852, we planted them
out in the orchards.
Now for the results: All those engrafted
from four to eight inches above the ground are
still alive and doing well ; those engrafted in the
roots and under ground are nearly all dead. The
Fallawater varieties engrafted in the roots all
died before the year 1862, or in about ten years
after planting out. The same kinds of apples on
those above ground are still alive and are doing
finely. The roots (of those from roots) all gave
way first ; some would blow over and the rest
died, often when they were full of apples. From
my experience, I have cdncluded never to plant a
tree engrafted either under ground or in roots.
Nurserymen prefer root-grafting because they can
do it in the winter, pack away in the sand, and
plant out in the spring.
Apple trees should Iw l)udded or grafted not
less than eight inches above ground for the best
results. It is more trouble to the nurserymen, be.
cause they have to wait a year longer before they
can bud or graft them at that height. — Co?-. Ger-
mantown Telegraph.
THE PERSIMMON.
Friend Freas.— I think you are almost too
hard on the persimmon in a late issue. There is a
great range of quality, like in almost every other
fruit good, bad and indifferent. I confess to
never having found any in persimmons that were
really good, although when a boy was glad to get
them, as they were a rarity in our parts. Here it
is difiierent. however ; we have some large ones
with but small seeds that ripen before any frost.
One tree in particular, the finest I ever met with,
grew in the middle of a vinery belonging to the B.
W. Co. The tenant frequently threatened to cut
it d(iwn,)nit I at the time was superintendent and
would not allow it. Intending to resign my situ-
ation, and not knowing what the fate of the tree
might be when my authority should cease, I took
grafts from it, some of which are now growing,
and some were sent to friends in the East, who
read your paper, and may report on them. The
tree has since been hewn down and cast into the
fire. AV'hen dried the persimmau is considered
quite a nice thing with our folks.
1 his you will no doubt think is quite a puff for
the persimmon, coming frorri one who has all the
finest grapes, peaches, apples, melons, etc., in their
season. The tree is certainly an ornamental one,
and I own to the fact that a couple are growing
on the terrace near my house. 'I'hey are seedlings
from the big one, and if the fruit be not good, they
will be grafted with better varieties.— Cor. Ger-
mantown Telegraph.
Tilling Orchards.— The injurious effect of late
cultivation of an orchard is caused by the stimu-
lation of a growth of wood which, not having-
time to ripen, is killed by the frost. The chief in-
jury which occurs to an orchard from plowing is
the bruising of the large roots, which throw out
shelters at every bruise, or break,' and not only
disfigure the orchard but sap the vitality of the
trees. If a good crop of fruit is not er.ough to
expect from the soil, we would choose for the sec-
ond grass or clover. Clover pastured by sheep or
hogs, or allowed to die down upon the soil, is an
actual gain, and it tends also to check too great
growth of leaf and wood. When the grass of an
orchard has run out and requires re-seeding, the
ground should not be plowed but only cultivated
with the broad steel-toothed cultivator to a depth
of not more than three inches. One and a half
bushels of orchard grass and six quarts of clover
might then be sowed and harrowed in ; and spring-
is the pi'oper time.
200
THE LAJfCASTER FARMER.
LANCASTER, OCTOBER, 1873
S. S. RATHVON, Edilor.
Published monlhly under the auspices of the Agricul-
tural andHohticultukal Society.
91 9S per Tear In Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
A'l communicfitions, to insure insertion, must be in the
hands of the editor before the 20th of each month. Ad-
dress S. S. Ra'hvon, Lancaster, Pa.
All advertisements, subscriptions and remittances to the
address of the publibher, J. B. DEVELIN,
Inquirer Buildine, Lancaster, Pa. '
HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION.
THE impromptu exhibition of our local so-
ciety, simply announced, and almost entirely
unadvertised, was, under all the circumstances,
more creditable to the horticulturists of Lancaster
city and county than any previous occasion of the
kind in the history of the society. It proves very
conclusively two things, which are important ele-
ments in the constitution of an active organization ;
and those are, first, that the material for a splen-
did horticultural display exists in Lancaster coun-
ty, and also the will, if necessary, to bring it ou*
before the people ; and secondly, that there is
great need for an agricultural hall - a suitable
central place, suitably fitted up and furnished, and
always ready when occasion requires it. As a
matter of choice, the first floor would be prefera-
ble, but if this was not accessible, the second floor
of some large hall, or other building, would do,
where the society could meet monthly, or oftener,
and hold its annual or semi-annual exhibitions, and
have them entirely under its own control. We
threw out suggestions of this kind long ago, and
mentioned places that were then available ; but
they were entirely unheeded.
In this connection, we would admonish the so-
ciety to be on the " look out," and as soon as a
favorable opportunity occurs, to seize it, and carry
into effect, what, we are convinced, has long been
the chief desire of many of the most active among
its members.
An intelligent and liberal member of the society
at the late exhibition (Sept. 15), fully appreciat-
ing the great want in this respect, informed us that,
limited as his means were, he would immediately
invest one hundred dollars in a joint stock concern,
having for its object a suitable hall, and if neces-
sary, he would double that amount. A like amount
from one hundred such men would make the snug
sum of ten thousand dollars, which placed on in-
terest at six per cent, would yield an annual in
come of six hundred dollars, which would fit up
and pay the rent of an upper room large enough
to accommodate the society for ten years to come.
Surely the rich and populous county of Lancaster
can easily produce a hundred such men— men who
take an active interest in horticultural affairs, and
who would make any reasonable sacrifice to carry
such an enterprise into effect, and give it their sus-
taining influence.
Discouraging as the fruit prospects seemed the
present season, the fair held at the Court House,
on the 15th of September last, was a credit to the
society in every respect , and plainly elicited that
this society will not favor any interest, save that
which is purely related to agriculture, horticulture,
floriculture and their corelatives, whatever policy
may dictate to the contrary. We confess tha| we
were suprised, both at the quantity and the quali-
ty of the fruit on exhibition, and the prompt and
disinterested manner in which it was brought out
under such unfavorable circumstances —being free.
Messrs. George W. Shroyer, Levi S. Reist, Peter
S. Reist, William Roeting, Samuel Benedict, C
Hoover, Daniel Schmeag, A. M. Zahm, Jno. B.
Erbe, Abm. D. Hostetter, H. M. Engle, J. Bollin-
ger, E. S. Huber, Charles F. I^ong, H. K. Stoner,
M. B. Eshelman, John H. Beiller, J. M. Kauffman,
P. J. Regeness, Casper Hiller, Calvin Cooper,
Jacob B. Garber, N. K. Brubaker, George E. Zel-
lers, John Trout, J. Shindle, William Allen, John-
ston Miller, John Hart, William P. Brinton, Mrs.
C. Gould, and others, had on exhibition, in variety,
fine apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, tomatoes,
egg-plants, potatoes, tobacco, wheat, rye, oats,
corn, roses, verbenas, astors, petunias, dahlias,
gladiolas, geraniums, fuchsias, colias, begonias,
etc., etc., all of which combined to make a beauti-
ful display, and were noticed in detail in the daily
papers.
MEETING OF AGRICULTURAL AND
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The regular meeting of the society was held at
the Orphans' Court Room Sept. 1st, 1873, Henry
M. Engle in the chair. The reading of the
minutes of the previous meeting was on motion
dispensed with.
A. Harris, from the committee having charge
of the matter of uniting with the Park Associa-
tion in holding a fall fair, stated the project had
been abandoned
THE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
201
Johnston Miller submitted a written report of
the condition of crops.
Levi S. Reist stated that the corn crop promises
better than was expected, and also that potatoes
are doing ■well.
II. M. Eugle said that a good crop of late
potatoes may be expected this fall.
Johnston Miller remarked that Tappahannock
wheat had not done well with him this year.
II. M. Engle said there are those who contend
that the Foltz wheat and the amber are one and
the same kind. He has grown it but one year.
In one section one kind of wheat will do and in
another section a different one.
Johnston Miller proposed, as a topic of discus-
sion for the meeting, the best time for sowing
wheat. He believes in late sowing as best, viz :
from 25th of December to 1st of October. What
he sowed first was half killed with the fly.
H. K. Stoner regards it as depending greatly
upon the season, whether late or early sowing is
best. He thinks much also depends upon having
the ground in proper condition. He believes it
well to roll the ground before the wheat is sowed.
He does not know why this is so, but experience
has convinced him of its truth.
S. 8. Rathvon gave the experience of a farmer
of the county who had sowed wheat on ioept-
1st, Sept. 15th, October 1st and October 15th.
His last sowing proved the best at harvest time.
and the first sowed was the poorest. The experi-
menter was satisfied that the last sowed would
escape the Hessian fly.
IT. M. Eugle agrees with Messrs. Rathvon
and Stoner. He regards late sowing as extending
about to 10th of October. And whether wheat
should be sowed early or late, in his opinion,
depends considerably upon the season. Much-
again depends upon the aspect or situation of the
soil upon which the wheat is sowed. ^He has con
siderable faith in the virtue of rolling ground
before sowing wheat, and for the reason that when
rolled the drill does not cover the wheat too deep.
This in brief is the secret of rolling. When
wheat is sowed broadcast there is not the same
necessity for rolling. Wheat is sufficiently
covered when half an inch under ground.
Milton G. Eshleman is also in favor of the late
sowing of wheat. Early sowed wheat is often
damaged with weevil.
H. M. Engle hopes the society will not let the
idea go out that cheat grows from wheat. Weeds
grow spontaneously where seed has never been
sowed. Whenever ground is got in good condi-
tion and the wheat sowed is kept clean, very little
cheat will be found amongst the wheat.
H. K. Stoner believed that when the wheat
crop failed, an opportunity then existed for weeds
to spring up and take the place of the wheat.
The seed of weeds may remain in the ground for
years before it germinates. About \k bushels of
wheat was the average seed wheat for an acre.
H. M. Engle had tried some wlieat exported
from Russia, but having beeu sowed too thick it
did not do well. Farming comprises much that re-
quires great study in order to know all that is
necessary to be known.
S. S. Rathvon said that wheat had been culti-
vated from an inferior kind of wheat, and not
from something of a different genus. Different
genera cannot be intermingled.
Levi S. Reist is of opinion that wheat has
originated from a degenerate plant of no intrinsic
excellence and the want of cultivation will permit
its relapse into its parent variety. He also
thinks a good kind of wheat, after doing well for
a time, will degenerate and become worthless.
Apples and other fruits have sprung from lower
varieties of fruit. To preserve a good quality in
wheat, the best seed should always be selected.
H. M. Eugle does not think that the theory of
Mr Reist contradicts that of Mr. Rathvon as re-
gards the origination of wheat and fruits. Al-
though believing great improvement can be niadb,
yet he does not think that one genus will produce
a contrary.
Levi S. Reist moved that the society subscribe
for the Lancaster Farmer, and also that all the
back numbers be procured if obtainable.
Milton B. Eshleman is of the belief that cockle
grows larger now than it did formerly.
II. K. Stoner is not inclined to agree with this
opinion of cockle.
H. M. Engle, the President, introduced the
subject of the Patrons of Husbandry and handed
the secretary an article from the Lancaster Ex-
press of August 22d, 1873, and desired the same
to be read. This being read, several members
expressed their views upon the propriety of the
farmers of Lancaster county taking hold of the
new movement. After considerable discussion on
the grange movement, on motion of Jolinston Mil-
ler, its further consideration was postponed until
the October meeting of the society.
Levi S. Reist offered the following resolution :
Whereas, No suitable place exists in which
the society might hold a fall Horticultural Ex-
hibition. Be it therefore
Resolved, That a free exhibition of fruits, vege-
o n^.
'01
7 HE LAMCASTER FABMER.
tables and flowers be held on ^Monday. Sept. 15th
inst., in the Orphans' Court Room, and that fruit
growers of I/ancaster county are hereby respect-
fully invited to present of their productions
in order that the best varieties may become knowu
and a spirit of generous emulation and rivalry
be fostered.
The president appointed the following commit-
tee to have charge of the exhibition : Levi S.
Eeist, H. K. Stoner and Alex. Harris.
ISIr. Martin, of Mercersburg, was present and
had on exhibition pears dried by the new Ameri- '
ciui process invented by Eyder.
Christian U. INLiller, of West Lampeter, had an
exhibition of grapes, the Franklin, Delaware and
Diana ; also some very fine pears.
Samuel liinkley had on exhibition fine peaches,
pears, ajtples and grapes. His pears consisted of
Earlh'ti, L'lapp's Favorite and Britler pears ; and
the L- rapes were Llartford Prolific and Delaware.
11. M. Kiigle had Nickelson's seedling, Belle
Lucrative, Cartland pears, and also grapes grown
uj on a vine which had been brought by Dr. Dif-
feiulerfer from New Mexico.
Dr. David Musser had on exhibition Tewksbury
AV'int.r Blush apples which had been p'cked last
fall and which were sound and in good condition.
MUn- the members speut a short time in social
intercourse and in testing of the fruits, society on
motion adjourned.
Alexander LIarris, Sec'y.
OUR EXCURSION TO WEST TIRGINIA.
On the 10th, 11th aud 12th of September we
were on an excursion, in pursuit of a lost
appetite, and we found, it. From Lancaster to
Mount Joy, from thence to Harrisburg, and from
thence to Martinsburg West Virginia, and home
agaiu by way of Marietta and Columbia. We
finally overtook an appetite at Martinsburg, feast-
ing on the finest Concord grapes, at five cents a
pound, an agreeable and economical contrast to
things of that kind in eastern Pennsylvania. The
Cumberland Valley Railroad has been extended
south-westwa"rd a.s far as the town above named,
wbicl. is the seat of justice of Berkeley county, W_
Yirgiiiiit.
-hOl'ho. weather was beautiful and nothing could
have exceeded a trip through this fertile portion
of Pennsylvania. It is true that the part of Mary-
land'we; passed through, and West Virginia, will
riot .at all compare with Cumberland Valley, in
Hiur Stttte ; still, we found even these looking
better than we expected. In most places along
the whole route, the corn, potatoes and tobacco
presented a promising appearance, aud much of
the ground for fall sowing was duly prepared. In
several places apples appeared to be abundant)
especially in an orchard about one mile south of
the Potomac river, wliei'e nearly every tree seemed
to be profusely loaded with fine looking fruit, iu
promising contrast with the orchards of Lancaster
county and other localities in Penn-ylvania
The agricultural fair of Berkeley county was
being held at Martinsburg, and hither we wended
our way, when we reached the town. The fair
grounds are elevated and show well from a dis-
tance, but are too rolling to admit of a view of
the whole field, when on it. The buildings and
shedding are well adapted to the purpose, so* far
as they go, but the quality and display of stock
and produce was only ordinary, except in a few
cases. We were struck with the rather singular
fact that there were no agricultural implements of
any kind upon the ground, and no buildings for
the accommodation of any. Three or four fancy
vehicles were standing "out in the hot," and this
was all in that line. The race course was fine,
and seemed to have incurred the greatest amount
of labor and expense. But our time was (too lim-
ited to allow us to witness the trials of speed.
This was, we believe, only the second agricul-
tural exhibition held in this county, and therefore
the matter is comparatively new. Time will no
doubt work its accustomed improvement. The
soil in this part of West Virginia seems deep and
of good cpiality, ijmestone prevailing, but the
country is hilly, and, as a general thing, exceed,
ingly rocky. Stone walls are of easy accomplish-
ment.— Ed.
Good Effect of Mulching.— Mr. P. M. Os-
trander, of New Hackensack, Dutchess county,
lately left a bunch of timothy at the office of the
Poughkeepsie. Telegraph which measured fall five
feet in length. The lot from which it was taken
contained ten acres, covered with a growth aver-
aging from three to four feet in height. Mr. Os-
trander attributes this remarkable growth in a'
season of drouth, to the fact that "last summer,
after haying, he allowed the after-growth to re-
main upon the ground, keeping all stock from it.
When the snow lifted in the spring the grass lay
thick and green upon the soil, making a substan-
tial mulch for the new growth, and protecting it
from the action of the sun through the drouth,"
Farmers who insist upon the economy of pasturing
the second growth of their meadows, can find in
this result a little food for thought.
THE LAM CASTER FARMER.
203
THE nARVp]ST IS PAST, THE SUMMER
IS ENDED.
ORE literal than inspiration would have
it, is this saying true, horticulturally
spealdng — " The harvest is past, the summer is
ended. " With us, it is no sad wail of despair
bemoaning neglected — and never-to-return — op-
portunities ! No, sir, it is with right good cheer,
and with not a little exultation and congratula-
tion, that I shout, " The harvest is past, the sum-
mer is ended ! Yes, and I am heartily glad of t(."
Now comes a time of comparative quiet and
rest to the horticulturist. The harvest has been
abundant ; the summer has been long and full of
labors, and rest is grateful and much needed.
Shall we enjoy it ? Aye, and profit by it. Men
%e not beasts of burden, to sweat and toil forever
without hope. We do not live simply to eat and
drink, plow and sow, buy and sell. There are
pleasures and employments of the mind The
soul hath reveries of immortality and of coming
time, when we shall be not as we now are.
Our vineyards and orchards and corn-fields have
importance in our present relations to them, and
it is right and necessary to care for them ; but to
dull and e.xhaust precious life upon them is not
good, or necessary; or Christian, And now that
the harvest is, in the main past, and the summer
ended, there should be a '"letting up" so to
speak — a diversion from killing toil, and a so-far
forgetfulness of mammon, that we can give this
part of the year to the recreation and cultivation
of the mind.
I till the soil. Yes, I do; and for six months in
the year no man worked harder. But now, I must
have a change, and such is my course for the sea-
son, thatiio man will accuse me of ever having
grown a cabbage, or trained a f^rapevine — may-be.
At any rate, since the harvest is past and the sum-
mer is ended, we have a right to gather around us
and in our families whatever of reading, or of pic-
tures— or whatever may add to home and heaven-
ly influence — that our circumstances and a life of
comparative leisure will permit.
If my neighbor wishes to slaoe it the year
round, I shall not dispute his right to choose his
course ; but I do, and must question the wisdom
.of his conduct.
Labor is most honorable, and it is better to "wear
out than to rust out." But that day is past when
men may parade, as a virtue, destruction of health
and life through excessive toil, in any direction.
Life is precious, and it is not a sin to make it plea-
surable as well as fruitful and useful.
And now, since the summer is i)ast, and the
long winter evenings are coming on, we mean to
have rest from murderous toil. Already the home
fires are kindled on the hearthstone, suggestive of
that quiet an i given opportunity favorable to the
deve.opment of the laetter par of man. — 0. L.
Barler in Proceedings of Alton Hart. Soc.
^
Staixs. — If you have been picking or handling
any acid fruit and have stained your hands, wash
them in clear water, wipe them lightly, and while
they are yet moist strike a match and shut yorr
hands around it so as to catch the smoke, and the
stain will disappear. If you have stained your
gingham or muslin dress, or white pants, with
berries, before wetting the cloth with anything
else, pour boiling water through the stains and
they will disappear. Before fruit juice dries it
can often be removed by cold water, using a
sprnge or towel, if necessary. Rul)bing the
fingers with the inside of the paring of apples,
will remove most of the stains caused by prepar-
ing ink; also if it be washed out or sopped up from
the carpet with cold water when it is spilled, it can
be almost entirely removed. — Exrhangn.
Pure Watrr for Cows. — A case of scientific
investigation at Cornell University, by Prof. Low,
is full of interest to farmers, and especially dairy-
men. The milk furnished by the milk-man at-
tracted the attention the Profc^ssor, by the ]iecu-
liar appearance of the cream, which had a ropy
look. When subjected to a powerful microscope,
there appeared a large number of organisms of
different stages of growth. The investigation was
pushed by the Professor, and the cause ascer-
tained. The milkman admitted that he allowed
the cows to take their drink from a stagnant pool,
instead of giving them good, pure water. It was
shown that the foul organisms were taken up bv
the cows when drinking such water, pass into the
circulation, enter the blood, and even taint the
secretions, making the milk a mass of filth.
Book AND >PECJAL ISO'JICEDE-
PAKlMENT.
LlfKBARY NOriCBS.
The American F.vkmkfis' Advucatk fijr f^eptenibvr -"s
on our ablf. l-'or his ei t.^rpri.-.iiig jourjiaf we cannot
s|,t?ak too highly. Wherever it goen it is a,.pr'( i tel, and
hasdone more, perhaps, than any other B^iicu tural paptr
to foster and promote the co-0| erative iuTorsst. Ko rea I-
ing man should be without it, whatever may be libicill-
ine. It cntains us fil and iiiftrurtive matter for al. It
is published at Jack.son, Tenn., by live, wide-awaWe men.
For .sample copits or subscription, address Advocate Pub-
lishing Co,, Jackson, Tcnne.«see.
^0J{.
THE LAJ^C ASTER FARMER.
"Picking Cherries DOWN the Lane," and "Happt
Hours," are two new soiigs by the renowned Millard,
botli containing all of the e'ements of popularity and both
really excellent ; they can be had at any M usic store for
a trifle of 40 cents each, or will be sent free of postage on
ret IK or price by the publishers, Lee & Walkor.; 922
Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
PiOmptly and punctually our exrhanges for the months
ofSeptecjber and October are "on hand," like a lively
class of school-boys at roll call. We recognize amocg
theiu the old familiar or impioved faces of journals of
sufh sterlini? worth aa the Rural New Forfcer, the Pat'nt
rirjit i-rrf'ftg^ the Journal of the Farm., the National Live
Stock Juurnal, the Practical Farmer, the AmerUan Farmer't
Advocate, our Home Journal and Rural Southland, the Ger-
mmiown Telegraph, the Gardener's MuntMy, the Monthly Re-
p^y of the Dtpar mem of Agriculture, the Peim Monthly, the
JicaLu Jimrna!, the S iiitarium,, and many oih ra " too
niiEierouH to mention" on this occasion; all bearing their
Uiiijal, or an increased quota, of useful l"formation, on the
various su^gects within their respective spheres, to the
h'juisn iHiuily.
Tre Farmer's Club, heretofore a monthly, is now pub-
life; i as a weekly folio, and'is much improved in quantity
and quality, bearing upon its face the signs of progress.
Wp "tip our beaver" to the Club, and rejoice to see it
grin;j aa ". conquering and to conquer." Oxford, Chester
county, Pa. $1.50 a year.
The Colorado Homestead, a new subject of public
fa^or, a lively four page folio, containing a large amount
of .s ili.t information on all subjects relating to that young
and prOfjressing territory, all of which is of special inter-
eft to those who intend to locate in that far off bur. rich
end rapidly developing country. Denver, Colorado.
E'i;r.'?fi ard publithed by Bthrr & Parke.^, who propose
to make money, "not by publishing the paper but by
eelliiig the !and advertised therein."
The Republican' Beview, " A Political, Literary and
Fa,uniiy iNewspaper," published at Albuquerqu , New
Dicx CO. William A) cGinnis, editor and proprietor. $2 00
a year. Four page folio.
Rational Horseshoeing, by Wildair. Published by
Wynkoop & Hollenbecfe, No. 113 Fulton street, New
Yojk, 1873. This is an exceedingly well executed little
l"a:o. volume of 49 pages, and 8 full page illustrations on
fin<^ Uiiicil paper, giving, in eight condensed chapters,
■with introductory and concluding remarks, the rationale
of ho^.'^psho^ing, and the excellencies aad advantages of the
GooDKNOuCxH horseshoe. This is undoubtedly a work
tbr.t l3 much needed, and is appropriate to the present
period, when the question of humanity is becoming so
deeply involved in our treatment of "dumb animals."
From thij following heaJs of discourses, the comprehen-
aiv? character of the work will become manifest to all in-
torestcd iu " hor.-eflesh," namely : Soun« horses; EvHsof
con.mon shoeing; Frog presmre; Description of the
Goodenoush Sh.e; Countersinki' g the nails; The
bevel of (he foot surface; The bevel of the ground
surface ; Toe Calks ; How to shoe sound feet ;
Incipient unsoundness; Simple cases of contraction;
Qua'tftr and toe crack; Toe cracks; Drop sole and
piim ced fo..t; Seedy toe ; Contraction or drop sole, with
sor.nuss at, the tue ; Thrush; Bent knees interf rence
t nd speedy cut ; Interfering and speedy «ut; Working up
lior-es; Stumbling horses; To increase comfort; Ecoro-
my of the Goodenough shoe; Perfect shoe and hoof;
Imperfect shoe and hoof; Final observations; Op-
posing foTces ; and Regular work. The author, in
his introductory appeals to the judgment of practical
men, claims that his ^system in its results is based
upon many "years of patient study of nature, and
actual experiment," and has elicited "the interest of the
most practical and canable men in America, England and
France in the matter." Without possessing &ny positive
knowledge on the subject, we yet feel that there is {.rcat
room for improvement on the common mod^ of horseshoe-
ing ; and would suggest to horse owners the duty of inquiry
at least.
PITTSBTTRGH LIVE STOCK MARKET.
Central Stock Yards, East Libbjitt, )
Monday, Sept. 29. 5
Cattle.— Qaotations may be fairly given as loUows:
extra to fan<-y shipping eteers 6>^a6; medium to prime,
4/^'i5; common to tair, 3)^a,i; inferior, 2>^a3. The run,
as shown in our last report, was a heavy one, and
the quality generally common ; hence, \bhile
common -tock dropped at least 50c ^ cwt, as com-
pared with last month, the shrinkage in the better griides
did not exceed 25c. The market was the hardesc one we
have hud here this year, especially for sellers, and it is
hoptd that there will not be another one like it soon.
Sheep.— There has been little or nothing done sinew the
date of our la^t report, and prices are nominally unctx >iig-
ed. The market opened hard, and nothwittistandlnK the
heavy decline, dragged all the way through, and closed
with quite a number left over unsold, notwi hstandinij a
good many were shipped on in first hands, and several b^ts
were driven out to pasture. Best Una wo 1, 95at0i) lb Kb tp
cannot, be iairly quoted above 4^o5c, although thnre were
some 8 lies made early in the week at from So 15a5.30.
Hogs.— There was a very fair demand this morntne, and
at the close there were but very tVw remaining in the
yards unsold. Prices rantini: fi|>^m S1.75a5 10 for medium to
prime corn fed, and 4x^4)^ for gra^se^8.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Monday, Sept 29-
Bark moves slowly at $35 per ton for No. 1 Quercitron
Tanner's Bark is nominal.
Seeds — In Cloverseed nothing doing. Timothy is in
limited demand, and 6(0 bags sold at $2 50 per bubliel
Flaxseed is wantpd by the crushers at $2.2i'.
The flour mariret is dull, but without quotable change
in price, i he demand is mustly from the home consumers
and only a few hundred barrels sold, including superfine
at $3 50ffl4 50 ; extras at $4.75(§)5.75 ; Iowa and Wi c<r -iin
extra family at $7@7.35 ; Minnesota do. at $7.50..u' .i!5;
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana do. do. at S;7.25(S/8..')0 ;
and fancy brands at 88.7 6@ 10, as in quality. Byd Flour
sells at 85@5.'25. In Corn Mr al nothing doing.
The movements in the wheat market continue of a
11mit(<d character. Sales of red at S1.50@l.-58 amber at
$!.60ffll.65, and white at$'.7D@l. 80. Rye ranges Irom 85
to 90c. Corn is steady with sales of l.a^O bushels yell'i"/ <\t
67c., and 400 bushels mixed at 66c. Oats are rather woak,
>-ale8 of 2,800 bushels western white at 49®50c., and some
mixed at 47@48c. In Barley and Malt nothing doing.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Monday, Sept 29.
The market for Beef Cattle was again dull this morning
and the tone decidedly fl*t and uninteresting. We quote
choice and extra at 6 jl,'«»7^4c ; fair to good at 5}/^a^j}^e.•,
and common at 4 --jSc. Receipts, 4,000.
Cows and Calves move slewly at 840@75. Receipts, 250
head.
Sheep of prime quality are in demand, but common
move (-lowly. Sale-* of fair and choice at 4@6j!^c.,' and
common at $2@3.50 per head. Receipts, 14,i'r)0 hod.
Hogs attract considerable attention at 87.26 for corn
fed. Receipts, 6,6C0 head.
NEW YORK MARKETS.
Monday, Sept. 29.
Flour dull; superfine, western and Stite, «5.20@n.70 ;•
good to choice, 86.20(ai6.30 : extra Ohio. $6.25@7.10. Whisky
8 eady at 98c. Whejit heavy; low.^ spring, 8i.3l5@:.40;
winter red Ohio, $1.60. Rye, barley and mait uuch-^nned.
Corn scarce; high irixed and yellow western, 65«r66c ;
white, 65@6'c. Oats firmer at 49(a62c. Eggs firm at 27®
28c. Hay quiet. Hops quiet at 40f§55c for '73c. Leather
steady at 27)^ ffl30c. Pork dull at $17.50. Beef dull at 8U
' olOc. Midd les unsettled at 8a8>^c. Lard steadier; old
western, 8 15-16c.
^\u fmxtmUr Jluvmtw
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic Economy and Miscellany.
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVOX.
" The Fanner is the founder of civilization." — WEBSTER.
Vol. V.
JYOVEMBER, 1873.
J^o. 11.
ESSAY.
For The Farmer.
PLANTS AND PHILOSOPHY.
BY J. STAUFFEH.
WE are confessedly a reading people, and
some must supply the demand. But the
question is. what have we to say that has not been
said a thousand times before, and perhaps more to
the purpose? We are a matter-of fact, practical
people, and prone to ask, will it pay? before we
give our time or attention to it. A glance at the"
reading may suffice, and we turn to another topic ;
hence, much is printed that is hardly read. Never-
theles'^, since tastes differ, some perchance may
agree with the writer, that there are other thoughts
to engage the mind beside '' What shall we eat?
or, what shall we drink ? or, wherewithal shall we
be clothed?" and that the mind needs food as well
as the body, and to turn it into the channels of
contemplation for a orief season, is a source of rest
from Ihe harassing cares of money-getting. This
13 all well, and no one need despise money, wealth
or comfort, if it comes to him as a reward for his
frugality and industry in the honest pursuit of a
legitimate calling. Then suffer me, dear reader,
to contemplate the season and the scenery, as we
look abroad over the bare fields so lately verdant,
or glowing in the sun with its golden-headed grain,
now cut and gathered into garners, while the
stubble only remains.
Yet the dews and rains restore to the soil car-
i»ouic acid. Mater and ammonia, and aid in prepar-
ing it for another season ; thus the atmosphere,
the light and warmth of the sun, manifest their
influence Shall we be sad to behold the varied
colored leaves as the wind scatters them broad-
cast, proclaiming that winter is at hand? The
leaves of the sturdy oak cling tenaciously, while
the maple, poplar and others yield them feadily ;
the pine retains its green pyramid to wave amid
the winter's blast. Thus the leaves are strewn
upon the ground deprived of its verdure, and like
a moving garment of motley colors cover the
earth. These rot, and return the substance back
to whence it was drawn —their mother earth. Be-
hold the buds, the promise of a future leaf or
branch, already formed; the tree is not dead, but
reposing to recruit the energies exhausted in
flower and fruit. We see but change — change.
Here allow me to introduce a few lines, written
by my son Frank, from a lengthy poem :
" The world rolls on, and seasons wear away,
And Nature robes herself In vestments green;
March softly beckons to the blushing May,
And April laughs with dewy face between ;
The golden fruit the gentle south wind shakes,
The brown nuts patter on the fallen leaves,
Again December, with his bolted flakes
'Mid wintry blasts his snowy fabric weaves,
All come, and go, and die, and rise again !"
(Then shall we be fixed to earth, and so remain ?)
I confess that the last line is my own and differs
from the original : not because it is better, but it
better suits my purpose.
I maintain there is no death ; that matter is but
the outgrowth of a spiritual basis, and the delicious
fruit so lavishly bestowed by the stirring of the
earth to sustain us. by a wonderful process manu-
factured in the tissues of plants, from inorganized
matter, and the compounds of decayed products,
once organized, again to enter into new combina-
tions to perpetuate the round of supply
Thus the science of botany and entomology, so
lightly esteemed that those who pursue the study
are deemed as simply collectors of " weeds and
bugs" by men who deem themselves above such
trifles. The mere collecting is in itself no special
source of improvement, if to it is not added that
of contemplation and deep thought. All branches
206
TEE LAJVCASTER FAPaiEB..
of natural science are conducive to great good,
when with it we couple the grand truth of crea-
tive wisdom, goodness and power, as the source
whence all these wonders are projected and mate-
rialized. Can we not rationally see that there is
a plan and purpose in all this ? As if a mechanic
could not only plan a machine to perform certain
functions to a wise end and for a useful purpose,
)jut with the plan and design put matter in motion
so as to aggregate and conjoin itself by estab-
lished laws of attraction and repulsion by the
mysterious mental forces put forth, so as to even-
tuate that which was primarily designed — thisim
plies a designer and a projector — a ruling, govern,
iiig power. We call it the creative, and the author
the Creator, God. Does it seem strange that this
should be true in morals as well as in physics?
Then why not believe that a benevolent Father
has, in the gospel of His dear Son, projected a
moral code that demands our attention and deep
consideration. I am aware that many who deem
themselves wise reject the teachings of holy writ,
and either adopt a code of " fatality" on the one
hand, or a materialistic creed, tliat owns nothing
that cannot be proved by their senses; and even
these evidences they are inclined to ignore, in their
vain conceit of being wiser than others, who ad-
here to the good old land-marks, and strive to be
in harmony with Him they cannot see, only by
and through the eye of faith, or, if you please, a
new spiritual birth. " Ye must be born again,"
remains a truth, and spiritual things must be
spiritually discerned. I am aware that this, to
many, is a great source of stumbling; but I wish
to clear my skirts of such an imputation. While I
pursue the investigation of natural science, I
shall not, with God's help, lose sight of thecorner
stone and the Rock of Ages, as a foundation to
build upon — let scoff" who may.
Having thus defined my position, let us return
to the subject — the plant world and moralize as
we go. Excess of nourishment may retard flower-
ing, yet producing a luxuriant growth, a kind of
plethoric habit, which causes the plant to " run
to leaf," and to weaken the productive functions.
Can you see a parallel in " great feeders," whose
god is their belly ? Monstrosities are not always
(nay hardly ever) as good as a natural growth
Thus I lately bought some very large, overgrown
potatoes. Well, I find them diseased in the heart
and defective, and by no means nutritious. In
plants this tendency to "run to rot" is called
" Phyllomonia," which is an evidence of decline.
Thus it is that vines that bore good fruit in ordi-
nary soil, when transplanted to a rich, moist spot,
where slops from the kitchen were constantly
poured, grew wondrously luxuriant for shade, and
blossomed profusely — but, alas! they were all
staminate, so that not a single fruit was set. This
my friend (jarber pronounced a " male grape
vine," l)nt how came it to be a male, when pre-
vious to its transplanting it yielded fine, delicious
grapes ? as I can testify. No ; it was over fed
and became a fruitless glutton of a vine. So,
also, when flowers become double under culture,
and the stamens turned to petals, exhausting the
power needed to germinate, hence they seldom
yield seed. Thus annuils, however, may become
perennial — as the Trojpeolum minus, when
double, has endured for twelve years ; so with
annual species of the pink family. Our fruit
trees seldom bear fruit very young; as a rule they
do not flower before they are five or six years old.
Just here allow me to refer to an illustrated
article published in the Rural Neiv- Yorker, page ■
380, June 11th, 1870, as an exception to the
general rule — subject: "A Precocious Apricot."
John B. Kevinski, of this city, on the 2d day of
July, 1862, took me to their garden, where I be-
held and took an accurate drawing of an apricot,
which grew from a seed thrown into the garden
by his mother the previous season ; and here it
stood, hardly lhree inches in height, with the
thick seminal leaves at the base of the stem and
six other leaves, the upper fully matured, crowned
with a perfect blossom. I say and mean perfect,
ill symmetry, stamens, stigmas, calyx and corolla
of the full size— a pretty flower - and apparently
calculated to make a fruit, but, alas again, like a
precocious youth or " early ripe," it had drawn
too strongly upon the vital forces, and died of
exhaustion. This is another lesson ; apply it a^
you see fit. I dimply state a fact.
Some naturalists consider that plan's derive all
their nourishment from the soil, and that excess
of moisture is death. This is partly true ; bat
there is such a diversity of modes, or rather of
habits, that we must make no sweeping declara-
tions; for there are air-plants [ppiphytefi], yvWich
are not like the mistletoe, dodder, etc., parasites,
or which live upon the sap of the foster plant —
(vegetation has its bummers as well as onr
worthy farmers) — but they take their nourish-
ment from the air. No doubt they also draw nu-
triment from decaying organized matter which
accumulates about them, both of animal and
vegetable origin. Then there are aquatic plants,
such as the alga^, that seem to draw all their sus-
TEE LAJ^CASTEB. FAliMEB.
207
tenaiice from the water in which they are con-
stantly immersed. What are termed roots, upon
inspection, turn out to be little more than organs
of adhesion.
Yet nature adapts plants, like animals, to root
on earth, fly in the air or swim in the water. Who
can study the great diversity of objects of natural
science and remain an infidel ? and yet, alas, some
of our brightest intellects make a sad mistake in
their championship aga'nst ignorance and super
stition ; they cut and slash so lustily in '■ rooting
out the tares" of the devil's sowing, as to destroy
the wheat of God's planting with them, and there-
by ojien the doors for unbelief and doubt in things
truly spiritual, to which their haughty self-hood
can 3'ield no attention, nor even to investigate for
themselves - since, indeed, in order to get a re-
valation of the mysterious magnetic spark, they
must needs be first insulated, and get down from
their high stilts to a lower seat ; this their '* pride
of heart" spurns to do, and the consequence is,
with all their research and learned wisdom, they
remain " blind leaders of the blind." Matter —
matter, hoAvever refined or etherealized, is still
blind matter, or self-moving, without plan or
guide — by impulse only. What consummate con-
fusion must follow, if the chemist blindly or at
random compounds opposite elements that often
neutralize each other, or explode into vapor, or
produce a monstrosity. Nay, God reigns, and
let us, in all humility, become reconciled to God.
AGRICULTURE.
FEQUEA FARMERS' CI.UB.
Wal-Oak Farm, Oct. 20, 1873.
THE last meeting of the Club was held at
the home of Aldus Grotf, Locust Grove
Farm, October 11th, and was called to order at ] 2
o'clock, M. Minutes were read and accepted.
Committees then i-eported. The plow question
came up and elicited much discussion — all agree-
ing that D. Root & Son, cf Mt. Joy, makes the
plow which Lancaster county farmers ought to
buy. John H. Brackbill and others, who made a
trial of them, spoke highly of a new plow he has
just placed in the market, which is an improve-
ment on an old pattern that Simon Cameron
brought from Montour county.
The host read a direct and pointed essay on
general leakages in farming, and the best way to
stop them ; the common drawbacks to farming,
and the best way to remove them He thought
the panic wasn't the greatest calamity which could
have happened this country. He argued that it
would give farmers a sound warning to put their
money into their land and make il profitable ; and
he held that, whether the banks failed or not, this
was better for a farmer than to place his money
in wild-goose speculations which were beyond his
control. He went on to say that the late rise in
the price of land proved his theory. The moneyed
men of the country were selling their railroad
bonds and buying land. If a merchant makes
money, he enlarges his store, incn.-ases his stock,
and makes his peace of busine.-s beautiful and at-
tractive ; but when a farmer gets rich, as a gen-
eral thing, he lets his farm run down, his fences
go to rack, and, instead of liming his land and
feeding cattle to improve his soil, he invests his
money in a rotten railroad, or something he knows
nothing about, and then he can patiently wait for
a smash-up that will leave him nothing but a bar-
ren, unproductive farm. There is no reason why
a farmer should not enrich his soil, and make his
farm, which no panic can affect, a savings bank,
to pay him six per cent; and then let every farm-
er beautify his home — have a fruit-garden and a
pleasure-ground -a place for croquet and other
pleasing out-door games.
'• What is a Grange?" was the title of a paper
read by J. H. Brackbill, which explained fully and
explicitly the object of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Inasmuch as some of the Club think farm machin-
ery costs too much, that middlemen are a nuisance
and a humbug, that farmers ought to club togeth-
er to buy and sell, the matter of a Grange is only
a question of time.
J he question for discussion was " Steaming
Food for Cattle." None of the members had any
personal knowledge of the matter, and their re-
marks drifted into the experience of noted feeders.
The plan of Wm. Crozier, Northport, L. I., who
steams daily, was conceded to be the best, but it
costs too much. Charles Moore, of Christiana,
steams for two or three days, and ])uts it in tubs ;
and this plan, cost and all considered, is probably
the best for the average farmer. Mr. Elias Brack-
bill, who visited Crozier's farm, and minutely ex-
amined and inquired into his arrangements for
steaming, thinks his stock eat more steamed than
dry feed, and says he would mix chop, corn, chaff",
hay and fodder. Would use dry feed once a day
and steamed feed twice. For young stock this is
certainly the best. J. H. Brackbill said he used
to feed dry hay; then he fed cut hay and straw;
and he was fully satisfied that it was the best for
208
THE LA J^C ASTER FARMER.
the stock, and doubly paid for the trouble it cost
him.
The Grange occupied much of the time and at-
tention of the Club. It was more of a home-talk
than a discussion — a quiet way of half-deciding
at the next meeting, to organize a Grange.
After dinner the members went out to see
'■ Hercules." He is the pride of the Club and the
gem of the county. He looks so well at present
that the Club decided to have him photographed,
and a cut made for advertising purposes. The
finest Percheron mare in America is here now.
She was imported from France and belongs to W.
T. Walters, of Baltimore, who sent her here be-
cause— to use hip words — " No horse in this coun-
try can take the place of the Percheron which the
Pequea Club bought last fall at my public sales."
Club adjourned to meet at the farm of H. K.
Stoner, at 10 A. M., the second Saturday in No-
vember. Subject—" Rotation of Crops."
Oake Saxe.
MANURING LANDS
The farmer who buys commercial fertilizers and
.stimulates his land with them is every year grow-
ing poorer ; the farmer who sows clover, pastures
it, and plows it under, is every year growing rich-
er. The latter may not make such large crops
this year or next, but at the end of twenty or even
ten years, his farm will be worth more than now,
while that of the former will be exhausted. No
guide for manuring is so accurate as that which
nature herself gives. She made the rich soil by
adding vegetable matter to it, and we may not
only keep up its fertility, but add to it, by the same
course. It is a singular fact that in the two ex-
treme sections. New England and the South, are
the greatest amounts of the commercial fertilizers
used, and in no other two sections of this country
Is there so much dissatisfaction with farm life, and
so prevalent a desire for change to a new region.
In one may now be found thousands of acres of
abandoned lands, exhausted by continuous crop-
ping with one plant or grain, or by the use of in-
tensely stimulating fertilizers ; in the other hun-
dreds of farms for sale, whereon the owners say
they cannot make a living ; and in neither case
have any of these lands or farms been taken hold
of by new-comers but with success and profit. New
England can show many a farm abandoned as
profitless, on which thrifty Germans are making
money ; and the South is being dotted over with
verdant fields by immigrants whom a mild and
even climate has induced to seek its borders ;
while the former owners in each case are now pur-
suing their course of exhaustion in some fields
more fresh, some pastures new, but of which,
twenty years hence, the old story of "exhausted"
will be told. Robbed should be the word.
WHEAT BAGS IN CALIFORNIA.
The San Francisco Chronicle says: " Last year
we needed 12,000,000 of wheat bags. This year we
will want at least 9,000,000, and if the breadth of
land under wheat cultivation should continue to in-
crease as it promises to do, we will require not less
than 20,(i0;i,0i 0 to 30,000,000 yearly. The value of
these, at a very low figure, would be from ^2,500,-
000 to $3 7.50,000 We now pay $1,000,000 per
annum to Scotland for wheat bags, which we
could as well make ourselves, and so give employ-
ment to over 500 people. Our future needs would
give work to an average of 1.500 persons to be
employed in weaving the jute into burlaps and
converting the latter into bags. That would be
equivalent to an addition to 9,000 to our popula-
tion. Dundee, in Scotland, with a population of
over 100,01 0, is almost entirely supported by this
industry, which has been the means of doubling
her population in tAventy years. We can obtain
jute, laid down here, duty paid, as three cents a
pound, quite as cheap as they can have it in Scot-
land ; and we can sell the manufactured goods
even cheaper than the Scotch do. We are al-
ready pioneering the industry Let us hope that
our moneyed men will take the matter up and re-
lieve us from the necessity of sending 18,000 miles
for wheat-bags "
From the Intelligencer.
ROLLING WHEAT.
I am strongly disposed to favor the old prac-
tice of rolling wheat ground after sowing, not-
withstanding the theory which of late has gained
such extensive credence, and is so generally prac-
ticed— that the ridges should be left to be crum-
bled down by the alternate freezing and thawing
during the winter and spring, and thus feed the
roots of the wheat. This " crumbling down" pro-
cess takes place when the action of tlie roots is
wholly suspended, and consequently they cannot
be "fed" by it, and the earth so crumbled down is
nothing to the roots in reality than a very insig-
nificant mulch. On the other hand, if the land be
well rolled in the fall, the earth is tightly com-
pressed around the seed, and the plant is thus en-
THE LAJ^CASTER FARMER.
209
abled to get a better foothold ; the roots are fed
while they have an appetite and will be less af-
fected by the action of the frost. The earth when
closely packed does not afford so many harbors
for insects, which will most likely prove to be en-
emies to the plant at some stage of its develop-
ment. If the surface be smooth it is less apt to
retain surface water, and in conclusion, the prac-
tice of rolling is in strict accordance with the
nature and requirements of the plant, which
thrives best on compact soil.
THE CORN-FODDER CROP.
There is seldom a subject introduced to a
thoroughly western man, which so astonishes him
as that an eastern man can make the corn crop pay
on land worth perhaps from three to five hundred
dollars an acre. With land not over thirty or
fifty dollars, in his own region, it is often a ques-
tion whether corn is worth growing, and on this
high-priced land, how can such things be ? We
have often had friends look on with astoni.-hment
on the great breadth of corn on the valuable
lands about Philadelphia, and express their sur-
prise. " If," they would observe, " these men
want to raise corn, why don't they come West to
do it ? " The fact is — and this fact is not gener-
ally recognized — it is not so much the corn as it
is the fodder which is produced, which pays the
way. To most people it is of quite as much
value. In the west it goes for very little any-
where, and in many cases it is an entire waste.
It is just the same with this as with the rye
crop. If our farmers near the large cities raised
rye for the grain, it would be but a sorry invest-
ment. It is the straw crop at about a dollar to a
dollar and a-half a hundred weight, which makes
the figures tell.
The present autumn has been an unusually
good one for the corn-fodder crop. The early
•white frosts have kept away, and the damp warm
weather has kept the forage juicy up to the last.
During the past few weeks, immense quantities of
corn have been cut and cured in advance of frost,
which more or less seriously affects its value. The
growth of corn, too, was quite up to the best
averages, and we expect on the whole this will be
one of the best corn-fodder seasons known.
Filter for Cistern Water. — Perforate the
bottom of a wooden box with a number of small
holes ; place inside a piece of flannel, cover with
coarsely-powdered charcoal, over this coarse river
and, and on this small pieces of sandstone.
HORTICULTURAL.
NEW FRUIT-DRYING PROCESS.
FRUIT-DRYING has been carried on to some
extent, in Santa Clara and other counties>
during the last year, and promis s at no distant
day to become a most important industry. In
some places, the fruit is dried by means of artifi-
*cial heat ; at others, by the heat of the sun. In
the neighborhood of Santa Clara may be seen an
apparatus fitted up for drying fruit by artificial
heat. On the premises is a steam engine of fifteen
horse-power, used for sawing lumber for boxes, for
grinding apples to make vinegar, and for other
purposes connected with fruit-packing. Close to
the engine is a wooden cylinder about five feet
long and three and ahalf feet in diameter. In
the cylinder, placed in close proximity to one
another, are six hundred brass tubes, into which
the air is forced by a fan worked by the steam
engine. The waste steam from the engine is con-
veyed by a pipe into the top of the cylinder, and,
after becoming condensed, runs out at the bottom,
heating, in the meantime, the air in the brass
tubes. The heated air rushes out at the other
end of the cylinder, and enters the bottom of what
looks like a large chest of drawers, thirty-two
feet long, ten feet high, and seven feet wide.
This is the kiln. This kiln is divided into eight
compartments, into which are fitted galvanized
iron screens for holding the fruit. There are in
each compartment forty-two screens, on each of
which twenty pounds of fruit can be dried. In
the face of the kiln there are several horizontal
doors placed one over the other, so that in hand-
ling the screens only a small portion of the kiln is
exposed to the cold air. The kiln is capable of
drying over three tons of fruit at once. Some of
the fruit, preparatory to drying, is cut by hand,
but more by machinery. Apples dry in seven
hours ; pears, tomatoes, and plums, in eight or
nine hours. Grapes require about twenty-four
hours. The process could be completed more
rapidly, but the result wonld not be so satisfactory
as when sufficient time is allowed. It takes about
seven pounds of apples, seven pounds of pears,
twenty pounds of tomatoes, six pounds of plums,
and five pounds of blackberries to make one pound
of each kind of dried frjiit. During last year were
prepared and sold at this establishment 12,000
pounds of dried pears, 8,000 pounds of dried
apples, 3,000 pounds of dried plums, and a large
quantity of grapes, blackberries, and other fruits.
210
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
Sent east by rail were forty-four car-loads, each
containing 17,500 j^ounds of fruit. Some of this
was purchased from other fruit-growers.
According to a fruit-grower who dries his fruit
in the sun, from four to seven pounds of plums
will make one pound dry. The process of drying-
lasts from four to tin days, and the estimated
cost amounts to three cents for each pound of
dried fruit. It is sold in San Francisco for twenty-
five cents a pound. The grapes dried by this pro-
cess in different parts of the State were exhibited
last year at the agricultural fairs, and were, in
genpral estimation, superior to the imported rai-
sins. The quantity of lumber required on which to
dry the fruit is considered the greatest impedi-
ment to the success of this process. In some
places the grapes are dried OQ the vine. This
process is carried on in the interior valleys, where
they have little dew or fog, and where the ther-
mometer ranges from 80 to 115 degrees. Though
no one of the persons engaged in fruit-drying has
had much experience to guide him, yet the results
are highly encouraging. — From Overland Month-
ly for September.
CURIOSITIES OF TREE PLANTING.
A proverb of Northwest India declares that
three things make a man to be truly aman — to
have a son born to him, to dig a well, and
to plant a tree. It is impossible for the un-
traveled Englishman to realize the misery of a
treeless country. Europe has no natural deficiency
of trees, hence bridge building took the place of
the old Aryan tree planting, as an act of piety to
(xod and of duty to the future, in the counsels of
the early Christian teachers of the European na-
tions. Both in the East and West, trees were no
doubt the first temples, and the planting of groves
was the primitive form of church building. Abra-
ham, we are told, planted a grove in Beersheba,
to commemorate his solemn covenant ; but amongst
his descendants it became in time tlie mark of a
pious ruler to " cut down the groves," as the seats
of pagan worship ; the mark of a careless ruler to
leave them untouched, and the mark of an impi-
ous ruler to plant and dedicate new groves. It is
not hard to find reasons why the grove naturally
became the first temple. Men were no doubt im-
pressed by the hoary age of trees, compared with
the short life of man. A tree was often the cen-
ter around which each succeeding generation
deposited its traditions — a visible bond uniting
the departed with the living, and the living with
the unborn. The cool, grateful shade of trees
was a natural type of the graciousness the wor-
shipers sought for from the power they worshiped
— especially in Eastern lands, where shadow is so
precious and so exceptional. The yearly new
birth and death of their foliage was a natural
symbol of human life. The darkness and density
of the grove, we must add, hid the obscia-ities and
cruelties which belonged to the darker develop-
ments of heathen worship.
When an Englishman who has been long absent
from his fatherland again catches his first glimpse
of its roadsides and fields through the windows of
a railway carriage, perhaps nothing strikes him so
forcibly as the picturesqueness and the sparseness
of the trees. He has seen trees in level lands
stretching for miles like a thin, diaphanous wall in
dull uniformity ; now he sees them merely dotted
here and there upon the landscape, but each tree
is more or less of a picture in itself. Or he has
seen in mountain lands every spot of available
earth seized upon to supply life to a cherry tree, a
walnut tree, a pear tree ; he has seen fruit trees
everywhere lining the roads and fields, instead of
hedges, and probably wondered if English lads
could pass to and fro every day under luscious
cherries or pears and leave them untasted ; now
he sees nothing but solitary trees, or scattered
groups, which look as if they had planted them-
selves, out of whim or playfulness, just where they
pleased, not one of which can bring any money to
its proprietor except by its destruction. Give a
German or Swiss Bauer the tenancy of an Eng-
lish farm, and he would at once begin to arrange
himself an orchard out of the mere unused corners
and slices of land he would almost certainly find
in its fields and along its boundary lines. I must
leave it to adepts to determine whether he would
show himself a good or bad agriculturist by his
activity.
Tree-planting has. in fact, retained in Germany
longer than elsewhere something of its cult char-
acter, binding together religion, nation and family.
In the Vosgesen. the old German farmers were not
allowed to marry until they had done something
fon the future good of the tribe, by planting a
stated number of walnut trees. When the amiable
and liberal Oberlin was pastor of Waldbach, iu
the Steinthal. he set forward this custom of tree-
planting as a Christian duty.
Tree planting is as necessary a part in many
German rejoicings as it has been of French rejoic-
ings during each revolutionary epoch. The Trees
of Liberty, however, were often planted to die.
TEE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
211
actually, as well as metaphysically. I have
seen trees of this kiad, stripped of all but
a crown of leaves, planted in German Switzer-
land to mark a local festival. The poor peo-
ple of the village of Cleversulzbach gathered
together, on the 10th of November, 1850, round
the grave of Schiller's mother, and marked the
birthday of her son by planting a lime tree "in
the soil that covers the heart that loved him best."
— Chambers' Journal.
MUSHROOM CULTURE.
The ordinary way that this valuable esculent
is cultivated here in England is in "mushroom
houses," constructed in an ordinary manner, /. e.
four walls covered in with slates, tiles, or which is
by far the best covering,' a thick coat of thatch.
In those parts of America where the heat of
summer and the cold of winter arc excessive, the
walls should be hollow, that is, to have a large
cavity up the middle of the wall, which would pre-
vent the two extremes of heat (hot and cold being
the same agent) from entering the house to some
extent, and prevent the internal heat and mois-
ture from escaping. Shelves of boards or slate,
with sides to them, on which to make the beds.
The droppings from well-fed houses are collected
and thrown down in a shed to dry till a sufficient
quantity is obtained to make a bed. When room
is not sufficient to dry the droppings effectually,
they are thrown into a heap and allowed to heat
till that object is attained. They are turned o er
once or twice and mixed up, so that a uniformity
in color presents itself, when they are ready for
use. About a tenth of good rich soil is mixed
regularly through the mass, M-hich gives solidity
to the beds and prevents an 'overheat." The
beds are made about a foot in thickness. The
droppings are spread on the shelf in three portions
to obtain that thickness, and thoroughly well
beaten down with wooden mauls each time
" Watch-sticks" are then stuck into the bed, and
when the heat has reached about new-milk warm,
the bed is ready for receiving the spawn. But if
the compound has not been sufficiently prepared
in the first instance, it may become too hot for the
spawn to bear, and in that case it is advisable to
frequently examine the bed till the heat is on the
decline. When ready for planting, holes are to
be made about a foot apart, and about four inches
deep, when lumps of spawn about two inches in
diameter, must be pressed tightly down in the holes.
As the firmness at which the spawn is secured in
the bed is of importance to success, a round stick,
as thick as a man's finger, is held in the right hand,
while the fingers of the left is examining the sides
of the lump of spawn, and whenever a hollow
place is found, the stick is used to press the drop-
pings tightly round it. "^I'he bed is then "moulded."
?'. e. two inches thick of good earth is laid on it
and beat with four-tined forks till it is as solid as
a path. It is then " clapt" with a clean spade,
and the work is finished — Germantoion Tel.
The temperature which is maintained in mush-
room houses varies from 50 to 65 degrees, the
higher figure being resorted to when pressure is
made by the demand for mushrooms. The high
temperature, as a matter of course, wears out the
productiveness of the beds sooTler than does the
lower figure. When the atmosphere becomes too
dry for the production of sappy mushrooms, water
is thrown on the flues or pipes, and the beds occa-
sionally require sprinkling with warm water. Un-
der such a process, if well carried out, mushrooms
appear in the course of five or six weeks.
The mode of culture which is the best adapted for
a farmer to carry out, is that which the market,
gardener practices, who collects short litter from
the stables "in town," throws it into a heap, turns
it over occasionally till he "gets the fire out of it,"
then makes his beds into a long ridge, spawns
and moulds his bed, when ready, in the usual way
and to protect the bed from the two extremes of
heat, he puts over it thatched hurdles, propping
them some few inches above the surface of the
bed. On these hurdles he adds straw, long litter,
or any other fibrous refuse at hand, in thickness
according to the external temperature. In early
autumn the north side of a high wall is a good sit-
uation for such a purpose The groui d I'ound the
bed is then covered with litter several feet wide
as a means of keep'ug down excessive heat and
warding off excessive cold.
By similar means to these I preserve ice on the
surface of the ground, save that the covering
three feet thick touches the ice. I have satisfac-
torily proved, by thirty years experience, that this
plan is the best of all other modes of preserving
ice, and by far the most economical.
I am. dear sir, your obedient servant.
A West- Yorkshire Mushroom Grower.
West- Yorkshire, Englan d.
Remarks. — We consider the foregoing directions
for raising mushrooms valuable, coming as they
do from an old and experienced English gardener,
and we commend them to the attention of all who
desire to grow in perfection this delicious esculent.
Thus far we have never succeeded in raising mush-
rooms, though we have carefully followed several
plans recommended to us. — Ed.
PEARS— TO PREVENT ROT riNG ON THE
TREE.
To an inquiry in the Southern Cultivator, for a
preventive of rotting of the pear upon the tree,
and to cause it to ripen up, W. A James, Bishop,
ville, S. C, says, " strip the bark entirely off the
u^
TEE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
bodies of his pear trees, on the 20th of June, he
will find that most, if not all the crop upon them
will ripen that season. jBe careful not to scratch
the wood with the instrument used in starting the
bark, as it will make an ugly scar in the new
bark, which will form in a few days after the old
one is removed. I generally start about two feet
from the ground, and strip both up and down,
letting it run up the limbs as far as it will, and as
deep into the ground as it can. There will be no
risk of killing the trees, if done at the time in-
dicated.
" I stripped the bark from a pear tree on the
20th of June, 1854. It was still living when last
heard from. I have performed the operation re-
peatedly, but the new bark grows back so soon
and the tree looks so natural, that unless you par-
ticularly mark it, it would be impossible ever to
tell it again. I once had a large nectarine tree
that bore full invariably, but never matured any
fruit, until after it was barked. That year it
ripened all the fruit. The next year it was full of
healthy fruit again, bat a storm during the Sum-
mer uprooted it, and I lost it. I hardly think
the barking process will shorten the life of a tree ;
but if it did, it would be better to enjoy some fruit
than none at all."
BULB CULTURE.
" Bulbs belong to a particular division of the
vegetable kingdom ; they are all, with scarcely a
single exception, very ornamental, and hence de-
sirable for the very large sized of their flower in
proportion to the entire plant, and for the brilli-
ancy of their colors. By far the greater number
of bulbs flower in the spring, and produce their
flower stems immediately after they begin to grow,
and shortly after the;y have flowered they cease
growing and remain dormant and without leaves
during the remainder of the year ; hence, almost
all bulbs require to be planted in the autumn — a
fact that most amateurs are apt to overlook, and
frequently send their orders out of season. They
require a free, dry and somewhat rich soil, into
which the roots may penetrate freely. A bulb is
essentially a bud, and contains within itself the
germs of the leaves and flowers which are to be
produced the following season ; thus, in one sense,
they are of more easy culture than any other
class of plants, because the germ being, previously
formed, and the nourishment being provided in
the body of the bulb, it is only necessary to sup-
ply heat and moisture to cause them to develop ;
this .is fully exemplified in the Hyacinth, Nar-
cissus Crocus, early Tulips, and some of the
bulbs, which can be flowered when placed ov^r
water in glasses or In wet moss. The Hyacinth
is the especial favorite for forcing in glasses.
Soil. — The proper compost far Hyacinths,
Tulips, Crown Imperials, Iris, Ranunculus, Ane-
mones, Crocus, and most other bulbs, is the follow-
ing : One-third sand, one-third well-rotted cow-
manure, and one-third good garden mould.
Time OF Planting. — 1 he preferable season for
planting ail hardy bulbs is from October to De-
cember ; but they can be set out at any later time,
so long as the bulbs remain sound.
GRAFTING THE GRAPE ON ITS
LATERALS.
I find it unnecessary to graft at the root of the
vine and often inexpedient, but more successful to
graft the side branches or laterals of the vine.
Two years ago I laid down two wild vines sixty
feet in length each, buried them in a trench ten
inches deep, brought up their side branches above
ground suitable distances apart for grafting. I
then set fifty lona grafts on those branches just
below the surface of the ground. Every graft
lived and has made strong, healthy vines. I left
five of the branches until the 2 th of July, and
then grafted with Delawares. Two of them failed
to grow, the other three grew and made about as
much growth as the lona vines that were set
early in the spring.
Vines can be propagated in this way with as
much certainty as by layering. I have found that
cions of the Delaware do not take so well on the
Clinton as they do on the wild, or Taylor's Buttit.
I have not tried grafting on th e Concord ; Salera
lona and Allen's Hybrid take well on the Clinton
I presume Concord stocks would be equally good.
The main object is to have hard, healthy roots for
stocks. I have found very little difference in the
diSierent modes of setting the grafts.
I am reported in some of the papers to have
said at the meeting of the Northern Illinois Hor-
ticultural Society, at Freeport, that June was the
best time to graft the grape. I said no such thing,
but directly the reverse of that. I find early
spring the best time, and that as the season ad-
vances the chances of success diminish. After the
20th of July, only about one-half grew, I used
old wood of the previous years growth. I at the
same time set a few cions cut from the same sea-
son's growth with better success. — P. Manny, in
Horticulturist. •
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER^
21S
DOMESTIC.
[Correspondence ol the N. Y. Tribune.
DAIRY FARMING.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 30.— The great val-
leys of California do not produce much but-
ter, and probably never will, though I am told
that cows fed on alfalfa, which is a kind of lu-
cerne, yield abundant and rich milk, and, when
small and careful farming comes into fashion in
this State, there is no reason why stall-fed cows
should not yield butter even in the San Joaquin or
Sacramento Valley. Indeed, with irrigation and
stall-feeding, as one may have abundance of green
food all the year round in the valleys, there should
be excellent opportunity for butter making. But
it is not necessary to use the agricultural soil for
dairy purposes. In the foot-hills of the Sierras,
and on the mountains, too, for a distance of more
than a hundred miles along and near the line of
the railroad, there is a great deal of country ad-
mirably fitted for dairying, and where already
some of the most prosperous butter ranches, as
they call them here, are found. And as they are
near a considerable population of miners and lum-
bermen, and have access by railroad to other cen-
ters of population, both eastward and westward,
the business is prosperous in this large district,
where, by moving higher up in the mountains as
summer advances, the dairyman secures green
food for his cows the summer through, without
trouble, on the one condition that he knows the
country and how to pick out his land to advantage.
Another dairy district lies on the coast, where
the fogs brought in by the prevailing north-west
winds keep the ground moist, foster the greenness
and succulence of the native grasses dufing the
summer, at least In the ravine, and keep the
springs alive.
THE COUNTRY OF BUTTER RANCHES.
Marin county, lying north of San Francisco, is
the country of butter ranches on the coast, though
there are also many profitable dairies south of the
bay, in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. In
fact, dry as California is commonly and erroneous-
ly supposed to be, it exports a considerable quan-
tity of butter, and a dairyman said to me but
recently, that to make the business really prosper-
ous, the S'.ate needed a million or two more in-
habitants, which means that the surplus product
is now so great that it keeps down the price. No
small quantity of this surplus goes east as far as
New York, and it is one of the curiosities of pro-
duction and commerce that, while California can
send butter to the Atlantic it buys eggs of Illi-
nois. One would have thought the reverse more
probable.
Marin county contains a large number of
dairies, most of them of moderate extent and in
the hands of their proprieiors. But there exists
in that country a system of dairy farming which
has some peculiar and interesting features, and of
which I have recently seen one example. In this
there was an estate of 18,000 acres devoted to the
production of butter. The system under which
this and several other large properties are worked
has grown up slowly, and, as I understand, the
land is not yet all utilized, or, as they say, "or-
ganized." The plan of operations is this: The
owner of the land sets apart a certain district for
a dairy farm. This he fences in and subdivides
fences into different large fields ; he also causes
the natural springs ts be cleared out, and the
water to be led in iron pipes to' convenient places
for the cattle. He builds a dwelling, usually a
stoiy and a-half high, and containing nine rooms,
all lathed and plastered, and conveniently ar-
ranged ; also a large and excellently-arranged
milk-house, with butter and churn-room, etc., a
barn, roomy enough to contain hay for half a
dozen horses, and stalls for them ; and a calf shed
and pig-pen. There must also be a corral for the
cows. In to all these buildings water is led in pipes
aud in great abundance, so that there is running
water in every place. I was surprised to find that
half and three-quarter-inch pipe is large enough
for all these purposes; most of the dwellings have
a little tank or reservoir to give a head and regu-
lar flow.
MANAGEMENT OF A DAIRY FARM.
The owner furnishes to the tenant all that I
have described, and cows enough to stock the
farm. Experience has shown, I was told, that
about eight acres ought to be alloMcd to a cow,
and the different farms carry from 115 to 225 cows.
The tenant furnishes all the utensils, horses and
wagons, household furniture, and the required
labor ; he agrees to keep the whole place in good
order and repair, to take proper care of the stock,
to raise for the proprietor every year one-fifth as
many calves as he keeps cows, and to pay him
$27.50 per head for each cow he keeps. He fur-
thermore agrees to raise from the land only such
provisions as are needed by his family, and his
stock, including his horses and hogs, and to sell
nothing from the place except butter and hogs.
The hogs are fed chiefly on skim-milk, and belong
2U
THE LAJTCASTER FARMER.
entirely to the tenant. The calves, except those
which are raised for the proprietor, are killed and
fed to the pigs The leases are usually for three
years. The proprietor furnishes bulls for his
herds and he constantly weeds out the cows which
are poor milkers, or for any other reason bad
stock.
The climate of Marin county is very equal, and
the cattle live out of doors all the year round ;
there are no sheds, nor is any provision of hay or
roots made for them, as they find green grass at
all seasons on the ground. They are milked twice
a day. being driven for that purpose into a corral
near the milk-house. I noticed that they were all
very gentle ; they lay down in the corral with
that placid air which a good cow has ; and when-
ever a milkman came to the beast he wished to
milk, she rose 'at once, without waiting to be
spoken to. One man is expected to milk 20 cows
in the season of full milk, and these dairies pro-
duce now now an average — taking nine dairies
together - of over 17.5 pounds in the year to each
cow. One or two dairies run, I believe, as high
as 200 pounds per cow. Men do all the work of
milking, churning, etc. ; and on some places I
noticed that Chinese were employed in the milk-
house, to attend to the cream and make the but-
ter. I was told that t.ey are very careful and
cleanly, precise and faithful.
MAKING BUTTER.
The tenants are of different nationalities.
Americans, Swedes, Germans Irish, and Portu-
guese. A tenant needs about ^2,000 in money
to undertake one of these dairy farms ; the system
seems to satisfy those who are now engaged in it.
The milkers or farm hands receive ^'i ) per month
and " found ; " and good milkers are in constant
demand. Everything is conducted with great
care and cleanliness, the buildings being uncom-
monly good for this State, water abundant, and
many labor-saving contrivances used. At one
end of the corral or yard in which the cows are
milked is a platform roofed over, on which stands
a large tin, with a double strainer, into which the
milk is poured from the buckets. It runs through
a pipe into the milk-house, where it is again strained
and then emptied from a bucket into the pans
ranged on shelves around. The cream is taken
off in from 39 to 40 hours ; and the milk keeps
sweet 36 hours, even in summer. The square box
churn is used entirely, and is revolved by horse-
power. They usually get butter, I was told, in
half an hour. The butter is worked on an in-
genious turn-table, which holds 100 pounds at a
time, and can, when loaded, be turned by a finger .
and a lever working upon a universal joint is
used upon the butter When ready, it is put up
in two-pound rolls, which are shaped in a hand-
press, and the rolls are not weighed until they ■
reach the city. It is packed in strong oblong
boxes, each of which holds 55 rolls. There is
usually a stove in the milk-house, but I was told
that it is used only in very foggy or rainy weather*
to dry the house. The cows are not driven more
than a mile to be milked ; the fields being so ar-
ranged that the corral is near the center. When
they are milked, they stray back of themselves to
their grazing places. 0. N.
Wintering the Celery. — Of all the crops of
the garden that of celery is the most uncertain,
the most laborious and the most expensive to raise,
It is more than all these : it is the most difficult to
preserve in a good, sound condition through the
winter, and to the middle of April at least, as it
ought to be, to compensate the producer fully.
We profess to have had a good deal of experience
with the celery crop, and we have this year as
successful a yield as is to be found in any garden
in the county.
In storing the crop for the winter, we have usu-
ally pursued two modes which have answered
well. The first is to remove the celery to high
and dry ground, dig a straight trench spade deep,
stand up a row of plants singly, then another row,
and so on until about half a dozen rows are fin-
ished, when commence another bed, and so on.
The soil should be packed in firmly and then
banked up, so that the tops of the celery are just
covered ; then spank off, roof fashion, to turn off
the rain. Over this two wide boards nailed togeth-
er, should be placed, as a security against mois-
ture, or straw can be bent over and secured at the
bottom with bean poles. Celery put away thus
carefully ought to keep till May.
Another plan is to sink barrels into the earth
so that the tops are two or three inches below the
surface, then stand them compactly full of celery,
without any soil ; put tight covers upon them, so
f^s to exclude all moisture, and then a couple of
inches of soil.
For early consumption — that is to say in De-
cember and January -it can be preserved in the
rows where it is grown, properly covered and pro-
tected against moisture.
Thursday, November 27th, has been designated
as Thanksgiving Day.
THE LAJSrCASTER FARMER.
215
THE NAG.
THIS is the common " Driving-horse," or
" Buggy-horse," of Lancaster county, and
the larger portion of Pennsylvania. These nags
are of various breeds, " good, bad, and indiffer-
ent," and also of various colors, sizes, and build,
some of them bringing very readily from three to
six hundred dollars — indeed, we rode behind one,
a few weeks ago, that the owner would not have
taken one thousand dollars for. Some of t'lem
have also remarkable bottom and speed, bringing
them legitimately within the category of "racers,"
for 2:20, 2:.30, and even 2:40 is not unusual among
the better class of them. Times have wonder-
fully changed in reference to " horse-flesh," within
the past ten years, in our county. Young farmers
are not content to " plod along," as did their
fathers in days of yore. They want to be behind
something that is " fast." This would be all the
less harmful, perhaps, if it did not beget 'fast
habits" in an illegitimate direction. *
At this particular time an acre or two of drilled
corn or oats will help out wonderfully. Last
season, with a stock of twenty cows, we should have
been compelled to feed a large amount of grain, if
we had not had a patch of drilled corn to feed
them. Our cows had as much of this as they
could eat up clean twice each day, and never fell
off in milk as they otherwise would have done.
Providing for Short Pasturage.- — During the
latter part of this month, and the first three weeks
in next, is a time at which many farmers find
themselves overstocked. The fresh Spring pasture
and the hopes of an abundant second crop are so
many enticements to overstock the pasture-land.
To Have Apples Every Year. — A correspon-
dent of the New York Tribune tells three ways
of having apples every year. We give them for
what they are worth, although we do not consider
them infallible — No. 1 is certainly not to be de-
pended upon, and No. 3 is to be demonstrated
before we believe :
1. Take scions from a tree in 1873, and put
them into a good thrifty tree, and do the same in
1874, and you will get fruit in alternate years.
2. If you cut off the thrifty trees the growth of
1873 in the last of June, leaving three or four buds
that would come out in 1874, jou would force out
the ne.xt year's buds and gain one year.
3. If you remove all the blossoms on one-half
of your trees in the bearing j'ear you will have
fruit on that half the odd years. These things I
have done successfully.
216
THE L A J^ CASTER FARMER.
ENTOMOLOGICAL.
THE APFAEEN r AND THE KEAL,
IN NATURE.
WE clip the following from the columns of
the Fayette county Era, published at
Lagrange, in the State of Texas, and which we
consider about as interesting a contribution to
our Entomological •' corner," as we can well give.
We have known Dr. Lincecum from reputation
for years, and consider him as exellent authority
on the subject of ants, and especially the species
that inhabit the " Lone Star" State. The reflec-
tive reader will readily percieve what no doubt
M. has perceived long before this time, that in-
stead of two diffei'ent species of ants being en-
gaged in a deadly conflict about spoils, it was in
reality only a conflict between males of the same
species, for the " love favors" of the females, dur-
ing the nuptial season. But this is not a unique
habit, for we see the same thing among the higher
organic forms of the animal world, (instance "cats
and canines,") and from thence up to the unregene-
rate in the genus homo. Any person who will
take the trouble to look into such publications,
for a moment, as the " Police Gazette," " Day's
Doings" and "Wild Oats," will be struck with
the peculiarly animal and belligerent nature of
all found in their columns. Ed.
A KOYAL ANT BATTLE.
Ed. Era: — To-day, in going from Lagrange
to West Point, I witnessed a regular battle royal,
in which all parties of either side were engaged.
This battle was fought between the emmet or
pismire family. All the fighting parties had
wings ; one was a large, dark-red ant, large wings
and very ferocious ; the other ant of less size,
lighter color and smaller wings. There were two
beds, some fifty feet apart, and about midway the
two ant nations met and waged a terrible war.
It was literally a war of extermination. The
contending parties were united in single, double
and quadiuple lines, and never yielded until one
or the other party was slain. I saw also ants
without wings, passing to and fro, without being
molested by the fighting parties. I would like to
know, Mr. Era, what caused this battle? Why
were each of the parties winged? and why did
not those ants without wings engage in the
contest ?
I wish my much valued friend. Dr. Gid. Lince-
cum, could see this, for I am satisfied he could
throw some light upon the subject. Hoping a
subsequent number of your paper may give us a
correct solution, I remain, etc , M . . . .
P. S. Our neighbors are much alarmed by the
cotton worm, though, so far, no serious injury has
been done. The hay crop good. M.
West Point, July 21, 1873.
THE ANT AND IT.S HABITS — THE ROYAL BATTLK
EXPLAINED, AND OTHER INTERESTING FACTS.
Ed. Era : - To your polite call in your paper
of the 1st inst., I may try to give satisfaction.
You must not, however, expect too much. My
old, time-worn mentality, has been too badly
blunted to attempt more than a few plain state-
ments of positive facts.
The names by which the species of ant, alluded
to by your correspondent M are known in dif-
ferent sections of our State, are the singing ant.
the mound-builders, the pavement ant, and the
agricultural ant, because they do cultivate certain
species of grass, and harvest the seed with great
care, storing it away in cells prepared for that
purpose. But is not with the intention of writing
the history of the latter interesting branch of the
emmet family that I write, but only to correct an
oversight in the recorded observations of my jovial
friend M .
The wingless ants in this species are the work-
ers - neutrals, non-procreating, and incapable 'of
taking any part in the grand annual meeting of
their winged superiors.
The males and females of this, as well as all
other species of the ant genus, have wings, which,
with the species in question, answer the purpose
of reaching one of those great amative gatherings
from considerable distances with facility.
At such a time both sexes are seen coming at
an early hour, from all directions, and pouri)ig
down in great numbers on the ground, that must
have been arranged by previous appointment,
for they all seem to know where to go.
By 12 o'clock, M., they have all arrived, and
they are found covering the ground, four or five
males to one female, whirling and buzzing, whilst
they are wallowing in an eager and ranting furor.
It looks, sure enough, to the uninitiated, like a
terrible battle, under the piratical waving of the
black flag, in a dreadful struggle for victory and
extermination. In the course of two hours, the
ultimate^ begin to manifest themselves. Scat-
tered about over the field of action 3,re seen dead
and dying male ants. I'he most feeble amongst
them, having fulfilled their mission early, die of
exhaustion, which is now momentarily observed
to increase. About this time a few of the females
THE LAJ^GASTER FABMER.
^17
will be seen writhing themselves, with much diffi-
culty, from the gastric embrace of the male, and
makes her escape by climbing the first weed or
spire of grass she comes to ; on the top of this she
rests a few minutes, and feeling herself fully
charged with all the attributes for the consumma-
tion of her mission, she seems for a moment to re-
flect, and spreading her wings for the last time,
flies to some distant region, alights, and immedi-
ately commences the search for a proper site upon
which to locate a city.
Soon she finds one and begins the work ener-
getically. She rapidly burrows a proper sized
hole in the ground, and when it becomes deep
enough for her wings to prevent further progress,
she withdraws for a moment from the labor and
deliberately cuts off her wings at the shoulder-
joints. Continuing the work, she burrows to the
depth of seven inches, at the bottom of which she
excavates a small, oval cell. The passage to the
outer world is now stopped up, and the mother of
the coming millions remains in a state of coma
for ten days. When from this lethargic state she
awakes, she reopens her burrow, deposits twenty-
five or thirty eggs, and goes out seeking food for
the first born of the new colony, which sonn oc-
curs. She ceases not to perform all the nursery
duties, foraging and the necessary enlargement of
the cell, until the young -ones she has with so
much labor and anxiety raised to anthood, are
able and properly instructed to do the out-door
work, when she retires from labor to rest and is
no more seen in the outer world.
All t'e newly formed ants are neutrals- — work-
ers— a part of them are detailed to remain in-door,
attend the nursery duties and excavate the cells.
The remainder are consigned to do the out-door
work. This consists 'in collecting food for the
nursery, in-door workers, the peculiar nourishment
for the mother ant and to keep the entrance of
their city concealed, which they effect by cover-
ing it very ingeniously with bits of stick. This
mask is continued eighteen months. At the ex-
piration of this period, they have become suffi-
ciently numerous to be enumerated amongst the
great nations of the land and boldly unmasking
the gates of their city, organize a strong police
force, about 20 ), whose duty is to clean out and
construct an ample pavement — if on wet or flat
ground to build a mound and guard the environs
of the city.
Thus, in a cursory manner, I have described the
cours^ and the fulfilled mission of a single female
agriciiiltural ant. All other female ants go out
on the same mission ; but fortunately for the hu-
manity side of the question, there is not one in a
thousand that proves successful.
The male ants having performed their parts on
the grand connubial arena, are left the prostrate
victims of excess. Many dead — thousands dying,
and such of them as had sufficient strength to do
so, have climbed up the little weeds, and are found
next morning dead, wito their jaws fast clenched
to some leaf or stem, from which they cannot be
detached without tearing off their heads.
This latter paragraph alludes to one of those
magnificent assemblies that took place in that lane
at Long Point, July, 21, 1846. Two days after
there came a pretty north-west wind that rolled the
dead ants into the little gullies in many heaps.
Every one who saw them paid there could not be
less than a bushel.
This is but a desultory history of the winged
agricultural ant. A carefully written history of
the workers of this species —their agricultural
action -their method of storing away and pre-
serving many kinds of seeds — their police regula-
tions, military discipline, wars, treatment of cap-
tives, etc., would prove most interesting to the
student and admirer of the natural sciences.
Gideon Lincecum,
CORRESPONDENCE.
For The F-rmer.
MR. EDITOR : In looking over the list of ex-
hibitors I noticed an error, in having me
say that the bellflower is bearing annually with-
me, when, in fact, it has not perfected once in five
years. I will give you a list of the thirty-three
varieties I exhibited, and their qualities with me
and their value and bearing, Those trees loaded
with apples were the Redstreak. Apple Butter,
Pittsburg Pippin, Romanite, Winesap, Paradise,
Yellow Sweet, Early Redstreak, and Pound ; mod-
erate crop — the Lady's Blush, Spahnhauer, Cones-
toga Pippin, Maiden's Blush, Belle Fleur, (Sheep
of Millport), Smokehouse, Red Winter ; not bear-
ing much, or too young— the Baldwin, llubert-
ston's None-such. Krauser, Golden Pippin, Sweet
Rambo, Ilamaker, Berks County Cider, York Im-
perial, King of Tomkins County, Northern Spy,
Warwick, Red Warwick, nameless (3 varieties) ;
those bearing one year a full, and the second, half
a crop, are the Old Redstreak, Smokehouse, Mill-
port Sheepnose, Winesaps, Conestoga Pippin,
Pound, Spahnhauer, and Paradise. The Rambo
has only a few apples this year; for marketing the
218
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
Smokehouse heads the list. The Lady's Blush is
second to none for beauty and salability. It is a
beautiful white apple with a red blush, above
medium size, a little tartish. Pound, Pittsburg,
Northern Spy, Conestoga Pippin, and Millport
Sheepuose sell well also, during January and Feb
ruary. I have seven orchards — four in bearing ■
some in limestone, in rich gravel and in red shale.
My orchards on low ground have very few apples.
I have one on red shale ; it lies high on a south
eastern slope, and it bears almost every year full
crops. It had now three crops in succession.
Pears — I cultivate the Bartlett, Hosenshenk,
Butter, Maynard, Clapp, Favorite, Howell, Flem-
ish Beaty, McGlaughlin, Bosc, Onondago, Seckel,
Bell-lucrative, Brandywine, Sheldon, Buffan, Yicar
of Wakefield Mount Vernon, Buerre Diehl, Law-
rence, and Duchess d'Angouleme. The Maynarf]
Butter, Bartlett, Clapp, Favorite, Howell, Flem-
ish Beauty, Bell-lucrative, and Lawrence, are my
favorites. The Lawrence bears every year a full
crop; it was to be a winter pear, but it ripens in
October, and is a sweet, delicious pear.
What is most singular in my apple orchard,
there are two Paradise trees, rather old, with
scarcely any apples, while two others of the same
kind, rather young trees, are almost yearly loaded
with fruit. It seems that some apple trees will
cease to bear when they get to a certain age.
Binkley's vineyard is situated about a quarter
of a mile from my red shale orchard, but is on
much higher ground You can see from his lot to
the Ephrata Hills, Millport Head, Furnace Hills,
Rothsville, Lexington, White Hall, Sun Hill,
Chestnut Hill, York County Hills, Lancaster city,
Martic Hills, General Steinman's residence near
Eawlinsville. Copp(>r Mine Hills, the Welsh
Mountains, and the steeple of New Holland. He
has a peach orchard and vineyard side by side yet
he had very few peaches ; but his grapes would
have come to full perfection if it had not been for
a hail-storm ; nevertheless, it is supposed that he
has the premium vineyard in the couiity. This
year he subsoiled his ground. The loose gravel
and little stones are all worked on the surfiice from
the continual stirring of the soil, as he allows nO
weeds to grow on his ground. The ground is rich,
and the little stones are a shelter to keep the
ground from burning out ,or drying up, like in
other instances. His chief grapes are the Hart-
ford Prolific, Concord, and Martha ; he has also
started a beautiful pear orchard of one hundred
pear trees ; sixty are the Bartlett. They are just
coining into bearing, L. S. R.
A Butter and Cheese Exchange. — The dairy
interest now represented in the city of New Y^'ork
has become so important that an exchange is es-
tablished in that city as one of the permanent
institutions. The New York Bulletin shows the
relative importance of the butter and cheese inter-
est by giving the following estimates of the pro-
duce business of that city last year :
Butter .^.30,0no,000
Chee-se 1.5,000,000
Wheat 24,(100,000
Flour 26,000,000
Corn 26,000,000
Petroleum 10,000,000
Cut Meats 12,000,000
The two items of butter and cheese amount to
^45,000,000, butter alone leading every other
article in the produce market.
Good butter and good cheese rarely overstock
the market. The new Butter Exchange, as well
as the figures quoted, indicate the great progress
which this interest has made during the last few.
years.
Training a Heifer. — Cows usually become ad-
dicted to kicking when heifers, from being milked
by abusive milkers. I have never seen an old cow
become a kicker unless abused. Instead of cows'
being averse to being milked when giving a large
quantity I have ever found it the reverse. When
pasturage is good, and cows come home at night
with udders distended with milk, our " down east"
cows seem grateful to have it removed. Milking
a heifer for the first time requires patience, for
they will almost invariably kick. In such a case
put a broad strap around her body, j ust front of
the udder, and buckle it up moderately tight,
as soon as she gets quiet (for she may dance
and around a little at first), take your pail,
set down and go to milking, for she is as helpless
as a kitten. Do not attempt to use a rope instead
of a strap, for it will not answer. This is a much
better method 'than tying the legs, etc., as it does
not hurt the animal in the least. A few applica-
tions of the strap with plenty of patience and
kindness will cure the most obstinate case.
♦
To MEND china, take a very thick solution of
gum arable in water and stir in it plaster Paris
until the mixture becomes of the proper consis-
tency. Apply it with a brush to the fractured
edges of the china and stick them together. In
three days the article will be thoroughly cement-
ed. The whiteness of the cement renders it
doubly valuable.
TEE LANCASTER FARMER.
219
LANCASTER, NOVEMBER, 1873.
S. S. RATHVON, Fditor.
Published monthly m;der the auspices of the Agricul-
TUKAL AND Horticultural Society.
$13 5 per Tear lii Advance.
A considerable deduction to clubs of live or more.
All commuuicitions, to insure insertion, must be in the
hands of the editor betor« tiie 20th of each month. Ad-
dress S. S. Ra'hvon, Lincaster, Pa.
All advertise moats, subscriptions and remittances to ths
address of the publisher, J. R. DEVELIN,
InquTer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
THE FINANCIAt CRASH.
SINCE the ivssue of our last number, a dark pall
lias fallen upon the financial affairs of the
country ; and the worst feature of it is, that the
burden of distress falls heaviest upon those who
were not in any way instrumental in producing it,
demonstrating, as has so often been demonstrated
before, that the innocent must suffer for the sins
of the guilty. It is true that the direct failures
which have thus far taken place, have been main-
ly confined to brokers, bankers, and stock-jobbers
but as these are generally the purse-holders of the
people, and the custodians of financial confidence,
when they fail to meet their obligations, agricul-
ture, commerce and manufactures become involved
in the general embarrassment or ruin. Millions
upon millions of money, have been diverted from
the legitimate and useful channels of trade, and
have been invested in irresponsible stocks of the
wildest and flimsiest character, simply because they
promised to pay more than legal interest, or to
declare an enormous dividend.
TT'YW the jii'ople nev<'r become luise ? Will they
continue to risk their hard-earned dollars in stock-
gambling abroad, and bring suffering upon them-
selves, their families, and all the local interests
and enterprises which need development around
them ?
And to show that this stock speculation is not
confined to the sharp dealers of large towns and
cities alone, an inlelligent and well-posted manu-
facturer informed us, a few daj^s ago, that, on a
receut visit to the northern part of Lancaster
county, within a comparatively small circle, a
number of farm-houses were pointed out to him,
whose owners held at least j^/Zy thousand doUars
in " Northern Pacific Railroad" stock ; who pro-
bably would not have invested a dollar in any
stock in Lancaster county, nor yet have loaned
their money at onl)/ six per cent., on the best un-
encumbered mortgages in the county.
" Can these things be and not excite our spe-
cial wonder ?" Well, like the Coal-oil stock, of
a few years ago, this-money — and many housands
besides this — has taken wings and flown, and Lan-
caster county is just so much poorer to-day. If
this should have an Injurious effect upon the price
of farm produce, whose fault is it ? " Grasp not
too much, lest you lose what you have," is an old
saw, written hundreds of years ago, and yet people
seem to profit as little by it to-day as they did
then. T^ie best thing that can be done now, per-
haps, is to get another horse, and then to lock the
stable door, and only to open it when we feel sure
there are no thieves about. Otherwise these ex-
pensive financial lessons will be of very little solid
Ijenefit to us.
THE PROSPECT.
Notwithstanding our present financial embar-
rassments, the prospect before us is not an irre-
coverably gloomy one, unless we persistently con-
tinue to make it such. There is an immense stock
of wheat, rye, corn, barley oats, .fruit, roots and
vegetables in the country, and the foreign demand
for many of these will prevent much of a depre-
ciation in the usual prices, and their exportation
will bring back to our shores such a How of gold
and silver, as will ultimately save the country
from any marked distress. We have been living
much too fast, too selfish, greedy and ungodly,
but there is still no reason that we should now
run into the opposite extreme, and bring on a
state of distrust, apathy and starvation. Sinister
combinations, to produce extortion and distress
among the people, by all means should be avoid-
ed, and we should always think of that
people who have ever been the reliance of the
country wh?n assailed by foreign or domestic foes.
Remembering too, that the brawny arms that can
save a State, can alst», when frenzied by oppres-
sion, precipitate its utter ruin. We cannot get
along, as a nation, without the aid of the laborers,
the consumers, and the defenders of the L'nion ;
and we should think of these.
NEWSPAPER DECISIONS.
1. Any person who takes a paper regularly
from the post-ofTice —whether directed to his name
or another, or whether he has subscribed or not —
is responsible for the pay.
2. If a person orders his paper discontinued he
2W
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
must pay all arrearages, or the publisher may con-
tinue to send it until payment is made, and collect
the whole amount, whether it is taken from the
office or not.
3. The courts have decided that refusing to
take newspapei'3 and periodicals from the post
office, or removing and leaving them uncalled for,
is prima facie evidence of intentional fraud.
We respectfully call the attention of our read-
ers to the above "' decisions ;" not because we thus
proclaim a determination to avail ourselves of
these protections and guarantees vouchsafed by the
laws of our country, but because we desire them
to have an intelligent view of their own responsi-
bility as well as ours. It is a lamentable, and
sometimes a disgraceful fact, that there are still
in our country thousands upon thousands who do
not read, besides very many who cannot. And,
when publishers devise legitimate means, in order
to get their publications before the eyes of the pub-
lic, it is often as much from a desire to enlighten
that public, as it is for the small pittance of a
yearly subscription. Hence a liberal government
has enacted laws, and judges have made decisions
in their administration of them (like the above),
for the protection of publishers, and to inculcatg
among the people that it is their bounden duty to
read and enlighten themselves on all subjects
relating to moral and intellectual, as well as
material, progress in this world.
MEETING OF LANCASTER COUNTY
AGRICTLTURaL and HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
ITie regular monthly meeting of the society was
held in the Orphans' Court Room, Monday after-
noon, October Gth, 1873. In the absence of the
President, Johnson Miller was called to the chair.
The reading of the minutes of the previous meet-
ing was on motion dispensed with.
"ihe condition of the crops being called for,
Reuben Weddel stated that the last year's wheat
crop will average, in his neighborhood, about
twenty bushels per acre. As to the growing crop,
he said that it promised as well as any be had
seen for years. The corn crop is not quite up
to that of last year. The apple crop was not
equal to that of 1872 and the peaches were an
entire failure- The grape crop was a fine one, but
their quality was only average. Some of his
neighbors had as fine grapes as he ever met with.
The potato crop is the finest he has ever seen in
the county. 'I'he Peerless potato turned in the
beet in quantity, and its quality is also good
Johnson Miller planted his potatoes by shallow
covering, and this method he thinks best. Deep
covering he regards as a poor plan. Reuben
Weaver has planted potatoes by covering them
with saw-dust and a little earth ; and he considers
the plan a good one The potatoes when grown
come out of the ground very clean He thinks
that the saw-dust keeps the ground moist : he has
tried this plan on sandy soil with success.
John B. P]rb reported that the wheat crop along
the Pequea creek, was a fine one, and likely to
average from 20 to 25 bushels per acre. The new
crop looks very well ; the oats crop was light;
t he corn crop seems to be but an average one, and
yet better than was at first anticipated The po-
tato crop in his neighborhood was about an aver-
age one, the greater part of them having been
planted too early. The quality of the late-grown
potatoes was not particularly good, many of them
being watery, owing to the season having been a
a wet one. The apple crop was a light one.
Reuben Weaver discovered the virtue of saw-
dust for growing potatoes, by having a potato
stalk shoot accidentally in some saw-dust, and
from the one stalk he obtained fifteen pounds of
potatoes.
John B. Erb said the peaches had been an en-
tire failure along the Pequea. A few mi!es south,
in the neighborhood of Pine Hill peaches were
rather plenty ; grapes were almost a failure with
him. this year. The Colorado Potato Beetle has
made his appearance in small numbers, and the
cabbage worm was very bad ; but the crop is
much better than that of last year The fruit
trees look yellow and scanty affected as he be-
lieves by the cold of last winter A great many
people have lost their poultry this year from the
chicken cholera. His loss in chickens this year,
has beei; ($200 00) two hundred dollars.
Jacob S. Witmerhad Clinton, Concord and Mus-
catine grapes, and none of these froze for him last
winter. His place is somewhat elevated. His Clin-
ton grapes bore the best this year, being remark-
ably compact in the bunches, and the vines well
loaded. His apples were scarce, but his pears
were plenty and very fine. The wheat crop was
very good, both in stem and grain. The rye was
the best he has seen for years. The Ofits crop was
a light one, the stem being short and the grains
light. The corn turned out a. good crop.
Johnson Miller had written to the Agricultnral
Department to obtain some information as regards
the Patro ns of Husbandry, and circulars had been
sent him. but he was not prepared to endorse the
THE LAJiCASTER FARMER.
221
project, and he therefore moved its continuance
until the next meeting of the society. This mo-
tion was adopted.
Johnson Miller had several varieties of seed
wheat on exhibition. Milton B. Elshleman had
seed wheat on exhibition, viz, : AVeeks' White
Wheat
Society on motion adjourned.
SOILING FARM STOCK.
I have often been surprised that the many own-
ers of small farms around our city do not confine
their stock to the stables, and carry their proven-
der to them. In this way one acre may be made
to carry as much stock as four under the old sys-
tem One or two acres devoted to sowed or
drilled corn, Hungarian grass, oats and rye, will
keep a large number of cows or horses ; especially
if the ground is made rich by the liberal applica-
tion of manure. Of the Hungarian grass I have
treated elsewhere. The corn should be sown in
drills three feet apart, and the grains from a half
inch to one inch apart, according to the strength
of the ground. It should be sown at regular inter-
vals, so as to keep up a regular succession of feed.
On good ground it will grow ten to twelve feet
long, and from estimates based on two acres on my
own land last season, I am satisfied will yield
twenty ton.s per acre ot green food. It does the
most good if fed about the time it is fairly out in
tassel, and if left longer becomes less nutritious
and more like common dry corn fodder.
A few months' experience will show what crops
are best suited to each particular locality, and will
lead the farmer to plant those whose surplus can
most readily be converted into winter provender.
« — — ■ —
GORGED STOMACHS IN HORSES.
(jrorged stomachs or acute indigestion, is a dis-
ease which every year destroys a groat many val-
uable horses. It consists either in distension of
the stomach from food or from gas generated
by the fermentation of its undigested contents.
This very serious disorder often results from
giving food in large quantities and immediately
subjecting the animal to hard or fast work. This
is a very common thing amongst farmers' horses.
A journey of fifteen or twenty miles has to be
])erforined; the owner, through kindness, gives an
extra quantity of food ; the stomach and bowels
are overloaded ; the horse begins his journey full,
of spirit, and, after traveling for a few miles, he
becomes dull and sluggish and sweats freely; he
is pulled up, and after standing for a few moments
shows signs of abdominal pains by cringing the
body and attempting to lie down ; the flanks are
slightly swollen. In a few moments he seems
easier, and is driven on, now and then showing
symptoms of pain ; po-ssibly he reaches his desti-
nation, and is taken out of the harness, when he
may exhibit very alarming symptoms.
* * * Another coramjn cauie is feeding heav-
ily when the stomach has been weakened through
enervating exercise or long fasting.
In road horses that are highly fed on oats and
hay, it is occasionally brought on by giving a
quantity of green clover or tares immediately
after performing a fast journey.— Ca;iaJa Farmer.
Manure FOR Gr.a.pe Vine^ — Prof. Bache says :
Herbaceous plants and vegetables furnish numer-
ous instances of the influence of peculiar manures
on the quality of the products. The cheese and
milk of certain localities are highly prized on ac-
count of the peculiar aroma of the grass in those
localities.
Besides this bad influence of odorous nitrogenous
manures on wine, we must bear in mind that this
process restores to the soil only a small portion of
the potash consumed by the canes, the leaves and
the fruit, and that it also tends to exhaustion, since
it returns to the soil but one-fifth or one-sixth of
the amount of potash taken from it. Moreover,
nitrogenous substances exclusively used, hasten
the decay of vineyards and the exhaustion of the
poil. We have a report from Baron Von Liebig
of the exhaustion of a vineyard at Bingen, on the
Rhine, through the exclusive use of horn scrapings.
The result at first seemed good, but after a few
years the growth and production decreased rapidly
The extra growth induced by the horn scrnpings
had divested the soil of all its potash without re.
turning any.
Nitrogenous manures also increase in the grape
the proportion of albuminous and mucilaginous
matters, and correspondingly diminish the saccha-
rine ; the wine contains less alcohol, and is conse-
quently more subject to alteration. In fact, sugar-
producing plants never want strongly nitrogenous
manures ; and sugar-makers are aware that beets
manured with highly nitrogenous compounds — al-
though more bulky — contain less sugar and more
organic matter, to the detriment of the manufac-
turer.
Read the advertisements in the Farmer, and
thus ascertain where to purchase advantangeously
THE LANCASTER FABMEB.
MISCELLANEOUS.
HIGH PRICED CATTLE.
THEIR I'EDIGREE FIFTEEN COWS BRING .$260,000.
1' the large sale of improved cattle near Uti-
ca, N. Y., on the 10th inst., the following
named cows brought the highest pi-ices :
Eighth Duchess of Geneva, red and white;
calved July 28th, 1866 ; got by third Lord Oxford ;
dam first Duchess of Geneva, by second Grand
Duke, seventy-first Duchess ,by Duke of Gloster.
sixty-sixth Duchess by fourth Duke of York, fifty-
fifth Duchess by fourth Duke of Northumberland,
thirty-eighth Duchess by Norfolk, thirty-third
Duchess by Belvidere, nineteenth Duchess by sec-
ond Hubback, twelfth Duchess by the Earl, fourth
Duchess by second Kctton. first Duchess by Co-
met, Duchess by Favorite, by Daisy Bull, by Favor-
ite, by Hubback, by J. Brown's Red Bull ; sold at
.$40,600
Tenth Duchess of Geneva, roan; calved May
15, 1867 ; got by second Duke of Geneva, dam
fifth Duchess of Geneva, by Grand Dnke of Ox-
ford; sold at $3r),000.
Tenth Duchess of Oneida, red and white ; calved
April 7,1873; got by "second Duke of Oneida;
dam eighth Duchess of Geneva, by third Lord Ox-
ford ; sold at $27,000.
Third Duchess of Oneida, roan ; calved March
19, 1871 ; got by fourth Duke of Geneva ; dam
•eighth Duchess of Thorndale, by third Duke of
Airdrie ; sold at $15,000.
Thirteenth Duchess of Thorndale, red; calved
February 25, 1867 ; got by tenth Duke of Thorn-
dale ; dam tenth Duchess of Thorndale, by second
Grand Duke : sold for $15,000.
Eighth Duchess of Oneida, roan ; calved No-
vember 18, 1872; got by fourth Duke of Geneva ;
dam tenth Duchess of Geneva, by second Duke of
Geneva; sold for $10,000.
Ninth Duchess of Oneida, roan ; calved March
2, 1873 ; got by second Duke of Oneida ; dam
twelfth Duchess of Thorndale. by sixth Duke of
Thoriulalo ; price obtained $10,000.
Seventh Duchess of Oneida, red and white ;
calved August 3, 1872 ; got by srcond Duke of
Oneida ; dauL first Duchess of Oneida by tenth
Duke of Thorndale ; price $19,000.
Twelfth Maid of Oxford, rich roan ; calved Oc-
tober 18, 1872 ; got by fourth Duke of Geneva,
dam second Maid of Oxford by Grand Duke of
Oxford; price $6,000.
Twelfth Lady Oxford, red and white ; calved
December 15, 1869; got by tenth Duke of Thorn-
dale, dam seventh Lady of Oxford by sixth Duke
of Thorndale ; price $7,000.
First Duchess of Oneida, red and white ; calved
January 24, 1870 ; got by tenth Duke of Thorn-
dale ; dam eighth Duchess of Geneva by third
Lord Oxford; price $30,000.
Fourth Duchess of Oneida, red ; calved Janua-
ry 17. 1872 ; got by fourth Duke of Geneva ; dam
thirteenth Duchess of Thorndale by tenth Duke of
Thorndale; price $25,000.
Third Countess of Oxford, red ; calved July 3,
1871 ; got by Baron of Oxford ; dam second
Countess of Oxford by second Duke of Geneva;
price .$9,100.
Second Maid of Oxford, roan ; calved October
22,1862; got by Grand Duke of Oxford; dam
Oxford twentieth by Marquis of Carrabas ; price
$6,000.
Lady Knightley, roan ; calved July 28, 1871 :
got by second Duke of Tregunter ; dam Lady
Knightly second by third Duke of Geneva ; price
$5,000.
The Utica Observer of the 11th inst. contains
the following reference to the above sale :
The sale of Hon. Samuel Campbell's unequaled
herd of thorough-bred short-horn cattle, which
took place at New York Mills, two miles from
Utica, yesterday afternoon, will attract attention
and provoke discussion throughout the world. It
" as the most im]iortant sale of the kind ever held.
It drew hither a number of English stock breed-
ers and numerous representatives from Kentucky,
Pennsylvania and other States, and also from the
Dominion of Canada. The prices realized were
exceptionally high. The sum of $40 600 was paid
for one cow — the eighth Duchess of Geneva — by
Mr. P. Davis, of Gloucestershire, England. The
calf of this cow was sold to Mr. Alexander of
Kentucky, for $27,000. These figures seem fabu-
lous, but they were paid by men who counted the
cost before they made the bids. In England it is
impossible to secure any thorough-bred short-horns:
not because there are none of the pure blood Duch-
ess breed in the kingdom — as a foolish contempo-
rary suggests — but because the owners will nol
part with them for love or money. There has not
been a public sale of short-horns in England for
twenty years; there is not likely to be such a sale
for a hundred years to come. The London Field.
the representative journal of the stock-raisers in
Great Britain, attempted to dissuade the English
purchasers from attending the Campbell sale, ar-
guing that cattle of equal excellence could be
THE LAJSrCASTEB, FARMER.
ns
seen in Enj^land. Rut it is one thing to see them
and another to own them, and several enterpris-
ing Englishmen, who appreciated the difference,
were here yesterday to make purchases.
Among the various breeds of men, none other
equals the Scotch American in the persistency
with which he sets about the accomplishment of a
given object. It is many years now since Mr.
(Jampbell — a type of that breed — conceived tlic
idea of collecting a herd of pure-blood short horns.
He went about it systematically. It was not the
business of his life, but rather a relaxation from
business. "While he was engaged in it he was
making himself famous as a manufacturer of cot-
tons. He bought his herd at prices which seemed
enormously high to his neighbors and friends, but
Avhich appear low when compared to the munifi-
cent sums realized yesterday. We believe .$12,-
000 in gold was the highest price v.-hich Mr. Camp
bell paid for any single cow in his herd. He ex-
pended altogether somewhere in the neighborhood
of $200,000. The aggregate receipts of yester-
day's sale were in excess of $350,000. It will be
seen that the profit constitutes a handsome fortune.
OUR NATIONAL INCREASE IN WEALTH.
In one of his recent speeches, Mr. Gladstone de-
clared that Great liritain was creating wealth
faster than any country on earth, with one excep-
tion. His exception referred to the United States.
He might have added that this nation had two
sources of the creation of wealth wholly peculiar
to itself. The conversion of wild land into arable
farms is not so much an addition to our national
wealth as a creation. Every year a wave of popu-
lation one thousand miles long and fifteen deep,
extending from the Canadas to Mexico, passes on
beyond the confines of the older States, settles
down on virgin soil, and converts wild territory
into the homes of civilization. Prior to its settle-
ment, that land was worthless ; once occupied it
averages two dollars and a half an acre. Here
are sixty thousand homesteads of one hundred and
sixty acres each, worth in the aggregate not less
than one hundred million dollars, annually added
to our national property. And this is only the
beginning of the creation of wealth. The forest
standing on those Western hills and prairies, finan
cially worthless in its primeval state, becomes of
great recognized value when cut down and con-
verted into houses and barns and implements of
agriculture. And each year's cultivation of the-
soil, the steady growth of population, the intru-
sion of railroads, the building of towns and cities,
rapidly swell the value of border-land from its
original price of two dollars and a half an acre-
till it sells readily at ten, twenty, and fifty dollars
an acre. This increase of property, owing to the
increase of population, adds some five hundred
million dollars a year to our real estate valuation.
But these wild lands are subdued by a population
largely foreign ; and this is the second source of
the increase of wealth peculiar to to this country.
P^very German, every Irishman, every Scandina-
vian landing on our shores, is reckoned by statis-
tics as an addition to our wealth-producing power
of at least one thousand Ao\VA,v-i per capita. In
the aggregate, and considered only as a source of
wealth, they constitute an addition of four hun-
dred million dollars to us, and a corresponding de-
duction of that amount to some part of Europe.
Then, too, the production of our mines— the gold
of California, the coal of Pennsylvania, the iron
of Missouri — is nearly all creation, all pure profit
over the expense of the miner. Missouri alone
contains iron ore sufficient to give the nation a
million tons a year for the the next two centuries.
And after the consideration of these three
sources of national wealth comes the still greater
growth of real and personal estate by the excess
of production over expenditure, mainly due to the
power of labor-saving machinery. These varied
sources of addition to our national wealth may be
seen in their clearest form by a comparison of the
wealth of the country in 1860, then estimated at
fourteen thousand and five hundred million dol-
lars, with that of 1870, when it was thirty thou-
sand million — an increase of one hundred and
seven per cent, in a single decade. Some part of
this growth is undoubtedly due to the more trust
worthy census of 1870. But making all due de-
ductions for this cause, and remembering that the
wave of immigration is increasing about thirteen
per cent, a year, it is safe to say that we are to
day creating wealth by agriculture, by manufac-
tures, by commerce, by savings, by immigration
and by the conversion of wild lands into farms,
and towns and cities, at the rate of two thousand
million dollars every year ! And such a statement
as this no other nation in the world has ever been
able to make.
SHALL WE .FEED STRAW?
The progressive farmer, intent on using all his
resources most economically, now regards his
straw stack in (luestioning mood. " What will
he do with it?" Just now the importance of this
question is felt, not only throughout our own
Q
njf
THE LAJVCASTER FARMEB..
country, but in England, France, and Germany,
chemists and practical men are turning their
attention to new methods of utilizing straw.
In those countries large quantities of straw are
fed. But under what conditions? There, store
stock and fattening animals are abundantly sup-
plied with roots, or the pulp of roots. Turnips of
various kinds, mangels and beets, the refuse pulp
of the hundreds of thousands of tons of sugar beet
from which sugar is manufactured, are all fed to
such stock, and, in addition, much rich oleaginous
feed, as oil-cakes. All this creates an intense
appetite for dry, bulky, and comparatively innu-
tritious food, which is exactly met by straw.
Here, these conditions are wanting, and, when we
feed straw, it has to be forced upon our stock.
Their appetites do not yearn for it. They loathe
it. Starvation alone will compel them to make a
meal of it. Under such circumstances, can we
feed it profitably ?
An argument for its use, often advanced, is that
we make more manure by feeding. But this is
plainly incorrect. By no process of feeding can
anything be got out of straw more than it origi-
nally contained. If the animal gains anything
from it, the refuse loses just so much, and the
manure is impoverished to that extent. Bedding
or litter for stock, and absorbents, must be used
and where no substitute for straw can be pro-
cured, the manure heap absolutely demands every
straw that can be supplied to it ; and where sub-
stitutes can be found, there has as yet probably
no case occurred in which the straw could well be
spared If meal or bran is to be purchased to
feed with the straw, as a means of forcing stock to
eat it, nothing is gained from the straw on the
one hand that is not lost on the other; and it is
(questionable, if it is not more profitable, to buy
hay, if feed must be purchased, than to buy grain
with which to raise the straw to an equality with
hay. At any rate, until we have more straw than
we can use in the manure pile, under our present
circumstances, except in rare cases, that seems to
be the best disposition that can be made of it.—
A^ Y. Tribune.
HUNGARIAN GRASS FOR HAY.
To the Editor of Everybody's Journal :
Dbar Sir: In reading over the agricultural
department of your journal, I have noticed noth-
ing relative to Hungarian grass, I have often
thought that ourj farmers just around the city
might raise it to a great advantage, and, by using
it at home for their own stock, be enabled to dis-
pose of more hay.
After five years' experience, I find that I suc-
ceed best with it after corn, and instead of oats,
which is so seldom a profitable crop, and yet is
difficult to replace in the common rotation of
crops. I would prepare the ground in a similar
manner as is common for oats, and sow the seed
broadcast, at the rate of from three-quarters to
one bushel per acre, and cover with a light stroke
of the harrow. On thin or unmanured land three-
quarters of a bushel is ample, but on strong or
well-manured soil one bushel of seed is none too
much. Do not sow too soon; not before the last
two weeks in May. The sprouted seed is very
tender, and will be entirely killed by even a slight
frost, and hence should never be put into the
ground until all danger from frost is over. If
sown before warm and settled weather sets in, the
young plant will have to maintain a constant
struggle with the more hardy weeds, and the
chances are that if frost does not kill the crop
outright, it will be very much injured in quality
by the presence of weeds, and in quantity by the
struggle it has gone through. A third advantage
derived from late sowing, is that the crop is not
ready to cut for hay until harvest is over, or at
least until the wheat is all harvested. If sown
too soon in May, it will ripe just in the way of
wheat and oats.
I notice that one of our agricultural writers states
that his stock will not eat the hay made from this
crop. I cannot account for this ; for all of my
forty head of stock eat it greedily, and seem quite
as fond of it as of other hay, and thrive better on
it. In this particular case there must have been
something wrong in the harvesting of the crop-
it was not well made — was too ripe — or some
similar fault ; for I never knew any kind of stock
to refuse it.
In cutting it, a high stubble of about three
inches should be left in order that it may dry bet-
ter. It is very heavy, and if allowed to fall
directly on the ground, is very difficult to cure.
'J'hia long stubble is not in reality much loss, for
the lower joint is hard, and not of much use as
food for stock.
I think this crop would be an excellent one for
the hay farmer, for it would make first-class pro
vender for home lise, and of course would release
an equivalent in hay.
Respectfully yours,
AoRicbio.
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
225
SKIMMED MILK FOR COWS.
Mr. J. J. Huraason, an extensive dairyman of
Fredonia, N. Y., lately made the following report
concerning the use of skimmed milk for cows, at a
meeting of the Chatauqua Butter Makers' Asso-
ciation. It relates to the month of June :
From 105 cows I received 78.340 pounds of
milk, average 24.80 pounds per day for each cow,
and made 3,334 pounds of butter, requiring 23|
pounds of milk for each pound of butter. After
the milk is weighed it is run into vats or tin pans
10 feet long, 2k feet wide, and 10 inches deep,
surrounded with cold running water at the sides
and bottom, and remains in that condition about
48 hours. It is then skimmed, and the milk run
back to the cow barn, where it is thickened with
bran and meal (two parts bran and one part meal).
Of this mixture each cow gets about four quarts
per day. ( \\\ the milk has been fed to the cows
except what 17 calves have needed.) No sale of
butter has been made this season below the high-
est price of Orange county pails.
1 he value of Mr. Humason's butter is thus at-
tested by his commission firm in New York city,
who wrote him, July 14th : "We have sold your
butter twice to a party who ships every week
South. He is here to-day for more and he says
it is the best butter he ever sent South and he has
been in the business for years ; and he says if you
will send us five firkins every week, so he can rely
on it, he will give one cent above the market
price."
Aug. 19, the same firm add, after receiving the five
firkins ordered : " AVe only wish you could send us
100 firkins a week instead of five. It is decidedly
in make, flavor and style the best dairy that we
receive. One our firm is now using a package of
your make, bought the 31st of May, and it is just
as sweet as the day it was opened."
Mr. Humason is particular not to feed any milk
in a putrid condition, and also to feed it wiUt the
bran and milk.
WHEN TO PLOW DEEP.
Intelligent farmers know, or should know, that
it will not do to plow twelve inches deep where
the surface soil is only six. This may be done in
the course of time, but not at once. To make a
good deep soil, the progress downward should be
gradual. Let a proper portion of the subsoil be
brought to the surface and exposed to the action
of the sun, rain, wind and frost, then add the ma-
nures necessary to render it fertile. By pursuing
this plan for successive years a fertile soil can be
made — one that will resist the efl^ects of severe
drought and befitted also for the successful culture
of all ordinary crops. By this means the mineral
constituents of the subsoil become thoroughly in-
termixed with the soil of the surface, which, iu
consequence of oft-repeated shallow plowings, has
been depleted of them. To make a good soil by
this method, the plowing should be done in the
summer or fall, in order that the newly turned up
subsoil may be subjected to the ameliorating in
fluenccs of the heat and showers of summer and the
winter's freezing and thawing. But after all this
is done, it will be found that good crops cannot be
produced unless there is a liberal application of
manure Plow deep and manure generously and
you will have good soil and a bountiful yield. It
is bad policy to plow deep when there is only a
thin stratum of mold or mellow soil, and to bury
this mellow portion far beneath the surface.— i?,/;
change
OUR GRAIN CROP.
In the midst of a seemingly, financial panic, it
is gi'atifying for our people to learn that the
grain crop, throughout the country, is a full
average as compared with the best of former
years. We say this is gratifying, for it will make
money plenty notwithstanding the present, tem-
porary embarrassment of some of our banking in-
stitutions. There are said to be twelve counties
in Pennsylvania, which will go ten above the
usual average and that York and Lancaster, alone
will turn this year, over three millions of bushels
into the market. According to estimate the
price will not vary from former years and that
will make the article cheap enough for home con-
sumption, while the millions of bushels that will
be exported to Europe will realize money in re-
turn to answer the common purposes of trade and
coiimerce. We cannot resist the force of the old
axiom that the wealth of our country is dug from
the soil and it is one of the delightful assurances
we have, that when our lands yield of their abun-
dance and our farmers have plenty stored away in
their barns and granaries, we can bid defiance to
money panics and laugh at those occasional cal-
amities, which, in other regions, impede the pro-
gress and crush the prosperity of the pcoi)le.
It is no small or trifling source of local pride
and congratulation that York and Lancaster,
twin sisters in everything that is great and enter-
prising, occupy a position of pre-eminence in this
year's count of precious cereals. Separated, ce;--
^6
THE LAJ\ CASTER FARMER.
tainly, by no impassable gulf but only by a nar-
row river, spanned by a railroad bridge, we can
stand on the borders of the rich soil of the one
and look over upon the rich soil of the other, and
smile and rejoice at the common beauty and pros-
perity of both. Originally one. and now divided
only by name, the thoughts, feelings and interests
of their people, are mutual, and they can clasp each
other by the hand with warm and sincere pressure
of fellowship ; knowing, at the same, that we are
co-laborers in the same great cause, influenced by
the same motives and led on by the same bright
destiny towards which we are both, rapidly pro-
gressing— York True Democrat.
BUTTER MADE WITHOUT MILK.
One of our exchanges gives a lengthy account
of what it styles " The Olesmargerine Manufactur-
ing Co., which has been established in Philadelphia
for the manufacture of a new product." This new
product, we are afterwards informed, is " butter
made without milk." The writer claims, with
some truth, that butter is neither cream nor milk,
but an oil which is exactly of the same composi-
tion as the fat of animals. The process, as given
by the authority alluded to, is to grind up the fat
of any animal usually killed for beef, heat it to
112 degrees and press the oil out by strong iron
presses. This oil is cooled down to 60 degrees, and
water, annatto, and a little milk added, and the
whole churned in the usual manner. In four min-
utes the operation ceases, and a " splendid article
of butter is turned out." This (both the story
and product) is hard to swallow ; but we are in-
formed from the same source that ' the company
are now turning out about a thousand pounds per
day, and it is estimated that when additional ma-
chinery is introduced they will turn out ten thou-
sand pounds daily. All they can now make is
taken by a few leading hotels and restaui-ants."
"We fear that 1,000 lbs per day of " a splendid
article of butter" may materially affect the cow
market, and we give our readers information in
time so that they may sell out their stock before
the prices fall.
•♦
BUTTER-MAKING IN SMALL DAIRIES.
At the winter meeting of the Vermont Dairy-
men's Association, Mr. Wood, of Pomfort, held
that as good butter could be made from one cow
as from many. He said :
" Ihere need be no fear of glutting the market
with good butter. In some boarding-houses they
may prefer poor butter on the ground that the
stronger the taste the cheaper the butter, but this
is not profitable to the farmer. He preferred the
Jersey cows, as giving the richest milk, and did
deem it profitable to fatten calves. When grass
is green and plenty, his cows had no other food ;
but when dry, green corn was fed. In the fall he
gave meal, about two quarts a day. Regularity
and cleanliness he deemed important. In de-
scribing his milk room he said he never brought ice
in contact with cream or butter. He sets the
milk shallow, believing that to yield most cream.
In warm weather, churns three or four times a
week. Uses twenty ounces best Liverpool salt
and eight ounces granulated sugar to twenty-five
pounds butter. Uses ash tubs, soaked in brine
eight or ten days. Has a lining of salt all around
the butter that is to be kept and has a smooth,
heavy block of hard wood on top In winter,
colors with the juice of the orange carrot.
" Butter is marketed already, when we establish
our reputation for a good, uniform article. There
are hundreds in the city who will pay a dollar a
pound for it. The form generally preferred is
small balls or cakes, packed in ice cooled pack-
ages." In conclusion, he urged attention to all
improvements and frequent intercourse with? '■ach
other by means of associations like that.
WHAT SUBSOILING DID.
Some of ray land, by being over-cropped, be-
came so reduced that it would not produce decent
weeds. One year it did not yield barley enough
to pay for harvesting. The next year I used my
"subsoiling plow," aud obtained from the acre
sixteen bushels of very fine-looking spring wheat.
I stocked with red clover and obtained as a result
a very large crop of clove" hay. It was so large
that we put it into " cock " with the pitchfork.
For years that ground gave large yields. It did
not cost over twice the labor to plow and subsoil
that is expended on common furrow-plowing.
Here, then, is genuine profit obtained in a very
short time. Rufus Peet.
Wyoming county, N. Y.
*
Iced Apples. — Pare, core and slice ten apples
of a large, tart kind. Bake them till nearly done.
Put them away to get entirely cold ; then prepare
some icing as for apple meringue, and first pour-
ing off all the juice, lay the icing thickly on the
tops and sides as much as you can. Return thera
to the oven to just harden and be set. Serve
with cream. This is very beautiful, either for
dessert or an evening.
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
227
MEXICAN DISHES.
First of all and best of all was the* chocolate
lirought to us soon after we landed, by a barefooted
Mexican boy, with " pan de huevas (literally, 'Ggg
bread')," a sweet light cake. The chocolate is
thick yet light, with a head of delicious brown
foam, Avhich melts in the mouth as you drink it.
Then, at the midday meal, were the inevitable
" frijoles," a small black bean, which forms the
chief food of the lower orders throughout Mexico,
and without which, in!' one form or another, no
meal is considered perfect. With them appeared
the other standing dish, " tortillas," very thin cakes
made of maize. They are made by boiling the
maize, and then rubbing it into fine paste on a la-
va stand called a " metate." When the paste is
l)erfectly smooth, a piece is taken in the two hands,
and patted and slapped until it is as thin as half a
rown, the size of a breakfast-plate, and about as
tough as an ordinary sheepskin. It is then baked
for a moment on a griddle and served hot but
quite limp. It is used as a spoon and fork to eat
the frijoles; thus you tear off a corner, and divide
it iu two, doubling up one-half as a receptacle for
the beans, wh.ch you push in with the other bit,
and eat spoon and. all together. A common joke
takes its rise from this, " that the Mexicans are so
proud and so rich that they never use the same
.spoon twice." In Mexico the day begins early,
with a light meal about 6 a. m., called " desayuno,"
when you take a cup of chocolate and " pan'dulce."
Then about 12 comes " almuerzo" (breakfast), a
heavy meal, with several courses of meat And
about 5 p. M is "la comida" (dinner), a lengthy
proceeding, with endless courses of meat, which
are all served alone excepting the " punchero,"
boiled beef, with a mixture of every imaginable
vegetable in the same' 'Jish; and dinner ends with
small cups of excellent cafe noir. — Good Words.
WHAT THE BIRDS SAY.
Numerous species of our birds would seem to
challenge attention by their calls and notes,
There is the Maryland yellow-throat, for instance,
standing in the door of his bushy tent, and calling
out as you approach, " Which way, sir !" " Which
way sir !" If he says this to the ear of common
folk, what would he not say to the poet ?
One of the pewees says, " Stay there !" with great
emphasis. The cardinal grosbeak calls out,
" What cheer ?" " What cheer ?" the blue-bird
says, " Purity," " purity," " purity ;" the brown
thrasher, or ferruginous thrush, according to
Thoreau. calls out to the farmer planting his corn,
" drop it," " drop it," " cover it up," " cover it up."
The yellow-breasted chat says,' " who," and "tea.
boy." What the robin says, caroling that simple
strain from the top of the tall maple, or the crow
with his hardy caw-caw, or the pedestrian meadow-
lark sounding his piercing and long-drawn note in
the spring meadows, the poets ought to be able to
tell us I only know the birds all have a lan-
guage which is very expressive, and w^hich is
easily tran.slatable into the human tongue. —
Scribneys.
[Yes, and the birds say a great deal more by
their actions than by their language. They in
culcate habits of industry, temperance, skill,
economy, perseverance, vigilance, chastity, affec-
tion and general usefulness — usefulness in many
instances, where human beings are unable to see
the 7i.se, if they do not regard it an ahust!. Com-
mend us to the habits of birds, as examples of
some of the purest and most genuine gems of
wisdom. *]
Layering Grape-vines. — After giving a cor-
respondent directions for layering vines, the Far-
mer mid Gardener says, " We would, however,
caution our readers as to the danger of layering
too much of the wood of a vine. Nothing ex
hausts the latter more rapidly than layering. It
will reduce the crop of fruit for the ensuing year,
and weaken the vine for years. From our layer-
ing vines we expect no fruit, nor more than three
or four years of life. Never layer a bearing vine
if you wish to keep it healthy and productive."
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PAKlMl^^NT.
LITERARY NOTICES.
JoHy AND Mary; Or, Th'* Fugttivtc Slaves —One
of the mo.Mt imereming books, of a local cliaiafter, we
h.ive read tbis aonson, i th'.' above named vo nme, wriitea
in a plain and easy flow of Uiij^uage by Kllwo^'D Grikst,
Editor ot the Lancaster Inqiii/er. It is a plain ociavo of
226 pa>;f8, aud in quality and mechanic 1 execution is
not biirpa.ssed by the best puhlictions of the day. The
writer has drawn nothing from hS!< own imagination, as lo
the incidents of his narrative, but has meri'ly related, with
s-tiflicieut elegance to maiie the p ru-al ot the work attrac-
tive a plain, unvariiibhed tale, founded uj.on w-ll-inthen-
liciteil farts— (acta that are pa'ent to some of those ypt
liviiit; in the DPighiiOrtmod where tlio pcenes were enaoisd.
Slavery, slave absconding and slave-catch ing have now
pa'S*"!! into history, and the pl'Ces. in our Country which
knew theoi oui-e, will know them uo more. On this ac-
count this book will pos»e s an interest to risiig genera-
tions, who will know nothing of the evils of the 3yst«m
except what th y obtain from the records of the period
when It formed su;h a distinot and potent feature in the
policy of our government. The details found in this work
will convey a belter idea of the evils of the sytstem, than
228
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
any that hive b jea rec )r Jad in tha aaaa la of our courts or
elsewhere.
Nation \L '^kip Reportbr — i. royal q-iarto of 16 pp.
" Devoted to fio.t ratiier thnn fancy, to ut'li v rather 'rian
fo enorfainmeQf." Publ shed weekly at .T-ickaonvile.
11 , at five dollars a year, for a siugle svibncription, with a
liberal dedu.tioii to "clubs." Tbe mechanical execitioo
aad the material are of excellent autlity. In sh .rt, if
there has a siugit- jouraal oome u ider our observation
durinij ihe present year, that we s^nc^^ely d 8 re should
8ucje3i-l, it ceclainly is vbis one. nimply because it pro-
posdd to publish weeKly stattsties of the curraat coiifilfiori
and amount of the crops, m livery county, in every Ntate
and Territory in the TTnion, as Wcfll as synoptic tables of
the crops io Rurope — the dema .d and ."UppN, exi>ortafioii
aal irnporiation, tiaside usef'<l crop inforiup.t.ion, at, home
and abroad, in general. We confess this is a great under-
taking, and its success will derend, more or less, upou the
c ■ operation of local cnp obsarverj and reporters.
We sin erily hope that it may recisve this c )-operatioa.
and that the secretaries of the various Agricu tural and
Horticultural clubs and societies, through ut the Union,
■will give it their Special a teution. This jjU'nal Contains
DO advertisements, but devotes all of its space to the
object in hitnd.
In Premiums Given Away!
Chief among the papers devoted to the real intoreats
of the laboiing masses, i» the " American Workiug Feo-
l)Ie." publ'shed at Pittsburgn. Pa. The October number,
■which lullv equals in interest any of its predecessors,
cQntiiins unuBuai inducements for gett'uB up clulis. Over
.^1,000 worth of Pianos. Sewing Machines and Organs,
are offered tOT their price in subscriptions. Por example,
if a sewing iLacliioe i.ssold at seventy fi^e dollars, any on«
who will ohtii\i\ fifty 8ubs:ribers at .Sl.RO— the regular pri:;e
— to tbe WoKKiNG Ptt PijE, will get the sewing machine,
as also fifty copies of the paper sent as aub cribed for.
Address,
THE ADVISOK PUBLISHING C%
opp. Post Office. Pittsburgh, Pa.
NEW YORK PKOt>UCE MARKF.T.
October 30.
-i*SHBs— Are dull and lower ; $7.87 j^ for poi.s.
Cotton — Is j^c. higher, with a better exoort demand ;
spinners are operating moderately. Sales .3000 bales at
15c to'- midrilina upland, ana 14XP. for low middling.
Flouk, btc -Receipts of flo t, 9032 b'ds. Flour is scarcly
fo active ; price? stil! rule in buyers' favor. .Sales of H, 200
bbls. a; *5.25ai.7.5 for superfine Western and State ; $i df'a
6 40 lor common lo good e.xtra Western and State ; $0 4.5 i
7 for good to choice do.; S7d7.65 for common to choice
white wheat Western exTa; $0.10^17.75 for common to
good extra Ohio, and )$6,35al0.75 for common to choice ex-
lia t't. Loui.'i, the makoi "losing quiet. '
JSonthern Flour is in moderate request, and without de-
cided change in price. Sates of 8)0 bhls at $3.20a6 91 for
comninn to fair extra, and 87all for kooI to fhoice do.
By^ FUvur '8 unchanged. Sales of 450 bbls. a'. $1 35^.5 40,
Corn Meal is in f.iir request. Salts 1,200 bbls. a; $i 10a3.05
for Wesfei n, and 83 85^3 90 for Brandywine.
Grain— Keneipfsoi whear, 2,i2,449 bush. Wheat opened
a shade iirmev, ciorte<l i|Uiet and wi hout, d.uMded change
in price. Sales of 138000 bu^h. at »1 30al.3l for No. 3
spring; 81.30al3.5 for Iowa spring; Si 3U1.33 for No. 2
Chicago; 3fl.35al 35}^ for No. 2 Milwaukee; $1 fiO for
white Ofinada to arrive next week, and Si 38 fo North-
westspiing. Pye is quiet at 87^9lc. for Western Sal s of
5,ti00 bush, of State to at rive in ten days, at 92c Barlny
is dull and heavy Saks of 1 000 bush, of common Cana-
da wesi at $1 50 Barley malt is quiet and unchanged.
Receipts of Corn, 167,04,5 bush. Corn is a shade bette ■,
with a fair export and home trade, demand. Sales of 16 >,-
000 bosh, at 60c. for st ame Western mixi^d ; 6la61>:;c lor
sail, the latter an extreme ; 61 3^a6^c for high mixrtd anl
yellow Wes'ern. the latter an outsi(»e price, and 6"ae8c. tor
white Western ; also, sales of 30,000 busb. ef W.etern mix-
ed, for tirst half Novetu her, at 61c.
Receipts of Oats, 52,600 hush. Oats are dull and heavy.
S»1'8 of 36.0,10 hu-h at 45o. for mixed S'.ite ; 47c. for
wh te Stat ,; 46j47Xe. for mixed West,-rn afloat, and 48<t49
for white Western.
Hat — Is in fair reqtiest and steady.
Hops — Are dull and irn gular.
PROvisio>f«.— Pork is nther m>re steady with a Httlo
better demand. SaliS of yOO bbl.-i. n ; w me^s at .«15. Beef
is dull and without decided chanv ■ at «8 10 a 10 for plain
ine.sK, and *1 la 12 for extra do. Bsef hams are dull and
htavy at Sf6t22 for co nmou and prima lota. Tierce beef
is quiet an i unchanged, sales of 2ii0 tierces on priTate
terms. Cut meats iire dull and un h loged.
. Mid'Iles a e steady. Sales of 2,,5J0 b iX'ia of long and
short claar for Uecember and -faii'iiry at 7e.
L\RD is lo^er. Sales 2 >0 tc.-i. of ol ! steam on spo at
7^c , 7.50 tcs. for N tvember at 7>^e ; 2,500 tcs for January
and Feoruary at 7>,ic,
PHILADELPHIA M VHKETS.
THtTR-D.A.Y, Oct)bjr30.
Bapk is stealy atSS") W ton for No 1 Quercitron,
Flour and Mb\l.— The Flour mackec i- as dull as it
well can be, and the ree-'ipcs uud ftJek^, particularly of
the better grades, thou!<h very modera e are fully up to,
if not in exc iss of the demand I'h.i home consum-^rs are
thep'incipa' )per 'tors, and they ire not inclined to ex-
ceed their diily requirements. S vies )f sup'rQne at$l 5)
@5 .50; ex ras at $i 25^6 2,^ ; Wisconsin «xtra lamily at
$7 7 40; 200 barrels Minnesota d). do. $7 5i@7 87 >^— the
latter f>r old ; 100 barrels Pennsylvanii d.j. do. af $7 50;
100 barrel.i Ohio do. df. at $7 25 ; and high grades at $i 5D
@1(). Rye flour Is quiet; small sale) at ){4 75.a>4 871^. Corn
Meal is dull.
Grain.— Choice grades of Whe it a-e attracting more
attention, but inferiorsorts are not w.inted, exc^p at very
low nri«es. Sales of 1,200 bush Is cho cm Indiaoa red, at
$1 58; 5,000 bushels Pennsylvania ■mbor, at Si 63(5)1 66,
the latter rate f )r fancy; 801) bu.saels Indiana do., at -IBl 32 ;
5,000 bushels No. 1 (fprina:, at $1 37; 400 bushels infirior
at#l 2 5; 800 bushels fancy do., at Ul Vm\ 42 and 4)0 bushelf^
white spring, at .fjl 50. Rye is quoted at S-'^c Corn Is firm
and in fair demand, with n'oderate offerings, Sales of 1,200
bushels yellow at 62@> 3c, and 8,000 bushels Wt stern high
mixed, at 62-,. Oats are duU and weak. Sales of 6,000
bnshels Western white, at 46«»4Sc, and 2,400 bushels do.
bUcJK mixed, at 44@45c. In Barley and Malt no sales.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKfT.
Monday, October 27.
The market for Beef Catt'e was veiy dull this week,
owing to the inclement weather, and prices were lower.
Sales of choice at 6^ a 7c ;fair to gjod at 5}-^ a do , and
comiron at 3x a 5c. Receipts, 3;206 head.
Cows and Calvbs aell to a trifling extent at $46 a 75
Receipts, 200 head.
Shbep attract very little attintion Sales of fa'r and
choice at 4 a 6c., and stock at $2 60 a 3 Receipts, 12,000
head.
Hogs were lower and fairly active. Sales of corn fed
at S6 50 a 6 62)^ , and slop fed at $o 75 a 6. Receipts, 9,000
head.
CHICAGO CATTLE MARKET.
Wbdnjoday, Oct. 2'J.— Ro'ftiots, thrae days— Oattle, 7 -
5^0 ; Hops, 59.300 ; Sheep, 2.800.
Cattle duii ; r ceipts Urgely in excess of th" demand ;
poeke s out of the market ; shippers ho'ding off, owing to
unfavorable Kistern news; prices weak; lower for poor
lots ; quotations range -tt $5 OOaS 90 for Extra Shippings ;
$5 20i$5 50 for choice; $t 7.5a$5 10 for Good; $1 :35a*4 65
for Fair ; J-3 75aS4 25 for Medium ; «2 .50 ».'5 50 for Common
Si 30a$3 for through Texans; $3 25.iS5 a5 for Northern-fed
do
Hogs in large supply ; prices weak and lO.ilS*. lower,
packers p rchaaing to a moderate t-xtfut ; sbipners back-
ward ; weather coM and fav< rahle for packing ; quota-
tions rauc'e at $J 75ii64 10 for Common to Good Heavy ;
S4 10 1*4 30 for Fair lo Choice L gh'.
Shkep 'u bett-'r demand and prices a 'h'lds firmer:
S2 75:i3 25 for Common to Fair.-i ; $3 20agi4 50 for Good to
Extra.
NEW ^^ORK CATILE MARKET.
October 27.
The receints were 8,772 beeves, 79 mil^'h cow-. 1, .'54 veal
calves, '3,176 sheep and lambs and 43,037 hogs Beeves
dull and prices weak. The extremes of the mark't were
at 5 a 12l4n., the former for Tex^s steers. The best milch
cowB sold at #50 to $85 ; the p .orest, f 25 to 840 ; prime
nil!' fed calves, 7 a 10c ; gra sern. So a 11 per head ; very
choice, *12 a 14 Sheep, ^c lower ; the range h from 4}4
to e}4\; lambs, 5)4 to 7»^c. Live hog", i% a 5,>^c. per lb.;
city dressed, 6i 7i ; pig.'^, 7i^c. The storm had a depress-
ing influence on the general market.
DEVOTED TO
Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic Economy and Miscellany.
EDITED BY S. S. RATHVON.
Vol. r.
** The Farmer is the founder of civifization." — WEBSTER.
DECEMBER, 187S.
JVo, m.
ESSAY,
SOWING WHEAT— EARLY OR LATE.
[Read before the Lancaster County Agricultural So-
ciety, November 3, 1873.]
BY J. B. GARBER.
AT the request of members at our August
meeting, desiring me to prepare an essay,
to be read at the next meeting, I have scribbled a
short article. Not knowing what subject to take
hold of, I concluded to say a'few words on " Sow-
ing wheat— early or late." As this question had
been debated without coming to a conclusion, a
few facts, further elucidating the question, may
not be entirely out of place. Then I may ramble
oft' on other subjects.
Now, as my " honorable friend " from Warwick
supposes that my old " knowledge-box " must
contain an immense amount of wisdom, gathered
for over half a century, and that if it could be
brought out so as to be made available, would be
of some value to the present generation of farm-
ers, I concluded to take this subject for my article.
I shall, however, treat the matter in a rambling
manner, bringing in other matter, though still
bearing on the same— wheat and cheat — ques-
tion.
Agriculture and horticulture are, as you all
know, twin sisters — " Ceres and Pomona " — ac-
cording to heathen mythology. Many influences
operating for and against certain results in these
pursuits, all we can do is to sow and plant, and
trust to nature for the result.
Now, our friend noticed above, believes the
best crops of wheat can be raised by sowing late ;
but when asked as to what time he considers late
sowing, he tells us from about the 20th to 25th of
September. This was our usual and regular time
of seeding half a century ago, and was my ordinary
time so long as I continued the farming career.
We then considered it early, as many farmers
were in the habit of delaying the work till
October. A neighbor usually waited until a
frost, as he said that would kill the Hessian flies.
I may also, in this connection, state that I
departed one season from our usual time, and
sowed a field the first week in September. When
the wheat was up and very rank, I noticed it was
on a stand-still, and on examining found every
spear literally filled with the nits, or larva, of
the fly. I at once started the plows, and buried
wheat and fly together. This was about the last
week in October— -rather late of course to sow
wheat — yet I sowed about three-fourths of the field,
when a wet spell set in and the balance of the
field was not put in till the second week in No.
vember. That sowed the last week in October
turned out a very fair crop, but the last sowing
did not appear above ground until a warm spell
in February, ripened late, and was nearly ruined
by rust ; but no fly in any of that field of wheat,
and the field- weavel, or midge, was then unknown.
I well remember my father telling me that from
a twelve acre field he once sold 500 bushels of
wheat, and had enough left for seed and family use.
1 afterward measured the field, and found it to
contain thirteen acres and some perches. But at
that time all our fences were worm-fences, and as
I took the middle of the fences, the cultivated
ground was not over twelve and a half acres.
This was over forty-six bushels per acre. At
that time, and many years afterward, we consid-
230
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
ered thirty bushels per acre only an averag'e crop.
Very little oats was then grown, and of course no
tobacco. The usual course was to fallow the
corn ground, all the manure having the previous
fall been strewn on the field intended for corn.
Thus the manure was thoroughly incorporated
with the soil, and plowing the corn-stubbles thrfte
times during the summer — that is fallowing the
ground — and by the third week in September sow.
the wheat by hand, and covering with a light
harrow in the direction it had been plowed, it
would then come up in regular rows as though it
had been put iu with a drill — though drills were
unknown.
Another neighbor always sowed his wheat
before the plow, and then plowed it under. He
said it must be put in deep to prevent the frost
from lifting it; but he did not know that if the
seed is put in too deep the first sprout will come
up to the surface, and there form its permanent
roots, and the long, slender filament from the seed
up will die as soon as the upper tier of roots are
permanently established. Thoug'h he generally
raised good crops, still his wheat would be lifted
by the frost, as much so as that which was covered
by the harrow. This same neighbor was for plant-
ing everything deep. He planted an orchard of
apple trees a few yeai-s after I had also planted
one — about the yeare 1820 to 1824. He dug
square little holes, as though he intended to set
fence posts, cramming the roots down twelve to
sixteen inches. I being then somewhat of a
" book farmer," aud having " Gox's Work on
Fruit Trees," followed his directions, digging
my holes three feet square and eig'hteen inches
deep, throwing away the sub-soil, and filling in
with surface soil, leaf naould, leaches, ashes, rotten
manure, all thoroughly mixed, and planted my
trees so that by allowing for settling of the soil,
they stood an inch or two lower than in the
nursery. I then thought such experienced teach-
ers as Cox, who had planted his thousands of
trees, knew best, and I followed his directions.
Wishing to enlisrhten my neighbor on tree-plant-
ing, I told him he ought to make larger holes as
I had done, according to scientific principles,
etc.; but he only laughed at me.
Well, you will, of course, all judge that my
trees did well, and my neighbor's must have been
a failure. Not so, however; his trees, I may
honestly and truthfully say, have produced ten
times the quantity of fruit that mine have ; soil
very similar — his facing east and mine facing
west. Almost every year since they commenced
bearing, from 1830 up to the present time, his trees
have produced more or less fruit — many years so
full that the limbs broke down — while mine, dur-
ing all this time from 1820, have had but three
full crops, and many seasons none at all. Even
the present season my orchard of some sixty trees
has hardly three bushels of wormy fruit, while his
trees, I see, are many of them bearing, and nearly
a full crop.
The farm now has passed to another owner, but
still the trees planted in "post holes," and the
soil never cultivated, but lying in grass after the
fii-st few years, and the grass cut and removed
annwviWj, and never manured, yet the trees look
healthy and bear fair crops of apples. So much
for planting trees as directed in books.
Half a century ago farmers knew nothing of
labor-saving implements. Wheat was sown by
hand, usually covered with the harrow, cut with
the sickle, tramped out with the feet of horses.
Some had heavy wheat fans, which it required a
strong man to turn ; others threw it with wooden
shovels from one end of the barn-floor against the
wind, and in that way, the wheat being heavier
than the chaff, the grain would be sepai'ated from
the chaff".
My father used to tell me that the year he rais-
ed over 500 bushels of wheat on that 12 acre field
he had no help but a brother ; that they two did
all the haying, harvesting and threshing, besides
all the other work of plowing, tending stock etc.,
It was during the Revolutionary war, and help was
not to be had. Another brother was sent down to
Newport with a load of wheat, then the best
market for that grain. He was impressed to haul
military stores for the army. At, I think, the bat-
tle of Brandywine our army had to retreat, and he
used to say he never made better time, before nor
after, than when fleeing for life from the " red
coats," with a soldier or two on every horse, and
the wagon full to overflowing.
But this is a digression. As I said before, half
a centui'y ago farmers had scarcely heard of labor-
saving machines. Hard manual labor was the
rule. When help could be had, a half bushel of
wheat or sometimes fifty cents a day was paid in
harvest ; threshing rye with the flail, five cents
a bushel, sometimes the tenth bushel ; all other
work on the farm about forty cents a day. Yet
people lived as well then as now ; laboring men
generally saved more money than they do now at
two dollars and over per day. Provisions, cloth-
ing, and all the necessaries for keeping house were
then nearly, and for some things, as high as now
THE LANCASTER FARMEB.
231
but what are termed luxuries were almost un-
known. I might enlarge on this subject almost
indefinitely but will forbear.
Then the question of " wheat changing to
clieat " being intimately associated with wheat
growing — this ''bone of contention " among farm-
ers was also talked about at our last meeting. It
has been a stumbling-block among farmers, time
"without mind." Most farmers formerly, if not
now, believing it to be simply degenerate wheat,
or wheat transformed into cheat, made no at-
tempt to eradicate the pest. I have heard many
say that cheat would not grow. It will certainly
cheat the farmer, unless he keeps his eyes wide
open, and makes a perpetual war on this worthless
interloper.
When the wheat partially fails from frost, fly,
rust, or any other cause, standing thin on the
ground, then if there is any cheat present it will
make its appearance, to the most careless observer,
in rank stools two or three feet high, producing
hundreds of stems from one root, and thousands of
seeds. But when the wheat plants stand thick,
this cheat, or chess, is very humble ; may only
produce a single stem only a few inches high, hid-
ing itself from the eyes of the farmer, but, true
to its cheaty nature, still producing and ripening
a few seeds to continue its species.
Among wheat, cheat and chess are synonymous
terms, but clioat is a term of far wider significance
then when applied to this weed under considera-
tion. I once heard an old Quaker, or Friend, say,
'* Friends won't cheat you, but they'll outwit you
if they can." The horticulturist, as you all know,
is frequently cheated in various ways— buying
trees that prove different to what they were said
to be — seeds of old varieties disguised with new
names to make them sell. In many other ways
the farmer and fruit-grower is cheated. But I
will sim])ly mention another case where cheat
acted a most conspicuous part ; the more interest-
ing from the fact of " pulling the wool " over the
eyes of a celebrated scientist and a very proficient
vegetable physiologist. He was evidently cAea^e*/.
Once upon a time, as novelists say, there was a
volunteer grape-vine made its exit out of a brush-
li'eap, on the ground of a friend of mine, some
time during the present century. It was hardly
noticed for several years. Apparently that brush
heap was no great ej'e-sore to the proprietor. The
brush rotting down gave a great stimulus to the
vine, and it grew with great vigor. Well, this
grape-vine, in process of time, being unmolested
and unpruned, began to show fruit. Nothing ex-
traordinary so far, but the fruit, on coming to ma-
turity, was found to be of so fine a quality and
superior flavor that the owner concluded the vine
deserved a better locality than an out-of-the-way
brush-heap, so he transplanted it to a more suita-
ble place near the house, and put up a fine trellis
for the vine to climb upon.
Nothing strange so far. But behold ! Though
the vine grew splendidly and flowered profusely,
not a single bunch or berry would it produce ever
after ! Was not this singular ? The gentleman
was well versed in vegetable physiology. Re-
moving soon after to another locality, he found on
the ground of his new residence a thrifty Bermu-
da vine. This variety you probably all know, is
a male, or barren vine, never producing fruit ;
but is grown for its dense shade, and the delight-
ful fragrance of its flowers. Now you will begin
to get an inkling of the drift of my article on
cheat ! The gentleman, knowing from his former
experience that by certain operations he could
transfer a female, or fruit-bearing vine, into a
male or barren one, naturally supposed, vice versa,
that a barren, or male vine, could just as well be
manipulated so as to make it produce fruit, or, in
othef words, transform a male plant into a female
or fruit-bearing one, by digging around and feed-
ing the roots, like the barren fig tree mentioned
in Scripture. But it was " no go " — " nix cum
rous"! So you see even a scientific vegetable
physiologist may once in a while be cheated. As
I said before, cheat and chess mean the same
plant, when growing among wheat ; but, as
already intimated, you will all allow that cheat
has a wider application, and makes its influence
felt in almost all our pursuits and professions of
every day's experience. Look at our embarrass-
ments in money matters ! There is cheat lurking
in every hole and corner —c/iea^ of the rankest
and most luxuriant growth springing up all over
the country.
As to a French savant having, by continued
cultivation for a series of years, changed a wild
grass into wheat — that experiment, in my opinion,
requires repetition, 'inhere may have been cheat
there too, if not in the wheat or grass, probably
\n the report. The thing looks rather marvelous
and, if it did not turn into c7ie«^, still it looks
cheat// !
Our horticultural and agricultural operations
are all uncertain, so many influences interfering
to vary and disappoint our expectations, to give
us good crops or blast our hopes and honest ex-
pectations. Everj'thing we sow or plant we al-
^3'B
THE LA J^ CASTER FARMER.
ways Ixo-pe for the best, though we have to be satis-
fied with many failures. Even when we get good
crops the price may be so low as not to compen-
sate us for our labor. Then, too, we frequently
sow wheat and reap cheat ; our incomes coming
down to less than our expenses, yet our outlays, or
expenses rather increasing than decreasing in
proportion to our available resources.
Still, as " hewers of wood and drawere of water"
for the rest of mankind, and woman-kind too, we
are at the mercy of all other professions, as well
as at the mercy of the elements. Yet we trudge
along pretty much in the old, beaten path. Our
labor-savi«g implements, it is true, relieve us of
much bodily exertion, or, in plain language, hard
work. But do these many labor-saving implements
improve our 'pecuniary condition ? That is the
question. All of these machines expedite and
lighten our labor; but let us look at the cost! It
will take over $400 to procure only a few of
them ; then you must have a roof to cover them
when not in use, and one and all of these imple-
ments are only required from six to twelve days in
a year, and in five to ten yeare, unless well cared
for and protected, will be worn out, and they must
be renewed at first cost.
In conclusion, I would suggest, as a very appro-
priate question for this society to ventilate, to ar.
gue pro and con — " Do labor-saving implements
improve the pecuniary condition of fanners ?"
And, now, my hearers, it is very probable that
I may have cheated you all out of a half hour of
valuable time.
AGRICULTURE.
PEQUEA FARMERS' CLUB.
Wal-Oak Farm, Nov. 17, 1873.
NOVEMBER 8, the club met at the home of
Mr. Hiram Peoples. Since our last
meeting, H. K. Stoner has been taken from our
number by the hand of death, and the gloom
which rests over this gathering is not only seen
but felt Club convened at the usual hour. After
a little preliminary work, a letter was read from
Aldus Herr. He yet remains in St. Louis ; but
he is thoroughly sick of the dull monotony and
deadening influence of city life. I quote two
paragraphs :
" The mournful intelligence of the death of one
of our members has just reached me. It is sad,
indeed, that one chair shall ever hence be vacant
in our councils ; that that genial voice shall never
more be heard. I would beg leave to suggest that
to the resolutions of regret, expressing our sym-
pathy and affection, be added one that his chair be
left vacant, at refreshments as well as council, for
at least two meetings ; and that a badge of mourn-
ing be worn by each member during the same
period of time.
" One word more, and I am done. I desire the
opinion of the club in regard to the idea of bind-
ers riding upon the reaper ; and whether a reaper
which is guaranteed to do its work well, in every
respect, arranged to carry tioo or three binders, as
required, with a table attached, capable of carry-
ing a dozen sheaves, thus making it convenient
for shocking would find favor in Lancaster county?
It is manufactured in the best style, and costs
about $2.30. Lightness of draught is also claimed
for it, and it is guaranteed to give perfect satis-
faction in any grain. It has both a five and six
feet cut, and has given satisfaction wherever it
has been tried. Rakes are used to carry the grain
to the binders, instead of canvas, as in the
" Marsh Harvester." I think the price will be
the only objection, but the many advantages might
balance that. A. C. H."
Tlie club acted on the suggestion of the first
paragraph, and, after considering the second,
thought the machine was just what Lancaster
county farmers need, but whether it is what they
want is another question. The objection to the
" Marsh Harvester" is that it will not work in
thick, tangled grain. Two men can easily bind
all the light, straight grain it can cut, but if it is
quite heavy they cannot. Hence the necessity
for three. The canvas often fails to work, but the
rakes would obviate the difficulty ; so that the
machine Mr. Herr speaks of seems to commend
itself to the attention of farmers at once. Mr.
Jacob Bachman expressed an opinion that the day
might not be far off when whole corps of wheat
would be harvested at so much per acre. Here
is a fine opportunity for some pushing young man
to run a reaper in the summer, and a threshing-
machine in the winter.
Mr. Peoples read a practical, common-sense
paper — " How to Make Farming Pay." He be-
lieves that ten acres well managed will pay better
than a hundred mismanaged. He gave his own
experience and observation, and he made his pet
theories shine. For instance, a sweet corn cro])
in Maine returned a net profit of $90 per acre, (it
was canned) ; he realized, himself, on a small
scale, $483 per acre, with lima and butter beans ;
with Qgg plant, .$500 per acre ; poultry would pay
if managed correctly; the dairy will also yield a
handsome return, but it requires a man's strict and
undivided attention. He felt certain small fruits
would pay well, and concluded by saying : " But
THE LAKCAStER FARMER.
233
lima beans will not grow with weeds higher than
the bean-poles — and somet ivies not if there arc
no weeds. "
Mr. Elias Brackbill said the East could no
compete with the AVest in general crops : but the
corn or sweet corn of Massachusetts was better
than that of Illinois. He thinks the chief draw-
back to trucking is that you cannot find a ready
sale for your produce ; and Mr. GrofT thinks it
would be utterly impracticable to carry on a
mixed farming, or trucking and farming, under
one management.
Mr. John H. Brackbill " licgged leave to make
a few remarks on the unexpected death of our late
lamented friend, associate and fellow-member."
He began with that most touching remark of
Emerson : " The dice of God are always loaded."
He said he was glad to have the honor of paying
a fleeting tribute to the charity and humanity of
the man who worked night and day to give
dignity to the science of farming, character and
tone to agriculture ; and who shortened his own
life by his ceaseless labors to give intelligence
and usefulness to the liv^s of others. Mr. Stoner
was a gentleman in politics and a statesman in
agriculture ; and he did not limit his usefulness to
the great county which received the chief benefit
of his untiring work. Sister counties profited by
his labors, and will mourn his untimely death.
We honor hmi for his co-operative assistance to
conquer the earth, and make her contribute to
man's benefit, and for his ever readiness to assist
the needy and advance the social and moral inter-
ests of his daily life ; and the happy thought^
that he has entered a larger sphere in a better
world, softened down the harsh fact that we shall
never again be cheered by his good-natured pre-
sence. " 'I'he angel of death passed this way and
touched him lightly with its wings."
After other appropriate remarks by individual
members of the Club, Golin Cameron briefiy
referred to the first death they had cause to
lament, and closed by presenting a series of roso
lutions, which were unanimously adopted :
WiiKKEAs, (yod, iu ITis infinite wisdom, has
removed one member and friend, be it
Eesulred, 'J'hat while we hunil)ly submit to His
divine will, we sympathize with the family in
their sad bereavement, and assure them that their
touching loss is the deep aflliction of a whole
community.
Resulted, That the agricultural interests of the
county have met with an irreparable loss ; that
the manufacturers of farming implements have
lost a bright model : and that the Pequea Club
mourns to think that it shall never nirain be
cheered by the pleasant, genial face of its hon-
ored friend.
Resolved, That 'his chair be left vacant, at
refreshments as well as council, for at least two
meetings; and that a badge of mourning be worn
by each member during the same period of time."
Club adjourned to meet December 3, at the
home of Mr. Elias Brackbill.
'■ What relation does one crop bear to another —
as to profit?" is the subject for the next meet-
ino^'s consideration. Oake Saxe,
EARLY IMPORTATION OF CATTLE.
M. E. Lewis Sturtevant has compiled from va-
rious sources the following table, showing impor-
tations previous to 1800 :
1493— A bull and several cows from Spain, by
Columbus on his second voyage.
1.518 — The Baron de Levy made an abortive at-
tempt at s-ttlement on Sable Island, where
the cattle left by him increased and multi-
plied.
15.53 — The Portuguese took cattle to Newfound-
land and Nova Scotia.
1604 — Cattle were brought into Acadia by L'Es-
carlot, a French lawyer.
1608 — The French extended their settlement into
Canada, and soon after introduced various
animals.
1609 — ^The first cattle introduced into Virginia
was previous to 1609.
1610 — Sir Ralph Lam brought cows to Virginia
from the West Indies.
1611 — Sir 'J'homas Gates brought into Virginia
one hundred cows.
1614 — The Dutch brought cattle into New York
from Holland. They were black and white,
and red and white, and noted as good milk-
ers.
1624 — Edward Winslow imported three heifers
and a bull into Plymouth colony.
162.5 — Cattle imported into New Netherland from
Texal, in Holland, by the Dutch AVest India
Company.
1626 — Twelve cows were sent to Cape Ann.
1627 — Cattle were imported into Delaware by the
Swedes.
1629 — Thirty cows were sent to Cape Ann.
Sixty or seventy oxen and cows imported
under the direction of Francis Higginson,
foruierly of Leicestershire, for the " Governor
and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England."
631 or 1652— Capt. John Mason introduced cat-
tle from Denmark into New Hampshire.
^3Jf
THE LAMCASTEB, FARMER.
These cattle were of a large size, and of a
yellowish color. This breed remained pure
and unmixed near Agamenticus, in Maine,
down to about the year 1820.
1670 — Cattle brought into Carolina from Eng-
land by Win. Sayle, to old Charleston, on the
south side of Ashley river.
1690 — The Indians on the Red river, in Louisiana,
possessed cattle.
1711 — Sir Thomas Gates brought into James-
town, Virginia, one hundred head from Dev-
onshire and Hertfordshire.
1732— Cattle were first brought to the Savannah
settlement in Georgia by Oglethorpe.
1750 — The French of Illinois were in possession of
considerable numbers.
1783 — Messrs. Goff, Reynolds and Patton, of Bal
timore, sent to England for cattle, probably
of the Teeswater or Holderness breed.
1785 — Mr. Patton, jr., carried a bull of above
importation to Kentucky.
1797 — i\Ir. Heaton, of Duchess county, New York,
imported from England a Short-Horn bull.
THE VISITING COMMITTEE TO THE
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Messrs. Dr A. Smith, Capt. Charles Melcher.
and Cyrus T. Fox, who visited* the Agricultural
College of Pennsylvania last week, on behalf of
the Berks County Agricultural and Horticultural
Society, have returned home. They were de-
lighted with their visit, and were very kindly re-
ceived by the citizens of Beilefonte. and the fac-
ulty of the Agricultural College. Every facility
was afforded the Committee to examine into the
management of the Agricultural College, and a
thorough inspection was made of every depart-
ment. The Committee are preparing a report of
the result of their investigations which will
shortly be made public. On Wednesday the
Committee were taken over the Beilefonte and
Snow-Shoe Railroad, one of the most romantic
railroads and wonderful examples of engineering
skill in the country. In the afternoon they visited
various points of interest in and around Belle,
fonte, and left the same evening for home by way
of Lock Haven. At the latter place the party
separated, Dr. Smith taking the night train for
Harrisburg, Capt. Melcher leaving for Erie and
the Oil Region, and Mr. Fox remaining at Lock
Haven. Copious notes were taken of all places
of interest along the route some of which we
shall lay before our readers.
The Beilefonte Watchman contains the follow-
ing reference to. the committee: —
Berkfi County ViHitors. — A committee of gen-
tlemen appointed by the Berks County Agricul-
tural Society to visit the State Agricultural Col-
lege in this county and make I'eport of its condi-
tion and workings, arrived here on ^Monday and
put up at the BrokerhofF House. The committee
consisted of Dr. A. Smith, Democratic nominee
for Assembly from Reading, Cyrus T. Fox, of the
daily ^Tmes & Disi^atch, and Capt. Charles Mel-
cher, engineer and agriculturist. These gentle-
men visited the College on Tuesday, much to the
surprise of President Calder, who was not aware
of the honor intended him. The president never-
theless received them with great cordiality and
offered them every opportunity to examine into
the management and workings of the institution-
The committee speak in warm terms of the kind-
ness with which they were treated, and expressed
themselves as very favorably impressed with what
they saw at the College. They will undoubtedly
make a much fairer and less prejudiced report to
their society than did a similar committee from
Berks county a year or more ago.
The committee returned from the college Tues-
day evening, and on Wednesday morning took a
trip by invitation ever the Snow Shoe railroad to
Summit, returning on the 12 o'clock train same
day. After dinner, Gen. Beaver drove Mr. Fox
and Capt. Melcher to the top of Nittany Moun-
tain, where from "Clarvo"they had "a fine view
of Penns Valley. After their return, they spent
the balance of the day in looking around Beile-
fonte, and left for Lock Haven, homeward bound,
the same night.
Since the publication of the above -which we
clip from the columns of the Reading Times and
Dispatch — C. S. Fox, Esq., one of the committee,
has published an Interesting account of said visit,
which we wish we could transfer to our columns,
but find it entirely too long for our limited space
— at least in the present number.
AGRICUr/rURAL REPORT.
The following interesting report was read be-
fore the Boai'd of Trade, at its late meeting, by
S. S. Rathvon. Chairman of the Committee on
i\griculture :
Mr. Prksidext : In the midst of a partial finan-
cial panic it may be gratifying tolearn that the grain
crop throughout the entire country is nearly, or
quite, a full average— as compared with the best
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
235
of former crops— and that the quality never was
better. This cannot but have a redeeming effect
upon the present temporary embarrassment of the
financial aitairs of the country, if these produc-
tions are afforded only the common facilities to
get them into market.
From condensed statistics furnished by the
National CroiJ Reporter, the " Monthly Reports
of the Department of .Agriculture," and from va-
rious other local agricultural sources, the wheat
crop of 1873 will be not far from 268,000,000 of
bushels, if it does not exceed that amount. Oats
will reach about 290,000,000, and corn over
800.000,000 or perhaps 1,000,000,000 in the whole
country, and this may be regarded as a low esti-
mate, because there are a number of territories
that have not been at all represented in this esti-
mate. The hay crop, although in some places a
comparatively short one, will foot up about 40,-
000,000 of tons. Of tobacco there will be about
240,000,000 of pounds; and of cotton over 3.000,-
000 of bales. The number of swine will reach
28,000,000, and of neat cattle and sheep — although
the data to which we have had access do not
seem sufficient to form an estimate— will not be
less, at least, than they were in 1870, at the last
census returns.
The share of Pennsylvania in this agricultural
wealth is. Wheat 19,500,000 bushels ; Corn 36,-
700.000 ; Oats 36,000.000 ; Hay 2,.")00,000 tons ;
Tobacco 35,000,000 pounds ; Swine 900,000 head.
Indeed, it is stated that there are twelve coun-
ties in Pennsylvania that will go ten above the
usual average in these productions, and that Lan-
caster and York counties alone will turn 3,000,-
000 bushels into market at the lowest calculation.
The present year's crop of Lancaster couniy
may be stated at, Wheat 2,000,000 bushels ; Corn
2 500,000; Oats 1,500,000; Hay 120,000 tons;
Tobacco 20,500,000 pounds; and Swine 50,000
head. This does not include either Barley or
Buckwheat, which are no inconsiderable crops,
considering the vast quantities of beer and ale
that are brewed every year.
Nor does it include the root aud vegetable
crops, large quantities of which find almost a daily
transit to our markets, and now constitute a
medium of interchange, in the absence of their
" greenbackcd" representative.
Of course, we can never expect a uniformity of
yield in all our crops in the same season, so long
as they are subjected to meteorological vicissi-
tudes, the causes of which we do not know, and
perhaps could not control if we did. Therefore
the quantity and quality of the potato crop is,
this season, below the usual average, and what is
worse in many places they are infected with the
" rot." We have been informed by one farmer
that out of 120 bushels of the " peerless" variety,
he will not be able to save more than his own
family supply, which is only a small one. Another,
who had cultivated the " mercer," stated that he
would only be able to save one bushel out of five,
and in other places in the county it is much the
same.
The fruit crop, as a whole, was short, owing to
unknown, or unappreciable local causes, or the
severe effects of the frosts of last winter.
Although apples promised well, and a few trees in
orchards here and there were well filled with fruit ;
still, through enervation and the infestation of in-
sects, much of the fruit fell prematurely, or was
otherwise deteriorated in quality. The same causes
affected the quantity and quality of the pears and
other " pip fruit," but of " stone fruit " — especially
peaches — the failure was nearly total. "' Small
fruits" did not produce their average yield. The
grapes were short, but the quality, perhaps, never
was better. The average price of our agricul-
tural products is not likely to vary much from
former years, and this no doubt will make them
cheap enough for home consumption, unless there
should be a great depreciation, or want of employ-
ment, in the wages and services of mechanics and
laboring men. The short crops, both in England
and France, indicate a brisk foreign demand, and
already large shipments are being made to those
countries, and money will flow back in return for
them.
Estimating the wheat crop at ^1.40 per bushel ;
corn at 50 cents ; oats at 25 cents; hay at $10 a
ton ; tobacco at 5 cents a pound ; pork at 8 cents
and cotton at 20 cents -allowing 30' I pounds to the
bale — and the aggregate of these seven product
amount to the enormous sum of $1,840,000,000.
In round numbers, it would perhaps come nearer
the truth to say .32,0110,000,000. Add to this
,^1, 600,000,000, which was the value of the hovses
and neat cattle of the United States in 1870, and
about $1,400,000,000 more for sheep, poultry,
fruit and garden products, including tubers, etc.,
and we have $5,000,000,000, without including
any of last year's crop, large quantities of which
are still on hand
All this wealth comes dia'cctly or indirectly out
of the soil, and is the result of the labor and hus.
bandry of the farmers and stock growers of the
country, and of their hired help. Of this large
236
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
result of labor about $300,000,000 is the product
of Pennsylvania, and about $12,000,000 that of
Lancaster county, basing the estimate upon its
proportion to the M'hole in the statistics of the
census of 1870.
We feel assured that we have not overestimated
these products, but, on the contrary, have set
them down at their minimum values. Nor do we
think that in view of a probable foreign demand,
any financial contingency is likely to depress
them much below our valuations.
Eeports from all parts of Europe, except Russia
are unfavorable to the wheat crop, and especially
from France. The Constitutional, a reliable
journal on such subjects, represents that France
will need 40,000,000 bushels to meet her demand;
England, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Switzer-
land will want 120,000,000 bushels in the aggre-
gate— making the demand from these countries
160,000,000 bushels. To meet this demand Russia
and Hungary alone will be able to compete with
the United States. Therefore, if a moderate
range of freights should obtain on this side of the
Atlantic, there can be no doubt of our ability to
supply the one-half or two-thirds of the European
demand, at remunerative prices.
Indeed, from statistical returns, up to the 31st
of last September, of British importations, it ap-
pears that during the previous nine months, the
increase of wheat, imported from the United
States, had been 3,000,000 hundred weight over
the same period in 187'?, while the proportion re-
ceived from Russia had fallen from 12,000,000 to
7,000,000 hundred weight. The gross value of
the wheat imported by England, for the nine'
months alluded to. was about $99,000,000, Of
which the United States takes about $42,000,00 •.
The wheat exportation from the United States
to Europe is going forward briskly at the present
time, and money in the form of specie or its
equivalent, is flowing back in a steady stream to
our shores. But there are other articles of ex-
portation besides wheat ; for instance, California
is a large producer and exporter of wines ; and in
whatever light we may morally hold wine, yet we
cannot commercially ignore it. This year she pro-
duces over 12,000 000 gallons of wine, 2 000,000
pounds of grapes, and 250,000 pounds of raisins.
Her wine alone is worth $33,000,000, and much of
this she exports.
Encouraging as the general outlook of "Peace,
plenty and satisfaction," is, it seems to be almost
as unapproachable as the fabled clusters of grapes
were to the fox in ^sop's Fables.
In view of these things, and in connection with
the mining and manufacturing interests of the
country, the State, and the county, we cannot but
regret that all these elements of prosperity must
be periodically deranged, depreciated and depress-
ed, through reckless and hazardous schemes of
peculation and speculation by a class who never
lend a hand of labor to produce them. Doubtless
the prejudice cherished by the " Patrons of Hus-
bandry" against the "middle men" of the country
is carried to the opposite extreme In the present
advanced state of civil society its commercial con-
cerns could not be successfully conducted without
middle men, Every merchant in the land, from
the vender of pea-nuts on the street corner up to
A. T. Stewart, is more or less a middle man. If
there is any thing that needs abatement it is the
abuse and not the use of the system.
In regard to the growing grain crop nothing
very conclusive can yet be stated. Through the
genial rains and the temperate autumn we have
had for some weeks, the crops are growing finely.
We have heard of some of that which was sowed
early being infested by the "Hessian fly," so
much so, indeed, that some farmers were compell-
ed to plow it down and resow. This, in our view,
is a wise course, for the evidence seems to be
growing stronger every season, that later sowing
than some of our farmers have been in the habit
of, most successfully evades the ravages of the fly,
unless the cnld weather should set in very early,
and retard its growth.
In conclusion, we think we can congratulate the
country on the bounty of Providence, and that, if
with all this, we still lack the elements of pros-
perity, the fault must be man's in not making the
right use of that which has so bountifully been
provided.
Respectfully submitted,
S. S. Rathvon, Ghairman.
[Since preparing the foregoing, we have re-
ceived the "Annual Report of the Commissioner
of Agriculture, on the operations of his Depart-
ment, for the year 1873 " — from which we learn,
that during the fiscal year ending July 1,1873, the
United States have exported to foreign countries,
products amounting to the magnificent sum of
$400,394,2.54, including for living animals #1,751,.
688 ; for animal products, $75,287,133 ; for bread-
stuffs, $84,751,688 ; for cotton and cotton products,
$184,988,835 ; for wool, in various forms, $15,240,-
872, and for oil and miscellaneous products, inclu-
ding tobacco, etc., $46,352,010. We find, also, that
the department, during the same year, distributed
J
TEE LAJ\^CASTER FAPiMER.
237
1,023,602 packages of field, ararden, and flower
seeds, including wheat, oats, barley, rye, buck-
wheat, corn, peas, grass, clover, sugar beet, man-
gel wurtzel, vegetables, flowers, herbs, trees and
evergreens. As an illustration of the damages
to which agricultural products are subjected, it
states that during the present season, there has
been a loss of $37.500,< 00, in the cotton crop,
through the ravages of the "cotton worms," and
that the wheat crop has sustained a loss of $25,-
000,000 from various insect depredations. — Ed.]
FACTS IN FATTENING CATTLE.
Boussingault estimates that an ox weighing 748
pounds, fed upon 40 pounds jjer die%n, will increase
in weight about two pounds daily. According to
Mr. Low, an ox weighing 770 pounds and consum-
ing 2223 pounds of turnijjsper week, if he thrives,
will gain in the same time nearly a stone, 14 lbs,,
in weight. Allowing 100 pounds of hay worth
676 lbs. of turnips, the increase is still about two
pounds a day.
Mr. Dubois says the quantity of green fodder
consumed by an ox during the eight months when
he is fattening, is equivalent to 6,600 pounds of
dry hay. The average ration of green forage per
diem, he calculates, therefore, as equivalent to
about 27 lbs. of hay.
But this average is evidently too small, partic-
ularly for cold weather, which was proven in the
valley of Auge, in Normandy.
Mr. Stephenson estimates that .57 per cent of
the whole animal will be butchers' meat ; 8 per
cent, tallow ; 6 per cent, hide ; and 29 per cent,
entrails. This of couree dei:»ends upon the con-
dition of the beef— a fat one will yield a greater
per cent, than a lean one. Others give the per
cent, of meat at 53 to 62 per cent.
Effect of Manure on Weeds. — The applica-
tion of manures suited to particular kinds of cul-
tivated plants appear to have an efficient effect in
checking the growth of weeds, which would other-
wise prove injurious. In regard to clover, it was
found that when the land was wholly unmanured
the weeds formed 57 per cent, of the entire yield ;
but the application of gypsum reduced the pro-
portion of weeds to two per cent. Nitrogenous
manures had very slight effect, and phosphatic
manures but little more. "We must not from this,
however, consider gypsum as an antidote to weeds
in general, since it is a specific manure for clover,
and gives it a power to struggle successfully with
the weeds and crowd them out.
DOMESTIC.
WHEAT.
THE principal question in wheat, as well as
all other breadstufis, relates to obtaining
funds to buy with. The banks have stopped dis-
counting, and men who have money have been
afraid to lend it ; so there has been a practical
shut-down on the means to move the crops. But
this difficulty appears to be gradually passing
away, (jold is coming from England to pay for
wheat in New York, and currency is moving west
to buy of the farmers: Producers appear to have
a very decided advantage in this emergency. Thej'
yet hold the liulk of the wheat, corn and cotton
crops of the country, and other classes are forced
to come to them to buy. So urgent is this de-
mand for wheat in England, that no sooner do
shipments of wheat cease in New York in conse-
quence of the stagnation of business, thm the
buyers there send over gold to pay for it. With-
out waiting for receipts to stop for any time, they
take prompt measures to keep a steady stream
coming right along. They will soon want corn
as well as wheat, and the time is not far distant
when they will be equally urgent for cotton.
This shows the great dependence of other classes
upon farmers, as well as the advantageous and
honorable position held by producers. They not
only hold the only products M'hich can and will
give relief to all other classes, because these pro-
ducts must be had and paid for and will thus bring
money into active circulation ; but they also have
a great advantage in thus holding an immense
amount of the raw material for food and clothing,
which others must necessarily buy. Had farmers
the commercial skill which is brought to bear
against them, this state of things would result in
much higher prices ; but, at least for the present,
the panic will be strongly urged as a reason for
lower prices, when, in fact, the producers who thus
relieve the country and help other classes out of
thoir difficulties, should be well paid for it.
However, this state of things gives the farmers a
market at some price ; and while those in a con-
dition to hold until the worst effects of the panic
have passed off" are likely to do the best, yet those
who have wheat, corn, hops, dairy products or
cotton to sell, will find means to relieve any im-
mediate pressure which may be felt.
Meantime there is no material change in the
prospects as to the probable amount of wheat
growa. It seems that the crop will iiot vary
238
THE LAA^CASTER FARMER.
largely from that of last j'ear, and this appears
to be the conclusion of the Department at Wash-
ington, as indicated by the September report.
Nor are there any decided changes in the Eu-
ropean prospects, though such as have taken
place are of a character to indicate an increased
demand for breadsiuffs. For instance, the last
Mark Lane Express says "there is no mistake as
to the wide and rapid spread of the potato dis-
ease," and that "we hear there is not a little
[wheat] irrecoverably damaged by sprouting,which
is but a repetition of last year's disaster." There
has been considerable complaint of wet weather
in England, and it is said : "The wet weather has
travelled over Europe, and therefore finely con-
ditioned grain in Germany is likely to remain dear,
while perhaps much all through the season will be
too inferior for profitable shipment. In Southern
Russia matters keep disappointing. In spite of
the high prices ruling they get only light supplies,
a fact which either looks like a determination to
hold for more money or an actual deficiency in the
yield." Other accounts go to show that in many
Russian provinces they have a light yield of
wheat ; so it cannot be expected that Russia can
have more than, if indeed she has as much as, the
usual average amount for export. It is also evi-
dent that there need be no fears of Russia or
Germany supplanting us in the wheat markets of
Western Europe, for all that can be obtained is
sure to be wanted.
Indian Corn. — Reports continue to indicate a
a light crop of corn. Not only was there a mod-
erate breadth and stand of corn, but a large part
of that grown at the West is badly injured or
entirely destroyed for market by frosts. The
European demand for wheat will of course lead to
heavy exports of corn.
Barley. — It appears, as advancing prices have
indicated, that there is a light crop of Barley.
This was first shown in the advance and specula-
tion in bar ey in Chicago; and the fact that
prices are still comparatively higher there than at
other places, indicates that prices must continue
high, if, indeed, there is not a further advance. —
Country Gentleman, October 9,
LIVE STOCK.
As November is sometimes a pleasant month,
with much of that mild, sunny weather called
Indian Summer, the farm stock will not need
much extra care, except in storms, which are
sometimes severe at the close of the mouth. But
it is important that the stalls, folds, and pens
should be in readiness to receive them. Supply
them well with food, and be ready to shelter them
as soon as needful Loss of flesh by hunger and
suffering is a miserable preparation for Winter.
Milch cows especially need extra care. The milk
drawn from them daily is a heavy draft upon the
animal heat, and for this reason they need
warmer shelter than would otherwise be neces-
sary.
Fattening Animals, if to be turned over to
the butcher soon, should now be crowded forward
as less food is required to lay on fat in mild
weather than in cold. These, as they have an
extra source of animal heat in the plentiful and
rich food given them, do not require as warm
shelter as milch cows, nor quite as warm as ihe
leaner stock. It is well to give those but little
advanced in the process of fattening moderately
warm shelter, and cooler to those further ad-
vanced. Most feeders prefer that large oxen,
nearly ready for the market, should be over night
under an open shed, protected, of course, from
cold winds, rather than pass the nights in warm
stalls among other animals. If the stalls could
be graduated, with x'espect to warmth, we would
place the milch cows in the warmest, the working
oxen in the next warmest, next the common stock
then the cattle but partly fattened, and last of
all. those nearly ready to be sold as premium
cattle. The horses should have warm stables,
but ventilated, and not too near other stock, as
the horse wants pure air, and should not be com-
pelled to breathe, over and over again, his own
breath, or that of other animals. Sheep-folds
and i^ig-pcns should be so constructed that the
occupants can select positions ' suited to their
nature, and especially to their present condition,
as regards the degree of fatness and the length of
wool. A big sheep, in high order, with 20 lbs. of
wool covering him all over from head to hoofs,
would select cooler lodging, and keep himself out
of doors a greater part of the day, than a little,
meagre one, with but 2 lbs. of wool on his back,
and little or none elsewhere.
Repaii-s of the Stock Quarters. — These should
have been made before putting in the Winter
food. Bnt if not done then now is the time.
November is better for this work than December.
To do it in mild, sunny weather, is more comforta-
ble for you, and more considerate for the comfort
of your animals than to leave it till after two,
three or half a dozen Winter storms. — Pen and
Plow.
THE LANCASTER FARMER.
239
IN-DOOR GARDENING.
Both in town and country, taste for the culture of
flowers is evidently largely on the increase. Flowers
. add greatly to the attraction of home, and the
care of them seems more rational than croquet
and other games introduced of late, which absorb
so much time, and, however useful as exercise, do
not embrace any cultivation of mind or heart,
which, we think, the culture of flowers, in-doors or
out, always does.
There are frequent failures within doors in the
Winter season, of obtaining full and healthy
blooms, owing to the neglect of certain small
though indispensable details, and the most obvious
of these, and most frequent, is want of proper at-
tention to temperature. • Plants require a tolera-
bly even temperature and good ventilation The
air of a sitting room is often heated to 80 de-
grees, and from fire going out and other causes
often falls to 60 degrees and less.
This is unfavorable to plant life. Then again,
the air is often too dry. The leaves become cov-
ered with dust, and cannot exhale the moisture
with which the soil is too often drenched. Plants
in houses suffer probably as much from having an
excess of water as from having too little ; and a
good plan is to keep the surface of the pots
covered with a slight mulch. A little covering
of moss, refuse tea leaves, finely cut grass or hay,
etc., will keep the soil moist, and preserve it of an
even temperature.
Where, as is often the case, there is a small
green-house attached to the parlor, or a double
bow window fronting the south, a vessel of water
may be kept in it to advantage of the plants.
The evaporation from this will do something to-
ward dispelling the fatal dry air of furnace heat,
or excessive warm stove rooms. When water is
applied, it should be as near the temperature of
the house as possible. Another point is, that at
least once a week pots should be turned around so
as to present different 'sides to the sun. On
mild days windows should be opened for admis-
sion of fresh air. Syringing the plants occasion-
ally with the aid of something like the Fountain
pump, freshens them up, washes off the dust, and
is highly useful.
Ammonia water applied once in two weeks, or
when watered, we have known to give immediate
vigor to an unhealthy plant, and throw others into
a profusion of bloom not to be obtained any other
way. This is made by mixing about a tablespoon-
ful of Spirits of Ammonia of the shops with a
gallon of water.
Hens and What They Ate. — Last year an ex-
periment was tried by a vjxiier va. Field and Fac.
tori/, the details of which will be interesting to
our readers, and each one can make his or her own
deductions from the facts and figures given : Ten
pullets each, of five breeds, each within a week of
being six months old, were placed in yards forty
feet square with comfortable houses. For the
next six months an account was kept of their food,
and eggs produced, with the following results :
The Dark Brahmas ate 3691 quarts of corn oats
and wheat screenings, laid 60.5 eggs, and weighed
70 pounds; feed cost ,$5. 77 ; eggs sold for $10.68
—profit, $4.31. The Buff Cochins ate 406 quarts,
laid 591 eggs, and weighed 73 pounds ; feed $6.34 ;
eggs, $9.35 -profit, $3.51. The Gray Dorkings
ate 309 quarts, laid 424 eggs, and weighed 59|^
pounds; feed, $4.87 ; eggs, $8.73— profit .$3.86.
The Houdans ate 214 quarts, laid 783 eggs, and
weighed 45i pounds ; feed, $3.35 ; eggs, S13.05 —
profit, $9.70. The Leghorns ate 231^ quarts ;
laid 807 eggs, and weighed 36j pounds ; feed
$3.62; eggs, $13.55-profit, $3.83.
Laying Hens. — Treat hens kindly if you want
them to lay eggs. A petted hen is a singing hen ;
and a singing hen is invariably a laying one.
The housewife who feeds her flock of a dozen
petted fowls, out of her apron, will have eggs to
spare ; when her neighbor, who counts his hens
by the hundred, but pelts them about his premises
with sticks and stones, and sets the dog on them
whenever he catches them in the stables, will not
have eggs for his own use. Avoid chasing or
frightening fowls ; it injures them. If you want
any to kill, take them quietly from the roost at
night, and allow them neither by flutter or scream
to disturb the rest. If you do not want to kill
them the same evening, put them in a coop, or
other suitable place, where they can be had next
morning without further trouble.
Cooling Milk Suddenly. — Nearly all dairy-
men now unite in the opinion that milk is injured
for any purpose by being cooled too suddenly, as
by the use of ice or by the employment of patent
appliances. They also agree that warm milk
should not be mixed with that which is cold, as is
frequently done by pouring milk into a can that
already contains milk cooled by the use of ice.
Scratches and heel cracks are cured by the
following method : Wash the feet clean, then dry
thoroughly, and apply carbolic salve at least twice
a day.
^JfO
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
CORRESPONDENCE.
EDITOR Lancaster Farmer : lo the Novem-
ber number of the Farmer, my friend J.
StaufFer, has again referred to my unbelief in his
theory, " that a fruit-bearing grape vine was trans-
formed into a barren one by over-feeding."
He says : " Thus it is that vines that bore good
fruit in ordinary soil, when transplanted to a rich,
moist soil, where slops from the kitchen were con-
stantly poured, grew wondrously luxuriant for
shade, and blossomed profusely — bat, alas ! they
were all staminate, so that not a single frait was
set. This my friend Garber pronounced a male
grape vine. But how came it to be a male, when
previous to its transplanting it yielded fine, de-
licious grapes ? as I can testify. No ; it was over
fed, and became a fruitless glutton of a vine."
Alluding thus to my unbelief in his theoiy, of
a fruit-bearing vine, by over feeding, being trans-
formed into a bari'en, or, in other words, a female
into a male plant. It appears I should try and
define my position.
I think I can easily explain my views on this
transformation theory, of a fruitful vine becoming
a " fruitless glutton." As I once before intimated,
my friend was evidently cheated. We all know
how fond cat-birds and thrushes are of grapes,
and how these birds hide in brush heaps — even
prefer such hiding places for building their nests
and rearing the young birds. While in these
brush heaps they drop the seeds passing through
them, thei-eby preparing the seeds ready for vege-
tating, and the moisture and richness of the soil
will give a stimulus to the young growth. Thus
finding a bearing vine in a brush heap is nothing
strange, and where one plant came up several
other plants, no doubt, also came up. Male plants
are more vigorous than fruit-bearing, and in the
fall or spring, when leaves and fruit were no longer
on these plants, a plant was taken up and trans-
planted to a more suitable situation. Now, in-
stead of getting the plant that bore such fine
grapes, a male plant was, no doubt, taken, and
thus the mistake occurred. The brush heap was
probably removed by burning it up. and in that
way the fruit-bearing plant destroyed. This is the
most likely explanation of " a fruit-bearing vine
being changed to a baiTcn one ; or, a female plant
into a male vine."
Having mjself raised from seed many hundred
grape vines of the various species — such as La-
brusca, Cordifolia, ^stivalis, etc., I have in every
lot of seedlings found a part of the plants ban-en,
or trae male vines, and a part fruit-bearing — such
I call females, or perhaps more properly, polyga-
mous — having male and female organs in the same '
flower.
The firet lot that I i*aised, was from seed received
from North Carolina. In about fifty or sixty
plants, there were many different varieties — white,
black, pui-ple — large and small — of various quali-
ties, with a number of ban-en, or male plants.
The fruit of most of those bearing was so inferior
that all were destroyed, except two plants. These
have now been quite extensively disseminated, un-
der the names of North Carolina Seedling and Mary
Ann, and are generally considered as valuable
varieties.
Of all the species from Texas, Tennessee, Mis-
souri, and some of our own varieties, I have in
every instance found a pai't of the plants male, or
ban-en, and a part fniit-bearing.
Of the vinefera, or foreign variety, I have
never succeeded in growing plants so far as to
show their fnictifieation, but from what others
have tried in the way of crossing the Exotic on
our natives, I am inclined to believe that vinefera
seedlings are all frait-bearing.
Mr. Rogers, of Salem, Mass.,. was the first, I
believe, who succeded in crossing the Exotic on
our native species. He once wrote me " that he
raised about fifty plants from seed thus hybridised,
and that every plant bore fruit, while a single
seedling of a native came up outside of his hy-
bridised plants, proved to be a male, or barren
vine."
As to " overfeeding a grape-vine, and in that
way changing it into a fruitless glutton," that is
simply " bosh."
No amount of stimulating manure will ever
prevent a vine from bearing fruit, or transform a
fruit-bearing into a male, or barren one.
I once saw a gi-ape vine, in Chester county, so
extraordinarily vigorous and healthy, and bear-
ing such an enot'mous crop of large bunches, and
so perfect, that Mr. T. Miller (than whom there
is no better judge of grapes anywhere) and my-
self, were both in a quandary as to what variety
it could be, until the owner told us it was a Ca-
tawba vine. Looking for the cause of such great
luxuriance and health of a variety that was an
almost universal failure elsewhere, we made the
discovery that the plant was standing in a ])crfcct
quagmire of soapsuds, wash from the kitchen, and
all the waste water from the pump. A more
J healthy and prolific vine I never saw, of any va-
THE LAJVCASTEB, FARMEB.
^i:
riety — sbowing conclusively, that if it Avas a
" glutton," it still bore splendid fruit. Another
instance may be mentioned in this connection, as
follows :
There are a number of Isabella vines groivimj
in tvater, near here, the roots completely sub-
merged from one year's end to the other, yet
these vines are free from mildew, retain their
foliage until cut down by frost; bearing larger
bunches, better and more perfect fruit of this va-
riety, than it is usually in the habit of doing else-
where.
My own vines of Concord, and several other
varieties, standing where the roots can reach
Avater, arc healthier and produce better fruit than
those of the same varieties standing on ordinary,
dry gi'ound.
Thus, without resorting to scientific, botanical
or other uninlelligible terms not generally under-
stood, I think the foregoing explanation fully
meets the untenable idea of a fruit bearing grape
vine being, by any mode of manuring, transformed
into a " fruitless glutton of a vine."
I may just say, it can't be done !
J. B. Garber.
Columbia, Pa., Xov. 21, 1873.
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
CoKN Fritters. - Boil a dozen ears of corn, or
more than are needed for dinner, and while warm
scrape them with the corn-cutter, and put the
corn in tlie refrigerator until morning. To two
coffeecupfuls of corn add two or three well-beaten
eggs, three tablespoonfuls of cream or new milk,
and a small teacupful of flour, with a little salt.
Drop in spoonfuls into hot fat. and fry of a light
brown. Or else cook them on the griddle iron like
any other cakes, and we can assure you that pater
familias Avill see that a larger extent of sweet
corn is planted for the next season, because he
will relish the dainty dish so highly. With baked
new potatoes and corn fritters he will frequently
think that hog and hominy may be set aside for
another day, — Country Gentleman.
Melon Preserves. — To make an excellent pre-
serve from unripe melons, the green part of water
melons and citrons, in imitation of preserved gin-
ger, boil in alum-water — a tablcspoonful to about
two gallons — pare, cut in pieces, and lay in Avater
for one or two days to take out the alum taste.
The pieces should not be quite soft, but like sweet
cucumber pickle. Drain well, make a syrup of
sugar— a pound to each pound of melon — a pretty
strong flavoring of ginger, as hot as may be liked,
remembering that when boiled it will taste hotter,
a little mace, and some lemon peel or essence of
lemon to taste. Boil the pieces in this till clear.
Unripe melons are soaked for some days in brine,
cut up and freshened in cold water before boiling
in alum. This preserve requires watching, being
very apt to mold.— Houschuld.
To Kill "Live Forever." — P. Xewland, Law-
renccville, N. Y.. writes : " To my brethren who
inquire how to kill ' Live Forever Weed,' I would
say that more than fifty years ago, when I was a
boy, my father had tried to kill the water willow,
which came up in his meadow in large clusters.
He cut them down many times, but all to no pur-
pose ; but finally he cut them close to the ground,
and put on straw, I should think as much as a foot
and a half or two feet thick, and put on old rails
or something to keep the straw from being scat-
tered by the wind or otherwise. The straw rotted
down and the willows never appeared after that.
I think that if you will put plenty of straw on
'Live Forever,' it Avill smother it and rot it, so
that it will never grow again."
Keep the Cattle Gbowino. — The most suc-
cessful breeders of horses, cattle, slieep or swine,
know from experience that although they may
possess the best breeding animals, they will not be
successful in producing .superior stock if a con-
tinual growth of young animals is not kept up. In
order to begin at this indispensable preparation
for success, the brood mares, cows, ewes and sows
are most carefully and suitably fed while young,
and as soon as the young animals make their ap-
pearance, they are taken the greatest care of, the
dams being suitably fed while tuckling, and when
the young ones are weaned, they are not supposed
to want for food or drink a single hour. By this
means a continual or rapid growth is kept up. and
the animals attain a large size and heavy weight
at an early age. Wlien breeding animals are not
properly fed and sheltered in winter, the bad effect
of such treatment is not confined to their own
want of condition— it is shared liy their progeny,
and can never be remediated. AVhen young stock
are not fed well and comfortably sheltered in
winter, their growth becomes stunted, and no
subsequent amount of good treatment can repair
the damage. Young animals may suffer from
want of proper provender in summer and autumn
as well as in winter, and when this happens it
stops continuous growth and prevents ultimate
success in the objects of breeding.
%Jf
^
TEE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
LANCASTER, DECEMBER, 1873
S. S. RATHVON, Editor.
Published monthly Kiider the auspices of the Agricul-
TUKAL ANDHoaTlCULTUiJAL SOCIETY.
$13 5 per Year in Advance.
' A considerable deduction to clubs of five or more.
A'l communic tions, to insure insertion, must be in the
hards of the editor before tlie 20th of eaSh m.inth. Ad-
dress S. 8. Ka'hvon, L<i7icat-ter, Ph.
All advertise me clt^^, suhscnptiuns and remittances to the
addresaof the publit,her, J. B. DKVKLIN,
luqu'rer Building, Lancaster, Pa.
TO OUR PATRONS.
OUR ANNUAL GREETINGS.
THIS number concludes the Fifth Volume of
the Lancaster Farmer, and before we
greet our patrons again, they will doubtless have
realized the pleasures and festivities of the holid .y
season ; and however ^ve may fare, we hope that
(hey may have a season of unmiiigled joy, and that
that joy may not only be an inward satisfaction,
but also an outward manifestation toward their
fellow-man. AVe regret that on this occasion, we
are not able to herald the prosperity of our
common country commensurate with the bountiful
manner in which Providence has blessed it during
the last year. Although— taking the whole
country through — we never have been favored
with better and more abundant crops, stiU there
seems to be something wrong, and that wrong
has produced events which doubtless have had
their origin in the perversity of the human heart.
But, we feel that all is not lost, and that the re-
deeming element of our country is held within the
hands of her honest, industrious, and frugal yeo-
manry, and that, in due time, the wrongs we suffer
now will be righted. We shall ultimately rise
superior to adverse contingencies, if we are guided
by a liberal and forbearing spirit.
The ordeal we have to pass through may Ije a
fiery one, but if we can be purified and refined in no
other way, we may have occasion to be thankful
that we have suffered, and may be more able to
apply the experiences of the present, in shaping
and giving character to the future.
As to our journal, we can only say that
" another year has gone, and we are not saved" —
not saved from that pecuniary stringency which
has been pressing upon us ever since we launched
our craft on the sea of agricultural journalism.
AVe need more promptly paying subscribers, and
more punctual and intelligent contributors, to make
our task an agreeable or a pleasant one. Surely
these elements are abundant in Lancaster county,
and if we could only realize a single penny out of
every hundred dollars that is invested in frippery
and fancy stocks, we should be able to increase our
journal to twice its present size. Our desire is
more to elevate and improve the agricultural in-
terests of our county through its journal, then to
make money. AVe hope, therefore, our patrons in
their intervals of repose from social festivity, will
think of us, renew their subscriptions, settle their
arrearages, and thus enhance and perpetuate their
" Merrv Christmas," in ivord and deed.
OUR FIFTH VOLUAIE.
It is not our design to speak in self-laudation,
but merely to say, that that which is, or has been,
can never be ignored, whatever its character is, or
may have been. Now, the Lancaster Farmer,
is, and has been, but whether it will be, is entirely
a matter for the next four weeks to develop. One
thing is certain, we intend it shall be, but at
present, the past is our only guarantee for the
future.
In looking over the index to the present vol-
ume of the Farmer, we find that there are about
five hundred numerical references to distinct and
separate articles, varying in length from half a
dozen lines, to that many full columns. About
one hundred and twentij of these are origiaal
papers, written expressly for our columns, and the
remainder are extracted from some of the best
agricultural journals of the country, and selected
for their presumed practical and local value.
These we have furnished to our readers during the
year at the small price of one dollar and tioenty-
five cents. These bound together will make an
interesting volume of local agricultural matter, that
time will only make more valuable, no matter with
what degree of neglect, or even contempt, they
may be treated today.
AVe feel confident that a day will come, when a
volume of the Lancaster Farmer will become an
object worth seeking for and possessing. The
race of non-readers and non-heeders of agricultu-
ral literature is becoming " beautifully less," and
will eventually die out of mental rust and enerva-
tion. It is ordained of God that the mind and
body should be exercised together, to constitute a
THE LAJiCASTER FARMER,
243
a true manhood, in any vacation of life. To show
how time enhances local literature, we will state
an instance which came under our own observa-
tion. When J. D. Rupp published the " History
of Lancaster County," (a two dollar volume,) in
1844, we saw it sell as low as fifty cents — and
purchased it ourself at seventy-five cents in trade
— but in 1872, when we were authorized to pro-
cure a copy for a gentleman .residing in Cincin-
nati, we were compelled to pay six dollars for it,
and rather than be without it, he would have paid
ten dollars.
The world is moving onward ; the days of mere
physical grubbing and poking are passing away ;
and, as we progress, we are constantly admonish-
ed of the mighty potency of the mind, and of the
subordination of matter. Therefore, let those
who despise, or who are not capable of mental
cultui'e, stand from under. *
OUR JOURNAL'S FUTURE.
A hundred voices cry out, " Oh, don't suspend
the Farmer" — '" any thing but that, in these sus-
pension times." Well, we don't intend to : but,
one thousand voices, sustained by the " green-
backed" needful, would be a more potent demon-
stration than one hundred, in helping us to declare
our explicit determination in this number. We
will make a strenuous effort to meet the expecta"
tions of our friends ; and, if all are enemies, luho
arc not for us, we will try to win them over to
our subscription list, and hope to make our bow
for 1874 about the holidays.
MEETING OF THE AGRICULTURAL
AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Lancaster Agricultural and Horticultural
Society held its regular monthly meeting, in the
Orphans' Court Room, in the city of Lancaster, on
Monday, November 3d, Dr. P. '\N. Hicstand in
the chair, in the absence of the president. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and ajD-
proved — ?iemM?.e dissentiente.
M. I). Kendig, of Manor, read a report upon
the condition of crops in his neighborhood.
William McComsoy presented a series of reso-
lutions, on the death of H. K. Stoner, a former
member of the Society, as follows:
Whereas, Since our last meeting, God, in Ills
inscrutable providence, has permitted the removal,
by sudden death, from our midst, of our late fellow
member, Henry K. Stoner.
And Whereas, Although we bow in humble
submission to the will of Him who doeth all things
wisely and well, we nevertheless deeply feel the
loss and lament his death ; Therefore,
Resolved, That in the death of H. K. Stoner. this
Society has lost one of its most intelligent, active,
and- useful members; agriculture and horticulture
an enthusiastic friend and promoter ; the commu-
I nity at large an enterprising and upright citizen,
and his family has sustained an irreparable loss.
Resolved, That these proceedings be entered
upon the record of the Society, and a copy of the
same be furnished to the press for publication,
and another to the family of the de-ceased, to-
gether with our heartfelt sympathy and condo-
lence in this, the hour of their sad bereavement.
The Secretary read some eloquent remarks from
the pen of Peter S. Reist, eulogistic of the qual-
ities of H. K. Stoner, deceased, and in behalf of
the resolutions submitted by Mr. McComsey.
The Secretary now read an essay on agriculture
and wheat-growing, prepared by Jacob B. Garber.
Jacob Stauffer, in reviewing tlie subject discussed
by Mr. Garber, remarked, that fruit vines may be
too highly fed to allow them to produce fruit.
He denied that vegetable physiology recognized
the existence of male aod female grape vines.
He spoke of an experiment made *by Dr. Wm. B.
Fahnestock, of Lancaster, who had a grape vine
which never bore anything, until having heard
that blood applied to the roots of a grape, it
it would bear fruit. He tried this plan, and the
vine began bearing, and has never ceased from
that time to do so, and in great abundance.
William McComsey regarded the essay of
Jacob B. Garber as anything but interesting-
He perceived in the facts stated by the essayist,
many items worthy of remembrance by every far-
mer. He thought the questions suggested by the
essayist were well worthy of consideration by the
members of the Society. He was disposed to
view agricultural machinery as a benefit for the
farmer, especially in the history of our country.
Dr. J. B. Hower regarded the essay of Mr.
(larber as a very able one. He was disposed to
believe that agricultural machinery is a great ad-
vantage to the farmer, even taking into considera-
tion the expense of the same. Labor could not be
supplied to do all the work, if all machinery were
to be dispensed with.
C L. Ilunseckcr remarked that in 1830, the best
Lancaster county farms sold for S.50 per acre. He
favored the view that labor-saving machinery was
advantageous in a pecuniary point of view to the
2U
THE LAjYCASTER FABMEB..
farmer. 'He tliouglit witlioiit machinery farmers
would not be able to get their work done as now
can be accomplished. Without labor-saving im-
plements the immense farms of the West could
not be tilled as they now are and their large har-
vests gathered.
Simon P. Eby, Esq., spoke of agricultural ma-
chinery as vastly serviceable to the farmer, but
that taking its cost into consideration, it may
be doubted as to its utility.
Peter S. Reist spoke of labor-savins' machinery
as having largely contributed, in his opinion, to the
present financial condition in which our country is
involved.
G. L Hunsecker treated this view as wild and
chimerical, and he was disposed to attribute our
financial condition to very different causes. It is
the vast extravagance in which our people have
indulged, and the going in debt beyond our means,
which have precipitated the country into the pre-
sent sea of disaster and financial ruin. He be-
lieved in the pecuniary advantage of labor-saving
machinery for the farming community.
The thanks of the Society was tendered Mr.
Garber for his able and valuable essay.
Peter S. Reist now introduced D. W. Helstine,
of Philadelphia, the originator of the Helstine
raspberry, to the members of the Society.
Jacob B. Garber had on exhibition seeds of the
white fringe shrub.
Society after a short time spent in social inter-
course, on motion, adjourned.
PATRONS OP HUSBANDRY.
As some of the farmers of Lancaster county
may contemplate the ultimate organization of
" granges " of the " patrons of husbandry " in
this district, we have thought it not amiss to
publish, from the Farmer's Advocate, the follow-
ing morsels, to show that all is not entirely har-
mony within that wide and rapidly spreading
camp, whatever the appearances may be, and
that its members are by no means a unity, in
regard to the aims and ends of the Order.
" The Grange, as a social organization, will
live, but as a political rocket it will come down
as fast as it goes up."
" Some of the Grange officials assert, and evi-
dently believe, that they are going to dispense
with the commercial portion of the community
entirely."
" They even affect to believe that they can
establish such a superior system of crop reports
that the entire mercantile world will bow at their
bidding, regardless of commercial laws, however
just or inexorable."
"The association of grain dealers, organized
by the General Deputy of the National Grange,
is likely to prove itself an unruly member of a
hitherto happy family. Moved by the clamorous
demands of northwestern members, the Master,
Mr. Adams, has ordered the dispensation and
charter revoked. To this action the merchant
grange will not quietly submit. They have taken
an appeal to the National Grange. They are
fully initiated and instructed in the mysteries of
the Order, have obtained the signs, grips, and
passwords, and insist that they are fully interested
and identified with agricultural pursuits."
"These are some o'l i\\Q fallacious features,"
which we apprehended long ago might eventually
creep into an Order, otherwise right and proper,
and intended for an ultimate good.
If evils, such as these, are already manifesting
themselves, what might we not expect, when the
Order once became ||a power in the land ? The
idea of annihilating the com nercial classes of the
country is preposterous in the extrems, and if
successful would only subject the community to
the extortions of a new party ; for it is not proba-
ble that a powerful Order, organized for the
abatement of the grievances of its members,
would stop there, or possess a greater degree of
moral integrity than the party it sought to over-
throw. What can the association of grain
dealers (of Boston) msan, but a combination of
speculators, under the patronage of the " Patrons
of Husbandry?" How did they get into an Order
that professes to restrict its membership to
"farmers, their wives, sons, and daughters ?"
There i« something rotten in Denmark."
CITY vs. COUNTRY.
If discontented farmers, farmers' wives, sons
and daughters, remarks the Rurcd New Yorker,
who think the delights o£ city life something
worth realizing, could walk through our streets
to-day and read one thousandth part of the misery
and apprehension that haunt the hearts of all
classes and are making lines on their faces, they
would thank God for the peaceful seclusion and
abundance gathered in the garners of their homes.
Thousands of men and women are, at the begin-
ning of winter, suddenly thrown out of employ-
ment. Few, comparatively, of these have aught
laid up in store. Young women flock throug
THE LAJYCASTER FARMER.
245
the streets with restless, eager, anxious eyes, with
lips quivering with fear lest they fail to obtain
employment that shall give them food and shelter.
Boys and girls of the country, be grateful for
plenty and shelter. You will, perhaps, never
know how to value it until you want and cannot
get either. How many of those in the city are
country born ; and how many would gladly go
back to the homesteads for refuge, and yet may
not have the means to get there! Farmers,
thank God for the harvests, and that you have
unsold food for your families. You have reason.
— Exchange.
If the above were as true as — or even a quota-
tion from — holy writ, it would have little or no
influence over the minds of those people in the
country who take it into their heads to exchange
their rural modes of living for the fitful blandish-
ments of the city. Such advice is received pretty
much like that of the young woman, whose par-
ents admonished that if she persisted in her fool-
ish course she certainly would compass her ruin.
The ingrate replied, that she would like to be
ruined awhile. It is just so with many people
from the country — they want to try it for them-
selves, whatever the result may be — success or
ruin, stand or fail.
MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY.
The next meeting of the Pennsylvania Fruit
Growers' Society will be held in Chambersburg,
Cumberland co., Pa., commencing January 2Ist,
1874, at 7:30 o'clock. Owing to the excellent
location, and the increasing interest felt in the pur-
poses of this Association, we shall look for an ex-
ceedingly interesting time.
JosiAH HooPES, President.
Alkx. Harris, Sect.
We hope the Fruit Growers of Lancaster county
■will hold the above in remembrance. We think
we can guarantee them such an entertainment as
they will not find in any other Association in the
State.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Our thanks are due C. T. Fox, E^q , of Reading,
for copies of the iBeading Times and Dispatch,
containing full reports of the proceedings of the
"Berks County Farmers' Club," and of the late visit
«f their committee to the " State Agricultural
College. "While we do not envy " old Berks,"
and sincerely wish them God speed, we cauuot
but feel a standing regret that Lancaster county,
in associated agricultural enterprise, seems to be
so much of a " one-horse affair." in comparison
with Berks. This ought not to be so, for we have
the wealth, the intelligence, and the fertility of
soil, to make Lancaster the very foremost in the
State.
The Farmers' Club, — The Lancaster Farmer,
an agricultural monthly published at Lancaster,
Pa., contains in the October number a full report,
as published in the Times and DisjnUch, of the
special meeting of the Farmers' Club recently
held for the purpose of considering the best
method of preparing the ground for wheat, and
the proper time and best method of planting the
same. The Farmer is a live agricultural journal,
and we are pleased to know that its subscription
list is steadily increasing. — Beading Times and
Dispatch.
•
The " Wolf Tooth" Question. — At intervals,
ever since our recollection, the old subject of so-
called wolf teeth in horses, and their influence
u^TOU the sight, has been revived by correspon-
dents suppasing themselves to be in possession of
important facts bearing upon it, and never with-
out eliciting a lar_e number of other letters pro
or con, and seeming to excite as much interest as
if it had never been discussed before. We have
just been going through one of these periodical
discussions, and, from the length it had already
rea<;hed, we were disposed to notify our readers
that it must be regarded as finally concluded.
But a more fitting and interesting conclusion
still IS promised us in a letter just received from
Dr. Home, of Wisconsin, to whom we are frequent-
ly indebted for notes and articles on veterinary
subjects. Dr. Home writes us :
" In view of all the various contradictions and
disagreements with regard to false molars (wolf
teeth) in the horse — in order to find out the actual
facts in every particular, as to average number,
their influence, if any, etc., I have conceived the
notion of carefully examining one thousand
mouths, for the especial benefit of the readers of
the Country Gentleman. I have already exam-
ined 638 mouths, and shall soon "go off for fresh
fields, and finish my job, when I will carefully pre-
pare for you a table of the results. Six or eight
newspapers, at different places I have visited for
the purpose, have mentioned the fact that I am
engaged in this task in your behalf and I enclose
a sample notice of the kind cut from the White-
water Register."
^Ji.6
TEE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE POULTRY QUESTION.
Wm. T. Smedley, of Chester county, writes as
follows to the Germantown Telegraph:
Which is the best breed of fowls to keep ? The
question comes up at intervals, and has done so
as long as I can remember, and probably will for
all future time. I am not going to attempt
answering it, for it is one governed entirely by
circumstances. Mr. S., who makes a specialty of
raising early chickens for Philadelphia market,
thinks Light Brahmas at 75 cents per pound the
best ; while T. considers Buff Cochins, the eggs of
which he sells at ^3 per dozen, the ne 'plus ultra
of fowls. Then D., who rears poultry exclusively
for his own table, thinks the Game have no equal
for sweetness of flavor and delicate tenderness of
flesh ; while his aristocratic neighbor J. glories
in his flock of Dorkings, which he is sure have no
superior for any purpose. As it is with fowls, so
it is with many other matters about the farm —
each one thinks his own the best, and many ac-
cording to the circumstances may be right.
I have tried a good many breeds of fowls
always with the main object of producing eggs ;
and as I grow older in years and experience, I am
each year more and more convinced that, except
rearing fancy stock for fancy prices, plenty of
food of proper kinds, good warm shelter in winter
time, with clean roosting-places and plenty of
range in summer, are of moi'e importance than
breed ; and producing eggs much more profitable
than raising poultry for market. Even the
awkward Shanghai, now so much despised, made
quite a respectable show on the profit side of the
balance-sheet when supplied with plenty of animal
food, about the quality of which they were not at
all delicate, goodly-sized frogs and whole mice
being gulped down without a shudder. They,
however, soon gave way tc other varieties, which
were superseded by something else, till now I
have a strong cross of white-faced Black Spanish
with Light and Dark Brahmas and some Jersey
Blues and Dominiques ; and either by better man-
agement or from the superiority of the crossed
breeds, they have proven the most profitable of
any I have tried for egg-producing purposes.
As the figures are the best proof to judge by,
I will state that since January 1, 1873, 1 have sent
to market as the produce of 75 hens, 732 dozen
eggs besides what were used for family use, o^
which no account was kept. These were sold by
a wholesale commission dealer, and returned
$182.47 for a trifle over nine months, leaving
plenty of time for each hen to run her yearly in-
come up to .1^3.
Their grain-food was corn, of which they have
at all times, winter and summer, as much as they
can eat, and in winter they have a feed of crushed
bones about twice a week. The bones are princi-
pally of beef, which, after being boiled and mashed
with a heavy hammer on a large stone, are
sought after with the greatest eagerness, being
preferred to everything else and swallowed some-
times in pieces as large as grains of corn. I find
them preferable for laying hens in winter to
animal food in any other form. In summer we
have plenty of range for them in field and wood,
and you may depend they are great scavengers
and I might add, splendid scratchers, being abun-
dantly able and willing to dig up a timothy sod
if they suspect worms in it.
The children (we raise children too) have the
principal care of feeding and collecting the eggs,
which is quite a labor of love with them ; at the
same time taking the charge from older hands and
making the business so much the more profitable.
Oyster Progeny. — The oyster repeats the story
of its birth by means of what is called a spat, and
it has been asserted that a single oyster yields two
millions of young ones, an assertion which may be
set down as a figure of speech. There cannot,
however, be a doubt of the oyster being highly
productive, and it ought, in common with its co-
geners, to be so, as countless thousands of its
progeny never come to maturity — indeed, never
obtain a chance of getting leave to grow. If the
newly-born oyster does not speedily find a coign
of vantage in the shape of a proper anchorage
it becomes lost to the public as a future comesti-
ble, for it is an essential feature of oyster existence
and oyster grov/th that the spat, almost immedi.
ately after being excluded from the parent shell,
should fall on a rocky or a shelly bottom— at all
events not on a mud bed, which would at once
smother the embryo mollusk. A rocky, stone-
spread soil is the paradise of oyster growers ; they
are well aware that it contains the chief condition
of oyster growth in great abundance, and it is a
knowledge of this fact that has so much aided the
.various plans of artificial cultivation entered upon
n France and England.
The oyster does not grow so rapidly as has been
popularly supposed. It maybe given at least four
TEE LdJVCASTER FARMER.
24.7
years to arrive at the productive point. As an
index to its growth, it has been estimated that
while in the spat stage, a bushel measure v/ould
contain about twenty-five thousand infantile na-
tives ; in the second year, when young oysters are
denominated brood, a bushel would hold a fifth
part of that quantity, whilst in the third year the
measure would be about two thousand ; oysters
are then called ware. In the fourth year, when
the seedling has developed into the full-grown
" native," a bushel has been estimated to hold from
'twelve to sixteen hundred oysters.
CURIOUS HYBRID.
The grand attraction of the Jardin d'Acclima-
tion, at the present, moment, is an Arab horse, a
Morocco mule, and their /oaZ. This unique pro-
duction was born in Algeria, in the present year,
and caused a great commotion amongst the Arabs-
who have a saying that, " When the mule shall
produce young, men will become women, and wo-
men men," and it was with difficulty feliat the of-
fending mother mule could be preserved from exe,
cution before the birth. Fortunately the authori-
ties intervened, and the birth .of the foal took
place, and was officially recorded, and attested by
medical men, and by M. Laguerriere, a military
veterinary surgeon, who supplied the facts of the
case. Tt.e sire is an Arab of Tunis, 4^ years old,
and 1.40 metres, (4 feet, 7 inches) in height, of re-
markable beauty, but with rather a long head and
ears— a curious coincidence ; the dam is a mule of
Morocco, 9 years old, and 1.30 metres (4 feet, 3
inches) in height, a well-made animal, who had
done good work as a bat (pack saddle) mule, as
the gall marks show. It must be added that she
is again two months and a half gone with foal by
the same stallion, and the three animals live to-
gether in t -e most amicable manner. The young
hybrid is female, and more than three months old,
I.IU moires in hight, very vigorous, fat, well-form-
ed, and, except in Qplor and in the form of the
croup resembles the sire rather than the dam ;
and a noticeable peculiarity is that it has a corn
on all four legs, like the horse, whereas the ass and
mule rarely have them on the hind legs.
It is supposed that no such hybrid has ever been
seen before, although it hasbcon asserted that the
product of a horse and mule was once known in
the Neapolitan cavalry ; and M. A. Sanson, in
summing up tlie evidence existing on the sub-
ject, says that such a fact of a mule producing a
live, healthy foal is phenomenal. Of course, spec-
ulation on the consequences are rife, and it is sug-
gested that should the young hybrid mare prove
fruitful, a new species of animal may by careful
crossings be inaugurated. — Gardenefs Chronicle.
THE FALL ASPECT.
The fall rains have been favorable to wheat.
The greenest fields that we can see are the wheat
fields. Grass also looks well Well-drained
meadows and pastures are sure to come out well in
the spring, if not too close fed. The fall seeding
of timothy and clover has a good set. Corn has
in the main been harvested, and is well-cured and
a fair crop. There will be considerable corn-
stalks to feed. The broom corn escaped the frost,
and is a success, realizing more to the grower, on
account of the price, than for many years previous.
What few roots are raised show well. Fall
plowing opens the ground in fine condition, on ac-
count, probably, of' the unparalleled absence dur-
ing the entire season, of underground moisture.
The earth, deep down, is porous for once ; and the
mellow condition of the land shows it. The sur-
face, also, is not hard, owing to the many but
slight showers. There is a good prospect of late
fall plowing, which is usually be^t if it can be ac-
complished early enough. It must rain much in-
deed to soak the ground through, and this is
needed to supply our wells and cisterns during the
winter. Walnuts are a full growth this year. Of
apples we are short ; there is really a want felt.
The Spitzcnburgh is a total failure. Potatoes
are plenty and of the very best quality. Fruit of
all kinds has been canned perhaps to a greater ex-
tent than ever. Altogether, the year has been a
moderately favorable one to the farmer ; and the
outlook for the coming year is excellent. The
high price of hay, including straw, and the scarcity
of fodder, with the low ruling of dairy products the
past few years, will be likely to have the tendency
of turning off some of our dairy stock to the butch-
ers thus lessening comparatively the capacity for
dairy production ; while the prospect of a good
grass crop the coming season is favorable to those
who continue in the business. Hops are doing
well ; so is wool. On the whole, the farmer has
no reason to complain of what is before him. — f. g.
Cejitral New York.
PECULIARITIES OF BIRDS.
Recent adepts in natural history state some
curious facts about birds. It is said that among
other " mental qualities " which our winged
2If8
THE LAJyCASTER FARMER.
friends possess, they have a wonderful power of
"calculating distances." As new weapons of
destruction are invented, many species of birds
narrowly observe their range, and keep out of the
dangerous distance, without troubling themselves
to fly fixther than is necessary. Soinebi'ds, an
English authority maintains, have studied " rifle
practice," and give themselves a longer distance
from a rifle barrel than is necessary when a "smooth
bore" is pointed at them. This may be true, for
the wonderful sagacity which animals possess
may be admitted within bounds.
Domestic poultry, losing much, do not still lose
all their aptness, though "Tiff," in the story,
pronounces them "shallow things. " They will
avoid a carriage wheel, at the last moment, sel-
dom moving more than three or four inches out of
the way. But their aptness at "calculation,"
when a steam-engine is the " motor," is not cred-
itable. Railroad trains tl- rough rural distiicts
immolate large numbers of chickens. The birds
can "time" a horee, but not a steam-engine.
Birds have a fine eye, it is noted, for beauty
and adornment — domestic fowls always excepted
— and some varieties are great imitators. Their
character is summed by the writer already referred
to as follows : "It may be safely said that birds
seem to have more capacity for perceiving beauty,
much more gift for social enjoyment, a finer
knowledge of distance and direction, and more
power of vocal imitation, than any other order of
animals of which we know anything. On the other
hand, they have less sense of power and sympathy
than the dog, and therefore much less sense of
responsibility to their superiors, whom they often
love, but seldom serve. * * They are too fast,
too migratory in their habits to learn anything
which needs perfect fidelity and vigilance. * *
They are the musicians, and we might almost say
the sensuous poets of the aniTnal world ; but mu-
sicians and sensuous poets do hot conduce to
progessive knowledge and ethical culture."
SALT.
Few persons realize the value of salt in agri-
cultural operations. -In large doses it is of course
an injury, destroying everything vegetable it
comes in contact with. In heavy soil it is also an
injury, as the tendency is to make it still heavier,
and thus whatever good it might have in one re-
spect is outweighed by the other. But in light,
sandy soils^ or those elevated tracts of land not
wet, but which are liable to become dry in sum-
mer time, it has been found of the greatest benefit,
and this chiefly on account of the property it has
of absorbing moisture in dry weather. It is for
this perhaps as much as for any chemical quality
that it proves so beneficial in these cases. U.sually
wheat does best on heavy, though not wet lands ;
but where salt ha,s been used on light soils, as
good crops have been gathered as on the most
fayored heavy soils In the far Western States,
where rain does not fall often, and the danger to
crops is chiefly through droughts in the summer-
time, salt in light doses ought to prove beneficial ;
and in the sandy soils of Delaware, Maryland and
Virginia, it might be employed to a much greater
extent than now with profit.
It is chiefly for the moisture it seems to draw from
the atmosphere, that it has often been found of so
much good for asparagus. The asparagus requires
an immense deal of water in the make-up of its
stalks, though it does not like to grow in w^et
ground ; and this moisture the salt supplies. It
has also been found of excellent benefit in raising
turnips, beets, caj>bage and other succulent vege-
tables. But it has not been forgotten that it is
an injury in soils already wet or heavy ; and there-
fore good as it is in so many cases, an indiscrimi-
nate use of it will result in disadvantage. In
this respect it is like lime and some other things
in which even " salt will not even save it".
Agricultural labor, to be successful, must be
conti-olled by intelligence. Brains are necessary
to success in agriculture. A man may rise before
day, and work till after night, may sow with dili-
gence and reap with care, but unless the farm
work is done in the proper way, and at the
proper time, the resiilt of the effort will be a fail-
ure. Season and climate have a limited influence
over soils; there are no bounds to the influence
exerted by well trained, intelligent-mind over the
soil.
How TO Kkrp Meat.— Meat is much better
for family use when at least one week old in cold
weather. The English method for keeping meat
for some time has great merit. Experts say,
hang up • a quarter of meat with the cut end up,
being the reverse of the usual way, by the leg,
and the juice will remain in the meat, and not
run to the cut and dry up by evaporation. It is
worth a trial, and when once tried will be con-
tinued.
THE LAJ\rCASTER FARMER.
249
Keeping Cabbages Through the Winter. —
A Michigan correspondent says : " We make a
deep and wide 'dead furrow' with a plough, in
dr}', sandy soil, and then lay the cabbages in it,
packed close together with the stalks up. Then
throw tho earth back on to the cabbages. The
cabbages should be dry and the weather cold, and
care should be taken that the furrow left on the
side of the row of cabbages should be cleaned
out, so as to carry off the water. If no water
gets to the cabbages, and the heads are sound,
large and hard when put in, we have never
experienced any difficulty in keeping them per-
fectly until spring.
Mice in Orchards. — To prevent mischief by
mice in orchards, whether plowed or not, the
grass around the trees should be carefully hoed
away a foot or more, and the loose, clean earth
should be drawn or heaped up around^ them. In
different parts of the orchard, but away from the
trees, sheaves of straw or cornstalks should be
placed. In these the mice will gather, and they
may be destroyed in large numbers by placing
some cornmeal mixed with arsenic among the
sheaves.
To plow deep is to renew the soil by bringing
up to the light of the sun and benefit of the air
the riches which lie below.
BOOK AND SPECIAL NOTICE DE-
PAKlMENT.
LITfiRi-RY N>TIC£S.
Petersox's Maoazike for Xovomber and Docomhor
are oil ourtalile. A pi'ominciit Iciiture of tliisMai^a-
zine is its c'opyrij:!it novelettes, two of wliieli ai)5)ear
ill NoV'inber iiumlier, '■Theo," by Miss Iloilii'soii,
and '-TIk! Lost Inheritance," by'Mrs. Ann S. St(!-
phens.ljotb very farsujiurior to the continnod stories
to be found in magazines j^enerally. /?»/, ax a coteni-
pnrarjj !ni//.t, (he x/oriex, (he faxhiotix, the paKcnix, in
a!bor(. eccrijUiing in •' Pe(crx6n.'''' is (hcbcxi of Ux kind.
Tlie price of this Mairazine. too, is anotlier thin;i in
its favor. It is bijt Two Oollaus a Yeai:. Tlie I'ros-
])eetns for ISTl is pviblish(>d witli tliis number, aiul \v<'
lind that the prices to clubs are astonisiiinyly low,
viz.: three copies for .'^l..')!), with a sn;KMl) Mi'zzoi jnl
(I'i inciies by -24), "Not Lost, But (Joni; Bkkoi:i:," to
the person f-etting up the; club. For Utrge cltilix (In-
prices ere even loi"er. A ciioice of eitjlit sph-ndid i)re-
minni eiiKravin^s. for fraininjc, is f?ivon.f(n'lifty cents
extra, to subscribers for "Peterson" for 1S74. " Speci-
mens of the Maijazine are sent, gratis, if written for.
Ad<lrcss CiiAiu,i;s J. PETiiiisoy, 3'Jo Chestnut Street,
I'liiladelpliia, Pa.
Vick's Floual (it'iDTi; fou 1S7I. — This mas'nificent
Fioral, QiKirler/// of UO pajres. has biu-u rcceiveil : ;ind
we are almost al a loss how to speali of it as it (io-
implements, landscapes and lawns : and the tvpo-
Sraphical descriptions an<l explanations are fanlt'less.
Jso onenee<lsa more practical system of floral and
vegetable botany, than he will And in this guide. In
addition to the coimiion names of plants— where
common names are recognizable— he also gives the
scienlUic names, including the natural orders to
which they severally belong; and throughout the
work, much of the letter-press relates to the modes
of culture, to parlor, church, and festal decoration.s,
and also to scraps of historv. The price is only 25
cents a year; and the man who is liberal enough to
issue quarterly such a work as this, deserves the pat-
rf)nage of his countrymen, who no doubt will send
him their orders, when they want to embellish their
homes. Ihe frontispiece, illustrating half a dozen
varieti(-sot the Z)oi/We porli/lacd, in colors, is alone
worth twenty-fiv ■ cents ; but in addition to this the
sul)scribergets others, and .'JO 1 pages and .i 0 engrav-
ings during the year. Address Jajies Viciv, Kochcs-
ter, New ^ork.
That capital quarto, T7te Joiiriud of (he Fnrm; the
magnitioeiit royal quarto X<i/ioii,td Lire Slock Jmirmd ;
the statistical fii'm\-U>\\o Ainericcin F<irinerx' A(h-oc<de •
the superbly illustrated /•"(^/t;;,/ Righl Gnzctle ; WvaX,
sterling quarto The Practuvd Farmer ; the solid and
sensililo octavo Pe?i» Monlhhj; the inimitable ic/ws
of Life mid Journal of HeuUh ; the welcome and ver-
satile Gordener'x Monthly, and sundry Rural New
Yorkerx, for November have been duly received, and
we must ever regret that we have not more time and
sjiace to devote to the rich stores of agricultural lore
contained in their columns.
The " Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture," the "Monthly ll.iport of the D 'partment
of Agriculture for<Jctol)er," also duly came to hand,
containing useful and interesting information.
That oldest and most varied of '.xW—Oermanlown
Telegraph ; our local rural folio the Minheiin S-:n'ineL;
our neighboring Farmers' Club; drop punctually upon
our table, as puiigjiit seasoning.
The Carlixle Herald. ccinUunxn^ an interesting ac-
count of a live "Ceuteunial Meeting," hold in "Mother
Cumljerland." What do^'s LancarTter county intend
to do on this important subject ?
Removal of Advocate Office. — Having connected
myself with the Naliomd Crop Reporter, published at
Jacksonville, Illinois, it is deemed advisaljle foi- the
interests of both papers to remove the American
Farmer'.t Advocate Xu that place.
To give surtieieiU time for the removal and for pi-e-
pariiig a new dress liefore our next issue, there will
be no i^aper mad(! in Decembia-. The next number
will be issued from .Jacksonville, Illinois, about .Jan-
uary 1st, very greatly improved in its aiiiiearance
and character. Attoiitioii is especially callctllo tho
new feature of Crop 'ieports inaugurated iu the pre-
sent number, which gives to the Advocate a value
that no other one of fourtimes the iirice will possess.
As heretofore, it will be outspoken in its advocacy
of the farmer's mov-ement, so called, but will never
trucklf! for the sake of popularity to auv association
which, for the time being, may have caught the public
attention. ^^^
Notice the terms ou first page, and especially tho
low club rates. •
Aililri'ss all business cominunicatious tothe Ameri-
can Fanner's Advocate, Jacksonville. Illinois.
Chas. W. Greene
Editor and Manager.
SPECIAL NOTICES.
or nearly evi-ry one. is eml)ellishe<l with nuiner'ni-i
rtow.'rs. plants, vegetables, stylos ot iloral clecoratiou,
Special Notice to old and new subscribers of the
Laxcastek Fap.meu. Kvery subscriber paying in ad-
vance for 1S71, will receive a maguiticeut stejl en-
graving, entitled
"ONLY \ LITTLE BROOK"
Thp size of this picture is 21.K-27 inches, and ha^! al
ready proved itself to be one of the most popular
l)iclures ever put in the hands of the jniblic. It is
iiuit(? im|)ossible to give the reader a clear idea of
this beautiful |iicture hy description. The following
lines will give the reader some idea :
A dying child f.'iired the ''ivi'r of Ocalli, but while
passing over. whis])ered. "It is only a little brook,
aft''rall." The following lim^s, which are engraved
on the margin, will give as clear an iilea of the pic-,
ture as can bo had without seeing it :
250
THE LAJVCASTER FARMER.
" Deal' mother, I tremble to think I must die —
It is lonely and sad in the dark grave to lie ;
Could you but go with me, I know that your hand
Would guide me through the gloom "of death's
shadowy land.
" This deep, endless river, I shrink as I feel
Its darkness and mystery over me steal :
I fear its wild waves will my soul overwhelm,
Ere I reach the shore of the" Heavenly realm.
" But what is this music that falls on my ear,
Enchanting my senses, dispelling my fear ?
Oh, the angels are with me — I am not alone !
They're bearing me safe to my dear Blather's home.
"The playmates I loved, who have gone on before,
Are waiting for nie on yon Heavenly shore ;
Jesus beckons ma to Him— I follow His call —
It is only a little brook after all !"
The dying child and her mother occupy the front of
the picture, and through the open window is seen a
beautiful landscape. Descending, apparently, from
the skies, are dimly seen a company of angels, beck-
oning the child to them.
This picture is a masterpiece of art, and sells
everywhere at sight. It is not a gloomy picture, as
some might suppose, but exactly the opposite, and
goes right home to the hearts of all. It is always ap-
preciated as soon as seen.
The picture alone is wort i more than the price we
ask lor the Farmer and the picture together.
We want to dispose of at least one thousand of
these pictures. Address all orders to
John B. Dkvelin, Publisher,
Lancaster, Pa.
Or, W. J. Kafroth, Ag cut, West Earl, Pa.
Cholera AND P aut-Killer.— The ctHcaey of Peri-y
Davis' renowned Puin-KUler in all diseases of the
bowels, even in that terrible scourge, the Asiatic
cholera, has been amiily attested by the most con-
vincing authority. Missionaries inChina and India
have written home in comuiendation of this remedy
in terms that should carry conviction to the most
skeptical, while its popularity in communities nearer
home is ample proof that the virtues claimed tor it
are real and tangible. The Paln-Kitler has been be-
fore the public over thirty years, and has won a de-
servedly high reputation "as an alleviator of pain and
a preserver of health. It has become a household
remedy, from the fact that it gives immediate and
permanent relief. It is a pnrely vegetable prepara-
tion made from the best and purest materials, safe to
keep and to use in every family. It is recommended
by phj-sicians and persons of all classes, and to-day,
after a public trial of over thirty years — the average
life of man — it stands UTirivalleil and unexcelled,
spreading its usefulness over the wide world. Its
large and increasing sale affords positive evidence
of its enduring fame.
Just Issued.—" The Yankee Cook Book." A new
system of cooking. It tells you how to carve, bake,
cook, etc. It is just the book that is wanted bj' the
prudent housewife. Sent by mail post-paid for only
30 cents.
Hmv to Conduct a Debate, is an elegantlv bound book
of over '200 pages. A series of coniplcte"debates, out-
lines of debates and questions for discussion ; with
reference to the best sources of information on each
particular topic. Sent by mail on receipt of 50 cents.
The Fire-Side Magician. — This is just the book to
while away the long winter evenings by prying into
its contents. The art of natural magic made easv,
being a familiar and scientific explanation of leger-
demain, diversions with cards and all the minor
mysteries of mechanical magic, showing the feats as
performed in public, etc., etc., etc. Sent'by mail post-
paid on receipt of 30 cents.
Jack Johnson's Jokes for Ihz Jolly. — A collection of
astonishing anecdotes, weird witticisms, side-split-
ting stories and mirthful morsels for the melancholv
— a solace tor sadness, a lialni for the blues, etc., with
funny engravings. Price '25 cents.
All the above'books are from the press of Dick &
Fitzgerald, Publishers, 13 Ann street. New I'oik, to
whom all orders should be addressed.
American Sunday-school Worker.— The November
number of this journal for Sunday-school Teachers
and rurents, announces its terms for 1874. They are
so modified that it should increase its circulation,
which it richly deserves. It enters soon its fit'tli
year. Being undenominational, it has adaptation to
any Sunday-school. The Lesson Papers are admira-
bly adapted to promote in the children the study of
the Bible. The publislier, J. W. McIntyre, St. Louis,
offers to send on application without charge sample
copies.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1S73.
. Flour.— The market is firm, but the volume of busi-
ness is very moderate, the demand being confined to
the wants of the home consumers, 1,400 bbls. changed
hands, including superfine at $4 .50a5 ; extras at $5 •25a
6: Wisconsin and Minnesota extra family at $.! 50a
7 50 ; Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana do. do. at $8 75a
7 75, and fancy brands at $Sal0, as in quality. Kye
Flour sells at 44 50a4 (ii\4,.
Grain.— The Wheat market is steady, with light re-
ceipts and offerings; sales of 3,000 bushels red at $1 50a
1 60 ; amber at $1 58al 67, and Nos. 2 and 1 spring at
$1 35iil 45 — Rj'e ranges from 82 to S5c. Corn is in lair
request at yesterday's prices ; sales of 7,000 bushels at
67a'i8c. for yellow and western mixed. Oats are with-
out essential change ; sales of 6,000 bushels at 50a53c.
for white, and 47a50c. for mixed. The receipts to-day
are as follows: 4,070 bbls. flour, 8,400 bushels wheat,
7,000 bushels corn, 18,'20O bushels oats, 1,000 bushels
barley, 576 bbls. whisky.
Provisions.— There is very little movement, but
prices arc unchanged ; sales of mess pork at .^14 aOalS;
city family beef at $14 50. Beef hams are selling at $18
a'20. Bacon steady ; sales of smoked hams at llal3c. ;
sides at 9c., and shoulders at Sc Bulk meats are un-
changed ; sales of pickled hams, large and small aver-
age, at SaHl^c., and shoulders at 6%a7c. Lard attracts
but little attention ; sales of Western steam and ket-
tle rendered at ly^Xl^c
Seeds.— Cloverseed is quoted at 7a83^c per lb. Tim-
othy sold at $2 50a2 75 per bushel.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.
Monday, Nov. '24, 1873
Beef cattle were in|better demand this week and
prices were a fraction higher. •/','200 head arrived and.
sold at 6i^a7c. for extra Pennsylvania and Western
steers, Vyic. for a few choice, 5^a6c for fair to good
do., and 4a5c. per pound, gross^ for common, as to
quality.
Sheep attracted very little attention. Sales of fair
and choice at 4i/aoi/^c. Receipts. 9,000 head
Hogs moved freely at $6 50a6 75 tor corn-fed, an ad-
vance. Keeelpts, 7,000 head.
NEW YORK CATTLE MARKET.
New York, Nov. 26, 187.3.
Beeves. — Arrivals 1,016; demand light; sales slow
and limited, offerings exclusively for native stivers;
ordinai'y to choice selling from" 9c. to l'2;4c. Sheep
and lanibs : receipts 950; trade dull at 4a6c. for ordi-
nary to choice sheep; 5,7c. for lambs. Swine: re-
ceipts 8,300 ; live holding for 4%a4'^, with 1 car load
sold at $4 40 per 100 lbs.; dressed hogs firmer at Si^a
«J^c.
BALTIMORE CATTLE MARKET.
Baltimore, Nov. 26, 1873.
Cattle more active and higher ; very best on sale
to-day, 5a6i4;c ; first quality, 4a5c. ; medium to good
fair quality, 3a4c. ; receipts, 1,693 ; sales, 1,693.
Hogs —Heavy receipts ; in good demand at 5J^a6i^c.;
receipts, 10,046.
Sheep quiet; light receipts; sales at 4a5i^c. ; re-
ceipts, 1,059.
CHICAGO CATTLE MARKET
Chicago, Nov. 26. 187.3.
Receipts for three days ; Cattle, 6,679; Hogs, 130,500;
Sheep, 972.
Cattle inactive and weak; shippers not buying;
quality of the oil'erings poor ; prices easy but not
quotable lowin- ; Shipping Cattle. $4'25a4 75; fair to
good, $4 8.5a5 40 ; for choice Stocli Cattle, $2 .50a3 60.
I IJutchers' stock quiet; retail markets overstocKed
with poultrv, game, etc. Common to Choice Cows,
$2 .50a3 75 : Texan Cattle, $1 50a3 75.
I Hgs.— Under the enormous receipts the market re-
! mains strong : and prices to-day closed about .5c. per
i 100 pounds higher; packing grades, $3 70a3 90; shipping
1 grades, $3 8.5a"4 ; (luality good.
Sheep dull and easy ; $2 50a4 for common to choice
' grades.
liiHll^
\M
■-\" -^
»^^:-;,
l^ M
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11