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"THE  FARMER  IS  THE  FOUNDER  OF  CIVILIZATION."-- WEBSTER. 


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9 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER: 


DEVOTED  TO 


AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE,  PRACTICAL  ENTO- 
MOLOGY, DOMESTIC  ECONOMY  AND  GENERAL 

MISCELLANY. 


EDITED  BY  PROF.  S,  S.  RATHVON. 


VOLUME  VIII.-1876. 


LANCASTER.  PA.: 

JOHN  A.  HIESTAND,  PRINTER  AND  PUBLISHER. 

1876. 

/ 


« 


"THE  FARMER  IS  THE  FOUNDER  OF  CIVILIZATION.""WEBSTER. 


fM> 


p 


F 


» 


9 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER: 


DEVOTED  TO 


AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE,  PRACTICAL  ENTO- 
MOLOGY, DOMESTIC  ECONOMY  AND  GENERAL 

MISCELLANY. 


EDITED  BY  PROF.  S.  S.  RATHVON. 


VOLUME  VIIL-1876. 


LANCASTER.  PA.: 

JOHN  A.  HIESTAND,  PRINTER  AND  PUBLISHER. 

1876. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  EIGHT. 


A  Plea  for  the  Chicken-hawk,  7 
Abortion  of  Cows,  8 
All  Hail  !  Centennial  Tear,  9 
A  Birds-Eye  View  of  the  Build- 
ing and  Grounds,  10 
A  new  Industry,  14 
Agricult'l  Lile  iu  Missouri,  10 
An  Open  Winter,  19 
Arrival  of  Birds  in  1S75,  29 
An.  Meeting  in  Doylestown,  26 
All  about  Fruit-Grnwiuff   and 

General  Horticulture,  26 
Address  by  the  Pres  dent,  26 
Annual  Address  of  Master  Ja&i 
McSparran,of  Fulton  Grange 
No.  66,  L'5 
Artichokes,  33 
A  Good  Investment,  35 
Ancient  Gardening,  35 
Apples  and  their  Varieties,   38 
An  Essay-Hints  to  Farmers,  i'i 
A  Return  to  Economy,  46 
Applying  Manures,  47 
A  Large  Poultry  Yard,  48 
A  Profitable  Experiment,  48 
A   Nut   for    the    Botanists   to 

Crack,  .57 
An.  and  Biennial  Flowers,  58 
An  Acre,  62 
Ammonia  as  a  Cure  ior  Snake 

Bites,  63 
A  full  Tobacco  Vocabulary,  04 
American  Tobacco,  68 
American  Fruits,  68 
Adaptinir  Means  to  Ends,  70 
A  Wrinkle  for  Young  People,  74 
Advantage  of  Drainage,  79 
A  Simple  Microscope,  79 
Ans.  to  Corresp'ts,  85, 101, 115 
A  Pair  of  Texas  Travelers,  85 
About  Flies,  86 

A   Complete   Remedy  for  To- 
bacco Fly, 86 
About  Grasses,  87 
About  Cheese,  95 
Ashes  for  Crops,  95 
Application  of  Lime,  96 
A  Hen,  96 

A  Fact  for  Farmers,  96 
An  Enemy  of  Potato  Beetle,  102 
A  Valuable  Discovery,  104 
Adamstown  &  Billingfelt,  105 
Artificial  Tobacco,  106 
Apples,  106 
A  Fragment,  106 
A  Cure  for  Colds  in  Head,  112 
A  new  Pest,   113 
A  new  Enemy  in  Corn  Crop,  114 
A  Strange  Fish,  115 
American  Lunar  Moth,  115 
Advance  of  Pear  Blight,  116 
About  Mushrooms,  12? 
A  Model  Dairy,  128 
Arctic  Wolverine,  132 
About  Potatoes,  133 
Answers  to  Correspond'ts,  134 
A  Rare  Bug,  134 
Agricultural  Papers,  138 
A  Long  Furrow,  142 
Apples  at  the  Centennial,  143 
A  little  every  Day,  144 
A  Neglected  Apple,  145 
American  Coot,  148 
A  Bit  of  Penn'a  History,  149 
Artificial  Fertilizers,  1.50 
Amer.  Grapes  and   Wine,  153 
An  Exhibit  at  Centennial,  156 
Agricultural  Miscellany,  157 
A  Cheap  Carpet,  100 
Applied  Science,  160 
Ants  Destroy  Caterpillars,  161 
A  Word  for  the  Snake,  164 
A  Flat  Seed-Beetle,  164 
Amateur  Farmers,  170 
A  Wholesome  Drink,  175 
A  Good  Word  lor  the  Hog,  175 
Autumn  Care  of  the  Lawns,  175 
American  Poultry,  iii 
Adoration,  97 

Agric'l  and  Hort'l  Soc'y,  99 
Adulterated  Clover  Seed,  12 
About  Plant'g  Forest  Trees,  31 


Ans.  by  George  Geddes,  139 

Agricultural  Hall,  184 

Arab  Horse  Maxims,  191 

Agriculture  &  Horticulture, 192 

Bermuda  Grass  Growing  in 
Favor,  15 

Black  Cochins,  17 

Best  Varieties  of  Apples,  37,76 

Bay  Windows  for  Winter 
Flowers,  37 

Bee-Keeking  for  Farmers,  45 

Borrowed  Plumes,  45 

Bees  and  Bee -hives,  .59 

Best  Variety  of  Apple  Trees 
for  Planting,  60 

Brown  Tree  Borer,  60 

Brittle  Hoofs,  64 

Biting  the  Nails,  80 

Be  Sociable  with  Y'ngCatt!e,95 

Bees  on  a  Small  Scale,  96 

Buckwheat  as  Poultry  Food,96 

Bureau  of  Agriculture,  iii 

Barn  Yard  Manure  and  Chem- 
ical Fertilizer,  107 

Berries  for  Birds,  111 

Boys,  do  Something,  111 

Bitter  Butter,  119 

Black  Hamburg8,135 

Boiling  Eggs,  136 

Bat  Guano,  158 

Beets  for  Cows,  159 

Benefits  Derived  from  Read- 
ing Newspapers  and  Maga- 
zines, 167 

Bread  Sponge,  175 

Beets  for  Cows,  iii 

Breeding  Horses,  13 

Breeding  Asses,  12 

Breeding  Sheep,  12 

Breeding  Swine,  12 

Baltimore  Oriole,  21 

Buckwheat  as  Poultry  Food  ,96 

Benson  &  Burpee's  Second 
Queen  of  Yorkshire,  165 

Buckwheat  Cakes,  180 

Beefsteaks  and  Pies,  184 

Butter  Culture,  185 

Best  Food  for  Swine,  191 

Corn  Culture,  -5 

Cultivation  of  the  Cherry,  28 

Currants  and  Gooseberries,  i;9 

Celery,  163,  31 

Corn  Starch  Cake,  32 
Care  of  Lambs,  48 
Correctivesin  Feed'gPoul'y,48 
Culture  of  Asparagus,  55 
Cultivat  on  of  Wheat,  60 
Condition  of  the  Crops,  61 
Care  of  Hogs,  63 
Care  of  Horses,  63 
Controlling  Bulls,  64 
Cooking  by  Cold,  64 
Cabbages  (BraesicaOleracea), 

82,  66 
Choice  Ever-Bloom'g  Roses,  71 
Choice  Vegetable  Crops,  72 
Commercial  Value  of  Hen  Ma- 
nure, 73 

Condition  of  Crops,  75 
Cutting  &  Curing  Tobacco,  79 
Calla  Lilies,  79 
Care  of  Fowls,  80 
Cauliflower,  82 
Care  of  Canary  Birds,  93 
Culture  of  the  Yam,  94 
Convenient  Barns,  94 
Cutting  off  Lower  Liaib»,  96 
Confession,  97 
Crop  Returns  for  June,  108 
Castile  Soap  and  its  Counter- 
felts,  109 
Chinese  Agriculture,  119 
Cheese,  I:;7 
Climatology,  136 
Christian  Laconics,  143 
Covering  Manure,  144 
Centennial  Biscuits,  157 
Centennial  Snake  Story,  162 
Centennial  Apples,  162 
Care  of  Young  Orchards,  164 
Cleaning  Window-Glass,  174 
Corn  Cribs,  174 


Chemistry   of   the    Fattening 

Process,  175 
Corn  Cakes,  180 
Canada     Frult-G  rowers.     Re- 
port, ill 
Cabbages — Sourkrout,  180 
Chester  White  Swine,  181 
Crossing  for  Improvement  of 

Common  Sheep,  190 
Collection  of  Pigeons,  191 
Corn  Cribs,  ill 
Death    of    the    Apple    Tree 

Borer,  5 
Dress  Orchard  Trees,  8 
Details  of  the  Live  Stock  De- 
partment, 10 
Dogs,  11 
Domestic  Economy,  14, 93,127, 

159,  174 
Dominique  Fowls,  16 
Destroying  the  Bark  Lou9e,  28 
Different  Modes  of  Pruning,  36 
Discussion  on    Forest    Trees, 

Rain  Fall,  etc.,  43 
Dairy  House  Ventilation,  44 
Dried  Potatoes,  46 
Dorkings,  49 

Dew — Eepec'y  Honey-Dew,  49 
Don't  Chop  with  a  Poor  Axe,63 
Decorating  Flower  Gardens,  70 
Destroying  Weeds,  158,  78 
Don't  Use  the  Hatch  or  Saw ,79 
Dry  Buckwheat  Flour,  79 
Death  of  a  Famous  Horse,  79 
Dottlngs  from  Leoline,  149,  87 
Drum  Stick  Asparagus,  93 
Dish  Wash'g  without  Soap,  128 
Decay  of  the   Trees  in  Hyde 

Park,  129 
Draining  Orchards,  143 
Deranged    by   the    bite   of   a 

Hog,  144 
Domestic  Hints,  149 
Directions  for  Calclmining,  160 
Deficient  Ingred'ts  of  Soils,169 
Dairy  vs.  Creamery,  176 
Ducks,  176 

Dottings  from  Leoline,  180 
Domestic  Economy,  189 
Experimenting  with  Sheep,  11 
Educating  Horses,  1.5- 
Experiments  made  at  the  Ex- 
perimental F'rm,WestGrove, 
Chester  co..  Pa.,  25 
Election  of  Officers,  28,  27 
Evergreens,  29 
Economy  vs.  Hard  Times,  30 
European  Artichoke,  33 
Economical  Feed'g  of  Stock,  60 
Everlasting  Fence  Post,  64 
East'n  and  West'n  Wheat,   64 
Economy,  Efficiency,  Safety,  69 
Early  Tomatoes,  79 

Elder  Bushes,  87 

Egg  Custard,  87 

Expenses,  90 

Experience  with  Bees,  110 

Economy,  112 

Elm  Tree  Leaf  Beetle,  131 

Edible  Mushrooms,  149 

Eating  too  Much,  174 

Exhibition  Notes,  184 

Eggs,  ISO 

Fat  and  Draught  Cattle,  11 

Fat  Sheep,  11 

Fat  Swine,  11 

Fish,  11 

Farming  and  Stock  Raising  on 
Continent  of  Europe,  11,  60, 
75,  91,  108,  155,  172 

Fruit  &  Veget's  by  weight,  14 

Fruit  Trees  from  the  North,  28 

Failure  of  the  Beet  Crop  In 
France,  42 

Forest  Trees  and  Rain  Fall,  43 

Farmers'  Sons  and  Daughters 
Must  Work,  46 

Floral  Speculation,  52 

Farm  Mortgages,  52 

Fish  Culture,  55 

Feeding  Poultry,  62 

Farm  Accounts,  73 


Fruit    Culture    In    Lancaster 

City,  71 
Farm'g  in  Contln'l  Europe,  78 
Farmers'  Fruit  Cake,  tO 
Fried  Potatoes,  S7 
From  Over  the  Pond,  89 
Fairy     Rings     "  in     pastures 

green,"  105 
Farmers  and  the  Centen'l,  109 
Food  for  Young  Pigs,  110 
Fire  Blight,  116 
French  Cooking, 117 
Feed  for  Young  Fowls,  135 
Fine  Peaches,  1.36 
From  North  Carolina,  142 
Fertilizers  for  Grass,  144 
Fishbone  in  the  Throat,  144 
Facts  About  Birds,  152 
Forestry,  16S 
Fru  t  as  a  Medicine,  171 
Feeding  Animals,  172 
Fine  Pumpkin  Pies,  174 
Fall  or  Spring  Planting,  176 
Farming   Without  Stable  Ma- 
nure or  Stock,  176 
Facts   of   Natural    History — 

No.  8,  21 
Farmers'  Club  Notes,  187 
Fence  Corners,  III 
General  Miscellany,  15, 31,  47, 

61,77,93 
General  Reports  and  Letters  ,26 
Grapes,  29 

General  Arrangements,  90 
Good  Thing  about  Rye,  95 
General   Miscellany,  109,  127, 

143,  175 
Gun  Barrel  Buddlne,  110 
Good  Farm  Roads, 112 
Graham  Gems,  128 
Grape  Phylloxera,  130 
Germination  of  Seeds,  164 
Good  Tillage,  170 
Good  Wives,  174 
Goose  Berry,  The  178 
Green  Fields  of  the  Moon,  187 
History  and  Objects  of  the  Or- 
der of  Patrons  of  Husband- 
ry, 14 
Househ'd  Recipes,  15, 46, 64, 93 
"Homes  without  Hands,"  2l 
Humming  Birds,  37,  22 
Hybridization  of  Fruits,  27 
Hurtful  Reading,  32 
Home  that  is  Home,  36 
How  to  Raise  Oats  Cheaply,  41 
Hospitals  for   Horses,  Cattle 

and  Pigs,  42 
How  Butter  is  Tainted,  46 
How  to  Use  Corn  Starch,  46 
How  to  Get  Eggs  in  Winter,  48 
Honey  Dew,  72,  67,  49 
Hygrometrical  Diary  at  Phila- 
delphia, for  March,  1876,  51 
How  I  Raised  my  Tomatoes,  58 
Harrowing  Wheat  In  Spring,  61 
How  to  Take  Care  of  Lawns,  61 
Hints  about  Meat,  63 
Hold'g  on  for  Higher  Prices,  63 
Hollow  Horn,  64 
Hay-Making  In  Norway,  64 
How  to  Make  an  Omelet,  64 
Houdans,  65 
Honey-Ants  Again,  66 
"  Holstein"  Cattle,  74 
How  to  Prevent  Robbing,  77 
Hints  for  the  Season,  78 
How  to  Pour  Tea,  79 
Hyacinths  in  Glasses,  80 
How  to  get  rid  of  Rose  Slugs,  84 
Horned  Frogs,  85 
How  to  Stack  Grain,  88 
How  to  3ee  the  Great  Exhibi- 
tion, 80 
How  to  Spend  a  Week  Profit- 
ably, £0 
Horse  Radish  Sauce,  93 
Have  Faith  In  your  Business,  93 
How  to  Grow  Them,  94 
How  Plants  Feed  on  Ammo- 
nia, 95 
SarnesslQg  Colts,  96 


Heaves  in  Horses,  90 
Historical  Sketch  of  Lancas- 
ter, 98 
Hygrometrical  Diary  at  Phila- 
delphia, for  June,  1776, 103 
Hints   for   New    Beginners  in 

Rural  Life,  106 
How     to    Keep     your    wife's 

Love,  109 
Hold'g  on  for  Higher Prices,lll 
Hunger,  111 
How  to  Keep  Eggs,  113 
How  to  Make   Old  Horses   ap- 
pear Well,  112 
Horse  Management,  112 
Hereditary  Influences,  121 
Household  Recipes,  128,  175 
How  to  Get  Along,  128 
How  to  Test  Fungi,  136 
How  Weeds  are  Propagated, 144 
Holland  Pippin,  145 
"How  to  Keep  the  Boys  on  the 

Farm,"  146 
Heroic  Farming,  155 
How  to  Dispose  of  Our  Corn 

Crop,  156 
How  to  preserve  Cut  Flow's, 159 
How    do    You    Make     Cider 

Wine » 160 
How  to  Keep  Bouq's Fresh,  174 
Hard  Soap,  174 
Harrowing,  174 
How  to  Manage   Cuttings,  176 
Hens  That  Don't  Set,  176 
History  of  Lanc.  Farmek,177 
History  of  the"Three  Earls, "ill 
Horticultural  Hall,  184 
How     to     Cure    Seed     Leaf 

Tobacco,  1«5 
How  Cider  is  Made,  186 
Home  and  Happiness,  187 
Household  Recipes,  1^9 
How  to-  Clean    Marble    Top 

Furniture,  190 
How     to     Utilize     a     Dead 

Horse,  192 
Horticultural  Notes,  192 
Is   a   Change  of  Seed   Neces- 
sary ?  8 
In  the  Production  and  Repar- 
ation of  Muscular  Force,  12 
Is  Swine  Flesh  a  Proper  Food 

for  Man  ?  31 
Influence    of    Food     on     the 

Mind,  32 

Interesting  Essay  and  Reports 

of  Practical  Experiments,  44 

Insects  and  Insect   Remedies 

One  Hundred    Years    Ago, 

.53,  67 

Influence  of  Temperature  Upon 

Milk  and  Butter,  60 
Insecticides,  69 
Insect  Depredations,  69 
International  Importance,  80 
Improv't  of  Grass  Land,  91,  95 
Insects  Never  Grow,  113 
ImproT  ng  the  Land  "Inside 

the  Fences,"  1.7 
Insect  Vitality,  135 
Improvement  of  Potatoes,  14S 
Ignorance  in  Farming,  143 
Iron  and  Gold,  143 
Insect  Tenacity,  164 
Insect  Powder,  167 
Insect  Longevty,  179 
Josiah  Hoopes  on  Yards  and 

Lawns,  '27 
Jeru  alem  Arctichoke,  33 
Jefl'erson's  Ten  Practical  Rules 

of  Life,  80  ' 

June  Meet  ng  of  the  Agricul- 
tural and  Horticultural  So- 
ciety, 92 
Jonathan     Dorwart's     Fancy 

Poultry,  192 
Keep  the  Feet  Warm,  14 
Keeping  the  Meals  Waiting,  14 
Keeping  up  the  Fertility,  107 
Keeping   Milk   and   Butter  In 

Cellars,  l27 
Keeping  Eggs,  128,  174 


Kentucky  Blue  Grass,  157 
Ladies'     Parlor     or     Window 

Flowers,  8 
Look  out  for  Canada  Thistle,  9 
Live  Stock,  10 
Lice  on  Poultry,  16 
Literary  and  Business  Notices, 

10,  :v.',  is 

Lancaster  Co.  as  a  Grand  Ap- 
ple Orchard,  -4 

Lar?e  Poultry  Yard,  32 

Light  Bralinias,  35 

Lambs  and  Calves,  B2 

Literary  Notices,  64,  SO,  1'28 

Lawns  — How  to  Make  and 
Keep  Them,  77 

Late-KecpinR  Fruits,  85 

Locomotion,  91 

Labels,  9R 

Labor  Necessary  to  Happiness, 
111 

Lightnins;  &  Llght'g  Rods,  1^1 

Locusts  as  Food,  1:^5 

Late  Flowering  Trees,  137 

Living  Within  bne'sMeau's, 144 

Lovely  Blooming  Bulbs,  151 

Lice  on  Young  trees,  131 

Live  Gate  Posts,  Ipit 

Linnaeau  Notes,  104 

Live  Stock,  190 

Lice  on  Colts,  191 

Light  in  Stables,  19J 

Literary  Notices,  iil 
.  Matched  Teams,  11 

Miscellaneous,  l.',  4'.',  44,  60 

Miscellaneous  Business,  M,  14 

Mental  Culture  among  Far- 
mers, Iil 

Make  Hot-Beds,  24 

Management  of  Orchards,  i!7 

More  about  Apple  Orchards,  i:7 

M'scellaucous  Topics,  '.9 

Milk  Transmits  Infection,  46 

Meteorology  of  March,  1776  - 
1870,  50 

Meteorological  Diary  at  Phila- 
delphia, for  March,  1776,  50 

Meteorological  Diary  at  Liber- 
ty Square,  Lancaster  county, 
March,  1870,  51 

Management  of  Manure,  62 

Muchor  Little,  0:i 

Manure  for  Grass,  78 

MyExperience  with  Italians,  87 

Meat  Safes  or  Closets,  93 

Management  of  Horses,  94 

Milk  from  Holstein  Cows,  94 

Mulching  Recently  Planted 
Trees,  95 

Mellow  Soil  around  Trees, 
144,  96 

Meeting  of  Millers'  Ass'n,  100 

Maryland  Fruits,  100 

Meteorological  Diary  at  Phila- 
delphia, for  June,  1776,  103 

Meteorological  Diary  at  Phila- 
delphia, for  July,  1776,  116 

Mushroom  and  Truffle,  1.'4 

Manurial  Value  of  Clover,  139 

Mulching  Grass  for  Winter,  159 

Manuring  In  Fall,  159 

Making  Good  Butter,  159 

Mucilage,  175 

Main  Build'g  &  Annexes,  184 

Machinery  Hall,  184 

Memorial  Hall  A  Annexes,  184 

No.  4,  Asparagus,  2 

Neat  Cattle,  11 

New  Process  for  Preserving 
Meat,  14 

New  Use  for  Chicken 
Feathers,  66 

Neatness  in  Making  Butter,  78 

New  Potatoes,  79 

New  Stock  Yards,  96 

Our  Centennial  Greeting,  1 

Our  Cultivated  Vegetables,  2 

Our  Paris  Letter,  11,  '..9,42, 
75,  90,  91,  103,  125,  140,  17j 

Our  Local  Organ  zatlon,  12,  30 
140,  156,  173 

Our  Past  and  Future  Pros- 
perity, 13 

Our  Farmers  in  Council,  30, 
00,  75,  6.',  99,  126 

Old  Bufo,  53 

Old  and  New  Flowers,  53 

Old  Inventions  &,  laventora,  58 


Our  Centennial  International 
Exposition,  66 

Our  Bee-Keepers  In  Council,  76 

Our  Nut-Bearing  Trees,  79 

Our  Centennial  Annlvers'y,  97 

On  Bee-Culture,  105 

One  Egg  Cake,  li;8 

Old-fashioned  Reaping,  144 

Oatmeal  in  the  Household,  159 

Our  Lawns  aud  How  to  Keep 
Them,  76 

Our  Nat'l  Year  of  Jubilee,  97 

Oatmeal  In  the  Household,  190 

Paris  Green,  4 

Paris  Green  as  an  Insect  De- 
stroyer, 4 

Potatoes  for  Stock,  5 

Poultry,  U 

Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster 
County  Agricultural  and 
Horticultural  Society,  12,  42 

Peculiar  Etl'ccts  of  Winter 
Heat,  19 

Practical  Hints  about  Making 
and  selecting  good  Cheese,V() 

Pears  and  their  Culture,  28 

Preservrtion  of  Fruit  by  Ice,  28 

Peach  Culture,  '^9 

Potatoe  Culture,  40 

Practical  Lectures  on  Farm 
Animals,  42 

Profits  of  Raising  Corn  In 
Chester  county,  44 

Points  of  a  Jersey,  47 

Proceedings  of  the  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Society, 
60,  75,  92,  126,  140,  188 

Potatoe  Growing,  63 

Potatoes  for  Horses,  03 

Plaster  for  Clover,  64 

Peck's  Imported  Liquid 
Atomizer,  69 

Precocity  in  Animals  for 
Milk,  75 

Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster 
Co.  Bee-Keepers'  Society  ,76 

Planting  Ciardens  Early,  79 

Poultry  Manure,  79 

Packing  Eggs,  84 

Poisons  in  Agriculture,  89 

Potatoes  and  Potatoe  Grow- 
ing, 94 

Peas  Among  Potatoes,  96 

Prayer,  97 

Prologue,  98 

Peroration,  9S 

Potatoe  Beetle  Progress,  115 

Properties  of  Fuel— Wood,  118 

Penn .  Fruit  Grow's'  Society  ,145 

Pennsylvania  Fruit  at  the 
Centennial,  145 

Pure  and  Impure  Water,  153 

Proceedings  of  the  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Society, 
1.50,  173 

Proceedings  of  Tobacco  Grow- 
ers' Association,  157 

Persian  Insect  Powder,  164 

Protecting  Garden  Roots,  175 

Portable  Pig-Pen,  176 

Public   Acknowledgments,  ISO 

Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers' 
Society,  199 

Plymouth  Rock,  181 

Pumpkin  Pies,  190 

Queries  and  Answers,  3,  34, 
45,  14,  8 

Queries,  68 

Quidding  Horses,  112 

Quick  Work,  114 

Questions  and  Answers,  158 

Running  &  Trotting  Horses,  U 

Red  Pepper  and  Vegetables,  14 

Rural  Life,  :5 

Raspberries  &  Blackberries,  29 

Roses,  ■-9 

Rural  Improvements,  42 

Reports  of  Crops,  42 

R  ch  and  Poor  Grow  a  Grape 
Vine,  57 

Recompensingof  Teachers  with 
Gold  Medals,  75 

Root  Pruning  and  Blight,  80 

Raising  Chickens,  112 

Reproductive  Force,  122 

Reversion  of  Seeds,  122 

Rules  for  Home  Education,  128 

Remember  This,  128 


TNDEX. 


Rye  for  Winter  Pasture,  176 
Repelling  the  Grain  Weevil,  III 
Selections  &  Change  of  Seed,  4 
Successful  Orchards,  9 
Shearing  then  Is  Apparently 
Unfavorable  to  Nutrition,  11 
Salt  for  Domestic  Animals,  15 
Stock-Keeping     on       Small 

F'rms,  15 
Spiders,  22 
Strawberries,  105,  29 
Sliade  Trees,  31 
Stale     Agricultural     Reports, 

the,  31 
State  Agriculturists,  the,  .32 
Slaughter  of  Blnls   for  their 

Plumage,  35 
Suiiplementary,  36 
Selection  of  Seed  Corn,  40 
Slovenly  Women,  46 
Small  Fruit  on  the  Farm,  47 
Small  Potatoes  for  Seeds,  48 
Summer-Blooming       Bulbous 

Flowers,  58 
Standard  French  Cattle  Show, 

the,  00 
Substitute  for  Clipping  Horses 

In  Autumn,  60 
Spring  Care  of  Sheep,  62 
Selecting     Fowls     for    Breed- 
ing, 65 
.Seasonable  Hints,  71 
Shearing  Sheep,  75 
Sunlight,  79 

Something  about  Fir  Trees,  83 
Simple  Cure  for  Dyspepsia,  86 
Something  about  Bees,  88 
Scalv  Legs  on  Fowls,  96 
Saving  Seed.,  99 
Scale  Insects,  101 
Surface-Stirring  the  Soil,  107 
Sale  of  Short  Horns,  110 
Seasonable  Hints,  110 
Stick  to  your  Farms,  111 
Something  for  the  Sick,  112 
Swarming  by  Division,  139 
Something  for  Bachelors,  144 
Saving  and  Having,  144 
Sensational  Agricultural  Writ- 
ing, 1.54 
Seed  Wheat  and  Fruits,  1.57 
Sowing  Grass  Seed  alone,  158 
Seed  Wheat,ltsPreparat'n,158 
Sending  Plants  to  Sleep,  158 
Strawberry  Plants,  159 
Social  Life  on  the  Farm,  171 
Sleeping  Warm,  174 
Sheep— The  Outlook,  175 
Substantial,  180 
Selection  of  Breeds,  181 
Soil  of  Florida,  the,  186 
Scientific  Agriculture,  188 
Starting  a  Fire,  190 
Sheep  as  Fertilizers,  191 
Saddle  Galls,  191 
Sparrows,  192 
Salt    and    Lime    for    Horses' 

Feet,  192 
Scotch     Farmers    Ruined     by 

Mice,  192 
Small  Farms,  iil 
The  May-fly,  1 
The  Facts  of  Natural  History 

—No.  7,  5 
The  Pilgrim's  Progress,  6 
The  Fruit  Growers'  Society,  7 
Time  for  Reading,  7 
The  Dairy,    (Nos.  1.  2,  3,4,) 

7,  36,  72,  1:4 
The  Centennial  Exhib'n,  10,  53 
The  Foot  and  Mouth  Disease,  11 
The  Animal  Food  Question,  11 
The  Best  and  Most  Succulent 

Meat  Is  Furnished,  12 
The  Beet  Sugar  Manufactories 

on  the  Continent,  12 
Two  Means  of  Reduciner  Bones, 

12 
The  President's  An.  Address,  12 
The  Grangers   n  Lancaster,  14 
The  Cheese  Production,  16 
The  Progress  of  Invention,  16 
Toulouse  Geese,  17 
The  KedEchymyd,  17 
The  House-moth,  18 
The  "Snowflake"  and   "Eu- 
reka" Potatoes,  19 
The  Dairy  Interests,  20 


The  Facta  of  Natural  History 

—No.  8,  21 
The  Grangers,  24 
Testing    Fertilizers    and  their 

Continued  Action,  '.'5 
The  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  25 
The  Fruit  <irower«'  Society,  20 
The  Codling  Moth,  28 
Thoughts  for  March,  31 
The  Pestilential  East  Wind,  32 
To  Our  Contributors,  33 
The  Cent'y  Weather  Report,  34 
The  Potatoes  Enemies,  36 
The  Negiecteil  Hollyhoek,  41 
Transplanted  Trees,  41,  151 
The  Horses  of  Hungary,  42 
The  Ltbrary  ami  Finances,  42 
The      MeriU      of     Hungarian 

(irasH,  44 
The  Experimental  Farm  Club, 

44 
The  Agricultural  Horse,  47 
The  Bee-Keeping  Industry,  47 
Travels  of  I'lauts,  the,  50 
Tulip  .Mania,  the,  52 
Toads,  53,  1-7 
Thrushes,  54 

The  CulH'u  of  Hardy  Roses,  54 
Tree  I-aws,  5tl' 

The  Dairy  iV  Butter  Mak'g,  56 
The  Best  Cow  for  the  Dairy,  58 
The  Cost  of  Planllug   an  Or- 
chard, 57 
The  Culture  of  Vegetables,  57 
The  Humming  Bird,  59 
Transp'g  Hardy  Trees,  &c., 
The  Government  Show  of  Fat 

Stock,  00 
Telller's  New  Process  of  Pre- 
serving Meat  Fresh,  60 
The  Best  Chickens,  61 
Tree  MIgnonnctte,  64 
Tobacco  Crop  of  1,'"75,  08 
Tuberous-Rooted  Flowers,  72 
To    Prevent    the    Birds    from 

Pulling  Corn,  ~i 
The  Hamburgs  as  Layers,  74 
Two  Bee  Questions  Answ'd,  74 
The  Phylloxera,  75 
The  BcetSugar  War,  75 
The  Annual  Horse  Show,  75 
The     Projected     International 

Exhibition,  75 
The  Absence  of  Iron  lo  Wheat, 

75 
The    Management    of  Lamps 

and  Oil,  77 
To  Fix  or  to  Lift  a  Gate  Post,  78 
The  Crops  In  Illinois,  1-0 
The  Colorado  Potato  Beetle,  ^^l 
Two    "Horned   Frogs"    Visit 

Lancaster,  85 
Timely  Garden  Hints,  87 
Turnips   for   Milch  Cows   and 

Sheep,  87 
The  Centennial,  90,  145,  163 
The  Hawthorn,  90 
The  Crop  Prospect,  91 
The     Edgewood     Farmer     on 

Fences,  92 
The  Taste  of  Turnips  In  MUk 

and  Butter,  93 
The  Peach  Crop,  95 
The  Feeding  of  Horses,  95 
"Transplanting  Evergreens,  96 
To  Prevent  Splitting  of  Han- 
dles, 96 
The  Crops,  96,  163 
The  Centennial  InvocalloD,  97 
Thanksgiving,  97 
The  Introductory  Address,  97 
The  Centennial  Oration,  99 
Thermometer,  June,  1876,  103 
The  Currant,  103 
The  Old  Apple-Tree,  103 
The   Centennial     Live     Stock 

Display,  lOS 
The  Language  of  Fowl*,  109 
The  Grain  .Movement,  112 
The  Care  of  Canaries,  112 
The  Vegetable  Caterpillar,  115 
The  Centennial  Heat,  116 
The  Temperature  for  the  Last 

Half  Century,  116 
The  Birds  and  their   Uses,  117 
The    History     of     Cultivated 

Vegetables,  118 
The  Magpie  Pigeon,  124 


riL 

The  Tomato  or  "I^ve  Apple," 

118 
Transplanting  Trees  In  Fall  or 

Spring,  119 
Truffles,  1.4 

The  Wintering  of  Plants,  124 
The  Crops  of  the  East,  l27 
The  LucuHt,  132 
The  Barreil  Owl,  133 
The    (ireat     Trees     of     Call- 

fornia,  139 
The  Bee- Keep's' Sorl'y,  141 ,173 
The  .Millers'  Asn>elallou,  142 
Tlie  Tobacco  tJrow  ers,  142,  lh9 
T(i  Use  Hen  Manure,  143 
The  Wheat  C'roirln  Euro|>o, 144 
The    Farmers'  Centenulal,  144 
The  Animal  and   the  Vegeta- 
ble, \w 
Their  Phvfleal  Relation toeach 

Other,  I4<5 
Thanksln.Mr.J.WIndolph,14a 
The  Wurm  Snake,  147 
The  Morse  r>r  Walrua,  14S 
The  l)oU)llnk,  14 -i 
The  Selcellon  of  Cows,  152 
Test  of  Quality,  153 
The  Im|Kirlance  of  Educating 

llorsi's,  151 
The       Curulverous       Pllcber- 

Planl,  1.54 
The   Chinese   Management  of 

Ruses,  I5S 
Top-Uresslug  Wheat,  1.59 
The  Hotting  of  Celery,  1.59 
The  Dry  Earth  Trealmonl,  159 
The  September  Sn.rm,  l«4 
The  Dlsbemlnal'n  of  Plants,  104 
The    Destruction    of    -Noxious 

Insects,  lOii 
The  Exiwrtatlon  .if  Beef,  171 
Treatment     of     Unmanagebla 

Horses,  170 
To  Our  Patrons,  177 
To  Learn  a  Horse's  Age,  191 
The  Hoc  Bouncer,  191 
Useful  Hints,  87 
Useful  Recipes,  160 
Useful  Notes,  190 
Valuable   Essays  aud   Discus- 
sions, ^6 
Value  of  Barnyard  Dung,  69 
Veterinary  Notes,  74 
Value  of  Road  Dust,  1.59 
Vines  (ironing  Sinmgly,  159 
Ventlatlon,  167 
Veget'le  Food,  an  Essay  on,  182 
Whv  don't  Chickens  Lay  I  9 
Walking  Hordes,  11 
Winter  Yard  for  Sheep,  15 
What  Kind  of  Oil  I  IH,  41 
Walking  Horses  vs.  Trott'g,  31 
What  It  will  do,  32 
Where  did  they  come  fromi  50 
Which  Potato  Is  the  Best?  58 
What   Causes  Honey-Dew?  60 
What  will  I'ayJ  62 
Whipp'g  Horses  Dangerous,  63 
Will  Bec-Keeplng  Pav  t  78 
What  Is  the  Best  .Mod'e  of  Arti- 
ficial Swarming  ?  76 
Worms  In  Fowls,  95,78 
White  and  Red  Wheat,  79 
Whitewash,  79 
White  Cochins,  81 
What  Country  Papen  do,  88 
Which     Ways    should     Drllli 

Hun  I  90 
Whitc-Crestcd  Bl'k  Polish,  101 
Watercresses,  112 
Where  the  Potato  Bugs  go,  114 
Western  Crop  Heporu,  1-7 
What  Is  Blight!  1  9 
Wheat  Growing.  1  8 
What  Kind  of  Wheat  shall  w« 

Sow?  142 
What  Cause*  Blight?  149 
Why  large  Cities  Escape  Thun- 
derbolts, 155 
When   and    Why   Lamps   Ex- 
plode, 174 
Warmed-Up  Mutton,  175 
What  Shall  we  Eat  ?  183 
Wheat  Supply  In  England,  I9i 
Waste  on  the  Farm,  192 
Watering  Winter  PlanU,  Ul 
Yard  for  Plgi,  15 
Yorkablres,  IBS 


INDEX  TO  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Arctic    Wolvcreen,    or  Glut-  I  Bl'k  Polish,  White-crested,  101 

ton,  132  Centennial  Grounds  (Birds-eye 

Barred  Owl,  the,  133  View)  10 

Black  Cochins,  17  Chester  Whltel,  18 

Black  Hamburgs,  135  I  Dorkings,  48 


Houdans,  65 
Light  Brahmas,  35 
Locust,  the,  132 
Magpie  Pigeon,  the,  124 
Morse,  or  Walrus,  the,  148 


Morell,  the,  149 
Mushroom,  the,  149 
Oriole,  Nest  of   the  21 
Peck's  Liquid  Atomizer,  69 
Queen  of  torksblra  2d,  165 


Red  Echmyd.the,  IT 
Sloth  or  A  ,  the,  5 
Swallows,  51 
Thrush,  the,  54 
White  Cochloa,  21 


IV. 


INDEX. 


INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


Asparagus  ofBcinalus,  2 

Asparagine,  2 
Agrotis  scandens,  19 
Agelaius  phoeniceus,  20 
Astonoinus  voclferus,  20 
Articulata,  22 
Aphis,  67 

AmaraDthus  bicolor,  87 
Amaranthus  tricolor,  87 
Amaranthus  6ilicifolia,87 
Abies  taxifolia,  S3 
Abies  tenuiorifolia,  83 
Abies  minor,  8S 
Abies  pisaifolia,  83 
Arma  spinnsa,  10  ',  161, 
Asopia  costalis,  114 
Atticus  luBa,  11.5 
Amanita  muscarlus,  123 
Agaricus  procserus,  123 
Agaricus  fus'pes,  123 
Agaricus  deliciosus,  123 
Affaricus  rophyllus,  1^3 
Aphis  persica,  1-9 
Apion  robinea,  1  9 
Anvbopteryx  vornata,  1'.9 
Attacus  cecropia,  134 
Agaricus  campestris,  149 
Apium  gravcolus,  163 
jEgeria  cuculiets,  3 
.iEglalitis  vocifcrus,  20 
Althea  rosse,  41 
Althea  officinalis,  41 
iEgeria  exitosa,  1^9 
Andropogon,  88 
jEsculus  hlppocastaneum,  129, 

135 
Acridium  Americanum,  132 
Bradypidse.  5 
Bradypus  dactylus,  5 
Eradypus  bidactylus,  5 
Bradypus  tridactylus,  5 
Bufo  Americana,  53 
Brassica  oleracea,  66,  82 
Bombylius,  SH 
Batrachia,  85 
Buchloe  dactyloides,  88 
Baletus  edulus,  l23 
Bascanion  constrictor,  162 
Cruda,  3 

COLEOPTERA,  129,  3 

Cyanurus  cr  status,  20 
Colaptus  auratus,  20 
Chaelaura  pelasgia,  20 


Chordelles  popetua,  20 

CrkiiiDM,  33 

C0.MPO8IT.*,  33 

Cyanura  hortensls,  33 

Cyanura  scolymus,  33 

Cyanura  cinerea,  33 

ClMYKID^,  38 

Cotyle  riparia,  51 

Cotyle  serripeunls,  51 

Cotyle  pelasgia,  51 

Ctpsclid^b,  51 

Cecidomyia  trlticl,  53,. US 

Capsus,  67 

Calidum,72 

Canna, 72 

Chelonia,  SS 

CratKgus,  90 

Cassidid.«,  t-5 

Captocycla  aurichalacea,  85 

Chrtomelid^,  t-5 

Corydalus  comutus,  103 

Colosoma  calidum,  102 

CURCEI.IOND^,  114 

Catocala,  115 

Cathartes  aura, 115 

Clytus  robinea,  1  9 

Caloptinus  femer-rubrum,  132 

Cychrus  viduns,  134 

Calopteni,  135 

Clotho  arielaus,  162 

Chrjsan    themum  leucanthe- 

mum,  167 
Chrysau  themum  vulgareum, 

167 
Daphni.*,  1 
Diceutra,  72 
Dahlia,  72 

Desmocerus  cyanug,  67 
Dolichr  nyx  oryzivorus,  143 
Danaus  archipes,  164  , 

Ephemera  vulgata,  1 
Echynnus  rufus,  17 
Eclopistes  raigratorlus,  20 
Ellopiaribearia,  102 
Elaphideon  putator,  129 
Eriosoma  lanigera,  14S 
Euschistes  puncticeps,  161 
Elaps  fulvius,  162 
Epigasa  repens,  166 
Edentata,  5 
Empretia  stimuli,  134 
FvsaiT>M,  36 
Fillaria,  K5 


Fulica  amerlcana,  143 

Gladiolus,  53 

Gordius,  ^5 

Galeruca  xanthomalffina,  129, 

130 
Galeruca  calmariensis,  131 
Gulo  arcticus,  132 
Gulo  luscaus,  132 
Gulo  vulgaris,  132 
Guianaubl  rosae,  59 
Herbe  carella,  2 
Harelda  glacialls,  3 
Htmenopteha,  3 
HarpalidjE,  19 
Hirundo  horreorum,  20,  51 
Hellauthus  tuberosus,  33 
TI  biscuE  escnlena,  41 
HlRl'NDINMD.*,  51 
Helianthus  annuus,  51 
Hirundo  lunifrous,  51 
Hirundo  bicolor,  51 
Hirundo  esculenta,  52 
Hispa  suturalls,  1-9 
Hydna,  1^3 
Halolepta  equalis,  164 
Hylotrupes  fullates,  179 
Ichneumonidae,  3 
Icterus  Baltimore,  20 
Iris,  58 

Iguana  tuberculata,  85 
Iris  germanica,  72 
Kalon  kai  agathon,  123 
Lepsima,  18 
Lacnosterna  friscu,  3& 
Lyg  rus  re  ictus,  36 
Lllium  lancefolium,  53 
Lilium.'uperbum,  58 
Lilium  pennsylvanlcum,  .58 
Lilium  philadelphicum,  58 
Lilium  candidiura,  58 
Lilium  thurnbergianura,  .58 
Leguminosa,  88 
Lecania  acerella,  101 
Lucanium  abbiliuea,  102 
Lacnosterna  quercina,  115 
Lycopersicum  esculentum,  118 
Lycopersicum  quadrundum  IIS 
Lepidoptera,  1.9 
Locusta  Carolina,  132 
Locusta  sulpurea,  132 
Meoatherium,  5 
Meoalonyx,  5 
Mtlodon,  5 


Mykipoda,  22 
Melonotes  Ineertns,  38 
Medicago  sativa,  8i 
Medicago  lupultina,  88 
MelllotUB,  8s 

Myrmecocystes  melligrauB,  66 
Myrmecocystes  ihexicanus,  66 
Macrodactylus  subspinosus,  67 
Marasmius  oreades,  123 
Marasraius  urens,  123 
Nematus  ventricosus,  102 

NOCTUID^,  19 

Ornithogalium,  2 

Ophidia,  85 

Ostracion,  115 

Orcillla,  123 

Orum,  124 

Onciderus  cingulatus,  129,  230 

Oedipoda,  13.! 

Oethalium  septlcum,  149 

Palingeniabilineata,  2 

Polistes  fuscates,  3 

Pieris  rapse,  19,  ^5 

Prionus  laticalis,  34 

Peronouspora  infestaus,  37 

Progne  purpurea,  51 

Planesticus  migratorius,  52 

P(EONi.a;,  73 

Poma'a,  90 

Phylloxera  vastatrlx,  84.  150, 

130 
Pel  duota  punctata,  103 
Pristiophora  grosularla,  102 
Philampelis  satellitia,  102, 164 
Procris  Americana,  102 
Poma  amoris,  118 
Pomum  aureum,  113 
Polyporus  squaraosus,  124 
Pemphigus,  14s 
Phoca  leonina,143 
Phrynosoma  comutus,  85 
Pynethruno  eorueum,  167 
Quieeaulus  versicolor,  '-0 
Kibes  grossularia,  17ci 
Klpiphorus,  3 
Kosa  damascena,  54 
Rosa  centlfolia,  54 
Rosa  galitta,  54 
Rosa  spinosisima,  54 
Rosa  alba,  54 
Rosa  rubiginosus,  54 
Rosa  lutea,  54 
Rosa  rulifola,  54 


Rosa  arvensls,  54 

Rlbes  album,  103 

Rlbes  rubrum,  103 

Ranunculus,  124 

SpirEjE,  19 

Sturnella  magna,  20 

Sialia  sialis,  20 

Sayorlua  fuscus,  20 

Sauria,  85 

■Sesteria  dactyloides,  88 

Setanla  celliata,  88 

Sorghum,  83 

Sambucus  canadensis,  67 

Sambueus  pubeus,  67 

Sambucus  nigra,  67 

Salanlria  rosae,  84,  148 

Sesia,  102 

Sphinx  5-maculata,  103 

Sphenophorus  zea, 114 

Sniilia,  1  9 

Saperda  bivittata,  129 

Salandria  pyri,  133 

Strix  nebulosa,  133 

Saturnia  lo,  134 

Sciara  thome,  147 

Serracena  variolaris,  154 

Scoptophis"alleghanlensl8, 162 

Sitophiles  granarius,  .53 

Taraxacum  denslconls,  3 

Tinea  tapestella,  18 

Tinea  vestanella,  18 

Tinea  pelllonella,  18 

TORTRICID.«,  19 

Tardus  migratorius,  £0 

Turdus  mustelaus,  20 

Troglodytes  aedon,  20 

Troclulids,  -.2,  37 

Trochilus  colubris,  23 

Trochlhis  gisas,  23 

Trochilus  minimus,  23 

Tuberosa  variagata,  58 

TURDID-E,  54 

Turdus  fusceceus,  54 

Tritoma,  72 

Trifolium  reflexura,  88 

Trioid^,  58 

Thy  reus  abbotii,  102 

TiPULiD^,  147 

Tingra  wilsonii,  148 

Tingra  maculata,  148 

Trlcheeus  rosmarus,  148 

Trlgonocephala  contortrli,  162 

Verbena  stricta,  166 


I 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  JANUARY,  1876. 


Vol.  vm.  No.  1. 


OUR  CENTENNIAL  GREETING. 


"God  and  Liberty." 

Tlip  n.itional  "year  of  jubilee"  has  lieeii 
iisheied  in,  ami  tlie  Centennial  Ainiiveisary 
of  American  Independenee  is  near  itsliistoric 
advent.  Aeeidents,  im-idents,  and  impulsive 
ebullitions  only  oirur,  liut  gi-eat  liistoi'ic events 
transpire.  They  are  the  develupnuMitsor  visi- 
ble effects  of  a  long  line  of  minor  auxiliary 
events  that  poiut  to  their  uUiniation,  and 
their  permanence  and  einUiuuiiuce  are  l>ut  tin; 
superstructures,  based  upon  fundamental  prin- 
cii)lcs  that  liad  an  existences  anterior  to  the 
dcnonenient  through  winch  tiK'y  bi'camc  cogni- 
zant to  tlie  world  at  large.  The  intelligent 
mind,  noting  carefully  the  history  of  the  Amer- 
ican colonics,  from  the  landing  on  Plyiunuth 
Rock  down  totheever-m'-morahlecuhniuation 
of  events  on  the  fourth  of  Jidy,  1770,  must 
have  often  been  impressed  with  the  fact  tliat, 
eventually, 

"  America  would  be  kuee." 

F)-ce(hm  was  the  great  boon  vouchsafed  to  the 
human  family  in  the  "CJarden  of  Eden,"  and 
it  was  through  the  i)erversion  of  freedom  that 
sorrow,  sutfering,  and  moral  death  came  into 
the  world.  A  true  huuuinhoDd  cannot  exist 
separated  from  the  resiiousiliilities  of  freedom. 
In  the  absence  of  freedom,  man  becomes  an 
irresponsible  macliine,  the  plaything  of  destiny 
and  a  slave. 

The  wheels  of  tiiui.'  are  rapidly  carrying  us 
towards  the  consunnnation  of  the  lirst  century 
of  our  national  existence,  and  it  behooves  us  to 
take  a  retrospective  view  of  the  jiast  hundred 
years,  and  note  the  political,  mtiral,  and  social 
progress  we  have  made  dining  all  that  long 
period,  and  determine  how  far  tlie  present  is 
in  advance  of  the  past.  In  almost  every  cle- 
jiartment  of  human  industry,  invention  and 
skill,  we  will  observe  there  has  been  wonder- 
ful progress  made,  some  conspicuously  great, 
some  mediocre,  and  others  almost  impercepti- 
bly small.  To  all  ajiiiearance,  the  "  civilizing 
foundation  of  society"  is  far  in  the  rear,  in  the 
progressive  race,  and  this  is  an  effcH  that  nuist 
have  its  cause  in  the  moral,  intellectual  and  do- 
mestic economy  of  the  people  it  comprehends. 
There  is  hardly  a  human  occupation  that  does 
not  exhibit  the  most  striking  difference  lietween 
now  and  a  hundred  years  ag(  >,  in  its  results,  sav- 
ing, perhaps,  the  single  occupation  of  farming. 
It  is  unquesticmahle  tliat  the  farmercannot  pro- 
duce a  greater  quantity  nor  a  better  quality 
to  the  acre  than  he  could  one  hundred  years 
ago,  and  there  muM  be  a  reason  for  it.  Has 
he  made  a  right  use  of  his  freedom,  or  has  he 
not  used  it  at  all  ?  Has  he  made  use  of  liis 
brain  power,  or  has  he  relied  solely  upon  his 
muscular  iiower  V  These  questions  we  leave 
those  to  answer  "whom  thev  most  concern;" 
suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  is  imiiossil)le  for  igno- 
rance to  fonii  a  rational  conception  of  the  real 
height  and  depth  and  breadth  of  frceilom,  for 
"he  is  a  freeman  only  whom  truth  makes 
free."  Slavery  to  customs  because  they  are 
old,  and  prejudices  against  innovations  because 
they  are  iicic,  are  forms  of  servitude  that  no 
freeman  will  endure  with  impunity.  An  in- 
fluential and  iiopular  agricultural  cotemiiorary 
in  his  addpss  to  his  patrons  says,  ■'farmers, 
as  a  general  thing,  do  not  read  as  much  as 
mechanics.  But  one  in  a  hundred  reads  a 
really  good,  trustworthy  agriimUural  |iaper,  or 
meets  a  farmers' club  to  discuss  (piestions  of 
practical  interest  to  him.  The  rest  arc  not 
well  versed  in  matters  pertaining  to  their  own 
business,"  and  much  more  to  tlie  same  effect, 
which  may  be  some  of  the  reasons  why  farming 
has  not  made  the  same  progress  during  the 
past  hundred  years  that  other  occujiations 
have.  Will  they  continue  so  through  the 
coming  century  ?    Tliey  themselves  must  an- 


swer. The  same  authority  also  says,  "  [t  is 
doul>tful  whether  there  is  a"  farmer  in  the  world 
worth  a  million  dollars,  or  a  tenth  of  that  sum, 
who  has  madcithy  farming. "  ltiseipially(iues- 
tionable  with  us,  if  farmers  ■lenerally  ih.sire  to 
be  millionaires,  or  whether  they  .sli'iHld  desire 
it.  What  the  country  most  needs  is  more 
farmers,  smaller  farms  and  more  thoro\igh 
cultivation.  lunneuse  overgrown  farms  an' 
neither  evidences  of  gi'iu-i'al  prosperity  nor 
progH'ss.  William  15.  Astor  died  leaving  an 
estate  estimated  at  .:?U)tl,(H)ll.0IK),  whilst  i'."),!!!!!) 
poor  in  the  city  of  New  Vork  are  living  in 
abject  poverty  or  in  states  of  semi-starvation. 
We  are  no  agrarian,  tor  this  would  prolialily 
be  the  same  condition  of  these  people  in  a  year 
or  two  henc-e,  if  a  division  of  his  estate  was 
ntade  am  )ng  tlii^m  to-day.  Bid  there  are  a 
hundred  thousand  hardy,  industrious  young 
men,  who  would  "go  west"  and  lu'com;  farm- 
ers to-morrow,  if  they  had  the  pecuniary  m-ans 
to  locate  a  farm  and  stock  it. 

True  fre('dom  involves  not  only  moral  intel- 
ligence, but  also  equality.  There  cannot,  or 
will  not,  exist  eciuality — even  before  tins  law 
— where  poverty  and  immense  wealth  are  in 
contlict.  If,  in  a  hun(lrc<l  years  hence,  our 
country  exhibits  fewer  rich  men,  no  po(U'  peo- 
ple, more  intelligent  farmers  and  a  higher 
state  of  cultivation,  "all  other  things  being 
equal,"  it  will  be  a  greater  evidence  of  solid 
prosperity  than  is  exhiljited  to-day. 

But,  as  we  remarked  in  the  beginning  of 
our  article,  this  is  our  national  i/nir  of  jubilee. 
Not  a  single  adult  individual  who  participates 
in  it  will  ever  participate  in  another  centennial 
of  American  indepinidence.  Therefore,  it  be- 
hooves the  farming  i)\d)lic  to  make  a  record  on 
this  occasion  that  will  be  worthy  of  handing 
down  to  their  remotest  posterity. 

Less  exposed  to  contaminating  social  inllu- 
ences,  less  prolligate  as  a  class,  more  constitu- 
ti(mally  robust,  more  industrious  and  farther 
removed  from  temptation  than  other  men, 
there  is  more  hope  for  the  fanner  in  this  coun- 
try than  for  any  other  class  of  its  citizens. 
I.,et  them  therefore  "make  friends  of  the 
unrighteous  mannnon" — that  is,  imitate  the 
virtues  and  make  use  of  the  intellectual  re- 
sourcesof  the  worthy  amougother  classes,  and 
they  will  exhibit  the  .same  evidences  of  mental 
and  physical  jirogress;  and  the  huinlile  aim  of 
The  Laxcasteii  FAUMKit  will  always  be  to 
assist  them  in  this.  Every  physical  demon- 
stration is  but  a  manifestation,  in  correspond- 
ence with  moral  and  intellectual  culture. 
With  these  remarks  we  wish  our  patrons  a 
hapi)y  and  prosperous  CENTENNIAL  year. 


THE    MAY-FLY. 
{Ephrmertt  vnlgnta.) 

The  May-tly  has  been,  historically,  very 
badly  treated",  and  made  aiipear  a  much 
pi)orer  creature  than  it  really  is.  As  children, 
we  were  told  on  the  best  nursery  author- 
ity that  there  was  a  iioor  gnat  that  lived  a 
.single  day,  and  then  died— a  story  which  tilled 
our  little  minds  with  wonih'rand  pity.  It  was 
a  lelief  to  learn  afterwards  that  this  one  day 
of  winged  existence  was  preceded  by  three 
years  of  aquatic  life  ;  but  this  was  (pialitied  by 
the  intelligence  that  through  this  long  period 
it  lived  on  mud.  Such,  indeed,  was  the  a.s- 
serticm  of  .S.wanimerdam,  and  this  strange 
opitnon,  stamped  with  his  great  authority,  has 
been  received  and  handed  dowTi  tor  moretlian 
two  hundred  years  almost  to  our  own  (lay. 
Mud  was  always  found  in  the  larva  on  dis.sec- 
tion  ;  therefiire  it  must  eat  mud  and  live  on  it. 
Messrs.  Kirby  an<l  .Sp,'n<'e  had  some  misgiv- 
ings on  the  suliject,  and  thought  it  must  eat, 
in  addition,  decaying  vegetable  substances. 
The  Uev.  .F.  G.  Wood,  with  his  usual  sagacity, 
while  testifying  to  the  constant  presence  of  I 


the  mud,  thinks  it  probable  that  it  is  taken 
invohmlarily  with  its  other  fi«>d.  whatever 
that  may  he.  In  a  translation  of  Louis  Ki- 
giiier's  entertaining  Hummary,  entitled  "Tlie 
Insi'ct  World."  published  in  this  country  last 
year,  it  is  correcllv  slated  (hat  this  larva'feeiU 
on  small  insects;  liul  no  authority  is  quolml, 
and  the  mud  (pieslion  is  not  .slirri-d. 

.My  acqnainlance  with  tins  A'/j/u'iiwra  wiw 
made  accidMitally  some  years  ago.  Dipping 
for  Dn/i'iiii'v  and  other  siirill  crustaceaiiK.  an 
advanced  larva  or  pupa  of  Kit'irinrrd  cu'v.i/a 
was  iiieludcd  in  the  captine,  and  altoi,'eilier 
transferred  to  a  small  miwiriinn.  In  a  fort- 
night afteiwards  not  a  water  tlea  wa.s  left. 
The  pupa,  (pnvering  with  ex<Mtemeiit  from 
head  to  tail,  swo(»ped  with  uni-rring  aim  on 
the  doomed  cruslaei'aiis  .so  long  as  any  were 
h-ft  and  he  felt  an  appetil".  A  second  sn|>- 
ply  was  given,  and  siiared  the  like  fate;  and 
now  the  growth  of  the  pupa  was  eomplet<-<l. 
One  tine  May  m  )rning  the  gracefid  tly  wiw 
founil  in  the  window,  from  which  it  e.scaiH-d 
iido  the  open  air. 

It  had  left  three  or  four  exurlir,  thrown  off 
from  time  to  time,  and  one  of  these,  perha|is 
the  la.st,  exhibits,  when  moimted  in  bals;uii.  a 
perfect  im]ire.ssion  of  the  momh,  and  miy 
throw  some  light  u]ion  tin-  nature  of  the  ("oimI. 
The  jaws,  when  open,  form  a  wide  fnimel  for 
the  more  ready  capture  of  a  nimble  prey  ; 
when  closed,  they  seem  designed  to  inlerlaci? 
each  other  anil  form  a  compact  front  to  bar 
all  escape.  The  teeth  exhibit  a  row  of  .slightly 
curved  bars  on  one  side,  opposed  on  the  otlier 
to  a  raised  block,  crowned  with  sharp  serrated 
edges,  and  could  be  brought  together  with 
crushing  elfect  on  the  poor  little  crustaceans. 
The  back  of  the  month  is  partly  closed  by  a 
singular  and  curious  contrivance;  aiieep,  egg- 
shaped  sack  extends  a<rross  it,  opening  into 
the  throat  by  valves  or  slits,  fenced  oil  the  out- 
side with  tine  hairs,  which  would  permit  the 
downward  passage  of  a  too  lively  daplmia, 
l)id  jirevent  its  return.  And  here  we  may 
probably  account  for  the  constaid  preseiic-e  of 
mud  in  the  inteslinal  canal.  A  momhful 
taken  involuntarily  in  a  struggle  at  the  bottom 
with  a  liveh'  l)rey,  and  swallowi'd  with  it, 
would  be  retained  by  the  line  sieves  aerossi 
the  throat,  and  pa.ss  "into  the  stomach.  Such 
a  condiment  might  be  evi^n  benuticial  (for  all 
such  conlingeiKMes  are  weighed)  by  dividing 
the  food,  or,  as  seems  very  likcdy,  by  inerejus- 
iug  the  gravitv  of  the  body  after  a  meal,  and  so 
enabling  the  larva  to  remain  without  effort  at 
the  bottom.  .My  a(|Uarinm  contained  no  nnid, 
aiul  yel  the  pupa  throve  well  ;  but  in  streams 
and  ('ddies  it  might  be  ditf.'rent  for  so  light  a 
creature,  furnished  with  a  large  bre;ulth  of 
bronchial  plates,  lo  maintain  it-s  jilace  or  re- 
main in  concealment  without  ballast:  or  it 
might  be  useful  in  other  ways  which  we  cjin- 
not  even  guess. — .S.  S.,  in  Srirnrf  (joKxip. 

.\hhough  the  foregoing  relates  to  a  foreign 
insect,  yet  surely  .f>iiw  of  our  reailers  mu.st 
know  \vhat  an  Kiilirmrrn  or  "May-tly"  is; 
but  that  they  <('/  do  not  know  was  made  very 
mainfest  la.st  summer,  alMiut  tlu'  period  when 
the  "  Hascal  Cra-sshopiHT  "  was  coiinnilting 
such  direful  depredations  uiMin  the  crops  of 
the  Western  .Stat^.s. 

A  tniin  of  cars  pa.ssed  on  the  railroad 
through  Lancaster,  ami  stopivd  for  a  short 
time  to  detach  or  attach  a  car,  one  of  which 
cars  caused  considerable  anxiety.  This  w-.w 
a  car  loaded  with  Imidier,  and  all  over  it.  in 
groups  of  from  ten  to  tifty,  wen-  ,Hitting  Ihcso 
Ephemerans.  which  .some  ]ie<>pU-  (of  the  usual 
intidligence  on  other  subjects)  supposed  might 
be  the  albre.sjjid  "  hop|H'r."  in  one  of  its  forms. 
To  those  l)oin  and  raised,  or  for  a  numlxT  of 
years,  residing  on  the  banks  of  a  river  or 
"creek,  the  Mav-lly  miLst  Im;  one  of  the  most 
familiar  objects  of  the   insect  world:      The 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January, 


various  species  appear  in  the  spring,  and  at 
dittiprent  periods  during  the  summer,  and  we  are 
quite  confident  that  «-e  noticed  tliem  and  made 
bates  of  thtm  "to  catch  tlie  little  fishes" 
more  than  fitty  years  ago  ;  and  we  even  at 
that  early  period  noticed  their  second  trans- 
formations and  exuvia  or  cast-off  skins.  The 
Bank  Swallows  along  the  Susquehanna  fared 
sumptuously  on  these  May-flies  in  their  brief 
Season.  Although  highly  organized,  they  are 
rather  delicate  in  their  structure,  feeble  or 
sluggish  in  tlight,  and  during  their  brief  imago 
period  do  not  partake  of  any  food ;  indeed, 
although  it  is  clear  that  they  do  to  a  great  ex- 
tent live  on  small  aquatic  animals,  and  have 
a  mouth  organized  for  that  purpose  while  they 
are  larirF^  yet  in  the  mature  state  the  mouth 
is  only  rudimental  or  obsolete,  and  they  have 
not  the  power,  if  they  even  had  the  will,  to 
appropriate  any  kind  of  food.  We  see  them 
yet,  in  rows  like  soldiers,  on  the  fence  rails 
ak>ng  the  Susquehanna,  the  Cliiques  and  the 
Conestoga. 

When  they  first  evolve  from  the  pupa  and 
pseudo-pupa  state  they  are^  usually,  or  nearly 
white,  but  they  finally  change  to  darker  col- 
ors, from  a  sulphur  yellow  to  a  reddish  brown, 
according  to  the  species.  The  wings  become 
hyaline  or  purple  tinted.  The  two  fore-feet 
usually  project  in  fi'ont  of  the  body,  some- 
times raised  upward  at  the  ends,  and  the 
wings  are  closely  held  back  to  back,  and 
nearly  perjiendicular.  They  are  further  usu- 
ally distinguished  by  two  or  three  long  hair- 
like filaments  at  the'hind  end  of  the  body,  and 
the  eyes  are  proportionately  large,  and  of  a 
golden  or  coppery  lustre.  The  geiuis  Ephe- 
mera is  the  type  of  the  now  extensive  family 
EpHEMERADiE,  to  wliicli  bcloug  many  genera 
and  species.  Perhaps  tlie  most  common  ex- 
ample of  these  insects  along  our  waters  is  the 
"  two-tailed  May-fly,"  called  in  some  locali- 
ties in  the  West  the  "Mormon-fly"  (Palin- 
fjenia  bilineata  of  Say).  Before  their  brief 
lamp  of  life  is  extinguished,  the  females  de- 
posit their  eggs  in  the  water,  and  from  these 
subsequent  broods  are  reared.  Their  use  in 
the  economy  of  nature  is  probably  solely  to 
furnish  food  for  the  lugher  orders  of  animals, 
especially  fishes  and  birds. 


OUR    CULTIVATED    VEGETABLES. 


No.  4. — Asparagus   (Asparagus  officinalis). 

This  delicious  vegetable  is  sujiiwsed  to  have 
come  into  use  as  food  about  two  hundred  years 
before  the  Christian  era ;  its  excellent  qualtics 
are  said  to  have  been  made  known  by  that 
most  distinguished  and  ancient  writer  on  agri- 
culture, the  elder  Cato  ;  he  has  treated  no  sub- 
ject with  greater  care,  the  last  chapter  of  his 
great  work  being  devoted  to  this  vegetable.  It 
appears  to  have  been  known  to  the  ancients  as 
growing  wild,  under  the  name  of  Uorruda. 
Cato  advised  the  sowing  of  the  seed  of  this 
plant  in  the  beds  of  the  Vinedresser's  reeds, 
which  are  cultivated  in  Italy  for  the  support 
of  the  vines  ;  and  they  should  be  burnt  in  the 
spring  of  the  third  year,  as  the  ashes  would 
act  as  a  maimre  to  the  future  crops.  He  also 
recommends  that  the  plants  be  renewed  after 
eight  or  nine  years.  AtheniPu.s,  who  wrote 
about  the  third  century,  tells  that  this  plant 
was  divided  into  two  varieties,  the  mountain 
and  the  marsh  ;  and  that  in  some  parts  of 
Lybia  they  attained  the  thickness  of  a  Cyprian 
reed,  and  were  several  feet  in  height;  he  also 
informs  us  that  the  plant  was  used  as  a  remedy 
in  all  diseases.  But  Diphilus,  a  physician, 
who  lived  and  wrote  about  the  same  time,  and 
the  author  of  a  work  "On  Diet  fit  for  persons 
in  Good  and  Bad  Health,"  declares  that  as- 
paragus, was  very  hurtful  to  the  sight.  Pliny 
states  that  asparagus,  which  formerly  grew 
wild,  so  that  every  man  might  gather  it,  was  in 
his  time  carefully  cherished  in  gardens,  particu- 
larly at  Raveima,  where  the  cultivated  plant 
was  so  large  that  three  heads  would  weigh  a 
pound,  and  were  sold  for  an  «.s  (about  three 
farthings);  but,  according  to  Martial,  those 
grown  at  Ravenna  were  no  better  than  the 
wild. 


Tlie  Roman  cooks  used  to  choose  the  finest 
heads  of  this  vegetable  and  dry  them  ;  and 
when  wanted  for  the  table,  put  tliem  into  hot 
water  and  let  them  boil  quickly  for  a  few 
minutes;  hence  the  proverb,  "Doit  quicker 
than  you  can  cook  asparagus," — when  any- 
thing was  required  in  haste.  Suetonius  in- 
forms us  in  his  "Life  of  Augustus,"  that  this 
was  a  favorite  expression  of  that  emperor, 
when  he  wished  that  any  affair  might  be  con- 
cluded without  delay.  Pliny  states  that  the 
uncultivated  kinds  grew  upon  the  mountains  in 
ditierent  countries,  and  that  the  plains  of 
Tipi)er  Germany  are  full  it.  Juvenal,  in  a 
description  of  a  dinner  given  to  a  friend,  men- 
tions the  mountain  asparagus : 

"  Asparaijus,  l)e6iiles, 
Pickled  by  my  bailifl's  plain  but  cleanly  bride, 
Who,  wlien  the  wheel's  domestic  task  is  o'er, 
Culls  from  the  hills  my  vegetable  store." 

It  w-as  believed  by  the  ancients  that  if  a  per- 
son anointed  himself  with  a  liniment  made 
of  asparagus  and  oil,  the  bees  would  not  ap- 
l)roach  or  sting  him.  They  also  had  another 
absurd  idea,  that  pounded  rams'  horns  buried 
in  the  ground  would  produce  this  vegetable. 

We  cannot  trace  the  cultivation  of  asparagus 
in  England;  it  is  evidently  indigenous  to  the 
country,  for  Gerard  states  that  the  manured  or 
garden  asparagus,  which  comesupof  thesizeof 
the  largest  swans'  quills,  is  the  same  as  the  wild, 
but,  like  other  vegetables,  is  made  larger  by 
cultivation.  The  wild,  he  .says,  is  "found  in 
Essex,  in  the  meadows  adjoining  a  mill  be- 
yond a  village  called  Thorpe,  and  also  at  Sin- 
gleton, not  far  from  Curbie,  and  in  the  mead- 
ows about  Moulton,  in  Lincolnshire  ;  likewise 
itgroweth  in  great  plenty  near  unto  Harwich." 
The  same  author  informs  us  that  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time  it  was  sodden  in  flesh-broth, 
or  boiled  in  fair  water  and  seasoned  with  oil, 
vinegar,  salt  and  pepper,  then  served  at  men's 
tables  for  salad.  Evelyn,  in  his  "  Acetoria  " 
(1099)  says,  "that  next  to  flesh,  nothing  is  so 
nourishing  as  asparagus  ;  it  was  sometimes 
eaten  raw  with  oil  and  vinegar,  but  v,ns  more 
delicate  if  speedily  boiled,  so  as  not  to  lose  its 
color."  He  tells  us  he  did  not  think  the  large 
Dutch  kind,  "which  was  raised  in  high  manured 
beds,  so  sweet  and  agreeable  as  those  of  mod- 
erate size,  and  yet  to  show  what  sohim,  ccclum, 
and  industry  will  efl'ect,  the  honorable  and 
learned  Charles  Hutton  made  my  wife  a  pres- 
ent of  sixteen  asparagus,  the  whole  bundle 
containing  only  sixty  ;  weight  15^  pounds.  So 
allowing  four  ounces  to  each  asparagus,  one 
was  as  nmch  as  one  would  desire  to  eat,  and 
what  was  most  observable,  they  were  not 
raised  or  forced  by  any  extraordinary  compast 
but  grown  in  a  more  natural,  sweet,  rich  and 
well  cultivated  soil  about  Battersea. "  Miller, 
in  his  "dictionary,  "states  that  a  friend  of  his 
procured  some  seed  of  the  wild  kind,  which  he 
cultivated  with  great  care  in  very  rich  ground, 
yet  could  not  get  the  roots  to  produce  a  stem 
more  than  half  the  size  of  the  garden  kind 
which  grew  on  the  same  bed,  but  he  always 
found  the  wild  sort  come  up  ten  days  or  a 
week  earlier  in  the  spring,  and  that  the  shoots 
were  exceedingly  sweet.  Leonard  Meager,  in 
his  "English  Gardener,"  published  in  1083, 
informs  us,  that  in  his  time  the  London  mar- 
ket was  well  su|iplied  with  forced  asparagus  ; 
the  means  employed  were  by  placing  the  roots 
on  warm  manure  beds.  Battersea,  Mortlake 
and  Deptford  used  to  be  the  jirincipal  locali- 
ties from  which  the  metropolis  was  sui)plied  ; 
Mortlake  alone,  at  one  time,  had  more  than  a 
lumdred  acres  under  this  crop,  and  a  Mr. 
Grayson,  of  that  place,  once  produced  a  hun- 
dred heads  that  weighed  42  pounds.  There 
are  accounts  of  some  very  large  heads  of  this 
vegetable  being  produced  on  some  parts  of  the 
continent;  thus,  we  read  in  Keysler's  "Trav- 
els," that  at  Danustadt,  in  1730,  some  large 
asparagus  heads  were  grown,  some  of  which 
weighed  half  a  pound  ;  some  hundreds  of  these 
heads  were  sent  as  a  present  to  the  Elector 
Palatine. 

The  asparagus  trade  in  France  is  becoming 
of  more  importance  every  year.  The  princiiial 
place  of  its  culture  near  Paris  is  Argenteuil, 
from  which  place  in  1820  about  five  thousand 


bundles  were  sent  to  the  market,  hut  now  the 
product  probably  exceeds  a  million.  -It  is 
grown  to  a  very  great  size,  the  maximum  at- 
tained at  the  present  time  being  eight  inches 
in  circumference  ;  but  a  dish  of  such  grass  costs 
from  4U  to  50  francs.  In  the  south  of  France 
this  vegetalile  is  frequently  grown  between  the 
vines.  There  was  an  asparagus-growing  com- 
pany started  at  Brunswick  in  1809  ;  several 
hundred  acres  are  devoted  to  this  vegetable 
and  it  bids  fair  to  rival  that  of  Argenteuil.' 
This  vegetable  might  be  cultivated  in  England 
with  great  success,  in  soils  consisting  of  little 
else  than  sea-sand,  dressed  annually  with  sea- 
weed, on  many  spots  on  the  coast  that  will 
hardly  produce  any  other  vegetable.  A  few 
years  since  a  very  large  variety  was  introduced 
from  America  tmder  the  name  of  "Conover's 
colossal  asparagus." 

The  wild  asparagus  is  found  in  many  parts 
of  Europe  where  the  soil  is  light,  containing 
an  amount  of  salt,  which  appears  to  be  neces- 
sary for  this  plant.  The  salt  steppes  of  Russia, 
Mr.  Loudon  tel's  us,  are  covered  with  it,  and 
horses  and  oxen  eat  it  like  grass.  In  England 
it  is  found  growing  in  Cornwall,  MuUion 
Island,  near  Lizard's  Point,  Kyname  Core, 
called  Asjiaragus  Island  ;  also  on  the  western 
and  .southwestern  coast.  Among  the  various 
virtues  attributed  to  this  plant  is  one  given  by 
Antonie  Mizold,  in  the  seventh  century,  who 
stat(  s  that  if  the  root  is  put  on  a  tooth  that 
aches  violently  it  causes  it  to  come  out  without 
pain.  The  sprouts  contain  a  peculiar  crystal- 
line substance  called  aqKiragine,  which  'was 
formerly  used  in  medicine,  but  is  not  now  re- 
tained in  the  pharmacopia.  Sometimes  a  de- 
coctive  is  given  as  a  diuretic  in  dropsies. 

Loudon  states  that  the  flower  stalks  of  Orni- 
thogalum  are  used  in  some  parts  of  Glouces- 
tershire, and  sold  in  Bath  under  the  name  of 
Prussian  asparagus ;  also  the  stalks  of  the 
"salsify."  The  mid-rib  of  the  beet  is  some- 
times dressed  as  this  vegetable,  and  the  young 
buds  of  the  hop  are  said  to  be  scarcely  inferior 
in  taste.  The  tender  shoots  of  the  Typha,  a 
kind  of  reed,  are  eaten  by  the  Cossaclfs  like 
asparagus.  Under  the  general  name  of  aspar- 
gus  the  ancients  were  accustomed  to  class  all 
young  sj>routs  of  vegetables  which  were  used 
in  that  state.  The  word  is  almost  literally 
Greek,  signifying  a  young  shoot  before  it  un- 
folds its  leaves,  as  handed  down  to  us  by 
Dioseorides.  Gerard  gives  nearly  the  same 
definition,  but  in  English,  he  states,  it  is 
called  "sperage."  Parkinson  says  our  Eng- 
lish writers  "called  asparagus  'sperage;' 
when  these  names  were  vilely  corrupted  into 
')-par7Wt'-grass, '  and  thence  frittered  dowii  into 
grass,  I  am  unable  to  say."  Batty  Langly, 
in  "Principles  of  Gardening"  (1728)  says, 
"the  top  of  the  bud  is  of  the  form  of  a  spar- 
row's bill  and  from  thence  vulgarly  called 
sparrow-grass."  In  low  Dutch  it  is  called 
"coralcrunt,"  or  Herhe  caralli,  coral-wort,  in 
respect  to  its  berries,  the  seeds  of  which  have 
been  recommended  as  a  substitute  for  coffee. 
The  young  plants  gaown  in  pots  make  most 
beautiful  decorations  for  the  room  or  dining- 
table.  — J/.  G.  Olusirpioolc,  Svience  Gossip,  ISlo. 

We  cannot  inform  our  readers  at  what  period 
a.sparagus  was  introduced  into  the  United 
States,  nor  could  such  information  be  of  any 
material  advantage  to  them  at  the  present 
time.  It  was  not  i)robably  first  introduced  as 
a  culinary  vegetable,  but  as  something  mainly 
ornamental;  at  least,  such  is  our  earliest  recol- 
lection of  it,  which  extends  back  a  period  of 
about  fifty  years.  It  was  then  called  "spar- 
row-grass," and  was  used  to  decorate  rooms 
and  objects  on  festal  occasions,  especially  when 
it  was  in  its  beautiful  red  and  wax-like  fruit. 
Although  a  few  stalks  of  it  were  grown  in 
many  gardens,  and  the  branches  twined  around 
looking-glas.ses  and  picture  frames  as  fly 
screens  during  the  summer  season,  yet  we  do 
not  know  of  its  being  very  specially  cultivated 
for  culinary  purposes.  During  the  last  twen- 
ty-five or  thirty  years,  however,  it  has  been 
coming  more  and  more  into  use,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  cherished  objects  of  the  market 
gardener.  It  is  now  so  unlilve  the  original 
wild  plant  from  which  it  sprung,  that  no  one 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


but  a  professed  and  practical  botanist  would 
be  able  to  recognize  tlie  native  plant  in  its  na- 
tive localities.  The  leadins  varieties  which 
have  been  cultivated  from  the  oii<;inal,  and 
which  are  now  the  most  popular  in  the  United 
States,  are  the  ''  Litrije  I'liqilc  Toji""  and  the 
"  Co!o,s.sa(, "  and  seedsmen  and  truck  jjardeii- 
crs  esteem  these  in  the  main  "<j;ood  etionuli," 
without  flivins  themselves  nnicli  troid>lealiont 
others.  On  the  subject  of  this  veiiclalile,  Mr. 
Landreth,  in  his  llund  Ifetjislrr  ihv  1S7."),  says  : 
"There  are,  it  is  said,  .several  varieties  of 
asparagus,  but  the  ditl'erence  mainly  arises 
from  the  nature  of  the  soil.  On  strong  loamy 
land  the  growth  is  more  rolaisl.  and  the  shoots 
more  tender  than  ou  sandy  soil.  The  variety 
termed  Coffissdl  is  of  extraordinary  size,  and 
the  conciUTcnt  testimony  of  experii'iiced  mar- 
ket gardeners  leaves  no  room  for  doubt  that 
it  really  is  of  nuich  more  vigorous  growth  than 
ordinary — whether  the  habit  be  lixed  l)y  cul- 
ture, long  directed  to  one  object,  or  is  tiie  re- 
sult of  accident.  We  feel  sure,  however,  that 
anil  variety  will  surely  grow  as  large  as  desir- 
able, if  the  plants  have  |)lenly  of  room  and 
niauiu'e.  Market  men  fre(|uenily  plant  :i  by  4 
and  dress  heavily  every  year  ;  the  sirongslioots 
occasionally  exposed  in  market,  are  produced 
under  the  inlluenee  of  excessive  stiuuUation. 
The  quality  of  asparagus  will  mainly  depend 
on  the  strength  of  the  soil  ;  it  is  a  voracious 
plant,  and  can  readily  digest  any  amount  of 
the  strongest  manure  food,  which  it  is  better 
to  apply  on  the  surface,  late  in  autumn,  to  be 
forked  in  early  in  spring.  .Salt  is  also  an  ex- 
cellent application  to  asparagus  beds.  The 
brine  from  beef  or  pork  b.irrels  i)roduces  a 
strong  and  vigorous  growth."  Asparagus, 
like  peas,  we  only  have  access  to  for  a  short 
seas(m  in  early  summer,  and  then  we  see  noth- 
ing more  of  it  again  for  another  year.  On  the 
subject  of  "  forcing  "  and  a  continuous  supplv, 
"Schenk's  Gardeners'  Text  Book"  say.s : 
"With  marketmen  it  is  a  matter  of  profit  to 
produce  asparagus  out  of  season  ;  this  must 
be  accomplished  by  artificial  heat.  The  first 
plantation  may  be  made  in  the  middle  of 
autumn,  and  others  every  four  weeks  after- 
ward until  the  middle  of  March  ;  by  which 
means  a  continued  supply  of  shoots  can  be 
obtained  from  December  up  to  the  first  cut- 
ting in  the  open  ground.  The  process  is  sim- 
l)le  and  easily  practiced.  The  materials  for 
the  hot  bed  should  first  undergo  fermentation, 
that  when  under  a  frame  tlie  heat  may  bo 
gentle  and  regular  ;  because  if  it  be  violent, 
it  is  apt  to  bring  the  plants  up  weak  and 
'spindling.'  Dung  may  be  advantageously 
mixed  with  ashes  and  tan-bark,  which  mix- 
ture, by  insuring  mildness  and  regularity  in 
heat,  is  better  than  duug.  The  luaximuin 
heat  ought  not  to  exceed  (5")^. " 

Select  the  earliest  and  finest  seeds,  and  these 
will  be  grown  on  the  earliest  and  finest  shoots 
— those  having  large  close  heads — allowed  to 
nm  up  to  seed  without  having  been  cut.  In 
the  autumn  wheu  the  berries  are  riiie  they 
should  be  stored  in  a  dry  ])lace  until  spring, 
for  sowing.  In  this  vegetable,  like  nearly  all 
others,  the  improvem'nt  of  the  plant  largely 
depends  ou  judicious  sehrtiou  in  the  first  place, 
and  then  manure  and  salt  culture  afterwards. 


QUERIES  AND   ANSWERS. 

Mr.  F.,  Lancnstfr  rili/.  Pit. — The  beautiful 
wild  duck  you  exhil)ited  to  us  in  December 
la,st,  is  a  specimen  of  what  is  known  among 
naturalists  as  the  "  Long-tailed  Duck,"  (Har- 
ekla  (iliu-iali.'')  and  what  is  most  remarkable  in 
reference  to  this  individual  is,  that  it  should 
have  been  ca|)tured  alive  in  a  public  street  of 
Lancaster  city.  Although  it  is  not  considered 
rare  in  Jjaneaster  county,  yet  its  usual  haliitat 
is  seas,  bays,  and  larger  streams,  or  rivers, 
and  rarely  swamps  or  marshes.  Fts  favorite 
food  consists  of  mollnsks,  crustaceans,  and 
marine  worms,  and  presumably  acpiatic;  insects 
also,  as  well  as  the  fruit  of  aciuatic  vegetation, 
and  so  forth.  This  is  the  third  wild  bird  that 
has  l)een  captured  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  Lancaster  city,  within  about  six  months. 
A  very  perceptible  change  takes  place  iu  the 


idnmagc  of  this  bird  during  the  winter  season, 
but  this  subject  was  still  in  its  .summer  garb. 
The  form  of  its  long  tail  ap|)roaches  that  of 
the  common  "  I'in-tail,"  but  liiat  spi'cics  is 
nmeh  larger,  and  is  of  a  mottled  gn^y  in  lolor. 
whilst  the  species  uudi'r consideration  is  black 
anil  white,  with  the  oiitlinesof  color  distinctly 
marked,  and  no  admixtures  whatever,  except 
around  and  alM)ve  tin;  eyes,  which  is  .a  light 
bluish  grey.  A  specimen  is  now  in  the  museum 
of  the  Litiiuviiii  Siicirty,  but  this  one  would  be 
desirable  should  its  proprietor  gi't  tired  of  it. 
./.  /{.  fc'.,  Linti-  Vid'en,  Lan.  en.,  /^a.— We 
an;  not  able  to  determine  positivc-lytlK;  species 
of  the  larva'  infesting  your  blackberry  canes 
near  the  roots.  They  are  comparatividy  new 
to  us,  having  never  seen  l)nt  a  single  individ- 
ual on  any  former  occasion,  nor  have  we  been 
able  to  find  but  a  single  nd'ereiice  to  it  in  any 
of  the  liooks  in  our  possession,  or  to  whieh  we 
have  access,  and  that  is  on  page  1(17,  vol.  1,  of 
the  Amrri-an  Rnbiinilixji.'^t,  editeil  bv  Prof. 
Charles  V.  Kilcy.  This  was  a  more  practical 
and  useful  journal  of  entomology  than  any  that 
ever  came  under  om- observation,  and  yet  its 
))ul>lication  was  snspendi'd  for  want  of  ade- 
quate support.  The  largest  specimens  of  these 
"bon-rs"  are  fully  an  inch  in  length,  and  are 
of  a  very  jiale  yellow  color  ;  the  smaller  speci- 
mens nearly  white  ;  the  head  and  feet  a  pale 
yellowish  brown,  and  the  jaws  nearly  black. 
They  possess  the  characf eristics  of  Lepidop- 
terous  larvic,  (moths,'  &(!.)  and  we  have  no 
doubt  they  belong  to  that  order  of  insects. 
We  are  not  ac(iuainted  specifically  with  the 
moth,  but  it  is  very  prob.ibly  an  /E,'erian,  and 
very  nearly  allied  in  size  and  form  to  yh'/rria 
cwurbitii',  which  is  som  'times  so  destructive 
to  the  S(iuash  and  puuqikhi  vines,  and  of  which 
we  on  one  oc'casion  found  about  twenty  indi- 
viduals in  a  single  vine,  all  located  in  the 
joints,  and  no  where  else,  especially  in  those 
that  had  thrown  out  rootlets.  The  most  fa- 
miliar examples  of  these  insects  are  the  peach 
tree  borer,  and  one  of  the  currant  cane  borers, 
another  being  a  beetle.  Some  of  the  infested 
canes  had  holes  near  the  ground,  large  enough 
for  the  entrance  or  escape  of  the  larv;c,  but  as 
the  canes  were  excavated  above  said  holes  as 
Well  as  below  them,  they  are  evidetitly  aiier- 
tures  of  egress,  and  not  of  ingress,  instinctive- 
ly prepared  by  the  larv;c  tor  the  escape  of  the, 
moths  next  spring.  As  we  have  never  been 
very  successful  in  breeding  moths  belonsing  to 
this  family,  and  as  we  are  less  favorably  situ- 
ated now  than  form  n-ly  for  that  piu'pose,  we 
would  re(iuest  our  correspondent  to  siqiply  us 
with  some  infested  canes  early  next  S|)ring,  or, 
to  cut  off  some  of  the  caues  above  the  holes, 
invert  a  bix  over  them  having  a  cotton  gauze 
or  a  muslin  top,  and  capture  the  insects  when 
they  appear  in  the  mi)th  state  in  the  spring  or 
sununer.  As  they  were  still  in  the  larva'  state 
on  the  Sth  of  Di'cember,  and  very  inert,  they 
most  likely  remain  in  that  coiKlition  all  winter, 
and  only  undergo  th'ir  pupal  Iraiisformation 
after  their  sjjriug  revival.  These  borers  seem 
to  subsist  entirely  upon  the  pith  of  the  black- 
berry canes,  and  follow  that  <lown  to  its  ter- 
mination in  the  roots,  where  they  remain  in 
winter  quarters.  We  made  this  observation, 
that  all  our  speciuK^nshail  their  heads  u|)ward, 
and  yet  their  bodies  entirely  tilled  the  chan- 
nels they  occupied.  They  n\ust  have  bored 
downward,  ai\<l  coidd  not  have  turned  insiile 
of  the  channel  they  made.  C'mdd  they  have 
come  up  from  below  backward,  cut  Uw  hole 
in  the  side  of  the  cane,  and  then  by  means  of 
it,  backed  down  again  to  their  winter  quarters  ? 
Wc  have  witnessed  as  curious  things  as  that 
in  the  econoini<'S  of  Ihi'  insect  w  irld. 

As  to  a  reiiudij  for  thes(^  borers,  we  would 
not  recommend  the  digging  up  and  entire  de- 
struction of  the  "  patch."  Blackberry  canes, 
under  any  circumstances,  are  but  temporary. 
We  would  suggest  the  cutting  out  oidy  su'di 
canes  as  are  infested,  and  in  most  cases  this 
will  be  apparent.  Follow  the  excavation  in 
the  cane  as  far  ius  it  goes  downward,  or  until 
the  borer  is  reached.  Where  the  pith  termi- 
nates or  contracts,  there  the  borer  .stops;  at 
least  we  fomul  none  below  that  ])oint.  The 
infested  portion  may  becut  out  without  injury 


to  the  80und  portion  which  remains,  and  the 
next  season  the  stalks  may  be  "a.s  good  iW 
new."  This  work  should  be  done,  however, 
in  the  fall,  or  early  iu  the  spring,  to  make  it 
sure. 

Iliiufij  Antx. — On  page  172,  Nov.  numln'r  of 
TiiK  K.vitMKu,  imder  thecap(!ion  of  "Informa- 
tion Wanted,"  we  referred  to  some  II  »(.•<  that  had 
been  sent  us  from  some  unknown  locality,  and 
bv  some  unknown  person.  \  few  days  ago, 
.Vir.  W.  T.  Strachan,  of  .Santa  Fe,  New  .Mexi- 
co, called  on  us  on  his  retm-n  from  that  terri- 
tory to  Liiicasti-r,  and  informed  us  that  it  w.w 
he  who  had  seid,  them,  and  that  he  had  receiv- 
ed them  from  a  .Mexican,  but  he  could  not 
give  us  much  iiiform.iliou  about  their  history 
or  habits.  These  anl^are  jirobably  allieil  to  the 
■'sweet  scented  ants"  of  Texas,  n'l'erred  to  in 
a  recent  paper  on  the  subject,  by  Dr.  (i.  !.il.S'- 
CKCtTM,  or  they  may  be  the  victims  of  another 
species  referred  toby  the  same  author;  the  latter 
which  he  designates  as  the  "  Kobber  Ants," 
and  stales  that  they  eviscerate  another  species 
for  tlie  i»urposcM)fo!)taiinng  the  sweet  c  tntenUi 
of  the  stomach  ;  and  that  other  species  may 
be  the  oni'  which  we  have  received  through 
Mr.  S.,  as  the  great  capacity  of  its  stomach, 
or  honey  rei^eptacle,  no  il  aibt  woidd  consti- 
tute ita  "booty'"  that  wouhl  exi'ite  tliecu|>id- 
ily  of  a  robber.  Mr.  .S.  has  kiiuJIy  put  us  in 
cominimii'ation  with  Mr.  F.  Mi'ui'liv,  of  Santa 
Fe,  and  through  him  we  expect,  in  dui'  lime, 
to  obtain  the  information  we  desire,  and  also 
more  iterft'ct  speciTueiis.  As  this  is  alniut  all 
on  this  subject  we  are  able  to  contribute  at 
this  time,  we  must  therefore  await  the  devel- 
opments of  tlu!  future,  tor  a  more  satisfiictory 
description  of  them. 

Dr.  J.  P.  If. — The  small  brown  cocoons 
whi(;h  you  gave  us  last  spring,  developed  two 
spei'ies  of  wiilely  difterent  insects,  one  of  which 
must  he  parasitii;  on  the  other,  but  "  which  is 
which"  we  have  not  yet  deterinined,  especi- 
ally as  one  is  a  CahnijU-roiu^  insect,  and  the 
other  H!/mrn'iiiternu.<<;  and  they  emerged  from 
the  cocoons  dm'ing  our  absence  from  home. 
When  we  received  these  cocoons  we  opened 
one  of  them  ami  made  the  following  record  : 

"  May  li,  1S7.').  A  soft  brownish  silken  co- 
coon, about  lhree-<piarters  of  an  inch  in  length 
anil  the  same  iu  circumference,  with  a  com- 
pact, smooth,  sei'dlike  cocoon  of  nearly  the 
same  length  within  it,  of  adrabcolor.  Within 
this  a  short,  fat,  white  grub,  or  /<irca,  without 
feet,  and  composed  of  a  head  and  i:!  .segments  ; 
two  dark  eye-likespots  on  the  white  head,  and 
a  dark  colored  lahrum,  or  upper  lip,  but  no 
visible  m«)i(?i7/'*'.s  or  jaws;  awhile  projecting 
I'lbiiiin,  or  lower  lip,  and  two  labial  appen- 
dages {}iH'j)i).  The  segmental  divisions  very 
distinct,  with  warty,  or  tubercular  protulM-r- 
ances  along  the  sides,  especially  on  tho.se  seg- 
ments between  the  thorax  and  the  abdomen. 
About  a  il')7.en  of  the.sc  cocoons  were  turned 
uji  in  plowing  in  a  piece  of  new  land."  The 
larva'  resendtles  that  of  the  chestnut  weevil, 
and  also  that  of  the  early  stages  of  the  com- 
mon wa-sp  (PiilUttn).  On  the  1st  of  .\ugust 
we  fomid  the  ends  of  live  of  thecooons  open- 
ed, anin/i;*!'*  specimens  of  a  species  of  Itijiiit- 
Iwrus,  and  t>c:i  of  a  species  of  f-lin'ttni'midtn; 
but  which  of  the  two  spun  the  cocoons,  if 
either  of  them,  we  are  not  able  to  determine. 
They  are  probably  b  ith  par:tsit icon  .some  other 
largi'r  insect,  whii'h  m  ly  have  spun  the  co- 
coons. The  necessity  of  earning  our  bread  at 
an  occupation  that  is  almost  entirely  incom- 
patible with  the  continuous  and  succpssfiil  re- 
sults of  investigations  of  this  kind,  is  one  of 
the  great  "  drawb.icks  "  Wi-  are  lalwring  under, 
and  hence  we  are  often  defeated,  and  our  par- 
tial observ.itions  amount  to  almost  nothing.' 
We  are  confident  that  no  other  insect  had  ac- 
ces.s  to  these  cocoons  while  they  wei-e  in  our 
I)os.se-s.sion.  That  they  were  i)lowed  out  of 
the  ground,  we  have  only  from  "hearsay." 
But  our  record  m;wh'.  at  the  time  and  the  sub- 
sequent development  of  the  insects  are  /acta. 


The  Dandelion  ( TarrLitriim  denskonia)  was 
in  bloom  in  Lancjuster  county  the  iircsent 
month,  a  phenomenon  which  only  realy  occurs 
in  this  latitude. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[January, 


PARIS  GREEN. 

As  the  discussion  on  tliis   subject,  wliich 
was  going  on  last  summer  and  which  unsettled 
the  minds  of    many  timid  iicople,'  has  now 
partially  subsided,  and  in  order  to  inform  our 
readers  in  advance,  how  far  our  own   recom- 
mendations have  been  justified  by  the  opinions 
and  experience  of  what  we  deem  competent 
autliority,  we  publish  the  following  excellent 
article  from  the  New  York  Scmi-ired-ly  Tribune 
of  December  28,  1875.     We  do  this  the  more 
readily,  because  two  years  ago  we  were  com- 
pelkd  to  investigate  a  report  that  a  whole 
family  in  the  city  of  Reading,  Pa.,  had  been 
poisoned   by   eating    Paris-greened    jiotatoes, 
and  when,  by  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Herman 
Strieker,  of  that  city,  the  case  was  finally 
"holed,"  it  was  found  to  be  clearly  "bosh," 
without  any  foundation  in/«r;  whatever. 
Paris  Green  as  an  Insect  Destroyer. 
The  readers  of  the  agricultural  department 
of  the  7'rihiM  will  rtmtmber  that  about  a  year 
ago  the  value  of  Paris  green  as  an  insecticide. 
and  especially  as  a  n  medj-.against  the  ravages 
of  the  Colorado  potato-beetle  and  the  cotton 
worm,  was  fully  discussed  in  the  se  columns. 
80  far  as  past  t  xiierience  and  the  facts,  at  that 
time  known,  pennittid,  its   influence  on  the 
plant,  on  the  soil,  and  on  man,  either  indirectly 
through  the  soil  or  through  the  plant,  was 
considered  ;   the  conclusion  arrived  at  being 
that,  used  with  ordinary  caution  and  judgment 
it  was  a  valuable  and  safe  remedy.     This  had 
long  been  the  conclusion  of  practical  men  in 
the  Mississipjii  Valley  who  had  used  it  exten- 
sively ;  but  the  ijutstion  was  opened  again  by 
a  paper  read  by  Dr.  J.  L.  LeConte,  of  Phila- 
delphia,  before    the    National    Academy    of 
Science,   which  paper,   from  the  theoretical 
side,  strongly  condtmned  tlie  use  of  the  poison 
for  the  pur]  osts  nitntiontd,  and  which  natur- 
ally attraetid  considerable  attention  and  wa^ 
barpid  upon  by  the  manufacturers  of  "potato 
bug  machines,"  or  their  glib  agents.     The 
National  Academy,  after  the  reading  of  Dr. 
LtConte's  paper,  ajipointed  a  ccmmittce  to 
"investigate  and  report  upon  the  subject  of 
the  use  of  poisons  applied  to  vegetables,  or 
otherwise,  for  the  destruction  of  deleterious 
insects  and  other  animals,"  etc.;  but  that 
ccmmittee  has,  I  believe,  made  no  report  yet. 
Prof.  E.  C.  Kedzie,  of  the  Michigan  Agricul- 
tural Cejllege,  has,  heiwever,  bttn  carrying  on 
a  series  of  interesting  experiments  during  the 
summer,  and  while  visiting  the  college  last 
August  I  had  the  jileasure  of  witnessing  and 
makinguotesof  the  professor's  operations.   As 
he  lias  since  given  these  results  to  the  Ameri- 
can Public  Health  Association,  and  jiublished 
an  abstract  of  them  in  the  Deln  H  Free  Press, 
I  take  the  liberty  of  gi'ving  them  wider  circu- 
lation. 

First,  as  to  the  use  of  the  mineral  for  the 
Doiyphora.  Does  Paris  green  poison  the 
tuber  y  Tubers  taken  f n  m  vines  that  had 
been  repeatedly  dosed  with  the  ordinary  mix- 
ture—as much  Paris  green,  in  fact,  as  they 
would  bear— gave  no  trace  of  arsenic.  Ee- 
garding  the  idea,  which  has  been  suggested, 
that  the  use  of  the  jioison  rendered  the  tubers 
watery  and  waxy,  the  conclusion  is  that  such 
condition  is  brenight  about  by  the  .stunted 
growth  and  destruction  e)f  the  vines  caused  by 
the  insect,  which  thereby  prevents  maturity 
of  the  tuber.  Does  Paiis  green  poison  the 
land  ?  This  is  meant,  of  course,  in  the  sense 
of  rendering  the  lard  unfit  for  the  growth  of 
crops;  and  Preif.  Kedzie  justly  consideis  not 
only  its  immediate  I  ut  its  remote  effect.  Theo- 
retically, one  would  naturally  infer  that  Paris 
green  is  converted  into  an  insoluble  jireci])i- 
tate  or  salt  with  the  hydrated  oxide  of  iron 
which  exists  in  most  soils  ;  but  not  resting  the 
matter  on  theoretical  or  abstract  reasoning, 
Prof.  Kedzie  made  careful  tests  and  experi- 
ments. He  passed  a  solution  of  arsenious  tri- 
oxide  through  common  garden  soil,  and  fil- 
tered Paris  green  in  a  solution  of  hydrochleiric 
acid  through  dry  earth.  In  neither  case 
could  any  poison  be  detected  in  the  filtrate  by 
the  severest  tests.  Soil  taken  from  a  field  of 
wheat  that  had  been  sown  with  Paris  green 


at  the  rate  of  five  pounds  to  the  acre,  showed 
no  trace  of  the  poison  when  submitted  to  any 
or  all  e)f  the  tests  which  the  soil  would  get  by 
natural  .solvents  in  the  field,  but  distinctly 
showed  the  arsenic  when  treated  with  dilute 
sulphuric  acid.  The  Paris  green  was  sown  on 
the  ground  early  in  spring,  and  was  thick 
enough  to  give  a  very  distinct  green  tint  to 
the  surface.  The  grain  and  the  straw  were 
submitted  to  careful  chemical  examination, 
as  wcie  also  cabbages  grown  in  soil  that  had 
the  year  before  been  in  potatoes  and  received 
a  heavy  siirinkling  eif  green.  No  trace  of  the 
pe.ison  was  tbunel  in  cither,  and  it  was  ob- 
served that  the  chipmueks  ate  large  quantities 
of  the  grain  without  injury.  The  more  prac- 
tical conclusions  from  Prof.  Kedzie's  experi- 
ments may  be  thus  summed  up  : 

1.  Paris  green  that  has  been  four  months  in 
the  soil  no  lemger  remains  as  such,  but  has 
passed  into  some  less  soluble  state,  and  is  uu- 
affected  by  the  ordinary  solvents  of  the  soil. 

2.  When  applied  in  small  eiuantities,  such  as 
alone  are  necessary  in  destroying  injin-ious  in- 
sects, it  does  not  afi'ect  the  health  of  the  plant. 

3.  The  power  of  the  soil  to  hold  arsenious 
acids  and  arsenites  in  insoluble  form  will  pre- 
vent water  from  becoming  poisoned,  unless 
the  green  is  used  in  excess  of  any  rtciuirement 
as  an  insecticide. 

These  experiments  of  Prof.  Kedzie's  accord, 
so  far  as  they  refer  to  the  influence  of  Paris 
green  on  man  thre^ugh  the  plant,  with  others 
by  Prof.  McMurtrie,  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  which  showed  that  even  where 
the  green  was  applied  to  the  soil  in  such 
quantities  as  to  cause  the  wilting  or  death  of 
the  plants,  the  most  rigorous  chemical  analysis 
could  detect  no  trace  of  arsenic  in  the  conipej- 
sition  of  the  plants  themselves.  They  also 
fully  bear  out  the  opinions  which  I  have  al- 
wajs  held,  and  justify  the  advice  w  hich  I  have 
given. 

Before  leaving  this  subject  of  remedies  for 
the  Colorado  potato-beetle,  it  may  be  well  to 
say  a  few  words  about  two  other  compounds 
that  have  been  strongly  recommended  and  ad- 
vertised as  such.  The  most  notable  of  these 
is  that  advertised  as  "  Potato  Pest  Poi-'on" 
by  the  Ledi  Chemical  "Works  of  Ledi,  N.J. 
It  is  put  up  in  pound  packages,  which  are  sold 
at  $1  each,  with  directions  to  dissolve  four 
otmces  in  two  ejuarts  of  hot  watei',  then  i)our 
into  a  barrel  containing  80  gallons  of  cold 
water,  and  use  on  the  vines  in  as  fine  a  sjiray 
as  possible.  Analysis  shows  it  to  be  com- 
posed of  one  part  pure  salt  and  one  lart  of  ar- 
senic (arsenate  of  copper),  and  it  has  the  gen- 
eral color  and  appearance  of  ccmmon  salt. 
Early  in  September,  during  epiite  hot  and  dry 
weather.  I  had  this  poisem  tested  in  a  field  of 
late  potatoes  belonging  to  Mr.  W.  Hinterthur, 
of  La  Clede,  Mo.,  the  field  having  been  badly 
infested  during  the  summer,  but  about  half 
the  vines  having  been  saved  by  pretty  con.staut 
hi  nd-pie-king.  These  were  at  the  time  fairly 
covered  with  the  insect  in  the  egg,  larva,  and 
beetle  states.  Five  rows  were  treated  with 
the  poison,  both  according  to  directions  and 
by  finely  sprinkling  the  dry  powder  over  the 
vines.  As  soon  as  the  peiwder  touched  the 
larva?,  they  writhed  and  became  restless  as 
with  pain,  the  powder  dissolved  and  formed 
a  translucent  coating  upon  them,  and  in  about 
three  hours  they  began  to  die.  The  beetles 
were  not  so  easily  affected,  tl  ougli  they  too 
were  in  timekilleel  by  it.  Used  as  directed,  it 
destroys,  but  hi.rdly  as  efficiently  as  the  ordi- 
nary Paris  gieen  mixture.  A  pound  of  Paris 
green,  costing  much  less  than  a  pound  of  the 
Lodi  ]ioiscn,  will  go  nearly  as  far  in  protect- 
ing a  field  of  potatoes,  arid  I  cannot  see  any 
advantage  to  a  farmer  frem  the  employment 
of  a  patent  poisonous  compound  of  the  nature 
of  winch  he  is  ignorant  when  a  cheaper  one  is 
at  hand.  The  color  of  the  Lodi  poison  is  also 
very  objectionable,  as  there  is  much  more 
danger  in  the  use  of  poisons  when  their  color 
renders  them  undistinguishablefrom  ordinary 
salt.  The  other  powder  is  one  prepared  by  a 
gentleman  in  Philadelphia,  and  strongly  re- 
commended as  a  "potato-bug  remedy."  It 
was  given  to  me  by  Dr.  J.  L.  I.e  Coute  for 


trial.  It  is  a  dull,  yellowish  powder,  which, 
when  analyzed,  proves  to  be  crude  "flowers 
of  sulphur,"  containing  95  per  cent,  of  sul- 
phur and  5  per  cent,  of  impurity  and  coloring 
matter,  such  as  yellow  ochre,  sand,  etc.  A 
thorough  trial  on  the  potato  patch  above  men- 
tioned showed  it  to  be  entirely  worthless.  In 
conclusion,  the  fact  that  Paris  green,  cau- 
tiously handled  and  judiciously  used,  is  an  ex- 
cellent and  cheap  antidote  to  the  ravages  of 
the  Coleirado  potato-beetle  cannot  be  too 
strongly  urged.  That  it  is  usefid  against  some 
other  insect  pests  is  also  true  ;  but  it  is  some- 
times recommended  for  suctorial  insects, 
which  it  will  not  afliect  as  it  does  those  which 
masticate,  and  its  too  general  use  should  be 
opposed.  In  an  emergency  it  may  be  used 
against  the  canker  woim,  as  J.  B.  Upson,  of 
Reickford,  111.,  (Weekly  SVj^kiic,  June  2,  1875) 
and  others  have  shown.  Yet  I  cannot  recom- 
mend it  in  such  a  case  where  other  available 
preventive  means  are  at  hand— means  which 
are  as  simple  as  they  are  dangerless. — Prof, 
a  Y.  Biky. 

SELECTION  AND  CHANGE  OF   SEEDS. 

AVe  commend  the  remarks  of  our  veneralile 
correspondent,  J.  B.  Garber,  esq.,  to  the  can- 
did considerations  of  our  agricultural  friends, 
based  as  they  are  on  close  observation,  and  a 
lemg  life  of  practical  experience.  We  believe 
that  "  in-and-in-breeding  "  of  live  stock  is  gen- 
erally considered  deteriorating,  and  therefore 
that  the  crossing  of  breeds  at  certain  intervals 
tends  to  their  improvement.  It  is  not  sure, 
however,  that  this  law  obtains  to  the  same 
extent  in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  From  our 
own  observations  and  the  experiences  of  prac- 
tical agriculturists,  we  would  repose  more 
cemfidence  in  judicious  and  thorough  "selec- 
tion," than  in  an  entire  change  of  seed.  The 
experiments  with  foreign  seeds  in  this  coun- 
ti  y,  in  our  view,  have  been  anything  l)ut  suc- 
cessful in  a  general  sense.  Perhaps  if  more 
attention  had  been  paid  to  proper  selection, 
backed  by  thorough  culture  and  judicious 
manuring,  the  results  would  have  been  more 
fitvorable.  Even  in  many  cases  where  the 
change  of  seed  has  seemed  to  produce  a  good 
efi'e  ct,  it  has  been  merely  a  spasmodic  result, 
attributable  more  to  a  favorable  condition  of 
the  season  and  other  latent  unknown  causes, 
than  to  a  change  in  seed  ;  and,  in  another 
season  and  under  diflerent  circumstances, 
things  have  relapsed  into  their  former  condi- 
tion. A  single  experiment,  on  either  a  small 
or  a  large  scale,  is  not  always  sufticicnt  to  de- 
teimint'^  such  a  question.  Indeed,  we  are  of 
opinion  that  in  experimental  agriculture,  no 
greater  mistake  s  have  been  made  than  those 
wliie-h  estimated  general  results  on  the  effects 
of  special  and  limited  exj'criments.  If  one 
hill  jiioduccs  a  hundred  potatoes  it  does  not 
by  any  means  indicate  that  ten  hills  will  pro- 
eluce  a  thenis and—  imless  they  are  so  far  sep- 
arated tliat  eme  cannot  by  any  means  absorb 
the  elementary  substances  due  to  another. 
Neither  will  a  popular  furore  determine' the 
result,  because  the  people  scraetimes  become 
psyche)logised  on  these  questions,  and  rush 
pell  mel!  into  new  experiment  sand  enterprises, 
with.out  thoroughly  examining  the  premises. 
Still,  with  all  this. 'tl  ere  jjioi/becasesin  which 
the  change  of  seeds  alone,  have  produced  a 
desirable  effect,  (see  Dec.  No.,  p.  187,  col.  11 
and  yet,  even  crofsivy  may  be  of  no  account 
in  its  continuous  results,  if  no  regard  is  paid 
to  subsequent  care  ful  selection. 

We  are  compelled  to  defer  to  our  February 
numVicr  several  japers  that  otherwise  would 
have  ajipeared  in  this  number.  Therefore, 
those  of  our  correspondents  who  do  not  see 
their  ccmniunicationsor  contributions  in  print 
the  present  month,  will  please  attribute  it  to 
a  want  of  room.  "First  cc me,  first  served," 
is  a  rule  we  usually  adopt  unless  in  cases,  the 
pulilication  of  which  will  not  admit  of  a  post- 
pone mcnt.  We  hope,  therefore,  our  friends 
will  ne)t  abate  their  zeal  to  make  The  Fah  jieb 
throughout  the  Centennial  year,  a  faithful  ex- 
ponent of  the  state  of  husbandry  as  it  exists  in 
the  great  county  of  Lancaster  in  1876. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


THE  FACTS    OF   NATURAL   HISTORY. 
No.  7. 

No  animals  bclDiigiui;  to  tliti  Sloth  taiuily 
(Bradyi'id.e)  now  exist  in  Xorlh  Aiui'i-ica, 
and  only  two  species  in  South  Anipiica,  nei- 
ther of  which  is  a  i^reat  deal  larger  than  the 
domestic  cat.  IJut  in  some  of  the  Sontliern 
States,  and  especially  in  Smith  Carolina  and 
Georijia  (as  also  in  Soutli  America)  in  tlie  su- 
perlieial  deposits  of  thos(f  localities,  fjii^antic 
remains  of  animals  allied  to  the  "sloth  "  have 
been  discovered  in  a  fossil  stale,  anions  which 
are  the  Miydhn-iiuii,  the  Miy  doai/.i:  and  tlic 
Mi/Iiiilon,  all  of  wliich  are  of  colossal  size — tlie 
first  named  luivini:  a  skeleton  eiL;liteen  feet  in 
leni;tli  and  ei^ht  feet  in  lieight,  tlie  hones  of 
the  femur  heins  three  times  as  thick  as  that 
of  an  elephant.  These  animils  were  ve^je- 
table  feeders,  as  tlieir  coijencrs  in  Soutli 
America  at  the  presentday  are— defoliators  of 
forest  trees;  and  when  we  tliink  of  the  enor- 
mous quantities  of  tins  kind  of  provender  they 
must  have  annually  consumed,  the  army 
worms  and  tlie  Colorado  potato-beetles  sink 
into  utter  insi'^nilii'ance.  "Our  lines  have 
fallen  upon  pleasant  places,"  when  our  age 
is  compared  with  those  periods  in  tlio  world's 
physical  history  wliich  produced  thase  gigantic 
animals. 

The  sloths,  of  which  there  are  two  distinct 
species,  namely,  B.  trid  i-ti/his  and  B.  did  tc- 
((y?i(.<— belong  to  the  order  Edevtata,  or 
quadrupeds  without  teeth  in  the  fore-part  of 
their  jaws;  and  soma  bslonging  to  the  saiiii 
order — the  "  Ant-eaters,"  tor  instance — have 
no  teeth  at  all.  The  family  and 
generic  names  mean  "Slow-foot,'" 
and  arc  Greek  compounds.  The 
specific  names  mean  "tlirce-fiu- 
gered"  and  "  two-tingered." 

Most  of  the  accounts  t)f  old  natu- 
ralists have  rather  misrepresented 
these  animals  than  given  a  tru^  ac- 
count of  their  history  and  habits. 
Even  the  great  Cuvier  condemned 
the  sloth  as  a  degraded  and  miser- 
able animal,  unable  to  move  with- 
out pain,  and  misshapen  and 
distorted  in  form  ;  and  others  have 
stated,  that  when  compelled  to 
move  by  hunger,  it  moved  very 
slowly  and  lazily,  and  fairly  whined 
and  cried  with  pain.  Yet  it  has 
been  clearly  demonstrated  by  more 
recent  authorities,  that  no  animal  is 
better  fitted  for  its  position  in  na- 
ture than  the  .sloth.  Wateutox 
says  that  in  its  wild  state,  "the  sloth  spands 
its  whole  life  in  the  trees,  an  1  never  leaves 
them  but  through  force  or  ajcideiit ;  and  what 
is  mire  extraordinary,  not  upm  tlie  brandies, 
like  the  squirrel  ami  the  miiikey,  lint  wider 
them.  lie  moves  susiieinled  from  the  branch, 
he  rests  suspended  from  the  bramdi.  and  he 
sleeps  suspended  frum  the  branch"— in  this 
latter  respect  his  habit  being  not  much  unlike 
that  of  the  Ijat.  In  faet,  as  Sidney  Smith 
observed,  "  he  passes  a  life  of  susppiis",  like 
a  young  clergyman  distantly  related  to  a 
bishop." 

In  order  to  lit  it  for  this  singular  or  very 
peculiar  mode  of  life,  the  sloth  is  provided 
with  long  and  powerful  arnn,  which  are  fur- 
nished with  strong  curved  claws,  and  these 
the  animal  hooks  around  the  branches,  and 
maintains  its  sus|):'nded  position  without  any 
special  effort.  Tliese  long  claw-i  are  very  in- 
convenient when  it  is  on  tlie  ground,  for  they 
then  turn  in  upon  the  jialms  or  soles  of  the 
feet,  and  it  sliufHes  along  awkwardly  and  in- 
conveniently ;  but  whi'ii  it  is  up  among  the 
Viranches,  it  is  capalile  of  niDving  with  great 
rapidity,  particularly  in  a  gale  of  wind,  when 
it  can  pass  from  branch  to  brancli,  and  from 
one  tree  to  another,  witli  an  activity  that  no 
one  would  suppose  if  they  had  only  seen  it  on 
the  ground.  It  is  alsn  gifted  with  great  te- 
nacity of  life — even  surpassing  the  "  opossum" 
in  that  respect — and  will  survive  injuries  that 
instantly  prove  inirtal  to  almost  any  other 
animal.  Our  illustration  repre.sents  the  tuxi- 
fingered  sloth  {Brad;/piis  didactylm),  which  is 


larger,  has  shorter  limbs,  a  longer  muzzle,  and 
less  tail,  than  the  <'i(W-(ingered  species  (/{. 
tridnrliilu.t]^  and  the  artist  .seems  to  have 
represented  it  under  the  erroneous  impression 
that  it  only  m  ives  in  an  agony  of  pain.  Al- 
thougli  our  subject  has  only  two  claws  on  the 
front  feel  and  Ihree  on  the  hind  ones,  yet  liolh 
speeies  are  fundamentally  tive-loed  animils, 
the  rudiments  of  the  undeveloped  claws  being 
concealed.  The  hair  on  the  liead.  bai'k  ami 
limbs  is  long,  coarse  and  elastic,  bearing  some 
resemlilaiice  to  dry  grass,  which  gives  the 
animal  a  forbidding  aspect.  The  color  is 
grayish,  often  spotted  willi  brown  and  white, 
particularly  when  young. 

Some  writers  have  ma<le  out  a  third  species 
— till'  liriid'ipn.i  t'li-ijii  ilns  of  (i-eof. — which 
others  deem  only  a  variety  ;  but  it  ditlVrs  not 
only  in  color,  but  also  in  the  bjuy  structure  of 
the'  head. 

The  sloth  is  an  enormous  feeder,  and  never 
leav(^s  a  tree  as  long  as  any  of  the  foliage  re- 
mains upon  which  it  feeds,  an  I  wlien  the  tree 
is  isolated,  it  is  said  to  let  itself  drop  to  the 
ground,  ralhi'r  than  take  the  trouble  to  come 
down  the  trunk  before  it  ascends  another 
one.  The  fein  lies  bring  fortli  only  one  young 
at  a  time,  wiiicli  they  constantly  carry  with 
them  from  place  to  place.  Th  -s  ■  auiui  lis  are 
indigenous  to  the  hot  parts  of  South  .Vm  M-ica, 
anil  where  the  forests  are  so  d;Mise  as  they  are 
tliere,  with  the  branches  of  the  trees  often 
interlo'jking  eaeh  other  for  miles,  it  is  seld  im 
necessary  for  tiiem  to  eoine  to  the  ground  in 
changing  their  positions.  ThiMr  long,  (Mar.se 
auJ  sliaggy  hair  protects  them  from  the  at- 


THE  SLOTH,  OR  Al  (Bradypus  didactylus). 

I  tacks  of  in-?3Cts ;  and,  as  Prof  B  ickland  re- 
in irks,   "  t!ie  peculiar  conform  ition  of  th'r-ss 
animils  ouglit  no  mire  to  e.Kcite  our  com.ias- 
sioii  than  the  circu.intance  of  lish 's  bdiig  de- 
I  prived  of  feet."     Tii.^y  are  just  as  aduiir.ibly 
]  adapted  and  litly  orgiaizid  for  th  'ir  siu.;ular 
m  )de  of  life  as  any  other  subjeets  of  the  ani- 
mal wirld.      Taeir  stoni  ichs  are  very  large  in 
proportion  to  their  size,  and  are  divided  into 
four  com^i  irtm  ^uts,   som 'what  analogous  to 
the  four  stomiclis  of  ruininants,  but  without 
the  network  lea'.l^ts  of  their  intern.il  parts, 
while  the  intestines  are  cmi  lar.itively  short. 
In    this   respect  — lltliou^h   purely    vegetable 
I  feed  'rs— th'y  dilfM"  froai  ruminants,  in  w  lich 
i  the  intestines  are  Vi'ry  long.     Ofourse,  they 
are  not  very  desirable  pjts,  an  i  cann  it  bs  do- 
m^sticat  'd,  but  thosj  c.iptured  and  contiaed 
will  continu  '.  their  forest  life  by  hanging  to  a 
pereh,  if  an  opp  irtiinity  of  the  kind  is  oft 'rod. 
We  often  think  we  can  disc  ive.'huiu  m  idiir- 
acteristics  that   are  in  perfect   outwird   c  >r- 
res]V)ndence  with  these  anim  lis  in  others;  an  1 
perliajis,  if  we  lo  ik  a  little  deeper,  w,'   may 
discover  more  or  less  of  them  in  ourselves. 


Potatoes  for  Stock. 
Mr.  Billings,  of  Xew  Ilamishire,  wh>ha3 
been  experim 'iiting  on  (he  subject,  says  he 
thinks  potatoes  are  worth  thirty  cents  per 
bushel  to  feed  to  stock.  Thi'y  arenot  only  nu- 
tritiou.s.  but  are  excellent  appetizers  and  iiro- 
moters  of  digestion.  Kxperimeiits  go  to  show 
that  a  peck  of  potatoes  will  produce  as  mueli 
milk  us  a  bushel  of  beets,  turnips  or  carrots. 


DEATH  TO  THE  APPLE  TREE  BORER. 

I  li.ivo  waited  for  8onio  one  to  invr'iil  an  easy  way 
of  killiiii;  the  apple  tree  borer;  but  the  ehlriel,  mallet, 
knife  unit  wire  are  only  reeoriiiiieudecl,  ami  In  UBlng 
them  I  have  hail  lo  eut  a  nix  Ineh  apple  tree  until  I 
eoulil  see  daylight  thronijh  It  lo  kill  u  single  Iwrer. 
.My  way  of  ifetting  ul  this  inlherable  "  worm  of  tlio 
du»l"  Is  an  eanier  one  ami  iii'ire  elfeelual.  I  I'ut  a 
Hiiinae  or  alder  one  foot,  more  or  less,  lou';,  pnneh 
out  the  pith,  eut  one  en  I  with  a  slope,  liuul  the 
Ixirer's  hole,  elean  it  out  at  the  entranei'  wllh  a  wire, 
plaee  the  bevelled  en  1  of  my  tnhi'  airalnst  11,  take 
some  pulty  like  elay  that  1  ire't  In  our  spriir,'  braiieli, 
plaster  It  waler-lli;lit  aronn  I  the  end  next  the  tree, 
nil  the  tube  Willi  very  strong'  soap  su  Is,  and  the  thinif 
is  done.  No  mutter  how  e rooked  the  hole  Is,  or 
whether  It  ifoes  up  or  tlown,  the  suds  In  the  tube  will 
foree  itself  lo  Hie  end.  I  have  Irled  It  two  years  and 
have  not  falleil  nurv.  Of  luurse,  anv  kin  I  of  small 
hollow  lube  will  do.  and  anylhin;;  liial  will  m.ike  It 
water-tight  will  do  to  plaster  it  with.— for.  .V.  TT. 
Trihiiitc. 

We  confess  we  have  some  faith  in  the  abovu 
remedy,  and  we  thank  the  disc  )Verer  of  it  ex- 
ceedingly, for  his  "of  course,"  otherwise  it 
miglit  have  involved  the  tronblesoin"  necessity 
of  hunting  up  a  sum  le  or  an  alder  cane,  things 
which  are  not  always  on  litind  on  farms  tliat 
liave  no  neglected  fence  irorners  or  .b;irren 
ridges.  We  fully  apiirchend  the  dillieiilty  of 
reaching  and  dislo  Igiiig  the  b  uer  by  the  "me- 
ch  itiical  me  ins  describe  I,  witluat  often  doing 
serious  injury  to  the  trees,  the  mutilation  of 
which  might  liappi;ntobe  w  irse  for  them  than 
th  t  depr.' lalioas  of  the  Itirirx.  It  is  known 
tint  Ihiids,  by  a  hydrostatic  1  iw  will  rise  very 
nearly  as  high  as  their  source,  and  therefore 
we  woiilil  recommend  a  tube  two  or  even 
three  feet  in  lei'igtli,  in  ordc^r  to  make 
sure  that  the  lluid  is  i~aised  high 
enough  to  reach  the  borers,  for  we  have 
found  them  as  mncli  as  eighteen 
incites  above  the  point  of  ingress. 

Of  course,  the  rise  of  the  lluid  in 
the  tube  is  effected  by  atmosplieric 
pressure — whether  it  lie  a  soap  solu- 
tion, a  tobacco  decoction  or  simply 
water — and  to  facilitate  this  we  would 
suggest  an  old  funnel  or  an  old  tin 
cni)  attached  to  the  top,  ;i.s  a  sort  of 
reservoir.  I'erhaps  an  old  discanled 
dinner  horn,  the  wide  end  upwards 
and  the  narrow  end  proiM-rly  attached 
to  the  aperture  in  the  tree,  would  lje 
better  still,  provided  it  did  not  leak 
and  was  properly  f.a,stened  above. 
Now,  we  are  not  recoinmending  these 
oldarti(dessimiily  liecaii.se  they  arc  old 
— as  if  tliat  were  any  merit — but  be- 
cause, if  such  old  articles  wen-  at  hand 
itwiuld  save  the  expense  of  providing  new 
ones.  We  have  tested  the  effects  of  "Dr. 
Pierce's  nasal  douche"  in  forcing  lluids  up- 
ward, and  therefore  an  apparatus  made  on 
that  plan  would  be  best  of  all.  This  is  simply 
a  lluid-c  inlainiiig  vessel  with  an  elastic  tube 
attached  t)  or  ne  ir  the  b  ittom.  This  might 
be  hung  on  a  lower  branch  near  the  trunk  of 
the  tree,  and  the  lower  end  of  the  tuln;  securely 
attached  to  the  aperture  of  the  borer.  If 
there  were  no  ajiertures  below  through  which 
the  llniil  might  escape,  it  would,  in  time,  be 
forced  n|i  to  the  borer  and  destroy  it. 

Soiu'such  kind  of  apparatus,  acting  upon 
similar  philosophieal  principles,  might  be  con- 
fidently left  to  do  its  own  work  in  its  own 
good  time,  and  if  skillfully  executed,  wi-  think 
it  would  be  elteetive.  We  know  that  the 
simple  application  of  hot  water,  inide  through 
the  nozzle  of  a  tea-kettle,  Ivis  been  destructive 
to  both  ants  and  borers,  but  then  it  could  only 
affect  those  which  were  below  the  aperture 
through  which  it  w;is  jioured.  Tlie  foregoing 
apiiaralus,  however,  seems  to  cover  the  whole 
groun  I. 

The  infestations  of  wood-boring  insects  are 
becoming  so  numerous  over  the  whole  country 
that  it  becomes  absolutely  necessary  to  employ 
skilled  and  persevering  applications  in  order 
to  destroy  them.  Farmers,  therefore,  cannot 
afford  to  be  negligent  any  longer.  They  m1t.1t 
do  something,  and  whatever  is  done  mii.st  be 
done  with  thi'ir  might.  R-ui'dies  are  often 
applied  inacareless,  hurried  manner,  and  then 
unhesitatingly  denounced,  when  the  cause  of 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[January, 


failure  was,  perhaps,  to  be  attriliuted  more  to 
the  slovenly  manner  in  whieh  it  was  done 
than  to  the  (iiiality  (>f  the  reniedj'.  This 
remedy  seems  to  us  to  be  a  practical  one,  and 
ought,  therefore,  to  be  properly  tested. 


THE  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS. 

1020-1875. 
[The  following  significantly  and  graphically 
expressed  epitome  of  the  past  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years  of  progressive  American  history 
is  worthy  of  a  more  convenient  and  perma- 
nent record  than  the  columns  of  a  weekly 
newspaper,  and  therefore  we  transfer  it  to  the 
columns  of  The  Fahjiei!,  as  a  chronological 
table  of  events  that  must  be  useful  to  all  who 
are  able  to  comprehend  it,  and  if  there  are  any 
among  our  readers  who  have  not  this  ability, 
we  would  admonish  them  to  learn  to  read  im- 
mediately; and  if  they  can  read  already,  to 
form  a  habit  of  n  ading  something  every  "day, 
if  it  is  but  a  single  page  of  The  Farjier  or 
any  good  American  history,  and  not  omitting 
the  " Scri])tui'es  of  truth.'!] 

1620.  The  Pilgrim  Lands  on  Plymouth  Eock 
and  sets  \\\i  for  himself. 

1021.  Keeps  Thanksgiving — in  no  danger  of 
over  eating. 

1022.  Builds  a  meeting  house. 

1023.  Proclaims  a  fast  day. 

1028.  Puts  down  a  May  pole  at  Merry 
Moimt  as  a  rebuke  to  vain  recreations. 

103.5.  Is  crowded  for  accommodations,  and 
stakes  out  a  new  farm  at  Connecticut. 

1()37.  Makes  war  on  the  Antinomians  and 
the  Pequot  Indians— and  whips  both. 

10.38.  Starts  a  colleye. 

1040.  Sets  up  a  jirinting  prefss. 

1043.  Goes  into  a  confederacy— the  first  Col- 
onial Congress. 

1048.  Lays  down  the  Cambridge  platform. 
Hangs  a  witch. 

1649.  Sets  his  face  against  the  unchristian 
custom  of  wearing  long  hair,  "  a  thing  uncivil 
and  uncomely." 

1051.  Is  rebuked  for  "intolerable  excess  and 
bravery  of  apjiarel,"  and  is  forbidden  to  wear 
gold  and  silver  lace  and  other  such  gew-gaws. 

1051.  Coins  Pine  Tree  shillings— and  makes 
the  business  profitable. 

1663.  Prints  a  Bible  for  the  Indians. 

1080.  Buys  a  "hang-up"  clock  and  occa- 
sionally carries  a  silver  watch  that  helps  him 
guess  the  time  of  day.  About  this  period 
learns  to  use  French  forks  at  table  ;  a  new 
fashion. 

1692.  Is  scared  by  iritches  again,  at  Salem  ; 
but  gets  the  better  of  them. 

1701.  Founds  another  CoUcge,  which,  after 
awhile,  settles  down  at  Xew  Haven. 

1704.  Prints  his  first  A'(«>7  (yxr,  in  Boston. 

1705.  Tastes  Coff<_e,  as  a  luxury,  and  at  his 
own  table. 

1708.  Constructs  another  Platform — this 
time  at  Saybrook. 

1710.  Begins  to  sip  Tea— very  .sparingly.  It 
does  not  come  into  family  use  till  five  and 
twenty  years  later. 

1711.  Puts  a  letter  into  his  first  Past  Office. 

1720.  Eats  a  Potato—tind  takes  one  home  to 
plant  in  his  garden  as  a  curiosity. 

1721.  Is  Iiwcidatcd  for  the  small-pox— not 
without  grave  remonstrance  from  his  conser- 
vative neighbors.  Begins  to  sing  hy  note,  on 
Sundays,  thereby  encountering  nuii'h  opposi- 
tion and  opening  a  ten  years'  quarrel. 

1740.  ilanufactures  tin  ware,  and  starts  the 
first  IVji  Peddler  on  his  tiavels. 

1742.  Sees  Faneuil  Hall  built.  The  cradle 
of  Liberty  is  ready  to  be  rocked. 

1745.  Builds  an  On/au ;  but  does  not  yet 
permit  it  to  be  played  in  the  meeting  house. 

17.50.  Buys  a  bushel  of  Peita/oes  for  winter's 
use — all  his  friends  wondermg  what  he  will  do 
with  so  many. 

1755.  Puts  up  a  Franklin  stove  in  his  best 
room,  and  tries  one  of  the  newly  invented 
Ligldning  Bods. 

1760.  About  this  time  begins  to  wear  a  col- 
lar to  his  shirt.  When  he  can  afford  it,  takes 
his  wife  to  meeting  in  a  Chaise,  instead  of  on 
a  pillion,  as  heretofore. 


1705.  Shows  his  dislike  to  stamped  paper, 
and  joins  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty." 

1708.  Tries  his  hand  at  Tiipe  Foiaulinej— not 
yet  successful— in  Connecticut. 
•  1770.  Buys  a  home-made  Wooden  Clock. 

1773.  Waters  his  Tea  in  Boston  harbor. 
Plants  Liberty  Trees  wherever  he  finds  good 
soil. 

1774.  Lights  Boston  streets  \\'\t\io\\Letmps; 
a  novelty  (though  "New  Lights"  had  been 
plenty,  some  years  before). 

1775.  Shows  Lord  Percy  how  to  march  to 
"  Yankee  Doodle."  Calls  at  Ticonderoga,  to 
take  lodgings  for  the  season.  Sends  General 
Putnam  (under  the  command  of  several 
colonels)  witli  a  small  party  to  select  a  sight 
for  Bunker  Hill  monument. 

1770.  Brother  Jonathan — as  he  begins  to  be 
called  in  the  family— declares  himself  free  and 
independent. 

1780.  Buys  an  "Umbrilla,"  for  Sundays; 
and  whenever  he  shows  it,  is  laughed  at  for  liis 
efl'eminacy. 

1791.  Starts  a  Cottem  Spinning  factory. 

1792.  Has  been  raising  Silk  Worms,  in  Con- 
necticut ;  and  now  gives  his  minister  (not  his 
wife)  a  home-made  silk  gown.  Buys  a  Carpet 
for  the  mklelle  of  the  jiarlor  fioor. 

1793.  Invents  the  Cottem  Gin— and  thereby 
trebles  the  value  of  southern  plantations. 

1795 — 1800.  Wears  Pemtedoons  occasionally, 
but  not  when  in  full  dress.  Begins  to  use 
Pleites  on  the  breakfast  and  tea  table. 

1802.  Has  the  bojs  and  girls  vaecineUed. 

180().  Tries  to  burn  a  piece  of  Heird  Coal 
from  Philadelphia;  a  failure. 

1807.  Sees  a  boat  go  by  Steam  on  the  Hud- 
son. 

1815.  Holds  a  little  Cemvention  at  Hartford, 
but  doesn't  propose  to  dissolve  the  Union. 
Buys  one  of  Terry's  patent  "Shelf  Clocks," 
for  S30,  and  regulates  his  watch  by  it. 

1817.  Sets  up  a  stove  in  the  meeting  house 
and  builds  a  fire  in  it  on  Sunday  ;  an  innova- 
tion which  was  stoutly  resisted  by  many. 

1817.  Begins  to  run  a  Steeemboett  on  Long 
Island  Sound — and  takes  passage  on  it  to  New 
York  alter  making  his  will. 

1819.  Grown  bolder;  he  crosses  the  Atlantic 
in  a  steamship. 

1822.  Lights  Gas  in  Boston  (but  doesn't  light 
Bost'm.  with  gas  till  1829).  At  last  learns  how 
to  make  Bard  Coed  burn,  and  sets  a  grate  in 
his  parlor.  Buys  a  Stiei  Pen  (one  of  Gillott's, 
sold  at  .183  per  gross).  Has  his  every  day 
shirts  made  without  Bvffles. 

1825.  About  this  time,  puts  a  Percussion 
Lock  on  his  old  musket. 

1826.  Buys  his  wife  a  pair  of  queer-shaped 
Lidia  RidAier  overshoes.  Puts  on  his  first 
False  Collar.  Tries  an  "  Experimental "  rail- 
road by  horse-power. 

1828.  Tastes  bis  first  Tojiirto- doubtingly. 
Is  told  that  it  is  unfashionable  to  feed  himself 
with  his  knife— and  buys  Silver  Forks  for  great 
occasions. 

1833.  Eubs  his  first  Frict'on  Match — then 
called  a  "Lucifer,"  and  afterwards  "Loco 
Foeo."  Throws  away  the  old  Tinder  Box 
with  its  flint  and  steel. 

1835.  Invents  the  Berolver,  and  sets  about 
supplying  the  world  with  it,  as  a  peace-maker. 
Tries  a  Go\l  Pen,  but  cannot  find  a  good  one 
yet— nor  till  1844.  Builds  a  real  Bailroad., 
and  rides  on  it. 

1837.  Gets  in  a  Panic— and  out  again,  after 
a  free  use  of  "  shin-plasters. " 

18.38.  Adopts  the  new  fa.shion  of  putting  his 
letters  in  Ennletpes  (a  fashion  which  does  not 
fairly  ])revail  till  seven  j'ears  later.) 

1840.  Sits  for  his  Diiguerree}tiipe,  and  gets  a 
picture  feaifully  and  wonderfully  made.  Be- 
gins to  blow  himself  up  with  "Camphene" 
and  "Burning  Fluid;"  and  continues  the 
process  for  years,  with  change  of  name  of  the 
active  agent,  down  to  and  including  "Non- 
explosive  Kerijsene." 

1844.  Sends  his  first  message  by  the  Electric 
Tehyreiph. 

1847.  Buys  his  wife  a  Seunng  Meichine—in 
the  vain  hojie  that  somehow  it  will  keep  the 
buttons  on  his  shirts.  Begins  to  receive  ad- 
vices from  the  "Spirit  AVorld." 


1855.  Begins  to  bore  and  be  bored  by  the 
Hoosac  Tunnel. 

1858.  Celebrates  the  laying  of  the  Ocean 
Cable,  and  sends  a  friendly  message  to  John 
Bull.  Next  week,  begins"  to  doubt  whether 
the  Cable  has  been  laid  at  all. 

1801.  Goes  South,  to  help  compose  a  family 
quarrel.     Takes  to  using  Pajier  Money. 

1801-05.  Climbs  the  Hill  Difficulty— reliev- 
ed of  his  pack,  after  January  1,  1804 ;  but 
loses  Great-heart,  April  14,  1865. 

1865.  Gets  the  Atlantic  Cable  in  working 
order  at  last,  in  season  to  send  word  to  his 
Bj-itish  cousins  (who  have  been  waiting  for  an 
invitation  tohis  funeral)  that  he  "lives  yet." 

1805-75.  Is  reconstructing,  and  talking  about 
Resumption.  Sends  his  boys  to  the  Museum 
to  see  an  old-fashioned  Silver  Dollar.. 

1875.  Goes  to  Bunker  Hill,  to  pay  honor  to 
the  illustrious  men  who  commanded  General 
Putnam.  Gets  ready  to  celebrate  his  second 
golden  wedding  liy  "a  grand  family  re-union, 
this  year,  in  Philadelphia. 


THE  FRUIT  GROWERS'  SOCIETY. 

The  seventeenth  annual  meeting  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society  will  be 
held  at  Doylestown,  Bucks  county,  commenc- 
ing on  Wednesday,  the  19th  of  .lanuary.  All 
fruit  growers  and  horticulturists  in  the  State 
are  free  to  participate  in  its  deliberations. 
Essays  are  being  prepared  by  prominent  hor- 
ticulturists on  various  subjects,  and  many 
questions  of  importance  relating  to  fruit  cul- 
ture and  kindred  topics  will  be  discussed. 
Contributions  of  fruits,  especially  new  and 
rare  varieties  of  merit,  are  solicited.  The 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  will  issue 
orders  for  excursion  tickets  only  in  case  .50  or 
more  are  guaranteed  to  be  taken.  Those, 
therefore,  who  desire  to  attend  the  meeting 
by  this  route  should  at  once  send  their  names 
and  address  to  the  Secretary,  E.  B.  Engle, 
Marietta,  who  will  secure  and  distribute  the 
orders,  for  tickets,  in  case  the  requisite  num- 
ber make  application. 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  interest  to  many  of 
our  readers  to  know  that  the  following  topics 
for  essays  and  discussions  have  been  sug- 
gested; upon  some  of  which  essays  are  in 
course  of  pieparation,  and  others  will  be 
taken  up  and  discussed  during  the  sessions  : 

1.  Should  Northern  and  Eastern  Winter 
Fruiis  be  recommended  for  Southern  and 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  'i* 

2.  The  Preservation  of  Fruits  by  Ice  or  Re- 
frigerator Process. 

3.  Should  Fruit  be  sold  by  Weight  ? 

4.  Is  Fruit  or  Vegetable  Gardening  most 
Remunerative '? 

5.  Hybridization  of  Fruits  by  design. 

6.  Oiu-  yards,  and  how  to  take  care  of  them. 

7.  Orchards  and  their  managements 

8.  The  interests  of  the  Society  at  the  Cen- 
tennial. 

9.  The  Cultivation  of  the  Apple,  including 
the  best  varieties,  best  mode  of  culture,  and 
protection  from  injurious  insects. 

10.  Pear  Culture,  embracing  the  most  profit- 
able varieties,  best  soil  and  methods  of  cul- 
ture. 

11.  The  Cultivation  of  the  Cheny,  etc. 

12.  Peach  Culture,  including  cause  of  yel- 
lows and  other  diseases. 

13.  The  Plum,  best  kinds  to  plant,  destruc- 
tion of  curculio,  etc. 

14.  Quince  Culture. 

15.  The  Strawberry,  best  varieties  and  mode 
of  culture. 

16.  The  Raspberry  and  Blackberry. 

17.  The  Currant  and  Gooseberry. 

18.  Grape  Culture. 

19.  The  best  evergreen  and  deciduous  shade 
and  ornamental  trees. 

20.  Roses  and  Shrubbery,  best  varieties  for 
yard  and  lawn. 

21.  Hardy  herbaceous  and  bedding  plants. 

We  invoke  the  special  attention  of  our  read- 
ers to  the  meeting  of  the  above  society,  and 
hope  that  Lancaster  county  will  be  able  to  send 
a  strong  delegation  to  Doylestown.  From  its 
programme  of  proceedings  it  will  be  seen  that 


i 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


tlie  meeting  this  year  will  bo  ni'>re  than  usu- 
ally interesting.  We  c;in  hardly  realize  that 
it  is  already  seventeen  years  sinee  this  society 
was  organized,  here  in  the.  c.ily  of  Lancaster. 
"We  were  present  at  its  christening,  and  also 
at  several  other  meetings,  and  we  liave  always 
regretted  that  our  peculiar  inlirniities  have 
disciualilied  us  for  an  active  participation  in 
its  proceedings.  It  is  Tiot  i)articiilarly  pleas- 
ant at  a  gathering  of  any  kind  where  we  can- 
not hear  what  has  l)eeu  transacted.  Our 
various  specialties  now  also  prevent  us  from 
preparing  essays  on  subjects  allied  to  horli- 
culttUH',  and  our  vocal  weakness  disables  us 
from  reading  one  when  iue|)ared.  We  never- 
tlieless  feel  an  interest  in  all  that  relates  to  its 
general  efficiency  and  its  onward  progress.  We 
sincerely  hope  that  tlie  imiclical  "  fruit  grow- 
ers "  of  Lancaster  county  will  duly  honor 
their  foster-child  on  the  present  occasion. 
Let  the  meeting  in  all  respects  be  a  credit  to 
our  county  and  a  litting  initiation  to  our 
Nalioiud  Centennial. 


TIME  FOR  READING. 

*'I  have  no  time  to  iTaO,'M8the  coininon  complaint, 
especially  of  women,  \vlio.se  occupations  are  sueli  as 
to  prevent  continuous  hook  perusal.  They  seem  to 
think,  because  they  euniiot  ilevote  as  much  uUenlion 
to  books  as  they  are  eoinpelleil  to  devote  to  their  avo- 
cations, that  they  eamiol  reaii  jnythini^.  Bui  this  is 
a  great  mistake.  It  isn't  the  hooks  we  finish  at  a 
sittins  which  always  do  us  the  most  good.  Those 
we  devour  in  the  odd  momeuts,  half  a  do/en  pages 
at  a  time,  often  give  us  more  satisfaction  and  are 
more  thoroughly  dii;ested  than  those  we  make  a  j)ar- 
tieular  etVort  to  read.  The  men  who  have  made  their 
mark  in  the  world  liave  generally  been  the  men  who 
have  in  boyhood  formed  the  habit  ofreadini;  at  every 
available  moment,  whether  lor  live  minutes  or  live 
hours.  It  is  the  habit  of  reading  rather  than  the 
time  at  our  command  that  helps  us  on  the  road  to 
learning.  Many  of  the  most  cultivated  persons,  whose 
names  have  been  most  famous  as  students,  have  given 
only  two  or  three  hours  a  day  to  their  books.  If  we 
make  use  of  spare  minutes  in  the  midst  of  our  work, 
and  read  a  little,  if  but  a  page  or  a  paragraph,  we 
shall  find  our  brains  quickened  and  our  toil  lightened 
by  just  so  much  increased  satisfaction  as  the  book 
gives  us.  Nothing  helps  along  the  numotonous  daily 
round  so  much  as  fresh  and  striking  thoui^hts,  to  he. 
considered  while  our  hands  are  busy.  A  new  thoujjfht 
from  a  new  volume  is  like  oil  which  reduces  the  fric- 
tion of  the  machinery  of  life.  What  we  remember 
from  brief  glimpses  into  books  often  serves  as  a  stim- 
ulousfo  action,  and  becomes  one  of  the  most  precious 
deposits  in  the  treasury  of  our  recollection.  All 
knowledge  is  made  of  small  parts,  which  would  seem 
iusignitieant  in  themselves,  but  which,  taken  togeth- 
er, are  valuable  wcai)ons  for  the  mind  and  substantial 
armor  for  the  soul.  "  Read  anything  eontimiously," 
says  Dr.  .Johnson,  *' and  you  will  be  learned."  The 
odd  miimtes  which  we  are  inclined  to  waste,  if  care- 
fully availed  of  for  instruction,  will,  in  the  long  run, 
make  golden  hours  and  golden  days  that  we  shall  be 
ever  thankful  for. 

We  believe  in  the  above,  and  it  is  in  sub- 
stance just  what  we  have  been  preaching 
through  the  columns  of  The  Faumer  and 
elsewhere,  these  seven  years  or  more.  A  great 
many  people  who  think  they  have  no  time  to 
read  just  now,  but  at  some  future  period  they 
will  give  their  attention  to  reading,  are  labor- 
ing under  a  fatal  hallucination;  because,  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten, that  time  is  not  likely  to 
ever  come.  It  is  impossible  to  put  olf  reading 
to  some  future  period,  and  begin  it  then  with 
a  view  of  "reading  yourself  up."  You  must 
/or»t  a /u(6(7  of  reading,  no  matter  how  little 
or  how  much  you  mtiy  be  able  to  read  ;it  a 
time.  You  must  form  a  habit  of  reading  jtist 
as  you  may  form  a  habit  for  using  snuff,  tobac- 
co and  cigars;  or  for  using  alcolndic  stimu- 
lants;  or  for  gossiping  and  idleness;  or  for 
frequenting  cock-iiits,  bull-baits,  dog  tights,  or 
other  disreimtablc  and  demoralizing  places. 
These  habits,  whether  good  or  evil,  becotne 
the  predominating  principles  of  the  mind,  and 
are  controlled  by  tlie  yearnings  of  the  affec- 
tions, without  which  no  rtdHiabit  can  be  form- 
ed. If  the  alVeetions  are  perverse  and  evil, 
there  is  no  remedy  more  efficacious  than  tlic 
expulsive ]>iiu;cr  of  a  neiv  afTiction;  a  ijnod  alTeo 
tion  that  is  in  opposition  to  the  evil  one.  Un- 
der such  an  impulse  a  habit  for  reading  and 
writing  may  be  formcdas  sinely  asanoi)pi)site 
one.  This  htibit  must  become  a  (lartofthe 
daily  life,  and  then,  if  ever  the  time  comes 


when  the  subject  is  able  to  relincpiish  th(!  oc- 
<n|)ations  of  physical  labiu'  altogether,  he  will 
be  in  a  proper  condition  to  pursue  his  love  of 
reading  with  jirolit  and  contentment,  in  ol)e- 
dience  to  the  liabits  and  attections  he  has  pre- 
viously formed.  Xo  man  who  gives  his  whole 
mind  and  life  to  money-making,  or  any  good 
or  evil  specialty,  will  ever  be  contented  in  do- 
ing anything  else,  especially  if  he  has  grown 
old  in  the  pursuit  of  such  specialties.  There 
is  an  old  "saw  "  to  the  elfect,  that  "  if  a  man 
is  not  healthy  at  forty,  wealthy  at  lifty,  and 
wise  ;it  sixty,  he  never  will  hcheallliy.  wealthy 
and  wise.''  And  tilthough  there  may  be  e.x- 
eel)tions  to  this  as  a  ride,  yet  in  its  general 
application  and  its  most  obvious  meaning, 
there  is  much  truth  in  it.  It  means  that  if 
the  proper  habits  to  aceoniplish  these  ends 
have  not  been  formed  :it  the  periods  named, 
they  are  not  likely  to  be  ever  formetl.  As  to 
the  ki}id  of  reading  a  man  ought  to  do,  will 
depend  somewhat  on  his  occupation  or  pro- 
fession, anil  whether  it  will  be  compatible  or 
incompatible  with  said  occupation,  erne  thing 
is  certain,  that  men  and  women  could  lind 
more  time  to  read  atid  write  than  they  do,  if 
they  (inly  tiiiiliil  it.  Look  at  the  many  frivo- 
lous things  in  the  domain  of  fashion  which 
might  be  ilispensed  with,  and  let  tlii'  time 
and  money  spent  therein  be  devoted  to  things 
less  conventional  and  more  useful. 


For  TuE  Lancastkb  Farukr. 
A  PLEA  FOR  THE  CHICKEN-HAWK. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  biril  (|uestion  at  the 
hust  meeting  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agricul- 
tural and  Ilorticiiltural  Society,  while  it  was 
agreed  that  all  other  birds  should  be  protected 
by  law  from  the  gunner,  the  society  seemed 
unanimous  in  their  verdict  that  the  chicken- 
hawk  should  be  the  target  of  every  rille  and 
shot-gun  in  the  country.  At  one  time  I  enter- 
tained similar  views  in  regard  to  the  chicken- 
hawk,  but  I  have  not  shot  one  for  years,  be- 
ing fully  convinced  that  he  is  a  friend  of  the 
farmer. 

Darwin  shows  how,  in  many  cases,  the  crop 
of  clover-.seed  is  dependent  on  the  supply  of 
cats  in  the  neighborhood.  Humble-bees  dis- 
trilnite  the  pollen  on  theclover-blooom  ;  field- 
mice  destroy  the  young  humble-bees;  cats 
ctitch  the  mice.  But  tlie  chicken-hawk  is  a 
better  mouser  than  the  eat.  Nothing  hurts 
the  eye  of  the  farmer  worse  than  to  see  great 
bare  spots  iti  his  grass  fields,  wh.'re  lield-mice 
have  worked  under  the  snow  ;md  destroyed 
the  roots  of  the  clover. 

I  have  a  fine  large  hawk  that  every  day  sits 
for  hours  perched  on  a  horizontal  dead  branch 
of  an  old  chestnut  tree  in  the  field.  lie  forms 
a  fine,  clear  cut  picture  against  the  wintry  sky 
as  he  sits  there  motionless  as  a  statue.  Xow 
and  then  be  swoops  ilown  and  takes  up  a 
mouse,  with,  perhaps,  .some  dead  grass,  in  his 
talons.  I  would  not  exchange  liim  for  the 
best  game  cock  or  the  best  Braniah  in  the 
country.  True,  he  sotnetimes  catches  a  rati- 
bit  or  a  partridge,  or  l)ears  olf  a  pullet  for  his 
crop,  but  he  is  fully  entitled  to  these  ;is  part 
pay  for  his  services  as  a  mouser. 

it  is  true  that,  viewed  from  a  sentimental 
sttmdpoint,  birds  of  i)rey  alVord  but  few  traits 
to  challenge  oiu-  admiration.  But  science 
teaches  their  use,  and  when  science  and  sen- 
timent come  in  conflict,  we  are  bound  to  ac- 
cept the  surer  results  of  the  foriiu'i". 

The  crow  is  also  a  mu(-h  maligned  l)ird. 
Thanks  to  his  sagacity,  this  ■•  bird  of  ill  omen" 
generally  escapes  the  shots  of  his  [lerseeutors. 
The  crow  is  reiu-esented  as  living  to  a  great 
age.  Tennyson  alludes  to  this  in  the  sonor- 
ous line — 

"As  the  many  wintered  crow  that  leads  the  clang- 
ing rookery  home." 
The  crow  has  a  decided  taste  for  "grubs," 
and  does  good  .service  in  the  corn  field  in  early 
spring.  1  have  known  this  bird  to  hook  cut- 
worms out  of  a  hill  of  corn  with  its  beak,  and 
leave  the  grain  imtoiiched. 

I  once  was  very  much  amused  at  one  of 
these  ebony  birds  that  found  a  nest  of  lien'.s 
eggs  near  a  neighbor's  barn.     I  saw  him  roll 


the  eggs  out  of  the  nest,  and  then  lly  otV  to  a 
grove  near  by.  Presently  two  crows  returned 
from  the  wood,  anil  had  a  happy  time  eatiii); 
tlie  eggs.  I  judged  that  one  of  these  was  the 
crow  that  found  the  eggs  and  the  oilier  was 
his  wife,  though  1  ctninol  be  (|iialilied  that 
such  was  the  fact.  Perhaps  it  Wiu*  another 
crow's  wife.  If  my  first  conie<'turc  in  regard 
to  their  consjinguinily  was  right,  the  bird  cer- 
tainly showed  more  solicitude  for  the  comfort 
of  \\Ki  (til  jrnu  than  smne  husbands  I  know  of. 
I  feel  kindly  towards  these  black  scavengers, 
and  throw  the  buti'heringolTal  wlu'ic  they  can 
gel  it.  They  get  terribly  hungry  when  the 
ground  is  covered  with  awow.—J.  C.  Linville, 
Salisbury,  Jaawiry  4,  1870. 

Ftir   'rilK   LANCASTRm  FAUMSm. 

THE  DAIRY. 

I  proi)Ose  to  commence  with  this  nimiber  of 
your  journal  a  series  of  articli-.s  on  dairying, 
for  the  iM'nelit  of  sueli  as  shall  avail  thein- 
selves  of  the  results  of  my  observations  and 
expcri(!nce,  and  also  invite  the  fair  criliciiiuig 
of  lho.se  who  may  dill'er  with  me. 

The  importance  and  extent  of  this  branch  of 
industry  is  such  as  will  justify  not  only  a 
UKM'c  extended  and  thorough  knowledge,  but 
also  closer  atti^ntioii  in  all  its  departments. 
One  or  two  facts  will  justify  my  a.s.sertion, 
viz:  Theii'  is  entirely  too  large  a  proportion 
of  inferior  butler  thrown  upon  the  markets  of 
the  cotmtry,  such  a.s  cannot  gra<'e  and 
should  not  disgrace  the  table  of  any  that  claim 
neatiu'S.s.  (Jn  the  other  hand,  the  demand 
has  never  Ijeen  supplied  with  a  lirst-elass  arti- 
cle. The  s.ale  of  milk  ami  cream  has  grown 
into  such  an  extensive^  business  that  both  sel- 
ler and  buyer  shoidd  better  understainl  their 
mutual  rehitions  to  each  other  in  this  depart- 
ment. 

The  manufacture  of  cheese  hits  al.so  grown 
into  an  immense  business,  but  in  this  section 
it  is  scar<:ely  attempted,  and  my  knowle<lgo 
thereof  is  so  hmited  that  I  shall  touch  it  very 
liglitly. 

I  siiall  divide  my  subject  as  follows:  First, 
the  ditlerent  breeds  of  cattle.  Second,  feed- 
ing, care  :uid  management  of  milk  cows, 
and  calves  intended  for  such.  Third,  the 
maiuigement  of  milk  and  cream  suiiplied  to 
customers.  Fourth,  the  making  of  butter. 
Fifth,  the  various  kinds  of  cheese.  .Sixth, 
marketing  and  general  remarks. 

The  Different  Breeds  of  Cattle. 

There  is  scarcely  a  breed  of  cattle  that  has 
not  its  advocate,  and  Justly  so,  as  all  have 
some  points  of  value.  The  Texas  "ranger" 
is  valueil  for  his  horns  and  hide,  if  for  nothing 
else.  Our  native  breed  has  many  advocates, 
but  the  (piestion  arises,  where  do  we  find  it 
unless  it  be  that  Just  alluded  to":*  Importa- 
tions from  foreign  countries  have  Im-cu  made 
for  a  long  time,  but  es|wially  <Iuring  the 
present  century  the  importation  of  horned 
cattle  has  largely  increased.  The  result  is 
that  wherever  the  resources  of  our  country 
have  been  developed,  progress  and  improve- 
ment have  followed,  at  least  to  soitie  extent: 
ccmse<pienlly  this  foreign  blood  has  become 
diffused  to  "a  certain  degree  among  nearly 
every  herd  throughout  this  broad  domain.  It 
is  therefore  hardly  proper  to  claim  a  native 
breed.  For  convenicn<e  sake,  however,  I  .shall 
(piote  them  as  such.  There  are  unipiestiona- 
bly  iv.s  good  milkers  among  our  natives  as  can 
1h'  f<uiiid  among  any  other  brei'd.  but  there  is 
not  that  uniformity  of  excellent  milkers 
found  in  other  breeds.  The  siime  is  the  c;use 
with  shorthornsor  Durhams.  These,  however, 
have  been  seli-cled  and  bri'd  more  in  view  of 
their  In-.f  than  milking  (pialities.  One  a.s,ser- 
tion  I  will  here  make  which  I  would  l«e  glad 
to  see  fairly  disproven,  i.  c,  that  the  best  Ix-cf 
and  milking  <|ualitie«  are  rarely  (if  ever)  foiinil 
in  the  same  animal.  That  both  cpialities  are, 
to  a  certain  extent,  generally  devclo])cd  in  the 
same  animal  is  not  denied:  and  as  farmers 
gen<Tally  are  alxiiit  etiuilly  interested  in  the 
production  of  lieef  and  milk,  it  is  more  con- 
venient to  keep  stock  of  this  kind  than  to  have 
separate  breeds  for  the  dilTerent  purijoses.  For 
strictly  dairy  purposes,  however,  cows  should 


8 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January, 


be  selected  especially  for  their  milking  quali- 
ties ;  and  just  here  is  wlieie  too  many  are  at  a 
loss,  whetlier  by  purchase,  or  breeding  and 
rearing,  in  view  of  this  object. — U.  M.  E, 
Marietta,  Pa.,  Jan.  10,  1870. 

[to  be  continued.] 
■ ^ 

For  The  Lancaster  Fabmer, 
DRESS  ORCHARD  TREES. 

Old  fruit  trees  should  be  scraped  in  winter 
with  the  tree  scrajxr,  talking  off  all  loose,  rough 
bark  and  insect  nests  in  the  cavities.  Look 
over  the  whole  of  every  tree  and  clear  it  of  in- 
sect nests  ;  some  are  easily  seen,  others  have 
to  l)e  carefully  looked  for.  One  is  a  gluey 
patch  the  color  of  the  tree  bark  ;  look  sharjily 
for  it  and  scrajie  it  oil".  All  moss  growing  upon 
trees  should  be  scraped  off,  as  it  is  as  inju- 
rious to  trees  as  itch  and  scab  are  to  animals. 
The  scraping  is  as  beneficial  to  old  trees  as  is 
currycombing  to  horses  and  cattle.  It  pre- 
vents harkhoimd.  The  washing  of  stems  and 
large  branches  of  trees  with  a  solution  of  car- 
bolic acid,  soap  dissolved  in  lukewarm  water, 
and  a  portion  of  the  ttowers-of  sulphur  mixed 
■with  it,  is  a  good  method  for  destroying  tlie 
insects.  The  best  time  to  do  the  washing  is 
after  the  spiring  opens.  It  will  then  stick  to 
the  trees,  and  when  the  insects  come  out  the 
poison  kills  them  in  their  infant  state  ;  and  by 
that  the  foliage  and  fruits  of  the  trees  may  all 
be  saved.  One  of  the  most  valuable  features 
of  The  Faioier  is,  that  it  has  a  highly  scien- 
tific Entoriioh  (jist  as  its  editor.  Our  crops, 
live  stock  and  ourselves  would  be  ruined,  were 
it  not  for  the  science  of  entomology.  Our 
mothers  knew  the  science  so  far  as  to  keep  us 
clear  bj'  comliing  our  heads  in  our  young  days. 
Birds  of  the  air  and  faini  ])oultry  are  destroy- 
ers of  insects.  Air  birds  should  not  be  shot, 
but  fed  well  in  winter  with  small  grains  and 
weed  seeds  from  the  winnowing  machine. — 
Old  Cultivator. 


blood  of  their  own  kind  and  that  of  other  ani- 
mals. Sometimes  these  manifestations  become 
furious,  and  the  animals  seem  to  be  in  a  state 
of  nervmis  paroxysm,  which  pervades  their 
whole  system.  Any  one  raised  on  a  farm  must 
have  often  noticed  this.  It  is  therefore  not  so 
astonishing  that  it  should  terminate  in  abor- 
tion. The  remedy  is  to  guard  them  against 
all  improper  contact.  In  cases  where  but  one 
cow  is  kejit  there  is  less  exposure  and  a  less 
occurrence  of  it. — EdA 


For  The  Lancasteb  Faki^leh. 
ABORTION  OF  COWS.     . 

As  the  question  of  cattle  breeding  was  up 
for  discussion  before  the  December  meeting  of 
the  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society, 
without  resulting  in  any  special  exjiression  of 
opinion  that  could  benefit  any  one,  I  would 
beg  leave  to  ask  a  question  in  this  connection 
which  I  think  is  of  special  importance  to  dairy- 
men. We  had  been  thinking  of  preparing  for 
the  coming  Centennial  with  a  number  of  good 
cows,  but  we  have  been  more  or  less  discour- 
aged by  a  singular  coincidental  occurrence 
among  our  cows.  It  i)erhaps  canuot  be  called 
a  disease,  yet  it  is  very  similar  to  contagion. 
Our  cows  are  miscarrying  to  a  very  alarming  ex- 
tent; the  stock  of  very  few  cow-owners  escape. 
Three  of  my  neighbor's  cows  miscarried  last 
winter,  and  one  of  them  twice  in  succession. 
This  singular  affliction  happens  to  all  grades 
of  cows  :  to  those  that  are  well  kejit,  as  well 
as  to  those  indifterently  or  poorly  keiit.  What 
may  be  the  cause  of  it '?  What  may  prevent 
it  y  To  what  extent  has  it  hapiiened  in  other 
parts  of  the  country  V — Comstoya,  Jan.  5, 1870. 

[We  are  not  a  ''Looney  Mactwalter,"  and 
must  therelbre  confess  our  ignorance  of  the 
cause,  remedy,  or  extent  of  this  singular  mis- 
hap among  the  cows,  but  the  above  may  bring 
them  out.  In  conversation  with  an  "intelli- 
gent reading  farmer  from  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county,  in  relation  to  this  subject,  he  stated 
that  cows  are  exceedingly  sensitive  and  easily 
affected  in  this  respect ;  especially  in  dairies, 
or  where  herds  are  kept.  The  sight  and  smell 
of  blood  sometimes  iiroduces  abortion  in  cows ; 
and  where  one  in  a  herd  miscarries,  the  sight 
of  the  placenta  or  firlns  will  affect  others,  as 
it  were,  similarly.  This  is  well  known  among 
horse-breeders,  and  therefore  the  pregnant 
dam  is  carefully  shielded  from  improper  sights, 
smells  and  sounds. 

Some  aniniids,  and  especially  rmniimntu,  are 
very  peculiarly  constituted.  When  one  dies 
or  is  slaughtered,  the  survivors  utter  the  most 
melancholy  moans  and  bellowing  over  the  car- 
cass or  the  l)lood,  and  it  is  astonishing  how 
completely  they  can  distinguish  between  the 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
IS  A  CHANGE  OF  SEED  NECESSARY  ? 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Horticidtural  Society, 
last  Mfinday,  I  was  somewhat  surprised  to 
hear  all  the  speakers  advocating  the  necessity 
for  farmers  to  "change  their  seed  grain  ;" 
that  wheat,  potatoes— indeed,  all  grain  and 
root  cropS' — are  improred  by  procuring  seed 
from  a  distance,  or  by  simply  changing  seed 
with  their  neighbors,  or  from  a  gravelly  or 
slaty  to  a  limestone  soil,  and  vice  versa. 

I  know  very  well  that  this  idea  "  of  a  change 
of  seed"  is  a  favorite  hobljy  with  writers  on 
tlie  subject ;  at  least  by  such  as  jiretend  to  be 
scientific  farmers.  But  have  those  advocates 
of  "  changing  seed"  experimented  themselves, 
and  for  a  series  of  years  found  it  to  be  true  as 
they  say?  or,  do  most  of  them  "follow  the 
say  so"  of  pretending  scientific  writers  ?  or, 
can  they  bring  proofs  of  the  theory  from 
their  own  experience  V  A  single  favorable 
or  unfavoralile  season  will  not  in-ove  anything 
for  or  against  it.  Or,  again,  have  they 
been  in  the  habit  of  selecting  the  most  per- 
fect seeds  for  propagation,  and  yet  found 
their  grain  to  deteriorate  after  a  number  of 
years  V  or,  have  they  taken  the  seed  at  ran- 
dom from  the  heap,  and,  in  consequence, 
found  their  crops  less  than  formerly  V  Give 
us  facts,  gentlemen  ! 

It  is  now  many  years  since  a  Mr.  Cooper,  of 
New  Jersey,  tested  this  question  of  "chang- 
ing seed  "  more  thoroughly,  and,  I  think,  con- 
clusively, than  it  had  ever  been  tested  before, 
or  since.  His  statement  was  substantially  as 
follows  :  That  when  he  first  commenced  to 
select  his  seed  corn,  with  nuich  searching 
through  his  field,  he  found  only  a  few 
stalks  with  two  ears,  or  nubbins  ;  these  he  se<- 
lected  and  planted  the  following  season.  Of 
this  second  crop  he  found  many  stalks  with 
two  ears.  Again  selecting  the  largest  and 
earliest  ripe  ears,  he  improved  the  crop,  so 
that  in  a  few  years  there  were  but  few  stalks 
with  less  than  two,  and  some  with  three  ears. 
Continuing  this  course  of  always  selecting  the 
largest,  earliest  and  most  ears  on  a  stalk,  he 
so  improved  his  crop  during  a  term  of  thirty 
years  (when  he  published  the  statement)  that 
very  few  stalks  could  be  found  with  less  tlian 
three,  and  many  with  four  large  ears.  He  did 
not  change  his  seed  from  one  farm  to  anotlier, 
but  coTitinued  "breeding  in  and  in  "  from  the 
same  old  stock  that  at  first  produced  only  one 
ear  or  uulibin  to  the  stalk. 

He  o])erated  in  the  same  way  with  squashes 
and  otiier  vegetables,  and  in  each  case  the 
improvement  was  truly  remarkable.  His  im- 
jiroved  corn  was  sought  after  for  seed  from  all 
directions ;  as  also  liis  seeds  of  vegetables. 
These  experiments  of  Mr.  Cooper,  I  think, 
fully  establish  the  fact  that  by  proper  selec- 
tion of  seed  grain  no  deterioRition  of  the  grain 
will  result ;  not  alone  with  corn  and  wheat, 
but  with  all  vegetable  growths  suitable  to  the 
climate. 

Well  do  I  remember  that,  about  forty  years 
ago.  the  Hessian-tties  ruined  oiu'  wheat  in 
Lancaster  comity  and  elsewhere  to  such  an 
extent  tliat  many  farmers  harvested  less  than 
the  seed  sown.  Large  quantities  of  wlieat 
were  imjiorted  from  Euroi)e.  ISIany  farmers 
purchased  this  imported  grain  for  seed,  and 
some  even  for  bread,  at  two  and  a  half  to 
three  dollars  per  busliel.  Like  my  neighbors, 
I,  too,  procured  small  samples  of  more  than  a 
di  zen  varieties  to  test  their  adaptability  to  our 
soil  and  climate.  Xot  one  variety  did  any 
good  ;  all  mildewed,  rusted,  and  the  grain  was 
very  imperfect.     So  I  did  not  grow  more  than 


two  varieties  after  the  first  year  ;  but  as  they 
did  not  promise  well,  these  were  also  dropped. 
With  the  discarding  of  these  new  wheats,  I 
afterwards  found  several  new  leceds  had  been 
received  with  these  varieties  of  wheat,  and 
which  gave  me  some  trouble  to  clean  out 
again.  Then  I  may  also  state  that  the  old 
blue-stem  w  heat  was  for  many  years  our  best 
wheat ;  but  when  the  Hessian-fiiesmade  their 
appearance,  fiy-proof  wheat  (like  curculio- 
proof  plums)  made  their  advent,  and  our  old 
blue-stem  wheat  had  to  give  place  to  newer 
kinds.  These  in  turn  were  again  replaced  by 
other  varieties.  Then  the  Mediterranean  va- 
riety came  to  be  tried,  perliai>s  twenty-five  or 
thirty  years  ago.  At  first  it  was  a  rough, 
thick-skinned  Ijerry.  The  straw  was  soft,  and 
very  subject  to  lodge,  and  the  grain  light  and 
imperfect.  Yet  this  variety  was  grown  on 
our  farm  without  change  of  seed  for  at  least 
twenty  years.  It  gradually  improved  ;  the 
straw  became  shorter,  stiffer,  not  so  liable  to 
lodge  ;  the  berry  became  lighter  in  color,  thin- 
ner-skinned, and  generally  a  superior  wheat 
to  what  it  was  when  first  procured. 

Again,  some  years  since  other  celebrated 
wheats  had  to  be  tried,  and  the  old  Mediter- 
ranean was  discarded,  in  the  hope  of  getting 
still  better  varieties  ;  but  in  a  few  years,  by 
"change  of  seed,"  we  again  secured  the  old 
Mediterranean,  which  still  succeeds  about  as 
well  as  heretofore,  although  I  do  not  believe 
that  this  "  change  of  seed  "  had  the  least  ef- 
fect in  improving  the  variety. 

Thus  giving  my  exjierience  and  opinions  for 
what  they  may  be  worth,  I  would  say  in  con- 
clusion, that  my  experience  with  many  va- 
rieties of  wheat  in  this  matter  "of  changing 
seeds  "  confirms  me  in  the  belief  that  by  al- 
ways selecting  the  most  perfect  seed,  there  is 
no  necessity  for  exchanging  seed  with  your 
neighbor,  or  to  procure  the  same  variety  from 
a  distance,  but  select  the  best  from  your  own 
crop  and  farm,  where  it  has  been  acclimated, 
or  naturalized,  as  it  were,  and  with  good  cul- 
tivation and  needed  fertilizers,  and  favorable 
seasons,  we  may  raise  good  crops  to  the  end 
of  time  from  our  own  carefully  selected  seed, 
and  thank  Providence  "that  our  lot  has  been 
cast  in  pleasant  ])laces. "  All  the  benefit  I 
ever  secured  by  "a  change  of  seed  "  was  a 
fresh  erop  of  iDCcds. — J.  B.  Garber,  Columbia, 
Pa.,  Dec.  10,  1875. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
LADIES'  PARLOR  OR  WINDOW 
FLOWERS. 

The  lady  readers  of  The  Farmer  should 
be  caieful  of  their  parlor  or  window  plants 
now,  and  for  two  months  to  come.  Give  them 
full  sunshine  ;  keep  near  the  glass  while  the 
sun  shines  upon  them.  Draw  them  back  from 
the  glass  a  little  when  the  sunshine  is  over, 
as  there  is  a  cold  air  close  to  the  glass  on  very 
cold  days.  On  mild  days,  the  neai'er  the 
glass  they  are  kept  the  "better.  They  look 
lightsome  and  pretty  in  the  winter,  when  all 
looks  desolate  out-doors ;  they  are  also  com- 
panions which  give  no  offense  ;  even  when  ill- 
treated,  the}'  mildly  speak  of  it  by  their  droop- 
ing and  yellow  leaves.  Those  with  sweet- 
scented  leaves  are  i)leasant  company  now,  and 
the  Iilooming  species  will  put  forth  their  flow- 
ers in  due  time.  On  very  cold  nights  move 
them  from  the  windows  and  set  them  in  the 
warmest  part  of  the  room  until  the  house  is 
heated  in  the  mornings.  They  all  should  be 
sparingly  watered  in  January  and  February,  * 
as  they  then  are  not  making  fresh  growths, 
and  if  dry.  the  cold  of  nights  will  not  so  much 
injure  them.  Those  generally  grown  in  rustic 
stands  and  hanging  baskets  will  flourish  even 
if  the  .sun  never  shines  upon  them.  Geraniunu 
are  best  for  pot  cultiu-e,  yet  many  other  choice 
species  do  well.  Beynnia^iinA  Pouvardiashhwm 
all  the  winter.  Crocuses,  Hyacinths  and  Van 
Thol  Tulips  bloom  beautifully  during  winter 
and  early  spring.  Calla  jiroduces  its  large 
white  lilies  in  early  spring.  The  species  with 
variegated  leaves  look  very  lively  all  winter. — 
W.  E. 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


9 


VorTHK  I,ANr.\sTEB  Farmeu. 
WHY  DON'T   MY  CHICKENS   LAY? 

Tlial  is  tlie  (luestion  I  have  been  askiii<;  my- 
self witli  iiiiiisual  fie(iiiency  as  tlic  lioliclays 
draw  iiigli,  and  in  view  of  tlie  e(inally  iinpui-- 
tant  fact  tljat  I  am  asl<e(l  .'i")  or  40  cents  a 
diizen  for  efr^s  every  tinn-  I  go  to  market. 
The  solntion  of  this  eonmulrum  lias  fjiven  nie 
no  inconsiderable  anionnt  of  eareful  thonfjlit, 
and  I  am  apiiarently  ;is  far  from  a  satisfactory 
explanation  of  the  riddle  as  I  was  in  the  be- 
ginniiij;,  and  feeldisiiosed  to  "fiive  it  up."  In 
the  hoi)e  that  some  reader  of  TllK  F.MtMlcu 
can  see  further  into  tlu^  question  than  myself, 
and  make  plain  what  is  now  obscure,  1  will 
state  the  facts  bearing;  on  the  case. 

Jly  object  in  kee])in)i  chickens  being  the  pro- 
duction of  egfis  and  poultry  for  household  use, 
and  not  for  sale  or  ;;'ecnlative  pm-poses,  I 
limited  myself  from  thi'  bcixiinnnf;  to  twelve 
hi'iis  and  one  male  bird,  and  by  sodoinj;  1  have 
been  enabled  to  compare  each  year's  results 
with  its  laedeces.sors.  I  have  never  kept  any 
of  the  so-called  "fancy"  varieties,  but  have 
cultivated  the  unpoetieal,  old -fasliioned 
"diuiRhills."  I  am  free  to  say  that  these 
have  never  yielded  the  seeminuly  fabulous 
number  of  e,ufj;s  which  hens  are  said  to  lay 
.sometimes,  nor  have  they  come  n|)  to  the  liij- 
ures  which  the  scrupulous  care  and  attention 
I  have  given  them  would  reasonably  lead  me 
to  exjiect.  ('ompared  with  theaccomits  given 
■  in  poultry  journals  of  iirolilic  bens,  mine  make 
il  rather  jioorshowing  ;  liut  what  is.slill  worse, 
the  long  period  during  the  autumn  and  early 
winter  when  they  drop  no  eggs  at  all,  makes 
the  kei'ping  of  them  very  unsatisfactory. 

Without  having  a  regularly  built  hennery,  I 
nevertheless  oiler  such  indncenients  to  my 
chickens  as  should  insure  mo  better  returns. 
My  hen-house  is  a  nice,  warm  and  well-venti- 
lated one,  amply  large  to  comfortably  accom- 
modate twice  or  thrice  the  number  of  fowls  I 
keep.  1  never  shut  them  uii  in  it ;  the  small 
door  for  ingress  and  egress  is  always  ojjen, 
and  they  avail  themselves  of  this  circum.stance 
by  never  staying  in  the  house  except  during 
the  night.  I  have  a  large,  dry  stable  to  which 
they  can  resort  dining  the  heat  of  sunuiier, 
and  where  they  are  always  found  during  the 
cold  days  of  winter  or  in  rainy  weather.  They 
have,  besides,  the  nm  of  an  ample  grass  lot, 
and  a  liock  of  geese  could  not  crop  the  young 
grass  more  industriously  than  they  do.  In  a 
small  yard  there  is  a  patch  of  open  ground 
wherein  they  can  dust  themselves  when  so  iu- 
eliued.  To  afford  them  the  ojiportnuity  of 
doing  the  same  in  winter,  I  have  fixed  up  a 
corner  in  the  stable  whT're  the}-  can  enjoy 
themselves  in  a  bath  eomiiosed  of  street  dust 
and  sifted  coal  ashes,  and  it  is  matter  for 
astonishment  to  see  how  constantly  they  avail 
themselves  of  this  luxury. 

In  the  matter  of  food,  T  depart  .somewhat 
from  the  regime  laid  down  in  the  books.  I  do 
not  keep  corn  lying  about  the  yard  and  stable 
all  the  time  ;  I  feed  them  twice  a  day,  morn- 
ing and  evening,  but  never  throw  down  more 
at  a  time  than  they  can  eat.  I  exercise  a  wide 
latitnte  in  the  kind  of  food  I  give  them,  and 
this  is  constantly  varied.  Every  refn.se  .scrap 
of  the  kitchen  is  scrupulously  saved  ;  a  large 
jian  is  generally  on  the  kitchen  stove,  into 
which  apple,  turnip  and  potato  parings  are 
thrown,  and  whatever  else  in  the  way  of  bits 
of  meat,  bread  or  mush  that  may  be  left  at 
meal  time  ;  often  a  few  handtuls  of  cracked 
corn  are  added  to  render  the  eoinjionnd  .still 
more  aceei)table.  In  the  fall  and  winter, 
when  brewers'  grains  are  to  be  had,  I  mix 
them  quite  freely  witli  the  contents  of  the 
])au,  and  I  lind  this  mixtiue  more  acceptable 
to  them  than  anything  else  I  can  oiler  them. 
S)metinies  I  boil  mush,  and  mix  it  with  the 
Virewers"  grains;  this  is  generally  their  morn- 
ing nu'al  in  winter.  In  the  evening,  corn  in 
its  natural  state  is  given  them;  occasionally 
this  order  of  feeding  is  reversed.  At  all  sea- 
.sons  pounded  oyster  shells  are  thrown  to 
them,  and  if  they  for  some  reason  do  ikjI  get 
them  for  a  short  time,  they  eat  them  with  as 
much  avidity  as  corn  when  they  are  again 
thrown  dovvu.     Two  or  three  times  a  week  i 


either  ])cp]ier  or  [lowdered  sidphur  is  thrown 
into  the  pan  on  the  stove  and  boiled  witli 
their  food.  In  lieu  of  wood-charcoal.  I  burn 
corn  in  a  pan  initil  it  is  virtually  turned  into 
charcoal,  and  give  il  to  them  ;  this  they  eat 
re.idily,  while  they  object  to  lailural  charcoal. 
Owing,  as  I  believe,  to  theplentilul  feedingof 
sulphur  and  pepper,  my  chickeus  have  never 
beeji  afTe<t<'d  by  any  epidendc  disease-  ;  they 
are,  besides,  remarkably  free  from  vermin  ; 
occasionally  1  have  lost  one,  but  that  was 
rarely.  They  at  all  times  during  the  sumnu-r 
have  access  to  fresh  water,  and  in  winter  1 
take  care  that  they  have  all  they  need. 

Theabove,  I  think,  is  very  lair  treatment  for 
hens,  and  makes  nic  all  the  more  cm  iuus  to 
know  why  they  stopi>ed  laying  <in  Septeud)er 
•JOtli,  of  this  year,  and  have  not,  up  to  this 
writing,  Deceinber  2(ith,  laid  a  single  egg. 
Last  year  they  ipiit  laying  on  October  1st,  and 
one  hen,  a  spring  pullet,  began  to  lay  on 
December  28th  and  some  of  the  rest  towards 
the  close  of  January.  None  of  my  (■hickens 
are  more  than  tbrei;  years  old,  while  fully  one- 
half  were  raised  last  year;  so  this  long  "ces.sa- 
tion  from  laying  does  not  arise  from  the  age  of 
the  fowls.  Last  smunier  I  raised  a  brood  of 
pure  15lack  Siianish,  out  of  which  I  selected 
four  choice  birds;  they  are  now  nearly  or  (piite 
full  grown,  hut. so  far  have  shown  no  symptoms 
of  going  into  the  business  for  which  they  are 
so  noted. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  such  long 
intervals  have  occurred  during  which  my  hens 
did  not  lay,  yet  all  things  considered,  they 
have  iiaid  me  well  for  my  care.  My  twelve 
hens  laid  during  the  year  TSS  eggs  aiui  1  raised 
forty  young  ones;  at  the  market  price  of  eggs 
during  the  siiring  and  sunuuer,  the  i)roduet 
would  have  been  §15.00  at  the  very  lowest, 
while  my  yomif;  chickens  at  twenty-iive  cents 
each  were  worth  $10.00  more  ;  the  food  I  imr- 
cliased  amounted  to  about  $12.00,  leaving  a 
very  handsome  profit.  Last  year  I  got  oidy 
V")4  eggs  from  the  same  number  of  hens;  this 
is  an  average  of  oidy  O.'i  eggs  to  each  one,  a 
mmiber  entirely  to((  small.  I  had  fowls,  how- 
ever, both  dnring  the  i)ast  and  the  iiresent 
year,  that  laid  as  many  as  75  and  80  eggs  before 
they  wished  to  sit. 

But  after  all.  the  old  difficulty  still  remains; 
if  it  pays  me  to  keep  these  hens,  even  with  the 
long  holiday  they  allow  themselves,  it  would 
have  paid  me  stiil  better  if  they  had  laid  con- 
tinuously; as  they  did  not  do  so,  the  query 
arises,  would  any  of  the  fancy  breeds  have 
done  better?  Why,  with  all  the  care  and 
attention  I  give  them  do  they  not  lay  between 
September  and  JanuaiyV  jirewcr's  grains  I 
was  told  would  correct  that  defect ;  I  am  satis- 
fied it  does  not  eontril)Ute  to  that  result,  but 
it  is  admirably  adapted  to  fattening  ])()ultrv, 
and  the  chickens  that  come  on  my  table  are 
far  superior  to  any  I  sec  on  market.  There 
yet  remains  one  remedy  imtri<'(l.  which,  unless 
my  cpiery  is  satisfactorily  answered,  I  will  put 
into  practice  next  fall.  Once,  on  the  far  off 
))lains  of  Kansas,  seeing  an  honest  granger's 
wife  with  a  huge  basket  full  of  eggs,  curiosity 
tenqited  me  to  ask  how  she  contrived  to  get 
so  many  eggs  from  the  few  liens  that  were 
rniniing  around.  "  I  give,"  she  said,  while  a 
merry  twinkle  played  about  her  laughing  eyes, 
"I  give  them  plentv  of  corn  and  run  tlieiu  up 
hill."—/'.  H.  n.,  Lmuwtcr,  D«:  20,  1S75. 


For  TiiK  LANCASTEn  Fahmkr. 
ALL  HAIL!  CENTENNIAL  YEAR,  1876! 
The  vear  187(1  has  come  iu  and  brings  with 
it  the  centennial  birthday  of  our  independent 
nation.  It  will  be  an  eventful  one  in  the  his- 
toiy  of  our  republic.  It  now  rests  with  our- 
selves to  render  it  illustrious  or  flu'  n-verse. 
\  hundreil  years  ago  the  i>eo])le  ot  the  original 
thirteen  Stales  which  were  then  settled,  clam- 
ored for  self-government.  A  congress  of  .sages 
assembled  iu  I'hiladeliihia,  and  after  full  con- 
sultation, they  madi'  out  a  "Declaration  of 
Independence  "  and  unanimously  signed  it. 
That,  with  a  conflict  of  arms  in  the  field  by  the 
lieroes  of  the  tijne,  .secured  for  us  the  inde 
pendent  republican  governmeut  which  we  now 
enjoy. 


We  lia  ve  resolved  to  commemorate  that  event 
this  year  by  an  international  exhibition,  that 
our  country  may  step  u](on  the  platform  of 
nations,  and  he  recognized  a.s  an  eipial  with 
others.  Our  National  Congress  is  now  in  ses- 
sion to  sign  asecond  "declaration  of  indepen- 
dence" iu  the  form  of  an  aiipropriation  sulti- 
cient  to  lii'lp  defray  the  expeiKse  of  preparing 
ftn-  the  Kxposition.  We  fain  hope  that  every 
member  of  the  present  Congress  is  a  patriotic 
g<'utl<inan,  and  has  (he  honor  of  the  nation 
and  his  own  manly  digrdty  at  heart  ;  anil  that 
all  of  them  will  siiow  their  loyalty  in  voting 
for  the  appropriation  as  promptly  and  unani- 
mously as  did  the  gallant  heroes" and  siiges  of 
a  hundred  years  ago. 

Will  any  free-born  Amerieati  sell  his  birth- 
right now,  when  the  nation  is  at  the  height  of 
its  glory?  Will  any  adopted  citizen  seek  to 
demean  the  land  which  has  rais<'d  him  from  a 
sxihjfH  to  a  Sdvi  n  iijn  .'  Was  ever  there  a  wiuni 
so  noble  and  grand  as  ours  is'?  It  lias  »ur- 
mouutecl  all  ilillicullies  that  have  come  In  its 
way,  and  withstood  all  a.s.saults  tliat  Lave 
sought  to  .sever  it. 

Oil  !  cl'irify  the  I'liUm,  wlileli  palrldU  fnrnic<l  ; 

(illd  the  rciimls  of  the  past,  the  preiii'iit  uiiil  nil  ; 
Oil  !  wihdoiii  ptill  guide  iib  ami  virtue  prcborve  us, 

Dear  brotherly-love  liiiid  us — ward  oil  uurduwurull. 
—  lla/fcr  KliUr,  riiilailelpliia,  Jan.  1,  1870. 


For  TllK    l.ANrAHTKIl  Fahmeb. 

LOOK  OUT  FOR  CANADA  THISTLE. 

Eastera  Pennsylvania  is  likely  to  be  over- 
run with  '"Canada  Thistle  "  (Cirsiwn  nrvense). 
Lancaster  county,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
counties  ot  Kastern  I'emisylvania,  are  receiving 
hay  in  bales  from  Rochester,  New  York,  and 
other  western  jiarts  of  that  Slate.  It  exi.sts 
in  abundance  from  Eliuira  to  (ii'iieva  and 
Rochester,  and  iu  all  the  surrounding  coun- 
ties from  whence  hay  is  shijiped  to  the  ea-st. 
The  hay  is  bought  by  county  towns  and  coun- 
try villages,  from  whence  the  manure  is  haul- 
ed out  among  the  faniiei-s,  scattering  the  seeds 
broadcast  among  them.  When  once  on  a 
farm,  it  will  take  years  to  make  it  clean  again, 
as  they  are  not  easily  destroyed.  We  may 
feel  assured  of  this,  else  we  would  not  (iud 
them  growing  in  all  Western  New  York. — 
L.  S.  I{.,  Ornjiiii,  ]'a..  Junmu-ii  '.\,  1870. 

[We  hardly  think  that  Canada  thistle  conld 
be  brought  here  in  baled  hay.  especially  not  in 
the  "fust  crop,"  because  that  is  cut  before 
the  thistle  is  in  .seed,  or  "fniil,"  as  the  Hotan- 
ists  say.  In  "second  ero)! "  it  would  In-  more 
likely;  but  we  have  had  ihis  noxious  weeil  in 
this  county  long  since.  AlMiiit  fifteen  years 
ago  we  noticed  a  most  niagniliieut  held  of 
Canada  thi.stle  north  of  Lancaster,  and  not 
more  than  half  a  mile  beyond  the  city  boun- 
dary.—jE('.] 


SUCCESSFUL   ORCHARDS. 

The  Rochester  /fura/ //omf  gives  an  account 
of  the  orchard  of  S.  C.  Davis,  in  Orleans  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.  He  has  ill)  acres  in  orchard,  con- 
taining 2,50')  apple  trees,  500  of  which  were 
planted  iu  1858,  and  the  remainder  in  18(i2 
and  181)8,  The  young  apple  orchards  <-over 
.55  acres,  and  are  chielly  eompo.sed  of  the  Raid- 
win.  Rhode  Island,  (ireeuing  and  Roxbury 
Russet,  with  some  autumn  apples.  He  ha.s 
besides  these  2.7IHI  trees  or  hushes  of  the  Or- 
ange quince,  covering  10  acres,  and  planted 
six  and  ten  yeai^s  ago.  The  crops  from  these 
quinces  the  last  two  sea.sons  were  .">0  and  5:{ 
barrels.  Resides  these,  there  are  2,<KH1  pcadi 
trees,  350  planted  in  18.58,  the  rest  in  18(;5  and 
18()8.  The  lirst  ."(50  have  vielded  in  all  vears 
over  S4,(HM).  There  are  iilso  2,(KHl  slaiidard 
pear  trees,  LiHHl  of  which  are  Hartletts. 
From  the  first  planted  (UK)  in  lS(i4)  UK)  bar- 
rels have  been  picked.  We  are  not  informed 
what  the  apple  trees  yielded,  nor  what  the 
quinces  sold  for. 


SrBSCRinEn!»  will  jilease  renew  their  sub- 
scriptions for  187(i.  (Jannot  each  oue  send  us 
au  additional  subscriber  ? 


40 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January 


THE  CENTENNIAL  EXHIBITION. 


The    Progress  of  the   Great  Work--A    Birds- 
Eye  View  of  the  Buildings  and  Grounds-- 
Details  of  the  Live  Stock  Department. 

A  recent  visit  to  Fairmouiit  Park,  on  the 
occasion  of  tlie  presence  of  the  President  of 
tlie  United  States,  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  Members  of  Congress,  revealed 
remarkable  progress  in  the  great  work, 
since  oiu'  former  visit.  The  remarkably 
mild  and  open  winter  we  are  having  is  highly 
tavoralile  to  the  prosecution  of  outdoor  work, 
such  as  grading  the  grounds,  and  there  is  no 
longer  reason  to  doubt  that  all  the  details  will 
be  completed  in  time  for  the  opening  iu  May. 
The  apjiropriation  of  a  million  and  a  half  of 
dollars  which  has  been  asked  of  Congress  to 
complete  the  work  will  no  doubt  be  granted, 
as  the  repri'Sentatives  of  every  department  of 
the  government  wlio  inspected  the  biuldiugs 


line  seen  above  these  buildings  is  the  Schuyl- 
kill river,  whieh  runs  to  the  right  toward  the 
Delaware.  Beyond  it  lies  the  great  body  of 
the  city,  from  which  rise  many  steeples  and 
towers.  On  the  farther  side,  to  the  left,  ap- 
pears a  faint  line,  showing  the  Delaware  river, 
which  borders  the  city  on  the  east,  and  runs 
southward,  to  the  right. 

In  addition  to  these  there  will  be  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  smaller  buildings,  erected 
for  the  headquarters  of  different  states  and  na- 
tions, and  for  special  exhibition  of  the  products 
of  different  industries,  many  of  them  present- 
ing beautiful  architectural  designs. 

We  print  below,  as  specially  interesting  to 
OIU'  readers,  the  details  of  the  arrangements 
made  for  the  exhibition  of  live  stock  by  Burnet 
Landreth,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture, 
and  approved  l>y  Director-General  A.  T.  Gos- 
horn.  These  details  of  a  siTigle  department 
will  give  the  reader  a  fair  idea  of  the  magni- 
tude of  the  enterprise. 


As  to  Hnlstcins,  Herefords,  Ayrshires,  Devone, 
Guernseys,  Britanuys,  Kerrys,  and  other  pure  breeds, 
tliey  are  either  imported  or  descended  from  imported 
animals  on  both  sides. 

As  to  Jerseys,  that  they  are  entered  in  the  Herd 
Register  of  the  American  Jersey  Cattle  Club,  or  in 
that  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  Jersey. 

As  to  sheep  and  swine,  they  are  imported  or  de- 
scended from  imported  animals,  and,  that  the  home- 
bred shall  be  of  pure  blood  as  far  back  as  the  fifth 
generation. 

:l  The  term  breed,  as  used,  is  intended  to  compre- 
hend all  family  divisions,  where  the  distinction  in 
form  and  cliaracter dates  back  through  yearsof  sepa- 
ration; for  instance,  it  is  held  that  the  proa;euy  of  a 
pure-blood  Jersey  and  a  pure-blood  Guernsey,  is  not 
a  thorouKh-liVed,  but  a  cross-bred  animal,  and,  as 
such,  is  necessarily  excluded. 

4.  Iu  awarding  prizes  to  animals  of  pure  blood,  the 
judges  will  take  into  consideration  chiefly  the  relative 
merits  as  to  the  power  of  the  transmission  of  their 
valuable  qualities;  a  cardinal  object  of  the  exhibition 
being  to  promote  improvement  in  breeding  stock. 

•5.  In  case  of  doubt  relative  to  the  age  of  an  animal, 
satisfactory  proof  must  be  furnished,  or  the  animal 
will  be  subject  to  examination  by  a  veterinary  sur- 
geon ;  and 


on  the  occasion  referred  to,  expressed  them- 
selves highly  pleased  with  what  they  saw,  and 
the  national  honor  seems  now  to  be  at  stake  in 
the  matter. 

The  accompanying  engraving  represents  a 
correct  l)irds-eye  view  of  the  appearance  of 
the  Centennial  grounds  and  the  relative  rela- 
tions of  the  buildings  to  each  other. 

The  Mdin  Bu'dding  is  the  extensive  struct- 
ure, rimning  diagonally,  near  the  centre  of  the 
cut.  It  covers  about  as  much  space  as  the 
other  four  united.  Mwhinerii  Hall  is  the  next 
largest  building,  and  runs  toward  the  right,  in 
the  same  range,  with  only  a  street  between. 
Ayriruhural  Hall  is  near  the  lower  corner,  to 
the  left.  Ifurticultiiral  Hull  is  the  ornamental 
structure  standing  next  above  the  last  in  the 
view.  The  Art  GaVery  is  the  stone  edifice 
with  the  large  dome,  standing  between  the 
last  and  the  first  liuildings  named.  This  is 
also  called  Jlemorial  Hall.  It  was  erected  by 
provision  made  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  it  is  designed  to  be  permanent.  The  white 


Live  Stock. 

1 .  The  live  stock  display  at  the  International  Ex- 
hibition will  be  lield  within  the  montlis  of  September 
and  October,  ISTH;  the  periods  devoted  to  each  class 
and  family  being  fifteen  days,  and  the  division  as  fol- 
lows: 

Horses,  mules,  and  asses,  from  September  first  to 
fifteenth. 

Horned  cattle  (of  all  varieties),  from  September 
twentietli  to  October  fifth. 

Sheep,  swine,  goats  and  dogs,  from  October  tenth 
to  twenty-tifth. 

Poultry  will  be  exhibited  from  October  twenty- 
eighth  to  Novcnil)er  tenth. 

3.  Animals  to  be  eligible  for  admission  to  the  Inter- 
national Exhibition  must  be,  with  the  exception  of 
trotting  stock,  walking  horses,  matched  teams,  fat 
and  draught  cattle,  of  such  pedigree  that  the  exhibi- 
tor can  furnish  satisfactory  evidence  to  the  Chief 
Bureau,  that — 

.\s  applied  to  the  thoroughbred  horses,  at  far  hack 
as  the  fifth  generation  of  ancestors  on  both  sides, 
they  are  of  pure  blood,  and  of  the  same  identical 
breed. 

As  to  short-horned  cattle,  they  are  registered  in 
either  Allen's,  Alexander's,  orthe  English  herd-books. 


I 


only  be  brought  forward,  as  the  characterof  the  stock 
will  be  judged  by  the  general  average  of  those  ex- 
hiliited. 

8.  Exhibitors  will  be  expected  to  furnish  their  own 
attendants,  on  whom  all  responsibility  of  the  care  of 
feeding,  watering  and  cleaning  the  animals,  and  also 
of  cleaning  the  stalls,  will  rest. 

9.  Forage  and  grain  will  be  furnished  at  cost  prices, 
at  depots  conveniently  located  within  the  grounds. 
Water  can  be  had  at  all  hours,  ample  facilities  being 
provided  for  its  conveyance  and  distribution  through- 
out the  stock-yards 

10.  Exhibitors  must  supply  all  harness,  saddlery, 
vehicles  and  other  appointments,  and  all  such  must 
he  kept  in  their  appointed  places. 

11.  The  Commission  will  erect  ample  accommoda- 
tion for  the  exhibition  and  protection  of  live  stock, 
yet  contributors  who  may  desire  to  make  special  ar- 
rangements for  the  display  of  their  stock,  will  be 
attbrded  facilities  at  their  own  cost.  Fractious  ani- 
mals, whether  stallions,  mares  with  foals,  or  bulls, 
will  be  provided  with  stallsof  suitable  character. 

\2.  All  stalls  will  be  regularly  and  distinctly  num- 
bered; coiTcspouding  numbers  on  labels  of  uniform 
character  will  be  given  to  each  exhibitor,  and  uo  ani- 
mal will  be  allowed  to  pass  from  its  stall  without  its 
proper  number  attached. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


il 


13.  Nwinhcrs  alone  will  flisthiiruiBli  stock  in  the 
8how-y;inl8,  prccedimj  the  awards  ot'in-izes. 

14.  The  juilL'i'H  of  livi'Kt(ic'l<  will  nmki'fxaniiiiation 
of  all  aniiiuils  mi  tlif  oiicliinsrilayof  each  serial  rIiow, 
anil  will  for  that  day  have  exclusive  entrance  to  the 
show-yard. 

1.").  Xo  premium  will  be  awarded  an  inferior  ani- 
mal, tliDuirh  there  he  no  conijietition. 

If).  All  animals  will  t)c  under  the  supervision  of  a 
veterinary  suryeon,  who  will  examine  them  before 
admi.'-sion,  to  jruard  aixainst  infection,  and  who  will 
also  make  a  daily  inspection  and  rciiorl.  In  case  of 
sickness,  the  aninnil  will  be  removed  to  a  suitable  en- 
closure especially  prcpareil  for  its  comfort  ami  medi- 
cal treatment. 

17.  When  animals  are  taken  sick,  the  exhibitors 
nniy  either  direct  the  treutment  themselves,  or  allow 
the  veterinary  surj;t(>n  ap|ioinleil  by  the  commission 
to  treat  the  case.  In  this  latler  event  the  exhibitor 
will  be  chariicd  for  all  exjicnscs  inenrred.  .Ml  jiossi- 
ble  care  will  be  taken  ol  animals  exbiliitcd,  but  the 
commission  cannot  be  held  rcsponsilile  I'or  any  injury 
or  accident . 

l.s.  A  rinff  will  be  provided  for  the  display  and  ex- 
ercise of  horses  and  cattle. 

111.  Itn  the  last  day  of  each  serial  show,  a  public 
auction  may  be  held  of  such  animals  as  the  exhibi- 
tors may  desire  to  sell.  Animals  nuiy  be  sohi  at  pri- 
vate sale  at  any  time  duriiifr  their  exhibition.  Dnriiiff 
the  period  of  a  serial  ."how,  no  animal,  even  in  the 
event  of  beinf;  sold,  will  be  allowed  to  be  delinilely 
removed. 

'■ilK  An  ollicial  catalopiic  of  the  animals  will  be 
published. 

21.  Exhibitors  of  thoroui^hbred  animals  must,  at 
the  time  of  makini;' their  entries,  tile  with  the  Chief 
of  the  Bureau  a  statement  asto  their  inMlijjrce,  allirmed 
or  sworn  to  belore  an  olticer  authorized  to  take  alli- 
davits,  and  the  papers  so  tiled  shall  be  fundshed  to 
the  Jury  of  Experts. 

22.  The  a;ics  of  live  stock  nuist  be  calculated  up 
to  the  openinir  day  of  the  exhibitiou  of  the  class  to 
■which  tliey  bt'lonir. 

2'!.  Sheep  breeders  desiring:  to  exhibit  wool,  the 
pniduee  of  the  Hocks,  will  display  not  less  than  five 
fleeces. 

24.  All  animals  must  be  entered  according:  to  the 
prescribed  rules, as  given  in  forms  of  entry,  which 
forms  will  be  furnished  on  application  to  the  Chief 
of  the  Bureau  of  AgrieulHue. 

Breeding  Horses. 

Mares  entered  as  breedinjE:  animals  must  have  had 
foals  within  one  year  of  the  show,  or  if  in  foal,  certi- 
ficates must  Ite  furnished  to  that  efleet. 

All  I'oals  exhibited  must  be  the  otTspring  of  the 
mare  with  which  they  are  at  foot. 

Awards  will  he  made  to  respective  breeds  for:  Pure 
bred  turf  stallions,  six  years  and  over.  Pure  bred 
draught  stallions,  six  years  and  over.  Pure  bred  turf 
stallions,  over  tour  years  and  under  six  years.  Pure 
bred  draught  stallions,  over  four  years  and  under  six 
years.  Pure  bred  turf  stallions,  over  two  years  and 
under  four  years.  Pure  bred  draught  stallions,  over 
two  years  and  under  four  years.  Pure  bred  turf 
mares  six  years  and  over.  Pure  bred  draught  mares 
six  years  and  over.  Pvn-e  bred  turf  marcs,  over  tw'o 
and  uncUr  six  years.  Pure  bred  draught  mares,  over 
two  and  under  six  years. 

Awards  will  be  made  for:  Trotting  .stallions,  six 
years  and  over.  Trotting  brood  mares,  six  years  and 
over.  Trotting  stallions,  over  four  years  and  under 
six.  Tr()tting  fillies,  over  four  years  and  under  six. 
Trotting  stallions,  over  two  years  and  under  four. 
Trotting  fillies,  over  two  years  and  under  lour. 

Running  and  Trotting  Horses 

shall  be  judged  according  to  their  record  up  to  Au^et 
15th,  lH7(i,  (iue  regard  being  had  to  present  condition. 
Awards  will  be  made  for:  Running  horses  having 
made  fastest  record.  Trotting  stallions  havingtrotted 
a  niilewiihin  two-thirty.  Mares  and  geldiugs  having 
trotted  a  mile  within  two-lwenty-five. 

Walking  Horses. 

Fast  walking  horses,  whether  bred  for  agricultural 
purposes  or  the  saddle,  will  compete  in  the  ring  for 
awards. 

Matched  Teams. 

Awarils  will  be  made  for:  Matched  teams  having 
trotted  a  mile  in  two-thirty- five.  Matched  stallions 
for  heavy  draught,  over  sixteen  hands  high,  and  over 
fifteen  hnndrcd  poiniils  weight  each.  .Matched  geld- 
ings for  heavy  draught,  over  sixteen  hanils  high,  and 
over  fifteen  hundred  pounds  weight  each.  Matched 
mules  for  heavy  dr:inght,  overfifteeii  hanils  high,  and 
over  fourteen  hundred  pounds  weight  each.  .Matched 
mules  for  heavy  draught,  over  Hflecn  and  a  half 
hands  high,  and  over  thirteen  hundred  pounds  weight 
each. 

Breeding  Asses. 

Awards  will  he  nnide  to  respective  breeds  of:  Pure 
bred  jacks  <ivir  six  years.  Pure  bred  jacRs  over  three 
years  and  under  six.  Pure  bred  she-asses  over  six 
years.  Pure  bred  she-asses  over  three  years  and 
under  six.  j 


Neat  Cattle. 

No  cow  will  be  eligible  for  entry,  unless  accomjia- 
nied  with  a  ecrlificatc  that,  within  liltein  njonlliK  pri- 
ccdiiig  the  show,  she  had  a  living  calf,  or  that  the 
calf,  if  born  dead,  was  born  at  its  proper  lime. 

No  heifer  entered  as  in  calf  will  he  eligible  for  a 
prize,  unless  accompanied  with  a  ecrlificate  that  she 
has  been  bulled  bchire  the  first  of  April,  or  presents 
unmislakable  proof  of  the  fact  to  the  judges. 

No  bull  above  one  year  old  can  be  entered  unless 
he  have  a  ring  in  nose,  and  thealtendanl  be  provided 
with  a  leading  stick,  which  must  be  used  whenever 
the  animal  is  taken  out  of  stall. 

Awards  will  be  made  for  the  best  herd  of  each  re- 
spective breed,  consisting  as  follows:  One  bull,  pour 
cows,  none  under  fifteen  months.  Neat  cattle,  of  each 
respective  breed,  will  compete  inili  vidua  My  for  awards. 
Hulls  :!  years  and  over.  Hulls  over  2  viars  and  ini- 
der:i  years.  Bulls  over  1  year  and  under  2  years. 
Cows  4  years  aial  ovir.  Ciiws  over  :i  years  and  un- 
der 4  years.  Cows  or  heifers  in  calf,  over  2  years  and 
under  :;  years.  Yearling  heifers.  A  sweepstake  award 
will  be  made  for  the  best  bull  of  any  breed.  .VsWcep- 
stake  award  will  be  nnule  for  the"  best  cow  of  any 
breed.  ■^ 

Fat  and  Draught  Cattle. 

Aninuils  entered  as  fat  and  draught  cattle  need  not 
be  of  pure  blood,  but  will  compete  on  individual 
mei'its. 

Eat  cattle  must  be  weighed,  and,  in  general,  those 
will  be  judged  best  which  have  the  greatest  weight 
with  the  least  surface  and  offal. 

Awards  will  be  made  for;  Best  fatted  steer  of  any 
age  or  breed.  Most  powerful  yoke  of  oxen.  Most 
raiiidly-walking  yoke  of  oxen."  Most  thoroughlv- 
trained  yoke  of  oxen.  Most  thoroughly-trained  team 
of  three  or  more  yokes  of  oxen. 

Breeding  Sheep. 

All  sheep  ofl"ered  for  exhibition  must  he  accompan- 
ied with  ecrlificatc  to  the  elhct  that  they  have  been 
shorn  since  the  1st  of  April,  and  the  date  given. 

If  not  fairly  shorn,  or  if  clipped  so  as  to  conceal 
defects,  or  with  a  view  to  improve  the  form  orappear- 
ance,  they  will  be  excluded  from  com|ictition. 

Awards  will  be  made  to  respective  breeds  for  ;  The 
best  pen  of  five  aninuils  of  same  fiock  and  including 
one  ram,  the  ewes  all  having  had  living  lambs  the 
past   spring. 

Awards  will  be  made  to  respective  breeds  for : 
Kams  2  years  and  over.  Shearling  rams.  A  sweep- 
stake award  will  be  made  for  the  best  ram,  respec- 
tively of  long,  middle,  and  fine-wooled  breeds. 

Awards  will  be  nnide  to  respective  breeds  for : 
Ewes  in  pens  of  three,  all  having  h.ad  living  lambs. 
Shearlings  in  pens  of  three.  A  sweepstake  award 
will  be  made  for  the  best  pen  of  three  breeding  ewes, 
respectively  of  long,  middle,  and  fine-wooled  breeds. 

Fat  Sheep. 

Fat  sheep  entered  for  competition  must  be  weigh- 
ed, and  iu  general  those  will  be  judged  best  which 
have  the  greatest  weight,  with  the  least  surface  and 
otl'al . 

Awards  will  be  made  for  :  Pen  of  three  best  fatted 
sheep  of  each  breed.  Pen  of  three  best  fatted  sheep 
of  any  breed. 

Breeding  Swine. 

Every  competing  sow  above  oneyearold  must  have 
had  a  litter,  or  be  in  pig,  and  the  owner  must  bring 
proof  of  these  facts,  if  required. 

1  f  a  lit  ler  of  pigs  be  sent  with  a  sow,  the  young  pigs 
must  be  sucklings,  the  otlspriog  of  thesow,  anif  must 
not  execixl  the  age  ofthrce  nmnlhs. 

Awards  will  be  made  to  rcsjicctive breeds  for  :  Tlie 
best  pen  of  one  boar  and  two  breediug  sows.  For  pen 
of  .«ow  and  litter. 

Awards  will  be  made  to  respective  breeds  for  : 
Boars  2  years  old  aiul  over.  Boars  1  year  old  and 
uuder  2  years.  Boars  between  '.>  months  and  1  year. 
Breeding  sows  2  years  old  and  over.  Breeding  sows 
1  year  old  and  under  2  years.  Pen  ofthrce  sow  pigs 
between  !(  months  and  1  year.  A  sweepstake  award 
will  be  made  tor  the  best  boar  of  any  breed.  .\  swee|). 
stake  award  will  be  made  for  the  best  sow  of  any 
breed. 

Fat  Swine. 

Fat  swine  entered  for  competition  must  be  weighed, 
and  in  general  tlu)se  will  be  judged  best  which  have 
the  greatest  weight  with  the  least  surface  and  offal. 
1st,  2(1  and  :kl  prizes  will  be  awarded  lor  :  Pair  of 
best  fatlid  hogs  of  each  breed.  Pair  ol  best  lalteU 
hogs  of  any  breed. 

Dogs. 

Awanis  will  be  made  to  respective  breeds  for : 
Dogs  of  2  years  and  over.  Dogs  of  ()ne  year  and  un- 
der 2.  Pups.  .\  swee[>stake  award  will  lie  awarded 
for  the  best  df)g  of  any  lireed  dis[)Iayeil  by  a  foreign 
exhibitor.  A  sweepstake  award  will  be  awarded  for 
the  best  hoin<'-bred  dog  of  any  breed. 

Awards  will  be  made  to  res|)ective  breeds  for: 
Bitches  of  2  years  and  over.  Bitches  of  1  year  and 
under  2.  Bitch  pups.  A  sweepstake  awanl  will  be 
awarded  for  the  best  bitch  of  any  breed  displayed  l)y 
a  foreign  exhibitor.  A  sweepstake  award  will  be 
awarded  for  the  best  liome-breil  bitch  of  any  breed. 


Poultry. 

Poultry  can  only  be  exhlbiied  in  coops  made  afler 
specifications  furniKlied  by  the  Bureau  of  .X^rieulture. 

Awards  will  be  made  to' res[K'clive  breeds  for  :  Pairs 
ofl  year  aiul  over,  of  chickens,  turkeys,  ducks,  gceso, 
swans,  pigeons,  guineas  and  ornamental  birds.  For 
pairs  under  1  year. 

Fish. 

Living  fishes  will  be  displayed  In  both  ftrsh  and 
salt  water  ntpnirla. 

Awanis  » III  be  made  for  :  Largest  display  of  fish 
of  each  S|>eele8.   Largest  display  of  fish  of  all  8|>cele8. 

OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Farming  and  Stock  Raising  on  the  Continent 

of  Europe. 
CorrMi  oudeucM^  of  Tiik  I.ancastku  Fabmrr. 

Pa  Ids,  December  .10,  1875. 

EXPEKIMEN'TING   WITH    SIIKPI'. 

Ex|wrience  attests  that  sheep,  when  shorn,  fnf fen 
more  rapidly  than  those  left  in  the  jKJssesBlon  of  their 
fleece;  horses,  leanor  even  sickly,  put  upllesh  ijuhkly 
If  clipped  iu  due  season  and  with  the  onllnary  pre- 
cautions.  Animals  thus  treuled  aeipiire  an  Increased 
appetite  and  malnlain  Ihe  desire  for  more  foisl  for  a 
longer  period.  M.  \Veiske,of  I'roskeau,  hasconducteil 
experiments  with  great  care  to  test  the  facts  fnuiul  to 
be  true  by  practice.  He  selected  two  full  gn>wn 
merinos,  in  good  health,  equal  in  age  and  nearly  so 
in  weight.  They  were  fed  on  2';  imunds  of  meadow 
'"*>'>  'i  poiuid  of  crusheil  barley,  and  less  than  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  kitchen  sail,  dally  ;  their  solid 
and  liquid  excrements  were  s|)fclally  preserved  and 
frequently  analyzed,  eontem|)oraiieously  with  their 
food:  they  were  supplied  wit  h  a  fixed  quantify  of  watir 
daily  and  were  weighed  every  morning:  fhetempera- 
tureof  the  buildingduring  the  experiments  was  nearly 
uinform.  After  being  thus'  treated  for  seven  days,  no 
perceptible  difierenee  was  discovered  In  their  relative 
weights.  After  an  interval  of  ten  days  thev  were 
sliorn:  the  appetite  which  had  ap|H-arc>d'  languishing, 
suddenly  became  sharp.  The  shearing  exercised  llu 
tie  influence  on  the  digestibility  of  the  fiHsl,  and  any 
difi'crenee  was  unfavorable  to'the  shearing;  on  the 
other  hand,  the  animals  eouBumeil  less  water,  pulmo- 
nary and  insensible  persjiiralion  having  diminisheil, 
as  in  practice  is  known  to  be  the  case.  But  more 
nitrogen  was  eliminated,  that  is,  less  went  to  the  for- 
mation of  meat,  though  no  change  had  taken  place 
either  in  quantity  or  quality  of  food. 

SIIEAHING   THEN  IS  AI'I'A  REXTI.V    UXPAVORABLB  TO 
XtlTHITIOS. 

The  loss  of  the  fleece  is  the  loss  of  ao  mueh  heat, 
demanding  the  grealcrconsuinptionof  food  ;  In  other 
words,  prodticing  a  more  vigorous  appetite.  For 
draught  animals  this  result  Isbenincial,  for  it  stimu- 
lates the  sources  of  strength.  Horses,  when  cllpin'il, 
become  more  energetic,  lively  and  robust;  and  if 
they  display  an  improved  condition  without  any 
change  in  rations,  the  cause  inusf  be  sought  in  a 
better  appetite  and  a  su|)erior  assimilation  of  food. 
In  the  case  of  fattening  stock,  if  this  [lowerof  assimi- 
lation be  a  little  less,  the  amelioration  of  the  ap|«e- 
tite  is  a  compensalion,  for  the  animals  will  thereby 
put  up  more  Mesh  ;  and  to  maintain  the  apiMiiie  in 
an  excellent  stale  during  the  finishing  stage  of  fat- 
tening, is  the  object  to  be  realized.  More  foisl  means 
thus  more  beef  and  mutton,  and  hence  the  advantage 
of  the  shorn  over  the  unshorn  animal. 

THE  FOOT  AND  MOITU  DISKASE 

eontiniK'S  to  make  its  ravages  here;  it  Is  a  malady 
more  troublesome  and  annoying  f  lian  ilaugerims  ;  if  Is 
unpleasanlly  contagions  also.  es|iecially  for  pigs;  it 
does  not  destroy  the  animals,  but  retanls  their  devel- 
opment  and  production.  The  Veterinary  College  of 
Alfort,  reeirnmends  Ihe  isolation  of  the  afVected  and 
the  free  u.se  of  diluted  carbolic  acid  In  the  sheds;  to 
break  the  pu.slnles  wilh  a  rag  stopjH'r  and  gargle  the 
mouth  with  a  preparation  of  lioneyed  wafer shar|H-iied 
with  vinegar. alinii  or  brandy, several  tiinesaday,  ad- 
ministering linseed  or  ot  her  meal  drinks  requiring  oidy 
to  be  swallowed  :  when  the  feet  are  sore  the  lieihling 
ought  to  be  very  dry  and  clean,  and  the  ulcers  louched 
with  a  mixture  of  alum  and  carliolic  acid  in  ll.'i  parts 
of  wafer;  if  fever  be  declari-d  along  with  diarrhix'a, 
half  a  pound  of  (llaubcr  salts  is  added  lo  Ihe  drinks 
to  elean.se  the  bliHsl.  Conncctiil  with  the  luulady,  is 
a  plan  of  insurance  iu  operation  Iu  upixr  .Savoy;  the 
fanners  of  a  lownland  form  a  society  of  Insurance; 
each  animal  Insured  pays  fr.  2,  and  an  additional 
franc  as  an  aiuiual  premium.  In  case  of  loss,  the 
farmer  receives  the  full  price  of  the  animal,  providi-d 
he  has  folloHxtl  the  iustructioiis  for  treating  It  when 
diseased.  .\t  Lille  there  is  a  Mxiety  that  will  Insure 
cattle  against  all  risks,  the  premium  being  five  |>er 
cent,  on  the  estimated  value  of  the  animal ;  a  single 
farm  can  Insure  as  far  as  fr.  :tlMI,lH)0. 

TUB    ANIMAf.    FOOD    VIF.STIOV. 

When  consumed  green  or  In  flower,  buckwheat  af- 
fects sheep  and  pigs  by  pnslucing  dizziness  and 
erupt  Ions  on  the  skin.  .Siiorlsmcu  attest  that  this  in- 
toxicatiuu  Is  eonuiion  witli  harea  thai  eat  the  plant. 


12 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January, 


A  farmer  remarks,  that  after  storms,  buckwheat  ex- 
ercises its  peculiar  influences  most  strongly. 

The  high  anrl  increasing  price  of  oats  draws  much 
attention  to  substitutes  for  that  food,  which  cannot 
be  equaled  for  horses.  Bearing  in  mind  that  the 
nutritive  qualities  of  plants  vary  more  in  respect  to 
climate  than  to  season,  it  is  not  surprising  to  witness 
different  results  from  tiie  same  description  of  aliment. 
Barley  raised  in  southern  is  superior  in  quality  to 
that  grown  in  northern  climates.  In  the  East,  in 
Spain  and  in  Arabia,  horses  fed  on  barley  acquire 
more  vigor  and  power  of  endurance,  while  in  tem- 
perate climates  it  is  fattening  and  refreshing  in  its 
effects.  To  excite  fowls  to  lay  or  to  hatch,  oats  and  ^ 
light  wheat  are  given;  to  fatten  them,  barley. 
Whenever  the  French  invaded  Spain,  their  cavalry 
was  decimated  by  inflammatory  diseases  produced  by 
feeding  the  horses  on  barley.  On  the  other  hand,  \ 
Arabian  horses,  when  imported  into  France,  can  only 
be  kept  in  good  condition  by  being  fed,  not  on  barley, 
but  on  oats.  Barley  is  a  tonic  in  warm  climates,  but 
enervating  in  temperate  ones.  Maize  is  but  an  aux- 
ilary,  it  can  never  become  a  substitute;  it  has  not  suf- 
ficient force-producing  power.  M.  Adenot  experi- 
mented with  feeds  of  equal  rations,  of  nine  pounds 
each,  of  maize  and  oats,  on  4.S  of  his  wagon  horses, 
extending  over  a  period  of  two  months ;  the  animals 
lost  one-fifth  of  their  draught  power,  which  they  re- 
covered, however,  when  their  ftiU  oat  ration  was  re- 
stored; the  economy  in  the  way  of  oats  disappeared 
by  loss  of  strength.  One-eighth  of  maize  with  oats 
turned  out  well,  but  then  the  maize  must  be  Ameri- 
can, not  French.  How  nearly  soever  related  maize 
and  oats  mav  be  chemically,  in  physiological  eflfects 
they  are  widely  different.  Thaer  and  Dombasle  re- 
commend buckwheat  for  farm  horses,  as  being  capa- 
ble of  replacing  in  part  oats;  their  opinion  is  questioned, 
but  buckwheat  diflcrs  in  richness,  according  as  it  may 
have  been  saved,  when  matured  or  otherwise.  M. 
Adenot  has  found  a  mixture  of  l-'3  pounds  of  oats 
with  six  of  rye,  very  successful;  his  experience 
extended  over  fifteen  years,  the  stables  containing  not 
less  than  3.50  draught  horses;  the  mixture  was  not 
equal  in  producing  vigor  to  oats  alone,  but  was  not 
the  less  a  capital  feed  when  grain  was  scarce.  In 
former  times  wheat  was  given  to  stallions  during  the 
season  of  serving,  and  to  mares  when  suckling,  but 
wheat  fattened  rather  than  imparted  strength  or  pro- 
duced muscle. 

IN  THE  PEODOCTION  AND  REPARATION  OF  MUSCU- 
L.4R  FORCE, 

beans  rank  with  oats,  exciting  the  appetite,  and  ex- 
cellent for  horses  that  digest  badly  their  full  feed  of 
grain .  Field  peas  are  favored  by  some  for  post  horses, 
improving  their  wind  while  forminga  change  of  ibod. 
Oats  being  unrivalled,  many  farmers  object  to  either 
bruise  or  "break  them ;  containing  less  farinaceous 
matter,  they  nourisli  less,  in  the  sense  of  fattening 
less;  this  quality  Messrs.  Magne  and  Baillet  attribute 
to  an  aromatic  princiide  in  the  skin,  analogous  to 
vanilla,  and  to  which  the  stimulating  action  of  the 
grain  is  to  be  traced.  Now  mountain  oats,  small  and 
light,  are  more  exciting  than  others,  because  they 
contain  less  farinaceous  and  more  of  stimulating  mat- 
ters, and  hence  why  many  breeders  keep  stocks  of 
mountain  and  lowland  oats,  giving  feeds  of  each 
alternately,  never  mixing,  for  where  the  ingredients 
of  rations  diiler  in  volume,  much  that  is  small  be- 
comes unmasticated  or  incompletely  mixed  with 
saliva.  M.  Monclar,  of  Tarn,  finding  wine  to  be  so 
cheap  and  oats  so  dear,  has  employed  the  former  as 
an  element  in  rations  for  his  horses,  and  with  excel- 
lent results.  This  is  the  first  time  wine  has  been  so 
employed  ;  but  is  long  known  in  France  to  be  of  sin- 
gular efficacy  when  horses  are  overcome  with  great 
fatigue ;  sonie  sprinkle  the  wine  over  the  oats  and 
others  administer  it  as  a  drink.  Horses  are  very  fond 
of  wine.  M.  Becwer  is  the  most  extensive  fattener  of 
live  stock  on  the  continent ;  after  years  of  experience 
he  concludes, 

THE  BEST  AND  MOST  SUCCtU.F.NT  MEAT  IS  FURNISHED 

by  pigs  fattened  on  milk,  than  animals  fed  on  grain, 
the  following  ranking  in  order  of  merit :  maize,  barley, 
oats,  to  which  may  be  added,  peas.  Potatoes  pro- 
duce a  meat  light,  flabby  and  insipid,  losing  much  in 
cooking ;  bran,  in  the  case  of  liogs,  yields  a  flesh  poor 
and  of  abad  taste  ;  oil, seeds  and  cake  impart  flaecid- 
ness  and  a  disagreeable  taste  to  the  meat,  and  beans 
make  it  hard,  indigestible  and  unsavory.  M.  Bcewer 
counsels  for  the  finishing  of  pig  fattening,  a  diet  of 
boiled  grain,  or  the  latter  bruised,  with  milk;  peas 
added  to  the  rations  of  pigs,  four  weeks  before 
slaughtering,  will  impart  an  agreeable  flavor  to  the 
meat. 

Belgium  has  suffered  during  the  present  year  very 
much  from 

ADULTERATED    CLOVER    SEED, 

which  is  mixed  with  colored  sand  and  the  seed  of  the 
plantain  ;  the  latter  is  said  to  have  been  superseded 
by  the  seeds  which  escape  from  the  refuse  of  imported 
■wool.    The  magnifying  glass  reveals  the  impurity. 

THE    BEET     SUGAR    MANUFACTORIES    ON     THE 
CONTINENT 

may  consider  themselves  fortunate  if  they  can  make 
the  two  ends  meet  this  year.  France  produces  twice 
as  much  sugar  as  she  consumes,  but  fiscal  export 
regulations  prevent  her  from  entering  advantageously 
the  foreigh  market.     Many  farmers  decline  to  sell 


their  beet  this  year  to  the  manufacturer,  who  only 
gives  fr.  16  the  ton  for  the  roots,  selling  the  pulp  at 
fr.  1.5 ;  net  profit  per  ton,  for  the  cultivator,  one  franc, 
to  which  must  be  added  the  expenses  of  transport 
both  ways.  It  is  thus  more  profitable  to  consume  the 
roots  on  the  farm .  The  new  continuous  presses  ex- 
tract more  sugar  than  the  old  hydraulic  apparatus, 
but  the  pulp  derived  from  the  former  is  found  to  be 
less  valuable.  The  chemists  discuss  the  question  as 
to  the  action  of  leafing  the  beet,  for  feeding  purposes, 
on  theproiluctionof  sugar.  Messrs.  Corenwinder  and 
Viollette  assert  the  practice  diminishes  the  produc- 
tion of  sugar,  and  further,  entices  the  plant  to  absorb 
salts  from  the  soil,  which  resist  the  extraction  and 
crystallization  of  the  sugar;  however,  the  more  eini- 
inent  Claude  Bernard  differs  from  both  these  chemists, 
alleging  we  are  still  ignorant  as  to  how  the  plant 
fbrnis  lis  sugar,  whether  by  the  root  or  by  the  leaves 
decom]io,siiig  the  carbonic  acid  of  the  air,  under  the 
influence  of  the  green  coloring  matter  and  the  sun's 
rays,  the  sugar  then  being  distributed  throughout  the 
tissue. 

Dr.  Petermanu  recommends 

TWO  MEANS  OF  REDUCING  BONES: 

throwing  them  into  the  wine  tank,  or  mixing  them 
witli  wood  ashes  and  quick  lime,  as  a  compost.  Pro- 
fessor Kupfferschlaeger,  of  Liege,  recommends  their 
being  burned  with  weeds  and  the  ashes  incorporated 
with  the  soil. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Unhappily  there  is  nothing  new  to  record  respecting 
the  phvlloxera;  the  habits  of  the  bug  are  being  better 
observed,  and  the  effects  of  the  several  remedies— in- 
undation always  excepted — await  the  test  of  time. 

Dr.  Pierre  asserts  that  fruit  plantations— eider 
orchards  particularly— require  to  be  as  methodically 
manured  as  ordinary  cultivated  crops. 

Cider  is  economically  prepared,  by  adding  seven 
pounds  of  red  garden  beet  to  every  aVj  bushels  of 
apples,  pressing  all  together ;  the  cider  must  not  be 
used  till  the  following  July,  when  it  will  be  free  of 
the  beet  flavor. 


OUR  LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agricul- 
tural and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  stated  monthly  meeting  of  this  society  took 
place  in  the  Athenseum  on  Monday  afternoon,  the  3d 
of  January — Johnson  Miller,  President,  in  the  chair. 
The  following  members  were  present :  Johnson  Mil- 
ler, E.  S.  Hoover,  Milton  B.  Eshleman,  Martin  D. 
Kendig,  E.  S.  Hershey,  Jacob  B.  Garber,  Alex.  Har- 
ris, Harvey  Brackbill",  Elias  Brackbill,  Henry  Erb, 
Israel  Landis,  Calvin  Cooper,  John  Grossman, 
Reuben  Weaver,  Martin  Fry,  John  M.  Stehman, 
Levi  S.  Reist,  Peter  S.  Reist,  S.  S.  Rathvon,  Levi  W. 
Gi-otf,  Levi  Pownall,  Reuben  J.  Erb,  John  N.  Eby, 
Jefferson  Grosh,  Aaron  H.  Sumray,  Edwin  Reinhold, 
A.  C.  Ilius.  Jacob  M.  Myers,  John  Gingrich,  W.  J. 
Kafroth,  John  B.  Erb,  Elias  Hershey,  Abraham 
Bollinger. 

John  N.  Eby,  A.  C.  Ilius  and  C.  Coble  were 
elected  members. 

On  motion,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Athenseum  be 
the  place  of  meeting  until  the  society  order  otherwise. 
Johnson  Miller  offered  a  resolution  in  regard  to 
a  more  stnngent  law  for  the  protection  of  numerous 
birds  that  are  often  slaughtered  by  sportsmen,  and 
yet  may  not  be  strictly  classified  as  insectiverous 
"birds,  such  as  the  partridge,  woodcock  and  reed-bird. 
Mr.  Miller  announced  that  he  would  gladly  re- 
ceive from  farmers  in  the  county  any  sample  of  grain 
for  exhibition  at  the  Centennial— said  samples  to  be 
properly  labeled  in  regard  to  species,  locality,  and 
any  other  particulars  that  may  be  given.  Messrs. 
Mi'lton  B.  Eshleman,  Martin  Fry  and  Simon  P.  Eby 
were  ajJiwinted  by  the  chair  as  a  committee  to  draft 
a  suitable  resolution  in  regard  to  the  birds,  and  pre- 
sent the  same  to  the  society,  with  a  view  to  seeking 
legislative  action  on  the  subject. 

The  annual  election  for  officers  then  took  place  by 
ballot.  Mr.  Calvin  Cooper  was  chosen  President. 
On  leaving  the  chair,  Mr.  Miller  returned  thanks  for 
the  co-operation  of  the  society  during  the  two  years 
of  his  service,  and  Mr.  Cooper  expressed  his  appre- 
ciation of  the  honor  conferred  upon  him.  Jacob  B. 
Kafroth,  Martin  H.  Kendig,  Jacob  Bollinger  and 
Jacob  B.  Garber  were  elected  Vice-Presidents  ;  E.  J. 
Hoover,  Cor.  Secretary;  Alex.  Harris,  Rec.  Secre- 
tary ;  Levi  W.  Groff,  treasurer.  On  motion,  Jacob 
Stauffer  as  botanist,  S.  S.  Rathvon  as  entomologist, 
and  SiuKm  P.  Eby  as  librarian,  the  present  oflicers, 
were  continued  for  the  ensuing  year. 

THE    president's    ANNUAL    ADDRESS. 

Mr.  Miller  read  the  following  address  : 
(ienllemen  :  A  kind  and  all-wise  Ruler  has  carried 
us  from  time  to  time,  until  now  we  enter  upon  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six — 
a  period  which  will  be  the  most  important  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  nation  and  country  since  the  days  of 
Washington,  whose  mortal  dust  reposes  in  Mount 
Vernon's  sacred  soil,  and  whose  spirit  appears  to  rise 
in  the  vision  of  true  and  patriotic  citizens  of  all  na- 
tions, reminding  them  that  we  have  now  fairly  en- 


tered upon  the  great  Centennial  year  of  American 
Independence. 

In  looking  over  the  past  record  of  our  proceedings, 
and  comparing  them  with  the  present,  you  have  rea- 
son to  be  assured  of  success  in  the  future.  Ten  years 
ago  this  society  was  organized  by  a  few  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  progressive  farmers  of  this  county,  to 
whom  we  owe  our  obligations  to-day  for  having  an 
agricultural  and  horticultural  society  in  this  county. 
A  few  of  them  are  still  with  us,  and  to  them  I  would 
say,  yours  was  a  noble  beginning.  But  since  that 
time  many  were  the  trials  through  which  this  as- 
sociation has  passed.  It  was,  at  times,  only  since  I 
am  a  member,  a  question  whether  we  could  keep  in 
existence  an  organization  of  this  kind  or  not ;  and  I 
will  here  say,  that  the  men  who  organized  it  always 
"  stood  by  the  Hag." 

The  past  year  has  been  one  of  more  than  ordinary 
interest  to  this  society,  as  well  as  to  all  farmers  in 
this  wide  county,  from  the  fact  that  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Agricultural  Society  has  held  its  annual  ex- 
hibition at  Lancaster.  It  was  natural  that  this  so- 
ciety should  give  it  all  the  encouragement  it  could  ; 
this  was  done  by  the  adoption  of  resolutions  of  wel- 
come, and  the  appointment  of  a  county  committee  to 
encourage  the  farmers  to  become  exhibitors,  and 
take  an  in'erest  in  a  matter  in  which  they  had  not 
had  the  pleasure  to  participate  since  the  year  18.53. 
The  society,  as  well  as  the  farmers  in  gen-ral,  re- 
sponded. The  State  Fair  was  a  grand  success.  On 
the  whole,  it  might  have  been  better  in  some  depart- 
ments, but  I  learned  from  the  oflicers  of  the  State 
Society  that  they  were  well  pleased,  and  that  it  would 
likely  be  held  here  during  the  Centennial  year. 

I  call  your  attention  to  this  matter,  that  in  case  it 
be  held  here,  measures  may  be  taken  to  have  Lan- 
caster county  the  in  front.  Tlie  experience  of  last 
year's  fair  has  proved  to  many  of  us  that  the  county 
has  the  material  to  make  a  good  fair.  It  only  wants 
stirring  up,  and  by  so  doing  we  can  assure  the  State 
Society  a  better  fair  next  year.  The  people  are 
aroused  now,  and  we  hope  we  may  have  another 
chance  to  show  our  resources,  and  bring  to  perfec- 
tion what  we  commenced  last  summer. 

I  have  upon  many  occasions  indicated  the  impor- 
tance of  having  a  more  complete  organization  of 
the  farmers  in  the  form  of  agricultural  and  horticul- 
tural societies — the  many  advantages  and  good  re- 
sults that  might  be  brought  to  all  by  consulting  each 
other  upon  such  matters  as  we  farmers  and  fruit 
growers  find  ourselves  daily  engaged,  and  in  which 
we  often  find  ourselves  puzzled  for  want  of  know- 
ledge. Who  in  all  this  broad  land  has  more  need  of 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession  than  the 
farmer?  The  mechanic  must  study  his  material  and 
each  piece  before  he  can  put  together  his  machinery  ; 
the  doctor  must  first  study  his  patient  before  he  ad- 
ministers his  medicine ;  the  miller  must  know  how 
to  regulate  his  grinders,  and  study  the  ups  and 
downs  of  the  markets ;  the  lawyer  books  himself 
upon  all  points  of  law  ;  and  all  other  professions  and 
callings  have  their  organized  societies  for  the  en- 
couragement and  discussion  of  matters  pertaining  to 
their  respective  callings ;  and  all  for  the  general 
good.  But  when  you  come  down  to  the  fanner, 
where  is  he?  Some  one  might  say,  at  home,  at  his 
work.  Too  much  so.  It  is  right  and  proper  to  be  at 
home  and  at  work,  but  let  us  for  a  moment  reflect 
how  small  a  number  of  farmers  of  this  world-wide 
known  county  of  Lancaster  come  here  and  partici- 
pate in  the  discussion  of  questions  tliat  come  right 
home  to  every  farmer  and  fruit  grower  in  the  county. 
Instead  of  twenty-five  to  thirty  regular  attentive 
members  in  the  county  coming  together  every  month 
and  discussing  views  and  opinions  in  regard  to  agri- 
cultural matters,  we  should  have  an  agricultural  an  1 
horticultural  society  in  this  couuty  of  at  least  a  thou- 
sand members,  that  would  have  a  hall  of  their  own 
as  large  as  the  main  room  in  our  Court  House. 

It  appears  to  me  it  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
moving  spirit  of  the  Centennial  year,  that  1  stanl  be- 
fore you  to-day  and  present  the  facts  as  I  do  in  re- 
gard to  our  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society 
Tn  this  county,  but  I  am  simply  telling  the  truth. 
The  question  presents  itself  to  me— how  can  we  get 
our  farmers  interested  and  bring  them  together  ?  It 
would  Ije  my  desire  to  do  so  by  having  a  society  in 
each  township,  where  they  could  come  together  once 
a  month  and  talk  agricultural  and  horticultural  mat- 
ters over,  and  call  these  together  once  a  year,  and 
remain  in  session,  say  for  a  week,  as  a  county  so- 
ciety. Invite  all  to  come,  brin  J  sons  and  daughters 
and" wives;  get  all  interested  in  the  agricultural  im- 
provements of  the  day  for  the  general  good  of  all 
classes  and  all  people.  Some  say,  "  be' mging  to  an 
agricultural  society  don't  pay."  If  you  ask  them  to 
subscribe  for  a  good  agricultural  paper,  such  as  The 
Lancaster  Farmer,  which  should  be  in  the  hands 
of  every  farmer  in  the  county  it  represents,  they  will 
tell  yoii  in  plain  Dutch  they  know  all  about  farming. 
This  may  be  in  some  cases  true,  but  you  can  best 
judge  by  the  way  they  manage  their  farms.  Scrip- 
ture says  we  shall  not  judge,  or  we  will  be  judged  ; 
we  will' then  only  take  things  as  they  look,  and  form 
our  own  opinions. 

And  what  do  we  see  in  a  majority  of  cases  ?  There 
are  exceptions  to  all  rules  ;  but  I  say,  in  a  majority 
of  cases  we  see  the  farmer  who  reads  no  paper,   but 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


d3 


tliinks  lie  is  made  to  worl;  fnun   nidniiiiff  till  iii^'lit, 
with  nolliine  to  imimive  tlie   iiiiiKl  fur  tlie  teiniKirul 
as  well  as  the  sjiiritiial  welfare  of  the  sotil  ami  loily, 
sueeeeiliiifr  nowhere  in  this  enlif;ht<  ned  age.    Fastinj; 
his  farm,  you  will  at  once  notiee  in  every  field  some 
imi'lement  left  in  the  nuid,  jii.-!  w  1  ere   he   was  done 
using  it,  exposed  to  all  the   ehanf;es  of  \v<-ather  from 
one  season  to  another  ;  fences  blown  down,  euttle  al- 
lowed to  run  at    large  in  fields   of  waving  grain  ;  in 
faet,  everything  out  of  jilaee.  and  no  |ilaie  for  any- 
thing, instead  of  having  system  and  orderall  arounil, 
a  |ilaee  for  everything,  and   everything  in  its   plaee. 
1  do  not  wish  t(i  dielale  to  the  farmers  of  Lancaster 
co\inty,  hut    merely  throw    out  these  hints   lor   ex- 
ample. I  haveeiioul'li  tolaUeeare  of  at  heme  to  have 
things  in  order  and  syslim  in  all  the   departments  of 
my  farm,  and   I  eoidiss  that,    much   as   I    read  and 
much  as  I  try  to  have  things  represent   the  appear- 
ance of  a  model  farm,  I  have   plenty   to  do  without 
minding   other    fainicrs'  husiniss.     Hut    if  I  am    to 
hold  the  position    iiniong  the  agricullnral   luiiple  of 
this  county,  I  want  fric  scope  to  expnfs  myself,  an<l 
point  out  to  our    laimcrs  the  miserable  condition  iu 
which  we  find  entirely  too  many  larnis  in  this  intelli- 
gent   county   of   Laniasler.     1  v\ouId  here  say  to  the 
members   oi' this  society,  that  the   very  best   way  to 
show  the  people  that  we  mean  business,  is  to  have  our 
faims  in  first-class  trim;  I'verything  in  order — sys- 
tem; treat    our   fellow-nien,  our  helping  hands,  so 
that  they  know  we  love  Hum  ;  thai  we  have  as  much 
ret^ard  for  their  morals  an<l  their   pertonal  heallh  as 
we  have   for  <  ur  own.     Let   us  he   timijcrate   in  all 
thiiiL'^s,  kind  towards  all,  poor  or  rich,  ncighlor  or 
friend.     Itisthiii,   and  only  then,- that   pcojile  will 
perceive  that  the  Iruits  of  our  society  can  be  seen, 
and  that  we  mean  to  show  our   faith   by  our  works. 
On  the  other  hand,  what  more  do  we  gain  by  belong- 
ing to  an  agricultural  society,  and  what    do  we  gain 
by  having  these  1  roks  and  papers  ?    Why,  in  the  fir.st 
place,  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  coming  in  commu- 
nication with  our    friends  all  over   the  county,  and 
have  a  day  of  rest  for  the  lody,  and   devoting  that 
dav  to  the  iniprovcnunt  id'  the  mind  :    conse<|uently, 
we' know  better  h.ow  to  manage  o\ir  works  ;  and  there 
is  a  saying  with  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  it,  that  pood 
manasiemcnt  is  doinir  half  the  work.     But  those  men 
will  tell  you  they  get  the  proceedings  in  the   papers, 
and  know  what  we  have  been  doing,  and  that  they 
save  expenses  of  lime  and  money  by   not    attending 
meetiufis — showing  that  they  are  still  interested  in 
reading  the  proceedings  of  this  society,  which  is  all 
richt  and  proper.     But  it  shows  that  they  want  us  to 
sp'end  time  and  money,  and  when   anything  new  pire- 
scuts  itself,  or  we  make  a  new   discovery  iu  grain  or 
whatever  it  be,  they  have  their  head  open  to  cateh  up 
anything  by  whichthey  can  make  an  almighty  dol- 
lar.    Fortius  reason  we  would  like  more  farmers  to 
join    in   with   us    and    make   the   improvement   still 
greater.     On    the    other    hand,    the    advantages   of 
reading  hooks  and  papers  are  equally  f.ood.     I  would 
here  impress,  in  the  strongest  terms,  the  importance 
of  reading,  for  our   young  and  rising  farmers.     Let 
me  tell  you  that   every  dollar  spent   for  looks  and 
papers  will  pay  tcn-(old  in  the  future  ;    such  practice 
has  a  wonderlul  tendency   to  improve  the   moral  as 
well  as  intellectual  faculties  of  the  young  num.    For 
instance,  the  young  man  who  njakes  reading  a  study 
will  naturally  be  at  home  in  the  evenings— ji(k(  iiJure 
he   oiiijlit   to  he.      Every    farmer,  and  everybody  else 
should  be  at  home  with  his  family.      We  all  have  an 
example  of  many  a  young  man  who,  instead  of  find- 
ins  pleasure  at  home  in  reading,  has  made  the  near- 
est town,  in  the  saloon  or  hotel,  his  [place  for  spend- 
ing his  most  precious  time,  and  the  gamesthere prac- 
ticed have  led  many  a  fine  young  man  on  the  road 
that  leads  from  misery  to  destruction  of  both  soul 
and  body,  whiih  were  calculated  by  the  Creator  for 
the  improvement  of  mankind. 

Allow  me  to-day,  through  my  annual  address,  to 
again  caution  my  agricultural  friends  throughout  the 
county,  young  and  old,  airainst  the  terrible  risk  they 
are  running,  by  spending  their  time,  that  should  be 
devoted  to  the  imiirovemc  nt  of  minil  and  body,  in  the 
dangerous  ways  that  lead  to  the  deslrudion  of  the 
morals  of  any  human  being,  (ienthnien,  please  bear 
with  me  ifldeviate  from  thelext  that  perhaps  should 
he  kept  in  view  for  an  address  to  an  agricultural 
society.  I  merely  jioint  out  some  (d'  the  dangers  to 
which"  the  young  and  old  engaged  in  agriiulture  sub- 
ject themselves,  which,  in  my  ojiinion,  can  all  be 
avoided  by  simjily  supplying  reading  and  thinking 
matter  to  the  mind. 

Now.  eomini;  back  to  our  society,  we  all  know  we 
have  not  made  the  progress  that  we  should  have  made 
since  we  are  in  existence.  On  the  other  hand,  we 
have  done  more  than  our  predecessors,  as  we  have 
kept  alive,  holding  regular  meetings  (or  the  last  ten 
years  ;  and  stand  to'day  upon  better  ground  than 
■we  have  since  1  became  a  member.  We  have  had  a 
little  trouble  in  regard  to  a  room  in  which  to  hold  our 
meetings;  but  by  consulting  our  new  County  Com- 
missioners, who  have  this  day  taken  their  seats,  I  have 
.no  doubt  that  we  can  have  the  old  room,  if  the  one 
we  now  occupy  does  not  suit.  I  merely  suggest  this. 
[  The  society  must  he  its  own  judge  in  this  nuitter.  1 
-Bould  only  add,  judge  w  ell  before  you  act,  and  secure 
some  permanent  place  for  our  meetings. 

Have  we  not  been  a  little  to  blame  for  not  making 
the  progress  we  should  have  made  ?    If  we  would  ad- 


vertise more  and  invite  the  people  more  generally,  we 
ctmlil  perhaps  secure  a  better  attendance.  I  know 
not  the  condition  of  our  treasury,  but  it  appears  to 
nie  it  would  allow  a  little  expense  in  this  direction. 
Another  matter  I  would  sugcest— that  our  Secretary 
should  keep  an  a(  conn!  hereafter  with  the  nienihers 
in  regard  to  the  amnuil  fees.  We  are  all  honest 
enoUL'h  to  pay  up,  yet  an  account  would  alwaya  show 
who  has  paid  and  w  lu'U. 

The  year  we  have  just  entered  upon,  as  I  said  In 
the  beginning  of  my  addrcst.,  w  ill  In-  one  of  great  im- 
portance as  the  I  iiilcnnial  of  our  hiilcpendence.  Si'- 
eured  by  our  fathers  one  hundred  years  ago,  it  will 
be  celebrated  by  an  luternalional  F.xhibiliou  at  I'hil- 
a<leliihia,  to  wliich  I  now  invite  your  attention.  II  is 
proper  that  this  Kuiety  sliouhl  take  i>arl  in  the  exhi- 
bition, and  to  do  so  it  "becomes  your  duly  to  a|ipoiut  a 
Centennial  Committee  to  arrange  upon  what  plan,  and 
in  what  form,  you  shall  be  represented  at  the  exhl- 
bil'on.  I  will  leave  this  nuitter  to  your  lonsideralion, 
hopiiu;'  some  action  will  be  taken  at  Ihcni'Xl  meeting. 
1  have  been  appoiuled  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture  at  \Vashim;lon,  to  make  up  a  collection 
of  grains  <rom  this  ilislrict  to  be  exhibited  in  the 
museum  of  the  .\gricnllural  Department  at  the  Ceii- 
Icnnial  KxhibiliciU.  1  will  make  the  collccliou  and 
deliver  it  to  Washington  within  the  next  sixty  days, 
and  any  meinber  or  farmer  in  the  county  who  has 
anything  to  exhibit  will  ]ilease  hand  it  to  me,  and  he 
will  rei'civc  all  the  credit  and  honor  for  the  same. 
The  cxhibilion  is  a  mailer  w  hich  every  American  citi- 
zen friiin  ocean  to  ocean  should  led  proud  of,  and 
give  a  hcljiing  hand  in  some  way  or  other  to  make  it 
a  triumiihant  success.  I,  for  one,  will  do  my  whole 
duty,  ill  any  position  I  may  be  iilaced  in.  The  build- 
ings in  progress  (d'  conslruclion  at  Fairmounl  I'ark 
are  very  extensive,  and  I  hope  that  the  pco[ile  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  this  county  in  particular,  will  oc- 
cupy some  space  in  them.  1  would  like  to  have  this 
society  in  some  form  represented.  It  is,  however,  for 
you  to  sav  how. 

I  will  now  call  your  attention  to  a  matter  in  which 
you  are  to  take  some  action.  I  refer  to  the  resolu- 
tions 1  jircscntcd  to-day.  The  farmers  and  fruitgrow- 
ers in  particular  have  suffered  extensively  from  in- 
sects of  late  years.  The  ravages  of  these  insects  is 
greatly  owing  to  the  fact  that  sportsmen  are  in  the 
habit  of  shooting  partridges  and  other  birds  that  feed 
upon  these  insects,  which  have  become  so  numerous 
as  to  injure  and  sometimes  totally  destroy  fruit  and 
other  crops.  The  fanners  have,  time  and  again, 
warned  the  men  that  Ircspass  over  their  land  with 
hounds  and  guns,  and  the  only  reply  they  generally 
get,  was  an  iusultiug  remark  from  the  scoundrels, 
who  should  be  jiunished  by  law  for  the  cruel  act  of 
shooting  by  wholesale  the  harmless,  nay,  lieneficial 
birds,  bothto  the  fruit-grower  and  farmer.  Believing 
that  this  society  has  the  influence  among  our  ineni- 
bers  at  Ilarrisburg  to  secure  the  passaire  of  a  proper 
game  law  lor  Lancaster  county,  I  |ircseiit  this  mailer 
to  your  consideration,  hoiiing  we,  as  the  reiirescnta- 
tivcs  of  the  aL'ricultural  and  horticultural  intercstsof 
this  I  (Hint y,  will  take  such  action  as  will  put  a  stop 
to  the  mailer  conipUiincd  of. 

Ferbaps  I  have  now  occupied  too  much  of  your 
time,  and  will  soon  (ome  to  a  close.  I  have  now  been 
two  years  your  chairman,  and  conducted  your  meet- 
ings to  the  best  of  my  kiiowlcd:;e  and  ability.  1  have 
done  all  in  mv  power  to  encourage  the  farmers  to 
join  with  us,  t"hat  this  society  may  be  an  honor  to  Lan- 
caster county  ;  and  not  only  that,  but  that  the  im-ni- 
bers  and  farmers  and  fruit-growers  might  be  bene- 
fited, and  the  cause  of  aL'ricullure  and  horliculturebe 
jircssed  forward  to  a  point  at  which  it  may  overlook 
all  other  industries  with  pride. 

This  is  the  piosition  that  farmers  should  have.  His- 
tory gives  evidence  that  the  farmers  have  made  our 
best  presidents,  and  we  should  have  more  farmers 
upon  the  floors  of  Congress  and  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, from  the  faet  that  agricullure  is  the  greatest  of 
all  enterprises  of  this  State  and  country.  Let  usliave 
more  representation  from  the  farm  and  field,  and 
economy  anil  relrenclmicnt  will  mark  conspicuously 
the  records  of  both  State  and  National  ICL'islation. 
These  are  my  principles,  and  I  will  follow  them  out 
in  whatever  "position  mv  friends  may  see  proper  to 
place  me.  Mav  we  all  work  hand  in  hand  for  the  ad- 
vancement of"  this  society.  With  the  heli.of  Cod, 
may  the  Centennial  year  be  one  of  health,  joy  and 
happiness  to  us  all. 

Ol'll    PAST    ANn    Ft'TtHE    rROfPERITY. 

Peteh  S.  Heist  read  the  following  essay  : 
Mr.  Phesident— It  affords  me  great  pleasure  in 
being  able  to  KU'iraliilate  you,  and  the  members  of 
this  society,  on  the  approaching  National  Centennial ; 
that  it  has  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  permit  us  to 
enter  the  one  huudrcdlh  vear  of  our  re|iublic.  We 
cannot  be  too  thankful  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  the 
giver  of  every  good  and  precious  gift,  for  the  privi- 
lege of  enjoyi'ng  such  a  government  as  ours. 

Weareiiereat  this  periodofour  National  progress, 
not  by  our  own  choice,  nor  by  our  own  superior  efl'orls 
or  good  management,  but  by  circunistaiices  controlled 
by  an  over-ruling  jirovidence.  We  are  enjoying  piiv- 
ifeges  handed  down  to  us  by  our  forefathers,  who 
settled  this  country  many  years  ago, under  numerous 
privations  and  ha"rilsliips,'liaving  tied  Ircpm  the  op- 
pressions and   persecutions  of  their   fatherlands,  to 


seek  a  land  of  freedom  here.  I'lider  the  control  of  a 
foreign  goveriinieiit,  they  endured  foreign  dictation 
until  the  4tli  of  July,  1771),  then  they  declared  Ihera- 
selves  free  and  Independent— that  indepcnilencc  nhieh 
we  now  happily  enjoy,  and  the  Cenlriiiiial  anniver- 
sary of  w  hich  we  are  now  preparing  to  celebrate. 

(ircal  are  the  changes  and  many  are  the  Improve- 
menls  inhuman  econoiiiies  since  the  year  177(i.  Then 
we  had  no  railroads,  canals,  reapers,  steam'  eni^iues, 
threshinu'  machines,  and  but  few  manufactorlcHof  any 
kinil.  We  could  not  count  three  hundred  carrlaucs 
atone  funeral,  nor  live  thousand — or  even  live  hun- 
dred persons  in  atteiidunee  at  one  canip-nieellng. 
Neither  did  we  have  so  many  nourishing  towns  ami 
cities  as  now,  nor  so  many  beautiful  churches  witli 
steeples  and  towers  |>olntiiig  up,  heavenwanl.  Our 
school  system  u  as  in  its  infancy,  if  it  hud  an  cxislrneo 
at  all,  and  our  literary  status  was  slill  In  Its  endiryo 
slate.  The  arts  ami  sciences  were  only  know  ii  to  a 
favored  few.  Our  I'uxmi  consisteil  of  only  thirteen 
Stales  with  a  |io|inlatlon  of  three  millions.  Our  com- 
merce was  very  small,  our  curreniy  ami  finances  in  a 
state  of  confusion,  and  our  territories  still  Inhubilcd 
by  Ihe  "painted  children  of  nature." 

Now  wi'  have  railroads,  canals,  steam  engines,  ami 
thousands  of  other  lmi>rovemenls,  with  Ihlrly-seven 
States  ami  Territories,  a  iMipulalion  of  forty  millions, 
and  fmmeiise  product  Ion  of  cereals,  minerals  and  fal>- 
rics,and  a  commerce  equal  tot  hat  id"  any  other  nation. 
But  now  ciuiies  a  treat  problem  in  this  our  Centen- 
nial year— our  long  antlcipatect  jubilee.  Nolwlth- 
standini;  we  arc  loaded  with  a  heavy  weight  of  debt, 
and  arc  pi-rhaps  encumbered  with  some  other  draw- 
backs to  our  iiros|)erlty,  wlia'  is  our  appreciation  of 
the  benefits  we  d(  rive  from  the  many  improvements 
we  are  enjoying,  and  of  the  i>rivlleges  incideiilal  to  an 
advanceil  stale  of  intellectual  culture?  If  we  appre- 
ciate these  things  as  weought,  what  will  become  our 
duty  to  our  posterity?  Is  there  room  for  anymore 
improvements?  Can  we  expect  as  inaiiy  Inventions 
in  Ihe  next  one  hundred  years  as  in  the  one  just  clos- 
ing ?  To  these  (lueries,  so  fjir  as  they  Hill  admit  of  It, 
1  feel  coin|>elled  to  give  a  negative  response  ;  because 
our  forests,  placed  here  by  a  far-seeing  Pnivldence, 
have  been  swept  away  most  unmercifully,  and  are  on 
the  road  of  deslrucliou  so  rapidly,  that  in  the  near 
future  our  posterity  will  not  have  much  left  to  thank 
us  for — nothing  to  build  up  as  line  and  costly  cdlfleeg 
as  those  of  the  past. 

In  a  few  years  our  fine  prairies,  now  nnooeupied, 
will  be  scltleil  ujioii,  so  that  our  posterity  will  not 
have  the  benefit  of  the  irrisration  that  their  predeces- 
sors have'  had, and  will  havetofall  back  upon  our  old 
exhausted  lands  that  have  been  long  abandoned, 
which  will  bring  in  a  new  era.  The  deslnietlon  of 
our  forests  is  a  matter  which  we  oueht  not  to  |)as8 
over  too  lightly.  Scripture  tells  of  a  people  who 
will  reap  where  they  did  not  sow.  So  we  might  say 
with  recard  to  our  forests  :  we  reap,  but  do  not  sow. 
If  any  one  |iers(m  is  more  to  blame  than  another  on 
this  subject, it  is  the  slatesman,  who  worked  more  for 
himself— for  power  and  iiolilical  interest- than  forthe 
people,  showing  that  much  of  political  economy  has 
been  lost.  Agriculture  and  husbandry,  to  raise  the 
difTcrent  products  of  our  broad  acres,  are  the  foun- 
tains ami  foundations  of  national  prosperity,  (iood, 
wholesome  laws,  carried  out  by  the  |KOide,  makea 
nation  prosperous.  .Suflice  it,  ilien,  to  say,  that  the 
more  a  people  are  united  and  educated  on  a  common 
platform,  the  more  prosperous  they  will  he.  The 
profligate  must  become  more  economical,  and  the 
avaricious  more  liberal.  Indeed,  It  ndglit  be  success- 
fully demonstrated  that,  in  many  instances,  Ihe  miser 
is  a  greater  hindrance  to  t  he  progress  of  anycommunity 
or  coiintrv  than  a  spendthrift . 

The  masses  of  the  people  must  be  taught  to  select 
such  statesmen  and  such  officers,  from  the  President 
down  to  county  and  township  otticers,  as  will  work 
for  the  interests  of  Ihe  people,  and  not  merely  for 
themselves  or  for  monoiiolics  and  political  •'cliques:" 
for  men  w  ho  will  act  as  men,  in  every  sense  of  the. 
word.  Let  this  society  become  a  shining  example  lo 
societies  in  general.  Let  us  work  not  only  for  the 
benefit  of  ourselves,  hut  alsi>  for  our  fellow  beings,  and 
for  our  poslejily.  Let  us  aim  lo  improve  our  seed, 
our  modes  of  culture,  and  our  prcnluets  of  every  de- 
scription. Let  us  emieavor  to  Increase  our  average 
as  well  as  our  acrcaee,  so  as  to  raise  such  surplus  as 
will  create  a  balance  of  traile  in  our  favor. lo  pay  the 
interest  we  larcely  owe  lo  foreign  coiintriT-s.  In  ad- 
dition lo  all  Ibis, "and  as  intimately  associated  with 
it,  let  ns  expand  ami  elevate  our  minds  by  Ihe  eulll- 
valion  of  our  intellectual  faenllles.  Let  us  enlenil  a 
generous  support  to  the  agricultural  lileralure  of  our 
country.  There  fs  no  more  reason  that  farmers,  as  a 
class,  should  be  illiterate,  than  I  here  is  for  any  olher 
class  of  people  being  so.  Indeed,  farmers  from  their 
seclnded  coialllion,  and  their  freedom  fnini  night  oc- 
cupations, have  opportunities  of  mental  culture  far 
superior  lo  those  of  most  mcehanlcs. 

By  doing  our  duly  to  (ioil,  to  our  iielchbors,  to  our 
families,  and  lo  ou"rselves,  and  e.pniinuing  lo  do  as 
our  forid'alhcrs  did,  adding  and  Incorporating  Into 
our  labors  the  Improvements  which  time  has  devel- 
oped, we  shall  be  destined  to  U-come  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  powerful  nations  U|ion  the  face  of 
this  earih  :  and,  altliouirh  we  cannot  ex|M-ct  to  see  It, 
our  second  Ceiiteiuiial  may  find  our  country- 
"Kcdccmed,  regenerated  and  disenthralled." 


14 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January, 


MISCELLANEOUS    BUSINESS. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  both  gentlemen  for 
their  productions. 

A  pear  brancli  covered  with  a  scale  inseet,  was  ex- 
hibited by  ^fr.  Erb.  Prof.  Rathvon  reeommended 
oil  as  an  application  late  iu  .March  to  destroy  the  eggs. 
The  common  name  of  the  insect  is  oyster-shell  bark 
louse,  Aapifliofin  conchiforniu. 

Mr.  Cooper  called  attentionof  the  members  to  the 
meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society, 
at  Doylestown,  on  tlie  nineteenth  of  January.  If 
fifty  members  go  from  this  section,  the  Pennsylvania 
road  will  furnish  excursion  tickets.  On  motion,  a 
committee  of  three,  consisting  of  Johnson  Miller, 
J.  H.  Brackbill  and  Levi  S.  Reist,  was  appointed  to 
represent  this  society  at  the  Doyestown  meeting. 

Mr.  John  B.Erb  exhibited  Pennock  apples,  a  bot- 
tle of  Blackberry  wine  and  sweet  apples.  J.  H. 
Byerly,  East  Lampeter,  forwarded  a  small  bag  of 
Russian  grass  seed.  Mr.  M.  B.  Eshleman  exhibited 
specimens  of  a  large  potato,  Brownell's  Beauty. 

On  motion,  a  committee  of  ten  was  appointed  to  as- 
sist Mr.  Miller  in  his  contributions  to  the  Ai;ricultural 
Bureau.  M.  B.  Eshleman,!.  L.  Landis,  J.  H.  Brack- 
bill,  P.  8.  Keist,  H.  .M.  Engle,  E.  Hoover,  J.  M.  Steh- 
man,  M.  B.  Kendig,  Levi  W.  Grotf  and  J.  B.  Erb 
were  named  as  the  committee. 

On  motion,  Mr.  Cooper  was  made  a  committee  to 
confer  with  the  Fruit  Growers'  Society  In  regard  to  a 
representation  at  the  Centennial. 

Several  questions  w(Te  submitted  for  discussion  : 

Mr.  Erb.  Is  it  profitable  to  turn  land  worth  more 
than  $100  an  acre  into  forest  ? 

Mr.  Ebv.  Should  the  planting  of  forest  trees  be 
encouraged  ? 

Mr.  Peter  S.  Reist.  Is  swine  flesh  a  proper  food 
for  man  ? 

Mr.  Kendig.  How  can  the  comfort  of  our  homes 
be  increased  ? 

]SIr.  Pownall,  of  Octoraro  Agricultural  Society, 
was  introduced. 

On  motion,  society  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  Athen- 
seura,  at  1  o'clock,  on  Monday,  the  7th  of  February. 


THE  GRANGERS  IN  LANCASTER. 


History  and  Objects  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of 
Husbandry. 

Perhaps  a  more  intelligent  and  solid  body  of  far- 
mers never  before  convened  in  Lancaster  city  or 
county  than  that  which  represented  the  State 
Granoe,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  held  its  sessions  in 
our  Court  House,  commencing  on  Tuesday,  the  14th 
of  December  last,  and  continuing  to  the  end  of  the 
week.  Although  not  morbidly  secret  iu  its  organiza- 
tion and  the  attainments  of  its  objects,  yet  in  its  busi- 
ness meetings  its  doors  are  closed  against  the  intru- 
sions of  the  public,  but  the  principles  and  the  essential 
transactions  of  the  order  are  usually  published  in 
their  organs,  and  the  newspaper  and  periodical  press 
in  general.  The  noit-essen.tiah — that  is,  non-essential 
to  the  public  good — they  usually  keep  among  them- 
selves, for  the  very  good  reason  that  they  do  not  con- 
cern the  public,  and  are  purely  family  secrets.  As 
our  space  is  limited, and  most  of  the  transactions  of  the 
late  meeting  have  already  been  published  in  the  col- 
umns of  the  local  press,  we  deem  it  sufflcient  on  the 
present  occasion  to  append  the  following  synopsis  of 
the  rise,  progress,  and  the  present  status  of  the  Pa- 
trons of  Husbandry,  as  well  as  the  principles  of  their 
affiliation. 

The  origin  of  this  order  is  attributed  to  Mr.  O.  H. 
Kelley,  a  native  of  Boston,  who,  in  1866,  being  then 
connected  with  the  department  of  agriculture  in 
Washington,  was  commissioned  by  President  Johnson 
to  traveT  through  the  Southern  States  and  report  uix)u 
their  agricultural  and  mineral  resources.  He  found 
agriculture  in  a  state  of  great  depression,  consequent 
upon  the  radical  changes  wrought  by  the  civil  war 
and  the  abolition  of  slavery.  At  the  same  time  there 
was  much  dissatisfaction  among  the  farmers  of  the 
AVest  and  Northwest  in  consequence  of  the  alleged 
high  charges  and  unjust  discriminations  made  by  rail- 
roads in  tlie  transportation  of  their  products.  The 
farmers  also  complained  of  the  exorbitant  prices  ex- 
acted by  middle  men  for  agricultural  implements  and 
stores.  Mr.  Kelley  conceived  the  idea  tliat  a  system 
of  co-operation,  or  an  association  having  some  re- 
semblance to  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows  or  Masons, 
might  be  formed  with  advantage  among  the  dissatis- 
fied agriculturists.  For  this  purpose  a  plan  of  or- 
ganization was  determined  ujjon  by  him  and  Mr. 
William  Saunders,  of  the  department  of  agriculture. 
The  name  chosen  for  the  orderwas  "  Patronsof  Hus- 
bandry," and  its  branches  were  to  be  called  granges 
(^Fr.  grange,  a.  biiru).  The  constitution  of  the  order 
provides  for  a  national  grange,  and  State  and  subor- 
dinate granges.  There  are  ceremonies  of  initiation, 
rituals  and  injunctions  of  secresy,  though  in  some  re- 
spects the  order  is  not  secret.  Theoliicersof  agrange, 
whether  national,  State  or  subordinate,  are  elected 
by  the  members,  and  comprise  a  master,  overseer, 
lecturer,  steward,  assistant  steward,  chaplain,  trea- 
surer, secretary,  gate-keeper,  Ceres,  Pomona,  Flora 
and  lady  assistant  steward.  Women  are  admitted  to 
membership  upon  the  same  terms  and   with  equal 


privileges  as  men,  but  only  those  persons  interested 
in  asfricultural  pursuits  are  eligible.  Regular  meet- 
ings of  the  National  and  State  Granges  are  held  an- 
nually, while  subordinate  granges  usually  meet 
monthly  or  oftener.  The  constitution  was  adopted, 
and  on  December  4rth,  1867,  the  National  (rrangewas 
or2;anizeil  in  Washington  ;  its  headquarters  are  now 
in  (icnra-etown,  D.  C.  In  the  spring  of  18()8  Mr.  Kel- 
ley founded  a  grange  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  one  in  Fre- 
donia,  N.  Y.,  one  in  Columbus,  O.,  one  in  Chicago, 
III.,  and  six  in  Minnesota.  The  number  of  granges 
soon  began  to  multiply  rapidly,  and  in  1874  they  had 
been  organized  in  nearly  every  State  and  Territory  of 
the  Union.  In  1871,  Vio  granges  were  established;  in 
1872,  1,160;  in  1873,  8,667;  and  in  the  first  two  months 
of  187-4,  4,618.  At  the  beirinningof  1874  the  number 
of  granges  in  the  United  States  was  10,01.5,  with  a 
membership  of  750,12.5.  The  total  number  of  mem- 
bers in  April,  1874,  was  estimated  at  about  1,. 500, 000. 
The  order  has  its  greatest  strength  in  the  northwest- 
ern and  western  States,  and  is  well  represented  in  the 
South.  At  the  annual  meetingof  the  National  Grange 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  February,  1874,  a  declaration 
was  adopted  setting  forth  the  purposes  of  the  organi- 
zation as  follows  : 

"To  develop  a  better  and  higher  manhood  and 
womanhood  among  ourselves;  to  enhance  the  com- 
forts and  attractions  of  our  homes,  and  strengthen 
our  attachment  to  our  pursuits;  to  foster  mutual  un- 
derstanding and  eo-operation;  to  maintain  inviolate 
our  laws,  and  to  emulate  each  other  in  labor;  to  has- 
ten the  good  time  coming;  to  reduce  our  expenses, 
both  individual  and  corporate;  to  buy  less  and  pro- 
duce more,  in  order  to  make  our  farms  self-sustaining; 
to  diversify  our  crops,  and  crop  no  more  than  we  can 
cultivate;  to  condense  the  weight  of  our  exports,  sell- 
ing less  in  the  bushel,  and  more  on  hoof  and  in  fleece; 
to  systematize  our  work,  and  calculate  intelligently 
on  probabilities;  to  discountenance  the  credit  sys- 
tem, the  mortgage  system,  the  fashion  system, 
and  every  other  system  tending  to  prodigality  and 
bankruptcy.  We  propose  meeting  together,  talking 
together,  working  together,  buying  together,  selling 
together,  and,  in  general,  acting  together  for  our  mu- 
tual protection  and  advancement  as  occasion  may  re- 
quire. We  shall  avoid  litigation  as  much  as  possible 
by  arbitration  in  the  grange.  We  shall  earnestly  en- 
deavor to  suppress  personal,  local,  sectional,  and  na- 
tional prejudices,  all  unhealthy  rivalry,  all  selfish 
ambition.  Faithful  adherence  to  these  principles  will 
insure  our  mental,  moral,  social  and  material  ad- 
vancement." 

One  of  the  chief  aims  of  the  organization  is  to  bring 
producers  and  consumers,  farmers  and  manufactur- 
ers, into  direct  and  friendly  relations;  for  this  pur- 
pose co-operation  is  encouraged  among  farmers  in 
the  purchase  of  agricultural  implements- and  other 
necessaries  direct  from  the  manufacturer.  The  or- 
ganization therefore  is  maintained  for  social  and  eco- 
nomic purposes,  and  no  grange  can  assume  any  poli- 
tical or  sectarian  functions  without  violating  a  fun- 
damental principle  of  the  organization. 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 

New  Process  for  Preserving  Meat. 

Many  attempts  have  been  made  to  discover  a  pro- 
cess by  which  fresh  meat  can  be  so  preserved  as  to 
bear  transportation  or  storage  for  a  long  time  in  tro- 
pical countries  and  yet  retain  all  its  essential  quali- 
ties. These  attempts  have  rarely  been  successful,  but 
it  is  now  claimed  that  a  process  has  been  found  which 
will  keep  meat  sweet  and  sound  for  any  length  of 
time  under  any  conditions  of  climate.  Mr.  Gaullieur, 
a  merchant  at  No.  36  Cedar  street,  New  York,  inter- 
ested in  the  process,  gives  the  following  history  of  it: 
For  a  numoer  of  years  past  Prof.  F.  Saec,a  professor 
of  chemistry  at  Noufchatel,  Switzerland,  and  a  friend 
of  Humboldt  and  Liebig,  has  been  making  experi- 
ments concerning  the  preservation  of  meat.  Within 
a  year  his  experiments  have  reached  such  a  point  as 
practically  to  demonstrate  beyond  doubt  the  success 
ofhiseflbrts.  His  process  is  cheap  and  simple.  It 
consists  merely  in  treating  the  fresh  meats  with  the 
acetate  of  soda,  dissolved  in  water,  and  poured  over 
the  meat  like  ordinary  brine.  Treated  in  this  way 
the  meat  will  bear  any  infiuence  of  climate.  When  it 
is  desired  to  use  the  meat,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to 
soak  it  in  hot  water  lor  a  short  time,  when  the  ace- 
tate of  soda  will  leave  it. 

In  order  to  convince  the  practical  business  men  en- 
gaged in  the  provision  business  on  the  Produce  Ex- 
change of  the  value  of  the  process,  Messrs.  Gaullieur 
and  Sacc  submitted  it  to  a  test,  the  result  of  which  is 
told  in  the  following  certificate: 

Onthe:^dult.,  Prof.  F.  Sacc,  the  recent  inventor  of  a 
mode  by  which  meat  can  be  preserved  perfectly  fresh 
in  any  climate  for  an  indefinite  period,  together  with 
Messrs  V.  M.  Yber  and  H.  Gaullieur,  called  upon  us 
to  pack  for  them  two  barrels  of  beef.  We  have  much 
pleasure  iu  certifying  that  the  beef  was  brought  to 
our  store  fresh  from  the  Washington  market,  and 
after  having  been  subjected  to  this  peculiar  chemical 
process,  was  packed  by  us  the  same  day  and  allowed 
to  remain  close  by  a  stove  in  our  office  tor  two  weeks 
in  a  temperature  of  about  70°.  And  that  now  on 
examination  after  its  return  from  Havana,  whither  it 


had  been  shipped  by  us  per  steamer  Vera  Cruz,  we 
find  the  meat  perfectly  sound,  in  no  way  unpleasant 
or  disagreeable  to  the  taste  on  being  cooked ,  and  that 
it  has  preserved  all  the  freshness  of  its  color  and  ap- 
pearance that  it  presented  at  thetimeof  being  put  up. 
Mr.  Gaullieur  also  sent  a  barrel  of  the  meat  to  Key 
West,  Fla.,  where  a  sample  was  taken  by  the  agent 
of  Mallory's  steamship  line,  who  also  approved  the 
condition  of  what  he  ate.  The  barrel  was  returned  to 
Mr.  Gaullieur  who  now  has  it  on  exhibition.  Messrs. 
Mallory  &  Co.  have  made  arrangements  for  a  supply 
to  be  used  on  their  vessels  instead  of  the  salt  meat 
heretofore  given  to  the  crew.  The  process  costs  about 
one  cent  per  pound  of  meat. 


Fruit  and  Vegetables  by  Weight. 

Only  the  other  day  we  marketed  a  load  of  onions 
and  sold  them  by  measure.  We  have  a  standard 
bushel  basket  and  measured  twenty-five  bushels. 
Arriving  at  the  grocer's,  as  he  had  stepped  out  for  a 
few  moments,  leaving  a  little  girl  in  the  store,  we 
unloaded  our  onions  with  a  basket  that  stood  by  the 
door,  and  had  them  in  the  cellar  when  he  returned. 
They  measured  out  twenty-seven  bushels  and  a  half. 
The  grocer  looked  at  the  basket  and  then  inquired 
with  a  dissatisfied  air,  "  Have  you  given  good 
measure?"  "Yes,  as  much  as  the  basket  would 
hold."  The  money  was  paid  for  them,  but  we  saw 
that  his  bushel  basket  was  a  sale  basket  and  not  the 
one  he  used  in  buying. 

The  truth  is,  there  is  no  justice  in  our  measure- 
ments of  vegetables  and  fruits,  and  just  as  long  as 
measures  are  employed  there  will  he  injustice.  The 
baskets  sold  for  bushel  baskets  are  not  of  the  same 
capacity.  The  fruit  baskets  have  diminished  in  size 
from  a  bushel  down  to  a  peck,  and  scant  at  that. 
There  being  no  standard  in  the  matter,  each  producer 
suits  himself  as  to  size.  We  maintain  that  the  only 
satisfactory  way  of  handling  produce  is  to  bring  every- 
thing to  the  test  of  a  scales — potatoes  and  peaches  as 
well  as  corn  and  wheat.  Purchasers  have  in  their 
power  to  correct  the  prevalent  system,  and  while 
there  is  so  much  talk  about  specie  basis  let  us  also 
have  a  pound  basis. — Detroit  Free  Press. 


Keep  the  Feet  Warm. 

Many  of  the  colds  which  people  are  said  to  catch 
commence  at  the  feet.  To  keep  those  extremities 
warm,  therefore  is  no  effect  an  insurance  against  the 
almost  interminable  lists  of  disorders  which  spring 
out  of  a  "  slight  cold."  First,  never  be  tightly  shod. 
Boots  and  shoes  when  they  fit  closely  press  against 
the  foot  and  prevent  a  free  circulation  of  the  blood . 
When,  on  the  contrary,  they  do  not  embrace  the  foot 
too  tightly  the  blood  gets  fair  play,  and  the  places 
left  between  the  leather  and  the  stockings  with  a 
comfortable  supply  of  warm  air;  second  rule  is  never 
to  sit  in  damp  shoes.  It  is  often  imagined  that  unless 
they  are  positively  wet  it  is  not  necessary  to  change 
them  while  the  feet  are  at  rest.  This  is  fallacy;  for 
when  the  least  dampness  is  absorbed  into  the  sole  it 
is  attracted  nearer  to  the  foot  itself  by  its  own  heat, 
and  thus  perspiration  is  dangerously  cheeked.  Any 
person  may  prove  this  by  trying  the  experiment  of 
neglecting  this  rule,  and  his  feet  will  become  cold  and 
damp  after  a  few  moments,  .although,  taking  off  the 
shoes  and  warming  it,  it  will  appear  quite  dry. 


Keeping  Meals  Waiting  :  Little  things  often 
interfere  with  our  edmfort  very  much,  and  one  small 
annoyance  is  for  men  to  delay  coming  to  dinner  when 
called.  Sometimes  they  have  an  hour  or  more  of 
work  which  they  will  do  before  quitting,  and  then 
they  go  to  the  house  to  find  the  dinner  cold  and  the 
cook  discouraged.  Nothing  is  more  disheartening  to 
a  tired  woman  than  a  table  full  of  dirty  dishes  orna- 
menting the  table  an  hour  and  a  half  later  in  the 
day  than  usual.  Punctuality  is  a  virtue  that  men 
should  learn,  if  they  are  in  the  habit  of  being  uncer- 
tain about  coming  to  meals.  Any  woman  worthy  the 
name  housekeeper  will  be  regular  with  her  meals  if 
it  lies  within  her  to  have  them  so. 


A  NEW  industry  has  sprung  up  in  France  by 
which  common  chicken  feathers  are  utilized  and  con- 
verted into  a  valuable  product.  The  operation  is  to 
cut  the  plume  portion  of  the  feathers  from  the  stems 
l)y  means  of  ordinary  hand  scissors;  the  stems  placed 
in  a  common  bag,  which,  when  full,  is  closed  and 
subjected  to  a  thorough  kneading  with  the  hands. 
At  the  end  of  five  minutes  it  is  stated  that  the  feath- 
ers become  disaggregated  and  felted  together  forming 
a  down  perfectly  homogeneous  and  of  great  lightness. 
It  is  even  lighter  than  natural  elder  down,  and  sells 
in  Paris  for  about  two  dollars  per  pound.  It  is 
another  illustration  of  the  French  talent  for  utilizing 
everything. 

Red  Pepper  and  Vegetables. 

A  piece  of  red  pepper,  the  size  of  your  finger  nail, 
put  into  meat  or  vegetables  when  first  beginning  to 
cook,  will  aid  greatly  in  kiling  the  unpleasant  odor 
arising  therefrom.  Remember  this  for  boiling  cab- 
bage, green  beans,  onions,  chickens,  mutton,  etc. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


15 


Household  Recipes. 

DRiPPiN<i  Caki:. —  Mix  well  tiiiri'tluT  two  inniiiile 
of  flour,  a  (lint  of  wurin  milk  ami  a  taMcspooiiful  of 
yoasi  ;  lut  it  I'iso  about  half  an  hour,  then  add  half  a 
pound  of  brown  sutrar,  ii  (luartcr  of  a  pound  of  cur- 
rants and  a  (juartcr  of  a  pound  of  yo(td  fresh  bi'ff 
drippinir  ;  beat  the  wludo  well  for  nearly  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  and  bake  in  a  moderately  hot  oven. 

Ai'IM.K  Comu.EU. — Tare,  eore  and  sliee  twelve 
lari^e  tart  apples;  a<M  to  them  the  Jniee  of  two  leninns, 
prated  peel  (d' one,  aial  sweeten  to  taste  ;  stew  very 
slowly  for  two  hours,  and  then  turn  into  a  UKuild. 
When  eold,  servo  with  cream. 

Dklkiot'S  Koi.ls. —  Half  a  teacup  of  butter,  mix 
well  with  one  poutul  of  Hour,  half  teacup  of  yi-asl,  a 
little  salt  and  cnoui^h  milk  to  make  a  irood  dou^li. 
Let  it  set  in  a  warm  ]>laec  for  abo\it  two  hours  to  rise. 
Then  make  into  rolls  and  bake  in  an  oven. 

Ai'ri.F.  Johnny  Cakk. — Scald  one  (piart  of  fine  or 
medium  corn  meal  with  one  (|inirt  of  boilins;  water, 
and  add  one  jiint  of  sweet  apples,  pared,  cored  and 
choiiped.  Mix  evenly,  spread  one  inch  thick  on  a  tin, 
and  hake  forty  minuii  s  in  a  quick  oven,  or  until  the 
ajiiiles  arc  tender.     Serve  warm. 

(iHAiiAM  Soda  Bis(  iit.— One  quart  of  Graham 
flour,  one  teas])oonful  of  soda  dissolved  in  two-thirds 
of  a  teaeupful  ol  molasses;  mix  with  milk  and  water. 

Ji'Mni.KS. — One  and  one-fourth  pounds  of  flour, 
three-fourths  of  sugar,  three  esffis,  a  little  nutmcfr, 
three-lourtlis  of  a  pound  of  butter.  KuU  theui  iu 
sujrar. 

Haiu)  fiiNOEKHHEAii. — Four  pounds of  flour,  three 
of  sup;ar,  one  and  a  lialf  of  butter,  one-fourth  of  a 
pound  of  ginser,  ten  e^'gs,  one  teaspoonlul  of  salera- 
tus  ;  seeds  if  you  like. 

KioE  Jei.i.y. — Stir  one  pound  of  rice  flour  with  a 
half  pound  of  loaf  sugar  into  a  quart  of  boilina:  water; 
let  it  cook  slowly  for  twenty  miinitcs  and  put  into  a 
fonu  to  cool.  To  be  eaten  with  lieatcu  cream,  milk 
or  wine  sauce. 

Huiohton  BisctiT. — One  cup  of  butter,  two  of 
sugar,  two  egfrs,half  aeujiof  milk,oneteaspoonful  of 
eoila,  and  sutlicicnt  flour  to  roll  out  thick.  Sift 
granulated  sugar  over  the  top  before  baking,  to  give 
them  a  sparkle. 

C'lTUox  Cake. — Eight  eggs,  their  weight  in  flour, 
the  same  of  sugar,  the  weight  of  five  in  butter,  a 
little  mace  ;  chop  some  citron  fine  and  put  in  a  layer 
of  cake  and  a  layer  of  citron  alternately. 

Kte  and  Indian  Droi-  Cakes. — One  pint  o^ 
Indian  meal,  one-half  pint  of  rye  meal,  two  eggs,  two 
spoonfuls  of  molasses,  a  little  salt;  work  it  with 
cold  milk  so  as  to  drop  from  a  spuou  into  hot  fat ;  be 
6ure  to  have  a  smooth  batter. 

PooK  Man's  Cake. — One  cup  of  sugar,  one  cup  of 
milk,  one  tablespoonful  of  butter,  one  tcasiioonful 
of  dry  cream  of  tarter,  one-half  teaspoonlul  i>f  soda 
dissolved  in  milk,  one  egg,  a  little  cinnamon,  and 
flour  to  make  it  as  still'  as  pound  cake. 

REf'EiPT  KOKMAliiNO  INK. — The  Ncicniflic  Atnci'i- 
can  gives  the  following  receipt  for  the  nuinufacture 
of  writing  ink  :  Twelve  ounces  nutgalls,  eight  ounces 
each  sulphate  of  indigo  and  eojiperas,  a  lew  cloves, 
four  or  live  ounces  gum  arable,  for  a  gallon  of  ink. 
The  addition  of  the  sulphate  of  indigo  renders  the  ink 
more  iiermanent  and  less  liable  to  mould.  It  is  blue 
when  first  written  with,  but  soon  becomes  an  intense 
black. 

To  PuniFT  Damp  Closets. — For  damp  closets 
and  cupboards  whitdt  generate  mildew,  a  trayful  of 
quicklime  will  be  found  to  absorb  the  mtiisture  and 
render  the  air  pure;  but  ofeourseitis  necessary  to 
renew  the  lime  from  time  to  time  as  it  becomes 
fully  slaked.  This  last  remedy  will  be  found  useful 
in  safes  and  strong  rooms,  the  damp  air  of  which 
acts  frequently  most  injuriously  on  the  valuabledecds 
and  documents  which  they  contain. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


in  two  cuttings  from  fairly  good  land;  a  gentleman 
near  him  cut  from  thirteen  acres  enough  to  sidl  for 
?"i«  at  the  price  of  #lW(iLMI  per  Ion,  unbaleil,  in 
Maeon.  Later  inttx*  season  this  same  is  worth  $1..'>0. 
Dr.  Moody  of  lin-ene  counly,  (ia.,  rcpttrted  lo  the 
i^tate  .\gricullural  Snclcly  that  he  cut  Lt.^'-Hii  pounilft 
from  one  acre.  Dr.  I'avanel,  near  Cluirlcston,  by  the 
use  of  superphosphates,  produccil  eight  Ions  of  very 
superior  Mermuda  grass  hay  from  an  acre.  Mr. 
Lumsilen  says  it  (-an  be  <-ut  three  or  four  times  in  a 
season.  This  grass  is  propagated  irithe  .'<outh  bythe 
roots,  in  the  Hermuda  Islands  it  has  a  seed.  ItH 
botanical  name  is  Cynodon  dactylon,  and  it  is  paid  to 
be  the  sacred  grass  of  India.  The  Kev.  C.  W. 
Howard,  now  at  Rising  Farm,  Dade  county,  (Ja.,  in 
his  excellent  little  Jiamiibli't  on  '• 'I'he  lirasses  ni'  the 
South,"  gives  it  a  prominent  place,  and  cites  many 
instanecfi  of  its  value,  and  <'oncludcs  thtit  the  old 
fields  of  the  South  may  be  ri'stond  lo  their  original 
fertility  with  Brmuda  grass  ami  sheep. — J{.  A'.  C. 
Kini/Htvti,  Tcnii.,  in  X.  }'.  Trilmtu\ 


Educating  Horses. 

Horses  can  be  educated  to  the  extent  of  their  un- 
derstanding as  well  as  children,  and  can  be  as  easily 
damaged  or  ruined  by  bad  management.  \Vc  believe 
that  the  great  dilierence  fouial  in  horses  a.s  to 
vi<*ious  habits  or  reliability  comes  more  from  the 
different  management  of  men  than  from  variance  of 
natural  disposititm  inthe  animals.  Horses  with  high 
mettle  are  more  easily  educated  than  those  of  less  or 
dull  spirilN,  and  are  muri'  susceptible  to  ill  training, 
and  c(insc(piently  may  be  as  good  or  liad,  according 
to  the  eilueation  they  receive. 

Horses  with  dull  .spirits  are  not  by  any  means  proof 
against  bail  nutnagement,  for  in  them  may  often  be 
found  the  most  provoking"  obstinacy  ;  vicious  habits 
of  different  iharacters  that  render  them  almost  en- 
tirely worthless.  Could  the  coming  generation  of 
horses  in  this  country  be  kept  from  their  (lay.s  of 
eolt-hood  to  the  age  of  five  years  in  the  hands  of 
good,  careful  managers,  there  would  be  si'cn  a  vast 
dilierence  in  the  general  characters  of  the  noble 
animals. 

If  a  colt  is  never  allowed  to  (ret  an  advantage,  it 
will  never  know  that  it  possesses  a  power  that  man 
eamiot  eonlrol;  and  if  made  familiar  with  strange 
objects,  it  will  not  be  skittish  and  nervous.  If  a  horse 
is  made  accustomed  from  his  early  days  to  have  ob- 
jects hit  him  on  the  heels,  back  and  hips,  he  will  paj' 
no  attention  to  the  giving  out  of  harni'ss  or  of  a 
wagon  running  against  him  at  an  unexpected  momi-nt. 

We  once  saw  an  aged  lady  drive  a  high-spirited 
horse  attached  to  a  carriage,  down  a  stceji  hill,  with 
no  hold-back  straps  upon  the  harness,  and  she  assur- 
ed us  that  there  w-as  no  danger,  for  herson  accustom- 
ed his  horses  to  all  kinds  of  usages  and  sights  that 
eommonly  drive  the  animal  into  a  frenzy  of  fear  and 
excitement. 

A  gun  can  be  fired  from  the  baek  of  a  horse,  an 
utnbrella  held  over  his  head,  a  bulfalo  robe  thrown 
over  his  neck,  a  railroad  engine  jiass  close  by,  his 
heels  bumped  with  slicks,  and  the  animal  take  it  all 
as  a  natural  condilitin  of  things,  if  only  taught  by 
careful  manageinetit  that  he  will  not  be  injured  there- 
by. There  is  a  great  need  of  improvement  in  the  man- 
agement of  this  noble  animal;  less  beating  and  more 
of  education. — In-Uoor  uitd  Out. 


Bermuda  Grass  Growing  in  Favor. 

One  of  yourcorrespondentsof  late  cites  an  instance 
of  hay  being  made  from  Bernuida  (irass,  and  you 
ask  for  further  information.  It  was  once  almost 
universally  looked  upon  liy  planters  of  the  South  as  a 
great  curse;  now  it  is  beginning  to  be  valued  at  its 
true  and  great  worth.  The  peeidiarities  of  this  grass 
are  that  it  will  grow  in  poor  soil,  and  will  stand  the  I 
most  lengthened  drouths.  The  lawn  around  Ihc  old 
Capitol  at  Milledgeville,  (ia.,  was  frequently  admired 
and  remarked  upon  for  its  perpetual  verdure.  It  was 
a  mixture  of  lilue  grass  and  Bermuda;  in  summer 
the  blue  grass  dried  before  the  constant  heat  and  the 
Bermuda  flourished,  while  in  the  mild  winter  both 
flourislied,  hut  specially  the  blue  gra.ss.  At  the 
Tbomasviile  meeting  of  the  (leorgia  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  Mr.  B.  L.  Lumsden,  of  Macon,  Bibb 
county,  told  his  experience  in  making  hay  with  vari- 
ous grasses.  He  believes  Bermuda  to  be  the  best 
grass  for  that  section  (Middle  and  South  (leorgia) 
for  pasturage  and  hay,  and  that  it  is  one  of  the  best 
for  renovating  the  soil.    He  got  10,UUO  pounds  an  acre 


Salt  for  Domestic  Animals. 

Salt  is  not  only  a  mild  aiierient  or  deobstruent,  but 
it  operates,  to  some  extent,  as  a  tonic.  It  is  a  very 
great  rectifier  of  the  acidity  of  the  stomach  when 
taken  in  proper  ((uantities;  and  it  not  finly  renders 
very  palatable  food  which  would  bedisagrcealile  and 
insipid  without  it,  but  it  kecjis  the  functions  of  the 
stomach  in  a  healthy  state,  and  often  alleviates  the 
effects  of  debility  and  disease.  The  true  way  is  to 
have  a  tub  of  .salt,  placed  where  cattle,  horses,  and 
sheep  can  have  access  to  it  at  all  times,  whelherthey 
are  in  the  pasture  or  in  the  barnyard.  Then  when 
the  appetite  calls  for  a  lick  of  salt,  they  can  go  and 
get  it,  at  the  very  time  it  is  most  needi'd,  and  when  it 
will  exert  the  most  beneticial  ell'cel  on  digestion  or 
any  part  of  the  system. 

A  good  plan  is  to  keep  salt  in  a  small  tubor  strong, 
water-tight  pail  in  I  he  pasture  during  the  |)astiiring 
season,  and  in  the  yard  during  winter.  Animals  will 
not  consume  as  much  when  they  are  supplied  with  it 
in  this  way  as  they  will  when  they  are  salted  once  or 
twice  during  a  week.  It  is  slovenly  and  wasteful  lo 
throw  salt  on  the  grounil  for  animals,  and  especially 
for  sheep,  as  they  will  often  waste  half  as  much  as 
they  consume. 

For  salting  sheep,  drive  three  or  four  high  stakes 
around  a  pail,  or  small  tub,  leaving  one  side  only,  so 
that  they  can  thrust  their  heads  separately  into  it. 
For  cattle  and  horses,  encircle  Ihc  tub  with  a  lot  of 
boulders  as  high  as  the  top  of  it,  or  drive  a  half  dozen 
strong  slakes  around  it  letting  them  extend  aliove  it 
a  few  inches,  to  protect  it  from  Ixing  i)awed  lo  frag- 
ments. If  the  tub  is  water-tiglit,  in  case  it  should 
rain  in  it  there  will  be  nothing  lost,  as  I  hey  will  lick 
the  salt  water  as  tliey  will  the  .salt;  and  should  the 
water  evajiorale,  the  salt  will  remain.  When  sheep 
or  neat   cattle   are   kept   in  pasture  where   there  is 


niuih  chiver  (Irii'iilifiin  prnleiiKi),  Ihey  usually  have 
a  great  hankering  after  suit;  and  if  they  can  liuvo 
aecchs  to  It,  Ihey  will  go  and  lick,  more  nr  less,  sev- 
eral limes  during  the  day;  and  Ihey  will  reilify  1I16 
aciiliiy  iif  the  sliiniach,  anil  keep  Ihem  from  bloating. 
.Man\'  a  farmer  has  Insl  a  line  animal.  In  eoiise()Ucnc6 
of  I  loafing,  »  hich  one  |Miuiid  of  salt  would  have  kept 
In  good  licullli, — sScUiiH/le  Ainericait. 


Winter  Yard  for  Sheep. 

One  of  the  imiKirlanf  things  In  the  winter  care  of 
sheep  is, that  the  yiinl  where  Ihey  are  allowed  lo  run 
should  be  absoluiely  well  littered  and  dry.  They 
never  should  he  compelled  to  move  al«MiI  or  Hianil  la 
yards  that  are  covered  with  muddy  litter,  much  less 
the  actual  mud  Itself.  II  Is  BomeHmesdllllcuIl  In  the 
West,  with  our  changeable  winters,  with  allcrnato 
freezing  and  I  hawing,  lo  keep  llii'  yuni  In  pmiK-rcou- 
diflon  witlioul  using  a  large  amount  of  litter. 

II  should,  however,  be  done  at  any  cost  ofmalerlul, 
and  when  once  there  Is  a  sullleleiil  layer  of  straw  In 
the  litter,  llie  subsequent  quantity  wijl  liefiiuiiil  folio 
hut  little.  Since  on  moni  western  farmstherelHalways 
much  straw  that  must  go  to  waste,  and  since  also  ijio 
litter  and  drippings  make  most  vatuuhle  manure.  It 
will  he  found  to  be  evoiiomy  In  the  end,  from  Ibis 
point  of  view. 

Besides  this,  the  clean  ouldfHir  bed  to  stand  on  In 
wet  weather,  and  the  (dean  and  warm  one  in  cold 
weather,  will  so  promote  tlu-ir  well  being,  and  con- 
sequenlly  health,  as  to  prevent  the  occnrrenee  of  those 
diseases  incident  lo  sheep  that  must  be  subject  more 
or  less  to  wet,  and,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
spongy  pasture. 

Muddy  yarils  prevent  sheep,  and.  Indeed,  all  ani- 
mals, from  moving  about  and  faking  I  he  exercise  ab- 
solutely necessary  to  comfort  and  health.  The  abso- 
lute dryness  of  the  yards  is  especially  suseeplihie  lo 
foot  rot,  fouls  and  other <liseases  incident  lo  mud  and 
uncleanly  care. 

If  a  little  straw  be  seatlert^d  over  the  yani  at  pro- 
per intervals  after  the  first  grxMl  coating  is  given  In 
the  autumn,  the  sheep  will  pick  a  little  of  flic  better 
l«irtions,  and  be  all  the  belter  for  what  Ihey  tread 
under  foot. —  W'rstcrn  llurnl. 


Stock-Keeping  on  Small  Farms. 

It  is  stated  in  the  report  of  the  French  Minister  of 
Commerce,  that  in  the  department  of  Ihe  NonI,  the 
smallest  farms  supjiort  the  greatest  number  of  ani- 
mals. While  the  small  farms  of  Lille  and  Ilaze- 
brouck,  besides  a  greater  mimlier  of  horses,  maintain 
equal  to  fifty-two  and  forty-six  head  of  horned  catlle, 
the  larger  farms  of  Avesnes  sustain  only  forly-four  lo_ 
flftyhcad.  But  the  small  farms  cannot  sup|Hirt  as' 
many  sheep  in  proportion  as  Ihc  larger,  because  sheep 
require  frcipient  change  of  pasturage. 

Some  later  statistics  prove  the  point  more  clearly 
that  small  farms  are  capable  and  do  sustain  a  larger 
proportion  of  manure-making  animals.  In  Ihe  de- 
partment of  I'uy  de  Dome,  Dr.  .lusseraud  says  the 
commune  is  divided  into  4,li00  |iarcels,  owned  by 
't'M  proprietors.  In  IT'.ltl  seventeen  occupied  two- 
thirds  of  the  whole,  and  twenty  others  the  remainder. 
Since  then,  Ihe  land  has  been  much  divided,  and  Ihc 
sub-division  is  now  extreme.  What  has  been  the 
effect  on  the  quantity  of  cattle?  A  consiilcrahle  in- 
crease. In  1700  there  were  about  SOO  horncil  cattle, 
and  from  1,S|H)  to  '2,000  sheep;  there  are  now  (17fi  of 
the  former,  and  only  .5:i:i  of  the  latter.  Thus  1,300 
sheep  have  been  replai-ed  by  ;J7(»  oxen  and  cows;  and 
the  (|uantity  of  manure  has  increased  in  Ihe  ratio  of 
■1011  lo  7'J'.I,  or  more  than  4.S  (H'r  cent.,  not  lo  mention 
that  the  animals,  being  now  stronger  and  better  f*'d, 
yield  a  nun  h  better  conlriliution  than  formerly  lot  he 
fertilizatiiiii  of  the  ground.  .Such  is  Ihe  Icslimonyof 
fads  on  this  (Kiinf;  and  it  will  be,  and,  we  think, that 
if  all  the  facts  hearing  u|ion  the  subjeit  of  large  and 
small  farming  are  once  collated  and  estimated  fairly, 
the  advantages  will  turn  In  favor  of  the  small  farms. 


Yard  for  Pigs. 

I  believe  that  the  one  great  reason  why  pigs  do  not 
prove  more  profitable  on  a  great  iiiany  farms  Is,  lie- 
cause  they  do  not  have  enough  clean  yanl-riMim  In 
which  lo  run  and  forage.  Too  often  Ihey  arc  confined 
lo  a  small  pen  and  a  very  small  yanl,  IkiIIi  of  whieli 
are  dirty.  They  have  not  even  a  clean  grass  s|>ot,  or 
grass  or  other  green  food  lo  eiil,  hut  must  conslanlly 
slay  in  a  close  yard  or  [H'ii.  For  large  hogs  this  r<*- 
striction  is  injurious,  but  for  little  pigs  It  Is  very  much 
worse.  Young  animals  want  liberty  to  exercise  Ihelr 
muscles  and  <  lean  grass  on  which  lo  fcwi.  A  few 
farmers  let  their  pigs  run  at  will,  but  Ihey  are  apt  to 
do  a  great  deal  of  mischief.  One  of  my  neighliors, 
who  raises  a  great  many  pigs,  used  10  let  Ihem  nin 
into  my  ganlen.corn  and  [Kitaloes,  tread  down  my 
grass,  and  Ihey  did  a  great  deal  of  damage  lo  my 
crops;  but  he  always  hail  nice  pigs,  and  there  was  no 
evident  reason  except  that  he  allowiil  Ihem  full  lil>- 
erly  out  of  doors.  Now,  I  do  not  approve  of  having  a 
drove  of  pigs  running  Ihmiigh  ganleiisanil  cnips.hut 
I  think  it  wouhl  pay  even  small  farmers  to  fence  In 
an  eighth  ur  a  fuuftU  of  an  acre  of  laud  adjoining 


16 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[January,  1876. 


their  hog-yarcis,  and  let  their  piffs  run  a  part  of  the 
time  every  day  in  this  inclosure.  When  they  get  large 
enough  to  root  turf  land,  they  can  he  shut  into  their 
ordinary  yards  or  else  have  the  tendons  of  their  noses 
cut  or  rings  put  in  to  keep  them  from  doing  mischief. 
But  whether  it  is  used  for  large  hogs  or  not,  it  would 
certainly  pay  farmers  who  raise  many  pigs  to  furnish 
them  such  a  yard. —Life  Stock  Journal. 


The  Cheese  Production. 

A  writer  in  Harper's  Magazine  gives  some  very  in- 
teresting and  curious  facts  in  relation  to  the  astonish- 
ing growth  of  American  cheese  production.  In  1850 
the  cheese  aggregate  value  of  the  butter  and  export- 
ed from  this  country  amounted  to  only  $334,000. 
About  this  time  a  farmer  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
named  Jesse  Williams,  originated  the  cheese  factory 
eystem,  and  his  success  was  so  great  that  farmers  in 
other  sections  of  the  State  began  to  follow  his  exam- 
ple. The  system  developed  so  rapidly  that  there  are 
now  five  hundred  cheese  factories  in  New  York  alone, 
and  in  the  entire  country  about  ten  times  that  num- 
ber. As  a  result  the  exports  of  cheese  in  1801  amount- 
ed to  S3,.323, 631,  and  continued  to  increase  until  in 
1874  they  reached  $12,000,000,  and  for  187.5  the  fig- 
ures will"  be  larger  still .  In  1874  the  exports  of  cheese 
from  the  port  of  New  York  amounted  to  96,834,091 
pounds,  and  Canada  in  the  same  year  exported  20,- 
000,000  jwunds.  Tlie  principal  cheese  producing 
States  are  New  York,  Ohio,  Vermont,  Illinois  and 
Massachusetts.  Cheese  is  a  very  nutritious  article 
of  food  and  the  best  substitute  for  meat.  The  scarci- 
ty of  meat  in  England  and  other  European  countries, 
has  led  the  laboring  classes  to  adopt  cheese  as  a  sub- 
stitute, and  to  this  fact  is  largely  due  the  increased 
demand  for  the  product  of  our  American  cheese  fac- 
tories. 


Lice  on  Poultry. 


J.  H.  Fry,  of  Pilatki,  Florida,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Poultrrj  Bulletin,  says  :  "  I  noticed  in  your  .lune 
number  a  communication  from  E.  G.  Lathrop,  com- 
plaining of  lice  on  his  fowls;  I  have  kept  poultry  for 
years,  and  some  seasons  have  been  troubled  more 
than  others  with  lice.  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  thera 
worse  than  this  season.  I  have  lost  some  valuable 
eggs  by  the  hens  being  driven  from  their  nests  by 
lice — also  lost  two  hens  from  the  same  cau.se.  I  have 
tried  almost  everything,  and  failed,  until  it  occurred 
to  me  to  use  tobacco  stems  mixed  with  a  little  hay; 
and  to  test  it  more  thoroughly,  I  removed  a  hen  that 
•was  literally  covered  with  lice,  and  in  a  few  days 
would  have  had  to  nm.  I  cleaned  the  eggs  and  put 
her  in  a  fresh  box,  and  to-day,  June  14th,  I  can  posi- 
tively assert  that  she  came  off  clean,  with  several  fine 
Partridge  Cochins,  and  not  a  single  louse  could  I  see 
on  removing  her  from  the  box.  I  have  put  tobacco 
stems  in  all  my  laying,  and  I  am  so  much  pleased 
with  the  experiments  and  results  so  far,  that  I  should 
like  to  hear  that  scjme  of  our  fanciers  or  breeders, 
whose  fowls  are  troubled  with  vermin,  had  tried  the 
above  remedy  for  themselves. 


Dominique  Fowls. 

The  London  Field  says  of  this  variety,  which  it  de- 
nominates American  :  There  are  two  or  three  useful 
and  good  breeds  of  poultry  that  are  known  in  Eng- 
land. One  of  the  oldest  established,  and  certainly 
one  of  the  most  useful,  is  the  Dominique.  This  breed 
more  closely  resembles  our  Cuckoo  Dorking  than  any 
other  English  variety.  It  differs,  however,  in  having 
only  four  toes — a  great  advantage,  by  the  way,  in  a 
practical  point  of  view — and  in  the  legs  being  yellow. 
The  Dominique  cocks  are  very  showy  birds,  with  full 
saddles  and  hackles,  and  abundant  well-matched 
sickle  feathers.  They  should  weigh  from  six  to  eight 
pounds  when  mature.  As  table  fowls  they  should 
necessarily  be  short-legged,  full-breasted  and  broad 
in  the  back.  The  ear  lobes  should  be  red,  and  the 
wattles  and  comb  neat ;  the  former  of  medium  size. 
The  merits  of  this  Ijreed  will  recommend  them  to  per- 
sons residing  in  the  country,  as  well  worthy  of  pro- 
motion in  the  poultry  yard,  whether  as  makers  of 
eggs  or  of  meat ;  as  sitters  or  nurses,  they  are  invalu- 
able. 


Agricultural  Life  in  Missouri. 

What  can  be  pleasanter,  says  an  exchange,  than 
the  life  of  a  Missouri  farmer?  At  daylight  he  gets 
up  and  examines  the  holes  around  his  corn  hills  for 
cut  worms,  then  he  smashes  coddling  moth  larvje 
with  a  hoe  handle  luitil  breakfast.  The  forenoon  is 
devoted  to  watering  the  potato  bugs  with  a  solution 
of  Paris  green,  and  after  dinner  all  hands  turn  out  to 
pour  boiling  water  on  the  chintz  bugs  in  the  corn  and 
wheat  fields.  In  the  evening  a  favorite  occupation  is 
smudging  peach  trees  to  discourage  the  cureulio;  and 
after  a  brief  season  of  family  devotion  at  the  shrine 
of  the  night-flying  coleoptera,  all  the  folks  retire  and 
sleep  soundly  till  Aurora  reddens  the  east  and  the 
grasshoppers  tinkle  against  the  panes  and  summon 
them  to  the  labors  of  another  day. 


LITERARY  AND  BUSINESS  NOTICES. 

The  Rural  Jouknal.  This  is  a  neat  eight-page 
quarto,  published  by  Hiram  Young,  esq.,  York,  Pa., 
at  fifty  cents  a  year,  the  first  number  (for  January, 
1876)  of  which  is  now  before  us.  The  Red  Rose  of 
Lancaster  extends  friendly  greetings  to  the  White 
Roxe  of  York,  and  recognizes  in  its  representative 
journal  a  faithful  fellow  laborer  in  the  cause  which 
has  for  its  specialty  the  moral  and  physical  progress 
of  the  American  farmer.  Mr.  S.  B.  Heiges  is  the 
agricultural  editor,  "  assisted  by  a  corps  of  able  con- 
tributors," and  if  these  auxiliaries  can  be  secured  and 
continued,  the  Journal  must  be  a  success,  for  if  the 
farmers  of  our  neighboring  county  do  not  become  im- 
pressed with  the  high  tone  and  sterling  qualify  of 
their  local  agricultural  press,  they  are  not  the  stuff 
we  have  been  taking  them  for. 

Report  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers 
Society.  This  is  a  royal  octavo  pamphlet  of  fifty- 
six  pages, in  covers,  containing  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting  of  the  society,  held  at  York,  beginning  Jan. 
20, 187.5.  In  a'ldition  to  the  transactions  of  the  society 
the  president's  annual  address,  and  the  vai^ious essaj's 
read  before  it ;  it  contains  a  full-page  illustration  of 
the  leaf  and  fruit  of  the  Chrintine  or  Telegraph  grape, 
and  full-page,  uncolored,  illustrations  of  Hide's  Early 
and  Snst/nehanna  peach  ;  a  seedling  pear,  raised  by 
S.  B.  Heiges  C'or7ielVs  Fancy  and  BchnotU  apple  and 
the  Golden  Drop  plum.  The  paper,  printing  and  en- 
graving are  of  a  good  quality  and  execution,  and  on 
the  whole,  is  a  credit  to  the  society  and  its  efficient 
officers. 

Somebody  has  sent  us  a  copy  of  "  .Josh  Billings' 
(Sentenial)  Farmers  Allminax,"  for  1876,  on  the 
title  page  of  which,  in  his  peculiar  orthography, 
he  says:  "The  kalkulashuns  on  this  allminax  are 
made  for  the  latitude,  and  longitude;  and  saidititude 
of  Independene  Hall,  Philadelphia."  Perhaps 
there  is  no  writer  of  the  present  period  who 
lets  off  more  significant,  domestic  and  social 
truths,  in  his  own  peculiar  and  popular  way, 
than  this  same  Josh  Billings.  The  following  advice 
is  certainly  appropriate  to  the  present /as(  age  :  "Go 
slo  young  man  ;  if  you  tap  both  ends  of  your  eider 
barrel  at  once,  and  draw  out  of  the  bung  hole  besides, 
your  cider  ain't  a  going  to  hold  out  long."  That's 
just  as  plain  as  "  open  and  shut." 

Tub  Health  Reformer  for  December  is  decided- 
ly the  best  of  the  j-ear.  Besides  a  rich  variety  of  in- 
structive articles  on  health  topics  it  contains  a  large 
amount  of  interesting  matter  under  the  head  of  Liter- 
ary Miscellany,  and  Popular  Science.  The  Farm  and 
Household  and  News  Departments,  two  new  features, 
add  greatly  to  the  practical  utility  of  the  journal.  It 
is  one  of  the  best  family  papers  published,  and  ought 
to  be  in  every  family  in  the  land.  Published  at  Bat- 
tle Creek,  Mich.,  at  $1.00  a  year.  Specimen  copies 
free. 

We  have  received  from  J.  B.  Root,  Seed  Grower, 
Rockford,  111.,  his  tiarden  Manual  and  Seed  Cata- 
logue, and  take  pleasure  in  calling  attention  to  a 
work  of  so  much  value  to  every  owner  of  a  garden 
and  every  lover  of  fiowers.  It  is  tilled  with  practical 
hints  and  instructions  derived  from  a  large  experi- 
ence as  a  market  gardener  and  a  florist,  and  contains 
half  as  much  matter  as  §tl.50  works  on  the  subject. . 
It  is  sent  to  applicants  for  10  cents,  which  amount  is 
allowed  on  the  first  order  for  seeds.  See  advertise- 
ment in  another  column. 

The  annual  Vegetable  and  Flower  Seed  Catalogue 
of  (_iregory,  the  well-known  seedsman  of  Marblehead, 
.Ma.ss.,  is  advertised  in  our  columns.  Wo  can  endorse 
Mr.  Gregory  as  both  honest  and  reliable.  The  bare 
statement  of  the  fact  that  he  grows  so  large  a  num- 
ber of  the  varieties  of  seed  he  sells,  will  be  appreciat- 
ed by  market  gardeners,  and  by  all  others  who  want 
to  have  their  seed  both  fresh  and  true. 

Attention  is  directed  to  the  advertisement  of 
Ellwanger  di  Bakhy,  Nurserymen,  Rochester,  N. 
Y.  They  are  well  known,  and  acknowledged  to  be 
the  largest  and  most  successful  growers  of  Fruit  and 
Ornamental  trees,  Shrubs  and  Plants,  in  the  United 
Stales. 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  INVENTION. 


Official  List  of  Patents, 

Relating  to  the  Farm,  the  Dairy,  Apiary,  &c., 

For  tlie  mouth  eudmg  January  7th,  lS7(i.* 

Corn  Planters;  J.  B.  Abbott,  San  .Jose,  111. 
Cheese  Preservers;  J.  G.  Black,  Lextonville,  Wis. 
Harvesters;  Jas.  O.  Brown,  Massillon,  Ohio. 
Bee  Hives;  Orson  Colvin,  Vicksburg,  Michigan. 
Furrow  Gauges  for  Plows;  B.  B.  Hawes,  Morrisville, 

Vermont. 
Gang  Plows;  Frank  A.  Hill,  San  Leandro,  Cal. 
Corn  Markers;  John  Mctiregor,  Princeville,  111. 
Corn  Harvesters;  Jacob  Townsend,  Eaglotown,  Ind. 

•Prepared  expressly  for  The  Lancaster  Fabmeb  by 
Louis  BaKger  &  Co.,  Solicitors  of  I^ateflt-s,  WasUiugton,  D. 
C,  IroHi  wiiom  complete  copies  of  tlie  Patents  and  Brawnigs 
may  be  obtained. 


Grain   Separators;   W.  W.Johnston,  Summitville,  O. 

Potato  Diggers;  W.  R.  Martyn,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Harvesters;  L.  J.  McCormiek,  Chicago,  111. 

Cultivators;  Thos.  J.  Price,  Macourt,  III. 

Operating  Prison  Doors;  R.  Richter,  Indianapolis. 

Corn  and  jeed  Planters;  H.  P.  Sullivan,  Xenia,  III. 

Harvester  Hakes;  H.  11.  Bridenthal,  jr.,  Latrobe,  Pa. 

Harvester  Rakes,  S.  F.  Cranston,  Lansingburg,  N.  Y. 

Harvesters;  Jean  P.  Delseseaux,  Milhrae,  Cal. 

Potato  Diggers;  Nathaniel  Hugg,  Kichtnond,  Va. 

Milking  Pails;  A.  M.  Bailey,  Middlefield,  Conn. 

Corn  Planters;  Alex.  Hearst,  Peoria,  III. 

Sulky  Plows;  Geo.  Moore,  Fayette,  Oregon. 

Processes  for  Preserving  Eggs. 

Butter  Packages;  H.  P.  Adams,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Milk  Pails;  John  Amole,  Buckley,  111. 

Plows;  Thos.  E.  C.  Brinley,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Cultivators;  Herman  D.  Green,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Seat  Guards  for  Harvesters;  E.  Hale,  jr.,  Chicago,  111. 

Harvester  Cutter;  P.  Howell,  Buena  Vista,  Pa. 

Grain  Separators;  C.  B.  Nichols,  Troy,  Pa. 

Harvester  Rakes;  W.  N.  Whiteley,  Springfield,  0. 

Grain  Binders;  Jno.  .1.  Atwater,  Mepford,  Minn. 

Milk  Coolers;  Bruce  C.  Bort,  Chateaugay,  N.  Y. 

Portable  Hay  Pi-esses;  M.  McCarty,  Puebla,  Col. 

Rotary  Spade  Cultivators;  D.  W.  Brodnax,  sr.,  Rock- 
dale, Texas. 

Mowing  Machines;  Wm.C.Douthett,  Springdale,  Pa. 

Check  Row  Planters;  William  H.  Johnson,  Farmers 
City,  III. 

Beaters  for  Cotton-Openers;  Richard  Kitheon,  Lowell. 

Bee-Hives;  Elviu  Armstrong,  Jerseyville,  111. 

Processes  of  Preparing   Preserved   Fruit ;    John  F. 
Bossford,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Grain  Conveyer  Shafts;  Henry  I.  Chase,  Peoria,  III. 

Fences;  Win.  A.  Couch,  Hannibal,  Nev. 

Corn  Uncovercrs;  Hugh  N.  Gilchrist,  SwanCreek,Ill. 

Corn  Planters;  Conrad  Goneiner,  Dale,  Wis. 

Plowing  and  Seeding  Machines;  D.  McVaw,  Galla- 
tin, Texas. 

Plows;  Joseph  Philip,  Smithton,  111. 

Butter-Carriers;  B.  F.  Roberts,  Benington,  Vt. 

Gang  Plows;  Timothy  M.Shaw,  Lebanon,  Tenn. 

Hay  Loaders;  Chas;  M.  Young,  Meadville,Pa. 

Sway  Bar  Guides  for  Harvesters;  W.  R.  Baker,  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Grain  Sepai-ators;  D.  H.  Caswell,  Na.shville,  Tenn. 

Seed  Planters  and  Fertilizer  Distributer;   M.  P.  Cur- 
lee,  Corinth,  Mass. 

Fences;  John  Dwyer,  Marion,  Ohio. 

Hand   Seed    Planters;    Thomas   J.   Huhbell,   Napa 
City,  Cal. 

Reciprocating  Churns;    Wm.  McKinley,  Bellaire,  O. 

Cultivators;  E.  B.  Moore,  Bell's  Mills,  Ala. 

Feeding  Belts  and  Partitions  for  Coi'u  Shellers;  Wm. 
B.  Quarton,  Fremont,  Ohio. 

Corn  Drills;  John  R.  Rude,  Liberty,  Ind. 

Grain  Separators;  C.   F.   Butterfield,   Garden   City, 
Miimesota. 

Adjustable  Locks  and  Dogs  for  Hay  Elevators;  J.R. 
Fitshous,  Centre  Hill,  Pa. 

Grain  Meters;  B.  M.  Pulliam,  Toleno,  111. 

Reel  Rakes  for  Harvesters;  R.  C.  Taylor,  Lockport, 
N.  Y. 

Milk  Coolers  and  Heaters;  M.  L.  Bush, Huntington, O. 

Self-Hakes  for  Reapers:  S.  B.  (iilleland, Salisbury, Mo. 

Potato  Bug  Destroyers;    Isaac  W.  Griscora,  Wood- 
buiy,  N.  J. 

Corn  Husking  Implements;  H.  W.  Hill,  Decatur,  lU. 

Plows;  Henry  H.  Hubley,  .Manorville,  Pa. 

Manufacture  of  Grain-Cradle  Fingers;  C.  P.  Kelsey, 
Richmondville,  N.  Y. 

Grain  Separators;  L.  Thesbald,  Plainwell,  Mich. 

Churn  Dashers;  John  R.  Underwood,  Nelsonville,0. 

Wheel  Harrows;  F.  Bramer,  Little  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Churn  Dashers;  R.  M.  Case,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Plows;  N.  G.  Pinney,  New  Hudson,  Mich. 

Combined  Reels  and  Rakes  for  Harvesters;  A.  Stoler, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Hooks  for  Harrows;  J.  D.  Tracy,  Sterling,  111. 

Plows;  John  Worrell,  Clayton,  Ind. 

Bee-Hives;  Daniel  Cox,  Kingston,  Mo. 

Convertible    Revolving  Harrows;    Benj.  G.   Devoe, 
Kenton,  Ohio. 

Milk  Coolers;  N.  D.  Ferguson,  Carthage,  N.  Y. 

Grain  Separators;  Lewis'  W.  Hasselman,  Indianapo 
lis,  Ind. 

Potato  Diggers;  Robert  Reydemann,  Krebsow,  PruB. 

Clover  Separators;  G.  F.  Metzger,  West  Fayette,  N.Y. 

Milk  Coolers;  Isaac  H.  Wanzer,  Elgin,  111. 

Churns;  Daniel  McCarfy,  Crapiiers  Depot,  Ky. 

Guano  Distributars;    J.'T.  Horton,  Widemans,  S.  C. 

Apparatus  for  Storing  and  Preserving  Grain;  Hans 
P.  C.  Lassen,  Chicago,  111. 

Gang  Plows;   J.  R.  MeCormick,  Georgetown,  Texas. 

Corn  Stalk  Knives;  Peter  C.  Moore,  La  Fayette,  O. 

Portable  Fences;  I.  W.  Pancoast,  Libertyville,  Iowa. 

Drag  Rake  Handles;  Hugh  Smith,  Passumsic,  Vt. 

Portrahle  Fences;  Horace  Tell,  Bristol,  Md. 

Churns;  James  Watson,  Port  Colhorne,  Canada. 

Stump  Extractors;  J.  A.  Hart,  Lioncsta,  Pa. 

Horse  Rakes;  Chas.  B.  Perkins,  Kcnduskeag,  Me. 

Cultivators;  Joshua  Pierpont,  Bushncll,  III. 

Horse  Rakes;  Wm.  C.  Haynor,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Sulky  Plows;  II.  Richardson,  Janesville,  Wis. 

Plows;  John  Sewell,  Bowdon,  (ia. 

Drills  and  Fertilizer  Distributors;  AladanS.  Wishart, 
Lumberton,  N.  C. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


are  the  best  the  world  i>ro(lucca.  They  are  plautetl  by  a 
million  |)eoplo  in  Ami-rica,  ami  the  n-Hult  in  betuitlful 
Flowers  and  siiU'iidid  VeKetablea.  A  Priced  t'atulogue  cent 
free  tn  nil  who  inclose  the  pontage — a  1!  cent  Blunip. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide,  VUiirierly,  '25  cents  a  yt'iir. 

Vick'a  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  :t5  ceutB ;  with 
cloth  covei  s,  1V5  cents. 

Avtdrcsft,  JAMKS  VICK.  UochoHter,  N.  Y. 

'    The  Great  Agricultural  Wonder, 

llICINi;    THK 

HULLESS  OATS, 

\\liich  eiin  br  obtaiht-d  of 

N.  S.  FISHER, 

At  Leesport  P.  0.,    Berks  Couuty,  Pa., 


AB    FOLLOWS  I 


I     H  pounds 8   3.50 

32       "         la.oo 


I  ponnd 50cls. 

16        -'        »  «.50 

It  is  claimed  that  it  will  yield  ii8  many  meaBured  bushels 
as  any  other  variety,  while  it  weighs  5(>  pounds  to  the 
bushel,  and  ripens  two  weeks  earlier  than  common  oats, 
thet-eby  escaping  the  nisty  season  of  oats. 

ITK^'Write  for  circulars.  8-l-4t 

ROOT'S 

Qarden  JVfanual 

Is  filled  with  topics  of  interest  to  every  owner  of  a  garden- 
is  POINTED,  PRA*TIC.\L  and  THOUOITGH,  and  contains 
one-half  as  much  as  $1.50  books  on  the  subject.  GARDEN- 
EltS  throughout  the  couuti-y  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  methods  as  invaluablp  to  them. 

(r??~Sent  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  first 
order  for  seeds.      Address, 

J,  B.  ROOT,  Seed  Grower, 

ROCKFORP,  Illinois. 

THE  ATLANTIC  MONTHLY. 

The  Leading  Literary   Magazine  of  America. 

Devoted  to  Literature,  Science,  Art  and  Politics. 

The  corps  of  WTiters  includes  the  foremost  names  in 
American  Literature:  Longfellow,  Lowell,  Bryant,  Whit- 
tier,  Holmes,  Bayard  Taylor,  Howells,  Aldrich,  Warner, 
Mrs.  Kimble,  Mark  Twain,  and  others. 

The  TJ.  S.  Official  Postal  Guide. 

Bevised  and  rvblii^hed  Qitartcrl;/   by  authority  of  the  Post 
Olfii'c  Depart nieJit. 

Containing  an  Alphabetical  List  of  Post  Offices  in  the 
TJuited  States,  with  County,  State,  and  Salai-y ;  Money- 
Order  Offices,  Domestic  and  International ;  Chief  Rfgula- 
tions  of  the  Post  Office  Department  ;  Instructions  to  the 
Public;  Foreign  and  Domestic  Postage  Tables,  and  other 
valuable  Information. 

The  American  Law  Times  and  Reports 

A  monthly  ]ieriodieal  which  gives  Leadinfi  Cases  in  ad- 
vance of  regular  publication,  and  a  DigcM  i»f  all  Case^  re- 
ported in  cuutemporary  American  legal  perlodicahi.  Edited 
by  Rowland  Cox. 

THE  BOSTON 

Medical  and  Surgical  Journal. 

EntahlishetJ  l»iS.—Pu(jli>ihed  Weekly. 

With  one  exception  the  oldest  Medical  Journal  in  the 
United  States,  and  second  to  none  in  character  and  standing. 

The  American  Naturalist. 

A  Popular  lUustratcd  lloutbly  Mag;izinc  of  Natural  Ilie- 
tory  aud  Travel.  Amoug  the  cuntrilnitors  are  Profs.  Gray, 
Whitney,  Shaler,  Farlow,  aud  Goodale,  of  Harvard ;  Profs. 
Marsh,  Verr'll,  and  Siuith,  of  Yale,  and  others. 

HnbNCrlptlon  RHtes. 

Atlantic  Monthly «  00 

Atlantic  Monthly,  with  Uff-Kizf  portrait  o/ Lonfj/eUow . .  6  00 

U.  S.  Official  Postal  Guide ^ 150 

V.  8.  (HHcial  Postal  Guide.    Single  numbers 50 

America  u  IjUW  Times  aud  Reporta 6  00 

Boston  Sledical  and  .Surgical  Jouinial 5  00 

American  Naturalist 4  OO 

', 'Postage  prejiaid  by  the  Publishers. 

Beiuittanccs  should  l>o  sent  with  each  order  and  be  made 
by  draft  or  niouev-order.  on  New  York  or  IJoston,  or  regis- 
tered letter  to  H."o.  HUUGIITON  4i  CO.,  Uiverside  /Vfis, 
Cambridge^  Mans.  8-1-31 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

The  DwcniluT  iminliir  ciC  TiiK  Lancaster  Faii- 
MKii,  cmichKliii!;  Ilir  si'vciith  vnliime  of  III  at  most 
excL'Ilt'iit  journal,  lias  hccii  rccciveil.  We  cuniiot  say 
tliat  tin's  is  a  liollilay  immber,  liccuuse  all  llic  isstics 
ol'TiiK  Kaiimku  arc  ol'siiih  a  cliariiitertliat  I'ven  the 
Iiolidays  arc  unable  to  improve  the  constmit  supcrl- 
ority  of  this  favorite  lK)mc  paper.  The  present  miin- 
bcr  eimfains  an  in<lex  to  the  voliinie  which  is  just 
conelmicii;  more  than  one  thousand  separate  articles 
have  appeared  in  its  liandsonie  padres  diiriiii;  the  year, 
Iiavini;  direct  hcarinir  on  evi'ry  I'raneh  of  farm  econo- 
my ami  eontaiiiiiiir  a  wealth  t)f  useful  and  iiecesKary 
information  to  the  lionest  tillci-s  of  the  sfill,  that  will 
repay  them  an  hundred  fohi  for  the  sulisci-iptlon  out- 
lay. Its  coiiseientious  editor  has  spared  lut  latsir,  as 
its  (MiUimns  show,  to  keep  it  in  the  front  rankof  atjri- 
eultural  .jotirnalism;  it  shotihi  he  a  rei^ular  visitor  in 
every  Lancaster  county  farmer's  home.  Think  of  It, 
fanners!  only  *1  per  year  is  askeil  for  this  home 
oriiaii  !  Don't  suppose  the  contents  arc  on  a  level 
with  the  price  !  The  latter  is  purposely  fixed  at  u 
sum  which  leaves  you  no  excuse  to  do  without  It  ; 
if  you  take  it  one  year  you  will  never  yivc  it  up.  Take 
our  advice  and  lieiiin  the  new  yearby  sendinjj  SI  with 
your  name  to  Pi'arsol  iSc  (tcist  of  Lancaster,  and  you 
will  have  made  the  best  investment  of  the  year. — AVm 
lloUamJ  ftiirlon. 

Somebody  has  said,  that  if  you  want  to  know  the 
real  character  and  ipiality  of  a  man,  all  you  have  to 
do  is  to  inrpiirc  of  his  family  or  amon;;  his  ncishhors, 
and  that  their  testimony  will  be  a  nearer  approxima- 
tion to  what  he  is  than  all  tint  world  outside  of  them. 
This  may  he  dra\\ini^  the  lines  too  sti-oni;,  neverthe- 
less a  i^reat  truth  may  be  lyinir,  in  many  instances, 
eomewliere  in  that  direction.  In  any  event,  wc  feel 
more  satisfaction  in  the  ufood  opinion  of  those  who 
?CNotr  wlio  and  what  we  are,  than  in  those  who  know 
us  only  IV<un  ri'putation,  althouirh  we  by  no  means 
ignore  an  honorable  reputation.  Wccoi-dially  "clasp 
hands"  with  our  appreciative  brother  of  the  Vlnrivn, 
and  hope  tliat  we  may  never  fall  short  of  the  endorse- 
ment of  one  so  well  qualified  to  speak  in  any  behalf. 
We  commend  his  paper  as  a  "tip-top  "  local  journal, 
and  one  that  must  ultimately  work  its  way  to  an  t'X- 
tended  public  favor.  The  New  Holland  Clarion  is  a 
"live"  paper,  and  is  willing  to  "  let  live,"  by  a  manly 
recognition  of  the  perfections  of  others,  and  a  charit- 
able criticism  oi  their  defects.  Our  eft'orts  shall  ever 
be  to  keep  The  Fakmeu  at  not  less  than  its  present 
standard,  and  if  our  friends  vouchsafe  the  needed  aid 
we  honestly  assure  them  it  shall  he  vastly  more,  for 
our  motto  is  "  Upicard  ami  Onward." 


How  to  Keep  a  Subscriber. 

An  indignant  farmer  i-eecntly  entered  the  office  of 
the  Elizabeth  Xcirs,  and  ordered  liis  jiaper  stopped 
because  he  ditl'ered  IVoin  the  editor  in  liis  views  re- 
garding the  advantages  of  subsoiling  fence  rails.  The 
editor,  of  course,  conceded  the  man's  right  to  stop 
his  paper,  but  he  remarked  coolly,  looking  over  his 
list: 

"Do  you  know  Jim  Sowders  down  at  Ilardscrabblc  ?" 

"Vei-y  well,"  said  the  man. 

"\\'eil,  he  stoppcti  his  jiaper  last  week,  because  I 
thought  a  farmer  was  a  blamed  fool  who  didn't  know 
that  timothy  was  a  good  Ihingtograft  on  huekelberry 
bushes,  and  he  died  in  four  hours." 

"  Lord,  is  that  so?"  said  the  astonished  granger. 

"  Yes,  and  you  know  old  George  Erickson,dowiion 
Eagle  ("reck  ;'" 

"  Well,  I've  heard  of  him." 

"  Well,"  said  the  editor  gravely,  "  be  stopped  his 
pajier  because  I  said  he  w  as  the  happy  father  of  twins 
and  congratulated  him  on  his  success  so  late  in  life. 
He  fell  dead  within  tWH-nty  minutes.  There  are  lots 
of  similar  cases,  but  it  don't  matter;  I'll  just  cross 
your  name  off,  though  you  don't  look  strong,  and 
there's  a  bad  color  on  your  nose." 

"  Sec  here,  Mr.  Kditor,"  said  the  subscriber,  look- 
ing somewhat  alarmed,  "  I  believe  I'll  just  keep  on 
another  year,  'cause  I  always  did  like  your  paper,  and 
come  to  t  liiidi  about  it,  you're  a  young  man,  and  .some 
allowance  orter  he  m.ade,"  and  he  departed,  satisfied 
that  he  had  made  a  narrow  escape  from  death. 


"  Bankrupt." 

The  word  in  Italian  was  Imnco  rolto,  or  broken 
hcncli.  It  was  used  by  the  moneychangers  in  Italy 
who  did  business  in  henchesor  stalls  in  the  Kxcliangc, 
and  when  any  fell  back  or  liceame  insolvent,  his  bench 
was  brtikcn  anil  he  was  called  a  Imnco  rotto.  When 
the  word  w  as  adopted  into  English,  it  was  nearer  the 
Italian  than  it  now  is,  being  "  banker-out." 


A  YOUNG  GENTLEMAN  remarked  to his  femalceom- 
pani(m,  tlie  other  evening,  "  Ah  1  the  most  beautiful 
evening  in  my  recollection.  Luna  looks  peculiarly 
beautiful."  "  Was  that  her  just  weut  by  ("  quickly 
asked  the  young  lady. 


RiCKFOjjD 

AUTOMATIC 
•^NlTTER 


s 
s 

i 

« 


3 

■3 


S  9 
••  s 
a    1 

r  2 
5-' 

5  ? 


»6j:i 


A  Fanuly  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  iiltracllnK  iinl\*TMal  attention  liy  Itr*  untui  IhIiIdk  p«r- 
fornianccH  and  lt»  Kr*"*'  I'rarticjil  viihu'frtr  fvco-day  f«mll]r 
UHO.  It  knits  every  poMllilo  variety  of  jdaln  ur  raucy  work 

■WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  RiveK  pfrfi-et  Hhupf  an<)  flnJMh  1<>  all  Kurnn  iits.      ||  will 

knit  a  pair  or  $ockf  in  fifteen  minutes!       Kvt>ry   imictinm 

WAIIKAXTKI>  I '  rfiit.  aiul  h,d„jUMf  ithnt  it  rrprtMJitfd, 

A  eniti[>ti-tf  iiiNlruclioii  tuxik  ut-oiinpanii'M  iMich  inurhtue. 

No.  1  Family  Machine.  1  cylinder,  11  ncedlon,  $S0. 

No.  3      *'  •*         2        "     Vt  k  100    "         40. 

A  sample  nuichine  will  t>e  nont  to  Koy  part  of  the  Unit«<1 
StatcH  or  Canada,  (whi^re  wt^  have  no  agont)  rxprt*n  charges 
pre^paid,  on  rcci'ipt  of  the  price. 

AoKNTH  waut(><l  iu  every  Htato,  Connly,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  V4'rv  lilH-ral  cltHrountH  will  Im*  niitdf.     Atlilrcmi, 
HIOKi'OUn  KMTTINd  MArillNK  MK<i.  <^0., 

7-n-tfJ  H<.lo  MiiunfaolunTH.  Ilrntf  lolxkro.  Vt. 


250 
PAPERS 

— AND — 

MAGAZINES 

SENT 


.4T 

I,<HV 

<'l,l  It  ItATKS 

To    .'iingk- 

sill 

iscribers   iit    any 

]iost-oflici'. 

t<( 

iid  at   oncp    for 

yuKK 

cireiil 

ar 

liefore   onlering 

voiir 

liapiTf- 

for 

i.s7t;. 

s>.  ai. 

KXRB-r. 

HkRTWICK  S!M.. 

OTSEGO  CO..  NEW  TOfir. 

I  have  founded  my  buahiPFS  on  the  Ix-Iief  that  the  public 
are  auxioun  to  t^et  their  weed  directly  frtnn  the  ffrotrrr,  and  I 
therefore  offer  phek  to  every  man  and  woman  lo  the  t'olted 
StiittH  who  cultivates  a  farm,  tHl»  a  vegetable  Karden.  or 
plauta  H  flower  garden,  my  large  lUuHtnilid  Catahigue  of 
Vegetable  and  Flower  HeedB  for  1H7«;  II  cimlain*.  in  addi- 
tion to  the  choicuHt  kiudu  i>rodueed  in  Kurope,  one  hundred 
and  fi/ty  varieties  of  rrgetable  "red  aroirti  on  my  f*mr  »eed 
/antia,  CuHtomere  of  laHt  Beanon  need  not  write  for  it.  A» 
the  original  introduwr  of  th*-  Hubbard,  Marblehead  and 
Butman  SquaBhe«,  Pbinney«  Melon,  the  Mmrblehejttl  Cat>- 
bageH,  and  a  score  of  othor  new  Tcgotiibhu.  I  solicit  your 
patronage.  All  »*eed  sold  under  three  warrunts.  A  hundred 
thousand  cutalogueM  will  be  iaaued  and  sent  out  the  first  of 
January. 
T-U-5J  JAMF.8  J.  H.  QKEGORY.  Marblebwd,  MtM. 


CANVASSERS  WANTED 

TO  TAKE  SI7BSCRIBEBS  FOB 

Tfne  LanG98ter  Farmer. 


Farmers'  Sons   and  other  Young   Men, 
during  their  leisure  hours, 

CAN  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


We  want  a  thorongh  canvass  made  of  every  district,  mod  will 
pay  g(X>d  canvaasera  lil>erallv      Addrewa 

PEAESOL  &  OEIST,  Publishers, 

7^tf  LAM'AHTER,   PA. 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[January,  1876. 


yl 

i?iii« 

We  call  attention  to  our  imm^'nt^e  Stock  (600  acres  )  of 
Fruit  Trees,  Styudaid  aud  Dwarf. 
Kinall  Kriiits.  Grapee,  Currants,  Raspberries,  &c. 
Ornamental  Trees  and   ^ilirnbs,  deciduous  and 

evergreen. 
Roses  a  Bpecialtv — all  the  finest  aorts. 
Green  and  Hot  House  Plants.  incUiding  best  nov- 
elties.    Small  parcels  forwarded  by  mail  when  desired. 
Prompt  attention  given  to  all  orders  and  inquiries. 
Descriptive  and  Illustrated  priced  Catalogues  sent  prepaid 

on  receipt  of  stamps,  as  follows  : 
No.  1.  Fruits  (new  ed.,  with  col'd  plate)  15  cts. 
No.  2.  Ornamental  Trees,  with  col'd  plate  of  Roses,  25c. 
No.  3.  Greenhouse.  Free,  No.  4.  Wholesale,  Free. 

No.  5.  Ijist  of  New  Roses  for  1870,  Free. 
Nob.  1  and  2— Neatly  bound  together,  forming  an  interest- 
ing aud  valuable  book  for  reference, 
Address,  50  cts.  by  mail,  post  paid. 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,  Rochester,  NY. 

8.1-3t 


FARMERS,  GET. THE  BEST. 


Til  mum  I  muim 

FEED  CUTTER, 


MANUFAOTUBKD    FOR 


DEALEKS   IN 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  EAST  KING  ST.,  LANGASTES,  PA., 

Has  been  demonstrated  by  competitive  tests  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roll 
is  operated  by  a  new  and  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  the  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  workmanship  are  of  the  very  best  class, 
and  guaranteed  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  purchaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  we  have  sold 
with  such  entire  satisfaction  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  maintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors — 
33,74>l  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  18T5 
— aud  we  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLER  L  GHOFF, 

No.  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

7-ll-6m 


DOMESTIC" 

SEWING 
MACHINES. 


liberal  terms  of  Exchange 
for  Serond-linnd  Machines 
of  every  fiescrlptlon. 

'DOMESTIC"  PAPER  FASHIONS. 

TlieBt<.stratt..rnsMiailc.   S.-nd  S,-ls.  for  i  ■^il;i!,i-ut 

Address  DOMESTIC  SEWINQ  MACHINE  CO.. 

KJ-  Aqests  ^Vasted.  -4J>       new    YOUK. 
7-1  l-3teom 


THE  SCIENTIFIC  FARMER 

Aims  to  unite    science    with    practice  upon 
the  Farrn. 

T&e  only  journal  in  tlie  worM  poblisliefi  wlili  tMs  ayowefl  objeci. 

*'It  is  the  ablest  scientific  agricultural  publication  we 
have  ever  seen,  and  covers  the  entire  field." — Lancaster 
(Pa.)  Express. 

$1.00  Per  Year.  On  trial  three  months,  25c. 

CLARK  W.  BRYAN  &  CO., 
7-7-6m  SprintfUeld,  Mass. 


IMIPORTKR,   BREEDER,  J^ND  SHIPI'ER  OF 

IMPROVED  LIVE  STOCK. 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  AND  WATER  FOWLS— Etch  variety  bred  on  a  separate  farm.  LEGHORNS— BroisTi,  "^Tiite. 
Black  aud  Dominique  of  my  celebrated  strains  a  specialty.  Also,  an  unsurpasstnl  aud  large  collection  of  WATER  FOWLS 
AND  TURKEYS.  Asiatics,  Hiimburgs,  Dorkings,  P.  Rocks,  Am.  Dominiques,  Hoadius  aud  Bautums.  My  fowls  are  ail 
HIGH  CLASS,  aud  bred  with  great  care.     My  breeding  pens  contain  extra  line  imported  and  prize  birds. 


CHESTER  'WHITE  SWINE  A  SPECIALTY. 

8to3k  of  all  ages  bred  from  the  beat  Premium  Stock,  aud  warranted  stricMy  pure  and  choice,  for  Bale  at  moderate 
prices.  Also  imported  Berkahires.  Jersey  (.'attle.  Southdown  and  Cotswold  Sheep.  DOGS— Setter,  Shepherd,  Beagle 
Houud,  Skye  and  Bhick-aud-tau  Terriers.  Only  a  limited  stock  of  each,  consisting  of  the  finest  imported  specimens,  with 
full  pedigrees.    Lop-Eared  aud  Himalayan  Rabbits.     English  Ferrets. 


FANCY  PIGEONS,  ALL  VARIETIES. 

Tlie  Pipon  Loft :  Ho  w  to  Fornisli  and  Manap  It. 

Our  new  illustrated  book  on  pitieuus.     Plain,  concise,  original  and 
invaluable.     It  gives  many  new  facts  not  to  be  found 
elsewhere,  and  is  worth  dollars  to  any  breed- 
er.   Price,  only  50c.  postpaid. 

CS^Elegant  illustrated  catalogues  of  stock,  giving  descriptions  and  illustrations 
of  fowls  and  pigeons,  postpaid,  10  cents. 


Circulars  free. 


W.  ATLEE  BURPEE,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


J.  STAUFFER, 

Its  11^ mil  tji  riiPtiS. 

LANCASTER,  VENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


is  the  most  beautiful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  l.'iU  pages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrations,  and 
ftmr  Chromo  Plates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  G-uide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Address,  JAMES  VTCK.  Rochester,  N.  Y, 

LUMill  101  I4EM11S. 

NO  MIDDLE-MEN. 

We  have  a  large  stock  of  Lumber,  aud  one  of  the  most 
extensive  Sash  aud  Door  Factories  in  the  State,  and  we  are 
prepared  to  furnish  HoiiNe  and  Ram  Bills  complete. 

Ail  kinds  of  Manufactured  Fencing,  &c.,  making  a  speci- 
alty of  supplying  the  agricultural  community.  We  will 
make  prices  delivered  to  any  Railroad  Station.  AJl  our 
material  ;;;uaraHteecl  as  represented.  All  manufactured 
work  kiln-driert  and  warranted  not  to  shrink.  AU  inquiries 
cheerfully  answered. 

One  of  the  firm  can  be  seen  at  the  Franklin  House,  North 
Queen  Street,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  on  Monday  of  each  week. 


7-4-12ra] 


KENDIG,  BRICKER  &  LAUMAN, 

Middletown    Dauphin  co..  Pa. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MAKTiS,  and  COPYRIGHTS, 
promiitly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  and  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistant at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
or  description.  [7-i-tf 


THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA.. 

Breeder  and  Shipper  of 

GUPSEYLSSI  BUTTER  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs- 
Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


'^THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

501)  farmers'  write  for  it. 

60  farmers'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulates  in  30  States. 

Circulates  in  6  Territories. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

64  columns  every  week. 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Kept  on  file  in  l,20i(  Granges. 

Read  weekly  by  over  lOU.OOO  people. 

Only  official  organ  of  five  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  Irom  the  great  cities. 

Practical  expeiienoe  by  practical  farmers. 

(■roi^  reports  printed  weekly. 

No  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  a  year;  or  1,25  in  clubs  of  8  or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

12>(,  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  S  or  over,  lOj^  cents  a  mouth. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

National  Grange  otficers  ^vTite  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  every  State. 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  and  say, 

"  Just  what  we  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  three  cents,  sent  directly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  S  ates.        * 

Address,  THOMAS  &  PEMMING, 

7-12-S  Mechanicsbdro,  PA- 

HORSE-BILLS 
PLAIN  OR  IN   FANCY   COLORS, 
Printed  iu  the  Best  Style  at  the  office  of 

THE  FAEMEK. 


I 


*  I    Q    '\^ Cid  y>     f  T'^  Bnbucribers  in 
)  i    rt      1  Cdl      ^      Ibe  county. 


SINGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS. 


^'•""'»uic  Sooi^/'-.r""".'"" "'}  $1. 28. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  FEBRUARY 


PEARSOL  &  OEIST,  Publishers. 


FAMILIAR  TALK  WITH  THE  READER 

It  is  with  a  fculiiii;  of  pride  that  we  ivfVr  to  the 
varieil  ami  sulistautial  eharaeternf  tlie  eonteiits  of 
this  issue  of  TiiK  Lancastek  Fahmeu.  We  thiuk 
tile  jiraetieal  fanner  will  sustaiu  us  in  prouounein^it 
the  most  valuable  nuuiher  we  have  yet  priuteil;  anil 
we  luive  IK)  hesitation  in  ehalleni;iniif  the  world  to 
proiluee  another  ai;rieultural  puhlieation  which  fur- 
nishes a  greater  amount  or  lurRer  variety  of  valuable 
informatiou  for  /t-jcx  thuu.  tt'it  cents,  which  is  all  it  costs 
its  Lancaster  county  patrons.  And  it  is  gratifyins; 
to  us  to  lie  able  to  give  a  large  measure  of  the  credit 
for  the  value  of  this  issue*  to  our  many  esteemed  and 
jiractical  contributors,  the  number  of  which  are 
steadily  on  the  increase.  We  have,  perhaps,  issued 
numbers  which  were  more  attractive  in  the  amount 
and  variety  of  their  illustrations,  but  none  which  con- 
tained more  able  articles  from  the  pens  of  writers  who 
are  iiractically  versed  in  the  topics  they  discuss. 

And  with  tills  issue  of  The  Fakmek  in  the  hands 
of  our  readers,  who  embrace  many  of  the  leading 
intelligent  and  progressive  farmers  of  this  great 
county,  may  we  not  be  pardoned  for  appealing  to 
them  to  make  a  special  efl'ort  to  increase  its  circula- 
tion ?  We  freiiuently  receive  letters  from  distin- 
guished agriculturists,  horticulturists,  and  stock- 
breeders abroad,  expressing  surprise  that  such  an 
able  and  valuable  publication  sliould  eonline  its 
etl'orts  mainly  to  securing  home  support.  Tliey  say  it 
is  too  good  to  limit  its  usefulness  to  the  "  pent-up 
Utiea  "  of  a  single  county:  but  these  kind  and  appre- 
ciative frii'uds  do  not  consider  that  Lancaster  county 
is  an  empire  in  itself — the  ricliest  agricultural  eoiiuty 
in  tlic  I'nitnd  States — containing  material  to  furnisli  a 
6ul)Scription  list  of  .5,U00,  with  only  one  out  ol'  Uvoof 
her  farmers  among  its  patrons.  If  only  every  second 
farmer  in  the  county  would  become  a  subscriber,  we 
would  be  able,  with  facilities  already  at  command, to 
make  Tiiii  Laniastkh  Faumek  the  must  licautiful 
and  valuable  publication  of  its  class  in  llie  world,  for 
such  is  the  ambition  of  both  editor  and  jjublishers. 
'J' he  bound  volume  for  IST.'i.a  limited  number  of  copies 
oi'  which  can  be  furnished,  is  worth  ten  times itscost, 
and  in  a  few  years  cannot  be  bought  for  any  such 
sum.  Then  let" every  one  of  onr  present  subscribers 
exert  himself  to  send  us  one  tir  more  new  subscribers, 
that  we  may  be  able  to  still  further  improve  The 
Faumek^  until  the  farmers  of  Lane-aster  county  can 
claim  the  credit  of  being  represented  in  the  Held  of 
agricultural  literature  by  a  publication  which  shall 
stand  without  a  rival. 

IMPROVED  LIVE  STOCK. 

We  take  pleasure  in  calling  the  attention  of  our 
readers  to  tlie  adverlisement  ol'  W.  Atlee  Burpee, 
importer,  breeder,  and  shipijcr  of  live  stock.  Mr. 
Hurix'c  is  a  grandson  of  L)r.  Wasliington  L.  Atlee, 
(brother  of -Ur.  .John  L.  Atlee,  of  this  city,)  well 
known  to  many  of  our  readers.  We  believe  there  is 
no  other  man  of  his  years  who  has  \vi>n  a  more  de- 
served and  extended  rc])Ulation  as  a  reliable  and  con- 
scientious breeder  and  dealer  in  the  kinds  ol'  stock 
which  he  makes  bis  specialties.  We  arc  very  careful 
about  what  we  eonimcnd  in  Tni;  Kaumkk,  and  the 
judgment  now  given  is  iia.sed  only  on  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  tlie  man  and  his  ability  to  make  go>od 
all  engagements  with  his  customers. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


p.\c;k. 

-  17 
17 

-  17 
IS 


EDITORIAL  ARTICLES  : 

Black  Cochins,        -        -        -        - 
Toulouse  Geese,  -      '  - 
The  Hed  Echymyd  (Eehymys  nifus). 
The  Mouse  Moth,         -         -         -         - 

What  Kind  of  Oil, LS 

An  Open  Winter,  .--■--]<) 
Peculiar  Etlcets  of  Winter  Heat,  -  -  -  1!) 
The  "  Snowflake  "  and  "  Kuri'ka"  Potatoes,  lil 
The  Dairy  Interests   (Practical   Hints  About 

Making  and  .Selecting  liood  Chesse,)  -  20 
Arrival  of  Birds  in  187.5,     -         -         -         -         20 

Facts  of  Natural  History — "  Homes  Without 

Hands,"    -----  .21 

Mental  Culture  Among  Farmers,      -        -        21 
Spiders,  -------    22 

The  Grangers,    ------        Si 

The  Fruit  Growers' Society,  -         -         -    2.5 

ORIGINAL   COMMUNICATIONS: 

Humming  Birds.  F.  U.  Dirt'EXDEHiFEit,  2'2 
Lancaster  County  as  an  Apple  Orchard. 

Oi.i"  CoNTKimvroH,  -  -  -  -  24 
Notes  and  Remarks  on  New  Fruits  and 

Vegetables.  J.  B.  (iARBEH,  -  -  -  24 
Make  Hot-Houses.  Walter  Ei.dek,  -  24 
Corn  Culture.     .J.  B.,  -        -        -        -    'i') 

Testing  Fertilizers  and  their  Continued 

Action.  .John  I.  Caictek,  -  -  -  2.5 
Rural  Life.    Wai.tei:  F.i.I)EK,        -        -        2.5 

THE  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY,        -2.5 

AiHiujI  aiMrcss  uf  Master  James  Cx.  McSiiarraii,  of 
Kiillou  (Iraiige,  Nu.  CO. 

The  Fruit  Growers'  Society,  -        -        -        -    2(> 

Aiiiiujil  Meeting  iu  Dojiestowu—Iuterfsting  Ses- 
sion -V.ihnljle  Kssaya  and  DiHCUHBiouB— All 
About  Fruit  Growing  and  Ocueral  Horticul- 
ture— Geueral  Uei)urtH  and  Loiterh- — AdtlresH  by 
tlie  I*resii1eiit —  losiah  Hooi)eH  on  Yards  and 
LawuH— Management  of  OrcUards — Klection  of 
OtticerB-Tbe  Centennial— Mort*  Alxiut  Apiile 
Orrliaidt: — Hybridization  of  Fruits— I^-st  Varie- 
ties of  Api'les— Dtwtroying  the  Burk  Loum- — 
Election  of  Otticern — I'ne  Codling  Moth— IVars 
ftnd  tlieir  Culture— Fruit  Trees  from  the  North — 
PruHervation  of  Fruit  by  Ice— Cultivation  of  the 
Clierry — I'cach  <  "ulture — Miscellaneous  Toiiice — 
Strawberries — Haei>berrie«  and  Bluckbe-Ties — 
Currants  aud  Gooseberries  —  Grapea  —  Ever- 
greens—  UOBCB. 

Our  Paris  Letter. 2ft 

Our  Local  Organizations,    -        -        -        -        30 

Our  Farmers  in  Council— Economy  r«.  Hard 
Timet* — IteiJortouCrofs — Tup  questiou  of  Plant- 
ing Foipst  TieeH— Shall  We  Eat  Pork?— Walk- 
ing Horses  VM.  Trottiug — The  State  Agricultural 

liej  ortH. 

GENERAL  MISCELLANY,        -        -        -    'n 

Shade  Trees — Thoughts  for  March— Large  Poultry 
Yard— The  State  Agriculturist— The  Pestilenlial 
l';aHt  Wind — Influence  of  Food  on  the  Mind — 
Hurtful  Ke;uiiug — Celery— Coru  SUrch  Cake — 
What  it  will  do. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


|l|e  |anca?tBr  |ariiiBr; 

A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOM  ESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  JENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  ]iromiiu>nt  feature,  with   special  n'ferutire  to  Ibe 
wants  of  the  Farmer,  the  Gardener  aud  Fruit  •Grower. 


Founded  mu\cr  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  Tjy  Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON. 


LITERARY  AND  PERSONAL, 

Book>  alid  PerJodicids, 

Our  Fence  Corners,     -        -        -       - 
Fact  aud  Fancy,  Wit  aud  Humor. 


-    :!2 


The  Lancaster  Farmkh  has  now  completed  itii  seventh 
year^the  last  having  been  under  the  auH|pir**H  of  the  under- 
signed as  ]iublishers.  When  we  asstimeil  the  reiipunKiltlllty 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago.  It  was  wiDi  u  detenninatiou 
to  make  such  imjirovement*'  during  the  year  as  would  pl»ce 
the  Farmers' Organ  of  Ibis  great  agricultuml  couuly  iu  the 
very  front  rank  of  |>ublicatiuiiH  of  its  class.  Tlnit  we  have 
done  so,  our  readers  will  benr  cheerful  teHtlniony.  Bui  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  \V«  proitowo  to 
make  the  volume  for  ttieConluiiuIal  yeiirsiill  inorelniereMtiug 
aud  vsluabte  than  its  i)redeo»'M8or  for  1S7.').  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-operutiuu  uf  ever)'  friend  of  the  enter- 
p^1ft^^  To  make  it  a  HUccesH,  e^ery  one  who  now  n'ads  TiiK 
Fakmku  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  suttAcritier. 

The  contributions  of  our  able  editor.  Prof.  ItATiivo.v.  on 
8Ubje<'tH  connected  with  the  science  of  fanning,  and  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  wliieti  he  is  so  thon>ughly  a  master  — 
entomological  science  -some  kuowletlge  uf  which  has  iM-come 
a  necessity  to  the  succettsful  farmer,  are  aluue  wortli  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  pnblicitiou. 

The  Faumeu  will  be  published  ou  the  I6th  of  every 
month,  jirinted  on  go«id  paper  with  cle«r  tyi***,  in  cou- 
vcnient  form  for  reading  aud  bludlug,  and  mailed  to  iiut>- 
Hcribers  on  thu  following 

TERMS: 

To  subscribers  resi<liug  within  the  oouuty — 
One  copy,  one  year,         -----         $i.oo 

Six  copies,  one  year,  -         -----       5,00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------       7.50 

To  subscrilH'rs  outside  of  Lancaster  ooonty,  including 
I)08tage  pn'-paid  by  the  publishers: 

One  copy,  one  year,           -        -         -         .         -         $1.25 
Five  copies,  one  year, 5.00 

All  subHcriptions  will  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber unless  otiienvis**  ordered. 

All  eominuuications  iuteadod  for  pnbllciition  should  be 
addrexHed  to  the  Editor,  and,  to  Ne4>ure  Insertinii.  should  be 
In  his  hnnds  by  the  first  of  the  month  of  pnltlicitlou. 

All  busincMs  letters,  conlalniug  nulwrrlptj.ms  and  adver- 
tisements, should  he  uddn  khi  d  to  the  ]>ubIishcrH, 

-     PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 

Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


UATKS  OF  AltVt:itTINI\». — Ten  OntN    n 
line  for  t'Hfli  limcrHoii.     Twilve  lium  lo  ilic  ludi. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  GET  THE  BEST. 


Til  mMB  &  muim 

FEED  CUTTER, 


MANUFACTUBED    FOR 


DIX^I^SR   <Sc    GrFlOFF, 

DEALERS   IN 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  EAST  KING  ST.,  LANCASTEE,  PA., 

Has  been  demonstrated  by  competitive  tests  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roU 
JB  Operated  by  a  new  and  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  the  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  worlrraanfihi])  are  of  the  very  beet  class, 
and  guaranteed  to  givesatisfactioBto  the  purchaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Reajier  and  Mower,  which  we  have  sold 
with  Buch  entire  eatisfyction  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  niiiintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors — 
33,761  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1S75 
— and  we  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
f uU  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLEU  8,  GHOFF, 

No,  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

7-ll-lim 


Will  be 
niled  free 
to  all  a  p  p  1  i  - 
in  ts.    This  is 
lie  of  the  larpcst 
ml  most  conipreheu- 
ve    Cataloscues    pub- 
ished;  contains  about  2-i0 
a^^s,  over  GOO  fine  enprav- 
_s,  '1  elegant  colored  plates, 
uid    gives    full    descriptions, 
rices,  and  directions  for  plant- 
^    ...„  over  1200  varieties  of  Vegt-lable 
,    and   Flower  Seeds,   Bedding  Phtnts. 
Roses.  &Q:,  and  is  invaluable  to  Farmer, 
"Gardener  and  Florists.    Address, 

D.  M.  TERRY  &  CO., 
Seedsmen  and  Florists,  DETROIT.  Mich. 


PATENTS 

OBTADJED  BEST  AIJB  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OF  PATENTS, 

TTT'asb.ington,  D.  C. 


ly Address  aU  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  444. 


7-3  12m 


7-9-6m 


This  includes  bags  and  delivering  on  board  care. 


EVERGREEN  BONE  DUST, 

MANUFACTURED    BY 

M.  B.  ESHLEMIN,  at  LEAMAN  PLACE, 

Is  guaranteod  Fure  Saw  Bone,  and  nothing  else. 
Special  paius  taken  in  preparing  it  for  feeding  bens. 

No.  1,  for  feeding:,      •      -      $l.i>0  per  hundred. 
No.  2,  for  land,       •       •       -    1.75 


DEALERS  IN  AXL  KmDS  OF 

FA1IIII.T  and  I^IME-BURNINO  COAI.  I 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  the 
8-l-12m)    Yard,  No.  618  NORTH  PRINCE  STREET. 


THE  OLD  FARM  HOUSE. 

The  easy  chair,  all  patched  with  care. 

Is  placed  by  the  cold  hearth-stone  ; 
With  witching  grace,  in  the  old  fire-jilace. 

The  evergreens  ai-e  strewn. 
And  pictures  hang  on  the  whitened  wall. 
And  the  old  clock  ticks  in  the  cottage  hall. 

More  lovely  still,  on  the  window  sill. 

The  dew-eyed  flowers  rest. 
While  'midst  the  leaves  on  the  moss-grown 

The  martin  builds  her  nest. 
And  all  day  long  the  summer  tjreeze 
Is  wliispering  love  to  the  bended  trees. 

Over  the  door,  all  covered  o'er 

With  a  sack  of  dark  green  baize. 
Lays  a  musket  old,  whose  worth  is  told 

In  the  events  of  other  days  ; 
And  the  powder-flask,  and  the  hunter's  horn. 
Have  hung  beside  it  for  many  a  morn. 

For  years  have  fled  with  a  noiseless  tread. 

Like  fairy  dreams  away. 
And  in  their  flight,  all  shorn  of  its  might, 

A  father — old  and  gray  ; 
And  the  soft  winds  play  with  the  snow-white  hair. 
And  the  old  man  sleeps  in  his  easy  chair. 

Inside  the  door,  on  the  sanded  floor. 

Light,  airy  footsteps  glide. 
And  a  maiden  fair,  with  flasen  hair. 

Kneels  by  the  old  man's  side — 
An  old  oak  wrecked  by  the  angry  storm. 
While  the  ivy  clings  to  its  trembling  form. 


Why  He  Broke  His  Pledge. 

"See  here,  Mr.  Jonesby,  do  you  know  that  you 
cheated  me  out  of  a  pound  and  a  half  of  pork  V 

"  Why  no,  I  was  not  aware  of  it;  but  how?  Mr. 
Smlthers." 

Why,  you  see,  that  the  200  pound  pigthat  you  pro- 
mised me  if  I  kept  the  pledge  ten  weeks,  only  weighed 
1981^  pounds. 

Did  it,  indeed.  Well,  I  am  sorry  for  that,  and  will 
make  good  wliat  it  lacked. 

"  Its  too  late  now  ;  I  have  smashed  the  pledge. 
When  a  man  don't  keep  his  word  with  me,  I  don't 
keep  my  word  with  him.*' 

Poor,  wronged  Mr.  Smithers;  fraudulent  Mr.  Jones- 
by.   When  will  people  ever  get  their  rights  ? 

When  pyviciles  and  not  puyies  prevail. 

Precocious  boy,  munchiug  the  fruit  of  the  date  tree 
— "  Mamma,  if  I  eat  dates  enough,  will  I  grow  up  to 
be  an  almanac?" 

An  old  lady  from  one  of  the  rural  districts,  aston- 
ished a  clerk  in  one  of  the  stores  a  few  days  ago,  by 
inquiring  if  he  had  any  "yaller  developments  sich  as 
they  did  up  letters  in." 

A  PRECOCIOUS  boy  was  asked  which  was  the  greater 
evii  of  the  two — hurting  another's  feelings  or  his  fin- 
ger. He  said  the  former.  "  Right,  my  dear  child," 
said  the  gratified  questioner;  "  and  why  is  it  worse  to 
hurt  the  feelings?"  "Because  you  can't  tie  a  rag 
around  them,"  exclaimed  the  dear  child. 

A  Vermont  genius  is  trying  to  manufacture  false 
hair  from  basswood.  It  is  to  be  hoped  he  will  suc- 
ceed. It  will  be  more  pleasant  for  a  fellow  to  gaze 
from  his  pillow  iu  the  morning  upon  the  switch  hang- 
ing over  the  back  of  a  chair  and  wonder  what  tree  it 
came  from,  than  to  speculate  upon  what  dead  woman 
it  was  once  attached  to. 

The  other  day  a  German,  leaning  against  a  hitch- 
ing post  on  Washington  street,  looked  up  at  the  sky 
and  remarked:  "  I  guess  a  leedle  it  vill  rain  some- 
dime  pooty  queek."  "  Yez  do,  eh  ?"  replied  an  Irish- 
man at  his  side.  "  Well,  I  want  yees  to  understand 
thatyees  have  no  business  to  come  over  to  America 
and  say  anything  forninst  the  weather.  What  the 
devil  do  yees  purteud  to  know  about  American 
weather,  anyhow,  ye  furrin  galoot  ?"  The  German 
had  no  more  to  say. 

He  was  a  New  Yorker.  He  had  never  seen  the 
country  before,  and  read  when  at  school  the  great 
editor's  "  What  I  know  about  farming,"  and  con- 
sidered himself  posted.  He  came  to  southwest  Min- 
nesota on  business.  A  friend  drove  him  out  to  see 
the  counti'y;  they  passed  by  a  cornfield  where  some 
men  were  pulling  corn.  What  is  that  ?  said  the  New 
Yorker.  'That  is  a  field  of  corn,  said  his  friend. 
What  are  those  men  doing?  said  yankee.  They  are 
pulling  the  corn,  said  his  friend.  Ah,  I  see,  said 
yankee,  they  pull  the  corn  ofl'  and  let  the  sticks  stand 
for  another  year.    The  subject  was  dropped. 


Henry  M.  Engle,  of  Marietta,  a  valued  contrib- 
utor to  The  Farmer,  and  well  known  over  the  State 
as  a  successful  and  enterprising  fruit  grower,  met 
with  a  severe  loss  on  the  *i.5th  of  January  in  the  de- 
struction of  his  barn  by  incendiary  fire,  with  all  its 
contents,  including  twenty-nine  head  of  cattle,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $.5,000,  on  which  there  was  only 
$1 ,800  insurance.  The  stock, especially  several  head  of 
Alderney  cows,  was  very  valuable,  and  the  loss  to 
Mr.  Engle  was  a  severe  one;  but  he  is  a  man  of  too 
much  pluck  to  be  discouraged  by  such  reverses. 


This  is  a  beautiful  Quarterly  Journal,  finely  illustrated, 
and  containing  an  elegant  colored  Frontispiece  with  the 
first  number.  Price  only  25  cents  for  ihe  year.  The  first 
number  for  1876  just  issued.  SJF^  Vick's  Flower  and 
Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents  ;  with  cloth  covers,  65  cents. 
Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Kochesler,  N.  Y. 


A  FIRST  CLASS 


DEVOTED  TO 

POULTRY  AND  PET  STOCK 

IN    ALU   THEIR    BRANCHES. 

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The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof:  S.  S.  SATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  FEBRUARY,  1876. 


Vol  vm.  No.  2. 


BLACK  COCHINS. 

We  give  herewith  ;i  pleasing  ilhistration  of 
a  first-elas.s  pair  of  this  variety,  representing 
"Nicodomus"  and  ",Iet,"  owned  liy  Dr.  F. 
W.  ]5yers,  Lena,  111.,  who  kindly  furiiishedus 
the  following  notes  in  reply  toaenrr>'spandenl 
of  our  Aincrinin  Fanciers^  (luzittr,  which,  hav- 
ing .sold,  we  will  give  the  readers  of  TiiK  Lan- 
C.vsTEU  Fakmku  the  henelit  of  Dr.  Hyers' 
cxperienee  wi(h  this  variety,  in  liis  own  words. 
—  W.  Atkc  Buriia;  Fhiluddphia,  Fth.  5.  l^Tll. 


seen  kept  in  the  poultry  line — never  throwing 
any  hrown  or  dingy  colors.  In  some  we  find 
a  little  white  in  tli"  unilerfoathering,  which, 
by  soniej)f  our  poultrynien,  is  not  onsidered 
olijcctionalile,  as  black  and  white  are  corre- 
sponding colors.  For  this  climate  we  do  not 
believe  they  have  any  superiors.  They  pos- 
si'ss  extreme  hardiness — seem  to  feel  w.'ll  when 
other  varieties  are  piiwhed  up  with  cold.  Tliey 
are  a  first-class  table  fowl,  attain  a  fair  size, 
and  with  little  inclination  to  sit,  are  (excellent 
layiirs.  The  young 
rear  with  very  lil- 
l\o.  attention,  and 
when  fully  matured 
are,  indeed,  attrac- 
tive and  beautiful. 
The  cock,  especi- 
iilly,  is  an  aristo- 
cratic, stately  look- 
ing fellow,  stands 
erect,  presenting  a 
very  handsome  and 
imposing  appear- 
ance.— Fred.  \V . 
Byers,-  Jjena,  III., 
January  25,  1870. 


BLACK  COCHINS. 

A  writer  in  the  August  Gazette,  speaking  of 
Cochins,  says  the  Blacks  are  very  little 
known,  only  one  pair  being  shown  at  the  Pro- 
vincial Exhil)ition  at  Loudon.  Mr.  Wright, 
in  his  Illustrated  Book  of  Poultry,  givesthis 
variety  only  a  slight  notice,  seeming  to  con- 
sider them  an  inferior  fowl  as  they  are  now 
bred  in  England.  However,  in  the  United 
States,  and  especially  here  in  the  West,  they 
are  regarded  as  a  very  superior  breed. 

At  one  of  our  poultry  shows  last  winter,  the 
rmml)er  of  entries  of  Blacks  was  eijual  to  those 
of  an}'  other  Cochin  variety,  and  tlie  display  a 
very  creditable  one  throughout.  It  is  true 
they  are  not  so  large  as  the  Bull',  but  careful 
breeding  is  bringing  them  to  true  shape  and  size. 
They  are  closer  in  feather,  couseipicntlv  do  not 
show  size  like  the  loo.se  feather  Huffy  liuff.  In 
color  they  are  glossy  black,  shading  to  bottle 
green,  with  bright  red  comb  nattles  and  ear- 
lobe.  They  diti'er  in  sha|)o  and  gait  usually 
from  the  other  Cochins,  and  by  .selecting  such 
as  conform  to  characteristics  of  Buff  and  Par- 
tridge, they  are  assuming  the  true  Cochin 
type.  The  back  is  long,  sloping  to  root  of  tail 
like  a  Game,  and  the  tail  itself  is  more  like 
that  of  the  Brahma.  The  legs  are  rather 
pearly,  furnished  with  feathers,  but  to  off.set 
this  we  have  never  seen  a  vulture  hock  or  any 
ap])roach  to  it  among  the  blacks.  They  are 
also  free  from  ''sli]»  wings"  and  twisted 
feathers  in  wings,  defects  so  common  in  many 
Asiatic  families.  If  they  are  ,a  cross,  as  some 
contend,  it  is  our  opinion  that  they  carry 
some  Game  blood.  They  are  sprightly  and 
active  in  their  movements,  splendid  foragers, 
and  are  sure  to  come  oH'  "  first  best  "  in  a 
fight  with  their  cousins.  Black  Cochins  breed 
more  true  to  feather  than   anything  we  have 


TOU  LOUSE 
GEESE. 

This  variety  is 
doubtless  the  larg- 
est known.  Men  in 
general  have  a  n 
aversion  to  geese, 
and  We  don't  blame 
^^  thejn  cither;  for 
what  could  the  lit- 
tle noisy,  vora- 
cious, unruly  com- 
mon geese  be  con- 
sidered on  a  farm 
but  a  nuisance,  un- 
less securely  pemied 
in  .siiuie  .sivaiupy  field  V  This  natural  aversion 
we  were  not  exempt  from  till  we  tried  the 
magnificent  Toulouse,  and  then  it  was  changed 
to  a  liking  for  these  geese. 
In  appearance,  they  are  no- 
ble and  dignified,  and  will 
thrive  without  water  to  f 
swim  in,  if  plenty  be  provid-  fi 
ed  for  drink.  They  are  f 
never  unruly,  and  can  be 
fenced  as  easily  as  shec^p  ; 
are  very  quiet,  not  noisy, 
and  extremely  hardy.  Th(\ 
are  good  layers,  averaginj 
about  forty  eggs  each,  in  ; 
sea..son,  and  are  seldom 
broody.  If  the  old  stock  is 
not  kept  fat,  and  after  .spring 
opens  oidy  on  pasture  and 
vegetables,  without  grain, 
nearly  every  egg  will  hatch. 
The  goslings  are  much 
stronger  when  young  than 
the  connnon,  and  are  more 
easily  rai.sed  than  a  pig. 
We  use  hens  for  hatching, 
and  in  summer  have  placed 
them  on  a  fresh  grass-plat, 
and  reaied  them  without 
any  mother.  Their  growth  is  so  rapid  that 
at  four  weeks  old  they  will  weigh  from  six  to 
eight  pounds  each,  and  at  three  months,  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  pounds.  At  four  wi'cks 
old  they  need  i  further  housim;,  and  can  be 
taken  from  the  nur.s<M-y  and  placed  in  the  open 
pasture  to  graze  and  shift  for  themselves,  pro- 
vided they  have  their  regular  meals  of  soft 
feed,  whi('h  should  l)e  ciMitinned  till  they  are 
three  or  four  months  old.  In  France  and  Eng- 
land, Toulouse  geese  are  prized  for  their  great 


size,  excelli  111  ilesh,  and  abundant  yield  of 
soft,  line  feathers,  of  which  they  will  average 
about  half  a  pound  to  tlu;  "picking,"  and 
would  be  i>rotilahle  lor  this  purpo.se.  In  the 
severest  weather  they  require  no  sli(dter,  and 
we  never  feed  mature  birds  any  gniin  when 
the  ground  is  bare,  where  tliey  have  access  to 
pasture  fields. 

In  color,  geese  and  ganders  are  exactly 
alike,  vi/. :  a  uniform,  handsomi'  gray,  with 
breast  and  underparlsof  body  a  shad«r  lighter. 
They  are  so  mild  and  tractable  in  disposition, 
and  pos.se.ss  .so  many  gooil  traits,  that  they  are 
profitable  when;  they  can  be  ke|it,  and  es|)eci- 
ally  where  grain  and  gniss  an;  chea|).  There 
are  hundreds  of  wa.ste  places  upon  which,  with 
a  trilling  expense,  large  numbers  of  tlu'se 
gee.se  ctuild  be  raised.  To  sliow  how  prolific 
tliey  are,  we  have  known,  for  two  .sexsons 
pitst,  one  hundred  goslings  to  Ite  rai.sed  each 
year  from  the  eggs  of  eight  females,  besides  a 
large  number  being  .sold  for  hatching  purposes. 
For  all  pur|)0.ses,  the  Toulouse  .should  bi^  voted 
the  "goo.se  of  the  period." — Tkc  I'uuUry  Na- 
tion. 


THE  RED  ECHYMYD. 

l^K  liijtnijtt  rttfuH.) 

This  .animal  isindigei'iousto  Brazil,  Guiana, 
and  Paraguay,  in  .South  Amerii'a.  Itisabout 
the  size  of  the  common  rat  of  North  America, 
and  is  also  called  the  "  Spinous  rat."  It  is  a 
reddish  gray  in  color,  and  the  tail  is  llattened 
and  somewhat  shorter  than  the  body.  It  con- 
structs long  subterranean  biirrow.s.  It  is  allied 
to  the  "Dormice,"  the  last  group  in  the  fam- 
ily SciUKiD.E, according  to  CuviKii.  It  .seeni.s 
to  be  a  connecting  link  between  tiie  .sijuirrel 
family  and  the  rat  family.  Like  the  "  Dor- 
mouse," it  also  has  foiu'  molar  teeth,  which 
tlilter,  however,  in  formation  from  tlie  animal 
named.  The  fur  is  somewhat  rough,  iider- 
spcrsed  with  short  tlattened spines ori)riekling 
iiuills.  These  animals  are  true  Uodkxts,  or 
"  gnawers,  "an<l  their  food  and  fee«ling  habits 
are  similar  to  those  of  sijuirrels,  mice,  and 
dormice.  Their  phure  is  not  uuaniiuou.sly,  and, 


therefore,  not  permanently  fixed,  in  the  order 
of  classification.  There  are  two  groups  of 
theseanimals.  belonging  to  the  genus  E:lii/my.i, 
one  of  which  hius  hairy  tailsand  the  other  .scaly 
tails,  the  former  being  more  nearly  allied  to 
the  .sipiirrels,  and  the  latter  to  the  common 
rats  and  mice. 


A  i)ol,l,AltspentlorTllKLAKC.\STEli  Fau- 
MElt  will  prove  the  l)est  paying  investment  that 
can  be  made.    .iVsk  your  neighbor  to  try  it. 


d8 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[February, 


THE  HOUSE-MOTH. 

The  simple  term  Math  incliules  a  multitude 
of  ditferent  siiecies  of  destructive  insects, 
not  even  belongiiij;:  to  the  same  family  or  order; 
but  it  is  presumed  that  everj'  intelligent  house- 
wife knows  what  we  mean  when  we  say  House- 
Moth.  That  there  were,  or  may  still  be  some 
who  do  not  know  a  moth,  even  when  they  see 
it,  we  have  seen  ludicrously  demonstrated  on 
several  occasions.  On  one  particular  occasion 
we  entered  a  house  and  found  the  good  lady 
thereof  engaged  in  her  "shaking  up"  and 
mid.summer  investigation  of  her  previous 
winter  blankets  and  woolen  clothing,  and 
mournfully  deploring  the  ravages  of  the 
"pesky"  house-moths.  She  painfully  rec- 
ognized their  pernicious  work,  but  she  did 
not  seem  to  have  an  intelligent  idea  of  the 
little  creatures  that  caused  the  havoc  among 
her  woolens ;  for  just  as  we  entered,  she 
removed  a  bundle  of  old  newspapers,  and 
immediately  seized  a  dusting  brush,  and  with 
the  back  of  it,  in  rapid  succession,  dealt  a 
series  of  blows  upon  something  that  was  as  rap- 
idly making  its  escape  to  some  otlier  place  of 
concealment,  as  often  as  it  was  exposed  to 
view.  This,  she  alleged,  was  one  of  the  "  in- 
fernal moths,"  and  she  was  determined  to 
summarily  extinguish  it  with  the  back  of  the 
brush.  We  ventmed  to  admonish  her  that 
she  was  quite  mistaken,  and  that  any  insect 
that  could  run  as  swiftly  and  hide  as  quickly 
as  the  one  she  was  pursuing,  could  not  possi- 
bly be  the  one  that  had  so  effectually  scored 
lier  blankets  and  woolen  clothing — tliat  the 
real  author  of  the  mischief  never  made  any 
attemjit  to  run  away,  and  indeed  could  not 
run.  We  called  her  attention  to  the  true  moths, 
on  the  carpet,  on  the  walls,  and  on  the  furni- 
ture, slowly  dragging  their  variously  colored 
woolen  cases  along  in  the  direction  of  the 
places  from  which  they  had  been  dislodged  ; 
and  which,  on  the  slightest  disturbance,  would 
draw  in  their  heads  and  collapse  the  ends  of 
their  cases. 

Hers  had  been  a  sort  of  "  wild-goose  chase  " 
after  a  species  of  Lepsima,  those  three-tailed, 
silvery-scaled,  swift-running,  degraded  Neit- 
ROPTERA,  which,  whatever  else  they  are  guilty 
of,  are  not  very  formidable  as  the  destroyers 
of  blankets  and  woolen  clothing;  althougli  it 
is  said  they  will  occasionally  eat  woolen  cloth, 
and  the  surface  of  photographs. 

"As  the  winter  passes  away  and  the  genial 
sun  once  more  pours  his  warm  rays  ovei'  the 
earth,  making  all  things  bright  and  cheerful, 
l)lankets,  overcoats,  wraps,  furs,  and  all  arti- 
cles that  can  comfortably  be  dispensed  witli, 
will  be  laid  aside  for  those  of  thinner  texture. " 
And  here  is  just  where  a  rational  caution 
should  be  observed  in  regard  to  the  articles 
thus  laid  aside  during  the  summer  season. 
The  "House-Moths"  {Thica  taptzietla,  ves- 
tianella,  et  pdlionella)  may  be  seen  in  its 
winged  state  from  the  first  of  May  to  the 
first  of  July,  and  sometimes  until  the  first 
of  August ;  but  it  is  most  aliundant  in  the 
month  of  June,  and  it  is  during  this  month 
that  the  greater  nundjer  of  the  eggs  are 
deposited,  although  there  are  either  several 
broods,  or  successive  alternations  of  the  same 
brood.  About  this  period  too  it  is  when  most 
of  the  winter  fabrics  are  put  away,  and  the 
eggs  are  so  small,  and  adhere  so  firmly,  that 
they  may  easily  be  packed  away  with  the  arti- 
cles intended  to  be  preserved.  Although  such 
preventives  as  tobacco,  pepper  and  cami)hor 
are  recommended,  and  no  doubt  to  a  certain 
extent  are  beneficial,  our  experience  has  taught 
us  that  tlie  most  effectual  remedy  is  in  pack- 
ing the  articles  in  fine  linen  or  paper  bags, 
with  every  aperture  completely  closed,  through 
which  a  moth  could  possibly  dejwsit  its  eggs. 
If  no  eggs  have  been  inclosed  with  the  articles, 
this  precaution  is  perfectly  safe. 

A  writer  from  Paris  under  date  of  Januaiy 
3,  1870,  states  that  in  that  city  there  are  i)er- 
sons  who  make  it  a  business  to  receive  furs 
and  woolen  articles,  and  for  a  reasonable  com- 
pensiition,  keep  them  free  from  moths  until 
they  are  again  wanted.  Where  no  such  estab- 
lishments exist,  or  where  people  prefer  to  have 
their  property  in  their  own  custody,  the  bag- 


ging process  should  be  used,  and  this  may  be 
also  exteiHlcd  to  woolen  carpets.  We  would 
recommend  the  use  of  tough  strong  paper 
(manilla)  out  of  which  small  -flour  sacks  are 
now  made,  but  care  should  be  taken  that  every 
hole,  no  matter  how  small,  be  perfectly  closed. 
Cayenne  pejiper.  or  pieces  of  red-peii]ier  pods, 
toliacco  and  camphor,  may  also  be  put  among 
the  articles  ;  but  if  we  could  be  certain  that 
we  have  enclosed  no  eggs,  these  articles  would 
be  altogether  lumecessary.  Under  any  circum- 
stances they  will  do  no  harm  if  they  do  no 
good. 

Be  sure  you  do  not  improvise  a  woolen  bag, 
for  this  would  only  attract  the  insects,  and 
they  would  destroy  the  covering  before  attack- 
ing its  contents.  Before  bagging  articles  to 
be  preserved  tliey  shoidd  be  violently  beaten 
and  shaken,  and  all  the  moths,  if  any,  in  them 
should  be  at  once  thoroughly  destroyed.  Some 
people  are  in  the  habit  of  hanging  their  arti- 
cles out  in  the  sun,  to  give  them  "an  airing," 
as  they  call  it,  without  seriously  disturbing  the 
moths.  The  Paris  writer  says — "As  the 
gnawing  insects  cannot  invade  linen  or  cotton, 
it  is  enough  to  have  this  envelope  impenetra- 
ble at  all  points,  provided  we  do  not  attempt 
the  preservation  of  ;in  object  already  infested 
with  vermin  or  with  their  eggs  and  larvie." 
Under  certain  peculiar  circumstances,  how- 
ever, we  have  found  that  moths  will  invade 
both  linen  and  cotton,  but  if  it  lie  closely 
woven  stout  material,  it  is  questionable  if 
they  coidd  penetrate  it  as  they  do  woolen 
cloth.  On  one  occasion  a  box  in  our  store, 
containing  jiieces  of  canvas,  padding  and  cot- 
ton flannel,  which  had  been  for  years  undis- 
turbed, was  finally  removed  in  making  some 
improvements.  On  examining  its  contents 
hundreds  of  moths  were  found  in  it,  and  these 
had  scored  the  linen  and  cotton  material  as 
well  as  the  woolen,  forming  their  cylindrical 
cases  out  of  one  kind  as  freely  as  another,  the 
only  difference  being  that  they  did  not  cut 
throuyh  the  linen  and  cotton  as  they  did 
through  the  woolen.  Ordinarily,  however, 
moths  are  rather  nice  in  their  tastes,  for  we 
have  found  the  finer  and  softer  fabrics  more 
liable  to  their  infestations  than  those  of  a 
coarser  and  harder  quality  ;  but,  where  opjjor- 
tunities  for  this  discrimination  do  not  exist 
they  will  attack  everything  and  anything  that 
is  woolen,  and  rather  than  starve,  they  will 
also  appropriate  linen  and  cotton,  unless  its 
surface  is  too  smooth  and  hard  to  make  an 
imiiression  iqion  it. 

The  sum  and  substance,  then,  of  these  re- 
marks is,  that  the  cheapest,  safest  and  easiest 
remedy  against  moths,  is  the  perfect  isolation 
of  the  articles  we  desire  to  preser\'e,  and  where 
this  has  been  perfectly  accomplished,  there  is 
little  need  of  anything  else;  nevertheless,  as 
we  are  liable  to  omissions  and  other  inadver- 
tencies, the  introduction  of  pulverized  cam- 
phor, pepjier  and  toliacco  will  not  be  amiss  as 
repellents,  if  they  do  not  kill. 

Every  iiarent  moth  that  is  seen  should  be 
killed — a  little  silvery  whitish  and  sluggish 
day  and  night  flier,  that  ajijiears  most  abun- 
daiitly  in  May  and  June,  and  just  slow  enough 
in  its"  Hight  to  be  easily  clapped  between  two 
shingles,  made  in  the  form  of  bats  or  paddles, 
one  in  each  hand.  Its  little  cylindrical  cases 
should  also  lie  gathered  and  destroyed,  as  they 
contain  the  lurrae. 


WHAT  KIND  OF  OIL.' 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  January  meeting 
of  the  "Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Soci- 
ety," reported  on  page  14  of  the  January  num- 
ber of  The  Farmer,  where  we  are  reported 
as  having  stated  that  oil  was  the  best  remedy 
for  "  scale  insects,  "  or  "  bark  lice  ;  "the  next 
question  would  naturally  be,  '■'vhot  kind  of 
oil?''''  and,  indeed,  that  question  had  been 
answered  briefly,  before  the  meeting  closed, 
although  no  report  had  been  made  of  it. 

In  a  fuller  answer  of  that  question,  allow 
us  to  relate  one  of  our  experiences  in  the  oil- 
remedy  as  well  as  other  remedies,  and  also 
the  practical  results  of  their  application  by 
other  experimenters.      Some    ten  or  twelve 


years  ago,  a  neighbor  of  ours  had  two  fine 
young  pear  trees  that  were  badly  infested  by 
"the  "  Oyster-shell  ]5ark-louse,  "  and  some  one 
had  reconmiended  scrubbing  them  with  fish- 
brine,  aiiplied  with  a  stifl'  brush.  After  the 
application  of  the  lirine  and  the  scrubbing, 
the  trunks  and  laiger  branches  of  his  trees 
had  a  reddish  or  rJSty  appearance,  but  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  succeeding  summer  sea- 
son it  became  manifest  that  they  were  not 
cured,  and  the  insects  reappeared  all  over  the 
surfece  almost  as  numerously  as  tliey  had  been 
before  the  remedy  had  been  applied.  The 
projn'ietor  became  discouraged,  neglected  his 
trees,  and  finally  one  of  them  died,  and  as 
the  other  seemed  to  be  slowly  following  in  the 
wake  of  the  first  one,  it  was  also  subsequently 
removed;  opposite  and  north  of  these  trees, 
on  our  own  jiremises  stood  a  pear  tree,  and  an 
apple  tree,  both  of  which  became  infested  with 
these  insects,  as  well  as  a  number  of  "  sweet- 
brier  "  or  wild-rose  bushes.  We  also  scrubbed 
our  trees  and  bushes  with  saline  and  alkaline 
solutions,  as  well  as  soap,  and  tobacco  decoc- 
tions, but  finally  we  had  to  succumb  and  re- 
move the  trees  and  bushes  in  order  to  arrest 
the  further  spread  of  the  infestation.  Some 
years  subsequently  we  received  a  copy  of  Mr. 
Walsh's  Report  of  the  destructive  insects  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  (we  think  it  was  his  first 
and  only  report,  for,  by  an  accident  he  lost 
his  life  sometime  thereafter.)  In  this  report 
he  gave  some  detailed  experiments  in  the  dif- 
ferent remedies  for  the  destruction  of  this 
pest,  from  which  it  appeared  that  oil  had,  on 
the  whole,  been  the  best,  if  not  the  only  relia- 
ble remedy,  so  far  as  his  experience  extended. 

We  received  this  Report  in  the  winter  (either 
in  January  or  February)  and  in  the  following 
spring,  after  the  buds  of  the  trees  had  begun 
to  burst,  Major  Howell  invited  us  to  look 
at  half  a  dozen  fine  dwarf  pear  trees  on  his 
premises,  with  which  something  seemed  to  be 
"the  matter."  On  viewing  and  examining 
his  trees  we  immediately  recognized  the  same 
pests  that  had  destroyed  our  neighbor's  and 
om-  own  trees,  and,  on  the  .strength  of  Mr. 
Walsh's  experiments,  we  did  not  hesitate  to 
reconmiend  the  oil  remedy.  Mr.  H.  imformed 
me  that  he  had  a  quantity  of  "neat's-foot  oil," 
and  inquried  if  that  would  answer,  and  we 
rejilicd  that  we  thought  it  would. 

We  need  hardly  say  that  neat's  foot  oil  is  an 
oil  extracted  from  the  marrow  of  leg  bones  of 
animals,  especially  those  of  ruminants  or  ox- 
kind,  and  farmers  are  generally  well  acquaint- 
ed with  it,  but  it  is  always  limited  in  quantity, 
so  that  there  is  hai'dly  enough  on  hand  at  any 
time  or  place  to  make  a  general  application  of 
it  iis  an  insecticide.  Be  that  as  it  may,  Mr. 
H.  applied  it,  and  finer,  cleaner,  healthier 
trees  we  never  saw  than  his  were  during  the 
following  summer.  Every  scale  was  loosened 
and  the  subsequent  rains  washed  them  ofl", 
and  left  the  trees  as  perfectly  renovated  as 
could  be  reasonably  expected  from  trees  so 
badly  infested  ;  but  about  midsummer  it  could 
hardly  have  been  told  that  they  had  ever  been 
afflicted  with  bark-lice.  Now,  it  is  not  to  be 
inferred  from  this  that  no  otheroil  will  answer 
the  purpose  but  neat's-foot  oil,  for  we  presume 
that  any  pure  and  clean  liquid  oil  will  answer. 
There  are  some  oils,  however,  that  we  would 
by  no  means  recommend,  such,  for  instance, 
as  linseed-oil,  or  any  oil  that  leaves  a  gummy  or 
mucilaginous  deposit  on  the  bark,  and  by 
which  the  yiores  would  be  closed.  Nor  would 
we  recommend  coal-oil,  camphene,  or  any 
illuminating  compound  of  that  kind,  for  these 
are  known  to  have  been  injuricius  to  the  trees. 

But  lard-oil,  sweet-oil,  or  any  other  liquid 
oil  or  fat  than  those  excepted.  Neither  would 
we  recommend  applying  the  oil  during  cold 
winter  weather,  for  the  reason  that  it  would 
be  apt  to  congeal,  and  not  penetrate  sufficient- 
ly the  places  intended  to  be  reached  by  its  ap- 
plications. Moreover,  during  winter  there  are 
nothing  but  eggs  under  the  dry  shells  of  the 
females  of  the  previous  season.  But  in  the 
warm  sjiring,  and  just  before  the  leaf  and 
blossom  buds  have  expanded,  we  would  con- 
sider the  most  iiro)ier  time  ;  because  the  oil 
would  then  remain  liquid  and  gradually  pene- 


187(i.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


19 


trate  evory  pnrtinn  of  tlio  surfaco,  loosen  thp 
scales  and  kill  the  yoiiiii;  lice,  it"  any  slionlil 
have  been  liatclied  out.  Shoulii  warm  weather 
prevail  in  early  spriiif;,  iisoft  piece  of  "  baeon- 
skin  "  (.</)/M.'(-t-.sT,'i'r  (,)■()  with  a  thiek  layer  of 
fat  attacheil,  would  answer  the  purpose.  After 
the  oil  has  been  on  the  trees  for  a  week  or  ten 
days,  it  iniiiht  be  advisiUile  to  syringe  the  trees 
with  an  jilkalious  solution.  This  in  conjune- 
tion  with  till!  oil  would  form  a  saponaceous 
compound,  especially  if  succeediul  by  a  warm 
sun,  and  suljse(pient  rains  would  wash  the 
whole  ofT,  and  the  bark-lice  alont,'  with  it. 

Ofcour.se,  it  would  be  ditlicult,  if  not  abso- 
lutely impracticable,  to  apply  this  remedy  to 
large  standard  apple  or  pear  trees,  for  on  such 
trees  the  lice  do  not  infest  very  injuriously 
the  rou^h  bark  of  the  truidc,  but  thi^  smooth 
and  more  tender  barked  branches  ;  and  there- 
fore, they  might  not  be  conveniently  aecc.ssi- 
l)le;  hut  on  low,  or  even  pretty  larije  dwarfs — 
sucli  for  instance  as  could  Ix!  a|)proaohed  by  a 
step  ladder — we  think  it  quite  feasible  and 
prolitable. 

A  soft  paint-brush  we  would  consider  the 
proper  implement  to  apply  it,  and  with  this  it 
might  be  applied,  by  a  little  care,  even  after 
thc^  buds  have  hursted  open,  l)ut  we  would 
reconniiend  an  earlier  period  ;  because  it  would 
not  benelit  and  might  injure  the  young  leaves 
and  tlower  buds ;  moreover,  there  are  usually 
many  of  these  lice  congregated  around  and  on 
the  buds,  as  the  most  tender  placets,  and  affiu'd- 
ing  them  the  most  nourishment.  But  even  if 
the  bark-liceare  successfully  removed,  through 
negU^ct  tliey  may  appear  subseiiuently  again, 
therefore,  the  only  safety  is  in  constant  vigi- 
lance. 

«■ 

AN  OPEN  WINTER. 

The  present  winter  thus  far  (February  1st) 
h.as  been  a  rather  remarkable  one,  but  by  no 
means  a  unique  one,  even  within  our  own  re- 
collection. It  can  almost  be  said,  we  have 
had  no  snow.  The  slight  snow  that  fell  about 
the  middleof  Januxrydid  not  lieon  the  ground 
six  hours,  even  in  the  open  lieUls  and  forests, 
and  could  hardly  be  dignified  with  the  name 
of  a  snow  fall,  when  compared  with  those  that 
save  character  to  the  winters  of  Lancaster 
countj'  in  times  that  have  iias,sed.  There  were 
a  few  cold  days,  and  some  ice  made;,  liut  the 
thickest  was  scarcely  four  inches— nothing  in 
comparison  with  the  twenty  inch  ice  of  last 
winter.  The  verj'  coldest  temperature  was 
eight  degrees  above  zero,  whilst  last  winter  it 
was  fourteen  below,  before  the  first  of  Febru- 
ary. The  ice  crop,  which  a  few  years  ago  was 
generally  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  luxury, 
that  only  the  few  could  afford  to  indulge  in, 
has  come  to  be  almost  a  necessity  with  a  very 
large  proiwrtion  of  our  population;  and  hence 
its  success  or  failure  is  a  matter  which  creates 
considerable  anxiety,  [ce  cream,  iced  tea, 
iced  coffee,  and  various  other  iced  summer 
drinks,  as  well  as  general  refrigerating  pur- 
poses, for  the  preservation  and  conveyance  of 
meats,  butter,  fish  and  fruits,  are  now  so  ex- 
tensively used  that  they  are  passing  out  of  the 
category  of  luxuries,  and  taking  rank  as 
necessities. 

It  is  on  record  that  the  winter  of  177.5  and 
177(5,  the  first  year  of  our  national  existence, 
was  very  similar  to  the  present  winter,  and  as 
it  then  was  favorable  to  the  initiation  of  the 
new  era.  so  it  is  favorable  now,  in  preparing 
to  celebrate  the  centemiial  of  that  era. 

The  Dandelion  bloomed  in  .January  of  the 
present  year,  occasional  bees  and  wasps  were 
abroad,  and  every  day  the  busy  little  English 
sparrows  thronged  the  streets  of  Lancaster. 
On  the  asth  nit.,  the  thermomi'ter  rose  tot;.")^ 
and  continued  at  that  point  until  nightfall;  no 
frost  at  all  in  the  ground,  and  the  roads  in  an 
exceedingly  muddy  condition. 

The  winter  of  ISW  and  1S47  w.as  very  simi- 
lar to  the  present  one.  The  first  day  of  .Janu- 
ary, 1847,  was  even  warmer  and  sunnier  than 
the  2.St1i  of  .January,  1S7()— bees,  bugs,  beetles, 
and  butterllies  were  abroad,  and  as  active  as 
they  usually  are  in  Ai)ril  and  May.  Lieut. 
Cochran,  who  fell  at  lleseca  de  la  Falraa,  the 
second  day  of  the  flrat  battle  in  the  Mexican 


war,  was  buried  at  Columbia  with  a))propnate 
honors  on  that  ilay;  the  "  Jjancaster  Fi'Uei- 
bles,"  midcr  comuiand  of  Capl.  Uuchman, 
forming  part  of  the  eS('ort,  and  the  day  was 
bright  and  genial  as  any  in  spring. 

What  effect  such  a  winter  :is  the  present  will 
have  upon  the  wheat  and  glass  crops,  it  is  im- 
possible yet  to  tell.  It  is^snpposed  that  thus 
far  they  have  not  been  injured,  if  they  have 
not  been  greatly  benefited.  The  winter  has 
lieen  characterized  by  copious  piuielrating 
rains,  and  the  earth  has  been  thoroughly  .satu- 
rated, and  thus  far  tlu^  grain  is  in  a  growing 
coiiilition.  Long  continued  cold,  dry  \vinds, 
with  heavy  freezing  weather  in  February  ancl 
March,  may  be  injurious. 


PECULIAR  EFFECTS  OF  WINTER 
HEAT. 

Although  at  this  writing  the  weather  is  ex- 
ceedingly (!old  and  stormy,  (February  .'!)  yet 
on  the  ;2Slli  and  'JUth  of  .January,  it  was  un- 
usually warm,  (thermometer  about  70)  and  as 
.a  conseiiuenee  the  vegetable  worM  m.ide  great 
strides  forward.  The  leaf  and  tlower  buds  of 
m.iny  trees  were  so  nuich  swollen  that  they 
seemed  ready  to  burst  forth  into  livif  and 
bloom,  whilst  some  shrnbbi'ry  was  still  mrne 
advanced.  Branchesof  tlie  S/ih-ca  were  brought 
to  the  meeting  of  the  Linna-an  Society,  with 
the  leaves  fully  half  expanded,  and  tli(;  same 
was  reported  of  Libics  and  Hoaei^  in  some  city 
localities,  and  the  Saow-droiis  pushed  up 
through  tlie  earth  and  seemed  ready  to  jjloom; 
while  the  I)nnibliiiiis  in  the  open  lields,  ex- 
panded tlH'ir  golden  flowers  in  their  nsual 
vernal  profusion.  The  grain  and  grass  also 
(lut  on  their  garb  of  luxuriant  green.  Not 
only  the  vegetation,  but  also  the  insect  world 
manifested  the  ell'ects  of  tli(!  unusually  mild 
temperature.  IJees  and  wasps  sallied  forth  on 
their  honey  hunting  missions,  and  regaled 
themselves  on  sweetmeats,  wherevertliey  could 
gain  access  to  groceries  and  confectioneries 
through  the  open  doors  or  windows.  Darkling 
beetles — Harpnlhhv. — and  (irasshoppers  — 
Licmtadce — also  ventured  out  on  the  sunny 
sides  of  fences,  rocks  and  earthy  mounds, 
seemingly  content  with  a  temporary  bath 
under  thi^  rays  of  sol.  Here  and  there  a  lone- 
ly and  lialf-frightened  specimen  of  Pieria  nipiv, 
or  "  White  cabbage  Butterlly,"  would  juirsue 
his  solitary  tiight ;  Ijut  this  is  not  extraordinary 
for  this  insect  ;  beitause  last  winter  one  was 
captured  in  this  city,  during  a  short  int(u-val 
of  mild  weather  in  February,  although  there 
was  six  inc'hes  of  snow  on  the  ground  at  the 
time,  and  many  i)eoi)le  were  engaged  in  gather- 
ing their  crop  of  ice. 

Not  a  particle  of  frost  was  in  the  earth  oti  the 
•28th  and  'iDth  of  January,  and  had  not  been  for 
some  days  previous.  Several  species  of  moths 
of  the  Nocluidir  and  'J'urtriciibt'  families  were 
abroad  in  theevening  mi  houses,  gaining  access 
through  the  oi)en  doons.  One  particular  species 
of  the  former  family  has  the  size  and  general 
markings  of  I'rof.  Ililey's  A<ir<itix  sraiKhus, 
except  that  it  is  very  much  darker  in  color. 
Indeeil,  unless  somebody  takes  ui)  this  t'aniily 
as  a  specialty,  makes  a  life-study  of  them, 
and  describes  and  illustrates  them  carefully, 
we  shall  remain  in  the  dark  as  to  theirspecies. 
Twenty  years  ago  we  gathered  alxuit  twenty- 
live  specimens  of  "Cut-worms,"  that  had 
been  depredating  in  a  "cabbage-patch. "  They 
dill'ered  very  much  in  size  but  more  in  color, 
being  from  a  light  greenish-grey  to  nearly  a 
black— a  greenish-black.  We  placed  them  in 
a  box  with  earth,  and  every  evening  gaye  them 
a  quantity  of  cabbage  plants  ;  and,  in  due 
time  developed  about  fifteen  moths,  and  these 
differed  as  much  as  the  worms  did,  in  size, 
marking  and  intensity  of  color  ;  and  there 
would  not  have  been  much  dilliculty  in'  mik- 
ing six  or  eight  species  of  them.  When  we 
submitted  them  to  the  only  Kntomolgists  to 
whom  we  had  access,  they  did  not  seem  to 
know  .as  much  about  them  specifically,  as  wi' 
did  ourselt,  but  the  inference  w;is  that  they 
were  all  varieties  of  the  same  species. 

But  this  is  a  digre.ssion.  We  are  writing 
upon  the    efi'ect   this,   thus  far,   remarkable 


winter,  will  have  upon  the  flora  and  entomo- 
logical fauna  of  the  country,  for  at  this  writing 
(February  .'t.)  we  have  a  very  "cold  snap." 
We  cannot  desire  it  to  continue  so  ciiUl  in 
order  to  kill  off  the  noxious  insecla,  l>ucauae 
that  might  also  involve  vegetiition. 


THE  "SNOWFLAKE"  AND  -EUREKA' 
POTATOES. 


Mes.srs.  B.  K.  Bliss  &  .Sons  having  hust 
S|)ring  ofTered  8">IHI  in  premiums  to  growers  of 
the.  largest  (pianlity  of  potatoes  of  the  varie- 
ties known  ;is  "  Snowtlake"  and  "  Kiireka," 
from  one  pound  of  .seed,  the  committee  on 
the  first  of  .lanuary  awaiiled  tint  premiums  as 
follows,  tliere  being  six  for  e;ich  variety,  rang- 
ing from  jfKti)  to  SID: 

Snowki.ake:  1'.  C.  Wood,  Esther,  III., 
1417  pounds  ;  ,L  L.  Perkins.  Little  Sioux, 
Iowa,  i:j()4  pounds  ;  Fred'k  l[.  Seller,  \'erona, 
K.s.sex  CO.,  N.  .L,  IIJ")  pounds;  .J.  I.Salter, 
St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  lO'.HH  pounds:  Alfred  Hose, 
I'enn  Van,  N.  V.,  losilj  pounds  ;  Henry  V. 
Rose;  Penn  Van,  N.  V.,  KXi'.l}. 

KrttEtvA:  .1.  L.  IVrkiu.s,  Little  Sioux,  Iowa, 
llidCrl  |)ounds;  P.  C.  Wood,  Kslher,  III.,  14t):{ 
pounds;  .Vlfred  llose,  I'enn  Van,  N.  Y.,  IM'.I 
pounds;  .Milton  M.  Rose, Penn  Van, N.  V.,114.") 
pounds;  .J.  I.  Salter,  St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  1()S7 
pounds;  Henry  V.  Rose,Penn  Van,N.  V.,l<J0(5i 
pounds. 

The  (•ommitlee  in  their  report  say  that 
"  when  two  years  ago  your  committee  award- 
eil  the  first  prize  for  the  largest  yield  of  extra 
Early  Vermont  potatoes  from  one  pound  of 
seed,  to  Mr.  Salter,  of  Minnesota,  for  the  then 
unpriiCedented  yield  of  six  hundred  and  seven 
(Gl)7)  pounds,  many  considered  the  eliniax  of 
productiveness  reached,  and  not  a  few  doubted 
that  such  a  (piant  ity  had  ever  been  grown  from 
so  small  a  cpiantity  of  sited.  Vet  so  much  has 
the  general  interest  and  ambition  stimulated 
the  cultivators  of  the  soil,  both  here  and  in 
Europe,  that  in  England  nearly  double  that 
aniiiunt  (11182  Iti.s. )  has  been  grown  from  one 
|)ouiid,  and  in  our  own  country  no  less  a  yield 
than  nearly  treble  that  obtained  then,  entitles 
now  to  a  first  premium,  and  nothing  less  than 
a  thousand  from  one  can  win  even  the  Ipwest 
liremium.  These  niirvelons  results  will  na- 
turally cause,  with  many,  suspicions  about  the 
correctness  and  truth  of  their  statements;  yet 
no  one  who  has  carefully  examined  the  reports 
and  atlidavits,  and  has  read  Ihe  many  letters 
received  from  disinterested  parties,  all  of  which 
vouch  for  the  reliability  of  the  successful  com- 
petitors, can  doubt  the  veracity  of  their  report.s. 
We  have  given  above  the  full  address  of  every 
successful  competitor,  so  that  any  one  may 
satisfy  himself  al)ont  the  standing  of  these 
gentlemen,  and  if  any  false  statements  should 
have  been  made,  we  would  be  glad  to  iiacer- 
tain  the  fact,  that  such  parties  may  be  exposed 
and  exelndetl  from  competing  for  premiums  to 
hi'  offered  hereafter.'" 

The  soil  on  which  >rr.  Perkins  produced  his 
enormous  yield  is  described  as  "a  mixture  of 
sand  and  clay,  very  rich  in  vegetable  matter  to 
the  depth  of  cuihlecn  feci,  anil  underlying  this 
is  a  gravelly  sub.soil.  For  three  years  the 
ground  was  used  :is  a  stock  yard,  the  straw  be- 
ing left  on  the  ground  to  rot  and  Ix'  burned." 
Another  com|>etitor  describes  his  soil  as  "black 
loam,  four  feet  deep,  on  the  bank  of  a  creek, 
and  it  has  Iteen  used  as  a  cattle  yard  for  ten 
years."  Another,  aa  "vegetable  mould  and 
sandy  loam,  three  feet  deep,  never  cultivated 
before."  Many  describe  their  soil  , as  " deep, 
very  rich,  the  be.st  potato  soil  in  the  State." 

The  fertilizers  used  eompri.se  nearly  every 
known  manure,  and  the  quantities  applied  are 
not  less  enormous  than  the  crops  raised  with 
them.  Mo.st  growers  have  made  compounds 
of  various  materials,  and  .some  seem  to  have 
faith  in  complicated  forniula.s,  which  they  pre- 
pare with  the  accuracy  of  a  phy.sician's  pre- 
scription. About  the  value  of  wood  ashe-s, 
hen  manure  and  i)lastcr,  however,  there  seems 
to  lie  no  doubt,  and  wc  find  them  use<l  by  a 
large  majority.  Snlphurhas  been  used  by  many. 
Tliis  substance  ihx's  not  enter  into  the  compo- 
sition of  the  potato,  and  it  would  be  interest- 


20 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[February, 


ing;  to  know  if  its  aiiplicatioii  actunlly  increases 
tilt!  yield.  Have  experimeuts  to  this  effect 
been  made  ? 

The  fact  that  single  eyes  and  eyelets  will, 
with  good  care,  produce  large  crops,  has  been 
snfticiently  proved.  All  the  large  yields  are 
grown  from  very  small  sets.  In  some  cases, 
single  eyes  were  divided  into  ten  pieces,  and 
in  one  instance  two  himdred  and  forty  (240) 
sets  were  made  from  one  pound,  nearly  all  of 
which  grew  well.  The  sets,  with  few  excep- 
tions, were  planted  singly,  yet  we  find  a  pro- 
duct of  nine  hundred  and  seventy  (970)  pounds 
raised  from  fifty-two  (.52)  hills,  two  sets  to  each, 
nearly  nineteen  (19)  pounds  per  hill,  and  six 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  (677)  bushels  per 
acre.  Whether  this  large  yield  is  due  only  to 
the  very  favorable  soil  they  grew  in— a  rich 
black  loam,  formerly  used  as  a  hog  yard— and 
the  immense  cjuantity  of  ashes  applied  in  the 
the  hills  and  as  top-dressing— one  peck  to  the 
hill— or  to  the  two-set  system,  does  not  ap- 
pear. The  planting,  in  nearly  all  cases,  was 
done  between  the  10th  and  26th  of  May,  and 
one-fourth  of  all  competitors  drojiped  the  seed 
on  the  10th  of  May,  nearly  a  week  earlier  than 
in  former  years. 

The  data  furnished  the  committee  show  that 
although  the  greatest  yields  from  one  pound 
grew  from  hills  four  feet  ai)art,  the  largest 
crops  \)i.'r  acre  were  raised  at  distances  ol  three 
feet  each  way,  and  that  as  the  distances  be- 
tween the  hiils  are  increased  or  decreased,  the 
yield  diminishes  in  regular  iirojiortion.  In  the 
first  case,  there  remains  wasted  ground  which 
is  not  reaclied  by  the  roots  of  the  plants,  and 
in  the  latter,  the  roots  are  so  crowded  that 
they  cannot  obtain  all  the  nourishment  they 
are  tapable  of  consuming.  The  mode  of  i)lant- 
ing  and  cultivating  with  a  largenuniber  of  the 
best  cultivators,  consists  in  crossing  their  fields 
with  furrows  six  and  more  iiichf  s  deep.  The 
sets  are  drojiped  at  the  crossings  and  immedi- 
ately covered  with  about  two  inches  of  soil  or 
compost.  The  vines  as  they  grow  are  hilled  uj) 
gradually  and  frequently  to  a  final  height  of 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches.  Then  large,  broad 
hills  are  made,  using  all  the  soil  between  the 
rows. 

The  general  testimony  of  the  competitors 
for  the  prizes  is  to  the  superior  quality  of  the 
Snowflake  as  a  cooking  potato. 


THE  DAIRY  INTERESTS. 

Practical    Hints  about  Making  and   Selecting 
Good  Cheese. 

The  great  majority  of  people  do  not  feel  as 
much  interest  in  cheese  as  they  do  in  butter, 
for  the  reason  that  they  consume  at  least 
seven  or  eight  times  as  many  jiouuds  of  the 
latter  as  they  do  of  the  former.  We  have 
produced,  this  season  just  closed,  not  less  than 
600,000,000  jjounds  of  b>itter  for  market,  to  say 
nothing  of  what  is  consumed  by  the  producers 
that  is  never  taken  into  account.  This  is 
fifteen  pounds  per  capita,  sujiposing  the  popu- 
lation to  be  only  40,000,000.  Our  exports  of 
butter  are  hardly  worth  consideiing.  We  may 
safely  say  that  we  have  produced  as  muclimore 
than  the  600,000,000  pounds  as  we  have  and 
shall  export  of  the  butter  crop.  Of  cheese  we 
have  produced  not  less  than  200,000, 000  pounds, 
or  five  pounds  per  capita  ;  but  of  this  we  shall 
export  not  far  from  120,000,000  pounds,  leav- 
ing 80,000,000  pounds  for  home  consiuuption, 
which  is  two  pounds  per  capita.  But  if  our 
people  were  better  judges  of  cheese  and  were 
furnished  a  better  article  for  home  consump- 
tion, we  doubt  not  they  would  be  nnu.'h  greater 
cheese  eaters.  As  it  is,  the  great  majority  are 
supplied  with  a  poor  article — because  they  do 
not  know  how  to  select  a  good  one,  or  because 
they  prefer  to  buy  the  cheapest  article  regard- 
less of  (piality — and  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  do  not  like  cheese.  We  jiropose  to 
give  them  a  little  clue  to  cheese-making,  and 
a  few  hints  how  to  select  good  cheese — which 
may  be  of  some  service  to  dealers,  especially 
retailers — for  though  the  quality  of  our  cheese 
is  superior,  on  the  whole,  to  tliat  of  our  but- 
ter, there  is  still  a  vast  amount  of  poor  cheese 
seen  in  market. 


Milk  cveiy  way  healthy  and  free  from  taints 
and  bad  odors  is  essential  to  the  manufacture 
of  good  cheese  ;  but  bad  milk  from  sick  cows, 
or  friini  cows  that  have  just  calved,  or  from 
cows  eating  bad  Ibod,  drinking  bad  water,  or 
breathing  foul  air,  is  often  made  into  cheese. 
Much  of  the  soft  and  pasty  cheese,  or  that 
which  is  porous  afcd  full  of  small  holes,  comes 
from  this  kind  of  milk.  Milk  shut  up  hot  in 
a  close  can  and  carried  to  the  factory  in  hot 
weather,  makes  this  kind  of  cheese.  If  its 
character  is  concealed  by  skillful  manipula- 
tion, so  far  as  apjiearance  is  concerned,  it 
never  keeps  well  and  soon  takes  on  an  otl'en- 
sive  odor  and  bad  flavor.  Tainted  rennets 
liroduce  similar  results  ;  so  will  ferments  in- 
troduced by  micleanliness  in  utensils  and  im- 
plements, and  in  the  surioundings  of  the  fac- 
tory or  jirivate  dairy  room. 

Though  the  private  dairyman  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  better  control  of  his  milk  in  all  its 
stages,  factory  cheese,  as  a  rule,  is  superior  to 
private  dairy  cheese  ;  and  to  the  factory  sys- 
tem, with  its  better  methods  of  manufacture 
and  the  superior  intelligence  and  skill  of  its 
operators,  do  we  owe  a  complete  revolution  in 
the  imvirovement  of  our  cheese  since  1869,  and 
jiiainly  since  180.'j.  Many  jirivate  dairymen 
have  adojited  factory  methods,  and  produce  as 
fine  cheese  as  is  found  in  market  ;  but  such 
private  dairy  cheese  is  the  exception  rather 
than  the  rule.  Still,  we  do  not  mean  to  say 
that  all  factory  cheese  is  good.  Some  of  the 
worst  in  the  market  comes  from  badly  con- 
ducted factories. 

If  cuids  arc  dipped  too  sweet  and  put  to 
press,  though  the  milk  may  be  ever  so  good, 
the  clieese  will  be  soft  and  soon  go  to  decay, 
unless  kept  at  a  temi>erature  below  60  degrees 
after  it  is  cured.  It  is  soon  ready  for  market, 
and  if  immediately  consumed,  answers  very 
well.-  But  it  has  not  the  body  and  fine  flavor 
of  cheeses  made  from  ciu-ds  that  are  kept  lon- 
ger in  the  vat  and  are  more  concentrated  by 
the  action  of  heat  and  acid.  But  dipping 
curds  Soft  and  sweet  not  only  ]>roduces  a  raji- 
idly-curing  cheese  that  can  soon  lie,  and  in- 
deed must  be,  rushed  upon  the  market,  but 
gives  a  larger  yield  because  of  the  retention 
of  more  moistin-e.  This  and  the  fact  that  the 
cheese  needs  to  be  cared  for  during  less  time, 
induces  the  manufacture  of  nmch  soft  cheese, 
especially  on  a  falling  market  or  in  anticipa- 
tion of  a  fall,  and  thus  in  the  end  augments 
our  supply  of  poor  cheese.  Such  cheese  veri- 
fies the  old  adage,  "soon  rii)e,  soon  rotten," 
and  n)uch  of  it  ultimately  appears  on  the  coun- 
ters of  our  cheap  groceries  and  as  low-priced 
cheese  on  oiu-  market  stands. 

Too  nuich  souring  of  the  curd  produces  a 
dry,  iioor,  crimibly  cheese.  Sour  milk  cheese 
generally  has  about  the  same  character.  The 
butter  in  such  cheese  decomposes  and  dri])S 
out  with  the  whey.  Skimmed  cheese  is  hard, 
tough  and  poor  tasting,  and  partly  skimmed 
approaches  this  character.  The  jiractice  of 
putting  in  more  rennet  and  dipping  the  curds 
softer  and  sweeter  does  not  disguise  its  charac- 
ter. Though  it  prevents  dryness,  it  does  not 
entirely  get  rid  of  the  tough,  leathery  texture 
and  the  imiioverished  taste,  nor  dots  it  remedy 
the  indigestibility  occasioned  by  the  lack  of 
Imtter.  Adding  other  fats,  as  in  the  ease  of 
oleomargarine,  does  not  restore  the  fine  rich 
quality,  nor  give  it  the  flavor  of  fine  whole 
milk  cheese.  The  artificial  grease  does  not 
thoroughly  incorporate  with  the  caseine,  and 
the  cheese  has  a  coarse-grained,  crumbly, 
greasy  and  suspicious  look.  Rich  cheese  is 
not  greasy,  but  homogeneous  throughout,  firm 
in  texture,  yet  readily  breaking  down  soft  and 
mellow  between  the  fingers  at  a  sununer  tem- 
perature, and  melting  almost  like  butter  in  the 
mouth  and  leaving  a  pleasant,  natty  flavor 
that  is  exceedingly  relishalile.  It  has  no  otten- 
sivo  or  disagreeable  odor,  has  no  round  holes 
in  it,  large  or  small,  though  there  may  be  ir- 
regular oj)enings  because  the  curd  was  not 
quite  pi-essed  together.  There  is  no  sour  taste 
or  smell,  no  trace  of  whey,  no  moisture  of  an 
extraneous  character ;  neither  is  it  dry,  or 
hard,  or  cnunbly.  Kew  cheese  not  fully  cured 
may  have  an  agreeable  acid  taste,  but  such 


cheese  is  not  fit  to  cut  and  should  not  be  eaten. 
It  is  what  buyers  call  "curdy  "  or  under-ripe. 
Sour  cheese  may  be  made  in  the  curing  room 
where  the  temperature  is  changeable  and  re- 
mains too  low  for  several  days  before  the 
cheese  is  cured,  or  after  it  is  just  made  and 
placed  in  the  curing  room.     So  i)orous  cheese 
may  be  made  by  too  high  a  temperature  and 
too  rapid  curing,  but  the  holes  in  such  a  cheese 
are  large  and  not  seriously  objectionable,  un- 
less too  ninnerous.  The  flavor  is  liable  to  have 
been  injured,  but  it  may  remain  all  right. 
Such  cheeses  generally  settle  down  and  have 
square  edges  and  the  smooth  faces  of  good 
cheeses,  but  the  buyer  should  criticise  such 
pretty  closely.     By  all  means  let  the  retailer 
shun  the  cheese  that  is  full  of  fine  holes,  not 
much  larger  and  sometimes  smaller  than  pin- 
heads.    They  are  an  unmistakable  evidence 
of  bad   milk,    either  from  diseased  cows  or 
tainted  after  milking  and  before  it  was  made 
into  cheese.  Avoid  all  dry,  tough  and  crumbly 
cheese.     Avoid  all  cheese  with  rounded  faces. 
Avoid  all  rank-tasting  cheese  as  either  a  bad 
article  originally,  or  as  being  good  cheese  far 
gone  in  decay.     Avoid  all  sour-tasting  cheese 
as  made  of  sour  milk,  as  soured  on  the  ranges, 
or  as  bad  milk  disguised  with  acid.  Avoid  all 
cheese   that  is  hard  and  unyielding  to  the 
touch  on  the  one  extreme,  and  all  that  is  elas- 
tic  and  India-rulilier  like  on  the  other — the 
first  is  soured  and  dried  to  death,  and  the 
other  is  skinmied  to  death.    It  is  safe  to  avoid 
all  low-priced  cheese. 

Fine  cheese  is  always  close-grained,  cuts 
smooth,  but  has  a  slight,  regular  roughness 
of  surface,  yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  fin- 
ger, breaks  easily,  but  does  not  crumble,  has 
a  smooth,  elastic  rind,  breaks  down  mellow 
and  rich,  but  with  no  harsh  feeling  between 
the  thumb  and  finger,  dissolves  readily  in  the 
mouth,  but  has  no  strong  or  rank  flavor,  and 
leaves  a  relishable  taste.  Most  people  like 
such  cheese,  but,  seldom  getting  it,  they  fancy 
that  cheese  has  for  them  no  special  relish.  If 
only  such  cheese  were  thrown  on  the  market, 
the  home  consumption  would  double  within  a 
year,  and  in  a  few  years  it  would  be  tenfold 
what  it  is  now.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  keep 
home  consumers  feeding  on  the  inferior  grades 
of  cheese,  and  it  is  a  greater  mistake  to  man- 
ufacture oleomargarine,  or  in  any  way  increase 
the  amount  of  the  inferior  makes.  The  poor 
do  not  want  them  any  more  than  the  rich,  and 
will  buy  other  food  before  they  will  eat  them 
at  any  price  that  will  aftbrd  remuneration  to 
the  manufaettuer.  We  are  glad  it  is  .so.  The 
best  is  none  too  good  for  any  one  ;  and  it  is 
aliout  time  that  producers  and  manufacturers 
of  all  kinds  got  rid  of  the  idea  of  palming  off 
all  their  refuse  stuff  on  the  poor.— 2'.  I).  Cur- 
tis, in  the  ■A7iicricun  Grocer. 


ARRIVAL  OF  BIRDS  IN  1875. 

Tvrdnx  migratorivs,  Feb.  3;  large  floeke  seen  Feb. 
17 — Kobin. 

Cyanurns  ci-istatus,  Feb.  11 — Blue  Jay. 

Sialia  sialis,  Feb.  17 — Blue  Bird. 

Stnriitlta  iiiiir/iin,  JIaroli  K) — Meadow  Lark. 

,4(/»/i"'".V^"''''''"''S>Iar.I7—Pa-d-wiiii;vd  Blackbird. 

QniaaUis  rtcsico/i.c,  Mar.  IS— Crow  Blackbird. 

Colaptcs  anratns,  Mar.  IS — Flicker. 

Sayor7i.isfvscn!!,  Mar.  1.5 — Pewee. 

TvrdnK  rinnfldnivs,  Mar.  17— Thrush. 

^'EyiaWisvoc-iferonx,  Mar.  19— Kill-Deer. 

AiUrustoians  vociferous,  May  2 — Whip-po-Wil. 

Chaetm-a  pelasgia,  May  9 — Chimney  Swallow. 

Hirnndo  horreorum,  May  11— Barn  Swallow. 

Troglodytes  redon,  May  1 — House  Wren. 

ChordHlea  popciue,  May  4 — Night  Hawk. 

EctopixteR  migraloria,  seen  in  large  flocks  Mar  31. 
and  April  1 — Pigeon. 

Qiiisadix  vcrixcvlor,  flocking  August  1.5. 

irtj-TO,  of  Potato-Beetle,  first  found  June  1.— T7. 
//.  Spcra,  Epitrata,  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 

Mr.  S.  is  an  accurate  and  interesting  obser- 
ver, and  although  the  above  was  primarily  in- 
tended for  the  archives  of  the  Linnwan  Soci- 
ety, yet,  as  that  society  takes  The  Farmer, 
we  consider  it  more  easily  referred  to  by  a  place 
in  its  columns.  We  have  also  received  an  in- 
teresting paper  from  the  same  source,  upon 
the  periods  of  frondescence,  florescence,  fruit- 
escence,  and  leaf  fall  of  the  leafing  and  bloom- 
ing vegetation  of  the  county,  which  we  will 
find  a  place  for  hereafter. 


187G.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


21 


FACTS  OF  NATURAL   HISTORY.  No.  8. 


Baltimore  Oriole.— (Icterus  baltimore.) 
"HOMES  WITHOUT   HANDS." 

This  l)ird,  tlu'  iicst  of  \vlii(-h  will  be  recog- 
nizi'd  ill  our  illii.stnitioii,  is  in  simic  localitiL's, 
pcrliups,  bt^ttor  known  under  the  nanii's  of 
"Golden  Uobiii,"  "Llangiiif;  liiid,"  or  "IIjuii;- 
nest,"  than  under  the  one  above.  Hy  what- 
ever name  it  may  be  calleil,  it  doe.s  not  in  the 
lea,st  detract  from  its  skill,  nor  diminish  its 
lisefuliiess ;  for,  in  the  Ionic  eataloi;ue  of  Ameri- 
can birds,  it  is  (luestionable  if  a  more  active, 
industrious,  and  persevering  "Inseetor"  is  to 
be  found. 

"  Where  :\p|)U's,  plums  ami  peaches  bloom, 

Anil  wliere  they  hlDoiii  profusely, 

Brave  Ictcnix  will  he  tOuuil," 

and  every  time  he  captures  an  insect  he  will 
utter  a  short  joyful  chirp,  which  becomes  so 
familiar  to  the  ear  that  his  presence  is  recog- 
nized and  bis  success  indicated,  even  when  be 
hini.self  may  bo  invisible.  Later  in  tlie  season 
he  manifests  some  partiality  for  ripe  cherri(w, 
but  under  any  circumstance  he  does  not  appro- 
priate any  more  than  what  would  be  accorded 
as  legitimate  fees,  toll,  or  perquisites,  to  any 
other  being,  for  his  benevolent  labors  during 
the  blooming  season  ;  and  yet,  we  have  seen 
this  bird  mercilessly  shot  down  whi-n  he  was 
extracting  his  "  toll, "  and  every  shot  bringing 
down  as  many  cherries  as  the  bird  would  con- 
sume in  a  week  ;  in  which  there  is  neither 
economy  nor  charity. 

AVe  have  a  nest  of  tliis  bird  now  before  us, 
which  was  found  suspended  from  the  branch 
of  a  willow-tree,  a  few  days  ago,  in  the  south- 
western part  of  this  city,  and  kindly  donated 
to  the  Liniwan  Socictij  by  Mr.  A.  N,  Brene- 
inan,  jr.  It  is  very  compactly  woven  out  of 
pieces  of  twine,  linen  and  cotton  threads,  in- 
tertwined with  a  few  horseh.iirs  and  narrow 
strips  of  calico,  all  being  of  the  color  of  un- 
bleached linen.  It  bears  almost  an  exact  like- 
ness— or  rather,  our  picture  is  an  exact  like- 
ness of  the  nest  liefore  us — iiear-shaped,  and 
from  the  narrowed  upper  point  where  it  is  at- 
tached to  the  small  willow  twigs,  to  the  bot- 
tom, outside,  it  is  seven  inches  in  length  ;  the 
inside  depth,  from  the  bottom  to  where  the 
bml's  beak  is  seen,  is  four  inclies  ;  and  its 
outside  circumference  at  the  largest  part  is 
nearly  twelve  inches.  ISuch  a  nest  is  not  the 
work  of  a  single  day,  or  even  a  week,  and  it  is 
a  great  marvel  how  a  creature  without  hands 
could  possibly  put  together  a  habitation  so 
•strongly  and  symmetrically,  out  of  such  mate- 
rial; and  we  regret  that  the  birds  will  be  under 
the  necessity  of  building  a  new  one  next  spring. 
Mr.  B.  had  often  noticed  this  nest  when  pass- 
ing the  willow-tree  on  which  it  was  suspend- 
ed ;  but  when  the  leaves  fell  it  became  a  tar- 
get for  the  naughty  boys  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  one  day  he  found  it  lying  upon  the  ground. 

The  bird  which  is  the  architect  of  this  nest 
belongs  to  all  of  North  America  east  of  the 
high  central  yilains,  and  is  seven  inches  and 
a-lialf  long  ;  the  wings  three  inches  and  three- 
quarters  ;  "the  color  is  black,  withtlie  rump, 
upper  tail-coverts,  le.sser  wing-coverts,  the  ter- 
minal portion  of  all  but  two  tail  feathers,  and 
the  breast  and  under  parts,  orange  red  ;  the 
edges  of  the  quills  and  a  band  across  the  tip.s 
of  the  greater  coverts,  white.  The  colors  of 
the  female  are  much  duller,  the  black  of  the 
head  and  back  being  rei)laced  by  brownish 
yellow."  We  have  a  specimen  in  our  posses- 
sion, stufled  and  momited  by  us  forty-oui;  years 
ago,  and  it  retains  to  this  day  almost  tlie  fresh- 
ness and  brilliancy  of  color  it  had  when  tirst 
prepared.  It  belongs  to  the  great  OitDHii  of 
iNSEssoiiES  or  "  Percliers,"  and  is  the  typical 
genus  of  the  family  Icteuid.i;,  or  "  Blackbird 
family."  (Jeiu'rically  allied  to  it  an;  the  "Or- 
chard Oriole,"  (Irtcrii/!  xiiHi-iiix)  the  "Hooded 
Oriole,"  (ick'rii.-i  eucuhitita)  of  the  lower  Rio 
.Grande;  "Audubon's  Oriole,"  {Trtcrua  nmht- 
honii)  alsoof  theUioGrande  ;  "Scott's Oriole," 
(Icteriix  p(trUorum)  of  Texas;  "  Wagler's 
Oriole,"  (L-trrus  W(ifileni)  of  Mexico,  and 
"Bullock's Oriole,"  (Irtcriuf  Jhdh,rh-!i)  of  ■Wes- 
tern Xorth^Vmerica.  The  "Troupial,"(ic(cri(S 


VHhj(trw<)  belongs  to  South  America  an<l  the 
West  Indies,  and  .sometimes,  by  a;rare  acci- 
dent, comes  within  the  territory  of  the  United 
•States     a  large  s|)ecies. 

The<)rioles  lay  from  four  to  sixjeggs,  ufa 
bluish-while  color,  sprinkled  with  dilfercnt 
shades  of  dark  lirown,  and  in  our  latitude  they 
are  one-broodeil.  From  the  activity  and  per- 
severing industry  of  these  birds  in  the  early 
part  of  t,lie  season — especially  our  local  species 
— tliey  cannot  but  exert  a  benelicial  inlhience 
upon  vegetation,  and  more  particularly  on  our 
fruit  crops.  Nor  are  they  a  shy  bird  where 
they  are  immole.sted.  W(!  have  had  them  visit 
our  plum,  peacli  and  cherry  trees  not  more 
than  ten  or  lifteen  feel  from  our  kitchen  door, 
and  remain  on  them  for  an  hour  at  a  time, 
coming  an<l  going  during  the  whole  of  the 
sl)ring  or  summer  day.  Our  species  are  birds 
of  passage,  arriving  in  Pennsylvania  from  the 
South  about  the  begimiing  of  May,  and  de- 
jiarting  again  about  the  end  of  August.  It 
jirefers  willow,  apple,  walnut  and  tulip  trees, 
in  [iroximity  to  farm  houses,  for  its  nesting 
places.  The  "Baltimore  Oriole"  takes  its 
specilic  name  from  Lord'Baltimon';  its  colors, 
whidi  are  black  and  orange  red,  being]  the 
colors  of  tlie  livery  of  that  nobleman,  formerly 
the  |)roprietary  of  Maryland.  The  males  do 
not  ac(piire  their  plumage  in  i)erl'ccliiin  inilil 


a  careles.s  ploughboy  ^whistling  for  his  own 

anmsemi^nt." 

"  Iliirli  on  yon  jwiplnr,  ehul  In  fflosey  Bhppii, 
Ttii'  iiraiiife  lilnek-<iip|>c<l  Ballliriore  l«  seen  ; 
The  l)m:ii|  exU'mli-iI  l)OU'_'h»sllll  pleune  him  liest  : 
Ueneulh  Iheir  ln'nillni;  skirtH  lie  hiin^a  hl«  ni'Ot.'' 


they  are  two  or  three  years  old — the  first  sea- 
son they  differ  very  little  from  the  females, 
and  hence  sometimes  they  become  confuseil. 
Although  nearly  all  the  species  construct  pen- 
sile nests,  yet  none  of  them  exhibit  the  me- 
chanical skill  of  the  Baltimore  specie.s. 

Their  principal  food  consists  of  caterpillars, 
beetles,  bugs  and  worm.s,  especially  beetles. 

What  the  Baltimoie  Oriole  employed  to 
build  its  nest  before  civilization  was  introduc- 
ed into  tliis  country  is  not  very  api)arent — 
perhaps  lil)rous  roots  and  mos.ses — but  now  it 
prefers  twine,  thn^ads  and  shreds  of  woven 
fabric.  They  are  very  naughty,  and  some- 
times skeins  of  silk  or  cotton  carelessly  expos- 
ed, linen  or  cotton  yarn  left  out  to  bleach  or 
dry,  or  strings  of  almost  any  kind  are  carried 
away,  and  they  are.  oltcn  noticed  iiersevering- 
ly  tugging  away  at  strings  IIimI  around  objects, 
tlie  ends  of  which  are  hanging  loose. 

The  .song  of  this  binl  is  a  pe<'uliarly  clear 
mellow  whistle,  repeated  at  short  intervals, 
as  hi^  is  busily  engaged  gleaning  among  tlie 
Ijjanches,  and  we  never  hear  it  without  its  re- 
calling 

"  Tlio  Ii!,'ht  of  other  days." 

According  to  a  distingui.shed  author,  "a  cer- 
tain wild  ])laintiveness  and  tutiirlc  is  in  it, 
that  is  extremely  interesting  ;  something  Uke 


MENTALCULTURE  AMONG  FARMERS. 

It  is  obvious  to  every  observing  mind  that 
a  new  era  is  dawning  upon  farming  life— an 
era  of  intellectual  (culture  and  improvement. 
Heretofore,  soil  culture,  lias  engrossed  most  of 
the  attention  of  the.  farmer.  So  that  paying 
crops  were  raised,  he  cared  for  but  little  else. 
He  was  willing  to  doa.s  others  suggested  about 
electing  men  to  ri'preseMit  him  in  the  Slate 
Legisliitme,  or  in  Congress,  or  el.sewliere.  Ho 
lliought  everybody  wimld  do  what  w;i.s  right, 
make  such  laws  as  were  just  anil  proper. 
He  did  not  trouble  himself  nuKtIi  about  what 
was  done,  simply  folliiwing  where  others  led. 
I  le  did  not  st  udy  the  (piesli<ins  that  came  up  for 
consideration,  or  llu'  laws  tliat  were  piuss«'(l.  So 
hegotulongeven  tolerably  well,  he  was  satisfied. 

Finally,  however,  he" learned  he  w;i.s  not 
getting  along  well  at  all.  He  found  liimsi'lf 
going  backward  instead  of  forward.  Taxes  so 
high  he  could  not  pay  them.  Stock  and  pro- 
duce so  low  that  it  did  not  pay  to  raise  them. 
Jiands  tumbling  down  in  price,  and  no  one  to 
buy  at  even  half  of  their  former  value.  Money 
going  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  many  into  the 
hands  of  the  few.  Millionaires  hicre;i.sing 
with  alarming  rapidity,  and  absorbing  all  the 
gains  of  the  i>eopIe.  (Jiant  monopolies,  ana- 
conda-like, (aushing  out  the  lite  of  the  people. 
The  vast  imblic  domain  f^iven  away  to  s(!hem- 
ers  and  iilundercrs.  Fraud,  corruption,  defal- 
cation and  public  plunder  taking  the  place  of 
virtue,  hoiK'Sty  and  integrity  in  i)ublic  afi^airs, 
and  a  general  sapping  and  undermining  of 
our  republican  institutions. 

Such  conduct  is  likely  to  l)ring  the  i>eople  to 
rellection.  They  are  the  rulers,  though  they 
have  not  been.  Tlie  servants  wlioin  the  people 
have  elected  to  take  care  of  their  interests 
have  usurped  all  power,  and  made  laws  to 
suit  themselves.  They  have  Ix'come  greater 
than  their  masters.  Through  the  clirpies  tliey 
control,  they  nominate  and  elect  whomsoever 
tlu^y  please.  Farmers  have  kept  in  the  back- 
ground, and  have  seen  what  wa.s  going  on,  and 
have  felt  powerless  to  resist.  Others,  who 
have  been  active  and  glib  of  tongue,  have  had 
everything  their  own  way. 

But,  presto  !  change.  Farmers,  six  millions 
.strong,  have  said  such  work  must  stop.  But 
something  more  than  saying  nuist  be  done. 
Tliere  is  work  to  do — hard  work,  earnest,  pro- 
tracted work.  The  confiict  must  Ix'  )>repared 
for,  for  farmers  have  adroit,  wily,  persistent 
foes  to  meet,  who  will  never  give  up  tlie  ship 
or  surrender  the  sjioils,  if  they  can  help  it. 
Something  more  than  nmnerical  strength  is 
required.  Mental  strength,  broad  culture, 
ability  to  meet  their  antagonists  on  thestuin|), 
in  the  convention,  or  caucus,  or  legislative 
hall,  is  re(iuired,  or  a  general  rout  all  along 
the  line  will  eiisiie.  Thisability  cannot  be  ob- 
tained by  sighing  for  it,  any  more  than  good 
crops  can  be  obtained  by  wishing  for  them, 
(.'ulturc  is  required  in  both  cjuses,  and  the  more 
generous  the  culture,  the  gicater  the  reward. 

We  believe  farmers  a)ipreciafe  this,  and  are 
pre|iaring  to  a,s.sert  and  maintain  their  just 
rights.  They  are  improving  their  h'isure  h  ours 
ill  reading.  They  sul)scrilK*  for  the  best  papera, 
meet  in  the  grange  and  elsewhere,  and  talk 
over  tlie.sc  matters,  take  a  livelier  interest  in 
imblic  schools  and  pul)lic  all'airs  generally,  and 
are  in  reality  inaugurating  a  new  era.  It 
lakes  a  long  tinu'  to  prepari'  for  a  revolution. 
It  took  our  forefathers  a  long  time  to  airhieve 
tlieir  independence,  and  it  may  take  tlie  far- 
mei's  a  long  timi',  to  break  the  sha<-kles  with 
wliicli  wily  politicians  and  schemers  have  bound 
them.  But  let  us  pray  for  their  success  and 
deliverance.  But  each  man  must  remenilMjr 
that  he  is  an  integral  part  of  that  great  num- 
ber to  be  reached,  and  that  just  as  much  de- 
volves upon  him  as  upon  anylKidy  else,  and  that 
he  can't  shirk  the  resihinsibility,  let  him  try 
ever  so  hard. — Cobmin^s  llural  Wvrld. 


22 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[February, 


SPIDERS. 

S.  S.  E  ATHVON— 7>tar  Friend :  In  reading  an  arti- 
cle of  thine  entitled  "Peculiarities  of  Spiders,"  in 
tlie  laEt  number  of  The  Farmer,  my  attention  was 
attracted  hy  the  following  expression  :  "  Spiders, 
properly  speaking,  are  not  insects,  nor  are  they  class- 
ed withthem,  but  form  a  distinct  class  of  their  own, 
between  the  insects  and  the  crustaceans." 

Now,  according  to  A.  S.  Packard,  R.  Leuckart,  in 
1848,  proposed  the  idea  that  the  Myriopods,  Spiders, 
and  six-footed  insects  formed  orders,  and  not  classes; 
and  was  afterwards  supported  by  Agassiz  and  Dana. 
Also,  in  his  (iuide  to  the  Study  of  Insects,  in  speak- 
ing of  the  Arachnida,  Packard  says:  "The  order 
shows  its  close  relationship  with  the  Dipterous  in- 
sects, especially  when  compared  with  the  wingless 
Chionea  and  Nycteribia,  and  its  lowest  forms  (certain 
mites)  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  some  of  the  lower 
Crustacea,  as  the  young  stages  and  embryonic  devel- 
opment are  remarkably  similar.  The  typical  forms 
of  the  order  homologize  too  closely  with  the  apterous 
insects  to  allow  them  to  be  separated  as  a  distinct 
class. 

"  In  some  genera  there  is  a  decided  line  of  demar- 
cation betwc'cn  the  head  and  the  thorax,  which  is, 
however,  very  distinct  during  embryonic  life,  and  we 
do  not  perceive  that  gradual  transition  from  mouth- 
parts  to  swimming  legs  which  obtains  in  the  Crusta- 
cea. The  order,  however,  lias  much  lower,  more 
degraded  forms  than  the  Myripods  even,  as  the  genus 
Demodex  testifies,  which  may  recall  readily  certain 
intestinal  worms.  This  we  would  consider  as  but  an 
example  of  what  often  occurs  among  all  degraded 
forms,  of  a  recurrence  to  the  archetypal  form  of  the 
articulate  type,  and  not  for  this  reason,  as  some  au- 
thors have  done,  would  we  place  the  Arachnids  of 
Latreille  in  a  class  by  themselves,  below  the  Myiio- 
pods  ;  nor  on  recurring  to  the  spiders  alone,  with 
their  high  organization  and  wonderful  instincts, 
would  we  follow  Professor  Owen  and  others  in  plac- 
ing thrm  even  above  the  true  insects. 

"  We  must  look  upon  the  spider  as  a  hexapodous 
insectidcgraded,  wingless,  and  pa rtiallydecephalized. 
A  part  of  the  elements,  constituting  the  head  in  in- 
sects, have  been,  as  it  were,  withheld  from  the  head 
and  detained  in  the  thorax,  which  has  thus  an  in- 
crease in  one  pair  of  limbs.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
sensorial,  or  pre-oral  regiojj  of  the  head,  is  wanting 
in  two  most  important  members,  i.  e.,  the  compound 
eyes  and  the  antenna?.  Both  Zaddaeh  and  Claparide 
state  that  there  are  no  organs  in  the  spiders  homolo- 
gous with  the  antennse  of  insects.  The  simple  fact 
that  the  homology  of  the  organs  generally  is  so  close 
between  the  two  groups  shows  that  they  must  fall 
into  the  same  class." 

I  herewith  send  his  classilication  of  the  insects ; 
also  those  of  Asassiz  and  Dana.  Here  are  certainly 
conflicting  opinions.  The  inquiry  comes  to  the  mind 
of  the  reader,  which  one  is  right?  Now,  the  only 
way  to  come  to  a  just  conclusion  is  to  investigate 
their  comparative  anatomical  characters  and  devel- 
opment;  but  as  I  cannot  do  that,  I  must  seek  for 
light  from  some  other  source.  I  therefore  would 
like  to  hear  from  thee  more  fully  on  this  subject 
through  the  columns  of  TuE  Farmer.  Thine  truly. 
Waller  A'.  Wuij,  Lyle,  Lan.  eo.,  J'a.,  12  mo.  25,1875. 

The  Articulates  are  divided  into  three  classes, 
namely  :  Worms,  Crustaceans  and  Insects. 

The  Insects  into  three  Orders,  as  follows  : 


Agassiz— 1849. 

Packard— 186.3. 

Dana— 1864. 

Hexapoda. 

Hexapoda. 

Hexapoda. 

Sub-orders,  1—7. 

Sub-orders,  1—7. 

l.-Ctenopters. 

Lepidoptera, 

Hymenoptera, 

Hymenoptera, 

Diptera, 

Lepidoptera, 

Diptera, 

Hemiptera, 

Diptera, 

.\phaniptera. 

Hymenoptera, 

Coleoptera, 

Lepidoptera, 

Orthoptera, 

Hcmijitera, 

Hqmoptera, 

Coleoptera, 

Orthoptera, 

Trichoptera, 

Neuroptera. 

Neuroptera. 

Neuroptera. 

2.-Elytropters. 

Coleoptera, 

Hemiptera, 

Orthoptera. 

3.-Thysanures. 

Arachnida. 

Arachnida. 

Arachnida. 

Sub-orders,  1 — 2. 

Sub-orders,  1 — 3. 

Sub-orders,  1—3. 

Aranea;, 

Araneina, 

Araneoids, 

Acari. 

Pedipalpi, 

Scorpionoids, 

Acariua. 

Acaroids. 

Myriopoda. 


Myriopoda. 


Myriopoda. 


Asa  specialist,  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of 
ruling  the  si)iders  out  of  the  Class  In.secjta 
for  thirty  years  or  nioi-e ;  simply  because  we 
were  early  so  in.structed,  and  liad  no  entomo- 
logical works  that  recognized  them  as  insects. 
We  are  not  ignorant  of  tlie  positions  these 
animals  occupy  in  the  classifications  of  Agassiz, 
Packard  and  "Dana,  nor  of  the  forty  or  fifty 
otlier  systems  of  classification  which  have  come 
under  our  observation,  or  we  have  heard  of 
during  the  period  above  named ;  but  as  the 
questions  involved  in  classification  were  not 


then  settled  (and  are  not  yet  settled)  and  our 
time  to  devote  to  these  studies  was  very  limit- 
ed, we  long  since  concluded  to  let  classifiers 
figlit  it  out  on  their  own  line,  whilst  we  would 
endeavor  to  find  out  sometliing  more  about 
these  subjects  of  the  animal  kingdom  than 
their  mere  names,  and  the  niches  they  occupy 
in  the  great  temple  of  classification.  AVe  deem 
it  of  more  practical  importance  to  know  some- 
thing about  the  history  and  habits  of  animals, 
their  peculiar  characters,  how  and  upon  what 
they  live,  their  transfonnations,  and  the  peri- 
ods and  places  of  their  "coming  and  going." 
At  the  same  time  we  fully  recognize  system- 
atic aiTangement,  and  acknowledge  ourselves 
under  obligations  to  those  whose  ingenious  la- 
borshave  been  devoted  to  the  arduous  and  com- 
plicated work  of  classification  ;  but  in  this,  as 
in  all  other  departments  of  human  knowledge, 
we  must  be  left  in  freedom  to  make  our  choice, 
so  far  as  we  understand  the  various  .systems 
proposed,  their  rationality,  and  the  principles 
upon  which  they  are  founded.  The  true  sys- 
tem of  classification  is  perhaps  involved  in 
Emlri/oli  gy,  but  even  that  is  not  yet  entirely 
satisfactory. 

Those  who  run  down  the  embrj'ological 
scale  to  the  protoplastic  beginnings  of  organic 
life,  will,  of  course,  develop  different  systems 
of  classifying  the  sulijects  they  investigate, 
from  those  wlio  only  study  external  and  fully 
developed  forms.  Embryology  is  an  interest- 
ing and  useful  study,  but  no  single  lifetime 
can  fathom  it.  Agassiz  fairly  wore  himself 
out  at  it,  and  had  not  by  any  means  reached 
the  end.  Much  of  it  is  yet  involved  in  theories 
and  speculations,  therefore  we  can  only  wait 
patiently,  and  investigate  and  explore  the 
material  most  conveniently  at  hand.  There 
is  not  a  single  class,  order,  section,  family, 
genus  or  species  among  the  articulates,  that 
has  not  niunerous  exceptions  to  the  characters 
by  which  they  are  proposed  to  be  distinguislicd. 
On  these  questions  the  learned  in  nature's 
realm  by  no  means  agree.  Whether  any 
group  or  division  of  the  animal  kingdom  ought 
to  be  regarded  as  a  class  or  an  m-der  is  a  matter 
we  are  willing  to  leave  to  systematists,  and  if 
the  points  at  issue  are  decided  in  our  lifetime, 
we  may  then  adopt  them.* 

True,  there  is  a  sense  in  which  spiders  may 
be  called  insects  without  regard  to  scientific 
classification — just  as  lice,  cockroaches  and 
mice  are  called  vermin,  or  as  certain  species  of 
polyjis  or  zoophites  are  called  coral  insects. 
The  greatest  difficulty,  perhaps,  in  ruling 
spiders  out  of  the  class  of  insects,  is  to  find  a 
popular  name  by  which  to  designate  them. 
The  term  Aeaciinida  is  not  popular,  and  per- 
haps will  never  become  so,  but  if  the  term 
insect  is  to  include  all  the  articulata  in  the 
above  classification,  itwould  perhaps  be  equally 
difficult  and  unpopular  when  we  extended  it  to 
the  myriopoda.  especially  the  larger  centipedes 
which  the  common  people  in  some  localities 
call  vermin  or  reptiles. 

Although  time  may  develop  that  spiders  be- 
long to  the  .same  class  as  insects,  yet  for  all 
practical  purposes  we  prefer  to  let  them  remain 
in  a  class  of  their  own,  whether  it  is  properly 
aliove  or  below  insects.  It  is  very  certain  that 
works  on  Entomology,  generally,  do  not  recog- 
nize spiders  as  belonging  to  the  same  class  as 
insects;  nor  do  specialists,  generally,  regard 
them  as  such.  Whether  right  or  WTong,  we 
have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  the  Quinarian 
system  of  MacLeay,  adopted  and  followed 
by  Westwood  in  his  very  elaborate  system  of 
classification,  that  we  now  hesitate  to  make 
any  change  of  our  views,  until  doctors  more 
nearly  agree  ;  and  that,  probably,  will  not  be 
while  we  are  on  "this  side  of  Jordan."  The 
question  involved  seems  to  be,  whether  spiders 
sliould  constitute  a  di.stinct  class,  or  only  an 
ORDER  in  the  class  Insecta.  If  our  prefer- 
ence has  been  for  the  first,  it  is  because  we 
had  the  sujiport  of  the  most  eminent  aulliori- 
ties  on  the  subject — authorities  that  occupied 

'CnviER  sayB,  in  bo  many  words,  that  claBses,  orde.  b, 
familit  8  and  genera  are  abBtractioue,  but  that  it  ie  not  so 
with  SI  eoifs.     (/.rtters  to  J/a[f.) 

Geo.  Henry  Lewis  says:  "The  thin<j  species  does  not 
exist ;  the  tei  m  express  au  ahKtravtion,  like  virtue  or  white- 
nesB.    Nature  createB  only  individuals." 


distinguished  positions  long  before  the  names 
of  Agassiz,  Packard  and  Dana  were  known 
to  science.  Their  systems  are,  however,  not 
entirely  new,  especially  as  to  their  Tkinal 
order  of  classification.  Kirby  and  Spence  in- 
troduced a  system  in  which  three  annulose 
classes  are  formed,  namely,  Crustacea,  Arach- 
nida and  Insects ;  and,  although  they  differed 
from  that  of  all  preceding  and  sulisequent  sys- 
tematists, they  still  recognize  the  spiders  as  a 
distinct  class,  and  insects  as  equally  distinct. 
Linna'us,  in  his  great  Division  of  Insects, 
included  all  articulated  animals  possessing 
articulated  feet,  but  his  chief  disciple,  Fabri- 
cius,  separated  them  into  several  classes. 

Neither  have  systematists  agreed  as  to  what 
constitutes  an  order,  or  in  the  names  and 
numbers  of  the  sub-orders  and  families,  nor 
yet  the  genera  included  in  these.  The  Linnrean 
order,  Coleoptera,  included  also  the  crickets, 
cockroaches,  'grasshoppers,  locusts,  earwigs, 
camel-crickets,  &c.,  &c.,  but  these  were  sub- 
sequently eliminated  and  erected  into  the 
separate  orders  of  Orthoptera  and  Euplexoptera. 
Although  neither  Agassiz,  Packard  nor  Dana 
agree  in  the  number  of  their  sul>orders,  nor 
in  the  precedence  that  one  takes  of  another, 
still  their  systems  may  be  the  "beginning  of 
the  end,"  in  classification;  in  the  meantime, 
for  all  practical  purposes,  .so  far  as  relates  to 
the  habits  of  insects  and  their  economic  rela- 
tions to  the  products  of  ht:maii  labor,  it  is  of 
very  little  consequence  whetlier  we  distinguish 
them  by  classes  or  orders.  If  we  have  not 
time  or  ability  to  investigate  the  various  sj's- 
tems proposed  (for  they  are  all  merc\y  proposed 
and  none  of  them  yet  a  finality,)  we  will  have 
to  adopt  the  system  of  some  one  who  has  made 
classification  a  life-long  specialty,  and,  in  any 
event,  we  will  always  be  finding  some  one  that 
will  differ  with  us.  Under  these  circumstances 
we  must  let  our  correspondent  make  liis  own 
choice,  whilst  we  retain  ours. 


For  The  LAncabteb  Fabmeb. 
HUMMING  BIRDS. 
{family  TrochUida.) 

The  faimer  has  many  friends  among  the 
feathered  tribes  whose  efficient  and  gratuitous 
seiviccs  he  is  always  ready  to  acknowledge. 
The  few  marauders  who  levy  slight  contribu- 
tions upon  his  choice  fruits  during  a  bri^i 
period,  make  him  ample  amends  during  t\v 
rest  of  the  season.  But  for  the  Finches,  Spar® 
rows,  and  their  numerous  congeners,  experi" 
ence  has  taught  him  his  daily  toil  would  meet" 
with  but  poor  requital.  Freni  hour  to  hour, 
and  fiem  year  to  jear,  without  stint  or  stay, 
the  wcnderiul  multiplicatit  n  of  noxious  in- 
sects goes  on.  The  artificial  means  for  their 
destiuction,  that, are  available  to  him,  are  few 
in  numl  er  and  limiti  d  in  their  application. 
The  lord  of  ere  ation  here  encounters  an  enemy, 
whom,  alone,  he  is  unable  to  overcome,  anci 
he  thankfully  accepts  the  assistance  of  these 
humble  allies,  who,  night  and  day,  do  stout 
battle  in  his  behalf 

To  the  smallest  and  swiftest  of  all  the  birds 
that  cleave  their  way  through  the  air,  the  just 
meed  of  praise  has  not  been  awarded;  this  is 
not  so  much  from  his  unwillingness  to  do  so, 
but  simply  because  his  attention  has  seldom  or 
never  been  directed  to  the  good  work  they  do 
for  him  all  the  summer  through.  The  farmer 
and  florist  owe  a  debt  of  giatitude  to  the  gaily 
attired  Humming  birds,  which  they  have  sel- 
dom acknowledged,  and  it  is  our  present  aim 
to  set  before  them  as  clearly  as  we  can,  a  his- 
tory of  these  beautiful  creatures,  and  urge  their 
well  earned  claims  to  consideration. 

The  Humming  birds  belong  to  the  Linniean 
genus  Trochilus,  family  Trochilida',  order 
Incscs.sores,  tribe  Tenuirostrcs.  Having  thus 
liriefly  stated  their  place  in  the  great  class  of 
aves,  w^e  will,  in  the  future,  eschew  technicali- 
ties as  much  as  possible,  and  tell  what  we  have 
to  say  about  them  in  language  which  every 
reader  can  understand.  Their  name  has  been 
given  to  them  because  of  the  peculiar  sound 
produced  by  the  rapid  vibration  of  their  wings 
as  tliey  dart  through  the  air,  or  are  poised, 
seemingly    motionless,   before  some  favorite 


187f).] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


23 


flower,  witli  tlu'ir  loiis,  sleiulcr  bills  tlinist,  into 
its  bosom,  ('xtractiiif;  tlm  ucctiir  and  iniiiiiti' 
insects  to  be.  I'ouncl  tlu-ri'.  Tlio  nanii'  is  apt 
ami  wvW  (U'scrvrd,  dilTcrin^'  in  tliis  particnlar 
from  mncli  of  the  t'ar-t'ctolK'd  nomi'iiclatin'e  ol' 
our  modern  ornitlioloi;ists.  The  family  is,  in 
many  respi^ets,  nni(iue,  is  easily  reeo);ni/.able, 
and  cannot,  even  by  an  amatenr  natnralist,  be 
liiistalven  or  eonfonnded  with  any  other;  it  is 
sharply  distinjjnished  from  all  others  no  less  in 
general  appoarauce  than  by  its  technical  pecii- 
liaritii's. 

No  otlier  s;rou]i  of  birds ajiproaclies  the  Tro- 
cliilida!  nnmerieally  in  (loinl  of  species,  lint 
few  were  known  to  Limuens;  onrown  Wilson 
was  aciiuainted  with  but  a  single  North  Amer- 
ican species;  Audnlion  knew  scleral  more; 
]5aird,  in  1S5S,  enumerated  seven,  while  Cones, 
in  his  "Key,"  (b'^T'J),  describes  eleven.  New 
species  are  discovered  yearly.  Here,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, we  liave  but  one  variety,  tlie  l{\iby 
Throat  (T.  Coluhri.f).  Alxiut  three  linndred 
and  twenty-live  well  reeofjjiizcd  ones  are  now 
known.  In  the  mafjiiilieent  collection  of  Mr. 
(ionld,  whose  splendid  moiio^rai>li  on  this 
numerous  and  brilliant  family  is  much  the 
completest  ever  published,  more  than  threes 
hundred  species  are  reprcsenteil.  Xo  other 
cabini't  in  the  world,  either  pul>lic  or  private, 
approaches  it  in  completeness.  Wlu^n  westate 
that  the  total  ntnuber  of  the  birds  of  Km-oiie, 
of  every  order  and  uronji,  is  only  live  hundred 
and  three,  of  which  about  one  hundred  are 
also  eonmion  to  this  country,  some  idea  of  the 
diversity  of  the  Ilummin;^  bird  family  may  be 
formed,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  future 
discoveries  may  prove  this  diminutive  {jroup 
equal  in  number  to  the  combined  bird  fauna 
of  Europe. 

There  is  an  unusually  wide  variation  in  the 
size  of  the  several  .si)ecies.  This,  however,  was 
to  be  expected  from  their  number.  The  lart;- 
est  of  the  family,  (T.  Oiyus,]  is  nearly  eiglit 
inches  loug,  while  the  smallest,  (T.  Minimus,) 
measures  only  an  inch  and  a  (juarter  and 
weighs  twenty  grains,  and  when  dciijiided  of 
its  feathers  is  less  in  size  tlian  some  of  oiu' 
luunlile  l)ees.  Various  others  are  two  anil 
two  and  a  half  inches  in  extent,  while  the 
general  average  is  from  three  to  five  inches. 
The  feet  are  very  small,  and  the  tarsi  short, 
so  they  offer  but  little  impediment  to  the  bird, 
which  si)ends  so  great  a  portion  of  its  exist- 
ence on  the  wing;  the  claws  are  long  and  ex- 
ceedingly sharp,  and  are  used  l.)y  sonic  species 
to  suspend  themselves  daring  sleep,  after  the 
manner  of  various  parrots.  In  the  size  and 
conformation  of  their  bills,  Ilunnning  birds 
l)reseut  most  surprising  variations.  In  general, 
they  are  long,  slender,  and  of  eipial  thickness 
throughout;  some  are  comparatively  short, 
others  long  and  straight;  .some  have  a  down- 
ward curve,  and  some  arc  recurved  like  the 
bill  of  the  avoset,  being  the  only'  examples 
known  among  land  birds  with  such  a  shaped 
bill.  These  numerous  modilications  seem  spe- 
cially adapted  to  i>robe  and  search  tlowers  of 
every  shaiie,  and  what  renders  this  inference  a 
positive  certainty  is,  that  certain  groups alfect 
those  kinds  of  tlowers  with  tubuLir  entrances 
most  in  conformity  with  the  shape  of  their 
bills.  In  .some  cases  the  bill  is  so  enormously 
developed  as  to  exceed  in  length  the  entire 
body  of  the  bird. 

The  tongue  of  the  Humming  bird,  like  that 
of  Woodpeckers,  and  other  insectiverous 
birds,  is  retractile,  an<l  capable  of  being  pro- 
tuded  a  considerable  distance  beyond  tlie  l)ill. 
It  is  composed  of  two  muscular  tubes  united 
the  greater  part  of  their  length,  and  termina- 
ting in  two  sharp  i)oints,  wliicli  are  slightly 
widened  near  the  tips  and  lind)riated  ;  the 
tubes  are  of  very  singular  structure;  each  con- 
sists of  a  lamina  rolled  together,  but  not  so 
closely  as  to  bring  the  edges  into  contact;  a 
slit  runs  along  the  outer  side  to  some  distani'c 
beyond  the  junction  of  the  tubes;  a  pin  in- 
serted into  this  (issure  is  easily  moved  along 
its  length.  This  tubular  bilid  tongue  is  sup- 
posed to  act  like  a  pump,  and  honey  is  drawn 
from  tlowers  through  it  by  sonu;  kind  of  suc- 
tion. The  tongue  tips  are  covere<l  with  a 
glutinous  secretion,  and  admirably  ailaptcd  to 


abstract  minute  insects  from  the  flowers  they 
frecpient,  and  through  their  retnictability,  the 
living  prey  is  at  once  tran.sferred  to  the  a'jso- 
phagns. 

All  birds,  whether  large  or  small,  subserve 
.some  wise  purpose  in  the  economy  of  natme. 
To  what  a  great  extent  is  the  human  family 
indebted  to  them  for  food  V  Ihit  while  many 
do  not  directly  contribute  to  human  sustenance, 
they  yet  aid  inm  in  keeping  within  wi.sely  or- 
dained limits  the  exci^ssin  animal  and  vegeta- 
ble life.  The  services  of  the  Ilununers  in  this 
work  are  not  so  much  noticed  in  our  northern 
clime,  wlittre  they  are  comparativi'ly  few,  as 
in  those  tropical  regions  where  insect  life  is  .so 
abnu<lanl.  and  where  these  winged  jewels  of 
the  air  cnulribute  so  largely  in  keeping  the 
almost  microscopic,  as  wi'll  as  larger  ins(!cts 
honles  within  reasonablt!  bounds. 

There  has,  from  time;  to  time,  been  nnicli 
discussion  among  naturalists  as  to  the  food  of 
these  birds.  From  tht^ir  constantly  observeil 
habit  of  hovering  about  tlowers  and  probing 
their  inmost  recesses  with  their  slendi'r  bills, 
it  was  once  believed  hoiuiy  was  their  only  food; 
but  when  later  ouithologists  proved  by  dissec- 
tion that  their  stomachs  were  IIIUmI  with  count- 
less minute  insects,  then  the  nectar  tlieory  was 
well  nigh  abandoned, and  theoppositeextreme 
reached.  Later  and  more  can'ful  investig.a- 
tious  have  proved  both  theories  to  be  incor- 
rect; the  truth  lies  midway  between  the  two. 
While  the  honey  that'  is  contained  in  most 
tlowers.  and  espeeiall^yin  those  most  frc(jueuted 
by  llununiug  birds,  is  an  important  object  in 
their  search,  the  myriadsof  insects,  sometimes 
so  small  as  to  escape  the  eye,  are  equally  so; 
insects,  too,  are  partial  to  sweets,  and  are,  in 
conse(pience,  drawn  to  flowers  where  tliey 
may  be  obtained;  here  our  diminutive  friends 
seek  them,  and  in  satisfying  their  own  wants, 
relieve  tlu^  plants  from  the  noxious  hordes  that 
infest  them. 

The  forests  of  the  AVest  India  islands  and 
tropical  South  America,  are  covered  with  an 
endless  variety  of  (larasitic  and  other  plants 
that  are  the  chosen  homes  of  uncoinited  mnn- 
bers  of  the  insect  world ;  IreO-ferns,  the  wild 
plantain,  begonias,  bromelias,  uumlierle.ss  or- 
chidiea  and  many  other  i)hanerogamous  forms 
of  vegetalile  life  are  to  be  seen  in  endless  pro- 
fusion ;  amid  the  nectared  calyx  of  their  bell 
and  trunq)ed  shaped  tlowers,  swanns  of  the 
more  minute  l)ii)tera  and  Lepido|)tera  sip 
honey  and  find  a  grateful  shade,  and  these 
afford  the  Humming  birds  their  most  delicious 
repast.  It  has  been  aptly  said  the  home  of 
these  birds  is  also  the  home  of  the  insects. 
But  they  do  not  always  take  insects  in  that 
way;  every  careful  observer  must  often  have 
had  his  attention  drawn  toourowMi  splendidly 
adorned  visitor  on  warm  sunnner  mornings,  as 
he  darted  like  a  sunbeam  atabuni-h  of  minute 
flies  in  mid  air,  and,  while  seemiui;ly  motion- 
less, regaled  himself  t<i  his  heart's  content, 
and  then  took  his  departure  as  hurriedly  as  he 
came. 

Darwin,  in  his  "Voyage  of  a  Naturalist," 
(and,  by  tlie  way,  much  the  best  book  he  ever 
wrote)  speaks  of  meeting  a  well-known  species 
on  Chiloc  island  ;  he  Siiys  "at  the  time  of  the 
year  I  refer  to,  there  were  few  flowers,  hence 
I  was  quite  sure  they  did  not  live  on  honey; 
and  on  opeiiing  the  stomach  and  upper  intes- 
tine, I  could,  with  the  aid  of  a  lens,  plainly 
distinguish  In  a  yellow  fluid,  morsels  of  the 
wings  of  the  diptera.  It  is  evi<lent  thesi^  birds 
search  for  minute  insects  in  their  winter 
quarters  under  the  thick  foliage.  I  opened 
the  stomachs  of  several  specimens  which  were 
shot  in  dilTerent  parts  of  the  contini'iit,  and  in 
all,  remains  of  insects  were  so  numerous  as 
often  to  present  a  black  comminuted  mass  as 
in  the  stomacli  of  a  creeiier."  An  eminent 
Engli.sh  ornithologist  has  .said  that  a  Ilnmining 
bird  will  eat  its  own  weight  of  insects  daily. 

We  have  as  yet  said  nothing  conci'rningone 
of  the  most  distinguishing  features  of  this  re- 
markalile  family  of  birds— the  gorgeously  col- 
ored jilumage  with  which  they  are  clothed. 
All  the  other  feathered  trilies  niu.st  i)ale  their 
ineffectual  fires  in  the  presence  of  these  re- 
splendent serial  gems.     The  gaudy  plumage  of 


the  lories  and  macaws  yiehls  to  the  brilliant 
slu'i'U  ofthe.se  veritable  things  of  beauty.  A» 
they  are  the  smallest,  so  are  they  also  the  miKSt 
beautiful  of  all  the  feathered  denizens  of  the 
earth.  The  colors  of  the  emerald,  the  ruby, 
the  .sapphire,  the  topaz  and  the  amethyst  are 
all  reflected  from  the  variegated  splendor  of 
their  dre.s.s.  The  changeableue.ss  in  the  hues 
of  the  hnnnning  binls  is  very  remarkable  ;  this 
is  suppo.sed  to  be  "due  to  the  |H'Culiur  organi- 
zation of  the  feathei-s  and  the  manner  in  which 
the  luminous  raysare  reflected  on  falling  upon 
thi^m;  each  feather  when  minutely  inspected, 
shows  myriads  of  facets  .so  disposed  as  to  pre- 
sent many  angles  to  the  ineiclence  of  light, 
which  will  be  divi'i"sely  reflected  according  to 
the  position  of  the  leather;  thus  emerald  may 
change  to  a  velvety  black,  crimson  to  blue,  a 
vivid  fire  color  to  a  rich  green,  and  so  on 
through  innumerable  ever-clmngiug shades  and 
colors." 

It  has  been  mooted  whether  Ihe-se  bright 
colors  are  permanent  or  peculiar  to  the  season 
of  coiulshi|i  only.  Cabinets  containing  hun- 
dreds of  specimen.s,  and  nearly  all  of  rich  and 
vivid  hues,  ))rove  the  former,  although  we 
may  reiusonably  conclu<le  the  colors  are  inten- 
sifieil  during  the  nuptial  seiuson.  Such  is  the 
case  with  many  other  birds  whose  wondrous 
changes  in  dri'ss  before  and  after  thi'  amatory 
period  are  well  known.  Where,  however,  a 
grou))  of  birds  breed  through  the  entire  year, 
as  Hummingbirds  do  in  (iniana  and  Brazil, 
we  may  always  expect  to  find  them  in  their 
resiilenilent  iiarb,  and  individuals  are  rarely 
met  in  what  miglit  be  considered  an  undress 
suit. 

During  the  period  of  nidification,  temporary 
adormnents  in  the  shape  of  crests,  tnftu,  ruBH 
and  gorgets  are  ln'Stowed  on  many  species  of 
these  already  gaudy  birds;  language  fails 
utterly  to  describe  the  almost  ideal  beauty  of 
tlie.se  nuptial  decorations;  nothing  in  the  en- 
tire range  of  animated  nature  can  vie  with 
them  in  brilliancy.  Nor  does  a  cabinet  collec- 
tion of  sjieciniens  convey  an  adeiiuate  idea  of 
their  i)risniatic  radiance  while  alive;  when 
dead  they  lose  nuich  of  the  metallic  lustre 
that  belongs  to  the  living  birds.  And  what, 
it  may  lie  asked,  is  the  design  and  purin)se  of 
all  this  tenqiorary  splendor?  Science  stands 
nnite  and  humble  when  confronted  with  this 
([uestion.  Doubtless  it  is  conferred  for  .some 
wise  purpose,  but  of  its  true  intent  we  aro 
hopelessly  ignorant,  just  ius  we  are  of  many 
other  peculiarities  found  among  the  feathered 
creation. 

The  wings  are  so  much  curved  in  their  ex- 
terior outline  as  to  be  almost  s;ihre  or  sickle- 
.shaped  in  .some  varieties,  and  generally  exceed 
the  tail  in  Uaigth.  The  outer  primary  <piill  is 
invariably  the  longest ;  the  shafts  are  remark- 
ably strong  and  elastic,  and  freciueiitly  show 
an  extraordinary  delvelopment  at  their  base. 
The  lamina-  of  the  quills  are  narrow,  but  .so 
compact  that  when  in  use  they  present  a  sur- 
face to  the  air  so  clo.se  and  rigid  as  to  produce 
the  humming  sound  by  which  they  are  ktiown, 
and  affording  in  this  particular  a  striking  con- 
trast to  nocturnal  birds,  such  iis  owls,  the 
webs  of  who.se  feathers  are  so  soft  and  loo.se  us 
to  create  no  distinuui.shable  sound  as  they 
swoop  upon  their  unspeeting  prey. 

As  might  be  suppose<l  from  their  dexterity 
on  the  wing  and  great  ikiwci-s  of  flight,  the 
tails  a.s  well  as  the  wings  are  well  develoiied 
and  powerful ;  lln'V  show  a  wonderful  diver- 
sity in  shajie,  size  and  otlun-  iiarticidai-s ;  in 
many  species  thy  are  considerably  longer  than 
the  body  and  highlv  ornaiueulcd  ;  in  another 
it  is  composed  of  only  six  feathers,  a  reinarkii- 
ble  anomaly  in  the  history  of  the  bird  family, 
no  other  being  known  with  so  small  a  numlier 
nor  is  this  an  accidi-ntal  variation — it  is  found 
to  be  constant,  (iencrally  s|M'akini,',  the  male 
.and  female  differ  widely  in  their  plumage  and 
are  sometimes  mistaken  f(U-  different  s|H'<;ie8  ; 
in  other  cases  the  sexes  are  clothed  so  nearly 
alike,  that  dissc'ction  alone  can  determine  the 
difference  between  them. 

The  nest.sof  Humming  birds  are  lieautiful 
exam|ilesof  bird  architecture;  they  varyalmost 
as  widely  iuj  the  plumage  of  the  birds  them- 


24 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[February, 


selves ;  in  size  they  are  both  large  and  small, 
being  adapted  to  the  rcfiuirements  of  the  par- 
ticular species;  the  materials  that  enter  into 
their  composition  arc  nearly  the  same  through 
the  entire  family  ;  these  are  generally  cotton, 
thistle-down,  spiders'  webs,  hair,  root  tendrils, 
moss  and  lichens.  The  nest  of  the  Euby 
Throated  humming  bird,  which  is  the  species 
common  in  our  gardens,  may  be  considered 
as  representative  of  the  entire  group  ;  we  have 
always  found  it  attached  to  the  upper  side  of 
a  horizontal  limb  or  twig,  although  Wilson 
states  having  foimd  it  on  a  moss-covered 
stump  or  some  strong  stalk  or  weed;  the  nest 
is  about  an  inch  high  and  slightly  less  in 
diameter,  the  upper  margin  being  slightly  over- 
hanging ;  some  species  build  dome-shaped 
nests,  others  conical  ones,  while  some  again 
are  cup-shaped  and  of  extremely  elaborate  con- 
struction, although  this  latter  feature  is  not 
common  to  them  all.  In  most  cases  the  ne.sts 
resemble  in  color  the  limbs  to  which  they 
are  attached  so  much  as  to  l)e  taken  for  a  knot 
or  excrescence  of  the  same.  The  nests  are 
never  more  than  twelveor-fifteen  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  olten  much  less. 

In  these  beautifully  elaborate  nests,  two 
piu'e  white  eggs  of  nearly  oval  form,  are  de- 
posited ;  these  are  rather  large  in  proportion 
to  the  size  of  the  bird  ;  those  of  our  own  spe- 
cies measure  five-eighths  of  an  inch  in  length 
and  three-eighths  in  breadth.  The  eggs  are  not 
laid  at  regular  intervals,  sometimes  six  or 
eight  days  elapse  between  the  laying  of  the 
first  and  second  egg  ;  the  chick  in  the  one  is 
often  far  advanced  before  the  other  is  laid,  and 
this  fact  has  given  rise  to  the  belief  that  some 
varieties  lay  but  a  single  egg,  their  nest  having 
been  found  with  only  one  egg,  and  that  one 
in  a  partially  brooded  condition. — Frank  B. 
Diffenddffcr,  Lunccister,  Pa. 

[CONCLUSIOK  IN  NEXT    NUMBEB.] 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

LANCASTER    COUNTY    AS    A    GRAND 
APPLE  ORCHARD. 

I  lived  in  Duchess  county,  New  York  State, 
and  it  was,  and  still  is  called  the  "Garden 
county  of  the  State."  It  is  richly  decorated 
with  wealthy  niral  estates— highly  embellished. 
The  farmers  mostly  own  their  farms,  and  are 
descendants  of  Holland  and  Germany.  Their 
farming  is  skillful  and  successful ;  it  is  clean ; 
no  wild  bushes  arc  seen  along  the  fences. 
They  grow  great  quantities  of  tree  fruits  ;  es- 
pecially apples.  The  Esopus  Spitzenburg  is 
grown  most  plentifully.  It  is  [iroduced  in 
gi-eat  perfection  and  commands  a  high  price  in 
New  York  city.  Kieh  and  poor  have  their 
barrels  of  cider  for  winter  use.  Farmers  own- 
ing their  lands  are  wealthy  and  happy,  through 
their  industry. 

I  lived  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
which  is  also  well  named  the  "  Garden  county 
of  the  State."  The  farmers  are  skillful  and 
industrious;  their  fanning  is  clean,  no  waste 
strips  at  the  fences.  The  culture  of  tobacco 
instead  of  tree  fruits,  is  an  evil ;  it  takes  all  off 
the  lands  without  giving  any  return  ;  that  will 
ruin  the  lands.  It  is  an  immediate  gain,  but 
a  severe  less  in  the  end.  The  a])ple  "Cart- 
house  "  was  the  favorite  while  I  lived  there. 
I  have  traveled  much  over  six  States,  and 
nowhere  could  I  find  a  better  soil,  climate  and 
lay  of  lands  than  Lancaster  county  for  the  cul- 
ture of  tree  fruits.  Yet  they  are  not  so  much 
grown  as  they  should  be.  They  would  enhance 
the  value  of  farms  it  sold,  or  if  divided  among 
offspring  after  the  death  of  the  parents.  Oh  ! 
Lancaster  county,  make  thyself  the  apple 
orchard  of  the  nation.— 0/(?  Cultivator,  Pliila- 
delxjhia,  Feb.  2,  1870. 


The  Grangers  :  We  print  in  this  issue  the 
annual  address  of  Mr.  Jas.  G.  McSparran, 
Master  of  Fulton  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,  which  contains  much  that  will  in- 
terest, not  only  Grangers,  but  the  general 
reader.  Mr.  McSparran  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  intelligent  members  of  the  order  in 
this  county,  and  thoroughly  understands  the 
aims  and  policy  of  the  organization. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer, 
A  FEW  NOTES  AND  REMARKSON  NEW 
FRUITS  AND  VEGETABLES. 

''  To  the  Editor  of  The  Lancaster  Farmer:  Of 
the  many  varieties  of  apples,  it  would  be 
superfiuous  even  to  give  the  names  of  all  that 
have  recently  made  their  advent  among  ponio- 
logists.  Still,  a  few  worthy  of  notice  may  be 
named.  The  "All  Summer,"  of  Casper  Ilil- 
ler,  is  really  a  most  valuable  apple  for  the  des- 
sert— as  a  mild  and  pleasant  eating  apple  dur- 
ing its  seascm.  The  "  Mcllinger  "  is  highly 
spoken  of  by  Charles  Downing,  and  as  both 
these  are  Lancaster  comity  seedlings,  they  de- 
serve to  be  more  extensively  planted.  The 
"Pearl  "  of  Chester  county,  and  the  "Creek," 
of  York  county,  are  both  worthy  of  being  bet- 
ter known. 

Of  pears,  the  "Souvenir  de  Congress," 
though  a  foreign  fruit,  is  highly  reconnnended 
by  those  who  have  it  in  bearing.  "Pratt's 
No.  22,"  Hon.  M.P.  Wilder  tells  us,  isworthy 
of  being  placed  at  the  head  of  the  list.  Then 
the  "  Ilosen  Shenk  "  and  "Neff"  pears  are 
not  excelled  by  any  from  foreign  parts;  and 
being  "  to  the  Manor  born,"  should  be  more 
extensively  planted,  instead  of  untried  foreign 
varieties. 

Plums  are  so  imcertain,  owing  chiefly  to  the 
depredations  of  the  curculio,  that  it  is  dis- 
couraging to  plant  trees  of  the  prunes  and 
gages,  so  that  we  should  turn  our  attention 
more  to  native  varieties,  such  as  the  "Wild 
Goose  "  and  "  Miner  "  plums.  These,  though 
not  equal  to  the  finer  kinds,  are  yet  very  valu- 
able, as  both  are  certainly  of  very  good 
quality,  either  for  market  or  home  use.  Evi 
dently  the  curculio  does  not  cause  these  to 
drop  the  fruit,  probably  owing  to  a  difli- 
culty  of  puncturing  the  tough  and  smooth 
skin.  As  these  varieties  generally  bear  good 
crops  of  very  beautiful  yellow  plums,  with  red 
cheeks,  they  are  both  valuable.  For  several 
years  agents  have  been  selling  some  other 
variety  of  plum  trees  for  Wild  Goose,  thus 
creating  an  impression  that  Wild  Goose  are  as 
liable  to  the  attacks  of  the  little  "turk"  as 
any  others,  which  is  not  true,  in  fact. 

Of  peaches  we  are  getting  so  many  new — 
very  early  and  very  late  ones — that  the  peach 
season  will  be  extended  to  over  four  months. 
Amsden  June,  Early  Alexander,  several  of 
River's  of  England,  and  a  new  one  of  H.  M. 
Engle's,  all  said  to  be  earlier  than  Hale's 
Early.  Then  comes  Salway  and  S.  Miller's 
Steatly,  prolonging  the  peach  season  into 
November. 

Of  cherries,  the  "Liets"  is  highly  spoken 
of;  the  "Black  Republican,"  of  Oregon; 
River's  "Early  Amber,"  and  the  "  Weeping 
Bigarreau,"  from  Canada,  are  all  well  worthy 
of  a  trial. 

Grapes  are  also  "too  numerous  to  mention." 
The  many  crosses  between  native  and  foreign, 
of  Rogers',  Underbill's,  Dr.  Wylie's  and 
others,  are  certainly  a  gi^eat  improvement  in 
quality  over  our  former  native  varieties,  and, 
in  most  localities,  are  as  hardy  and  healthy  as 
any.  Unfortunately,  there  is  a  prejudice  with 
some  persons,  that  foreign  varieties  crossed  on 
our  natives  causes  the  seedlings  to  be  more 
tender,  as  also  more  liable  to  disease.  I  have 
not  found  them  so,  as  most  of  those  I  have 
tesetd  (over  thirty  varieties)  are  as  hardy  and 
healthy,  indeed,  moreso,  than  our  old  Catawba 
and  Isabella.  There  are  now  several  persons 
that  we  know  of  who  are  experimenting  in 
the  crosshig,  or  hybridizing  natives  on  natives; 
and  from  what  has  already  been  accomplished 
in  this  direction,  if  all  said  is  true,  we  may 
soon  have  gra])es  sujierior  to  any  "  we  ever 
dreamed  of."  A  Mr.  Folsom,  of  Attica,  New 
York,  raised  a  seedling  from  Isaliella,  named 
it  "Eureka,"  meaning  I  have  found  it.  From 
this  he  again  raised  a  number  of  seedlings, 
some  of  them  very  early,  and  others  of  such 
remarkable  keeping  qualities  that  some  good 
judges  supposed  them  to  be  just  plucked  from 
the  vines,  while  the  fact  was,  they  were  of  the 
previous  season's  growth,  and  simply  kept  in 
a  flour  barrel  in  the  cellar  alongside  of  a  bar- 
rel of  potatoes — the  potatoes  freezing  and 
rotting,  and  the  gr.T    ■  remaining  in  good  eat- 


ing condition  for  twelve  months.  Through 
cold  of  winter  and  heat  of  summer,  these  aeecl- 
lings,  it  is  said,  are  far  superior  to  the  parent 
Isabella.  At  exhibitions,  his  grapes  took  pre- 
miums over  all  others.  Another  gentleman  in 
southwestern  Missoviri  is  collecting  and  rais- 
ing seedlings  of  the  wild  .^Estevalis  or  Summer 
grape,  and  claims  that  he  already  has  several 
that  are  superior  wine  giapes,  and  some  as 
table  grapes;  and  that  this  species  is  free  from 
rot  and  mildew,  so  injurious  to  others.  And, 
again,  there  is  an  ex-editor  in  New  Jersey  who 
Mr.  Fidler  says  "  has  been  experimenting  in 
raising  seedlings,  and  in  a  half  jocular, /air 
warning  to  the  {)rofessionals,  like  Mr.  Ricketts, 
Ilusmann,  Campbell,  Miller,  and  Caywood, 
that  they  may  look  to  their  laurels,  as  the  ex- 
editor  is  certainly  on  their  tracks,  and  with  a 
good  chance  of  coming  out  ahead  on  pure 
native  grapes."  From  another  source  we  hear 
that  he  has  already  seventeen  white  and  six 
black  grapes.  His  own  statement  is,  "that 
nothing  in  the  United  States  can  compare  with 
these  gra]>es;"  (!)  but  will  not  part  with  a  bud 
until  he  has  gi'own  a  hundred  plants  of  each 
variety,  when  he  will  offer  them  for  sale." 
Thus  the  "  coming  grape  "  will  be  along  pro- 
bably before  a  second  Centennial  year  comes 
round. 

As  to  strawbenies,  "Star  of  the  West," 
"Triumph  of  Cumberland,"  and  "Colonel 
Cheney,"  are  said  to  excel  any  that  have  here- 
tofore been  grown.  There  are  also  several 
new  rasplterries  and  blackberries. 

Of  vegetables,  the  Tong  Qua,  or  Chinese 
cucumber,  is  quite  a  novelty,  weighing  ten 
pounds  and  over,  said  to  be  eaten  in  China 
while  small.  The  Bismarck  cucumber,  and 
the  singular  Russian  cucumbers,  are  alsonew. 
The  salad  plant  from  Japan,  growing  into  a 
bush  three  feet  high,  and  very  fragrant;  the 
blossoms  are  cut  off  and  salted,  and  thus  form 
an  agreeable  condiment.  The  '■'■  String melon,^^ 
also  from  Japan,  said  to  be  excellent  while 
young.  Another  is  a  squash,  from  Japan,  of 
which,  as  yet,  we  know  nothing. 

I  might  mention  other  fruits  and  vegetables, 
but  this  article  is  already  longer  then  I  in- 
tended.— J.  B.  Garber,  Columbia,  Pa.,  Jan. 

31,  1876. 

^ 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
MAKE  HOT-BEDS. 

When  this  gets  to  the  readers  it  will  be  time 
to  make  hot-beds  to  raise  early  cabbages, 
tomatoes  and  egg  plants  to  plant  out  in  June. 
Eveiy  industrious  farmer  wishes  to  make  and 
raise  all  his  requisites  at  home,  and  everj'  one 
may  have  his  own  hot-bed,  to  raise  tender 
plants  from  seeds,  for  his  garden,  at  a  small 
cost.  Almost  every  carpenter  can  niake  the 
frame  and  sashes  and  have  them  glazed,  all 
ready  for  use.  Make  the  frame  150  inches  deep 
behind  and  24  inches  in  front,  the  sides  sloping 
and  of  the  size  for  the  sash.  A  frame  of  two 
sash  will  raise  all  plants  needed.  The  sash 
may  be  five  or  six  feet  long,  with  fom'  rows  of 
glass  ;  the  panes  seven  by  nine  inches.  Four 
rows  of  seven  inches,  with  half  inch  between 
on  laths,  and  the  outer  frame  three  inches 
broad,  will  make  the  sashes  three  feet  broad  ; 
a  strip  of  two  inches  fastened  upon  the  cross- 
tie  will  make  the  frame  six  feet  two  inches 
broad,  and  the  length  of  the  sash.  A  lath,  an 
uich  thick,  should  be  nailed  upon  the*  upper 
edges  of  tlie  sides,  to  be  two  inches  above  the 
edges,  to  keep  the  sash  in  their  place.  The 
sash  slide  upon  the  cross-tie,  in  the  middle  of 
the  frame  and  the  outer  edges  of  the  frame. 
Set  the  frame  in  a  sunny  and  sheltered  spot, 
half  sunk  and  half  banked  up  with  soil  and 
sodded  over.  Put  horse  dimg  in  eighteen 
inches  deep,  place  the  sash  on  close,  aud  cover 
them  over  night  with  sfraw  mats  or  wooden 
covers.  "When  the  manure  gets  very  hot  shake 
it  loosely  up,  then  press  it  lightly  down,  so  as 
to  slope  from  front  to  back.  The  frames 
should  be  set  sloping  towards  the  sun,  and  to 
face  the  south  or  southeast.  Put  soil,  finely 
liroken,  six  inches  thick,  all  over  the  dung  in 
the  frames.  Put  the  sash  close  on  and  cover 
over  night.  In  forty-eight  hours  the  soil  will 
be  heated.  Dress  it  finely  with  hoe  aud  rake  ; 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


25 


tlien  niakp  sluillow  drills  from  front  to  hack, 
with  the  linger  or  a  small  stick,  six  indies 
ajiart ;  sow  the  seeds  in  them,  then  cover  with 
soil  and  smooth  thesurface  with  a  lirm  pressnre 
of  tlie  spade.  8ow  the  ^•<xfi  plant  seeds  in  tho 
middk%  a.s  they  need  the  greatest  heat.  In 
two  days  after  sowinj;,  youni;  plants  of  cab- 
bages and  tomatoes  will  be  thro\igh  the  ground. 
It  may  1k>  ten  days  before  the  egg  jilants  are 
up.  The  Siish  should  1k'  raised  behind  every 
day  ;  put  in  a  stick  to  keep  the  sash  up,  say 
one  or  two  inches  on  good  days,  and  on  very 
cold  and  windy  days  the  sash  may  be  closed 
all  (hiy,  iniluss  there  is  much  steam  in  the  ))ed, 
if  that  l)i'  the  case  raise  tlie  sash  an  ineli  to  let 
the  steam  escape  and  fresh  air  get  in,  but  shut 
close  early  in  aftcDioons  of  very  cold  days. 
Cover  over  niglit  while  the  cold  weather  lasts, 
rick  out  all  weeds  and  the  good  plants  will 
grow  the  Ix'tter.  When  the  soil  gets  dry  water 
it  through  the  .sprinkler  of  a  garden  watering- 
pot,  ^lake  the  water  bike  w  arm,  and  apply 
it  about  10  o'clock  in  the  morning;  then  lit 
the  sash  close  on  for  an  hour,  to  raise  a  steam 
from  the  watering,  to  fall  upon  the  plants  like 
dew.  (Jive  more  air  as  the  ilays  grow  longer 
and  weather  gets  warmer. —  IF.  £.,  I'liilaxVa, 
Fib.  1,  1S7G. 


For  The  Lanoastbk Fabmeb. 
CORN  CULTURE. 

Mr.  Editok:^T  noticed  an  article  fi'om 
.T.  B.  G.  in  tlie  January  number  of  The 
Fakmeu  under  the  caption — "  Is  a  change  of 
seed  neces.sary  V"  As  I  liave  made  corn 
farming  a  specialty  all  my  lilic,  lam  convinced 
more  fully  tlian  ever,  especially  during  the  last 
four  or  live  years,  that  corn  is  the  most  protit- 
tablc  crop  that  farmers  can  raise.  I  would 
like  to  Ivuow  more  about  Mr.  CJooper's  experi- 
ence, believing  as  he  ihies,  that  "in-and-in 
breedhig"  will  not  deteriorate  grain  ;  Ijut  that 
from  the  same  old  stock,  wliich  at  first  pro- 
duces only  one  car  or  "nubbin,"  two  or  three 
or  even  four  ears  may  be  produced  from  a 
single  stalk.  Does  he  mean  to  say  that  from 
seventy-live  to  one  liundred  bushels  to  the  acre 
is  not  a  crop,  and  instead  thereof  three  or 
four  times  tliat  quantity  can  be  raised  at  the 
present  time?  I  raised  ninety  busliels  to  the 
acre  in  1870,  when  two  ears  to  a  stalk  were  an 
exception,  selecting  my  seed  when  cribbing, 
insisting  that  it  must  be  done.  In  1874  mj'  seed 
was  damaged  and  I  made  my  selections  from 
the  crib,  and  my  yield  that  j'ear  was  ninety 
busliels  of  shelled  corn  per  acre,  in  a  field  of 
eighteen  acres.  I  began  to  make  my  selec- 
tions for  187.5  wlieu  cribbing  it,  and  wlien  I 
came  to  examine  it,  behold,  the  mice  had 
"milled"  it  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  it 
worthless.  I  again  resorted  to  the  crib,  and 
my  yii'ld  that  year  (187.5)  was  eighty-seven  and 
a  half  busliels  per  acre,  in  a  field  of  nineteen 
acres — two  best  crops,  in  succession,  I  ever 
raised.  I  i)lanted  one  grain  every  twelve  or 
fifteen  inches  aiiart,  and  had  only  one  ear  to  a 
stalk,  an<l  not  very  large  at  that.  Simjily  in- 
creasing the  numlier  of  ears  to  the  stalk  and 
not  the  number  of  bushels  to  the  acre,  would 
be  no  improvement,  in  my  opinion,  as  we  in 
Lancaster  county  consider  the  fodder  worth 
a  good  deal  for  feed  and  the  otfal  for  manure. 

Mr.  J.  B.  G.,  please  give  us  facts  more  fully 
of  Mr.  Cooper's  experience,  and  oblige  our 
Lancaster  county  farmers. — J.  B.,  lioihsnlle, 
Lancaster  cmaiti/.  Pa. 

V.  a. — What  kind  of  fertilizers  does  he  use 
and  how  does  lie  apply  them?  When  does  he 
plow  liis  corn  land  V  How  does  he  plant  his 
corn  V  and  how  many  bushels  d<ies  he  rai.se  per 
acre  V  The  answers  of  these  questions  would 
be  a  great  help.— .7.  H. 


The  FuriT  Gkowetjs'  Society  :  The  in- 
teresting abstract  report  of  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  .Society, 
which  we  print  in  this  issue  of  The  F.\HMKii, 
is  copied  from  the  columns  of  that  excellent 
weekly  newspaper,  Tlic  Burks  Cotmti/  Intelli- 
gencer. It  is  the  first  horticultural  gun  of  the 
Centennial  year,  and  has  a  decidedly  healthy 
ring. 


Fop  Thk  Lancabtku  Faumkh, 
TESTING    FERTILIZERS    AND    THEIR 
CONTINUED  ACTION. 

Experiments  Made  at  the  Experimental  Farm, 
West  Grove,  Chester  County,  Penn'a. 

In  1S72,  ]ilots  containing  one-eightli  acre 
were  laid  out  and  the  following  fertilizei-s  ap- 
plied at  the  rate  of  ifflOwortli  jier  acre,  for  the 
wheat  crop. 

The  fertilizers  were  sown  broadcast  and  har- 
rowed in,  except  where  otherwise  stated. 
Wheat  sown  September  17th,  187J.  The  re- 
sults on  succeeding  crops  up  to  this  time  are 
noted  : 


u 

K 

i--t 

ts 

-1 

Bi 

Z.aC 

S  • 

"? 

°~J 

n  ii 

Si 

Sfji 

a 

1.  Bone  anil  ashes  comiKiRtcd,      - 

:i().4« 

.5,.').')2  93.C.I 

3.  Aeidululed  South  Ciirolina  rock, 

:u.22 

.'■,,r,(Ki  ;w.(i4 

:i    Kiiinit, 

2MM 

4,1111(1  ST.Kl 

4.  I'roC.  Vine's  "wheat  food,"  - 

:w.2>s 

4,!m;o  (11. (ih 

r,.  No  fertilizer,      -        .        .        -  [2.5.20 

H,H20i81.(W 

6.  (irouiid  lione,  so^vn  broadcast  and 

lijirrowed  in,         .         _         _ 

29..'58 

5,648 

98.24 

7.  Grouiiii  bone,  one-lialf  ns  aI)ove, 

one-halt   drilled  In    with  the 

wheat,     -        -        -        .        - 

.31.44 

.5,728 

97..56 

8.  Ground  bone,  all  drilled  in  with 

the  wheat,   -        -        .        - 

3.3.3B 

.5,680|98.fM 

In  the  above  comparison  it  maylje  seen  that 
the  Acidulated  South  Carolina  rock  gave  an 
increase  of  il  -i-CiO  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre, 
over  the  unmanured  plot,  in  1873  ;  also  an  in- 
crease of  l,t)80  pounds  of  hay  in  1874,  and  in 
187.5  an  iiicrca.se  of  11  12-72  bushels  of  corn. 

Now,  valuing  the  wheat  at  .§1.30  per  bushel 
and  the  hay  at  ?15  per  ton,  and  tlie  corn  at 
50  cents  per  bushel,  and  we  have  an  aggregate 
increase  in  the  value  of  products,  in  tliree 
years,  amounting  to  .1f20  '.12,  from  one  applica- 
tion of  $10  worth  of  Acidulated  South  Caro- 
lina rock. 

Note. — The  Acidulated  Rock  eostf.30per  ton,  and 
analyzed — 7  per  cent,  soluble  phosphorous  acid  ;  5.84 
per  cent,  insoluble  phos|ihorous  acid. 

The  ground  hone  cost  ?41,  and  analyzed — 

Bonephosphateof  lime,  4.5. 7S,  PoOs,  20.97 per  cent. 

Nitrogen, '.i.'2S  per  cent. 

The  bone  and  ashes  compost,  was  1  ton  of  bone 
and  .50  bushels  of  ashes,  thorouirhly  mixed. 

The  Kainite  cost  ^2.5  per  ton,  and  contained  potas- 
sium, 14  per  cent.  :  sulphate  of  potassa,  2S  per  cent. 
— Joh}i.  I.  Carter,  Experimental  Farm,  b'csi  Grove, 
Chester  co.,  Pa. 


For  The  Lancaster  Fabheb. 
RURAL  LIFE. 

Rural  life  without  gardening  would  be  mo- 
notonous. Even  with  the  ainiiencc  of  agri- 
cultural wealth  there  would  be  an  irksome 
sameness,  unless  relieved  with  some  orna- 
mental emljellishments  to  the  grounds  around 
our  dwelling  houses.  Even  a  shade  tree  at 
the  humble  cot,  liy  the  wayside,  takes  off  its 
baldness  in  summer;  and  one  or  two  dwarf, 
hardy  evergreens  near  to  it,  and  a  geraniura 
in  its  window,  gives  it  the  air  of  cheerfulness 
and  contentment.  In  winter  we  would  expect 
more  about  the  fann  lunuic.  Two  or  three 
stately  evergreen  trees,  with  a  few  hardy, 
evergreen  shrubs,  make  the  place  an  object 
of  mark  upon  tlie  winter  land.scape.  The 
trees,  for  summer  shade,  may  he  eiierry,  chest- 
nut, pear  and  apple,  in  bearing.  They  are 
beautiful  in  bloom  and  liandsonie  in  fruit,  and 
unite  the  useful  and  the  beautiful.  A  piece 
of  lawn  in  front,  decorated  witli  a  few  (lowers 
in  summer,  and  (ilaiits  in  tlie  windows  in 
winter,  makes  all  cheei-ful. 

About  the  cottages  and  mansions  of  the 
wealthy  we  should  expect  to  sec  a  well-kept 
lawn,  embeUi.shed  with  ornamental  trees  and 
shrubs ;  the  deciduous  for  blossoms  and 
fragrance  in  summer,  and  lovely  evergreens  to 
enliven  the  whole  in  winter.  The  groiUKls 
may  be  small  or  larg(^  ;  if  well  decorated  they 
are  admirable  to  look  at.  Even  the  (^mctfnj, 
on  .South  Queen  street,  Lancaster  city,  with 
its  lovely  evergreens,  shine  beautifully  in  the 
distance  towards  the  west,  especially  during 
winter. — Ilorlicol,  riUlMhl^ihiu,  Feb.  4,  1870. 


For  TuK  Lanoahteb  Fabheb. 
THE  ADVANCING   PROGRESS  OF   OUR 
HUSBANDRY. 

The  advancing  progress  of  our  liu.slwiidry 
may  lie  considered  by  the  vast  extent  of  sur- 
face We  cultivate,  and  the  immeust^  quantities 
of  our  product  wliieh  are  exported  anmiallv. 
It  is  husbandry  which  opens  the  gateway  of 
the  worUl  and  tames  all  nature  <hiwn  to  its  will. 
JSolauy,  Chiini.'ilri/  and  FnUiiiinliiijii  are  its 
lamps  of  light.  jl//yi(r«/'«/// .soon  foliows;  then 
all  tlie  various  species  of  industry  come  on  iit 
their  limes.  The  various  lines  of'nipid  transit 
and  the  teli'graph  push  their  ways  forward  to 
carry  olT  all  the  surjilus  jiroduets  and  news, 
and  bring  hack  a  return  of  other  commodities. 
AV'lien  the  numerouH  speeiiiiens  of  the  product.s 
of  hushaudry  are  exhibited  at  the  Centennial 
Exposition  they  will  liewilder  even  the  most 
learned  and  skillful  of  our  husbandmen. 
When  our  money  getssearce  husbandry  makes 
it  plenty  by  the  iirices  of  its  ex|Mirted  pro- 
ducts; in  sluirt,  hu.slumdry  is  the  grand  panacea 
for  M  Worldly  ills. 

It  was  easy  to  raise  good  crops  uikmi  the 
fresh  virgin  soils  of  the  new  lands,  but  now  it 
reipiires  high  skill  and  industrv  to  raise  good 
crops  upon  the  lands  which  have  lieen  im- 
poverished by  long  and  constant  croiiping. 
By  the  better  knowledge  of  manures  and  con- 
centrated fertilizers,  and  the  improved  liand 
and  horse  inipleinents  and  machinery,  Hie 
crops  are  raised  with  less  cost.  That  is  pro- 
gress. See  also  the  imiiiovcd  species  of  live 
stocks  anil  their  produce. 

To  bring  the  subject  near  to  ourselves;  there 
has  been  introduced  hiany  new  species  of 
grains  ;  of  wheal,  oats,  and  new  varieties  of 
corn,  potatoes  and  turnips,  and  the  more 
general  cultivation  of  lurnijis  for  dairy  cattle 
and  sheep.  Cabbages  and  onions  are  now  ex- 
tensively laid  in  for  .ship  stores;  and  indvidual 
husbandmen  grow  scores  of  acres  of  them. 
The  Millii  and  Alsikv  chrrr  are  grown  to  help 
the  yield  of  pasturage  and  hay.  Our  vine- 
yards have  vastly  increased ;  all  our  tree- 
fruits  have  lieen  improved  ;  and  the  culture  of 
berries  is  immense,  lasting  the  whole  year. 
The  subsoil  jiloughinghasdoiibled  many  farms; 
and,  of  late,  the  steam-plow,  subsoil  lifler 
and  clod  breaker  have  been  brought  into  satis- 
factory use  for  tillage. 

Horticultural  iirogres.s  is  no  less  manifest. 
Go  where  we  may  we  see  the  country  orna- 
mented with  imiPioved  parks  anil  well  culti- 
vated ganlens.  The  great  incicase  of  new 
species  of  trees,  shrubs  and  llnwers  makes  it 
easy  to  embellish  new  grounds.  There  are 
also  many  new  species  of^  culinary  vegetables 
and  the  skill  to  grow  them.  Arcliiticliirr,  too, 
the  accompanying  handmaid  of  Horticulture, 
has  greatly  imiiroved. —  Walter  Elder,  I'hila- 
(hlphia,  Jan.  31,  1870. 

. — -♦.^ ■ 

THE  PATRONS   OF  HUSBANDRY. 


Annual  Address  of  Master  James  G.  McSpar- 
ran,  of  Fulton  Grange,  No.  66. 
Another  year  has  pas.eed.  The  anniinl  liistallalion 
of  otllcers  in  (lur  ^jrange  has  taken  place  a;;ufn.  You 
have  thought  projK'r  to  re-elect  me  Muster.  lean-* 
not  but  express  my  warmest  thanks  to  you  for  ttils 
expression  of  your  conHdence  and  esteem.  As  you 
all  well  know,"l  did  not  seek  the  |H.silloii,  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  while  I  proteste<l  acainst  re-eUrlioii,  Ix! 
assured  my  objections  to  it  did  not  arise  from  any 
abatement  of  interest  in  or  uiiwIUiUL'ness  to  lalKir  in 
thecau.se  we  love — In  the  cause  we  have  es|>oiiseiI 
lis  the  farmer's  ho|M'.  Let  ns  take  a  retnis|M'itlvo 
view  of  the  past  year.  What  is  our  condition  now 
as  a  trranire,  compared  with  what  II  was  a  year  airo  f 
In  numbers  we  have  Increased,  and  can  we  not  wftli 
truthfulness  say  we  have  maile  progn-ss  in  know- 
ledge also?  Do  we  not  eomprehiinl  to  a  fuller  extent 
the  trreat,  and  at  the  same  lime  noble,  aims  of  our 
organization?  And  while  we  mon- fully  nalize  the 
magnitude  of  the  work,  do  we  not  more  fully  appre- 
ciate the  high  and  holy  desire  to  elevate  the  tiller  of 
the  soil  to  the  position  which  lie  is  by  riu'lit  entitled 
to?  If  we  have  thus  been  eilucalinir  ourselves,  If  our 
minds  have  been  thus  Impressed  with  the  priiieiples 
ofour  onler,  then.  Indeed,  have  we  made  pmirnvs, 
and  eannoi  but  enter  U|Kin  the  duties  of  the  new  year 
with  a  more  carnesi  devotion  to  our  cause,  and  a 
stroncer  determination  to  use  individual  etiort  to  pro- 
mote it.  What  aR'  the  alms  ofour  organization? 
What  bcncfltg  can  wc  hoiK  to  derive  from  our  con- 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[February 


nection  with  it?  I  answer  many,  about  all  of  which, 
however,  arc  embraced  under  the  three  heads — 
pecuniary,  social  and  intellectual. 

Let  us  consider  these  brietiy  as  they  are  presented 
to  us.  Is  it  not  true  that  for  almost  every  article  we 
buy  (whether  for  domestic  use,  or  stock,  implements 
or  fertilizers  for  our  farms,)  we  are  obliijed  to  pay 
numerous  commissions  in  addition  to  the  original 
cost  ?  This  is  an  undisputed  fact;  even  our  opponents 
frankly  admit  it.  Is  it  not  true  again  that  crops  are 
often  produced  and  sold  by  us  for  a  figure  which  does 
not  compensate  for  labor  and  expenses  ?  Is  it  not  true 
that  we  who  by  right  hold  the  bread  that  feeds  the 
world  have  no  voice  as  to  the  price  that  bread  shall 
command  ?  Otlier  trades,  other  vocations,  can  and 
do  (which  is  their  right)  fix  a  price  on  their  labor, 
but  we,  abject  slaves'  that  we  are,  must  be  satisfied 
with  what  others  are  willing  to  give,  regardless  of 
what  it  cost  us.  Cai)  any  position  be  more  degrad- 
ing ?  Can  a  stronger  incentive  be  presented  to  urge 
us^to  prompt,  vigorous,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  hono- 
rable action  to  ameliorate  our  condition,  and  place 
our  calling  where  it  deserves  to  stand  among  other 
vocations  ?  But  some  will  claim  we  are  undertaking 
too  much.  How  can  we  expect  to  alter  these  systems 
which  have  been  operating  against  us  for  ages  ?  How 
can  we  expect  to  change  these  channels  through 
which  business  has  been  flowing  ?  The  work  is  a  great 
one  we  must  admit,  and  that  Patron  who  has  entered 
the 'field  expecting  to  reap  all  the  pecuniary  benefits 
which  will  be  derived  from  our  organization  immedi- 
ately, has  never  considered  the  matter  to  its  depth; 
hasnot  considered  that  for  generations  past  the  fet- 
ters have  been  made  more  and  more  secure,  and  can- 
not be  broken  Avithout  determined,  concentrated  effort 
on  our  part.  But,  truth  is  mighty  and  will  prevail. 
We  demand  justice,  and  nothing  more.  We  wage  no 
war  (to  use  the  sentiment  of  our  State  Master)  on  any 
legitimate  business.  When  our  principles  and  aims 
are  better  understood  much  of  the  opposition  against 
us  will  cease. 

Our  strength  is  known;  let  us  but  concentrate  it. 
Prove  by  our  zeal  that  we  realize  our  ixisition;  ever 
remembering  that  great  as  the  work  may  be  the  re- 
sult will  fidly  justify  it.    Important  and  highly  bene- 
ficial as  our  order  will  ever  prove  in  a   pecuniary 
point,  the  social  feature  is  equally  important.    There 
is  no  denying  the  fact  that  sociability  is  not  suffi- 
ciently cultivated  among  familiesof  our  calling.  Dif- 
ference of  opinion  in  religious  and  political  matters, 
together  with  other  less  potent  reasons,   have  the 
effect  of  alienating  us  from  each    other.    No  surer 
method  can  be  established  to  cultivate  this  social  dis- 
position and  to  break  down  this  barrier,  than  to  as- 
semble together  for  the  promotion  of  objects  in  which 
we  have  a  common  interest.    I  am  glad  to  be  able  to 
say  that  some  of  my  warmest  friends  differ  with  me 
politically,  and  although  my  own  convictions  in  that 
direction  are  decided,  I  have  the  highest  respect  for 
those  who  honestly  entertain  opinions  antagonistic  to 
my  own.     But  important  as  the  pecuniary  and  social 
features  are,  the  great,  the  weighty  benefit  to  be  de- 
rived is  the  training  of  the  mind.    The  cultivation  of 
the  mind  is  the  important  work.     We  cannot  over- 
estimate this.    Individuals  in  every  community  (per- 
haps we  have  some  in  our  midst)  will  tell  you  how 
much  that  they  have  regretted  (or  did  not  possess) 
early  opportunities  of  improving  their  minds.     Each 
Grange,  properly  conducted,  must   be   an   excellent 
school.     Each  meeting  can  be  made  interesting  as 
well  as  instructive.    Is  there  any  necessity  for  this 
intellectual  training?  may  be  asked.     Most  undoubt- 
edly there  is.     When  it  is  in  the  reach  of  every  one, 
every   mind   should   be   capable   of  performing  the 
duties  of  an  intelligent  citizen.      How   many  of  us 
would  he  willing  to  preside  over  a  large  public  meet- 
ing or  take  jjart  in  it  ?     How  many  of  us   would  be 
capable  of  doing  so  properly  ?    Would  not  the  most 
of  us  experience  considerable  embarrassment  to  pre- 
side over  even  a  township  meeting?     Why  is  this? 
Not  because  the  Almighty  has  not  endowed  us,  but 
*ecause  we  have  never  had  the  practical  training;  our 
talents  have  never  been  cultivated.     And  among  our 
sisters,  how  many  of  them  can  take  the  pen  in  hand 
and  write  an  essay,  which,  through  well  worded  sen- 
tences and  enlarged  ideas,  reflects  the  sentiments  of 
a  cultivated  mind?    Many  will  argue  that  these  ac- 
quirements are  not  essential  among  farmers.     Just 
there  is  the  mistake.    The  time  is  past  for  such  rea- 
soning.    From  this   time  forth  the  farmer  and  his 
wife  will  he  expected  to  staud   where  any  other  can, 
where  intelligence  is  taken  as  the  test.  The  Almighty 
has  given  us  talents,  and  we  have  no  right  to  bury 
them,  but  duty  compels  us  to  develop  them.    On  this 
point  I  have  a  few  pointed  words  to  say  to  members 
of  our  Grange,  and  I  hojie  the  shoe  will  be  put  on 
wherever  it  fits.     We  have  quite  a  number  of  mem- 
bers who  have  sons  and  daughters  not  with  us.    Cer- 
tainly such  have  not  considered  the   advantages  of 
the  Grange  as  a  school  for  mental  training.     Allow 
me  to  say  tliey  should  be  here;  here,  to  assist  in  the 
great  work  we  liave  in  liand.  We  need  their  strength 
and  influence.     But  especially  should  they  be  here, 
that  they  themselves  may  reap  the  benefits  of  such 
an  organization.     Young  nnnds  have  a  stronger  taste 
for  acquirements,  and    are    more  susceptible  of  im- 
provement than  older  ones;  and  certainly  it  is  our 
duty  to  encourage  and  foster  the  desire.     And  while 


it  will  lighten  life's  burdens  to  them,  it  will  instill 
into  their  minds  a  higher  respect  for  the  calling  in 
which  we  are  engaged.  In  conclusion,. let  us  work 
with  a  will.  Let  us  have  no  laggards,  but  impelled 
by  a  sense  of  justice  to  ourselves  and  posterity,  let 
us  assist  in  building  this  grand  structure,  and  in  the 
not  far  distant  future  the  anniversary  of  our  order 
will  be  hailed  with  delight  by  all  who  believe  in  the 
supremacy  of  justice  and  right. 


THE  FRUIT-GROWERS'S  OCIETY. 


Annual    Meeting    in    Doylestown— Interesting 
Sessions— Valuable  Essays  and  Discus- 
sions—All About  Fruit  Growing 
and  General  Horticulture. 

The  convention  of  the  Fruit-Growers'  Society  of 
Pennsylvania  was  held  in  Lenape  Hall,  in  Doyles- 
town, this  week,  beginning  at  3  o'clock  on  Wednes- 
day, January  10.  The  attendance  on  the  first  day  was 
not  over  one  hundred  persons,  a  majority  of  whom 
were  from  this  county.  A  table  for  the  reception  of 
specimens  of  I'ruit  was  placed  iu  tl>e  front  of  the  hall, 
and  by  the  time  the  proceedines  began  it  was  well 
covered  with  apples  of  various  kinds,  and  a  few  pears , 
most  of  them  from  Bucks  county  growers.  Quite  a 
number  of  these  had  been  brought  for  the  purjxjse  of 
obtaining  the  correct  name.  At  2  o'clock  the  Presi- 
dent, Edwin  Satterthwait,  of  Jenkintown,  and  the 
Secretary,  E.  B.  Eugle,  of  Marietta,  Pa.,  took  their 
places.  The  minutes  of  last  year's  meeting,  held  at 
York,  were  reail.  H.  T.  Darlington,  on  the  part  of 
the  committee  representing  the  local  societies  and 
clubs,  briefly  welcomed  the  visitors  to  Doylestown. 
Mr.  Satterthwait  responded,  saying  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society  had  come  here  as  learners  them- 
selves, and  that  the  object  of  holding  the  meetings  in 
ditierent  places  was  to  acquire  fresh  knowledge  from 
the  people.  The  Treasurer's  report  was  read,  show- 
ing the  receipts  of  the  past  year,  including  a  balance 
over,  to  have  been  |"ilO.S7,  and  that  tlie  present 
amount  in  his  hands  is  §361.69.  The  Society  then 
proceeded  to  general  business. 

General  Reports  and  Letters. 
H.  M.  Engle,  of  Marietta,  read  the  report  of  the 
General  Fruit  Committee  for  the  past  year.  He  re- 
ferred to  the  difficulty  of  preparing  a  satisfactory  re- 
port for  the  wliole  State,  in  the  absence  of  local  inter- 
est. The  apple  crop  of  1S7.5  was  short,  and  of  inferior 
quality,  much  of  which  was  caused  by  the  injury 
done  by  the  codling  moth.  The  present  prospect  for 
large  fruit  crops  is  not  flattering.  This  is  the  opinion  of 
many  prominent  growers.  In  some  sections  the  borer 
is  very  destructive.  In  a  few  localities  there  are  par- 
ticular varieties  which  bear  freely  every  year,  or  every 
alternate  year,  but  are  little  known  elsewhere.  The 
pear  croj)  was  better,  fewer  varieties  are  grown,  and 
public  opinion  is  more  generally  agreed  as  to  their 
merits.  Keferenee  was  also  made  to  the  peach  and 
plum  crops.  The  Kichland  is  considered  about  the 
best  variety  of  the  plum  grown  in  the  State.  The 
Mazzard  cherry  is  generally  free  from  insect  enemies, 
and  if  it  were  better  cared  for  it  would  be  quite  pro- 
fitable .  Reports  on  grapes  were  meagre, compared  with 
their  importance.  It  is  the  most  productive  and  pro- 
fitable of  fruits.  The  Concord  is  still  the  grape  for 
the  million.  Tlie  Martha  is  hardy  and  productive, 
and  objectionable  to  some  for  its  sweetness.  It  has 
sold  fifty  per  cent,  higher  than  the  Concord  in  mar- 
ket. The  hybrid  varieties  may  be  indefinitely  multi- 
plied, and  many  good  kinds  thus  obtained.  Isabella 
and  Catawba  are  mostly  discarded.  Blackberries  are 
neglected  in  consequence  of  the  abundance  of  wild 
fruit.  Tlie  Lawton  is  largely  superseded  by  the  Kit- 
tatiny.  Wilson's  Early  is  being  abandoned  because 
of  its  poor  quality.  An  insect  enemy,  which  attacks 
the  roots  and  stalks,  has  appeared  in  some  quarters. 
Raspberries  are  grown  mostly  near  the  cities.  The 
black  caps  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  many  of  the  red 
ones.  The  llerstine  is  the  most  popular.  As  to 
strawberries,  the  Wilson  still  leads  in  the  popular 
estimation,  and  the  kind  that  is  to  supersede  it  has 
not  yet  been  discovered.  There  are  many  other  good 
kinds,  which  do  not  quite  fill  the  bill.  Currants  and 
gooseberries,  unless  well  mulched,  are  seldom  re- 
munerative, and  crops  have  been  moderate.  If  the 
fruit  committee  were  better  organized,  and  its  scope 
enlarged,  its  investigations  might  be  made  very  valu- 
able. It  is  desirable  that  every  county  in  the  State 
be  represented,  so  that  a  complete  report  of  1876  may 
be  obtained. 

A  proposition  to  alter  the  by-haws  of  the  Society, 
brought  over  from  the  last  meeting,  was  i-ead  by  the 
secretary.  One  was  that  the  Society  should  also  give 
attention  to  general  and  ornamental  horticulture. 
Mr.  Meelian  explained  tlie  reasons  for  the  [iroposed 
changes,  which  was  also  provided  for  in  the  change 
of  name  to  the  "  General  Horticultural  Society  of 
Pennsylvania."  The  title  was  framed  in  this  man- 
ner to  avoid  confusion  with  the  Philadelphia  Horti- 
cultural Society.  II.  M.  Engle  moved  to  postpone 
the  suliject  for  the  preseut,  which  was  carried.  A 
recess  of  ten  minutes  was  then  taken  to  enable  per- 
sons to  become  members. 

The  President  stated  that  a  number  of  letters  had 
been  received  from  prominent  fruit-growers  who  were 


not  able  to  attend,  and  some  of  them  would  be  read. 
One  was  from  William  Parry,  of  Cinnaminson,  N.  J., 
who  referred  to  the  value  of  the  Beatrice,  as  an  early 
peach — also  the  Louise  and  the  Rivers,  which  have 
been  lately  introduced.  Thomas  Median  said  that 
Mr.  Parry  had  been  a  very  active  member  of  the  So- 
ciety, but  was  now  interested  in  his  own  State  Socie- 
ty. He  moved  that  he  he  made  an  honorary  mem- 
ber, which  was  carried.  One  from  Rev.  E.  P.  Roe, 
of  Cornwall,  N.  Y.,  expressed  much  regret  for  his 
inability  to  attend.  He  thinks  he  has  a  new  goose- 
berry and  a  new  raspberry  of  value.  One  from  Mr. 
Huidekoper,  of  Meadville,  had  reference  to  grape 
culture,  in  which  he  is  a  proficient.  He  trims  vines 
in  October,  taking  off  most  of  the  laterals.  The  first 
of  November  all  vines  are  taken  down  and  covered. 
They  are  doubled  up  and  covered  with  light-colored 
earth,  which  does  not  thaw  so  easily.  Early  in 
spring  they  are  uncovered,  and  the  result  is  a  large 
crop  of  fruit.  The  Delaware  rendered  the  best  yield 
last  season — better  than  Concord .  Sulphur  is  sprink- 
led on  the  ground  to  prevent  mildew.  In  grape- 
houses  the  glass  should  be  whitewashed,  to  moderate 
the  heat.  Wood  ashes  are  very  beneficial.  Old  varie- 
ties give  better  satisfaction  on  the  whole  than  novel- 
ties. Mr.  Meehan  spoke  favorably  of  the  processes 
employed  by  Mr.  Huidekoper  in  his  graperies.  The 
roots  of  the  vines,  outside  of  the  houses,  were  thickly 
covered  with  leaves.  H.  M.  Engle  also  approved 
very  much  of  Mr.  H.'s  system  of  grape-growing.  Mr. 
Sprout,  of  Lycoming  county,  said  he  had  practised 
covering  the  earth  about  grape-vines  with  much  suc- 
cess. One  year  he  covered  the  ground  with  the  crush- 
ed stalks  of  sorghum  and  had  the  heaviest  crop  he 
ever  grew.  Forest  leaves  are  the  best  mulch  for 
strawtierries  he  has  ever  tried.  W.  P.  Magill  said 
that  for  several  years  past  he  had  mulched  his  vine- 
yard with  green  grass  cut  from  his  lawn,  with  excel- 
lent efl'ect.  Mr.  Satterthwait  said  tliat  there  was 
nothing  to  be  compared  with  leaves  for  keeping  out 
frost.  They  are  the  best  protection  for  celery  that 
he  has  ever  met  with. 

H.  M.  Engle,  chairman  of  the  general  fruit  com- 
mittee, proposed  the  reading  of  some  of  the  reports 
received,  wliich  was  done  by  the  secretary.  The  re- 
port from  Franklin  county  said  that  more  attention  is 
given  to  fruit-growing  now  ;  the  soil  and  climate  are 
very  favorable  ;  the  culture  of  flowering  plants  is 
steadily  increasing.  From  Lancaster  county  the  re- 
port, written  by  J.  B.  Garber,  was  not  f'avorable, 
peaches,  plums  and  cherries  having  been  injured  by 
severe  cold.  Old  apple  trees  have  died  from  its 
eflects,  and  young  ones  greatly  injured.  Pears  have 
ripened  better  than  apples  ;  cherries  yield  five  years 
in  six  ;  peaches  three  years  in  five  ;  plums  are  no  go, 
because  of  the  curculio.  Of  grapes,  most  of  the  new 
kinds  have  succeeded  pretty  well,  but  some  are  ruin- 
ed by  mildew.  The  statement  in  regard  to  the  effects 
of  the  cold  in  "sickening"  apple  trees  was  question- 
ed by  several  persons.  Mr.  Sprout  said  that  in  Ly- 
coming county  peach  trees  have  sufi'ered  in  that  man- 
ner. H.  M.  Engle  thought  that  the  wood  growth 
was  weakened  by  severe  cold.  It  is  the  sudden  and 
extreme  change,  probably,  that  does  the  injury.  Mr. 
Pannebaker  said  that  it  is  the  white  frost  that  kills 
the  trees  and  buds.  Where  the  elevation  and  the 
winds  prevent  the  frost,  the  trees  are  not  hurt.  E. 
Satterthwait  said  that  the  moisture  of  the  air  had 
much  to  do  with  it.  Mr.  Sprout  related  a  case  of  an 
orchard  on  the  south  side  of  a  hill,  from  which  he 
never  had  a  bushel  of  peaches.  The  wood  grew  late, 
was  full  of  sap,  and  was  injured  in  consequence.  On 
a  northern  exposure 'he  had  excellent  results.  No 
trees  in  the  valleys  have  done  any  good.  Mr.  Magill 
said  that  there  was  a  difierenee  in  the  hardiness  of 
varieties.  Mr.  Meehan  told  a  humorous  story  to 
illustrate  the  different  opinions  expressed  on  this 
point,  to  the  efi'eet  that  all  the  reasons  given  might 
be  nearly  right,  but  none  altogether  so.  This  dis- 
cussion was  continued  at  considerable  length. 
Address  by  the  President,  &c. 
On  Wednesday  evening  several  papers  of  interest 
were  read  before  the  Association.  President  Satter- 
thwait produced  an  essay,  which  embodied  a  number 
of  useful  suggestions  regarding  the  conduct  of  the 
present  session  of  the  Association.  He  requested 
brevity  in  the  remarks  of  the  members  ujion  the  vari- 
ous matters  under  discussion,  and  a  close  adherence 
to  the  subject  before  the  meeting.  He  referred  to  the 
increase  of  fruit-growing  in  the  United  States;  com- 
jiared  it  with  that  of  other  countries  which  helped  to 
supply  our  markets  ;  said  that  fruit  must  always  be 
cheap,  but  the  business  would  still  be  remunerative 
if  properly  carried  on  ;  spoke  of  the  cheap  fruits  of 
Delaware  ;  of  the  general  dullness  of  this  and  all 
other  trades;  of  good  and  bad  years  noticealile  in 
fruit-growing;  and  referred  lastly  to  the  display  that 
should  be  made  by  the  promologists  of  the  country 
at  the  Centennial. 

Mr.  Meehan,  of  Germantown,  responded  to  the  last 
suggestion,  saying  that  it  would  be  impossible  for 
this  or  any  other  society  to  act  as  a  body,  but  that 
very  much  could  be  done  by  individual  efforts  in  that 
direction ;  and  he  recommended  co-operatiou  with 
the  American  Association,  in  au  informal  manner,  in 
making  a  creditable  exhibition  at  the  proper  time. 

An  essay  on  the  interests  of  the  Society  at  the  Cen- 
tennial, by  S.  B.  Heiges,  of  Y'ork,  was  read.  Its  main 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


27 


fpatiire  was  to  co-opcrati'  with  tlio  Poniipylvaniii  llor- 
ticultural  Society  in  tliv  inattiT  liy  tlu^  aiiiKiiiitnu'iit 
of  a  joint  coniriiitti-i',  tlio  duty  ol"  wliicii  woulil  hv.  to 
make  tin'  nci'tssafy  aiTaiigeinciits  witli  the  Cciiten- 
uial  antlioritit's. 

Mr.  Sprout,  of  Lycominp  county,  favored  this  sug- 
gestion, on  the  irrnunti  that  it  would  form  a  nueleiig 
alxiiit  whicli  all  the  societies  of  the  conntry  niiirht 
gather.  lU'  exiiihiteil  the  iihotoirra|th  i>f  an  ajiparatus 
designed  to  i)rcserve  perislialile  fruits  when  on  cxliili- 
ition,  consisting  of  a  case  having  a  glass  Iront,  an<l 
surroinidcil  hy  ice. 

(leorge  li.  Thomas,  of  West  Chester,  said  that  all 
the  space  in  this  deiiarlmcjit  at  the  Centennial  had 
been  taken;  that  nothing  could  be  done  by  the  So- 
ciety as  a  Imdy. 

Mr.  Meehan  offered  a  resolution  to  co-operate  with 
the  American  Association,  wMeh  will  meet  on  the 
14th  of  next  Seplenihcr,  prohalily  in  Horticultural 
Hall,  I'hiladelphia,  and  after  a  short  session  will 
adjourn  to  the  Centennial.  His  resolution  was 
adoptc<l. 

Josiah  Hoopes  on  Yards  and  Lawns. 

An  I'ssay  was  read  fixmi  .Tosiah  Hoopes,  of  West 
Chester,  who  was  not  jirescnt,  cnlilled,  ■•  Our  Yards, 
and  How  to  take  Care  of  Them."  The  paper  was 
couci.'-e,  and  to  the  point.  What  is  needed  is  a  more 
natural  and  less  arliticial  [ilan  Ihan  is  commonly  ob- 
served, liules  applicable  in  all  cases  cannot  be  laid 
down,  although  iicncral  iirinciplcs  may  be.  Every 
place  ha.s  au  individuality  of  its  own,  which  must  be 
understood  in  order  to  secure  the  best  results.  For 
lawns  few  walks  were  recomniendod,  and  these 
should  not  lie  laid  out  carelessly.  Every  curve  and 
bend  slioidd  have  a  reason.  P<jorly  kept  walks  are 
worse  than  none  at  all.  Ground  gyjisum  was  recoui- 
niended  as  a  good  dressing  for  grass,  to  be  used  annu- 
ally. The  hand-mower  will  kill  the  weeds,  thicken 
the  turf,  and  by  leaving  the  short  grass  where  it 
falls,  the  soil  is  actually  imiuovcd.  In  making 
walks  there  should  be  stones  employed  for  founda- 
tion, up  to  within  three  inches  of  the  surface.  On 
that  the  gravel  is  placed,  the  middle  of  the  walk  be- 
ing raised  two  inches  above  the  edges.  Mixed 
flowers  in  beds  are  in  bad  taste  on  a  well-keiit  lawn. 
Position  of  beds,  the  arrangement  of  fountains  and 
rockeries,  and  the  selectJon  of  trees  were  mentioned. 
In  front  of  a  bay  window,  or  in  the  bend  of  a  drive  or 
walk,  is  a  suitable  place  lor  a  flower  bed  ;  fountains 
ought  to  be  plain  in  construction  ;  a  rockery  should 
not  show  marks  of  a  hammer  or  defaced  portions  of 
the  stones  used  in  its  construction.  Avoid  large 
trees  on  small  lawns,  except  for  shade  ;  avoid  mathe- 
matical precision  ;  avoid  scattered  flowering  shrubs. 
The  training  in  of  the  branches  of  trees  while  young 
will  greatly  improve  their  ajipearance  in  after  years. 
Evergreens  properly  eared  ibr  will  add  greatly  to  the 
beauty  of  any  lawn" or  yard.  And  after  once  getting 
a  place  in  oriier,  care  is  constantly  required  to  keep 
it  so.  The  essay  of  Mr.  Hoopes  was  full  of  useful 
and  practical  information.  This  subject  has  been  a 
specialty  with  him  for  years,  and  he  has  published  a 
book  on  the  evergreens. 

Mr.  Meehan  [lut  in  a  plea  in  this  connection  for 
the  straight  box-wood  borders  and  straight  walks 
of  the  old-fashioned  flower  gardens. 

H.  T.  Darlington,  of  Doylestown,  asked  what 
common  people  were  to  do  when  the  high  priests  dis- 
agreed. Mr.  Hoopes  recommended  curves,  and  Mr. 
Meehan  straight  lines. 

Mr.  Meehan  explained  himself,  and  eluded  the 
trap  by  endorsing  the  curves  for  the  lawns  and  the 
straight  lines  in  the  small  gardens. 

John  I.  Carter,  of  the  Experimental  Farm  at  West 
Grove,  sjioke  of  the  beauty  of  t  he  climbing  vines  about 
the  buildings,  and  of  their  cheapness  and  case  of 
growth. 

H.  T.  Darlington  spoke  of  the  forest  trees — of  their 
inimitalilc  characteristics — and  mentioned  those  about 
the  West  Grove  Experimental  Farm. 

Management  of  Orchards. 

John  I.  Carter  read  an  essay  on  "  Orchards  and 
their  Management."  He  said  orchards  would  pay 
for  more  attention  than  they  generally  receive.  If 
the  snpplj  of  fruit  is  increased  beyond  the  present 
consumption,  the  demand  will  also  increase  in  pro- 
jKirtion.  The  varieties  of  fruit  reeommeialed  were 
as  follows:  Apples— .Maiden's  Hlush,  Smokehouse 
and  Smith's  Cider.  Pears— Hartlctt,  Lawrence  and 
Scckel.  Cherries— Governor  Wood  and  Early  Kich- 
mond.  Judicious  nuinuring  and  good  cultivation  are 
necessary,  which  are  not  to  be  di6<'ontinucd  after 
bearing  begins.  Plenty  of  miiu'ral  fertilizers  were 
rcconimendcd.  South  "Carolina  rock  was  mentioned 
as  adapted  lo  the  purposi'.  A  wash  niadcof  muriate 
of  potash,  low  manure,  sulphur  and  copperas  was 
recommended  to  be  used  after  pruning. 

Mr.  Purman,  of  Clinton  (ounty,  asked  for  practi- 
cal remarks  on  the  management  and  care  of  orch- 
ards, lie  has  one  hundred  acres  of  young  trees,  and 
desires  lo  have  the  most  intelligent  manner  of  earing 
for  them,  and  at  the  same  time  securing  the  most 
economical  method  that  will  produce  the  result. 

To  answer  this  recjuctt  the  President  callcil  upon 
Walson  P.  Magill,  of  Bucks  county.  Mr  Magill  lirst 
said  that  from  nothing  you  can  obtain  notliing.  .Vn 
orchard  of  young  fruit  ought  to  increase  in  value  at 


the  rate  of  ?1  per  tree  per  annum.  In  order  to  do 
this  something  mtist  of  course  be  given  to  the  land. 
If  Mr.  Puruuin  has  1110  acres  of  orchard,  at  the  rate 
of  4.')  trees  to  the  iwre,  he  must  exjH'nd  sonu'  time 
and  labor  to  realize  an  increased  valui'  per  year  of 
S4,.'j(l().  If  he  is  not  prei)aied  to  jiroperly  cultivate 
100  acres,  he  had  belter  try  .lO,  or  even  10.  Hoed 
crops  were  advised  for  the  flrst  six  or  eight  years — 
potatoes  being  mentioned  as  well  suited  lo  the  pur- 
pose. Thn-e  or  f<»ur  hundred  inainds  of  phosphate 
to  the  acTC  shoidd  be  used.  The  crops  wouhl  assist 
in  paying  for  this  cidtlvation  of  the  trees.  Aflcrlhal 
lime  the  orchard  should  go  into  grass,  and  be  mown 
once  or  twiie  a  year.  If  the  grass  Is  removed  nninure 
shoid<l  be  returned.  Stock  ouglil  to  be  carefully  ex- 
cluded. After  the  grass  is  under  the  trees,  the  fallen 
leaves  make  an  excellent  nndeh. 

Mr.  Sprout,  of  l.ycondng,  said  that  his  practice  has 
been  lo  use  |>lenly  of  potash  about  Ids  trees,  in  the 
form  of  wood  ashes;  also  copperas  water,  applied  at 
intervals  of  two  weeks,  to  remedy  flrebliglil. 

John  Easlburn,  of  Hucks,  re<'ommcnded  plowing 
uinler  clover  in  orchards;  also  buck\\heat.  He  ob- 
jects lo  the  practice  of  planting  either  ry<',oals,or 
wheat,  and  docs  not  believe  in  plowing  under  sowed 
corn.  He  believis  in  perpetual  culllvallon  of  ajiple 
trees.  Last  year  lie  nuirkeled  tweiity-cight  hundred 
buslicls. 

W.  P.  Magill  referred  to  the  orchard  of  Joshua 
Fell,  near  Doylestown,  whose  trees  in  the  alumn  re- 
sendile  pyrairdds  of  fnnt.  They  sell  at  from  ten  to 
thirteen  dollars  per  tree.  The  orchard  is  twelve  years 
old.  The  grass  in  the  orchard  resendilcs  a  well-kept 
lawn.     .Mr.  .Magill  favored  low  Iriinining. 

Mr.  Gardner,  a  fruit-treetrimmcrof  Hiickseounty, 
explained  his  general  plan  of  jiruning.  He  allows 
three  branches  to  form  the  iiillars  uixin  which  to 
build  I  he  head  of  the  tree.  He  aims  at  the  jiroduc- 
tion  of  short  trunks  and  large  tojis,  and  seizures, 
thereby,  he  states,  rapid  and  vigorous  growth. 

Mr.  "Magill  stated  that  the  best  time  to  prune  or- 
chards is  fnim  the  middle  of  May  to  flrst  of  July. 
For  a  wash  or  coaling  lie  thought  a  solution  of  gum 
shellac  in  alcohol  would  be  found  satisfactory. 

President  Sattcrthwail  said  that  low  trimming  was 
doubtless  the  best ;  that  the  leaf  should  be  as  near 
the  root  as  possible. 

Mr.  Lint,  of  York,  spoke  of  spring  and  fall  prun- 
ing; he  would  cultivate  an  orchard  for  six  or  eight 
years,  and  then  put  it  down  in  grass;  and  he  pre- 
ferred potatoes  as  a  crop  rather  than  corn  for  the 
young  orchard. 

A  committee  to  examine  the  fruit  on  exhibition  and 
to  report  next  day  was  appointed.  It  was  as  follows: 
Thomas  M.  Harvey  and  John  I.  Carter,  of  West 
Grove,  Chester  county,  and  S.  W.  Noble,  of  Jen- 
kintown. 

Election  of  Offlcers--The  Centennial. 

The  proceedings  of  Thursday  began  with  the  selec- 
tion of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year.  A  committee  of 
three,  consisting  of  John  I.  Carter,  Thomas  M.  Har- 
vey and  Alfred  Sheller,  was  appointed  by  the  chair 
to  present  nominations  for  the  ofhccs  to  be  Hlled  at  the 
afternoon  session.  The  committee  to  audit  the  trea- 
surer's account  reported  that  they  had  found  every- 
thing correct.  The  subject  of  changing  the  name  of 
the  society  to  the  "  General  Horticultural  Society  of 
Pennsylvania,"  brought  over  from  last  year,  was 
taken  up.  Thomas  Meehan  gave  several  practical 
reasons  why  the  change  was  not  desirable.  H.  .M. 
Engle  and  Samuel  W.  Noble  expressed  the  same 
views.  The  matter  was  then  postponed  until  next 
year.  John  I.  Carter  offered  a  resolution  looking  to- 
ward a  display  of  our  fruits  at  the  Centenrdal.  It 
was  proposed  that  the  Secretary  corresjiond  with  the 
difl'erent  county  agricultural  societies,  asking  their 
aid  in  making  such  collection  and  ilisplay.  He  briefly 
advocated  such  action.  Mr.  .Meehan  said  that  he  could 
not  see  any  practicable  way  of  reaching  this  object. 
It  would  cost  a  good  deal  of  money  to  make  a  State 
exliibition  of  fruit,  aral  he  did  not  see  where  it  would 
come  from.  This  Socii'ty  could  not  interfere  wilh  Ihe 
regular  action  of  the  l'entcni:ial  Comnnssion.  H.  T. 
Darlington  said  that  it  was  very  <loubtful  if  the  Soci- 
ety could  act  except  in  an  auxiliary  capacity.  Thomas 
M.  Harvey  thought  the  dilheulty  woidd  nr)t  be  very 
great,  and  that  the  cost  would  not  be  much  if  the 
packages  were  prepaid.  The  subject  was  then  post- 
poned until  evening. 

More  About  Apple  Orchards. 

Resuming  the  subject  of  the  treatment  of  orchards, 
Thomas  M.  Harvey 'said  that  more  light  was  wautinl 
on  the  jiropcr  time  of  pruning.  At  onetime  he  had 
iiruncd  eerlain  trees  at  intervals  oftwo  weeks  liuring 
the  year,  lo  learn  the  effect.  .John  I.  Carter  said  that 
the  lindps  cut  oil  in  the  lirst  two  mouths  of  the  year, 
an<l  in  June,  hail  healed  most  perfectly.  The  result 
was  favorable  to  winter  pruuiii!.',  but  all  had  healed 
without  injury.  Mr.  Lint,  of  York  coiiniy,  said  that 
his  experienee  was  in  favor  of  pruning  when  Ihe  buds 
began  to  swell.  They  heal  over  sooner  theu  than  at 
any  other  time.  Mr."Salterlhwail  said  that  he  had 
alwavs  been  warned  against  pruning  at  that  time- 
thai  there  was  a  great  confusion  of  ideas.  Thomas 
,M.  Harvey  said  that  all  agreed  that  we  should  avoid 
pruning  while  the  sap  is  running,  which  often  causes 
much   injury.     Mr.  Meehan  said  that   as  a  general 


rule  a  wound  made  in  summer  will  heal  more  rapidly, 
but  in  practice  he  prefers  winter  pruning.  It  Is  not 
well  to  remove  branches  while  coveri'd  wilh  leaves. 
II.  .M.  Engle  said  that  pruning  was  only  a  choice  of 
two  evils.  If  orehanls  were  managtHl  corn-cily  very 
little  pruning  would  be  nce<|ed.  If  the  Iree  can  las 
trained  right  when  young.  It  will  never  be  reipiln-d 
lo  eul  off  larL'c  brunches.  Prune  as  little  as  |>oskIIiIc. 
Pinch  oil' surplus  buds  or  shoots  wlii'U  young,  and  wo 
will  have  no  need  to  discuss  this  troublesome  ipies- 
lion.  W.  P.  Magill  said  (hat  he  agneil  nitli  .Mr. 
Meehati  as  In  the  time  of  pruning.  Wounds  heal  over 
more  ipiiekly  if  done  in  summer,  hut  hi  practice  the 
winter  is  generally  found  more  convenient.  E.Sut- 
Icrlhwall  look  the  same  view.  A.  K.  Sprout,  of 
Lycoming,  said  that  a  gri'at  deal  lUiiends  on  llieeoii- 
dilion  of  the  cellular  tissue;  if  it  is  full  of  sap  wlieu 
cut  11  is  sure  to  bleed.  Hut  after  the  leaves  come  out 
trees  may  be  {iruned  with  safety. 

Hybridization  of  Fruits. 
Thomas  Meehan  discussed  the  subject  of  the  hy- 
bridization of  fruits  by  design.  We  are  apt  to  think 
we  are  not  progressing  at  all,  but  on  liMikIng  hack  we 
see  how  much  has  been  galneil.  lVo[ile  may  ask  of 
what  use  are  lliese  Ihings^we  might  as  well  ask  the 
use  of  a  new-lioru  babe — we  have  to  wall  and  see  the 
value  of  new-born  llioughls.  There  are  a  great 
many  selentitlc  facls  which  seem  lo  be  of  no  particu- 
lar use,  but  are  aflerwaid  found  very  valuable. 
Science  grows  continually,  and  In  course  of  llnie  we 
can  see  how  miieli  has  Is-en  gaiiieii.  The  hybridt/.a- 
lion  of  frulls  is  a  subject  of  this  class.  Il  was  found 
out  long  ago  that  more  and  belter  fruit  could  be  had 
by  mixing  the  imiIIcu  of  blossoms.  Knowledge  on 
this  point  has  grown  very  slowly.  Il  Is  not  prohublu 
that  the  process  is  allcnded  by  inuiicdiate  elfeels  on 
fruit.  Corn  and  sipnishes  seem  lo  Im'  exceptions,  hut 
there  is  probably  a  natural  allinity  in  Ihem.  Like 
does  not  always  produce  like;  no  two  trees  of  Iho 
same  kind  are  exactly  alike;  fruit  and  mUs  from 
seeds  arc  not  alike  ;  there  is  an  inhereni  natural  law 
of  ehani;e  which  is  always  going  on.  The  resulls  of 
cros.s-ferlillzalion  are  not  always  uniform — some- 
times there  are  no  characterislics  of  the  female  plant, 
but  often  there  is  a  perfect  blending  of  the  two. 
Sometimes  there  are  no  traces  of  the  male  parent  in 
the  offspring.  In  experiments  in  crossing  Japan  lil- 
ies this  had  been  almost  always  Ihe  case.  Itemark- 
able  success  has  followed  the  mixing  of  varieties  of 
grapes,  especially  in  what  are  know  n  as  the  HoL'ers' 
hybrids.  But  it  isdoublful  whether  they  are  as  gisid 
as  some  natural  crosses,  pnnlueing  new  seedlings. 
The  best  kinds  are  the  result  of  natural  evolution.  In 
expcrimcnls  with  pears  but  few  gissl  kinds  have  lieen 
raised.  In  brief,  eross-ferlilizalion,  so  far  as  it  has 
yet  been  worked  up  hy  arliticial  means,  has  been  of 
"little  practical  value  to  fruit  growers.  It  is  iK'tter  to 
wait  U|X)n  Ihe  priK-esses  of  nature.  H.  M.  Englo 
said  that  he  had  had  sullScienI  success  in  this  direc- 
tion to  encourage  him.  lie  instanced  cxixriments 
with  strawberries,  in  some  of  which  he  hud  made 
satisfactory  crosses.  He  had  made  efforts  to  cross 
the  peach  "and  the  apricot,  but  they  resulliHl  In  a 
seedling  peach,  teu  or  twelve  days  earlier  than 
Hale's!  He  hud  been  much  interestiil  wilh  his  ex- 
])eriment8.  We  do  not  yet  know  the  laws  by  which 
the  operations  of  nature  arc  governwl.  Thomas  M. 
Harvey  made  some  remarks  on  the  hybridization  of 
the  wlieat  plant.  Mr.  Burton  said  that  lie  had  been 
engaged  in  hybridizing  plants  with  loiisiderable  suc- 
cess and  satisfaction.  .Mr.  .Meehan  said  that  It  wag 
no  object  to  get  new  varieties  of  fruit;  we  have 
enough  varieties,  hut  we  wish  lo  make  them  Ixtler. 
Florists  want  new  varielies  of  plants,  for  that  Is  Ik'I- 
ter  for  their  business.  By  crossing  we  may  improve 
the  character  of  our  fruits,  by  mislll'ying  or  remov- 
ing objectionable  qualities.  H.  .M.  Engle  deserlU'd 
the  results  of  about 'ilKI  crosses  with  strawberries, 
in  nearly  all  of  which  the  qualities  of  both  parents 
were  apparent.  He  hoped  that  the  future  would  de- 
velop more  satlsfuclory  resulls. 

Best  'Varieties  of  Apples. 
Samuel  W.  Noble,  of  Jenkinlow  n,  read  a  pa|>er  on 
the  cultivation  of  the  apple.  He  said  that  iiropereare 
will  always  eompensale  the  grower  of  apples.  It  be- 
gins witli"pla!iting  the  trees.  Make  Ihe  holes  large; 
nearly  All  them  with  giHul  earth;  be  careful  I o  All  Ihe 
interstices  of  the  roots  w  itii  line  earth.  The  soil  need 
not  be  raised  above  the  level.  The  trees  may  Iw 
watered  when  planted  in  the  spring,  and  mulched 
during  the  flrst  summer.  If  planted  in  the  fall  Ihey 
need  only  be  banked  up.  Orehanis  should  l>e  kept 
cultivated,  whether  erop|Hd  or  not.  The  Isirer  Is 
I  somellmes  deslruelive.  Where  this  exists,  the  larva 
should  be  carefullv  sought  oul  and  deslroyeil.  The 
insect  works  uniler  Ihe  bark,  out  ofsiirht.  The  holes 
near  Ihe  r<K)t  show  where  the  Insecl  came  out,  not 
where  it  went  In.  The  molh  or  bug  makes  Its  ai>- 
pearanee  in  June,  or  later,  aiul  I  hi'  eggs  an'  then  de- 
posited anil  hatched.  Boring  inio  Ihe  woo.1,  Ihe 
worm  remains  there  for  some  months  or  a  year.  The 
lies!  renmly  is  lo  prevent  the  de|i<islt  of  egirs  at  the 
base  of  the  trees  by  earthing  up  or  covering  wilh 
some  other  protect Itin.  The  worms  can  usually  tic 
killed  with  a  small  wire,  and  when  this  Is  ilone  the 
tree  will  mostly  recover  without  much  damage.  Driv- 
ing  nulls   Into  trees,  Ixiring  holes  and  filling  them 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[February, 


with  sulphur,  &c..,  are  useless.  Lime  and  soapsuds 
may  do  some  good,  but  preveutiou  is  the  oiily  sure 
method.  The  borer  sometimes  remains  in  the  tree 
two  or  three  seasons,  poing  deeper  into  the  solid 
wood.  As  to  varieties  of  apples,  S.  W.  Noble  stated 
that  mueh  depended  upon  a  proper  selection.  They 
must  be  suited  to  the  climate  and  the  soil.  Downing 
describes  over  eighteen  liundred  varieties.  We  only 
need  to  know  the  best  of  these  for  our  purposes. 
There  is  no  certain  guide  but  experience.  An  apple 
natural  to  any  locality,  where  it  succeeds,  is  likely  to 
be  generally  adopted.  In  this  region  that  variety  is 
the  Smith's  Cider.  The  Cornell  Fancy,  the  Town- 
send,  and  the  Princely,  do  well  here.  The  Jackson, 
originated  at  Quakertown,  is  valuable.  The  Blush, 
the  Hayes,  aud  the  Fallawater,  also  do  well  here. 
The  Jett'eris,  the  Hagloe,  the  Benoni,  and  the  Krau- 
eer,  are  good  kinds.  What  are  winter  apples  north 
are  fall  apples  here,  and  not  suited  for  general  plant- 
ing. The  French  Pippin  is  valued  about  Quakertown. 
He  thought  it  better  to  plant  a  few  varieties  of  known 
merit  than  many  kinds  of  doubtful  qualities.  The 
Baldwin  does  not  meet  expectations  here,  because  it 
ripens  too  soon  and  will  not  keep.  It  cannot  be  re- 
commended as  a  fall  apple.  W.  P.  Magill  said  he 
had  thirty  or  forty  Baldwin  trees,  from  York  State, 
which  had  done  well  of  late  years. 

The  President  suggested  the  consideration  of  varie- 
ties of  apples  iu  their  order.     For  early  ones  he  liked 
the  Prince's  Harvest  and  the  Rea  Aslrachan,  which 
were  very  salable   in   market.     They   get   ripe  just 
when  people  want  apples.    The   Red   Aslrachan  is 
not  very  productive.    Apples  that  come  iu  later  are 
of  little  use  to  sell.     Mr.  Linn  said  that  the  Red  Be- 
noni ripens  early  and  gradually,  and  is  valuable  for 
market.    S.  W."  Noble" spoke  of  the  good  qualities  of 
the  Jefteris,  a  late  summer  apple.    J.  Hibberd  Bar- 
tram,  of  Chester,  valued  the  JelTeris  very  mueli.    He 
has  a  tree  of  the  Primate,  which  is  vigorous,  and  the 
fruit  is  number  one.    The  apples  have  to  be  taken  olf 
before  fully  ripe,  as  they  will  rot  at  the  core.  A  mem- 
ber said  the  Beuoni  was  considered  the  best  in  Lan- 
caster county.     Mr.  Pannebaker,  of  Mifflin  county, 
recommended  the  Early  Harvest,  which  sell  earlier 
and  better  than  Red  Astraclian,  and  suit  the  home 
market  better.    Mr.  Satterthwait  praised  the  Cornell 
Fancy,  which  originated  in  Bucks  county.    Mr.  Bar- 
tram  said  that  his  most  profitable  apple  was  Summer 
Hagloe — large  and  handsome.    John  S.  Williams  also 
spoke  in  favor  of  this  variety,  and  thought  it  better 
than  the  Benoni.     H.  M.  Engle  spoke  o£  an  apple 
grown   in   Lancaster    called    the     "  All    Summer," 
which' ripens  early  and  is  of  excellent  quality.    The 
Red  Astrachan  was  not  very  satisfactory  there.    The 
Knowles  Early  was  favorably  spoken  of  by  S.   W. 
Noble,  J.  H.  Bartram  and  H.  T.  Darlington,  and  E. 
Satterthwaite  said  that  one  of  the  best  for  home  use 
was  the  Early  Joe.     S.  W.  Noble  recommended  the 
Early  Strawberry  as  a  mai-ket  fruit,  as  it  bears  car- 
riage well.     A.  R.  Sprout  said  that  there  was  a  de- 
cided diflerence  between  the  Early  Harvest  and  Sour 
Bough.     Mr.  Cooper  said  that  there  was  much  con- 
fusion in  Lancaster  as  to  the  identity  of  these  kinds. 
E.  Satterthwait  said  that  the  Early  Harvest  always 
grows  yellow  and  cracks  when  entirely  ripe.    In  re- 
gard to  fall  apples,  the  Cornell  Fancy  was  favorably 
spoken  of.     W.  P.  Magill   thought  the  Townsend, 
which   ripens  at  the   same  time,  rather  preferable. 
They  come  in  peach  time,  when  the  market  is  not  so 
good.     People  cannot  grow  to  advantage  all  the  good 
apples  that  ripen  at  that  time.     He  would  have  a  few 
trees  lor  home  use.    The  Maiden's  Blush  is  one  of 
the  very  best  for  market,  as  it  may  be  picked  early 
and  sold  after  peaches  are  gone.     A  member  spoke 
highly  of  the  Smokehouse,  which  was  both  excellent 
aud  profitable.     E.  Satterthwait  said  that  its  weak 
point  was  rotting  on  the  tree.     Mr.  Pannebaker  said 
it  was  one  of  the  best  apples  grown  in  Mifflin  county. 
II.  M.  Engle  said  that  it  was  the  best  selling  .apple 
in  its  season  in  Lancaster  county.    Its  keeping  quali- 
ties appear  to  be  good  ;  the  fruit  dealers  have  plenty 
of  them  yet  on  hand.     E.  Satterthwait  said  this  was 
another  proof  that  varieties  do  best  iu  the  localities 
where  they  originate.     Mr.  Engle  agreed  as  to  the 
general  rule  in  this  respect,  but  there  are  exceptions. 
Mr.  Shellcr  said  that  in  Union  county  the  Smoke- 
house  is  highly  prized  and  keeps  well.    In  Maine 
they  have  been  grown  with  success  as  winter  apples. 
W.  P.  Miigill  said  with  him  it  is  an  annual  bearer, 
but  the  fruit  is  injured  by  worms.     They  do  not  rot 
much,  but  have  to  be  marketed  iu  October.     John 
Eastburn,  in  regard  to  the   Cider   apple,   said   that 
many  of  his  trees  have  borne  every  year.     The  rea- 
son, he  tlsought,  was  that  he  had  taken  the  best  pos- 
sible care  of  his  orchard.     The  crops  were  not  exces- 
sively large,  but  moderate,  and  they  kept  on  in  that 
way.     S.  W.  Noble  spoke  a  good  word  for  the  old 
Fall  Pippin,  but  it  is  about  exhausted  here.     Moses 
Brinton,  of  Lancaster,  was  an  admirer  of  the  Falla- 
water, as  one  of  the  best  autumn  fruits.     J.  H.  Bar- 
tram  said  it  was  one  of  tlie  first  apples  in  Chester 
county.     It  generally  bears  well.     Thomas  M.  Har- 
vey remarked  that  t.he  tree  is  subject  to  borers  and 
short-lived.      Mr.   Purman    wanted  to   know   what 
kinds  he  ought  to  plant  in  his  orchard   in    Clinton 
county— the  best  half-dozen  for  winter.     Mr.   Noble 
said  the  Baldwin  and  R.  I.  LTreeuiug  would  no  doubt 
be  satisfactory  in  that  region.    Mr.  Lint  advised  him 


to  find  out  what  sorts  are  now  doing  best  in  that 
county,  and  plant  accordingly.  The  Wagner  was 
spoken  of  with  approval.  Thomas  M.  Harvey  said 
that  in  Bucks  county  we  must  notoverloOk  the  eider. 
He  regarded  it  as  of  poor  quality,  but  it  is  productive 
and  sells  well.  You  can  eat  ou  and  on  at  it  and  never 
be  surfeited,  as  it  is  so  weak  and  watery.  John  East- 
burn  related  the  origin  of  tlie  Smith's  Cider.  It  was 
about  8.5  years  ago.  The  original  tree  grew  in  a 
hedge  row  near  Pineville,  on  the  projierty  now  occu- 
pied by  Jacob  S.  Livezey,  in  Buckingham,  and  he 
knew  the  tree  very  well.  A  man  went  there  for  a 
■graft,  but  it  was  nearly  dead.  Othertrees  were  then 
grafted,  and  the  variety  soon  spread  all  over  the 
county.  The  original  owner  took  the  variety  to  New 
York,  but  it  did  not  succeed  well  there. 

Destroying  the  Bark  Louse. 

Mr.  Meehan  changed  the  subject  by  inquiring  how 
to  destroy  the  hark  louse.  He  had  tried  several  pre- 
parations without  much  effect.  H.  M.  Engle  and 
E.  Satterthwait  had  expressed  the  same  trouble  with 
nursery  trees.  The  early  summer  is  the  only  time 
when  they  can  be  destroyed  by  caustic  applications. 
Thomas  M.  Harvey  said  that  placing  pieces  of  whale 
oil  soap  in  the  to])s  of  the  trees,  where  the  dissolved 
matter  would  run  over  them,  had  been  found  effec 
tual.  J.  H.  Bartram  had  cleared  trees  of  bark  lice 
with  strong  common  soap,  applied  in  the  water.  Mr. 
Sprout  related  an  experiment  with  a  preijaration, 
made  of  copperas,  blue  vitriol,  saltpetre,  common 
soap  and  salt,  which  was  placed  in  a  bag  in  the  fork 
of  the  tree.  It  had  proved  successful,  and  his  trees 
are  now  in  fine  order.  Be  careful  you  don't  use  too 
mueh  blue  vitriol.  Take  2  lbs.  copperas,  %  lb.  blue 
vitriol,  >4'  lb.  saltpetre,  4  lbs.  hard  soap,  4  lbs.  com- 
mon salt.  It  will  kill  all  the  insects.  Weekly,  ap- 
plied with  a  brush,  will  also  do  the  business.  J.  Q. 
Atkinson,  of  Montgomery,  had  faith  iu  the  efficacy 
of  whitewash.  Mr.  Cooper  said  that  S.  S.  Rathvon 
recommended  whale  or  fish  oil.*  Mr.  Pannebaker 
cleared  the  lice  out  with  Babbitt's  potash,  mixed  with 
a  little  turpentine.  J.  Q.  Atkinson  said  that  the  ex- 
clusion of  the  air  at  the  time  of  hatching  was  the  ob- 
ject desired,  and  whitewash  will  do  that  as  well  as 
anything.  John  Eastburu's  experience  was  in  favor 
of  scouring  the  trees  off  with  soap  and  sand  applied 
with  a  cloth. 

Election  of  Officers. 

On  meeting  on  Thursday  afternoon  the  hall  was 
quite  well  filled.  The  committee  on  nominations 
submitted  the  following  list  :  President,  Edwin 
Satterthwait ;  Vice-Presidents,  Samuel  W.  Noble, 
Henry  M.  Engle,  Tobias  Martin;  Recording  Secre- 
eary,  Edward' B.  Engle;  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Wm.  P.  Brinton;  Treasurer,  Geo.  B.  Thomas.  The 
Secretary  was  directed  to  cast  a  ballot  bearing 
these  names,  and  they  were  declared  elected.  Fixing 
the  place  of  the  next  annual  meeting  was  then  taken 
up.  Moses  Brinton  proposed  that  it  be  held  at  Lan- 
caster. This  motion  was  agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  the 
members. 

The  Codling  Moth. 

The  discussion  of  the  cultivation  of  the  apple  was 
resumed.  Mr.  Noble  was  called  upon  to  tell  about 
the  codling  moth,  "  the  worst  enemy  of  the  apple." 
This  insect  attacks  the  fruit,  not  the  tree.  The  eggs 
are  laid  on  the  calyx  of  the  young  fruit,  the  hatched 
grub  penetrates  it,  and  toward  maturity  works  its 
way  out.  It  often  finds  refuge  in  the  rough  bark  of 
the  tree.  The  best  preventive  known  is  to  keep  them 
from  harboring  in  the  bark.  Mr.  Sprout  described  a 
new  instrument  for  defeating  the  moths  brought  to 
his  notice.  It  consists  of  a  rubber  band  some  two 
inches  wide,  formed  in  such  a  way  as  to  flare  out  like 
the  sides  of  a  tin  pan.  They  cost  from  1.5  to  50  cents 
each.  Mr.  Meehan  said  that  something  was  wanted 
to  clip  the  wings  of  the  moths.  II.  M.  Engle  said 
we  ought  to  know  more  about  the  habits  of  the  moth 
before  we  can  fight  it  well.  Nothing  can  stop  the 
first  brood  that  he  knows  of.  The  old  moth  flies  to 
the  trees  ;  it  does  not  crawl  up.  This  brood  is  often 
small,  and  not  very  destructive.  But  the  eggs  laid 
on  the  fruit  are  hatched  ;  the  worms,  when  they 
emerge  from  the  apples,  drop  to  the  ground  or  on  the 
branches,  and  take  refuge  under  the  bark  to  form 
their  cocoons.  Now  is  the  time  to  destroy  them  and 
keep  down  their  numbers.  He  did  not  know  whether 
tlie  ruliber  ring  shown  by  Mr.  Sprout  would  work  or 
not.  Mr.  Meehan  said  that  the  simple  plan  of  put- 
ting hay-bands  on  the  stems  of  the  trees  is  better  than 
anything  else.  It  costs  but  little,  and  the  bauds  and 
insects  can  be  burned  up  to  together.  Mr.  Satter- 
thwait said  that  if  the  rough  bark  is  kept  scraped  off 
there  will  be  little  shelter  afforded,  and  most  of  the 
worms  can  be  caught  under  old  shingles  idaced  around 
the  trunks.  All  the  fallen  fruit  should  be  picked  up 
and  fed  to  hogs.  In  that  way  his  apple  croj)  has 
been' greatly  improved.  Mr.  Sprout  thought  we  did 
not  give  the  insects  sullicicnt  credit  lor  their  intelli- 
gence. They  have  sense  enough  to  know  how  to 
take  care  of  themselves.  Dr.  Dickie  stated  that  since 
he  had  kept  low  Is  in  his  orchard  the  codling  moth 
had  been  much  diminished. 

"Ou  this  subject,  see  au  article  entitled,  "  What  Kind  of 
our'  ou  page  18 of  this  uuuibor  of  TheFakmer, 


Pears  and  their  Culture. 

The  President,  in  reply  to  a  question,  said  that  the 
most  profitable  pear,  coming  earlier  than  the    Bart- 
lett,  is  .Manning's  Elizabeth.    It  is  very   productive, 
and  ripens  in  August.     Mr.  Meehan  remarked  upon 
the  great  number  of  failures  in  pear  trees,  especially 
dwarfs.  In  the  vicinity  of  (iermantown  a  man  planted 
fifty  thousand  dwarfs  a  few  years  ago,  but  he  has  not 
overstocked  the  market.  Most  of  them  are  dead.  Old 
and  large  trees  seem  healthy,  especially  the  old  Cath- 
arine pears  about  Philadelphia.     What  is  the  reason 
why  younger  trees  are  not  so  ?    Mr.  Carter  said  that 
he  recently  saw   four  thousand  dwarf  trees,  planted 
two  years,  in  perfect  health.   That  was  in  Maryland. 
Thomas  M.  Harvey  asked  whether  many  of  the  fail- 
ures were  not  iu  foreign  varieties.   Even  the  Bartlett 
is   not  certain  yet.      Probably  most  of  the  foreign 
kinds  will  not  last  long  here.    It  would   be  better  to 
plant   the  Lawrence,  Seckel,  and  other   native  sorts. 
E.  Satterthwait  said  that  was  his  experience.    The 
Duchess  is  his  most  healthy  pear,  while  the  Law- 
rence cracks  badly.  Mr.  Meehan  said  that  the  Catha- 
rine is  one  of  the  oldest  of  pears.     George  B.  Thomas 
— the  Duchess,  near  West  Chester,  is  of  no  value.    It 
does  well  iu  Union  county,  said  Mr.  Sheller.     E.  Sat- 
terthwait always  plants  Duchess  on  quince.     W.  P. 
Magill  mentioned  a  remedy  for  slugs  on  the  leaves. 
He  uses  fVesli  slakid  lime.     It  was  entirely  effectual, 
in  two  applii'ations.     An  orcharcd,  which   was  not 
treated  thus,  made  no  growth  at  all.     Road  dust  or 
ashes  will  do  as  well,  said  George  B.  Thomas.     To 
dust  a  large  orchard  is  a  pretty  big  job.   It  should  be 
done  in  the  morning.   H.  M.  Engle  said  that  the  lime 
acts  at  once  on  the  soft  substance  of  the  slugs,  and 
can  be  better  put  on  with  a  tin  duster.  Several  spoke 
in  behalf  of  the  healthiness  of  the  Lawrence.     J.  H. 
Bartram  thought  that  barn-yard  manure  was  benefi- 
cial to  pear  trees,  and  very  large  ones  often  grow 
close  to  yards.     Moses  Brinton's  idea  was  the  reverse 
of  this;  his  trees  had  suffered  fire-blight  where  it  had 
been  applied.      E.  Satterthwait  had  suffered  much 
loss  from  fire-blight  the  last  four  or  five  years,  but 
he  thought  it  was  due  to  dry  weather.     Barn-yard 
manure  has  done  his  trees  no  harm ,  but  he  docs  not 
habitually  manure.     Mr.  Meehan  agreed  with   this. 
He  never  sawacaseof  fire-blight  about  Germantown, 
where  manure  is  freely  used.     Manuring  on  the  sur- 
face is  the  only  way  for  orchard  trees.     Mr.  Carter 
had  great  faith  in  mineral   fertilizers,  especially  for 
pears.    The   South   Carolina   phosphatie  rock  is  an 
excellent  thing  for  them,  and  fruit  growers  ought  to 
try  it. 

Fruit  Trees  from  the  North. 

Watson  P.  Magill  said  that  Northern  aud  Eastern 
trees  are  not  satisfactory  in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  loss  to  Bucks  county  alone  from  planting  these 
fruit  trees  has  been  estimated  at  §1,0(JO,000.  To  off- 
set this  we  have  a  few  new  varieties.  John  I.  Carter 
said  that  at  the  Oxford  fair  last  fall  a  man  exhibited 
a  great  number  of  Southern  apples,  which  were  of 
much  promise.  They  would  mostlj'  be  long  keepers. 
Southern  varieties  made  very  late  winter  apples. 
Thomas  Meehan  agreed  with  this;  it  is  not  quite 
correct  that  our  own  kinds  always  do  best.  He  in- 
stanced the  Jucunda  and  Triumph  de  Gand  straw- 
berries as  examples  of  great  success  with  foreign 
varieties  ;  the  Bartlett  pear  is  another  case  ;  the  Red 
Astrachan  apple  conies  from  Russia  ;  our  best  cher- 
ries come  from  abroad.  A  Southern  fruit  brought 
north  is  often  valuable,  and  the  reverse.  E.  Satter- 
thwait took  substantially  the  same  view.  It  matters 
not  where  a  variety  originates,  if  it  is  only  good. 
.Moses  Brinton  said  that  api)le  trees  from  the  North 
were  not  satisfactory,  but  there  may  be  advantage  in 
bringing  Southern  apples  North. 

Preservation  of  Fruit  by  Ice. 

Eastburn  Reeder  gave  a  short  description  of  the 
fruit-house  of  Natlian  Hellings,  near  Bristol — built 
with  thick  stone  walls,  and  a  body  of  ice  14  feet  deep 
in  the  upper  story.  A  temperature  of  H3°  is  main- 
tained all  through,  and  the  ajiples  are  perfectly  fresh 
and  plump  after  several  months.  Dampness  is  pre- 
vented by  an  arrangement  of  screens,  which  carried 
off  condensed  moisture.  Mr.  Hellings  claims  a  p.at- 
ent  for  his  process.  E.  Satterthwait  said  that  venti- 
lation is  very  important,  and  that  there  is  probably  a 
secret  in  that  respect.  W.  M.  Largesaid  that  a  friend 
of  his  had  to  pay  a  royalty  to  Mr.  Hellings  to  use  his 
process.  H.  .\I.  Engle  wanted  to  know  if  there  was 
a  way  by  which  individual  growers  may  keep  their 
fruit.  It  has  been  done  on  a  large  scale,  why  not  ou 
a  smaller  one?  He  had  himself  an  ice-house  ar- 
ranged so  that  a  room  is  kept  cold  for  milk  and  fruit, 
which  has  succeeded  pretty  well.  The  moisture  is 
the  chief  drawbai-k.  There  inay  be  a  substance  placed 
inside  to  absorli  the  dampness.  E.  Reeder  saiil  that 
he  saw  nothing  of  the  kind  at  Bristol  ;  if  the  temper- 
ature is  kept  at  f>'2°  there  will  be  little  or  no  mois- 
ture. He  had  constructed  a  milk-house  cooled  by 
ice  in  another  room  ;  in  winter  he  keeps  fruit  in  it 
with  good  results— some  apples  until  August.  It  is 
mucli  better  than  a  cellar,  but  was  not  built  for  a 
fruit-house. 

Cultivation  of  the  Cherry. 

John  I.  Carter  said  that  the  rearing  of  the  cherry 
is  uncertain  iu  many  places.    It  will  not  grow  to  any 


]S7fi.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


29 


size,  but  weakens  anJ  (lies.     lie  tlioiii,'lit  (iov.  Wood 
the   best   kiiiil.     Mr.  SaltertliwaU   tliouirlit   it  not  a 
u:<«)il  ni:ii*lvet  vnriety.     Mr-  Knu-'lo   linii  jioor  suecesB 
in  rcrtriiiir  it;  the  E;irly   lUehnioiiil  was  mucli  nmrc 
reliubh'.     Tlionias  .M.  Harvey  liad  raised  trees  to  sell 
some  years   ap),   and   peojile   living   aloiifr  streams 
would    not   buy    bif,'iirreaus   and    hearts^they   took 
niazzards  and  dukes.     Mr.  Knf;lo  said  tliat  York  is 
the  leading  eounty  lor  <herries  ;  they  seem  to  L-row 
with  ease  and  withoiit  eare.     Mr.  Sprout   had  tried 
many  kinds,  without  sueeess.     He  now  f;ral"ts  culti- 
vated  varieties  hiijli   up  on  the  native  stoeks.     The 
old  pie  eherry  is  a  maiiulependenee.     The  blaek  knot 
appears   sometimes   on    morello    and    sour   eherries. 
The  frraf'tiufroujiht  toliedone  very  early.     .Mr.  Carter 
thinks  the  disease  of  the  pie  eherrii-s  is  disappearinir, 
and  most  of  liis  trees  are  elear  of  knot.     Mr.  Meehan 
said  that  there  was  a  areat  improvenn'Ut  in  the  health 
of  the  eherry.     The  knot  is  caused  by  a  funi;us(;row- 
iiii;  in  the  wood.     The  success  of  the  eherry  dejiends 
nmeh  on  the  stoeks  chosen — the  pie  elierry  (Iocs  best 
on  the  maz/.ard  or  common  wild  stock.     On  the  ina- 
haleb  stock  they  nevir  rcMch  any  size.  Heljad  known 
some  i)rolil able  trees  of  the  Early  Uiehniond  ural'ted 
on  mazzards.     E.  8alterthwait  said  that  the  black 
knot   came  on  gradually  a  few  years  af;o,  and  has 
swept  all  over  the  country.     He  thought  the  Yellow 
Spanish  the   finest  of  all  cherries  ;  it  is  larire,  lirm 
and  handsome.     Hethouulit  il  much  better  than  (iov. 
Wood.     J.  H.  Bartram   had   met  with   success  with 
the  Enf,'lish  Morello,  and  tbund  them  i)rotit.at)le.     He 
ln>s  now  '.too  trees,  and  they  will  briui;  twice  as  nuuh 
as  pie  cherries.  H.  M.  En<^leenumerale<l  tbiv.  Wood, 
Uoekport  Hiijarrcau   and   Kin  land's  .Mary   as  much 
alike.     The  <ine  most  called  for  is  the  Black   Tartar- 
ian, which  is  the  favorite  in  York  county.     There  are 
eomi>laints  that  the  tree  is  unhealthy.     Another  [lop- 
ular  eherry  is  the  Russian,  the  largest  black  eherry  he 
has  ever  seen.     He  docs  not   know  where  it  comes 
from.     Is  a  little  later  than  the  Black  Tartarian. 
Peach  Culture. 
Watson  P.  Macill  was  calh'd  on  to  to  tell  what  he 
knew  about  peaches  and  their  diseases.     His  impres- 
sion is  that  the  "yellows"   are  due  to  severe  cold; 
that  often  the  trees  are  atlectcd  before  they  are  set  iu 
the  orchard.   They  are  iu  a  soil,  immature  condition 
the  year  after  budding,  and    very  susCi'ptible  of  in- 
jury.   Tbey  get  blaek  at  the  heart,  which  is  fatal  to 
them.  A  temperature  of  live  to  lifteeu  degrees  below 
zero  will  cause  this  result.     When  the  buds  of  the 
trees  have  lici'U  killed,  it  is  a  poor  season  to  plant  a 
l)eaeh  orchard.     He  thinks  the  disease  contagious  in 
an  orchard.    He  has  never  known  a  tree  with  the 
yellow   to  be  worth  anything  allerwards,  and  such 
trees  sliould  be  immediately  removed.     The  disease 
progressed  gradually  over  his  orchard,  beginning,  on 
the  north.     Last   winter  was  steadily  cold,  without 
great  extremes,  and  the  trees  did  not  sutler  much. 
But  last  spring  was  not  a  good  one  to  plant  trees.    H' 
the  trees  are  buried  over  wintirin  the  ground,  before 
planting,  they  will  be  protected.  We  cainiot  compete 
here  suecesslully  with  the  growers  in   Uelaware  or 
Jlaryland,   but    must  plant   kinds  which  come  into 
market  when  theirs ari^  gone  and  there  is  a  good  dc 
niand.     He  would   plant  nothing  earlier   tliau  Old- 
mi.xon;  afti-rthat  Uarcripcs,  Late  Craw  lords.  Smocks, 
and  ISalaways,  if  they  ]>rove  to  be  good   here.     Late 
peaches  are  the  only  i>rolitable  ones  in  this  seetif)n. 
Thomas    M.    Harvey  agreed    as   to    the    contagious 
nature  of  the  "  yellows."     He  thinks  it  is  spread  by 
the  wind  carrying  the  pollen  from  one  to  another.  In 
warmer  countries  the  "  yelltjws  "  do   not  exist;  and 
the  disease  is  not  known  in   forcing-houses.     E.  Sat- 
terthwait  said  that  Mr.  Magill  bail  the  right  theory. 
He  saiil,  in  regard  to  the  Salway,  that  he  planted  the 
trees  three   years  ago,  and  the  fruit  last  season  was 
very  tine.     Picked  carefully  and  sent  to  market  they 
were  sold  readily  at  one  dollar  a  half  peck,  when  bas- 
kets could  be  bought   at  twenty-live  cents.     Thomas 
M.   Harvey   said   that  the   Susipiehanna   peach,  so 
liighly  praised,  is  worthless.     jMr.  Engle  had   seen 
good  crops  from  it,  and  sells  remarkably  well,  but  he 
would  plant  oidy  a  few  trees.     Kccve's  favorite   he 
considered  a  better  peach  and  a  surer  bearer.  It  sells 
higlier  than  the  average.     J.  S.  Williams  said  it  was 
a  fine  peaeli  but  a  shy  bearer.     As  to  Troth's  Early, 
Mr.  Magill  had  planted  it  considerably,  but  it  came 
into  eonipctition  witli  Southern   peaches  in  the  mar- 
ket and  was  not  protitable.  It  is  a  pretty  sure  bearer. 
The  Mountain  Hose  w-ill  supplant  il  in  most  cases. 
H.  M.  Engle  spoke  highly  of  the  Salway.    It  is  a  few 
days  later  than  the  Smock,  and  resendiies  it  in  habit. 
It  is  of  bctti-r  quality  than  the  Smock,  and  will  grow 
where  the  latter  succeeds.     J.  H.  Bartram  called  at- 
teulion  to  a  disease  attacking  the  trees,  causing  them 
to  decay  and  break  in  the  fork  or  crotch.     The  bark 
ajipears  to  decay  there.     .Mr.  Magill   had   not  been 
nuieh  troubled  by  borers:  be  keeps  the  earth  banked 
around  the  roots.     The  insect  is  dillerent  from  the  ap- 
ple   borer.     Mr.  Pannebaker   said   he   had    a   peach 
ripening  about  the  tenth  of  October — a  very  line  fruit, 
of  which  he  does  not  lind  the  name    in   any  of  the 
books.     Engle  suggested  that  he  must  have  bought 
them  of  a  Irec  agent  I  The  practice  in  peach  districts 
is  to  keep  the  land  under  cultivation. 

The  afternoon  session  closed  with  a  brief  discus- 
sion of  plums  and  their  enemies.  Thomas  Meehan 
Bpoke  disparagingly  of  the  Wild  Goose  plum,  which 


lie  compared  to  a  i)ersimmon.     No  one  sliould  grow 
Itinsteail  of  the  lulllvaled  kinds.  Mel  hods  of  destroy-  ' 
ing  cureulio  were  discussed,  but  nothing  new  in  this 
direction  was  elicited.  | 

Miscellaneous  Topics. 
On  Thiusday  evening,  as  the  Society  would  dis- 
perse after  that  sessit>n,  Mr.  .Meehan  olfereil  a  reso- 
lution tendering  the  tlianks  of  the  Soi'lely  to  the 
Doylestown  and  Solcbniy  Earmers'  Clubs,  and  the 
two  county  .\grienlltn'al  Soelellcs  foV  the  aceommo- 
dallon  and  attention  aMnrded  in  Doylestown.  His 
resolution  was  unanimunsly  ailopted.  It  was  an- 
nounced that  an  essay  was  produced  by  Mr.  Stanllcr, 
of  Lancaster,  to  be  reail  bidbre  the  Society,  but  owlnjf 
to  its  length,  it  was  necessarily  deferred.  Il  was  (tr- 
ilcred  lo  be  publisbetl  in  the  anninil  report.  The 
eornmittec  appointed  to  examine  the  specimens  of 
Irnits  displayed  before  the  Society  ri'ported  the  I'ol-  ' 
lowing  exhibitors:  A.  H.  Barber,  1).  W.  .VIcNair, 
Casper  lliller  iV  Son,  II.  M.  Eiiirlc,  Calvin  Cooper, 
W.  I'.  Magill,  A.  S.  ShelbM-,  .1.  W.  iV  II.  S.  I'axson, 
.lobn  Eastburn,  A.  K.  Sprout,  liobert  Ivlns,  .lohn  1. 
Carter  and  N.  II.  Burroughs.  .Many  s|iecinuMi8  had  i 
been  brought  for  the  purpose  of  having  them  named.  [ 
Strawberries. 

The  first  subject  of  discussion  for  the  evening  was 
"Strawberries — the  best  varieties  and  nuidcs  of  cul- 
ture." John  I.  Carter  thought  perhaps  the  best  was 
the  Charles  Downing.  There  are  some  lifteeu  tir 
twenty  at  the  Experimental  l''arm,  Mr.  Sjirout ,  who 
thought  he  had  had  some  i'Xperience  in  the  malter, 
favored  Wilson's  Albany  and  Triumph  de  (irand, 
ndxed.  Mr.  Thonuis  thought  the  Charles  Downing 
the  best  they  coulil  raise  at  West  Chester.  As  lo 
treatnn-nt,  Mr.  .Meehan  said  the  sun  w:is  the  cause  of 
damage  in  tlie  winter,  and  that  a  light  covering  only 
was  nccessaiy.  He  described  the  plan  of  training 
runners  into  j)ots,  etc.  Mr.  B:irtram,  of  Chester, 
liked  Wilson's  Albany  best  ;  hr  hiul  tried  a  number 
of  other  varieties.  He  would  plant  in  I  hi' spring 
only.  President  Sattcrthwait  said  no  regidar  grow- 
ers in  this  part  of  the  country  woulil  think  of  jilant- 
ing  iu  the  fall  ;  that  the  i)raetleeof  lioingso  had  done 
much  to  injure  the  popularity  of  the  strawberry.  ll(^ 
jilants  in  rows,  2'.,  feet  apart,  and  works  with  a  eid- 
tivator  all  suuuner,  and  allows  all  the  runners  to 
take  root  that  are  able  to  do  so.  In  the  fall  he  cov- 
ers with  straw  manure,  aud  is  not  afraid  of  using  loo 
much.  By  the  next  season  this  straw  is  washed  en- 
tirely clean,  aiul  serves  to  keep  the  berries  out  (d'the 
sand.  Not  an  inch  of  groiaid  is  left  without  this 
covering.  Of  course  it  is  expensive,  aud  weeds  have 
to  be  kept  out :  but  on  the  whole  it  pays.  He  never 
mows  the  tops  oil'.  Mr.  Sprout  at  one  time  experi- 
mented {.in  one-{'ightb  of  an  acre  of  ground.  Imme- 
diately after  picking  he  cut  the  tops  olf  close  to  the 
soil.  Next  year  the  product  from  that  piece  of 
ground  was  1,(H)()  qmirts,  which  he  sold  readily  at  20 
cents.  Mr.  Pennybaker,  of  Milllin,  had  also  obtained 
highly  satisfactory  results  in  the  same  way.  Mr. 
Sprout  keeps  a  bed  from  three  to  live  years.  Presi- 
dent Sattcrthwait  plants  a  new  bed  every  eeason, 
and  favors  particularly  the  Jticunda. 

Raspberries  and  Blackberries. 

IJaspberries  have  bi'comc  somewhat  unpoiiular 
with  fruit-growers  on  account  of  the  limited  demand 
for  them  in  the  market.  The  black  varieties  are  not 
worth  more  than  half  as  much  as  I  lie  red  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia marki't.  The  most  popular  varieties  at 
present  are  the  Ilerstinc'  anil  I'biladelpbia.  .Mr.  Pan- 
nebaker said  that  in  his  town  (Milllin)  the  blaek  eoiu- 
mauded  a  better  price  than  the  red  berries. 
Currants  and  Gooseberries. 

These  sniiill  fruits  re({uire  little  trouble  to  pro- 
duce. The  kinds  of  gonsi-berrii's  most  favorably 
mentioned  by  the  Society  wen-  Smith's  Improved 
Downing,  Chester,  and  Mountain  Seedling,  drafting 
was  suggessed.  Most  members  do  not  practice  trim- 
ming either  currant  or  gooseberry  bushes.  To  pre- 
vent mildew  it  was  recommended  to  keej)  the  roots 
cool  by  mulching  or  placing  stones  about  the  bushes. 
Grapes. 

Popular  favor  ran  toward  the  Concord,  Hartford, 
Christina,  Martha  and  Ives  Seedling.  Mr.  Thomas 
would  except  the  Hartford.  Hich  soil  Is  necessary 
for  the  i)erfeetion  of  the  grape.  Methods  of  training 
were  given. 

Evergreens. 

Pines  were  recomnu-nded  for  the  most  windy  situ- 
ations, including  White,  Austrian,  and  Scotch.  The 
spruces  come  next.  They  are  not  able  to  withstand 
the  wind.  Norway  and  Hemlock  spruces  are  most 
popular.  Still  more  lender  arc  the  lirs,  and  are  onlj 
graceful  and  beautiful  when  perfect.  Mr.  Thonnis 
described  a  number  of  evergreens  and  ornamental 
shrubs. 

Roses. 

These  flowers  are  now  propagated  in  endless  vari- 
eties, and  hundreds  of  new  ones  arc  ammally  pro. 
duced.  The  teas,  bourbons  and  dallies,  however, 
especially  the  olden  varieties,  still  retain  their  de- 
served rank  ami  place  In  well-kept  gardens.  .\  large 
number  of  very  excellent  kiixls  of  roses  were  men- 
tioned, as  well  as  numerous  llowcrs  and  oruamcnlal 


shrubs  for  the  yard  and  lawn.  Before  the  ailjouni- 
incntof  the  Society,  a  committee  of  ten  was  appointed 
to  confer  wHh  Burnett  Landreth  In  respect  i<»  repre- 
sentation at  the  Centennial,  ami  the  eommlllce  was 
cm[io\vered  tvi  act  for  the  Society.  A  resolution  was 
also  adopted  unanimously  favoring  a  legal  enactment 
to  prevent  horses  and  cattle  from  runuiiig  at  large. 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


CorrospoDdenoe  of  TnK  Ij^ncahtru  FABurit. 

P.\ltis,  Jaiuiary  ai,  1S7«. 
French  farmers  have  much  reason  to  complain  on 
two  essential  points — the  great  increase  of  expenses, 
and  a  dinilmitlon,  rather  than  an  augmentiilion,  fff 
the  |>r(sluce  of  the  soil.  I'ut  I  Ing  aside  the  rich  pro- 
prietor and  the  really-working  small  farmer,  tliero 
remain  the  rich  peasunt  and  the  cltlziii  ugrlcul- 
tiirist.  Th4>  rich  peasant,  If  he  has  not  i-ommenei-d 
to  make  his  fortune,  will  assuredly  add  to  it,  for  his 
iuilefatlgable  activity,  simple  tastes  and  frugal  habits 
Intluee  order  and  enabh*  him  to  tide  over  a  bud  year 
without  drawing  on  his  capital.  He  never,  on  liv- 
eoining  wealthy,  abandons  his  career,  and  although 
acute  in  judgnu'iit  and  observation,  his  principal  de- 
fect is  the  absence  itf  a  professional  tHiueation.  Tho 
citl/jui  agrieullurlsl  generally  adopts  the  xii/iiicic  sys- 
tem— sharing  the  profits  wltji  the  tenants.  He  has  a 
greater  taste  for  rclinemcnt  and  social  cnjoymeutB 
than  the  rich  peasant,  and  despite  a  sclent ilic  ae- 
i|Uaintance  with  farndng,  diH'S  not  succeed  licttcr. 
He  loves  the  i>rincipal  city  or  the  capital,  is  fn*qucntly 
embarrassed  to  make  the  two  ends  meet,  and  his 
grand  ambition  Is  to  m:ike  his  sons  lawyers.  Thest; 
two  culti\'ators  represent  the  avcragi'  types  of  their 
class,  and  live  iin,  as  well  as  by,  the  pniduee  of  their 
farms.  Now  the  mean  price  of  living  for  each  mem- 
ber of  a  family  was,  in  IHW),  LI  sous  piT  day;  In 
lN.").'i,  20  ;  and  In  IXT.T, '27  sous  ]>vr  day.  There  has 
been  no  sensible  increase  in  tiring,  but  in  lighting, 
the  augmentation  has  been  .M)  jK'r  cent,  since  1H4(). 
The  wages  of  farm  and  hiAisehold  servants  have  rigi^n 
by  2.5  and  Xi  |kt  cent,  since  ISTl),  or  '.'(K)  jxr  cent,  as 
compared  with  1H40.  It  will  sism  be  prolltable  for 
Australia  and  the  States  to  send  "aids''  to  Eraiicc  ; 
even  maehinery  canufit  allogetlier  replace  manual 
labor.  The  adoption  of  fermented  instead  of  cooki'd 
food  for  cattle  feeding  is  not  oidy  making  nuich  way 
in  Kranci',  but  also  in  (icrmany  ;  ixrhaps  the  chief 
cause  of  tlic  change  is  lo  be  foumi  in  the  fuel  econo- 
mized. It  was  a  Bohenuan  agriculturist  —  .M.  .\ndre 
— who  in  IH'M  lirst  tried  the  plan;  In  bS'W  Dr. 
Schncilzer,  of  Saxony,  cxi^sed  its  ailvanUigcs ; 
since,  ,M.  .Moel,  Professor  of  Agrlcullure  in  this  city, 
has  become  the  most  pronunent  udviKate  of  fer- 
mented food.  Instead  of  cho[)ped  straw  he  employs 
colza  pods,  in  alternate  layers  with  slici'd  turnips 
and  beet — the  mass  being  all  tro<lden  in  a  barnd 
having  a  capacity  of  :»o(l  gallons  ;  each  layer  is  well 
spriidiled  with  water  containing  bruised  oil  or  colza 
cake  and  a  little  .salt ;  the  mass  is  left  to  ferment  for 
seventy-two  hours,  aud  is  then  given  to  the  animals 
for  their  noon  fee<l. 

The  climate  being  c(|Ual,  continental  farmers  arc 
divided  into  two  camps,  res|>ecling  the  eullivation  of 
maize  for  fodder — green  and  pressed,  ami  elovir, 
beet,  etc.  Maize  recpiires  giKxi  manuring,  ami  when 
so  treated  succeeds  well  on  freshly  rtTlaimed  heath- 
land  ;  clover,  by  its  dc:iil  roots,  enriches  the  soil.  Ill 
a  dry  summer  beet  is  not  so  ecrlain  a  crop  as  niai/e, 
and  opinion  is  divided  as  to  their  comparative  yield. 
.M.  d'Esterno  aiuiounces  that  he  can  profitably  feed 
hogs  on  preserved  maize  inilil  within  the  three 
months  rci|Uisite  lo  fatten  them,  when,  of  course, 
they  nuist  receive  farinaceous  loixl.  The  forage 
must  not  V:c  g^iven  in  a  raw  state,  but  cooked,  and 
chopijcil  in  lengths  of  one  or  two  inches.  The  pig 
likes  as  a  rule  to  be  spared  mastication  as  much  as 
[Jossible.  In  some  parts  of  France  osiked  grass, 
nettles,  thistles,  etc.,  arc  given  lo  pigs,  with  one  part 
of  potatoes.  Beet  is  dear,  costing  J'r.Vi  per  ton, 
while  preserved  chopiK'd  maize  is  om>-half  less.  .M. 
d'Esterno  purchasiKl  two  pigs  on  the  27lh  of  Sc|)- 
tembcr  last,  for  /i'.lT2,  and  sold  them,  fatleiied, 
the  Pith  of  November  following,  for /i-.'2:i.'i ;  differ- 
ence, //-.I'sl,  from  which  has  to  be  dcHluelwl  Iheir 
keep,  valued  at //-.1 1— thus  leaving  a  net  profit  of 
/i-..')2  for  44  days'  feeiiing.  For  the  first  twentylw  o 
days  he  gave  lliein  for  ration  27  |«)unds  of  cooked 
maize  fislder,  l'«  i«)umls  of  mill  refuse,  and  one-half 
a  pound  of  potatoes  ;  the  n-nialning  twenty-two  days 
they  were  fed  on  :t7  i>ounds  of  maize,  !•  JKmnds  of 
potatoes  and  1  ;\,  |K>unds  of  buckwheat,  dully. 

.M.  Thc'nanl  draws  altenlion  to  the  natural  fer- 
tillly  of  soils.  There  are  forests  where  nuinure  Is 
neverdisi  ribuled ,  aud  yet  sim-c  centuries  ago  t  hey  show 
no  diminulion  in  richness,  although  the  timber  Im 
rcgularlv  felled  and  sold  every  thirty  years.  This 
timber  carries  off  nitnigen.  the  vliieyaril  of  C'los 
Vougeat,  celebrated  since  nearly  one  thousand  years 
ago,  receives  not  more  than  <iuarter  of  a  ton  of  ma- 
nure jH-r  acre  ammally,  yet  it  yields  nearly  four  times 
that  weight  of  fruit.  In  uddilUin  to  the  shorts  pruneil 
for  firewiKKl ;  the  soil  shows  no  fulling  away  in  fer- 
tility. M.  Truchot  finds  the  mounlaln  pasture  lands 
of  Auvergne,  which  arc  never  manureil,  to  be  richer 
in  nitrogen  than  the  arable  soils  of  Llmagnc,  which 


30 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[February, 


are  resiilarly  enriched.  In  these  eases,  from  whence 
conies  the  supply  of  nitros^en?  M.  Dcherain  explains 
the  matter  thus  :  All  the  soils  in  question  are  rich  in 
humus,  the  accumulation  of  years,  and  this  car- 
bonaceous matter,  in  decomposing,  absorbs  the 
oxygen  of  the  air  tliat  has  penetrated  into  the  soil — 
as  is  the  ease  in  an  ordinary  manure  heap — and  the 
nitrogen  thus  liberated  unites  with  the  hydrogen 
disengaged  from  the  decaying  organic  matter,  and 
forms  ammonia.  Perhaps  the  explanation  is  as  good 
as  our  present  state  of  science  can  afford. 

Certain  meadows  in  Sleswig-Holstein  are  remark- 
able for  producing  singular  results  iu  cattle,  as  com- 
pared with  other  pasture  lands  in  the  vicinity.  The 
animals,  though  in  excellent  health,  remain  diminu- 
tive, displaying  at  the  same  time  a  predisposition  to 
fatten  rapidlj- ;  the  cereals  cultivated  have  a  ten- 
dency to  be  laid,  and  the  grain  is  not  rich  in  flour. 
An  analysis  was  made  of  the  soil,  and  of  the  grain 
and  hay  produced,  and  showed  a  deficiency  of  lime, 
magnesia,  potash  and  phosphoric  acid.  The  inade- 
quacy, especially,  of  lime  and  magnesia  in  the  soil, 
and  consequently  in  tlie  pasturage,  did  not  furnish 
the  necessary  ingredients  to  build  tlie  skeleton,  thus 
arresting  the  growth  of  the  animals,  and  provoking 
their  premature  fattening. 

M.  Georges  Ville  is  well-known  for  his  advocacy  of 
mineral  manures,  as  being  in  themselves  sufficient  to 
maintain  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  The  crop  draws 
from  the  land  certain  salts,  and  to  return  these  by  a 
mineral  manure,  is  all,  in  M.  Ville's  opinion,  that  is 
required.  Thus  farm  yard  manure,  and  consequent- 
ly the  rearingof  cattle,  are  something  like  superfluous 
ends.  M.  Ville  has  just  published  a  w^ork  wherein 
he  lays  down,  that  the  formation  of  animal  and  veg- 
etable substances  is  subjected  to  the  same  laws.  All 
this  is  neither  very  new  nor  very  accurate.  More  im- 
portant still,  the  consequences  "to  be  deduced,  do  not 
seem  to  be  of  any  practical  importance.  We  may 
ditier  about  the  best  and  cheapest  manner  for  "  feed- 
ing" crops,  but  the  food  for  animals  cannot  be  affect- 
ed by  any  abstract  law. 

At  Lozere,  in  the  mountainous  district  of  the  Ceven- 
nes,  straw  is  very  scarce  and  the  animals  repose  on 
layers  of  earth,  their  feeding  troughs  being  movable, 
so  as  to  be  raised  as  the  heap  of  earth  increases.  It 
is  suggested  that  this  plan  be  given  up  iu  favor  of 
the  Swiss  method,  where  the  cattle  also  have  no  bed- 
ding, the  liquid  and  solid  excrements  being  run  into 
tanks,  from  whence,  after  fermentation,  it  is  distri- 
buted by  piping  or  barrels,  over  the  meadows.  In 
the  north  of  Holland,  the  urine  of  the  cow-shed  is 
gathered  in  small  boats,  and  when  these  are  full,  are 
towed  along  the  canals,  to  disi'harge  their  contents 
on  the  adjoining  pasturages.  In  the  district  of  Lozere 
sheep  are  reared  for  their  milk;  the  Pyrenean  breed 
is  excellent  in  this  respect,  the  ewe  yielding  after 
nourishing  her  lamb,  from  .50  to  11)1)  quarts  of  milk, 
which  produces  from  10  to  30  pounds  of  cheese,  and 
even  excellent  butter.  The  cheese  is  known  as  Kogue- 
fort — the  French  Stilton,  and  is  of  world-wide  noto- 
riety— the  total  annual  produce  being  estimated  at 
3,000  tons.  The  wliey  is  given  to  pigs,  which  reject 
it  at  first,  in  consequence  of  its  putridity  ;  afterwards 
they  take  to  it  and  hecome  fat.  The  vexed  question 
of  horse-breeding  in  that  mountainous  district  is 
much  studied  ;  farmci'S  prefer  crossing  native  races 
with  Arab,  instead  of  English  blood  ;  the  result  pro- 
ducing animals  better  able  to  withstand  sevei-e  work. 

Spalt,  in  Bavaria,  is  the  classic  home  of  hop  cul- 
ture on  the  continent;  these  hop  plantations  have  the 
appearance  of  veritable  forests  ;  the  trenches  separat- 
ing the  rows  of  plants  are  very  wide  ;  the  soil  is  tilled 
to  the  depth  of  three  feet,  and  the  plantations  are 
ever  on  inclined  ground,  the  ridges  being  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  slope ;  the  soil  can  thus  be  more  easily 
freshened;  in  the  bottom  of  the  trenches,  at  distances 
of  fifteen  feet,  are  holes  a  spade's  blade  in  depth,  act- 
ing as  so  many  wells  for  the  rain  water.  The  hasty 
kind  of  hop  is  preferred,  being  more  productive  than 
the  slow  variety.  Each  knoll  contains  three  plants, 
and  the  poles  are  3-1- feet  in  length,  the  stem  being 
tied  to  them  at  mid-height  by  reeds.  Wire  is  not 
employed  as  a  substitute  for  poles.  Hops  thus  rear- 
ed are  neither  of  good  quality  nor  remarkable  in 
quantity.  A  kind  of  fork-knife  combs  the  pole,  the 
cones  being  separated  from  the  stems  ulteriorly. 
Kapidity  is  essential  in  the  harvesting.  Milch  cows 
relish  the  leaves,  and  the  stems  are  either  given 
green  or  dried,  and  cut  into  lengths  of  one  ot^  two 
inches;  they  are  never  burned. 

Wool  imijorted  from  Australia  and  South  America 
is  largely  mixed  with  vegetable  debris,  which  is  no 
small  drawback  to  its  industrial  employment.  Vari- 
ous processes  have  been  tried  to  separate  this  vegeta- 
ble from  the  animal  matter  by  chemical  means. 
Messrs.  Barral  and  Salevat,  after  a  series  of  experi-, 
ments  with  sixty  different  substances,  find  acid  and 
other  solutions  eflective  in  destroying  the  woody  part 
of  the  vegetable  substance,  provided  the  wool  after 
steeping  be  well  dried,  and  tlien  placed  for  a  time  in 
a  stove  at  a  certain  temperature. 

The  discussion  on  the  subject  of  the  formation  of 
sugar  in  beet  continues  to  be  warm,  but  is  very  far 
from  having  a  satisfactory  conclusion.  The  great 
authority,  Claude  Bernard,  is  of  opinion  the  sugar  is 
formed  by  the  root.  Messrs.  Duchartre  and  Viollette 
believe  it  takes  place  by  the  leaves,  owing  to  the  con- 


version of  the  starch  In  the  leaves  into  saccharine 
matter,  the  root  being  merely  the  depot  for  the  sugar 
thus  formed  to  nourish  the  seed-stem  the  following 
year,  just  as  the  tubercle  of  the  potato  has  a  store  of 
starcli  to  feed  its  shoots  of  the  succeeding  season. 

There  is  still  nothing  new  to  record  respecting  the 
phylloxera;  the  vine  bug  has  become  a  greater  object 
of  interested  study.  Some  experimenters  state,  one 
dose  of  sulphuret  of  carbon  is  not  sufficient,  and  all 
seem  to  agree  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  vine 
stocks  from  affected  to  healthy  vineyards. 


OUR  LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Our  Farmers  in  Council — "  Economy  vs.  Hard 
Times  "—Shall  we  Eat  Pork  ?— The 
Question  of  Planting  For- 
est Trees,  &c. 

The  February  meeting  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  was  held  on 
Monday  afternoon,  February  7,  at  two  o'clock,  iuthe 
Athenaium  room.  Present :  Messrs.  Calvin  Cooper, 
Henry  M.  Engle,  Alex.  Harris,  Casper  Hiller,  Mar- 
tin Brubaker,  Levi  W.  Groff,  John  B.  Erb,  Milton  B. 
Eshleman,  Levi  Pownall,  Dr.  P.  W.  Hiestand,  Jacob 
Bollinger,  Israel  L.  Landis,  Levi  S.  Reist,  S.  S. 
Rathvon,  Abraham  Kaufman,  Abraham  Bollinger, 
J.  Stautfer,  Martin  S.  Fry,  Abraham  Hostetter,  Mr. 
Landis,  Mr.  Cooper,  Simon  A.  Hershey,  Peter  S. 
Reist,  Johnson  Miller,  D.  G.  Swartz,  Henry  Myers, 
Henry  Erb,  John  Miller,  John  M.  Stehman,  E.  S. 
Hoover,  and  John  Gross. 

Cai,vin  Cooper,  the  President,  occupied  the 
chair,  and  after  the  reading  and  adoption  of  minutes, 
Mr.  McComsey  arose  and  remarked  that,  although 
he  could  not  remain,  as  he  was  serving  as  a  juror,  he 
had  come  here  hurriedly  to  manifest  by  his  presence 
his  continued  interest  in  the  society,  and  his  willing- 
ness to  contribute  what  he  was  able  to  the  interest  of 
its  meetings,  and  expressed  the  belief  that  the  So- 
ciety, if  properly  maintained,  would  prove  beneficial 
to  its  members,  socially,  mentally  and  materially, 
for  by  the  discussion  of  appropriate  questions  of  in- 
terest to  agriculturalists,  we  gain  little  by  little,  step 
by  step,  in  the  progress  of  the  science  of  agriculture 
and  horticulture,  as  iu  other  sciences,  through  dark- 
ness to  light. 

The  President,  after  thanking  Mr.  McComsey  for 
the  expression  of  his  interest  and  good-will,  excused 
him. 

J.  Fred.  Landis,  of  East  Lampeter,  Peter  C.  Hiller, 
of  Conestoga,  and  Levi  Pownall,  of  Christiana,  were 
elected  members. 

THE  REPORTS  ON  THE  CROPS. 

were  now  read,  as  follows  : 

WuE.VT :  Israel  Landis,  Manheim,  reported  the 
future  wheat  crop  to  be  iu  as  promising  a  condition 
as  it  generally  is  at  this  date,  and  it  indicates  that  a 
favorable  season  may  produce  a  full  average  crop. 
The  rye  is  about  the  same  as  wheat.  No  summer 
wheat  is  ever  sown;  winter  barley  none;  grass  at  this 
early  date  is  pretty  well  set  and  not  much  damaged 
in  the  young  fields,  of  last  summer's  seeding  ;  many 
second  crop  fields  are  thinly  set,  but  a  favorable 
season  may  bring  a  fair  crop. 

ToBA';co  :  A  large  portion  of  the  crop  (which  was 
a  good  one  for  this  year)  is  sold,  and  at.  a  wide  range 
in  the  prices.  There  is  perhaps  no  particular  way  to 
give  the  average  price.  There  may  be  some  sold 
above  and  below  the  prices  of  12  and  3  and  6  and  27, 
or  from  3  to  13  for  fillers,  and  12  to  27  for  wrappers. 

Corn:  There  is,  perhaps,  more  corn  damaged 
this  year  in  the  crib  than  for  many  years  past.  The 
crop  was  a  full  one,  and  the  weather  was  uot  favora- 
ble for  it  after  husking. 

Oats  was  a  good  crop,  but  was  not  well  secured 
on  account  of  the  wet  season;  the  result  is  dark  color. 

Stock  of  hay  on  hand  is  short;  farmers  are  gene- 
rally economical,  and  save  it  by  using  fodder. 

Fruit:  We  prefer  not  stating  the  condition,  but 
think  the  season  so  far  was  favorable,  though  we 
have  made  no  particular  investigation. 

Messrs.  Cooper,  East  Lampeter,  and  Erb,  Stras- 
burg,  reported  similar  conditions  of  the  crops  in  their 
districts. 

Johnson  Miller,  Warwick,  said  we  have  been 
favored  with  a  snow  of  five  or  six  inches  in  depth, 
which  is  a  good  covering  both  for  wheat  and  grass 
fields,  as  both  these  crops  have  suffered  somewhat 
from  the  continued  process  of  freezing  and  thawing 
of  the  ground  during  the  last  two  months.  The 
weather  was  very  mild  this  winter  until  a  few  days 
ago;  so  much  so,  that  fruit  trees  have  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  pushed  buds;  in  case  they  have,  I  have  no 
doubt  but  that  they  miglit  suffer  from  such  cold  snaps 
as  that  of  Saturday  morning — two  degrees  below  zero 
The  last  year's  corn  crop  is  considerably  damaged 
from  the  warm  and  damj)  weather  we  have  had,  and 
many  farmers  qre  compelled  to  remove  to  save  what 
is  in  good  condition  yet.  Corn  growing  in  a  wet  sea- 
son like  last  fall  was  not  matured  when  housed,  and 
then  the  damp  weather  has  caused  it  to  get  very 
mouldy;  and  I  have  reason  to  say  that  there  will  be 
more  damaged  and  mouldy  corn  when  farmers  shell 
than  was  ever  known.  It  is  a  matter  of  importance 
that  farmers  should  be  very  careful  this  spring  about 


seed  corn,  or  the  next  year's  crop  might  be  more  se- 
riously affected  by  not  coming  up  after  planting — the 
result  of  poor  seed  corn.  I  throw  out  this  hint  in 
season,  so  that  I,  and  all  other  farmers,  may  take  the 
lesson  in  time,  to  prevent  what  might  result  in  a  ycry 
thinly  set  and  poor  crop  of  corn  during  the  Centen- 
nial year. 

^Some  one  might  say,  we  want  to  be  sure  of  a  good 
crop  of  corn  this  coming  summer;  that  is  not  the  in- 
tention of  the  above  suggestion;  if  we  do  our  part, 
Providence  will  do  the  rest.  At  no  point  does  the 
success  of  a  good  crop  of  corn  depend  more  than  in 
the  seed  we  plant.  If  the  first  planting  does  not  come 
to  perfection,  and  your  stalks  will  be'  regularly  set, 
your  crop  is  spoiled  with  the  best  of  weather  that  we 
have  ever  enjoyed;  there  is  more  danger  in  this,  this 
year,  than  ever,  and  our  farmers  will  do  well  to  ex- 
amine their  seed  corn  carefully  before  planting.  Now 
is  the  time  to  make  plans  and  get  ready  for  sprin" 
work.  The  farmer  who  always  waits  till  he  want!s 
to  go  to  work,  to  make  up  his  mind  as  to  how  he  is 
going  to  manage  this,  and  how  he  is  going  to  do  this 
will  find  himself  often  iu  confusion,  and  good  man- 
agement of  farm  operations  will  be  entirely  unknown 
to  him.  Farmers  will  be  required  to  economize  with 
fodder,  on  account  of  the  short  hay  crop  last  sum- 
mer; better  commence  in  time  to  cut  fodder,  as  there 
is  no  telling  of  an  early  spring  and  early  pasture;  ac- 
cording to  ground  hog  signs,  we  will  have  a  late 
spring,  and  consequently  will  be  required  to  feed  lou" 
in  the  stable.  Let  us  all  have  our  farms  and  stock  in 
such  condition  as  to  correspond  with  the  Centennial 
year  of  iinpi'ovements,  and  to  do  this,  we  all  have 
our  hands  full,  and  each  member  will  best  know  his 
own  calling  for  the  progress  of  agriculture. 

H.  M.  Engle  was  rather  inclined  in  the  main  to 
agree  with  the  reports  of  the  members,  just  read,  but 
he  did  not  think  the  danger  to  the  fruit  crop  was 
past — particularly  in  the  matter  of  peaches. 
miscellaneous  business. 

Milton  B.  Eshleman,  from  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  in  be- 
half of  inseetiverous  birds,  submitted  a  prepared 
document,  which  was  signed  by  those  present. 

President  Cooper  stated  that  he  had  attended 
the  recent  session  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  Society  at 
Doylestown,  and  that  a  committee  of  ten  members 
had  been  appointed  to  confer  with  the  managers  of 
the  Centennial  Exhibition,  in  order  to  have  represen- 
tatives in  the  Horticultural  D^^partment  of  that  great 
show.  He  feared  our  Society  could  not  secure 
a  representation  at  the  Centennial. 

On  motion,  the  Secretary  was  authorized  to  write 
to  the  Superintendent  of  the  Centennial  Horticul- 
tural Department,  for  printed  instructions  to  ex- 
hibitors. 

The  retiring  Treasurer,  Dr.  P.  W.  Hiestand,  made 
his  report,  showing  a  balance  of  ?99..53  in  the 
treasury. 

An  auditing  committee  of  three  members — Casper 
Hiller  being  chairman— was  appointed,  and  their  re- 
port agreed  with  that  of  the  treasurer. 

The  unanimous  thanks  of  the  society  were  tendered 
Dr.  Hiestand  for  hi?  faithful  services  as  treasurer. 

The  secretary,  on  motion  of  I.  L.  Landis,  was  in- 
structed to  look  up  the  matter  of  a  committee  which 
had  been  appointed  some  years  ago  to  secure  dona- 
tions of  liooks — any  person  giving  810  worth  to  be 
considered  a  life  member  of  the  society. 

Milton  B.  Eshleman,  esq.,  read  the  following 
essay  on 

ECONOMT  vs.  HARD  TIMES. 

Mr.  President  and  fellow-farmers  :  Economy  is  a 
subject  that  is  distasteful  to  most  persons,  and  many 
wUl  shut  their  eyes  square  in  its  face  ;  but  it  forces 
itself  upon  our  attention  at  the  present  time,  and  well 
it  is  for  that  man  who  heeds  its  demands  before  they 
are  forced  too  heavily  upon  him.  These  times  of  low 
prices  on  all  farm  produce,  of  small  profits  on  all 
merchandise,  of  shrinkage  in  value  of  all  manufac- 
tured goois  and  machinery,  of  low  wages,  and  to  a 
very  distressing  extent  of  want  of  employment — I  say 
these  htird  times  necessitate  almost  every  man — I  be- 
lieve it  is  safe  to  say  four  out  of  every  five — to  prac- 
tice economy  in  the  living  expen.ses  of  his  family. 
Several  years  of  prosperous  times,  assisted  by  the 
pride  of  life  and  the  whims  of  the  fashion  market, 
have  little  by  little  drawn  us  into  such  an  extravagant 
and  expensive  mannerof  living, that  it  will  yet  cause  the 
bankruptcy  of  many  and  the  death  of  some  men  before 
they  will  be  able  to  get  tUeir  family  expenses  down 
to  the  level  of  their  incomes.  All  our  necessary  ex- 
penses can  be  embraced  in  three  classes,  viz. :  Houses 
to  live  in,  clothing  to  protect  our  bodies,  and  food  to 
sustain  life.  If  we  did  not  require  houses,  clothes 
and  food,  we  would  have  no  need  of  money,  and  con- 
sequently would  not  be  necessitate  1  to  work;  so  the 
more  nearly  we  can  bring  our  requirements  to  that 
state,  the  less  funds  we  will  need,  and  the  less  work 
we  will  be  required  to  do.  You  will  be  surprised,  I 
know,  each  of  you,  when  you  consider  carefully  this 
matter,  and  note  how  the  wants  of  each  of  the  three 
classes  of  expenses  have  been  enlarged,  increased  and 
added  to,  until  it  has  liecome  necessary  for  a  society 
man  to  spend  all  the  money  he  can  get  by  his  labor 
or  business,  often  working  day  and  night.  In  his 
very  dreams  he  is  tempted  to  obtain  money  by  de- 


i 


1870.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


31 


IVamlinff  siiinc  one  else,  and  you  will  yet  tinil  oiit  luiw 
fi'W  ofuH  there  are  who  can  resist  it  wiicii  a  irood  op- 
portunity otters.  Now,  my  friends  and  neiiihhors, 
tliese  thiiifjs  ou^ht  not  so  to  be.  The  fourth  eom- 
inandnunt  says:  "  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor;"  hut 
I  do  not  believe  that  it  ever  was  the  intention  of  the 
Wvinc  Maker  of  all,  that  man  slionld  work  so  hard 
or  make  sueh  lontr  days  as  most  of  us  do  now,  and 
are  Ibreed  to  do  in  order  to  meet  the  imaginary  wants 
of  the  iamily.  I  eanuot  forbear,  at  this  point,  to  name 
some  of  tlie  extravayanees  that  1  consider  worse  than 
useful:  For  instauee,  p:rand  wedtlinus,  expensive 
funerals,  costly  monuments,  splendid  ei|uipages,  four 
changes  of  fasliious  a  year,  silver  sets  and  ih'sscrt 
alter  every  meal.  There  are  some  so  blessed  with  this 
world's  fjoods  tliat  they  can  support  this  style  with- 
out any  inconvenience  to  themselves  or  injury  to 
others.  With  them  1  have  nothin;,'  to  do;  but  with 
those  who  allow  themselves  to  be  drawn  on  to  follow 
the  fashions  of  otliers,  instead  of  beinir  inilependent 
enouKli  to  lay  out  a  pattern  for  themselves,  as  suits 
their  circnmstances.  Kaeh  man  on;,'hl  to  know  bet- 
ter than  :iny  one  else  what  his  eireiimslances  are, 
how  nuieh  income  he  has,  and  where  it  comes  from, 
anil  if  he  does  not  live  within  it  he  alone  is  to  blame. 
Many  p<'rsoiis  have,  durin,:;  tlie  last  few  years,  been 
able  to  follow  fashions  that  they  never  will  be  again. 
Many  have  hitherto  supported  style  that  they  will 
soon  liave  todrop,  for  1  assure  you  the  hard  timesare 
not  yet  over,  nor  will  tliey  be  for  many  montliB  to 
come.  Centennial  or  no  Centenni:il,  hard  money  or 
6(d't,  inlhition  or  contr;ietion,  has  nothing  to  do  with 
it;  but  each  one  of  us  must  bring  about  easy  times 
for  ourselves,  which  will  be  as  soon  as  we  begin  to 
regulate  our  family  cxiienses  by  our  reduced  income, 
anil  not  a  monu'Ut  sooner.  .1  havea  theory  about  the 
c;iuscofthc  hard  times  tliat  1  have  never  seen  in 
print,  and  the  more  1  consider  it  the  more  I  am  con- 
vinced it  is  correct.  During  the  war,  and  for  eight 
years  al'tcr,  every  person  seemed  to  prosjier,  beeausi^ 
there  were  numy  men  ready  to  put  their  money  into 
manul'acturing  establislnnents,  and  whili'  lliey  nour- 
ished there  was  a  good  dennind  lor  all  kinds  of  me- 
c-hauics,  and  for  nniterial  of  every  kind,  that  kept  the 
furnaces  and  all  iron  works  in  full  blast,  and  the  saw 
unlls  all  running.  They  in  turn  keptup  the  demand 
for  coal;  the  mines  were  all  working,  and  every  man 
in  the  country  who  wished,  had  employinent  at  good 
wages,  and  could  feed  and  clothe  his  family  well, and 
that  made  business  good  for  every  retail  dealer  and 
merchant,  and  through  them  for  the  miller,  the 
unmulacturer,  the  coal  miner.  All  these  together 
made  a  good  home  consumption  demand  for  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm,  and  maintained  a  ])rice  that  paid 
tlic  farmer  lor  his  labor.  All  went  on  swimmingly, 
aiai  every  oue  who  practiced  economy  was  able  to  lay 
nil  something  for  a  rainy  day.  But  there  came  aday 
when  oue  of  the  shrewd  manufacturers  discovered 
that  his  business  was  being  overdone,  and  that  he 
had  too  numy  machines  iin  hand,  :ind  in  order  to  get 
Ills  money  out  of  them,  he  must  put  down  the  price, 
and  cither  stop  his  works  or  reduce  liis  expenses  by 
paying  out  less  in  wages.  The  other  inanufacturcrs 
were  not  slow  in  linding  out  what  he  had  done  and 
were  forced  to  do  the  same  in  order  to  keep  their  old 
customers;  so  this  lowering  of  values  soon  spread  to 
every  uuiuufactured  article.  From  that  you  can  eas- 
ily trace  the  progress  of  the  downfall,  and  the  cause 
of  the  universal  cry  of  ?Mr<l  limci.  \Vages  reduced, 
restricted  the  expenditures  of  every  fandly;  articles 
that  sold  readily  before,  now  went  slow,  and  thcoviT- 
stoek  of  manufactured  goods,  instead  of  passing  ott" 
at  the  same  rate  as  before,  remains  on  bund.  The 
factories  running  on  half  time  with  only  half  the 
number  of  hands, still  made  enough  to  kec])  the  ware- 
houses full,  and  consequently  there  is  no  prospect  of 
an  advance  in  price.  The  low  wages  so  decreased 
tlie  demand  for  luxuries,  and  even  substanlial  food, 
that  the  evil  linally  reached  the  door  of  the  farmer — 
and  wlio  can  tell  where  it  will  end,  and  when  the  dull 
time  will  be  over.  I  admit  I  cannot  see  it,  foi-  every 
man  who  has  his  money  invested  in  any  kind  of  mau- 
ufactures  w  ill  try  to  make  his  living  out  of  it,  and  in 
order  to  do  that  he  must  run  it  with  the  least  possi- 
ble outlay,  and  leave  all  extra  hands  out  of  employ- 
ment. A  good  denuinil  for  articles  of  clothing,  lux- 
uries of  life,  and  even  breadstutfs,  can  never  be  until 
every  man  is  employed.  F'or  this  reason  I  say  that  I 
believe  the  worst  has  not  come  yet;  that  wages  will 
be  lower,  and  all  kinds  of  jiroduce  will  be  lower,  and 
we  will  have  to  learn  to  live  on  half  of  what  we  have 
been  using;  and  the  sooner  we  get  to  that  state  the 
better  for  us,  and  for  the  w  hole  country.  I  close  by 
recommending  Ben  Franklin's  patent  recipe  for  mak- 
ing money  plenty  in  every  nuin's  pocket ,  viz. :  "  Spend 
every  day  one  cent  less  tlian  thy  clear  gain." 

Mr.  St.vikfeu,  commenting  on  the  essay,  spoke 
of  a  nobleman  who  had  \W  men  emidoycd  at  land- 
scape gardening.  Every  day  an  old  nuin  was  observ- 
ed sitting  on  a  fence,  watching  the  workmen.  The 
n^'blennm,  whose  curiosity  had  been  arouseil  ques- 
tioned the  old  man,  who  informeil  him  that  he 
was  a  weaver,  living  in  a  <'ottage  near  by.  He  nuide 
it  a  rule  to  work  eight  hours,  sleep  eight  hours,  and 
take  eight  hours  for  recreation  in  every  twcntj'-four 
hours.  lie  found  no  better  recreation  than  w:itehing 
the  care  and  labor  bestowed  by  this  uobleman  and 
bis  meu  iu  beautifying  the  landscape  I 


D.  (i.  Sw.vBTZ  esq.,  approved  the  general  senti- 
ment of  the  essay,  but  he  did  not  believe  that  mere 
economy  would  cover  the  entire  ground  aw  a  remedv 
for  "hard  liniee."  That  is  not  good  |ihllosophy.  The 
nation  has  been  injured  by  over-prosperity  and  over- 
conlldenee.  The  moment  Jay  tlooki'  failed,  the  peo- 
]>le  saw  the  ueccssity  for  retrenchment .  lint  we  must 
have  <'oidldcnce  in  each  other.  As  long  as  people 
feel  that  this  is  not  the  time  to  buy  homis,  or  nuike 
other  investments,  there  can  be  no  recovery  from  the 
general  stagnation.  He  believed  we  had  ni'arly  reuch- 
cdtlie  bottom.  The  fact  that  provisions,  prtnluce, 
and  all  kinds  of  numufacturcd  goods  are  nearly  as 
low  in  prices  as  they  can  be,  argues  well  for  the  fu- 
ture. He  predicted  higher  prices  and  greater  general 
prosperity  for  us  as  individuals  and  as  a  nation,  iu 
the  near  future,  than  has  ever  been  known  before. 
The  fact  that  we  now  ndne  5<lllll,ll(H),UU0  In  gold  and 
silver,  anntnilly,  is  very  encouraging. 

Mahti.n  S.  Fiiv  attributed  our  local  hard  times  to 
the  failure  of  the  wheat  crop  last  year,  as  well  as  Its 
failure  three  or  four  years  ago.  Histhcory,  however, 
as  to  the  i-ause  of  the  gt-ncral  depression,  was  that 
it  resulted  from  a  low  tarltt'on  Imjxjrts.  He  spoke  at 
considerble  length. 

J.KVI  S.  Ki:isT  ascribed  the  general  de|iresslon  to 
over-trading,  and  cited  the  rise  and  fall  of  prices  In 
many  noted  years — from  IHl.*)  to  Is:i7;  Iheiiriceof 
rennsylvania  State  bonds  in  1S4»',  (then  quoted  at 
:U)  and  the  reaction  whicli  followed  the  California 
gold  fever  of  1N4.S.  Ili^  argued  that  the  history  of 
the  country  will  show  a  "crash"  every  1.5  or  'U) 
years.  A  panic  cnsui's,  every  article  of  produce  and 
merchandise  gets  as  low  in  price  as  it  can  get,  aud 
then  comes  a  rise  and  prfisperous  times. 

Mr.  EsiiLi-rMAN  had  not  contemplated  sueh  men  as 
Mr.  Swartz  when  lie  wrote  his  essay.  It  was  intend- 
ed particularly  as  a  liint  to  the  masses — the  [loor  peo- 
ple. 

The  discussion  was  concluded  by  Peter  S.  Itelst, 
who  agreed  with  the  essayist  that  economy  in  snuill 
things  was  a  sure  preventive  of  "hard  times,"  and 
illustrated  by  citing  a  ease  that  had  fallen  under  his 
own  observation. 

On  uKition  of  Johnson  Miller,  the  unanimous 
thanks  of  the  Society  were  tendered  to  the  essayist. 

ABOCT    I'I..\NTING    FOHEST     TKEES. 

The  question,  Is  it  profitable  to  convert  land  worth 
§100  per  acre  into  forests?  was  now  discussed. 

Mr.  John  B.  Euu,  who  had  iirojiosed  it,  opened 
the  (jucstion,  giving  as  his  opinion  that  it  would  pay 
the  (itivernnient  to  cultivate  foi-ests,  but  it  would  not 
pay  an  individual  or  a  company  of  individuals. 

isitAEi,  L.  Landis  thought  there  should  be  some 
legislation  on  the  subject,  and  alluded  to  Kansas  and 
her  young  forests,  brought  into  existence  by  proper 
legislation. 

Messrs.  I'etku  S.  Heist,  Jacob  StaulTcr  and  H.  M. 
Engle  discussed  the  subject  at  some  length,  all  of 
them  recognizing  the  imiiortance  of  planting  forests, 
and  all  agreeing  that  there  should  be  some  legisla- 
tion ou  the  subject. 

The  next  question  for  discussion — 

"IS  swine  Fi.Esn  A  pkopek  food  foh  man?" 
was  proposed  and  o])ened  by  I'eter  S.  Reist,  who  took 
the  negative  side  of  it.  He  quoted  liberally  from 
learned  physicians  in  support,  of  his  view,  and  also 
cited  passages  from  the  Scriplure  in  support  of  the 
same — notably  from  the  Uld  Testament,  viz.  :  llth 
chapter  of  Leviticus,  and  both  and  (iUth  chapters  of 
Isaiah. 

Mr.  Ekb  was  glad  to  have  the  Scripture  quoted, 
but  thought  we  were  not  bound  by  the  Mosaic  laws  ; 
he  quoted  the  New  Testatemeut  to  show  that  any- 
thing in  the  shape  of  food  could  be  properly  partaken 
of  by  man  in  moderation. 

The  question  was  further  discussed  by  Messrs. 
.Jacob  Stauller  and  Eplir;iim  Hoover,  who  thought 
poi-k  proper  food  if  well  cooked  and  moderately  eaten. 

The  further  discussion  of  the  question  was  [wst- 
poned  uiUil  next  meeting. 

Ja(  on  Heline  was  elected  janitor,  at  $1  per 
meeting. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  A.  F.  ITostet- 
ter,  Alexander  Harris  and  Ephrairn  Hoover,  was,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Ilostctter,  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Linniean  Society,  and  olfcr  to  share  the  expenses 
of  keeping  up  the  room  with  them. 

WALKINi;    HOUSES    vs.    TUOTTINO. 

Milton  B.  Esiileman  otl'cred  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  : 

Wheukas,  The  tendency  of  the  times  is  to  im- 
prove the  ruuning  eap:icities  of  the  horse,  to  the  dis- 
paragement of  t  he  walking ;  and  whereas,  in  every 
business  sense  the  walking  gait  is  by  far  the  most 
important;  therefore  it  is 

Kinoh'nl,  Thiit  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Society  that  it 
would  be  conducive  to  the  good  of  the  country  if 
the  PeniLsylvania  State  Agricultural  Society  would 
otler  several  premiums  for  the  fastest  walking 
horses  at  its  annual  fairs — not  requiring  the  presence 
of  the  horse  on  the  grounds  more  than  the  day  of 
trial. 

/{isolvcil,  That  we  request  said  S<Kiety  to  otter 
such  premiums  at  Its  next  exhibition,  to  be  held  in 
this  city,  and  that  we  as  individual  members  will  ex- 
ert ourselves  to  get  up  a  lively  contest. 


Jiifulrtit,  That  the  Secretary  shall  forward  a  copy 
of  this  preamble  and  resolutions  to  the  ollice  of  tho 
I'ennsyivanla  Stale  Society  at  llarrisburg. 

t'Asi'Kit  II II. LEU  now  called  attention  to  a  very  su- 
[M'rlor  fruit  raised  Iu  this  county,  known  as  the 
Krauser  apple. 

C'liAiiiMAN  Cooper  exhibited  three  flno  varieties  of 
apph'8  grown  In  this  county,  and  which  he  desired  the 
Society  to  name.  On  motion,  one  was  nanieil 
"(lontncr's  Fancy,"  and  the  other  the  ".Manor 
Beauty  " — both  having  Ih-cii  raised  by  .Mr.  (iontner, 
of  .Manor.  The  third  apple,  also  originated  In  .Manor, 
was  named  "The  Hitter." 

Johnson  .Milllu  oll'ercd  the  following,  wtilchwaa 
adopted  : 

THE  STATE  AORIC'fl.TUUAL  IIEI-UKT8. 

WiiKiiKAS,  The  pr<Hee<llug»  of  the  Agricultural 
and  llorlieiiltural  Society,  with  the  essays  and  pa- 
pers read  at  each  iiieetlng,  have  become  a  matter  of 
interest  to  the  general  reader;  and  wlicri'aH,  IhelOlh 
volume  of  the  I'ennsyivanla  Stale  Agrlciiliiiral  So- 
ciety, together  with  the  re|i<>rt  of  the  IVnnsylvaiihi 
Fruit  (i rowers' Society,  and  the  essays  and  pa|H.-r8 
eonlalnc'd  therein.  Is  a  work  which  tiiteresls  every 
farmer  and  fruit  grower  ;  and  whereas,  the  meinlwrg 
of  the  Lancaster  County  Agrlcullural  and  Horticul- 
tural Society  express  the  senllinints  of  the  agricul- 
tural, people  of  this  county  ;  therefore 

y/( sul/'id,  That  our  S*'nators  and  UepreBcntatlvea 
In  the  Legislature,  now  in  session  at  llarrisburg,  arc 
reipicsted  to  encourage  sueh  ap|iroprlalion  of  tliia 
valuable  agricultural  rc|H)rt  from  lime  to  time. 

liiMilrcdy  That  we  regard  these  Iwfisoi'ietlcs  as  tho 
representative  bodies  of  tin'  agricultural  and  horti- 
cultural Inlercsis  of  I'eunsylvania,  and  all  feel  a 
common  interest  in  their  proceedings  as  benelicial  to 
our  agricidturalists  and  horticulturalisls. 

Jieaolvtd,  That  our  C*)rre8|M»nding  Sei-n^tary  be  re- 
quested to  forward  a  copy  of  the  aUive  resolulious  to 
each  of  our  Senators  aud  Uepresentatlves  at  llar- 
risburg. 

A  large  variety  of  apples  was  exiilbted  by  Levi  S. 
Ueist,  and  two  iHjttlcs  of  wine  by  Jidui  B.  Erb. 
After  testing  the  good  things.  Society  adjourned. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


Shade  Trees. 

For  a  list  of  trees  to  .set  along  the  lionlers  of  a  street 
in  a  city  or  village,  or  along  the  highways  in  a  coun- 
try, we  would  rank  the  first  the  sugar  of  rtM-k  utapio 
{Acer  giu-cfuiriiiuin).  It  is  a  noble  [(Kikliig  trcewlieii 
fully  grown,  and  makes  a  dense  shade,  so  acceptable 
in  a  hot  day  to  man  or  beast.  The  only  objection  to 
its  being  popular  for  this  purpose  Is  its  6h>w  growth. 
Most  people  are  impatient  to  have  on  the  start  a  tree 
that  will  grow  up.  like  Jonah's  gourti,  in  a  single 
night;  and  will  discard  this  for  some  quick  growing 
kind — like  the  poplars  or  eottonwiMxl,  lor  instance — 
forgetting  that,  while  these  quick  growing  trees,  like 
some  fast  people,  grow,  flourish,  aud  have  their  day, 
the  hard  ma[ile  continues  to  grow  and  rear  Its  stately 
head  and  stand  as  a  inomnncnt  to  the  memory  of  lilin 
who,  in  his  wisdom,  transplants  it. 

Next  to  the  maple  we  would  place  the  white  elm 
(Vtiiiuii  Amaiomii).  This  Is  sometimes  called  the 
weeping  elm,  and  is  really  a  beautiful  tree,  and  per- 
haps more  universally  used  for  street  |iur|«iKe8  in  the 
Northern  States  than  any  other  single  variety.  We 
need  not  here  give  a  dcseriplion  of  this  iiiagiiillcent 
tree,  as  our  readers  are  all  undoubtiHlly  acquainted 
with  its  habits  and  growth.  A  row  of  trees,  alter- 
nately maple  and  elm,  have  a  very  pleasing  cireel. 
Next  in  order  comes  the  white  ash  {Fra£intni  Atiu-ri- 
camu).  This  Iri'c  is  not  as  large  in  its  growth  as  the 
two  former,  but  excels  them  in  the  rapidity  of  its 
growth,  and  makes  an  excellent  shade  tree;  its  main 
aud  only  objection  iH-iiig  its  habit  of  dnipjiing  its 
leaves  iu  ealy  fall.  The  linden,  or  more  commonly 
known  basswotnl  (Titia  Aiiiffictum),  makes  a  beau- 
tiful shade  tree;  but  its  tendency  to  sucker  or  sprout 
makes  it  objectionable  to  many.  Yet  many  advise  its 
culture,  on  account  of  its  beautiful  foliage  and  fra- 
grant blossoms. 


Thoughts  for  March. 

The  farmers  arc  now  burnishing  their  armor;  Ihoy 
can  hc:ir,  as  it  were,  the  sounds  of  approiiching  actl- 
vity,  and  are  making  ready  to  play  their  part  in  the 
great  industrial  strife  In  which  the  tillers  of  the  soil 
arc  shortly  to  be  engaged.  On  the  farmer  every  other 
interest  mainly  dc|H'nds;  bis  toil  sets  all  arts  Inaitloii; 
without  it  other  interests  would  of  in<csslly  flag  anil 
die.  The  sound  of  the  anvil  would  no  longer  be  heard, 
the  shuttle  aud  the  spindle  would  Ix-  still,  commerce 
would  be  susiHMidcd,  ami  man  himseir  revert  to  the 
savage  state,  ilcpendcnt  on  the  chase  and  the  st>outa- 
neous  products  of  mitiire  for  his  daily  foo*!.  How  all- 
Important,  how  ennobling,  then.  Is  the  mission  of  the 
farmer  !  When  will  American  husbandmen  l)c  duly 
Impressed  by  that  fact,  and  so  train  their  sons  to  be 
mentally  qualified  to  llll  their  high  destiny  f  They 
are  the  owners  of  the  soil,  their  iiUcrest  Is  paramount 
to  all  others,  they  are  the  m;ijority  In  number,  and 
the  legitimate  caudldatca  for  high  .honor:  It  U  they 


32 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[February,  1876. 


who  should  fill  the  posts  of  dignity  and  trust,  frame 
and  administer  the  laws,  and  represent  the  nation 
abroad.  But  to  accomplish  all  this,  self-reliance, 
conscious  ability,  and  conscious  worth  must  co-exist 
— these  are  not  the  work  of  a  moment,  nor  the  simple 
union  of  material  forces.  No  combination  alone  can 
achieve  permanent  success.  The  only  patron  the  far- 
mer needs  is  himself  alone — educated  and  trained  to 
fill  his  high  destiny. 


Large    Poultry  Yard, 

The  followine:  account  of  the  largest  poultry  yard 
in  New  York  is  given  in  the  Fancier's  Journal  : 

It  is  at  Greene,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
kept  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Robeson.  He  has  6,000  ducks, 
4,000  turkeys,  and  1,200  hens.  They  consume  daily 
sixty  bushels  of  corn,  two  barrels  of  meal,  two  bar- 
rels of  i)otatoes,  and  a  quantity  of  charcoal.  The 
meal,  potatoes  and  charcoal  are  boiled  together,  and 
form  a  pudding  which  is  fed  warm.  He  has  com- 
menced to  kill  them  off,  and  employs  fifteen  hands  to 
pick,  two  to  kill,  and  one  to  carry  away  and  pack  on 
racks  until  frozen,  then  they  are  ready  to  pack  for 
shipping.  He  also  employs  two  men  to  cook  the  feed 
and  feed  them.  He  has  twelve  buildings  for  his 
fowls,  from  one  to  two  hundred  feet  long,  fourteen 
feet  wide,  and  seven  feet  under  the  eaves,  with  a  door 
in  each  end  of  them. 

Mr.  Robeson  bought  most  of  his  ducks  in  the  West, 
and  had  them  shipped  in  crates — three  dozen  in  a 
crate.  He  also  has  an  egg-house,  35  by  .50  feet,  and 
four  stories  high.  The  outside  is  eighteen  inches 
thick,  and  built  of  cut  stone,  laid  in  mortar,  boarded 
up  on  the  inside  and  filled  in  between. the  outside  and 
inside  wall  with  sawdust,  it  taking  3,000  bushels. 
Mr.  Robeson  claims  that  he  can  keep  eggs  any  length 
of  time  in  this  building.  He  also  keeps  the  poultry 
that  he  is  now  dressing  until  next  May  or  June, 
which  he  sells  for  eighteen  to  twenty-five  cents  per 
pound,  and  it  cannot  be  told  from  fresh  dressed 
jmultry.  He  gets  ten  cents  per  pound  for  turkey's 
feathers,  twelve  for  hen's  and  sixty-five  for  duck's. 
He  says  there  is  money  in  poultry,  and  he  thinks 
he  can  make  out  of  his  0,000  ducks  enough  to 
pay  for  his  egg  house,  which  cost  S7,000.  He  intends 
to  keep  a  great  many  more  next  season,  and  has 
agents  out  all  over  the  country  buying  up  poultry 
and  eggs. 


The  State  Agriculturists. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  the  following 
was  adopted  : 

Resoli'cd,  That  this  executive  committee  recom- 
mend to  the  incoming  representatives  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Agricultural  Society  the  propriety  of 
omitting  the  annual  exhibition  of  1870,  for  the  reason 
that  the  common  desire  of  the  citizens  of  Pennsylva- 
nia is  to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  commemora- 
tion during  the  year  of  the  completion  of  the  first 
century  of  our  republic  as  a  nation. 

The  following  olliecrs  of  the  State  Society  were 
elected : 

President — George  Scott. 

Vice-Presidents — .James  A.  M'Crea,  Geo.  Blight, 
A.  L.  Kennedy,  William  S.  Bissell,  A.  D.  Levering, 
David  H.  Branson,  Win.  H.  Holstein,  Tobias  Barto, 
S.  S.  Spencer,  Daniel  H.  Neiraan,  Joseph  P.  Connor, 
Ira  Tripp,  Lyman  Nntting,John  A.  Sniull,  James  E. 
Carmalt,  J.  B.  Potter,  S.  Baker,  John  S.  Miller, 
Daniel  O.  Gehr,  L.  A.  Mackey,  George  Rhey,  John 
Murdoch,  jr.,  Alex.  Speer,  Joshua  Wright,  J.  B. 
Lawson,  J.  D.  Kirkpatriek,  John  W.  Hammond. 

Additional  members  executive  committee — A.  Wil- 
helm,  Abner  Rutherford,  J.  S.Keller,  Benjamin  G. 
Peters,  R.  S.Allen. 

Ex-Presidents,  Members  of  the  Board — Frederick 
Watts,  D.Taggart,  Jacob  S.  Haldeman,  Thomas  P. 
Knox,  A.  Boyd  Hamilton,  Amos  E.  Kapp,  John  C. 
Morris,  J.  R.  Eby. 

Corresponding  Secretary — Elbridge  M'Conkey. 

Chemist  and  Cicologist — S.  S.  Haldeman. 

Assistant  Chemist  and  Geologist — Hugh  Hamilton. 

Librarian — William  H.  Egle. 


The  Pestilential  East  Wind. 

I  believe  it  is  an  admitted  fact  that  an  easterly  wind 
is  more  deleterious  to  man,  beast,  and  vegetation, 
than  a  westerly  wind.  I  have  observed  that  if  an 
east  wind  should  come  while  the  cherry  and  raspberry 
were  in  bloom,  they  are  sure  to  be  mostly  blasted. 
I  have  noticed,  too,  that  all  kinds  of  stock  require 
more  attention  during  an  eastern  wind  or  storm  than 
in  one  from  the  west.  Man,  as  a  general  rule,  feels 
more  dull,  stupid,  and  inactive  during  an  east  wind. 
We  read  in  the  Bitjle  of  the  pestilential  east  wind;  so 
we  infer  that  during  the  patriarchal  days,  in  Asia, 
it  was  observed  to  be  the  more  deleterious.  The  ques- 
tion has  often  been  asked.  Why  is  this  so?  Philoso- 
phers, who  reason  from  cause  to  ettect,  have  searched 
for  a  cause.  I  will  give  my  phylosophy  for  it,  and 
those  who  peruse  it  may  take  it  for  what  it  is  worth. 

The  planet  revolving  from  west  to  east,  and  a  west 
wind  going  the  same  direction,  the  surlaee  air,  a  por- 
tion at  least,  is  thrown  ofi'  into  space — consequently 


the  higher  and  purer  atmosphere  is  pressed  down  to 
the  surface;  hence  we  do  not  get  all  of  the  poisonous 
miasma  in  the  air  during  a  westerly  wind.  My  idea 
may  become  more  clear  by  statihg  a  fact  that  many 
have  observed.  By  pouring  water  on  a  grindstone 
and  turning  it  rapidly,  a  portion  of  the  water  is  thrown 
from  the  surface,  just  so  with  a  western  wind;  it 
brings  into  requisition  the  centrifugal  force,  a  ten- 
dency to  fly  from  the  surface,  while  with  an  east  wind 
the  reverse  is  true;  the  centripetal  force  is  brought  to 
bear.  Hence  an  east  wind  coming  against  the  planet 
is  constantly  clinging  to  the  surface;  therefore  we 
are  subjected  to  all  the  impure  air,  &e. 

I  have  here  briefly  given  what  seems  to  me  the 
true  cause  for  the  more  injurious  effects  of  an  east 
wind,  and  I  shall  adhere  to  this,  unless  some  one  can 
give  something  which  appears  still  more  philosophi- 
cal.— A.  Allen  JVoe,  Lancaster,  January  1,  1870. 


Influence  of  Food  on  the  Mind, 

Good  food,  a  variety  and  enough  to  satisfy  the  de- 
mands of  the  stomach  for  the  time,  exercises  a  pro- 
digious influence  on  mental  operations.  A  hungry 
man  has  no  wide  range  of  thought,  neither  has  a  glut- 
tou .  Those  are  extremes  which  endanger  the  physi- 
cal well-being  of  the  body.  Just  enough  to  relish  con- 
tributes immensely  toward  that  condition  of  mind  es- 
sential forthe  exercise  of  reason  and  judgment.  When 
food  is  imperfectly  digested,  or  not  at  all,  the  vital 
processes  arc  diminished  in  force,  which  is  shown  in 
direct  debility  and  an  enfeebled  state  of  the  brain. 

Great  brain  workers  are  generally  great  eaters. 
The  blood  requires  frequent  meals  from  which  to 
elaborate  something  essential  to  its  full  contribution 
of  those  elements  that  sustain  the  most  wonderful 
organ  ever  brought  under  the  eye  of  a  naturalist  in 
the  conduction  of  its  mysterious  functions.  Stranger 
still,  the  brain  quickly  uses  up  the  quickened  influ- 
ences conveyed  to  it  in  the  blood;  and  if  more  is  not 
soon  supplied,  the  deficiency  is  indicated  by  nervous 
disturbances  and  abnormal  derangements  which  food 
alone  can  re-establish. 

A  regular,  systematical  served  diet,  of  a  mixed 
character,  embracing  both  animal  and  vegetable  ma- 
terials, proportioned  agreeably  to  the  taste  of  an  in- 
dividual, secures  the  highest  condition  of  mind  for 
carrying  on  those  studies  in  literature,  science  or  art, 
characteristic  of  the  best  types  of  civilized  man. 
Neither  savages,  barbarians,  mendicants  in  search  of 
a  dinner,  nor  gourmands  write  books  or  contribute  to 
the  moral  progress  of  mankind. 


Hurtful  Reading. 

A  had  book,  magazine,  or  newspaper,  is  as  danger- 
ous to  your  child  as  a  vicious  companion,  and  will  as 
surely  corrupt  his  morals  and  lead  him  away  from 
the  paths  of  safety.  Every  parent  should  set  this 
thought  clearly  before  his  mind,  and  ponder  it  well. 
Look  to  what  your  children  read,  and  especially  what 
kind  of  papers  get  into  their  hands,  for  there  are  now 
published  scores  of  weekly  papers  with  attractive 
and  sensuous  illustrations,  that  are  as  hurtful  to 
young  and  innocent  souls  as  poison  to  a  healthful 
body. 

Many  of  these  papers  have  attained  a  large  circu- 
lation, and  are  sowing  broadcast  the  seeds  of  vice  and 
crime.  Trenching  on  the  very  borders  of  indecency, 
they  corrupt  the  morals,  taint  the  imagination,  and 
allure  the  weak  and  unguarded  from  the  path  of  in- 
nocence. The  danger  of  young  persons  from  this 
cau.se  was  never  so  great  as  at  this  time;  and  every 
father  and  mother  should  be  on  guard  against  an 
enemy  that  is  sure  to  meet  their  child; 

Look  to  it,  then,  that  your  children  are  kept  free  as 
possible  I'roni  this  taint.  Never  bring  to  your  house 
a  paper  or  periodical  that  is  not  strictly  pure,  and 
watch  carefully  lest  any  such  get  into  the  hands  of 
your  growing-up  boys. 

•»• 

Celery. 

The  habitual  use  of  celery  is  more  beneficial  to  us 
than  is  commonly  supposed.  A  writer  who  is  famil- 
iar with  its  virtues,  says:  "I  have  known  many 
men,  and  women  too,  who  from  various  causes  had 
become  so  much  affected  by  nervousness  that  when 
they  stretched  out  their  hands  they  shook  like  aspen 
leaves  on  windy  days,  and  by  a  moderate  daily  use  of 
the  blanched  foot-stalks  of  celery  as  a  salad,  they 
became  as  strong  and  steady  in  limb  as  other  people. 
I  have  known  others  so  nervous  that  the  least  annoy- 
ance put  them  in  a  state  of  agitation,  and  they  were 
in  constant  perplexity  and  fear,  who  were  also  effect- 
ually cured  by  a  moderately  daily  use  of  blanched 
celery  as  a  salad  at  meal  time.  I  have  known  others 
cured  of  palpitation  of  the  heart.  Everybody  engag- 
ed in  labor  weakening  to  the  nerves  should  use  celery 
daily  in  the  season,  and  onions  in  its  stead  when  not 
in  season." 


of  sweet  milk,  two  cups  of  flour,  in  which  have  been 
thoroughly  mixed  two  teaspoonfuls  of  baking  pow- 
der, or  two  of  cream  of  tartar  and  one  of  soda,  and 
flavor  with  one  teaspoonful  of  extract  of  bitter  al- 
monds (or  other  flavor  desired) .  Lastly,  stir  in  one 
cup  of  corn  starch,  which  acts  both  as  food  and 
shortening.  Immediately  bake  in  a  moderately  quick 
oven. 


What  it  will  do. — If  a  mechanic  or  clerk  saves 
only  3':i'  cents  per  day,  from  the  time  he  is  twenty- 
one  until  he  is  threescore  and  ten,  the  aggregate,  with 
interest,  will  amount  to  .S3, 900;  and  a  daily  saving  of 
27y,  cents  reaches  the  important  sum  of  $i39,000.  A 
sixpence  saved  daily  will  provide  a  fund  of  S7,000 — 
sufficient  to  purchase  a  good  farm.  There  are  few 
employees  who  cannot  save  daily,  by  abstaining  from 
the  use  of  cigars,  tobacco,  liquor,  etc.,  twice  or  ten 
times  the  amount  of  the  six  cent  piece.  Every  per 
son  should  provide  for  old  age,  and  the  man  in  busi- 
ness who  can  lay  by  a  dollar  a  day  will  eventually 
find  himself  possessed  of  $100,000. 


Corn  Starch    Cake. 

This  is  a  simple  and  digestible  cake,  easily  and 
quickly  made,  and  generally  liked.  Rub  well  together 
one  cup  of  butter  and  two  cups  of  sugar.  Add  the 
whites  of  si.x  eggs  beaten  to  a  froth.    Stir  in  one  cup 


LITERARY  AND   PERSONAL. 

The  Pocket  Guide  for  the  Centennial  Vis- 
itor, compiled  by  John  W.  Frazer,  .and  published 
for  gratuitous  circulation  by  .John  B.  Ellison  &  Sons, 
723  and  72.5  Market  street,  Philadelphia,  is  a  13mo. 
pamphlet  of  73  pages,  and  contains  fifty-five  finely 
executed  illustrations — most  of  which  are  full  page — 
of  the  buildings,  ground  plans,  scenery  and  surround- 
ings of  Fairmpunt  Park,  and  the  bridges,  avenues, 
&c.,  in,  and  leading  thereto. 

Briggs  &  Brother's  Quarterly  Illustrated 
Floral  Work  for  January  appears  in  a  more  com- 
pact form  and  less  ornamental  than  heretofore,  for 
the  reason  that  they  are  preparing  to  recognize  our 
Centennial  year  by  an  elaborate  work  which  shall  be 
substantially  bound,  and  will  contain  exhaustive 
treatises  upon  the  care  and  culture  of  all  the  plants, 
flowers,  bulbs,  &c.,  that  are  of  practical  service  in 
this  country.  It  will  be  a  standard  work,  fit  for  the 
parlor  or  library,  and  will  be  sent  as  a  premium  to 
their  customers.  Their  lithograph  of  "The  Great 
Tomato  Race,"  is  one  of  the  finest  things  of  the  kind 
ever  published.  In  rivalry  to  produce  the  best  toma- 
toes, Briggs  &  Brothers  seem  to  be  ahead. 

The  Semi-Tropical  for  January  comes  to  us  from 
the  sunny  land  of  orange  groves  in  an  entirely  new 
dress,  with  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  design  forthe 
cover.  The  paper  and  typography  throughout  are 
first-class,  equal  to  the  best  of  the  northern  maga- 
zines. It  is  devoted  to  Southern  Agriculture,  Horti- 
culture and  Immigration ;  Literature,  Science,  Art 
and  Home  Interests.  Now  that  Florida  is  attracting 
so  much  attention  from  northern  people,  the  Semi- 
Tropical  forms  an  admirable  channel  of  communica- 
tion of  just  such  information  as  they  ought  to  have. 
We  look  upon  such  creditable  literary  enterprises  as 
the  very  best  evidence  of  the  coming  reconstruction 
of  the  South  on  a  solid  basis.  It  is  well  edited  by 
Harrison  Reed,  assisted  by  an  able  corps  of  contribu- 
tors, and  is  published  by  Chas.  W.  Blew,  Jackson- 
ville, Florida,  at  ^3  a  year. 

The  Sanitarian  :  The  February  number  of  this 
admirable  exponent  of  sanitary  science  comes  to  our 
table  heavily  freighted  with  good  things.  The  lead- 
ing paper  is  on  the  "  Effect  of  Loss  of  Consciousness 
upon  the  Memory  of  Preceding  Events,"  by  Prof.  F. 
H.  Hamilton,  M.  D.  Articles  from  able  pens  on  the 
"  Perils  of  Massing  of  Population  in  Cities,"  "  The 
Health  of  New  York,"  "  Pulmonary  Consumption  in 
Cities,"  "  Infant  Diet,"  "  A  City  of  Health,"  "Sewer 
Gas  Poisoning,"  "  Education  in  the  United  States," 
etc.,  help  to  make  up  an  unusually  rich  table  of  con- 
tents. This  journal  was  recently  incorporated  with 
the  Jtledico- Legal  /oio'na!,  and  is  published  by  Messrs. 
McDivitt,  Campbell  &  Co.,  the  eminent  law  and  med- 
ical book  publishers.  Dr.  Bell  still  remaining  in  the 
editorial  charge.  §3  a  year.  Everybody  interested 
in  sanitary  affairs  should  be  a  subscriber. 

Notes  on  the  Yucca  Borer  :  This  is  a  beautifully 
printed  pamphlet,  containing  notes  on  the  Yucca 
Borer,  (Jfegathijmus  Yucca)  by  Prof.  Charles  V. 
Riley,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  which  were  furnished  by  him 
for  the  Transactions  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  of 
St.  Louis,  (Vol.  ill,  January,  1876).  The  subject  is 
an  interesting  one,  from  both  a  scientific  and  practi- 
cal point  of  view,  because  the  Yuccas — .\loes  or  alli- 
ed to  them — with  their  spined  or  threaded  fleshy  leaves, 
are  becoming  every  year  more  popular  as  ornamental 
garden  and  conservatory  plants;  and  no  doubt  those 
having  sickly  or  stunned  plants,  would  be  surprised  to 
find  a  borer  excavating  the  stems  and  roots,  almost 
their  entire  length,  which,  when  it  attains  its  full 
size,  is  nearly  four  inches  long,  almost  as  large  as 
the  common  tobacco  worm — and  an  inch  and  a  half 
in  circumference.  We  fully  endorse  the  quotation 
from  Westwood,  namely,  that  "  He  who,  by  a  min- 
ute analysis  of  any  animal,  enables  to  solve  any  du- 
bious point  connected  therewith,  does  more  for  the 
elucidation  of  this  much  abused  natural  system  than 
the  greatest  and  most  ingenious  theorist  who  has  yet 
taken  the  subject  in  hand,"  and  we  know  no  one  who 
has  more  fully  succeeded  in  undertakings  of  this 
kind,  than  Prof.  Riley. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


ni. 


500,000  GRAPE-VINES 

CFTKAPF.R  than  anywhere  elHr,  Concord— 1  year,  $25 
for  1,000;  extni,  $40;  2  ye^re,  and  extra  spleot  1  year, 
$45  jier  ],000.  Xo  on<»  4lnr««  iiiKlorMoll  ni<».  Dela- 
ware. Martlia,  lorui,  Diana,  Kiniieliui,  Norton,  Herbeniont, 
Cutuwba,  (.'rutim,  Hartford,  and  all  other  varieCieH,  cheaper 
than  anywhere.  AIho  all  HUiall  Iriiit  j^lantH.  Addrt-t^H 
S-2-2m  Dii.  H.  SClIIiiHHat,   KiAMiMiNiiTON,  III. 


are  the  best  the  world  producer.  They  are  jilanted  by  a 
million  people  in  Anierici,  and  the  rcHtilt  in  heanlifnl 
Flowers  and  Hjilcndid  Vi-Ketables.  A  Priced  Catalogue  pent 
free  to  all  who  inclose  the  jiostage — a  2  cent  nt.aniii. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide,  (^imrterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  iHS  cents;  with 
cloth  eoverw.  (if*  centR. 

Addrt-sB,  JAMF.S  VICK.  Rochesfer,  N.  Y. 

The  Great  Agricultural  Wonder, 

BF.lNCi    THE 

HULLESS  OATS, 

Which  can  be  olitnin^d  of 

N.   S.  FISHER, 

At  Leesport  P.  0.,    Berks  County,  Pa., 

A8   FOLLOWS  : 

1  ponnci 50ct9».  I    H  ponndK l^   3.50 

16        "•        »  <i.50  I  32        "  la.OO 

It  is  claimed  that  it  will  yield  as  many  measured  bushels 
as  any  other  variety,  while  it  weit;h8  36  jiounds  to  *he 
bushel,  and  ripens  two  weeks  earlier  than  common  oats, 
thereby  escajdng  the  rusty  season  of  oats, 

Bgf-\Vrite  for  circulars.  S-1.4t 


THE  ATLANTIC  MONTHLY. 

The  Leading  Literary   Magazine  of  America. 

Devoted  to  Literature,  Seienee,  Art  ami  Politics. 

Tlie  corps  of  writers  includes  the  foremost  names  in 
American  Literature:  Longfellow,  Lowell,  Bryant,  ^Vhit- 
tier,  Holmes,  Bayard  Taylor,  Howells,  Aldrich,  Warner, 
Mrs,  Kimble,  Mark  Twain,  and  otJiers. 


The  XJ.  S.  Official  Postal  Guide. 

Bcvised  and  Published  Quartfrhj  hi/  authority  of  the  Pout 
OJI'trc  Ocpartinent. 

Containing  nn  AIphMbctical  List  of  Post  Offices  in  the 
TJuited  States,  with  County,  State,  and  Salary ;  Money- 
Order  OtUcitf,  Domestic  ami  International ;  Chief  Regula- 
tions of  the  Post  Office  Department ;  Instructions  to  the 
Public ;  Foreign  and  Domestic  Postage  Tables,  and  other 
valuable  Information. 


The  American  Law  Times  and  Reports. 

A  monthly  periodical  which  gives  Lcaditu)  Cnacs  in  ad- 
vance of  regidar  publication,  and  a  ViijeM  of  alt  Cawx  re- 
ported in  contemporary  American  legal  perioiUcala.  Edited 
by  Rowland  Cox. 


THE  BOSTON 

Medical  and  Surgical  Journal. 

EKtaUuihed  I8i8.— Published  Weekly. 

With  one  exception   the  oldest  Medical  Journal  in  the 
United  States,  and  second  to  none  in  character  and  standing. 


The  American  Naturalist. 

A  Pojiular  Tllusfrated  Monthly  ^I;ig;izine  of  N:itur:tl  His- 
tory and  Travel.  Among  the  ccntriliutors  are  Profs.  Gray, 
Whitney,  shaler,  Farlow,  and  tioodale,  of  Harvard;  Profs. 
Marsh,  Verrili,  and  Smith,  of  Yale,  ami  others. 

SiibNcription  Kaleti. 

Atlantic  Monthly t*  0« 

Atlantic  Monthly,  irjV/i  li/e-sizc portrait  o/ Lotwi/cIIqw . .  5  (H) 

U.  S.  Official  Postal  (iuide 160 

U.S.  Official  Postal  Guide.    Sinijte  nmnbcrv 50 

American  haw  Times  and  Reports 6  00 

Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal 5  Do 

American  Naturahst 4  00 

'^'Postage  prepaid  by  the  Pnblishers. 

Itemittances  should  bo  sent  wilh  eacli  order  and  be  made 
by  draft  or  money-order,  on  New  \ork  or  Boston,  or  regis- 
tered letter  to  H.  O.  HOl'OHTON  &  CO.,  lUvrrMf  I'rtMl, 
Camhriiliie,  MnnM.  .S-l-3t 

HOKSE-BILLS 
PLAIN  OH  IN    FANCY    COLORS, 
Printed  in  the  Beist  Style  at  the  office  of 

THE  FAKMElt. 


s:Siii''«''*»5X''.ti''' 


A  country  c<litnr,  in  his  llnaiiciul  urtlcle,  says — 
"  .Money  is  clow,  Imt  not  cldBO  ('non:;h  lo  reiicli." 

"  Xow  is  llie  time  tn  t;et  up  clulis,"  remarkeil  an 
editor  the  otlier  ilay  as  In:  was  attaclieil  by  a  dot;. 

An  Iowa  (>ditor  recently  announced  tliat  a  certain 
patron  of  liis  was  "thieving,  as  usual."  It  was  writ- 
ten tliriviiiir. 

A  MKTHOI1I9T  niiin'stcr  licinc  recently  asked  if  ho 
had  luovcil  to  his  new  appoiiitinent,  saiti,  '*  Yes,  but 
it  was  a  ilisappoinlinent." 

A  voi'Mi  lady  licinir  asked  by  a  rich  bachelor,  "  If 
not  yourself,  who  would  you  rather  be?"  replied, 
Bweelly  and  nn)destly,  "  Yours  truly." 

"  Wii.i.  you  please  insert  tills  obituary  notice?" 
asked  an  old  (jentleinan  of  a  country  editor.  "1  make 
bold  to  ask,  ticcause  I  know  the  deceased  has  a  (Treat 
many  Irieiids  about  here  who'd  be  glad  to  hear  of 
his  lieatli." 

Ill  a  recently  published  p;azeltecr  is  the  following 
erratum  :  "  t'or  *  I>ulehinan  '  read  *  Dr.  .Atlains.'  " 
This  is  almost  cfpial  to  the  well  known  erratum  in  a 
country  paper,  "  l'"or  '  aluin  water  '  read  '  alma  ma- 
ter.'" 

.JtiST  before  niarryim;  an  olil  man  for  his  money,  a 
Louisville  jrirl  ealletl  her  father  asiile,  and,  throwincr 
herself  on  his  neck,  exehiimed,  amid  smilesand  tears: 
"Ohjfatlicr!  Y'our  poor,  miserable  daughter  will 
have  a  new  bonnet  every  week." 

ChinesI':  version  of  "the  little  busy  bee:" 
How  belly  small  chin-chin  sting  bug 

Im-ini-plove  ebly  sixty  minnit  all  the  time. 
Go,  pickee  up  sting-bug  .juice  all  day. 

All  kin' places  'loun  tlowels  jest  got  busted. 

The  country  storekeeper  said  :  "  Here,  my  friend, 
those  balls  of  butter  1  boui;ht  of  you  last  week  all 
proved  to  be  just  three  ounces  short  of  a  pound." 
And  the  farmer  innocently  answered  :  "Well,  I  don't 
see  how  that  could  be,  for  I  used  one  of  your  '  pound 
bars'  of  soap  for  a  weight." 

A  South  Boston  lady  was  recently  interrocated  by 
a  Bcuetlict  as  to  why  she  did  not  i^et  married.  She 
replied  :  "  I  prefer  to  be  an  old  in.aid."  lie  said  he 
did  not  believe  it,  as  he  felt  sure  she  envied  his  wife. 
"  Oh,  no  !  that  would  be  breaking  the  commandment 
— thou  shall  not  covet  thy  neighbor's  ass." 

Recently,  as  a  negro  was  painting  his  house  on 
Watson  strei^t,  and  was  nearly  the  top  of  a  long  lad- 
der, his  wife  came  out  and  called  to  him  to  come 
down.  .Just  at  the  moment  a  rung  broke  and  the 
man  came  down  on  his  head,  jumped  up  and  said  : 
"  Well,  honey,  go  on  wid  your  remarks." 

Obitu.iht  of  the  Cincinnatifighting  jackass,  by  G. 
Washington  Cliilds,  A.  M.: 

A  lioness  from  Lybia's  desert  waste. 
With  ratthng  heels  he  boldly  dared  to  paste. 
.She  scratched  him  and  the  scratches  mortified  : 
In  seventeen  weeks  the  little  jackass  died. 
Gone  to  meet  Sergeant  Bates. 

An  e.xchanc.e  gives  a  catalogue  of  Nevada's  con- 
tributions to  the  Centennial,  which  will  consist  of  "a 
white  fox,  a  black  eagle,  a  blue  mule,  a  thousand- 
pound  lump  of  brimstone,  and  a  baby  that  doesn't 
like  candy."  If  the  other  States  of  the  Union  will 
do  but  half  as  well,  the  exhibition  will  be  well  worth 
going  several  miles  to  see. 

Dr.  Allen,  of  Philadelphia,  was  preaching  one  day 
in  Tennessee  to  the  frecdmen,  when  an  oUl  colored 
brother  came  to  him  after  the  sernion  ami  said:  "  I 
like  to  hear  you  preach,  for  I  understand  your  preach- 
ing." "I  am  vei'y  gUid  of  it,"  replied  the  doctor. 
"Yes,"  he  said,  "I  understand  you  jes  as  well  a?  if 
you  were  a  nigger."  Dr.  Allen  acknowledged  the 
compliment. 

Mu.  Cox,  in  his  capital  articles  on  Congressional 
humor,  in  Ifat'per^  .iluf/uzliif,  omits  the  best  things 
which  iiave  been  said  wjiile  he  has  been  a  Kepresent- 
ative,  his  modesty  preventing  his  rcpcalins;  Ids  own 
b<m  tiiots.  Oni:  of  these  was  when  the  headers  off 
when  the  roll  was  called  were  Messrs  Oaks  Ames  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Andier  of  .Maryland.  The  ayes 
and  noes  were  called  on  a  railroad  laml  grab  bill,  and 
Archer,  in  his  indignant  haste  to  vole  no,  first  re- 
siionded  to  the  name  of  Ames,  and  then  to  his  own. 
This  duplicate  "  No  !"  was  greeted  with  a  shout  of 
laughter,  and  as  it  subsided,  Cox  sprang  lo  his  feet — 
struck  a  stage  attitude — and  exclaimed  in  a  mournful 
tone:  "Insatiate  Archer!  would  not  oiieeufllce?" 
— "  Perley  "  »;..  Bonton  Journal. 

A  wniTEK  in  the  Eibicalioiial  Monthly  says  that  if 
a  thin  section  of  coal  be  uiacerated  in  a  solution  of 
saleralus,  and  afterwards  washed  and  submitted  to 
the  action  of  nitric  acid,  to  remove  mineral  impuri- 
ties, the  inieroseope  will  show  that  it  is  made  up  of 
vegetable  cells.  They  usually  show  no  siirn  of  struc- 
ture, but  occasionally  fragments  of  old  logs  have 
been  found.  The  change  from  wood  to  coal,  in  some 
instances,  is  not  complete,  as  woody  fibre  lias  been 
detected  by  the  iodine  test. 


S  5 

5  z 
e"  r. 


>TOViATic  I 


»  3 

r  2 


5   9 

•    m 


A  Family  Knitting  Macliine. 

Now  attracMiiK  nnivt-rHnl  atli'ulloti  by  Itti  aitlor  tntitnif  jrer- 
forTniiiicrH  and  iIm  Krr;it  praclle;il  vahiefor  cverj'-tlay  fuinll/ 
UHO.  It  knlt.H  every  jioHHible  vjtrl<-ly  of  platii  ur  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  jfiveM  in-rfcet  Kliaiic  and  finlKb  l<»   all    t(armeut(i.      It  will 

knit  a  pair  of  took«   in  fifteen   minuletl       Kvery   macblun 

W  A KK A >i'ri-:i>  lit  rfiet.  uM  t„il.,juj,t  what  U  rrprejtentfd. 

A  crtinplele  iiiHtriH'tioii  Uxtk  urrutn|>aiile«  caeli  tnuehliiP. 

Nn.  \  Family  Machtiic.  1  cylinder,  72  ni«edlwi,  $30. 

No.  3      "  -'2        "     VI  k  100     "         40. 

A  namplf  nuuhiw  will  be  Rent  to  auy  part  of  the  UnllM 

Stad'fl  or  Canada,  (wliere  we  have  no  BRenl)  rxpre-M  rharges 

prepaid,  n!i  receijit  of  the  prlee. 

AoKNTM  wanted  iii  every  Htate,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  very  lilmral  dlRcountN  will  he  mTtde.     Addrt-wi, 
lUCKFOUI)  KNITTIMO  M.M'lIlNK  MlO.  CO., 
T-n-tf]  8rile  Mrmiifaetiireni,  Rrnf  tloboro.  Vt. 


260 
PAPERS 

—AND— 

MAGAZINES 

SENT 


AT  IM\%    (XC  It  KATFS 


To    siii^'lc 
past-olliri*. 


subsrrilK_*rs   at    any 

Soinl  at    once    for 

FHEI-:  cinnlar   l»off»re    onJering 

ymir  i)ai)ors  for  l.s7(i. 

X>.  UK.  KIRBT". 

HARTWICK  SEM..  OTStGO  CO..  NEW  YORK. 


I  have  founded  my  IfiiHiiK  ><^  oil  itit  htlicf  that  tlie  pabllo 
are  anxiouw  to  get  their  seed  dirertii/  frimi  the  fjroiper,  and  I 
therefore  ofTor  kkee  to  every  man  and  woman  in  (he  ttnited 
States  who  cultivates  a  farm,  title  a  vetfelable  Kar<leD,  or 
plantn  a  flower  garden,  my  large  Illuf*trated  Catalogue  of 
Vegetable  and  Flower  Seeds  for  1876;  it  ojutains,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  ehoiceBt  kinds  produced  in  Europe,  one  humired 
and  fifty  varietiejt  of  refjetnble  i*eed  ijroirn  "n  vty/our^ed 
farnin.  'CuHtoraer«  of  last  »oawm  uov!\  not  write  for  ii.  Aa 
the  original  introducer  of  the  Hubbard,  Marbtetiead  and 
Butmau  SquaeheB,  Phinney's  Melon,  Ibe  Marblebettd  Cab- 
bages, and  a  score  of  other  new  vegetables.  I  suilcil  your 
patronage.  All  seetl  sold  under  three  wurranls.  A  Imudred 
thousand  catalogues  will  be  Issued  and  sent  out  Ibe  flntt  of 
Jauuary. 
"-U-5]  JAMES  J.  H.  OllECOUY.  Marbl.hwid.  Mass. 

ROOT'S 

Qarden  JVfanual 

Is  filled  with  topics  of  interest  to  every  owiicr  of  a  gard'-n  — 
is  PtilNTED.  rUACTICAl,  and  THOKOt'fiH,  and  contains 
one-half  as  much  as  $1.S0  l»ookH  on  the  subject.  OAKDEN- 
KKS  throughout  the  country  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  methods  as  invaluable  to  them. 

CJr~Sont  for  10  cents,  which  will  l>e  allowed  on  the  first 
order  for  seoda.      Address, 

J.  B.  ROOT,  N<-ed  CJrow«^r, 

noiKFOItl).  Illinois. 

GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  AU  KINDS  Of 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12m  1.ANCASTEK,   PA. 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[February,  1876. 


We  call  jitteiitioii  to  our  immense  Stock  (GOO  acres  )  uf 
Friiil  Troos,  Standard  and  Dwarf. 
Kinall  I'riiilN.  Grapes,  Currants,  Raspberries,  &c. 
Ornaiiioiital  TreeN  nnd    Slirubs,  deciduous   aud 

evergreen. 
Rose**  a  specialty — all  the  finest  sorts. 
Cireen  aii<l  Hot  House  Plaiiitn,  including  best  nov- 
elties.    Small  jareels  forwarded  l»y  mail  when  desired. 
Prompt  attention  given  to  all  ordeisand  inquiries. 
Descriptive  and  Illustrated  priced  Ca,talogues  sent  prepaid 

on  receipt  of  stamps,  as  follows  : 
No.  1.  Fruits  (new  ed.,  with  col'd  plate)  i.^  cts. 
No.  2.  Ornamental  Trees,  with  col'd  plate  of  Roses,  2.'>c. 
No.  3.  Greenhouse,  Free.  No,  4.  Wholesale,  Free. 

No.  .'>.  lAtit  of  XeV  RosoN  for  isTfi,  Free. 
Nob.  1  aud  2— Neatly  bound  together,  forming  an  interest- 
ing aud  valuable  Ijook  for  refei-euce. 
Address,  50  cts.  by  mail,  i^ost  paid, 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,  Rochester,  NY. 


GOOD  »iKEnS,  GROWN  WITH    CARE,   FROM   SE- 
lected  Stocks,  always -pay.  Try  uiiue.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Gosheu,  N.  Y. 


FERTILIZERS! 

CHEAPEST  AND  BEST! 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  aro  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  gruwth  of  special  crops.  Qui-  formula  have  prover,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  onr  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  atrength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
.Ground  Boues, 
Land  Plaster, 
Sulphate  FotaBbj 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA, 


Established  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  iu  1793. 


[8-2-     m 


I  OFFER  A   LARGE  STOCK  OF 

AITLE  TREES,  APRICOTS, 

Irish  Junipers,  Gooseberries, 


Trees! 


AND    A    GENERAL   ASSORTMENT   OF 

FRUIT  TREES 

AND 

ElYlEIRIGIRiEiEiNlS. 

irF~Letter8  will  be  answered  in   English,  German  and 
French.  Address 

CiEOllOE  ACHEMS, 
8-2-2m]  West  <  heater.  Pa. 

'^THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

5U0  farmers'  write  for  it.  ' 

60  farmers'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulates  in  3G  States.- 

Circulates  in  6  Territories. 

Circulates  iu  Canada. 

64  columus  every  week. 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Kept  on  file  iu  1,200  Granges. 

Read  weekly  by  over  100,000  people. 

Only  otficial  organ  of  five  State  Granges, 

Market  reports  Irom  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experieuce  by  practical  farmers. 

Croj)  reports  printed  weekly. 

No  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  a  year;  or  1.25 in  clubs  of  8 or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

12>;  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  8  or  over,  10)<r  cents  a  month. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

National  Grange  officers  write  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  every  State, 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  aud  say, 

*'  Just  what  we  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  three  cents,  sent  dii-ectly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  S  ates. 

Address,  THOMAS  &  BETVIMING, 

7-12-S  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. 


^W.  ^TLETil  BURPEE, 

TlVrPORXER,   UREJEJ^EFl  ^ND  SIIIFt>KR,  OF 

IMPROVEDLIVE  STOCK. 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  AND  WATER  FOWLS— Eicd  variety  bred  on  a  separate  farm.  LEGHORNS—Browu,  White, 
Blaci  and  Doimniiiuf'  of  my  celebrated  siraiiia  a  sijeoiaUy.  Also,  ail  unsurpassed  and  large  collection  of  WATER  FOWLS 
AND  TURKEYS.  Asiatics,  Hamburgs,  Dorkings,  P.  Roclis,  Am.  Domiuiques,  Hoiidaiis  and  Bantams.  My  fowls  are  all 
HIGH  CLASS,  aud  bred  witU  great  care.    My  breeding  peas  contain  extra  flue  imviorted  aud  prize  birds. 


CHESTER  WHITE  SWINE  A  SPECIALTY. 


Sto.k  of  all  ages  bred  from  the  best  Preiuiuiu  Stock,  and  warranted  strictly  pure  and  choice,  for  sale  at  moderate 
prices.     Also  lmi)orted  Berk.sllires.     Jersey  Cattle,  Southdown  and   Cotswold  Siieep.      DOGS-Setter,  Shepherd     Beagle 
Hound,  Skye  aud  Black-aud-tan  J]erriei-s.     Only  a  limited  stock  of  e?cil,  consisting  of  the  fluest  imported  specimens,  with 
" '    "      English  Ferrets. 


full  pedigrees.    Lop-Kared  aud  Himalayan  Rabbits. 


FANCY  PIGEONS,  ALL  VARIETIES, 

Tlie  Pipon  Loft:  How  to  FQruisli  M  Maiiap  It. 

Our  now  illnstratetl  book  on  jiigeons.     Plain,  concise,  orisrinal  and 
invaluable.     It  f^ives  many  new  facts  not  to  be  found 
elsewhere,  and  is  worth  dollars  to  any  breed- 
er.    Price,  only  50c.  postpaitl. 

irs^Elegant  illustrated  catalogues  of  stock,  giviug  descriptions  and  illustrations 
of  fowls  and  pigeons,  postpaid,  10  cents. 


Circulars  free. 


Address, 


W.  ATLEE  BURPEE,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


$125.00  in  CASH  PRMIUMS. 


For  particulars  see  my  Illustrated  Catalogue  for  1S7G,  con- 
"tainiiig  all  the  new  aud  Ijest  varieties  of  fresh,  true  and  re- 
liable Garden  Seeds,  carefully  grown  from  tine  selected 
stocks,  and  the  largest  and  best  collection  of  Choice  Seed 
Potatoes  f-ver  offered.  Sent  free  to  all  applicants.  Do  not 
fail  to  see  it. 

J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS, 

GOSHEN,  N.  Y. 


J.  STAUFFER, 

tmm  It  ^mm, 

LANCASTER,  i'ENN'A, 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  COPYRIGHTS, 
promptly  attended  to.  His  experieuce,  success  a'd  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  eugage  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistant at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
or  description.  (7-4-tf 


THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA.. 

Breeder  hikI  8Iixp|>er  of 

GUERNSEY  ISSIBDTKR  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


FOR  FRUIT 

And  Ornament. 
500  ACBES  OF  TUBES 

At  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

Pear,  Apples,  (Cherries,  Quinces. 

Peaches,  Plums  and  Small  Fruits. 

New  and  Raie  Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrubs. 

Evergreens,  large  quunlities,  large  variety,  cheap. 

Cut-leaved  Biich,  Purple  Beech,  Weeping  Trees. 

«'S.F.IIIATIK  JA<'K.HANXI.— Hardy  and  Perpetual, 
blooms  profuselv  uutil  frozen  up. 

l»K«l'ETrAL,  WlfllTK  ri^EMATIS.— 15  Sorts. 
We  have  over  71)  vaiieties  of  Clematis,  iu  many  shades  of 
color,  from  dark  rich  purple  to  pure  white — strong  plants, 
safely  sent  by  mail. 

KOKKS.  ifloMH.  Ten,  C'liinbiiig-nnd  Perpetual. 

Small  Packages  sent  s.ifely  by  Mail  and  Exjiress. 
ffS^Catalogues  free.     Address 
T.  r.  MAXMJEE.1>  A  KROS.,  Cieneva,  N.  Y. 


rr7^= 


fiOV^Ei'^'YEGETABLE 


\^ 


@Z45iE)BSa^| 


is  the  most  beautiful  woik  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  150  pages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrations,  and 
four  Chroma  Plates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  centfl 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  Gruicle.  Quarterly,  26  cents  a  year. 

Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


LIMilB  lOE  lAEMlES. 

NO  MIDDLE-MEN. 

We  have  a  large  stock  of  Lumber,  aud  ono  of  the  most 
extensive  Sash  and  Door  Factorins  in  the  State,  and  we  are 
prepared  to  furnish  HoiiNe  and  Itarii  Bills  complete. 

All  kinds  of  Manufactured  Fencing,  &o.,  making  a  sjieci- 
alty  of  supplying  the  agricultural  community.  We  will 
make  prices  delivered  to  any  Railroad  Station.  All  our 
material  ^iini*antoe<l  as  represented.  All  manufactured 
work  kihi-dried  and  warrautetl  not  to  shrink.  All  inquiries 
cheerfully  auswered. 

One  of  the  firm  cau  be  seen  at  the  PVankHn  House,  North 
Queen  Street,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  ou  Monday  of  each  week. 


7-4-12mJ 


KENDIG,  BRICKER  &  LAUMAN, 

Middletown   Dauphin  cc.  Pa. 


$-\    Q    "VtiQio     (To  Bubecriberg  in 
1    d      I   Cdl      ^       the  comity. 


/irBclianics  Sooieij     j;in77 

SINGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS.  ro,ub«riu.r,outof  t   <t-|  or 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTEH,  MAMCH  15,  1876. 


PEAE30L  ic  CEIST,  Fublishers. 


■THE   LITTLE   BUSY    BEE.' 


Organization    of     a    Bee-keepers'    Society-  A 
New  Interest  to  Be  Protected  and  Cultiva- 
ted.— Interesting  Discussion,  &c. 

The  first  imctiiii;  dI'  tlie  Luik-ukUt  t'ouiily  Bce- 
Kecpcre'  Soi'ifty  wat  lu'kl  in  this  city  on  Moiuluy, 
March  IMth.  AiKirfraiiizalion  \va.>i  ctlcctoii  liy  olcctiiij; 
Peter  S.  Kcist,  of  .Manhcini,  Trcsiiieiit ;  J.  F.  Ilcrehcy , 
of -Mount  .Joy,  Vice-President;  and  A-  B.  Horr,  of 
West  IK'inpticld,  Secretary. 

Tlic  following  members  were  jircscnt :  II.  B.  Niss- 
ley,  D.  II.  Lintiier,  .Jolin  Ihiber,  Elias  Hershey,  John 
KeppcrlinT,  A.  H.  Shock,  .J.  F.  Plcrshoy,  Peter  S. 
Reist,  S.  U.  (iarber,  .Tod  Fisher,  A.  B.  Ilerr,  and 
Leonard  Flickenslcin.  The  above  f^entlemen  repre- 
sented l,:iUO  hives. 

The  first  subject  discussed  was,  "  Will  Bee-keeping 
pay?" 

J.  F.  Heuriiet  thoiiirht  it  did.  He  realized  100 
per  cent .  out  of  the  money  he  had  invested  in  bees. 
During  the  past  few  years  lie  had  sold  over  ?(!00 
worth  of  honey  and  queen  bees. 

Peteu  S.  Keist  believed  that  if  hee-keepiuij^  was 
understood  thorouj^ldy  it  would  pay  better  than  most 
any  otlicr  kind  of  business.  If  only  50  per  cent,  on 
the  amount  invested  would  be  made,  it  would  be 
paying  well . 

Messrs.  S.  (i.  Gakbeh,  Em.vs  Heushey  and 
Leoxaiu)  Fmckensteijj  also  spoke  in  favor  of  bee 
raising,  and  said  they  were  well  paid  for  the  interest 
taken  in  the  matter. 

"  Which  is  the  best,  the  Italian  or  the  Black  bee?" 
was  the  next  question. 

Eli.vs  Hekshev  favored  the  Italian  Beeon  aecotmt 
of  its  swarming  and  honey-making  qualities. 

.1.  F.  Hersiiev  preferred  the  Italian  Bee  on  account 
of  its  protecting  the  hives  from  moth.  Crossed  bees 
were  the  best  for  making  honey. 

Leonard  Fi.ickexstkin  had  a  colony  of  black 
bees  that  made  more  honey  than  the  Italian,  but  he 
preferred  the  latter  on  account  of  their  many  other 
good  qualities. 

The  next  question  was,  "  Do  Bees  Injure  Fruit  ?" 

J.  F.  IlEiisnEY  said  the  bees  are  blamed  for  iiyur- 
ing  grapes.  They  never  touch  a  grape  unless  it  is 
already  partly  destroyed  by  a  wasp  or  other  insect. 
He  had  as  high  as  fifty  swarms  in  his  orchard  at  a 
time  and  never  noticed  any  diminution  or  destruction 
of  his  apples.  His  clover  crop  was  benefited  very 
much  by  the  presence  of  the  bees. 

D.  H.  Lintner  had  often  heard  of  bees  destroying 
grai>e8,  but  after  a  series  of  experiments  he  found  that 
it  was  not  so. 

Peter  S.  Keist  was  of  the  opinion  that  bees  were 
a  great  lienefit  to  flowers,  as  they  carried  the  pollen 
of  one  flower  to  that  of  the  other.  The  bee  brcadJ 
which  they  carry  with  them  is  also  beneficial  to  the 
flowers. 

"How  long  can  a  brood  remain  exposed  without 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


EDITORIAL  ARTICLES:  r'A<:E. 

To  our  t'oiitribntors,       -        -        -        -         -   Xi 
Artichokes,  ------        ;w 

Queries  and  .\nswers,     -        -        •        .  -    .'J4 

The  Century  Weather  lieport,    -         .         -  :t4 

The  Potato  Enemii'S, S4 

A  fiood  Investment,    -----  .".5 

Ancient  (iarilcning,         -         .         -         -  _    ;;,'-, 

To  ICcej.  Apiilcs  Desirable,          -         -         .  :j9 

Linseed  Oil  lor  fii-alc  liiKccIs,          -         -  -    41 
ORIGINAL   COMMUNICATIONS: 

Light  Brahmas.     Illustrated,         -        -  H.") 
W    A'loiBiKice. 

The  Potato  Enemies,        -        -        .        .    ;ic, 
Up;itl  beioretbf  \\\-Hi  (.irove  Experimeutiil  Furiii 
Club  l.y  Dr.  MiclieiRT. 

Bay    Windows    for   Winter     Flowers. 

Eden,  - :i7 

Humming  Birds,  (Concluded),       -        -    :i7 

Fiiiiik  11.  Difrendciffer. 

Apples  and  their  Varieties,  -        -        38 

Levi  .S.  Ileise 

Home  that  is  Home,  -        -        -        -    :i9 

Millou  B.  Eslileiuau. 

DifTerent  Modes  of  Pruning,         -        -        ,39 

Hertieela. 

The  Dairy.     No.  2.     II.  M.  Engine,  -    40 

Selection  of  Seed  Corn,  -  40 

-Jiieob  IJ,  (Tiirber. 

Potato  Culture.     I).  K.Hekk,  -        -        -  40 

The  Neglected  Hollyhock.  .J.Stauffer,  41 

"  \/Vhat  Kind  of  Oil  ?"     A.B.  K.,     -        -  41 

Transplanting  Trees,  -        -        -  41 

How  to  Raise  Oats  Cheaply,  -        -        -  41 

Rural  Improvements.     Walter  Elder,  42 

Our  Paris  Letter, 43 

Failure  of  tlie  BePt  Crop  in  France — Practical 
Lectures  on  F.irm  Auimuls — Fertillzere  and 
Cultivation — Tbe  Horses  of  HuuKary — HofllJ- 
tals  for  Horses,  Cattle  and  I*iKs~.MiscelliiiiBOU8. 

Lancaster  County  Farmers  in  Council,         -    42 

Proceedings  of  the  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Society — Diecussion  on  Forest  TreeB,  llaiufall, 
Huugariau  Grass— An  Essay  on  Hints  to  Far- 
mers. (C.  L.  Hunsei'ker.) 

The  Experimental  Farm  Club,       -        -        -    44 

Profits  of  liaising  (.'orn  in  CheslerCouiity — Dairy 
House  Ventilation — Bee-Keeping  for  Farmers — 
Questions  and  .Vnswers. 

Domestic  Economy,  -        -        -        -        -    445 

A  Iteturn  to  Kconomy— Farmers  Sons  and  Paiigh- 
fers  inUBt  Work — How  Butter  ia  Tainted — 
Di^ed  Potatoes — Slovenly  Women — Milk  Traus- 
inA  Infecti(ui — How  to  use  Corn  Slarcli — 
Household  Recipes. 

GENERAL  MISCELLANY,        -        -        -    47 

The    Agricultural    Horse — .applying   Manures — 
I  Small  Fruit  on  the  Farm — i*oints  of  a  .Jersey — 

I  The  Ree-Ke?j>ing  Industr.\ — A    Large    Poultry 

Yard — How  to  get  Kggs  In  Winter — .Small  Pota- 
toes for  Seed — Care  of  Lambs — Correctives  in 
Feeding  Poultry — A  Profitable  Experiment. 

The  Slaughter  of  the  Birds,    -        -        -        -    .f.5 

Borrowed  Plumes,         -----        4,5 

LITERARY  AND  PERSONAL,         -        -    4S 

Hooks  and  PeriodieaU. 

Our  Fence  Corners,     -----     ii,  iii 
Fact  and  Fancy,  Wit  and  Humor. 


being  covered  by  the  bees  and  still  be  used  for  queen 
raising?"  was  the  next  question  Introduced. 

Lkonaku  Fi.ickenptein  had  a  pieeeof  comb  lying 
expfised  to  a  damp,  chilly  air  for  twenty-four  hours, 
from  which  he  raiseil  a  prolific  queen.  He  did  not 
know  whether  the  comb  eontalned  any  ecgs  or  not. 

J.  F.  Hkrshey  knew  of  combs  with  e^'g  belni; 
shipped  by  mail  ami  kept  for  five  days,  from  which 
young  queens  were  hatched..  If  a  brood  is  over  five 
<lays  old  a  queen  cannot  be  raised.  Some  have  Imm^d 
raise<l,  but  they  are  not  iH-rfeet. 

The  question,  "  What  is  the  reason  that  a  qucenV 
stiniriscurvedanda  worker  bee's  sting  is  straight,  and 
yet  hatched  from  the  same  kind  of  an  egg?"  was  be- 
lieved to  have  been  made  so  by  nature,  In  order  to  at- 
tack its  rivals. 
"  Why  is  a  Fertile  Worker  Produced  and  How  f" 
D.  H.LiNTNt.K  believed  it  was  [iroduced  to  take 
the  place  of  a  queen.  It  lays  eggs  the  same  as  a  queen, 
sometimes  as  high  as  three  to  a  cell,  but  they  are  i>er- 
fectly  worthless.  They  would  not  hatch, and  If  aqueen 
would  be  placed  in  Ihe  saiiu>  hive  with  them  they 
woidd  kill  it.  The  only  way  to  save  the  queens,  in 
this  respect,  is  to  banish  Ihe  fertile  workers  or  trans- 
fer them  10  another  hive.  He  could  not  t«ll  how  a 
fertile  worker  was  produced. 

J.  F.  Hershkv  said  the  fertile  workerg  prtwluced 
nothing  hut  drones. 

The  last  question  brought  before  the  Society  wag, 
"  Which  is  the  Belter  Plan,  Natural  or  Artificial 
Swarming?" 

J.  F.  Hekshev  preferred  the  artificial  way.  When 
a  natural  hive  swarms  it  generally  takes  seventeen 
days  before  the  hive  is  got  in  gmwl  workinir  condition. 
In  the  artificial  way,  a  queen  can  be  placed  In  the 
hive  at  once  and  thus  save  all  this  time.  You  can 
swarm  three  times  by  the  artificial  way  where  you 
can  swarm  twice  in  the  natural  way.  When  swarm- 
ing in  the  artificial  way,  the  lices  should  have  as 
much  honey  in  the  hive  as  when  they  go  Into 
winter  quarters. 

Peter  S.  Keist  was  of  the  opinion  that  natural 
swarming  was  the  best  if  you  had  a  prolific  queen  In 
Ihe  proper  place.  Arlifieial  swarming  sliouhl  be 
thoroughly  understood  before  it  isaltempted.  Thous- 
ands of  Im'CS  are  killed  annually  by  this  neglect.  If 
it  were  not  for  arlifieial  swarming  he  would  not  have 
near  so  many  bees  as  he  has  now. 

LEONARn  Fi.irKENSTEfN  and  .Iacoo  Keperlfno 
also  favored  artificial  swarming,  and  cited  several 
cxi>eriments  whic-h  they  had  undertaken.  They  both 
believed  thai  a  week  or  ten  days  were  gained  by  arti- 
ficial swarming. 

Tlie  chair  ap|)oinled  .1.  F.  Hershey,  A.  B.  Herrand 
l,eonanl  Flickenstein  as  a  cominlltee  to  prepare  prac- 
tical questions  for  discussion  for  the  next  meeting, 
which  will  beheld  at  Kaiilfinan's  Black  Horse  Hotel, 
this  city,  on  the  second  Monilay  in  May. 

A  general  invitation  is  extended  to  all  persons  inter- 
ested in  bee  culture  to  be  present  at  tbe  next  meeting. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  GET  THE  BEST. 


THl  SILVER  I  DIMING- 

FEED  CUTTER, 


MANUFACTURED    Full 


DII^I^EZFl    <Sc    GrFlOFF", 


DKALEKS    IN 


HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  EAST  KING  ST.,  LANCASTER,  PA., 

Has  beeu  demonstrated  by  cojiijietitive  teats  to  be  THE 
KEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roU 
is  operjited  by  a.  new  nnd  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uiie\en  action  of  othei-  cut- 
ters, while  the  le;'gth  of  cut  c:iu  be  vii'-ied  to  meet  the  waute 
of  the  operator  without  the  lemoval  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  woikmansLip  aie  of  the  veiy  best  class, 
aud  guaranteed  to  givesalisfacliouto  theijuichaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  lor  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  C'bumi'ion  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  we  ha,ve  sold 
with  such  entire  satisf-icrion  to  our  cusiomers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  mniutains  the  lead  of  all  competitois — 
33,761  having  beeu  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1S75 
•J—ind  we  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  incie:sed  demiiud  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  his  nmney. 

DILLEU  &  GEOFF, 

No.  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

7-n-r,ni 


^^ 

''8i^^Vi^]  be 

'd  /'rrti 

.  all  appli- 

L'an  ts.    Thi.s  is 

I  mo  of  the  largest 

rid  most  com  pre)  1  t-n- 

Ciitalogues    pub- 

ished;  contains  about  2.'i0 

■.^es,  over  TiUO  fine  enp;rav- 

,  2  elegant  colored  philes. 

nd    gives    full    descriplions, 

''prices,  and  directions  for  plani- 

''ing  over  1200  varieties  of  Vegolaltle 

rid  Flower  Seeds,   Bedding  Plants. 

''Roses.  &e.,  and  is  invaluable  to  Farmer, 

''Gardener  and  Florists.    Address, 

D.  M.  FERRY  St  CO., 
Seedsmen  and  Plorista,  DETROIT.  Mich. 


7-1:. 


PATENTS 

OBTAINED  BEST  AND  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OF  PATENTS, 

"WasJaiiigtoxi,  D.  C 


t^"Art.lrr'SS  nil  lietters  to  P.  <).  Box  444. 


EVERGREEN  BONE    DUST, 

MANUFACTURKD    IIY 

M.  B,  Eshleman,  at  Leaman  Place, 

Is  guiranteed  Pure  Eaw  Bono,  and  nothing  else. 

Sjieciiil  iiiiius  liikeii  in  preparing  it  lor  fpt'diiiR  liens. 

No.  1.  lor  focflin^.      -      -      S'.I.i'iO  per  hiiiKlrecl. 


No.  3,  for  I:in<l. 


I.7."« 


7-9-fim 


Thih  iiichulee  bags  iind  delivering  on  boiird  cars. 


DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

FAMILY  and    I.INK-BIIKIVINO  COAI.! 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  the 

«-l-12ill]     Yard,  No.  618  NOKTH  PRINCE    STREET. 


"  GO  WORK  UPON  A  FARM." 

Will  .S.  Hays,  tlie  eminent  Soutliern  eonif  writer 
and  composer,  has  published  a  sons:  entitled,  '■  Go 
and  Learn  a  Trade.''  Just  at  this  time,  with  facto- 
ries and  sliojis  elosina:  up,  and  meelianics  begginjf  for 
bread  in  some  sections  of"  the  country,  it  seems  to  me 
that  such  a  sonif  is  quite  out  of  place.  In  view  of  this 
fact,  I  beg  to  ofter  your  readers  the  following  agri- 
cultural song: 

The  song  I  sing  to  you  to-day 

Is  not  to  learn  a  trade  ; 
For  I  am  sad  the  trutli  to  say — 

Tliat  song  aside  is  laid. 
The  mills  are  running  on  half  time, 

The shois give  forth  no  noise. 
And  it  is  hard  to  find  a  dime 
Among  the  'prentice  boys. 
Chobus. — The  song  that  I  sh:.ll  sing  to  you 
Your  tioubled  hearU  will  calm  ; 
If  you  have  nothing  else  to  do — 
' '  Go  work  upon  a  farm." 

Tae  atoi-es  are  filled  with  idle  clerks, 

Because  the  times  are  dull  ; 
And  he  his  duty  plainly  shirks — 
When  Ehops  and  mills  are  tull — 
Who  seeks  to  learu  a  trade,  or  tend 
,        The  counter  oi  a  store, 

luhopts  the  future  yet  will  send 
A  fortune  to  his  door. 
Chorus. — Ah,  vain  aie  all  such  hopes  as  these, 
That  surely  end  in  harm  ! 
Don't  seek  to  sit  'neath  shady  trees  — 
"Go  work  upon  a  farm." 

Oh  !  why  should  men  in  cities  piue, 

Or  idly  stay  iu  town  ? 
Why  loaf  about  and  crossly  whine. 
That  "things  aTe  upside  down?" 
Can  this  bring  bread  to  wife  and  child. 

And  make  the  future  bright  ? 
Can  this  turn  the  weather  mild. 
Or  furnish  heat  and  light  ? 
Chorus. — Such  men  should  listen  to  my  song, 
And  in  it  find  a  charm  ; 
It  tells  them  how  to  get  along — 
*'  Go  work  upon  a  farm." 

Let  no  man  starve  for  want  of  bread — 

The  product  of  the  soil — 
For  all  can  £till  be  am^ly  f.d. 

Who  wdl  but  share  the  toil — 
The  honest,  manly  toil  that  brings 

The  harvest  season  round. 
When  the  glad  farmer  gayly  sings, 
Because  of  fruitful  ground. 
Chorus. — This,  then.  shaU  be  the  song  we  sing. 
The  whole  world  to  alarm, 
And  loudly  let  the  chorus  ring — 
"Go  work  upon  a  farm." 
— Sidney  Herbert,  in  the  .Semi-Tropical. 


A  Frenchman  who  has  lived  in  America  for  some 
years,  says:  "  When  they  build  a  railroad,  the  first 
thing  they  do  is  to  break  ground.  This  is  done  with 
great  ceremony.  Then  they  break  the  stockholders. 
This  is  done  without  ceremony." 

A  YOUNG  minister,  somewhat  distinguished  for 
self-conceit,  having  failed  disastrously  before  a 
crowded  audience,  was  thus  addressed  by  an  aged 
brother:  "  If  you  had  gone  into  that  pulpit,  feeling 
as  you  now  do  on  coming  out  of  that  pulpit,  you 
would  have  felt,  on  coming  out  of  that  pulpit,  as  you 
did  when  you  went  up  into  that  pulpit." 

Preparing  in  Ti.'me. — Profiting  by  the  lesson 
taught  by  the  great  tire  at  Boston,  a  man  living  near 
Springfield,  Mass.,  has  made  up  his  mind  that  he 
won't  be  burned  alive.  Once  every  week  he  gives  the 
alarm  of  fire  at  midnight,  at  which  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren instantly  arise  and  dress.  He  takes  out  a  win- 
dow sash,  puts  a  rope  round  his  wife,  and  lowers  her 
to  the  ground,  and  then  throws  into  her  arms  one 
child  at  a  time.  He  next  puts  his  furniture  into  the 
street,  and  removes  it  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  whole 
time  occupied  is  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  and  he 
hopes  to  do  it  in  ten.  He  bi-oke  the  arm  of  his  second 
eldest  child  the  first  time,  and  his  wife  says  the  piano 
is  rather  nut  of  tune  in  consequence  of  its  numerous 
and  hurried  removals,  but  otherwise  he  is  quite  satis- 
tied  witlj  the  excellence  of  his  plans.  '^ 

One  of  Browni.ovv's  Yarns. — Parson  Brownlow 
tells  a  good  story  of  an  old  Presbyterian  bachelor 
preacher,  known  almo.st  as  a  woman-hati'r  until  he 
was  nearly  fifty  years  old,  when  he  married  and  set- 
tled somewhere  among  the  mountains  of  North  f'uro- 
lina.  The  Pai-son  says:  "Our  bachelor  friend  was 
preaching  on  the  sinner's  excuses.  '  I  have  bought  a 
piece  of  ground,  and  wish  to  go  and  see  it,'  said  one. 
'Here  is  want  of  inclination  to  attend  to  divine  things,' 
said  the  preacher.  Another  said,  '  I  have  bought  five 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  must  needs  go  and  prove  them.' 
This  seems  a  case  of  necessity.  A  third  said,  '  I  have 
married  a  wife,  and  therefore  I  cannot  come.'  '  Here 
is  a  case  of  natural  impossibility,  from  which  we  may 
infer,'  continued  our  bachelor  preacher,  '  that  one 
woman  will  pull  a  man  further  from  the  Lord  than 
ten  steers.'  " 


IS  'hem.  St  beiuhful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  woild.  It  con- 
tauisne  lU  till  iges.  hundreds  ot  fine  ilhisti  ations,  and 
four  Chi niiw  I"utei  of  Flowem.  be;  utifullv  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  Ud'nie.  Puce,  3.5  cents  in  ]  aj.er  covers  ;  f&  cents 
bound  m  elegant  cloth. 
■'T'ick's  Floral  Guide,  r^uarterly,  2.'>  cenls  a  year. 

Addret-s.  .TAMF..S  Vlf'K.  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


1876.         PRE-CENTENNIAL.         1876. 

Mkm  ft  Fisher 


) 


PRACTICAL      * 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


Cor.N.  QUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 


'DOMESTIC 

TliellrstP:.'t.-rn^n 


DOMESTIC 

SEWING 
MACHINES. 


Liberal  terms  ofExchange 
for  Second-hand  .Macbloes 
af  every  description. 

PAPER  FASHIONS. 

iile.  .'-('■Tia  ,'>cls.  tori'ilalofjuo 


Addresc  DOMESTIC  SBWINCI  MACHINE  CO., 


Kif"  Agents  AV anted,  "^a 
-u-:iteom 


NKW    YORK. 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

IJOOKLN<;    SI.  VTE. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12m  L.\NOASTER,   PA. 

PUBLIC  SALE   BILLS 
FOR  H?:AI.  ESTATKOU  rURSONAL  PRORERTY, 
Printed  expeditiously  and  cheap  at  the  olhceof 

THE  LANCA.STER  TARMER. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  HATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  MARCH,  i876. 


Vol  Vm.  No.  3. 


TO  OUR  CONTRIBUTORS. 
AVe  wovilil  ivspei't fully  boi;  leave  to  return 
our  sineere  tlmnks  to  the  eoutril)iitors  to  TllK 
F.\ioiEU  whohavc!  so  jironiptly  and  so  contin- 
uously sustained  us  during  the  pa.st  year,  an<l 
who  are  doing  the  same  good  work  for  us  in 
the  present.  M>  would  eheerfully  pay  the 
[HLstaite  on  their  eontriliutious,  if  the  law  drd 
not  demand  pre-i)aynieut  before  they  can  leave 
the  ollices  where  they  are  mailed,  and  we  have 
often  thoULcht  that  .tome  exceptions  in  lla^  jiost- 
aL;e  laws  should  have  lieen  made  I'avorahle  to 
lliedi.sseminalion  of  knowledge  by  such  means; 
for,  it  is  asking  a  good  <h'al  of  a  coidribulor 
to  solicit  the,  results  of  his  labor  and  research 
as  a  gratuity,  and  then  require  him  to  Ijuv 
his  own  pens,  ink,  paper,  and  envelopes,  and 
also  to  jiay  his  own  postage.  It  would  jierhaps 
be  a  loss  to  the  Department  to  grant  such  a 
privilege  proniiscuDUsly,  because  such  mail 
matter  might  not  be  lifted  oiU.  of  th(M)tlice,  but 
where  it  was  intended  for  a  res]ionsible  public 
journal,  it  would  not  fail  to  be  lifted  and  I'aid 
■for. 

The  present  mail  system  is  imperatively 
literal  in  its  operation,  no  favors  to  any  one 
save  the  naked  letter  of  the  law,  and  it  oper- 
ates in  a  rigid  manner,  perhaps  not  fully  com- 
jirehended  by  all  corres|)ondenls  and  contribu- 
tors. For  instance,  if  a  manuscrii)t  is  mailed 
requiringl2  cents  postage  thereon,  and  only  11 
centsare  attached  to  it  in  stamjis,  the  11  cents 
mean  wilhiii<i,  and  it  is  immediately  sent  to  the 
Dead  Letter  OHice  at  Washington,  and  cannot 
be  gotten  out  of  it  without  paying  24  cents  for 
it,  and  an  additional  three  cents  for  the  order. 
A  case  in  point  is  now  before  us.  Prior  to  the 
T  19tli  of  Fel)ruary  a  letter  to  us,  containing  eon- 
triliutious to  The  Fahmeu,  was  mailed  from 
Philadelphia.  We  cannot  tell  liow  long  prior 
to  that  date  it  was,  for  the  date  outhe  outside 
isillegible,  and  inside  it  was  without  date  ;  but 
on  the  tilth  it  received  the  stamp  ot  the  "Dead 
Letter"  Otlice  at  Washington.  We  were  in- 
formed of  the  fact  on  the  'H'Ah  and  reipiested  to 
send  12  cents  in  postage  stamps,  and  prepay 
our  order  for  it.  making  1.')  cents.  On  Monday, 
the  -iSth,  we  received  it,  al)0ut  one  half  of  its 
face  covered  with  stamps,  and  post-mai^\S,  and 
cancellations,  and  oni/  on  its  back,  as  if  it  had 
passed  through  a  foreign  "cii'cumlocution 
otlice."  It  was  a  double  letter  and  required  six 
cents  postage,  but  was  enclosed  in  a  two  cent 
envelope  instead,  which,  under  the  law,  of 
course  meant  nothing.  Of  course,  anybody 
might  make  a  mistake  of  this  kind — we  have 
often  made  it— but  as  we  have  all  our  envelopes 
impressed  with  our  own  business  device,  our 
gentlemaidy  otlicials  here  always  return  them 
to  us  to  have  them  properly  stamped,  without 
sending  them  to  the  Dead  Letter  Ollice, 
althouLrh  we  do  not  think  they  are  under  any 
obligations  to  do  .so.  In  this  case  we  valued 
the  eontriliutious  at  far  above  the  amount  of 
postage  we  paid,  but  sometimes  we  receive  let- 
ters in  the  same  round  aliout  expensive  man- 
ner, asking  us  to  do  things  that  cost  us  con- 
siderable labor  or  expense,  and  can  only  an.swer 
them  liy  paying  return  postage. 

AVhat  we  wish  to  suggest  is  this  :  that  our 
contrilnitors  and  correspondents  should  always 
be  sure  to  pay  the  full  amount  of  postage — any 
thing  .short  of  that,  no  matter  how  small, 
rimnts  as  nothing.  Also  that  they  should  have 
printed  on  the  envelopes  their  business,  name, 
and  address  ;  so  that  when  they  have  failed  to 
atlix  the  right  amount  of  postage,  tlie  letter 
may  be  returned  to  them  again,  although  we 
are  not  sure  that  all  postmasters  would  respect 
it,  for  in  a  large  otlice  and  in  a  large  city  the 
writer  might  be  too  far  av.ay  to  receive  any  at- 
tention. Hut  those  who  keep  their  private 
box,  it  would  he  little  tnndile  to  throw  it  in 
with  their  other  mail  matter.  We  liave  another 
.suggestion  in  this  counection  to  make  :  when 


!  a  corres])ondent  asks  for  informal  ion  that  can- 
I  not  be  given  through  the  cohuuns  of  'I'liK 
Fakmki!,  he  should  enclose  eitlier  a  three-cent 
stanii),  or  a  postal  card.  These  little  items,  .so 
1  insignilicant  in  themselves  when  singly  con- 
sidered, amount  to  quite  a  "plum"  during  the 
course  of  a  year,  .\iiswering  a  (piestiou  or  a 
request,  in  which  tlie  asker  alone  is  interested, 
is  surely  worth  what  the  answer  costs,  whether 
it  is  in  the  allirmative  or  the  negative. 

We  know  that  our  readers,  coid libutoirsand 
(!orrespou<lcnts  all  mean  to  do  what  isfairand 
just,  but  it  is  human  to  forget,  or  even  to 
neglect,  and  therefore  we  have  deemed  this 
admonition  might  do  some  good  in  (piarters 
iiutsideof  thepaleofourown  inunediatc  house- 
hold. 


ARTICHOKES. 


We  u.sc  this  term  in  the  plural,  because,  al- 
though not  all  our  readers  may  be  aware  of  it, 
yet  there  are  two  very  widely  distinct  plants 
that  bear  the  name  of  nrlirhiki — not  only  dis- 
tiutil  in  species,  but  al.s<i  in  genera  and  family, 
one  belonging  to  the  family  (,'YAN'.\ii.i;,  ,and 
the  other  to  the  family  CiiMrosrr.K.  The 
most  familiar  suliject  to  the  |)cople  of  this 
country  is  what  they  call  in  England  the 

Jerusalem    Artichoke, 

( IfcHatUhufi  tubcrosun,) 

a  small  sun-flower,  bearing  nutritious  tubers, 
for  whiirh  it  is  cultivated.  It  is  a  hardy  pe- 
rennial of  Brazil,  and  was  first  carried  to 
England  in  the  year  ItJlT,  where  it  soon  be- 
came exceedingly  popular  as  an  esculent,  be- 
ing thought  much  superior  to  the  potato. 
Loudon  says  that  the  name  Jerusalem  is 
a  corruption  of  the  Italian  word  for  sun- 
flower— (jirasole.  Its  name  of  artichoke  is 
probably  derived  from  a  resemblance  in  the 
taste  of  its  roots  to  the  "bottoms  "  of  the  true 
artichoke.  The  stalks  are  large,  and  fre- 
quently attain  the  height  of  ten  feet.  The 
roots  are  produced  in  great  quantity,  the 
crops  sometimes  exceeding  two  thousand 
bushels  per  acre.  During  the  past  few  5ears 
they  have  been  much  extolled  for  agricultural 
piuposes  ;  and,  indeed,  they  woidd  seem  bet- 
ter suited  for  the  fanner  than  for  the  kitchen 
garden. 

C'liLTUKE. — The  .Jeru.salem  artichoke  is  not 
very  particular  in  regard  to  soil  or  situation  ; 
it  is,  however,  best  pleased  with  a  light  and 
moist  soil,  having  a  free  exposure.  It  requires 
little  attention,  and  is  so  much  inclined  to 
perpetuate  itself  that  it  may  even  become  a 
nuisance  in  small  gardens.  It  is  [jropagated 
in  the  same  manner  as  tlii^  potato,  l)y  sets  of 
the  large-sized  tubers.  Plant  them  in  March 
or  April,  according  to  the  forwardness  of  the 
■season,  in  <lrills  three  feet  apart,  an<l  at  dis- 
tances of  tvv'elve  (jr  (ifteen  implies  in  the  drill  ; 
cover  the  sets  aliout  three  inches  deep.  Keep 
the  soil  light,  and  draw  a  little  around  the 
stems  for  tlieir  support.  He  exceedingly  care- 
ful to  guard  against  the  intrusion  of  weed.s. 
The  tuliers  can  be  taken  up  as  wanted  for 
use  during  the  months  of  September  and  Oc- 
tober, but  in  Xiivenilier  they  are  to  be  raised 
for  iire.servatiou  through  tile  winter,  in  .sand 
(«•  earth.  The  smallest  piece  let!  in  the 
ground  proves  troublesome  by  vegetating  in 
the  following  spring.  The  crop,  however, 
may  remain  where  grown,  as  it  does  not  suffer 
from  the  frost. 

ITsE. — In  an  agricultural  point  of  view, 
this  plant  deserves  a  high  position.  It  is  ex- 
ceedingly hardy,  bearing  exposure  to  the  se- 
vere weather  of  winter  without  injury  ;  it  can 
be  grown  on  poor  .soil,  without  the  aililition  of 
much  manure;  it  re(piires  little  altention, 
and  is  distinguished  by  great  pro(hictiveness. 
The  stalks  make  very  good  fodder,  if  cut  be- 


fore the  llowei-s  have  fully  opened  ;  while  the 
tubers  are  thought  iiarticularly  valuable  for 
cows,  sheep  and  stock  pigs.  When  preiiare<l 
plain  for  Ihi'  table,  the  roots  are  rather  a  sec- 
ond-rate dish.  Alter  having  been  boile<l  soft 
or  tender,  they  are  to  be  peeled,  anil  then 
sl(nved  with  wine  and  liutter.  Hy  many  per- 
.sons  they  are  then  considered  nutritious  and 
possessed  of  a  good  flavor.  (^:ltcnrk'i  Oar- 
dene  r'x  Text- Book.) 

The  most  common  use  ninde  of  these  tubers 
in  Lancaster  county  is  in  the  form  of  pickles, 
of  which  We  havi'  eaten  some  excellent  ones  ; 
and  for  this  ]iinpose  they  are  dressed  In  sev- 
eral .styles,  alter  the  manner  of  walnuts,  cit- 
rons, cauliflowers  or  cucumlK-rs.  They  are 
.said,  also,  to  make  an  excellent  .s;ilad  when 
thinly  sliced  down  and  properly  .sea.soned. 

European  Artichoke. 

(Cyanaru  horlcnitis  et  xcotytnuK.) 

This  artichoke  is  a  perennial  from  the  south 
of  Einope.  which  was  cultivated  in  England 
as  early  as  the  year  l.VSO.  It  is  naturally  a 
marine  plant,  and  ha.s  gradually  been  un- 
proved by  (hunesticalion.  The  botanical 
name,  according  t<i  Columella,  is  derived  from 
the  Latin  word  riiura.  because  the  ancients 
were  accustomed  to  apply  ashes  to  the  land  In 
which  the  plant  was  gi-own.  It  rcsendiles  a 
gigantic  thistle,  aiul  its  flower-heads,  before 
blooming,  have  .somewhat  the  appearance  of  a 
small  pine-apple,  at  which  time  they  are  highly 
)iri/.cd  on  Kuropi'an  tables,  [larticularly  by  the 
French.  There  are  two  varieties,  viz.  :  the 
Oral  Green  (Ci/nnura  sralymus)  and  the  J{cd 
or  Globe  {C.  horlenxis).  Tlie  latter  h;is  a  pur- 
jile  head,  and  is  generally  most  esteemed,  hut 
the  first  has  the  advantage  of  grtater  hardi- 
hood and  |iroductiveness. 

('ULTi'iuc— The  artichoke  is  propagated  by 
seeds,  or  Ijy  suckers  from  old  roofs.  It  flour- 
ishes best  in  soil  which  is  deep,  liglit  and  rich  ; 
dry  in  winter,  but  somewhat  moist  in  the 
summer  season.  The  situation  should  l)c 
open,  and  free  from  the  influence  of  trees. 

When  you  wish  to  raise  seedlings,  you  may 
sow  as  soon  as  the  frost  leaves  the  ground  in 
s|)rinir.  One  ounce  of  .seed  will  produceabout 
six  hundred  plants.  Sow  in  drills  one  foot 
apart  and  two  inches  deep.  When  the  stems 
are  an  inch  high  they  may  be  thinned  out  to 
distances  of  ten  inches  in  the  drill.  Keep  the 
ground  liszht,  and  free  from  weeds,  by  tlie  oc- 
casional use  of  the  hoe.  At  the  approach  of 
cold  weather  protect  tlie  bed  by  covering  with 
litter,  and  in  the  following  sjiring  remove  the 
plants  to  their  permanent  location,  in  the 
manner  directed  below  for  suckei-s. 

The  suckers  are  afforded  by  the  old  roots 
early  in  spring.  They  are  fit  for  transplanting 
when  eight  or  ten  inches  in  height.  After  the 
ground  for  the  bed  has  been  selected,  it  should 
be  spaded  deeply,  and  manured  with  good  rot- 
ten dung,  seaweeil,  .salt,  or  anything  of  a  .saline 
charai'ter.  Slip  the  young  .shoots  from  the 
parent  root,  and  reject  all  that  are  tough  and 
woody.  The  loose  outside  leaves  ought  to  be 
pulled  otT  so  that  the  lieart  can  be  seen.  If  the 
shoots  have  been  for  .some  time  exposed  to  tlie 
air,  they  are  much  benefited  by  being  placed 
in  water  for  three  or  four  hours  before  jilant- 
ing.  They  may  then  be  set  out  by  the  dibble 
in  rows  three  liv  four  feet  apart,  with  about 
half  their  length  below  the  surface.  They 
ought  to  be  watered  every  evening  until  they 
become  finally  established,  and  subsequently 
during  times  of  drought  ;  by  this  means  the 
size  and  suceulency  of  the  edible  parts  will  be 
much  increa.sed. 

The  only  cultivation  needful  during  spring 
ami  summer,  is  to  keep  the  soil  clean  and  mel- 
low, as  well  as  to  apply  water  in  dry  weather. 
Under  such  treatment,  a  few  heads  for  use 
may  be  expected  between  August  and  Xovein- 


34 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[March, 


ber,  although  in  subsequent  years  the  matu- 
rity of  the  crop  will  commence  much  earlier 
in  the  season.  The  liead  is  permitted  to  grow 
until  the  scales  spread,  and  the  flower  seems 
about  to  open.  The  stem  must  then  be  cut  off 
close  to  the  ground,  so  as  to  encourage  a  new 
growth  of  suckers  before  winter. 

Although  apparently  possessing  a  hardy 
constitution,  this  vegetable  is  very  sensitive  to 
the  frost,  requiring  winter  protection  in  the 
northern  States.  In  all  severe  weather,  the 
plants  ought  to  be  sheltered  by  a  larger  layer 
of  leaves,  branches,  or  coarse  litter.  When 
spring  opens,  all  danger  of  hard  frost  being 
passed,  and  the  young  buds  having  fairly 
started,  the  litter  is  to  be  removed,  and  the 
beds  leveled,  and  the  ground  thoroughly  dug. 

An  artichoke  bed  seldom  continues  iu  per- 
fection for  a  longer  time  than  six  years;  after 
that  period  the  flower  heads  become  gradually 
smaller  and  less  succulent. 

For  seed,  select  some  of  the  best  heads,  and 
permit  them  to  flower.  To  prevent  waterset- 
tling  in  the  expanded  calyx,  the  stake  must  be 
bent  over,  by  being  tied  to  a  small  stalk.  The 
seed  will  be  ripe  in  the  fall.  Gather  it  when 
dry,  and  store  it  in  a  cool,  dry  apartment.  Its 
vegetative  power  may  be  depended  on  for  at 
least  three  years. 

Use. — As  a  vegetable,  the  artichoke  is  whole- 
some, but,  probably,  not  very  nourishing.  It 
is  used  in  various  ways.  In  Italy,  the  young 
tender  heads  are  eaten  as  a  salad,  with  oil, 
salt  and  pepper.  The  edible  pnrts  are  the  re- 
ceptacle of  the  flower,  called  the  "bottom," 
and  the  fleshy  substance  on  the  bottom  of  the 
calyx  scales.  In  England,  the  whole  head  is 
usually  boiled  plain,  and  the  scales  are  pulled 
oft' at  the  table,  one  or  two  at  a  time,  dipped 
in  butter  and  pepper,  and  stripped  of  their 
fleshy  part  with  the  teeth.  The  stalks  are 
eaten  in  France  and  Germanj^,  after  having 
been  boiled  and  pickled.  The  flowers  hava 
the  property  of  rennet  iu  curdling  milk,  and 
the  juice  of  the  leaves  and  stalks  when  pre- 
pared with  bismuth,  imparts  a  permanent  gold 
color  to  wool,  and,  when  mixed  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  white  wine,  is  said  to  have  been 
successful  in  the  cure  of  the  dropsj'. 

To  boil. — Scrape  the  artichokes  and  put  them 
in  boiling  water,  with  an  allowance  of  a  table- 
spoonful  of  salt  to  every  two  dozen  heads.  In 
about  two  hours  time  they  w^ill  become  quite 
tender,  when  they  may  be  taken  from  the  fire 
and  seasoned  with  butter  and  salt. 

To  pickle. — Soak  the  artichokes  in  salt  and 
water  for  several  days.  Drain  them  and  after- 
wards rub  off  all  the  outside  skin.  To  one 
gallon  of  vinegar,  add  one  tablespoo.nful  of 
alum,  and  a  teacupful  of  salt,  and  turn  over  the 
artichokes  when  it  is  scalding  hot.  After  re- 
maining a  week,  it  should  be  drawn  off,  scalded 
and  then  returned,  the  process  being  repeated 
at  intervals  of  six  or  seven  days,  until  the 
heads  appear  to  be  thoroughly  pickled,  when 
they  will  be  ready  for  use. — Schenck''s  Garden- 
er''s  Text  Book. 

We  are  not  aware  that  this  vegetable  has 
received  any  special  attention  by  the  gardeners 
of  this  country,  if  any  at  all,  or  even  that  it  is 
worthy  of  cultivation.  Our  object  in  tran- 
scribing its  history,  mode  of  cultivation  and 
use,  is  more  to  inform  the  readers  of  The 
Farmer  of  the  fact  of  its  existence,  and 
wherein  it  differs  from  the  vegetable  so  widely 
known  in  this  country  under  the  name  of 
"  THE  artichoke." 


QUERIES  AND   ANSWERS. 

Mr.  J.  P.,  Christiana,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa. — The  large,  white,  footless,  and  black- 
headed  grubs,  which  you  exhibited  at  the 
March  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Society', 
are  very  probably  the /arive  of  the  "Broad- 
necked  Prionus, "  (Frionus  laticotis).  You 
say  you  took  them  out  of  an  old  apple  log  that 
had  been  lying  foiu'  or  five  years,  and  was 
going  into  decay,  and  ask  whether  they  prefer 
dead  to  living  wood,  and  if  the  former,  whether 
old  logs  might  not  be  a  protection  to  living 
trees,  as  an  attraction  to  these  insects.  We 
hardly  know  how  to  answer  that  question,  be- 


cause if  all  that  has  been  reported  on  the  sub- 
ject be  true,  they  infest  both  dead  and  living 
wood.  We  have  taken  them  (or  allied  species) 
out  of  Lombardy  poplar,  cherry  and  oak,  that 
were  in  partial  decay;  and  many  years  ago  we 
suggested  that  they  probably  were  the  cause 
of  the  death  and  decay  of  the  Lombardy  pop- 
lars over  all  this  region  of  country  ;  hardly  any 
now  remain — all  destroyed.  But  that  is  not 
the  worst,  for  in  the  west,  and  elsewhere,  they 
are  knoum  to  infest  the  roots  of  the  living 
grape,  apple  and  pear,  and  from  their  great 
size — two  and  a  half  inches  long — and  their 
three  years  larva  life,  if  they  should  Ijecome 
numerous,  it  is  very  evident  that  they  would 
be  a  most  formidable  enemy  to  the  fruit- 
grower, particularly  because  they  work  con- 
cealed, or  imder  groiuid,  and  therefore  difti- 
cult  to  approach  with  a  remedy.  They  also 
infest  the  Osage  orange,  and  are  saitl  to  even 
attack  cornstalks;  but  this  latter  is  questiona- 
ble, because  they  would  not  have  time  to  ma- 
ture therein,  unless  they  passed  to  or  from 
some  other  substance.  The  beetle  that  de- 
velops from  this  larva,  is  a  large  black,  or 
deep  brown  insect,  the  females  of  which  are 
fully  three  inches  long,  but  the  males  are  much 
less.  They  belong  to  the  family  Prion  id  a  in 
the  great  group  or  section  of  Longhorned  bee- 
tles (Longicornia)-  There  are  several  species 
of  them,  and  also  others  allied  to  tliera;  there- 
fore without  breeding  them,  it  cannot  pusi- 
tiveh/  be  stated,  to  which  species  they  belong; 
but  tlie  probabilities  are  favorable  to  the  spe- 
cies we  have  named. 

Will  Mr.  P.  send  us  in  April  or  May  half  a 
dozen  specimens  of  the  largest  he  can  find, 
together  with  some' of  the  decayed  wood.  The 
beetle  appears  iu  .June  and  July,  and  ought  to 
be  killed  wherever  it  is  found.  It  is  attracted 
at  night  by  a  bright  light,  and  in  this  way  we 
have  captured  a  dozen  in  a  single  evening. 


THE    CENTURY    WEATHER    REPORT. 

The  past  winter  having  been  suffi- 
ciently remarkable  for  its  mildness  to  employ 
the  pens  of  the  "  weatherwise  "  nearly  over 
the  whole  country,  many  of  whom  claimed 
that  there  was  nothing  like  it  within  the  re- 
collection of  the  "oldest  inhabitant;  wethere- 
fore  copy  the  following,  which  goes  to  show 
that  although  the  oldest  inhabitant  may  fail  in 
memory,  there  is  still  a  record  extant  tliat  is 
independent  of  and  anterior  to  his  pretensions 
in  meteorological  lore.  At  best,  we  are  but 
very  short-memoried  mortals.  We  are  ai)t  to 
regard  the  immediately  pending  condition  of 
things  as  the  hardest,  the  didlest,  the  hottest, 
the  coldest,  the  mildest,  the  wettest,  the  dry- 
est,  the  briskest  or  the  wckedest  that  has  ever 
before  been  experienced.  If,  however,  we  only 
turn  over  a  few  pages  of  the  past,  we  will  find 
that  not  only  history,  but  also  the  meteorolo- 
gical phenomena  of  the  world  "  repeat  them- 
selves," and  that  the  like  had  been  seen  and 
felt  before. 

' '  The  remarkably  mild  weather  of  the  past 
month  has  sadly  puzzled  the  wiseacres  who 
had  predicted  an  extraordinary  cold  winter, 
commencing  early  in  November.  And  even 
the  "  oldest  inliabitants  "  have  set  their  wits 
to  work  trying  to  account  for  the  backward- 
ness of  the  season.  As  a  consequence,  items 
are  pitblished  in  newspapers  of  all  sections 
furnishing  parallels  to  tlie  seemingly  unpar- 
alleled mildness.  Another  interesting  fact  has 
been  recalled  in  this  connection,  to  wit,  tliat 
the  first  month  of  this  centennial  winter 
closely  resembles  that  of  177(i.  The  news- 
papers of  tliat  day  speak  of  the  extraordinary 
weather.  It  was  even  said  that  the  lack  of 
the  usual  ice  in  Boston  harbor  prevented 
Washington  from  crossing  his  forces  and  at- 
tempting a  surprise  of  the  city,  and  the  Amer- 
icans were  enabled  to  continually  send  forth 
vessels  from  all  parts  of  the  harbor  to  the 
West  Indies  for  munitions  of  war.  Tlie  mild 
weather  also  allowed  Gen.  Schuyler,  in  tlie 
first  days  of  January,  to  dispatch  his  well- 
planned  little  expedition  up  the  Mohawk  val- 
ley to  surprise  the  hiahlanders  under  Johnson. 
On  the  contrary,  the  news  that  year  from 


England  indicated  an  intensely  cold  winter. 
The  weather  records  of  Philadelphia  disclose 
many  facts  worthy  of  note  in  this  connection. 
In  comparing  the  mean  temperature  of  the 
past  month  with  that  of  each  January  of  the 
last  century  it  is  found  that  in  but  seven  in- 
stances was  the  temperature  as  high  as  in  the 
month  just  closed.  Last  Friday  the  thermom- 
eter reached  TCP,  a  point  which,  during  the 
whole  century,  was  only  equalled  in  the  years 
1790  and  1870,  and  was  not  exceeded  at  either 
period.  The  day  therefore  may  be  regarded 
as  a  remarkable  one.  The  mean  temperature, 
however,  for  the  past  month  does  not  reach 
the  mean  temperature  attained  in  either  of 
the  years  alluded  to,  but  still  the  weather  for 
the  month  was  unusually  mild.  According  to 
the  records  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  the 
mean  temperature  for  the  last  month  was  38^, 
the  minimum  falling  to  only  17°  above  zero. 
This  was  6'-  above  the  average  for  January, 
and  during  the  entire  century  that  point  was 
equaled  only  in  this  section  in  the  years  1802, 
'23,  '43,  '58,  '03,  '70.  In  1790  the  mean  tem- 
peratm-e  was  44°,  the  mildest  January  on  re- 
cord. Fogs  prevailed  iu  the  morning,  but  the 
hot  sun  soon  dispersed  them.  At  that  time 
the  mercury  often  ran  up  to  70°  in  the  shade 
at  mid-day.  In  Pierce's  report  of  the  weather, 
it  is  stated  that  boys  were  seen  swimming  in 
the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill  rivers.  This  un- 
usual weather  was  continued  up  to  February  7. 
In  1802  the  trees  and  shrubbery  were  blossom- 
ing in  January,  and  in  1828  tlie  Delaware  was 
as  free  from  ice  as  in  June.  The  first  month  of 
1870  was  tlie  warmest  January  on  record  after 
that  of  1790.  While  in  nearly  all  these  cases  the 
winter  has  been  remarkably  mild,  there  have 
been  instances  noted  when  the  winter  did  not 
really  commence  until  February,  and  contin- 
ued far  into  the  spring  season,  at  one  time  up 
to  June.  Even  during  those  winters  when 
little  or  no  snow  fell,  the  summer  following 
the  unusual  season  was  generally  reported  to 
be  an  exceedingly  fine  one.  So  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  clerk  of  the  weather  is  such  an  ec- 
centric genius  as  to  def}'  the  laws  of  prece- 
dent, refusing  to  do  the  bidding  of  those  fogies 
who  claim  to  know  by  the  color  of  a  goose's 
breast  bone  under  what  conditions  he  shall 
present  himself  in  this  section. " — Fhiladelphia 
Times  of  'id  inst. 

^ 

The  intei-esting  paper  on  "  The  Potato's 
Enemies"  on  the  36th  page  of  this  issue, 
which  originally  appeared  in  the  West  Chester 
Local  News,  was  sent  to  us  some  weeks  ago 
by  Mr.  John  I.  Carter,  of  the  "  Experimental 
Farm"  at  West  Grove,  Pa.,  for  insertion  in 
The  Farmer,  if  advisable,  but  it  came  to 
hand  too  late  for  our  January  number,  and 
we  had  laid  it  away  too  carefully  to  find  it  in 
time  for  our  February  number.  It  is,  how- 
ever, one  of  those  things  that  will  not  spoil, 
if  used  before  the  first  of  April  or  May.  and 
therefore  we  give  it  a  place  in  our  present  num- 
ber. Although  occasional  tubers  of  the  potato 
may  be  found  every  autumn,  when  they  are 
raised,  with  cavities  gnawed  into  them,. 
yet  we  do  not  think  the  depredations  of 
either  of  the  insects  named  (if  they  are  cor- 
rectly named)  has  yet  amounted  to  a  serious 
infestation  in  this  region  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr. 
Hunt  is  probably  on  the  right  track,  and  in 
addition  to  the  works  to  whicWhe  has  referred, 
we  would  call  the  attention  of  potato  growers 
to  the  investigations  made  by  the  Agricultural 
Department  at  Washington  City,  which  are 
published  and  illustrated  in  the  reports  of 
1872,  1873  and  1874,  a  condensation  of  which 
was  published  in  The  Lancaster  Farmer 
of  Feliruary,  1875.  It  is  probable,  however, 
that  the  wounded  portions  of  the  tubers  may 
furnish  a  ]irolific  seat  for  the  development  of 
the  fungoid  disease,  but  it  is  certain  that  it 
exists  independent  of  such  conditions. 
♦ 

Now  that  the  season  for  practical  operations 
on  the  form  is  opening,  every  tiller  of  the  soil, 
whether  he  owns  one  acre  or  one  hundred, 
should  subscribe  for  The  Lancaster  Far- 
mer, if  he  is  not  already  a  subscriber.  It  will 
prove  a  good  investment. 


I 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


35 


LIGHT  BRAHMAS. 

LiKht  Bralinias  are  imiliably  the  most  jiiipu- 
lar  lit'  all  fowls.  Lately  there  has  ln'cii  iiiiieh 
di.seussioii  in  poultry  eireles  as  to  the  orii;iiiof 
this  eeleliiated  variety,  liiit  as  a  reiietitioii  of 
tills  could  be  of  no  interest  to  our  readers,  we 
will  confine  our  remarks  to  the  merits  of  this 
breed. 

Certain  it  is,  that  whatever  tlieir  orijiin, 
tliey  are  now  a  well-established  breed,  widely 
disseminated  and  universally  esteemed— af- 
thouu'h  as  there  is  no  fowl  adapted  to  all 
situations,  to  all  tastes,  so  there  are  men  who 
loathe,  as  it  were,  what  they  clioose  to  call 
the  clumsy,  stupid  ways  of  the  IJrahma  fowl. 

They  are  readily  conline(l,  and  especially 
adapt  themselves  to  narrower  (luarters.  A 
fence  four  feet  hijjh  will  easily  keep  them 
within  bounds.  They  are  lazy,  care  not  to 
fora^'e  much,  are  readily  handled,  of  a  tame, 
quiet  disposition,  and  hence  are  esiiecially 
suited  to  small  city  yards.  They  (^an  be  tired 
in  exceedingly  small  lots,  if  the  young  chick- 
ens are  allowed  a  considerable  range  when  at- 
taining their  growth.  They  nnist  be  well  fed 
when  young,  or  they  will  grow  u]i  small  and 
stunted — thus  solely  miprolitable.  If  a  far- 
mer intends  to  breed  15rah- 
mas  he  must  expect  to  feed 
more  grain  than  is  re- 
el ui  red  by  the  common 
fowls  or  smaller  breeds  of 
thoroughbreds.  Hut  what 
is  the  result  y  The  lirahma 
will  take  on  twice  as  nuich 
Hcsh,  and  hence  is  really 
the  more  profitable.  They 
are  good  for  broilers  when 
from  two  to  three  months 
old,  and  are  just  the  thing 
for  early  .spring  markets. 
When  full  grown  they  will 
thrive  satisfactorily  on  the 
same  amount  of  food  that 
is  necessary  to  keep  Leg- 
horns 01-  other  small 
breeds  in  couliuement,  for, 
although  twice  the  size, 
there  is  little  muscular  ac- 
ti<iii,  and  hence  scarcely 
any  waste,  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  Leghorns 
are  very  active.  But  if 
both  are  allowed  free 
range,  the  Leghorns  will 
almost  entirely  seek  their 
own  food,  while  the  ]5rah- 
mas  will  dust  themselves 
and  idle  the  whole  day, 
waiting  for  their  meals. 
A  cross  of  the  Brahma 
and  Leghorns  makes  an 
excellent  farmers'  fowl — 
b<ith  (lesh  and  the  supply 
of  eggs  being  thus  im- 
proved. 

The  necessity  of  proper 
cannot  be  too  stronglj-  urged  upon  the  would- 
be  breeder.  The  best  of  stock  will  degenerate 
and  become  worthless  as  mongrels  if  allowed 
to  shift  for  themselves.  Bralmias  are  good 
layers,  and  give  an  especially  abundant  sup- 
ply in  winter,  when  most  needed.  They  are 
inveterate  sitters  ;  when  this  propensity  mani- 
fests itself  the  hen  should  be  innuediately 
peimed  u]),  for  the  longer  it  is  delayed  the 
greater  will  be  the  difficulty  in  preventing  it. 
The  perches  for  fowls  should  be  broad,  slightly 
curved,  and  not  too  high  from  the  ground. 
Especial  care  should  be  taken  as  to  this  point, 
for  there  is  no  more  fruitful  source  of  badly 
shaped,  deformed  fowls  than  im]n'oper  roosts. 
A  very  common  fault  with  I^ight  ]5rahmas  is 
a  tendency  to  become  "leggy."  Xow  it  does 
not  jiay  to  produce  long-legged  shanghais. 
The  days  of  Burnham's  fowls,  that  "  ccndd 
eat  otT  of  the  top  of  a  Hour-barrel  and  all  that 
was  in  in  it,'"  are  past.  Now  good  taste  and 
sound  judgment  are  prevailing.  The  heat 
of  the/iimre  is  past,  and  the  fowl  imiting  the 
greatest  economies  of  form,  size,  shape  and 
eggs  rules  the  day.     Size  is  a  point  that  must 


not  be  underrated.  The  whole  country  is 
Hooded  with  misi^rable,  dwarfed  specimens, 
poorly  feathered,  that  are  styled  Light  Brah- 
mas,  and  vended  as  such.  It  is  easy  to  luo- 
duee  a  small,  well-marked  bird,  but  Kidy  the 
best  and  most  carefully  bred  strains  wili  pro- 
duce birds  i)erfcct  in  feather  and  colos.sal  in 
size.  We  do  not  advocate  over-fei'ding,  but 
size  in  the  hhiad ;  and  this  alone  wii.i,  tell 
in  the  olTs]iriMg. 

Again,  in  our  extensive  corresiioudcnee  we 
occasionally  have  calls  for  '•  white  liralunas. " 
Now  such  a)e  only  degenerated  specimens, 
and  in  no  cousidiMation  to  be  tolerated.  Let 
US  stick  to  the  Light  and  Dark  Hrahmas  as 
the  only  genuine  varieties,  and  here  we  will 
lind  sullieient  employnu^nf  for  the  exercise  of 
untiring  jiatience,  skill  and  zeal  in  the  im- 
Jirovemeut  and  perleetion  of  the  American 
Brahma.  Our  cut  reiiresents  birds  belonging 
to  Mr.  Miner,  of  Illinois. —  ^Y.  Alice  Bui-jhc, 
Pliiladeli)liia,  Pa. 


ANCIENT   GARDENING. 

Philip  Miller  says  :  ''We  have  likewise  m.any 
of  the  famous  gardens  of  the  ancients  elegantly 
described  by  the  poets  and  historians  as  the 


care  of  Brahmas 


pensile  ones  of  Semiramis,  those  magnificent 
ones  of  King  Solomon,  the  Ilfsperian,  with 
those  of  Arlonia  and  Alrinmis,  the  latter  of 
which,  described  by  Homer,  and  beautifully 
translated  into  EmjJish  b\'  Mr.  Pape,  I  shall 
take  the  liberty  to  transcribe." 

"  Close  to  the  gates  a  spacious  irartlen  lies, 
From  storms  defeiuU-tl  and  iiicleiiirMit  sliies; 
Four  acres  was  the  iUlntteil  spaee  ol"irrouiHl, 
Fene'il  witli  a  green  enclosure  all  arnunil; 
Tall  tliriviiiir  Irees  eonfess'd  the  fruitful  nioiihl, 
The  red'ninii-  n/>p/f'  rijx'us  here  to  jjoM; 
Here  the  hlne.rt'/  with  luscious  juice  o'erllows, 
With  deeper  reii  the  full  ponit't^ruit'tti'  jjlowe. 
The  hraneh  here  heiuls  beueatli  the  weii^hly  y>e<ir, 
The  vei'dant  dUrts  tloiu'ish  round  I  he  year, 
The  halmy  spirit  of  the  western  srale. 
Eternal  breathes  on  fruits  unlausrhl  to  fail: 
Kaeh  droppiuc: ;»'*!/•  a  followini^y^a/"  supplies, 
On  ajij)lrn  tipplr.'<,  ^tii/n  nujhjs  arise; 
The  same  mild  season  i,'ive8  the  blooms  to  blow, 
The  buds  to  harden  and  the  fruits  to  grow. 
Here  order'd  I'ims  in  eiinal  ranks  appear, 
With  all  th'  united  labors  of  the  year. 
Some  to  uidoad  the  fertile  branches  rini, 
Some  dry  the  blaek'nlnij  clusters  In  the  sun; 
Others  to  tread  the  li(iuid  harvest  join, 
The  groauiiii;  presses  foam  with  tlooils  of  wine. 
Here  are  the  vines  iu  early  flow  "r  descry 'd, 


Here  grapes  diseolored  on  tlie  gunny  side, 

.\iu\  these  in  autumn's  riehest  purple  dy'd. 

Beds  of  various  /wr'u  forever  uri'en, 

In  beauteous  order  terminate  the  scene. 

Two  pleuteous/uiJHdiiii*  the  pros|)eel  erowu'd; 

Thin  thro'  llie  nanlent  leads  its  stream  around, 

Visits  each  plant,  ami  waters  all  the  ground; 

While  llml  in  pipes  beneath  the  palace  Hows, 

.\nd  theiiee  its  lurrenl  on  tlielown  bestows; 

To  various  use  their  various  streams  they  bring, 

The /i(o/(/p  one,  and  one  supplies  the  klnj;." 

Sir  WitUnm  7Vi)i;i/r siiys,  "that  this  descrip- 
tion contains  all  the  ju.stesi  rides  and  provi- 
sions which  can  go  toward  composing  the  best 
gardens.  Us  extent  Wius  four  acres,  which,  in 
those  times  of  simplicity,  was  looked  upon  a-s 
a  large  one.  even  for  a  ;>ri?irf.  U  wa.s  inclosed 
all  round  for  defence,  and,  for  convenience 
joined  close  to  the  gates  of  the  pularr.  This  is 
from  the  prifnre  of  Philip  Miller's  "Gar- 
dener's Dictionary,"  aipiaint  old  roytil  (piarto 
volume  of  about  onethou.sjinil  pages.' dc^dicated 
to  .Sii;  ll.ws  Si,o.\NK,  Jinrl,iinil  published  in 
Lemdon  some  time  previous  to  the  year  17.")0 
or  17.")J.  as  the  latter  is  the  year  in  which  Sir 
Hans  Sloanc  died.     Miller  died  in  1771. 

The  foregoing  is,  however,  not  a  description 
of  an  iietual  garden  in  Slonne'n,  Milter'.i,  or 
Temjjka^  times,  but  a  far  prior  date—a  garden 
•  in  the  liiiu's  of  IIoMEU. 
Authors,  however,  do  not 
agree  as  to  vhtn  or  trhere. 
lloiner  was  born ;  seven 
cities  claiming  that  honor, 
and  at  Jis  many  different 
ejiochs,  in  which  there  is 
a  difference  of  faur  /lun- 
dred' jfturn.  The  greatest 
weight  of  testimony,  how- 
ever, .seems  to  he  to  the 
efTcct,  tliat  he  Wius  blind, 
and  was  born  at  Smyrna, 
an  Ionian  city  on  theco.a.st 
of  Asi;i  Minor,  about  onff 
thousand  years  before  the 
Christian  era,  according  to 
which  this  description  ap- 
plies to  a  g;irden  of  three 
tliouxund  t/ear.'i  ago. 

From  this  we  may  be 
able  to  form  some  idea  of 
the  antiquity  of  horticul- 
ture and  systematic  gar- 
dening, ami  jil.so  what  im- 
provement has  been  made 
thereon.  "The  dropping 
pear  a  following  pear  sup- 
plies," might  indicate  that 
oratifjes  or  lemon.s,  and  not 
._  jicnrs  are  ii  eant,  that  lie- 
'"  ing  about  the  manner  in 
■,'"  which  that  ripening  fruit 
succeeds  each  other.  Four 
y^  acres  would  1k'  considered 
=?  a    very    respectable    fruit 

^'  :  garden  for  a  private  fam- 

ily,  even  at    the    present 
^^^ —  day,  and  taking  Lancaster 

county  as  an  example,  there  are,  perhaps,  more 
below  that  size  than  above  it.  Fnst  as  the 
present  age  is,  we  tltid  tluit,  after  all,  we  are 
traveling  but  slowly  down  the  coui-se  of 
time,  and  that  many  iirir  things  have  their 
archetyi)es  in  things  of  old. 

■ ^ 

The  Slaughter  of  Birds  for  their  Plumage. 
.Mr.  Alfreil  Xewton  writes  a  striklni;  proU>l  lo  the 
Tiineg  ajrainst  the  wholesale  slauirhler  of  blnls  for 
the  sake  of  ornamental  feathers.  Hequotes  the  pro- 
ceedings of  a  sin^rle  sale  of  feathers  to  show  that  to 
supply  that  sale  aloue  !),T00  herons  (or  egrets)  must 
have  been  destroyed.  .\ll  these  feathers  are  said  to 
haveeonu-  from  India  last  autumn.'  Mr.  Newton  ob- 
serves that  no  country  eould  supply  tO.OOO  herons  In 
a  siiiRle  breeilinir season  without  niMirly  rootinj;  out 
the  sleek.  Moreover,  l.t.OOll  Huininini;  birds  and 
upwartl  were  Included  in  the  sale,  of  which  7+0  were 
of  a  sinirle  kind.  .\s  far  as  we  know,  none  of  these 
birds  really  diminish  the  stock  of  fmid  available  for 
man,  so  that  in  destroylnir  them  for  mere  show  wc 
empty  the  world  absolutely  of  a  certain  |iortlon  of  IU 
beauty  and  happiness— «  Idle  the  beauty  is  cerlalldy 
by  no  means  made  up  In  the  ornamentation  of  femi- 
nine toilets  wbieh  is  thus  pro<'ured.  In  this  aire  of 
tine  moralities,  does  no  one  really  Ik'stow  a  thoucht 
on  the  morality  of  such  reckless  spoliation  of  life  as 
this  ? — London  Spectator. 


36 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[March, 


THE  POTATO'S  ENEMIES. 


An  Essay  read  before  the  West  Grove  Experi- 
mental Farm  Club,  by  Dr.  Michener,  in  an- 
swer to  a  referred  question. 

You  ask,  Is  it  tlie  white  grub,  or  larvse  of  the 
May  Beetle  (Lachmostura  fn$cu,\  or  that  of 
the  False  May  Beetle  {Lirjyrus  reJictus,)  which 
often  do  much  damage  "to  the  potato  tubers  ? 
And  what  preventive  can  be  suggested  for  its 
spoliations  ? 

In  answer,  it  may  be  the  one  or  the  other. 
It  may  be  both  ;  or  it  may  not  be  either  of 
them.  Of  tliis  I  am  unable  to  afiirm  until 
the  terms  of  the  indictment  shall  be  settled. 
For  we  must  remember  that  the  potato  is 
liable  to  various  injuries  and  from  various 
enemies;  and  that  there  are  other  parties  beside 
May  buys  which  possess  a  Hibernio- American 
fondness  for  the  potato.  Let  us  then  deter- 
mine the  exact  offense  for  which  these  cul- 
prits stand  indicted.  If  I  comprehend  the 
charge,  it  is  not  the  ordinary  eating  of  the 
tubers,  but  a  mischievous  nibbling  of  small 
holes  over  the  surface,  from  an  eighth  to  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  deep,  wilh  a  black,  ragged 
surface  ;  and  thus  rendering  them  both  un- 
sightly and  of  little  worth. 

The  offense  must  be  admitted,  but  I  fear 
that  the  offenders  have  not  been  sufficiently 
identified  to  warrant  the  conviction  of  these 
grubs.  Moreover,  strong  suspicion  rests  upon 
other  parties.  I  allude  to  the  wire  worm  (Me- 
lonotus  incertus,)  and  to  an  undetermined  fun- 
gus. It  is  fitting  that  you  should  inquire  a 
little  concerning  all  of  these  claims  to  villainy. 
First.  Of  the  cock-chafers,  or  the  true  and 
false  May  beetles.  These,  in  the  larvae  state, 
are  well  known  to  be  underground  vegetari- 
ans, and  their  ample,  rotund  forms  show  that 
they  are  generous  feeders.  They  are,  more- 
over, to  be  found  in  those  soils  wherein  the 
potato  delights  to  grow.  I  presume  that  they 
are  too  mudi  like  ourselves  to  be  willing  to 
starve  in  the  midst  of  plenty,  without  making 
an  appropriation  of  a  part  of  the  crop  to  their 
own  use.  This  they  no  doubt  do;  but  they  do 
it  boldly,  and  as  of  their  right  to  do  it.  There 
is  no  thievish  pilfering,  nibbling  a  little  here 
and  a  little  there.  They  go  right  into  the  job, 
and  can  often  be  found  at  their  work  neatly 
ensconced  in  the  excavations  which  they  have 
eaten  in  the  tubers.  But  I  am  utterly  unable 
to  co-ordinate  these  larvfe  with  the  injury  of 
the  potato  specified  in  the  indictment,  and 
therefore  must  refer  the  question  back  to  the 
Moot  Court  for  your  further  investigation. 

Second.  Of  the  vnre  worm,  or  larvae  of  the 
click-beetle.  Here  I  must  reproduce  the  testi- 
mony of  our  esteemed  fellow  member,  W.  R. 
Shelmire,  and  the  comments  of  the  excellent 
editors  of  the  ^■l77i<^7-ico)i  Entomologist  (see  Vol. 
II,  p.  (32.)  But  without  having  the  advan- 
tage of  a  cross-examination  of  the  witness,  I 
fear  that  I  may  not  fully  comprehend  and  duly 
appreciate  his  testimony.  As  I  understand 
him,  he  charges  the  icire  loorm  with  injuries 
which  the  indictment  does  not  exactly  cover; 
viz:  that  it  eats  its  way,  and  enters  right  into 
the  tuber,  where  it  not  only  finds  an  ample 
supply  of  sweet,  palatable  food,  but  that  it  be- 
comes domiciled  therein  during  the  winter, 
ready  to  be  returned  to  the  soil  at  the  plant- 
ing season,  to  renew  its  annual  round  of  plea- 
sure and  of  destruction;  for  you  must  know 
that  both  the  white  grubs  and  the  icire  ivorms 
continue  several  years  in  the  larval  state.  I 
infer  this  to  be  the  tenor  of  the  bill  which  our 
witness  has  filed,  from  the  editorial  remarks 
above  referred  to,  and  from  which  I  will  read: 
"W.  R.  Shelmire,  Tough  Kenamon,  Pa.— 
The  elongate,  cylindrical,  horny,  mahogany- 
colored  worms,  nearly  an  inch  long,  that  bored 
up  so  badly  your  crop  of  Mercer  potatoes,  are 
a  very  common  species  of  wire  worm.  This 
particular  kind  produces  a  click  beetle  (Melo- 
notus  incertus.)  There  are  a  few  that  devour 
living  vegetable  matter,  and  are  great  pests 
to  the  farmer.  We  have  known  them  to  de- 
stroy the  young  corn  plants  to  a  grievous  ex- 
tent, gnawing  laterally  into  the  stem,  just  un- 
der the  surface  of  the  ground. 

"Your  neighbor  is  right  in  saying  that  if 


you  plant  these  worm-eaten  potatoes  they  will 
produce  wormy  potatoes  ;  that  is,  if  you  plant 
potatoes  with  the  wire  worm  in  them,  for  these 
wire  icorms  live  several  years  in  the  larvee 
state,  and  having  six  good  legs  of  their  own, 
they  would  readily  migrate  from  the  infected 
potato  sets  to  tlie  growing  potatoes.  You 
must  not  suppose,  however,  that  tcire  ivorms 
can  breed  ivire  icorms,  for  it  is  not  until  after 
the  larvaj  has  developed  into  the  click  beetle 
that  it  becomes  capable  of  propagating  its 
species.  There  are,  no  doubt,  plenty  of  them 
remaining  in  your  late  potato  ground.  Sow- 
ing six  bushels  of  salt  to  the  acre,  is  said  by 
one  of  the  best  farmers  in  England— Alder- 
man Mechi — to  destroy  all  the  ivire  worms  in 
the  salted  ground.  We  know  of  no  mode  but 
hand-picking  to  destroy  the  wire  vxirms  in 
your  potatoes  so  that  they  can  be  used  for 
seed." 

This  enemy  of  the  potato,  from  his  small 
size,  and  of  a  color  simulating  that  of  the  soil 
he  inhabits,  is  far  less  conspicuous  than  the 
May  beetle  larvse,  and  may  be  more  easily 
overlooked  ;  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
the  habit  of  nibbling  on  the  surface,  as 
the  bill  charges.  He  bolts  right  in  just 
as  his  and  our  Creator  designed  that  he 
should  do,  and,  as  I  have  said,  authorita- 
tively ai)propriates  the  whole  tuber  to  the 
double  purpose  of  affording  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  choice  food  and  a  comfortable  domicile 
for  the  long  and  dreary  winter  season,  with  a 
coach-and-six  to  carry  him  back  to  the  field 
on  the  return  of  spring. 

Here,  as  in  the  previous  case,  whatever  or 
however  great  his  offense  may  be,  I  think 
that  you  must  exonerate  him  from  the  spe- 
cific injury  mentioned  in  the  bill. 

Third.  "The  last  culprit  that  I  shall  arraign 
before  you  is  the  Fungus,  alias  whatever  you 
may  please  to  call  him,  for  he  has  thus  far 
withheld  his  name.  He  stands  accused  of 
the  very  mischief  we  have  been  considering. 
The  evidence  may  all  be  circumstantial,  but 
this  is  a  necessity  of  the  case,  for,  as  the  law 
is,  no  jury  can  receive  strictly  positive  testi- 
mony in  any  case.  I  must,  therefore  crave 
your  attention  to  the  following  views  : 

When  potatoes  are  eaten  by  larvae,  as  in  the 
preceding  cases,  and  the  injury  is  recent,  we 
find  the  flesh  of  the  tuber  fresh,  white, 
smooth,  and  inclining  to  heal  or  skin  over,  as 
we  observe  it  do  when  cut  with  a  knife  ;  yet 
who  has  ever  seen  such  an  appearance  in  the 
disease  before  us  ?  I  have  not ;  no,  never.  I 
have  sought  for  it  again  and  again,  but  with- 
out success.  On  the  contrary,  whenever  and 
wherever  I  have  seen  the  injury  which  we  are 
considering,  from  the  smallest  speck  up  to  the 
more  extensive  destruction  of  the  organic  tis- 
sue, the  appearance  has  constantly  been  the 
same.  Its  features  denote  its  parentage.  Its 
dark  complexion,  its  sunken  visage,  its  ragged 
dress,  its  erratic  habit,  all  indicate  a  per- 
nicious disease,  reminding  one  of  those  gan- 
grenous and  destructive  ulcers  so  often  seen  in 
crowded  and  ill-ventilated  hospitals,  and  simi- 
lar places,  from  the  action  of  morbific  spores, 
which  empoison  their  atmosphere.  Indeed, 
the  aspect  is  similar,  the  parallel  so  complete, 
as  to  strongly  suggest  a  consimilar  origin. 

It  appears  to  be  "admitted  that  if  we  plant 
diseased  tubers  we  may  expect  to  grow  diseased 
potatoes,  even  where  "there  are  no  wire  worms 
present.  Such  as  men  sow,  such  shall  they 
reap.  If  the  disease  were  a  mere  bite,  I  would 
ask  how  could  that  bite  be  propagated,  and,  if 
so,  how  can  we  expect  to  raise  whole  potatoes 
when  we  only  plant  pieces  ?  To  me  it  seems 
that  there  is  a  si>ecific  diseased  action  produced 
in  the  tuber  by  whatever  cause,  which  is  capa- 
ble of  producing  the  same  kind  of  action  in  the 
new  potato,  either  through  the  tissues  of  the 
plant  or  through  the  soil. 

Again,  it  has  been  pretty  fully  ascertained 
that  there  is  something  lefX  remaining  in  the 
soil  where  diseased  roots  have  been  grown  that 
is  capable  of  affecting  healthy  potatoes  planted 
therein  the  following  year  in  a  similar  manner. 
I  once  planted  selected  potat(jes  in  the  same 
ground  for  four  successive  years.  The  number 
of  diseased  tubers  rapidly  increased  from  year 


to  year,  until  the  last  year  half  the  crop  was 
destroyed. 

An  intelligent  and  observant  friend  of  mine 
planted  a  few  rows  of  potatoes  across  his  lot. 
They  proved  to  be  a  good  deal  injured.  The 
next  jear  he  planted  the  same  ground,  with  a 
corresponding  strip  alongside,  which  had  been 
cultivated  in  some  other  sort  of  crop  the  pre- 
ceding year.  The  result  was,  the  crop  in  the 
old  potato  ground  was  almost  worthless, while 
that  in  the  contiguous  portion  was  only  slightly 
affected.  All  the  conditions  of  soil,  culture, 
manure  and  seed  were  similar. 

We  know  that  insect  depredators  do  often 
manifest  wonderful  discriminating  powers  in 
the  selection  of  their  food.  But  the  Fungi, 
which  constitute  a  still  more  predaceous  class, 
are  in  a  much  greater  ratio  selective  in  the 
choice  of  their  food,  as  well  as  in  the  places  for 
their  nidiflcation.  They  are,  indeed,  so  numer- 
ous and  so  discriminating  that  almost  every 
plant  appears  to  have  some  specific  fungoid 
growth  peculiar  to  itself. 

The  thing  under  discussion  may  yet  prove 
itself  to  be  a  Fungus  peculiar  to  the  potato,  and 
not  to  be  found  anywhere  else. 

The  ultimate  appeal  must  probably  be  made 
to  the  higher  powers  of  the  microscope  to  de- 
termine the  essential  nature  of  this  obscure 
and  mysterious  affection. 

So  long  as  the  cause  and  nature  of  the  mis- 
chief is  unknown,  so  long  its  prophylactic  and 
remedial  treatment  will  be  empirical  and  un- 
satisfactory. But  let  us  not  despair.  What- 
ever hypothesis  we  may  adopt,  it  ought  to  sug- 
gest something  as  wortliy  of  trial. 

From  what  has  been  already  said  it  may  be 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  plant  none  but 
the  most  perfect  and  clear  tubers,  and  to  avoid 
rei)lanting  the  old  potato  grounds. 

It  may  also  be  prudent  not  to  plant  those 
varieties  which  have  been  found  most  obnox- 
ious to  the  disease. 

If  the  germs  inhere  in,  and  are  liable  to  be 
planted  with,  the  potato,  and  I  think  tliat  is 
the  correct  view,  it  would  seem  to  suggest  the 
use  of  some  means  for  disinfection  of  the  seed 
before  plantijig. 

For  this  purpose  I  would  recommend  the 
trial  of  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid  in  water,  of 
such  strength  as  the  tubers  will  bear  without 
injury.  The  proper  strength  can  only  be  as- 
certained by  careful  trials.  Thus  :  Take  car- 
bolic acid — an  ounce  ;  water — a  gallon  ;  mix 
when  ready  to  plant ;  immerse  the  setts  in  the 
solution  for  five  minutes ;  then  remove  and 
rinse  the  acid  off  before  planting. 

As  the  Fungi  are  mostly  found  in  connection 
withdiseased,  ordead  and  decomposing  organic 
substances,  from  which  they  may  sometimes 
pass  over  to  healthy,  living  organisms,  it  may 
be  a  question  worthy  of  your  consideration : 
How  far  the  fertilizers  used,  may  have  aided  in 
the  productionofthedisea.se?  To  what  extent 
was  it  known  before  their  introduction  ?  And 
how  far  has  it  been  increased  under  this  use  V 
The  complexity  of  the  subject,  and  the  extent 
of  the  traverse  must  be  my  apology  for  the  pro- 
lixity of  my  answer. 

SUPPLEMENTARY. 

Wearisome  as  this  extended  report  may  be, 
the  end  is  not  j'et.  After  it  was  written,  it  oc- 
curred to  me  tosend  a  specimen  of  the  diseased 
potato  to  my  excellent  friend  Dr.  Gibbons  Hunt, 
one  of  the  most  profound  observers  and  expert 
microscopists  in  Philadel])hia,  for  his  examina- 
tion ;  remarking  at  the  time,  "  That  the  my- 
celium, and  stroma  of  the  fungus  could  better, 
and  perhaps  only,  be  observed  in  the  earlier, 
and  growing  state  of  the  plant." 

I  will  now  read  you  his  report : 

Philadelphia,  13th  mo.  17,  1875. 

Dr.  Michener — ^^y  Respected  Friend :  Thy  note 
of  the  15th  inst.,  and  also  the  potato,  came  duly  to 
me.  I  have  felt  an  interest  in  the  subject  of  the  dis- 
eases of  the  potato,  and  therefore  have  taken  some 
pains  to  examine  the  afflicted  tuber  thee  sent  me.  A 
superficial  or  external  examination  of  the  diseased 
spots,  under  a  lens,  magnifying  from  thirty  to  fifty 
diameters,  reveals  but  little  that  is  intelligible.  A 
number  of  dark,  opaque  pellets,  which  I  interpi-et  to 
be  the  alimentary  exuvia  of  some  larva,  readily 
came  into  view.  I  consider  them  to  be  of  that  char- 
iicter,  because,  when  put  into  water,  under  a  micro- 
scope, and  submitted  to  pressure,  they  easily  dislnte- 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


37 


grate,  and  prcspiit  a  boliavior  unlike  that  of  any  or- 
ganized rcproduotivo  liody. 

Not  rcmaininef  sat isfR'd,  however,  with  so  superfi- 
cial an  examination,  I  placed  a  well  marked  portion 
of  the  potato,  whieli  was  delective,  in  my  section 
machine,  and  sliced  off  several  extremely  thin  sec- 
tions, extending  entirely  across  a  s])ot,  and  enihrac- 
insT,  also,  a  wide  niari^in  of  ai)parently  sound  potato. 
These  thin  slices,  I  now  tinlcd  slii;litly  with  a  solu- 
tion of  loi^wood,  then  I  soakeil  llicin  in  ijlycerine. 
Tliis  treatment  caused  all  tlie  air  tii  come  out  of  the 
shrivelled  cells:  made  all  tlie  parts  very  transparent; 
and  the  color  was  just  sullicient  to  render  tlie  most 
delicate  morpholoi;ieal  elements  optically  viRil)lc. 

Now,  these  prepared  sections,  under  a  jiower  ;;ivinir 
a  linear  ainplilication  of  300,  revealed  clearly  enough 
the  character  of  the  disease.  The  cells  adjacent  to 
the  excavated  spots  are  all  shrunken,  broken,  and 
collapsed;  and  this  alteration  of  fur  in  in  tlie  cells,  ex- 
tends to  a  considerahle  distance  into  the  potato.  Not 
only  is  the  change  in  the  form  of  the  cells,  hut  an 
eiiual  destruction  has  taken  place  in  the  cell  mnlcnls. 
In  healthy  i>otatoes,  the  iclls  arc  tilled  with  normal 
starch  grains,  which  a  little  iodine,  or  the  use  of 
polarized  light,  will  distiiiiruisli  from  all  other  or- 
ganic products.  Now,  a  wide  zone  of  cells,  surrounding 
the  diseased  spot,  presents  all  the  cells  ici^Aei'/  starch, 
or,  when  a  few  starch  grains  are  left  renuiiniiig,  their 
structure  is  greatly  altered,  and  the  surface,  natu- 
rally even  and  polished,  is  uneven  and  granular.  It 
would  not  he  possible  for  an  insect  to  reach  the  starch 
cells  so  far  from  the  diseased  spot .  At  a  still  greater 
distance  into  the  potato,  the  cells  and  their  contents 
are  quite  natural. 

Under  this  amplitication,  the  potato  cells  are  very 
large,  and  many  of  them,  near  the  points  of  disease, 
were  crowded  with  beatl-like  rows  of  cells  of  un- 
doubted fungoid  character;  anil  many  threads  of 
separate  mycelial  fdarncnts  (of  course  dead)  1  could 
trace  among  the  cells,  and  still  adhering  to  their 
transparent  walls. 

I  could  not  detect  any  object,  in  the  present  dried 
state  of  the  parasite,  any  representative  body  which 
I  could  call  a  spore,  unless  the  tf'riniuiil  cell  in  the 
beaded  rows  were  such  a  body.  I  did  observe,  how- 
ever, in  very  many  otherwise  empty  cells,  large,  dark 
colored,  oval  or  round,  cells,  transiucent,  and  having 
one,  or  more,  distinct  nuclei,  in  thera.  Perhaps  these 
bodies  are  the  oogonia,  or  resting  spores,  or  winter 
spores  of  the  fungus. 

I  have  little  doubt  that  the  disease  is  caused  by  the 
Peronospura  iiifcstnnii,  an  old  enemy  of  all  the  sola- 
nac?e.  Some  very  interesting  jiajjers  on  this  subject 
have  appeared  recently  in  the  publications  of  the 
Hoyal  Horticultural  Society,  the  Oarilcncr'a  Chroni- 
cle for  July  10,  1875,  and  Monthlij  Micru.-ii'opical  Jour- 
nal for  September  of  this  year;  by  Berkely,  Worth- 
iugton,  G.  Smith,  and  others.  In  the  last  journal, 
figures  ofthe  oogonia  are  given,  and  they  hear  a  re- 
semblance to  the  bodies  to  be  seen  in  the  potato  thee 
sent  me.  I  cannot,  however,  speak  certainly,  in  re- 
gard to  the  identity  of  this  fungus,  because  it  is  not 
now  in  a  living  condition,  and  more  time  would  be 
necessary  for  the  study.  These  few  imperfect  obser- 
vations are  all  I  can  send  thee  at  present.  If  oppor- 
tunity and  material  should  otl'er,  in  the  coming  sea- 
son, I  will  more  carefully  examine  the  subject. "Very 
respectfully,  /.  O.  Hunt,  M.D.,  12  Xortli  Tenth 
street^  Philadelphia. 


For  The  L.\ncaster  Farmer 

BAY  WINDOWS  FOR  WINTER 
FLOWERS. 

Bay  window.s  are  now  very  fashionable,  and 
are  admirably  suited  for  growing  handsome 
pot  plants  in  winter.  A  stage,  with 
shelves,  may  be  made  in  the  form  of  the 
inside  of  the  window,  and  set  upon  castors. 
In  the  daytime  it  may  be  jiushed  close  to  the 
glass  for  light,  and  if  nights  are  very  cold  the 
stage  may  be  drawn  into  the  parlor,  and 
turned  with  the  plants  inward.  Gas  then 
should  not  be  much  Inirned  in  the  parlor,  as 
it  is  injurious  to  the  plants.  When  there 
is  a  party,  and  the  parlor  is  lighted  for  a  few 
hours  only,  it  will  not  injure  the  plants.  The 
stage,  then,  with  the  plants  facing  inwards, 
will  look  very  ornamental,  and  the  ]iei'fumos 
of  the  fragrant  plants  will  scent  the  attiiospherc 
of  the  parlor.  Many  choice  plants  will  Mmirish 
in  bay  windows  which  would  die  in  jiarlors 
with  stiuare  windows.  During  day  time  they 
may  be  shut  out  from  the  parlor  air  liy  light 
doors;  then  fresh  air  can  be  adniilted  by 
moveable  panes  in  tlie  windows.  \\'hen  bay 
windows  are  on  the  north  side  of  houses,  tliey 
will  be  best  for  growing  jialms,  ferns,  peri- 
winkle, ivy,  etc.  Nearly  ;ill  the  fancy  plants, 
set  in  vases,  rustic  stands,  ferneries,  hanging 
baskets,  etc.,  may  thrive  in  northern  bay  win- 
dows ;  so  they  should  be  decorated  with  such 
plants  and  ornainents. — Eden. 


For  Thk  Lancahtkr  Farmkr. 

HUMMING    BI  RDS. 
{Family  Truchlllila:) 

(roNCLUDKO.) 

Considerable  discrepancy  prevails  among 
authors  ;is  to  llie  period  recpiired  to  hatch  the 
eggs.  Audubon  gives  it  as  ten  days  in  the 
case  of  the  Ruby  Tliii>at  ;  others  v;iiy  tlie 
time  from  Iwevc  to  si,Ktcen  days:  the  fact  is, 
the  lime  v;iries  willi  the  .size  of  the  birds.  !«•- 
ing  longer  in  the  largest  species  and  shorter  in 
the  siii;iller  ones.  Auilitlioii  also  says  the 
young  are  ready  to  lly  in  a  week.  This  is  an 
error,  we  think,  on  the  part  of  our  great  orni- 
thologist. They  are  born  blind  and  miked, 
and  altliotigh  they  grow  rai)idly,  double  the 
time  ;illowcd  them  by  otu"  author  is  rei(uire<l 
before  they  leave  the  nest.  Here  again,  no 
doubt,  the  time  varies  with  the  size  of  the 
bird.  The  young  ones  are  fed  ;ifter  the  man- 
ner of  pigeons  aiul  canaries,  by  llirustinglhiMr 
needle-like  bills  into  the  mouths  of  the  liarent 
birds,  and  thus  rec(^iving  the  contents  of  their 
crops.  The  iirocess  of  incul);ition  is  c;irried 
on  both  by  the  male  and  fem:ile. 

Two  broods  are  comnioiily  produced  in  a 
season  by  our  beautiful  reiinsylvania  species, 
which  arrives  here  ;ibout  the  middle  of  April 
and  leaves  us  near  tin'  close  of  Si-pleinber.  In 
the  West  Indies  and  South  Anieric;i,  howi'ver, 
three  and  four  families  ;ire  raised  in  a  year. 
There  the  period  of  nidilieation  runs  through 
the  whoU'  twelve  months.  Mr.  (iosse  inforins 
us  that  in  Jamaica  he  found  their  nests  with 
young  ones  during  every  month  of  the  year, 
but  they  were  more  plentiful  during  the  month 
of  .June  tlian  at  any  other  time.  Other  authors 
mentiiui  .laiuuiry  to  be  the  favorite  period  for 
incubation  in  tropical  South  America.  While 
hatching,  the  female  sits  very  clo.sely,  and  will 
permit  the  near  approach  of  a  person  if  made 
quietly  ;  indeed,  .sometimes  she  will  almost 
allow  herself  to  be  taken  ere  she  quits  thenest; 
even  when  building,  she  iiermits  a  watcher  to 
remain  within  a  few  feet  of  the  .scene  of  her 
operations  without  exlul)iting  any  distrust  or 
alarm.  If,  however,  much  molested  while  in- 
cubating, or  even  after  the  chicks  are  out  of 
the  eggs,  she  sometimes  removes  them  to  an- 
other place.  In  this,  Ilumining  birds  are  not 
peculiar,  as  a  number  of  other  birds  are  known 
to  do  likewise  under  similar  circumstances. 
Two  Humming  birds'  nests  are  rarely  found  in 
the  same  vicinity.  Their  incubation  is  never 
enlivened  by  the  presence  of  strangers.  They 
exhibit  much  exclusiveness  in  this  particular. 
Neither  are  they  gregarious  in  a  general  sense. 
They  never  congregate  in  .social  groups  ;  they 
are  sometimes  seen  together  in  large  luniibers, 
in  the  tropics,  around  the  llowers  of  some  favo- 
rite tree,  but  even  then  only  in  search  of  food; 
each  individu;U  Conies  singly  anil  departs  alone. 

In  laying  onl.v  two  eggs,  the  Hummers  I'orm 
au  exception  to  the  almost  universal  liiw  that 
obtains  among  feral  birds,  that  the  number  of 
eggs  is  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  tlie  birdsthat 
lay  them.  In  the  larger  tribes,  we  almost  in- 
variably find  the  eggs  to  be  few.  while  they  are 
much  more  numerous  in  the  smaller  ones.  A 
little  retlection  will  let  us  into  this  secret  of 
nature.  If  the  natural  increase  of  raptorial 
birds  was  as  great  as  that  of  the  sm;iller  tribes 
which  constitute  their  jirincipal  prey,  that  nice 
equilibrium  which  obtains  in  nature  would  be 
destroyed,  and  the  rapacious  kinds  literally 
swarni,  while  the  rest  would  graduallv  dimi- 
nish in  numbers,  and  jierhaps  ultinnitely  be- 
come extinct.  Humming  birds,  from  their 
minute  size,  their  extraordiiuiry  rapidity  of 
wins,  and  their  indomitable  coiu-ige,  ;ue  ex- 
emiil  from  most  of  the  dangers  that  continu- 
ally menace  the  sparrows  and  linches.  There- 
fore, while  they  l:iy  only  two  eggs,  they  are 
far  more  abundant  in  .Vnierica  than  the  wren  is 
in  Europe,  although  the  littler  lays  from  twelve 
to  twenty  eggs. 

If  the"  natural  enemies  of  the  Humming 
birds  are  few,  Iherc  is  yet  one  whose  ravages 
1  of  late  years  have  far  exceeded  all  the  rest 
combined.  Man  has  l)egun  liis  career  of  de- 
vastation amid  their  ranks,  and  at  tlie  beck  of 
the  Moloch  of  Fashion,  countless  thousands  are 
now  yearly  destroyed  to  decorate  female  head- 


gear. Since  the  first  part  of  this  article  wiis 
written,  at  a  sale  of  orn;nneutal  birds  and 
feathers  held  in  London  last  month,  no  less 
than  lifleen  thous;iiid  of  the.>*e  beautiful  crea- 
tines were  sold;  seven  hundred  and  forty  be- 
longed to  a  single  sjiecies.  This  is,  perliaps, 
not  :>  tentli  part  of  the  number  wantonly  de- 
stroyed every  year.  Has  the  world  been  made 
wiser  or  Ix'tter  or  more  humane  In'cause  of 
this  imrestricted  sliiiigiiter  V  II;is  not,  on  the 
conlniry,  .so  much  Ix-auty  and  liappiiipss  In'en 
taken  out  of  it,  and  will  the  most  slavish 
votary  of  fashion  pretend  tluit  tlie  lifeless  bird 
fastene<l  on  her  wearing  ajiparel,  can  confer 
on  any  one  a  tittie  of  the  pleasure  that  would 
be  felt  at  seeing  it  disporting  in  unrestrained 
hajipiness  in  its  native  wikis,  full  of  life  and 
beauty  iind  jfiy  V 

In  the  matter  of  geographical  distribution, 
the  Trocliilida-  present  .some  striking  jieculi- 
aritii's.  Swallows  and  Falcons  are  <'onimon 
to  all  countries  on  the  glolie.  Australia  alone 
has  no  Woodpeikers ;  .Magpies  range  the 
woiid  over  in  liniiieiiite  kititudes.  but  tlie 
Iluniiniug  birds,  the  most  numerous  family  in 
the  world,  are  conlined  to  this  continent  and 
its  adjacent  iskinds,  and  tlie  large  majority  of 
the  species  to  the  torrid  zone.  C'omiiaratively 
few  migrate  Ijeyond  the  wiirmer  latitudes ; 
this  is  not  very  wonderful,  but  it  is  very  sur- 
prising that  such  as  do  leave  tlic  tropic  heats, 
penetrate  to  the  regions  of  snow  and  ice.  (.)ur 
own  viiriety,  the  Kuby-throat,  has  lieen  found 
as  far  north  as  the  ijlst  degree  of  latitude, 
while  another  species  (T.  Forjiattun)  has  a 
range  southward  of  •>,-)00  miles  and  is  often 
.seen  Hilling  through  tlip  snow  storms  of  Terra 
del  Fuego,  as  blithely  as  in  the  w;irm,  dry 
climate  of  I'eru.  Von  Tschudi,  as  (pioted  by 
Iltimlioldl  in  bis  "Aspects  of  Nature,"'  saw 
them  on  the  Andes  at  an  elevation  of  14,(itK) 
feel,  while  Houreicr  tbuiid  them  breeiiing  on 
the  rockv  sides  of  Chiiiiborazo,  at  a  height  of 
10,000  feet,  while  sheltering  himself  from  a 
violent  .snow  storm.  In  view  of  tliese  facts, 
and  many  simikir  ones  we  might  mention,  wc 
liavi-  sonic  dilliculty  in  reconciling  with  them 
Wilson's  statement,  when  he  tells  us  they  are 
extremely  susceptible  to  cold,  and  of  which 
thetny  he  gives  us  a  supposed  case  in  his  very 
charming  and  valuable  work. 

If,  however,  a  wide  migration  characterizes 
a  few  species  only,  and  of  which  we  have  just 
given  instances,"  the  welj-delined  and  ex- 
traordinary localization  that  marks  so  many 
of  the  faiiiily  is  almost  iiuomalous  among  the 
aves.  Altlio'us;li  gifted  with  such  rare  powers 
of  wing,  the  h;ibitat  of  some  is  exceedingly 
circumscribed  ;  a  mountain,  a  valley,  a  wood, 
a  marsh,  an  island,  and  even  the  crater  of  an 
extinct  volcano  oft-times  liasa  sitecial  resident- 
siiecies,  even  though  these  districts  may  lie 
only  a  few  miles  in  area;  this  seems  all  the 
more  incomiirehcnsible  to  us  when  we  retlect 
how  widely  migratory  others  are.  That  the 
m.ajor  ])art  of  this  nlimerous  tribe  should  be 
found  within  the  tropics,  wecanea,sily  under- 
stand, because  there  their  food,  both  animal 
and  veget;ible,  is  most  abundant  and  constant, 
but  this  rigorous  local  distriliution  within  the 
tropics  themselves,  is  haril  to  understand.  It  is 
unkuowuwhetlier  migrations  of  the  few  extra- 
tropii-al  species  are  performed  during  the 
night  or  in  tlie  davtime;  from  their  incon- 
siderable size  this  "question  will  prove  very 
dillietilt  of  verilication  ;  neither  do  we  know 
whether  these  journeys  are  made  .separately 
or  in  company ;  perhaps  the  former,  a.s  they 
have  never  been  obsened  to  manifest  gregari- 
ous habits,  even  when  the  time  for  their  de- 
parture has  come. 

All  ;ittenipts  to  keep  these  birds  in  a  state  of 
conlineineut  for  anv  considerable  period  have 
hitherto  failed.  A  few  mouths,  at  most,  are 
all  these  (lelic;ite  creatures  are  able  to  bear  ; 
interesting  experiments,  bearing  on  this  ques- 
tion, have  been  tried  by  AVilson  and  others. 
In  a  single  instance  were  two  young  ones 
taken  to  I-:urope  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, but  they  died  soon  after  reaching 
there.  Even  the  non-migratory  species  refuse 
to  thrive  under  such  a  life  in  their  native 
regions.    Sugar  and  honey  are  the  principal 


38 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[March 


articles  of  food  given  them  when  caged,  and 
on  this  exclusive  diet  they  linger  through  two 
or  three  months,  but  then  they  become  emaci- 
ated and  exhausted,  droop  and  die.  Sweet, 
liquid  food  alone  is  not  sufficient  to  snstain 
them  ;  the  lack  of  insect  food,  to  which  they 
are  accustomed  in  a  state  of  nature,  invari- 
ably brings  on  the  final  catastrophe.  This  fact 
is  the  best  proof,  if,  indeed,  proof  were  needed, 
to  sliow  how  largely  insectiverous  they  are. 
Some  species  bear  their  brief  confinement 
more  patiently  than  otliers  ;  they  seem  recon- 
ciled from  the  first  to  tiie  change  of  circum- 
stances, and  make  few  efforts  to  escape ; 
others,  again,  vainly  beat  against  their  prison 
walls  nntil  they  become  exhausted,  and  in 
this  way  often  kill  themselves  ;  a  few  manifest 
a  sullen  disposition  and  mope  and  die  ere 
many  days.  Mr.  Gosse,  to  whose  accurate  and 
long  continued  oljserv'ations  we  owe  much  of 
our  knowledge  concerning  these  winged  sprites, 
states  that  when  turned  loose  in  a  large  room, 
they  spend  nuich  time  in  insect  catching ; 
they  dart  from  their  perch,  then  the  snap  of 
their  bills  indicates  a  capture,  when  they 
again  resume  their  accustomed  place  of  rest ; 
on  an  average,  tln'ee  were  captured  each 
minute,  although  more  would  have  been  had 
they  been  more  abundant. 

Nature  is  wise  in  the  distribution  of  her 
gifts.  To  the  thrush,  the  mocking-bird  and 
the  nightingale  she  has  given  the  sweet  charm 
of  melody,  but  a  homely  garb.  On  the  Hum- 
ming-birds— those  tiny  sprites — she  has  con- 
ferred the  rainljow  hues  of  beauty,  but  has 
denied  the  enti-ancing  gift  of  song.  Their 
usual  utterance  is  a  faint  twitter  or  an  un- 
musical chirp,  uttered  chiefly  while  on  the 
wing  ;  oftener,  however,  they  are  mute.  Sev- 
eral species  are  said  to  trill  forth  an  indiffer- 
ent song,  but  this  statement  recjuires  further 
investigation. 

The  Trochilidse  seem  gifted  with  an  average 
amount  of  intelligence.  The  curiosity  they 
often  manifest  indicates  this.  If  struck  at 
■while  on  tlie  wing,  or  if  their  capture  is  at- 
tempted with  a  net,  they  will  frequently  turn 
and  hover  about  the  enemy,  peer  into  his  face 
and  dart  around  the  net,  evincing  much  in- 
terest and  curiosity.  Human  ajijiroaches  to 
their  nests  also  awaken  a  like  incpiisitiveness. 
Tlieir  sense  of  sight  seems  strongly  devel- 
oped. The  fact  that  the  insects  which  they  cap- 
ture on  the  wing  are  often  almost  microscopic 
proves  this  ;  indeed,  all  their  actions,  whether 
flying  or  sitting,  are  confirmatory  of  it.  So, 
too,  we  may  say  of  their  sense  of  taste.  When 
we  consider  how  much  of  their  sustenance  is 
drawn  from  tlie  deep-tubed  flowers,  with  their 
bifid  tongue,  and  wliere  their  sight  avails 
them  notliing,  and  they  are  wholly  dependent 
upon  their  sense  of  touch  and  taste,  we  can- 
not avoid  the  conclusion  that  their  tongue  is 
an  extremely  delicate  and  sensitive  organ. 

It  would,  jierhaps,  be  trenching  too  closely 
on  the  borderland  of  imagination  to  suppose, 
as  some  have  done,  that  Humming-birds  find 
pleasure  in  the  mere  odors  of  the  flowers 
among  which  they  spend  so  much  of  their 
lives.  We  are  not  persuaded  tliat  their 
sesthetical  tastes  are  so  highly  developed ; 
we  believe  their  presence  in  those  localities  is 
attributable  to  a  far  more  utilitarian  object — 
the  searcli  for  food.  Tlie  sense  of  smell  is 
very  inferior  in  all  birds.  Aububon  and 
Bachman's  experiments  ])roved  conclusively 
that  even  the  common  vulture  possessed  it  in 
a  very  limited  degree,  if  at  all,  although  its 
ways  of  life  would  indicate  the  contrary,  and 
general  opinion  has  credited  him  with  highly 
sensitive  olfiictories. 

With  the  exception  of  a  single  species,  the 
food  of  the  Hummers,  whether  nectar  or  in- 
sects, is  taken  on  the  wing.  Bullock  relates 
that  T.  Gigas  sometimes  alights  on  the  flower 
from  which  it  is  feeding.  Wlien  searcliing 
for  food  they  often  give  themselves  a  brief 
rest ;  they  perch  upon  some  slight  twig,  eitlier 
of  tree  or  shrub,  and  carefully  preen  their 
plumage,  seldom  moving  from  tlie  spot  where 
they  first  sat  down.  It  has  been  denied  tliat 
their  food  is  ever  taken  near  the  ground,  but 
this  is  incorrect :  we  have  seen  it  skinmiing 


the  surface  of  small,  shallow  ponds,  catching 
the  small  insect  triljes  tliat  frequent  them. 

Although  theiv  usual  flight  is  not  very  ele- 
vated, tliey  occasionally  dart  upward  on  rapid 
wing  to  a  height  of  pcrliaps  four  or  five  liun- 
dred  feet,  wlien  the  sight  can  no  longer  follow 
them.  They  seldom  alight  on  the  ground,  so 
rarely,  indeed,  that  some  ornithologists  contend 
Swifts  and  Humming  birds  are  the  only  birds 
that  never  do  so.  A  well  known  authority 
asserts  that  he  shot  it  while  at  rest  in  that 
position,  and  we  see  no  reason  to  distrust  his 
statement,  as  his  opportunities  for  studying 
their  habits  in  their  native  wilds  have  never 
been  surjiassed. 

Both  in  confinement  and  in  their  natural 
state,  they  often  select  a  particular  spot  on 
which  to  sleep  or  rest,  and  generally  continue 
to  frequent  it  for  these  purposes,  and  are  driven 
from  it  with  much  reluctance;  fly-catchers  also 
manifest  strong  predilections  for  certain  limbs 
and  twigs,  frequenting  them  from  day  to  day, 
and  using  tliem  as  places  from  whence  to  make 
their  sallies,  and  retm-ning  to  them  when  their 
momentary  raids  are  over. 

Tliey  are  among  the  most  pugnacious  of  all 
birds.  When  two  males  meet  at  a  favorite 
fiower  bush,  a  desperate  battle  is  almost  cer- 
tain to  ensue,  and  is  well  worth  seeing.  The 
celerity  of  their  movements  during  these  en- 
counters almost  baffles  the  keenest  vision. 
They  seem  to  take  pleasure  in  molesting  other 
birds  without  having  received  provocation. 
They  care  little  how  large  their  antagonist 
may  be,  but  unhesitatingly  attack  birds  ten 
times  larger  than  themselves.  They  also  de- 
light in  teasing  the  larger  humble  bees,  but 
when  these  become  infuriated  in  their  turn,  as 
they  sometimes  do,  and  turn  upon  their  annoy- 
ing adversaries,  the  Ilmuming  birds  beat  a 
hasty  and  inglorious  retreat.  In  sleeping,  their 
heads  are  drawn  back  and  buried  among  the 
dorsal  feathers.  They  clasp  the  perch  "very 
firmly,  for  their  claws  are  unusually  sharp  and 
strong. 

In  the  tropics,  they  pay  frequent  visits  to 
the  extended  webs  of  spiders,  in  search  of  the 
small  entangled  files  to  be  found  there.  This 
habit  has  given  rise  to  the  belief  that  a  bird- 
catching  race  of  spiders  made  sad  havoc  with 
these  living  sunbeams,  but  later  and  truer 
knowledge  has  long  since  exploded  this  theory. 
Xo  spider  known  spins  a  web  tliat  can  hold 
for  a  moment  even  the  tiniest  Humming-bird. 
Even  Limiceus  held  this  belief. 

The  Sun  Birds  (Cinnyrido')  of  Asia  and 
Africa  seem  to  represent,  in  some  degree,  on 
the  eastern  continent,  the  Humming  birds  of 
America,  both  in  size  and  brilliant  plumage, 
liut  yet  the  generic  differences  are  broad 
and  marked ;  they  are  also  insectiverous,  but 
apart  from  these  general  points  of  resem- 
blance there  is  no  affinity  whatever  between 
them. 

From  the  impossibility  of  keeping  these 
beautiful,  fairy-like  creatures  in  confinement, 
nothing  is  definitely  known  concerning  the 
duration  of  their  lives ;  we  are  aware,  how- 
ever, that  ill  most,  if  not  all  the  species,  the 
males  attain  their  perfect  plumage  only  in  the 
second  and  third  years,  which  fact,  in  an  ana- 
logical point  of  view,  leads  us  to  believe  they 
are  not  so  short-lived  as  their  size  and  ap- 
parent delicacy  would  indicate. 

We  advise  our  readers  who  feel  an  interest 
in  tills  family  of  birds,  to  watch  the  arrival  of 
our  usual  sjjring  visitant;  he  will  surely  be 
here  in  ^Vjnil,  unless  the  weatlier  sliould  be 
unusually  inclement :  lie  will  even  ignore  cold 
toes  and  slight  snow  storms  rather  than  not 
be  here  on  time ;  he  will  also  come  in  such 
numbers  as  to  afford  every  reader  of  The 
Farmer  ample  opportunities  to  verify  all  we 
have  said  about  him,  and  perhaps  other  and 
hitherto  unknown  facts  al.so.  By  carefully 
observing  his  arrival  at  and  departure  from 
the  flower  garden,  the  locality  of  this  self- 
taught  architect's  summer  residence  may  be 
easily  discovered.  An}'  attention  that  you 
give  to  his  ways  of  life  and  general  economy, 
will  be  amply  rewarded  in  a  large  return  of 
pleasant  and  useful  knowledge,  and  a  more 
profound  reverence  for  the  great  Author  of  all 


things,  who,  through  such  apparently  insignifi- 
cant means,  has  rendered  efficient  aid  to  the 
husbandman  in  his  "struggle  for  existence," 
and  conferred  upon  us  all  the  happy  privilege 
of  gratifying,  in  unstinted  measure,  our 
heaven-born  sense  of  the  beautiful. — F.  B. 
Diffenderffer,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
APPLES  AND  THEIR  VARIETIES. 
Apples  have  been,  generally,  keeping  re- 
markably well  the  present  fall  and  winter.  I 
have  kept,  even  late  summer  and  fall  apples, 
up  to  this  date,  February  7th,  1876.  They 
should  be  kept  in  a  temperature  of  thirty-five 
to  forty  degrees  above  the  freezing  point,  and 
in  a  dry  place.  We  have  many  new  varieties 
which  are  foreign  to  our  soil  and  climate,  and 
which  will  not  do  as  well  as  some  of  our  own 
old  varieties — varieties  that  are  to  some  ex- 
tent discarded,  perhaps,  only  because  they  are 
old.  I  have  asked  a  nurseryman  for  the  old 
"Pennsylvania  Red-streak,"  but  he  said  he 
had  none  to  sell— left  them  all  run  out — yet  it 
is  this  day,  in  my  locality,  one  of  our  best  va- 
rieties. I  have  some  of  them  at  this  writing. 
The  tree  is  a  fast  grower  and  an  early  bearer. 
It  also  bears  every  year  and  is  one  of  the  apples 
for  profit.  The  "Found  Apple"  is  equally 
good,  and  needs  no  commenclation  from  me. 
The  "Krauser"  is  a  native  apple  of  Bucks 
county — rather  a  fast  grower  and  early  bearer, 
in  alternate  seasons  ;  a  good  sized  tree  will 
produce  from  fifteen  to  twenty  bushels,  or 
more,  every  other  year ;  a  very  good  apple, 
white,  and  juicy  inside.  The  "  York  Im- 
perial "  is  a  new  apple,  from  York  county,  Pa. 
It  is,  probably,  a  seedling  of  the  "Pennock," 
being  of  the  same  shape  but  not  so  large,  and 
a  brighter  red  in  color ;  also  a  fast  grower,  an 
early  bearer,  and  a  good  keeping  apple  ;  a  little 
rough  grained.  The  "  House- Apple, "  an  old 
Lancaster  county  variety,  is  now  rarely  seen, 
if  it  has  not  become  entirely  extinct  as  a  va- 
riety of  general  culture.  There  is,  however,  one 
tree  so  near  my  premises  that  you  can  throw 
an  apple  from  it  on  my  land.  It  had  twenty- 
two  bushels  of  perfect  apples  on  it  last  season, 
and  I  had  some  on  exhibition  at  the  February 
meeting  of  the  Society.  They  will  keep  until 
spring,  yet  it  is  an  apple  that  is  almost  for- 
gotten. I  will  mention  some  of  the  new 
varieties  which  I  commenced  to  plant  some 
years  ago:  The  Baldwin,  Hubbertson  Non- 
such, Griest's  Winter,  Smith's  Cider,  Russet, 
Domini,  Green  Sweeting,  Talmon's  Sweet, 
Twenty-Ounce,  Khig  of  Tompkins,Cambridge, 
Wagner,  Black  Gilly-flower,  Northern  Spy, 
Muuson's Sweet,  ISIonmouth  Pippin,  and  Berks 
County  Cider.  I  graft  Russet  on  the  Hubbert- 
son  Nonsuch ;  it  is  a  strong  grower  and  a  good 
bearer ;  a  large  dark  red  apple,  very  ornamental 
on  the  tree,  but  not  a  good  keeper  with  me. 
Berks  County  Cider  is  a  good  sized  red  apple, 
a  good  grower,  and  a  young  bearer  ;  it  keeps 
well  up  to  the  presenttime,  and  is  worthy  of 
cultivation  in  Lancaster  county.  The  Baldwin 
is  a  fast  grower,  and  it  bears  well,  but  is  liable 
to  drop  its  fruit  prematurely. 

A  Chester  county  orchardist  had  intended  to 
graft  some  of  his  trees  over  again,  but  limed 
heavily  under  them,  and  that  brought  them  to 
perfection — a  thing  worth  knowing.  The 
Northern  Spy  is  a  fast  grower,  but  its  foliage 
is  late  in  the  spring,  and  it  comes  late  into 
bearing.  I  have  trees  fourteen  years  out  of  the 
nursery  which  have  just  lately  commenced  to 
bloom.  They  generally  will  bear  when  they 
bloom  the  first  time.  A  friend  of  mine  had  a 
tree  which  bore  very  little  until  it  was  sixteen 
years  old.  It  is  now  about  twenty,  and  last 
year  it  produced  seven  barrels  of  fruit,  that 
brought  him  four  dollars  a  barrel.  The  Domini 
is  a  new  variety  and  worthy  of  general  cul- 
tivation, and  so  are  Smith's  C'der,  and  the 
Twenty  Ounce  Piiipin.  The  King  of  Tomp- 
kins County  is  not  doing  well  with  me.  I 
grafted  them  over,  on  planting  them  in  the 
orchard.  It  will  do  well  to  plant  one  Red  As- 
trachan,  and  one  "All-summer."  I  almost  for- 
got to  put  in  a  good  word  for  the  "  Smoke- 
house." I  also  wanted  a  few  Smoke-house 
trees  from  a  nurseryman,  but  he  had  none  for 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


36 


sale,  while  our  t roes  are  bearinsi  regularly  in 
my  locality,  and  we  sold  the  crop  last  season, 
very  readily  at  from  $1..")0  to  ?-2.(i(i  |)(>rliushel. 
In  conclusion  I  would  say  bt-  not  discourajjed, 
we  may  soon  come  back  again  to  the  old-tinu- 
apple  years  in  Lancaster  county.  Indei'd,  it 
is  the  opinion  of  good  authorities,  that  with 
proper  culture,  our  county  may  eventually  be- 
come tlie  "  Ap])le-(iarden"  of  Pennsylvania. 
—L.  S.  Heist,  Warwick,  Fihrwinj,  ls7(i. 

[God  grant  it  may,  even  if  Hcsliould  not  live 
to  see  the  day.  If  apples  l)ecome  al)undant, 
and  cheap  enough  for  the  poor  to  purchase  and 
consinne,  it  will  be  prrfectly  agreealile  to  us. 
It  is  not  desirable  that  they  should  become  too 
cheap  for  farmers  to  cultivate  them,  but  cliea]) 
enough  for  the  poor,  by  a  proper  system  of 
economy,  to  make  a  larger  culinary  use  of  them 
than  they  can  afford  at  the  i)resi'nt  prices. 
■When  we  connnenced  housekeeping — forty- 
two  years  ago — we  had  the  fmest  apples 
delivered  at  our  door  for  twenty  cents  a  bushel. 
There  was  no  complaint  ilun  that  it  "  did  not 
pay"  to  raise  them.  Although  tlu'y,  perhaps, 
never  will  be  sold  at  that  price  again,  yet  they 
should  be  cheaper  than  now.— Ed.] 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmkb 
HOME  THAT  IS  HOME. 

The  sound  of  the  word  home  is  calculated 
to  fill  the  mind  with  iilea.sant  thoughts  and 
the  heart  with  a  desire  to  soon  enjoy  its 
sweet  comforts — and  doubtless  it  does  to  a 
great  majority  of  the  people.  But  there 
are  some  to  whom  it  gives  quite  differ- 
ent sensations  and  prompts  them  to  remain 
away  as  long  as  possible,  and  even  allow 
themselves  to  be  burthensome  to  their  friends, 
rather  than  spend  an  evening  under  their 
own  roof.  The  love  of  home  varies  in  differ- 
ent individuals,  from  this  degree  of  absolute 
hatred  to  those  who  are  just  as  well  satisHed 
at  home  as  away,  and  from  that  to  those  who 
cannot  be  persuaded  to  leave  its  sacred  inllu- 
ence  unless  business  compels  them.  The  rea- 
son of  this  is  obvious  :  because  some  homes 
are  so  much  more  comft)rtable,  more  pleasant, 
more  cheerful,  in  short,  more  homelike  ;  and 
if  each  one  would  investigate  anddiscoverthe 
reason  that  his  home  does  not  have  that 
great  attraction  for  him;  next,  find  out  whose 
taidt  it  is,  and  then  take  i)roper  measures  to 
remove  the  evil,  we  as  a  community,  a  peo- 
ple and  a  nation  would  be  nmch  farther  ad- 
vanced on  the  road  towards  a  higher  standard 
of  excellence  in  morality,  intelligence  and 
manhood.  The  cause  of  these  unattractive 
homes  may  be  from  the  neglect  of  the  hus- 
band and  father  to  provide  the  home  with 
those  things  necessary  to  make  it  attractive  ; 
for  instance,  family  newspapers,  periodicals 
appertaining  to  his  business,  interesting  books 
and  innocent  games  ;  or  it  may  be  from  the 
over-tidiness  of  the  housekeeiier,  who  demands 
such  a  degree  of  circumspection  from  the  in- 
mates that  it  becomes  more  like  a  prison  than 
a  home  ;  and  when  that  feeling  overtakes  a 
man  it  don't  take  him  long  to  tind  some  more 
congenial  quarters.  There  are  some  who  are 
such  natural  born  ladies  and  gentlemen  that 
they  feel  no  restraint  in  being  on  their  best 
behavior  all  the  time,  but  it  is  not  above  one 
in  a  hundred,  while  the  ninety  and  nine  long 
for  the  jilace  where  they  can  throw  off  re- 
straint, to  be  their  natural  selves,  to  do  just 
as  they  please,  to  be  free  and  easy  ;  and  home 
is  the  natural  and  proi)er  place  to  do  it.  That 
man  who  spends  his  hours  olf  duty  with  his 
family,  who  assists  in  entertaining  his  lioys, 
and  instilling  into  them  a  love  for  home  above 
every  other  place,  does  a  good  work,  and  one 
that  he  will  be  paid  for  in  feelings  of  comfort 
and  just  pride  when  he  .sees  them  grown  to  be 
husbands  and  fathers,  following  the  example 
which  he  had  given  them.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  lack  of  love  of  home  so  general  in  men 
in  the  city,  and  even  in  the  country,  is  to  a 
great  degree  the  effect  of  the  pattern  set  by 
their  fathers,  and  it  will  require  a  determined 
effort  dn  the  part  of  the  present  generation  to 
counteract  this  intluence,  and  raise  \\\i  our 
boys  to  inherit  different  feelings  ;  but  we  will 


find  our  reward  in  their  thanks,  in  after 
years,  for  the  pains  we  took  to  make  home 
pleasant  to  them.  It  is  clearly  a  iluty  that 
every  man  owes  to  his  children,  and  coidd  it 
but  lie  brought  about  that  every  man  would 
spend  his  evenings  at  home,  anil  keep  and  en- 
tertain his  boys  there,  we  cannot  reali/e  the 
dillt'rence  there  w<iuld  be  in  the  state  of  ihe 
[lublic  morals  a  generation  lienci;.-  The  ho.s- 
pitals,  the  almshouses  and  the  prisons  would 
show  the  elfecls  of  it  in  a  great  degree. 

As  every  natural  parent  feels  a  desire  that 
his  sons  shall  turn  out  to  be  good  citizens,  and 
feeling  so  sensibly  the  great  need  of  reform  in 
the  matter  of  inihuuuie  on  the  minds  of  the 
youug,  and  in  hopes  llial  some  one  may  be 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  the  lmi)ortance  of  the 
subject,  is  the  excuse  for  venturing  to  give  a 
few  hints  as  to  the  way  it  might  be  done. 
The  writer  was  one  of  a  fatnily  of  live  boys 
and  a  sister,  whose  parents  made  it  a  special 
point  not  only  to  have  us  all  at  home  in  the 
eviMiings,  but  to  providi'  entertainment  fiU' 
us  ;  and  to  our  last  days  we  will  never  cea.se 
to  bless  them  for  it.  15ecause  those  lirinciples 
being  engrafted  into  our  natures,  renders  it 
comparatively  easy  for  us  to  perform  the 
same  duties  now.  The  evenings  were  spent 
in  innocent  games,  interesting  books,  reading 
by  turn  aloud,  sijelling  matches,  working  out 
enigmas,  and  other  puzzles,  etc.,  but  the  best 
of  all  the  amusements  was  debating  ;  the 
father  would  be  judge,  and  the  six  of  us  would 
pick  sides,  and  taking  up  some  simple  subject 
of  every-day  experience,  each  one  would  be 
obliged  to  make  some  remarks  on  it,  and  we 
would  often  get  quite  warmed  up  with  the 
importance  of  our  points,  which  to  our  child- 
ish intellects  .seemed  overpowering.  It  is 
true,  a  large  family  has  an  advantage  over  a 
small  one  in  these  lionie  amusements,  but  if 
two  or  three  small  families  would  join  together 
and  meet  alternately  at  their  hou-ses,  it  would 
answer  the  same  purpose,  and  the  parents 
woulil  at  all  times  know  where  their  children 
were.  We  know  that  there  are  some  very 
stately  mansions,  most  beautifully  situated 
and  handsomely  furnished,  j'et  those  who  call 
them  home  respect  them  only  for  their  looks 
and  money  value,  and  the  true  feelings  of 
love  for  them  and  their  associations  are  never 
felt  ;  while  in  the  most  lowly  and  dilapidated 
cabins  we  often  find  the  occupants  enjoying 
that  sweet  comfort  in  each  others'  company, 
and  of  being  shut  off  from  the  troubles  of  the 
outside  world,  that  brings  them  nearer  to 
heaven  than  any  oi;her  place  on  earth.  This 
was  the  feeling  that  prompted  the  author  of 
that  beautiful  hymn,  "Heaven  is  my  Home." 
— M.  B.  E. 


For  Tub  Lancaster  Farmer. 
DIFFERENT   MODES  OF   PRUNING. 

It  is  high  time  now  to  get  all  pruning  done 
at  once.  Different  species  of  plants  reipiire 
dill'erent  modes  of  pruning.  ( )f  fruit  trees,  Ayi- 
ple,  pear,  apricot,  ]ilum  and  (piince,  bear  fruit 
upon  the  old  wood  ;  .so  does  cherry,  gooseberry 
and  currants.  Peach  bears  fruit  upon  the  new 
shoots  of  last  year's  growth — so  does  cherry 
often  ;  and  so  do  raspberry,  blackberry,  gra])e 
vines,  it*;.  So  they  have  to  be  differently 
primed  to  produce  plenty  of  fruit.  Of  ilecidn- 
ous  blooming  shrubs,  spineas.  tartareau  honey- 
suckles, forsythia,  wiegelia,  mock  orange  and 
many  others,  produce  their  flowers  ujiou  the 
sides  of  the  shoots.  Lilacs,  privet,  snowball 
trees,  mountain  ash  trei-s,  Rhus.  i^c.  bear  their 
blooms  nicistly  \\\»n\  the  tops  of  the  shoots. 
Their  tops  shoidd  be  left  until  the  blooming  is 
over,  then  shorten  if  needed  ;  but  if  too  many 
suckers  are  at  their  roots,  cut  them  out.  The 
species  that  bloom  from  the  sidesof  the  shoots 
have  the  points  of  the  shoots  cut  off  an  inch  or 
a  foot,  as  needed,  to  keep  the  bushes  in  good 
sliai)e.  Althea  blooms  from  the  shoots  of  the 
present  year's  growth.  Honeysuckles  bloom 
from  last  year's  shoots.  Wisteria  blooms  from 
the  old  branches.  Evergreen  trees  and  shrul)s 
should  not  be  pruned  until  all  frosts  are  over 
in  spring  or  in  the  latter  half  of  August. — llor- 
ticola. 


Fur  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
THE  DAIRY.     No.  2. 

In  the  January  munber  of  Tiik,  Eaiimer  I 
promised  a  contmualionof  "  The  Dairy,"  but 
the  destruction  of  my  barn,  with  all  my  cat- 
tle, (.Ian.  'Jotli,  IHTii, )  has,  to  some  extent, 
cooled  my  ardor  for  writing.  Having  emerged 
from  the  smoke,  an'd  converted  what  was  left 
of  my  stock  into  a  conqmst  pile,  (a  rather  ex- 
pensive one,  too,)  has  brought  about  a  cliange 
ofba.se  from  prospective  animal  to  prospective 
vegetable  produelions.  Being  thus  run  oil' the 
track,  the  leudeucy  would  seem  to  point  toward 
big  beets  and  pumpkins,  instead  of  line  stock 
aiul  good  butter.  Xow,  as  certiiin  vegetable, 
crops  are  essential  to  the  best  results  of  the ' 
dairy,  our  starling  iM)int  may  be  regained, 
although  it  he  liy  a  circuitous  route.  With  a 
little  whistling  to  keep  oil'  despondency,  the 
(piestion  again  recurs  on  the  different  breeds 
of  cattle.  But  it  may  be  asked,  is  there  more 
than  one  breed,  and  if  so,  what  are  they  V  A 
breed  is  the  result  of  selecting  and  mating 
animals  with  the  object  of  producing  a  certain 
fixed  and  uniform  cliaracti-r  in  the  progeny. 
This  being  judiciously  followed  for  a  succes- 
sion of  generations,  tlu'iiroduct  eventually  lie- 
comes  a  tixed  type,  with  scarcely  any  Varia- 
tions. Hence  we  see  Devons,  Sliorlhorns, 
.Jerseys.  Ayrshires,  Dutch  anil  others,  .someof 
which  show  at  least  great  uniformity  of  color, 
form  and  other  characteristics. 

A  race  is  theolTspringof  one  common  stock, 
which,  in  the  general  acceptance  of  the  term, 
is  distinguished  from  breed.  In  establishing 
the  various  breeds,  breeders  had  other  objects 
in  view  besides  external  appearances.  The 
Shorthorns  are  still  the  most  popular  breed, 
(at  least  in  this  country,)  aiul  it  is  al.so  evi- 
dent that  they  have  been  bred  with  less 
imity  of  imrpose  than  other  breeds,  from  the 
fact  that  tliey  not  only  vary  more  in  external 
appearances,  but  also  in  their  beef  atui  milk- 
ing qualities.  For  beef,  this  breed  stands  un- 
rivaled; but  as  milkers,  the  term  will  not  ap- 
ply. While  there  are  individual  cows,  and 
even  some  herds  that  will  compare  favorably 
as  milkers  with  any  others,  there  are  at  the 
same  time  not  a  few  of  the  finest  animals  that 
will  not  yield  suflicient  milk  when  fresh  to 
develop  their  own  ollspring.  This  breed  li.is 
no  doubt  been  nudtiplied  with  as  much  design 
as  any  other,  but  evidently  for  different  pur- 
po.ses.  While  the  intelligent  dairyman  made 
his  selection,  and  mated  his  animals  with  a 
view  to  his  business,  the  stockraiser  had  his 
eye  on  beef  only.  At  the  same  time,  others 
made  efforts  to  combine  both  these  qualities  in 
the  same  animal;  hence  the  utility  of  thi.s 
breed  is  already  divided,  although  the  jiedi- 
grees  indicate  iniiformity.  This  division  evi- 
dently will  become  ti.xed  and  permanent  by 
and  bv. 

The  cattle  of  the  Channel  Islands,  formerly 
introduced  as  Alderneys.  subsequently  Iwcaine 
classed  .as  Jerseys  arul  tiuernseys.  named  after 
the  islands  of  which  they  are  natives.  Although 
similar  in  character,  milk  and  butter  quali- 
ties, they  may  and  should  be  noted  a.s  different 
breeds.  "  They  present  a  remarkable  contrast 
to  the  Shorthorns.  While  the  latter  would  not 
be  considered  genuine  without  large  .size, 
round,  full  and  jilump,  the  same  appendages 
to  the  Jersey  would  rule  her  out  as  not  being 
thoroughbred.  Small  frame,  light  bones,  sharp 
points  from  head  to  tail,  characleri/x-  the  true 
Jer.sey  cow.  Pawn  seems  to  be  the  prevailing 
color,  but  not  uniforndy  so. 

Importations  of  stock  uiwm  this  island  have 
long  since  been  prohibited,  consequently  ft 
purer  breed  can  hardly  l>e  found.  TIjese  have 
been  bred,  not  so  much  for  the  production  of 
milk  as  for  the  quality  of  cream  and  excellence 
of  butler,  their  beef  qualities  having  Ix'en 
almost  entirelv  ignored.  It  is  therefore  claimed 
that  this  breed  will  iirodiicea  larger  amount  of 
butler,  aiul  of  better  quality  from  a  given 
amount  of  feed  than  any  other  except  the 
(iuernsey,  which  is  .somewhat  larger,  a  little 
more  pimnp.  and  not  .so  uniform  in  general 
contour  as  the  Jersey,  but  is,  at  the  same  time, 
preferred  by  some  dairymen.  One  thing  is 
especially  claimed  for  the  Island  cattle,  i.  e., 


40 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[March, 


while  the}-  may  not  yield  so  much  butter  when 
fresh  as  "some  others,  it  is  more  regular,  and 
they  continue  in  milk  for  a  longer  period  be- 
tween calving,  which  will  more  than  make  up 
the  difference. 

The  Ayrshires,  which  have  been  more  re- 
cently introduced,  have  gained  quite  a  reputa- 
tion as  milkers.  Considering  size  and  build 
of  the  animal,  the  yield  and  quality  of  milk 
and  butter  places  this  breed  very  favorably 
before  the  public. 

The  Dutch  or  Holstein  cattle  are  also  of 
modern  introduction  in  this  country,  and  have 
already  many  admirers.  They  are  of  large 
size,  and  their  unifonnity  of  appearance  is 
evidence  of  being  a  fixed  type.  As  milkers, 
they  have  probably  no  superiors  in  reference 
to  quantity,  but  it  is  rather  deficient  in  richness. 
The  Devon  dates  back  probably  as  far  as 
any  known  breed,  and  yet  they  have  not  be- 
come so  generally  disseminated  as  some  other 
breeds.  As  milkers  they  have  no  special  re- 
putation, but  a  healthier  breed  is  nowhere  to 
be  found.  As  workers  they  have  no  rival,  un- 
less it  be  the  Holstein,  which  also  stands  pre- 
eminent in  that  line.  Whatever  the  merits  of 
the  latter  breeds  may  be,  an  objectionable 
feature  is  their  large  horns,  which  disfigiu-es 
them  in  the  estimation  of  the  growing  senti- 
ment, which  is  inclined  to  breed  still  less 
horns,  and  may  we  not  hope  that  these  un- 
necessary and  dangerous  appendages  may  be 
bred  out  altogether. 

The  Herefords  have  strong  advocates,  but 
very  few  have  been  introduced  into  this  sec- 
tion of  country,  and  they  are  but  little  known 
here. 

The  common  stock  throughout  the  country, 
if  it  will  bear  the  title  of  a  breed,  is  certainly 
a  conglomerate  one,  as  it  embraces  all  the 
shades,  colors,  forms  and  sizes  imaginable,  as 
well  as  some  of  the  best  and  poorest  milkers 
that  can  be  foimd  anywhere. 

The  question  consequently  arises,  what  breed 
of  cattle  is  most  profitable  to  the  farmer  ? 
This  being  a  mooted  question,  it  is  hardly  ex- 
pecte  d  to  be  settled  by  scribbling  over  a  few 
pages  of  foolscap.  It  is  more  likely  that  it 
never  will  be  settled,  as  farmers  seem  to  agree 
to  disagree  upon  this  as  upon  many  other 
questions.  The  selection  of  animals  for  profit 
depends  very  much  upon  the  purpose  for  which 
they  are  wanted,  whether  for  beef,  milk, 
cheese,  butter  or  show,  or  all  these  qualities 
combined.  If  the  latter,  then  postei'ity  may 
celebrate  at  least  another  centennial  before 
the  object  will  lie  realized.  That  the  different 
breeds  possess  different  merits,  and  may  be, 
or  are  already,  to  a  great  extent,  classified  as 
such,  need  not  be  questioned;  but  as  each 
breed  has  advocates  claiming  its  superiority 
over  all  others,  there  are  many  who  would 
sell  out  their  own  and  t)uy  other  stock,  or  im- 
prove it  by  crossing,  were  it  not  for  the  con- 
fusion of  reports  from  breeders. 

In  summing  up  these  reports,  the  result  in- 
dicates that  the  largest  amount  of  milk  and 
butter  productions  from  single  animals  of  the 
varioiis  breeds,  native  or  common  not  ex- 
excepted,  doesnot  materially  vary.  It  is  there- 
fore of  primary  importance  to  make  a  judi- 
cious selection  of  stock  adapted  to  the  ob- 
ject in  view,  whether  it  be  milk,  cream, 
cheese  or  Ijutter,  for  among  the  various  breeds 
no  one  need  go  far  amiss  if  he  keep  his  eyes 
open  and  exercises  proper  judgment. — -H.  3f. 
M,  Marietta,  Pa.,  Mar.  4,  1876. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
SELECTION  OF  SEED   CORN. 

In  the  February  number,  J.  B.  (whoever 
that  may  be)  takes  me  to  task  to  give  him  fur- 
ther information  as  to  how  friend  Cooper  man- 
aged to  improve  his  crops  by  a  judicious  selec- 
tion of  seed  from  his  own  farm.  I  rarely 
think  it  worth  while  to  reply  to  anonymous 
correspondents.  However,  in  this  instance  a 
few  remarks  may  be  advisable. 

As  .1.  B.  has  got  off  the  track  of  my  former 
article,  I  shall  reply  as  I  think  most  suitable. 
Evidently  his  object  in  noticing  my  commu- 
nication was  to  inform  the  readers  of  The 


Farmer  that  he  grows  large  crops  of  corn — 
eighty  to-  ninety  bushels  on  an  average  per 
acre. 

He  desires  to  be  informed  of  "Cooper's  plan 
of  growing  corn  in  New  .Jersey — what  kind  of 
fertilizers  "he  used,  how  he  planted  his  corn," 
&c.,  and  says  "  the  answers  would  be  a  great 
help."  Cooper's  statements  were  published 
some  forty  or  more  years  ago,  either  in  the 
American  Farmer,  of'  Baltimore,  or  in  the 
Farmers^  Cahinet,  of  Philadelphia.  I  have 
these  publications  of  that  time,  but  do  not 
care  to  hunt  up  the  article  at  present. 

In  my  former  article,  I  gave  the  facts  and 
the  rcsidt  of  how  Cooper  improved  his  crops 
by  selecting  his  seed  from  crops  on  his  own 
farm,  showing  that  crops  would  not  deterior- 
ate, but  improve,  and  that  there  was  no  ad- 
vantage gained  by  procuring  seed  of  the  same 
variety  from  a  distance,  and  the  chances  were 
liy  changing  seed  the  result  most  likely  would 
be  a  fresh  croji  of  weeds.  But,  as  J.  B.  says, 
"he  selects  his  seed  corn  from  his  own  crib," 
and  yet  raises  eighty-seven  to  ninety  bushels 
shelled  corn  on  an  acre,  I  should  think  any 
reasonable  farmer  ought  to  be  satisfied  ;  yet  J. 
B.  wishes  to  know  the  mimdkr.  of  Cooper's 
management,  as  he  thinks  "it  would  be  a 
great  help."  Does  he  suppose  by  getting  this 
"  great  hel])  "  he  could  then  grow  four  or  five 
hundred  bushels  per  acre  '?  Such  wonderful 
progress  no  doubt  would  stimulate  the  whole 
farming  fraternity,  and  by  this  "great  help  " 
such  enormous  crops  would  be  produced  that 
it  could  not  be  used  up,  unless,  as  in  some  of 
the  western  states,  it  would  have  to  be  used 
for  fuel.— J".  B.  Oarber,  Columbia,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1876. 

^ 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
POTATO  CULTURE. 
My  meagre  knowledge  about  potato  culture 
may  scarcely  be  entitled  to  a  corner  in  your 
journal ;  yet  if  in  my  feeble  remarks  Init  a 
simple  hint  or  idea  may  be  given  for  the  bene- 
fit of  another,  my  efforts  will  be  more  than 
repaid ;  but  if,  through  my  simplicity,  others 
with  larger  knowledge  take  courage  to  detail 
their  experience,  they  will  disseminate  a  good 
that  will  return  a  rich  reward.  Are  there 
any  who  feel  that  if  potatoes  need  looking 
after,  "  give  me  the  hoe  ;  I  have  not  cultivated 
with  the  pen  ?  I  feel  more  so.  That  we 
have  cultivated  with  the  hoe,  gives,  however, 
the  very  substance  for  the  pen  ;  if  such  of  us 
give  but  our  mite  to  each  others'  experience, 
it  cannot  otherwise  but  result  to  the  interest 
of  all. 

Having  nothing  to  boast  of  enormous  yields 
of  40-oz.  potatoes,  I  would  merely  say  I  grew 
the  Early  Rose  potato  since  it  was  first  intro- 
duced, investing  a  dollar  for  one  pound. 
These  were  cut  to  single  eyes,  planting  them 
in  a  loamy  soil  of  medium  fertility,  in  hills 
2x2  feet,  enriched  with  a  half-peck  of  finely 
broken  up  barn-yard  manure  to  each  hill.  The 
yield  was  seventy-two  pounds.  Upon  the  in- 
troduction of  the  Snowflake  potato,  two 
years  ago,  I  obtained  one  tuber  weighing  one- 
third  of  a  pound.  This  was  divided  in  halves, 
laying  the  pieces  cut-side  down  on  pure  sand, 
and  covered  with  rich  soil  two  inches  deep. 
After  the  sprouts  were  out  a  few  inches  the 
pieces  were  taken  up,  the  sprouts  carefully 
slipped  off,  returning  the  pieces  to  their  for- 
mer situation.  The  slips  were  potted  singly 
in  3-inch  pots,  and  kept  shaded  and  well 
watered  until  fully  established.  After  grow- 
ing in  the  pots  to  the  height  of  three  to  five 
inclies  they  were  transplanted  in  hills,  same 
as  described  for  the  Early  Rose.  This  process 
was  repeated  three  times  with  the  pieces. 

The  season  being  excessively  dry,  the  last 
planting  did  very  little.  The  yield  was  5.5 
pounds.  On  these  occasions  my  neighV)ors 
thought  me  qiiite  successful ;  yet  I  well  knew, 
that  with  better  fertilized  hills,  and  with  more 
favoral)le  conditions,  much  better  results 
could  be  obtained.  But  how  immensely  were 
my  ideas  short  of  what  was  actually  achieved 
last  season  by  several  growers  of  Snowllake, 
using  one  pound  of  seed  cut  to  single  eyes  I 
P.  C.  Wood,  Esther,  111.,  raised  1,417  pounds  ; 


J.  L.  Perkins,  Little  Sioux,  Iowa,  1,304  lbs.  ; 
Frederick  H.  Seller,  Verona,  Essex  county, 
K.  .J.,  1,125  lbs.  A  number  of  others  had  re-  ^H 
suits  nearly  as  great.  Enormous  as  these  pro-  ^| 
ducts  mayappear,  yet  each  party  had  reasons 
to  conclude  that  still  greater  yields  can  be 
reached.  One  party  gathered  56  pounds  from 
two  hills  ;  had  all  his  hillS  yielded  similar  re- 
sults, his  product  would  have  been  a  little 
over  forty-one  ban-els  from  one  pound  of  po- 
tatoes. 

To  gain  these  results,  soil  of  great  depth 
and  highest  fertility  was  selected,  to  which 
was  added  very  liberal  applications  of  wood 
ashes,  hen  manure  and  plaster,  lioth  in  hill 
and  as  surface  dressing.  These  facts  are  re- 
ferred to  merely  to  show  what  has  really  been 
accomplished  by  giving  plants  plenty  of  proper 
food. 

lieaving  these  lofty  attainments,  we  will 
i-eturn  to  those  who  are  most  successful  in 
general  field  culture.  It  is  needless  to  go  into 
details  as  to  the  condition  of  soil.  All  will 
admit  that  well-drained  soil  of  high  fertility  is 
the  basis  on  which  to  build  a  good  crop,  but 
how  to  build  may  be  a  question  answered  more 
diversely.  The  ground  deeply  plowed  and 
thoroughly  cultivated,  the  mode  of  planting 
adopted  by  very  successful  cultivators  is  to  cross- 
furrow  six  or  eight  inches  deep,  three  feet  apart, 
and  drop  a  set  at  each  intersection,  covering 
with  about  two  inches  of  soil.  As  the  vines 
grow,  cultivation  begins  by  hilling  up,  which  is 
continxied  as  the  plants  advance,  in  some  in- 
stances to  eighteen  inches  high,  making  large, 
broad  hills.  By  giving  the  hills  this  distance 
apart,  the  roots  have  plenty  of  room  to  ramify 
and  find  abundant  food  without  stinting  their 
neighbors.  Here  the  question  may  be  asked, 
would  it  not  be  an  especial  advantage,  at  least 
now  that  we  have  to  entertain  the  Colorado 
potato  bug  as  a  guest,  to  use  every  means  to 
bring  our  potato  vines  to  the  highest  degree 
of  vigor ;  so  that  if  our  unwelcome  visitor 
gets  at  least  a  luncheon  before  the  vines  are 
seasoned  with  the  specific  remedy  (Paris 
Green)  the  plants  may  suffer  less  immediate 
damage,  and  be  in  good  condition  to  outgrow 
it — thiis  perfecting  a  more  bountiful  crop,  and 
well  repaying  all  extra  feeding. 

Descending  still  lower,  or  to  my  own  level, 
I  will  say  a  few  words  more  about  my  own 
experience.  From  practical  tests,  I  have 
found  that  seed  grown  in  widely  separated 
localities  yields  better  and  produces  finer  pota- 
toes than  that  grown  on  the  same  place  ; 
hence  it  is  a  profitable  investment  to  obtain  a 
change  of  seed.  Growing  mostly  for  early 
marketing,  the  system  spoken  of  above  was 
not  practiced  by  myself;  as  the  crop  was  taken 
up  before  fully  grown,  so  much  space  was  un- 
necessary. I  have  rather  practiced  close  plant- 
ing, drawing  furrows  two  feet  apart  and  drop- 
ping sets  of  two  a\id  three  eyes  every  nine 
inches.  In  the  season  of  1875,  in  the  face  of 
an  excessive  drouth  in  early  summer,  I  had 
a  fine  yield  of  Early  Rose  and  Snowflake,  by 
drawing  furrows  eight  inches  deep,  through 
which  a  narrow  cultivator  with  long,  sharp 
teeth  was  run,  pulverizing  the  soil  six  inches 
deeper,  on  which  was  sprinkled  a  dressing  of 
broken  up  stable  manure,  the  sets  being 
dropped  on  and  covered  with  about  two  inches 
of  soil.  As  the  vines  grew  they  were  ridged 
up.  Much  advantage  is  gained  in  earliness 
by  putting  the  seed  potatoes,  spread  in  a  sin- 
gle layer,  in  a  moderately  warm  light  place 
two  or  three  weeks  in  advance  of  planting 
time,  to  develop  the  eyes.  To  use  means  to 
get  potatoes  to  mature  early  is  not  only  an 
advantage  for  early  marketing,  but  a  great 
gain  by  shortening  "the  time  of  the  bug  war. 
To  the  same  end,  varieties  with  compact  vines 
are  desirable. 

As  to  varieties,  it  may  be  presumed  that 
those  of  which  I  have  spoken  are  my  favorites. 
The  Early  Rose  needs  no  praise;  it  has  be- 
come a  standard  variety.  The  Snowflake  is 
as  yet  a  new  comer,  but  it  needs  no  further  re- 
commendation than  its  own  high  merits  in  all 
that  pertains  to  a  first-class  potato,  to  dissem- 
inate it  with  express  speed  to  every  corner  of 
the  land.— D.  K.  H.,  Lancaster,  Feb.  26, 1876. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


41 


For  The  Lancastkb  1-'armeb. 
THE  NEGLECTED  HOLLYHOCK. 

Some  flirty  years  af;o,  on  a  visit  to  an  uncle 
in  Rapho  tinvnshi]),  I  was  dclislited  witli 
tlie  showy  display  of  nunu-rous  hollyhocks,  of 
various  colors,  that  adorned  the  yard.  Their 
toweriuj;  hciijht  ami  majestic,  stately  appear- 
ance attracted  my  attention.  1  thought  them 
grand,  beautiful — alas,  now  deemed  a  com- 
mon, vulfiar  i)lant,  that  no  one  deems  worthy 
of  cultivation  ;  and  they  are  now  rarely  met 
with,  yet  we  have  few  llowers  that  contriliutc 
more  to  the  emliellishment  of  lari;e  "gardens 
or  yards  than  the  hollyhock,  whose  noble 
stems  apiiear  like  .so  many  banners  {garnished 
with  roses  of  every  variety  of  color,  from  the 
jialest  lilnsh  to  the  deejiest  carmine,  and  from 
a  faint  wliite,  through  every  shade  of  yellow, 
to  the  richest  lU'ange,  from  which  the  color  is 
carried  to  a  dark  chestnut ;  others  are  dyed 
of  a  reddish  purjile,  deepening  to  black.  These 
give  gaiety  to  the  shrulibery  till  a  late  season 
of  the  year,  throwing  out  a  succession  of 
flowers  till  the  arrival  of  frost.  For  my  part, 
I  cannot  see  why  this  showy,  stately  plant 
should  not  be  planted  along  every  hedge-row 
around  our  lields,  oraround  our  homesteads  in 
thecountry.  Besides,  to  those  who  keep  bees, 
it  affords  a-  supply  of  sweets  later  in  the 
season,  an(J  of  which  they  are  remarkably 
fond.     II.  Smith  says,  truly  : 

"  From  the  nectaries  of  hollyhocks 
The  hxnnljle  hee,  e'li  till  he  fuiiits,  will  sip." 

This  is  true  of  our  hive  bee,  as  well  as  the 
"  lunnble  bee.''  It  belongs  to  the  family 
Malvaceip,  as  the  cotton  plant  does,  and  it 
has  been  ascertained  that  good  strong  cloth 
may  be  made  from  the  tibrous  bark  of  its 
tlower  stalks.  It  may  have  l)een  forgotten 
that  in  1^21  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land  near  Flint,  in  Wales,  were  planted  with 
the  common  hollyhock  tor  this  manufacture, 
iu  the  process  of  which  it  was  discovered  that 
the  leaves  of  this  plant  yield  a  line  blue  dye, 
equal  in  beauty  and  i>ermanence  to  the  best 
indigo.  The  Althcu  rosea,  or  common  holly- 
hock, originally  came  from  China.  They  arc 
easily  raised  from  seed,  and  will  'grow  in  any 
common  garden.  The  AWuea  officinalis  has 
been  extensively  used  under  the  name  of 
Marsh-mallows,  and,  like  the  Okra,  abounds 
in  a  bland  mucilage.  (Abelmosclms  escidentus.) 
The  flowers  of  the  A.  rosea  are  used  in  Greece 
for  the  same  purposes  as  those  of  the  marsh- 
mallows.  The  Okra,  also  known  as  Hibiscui 
escukntH.<i,  is  coming  into  coirimercial  value  as  a 
paper  plant,  heretofore  used  to  thicken  soups, 
by  its  mucilaginous  quality.  The  pods  are 
gathered  green  and  pickled  like  capers.  The 
seeds  may  be  boiled  like  barley,  and  the  mu- 
cilaginous matter  they  contain  is  both  demul- 
cent and  emollient.  They  have  also  been 
recommended,  when  roasted,  as  a  substitute 
for  coffee.  A  patent  has  now  been  taken  out  in 
France  for  making  paper  from  the  fibre,  and 
for  this  purpose  it  is  to  be  introduced  into 
Algeria.  The  fibre  is  prc])ared  solely  by  me- 
chanical means  in  a  current  of  water,  without 
any  bleaching  agent,  and  the  pulp,  washed 
and  bleached,  makes  a  strong,  handsome  [ta- 
per called  "banda  paper."  Our  common 
hollyhock  will  answer  just  as  well ;  the  fibres 
make  clothing — hence  equal  to  rags  any  time. 
I  would  thus  call  attention  to  this  stately 
and  much-neglected  plant,  the  goodly,  tow- 
ering, showy  hollyhock,  to  beautify  the  home- 
stead and  the  fence  rows,  regale  the  honey 
bee,  and  glad(UMi  the  hearts  of  children,  if 
you  do  not  want  to  make  cloth  or  paper,  and 
cultivate  it  for  profit.  We  are  very  apt  to  for- 
get the  old  and  familiar  in  later  introductions, 
"  sighing  for  something  new."  This  love  of 
novelty  rules  us — new  customs,  new  gauds. 
Although,  did  we  but  know  it.  they  too  fre- 
quently are  fashioned  after  the  things  that 
were.  I  will  conclude  by  quoting  Mrs. 
Hemans  : 

"  Fill  with  forgetfnlnees,  fill  high  !  yet  stay— 
'Tis  from  the  past  we  sliadow  forth  the  land 
Where  smiles,  long  lost,  again  shall  light  our  way. 
Though  the  past  haunt  me  as  a  spirit,  yet  I 
Ask  not  to  forget !"— Tlie  Hollvhock. 

— /.  Stauffer. 


For  The  Lantasteb  Fabmkb. 
"WHAT  KIND  OF  OIL?" 

In  an  article  iu  the  February  ninnberof  Tiik 
Fakmi:!!,  with  the  above  title,  the  editor 
thinks  that  linseed  oil  would  not  do  very  widl, 
because  it  would  do.se  the  pores.  I  am  not 
certain  that  closing  up  the  pores  of  a  tiee 
hurts  it  in  any  manner  whatever,  and  in  case 
it  would  do  so,  neatsfoot  oil  as  effectually 
closes  them  as  linseed  oil.  For  mv  part  I 
would  not  be  afraid  to  use  the  latter,  and 
would  unich  prefer  it,  as  it  dries  in  a  short 
time,  closing  up  the  insects  so  elVectually  that 
they  I'an  never  enu'rge  alive  from  their  air- 
tight i)rison  ;  and,  besides,  the  trees  aie  not  so 
unpleasant  to  work  at  afterwards,  as  woidd  be 
the  case  should  an  oil  be  used  that  will  not  dry. 

As  a  coiToboration,  I  was  inldinied  a  feW 
years  ago  liy  a  gentleman,  at  Millersburg,  (L. 
E.  Bowman,  I  think.)  that  he  had  a  dwarf 
pear  tree,  that  became  badly  infested  with 
"scale  insects"  and  ceased  growing.  lie  ap- 
jilied  linseed  oil,  and  in  a  sliort  time  the  in- 
sects were  all  dead  and  the  tre<>  became  very 
thrifty.  He  said  he  was  told  that  it  w<iuld  kill 
his  tree,  ;is  it  would  close  up  the  pores,  but  it 
certainly  had  no  such  elTect  in  his  ca.se. — A. 
B.  A'.,  Safe  Harbor,  Lamaster  county.  Pit., 
Feb.  •2."),  1K7(). 

[Practical  experience  must  take  precedence 
of  untried,  or  merely  theoretical  suggestion. 
We  Ihowjht  that  linseed  oil  might  leave  a  sort 
of  varnisli  dejiosit  on  the  young  infested 
branches  of  trees,  that  woidil  be  detrimental 
to  their  subsequent  development;  but  if  it 
does  not,  all  the  better  ;  it  gives  us  another 
safe  remedy  for  the  scale  insect  or  bark-louse; 
and  with  thanks  to  our  contributor  we  jilace 
it  on  record,  for  the  benefit  of  oin-  readera. 

We  are  not  sure,  however,  that  the  closing 
of  the  pores  in  the  branches  of  trees  would 
not  be  as  hm-tful  to  their  growth  as  the 
closing  of  the  pores  of  the  leaviw  and  fruit, 
would  be  hurtful  to  tluir  development.  Still, 
as  the  deposit  on  the  bark,  after  the  oil  had 
dried,  woidd  likely  be  a  very  thin  one.  and 
the  sub.sequent  rapid  iirowth  of  the  tree  (there 
being  no  more  lice  to  deplete  it.)  would  likely 
crack  the  surface  of  such  a  deposit  into  fissures, 
sutiicient  to  allow  it  to  jierform  its  usual  func- 
tions, there  would  be  very  little  harm  done  in 
the  end. 

In  re])ly  to  A.  B.  K.  's  post  scriptuin,  we  as- 
sure him  that  his  contributions  will  always  be 
"  welcome  "  to  our  columns,  even  if  they  come 
oftener  than  "now  and  then, ""  and  most  es- 
pecially on  the  subjects  he  has  named,  what- 
ever motive  may  be  "at  the  Itottom."  We 
have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  motives  in 
such  a  case.  If  a  man  can  impart  information 
on  farming  and  gardening  his  contributions 
will  lie  acceptable  at  all  times,  whether  his 
motives  are  selfi.sh  or  benevolent.  "  Self- 
improvement."  however,  is  not  a  very  evil 
kind  of  selfishness  ;  indeed  it  would  have  been 
l)etter  for  human  society  if  this  kind  of  sel- 
fishness had  miuv  largely  jirevailed  every- 
where, and  it  would  be  better  now.— Ed.] 
^ 

For  The  Lancasteb  Fabmkb. 
TRANSPLANTING   TREES. 

One  important  fact  in  regard  to  transplant- 
ing trees  was  brought  out  in  the  discussion  on 
orchard  culture,  at  the  last  nu'Cting  of  tiie 
Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society,  held  at 
Doylestown. 

The  lower  limbs  shoidd  not  lie  cut  off  when 
taken  from  the  nursery  and  iilanted  in  the 
orchard.  The  reason  given  was,  the  leaves  are 
the  lungs  of  the  tree,  and  the  nearer  you  can  get 
the  foliage  to  the  roots  in  the  earlier  stages  of 
its  growth  the  better.  If  too  far  removed  after 
transiilanting,  the  sap  in  circulating  is  not  re- 
turned in  sntticient  quantity  to  make  the  roots 
keep  pace  in  growth  with  the  top.  and  this  was 
the  cause  of  the  trouble  in  keejiiuL;  the  trees 
in  an  iqiright  position.  Our  nurserymen  are 
partly  to  lilaine  ;  they  trim  to  make  the  trees 
more  e.a.sily  baled,  and  we  generally  finish  the 
job  liy  trinnning  as  high  as  we  wish  the  trunk 
of  the  futiue  tree,  instead  of  letting  them 
grow  till  the  roots  are  firmly  established. — L. 
P.,  Christiana,  Lan.  co..  Pa.,  Feb.  28,  18715. 


For  'rilE  I.ANrASlEll  Fahmeb. 

HOW  TO  RAISE  OATS  CHEAPLY. 

For  several  years  past  there  lias  been  much 
comiilaining  among  tlie  farnuMs  of  Lancaster 
coindy  tliat  the  oat  crop  does  not  pay  for  the 
trouble  of  producing  it.  It  therefore  seems 
desirable,  since  it  cannot  well  be  dispensed 
with,  either  on  account  of  the  siicce.s.siiin  or 
because  it  is  desirable  as  feed  for  horses,  that 
it  be  raised  as  cheaply  as  pos.silile. 

I.et  the  com  stidibles  Ih'  broken  down  early 
in  the  spring  or  winter,  when  the  ground  is 
frozen  hanl,  by  dragging  over  them  a  pole  .six 
or  eii;lit  inches  in  diameter,  and  long  enough 
to  reach  across  six  or  more  rows.  Fasten  a 
hors<'  to  each  end  of  the  iiole,  and  havi'  a 
driver  for  each  horse  ;  drive  the  horses  along 
the  rows,  letting  the  pole  drag  over  those  lie- 
tweeii  them  at  an  angle  of  about  :iu  degrees 
with  the  direction  of  the  rows.  If  once  going 
over  does  not  break  off  the  stubbles  sutli- 
ciently,  go  over  them  again  in  the  opposite  di- 
rection, when  it  will  l»e  done  quite  as  well  as 
witli  the  hoe,  and  in  very  much  less  time. 

The  usual  way  of  prefiaring  thegmund  is  to 
plow  it,  but  the  writer  and  many  others  have 
jiroven  beyond  doidit  that  more  Oats  can  Ite 
raised  by  stirring  it  with  a  cultivator,  and 
with  a  great  saving  of  work. 

The  successive  freezings  and  thawings  dur- 
ing the  winter  make  the  siu-face  of  the  ground 
ill  much  Ijetter  condition  for  starting  the 
young  oats  iilants  than  the  more  coiiipaci  soil 
under  would  be  if  turned  up  by  the  jilow  ; 
besides,  the  ground  does  not  have  "to  he  worked 
so  early,  and  consequently  has  more  time  to 
dry,  so  that  it  does  not  Ijecome  so  cloddy  as 
when  plowed. 

The  olijection  usually  made  to  cultivating 
in  oats  is,  that  the  ground  is  harder  t*i  plow 
for  the  fall  cro]i  ;  but  my  experience  with  a 
clay  soil  is  quite  the  reverse,  even  in  dry  sum- 
mers. Most  farmei-s  plow  shallow  for  oats, 
for  the  reason  that  more  grain  can  lie  raised 
by  doing  so.  If  the  plowing  is  done  when  tlie 
ground  is  very  wet,  as  is  usually  the  case,  the 
soil  in  the  bottom  of  tlie  furrow  must  necessa- 
rily lie  packed  down,  both  by  the  Jiressure  of 
the  plow  and  by  the  horse  that  walks  in  the 
furrow  ;  then,  if  the  ground  is  dry  when  it  is 
plowed  for  wheat,  it  is  almost  ini)»ossibIe  to 
get  the  plow  to  run  deeiier  than  it  did  in  the 
s])iiiig,  and  if  it  does  it  will  turn  up  cloddy. 
While,  if  the  ground  is  cultivated  in  tlie 
spring,  and  then  not  until  it  is  well  dried,  the 
plow  will  go  as  deep  as  is  desired  in  the  fall, 
and  the  soil  will  pulverize  nicely. 

Another  rea.son  why  cultivating  is  prefera- 
ble to  plowing,  is  that  nearly  all  the  weed 
seeds  near  the  surface  are  germinated  and  de- 
stroyed by  the  cultivation  of  the  corn  during 
the  previous  summer,  .so  that  but  few  are  left 
to  grow  among  the  oats.  If  the  ground  is 
ploughed,  all  the  seeds  that  had  collected  on 
sod  before  it  was  ]iloughed  for  corn  are  turned 
to  the  surface,  and  having  lain  but  one  year, 
will  grow.  This  differen<-e  was  i>articularly 
noticeable  last  summer,  when  jjloiii/hed  oati 
fields  were  unusually  full  of  weeds. 

If  the  oats  is  sowed  broadcast,  the  com  rows 
serve  as  a  guide  in  sowing,  so  that  furrows 
or  poles  arc  unneces.sary.  The  seeds  falling 
upon  the  smooth  surfiice  of  the  ground  are 
evenly  distributed,  whereas,  if  the  ground  is 
i  ploughed,  they  are  liable  to  collect  in  the  dc- 
'  prcssioiis  iK'tween  the  furrows  and  grow  un- 
evenly. If  the  oats  is  planted  with  a  drill,  the 
gniuiid  should  be  cultivated  for  drilling. 

The  two-horse  corn  cultivator,  now  exten- 
sively used  in  this  county,  is  the  best  invest- 
ment fin-  cultivating  oats  grounds,  because  it 
can  be  pa.s.sed  on  both  sides  of  the  rows  of 
stubbles  ill  the  same  way  as  when  working  the 
corn,  without  turning  iiji  the  corn  roots;  lie- 
sides,  it  stirs  the  soil  deeiier  and  more  thor- 
oughly than  the  old  A  cultivator.  It  cannot 
he  successfully  used  in  "crossing,"  however, 
even  when  the  corn  is  "checked."  liecaiise  it 
will  choke  with  the  roofs.  It  is  better  to  cross 
the  ground  with  an  ordinary  spike  harrow; 
this  will  tear  up  very  few  roots;  and  when  the 
,  ground  is  rolled  it  will  lie  quite  as  smooth  as 
when  ploughed. 


42 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[March, 


Most  farmers  make  a  great  deal  of  unneces- 
sary work  in  harvesting,  especially  when  the 
oats  is  "short,"  by  attempting  to  tie  it  into 
sheaves.  Much  grain  is  also  lost  in  tieing.  It 
can  be  taken  up  more  expeditLously  and  with 
less  waste  with  a  barley  fork,  by  "  bunching  " 
it,  if  in  swaths,  or  if  cut  wath  a  machine, 
by  taking  up  the  Ininches  as  they  lie.  No  in- 
convenience results  from  this  mode  of  gather- 
ing, either  in  liandling  in  the  barn  or  in  thresh- 
ing. Anotlier  advantage  in  it  is  that  it  packs 
so  closely  in  the  mow  that  rats  and  mice 
cannot  get  through  it  and   destroy  the  grain. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
RURAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 
Those  who  intend  to  make  rural  improve- 
ments should  mature  their  plans  before  begin- 
ning the  work.  If  they  are  undecided  or  at 
a  loss  how  they  shall  improve  their  grounds, 
and  what  species  of  trees  and  shrubs  they  will 
embellish  tliem  with,  they  should  get  a  gar- 
dener of  skill  to  visit  the  grounds  and  give  a 
jilan  and  list  of  trees  and  shrubs  to  decorate  it, 
that  will  often  save  expenses  and  disappoint- 
ments. The  lists  of  trees  and  shrubs  should  be 
sent  to  nurserymen  a  month  before  needed,  and 
they  will  the  more  likely  be  delivered  when 
needed  to  plant.  A  number  of  rapid  growing 
evergreen  and  deciduous  trees  should  be  set 
out  to  make  an  early  show,  and  all  to  be  of 
stately  sizes.  In  purcliasing  lands  for  lasting 
homes,  or  for  summer  retreats,  see  that  run- 
ning waters  are  near  or  upon  the  lands,  to  in- 
troduce water  by  plumbing  for  all  purposes. 
Small  streams  of  water  running  through  the 
grounds  can  often  be  made  highly  ornamental 
and  attractive  by  making  ponds,  dams  and 
waterfalls  ;  fill  some  with  hardy  flsh  and  have 
others  for  fancy  ducks,  geese  and  swans  to  sail 
upon,  and  clothe  the  grounds  around  them 
with  trees  and  shrubs.  Ornamental  waterworks 
were  highly  prized  by  the  ancients.  Isaiah 
says  to  Judali  "  Ye  shall  be  as  a  garden  that 
liath  no  water." — Walter  Elder. 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Correspoudeuce  of  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

Paris,  March  7, 1876. 

FAILURE    OP    THE    BEET    CROP    IN    FRANCE. 

The  beet  crop  has  been  almost  a  failure  this  year 
in  France,  and  from  a  variety  of  causes,  some  of 
which  are  of  general  interest.  The  low  price  of  beet 
sugar  and  alcohol,  coupled  with  a  heavy  taxation, 
has  led  to  many  commercial  disasters.  Several  dis- 
tilleries have  closed,  and  sugar  factories  have  been 
reduced  to  work  only  half  time.  The  beet  itself  has 
only  been  of  a  secondary  quality,  and  of  less  than 
average  yield  ;  the  warm  and  humid  weather  detei-i- 
orated  the  tissues  of  the  roots,  diminishing  the  re- 
turn of  sugar.  Large  heaps  of  beet  were  abandoned 
to  rot,  and  very  fair  roots  were  declined  by  the  manu- 
facturers at  the  bankrupt  price  of/r.  .5 per  ton.  This 
is  the  more  unfortunate  as  a  great  quantity  of  beet 
had  been  cultivated  last  season,  and  the  quality  prov- 
ing bad,  the  expense  of  extracting  the  sugar  became, 
as  is  ever  the  case,  increased.  The  recent  frosts 
achieved  what  the  opposite  extreme  of  temperature 
spared.  Closed  factories  react  on  the  rearing  and 
fattening  of  cattle  by  reducing  the  supply  of  pulp. 
But  other  influences  have  been  at  work  :  the  seed 
germinated  badly,  the  manures  acted  capriciously, 
and  the  plant  resumed  a  new  vegetation  at  a  period 
when  growth  ought  n.aturally  to  have  stopped.  Since 
some  time  these  matters  have  been  the  subject  of 
study  and  experiment,  and  M.  Vilmorin  makes  known 
the  results  of  his  investigations  respecting  the  ger- 
mination of  beet  seed.  Struck  by  the  irregularity  in 
its  germination,  he  found  that  the  closer  the  seed  was 
to  the  mineral  fertilizers — nitrate  of  soda  especially — 
the  more  slowly  it  germinated,  and  in  some  instances 
did  not  do  so  at  all.  There  was  as  much  as  a  month's 
difference  between  the  germination  of  seed  sown  on 
the  unmauured  and  the  manured  soil.  It  would 
seem  that  these  manures,  intended  to  furnish  nitro- 
gen to  beet  in  its  after  stages,  are  injurious  pending 
the  period  of  germination.  M.  Vilmorin  also  found 
that  wheat  was  similarly  affected  as  beet  when  the 
seed  was  in  contact  with  nitrate  of  soda  and  sulphate 
of  ammonia.  Further,  not  only  was  germination  re- 
tarded at  a  period  when  its  activity  was  most  to  be 
desired,  but  the  salts  in  question  promoted  an  ener- 
getic growth  of  the  beef  in  early  autumn,  when  such 
development  ought  to  be  avoided. 

ABOUT  FERTILIZERS  AND  CULTIVATION. 

In  the  north  of  France  it  has  been  found  that  the 
earlier  the  beet  is  sown  the  more  certain  will  be  the 
results — the  20th  of  April  is  better  than  the  20th  of 


May — also,  the  greater  the  distance  between  the 
plants  the  heavier  will  be  the  yield — an  advantage, 
however,  only  to  be  sought  after  when  the  roots  are 
intended  for  feeding  purposes.  The  mineral  manure 
most  in  favor  with  farmers,  and  the  least  so  with  the 
manufacturers,  is  nitrate  of  soda  ;  its  price  is  rela- 
tively moderate,  its  assimilation  easy,  and  its  effects 
consequently  immediate.  But  it  ought  to  be  ever 
employed  judiciously,  and  notably  with  the  phos- 
phates and  the  salts  of  potash  and  lime.  Farm-yard 
manure  being  nitrogenous,  demands  that  nitrates  be 
associated  with  it  sparingly.  The  phosphates  have 
been  found  excellent  in  promoting  germination,  but 
phosphates  cannot  correct  the  bad  effects  of  nitrate 
of  soda;  were  it  thus,  guano  might  be  employed 
without  fear.  The  complaints  against  the  use  of 
nitrate  of  soda  for  beet  are  the  consequence  of  the 
abuse  of  that  fertilizer,  which  banefully  aflfccfs  the 
extraction  of  sugar,  and  reduces  the  fertility  of  the 
soil,  owing  to  farmers  relying  on  its  stimulating  prop- 
erties exehisively ;  it  is  an  error  to  supply  a  plant 
with  one  kind  of  aliment  exclusively.  It  ought  to  be 
remembered  that  fertilizers  require  to  be  rotated  as 
well  as  crops,  and  their  action  well  studied,  since 
some  act  on  the  foliage,  some  on  the  bulb,  and  sci- 
ence has  not  settled  as  to  whether  the  sugar  be 
formed  by  the  roots  or  by  the  leaves. 

PRACTICAL  LECTURES  ON  FARM  ANIMALS. 

In  Belgium  much  success  has  attended  the  delivery 
of  public  lectures  on  farm  animals,  how  to  breed,  how 
to  rear,  and  how  to  care  for  them.  The  lecturers 
are  practical  veterinary  surgeons,  and  are  well  sup- 
plied with  models  and  diagrams  to  illustrate  their 
views.  Hitherto  all  the  lecturing  has  been  limited  to 
soils,  manures  and  plants — excellent  in  their  place, 
especially  when  practically  treated.  To  ascertain 
the  number  of  head  of  cattle  of  an  average  of  S  cwts. 
that  a  farm  ought  to  support,  French  agriculturists 
generally  estimate  that  an  animal  consumes  in  a 
year  ll  cwts.  of  hay  for  every  1  cwt.  of  its  weight. 
Thus  22  tons  of  hay  ought  to  support  during  a  year 
2  tons  of  live  stock,  equal  to  five  animals  of  8  cwt. 
each.  Two  hundred-weights  of  nutritive  hay  being 
taken  as  the  standard  of  nutrition,  are  found  to  be 
equal  to  S}4  stone  of  oats  and  16  of  potatoes.  It 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  richness  of  food  va- 
ries with  the  soil,  and  its  feeding  value  will  vary 
with  the  temperament  and  the  digestive  powers  of  the 
animal. 

THE  HORSES  OF    HUNGARY. 

Since  centuries  ago  the  great  plains  of  Hungary 
have  been  celebrated  for  their  production  of  horses, 
which  comprise  races  at  once  sober  and  accustomed  to 
privations  and  climatic  changes,  but  which  not  the  less 
produce  animals  with  iron  constitutions  ;  the  pastur- 
age is  bad,  green  fodder  is  difficult  to  obtain,  and  ne- 
cessity compels  dependence  on  straw  and  the  stems 
of  maize.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  the  Austrian 
government  is  solicitous  about  the  amelioration  of 
horses.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  pair  of  horses 
getting  over  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles  to  meet  a 
train,  and,  without  being  baited,  return  by  the  same 
road  in  two  hours.  There  are  two  and  a  quarter  mil- 
lions of  horses  in  Hungary,  or  140  for  each  1 ,000  inhabi- 
tants ;  and  thei'c  are  several  races  of  them  also,  in 
addition,  adapted  to  mountainous  districts,  sandy 
plains  or  alluvial  flats.  The  national  breeding  studs, 
of  which  the  chief  is  at  Mezohegyes,  recognize  these 
distinctions  ;  and  as  the  State  studs  are  only  intended 
to  supply  the  absence  of  good  stallions  among  pri- 
vate individuals,  their  object  is  to  make  themselves 
as  soon  as  possible  unnecessary.  There  are  1,800 
stallions  in  the  four  studs,  serving  6S,000  mares  an- 
nually in  .52.5  different  districts.  The  charge  for 
covering  varies  from/r.  2',4  to //•.■ST,  but  the  services 
of  a  stallion  of  pure  English  blood  cost  as  much  as 
//•.  1,000.  The  stud  at  Mezohegyes  is  a  half  military 
establishment,  or  rather  colony,  consisting  of  S6, 000 
acres,  and  chiefly  devoted  to  the  culture  of  grain  and 
forage  crops  ;  it  possesses  2,400  horses,  representing 
nine  different  races.  The  foal  at  its  birth  is  marked 
by  a  red-hot  iron  on  the  sides,  to  recognize  its  race 
and  its  sire.  Its  food  is  not  excessive  :  one  pound  of 
bruised  oats,  when  three  weeks  old,  and  double  that 
at  three  months,  when  separated  from  the  mother, 
and  as  far  as  four  years  old,  five  pounds  daily  in 
summer  and  double  that  ration  during  winter.  But 
then  the  pasturage  is  excellent.  Mildness  is  the 
basis  of  the  breaking  in  of  the  colts,  and  by  patience 
and  address  man  dominates  them.  They  are  never 
beaten,  and  approach  the  grooms  without  mistrust 
or  hostility.  For  each  act  of  submission  they  are 
rewarded  with  a  caress  or  a  morsel  of  sugar  or  a 
cake,  and  to  conquer  their  timidity  or  efface  their 
fear  they  are  surrounded  with  trained  animals.  Pos- 
sessing thus  no  vices,  they  can  transmit  none. 

HOSPITALS  FOR  HORSES,  CATTLE  AND   PIGS. 

The  monster  farm  in  question  is  provided  with  hos- 
pitals for  horses,  cattle  and  pigs,  and  clinical  lectures 
take  place  twice  a  day,  which  are  attended  by  the 
veterinary  pupils  from  Pesth,  who  acquire  a  practical 
knowledge  thus  of  their  profession.  Bulls  are  also 
bred  here  to  ameliorate  the  native  races,  for  the  cli- 
mate is  too  trying — torrid  days,  succeeded  by  polar 
nights — to  think  of  crossing.  Milk  not  entering  into 
the  calculations  of  Magyar  farming,  milch  cattle  are 
not  In  request ;  besides,  such  an  amelioration  would 


affect,  as  experience  has  shown,  the  value  of  oxen  for 
lalior,  and  they  are  only  secondary  in  point  of  im- 
portance to  horses.  If  the  training  of.  horses  be  ef- 
fected on  the  gentle  system,  that  for  oxen  is  the  re- 
verse. In  winter  cattle  receive  but  straw,  chaff  and 
maize  stems ;  those  employed  at  work  have  hay. 
The  annual  yield  of  milk  is  not  more  than  900  quarts  ; 
2  cwts.  of  hay  are  found  to  produce  23  quarts  of 
milk,  representing  3'^  pounds  of  butter.  The  oxen 
are  never  yoked  until  four  years  old,  and  after  six 
months'  apprenticeship  are  capable  of  nine  years' 
work.  When  aged  13  or  14  years  they  are  sent  to 
the  large  towns  to  be  fattened  at  the  distilleries  ; 
some  of  the  latter  fatten  l,.5O0  head  of  oxen  at  a 
time.  A  yoke  of  oxen  will  plow  an  acre  14  inches 
deep  in  a  day,  and  in  addition  to  being  as  rapid  as  a 
dray  horse,  have  feet  as  sure  as  a  Spanish  mule. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Dr.  de  Martin  draws  attention  to  the  success  which 
has  attended  his  employment  of  chopped  vine  prun- 
ings  for  the  evening  feed  for  his  cattle.  At  first  they 
refused  it,  but  afterwards  took  to  it.  In  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Aude  these  vine  shoots  are  employed, 
when  bruised,  as  litter. 

An  infusion  of  tomato  leaves  has  been  found  excel- 
lent to  clear  plants  of  bugs — the  phylloxera  always 
excepted.  The  annual  report  of  the  official  commis- 
sion on  the  experiments  conducted  under  its  direction 
during  1875,  in  the  affected  districts,  on  the  various 
plans  for  destroying  the  vine-bug,  concludes  that  no 
remedy  has  yet  been  found  ;  that  the  best  powder  is 
too  costly  in  application,  and  but  partial  in  efficacy  ; 
that  the  old  bark  ought  to  be  removed  from  the 
stems  ;  the  eggs  destroyed  in  winter,  and  recourse 
had  to  American  stocks. 

Dr.  Uloth's  experiments  go  to  show  that  grains  of 
wheat  placed  between  two  i)locks  of  ice  and  kept  in  a 
cellar  with  a  temperature  at  freezing  point  will  ger- 
minate and  develope  rootlets .  He  continued  the  same 
experiment  with  mustard  and  grass  seeds,  as  well  as 
wheat.  He  placed  some  in  a  hollow  piece  of  ice,  and 
others  in  common  earth  ;  both  were  deposited  in  an 
ice  house  and  covered  with  a  thick  block  of  ice.  They 
all  equally  germinated,  no  difference  being  percepti- 
ble save  that  the  mustard  and  grass  seeds  germinated 
best.  M.  Tisserand  states  thatheobtains  most  butter 
and  of  a  superior  quality,  the  more  the  cream  is 
churned  at  a  temperature  approaching  the  freezing 
point. 

LANCASTER  COUNTY  FARMERS  IN 
COUNCIL. 


Proceedings    of    the    Agricultural    and    Horti- 
cultural Society — Discussion  on  Fruit 
Trees,  Hungarian  Grass,  Etc. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Lrvncaster 
County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  was 
held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Athenaeum,  on  Monday,  the 
Cth  inst.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  two 
o'clock  by  the  President,  Calvin  Cooper.  The  follow- 
ing members  were  present :  Calvin  Cooper,  Milton 
Eshleman,  Levi  W.  Groff,  Simon  P.  Eby,  Abraham 
Suminy,  Casper  Hiller,  E.  B.Engle,  Henry  M.  Engle, 
Peter  Reist,  Mr.  Hershey,  Levi  Pownall,  John  Ruber, 
Johnson  .Miller,  Martin  D.  Kendig,  John  Reist,  Simon 
Hershey,  Reuben  Weaver,  Israel  G.  Erb,  Martin  S. 
Fry,  C.  L.  Hunsecker,  J.  Stauffer,  S.  S.  Rathvon, 
James  Buckwalter,  Wm.  McComsey,  John  Miller, 
John  M.  Stehman,  Wm.  P.  Brinton,  Henry  Erb,  Jacob 
K.  Witmer,  Dr.  E.  A.  Hertz,  John  Grossman,  E.  8. 
Hoover,  John  H.  Brackbill. 

The  regular  secretary  not  being  present,  Milton  B. 
Eshleman  w.as  elected  secretary  pro  tern.,  and  on 
motion,  the  reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  February 
meeting  was  dispensed  with. 

Lewis  C.  Lyte,  of  East  Lampeter;  Henry  Kauff- 
man,  of  Lancaster  township;  and  Cyrus  Neff  and 
F.  G.  Melliuger,  of  Manor,  were  elected  members  of 
the  society. 

Reports  of  Crops  Being  Next  in  Order, 

Mr.  Kendig,  of  Manor,  said  that  the  prospects  for 
the  coming  wheat  crop  are  very  favorable,  notwith- 
standing the  alternate  freezing  and  thawing  of  the 
ground  during  the  past  winter.  Rye,  about  the  same; 
for  the  last  two  or  three  years  this  crop  did  remark- 
ably well,  which  induced  farmers  to  sow  more  largely 
than  usual.  Grass  fields  of  last  season's  sowing  are 
very  thin,  a  large  portion  of  the  seed  never  coming 
up  on  account  of  the  drouth.  Old  fields  promise  bet- 
ter. Corn  in  the  crib  is  very  much  damaged.  Sound 
seed  scarce.  Tobacco  crop  very  good  ;  better  in 
qualify  than  it  has  been  for  a  number  of  years.  A 
good  portion  is  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  12  to  25 
cents  per  pound  for  wrappers,  and  3  to  5  for  fillers. 
The  Library  and   Finances. 

Mr.  Eby,  of  the  Library  Committee,  said  that 
several  books  were  lately  contributed  to  the  society, 
among  them  some  from  our  fellow-member,  Mr. 
Landis.  As  he  was  instructed  at  the  last  meeting  to 
fix  a  price  on  all  books  received,  he  felt,  after  due 
consideration,  that  he  was  unable  to  do  this  unless 
two  additional  members  were  appointed  on  the  com- 
mittee, mainly  for  the  purpose  of  consultation. 

A  motion  was  made  that  two  additional  members 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


43 


be  added  to  the  committee.  It  was  parried,  and  the 
chair  appoiuted  Mossrs.  Katlivon  and  .Stauller. 

Two  Wlls,  one  of  ?5.44  for  chairs,  aud  another  of 
JIO.?.")  for  a  sign  for  the  society,  were  read  and  or- 
dered to  be  paid. 

The  folloninsi:  essay  was  then  read  by  C.  L.  Hi'n- 

.SEOKER  : 

A  Few  Hints  to  Farmers. 

"How  blest  the  farnier's-Riiigle  life! 

How  ptire  the  j.ty  it  yieldn  ! 
Far  from  the  world'n  tempeatuoUH  Btrife, 
Free  "niiil  the  Hcented  lielilH." 
The  healtliful  enjoyment  of  life  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil  is,  perhaps,  not  exeeeiled  by  any  other  in- 
dustry.    It  is,  liesides,  a  pursuit  that  escapes   from 
the  many  temptations,  vices  and  crimes  to  which  man 
is  exposed  in  the  cnnvdcil  city.     The  I'armcr's  life  is 
sim|ile  ;  itisalradc  that   commends   itself,  bccattse 
no   country    can    maintain    a    lars;e    ami   prosperous 
Iiopulation  without  sUillful  airricullurc,  however  rich 
and  productive  the  soil  may  naturally  he.    The  (jrcat 
cities  of  the  worlil,  with  their  immense  populations, 
health.  niaiuifacturesJ,  ami  commerce,   would    perish 
if  the  fanners  failed  to  supply  them  with  food. 

Aijriculturc  in  every  civilized  country,  exerts  a 
jiowerful  inHuence  in  the  production  of  wealth,  com- 
merce and  manufactures.  It  is  the  great  and  trans- 
cendent interest,  employing  more  cajiitai,  more  per- 
sons, and  sustaining  more  than  all  other  interests 
eoml)iueti. 

The  supposed  population  of  the  world  is  1,000,- 
000,000  of  men,  who  are  dependent  f^tr  their  vcrv 
existence  u]ion  tlie  productions  of  the  earth;  200,- 
000,000  of  men  probably  expend  their  daily  toil  in 
pursuits  connected  with  operations  of  aKrieulture, 
the  parent  and  precursor  and  most  important  of  all 
arts ;  and  nine-tenths  of  the  fixed  capital,  perhaps,  of 
civilized  nations  is  embarlvcd  in  this  one  great  pur- 
suit. 

It  is  the  great  and  permanent  industry  of  our  coun- 
try ;  manufactures,  mining  and  commerce  are  de- 
I)endent  u|ionit.  Believing  tliis  to  be  indisputable, 
our  agricultural  friends  having  done  so  much  towards 
the  development  of  the  counti-y,  cannot  be  justly  ac- 
cused of  aiming  to  look  up  other  matters  "than 
farming,  which  have  a  near  or  remote  bearing 
upon  their  interests.  Hence  it  follows  that  the 
farmers  of  our  country,  who  produce  tliree- 
fourths  in  value  of  the  exports  from  this  country, 
and  I'urnish  a  larjjc  amount  of  the  tonnage  on  the 
canals  and  railroads,  and  much  of  the  passenger 
travel,  have  a  deep  interest  in  the  question  of  the 
price  of  freight  and  fare.  (Janals  and  railroads  were 
constructed  lor  the  public  convenience — for  the  con- 
veyance of  articles  to  and  from  market,  and  revenue 
a  subordinate  object.  But  it  has  become  manifest  of 
late  years  that  quite  too  many  of  these  thoroughfares 
have  been  converted,  by  watering  stock,  and  charging 
excessive  rates  of  freight,  etc.,  into  dangerous  mo- 
nopolies, against  which  intelligent  farmers  protest  as 
an  innovation  injurious  to  the  industry  and  properity 
of  our  common  country. 

What  a  man  earns  by  thought,  study  and  care  is  as 
much  his  own  as  what  he  obtains  by  his  liauds,  is 
true  as  regards  the  exclusive  manufacture  and  sale 
of  a  valuable  patent  right.  But  when  these  rights, 
as  has  been  frequently  the  case,  get  into  the  hands  of 
merciless  speculators,  and  become  burdensome  to  the 
public,  like  Jethro  Wood's  iron  plough,  and  the 
sewing-machine,  the  protests  of  the  Grangers  against 
the  oppression  of  the  patent  laws  to  Congress  were 
highly  proper.  The  telegraph,  indeed,  arrested  the 
attention  of  Congress,  and  a  committee  reports 
against  the  great  injury  and  injustice  of  the  telegraph 
monopoly,  aud  recommends  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
government  to  provide  an  economical  and  impartial 
system  of  telegraphy. 

It  is  an  important  fact  in  the  history  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, that  for  many  years,  up  to  bSijij,  the  pecuniary 
means  lor  the  construction  of  internal  improvements 
in  the  State  were  obtained  to  a  great  extent  by  taxa- 
tion upon  real  estate,  and  principally  from  the  agri- 
cultural inhabitants.  Peiuisylvania'  has  still  a  public 
debt.  Would  it  not  be  good  policy  to  reduce  this  debt 
to  the  amount  of  funds  available  in  the  coffers  of  the 
Sinking  Fund  i 

During  the  last  year  the  United  States  exported 
fifty-four  of  every  hundred  bushels  of  the  wheat  im- 
ported by  Gi-cat  ISntain.  Our  farmers  Ibllow  no  idle 
theories,  but,  like  the  teamster  in  Esop,  put  their  own 
shoulders  to  the  wheel  and  manfully  pull  the  car  of 
commerce  along.  - 

It  is  said  that  if  we  cultivate  man,  the  improvement 
of  the  vegetable  and  animal  kingdoms  will  surely 
follow.  Ail  history  confirms  this.  The  liest  educated 
and  most  enlightened  agricultural  countries  have  in 
all  ages  outstripped  in  the  race  of  progress  their  less 
A-ultivated  neighbors.  England,  France,  and  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  confirm  this.  In  skillful  rotation  the 
land  is  enriched  by  the  application  of  proper  manure. 
If  you  go  to  Kent,  in  England,  there  will  he  found  a 
soil  that  has  lieen  enriched  by  cultivation  for  almost 
two  thousand  years.  Incessant  labor  and  judicious 
Jnanagement  will  impiove  a  farm  in  producing  better 
crops.  Talk  of  worn  out  farms  iu  Lancaster  county. 
If  there  are  such  they  have  not  been  tilled  by  the 
Amish,  the  Mennonites,  the  Dunkers,  or  the  .Metho- 
dists. They  know  better  than  to  exhaust  farms  ; 
they  enrich  them  by  their  industry. 


Agricultural  chemistry  is  the  science  which  inves- 
tigates the  properties  of  the  (lid'crenl  kinds  of  soil, 
and  discovers  and  a]>plics  the  propir  fcrlilizers.  In- 
deed, numerous  discoveries  in  ugrii  ullure  have  l)eeii 
made  by  oliservant  farmers,  independent  of  a  knowl- 
edge of  chemistry,  but  a  more  Ihorougb  knowledge 
of  the  nature  of  the  soil,  which  cbi'inistry  explains, 
is  of  the  greatest  practical  benefit,  andshoulil  he 
beard  by  every  farntcr.  When  the  first  cargo  of 
guano  was  introiluccd  into  tills  country  It  mcl  with 
till'  prcjuilieeaTilbraciti-eoal  had  to  coiiiend  wiih.  .Vd 
oni' knew  aiiylhing  In  regard  to  its  iutrinsie  value, 
and  eonsei|uently  every  person  set  it  down  as  a  hum- 
bug. The  farmer,  near  Philadelphia,  that  purchased 
the  first  lot,  and  had  tin' courage  to  use  \l,iH>ilriliiil,il 
it  n/tnn  strii'ul  tu-rm  of  t/yuss  in  xurh  </ntin/i/i/  '"*  '" 
eiitii-fhj  kill  thr  frv/i.  lie  immediately  called  u|Hin 
the  unfortunate  seller  and  threatened  to  prosecute 
him  for  obtaining  money  undi'r  I'alsc  pretences. 

The  knowleiige  and  Jiropcr  ap|ilieation  of  the  dlll'er- 
enl  maiuircs  is  of  very  great  [iraetical  importance; 
anil  chemists,  such  as  Leil)ig,  i)raper,  .lohiislon,  and 
others,  have  analyzed  soils  and  plants  ;  enlomologists 
have  discovered  the  nature  of  destructive  In.scels,  and 
oriuthologists  the  auxiliaries  in  their  destruction. 
Some  plains  have  a  local  habitation  and  a  place, 
w  hieh  is  probably  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  soil.  .\ 
soil  entirely  deficient  of  lime  will  not  produce  wheat. 
The  earth  is  full  of  seeds,  »bieli,  if  thrown  in  a 
favorable  position  anil  exposed  to  the  air,  will  spring 
up  and  ]n-oduee  llowers  of  surpassing  beauty  and 
richness.  Every  Hour  and  blade  of  grass  rejoices 
when  the  rain  falls  uiion  It.  This  is  one  of  the  ele- 
ments of  farming,  and  the  others  are  a  g 1  soil  and 

a  favorable  climate;  and  husbandmen  who  know 
that  upon  their  industry  and  skill  the  crojis  depend, 
will  give  the  culture  which  is  due  to  their  acres  ;  hoc 
every  weed,  dress  the  soil,  and  harvest  shall  repay 
their  toll. 

Southcy  says  that  an  animal  is  of  more  consequence 
than  a  plant,  because  It  has  life  ;  and  anotlicr  author 
thinks  that  the  meanest  insect  is  a  collection  of  won- 
ders. True,  we  have  the  microscope  and  the  telescope; 
one  leads  us  to  see  a  world  in  every  atom,  and  the 
other  a  systetn  for  every  star  in  the  firmament. 

The  people  of  Flanders,  in  Europe,  erected  a  statue 
in  honor  of  the  man  whoini  roduced  into  their  country 
the  cultivation  of  the  potato,  and  everywhere  the 
man  who  by  his  knowledge  and  skill  can  produce  two 
spears  of  grass  where  only  one  grew  tielbre,  is  con- 
sidered a  benefactor.  What  shall  we  say  of  the  men 
in  our  country  who  have  imported  blooded  stock,  and 
thus  improved  the  noble  horse,  the  Durham  ox,  the 
Alderney  cow,  the  Merino  sheep  and  the  Chester  pig  ! 
These  men  are  entitled  to  the  lasting  gratitude  of  t  he 
American  people,  and  a  statue  would  not  add  totbeir 
greatness,  but  their  disinterested  elforts  entitle  them 
to  a  monument  in  commemoration  of  the  event. 

The  rapid  disappearance  of  our  forests  has  of  late 
years  excited  a  great  deal  of  discussion.  The  many 
uses  to  which  timber  is  applied  makes  it  important, 
and  the  cause  of  the  anxiety  manifested  in  regard  to 
it  is  deserving  of  serious  thought.  But  there  are  still 
millions  of  acres,  thick  set  with  wood,  in  the  broad 
expanse  of  our  country  and  Canada  ;  and  if  lumber 
should  hereafter  become  scarce  and  dear,  science  will 
develop  other  building  material  to  take  its  place,  as 
stotie-coal  has  taken  that  of  wood.  There  are  men 
living  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  who  have  a  weary  life  In 
clearing  olf  the  large  trees  that  encumber  I  heir  acres. 
Still,  as  the  Atlantic  seaboard  has  been  pretty  well 
stripped  of  hs  Ibrcsts,  there  are  localities  probably  In 
every  State  of  the  Union  that  would  pay  better  if  de- 
voted to  tree-raising,  than  the  cultivation  of  grain. 

Science  will  develop  employment  and  means  of  sub- 
sistence as  fast  as  population  can  grow,  in  all  time  to 
come,  and  it  is  idle  to  fret  over  imaginary  evils.  Our 
country  could  sustain  a  populalionof  a  thousand  ndl- 
lions  of  souls,  and  would  not  be  as  densely  |x)pulated 
asseveral  European  Kingdoms.  In  Pennsylvania,  one 
of  the  old  States,  not  one-half  of  the  land  is  under  cul- 
tivation, and  much  of  the  unbroken  ground  is  still 
covered  with  the  primitive  forests. 

The  Italians  have  a  proverb  to  this  effect,  "that  he 
who  has  not  seen  Naples  has  seen  nothing."  This 
will  be  excm|iliHed  in  .\merica  "  that  he  who  does  not 
visit  Philadelphia  during  this  C:enlcimial  year,  and 
look  upon  the  magnificent  display  on  the  Ccnteimial 
grounds,  need  not  pride  himself  in  after  years  that  he  j 
lias  seen  anything  worth  seeing."  There  all  interests 
will  be  represented,  and  agriculture  will  have  a  largo 
share. 

The  complaint  Is  that  ui  the  distribution  ofrtlHcelii 
our  country  the  agricultural  interest  has  been  greatly 
neglei'tcd.  There  is  some  show  of  reason  ior  I  his  com- 
plaint. In  the  State  Convcnlion  toameiid  the  t'onsti-  i 
tutionof  Pennsylvania,  a  few  years  ago,  of  the  one  ' 
hundred  and  thirty-three  members  comprising  that 
body,  ninety-fiv.'  were  of  the  legal  profession,  and  | 
the  balance  of  thirty-eight  had  a  respectable  sprink- 
ling of  .M.D.'s  and  l).l).'s,  iron  men  and  meiihants. 
The  same  proportion  of  lawyers,  doctors,  merchants, 
iron  masters  and  manufaetun'rs,  and  other  depart- 
ments of  Industry,  independent  of  agricultural  pur 
suits,  have  controlled  the  legislation  of  our  country, 
almost  exclusively,  lor  many  years.  Probably  three- 
fourths  of  the  voles  that  arc  cast  at  every  liii|>ortant 
election  are  thrown  by  citizens  engaged  at  farming. 
Why  is  it  that  the  agricultural  interest  is  thus  iguurvu'  , 


Why,  it  Is  owing  to  the  Indifference  of  leaving  tha 
management  of  primary  meetings,  conventions,  Ac., 
to  persons  who  have  no  sympathy  with, or  interest  In 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  If  ihe  evils  lomplaincd 
of  are  to  be  eorrecled,  farmers  must  show  llielr 
hand  and  arrest  the  evil  by  Bup|K)itliig  nieu  for  office 
who  are  In  sympathy  with  their  interests. 

"  Man  shall  not  live  by  breail  alone.  .S<i  is  it  true 
of  nal  Ions,  I  hat  riches  and  aggrandizement  are  means 
and  not  objects  of  governinenl ;  and  that  Slates  thrive 
and  nourish  not  only  on  merely  physical  eleinenls,  but 
In  pro|iortiiiii  that  law,  onlcr,  [M-ace,  justice  and 
liberty  are  hialntalned  In  the  Commonwealths  of 
Nations." 

Forest  Trees  and  Rain  Fall. 
Mil.  Ehy  thought  the  plaiiling  of  forest  trees  a 
subject  of  great  Iniportaiiee,  and  elied  hcveral  in- 
stances III  which  the  atleiilion  of  foreigners  was 
attracted  to  this  country.  He  held  that  when  Ihe 
forests  are  cleared  away  Ihe  streuiiibdry  up.  To  sup- 
port this,  he  referred  to  the  Potomac  river,  and  said 
that  since  the  forest  trees  which  skirt  lis  banks  are 
being  cut  down  there  Is  a  great  falling  olf  as  reganls 
Ihe  volume  of  the  slreain.  The  same  falling  olV  Is 
nolhed  In  the  Danube  river,  and  Ihe  Austrian  govern- 
ment has  become  so  alarmed  that  they  have  ap- 
pointed a  eommitlccio  investigate  the  cause.  He  felt 
eoiilideiit  that  that  eommlllee  wuuld  rcjsirl  that  It 
was  caused  by  the  deslruellon  of  the  forest  trees.  He 
then  referred  to  the  Tucquan  creek,  whicli  runs 
through  the  lower  end  of  this  county.  Some  ten 
years  ago,  when  he  used  to  fish  for  trout  there,  It  was 
a  very  rapid  stream,  and  was  supplied  at.  frequent 
intervals  by  a  great  many  small  tributaries.  On  all 
sideji  it  was  surrounded  by  a  dense  wtjods,  the  same 
belonging  to  the  parties  who  own  the  .Marlle  and 
Coleinanville  forges.  .\  short  time  ago  lic^  visited  this 
locality  and  found  that  the  mouth  of  the  stream  was 
greatly  diininished  111  size.  He  traced  the  course  of 
the  stream  to  its  source,  and  was  greatly  astonished 
to  find,  that  where  he  used  to  catch  ten  Inch  trout, 
the  farmers  had  to  dam  uji  the  stream  in  firder  to  col- 
lect enough  of  water  for  their  cattle,  ttii  every  hand 
he  noticed  that  all  the  old  trees  had  disappeared, 
having  been  cut  down  by  the  owners  of  the  forges  as 
fuel  for  their  furnaces.  Hetlien  sjioke  at  considerable 
length  in  regard  to  the  preservation  of  our  wcmkI  lands, 
not  only  as  a  preserver  of  our  slreaiiis,  but  that  we 
might  have  plenty  of  timber  lor  our  own  use  and 
those  of  coming  generations.  He  thought  that  there 
was  good  doctrine  in  the  essay  on  this  subject,  and 
said  that  If  the  (irangers  would  only  pay  a  little  at- 
tention to  this  great  want,  they  would  accornjillsh 
something  in  the  mission  to  which  they  seemed  to  be 
called. 

Mr.  Engi.e  called  the  attention  of  the  chair  to  the 
strangers  present,  Messrs.  Carter  and  Harvey,  of  the 
FarmerB'  Club  of  West  tirove,  who  he  llioughl 
would  like  to  say  something  on  this  subject.  The 
chair  then  invited  the  gentlemen  to  give  tliclr  views 
oit  the  matter. 

Mk.  C.4i(TER  did  not  think  he  could  add  any  re- 
marks to  what  had  already  been  said,  as  the  ground 
had  been  pretty  well  gone  over.  He  thought  the  sub- 
ject of  growing  trees  for  increasing  timber  was  a  very 
important  one.  The  best  tree  he  knew  of  for  plant- 
ing was  the  yellow  locust,  which  was  the  most  valu- 
able, as  it  would  stand  more  than  any  other  tree, 
although  It  was  somewhat  subject  to  the  attack  of 
the  borer.  He  had  no  time  to  enter  into  any  discus- 
sion just  now,  as  he  had  to  leave  on  the  three  o'clock 
train  for  home.  He  closed  his  remarks  by  referring 
to  the  inHuence  of  evaporation,  some  streams  having 
an  underground  current  while  others  evajiorated  by 
the  sun. 

-Mr.  H.tRVEV  would  like  to  speak,  hut  was  unable 
to  do  so,  as  the  hour  had  arrived  when  he  would  have 
to  leave.  He  believed  in  the  |M>sitiim  taken  by  his 
friend  Carter. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  then  tendered  the  gentlemen, 
and  the  subject  of  forest  trees  was  then  continued. 

Mr.  MoComsf.t  said  that  during  a  visit  to  a  town 
in  the  Slate  of  Ohio,  he  had  learned  from  a  credita- 
ble source  that  the  stream  which  llinviHl  by  the  town 
had,  within  a  |H'riod  of  seventy  years,  decreased  to 
less  than  half  its  former  size.  He  himself  had  noticed 
a  marked  decrease  in  the  size  of  the  stream  during 
the  eighteen  or  twenty  years  which  Intervened  \h:- 
tween  his  visits  to  the  place.  A  canal  had  formerly 
tieen  built  at  great  expense,  along  its  banks,  but  had 
long  since  been  abandoned  for  want  of  sultlelent  wa- 
ter. Ohio,  seventy  years  ago,  was  almost  one  un- 
broken forest,  whereas  it  is  now,  to  a  great  extent, 
elcarcil  of  timber,  and  the  dimlnulloii  of  this,  and 
other  streams,  was  attributed  to  that  fact. 

It  seemed  to  be  an  almost  undisputed  fact  that  as 
a  country  Is  strlp|>ed  of  ils  timlwr,  the  rainfall  and 
streams  proiwrtionately  decrease.  This  being  so,  may 
not  our  now  fertile  land  at  some  fiitun"  period.  If  not 
guanled  against,  iH'come,  through  these  causes,  a 
barren  desert  !  There  was  another  subject  to  which 
.Mr.  McCoinsey  was  pleased  to~hear  the  essayist  re- 
fer—agricultural chemistry.  Perfect  agriculture,  as 
has  been  said.  Is  Ihe  true  fouiidallon  of  all  trade  and 
industry,  as  well  as  Ihe  foundation  of  the  riches  of 
States.  But  a  rational  system  of  agriculture  cannot 
l)e  formed  without  the  application  of  scicntiflc  princi- 
ples, for  such  a  system  must  be  based  on  an  exact 


44 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[March, 


acquaintance  with  the  means  of  nutrition  of  vegeta- 
bles, and  with  the  influence  of  soils  and  actions  of 
manure  upon  them. 

This  knowledge  we  must  seek  from  chemistry, 
which  teaches  the  mode  of  investigating  the  compo- 
sition and  studying  the  characters  of  the  different 
substances  from  which  plants  derive  their  nourish- 
ment. He  thouglit  the  time  had  come  when  every 
intelligent  farmer  should  acquaint  himself  with  at 
least  the  elements  of  chemistry. 

Mr.  Staupfer  related  an  incident  of  his  boyhood. 
In  the  neitfliborhood  of  Chiques  there  was  a  spring  in 
a  field  which  was  at  that  time  a  perfect  swamp.  Near 
it  was  a  hill  on  which  were  a  great  many  hickorynul 
trees.  In  time  they  were  all  cut  down,  and  now  that 
which  was  a  swamp  is  a  nice  field,  perfectly  dry.  The 
spring  is  also  almost  dry,  and  so  great  has  been  the 
change  that  he  could  hardly  recO£rnize  it  when  he 
visited  the  sjrat  a  short  time  ago.  This  great  change 
occurred  within  the  past  forty  years.  The  Chiques 
creek  is  one-third  less  now  than  it  was  then.  As  re- 
gards rainfall,  he  said  it  is  always  greater  where 
there  was  timber,  instancing  the  lower  end  of  the 
county,  where  it  is  one-third  greater  than  it  is  in  any 
other  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  EsHLEinx  knew  of  a  place  where  there  was  a 
swamp,  and  the  only  way  it  was  drained  was  through 
a  pipe  which  was  laid  down  for  that  purpose.  This 
was  a  decided  improvement  in  respect  to  the  drain- 
age, but  before  the  pipe  was  laid  the  water  was  car- 
ried oft' somehow — cither  by  evaporation  or  an  under 
ground  current.  He  felt  sure  tliat  the  water  of  our 
springs  and  wells  come  from  the  mountains.  He  had 
studied  this  question  and  could  see  no  other  reason. 
It  must  come  from  a  higher  place.  Water  must  seek 
its  level.  The  more  it  is  sheltered  by  trees,  the  less 
it  is  evaporated,  and  hence  it  has  a  longer  time  to 
sink  into  the  ground,  and  thus  feed  our  springs  and 
wells  and  nourish  the  land. 

Mr.  Ebv  said  that  he  had  read  that  since  trees 
were  planted  along  the  Suez  canal,  rain  had  fallen,  a 
circumstance  that  never  happened  before. 

Mr.  Sr.MMY  would  like  to  know  why  Donegal  is 
called  ''  Dry  Donegal,"  when  it  is  a  well  wooded  dis- 
trict. If  the  existence  of  trees  produces  rainfall,  why 
does  it  not  do  it  in  this  particular  case  ? 

Mr.  Staiiffer  said  that  the  current  of  atmos- 
phere had  something  to  do  with  it,  in  support  of 
which  he  cited  a  few  instances. 

Mr.  Ebt  said  that  after  a  long,  dry  season,  when 
a  heavy  shower  came  up,  it  was  generally  followed 
by  others. 

Mr.  Engle  said  that  the  eastern  partof  the  county 
is  noted  for  having  greater  rainfalls  than  the  western. 
He  noticed  that  near  his  place  is  a  mountain  gorge, 
and  when  it  rained  you  could  not  see  across  the 
river.  In  fact,  the  rain  was  so  heavy  you  could  not 
see  the  mountain,  while  one  mile  above  this  point  no 
rain  could  be  seen  falling  at  all.  He  believed  that  the 
mountain  range  had  something  to  do  with  it.  The 
circumstance,  he  said,  was  not  at  all  a  common  one. 

There  being  no  further  discussion,  a  vote  of  thanks 
was  tendered  Mr.  Hunsecker  for  his  essay,  and  the 
subject  of  Hungarian  grass  was  next  introduced. 

The  Merits  of  Hungarian  Grass. 

Mr.  Pownall  said  his  only  experience  in  raising 
the  grass  was  that  wheat  could  not  be  grown  so  well 
after  the  grass  had  been  sown.  He  had  grown  it  for 
the  last  six  years,  and  was  well  satisfied  with  the  re- 
sult. He  would  not  let  a  season  pass  by  without  put- 
ting in  some  of  the  grass.  It  only  takes  sixty  days 
to  mature  for  a  good  hay  crop.  It  can  be  sowed  any 
time  between  the  planting  of  corn  and  July.  The 
only  trouble  with  most  farmers  who  raise  it  is  that 
they  let  it  get  too  ripe.  When  this  is  the  case  it  is  too 
hard  to  feed,  because  it  is  more  like  straw  than  hay. 
It  cannot  be  cut  too  early.  If  cut  at  the  proper  time 
it  is  a  valuable  feed.  As  regards  his  wheat,  it  never 
failed  when  sown  after  it,  although  that  appears  to 
be  the  general  complaint  against  it.  He  believed  that 
nine-tenths  of  the  grass  sown  in  this  county  was 
allowed  to  get  too  ripe,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  it 
does  not  give  satisfaction.  When  it  is  cut  at  the  pro- 
per time  it  will  not  exhaust  the  soil,  but  if  let  go  to 
seed  it  exhausts  the  soil  very  much.  He  sowed  from 
one  to  three  pecks  to  the  acre.  If  the  seed  is  good  a 
half  bushel  is  ample. 

Mr.  Grossman  always  found  good  crops  follow 
where  he  had  sown  Hungarian  grass,  but  for  all  this 
he  would  rather  have  good  timothy  than  any  other 
kind  of  grass. 

Mr.  Brackbill  said  that  in  his  neighborhood 
there  was  not  much  of  the  grass  sown.  He  was  not 
in  favor  of  it,  and  believed  it  would  soon  die  out.  The 
increased  demand  for  Hungarian  grass  he  thought 
was  caused  by  the  drought.  It  was  first  introduced 
in  the  west,  and  now  almost  every  farmer  in  that  part 
of  the  county  sows  two,  three  and  four  acres  of  this 
grass  to  fall  back  on.  He  did  not  think  it  was  good 
to  feed  too  much  of  it  to  horses,  as  it  affects  their  eyes. 
In  some  instances  in  the  west,  where  it  was  fed  exten- 
sively to  horses,  it  affected  their  eyes  so  much  they  be- 
came blind.  He  did  not  think  farmers  could  afford 
to  sow  this  grass,  as  it  was  so  exhausting  on  the  soil. 
For  his  part  he  preferred  good  grass  and  clover.  In 
the  lower  end  of  this  county  it  is  grown  to  a  large  ex- 
tent. Instead  of  Hungarian  grass  he  urged  the  plant- 
ing of  King  Philip  corn.    This  corn  brings  forth  a 


good  fodder,  and  it  is  just  as  well,  if  not  better,  for 
feed  than  this  grass. 

Mr.  Kendig  had  no  experience  in  the  growing  of 
this  grass,  but  he  has  two  or  three  neighbors  who 
speak  very  highly  of  it.  One  of  them  says  he  prefers 
to  plant  it  in  June  and  cut  it  when  it  blossoms,  and 
that  he  prefers  it  to  good  timothy  hay.  This  neigh- 
bor of  his  intends  to  sow  ten  acres  this  year.  Before 
sowing,  the  earth  should  be  well  warmed  up.  He  was 
shown  a  sample  of  last  year's  grass  this  morning,  and 
it  was  good,  fine  and  sweet  scented.  Does  not  see  any 
exhausting  qualities  in  the  land  when  wheat  is  sown 
after  it.  If  any  crop  exhausts  a  soil,  then  you  must 
resort  to  manure. 

As  the  president,  Mr.  Cooper,  wished  to  make  a  few 
remarks,  Mr.  Engle  was  called  to  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cooper  said  he  had  made  inquiry  in  his  neigh- 
borhood in  regard  to  this  grass  and  found  that  a  con- 
siderable interest  was  taken  in  the  matter.  One  of 
his  neighbors,  Mr.  John  Beiler,  was  a  warm  admirer 
of  it.  This  gentleman  had  been  experimenting  with 
the  grass  for  several  years.  Last  year  he  cut  ten  four 
horse  loads  of  the  grass,  from  a  four  acre  field.  He 
sows  one  bushel  to  the  acre,  and  puts  it  in  the  ground 
generally  after  corn.  When  he  intends  to  sow  wheat 
after  it  he  sows  less  than  one  bushel  of  the  grass  to 
the  acre.  It  is  raised  with  less  care  than  any  other 
kind  of  grass,  and  when  fed  to  cattle  it  puts  them  in 
better  condition.  Wli*at  follows  where  it  was  planted 
as  well  asoats.  This  was  one  gentleman's  experience. 
He  would  now  refer  to  the  experience  of  another  gen- 
tleman— Mr.  Benjamin  Beiler,  of  the  same  neighor- 
hood.  Last  year  he  received  six  four  horse  loads  of 
the  grass  off  a  two  acre  field.  This  grass  was  cut  on 
a  Monday  and  left  lie  until  Saturday  before  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  mow .  For  all  this,  it  was  nice  and  soft, 
and  the  horses  were  very  fond  of  it.  He  recommended 
the  selecting  of  grass  with  black  heads  for  sowing,  as 
it  was  the  best.  Someof  the  heads  are  white.  These 
he  did  not  think  were  so  good.  In  this  county  the  seed 
is  very  much  mixed.  Mr.  Cooper  said  that  he  him- 
self had  received  four  one  horse  loads  from  less  than 
half  an  acre.  From  it  he  fed  two  horses  all  winter, 
and  there  was  enough  still  on  hand  to  feed  until 
April.  He  had  also  fed  it  in  the  green  state.  If  cut 
green,  it  is  very  hard  to  cure.  He  said  that  some  of 
his  Amish  friends  did  not  think  their  wheat  thrived 
as  well  when  sown  after  it,  but  he  thought  it  would 
grow  just  as  well.  He  would  sow  all  the  land  he  had 
to  spare  in  Hungarian  grass.  He  prepared  the  ground 
the  same  as  for  planting  corn,  and  harrows  the 
ground  the  same  as  for  oats. 

Mr.  Kendig  said  that  his  friend  rolls  his  ground 
first,  then  scatters  the  grass  seed  over  it,  and  harrows 
the  same  as  for  oats. 

Mr.  Hertz  said  that  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago 
his  brother  from  the  west  sent  a  peck  of  the  seed  to 
his  father.  The  seed  was  sown  and  the  grass  let  go 
to  seed.  It  was  then  mowed  and  threshed.  The 
grass  was  more  like  straw,  and  the  cattle  would  not 
touch  it.  The  seed  could  not  be  sold,  as  the  grass 
was  considered  worthless.  Two  years  ago  he  sow^d 
some  of  the  seed  in  a  strip  of  ground  where  oats  were 
in  the  year  before.  The  ground  was  well  plouehed 
and  the  grass  produced  so  bountifully  that  he  let  it 
go  into  seed.  From  this  crop  he  produced  six  bushels 
of  seed.  He  put  wheat  in  the  same  place  and  found 
a  great  difference.  The  wheat  was  very  imperfect. 
The  next  time  he  experimented  in  Hungarian  grass, 
he  would  cut  it  before  it  became  ripe.  He  found  that 
his  soil  was  injured  more  by  the  Hungarian  grass 
than  any  other  crop  he  ever  raised  in  his  short  expe- 
rience of  farming.  There  may  possibly  be  a  differ- 
ence in  the  soil.     His  was  limestone. 

Mr.  Pownall  said  that  when  the  grass  was  fed 
to  cows  it  gave  a  rich  color  to  the  milk  and  butter. 
The  experience  of  all  his  neighbors  was  that  it  was 
hard  on  the  soil. 

Mr.  Brackbill  said  the  farmers  in  the  lower  end 
grow  it  for  the  money  that  is  in  the  seed.  They  get 
eighty  cents  a  bushel  for  it.  He  spoke  at  considera- 
ble length  against  the  sowing  of  this  grass. 

MB.KEisTgave  his  experience.  He  had  noticed 
no  difl'erence  in  the  soil  after  the  grass  was  sown, 
but,  after  hearing  the  discussion  on  the  subject,  he 
thought  it  would  be  better  to  plant  corn. 

Mr.  Groff  was  a  strong  advocate  of  Hungarian 
grass.  After  giving  his  experience,  which  appeared 
to  be  about  the  same  as  the  others  who  favored  the 
grass,  he  said  that  he  had  twelve  acres  out  last  year 
and  that  he  received  $1..50  a  bushel  for  all  the  seed 
he  had  to  spare. 

The  discussion  was  carried  on  for  some  time,  but 
no  new  points  were  elicited  further  than  it  was  re- 
garded as  a  mere  "  foxtail  "  by  Mr.  Brinton.     It  was 
only  a  fall  grass  and  was  entirely  worthless. 
Miscellaneous. 

Mr.  Kendig  moved  that  a  committeeof  three  be 
appointed  by  the  chair  to  report  the  best  variety  of 
apple  trees  for  planting — the  committee  to  make  their 
report  at  the  next  meeting. 

The  chair  appointed  Messrs.  M.  D.  Kendig,  H.  M. 
Engle  and  Casper  Hiller  as  the  committee. 

Mr.  Keist  moved  that  hereafter  only  practical 
questions  on  agriculture  and  horticulture  be  dis- 
cussed. The  motion  received  the  approval  of  the 
Society. 

Four  apple  tree  borers,  found  in  the  trunk  of  a 


dead  tree  on  the  premises  of  Mr.  Pownall,  were  pre- 
sented to  the  members  by  Prof.  Rathvon.  They  were 
shown  to  he  the  larvse  of  the  long  horned  beetle,  sev- 
eral of  which  the  professor  had  with  him.  An  arti- 
cle explainingtheir  nature  appears  in  another  column 
of  The  Farmer. 

A  small  bag  of  Russian  grass  was  distributed 
amous  the  members  by  the  Preident.  It  was  sent  to 
the  Society  Ijy  Mr.  Benjamin  Beiler,  of  Bird-in-Hand. 
The  grass  was  said  to  resemble  the  Hungarian  in 
some  respects. 

Two  potatoes,  known  as  "  Bonnell's  Beauty,"  were 
presented  by  Mr.  Eshleman. 

Grafts  of  "  My  Favorites,"  an  apple  raised  by  Mr. 
Grossman,  were  distributed  among  the  members. 

The  subjects  for  discussion  at  the  next  meeting 
will  be  "  Fruits,"  and  "  Our  lawns  and  how  to  take 
care  of  them." 

Adjourned. 

^ 

THE  EXPERIMENTAL  FARM   CLUB. 


Interesting  Essays  and  Reports  of    Practical 
Experiments. 

At  the  last  stated  meeting  of  the  Experimental 
Farm  Club,  held  on  the  farm  near  West  Grove,  the 
proceeding  were  marked  by  unusual  interest.  Super- 
intendent Carter  read  an  essa)  on 

Profits    of    Raising    Corn  in    Chester  County. 

Many  farmers  do  not  appreciate  the  value  of  corn 
as  a  paying  crop.  I,  therefore,  wish  to  briefly  call  at- 
tention to  a  few  facts  and  figures.  Our  crop  of  corn 
on  the  Farm  this  year  was  a  good  one,  though  not 
better  than  we  have  had  some  other  seasons^  Our 
main  crop,  I  am  confident,  made  over  one  hundred 
bushels  to  the  acre — estimating  73  pounds  of  green 
corn  to  make  .56  pounds  of  shelled  corn.  This  field 
was  a  clover  sod  in  good  heart,  and  had  800  pounds 
of  acidulated  South  Carolina  Rock  per  acre  on  part, 
and  part  had  660  pounds  of  Philadelphia  Bone. 

We  had  some  plots  that  were  accurately  measured 
and  the  corn  carefully  weighed,  and  these  I  can  speak 
positively  about.  I  shall  therefore  refer  to  them  to 
prove  what  I  have  to  state.  Some  of  these  plots  made 
98  bushel  per  acre,  with  no  fertilizer  since  seeding 
wheat  three  years  previous.  This  corn  was  drawn  in 
and  shelled,  and  the  shelled  corn  weighed  in  the  grain, 
when  it  w'as  found  that  73  pounds  of  ears  made  .56 
pounds — making  $.50.96  per  acre  of  corn.  An  acre 
made  364  sheaves  of  fodder,  which  sold  in  the  field  at 
four  cents  per  sheaf,  or  $10. .56 — making  for  the  whole 
crop  on  an  acre  $61  ..52.  These  prices  were  only  such 
as  any  farmer  could  have  realized  this  season,  and 
the  amount  raised  per  acre  has  often  been  exceeded, 
and  is  certainly  within  the  reach  of  any  good  farmer 
owning  natural  corn  land. 

The  expense  for  labor,  seed,  &e.,  is  not  far  from 
twelve  dollars  an  acre.  This,  of  course,  is  exclusive 
of  fertiiizers,  which,  if  judiciously  selected,  will  not 
only  increase  the  corn  but  show  for  several  years.  We 
have  no  other  field  crop  that  will  make  as  good  show- 
ing, or  can  be  raised  and  marketed  with  as  little  ex- 
pense. 

Our  plan  of  planting  corn  is  to  sow  a  good  phos- 
phatic  manure  on  the  sod  early,  plow  shallow — say 
four  or  five  inches — cultivate  well,  drill  corn  in  rows 
four  feet  apart,  and  stalks  from  sixteen  to  twenty- 
four  inches  apart  in  the  row,  according  to  the  strength 
of  the  ground.  It  should  be  well  worked  and  kept 
clean,  but  neither  the  plowing  or  planting  should  be 
very  early.  Plow  the  first  of  May  and  plant  the  second 
week. 

Moses  Brinton  inquired  the  comparative  values 
of  South  Carolina  rock  and  bone.  Mr.  Linville  had 
grown  better  corn  with  South  Carolina  rock  than 
bone.  .1.  P.  Ambler  had  tried  rock  and  bone  and 
measured  corn  raised,  and  was  of  the  opinion  that 
neither  of  them  had  paid. 

Howard  Hoopes  inquired  the  best  means  of 
destroying  ants  in  corn.  Mr.  Linville  said  wood  ashes 
mixed  with  common  salt  would  usually  be  found 
effectual. 

Eastburn   Reeder,   Secretary  of  the   Solesbury 
Farmers'  Club,  of  Bucks  county,  read  an  essay  on 
Dairy  House  Ventilation. 

JIh.  Reeder  referred  to  the  old  plan  of  making 
butter  in  farm  house  cellars,  where  the  temperature 
frequently  reached  seventy  degrees  in  summer  and 
would  fail  to  forty  degrees  in  winter ;  and  the  fre- 
quent plan  of  keeping  the  milk  pans  in  the  kitchen, 
exposed  to  the  fumes  of  cooking,  which  contributed 
nothing  to  the  sweetness  of  butter. 

The  essayist  was  of  the  opinion  that  milk  should 
be  kept  at  a  uniform  temperature  of  about  sixty  de- 
grees, thinking  it  would  secure  as  good  a  quality  of 
butter  in  January  as  in  June,  or  in  other  words,  have 
June  butter  all  the  year  round.  Being  about  to  erect 
a  dairy  house  he  had  visited  quite  a  number  of  promi- 
nent dairies,  and  carefully  observed  the  arrangement 
of  each  and  the  results  obtained,  and  thus  gained 
much  valuable  information.  His  plan  adopted  was 
to  build  an  ice  house  and  milk  house  combined ,  divided 
by  an  eigliteen  inch  stone  wall,  with  a  cooling  cham- 
ber in  it,  with  pipes  arranged  to  admit  the  cold  air 
into  the  milk  room.  He  ventilated  from  the  centre 
of  the  ceiling,  to  carry  off  the  light  gases  that  arose, 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


45 


and  by  drain-pipes  helow  the  level  of  tlie  door,  to 
carry  off  the  foul  matter  that  was  heavier  than  the 
air.  A  house,  twelve  feet  siiu:uv  and  hii.'h,  eon- 
strueted  on  this  plan,  would  \>f  sullirii'jit  lor  a  dairy 
of  twelve  eows,  and  could  be  .-n  shelved  as  to  answer 
for  fifty  cows.  The  ice  house  adjoininir  should  lie 
the  same  size.  It  required  from  live  to  fifteen  bushels 
of  ice  per  week  to  keep  the  milk  room  at  proper  tem- 
perature. He  favored  the  use  of  shallow  pans,  with 
the  milk  exijosed  to  the  air,  ami  that  it  should  be 
cooled  gradually  to  exude  the  animal  heat  and  ani- 
mal odor.  He  iiail  been  very  successful  by  this  pro- 
cess in  obtaining  a  uniformly  excellent  quality  of 
butter  throughout  the  year. 

Mu.  Ri:ki)i;u  was  followed  by  an  essay  on  the 
same  subject  by  L.  S.  Hardin,  of  Kentucky,  whose 
views  weri'  radically  opposed  to  the  theories  ju.st  ad- 
vanced. The  following  is  an  abstract  cd'  his  remarks: 
About  four  yi'ars  ago  I  started  a  bultrr  ilairy  near 
the  I'ity  of  Louisville,  Kentucky:  inaclimate  liot  and 
humid,  where  animal  substances  decayed  raiiidly,and 
wliere  insect  and  parasite  life  dcvclo[ieil  spontane- 
ously and  without  limit.  To  spread  the  milk  out  in 
the  usual  nuinncr,was  to  invite  the  enemy  I  was  mi>st 
anxious  to  avoid.  To  overcome  my  dillicultics  I  be- 
gan a  series  of  experiments,  beginning  with  shallow 
pans  in  the  open  air,  an<l  step  by  step  I  lowered  the 
temperature  and  incrcasi'd  the  depth  of  my  milk,  un- 
til I  reai'hcd  what  is  now  called  the  Swedish  plan  of 
setting  milk  in  water  at  40  degrees,  with  cans  '-'(I 
incdies  deep.  I  found  1  had  passed  the  prcititablc 
point,  and  liad  to  retrace  my  steps  until  I  decided 
upon -to  degrees  as  the  best  temperature  for  raising 
the  cream  perfectly,  and  nnnle  my  cans  S  inches  in 
diameter,  and  12  and  ill  inches  deep.  .My  butter  was 
now  all  I  desired,  but  the  use  of  ice  in  c-ooling  water 
that  was  in  immediate  contact  with  the  hot  air,  was 
too  expensive.  I  soon  discoveri'd  that  it  took  less  ice 
to  cool  a  given  cube  of  air  than  it  did  to  cttol  the  same 
cube  of  water.  It  was  equally  evident  that  it  was  a 
useless  waste  of  ice  to  cool  off  a  whole  room  full  of 
air,  and  reasoning  from  these  premises  I  concluded  to 
confine  my  milk  anti  airto  the  snnillest  ptissihlcspace, 
in  order  to  economize  tlu^  use  of  ice.  I  then  built  a 
box  with  double  sides  and  close  fitting  double  door, 
putting  a  hciod  or  trap  over  the  waste  water  pipe  so 
as  to  entirely  exclude  the  surrounding  atmosphere. 
As  it  is  the  nature  of  heated  air  to  ascend,  I  placed 
the  ice  shelf  in  the  top  of  the  box  tofeeure  a  uniform 
temperature.  A  space  of  one  inch  is  left  openoneach 
side  of  the  shelf  to  allow  the  air  to  pa.ss  around  the 
ice.  The  drippings  from  the  ice  are  utilized  to  the 
extent  of  four  inches  in  the  bottom  of  the  box.  The 
cans  are  made  with  a  perforated  rim  on  the  bottom 
to  allow  the  water  to  pass  under  them.  The  covers 
of  the  cans  fit  outside  so  as  to  shed  the  water,  and 
prevent  any  of  the  drippings  getting  into  the  milk. 

It  is  only  after  three  years'  satisfactory  experience 
and  trial  tests,  with  the  best  butter  makers  in  this 
country  that  I  have  concluded  to  introduce  this  as  an 
improved  method  of  butter  making.  In  order  to 
criticise  my  method  with  intelligence  it  is  necessary 
to  have  before  your  minds  all  the  points  of  excellence 
that  are  desirable  in  any  system  of  butter  making. 
To  accomplish  this  I  will  submit  to  you  a  high  and 
thorough  standard,  iiy  which  I  am  willing  to  have 
my  method  tested.  The  ta.ste  of  the  butter  produced; 
the  aroma;  the  uniformity  in  quality  ;  the  color;  the 
grain  or  texture  ;  the  (luantity  produced;  the  keep- 
ing quality  ;  cost  of  making  ;  the  labor  in  making  ; 
cost  of  utensils  ;  cost  of  buildings ;  protection  of  the 
milk  from  accidents;  amount  of  skill  required  to 
make  a  fine  article  of  butter,  and  the  practicability 
of  my  method. 

I  have  made  two  careful  experiments  in  churning 
sweet  and  sour  cream.  As  both  experiments  turneii 
out  exactly  alike  one  description  will  answer.  I  took 
fifty  pounds  of  cream  that  was  sweet  and  liquid,  per- 
fectly free  from  skins  or  lunijis,  stirred  it  thoroughly 
together,  and  while  in  motion  dipped  out  one-half  by 
weight  and  churned  it  immediately.  Put  sour  milk 
in  the  other  half  and  let  it  stami  until  thoroughly  and 
sharply  soured.  Both  batches  churned  at  lio  degrees. 
Each  of  the  four  churnings  came  in  twenty  minutes. 
In  each  experiment  the  sweeC  cream  produced  five 
ounces  the  more  butter.  Every  person  wlio  tested 
the  samples  while  fresh  pronounced  the  sweet  cream 
butter  the  better.  After  keeping  the  samples  several 
mouths  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  sample  from  the 
sweet  cream  keeps  the  better. 

Milk  as  it  comes  from  the  cow  is  a  pure  and  per- 
fect food.  With  my  metliod,  I  take  it  while  in  its 
pure  condition  and  ]ilace  it  in  an  atmosphere  so  cold 
that  decomposition  is  practically  arrested,  and  hold 
it  at  this  temperature  until  the  cream  has  all  arisen, 
about  thirty-six  hours.  Wlien  1  skim  the  cream  it  is 
liquid  and  sweet.  The  cream  can,  of  course,  be 
soured,  if  desired.  As  to  the  taste  of  butter  nutde  by 
my  process,  I  have  always  received  the  top  price  of 
my  market  the  year  round. 

Nine-tenths  of  the  butter  bougfit  in  market  is 
judged  by  the  sense  of  smell.  If  in  the  course  of 
manufacture  the  light  flavoring  oils  arc  exposed  for  a 
long  time  to  the  action  of  the  atmosphere,  they  must 
in  a  measure  disappear.  By  my  (irocess,  evaporation 
is  practically  arrested,  and  if  the  milk  has  come  from 
the  cow  in  a  pure  and  wholesome  condition,  the  but- 
ter is  certain  to  possess  an  exquisite  aroma. 


Setting  milk  in  the  dark  does  not  seem  to  affect  the 
butter  one  way  or  another.  In  making  experiments, 
setting  one-half  the  milk  in  the  dark,  and  one-half  in 
the  light,  after  twenty-four  hours,  there  was  no  dif- 
ference in  the  color  of  the  butter. 

Too  much  heal  is  fatal  to  the  grain  of  butter,  and 
it  reqinres  a  masterspirit  to  preserve  its  fine  waxy 
texture  with  ndlk  set  in  the  open  air,  and  the  ther- 
mometer indicating  a  tropical  range  of  from  SO  to  100 
degrees. 

In  midsummer  it  required  a  fraction  over  nineteen 
pounds  of  milk  to  make  a  ]K)und  of  butter  with  shal- 
low ])ans,  whili;  a  fraction  over  seventeen  [Miunds  was 
recpiired  in  deep  pans.  When  the  milk  and  cream 
arc  alhiwed  to  sour  together,  as  in  shallow  setting, 
and  the  souring  jiroecss  is  still  contiiuied  with  tlic 
cream  after  it  Is  taken  off,  there  is  great  danger  of  a 
slight  degree  of  decomposition  taking  place,  which 
greatly  injures  the  keeping  (puilily  »»f  the  liutter. 
Whi'U  the  cream  is  taken  off  swi'et  and  pure,  and  if 
churned  while  in  this  pure  condition,  the  keeping 
quality  of  the  butter  is  insured. 

Heshowed  at  length  that  by  his  jirocesB  the  amount 
of  skill  and  laluir  required  was  greatly  retluced,  and 
the  cost  of  buildings  and  utensils  largely  decreased. 
He  cxhibileil  a  model  of  his  box  and  milk  cans,  the 
former  of  which  he  has  patented. 

Mu.  Ukkiikk  maintained  that  if  nothing  was  notice- 
able in  the  odor  of  the  air  of  the  ndlk  room,  that  its 
eU'ects  eoidd  not  be  noticed  in  or  tasted  in  the  butter. 
Mi(.  H.MtniN  rej)Iied  that  it  sowed  the  seeds  of  de- 
struction in  the  milk  which  were  develoiied  in  the 
butter. 

Secuetakv  Cakter  read  an  essay,  written  by 
Prof.  J.  Wilkinson,  of  Baltimore,  who  was  unable  to 
be  jiresent,  favoring  the  ventilation  of  milk  rooms  as 
follows : 

"  We  want  the  truth  and  the  whole  truth  as  far  as 
we  understand  the  science  of  butter  making,  and  it  is 
the  height  of  folly  for  any  one  to  attempt  to  promul- 
gate any  system,  or  branch  of  a  system  of  this  im- 
mense native  industry,  which  cannot  stand  the  test 
of  dairy  science,  and  the  scrutiny  of  dairy  chemists. 
I  have  previously  advocated  the  importance  of  ven- 
tilation for  dairy  ro<mis,  and  oi)posed  to  cooling  milk 
rapidly  in  the  use  of  cold  water  instead  of  cool  air, 
which  latter  plan  I  recommend. 

"Iclaimthat  ventilation, by  which  I  meana  change 
of  air  in  the  dairy  room  with  suHicient  rapidity  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  the  gaseous  emanations 
while  it  is  cooling,  known  in  common  parlance  as 
animal  odors,  lieing  absorbed  by  other  milk,  already 
cool,  with  which  it  may  come  in  contact  and  thus 
secure  the  maintenance  of  the  purest  condition  of  tlie 
air  of  the  dairy  possible,  an  essentiality  claimed  by 
every  dairyman  in  the  world,  save  one  or  two.  The 
most  reliable  dairy  chemists  have  established  the  fact 
that  milk  gives  off  vapor  and  odor,  which  are  known 
in  dairy  science  as  volatile  animal  oil,  that  is  mingleil 
with  natural  milk,  and  which  escapes  slowly  at  blood 
heat,  more  rapidly  as  the  temperature  is  raised,  more 
slowly  as  it  is  lowered  until  it  reaches  IV2  degrees, 
when  it  remains  fixed  or  unvolatile  in  the  milk  and 
cream.  At  a  little  below  60  degrees  it  is  condensed 
to  a  liquid  oil.  At  the  natural  temperature  of  the 
milk,  the  gaseous  odors  are  given  off  slowly,  hence 
time  is  required  to  admit  of  its  purifying  itself.  It 
may,  however,  be  greatly  facilitati'd  by  artificial 
heating,  which,  if  the  milk  is  to  be  suddenly  cooled 
by  a  cold  water  bath,  would  greatlyimprovetjie  keep 
iiig  quality  of  the  butter  made  from  milk  so  cooled. 
But  carefully  conducted  experiments  in  cooling  the 
milk  gradually,  in  cool,  changing  air,  has  proved  that 
it  is  sullieientiy  purified  to  insure  good  preserving 
qualities  and  yet  not  impair  its  flavor. 

"It  may  be  contended  that  milk,  as  it  comes  from 
the  cow,  is  in  a  state  to  adapt  it  well  as  human  food, 
but  let  us  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  when  thus 
used  those  properties  which  so  impair  the  preserving 
qualities  of  the  milk  and  butter  are  the  active  ones  in 
rendering  such  fresh  milk  diet,  whether  of  man  or 
beast,  readily  and  rapidly  fermentable  and  assimila- 
ble qualities',  the  direct  opjiosite  of  which  is  the  aim 
of  the  manufacture  of  butter  to  be  preserved.  It  is  a 
well  known  fact  that  milk  that  has  been  artificially 
heated  up  to  KiO  to  140  degrees  will  remain  sweet 
longer  kept  at  the  same  temperature,  than  milk  not 
so  heated.  By  cooling  milk  in  close  cans,  in  the  use 
of  ice,  or  cold'  water,  we  confine  in  it  tlio.se  agents  of 
decay,  that  heat  is  known  to  set  free,  and  the  keep- 
ing quality  of  the  milk  thus  suddenly  cooled  must  be 
proportionately  inlpairel^. 

•'I  am  willing  to  stake  my  reputation  as  a  dairy 
chemist  and  a  "dairy  architect  on  the  soundness  of 
what  I  have  stated.  It  may  be  denied  but  It  cannot 
be  proved  by  i)ractical  test  to  be  untrue. 

"Irepcat,  we  want  truth;  I  also  repeat  what  Intelli- 
gent, skillful  dairy  practice  has  everywhere,  ami  at 
all  times  sustained,  tliat  the  cream  from  milk  that 
has  been  rapidly  cooled  in  close  vessels  will  not  make 
butter  of  equal"  flavor  and  equal  keeping  qualities, 
that  cream  will  from  the  same  milk,  slowly  eooleil  in 
pure,  partially  dried  ami  suitably  cooled  air  changing 
air.  I  mean  bv  suitably  cooled  at,  the  tcmi«rature 
oftiOOP." 

A  vote  of  thanks  of  the  club  was  extended  to 
Messrs.  Hardin  and  Reeder,  for  their  presence  and 
instruction. 


Bee    Keeping  for    Farmers. 
Head  before  the  Exiierimeutal    Farmers'  Club    by 
Hev.  f)rr  I.awson,  Feb.  •J4th,  1H7((. 

It  Is  not  to  be  expectetl  that  farmers  will  or  can  de- 
vote that  time  and  attcntit>n  to  bee  keeping  net-essary 
to  become  g.-nerally  scientillc  apiarians.  This  must 
be  h'ft  to  men  of  leisure,  whose  tastes  lead  them  that 
way,  or  to  spociullsts  who  make  bee  kcepiii);  their 
business. 

But  at  the  same  time  a  wise  husbanding  of  the  re- 
sources of  Ilu"  farm  seems  todemaud  that  each  farmer 
should  keep  at  least  a  few  hives  of  bees,  lie  nuiy  thus 
save  a  product  of  his  Melds  which  would  otherwliie 
be  lost,  and  so  add  sitniewhat  to  the  pnifil  ot'  the  farm, 
or  till' corn  tort  of  his  family.  And  Ihlhiloiihiless  most 
larmers  would  do  were  they  not  deierreil  liy  the  die- 
hi-artcning  failures  wliii-h  have  mi  ofti'U  o\ertaken 
their  cntiTpriscs  of  this  sort.  It  will  be  the  object  of 
this  paper  to  give,  if  |Missible.  siimc  hints  by  which 
mistakes  leading  to  failure  and  loss  nniy  be  avoided. 
Here  let  us  oliscrve  that  beis,  like  evirvlhing  else 
(Ui  the  farm,  re<|uire  some  care  an<l  attention.  If  left 
intirely  to  "  take  care  of  themselves"  they  will  asccr- 
taiidy  fail  us  a  Held  of  corn  or  a  henlof  cuttle,  and  yet 
on  the  other  hand  a  few  hives  require  comparatively  Ill- 
tie  attention,  anil  can  be  eared  for  in  fragiiieiiisofilme 
which  otherwise  would  hanlly  Ix*  put  tu  any  )ir«)llta- 
ble  use..  In  aiUlition  to  this,  bees  requlri'  /iro/trr  hii'et. 
It  Is  my  o|iinioii  that  more  Ih'CS  are  h>st  from  the  use 
of  hives  of  faulty  construction  than  from  all  other 
causes  <-ombJncd.  .\  bivi- t<)  give  the  best  results  in 
thin  rUnt'itf,  and  for  winteriiigou  their siininier stands 
(and  for  this  region  that  is,  I  think,  the  licsl  plan) 
slioulil  be  nearly  cubical  In  form,  having  IHOO  to  "JOOO 
cubic  inches  space  in  the  main  apartnu'ut  ;  should  bt; 
math- of  pine  <ir  souM' other  soft  wfKsl  n<il  less  than 
one  inch  in  thickness — two  inches  would  be  better  no 
doubt.  Should  Ik-  provided  with  moveable  comb 
frames,  after  the  simjilcst  arrangement,  and  space 
above  for  honey  Ihixcs,  the  whole  of  the  simplest  pos- 
sible construction,  avoiding  if  jiossible  all  com|>licated 
arrangement  of  drawers,  doors,  moth  traps,  and  tin- 
like.  These  only  afford  hidihg  places  for  moths,  and 
end)arras6  the  bee  keeper  in  his  operations. 

The  hives  should  lie  placed  not  too  near  each  other, 
and  not  more  than  six  or  eight  inches  from  the 
ground.  They  are  thus  less  exiKised  to  the  wind,  are 
much  warmer  in  winter,  and  are  much  more  easily 
reached  by  the  bees  as  they  come  heavily  laden  from 
the  lielils.  The  hives  should  be  located  near  where 
the  family  constantly  pass.  They  will  thus  Iw-come 
accustomed  to  the  presence  of  man,  and  ceasing  to 
fear  harm  at  his  hands  will  cease  to  sling.  This, 
with  proper  attention,  will  so  "tame"  tliem  thai, 
with  care,  all  needful  operations  may  Im"  performed 
safely.  Swarms  from  hives  so  treated  rarely  escaiM* 
to  the  woods.  They  are  no  longer  iiilil  biri,  but 
{loinestic,  and  look  to  man  for  shelter  and  care. 

If  possible  the  hives  should  be  sheltered  from  (he 
north  winds  by  a  fence;  or  better,  by  an  evergreen 
hedge.  They  should  be  protected  from  the  sun  in 
miilsummerand  miilw inter,  but  in  the  spring  and  fall 
the  sun  should  shine  fidl  upon  the  hives. 

.Most  bee  keepers  b.id  best  let  them  swarm  natural- 
ly, because  artificial  swarming  requires  knowledge 
and  skill  which  but  few  attain,  not  because  it  is  dilli- 
cull  to  acipure,  but  because  study  and  observation 
are  necessary  to  ae(]uire  them. 

Native  bees  have  done  as  well  for  me  as  Italian. 
Cnderthe  same  treatment  I  have  observed  no  differ- 
ence ;  however,  many  bee  keepers  greatly  preferthem, 
and  my  experience  may  be  exceptional.  I  think  their 
introduction  will  be  of  advantage  in  securing  a  cross 
with  the  natives. 

Questions  and  Answers. 

How  long  do  bees  live  ? 

Working  bees  live  not  more  than  four  months  In 
sumnu'r,  and  not  more  than  eight  In  winter.  The 
queen  lives  three  to  four  years. 

How  do  you  protect  bees  from  the  nnith  '. 

By  so  constructing  hives  as  to  affoni  no  hiding 
place  for  moth,  and  by  keeping  the  stacks  always 
strong.  Still  we  must  not  expect  to  escape  losssome- 
tlmes. 

How  do  you  prevent  swarming? 

By  giving  them  abundant  space  in  which  to  work, 
remove  honey  boxes  as  siwin  as  full  and  supply  empty 
ones;  thus  they  will  swarm  but  little. 

Mn.  Hai(i>in  offered  to  furnish  his  dairy  apparatus 
to  the  Club  or  any  dairyman  for  trial,  and  if  It  did 
not  do  all  he  claimed  for  it,  aflcra  fairtrial,  he  would 
take  it  away  at  his  own  ex|H'nse.  The  club  accepted 
his  proposition,  and  the  process  will  be  tested  at  the 
ExiHJrimental  Farm  as  soon  as  ])racllcable. 

BuKKoWF.i)  Plimf.s.— .\  naturalist  in  Knglund 
computes  from  the  catalogue  of  a  "  Feather  Sale," 
that  to  sup|)ly  the  stock  the  death  of  10,000  heronsor 
egrets  was  required;  and  of  Humtning  binls,  1.5,.574, 
besides  thousands  of  parrots,  kingflshers  and  other 
birds  of  bright  colors.  The  writer  adds,  that  as  the 
plumage  of  binls  is  develo|)cd  in  Us  fullest  beauty  at 
the  breeding  season,  the  vagaries  of  fashion  may 
almost  make  some  s|K-eie8  extinct.  The  computations 
are  based  on  a  single  catalogue,  representing  only  one 
of  many  sale*.  Think  of  t  his,  ladies,  when  you  wear 
featlicrs. 


46 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[March, 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 


A  Return  to  Economy. 

This  is  an  age  of  extravasance.  Men  are  living  be- 
yond their  means — expending  beyond  their  income. 
Universal  indebtedness  prevails;  individual  indebted- 
ness, town,  city,  county.  State  and  national  indebted- 
ness. The  linnest,  ec(momical  days  of  the  new  re- 
public have  been  forgotten.  We  are  all  in  trouble. 
Taxes  are  so  high  and  burdensome  as  to  be  almost 
insupportable.  The  annual  running  expenses  of  the 
government,  that  were  ?t;0,00n,000  in  1860,  have  run 
up  to  $340,000,000  in  187.5— and  this  without  includ- 
ing the  interest  on  our  national  debt,  or  taking  that 
into  account  at  all.  This  expenditure  must  be  lessened 
materially  in  some  way.  Something  is  wrong  some- 
where. The  blame  lav-s  at  somebody's  door.  Letus 
find  it.  It  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  farmer — for  not  a 
farmer  is  in  Congress.  There  are  about  twenty-five 
so-called  farmers  in  Congress,  or  have  been — but  they 
were  men  of  wealth,  and  were  not  in  sympathy  with 
the  toiling  masses.  Although  by  their  numbers  far- 
mers are  entitled  to  half  the  members  of  the  House 
and  Senate — they  have  not  one  in  either  to-day  to 
speak  for  them.  The  politicians  want  all  the  places 
of  honor  and  emolument,  and  they  are  pretty  apt  to 
get  them.  None  of  the  wrongs  or  frauds  that  have 
been  perpetrated  in  Congress  can,  be  charged  to  the 
farmer.  The  Credit  Mobilier  swindles,  the  salary 
grabs,  the  steals  in  the  Indiail  department,  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia  rings,  the  navy  contracts,  the  rail- 
road subsidies,  the  whisky  rings,  and  all  other  simi- 
lar transactions — are  not  traced  to  the  door  of  the 
farmer. 

An  important  question  comes  up,  and  that  is,  shall 
we  ever  be  free  from  such  disgraceful  transactions, 
till  farmers  take  a  more  active  part  in  taking  care  of 
their  interests  ?  Is  it  not  their  duty  to  look  out  for 
themselves,  to  strive  to  have  economy  prevail,  to  les- 
sen taxation  that  their  burdens  may  be  lessened  ?  We 
have  got  to  get  back  into  the  old  rut,  so  far  as  ad- 
ministering the  government  is  concerned;  and  far- 
mers are  untrue  to  themselves  and  their  families,  un- 
true to  their  interests — unless  they  take  a  leading 
part  in  this  matter. 

Look  at  the  public  buildings  the  people  have  to  pay 
for.  In  Macoupin  county.  111.,  the  toiling  tax-payers 
have  got  to  i)ay  a  million  and  a  half  of  dollars  for  a 
county  court  house,  when  one  could  have  been  built 
for  S25,000  that  would  have  answered  every  purpose. 
A  court  house  ring  was  formed,  that  imposed  this 
heavy  burden  on  the  farmers  there.  The  State  House 
of  Illinois  will  cost  the  tax-payers  of  that  State  over 
$3,000,000.  Manv  other  States  are  erecting  nearly  as 
expensive  ones.  The  Custom  Houseof  St.  Louis  will 
cost  at  least  five  or  six  millions  of  dollars.  And  to 
get  an  appropriation  through  Congress,  a  ring  must 
be  formed  with  various  sections  of  the  country,  with 
appropriations  enough  for  each  section  to  carry  votes 
enough  to  put  the  whole  thing  through;  and  when 
an  appropriation  is  wanted  for  one,  twenty  or  thirty 
others  must  have  it,  too — and  will  not  vote  for  the 
others  unless  they  get  a  slice.  And  this  is  the  way 
matters  work. 

Magnificent  palaces  are  erected  for  paupers  and 
criminals.  The  study  seems  to  be,  not  how  little 
shall  we  spend,  but  how  much  can  we  make  it  cost? 

Is  there  no  relief  from  such  a  pernicious  system  ? 
We  must  each  begin  at  home  to  put  down  extrava- 
gance, whether  private  or  public.  We  must  not  be 
afraid  to  take  a  bold,  strong  stand  against  it,  and,  by 
positive  and  united  action,  we  may  get  back  to  the 
honest  and  economical  ways  of  our  forefathers. — 
Cohnan's  li.   IT. 


Farmers'  Sons  and  Daughters  Must  Work. 

To  the  sons  and  daughters  of  many  farmers  this 
injunction  is  unnecessary.  They  do  work.  They  take 
a  lively  interest  in  what  is  going  on  in  the  household 
and  on  the  farm.  They  feel  personally  interested  in 
the  success  of  everything  appertaining  tfiereto.  They 
are  co-workers,  and  everything  moves  on  harmoni- 
ou.sly  and  in  order.  They  are  not  drawbacks,  hind- 
rances, clogs,  but  active  and  efficient  helpers. 

But  there  are  the  sons  and  daughters  of  other 
farmers  that  feel  above  work.  They  are  willing  to 
see  father  and  mother  slave  their  lives  away,  to  keep 
them  in  idleness .  Great,  strapping  boys  lie  abed  till  the 
sun  is  high  in  the  heavens,  keeping  back  the  house- 
work, because  they  are  too  lazy  to  get  up  and  eat 
with  the  other  members  of  the  family.  When  break- 
fast is  eaten,  the  next  thing  in  order  is  to  get  ready 
to  go  to  town,  where  they  spend  their  time  loafing 
about  grogshops  and  other  bad  places,  returning  per- 
haps late  at  night,  unless  hunger  drives  them  home 
sooner.  And  one  day  is  but  the  repetition  of  another. 
Such  worthless  boys  make  worthless  men,  without 
exception.  And  then  there  are  the  ruddy-cheeked, 
healthy  girls.  Late  rising  suits  them  much  the  best. 
Breakfast  must  be  ready  and  on  the  table  before  they 
appear.  They  have  nothing  to  do  in  preparing  it.  As 
soon  as  breakfast  is  over  they  apply  themselves  dili- 
gently till  dinner  time  in  reading  some  love-sick 
novel.  They  imbibe  false  ideas,  and  live  in  an  unreal 
atmosphere.  Their  minds  dwell  upon  fine  dresses, 
parties,  beaux.  Ac.  They  dress  extravagantly,  and 
are  a  heavy  tax  upon  their  hard-working  parents. 


They  help  put  nothing  into  the  exchequer,  but  are 
very  efficient  in  taking  out  all  that  thrift  and  indus- 
try putsin.  And  sometimes  thisdon't  end  here.  When 
such  girls  get  married  they  are  a  millstone  about  their 
husband's  necks.  Everything  is  left  to  hired  servants. 
Large  bills  at  the  store,  at  the  dressmaker's,  milli- 
ner's, etc.,  are  incurred — and  these  must  he  paid  in 
some  way.  Do  not  our  readers  know  that  we  are  de- 
scribing, in  many  cases,  real  life?  How  can  the  hus- 
band and  father  prosper  when  he  sees  he  has  no  sym- 
pathy or  assistance  (rom  those  whose  lives  are  linked 
with  his?  How  dark  and  gloomy  such  a  life  must  be  I 
There  is  not  one  cheering  prospect  for  him.  Alibis 
earnings  are  exhausted  before  they  are  realized,  and 
perhaps  ere  long-  the  farm  is  sacrificed  to  support  so 
worthless  a  family. 

It  is  true,  parents  are  to  blame  for  bringing  up 
children  this  way.  They  have  loved  their  children, 
and  humored  them,and  when  they  have  seen  the  error 
of  their  ways,  it  was  too  late.  The  habits  of  the  chil- 
dren had  been  formed,  and  no  amountof  talking  could 
change  them.  They  had  brought  up  idle  children, 
who  will  make  idle  and  worthless  men  and  women. 
"We  have  seen  too  many  such  instances. 

So,  parents,  bring  up  your  children  to  work.  Im- 
press them  from  their  infancy  that  they  must  work. 
See  that  they  have  something  to  do.  Throw  responsi- 
bility upon  them,  andseethat  they  properly  discharge 
it.  Let  no  amount  of  coa.xing  or  whining, let  no  ex- 
cu,ses  whatever,  if  your  children  are  healthy,  deteryou 
from  bringing  them  up  to  work.  If  they  won't  work 
when  they  are  children,  they  will  not  work  when  they 
are  men  and  women,  and  will  be  a  tax  upon  you  while 
you  live,  and  will  be  paupers  before  they  die.  We 
know  we  are  speaking  plainly  and  earnestly.  But  it 
is  necessary,  if  we  would  save  our  children  fiom  a  life 
of  degradation.  Labor  is  heaven's  law. — Cohnan's 
Rural  World. 


How    Butter    is   Tainted. 

Winter  and  spring  butter  is  often  very  much  injured 
in  flavor  by  allowing  cows  to  eat  the  litter  from  horse 
stables.  Cows  are  not  unfrequently  very  fond  of  this 
litter,  though  it  is  impregnated  with  liquid  manure 
from  horses,  and  if  allowed,  they  eat  it  greedily  ;  and 
the  effect  is  that  their  milk  and  butter  will  be  tainted 
with  the  taste  of  this  kind  of  food,  in  the  same  way 
that  the  flavor  is  injured  by  eating  turnips,  but  to  a 
more  disagreeable  degree.  If  litter  is  allowed  to  be 
eaten,  it  should  only  be  given  to  cattle  not  to  milk, 
and  on  no  account  should  milch  cows  be  allowed  to 
consume  other  than  the  sweetest  and  purest  food. 
Very  nice  butter  makers  are  sometimes  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  stable  taints  in  butter,  especially  when 
extraordinary  precautions  have  been  taken  to  have  the 
milking  done  in  the  most  perfect  manner,  and  so  on 
in  all  the  processes  of  handling  the  milk  until  the  but- 
ter is  packed  for  market.  Still  the  butter  has  a  dis- 
agreeable taint,  and  the  cause  often  comes  from  al- 
lowing the  cows,  when  turned  out  to  water  and  exer- 
cise, to  feed  about  the  horse  stable,  when  they  con- 
sume all  the  litter  which,  on  account  of  its  being 
soaked  with  liquid  manure,  is  cast  out  of  the  stable. 
— Rural  New  Yorker. 


Dried  Potatoes. 


A  German  journal,  Der  Latidwrilh,  thus  describes 
the  manufacture  of  "dried  potatoes"  as  conducted 
at  CrastKJrn's  works  in  Lubeck:  The  potatoes  are 
peeled  with  the  hand,  and  cut  into  disks  by  a  ma- 
chine. These  are  put  in  a  basket,  and  this  in  a  boiler, 
where  the  potatoes  are  nearly  but  not  quite  boiled. 
The  disks  are  next  put  on  wire  frames  in  a  dry  oven, 
where  they  are  dried  quite  hard.  It  is  important  to 
preserve  the  color  of  the  potatoes,  and  to  prevent 
them  from  turning  grey,  as  they  would,  by  the  above 
process  alone  ;  the  material,  after  slicing,  is  treated 
with  cold  water,  to  which  has  been  added  1  per  cent, 
of  sulphuric  acid,  or  1  to  2  per  cent. of  muriatic  acid. 
Then  it  is  washed  in  pure  water,  and  the  drying 
proceeds.  The  perspiration  obtained,  which  has  lost 
none  of  his  starch,  is  of  a  slightly  citron-yellow  tint, 
and  transparent  like  gum.  Boiled  with  water  and  a 
little  salt,  it  is  said  to  resume  the  natural  color  and 
fibrous  structure  of  pototoes,  and  is  not  distinguisha- 
ble in  taste  from  newlv-boiled  potatoes. 


Slovenly    'Women. 

The  editor  of  Appleton's  Jour7ia!  has  no  patience 
with  women  who  are  slovenly  at  home .  "  Many 
women  have  little  idea  of  how  greatly  they  shock  the 
tastes  and  really  endanger  the  affections  of  their  hus- 
bands by  their  unseemly  domestic  apparel.  There  is 
not  a  man  of  sense  and  refined  feeling  anywhere  who 
would  not  prefer  some  simple  and  chaste  adornment 
for  his  wife  in  the  morning  to  any  extreme  of  splendor 
at  the  evening  ball.  Let  a  woman  by  all  means  dress 
brilliant  on  those  occasions  that  render  it  proper  ;  we 
have  no  desire  to  abridge  her  privileges  nor  baffle  her 
instincts  in  this  particular ;  but  we  claim  that  it  is  im- 
portant for  her,  if  she  values  her  household  serenity, 
that  she  should  give  equal  heed  to  her  customar}'  do- 
mestic attire.  Tlie  female  who  goes  about  the  house 
untidily  dressed  has  no  right  to  the  title  of  woman. 
She  is  without  those  marks  and  indications  by  which 
she  can  be  classified. 


Milk  Transmits  Infection. 

The  Sanitary  Record  (English)  states  that  in  .Jar- 
row  thirty-four  cases  of  typhoid  fever  suddenly  broke 
out  in  a  limited  district,  in  twenty  different  families, 
the  cases  being  mostly  confined  to  children.  The 
houses,  with  two  exceptions,  were  clean  and  well  sup- 
plied with  pure  water.  It  was  discovered  that  all  the 
families  received  their  milk  from  the  same  farm, 
which  was  at  once  visited.  Six  of  the  farmer's 
family  were  down  with  the  fever.  The  water  used  in 
the  dairy  was  from  a  well  close  to  a  ces.spit,  and  evi- 
dently contaminated  by  soakage,  as  it  became  putrid 
in  two  days  after  drawing  from  the  well.  The  dairy 
was  also  used  as  a  washhouse,  and  the  linen  of  the 
sick  persons  of  the  family  were  washed  in  it.  The 
person  who  milked  the  cows  was  in  constant  .attend- 
ance upon  the  sick.  The  niiisance  was  promptly  de- 
tected by  the  health  officer  and  immediately  abated. 


How   to   Use   Corn   Starch. 

English  Blanc  Mange. — Four  tablespooufuls,  or 
three  ounces,  of  Corn  Starch  to  one  quart  of  milk, 
two  eggs.  Dissolve  the  corn  starch  in  some  of  the 
milk .  Put  into  the  remainder  of  the  milk  four  ounces 
of  sugar,  a  little  salt,  a  piece  of  lemon  rind,  or  cinna- 
mon stick,  and  heat  to  near  boiling.  Then  add  the 
mixed  corn  starch,  and  boil  (stirring  briskly)  four 
minutes  ;  take  out  the  rind,  and  pour  into  a  mould  or 
cup,  and  keep  until  cold.  When  turned  out,  pour 
round  it  any  kind  of  stewed  or  preserved  fruits,  or  a 
sauce  of  milk  and  sugar. 

Soiled  Pudding. — Three  tablespooufuls  of  the  corn 
starch  to  one  quart  of  milk.  Dissolve  the  corn  starch 
in  some  of  the  milk,  and  mix  with  it  two  or  three  eggn 
well  beaten,  and  a  little  salt.  Heat  the  remainder  of 
the  milk  to  near  boiling,  add  the  above  preparation, 
and  boil  four  minutes,  stirring  it  briskly.  To  be  eaten 
warm,  with  a  sauce. 

Dehnoyiico  Pudding. — A  quart  of  milk,  three  table- 
spoonfuls  cornstarch.  Mixthe  starch  with  cold  water, 
and  stir  into  the  boiling  milk.  Mix  six  table- 
spoonfuls  of  white  sugar  with  the  yolks  of  five  eggs, 
and  pour  into  the  starch.  Put  into  a  pudding-dish, 
and  bake.  Beat  the  whites  of  five  eggs  with  six  table- 
spoonfuls  of  sugar,  and  flavor  with  vanilla  ;  dropwith 
a  spoon  on  the  pudding,  and  brown  slightly  in  the 
oven. 

Oawego  Pudding. — One  quart  of  milk,  three  table- 
spoonfuls  of  corn  starch,  four  eggs.  Beat  the  yolks, 
and  mix  them  with  a  little  of  the  milk  and  flour  ; 
sweeten  and  flavor  with  vanilla.  Scald  the  milk,  and 
add  the  otheringrediente;  boiling  three  minutes  ;  pour 
into  a  dish,  and  set  away  to  cool.  Beat  the  whites 
with  four  teaspoonfuls  of  sugar.  Cover  the  pudding 
with  a  layer  of  currant  jelly,  and  spread  the  beaten 
whites  over  the  whole. 

Saratoga  Pudding. — Mix  four  tablesijoonfuls  of  corn 
starch  in  one  quart  cold  milk.  Stir  until  it  boils, 
when  cool,  stir  in  two  tablespoonfuls  white  sugar,  six 
eggs,  whites  and  yolks  beaten  separately.  Put  in  a 
large  pudding-dish,  place  in  a  pan  of  water,  bake  IJj 
hours. 

Sauce. — One  cup  of  sugar,  half  cup  butter,  the  yolks 
of  two  eggs,  one  glass  wine.  Rub  sugar  and  butter 
to  a  cream,  add  eggs  and  half  the  wine.  Putthedish 
in  boiling  water,  stir  ten  minutes,  add  the  rest  of  the 
wine,  and  .serve. 

Boiled  Custard. — Two  tablespoonfuls  of  corn  starch 
to  one  quart  of  milk  ;  mix  the  corn  starch  with  a  small 
quantity  of  the  milk,  and  flavor  it ;  beat  up  two  eggs. 
Heat  the  remainder  of  the  milk  to  near  boiling,  then 
add  the  mixed  corn  starch,  the  eggs,  four  tablespoon- 
fuls of  sugar,  a  little  butter  and  salt.  Boil  it  two 
minutes,  stirring  it  briskly. 

Jce  Cream . — Omitting  the  butter  and  salt,  the  pre- 
paration for  custard  will  make  an  excellent  ice  cream. 


Household  Helps. 

Sore  Throat. — Dr.  Re-snllout  states  that  lemon 
juice,  used  as  a  gargle,  is  an  efficacious  specific  against 
diphtheria  and  similar  throat  troubles.  He  has  suc- 
cessfully thus  employed  it  for  eighteen  years. 

Graham  CtJP  Cake. — Unbolted  wheat  meal,  two 
cupfuls ;  buttermilk,  one  cup;  molasses,  one-half 
cup  ;  butter,  quarter  of  a  cup  ;  eggs,  two  ;  soda,  half 
a  teaspoonful.    Bake  half  an  hour. 

To  Clean  Furniture. — Take  a  large  cotton  rag 
well  saturated  with  coal  oil,  rub  each  article  of  fur- 
niture with  it  until  all  the  mud  stains  and  dust  have 
diappeared,  then  go  over  it  with  a  dry  cloth,  rubbing 
each  piece  until  it  is  perfectly  dry.  Clean  once  a 
week. 

Yeast  and  Homemade  Bread. — Boil  one  pound 
of  good  flour,  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  moist  sugar, 
and  half  an  ounce  of  salt,  in  two  gallons  of  water, 
for  an  hour.  When  nearly  cold,  bottle  and  cork  it 
closely.  It  will  be  fit  for  use  in  twenty-four  hours, 
and  one  pint  will  make  eighteen  pounds  of  bread. 

Potatoes  are  adapted  to  be  eaten  with  lean  meat 
— the  starchy  potatoes  furnish  the  fattening  and  heat- 
ing elements  which  lean  meat  lacks,  while  the  lean 
meat  supplies  the  bone  and  muscle-making  elements 
not  afforded  by  potato  or  fine  fiour  bread.  Fat  meat 
aflibrds  heating  and  fattening  elements,  like  potato, 
but  in  a  form  less  easily  digested  by  most  persons. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


47 


Sweet  M.vcaroni. — Break  up  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  the  best  macaroni  intosniall  leni,'llis,  lunl  lioil  it  in 
two  quarts  of  water  wiDi  a  larije  pineli  of  salt,  uiilil 
perfectly  tender  ;  drain  away  Mie  water,  adil  to  llie 
macaroni  into  the  stewpan  a  cupful  of  milk  and  a 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  sifted  luiup  suL'ar.  anil  keep 
shaking  over  the  tire  until  the  milk  is  ahsorhed  ;  add 
any  tlavoriuir.  Stewed  fruit  may  he  served  with  the 
macaroni. 

Hei)  PEPi'EK  is  said  to  have  a  very  beneficial  elfeet 
on  domestic  fowls  and  cape  birds.  The  article  sold 
in  the  drug  stores  is  not  always  fresh,  but  every  one 
can  cultivate  the  plant  easily.  The  variety  eommoidy 
known  by  the  name  of  "  liird's  [leppi-r"  is  the  liest , 
and  the  plant  itself  is  so  pretty  that  it  is  an  ornament 
for  a  flower  stand.  Tlie  seeds  possess  a  stimulatini; 
and  reviving  property.  One  seed  given  daily  to  canary 
birds,  if  they  eeem  drooping,  will  have  an  excellent 
effect . 

A  (■ni.EHK.\TEi)  Oerinan  writer — Dr.  Eisner — states 
that  the  water  in  which  jiarcd  potatoes  have  been 
boih'd  is  admirable  for  cleaning  silver,  no  matter  liow 
much  it  lias  becotne  blackened  and  tarnished;  and 
especially  spoons  and  forks  that  have  been  turned  by 
u.se  in  eating  eggs,  may  all  be  polished  and  made 
bright  by  washing  them  in  this  water,  and  afterward 
rnl)iiing"witli  a  soft  rag  without  any  other  applica- 
tion. The  recipe  is  such  a  very  simple  one  that  every 
one  of  our  readers  may  try  it  for  liimself. 

Stewed  Appi.es  and  Hke. — Peel  good  baking 
apples,  take  out  the  cores  with  a  seooji  so  as  not  to 
injure  the  shape  of  the  apides  :  put  them  in  a  dce]i 
bilking-dish  and  pour  over  them  a  syrup  made  by 
boiling  sugar  in  the  proportion  of  one  pound  to  a  ])int 
of  water;  put  a  little  piece  of  shred  lemon  inside  of 
each  apple  and  let  them  hake  very  slowly  until  done, 
but  not  in  the  least  broken.  If  the  syruji  is  thin,  boil 
it  until  it  is  thick  enough  ;  take  out  the  lemon  peel 
and  put  alittle  jam  inside  of  each  apple,  and  between 
them  little  heaps  of  well-boiled  rice.  This  dish  may 
be  served  citlier  hot  or  cold. 

Rice  Muffins. — Half  a  pint  of  riee  boiled  and 
mashed  very  smooth.  Soften  this  paste  by  slowly 
adding  one  cupful  of  milk,  three  eggs  beaten  sepa- 
rately, and  as  much  Hour  as  will  make  it  the  same 
consistence  as  pound-cake  batter.  Add  salt,  of  course, 
and  bake  quickly  in  rings  or  small  tins.  When  rice 
is  properly  cooked  it  makes  a  very  nice  addition  to 
certain  kinds  of  meats.  The  grains  should  be  pre- 
served whole,  and  not,  as  is  nearly  always  done, 
cooked  until  they  become  an  unsightly  mass ;  after 
washing  and  picking  over  the  grains,  put  them  in  a 
large  tin  dish  or  shallow  pan,  where  they  will  not  lie 
too  closely,  and,  pouring  on  a  little  water,  cover,  and 
place  on  the  stove  or  in  the  oven,  wIutc  they  will 
cook  very  slowly  ;  the  steam,  being  kejit  in  the  dish, 
causes  the  grains  to  swell,  and  cooks  them  without 
destroying  the  shape. 

Wine  made  of  the  Wild  (Jrape:  Many  a  house- 
keeper feels  the  inconvenieneeof  a  protracted  abseuce 
from  home  in  summer,  when  she  views  her  shortened 
allowance  of  stores  in  the  way  of  preserves,  pickles, 
and  home-made  wines.  Yet  even  late  in  the  fall  she 
may  find  room  for  activity.  The  small  wild  grape, 
known  to  boys  as  the  "  bird  grape,"  never  attains  its 
full  sweetness  until  after  the  fall  of  frost,  and  makes 
an  exeelleut  wine  for  culinary  purposes.  Mash  the 
grapes  in  a  large  bowl  or  tub  with  a  mallet,  and  keep 
them  in  a  warm  place  until  there  is  some  sign  of  fer- 
mentation setting  in.  Then  strain  the  juice  bv  drip- 
ping through  a  flannel  bag  or  strong  yet  slightly  por- 
ous cotton  cloth.  To  three  quarts  of  juice  add  one 
quart  of  water  and  three  poundsof  light  brown  sugar. 
If  you  put  it  away  in  a  demijohn,  select  a  warm,  dry 
closet,  and  tie  up  the  moutii  closely  with  a  piece  of 
thin  muslin.  Do  not  cork  up  tight  until  the  whole 
process  is  complete.  It  will  be  all  the  better  if  fer- 
mentation ensues  speedily,  but  if  the  jilace  of  deposit 
is  not  warm  enough,  never  mind;  as  soon  as  the  first 
warm  days  of  spring  come,  it  will  go  ou  to  ferment 
as  though  there  had  been  no  interruption  to  the  pro- 
cess, and  be  none  the  w  orsc  for  the  delay.  After  all, 
it  will  make  wine  much  sooner  than  if  you  waited 
even  for  blackberry  season. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


The  Agricultural  Horse. 
Being  at  a  meeting  recently  held  at  Ottawa,  111., 
by  a  number  of  breeders  of  horses,  says  a  correspon- 
dent,! was  more  .strongly  impressed  than  ever  with  the 
necessity  of  a  diflTerenl  classificati(m  of  horses  at  our 
fairs.  It  became  very  evident  to  my  mind  that  there 
is  a  very  great  demand  for  one  particular  class  of 
horses,  which,  in  the  present  arrangement,  has  no 
show  for  a  prize.  And,  strange  to  say,  too,  this  class 
was.  at  our  last  Slate  Fair,  represented  in  the  greatest 
numbers.  We  want  three  distinct  classes,  or  in  other 
words,  we  want  the  roadster,  the  draft,  and  the  agri- 
cultural horse.  This  will  cover  the  whole  ground, 
except  as  to  the  dilferent  lireeds  of  the  respective 
classes.  There  are  the  same  reasons  for  a  ring  for 
the  ditferent  britcds  of  horses  that  there  are  in  classes 
Of  cattle,  swine,  sheep,  poultry,  etc.  In  the  showing 
at  the  fairs,  if  the  comnuttec  happened  to  be  com- 
posed of  men  prejudiced   in   favor   of  either  of  the 


many  breeds,  that  breed  undoubtedly  gets  the  prize — 
not  because  he  is  the  best  animal,  but  because  he 
hap[)cns  to  he  of  a  breed  in  favor  of  which  they  are 
prejudiced.  That  we  need  the  roadster  liorse  all  must 
admit,  for  light  driving  and  saddle  use.  .And  it  is 
ctpially  as  admissilde  that  this  is  all  the  practical  use 
we  have  lor  him.  That  there  is  a  great  amtiunt  of 
labor  that  can  only  be  performed  etfectively  with  tin* 
heavy  draft  horse,  is  also  a  fixed  fact.  No  one  will 
contenil  that  either  can  perform  the  labor  of  the 
other  to  any  advantage.  While  these  are  facts  that 
are  not  ami  lannot  be  disputed,  it  is  equally  as  evi- 
dent that  there  is  a  class  of  work  that  nuist  be  per- 
formed by  the  horse  that  caiuiot  t)e  th»ne  to  any  ad- 
vantage with  either  the  good  roaiister  or  the  heavy 
draft  horse.  This  is  very  suitably  named,  in  the 
meeting  referred  to,  the  iiffricHllural  /un-ff.  This  class 
is  of  more  practii'al  utility  to  the  masses  than  all 
others  comliincd  ;  and  in  my  judgment,  instead  of 
receiving  the  cold  shoulder,  should,  if  any  partiality 
l)e  shown,  have  the  iircference.  This  is  the  horse 
upon  which  all  are  dependent,  and  might  fitly  l)e 
compared  to  the  laboring  or  producing  class  of  men. 
The  (jncstion  often  arises  as  to  what  constitutes 
the  agricultural  horse.  It  is  a  question  easily  an- 
swered, liut  a  horse  is  hard  to  descrilic,  owing  cUiefly 
to  the  diiVereiiee  of  opinion  as  to  what  will  fill  the  bill. 
I  would  say  that  a  lK)rse  for  agricidtural  purposes 
should  be  selected  solely  for  that  pnr|H)hc,  without  re- 
gard to  light  harness  or  heavy  draft,  further  than  per- 
tains to  agriculture.  That  some  farmers  do  use  tlieir 
farm  horses  for  buggy  and  saddle,  and  all  more  or  less 
lor  heavy  draft,  is  true.  The  agricultural  horse  can 
be  used  in  all  these  capacities  incases  of  emergency, 
but  selilom  profitably.  Consequently  most  farmers 
keep  a  cheap,  light  team  to  do  light  work.  I  shall  not 
attcmiit  to  describe  an  agricultural  horse  in  this  arti- 
cle furtherthan  to  say  that  about  seventy  of  thceighly 
imported  horses,  and  all  of  the  grade  Norman  and 
Clydesdale,  that  were  exhibited  at  our  last  State  Fair, 
should  come  under  that  head,  weighing,  as  they  did, 
in  high  showing  condition,  from  fourteen  liundrcd  to 
seventeen  hundred  pounds — but,  reduced  to  working 
condition,  would  have  weighed  from  twelve  tosixteen 
hundred.  That  a  large  horse  is  most  iirofitable  for 
agricultural  purposes  is  evident  to  every  farmer.  Suc- 
cessful farmers  are  scarce  that  would  discard  a  horse 
weighing  from  fourteen  hundred  to  sixteen  hundred 
pounds,  and  select  instead  one  of  the  same  formation 
and  at  the  same  price  that  would  only  weigh  from 
eleven  hundred  to  thirteen  hundred  pounds. 


Applying  Manures. 

Bv  a  series  of  experiments  made  some  years  ago  in 
England,  it  was  shown  that  barnyard  manure  benllt- 
ed  crops  most  the  first  season,  when  covered  about 
two  inches  deep  with  soil.  This  result  appears  rea- 
sonable, but  the  question  is,  how  can  farmers  place 
their  manure  in  the  ground  at  this  depth  ?  It  is  not 
practicable  in  any  case,  but  they  can  approximate 
to  it  in  some  cases.  When  manure  is  ploughed  under 
in  the  ordinary  way,  some  of  it  is  covered  too  deep 
to  benefit  the  crop  the  same  season,  and  it  is  made 
available  if  the  land  is  ploughed  the  second  year; 
some  farmers  plough  their  land,  then  spread  on  their 
manure  and  harrow  it  in,  but  much  of  it  is  left  upon 
the  surfane,  and  is  partially  lost,  and  the  ammonia 
that  goes  otT  in  the  atmosphere  is  the  virtue  of  the 
manure  itself. 

It  is  strange  that  we  should  find  intelligent  far- 
mers, at  this  late  day  in  agricultural  progress,  who 
deny  that  barnyard  manure  can  be  injured  by  expo- 
sure to  the  air  and  sun;  yet  they  do  exist  !  A  few- 
years  agoa  farmerin  Central  New  York  wroteseveral 
articles  for  publication,  in  which  he  attemi)ted  to 
prove  that  when  manure  lies  upon  the  surface  of  the 
land  and  dries  up,  its  fertility  is  still  in  It,  concentra- 
ted in  the  small  crusts  that  remain  ! 

Fanners,  let  me  caution  you  against  the  folly  of 
carting  your  manure  upon  your  fields,  and  spreading 
them  for  a  week  or  longer,  before  you  plough  them 
under.  If  this  be  done  in  the  spring,  with  a  warm 
sun,  and  high,  drying  winds,  a  large  portion  of  them, 
or  rather  of  the  fertility,  will  pass  olT  in  the  atmos- 
phere. Don't  be  deceived  in  this  manner  while  your 
olfactory  nerves  bear  a  pungent  evidence  of  the  truth 
of  what  I  say.  Y'ou  cannot  afford  to  work  your  farms 
on  this  wasting  principle.  Manure  is  money,  and  if 
one  should  see  you  scattering  "  greenbacks "  over 
the  field,  on  some  windy  day,  the  evidence  of  your 
insanity  would  be  but  a  little  more  tangible  than 
when  you  spread  your  manure,  and  leave  them  to 
evaporate  in  the  sun  and  by  the  winds. 


Small  Fruit  on  the  Farms. 

To  advise  a  farmer  to  grow  small  fruits  for  mar- 
ket, and  at  the  same  time  carry  on  his  farming  ojk'- 
rations,  is  something  we  do  not  do.  But  there  are 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  farmers  who  have  a 
natural  taste  for  fruit-growing,  and  to  whom  farm- 
ing has  become  a  drudgery— especially  that  class 
who  are  not  strong  to  whom  a  change  is  desirable 
and  necessary.  To  these  we  would  say,  if  you  arc 
living  within  three  or  four  miles  of  a  good  home 
market,  and  cities  not  far  away  by  rail  or  steamboat, 
a  change  to  fruit  growing  will  be  both  profitable  and 


pleasant.  The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  rent  out  most  of 
your  lanil  or  let  out  on  sfuires,  reserving  your  home, 
and  say  ten  or  twenty  acres  of  land  for  your  fruit 
grow  iiig  operations,  ancl  if  you  have  a  love  for  the 
business,  and  go  at  It  systematically  and  energetically, 
yon  will  make  more  money  from  ten  acres  of  land 
than  you  have  ever  made  from  your  farm,  and  that, 
too,  Willi  less  real  hard  work. 

I'lant  only  of  lea<liiig,  well-tried  sorts,  that  are 
tuirdy  and  productive,  give  them  gornl  cultivation  and 
|ilcnty  of  mulch,  and  you  will  reap  a  large  rewanl: 
and,  too,  this  kind  of  work  makes  less  hard  work  for 
tlie  wonii'ii  folks,  and,  besides,  supplies  the  table 
with  fndt  dally  throughout  the  year. 

There  are  farmers  who  have  no  liking  for  growing 
fruit;  but  as  a  rule,  these  have  sons  who  do  not  like 
farming.  These  are  very  anxious  to  keep  their  Bonn 
on  a  farm,  away  from  the  city.  To  such  we  say,  let 
such  a  son  have  the  use  of  a  few  acres  to  grftw  snuill 
fruits;  and  the  longer  he  is  engaged  in  it,  the  more  he 
will  like  it,  and  consequently  his  altaebmeiits  for 
home  stri'ngthens,  and.  t<M>,  by  this  the  table  Is  sup- 
plied with  luxtirics  yf>u  would  not  ilIs|H'nse  with  after 
one  season's  experic-nee.  There  are  so  many  Inland 
towns  not  supplied  with  fruit  and  vegetables  that  we 
advise  the  readers  of  this  paper  to  take  advantage  of 
such  o|)euiiigs. 

Points  of  a  Jersey. 

Jersey  cattU'  are  steadily  grf>wlng  in  favor  at  the 
west.  Their  especial  value  for  milk  and  butler  pur- 
I>oses  are  generally  understfMxl.  The  Koyal  Jersey 
.\gricultural  and  llortliiiltural  S<K-Iety  gives  a  valu- 
able scab'  of  iHiints,  w  hich  are  everywhere  recognlzeil 
as  the  standard  for  Jersey  cows  and  heifers.  This 
breed  Is  generally  admitted  to  be  Ihi-  best  cream  and 
butler  producing  breed  of  cows  In  the  world,  and 
though  there  Is  still  some  discussion  as  to  the  proper 
color  for  Jerseys,  that  of  itself  Is  not  a  |K)Int  of  mate- 
rial imimrtance.  In  England,  just  now,  the  fashiona- 
ble color  is  a  dundeer  color,  but  it  seems  harder  to 
determine  which  is  and  whiyh  Is  not  the  proper  color. 
As  will  be  observed,  color  Is  not  included  in  the 
scale  of  Points  given  below: 

1.  Head — Small,  fine  and  ta|)ering. 

2.  Cheek — small. 
■i.  Throat— clean. 

4.  Muzzle — fine,  and  encircled  by  light  color. 
a.  Nostrils — high  anil  open. 

6.  Horns— smooth,  crumpled;  not  too  thick  at  bace, 
and  tapering. 

7.  Ears — small  and  thin. 

8.  Ears — of  a  deep  orange  color  within, 
it.  Eye — full  and  placid. 

10.  Neck— straight,  fine,  and  place<l  lightly  on 
shoulders. 

11.  Chest — broad  and  deep. 

I'i.  Barrel — hooped,  broad  and  deep. 
Ki.  Well  rilibed  home,  having  but   little  space  l)e- 
tween  the  last  rib  and  hip. 

14.  Back— straight  from  withers  to  the  top  of  the 
hip. 

1.5.  Back- straight  from   the  top  of  the  hip  to  the 
setting  of  the  tail. 
IK.  Tail— fine. 
17.  Tail— hanging  down  to  the  hocks. 

15.  Hide— Thin  and  movable,  but  not  too  loose. 
I'.l.   Hide — covered  with  fine,  soft  hair. 

211.  Hide — of  good  color. 

31.  Foreleg.s — short,  straight  and  fine. 

22.  Forearm — swelling,  and  full  above  the  knee. 
21.  Hindquarters— from  the  hock   to  the  point  of 
the  rump,  long  and  well  filled  up. 

24.  Hind  legs— short  and  straight  (below  the  hocks) 
and  bones  rather  fine. 

2.5.  Hind  legs— squarely  placed;   not  too  close  to- 
gether when  viewed  from  behind. 
2fi.  Hind  legs— not  too  loose  in  walking. 
27.  Hoofs — small. 

25.  rdder— full  in  form;  i.  c.  well  In  line  with 
the  belly. 

29.  I'dder — well  up  behind. 

SO.  Teats— largely   and    squarely    placed,   behind 
well  ajiart. 
:tl.  Milk  veins— very  prominent. 

32.  Growth. 

:i:!.  (ieneral  appearance. 

:U.  Condition. 

Perfection,  thirty-four  points. 


The  Bee-Keeping  Industry. 

While  it  is  very  easy  to  write  of  the  pleasures  and 
profits  of  bee-keeping,  amateurs  csia'clally  must  not 
expect  to  acquire  great  and  immeiiiale  wealth  from 
this  source  without  a  corresiiondingoutlay  of  capital, 
and  above  all,  ex(H'rienec.  That  "  there's  nullions  In 
it,"  Is  perfectly  true,  but  It  requires  care,  untiring  in- 
dustry and  close  study  to  be  able  to  secure  these  mil- 
lions. 

There  are  probably  70.0(X)  jM-rsons  In  this  country 
who  keep  more  or  less  bees,  biU  If  all  the  lime  and 
money  expended  were  closely  aeeounteil  for,  we  doubt 
If  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  number  would  find 
they  realized  a  net  profit  often  i>er  cent,  on  their  in- 
vestment .  There  are  some  notable  exceptions  to  this, 
it  Is  true,  but  the  men  who  secure  the  enormous  pro- 


48 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[March,  1876. 


fits  are  men  who  devote  their  time  and  attention 
strictly  to  the  business,  and  do  not  expect  the  bees  to 
take  entire  care  of  themselves,  and  then  yield  a  pro- 
fit. It  is  said  that  the  income  of  J.  S.  Harbison,  the 
great  California  honey  magnate,  derived  from  the  sale 
of  surplus  houey,  is  more  than  ^3.5, 000  per  annum, 
over  and  above  all  expenses.  In  the  State  of  New 
York,  Capt.  Hetherington,  of  Cherry  Valley,  sold 
last  year  fifty-eight  thousand  pounds  from  his  own 
apiaries.  Adam  Grim,  of  Jefi'erson,  Wis.,  as  much 
more.  But  perhaps  a  better  idea  will  be  conveyed  by 
more  general  figures.  The  seventy  thousand  bee- 
keepers of  this  country  own,  on  an  average,  a  little 
more  than  twenty-eight  hives  apiece,  or  in  round 
numbers,  two  millions  in  all.  Twenty-two  pounds  of 
honey  to  the  hive  is  considered  a  reasonable  yield  of 
surplus,  worth  twenty-five  cents  per  pound,  or  88,- 
800,000  for  the  crop.  The  wax  produced  is  estimated 
at  twenty  million  pounds,  worth  at  least  Jl(),0O0,O0O, 
making  the  grand  total  revenue  presented  us  by  our 
industrious  little  friends,  annually,  -S14, 800,000.  We 
annually  export  $1,200,000  worth  of  honey,  and  ?700,- 
000  of  beeswax. 

So  much  for  what  our  honey  crop  is.  That  it  may 
be  increased  almost  indefinitely,  we  have  no  doubt, 
but  it  is  a  business  which  requires  as  much  care  to 
insure  success,  as  is  needed  in  any  other  business. 

We  would  recommend  to  every  farmer  or  gardener, 
to  keep  a  few  bees;  but  we  would  caution  him  tliat 
unless  he  will  watch  and  study^  and  care  for  them, 
they  will  prove  a  dead  loss.  Kightly  cared  for,  they 
will  make  a  very  desirable  addition  to  his  income. — 
Practical  Farmer. 


A  Large  Poultry  Yard. 

The  Fancieri^^  Journal  gives  this  account  of  the 
largest  poultry  establishment  in  this  country:  "It  is 
at  Greene,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  kept  by 
Mr.  A.  B.  KobesonT  He  has  6,000  ducks,  4,000  tur- 
keys, and  1,200  hens.  They  consume  daily  sixty 
bushels  of  corn,  two  barrels  of  meal,  two  barrels  of 
potatoes,  and  a  quantity  of  charcoal.  The  meal,  pota- 
toes and  charcoal  are  boiled  together  and  form  a  pud- 
ding, which  is  fed  warm.  He  has  commenced  to  kill 
them  olf,  and  employs  fifteen  hands  to  pick,  two  to 
kill,  and  one  to  carry  away  and  pack  on  racks  until 
frozen.  Then  they  are  ready  to  pack  for  shipping. 
He  also  employs  two  men  to  cook  the  feed  and  feed 
them.  He  has  twelve  buildings  for  his  fowls,  from 
one  to  two  hundred  feet  long,  fourteen  feet  wide,  and 
seven  feet  under  the  caves,  with  a  door  in  each  end 
of  them. 

"  Mr.  Robeson  bought  most  of  his  ducks  in  the 
west,  and  had  them  shipped  in  crates — three  dozen 
in  a  crate.  He  also  has  an  egg  house,  3.5  by  .50  feet, 
and  four  stories  high.  The  outside  is  eighteen  inches 
thick,  and  built  of  cut  stone,  laid  in  mortar,  boarded 
up  on  the  inside  and  filled  in  between  the  outside  and 
inside  wall  with  sawdust,  it  taking  three  thousand 
bushels.  .Mr.  Kobeson  claims  that  he  can  keep  eggs 
any  length  of  time  in  this  building.  He  also  keeps 
the  poultry  that  he  is  now  dressing  until  ne.xt  Mayor 
June,  which  he  sells  at  eighteen  to  twenty-five  cents  per 
pound,  and  it  cannot  be  told  from  fresh  dressed  poul- 
try. He  gets  ten  cents  perpound  forturkeys'  feathers, 
twelve  for  hens',  and  sixty-five  for  ducks'.  He  says 
there  is  money  in  poultry,  and  he  thinks  he  can  make 
out  of  his  6,000  ducks  enough  to  pay  for  his  egg 
house,  which  cost  S7,000.  He  intends  to  keep  a  great 
many  more  next  season,  and  has  agents  all  over  the 
country  buying  up  poultry  and  eggs. 


How  to  Get  Eggs  in  Winter. 

The  American  Agricnltiirisi,  answering  this  ques- 
tion, says  :  "  With  a  warm  shelter  and  suitable  food, 
pullets  that  begin  to  lay  in  the  fall  will  continue  to 
lay  through  the  winter.  It  is  mainly  a  question  of 
feed.  The  staple  feed  is  Indian  corn,  because  it  is  the 
most  plentiful  and  the  most  convenient.  It  furnishes 
plenty  of  fat,  and  keeps  up  the  heat  of  the  fowls,  but 
is  poor  in  albumen  and  the  phosphates.  They  want  a 
variety  of  grains  and  vegetables,  and,  to  do  their  best, 
one  feed  daily  of  warm  cooked  meal  and  vegetables. 
Most  farmers  have  milk,  and  if  this  can  be  added  it 
will  be  all  they  need.  Butchers'  scrap  cake  is  good, 
and  may  safely  be  kept  in  the  poultry  yard  where  the 
fowls  can  help  themselves  at  pleasure.  Boiled  pota- 
toes or  turnips,  mashed  and  mixed  with  Indian  meal, 
make  an  excellent  feed  lor  laying  hens.  Fowls  are 
particularly  fond  of  cabbages  and  turnips  at  all  stages 
of  their  growth,  and  eat  them  raw  greedily  every  day, 
if  they  can  get  them.  We  have  found  so  good  results 
from  feeding  cabbages  to  laying  hens,  that  we  always 
lay  in  a  large  supply  for  winter.  Refuse  from  the 
butchers,  and  offal  from  the  fish  market,  also  furnish 
good  material  for  making  eggs.  These  are  accessible 
to  most  villagers,  and  can  be  had  at  small  cost.  A 
hen  is  only  a  machine  for  producing  eggs.  If  you 
want  the  finished  product  you  must  put  the  raw  ma- 
terial into  the  hopper.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that 
there  is  a  liberal  grinding  going  on  in  the  gizzard,  and 
the  laying  bird  should  have  free  access  to  gravel  with 
sharp  grit,  broken  oyster  and  clam  shells,  which  as- 
sist in  reducing  the  grains  and  forming  egg-shells. 
With  the  plentiful  supply  of  egg-producing  food  hens 
will  lay  well  in  winter,  when  eggs  bring  the  highest 
price." 


Small  Potatoes  for  Seed. 

Says  a  correspondent :  I  have  made  an  experiment 
the  past  season,  the  result  of  which,  I  think,  explodes 
the  theory  that  small  potatoes  for  seed  will  only  re- 
turn a  small  crop  of  small  potatoes.  Cut  seed  planted 
under  our  burning  July  sun  is  sure  to  rot,  while  the 
use  of  whole  potatoes  involves  considerable  expense. 
A  square  of  ground  containing  3, .500  square  feet, 
from  which  a  crop  of  cauliflower  had  recently  been 
taken,  was  prepared  and  planted,  July  13th,  with 
white  Peachblow  culls.  Few  of  them,  if  any, 
were  larger  than  pigeon  eggs.  As  is  always  the  case 
here,  some  of  them  failed  to  grow,  say  five  per  cent. 
The  plants  began  to  show  themselves  early  in  August, 
at  which  time  heavy  rains  set  in  and  so  continually 
saturated  the  soil  that  no  working  was  possible  until 
Septemljer  ■5th.  Then  a  plow  was  run  through  the 
rows  and  a  dressing  out  with  a  hoe  was  given  them. 
Soon  after  the  vines  so  covered  the  ground  that  further 
cultivation  was  impossible.  The  patch  was  harvested 
October  30th.  The  product  was  a  fraction  over 
twenty  bushels  of  the  finest  potatoes  ever  grown  in 
this  section.  With  the  exception  of  two  and  a  half 
pecks  of  small  potatoes,  about  the  size  of  the  seed 
sown,  all  are  large.  Fully  one-h.alf  average  one 
pound  each  in  weight,  and  the  remainder  are  of  full 
marketable  size  and  fine  appearance.  This  yield  was 
at  the  rate  of  3.50  bushels  per  acre.  A  heavy  coat  of 
barnyard  manure  was  applied  to  the  previous  crop, 
but  no  additional  fertilizer  was  used. 


Care  of  Lambs. 

Sheep  should  be  closely  watched  in  order  that  the 
lambs  may  be  taken  proper  care  of  and  receive  any 
necessary  assistance  immediately  afterbirth.  More 
lambs  die  when  less  than  twelve  hours  old  than  at  any 
other  time,  and  if  the  farmer  wishes  to  increase  the 
number  of  his  sheep,  he  must  watch  his  flock  very 
closely  until  the  lambing  season  is  past.  Unless  the 
new  born  lambs  receive  prompt  attention  there  is  dan- 
ger that  they  will  get  chilled  and  live  but  a  very  short 
time.  If  the  sheep  have  been  well  fed,  and  are  kept 
in  a  warm  place,  almost  every  lamb  can  be  saved, 
and  without  any  great  amount  of  trouble.  A  few 
minutes'  attention  at  the  right  time  may  save  the  life 
of  a  lamb,  which  in  a  few  months,  and  a  small  ex- 
pense, can  be  made  worth  several  dollars.  At  lambing 
time  the  sheep  should  be  closely  watched,  and  if  any 
lambs  are  dropped  which  are  unable  to  take  care  of 
themselves,  they  should  be  assisted.  After  they  have 
sucked  a  few  times  they  will  generally  get  along  very 
well.  Not  only  should  the  sheep  be  looked  to  during 
the  day,  but  also  in  the  evening,  as  feeble  lambs  which 
are  dropped  at  that  time  will  not  be  likely  to  live  until 
morning.  It  is  certainly  very  poor  policy  to  let  a  lamb 
die  for  wantof  the  little  care  which  wouldsave  its  life. 


Correctives  in  Feeding  Poultry. 

Two  admirable  correctives,  for  use  in  poultry  feed- 
ing, may  he  found  in  charcoal  and  Cayenne  pepper, 
judiciously  provided  and  not  given  too  often,  to  both 
young  and  old  fowls.  The  best  way  to  administer 
these  condiments  efficaciously,  is  to  pulverize  the  char- 
coal to  a  powder  and  mix  it  with  soft  food.  In  this 
shape  the  birds  eat  it  freely,  and  it  is  a  grand  purifier 
of  the  system.  The  Cayenne  should  be  procured  of 
the  best  quality  (always  the  cheapest  in  the  end),  and 
a  tahlesi)Oonful  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  through 
a  pail  of  water  and  given  them  to  drink.  This  last 
method  is  an  admirable  preventive  of  gapes  in  chickens, 
and  for  older  fowls  it  is  found  an  excellent  thing  in 
cold  or  chilly  weather. 

Neither  of  these  aids  should  he  used  oftener  than 
every  other  day  in  the  week,  and  only  for  a  week  or 
two  at  a  time,  any  way  to  be  effective  ,  but  if  managed 
with  discretion  they  are  more  valuable,  as  a  common 
preventive  to  disease,  and  a  corrector  to  the  internal 
composition  of  domestic  poultry,  than  all  the  medi- 
cines that  can  be  given  fowls  after  they  once  get  sick. 
Both  charcoal  and  Cayenne  can  thus  be  easily  very 
used,  and  after  a  little  while,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  chickens  become  fond  of  this  change  for  their 
benefit . — Fanciem^  Jonntal. 

A  Profitable   Experiment. 

A  correspondent  of  The  I'wiiltry  Xation  having  be- 
come thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  purchase  of  stale 
and  spoiled  eggs,  resolved  to  keep  hens  enough  to 
supply  the  family  with  fresh  ones,  and  with  this  ob- 
ject in  view  he  fenced  off  a  small  yard,  30x.50  feet, 
and  in  one  corner  he  built  a  coop  8x10  feet,  and  8  feet 
high  in  front  and  6  in  the  rear.  It  faced  the  south 
and  east.  One  New  Year's  day,  1874,  he  went  to 
the  market  and  purchased  eight  hens  and  one  rooster 
for  84.30.  Taking  them  home  and  putting  them  in 
the  coop  with  the  run  of  the  yard,  he  fed  them  all 
the  wheat  screenings  they  would  eat  and  w'hat  water 
they  wanted.  They  commenced  to  lay  at  once,  and 
he  kept  a  correct  account  of  all  the  eggs,  also  the 
cost  of  feed.  In  January  he  got  31  eggs  ;  February, 
91;  March,  129;  April,"  123;  .May,  98;  June,  93; 
July,  46 ;  August,  .54 ;  .September,  19  ;  October,  13  ; 
November,  20  ;  December,  29  ;  total  number  of  eggs 
for  the  year,  744 — 62  dozen.  He  also  raised  43 
chickens.  63  dozen  eggs,  at  30  cents,  812.40 ;  43 
chickens,  at  50  cents,''821..50 ;  9  old  fowls,  84.30; 
total  $38.20.  Feed  for  the  year,  818.44  ;  9  old  fowls, 
?4.30 ;  total,  $33.74.    Profit,  815.46, 


LITERARY  NOTICES. 

The  London  Garden,  published  by  Wm.  Robin- 
son, London,  is  the  most  complete  weekly  epitome  of 
horticulture  and  pomological  facts  published  in  either 
continent.  Each  issue  now  contains  a  full-page  col- 
ored plate,  executed  in  the  highest  stvle  of  the  art. 
Price,  $8.66,  in  gold. 

W.  A.  Burpee's  Catalogue  of  High-Class 
Land  and  Water  FovrLS. — A  little  12  mo.  illus- 
trated pamphlet  of  20  pages.  It  contains  pictures  of 
fifteen  of  the  leading  varieties  of  chickens,  ducks  and 
pigeons,  and  brief  descriptions  or  notices  of  over  forty 
varieties.  In  the  matter  of  "Fancy  Pigeons"  we 
"outside  barbarians"  are  able  to  form  very  meager 
opinions  from  the  names  alone.  We  may  instance 
Pouters,  Carriers,  Barbs,  Owls,  Turbits,  Jacobins, 
.Archangels,  Fantails,  Bald-head  Tumblers,  Short- 
faced  Tumblers,  Inside  Tumblers,  Outside  Tumblers, 
Booted  Tumblers,  Big-eye  Tumblers,  Black-crested 
Tumblers,  .Magpies,  Swallows,  Nuns,  Moor-caps, 
Priests,  Quakers, Trumpeters,  Runts,  Dutchies,  Hom- 
ing Antwerps,  Short-faced  Shows,  and  many  others 
"  too  numerous  to  mention." 

Of  course,  we  are  too  verdant  to  appreciate  the 
highest  aims  of  "  colombo-culture,"  but  we  presume 
there  must  be  something  useful  in  it.  Things  are  not 
to  be  valued  according  to  the  appreciations  of  any 
one  set  of  men,  or  we  should  have  a  very  prosy  and 
onesided  world.  Variety  is  the  spice  of  the  life  of 
anything,  and  especially  in  gallinoculture,  columbo- 
culture,  or  any  other  kind  of  culture;  and  anyone 
who  desires  to  engage  in  them,  to  any  extent,  will  do 
well  to  consult  this  little  catalogue,  and  then  call 
upon  Mr.  Burpee  personally,  without  going  any 
farther,  or  address  him  at  Philadelphia. 

Pacific  Rural  Press. — This  is  the  title  of  a  royal 
quarto  journal,  published  by  Dewey  &  Co.,  San 
Francisco,  California,  in  the  interest  of  agriculture, 
horticulture,  and  miscellaneous  affairs.  It  has  six- 
teen pages  of  four  columns  each,  well  filled  with  ap- 
propriate reading  matter  on  a  variety  of  subjects  ; 
and,  like  every  other  thing  of  that  far-off  region,  it  is 
gotten  up  on  a  large  and  most  magnificent  scale,  as 
to  quantity  and  quality.  The  embellishments  are 
superb,  from  its  ornamental  head  down  to  its  last  ad- 
vertisement. On  the  first  page  is  a  fine  illustration, 
the  "  New  Grange  Headquarters,"  a  beautiful  three- 
story  building,  built  of  brick  and  cut  stone,  in  the 
highest  architectural  stj'le  of  art,  and  very  substan- 
tial. Although  its  columns  are  replete  with  choice 
literary  and  domestic  matter,  yet  it  devotes  a  large 
space  to  the  interests  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
both  statistical,  local  and  historical — indeed  the  mag- 
nificent building  it  illustrates  is  covered  with  such 
signs  as  the  "  Grangers' Bank,"  "Farmers'  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance,"  "State  Grange,"  "Granger's  Busi- 
ness Association,"  "Grange  Buildings,"  "Country 
E.  Association,"  &c.,  &c.,  indicating  that  the  Grange 
in  the  "  Golden  State,"  has  attained  a  status  that  is 
seen  and  felt.  We  almost  envy  the  public  spirit  that 
can  produce  such  evidences  of  progress,  and  could 
heartily  wish  that  the  farmers  of  Lancaster  county 
might  be  infused  with  a  little  of  the  enterprise  that 
distinguishes  the  Pacific  coast,  in  its  institutions  and 
its  enterprises. 

Lepidoptera,  Rhopaloceres  and  Hetero- 
oeres. — Indigenous  and  exotic,  with  descriptions  and 
colored  illustrations,  by  Herman  Strecker.  Read- 
ing, Pa.  1876.  Quarterly  .50  cents  per  part.  This  is 
a  quarto  serial,  commenced  January,  1872,  and  is  is- 
sued as  above,  and  in  plain  English  is  simply  an  il- 
lustrated and  descriptive  history  of  butterflies  and 
moths.  It  is  published  at  such  a  low  price,  compared 
with  other  scientific  works  on  the  same  subject,  that 
every  institution  of  science,  literature  and  learning, 
ought  to  patronize  it,  if  not  every  literary  man,  who 
pays  any  attention  at  all  to  the  subject  of  natural  his- 
tory, and  especiallytothatof  entomology.  The  author 
and  publisher  of  this  work,  is,  in  some  respects,  an 
extraordinary  man.  We  have  heard  of  him  almost 
from  his  very  boyhood,  and  have  corresponded  with 
him,  but  never  have  had  the  pleasure  of  a  personal 
interview.  Lepidopterology  seems  io  \vii\e  become  a 
second  nature  to  him,  and  he  cannot  forgo  it,  any 
more  than  a  duck  can  water.  His  collection  is  en- 
riched by  50,000  specimens  of  native  and  foreign  but- 
terflies and  moths,  and  comparatively  speaking  he  is 
still  a  ?/0H^if7  man.  We  have  received  part  13  of  his 
work,  issued  in  January  last,  and  in  our  opinion  it  ex- 
cels any  that  he  previously  issued,  and  they  are  all 
good,  containing  18  colored  figures  and  descriptions 
ofthatmany  species  of  the  family  Sphingid.e  (Hum- 
ming-Bird  and  Hawk  Moths) .  Mr.  Strecker  makes 
all  his  drawings  from  nature,  lithographs  them  him- 
self, and  colors  them  by  his  own  hands.  But  this  is 
not  all;  he  writes  out  all  his  own  descriptions,  giving 
their  bibliography,  and  sets  up  his  own  letterpress.  All 
that  is  done  outside  of  his  own  manipulations  is  the 
printing.  L'nder  these  circumstances  the  representa- 
tions must  be  as  accurate  as  the  objects  before  him, 
or  as  nearly  so  as  human  skill  can  make  them.  He 
also  occasionally  finds  time  to  step  aside  and  note 
what  is  going  on  elsewhere  in  the  world  of  entomolog- 
ical authorship,  and  to  express  opinions  that  are  some- 
times anything  but  complimentary  to  the  "  notions" 
of  others,  in  which  he  exliibits  originality,  or  inde- 
pendence at  least. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


I   OFFER  A   LARGE  STOCK   OF 

Trppo|AITLETREES,  AI'WTS, 

"^  ■*•  ^^*^  ■      Irish  Junipers,  Gooseberries, 

AND    A    fiENKHAl,    ASSOIITMENT    Ol' 

FRUIT  TREES 

AND  

ElVIElRIGIRIEiEiNIS. 


t??~LetterB  will  be  uiiswered  in    Knf^lleh,  (.lormuu  »ml 
French.  AddruHH 

<ji-:oiu;r  aciiei.is. 


8-2-2ni) 


M'owt  <'lioMler,  Pn. 


FERTILIZERS! 
hoivee:  Ta.A.rt^:. 

CHEAPEST  AND   BEST! 

O 

WUITK  for  Circular  and  Ui'cipes,  which  ur.\  fiirniHhed 
without  ehiirgp,  containin^t  complete  inHtructiouH  I'oi- 
niaUiu^,  at  home,  flrst-ciass  chemical  manuroH.  suited  to 
the  growtli  of  special  cropH.  Our  formula"  Ihwh  provet,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  ult  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicnls  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   At>k  prices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Planter, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
SuljibJite  Ammciii  i. 
Muriate  PotaHh, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

.      PHILADELPHIA, 


Established  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  in  1793. 


[K-2- 


The  Great  Agricultural  Wonder, 


UKING    THE 


HULLESS  OATS, 


Which  can  be  obtained  of 


At  Leesport  P.  0.,    Berks  County,  Pa., 


AS    FOLLOWS  : 


i  ponnd. 
16 


8  pounds $   3.50 

aa      "        la.oo 


...50ols. 
«  6.50 

It  is  claimed  that  it  will  yield  as  many  measured  bushels 
as  any  other  variety,  while  it  weighs  56  pounds  to  the 
bushel,  and  ripens  two  weeks  earlier  than  common  oats, 
thereby  escaj'iug  the  rusty  season  of  oats, 

t^~  Write  for  circulars.  8-1 -4t 


LUMBER  FQE  F4EMEES. 

NO  MIDDLE-MEN. 

We  have  a  large  stock  of  Lumber,  and  oni.-  of  the  most 
extensive  Sash  and  Door  Factories  in  the  State,  and  we  are 
prepared  to  furnish  Il4»ii*ie  and  Barn  Bills  complete. 

Ail  kinds  of  Manufactured  Fencing,  &c.,  making  a  speci- 
alty of  8Uii]ilying  the  agricultural  comnuiuity.  We  will 
make  prices  deliveied  to  any  Railroad  Station.  All  our 
material  ^iiiirnntced  as  rejiresenled.  All  manufactured 
work  kilu-driea  and  warranted  not  to  shrink.  All  inquiries 
cht^erfuUy  answered. 

One  of  the  firm  can  be  seen  at  the  Franklin  House,  North 
Queen  Street,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  on  Moiubiy  of  each  week. 


7-4-12m] 


KENDIG,  BRICKER&LAUMAN, 

Middletown    Dauphin  co..  Pa. 


J.  STAUFFER, 


LANCASTER,  jeENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


AH  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATKS  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS.  TIIAPE  MAKKS,  an<l  CUPVKItillTS. 
pronii»tly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  u  d  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engjge  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminarj-  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistant at  ^Vashiugtou,  Without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
ur  description.  [7-4-tf 


THE  WORLDS  FAIR 


Columbia,  pu/./.led  wliat  shi-  shouUl  display 

Of  tiue  home-made  t-u  'ler  Centenniul  dny, 

Asked  Brother  .lunnthan;    he  scratclied  his  head, 

\\  liittled  a  while  rffli-ctiv4-ly,  and  sai  I, 

"  Your  own  inventioii  and  own  making,  t(M)  ? 

Why,  liny  child  eouitt  tell  you  what  to  do: 

Sliciw'eni  your  Civil  Service,  and  exitaiu 

How  all  men's  loss  is  ovry body's  guin  ; 

Sliow  y*>ur  new  patent  to  Increase  your  reuls 

By  paying  (juhi  ters  for  collecilng  centH  ; 

Show  your  short  etit  to  cure  tlimnclal  ttls. 

By  making  paper  collars  current  l>ills  ; 

Stiow  your  new  btouoliing  procesH,  cheaj)  and  brief, 

Tuwlt:   a  jury  rhnsen  by  tin-  thief; 

Stiow  your  State  Legisli.niieN  ;  show  your  Kings  ; 

And  ehalllenge  Kurupeto  i  roduee  such  things 

As  high  otlicials  sitting  half  in  sight 

To  share  the  p'lunder  and  to  llx  things  right  ; 

It  that  dtm't  fetch  her,  wliy,  you  only  need 

To  slmw  vour  latest  style  ni  martyrs — Tweed  • 

Slie'll  hnd  it  hard  to  hide  her  sjdteful  tears 

At  such  advance  in  one  poor  UuuditU  yeais.** 

— Javietf  Jiusne//  /.okv//,  in  the  Sation. 


177(>  AND  1876. — *'  Look  at  thifl  picture,  now  at 
that."  The  tbllowin^r  contniftt  (the  tirst  lines  by  Dr. 
Franklin)  will  be  read  with  iiilt'rcftt: 

1770. 

"Farmeis  at  the  plow, 
Wife  milkii  g  the  cow, 
Daughter  sj  inning  yarn, 
Sou  thrashing  in  (he  burn, 
All  hat  l>  t'*  "  charm." 

1^76. 
Farmer  i^one  to  ii  Hbow, 
Daugbtof  at  her  itiimu, 
Madiini;'  t^a>ly  drt'HHeil  in  Hutin, 
All  the  hoyK  Ifitriiiiit;;  tatiii. 
With  u  m()rt({ii;<e  on  the  tarin, 

LooKiNii  FouwAitn. — One  liuintri'ci  years  from 
now,  liiivi'  you  eviT  llioii^'ht  of  it  ?  Whi'ii  you  sor  the 
faiiin?  leafi  llu'  opoiiiii,'  l>U(i,  or  tlic  pi-i-fi'ct  blossom, 
did  you  ever  tliiuk  \vl:o  will  look  u]«>ii  the  (lowers 
that  will  bloom,  tlic  buds  that  will  mifolil,  or  the 
leaves  that  will  fall  and  wither  one  hundred  years 
from  now  !  Or,  when  y(iu  have  walked  the  Btrectfi, 
mcetinir  the  peoplt*  that  pass  and  repass  like  the  wave 
of  the  oecau,  did  you  ever  think  who  will  walk  tliese 
streets  an  hundred  years  from  now  ?  Sueh  thoUf;hts 
are  not  pleasant,  yet  it  is  wi-11  to  eherish  them,  that 
we  may  realize  more  fully  the  lleelin;,'  nature  of 
earthly  thinss.  Yes,  I  hey  are  sad  thoughts  !  yet  the 
pulse  will  eease  its  beating-,  and  decay  must  set  its  seal 
on  the  perishiui;  of  time  and  years.  We  know  that 
eaeh  passing  season  bears  with  its  many  tlian(;es;  but 
leaves  are  not  all  that  fade,  or  the  voice  of  music  all 
that  passes  away. 

A  SouTnAMPTON  boy,  twelve  years  old,  told  his 
brother  that  he  wished  to  sec  his  mother,  who  had 
been  dead  eight  years;  and  that  the  end  of  the  world 
would  eome  in  September.  He  then  bequeatlicd  his 
books  to  his  brother,  and  took  adose  of  carbolic  acid, 
which  killed  him  instantly. 

Matik  Twain  said,  when  he  was  proposed  for  Mayor 
for  Hartford:  "  Well,  all  right.  Who  is  the  otiicr 
fellow  i  Uo  you  think  the  Common  L'ouneil  will  elect 
me  ?    And,  by  the  way,  winch  party  do  I  belong  to  ?" 

A-MAN  in  Weston  f  Mis.sonri)  tired  in  the  dark  at  a 
man  who  was  stealing' his  coi-n,  and  the  next  day  the 
couuty  sheritl'was  arounil  with  his  arm  in  a  sling. 

A  Pennsylvania  couple  celebrated  their  wooden 
wedding  last  fall,  and  have  lieeu  using  uo  other  fuel 
than  clothes  pins  and  potato-mashers  ever  since. 

Mb.  Crow,  a  Nebraska  lawyer,  has  just  gained  his 
first  cause,  and  expects  henceforth  to  carry  on  the 
business  famously. — Alia  Vnlifornin. 

A  YotiNO  man  who  was  recently  married  to  a  girl 
after  proposing  to  her  eighleen  times,  now  wishes 
that  he  hadn't  asked  her  but  seventeen  times. 

An  old  Indian  who  had  witnessed  the  effect  of 
whisky  for  many  years,  said  a  barrel  labeled  "whisky" 
contained  a  thousand  songs  and  lifty  fights. 

A  voiTNG  lady,  intending  to  paint  her  cheeks  with 
rouire,  put  all  the  paint  on  her  nose,  and  did  not  dis- 
cover her  error  until  requested  to  sign  ■'  the  pli-dge  !" 

TiiK  importation  of  kerosene  iuto  (ireal  Britain  is 
diminishing.     The  value  imported  last  vear  was  only 

,i:r.'<l,-J.S2,  as  against  £1,1102, .">41  in  1874. 

It  is  remarked  that  the  men  who  tell  tlic  best 
stories  generally,  tell  old  ones. 

The  best  kind  of  school-tax— Syntax. — .Vcw  York 
Commercial  Adi'crtixcr. 

Ak  Oregon  girl  kills  deer  and  makes  gloves  of 
their  skin. 

To  the  man  with  a  mother-in-law,  all  things  ar« 
relative. 


>TOMat,c 

Knitter 


3 

9 


m    7 


-    9 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  uttracliiig  uhiversjl  atterittitn  liy  ItM  iistoi  ishuig  per- 
formances and  its  great  pmrlle.il  value  (<»r  every-<lay  family 
use.  It  knits  every  |  oHstble  vailety  ol  plain  or  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

nnil  give*  perf«*ei  shape  iiiul  ftTils*i  tn  nil   gnrmeiiU.      |(  will 

kn!t  a  pair  of  tocki   in  fifteen  minutei  I       Kvery   machluf* 

\V  \  H IC  A  ^'  r  I-;  l»  I  iirfe.i .  itwl  to  ttujUMf  ir/utf  ii  rrprrMrnUd, 

A  com)  lete  instruction  InkiIc  ncmmpanlfN  e  icli  niarhlnr. 

No,  1  Family  Machine.  I  cylinder.  Vi  midh**.  f.'iO. 

No.  H      •*  •'         '.'        "    T?  k  HK>    ••        40. 

A  Mainpte  nuirfiinr  will  t»e  sent  to  any  part   of  the  United 

Stales  or  Caiiudii,  (where  we  have  uo  agent)  rxprfM  rharffe* 

prejiaiii.  on  receipt  of  ihe  piici*. 

AciKNTs  wuntt'd  in  t-very  State,  County,  City   niitl   Town, 
to  whom  very  Hbenil  d'sconnts  will  be  mmle,     Addretui. 
BICKFOUD  KMTTI>:<i  MA*'IllNK  Mid.  (M».. 
7-11-tfl  Sal.-  M..nnt"actuieiH.  Urn t tlchoni.  VI. 


THOS.  M.  HARVEY. 

WEST  GROVE.  CHESTER  CO.,  PA.. 

lirr«*<l«'r  anti  Klii|»|»rr  ol 

GDEBNSEYISS;  BUTTER  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


I  hnvc  fonuded  ray  business  on  the  iK-lief  that  llio  publio 
are  anxious  to  get  their  seed  directly  f rum  the  (trourr,  and  I 
therefore  oflTer  kkkk  to  ©very  man  and  woman  in  the  United 
States  who  cultivates  a  farm,  tills  a  vejjetable  »iar<leu,  or 
plants  a  flower  ffardeu,  my  l.UKe  Illustrated  CataloKUe  of 
Vegetable  and  Flower  Seeds  for  ISTfi;  it  contain'*,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  choicest  kinds  j>rodu(KHl  in  Europe,  om-  humtrcd 
and  fi/tu  varietus  of  voirfnhlf  seed  (irt>in\  on  mij/nur  wrd 
farm«.  "Custonierit  of  last  season  need  not  wriit-  for  ii.  Aa 
the  original  introducer  of  the  Uubbaid.  MarbleheacI  and 
Butman  S<)nashes.  Phinuey's  Melon,  the  Marbhliead  Cab- 
bages, and  a  score  of  other  new  vegetables,  I  s^nicil  your 
imtronage.  All  seed  sold  under  three  warrants.  A  hundred 
thounnhd  catalogues  will  In*  issued  and  sent  out  the  ttrst  of 
Januarv, 
T-lt-fiJ  JAMi:S  J.  H.  GKKCIOUY.  MarbleUtwd.  Mawi. 

ROOT'S 

(Jarden  ]V[anual 

Ih  lillr-d  wifli  t<M  irj*  of  ititi'M'Mt  li»  cvi-ry  owner  <if  ii  Ktirdcn— 
is  I'OINTKI).  l"K.\(TIC.\[.jiii<l  THOUormi.  tiid  oiulainil 
oiu  .hiilf  as  inueh  us  f I..M)  Inxiku  on  lUi-  »ill.J(<-l.  (iAIIDEN- 
KltS  IhroudlKUit  \\\f  country  coiiiinend  ill*  j.ractical  labor- 
Huving  methods im  invHhiiitdL>  to  thrm. 

5?^8eMl  for  in  cents,  whieh  will  Ix-  »llow6d  on  the  flrit 
order  for  Beedn.      A<ldrcns. 

J.  II.  ROOT.  Sfp<l  tirowrr, 

IIOI'KFOUI),   iM.INOn. 

HORSE-BILLS 
I'L.MN  lilt  IN    FANCY    COl.OKS. 
Printed  In  the  Heal  Stylo  at  tbs  olBce  of 

THB  FARMER. 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[March,  1876. 


We  call  ;ittentiun  lo  our  iunuense  Stock  (GUO  acres  )  of 
Fruil  'l'r<'<'M,  St^irtdaid  ai  d  Dwarf. 
Kmall  Fruits.  Gia]  es,  ('urranta,  Eaepberries,  &c. 
Ornamental  TrceH   and    Shrubs,  deciduous   and 

evergreen. 
RoNeN  a  6]  ecjiilty — «11  the  tiuest  ports. 
Green  and  Hot  House  Plants,  including  best  nov- 
elties     Small  i^aieels  forwarded  by  mail  when  desired. 
Prompt  attention  given  to  all  orders  and  inquiries. 
Descriiitive  and  Illustrated  priced  Catalogues  sent  prepaid 

on  receipt  of  stamps,  as  follows: 
No.  1.  Fruifs  (new  ed,,  with  col'd  plate)  15  cts. 
No.  2.  Ornamental  Trees,  with  col'd  plate  of  Roses,  25c. 
No.  3.  Greeuhouge,  l-'ree.  No.  4.  Wholesale,  Free. 

No.  5.  l..istof  Xew  Roses  for  13T6,  Free. 
Nos.  1  and  2 — Neatly  bound  together,  forming  an  interest- 
ing and  valuable  book  for  reference, 
AddresBf  50  cts.  by  mail,  post  paid. 

ELIWANGER  &  BARRY,  Rochester,  NY- 


Goon  SEED!!,  GROWN  WITH   CARE.   FROM   SE- 
lected  Stocks,  alwaj  8  pay.   Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Cioshen,  N.  Y. 


FARMEES,  lUPROVE  YCUE  POULTRY  DTOGEl 


EGGS  FOR  HATCHING 

Of  the  following  varieties,  at  prices  to  suit  the  times,  viz.: 

Dark  Brahmas,  Partridge  Cochins,  White  Cochins,  Ply- 
mouth Bocks,  S.  8.  Hamburgs,  Brown  Leghorns,  Amer. 
Dominiques  and  Houdans.        Address, 


8-3-2m] 


HAYOSr  H.  TSHUDY,  lAtlx..  Pa. 


4)??©. 


mm. 


As  MEMENTOES.  SOUVENIRS. 
and  ORNAMENTS 


FOR  THE  PEOPLE. 

As  LASTING  ADVERTISEMENTS 

101  ilSlIlSS  10US1S, 

MANUFACTURED  OF  ALBATA  PLATE, 

Equal  in  wear  and  color  to  solid 

SZZiVSR  OB.  GOZiD, 

Presenting  beautiful  DESIGNS  IN  RELIEF,  commem- 
orating the  cue  hundredth  anniversary  of  our  nation's 
birth.     Size,  !*«  inches  in  diameter.     Send  for  circular. 

Price  for  the  Silver,  50  cents  each.  \ 

tiold.  75     " 
Usual  discount  to  the  trade. 


AGENTS  WANTFD. 

Immense  protita.  ftells  at  sight.  Extensive  fields  for  en- 
terprise. Will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  country  by  mail, 
postpaid,  upon  the  receipt  of  price 

U.  S.  medallion  Co.,  P.  O.  Rox  5270,  N.  T. 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  Ttange  Breech,  Loading 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 

Carrios  a  'i  inch  ball  with  aocu-  ^^^^^k  ^ 
racy  titty  leet,  without  powdt^r  or  ^^^^^  (/) 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  sale 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  tree  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
and  for  sporting   out  of  doors. 

AGENTS  WANTED. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM.  67  Liberty  Street,  New  Tori- 
8-S-6m 

E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  W.  Fourth  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Are  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


Estimates  luniislied  tree. 


(tfj 


send  lor  Circular. 


SPECIAL  NOTICE  TO  FARMERS! 


Improve  Vour  Peultry! 


THIS  can  be  done  at  a  comp  .ratively  small  outlay  by  purchasing  one  or  more  sittings  of  eggs  for  hatching  from  choice 
thoroughbred  and  imported  fowls.  We  keep  a  very  select  stock  of  the  leading  varieties  of  Poulliy  :  Brahmas, 
Cochine,  Leghorns,  Houiaus,  Game,  Hamburgs.  Plymouth  Rocks,  D  irkings,  etc.  Mammoth  Hrunze,  White, 
Blue  and  Black  Turkeys,  Toulouse,  Embden  and  Hon*?  Koug  Geese,  all  breeds  of  Ducks,  etc.  We  breed  each  variety  on  a 
separate  farm — thus  can  guarantee  purity.     Descriptive  Circular  free. 

Handsomely  Illustrated  Descriptive  Priced  Catalogue  of  Poultry,  etc.,  10  cts.,  Post-paid. 


ALSO  BREEDER  AND  SHIPPER  OF  AND  DEALER  IN 


BLOODED  CATTLE. 

Southdown   and  Cotswold    Sheep,    Chester  White, 
Berkshire,    Yorkshire    and    Essex   Swine, 
.  Sporting  and  Thoroughbred  Dogs. 

Descriptive  Cirenlar  free!  All  stock  boxed  free,  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. No  inferior  stock  sold  EvcTy  farmer,  ard  all  interested  in  pigeons,  should  send 
60  cents  for  a  copy  of  our  new  illustrated  treatise — 

The  Pigeon  Loft:  How  to  Furnish  and  Manage»It. 

EXTRA  FINE  SEED  CORN— Sample,  Sets. 

Circulars  free.  Correspondence  Solicited 

ADDRESS,  w.  ATLEE  BURPEE,  Philadelphia,   Pa. 


$12 


a   day    at  Home.      Agents     wanted.      Outtit    and 
terms*  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.   t8-3-ly 


FOR  FRUIT 

And  Ornament. 
500  ACRES  OF  TREES 

At  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

Pear,  Apples,  Cherrifis,  Quincep. 

Peaches,  Plums  and  Small  Fruits. 

New  and  Kare  Oruamemal  Trees  and  Shrubs. 

Evergreeus,  large  quant  ities.^large  variety,  cheap.         , 

Cot-'fcaved  Bircb^  Purple  Beech  '  Weeping  Trees. 

CI.KMATIS  JA<'KJI.4JI>ri.— Hardy  and  Perpetual, 
blooms  profusely  until  Irozel,  ui>, 

PEKFETUAI.  WHITE  CI.EMATIS.— 15  Sorts. 
We  have  over  70  varieties  of  Clemntis,  iu  many  shades  of 
color,  from  dark  rich  purple  to  pure  white— strong  piftiits, 
safely  sent  by  mail. 

KOSES.  Moss.  Tea,  Climbing  and  Perpetual. 

Small  Packages  sent  safely  l)y  Mail  and  Express. 
t^~Cutalogues  free.     Address 
T.  C.  MAXWEE,E  A.  BROS.,  Geneva,  K.  T. 

[g-2-2m 


SEED  POTATOES! 
$125 

IN    PRSiaiUlVIS 

WILL  be  divided  among  the  five  successful  competitors 
who  shall  produce  the  largest  quantity  from  one 
pound  of  the  Mahopac  Seedling,  subject  to  conditions 
named  in  my  Catalogue. 

MAHOPAC  SEEDLING— the  most  productive  of  160  va- 
rieties tested,  quality  fine,  free  from  rot,  per  pound,  $1  ;  3 
pound  to  one  address,  $2 — by  mail  prepaid,  by  express  or 
freight,  charges  paid  by  the  purchaser ;  1  peck,  $4  ;  1  bush., 
$15  ;  1  bbl.,  $30.  Also  Ruby,  Alpha,  Snowiake.  and  Eureka. 
For  fuU  description  and  price  list  see  my  Catalogue,  con- 
taining the  largest  and  best  collection  of  new  and 
choice  Seed  Potatoes  ever  offered.    Prices  low. 

New  and  desirable  Vegetable  Seeds.  Dreer's  Improved 
Lima  Bean,  per  packet,  20c.;  Egyptian  Turnip  Beet,  packet, 
10c. ;  Henderson's  Early  Summer  Cabbage,  packet,  25c.; 
Early  Wyman  Cabbage,  packet,  15c.;  Earliest  Dwarf  Erfurt 
Cauliflower,  packet,  50c.;  Triumph  Sweet  Corn,  packet,  10c. ; 
Peerless  Cucumber.  15c.;  Hanson  Lettuce,  packet,  15c.;  New 
Egyptian  Sprouting  Lettuce,  packet,  2.5c.;  Russian-Ameri- 
can Water  Melon,  packet,  20c.;  New  Queen  Onion,  lOc; 
McLean's  Blue  Peter  Pea.  packet,  15c.;  Butman  Squash, 
packet,  16c.;  Conqueror  Tomato,  package,  16c.;  Golden 
Trophy  Tomato,  packet,  lOc;  Rose  Mammoth  Sweet  Pej:- 
per,  packet,  20c.;  French  Breakfast  Raddish,  packet,  5c.; 
Lane's  Improved  Imperial  Sugar  Beet,  the  best  for  feeding 
stock,  ij  lb.,  26c.:  1  lb.,  90c.;  5  lbs.;  $4.00 ;  Earlv  Red  Globe 
Onion,  early  productive  and  handsome,  }^  lb.,  75c.;  1  lb., 
$2.50  ;  6  lbs.,  $11.00  ;  Ex  Earlv  Red  Onion,  the  earliest,  very 
fine,  V  lb.,  90c.;  1  lb.,  $3.00  ;  S  lbs.,  $14.00. 

The  above  will  be  mailed  at  prices  quoted. 

For  full  description  of  the  above,  and  all  the  new  and 
best  varieties  of  strictly  fine  Garden  Seeds,  care- 
fully grown  from  selected  stocks,  see  my  Illustrated  Cata- 
logue, sent  free  to  all  applicants.     Do  not  fail  te  see  it. 

J.  R.  V.   HA-WKINS, 

GOSHEN,  Orange  Co.,  N.  V. 


$5  to  $20 


per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free. 
STINHON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maine. 


SEE1>  POTATOES  sent  to  order  as  follows  :  Eureka, 
Acme,  Snowjlake,  and  BrowntlVs  Beauty,  50c.  per  lb., 
$1.00  per  3  lbs.,  by  mail ;  $1.10  per  pk.;  $1.75  per  %  buah. 
Eureka  and  Snoirjiake,  $3.00  per  bush.;  $5.50  per  bbl.;  Ice 
Cream,  Earlp  Verynont,  Co7npton''s  Surprise,  Carpe7iter^8 
Seedling,  and  Excelsiors,  40c.  per  lb.,  80c.  per  3  lbs.,  by 
mail;  60c.  ]  er  pk.,  $1  per  J4  bu.,  $1.85  per  bu.,  aud  $3.25  per 
bbl.,  by  expi  ess  or  freight  as  desired.  None  sent  but  genu- 
ine. Stock  direct  from  the  originators.  Send  no  money  in 
letters  unlesa  regit^tered, .  Address  LA  FAYETTE  CAS- 
SLER  &  CO  ,  Box  ^fltfpff/^j  Ohio.  [8-3-lt 

Same^hin  paper  ickcn  ycu  icritc. 


-.a- 


NS'W    PO'T.A.TOSS ! 


'i$250 


ISI  PKEMIl'MS  to  Growers!     Two    New 

Vaiieties   sent    gratis,    prepaid.      Circular 

pplicauts.     D.  .A.  COMPTON,  Hawley,  Pa.       [2t 


AGENTS  WANTED! 

Centennial  Medallions, 

struck  in  solid  Albata  Plate,  equal  in  appearance, 
we:ir  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  large  variety  of  beautiful  d*'ai.gmi  in  relief. 


These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1 -(j  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  aud  aell 
readily  at  sight. 

Tbe  most  valuable  Souvenirs  uud  'SLetfi^ 
mentoes  ever  i*isued. 


A  complete  outfit  of  magoiticeut  samples  for  agents,  in 
velvet-lined  Morocco  cas^iirfncluding  the  Bust  of 

"  GEORGE    ■WASHINGTON,*"^  GRAND   ENTRANCE  IN- 
TERNATIONAL EXHIBITION,  MEMORIAL  HALL, 
(ART    GALLERY)     HORTICULTURAL     HALL, 
MAIN   BUILDING,    aud  the  grand  represen- 
tation of  the  Signing  of  the  DECLARA- 
TION   OF    INDEPENDENCE, 

(designed  by  Trumbull),  in  gilt,  sent  by  mail  on  receipt  of 
draft  or  Post  Office  order  for  $3.50,  or  will  ship  by  express 
C.  O.  D.  upon  receipt  of  exprei<s  charges.  Agents'  Circular 
and  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon  receipt  of 
50  cents.  Immense  protitB.  Sells  at  sight.  Exteusiye 
fields  for  enterpiise.    Address  all  communications 

TT.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         212  Broadway,  N.  T. 


SEND  25c.  to  O.  P.  ROWELI,  &  CO.,  New  York,  for  Pam- 
phlet of  100  pages,  containing  lists  of  3,000  newspapers, 
aud  estimates  showing  cost  of  advertising. 

$125.00  in  CASH  PRMIUMS. 

For  particulars  see  my  Illustrated  Catalogue  for  1«76,  con- 
taining all  th«  new  and  best  varieties  of  fresh,  true  aud  re- 
liable Garden  Seeds,  carefully  grown  from  fine  selected 
BtockB,  and  the  largest  and  best  collection  of  Choice  Seed 
potatoes  ever  oflfered.  Sent  free  to  nil  applicants.  Do  not 
fail  to  see  it. 

J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS, 

GOSHEN,  N.  Y. 


qjl  d     I  cell      \      tUc  county. 


•      SINGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS. 


To  Bill  BcTibora  out  of  )     qr-l   OC5 
the  county.  i     •+>>■•  ^--^J' 


■THE    FARMERS  THE  FOUNDER  OF  CIVILIZATION.-  WEBSTER 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  APRIL  15,  1876. 


PEABSOL  &  OEIST,  PuWichers. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


i'j 


Dorkings,     (TUnstrated) 
W.  Alli*  Burree. 

Dew — Especially  Honey-Dew,  Editorial,     -    49 
Where  did  They  Come  From  ?  Editorial,        50 

Tin-  Ti-;iVfl  ot  Pliiule.— Jouiiiul  of  t'lu-iuintry. 
Meteorology  of  March,  1776-1876,  Editorial,    M 
Swallows,     (lUi(::ri-iilnl)     Editorial,        -        -     51 
Floral  Speculation,     Editorial,    -        -        -         53 

Tbo  'I'ulii.  M.iuia.— W.  It.  Hooper,  in  Harper's. 
Farm  Mortgages,     Editorial,       .        -        -         53 
Insect  and  Insect  Remedies  One  Hundred 


THE  CENTENNIAL  EXHIBITION. 


Years  Ago, 


53 


lixtract  from  Beuj.  Mifflin,  with  Ed.  Comments. 

Old  Bufo— Toads,     Editorial,        -        -        -  53 

Old  and  New  Flowers,     -----  53 

JoBepliine  C.  Long,  in  Ger.  Tel. 

Thrushes,     (Illnstrahd)     Editorial,        -        -  54 

The  Cultivation  of  Hardy  Roses,     -        -  54 

Harper's  IJuzar. 

Culture  of  Asparagus,    Gcrraantown  Tol.,     -  55 

Fish  Culture,     Harper's  Magazine,        -        -  55 

Tree  Laws,     Germaiitonn  Tel.,        -        -        -  .50 

The  Dairy  and  Butter  Making,      -        -        -    50 

Experinu-ulal  Farm  Club. 

The  Best  Cow  for  the  Dairy,    Selected,     -  56 

A  Nut  for  the  Botanists  to  Crack,         -        -  57 

F.  It.  DiUinticrflor. 

The  Cost  ol  Planting  an  Orchard,     -        -  57 

Vh\  flusl'andman. 

The  Culture  of  Vegetables,    Old  Cultivator,  57 

Rich  and  Poor  Grow  a  Grape  Vine,      -        -  57 

Old  Ilusbi.udmau. 

Summer  Blooming  Bulbous  Flowers,      -  58 

Walter  Elder. 

Old  Inventions  and  Inventors,  L.S.  Rcist,  -  58 

Annual  and  Biennial  Flowers,     "  Flora,"  .58 

Which  Potato  is  the  Best?     "Solamiiii,"     -  .58 

How  I  Raised  My  Tomatoes,     -        -        -  .58 

Frank  11.  Ditliiiderll'er. 

Bees  and  Bee  Hives,     Wiu.  I.  Pyle,        -        -  95 

Transplanting  Hardy  Trees,     "  Horticola,"  95 

The  Humming-Bird,     Wm.  I.  Pyle,        -        -  .59 

What  Causes  Honey-Dew  ?     A.  Allen  Noe,  00 

Our  Paris  Letter, 00 

Our  Farmers  in  Covmcil,     -        -        -        -        00 

Ptoeeedingsof  Lanc.ister  Couuty  Agricultural  and 
Horticulturi.l  Society— Best  Variety  of  .\pple-treeH 
for  Plantiiig — Condition  of  the  Croi  s— Cultivation 
of  Wbeat — How  to  Take  Care  of  our  Lawns — Kn- 
tomological — Brown  Tree- Borer,  fitc. 

General  Miscellany,        ....        61-64 

Tlir  Bent  Cnickens — Spring  Care  of  Sheep — Lambs 
and  Calvee — What  will  l*ay  t — Maliagi'meut  of 
Manure — Feeding  Poultry — An  Acre— Don't  Chop 
with  a  I'oor  Axe^Ammouia  as  a  t'ure  for  Snake 
EiteB — Hints  about  Meal— Holding  on  for  Higher 
Prices — Potato  Growing — Carejjf  Hugs — Whipping 
HorseB  Dangerous- Much  iu  Ijttle— Potatoes  for 
Horseg- Care  of  Horses — Plaster  on  Clover— Hol- 
low Horn — A  Full  Tobacco  Vocabularj- — Tree 
Mignonette— What  Economy  will  Do — Hay-making 
iu  Norway — Everlasting  Fence  Post— Controlling 
Bulls  —  Eastern  and  Western  Wheat  —  How  to 
Make  an  Omelet — Cooking  by  Cold — Brittle  Hoofs 
— Various  Items— Literary  Notices. 

Special  Displays  at  the  Centennial,    -        .  1 

Our  Fence  Corners,       ....         |i-iii 


Special  Displays. 

,Tnst  before  RoiiiR  to  proas  \vc  received  cir- 
ciiliifs  from  Director-lieneral  (roslioni  and 
and  ISuriii't  l.iliidrelli,  t^hiof  of  the  Hiireau  of 
Afii'ieiiltore,  coiitaiiiiiiK  the  followiiiK  iiiftir- 
niatiiiii  relative  to  the  f;reat  Iiileriiatioiial  Ex- 
liibitioii,  wliicli  will  open  in  Fairiuouut  Park 
on  tlie  lOtli  of  next  month  : 

FllUITS  AND  VEGKTAliLES. 
The  Centennial  Commission  are  ercctiiis  a  spceial 
annex  for  the  exhihitioii  of  fruits ;  the  dimoiisionB  of 
the  structure,  situated  on  the  easlof  the  Afrrieultiiral 
BuildiiiiT,  and  eoiineeted  with  it  hy  a  covered  way, 
are  one  hundred  and  citrhty  by  two  hundred  feet,  af- 
fordiiii;  room  for  the  disi)lay  of  eitclit  thousand  dishes 
of  fruit  at  periods  of  special  disiihiys.  Althouirh  the 
exhibitiim  of  pouiolosieal  prodnels  will  extend  over 
the  entire  term  of  the  Exhibition,  afrordiii<;  most 
marked  manifest  atioii  of  the  wiile  range  of  our  soils 
and  climates,  still  there  will  be  certain  periods  es- 
pecially desitrnated  for  the  display  of  particular 
fruits,  which  have  especial  seasons,  under  the  inlUi- 
cnees  that  more  immediately  pertain  to  the  States 
near  to  Peimsvlvaiiia,  and  which,  from  their  proximity 
to  the  jioint  (if  display,  will  afford  the  material  for 
larire  and  expressive  exhibits. 

The  jieriods  decided  upon  for  these  special  displays 
are  as  follows,  thousjli  any  of  the  fruits  enumerated 
will  be  received  for    exhibition  either   preceding  or 
subsequent  to  these  dates  : 
Pomologieal  products,        -        -     May  10  to  34. 
Strawberries,  -        -        -  June  7  to  l-'>- 

Raspberries  and  Blackberries,  -  July  3  to  8. 
Southern  pomologieal  products,  July  18  to  •Z'i. 
Melons,  -----  Aufr.  33  to  'H;. 
Peaches,  .        -        -        -  Sept.  4  to  9. 

Northern  pomologieal  products,  Sept.  11  to  10. 
Nuts,  -      ,-        -        -      Oct.  33  to  Nov.  1. 

The  Poinoloifical  annex  will  also  he  used  foi  the 
exhibition  of  vegetables,  contimiously  and  at  the 
stated  dates  of  June  30  to  34  for  early  summer 
VCKctables,  Sept.  19  to  33  for  aniniiui  veiretables,  and 
Oct.  2  to  7  for  potatoes  aiul  feeding  roots. 

Tables  and  dishes  for  both  fruits  and  veffctablee 
will  be  furnished  by  the  Commission  free  of  eharj;e, 
producers  beiui!;  simply  retiuested  to  pay  tlic  Charges 
for  transportation. 

You  are  respectfully  requested  to  advance  the  dis- 
play of  fruits  and  veiretables  as  much  as  jiossible, 
both  at  terms  of  stated  displays  and  at  all  inter- 
mediate dates. 

DISPLAY    OF   FISH  IN   AQUAUIA. 

The  Centennial  Commission  has  provliled  thirty 
aquaria  for  the  display  of  the  tish  of  our  rivers,  lakes 
and  seas.  The  fresh  and  salt  water  will  bi'  of  about 
equal  quantities,  the  aKgresrale  approximating  U) 
llficcn  thousand  gallons.  Kidl  preparations  have 
been  made  for  thorouu'h  lilteration  and  acratiim,  and, 
when  necessarv,  for  refrigeration.  The  expenses  at- 
tendant u))OU  the  (isli  display  will  be  assumed  by  the 
Centennial  Commission,  and  it  is  expected  that  fish 
will  be  contributed  by  the  various  State  Fish  Com- 
missions, by  associations,  and  by  individuals  Inter- 
ested in  llsh  culture.  Parlies  so  desiring  may  exhibit 
lish  in  tanks  of  their  own  contribiitioii,  the  care  of 
which  will  be  gratuitimsly  a.><sumi'd  by  the  Commis- 
sion. In  addltiim  to  tlie  disjilay  of  liviiii:  llsh  will  be 
exhibited  the  processes  of  hatching  tish,  and  a  lull 
scries  of  all  the  apparatus  used  in  hatching  and 
transporting  roe  and  young  llsli. 


Those  who  arc  In  a  condition  to  contribute  rare 
llsh  to  the  display  will  receive  all  necessary  informa- 
tion by  addressing  Iieu.NET  Lanuketii,  Chief  of 
Bureau  of  Agriculture. 

Special   Stated  Displays. 

In  iiddition  to  the  fore-joing,  there  will  bo 
stated  ili.splay3,  under  their  rcHpi^etive  dates, 
as  follows : 

AOUICULTCRAL    PE0DUCT8. 
Early  (Jrass  Butter  and  Cheese,        -    June  13  to  17. 
Honey,    ------        June  30  lo  34. 

Cereals, Sept.  3;".  to  30. 

Aiitumn  Butter  and  Cheese,  -  Oct.  17  lo  31. 

Autumn  Honey  and  Wax,         -       Oct.  23  to  Nov.  1. 

FIELD  rniALS. 
Mowing  Machines,  Tedders,  and  Ilay 

Hakes, June  15  lo  30. 

Reaping  Machines,       -        -        -        -    July  5  U>  15. 
LIVE  STOCK. 

Horses, Sept.  1  to  14. 

Dogs, Sept.  1  to  8. 

Neat  Cattle,        ....    Sept.  21  to  Oct.  4.- 

Slieep Oct.  10  lo  18. 

a,vine|  ------    Oct.  10  to  18. 

Poultry,  -         -        .         .  Oct.  37  lo  Nov.  0. 

The  above  dates  may  be  favorable  for  the  assem- 
hling  in  Philadelphia  of  Societies  and  Associations 
interested  iu  the  specialties  above  enumerated.  Ap- 
plications for  entry  may  be  now  inaile,  on  forms 
which  will  be  supplied  by  the  Chief  of  Bureau. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 

The  LANcASTEn  FAaMKii  has  now  cnmplelcd  Hh  seventh 
year— the  last  having  been  und'r  the  ausplceB  of  the  undcr- 
aignwl  aB  pubhshers.  When  we  BBSumed  the  re«ponslblllly 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago,  it  w.w  with  a  detrnidinllou 
to  make  such  iuiprovemenl"  during  thi'  year  as  would  place 
the  Fanners' Organ  of  this  great  ngriculturnl  county  in  tho 
very  front  rank  of  puhlicati.iuB  of  it«  claM.  That  we  hmvo 
done  BO,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  temlmony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  Is  Oldy  fairly  bcguu.  We  proi>oiii-  to 
makcthc  volume  for  the  Conleuuhil  year  bIIU  more  Intenwtiiig 
aud  valuable  than  11b  prttlrcenaor  for  is".'..  In  thlB.  how- 
evei".  we  need  the  co-oi>enitlon  of  every  friend  of  the  ent^T- 
priae.  To  make  It  a  bucci-«s,  every  one  who  now  roadB  Th« 
Fabmeb  ahould  at  once  send  u«  at  least  one  new  Bulmcrllier. 

The  coutribntions  of  our  at)le  editor,  I'rof.  ItATllvon,  on 
subjeclBConuec'ed  with  the  BClenc<' of  fanning,  MJd  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  niaater- 
entomologic;il  scieni-i'-.«ome  knowledge  of  which  has  Is'i-ome 
a  nect'gsity  to  the  HUCos«ful  farmer.  ar<^  alone  worth  muoD 
more  than  tho  price  of  this  publicatiou. 

The  FAitMEn  will  be  published  on  the  ISlh  of  every 
month,  printed  on  go-id  i«per  with  clo»r  tyi*,  Iu  con- 
venient fonn  for  reading  sud  biudiug,  and  mailed  to  »ul>- 
Bcrilwrs  ou  Uic  following 

TERMS: 

To  8ul»cribers  residing  within  the  county — 
One  copy,  one  year,         .         -         -         -         -         $1.00 

Six  copies,  one  year,  -  -----       5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       .--.--        7.50 

To  BUlwcrilMTB  outside  of  Lancaater  connty,  Includiug 
poBtage  i>re-i  aid  t)y  the  putiUabera: 

One  copy,  one  year,  ...         -        -         $i.>S 

Five  copies,  one  year,  ...         -  -        •         5.00 

All  BubBcripiiouB  will  oommonoc  with  Itio  Jaunary  num- 
ber unless  otherwise  ordereil. 

All  communlcjitlouB  intended  for  pnliUoallon  Bhoiild  iKi 
addressed  to  the  Kdltor,  and,  lo  secure  ins.  rlicii,  should  bo 
in  his  handB  by  the  ttrsl  of  the  moiitli  n. 

All  liUBlnesB   letters,  conlatnlng   Bn  udadver- 

tiflementB,  should  bo  addresw-d  to  the  i 


RAT»:i«  or  ADVKBTISING. —  Ten  Cmlii   « 
line  lor  oarh  Iniu'rilon.     Twi-lvc  llnca  to  the  Inch. 


11. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  GET  TH£  B£ST. 


f  11  uum  &  siiiii 

FEED  CUTTER, 


MANUFACTURED    FOR 


DEALERS   IN 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  EAST  nm  ST.,  LANOASTES,  PA., 

Haa  been  demonstrated  bv  competitive  testa  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roll 
ie  operated  by  a  new  and  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  tRe  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  auy  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  workmanship  are  of  the  very  best  class, 
and  guaranteed  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  purchaser.  Fann- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  we  have  sold 
with  such  entire  satiBfactiou  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  maintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors — 
33,761  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1375 
— and  we  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sujv 
ply  the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  Is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLER  &  GROFf , 

No.  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Fa. 


ill  be 
mailed  free 
all  aj)  pu- 
ts.   This  i.s 
one  of  the  largest 
dmoftconiprelien- 
C-atalognefi    pub- 
lished; contains  about  2.'>0 
pasjes.  over  600  fine  engrav- 
ings, 2  elegant  colored  ]»lntos, 
and    gives    full    descriptions, 
ices,  and  directions  f"r  pluiit- 
ing  over  1200  varieties  of  Vegt'iable 
id  Flower  Seeds,   Bedding  Plants, 
Roses,  &c.,  and  is  invaluable  to  Fanner, 
"Gardener  and  Florist.^.     Address, 

D.  M.  FERRY  <&  CO., 
Seedsmen  and  Floriata,  DETROIT.  Mich. 


7-l*2-4t 


PATENTS 

OBTAINED  BEST  AND  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO, 

SOLICITORS  OF  PATENTS, 

T^asJiington,  D.  C. 


or  Address  all  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  444.  7-3  ■X'ha 

EVERGREEN  BONE   DUST. 


MANUFACTURED    BY 


M.  B.  EsUeman,         at  Leaman  Place, 

Is  gnarutesd  Fue  Saw  Bodo,  and  nothing  elso. 

Special  pains  taken  in  preparing  it  for  feeding  hens. 

'So.  I.  for  feeding,     •     •     ^a.-fO  per  hundred. 


No.  2.  for  land. 


•    1.75 


T-9-6m 


TliiB  includes  bags  and  delivering  on  board  cars. 


DB1LEB8  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

FAMIIiT  and  I.IB1E-B1IRNINO  COAI.  I 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  the 
«-l-12m]    Yard,  No.  618  NOKTH  PRINCE  STREET. 


VICK  ON  POETRY. 

James  Vick,  the  great  florist  and  seedsman,  of 
Rochester,  gets  off  some  good  things  in  his  Floral 
Guide,  and  the  following  on  corresjiondence,  poetry 
and  poets  is  one  of  his  best.* Its  point  ■will  be  better 
appreciated  when  we  state  that  Vick  is  an  old  printer, 
although  no  longer  "too  poor  to  indulge  in  such 
luxuries  as  letter  paper  :'^ 

OuK  CoKRESPONiJENCE  :  We  like  to  look  over  a 
basket  of  letters  from  correspondents  in  all  parts  of 
the  world — from  the  missionary  in  India  or  Palestine, 
the  merchant  in  China,  and  the  wife  of  a  California 
miner.  It  is  a  pleasure  and  not  a  task,  and  we  can 
occasionally  cull  a  useful  fact,  valuable  to  us  and 
our  readers.  It  is  only  the  poetry  that  troubles  us. 
In  the  first  place,  we  are  not  much  of  a  judge  of 
IX)etry  ;  in  the  aeco^id  place,  we  have  no  taste  for  com- 
mon poetry,  and  what  we  get  is  very  common.  Ouce, 
in  a  lit  of  desperation,  we  thought  we  would  publish 
one  of  the  worst  pieces  we  had  on  hand,  just  to  show 
how  we  were  afflicted,  and  to  deter  any  one  from 
sending  us  more  poetry.  Imagine  our  feelings,  when, 
a  few  days  after  the  issue  of  the  number,  we  received 
a  letter  from  a  lady,  stating  that  we  might  as  well 
put  our  name  to  our  poems,  as  we  could  not  disguise 
our  style. 

We  thought  then  we  had  done  with  poetry  forever. 
But  we  have  relented.  We  have  a  poem  now  that  is 
not  common  by  any  means.  It  came  to  us  without 
name,  except  what  is  seen  below,  and  that  possibly 
is  fictitious.  It  was  composed  by  some  editor,  be- 
cause it  was  written  on  printing  paper,  with  a  pencil, 
just  as  editors  do,  for  they  are  generally  too  poor  to 
indulge  in  such  luxuries  as  letter  paper.  So  we  con- 
cluded to  give  it  to  our  readers.  It  will  be  seen  that 
the  author  possesses  considerable  historical  knowl- 
edge : 

MEDITATIONS  IN  A  GARDEN. 

BY  CAUL  I.    FLOWER. 

Of  all  the  men  within  this  wick- 
ed world  (and,  Goodness  sakes,  they're  thick !) 

There's  none  who  knows  a  flowerier  trick 
Than  Mister  James  (Rochester)  Vick. 

His  parterres  are  with  blooms  so  thick 
That  Babylon's  gardens,  built  on  brick, 

Could  never  have  looked  one-half  so  slick 
As  Rochester  Nurseries  owned  by  Vick. 

And  that's  the  reason  why  the  Dic- 
tionary we  spelled,  in  times  classic, 
Says  Nebuchadnezzar  oft  did  lick 
And  kick 
His  men,  and  swear  he'd  send  for  Vick. 

Those  kings,  you  know,  are  terr-i-fic, 

And  oft  with  whips  and  cowhides  flick 
Their  folks;  and  thrash  with  walking-slick 

Their  gardeners,  'cause  they  ain't  like  Vick. 

When  Adam  said  to  Eve,  "  My  chick  ! 

The  flowers  in  Eden  are  none  too  thick," 
She  softly  sighed  in  Hebraic, 

"  Dear  Addy,  let  us  send  for  Vick  !" 

And  if  they  had,  just  in  the  nick 

Of  time— ('tis  best  to  do  things  quick.) 
Poor  Eve  had  had  no  need  to  pick 

That  apple,  'stead  of  flowers  from  Vick. 

All  this  is  gospel,  sound  as  hick- 
ory.    But  as  my  muse  is  sick, 

And  time  runs  on  with  ceaseless  tick 
And  click. 
I  think  I'll  send  these  Unea  to  Vick. 

A  PATRON  of  a  certain  newspaper  once  said  to  the 
publisher  :  "Mr.  Printer,  how  is  it  you  never  call  on  me 
for  pay  for  your  paper?"  "Oh  !"said  the  man  of  types, 
"we  never  ask  agentleman  lor  money."  "Indeed," 
replied  the  patron,  "  how  do  you  manage  to  get  along 
when  they  don't  pay?"  "Why,"  said  the  editor, 
"  after  a  certain  time  we  conclude  that  he  is  not  a 
gentleman,  and  we  ask  him."  "O  ! — ah  !— yes  ! — I  see  ! 
Mr.  Editor  please  give  me  a  receipt,"  and  hands  him 
the  cash.  "  Make  my  name  all  right  on  your  books." 

Nursery  Rhyme  for  the  Chemical  Child. 

Sing  a  Bong  of  acids. 

Base  and  alkali, 
Four  and  twanty  gases. 

Baked  into  a  pie  ; 
'When  the  pie  was  opened, 

Wonderful  to  say. 
Oxygen  and  Nitrogen 

Both  flew  away. 

Horace  Walpole  said  this  was  the  worst,  that  is, 
the  best  bull  he  ever  read:  "I  hate  that  woman," 
said  a  gentleman,  looking  at  a  person  who  had  been 
his  nurse,  "I  hate  her,  for  when  I  was  a  child  she 
changed  me  at  nurse.  This  was  indeed  a  perplexing 
assertion ;  but  we  have  a  similar  instance  recorded 
in  the  autobiography  of  an  Irishman,  who  gravely 
informs  us  that  he  "  ran  away  early  in  life  from  his 
father  on  discovering  he  was  only  his  uncle." 

A  MAN  from  Chicago,  when  asked  by  a  Saratoga 
waiter  what  he  would  have  for  tireakfast,  replied, 
"Well,  I  rather  guess  I'll  just  flop  my  lip  over  a 
chicken." 


is  the  most  beautiful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  l.W  pages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrationB,  and 
four  Chromn  Plates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
■yick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Address,  JAMES  VICK.  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


1876.         PRE-CENTENNIAL         1876. 

Ratlivon  ft  Piglier, 

PRACTICAL 

TaU^iTS  ami  OfiatEibirs, 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


ESX-ABLISHIVIEIMT, 

Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 

^^,  DOMESTIC' 

SEWING 
MACHINES. 


ify  liberal  terms  ofExchange 
for  Second-hand  Macblnes 
orerery  descrlpMoD. 

"DOMESTIC"  PAPER  FASHIONS. 

The  llestPattL.rn^m.ulo.   Send  Si'ls.  tor  Uiitaloguo, 

address  DOMESTIC  SEWIN&  MACHINE  CO., 

tar  Agents  'Wantec.  -<m      NEW    YOBK. 

7-ll-3teom 

GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

ROOFINC4   SLA.TE. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12ni  LANCASTER,   PA. 

PUBLIC  SALE  BILLS 
FOR  UEAI,  ESTATE  OR  PERSONAL  PRORERTT, 
Printed  expeditiously  and  cheap  at  the  office  of 

THE  LANCASTBK  FARMER. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  APRIL,  1876. 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  4. 


DORKINGS. 

We  Rivp  hcrowith  a  fine  illustratinn  of  a 
fir.sl-cla.ss  trio  ol'  (iicy  Doi-kiiiLt.s.  l)()ikiiif;s 
arc  of  tlin'c  colorings  or  styles  of  inarkiiiiis — 
white,  silver-j;rey  and  colored — as  rccoi;iii/,ed 
ill  the  Ainerican  standard.  15nl  the  standard 
is  cxcecdiu^fy  loose  in  its  notice  of  CoKwed 
Dorking's,  making  no  markings,  other  than 
uniformity  in  the  birds  of  one  pen,  reiniisite. 
One  iioticeal)le  difference  lietwecii  White  and 
(irey  Dorkings  is,  that  while  the  f<niner  must 
i)ossess  rose  combs,  s(juarc  in  front,  lirm  an<l 
close-fitting,  ami  evenly  covered  over  with 
small  points,  terminatiui;  in  a  point  Ijehiiul, 
tlu^  latter  are  found  both  rose  and  siiij^le 
combed.  Our  cut  represents  a  trio,  all  having 
single  coml)s.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add, 
that  for  exhibition  all  the  birds  of  oiu^  pen 
must  Ije  either  rose  or  single-combed,  and  not 
one  or  two  of  each.  White  Dorkings  are 
til  ought  by  some 
writers  to  be  the  older 
variety,  as  they  for- 
merly lired  more  uni- 
versally true  to  the 
fifth  toe.  l?ut  the  col- 
ored Dorkings  are  now 
well  establisiied  in  that 
particular.  In  general 
characteristics  both 
white  and  colored 
fowls  are  the  same — a 
good  idea  may  be  had 
from  tlie  accompany- 
ing illustration.  The 
Dorking  is  iire-emi- 
iiently  an  English  fowl 
^a  very  old  variety — 
and  true  to  his  nature, 
John  Bull  has,  in  this 
fowl,  adiniral)ly  cater- 
ed to  his  tastes.  For, 
as  a  table  fowl,  the 
Dorking  is  unsur- 
pa.ssed.  This  is  thi'ir 
especial  claim  to  the 
consideration  of  faiu'i- 
ers.  They  are  indiffer- 
ent, rather  poor  layers, 
but  for  the  table  they 
all'ordan  extra  portion 
of  very  line  meat,  es- 
pecially abundant  in 
the  parts  most  esteem- 
ed—the Ineast  and 
wings.  The  Dorking 
is  a  lieavy-bodied,  well 
put-up      fowl,      long, 

broad  back  and  close  

feathered.  Thus  what 
they  lack  in  (ipjionnt 
size  in  comparison  with 
Asiatics  tliey  makeup  in  real,  solid  llesh,  and 
of  a  quality  very  far  ahead  of  either  Urahmas 
or  Cochins.  We  have  sold  liirds  of  this  breed 
to  cross  with  Brahmas,  and  for  such  a  pur- 
pose they  are  excellent,  as  they  gain  in  hardi- 
ness, and  perhaps  .somewhat  in  egg  produc- 
tiveness. Pure  Dorkings  will  deteriorate  if 
in-bred  too  closely.  In  our  oi)iiuon  no  cross 
could  be  more  i)rontable  than  one  with  the 
Leghorn,  as  thereby  not  only  hardiness,  l)ut  a 
very  decided  increase  in  the  number  of  eggs 
would  result. 

It  may,  jierhaps,  be  worthy  of  remark,  that 
on  no  variety  of  fowl  does  the  .st^iudard  allow 
so  many  points  for  size — liftceu  is  the  usual 
scale  of  one  hundred. —  W.  Atlce  liurpec, 
PhilaiUlphia,  Pa. 


DEW— ESPECIALLY  HONEY-DEW. 

It  IN  not,  and  perhaps  raiuiot,  be  clearly  dc- 
monstraled  that  dew  /<tlU  at  all;  and  from 
tlu^  /'(((•(  that  dew  is  found  as  copiously  on  the 
luidersides  of  tla^  leaves  of  plants  ais  on  the 
uppersides,  tlit;  conclusion  reached  is,  that 
dew  is  an  exhalation  of  ml)i^ture  from  llie 
earth,  and  condenses  near  tlu'  earth,  or 
at  no  very  great  distance  from  it;  in  short, 
that  it  docs  not  "fall"  from  the  clouds 
like  rain.  An  inverted  tub  or  box  will  often 
have  as  much  dew  under  it  as  outside  of  it; 
and  that  is  not  all,  for  the  lower  side  of  the 
bottom  thus  inverted  will  also  becovi'red  with 
d(^w.  Hoar-frost  is  nothing  but  the  frozen  ex- 
halations of  dew  or  moisture,  and  this  (covers 
the  entire  branches  of  tret^s  and  shrubbery, 
whether  they  are  iieudant,  perpendicular,  or 
horizontal,  and  tliis  will  be  the  cast'  as  well 
I  with  branches  lying  on  the  ground,  as  with 


Pit.vcTiCAL  MEN  are  .steadily  coming  up  to 
a  due  appreciation  of  The  FAUSiERas  a  valu- 
able medium  for  transmitting  the  results  of 
their  experience. 


those  on  the  trees;  and  flat  sti>nes.  or  pieces 
of  1)oard — uidess  too  deeply  imbedded  in  tb.e 
earth— will  often  exhibit  as  much  hoar-frost 
on  the  lower  side  as  on  the  ui)per  side.  This 
seems  to  demonstrate  that  dew  is  an  exhala- 
tion from  the  earth,  or  from  the  surface  of 
vegetation,  and  tliat  instead  of  "falling"  it 
actually  rises.  This  can  be  demonstrated  by 
putting  very  cold  water  or  ice  in  a  bottle,  a 
pitcher,  or  a  tin  can,  on  a  warm  day.  The 
surrounding  invisible  vapor  will  become  con- 
densed in  the  form  of  dew,  on  the  sides,  the 
bottoms,  and  the  lops  of  the  containing  vessels. 

Honey-Dew. 

The  chief  dilficulty  in  reference  to  lioney- 
dew  has  arisen  from  the  attempts  to  reconcile 
the  iiheiiomeiia  with  a  single  cause.  AVhen 
we  discover  that  there  aii'  ditleient  kinds  of 
the  sul).stance  generally  called  honey-dew,  and 
that  they  are  the  etTects  of  ditTerent  causes, 
the  (litHcultj-  will  not  seem  .so  great,  although 


the  solution  may  not  be  satisfactory  to  all. 
Jfimiii-fVw,  from  whatever  source  ii  may 
proceed  is.  by  iimny  writi'is  on  veget.ible  econ- 
omy, reganled  as  a  disease,  and  is  placed  in 
the  category  of  hliijlu,  smut,  milihw,  driijixij, 
ganiji-cne,  ctinliitinii,  guffnnUion,  and  o >n.!iuiHjj- 
tion.  It  is  a  sweet  and  clamaiy  substance 
which  exudes  from,  and  coagulates  on,  the 
surfai-e  of  the  leaves  of  vegetables  during  hot 
weather,  parlicidarly  on  the  leaves  of  the  oak, 
and  the  beech.  The  leaves  of  the  beech  tree 
in  particular,  on  the  occurrence  of  an  unfavor- 
abl(^  wiml  become  covered  with  a  glutinous 
coating,  similar  in  llavor  to  the  llnid  cibtained 
from  the  truidi,  and  in  every  respect  resem- 
bling tlie  honey-ih'w  of  other  jilants.  Lust  sum- 
mer, on  several  occasions,  we  have  hail  oak 
branches  sent  to  us,  the  leaves  of  which  were 
so  thickly  covered  with  this  substance  as  to 
glue  them  together.  It  is  well  known  that 
white  oak  and  hickory  trunks,  when  cut  green 
and  exposed  to  a  hot 
sun  for  a  time,  will  be 
covered  with  a  honey- 
like  .saccharine  sul)- 
stance,  exuding  from 
the  |)ores  of  the  Wood  at 
tli(^  ends,  and  this  sub- 
stance has  the  siune 
ta,ste  as  that  which  ex- 
udes from  the  leaves  of 
tluise  trees.  .Saccharine 
exuilalions  are  fru- 
(pieutly  foiuul  on  the 
leaves  of  many  plant-s, 
though  not  always  dis- 
tinguished by  the  name 
of  honey-dew  ;  which 
term  only  should  be 
applied  wiicn  the  exu- 
dation is  in  such  excess 
as  to  caiLse  disexse.  If 
it  is  to  be  aiiplied  to  all 
glutinous  exudations 
whatever,  then  of  course 
they  must  be  all  in- 
cluded under  honey- 
dew,  but  they  are  not 
all  saccharine,  for  the 
exudations  from  the 
buds,  .and  yoimg  leaves 
of  the  ''.Silver  Poplar," 
for  instance,  are  resin- 
ous,and  this  isthe  same 
with  mdiiua,  which  ex- 
u<les  from  the  a.sh  tree 
of  Italy,  as  well  ;is  the 
'■  L<(/<(/'M<;ii,"  a  gimi 
resin,  which  is  collected 
by  beating  the  shrub 
that  yields  it,  with 
leather  thongs.  It  is 
also  iHissible  that  lUvse. 
exudations  may  oftenoccur  witlnuit  producing 
disease,  for  if  it  should  happen  to  be  washed 
oil  soon  atter  its  secretion,  by  heavy  rains  or 
heavy  dews,  the  leaves  woidd  not  suffer. 

We  have  an  orange  tree  which,  on  several 
occasions,  became  covered  with  honey-dew, 
and  we  discovered  at  the  siime  time  that  it 
was  seriously  iidcsted  by  the  "orange  scale 
insect,"  (Cwus  /n^.t/wTiV/iini,)  and  since  these 
have  Iwen  all  destroyed,  we  have  not  iK-en 
troubled  with  honey-dew.  But,  there  are  s])e- 
cies  of  Aiihiii  which  infest  the  tender  branches 
of  the  api'le,  jiear,  cherry,  plum,  peach,  rosea, 
and  indeed,  nearly  all  kinds  of  vegetation, 
which  dejiosit  a  s.iccharine  substance  on  the 
leaves  of  the  trees,  shrubs  and  plants  they  in- 
fest, that  u.snally  goes  by  th"  name  of  honey- 
dew,  and  ;it  one  time,  and  by  many  piTsons, 
these  insects  were  reganhd  lus  the  chief,  if  not 
the  ntilif  source  of  this  sub.stance.  Whatever 
may  l)e  the  orign  of  honey -dew,  ajinrt  froni 
that  produeeii  by  ajihich,  nothing  c.iii  shake 


50 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[April, 


1 


our  belief  tliiit  much,  if  not  all,  occurring  on 
the  leaves  above  named,  is  the  secretions  of 
((pitids,  or  i)lant  lice.  We  have  seen  them  dis- 
charge it  "a  many  a  time  and  often"  from 
the  little  tubular  spines  at  the  end — or  near 
tlie  end— of  the  upper  side  of  the  abdomen. 

We  do  not,  liowevcr,  intend  to  insist,  in 
this  paper,  that  the  spines  aforesaid  are  the 
organs  through  which  the  .saccharine  fluid  is 
ejected,  because  this  has  been  disputed  ;  and 
it  has  been  alleged  that  the  honej-dew  is  the 
natural  oxcreruentitious  discharge  of  the 
Aphid,  and  that  it  is  discharged  from  the  usual 
anal  oiitice.  Be  that  as  it  may,  we  have  wit- 
nessed the  discharge  of  honey-dew  from 
aphids  dozens  of  times,  and  have  even  caught 
it  on  small  pieces  of  white  paper  held  under 
them,  and  have  also  tasted  its  sweetness  ;  and 
this,  not  of  aiihids  only,  but  also  of  the  orange 
coccus.  Some  vegetation  yields  projiortionate- 
ly  more  saccharine  matter  than  others,  and 
these  species  will  supply  the  aphids  with  a 
larger  proportion  of  honey-dew.  The  sap  of 
what  is  called  S!ar((?c?!i  vegetation,  has  a  thin- 
ner and  more  aqueous  constitution,  and  hence 
on  such  plants  there  will  generally  be  less 
honey-dew  than  on  those  of  the  tree  and 
shrub  kind  that  contaiu  more  sugar.  But 
there  is  another  cause  of  the  absence  of  this 
substance  on  some  vegetation,  and  that  cause 
is  the  presence  of  other  honey  eating  insects, 
such  as  Bees,  Wasps,  Moths,  Yellow-jackets, 
Hornets,  Flies,  but  most  especially  of  ants. 
These  lap  up  the  honey  dew  as  fast  as  it  is 
discharged  by  the  Aphids,  and  it  is  even  said, 
that  when  they  do  not  discharge  it  rapidly 
enough  to  suit  the  demands  of  the  ants,  these 
little  "Keepers"of  tlie  Aphids  somehow  stimu- 
ate  a  discharge  of  it  by  artificial  m  eans. 
From  the  fact  that  honey-dew  is  usually  found 
on  the  upper  surfiice  of  the  leaves,  it  has  been 
alleged  that  it  falls  down  from  far  above,  if 
not  from  the  clouds.  But  when  it  is  observed 
that  the  Ajjliids  are  usually  on  the  underside 
of  the  leaves,  or  on  the  tender  twigs  and 
stems,  and  that  they  have  the  power  of 
ejecting  the  dew  a  considerable  distance  from 
them,  it  will  be  readily  perceived  how  it  falls 
on  the  leaves  below  them.  It  is  usually  dis- 
charged in  little  globules  which  fall  on  the 
leaves  in  drops,  and  where  the  discharge  is 
copious,  these  drops  run  into  each  other  until 
the  whole  surface  is  sometimes  covered  with 
the  liquid. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  we  cannot  as- 
sent to  Mr.  Noe's  theory,  although  we  are  far 
from  saying  it  is  impossible,  ;  but,  for  the  fol- 
lowinji  reasons,  we  consider  it  very  improl)a- 
ble.  Firstly,  if  lioney-dew  is  the  condensa- 
tion of  the  aroma  or  odor  of  flowers,  how  does 
it  happen  that  this  substance  is  usually  pre- 
sent in  greatest  quantity  long  after  the  bloom- 
ing and  odoriferous  season  is  over  V  Cherry 
trees,  apple  trees,  plum  trees,  etc.,  most  fre- 
quently only  begin  to  show  honey-dew  after 
tlie  young  shoots  have  gi'own  several  inches, 
and  when  the  fruit  is  already  formed. 
SccomVij,  if  honey-dew  falls  from  a  condensa- 
tion of  odor  or  aroma,  how  does  it  hapjien 
that  it  only  falls  upon  the  leaves  of  the  trees 
and  shrubs,  and  not  ou  the  grass  and  other 
vegetation  around  them?  Thirdly,  if  such, 
as  lias  been  suggested  by  Mr.  N.,  is  the  cause 
of  honey-dew,  why  is  it  that  a  beech,  an  oak 
or  a  willow  may  have  abundance  of  it,  and 
other  contiguous  trees  and  shrubbery  be  en- 
tirely free  from  it  V  and  no  fragrance  or  bloom 
of  any  kind  be  near  them.  It  is  true,  that 
some  trees  during  their  flowering  season  se- 
crete nectar  so  copiou.sly  that  it  .sometimes  runs 
from  the  flower-cujis  and  falls  on  the  leaves 
belovs'  them— such  for  instance  as  magnolias, 
dog-wood  and  tlie  white  pojilar  or  tulip-tree  ,• 
especially  the  last  named.  But  this  is  not  a 
condensation  from  a  vapory  condition,  it  is  a 
liquid  exudation  or  secretion.  .Some  fragrant 
flowering  plants— the  white  Peony,  for  in- 
stance—after the  flower  liuds  have  become 
much  swollen,  secrete  considerable  quantities 
of  a  sweet  mucus,  and  hence  become  infested 
by  numbers  of  flies,  ants,  wasps  and  bees,  to 
tlie  great  annoyance  of  anxious  flower  grow- 
ers, and  many  other  plants  in  the  leaf  and 


flower  buds  do  the  same,  but  this  is  an  exu- 
dation. Finally,  honey-dew — so-called — is 
eitlier  a  normal  or  abnormal  saccharine  or 
resinous  exudation  from  vegetation  ;  or  it  is 
extracted,  elaborated  and  discharged  by  in- 
sects, generally  ^jj//jds  or  Cocci;  and  either 
one  or  both  of  these  causes  may  explain  every 
case  where  it  occurs,  with  reasonable  satis- 
faction. 

As  touching  the  subject  of  condensation, 
from  an  abstract  ])oiut  of  view  we  admit  the 
hiwe  jxissihility  of  Mr.  N.'s  theory;  but  at  the 
same  time  we  are  constrained  to  place  it  in  tlie 
category  of  ivqirobtihilities.  Of  course,  the 
substance  called  houey-dew  does  not  originate 
from  nothing,  and  therefore  must  proceed  from 
sovuthirig.  Scent,  aroma,  odor,  perfume,  fra- 
grance, or  whatever  else  we  may  call  it,  is  a 
material  sulistance,  but  one  of  the  most  im- 
ponderable of  substances,  and  we  opine  it 
would  lie  more  diflicult  to  condense  it  into 
as  tangible  a  substance  as  honey-dew  than 
it  would  he  to  condense  carbon  into  a 
diamond.  It  is  too  refined,  too  ethereal, 
diffusive  and  volatile  for  condensation,  with- 
out the  aid  of  the  most  perfect  and  com- 
plicated machinery.  It  is  said  that  when  the 
bed  chamber  and  drawers  of  the  Empress 
Josephine  were  ventilated  forty  years  after 
she  had  occupied  them,  they  were  still  as  fra- 
grant as  they  had  been  during  her  life  time. 
No  matter  what  the  f)dor  may  be,  it  is  still  a 
highly  refined  material  substance,  and  in  the- 
ory may  be  resolved  into  its  original  form  ; 
but,  if  it  may  remain  forty  years  ethcrealized 
in  a  confined  apartment,  the  condensation  of 
odor  in  the  open  air  will  hardly  account  for 
the  presence  of  honey-dew  or  its  swatness. 


WHERE  DID  THEY  COME  FROM? 

No  doubt  this  cjuestion  often  occurs  to  those 
who  are  i>osi5essed  of  reflective  minds,  and  they 
would  liavegiveii  almost  anything  if  tliej'  knew 
where  "this,  that,  or  t'other  thing"  origi- 
nally came  from. 

Indeed,  "Where  did  you  come  from?" 
natur.ally  also  involves  the  question,  "Where 
are  you  going  to?"  because  if  we  know  pre- 
cisely the  origin,  the  latitude,  and  the  native 
clime  of  a  iilant,  we  may  also  know  where  we 
would  lie  justified  in  taking  it  to,  with  any 
prospect  of  success  in  its  outdoor  cultivatioii. 
No  doubt  the  particular  origin  and  tlie  native 
country  of  many  of  our  trees,  shrubs  and 
plants,  are  merely  conjectural,  but  even  that 
conjectural  knowledge  is  Ynore  satisfactory 
than  no  knowledge  at  all.  The  qualifying, 
"  it  is  said,"  is  sometimes  a  great  relief  to  iis, 
and  often  assists  us  in  "pointing"  a  para- 
graph, the  responsibility  of  which  we  fiicl  re- 
luctant to  assume.  The  following  will  illus- 
trate the  when  and  original  whereabouts  of  a 
few  subjects  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  with 
which  we  may  be  familiar,  but  the  origin 
aud  history  of  which  we  may  not  always  be 
able  to  "  lay  our  finger  on  "  without  some 
labor  or  expense. 

The  Travels  of  Plants. 

Alexander  brought  rice  from  Persi.a  to  the  Medi- 
terranean, the  Arabs  carried  it  to  Egypt,  the  Moors 
to  Spain,  the  Spaniards  to  America.  Lucullus brought 
the  cherry  tree  (which  takes  its  name  from  Cerasus, 
the  city  of  Pontus,  where  he  found  it,)  to  Rome,  as  a 
tropliv  of  liis  Mithridatie  campaign;  and  120  years 
later,  or  in  A.  D.  4fi,  as  Pliny  tells  us,  it  was  carried 
to  England.  Ciesar  is  said  to  have  given  barley  to 
both  Germany  and  Britain.  According  to  Strabo, 
wheat  came  originally  from  the  banks  of  the  Indus, 
but  it  had  reached  the  Mediterranean  before  dawn  of 
authentic  history.  Both  barley  and  wheat  came  to 
the  New  World  with  its  conquerors  and  colonists,  and 
the  maize  wliicli  they  found  here  soon  went  to  Eu- 
rope in  exchange.  It  was  known  in  England  in  less 
than  fifty  years  after  the  discovery  of  America;  it 
wasintroduced  to  the  Mediterranean  countries,  by  way 
of  Spain,  at  the  end  of  tlie  sixteenth  century,  and  the 
Venetians  soon  carried  it  to  the  Levant.  Later  it 
traveled  up  tlie  Danube  to  Hungary,  aud  gradually 
spread  eastward  to  China.  While  it  was  thus  inv.-id- 
iug  the  regions  formerly  devoted  to  rice,  the  latter, 
as  we  have  said,  was  establishing  itself  in  this  country. 

The  sugar-cane,  which,  with  its  sweet  product,  was 
known  to  the  Greeks  and  P.omaus  only  as  a  curio- 
sity, seems  to  have  been  cultivated  in  India  and  China 
from  the  earliest  times.    Its  introduction  into  Europe 


was  one  of  the  results  of  the  crusades,  aud  thence  it 
was  transplanted  to  Maderia,  and  early  in  the  six- 
teenth centui-y  from  that  island  to  the  West  Indies 
The  original  home  of"  King  Cotton  "  was  probably 
in  Persia  or  India,  though  it  is  also  mentioned  in  the 
early  annals  of  Egypt,  and  liad  spread  throughout 
Africa  in  very  ancient  times. 

The  potato  was  found  in  Peru  and  Chili  by  the  first 
explorers  of  those  countries,  who  soon  carried  it  to 
Spain.  It  is  said  to  have  reached  Burgundy  in  ISliO, 
and  Italy  about  the  same  time.  It  appears  to  have 
been  brought  from  Virginia  to  Ireland  by  Hawkins, 
a  slave  trader,  in  1.5(;.5:  and  to  England  in  15S.5,  by 
Drake,  who  presented  some  tubers  to  Gerard,  who 
planted  them  in  his  garden  in  London,  and  described 
the  plant  in  In^s  Herball;  and  it  was  also  introduced 
by  l;aleigli  at  about  the  same  date.  But  it  was  slow 
to  attract  attention,  and  it  was  not  till  nearly  a  cen- 
tury later  that  it  begau  to  be  muelr cultivated.  In 
IfitW  the  Royal  Society  puljlislied  rules  for  its  culture, 
and  from  that  time  it  rapidly  gained  favor.  The 
Dutch  carried  it  to  the  Cajie  of  Good  Hope  in  1800, 
and  thence  it  made  its  >ay  to  ludm.— Journal  of 
Chemistry. 


Time  9  o'clock,  A,  M. 

DAYS.    THEEM.    WINDS. 


WEATHEIt. 


METEOROLOGY  OF  MARCH    1776-1876. 

We  have  never  niade.or  recorded  meteoro- 
logical observations,  simply  for  the  reason  that 
we  have  not  had  time  and  opiiortunity,  since 
we  have  attached  any  imiiortance  to  the  sub- 
ject. The  following  record  of  March  1876,  1 
and  Maich  ii  hundred  years  ago,  illustrates  in  I 
a  rather  remarkable  degree  the  similarity  of 
the  two  widely  separated  periods,  and  our 
readers  can  make  the  comparisons  for  them- 
selves, as  to  details,  in  which  they  may  be 
much  more  familiar  than  we  are.  We  shall 
occasionally,  during  the  Centennial  year,  en- 
deavor to  furnish  our  patrons  with  mental  and 
intellectual  food,  of  the  ''old  iuid  the  new," 
just  to  show  us  how  far  aud  fast  we  are  travel- 
ing, and  what  we  have  gathered  on  the  way. 
Meteorology  has  assumed  a  mighty  importance 
in  this  country,  since  the  establishment  of  the 
"U.  S.  Signal  Bureau,"  and  the  results  are 
becoming  every  year  more  perfect,  more 
satisfactory  and  wide-extended.  Its  results 
are  now  had  in  hand  and  are  transmitted  by 
telegrajih  and  just  here,  we  think,  the  "new" 
is  just  so  far  in  advance  of  the  "okl."  If  every 
thing  else  that  constitutes  our  stiifl'  as  a  people 
was  making  the  same  progress  it  would  stamp 
us  as  a  progressive  people. 

Meteorological    Diary,    at    Philadelphia,     for 
March  1776. 


1  ....  13 W Fair  and  windy. 

3  ....  3.5 W Fair. 

3   ...  36....  S.W Foggy. 

4....  40 N.E.    ..   H'v'zy. 

5....  47 S.W.        Misty. 

6 47 W Flying  clouds  and  windy. 

7   ...  40 S.W Cloudy.  (Stormy prev. night.) 

8 46 W Cloudy. 

9   ...53 S.W Fair. 

10...   33  ....  N.E Cloudy. 

11 .39  ..   N.E Fair. 

13  ....  49  ....  S.W Foggy. 

13 35 N Fair. 

14 40 N.W....  Rain. 

15 45 N.E Cloudy. 

16  ....  51 S.  W Cloudy— nain  in  the  night. 

17  ....  52 N.  W Cloudy. 

18  ....  48 N.E Cloudy— rain  in  tlie  night. 

I'J  ....  4.S    ...  S.W Cloudy — rain  preceding  day. 

20    ...  il W Fair.  ^ 

21 32  .  .    N.  W Fair  and  windy. 

23 37        S.  E Overcast. 

23 39 W Fair — much  rain  previous  day. 

24 33 N.  W Wind  and  Hying  clouds.   Frost 

in  the  night. 

25 33.....N.W Overcast.      Hard  frost  in  the 

night. 

36 38.....N.W Fair. 

37 33....  N.W Fair. 

38....  39 N.W   ...  Fair. 

29 36  ....  S.  W Cloudy. 

30 41 N.  E Sleet. 

31 37 N.  W Cloudy — much   raiu  the   pre- 
ceding day. 
From  Pemmylvania  Magazine  for  April,  1770. 

The  average  or  mean  temperature  of  the 
month  of  March,  1"7(),  was  SiljJ.  There  were 
eight  days  on  which  rains  fell,  but  tlie  quan- 
tity was  not  noted.  Perhaps  at  that  period  no 
instrument  was  in  use  for  that  purpose.  It  J 
may  be  interesting  to  some  of  our  readers  to  ■ 
coiiqiare  1870  and  1770,  day  for  day,  and  then 
note  the  diiference  for  themselves. 


I 


1S7G.] 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


51 


Meteorological  Diary  at  Liberty  Square,   Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  for  March,  1876. 

DAVa.  THKUMnMKTEU.  COITUMR  OF  WINDS, 

6A.M.  :>1'..M.  8I>.M.  OA..M.  2  1>.  M.  .S  I'.  M. 

1  -.i-Z :ili  :il...       N.  S.        N.  W. 

2 23  a; :i2...      N.      N.W.      N. 

3 20 32   (i2...       N.  N.W.  N. 

4 3S 2H  44...      W.  N.  8. 

5  S5 ,5.'".  ....:...4S...       N.  S.  8. 

6 88 69 .V,...       S.  8.  8. 

7 4.5 (W  (JO...       S.  S.  W.  8. 

8  .50 47    38..  S.W.  N.  N. 

9  33 48  42...       N.  N.  E.  N. 

10 43  51  42..  N.E.  S.  8. 

11 3.5  CO  .50...  S.  E.  S.  E.  S. 

12  35  48 .52...  8.  E.  S.  K.  8.  E. 

1:;  42  .......  75  4(!  ..  N.W.  N.W.      N. 

14 30 25 35...       N.  W.        N. 

15 20 42 3(i...  N.  E.  N.  N. 

Ifi 34 3(i  43...  8.    E.  E.         8. 

17 37  42  33...       N.  S.W.  N. 

18 27 2(! 19...  N.W.  N.  N.W. 

19 10 29  25...       N.  N.  N. 

20 22 32    35...  8.  E.  E.         E. 

21  30  39 28...  8.  E.  N.  W.  N.  W. 

22 25 40 33...      W.  N.  W.  W. 

23 30, 40 3G...  W.  W.  W. 

24 30  43 3B...  W.  8.  S.    E. 

25 41  .54  4-1...        8.    N.byW.  N.W. 

26  3S  .56  40...  W.          W.  W. 

27 36 4.3  40...  W.      N.  W.  N. 

28  86 40  .56...       E.          E.  8. 

39   43  40 35...  W.        W.  W. 

30  35 40  37...  N.  W.  N.  W.  W. 

13  35 46 38...  N.W.  N.W.  8. 

Observations  made  by  Rachel  S.  Smith. 

Average  temperature  for  March,  1876 — 6  A. 
M.,  aa  5-10 ;  '2  P.  M.,  43  ;  8  P.  M.,  mi  ;  the 
general  averaj^e  beiiijj;  about  38.  Consideriuf,' 
the  dilTerent  liours,  when  the  temperature  was 
recorded,  there  seems  to  be  very  little  ditfer- 
ence,  in  the  averajife  dej;rees,  between  March, 
1870,  and  the  same  month  in  177(3.  The  mean 
temperature  of  a  day,  nor  yet  the  mean  dhec- 
tion  of  a  wind,  cannot  be  ascertained  as  cor- 
rectly by  a  single  oliscrvation  made  in  the 
early  part  of  it,  as  at  ditl'erent  liours  in  it. 

Hygroraetrical  Diary,  at  Philadelphia,  for 
March,   1776. 

I>.\Ta.  HOUB8.  HYOBOM. 

A.M.         P.M.              A.M.          P.M. 
1 9  3  30 36 

2  9  3 40  50 

3 No  observatious  made 

4 9  3 .50 60 

5  9 3 100  100 

6  9    3  80 85 

7  9 3  90  80 

8 9  3  50  61 

9  9  3 80  86 

10 -No  observution ...     

11  9    3  40  .55 

12 9 3 .SO.    86 

13  9  3  90  86 

14 9 3 95 90 

15  9 3 70  80 

16  9    3 101  Ill 

17 No  observation 

18 9 3 80 86 

19 9 3 70    SO 

20 9 3 70   80 

21 9 3 80 75 

22 9  3 30  41 

2i  9 3 44 47 

34 No  observation 

35 9 3  86 i") 

2(i 9 3 100 110 

27  9  ....  3 75  85 

28    9  3  50  65 

29  9  3 SO  75 

30  9    3    70  80 

81 No  observation...    

From  Pennsylra?iia  Magazine  for  April,  1876. 
IIil<iromctri/  differs  somewhat  from  Barome- 
try,  and  relates  more  to  the  moisture  in  the 
air  than  to  its  density  or  pre.ssure,  although 
both  instruments  may  be  used  for  a  similar 
purpose.  There  \vere  live  days — Sundays — on 
which  no  ob.servations  were  made,  and  hence 
we  have  omitted  making  average.  Tlic  ob- 
servations were  all  made  at  i)  A.  M.,  before 
the  true  character  of  the  day  is  determined, 
and  do  not  give  so  fully  the  mean  results. 

Barometrical  Diary,  at  Liberty  Square,   Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  for  March,  1876. 
C  ileuotcs  cloudy;  F,  fair  ;  K,  rain, 

6A.M.  2.P.M.  8P.  M.  IN.  UAIN-. 

1  29.60  C  29.79  C 27.-10  K 

2 .50  F 62  K 62  F  17 

3 62  F 62  F 62  F  

4 SO  F 74  F 74  F 


6  A.  M.  2  P.  .M.        8  P.  M.  in.  ini.v. 

5 .74  F 72  F 79  F  

6 72  F 76  F .5S  F  

7 4.S  F 85  F 2!  F 

8 27 .(IOC 30  F 30  F 72 

9 2.5C 31  F 36  F  

10 40  F 40  F 4(1  F  

11  70  C .50  C .51  C  

12 -WV 40  F 19  C  Ot 

18 -.HF .50  F 60  F 37 

14 (il  F (!0  F (i3  F 

15 70  F 6(!C 63  F 

16 .5011 lOlt  27.00  C 1.23 

17 28.86  C  38.87  F 2X.iM  F 

18 37.07  K 39.06  C 29.25  F 

19 60  F mV 60  F 

20 78  F 70c 39  C 

31 aS.76C 28.n0C 2S.10  U 

32  29.30  F 29..50  F 2'.I.U  F  

3i .50  C .500 .50  F 

34 .50  F .56  F 46  C  

25 40  8  29.000 3S.88  K 3.16 

36 39.00  F 06  0  29.10  F 

37 26  F 30  F 33  F 

28 (H  I{  28.75K 28..56  K 1.87 

29 38.68  0 90  F  39.00  F 

80 39.00  8 29.02  0 13  F 

31 80  F 33  0 70  F 

Ottservations  madetnj  liaehcl  S.  Smith, 
There  wen^  eight  rains  during  the  niontli, 
in  which  8.:i7  inches  fell,  averaging  1.04 5' inches 
at  each  lain  fall,  or  ."27  in.  for  each  ilay  in  tlu; 
month,  lianiniilri/  has  relation  to  lUeprcs.sioc 
or  (leusily  of  the  atmospliere  ;  and  from  the 
foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  tlie/ii|//(r.vt  lijrm-cs 
were  recorded  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.,  (2."J7'J,)  on 
the  first  day  of  the  montli. 


SWALLOWS. 

"  One  swriUoir  will  nat  )iiitl-c  a  siiriimrr,'''' 
neither  will  a  score  of  tliem  sometimes,  for 
we  have  seen  the  latest  arrivals  among  tliem — 
the  "  House  Martins,"  or  "Purple  Martins," 
{Progne  pnrpurcii) — .sadly  mi.staken  in  their 
meterological  calcidations  ;  we  have  seen  the 
jioor  little  fellows  looking  out  of  their  bo.xesat 
the  falling  snow,  only  occasionally  uttering  a 
feeble  rhcr-rre-ce,  or  a  faint  ricli-cij-dirkei/,  and 
.seemingly  wondering  what  it  all  meant;  seeing 


that  the  weather  had  lieen  so  beautilid  and 
they  had  been  so  cheerful — even  noisy — just 
the  ilay  jirevious.  Tins,  however,  does  not 
connn  )idy  occur;  therefore,  when  the  swal- 
lows make  their  advent,  and  especially  tlie 
si)ecies  above  named,  we  may  feel  pretty  cer- 
tain that  summer  is  near.  And  what  inno- 
cent, cheerful,  industrious  and,  withal,  plucky 
little  birds  they  are,  too,  and  sometimes  noi.sy 
to  boot.  From  "earlj'  morn  to  dewy  eve" 
they  are  on  the  wing,  and  in  pursuit  of  their 
insect  prey.  The  amount  of  this  kind  of  food 
they  daily  consume  we  have  no  means  at 
jiresent  to  clearly  estimate,  but  when  we  con- 
si<ler  that,  with  the  ex('e|)tion  of  one  species, 
perhaps,  tliey  feed  on  nothing  else,  we  may 
conclude  that  the  quantity  inu.st  be  enormous. 
Their  economical  stitu.s  is  tlierefore  uiuiue.s- 
tionablc,  although  they  niay  destroy  a  few 
bees  occasionally,  by  way  of  a  relish. 

Six  species  belonging  to  tlie  family  IIlUl'V- 
l>IN'n).K,  visit  Lancaster  county  every  spring, 
make  their  summer  altode,  breed,  and  rear 
their  little  families  here,  (some  raising  two 
broods.)  and  leave  us  again  in  early  antunm  ; 
namely,  the  "Barn  Swallow,"  Jliriuab)  hor-  \ 
reorum;  the  "Cliff  Swallow,"   H.  lunifrons;  | 


the  "Whit.'-bellied  Swallow,"  //.  hirnlor ;  the 
"Hank  Swallow,"  Oitijh:  ri/dOi'd;  the  "l{ough- 
winged  Swallow,"  C'.  titrripeuiii.%  and  the 
"  I'uiple  Martin,"  Proline  jiuiimrca.  The 
"(.'hiinney  Swallow,"  Clintiini  ;icf<i,«/iVi,  is 
now  placed  in  the  family  Cyi'siklid.e,  or 
SwiKi's,  but  for  all  i)ractical  purpos<'s  it  is  na 
good  a  swallow  as  any  among  them.  They 
take  a  great  deal  of  their  prey,  if  not  all  of  it, 
"on  the  wing,"  but  some  of  the  species  do 
not  conline  themselves  to  the  softer,  more 
delicate,  and  comparatively  liarmle.Hs  in.sccln, 
but  al.so  "  l)olt  "  May-k-t'lles,  (ioldstnith.s, 
.hine-biigs.  and  the  larger  and  more  rigid 
kind.  (Wilson  found  six  of  the.se  in  the 
stomach  of  one  Purple  Martin.)  Kaeh  female 
swallow  jn'oduees  from  four  to  six  young  ones 
at  a  brood,  and  where  she  produces  two  br<K)d.s 
it  rc'ipiires  a  vast  nundK-r  of  insects  to  supply 
them  with  their  needed  aliment.  The  White- 
bellied  swallow  is,  however,  sjiid  to  devour 
berries  in  the  fall,  just  before  it  leaves  us  for 
the  sunny  .South. 

We  r(-niend«'r  di.slinctly  the  time  yet  when 
it  was  believed  that  swallows  did  not  migrate 
southward  at  the  approach  of  winter,  but  that 
they  remained  with  lis  and  hid  in  hollow  trees, 
knot-holes,  in  the  mud,  or  in  some  other  simi- 
lar pla(;e,  but  that  idea,  even  among  the  il- 
literate or  ignorant,  receives  now  but  little 
credit,  if  any  are  found  simple  enough  to  )x;- 
lieve  il  at  all. 

We  once  occupied  a  house  for  five  years  that 
had  been  Iho  resort  of  the  Purple  >fartins  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  They  always  ap- 
peared suddenly  and  about  the  liflei'Utli  of 
May,  and  left  just  as  suddenly  about  the 
lirst  of  Seiitemlier,  never  varying  more  than 
live  or  six  days  from  Cliese  dates.  They 
occupied  bo.xes  "under  the  eaves,"  and  when 
the  colony  became  too  large  they  would 
build  nests  outside,  or  on  to|i  of  the  boxes. 
They  were  very  early  ri.sers,  often  to  the  di.s- 
turl)an<;e  of  our  own  morning  repose,  and  al- 
though they  also  retired  early,  yet  they  would 
avail  themselves  of  the  very  latest  moment  of 
twilight.  We  think  they  were  ab<iut  the 
busiest  colony  of  living  In-ings  on  the  ejirtli, 
that  had  cmiie  under  our  oliservation.  They 
Were  constantly  "on  the  go,"  except  when  it 
rained  very  hard.  They  appeared  to  be  the 
veriest  slaves  to  their  own  and  their  chililien"s 
stomaclis.  Their  coining  in  the  spring  was 
never  heralded,  and  their  dejiarture  in  early 
antunm  was  without  any  previous  warning. 
We  retired  on  a  spring  evening  KirallDuttus, 
and  we  arose  in  the  morning  .■^indlownl,  and 
inversely  this  was  the  same  in  autumn. 

We  always  fell  sad  at  llieir  departure,  foril 
indicaled  tiiat  the  summer  had  gone  and  that 
winter  was  approaching.  Ihit  during  their  slay 
they  Were  nio.st  industrious  •in.seetcii-s,"  sally- 
ing forth  and  returning  tothciryoungasinucli 
as  twenty  times  within  an  hour,  and  every 
time  freighted  with  an  insect  rep.i.'^t.  for  one 
or  more  ot  their  oll'spring.  On  anotlier  <H'ca- 
sion  we  ociupied  a  house,  an  unused  chimney 
in  whuh  had  been  a  nesting  place  for  the 
"chimney  swallows"  for  many  years.  These 
usually  niade  tlu'ir  ajipearance  a  little  earlier 
than  the  Martins.  On  one  occa-sion  one  of 
their  nests  fell  down  on  a  hearth  near  the  foot 
of  our  bed.  and  wa.s  only  .sepanited  from  us  bv 
a  jiaper  screen.  This  nest  was  made  of  small 
sticks  and  twigs  cemented  together  by  a  kind 
of  gum,  and  lined  inside  witli  a  few  feathers. 
When  it  lell  the  young  birds  made  a  most  dis- 
tressing noise.  We  righleil  the  iie.st  on  the 
hearth  and  put  the  nakeil  young  birds  into  it 
again,  and  the  parents  appreciating  our. services 
at  once  established  I'onlidenlial  relations  with 
us.  anil  continuecl  to  feed  them  in  that  situa- 
tion until  they  were  fully  Hedged,  when  they 
left  us  without  even  s;iying  "good-bye."  Ihit 
that  little  family  of  liv("'  chimney  swallows  was 
about  the  noisesl  "institution"  weever  heard. 
Tin  y  could  "take  down"  the  noisiest  alarm 
clock  thatever  was  maile.  Wealmo.st  n-iwuted 
that  we  had  given  them  domicile  in  ourajiart- 
meiits.  That  little  family  devoured  at  lea-st 
twelve  breakfasts  every  morning  Ix'fore  we  got 
one,  and  if  talking  during  the  meal  facilitate* 
digestion,  they  were  first-class  physiologists. 


52 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[April,     I 


Independent  of  tlie  uses  of  swallows  to  the 
human  family  as  insect  scavengers — the  value 
of  which  may  be  remotely  incalculaljle — they 
have  immediate  commercial  value  in  someeast- 
eni  countries,  the  magnitude  of  which  seems 
almost  incredible.  Nodoulit  many  of  our  read- 
ers may  have  lieard  of,  or  read  of,  the  famous 
"Birds-nest  soup,  "so  popular  among  the  higher 
classes  of  the  Chinese.  These  nests  are  con- 
structed by  a  small  "  clitl'-swallow" — Hirundo 
esrutoita — usually  called,  in  commerce,  "edi- 
ble-birds-nests." There  seem  to  be  various 
opinions,  or  theories,  in  regard  to  the  comjio- 
sition  of  these  nests,  but  they  are  generally 
conceded  to  be  largely  composed — if  not  en- 
tirely— of  a  vegetable  mucilage  collected  and 
secreted  by  these  birds.  Some  have  it  that  a 
delicate,  translucent  seaweed,  is  incorporated 
with  the  gum.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  nests 
are  attached  to  over-hanging  rocks,  or  in  cav- 
erns along  tlie  seacoast  of  China  and  the  east- 
ern islands  ;  and  the  whole  trade  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  Chinese  government,  and  that 
country  is  almost  the  sole  consumer.  There  are 
various  qualities  of  them,  the  best  quality  being 
worth  its  weight  in  silver.  Before  the  birds  have 
lined  their  nests,  or  laid  ^their  eggs,  constitutes 
the  finest  and  best  quality.  After  they  have 
laid  their  eggs  therein  they  are  reckoned 
second  quality,  and  after  they  have  hatched 
their  broods  in  them  tliey  become  third  (piality, 
but  each  of  these  ciualities  are  subdivided  into 
intermediate  qxialities.  After  these  nests  are 
collected  and  dried  in  the  shade  they  are 
packed  in  boxes  of  about  l.'iO  jiounds  each, 
called  a  picid.  The  common  price  in  the  Can- 
ton market  is,  for  the  first  quality,  S:i,5(t0  a 
picul,  something  over  .fiili.OO  a  pound.  The 
second  quality  is  worth  S2,8()0  a  picul,  and  the 
third  .'SI, 00(1  for  the  same.  Dealers  assort  them 
into  intermediate  qualities  and  arrange  the 
scale  of  prices  accordingly.  Java,  Macassar, 
Snluk,  Batavia,  Ceylon,  and  other  eastern 
islands,  all  export,  these  edible  swallows  nests 
to  China.  The  annual  quantity  shipiied  from 
these  idaces  is  24-2,400  i>ounds  and  at  the  above 
prices,  this  very  jieculiar  property  is  worth 
$1,203,.519,  and  all  this  demand  rests  upon  the 
capiicious  wants  of  a  single  people.  The 
business  is  very  hazardous,  but  it  pays  pretty 
well  the  limited  number  engaged  in  it.  We 
have  never  seen  the  liest  (juality,  but  the  in- 
ferior (pialities  we  have  often  handled  while 
they  were  in  possession  of  Judge  Libhart,  of 
Marietta.  They  were  not  a  tempting  morsel 
to  us,  looking  like  a  rough  cup  of  dirty  white 
glue.  Of  course  tlie  poor  people  among  the 
Chinese  cannot  afford  to  consume  them, 
therefore  they  are  exclusively  the  monopoly  of 
tlie  nol)ilily  and  the  ricti. 


FLORAL   SPECULATION. 

Tlie  following,  which  we  have  seen  floating 
annnid  in  the  newsjiajier  press  of  the  country 
"long,  long  ago,"  is  now  going  the  "rounds" 
again,  for  the  dozenth  time,  for  aught  we 
know  to  the  contrary,  and  still  lias  an  interest 
that  will  never  diminish  ;  exhibitingas  it  does 
the  trivial  foundation  upon  which  a  sjxTula- 
tion  may  rest,  its  vast  extent,  and  the  ticti- 
tious  value  that  may  be  attached  to  things 
that  are  almost  totally  destitute  of  anything 
but  a  merely  ordinary  value  at  all. 

It  is  ditlicult  to  perceive  on  what  merit  the 
"Tulip  Mania"  could  have  been  liased,  for  at 
best,  their  season  is  short,  and  tliey  are  desti- 
tute of  fruit,  flavor  or  odor,  and  on"  the  ground 
of  utility,  far  inferior  to  tlie  bulbs  of  onions. 
Had  they  been  jioppies  they  might  have 
yielded  opium,  and  have  been  classed  with 
things  connnercial ;  but  being  merely  Tulips 
they  had  nothing  to  recommend  them,  saving 
their  beauty,  and  even  on  this  score  they  are 
far  inferior  to  many  other  flowering  iilants 
that  enter  into  the  lists  of  the  Floriculturists 
of  the  present  day.  The  antiquity  of  the 
event,  however,  and  its  novelty,  entitle  it  to  a 
permanent  record. 

The  Tulip  Mania. 

Of  all  ttnnr::s  in  the  world  in  whic-li  to  make  a  cor- 
ner, to  excite  a  speculation,  to  be  imflt'il  liy  brokers, 
it  would  seem  as  if  flowers  would  be  the  last.    But 


that  a  W'liole  nation  sliould  srrow  mad  over  bulbs, 
that  the  imlustry  of  a  jjcople  shouhl  be  turned  aside 
from  tlie  pursuit  of  airriculture  to  that  of  liorticul- 
ture,  and  that  the  mania  sliould  spread  from  the 
phlegmatic  Dutchman  to  the  phlegmatic  English- 
man, seems  almost  incredible.  Yetlu  the  beginning 
of  the  seventeenth  century  the  desire  for  tulips  had 
BO  .sjiread  over  Eurojie  that  no  wealthy  man  consid- 
ered his  srardcn  perfect  without  his  rare  collection  of 
tulips.  From  the  aristocracy  the  rage  spread  to  the 
middle  and  the  agricultural  classes,  and  merchants 
and  shop  keepers  began  to  vie  with  each  other  in  the 
rarity  of  tlieir  flowers,  and  in  the  prices  jiaid  for 
them.  A  trader  at  Haarlem  was  actually  known  to 
pay  half  his  fortune  for  a  single  root,  not  from  any 
expectation  of  profit  in  its  propagation,  but  to  keep 
it  in  his  conservatory  for  the  admiration  of  his  ac- 
quaintances. 

The  first  tulip  seen  in  Europe  was  beheld  at  Augs- 
burg, in  Germany,  in  1.5.5fl,  and  was  imported  from 
Constantinople,  where  it  had  long  been  a  favorite. 
Ten  or  eleven  years  after  this  the  plant  was  in  great 
demand  in  Holland  and  Germany.  Wealthy  burtrh- 
ers  of  Amsterdam  sent  direct  to  Constantinople  for 
their  precious  bull's,  and  paid  extravagant  prices  for 
them.  The  first  roots  planted  in  England  were 
brought  from  Vienna  in  the  year  piOO,  and  were  con- 
sidered a  great  rarity.  For  thirty  years  tulips  con- 
tinued to  grow  in  reputation.  One  would  suppose 
there  must  have  been  some  virtue  in  this  flower  that 
made  it  so  valuable  in  the  eyes  of  so  prudent  a  peo- 
ple as  the  Dutch.  Yet  it  lias  neither  the  beauty  nor 
the  perfume  of  the  violet  nor  the  fragrance  of  the 
rose.  It  hardly  possesses  the  beauty  of  the  humble 
sweet  pea.  Its  only  recommendation  is  its  aristo- 
cratic stateliness  ;  and  this  should  hardly  have  com- 
mended it  to  the  only  democratic  republic  on  the 
globe.  But  it  is  by  no  means  the  first  time  that  fash- 
ion has  turned  ugliness  into  beauty  and  rarity  into 
wealth. 

In  16:14  the  race  for  tulips  among  the  Dutch  was  so 
great  that  the  ordinary  industry  of  the  country  was 
neglected,  and  the  whole  peojile  turned  to  the  pro- 
duction of  tulips.  As  this  mania  increased,  prices 
increased  with  it,  until  in  1(m.5  merchants  were 
known  to  have  spent  ^4(1,000  in  the  purchase  of  forty 
tulips.  At  this  time  each  species  was  sold  by  weight. 
A  tulip  of  the  kind  known  as  the  Admiral  Lietkin, 
and  weighing  400  grains,  would  sell  for  .SISOO  ;  the 
Admiral  Von  der  Eycke,  weighing  4.50  grains,  was 
worth  J1.500  ;  a  Viceroy  of  4C0  grains  would  bring 
$1200.  Most  precious  of  all,  a  Semper  Augustus, 
weighing  only  200  grains,  was  thought  to  be  cheap 
at  $2200.  This  last  species  was  much  sought  after, 
and  even  an  inferior  plant  would  readily  sell  for  §800. 
When  this  species  was  first  known,  in  Kjofi,  there 
were  only  two  roots  of  it  in  Holland,  and  those  not  of 
the  best — one  belonging  to  a  dealer  in  Amsterdam, 
and  the  other  was  owned  in  Haarlem.  So  anxious 
were  the  purchasers  for  this  new  variety  that  one 
person  offered  twelve  acres  of  valuable  building  land 
for  the  Haarlem  tulip.  That  of  Amsterdam  was  sold 
for  $1840,  a  new  carriage,  two  gray  horses,  and  a  com- 
plete suit  of  harness.  As  a  specimen  of  the  valueof 
these  bulbs  we  give  the  actual  copy  of  a  bill  of  sale 
for  certain  articles  given  in  exchange  for  one  single 
root  of  the  Viceroy  siiecies  : 

Two  lasts  of  wheat $179 

Two  lasts  of  rye '.i'iS 

Four  fat  oxen 192 

Eiubt  fat  ewme 9ti 

Twelve  f At  sheep 48 

Two  bogsheails  wliie 28 

Four  tous  beer 13 

Two  tons  butter TT 

oue  t  bousautts  pouu'is  clit  ese 4S 

Cue  bed.  conjjtlete 40 

One  suit  clothes 32 

Oue  silver  cup 24 

JIOOO 
Since  that  day  tulips  have  declined  in  value,  but 
wine,  butter,  and  cheese  have  decidedly  advanced. — 
Wrn.  li.  Ifoopcr^  llarjH'T^s  Marjazine, 


YP^Kyi   MORTGAGES. 

Almost  every  one  who  has  had  occasion  to  buy  a 
farm,  and  to  leave  lie  a  portion  of  the  purchase  money 
on  mortgage,  must  have  felt  the  injustice  of  being 
taxed  for  what  he  does  not  really  own.  A  man  buys 
a  I'arm  for  say  §10,000,  and  ^r),(Ki(i  remains  ;  he  pays 
taxes  to  the  full  value  of  the  §10,1100,  liesides  ]iaying 
$300  in  this  State  or  f-lOO  in  the  West  for  the  use  of 
the  §.5,000  remaining  unpaid  on  the  land.  But  the 
Government  not  only  makes  him  jiay  a  tax  on  the 
whole  ten  thousand  dt)llars,  suiiposing  the  farm  to  be 
assessed  at  the  full  value,  but  it  comes  the  second 
time  and  takes  the  holder  of  the  §.5,000  he  has  "  out 
at  interest."  Now  "the  man  who  has  money  at  inter- 
est is  determined  to  make  six  per  cent,  at  least  on  his 
money.  He  must  do  it  to  mak*  it  w'orth  his  wliile  to 
have  money  out  at  all.  And  so  he  looks  about  to  see 
how  he  can  so  fix  things  as  to  make  it  fall  on  the 
holder  of  the  land.  So  he  either  takes  it  into  con- 
sideration in  fixing  the  price  of  the  land  if  lie  is  .sell- 
ing ;  or  if  he  is  a  mere  lender  on  land  he  extracts  a 
heavy  "  bonus,"  or  buys  a  mortgage  at  a  discount  in 
order  to  make  him  whole  ;  and  in  this  way  the  one 
who  is  so  unfortunate  as  to  owe  anything  on  laud, 


pays  taxes  twice  on  his  indebted  portion  to  one  only 
when  it  is  clear  of  all  incumbrances.  This  is  a  curi- 
ous anomaly  in  law.  Usually  it  is  thought  to  be  the 
genius  of  good  laws  to  favor  the  honest,  industrious, 
struggling  debtor ;  hut  in  this  particular  case  of  a 
tax  on  mortgages  this  law  is  made  to  operate  in  just  j| 
the  other  way.  * 

It  seems  remarkable  that  any  tax  should  have  ever 
been  imposed  on  mortgages  under  the  head  of  prop- 
erty. If  there  be  any  tax  on  income,  the  money  de- 
rived from  mortgiiges  might  have  there  a  legitimate 
jjlace.  But  as  property  it  is  clearly  absurd,  as  a 
mortgage  is  simply  the  evidence  of  debt.  It  is  no 
more  property  than  is  a  duly-attested  receipt  for 
money  paid.  It  is  indeed  nothing  but  a  promise  to 
give  property  in  case  certain  stipulations  are  not  car- 
ried out  in  manner  and  form  as  aforfigaid.  It  is  in  no 
sense  property,  yet  as  property  it  is  taxed,  although 
the  property  which  it  covers  is  already  taxed  in  the 
hands  of  the  one  to  whom  it  has  been  deeded. 

It  came  up  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  California 
recently,  by  the  objection  of  some  mortgage-holders 
to  pay  this  sort  of  "  property"  tax,  and  the  court 
decided  in  favor  of  the  holders.  And  now  what  do 
other  States  say,  in  which  this  anomaly  exists? 

The  above,  from  the  editorial  column  of  the 
GermaiHown  Tf'leijraph,  applies  equally  to 
town  houses,  and  other  species  of  real  estate, 
both  in  town  and  country  ;  and,  having  had 
some  experience  in  tliis  and  other  systems  of 
taxation,  we  have  for  twenty-five  or  more 
years  failed  to  see  tlie  right  of  it  in  any  case, 
for  tliis  is  the  jiiYictjce  if  not  the  law  in  Penn- 
sylvania ;  a  practice  which  we  have  often  and 
alwiiys  condemned,  and  which  has  just  as 
earnestly  been  defl'iided,  even  by  some  of 
those  who  were  its  victims.  Mankind  are 
generally— almost  proverbially — lax  in  tax- 
paying,  or  in  making  just  returns  of  what  is 
legally  taxiible ;  and  many  people  either  feel 
themselves  justifiable,  or  excusable,  for  de- 
frauding the  government,  solely  on  the  ground 
that  the  t;ix  is  not  eipiitably,  or  is  excessively, 
levied.  This,  of  course,  is  not  riijJd,  although 
the  law  may  be  wrong;  Init  in  any  event,  hun- 
dreds, thousands,  yes,  tens  of  thousands  of 
dollars  are  annually  lost  to  the  government 
and  the  honest  jiortion  of  the  people,  through 
the  unjust  duplication  of  taxes;  to  the  gov- 
ernment, liecause  knaves  omit  to  make  a  fair 
return,  on  the  ground  that  somebody  else  is 
jiaying  the  tax,  and  to  the  honest  people,  be- 
cau.se  they  are  paying  double  ttixes. 

A  comparatively  poiir  man  owns  two  proper- 
ties worth  one  tliou.sand  dollars  each,  and  sells 
one  to  his  poorer  neighbor,  taking  his  obliga- 
tion for  the  payment  of  thcsaine  ;  and  if  tliey 
arc  both  honest  men,  they  pay  tlie  taxes  on 
two  tliousand  dollars  worth  of  real  estate, 
at  the  usual  rates  of  taxation,  and  the  one 
who  holds  the  obligation  of  the  other  is  taxed 
luldilionally  for  one  thousand  dolkirs  which  he 
is  deemed  to  have  "out  on  interest."  If  any 
law-maker  can  .see  justice  in  this  he  is  gifted 
with  a  higher  degree  of  moral  penetration 
than  we  are — that's  all. 

During  the  reliellion  the  United  States  reve- 
nue laws  were  administered  in  the  same  way, 
although  we  had  it  over  the  antograiih  of  a 
distinguished  member  of  the  Committee  of 
"  Ways  and  Means,"  that  such  was  never  the 
intention  of  the  law.  For  instance — a  marble 
ma.son  was  taxed  six  per  cent,  on  a  finished 
slab  of  marble  ;  a  looking-glass  manufacturer 
was  taxed  the  same  amount  on  a  finished  mir- 
ror; a  hardware  merchant  was  taxed  the 
same  on  locks,  knol)s,  screws,  casters  and 
nails;  a  dealer  in  "cabinet  findings"  was 
taxed  on  veneers,  turned  work,  paints,  oils, 
and  varnishes.  AH  these  taxes  being  added 
to  the  first  cost  of  all  this  material  was  as- 
■sessed  ujion  the  cabinet-maker  who  used  them, 
and  then  he  was  taxed  on  the  value  his  labor 
added  to  the  combining  of  this  material  into  a 
piece  of  cabinet  work,  and  also  on  the  cost  of 
materials  with  tlie  previous  tiixes  included  ; 
and  yet  obtuse  revenue  commissioners  af- 
fected not  to  see  tliat  there  was  a  dujilication, 
if  not  a  triplication,  or  quadruplication  of 
taxes,  members  of  Congress  or  even-handed 
justice  to  the  contniry  notwithstanding. 

Human  beings — unregenerated  human  be- 
ings at  least — are  morally  weak  ;  but  when 
tliey  come  consciously  under  inequitable  taxa- 
tion, and  see  the  mal-application  and  fraudu- 
lent appropriation  of  taxes  after  they  are  as- 


187G.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


53 


sessi'd  ;iii(l  cDllcctcd,  il  is  not  so  siirpi-isiii<,' 
lliat  tiixcs  should  lie  so  loiii;  withheld,  so 
gi-a<l;,'in)i]v  i)iiid,  and  so  rni'ai,'cily  rclin-ncd. 
It  (^ocs  si'iMii,  that  no  matter  how  honest  and 
disinterested  men  nia^'  appear  hel'ore  they  K>'t 
into  otHce,  as  soon  as  tliey  attain  sneh "posi- 
tions they  Ijeeome  indilVereid.  or  are  solely  al>- 
sorbed  in  sehenii's  ot  seit-a.L,'t;randi/.ement,  and 
neLjleet  the  interest  of  the  people  entirely. 
Let  us  have  (quilnblc  taxation,  whether  the 
taxes  are  lnmiKlly  paid  or  not.  O/ict  taxed  is 
enough,  in  a  country  of  equal  laws. 

INSECTS,    AND     INSECT    REMEDIES 
ONE  HUNDRED   YEARS   AGO. 

Fnini  the  U.  .V.  Maijaziiw  <if  ITT'J. 

"Ill  the  fall  of  17711,  I  iiioveil  from  I'liilailelptiia 
hito  Kciil  eiiuiily,  ill  tlie  Di'lawaro  8late,  wlii-ri',  oli- 
Buiviiii;  till'  cli'stnietion  (il'llu'  lly  iiiafle  on  lh<^  wheal, 
it  rcealU'il  to  my  iiu'iiiory  liaviiii,'  read  in  an  F.ii:;lisli 
maij-azine  Bome  Iweiily  or  tliirty  years  siiieo,  a  liUe 
ealainily  in  Franee,  wliich  nearly  liniiiijlit  on  ii 
famine,  and  the  iiiellioil  the  Freiieh  look  to  stop  tlie 
devastation.  .Vceonlinu'ly  last  ^[irini;  I  lu-spolie  my 
year's  consumption  of  tinit  jrrain,  ofa  neii^hhorim; 
farmer,  to  be  ilelivorcd  to  me  inniiediatcly-  aftei' 
harve.st  ;  liiit  I  diil  not  iiv\.  it  until  two  weeks'afier  il. 
was  cut,  in  wllicll  time  1  olisel-ved  the  lly  had  lie!;un 
its  deiuvdalioii.  1  tlii'ii  put  a  hiast  into  llie  oven, 
hut  not  sullieieiit  to  heat  it  for  baUins:;  when  the 
wood  was  liunit  down,  I  rakeil  out  the  eoals 
witli  what  ashes  the  rake  would  brin;;  out  with  them 
and  havim;  previously  prepared  a  tub  of  w  ater,  and 
a  Uu'L'e  mop ;  alternately  I  rinsed  the  mop  and 
swabbed  out  the  reniainiiiij  ashes  until  the  hearth 
was  so  eooled  that  I  eould  bear  my  linger  on  llie 
brieks  nearly  ten  seeoiids. 

Iinnieiliately  I  then  tumbled  in  my  wheat,  and 
bavins;  elosely  stopjied  up  the  oven,  I  let  it  remain 
therein  twenty-four  hours.  This  process,  1  find,  has 
totally  destroyed  the  insect  and  its  emliryo.  Thus, 
while  the  neighborhood  around  nie  are  obliged  to 
eat  their  maggoty,  putrid  grain,  we  have  good  bread, 
as  heretofore. 

At  first  I  was  fearful  of  oue  or  other  of  three  evils 
attending  the  [irocess;  either  it  would  kill  the  vege- 
tation, or  it  would  prevent  fermentation,  or  it  would 
give  the  Hour  a  brown  cast,  and  perhaps  all  three  ; 
but  1  have  the  pleasure  to  tind  neither  is  the  ease, 
for  we  have  as  light  and  as  white  bread  as  formerly, 
aud  on  trying  a  small  handl'ul  of  the  wheat  in  moist 
earth,  I  found  it  take  root  and  sprout  in  aljout  three 
days,  and  I  could  not  perceive  a  grain  miscarry. 

iiy  the  best  accounts  I  could  gather,  the  farmers 
hereabout  have  lost  near  two-thirds  of  their  present 
crops  by  the  lly,  and  what  remains  is  light,  very  dis- 
agreeable to  the  taste,  aud  I  believe  very  unwhole- 
some. A  comniou  sized  oven  will,  at  one  operation, 
kiln-dry  si.\teen  or  eighteen  bushels,  no  matter  how 
full  the  oven  is,  which  my  be  turned  iu  at  the  hole 
left  to  carry  olf  the  smoke  in  heating.  Thus,  one 
oven  in  a  week  will  secure  one  hundred  busliels  from 
the  voracity  of  that  destructive  insect.  Grinding  it 
into  Hour  inuuediately  after  reaping,  will  answer  the 
same  end  ;  but  this  is  an  advantage  tliat  but  few  can 
obtain,  aud  if  the  whole  could,  iihe  mills  must  lay 
idle  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

Perusing  the  London  iliKjar.ine  for  the  year  1773, 
since  I  wrote  the  above,  in  the  month  of  May  for  that 
year,  I  found  the  following  experiments,  addresse  I  to 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Nockli/  ;  and  as  I  appridiend 
the  rc-i>ublication  may  be  of  great  utility,  I  shall  be 
mucli  pleased  to  see  it  in  your  useful  magazine. 

Benjamin  JIiiilin. 

Tlie  above  writer  baloii<;ed  to  an  old  and 
distingnishud  Pennsylvania  lainily,  tiiid  was 
no  doubt  a  brotlier  of  TlloMAs  MlFFLIX,  a 
Revolutionary  ollicer,  and  one  of  the  early 
governors  of  the  State,  under  the  Constitu- 
tion ;  and  the  insect  to  wliich  he  alludes  ini- 
der  the  name  of  the  "Fly"  was  no  donlit,  a 
species  of  "weevil,"  for  there  is  no  ////tliat  we 
wot  of,  the  maggots  of  which  could  do  any 
damagt^  to  wheat  after  it  had  ripened.  The 
"  midge"  {6Vfi(/o)/(//i(t  (ri'Si'c)')  after  the  larvte 
litis  matured,  goes  into  the  earth,  and  ellects 
its  transfoniiation  there.  Tliis  insect  tlieu 
nuist  have  been  tlie  black  or  "granary 
weevil"  {Sitdjihilus  ijrannrius)  which  infests 
corn,  wheat  and  otlier  grains.  The  tulult  fe- 
male deposits  its  eggs  on  ripe  grain,  from 
spring  to  fall,  and  the.  larvte  lives  and  under- 
goes its  tninsformations  within  the  kernel. 
We  htive  often  detected  it  on  the  hetids  or 
ears  of  ripe  wheat  in  tlu'  lield  ;  and  wlien  the 
eggs  are  hatched  the  young  Uiri-fc  bore  into 
the  floury  parti  of  the  grains  of  wheat  and 
corn,  if  indeed  the  mother  does  not  lirst  punc- 
ture the  seed  before  she  deposits  her  eggs. 
We  have  also  seen  teiis  of  thousands  of  tliese 


weevils  in  granaries,  corni-ribs  and  old  barns, 
and  we  happen  to  know  that  they  luivea  very 
ininrious  elTect  upon  the  ipiality  of  tiie 
wheat,  ;uid  the  Hour  that  is  made  from  it. 

Now,  adniilting  thtit  the  foregoing  article 
has  referenct^  to  the  gninary  weevil,  we  do 
not  think  any  bidter  plan  has  been  developed 
for  its  destruction  during  the  entire  century 
than  that  which  w;is  prtiiticed  one  hundred 
years  ago,  by  Mr.  Milllin,  and  which  had  been 
known  in  France  a  (juarter  of  a  century  be- 
fore. For  this  reason  we  reproduce  it  here, 
;uid  also  to  show  the  antiquity  of  agri<adtural 
entomology,  and  illustrates  i\w  jirogress  wc; 
are  making  in  that  direi-tion.  Kiln-drying 
has  often  been  reconnnended  for  infeste<l 
grains,  nuts  and  seeds,  and  wlieie  it  has  been 
skillfully  done,  it  has  been  successful.  It  is 
triU',  this  process  may  be  a  slow  on(f,  but  if  it 
is  ;i  sure  one  it  is  worth  trying.  I'erliaps  we 
have  too  little  veneration  for  old  things,  only 
liccausi:  they  ;irc  old.  We  want  in  some  ipiick 
w;iy  to  "do.s(i"  insects,  and  then  let  it  work 
its  own  way,  whilst  we  turn  our  atlention  to 
some  other  speculation  thtit  will  "n;iy" 
better.  The  article  tdluded  to  in  Mr.  M.'s 
closing  iiatagraph,  we  reserve  for  another 
occasion,  fof,  during  the  yetir,  wi;  intend  to 
placid  ISTii  and  1770  in  contrast  where  we 
think  it  uaii  be  useful. — Eu. 


OLD  BUFO. 


We  entertttin  a  feeling  of  iirofound  regard 
for  the  common  toad  (  Hafiidiairiranii)  anil  also 
for  those  who  condescend  to  say  a  kind  word 
in  his  favor.  And  yet,  it  is  in  reality  no  act 
of  co)i(^,spc)i,sJo)i  to  do  so,  but  an  impenitive 
duty  ;  for,  of  all  tlu!  ho]i|)iiig  or  creeping 
things  that  have  a  local  haliitalion  anioiig  us, 
there  is  none  more  useful  than  the  toad  ;  and 
yet  he  is  almost  universally  despised,  if  not 
"hated  and  maltreated,  lie  does  no  harm  what- 
ever, but  on  the  contrary,  a  great  deal  of 
good,  and  consequiMitly  he  is  always  a  wel- 
come guest  to  our  domicile  and  garden.  In- 
deed, they  seem  to  know  that  they  are  wel- 
come and  often  conduct  their  scavengering 
Udiors  in  our  iireseui^e,  seemingly  to  show 
whiit  they  arc  capable  of  doing.  We  know 
not  how  long  a  toad  will  survive,  but  it  seems 
that  we  have  recognized  the  same  old  rusty- 
coated  blinkers  for  a  succession  of  seasons. 
They  have  the  most  capacious  mouths  and 
stomachs  of  any  animals  of  their  size  and 
weight,  and  aiipetitcs  to  correspond.  We  are 
satisfied  that  they  answer  the  end  for  which 
they  have  been  permitted  to  exist,  far  nearer 
thau  many  of  the  human  species. 

Toads. 

The  toad  is  a  most  useful  thing  in  a  garden.  I 
had  a  plant  dreailfully  infested  with  wood-lice,  almost 
destroyed  by  them,  and  a  toad  located  himself  by  as 
its  protector,  and  to  be  ready  in  an  emergency  he 
made  in  the  mould  a  hole  all  but  tleej)  enough  to  hide 
himself  in,  but  not  deep  eiiouirh  to  pruvent  his  liav- 
iiig  a  thorough  good  view  of  the  plant ;  and  wlicn 
wood-louse,  beetle,  or  anything  of  the  kind  appeared 
near  him  or  the  plant,  out  he  came  and  jiounced 
ujion  it — "  You  arc  mine  !"  This  was  wholly  his 
work.  I  only  watched  him  sometimes,  greatly 
l)leased  at  his  success.  Another  time  as  I  was  walk- 
ing alom;  a  path  in  the  garden  I  saw  the  load  ap- 
proaching ;  the  pace  was  (piii-k  for  a  toad,  but  I  soon 
saw  what  Ik-  was  after.  Just  on  lieforc  him  was  a 
beetle  which  I  expected  to  see  caught,  liut  ere  there 
was  apparently  time  for  them  to  meet,  the  beetle  had 
disappeared,  so  quickly  that  my  eye  was  not  i|uiek 
enough  to  .sec  it  taken,  but  no  doubt  it  was  in  the 
load's  mouth,  as  i  heard  a  click  that  told  the  talc  of 
eapturt;.  Two  other  toads  seem  to  havis  concerted 
between  themselves  how  to  act  one  evening  so  as  to 
take  a  border  regularly,  and  in  order  to  do  their 
work  well  it  appeared  to  tie  arranired  that  one  of 
them  should  go  on  the  liorder  and  this  other  stay  out- 
side, having  the  box  cd^'ing  between  tlicni  ;  and  so 
they  did  their  work  of  clcaring,"keepiiig just  opposite 
the  oni' to  the  other,  as  I  was  watching  them  from 
the  window  alKive.  1  wish  we  could  all  act  with 
good  feeling  towards  such  useful  creatures.  They 
do  much  good  and  no  harm,  but  I  have  every  reason 
to  believe  they  are  sometimes  treated  most  cruelly. — 
I{.  T.  in  Gardener's  Chronicle. 


To  CoiJi!ESPONDENT8.— E.  J.  D.'s  poetical 
elfusions  will  ai)pear  in  season. 


OLD  AND  NEW   FLOWERS. 

I  noticed  an  article  in  your  paper  last  fall 
speaking  of  tlie  deterioration  of  our  old- 
fashioned  dowel's,  and  of  the  inferiority  of  the 
new  Hybrid  ro.ses,  when  conipared  with  the 
old  "  llnndred  leaf"  "  "^'ork  ;ind  I.anca.ster," 
Cabbage  roses  and  others.  I  will  agree  with 
(he  writer  as  regards  perfume,  but  not  its  re- 
gtirds  form  and  coloring.  A  gentleman  re- 
siding in  < 'assvillc  (.Mr.  I.  Hamngarliier)  lias 
ro.ses  in  his  garden  which  usually  bloom  pro- 
fusely from  .lime  till  ".lai'k  Frost"  putsan  iiii- 
tiiiiely  end  to  their  loveliness,  and  tin-  quality 
of  the  flowers  will  bear  comparison  with  any  of 
their  kind.  I  do  not  remember  Just  how  many 
varieties  he  liti.s,  but  ipiite  a  number,  and  most 
of  them  he  has  budded  himself.  Fine  Hybrid 
roses  are  the  "  rule  "  nitluT  tliiiii  the  "excep- 
tion "  in  Lancaster,  (iiant county.  I  noticed 
very  fine  ones  there  this  summer. 

Xow,  as  regards  the  old-fashioned  flowers, 
such  as  I'iiiks,  I'Idox  Druinmondii,  Aslein, 
I'etunias,  and  la.st  but  not  least,  Verbena.s,  I 
cannot,  so  far  as  my  ex|  erieiice  gotss,  agree 
with  the  before-mentioned  writer.  In  lH7:{-7-t 
my  Asters  were  almo.st  eipial  to  Dahlias.  TIiIh 
year  they  were  not  nearly  so  line,  but  the  fault 
W'as  my  own.  1  gave  them  a  shady  location 
and  but  little  ctire,  which  they  resented  by 
giving  nic  small  stunted  (lowers.  My  I'Idox 
were  iicrfeetly  betiutiful.  I  counted  over  forty 
distinct  varieties,  and  the  flowers  were  very 
large  and  the  colors  brilliant.  My  I'etuniiiS 
were  not  .so  large  nor  the  colors  as  fme  as 
usutil;  my  own  fault  again,  for  this  most  of 
them  were  .self-sown.  My  I'ortulaca,  or  Hose- 
Moss,  was  the  linest  I  ever  .saw.  Three  years 
siiK*  I  bought  some  doujile  .Mo.ss  .seed  from 
.lames  V^ick,  florist;  the  first  season  there  was 
but  one  kind,  which  proved  to  be  double 
flowers— they  wei-e  red;  till  of  the  I'ink,  M,a- 
genta,  Yellow  and  White,  were  single.  The 
next  year  iu  the  same  Im'iI,  .s'(/"-.-.oicyi,  I  found 
some  fines  double  white  flowers,  and  one  root 
of  double  yellow.  This  year  almost  every  root 
in  the  bed  bore  double  flowers— yellow,  white, 
and  three  or  four  shades  of  red,  and  the  flowers 
so  large  that  they  looked  like  roses,  the  half- 
blown  buds  being  eipially  as  large  as  rose  buds. 

My  Verbena  bed  was  very  line;  there  were 
three  or  four  shades  of  red,  three  or  four  of 
ytdlow,  some  pure  white,  some  variegated. 
ThelH'd  and  every  inch  of  the  groimcl  was  per- 
fectly covered  with  a  dense  nia.ss  of  foliage  and 
flowers,  some  of  the  branches  riinning  out 
three  or  four  feet  from  the  main  stalk,  taking 
root  at  each  Joint  and  sending  up  new  branches 
of  flowers.  My  A'erbenas  commenced  bloom- 
ing early  and  bloomed  till  long  after  the  frost 
had  killed  all  the  other  llowers,  except  the 
Pausies. 

I  must  speak  a  word  in  favor  of  the  Tropeo- 
lum  Mtijns,  as  a  rnnning  vine.  Mine  were 
planted  in  front  of  a  high  porch  for  the  pur- 
])ose  of  giving  shade  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  sun  would  shine  directly  on  llitit  side  of 
the  house.  My  plants  cominencecl  blooming 
when  less  than'  two  feet  high,  and  I  was  quite 
.sorry  to  see  them  do  .so,  feeling  ipiite  sure  that 
there  would  be  no  vines  to  serve  as  a  screen 
from  the  sun  this  summer;  but  I  was  mistaken; 
they  did  run,  soon  reaching  the  top  of  the 
l)orch  and  then  riuining  over  the  roof  quite  a 
disttince,  the  whole  length  of  the  vines  U-in^ 
lifteeii  feet  and  blossoming  coii.stantly,  so  thai 
the  front  of  the  vines  were  one  continuoiia 
nia.ss  of  flowers.  .Some  of  the  largest  in  size 
and  flnest  in  cidor  were  along  the  top  of  the 
porch,  covering  t he  eave-trough.  Over  tmother 
porch  I  had  Madeira  vines.  They  are  U-autiful 
with  their  thick  waxen  glossy  leaves,  and  so 
cletin,  no  worms  or  insects  about  them.  If 
any  one  wants  vines  with  but  little  trouble  get 
a  bulb  of  Madeira  vine  and  take  ptiins  to  give 
it  a  rich  soil,  ;uid  the  next  year  you  can  cover 
the  whole  house  with  vines  if  you  wish,  such 
ipiantities  of  bulbs  will  you  liavi'  in  the  fall. — 
Ju.sciiliinc  C.  Linuj,  6'ra»(  m.,  iri.f.,  Gcr.  Tel. 
^ 

TnECENTEXNiAi-ExiiiniTioNwill  open  on 
the  Kith  of  next  month.  It  will  be  the  linest  dis- 
play in  buildings  and  industrial  products  ever 
seeu  in  oue  collection,  and  will  be  worthsccing. 


54 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[April, 


THRUSHES. 

"  When  fair  Aurora  blushes, 

Ami  ekiee  are  serene  and  clear, 
The  Linnets,  Larks  and  Thrushes 
With  music  delight  the  ear." 

The  TuKDiD^E,  or  Thrush  family,  is  a  pretty 
numerous  one,  and  includes  some  genera  and 
species  that  have  never  received  the  distinc- 
tive name  of  "  Thrushes  ;"  therefore,  to  apply 
the  term  lltnisli,  in  a  general  sense,  to  a  bird, 
may  mean  a  Robin,  a  Bluebird,  a  Kuby- 
crowned  Wren,  or  a  Water  Ouzel,  as  well  as' 
the  true  Thrush  ;  and  formerly  the  Catbird 
and  the  Mockingbird  belonged  to  the  same 
family,  and,  judging  by  similarity  of  form 
and  song,  they  seem  to  be  nearer  allied  to  the 
family  of  Thrushes  than  some  of  those  inclu- 
ded at  jjresent  in  it. 

The  term  Tnrdus,  from  whence  the  family 
name  of  these  birds  is  derived,  literally  means 
a  thn(sh;  but  the  common  name  of  Thrush  is 
not  applied  to  all,  even  in  the  genus  Tunhis, 
of  which  the  common  robin  is  an  example. 
We  have  about  twenty  species  belonging  to  the 
Thrtish  family  in  the  United  States,  (eight  of 
which  belong  to  Lancaster  county,)  and  nine 
of  these  have  received  tfie  common  name  of 
Thrush.  All  these  birds  are  good  "iusectors," 
and  laws  ought  to  exist,  and  be  enforced  at  all 
times,  against  their  destruction.  Some  of 
these  bii  ds,  especially  when  young,  are  es- 
teemed good  game  birds,  and  this  is  particu- 
larly the  case  with  the  Robins.  (Planesticus 
mujrutorius.  )  Great  bundles  of  these  birds 
may  often  be  seen  garnishing  the 
doors  and  windows  of  fashionable 
restaurants,  notwithstanding  the  wise 
laws  enacted  by  our  Legislatures  for 
their  protection  and  preservation. 
This  bird  is  an  almost  universal  favo- 
rite, and  it  is  beginning  to  increase 
very  rapidly,  and  is  re-establishing  its 
confidential  relations  with  the  human 
family,  where  these  laws  are  re- 
spected. 

The  Thrushes  sometimes  migrate 
northward  ju'ematurely,  and  we  have 
on  several  occasions  seen  great  Hocks 
of  Wilson's  Thrush  [Txirdus  fusces- 
cciis)  overtaken  by  a  "  cold  snap  "  in 
the  month  of  March,  and  perish  by 
hundreds.  When  rearing  their  young, 
they  devour  enormous  quantities  of 
insects  and  their  lariw,  daily,  al- 
though litter  in  the  season  they  be- 
come voracious  "  berryers,"  and  this 
fact  is  considered  sufficient  in  the  minds  of 
some  to  engage  in  their  destruction. 

The  songs  of  these  birds  are  varied  and  cheer- 
ful, and  the  first  liird-music  that  we  became 
familiar  with  in  the  days  of  our  youth,  and  in 
after  years  we  recall  them  with  feelings  of 
pleasure,  and  when  we  hear  them  we  are  irre- 
sistibly carried  back  in  memory  to 
"The  light  of  other  days." 


Although  free  growers,  they  do  not  require 
evere  pruning.  The  old  "four-seasons"  rose 
of  the  gardens  is  a  type  of  its  varieties. 

S.  ceutifoHa,  the  hundred-leaved,  Provence 
or  cabbage  rose,  is  a  native  of  the  Eastern 
Caucasus.  The  sepals  or  calyx  leaves  in  this 
species  are  not  reflexed  ;  the  flowers  are  mostly 
globular  in  form,  with  large  petals,  very 
double,  and  somewhat  drooping,  the  flower 
stems  not  being  as  strong  as  in  most  of  the 
other  species  ;  they  are  generally  exquisitely 
fragrant.  Among  the  many  varieties  ot  this 
species  is  a  section  of  very  dwarf  growth  and 
free  habit  of  blooming.  This  species  has  been 
largely  hybridized  with  other  species,  and  a 
very  "large  number  of  garden  varieties  pro- 
duced. According  as  to  wliat  they  were 
crossed  with  does  their  habit  of  growth  take 
its  character  ;  some  are  very  vigorous,  and 
should  be  pruned  but  little  ;  others  are  more 
delicate  in  growth,  and  require  close  pruning. 
They  all  require  rich  soil  and  high  cultivation. 
The  old  cabbage-rose  of  our  grandmothers' 
gardens  and  the  moss-rose  belong  to  this  sec- 
tion. 

R.  galUra,  the  French  or  officinal  rose,  is  a 
native  of  France,  Italy  and  Caucasus.  This 
rose  is  of  very  robust  growth  and  erect  habit. 
The  flowers  are  generally  high-colored,  large, 
very  double,  and  borne  on  stiff,  erect  foot- 
stalks, hut  do  not  have  the  fragrance  of  the 
hundred-leaved  rose  ;  but  this  is  increased  by 
drying,  while  that  of  the  damask  rose  is  al- 
most destroyed  in  that  process.     Nearly  all  of 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  HARDY  ROSES. 

There  are  over  two  hundred  species  of  the 
rose  described  in  botanical  works,  but  our  al- 
most innumerable  garden  varieties  have  been 
obtained  from  only  a  dozen  or  fifteen  species, 
which,  by  cultivation,  by  hybridizing  and 
croSs-breeding,  have  produced  almost  endless 
shades  of  color  and  habit  of  growth.  As  much 
confusion  exists  in  the  nurserymen's  cata- 
logues as  to  their  proper  classification,  we  will 
notice  some  of  the  leading  species  from  which 
our  garden  varieties  have  originated,  giving 
their  most  striking  peculiarities.  This  will 
enable  amateur  growers  to  determine  which  is 
the  most  proper  of  the  different  modes  of  cul- 
tivation, which  we  shall  describe,  to  apply  to 
the  varieties  they  may  grow. 

Rosa  daniaiicena,  the  Damascus  or  damask 
rose,  is  of  Syrian  origin.  All  of  this  tribe  have 
rough  spiny  shoots,  leather-like  leaves,  and 
long  reflexed  sepals  or  calyx  leaves.  They 
have  a  robust  haliit  of  growth  and  large 
flowers,  mostly  in  the  lighter  shades  of  red. 
It  is  from  this  species  and  its  varieties, 
crossed  with  others,  that  the  so-called  hybrid 
perpetual  or  remontant  roses  were  derived. 


the  hardy  variegated  roses  are  derived  from 
this  species.  All  the  varieties  from  this  siie- 
cies  require  high  cultivation  and  liberal  prun- 
ing. 

R.  spwosissimn.,  the  Scotch  rose,  is  a  native 
of  Scotland,  Caucasus,  and  many  parts  of 
Europe.  It  is  a  dwarf,  compact-growing 
bush,  with  creeping  roots,  and  very  spiny,  and 
the  double-flowering  varieties  were  formerly 
much  grown  in  our  gardens,  but  are  now  sel- 
dom if  ever  seen,  it  having  gone  out  of  fashion, 
which  is  to  be  regretted,  as  it  came  into  bloom 
very  early  in  the  season,  and  was  exceedingly 
fragrant,  with  flowers  rather  small,  but 
globular  and  very  double.  It  requires  very 
little  pruning,  and  will  thrive  in  poor,  sandy 
soil  where  other  roses  will  not. 

R.  alba,  the  white  rose,  is  a  native  of  the 
central  i>arts  of  Europe,  and  is  also  found  in 
Cochin  China.  The  foliage  of  this  species  has 
a  glaucous  appearance,  as  though  covered 
with  a  fine  gray  powder  ;  the  shoots  have 
scarcely  any  spines.  There  are  no  high- 
colored  varieties  of  this  species.  They  are 
mostly  of  moderate  growth,  and  require  rather 
close  pruning. 

R.  ruhiginosa  is  the  sweet-brier  rose,  of 
which  there  are  several  doul)le  varieties,  some 
of  which  have  quite  high-colored  flowers. 

R.  hitca  is  the  yellow  rose  of  the  north  of 
Italy  ;  of  tliis  there  are  three  double  varieties. 
The  well-known  Harrison's  yellow  is  one  of 
these,  and  is  easily  grown.  The  Persian  yel- 
low requires  to  be  budded  on  a  sweet-brier  or  | 
Manettii  stock  to  succeed  well.  It  does  best 
in  a  rather  moist,  poor  soil,  and  should  not  be 
much  pruned.  There  is  another  double  yellow  . 


rose,  from  Syria  or  the  Levant,  known  as  R. 
md})hurca,  which  is  scarcely  worth  growing,  as 
it  seldom  opens  its  buds. 

R.  alpinu  is  the  BoursaiUt  rose  of  our  gar- 
dens ;  it  is  a  native  of  the  Alps  and  the  south 
of  France.  It  is  a  sort  of  half-nmning  rose, 
with  long,  flexible  red  shoots,  and  is  well 
adapted  for  training  against  fences  and  out- 
buildings. It  will  grow  in  almost  any  soil, 
and  re()uires  but  little  pruning  except  short- 
ening back  a  little. 

R.  ruhifvUa  is  otir  well-known  prairie  rose. 
Its  varieties  are  all  strong  growers,  but  should 
be  but  moderately  pruned. 

R.  arvenxis,  the  Ayrshire  rose,  is  a  climbing 
rose  of  rapid  growth,  very  hardy,  and  will  do 
well  where  other  roses  will  scarcely  grow. 
The  varieties  of  this  species  are  well  adapted 
for  covering  yiaXls,  arbors  and  similar  struc- 
tures. 

From  these  different  species,  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  with  each  other,  have  originated  va- 
rious classes  of  hybrids,  which  have  been 
classified  as  follows : 

Hjibrid  Prorence  Roses. — These  are  derived 
from  the  Provence  and  French  roses.  Gen- 
erally they  produce  large,  well-formed  and 
very  fragrant  flowers,  and  are  strong  growers  ; 
hence  they  are  very  suitable  for  growing  on 
poles  or  pillars.  They  only  produce  flowers 
once  in  the  season.  They  are  of  easy  cultiu'e, 
and  should  be  but  moderately  pruned. 

Hybrid  China  Roses. — These  are  derived 
from  the  Provence  and  French  roses,  crossed 
with  the  China,  noisette  and  tea- 
scented  roses,  but  in  so  doing  have 
lost  the  ever-blooming  character  of 
the  last.  They  are  very  vigorous 
growers,  and  make  suiierb  pillar 
roses,  having  flowers  of  large  size, 
fine  form,  very  full,  and  of  exquisite 
coloring.  They  require  to  be  weU 
thinned  otit  in  pruning. 

Hybrid  Bourbon  Roses. — These  are 
obtained  from  the  Provence  and 
French  roses,  crossed  with  the  Bour- 
bon rose  instead  of  the  China  or  tea- 
scented.  They  are  remarkable  for 
the  exquisite  form  of  the  flowers, 
some  of  which  are  elegantly  cup- 
shaped,  and  have  greater  substance 
of  petals  than  the  hybrid  China. 
They  are  also  more  abundant  bloom- 
ers ;  the  foliage,  too,  is  heavier  and 
stronger.  They  require  to  be  very 
closely  pruned. 
Hybrid  Perpetimls,  or  Remontcmts. — These 
are  derived  from  all  sorts  of  crossing  and  re- 
crossing,  until  it  is  diflicult  to  tell  definitely 
from  what  particular  species  they  were  de- 
rived. It  is  a  misnomer  to  call  them  perpetu- 
als  in  this  country,  for  unless  the  parentage 
of  the  damask  or  four-seasons  rose  predomi- 
nates in  them,  they  do  not  produce  flowers 
more  than  once  a  year.  When  that  parentage 
predominates  they  will  produce  flowers  a  sec- 
ond time  toward  the  autumn.  Owing  to  their 
mixed  parentage,  they  vary  much  ui  regard  to 
hardiness,  habit  of  growth,  mode  of  flowering 
and  requirements  of  cultivation.  Some  re- 
quire close  pruning,  and  othors  should  be 
pruned  but  slightly. 

Damask  perpetuals  have  a  large  infusion  of 
parentage  from  the  China  rose.  They  are  of 
moderate  growth,  very  fragrant,  of  a  very 
bushy  habit,  and  do  better  when  grafted  than 
when  on  their  own  roots.  They  require  a 
very  rich,  rather  stiff  soil  and  close  in'uning. 
Perpetual  Scotch  roses  are  hybrids  between 
the  Scotch  rose  and  the  damask  perpetuals. 
Only  two  or  three  really  good  sorts  have  been 
produced  ;  these  commence  blooming  early  in 
the  season,  and  under  proper  treatment  will 
produce  flowers  at  intervals  until  October. 

Perpetual  moss-roses  are  derived  from  the 
Provence  moss-roses  crossed  with  the  four- 
seasons  rose.  They  are  but  poor  growers,  and 
require  very  high  cultivation,  rich  soil  and  se- 
vere pruning  to  make  them  succeed  well. 

Almost  ail  the  roses  imported  into  this  coun- 
try from  Europe  are  budded  on  the  sweet- 
brier  or  Manettii  stock,  as  this  gives  them  a 
stronger  growth.     What  are  called  standards 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


55 


arc  grattwl  on  stacks  four  totivi^  feet  liigli,  Imt 
they  are  jierfeetly  worlliless  in  this  flimate, 
and  it  is  only  tlu'owini;  money  away  to  liny 
them,  as  the  liot  sun  in  summer  and  tlic  dry, 
cold  winds  of  our  winters  kill  the  slock  in  a 
year  or  two.  What  are  called  dwarfs,  ortliose 
budded  within  three  to  .si.x  implies  of  the 
ground,  do  better,  but  as  they  are  continually 
throwing  up  suckers  from  tiie  stock,  tliey  re- 
quire constant  attention  to  cut  them  out,  for 
if  left  to  grow,  they  so  impoverisli  the  top  as  to 
destroy  it.  Wo  therefore  reconiincud  the 
growing  only  of  such  sorts  as  can  be  grown  ou 
their  own  roots;  these  all  our  leading  nur- 
serymen can  furnish,  as  in  this  country  they 
are  now  sehUim  grown  in  any  other  way. 

Koses  are  all  gross  feeders,  and  rei|niro  a 
liberal  supply  of  manure,  which,  however, 
should  be  well  root<'d  liefore  being  dug  in.  It 
should  not  be  dug  in  with  a  spade,  as  the  roots 
are  thereby  cut  otf,  and  nuii-h  injury  thusdoue 
to  the  iilant ;  it  should  therefore  be  done  with 
a  spadiug-fork.  Two  to  three  incthes  of 
mulching  maniu-j  should  be  laid  on  the  sur- 
face as  far  as  the  roots  extend  ;  for  the  rose 
delights  in  a  cool,  moist  soil,  loams  suiting  it 
best.  They  should  be  pruned  iu  February  or 
early  in  March  every  year.  AVIkmi  the  shoots 
are  very  strong  prune  tliem  back  one-fourth  or 
one-third  their  length  ;  if  not  strong,  cut 
them  back  toone-half  their  length.  The  buds 
on  these  shoots  will  then  push  and  jiroduce 
blooms.  At  the  next  season  these  secondary 
shoots  should  be  cut  back  to  two  or  three 
buds,  when  they  will  again  produce  blooming 
shoocs.  The  third  season,  the  shoot  which 
has  thus  produced  two  crops  of  (lowers  should 
be  cut  clean  out  close  to  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  as  it  will  seldom  produce  good  flowers 
tlie  third  year.  By  proper  attention  to  ma- 
nuring, and  thus  encouraging  strong  new 
growth,  and  i)runing  a.s  thus  directed,  ro.se- 
Ijushes  can  be  grown  to  a  large  size,  and  made 
to  produce  fine  llowers  for  tifleen  or  twenty 
year.s. 

Rosesare  much  troubled  with  what  are  known 
as  the  rose-bug,  the  rose-slug,  and  aphides,  both 
green  and  black.  To  destroy  the  Hrst,  syringe 
the  plants  with  a  solution  of  whale-oil  soap. 
The  slug  destroys  the  under  side  of  the  leaf, 
and  can  be  destroyed  by  dredging  the  under 
side  of  the  leaves  with  powdered  white  helle- 
hore,'  taking  care  not  to  inhale  it,  as  it  pro- 
duces convulsive  sneezing.  The  aphides  are 
readily  destroyed  by  dipping  the  ends  of  the 
shoots  iu  strong  tobacco-water,  to  which  suf- 
ficient soft  soap  has  been  added  to  make  it 
slightly  glutinous. 

The  best  season  for  transplanting  roses,  if 
from  the  open  ground,  is  in  October,  but  they 
will  succeed  it  planted  very  early  in  the 
spring.  When  transi>lanted  from  pots,  the 
spring  is  the  best  time  to  do  it ;  if  done  in  the 
autumn  they  are  liable  to  be  thrown  out  of 
the  ground. 

In  making  a  selection  of  sorts  from  the  re- 
montant class,  always  choose  the  strong-grow- 
ing sorts,  or  those  having  a  strong  infusion  of 
the  four-seascms  stock,  as  they  are  more  likely 
to  produce  tlowei'S  in  the  autunm,  and  the 
tlowers  are  generally  larger  and  liner  than  the 
other  hybrids.  Avoid  those  having  a  large 
predominance  of  t'hina  rose  stock,  as  they  are 
genei'ally  feeble  growers,  liable  to  mildew,  and 
entirely  lose  their  ever-blooming  character 
when  hybridized  with  other  species. 


CULTURE  OF  ASPARAGUS. 

Very  much  has  been  written  on  this  svdjject, 
and  a  great  deal  has  appeared  even  in  our  own 
columns,  but  with  each  recurring  year  there 
Seems  to  be  something  to  learn  and  to  nnleani, 
and  hence  though  we  were  to  write  an  article 
on  it  every  year,  in  the  light  of  continued  ex- 
perience, there  would  iirobably  he  something 
new  to  be  told  each  time. 

So  far  as  the  farm-culture  of  asparagus  is 
concerned,  there  seems  to  be  little  new  to  be 
told;  and  yet  one  of  the  practices  which  the 
plow  cultivators  hav(^  foHn<l  necessary  toi)rac- 
tice — of  necessity  and  not  because  it  was 
thought  to  be  absolutely  the  best — seems  com- 


ing to  be  considered  a  good  thing  under  any 
circmnstauees. 

It  is  the  general  practice  in  lield-cultiire  to 
set  the  plaids  six,  eight,  or  even  more  inches 
deep,  and  more  in  light  .soils.  This  was  Tiot 
thought  to  be  any  gre;it  beuelit,  but  because 
the  grouuil  could  then  be  easily  plowed  and 
cultivali'd  iu  the  spring.  After  theasparagus 
was  lit  to  (uit  in  the  spring,  no  farther  culture 
was  attempted.  Wi'eds  and  grass  may  grow, 
hut  when  tln^  fallcomesaud  the  lopsdicaway, 
or  the  spring  approa(^hes,  tl.(^  wholi!  can  be 
plowe(I  over,  harrowed  and  cleaned,  the  whole 
operation  being  ciiuducled  ;diove  the  level  of 
the  roots,  which  thus  has  the  advantage  ofa 
light  soil  to  push  through  as  wi'U  as  a  tho- 
oughly  clean  surface  to  begin  the  year  with,  at 
least.  Recent  experiments  which  wehaveseen 
referred  to  recently,  both  in  this  country  and 
abroad,  seem  to  show  that  this  ilejith  of  earlh 
over  the  roots  is  a  great  advantage;  (hat  the 
(inestaud  sweetest  asjiaragns  results  from  Ihe 
plant  having  to  push  its  way  from  a  good  depth 
ui)  to  the  surface;  and  it  is  reconunended  iu 
some  instances  even  to  have  the  plants  as 
much  as  a  couple  of  feet  below.  This  seems  so 
utterly  iiu:onsisteut  with  all  we  know  of  food- 
culture,  (for  most  l)lants  as  a  rule  like  to  have 
their  roots  near  the  surface  of  the  ground)  that 
weri'  not  the  practice  endorsed  by  some  of  the 
(irst  names  in  horttcnitnral  lilerature,  we 
should  hesit.ate  to  refer  (o  it.  IJut  tlit^  facts  and 
figures  undiuditedly  prove  that  where  the  roots 
are  some  distance  below  th(^  surface  the  very 
(iuest  asparagus  has  been  the  result. 

But,  and  here  the  greatest  cauticm  is  neeiled 
to  note  the  full  force  of  language,  tlii^  i)lants 
are  not  set  deeply  in  the  griuuid.  They  are 
planted  very  near  the  surface  in  tlu^  tirst  in- 
stance, and  the  depth  is  gained  by  depositing 
on  the  surf.ace.  Though  the  asparagus  is  a 
seaside  plant  and  therefore  supposed  to  be  fond 
of  water,  it  is  found  by  experience  that  it  loves 
rather  dry  gromid,  or  rather  situations  where 
the  water  does  not  lie  long  before  it  (lasses 
away;  and  this  rather  dry  condition  of  things 
is  secured  by  jilanting  pretty  near  the  surface. 
Where  this  naturally  dry  condition  of  things 
cannot  be  olitained  in  any  other  way,  ditches 
are  dug  between  the  beds  and  the  soil  from 
them  thrown  on  to  the  beds,  so  as  in  this  way 
to  drain  off  the  water  and  make  the  whole 
thing  dry.  These  ditches  an^  annuaily  dug 
out  and  the  accumulations  thrown  over  the 
pl.ants,  and  what  with  the  annual  mannriugs 
and  the  soil  thrown  out  the  beds  are  made  an- 
nually higher  and  of  course  the  jilants  get  to 
be  farther  and  farther  away  from  the  surface 
from  year  to  year.  But  all  this  time  the  roots 
are  kept  high  and  dry,  an<l  it  is  as  much  this 
elevated  and  dry  i>osition  added  to  the  dei)th, 
that  gives  the  plant  its  great  advantages. 

We  have  heard  of  people  who  have  set 
plants  deep  down  from  the  ordinary  level  sur- 
face of  the  groimil,  an<l  always  with  injury, 
especially  in  clayey  or  heavy  soils.  In  these 
cases  the  very  fact  of  making  the  bed  deep  and 
loose,  only  increases  its  chances  of  getting 
water-logged,  the  water  runniugover  the  hard, 
(Inn  soil  into  the  looser  earth  provided  for  the 
l>ed.  The  roots  are  thus  always  cold  and 
damp  ;  and  very  often,  especially  when  lir.st 
planted,  rot  away  entirely.  The  point  is  to 
have  the  roots  deej)  under  the  surface  ;  but 
still  the  ground  around  the  roots  must  be  high 
and  dry. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  how  our  forefathers 
often  found  out  good  jirartices  without  know- 
ing exactly  the  reason  for  them.  In  all  old 
gardens  asparagus  was  planted  iu  beds  with 
deep  ditches  between  them;  ami  we  all  know 
that  the  asjiaragus  of  that  tinu'  was  beder  on 
the  whole  than  the  asjiaragus  nowadays,  and 
since  we  have  adopted  the  Hat  and  level  sys- 
tem of  culture.  Tliey  all  thought  gardening  a 
business  in  which  one  bad  to  learn  the  art,  see 
how  things  were  done,  and  ask  no  (piestions. 
Modern  gardening  is  supposed  to  1h'  founded 
on  the  "rea.son  for  things, "  and  anyone  who  is 
capable  or  supposed  to  be  capable  of  tracing 
cause  from  ell'cct,  is  regarded  as  likely  to  make 
quite  as  good  a  fellow  as  one  who  has  Iw^en 
years  at  the  business.      But  all  these  little 


things  show  how  advantageous  is  experience, 
and  how  limch  we  should  listen  to  the  results 
of  experience,  although  for  the  time  iH-iug  wo 
may  see  no  rciison  in  them. — GcrnuitUown 
Tekijraiih. 


FISH  CULTURE. 

As  usual,  the  suliject  of  PiscAmHurc  and  the 
Finhirica  continues  to  occupy  a  large  share  of 
th(^  ]>idplic  attention,  in  view  of  the  popidarity 
of  the  measures  taken  toward  the  increase  in 
the  supply  of  fresh-water  lishes,  and  the  pro- 
per ut  iliziition  of  the  products  of  the  wati'rs 
generally. 

Of  the  various  State  Commissions,  those  of 
\''irginia,  California  and  Maine  have  lately 
published   their  reports  of  sati-faelory  work. 

The  varied  enli-rprises  in  whii'h  tin;  llnilcd 
Slates  has  been  i-nuaged  during  the  autumn 
have  been  suc(;essfully  prosecuted — the  UniKKl 
States  hatching  establishment  on  the  Sacni- 
mento  river,  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Living- 
ston Stone,  having  obtained  nine  niillions  of 
eggs,  in  b\dk  am  lunling  to  eighty  busluds. 
Some  two  millions  of  the  young  were  hatched 
out  and  plai-ed  in  the  S.icram'nto  for  the  pur- 
pose of  keeping  up  its  supply,  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  egiis  were  sent  east,  for  thc>  most 
part  to  the  Slate  Commissioners  of  Fisheries. 
The  introduction  of  young  (ish  into  suitable 
waters  was  prosecuted  maiidy  iluring  the 
mouths  of  |)ecend>er  and  .lanuary,  and  nearly 
all  the  waters  of  the  United  Stales  east  of  the 
Mis.souri  have  their  share.  A  very  large  num- 
ber were  planted  in  the  headwaters  of  the 
Ohio,  Missi.ssippi,  and  <fthi-r  streams  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as 
in  the  waters  tributary  to  the  (ireat  Lakes, 
and  those  of  the  east  from  Maine  to  (Jeorgia. 
It  iK  not  too  much  to  \w\w  that  in  a  few  years 
most  satisfactory  results  from  the  experiment 
will  lie  experiiMiced.  .Mr.  Atkins  has  also  con- 
tinued his  work  in  (collecting  and  developing 
the  eggs  of  the  Eastern  Salmon,  at  Buckporl, 
Maine,  and  has  se<:ureil  between  tlirei'  and 
four  millions.  These,  sus  beiiig  later  in  the 
year,  and  of  slower  development,  will  be  dis- 
tributed in  March  or  April.  In  addition  foliis 
laliors  with  the  sea  salmon,  Mr.  Atkins  has 
also  si'cured  a  large  munber  of  eggs  of  the 
land-locked  salnion  from  the  (ireat  Lake 
Stream,  in  Eastern  .Maine,  some  nine  humlred 
thousand  eggs  iu  all  having  been  jilat-ed  in  the 
hatching  bo.xes.  Iu  the  course  of  its  labors 
during  The  sunnner  of  IS"."),  having  reference 
to  the  shad,  about  twelve  milli'Mis  of  young 
were  hatched  out  and  distributed  in  vari(Uis 
waters  by  the  United  States  Fish  (Jomniis- 
sion. 

A  very  important  enterprise  of  the  s;ime 
general  character  is  that  which  is  now  in  pro- 
gress under  the  dini'tiouof  the  Fish  Coinmis- 
sionersof  Canada,  .Michigan.  ( )hio.  The  Miclii 
gau  Connnissioners  are  now  hatching  about 
.seven  millions  of  white  lish  eggs,  those  of  Cana- 
da having  almost  as  many.  The  Ohio  t"om- 
missioners  were  nnable  to  complete  their  («- 
tahlishments  in  time  for  extensive  operations 
this  sea.son,  but  they  hav<'  at  their  four  hatch- 
ing stations  a  considerable  nundier  of  the  eggs 
of  the  white  lish,  i)artly  furuisbeil  to  them  by 
the  (Jonnnissioners  of  Michig-an. 

An  imiiortant  movement  has  been  made  on 
the  Hudson  river  by  Seth  tireen,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Fish  Commissioners  of  New 
York,  in  the  multiplication  of  sturgeon.  The 
economical  value  of  this  (ish  is  only  Ix-ginning 
to  be  appreciatcil  in  this  country,  although  in 
JMU-opeit  has  long  ranked  among  tho.se  of  most 
impoitauee.  Hut  already  a  large  business  in 
the  manufacture  of  isingliuss  and  caviar.  :is 
well  as  in  supplying  this  lish  for  consumption, 
both  fresh  and  smoked,  bus  Ih-cii  prosi'cuted 
for  some  time.  The  Hudson  river  formerly 
abounded  in  sturgeon,  which  have  In-come 
.scarce,  and  the  object  of  Mr.  (Jreen's  work 
has  been  to  increa.se  the  number.  An  inci- 
dental l>eiielit  resulting  from  the  multiplying 
of  tliesetish.it  is  expected,  will  be  the  destruc- 
tion by  them  of  th.>  stake  nets  which  at  pres- 
ent do  so  much  to  prevent  the  natural  inci-eiiae 


56 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[April 


of  shad  in  that  river,  tlie  nets  lieing  too  weali 
to  resist  so  powerful  a  fish  as  the  sturgeon. 

Tlie  prominence  of  the  turbot  and  sole 
among  the  more  expensive  fishes  of  Europe 
has  suggested  the  idea  of  introducing  them 
into  American  waters;  and  at  the  request  of 
Mr.  J.  S.  Kidder,  of  Boston,  tlie  United  States 
Fish  Commissioner  is  now  engaged  in  making 
prejiarations  for  a  sufficient  uiunlier  of  young 
fish  from  tlie  British  coast  to  that  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  make  a  satisfactory  experiment, 
the  expenses  to  be  borne  Ly  Mr.  Kiddei". — Har- 
per ^S  Magazine. 


TREE   LAWS. 


A  few  weeks  ago  we  referred  to  an  absurd 
attempt  to  get  Congress  to  pass  a  law  in  re- 
gard to  patents  on  new  fruits.  The  agricul- 
tural press  has  spoken  emphatically  against 
it.  We  See  now  that  another  sclieme  is  before 
the  House  in  regard  to  tree  laws,  in  which 
the  agricultural  press  has  been  as  emphati- 
cally against  as  in  the  patent  plant  matter.  It 
is  really  astonishing  how  easily  ill-considered 
matters  like  these  can  obtain  a  hearing,  and 
even  approval,  before  a  body  so  generally  in- 
telligent as  are  the  men  who  compose  the 
American  Congress.  The  project  now  is  to 
appoint  a  Commissioner  of  Forestry,  to  take 
charge  of  American  forests,  with  a  view  to 
their  preservation.  This  is,  we  believe,  the 
third  year  that  the  attempt  has  been  made  to 
found  this  new  department ;  but  though  twice 
defeated,  it  seems  bound  to  rise  again. 

We  all  know  now  that  much  that  has  been 
said  about  this  forest-tree  subject  is  the  veriest 
trash,  and  has  been  kept  before  the  public  sys- 
tematically, no  doubt,  for  the  interest  of  a  few 
who  want  to  be  constituted  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners. There  is,  so  far  as  the  practical 
question  is  concerned,  nothing  for  such  a 
commission  to  do  that  the  agricultural  press 
of  the  country  has  not  already  done.  We — 
all  of  us — have  pointed  out  that  there  is  a 
waste  of  timber  going  on,  but  tliis  waste  has 
no  bearing,  or  very  little,  on  our  future  sup- 
ply. Where  timber  is  wasted,  it  is  generally 
in  localities  where  it  is  really  worth  little  be- 
cause it  is  not  near  any  place  where  it  can  be 
marketed,  nor  would  it  be  for  many  years  ; 
and  therefore  it  is  burned  down  and  cut  to 
make  way  for  farm  crops.  Wherever  it  is 
near  to  any  such  market,  or  near  to  a  pros- 
pective market,  it  is  seldom  destroyed.  It 
needs  no  law  for  its  preservation  under  such 
circumstances.  Americans  can  see  questions 
of  profit  and  loss  as  quick  as  any  one,  and  will 
not  wantonly  destroy  that  which  will  make 
them  rich.  As  for  timber  outside  of  civiliza- 
tion, people  talk  of  jireserving  it  as  if  a  tree 
were  rocks  and  stones  and  would  last  for  ages. 
Most  of  our  great  western  forests  have  al- 
ready reached  mature  age,  and  are  on  the 
downward  road.  Many  of  these  are  between 
one  and  two  hundred  years  old.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  preserve  that  which  Nature  has 
doomed.  How  are  ,"  Commissioners  "  to 
"preserve"  them  V  Even  were  they  much 
longer-lived  than  they  are,  the  chief  trouble 
comes  from  forest  fires  much  more  than  from 
the  woodman's  axe.  Can  a  Commissioner 
prevent  the  sportsmen's  wad  or  the  spark 
from  the  locomoti  ve  V 

What  we  really  want  is  not  so  much  the 
"  preservation  "  of  the  old  forests  in  the  far- 
away parts  of  our  great  country  as  the  encour- 
ugment  iif  new  plantations !  and  this  iilantiug 
is  not  a  work  for  the  general  government  to 
do,  which  does  not  propose  to  hold  public 
lands. 

But  supposing  that  there  was  nothing  more 
in  this  proiwsition  than  the  mere  creation  of 
a  new  bureati  with  a  new  pack  of  office-hold- 
ers, what  is  there  in  it  more  than  ought  prop- 
erly to  fall  within  the  existing  Department  of 
Agriculture  ?  Forestry  has  ever  been  re- 
garded as  an  adjunct  of  agricidture,  and  there 
is  nothing  proposed  to  be  reached  by  this 
Commission  that  might  not  just  as  well  be  ac- 
complished by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
as  it  at  present  exists.  Indeed,  the  present 
Commissioner  has  paid  considerable  attention 


to  the  forest  question,  and  could  do  more,  if 
encouraged  by  Congress  or  other  influences  to 
do  so. 

At  any  rate,  nobody  wants  this  Commission, 
if  we  i-ead  aright  the  feelings  of  our  agricul- 
tural exchanges.  It  is  simply  a  "job,"  and 
nothing  more. —  Gcrmantown  Telegraph, 


THE  DAIRY  AND   BUTTER  MAKING. 

At  a  late  meeting  of  the  Eastern  Experi- 
mental Farm  Club,  at  West  Grove,  Chester 
county,  Mr.  Ileeder,  of  Bucks  county,  was  in- 
troduced and  spoke  mainly  uijon  the  venlila- 
ticm  of  dairy  houses.  He  had  been  much 
troubled  in  years  past ;  the  spring-house  would 
overflow  when  heavy  rains  occurred,  and  in 
the  summer  tlie  milk  would  sour  and  thicken 
before  the  cream  would  rise,  and  in  winter  it 
was  too  cold  to  get  the  full  value  or  benefit  of 
the  milk;  so  he  resolved  three  years  ago  to 
build  a  house  or  aiiartnient  for  dairying  purpo- 
ses, and  before  d  oing  so  visited  some  of  the  most 
noted  in  New  Jersey  and'Cliester county.  His 
observations  satisfied  him  that  liy  securing  a 
proper  ventilation  and  temperature  he  could 
have  good  butter  at  all  seasons  of  the  year, 
and  u])on  philosophical  principles  he  would 
warm  his  house  in  the  winter,  and  keep  it 
cool  in  summer.  In  the  summer  he  would 
have  a  large  V  shaped  ice  box  located  in  one 
portion  of  the  room  and  regulate  the  tempera- 
ture by  ventilation,  and  in  the  winter  he  would 
have  artificial  heat  by  a  stove  or  furnace,  and 
regulate  the  temperature  as  in  summer.  He 
took  exceptions  to  Prof.  Wilkinson's  mode, 
the  Gulf  Stream  principle,  as  impracticable, 
as  well  as  expensive  ;  he  liked  the  cool  air 
principle  much  better  than  the  cold  water 
baths  for  milk  ;  and  here  Mr.  R.  explained  his 
ideas  to  the  audience,  as  to  what  he  esteemed 
a  model  dairy  house. 

After  Mr.  Keeder  closed,  Mr.  Hardin,  of 
Ky.,  was  introduced,  and  entertained  the 
club  for  more  than  an  hour  upon  his  practical 
theory  of  butter  making.  He  said  he  started 
a  butter  dairy  about  four  years  ago,  near 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  the  climate  was  hot 
and  humid,  and  where  animal  substances  de- 
cayed rapidly ;  where  insects  and  parasites 
were  numerous,  and  to  spread  out  milk  in  the 
usual  way  ill  pans  was  to  invite  the  enemy, 
which  he  was  anxious  to  avoid.  To  overcome 
these  difficulties  he  began  a  series  of  experi- 
ments by  the  use  of  shallow  pans  in  open  air, 
and  step  by  step  he  lowered  the  temperature 
and  increased  the  depth  of  the  milk,  until  he 
reached  the  Swedish  plan  of  setting  milk,  im- 
mersing in  water  at  40  degrees  Fahrenheit,  in 
cans  twenty  inches  deep  and  8  inches  in  di- 
ameter. As  a  matter  of  economy,  he  built  a 
box  with  double  sides  and  a  close-fitting  double 
door,  and  so  arranged  as  to  exclude  the  sur- 
rounding atmosphere.  He  also  inserted  a 
shelf  ill  the  upper  part  of  the  Viox,  for  the  re- 
ception of  ice,  which  is  quite  a  desideratum 
in  warm  climates.  In  this  box  he  sets  his 
cans  of  strained  milk  with  a  tight  cover,  and 
thus  subjected  to  the  cooling  process,  and  left 
in  at  the  ordinary  temperature,  which,  in  such 
cases,  is  about  4(j  degrees,  for  the  sjiace  of 
from  thirty-six  to  seventy-two  hours.  AH  this 
time  the  milk  is  sweet,  and  the  cream  is  also 
sweet,  and  is  churned  in  this  condition.  Mr. 
H.  contends  that  the  points  attained  by  his 
process  of  cooling  and  butter  making,  are  a 
better  flavor,  uniformity  in  quality,  better 
grain  or  texture,  as  well  as  keeping  quality  ; 
that  the  cost  of  the  utensils  and  buildings  are 
trifling  in  comparison  to  the  present  method 
of  building  siiring-houses  with  the  jiatent  ven- 
tilators, and  with  much  less  laljor  or  care.  In 
this  case,  or  with  my  method,  the  ice  shelf  is 
filled  once  a  day  only,  and  the  cans,  which 
hold  from  30  to  35  pounds,  are  set  in  or  taken 
out,  as  desired,  and  a  man  can  do  nearly  all 
the  work  if  required  ;  and  with  this  economy 
in  labor  there  is  a  corresponding  economy  in 
the  cost  of  pans,  which  is  about  one  to  four  in 
favor  of  deep  cans.  He  also  argues  in  favor 
of  his  operation  as  a  matter  of  health,  especi- 
ally to  the  dairy  women,  as  they  are  not  at  all 
exposed  to  long  attendance  in  the  damp  spring- 


houses  or  vanlts.  Mr.  Hardin  gave  satisfac- 
tory evidence  from  actual  experiments,  not 
only  conducted  by  liimself,  but  by  experienced 
butter  makers,  and  in  eveiy  instance  he  made 
more  butter  from  the  same  numlier  of  pomids 
of  milk  than  by  the  old  method,  with  a  flavor 
e(iually  as  good  if  not  better.  The  size  of  the 
milk  box  or  refrigerator  for  a  dairy  of  5  cows 
is  about  4  feet  2  inches  high,  2  feet  2  inches 
deep  and  same  in  length,  and  can  be  made  or 
sold  for  about  S25. 

John  I.  Carter  read  an  essay  from  Prof. 
AVilkinson,  of  Baltimore,  upon  the  subject  of 
butter  making.  It  was  expected  that  the 
Professor  would  be  here  in  person,  but  illness 
prevented  his  being  in  attendance,  and  that 
the  members  should  not  be  wholly  deprived  of 
his  counsel,  reported  on  ))aiier,  as  the  next 
best  thing  he  could  do.  The  Professor  was 
opposed  to  the  sudden  cooling  of  the  milk  ; 
that  in  so  doing  the  animal  odor  was  retained 
in  the  milk  or  cream.  He  claimed  that  gradual 
cooling  or  artificial  heat  would  assist  in  throw- 
ing off  the  animal  odor  and  thus  produce  a 
fine  quality  as  well  as  texture  of  butter.  He 
also  stated  that  milk  heated  to  140  degrees  or 
1.50  degrees  and  then  cooled  would  keep  sweet 
much  longer  than  when  cooled  in  the  natural 
way,  and  also  contended  that  cream  raised  on 
milk  set  in  deep  vessels  will  not  make  as  good 
butter,  or  of  as  good  quality,  as  that  set  in 
shallow  pans. 


THE  BEST  COW  FOR  THE  DAIRY. 

In  treating  of  this  subject  we  discard  at 
once  the  idea  of  combining  every  good  quality 
in  a  single  animal — such  as  large  size,  nice 
quality  butter,  deep  milking,  ease  of  fattening, 
beef  producing,  &c.  Such  an  animal  never 
lived,  or  never  will  live,  for  the  reason  that 
some  of  these  qualities  are  incompatible  with 
each  other.  AVliat  the  butcher  requires  is 
heavy  carcass — the  very  opposite  of  what  the 
dairy  desires.  The  latter  wants  all  the  secret- 
ing and  assimilating  organs  to  concentrate  in 
the  udder  for  the  production  of  milk,  whilst 
the  butcher  wants  them  to  centre  on  the  back 
and  ribs  for  the  building  up  of  flesh.  For  this 
latter  purpose,  there  seems  to  be  no  cattle 
equal  to  the  Durham  or  Holstein,  and  to  that 
end  they  have  been  bred  for  a  century,  just  as 
the  Jersey  has  been  bred  for  richness  of  milk 
and  the  largest  amount  of  high  flavored  butter. 

If  the  farmer  desires  a  cow  that  will  pro- 
duce the  finest  article  of  the  latter,  and  one 
that  will  retain  the  largest  money  value  for 
the  food  required,  then  we  should  say  by  all 
means  take  the  Jersey.  A  discreet  farmer, 
even  had  he  never  seen  a  specimen  of  the  kind, 
would  l)e  very  likely  to  describe  as  his  prefer- 
ence just  the  qualities  she  possesses.  But  if 
bone  and  muscle,  Durham  or  Holstein,  would 
fill  the  bill  mucli  lietter,  whilst  the  amount  of 
food  required  to  keep  up  their  thrift  and  status 
would  be  much  greater.  The  smaller  the  size, 
therefore,  of  a  cow,  so  that  slie  unites  there- 
with the  faculty  of  secreting  the  largest  per- 
centage of  rich  butyraceous  matter,  the  better; 
and  such,  unmistakably,  is  the  province  of  the 
Jersey.  It  is  not  so  much  the  amount  of  food 
ajipropriated  and  taken  into  the  stomach  that 
constitutes  her  chief  value  for  the  dairy,  as  it 
is  in  the  use  made  of  it  when  so  appropriated. 
The  Jersey  cow  knows  nothing  of  accumula- 
ting fat  on  the  back  and  ribs,  nor  is  it  required 
of  iier.  She  appropriates  notliing  in  that  direc- 
tion, but  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree  the 
marvelous  faculty  of  assimilating  and  .secreting 
from  her  food,  a  milk  rich  in  oleaginous  mat- 
ter— the  material  of  which  the  butter  is 
formed — and  for  which  especial  purpose  she 
seems  to  have  been  created. 

What  the  farmer  or  grazier  wants  is  a  cow 
small  in  stature,  with  the  least  amount  of  bone 
and  oftiil,  and  somewhat  wedge  shaped — wide 
behind  and  tapering  to  the  front,  with  hips 
sufliciently  broad  to  sustain  the  weight  of  the 
bag  when  filled,  a  small  head,  prominent  eye, 
yellow  and  soft  skin,  a  capacious  iiauncli,  a 
flat  instead  of  a  round  rib,  a  thin  tail,  a  tajier- 
ing  muzzle,  prominent  milk  veins,  a  thrifty 
constitution,  and  with  allagentle  disposition; 


I 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER 


57 


and  then,  to  yiiUt  milk  wlia-li  enn  he  cluinifil 
in  the  shortest  jiossiliU'  time,  aixl  turn  out  hiit- 
ler  of  a  golOen  color  and  otthe  highest  llavor. 
All  these  rciiiiiremeiits  are  to  he  fonnil  in 
the  Jersey  cow,  and  in  none  other;  and  it  tlio 
farmer  has  a  taste  lor  the  heaiitifid  in  nature 
or  art,  lor  the  line  scenery  and  the  f;reen  fields, 
dotted  over  with  the  usefid  as  well  as  the 
ornamental,  he  would  lind  reseinhlinf;  in  a 
herd  of  Jersey  cows,  a  flock  of  tallow  dei'r,  and 
for  which  at  ii  distant  view  they  might  readily 
be  taken. 


For  Thk  Lancartkh  Fakuer. 
A  NUT  FOR  THE  BOTANISTS  TO 
CRACK. 

So  accustomed  is  the  botanist  to  he  con- 
fronted with  new  and  sinjiular  forms  in  tlic 
vetietahle  world — witli  unexpected  develop- 
ments and  odd  facts— that  now-a-days  it  must 
he  something  wonderful  indeed  that  excites 
more  than  a  momentary  suqirise.  Already 
acquainted  with  more  tlian  12U,()0()  dilferen't 
forms  of  vegelahle  life,  the  discovery  of  a  new 
S|iecies,  although  a  very  plea.sant  and  accejita- 
lile  result,  sclent ilically  considered,  is  never- 
theless an  achievement  that  does  not  call  for 
special  remark.  Sometimes,  however,  cir- 
eiunstances  give  rise  to  fresh  facts  concerning 
long  and  well-known  mendjers  of  the  vegeta- 
ble kingdom,  that  bother  him  more  than  to 
jn'operiy  determine  where  to  place  a  newly 
iliscovered  but  doubtful  specimen. 

It  has  been  the  fortune  of  the  writer  to  be 
brought  face  to  face  a  score  of  times  with  a 
singular  fact  (to  him  at  least)  in  the  economy 
of  that  familiar  friend,  and  we  hope  favorite, 
of  every  ri'ader  of  this,  the  common  suntlow- 
er.  (JlcUunilius  (inimun.)  As  often  as  the 
circumstance  presented  itself,  it  set  us  to  puz- 
zling over  it,  but  inasnuich  as  we  never 
reached  a  conclusion  concerning  it  that  was 
entirely  satisfactory,  we  herewith  present  it 
to  the  "readers  of  The  Fau.-mkk,  in  the  hope 
that  some  one  else  may  he  able  to  oilier  an  ac- 
cejitable  solution  of  the  problem. 

Across  the  broad  plains  of  Kansas,  Ne- 
braska and  Xew  Mexico,  are  wide  and  well- 
beaten  highway.s.  over  which  thousands  of 
wagons  lailen  with  merchandise  and  drawn 
by  mules  and  oxen,  are  passing  and  rejiassing 
during  eight  months  of  the  year.  In  dry  and 
favorable  seasons  no  Fenn.sylvania  road  is 
firmer  or  harder,  and  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, the  well-defined,  grey  trail  can  be 
traced  for  miles  with  the  naked  eye.  During 
the  great  part  of  the  year  the  rain-fall  is  but 
light,  and  the  slow,  white-shaded  caravan 
moves  along  with  scarce  an  imjiedimeut.  But 
there  are  times  when  the  windows  of  heaven 
arc  oiiened,  and  the  Hoods  descend,  and  then 
what  was  once  a  road  that  might  rival  a  paved 
street  in  hardness,  liecomes  little  I)cttcr  than 
a  (piagmire.  When  this  occurs  it  is  custom- 
ary for  the  wagon  trains  to  leave  the  beaten 
track  and  open  a  new  road  in  the  also  soft  hut 
less-yielding  prairie  to  the  right  or  left  of  the 
old  highway.  Each  succeeding  train  for  the 
same  reason  follows  in  the  newly  laid-out  path, 
and  the  result  is  the  entire  abandonment  of 
the  old  road  ibr  pnrjioses  of  travel. 

No  sooner  is  this  done  than  is  seen  the  re- 
markable fact  to  which  we  wish  to  call  atten- 
tion. On  each  side  of  the  deserted  road  at 
once  springs  up  a  strong,  den.se  growth  of  sun- 
flowers, and  these  fringe  the  once  traveled 
route,  sometimes  for  miles,  but  more  gciiierally 
until,  the  soil  becoming  harder,  the  new  road 
again  leads  into  the  old  one.  I  will  not  as- 
sert that  this  is  the  case  in  every  instance,  hut 
I  believe  it  to  be  so  nine  times  out  of  ten  ;  it 
is  the  rule,  which  a  few  exceptions,  if  there 
be  any,  would  only  conlirm.  These  sun- 
flower plants  are  from  one  inch  to  ten  or  more 
feet  high,  and  at  the  i)roper  .season  laden 
with  flowers.  Although  not  a  dwarf  variety, 
as  the  tallest  stalks  prove,  even  the  most  di- 
minutive ones  generally  rejoice  in  small  but 
well-develoi)ed  discs,  tm-ned  sunward  ;  times 
without  number  have  I  measured  a  iilant  only 
four  inches  high  with  a  beautiful  crown  of 
golden  glory,  and  as  oftcu  as  I  did  so,  I  could 


not  liut  marvel  whence  and  how  this  iihaner- 
ogannan  came  to  take  its  phu'e  in  such  an  odd 
and  seemingly  out  of  the  way  locality.  It 
must  be  renumbered  that  this  occurrence  is 
seen  far  from  any  settlement,  often  hundreds 
of  ndles  from  any  human  habitation,  and 
therefore  very  unlikely  to  be  the  result  of  hu- 
man agency.  Naturally  birds  suggest  them- 
selves as  the  involuntary  disseminators  of  the 
seed,  and  thus  furnish  a  clue  to  the  mystery; 
hut  in  that  dry  and  treeless  region  birds  arc 
far  from  being  iilentifnl,  aTid  even  if  they  were 
so,  would  he  much  more  likely  to  be  attra<'lod 
to  the  new  roads  in  search  of  the  droppingsof 
passing  animals,  and  thus  convert  them  into 
long  avenues  bordered  with  a  spontaneous 
growth  of  sun-llowers.  Neither  can  we  at- 
tribute the  result  to  cayotes  ;  these,  it  is  very 
true,  will  eat  anything  from  a  seed  to  a  buf- 
falo steak  when  hungry,  ;ind  are  constaidly 
])rowling  along  the  beaten  highways  with  thi^ 
same  ]iurpose  that  the  birdsdo,  and  thend'orc, 
like  them,  would  be  more  likely  to  seek  a  new 
road  than  an  aliandoned  one  ;  therel'ori^  we 
must  ae(|nit  Iheni  also  of  any  instrumentality 
in  the  matter.  Winds  cannot  do  it,  for  they 
would  scatter  the  seed  broadcast  over  the 
prairie  where  the  plants  are  not  found  ;  the 
l>elt  of  snn-llowers  is  always  well-delined  along 
the  roadside,  and  varies  in  width  from  ten  to 
thirty  feet  or  even  more  ;  straggling  stalks  are 
occasionally  seen  at  some  distanci!  from  the 
main  body,  but  such  cases  are  exceptional. 

I  feel  assured  that  some  other  potent  agency 
is  at  work  in  the  (iroduction  of  this  singular 
circumstance.  The  ditliculty  I  lind  in  accmfid- 
ing  for  it  is,  that  every  hypothesis  that  sug- 
gests itself  ai)i)lies  with  even  more  force  and 
cogency  to  a  like  condition  of  things  along  re- 
cently made  roads,  hut  where,  as  we  have 
seen,  it  is  fVumd  w^anting.  Some  one,  iicrhaiis, 
better  versed  in  the  mysterious  workings  of 
the  countless  forms  of  vegetable  lifi;  that  sur- 
round us,  may  be  able  to  penetrate  the  secrecy 
that  enshrouds  the  subject,  and  make  clear 
what  is  now  obscure.  Perhajis  if  the  secret 
were  laid  open,  it  would,  from  its  very  sini- 
l)licity,  teach  us  how  little  we  really  know  con- 
cerning the  mysterious  workings  of  natural 
kiws.-^i^.  R.  D.,  Lancaster. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

THE    COST    OF    PLANTING   AN 
ORCHARD. 

Any  intelligent  farmer  can  reckon  up  the 
cost  of  making  an  tn-chard  of  apple-trees. 
This  way  :  Flow  the  land  deejily,  an<l  manure 
it  as  fully  as  for  a  crop  of  corn  ;  harrow  well 
along  and  .acrross,  and  roll,  to  break  all  hard 
and  large  clods.  Fair  sized  apiile-treescan  be 
got  for  twenty-live  cents  each.  If  planted 
thirty  feet  ajiart  both  ways,  forty-eight  trees 
will  plant  an  acre;  cost,  twelve  dollars.  If 
set  forty  feet  ajjart  l)oth  way.s,  thirty-six  trees 
will  plant  an  acre;  cost,  nine  dollars.  To  an 
orchard  of  ten  acres  the  cost  for  trees  will  he 
from  ninety  to  a  hundred  and  twenty  dollars, 
hut  such  a  uundier  could  be  got  for  a  hundred 
dollars  at  the  greater  nundier  of  trees.  It  is 
generally  now  supposed  that  Indian  corn  is 
the  best  crop  the  first  year  upon  a  newly- 
l)lanted  orchard,  as  it  shades  the  trees 
in  the  hottest  months,  and  when  cut  up  in 
fall  the  trees  get  the  benefit  of  sunshine  and 
air,  which  harden  them  to  withstand  the 
winter's  cold.  A  hill  of  corn  is  left  out  for 
every  tree  ;  so  the  loss  is  very  small.  The  corn 
cro))  should  be  taken  off  and  shocked  in  an- 
other lot,  so  that  the  whole  land  of  the  orchard 
will  be  plowed  and  .seeded  down  with  wheat 
and  grass.  The  gra.ss  cro)),  .after  the  wheat, 
may  remain  three  or  four  years  ;  then  plow 
and  croi)  with  grain.  Give  heavy  manuring 
in  the  course  of  rotating  crops  ;  the  orchard 
will  be  again  seeded  down  to  gra.ss,  to  lie  for 
live  years,  giving  a  top  dressing  of  manin-e  or 
concentrated  fertilizers  (if  they  are  good). 
During  these  year.s  the  orchard  will  yield 
nearly  as  good  crops  as  are  on  other  open 
fields,  the  soil  will  be  well  stiiTed  for  (-rops  of 
corn  and  jiotatoes,  the  trees  will  make  largo 
growths  after  the  second  year,  and  when  large 


enoiigli  the  orchard  may  1«'  jiastured.  The 
cattle  and  sheep  will  eatiip  the  fallen  fruits, 
and  the  grubs  within  them,  and  that  will  de- 
stroy many  hundreds  of  noxious  insects  yearly. 
In  time  the  orchard  will  yiidd  double  crops; 
say  grass  or  grains  and  fruits  also.  Some  of 
the  trees  may  nei'd  setting  straight  and  staked 
u|> ;  some  may  need  slight  pruning  to  balanc.o 
their  heads.  The  best  varieties  that  thrive  in 
tlu^  locality  should  be  got,  and  all  purcha.sed 
from  responsible  iiur.servmen,  who  advertise 
in  The  Faumek.— 0/(J  iltuilMndman. 

K<ir  'I'lIK  I-AS<'AMTKn  Karmkb. 

.THE  CULTURE  OF  VEGETABLES. 

Many  gardeners  and  others  skilled  in  the 
culture  <if  vegetables,  lost  their  crops  of  latu 
Ix-ets,  carrots,  |)arsiiips,  .salsify,  pansley, celery, 
and  onions,  from  seeds  of  last  year,  by  sowing 
them  too  late.  The  long-continued  dry 
weather  so  dried  the  soil  that  the  seeds  did 
not  germinate.  The  seeds  of  those  crops  have 
hard  shells,  and  it  reipiires  much  moisture  In 
the  soil  to  soften  the  shells  mid  let  the  geriiui 
push  through  to  grow. 

As  soon  as  the  soil  is  fit  to  dig  or  plough, 
sow  the  seeds  at  once  of  carrots,  parsiii|)H, 
salsify,  parsley,  celery  and  onion.s,  and  plant 
onion  sets.  Sow  early  beets  plentifully,  in 
case  of  failures  of  late  varieties.  tJeiierally, 
late  beets  and  carrots  are  sown  a  month  later 
than  the  early  varieties,  but  last  year  they 
failed.  Parsnips,  salsify  and  celery  need  all 
the  .season. 

The  best  parsnip  is  the  Sugar  parsnip.  I,«ng 
Orange  carrot  is  the  Ik'.sI.  While  solid  celery 
is  best.  The  Curled  Jiarsley  is  best.  The  Vel- 
low  Strasburg  onion  is.  best.  TIk;  U-.st  two 
l>cas  are  Extra  Karly,  for  first  crop;  Eugene, 
for  .Second  croii,  sown  two  weeks  lalerthan  the 
Extra  Early.  Stowell's  evergreen  sugar  corn 
is  the  best.  Dwarf  wax  Iwan  is  the  Itesl  bush 
bean.  I/inia  pole  bean  is  the  U'st  shelling 
bean.  The  (ieriiian  wax  jiole  bean  is  the  l>e.st 
pole  bean  whose  hulls  arc  eaten,  as  string 
beans  are.  It  needs  no  stringing,  and  neither 
does  the  dwarf  wax  bean.  They  have  no 
strings;  are  both  very  rich  and  buttery.  The 
Long  l$loodbeet  is  the  best  for  late  crop.  The 
Early  Hose  potato  is  the  best.  There  are  many 
new  varieties  highly  commended  by  seedsmen, 
such  as  Extra  Early  Vermont,  Urownell's 
Heauty.  They  are  most  excellent.  There  are 
several  others,  all  sold  by  pound,  jieck,  bushel, 
and  barrel.  The  Colossal  asparagus  is  best. 
The  dark  Egyptian  beet  is  in  high  repute  for 
early  croji.  The  Hanson  lettuce  is  the  Ix'st. 
For  cabbages,  get  Large  York  for  early,  and 
Flat  Dutch  for  hxtc.—Old  (hdikaUjr. 


Kit  Thk  I...\NCA'^T»:it  K.\nMKR. 
RICH  AND  POOR  GROW  A  GRAPEVINE. 
Every  householder  should  grow  one  or  more 
hardy  grapevines.  When  trained  upon  .irlHirs 
or  fences  they  do  not  take  up  any  surface 
space  in  the  way  of  other  crop.s.  A  neat  arlnir 
over  the  back  kitchen  door  is  a  comely  appentl- 
agc  to  it,  and  furui.slies  a  grateful  shade  when 
clothed  with  vines.  It  also  serves  as  a  nick, 
on  which  to  hang  small  towels  in  daily  use  in 
the  kitchen.  The  Cmrord  ijriijip.  is  the  ln'.st 
for  general  culture;  is  of  thrifty  growth,  and 
yields  plentifully.  The  fruit  is  black,  and 
rijiens  early  and  keeps  .sound  long.  The  l.sa- 
bella  is  alsoa  good  variety.  The  Catawba  ihie.s 
well  in  sunny  situations  anil  in  dry  sea.sons, 
but  in  shady  |)laees  and  wet  .seasons  it  does 
not  color  and  rii>eii  its  fruit  well.  The  ]y<dler 
is  a  superior  variety:  yields  large  cmps.  The 
fruit  keejis  long,  and  is  the  only  native  gnipc 
fit  for  making  raisins  of.  If  raisin-making 
ever  becomes  a  business  in  our  country,  the 
Walter  grape  will  be  the  one  for  the  purpose. 
There  are  many  other  choice  varieties  for 
wealthy  amateurs  to  cultivate  with  ])leasurc 
to  themselves.  All  the  varieties  tlourlsh  lie.st 
and  yield  largest  cro]  IS  when  the  shoots  are  K'Ut 
from  the  periM-ndieular;  a  half  horizontal  jiosi- 
tionisliest,  after  risim,'  some  feet  from  the 
ground.  So  an  arbor  with  sloping  roof  is  the 
Ix'st.  It  is  said  that  grapevines  grown  (do.se  to 
the  house  imiiart  a  lively  feeling  to  its  inmates. 
Plant  now. — Old  Jlusinndmun. 


58 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[April, 


For  The  Lancasteb  Farmer. 

SUMMER-BLOOMING  BULBOUS 
FLOWERS. 

Lilimn  (Lily)  liolds  tlie  first  rank.  Tlie 
species  and  varieties  are  numerous,  and  of 
surpassing  beauty,  of  many  colors  of  blooms, 
spotted,  striped,  etc.  Laucifalium  or  Japan 
lily  is  exceedingly  beautiful ;  six  varieties. 
Golden  lily  is  wonderful  for  large  size,  beauty 
and  fragrance.  All  the  above  bloom  in  July 
and  August,  when  other  flowers  are  wilted. 
The  White  lily  perfumes  the  whole  garden  in 
June  ;  of  pure  white.  The  famous  "Orange 
lUy  "  accompanies  the  AVhite  in  June  bloom- 
ing ;  so  do  Superbium,  Pennsylvanicum, 
Philadelphicum,  etc. — all  orange,  and  spotted 
with  maroon.  The  Tiger  lily  is  well  known  ; 
there  are  several  new,  superior  varieties  ;  one 
with  double  blooms.  We  can  remember  when 
the  Candidum,  Chalcedonicum  and  the  Tlum- 
bergianum — all  of  several  varieties  and  of 
great  splendor — were  universally  grown  and 
highly  prized.  All  the  above  species  are 
hardy,  and  may  stand  in  the  same  places  for 
five  years.  The  following  genera  are  tender  ; 
planted  in  spring,  the  bulbs  kept  in  cellars  in 
winter :  QlailMus  is  now  very  popular  ;  of 
hundreds  of  splendid  varieties  of  many  shades 
of  blooms,  and  bloom  in  July  and  August. 
/?-is,  the  bullions  Iris,  is  very  beautiful,  with 
much  blue  in  blooms.  Tiijriduv  (Tiger  flower), 
two  species  :  the  blooms  are  beautifully  spot- 
ted. Tuberose — now  of  several  varieties  of 
single  and  double  blooms — blooms  in  late  fall, 
and  deliglitfuUy  fragrant.  The  variety  named 
Pearl  is  of  late  introduction  ;  grows  only  half 
as  tall  as  the  otliers ;  it  produces  thrice  as 
many  blooms,  all  doulile  and  sweet  scented. 
Variegdta  has  leaves  striped  with  white  and 
green  ;  is  a  gem  without  blooms,  j'et  it 
flowers  as  freely  and  sweet  scented  as  the  old 
species. —  W.  -E.,  Philadelphia,  April  1,  1870. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
OLD    INVENTIONS  AND   INVENTORS. 

As  the  Millers  of  Lancaster  county  are 
forming  a  "  Millers'  Association,"  I  will  con- 
tribute a  few  items  about  the  inventors  of 
the  olden  times,  and  other  matters  relating 
thereto. 

Why  does  a  barrel  of  flour  weigh  196 
pounds  ?  This  originated  in  England,  and 
was  explained  at  a  meeting  of  the  "Corn 
Exchange"  in  London,  attended  by  our  late 
Minister,  Mr.  Schenck,  thus  :  a  "stone"  is  an 
English  weight  of  fourteen  pounds.  Seven 
stone  makes  ninety-eight  pounds,  which  is  a 
half-barrel,  and  fomteen  stone  make  19(5 
pounds,  or  a  barrel. 

One  of  the  most  noted  Lancaster  county 
mills  of  the  olden  times,  was  the  LiTiz  Mill, 
now  owned  by  Benjamin  Ritter,  and  upwards 
of  one  hundred  years  ago  by  the  Moravian 
society  of  that  place.  It  was  then  leased  to  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Klaus  Keln,  who  made 
and  sent  cargoes  of  his  flour  to  Jamaica,  W.  I. 
On  its  arrival  in  the  West  Indies,  on  one  oc- 
casion, it  was  discovered  that  the  barrels  con- 
tained shipstiiff.* 

On  the  return  of  the  vessel  information  was 
madifto  the  Philadelphia  merchants,  who  at 
once  i)etitioned  the  Government  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  Fhmr  Inspectm-  for  the  port 
of  Philadelphia,  and  this  was  the  origin  of 
that  oflice  in  this  State,  t 

The  machinery  in  mills  at  that  time  was 
very  clunisy  and  complicated.  After  the 
wheat  was  ground,  it  required  the  presence 
of  a  boy  to  work  on  the  bolted  stuff  in  the 
bolting  apparatus. 

There  once  lived  a  man  on  Hammer  creek, 
at  a  place  now  known  as  Brubaker''s  Mill, 
but  formerly  Peter  Staufter's  mill.  This 
Peter  Staufier,  the  former  proprietor,  had 
seven  sons,  one  of  whom  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  writer,   aod  the  seventh 


son  was  the  great-grandftither  of  Mr.  Jacob 
Stauffer,  the  patent  agent  of  Lancaster  city. 

In  those  days  it  required  a  boy  to  attend 
the  hopper,  called  the  "hopper-boy."  The 
Stauffers,  however,  went  to  work  and  invent- 
ed an  attachment  called  the  Hopper-hntj,  first 
used  in  1764,  and  continued  in  use  from  that 
day  down  to  1840,  and  is  still  in  use  in  some 
localities.  The  Stauffers  were  great  mill- 
men.  At  one  time  there  were  no  less  than 
eight  ''Stanfler  Mills,"  in  Lancaster  York, 
and  Franklin  counties. 

Oliver  Evans,  the  author  of  the  "Mill- 
wright's Guide,"  took  out  a  patent  for  tlie 
Hopper-boy,  and  comnienced  to  collect 
patent-right  fees  about  the  year  181'2,  and 
when  his  agents  came  to  Lancaster  county 
they  were  refused  payment  by  the  Stauffers 
and  others,  as  it  was  a  well  known  fact  that 
the  Ilopper-boy  was  a  Lancaster  county  in- 
vention, and  quite  as  well  known  that  the 
Stauffers  were  the  inventors. 

Evans  brought  suit,  several  cases  of  which 
appear  in  the  legal  records  of  that  period,  t 
These  suits  came  off  in  Philadelphia.  Sons 
and  grandsons  of  tlie  original  inventors  were 
still  living,  and  tho.se  who  were  too  old  to 
go  to  Pluladelphia-made  aflidavit  before  the 
uncle  of  the  wiiter  of  tliis  imperfect  sketch, 
who  was  a  justice  of  the  peace — a  country 
"squire."  There  was  one  of  these  machines 
in  Frederick's  mill  (now  Ritter's  mill)  and 
Mr.  Frederick  took  it  along  to  Philailelphiit. 
When  it  was  exhibited  to  the  jury  as  one  of 
the  original  machines  as  invented  by  the 
Staufters,  they  immediately  rendered  a  ver- 
dict in  favor  of  the  defendants  (the  Staufters.) 
Inventions  are  often  claimed  by  persons  who 
have  no  right  to  them,  and  who  never  siiould 
have  been  granted  a  patent  on  them. 

Within  the  the  last  three  years  a  writer  in 
the  yorth  Ainerican,  in  speaking  of  Oliver 
Evans  as  a  great  inventor,  among  other 
things  accords  to  him  the  invention  of  the 
Hopper-hoy. — L.  S.  i?.,  Warwick,  April, 
1870. 


•  How  diflfereni  it  was  with  the  flowr  which  Washington 
Bhipjed  to  the  B;'me  jiort;  his  "brand"  was  eutficient,  aud 
therefore,  it  needed  no  inspection. 

t  This  otlice  seems  to  have  originated  in  conseqneuce  of 
fraud,  wliich  perhaj'S  may  account  for  its  sulisquent  fraiul- 
ulent  administration  in  bo  may  cases — no  great  credit  to 
Lancaster  county. — Ed. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmed. 
ANNUAL  AND  BIENNIAL  FLOWERS. 

All  hai'dy  annual  and  biennial  flower  seeds 
should  be  sown  in  April.  The  new  varieties 
of  the  well  known  species  are  very  superb.  Of 
annuals,  Sweet  Alyssum  and  Mignionette  are 
sweet  scented.  Drumoiulii  Phlox,  Candytuft 
and  Portulacca,  are  pretty  dwarfs.  Esch- 
schaltzea,  Calliopsis  and  Larksjjurs,  are 
showy.  So  are  Marigolds,  but  their  smell  is 
unpleasant.  The  above  may  all  grow  where 
they  are  sown.  The  following  may  be  sown 
in  warm  spots,  or  in  frames  with  glass  saslies, 
in  May,  and  transplanted  when  two  or  tliree 
inches  higli:  Double  German  Asters,  Balsams, 
Zinnias  Browallia,  Globe,  Amaranthus,  Gail- 
ardia,  &c.,  all  very  beautiful. 

mevnials. — The  new  varieties  and  species 


t  In  a  collection  of  patent  cases  decided  in  the  upreme 
and  Circuit  Courts  of  the  United  States.  By  James  B.  Robb, 
cousclor-at-law.  Boston  185A,  vol.  1,  page  166.  Evans  vs. 
Hettick,  [3  Wasli.  408].  Action  for  an  infringement 
of  the  plantiflF's  right  to  the  hopper-boj ,  described  in  his 
jjateiit.  Plea  not  guilty.  The  evidence  was  the  same  ae  in 
the  case  of  Evans  vs.  Eaton  (1  Peter's  Rep.  322,)  save  that 
David  Aby,  one  of  the  defendant's  wituesaes.said  the  hopper- 
boy  used  by  the  defendant,  was  the  Staufcr^f*  hoppcr-bny. 
This  consists  of  aii  uprif^ht  shaft  with  a  cog-wheel  that 
turns  it,  gei'red  with  the  water-power  of  the  mill.  An  arm 
or  board,  somewhat  resembling  an  S,  with  strips  of  wood 
fixed  on  one  side,  and  so  arranged  as  to  turn  the  meal  l>e- 
low  it,  cool  and  dry,  aud  conduct  it  to  the  bolting  chest.  Of 
course,  sundry  legal  quibbles  were  brcught  to  bear  as  to  the 
identity  of  the  original  invention  of  Staffer  and  the  patent 
sulwequently  granted  Oliver  Evans.  On  page  193,  the  case 
concludes  thus  :  "If  it  was  in  use,  in  any  part  of  the  world, 
however  unlikely  or  impossible  that  the  fact  should  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  patentee,  his  patent  for  the  same 
machine  cannot  be  supported."  *'  Verdict  for  tltf  dcfentl- 
an'."  We  find  another  case  of  the  same,  Evans  vs.  Eaton, 
[:i  Wash.  443].  The  defendant  upon  testimony  of  numerous 
witnesses,  proved  that  Daniel  Stauffer  first  saw  it  in  opera- 
tion on  his  father's,  Chrisaan   Stauffer's  mill,   in  the  year 

1774.  In  1775  or  1776,  he  erected  a  similar  one  in  the  mill  of 
his  brother  Henry;  and  another  in  Jacob  .Stauffer's  mill,  in 
177Kor    1779.     Philip    Frederick   swears,  that  in    the  year 

1775,  hesaw  a  Stauffer's  hopper-boy  in  operation  in  Chris- 
tian Stauffer's  mill;  and  another  in  U.  Charles'  mill,  and 
that  it  was  always  called  "Stauffer's  machine,"  (page  19S). 
George  Roup,  states  that  in  1784  he  erected  one  of  these 
hopper-boys  in  liranueman's,  and  iu  1782,  he  got  the  de- 
scription from  Abraham  Staufi'er,  as  iu  use  in  his  father's 
mill.  This  case  concludes  on  page  207,  in  these  words, 
^'verdict  firr  defendant." 

These  abstracts  from  the  lengthy  reports,  are  simply 
given  to  confirm  the  statement  made  by  Mr.  Reist, 

J.  S. 


are  very  lovely.  The  seeds  are  sown,  and  the 
plants  transplanted,  when  large  enough,  of  all 
the  species,  and  bloom  the  second  year.  Sweet 
Williams  and  China  pinks  of  many  colors,  and 
double  and  single  blooms.  Canterbury  bolls, 
white,  sky  blue  and  dark  blue.  Foxglove,  the 
original  rose-colored  species,  a  white  ami 
yellow-white  varieties.  Columbiue,  a  rose 
color,  a  blue,  purple,  white,  violet,  &c.,  with 
both  double  and  single  blooms.  Carnation 
pinks  of  various  colors,  single  and  double 
blooms.  Heddewigi  pinks  and  Laciniatus 
l)iiiks  are  both  fancy  pinks  of  great  beauty. — 
Flora. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmed. 
WHICH  POTATO  IS  THE  BEST? 

The  potato  is  more  extensively  grown  and 
more  generally  used  than  any  other  culinary 
vegetable;  and  the  good  varieties  are,  per- 
haps, the  most  wholesome  of  all  vegetables. 
We  have  had  a  large  number  of  varieties  for 
trial ;  many  have  been  of  good  (luality,  but 
not  so  productive  as  the  inferior  varieties,  so 
cultivators  have  grown  the  inferiors  for  profit. 
The  PcaclMow  yields  large  crops  upon  sandy 
soils,  but  it  is  too  much  of  the  coarse  Iwrse- 
yeim.  Its  hard  core  makes  only  two-thirds  of 
it  fit  to  eat.  The  following  are  good  for  early 
use  :  Early  Rose,  Extra  Early  Vermont,  King 
of  Earlies,  Snowflake,  Aljiha,  &c.  For  late 
crops  grow  Late  Rose,  Brownell's  Beauty, 
Peerless,  aud  White  Peachblow.  They  are  all 
good  varieties.  The  Early  Rose  and  Late 
Rose  arc  well  known  as  first-rate,  both  in 
tpiality  and  productiveness.  Brownell's 
Beauty  is  a  splendid  looking  tuber,  of  first 
(juality ;  and,  so  far  as  we  have  grown  and 
seen  it  in  many  places,  is  very  productive. 
The  Peerless  is  also  excellent  and  productive. 
We  almost  fear  the  White  Peachblow,  as 
coming  from  the  old  Peachljlow.  It  is  well 
to  try  all  new  kinds,  as  one  tuber  can  be 
bought,  which  can  be  cut  into  many  sets  for 
a  fair  trial.  They  may  jiroduce  a  bushel  for 
next  year's  planting,  so  the  experiment  is 
not  expensive. — Solarium, 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmed. 
HOW  I  RAISED  MY  TOMATOES. 

I  may  as  well  state  at  the  outset  that  my 
experience  in  the  cultivation  of  this  delicious 
vegetable  has  neither  been  derived  from  a  long- 
continued  series  of  experiments,  nor  from  its 
production  on  an  extended  scale.  Nor  is  the 
system  pursued  original  with  me;  on  the  con- 
trary, the  hint  was  taken  from  the  agricultu- 
ral corner  of  a  counti'}'  newspaper,  and  for 
aught  I  know,  may  be  the  plan  continually 
followed  by  truck  gardeners.  I  sim|>ly  wish 
to  relate  my  own  experience,  from  which  the 
reader  may  draw  his  own  deductions?. 

The  ground  set  apart  for  my  tomato  patch 
was  only  sixteenfeet  long  and  seven  feet  wide: 
it  is  what  is  known  here  in  the  city  as  "made" 
ground;  that  is,  not  the  natural  surface  soil, 
but  made  up  of  earths  of  several  kinds,  dug 
out  of  cellars  and  excavations,  and  used  to  fill 
up  low  places.  This  was  not  the  most  pro- 
mising sort  of  material  out  of  which  to  con- 
struct a  garden  soil;  Ijut  there  was  no  help 
for  it,  and  the  only  thing  to  do  was  to  make 
the  most  out  of  it.  It  was  heavily  manured 
in  the  spring  of  1874  with  chicken  droitpings, 
dug  over  several  times  in  the  siiring,  and  again 
in  the  fall  after  the  few  vegetal)les  that  grew 
on  it  had  been  removed.  Contrary  to  the  oft 
repeated  assertion  that  tomatoes  do  not  require 
a  rich  soil,  I  gave  the  ground  another  heavy 
manuring  of  the  same  kind  in  the  spring  of 
1875.  Tlie  backward  season  also  permitted  it 
to  be  spaded  over  deeply  two  or  three  times 
before  the  plants  were  finally  set  out.  Care 
was  taken  to  mix  the  earth  and  the  fertilizer 
as  tlioroiighly  as  jiossible,  and  in  this  I  was 
])retty  successful;  but  even  now,  with  a  liberal 
addition  of  sifted  coal  ashes,  it  is  iminviting 
and  heavy. 

Into  this  contracted  piece  of  ground,  three 
rows  of  plants  were  carefully  set  out,  the  rows 
running  the  long  way,  aud  each  one  contain- 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


59 


iiig  six  iilants.  This  was  lallicr  dose  work, 
but  1  liopod  to  oVL'ivomc  it  l)y  tlic  plan  of  cul- 
tivation I  had  in  view.  Tlu'  [ilauts  witc  of 
the  Tropliij  varii'ty,  and  wt'io  purL-hascd  on 
market  of  Mr.  (norfjc  AV.  Scliroycr,  of  this 
city.  They  soon  took  root  and  jjriw  rapidly, 
and  ere  lonfj  re([uired  additional  support:  this 
I  all'orded  tlicni  in  the  shape  of  props  four  feet 
hiflh,  to  which  tliey  were  tied  near  the  ground, 
aud  asain  mar  the  head  of  the  jilant,  and 
sometimes  a  third  and  fourth  tinii^  before  they 
were  ashij^h  as  the  siistainiii};  jioles. 

As  soon  as  the  Rrowiu^  vines  manifested  a 
disposition  to  llower,  I  beLjan  to  remove  with 
a  sharp  knife  all  the  leavis  from  the  jrrouud 
al)out  halfway  up  the  stalks,  and  to  this  plan 
I  rigidly  adhen'd  from  first  to  last.  Two  or 
three  of  tlie  n  ost  thrifty  shoots  sent  out  from 
the  main  stem  were  permitted  to  grow,  but 
these  also  were  constantly  freed  from  all  un- 
necessary foliage  in  the  shape  of  leaves. 
Branches  of  fruit  would  form  at  intervals, 
and  while  these,  in  all  instances,  were  left,  the 
leaves  l)oth  above  and  below  tliem  were  re- 
moved as  often  as  the  occasion  seemed  to  de- 
mand it.  It  was  continually  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise to  me  how  rapidly  the  leaves  grew.  I 
think  I  am  within  boimds  when  I  say  that  in 
the  height  of  the  season  a  large  ai-uiful  of 
leaves  was  cut  from  these  eighteen  phints  re- 
gularly once  a  week. 

When  the  vines  were  as  high  .as  their  sup- 
ports, quite  narrow  stripsof  board  were  nailed 
on  the  hitter  the  entire  length  of  the  rows,  and 
transversely  across  them  other  strips  of  the 
same  kind  were  laid,  whereon  not  only  the 
vines  might  rest  when  they  grew  higher  than 
their  supports  ami  bent  over,  but  likewise  to 
sustain  the  branches  of  fruit  when  too  heavy 
to  be  sujiporfed  by  the  .stalks  themselves.  On 
the  top  of  this  lattice-w(uk,  as  1  may  call  it, 
the  process  of  leaf  pruning  went  on,  even  to 
the  end  of  the  season.  Bunches  of  fine  toma- 
toes in  every  stage  of  maturity  adorned  the 
plants  from  within  a  foot  of  the  ground  to 
their  outer  extremity. 

Meanwhile  the  ground  beneath  was  tho- 
roughly cultivated:  every  few  days  the  rake 
was  passed  through  it,  loosening  the  soil,  de- 
stroying the  weeds,  and  ])re venting  it  from 
baking  around  the  roots  of  the  plants.  In  dry 
weather  they  were  regularly  watered  by  hand, 
and  were  not  allowetl  to  suffer  for  want  of 
moisture.  As  the  lowest  and  first  formed  fruit 
I'ipened  and  was  removed,  the  few  leaves  that 
had  been  permitted  to  remain  on  theljranches 
were  also  taken  off,  until  finally  hardly  any 
foliage  was  to  be  seen  within  three  feet  of  the 
ground,  and  the  sun  had  free  access  to  the 
roots  of  the  growing,  bearing  vines.  This  I 
regard  as  a  great  advantage,  and  which  could 
not  have  been  secured  had  the  useless  foliage 
been  permitted  to  remain  and  cover  the 
ground  with  its  dense  shade. 

By  this  plan  I  obtained  from  twenty  to 
thirty-five  tomatoes  from  every  plant :  the 
average,  I  suppose,  was  about  twenty-five.  I 
presume  this,  when  the  quality  of  the  fruit  is 
considered,  to  be  .a  fair  yield;  at  any  rate,  I 
was  satisfied  with  it,  and  I  saw  very  little  on 
market  that  equaled  it,  either  in  firmness  or 
fleshiness.  Although  the  spring  .set  in  very 
late,  my  tomatoes  began  to  ripen  not  long 
after  the  southern  article  came  into  market, 
and  before  any  of  my  neighbors  could  indulge 
in  the  home-grown  article.  It  was  with  some 
pride,  (pardonalile,  I  trust,)  that  I  called  the 
attention  of  chance  callers  to  the  handsome 
clusters  of  every  shade,  from  a  delicate  green 
to  darkest  red,  that  were  everywhere  visible. 
It  is  true  that  before  they  began  to  ripen,  the 
absence  of  foliage  seenud  at  first  sight  to  con- 
vey the  idea  that  the  vines  were  more  thrifty 
than  prolific,  and  my  attention  was  called  to 
this  fact  often  enough,  liut  I  invariably  asked 
the  critic  to  count  the  nundjer  on  a  single  vine, 
when  he,  too,  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
twenty-live  tomatoes  was,  jierhaps,  as  large  a 
yield  as  was  usually  realized  from  vines  that 
were  permitted  to  grow  up  without  support, 
only  to  tumble  down  and  cover  three  or  four 
square  yards  of  garden  ground  planted  with 
Other  vegetables. 


I  do  not  think  the  foregoing  was  a  fair  test 
of  this  plan.  My  ground  is  not  favorably  loca- 
ted. Its  eastern  boundry  isa  high  board  fence, 
winch  prevents  the  sun  from  reaching  the 
plants  at  that  end  at  an  early  hour,  while  on 
the  western  side  is  a  stable  which  obstructs 
the  sun  after  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
With  all  these  drawbacks,  one  plant  attained 
a  length  often  feet,  and  bore  several  clusters 
of  line  fruit  within  twelve  (U'  fifteen  inches  of 
the  top.  The  severest  i)ruuing  did  not  appear 
to  interfere  with  the  growth,  either  of  the 
vines  or  fruit.  I  feid  assured  that  had  the  en- 
tire foliage  been  left  on  them,  the  result  would 
have  liicu  nuich  inferior  tomatoes,  as  well  as 
much  lalrr  ones.  The  free  access  of  sunlight 
to  the  soil  stimulated  the growthof  the  plants, 
and  its  access  to  the  growing  fruit  was  equally 
influential  in  giving  color  and  flavor  to  it.  In 
a  more  favorable  locality  au<l  better  soil,  muidi 
better  results  nnghl  rea.sonable  be  expected. — 
F.  li.  U.,  Ldncaster,  Pa. 


For  T»F.  I.ANCARTEH  FARMCB. 

BEES  AND  BEE  HIVES. 

Your  Faumer  is  always  a  welcome  visitor — 
full  of  information  of  a  useful  character,  if 
liropcrly  applied.  Several  corresiiondeufs  have 
given  tlH-ir  views  on  15ec  Culture,  and  I  ask  a 
small  jilacc  in  yom-  colunms  for  a  few  words 
on  the  same  subject.  I  have  studied  the  nature 
of  Bees  for  many  years.  It  re(iuires  time  and 
l)atience,  but  now  1  think  I  have  Ix-eii  ftdly 
l)aid  for  all  my  trouble. 

First,  then,  as  to  size  and  shape  of  hive,  also 
surplus  honey-ho.x.  I  find  natural  swarming 
to  be  the  best,  as  nature  never  madc^  a  mistake 
in  her  work.  The  hives  should  be  made  of 
pine,  one  inch  thick,  clear  of  knots,  ten  and  a 
lialf  inches  s(ptare  on  the  inside,  and  fifteen 
inches  high.  In  this  size  the  Bees  will  build 
nine  straight  combs,  and  in  the  fall  they  will 
contain  thirty  pounds  of  honey.  Twenty 
pounds  will  feed  the  largest  stock  during  seven 
nu)ik,ths  of  winter.  This  amount  can  be,  and 
is  gathered  in  from  ten  to  fifteen  days  during 
the  white  clover  harvest,  and  I  waul  the 
balance  as  a  surplus.  This  I  get  from  one  box 
on  the  top  of  the  hive,  which  holds  fifty 
pounds,  and  I  seldom  fail  to  get  them  full.  I 
remove  them  in  .September,  therefore  the  bees 
are  ann<iycd  only  once;  but  when  small  boxes, 
containing  oidy  five  or  six  pounds  are  used, 
they  are  required  to  be  removed  as  soon  as 
full,  which  will  be  every  five  or  six  days. 
Then  there  is  as  much  time  lost  in  getting  the 
boxes  cleaned  and  all  the  corners  puttied, 
ready  for  work,  as  it  takes  to  fill  them.  Count 
this  lost  time  of  the  bees  and  you  will  find 
yourself  minus  at  least  twenty  pounds  of 
iioney,  besides  the  frequent  disturbing  and 
annoyance  you  cause  them. 

My  hives  are  plain,  with  four  cross  sticks  to 
support  the  combs.  The  boxescontain  movable 
frames,  one  inch  and  three-sixteenths  wide, 
and  a  ipiarter  of  an  inch  space  between  for 
room  for  travel.  Now,  with  a  little  melted 
Ijeeswax  on  the  end  of  a  stiff  feather,  draw  a 
line  along  the  middle  of  the  toji  and  two  ends 
of  each  frame,  and  the  bees  will  wall  on  to  this 
and  fill  each  frame  with  a  straight  worked 
comb,  and  each  frame  can  be  removed  with- 
out disturbing  the  others. 

I  learned  this  in  the  year  1840,  in  Valpa- 
raiso, Chili,  on  board  a  (ierman  sliii),  which 
carried  fifty  stock  on  board,  bound  for  San 
Francisco.  I  took  down  the  model  in  my 
diary,  and  on  my  return  home  adopted  the 
jilan,  and  have  never  desired  a  change.  '  In 
the  winter  I  always  put  on  the  boxes,  leaving 
the  passage  way  open,  so  that  the  sweat  from 
the  bees  niay  pass  ui)and  evaporate,  otherwi.se 
it  would  drop  to  the  bottom  and  form  ice,  and 
in  time  freeze  thein.  AVhen  new  pollen  is  to 
be  had  I  shut  them  off  from  the  box  by  ii;iss- 
inga  ]iiece  of  tin  between  the  hive  and  the 
box,  until  the  first  swarm  comes  off.  I  then  re- 
move the  tin  that  they  may  go  up  and  fill  with 
Iioney.  believing  it  to  be  worth  more  than  the 
.second  swarming,  as  this  is  a  preventive, 
having  space  for  Ih'cs  and  room  for  work. 

I  have  received  many  solicitations  to  pur- 


chase Italian  queens,  or  entire  hives.  I  once 
did  i)ureliase  a  hive  at  a  big  figuif,  and  had  it 
two  years,  and  I  never  got  either  a  swarm  or 
any  surplus  honey  ;  but  In-fore  killing  them  I 
hybridized  my  American  black  bee,  whicli  I 
think  is  an  improvement.  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  Italian  Ih'cs  are  like  the 
"  natives  ;"  so  long  as  they  have  a  dollar  they 
will  not  work  to  accunndate  a  .store,  and  after 
the  hive  is  full  they  will  not  gather  any  sur- 
plus.— M'm.  I.  Pijlc,  Wcsl  Clicster,  March 
lllh,  187G. 


For  The  I.ancartku  Fauhcb. 
THE  HUMMING  BIRD. 

On  reading  the  interesting  article  on  the 
nature  of  the  lliunming  bird,  in  TlIK  Fahmku 
for  this  month,  I  notice  dilfereiil  opinions  in 
regard  to  their  mode  of  living,  breeding  anil 
the  size  of  the  bird.  I  think  their  foinl  is  in- 
sects taken  from  the  flowers  and  sonirtinics 
from  spider  webs.  In  confirmation  of  this  1 
send  you  a  tVather  taken  from  the  tail  of  a 
Humming  bird,  which  1  extracted  from  a 
spider's  web  in  ('hili.  South  America,  twenty- 
four  years  ago.  The  bird  had  been  caught  in 
tlie  web  just  as  I  came  to  a  llower  liusli  in  full 
bloom,  and  in  the  bush  was  the  spider's  wel). 
The  spider  was  throwing  his  coils  around  tlio 
bird,  which  was  struggling  hard  to  free  itself. 
With  a  stick  I  set  the  spider  off  and  relea.st-il 
the  bird.  I  then  knocked  the  insect  on  Iho 
grouuil.  It  "hissed"  at  me  and  swelled  up 
as  large  as  .a  toad.  It  wa,s  as  black  as  coal, 
except  its  legs,  which  were  brown  and  very 
long.  I  think  it  could  stand  at  least  four  inches 
from  the  ground.  I  killed  it,  aud  then  relieved 
the  bird  of  its  netting,  which  was  ahnosl  a.s 
strong  as  thread.  I  then  drew  the  only  llirec 
feallu'i-s  which  composed  its  lieaiiliful  tail. 
The  middle  one  was  stiff  and  of  a  browncolor  ; 
the  other  two  (one  of  whidi  I  send  you,)  were 
of  a  snowy  white,  although,  as  1  liave  had 
them  since  ls."):i,  they  have  become  somewhat 
discolored.  The  one  I  send  you  was  a  little 
longer  (the  length  of  the  barnd)  say  a  quarter 
of  an  inch.  The  bird  was  a  chocolate  color  in 
the  shade,  with  blue  neck  and  green  liead  ;  in 
the  sun  it  would  change  colors  or  shades.  After 
the  tail  was  out  there  was  not  much  of  it— not 
much  larger  than  a  small  humlile  liee.  It  is 
called  (iu((iiiaiiiliirnra,i<Vii  rare  variety  of  the 
Iluinming  bird.  As  I  brought  this  feather 
from  a  foreign  country,  procuring  it  from 
the  tail  of  the  smallest  meml)er  of  the  feathered 
tribe,  and  have  preserved  it  since  18.")2,  1 
thought  you  might  consider  it  something  of  a 
curiosity. —  Wm.  I.  Pyle,  Wtsl  Clttster,  March 
2U«/i,  1870. 

« 

For  The  Lahcakteb  FABMKn. 
TRANSPLANTING  HARDY    TREES,  &c. 

April  is  the  chosen  month  of  spring  for 
transplanting  hardy  trees,  shrubs,  lierbaceou.s 
llowers  and  iiereunial  vegetables,  such  its 
roots  of  rhubarb,  asjiaragiis,  hoi-se  radish, 
&c.;  lieavy  loams  sliould  be  well  stirred  .iml 
finely  broken  to  put  about  the  roots  in  tran.s- 
planting.  The  holes  should  be  larger  than  the 
extent  of  the  roots,  so  that  they  will  all  be 
spread  out  in  their  natural  positions.  If  the 
farmers  of  Lancaster  county  could  ])erceivo 
how  much  they  are  favored  with  good  soil, 
good  clinrite,  and  tlu-  line  rolling  lay  of  their 
lands  for  the  cultureof  liirdy  tree  fruits,  tliey 
woulil  soon  make  themselves  and  their  county 
famous  for  choice  fruits.  The  farnu-rs  of  ( 'lies- 
ter  and  Delaware  counties  are  more  advanced 
in  fruit  culture,  though  less  favored  in  soil, 
climate,  &e.     It  is  not   too  late  now  to  Ix-giii. 

In  plaiiliiig  ornamental  triH'sand  .shrublHTy, 
the  deciduous  species  should  lie  .set  out  first, 
and  as  soon  as  frosts  are  over  and  soil  fit  to 
dig  in.  Kver-rreens can  be  transplanted  later; 
yes,  in  May.  Hardy  herbaceous  llowei-s  .should 
be  planted  early,  and  the  more  tendiT  species 
can  be  set  out  in  May  and  .June. — IIorluMUi. 


Ask  Toi'n  NEiniiiioR  to  otiliscrllK"  for  Tun  L*y- 
CASTKii  KviiMKii.  It  ih  wiirtti  tell  ttmcs  the  ro8l  to 
any  farmer,  ijanleiior,  <ir  fruit  irrower.  Tills  Is  lliu 
teslinioiiy  uf  some  of  tliu  best  practical  mcu  is  Ibo 
couulry. 


60 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[April, 


For  The  Lancaster  Fabmbb. 
WHAT  CAUSES  HONEY-DEW  ?* 

There  has  been  much  speculation  about 
honey-dew,  and  as  yet  no  settled  conclusion 
arrived  at.  There  has  been  seen  falling  from 
above  a  moisture  or  a  dew  which  is  sweet  to 
the  taste:  hence  its  name,  honey-dew.  As  it 
cannot  come  from  nothing,  we  conclude  it  is 
the  result  of  sonieiliinfj,  and  below  will  be  found 
what  seems  to  the  writer  as  a  probable  cause. 

It  is  a  well  known  law  of  nature,  that  vapor 
is  constantly  arising  from  the  surftice,  and 
ascends  to  a  colder  strata  of  air,  when  it  be- 
comes condensed  and  falls  in  the  form  of  rain 
and  dew.  It  is  also  well  known  that  tlowers 
of  the  fields,  forests,  gardens,  and  widespread 
prairies,  are  constantly  throwingoff  an  aroma, 
a  line  etherealized  essence,  which  no  doubt 
arises  and  becomes  condensed  like  the  vapors, 
and  falls,  the  same  as  rain  and  dew. 

We  cannot  conceive  from  whence  comes  its 
sweetness,  unless  from  this  cause. — A.  Allen 
iVoe,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  March  10,  1876. 


OUR  PARIS   LETTER. 


Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 

CorrespondeDce  of  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

PAitis,  April  1, 1S76. 

INFLUENCE   OF    TEMPERATUBE    ON  MILK  AND 
BUTTER. 

M.  Tisserand  having  visitpd  the  dairy  districts  in 
tlie  vicinity  of  tlie  Baltic,  draws  attention  to  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  gained  by  the  conservation  of  milk, 
the  preparation  of  butter  and  tlie  making  of  cheese 
at  lower  temperatures  than  what  are  generally  em- 
ployed. France,  and  perhaps  other  countries  as  well, 
fail  to  enjoy  all  the  advantages  in  butter-making  that 
the  farmers  of  Denmark  and  Sweden  reap  by  the 
adoption  of  a  lower  scale  of  temperature.  In  France 
It  is  believed  that,  in  order  to  obtain  good  cream  and 
good  butter,  the  temperature  ought  to  be  maintained 
between  5:^  and  .55  degrees  Fahrenheit ;  below  this, 
the  cream,  it  is  alleged,  will  not  mount.  M.  Tisser- 
and has  experimented  on  milk,  fresh  from  the  cow, 
at  temperatures  varying  from  41,  5U  and  ilo  degrees, 
pemiiug  'M  and  liG  hours,  and  found  that  the  cream 
rose  most  rapidly  as  the  temperature  approached 
most  to  o3  degrees  ;  that  the  volume  of  cream  ob- 
tained was  greater,  the  yield  of  butter  superior,  and 
the  quality  of  cheese  and  butter  peculiarly  fine. 
There  is  nothing  surprising  in  all  this  ;  it  is  only 
natural  that  cold  should  act  on  milk  as  it  does  on 
beer,  wine  and  sueli  fermentable  liquids,  by  conserv- 
ing and  ameliorating,  them,  by  preventing  those 
changes  due  to  the  action  of  the  agents  of  fermenta- 
tion. The  excellence  of  Vienna  beer  is  owing  to  its 
being  faljricated  at  a  very  low  temperature.  In  the 
north  of  Eurojie  milk  Is  kept  at  a  temperature  very 
low  by  means  of  ice,  and  the  ice  is  preserved  in 
trenches  for  summer  use.  Thus  there  is  not  a  little 
ceouomj'  in  dispensing  with  fuel  and  its  apparatus 
for  heating.  Milk  cooled  down  to  37  or  39  degrees, 
by  means  of  a  running  stream  of  spring  water,  will, 
according  to  M.  Tisserand's experiments,  yield  10 per 
cent,  more  butter  than  when  maintained  at  a  tem- 
perature of  57  degrees.  M.  Dahl,  of  Norway,  ob- 
tains 17  ounces  of  butter  from  13  quarts  of  milk, 
churned  at  37  to  39  degrees,  while  13  quarts  were  re- 
(juired  to  produce  the  same  quantity  of  butter  when 
the  temperature  was  maintained  at  (ii  degrees.  It  is 
owing  to  this  peculiar  method  of  preparation  that 
Denmark  is  enabled  to  export  butter  to  China  and 
Japan .  One  drop  of  milk  contains  45,000  globules  of 
various  dimensions,  the  largest  being  fewest  in  num- 
ber. These  globules,  consisting  of  fatty  matter,  re- 
semble a  sky  clustered  with  stars,  and  only  occupy  7 
or  8  per  cent,  of  the  volume  in  which  they  move  ;  be- 
ing lighter  than  the  serum  in  which  they  float,  they 
mount  to  the  surface,  the  largest  globules  first,  and 
form  cream.  In  Denmark  the  milk  is  placed  in 
block-tin  vases  twenty  inches  deep  and  sixteen  iu 
diameter  ;  these  are  placed  in  a  reservoir,  where 
water  is  constantly  running,  and  to  which  ice  can  be 
added. 

THE   GOVERNMENT    SHOW    OF    FAT    STOCK. 

The  Fat  Stock  Show  just  held  in  the  Palace  of  In- 
dustry, under  governmental  auspices,  marks  a  not- 
able progress  over  that  of  last  year,  both  in  general 
entries  and  the  symmetry  of  the  animals.  The  first 
cattle  show  iu  France  dates  from  the  year  1S44.  The 
display  of  sheep  was  above  all  remarkably  excellent. 
This  year,  also,  bulls,  rams  and  boars  were  admitted 
for  the  first,  time,  and  although  no  prizes  were 
awarded,  the  ela.ssification  by  a  tried  jury  must  tell 
by  drawing  the  attention  of  breeders  to  those  points 
recognized  as  superior,  embodying  thus  sound  ad- 
vice for  all  whom  it  may  concern.  There  were  some 
excellent  specimens  of  the  White  Cliarolais  and  the 

"See  page  49  of  this  uumber  of  The  Farmer. 


Red  Breton,  as  well  as  of  that  splendid  race,  both  as 
to  form  and  finenessof  skin,  the  Charolais-Nivernais. 
In  rams,  the  Merino  took  the  lead,  and  perhaps  next 
its  crosses.  The  Shropshire-dowu  and  the  Disbley- 
merino  had  very  fine  representatives,  some  weighing 
200  iJounds,  and  exhibited  what  is  considered  the 
ideal  of  form — absence  of  horns,  short  neck,  and  con- 
sequently chest  well  developed.  The  display  of 
poultry  was  very  beautiful,  and  a  cock  and  five  hens, 
belonging  to  the  Crevecoeur  race,  which  obtained  the 
prix  (V?tonnenr,  looked  superb  in  their  jet-black 
plumage  and  tuft.  The  dead  poultry  were  monster 
masses  of  grease.  In  fat  stock,  a  Charolais-Durham, 
etc.,  weighing  IS  cwt.,  .and  aged  34  months, obtained 
the  first  prizes,  as  did  also  a  lot  of  three  sheep,  aged 
S  months  and  15  days,  weighing  collectively  4'.2'  cwt. ; 
in  pigs,  a  Yorkshire-Berkshire-Normand  animal, 
aged  10  months,  weighed  4J^  cwt. 

THE    STANDARD   FRENCH   CATTLE    SHOW. 

The  principal  fat  cattle  show  in  France  is  that  which 
has  recently  taken  place  at  Nevers;  it  is,  in  a  way, 
the  standard  for  the  country.  What  the  breeders 
and  reai'crs  seek,  is  not  an  animal  excessively  fat,  for 
such  would  be  objectionable,  but  an  increase  in  tlie 
saleable  meat,  of  good  quality,  tender  and  juicy,  with 
the  fat  spotted,  as  it  were,  throughout  the  lean.  In 
place,  as  formerly,  of  having  only  a  yield  of  50  per 
cent,  of  meat,  as  much  as  65  and  even  70  per  cent,  is 
now  obtained,  the  skin,  tallow,  offal,  &e.,  being  thus 
reduced  to  30  [ler  cent.  This  will  not  diminish,  how- 
ever, the  price  of  meat,  because  persons  who  for- 
merly eat  it  but  twice  in  the  year,  consume  it  at  pres- 
eut  every  day.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Nevers,  the 
rent  of  pasture  land  has  risen  nearly  flve-fold  in 
twelve  years — what  was  fr.l2  per  acre  is  now  60. 
The  locality  has  a  special  race  of  stock,  the  Nii'crnain, 
which  is  the  product  of  successive  crossings  of  the 
white  Charolais  with  white  Durhams.  There  is  a 
large  business  carried  on  in  the  fattening  of  cows,  a 
proof  that  the  prejudice  against  that  kind  of  meat — 
never  a  rational  one,  is  on  the  decline.  As  a  general 
rule,  animals  of  a  mean  size  are  preferred  by  French 
butchers  ;  large  races  do  not  bring  so  high  a  price  as 
average  ones  ;  and  three  sheep,  weighing  90  pounds 
each,  are  more  profitable  than  one  of  330  pounds. 

TELLIER'S   new   process   of    preserving    MEAT 
FRESH. 

It  is  in  this  month  that  the  company  formed  to  work 
the  Tellier  process  of  preservation  of  meat  in  a  fresh 
state,  will  despatch  its  first  specially  fitted  up  ship  to 
La  Plata.  The  process  is  this  :  The  germs  of  de- 
composition are  killed  by  a  temperature  of  32  degrees, 
and  live  only  between  one  varying  from  43  to  48  de- 
grees. Tellier,  by  means  of  inethylie  ether,  h.as  con- 
served meat  perfectly  fresh  and  savory,  save  a  loss  of 
10  per  cent,  in  weight,  for  .57  days,  the  ether  main- 
taining the  temperature  at  the  freezing  point  and  dry 
by  the  aid  of  ingenious  generating  cold  machinery. 
France  consumes  4,000  tons  of  fresh  meat  daily,  and 
the  company  expects  to  add  thereto  by  100  tons,  so 
the  competition  cannot  frighten  farmers,  for  the  pres- 
ent, at  least.  The  voyage  from  La  Plata  to  France 
is  expected  to  he  m.ade  in  at  most  30  days.  The  ani- 
mals will  cost  but  fr.70  at  the  port  of  shipping,  near 
which  they  will  be  slaughtered. 

SUBSTITUTE    for    CLIPPING    HORSES   IN   AUTUMN. 

M.  Veterinary  Surgeon  Felizet  recommends  that 
instead  of  clipping  working  horses  in  autumn,  a  good 
shining  coat,  free  from  skin  dust,  can  be  secured  by 
giving  the  horses,  from  the  middle  of  September, 
either  alone  or  mixed  with  their  evening  feed  of  oats, 
one-tenth  of  a  quart  of  bruised  hemp  seed,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  buckwheat  in  its  natural  state. 

ECONOMICAL    FEEDING    OF    STOCK. 

Very  minute  attention  is  being  given  to  the  econo- 
mical feeding  of  stock.  For  their  sustenance  only, 
the  food  ought  to  be  in  proportion  to  the  one-sixty-sixth 
of  their  weight.  It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that 
the  consumption  is  not  so  much  in  relation  to  the 
animal's  weight  as  to  the  capacity  of  its  chest,  and 
that  two  animals,  each  600  pounds  in  weight,  will 
consume  a  little  more  than  a  single  animal  of  1,200. 
In  the  ease  of  draught  animals,  their  rations  ouglit  to 
be  doubled  for  every  twelve  hours  of  work,  taking 
hay  as  the  type  of  nutrition.  Of  course,  a  dietary 
wholly  consisting  of  hay  is  not  to  be  thought  of,  but 
grains  substituted  pro  rata.  In  the  case  of  growing 
animals,  in  addition  to  their  sustenance  ration,  they 
will  require  14  pounds  of  forage  to  add  one  pound  to 
their  weight.  For  fattening,  10  pounds  of  hay  added 
to  the  ordinary  feed,  will  prodpee  one  pound  of  meat, 
and  a  sujipleinental  ration  of  one  pound  of  food  will 
yield  an  increase  of  one  pint  in  the  milk,  provided  the 
cow  be  of  a  good  milking  breed ;  if  not,  the  aug- 
mented food  will  only  fatten.  A  point  not  to  be  over- 
looked, is  to  have  a  trustworthy  cow  herd,  who  will 
possess  some  clear  ideas  respecting  the  necessity  of 
feeding  animals  at  fixetl  hours,  and  duly  measuring 
their  rations.  He  ought  to  exclude  all  damaged  food, 
or  adopt  the  usual  means  for  ameliorating  it,  never 
forcing  an  appetite. 

THE   PRESERVATION  OF   GREEN  FODDER. 
M.  Gotfart,  who  is  one  of  the  apostles  of  the  move- 
ment in  favor  of  the  preservation  of  green  maize  for 
winter  and  spring  feeding,  asserts  that  he  has  received 


thousands  of  letters  from  his  countrymen  and  foreign- 
ers, testifying  to  their  success,  and  craving  for  more 
information.  A  few  items  on  this  important  topic. 
The  Giant  Maize,  or  Caragua,  though  the  seed  has 
never  been  imiiorted  from  Nicaragua,  is  the  variety  to 
sow.  It  yields  as  much  as  70  tons  per  acre.  M. 
GofTarl  cuts  his  green  maize  into  lengths  of  four 
inches,  by  steam  and  hand  machines.  He  has  sup- 
pressed the  angles  in  the  trenches,  and  since  the  ends 
of  the  pit  are  oblong,  the  maize  suffers  less  deteriora- 
tion. He  has  also  employed  portable  doors,  when  the 
pits  are  opened,  to  take  out  the  forage.  This  plant  letter 
excludes  the  air.  He  pitted  two  tons  of  chopped  green 
rye  the  8th  of  last  May,  and  opened  the  pits  the  fol- 
lowing September,  when  the  cattle  eat  the  rye  the 
same  as  green  maize  then  supplied  to  them.  All  green 
fodder  can  be  similarly  preserved  in  an  uncut  as  well 
as  in  a  chopped  state. 

MISCELLANEOUS    NOTES. 

Much  conversation  has  since  a  year  taken  place 
relative  to  the  Telliez  process  for  cultivating  pota- 
toes. The  tubers  were  planted  iu  August,  and  were 
ripe  in  .January.  The  agricultural  society  deputed  one 
of  itsmembers  to  test  the  experiment.  He  followedex- 
actly  the  instructions  of  M.  Telliez,  and  with  the  tubers 
supplied  by  him,  planting  others  in  a  like  manner. 
The  sample  tubers  vegetated,  and  the  produce  from 
six  tubers  just  raked  up,  was  less  than  half  a  pint,  the 
potatoes  not  being  much  larger  than  hazelnuts.  The 
other  tubers  planted  did  not  vegetate  at  all. 

As  liay  is  scarce  this  year,  farmers  substitute  cut 
straw,  steeping  it  with  some  bran  for  twelve  hours 
with  ordinary  cut  roots.  When  potatoes  are  employed, 
such  ought  to  be  either  cooked  or  fermented. 

The  subject  of  planting  trees,  chiefiy  poplars,  on  the 
roadsides,  is  strongly  opposed  in  many  localities  by 
the  owners  of  property  in  the  vicinity  of  the  trees;  the 
roots  stretching  into  the  neighboring  land  feed  in  a 
soil  where  they  have  no  right.  The  state,  on  an  ave- 
rage, nets  one  franc  per  annum  by  the  prunings  on 
each  tree — proprietors  estimating  their  loss  at  two 
francs. 


OUR  FARMERS  IN  COUNCIL. 


Proceedings  of  the  Agricultural  and  Horticul- 
tural Society — Cultivation  of  Wheat — 
Selection    of    Fruits — How    to 
take  Care  of  Our  Lawns. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Lancaster 
County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  was 
held  in  the.  rooms  of  the  Athen«um  on  Monday, 
April  3rd,  inst.,  the  President,  Calvin  Cooper,  in  the 
chair.  On  account  of  the  weather  the  attendance 
was  very  small. 

Tlie  committee  appointed  by  the  chair,  at  the  last 
meeting,  to  report  the  best  variety  of  apple  trees  for 
planting,  made  their  report.  Tlie  committee  con- 
sisted of  M.  D.  Kendig,  of  Manor;  H.  H.  Engle,  of 
Marietta,  and  Casper  Hiller,  of  Conestoga.  The  re- 
port consisted  of  two  parts,  the  following  being  writ- 
ten by  Casper  Ililler,  who  was  unable  to  be  present, 
and  the  latter  by  the  other  two  members  of  the  com- 
mittee : 

Best  Variety  of  Apple  Trees  for  Planting. 

The  task  that  has  been  laid  on  your  committee  is 
by  no  means  an  easy  one.  Thirty  years'  experience, 
to  a  close  observer  and  experimentalist,  might  enable 
him  to  say  pretty  conclusively  what  is  worthy  of  plant- 
ing on  his  own  patch  ;  but,  if  he  has  also  been  a  close 
observer,  he  has  noticed  that  what  is  good  with  him 
is  often  worthless  iu  another  part  of  tlie  county,  and 
often  so  on  his  neighbor's  land.  Different  soils,  dif- 
ferent elevations,  different  exposures,  &c.,  make 
much  difference  in  varieties.  The  list  lierewith  pre- 
sented may,  from  these  causes,  not  prove  satisfactory 
to  all,  but  embraces  such  varieties  as  have  a  general 
reputation  for  good,  or  have  proven  satisfactory  to 
your  eoniniittee  : 

Early  Su.vimer  Varieties  :  All  Summer,  Red 
Astracan,  Sine  Qua  Non. 

Late  Summer  Varieties:  Benoni,  Mellinger, 
Jeffries,  Townsend. 

Fall  Varieties  :  Gravenstein,Hubbardston None- 
such, Smokehouse,  Jersey  Sweet. 

Winter  Varieties  :  Baldwin,  Dominie,  Falla- 
water,  Greist's  Wiuter,  Belmont,  Smith's  Cider,  York 
Imperial. 

Tlie  committee  appointed  at  the  last  meeting  to 
report  on  some  of  the  best  varieties  of  apples  for 
cultivation  in  this  vicinity,  would  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing as  our  choice,  in  order  of  precedence,  confining 
ourselves  to  six  varieties  of  each  as  being  ample  : 

Summer — All  Summer,  Mellinger,  Strawberry, 
Duchess  of  Oldenburg,  Garrettsou's  Early  Primate. 

Fall — Fall  Pipjiin,  Jeffries,  Gravenstein,  Porter, 
Mai'len's  Blush,  Smoliehouse. 

Winter — K.  I.  Greening,  Hubbardston. 

Best  Keepers — Smith's  Cider,  York  Imperial, 
Golden  Russet,  Creek. 

There  are  others  of  equjil  value,  but  would  dis. 
courage  running  into  too  many  varieties,  except  for 
the  purpose  of  testing. 

On  .account  of  the  slim  .attendance,  Mr.  MeComsey 
moved  that  the  reports  be  laid  on  the  table  for  dis- 


J 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


61 


cussion  at  the  next  nipptine,  when  he  had  no  iloubl 
Oierc  would  ho  a  hn-fici-  attendance.  So  ordered. 
Condition  of  the  Crops. 
ReiKirts  of  crops  Ijcinir  next  in  order,  Mr.  Powuall, 
of  .Sadbhnry,  t-aid  that  tli-  wheal  at  the  close  of 
winter  looked  better  than  last  fall.  The  Koltz  wheat 
lias  taken  the  place  of  the  Mediterranean  varieties. 
It  ajipears  to  frive  fjrcat  satisfaction,  and  he  thinks  it 
{rivi'?  more  wheat  and  straw  than  any  olhcr  kind  of 
wheat.  The  clover  looks  very  poor,  is  thinly  set,  but 
there  is  a  chance  for  inipiovenient. 

KiMiiiAiM  lloovEK  saiil  that  in  .Manheini  and  Kast 
Ilempticld  townships  the  wheat  lields  dti  not  look  as 
promising:  as  on  previous  occasions.  The  Koltz  wheat 
appears  to  stand  the  freezing  htst.  The  other  varie- 
ties of  wheat  sown  appear  to  be  gettin/i;  less,  and 
here  and  there  in  the  ticlds  can  be  seen  vacant  spots. 
lie  could  not  tell  llie  cause  of  this.  Tlie  (jrass  looks 
proniisinir.  The  clover  is  frozen  out,  in  souk'  places 
roots  and  all.  This  is  the  ease  all  over  his  section  of 
the  county.  During;  the  last  cold  snap  the  peach 
blossoms  and  yrapes  do  not  appear  to  have  been  in- 
jured. If  this  is  the  ease  we  will  have  u  largo  crop 
of  peaches  anil  t;rapes. 

Mautin  Kkndio,  of  Manor,  said  the  crops  in  his 
neighborhood  were  about  the  same  us  those  spoken 
of  by  Messrs.  I'ownall  and  Hoover. 

John  Ilini'.u  said  that  the  peaeh  trees  lying  on 
high  ground  wci'e  not  injured  by  the  late  cold  snap. 
Those  that  were  in  low  grounds  were  invariably 
found  frozen. 

Mu.  Cooi'EK,  the  President,  said  that  as  far  as  he 
had  examined,  he  found  all  of  the  peach  blossonis 
frozen . 

Mk.  I'ownali.  said  that  the  peaeh  growers  in  bis 
neighborhood  reported  some  peach  blossoms  frozen 
that  were  in  high  places. 

Mr.  Mc'CoMSKV  callctl  the  attention  of  the  Society 
to  an  article  on  luirrowing  wheat  in  spring,  which  he 
had  clipped  from  the  I'uiinlri/  Gciillinuui..  It  was  a 
matter  he  had  never  heard  of  bidorc,  and  as  it  claimed 
to  increase  the  crop  from  II)  to  1.5  liusbels  to  the  acre, 
he  thought  it  a  matter  that  should  attract  the  atten- 
ti(tn  of  all  engaged  in  fai*ming  pursuits.  Hi:  hoped 
that  alter  the  article  was  read  every  farmer  would 
test  the  matter,  aial  give  the  result  of  his  experience 
to  the  ^^oeie^y.  The  article  was  tlu'n  read  by  one  of 
the  members  of  the  press  present,  and  is  as  follows  : 
Harrowing  Wheat  in  Spring. 
The  advantage  ol"  harrtiwing  wheat  lands  thor- 
oughly in  the  spi'ing,  as  soon  as  the  groinal  lu'comes 
dry  enough  to  prevent  the  horses  frimi  sinking  into 
it,  is  known  to  many  farmers  who  have  practiced  it, 
but  is  unknown  to  the  majority.  Wheat  is  usually 
sown  in  Sei)tendier,  upon  wcll-preiKired  land.  This 
laud  is  left  there  sutijeet  to  all  the  slornjs  of  rain  and 
snow,  and  the  dry  weather  in  succeeding  spring,  un- 
til after  the  wheat  is  harvested.  In  conse(iuenee,tho 
land  becomes  in  May  and  June  nearly  as  hard  as  a 
nu'atlow.  At  a  seasoil  of  the  year  when  the  plants 
are  in  the  giealcst  vigor  o(  growtii,  the  laml  is  so 
hard  as  not  to  giveone-half  the  nouiishnient  it  would 
if  kept  iiudlow  by  anyjirocess.  Suppose,  for  in.stanee, 
corn  should  be  planted  in  the  fall,  under  similar  con- 
ditions with  wheal,  and  that  the  uinterdid  not  injure 
it;  and  tliat  it  were  left  without  eultivaliou  of  any 
sort  until  liarvesled— it  is  evident  that  the  yield  would 
be  diminished  over  one-hall  ;  in  fact,  the  yield  would 
jjrobably  be  so  light  and  poor  as  to  be  almost  worth- 
less. 

Now,  wheat,  from  many  experiments  in  its  cultiva- 
tion by  hand  in  Kngland,  shows  as  great  sensitive- 
ness to  cultivation  as  corn — the  yield,  by  care'l'ul 
band  eidtivation,  being  increa.scd  to  (iO,  and,  in  some 
instances,  SO  bushels  per  acre.  Now,  a  thorough 
harrow  lug  of  w  heat  in  the  spring,  in  a  very  inexpen- 
sive manner  performs  the  curtivation  nearly  as  well 
as  when  done  by  hand.  If  the  crust  formed  by  the 
winter  snows  and  spring  rains  is  thoroughly  broken, 
and  the  ground  to  the  dejith  of  two  or  more  inches 
well  pulverized,  the  ell'eet  upon  the  wheat  is  almost 
like  magic.  It  starts  mto  the  most  vigorous  growth, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  has  nearly  or  quite  doubled  in 
size  the  wheat  not  harrowed.  In  pieces  of  wheat 
which  have  come  under  the  writer's  observation, 
w  bieb  w  ere  harrowed  in  strips — that  is,  one  strip  not 
harrowed  at  all,  and  other  strips  on  each  side  thor- 
oughly harrowed— iu  the  early  part  of  .lune,  the  har- 
rowed wheat  stood  fully  one  loot  higher  than  tlieuu- 
liarrowcd  at  each  side,  and  in  every  way  was  strik- 
ingly ranker  and  more  vigorous.  -Mr.  Kobert  G. 
Swan,  of  bo.se  Hill  farm,  tieneva,  N.  Y.,  who  has 
heavy  clay  land,  says  he  has  harrowed  his  wheat  for 
four  years  with  the  Thomas  harrow,  and  tinds  the 
yield  to  be  inereased  fully  teu  bushels  per  aero. 
Byram  Moulton,  of  Alexander,  (ieneseo  county,  N.  Y., 
harvested  from  lifly  acres  1,I)UU  liusliels  of  wheat. 
His  neighbors  oidy  obtaiueil  about  ten  Imshels  jier 
acre.  The  only  ilitlcrence  in  land  or  treatment  was 
that  .Moulton's  wheal  was  thoroughly  harrowed  with 
the  same  implemeuis  in  the  spring,  aud  his  neigh- 
bors' wa.s  not. 

The  ettect  produced  by  harrowing  barley  and  oats, 
after  they  have  obtained  a  growth  of  lour  or  live 
inches,  is  equally  as  marked.  1  have  observcil  nujiiy 
instances  where  lully  twenty  bushels  per  acre  in- 
crease, in  cousequeuee  of  thorough  harrow  ing.  w  as 
Obtained. 


These  facts  and  many  others  of  sindlar  character 
show  clearly  the  great  profit  which  farnuTs  may  de- 
rive from  a  thoroUL'li  cultivation  by  harrtiwing  of 
wheal,  oats,  barley  and  other  sown  crops. 

Mr.  D.  Smevcii  knew  of  a  L'cntleman  In  York 
county  who  cultivated  his  wheat,  the  result  of  which 
was  a  gain  of  10  or  12  bushels  to  the  acre. 

.Mr.  Ken  Dili  said  that  the  Thomas  harrows  referred 
loin  XW  article  rcail,  were  entirely  dillereiil  from 
tho.se  used  around  this  jiarl  of  the  country.  In  our 
harrows  the  spikes  run  directly  Ihrouu'h  the  beam; 
in  the'rhonias  harrow  they  are  bent  back  to  an  an- 
gle of  about  forty-live  degrees.  They  iloii't  cut 
clean  throiiirh  like  ours,  but  merely  go  over  the 
ground,  pnlverizlni;  it  very  nicely.  He  believed  If 
wheat  was  cultivated,  it  would  prove  iK'nellcial. 

Mr.  .MeC'oMsEV  :  All  Kuininer  erojis  depend  on  cul- 
tivation to  a  great  extent.  As  such  was  the  case,  he 
could  not  see  why  the  same  would  iioi  hold  good  in 
wheat.  Hinielicved  there  was  something  in  it,  and 
advised  all  present  to  spend  a  day  in  a  small  patch 
near  the  house,  using  a  hoc  instead  <if  a  harrow. 

.Mr.  Ki'iiuAiM  IloovEic  had  read  an  article' several 
years  ago,  which  stated  that  a  geiillcmaii  in  Kiii:land 
went  over  his  wheal  lield  with  a  large  brush,  which 
loosed  up  the  soil  around  the  roots  ofthe  wheat  to 
some  extent.  The  result  was  a  large  increase  of 
wheat.  If  the  farmers  had  no  harrow,  they  might 
lake  a  larice  brush,  as  did  Ibis  irenlleiiian  in  Km,'- 
land.  ?'or  exiierimenling  on  a  small  patch,  hewould 
prefer  a  rake  to  the  hoe.  If  corn,  potatoes  and  to- 
bacco could  he  raised  successfully  by  cultivation,  he 
could  see  no  reason  why  wheat  coiiM  not. 

Mu.  PowNAi.i,  did  not  bi'lieve  nuieh  In  harrowing 
wheat, as  the  harrow  would  destroy  the  young  grass. 
Timothy  and  clover  arc  generally  sown  ibout  the  time 
you  would  do  the  harrowing,  and  he  believed  the 
grass  was  worth  more  than  the  increase  of  wheat  you 
would  derive  by  the  harrowing.  If  you  did  not  sow 
grass  he  would  be  in  favor  of  harrowing   the  wheat. 

Mk.  Cooi'EU  received  a  small  bag  of  grain  from 
Mii'liigan  some  years  ago  which  he  sowed  about 
twenty-four  itiehes  apart.  In  the  spring  he  harrowe<! 
over  the  ground  twice,  and  the  result  was  a  large  in- 
crease of  gr.ain,  there  being  a  perfect  mass  of  heads, 
with  large  grains.  The  harrow  he  used  was  a  small 
one,  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  he  harrowed  the 
ground  erossways.  He  believed  there  is  room  for  a 
great  deal  of  iniprovemeiit. 

How  to  take  care  of  our  Lawns. 

"  Our  lawns  and  how  to  take  care  of  them,"  was 
the  next  subject  brought  before  the  .Society. 

Mk.  Kendio  believed  this  was  a  subject  that  would 
attract  every  one  if  it  was  brought  liefore  the  people 
in  a  proper  shaiie.  Every  family  should  have  a  yard, 
and  have  it  laid  out  in  walks  and  planted  with  trees, 
shrubbery  and  llowers.  He  ]ioinIed  out  the  many 
advantages  and  pleasures  derived  from  such  a  jilaee, 
aud  said  that  in  arranging  a  front  yard  he  would  lay 
out  a  tlagstone  walk  from  thedoortothe gate,  around 
the  edges  of  which  he  woiilil  have  a  llower  bed.  In 
different  jiarts  id' the  yard  he  would  plant  all  kinds 
of  clioiee  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  and  over  the 
walk  he  would  I'rect  a  gra|)e-arbor. 

KiMiKAiM  IloovEU  believed  in  having  trees  and 
shrubbery  in  the  yards.  Kvery  person  should  plant 
theiii  ;  if  not  for  their  own  benelil ,  for  that  of  others. 
On  the  trees  we  should  build  bird  houses,  and  encour- 
age, instead  of  drive  the  birds  away,  as  some  farmers 
do.  The  insects  they  destroy  ari'  worth  far  more  than 
the  little  fruit  tlie\'  eat.  In  regard  to  the  making  of 
walks,  he  did  not  think  curbstones  should  be  used,  as 
they  injured  the  scythes  when  you  cut  the  grass.  A 
pebble  walk  is  very  nice,  and  much  iireferred.  A 
]il.iee  which  has  a  yard  well  jjlanted  with  fruits  and 
llowers  is  always  attractive,  and  when  olfered  forsalo 
will  enhance  the  value  thereof  greatly.  .\  few  hours 
each  day  spent  in  planting  llowers,  liuit  aud  orna- 
mental trees,  will  soon  bring  out  a  dull  yard.  This 
can  be  done  after  dinner,  an  hour  w'hieli  is  frequently 
sjieiit  in  sleeji  by  the  farmer. 

.Mk.  PiiWNAi.L  believed  in  ornamenting  our  yards. 
In  traveling  with  friends,  and  when  they  would  pass 
a  place  where  the  yards  were  laid  out  in  trees  and 
llowers,  they  were  sure  to  ask  him,  "  Who  lives 
there  f"  The  presence  of  trtes  and  llowers  makes  a 
home  look  cozy  ami  comfortabkr.  In  making  a  walk 
ho  would  iiut  lime  on  the  ground  before  the  pebbles 
were  put  dow  n  in  order  to  kill  the  grass.  Where  this 
is  done,  grass  will  not  grow  for  live  or  six  years. 
Evergreens  should  be  planted  on  the  north  and  south 
ends  of  the  buildings.  They  grow  very  last,  and 
soon  become  a  shade  and  protection  to  the  house. 

The  subject  eliciting  no  further  disciLssion,  was,  on 
motion  of  .Mr.  MeConisey,  deferred  for  lurllier  dis- 
cussion at  the  next  meeting. 

Mr.  E.  U.llKKsiiEV,  of  Columbia,  was  a|)polntcd 
by  the  chair  to  prepare  an  essay  on  the  subject  lor  the 
ne.vt  meeting. 

JlH.  .Mc'CovsEV  was  also  requested  to  pref)arc  an 
essay  for  the  next  meeliiig,  the  subject  to  be  selected 
by  the  genlleiuau  himself. 

Entomological — Brown  Tree-Borer. 
A  bottle  id'  worms  and  a  ])iei-e  of  an  ap[ile  tree  was 
presented  to  the  society  by  .Mr.  I'ownall.  The  tree 
was  a  tlirifly  grower  and  was  blown  down  during  the 
late  .storm,  'fhe  worms,  etc.,  are  thus  described  by 
Prol.  S.  S.  Kathvou  : 


The  nccompanylnir  bottle  of  worms  are  the  larixt 
ofthe  "  Brown  Tree-Horer,"  Vartindrn  ry/ii/wr,  of  one 
and  two  years  old.  The  tree  was  about  eighteen 
Inches  in  diameter,  part  of  a  transverse  section  of 
which  exhibits  the  locality  of  the  l<ii-ri(  in  the  trunk, 
mill  the  niaiiner  In  which  they  have  been  0|>eraling 
In  it.  This  section  was  cut  about  two  feel  from  the 
ground,  and  It  will  be  seen  that  the  borers  have  con- 
lined  their  o|K'rallons,  at  the  height  nientioniil,  ex- 
clusively to  the  heart  ;  the  surrounding  wikmI  being 
perfectly  Intact  and  solid.  At  the  earlh-buse  of  the 
tree  arc  )H-rforatlons  through  which  the  young  grubs 
seem  to  have  entered,  and  for  a  short  distance  iipwunt 
their  burrows  are  nearer  the  outer  surface;  but 
higher  up  they  seem  to  have  all  congrcgaleil  In  the 
heart.  In  which  there  were  more  lliun  (me  hundred 
liulivlduals  of  various  sizes.  As  there  are  no  hori- 
zontal perforations  anywhere  through  which  the  mu- 
lure  beelles  could  have  esea|H'il,  If  any  have  eKcu|H-d 
al  all,  it  must  have  beenthroiigh  the  aperture  U'low  ; 
but,  as  It  would  have  re(|ulre<l  one  year  yet  iH-furo 
the  largest  of  these  lamr  nnilured,  I  Infer  thul  none 
have  yet  been  traiisl'ormed  to  the  beetle  state,  and 
that  egirs  were  probably  only  de|HisHed  In  ISTI  and 
1S7.5.  The  tree  being  very  large,  did  mil  seem  to  be 
niiiterially  Injured  by  the  preeeiice  of  the  woriiiB. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  allow  me  to  say,  lliat 
this  apple  tree  was  blown  down  by  the  violent  equl- 
noetial  storm  of  .March  last;  that  {irevious  I41  sawing; 
thetrunk  Into  sections— liceonling  In  .Mr.  I'liwnuU's 
statement — there  was  no  external  Indicalion  thul  the 
heart  was  unsound,  or  that  it  hud  been  Infesteil  by 
"borers"  at  all;  lair  was  there  anything  In  Its  gen- 
eral health  t<i  lead  to  such  u  sup|Hisltion.  1  do  not 
state  (Misitlvely  that  the  tari'ir  were  those  of  I'ariui. 
(Irii,  and  If  so,  that  they  were  of  the  hmtIcs  (jlnUr, 
as  we  have  several  Bpecics,  hut  I  have  found  gliUier 
the  most  common.  I  huve  often  found  Varandra  In 
decayed  wood,  and  on  one  occasion,  where  the  trunk 
of  a  tree  (an  oak)  had  been  broken  oil'  by  u  tlorni,  1 
found  the  heart  decayed,  [KTloratcd,  and  eonlalnlng 
larrtf  similar  to  those  exhibited  by  .Mr.  Pownall,  and 
In  the  dcbrl.s  of  the  hollow  stump  I  found  many  frag- 
ments, as  well  as  whole  siiecimeiis,  ImiiIi  living  ami 
dead,  of  J'nruiutrit  t/taU-r.  1  Iherelore  inferred  these 
to  be  similar,  if  not  the  very  sunie.  1  have  never 
found  the  "strilH'd  apple  tree  borer*'  {Sajtcrtt^t  Urit' 
tatii)  under  tlu'  same  cireunistanees.  The  heart  of 
this  tree,  for  about  six  inches  in  diameter,  was  In  u 
state  of  brown  ilecay,  ami  was  perfecily  lioiicy- 
conibed  with  various  sized  perforalions,  according  to 
the  sizes  of  the  borers,  which  were  from  u  <|Uarterlo 
three -(quarters  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  of  corres- 
ponding thickness. 

The  while  wood  surrounding  the  heart,  was  |ht- 
fcclly  sound,  healthy  liMiking  and  sappy.  Although 
.Mr.  P.  took  out  over  a  huudred  of  these  Itirvic  he  did 
not  explore  the  whole  trunk — probably  he  might 
have  obtained  as  many  more,  11  not  live  hiimlred. 
We  have  always  found  the  larva  of  the  slrl|H-d  tiorer 
in  indcpendciil  burrows,  iminedialely  under  the  Ijurk, 
or  ill  the  white  wood  further  in — unless  the  tree  wu« 
a  small  oiii — ami  in  pcrpendicnlar  position,  or  nearly 
so.  In  this  instance  the  galleries  were  in  various  dl- 
rcelions — iuT[iendicular,  liorizoiiial,  and  at  various 
angles — often  one  breaking  Into  unolher,  and  all 
within  the  decayeil  [yirtiou  of  the  tree.  No  inalure 
insects,  or  fragnieiits  of  the  same,  were  discovered. 
If  they  exist  they  will  be  lound  in  the  stump,  but 
very  probably  lliey  had  yet  malurcd.  Subsei|Uently 
a  small  aperlure  was  discovered  al  the  base  of  the 
tree,  which  was  sup[ii^sinl  lu  have  communleutioii 
with  the  decayed  heart. 

Mr.  Pownall  very  justly  remarked,  "If  these  are 
the  true  ajiple  tree  borer  what  becomes  <if  the  renuily 
iyi  ijoimj  ttj'ttf  tlu-in  \\\\\\  a  barbed  steel  wint  f"  for 
they  are  located  in  the  heart,  from  two  to  three  feel 
from  the  ground,  or  any  apertup'  of  ingress. 

These  larva',  although  seemingly  not  fully  de- 
veloped, have  tlic  general  resemblance  of  the  Loiigi- 
coriiia,  but  the  gl<itux  of  I'araiidra  has  fur  a  long 
time  been  considered  itufnunn. 

There  being  no  further  business,  the  society  aJ- 
jourued. 


GENERAL   MISCELLANY. 


The  Best  Chickens. 

Not  unfrequenlly  we  are  asked  which  is  the  liost 
breed  of  chiekins  ;  but  it  is  by  no  means  an  easy 
question  to  answer.  If  we  were  to  ask  the  same 
question  of  a  dozen  men,  all  having  dill'erent  bree<ls 
in  their  fMisscsslon,  we  should  not  be  surprised  to  hear 
as  many  answers  as  there  were  men.  While  men 
dlH'er,  and  we  continue  to  have  so  many  breeds  of 
chickens  of  sU|ierior  quality,  it  » ill  lie  vain  lo  cx|K'ct 
Ihciii  lo  agree  as  lo  which  is  the  Ih'sI.  We  are  re- 
minded ol  the  genilcman  who  said  he  was  glad  tliut 
all  men  were  not  like  lilni,  or  all  would  have  pre- 
ferred his  wife  ;  but  was  siH'edily  met  with  the  re- 
joinder from  another  gentleiuan  :  "  And  if  all  were 
like  ine,  noliody  would  have  wanteil  her."  80  with 
the  choice  of  chickens.  While  some  prefer  a  certain 
breed,  and  will  have  no  other,  others  will  prefer  any 
breed  but  thul.  flu  I'uuUnj  /jul/tYin  coniineiids  Ihu 
beauty  ofthe  Ulaek  Spanish,  and  .Mr.  J.  Y.  BIcknell 
speaks  highly  of  lliein  as  layers,  and  as  U>  Iheir  bar 


62 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[April, 


diness.  C.  Y.  Wilson,  of  Massachusetts,  extols  the 
Liarht  Brahma,  ami,  while  some  prefer  them  of  a 
modified  age,  lie  wants  them  as  large  as  possible, 
and  elaims  tliat  a  blindfolded  epicure  could  never 
distinguish  the  difference  in  the  meat. 

E.  S.  K.  writes  to  the  I'onllrij  ^Vorld: 

"As  many  persons  are  inquiring  what  breed  of 
fowls  is  the  best  for  general  purposes,  permit  me  to 
Bay,  that  after  fairly  trying  Leghorns,  White  Brah- 
mas,  Dark  Brahmas,  and  noudans — each  variety  of 
the  best  stock  that  could  be  obtained — I  find  that 
Houdans  are  sujierior  to  all  others.  Leghorns  pro- 
duce as  many  eggs  as  Houdans,  but  the  chickens  are 
tough  and  stringy,  compared  with  Houdan  chickens, 
while  the  hens  are  no  better  as  setters.  Both  Light 
and  Dark  Brahmas  have  the  defect  of  accumulating 
fat  with  such  facility  that,  unless  great  care  is  exer- 
cised in  feeding  them,  they  cease  to  lay.  They  also 
have  a  constant  tendency  to  sit,  and  the  chickens  are 
mainly  legs  after  they  get  too  large  for  broilers. 
Houdans  are  such  restless  and  persistent  foragers 
that  an  excess  of  grain  tlirown  to  them  does  not  ren- 
der them  lazy." 

But  the  very  thing  E.  S.  K.  recommends  in  the 
Houdans — restlessness — would  be  considered  objec- 
tionable by  three-fourths  of  those  choosing  a  new 
breed,  and  especially  those  living  in  or  near  towns 
and  villages,  where  they  are  likely  to  bother  their 
neighbors. 

J.  F.  King  writes  the  Poultry  Aryus: 

"  I  have  fully  made  up  my  mind  to  raise  the  Brown 
Leghorn  in  spite  of  anything.  I  have  tried  in  the 
course  of  my  exijcrience  a  great  many  breeds  of 
fowls,  and  have  settled  down  on  Brown  Leghorns  as 
being  the  best  and  the  most  economic  egg  producers 
on  the  list ;  and  eggs  are  more  profitable  to  me  than 
poultry." 

Mr.  King  speaks  for  eggs  alone ;  and  thus  we 
might  go  through  the  list,  some  claiming  for  the 
Games  great  superiority  for  the  fineness  and  de- 
licious flavor  of  the  meat,  which  is  generally  eon- 
ceded.  While  we  have  not  even  a  desire  to  settle 
the  question  as  to  the  best,  we  have  a  word  to  those 
Willi  wi.sh  to  improve  their  chickens  on  the  farm  by 
crofssing  and  grading  up,  thus  avoiding  the  expense 
of  starting  anew  at  fancy  prices.  Several  important 
points  should  be  looked  to — such  as  laying  qualities, 
early  maturity,  large  size  of  body  without  too  great 
length  of  legs,  meat  fine,  juicy  and  of  good  flavor, 
and  especially  thej'  should  be  liardy. 

Our  experience  is  in  favorof  the  Partridge  Cochins, 
but,  from  our  limited  knowledge  of  the  Butf  Cochins, 
■we  believe  them  about  equal — the  bodies  heavy  and 
well  featliered  and  legs  short.  The  Partridge  Cochins 
lay  well  w  inter  and  summer,  mature  early,  are  good 
mothers,  docile,  very  hardj ,  and  meat  delicious.  By 
putting  one  cock  with  ten  or  twelve  hens,  the  flock 
will  soon  be  graded  up.  These  cocks  should  be  ex- 
changed for  others,  or  sold  aud  others  bought,  every 
spring,  and  there  need  be  but  little  trouble  about 
sickness.  Two  neighbors  buying  one  year  can  ex- 
change the  next.  Good  cocks  can  be  bought  for  from 
f  3  to  $.5,  and  the  increase  in  weight  alone  will  doubly 
pay  for  them  the  first  year. — Jountal  of  Agriculture. 


Spring  Care  of  Sheep. 

This  is  a  job  that  is  very  often  neglected,  to  the 
great  inconvenience  of  the  sheep  and  loss  to  the 
owner.  It  takes  but  a  short  time  for  a  couple  of  men 
to  go  over  two  or  three  hundred,  and  the  amount  of 
wool  saved  will  more  than  doubly  pay  the  expense, 
to  say  nothing  about  the  relief  it  gives  the  animal, 
and  the  saving  of  trouble  afterwards  and  the  risk  of 
losing  some,  for  it  is  not  uncommon  that  the  accumu- 
lation of  filth  causes  soreness,  which  the  flies  soon 
find  out,  and  in  a  very  short  time  all  will  be  over 
with  those  so  unfortunate  as  to  become  thus  affected. 
I  have  known  as  many  as  a  half-dozen  to  be  killed  in 
this  way  out  of  a  flock  of  less  than  two  hundred. 
Warm,  wet  weather  is  the  most  apt  to  produce  these 
results,  aud  the  merino  sheep  are  the  most  apt  to 
give  tiouble  in  case  of  neglect. 

If  the  tags  are  put  in  the  fleece  at  shearing  time, 
care  should  be  taken  to  have  them  well  washed,  as 
it  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  people  to  get  them- 
eelves  into  serioustrouble,  when  through  an  avaricious 
desire  they  allow  tliem  to  he  put  in  without  this  very 
necessary  precaution.  1  knew  one  to  lose  fifty  dol- 
lars and  another  fort}'  dollars  in  this  way.  As  good 
a  plan  as  any  is  to  leave  them  out  and  sell  with  uu- 
waslied  wool ;  it  saves  trouble  of  washing,  aud  they 
can  be  disposed  of  on  their  merits.  As  a  rule,  a  de- 
duction of  one-half  is  asked,  wdiich  in  most  cases  is 
not  too  much. 

In  handhng  sheep  care  should  be  taken  not  to  catch 
them  by  the  wool,  as  is  so  often  done.  It  is  just  as 
easy  to  grab  them  by  the  hind  leg  or  around  the 
neck,  and  passing  the  arms  around  the  body,  they 
can  be  lifted  up  with  ease,  (ientleness  in  handling 
sheep  is  a  very  essential  thing,  and  they  who  practice 
it  will  be  rewarded  with  quiet  flocks.  They  should 
early  learn  that  they  are  in  no  danger  from  those 
whose  business  it  is  to  watch  over  them. 

After  a  winter  with  as  much  rainy  weather  as  there 
has  been  during  the  past  one,  there  is  danger  of  sore 
feet,  and  should  the  season  continue  wet,  there  will 
be  more  or  less  in  this  direction  ;   and,  as  is  very 


often  the  case,  an  oimee  of  caution  is  worth  a  pound 
of  cure,  and  a  stitch  in  time  saves  nine.  The  hoofs 
will  grow  long,  and  will  require  trimming,  for  which 
a  sharp  knife  or  a  pair  of  toe-nippers,  or  both,  will 
be  needed.  If  any  are  lame,  they  should  be  exam- 
ined, and  if  in  the  least  sore,  trim  well. and  apply 
some  pure  pine  tar  or  a  little  powdered  vitriol, or  in 
many  instani'es  a  little  salt,  well  rubbed  in,  will  have 
the  desired  effect.  If  foot-rot  gets  among  a  fresh  lot 
of  sheep,  it  makes  sad  havoc  and  quick  work.  Never 
let  a  sheep  limp  a  day  without  knowing  the  cause, 
and  give  immediate  attention. — M.  N.  Russell,  Ilain- 
moudsHlle,  O.,  March  S,  1S7G. —  Ger.  Telegraph. 


Lambs  and  Calves. 


Now  for  the  calves  and  lambs,  and  there  is  no  in- 
terest with  which  farmers  have  to  do  where  the 
"  ounce  of  prevention  "  pays  better  than  here.  Be 
sure  and  have  the  cow  gaining  when  the  calf  is  drop- 
ped. Give  a  warm,  dry  room,  with  a  good  bed  for 
"lying  in,"  a  light  but  generous  diet  afterwards,  with 
no  ice  water ;  treat  her  with  gentle  kindness,  and 
above  everything  else,  keep  her  from  cold  draughts 
of  air,  and  you  will  find  that  it  will  pay  ever-so-much 
better  than  doctors  and  farriers  after  your  cow  has 
gotten  out  of  sorts  from  want  of  proper  care  when 
she  most  needed  it. 

A  cow  that  is  gaining  when  she  calves,  and  is  taken 
care  of  at  and  after  the  calf  is  dropped,  is  almost 
sure  to  do  well ;  and  such  a  one  is  all  ready  to  com- 
mence her  season's  work  of  producing  butter-stock. 

It  has  been  my  invarialile  practice,  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  to  feed  my  cows  lightly  before  calving 
with  ears  of  corn,  unless  they  a-re  in  good  grass  ;  and 
I  have  not  had  one  to  retain  the  afterbirth  in  all  that 
time. 

So,  too,  care  pays  when  the  lambs  are  dropped  in 
cold  weather.  Every  man  that  has  a  considerable 
flock  sliould  have  two  or  three  small  warm  pens,  into 
each  of  which  he  should  put  three  or  four  sheep  a 
few  days  before  they  are  to  lamb  ;  and  if  the  weather 
is  cold  he  should  look  after  them  once  or  twice  in  the 
night,  and  there  is  really  no  more  need  of  losing  a 
lamb  than  a  calf. 

It  is  sometimes  the  case  when  a  sheep  has  twins 
that  she  will  own  but  one,  unless  she  or  they  have 
help.  Usually  if  she  is  put  in  a  very  snug  pen  im- 
mediately after  the  lambs  are  dropped  she  will  accept 
the  situation.  If  one  stubbornly  refuses  to  own  her 
ofispring,  just  put  her  head  between  two  stakes  driven 
into  the  floor  of  the  pen  and  let  her  be  there.  I  never 
knew  one  I  could  not  subdue.  By  all  means  have  a 
nursing  bottle  on  hand,  and  feed  the  lambs  just 
enough  to  keep  them  hungry  and  smart ;  and  if  the 
sheep  are  poor  milkers  give  them  shorts  and  potatoes 
with  plenty  of  salt,  sulphur  and  water.  Cut  the  tails 
pretty  short  at  three  days'  old,  if  the  lambs  are 
smart,  but  within  the  first  week  usually.  Keep  off  the 
ticks  and  the  lamb  will  be  fit  to  sell  in  season  for  the 
dam  to  get  in  good  order  for  winter,  and  a  sheep  that 
comes  to  the  barn  fat  is  about  half  wintered. 

"  An  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure." 
—D.  II.  Thing,  West  Mt.  Vernon,  Me.— Ger.  Tel. 


W^hat  Will  Pay. 


Year  after  year  crops  are  moved  off  without  re- 
turning anything  to  the  soil.  Manures  are  put  under 
the  rains  and  the  dropjiing  of  eaves  until  they  are 
drained  of  their  best  material  and  rendered  nearly 
useless.  This  could  be  obviated  by  building  cheap 
sheds  to  cover  the  manure  as  thrown  from  the  sta- 
bles. This  can  be  done  at  a  small  cost  and  will  pay. 
Winter  is  not  a  good  time  to  build,  but  for  such  a 
purpose  as  this  it  is  better  to  build  now  than  not  at 
all.  Plaster  should  also  be  used  in  the  stables  to  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  ammonia,  and  care  should  be  taken 
to  keep  it  in  as  good  condition  as  possible.  If  the 
barns  aud  yards  are  so  situated  that  the  wastings  are 
carried  off  by  every  rain,  a  little  time  with  a  team, 
plow  and  scraper,  will  make  a  ditch  (a  broad,  open 
one  it  should  be)  around  the  barn  on  three  sides; 
then  at  all  times  keep  this  filled  with  the  trash  and 
litter  which  naturally  accumulates  about  the  barn. 
The  ditch  will  hold '  the  water,  etc.,  from  the  yard, 
and  cause  the  straw  to  rot  rapidly  and  will  afford  a 
large  quantity  of  good  manure.  When  the  manure 
is  removed  in  the  sin-ing,  the  ditch  can  be  filled  with 
wheat  straw,  uj^on  which  a  few  bushels  of  lime  has 
been  scattered  ;  then  as  fast  as  it  rots  pile  it  up  in  the 
ditch  and  fill  the  spaces  between  each  pile  with  straw, 
and  so  on.  In  the  fall  there  will  be  a  fine  pile  of 
manure,  which  will  renovate  the  worn  out  fiefd  ;  or 
to  scatter  on  the  exposed  knolls  on  the  wheat  field, 
preventing  winter  killing.  Another  great  waste  is 
the  large  crop  of  weeds,  which  each  year  is  allowed 
to  go  ty  seed,  and  spread  all  over  adjoining  farms. 

Using  too  much  hard  labor  is  another  wayof  wast- 
ing on  the  farm.  Many  machines  can  now  be  used 
to  save  ranch  of  this  labor.  More  horse-powers  must 
be  used.  And  after  we  have  raised  our  crops  they 
should  larirely  be  fed  out  on  the  farm.  It  is  much 
cheaper  to  ship  corn,  oats,  etc.,  in  the  form  of  meat 
than  to  send  it  in  the  bulk  as  raised  ;  besides  tlie 
soil  is  made  richer,  instead  of  constantly  reducingits 
producing  capacity. — Prairie  Farmer. 


Management  of  Manure. 

A  farmer's  manure  account  is  the  next  thing  to  his 
bank  account,  and  everything  that  helps  one  aids  the 
other.  The  old  Hearth  and  Home  had,  while  living, 
an  excellent  practical  contributor,  who  was  famous 
for  "  hammering  away"  at  the  manure  heap.  Here 
is  a  scrap  from  one  of  his  papers,  as  good  now  as  the 
day  it  was  written  :  "  Where  all  the  stock  is  kept  in 
one  large  barn,  with  a  manure  cellar  underneath, 
there  is  little  diflicultyin  managing  the  manure,  espe- 
cially if  there  is  a  large  tank  for  the  spare  liquid. 
The  main  points  are  to  provide  sutlicient  ventilation, 
so  that  no  deleterious  gasses  shall  penetrate  to  the 
hay  or  cattle  above,  and  to  use  enough  material  to 
keep  the  manure  from  getting  wet.  On  farms  where 
considerable  straw  and  cornstalks  are  used,  and 
where  the  manure  is  kept  out  of  doors,  the  main 
point  is  to  get  the  manure  into  a  compact  heai>. 
Where  the  manure  from  the  cow  stables  and  pig  pens 
is  thrown  out  into  a  small  heap  by  the  door,  it 
freezes  through  and  no  fermentation  takes  place  un- 
til spring  ;  but  if  all  the  manure  from  all  the  horses, 
cows,  sheep,  and  pigs  is  put  together  in  a  large,  com- 
pact heap,  fermentation  will  set  in,  and  the  frost 
will  not  penetrate  more  than  a  few  inches  on  the  out- 
side. Our  plan  is  to  place  the  heap  in  some  central 
point  and  wheel  all  the  manure  daily  to  the  heap, 
shake  it  out,  and  spread  it  about  the  heap  ;  endeavor 
as  much  as  possible  to  mix  the  horse,  cow,  and  pig 
manure  together.  It  is  necessary  to  insist  on  this 
point,  as  the  men  have  a  great  disinclination  to  spread 
the  manure  about.  If  they  become  negligent,  set 
them  to  turn  the  whole  heap  over.  This  will  do  the 
manure  good,  and  teach  the  men  a  lesson.  They  will 
will  soon  learn  that  a  manure  heap  carefully  spread 
out,  can  be  handled  than  much  easier  one  left  in 
small  heaps  with  the  cornstalks  running  from  the 
lower  barrow  to  the  one  above,  as  a  well  made  load 
of  hay  can  be  unloaded  with  less  labor  than  one  built 
without  thought  or  skill.  It  will  pay  to  manipulate 
with  as  much  care  as  if  you  were  making  a  mam- 
moth hot-bed.  An  hour's  work  now,  when  there  is 
comparatively  little  to  do,  will  save  two  hours'  work 
in  the  busy  days  of  spring.  Maimre  so  managed,  if 
the  stock  is  well  fed,  can  be  reduced  one-half  without 
the  loss  of  any  fertilizing  material.  Last  year  our 
manure  so  managed  was  in  splendid  condition  by  the 
first  of  .'Vlay  to  draw  out  and  spread  the  ridges  for 
mangolds." 


Feeding  Poultry. 

It  is  said  that  a  very  common-looking  man,  and 
one  who  was  supposed  to  be  a  very  common  sort  of 
person,  found  himself  in  the  capital  this  last  Con- 
gress, having  been  elected  a  representative  from  a  far 
distant  State.  Anticipating  fun,  some  old  stagers 
asked  him  what  were  his  sensations  on  first  entering 
so  grand  a  building.  He  replied,  as  they  thought,  in- 
nocently, "  he  wondered  how  a  man  like  him.self  had 
ever  had  the  luck  to  get  into  such  a  place,"  but,  he 
added,  "  my  second  thoughts  were  still  more  surjiris- 
ing,  for  when  I  looked  at  you,  it  was  a  complete  puz- 
zle how  you  got  here." 

We  suppose  some  such  feeling  as  this  must  be  up- 
permost in  the  minds  of  many  readers  on  what  goes 
as  agricultural  matter  in  the  rounds  of  the  papers. 
They  are  often  tempted  to  write,  but  in  their  modi'sty 
hold  back  because  they  cannot  conceive  what  they 
would  like  to  say  could  get  admission  into  a  popular 
paper ;  and  thus  they  wonder  still  more  when  they 
seff-the  character  of  the  s'.uff  that  soofteo  really  finds 
a  place  there.  Often  we  see  paragraphs  of  this  kind 
and  wonder  how  it  is  th;it  they  pass  as  thej'  do  the 
ej'cs  of  the  editors. 

Here  before  us  is  an  article  on  chicken-feeding, 
which  is  made  up  from  some  floating  paragrapli  so  as 
to  appear  like  an  original  editorial  note.  We  are  told 
that  the  hen  that  eats  the  most  is  the  one  that  pro- 
duces the  most — which,  in  a  certain  sense,  may  bo 
true.  Building  on  this,  we  are  assured  that  one 
bushel  of  corn  will  make  just  twelve  and  a  half 
pounds  of  eggs,  and  the  paragraph  then  closes  with 
this  reflection  :  "  Most  farmers  have  a  feeling  that 
the  corn  which  is  fed  to  poultry  is  thrown  away.  They 
should  look  upon  the  transaction  as  just  so  much 
grain  exchanged  for  eggs." 

We  fancy  that  most  farmers  have  never  learned 
this  exact  mathematical  way  of  turning  corn  into 
eggs.  Those  who  have  had  experience  in  raising 
fowls  know  that  the  best  success  with  them  is  when 
they  are  left  in  a  great  measure  to  scratch  out  their 
own  daily  bread.  To  give  a  fowl  all  the  grain  it  will 
eat,  is  the  surest  way  to  make  it  lazy  and  worthless. 
The  active  fowl  is  the  healthiest,  and  good  health  is 
the  first  essential  of  a  good  layer,  as  well  as  of  along 
liver.  The  proper  way  to  treat  fowls  is  to  place 
them  where  they  can  be  encouraged  to  get  their  own 
food,  only  making  up  what  they  themselves  cannot 
find. — Gcnnantown  Telegraph. 


Four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty  square 
yards  make  an  acre  ;  a  square  mile,  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  To  measure  an  acre,  two  hundi-ed  and 
nine  feet  on  each  side  make  a  square  acre  witliin  an 
inch. 


1870.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


63 


Don't  Chop  with  a  Poor  Axe. 

Clioppinirwitliapooraxe  is  like  niowiuK  grass  or  like 
crudlinsf  ^rraiii  with  a  cradle  tliat  is  not  tit  tor  use.  A 
great  many  eliopjters  \vill  hack,  /mc/i',  hack  ail  day 
witli  an  old  poor  axe,  n^;inli:  np  sullieient  iniisele  to 
eliop  two  eords  of  \V4iod,  wliile  willi  that  uhl  "stiih" 
not  more  tlian  half  a  enrd  \\ill  he  ehopp<'iI.  It  i.*^  the 
worst  sort  of  poliey  to  eliop  with  an  old  and  worn- 
out  tool,  as  a  chopper  with  a  ;;ood  axe,  dnrini;  a  few 
days,  will  earn  more  than  enous;ii  to  eaneel  the  ilitlVr- 
ence  between  the  iniees  of  a  new  axe  and  an  old  one. 
Choppiusis  fatiguing  labor,  even  when  a  idioppir  has 
a  good  axe.  If  the  steel  at  the  edge  of  the  axe  has 
been  in  use  so  long  that  it  will  not  retain  a  satisfae- 
torv  edge,  or  if  the  corners  have  been  broken  off  or 
wtuai  away  so  that  the  edge  is  as  circular  as  a  small 
wheel,  better  cast  the  axe  away  and  procure  a  new 
one.  In  caise  there  is  a  satifaetory  amount  of  steel 
at  the  edge,  let  the  i>art  of  the  tool  near  the  cutting 
edge  1)1'  grouncl  down  to  a  proper  thicknt'ss.  Hut 
when  grinding  beware  of  redui-iiiL'  the  steel  too  thin. 
.Many  a  good  axe  has  been  spoili'd  simply  by  bcin^ 
ground  too  thin  near  the  ctilling  I'llge.  The  steel  close 
to  the  culling  edge  must  be  sullicicntly  thick  to  pos- 
sess the  necessary  strength  rci|Uircd  to  resist  the 
strain  when  the  edge  is  entering  hard  aiul  gnarly 
timlier.  When  the  steel  near  the  cutting  edge  is 
ground  so  thin  that  it  is  no  thicker  than  a  piece  of 
paper,  no  axe  can  be  expected  to  retain  a  good  cut- 
ting edge.  Many  choppers  suppose  that  the  thinner 
the  steel  is  near  "the  cutting  edge  the  more  rapidly 
they  will  be  able  to  chop.  But  there  never  was  a  more 
grave  mistake.  If  nothing  were  re(|uircd  when  chop- 
ping but  to  cut  oil'  the  grain  of  the  wood,  a  vi'ry  thin 
axe  wonhl  be  the  best.  But  the  jioint  of  the  axe  lu-ar 
the  edge  should  be  of  such  a  form  as  to  heave  out  the 
chips  as  the  grain  of  the  timber  is  severed.  In  order 
to  accomplish  this  jioint  ino.st  ctlh'icntly,  Ihe  cutting 
edge  from  the  front  corner  to  the  inside  eornersliould 
not  he  circular  more  than  one-fourth  to  one-half  inch. 
Then  the  steel  should  be  beveled  gradtnilly  towards 
each  corner  from  a  imint  about  one  inch  back  of  llie 
middle  of  the  cutting  edge.  If  ground  in  lliis  way, 
that  peculiar  form  of  the  axe  will  heave  out  a  chip 
at  almost  every  blow. — I'rdclical  Fanner. 


Ammonia  as  a  Cure  for  Snake  Bites. 

Several  cases  of  snake  bite,  in  which  the  value  of 
Prof.  Ilalford's  renii'dy,  sulicutancous  injection  of 
ammonia,  has  l.iecn  demonstrated,  have,  says  the 
Melbourne  Ai-i/ii.i,  lati'ly  occurred  in  the  colony.  At 
Seymour,  on  the  14tli  oi'  December,  a  young  man,  2(1 
years  of  age,  named  Dwyer,  was  bitten  by  a  snake 
iietween  the  thumb  and  the  first  finger  of  the  right 
hand.  The  wound  was  received  at  9  o'clock,  and  no 
treatment  was  applied  until  half  past  eleven,  when 
the  patient  was  powerless  and  almost  insensible, 
ammonia  was  injected  into  the  right  arm,  when  he 
revived  at  once.  He  sufl'ered  a  relapse,  but  the  am- 
monia was  again  successfully  applied,  and  he  ulti- 
mately recovered. 

At  Bungaree  a  young  girl  was  bitten  by  a  snake, 
aial  gradually  sank  into  a  state  of  stupor.  Two  hours 
and  a  half  after  she  was  bitten  animoina  was  inject- 
ed. Relief  was  immediately  obtained  and  the  girl 
rapidly  recovered. 

A  third  ease  happened  on  the -\eheron,  eleven  miles 
from  .\lexandria,  where  a  little  girl  two  years  of  age, 
the  daught<'r  of  a  farmer  named  Doak,  was  bitten  by 
a  snake  just  above  the  ankle  of  tlie  left  foot.  Symp- 
toms of  complete  coma  were  setting  in  when  the  am- 
monia injeetiim  was  used  w  ith  nuigical  cHect.  The 
child  sat  upright  and  became  cpiite  lively.  A  relapse 
oei'urring,  a  second  injection  was  made^ith  as  great 
elfeet  as  before,  and  the  child  from  that  time  con- 
tinned  to  improve  until  her  recovery. 

Another  case  is  mentioned  of  a  native  woman  on 
the  Wirretia  station,  .South  Australia,  who  was  bit- 
ten by  a  snake  on  the  ankle.  She  became  uncon- 
scious, and  ttie  surface  of  the  body  was  turiung  cold 
when  ammonia  was  injected.  The  woman  at  once 
revived  and  recovered. — I'all  Mall  Gazelle. 


Hints  about  Meat. 


The  leg  of  mutton  is  the  most  profitable  joint,  con- 
taining most  solid  meat.  The  neck  is  an  extravagant 
joint,  half  the  weight  consislingof  bone  and  fat.  The 
shouhlcr  has  also  much  waste  in  boiu'.  The  brea,xt 
docs  w  ell  for  dinner,  nicely  stutled  ;  it  is  much  cheaper 
than  other  joints.  Sirloins  and  ribs  of  meat  are  very 
extravagant  joints,  from  the  weight  of  bone.  The 
roasting  side  of  the  round  pari  of  the  buttock,  and 
the  part  called  the  "toiiside,"  are  the  most  profitable 
family  eating.  The  nujusc  buttock  is  used  for  stew- 
ing-, shin  is  used  for  soup  or  stewing.  The  quantity 
of  butchers'  meat  consumeil  in  a  family  is,  on  an  ave- 
rage, tbrce-quartirs  of  a  pound  a  day  for  each  per- 
son; but  when  the  family  consists  of  women  and 
children,  half  a  |Kiund  per'day  is  about  the  quantity 
consumed,  one  with  another,  independent  of  hams, 
bacon,  jwultry,  fish  and  game.  .Meat  should  be  wiped 
with  a  dry,  clean  cloth,  as  soon  as  it  comes  from  the 
butchers;  tly-blows,  if  found  in  it,  cut  out,  and  in 
loins  the  long  pipe  that  runs  by  the  bone  should  ly. 
taken  out,  as  it  soon  taiuts  ;  the  kernels,  also,  shoul 


be  removed  from  beef.  Never  receive  bruised  joints. 
Meal  will  keep  good  for  a  long  time  In  cohl  weather, 
and,  If  frozen  through,  nuiy  be  kept  for  months. 
Frozen  meat  nnist  be  thawed  before  It  is  c(K)ked,  by 
plunging  it  into  colli  water,  or  placing  it  bclbrc  Ihe 
lire  before  setting  it  down  to  roast.  It  never  will  be 
dressed  through  if  this  precautitm  Is  not  taken,  not  ! 
even  wlien  twice  cooked.  I'eppir  is  preventive  of 
decay,  in  iIcL'ri'c  ;  il  is  well,therid'ore,  to  pe|iperhung 
joints.  Powdered  charcoal  Is  still  more  remarkable 
in  itsi'll'ect.  It  will  not  only  keep  the  meat  over  which 
it  is  sprinkleil,  good,  but  will  remove  the  taint  from 
already  dicaycil  Mesh.  A  piece  of  charcoal  boiled  in 
the  water  with  "  high  "  meat  or  fowls,  will  render  it 
or  them  qnile  sweet.  A  piece  of  charcoal,  or  pow- 
dered charectal,  should  be  kept  in  every  lardc-r. 
Hams,  after  being  smoked,  imiy  he  kept  R>r  any  length 
of  time  packed  in  powdered  charcoal. —  The  J/uune- 
kee^jer. 

^ 

Holding  on  for  Higher  Prices. 

The  (HU'sthui  ofti'U  comes  up,  whether  It  Is  best  to 
sell  a  cro|i  as  soon  as  it  is  ready  for  nnirket  or  to 
bold  on  for  hisrher  prices.  It  is  a  <ptestion  which 
camiol  be  dceideil  liy  newspaper  articles.  There  are 
so  many  tcmjiorary  or  local  circumstances  which 
lari^cly  enter  into  the  question  ami  on  which  every- 
one must  decide  for  himself.  But  in  a  general  way 
there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  best  to  sell  as  .soon  as  rca<ly, 
aial  this  is  the  advice  that  we  have  frequently  given 
in  these  columns. 

Even  tbiaigh  prices  be  low,  and  there  is  the  reason- 
able prospect  of  a  rise  in  a  short  time,  there  are  the 
losses  from  shrinkage  and  waste,  which  in  a  large 
mimbcr  of  cases  are  quiti*  as  much  as  any  average 
increase  in  jiricc  would  be.  In  the  arlhdes  whadi  we 
have  before  given,  and  to  wbii-h  we  have  alluded,  we 
have  pri-seiilcd  this  fact  particularly,  and  we  I'cmem- 
ber  esi>ecially  referring  to  the  case  of  a  friend  who 
put  oiH'  huniircil  bushels, of  potatoes  in  the  cellar  in 
fiill,  and  which  oidy  turned  out  eighty  when  sold  in 
spi'ing.  Here  was  a  loss  of  twenty  per  cent.,  and 
with  interest  on  the  reci'i|its,  if  they  had  been  sold  in 
fall,  reciuires  a  good  advan<:e  to  nuike  it  worth  while 
to  hold  under  such  circumstances. 

We  refer  to  tlu^  matter  now  hccansc  we  bclievethat 
this  figure,  twenty  percent.,  even  by  those  who  are 
conscious  of  a  loss  Ijy  keeping,  is  generally  believed 
to  be  ipiite  as  much  as  is  lost ;  but  we  have  recently 
seen  some  fig\n"es  which  show  that  it  is  often  niueli 
greater  than  this.  Twenty  per  cent,  is  given  as  ahfiut 
the  loss  by  shrinkage  in  corn  :  hut  as  much  as  thirty- 
three  per  cent,  is  tdaimed  as  the  loss  in  jiotatoes  if 
kcpt'till  late  in  the  season,  say  -Jnnc.  This  isastr()ng 
argtinu'nt  against  the  general  principle  of  holdiniron. 
—  Uennanlown  Telefjraph. 


Potato  Growing. 

As  an  article  of  daily  food  for  this  country,  and 
some  other  counti-ies,  the  potato  has  no  rival.  Hence 
it  becomes  an  important  question — what  varii'ty  is 
best,  all  things  considered?  The  kind  that  yields  best 
and  of  the  best 'quality,  is  a  desideratinn  much  to  be 
desired.  There  are  so  many  circumstances  bearing 
on  both  points  of  the  (iu<'Sti<in  that  it  is  dillleult  to 
arrive  at  eoi-i-ect  conclusions.  A  potato  that  has 
proved  good  this  year  may,  under  ditlereiit  circum- 
stances, next  year  jjrove  a  failure. 

The  Early  Uose  for  an  early  and  the  Jackson  White 
for  a  late  potato,  seem  now  to  be  i)referred  in  New 
England  markets.  They  are  both  good  potatoes, 
but  not  one  jot  better  than  several  other  kinils  that 
yield  double  what  cither  of  these  varieties  do.  We 
have  in  this  country  several  varieties  besides  the  two 
mentioned  above,  that  I  thiidc  will  prove  excellent 
potatoes.  The  I'cerless,  of  which  I  know  nothing 
pcr.sonally,  but  have  heard  it  possessed  considerable 
merit  in  quality  and  yield  ;  and  lirei'se  Prolilie  uu- 
doubt<'dly  has  the  same  good  qualities.  I  experi- 
mcntcil  with  Brooks'  Seedling  last  year,  and  think  it 
equal  to  the  Early  Hose  in  quality,  while  it  will  yield 
twice  as  many  on  the  same  land.  I  W(UiM  say  tii  any 
one  not  familiar  with  it,  that  it  rcsendiles  the  Early 
Kose,  a  shade  darker,  somewhat  thicker,  a  good  late 
potato,  ready  to  dig  first  of  October.  There  are  but 
few  Early  Kose  raised  for  the  nnirket  in  this  section ; 
they  are  good  enough,  but  yield  sparingly. 

It  seems  to"me,  if  we  can  find  a  late  potato  as  good 
in  quality  as  the  Early  liose,  and  a  much  better 
yielder,  it  ought  to  sui)ersede  it  after  it  is  well  ri- 
jiened.  The  Kose  might  retain  its  ])laee  as  an  early 
])otato,  say  for  .\ugust  and  .■September,  and  Brooks' 
Seedling,  or  some  equally  good  one,  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  year. — ./.  G.  Gooil/fur,  in  Germantuicn  Tel. 


Whipping  Horses  Dangerous. 

I  wouM  caution  those  who  train  horses  or  use  them 
niHui  another  iK)lnt,  viz.:  that  of  exciting  the  Ill-will 
of  the  animal.  .Many  Uiink  they  are  doing  finely,  and 
are  proud  (»f  their  success  In  horse-training  by  nuMins 
of  severe  whipping,  orotherwisi'  rousing  and  stimu- 
luting  the  passions,  aial  tlu'U,  from  necessity,  crush- 
ing the  will  through  which  resistance  Is  prompteil. 
No  mistake  <an  be  greater  than  this,  and  thcR'  In 
nothing  that  so  fully  exhibits  the  ability,  juili:nu'iit 
ami  skill  of  the  real  horsenuin  as  the  care  displayed 
in  winning  Instead  of  repidling  the  action  of  the 
mind.  Although  It  may  be  necessary  to  use  the  whip 
sometimes,  it  should  always  Ik-  ujiplieil  juilielotisly, 
and  great  care  should  be  taken  ii(»l  to  rouse  the  pas- 
sions or  excite  the  will  to  obstinacy.  Tin'  legltliinilo 
ami  proper  use  of  the  whip  Is  calculated  to  operate 
n;MUi  the  sense  <d'  fear  almost  entirely.  The  allec- 
tionate  and  better  initnre  nuist  be  ap|H>aled  to  In 
training  a  horse,  as  well  as  in  training  a  clillil.  A  re- 
proof given  may  Im*  lnlende<l  for  the  giMsl  of  llio 
child,  but  if  oidy  the  [lassions  are  excited  the  ellect 
Is  depraving  ami  Injurious.  This  Is  a  vital  principle, 
antl  can  be  disregarded  In  the  mamigement  ')f  sensi- 
tive and  courageous  horses  only  at  the  risk  <i{  s|Kiillnt; 
them.  I  have  known  many  horses  of  a  naturally 
genth'  character  to  be  s|H>ileil  by  whlp|>ing  oih'c,  ami 
one  horse  that  was  nntde  vlcli»us  by  Indng  struck  with 
a  whip  while  standing  In  his  stall. — J'tof.  /'uirler. 


Much  in  Little. 

A  man  walks  thret^  miles  an  hour;  ii  horse  tn>l8  7; 
steamboats  run  17;  sailing  vessels  10;  rapid  rivers 
7;  shfw  rivers  4;  moderate  winds  blow  7:  storm 
blows  :>(> ;  hurricane  Hb ;  a  ritle  ball  I,OIKI;  sound 
74  1;  li-htTi  1,(1(10,000.  A  barrel  of  llouriveighs  lOtilhs.; 
barrel  of  |H)rk  'iOO ;  firkin  of  butter  .'Ki;  a  tub  of 
butter  'H.  Wheat,  beans  and  clover  seed  (1((  {KMiiids 
to  the  bushel;  corn,  rye  and  Maxseeil  .'WJ;  buckwheat 
IVZ;  barh-y+S;  oats  :!.''>;  bran  »l ;  lluiolhy  seed  :i8; 
coarse  salt  H'l.  Sixty  drops  make  a  ilraehm  ;  8 
drachms  make  an  ounce;  4  ounces  make  a  gill;  4 
gills  a  pint ;  (10  <lrops  a  tUbles|M>onfnl,  or  half  an 
ounce  ;  two  tablesiM)onful  an  oimee  ;  -S  tcas[Mionful  a 
gill  ;  2  gills  a  eollee  <-up  or  tumbler  ;  (i  lluid  ounces  a 
teacupful.  Four  Ihousaial  eight  humlreil  and  lorly 
square  yards  make  an  acre;  a  square  mile  (140  acres. 

To  measure  an  acre  :  liOO  feet  on  each  siile  making 
a  s^iuare  within  an  inch.  There  are  «,7.'»(l  languages. 
Two  persons  die  every  second.  .\  general  ion  is  :i.^ 
years,  average  length  of  life  21  years.  Thcstamling 
army  in  I'russia,  war  times,  1 .2<>il.(i(MI ;  A  list  ria ,  «2.5,- 
(K)0;  Spain,  ll)0,(IOO:  Belgium, '.•4,000  ;  England,  7.5,- 
000;  Lnited  States,  24,000.  Mails  in  Ni'W  York  city 
weigh  100  tons  a  day.  New  York  eonsunus  (KK) 
beeves  daily,  700  calves,  20,OUO  sheep  anil  20,000 
swine  in  winter. 


Care  of  Hogs. 
Hogs  love  sulphur,  and  a  considerable  amount  of 
it  is  lU'cessary  to  keep  them  in  fair  health.  When 
hogs  run  at  large  and  fiial  green  food  they  siqiply 
themselves  with  what  is  needed,  but  pigs  kept  in 
ch«e  |iens  and  fed  on  hou.sc  slops  or  corn  need  some 
more  laxative  food.  Charcoal  should  be  fe.1  to  hogs 
frequently.  Keep  a  supply  by  them  in  small  boxes. 
Mix  four  ([uarts  of  salt,  two  ounces  of  sidiilinr,  and 
one  bushel  of  wood  ashes,  and  keep  con^^antly  in  the 
pens  in  Imixcs.  It  tends  to  reduce  lever,  destroy 
worms  aud  aid  digestion. 


Potatoes   for  Horses. 


I  once  came  near  losing  a  very  valuable  horse  from 
feeding  him  dry  hay  and  oats  with  noihing  liNisening. 
1  have  never  believed  in  dosing  a  hor.«i'  with  uii'ill- 
cinc,  hut  something  is  actually  necessary  to  keep  a 
horse  in  right  condition.  Many  use  powders,  but 
potatoes  are  better,  and  safer,  ami  chea|)cr,  If  fed  ju- 
diciously. If  those  who  are  not  in  the  liabit  of  feed- 
ing potatoes  to  horses  will  try  them,  Ihey  will  Ik! 
astonishc<I  at  the  result.  I  have  known  a  horse 
change  from  a  lazy,  dumpish  one  to  a  quick,  active, 
headstrong  animal  in  five  ilays,  by  simply  adding 
two  quarts  of  jiolatois  to  his  fei><i  daily.  If  very 
much  clean  corn-meal  is  fed,  thi'y  do  not  need  so 
iminy  potatoes.  T(K1  nuiny  |sjtaloes  are  weakening, 
aial  so  are  loo  many  ap|>les.  When  I  was  a  lad,  I 
was  away  fr(un  home  at  sehoiil  one  winter,  and  had 
the  care  of  (uii'  horse,  one  yoke  of  oxen,  and  oik'cow, 
every  one  of  which  I  had  to  curd  or  curry  cviTy  day. 
Thehorse  had  three  pails  ol  water,  four  quarts  of 
oats,  two  quarts  of  small  [Kilaloes,  and  two  (pnirtsof 
corn  extra  every  day  he  worked,  with  what  hay  he 
wanted,  and  a  stronger  or  more  active  horse  of  liis 
inches  I  have  never  yet  seen. 


Care  of  Horses. 

The  London  TTume  Iluok  says  :  "  All  horses  must 
not  he  fed  in  the  same  pro|K>rtion,  without  regard  to 
their  ages,  their  eon.slitutiou  and  their  work,  because 
the  imiiropriety  of  such  a  practice  is  self-evident.  Vet 
this  is  eonslauily  done,  and  Is  the  basis  of  disease  of 
every  kind.  Never  use  bad  hay  on  accoiuit  of  the 
cheapness,  because  it  brings  on  inllammatiiui  of  the 
bowels,  and  skin  diseases.  ChaO  is  better  for  old 
horses  than  hay,  beeaust:  they  can  chew  and  lilgesl  it 
better.  When  a  horse  is  worked  hanl,  its  fcKsI  should 
chicUy  be  hay — because  oats  supply  more  nourish- 
mentan.I  thsii  making  material  than  any  other  kind 
of  food  ;  hay,  not  so  much.  Back  fecdiieg  Is  waste- 
ful. The  better  plan  is  to  feeil  with  chapped  hay, 
because  the  fotal  Is  not  then  thrown  out,  and  Is  more 
easily  cheweil  and  digested.  Sprinkle  the  hay  with 
water  that  has  salt  dissolved  in  il,  because  il  is  phras- 
ing to  the  animal's  taste  and  more  easily  digesled. 
A  tahlesiioouful  of  salt  in  a  bucket  of  water  is  suUl- 
cieiit. 


64 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[April 


Plaster  on  Clover. 

Please  inform  me  whether  it  will  be  beneficial 
in  eowiiiff  clover  seed  in  the  sprina;  on  wheat, 
to  broadcast  wood-ashes  or  jilaster,  or  the  two  mixed. 
Or  shall  I  wait  until  after  the  wheat  is  cut,  and  then 
BOW  the  plaster  and  aehes  on  the  young  clover?  I 
wish  a  fertilizer  to  the  wheat  as  well  as  the  clover. 
In  what  pro|iortion  should  the  plaster  and  ashes  be 
used  to  the  acre? — A.  .S'.,  Jfaryland. 

[The  common  iiractice  is  to  sow  plaster  on  clover 
in  the  spring:,  the  year  after  sowing  the  seed  ;  but  if 
It  could  have  an  additional  dressing  the  year  pre- 
vious, as  soon  as  the  wheat  is  cut,  tins  would  tend  to 
make  a  stronger  growth  in  autumn.  It  would  be 
less  advantageous  to  sow  immediately  after  the  sow- 
ing of  the  clover  seed,  but  the  experiment  is  easily 
tried.  In  some  seasons,  and  on  certain  soils,  it  might 
assist  the  growth  of  both  wheat  and  clover,  but  gen- 
erally the  result  would  be  light  or  impereeiitible. 
Ashes  are  often  useful,  sometimes  not ;  and  the  only 
way  to  determine  this  point  is  to  try  the  experiment. 
As  both  ashes  and  plaster  must  be  sown  dry,  it  will 
make  no  ditierence  whether  they  are  mixed  or  sown 
separate.] — Country  Gcnl(ettuiu. 


Hollow  Horn. 


If  the  horns  of  the  animals  are  cold  in  the  morning, 
you  may  expect  they  have  the  horn  ail.  If  the  eyes 
look  dull  and  heavy,  and  the  matter  gathers  in  the 
eyes,  and  the  nose  is  dry  and  lloes  not  sweat,  it  is 
another  evidence  of  horn  ail.  If  the  hair  is  dry  and 
stands  out  straight,  and  the  droppings  are  dry  and 
hard,  it  is  a  third  indication.  Take  a  common  tea- 
cup half  full  of  good  strong  vinegar,  put  in  a  table- 
spoonful  each  of  line  salt  and  black  pepper,  ground 
fine,  and  let  it  soak.  In  the  morning  put  a  table- 
spoonful  in  eadh  ear  of  the  animal  atiected ;  the  next 
morning  repeat  the  dose.  If  the  case  is  not  a  had 
one,  two  applications  will  generally  etfect  a  cure.  As 
soon  as  the  natural  warmth  returns  to  the  horns  then 
the  cure  is  efl'ected.  I  would  not  recommend  to  bore 
the  horns  nor  cut  them  off  till  the  above  remedy  has 
been  tried.  In  applying  the  medicine  it  will  be  neces- 
sary for  one  person  to  hold  the  head  and  another  to 
apply  the  medicine.  Be  sure  to  hold  the  ear  up,  so 
that  the  licpior  will  not  run  into  the  head.  I  have  not 
known  a  creature  to  die  witli  the  horn  ail,  that  has 
been  treated  with  this,  for  forty  years. 


A  Full  Vocabulary. 

The  r'.  /S.  Tuhaeco  Jouniid  publislics  the  following 
list  of  ingenious  phrases  used  to  describe  the  many 
qualities  and  peculiarities  of  leaf  tobacco  : 

Body,  veins,  texture,  he.avy,  thick,  thin,  fat,  tough, 
hairy,  soft,  hard,  dry,  wet,  tine,  common,  spongy, 
silky,  fleshy,  ledery,  short,  narrow,  broad,  long, 
dark,  light,  brown,  brownish,  red,  reddish,  yellow, 
green,  fiery,  shrinky,  shrivelled,  old,  new,  sweated, 
heated,  unsweated,  mild,  high-flavored,  rank,  dull, 
glossy,  shiny,  spotted,  sprinkled,  dotted,  sound, 
rotten,  touched,  damaged,  damaged  on  the  butt, 
damaged — per  cent.,  over  sweated,  raw,  lively, 
white  ash,  gray  ash,  blue  ash,  spiderweb  ash,  bony, 
bad,  burniirg,  funky,  rim  throwing,  blistering,  flacky, 
coaling,  wouldn't  hold  fire,  pole  liurned,  frosted, 
fishy.  Salty,  quality,  lor  export,  working  up,  low, 
high  priced,  siuibby,  farnier'spacked,  regularpacked, 
mark-weight,  re-weight,  worm-eaten,  cured,  killed, 
dead. 


Tree  Mignonnette. 

This  is  by  some  supposed  to  he  a  distinct  variety 
from  the  common  kind  grown  in  the  garden,  but  it  is 
not.  The  tree  form  is  due  to  careful  pruning  and  at- 
tention, and  there  is  no  variety  of  mignonnette  which 
will  assume  a  tree  form  without  constant  care.  The 
way  to  raise  a  "tree  "  nugnonnette  is  to  sow  the  seed 
as  usual,  and  when  the  plants  are  about  two  inches 
high,  select  one  of  the  strongest,  and  jilant  in  a  pot 
or  box  bvitself,andkeepit well  supported  by  astakc. 
Every  side  branch  that  appears  must  be  pinched  olT, 
but  the  leaves  nuist  be  allowed  to  remain  on  the  main 
stem  as  they  are  needed  for  the  health  of  the  plant. 
When  the  plant  is  about  a  foot  or  more  in  height,  the 
Bide  shoots  may  be  pernntted  to  grow,  but  they  must 
have  their  heads  pinched  otf  occasionally  to  force 
them  to  form  a  bushy  top.  It  will  take  some  mouths 
to  accomplish  this,  but  it  will  make  a  beautiful 
plant. —  Country  OentUman. 


What  it  will  Do. 

If  ameehanic  or  clerk  saves  2%  cents  per  day,  from 
the  time  he  is  twenty-one  until  he  is  thi-eescore  and 
ten,  the  aggregate,  with  interest,  will  amount  to 
g3,il00  ;  and  a  daily  saving  of  27>i  cents  will  reach 
the  important  sura  of  ?29,l)00.  A  sixpence  saved 
daily  will  provide  a  fund  of  $7,0U0— sufficient  to  pur- 
chase a  good  farm.  There  are  few  employees  who 
cannot  save  daily,  by  abstaining  from  the  use  of 
cigars,  tobacco,  liquor,  etc.,  twice  or  ten  times  the 
amount  of  the  six  cent  ineee.  Every  person  should 
provide  for  old  age,  and  the  man  in  business  who  can 
lav  by  a  dollar  a  day  will  eventually  find  himself 
possessed  of §100,000. 


Hay-Making  in  Norway. 

Of  this  a  correspondent  thus  writes  :  "  The  way 
they  make  hay  in  Norway  will  be  new  to  your  farmer 
readers.  The  grass  is  hung  up  on  poles  to  dry,  and 
I  have  never  seen  such  bright  colored  hay  in  my  life. 
It  is  almost  as  bright  a  green  as  when  growing.  In 
some  fields  you  see  strings  of  fences,  a  few  rods  long, 
which  begin  and  end  nowhere.  These  Hues  of  fence 
are  about  as  wide  apart  as  a  New  England  farmer 
makes  his  winrows.  On  these  fences  the  grass  is 
hung  till  the  wind  and  sun  can  cure  it.  The  sun  does 
not  burn  it.  That  is  one  way,  and  perhaps  the  most 
common.  The  other  way  is  to  plant  po.stsin  the  fields, 
twelve  feet  or  so  apart,  and  in  these  posts  insert  pegs 
about  one  loot  asunder.  On  these  pegs  poles  are  laid, 
and  on  them  the  grass  is  hung  just  as  we  used  to  dry 
paper  at  the  mills  down  East,  forty  years  ago.  The 
result  is  hay  that  any  farmer  would  be  proud  of. 


Everlasting  Fence  Post. 

I  discovered  many  years  ago  that  wood  could  he 
made  to  last  longer  than  iron  in  the  ground,  hut 
thought  the  process  so  simple  and  inexpensive  that  it 
was  not  worth  while  making  any  stirabout  it.  I  would 
as  soon  liave  poplar,  basswood,  or  quaking  ash,  as 
any  other  kind  of  timber  for  fence  posts.  I  have 
taken  out  basswood  posts,  after  having  been  set  seven 
years,  that  were  as  sound  when  taken  up  as  when 
they  were  first  put  in  the  ground.  Time  and  weather 
seemed  to  have  no  efleet  on  them.  The  posts  can 
be  prepared  for  less  than  two  cents  apiece.  For  the 
benefit  of  others,  I  will  give  the  recipe  :  Take  boiled 
linseed  oil  and  stir  it  in  pulverized  charcoal  to  the 
consistency  of  paint.  Put  a  coat  of  this  over  the 
timber,  and  there  is  not  a  man  that  will  live  to  see  it 
rot. 


Controlling  Bulls. 

Without  a  ring  a  bull  is  unmanageable,  unless  there 
is  some  contrivance  which  can  hobble  his  action,  and 
I  know  of  none  such.  Were  one  obliged  to  incur  tlie 
trouble  of  forwarding  a  full  grown  bull,  unused  to  be 
handled,  what  would  be  the  best  aids  to  provide  ?  I 
think  to  provide  a  strong  head-stall  or  halter,  having 
rings,  with  a  rope  wound  round  the  base  of  the  horns, 
and  its  two  very  long  ends  passing  through  the  head 
stall  rings,  and  then  allowed  to  trail  on  the  ground 
behind  one  on  either  side,  would  be  advisable  head- 
gear; and  what  besides?  The  herdman's staflTshould 
not  be  of  the  ordinary  form,  i.  e.,  opening  with  a 
snap  ;  but  it  should  have  a  screw  passed  through 
both  sides  of  the  loop  at  the  top,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
possibility  of  the  snap  opening  and  allowing  the  ring 
to  escape  the  grasp  of  the  staft'. — A.  B.,  in  Lomloii 
Field. 


Eastern  and  Western  Wheat. 

Eastern  grown  wheat  has  some  advantage  of  west- 
ern grown  in  quality.  In  grinding  ifp  a  mixture  of 
western  and  eastern  wheat  adds  considerably  to  the 
value  of  the  (lour.  A  much  larger  quantity  than 
usual  was  shipped  this  year  to  Ohio  on  account  of 
the  western  wheat  being  rather  below  the  average  in 
quality.  The  wheat  of  New  England,  and,  indeed, 
the  Eastern  States  down  to  Delaware  and  Maryland  ; 
on  the  other  hand,  is  above  the  general  average  in 
quality.  Climate  has  not  only  much  to  do  with  the 
quality  of  these  articles,  but  the  little  variations  we 
find  from  season  to  season  has  a  considerable  iullu- 
euce  also. 


How  to  Make  an  Omelet. 

The  proper  way  to  make  an  omelet  is  to  take  three 
teaspoonfulsof  niilk  for  each  egg,  and  a  pinch  of  salt 
to  each  one  also.  Beat  the  eggs  lightly  for  three  or 
four  minutes,  and  pour  them  info  a  hot  pan  in  which 
a  [liece  of  butter  the  size  of  a  walnut  has  been  melted 
a  moment  liefore.  Tlie  mass  will  begin  to  bubble  and 
rise  in  flakes  immediately,  and  the  bottom  must  be 
lifted  incessantly  with  a  clean  knife  so  that  the  softer 
parts  run  in.  An  omelet  should  be  cooked  about 
three  or  four  minutes,  and  made  in  this  way  will  melt 
in  the  nioutli.  If  a  little  parsley  and  some  well-boiled 
onion,  cut  into  small  pieces,  be  added,  it  is  much  im- 
proved.— Bertha,  Clullenham,  in  GcrmantowH  Tel, 


Cooking  by  Cold. 

The  Scientific  American  says :  Quite  recently  a 
Hungarian  chemist,  Dr.  von  Sawicezwsky,  it  appears, 
has  investigated  all  the  various  ways  suggested  for 
preserving  meat,  (by  ehenucals,  cooking  by  heat,  and 
hermetically  sealing,  etc.)  and  has  found  points  of 
objection  to  all,  has  attempted  the  preparation  of  tlie 
material  by  subjecting  it  in  a  perfectly  fresh  state  to 
a  temperature  (if  o.>o  below  zero,  Fah.,  and  sealing 
it  afterwards  in  tins.  The  results  obtained  have  been 
highly  8atisfact<n-y  ;  the  meat  on  being  removed  from 
the  cans  ap;)ears,  in  point  of  smell  andcolor,  as  fresh 
as  if  just  taken  from  the  butchers'  stall.  An  exten- 
sive factory  is  being  erected  in  Hungary  for  its 
mauufacture 


Brittle  Hoofs. 

Horses  or  mules'  hoofs  are  often  rendered  brittle  by 
causing  them  to  stand  on  the  heated  manure  or  filth 
in  the  stables,  and  sometimes  by  chronic  "  founder  " 
or  fever  in  the  feet.  If  the  first  cause  is  suspected,  it 
should  be  stopped  at  once;  if  the  latter  is  the  cause, 
it  should  be  remedied  by  giving  the  horse  some  cool- 
ing medicine,  placing  the  hoofs  in  a  bath  of  water  so 
hot  that  it  cannot  be  borne  by  the  hand,  and  then 
smearing  them  with  glycerine.  The  remedy  may 
need  to  be  repeated  for  some  time,  until  all  heat  or 
fever  is  removed,  when  the  glycerine  dressing  should 
be  continued  until  the  new  growth  of  horn  replaces 
the  old  one. — Auierica/i  Agriculturist. 


It  is  stated  that  corn  loses  one-fifth  and  wheat  one- 
fourteenth  by  drying.  From  the  estimate  made,  it 
seems  that  it  would  be  more  profitable  for  the  farmer 
to  sell  unshelled  corn  in  the  fall  at  75  cents  than  to 
keep  it  until  spring  and  sell  it  at  $il,  and  that  wheat 
at  SI. 3.5  in  December  is  equal  to  S1..50  the  succeeding 
June.  In  eases  of  potatoes — taking  those  that  rot 
and  otherwise  lost — together  with  shrinkage,  there  is 
little  doubt  that  between  October  and  June  the  loss  of 
the  owner  who  holds  them  is  not  less  than  33  i)er 
cent. 

A  CURIOUS  statement  has  been  made  and  published 
in  a  French  paper  in  regard  to  hens.  It  reckons  the 
number  of  hens  in  France  at  -10,(100,000,  valued  at 
§20,000,000.  Of  these  about  one-tifth  are  killed  an- 
nually for  the  market.  There  is  an  annual  net  pro- 
duction of  SO, 000,000  chickens,  which  in  market  yield 
$24,000,000.  The  extra  value  to  be  added  for  capons, 
fattened  hens,  and  the  like,  at  .$2,0;)0,000  The  pro- 
duction of  eggs  per  pen,  worth  848,000,003.  In  all  it 
is  reckoned  that  the  value  of  hens,  chickens  and  eggs 
sold  in  the  markets  of  France,  is  ^S0,000,001). 

For  kitchen  and  pantry  floors  there  is  nothing  bet- 
ter than  a  coat  of  hard  paint ;  the  cracks  should  be 
filled  with  putty  before  it  is  applied,  and  the  paint  al- 
lowed to  dry  at  least  to  Weeks  before  using.  Then  it 
is  easily  kept  clean  by  washing  (not  scrubbing)  with 
milk  and  water ;  soap  should  never  be  allowed  to 
touch  it.  "  Red  lead  and  yellow  oeher  I  prefer  for 
coloring ;  the  former  makes  a  hard  paint  that  wears 
well." — ^Scientific  American. 

A  FRUITFUL  source  of  malaria  is  found  in  the 
earth  adjoining  ponds  which  are  dammed  for  manu- 
manvfaeturing  or  other  purposes.  The  soil  in  the 
vicinity,  through  the  water  being  raised  above  its 
previous  level,  becomes  soaked,  and  hence  damp  and 
very  dangerous  to  health. — Scientific  American. 

In  washing  calicoes  in  which  the  colors  are  not  fast, 
be  careful  not  to  boil  them  ;  but  wash  in  the  usual 
way  with  soap,  and  rinse  in  hard  water.  For  dark- 
eolin-cd  goods  add  a  little  salt  to  the  water ;  for  light, 
a  little  vinegar. 

Yeast  Dumplings:  Take  light  bread  dough, 
shorten  it  a  little,  put  salt  in  Ijoiling  water,  then  form 
the  dough  in  small  dumplings,  drop  them  in  the 
water  and  boil  20  minutes. 

Omelet  :  Beat  the  yolk  and  whites  of  1  eggs 
together  with  2  tablcspooufuls  of  milk  ;  add  salt  and 
pepper;  fry  in  hot  butter  and  lanl ;  eat  while  hot. 


LITERARY  NOTICES. 

Mentor  in  the  Granges  and  Homes  of  P.i 
TRONS  OF  Husbandry.  By  Kev.  A.  B.  Grosu,  first 
Chaplain  of  the  National  Grange. 

This  is  a  handsome  Royal  12  mo.  of  47S  pages, 
something,  in  style,  siie,  and  quality,  like  the  "Odd- 
Fellows  Improved  Manual,"  by  the  same  clever  au- 
thor, whose  name  andliteraryreputatiou  alone  would 
be  a  sulHcient  guarantee  to  us  of  the  intrinsic  value 
of  the  work  without  having  seen  it.  Its  object  is  to 
explain  the  origin,  aims  and  government  of  the  Or- 
der, answer  objections,  advise  candidates,  teach  the 
lessons  of  each  degree,  duties  of  oflieers  ami  mem- 
bers, and  aid  Patrons  to  be  better  members  of  fami- 
lies, of  the  Order,  and  of  society.  Embellished  with 
a  portrait  of  the  author,  and  a  large  number  of  excel- 
lent engravings  of  the  emblems,  symbols,  and  otticial 
insignia,  this  work  has  received,  very  justly,  the 
commendations  of  the  highest  oHicial  functionaries 
of  the  Order,  and  ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  every 
Patron  of  Husbandry  in  the  Union.  Not  to  know  this 
work,  by  tho.se  for  whom  it  is  designed,  must  inevita- 
bly argue  themselves  unknowing  and  unknown.  We 
do  not  see  how  any  intelligent  or  progressive  Patron 
can  deny  himself  the  privilege  of  daily  perusing  its 
golden-freighted  columns,  unless  he  "  loves  darkness 
rather  than  light."  Indeed,  its  domestic  and  social 
instructions  can  never  be  limited  to  the  "  pent  up 
Utica  "  of  the  Grange,  but  are  equally  applicable  to 
the  "  vast  unbounded  continent  "  of  human  society, 
wherever  the  spark  of  civilization  has  lighted  up  and 
burns.  Its  moral  ethics  are  such  as  have  received 
the  stamp  of  approbation  among  the  wise  and  good 
of  all  ages,  and  therefore  we  have  no  hesitation  in 
recommending  it  to  all  cultivators  of  the  soil  ,at  least, 
and  especially  "  to  the  household  of  its  faith."  Pub- 
lished by  Clark  &  Mavnaud,  No.  5  Barclay  street, 
New  York,  at  §2  per  copy,  and  sold  exclusively  by 
agents. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


FARMERS  and  TRUCKERS ! 

Btjy  THE 

NITRO-PHOSPHATE, 

itiAni-:  II Y  'nil': 

FARMERS'  BONE  AND  FERTILIZING  CO. 


Ouarnntoo^l  AnnlyNJM,  ns  fullowR: 

Phosphoric  Arid,  suluhlo  iiml  uvjiilnbk-,  8  to  9  jier  ceut. 

Nitrogoii,  t'<iuivah'iit  tu  Aniiuuuiu,  3  to  'A)^  jier  ceut. 

rotush,  '2J^  to  3  ler  ci-nt. 

Uu8uri»aP8ed  if  eiiviiilh'd  by  any  otlwr  fertilizer  in  the 
murkot,  in  ]tru|turtiuii  to  its  cowt,  lor  iiU  Bpriuj;  L-roim.  Thy 
obovo  Kortiii/t-r,  ti.K«tlier  with  our  (ilUHTND  KAW  BONK 
(warrnmted  aliflohittly  imri')  will  bo  found  in  tho  ImndH  of 
dealers  ^jent-rully,  or  inny  b*-  had  on  ui'iilicjition  tit  the  ottU-o 
of  the  <.\>nii>iiny.  Ah  a  Farnicrs'  tloinpiiny  we  iihk  the  pu- 
trouugo  and  co-operation  of  nil  interested  in  the  production 
of  fertilizers  of  reliable  worth.     Send  for  circulars. 

WM.  A.  FISIIEU,  I'reH't,        I    T.  W.  TUK(H),  Trens., 

Bryu  Mawr,  Mont.  Co.  |  Doylestown,  Bucks  Co. 

JOEL  W.  STUAWN,  Sec'y,  and  (Chemist, 

119  N.  l>elawaro  Ave.,  Philadelphia. 

DTRECTOllS.— William   A.   Fisher,  T.  W.    Trego,  H.    I). 

I^onKaker,  .I»)nhna  Ashbridge,  Charles  Paxson,  Jonathan 
Kuight,  and  Joel  W.  Strawn. 

Factory  at  the  foot  of  Mifflin  street,  River  Delaware, 
Philadelphia,  always  opeu  to  the  iuBjection  of  consumers  of 
fertilizers. 

(T^'The  almve  named  article  is  one  of  the  best  fertilizers 
in  the  market  for  the  i)roduction  of  good  tobjicco.  Refer- 
eDces :  Henry  O.  Shenk  and  M.  M.  Moore,  of  Lancaster 
coxmty.  Constautly  kept  on  hanil  and  for  t*alu  by  A.  F. 
BAIR,  No.  U2  North  Duke  street,  Lancaster,  Pa.  Also  sold 
by  D.  D.  HKS3,  Quarryville.  S-i-lt 


FERTILIZERS! 

HOIVIE:  IMC.A.DE:. 

CHEAPEST  AND   BEST! 


-o- 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  forniulie  have  p^ovet,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  i)rices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Plaster, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  8oda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA, 


EBtablished  as  ManufiicturerB  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  in  1793. 


[8-2-    m 


are  the  best  the  world  produces.  They  are  planted  by  a 
million  jieojile  in  America,  and  the  result  is  beautiful 
Flowers  and  splendid  Vegetables.  A  Priced  Catalogue  sent 
free  to  all  who  inclose  the  postage — a  2  cent  stamp. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  *2.t  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents;  with 
cloth  covers,  (>.=»  cents. 
It]  Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  Great  Agricultural  Wonder, 

BEING    THE 

HULLESS  OATS, 


Which  can  be  obtained  of 


At  Leesport  P.  0.,    Berks  County,  Pa., 


AH    FOLLOWS  I 


1  ponnd .50clN. 

16        ••        «  «.oO 


8  pftiiiidH $   3.30 

3a      "        la.oo 


It  is  claimed  that  it  will  yield  us  mauy  nioastired  bushels 
B8  any  other  variety,  while  it  weighs  5G  iiomida  to  the 
bushel,  aud  ripeus  two  weeks  earlier  than  coiniuou  oats, 
thereby  eseai'iug  the  rusty  seasuu  of  oats, 

WWrite  tor  circulum.  8-l-4t 


FINDING  OUT  THE  SECRET. 

Mrs.  Brown  ami  luT  i^o.sxii),  Mrs.  Wlil/e,  were  con- 
vcreiiii;  alHUit  tiiisbaiids  ami  the  secrets  of  Kree- 
UKisoijry.  Mr.  Urowii  was  a  Freeniusoii  ;  ami  tlie 
faetdfiiot  Iieinirable  to  s!iare  the  seerets  of  tlie  onler 
with  liini  iiiaile  .Mrs.  lii-owii  very  milia|i|iy.  She  was 
[Hiurlni;  out  her  !;rief  to  Mrs.  While,  ami  sayiii:;  for 
tile  thousaiidtli  time,  "  I  wonder  what  they  do  in  the 
loti^^e  room  '" 

"  I  have  no  cioitlit  but  it  is  ilreuilfiil,"  rejilieil  Mrs. 
While.  "But  if  my  liusbaiid  was  a  Mason,  I'll  licl 
IVl  Ijml  out  what  he  did." 

"  Hut  liow  I     Tliey  dare  not  tell." 

"  .Ml  !  but  I'd  ma'lie  him  lell." 

"How  !  oh,  liow  ;"  asked  .Mrs.  Brown,   anxiously. 

"  llusli  !  I'll  till  you  ;  but  don't  breathe  it  for  the 
world,  beeiiuse  it  is  a  dead  secret." 

'•  No,  no  ;  I  won't." 

"  Well,  ilo  you  liiiow  that  tiekliiiij  a  person's  ear 
when  they  are  asleep  will  make  them  talk?" 

"  No.    "Will  it,  Ihouirh  f 

"  Yes.  Now  you  wait  'till  Brown  eonics  home  from 
the  iod^e  next  time,  and  have  a  Ijroom  straw  in  bed 
with  you.  When  he  y;ets  asleep  you  liekle  his  ear 
with  it  j^ently,  and  he  will  bej^in  lo  lalk  about  what 
he  has  Iteeii  doin^r  in  tlie  lodt^e,  and  in  lliis  way  can 
get  the  whole  of  the  business  out  of  him." 

"tiraeious  me.    You  don't  say  so,  .Mrs.  White  !" 

"To  be  sure  I  do.  I  always  get  my  husband's 
secrets  out  of  him  in  this  way." 

"I'll  do  it!" 

"And  you'll  tell  me  all  aliout  it,  won't  you?" 

"  Certainly.  But  you  must  never  say  anything 
about  it?" 

"Oh,  of  course  not.  I'm  very  close  mouthed,"  re- 
plied .Mrs.  White,  earnestly. 

So  it  was  agreed  upon,  and  they  separated.  But 
unl'ortunatcly  Mr.  Wliile  overlicard  the  consjiiraey, 
and  lost  no  time  in  informing  Mr.  Brown,  who  laughed 
heartily  over  it. 

A  few  nights  afterward  Brown  attended  a  meeting 
of  his  lodge,  and  his  wife  was  all  anxiety  regarding 
it.  On  retiring,  she  armed  lierself  with  a  spray  from 
lier  lirfiom  and  wakefully  waited  for  her  lord  and 
master  to  return.  At  last  she  had  almost  broken 
down  the  veil  of  secrecy  which  had  troubled  her  so 
long,  and  her  heart  beat  wildly  when  she  heard  him 
open  the  front  door  and  come  in. 

Of  course  she  professed  to  be  asleep,  and  did  not 
see  the  comical  smile  on  her  husband's  face  as  he 
turned  on  the  gas  and  began  disrobing  for  bed.  But 
he  said  nothing,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  com- 
fortably tucked  in  and  gave  out  premonitory  indica- 
tions of  approaching  slumber. 

Then  Mrs.  Brown  opened  her  eyes  cautiously,  and 
convinced  herself  that  he  had  gone  to  that  land  from 
which  sleepy  husbands  never  return  until  sometime 
next  day.  Cautiously  she  reached  under  the  pillow, 
and  took  the  broom  straw  from  its  hiding  place.  Then 
stie  readied  over  carefully  and  began  to  tickle  her 
husband's  ear,  and  he  was  all  the  time  doing  his  best 
to  keep  from  exploding  with  laughter. 

Finally  he  began  to  talk  a  little,  and  her  cars  were 
keenly  alive  to  every  syllable. 

"  Yes,  he  must  die,''  said  he.  "  lie  betrayed  our 
secrets  to  his  wife.  I've  got  to  kill  him— the  lot  fell 
on  me." 

Mrs.  Browu  screamed  and  leaped  from  the  bed, 
while  lier  husliand,  unable  to  control  himself,  gave 
vent  to  his  laughter  and  disturbed  the  neiichbors  for 
the  next  ten  minutes.  But  they  never  came  lo  any 
understaniling  about  the  strange  atlair.  She  never 
asked  him  what  he  was  laughing  at,  and  he  never 
asked  her  what  it  was  which  made  her  scream  and 
leap  out  of  bed  so  quickly. 

Mrs.  Brown  and  Mrs.  White  don't  speak  now.  She 
thinks  Mrs.  White  played  a  joke  on  her,  and  she 
seems  to  have  lost  niueh  of  her  anxiety  regarding  the 
secrets  of  Freemasonry. 

A  Reflection  on  the  Cot'KT. — When  Judge 
Hewett  was  on  the  bench  in  tlie  Western  District  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  Colonel  Billings  was 
trying  a  ease  before  his  honor,  the  jinlire  overruled 
so  many  of  the  lawyer's  exceptions  that  Billini;s  got 
out  of  patience,  and  spoke  so  severely  lliat  the  judge 
at  last  dcniunded  in  a  voice  of  thunder  ; 

"  What  (lues  the  ecmnsel  suppose  I  am  here   for  ?" 

Colonel  Billings  kxiked  sadly  diseoncertcd,  scratch- 
ed his  head,  thought  a  moment,  and  at  last,  with  a 
bland  smile  on  his  face,  replied  : 

"  I  confess  your  honor  has  got  me  now." 

A  NewHampsiiiue  dealer  in  fancy  fowls  sings  the 
praises  of  his  favorite  breeds  in  the  following  unique 
hymn  : 

If  you  want  some  feathered  st     ^ 
That  will  not  your  wishes  m 
Wheu  at  their  nests  you  daily  kn  J-ock, 
Buy  some  e^gs  or  net  a  fl  I 

Of  the  famous  I'lyuiouth  R  J 

When  a  Chicago  man  loses  the  respect  of  the  com- 
munity, he  takes  his  guu  and  starts  <mt  to  kill  an 
alderman  as  the  only  means  of  belug  restored  to 
(xipular  esteem. 


ID      . 
« 

e  z 


6  r 


>OMatic 

Knitter 


3 


»  i 

n 

s   ■» 


'tii 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  iittrudtitK  unlverHiil  att«-t)tioii  by  Itn  aHtoi  InhhiK  P^r- 
formaiiC<*H  and  ilM  (.,'rt*at  priictlr;il  viihn*  for  rvery-ilay  runilly 
UBO.  It  kuit.s  every  j  nhHiblt-  vui  itty  i»f  plitiii  or  faiiey  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  Kiv<'H  tx-rfrrt  Hlni)>*-  mid  fbiinh  to  all  KamivntH.      H  will 

knit  a  pair   of  sockt   in  fifteen   minutoe)       Kv«*ry    ninrliliio 

\l'AKICA^TI-:i»  \'*rU'vt,  and  (tula jiiMf  tr hat  U  rrjrrrjirntfd. 

A  coiii|ilt-te  inHtruction  IkkiU  accoinpuntftt  tuch  inuetilue. 

Nit.  J  Family  Machine.  1  cyliudi-r,  I'i  n*t'dle»»,  $;tO. 

No.  3       "  -'2        "     T2  AlOO    ••         40. 

A  RainpU  tnarhitie  will  bo  sent  to  any  jwrt  pf  tbo  ITDiti>4l 

States  or  Canada,  (whore  we  have  no  agent)  exprens  ehargr-a 

prr/iaiil,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

AciKNTM  WHntcd  in  ev»jry  HtHle,  County,  City   and  Towd, 
to  whom  very  liberwl  dtKcounte  will  l>e  ninrte.     AiIiId'hr, 
BICKFOUI)  KNITTINO  MACIUNK  MF{}.  <<i., 
7-11-tf]  Bole  MunufacturerN,  KrHllli>lM»ro,  Vt. 


LUMBER  FOR  FARMERS. 

NO  MIDDL£-M£X. 


We  have  a  larRo  stock  of  !,umI>or,  and  one  of  the  most 
exteuBivis  Sunh  un<l  l>o()r  Fiictori(-M  ni  the  Stat)-,  and  wc  are 
prepared  to  furnish  IIoiiho  and  Knrn  lidlH  tximplcto. 

All  kinda  of  Manufacture*!  FeuciuK.  A:c.,  makinx  a  upeci- 
alty  of  HU)>plyinR  the  agricultural  ootniuunity.  We  will 
make  pric^B  delivered  to  any  Itailroud  Stattun.  AJl  our 
material  ^'■■nrnHleed  aa  rei-reMente*!.  All  nianufiiclnred  , 
work  kihi-drii-rt  and  warranted  not  to  Hhrluk.  All  Inqulrien 
cheerfully  auHwered. 

One  of  the  flmi  can  be  wen  at  the  Franklin  House,  North 
Queen  Street,  Lancaster,  I'a.,  on  Momlay  of  each  week. 

KENDIG,  BRICKER  &  LAUMAN, 

7-4-12ni]  Middlctown    Dauphin  cc,  Pa. 


I  have  foinided  my  buaiiieRK  on  the  iM-lief  that  the  pabllo 
are  anxious  to  get  their  serd  iiircrdy  fritm  the  fjrotrrr,  and  t 
therefore  offer  krkk  to  every  man  and  woman  In  the  United 
States  who  cultiVHt''fl  a  farm,  tills  a  vegelttble  gardfu,  or 
plauta  a  flower  garden,  my  large  IlluBtrate<l  Catalogue  of 
Vegetable  and  Flower  S<t*ds  for  ls7r. ;  it  contains,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  choicest  kinds  j>n«luced  in  Kurope,  on^  hututrM 
and  fi/tt/  van'efieA  of  ri-ffctahle  ttcfd  <jroitn  on  mt/ /mir *^£d 
faJ-ittA.  Customers  of  hint  season  iie«4i  not  write  for  It.  Aa 
the  original  introducer  of  the  Hubbard,  Marbtehead  and 
Hutman  Squashes,  Phmney's  Melon,  the  Marblehead  Cab- 
bages, and  a  %c*tTv  of  other  new  vt-geishles.  I  w>ilrit  y«)ur 
jiatronogc.  All  seed  sold  under  three  warrants.  A  hundred 
thonsnud  catalogues  will  Ih>  issued  and  aent  out  the  first  of 
Januarv. 
7-11-r.l"  JAMKS  .1.  H.  GUFOOKY.   MarM.  head.  Maail. 

NflVT    POTA.TOES! 

C&Or^i^  IX  l*RK.nH*MM  toOrowcrs!  Two  New 
Twi^^yKy  Varieties  sent  gratis,  prepaid.  ClrcuUr 
frtjelOMll  applicants.      D.  A.  COMI'TON,  llawley,  Pa.        («l 

SKNP  2Sc.  to  G.  P.  ROWFIJ.  k  CO.,  Ne»-  Vork.  for  Pam- 
phlet of  100  |<age«i,  containing  liala  of  :t,OOU  uowspftpen, 
aud  estimates  showing  cost  of  advertising. 

$125.00  in  CASH  PREMIUMS. 

For  i>articul8rB  pec  my  IlhiRtratotl  Caialof^uo  for  187«,  OOD- 
tniniiift  all  th.»  new  ami  iH'ct  varietloit  of  frr«th,  true  mnd  n*- 
liablo  Garden  S«H'.la,  carefully  urowii  from  fine  w!l©ct<Nl 
ntocks,  and  the  larKe«t  and  t>eRt  colU^'lion  of  Cliolce  H«*d 
FotatoM  ever  offered.  Seut  free- to  all  api>liraDlfl.  Do  not 
fail  to  He  It. 

J.  R.  V.  IIAWKIXN. 

OOSIIKS,  N.   Y. 

HORSE-BILLS 
I'l.AIN  UK  IN   FAN<"Y  COLOIW. 
Prloted  in  tbo  Beat  Style  at  the  ofllcc  of 

THE  FABMBU. 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[April,  1876. 


We  call  attention  louur  imineiiee  Stuck  (6UU  acres)  of 
Fruit  Treesi.  Staudanl  ai-ii  Dwarf. 
Niiijill  FriiitM.  Grai-es,  Currants,  Raspberries,  &c. 
Ornaiiieiital  Treen  and   Shrubs,  deciduous  aud 

evergieeu. 
Roses  a  Biiecialty — all  the  tiueet  sorts. 
Green  an«l  Hot  House  Plants.  ir.cUiding  l»eet  nov- 
elties.    Small  i.iircels  forwarded  by  mail  wbeu  desired. 
Promiit  attention  given  to  all  orders  and  inquiries. 
Descriptive  and  Illustrated  priced  Catalogues  seut  prepaid 

on  receipt  of  stamps,  as  follows: 
No.   1.  Fruils  (new  ed.,  with  col'd  jdate)  15  cts. 
No.  3,  Ornamental  Trees,  with  col'd  plate  of  Roses,  25c. 
No.  3.  Greenhouse,  Free.  No.  4.  Wholesale,  Free. 

No.  5.  I^ist  of  Xew  Roses  for  1ST*;,  Free. 
Nob.  1  and  a— Neatly  bound  together,  forming  an  interest- 
ing and  valuable  book  for  reference, 
Addresfl.  50  cts.  by  mail,  post  paid. 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,  Rochester,  NY. 


GOOD  KEF.nS.  GROWN  WITH    CARE,   FROM  SE- 
lected  Stocks,  alwiiys  pay.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  B.  V.  HAWKINS,  Gosheu,  N.  Y. 


FARMERS,  IMPROVE  YOUR  POULTRY  STOCK  1 


EGGS  FOR  HATCHING 

Of  the  following  varieties,  at  prices  to  suit  the  times,  viz.: 

Dark  Brahmas,  Partridge  Cochins,  White  Cochins,  Ply- 
mouth Rocks,  S.  S.  Hamburgs,  Browu  Leghorns,  Amer. 
Domiuiques  and  Houdaus.         Address, 

8-3-2m]  HAYDX  H.  TSHUDY,  lAUx,  Pa. 


*??6. 


mm. 

t 


|intiiijiiil  I'diliioB?! 

As  MEMENTOES.  SOUVENIRS, 
and  ORNAMENTS 

FOR  THE  PEOPLE. 

As  LASTING  ADVERTISEMENTS 

MANUFACTURED  OF  ALBATA  PLATE, 

Equal  in  wear  aud  color  to  solid 

SIliVEH  on  GOliD, 

Presenting   beautiful  DESIGNS  IN  RELIEF,  commem- 
orating  the    cne   InmdredtU  anniversary   of   our    nation's 
birth.    Size,  !*„  inches  in  diameter.     Send  for  circular. 
Price  for  the  Silver,  50  cents  each. 
"  »  Gold.  75    '*         " 

Usual  discount  to  the  trade. 


AGENTS  WANTFn. 

Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Extensive  fields  for  en- 
terprise. Will  be  seut  to  any  part  of  the  country  by  mail, 
postpaid,  upon  the  recei[it  of  i^rice 

IT. ».  Medallion  <'o.,  P.  O.  Box  5270,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  Ttaufje  Breech  Loading 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 


o 

X 
Carries  a  \{  inch  ball  with  acou-  ^^^^^  ^ 
racy  fitty  leet.  without  powder  or  ^^^^^  CO 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  salo 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
•nd  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS  want::d. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  07  Liberty  Street,  New  Tort 
8Sein 

E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  W.  Fotirtli  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Artt  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


Estiiiiates  liiniisliBd  Iree. 


[tf] 


Seni  lor  Circular. 


SPECIAL  NOTICE  TO  FARMERS ! 


Ixaprove  Vour  Poultry! 


rriHIS  can  be  done  at  a  comparatively  small  outlay  by  purchasing  one  or  more  sittings  of  eggs  for  hatching  fr«m  choice 
I  thor<iughbred  and  imported  fowls.  We  keep  a  veiy  select  Btoch  of  the  leuding  varieties  of  Poultry  :  Bralinias, 
J-      Cocliins,    Leghorns,    Houdaus,  Game,   llamburga,    Plymoutli    Rocks,    Dorkings,    otc.      Mammoth    Bronze,   White, 

Blue  and  Black  Turkeys,  Toulouse,  Embdeu  and  Hon*^  Kong  Geese,  all  breeds  of  Ducks,  etc.    We  breed  each  variety  on  a 

separate  farm— thus  can  guarantee  purity.     Descriptive  Circular  free. 

Handsomely  Illustrated  Descriptive  Priced  Catalogue  of  Poultry,  etc.,  10  cts..  Post-paid. 


ALSO  BREEDER  AND  SHIPPER  OF  AND  DEALER  IN 


BLOODED  CATTLE. 

Southdcwn   and  Cots"wold    Sheep,    Chester  White, 

Berksliire,    Yorkshire    and    Essex   S"wine, 

Sporting  and  Thoroughbred  Dogs. 

D^^scriptiv^  Circular  free  I  All  stock  boxed  free,  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. No  inferior  stock  sold  Kveiy  farmer,  and  all  interested  in  x^igeoiia,  should  send 
50  cents  for  a  copy  of  our  new  illustrated  treatise —  * 

The  Pigeon  Loft:  How  to  Furnish  and  Manage  It. 

EXTRA  FINE  SEED  CORN— Sample,  6  Cts. 

Circalars  free.  €orrespoii<Bencc  Solicited. 

W.  ATLEE  BURPEE,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


$12 


a  <ljiy   at   Home.      Agents     wanted.      Out  til    and 

terms"  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.    [S-3-ly 


FOR  FRUIT 

And  Ornament. 
500  ACHES  OF  TREES 

At  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

Pear,  Apples,  Cherries,  Quinces. 

Peaches,  Pluins  aud  Small  Fruits. 

New  aud  Rare  Omameutal  Trees  and  Shrubs. 

Evergieeire,  large  quantities,  large  variety,  cheap. 

Cut-leaved  Birch,  Purple  Beech,  Weeping  Trees. 

CLEMATIS  JAfli.H  ASf  Sf  I.— Hardy  aud  Perpetual, 
blooms  profusely  uutil  frozen  up. 

fEKFETlIAl,  WHITE  C'I.EM ATIS.— 15  Sorts. 
We  have  over  70  varieties  of  Clematis,  in  many  shades  of 
color,  from  dark  rich  purple  to  pure  white— strong  plauts, 
safely  sent  by  mail. 

ROSES.  Moss.  Tea.  Climbiiigraiul  Perpetual. 

Small  Packages  seut  s  ifely  by  Mail  and  Express. 
B^^Catalogues  free.     Address 
T.  C.  MAXWEI.Ii  &  BROS.,  Geneva,  N.  T. 

[R-2-3m 


SEED  POTATOES! 

XAT   PREIIVKIUiyES 

WILL  be  divided  among  the  five  successful  competitors 
who  shall  produce  the  largest  quantity  from  one 
pound  of  the  Mahopac  Seedling,  subject  to  conditions 
named  in  my  Catalogue. 

MAHOPAG  SEEDLING— the  most  productive  of  150  va- 
rieties tested,  quality  fine,  free  from  rot,  per  pound,  $1  ;  3 
pound  to  one  address,  $'2 — by  mail  prepaid,  by  express  or 
f'  eight,  charges  paid  by  the  purchaser ;  1  peck,  $4  ;  1  buwh., 
$15  ;  1  bbl.,  ^0.  Also  Ruby,  Ali)ha,  Snowflake.  and  Euieka. 
For  full  description  and  piice  list  see  my  Catalogue,  con- 
taining the  largest  and  bost  collection  of  new  aud 
oBsoiee  Seed  Potatoes  ever  offered.    Prices  low. 

New  aud  desirable  Vegetable  Seeds.  Dreer's  Improved 
Lima  Bean,  jier  )iacket,  20c.;  Egyptian  Turnip  Beet,  packet, 
10c. ;  Henderson's  Early  Summer  Calibage,  j^acket,  25c.; 
Early  Wymau  Cabbage,  packet,  15c.;  Earliest  Dwarf  Erfurt 
Cauliflower,  packet,  50c,;  Tiiumph  Sweet  Corn,  ])acket,  lOc; 
Peerless  Cucumber,  15c.;  Hanson  Lettuce,  packet,  15u.;  New 
Egyptian  Sprouting  Lettuce,  packet,  25c.;  Kupsiau-Ameri- 
can  Water  Melou,  packet,  20c.;  New  Queeu  Onion,  lOc.; 
McLean's  Blue  Peter  Pea,  packet,  15c.:  Butman  Squash, 
packet,  15c.;  Conqueror  Tomato,  package,  15c.;  Golden 
Trophy  Tomato,  packet,  lOc;  Rose  Mammoth  Sweet  Pei  - 
per,  packet,  2uc.;  French  Breakfast  Raddish,  packet,  5c.; 
Lane's  Improved  Imperial  Sugar  Beet,  the  best  for  feeding 
stock,  hi  lb.,  25c.:  1  lb.,  9iic.;  5  lbs.;  $4.00  ;  Eailv  Red  Globe 
Onion,  early  productive  and  handsome,  >:,  lb.,  75c.;  1  lb., 
$2.50  ;  5  lbs.,  $11.00  ;  Ex,  Early  Red  Onion,  the  earliest,  very 
fine,  V  lb.,  90c.;  1  lb.,  $3.00  ;  5  lbs.,  $14.00. 

The  above  will  be  mailed  at  prices  quoted. 

For  full  description  of  the  above,  aud  all  the  new  and 
best  varieties  of  Ntrictly  fine  GarcEeii  Seetls,  care- 
fully grown  from  selected  stocks,  see  my  Illustrated  Cata- 
logue, seut  free  to  all  applicants.     Do  not  fail  to  see  it. 

J.  R.  V.  HA-WKINS, 

GOSHEN.  Orange  Co.,  N.  V. 


per  day  at  home.      .Samijles  worth  $1  free. 
STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maine. 


$5  to  $20 


SEEI>  POTATOES  sent  to  order  as  follows  :  Eureka, 
Acvie,  Snowjlake,  and  BrownelVs  Beauty,  50c,  per  lb., 
$1.00  per  3  lbs.,  by  mail;  $1.10  per  pk.;  $1.75  per  }^  bush. 
Eureka  and  Snoirjiake,  $3.00  per  bush.;  $5.50  per  bbl.;  Ice 
Crentn,  Early  Vermont,  C(/mpton'8  Surprise,  Carpenter's 
Seedling,  and  Excelsiors,  40c.  per  lb.,  80c.  per  3  lbs.,  by 
mail ;  60c.  per  pk,,  $1  per  %  bu.,  $1.85  per  bti.,  and  $3.25  per 
bbl.,  by  express  or  freight  as  desired.  None  sent  but  genu- 
ine. Stock  direct  from  the  origioators.  Send  no  money  in 
letters  unless  registered.  Address  LA  FAYETTE  CAS- 
SLER  &  CO  ,  Box  64,  Canton,  Ohio.  t8-3-2t 

A'a»ie  this  paper  when  you  write. 


CENTENITIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


Stnict  in  solid  Albafa  Plate,   equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1^.,  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  ui^,  and  sell 
readily  at  sight. 

The  most  valuable  Konvenirs  and  Me- 
lucutoes  ever  issued. 


GOOD    AGENTS   WANTED   in    every   City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


RETAIL  PRICES.- For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cts.;  Gilt, 
$1,  in  fancy  box.    Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
satin  or  velvet-lined  morocco  ciise,  containing  Six  Medals, 
diifereut  de.signs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-otfice  order 
for  14,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circubir  Price  List  aud  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  eight.  Cor- 
respondence soUcited.  Information  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications^ 

U.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         2X2  Broadway,  N.  T. 


$1  a  Year 


t  To  subucriberB  in 
the  couuty. 


SIITGLE  COPIES  10  CEITTS 


To  fiul>«orlberH  out  of  >     d^-l    O  C5 
tUe  eouuty.  ('     »4>1.^0. 


;„^ii!v?^M.., 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  MAY  15,  1876. 


FEABSOL  k  QEIST,  Fublishers. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a-promiueut  feature,  with  special  reference  to  tlie 
wnuts  of  ttie  Farmer,  the  Gardeuer  aud  Fruit -Gropver. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  Ij  Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON. 


The  Lancaster  Farmkk  has  now  completed  its  eeveuth 
year — the  last  haviug  beeu  uuder  the  auspices  of  the  uiuier- 
Bigned  ae  pubUshers.  When  we  iisHumed  the  reBpousibllity 
of  the  publicutiou  one  year  ago,  it  wus  with  a  determiuiitioii 
to  make  such  iropruvemeuts  during  the  year  as  would  pl.ice 
the  Farmers' Organ  of  this  great  agricultural  couuty  iu  the 
very  front  rank  of  publications  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  so,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Contenuial  year  still  more  interesting 
and  valuable  than  its  predecessor  for  1S75,  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-operation  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
prise. To  make  it  a  success,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Fabmeu  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  ou^new  eaibscriber. 

The  contributions  of  our  able  editor,  Prof.  Kathvon,  on 
subjects  connected  with  the  science  of  farming,  and  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  be  is  no  thoroughly  a  master- 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  become 
a  necessity  to  the  successful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  publxMhed  on  the  15th,  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paj.er  with  clear  type,  in  con- 
venient form  for  reading  and  binding,  aud  mailed  to  sub- 
Bcribers  ou  the  following 

TESMS: 

To  subscribers  residing  within  the  county — 
One  copy,  one  year,         ,         .         -         -         -         $i.oo 
Six  copies,  one  year,  -  .         _         -         .         -       5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------        7,50 

To  subscribers  outside  of  Lancaster  county,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  publishers: 

One  copy,  one  year,  _        -         -         .         -  $1.25 

Five  copies,  one  year,  -        -        -  -  -        -         5.00 

AH  subscriptions  will  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber unlcws  othen\iBe  ordered. 

All  communications  Intended  for  publication  shouhl  bp 
addressed  to  the  F,ditor,  and,  to  secure  insertion,  sUoald  be 
in  his  hands  by  the  first  of  the  month  of  puldication. 

All  business  Utters,  containing  subscriptions  and  adver- 
tisemeuts.  should  be  addressed  to  the  publishers. 


PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 

Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


RATEN  OF  AUVEKTIKIXO.  —  Ten  CrntN    n 
Huf^  Tor  each  iuserllon.     Twelve  huea  to  the  luch 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


G.5 
(!.5 

or, 

Of. 


llutidans.     rituslralirl.     \V.  Atlee  Bl'ui'ee, 
Solectiuc  Fowls  for  Breeding,   -        -        -        . 
New  Use,  for  Chicken  Feathers,    -        -        - 
Cabbages.     {Brnxiiica  Oleracea.)     Editorial,   - 
Our  Centennial  International  Exposition.  Editorial  lit! 
Honey  Ants  A^ain.     Editoi'ial,    -        -        -        -    fifi 

Insect  Remedies  One  Hundred  A'ears  Ago.  Editorial  07 
"  Honey  Dew."     Editorial,       -        -        .        -        07 
American  Tobacco.    Editorial,     -        -        -        -    68 

American  Fruits.     .Maksuali,  P.  Wii.ueh,      -        68 
Queries.     Editorial,      ------     68 

Kcduced  Fareon  the  P.  1^  R.,        -        .        -        68 
Peek's  Improved  Liquid  Atomizer.    Editorial.    Il- 
lustrated^   -------69 

Value  of  Barn-yard  Dung.     James  Mitchell,        69 
Insect  Depredations.  |Editorial,   -        -        -        -    70 

Adapting  .Means  to  Ends.  Editorial,  -  -  70 
Decorating  Flower  Gardens.  '■  Fi.ouA,"  -  ■  70 
Fruit   Culture  in   Lancaster  City.     F.  R.Diffen- 

DEUFFEU,  ------  71 

Seasonable  Hints.     Old  Cultivatou,        -        -    71 
Choice   Ever-Blooming  Roses.     Rosaca,        -        71 
Honey  Dew.    W.P.Bolton,      -       -        -        -    72 

The  Dairy— No.  3.  Henhy  M.  Engle,    -        -        72 
Tuberous  Rooted  Flowers.    Walter  ELDEn,     -    72 
Planting  and  Pruning  Evergreens.     W.  Elder,     72 
Choice  Vegetable  Crops.     Walteu  Eldkh,        -    7:i 
To  Prevent  the   Birds  from   Pulling  Corn.     J.  C. 
LiNViLLE,        ------        7:1 

Farm  Accounts,     -------    7:i 

Commercial  Value  of  Hen  Manure.  N.  F.  Journal.  TA 
A  Wrinkle  for  the  Young  People.  A.  L.  O.  8.,  74 
"  Holstein"  Cattle.  Country  GenUcman,  -  74 
Veterinary  Notes.  William  Horne,  -  -  74 
The  Hamburgs  as  Layers.  J.  G.  McKean,  -  -  74 
Two  Bee  Questions  Answered.  C.  V.  Rielly,  -  74 
Our  Paris  Letter,      .        -        -  .        -        7.5 

Our  Farmers  in  Council, 7.5 

Proceediugs  of  the  Lanonster  County  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Society, 
Our  Bee-Keepers  iu  Council,      .        -        -         -      76 
Proceediugs  of  the  Luucasler  County  Bee-Keep«r«' 
Society, 

General  Miscellany, 77-78 

Lawns -How  to  Make  and  Keep  Them-The  Man- 
agement of  Lamps  autl  Oil — CloverseeJ — Fanning 
iu  Contiueutal  Euroiir — Hints  for  the  Season— 
Neatness  in  Making  Hulter— Destroying  Weeds- 
Worms  in  Fowls— Manure  for  Orass— To  Fix  or  to 
Lift  a  Gate  Post — Attvautages  of  Drainage — Don't 
ITse  the  Hatchet  or  Sitw— Our  Nut-lioaring  Trees — 
How  io  Pour  Tea — How  to  Remove  Grease  Spots — 
White  and  Rv\  Wheal— t'uttiug  aud  Curing  To- 
bacco— Sunliglit— lioiwood  Kdgitigs— ('alia  Lilien- 
Early  Tomatoes  Death  of  a  Famous  Horse — New 
Potatoes— Planting  Gardens  Early— Whitewash— 
Ponllrv  Manure— A  Simple  Microscope — .TelTerson's 
Ten  Practical  Rules  of  Life- Boot  Pruning  and 
Dligbt— Hyacinths  in  Glanes — The  Crops  in  Illl- 
uoia— Cure  of  Fowls — Fanuers' Fruit  Cake— Biting 
the  Nails — Various  Items. 
Literary  Notices,       ....         .         .80 

Our  Fence  Comers, II 

Hints  to  Centennial  Visitors    .        -        -        -  111 


— — — ^ 

THE  LANCASTER  EXPRESS, 

(DATLT  AND  -TTEEKLT,) 

Tlje  Leadiipg  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  the 
otjly  Independerpt  Republicai)  Journal  ir;  the  County. 


THE  I     FOUNDED     (         THE 

WEEKLY,  >  i;v    mik  ]     DAILY, 

1843         J  PRESENT  PROPRIETORS,   i  1856 


The  Weekly  Exfrkkk  haa  bwn  before  the  cltizenn  of 
IjiiicaBter  county  for  ajterlod  of  tliirty-thrt'C  yearn,  and  The 
Daily  Kxprkah  for  over  nineteen  years.  Durlufi  thia  long 
lieriod,  and  without  chuiiKe  of  iniiunBfnitMit,  Tiik  Kxpbkm 
haB  fairly  earned  u  lurge  Hbure  of  patrona^*'  ^nd  flrmlv 
estnbliHhed  itnelf  in  tbe  i>iiblic  conndeiice,  »»  un  nprlRbt  ana 
indeitendcnt  journal,  nevtr  beKttuttuf;  to  defend  I  In  •  right 
and  denounce  the  wrong,  no  matter  where  found  to  exist. 
It  ban  lilwayn  been  a  journal  of  ]»roKrfs8.  und  ihe  outnpoken 
friend  of  educutiou,  teinr<^rance,  HOund  munilH  and  religiOD. 
Ab  in  the  imat,  un  it  will  continue  in  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 

The  Weekly  Express,  one  year,  -         -        $3.00 

The  Daily  Expresa,  one  year,  ....       5.00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer  :  To  any  peraon  realding 

within  thr  liniitu  of  I,.un\iMtiT  county  wc  will  mail-  - 

The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaater  Farmer,  one  year,  $2.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  extended  circulati()n  of  Tmk  Kxi'Ukhh  mukea  ft  tha 
beat  medium  for  advurtiaiuK  Hi:u]  Estate  and  PeraoiuU 
Pi'oiierty  in  the  county,  n  fact  which  can  Im-  alteiited  by  ho 
many  farnuMt*  and  olheri*  who  hiive  availed  tliemaelvea  of 
the  uae  of  itH  columns,  and  to  which  we  iuvlte  thu  attention 
of  all  having  proj^erty  to  (lisponr  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

Thk  ExPBEHS  printing  office  is  one  of  the  best  fumiahad 
eatiiblinhnientH  for  turniuR  out  all  kiudf  of  pnntiug  to  b» 
found  in  tbe  interior  of  the  State,  We  are  j»repareU  to 
print  any  job  from  tbe  MniuU  vifuring  card  to  the  largest  sale 
or  liorHC  bill,  poatcr,  or  broatlMtde,  iilain  or  in  colora,  mm 
qiiicfttraait  can  be  done  at  any  other  estabM^hment.  and  on 
U8  rcaa(^|ble  tomie.  We  make  the  i«ituiiuf(  of  Oalr-bilU 
for  /''arnicf*jf'«  npecialty.  and  nu-»nmt*"*'  fJitinfartlou  to  our 
customcrB. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

include  the  varioua  pattonifl  adapted  to  printing  boolm, 
jmniphlelB,  p»)Bter»,  Hulebilla,  hand-bllU,  mlllera'  reoeiptf, 
calaloguea  of  live  hU'cV,  aud  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
tirBt-cia«H  printiuK  oflice;  iu  nhort  anythitig  thiii  may  b© 
cjtlled  for  by  the  fanner,  merchant,  banker,  mi'cbanic,  or 
buaineaa  man,  and  we  guamutf**  to  do  the  work  at*  aatlafao 
tory  aa  it  can  bo  done  lU  I'liiladelphiii  or  elaewhcrc 

With  one  of  the  moBt  c<»m]'leti*  Job  Offieea  ui  iheHlate, 
and  unsuriMiHWHl  convenlencen  forexpediilou«ly  turning  out 
work  by  (he  beat  workmen,  under  the  i^ennuiHl  Mupervlaion 
of  the  proprietors,  who  ure  Utth  priiCtical  j-rintcrM,  all  r>«'r- 
BOUB  in  ne<*d  of  I'rinting  will  t\nd  it  to  their  intereat  to  give 
us  a  trial. 

PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 

BOOK.   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB   PRINTERS. 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
liANCATSER.  PA. 


Cnnvnmienii  Wanted   for  Tnc  Fabhbb,  witb  whom 

liberal  arraugenients  will  t)e  mad*. 


11. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  G£T  TH£  BESX 


Til  siLfii  &  muim 

FEED  CUTTER, 


MANCFACTTTBED    FOR 


DEALERS    IN 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  BAST  KING  ST.,  LANCASTER,  PA., 

Has  been  demoustrated  by  competitive  tests  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roU 
is  operated  by  a  new  and  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  the  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  workmanship  are  of  the  very  beat  claes, 
and  guaranteed  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  purchaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  we  have  sold 
with  such  entire  satisfaction  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  maintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors — 
33,761  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1S75 
— and  R'e  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLER  &  GROFF, 

No,  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

7-ll-Sm 


fL&WLR>-Y|GETAgLE  g 


is  the  most  beautiful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  150  jiages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustiations,  and 
four  Chrmno  JHates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Address,  JAMES  VICK.  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

PATENTS 

OBTAINED  BEST  AND  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OP  PATENTS, 

"Wasliixigtoti,  D.  C. 


«»" Address  all  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  444. 


7-3 -12m 


FERTILIZERS! 
hoivee:  ivejA-de:. 

CHEAPEST  AND   BEST! 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  formulse  have  prover,  in 
actual  use,  to  lie  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.    Ask  ijrices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Plaster, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA, 


EstabliBhed  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertiliziug 
Chemicals  iu  179S. 


[8-2-    m 


Serves  April  Just  Right. 

NOT  THE  FESTIVE  SEASON  THAT  IT    IS    CKACKED    UP 
TO    BE. 

Some  fellow  arives  the  month  of  April  a  dig  under 
the  fifth  rib,  as  follows  : 

April  is  the  month  when  the  earth  is  most  rent  by 
earthquakes,  and  the  air  by  the  voice  of  the  orange- 
hawker. 

In  April  a  bald-headed  lie  is  called  a  joke. 

In  April  there  Is  either  a  new  bonnet  in  the  family 
or  a  row. 

In  April  a  woman  ties  a  towel  around  her  back 
hair,  snatches  up  carpets,  wears  out  brooms,  and 
never  neglects  to  leave  a  chunk  of  soap  on  the  bottom 
stair  for  a  man  to  step  on. 

In  April  Sunday-school  children  begin  to  look  for- 
ward to  pic-nies,  lots  of  attenuated  lemonade,  and 
very  robust  colic. 

In  April  girls  prepare  for  croquet  by  buying  shoes 
a  size  smaller  than  before. 

In  April  big,  brawny  men  chase  little  spheres  of 
stockina-ravelings  around  cow  pastures,  and  call  it 
base  ball. 

In  April  politicians  arc  miserable.  'Tis  then  they 
buy  hats  and  pay  election  bets. 

In  April  bankers,  car  conductors  and  other  men  of 
wealth  eat  asparagus,  and  the  rest  of  the  people  try 
to  be  happy  on  such  spring  fruits  as  boiled  beans  and 
fish-balls. 

In  April  a  young  man  nightly  stuffs  his  pockets 
with  majilc  sugar  and  strikes  out  for  the  home  of  his 
girl.  Two  fond  souls  chaw  the  same  cake  of  sugar 
quite  frequently  that  night. 

In  April  a  virtuous  man  takes  his  semi-annual  bath. 

In  April  children  are  not  happy  without  ten  hard- 
boiled  frescoed  eggs.  They  eat  the  eggs  and  the  doc- 
tor calls  presently  with  a  stomach  pump. 

In  April  the  farmer  goeth  forth  to  sow — sew  does 
the  seamstress. 

In  April  the  tramp  turneth  up  his  nose  at  soup- 
houses  and  goeth  forth  seeking  whose  chickens  he 
may  devour. 

In  April  tiatboats  and  skiffs  navigate  our  streets 
most  successfully. 

In  April  rhubarb  pies  and  other  abominations  lead 
the  best  of  people  into  profanity,  and  their  counte- 
nances into  bow  knots. 

In  April  the  house-fly  reappears  in  the  milk  pitcher. 
He  is  not  a  successful  swimmer. 

In  April  it  is  very  apt  to  rain.  When  not  engaged 
in  raining  it  sometimes  showers  a  little.  The  showers 
are  useful,  for,  as  everbody  knows,  "  April  showers 
bring  forth  cauliflowers." 

In  April  you  can  see  a  man  streaking  to  the  dyer's 
with  his  last  summer's  clothes  tucked  under  his  arm 
hard  times  stamped  over  his  noble  brow.  In  other  re- 
spects he  is  destitute  of  stamps. 

In  short,  April  is  not  the  festive  season  that  it  is 
cracked  up  to  be.  In  the  sweet  words  of  impassioned 
verse  : 

April  is  a  skim  milk  mouth, 

Wheu  feeble  does  the  pulse  stir — 
'Taint  warm  euough  for  calico  coat, 
Aud  you  feel  like  a  fool  in  au  Ulster. 

The  Vest  Pockets. 

A  young  man  from  one  of  the  suburban  'districts 
was  in  one  of  our  tailor  shops  getting  measured  for  a 
vest  the  other  afternoon. 

"Married  or  unmarried,"  queried  the  merchant, 
after  taking  down  the  number. 

"  Unmarried,"  said  the  young  man  with   a  blush. 

"  Inside  pockets  on  the  left  hand  side,  then,"  ob- 
served the  tailor,  as  if  to  liimself,  making  a  memo- 
randum to  that  effect. 

After  a  moment's  pause,  the  young  man  from  the 
suburbs  inquired  : 

' '  What  difference  does  my  being  married  or  unmar- 
ried make  with  the  inside  pocket  of  the  vest?" 

"  Ah,  my  dear  sir,"  observed  the  tailor  with  a  bland 
smile,  "  all  the  difference  possible  as  you  must  see. 
Beinff  unmarried,  you  want  the  pocket  on  the  left  side, 
so  as  to  bring  the  young  lady's  picture  next  to  your 
heart." 

"  But  don't  the  married  man  also  want  his  wife's 
picture  next  tohis  heart?"  queried  the  anxious  youth, 

"Possibly  there  is  an  instance  of  that  kind," 
said  the  tailor  aching  his  eye-brows,  "  but  I  never 
heard  of  it." — Danbury  yews. 

A  "VouNG  minister,  somewhat  distinguished  for 
self-conceit,  having  failed  disastrously  before  a 
crowded  audience,  was  thus  addressed  by  an  aged 
brother  :  "  If  you  had  gniie  into  that  pulpit,  feeling 
as  you  now  do  on  coming  out  of  the  pulpit,  you 
would  have  felt  on  coming  out  of  that  pulpit  as  you 
did  when  you  went  up  into  that  pulpit." 

While  an  Iowa  woman  was  struggling  in  the  water, 
and  likely  to  drown,  her  husband  yelled  out :  "  New 
bonnet — swim  for  life  !"  and  she  kicked  out  and 
safely  reached  the  shore. 


N:E:^n^  poxa-xoes! 


<I>Qpr/^   I>  PREMIl'M.S  to  Growers! 
tJP^Ov/      Varieties   seut    gratis. 


free  to  all  uj»plic;iiits. 


Two    New 

prepaid.      Circular 

D.  A.  COMPTON,  Hawley,  Pa.       [2t 


AUTOMATIC 
^NlTTER 


9  ,: 
s 


*  3 
f  2 

a  1 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  attracting  universal  attention  by  its  astoi  ishiug  per- 
formances and  its  great  practical  value  for  every-day  family 
use.  It  kniti,  evei-j'  possible  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  sh;ipe  ;iiiil  fiuish  to  all   garments.      H  will 

knit  a  pair  of  socks   in  fifteen   minutes!      Kvery  machine 

M'ARRANTKI*  j  trfect.  and  to  do  )uiit  what  U  represented. 

A  complete  instruction  book  accmnpauies  each  machine. 

No.  1  Family  Machine,  1  cylinder,  72  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       "  "2         "     72  &  100     "         40. 

\  sample  inachine  wiW  h^  ^cni  to  any  purt  of  the  United 

States  or  Canada,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  expre^'is  charges 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Agents  wanted  in  every  State,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  verv  liberal  discounts  w'ill  be  m:ule.     Address, 
BICKFORD  KNITTIMG  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
7-11-tf]  Sole  Manufacturers,  Brattleboro,  Vt. 


are  the  best  the  world  produces.  They  are  planted  by  a 
million  people  in  America,  and  the  result  is  beautiful 
Flowers  aud  spleudid  Vegetables.  A  Pi'iced  Catalogue  Bent 
free  to  all  who  incloee  the  postage — a  2  cent  stamp. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents;  with 
cloth  covers.  (>5  cents. 
It]  Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

:BXTa^:E:E^t3  &  s:p:r:egh:jb:r, 

DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

FAMII^T  and   I.IiVE.BlJR]VII¥Ci  COATl 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  the 
8-l-12m]     Yard,  No.  618  NORTH  PRINCE   STREET. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  BATHVON,  Editor. 

• 


LANCASTER.  PA..  MAY,  -1876. 


Vol.  vra.  No.  6. 


HOUDANS. 

The  French  people,  always  SI)  widely  reputed 
for  eCDnniuy,  have  well  altaiued  their  f;ood 
name  in  the  poultry  line.  No  nation  upon 
earth  is  so  widely  eiiiiajjed  in  the  rearinji  of 
chieks  and  produetion  of  e<;!;s,  niu'  so  sueeess- 
ful.  Tlu;  eliniatc  of  France  beinj;  especially 
suited  and  very  mild,  we  lind  lack  of  liardiuess 
and  a  delicate  constitution  prevalent  aniou<; 
the  so-called  "  French  ISreeds.''  15ut  of  these 
the  lloudansare  the  most  hardy  and  are  really, 
when  properly  bred,  a  strong  and  hearty  fowl. 
They  are  ea.sily  reared,  mature  early,  \vriij;liinfj; 
about  four  and  a  half  pounds  at  four  mouths. 
Their  llesh  is  juicy  and  very  desirable  for  the 
table,  on  account  of  which  they  are  very  ap- 
])roi'i'ialely  desij^nated  "The  French  Dorkinsi" 
(for  edible  qualities  of  which  see  last  luunber 
of  The  Faioiioi:.  )  lloudansare  very  prolific, 
the  cock  is  a  lively  fellow  and  should  lie  allowed 
a  goodly  number  of  hens.  These  need  not  be 
all  lloudans,  but  some  should  be  Brahmas, 
Cochins,  riymouth  Rocks,  or  some  other  good 
setting  variety, 
for  in  this  respect 
the  lloudans  are 
not  to  l)e  relied 
upon.  They  are 
first  class  layers, 
and  may  be  rank- 
ed nearly  with  the 
Ilambiirgs  in 
number  of  eggs, 
while  in  size,  both 
of  eggs  and  fowls, 
they  are  far  ahead 
A  Iloudan's  egg 
is  as  large  as  a 
Brahma's,  a  u  d 
often  larger.  It 
is  to  be  lamented 
that  lloudans  .are 
not  very  popular 
in  America,  but 
such  is  the  case. 
We  have  a  friend 
who  devotes  all 
hLstimcandniucli 
expenditure  to 
produce  fine  spe- 
cimens of  this 
breed,  and  yet  he 
scarcely  has  a 
market  for  sur- 
plus stock.  How- 
ever, it  only  re- 
quires that  the! 
merits  should  be 
more  gen(>r,ally 
know^n  and  they 
can  not  fail  to 
"take,"  as  pos- 
sessing superiorities  which  should  give  them 
distinction  as  a  "  Farmer's  Fowl."  Wc  give 
lierewith  a  tine  illustration  which  wc  luul  re- 
engraved  by  Mr.  Price  for  our  new  descriptive 
catalogue  f)f  poultry,  now  in  preparation. 

As  will  be  apiiarent,  lloudans  not  only  claim 
economic  i)rai.ses,  but  also  demand  a  second 
glance  as  a  ''thing  of  beauty."  The  cock  isa 
stylisli  bird,  his  head  being  sumiounted  by  a 
large  crest  and  also  bearded  and  whiskered  so 
as  to  nearly  hide  his  face.  Comb  bright  red 
and  antler-like.  Ilis  plumage  throughout,  as 
also  that  of  the  hen,  should  be  nicely  inter- 
mixed with  white  and  black.  J^ike  the  Dor- 
kings they  have  tire  supernumerary  fifth  toe. 
—  W.  Atlee  Btirj^e,  I'hiladeljjhia,  >Va(/ (5, 187(5. 


SELECTING   FOWLS    FOR    BREEDING. 

The  siguilicancc  <if  the  words  at  the  head  of 
this  article  should  be  studied  and  fully  compre- 
hended by  all  breeders.  The  coimnon,  tliu 
average  l)ird,  should  not  be  used  to  breed  from 
if  yon  wish  to  attain  the  best  result.  Don't  use 
a  cockerel  or  a  pullet  only  bi'i'ause  it  is  a  pure 
specimen  of  this  or  that  variety,  hut  because 
it  is  tile,  best  specimen  of  this  variety  within 
vour  reach.  The  rule  should  be  to  breed  only 
from  the  best.  Every  farmer,  as  well  as  tlie 
fancier,  should  select  those  he.  intends  to  keep 
for  breeding.  Selection  is  none  the  less  neces- 
sary because  common  barn-yard  fowls  are  kijit. 
Tlie  best  of  common  breeds  iseVen  more  ahead 
of  the  averag(^  than  the  best  of  tlii^  pure  bloods. 
The  beaut  iful  birds  seen  at  our  best  shows  liavc 
been  produced  by  carcfidselection.  Tlu!sliort- 
horns  that  sell  for  such  enormous  prices  were 
produced  by  long  and  ))ainstaking  selection.  It 
was  breeding  from  the  best.  This  long  breed- 
ing from  the  best  produces  prepotent  animals 
that  will  repeat  their  excellencies  to  their  pro- 


Wrttk  for  The  Faioiei:.  AVe  desire  to 
make  it  the  exponent  of  the  practical  expe- 
rience of  farmers,  gardeners,  fruit-growers, 
bee-keepers,  stock-raisers  and  housekeepers. 
Give  us  your  ideas.  We  will  see  that  they  are 
put  in  proper  form. 


geny.     This  law  applies   to  all   our  domestic 
animals-t-chickeus  as  well  as  horses. 

Scmie  good  farmers  think  the  common  barn- 
yard fowls  just  as  good  for  prolit,  on  a  farm,  dn 
fancy  varieties.  Upon  such  we  wish  to  impress 
the  necessity  of  constant  selectitui,  each  year,  of 
those  to  be  kept  f<n-  future  breeding.  One  who 
should  follow  this  rule  for  ten  years,  would  have 
a  tiock  of  fowls  lit  to  exhibit;  and  his  prolit  dur- 
ing the  ten  years  will  have  Ijeen  much  greater 
than  by  theconunon  jilan  of  keeping  any  fowls 
yim  happen  to  have.  'J'he  flock  is  redu<'ed  every 
"year  by  killing  ;  let  those  for  market  always  be 
the  niost  undesirable  in  form,  etc.,  retain 
those  that  have  been  healthiest,  hardiest,  mo.st 
thrifty  growers  and  the  line.st  in  form.  This 
will  cost  you  nothing.  A  jwmul  of  chicken 
from  the  least  desirable  of  your  flocks  will  sell 
in  the  market  for  about  the  same  money,  al- 
though these  cost  you  more  in  proportion  to 
weight  than  the  best  ;  yet  yon  should  always 
get  rid  of  an  undesirable  chicken  at  the  lirst 
opportunity.    A  few  years  of  proper  selection 


will  give  you  breeders  that  jiroducc  nearly  uni- 
form ihickens.  The  lust  feeders  cost  less  per 
liound,  and  from  their  uniform  growth  look 
iM'tter  when  dressed  and  bring  a  iM'lter  price 
in  market.  liCf  every  farmer lulopt  this systeiu 
of  seli:ctioii,  and  hewillHoon  l)ean  enthumaHtic 
believer  in  blood. 

NEW  USE  FOR  CHICKEN    FEATHERS. 

"  According  to  statistics  very  can^fully  com- 
piled," says  a  writer  in  La  Nuturc,  "we  throw 
away  yearly  a<|uantity  of  chicki'ti  feathers,  the 
intrinsic-  value  of  which  is  ecpial  to  the  money 
which  W('  pay  out  for  cottoti."  A  startling 
.statiiuent,  hut  tlie  author  considers  it  true  ; 
j  and  he  proiteeds  to  explain  how  tlie  featliera 
are  prepared  to  make  them  valuable.  The 
i  operation  is  to  cut  the  plume  portions  of  the 
feathers  from  the  stem,  by  means  of  ordinary 
hand  scissors.  The  former  are  pla(;ed  in  nuan- 
tities  in  .a  coarse  bag.  which,  when  full,  is 
close<l  an<l  subjected  to  a  thorough  kneading 
with  the  hands.     At  the  end  of  five  minutes, 

the  feathers,  it  is 
stated,  become 
disegregated  and 
felted  together, 
forming  a  down, 
perfectly  homo- 
geneous and  of 
great  lightnes.s. 
It  is  even  lighter 
than  natural  eider 
down,  because 
the  latter  con- 
tains the  ribs  of 
the  feathers, 
which  give  extra 
weight.  The  ma- 
terial thus  pre- 
pared is  worth, 
and  readily  sells 
in  I'ari.s,  forabout 
two  dollars  a 
pf)uiid.  Alxjut  i 
troy  ounces  of 
this  down  can  be 
obtained  from  the 
feathers  of  an  or- 
dinary sized  pul- 
let ;  and  thi.s,  on 
the  above  valua- 
tion, is  worth 
about  20  cents. 
It  is  suggested 
that,  through  the 
winter,  children 
might  collect  all 
thefcathersalMiut 
a  farm,  and  cut 
the  rilwout.  as  we 
have  stated.  By 
the  springtime  a  large  quantity  of  down  would 
be  prepared,  which  could  1k'  disposed  of  to  up- 
holsterei-s  or  employed  for  domestic  uses, 
(ioose  feathers  may  he  treated  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  thus  two-thirds  of  the  product  of 
the  bird  utilized,  instead  of  only  about  one- 
fifth,  as  is  at  present  the  case. 

The  chicken  down  is  said  to  form  a  beautiful 
cloth  when  woven.  For  about  a  square  yard 
of  the  material,  a  pound  and  a  half  of  ilown  is 
reipiircd.  The  fabric  is  said  to  be  most  inde- 
structible, as,  in  |>lace  of  fraying  or  wearing 
out  at  folds,  it  only  seems  to  fell  tighter.  It 
takes  dye  readily,  and  is  thoroughly  waterproof. 
There  appears  to  be  a  good  opportunity  here 
for  some  ingenious  person  to  invent  machines 
to  cut  and  UcM  the  feathers. 

This  statement  must  lie  received  as  simply 
suggestive.  Peojile  are  not  so  much  iuteresteil 
in  what  the  feathers  thus  prepared  will  l)riug 
in  Pari.s.  but  at  the  nearest  jioint  of  disposal. 
But  we  imagine  that  the  feathers  can  be  util- 
ized in  many  way.s,  and  that  they  can  be  dis- 


66 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May 


posed  of  with  profit,  if  the  question  of  demand 
is  studied  enough  to  determine  just  liow  and 
where  they  cau  be  sold  to  best  advantage. 
"Why  should  we  save  old  rags,  which  bring 
only  a  few  cents  per  i)Ound,  with  such  care, 
and  throw  away  chicken  feathers  and  other 
things  in  the  same  list,  as  useless  ? 


CABBAGES. 

{Jirassica  oleracea.) 

For  a  detailed  history  of  this  well-known 
and  very  popular  plant  we  refer  oui-  readers  to 
Vol.  7,  page  39,  of  The  Lancaster  Fahmee 
— our  present  object  being  to  devote  our  at- 
tention, and  the  attention  of  our  readers,  to  a 
consideration  of  some  of  the  varieties  of  that 
almost  universally  cultivated  garden  vegeta- 
ble— varieties  that  have  not  become  as  com- 
mon in  Lancaster  county  as  they  deserve  to 
be,  and  as  they  are  in  other  localities,  and 
especially  those  of  our  larger  seaboard  and  in- 
,  land  towns  and  cities.  The  fii'st  we  shall  in- 
troduce is 

Borecole.  ' 

"Borecole — sometimes  known  under  the 
name  of  Kale — is  but  one  of  the  many  va- 
rieties of  the  celebrated  cabbage  family.  It 
seems  to  be  distinguished  by  a  large,  open 
head,  and  genei'ally  by  curled  or  wrinkled 
leaves.  It  has  a  peculiarly  strong,  hardy  con- 
stitution. It  is  thought  very  valuable  for 
cultivation  in  the  Southern  States,  because  it 
requires  little  or  no  protection  during  the 
winter  months.  The  principal  sub-varieties 
are :  the  Scotch  Kale,  the  Green  curled,  the 
Coesarian  Kale,  and  the  Thousand-headed 
Kale,  or  cabbage.'" 

Culture. 

"Sow  the  seed — one  ounce  of  which  will 
furnish  four  thousand  plants,  or  about  that 
number — during  the  first  halt  or  the  middle  of 
May,  but  not  earlier,  unless  the  season  be 
quite  forward.  Transplant  in  July  into  rich, 
meUow  soil.  For  more  particular  directions, 
the  reader  is  requested  to  refer  to  the  article 
on  Cabbage,  before  alluded  to,  which  is  cul- 
tivated in  the  same  manner.  For  preserva- 
tion in  the  open  air  through  the  cold  weather, 
the  plants  should  be  quite  close  together  in  a 
trench,  with  the  earth  drawn  up  to  the  lower 
leaves,  and  covered  with  straw  or  litter. 
When  a  head  is  wanted,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
remove  the  covering  and  cut  off  the  stalk  with 
a  shari)  knife,  leaving  the  stump  in  the  ground, 
where  it  will  produce  fine  greens  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring. 

"■For  need  —have  some  of  the  best  heads  where 
grown,  or  else  transplant  durmg  open  weather 
into  rows  three  feet  each  way.  It  is  the  na- 
ture of  this  family  of  vegetables  to  intermix 
freely,  and  run  into  hundreds  of  sub-varieties  ; 
care  must  therefore  be  taken  to  prevent  differ- 
ent kinds  flowering  at  the  same  time  in  the 
vicuiity  of  each  other." 
Use. 

"  Borecole  is  considered  very  delicate,  and 
is  much  improved  by  an  exposure  to  the  frost. 
The  crown  or  head  of  the  plant  is  cut  so  as  to 
include  the  leaves,  which  do  not  exceed  nine 
inches  in  length.  It  boils  well,  and  proves 
very  tender  and  sweet. 

To  Cook  Greens. — If  not  fresh  and  plump, 
they  sliould  be  soaked  in  salt  water  for  half  an 
hour  before  cooking.  Put  them  in  boiling 
water,  with  a  little  saleratus  to  preserve  their 
color.  A  little  salt  .should  also  be  added.  Keep 
the  water  boiling  briskly  until  they  are  quite 
tender. 

Brussels-Sprouts. 

■ ' '  Still  another  variety  of  the  Braxsica  family, 
or  tribe,  and  by  many  cultivators  known  as  the 
Thousand-lieaded  cabljage.  Tlie  stem  is  erect, 
often  four  feet  high,  and  having  on  the  sides  a 
great  number  of  miniature  cabbage  head,  each 
being  one  or  two  inches  in  diameter,  about  the 
size  of  a  large  walnut.  The  top  of  the  stem' 
much  resembles  a  late  Savoy,  from  which,  in- 
deed, it  is  thought  to  have  originated.  It  is 
greatly  esteemed  on  the  continent  of  Em-ope, 
particularly  in  Belgium,  and  is  now  attracting 
some  attention  in  this  country." 


Culture. 

' '  The  plants  are  raised  from  seed — an  ounce 
being  sufficient  for  about  twelve  square  yards 
of  ground^to  be  sown  in  April  or  May,  ac- 
cording to  the  earliness  of  the  season.  Trans- 
planting to  be  performed  in  June  or  July  ;  the 
plants  being  set  in  rows,  two  feet  each  way. 
The  leaves  at  the  top  of  the  stem  are  cut  off 
some  ten  or  fifteen  days  before  the  sprouts  are 
gathered.  The  other  details  of  cultivation 
correspond  so  much  to  the  management  of 
cabbage  that,  to  avoid  all  unnecessary  repeti- 
tion, we  refer  the  reader  to  that  vegetable. 

"For  Heed. — Cut  of  the  top  of  the  stem,  and 
permit  the  flower  stalks  to  come  from  the  little 
sprouts  only.  Great  care  is  required  to  pre- 
vent intermixture  with  other  varieties.  Where 
this  cannot  be  avoided  it  is  the  best  plan  to 
purchase  the  yearly  supply  of  seed  from  an 
honest  seedsman." 

Use. 

"The  tops  are  said  to  be  of  very  excellent 
flavor,  while  the  sprouts  are  eaten  as  winter 
greens.  It  is  yet  an  imsettled  question, 
whether  the  sprouts  are  improved  by  being 
touched  with  frost  before  they  are  gatliered. 
They  commence  ripening  in  autumn,  and  con- 
tinue in  season  for  the  table  throughout  the 
winter. 

"To  Boil. — Place  the  sprouts  in  a  vessel  of 
clean  water,  and  let  them  remain  for  one  hour. 
They  ought  to  be  washed  clean  from  dirt  and 
insects.  Then  boil  them  until  they  become 
quite  soft,  when  they  are  to  be  drained  and 
stewed  with  cream  or  floured  butter.  Season 
with  pepper  and  salt,  or  serve  to  table  with 
some  kind  of  sauce." — Schenck^s  Gard.  Text- 
book. 

After  we  are  in  possession  of  good  garden 
vegetables,  it  is  of  some  importance  to  know 
how  to  prepare  them  for  the  table,  suitably  to 
the  taste  of  civilized  society.  We  have  par- 
taken of  these  vegetables  that  were  excellently 
flavored  and  palatable  ;  and  on  other  occasions 
we  have  found  them  execrable — not  fit  for  the 
stomach  of  a  heathen,  much  less  an  enlightened 
Christian.  As  a  general  thing,  no  variety  of 
the  cabbage  plant  is  either  palatable  or  whole- 
some, unless  it  is  thoroughly  boiled  ;  and,  un- 
less in  the  form  of  saur-krout,  it  is  better  not 
to  be  cooked  with  meat  of  any  kind.  When 
cooked  as  "green.s,"  some  people  are  in  the 
habit  of  boiling  it  with  a  piece  of  smoked  pork 
(flitch)  which  makes  a  sort  of  mess  for  which 
we  entertain  nothing  but  repugnance,  especial- 
ly when  the  pork  is  rancid,  which  some  people 
thinks  adds  to  the  flavor  of  the  dish  ;  and  this 
is  also  the  case  in  cooking  green,  or  "  string- 
beans."  It  is  true,  that  "Bubble and  squeak," 
that  is,  beef  and  cabbage  togetherj  is  not  so 
objectionable,  especially  when  the  cabbage  is 
white  and  tender,  the  beef  young  and  moder- 
ately fat,  and  tlie  whole  thoroughly  boiled;  but 
white  cabbage,  or  "  Weiss-krout,"  dressed 
with  good  cream  or  floured  butter,  is  far  pre- 
ferable, and  this  is  also  the  case  with  any 
variety  of  the  cabbage.  If  a  fatty  or  oOy  sub- 
stance is  deemed  absolutely  essential,  pure 
fresh  "  sweet-oU"  would  be  preferable  to  beef 
or  pork  ;  but,  of  course,  in  this,  people  must 
be  left  to  the  dictation  of  their  own  individual 
tastes — tastes  that  have  been  inherited,  or  that 
have  been  acquired  by  a  long  life  of  usage. 
There  are  stomachs  that  crave  and  appropriate 
great  slices  of  bacon — golden-hued  and  rancid 
— with  perfect  impunity,  that  would  revolt 
against  the  most  delicate  oil.  Cabbages,  in 
all  their  varieties,  well  boiled  and  dressed 
witli  a  sauce — such  as  is  used  in  dressing  as- 
paragus are,  by  many  persons,  preferred  to 
that  generally  limited  vegetable,  which  is  al- 
ways too  high  priced  for  the  consumption  of 
the  poorer  classes.  Of  course,  the  varieties  of 
the  cabbage  We  have  described  above,  have  not 
the  staple  value  of  the  typical  variety,  and 
therefore  they  perhai>s  will  never  be  as  exten- 
sively cultivated  as  the  latter,  but  still,  as 
varieties,  they  are  annually  coming  more  into 
favor. 


Farmers,  this  journal  is  devoted  to  your 
interests  ;  what  are  you  doing  to  increase  its 
circulation  among  your  friends  and  neighbors? 


OUR    CENTENNIAL    INTERNATIONAL 
EXPOSITION. 

This  montli  will  be  memorable  in  history 
as  giving  birth  to  the  formal  opening  of  an 
event  that  had  its  conception  five  years  ago, 
and,  after  a  loug  gestation,  has  for  the  past 
three  months  been»in  travail,  and  was  finally 
ushered  into  recognized  being  on  the  lUth  of 
May ;  and  for  ultimate  success  and  final  de- 
velopment will  depend  upon  the  liberal  lacta- 
tion vouchsafed  by  our  whole  people.  There 
is  little  profit  in  speculating  upon  who  will 
witness  another  such  event,  and  what  will  be 
the  condition  of  oiur  country  and  its  people  an 
hundred  years  hence.  The  event  has  culmi- 
nated— it  is  now  upon  us — and  if  we  have 
done  nothing  to  aid  its  progress,  it  may  be  too 
late  to  do  it  now.  Tliere  is,  however,  no  lack 
of  material,  for  it  appears  that  all  of  the  avail- 
able space  is  occupied,  and  if  every  one  had 
become  an  exhibitor  who  has  felt  that  he 
ought  to  have  been  one,  or  who  others  may 
have  thought  should  have  been,  it  is  very  clear 
that  the  great  Fairmount  Park  could  hardly 
have  furnished  accommodations  for  the  whole. 
The  pending  event  will  for  the  next  six  months 
afford  our  people  a  rare  opportunity  to  see  the 
"world  as  it  i«,"  for  imless  we  possessed  more 
than  ordmary  personal  influence,  or  oflicial 
position,  it  is  questionable  if  we  could  see  so 
much  of  the  customs,  costumes  and  produc- 
tions of  foreign  countries,  or  such  fair  repre- 
sentation of  their  best  people,  as  we  maj'  see 
in  Fairmount  Park  during  our  Centennial  and 
International  Exposition.  All  the  world  will 
have  floated  in  and  squatted  in  that  grand, 
enchanted  enclosure  for  the  time  being,  to  the 
great  gratification,  edification  and  instruction 
of  those  who  pay  it  a  visit.  We  need  not  ad- 
vise, for  no  doubt  all  who  can  will  patronize 
the  great  Fx^wsition.  The  daily  and  weekly 
papers  contain  such  elaborate  reports  of  the 
formal  opening  that  we  do  not  deem  it  neces- 
sary to  report  them  here. 


HONEY  ANTS  AGAIN.  > 
We  have  for  some  time  past  been  in  the  re- 
ceipt of  another  "lot"  of  those  singular 
"  honey  ants  "  we  alluded  to  in  our  November 
number  of  1875  (p.  175).  On  this  occasion  we 
received  them  through  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
Jno.  E.  Murphy,  of  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
From  the  small  number  received  we  secured  a 
quarter-ounce  bottle  of  their  honey,  which  we 
consider  a  large  yield  from  such  pygmies  of 
the  insect  world.  These  ants  are  of  a  fight  or 
reddish-brown  color,  the  eyes  very  black  and 
conspicuous,  and,  except  when  the  abdominal 
portion  is  much  distended  with  honey,  scarcely 
a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length.  They  have 
long  since  been  described  by  both  European 
and  American  authors,  under  the  scientific 
name  of  Myrmecocystus  mellegrans.  An  allied 
species  (M.  mexicanus)  is  common  in  Mexico, 
and  also  a  species,  belonging  to  a  different 
genus,  with  similar  honey  secreting  powers. 
When  the  abdomen  is  exposed  or  inflated,  they 
are  said  to  resemble  small  baloons  or  grapes, 
the  integument  being  nearly  transparent.  We 
have  only  access  to  brief  references  to  them  in 
the  first  and  second  volumes  of  the  Ainerican 
Naturalist,  from  which  it  appears  that  they 
live  in  the  earth,  and  that  their  honey  is 
elaborated  for  the  support  of  other  members  of 
the  colony  who  do  not  secrete  honey,  and  that 
these  honey-makers  are  successively  slaugh- 
tered when  a  saeharine  repast  is  desired  ;  so 
that  "killing  the  goose  to  secure  the  golden 
egg  "  has  its  type  in  the  insect  realm,  as  well 
as  among  higher  intelligence.  The  honey 
itself  is  sweet  to  the  taste,  with  a  slight  acid- 
iferous  (perhaps  formic)  pungency,  which  is, 
however,  more  perceptible  to  the  smell  than 
to  the  taste,  and  probably,  diluted  and  in 
quantity,  would  make  a  medicinal,  if  not  a  re- 
freshing summer  drink.  There  sm'ely — as  in 
the  case  of  honey  bees — must  be  some  other 
use  for  it  than  merely  to  feed  the  non-produc- 
ing members  of  the  colony. 

Query:  The  question  is  suggested,  how  is 
the  race  of  honey-making  ants  perpetuated, 
when    those    individuals   that    possess    that 


1876.] 


The  LANCASTER   FARMER 


67 


faculty  are  systematically  destroyed  to  feed 
tlie  others  ?  Beiiis;  so  far  removed  from  their 
native  locality,  and  knowini;  so  little  of  tlieir 
lKil)itsand  tlieir  ^jeneral  liislory,  we  will  not  at- 
tempt to  solve  tlie  i|nestion,  bnt  leave  it  to  the 
pron<nniced  Darwinian  and  anti-Darwinian 
schools  of  science  to  "fix  np"'  or  settle  be- 
tween tlicm.  Perhajis,  like  some  social  and 
political  cpiestions,  it  can  he  settled  satisfacv 
torily  to  both  parties — as  duels  are  often  settled 
after  a  harmless  discharge  of  weapons. 


INSECT    REMEDIES   ONE   HUNDRED 
YEARS  AGO. 

Perusing  the  Lmulnn  Mamzine  for  the  year 
ITVS — since  I  wrote  the  former  ;irtiele — in  tlio 
month  of  May  of  tluU  year  I  found  the  follow- 
ing; experiments  addressed  to  a  memlu^r  of  tlie 
Riiyal  Society  ;  and  as  I  appreliend  tlit^  re- 
publication may  be  of  great  public  utility,  I 
shall  be  much  pleased  to  see  it  in  your  useful 
magazine  : 

On  the  Effects  of  Elder  in  Preserving  Growing 
Plants  from  Insects  and  Flies. 

"  1.  I  was  led  to  my  first  cxporiments  by  oonsider- 
iniif  how  disatjri'calilc  and  orti'iinive  to  our  olfactory 
nerves  tlie  effluvia  emitted  l\v  a  lirusli  ol'  green  elder 
leaves  arc,  and  from  theiiee  rcasonini;  how  niueli 
more  so  they  must  he  to  those  of  a  tnitterliy,  wliom  I 
consider  as  a  heini;  as  inueii  sui>erior  tons  indelieaey 
as  inferior  in  size,  Aceordiiiirly,  I  took  some  twigs 
of  young  elder,  and  with  them  whipped  the  I'abbage 
plants  well,  Init  so  gently  as  not  to  hurt  them,  ju.st  as 
the  buttertlies  tirst  appeared — from  which  time,  for 
these  two  summers,  though  the  Inittcrllies  would 
hover  over  and  flutter  around  them,  like  gnomes  or 
sylphs,  yet  I  could  never  see  one  pitch,*  nor  was 
there,  I  iielieve,  a  single  caterpillar  blown  after  the 
plants  were  so  whipped,  though  an  adjoining  bed  was 
infected  as  usual. 

"  3,  Refleeting  on  the  etVeets  above  mentioned,  and 
considering  blights  as  occasioned  by  small  flies  and 
minute  insects,  whose  organs  were  proportionately 
finer  than  the  former,  I  whipped  the  limbs  of  a  Wall 
plum-tree  as  high  as  I  could  reach,  the  leaves  of 
which  were  preserved  green,  nourishing  and  unhurt, 
while  those  not  six  inches  higher,  and  from  thence 
upwards,  were  lilighted,  shriveled  up,  and  full  of 
worms.  Some  of  these  last  I  afterwards  restored  by 
whipping  with  and  tyins  up  elder  amongst  them.  It 
must  be  noted  that  this  tree  was  in  full  bloom  at  the 
time  of  whipping,  which  was  too  late,  as  it  should 
have  V)cen  done  once  or  twiee  before  the  blossoms  ap- 
peared. But  I  conclude  from  the  whole,  that  if  an 
infusion  of  elder  was  made  in  a  tub  of  water,  so  that 
the  water  might  be  strongly  impregnated  therewith, 
and  then  sprinkled  over  the  tree  %  a  hand-engine 
once  every  week  or  fortnight,  it  would  effectually  an- 
swer every  purpose  that  could  be  wished,  without 
any  possible  risk  of  hurting  the  blossoms  or  the  fruit . 

".3.  What  the  farmers  call  the  "yellows"  in 
wheat,  and  which  they  consider  as  a  kind  of  mildew, 
is  in  fact  occasioned  by  a  small  yellow  fly  wi*''  ^'lue 
wings,  about  the  size  of  a  gnat.  This  blows  in  the 
ear  of  the  corn,t  and  produces  a  worm  almost  invis- 
ible to  the  naked  eye ;  but  being  seen  through  a 
pocket  microscope,  it  appears  a  large  yellow  maggot, 
of  the  color  and  gloss  of  amber,  and  is  so  prolitie, 
that  I  last  week  distinctly  counted  forty-one  living 
yellow  maggots  or  insects  in  the  husk  of  one  single 
grain  of  wheat — a  number  sufflcicnt  to  eat  up  and 
destroy  the  corn  of  a  whole  year.  I  intended  to  have 
tried  the  following  experiment  sooner,  liut  the  dry, 
hot  weather  bringing  on  the  corn  faster  than  it  was 
expected,  it  was  got  and  getting  into  fine  blossoms 
ere  I  had  an  opportunity  of  doing  as  I  did ;  but, 
however,  the  next  morning  at  daybreak  two  servants 
took  two  bushes  of  {elder,  and  went  one  on  each  side 
of  the  ridge,  t  from  end  to  end,  and  so  back  again, 
drawing  the  elder  over  the  ears  of  corn  of  such  fields 
as  were  not  too  far  advanced  in  blossoming  :  I  con- 
ceived that  the  disagreeable  effluvia  of  tlic  elder 
would  cfTeetually  prevent  those  flies  Irom  pitching 
their  tents  into  so  noxious  a  situation.  Nor  was  I 
disappointed,  for  I  am  firmly  persuaded  that  no  flies 
pitched  or  blowed  on  thi^  corn  after  it  had  been  so 
struck,  but  I  had  the  mortification  of  observing  the 


"The  word  *'  pitch ''  here  meauB  to  alight  ou,  or  settle 
down  ou  the  plant,  for  the  purpose  of  depositiug  eggs. 

tit  is  almost  unuecessary  to  state  that  the  word  "corn"  iu 
the  above  article  has  no  rel'ereuce  whatever  to  what  we  call 
corn  iu  Peuusylvania,  but  to  wheat  or  rye;  iudeed,  the 
term  corn  was  origiually  applied  to  the  seeds  ov  fruit  of  all 
cereals. 

"The  spriug  is  waniug  fast,  my  love. 
The  corn  is  in  the  ear." 
We  have  no  "  coru  lu  the  ear  "  at  that  season  except  wheat, 
rye  or  barley.    What  we  call  coru  is  called  viaize  iu  Euglaud 
and  elsewhere. 

IThe  word  "ridge"  has  reference  to  what  in  Lancaster 
oouuty  is  termed  a  "  laud  "—that  is,  the  field  in  plowing  is 
laid  off  into  lands^  the  furrows  on  each  side  being  turued  to- 
wards the  centre,  IcaWug  a  valley  between  each  laud,  aud  a 
faint  ridge  in  the  middle. 


flies,  the  evening  before  it  was  etruek,  already  on  the 
corn,  six,  seven  or  eight  on  a  single  ear  ;  sotliat  what 
danuigo  liad  accrued  was  done  l)efore  the  operation 
took  plaee  ;  fi>r  ont^xamining  it  last  week,  I  found  tht^ 
corn  whieh  had  been  struck,  pretty  free  of  the  yel- 
lows, very  nnieh  more  so  than  what  was  not  struck. 
I  have  Iherefore  no  doubt  but  Iiad  the  operation  ticen 
performed  sooner,  1  lic^  corn  would  have  remained  to- 
tally clear  and  untnuehed.  If  so,  simple  as  the  pro- 
cess is,  I  flatti'r  myself  it  bids  fair  to  preserve  fine 
erops  of  corn  from  destruction,  as  tlie  small  insects 
are  the  crops"  greatest  enemy  One  of  these  yellow 
flies  laid  at  li'ast  eight  or  ten  eggs,  of  an  oblong 
shape,  on  ray  thumb,  only  whllecarrylnghy  the  wing 
across  three  or  four  ridges,  as  appeared  on  viewing 
with  a  jioi-ket  micrnscope, 

"  4.  Crops  of  turnips  are  frequently  destroyed 
when  young  by  lieing  bitten  by  some  Insects — eithiT 
flies  or  llcas.  This,  1  flatter  myself,  uniy  be  effectually 
prevented  by  having  an  elder-bush  spread  so  as  to 
cover  abimt  the  breadth  of  a  rlilge,  and  drawn  fince 
forward  and  ttackward  over  the  young  turnips.  I 
am  conlirincd  in  this  idea  by  having  struck  an  elder- 
bush  over  a  bed  of  yiung  colliflowcr||  plants,  which 
had  begun  to  l)e  bitten,  and  would  otticrwise  have 
been  destroyed  by  these  insects,  but  after  that  opera- 
tion it  remained  utitouched.  In  stip|M)rt  of  my  opin- 
ion, I  lieg  leave  to  mention  tin*  tbllowing  fact  from 
very  creditable  information  :  Thataiiout  eight  or  nine 
years  ago  this  country  was  so  inlcsted  with  co<'k- 
chaffi^rs,  or  oak-webs,  that  in  many  parishes  they  ate 
everv  green  thing  but  elder,  nor  left  a  green  leaf  un- 
touched but  ehlcr-lmshcs,  which  alone  remained 
green  and  unhurt  amid  the  general  devastation  of  so 
voracious  a  multitude.  On  reflecting  on  these  several 
circumstances,  a  thought  suggested  itself  to  me — 
whether  an  elder,  now  esteemed  noxious  and  otfen- 
sive,  may  not  be  seen  one  day  planted  witti  and  en- 
twining its  branches  amongst  fruit  trees,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  fruit  from  destruction  of  Insects;  aud 
whether  the  same  means  which  produced  these  sev- 
eral efTects  may  not  be  extended  to  a  great  variety  of 
other  cases  in  the  preservation  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom. §  The  dwarf  ehler,  {ebulus)  I  apprehend, 
emits  more  ofl'ensive  ellluvia  than  common  ehler — 
therefore  must  be  preferable  to  it  iu  the  several  ex- 
periments. BEN.rA.MIN   MiFPLI.N'." 

From  tlie  U.  S.  Magazine  for  May,  1779. 

Of  course  the  reader  will  perceive  that  only 
the  introductory  and  foregoing  are  from  the 
pen  of  Mr.  Milflin,  all  the  rest  being  from  the 
London  Magazine,  orginally,  hence  it  will  also 
be  seen  that  the  experiments  were  made  in 
Europe. 

In  regard  to  this  "elder  bush  "  and  "  elder 
decoction  "  remedy,  we  have  frequently  seen 
it  rec(_)mmended,  during  the  last  twenty  years, 
in  some  of  our  American  newspapers  and  ag- 
ricultural journals,  but  we  have  never  learned 
that  any  experiments  were  made  and  the  re- 
.sults  published  in  this  country. 

We  rememVier,  distinctly,  that  in  our  boy- 
hood the  clder-ljusl.  was  generally  considered 
a  good  antidote  against  flies  troubling  horses 
in  summer  time,  but  we  did  not  take  the 
trouble  to  ascertain  whether  it  was  better 
than  any  other  kind  of  bush.  AVe  also  re- 
member that  a  farmer,  with  whom  we  wrouglit, 
almost  inviiriably  covered  his  meat,  which  he 
brought  from  tlie  town  in  harvest  time,  with 
elder  bushes  ;  but  we  did  not  learn  that  they 
were  used  as  an  antidote  against  flics,  but 
to  keep  ofl'  the  Iieat  of  the  sun,  or  because 
they  were  more  conveniently  gathered  than 
other  kinds.  This  we  knotv,  ho\vever,  that 
our  Elders — Sambucus  canadfnsi^,  tt  puhcns — 
are  often  infested  by  "Plant-lice"'— ^Ip/ti.s— 
by  species  of  Capsiis — "Plant-bugs;"  and 
tliat  tlie  flowers  arc  sometimes  fairly  eaten  up 
by  "  Rose-bugs  " — MacrodacUjliis  subsjnnosus  ; 
moreover,  tlie  heart  or  iiith  of  the  canes  are 
infested  by  the  larvr  of  (uir  beautiful  "  Elder- 
beetle" — De,-!mi>rtrmcyaneiis;  but,  as  "what  is 
one  man's  meat  is  anotlier  man's  poison,"  the 
plant  may  have  a  destroying  or  repelling  power 
on  other  insects. 

The  conunon  elder  of  Europe  is  the  Sambu- 
CK.s  nigra,  of  which  there  are  tliree  varieties, 
the  Ijerries  of  which  are  black,  red,  and  green. 
These  are  cultivated— especially  the  lirst-for 
the  pnrpo.se  of  making  a  favorite  winter 
beverage,  and  supjiosed  to  be  sliglitly  narcotic. 
According  to  Kind,  Uoerliaave,  the'great  pliy- 

lINow  generally  termed  cauliflower,  a  variety  of  Brawca 
olcrarfa,  or  cabbage. 

{A  bush  of  elder  laid  ou  fresh  meat  or  fish  in  the  summer 
prevents  the  fly  from  blowing  ou  them.  And  it  is  not  Im- 
poBsilile,  from  the  foregoing  experiments  by  Christopher 
Ctullet,  that  water  strongly  impregualeJ  therewith,  aud 
once  a  week  or  fortnight  siiriukled  over  cabbageu,  will  pre- 
serve them  from  beiug  lousy. 


sici;in,  is  said  to  liave  reg;irded  the  elder  with 
so  much  reverence,  for  its  medicinal  virtues, 
that  lie  ;ihvays  raised  his  hat  wlien  lie  psLSscd 
;i  tree  nr  bush  of  it.  The  leaves  are  iKin-ofic, 
;;i(r;/a(ii'^iuid  luriil;  the  llowcrs,  in  decoction, 
are  (/id/j/onti'r— tliat  is,  they  promote  perspi- 
ration. KlilerlM'rry  wine  is  a  cnnimon  domes- 
tic Ijcverage  in  this  coimtry,  and  is  coiisitU'red 
"  wlir)lcsoine. "  (rullet,  it  appeal's,  considered 
the  "  Dw:irf  Elder  " — Sniiihiuiai  f  ibuliis—lUv. 
most  virulent.  As  we  liave  some  of  the  same 
species  of  noxious  insects  as  those  alluded  to  in 
the  foregning  p;iper,  in  this  country,  and  also 
otliers  allii-d  to  them,  this  elder-busli  remedy 
is  so  simple  that  its  virtues,  if  any,  might  lie 
easily  tested,  and  we  do  not  think  it  ought  to 
be  rejected  untried,  only  because  it  is  old. 
These  insects  and  tlicsi'  remedii-s  will  at  le;tst 
illusfr;ite  how  long  a  time  the  agricultiu'ist 
has  hecn  battling  against  destructive  insects, 
and  wh;it  little  progress  has  been  made  in  ex- 
tcrmiiKiling  them.  There  might  be  some  use 
in  going  bai'k  iuid  giving  old  n'uiedies  a  more 
thorough  tria.1  than  they  have  elicited  hereto- 
fore. 

The  insect  alludctl  to  in  the  first  jmragraph 
is  doubtless  the  "White  Cabbage  IJultertly  " 
— I'icris  rapir — of  which  there  h:is  been  an 
abundiinceall  over  this  country,  belter  known 
in  its  (((rra  state  its  the  "(iret'ii  Cabkige- 
Worm."  In  the  second  paragraph  tlie  writer, 
no  doubt,  alludes  to  the  "  Plum-slug" — a 
sjiecies  of  .saw-fly  [Srlandrin'),  or  to  the  "Plum- 
louse" — Aphix  prunus — or  to  both;  species  of 
these  also  infest  the  |)lums  of  our  country. 

The  third  undoubl!edly  alludes  to  the 
''  Whcat-midge  "' — Cecidoinyia  Irirtici — whicll 
al.so  infests  the  wheat  of  this  country  and  has 
been  imported  from  Europe,  We  have  ob- 
served these  depositing  eggs  uiuh-r  similar  cir- 
cumstances. 

The  fourth  may  allude  to  several  species  ot 
insects  which  infest  the  turnip,  both  in  Euroi)e 
and  America,  some  of  which  are  identical. 
The  "Turnip  saw-fly" — Athalia  spinarum — 
the  "  Turnip-llea" — Allica  nirDioruin, — the 
"  Turnip-leaf  plant-louse  " — AjMs  rapm — and 
several  others,  infest  the  turnip  crops  of  Eng- 
land and  the  continent  of  Knrope. 

Wc,  i>f  the  present  pciiod.  arc  apt  to  think 
that  our  forefathers  had  a  gnind,  easy  and 
jolly  "old  lime"  of  it.  but  when  we  appeal 
totlierecorils  we  tind  that  they  were  solicitous 
about  the  same  things  that  now  excite  our 
anxiety  or  attention ;  therefore,  if  thisold  docu- 
ment can  afford  no  instruction  it  may  afford 
some  consolation. — Ed. 


HONEY-DE'W." 


The  f-vU  of  our  esteemed  corresiiondent, 
W.  P.  Bolton,  in  reference  to  his  observations 
on  honey-dew,  are  of  suHicienl  importance  to 
give  him  a  respectful  hearing  tlirouiih  the 
medium  of  the  Fahmkk,  But  we  think  that 
he  has  unwittingly  crcatcil  a  phantom  in  order 
that  he  may  demolish  it.  If  he  read.s  our  paper 
in  the  April  number  of  the  Fahmkk  carefully 
over  again,  he  will  find  that  we  nowhere  staled 
th;it  "o?/"  honey-dew  wascau.sed  by  Apkidx, 
but  that  we  recognized  several  cau.scs  for  its 
appearance  on  plants  ;  we  mainly  denied  tliat 
it  was  causeil  by  the  condensation  of  aroma, 
odor,  or  scent,  as  Mr,  Xoe  had  suggested. 

lAfr.  1?.,  residing  on  a  farm,  and  endowed 
with  the  necessary  inlelligentH',  ha.s  therefore 
oiiimrtunitics  to  "make  observations  that  we 
have  not  posscs.scd  for  thirty  years,  but  we 
confe.-is  that  we  have  never  seen  the  .saccha- 
rine substance,  known  ;us  honey-dew,  on  grass 
that  wc  did  not  suppose  was  discharged  from 
aphiils,  from  flowers,  or  from  the  exudation 
of  Irce.s,  shrubs  or  i>lants,  and  not  by  any 
means  from  the  clouds.  And  yet,  under  very 
extraordinary  circumstance.s,  it  may  be  as 
l^ossible  for  this  substance  to  be  can"ied  up 
.into  the  air  and  then  deposited  on  plants,  as 
it  is  for  pollen  to  be  carried  up  and  then  to 
descend  in  what  has  been  poimlarly  termed 
"  sul[phur  showers," 

The  feathers  of  fowls  "bedraggled  with 
dew,"  is  a  very  common  occurrence,  and  one 
that  wc  have  often  seen,  and  we  have  also 


68 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


seen  the  "  Buttercups  "  bloomiug  so  plentiful- 
ly in  meadows,  in  the  montli  of  June,  that 
any  "bird  wading  througli  them"  must  have 
swept  some  of  it  off,  leaving  it  upon  their 
nether  feathers. 

Although  our  own  personal  experience,  or 
that  of  any  of  the  authorities  we  have  con- 
sulted, are  not  in  corroboration  of  Mr.  B.  's 
views,  still  he  cannot  be  mistaken  in  what  he 
has  actually  seen,  and  therefore  we  hope  that 
during  the  present  season  he  may  be  able  to 
make  the  facts  manifest  to  others,  so  that 
in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
word  may  be  established." 

We  append  the  following  extract  as  perti- 
nent to  the  subject,  especiall}'  in  reference  to 
the  condensation  of  scents  : 

A  Mystery  op  Perfume. — No  one  lias  yet  been 
able  to  analyze  or  demonstrate  the  essential  action 
of  perfume.  Gas  can  be  weighed  but  not  scents. 
The  smallest  known  creatures — the  very  monads  of 
life — can  be  caught  by  a  microscope  lens  and  made 
to  deliver  up  the  secrets  of  their  organizations,  but 
what  it  is  that  emanates  from  the  pouch  of  the  musk 
deer  that  fills  a  whole  space  for  years  and  years  WMth 
its  penetrating  odor — an  odor  tliat  au  illimitable 
number  of  CKtraneous  substances  cau  carry  on  with- 
out diminishing  its  size  and  weight — and  what  it  is 
that  the  warm  summer  air  brings  to  us  from  the 
flowers,  no  man  has  yet  been  able  to  determine.  So 
fine,  so  subtle,  so  imponderable,  it  has  eluded  both 
our  most  delicate  weights  and  measures  and  our 
strongest  senses.  If  we  come  to  the  essence  of  each 
odor,  we  should  have  made  an  enormous  stride  for- 
ward, both  in  hygiene  and  in  chemistry,  and  none 
would  profit  more  than  the  medical  profession  if  it 
could  be  as  conclusively  demonstrated  that  such  an 
odor  proceeded  from  such  and  such  a  cause,  as  we 
already  know  of  sulphur,  sulphurate  hydrogen,  am- 
monia, and  the  like. 


AMERICAN  TOBACCO. 

It  really  is  astonishing  that  a  vegetable  so 
utterly  useless  as  a  life-sustaining  product, 
should  have  attained  such  immense  proportions 
in  tiie  agricultural,  manufacturing,  commercial 
and  financial  interests  of  our  country.  As  a 
monetary  resource,  or  a  medium  of  exchange, 
it  is  almost  as  important  as  gold  or  silver,  and 
would  do  about  as  much  for  humauity,  in  sus- 
taining life  and  comfort  in  a  case  of  famine,  as 
would  the  "  precious  metals."  The  Agricul- 
tural Keport  for  the  months  of  Marcli  and 
April,  1876,  says — "  Our  annual  census  of  to- 
bacco, in  counties  producing  not  less  than  100,- 
000  pounds,  makes  a  large  increase  of  produc- 
tion over  the  crop  of  1874,  which  was  a  com- 
parative failure  ;  and  in  some  sections  a  heavy 
increase  in  area  of  cultivation.  The  returns 
have  not  all  been  received,  and  the  aggregate 
produced  last  year  is,  therefore,  delayed  until 
the  publication  of  the  animal  report."  The 
following  table  will  show  the  aggregate  pro- 
duction in  part  of  the  several  tobacco-growing 
States,  over  the  minimum  limit  above  named. 
Only  York  and  Lancaster  are  included  in  the 
report  from  Pennsylvania,  and  overfour-tifths 
of  the  amount  was  produced  by  Lancaster. 
The  table  will  also  show  how  almost  incom- 
parably small  our  crop  is,  when  placed  in  juxta- 
position with  the  great  tobacco-growing  States 
of  the  Union. 

Tobacco  Crop  of  1875. 

Pennsylvania 1.5,1.50,000  pounds.       10,100  acres. 

Maryland U,.5:-;3,000  "  31,-300  " 

Virginia 38,700,410  "  63,500  " 

North  Carolina....  9,885,473  "  31,010  " 

Florida ;i.50,000  "  4.50  " 

Kentucky 64,691,600  "  103,063  " 

Tennessee 21,793,600  "  24,000  " 

West  Virginia 706,350  "  1,675  " 

Ohio 8,373,518  "  13,134  " 

Indiana 8,500,000  "  19,.500  " 

Illinois,  5,.536,000  "  10,801  " 

Wisconsin 3,310,000  "  4,139  " 

Missouri 34,486,000  "  26,186  " 


Total 314,806,850         "  317,863      " 

Ohio  was  almost  a  total  failure,  her  tobacco 
crop  of  1874  being  15,003,348  pounds.  This 
only  partial  return  of  the  tobacco  of  the  coun- 
try for  1875,  would  amount — at  an  average  of 
10  cents  per  pound — to  the  enormous  sum  of 
S21,480,685.00.  Suppress  this  trade  and  with- 
draw it  entirely  from  the  commerce  of  the 
country — either  by  Royal  or  Republican  edict, 
or  by  popular  acclaim— and  we  may  well  im- 


agine what  the  consequences — for  the  time  be- 
ing at  least — might  be.  Is  there  any  otlier 
crop  wherein  317,803  acres  would  yield  such 
a  pecuniary  return  ? 

We  do  not  choose  to  moralize  upon  the  sidj- 
ject,  or  we  might  ask  ourselves  in  sober  earn- 
est, "  What  does  tlie  great  bulk  of  this  im- 
mense product  result  in  V"  Even  if  itsiwe  was 
not  abused,  and  there  were  no  charges  against 
its  healthfuluess,  it  only  ends  in  "spit,"  and 
slime,  and  ashes,  and  smoke.  But,  the  philo- 
sopher may  ask — "  What  does  any  other  ma- 
terial substance  end  in  ?"  "  What  but  dust !" 
dust !  !  dust !  I ! 

Any  one  visiting  Agricultural  Hall  in  Fair- 
mount  Park,  during  the  pending  Exposition, 
will  be  perfectly  surprised  at  the  immensit}-, 
variety  and  magnificence  of  the  Tobacco  on 
exhibition  there,  especially  that  of  Edward 
Holbrook,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 


AMERICAN   FRUITS. 

And  now,  for  a  moment,  permit  me  to  call 
your  attention  to  tlie  consideration  of  the 
question,  "How  shall  we  obtain  varieties  of 
fruits  which  may  be  adapted  to  the  various 
latitudes  of  our  immense  territory  ?" 

The  great  loss  sustained  in  the  importation 
and  trials  of  trees  from  foreign  shores,  and 
even  from  different  quarters  of  our  own  coun- 
try, which  are  not  adapted  to  our  own  location, 
suggests  the  answer  that  new  varieties  must 
be  produced  from  seed,  and  to  the  manor  Ijorn, 
to  remedy  tins  evil.  The  adaptation  of  plants 
to  various  climates,  and  their  distribution 
over  the  earth,  involves  a  study  so  profound 
that  few  have  any  definite  knowledge  on  the 
subject.  Why  some  are  suited,  by  their  con- 
stitution, to  a  wide  extent  of  territory,  and 
are  able  to  adapt  themselves  to  almost  any  al- 
titude or  latitude  or  temperature  without 
material  change,  while  others  are  confined  to 
a  narrow  limit,  and  will  not  prosper  else- 
where ;  or,  why  a  fruit  may  succeed  in  one 
location  and  a  few  miles  distant  fail  entirely  ; 
why  some  are  aquatic,  and  some  thrive  in  arid 
soils,  while  others  are  parasitic,  are  mysteries 
which  mankind  has  not  yet  been  able  to  solve. 
The  human  constitution  will  frequently  en- 
dure the  change  of  country  and  climate,  but 
the  extent  to  which  plants  can  bear  these 
changes  is  fixed  by  an  imnnitable  law  ;  there- 
fore, all  attempts  to  acclimate  such  as  are  not 
natiu-ally  congenial  will  tail  in  the  end,  except 
it  be  within  very  narrow  liuiits — not,  how- 
ever, that  a  tree  or  plant  may  not  sometimes 
endure  greater  degrees  of  cold  or  heat  than  it 
is  subject  to  in  its  native  climate  ;  but  no  one 
should  suppose  that  time  will  produce  a  physio- 
logical or  constitutional  change  in  them. 

It  is,  however,  suflicient  for  us  to  know  that 
we  can  produce  some  seed  fruits  which,  by 
their  constitution  and  habits,  are  capable  of 
enduring  the  cold  and  heat,  the  drouglit  and 
moistm'e,  and  other  vicissitudes  of  the  region 
we  inhabit ;  but  the  idea  that  we  can  accus- 
tom a  tree  or  plant  to  conditions  not  con- 
sistent with  its  laws  of  being,  is  a  chimera  of 
the  imagination.  The  only  acclimation  that 
we  cau  rely  on  for  obtaining  trees  and  plants 
of  stronger  constitution  is  the  production  of 
new  varieties  from  seed  hyljridized  by  the 
hand  of  man,  or  naturally  cross-fertilized  by 
insects  or  the  air.  Whatever  opinions  may 
have  been  entertained  to  this  we  must  come  at 
last,  that  for  ihe  acquisition  of  hardy,  valu- 
able fruits,  adapted  to  the  various  locations  of 
our  vast  territory,  we  must  dejiend  mainly  on 
the  production  from  seed.  Thus  have  I  dis- 
coursed for  many  j'ears  to  you — thus  have  I 
promised  to  do  while  I  live. 

Much  has  already  been  accomplished  hy  the 
production  of  new  varieties  of  American  fruits 
from  seed,  Init  how  little  compared  with  the 
results  obtained  in  other  lands  by  the  art  of 
hybridization  in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  To 
this  art  we  are  mainly  indebted  for  the  numer- 
ous tine  varieties  of  grains,  flowers  and  vege- 
tables introduced  in  our  time,  and  the  same 
success  will  reward  similar  eflbrts  to  produce 
new  and  valuable  fruits  suited  to  our  climes. 

Says  Prof.  Grey,  in  his  admirable  essay  at 
our  last  session  :  "Most  of  oiu:  esteemed  and 


Important  fruits  have  not  so  much  been  given  to 
man  as  made  by  him,  and  man's  work  iu  this  re- 
spect is  mainly  to  direct  the  course,  or  tendency 
of  nature."  The  success  which  has  attended 
the  American  florist  in  the  production  of  new 
and  fine  varieties  of  camellia,  the  rose,  and 
other  plants,  which  rival  the  choicest  varieties 
of  the  old  world,  is  indeed  remarkaljle,  and  it 
will  be  far  greater  when  the  same  scientific 
knowledge  is  applied  to  the  production  of 
native  fruits. 

The  laws  which  govern  the  procreation  of 
species  by  cross-impregnation  are  now  so  well 
understood  by  those  who  have  scientific  knowl- 
edge as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  success.  Thus  the 
fanner  as  well  as  the  florist  is  producing  re- 
sult which,  as  to  form,  habit,  color,  propor- 
tion and  beauty,  surprise  the  operator  himself, 
when  he  sees  how  kindly  nature  co-operates 
with  his  efforts  to  bring  forth  the  object  of  his 
desires. 

There  may  be  disappointments — these  are 
the  lot  of  humanity — but  the  philosophical 
principle  is  correct,  and  the  results  of  practice 
are  now  universally  acknowledged ;  and  al- 
though the  improvement  soughtfor  may  not 
be  realized  in  every  instance,  experience  has 
taught  us  that  it  will  come  at  last.  But  my 
object  is  to  encourage  our  cultivators  in  the 
belief  that,  by  the  sowing  of  the  seeds  of  our 
best  varieties,  and  by  cross-impregnation,  there 
is  a  wide  field  for  improvement,  and  that  all 
otlier  attempts  at  acclimation  are  fruitless. 
And  have  you  ever  thought,  my  friends,  of  the 
many  fine  fruits  which  you  might  have  raised 
))y  sowing  of  seeds  which  you  have  carelessly 
thrown  away  ? 

Not  that  I  would  discourase  the  planting 
and  proving  new  varieties  from  other  regions, 
holding  fast  such  as  are  suited ;  and  where 
they  do  not  succeed  in  one  location,  it  is  possi- 
ble they,  may  be  adapted  to  another. 

This  is  especially  true  with  regard  to  the 
varieties  of  the  strawberry.  While  one  culti- 
vator cannot  grow  the  variety  bearing  my  name, 
another  declares  he  will  grow  no  other  ;  and 
thus  with  the  Hovey's  seedling,  which,  after 
forty-two  years  of  existence,  has  tins  year 
(1875)  carried  off  the  highest  prize  offered  by 
the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  for  the 
strawberry. — JIar shall  P.  Wilder,  at  Chicago, 
Sept.,  1875. 

[How  very  much  the  precepts  inculcated  in 
the  above  accord  with  the  practice  fifty  or  sixty 
years  ago,  when  local  or  native  varieties  were 
produced  from  seeds,  and  such  things  as  budded 
or  grafted  peaches  were  unknown,  or  nearly  so. 
It  is  true,  there  were  more  bad  peaches  then 
than  good  ones  ;  but  under  any  circumstances, 
there  were  always  plenty  of  peaches,  apples 
and  cherries.] 

; — ♦^ 

QUERIES. 

What  has  become  of  "  Leoline  ?"  We 
long  to  liear  from  her  agam,  and  hope  nothing 
of  a  disabling  character  has  liefalleu  her.  If 
consistency  is  "a  jewel,"  how  much  more  so 
is  constancy.  Perhaps  ' '  more  pressing  duties 
compel  her  to  take  her  leave,"  and  if  so,  we 
must  encounter  the  vicissitudes  of  the  centen- 
nial year  without  her  aid.  If  we  have  inad- 
vertently given  oftence,  then  "  grant  us  leave 
by  circumstance  to  excuse  ourself." 

We  might  also  say,  what  has  become  of  some 
of  our  other  correspondents,  of  whom  we  in- 
dulged such  "pleasing  hopes  V"  Have  they 
"  become  weary  of  well-doing,"  or  have  they 
permitted  themselves  to  fall  into  those  states 
of  apathy  which  are  so  detrimental  to  the 
free  exercise  of  mental  and  physical  energy  ¥ 
AV^ake  up,  friends,  wake  up  ! 


The  Reduced  Fare  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  during  the  continuance  of  the  Cen- 
tennial exhibition,  will  offord  om-  readers  an 
apportunity  of  seeing  tliis  wonderful  exhibit 
of  the  industry  of  all  nations  at  a  moderate 
cost.  Round  trip  tickets  from  Lancaster,  good 
on  any  train,  for  one  day,  cost  only  $2.30;  and 
good  for  fifteen  days  $2.75.  This  company  has 
made  the  most  liberal  and  complete  arrange- 
ments to  accommodate  the  traveling  public. 
See  time  table  on  last  page  of  this  issue. 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


69 


PECK'S  IMPROVED  LIQUID  ATOMIZER. 

The  acc()mpauyiii<;  illustiatioii  represents 
PKCK's  I.IIPKOVKU  Ln^uiD  Atomizkk,  for 
(Icstroyius;  "Potato  Beetles"'  and  other  nox- 
ious and  injurious  insects;  and,  aceoriliuij;  to 
our  apprehension,  from  havinir  seen  the  ma- 
chine in  operation,  it  distriliutes  whatever 
rtuid  may  jiass  tlu-nugli  it,  as  expeditiously,  as 
economically  and  as  elliciently  as  any  inven- 
tion we  have  yet  seen  ;  and  now  that  it  has 
undergone  a  vast  im)irovenient  since  our  nQ» 
tice  of  it  in  oiu'  .July  number  for  187."),  we 
think  it  may  be  classed  amonf^  the  inventions 
worthy  of  our  ilhistrions  Ci  ntrniiial. 

A  large  portion  of  all  the  lalior  expended 
in  the  production  of  food  is  lost  through  tlu^ 
depredations  of  insects.  AVithin  the  past  few 
years  the  damage  to  the  potato  croj)  of  the 
country  by  the  t'olorado  beetle  has  been  many 
millions  of  dollars,  and  each  succeeding  year 
sees  a  still  greater  area  doomed  to  sufli'r  from 
this  scourge.  Cotton  planters  often  see  the 
result  of  months  of  labor  destroyed  in  a  few 
days  by  worms.  The  (.'urculio  has  made  the 
cultivation  of  the  plmn  almost  ini])ossible,  in 
nearly  every  part  of  the  conntry,  and  the  cur- 
rant worm"  and  other  insects  have  wrought 
utter  ruin  to  currant  and  gooseberry  bushes  in 
thousands  of  gardens.  The  ])ear  crop  is 
greatly  damaged  every  year,  in  cpiantity  and 
quality,  through  injury  to  the  leaves  by  slugs, 
and  a  large  proportion  of  all  the  pears  and 
quinces  produced  are  made  un- 
marketable by  Curculio  stings. 

Insecticides. 
Insects  may  be  destroyed  by  ap- 
plying Paris  green,  hellebore  or 
other  poisons  to  the  leaves  on 
which  they  feed  ;  or  they  may  be 
driven  away  by  tlie  application  ot 
substances  olfensive  to  them,  sucli 
,  as  solutions  of  whale-oil  soap, 
carbolic  soap,  carbolic  acid,  gas 
tar,  aloes,  gamboge,  salt,  infu- 
sions of  quassia,  Cayenne  pepper, 
or  anything  that  is  distasteful, 
from  bt'ing  possessed  of  putrid 
qualities,  or  that  is  intensely  l)it- 
ter,  liot  or  acrid. 

Peck's   Liquid    Atomizer 

Offers  to  farmers  and  fruit  grow- 
ers a  more  perfect  means  of  pro- 
tecting their  crops  from  damage 
by  insects  than  has  heretofore  ex- 
isted. It  consists  of  a  tank  fast- 
ened across  the  shoulders,  which 
contains  in  liquid  form  whatever 
is  to  be  applied  ;  attached  to  the 
side,  and  worked  liy  a  crank,  is 
an  air  pump,  consisting  of  a  double  bellows 
and  air  cliaraber.  Connected  with  the  tank 
and  air  pump  by  rubber  tnb(^s  is  a  pipe  or  noz- 
zle. When  in  operation  a  small  stream  flows 
from  the  tank  to  thepoint  of  the  nozzle,  where 
it  is  caught  by  a  current  of  compressed  air, 
and  blown  out  in  an  exceeilingly  line  mist. 
Economy,   Efficiency,   Safety. 

By  all  the  ordinary  metlnxls  there  is  re- 
quired a  large  amount  of  material  to  make  a 
very  imperfect  application,  and  there  is  more 
or  less  danger  when  a  vindent  poison  is  used. 
With  this  apparatus  a  small  amount  of  ma- 
terial may  tie  so  perfectly  distributed  as  to  kill 
every  insect  and  moisten  both  sides  of  every 
leaf,  by  throwing  the  li(pud  in  such  a  finely 
divided  or  atomized  state  that  it  will  float 
for  a  time  in  the  air.  An  atomized  licpiid 
will  adhere  to  the  under  side  of  a  leaf,  to 
fruit,  and,  in  fart,  to  whatever  it  touches,  so 
tinnly  that  it  cannot  be  shaken  off.  If  anyone 
will  think  of  a  drop  of  water  being  divided 
into  a  thousand  atoms,  and  these  atoms  de- 
posited at  a  little  distance  from  eacli  other. 
he  will  have  some  idea  of  the  manner  in  which 
this  machine  does  its  work.  Safety  is  assured 
in  this  method  of  application  by  the  use  of  a 
nozzle,  which  conveys  the  liquid  to  a  little 
distance  from  the  operator  before  it  is  dis- 
charged. 

We  call  the  attention  of  our  readere  to  the 
advertisement  of  the  proprietors  in  another 


column,  in  this  number  of  The  Farmer,  and 
for  furtlier  particidars  would  advise  them  to 
send  for  circulars. 

We  have  received  one  of  these  machines, 
but  as  we  have  neither  time,  opi>ortuiiity  or 
occasion  to  oper:ite  it,  we  have  placed  it  in  the 
hands  of  ^Ir.  \\'.  D.  Sprecher,  Seed  Store, 
Kasl  King  street,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  all 
interested  may  call  and  examine  it  for  them- 
selves. 

VALUE  OF  BARNYARD  DUNG. 

The  following  i)ractical  essay  was  read  be- 
fore the  Fettercairn,  Scotland,  Farmers'  Club, 
by  .lames  Jlitchell,  of  Mmitrose  : 

Until  recently  the  chief,  and  in  many  cases 
the  only  fertilizer  the  farmer  used,  was  farm- 
yard manure  ;  and  now  that  this  is  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  sujierseded  by  artificial  manures, 
there  is  just  the  danger  that  it  may  be  too 
much  overlooked.  Farm-yard  manure  has  its 
pro]ier  place  in  agriculture,  and  so  has  arti- 
ficial manin-e.  TI<'  i)roposed  in  the  following 
remarks,  principally  to  treat  the  question  of 
urine,  its  relative  value  to  the  solid  excre- 
nu'uts,  and  the  most  etTectual  manner  in  which 
urine  can  be  economized. 

Some  agricultiu-ists  hold  exaggerated  opin- 
ions as  to  the  value  of  farm-yard  mamu'e, 
others  undervalue  it,  while  some  manufactur- 
ers and  agents  of  artificial  manures  only  mani- 
fest their  ignorance  by   treating    farm-yard 


maimre  slightingly,  and  decrying  it,  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  on  the  absmil  supposition 
that  by  doing  this  tliey  will  induce  the  farmer 
to  order  more  artilicial  mamue  than  he  other- 
wise would.  The  only  valuable  ingredients  In 
farm-yard  manure  arc  the  urine  and  the  solid 
excrements.  The  other  ingredients  are  i-iniply 
straw,  &c.,  which  have  little  value  in  them- 
selves, and  simi>ly  serve  to  absorb  and  keep 
together  the  urin(^  and  solid  excrements. 

The  approximate  value  of  the  urine  of  the 
horse,  cow,  sheep  and  pig  is  as  follows :  Horse, 
30s;  cow,  'ids;  sheep,  3(1s,  and  jiig,  10s  per 
ton.  The  approximate  percentage  of  ammonia 
contained  in  the  urine  of  these  animals  is: 
Horse,  1.0  ;  cow,  0.'.) ;  sheep,  1.7,  and  pig,  (1.4. 
The  iihosphales  contained  arc  trilling,  being 
1  per  cent,  in  the  horse  and  pig,  ]  imt  cent,  in 
the  cow,  and  1  per  cent,  in  tlie  sheep.  The 
additional  value  of  the  m'ine  of  these  animals 
consists  of  a  small  |iercentagc  of  potash  and 
soda  salts,  <.V:c.  Comi)aring  these  facts  with 
the  approximate  co]npositi(Mi  and  value  of  the 
solid  excrements  of  the  same  animals,  we  find 
that  the  .solid  excrements  of  the  horse  are 
worth  1.5s  per   ton  ;  the   cow  10s  ;  the  sheep 


that,  if  anything  is  to  lie  done  in  economizing 
the  farm-yard  mamires,  it  must  be  urine  that 

is  to  Ite  considered  first. 

In  considi-ring  this  subject  a  good  deal  of 
valuable  iuturmation  can  Ik-  obtained  from  tlie 
Chinese.  We  consider  tlie.se  Celestials  as  little 
better  than  savages;  it  is,  however,  a  well- 
known  fact,  that  they  are  much  before  us  in 
this  matter,  as  in  many  others,  and  there  is  no 
doubl  that  we  are  the  losei's  by  thus  disparing- 
ly  treating  them  and  their  ideas,  or  rather 
ignoring  them  altogether.  It  is  certain  that 
they  are  now,  and  have  been  for  hundreds  of 
years  in  many  resiiects  very  far  advanced  in 
the  science  [art]  of  agriculture,  and  among 
them  the  ex<'remeiits,  li(piid  ami  solid,  treated 
and  jirepared  in  various  ways,  serve  almost 
ent irely  as  their  fertilizers.  One  writer  says : 
"  Human  urine  is,  if  possible,  more  husbanded 
by  the  Chinese  than  night-soil  for  manure  ; 
every  farm  or  iiatch  of  land  for  cultivation 
ha.s  a  tank,  where  all  substances  convi'itiblo 
into  manure  are  carefully  <leposlted,  the  whole 
made  liipiiil  by  addini;  urine  in  the  proportion 
required,  and  invariably  applied  in  that  state. 
The  business  of  collecting  urine  and  night-soil 
employs  an  immense  number  of  pei-son»,  who 
deposit  tubs  in  every  house  in  the  cities  for  the 
recei)tion  of  the  urine  of  the  inmates,  which 
vessels  are  removed  daily  with  as  much  care 
as  our  farmers  remove  their  honey  from  the 

hives." 

It  may  be  roughly  estimated 
that  theaverage  urine  passed  by 
cattle  dail-y  is  about  two  gallons, 
so  that  in  the  course  of  a  twelve- 
month every  beast  would  pass 
from  three  to  four  tons  of  urine, 
the  value  of  which  would  1m'  from 
£5  to  £0 ;  and,  in  addition,  a  jiro- 
portionate  quantity  and  value  of 
solid  excrements,  or,  in  other 
words,  the  total  excrement.s, 
liquid  and  solid,  obtained  from  a 
cattle  beast  in  a  year  would  1)6 
worth  from  i'R  ti)  £10.  Thus, 
supposing  the  case  of  a  farmer 
with  an  average  stock  of  cattle, 
during  the  year,  of  .50  head,  he 
would  collect  from  1.50  to  200 
tons  of  urine  jter  annum.  showinR 
a  value  of  £-20(1  to  £3(X)  (Sl.OOO 
to  $1..500).  Of  coui-se  a  very  large 
proportion  of  this  would godirect 
to  the  soil  during  the  time  the 
cattle  were  upon  the  grass  ;  still, 
it  is  not  over-estimating  the  value 
of  what  can  be  collected,  takini; 
into  account  the  urine  from  the 
horses  and  other  animals  on  the 
farm,  to  sny  that,  provided  the 
whole  urine  be  collected,  the  quantity  would 
rejiresent  a  v.alue,  say,  of  £100,  or  even  more. 
Covered  courts,  properly  paved,  with  chan- 
nels conducting  the  urine  into  a  reservoir,  are 
recommended  as  the  most  economical  plan  of 
Siiving  the  urine.  It  would  also  be  a  great 
saving  to  s]irinkl(^  these  courts,  from  time  to 
time,  with  vitriol.  This  would  fix  the  ammo- 
nia, and  thus  prevent  the  loss  of  the  most 
valuable  portion.  It  would  also  keej)  the 
courts  sweeter,  and  preserve  the  health  of  the 
animals.  It  need  be  applied  only  sparingly, 
diluted  with  water.  The  fumes  arisiuL'  from 
manure  are  injurious  to  the  stone  and  lime  of 
walls,  and  the  vitriol  would  also  previMit  this. 
The  loss  of  ammonia  by  evai)oi-ation.  in  turn- 
ing dunghills,  can  also  lie  jirevented  in  the 
same  way — sprinkling  the  dung  with  vitriol 
while  turning  the  heap. 


INSECT  DEPREDATIONS. 


"  When  we  reflect  upon  the  alarming  in- 
crease of  noxious  insects,  and  the  loss  of  untold 
millions  of  the  productions  of  our  country  by 
their  ravages  on  our  crops,  it  becomes  a  matter 
'2.5s,  and  the  pig  Os  ;  or,  in  other  words,  the  i  of  grave  interest  that  the  pomologist  should  be 
value  of  urine  is  about  double  that  of  the  solid  -  ever  ready  to  contend  with  thishost  of  vilecre- 
excrements.  In  comparing  their  value,  how-  |  ation.  Tlie.se  pests  will  ))robably  continue  to 
ever,  it  is  only  fair  to  say  tJiat  the  value  of  the  afflict  mankind  in  the  future  as  in  the  ))ast,  for 
solid  excrement  is  principally  owing  to  its  being  i  their  kingdom  is  established  throughout  the 
saturated  with  the  urine,    thus  it  is  evident,  |  earth.     "  It  extends,"  saysHarris,  "from the 


70 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


torrid  zone  to  the  utmost  limits  of  polar  vege- 
tation, and  from  the  lowest  valley  to  the  moun- 
tainous regions  of  perpetual  snow. ' '  And  as 
our  friend.  Doctor  Hull,  President  of  the  Illi- 
nois State  Horticultural  Society,  has  truly  said, 
"just  in  proportion  as  you  increase  improved 
fruits,  just  in  that  proportion  will  fruit  insects 
increase  with  you. "  The  wonder,  therefore,  is 
not  that  they  are  jiermitted  to  exert  their  bane- 
ful influence  on  this  fair  world,  but  that  man- 
kind are  so  neglectful  of  efforts  for  their  de- 
struction. 

The  Almighty  gave  us  dominion  not  only 
over  the  beasts  "of  the  field,  the  fowls  of  the  air 
and  the  fishes  of  the  sea,  Ijut  "over  every  creep- 
ing thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth,"  and 
yet  we  allow  them  to  become  our  masters.  One 
thing  is  certain,  our  duty  is  to  overcome  them 
as  we  would  any  other  evil,  nor  tire  in  our 
eflbrts,  unless  we  are  willing  to  admit  that  in- 
sects are  more  powerful  than  men. 

It  is  estimated  by  Prof.  Riley,  that  the  dam- 
age done  by  insects  within  the  limits  of  our 
country  is  not  less  than  three  Jiundred  millions 
of  dollars  annually,  and  that  Kapoleon  at  the 
summit  of  his  prosperity,  never  inflicted  more 
damage  on  a  nation  than  the  lilliputian  Insect 
army  inflicts  on  the  United  States;  and  well 
does  he  remark  :  "If  an  enemy  were  to  cause  a 
small  part  of  the  injury  which  results  each  year 
from  the  depredations  of  even  one  of  our  insect 
enemies,  the  whole  country  would  resound  with 
a  clamor  for  the  suppression  of  the  invaders." 
We  have  learned  how  to  conquer  the  potato- 
beetle,  tlie  caterpillar  and  curculio,  the 
canker  and  currant  worms,  the  aphis  and  red 
spider,  and  the  rose-slug  ;  we  can  prevent  the 
depredations  of  the  borer  and  the  codling  moth, 
and  may  we  not  yet  hope  to  devise  means  to 
prevent  the  terrible  scourge  of  the  grasshopper 
in  the  west,  and  the  phylloxera  on  our  vines. 
Indomitable  perseverance  is  the  price  of  re- 
ward, in  the  acquisition  of  noble  ends,  and 
this  is  especially  true  in  regard  to  the  culture 
of  fruits. 

Accustomed  as  we  are  to  the  "  canker 
worm"  ui  Massachusetts,  we  as  generally 
protect  our  orchards  from  its  ravages  as  we  do 
our  fields  from  the  invasion  of  cattle  ;  the 
efforts  of  Ellwanger  and  Barry,  Dr.  Hull  and 
others,  are  crowned  with  an  annual  crop  of 
plums,  by  a  little  care,  at  the  proper  time,  in 
shaking  off  the  trees  and  picking  up  the  drop- 
ping fruit ;  the  canker  worm  is  prevented  by 
the  application  of  tar  and  oil,  or  printers'  ink, 
for  a  few  weeks  ;  the  caten)illar  by  the  use  of 
the  hand  or  brush  for  a  few  hours  ;  and  the 
borer  by  a  few  moments'  examination  ;  and 
these  examples  are  illustrations  of  tlie  princi- 
ples which  I  would  enforce,  and  of  what  may 
be  done ;  and  were  we  to  fail  in  this,  it  is 
through  neglect  of  the  means  which  have  been 
placed  in  our  hands. 

"  Thus  God  (Jelights  to  teach  the  lesson  ever, 
That  our  success  depends  on  our  endeavor." 
"The  Study  of  entomology,  as  teaching  us  the 
habits  of  insects,  both  useful  and  injurious,  is 
of  the  highest  importance,  in  connection  with 
the  culture  of  plants  and  fruits.  And  we, 
therefore,  rejoice  in  the  spirit  of  enterprise 
which  has  of  late  been  awakened  on  the  sub- 
ject. "Were  we  to  be  told  that  there  was  no 
method  to  prevent  tlie  depredations  of  insects, 
we  should  lie  down  in  despair  ;  but  we  do  lit- 
tle better  while  we  do  nothing  to  prevent 
them,  and  if  men  would  give  their  minds  to 
the  subject  most  of  the  evils  of  which  we 
complain  might  be  prevented." 

The  foregoing  we  extract  from  the  annual 
address  of  Marshal  P.  Wilder,  delivered  be- 
fore the  Ameriran  Pnmolofjical  Society,  at  it.s 
fifteenth  session,  held  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  on 
the  8th,  9th  and  10th  of  September,  187.5. 
Although  it  contains  but  a  brief  and  very 
general  outline  of  the  subject,  it  amply  illus- 
trates its  vast  importance,  and  furnishes  an 
endorsement  of  the  very  highest  authority. 
Doubtless  the  incursions  and  deiiredations  of 
insects  are  often  unavoidable  and  unlieralded  ; 
but  it  is  too  apparent  for  successful  denial, 
that  in  many  instances  their  redundancy  and 
destructiveness  are  the  results  of  sheer  neglect, 
indiftereuce,   or  willful  ignorance— an  igno- 


rance which,  under  other  circumstance,  would 
border  on  criminality.  It  is  becoming  just  as 
important  for  the  farmer  or  fruit-grower  to 
study  the  periods,  transformations  and  destruc- 
tive habits  of  insects  as  it  is  to  observe  the 
times  and  seasons  for  plowing  his  ground, 
planting  and  cultivating  his  crops ;  and  the 
neglect  of  the  former  may  ultimately  be  as 
detrimental  to  his  pecuniary  and  social  inter- 
ests as  a  neglect  of  the  latter.  To  be  fore- 
warned is  to  be  forearmed  ;  and,  therefore,  if 
the  matter  has  not  been  already  anticipated, 
it  ought  now  to  elicit  attention  in  this,  tlie 
beginning  of  the  flowering  and  fruiting  of  the 
year.  ^"^  He  thai  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  Mm  /imr." 

^ 

ADAPTING  MEANS  TO  ENDS. 
There  may  be  sound  sense  in  the  old  "saw" 
— "A  JacA-  of  all  trades  is  a  master  of  none  ;" 
but  on  that  score  there  is  "  another  side  to  the 
question;"  as  well  as  in  many  others  ;  as  may 
be  gathered  from  the  following,  which  is  going 
the  '  rounds' of  the  weekly  press,  and  which  we 
clip  from  the  columns  of  a  cotemporary  as 
apropos  to  the  present  times,  when  there  are  so 
many  idle  young  men,  simply  because  there  is 
no  employment  to  be  obtained  in  their  special 
crafts. 

A  Little  Good  Advice. 

"  I  am  always  sorry  for  a  man  who  knows 
how  to  do  but  one  thing.  I  have  often  seen 
such  men.  I  gave  ten  dollars  to  one  who  could 
sneak  and  write  five  or  six  languages,  and 
translate  beautifully  ;  but  in  the  middle  of  a 
hard  winter  he  could  not  get  a  living.  I  know 
another  man  who  had  preached  twenty-five 
years,  till  his  throat  failed  him,  and  he  used 
to  go  around  looking  very  blue  and  sad,  until 
people  pitied  him  and  got  up  donation  parties 
for  him,  because  he  was  good  for  nothing  ex- 
cept to  preach.  I  knew  a  lady  who  had  taught 
school  for  twenty  years,  till  she  was  a  poor, 
nervous,  broken-down  woman,  and  didn't 
know  how  to  make  a  dress  for  herself.  Now 
boys  and  girls,  every  real  man  should  know 
how  to  do  one  thing  well.  Evei-y  wise  farmer 
has  a  principal  crop  ;  but  he  has  always  alittle 
something  else  to  live  on.  Don't  put  your 
money  all  in  one  pocket.  If  you  want  to  get 
along  right  well,  learn  one  sort  of  work  to  get 
along  by,  and  all  sorts  of  work  to  get  a  living 
with  when  your  one  sort  gives  out  ?" 

That  there  are  so  many  in  the  world  who 
are  willing  to  do  only  one  thing,  does  notarise 
so  much  from  the  fact  that  they  can  do  only 
one  thing,  as  from  the  fact  that  they  loill  do 
only  one  thing  or  nothing,  and  if  they  can  find 
no  employment  at  that  one  thing,  they  feel 
themselves  perfectly  justifiable  in  waiting  in 
listless  idleness  untU"  that  one  thing  "turns 
up"  again. 

It  is  questionable  whether  that  kind  of  peo- 
ple are  the  kind  of  stuff  that  is  needed  for  the 
social  development  of  this  planet,  nor  yet  for 
its  commercial,  mechanical,  agricultural  or 
economical  development.  Such  people  never 
master  their  situations. 

Whilst  it  is  eminently  desirable  that  a  young 
man,  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  a  trade,  pro- 
fession, or  other  occupation,  should  concentrate 
his  whole  mind,  will  and  energy  into  it,  in  or- 
der that  he  may  become  proficient  therein  ; 
still,  when  that  fails  him  through  financial  dis- 
aster, or  from  other  causes,  without  a  reason- 
able prospect  of  a  return  of  prosperity  in  the 
future,  he  should  be  willing  to  devote  the  same 
energies  towards  the  ac(iuisition  of  some  other 
calling,  whereby  he  may  be  relieved  from  a  life 
of  idleness  and  dependence.  It  is  true,  that 
there  are  some  occupations  in  which  he  could 
not  expect  to  become  sufllciently  proficient  to 
obtain  a  livelihood  on  account  of  his  advanced 
age— yet,  there  are  many  other  callings  in 
which  any  man  under  the  age  of  thirty  could 
succeed  in  if  he  had  the  will  to  do  so,  and  in 
some  even  if  he  were  ten  or  fifteen  years  older. 
There  are  plenty  of  men  in  the  world,  who,  if 
they  were  suddenly  drojiped  down,  as  if  from 
a  balloon,  on  to  an  uninhabited  island  or  con- 
tinent, could  readily  adapt  themselves  to  their 
isolated  circumstances,  wanting  only  the  ma- 
terial out  of  which  to  carve  their  self-support, 
and  this  "adaptation  of  means  to  ends"  oup;ht 


to  characterize  their  course  and  conduct  in  the 
midst  of  society  at  any  time. 

Interview  many  of  the  thriftiest  and  most 
successful  business  men  of  tlie  country,  and 
you  will  be  astonished  how  many  of  them  are 
following  occupations  different  from  those  they 
started  out  with  in  early  life — and  this  is 
especially  the  case  with  the  citizens  of  towns 
and  cities.  Many  men,  if  they  cannot  find  em- 
ployment at  the  business  they  have  chosen  as 
their  worldly  occupation,  instead  of  turning 
their  hands  to  something  else,  are  content  to 
relapse  into  idleness  and  worthlessness. 

Many  foil  sometimes,  from  personal  defi- 
ciency half  a  dozen  times  before  they  succeed 
— at  different  occupations,  even  in  prosperous 
times — and  the  most  that  tliis  may  demon- 
strate is,  that  they  had  mistaken  their  calling ; 
but  none  succeed  who  do  not  "try  again." 
The  absurdity  of  young  men  waiting  two  or 
three  years  for  "something  to  turn  up"  in 
their  occupations  favorable  to  their  chances  of 
obtaining  employment,  has  no  parallel  among 
those  possessing  sane  minds  on  the  subject. 
These  errors  of  judgment  are  often  the  results 
of  wrong  thinking  upon  this  subject,  through 
which  a  conclusion  is  come  to  that  one  honest 
occupation  is  more  respectable  than  another, 
and  that  eventually  their  services  will  be  so- 
licited without  any  trouble  to  tliemselves. 
This  is  underestimating  their  surroundings 
and  overestimating  themselves. 

There  are  circumstances  under  which  they 
must  ask  before  they  can  expect  to  receive; 
they  must  seek  if  they  desire  to  f.nd,  and  they 
must  knock  before  it  will  be  opened,  and  this 
must  be  repeated  again  and  again,  even  at  the 
expense  of  being  importunate. 

If  all  the  willfully  idle  men  were  wiped  out 
of  existence  the  world  and  society  would  still 
rotate  the  same  as  when  they  constituted  a 
part  of  them.  The  world  owes  no  man  any- 
thing V)ut  what  he,  by  his  active  energies,  may 
be  able  to  get  out  of  it  by  his  labor. 

Therefore,  if  you  are  a  farmer,  a  lawyer,  a 
doctor,  a  mechanic,  or  any  other  calling,  go  to 
work  on  something,  if  only  it  is  honest  and 
useful.  If  you  can't  get  anything  to  do  at 
mathematical  instrument  making,  perhaps  you 
may  be  able  to  succeed  at  stoue-breaking,  or 
something  else,  or  you  never  can  stand  ac- 
quitted by  the  world  or  human  society. 


For  The  Lanca.ster  Farmer. 

DECORATING  FLOWER  GARDENS. 

From  the  middle  of  May'  to  the  middle  of 
June  is  the  proper  season  in  our  latitude  to 
decorate  flower  gardens  with  Ijedding  plants, 
ever-blooming  roses,  etc. — which  are  pur- 
chased growing  in  flower  pots — and  the  roots  of 
the  gladiolus,  tuberose,  dahlia,  etc.  The  species 
and  varieties  of  bedding  plants  are  very  nu- 
merous, diversifled  and  beautiful ;  so  every 
taste  or  whim  can  be  satisfied.  The  flower 
class  have  blooms  of  many  colors,  and  the 
plants  are  of  many  sizes  and  habits  of  growth  ; 
some  are  very  brilliant  and  showy  in  blooms  ; 
others  are  very  fragrant,  though  less  showy  ; 
another  class  have  charming,  sweet-scented 
leaves.  So  in  making  selections  it  may  be  best 
to  have  a  portion  of  every  class  for  diversity's 
sake,  and  a  pleasing  whole.  The  class  with 
ornamental  leaves  are  also  of  numerous  spe- 
cies and  varieties,  and  very  diverse  in  appear- 
ances. None  of  them  are  sweet-scented,  but 
they  make  a  beautiful  and  long-lasting  show. 
Tliere  are  three  styles  of  arrangement.  In  the 
promiscuous  arrangement  many  kinds  are  set 
upon  tlie  same  beds  ;  so  mixed  that  the  tall- 
est are  farthest  oft"  the  edges,  and  the  most 
dwarf-like  nearest  to  the  outer  edges ;  all  so 
set  as  to  make  a  pleasing  contrast  and  good 
show.  Tlie  sweet-scented  species  are  so  set 
as  to  give  fragrance  to  the  whole.  The  ribbon 
style  is  much  adapted  to  the  ornamental 
leaved  class,  making  rows  of  different  colors. 
They  make  a  long-lasting  and  beautiful  show, 
but  have  no  sweet  pertumes  about  them.  Tlie 
self  style  consists  in  making  many  small  beds 
in  a  cluster,  or  near  to  each  other ;  each  bed 
is  set  wholly  with  one  species  or  variety,  and 
every  bed  different  from  the  others.     For  ex- 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


71 


ample,  a  bed  of  verbenas,  a  bed  of  petunias, 
etc.  Sweet-scented  beds  will  be  made  witli 
misiiionette,  sweet  alyssuiii,  lieliotropiiini, 
etc.,  all  witli  frasmiit  hlooins.  Beds  nf  sweet- 
sei'iited  leaved  i;ei'aiuiinis,  lemon  Naimleon, 
etc.,  are  made  I'or  divi  rsily.  Every  style  lias 
its  adnurers  and  iiractilioners. 

Upon  htr^e  lands,  maintained  with  much 
wealth,  tliere  is  room  to  have  all  the  .styles, 
but  we  have  often  seen  as  nnich  real  beauty 
around  a  well-kei)t  farmer's  urarden  as  in  ex- 
tensive i)arks.  Wealth  is  not  always  accom- 
panied with  line  taste  and  lirudence. 

For  a  piod  show  of  blooms  in  the  autumn, 
plant  out  dahlia,  ehrysantbenunii,  scarlet  sage, 
aeeralum,  Mexieana,  ever-blooming  ro.ses, 
geraniums,  and  plenty  of  tuberoses,  for  .sweet 
scent. — Flora. 


For  Thk  Lancaster  Faumku. 
FRUITCULTURE  IN  LANCASTER  CITY. 

The  very  general  ojiinion  that  little  fruit  is 
grown  in  cities,  is  as  mistaken  as  it  is  jireva- 
lent.  This  delusion  exists  not  only  among  our 
country  friends  but  is  quite  as  common  with 
city  residents,  who  ouglil  to  know  better.  If 
we  take  our  own  city  as  an  instance,  we  may 
safely  say  that  not  one-fourth  of  its  adult  male 
inhabilautsc(iuld  give  any  thing  like  an  approx- 
imatively  correct  estimate  of  the  small  and 
other  fruits  annually  raised  in  the  yards  and 
gardens  embraced  within  the  city  limits. 

The  fewsquare  miles  whereon  the  city  stands 
is  certainly  not  a  very  extended  area,  but  this 
space,  limited  as  it  is,  is  cut  up  into  lumdreils 
of  lots  of  greater  or  less  dimensions,  each  with 
its  individual  owner,  and  these  owners  have  of 
late  years  taken  good  care  to  make  the  most  of 
the  limited  domain  that  belongs  to  them.  A 
full  lot  being  '2.")0  feet  long,  allows  considerable 
room  if  judiciously  used,  to  such  as  choose  to 
avail  themselves  of  it  for  fruit-growing  pur- 
jioses  ;  and  as  two  or  more  lots  are  fre([uently 
in  possession  of  a  singe  proprietor,  a  still  greater 
op])ortunity  is  afforded  to  set  out  trees  or  pre- 
pare strawberry  beds.  It  has  often  been  a  mat- 
ter of  surprise  to  us  to  see  the  variety  of  choice 
fruit  trees  that  many  owners  contrive  to  rear 
on  such  circumscribed  limits  ;  indeed,  the  dan- 
ger is  that  in  his  efforts  to  make  the  most  of  his 
few  square  yards,  he  will  so  crowd  his  trees 
that  they  interfere  with  each  other,  thereby  re- 
tarding their  lU'oper  growth  and  development 
and  ciiusingthe  production  of  inferior  fruit. 

It  would  be  worse  than  idle  to  attempt  to 
grow  all  the  various  kinds  of  fruits  in  a  city 
that  the  farmer  does  in  the  country.  The  ab- 
surdity of  planting  many  aiiple  trees  for  in- 
stance, is  manifest  to  every  one,  and  conse- 
quently not  much  attention  is  given  to  that 
fruit.  It  is  those  fruits  whose  trees  require 
least  room,  that  are  most  in  favor.  Dwarfs  are 
especial  favorites  but  not  exclusive  ones,  and 
we  know  of  standard  (lears,  the  growth  of  half 
a  century,  whose  thrifty,  towering  limbs  would 
do  no  discredit  to  the  amplest  country  yard  or 
orchard.  Pears,  peaches,  apricots,  plnms  and 
cherries  are  most  abundant,  and  the  country 
visitor  who  is  not  aware  of  the  fact,  never  sus- 
pects as  he  jiasses  through  our  principal  thor- 
oughfares, tiiat  behind  the  rows  of  tall  an<l  im- 
posing houses  are  am)ile  green  yards  filled  with 
all  manner  of  choice  fruits  that  would  perhaps 
throw  into  the  shade  those  that  adorn  the  yard 
of  his  rural  home. 

It  is  only  by  making  an  extended  ramble 
through  the  alleys  and  by-ways  of  Lancaster, 
as  I  did  on  this  bright,  crisp  May  moniing,  that 
a  trae  idea  can  be  formed  of  the  extent  to  which 
fruit-growing  is  here  (lursued.  The  liloom  of 
the  apricots  had  already  fallen,  lint  the  pear, 
chen-y  and  peach  trees  were  exceedingly  beau- 
tiful with  their  wealth  of  flowers,  giving  prom- 
ise of  an  abundant  harvest.  Even  the  city  air 
was  made  redolent  with  the  far-reaching"  fra- 
grance. 

The  exact  extent  to  which  fruit  culture  is 
carried  within  this  city  i.s.  of  course,  difticult 
to  determine,  but  we  are  .satisfied  that  aside 
from  the  single  item  of  apples,  it  is  equal  to 
that  of  any  miited  dozen  of  townshi])s  in  the 
county.  The  quantity  of  grapes  growni  is 
enorruous ;  nearly  every  yard,  large  and  small, 


has  from  one  to  half  a  dozen  vines,  from  which 
large  croi>s  of  most  excellent  friutare  obtained. 
So  little  care  and  nxmi  does  this  latter  fruit 
r<'qnire.  that  it  is  a  universal  favorite  ;  trained 
along  walls,  balconies  and  fences,  it  leaves  the 
open  ground  available  for  stone  fruits  or  garden 
purposes. 

It  is  ail  open  question,  whether  a  city,  in 
some  particulars,  does  not  possess  superior  ad- 
vantages over  the  open  country  in  the  matter 
of  fruit  culture.  In  cities  of  considerable  size, 
the  temperature  is  always  from  three  to  live 
or  more  degrees  higher  "than  it  is  outside  of 
them  ;  no  one  needs  to  be,  told  what  an  ad- 
vantage this  is  ;  that  dilference  is  often  enough 
to  preserve  a  fruit  crop  from  destruction  ;  par- 
ticularly is  this  the  case  in  the  spring,  when 
unseasonable  frosts  ofttimes  (tome  to  mar  the 
fruit-growers' hoi>is ;  the  .shclt(U-  aflbnled  by 
the  closely  suridunding  bouses,  stables  and 
other  buildings,  has  [ireserved  many  a  promis- 
ing yield  from  the  destructive  ravages  of  vio- 
lent storms;  at  the  same  time  the  interiors  of 
most  of  our  blocks  or  scpiares  are  sufUciciitly 
oiien  to  admit  all  the  sunlight,  rains  and 
breezes  essential  to  the  fullgrowlh  and  perfec- 
tion of  all  fruits  adapted  to  this  latitude.  So 
far  as  we  have  oli.served  the  ravages  of  the 
eurculio  and  other  noxious  insects  are  not 
greater  within  the  city  limits  than  beyond 
them.  Neither  is  the  fruit  raised  in  any  de- 
gree inferior  to  that  grown  in  more  oi)en  dis- 
tricts ;  on  the  contrary,  much  of  it  is  unexcep- 
tionally  tine,  both  in  appearance  and  (luality, 
in  jiroof  of  which  we  need  only  call  attention 
to  the  many  jtrizes  in  this  department,  that  fell 
to  the  share  of  Lancasterians  at  the  last  State 
Agricultural  Fair.  Many  readers  will  remcm- 
lier  the  very  large  and  very  excellent  display 
of  fmits  placed  on  exhibition  at  that  time  by 
Cha.s.  E.  Long,  esq.,  and  which  bore  away  the 
palm  from  cv(in  i)rofessional  fruit-growers  ; 
there  are  many  other  amateurs  in  this  line 
among  us,  who  could,  in  the  jiroper  season, 
make  such  a  showing  of  FiW.  fruits  as  woulil 
literally,  as  well  as  metaphorically  open  the 
eyes  of  trained  jjomologists. 

The  number  of  factories  and  manufacturing 
establishments  in  this  city  that  might  Ije  re- 
garded as  producing  vapors  and  gases  hurtful 
to  fruit  of  any  kind,  is  extremely  limited,  and 
it  is  even  doubtful  whether  there  are  any  such 
at  all ;  at  all  events  no  deleterious  effects  have 
become  noticeable  from  this  cause.  The  pro- 
tection now  so  generally  accorded  to  the  Eng- 
lish sparrows  have  made  them  astonishinglv 
abimdaut  throughout  the  city,  and  they  and 
other  small  insectiverous  birds  render  valuable 
services  in  ridding  our  fruit  trees  from  the  in- 
sect hordes  that  are  continually  deiiredatiug 
upon  them.  If  some  of  the  owners  of  hundreds 
of  broad  acres  throughout  the  county  could  by 
some  means  get  a  glimjise  of  the  large  variety 
of  fine  and  thrifty  fruit  trees  that  rii)en  their 
luscious,  bough-laden  products  in  the  rear- 
yards  and  gardens  of  many  houses  in  this  city, 
they  would  begin  to  believe  we  are  not  so  en- 
tirely dependent  upon  outside  sources  for  our 
fruit  sujiplies  as  they  supposed. — F.  R.  D., 
Lancaster,  May  1,  1876. 

« 

For  The  T.ANrABXEn  Farmer. 
SEASONABLE    HINTS. 

All  hot-beds  should  now  be  made,  and  sown 
when  fit.  All  vegetable  seeds  needed  for 
spring  and  summer  sowing  should  be  pur- 
chased ,at  once,  and  when  the  busy  season 
comes  on  they  will  be  in  readiness  to  sow  and 
plant.  It  is  foolish  and  hungry-like  to  buy 
seeds  in  small  quantities  when  needed,  as  valu- 
able time  is  often  lost.  Seedsmen's  catalogues 
for  this  year  are  all  published,  and  can  be  had 
for  the  price  of  mailing.  They  give  accounts 
of  all  the  well-known  varieties  and  many  new 
species,  as  well  as  of  flowers,  both  annuals 
and  others. 

Every  farmer  can  produce  plenty  of  wliole- 
some  vegetables  for  his  household  cheaply  by 
cultivating  with  horses  :  Beans,  peas,  sugar- 
corn,  cabbages,  asparagus,  potatoes,  celery, 
cucumbers,  melons,  .squa.shes,  etc.,  until  they 
sju-ead  and  cover  the  ground  ;  tomatoes,  egg- 
plants, peppers,  late  cabbages,  etc.,  are  often 


planted  between  the  rows  of  peas,  and  some- 
times celery  and  corn,  making  two  croi>8  u|Km 
the  Siime  ground  with  one  plowing.  Spinach 
and  radishes  are  often  sown  broadcast,  ruta- 
baga turnips  are  cultivated  with  hor.se  in  late 
summer  and  fall,  and  whilc-llesh  turni|)s  are 
sown  broadcast  iu  August.  Beets,  carrots, 
l>arsiiips,  salsify,  onions,  (of  sorts)  pot  herbs, 
etc.,  should  be  planti'il  iu  narrow  rows,  for 
economy  of  lanil.  The  soil  can  be  kept  free 
of  weeds  by  fi'e(pieut  hoeing.  The  root  crops 
have  oflen  to  be  thimud  by  hand;  and  the 
best  time  for  this  work  is  ju.st  after  a  niin, 
when  it  is  too  wet  to  do  other  work,  when  the 
thiniiiiig  of  beets,  carrots,  par.snip.s,  salsify, 
etc.,  can  be  accomplished  more  quickly,  and 
at  the  .sjiiue  time  the  onions  can  also  be 
weeded,  and  rhubarb  can  be  kept  (Oear  of  weeds 
with  hand  hoes.  At  this  time  the  L'round  for 
these  small  crops  can  be  plowed,  bariowi-d  and 
rolled  ;  then  drills  should  be  made,  and  the 
.sowing  and  planting  accomplished,  thus  pro- 
ducing ebiap  vigitaliles.  It  is  culinary  vege- 
tables, in  judicious  cpiautilies,  along  with  sul)- 
stantiai  food,  that  gives  the  bloom  of  ro.sy 
health  to  the  face,  and  whitens  the  skin  ;  im- 
parts nevr  to  the  lads  and  liranty  to  the  la.sses. 

Where  flower  seeds  are  needed,  they  should 
also  be  ludciired  now,  in  order  to  iKi  ready  to 
sow  when  the  ])ro|)ertime  arrives.  Soniesiie- 
cies  should  be  sown  as  .soon  as  the  fro.sts  are 
over  in  the  spring  and  the  .soil  fit  todig  ;  other 
species  should  not  be  sown  until  May,  in  the 
Mi<ldle  States.  They  are  naturally  more  ten- 
der than  others. 

[The  ably  conducted  I,.^xo,vsTEU  FARMER 
.should  be  more  than  a  "  local  ])aper  ;"  it  must 
go  over  all  the  northern  half  of  the  nation.] — 
Old  CuUivator. 

For  Tmk  r,\N('At«T»:li  Farmer. 

CHOICE  EVER-BLOOMING  ROSES. 

From  the  establishment  of  the  Garden  of 
Eden  up  to  theja-esent  time,  the  ros<'  has  been 
admired  aboveall  other  flowers,  especially  those 
si>ecies  wiiose  blocmis  were  beautiful  and  fra- 
grant. From  our  own  earliest  remembrance 
they  have  been  c;illed  the  "Queensof  all  Flow- 
ers," and  the  "Sunny  (Jarden's  Pride. "  Be- 
fore the  l)reseut  centiirv  all  the  sixties  only 
bkumied  once  a  year.  Now,  we  have  thousands 
of  varieties  of  constant  bloom,  and  the  flowers 
delightly  fragrant.  So  diversified  are  they  that 
they  are  now  divided  into  several  classes,  such 
asC'hiuese  P.-iily  and  Thea.  Noisette,  Bourbons 
and  Hybrid  Per|)etuals  ;  the  last  cla.ss  is  the 
most  hardy  for  the  northern  halfof  the  nation 
for  out-door  culture.  Thiir  lilooms  are  a.s  large 
and  fragrant  as  the  old  Cal  ibage  and  Moss  roses. 
They  bloom  profusely  in  May  in  Peiinsylvani.a 
and  if  the  fading  blooms  are  constantly  cut  off 
t  hey  cont  inue  blooming  all  the  growing  sea.son. 
They  make  strong  and  stately  plants,  with- 
standing winter's  cold  well. 

The  following  varieties  make  a  choice  dozen: 
General  Washington,  bright,  scarlet  crim.son, 
full  flower;  General  Jacqueminot,  shining  vel- 
vety scarlet  crim.son  ;  TriomjOie  de  I'Exposi- 
tion,  rich  velvety  crimson,  very  full  ;  Duke  of 
Edinburgh,  brilliant  maroon  crimson  ;  .Jeanne 
Gross,  blush,  very  large  double  blooms  ;  La 
France,  bright  satiny  rose  color,  large,  splen- 
did ;  Princess  Christiana,  blush,  white,  large 
cupped  flowers  ;  Mad'lle  Bomiaire,  pure  white, 
large  and  full ;  Peaiiede  Blanches,  jiure  white, 
large  flowers,  thrifty  growth  ;  Giant  of  Battle-s, 
shining.scarlet  crimson,  free  bloomer ;  Baronno 
Adoljih  de  Roth.schild,  bright  rose,  very  su- 
lierb  ;  Louis  Van  Houtte,  brilliant  crimson, 
maroon  shaded. 

For  nicely  kept  gardens,  where  much  care 
is  given  to  flowers,  the  following  cla-sses  art^ 
admirably  suited,  of  constant  bloom,  and  very 
fragr.mt  :  The  Bengals  or  Dailys.  Bourl)ons 
and  the  Teas.  They  need  covering  with  straw 
during  winter  and  bloom  well  in  glass  houses 
all  winter  ;  all  are  well  worth  crowing. 

We  often  see  accounts  of  ever-blooming 
Dama.sk  ami  Moss  roses,  but  we  have  never 
seen  them  bloom  more  than  once  in  the  year. 
So  the  original  species  of  them  are  the  best. 
The  old  Bed  Moss  is  the  king  of  all.  Roses 
are  bought,  growing  in  flower-pots,  and  ])Iant- 
ed  at  all  seasons. — Bosacec. 


72 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


For  The  Lancaster  Fabmeb, 
HONEY-DEW. 

Without  intendiuE;  to  endorse  ilr.  Noe's 
theory  of  tlie  origin  of  honey-dew,  as  suggested 
in  tlie  April  number  of  The  Farjieb,'  I  wish 
to  call  attention  to  a  few  facts  which  are  di- 
rectly opposed  to  tlie  hypothesis  that  all  honey- 
dew  is  discharged  hy  aphids. 

About  the  middle  of  last  June,  during  the 
time  that  honey-dew  was  so  unusually  abun- 
dant, it  was  found  upon  the  grass  in  the 
fields  entirely  away  from  trees  or  other  plants 
upon  which  aphids  feed.  It  was  so  abundant 
in  many  places  that  the  feathers  upon  the 
lower  part  of  the  bodies  of  turkeys  and  other 
fowls  that  were  running  tln-ough  the  grass  be- 
came coated  with  it,  so  that  tliey  looked  as 
though  they  had  been  greased. 

The  honey-dew  did  not  appear  in  si)ots  on 
the  leaves,  as  is  usually  the  case,  but  was 
spread  over  the  whole  upper  surface,  and  in 
such  quantity  as  to  glue  the  leaves  together, 
making  the  woods  glisten  in  the  sun  as  though 
the  trees  had  been  varnishecL  It  would  have 
taken  immense  numbers  of  aphids  to  liave 
produced  all  this  coating  of  honey,  and  yet 
these  insects  did  not  appear  to  be  more  abun- 
dant than  is  common  at  that  season. —  W.  P. 
Bolton,  Libcrti/  Sq^Mre,  Pa. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
THE  DAIRY— No.  3. 

In  the  March  numlier  of  The  Farmer  I 
have  sketched  over  the  different  breeds  of  cat- 
tle. Much  ra(3re  might  and  should  be  said  on 
this  important  question  which  would  extend 
tliese  articles  far  beyond  my  intention.  As 
there  are  plenty  of  cows  among  the  difterent 
breeds  that  will,  with  proper  care,  yield  225  to 
250  pounds  of  butter  in  a  year,  and  some  con- 
siderable more.  No  one  should  feel  satisfied 
with  a  cow  that  will  not  reach  the  former 
figures,  but  all  .should  aim  at  the  very  highest, 
which  may  be  reached  by  conthiued  judicious 
selection  and  proper  mating  ;  hence  the  im- 
portance t)f  a  more  general  knowledge  of  this 
matter.  We  have  good  authority  for  stating 
that  no  better  milk  cows  reach  the  Philadelphia 
market  than  those  from  Lancaster  county, 
and  it  is  not  creditable  that  its  cows  should 
have  a  better  rei)utation  generally  than  its 
butter,  from  which  it  is  evident  that  they  re- 
ceive lietter  attention  than  their  products.  It 
is  to  be  regretted  that  so  many  excellent  cows 
are  allowed  to  be  taken  to  the  city  to  be  milked 
dry,  and  then  passed  to  tlie  shambles,  while 
so  large  a  proportion  of  poorer  ones  are  kept 
at  home  to  breed  from.  Such  a  short-sighted 
policy  is  like  "  killing  the  goose  that  lays  tlie 
golden  egg,"  and  its  continuation  cannot  help 
but  prevent  the  speedy  imiirovement  of  milk- 
ing stock,  and  instead,  will  cause  it  to  de- 
teriorate. In  selecting  a  cow  we  invariablj' 
want  a  good  one  ;  liut  a  good  cow  ui  the 
hands  of  one  party  is  often  not  so  in  the  care 
of  another,  hence  her  value  very  often  de- 
pends on  lier  owner.  A  cow  may  be  compared 
to  a  machine,  wliich  may  be  the  best  of  its 
kind,  but  if  infericu-  material  is  used  the  pro- 
duct will  be  inferior  also  ;  or  both  machine 
and  material  may  be  first-rate,  Vmt  if  it  is  run 
by  incompetent  hands  the  jiroduct  will  fall 
short  both  in  quality  and  quantity.  Want  of 
proper  stabling  and  shelter  is  very  often  a 
leading  cause  of  cows  lieing  of  little  value  as 
milkers.  In  many  cases  where  ample  stabling 
is  provided,  stock  is  turned  out  from  morning 
imtil  evening,  irrespective  of  cold  blasts,  snow 
storms  and  cold  rains,  wliich  invariably  dimin- 
ish the  flow  of  milk.  In  order  to  attain  the 
best  results,  proper  food  given  at  proper  times 
is  all  important.  Grass  in  summer  and  hay 
in  winter  form  the  chief  staples  of  feed  almost 
everywhere,  liut  with  either,  ([uality  rules  the 
quantity  as  well  as  quality  of  milk  and  butter. 
One  great  error  with  farmers  generally  is,  not 
cutting  their  grass  early  enough.  The  difter- 
ence  between  hay  from  yoimg  grass  and  such 
as  is  commonly  made  is  so  great,  that  it  is 
surprising  that  it  is  not  better  understood. 
Corn  sown  at  intervals,  to  be  cut  and  fed  when 
pasture  runs  short,  is  of  great  value  to  keep 


up  a  regular  flow  of  milk,  and  any  that  is  not 
needed  will,  when  cut  and  well  cured,  be  far 
superior  to  common  corn-fodder.  The  latter 
is  poor  feed  for  milk  cows,  unless  it  be  cut  and 
steamed  or  scalded,  adding  to  it  whatever 
grain  is  fed  at  the  time.  Corn  meal  and 
shorts  or  bran,  with  some  oil-cake,  contam 
elements  necessary  to  produce  the  best  re- 
sults. Without  roots  of  some  kind,  however, 
the  store  of  feed  is  not  comjilete  for  winter 
feeding.  Grooming  and  feeduig  are  as  impor- 
tant to  the  cow  as  to  the  horse.  Noi.sy  boys 
or  unruly  curs  must  not  be  allowed  to  worry 
cows,  but  instead  caress  and  keep  them  quiet. 

Tlie  prevalent  custom  of  feeding  well  when 
fresh  and  only  half  when  dry  has  injured 
many  cows.  It  is,  at  liest,  a  very  short-sighted 
policy.  The  best;  milkers  generally  run  down 
in  llesh  during  the  milking  period,  with  the 
best  feeding,  and  if  not  fed  weU  when  dry  will 
always  he  poor.  Feeding  should  be  regular 
whether  fresh  or  dry,  so  as  always  to  keep  up 
her  vital  stamina  so  that  when  the  calving 
period  arrives,  instead  of  being  exhausted 
she  will  be  invigorated  to  pass  the  critical 
period  safely  and  without  being  aft'ected  with 
hollow-horn  and  other  diseases  incident  to  ex- 
haustion. Farmers  and  dairymen  who  feed 
their  cows  well  and  regular  the  year  round 
scarcely  ever  find  any  difficulty  with  liollow- 
horn,  the  latter  being  only  another  name  for 
hollow  stomach  and  iiollow  chop-chest. 

Protection  from  the  hot  sun  in  summer  is  as 
important  as  from  snow  storms  and  cold  blasts 
in  winter,  all  of  which  disturli  the  regular 
flow  of  milk.  A  shed  or  cool  stable  to  turn 
them  in  for  a  few  hours  during  the  greatest 
heat  of  the  day,  even  without  any  feed,  is  far 
better  than  panting  in  the  hot  sun  over  the 
best  of  pasture.  Where  the  soiling  system 
has  been  adopted  the  case,  of  course,  is  difler- 
ent.  Whether  the  latter  is  preferable  to  pas- 
turing is  still  a  mooted  question  and  depends 
very  inueh  on  circumstances.  Where  pasture 
is  thin  and  short  it  is  no  doubt  preferable  to 
pasture,  but  heavy  grass  of  any  kind  it  is 
economy  to  cut  and  haul  to  the  racks  or 
mangers,  for  in  the  latter  case  one  acre  will 
feed  as  far  as  three  if  pastured.  Cows  are 
sometimes  inclined  to  eat  foul  garbage  and 
rubbish,  and  drink  stagnant  water  or  li(iuid 
manure,  all  of  which  seriously  injures  the 
quality  of  milk  and  its  products.  It  is,  there- 
fore, equally  important  that  pure  water  only 
is  jirovided  for  drink,  as  well  as  proper  food. 
The  prevalent  custom  with  fermers  of  clean- 
ing out  their  cow  stables  once  a  week,  instead 
of  once  or  twice  a  day,  is  at  best  but  filthy  and 
slovenly  and  seriously  affects  both  the  cow  and 
her  milk;  but  of  which  more  hereafter. 

Another  mistaken  custom  is  very  common, 
i.  e. ,  the  raising  of  calves  for  cows.  The  heifer 
is  generallv  more  neglected  than  the  steer  ;  as 
the  latter  is  intended  for  beef  he  is  looked 
after  in  good  time  so  as  to  be  fit  for  the 
shambles  as  early  as  possible,  consequently  he 
is  ke])t  in  a  fair  and  thriving  condition.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  heifer  is  generally  left  to 
shift  as  best  she  can  until  about  producing 
her  first  calf,  when  she  is  hurriedly  fed  up  for 
a  few  weeks  in  order  to  make  a  cow  of  her. 
Those,  however,  who  under.stand  their  busi- 
ness pursue  a  different  coarse.  From  tlie  time 
she  is  weaned,  if  the  higliest  milking  qualities 
ai-e  aimed  at,  she  is  fed  with  just  such  food  as 
will  produce  the  best  flow  of  milk  in  the  cow. 
Such  a  course  of  feeding  will  develop  the  milk 
organs  to  the  fuUest  extent  by  the  time  she 
comes  in  with  her  first  calf  She  will  then 
(other  things  being  favorable)  be  more  of  a 
cow  than  she  would  ever  have  attained  under 
the  above  mentioned  slip-sliod  method  of 
making  cows. — H.  M.  E.,  Marietta,  May  Bt/t. 
[to  be  coxtintjed.] 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
TUBEROUS-ROOTED  FLOWERS. 

This  class  of  flowering  plants  is,  and  al- 
ways was  popular,  being  pretty  and  needing 
but  little  culture  and  care.  Many  superior 
additions  have  been  made  to  it  in  our  own  time. 
Dicenlra  (Dielytra)  comes  in  bloom  earliest ; 
there  are  three  species — with  ladies'  ear-drop- 


like flowers  in  great  profusion — crimson, 
scarlet  and  white.  Preonia,  of  hundreds  of 
varieties  and  various  colors,  all  beautiful.  Iris 
(Flag  Lilies) — the  English,  Persian  and  Siian- 
isli  sjiecies  were  jiopular  a  half  century  ago. 
Tlie  improved  German  varieties,  called  Gcr- 
manica,  have  made  a  great  revolution.  Tliey 
are  of  thrifty  gro^vth,  dwarf  habits  and  abun- 
dantly flowery.  Every  variety  is  beautifully 
variegated  in  blooms,  such  as  yellow  and 
Ilium,  blue,  white  and  rose,  white  and  dark 
purple,  salmon  and  inirple,  creamy  white 
spotted  with  purple,  lilac  and  deep  purple, 
bright  yellow  and  dark  green.  Lihj  of  the 
Valley  is  often  classed  with  tuberous  plants. 
The  aliove  are  hardy.  The  following  are 
tender,  planted  in  spring,  and  their  roots  dug 
up  in  the  fall  and  kept  in  boxes  of  soil  in  cel- 
lars all  winter.  They  should  be  covered  witli 
dri/  soil  in  the  boxes.  Dahlia — of  hundreds 
of  varieties.  Tritoma — three  species.  Canna — 
many  varieties.  Caladiuyn  (now  Calicasia) — 
two  species.  Canna  and  Caladium  are  only 
fit  for  park  gardening.  They  are  too  large  and 
coarse  for  flower  gardens.  Bedding  plants  are 
far  superior  to  them  forflower  gardens. — W.  E. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
PLANTING   AND    PRUNING   EVER- 
GREENS. 

From  the  middle  of  May  to  the  middle  of 
June  all  evergreen  trees,  shrubs,  hedges  and 
box-edgings  may  be  safely  transplanted  and 
established  plants  pruned.  If  the  plants  to  be 
set  out  are  to  come  far  have  them  transported 
by  express,  to  have  them  as  short  a  time  on  their 
wa}'  as  possible.  When  they  arrive  unpack 
them  at  once,  put  their  roots'in  the  ground  and 
cover  them  with  .soil :  then  water  the  roots  and 
branches  thoroughly,  to  refresh  them,  and  set 
them  out  where  they  are  to  grow.  Dig  the 
trenches  or  holes  larger  thau  the  spread  of 
their  roots  and  break  the  soil  fine  to  put  about 
their  roots.  If  the  weather  is  very  dry  sprinkle 
the  plants  with  water,  through  the  "rose  of 
garden  watering-pot."  That  will  retard  evapo- 
ration from  the  plants  and  refresh  tliem  until 
they  make  new  fibers  to  sustain  themselves. 
They  should  lie  sprinkled  with  water  every 
second  day  until  it  rains.  Evening  is  the  best 
time  to  sprinkle  them. 

The  pruning  of  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs 
has  been  brought  to  great  perfection  by  our 
horticulturists.  The  trees  which  would  now 
be  lean  and  half  naked  have  been  made  rich, 
and  many  giants  of  leafy  verdure.  The  same 
with  shrubs  and  hedges.  We  have  done  much 
of  this  work  for  twenty-five  years  back.  The 
skillful  pruning  of  evergreens  has  been  exten- 
sively jiractieed  in  Europe  for  many  centuries 
past.  May  in  spring,  and  September  in  au- 
tumn, are  the  chosen  months  for  pruning  all 
evergreens. —  W.  Elder. 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
CHOICE  VEGETABLE  CROPS. 

In  the  latitude  of  Pennnsylvania  and  north- 
ward there  is  much  cropping  in  the  vegetable 
garden  in  May  and  June.  In  ^May  early  cab- 
bages and  lettuce  are  transplanted  from  hot- 
beds into  the  open  ground,  and  tomatoes,  egg- 
lilants  and  peppers  are  set  out  in  June.  The 
best  tomatoes  are  the  Extra  Early  for  first 
crop,  CooVs  Favorite  for  second  crop,  and  the 
Trophy  for  late  crop.  They  may  all  be  planted 
at  the  same  time,  and  will  succeed  each  other 
in  ripening.  Those  who  have  not  all  the 
above  kinds  of  plants  can  purchase  them  in 
any  number  from  seedsmen  and  nurserymen, 
will)  grow  thousands  for  sale.  Other  crops  to 
be  put  in  in  May  are  late  potatoes,  beets,  car- 
rots, peas,  sugar  corn,  bush-beans,  etc.  ;  and 
in  this  month  also  sow  the  seeds  of  fallbrocolli 
and  endive,  and  all  the  species  of  sweet  and 
pot  hi-rbs.  In  June  plant  Lima  pale  beans, 
cucumbers,  musk  melons,  early  and^  late 
sqiiaslies,  pumpkins  and  watermelons,  suc- 
cession crops  of  sugar  corn,  bush-beans,  and 
transplant  late  cabbages  for  full  crops,  .is 
the  cropping  will  then  be  full.  Roots  of  as- 
paragus, horseradish,  rhubarb,  etc.,  may  be 
set  out  in  May.     All  kinds  of  vegetable  plants 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


73 


can  lie  -jot  fixini  scedsnicii  and  nurserymen.  Tlie 
whole  i;i-(inii(l  sliimld  be  fully  I'lopped,  a.s  tlie 
co.st  nl'  .s(•(•d^s  and  plants  is  small  (Minipared  to 
tlie  valnc  of  tlieir  products. —  JC.  -&'. 


For  TiiK  LANt-Asrr.u  I-'mimkii, 
TO  PREVENT  THE  BIRDS  FROM  PULL- 
ING CORN. 

Two  or  three  days  before  your  corn  eonies 
up  take  a  liusiiel  of  corn  and  throw  it  in  a 
vessel  of  water.  When  the  younjj;  corn  (irst 
makes  its  apjiearance  above  tlie  si'ound  sow  a 
few  quarts  of  yom-  soaked  corn  c^very  niorniuLC 
or  evening,  alone;  wood  sides  and  near  shade 
trees,  or  wherever  birds  are  most  likely  to  be 
tronl)lesonie.  Hlackbirds  pull  corn  for  their 
yovnii;  and  want  it  soft,  hence  it  is  but  little 
use  to  sow  dry  corn.  No  matter  if  it  is  soaked 
until  siiroiited.  The  firrnnnation  of  the  .seed 
chauires  the  starch  into  sni;ar  and  makes  it 
very  |ialatable.  I  would  nuicli  rather  use  a 
bushel  or  two  of  corn  in  this  way  than  shoot 
a  single  bird.  Of  coinse  the  corn  nnist  be 
sown  every  day  until  the  croj)  is  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  birds.  If  any  is  left  it  can  be  fe<l 
to  the  chickens  or  pitrs.  Birds  seldom  pull 
early  planted  corn,  for  the  reason  that  their 
youiig  are  not  yet  hatched. — J.  C.  L.,  Gap, 
Lancaster  co.,  Pa.,  Mai/  iSth,  1870. 


FARM   ACCOUNTS. 

The  present  may  be  as  j^ood  a  time  as  any  to 
recm'  to  a  duty  wliieh  can  hardly  be  urged  too 
often  upon  the  farnnng  connuunity — the  duty 
of  kee))iui;  careful  and  .systematio  accounts  of 
all  exi)enilitures  and  receii)ts.  Although  the 
calendar  year  begins  with  the  first  of  .January, 
and  the  time  for  connneucing  linancial  trans- 
actions, a.s  well  as  for  forming  good  resolutions 
in  general,  corresponds  with  that  date,  the 
farmer's  year  commences  practically  with  the 
opening  of  spring,  and  with  the  lirst  prepara- 
tions for  regular  farm  work.  There  is  an  old 
proverb  which  maintains  that  "  it  isnevertoo 
late  to  mend."  So  with  this  matter  of  farm 
accounts.  It  would  be  better  to  begin  in  niid- 
smnmer  than  not  to  begin  at  all,  because  what- 
ever mistakes  and  inaccuracies  might  result 
would  speedily  correct  themselves,  and  a  good 
habit  would  be  formed  which  wouhl  gradually 
systemizB  all  transaction  of  the  farm,  and  of 
business.  But  a  farmer  who  commences  now, 
and  systematically  notes  down  all  outgoes  and 
all  incomes,  will  be  in  time  to  secure  a  very 
fair  statement  of  the  work  of  the  year,  and  by 
the  31st  of  December  next  can  tell  whether  his 
lalior  has  bei'u  prolitable,  and  what  per  cent. 
it  has  yielded  upon  the  capital  invested.  More 
than  this,  he  will  be  able  to  determine  whi(^h 
crops  have  yielded  the  best  returns,  and  will 
be  able  to  regulate  intelligently  his  operations 
for  the  ensuing  year.  Instead  of  estimating 
the  profits  of  a  crop  l)y  the  total  yield,  or  the 
gross  receipts  for  it,  he  can  tell  wilhin  a  few 
cents  and  sometimes  within  a  fraction  of  a 
cent  what  every  bushel  has  cost  him,  and  from 
these  figures  as  a  basis  can  determine  the  exact 
net  profit.  After  a  method  for  keeping  such 
accounts  has  been  once  clearly  fixed  upon,  the 
jotting  down  items  of  labor  and  results  from 
day  to  day  will  reipiiie  an  insignificant  expen- 
diture of  labor  ami  time.  In  households  where 
tliere  are  chililren  some  of  tlu'  necessary  figur- 
ing may  be  safely  and  wisely  entrusted  to  them. 
They  will  feel  greater  interest  in  such  work 
than  in  the  problems  which  their  arithmetic 
contains,  and  it  will  be  of  more  practical  ben- 
efit to  them  because  it  will  serve  as  an  intro- 
duction to  the  actual  duties  of  life. 

As  to  the  best  method  of  keeping  accounts, 
l)rohalily  most  farmers  will  be  able  to  deter- 
mine for  themselves  by  ai-ting  on  the  sugges- 
tions (-ontained  in  their  (•irciimstances  and  sur- 
roundings. There  are  regular  account  books, 
we  believe,  drawn  up,  ruled,  and  divided  in 
such  a  way  as  to  assist  the  farmer  in  register- 
ing in  their  i)roi)er  place  all  the  transactions  of 
the  farm.  Just  how  much  belli,  if  aii}-,  is  to 
lie  got  from  such  books  can  be  determined  only 
by  experiment.  But,  other  thintrs  being  e(iual, 
the  simplest  method  will  l)e  the  best  ;  and  the 
less  the  matter  is  mixed  up  with  the  technical- 


ities of  regular  book-keeping  the  Iwtter.  A 
farmer  who  has  tried  the  experiment  of  keep- 
ing regular  accounts  and  finds  it  satisfactory 
and  prolitable  in  every  way,  recommends  the 
Ibllowiug  general  system.  Kach  field  should 
be  nnmbered,  and  the  nnndxr  of  acres  it  con- 
tains marked  down  in  an  account  liook.  Kvery- 
tliiiig  that  is  <lone  for  each  field  slionld  lie 
charged  against  it  -labor,  see(l,maiime.  inter- 
est, taxes,  etc.  Kverythinggol  from  each  field 
should  be  set  down  to  its  favor,  whether  sold 
or  used  ou  the  farm  or  in  the  family,  at  the 
regular  marki't  value.  When  iierinanent  iin- 
lirovenientsaremade  the  cost  should  be  divided 
in  I  he  accounts  so  as  to  distribute  the  hnrdeu 
in  right  proportion  over  the  several  years  in 
which  the  field  or  farm  will  reap  the  benelit  of 
them.  At  the  end  of  each  year  an  inventory 
should  be  taken  of  slock,  faiiniie_' implements, 
etc.,  so  that  the  account  may  be  properly  opened 
for  the  year  ensuing  ;  and  whatever  gains  or 
losses  there  hav(^  been  in  slock,  and  whatever 
wear  an<l  fear  is  iierceptible  in  tlu-  farming 
tools,  should  be  reckoned  hi  balancing  ac- 
counts. 

A  system  like  the  above,  with  stu-h  modifi- 
cations and  changes  as  may  be  suggested  by 
indiviilual  exiierience,  will  be  found  togreatly 
lessen  the  worry  and  anxiety  of  farm  life  and 
to  ]iay  for  itself  many  times  over  in  the  delinite 
knowledgi'  it  will  yield  as  to  the  exact  [iropor- 
tions  of  profit  and  lo.s.s.'  A  business  man  who 
fails  to  follow  out  some  regular  method  of 
book-keeping,  and  to  ascertain  from  time  to 
time  exactly  where  he  stands,  is  sure  of  en- 
countering bankruptcy  and  ruin ;  and  the 
farruer,  though  he  may  be  enabled  to  aveit 
such  disaster  by  the  relative  cauf  ion  and  safety 
of  his  transactions,  can  never  attain  flie  pros- 
perity which  belong-i  to  him  by  trusting  blindly 
to  luck,  and  neglecting  to  keep  adeciuate  and 
systematic  records  of  his  dealings. 


COMMERCIAL    VALUE    OF    HEN     MA- 
NURE. 

I  find  the  value  of  hen  manure  variously  es- 
timated, from  the  statement  of  Harris  ]>ewis, 
before  the  Massachusetts  State  Board  of  .\gri- 
culture  at  Barre,  that  he  "  never  used  Uen  ma- 
nure on  the  corn  (a-op  without  having  benefited 
it  more  than  all  the  (torn  the  hens  ate,"  to  so 
low  an  estimate  as  not  to  make  any  account 
of  it.  In  a  large  part  of  the  pnblisiied  state- 
ments of  the  profit  on  poultry,  there  is  no  men- 
tion made  of  tlu;  manure,  hut  it  is  a  very  val- 
uable fertilizer.  The  Amcrk.un  Aijricidturisl. 
187:5,  page  ;U7,  says  :  "  Hen  manure  is  almost 
exactly  identii-al  in  quality  and  effect  with 
guano,  and  may  be  used  in  the  same  manner. 
Its  value,  if  free  from  foreign  matter  and  drv. 
is.«.')Oa  ton."  Tho  J'oultri/  B'or?(/  estimates 
it  to  be  ''  almost  cipial  to  guano  in  ricliness," 
and  a  corresjiondent  of  the  same  pajier  says: 
"I  would  rather  have  it  than  Peruvian  guano." 
The  Lhr  Stnck  Jiiuriidl  estimates  •■  that  a  hen 
will  produce  one  busliel  of  manure  in  a  year, 
which  compared  with  the  price  of  eomniercial 
fertilizers,  is  worth  $l.W.  Lewis  Dunbar, 
West  Bridgewater,  Ma.s8.,  according  to  state- 
ments in  Flint's  rejiort,  1871,  values  it  at  -SI. (10 
a  bushel,  and  again  in  1S72,  at  ^7  cents  a 
bushel. 

But  let  us  see  how  much  a  fowl  will  eat  in  a 
year,  and  then  find  how  much  the  manure  from 
that  amount  of  food  would  be  wiU'th.  By 
statement  of  S.  15.  ]5ird,  Framinghaiu,  for  six 
months  ending  Sept.  'JOth,  ISfiS,  an  average  of 
fourteen  fowls  ate  fourteen  bushels  of  grain  or 
1. 1  gills  each  per  day.  By  statemenl  of  L<\vis 
.Tones.  Wavland.  for  ten  months  ending  Sept. 
1st,  1SC)7,  fifteen  fowls  ate  twenty  bii.shels  of 
grain,  or  1. 2  gills  each  per  day.  By  another 
statement  of  S.  B.  Bird,  for  eight  months  end- 
ing Sept.  l."),  1S07,  sixteen  fowls  ate  fifteen 
bushels  of  grain,  or  1  gill  each,  per  day.  The 
writer  found  by  experiment,  that  seventy  fowls 
ate  nine  bushels  of  grain  in  twenty-three  days, 
or  1.4.'5  gills  each  per  day.  I  find  an  average  of 
the  fourteen  statements  to  be  X.i-S  gills  per  day, 
or  1.78  fiu.shels  per  year  for  each  fowl. 

Prof  S.  W.  Johnson  estimates  the  nitrogen 
in  commercial  manures  to  be  worth  tliirty  cents 
per  pound,   potash  seven  cents,  and  soluble 


phosphoric  acid  sixteen  cents  per  pound.  I  find 
by  table  in  I-'lint's report,  1S7-2,  page  1(17,  tlmt, 
1.  7k  buslii'ls  corn  con  tain  l.Hp<iundsof  idlrogen, 
which  at  thirty  cents  jx-r  pound  is  worth  fifty- 
four  cents  ;  (l.;5.")  pounds  potash  at  sevi'n  cents 
per  pounil,  is  worth  twit  cents;  l.l.'i  ponndH 
pho-phorie  acid  at  sixteen  cents  per  pound,  is 
worth  eighteen  cent.s.  Hence  we  find  the  fer- 
tili/.iuL'  eli'inents  in  1.7H  bushels  corn  to  he 
Worth  seventy-fr)ur  cents.  Allowing  li'ii  jter 
cent,  for  loss,  we  liave  sixty-seven  cents,  the 
value  of  the  manure  of  one  fowl  for  one  year. 
I  found  that  my  seventy  fowls  in  twenty-ihree 
days,  made  five  bushels  of  manure,  which 
amounts  to  I. .Hi  bushels  a  year  foi-  each,  con- 
.sequently  one  bushel  woidd  (m- worth  fiftycenli*. 
This  is  considerably  less  than  some  of  Iheesti- 
mates  I  have  collec'-ted,  but  I  think  it  is  very 
nearly  correct.  By  feeding  oats,  bran  and 
mi'al,  tlu-  manure  \\oiild  be  a  trifle  richer,  but 
I  think  corn  is  the  chief  food  given,  and  is  a 
fair  representative  of  the  average  (|ualily  of 
the  food  of  poultry.  Certainly  tlie  manure  is 
too  valuable  to  waste,  and  I  think  those  farm- 
ers who  have  no  pla<-e  where  tlii'y  can  confine 
their  fowls,  would  liiid  it  to  their  ••idvantage 
to  build  a  good  house  and  yard,  and  keep  Ihem 
in  it  most  of  the  time,  thereby  saving  tlie  nia- 
unre  and  their  gardens  too.  —  Cor.  JVfir  Emj- 
land  Jouriwil. 


A  WRINKLE  FOR  THE  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

In  view  of  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of 
hon.sekeeping,  a  young  woman  cannot  liegin 
too  early  to  cultivate  an  acciuaintance  with 
culinary  art  ;  and  there  is  no  better  way  of  ac- 
ijuiring  and  retaining  this  knowledge  than  by 
.Setting  up  a  private  recipe  book,  in  which  to 
jot  down  all  tried  and  proved  recii)es,  worthy 
of  such  distinction,  that  may  be  met  with, 
either  at  the  family  board,  or  at  the  table  of  a 
friend.  I  began  the  practice  when  about  12 
years  of  age,  at  the  instigation  of  an  experi- 
enced matron,  herself  a  model  of  order  in 
everything  relating  to  housekeeping,  and  suh- 
seipieiif  observation  has  oflen  made  me  look 
back  on  her  friendly  counsel  with  respect  and 
gratitude,  and  say  to  myself  that  even  in 
worldly  things,  "  .V  word  sjioken  in  .sea.son, 
how  good  it  is  y"  That  these  remarks  may  lie 
ecpially  useful  to  some  young  aspirant  to  pro- 
spective duties,  I  proceed  to  give  a  few  hints 
to  those  who  may  feel  uicliued  to  adopt  the 
plan. 

P'irst,  then,  let  extreme.simplicity  of  arrange- 
ment characterize  the  start.  In  the  first  llu.sli 
of  the  new  idea,  it  may  be  very  amusing  to 
divide  and  cla.ssify,  but  as  the  novelty  wears 
off  these  elaborate  devices  Income  irksome, 
and  may  tend  to  disgust  altogetlier.  All  that 
is  wanted  is  a  blank  ruled  Ixiok  of  a  suitable 
size,  and  after  niunbering  the  ])ages,  and  writ- 
ing the  name  of  the  owner,  and  the  dale,  it  is 
ready  for  work,  which  may  he  proceed  witli  as 
follows  : 

Never  take  a  recipe  on  trust,  or  even  on  the 
recommendation  of  a  friend  ;  try  it  yourself 
before  entering  it  in  your  hook — you  will  thus 
be  saved  the  pain  of  finding  out,  too  late,  prol>- 
ably  from  an  error  in  diction,  that  it  does  not 
turn  out  well,  when  by  adht-ring  strictly  to  the 
rule,  toenternothingtillyouhave  tested  it,  you 
know  at  once  thai  all  your  recipes  can  Im'  de- 
jiended  on.  and  that  there  is  no  mistake  about 
them.  How  ofti'U  in  reading  a  recipe  in  a  cook- 
ery Iniok.  you  think — That  looks  ]iromising  I  I 
wish  I  knew  if  it  would  answer.  With  your 
own  book  you  need  not  lie  at  such  a  loss:  you 
have  there  coulideuce  that  is  not  m'splaced. 
and  conliilenec  in  what  you  are  about,  is  gen- 
erally half  the  battle.  Therefore,  we  wonhl 
.sav— write  down  everything  you  can  make 
younself  from  a  water-gruel  to  n  ptitr  dr  fnie 
ijnis :  and  with  your  iHiok.  and  your  knowledge, 
you  may  take  the  world,  broadside  on,  and 
when  other  trades  fail,  you  can  set  upaivstau- 
rant ;  or  go  out  as  a  rhcf  dr  niisine ;  or,  if  you 
are  of  literary  turn,  you  can  lecture  at  some 
scliool  of  cookery;  or  even  get  the  length  of 
writing  in  the  ' A<jrirultvr<d  ^<iz^tt<— though, 
for  this  last,  yon  would  probably  re(|uire  a 
training  of  at  least :iO  years,  lH'f<ireyouiittained 
to  the  re(iuired  jiroficiency. 


74 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[May, 


Some  recommend  the  plan  of  dividing  the 
book  into  departments,  as  we  see  in  works  on 
cookery — fish  by  itself— soup  by  itself,  &c.  ; 
but  as  I  said  before,  I  think  that  all  such  divi- 
sions interfere  with  the  simplicity  of  arrange- 
ment, which  is  the  surest  means  of  encourage- 
ment in  what  might  otherwise  become  a  dis- 
tasteful task.  In  preparing  a  work  on  cookery 
for  the  press,  of  course  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  everything  should  be  classified,  and 
as  in  that  case  the  whole  is  completed  at  once, 
it  becomes  comparatively  easy.  But  in  a  pri- 
vate book — added  to  during  the  most  part  of  a 
lifetime — it  is  very  different,  and  there  is  no 
better  plan  than  just  to  jot  down  recipes  as 
they  turn  ui),  trusting  to  the  index  and  the 
numbering  of  the  pages  to  find  what  is  wanted 
at  a  glance.  Above  and  beyond  my  private 
recipe  book,  I  compiled  (as  I  once  mentioned 
before  in  the  Ayricidtural  Gazette  of  May  22d, 
1875)  what  I  called  a  housemaid's  book,  which 
I  have  founil  quite  as  useful  as  the  other,  and 
therefore  I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned  for  alluding 
to  it  again. 

In  the  first  place,  I  lay  down  general  direc- 
tions on  matters  connected  with  housemaid's 
work — little  matters  that  a  half-trained  ser- 
vant scarcely  thinks  worth  attending  to  if  di- 
rected by  word  of  mouth,  but  which  in  black 
and-white  assume  an  unthought-of  imiiort- 
ance.  Next,  the  work  is  laid  out  for  every  day 
m  the  week,  so  that  a  portion  of  the  house  is 
specially  overhauled  each  day.  Besides  other 
items,  unnecessary  to  recapitulate,  all  the 
house  cleaning  recipes  are  entered  in  this  book, 
and  the  person  who  is  to  use  them  has  only  to 
ask  for  an  order  on  the  shop  when  she  wants  a 
fresh  supply  of  material. 

With  the  cook  I  proceed  on  another  plan.  I 
induce  her  to  set  up  a  book  of  her  own,  and 
when  a  new  dish  is  introduced  I  show  her,  per- 
haps once,  how  to  concoct  it ;  I  then  pencil  it 
on  a  scrap  of  paper  for  her,  and  she  enters  it 
in  her  book  in  her  own  handwriting — plain  to 
herself,  if  to  no  one  else — and  in  time  she  be- 
comes possessed  of  all  the  household  recipes, 
and  her  mistress  will  be  amply  compensated 
for  her  trouble  by  the  present  comfort  of  a 
thing  being  properly  done,  and  the  prospective 
assurance  of  the  woman  going  a  better  servant 
than  she  came. 

I  fear  I  have  rather  wandered  from  the  head- 
ing of  this  paper,  but  as  people  cannot  always 
remain  young,  I  may,  perhaps,  be  excused  for 
leading  up  to  matters  pertaining  to  riper  years, 
though  if  young  people  would  take  the  trouble 
of  trying  to  impart  what  knowledge  is  pos- 
sessed, it  would  be  found  that  the  very  act  of 
teacliing  would  confirm  the  understanding  and 
expand  the  intellect,  for  it  is  not  always  the 
scholar  who  reaps  the  sole  benefit.  "  Willing 
to  communicate,"  "Apt  to  teach,"  are  pre- 
cepts much  inculcated  in  that  Book  of  Books, 
whose  rules  of  life  commend  themselves  both 
to  faith  and  reason. — ..1.  L.  0.  S.,  London 
Agl.  Gazette. 

^ 

"HOLSTEIN  "  CATTLE. 

Confusion  seems  to  be  getting  worse  con- 
founded in  the  minds  of  some  breeders,  and  of 
many  purchasers  of  the  large  black  and  white 
Dutch  cattle,  which  for  reasons  set  forth  in 
the  herd  book,  edited  by  Mr.  Cheney,  are 
styled  Hohtein. 

Col.  Waring,  the  accomplishsd  editor  of  the 
American  Jersey  Cattle  Club  Begister,  who  is 
as  well  posted  in  the  matter  as  any  stock 
breeder,  in  his  I'ecent  charming  volume,  "A 
Farmer's  Vacation,"  wherein  is  set  forth, 
among  many  other  tlelightful  themes,  the  as- 
pects of  "  Dutch  farming,"  as  seen  with  his 
own  keen  eyes,  puts  the  matter  in  a  nutshell 
in  this  wise : 

After  describing  a  farm  in  the  old  North 
Holland  polder,  called  the  beemster,  on  which 
were  twenty-five  immense  Dutch  cows,  black 
and  white,  giving  an  average  of  sixteen  to 
twenty-four  quarts  of  milk  per  day,  he  says  : 
"The  bull  w.as  a  fine  specimen  of  the  breed, 
quite  as  good  as  the  best  of  those  of  his  race 
in  this  country,  where,  on  the  lurus  a  nnn 
tece»)do  principle,  and  with  our  curious  facilitj' 
for  calling  foreign  animals  by  their  wrong 


names — as  they  do  not  come  from  Holstein, 
and  as  their  equals  have  never  existed  there — 
they  are  known  as  '  Ilolsteins  ;'  just  as  Jersey 
cattle  are  called  '  Aldenieys. '  " 

It  is  conceded  on  all  hands  that  the  Hol- 
stein cattle  are  a  smaller  and  different  colored 
race  from  these  big  black  and  white  Dutch 
cattle,  and  that  the  importation  into  this 
country  by  Mr.  Cheney,  on  which  the  Holstein 
Herd  book  is  founded,  were  of  this  latter  class, 
and  that  the  herd  huok  is  confined  to  these  alone, 
the  proprietors  and  editor  excluding  cattle  not 
of  the  large  black  owl  vMte  kind,  even  if  they 
come  direct  from  Holland,  or  even  Holstein — 
if  there  are  any  tliere.  No  one  lias  any  right 
to  find  fault  with  a  herd  book  devoted  to  any 
])artieular  class  of  stock,  and  it  is  only  with 
the  name  that  any  dissatisfaction  arises,  and 
importers,  breeders  and  purchasers  of  Dutch 
stock,  or  Holstein  stock,  who  have  assumed 
that  "Holstein  "  was  used  as  a  generic  term 
to  embrace  all  pure-blooded  cattle  from  tlie 
"low  countries,"  will  feel  disappointed  on 
finding  that  only  the  "large  black  and  white 
North  Holland  Dutch  cattle"  are  admitted  to 
the  Holstein  Herd  Book.  But  so  it  is,  and 
the  I'equirements  are  S(j  plainly  set  forth  in 
tlie  prefaces  of  Mr.  Cheney  to  the  two  volumes 
of  the  Holstein  Herd  Book  already  published, 
that  no  one  can  err  in  the  matter,  and  if  the 
brown  or  red  spotted  cow,  though  a  fresh  im- 
portation from  Holland  or  Holstein,  is  re- 
fused admittance  to  to  tlie  herd  book,  it  is  so 
because  she  is  not  lilack  and  white.  Cannot 
this  be  understood,  and  our  pedigree  commit- 
tees and  agricultural  correspondents  not  get 
more  confused  on  the  subject. — R.  Country 
Gentleman. 


VETERINARY  NOTES. 

Intbkfehing  Horse  :  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  your  liorse  the  subject  of  a  gross  habit, 
which  shows  itself  at  the  fetlock,  and  which 
has  suffered  abrasion  from  striking  or  inter- 
fering. I  know  of  quite  a  large  number  of 
boots,  but  all  are  more  or  less  liable  to  cliafe 
and  irritate  the  joint.  I  think  the  verj'  best 
thing  you  can  do  is  to  bathe  daily  with  oak 
bark  one-fourth  pound,  and  water  five  pints  ; 
boil  two  or  three  minutes,  and  when  cool  add 
one  pint  of  acetic  acid  ;  this  will  keep  down 
fever  and  brace  and  strengthen  the  joint.  The 
best  appliance  for  your  case  is  a  stock  made  of 
fine  kip  ;  let  it  be  the  shape  of  the  shank  bone 
and  fetlock  joint ;  round  the  edges,  punch 
holes  half  an  inch  apart,  and  lace  with  a  shoe 
lace.  Put  this  on  when  at  work,  and  take  it 
off  when  not  at  work.  Clean  and  replace 
when  you  go  to  work  again.  I  had  a  mare 
wliich  wore  a  pair  of  these  socks  so  long 
that  my  friends  named  her  "  leatlier  stock- 
ings." Eventually  she  got  strength  in  the 
joint,  and  I  removed  the  socks. 

Angular  Tumor  on  Jaw  :  Most  surely 
the  enlargement  you  speak  of  is  a  stickfast. 
The  causes  are  injury  from  any  accident, 
bruise,  etc.,  chiefly  from  hereditary  predisiw- 
sition.  I  think  j'ou  may  venture  to  veal  the 
calf,  as  the  tumor  is  inactive,  and  of  so  recent 
a  date.  You  will  fail  in  attempting  a  cure. 
If  the  animal  was  my  own,  no  matter  what  its 
claim  to  superiority,  I  should  never  think  for 
a  moment  of  raising  it. 

Swelling  on  Neck  of  Horse  :  Paint 
constantly  with  a  small  brush  dipped  in 
strong  tincture  of  iodine.  Should  this  fail  af- 
ter a  few  weeks'  trial,  apply  instead  biniodide 
ointment.  Keep  from  being  chafed  or  irri- 
tated, or  it  will  terminate  in  fistula  most 
surely. 

Sprained  Stifle  :  Absolute  rest  and  a 
deep,  clean  bed  are  needed.  Watch  him 
closely  in  his  first  attempt  to  get  up.  Lift  him 
l)y  the  tail,  so  as  to  iirevent  a  fall  or  serious 
struggle.  Feed  no  grain  for  awhile  ;  keep  his 
bowels  ojien,  and  keep  the  tender  jiarts  mois- 
tened Willi  oak  bark,  1  pound  ;  water,  six 
quarts  ;  boiled  two  or  three  minutes  ;  when 
cool  add  one  quart  of  acetic  acid. 

QuiTTOR  :  Have  the  hoof  pared  thin  on  the 
side  affected.  Open  at  the  bottom,  so  as  to 
give  free  vent  to  the  pus,  etc.    Inject  care- 


fully half  a  teaspoonful  of  butyr  of  antimony, 
or  if  the  opening  is  large  enough,  soak  a  piece 
of  tow  or  cotton  batting  in  the  butyr,  and 
crowd  to  the  bottom.  When  tlie  virus  is  de- 
stroyed, which  will  be  after  two  or  three  dress- 
ings, heal  by  injecting  a  compound  tincture  of 
myrrh  and  aloes,  daily. 

AVeak  Ankles  in  Colt  :  If  the  ankles  are 
very  weak,  and  incline  to  bend  back  so  as  to 
bring  the  fetlock  close  to  the  ground,  you  will 
have  to  rive  out  some  ash  or  oak  splints ; 
liack  the  uneven  parts  with  cotton  batting ; 
starch  a  long  cotton  bandage,  (8  to  1'2  feet 
long)  and  evenly  apply  the  splints,  and  then 
evenly  wind  the  bandage.  Remove  every 
third  day  until  no  longer  needed.  If  an  ordi- 
nary weakness,  the  oak  bark  astringent  lotion, 
already  twice  recommended,  will  be  all  you 
will  require. — Wm.  Home,  V.  S.,  in  Country 
Gentleinan. 


THE  HAMBURGS  AS   LAYERS. 

J.  G.  McKean,  of  South  Ackworth,  N.  H., 
writes  to  the  Boston  Cultivator  that  in  his  ex- 
perience no  variety  of  fowls  equals  the  Ham- 
burgs  as  layers.  They  are  hardy,  small  eaters, 
and  wonderfully  prolific  ;  but  on  account  of 
their  small  size,  are  not  recommended  for  their 
flesh.  Nothing  shows  the  breeder's  skill  bet- 
ter than  a  well-marked  Golden  or  Silver-Span- 
gled Hamburg  in  good  condition.  It  requires 
much  skill  to  breed  them  correct  in  marking, 
more  than  any  other  breed.  The  great  objec- 
tion to  Leghorns  is  that  their  combs  and  wat- 
tles freeze  badly,  unless  they  have  very  warm 
quarters.  Of  course,  the  Asiatics  will  endure 
cold  weather  the  best — but  Hamburgs  are 
reasonably  hardy  in  this  respect.  All  remem- 
ber the  old  Bolton  Grays  ;  they  were  about 
tlie  same  as  the  Silver-penciled  Hamburgs, 
only  not  bred  to  such  perfection  of  marking. 
Most  farmers  will  tell  you  they  never  had  sucli 
layers  as  the  Bolton  Grays.  It  is  not  unusual 
for  hens  of  this  breed  to  lay  2U0  eggs  in  a 
year.  The  eggs  are  rather  small,  pure  white, 
and  usually  very  fertile.  The  hens  are  good 
layers  till  they  are  three  years  old,  while  most 
breeds  are  best  the  first  year.  Of  course,  the 
Hamburgs  are  not  the  best  for  all  purposes, 
but  for  eggs  they  stand  at  the  head.  They  are 
foragers  and  somewhat  inclined  to  ramble, 
but  on  a  farm  where  there  is  room,  this  is  no 
objection.  Many  tarmers  have  a  horror  of 
the  old  "  settin'  hen,"  and  do  not  want  to 
raise  many  chickens;  this  breed  is  just  the 
thing  for  such  men.  I  think  fancy  runs  too 
much  now  to  the  large  breeds. 


Two  Bee  Questions  Answered. 

A  couple  of  vexed  questions  about  beeS  were  re  - 
cently  answered  by  Professor  C.  V.  Riley,  at  a  bee- 
keepers' council  in  St.  Louis.  The  first  query  was  : 
■' Do  bees  make,  or  gather  honey?"  Tlie  Professor 
says  they  make  it.  Thus  does  Science  proclaim  that 
the  venerable  Dr.  Watts  was  wrong  when  he  asserted 
that  the  busy  bee  "  g:athers  honey  all  the  day  from 
every  opening  flower."  The  nectar  lying  in  flowers 
never  would  become  honey,  says  Professor  Riley,  no 
matter  how  manipulated  by  the  hands  and  minds  of 
men ;  but  it  is  taken  up  by  the  bees  and  passed 
through  a  state  of  semi-digestion  and  excretion,  re- 
sulting in  the  manufacture  of  what  is  called  honey, 
yet  still  retaining  in  part  the  flavor  or  perfume  of  the 
flowers,  by  which  we  determine  one  kind  of  honey 
from  another.  Professor  Riley's  views  were  corrobo- 
rated by  a  paper  read  by  a  botanist  and  chemist  of 
Louisiana,  describing  the  process  of  change  under- 
gone by  nectar  in  the  stomach  of  the  bee,  in  order  to 
become  honey. 

The  second  question  is  an  interesting  one  to  fruit 
raisers,  as  it  involves  the  mooted  point  of  "whether 
Bees  do  or  do  not  injure  fruit."  Professor  Riley,  on 
being  appealed  to,  produced  an  illustration  of  the  or- 
der of  hymenoptera,  stating  that  the  mouth  of  the  bee 
is  the  most  complicated  structure  in  insect  anatomy. 
Its  construction,  however,  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
wasp,  and  no  one  denies  that  the  wasp  is  capable  of 
destroying  fruit.  The  Professor  thought  bee-keepers 
were  prejudiced  aganst  the  idea  of  such  power  in  the 
possession  of  a  bee,  but  it  is  true.  Still,  while  being 
capable  of  injuring  fruit,  the  bees  rarely  do  so  except 
in  seasons  of  severe  drought  and  when  urged  hy  ne- 
cessity. This  fact  is  no  derogation  to  the  usefulness 
of  the  insect,  for  the  exercise  of  its  power  asapoUen- 
izer  is  of  undoubted  value  to  the  orcliardist,  even  with 
all  its  depredations  upon  fruit. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


75 


OUR  PARIS   LETTER. 

Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 

Corrt'Hpoudeiice  of  The  Lancaktf.r  FAiiMF-n. 

Pakis,  April  6,  1876. 
TliP  French  Association  for  tlic  .\i]v.incpmpnt  of 
Aerii'ultiUT,  has  liclil  ils  srvcntli  session.  The  Asso- 
ciation counts  over  tlirec  tliowsand  nicniliiTs,  inelud- 
ins  not.  only  landed  proprii'tors,  farmers,  ami  llic  re- 
presentatives of  every  lirancli  of  collateral  airricultu- 
ral  industry,  tint  also  men  distiniruislied  in  the  sci- 
ences, arts,  anil  manufactures,  and  whose  opinions 
have  authority  in  the  discussion  of  economic  ((nes- 
tions.  The  rcsoluMone  passed  hy  this  body  exercise 
a  powerful  intluencc  on  the  governmenl,  and  bring 
about  impoi'tant  legislative  ameliorations.  Pcrina- 
uent  commissions,  ehargetl  with  special  subjects,  pre- 
sent their  reports  at  the  aiuiiial  sittings,  and  such 
serve  as  tlie  texts  of  the  debates.  Of  course,  these 
discussions  tend  to  modify,  in  the  most  useful  man- 
ner, the  habits  of  the  farming  community  throughout 
France.  Among  the  many  interesting  topics  treated, 
were  the 

KtSf'OMPENSINll  OP    TKAcnEHS  WITH    (iOr.D    MKUAL.S 

who  have  voluntarily  established  school  gardens  and 
founded  exjicrimental  allotments  on  their  own  ac- 
count. At  Mettray,  where  offlcial  agricultural  pro- 
blems are  worked  out.  It  was  demonstrated  that  beet 
intended  for  sugar  ought  only  to  be  planted  at  mean 
distances.  Prof.  Millot  exposed  how  fo.ssll  phosphates, 
when  treated  witli  sulpliuilc  aciii,  to  be  converted 
Into  superphosphates,  after  a  certain  time  decrease 
In  value,  in  conseiiuencc  of  a  certain  portion  of  the 
pliofiphoric  acid  becoming  insoluble.  What  Is  the 
value  of  this  acid  which  thus  retrogrades,  and  how 
can  its  percentage  be  determined  in  advance  .'  That 
knotty  question,  how  to  determine  the  commercial 
value  of  sugar  beet,  was  disposed  of  by  the  resolu- 
tion, that  the  nuirkct  price  ought  to  be  in  a  ratio  to 
the  richness  of  the  root,  and  that  the  "  densimeter  " 
was  the  best  instrument  for  ascertaining  saccharine 
intensity. 

THE  PHTLLOXER-\ 

occupied  the  lion's  share  of  attention,  and  the  result 
of  the  general  comparison  of  notes,  systems  and  re- 
medies, was,  that  no  etfcctual  agent  has  yet  been  dis- 
covered for  the  destruction  of  the  tmgs,  which,  up  to 
the  present,  have  laid  waste  half  a  million  acres  of 
vineyards.  All,  however,  is  not  barren  from  Dan  to 
Beershcba ;  the  disease  docs  not  spread,  hut  its 
ravages  arc  more  intense  where  it  exists,  and  ento- 
mologists have  revealed  the  insect's  habit  of  Laying 
its  eggs  during  winter.  The  difficulty  to  contend  with. 
Is  the  marvelous  fecundity  of  the  insect,  which  in 
four  months  can  produce  eight  hundred  millions  of 
bugs.  The  sulpho-carbonates  have  lost  ground.  They 
do  not  kill  the  insect  so  much  as  imparting  a  fresh 
vigor  to  the  attacked  vuie.  .\I.  Kohart's  plan  of  steep- 
ing small  cubes  of  wood  in  sulphuret  of  carbon,  to  be 
deposited  around  the  roots  of  the  vine,  was  welcomed 
warmly.  These  "picturesque  mitrailleuses"  dis- 
charge a  good  office. 

Dr.  Schneider,  of  Thionville,  treats  an  important 
subject  from  a  new  point  of  view.  He  demands,  why 
not  encourage 

PRECOCITVIN  ANIM.\LS  FOR  MILK, 
as  well  as  for  meat  ?  In  the  latter  case,  the  object  is 
to  fatten  an  animal  in  thirty-six  instead  of  sixty 
months,  by  good  feeding.  On  the  contrary,  the  pow- 
ers of  reproduction,  that  is,  the  yielding  of  milk,  are 
most  active  or  precocious  where  the  dietary  is  sober. 
If  not  miserable.  Poor  families  are  most  prolific,  and 
weeds  most  productive.  Fecundity  Is  the  ally  of 
humble  rations,  and  fat  the  emblem  of  opulence,  is 
not  an  attriliute  of  virility.  Embonpoint  Is  incom- 
compatlble  with  the  faculty  of  generation.  If  a  sterile 
cow  or  an  ox  exact  thirty-six  mouths  and  good  diet, 
to  be  precociously  converted  Into  meat,  a  heifer  could 
in  that  period  have  produced,  upon  a  modest  regi- 
men, one  calf,  perhaps  two,  and  from  twelve  to  four- 
teen months  of  milk.  The  production  of  milk  is  less 
costly  than  that  of  meat.  It  can  be  less  expensively 
disix>sed  of,  and  if  meat  has  increased  in  price  so  also 
have  butter  and  cheese.  The  properties  for  fattening 
are  but  oneand  the  same  thing,  and  pre-exist  In  the 
animal,  only  both  aptitudes  cannot  he  developed  at 
the  same  time.  Thus  in  France,  Dutch  or  Normal 
cows  are  kept  for  the  express  purpose  of  yielding 
milk  to  the  calves  of  the  Durham  breed. 

M.  Weiske,  of  Pros  Kau  (Prussia)  has  conflrmed 
the  results  now  generally  admitted  to  flow  from 

SHEARING  SHEEP, 

viz:  that  animals  so  treated  are  better  suited  for  fat- 
tening than  such  as  have  not  beenstiorn.  Two  merino 
sheep,  in  full  fleece,  received  during  seventeen  days 
a  dally  ration  for  each,  of  2'^  lbs.  of  meadow  hay  ; 
half  a  pound  of  crushed  barley,  and  less  than  half  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  sea  salt.  After  beingshorn  on 
the  eighteenth  day,  the  same  ration  was  continued  for 
an  equal  period.  The  examination  of  their  manure 
showed  there  was  no  diflercnce  as  regards  their  di- 
gestive [lowers  ;  they  consumed  less  water  after,  than 
before  the  clipping  ;  respiration  and  perspiration  be- 
ing less.  The  appetite  was  increased  by  the  removal 
of  the  fleece  ;  the  temperature  of  the  body  being  less, 
more  food  was  necessary  to  maintain  the    natural 


warmth,  and  the  more  rapid  fattening  is  simply  to  be 
attributed  to  this  Increaseil  ap[)etite,  and  not  to  any 
marked  superiority  In  the  power  of  assunllaling  fixHl. 
•M.  Weiske  has  also  given  from  one-half  to  three 
grains  of  arsenic— llie  dose  rising  gradually,  per  day 
to  sheep,  In  a  solution  of  water;  he  found  the  animal's 
appetite,  and  capability  of  assimilating  fcmd,  in- 
cnased  ;  they  drank  more  water  and  ra|)ldly  aug- 
mented In  flesh. 

DEI.EKTERIOUS  INFLUENCESOP  CHE.MICAL  MANDRKR. 

M.  Lacroix,  of  Belgium,  conflrms  the  complaints 
that  of  late  are  too  fr<vpiently  heard,  of  the  delelerlous 
Inlluences  of  chemical  manures  on  germination,  in  the 
case  of  light  soils  and  pending  dry  seasons.  He  has 
lost,  as  well  as  some  neighbors,  during  the  last  year, 
his  maize,  carrots,  turnips  and  iiotatoes,  from  this 
cause,  the  too  close  proxunlty  of  the  seed  with  sidphate 
of  ammonia  and  animal  refuse.  Thi'  sci'd  pushed  reg- 
ularly and  the  plants  throve  vigorously,  where  there 
was  no  contact  with  the  chemicals.  In  a  humid  sea- 
son, or  wliere  the  mamu-es  ari'  aiipllcd  before  sowing, 
and  well  Incorporated  with  the  service-layer  of  the 
soil,  the  danger  Is  less.  In  France,  as  a  general  rule, 
the  fertilizers  arc  distributed  some  llnn:  before  the 
sowings  ;  the  process  is  said  to  be  more  conducive  to 
the  "  nitriflcation"  of  the  soil,  iu  addition. 

THE  BEET-SITOAR   WAR 

has  assumed  large  proportions  in  the  north  of 
France.  Putting  aside  the  leglshitlvc  elements  of 
the  question,  the  manufacturers  and  farmers 
have  been  at  loggerheads.  The  agriculturist 
wishes  to  cultivate  beet  for  feeding,  as  well  as 
sugar-making,  hence,  he  aims  at  a  large  yield  of 
roots,  a  result  that  the  manufacturer  resists.  The 
dispute  will  likely  be  less  ardent.  If  the  "  densime- 
ter "  proves  a  reliable  instrument  for  marking  the 
saccahrlne  value  of  the  roots,  irrespective  of  their 
size.  The  manufacturer,  In  general  terms,  cannot 
conduct  his  business  jirofitalily,  if  a  quai-t  of  beet 
juice  doet  not  yield  a  good  quarter  of  an  oueicc  of 
sugar.  The  farmer  who  produces  twenty  tons  of 
beet  per  acre  can  count  upon  a  price  i<(  fi'.'M  per  ton, 
being  a  money  yield  of  ./V .400  an  acre.  The  agricul- 
turist Is  ambitious  to  have  two  strings  to  bis  bow,  to 
raise  beet  for  sugar  and  for  stall  feeding.  This  latter 
object  is  making  way,  since  the  Count  llicilerer  lias 
successfully  preserved  his  pulped  beet — which  has 
never  passed  through  the  distillery  or  the  sugar  fac- 
tory— In  trenches,  with  chopped  green  maize.  The 
beet  preferred  for  sugar  is  the  variety  not  larger  than 
a  good  carrot,  not  growing  much  above  the  soil,  with 
leaves  drooping,  rather  tlian  erect,  ripening  early, 
and  yielding  eighteen  tons  per  acre. 

THE  ANNUAL  HORSE  SHOW 

has  just  opened  in  the  Palace  of  Industry  ;  the  num- 
ber of  entries  Is  o!l6,  of  w  hich  Normandy  alone  con- 
stitutes two-thirds,  and  one  breeder  no  lesstlian  forty- 
six  animals  ;  the  south  of  France,  where  Arab  blood 
predominates,  sends  only  3o  exhibits,  the  north  four, 
and  the  east  one.  There  is  an  improvement  to  be  noted 
in  carriage  and  saddle  horses,  as  for  draught  cattle  the 
Percherons  cannot  be  surpassed.  The  question  of 
horse  breeding  In  France  is  one  that  Is  passionately 
debated;  the  truth,  sc|iarafed  from  the  dust  and  din 
of  the  strife.  Is  this,  that  the  governmeni,  thougli 
neighboring  nations  do  tlie  same,  ought  to  abstain 
from  supiiorting  state  studs,  and  leave  the  market 
open  to  the  general  operation  of  demand  and  supply  ; 
if  the  army  wants  gooil  horses  it  can  obtain  them 
when  the  commercial  |irice  is  paid  for  them.  Those 
regions  of  France  that  repel  the  government  crutch 
toassist  horse  breeding  are  exactly  those  best  sup- 
plied with  the  best  horses. 

THErULTtTRE  OF  PARSNIPS 

is  largely  extending  in  France  for  cattle  feeding,  and 
as  an  ordinary  garden  vegetable  it  is  also  In  great 
demand  ;  the  soil  that  suits  beet  will  satisfy  the 
parsnip,  and  the  manure  is  plouglied  down  or  dug 
In  ;  the  seed  is  sown  either  in  rows  by  the  machine, 
or  broadcast,  and  the  plants  receive  but  two  weedlngs 
and  hoeings — when  the  plants  are  five  and  fifteen 
Inches  high  respectively  ;  the  leaves  are  cut  In  the 
month  of  September,  ami  allowed  to  fade  for  twenty- 
four  hours  before  being  given  to  the  cattle  ;  the  roots 
can  be  taken  up  during  the  winter  as  reiiuired,  frost 
does  them  no  harm  ;  the  ration  is,  U)  lbs.  three  times 
a  day,  and  the  roots  are  cut  ;  when  given  to  jiigs  they 
ought  to  be  cooked.  In  the  west  of  France  the  par.s- 
nip  replaces  oats  for  horses,  and  being  very  nutritive 
all  animals  quickly  put  up  flesh  when  ftd  on  this 
root. 
The  agricultural  community  warmly  supports 

THE  PROJECTEK    INTERN ATIONAI.    EXHIBITION, 

and  Is  resolved  that  its  Interests  shall  not  be  shelved 
on  the  coming  occasion,  as  was  the  case  In  IStiT. 
Several  gigantic  plans  are  already  sketched.  Nothing 
like  taking  time  by  the  forelock.  There  is  one  idea 
that  will  be  carried  out  i>cndliig  the  exhibition,  viz.: 
an  International  Congress,  where  the  leading  features 
of  each  nation's  agriculture  will  be  explained  and 
compared. 

M.  (iasparin  has  made  an  analysis,  which  amounts 
almost  to  a  discovery.  Boussingault  and  Freseulus 
have  each  drawn  attention  to 


THE  ABSENCE  OP  IRON  IN  WHEAT. 

Oasparln  has  found,  after  several  minute  tests,  SOV^ 
per  cent,  of  iron  in  the  grain  of  wheat  and  IS^  per 
cent.  In  the  straw;  and  that  while  the  phosphoric 
acid,  magnesia  and  iron  concenlrati-d  IhemselvcH  In 
the  grain,  the  silica  and  the  lime  uccumulaled  in  the 
straw.  The  same  relative  uceumulallon  of  salts  were 
observed  respectively  In  the  kerni'l  and  the  shell  of 
oak  glands.  In  every  |H>und  of  whealen  bread  there 
is  then  P..,  grains  of  Iron.  M.  (iasparin  also  states 
that  the  quantily  of  plio8|ihorlc  aclil  extracted  by 
wheat  from  the  soil  Is  lesslhan  is  generally  supjxised. 
The  same  distinguished  chemist  analyzed  stinio 
lichens,  growing  on  calcareous  r<iilis,  and'foiuid  their 

ashes  to  be  iireci.ely  e iHMcil  of  ihi-  »ami'  udnerals 

asihe  soil  derived  Ironi  I  he  disintegration  of  the  rock. 
.M.  .lahnke,  of  Berlin,  has  adopted  tli.'  Mrlayer 
system  In  the  cultivation  of  Ids  estate,  and  it  neigh- 
bor has  followed  his  example.  The  plan  has  suc- 
ceedeil  as  well  as  It  does  here;  pro|irli'tor  and  Me- 
tayer divide  the  proHls,  share  and  share  alik.-. 


OUR  FARMERS  IN  COUNCIL. 


Proceedings  of  the  Agricultural  and   Horticul- 
tural Society     Crop  Reports     How  to  Keep 
Our  Lawns     Interesting   Discussion. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Lancaster 
County  .\grlcultural  anil  Horticultural  .Society  was 
held  In  the  rooms  of  the  Atlienieum,  on  Monday, 
.May  1st,  the  President,  Calvin  CiKiper,  in  the  chair. 
The  followlnL'  members  were  present  :  Calvin  Cooper, 
Henry  .M.  F.ngle,  I.evI  S.  Heist,  Johnson  .Miller,  Peter 
S.  Ueist,  Alex.  Harris,  .Jacob  B.  (iarber,  .1.  H.  H.>r. 
shey,  Levi  W .  (irolf,  Martin  D.  Kcndlg,  Pharus  P. 
Swarr,  K]iliralni  S.  lliMiver,  .lolin  C.  LInvlllc,  Simon 
Hershey,  S.  S.  liathvoii,  John  Basler,  Mr.  Hover, 
Samuel  Lanilis,  1).  W.  Swartz,  Henry  Krb,  Israel"  L. 
Landis,  .\ndrew  Lane,  Henry  Iteist,  John  .M.  Steh- 
man,  Heubcn  J.  F,rb,  and  the  reiiorters  of  the  press. 

Condition  of  Crops. 
The  report  of  crops  being  in  ordir,  .Johnson  Miller, 
of  Warwick,  said  that  the  wheat  crop  from  present 
appearances  will  be  an  average  one.  The  Follz  wheat 
takes  the  lead  of  all  other  varielics.  The  (  larvson 
white  winter  wheat,  four  quarts  of  which  were  sown 
last  fall,  Is  entirely  winter  killed.  The  Jennings 
white  wheat,  as  well  as  some  other  varieties,  |ircsent 
a  better  prospect  for  a  good  crop  than  they  did  this 
time  last  year.  The  cold  and  dry  weather  Is  very 
disadvantageous  to  oats.  The  grass  Is  in  a  very  bad 
condition,  some  of  the  new  fields  having  been  plowed 
up  by  the  farmers  for  corn  and  Hungarian  grass. 
The  latter  article  will  be  extensively  raised  this  year 
to  take  the  place  of  hay.  The  old  grass  fields  arc 
well  set,  but  from  all  appearances  the  hay  crop  this 
year  will  be  shorter  than  the  crop  of  last  year.  Mr. 
Miller  thought  it  wiiuld  be  well  to  plow  up  all  new 
grass  fields  that  would  not  be  worth  leaving  for  hay- 
making, and  sow  them  with  Hungarian  grass,  and 
he  would  recommend  the  sowing  of  one  bushel  of 
clover  and  one  bushel  of  timothy  seed  to  every  ten  acres 
tliuspreiKircd.  By  this  arrangement  nothing  would  be 
lost  and  the  fields  wfiuld  be  set  down  with  grass  in  a 
favorable  season.  The  grass  quest  Ion  should  be  made  a 
study  and  the  frequent  failures  accounted  for.  A  great 
many  farmers  are  getting  ready  to  iilant  corn.  Some 
have  planted  already.  The  prospect  for  fruit  could 
not  be  fully  reported,  many  of  the  trees  l)eing  in  full 
bloom,  particularly  the  peach  trees.  The  cold  snap 
of  Sunday  night  and  Monday,  lie  thought,  would  be 
destructive  to  some  fruit. 

Pi-.TEK  S.  Heist,  of  .Manheim,  remarked  that  with 
the  thermometer  at  40  on  the  :>(llh  day  of  April,  and 
:iO  on  the  first  day  of  .May,  he  could  not  give  a  very 
favorable  report  of  the  crops  in  his  nelghliorhood.  In 
accordance  with  the  reigning  planet,  .Mars,  he  hxiked 
for  a  general  destruction  of  the  fruit  crop.  .So  far, 
wheat  was  the  only  promising  grain.  The  new  fields 
of  grass  look  poor.  The  oats,  he  thought,  was  nlp|)cd 
by  the  late  cold  weather.  In  view  of  these  facts,  and 
further,  that  It  was  only  six  weeks  until  the  com- 
mencement of  haymaking,  he  had  cause  to  fe*'l  dis- 
couraged. Farmers  had  yet  a  great  deal  to  do — the 
burning  and  hauling  of  lime  being  the  most  Import- 
ant. He  then  referred  to  the  cost  and  troubleol  pre- 
paring this  article,  and  said  that  on  the  0,000  farms 
in  this  county,  1,000  bushels  of  lime  were  used  on  each 
farm,  w  Inch,  at  a  cost  of  ten  cents  a  bushel,  would 
amount  to  ?<iOO,(HKI. 

Ephriam  Huovek,  of  Manheim,  noticed  In  his 
drives  alxiut the  township,  that  there  was  only  here 
and  there  a  good  wheat  field.  In  most  of  the  fields 
large  bare  sjiots  were  noticed.  This  was  occasioned 
by  two  causes— the  destruellon  by  Ihefiy  and  I  he  late 
spring.  With  all  these  disadvantages,  nothing  but 
second  rate  crops  could  be  lo<iked  for.  The  Foltz 
wheat  looks  more  uniform  and  isthelK*sl.  The  grass 
is  very  short  and  as  far  as  observeil  will  \h-  a  light 
crop.  The  gra-ss  in  the  new  fields  Is  generally  winter 
killed.  The  young  clover  has  been  nipped  by  the 
frost  and  cold  winds.  A  great  many  farmers  have 
ploughed  up  their  fields  for  Hungarian  grass  and 
corn . 

Martin  Kenuio,  of  Manor,  aud  Mr.HKRSBEY,of 


76 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


Weet  Hempfield,  reported  the  crops  in  their  neighbor- 
hood about  the  same  as  those  of  the  gentleman  refer- 
red to  above . 

H.  M.  Engi.e,  of  East  Donegal,  said  that  the  grass 
and  wheat  on  the  southern  slope  of  tlie  Susquehanna 
river  looks  very  well  ;  hardly  a  poor  wheat  field  could 
be  seen.  On  the  heavier  soils,  the  winter  wheat  looked 
poorer.  The  young  grass  on  loamy  soil  at  first  looked 
poor,  but  now  it  is  looking  well.  He  advised  the  mem- 
bers present  not  to  plow  the  grass  fields  up  so  soon 
for  Hungarian  grass,  but  let  it  have  a  little  time,  and 
he  thought  it  would  yet  turu  out  to  be  a  good  crop. 
The  prospect  of  fruit  looked  promising.  He  did  not 
think  it  was  injured  by  thelatecold  snap.  If  thccold 
should  continue,  he  did  not  think  it  would  hurt  any- 
thing beyond  peaches  and  cherries.  The  apples  could 
not  be  hurt  by  the  cold  now. 

Levi  S.  Reist  had  some  Lawrence  pear  trees, 
planted  on  high  ground,  some  of  the  blossoms  of 
which  were  frozen  one  week  ago.  It  was  a  hardy 
tree,  exposed  from  all  sides,  and  it  was  regarded  as 
singular  that  only  a  part  of  the  tree  was  affected. 

A  bill  of  JacobHeline's  for  S4..50,  for  putting  uji  a 
stove  and  taking  care  of  the  room,  was  ordered  to  be 
paid. 

Our  Lawns  and  How  to  Keep  Them. 

H.  M.  Encle  being  called  upon  to  give  his  experi- 
ence in  tlie  making  of  lawns,  arose  with  the  remark 
that  he  had  had  little  experience  in  making  lawns, 
and  was  not  prepared  to  say  much  upon  the  subject. 
One  thing  he  knew,  however,  and  that  was,  no  lawn 
could  he  kejjt  in  good  condition  without  the  aid  of 
fertilizers.  Wood  ashes  or  manure  were  regarded  the 
best  fertilizers.  The  proper  time  to  apply  them  would 
be  in  the  fall,  and  in  the  spring  rake  them  off.  To 
some  persons,  to  whom  this  kind  of  fertilizer  would 
seem  offensive,  he  would  recommend  the  use  of  liquid 
manure,  which  is  generally  easy  to  get.  The  grass 
should  not  be  let  grow  too  much.  Cut  it  as  often  as 
you  can,  and  leave  it  lay.  If  left  lay  to  decay,  it  be- 
comes the  best  kind  of  "fertilizer,  and  will  keep  the 
lawn  in  good  condition  without  resorting  to  any  other. 
This  can  easily  be  done,  for  when  grass  is  cut  with  a 
lawn  mower,  it  is  spread  evenly  over  the  surface,  and 
is  hardly  noticed. 

Ephraim  Hoover  would  like  to  know  what  was 
the  best  way  to  prepare  a  new  yard.  Would  it  be  best 
to  sow  it  in  grass  seed  or  sod  it  ? 

H.  M.  Enole  had  experimented  a  little  in  this  re- 
spect. When  he  built,  he  prepared  his  ground  for  a 
lawn  and  sowed  lawn  or  green  grass,  with  clover 
and  a  little  rye  in  it,  but  the  season  was  so  dry 
the  winds  blew  most  of  the  seed  away  with  the  dust. 
If  the  season  was  favorable  he  would  sow  seed,  as  it 
was  the  cheapest ;  but  to  make  sure,  sodding  was  the 
best  method. 

Levi  S.  Reist  had  success  in  sowing  seed  for  a 
lawn,  but  it  required  a  great  deal  of  attention.  After 
speaking  of  his  place,  he  referred  to  an  incident 
which  happened  some  thirty  years  ago.  A  wealthy 
gentleman  lived  in  the  neighljorhood  of  Mount  Joy, 
and  around  his  mansion  he  had  a  beautiful  lawn, 
which  was  regarded  in  that  day  as  a  very  foolish  ami 
expensive  luxury.  A  few  years  after  the  gentleman 
prepared  this  lawn,  he  failed,  and  he  distinctly  re- 
membered that  it  was  a  common  remark  that  "  no 
wonder  he  failed  ;  he  had  a  lawn."  Mr.  Reist  was 
in  favor  of  lawns,  and  in  keeping  them  up  and  beau- 
tifying them. 

Peter  S.  Reist  did  not  think  grass  sown  on  fresh 
cellar  ground  would  ever  amount  to  anything  with- 
out a  manure  dressing  was  put  on  it.  The  best  and 
surest  way  to  make  a  lawn  ou  a  new  piece  of  ground 
was  to  sod  it  at  once.  In  referring  to  the  way  in 
which  lawns  should  be  laid  out,  Mr.  Reist  said  that 
fruit  trees  should  be  extensively  planted,  in  prefer- 
ence to  ornamental,  and  closed  by  ridiculing  the 
making  of  rockeries.  Rockeries  were  regarded  by  this 
gentleman  as  a  great  nuisance. 

H.  M.  Engle  :  What  appears  beautiful  and  orna- 
mental to  one  does  not  appear  so  to  another.  This 
was  no  doubt  the  case  with  Mr.  Reist.  He  was  an 
advocate  of  rockeries,  and  lie  ventured  to  say  that  in 
a  few  years  Mr.  Reist  would  also  admire  and  advo- 
cate them. 

Martin  Kendig  was  in  favor  of  rockeries,  and 
hoped  the  day  would  soon  come  when  more  of  them 
would  be  [Hit  ui>  in  the  country.  The  expense  and 
labor  in  preparing  them  is  not  great,  and  is  well  paid 
by  the  pleasure  derived  from  them.  In  the  front 
part  of  his  lawn  he  would  plant  ornamental  and 
fruit  trees,  while  near  the  door  he  would  have  shrub- 
bery. The  best  fertilizer  he  knew  of  for  lawns  was 
tobacco  stems.  Their  fertilizing  elements  are  very 
rich,  and  are  very  easily  removed  in  the  spring. 
They  are  also  a  good  fertilizer  if  applied  to  shrub- 
bery. ,  , 

Johnson  Miller  thought  more  benefit  would  be 
derived  if  fruit  trees  were  planted  instead  of  lawns. 

H.  M.  Engle  scouted  the  idea  of  turning  every 
available  inch  of  space  into  dollars  and  cents.  If 
lawns  are  satisfactory  to  the  persons  who  have  them, 
it  pays  well  enough.  Sliade  as  well  as  fruit  trees 
should  be  planted.  At  one  time  apples,  pears  and 
peaches  were  ihe  only  fruit  trees  grown.  Now  a 
farmer  is  not  satisfied  unless  he  has  all  the  varieties 
in  the  market  planted  on  his  place.      So  it  will  be 


with  lawns.     Ornamentation  has  a  great  deal  to  do 
with  refinement. 

Mr.  Cooper,  the  President,  was  glad  to  hear  the 
difference  of  opinion  expressed.  In  his  opinion,  there 
was  nothing  more  beautiful  than  a  nice  lawn  dotted 
over  with  trees.  Such  places  are  always  attractive. 
Some  people  have  their  buildings,  garden  and  orchard 
all  enclosed  with  one  fence.  He  regarded  this  a  good 
idea,  as  a  great  deal  of  labor  was  saved,  besides  it 
looked  neat  and  attractive.  In  a  place  like  this  he 
would  have  curved  walks. 

Ephraim  Hoover,  with  one  exception,  agreed 
with  Mr.  Cooper's  remarks,  and  that  was,  in  a  place 
where  there  were  no  dividing  fences  the  chickens  and 
cattle  wouhl  be  sure  to  get  in  and  destroy  much  that 
would  be  valuable  as  well  as  beautiful. 

Best  Varieties  of  Apples. 

Levi  S.  Reist  said  that  Hubbardston  Nonesuch  did 
not  keep  as  well  for  him  as  the  Baldwin  apple. 

H.  M.  Engle  :  It  is  a  very  difficult  task  to  say 
which  are  the  proper  kinds  to  plant,  as  there  were  so 
many  good  varieties.  In  this  respect  people  generally 
look  to  the  nurserymen  for  information.  On  account 
of  so  much  uncertainty,  the  different  tastes  of  people, 
the  variety  of  soils  and  situation,  he  was  unable  to 
say  or  recommend  which  were  the  best  varieties  to 
plant. 

Martin  Kendig  recommended  and  spoke  very 
highly  of  the  Mellinger  apple.  The  apple  originated 
on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Mellinger,  near  Safe  Harbor, 
about  twenty  years  ago.  For  years  it  has  been  known 
in  this  locality  as  being  productive  and  a  good 
keeper.  It  resembles  the  Smokehouse  in  some  re- 
spects, can  be  used  for  sauce  in  early  harvest  time, 
and  will  keep  until  the  holidays.  The  Smith's  cider 
was  also  recommended.  It  was  a  very  popular  win- 
ter ajjple,  and  had  been  grown  with  good  results  by 
him. 

The  difference  between  Bucks  county  and  Berks 
county  Smith's  cider  was  explained  by  Mr.  Cooper. 

Levi  S.  Reist  presented  the  Society  with  a  sample 
of  the  Northern  Spy  and  a  few  varieties  of  the  Pippin 
apple  to  taste. 

.\tAHTiN  Kendig  thought  that  the  amount  of  rain- 
fall in  the  different  parts  of  the  county  should  be  re- 
ported for  the  beneiit  of  the  members. 

After  the  subject  was  thoroughly  discussed,  it  was 
moved  that  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  re- 
poH  each  month  through  the  chairman,  Johnson 
Miller. 

Israel  F.  Landis  wanted  to  know  what  had  be- 
come of  the  resolution  in  reference  to  having  the 
Society  represented  at  the  Centennial. 

President  Cooper  said  the  matter  looked  very  dark 
and  gloomy.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Fruit  Growers  at 
Doylestown  it  was  resolved  to  do  nothing  unless  an 
appropriation  could  be  received.  An  appropriation 
of?i:i,000  was  asked;  it  was  brought  before  the  Legis- 
lature, and  placed  upon  the  calendar  by  a  two-thirds 
vote,  but  he  did  not  think  it  would  amount  to  any- 
thing, as  it  could  not  be  reached  in  time  to  be  of  any 
benefit.  In  view  of  these  facts,  the  Society  would 
not  be  rejjresented,  hut  he  hoped  this  would  not  keep 
any  of  the  members  from  exhibiting. 

JonxsoN  Miller  asked  that  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  represent  the  Society  at  the  Centennial  be 
discharged.     Granted. 

C.  L.  HuNSECKER  was  requested  to  prepare  an  es- 
say on  rain  for  the  next  meeting. 

"  How  can  we  best  improve  the  appearance  of  our 
farms?"  and  "What  is  the  best  method  of  taking 
care  of  our  boys  and  girls  on  the  farm,  so  as  to  make 
them  happy  and  contented?"  are  the  subjects  that 
will  be  discussed  at  the  next  meeting.    Adjourned. 


OUR  BEE-KEEPERS  IN  COUNCIL. 


Proceedings    of   the    Lancaster    County   Bee- 
Keepers'  Society. 
The  second  meeting  of  the  Lancaster  County  Bee- 
Keepers'   Society   was   held    at    Kaulfman's    Black 
Horse  Hotel,  at  10  o'clock  ou  Monday,  the  1st  inst., 
I'eter  S.  Reist  in  the  chair.  The  attendance  was  large. 
After  the  reading  of   the   minutes    of   the    last 
meeting,  the  chairman  read  an  essay  on 
"  Will  Bee-keeping  Pay  ?" 

on  which  he  said  that  the  subject  of  the  essay 
ought  to  be  the  main  question  of  the  societ}',  as  it 
would  result  in  much  benefit  to  it.  There  are  about 
8011,0110  stands  of  liees  in  the  L'nited  States,  which 
produce  about  1.5,000,000  pounds  of  honey,  the  value 
of  which  was  estimated  at  ^0,000,000.  The  number 
of  l)ee-stands  in  this  State  are  about  40,000,  which 
produce  800,000  pounds  of  honey,  valued  at  SIHO,- 
000 ;  but  of  this  large  number,  Lancaster  county 
represents  ;1,000  stands,  which  produce  60,000  pounds 
of  honey,  at  a  value  of  -$13,000.  This  the  essayist 
thouglit  a  low  estimate,  and  believed  it  could  be  in- 
creased :iOO  per  cent.  He  also  thought  that  bees 
were  decreasing  in  this  State,  on  account  of  their 
keepers  not  knowing  how  to  handle  them.  North 
Carolina  contains  the  most  bees,  next  to  which  are 
Missouri,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  The  number  of 
bee  keepers  in  this  county  was  estimated  at  70,000. 
In  regard  to  the  improvement  of  hives,  Mr.  Reist  said 
that  the  greatest  was  made  some  twenty  years  ago, 


by  a  Mr.  Langstroth,  who  made  the  frame  boxes 
which  facilitate  the  handling  of  bees,  together  with 
the  art  of  making  artificial  swarms,  the  introduction 
of  which  has  been  very  beneficial.  In  referring  to  the 
introduction  of  the  Italian  bee,  he  said  a  man  named 
Julius  Smith,  of  this  county,  claimed  the  honor  of 
introducing  it  in  this  country  from  Germany.  The 
proper  place  to  have  a  hive  was  between  the  house 
and  barn,  so  that  it  could  be  watched  without  any 
extra  care  or  time.  After  referring  to  a  numlier  of 
books  treating  on  bees,  which  he  advised  the  members 
to  read,  he  closed  by  saying  that  the  members  should 
meet  to  discuss  different  questions  on  bee  culture  and 
adopt  tlie  best  methods.  By  this  means  all  will  lie 
able  to  derive  more  benefit  by  attending  the  meetings. 

A  constitution  directing  that  the  society  meet  four 
times  a  year  in  this  city,  and  that  each  member  pay 
an  initiation  fee  of  2.5  cents,  was  read  and  adopted. 

Adam  B.  Herr,  the  Secretary,  read  an  essay  on  bee 
hives.  The  essay  was  a  lengthy  one,  and  advocated 
the  use  of  double-story  hives,  which  had  given  the 
gentleman  great  satisfaction  as  well  as  profit.  From 
one  of  these  hives  the  essayist  said  he  took  129  pounds 
of  honey,  for  which  he  received  thirty-five  cents  a 
pound . 

After  the  reading  of  the  essay,  one  of  the  hives  in 
question  was  produced  and  examined  by  the  mem- 
bers. 

A  discussion  on  the  merits  of  hives  in  general 
then  ensued. 

Mr.  Reist  wanted  to  know  what  was  the  cause  of 
honey  granulating. 

IIenrt  Hubeh,  of  Martic,  thought  it  was  caused 
by  age. 

J.  F.  Hershey,  of  Mount  Joy,  did  not  think  it 
was  caused  by  age,  but  by  the  temperature.  If  honey 
is  put  in  a  cool  place  it  will  soon  become  granulated. 

Several  other  members  agreed  in  regard  to  Mr. 
Hershey's  theory,  one  of  them  saying  that  he  knew 
of  honey,  which  was  kept  in  a  proper  temperature, 
that  was  forty  years  old,  and  it  never  became  granu- 
lated. 

John  Huber,  of  Pequea,  was  elected  treasurer  of 
the  society,  and  Henry  Myers,  of  Mount  Joy,  as- 
sistant secretary. 

After  the  members  present  signed  the  constitution, 
the  society  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  Athenaeum 
rooms,  in  the  afternoon  at  one  o'clock. 

The  Society  met  promptly  at  1  o'clock.  The  con- 
stitution, which  was  adopted  at  the  morning  meet- 
ing, was  read  over  again,  after  which  the  following 
persons  signed  it : 

Peter  S.  Refst,  Oregon;  J.  F.  Hershey,  Mount 
Joy;  A.  B.  Herr,  Columbia;  H.  H.  Meyers,  Spring 
Garden  ;  John  Huber,  Marticville ;  J.  Kepperling, 
Safe  Harbor;  A.  H.  Shock,  Safe  Harbor;  Abram 
Wright,  Safe  Harbor;  L.  Fleckenstein,  Creswell ; 
Daniel  Kreider,  Lancaster;  A.  B.  Nissley,  Marietta; 
E.  Hershey,  Leaman  Place;  D.  H.  Lintner,  Lan- 
caster; J.R.  Stock,  Smithville ;  H.  R.  Maskey,  Mil- 
lersville;  L.  R.  Nissley,  Maytown  ;  C.  B.  Nissley, 
Mount  Joy  ;  John  Suavely,  Rothville  ;  John  Z.  Tay- 
hir,  Strasburg ;  L.  S.  Reist,  Oregon;  David  E. 
Mayer,  Strasburg;  H.  Huber,  Marticville. 

Reports  from  different  sections  being  now  in  order, 
the  following  were  made  : 

Henry  My-ers,  of  Mount  Joy,  reported  all  of  his 
bees  in  good  condition.  He  had  a  neighbor  who  lost 
only  one  swarm  out  of  sixty-eight  swarms  that  were 
wintered. 

J.  F.  Hershey,  out  of  sixty-two  swarms  wintered, 
lost  two  swarms. 

A.  H.  Shock  stated  that  he  had  taken  two  swarms 
from  one  bee  and  three  from  another,  which  wintered 
well  and  are  now  in  good  condition. 

Peter  S.  Reist  reported  blossoms  plenty,  and  in 
consequence  the  bees  were  very  busy. 

Leonard  Fleckenstein  said  that  his  bees  were 
in  good  condition.  He  wintered  his  bees  on  a  sum- 
mer stand,  and  out  of  twenty-one  swarms  thus  win- 
tered he  lost  only  two. 

Elias  Hershey  wintered  thirty-two  colonies  of 
bees  on  a  summer  stand,  and  lost  none.  The  bees 
are  now  in  good  condition. 

D.  H.  Lintner  lost  two  swarms  out  of  eight  col- 
onies which  he  had  wintered.  In  his  region  the  pros- 
pects are  good. 

H.  K.  Nissley  was  opposed  to  covering  the  hives 
with  corn  fodder  and  other  protecting  material.  Out 
of  seventeen  swarms  that  he  wintered  on  sunmicr 
staniis  he  did  not  lose  any,  and  they  are  now  all  do- 
ing well.  Bees  belonging  to  his  neiglibors  are  also 
doing  well. 

h!  B.  Nissley  protected  his  beesduring  the  winter 
by  putting  corn  fodder  over  the  hives,  but  of  thirty- 
four  swarms  wintered,  he  lost  three.  His  bees  are 
now  gathering  honey  very  fast. 

A.  H.  Shock  said  he  preferred  to  give  his  bees,  in 
winter  time,  candy  as  a  stimulant.  In  other  seasons 
he  gave  them  syrup. 

J.  F.  Hershey  gave  his  bees  syrup  in  winter, 
which  he  placed  in  such  a  position  that  the  bees  were 
not  exposed  to  the  cold  when  they  went  to  get  it. 

D.  11.  Lintner  fed  his  bees  every  day  for  breed- 
ing purposes  until  the  blossoms  appeared. 

"What    is    the    Best    Mode    of   Artificial 
Swarming  ?" 
was  the  next  subject  discussed. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


77 


J.  F.  rLBKSiiEV  saKl  tlie  hcst  moile  of  uililkial 
swarminK  «'as  to  let  tlie  swaiiu  ijet  strong  in  bees 
and  wait  till  thoy  ccasi-  slnrinir  lioncy.  Then  lake 
out  till'  nucfii  boc  ami  coinli  IVoni  oni*  liive,  and  IVoni 
another  liive  take  four  or  live  eoinlis  without  bees. 
Change  the  stands,  and  give  a  new  ((iieen  to  the  old 
swarm.  In  otlier  words,  take  eonilis  from  No.  1, 
bees  from  No.  2,  and  put  all  in  No. :!. 

John  Z.  TiVi.Dit  belii'ved  that  slraiffht  combs 
could  be  built  by  all  bees  without  handling.  If  the 
bees  commence  to  buikl  crookeil,  just  ini-lini'  the 
hive.  The  bee  will  then  always  build  a  cond) 
straight  with  the  hive. 

John  Ki:i>i'i;iii.in(1  thought  the  safest  and  surest 
■way  was  to  liisl  get  a  fertile  queen.  He  did  not  be- 
lieve in  artilieial  swarming.  , 

Li:oN.\ni>  Fl.K<KENSTKiN  preferred  a  fertile  queen 
for  a  new  lii\e. 

At  this  [loint  a  lengthy  discussion  and  description 
of  the  various  ways  in  which  bees  were  hived  was  en- 
tered into  by  most  of  the  members  present. 

J.  F.  IIkhsiiev  had  reas<m  to  believe  that  bees 
flew  away  on  acconnl  of  the  sun  shining  on  the  hives 
and  lieating  them  too  highly. 

Leonakh  Feikknsteix  thought  that  artilieial 
swarming  wouhl  prevent  the  absconding  of  bees. 

Several  modes  were  given  how  to  raise  new  queens. 
The  prineipal  theory  advanced  was  to  place  them  in 
a  nursiTV.  and  another  to  let  them  raise  tlieinsi'lvcs. 
J.  F.  IIeushev  said  the  best  mode  of  introducing 
queens  was  to  |)laee  them  in  a  snnill  wire  cage,  one 
end  of  winch  should  be  closed  up  with  a  piece  of 
comb.  This  small  cage  shoulil  be  placed  in  the  hive, 
when  the  queen  will  work  itself  out  of  the  cage  by 
eating  or  boring  through  the  comb.  The  (|ueen  will 
thus  be  introduced  into  the  hive.  Various  other 
modes  were  spoken  ol',  such  as  sprinkling  the  queen 
with  peppermint  or  assaficlida. 

J.  F.  IIeusiii;y  also  thought  the  best  way  of 
producing  box  honey  was  to  first  place  a  small  box 
in  the  hive  and  coax  the  bees  into  it  ;  then  place  a 
larger  box  over  this  one,  and  so  on  until  you  gel  as 
high  as  twenty  pounds  of  honey  in  one  box.  In  this 
way  he  had  got  as  high  as  141)  pounds  of  lioney  from 
a  single  hive,  for  which  he  generally  received  thirty- 
five  cents  a  jiound. 

The  idea  advanced  by  Mr.  Hershey  appeared  to  be 
the  general  opinion  of  the  rest  of  the  members. 

Elias  Hekshey  thought  the  best  size  of  frames 
were  12x12  inches. 

Henrv  HfBER  was  of  the  opinion  that  frames 
should  not  be  over  seven  or  eight  inches  square. 

J.  Z.  Tavlok  preferred  a  frame  about  tw'elve 
inches  high.  In  such  hives  the  bees  would  not 
freeze  so  readily. 

Peter  8.  Reist  said  his  frames  were  about  ten  by 
eighteen  or  twenty  incbes. 

J.  F.  Hershey  said  bees  made  more  honey  in  a 
small  frame  ihan  they  did  in  a  large  one.  He  thought 
the  proper  size  of  a  frame  should  be  13x12  inches. 

Leoxari>  FlecivEN'steix  preferred  a  frame  IH  by 
11  inches.  More  honey  is  made  in  a  shallow  frame 
than  in  a  high  one. 

Henry-  Hiber  said  in  an  experience  of  forty  years 
he  never  had  a  bee  to  freeze  as  long  as  there  was  some 
honey  iu  the  hive.  He  preferred  small  frames.  He 
did  not  believe  bees  wanted  much  air.  He  put  bees 
in  a  surplus  box  and  covered  it  with  wire,  thus  giving 
the  bees  plenty  of  air.  In  a  short  while  the  bees  had 
closed  up  every  crevice,  not  giving  much  chance  for 
any  air  to  get  iu. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  above  remarks,  Mr. 
Ruber  said  he  would  like  to  know  the  reason  a  per- 
son could  hear  the  queen  making  a  peculiar  noise 
when  the  bees  were  going  to  swarm  the  second  time, 
and  not  the  first  time. 

Elias  Hershey  said  he  had  read,  that  on  second 
swarming  the  old  queen  made  the  peculiar  noise  re- 
ferred to  when  she  was  trying  to  get  at  the  young 
queen  in  the  cell,  in  order  to  destroy  it.  When  she 
found  she  could  not  get  at  the  youngqueen  she  would 
start  oil'  and  leave  the  hive,  the  bees  following  in  a 
swarm . 

J.  K .  Stoke  wanted  to  know  if  the  moths  would 
kill  a  strong  and  healthy  swarm. 

Elias  Hershey  never  heard  of  a  healthy  swarm 
being  killed  by  the  moth.  Bees  are  often  killed  by 
moth,  but  it' is  always  the  fault  of  the  box.  Never 
allow  a  place  in  a  box  where  a  miller  can  go  in  that 
a  bee  cannot  follow. 

J.  F.  Hekshey  thought  the  best  mode  to  keep 
away  ants  was  to  put  wood  ashes  around  the  posts. 
The  next  thing  was  to  use  good  lumber  in  the  making 
of  the  boxes. 

"  How  to  Prevent  Robbing  "' 
was  the  next  question  (liscussed. 

J.  F.  Hershey  believed  the  best  method  In  pieveiil 
robbery  was  to  put  soft  hay  in  front  of  the  entrance 
of  the  hive  which  was  being  robbed.  In  this  way  the 
bees  that  were  in  the  hive  were  allowed  air,  and  had 
abetter  chance  to  get  at  the  robbers.  In  another 
sense,  if  the  entrance  was  not  protected  with  hay, 
the  robbers  would  Hock  about  it  anil  make  it  too  hot 
for  the  bees  that  were  in  the  inside.  When  it  would 
become  too  hot  for  them  they  would  all  rush  out, 
thus  leaving  the  robbers  the  master  of  the  hive. 
Another  way  to  prevent  robbers,  Mr.  Hershey  said, 
was  to  change  the  position  of  the  hives,  when  the 
bees  would  get  bothered  and  the  fighting  w  ould  slop. 


Hen'RV  HfBER  said  the  way  he  prevented  robbery, 
was  to  first  find  out  the  robbers.  When  this  was 
done,  he  would  go  to  that  hive,  raise  it,  and  knoik 
the  comb  all  to  pieces  with  a  stick.  This,  the  speaker 
said,  would  give  the  robbers  plenty  of  work  to  do  at 
home,  and  by  llic  lime  they  have  their  hive  fixed  up 
again,  they  will  have  forgotten  all  alKjut  the  robbery 
at  the  cither  hive. 

A.  H.  IhiiR  was  of  the  belief  that  when  all  other 
remedies  tailed,  the  robbers  shouhl  be  taught  and 
deslroyed. 

Peter  S.  Reist,  the  chairman,  asked  what  was 
the  best  remedy  to  prevent  swelling  when  slung  by 
a  bee. 

F.i.iAS  Hershey  recommended  hartshorn. 

Henry  Huber  said  the  best  way  was  to  gel  slung 
as  often  as  you  could.  After  that  the  eyslem  will 
get  used  to  it,  and  the  sting  will  not  cause  swelling. 

A.  H.  !Shoek,  Henry  H.  Myers  and  Daniel  Liiitner 
were  appointed  by  the  chair  as  a  coinmillee  to  pre- 
pare questions  for  discussion  at  the  next  meeting, 
and  to  appoint  an  essayist. 

The  second  Monday  in  .\ugusl  was  named  as  the 
time  for  the  next  meeting,  the  place  of  meeting  being 
Kaulfman's  Hlack  Horse  Hotel. 

The  hour  of  adjournment  having  arrived,  the  so- 
ciety adjfnirncd. 


GENERAL    MISCELLANY. 


the  grass  produces  cxliaustion  of  the  soil,  until  at 
length  it  becomes  so  poor  that  the  grusties  die  out  in 
a  great  degree;  andthe  daisies  and  mosses  lake  their 
places,  until  fresh  plant  fooil  Is  given,  and  their 
growth  strengthened.  There  arc  siuiie  strong,  deep 
soils  u|ioii  whii'h  time  seems  to  make  Utile  Implcs- 
sion,  and  no  manure  is  rcquireil  ;  but  they  are  only 
tlie  exceptions. — Seiet{f{flf  Ameriean, 


Lawns — How  to  Make  and  Keep  Them. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  features  about  a  country 
residence  is  a  well  cultivated  and  well  kept  lawn.  It 
is  also  the  most  difilcult  spot  about  a  place  to  keep 
in  order,  unless  one  has  the  facilities  for  keeping  it 
irrigated:  for  the  very  time' of  the  year  when  it  Is 
most  desired  that  it  should  look  the  freshest  is,  in 
most  parts  of  our  northern  and  western  regions,  the 
driest  period  of  the  season.  We  present  herewith 
some  suggestions  for  the  laying  out,  seeding,  and  care 
of  a  lawn,  the  result  of  our  own  expcricnee  and  that 
of  others,  which  we  believe  will  be  interesting  and 
useful  to  a  great  numljcr  of  our  readers. 

In  preparing  ground  for  lawns,  where  the  expense 
is  not  of  so  mueli  consequence  as  the  good  results,  a 
good  subsoiling  is  preferable,  because  in  such  soils 
the  roots  go  down  deep,  and  in  this  way  get  moisture 
whenthe  weather  is  dry.  Very  good  lawns  can,  how- 
ever, be  had  by  ordinary  jilowing,  as  for  any  good 
crop.  It  is  best,  however,  to  have  the  ground  plowed 
up  and  leveled  a  year  before  the  grass  is  sown,  or  it 
will  sink  in  places,  and  llieii  the  surface  becomes  un- 
even. Where  t  he  lawn  has  been  made  iu  this  way,  and 
inequalities  of  the  surface  exist,  earth  may  be  brought 
in  the  spring,  and.  spread  smoothly  over  the  lawn. 
and  rolled  down  firm.  The  grass  will  grow  through 
this,  and  make  a  solid,  even  lawn. 

As  soon  as  the  frost  is  gone,  and  before  the  ground 
is  hard,  the  lawn  should  be  rolled.  From  various 
causes  there  is  generally  left  an  inequality  of  surface 
after  the  winter  is  over,  and  this  the  rolling  is  to 
remedy.  In  spite  of  all  the  care  to  kcej)  weeds  out 
of  lawns,  they  will  often  iret  in,  especially  on  lawns 
that  ai;e  newly  made.  The  best  tiling  is  to  have  the 
lawn  hand-weeded  for  the  first  few  years.  Early  in 
the  season  the  lawn  mower  should  be  set  going,  but 
expericuceisagainst  setting  the  knives  too  low.  Close 
cutting  we  have  found  to  be  an  injury  to  the  grass. 
It  leaves  the  roots  exposed,  and  the  sun  is  apt  tb  dry 
and  kill  the  grass. 

A  lawu  requires  an  occasional  top  dressing  of 
manure ;  but  t  here  is  no  necessity  of  applying  it  every 
year,  and  itslioulil  not  be  used  too  green.  Well  rotted 
stable  manure,  mixed  with  soil,  makes  an  excellent 
dressing  and  should  be  spread  over  the  lawn  at  least 
two  or  three  inches  in  thickness,  early  in  the  spring. 
Some  prefer  putting  it  on  in  the  fall,  and  leaving  it 
to  protect  the  roots  through  the  winter.  There  is  a 
diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  use  of  manure  for  this 
purpose,  from  the  fact  of  its  liability  to  introduce 
seeds  of  weeds,  which  the  use  of  artificial  fertilizers 
obviates  ;  but  we  have  never  experienced  any  ill  etl'ect 
from  the  use  of  the  former. 

The  kind  of  seed  to  be  sown,  to  make  a  lawn,  de- 
pends upon  tlie  climate,  condition  of  the  land,  and 
composition  of  the  soil.  In  the  Northern  Slates  tlie 
English  mixed  lawu  grass  seed,  with  an  excess  of 
white  clover  and  red  top,  are  considerably  used  ;  and 
in  the  Middle  Slates  the  Kentucky  blue  grass  does 
well.  Red  top  docs  the  lust  in  clayey,  and  the  others 
iu  lighter  soils,  lirasses  and  clovers  are  gross  feeders, 
and  demand  gooil  food,  else  they  will  not  present  a 
good  appearance.  The  white  daisy  will  often  show 
itself  in  fields  and  lawns  that  arc  loo  poor  to  nourish 
grasses  ;  and  to  get  rid  of  this  pest  it  is  needful  to 
make  the  soil  richer.  The  truly  practical  man,  says 
an  agricultural  writer,  will  dress  his  worn-out  gnmnds 
with  either  superphosphate  of  lime  or  IVruvian 
guano,  or  some  other  good  fertilizer.  They  will  soon 
show  thai  the  grasses  can  drive  out  the  daisies  or 
mosses,  if  they  are  only  properly  fed. 

A  surface  dressing  of  superphosphate  of  lime  will 
also  cause  an  abundant  growth  of  clover,  and  often 
it  will  occur  where  the  clover  has  not  before  been 
teen  ;  and  even  nitrate  of  soda  will  give  lo  the  new 
growth  a  deep  richness  of  color,  and  thicken  the  lurf 
"rapidly.     The  constant  cutting  and  carrying  away  of 


The  Management  of  Lamps  and  Oil. 

The  lady  cit  a  Iioum-  In  whieli  we  arc  sometimes  a 
guest,  was  111  great  Iroiible  with  her  lamps,  of  which 

she  had    thri r    four   dill'ereiit  styles    for  burning 

kerosene.    One  lamp  after  another,  a  short  time  ago, 
began  to    burn   |K>orly ;  new    wicks   were    put  in  all 
around,  but  in  a  few  hours  they  were  us  bail  HslK*f(»re. 
Being  taki-n  Into  consiillatlon,  we  suggesteil  thai  she 
had  jxMir  iiil  ;  but  the  oil  was  Pratt's,  and  iKiught    In 
the  original  packages,  besides,  there  was  Ihelfcrinan 
sludenl's  lamp.  In  which  the  same  oil  liiirncil  splen- 
didly.    We  became  iiitcresteil  In  the  case,  and  mtule 
a  careful  (iiitfptunin,  as  the  pbyslelans  say.     The  oil 
was  of  a  good  kind,  Ibe  wicks  were  new,  the  lani{>H, 
of  dilferent  styles,  each  apparently  iwrfecl,  and  as 
gooilasever;  while  uU  the  lamps  but  one  had  l)eeu 
gradually  growing  bad,  and  were  now  nearly  useless; 
this  burned  as  well  as  ever,  antl  as  well  as  any  lamp 
need  to  burn.     .\  minute's  thought  given  to  llii'  dif- 
ference between  I  he  si  udeiit's   lamp  and  the  others, 
gave  us  the  clue  lo  the  Iroiible.     Asking  for  a  glaH« 
jar,  an  empty  fruit  jar  was  brought,  and  all  the  oil 
from   one  of  the  delinquent  lamps,  with  a  previoug 
shaking,  was  turned  into  II.     The  ap|H'araiiee  of  the 
oil  in  the  jar  was  such  as  to  call  forth  an  exclama- 
tion of  surprise,  as  well  it  might,  for  It  lo(>ke<l   like 
muddy  water.    Here  was  the  cause  of  all  the  trouble, 
an  aeeuniiilation  of  ilust  and  other  impurities.     The 
lamps  had  been    filled    nionlli  after  month  without 
emptying;  the  wicks  look   up  the  clear  oil,   leaving 
the  parliclis  of  dust  behind;  the  lamps  being  dally 
filled,  this  dirt  gradually  aceurtiiilaled,  uiilil  at   last 
it  was  preseiil  in  such  quantities  as  lo  clog  up  the 
wicks  and  so  destroy  their  porosity  that    they  could 
not  take  up  enough  oil  lo  give  u  pro|>er  llghl .    Clean 
oil  and  new  wicks  being  supplied,  the  lamps  gave  as 
good  a  light  as  ever.     "But   how    dlil  the    students' 
lamp  help  you  to  guess  what   was  the   mattcrr'   we 
were  asked.     Because  we  saw  that  the  wick  was  not 
in  the  main  body  of  the  oil,  but   was  fed   by  a  lube 
which  we  notici'd  started   from  the  oil   reservoir  at 
some  distance  above  the  bollom,  so  that  the  impuri- 
ties could  setllc  and  not  reach  the  wick.    On  empty- 
ing of  the  outer  reservoir  of  this   lamp  the  oil  was 
found  to  be  as  bad  as  in  the  others,  but  the  particles 
of  dust  did  not  get  to  the  wick.    The  qnantlly  of  dirt 
in  the  oil  induced  us  lo  go  a  step  farther,  and  inquire 
where  the  main  supply  of  oil   was   kept;  we   found 
that    the    can    was   in  an  open  shed,    and    not    far 
from  where  Ihe  coal    ashes  were  sifted;  the   lunnel 
used  to  fill  the  feeding  can  was  kept  close  by.     Here 
we  had  the  whole  story,  the  funnel,   daily   wet  with 
oil,  was  w  here  it  could  catch  whatever  ilust  might  be 
float ing  in  the  air,  with  an  extra  supjily  when   the 
coal  was  sifted.    When  the  feeder  was  filled  the  dust 
from  the  funnel  was  washed  into  It,  ami  from  llienee 
it  went  into  the  lamps,  where  it   acciimulateil  with 
the  result  we  have  staled.     Of  course  this,  the  main 
sourceof  the  trouble, was  easily  remedied  by  jiroviiling 
a  proper  111  ace  for  the  oil-can  and  funnel.     The  lady 
was  delighted  at  finding  so  ready  a  way  out  of  her 
troubles,  and  we  relate  the  case  In  order  that  others 
may  profit  by  the  experience.     As  most  of  the  lamps 
now  In  use  are  of  some  kind  of  metal,  their  contents 
cannot  lie  seen,  and  It  will  la-  well  to  ascertain  occa- 
sionally the  condition  of  the  oil  within  tlieiii.     With 
the  utmost  care  some  foreign  particles  will  Hiid  their 
way  into  the  oil,  and  after  a  long  lime  that  In  the 
lainp  will  be  quite  impure.     If  Ihe  oil  einpliol  from 
the  lamp  is  allowed  lo  stand  a  few  hours  all  the  dirt 
will  settle  to  the  bottom,  and  the  clean  portion  may 
lie  carefully  |Kmrcd  oil   for  use.     Sec  that  the  oil  ves- 
sels and  funnel ,  if  one  is  used,  are  kept  away  from  the 
dust. — Aiiierxciin  AyrifullHrinl. 


Cloverseed. 

There  is  at  least  one  product  of  I  he  farm  with  which 
the  market  is  not  overstocked,  and  that  is  cloverseed. 
At  this  writing,  giKMl  seed  commands,  in  bulk,  from 
nine  to  ten  dollars  |ier  bushel.  Happy  Is  the  man  wfio 
has  it  lo  sell.  One  writes  us  I  hat  he  has  just  dlsixiscd 
of  his  irop  from  eleven  acres  for  tile  handsome  sum  of 
four  hundred  dollars.  We  veiilure  lo  say  that  man 
is  pretty  well  eonvlnecil  that  "  farming  pays."  But 
unfoiiiiiialely,  very  few  have  seed  to  sell,  and  many 
still  more  unforlunatc  have  it  to  buy,  and  dire  are  the 
complaints  of  this  class.  It  Is  said  that  cloversceil  Is 
In  the  hands  of  a  few  dealers,  who  arc  making  a  "cor- 
ner," runniiigupthepricetocxtorlionate  flgures,  etc., 
etc.  This  is  all  nonsense.  There  is  not  enougli  of  it 
in  the  inarkcl  lo  make  a  res|«ect  able  corner.  Dealers 
have  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout  to  obtain  enough  lo  sup- 
ply customers,  and  at  this  writing  the  market  Is  almost 
bare,  at  Ibis  |ioinl. 

We  have  never  adviseil  farmers  to  raise  cloverseed 
for  market,  but  wc  have  (rcquently  urged  them  to 
raise  enough  lor  their  own  use.  Onlinarily,  every  one 
can  do  this.    Wc  know  that  last  season  was  an  ex- 


^78 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


ceptionable  one,  aud  the  crop  was  a  failure  oyer  a 
large  extent  of  country.  But  this  contingency  should 
have  been  provided  for  from  the  previous  year's  crop. 
Some  farmers  always  keep  a  supply  of  seed,  of  all 
kinds  they  cultivate,  a  year  ahead.  The  practice  is 
to  be  commended.  It  provides  against  the  accidents 
of  the  seasons,  and  gives  a  sense  of  security  which 
alone  is  worth  more  than  the  money  represented  by 
the  small  amount  of  seed  lying  idle. 

The  advantage  of  having  seed  does  not  consist  in 
saving  the  purchase  money,  simply,  though  that  is  no 
smalf  item  now.  A  greater  advantage  is  that  it  is 
sown  with  a  more  liberal  hand  where  there  is  plenty 
of  it  to  be  had  without  buying.  We  have  no  doubt 
that  a  great  deal  of  land  that  ought  to  be  sown  in 
clover  this  spring  will  go  without  oi  get  but  a  scanty 
supply.  This  should  not  be  the  case.  It  will  pay  bet- 
ter to  buy  seed  than  to  miss  the  clover  crop.  But 
whatever  you  do,  sow  enough  on  land  you  do  seed,  if 
you  have  to  let  some  go  without.  We  would  rather 
have  one  acre  well  seeded  than  two  half  seeded.  It 
is  not  too  late  yet  to  do  this  work.  Scratch  the  field 
with  a  light  harrow,  first.  It  will  not  hurt  the  wheat. 
When  the  clover  appears,  give  it  a  dressing  of  plaster, 
and  it  will  come  out  all  right.  It  is  not  advisable  to 
buy  seed  for  oats  ground,  as  the  chances  of  failure 
are  too  great. 

Understanding,  as  most  farmers  do,  the  great 
value  of  the  clover  crop,  they  should  require  no  urging 
to  provide  plentyofseed  for  the  future .  The  farmers 
of  Nebraska  and  Kansas  have  learned  this  lesson  of 
providing  for  the  future  out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
present.  We  are  told  that  it  is  a  rare  thing  to  find  a 
farmer  there  without  a  year's  supply  of  corn  ahead, 
if  he  is  able  to  hold  it ;  and  thus  they  are  prepared 
for  another  grasshopper  raid.  It  would  be  well  for 
us  to  imitate  their  example  as  far  as  seed  for  another 
year  is  concerned. — Practical  Farmer. 


Farming  in    Continental  Europe. 

Before  a  recent  meeting  of  tlie  Colora  (Md.) 
Grange,  Mr.  Adam  R.  Magraw,  well  known  in  this 
city,  delivered  an  address  on  his  observations  of  ru- 
ral life  on  the  European  continent,  from  which  we 
extract  the  following  : 

While  at  school  in  Switzerland  a  companion  and  I 
one  day  learned  to  our  cost  the  summary  manner 
with  which  trespassers  are  dealt.  We  had  been 
playing  in  the  meadow  attached  to  our  school.  The 
grass  was  of  course  worn  short  by  the  running  to  aud 
fro  of  nearly  a  hundred  boys.  In  an  adjacent  field 
the  grass  grew  high,  thick  and  fragrant,  and  as  we 
were  much  fatigued,  the  temptation  to  lie  down  and 
rest  In  the  nice  long  grass  was  more  than  we  could 
resist,  and  in  a  moment  we  Were  over  the  fence  and 
stretched  at  full  length  in  the  dense  grass,  which  al- 
most covered  us.  We  rested  undisturbed,  and  re- 
turned to  our  own  meadow  quite  refreshed,  never 
dreaming  we  had  done  any  damage.  The  next 
morning  we  were  sent  for  to  meet  our  principal  in 
his  ofHc'e.  As  such  a  message  always  meant  business, 
we  started  with  our  hearts  in  our  mouths,  wonder- 
ing what  was  up,  and  our  forebodings  were  not  a  lit- 
tle intensified,  on  entering  the  office,  to  behold  a  con- 
stable. Our  teacher  sternly  asked  us  if  we  had  been 
in  Mr. 's  field  and  damaged  his  grass.  We  as- 
sented to  having  been  in  the  field,  but  demurred  to 
the  damage.  We  were  informed,  however,  that 
damage  had  been  done,  and  we  were  each  obliged  to 
pay  about  one  dollar  or  one  dollar  and  a  half.  Since 
owning  a  farm  in  Cecil,  I  have  many  times  wished  for 
a  law  like  the  one  I  broke  when  a  boy  in  Switzerland. 
Here  a  dozen  cows  may  graze  on  you  a  whole  night, 
and  do  great  damage,  but  it  will  take  you  weeks,  if 
not  months,  to  recover  a  cent,  and  maybe  in  the  end, 
after  having  paid  lawyers'  fees  and  traveling  expen- 
ses, you  will  find  tliat  your  expenditures  equal  the 
sum  claimed  for  damages. 

In  France  my  stay  was  in  Louraine,  one  of  the 
most  fertile  districts  of  that  country,  where  fruits  of 
all  kinds  grow  luxuriantly,  especially  plums  and 
pears.  Here  it  was  I  saw  the  most  primitive  of 
plows,  and  one,  too,  that  was  in  constant  use.  It 
was  nothing  more  than  a  round  piece  of  rough  wood, 
about  four  feet  long  and  three  or  four  inches  thick. 
One  end  was  sharpened  and  shod  with  iron  a  few 
inches  from  the  butt,  and  two  narrow  pieces  of  wood 
■  arose  and  formed  the  handles,  and  not  far  from  the 
pointed  end  a  ring  was  fastened,  to  which  the  team 
was  hitched.  I  did  not  see  it  at  work,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  it  answered  its  purpose  very  well,  viz  :  of  turn- 
ing over  a  thin  white  soil.  I  came  across  it  whilst 
gunning,  and  could  hardly  believe  so  rude  an  imple- 
ment could  exist  and  (what  is  more)  be  used  in  this 

progressive  age. 

^ 

Hints  for  the  Season. 

Chicken  coops  should  be  kept  dry  and  wholesome. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  clean  them  often  if  they  are  kept 
well  littered  with  dry  earth,  ashes  or  dry  sawdust. 
Give  the  fowls  liberty  to  roam  at  large,  if  possible  ; 
if  not,  supply  them  with  animal  food  in  some  shape, 
also  lime,  ground  boue  and  green  vegetables.  A  box 
containing  pulverized  charcoal  should  always  be  with- 
in reach  of  the  fowls,  as  it  is  a  great  preventive  of 
disease.  Do  not  be  afraid  of  snow  water.  Fowls  will 
always  drink  it  whenever  it  is  convenient,  and  I  have 
never  seen  any  ill  effects  from  it. 


Tour  supply  of  eggs  will  depend  very  much  on  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  food  furnished.  Never  over- 
feed. More  fowls  are  ruined  by  being  over-fed  than 
by  being  fed  too  sparingly.  I  have  often  heard  people 
complain  after  this  style  :  "  My  hensdo  not  lay  worth 
a  cent,  aud  they  have  all  the  corn  they  can  eat." 
Some  fowls  that  have  a  large  range  and  exercise  much 
may  lay  well  if  they  are  stuffed  day  after  day  with 
corn  ;  but  it  is  very  poor  policy  and  economy  to  feed 
in  that  way.  Give  fowls  light  food  and  not  all  they 
can  eat.  A  variety  of  hard  food  (corn,  barley,  wheat, 
buckwheat,  &e.;)  the  principal  supply  should  be  soft 
food,  thoroughly  scalded. 

Corn  and  oats  ground  together,  such  as  is  com- 
monly used  for  horse  feed,  and  wheat  bran  (the 
coarsest),  mixed  in  equal  portions  by  measure,  well 
scalded,  is  the  best  and  most  economical  food  that  can 
be  used.  Give  this  in  the  morning,  and  grain  sparingly 
at  night.  Never  feed  old  fowls  oftener  than  twice  a 
day,  and,  if  they  have  fields  to  roam  over,  feed  no 
more  than  half  what  they  would  naturally  eat.  Oc- 
casionally give  them  a  little  ground  mustard,  ginger 
or  pepper  in  their  food,  but  do  not  always  be  doctor- 
ing them.  Follow  these  rules,  and  if  your  fowls  do 
not  lay,  you  may  reasonably  expect  they  never  will. 
The  food  recommended  above  is  also  suitable  for 
youug  chicks,  young  ducks  and  old  ducks,  and,  in 
short,  all  kindsof  poultry.  Neverfeed  raw  mush, do 
not  confine  your  young  chicks  to  a  steady  diet  of  raw 
meal  and  cold  water.  On  a  farm,  where  they  have 
unlimited  range,  they  may  do  well ;  but  cracked  corn 
is  far  belter,  and  should  be  alternated  with  the  soft 
food.  Boiled  eggs  for  young  chicks  can  be  dispensed 
with  ;  they  are  too  expensive,  and  the  scalded  food  an- 
swers every  purpose.  Remember  that  much  depends 
on  the  proper  manner  of  feeding. — /.  1'.  Bicknell, 
Westmoreland,  N.  Y. 


Neatness  in  Making  Butter. 

The  Practical  Farmer  says  it  is  admitted  by  butter 
makers  of  extensive  experience  that  impurities  and 
noxious  odors  in  the  atmosphere  where  cream  is 
rising  will  injure  the  flavor  of  the  butter.  We  recol- 
lect that  a  neighbor  killed  a  skunk  more  than  a  hun- 
dred rods  distant,  and  the  offensive  and  pungent  odor 
from  the  dead  animal  was  wafted  during  the  entire 
day  toward  the  pantry,  in  which  there  were  several 
pans  of  milk.  The  butter  made  of  that  cream  tasted 
so  offensively  of  the  odor  of  that  skunk  that  it  could 
not  be  used  for  culinary  purposes.  X.  A.  Williard 
writes  on  this  subject,  that  "  when  milkers  are  al- 
lowed to  come  directly  from  the  stable  to  the  milk- 
room,  it  will  be  impossible  to  keep  the  latter  sweet 
and  clean  for  the  time  being." 

There  are  hundreds  of  butter  makers,  we  are 
aware,  on  whom  the  importance  of  this  Single  point 
cannot  be  too  strongly  urged,  since  they  often  con- 
sider many  little  things  of  this  kind  in  regard  to 
dairy  management  too  insignificant  to  merit  atten- 
tion. But  in  butter  making  the  observance  of  little 
things  is  often  the  great  secret  of  success. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  immense  quantities  of  poor 
butter  are  made  from  the  milk  set  in  improper  places. 
The  kitchen  pantry,  the  living  room  and  cellar  used 
to  store  vegetables  and 'other  family  supplies,  will 
impart  peculiar  taints  to  the  milk  and  cream,  in  such 
a  degree  as  to  be  destructive  to  fiavor,  even  though 
the  butter  in  other  respects  be  skillfully  handled. 
Dairy  rooms  so  situate  as  to  catch  the  odor  from  the 
pig-stye,  the  cess-pool,  or  other  decomposing  filth, 
cannot  be  used  for  making  good  butter.  There 
should  be  a  freedom  from  filth  and  impurities  of 
every  description  about  the  milk-house,  and  the  milk 
should  be  delivered  by  the  milkers  in  au  ante-room, 
or  some  point  outside  the  milk-room,  and  from 
thence  conveyed  to  the  place  where  it  is  to  be  set  for 
cream.  In  this  way  the  fumes  and  the  litter  from 
the  stable  may  be  kept  from  the  milk-room. 

The  causes  of  poor  butter  are  various,  the  most 
important  of  which  are  lack  of  cleanliness,  the  want 
of  proper  dairy  utensils,  the  need  of  a  good  dairy- 
room  or  place  for  settingthe  milk,neglectin  manipu- 
lating the  cream  at  the  right  time,  unskillful  work- 
ing, packing,  and  storing  the  butter,  and  finally, 
lack  of  knowledge  in  part  or  whole  of  the  process  re- 
quired for  making  a  prime  article. 


Destroying  Weeds. 

July  and  August,  says  the  Sural  New  Yorker,  are 
probably  the  best  months  in  the  year  for  destroying 
weeds.  The  summer  heats  are  at  their  fiercest,  and 
all  annual  weeds  cut  down  at  the  root  speedily 
wither  aud  die.  The  tougher  perennials  have  made 
their  growth  for  the  season,  and  have  nearly  perfect- 
ed their  seed.  The  root  then  has  least  vitality,  and 
if  the  top  be  cut  off  a  feebler  effort  is  made  to  repro- 
duce it,  especially  if  the  weeds  grow  in  a  tough  sod 
of  grass.  We  have  known  frequent  mowing  of  this- 
tles in  sod  to  reduce  the  vitality  of  the  patch  so  much 
that  it  would  produce  only  here  and  there  a  stalk, 
until  the  field  was  plowed  again. 

In  the  growing  corn,  August  is,  of  all  months, 
the  time  to  destroy  Canadian  thistles  and  quack. 
Keep  the  plant  down  as  much  as  possible  early  in  the 
season  ;  then,  as  the  corn  begins  to  tassel  out,  go 
through  with  a  light  hoe  and  cut  every  spear  of 
thistle  and  pull  up  every  blade  of  quack,  with  all  the 


root  that  can  be  got  attached.  The  quack  should  be 
put  in  heaps  and  burned,  but  the  thistle  root  will  sel- 
dom if  every  start  again,  and  pulling  up  at  this  sea- 
son of  the  year,  or  even  cutting  off,  is  final  and  cer- 
tain destruction.  The  cost  of  doing  this  is  not  large, 
varying  with  prices  of  labor  and  abundance  of 
weeds  ;  but  we  are  satisfied  that  it  is  always  a  profit- 
able operation  on  all  land  foul  with  thistles.  We 
have  repeatedly  had  the  cost  more  than  repaid,  not 
only  in  the  corn  crop,  but  in  the  succeeding  oats  and 
barley,  besides  leaving  the  land  cleaner  for  years 
thereafter. 


Worms  in  Fowls. 

Some  year*  ago  I  had  several  fowls  drooping  .about 
with  all  the  symptoms  of  cholera,  except  that  they 
lingered  for  a  longer  period.  After  experimenting 
with  almost  every  known  remedy,  I  at  length  deter- 
mined to  make  a  poxt  mortem  examination,  and,  if 
possible,  determine  the  cause.  Accordingly  I  pro- 
ceeded carefully,  that  nothing  should  escape  my 
notice.  Arriving  at  the  intestines,  I  found  that  the 
entire  lining  was  apparently  removed,  and  they  con- 
tained no  less  than  fifty  worms,  about  two  inches  in 
length  and  as  thick  as  an  ordinary  knitting  needle, 
both  ends  coming  to  a  point  like  a  pin.  They  were 
white  in  color  and  .as  tough  as  sinews.  I  then  gave  the 
remaining  fowls  close  attention,  and  frequently  saw 
that  as  soon  as  they  passed  from  one  fowl  another 
would  hastily  swallow  them,  and,  I  doubt  not,  would 
soon  become  affected.  At  length  I  hit  on  the  follow- 
ing remedy  :  After  they  had  gone  to  roost  I  made  a 
strong  tea  of  common  worm  seed,  and  gave  each  one 
about  three  tablespoonfuls.  Early  next  morning, 
before  they  had  left  the  perches,  I  removed  the  drop- 
ping from  beneath  them  and  found  it  literally  alive 
with  worms.  I  again  dosed  them  on  the  following 
evening ;  this  time  they  did  not  expel  so  large  a 
quantity.  I  then  began  feeding  them  wheat  shorts 
and  bran,  adding  a  little  stimulant,  and  carefully 
avoiding  anything  that  had  a  tendency  to  irritate  the 
intestines.  In  the  course  of  a  week  they  were  seem- 
ingly as  lively  as  ever.  Since  then  I  have  found,  on 
several  occasions,  small,  conical  worms  in  turkeys  in 
great  numbers,  and  am  of  the  opinion  that  thousands 
die  from  this  cause,  while  it  is  attributed  to  cholera. 
The  symptoms  from  which  I  detect  it  are  from  their 
slow,  stiff,  crampish  movements,  and  disorderly,  sor- 
rowful appearance. — Ex. 


Manure  for  Grass. 

No  crop  gets  less  attention  than  grass.  If  manured 
at  all,  it  is  only  incidentally  with  some  other  crop — 
rarely  for  itself  alone.  Corn,  wheat  and  barley  get 
the  liianure,  and  when  seeded  the  young  clover  takes 
what  is  left.  After  this,  if  the  field  be  pastured,  the 
droppings  of  animals  left  in  lumps  over  the  field  are 
all  that  the  lands  get  till  they  are  plowed  again.  This 
is  considered  improving  the  soil ;  and  it  is.  No  mat- 
ter how  mismanaged,  clover  is  a  benefit,  and  what- 
ever else  he  may  do,  the  farmer  who  sows  and  grows 
clover  is  making  his  farm  better.  What,  then,  might 
not  the  result  be  if  the  same  care  were  taken  of  the 
clover'field  as  of  other  crops  ?  It  does  not  need  cul- 
tivation ;  the  long  deep  reaching  roots  mellow  and 
pulverize  the  soil  as  nothing  else  can.  If  the  clover 
grows  thriftily,  the  top  acts  as  a  mulch,  shading  the 
ground  and  keeping  it  moist.  A  crop  of  two  tons  or 
more  of  clover,  whether  plowed  under  or  cut  for  hay, 
can  hardly  fail  to  leave  the  soil  better  than  it  was  be- 
fore. It  should  be  the  farmer's  aim  to  grow  the  largest 
possible  crops  of  clover.  A  slight  dressing  of  gypsum 
—one  hundred  pounds  per  acre  in  early  spring — often 
produces  wonderful  results.  But  if  a  farmer  has  a 
little  well-rotted  manure,  in  scrapings  of  barn  yards, 
fall  is  the  time  to  apply  it.  Clover  is  often  injured  by 
freezing  and  thawing  winters,  and  a  very  slight  cover- 
ing of  manure  will  afford  a  great  deal  of  protection. 
Riih  earth  from  the  corner  of  fences  is  well  worth 
drawing  a  short  distance  on  young  clover,  provided 
that  the  ground  is  hard  and  firm.  If  the  field  is  not 
to  be  mowed  next  season,  coarse  manure  can  be  used. 
— Prairie  Farmer. 


To  Fix  or  to  Lift  a  Gate-post. 

The  following  is  an  excellent  plan  of  setting  a  post 
for  a  gate  or  fence  firmly  in  the  ground  i  When  the 
post-hole  is  dug,  a  flat  stone  is  laid  in  the  bottom, 
against  the  side  upon  which  the  strain  upon  the  post 
causes  it  to  press.  The  stone  receives  the  pressure, 
and  having  a  larger  surface  than  the  post,  is  not  so 
apt  to  work  into  Ihe  earth  at  times  when  it  may  be 
wet  and  soft.  When  the  post  has  been  placed,  and 
the  post-hole  nearly  filled  with  earth,  another  stone  is 
laid  against  it  upon  the  side  towards  which  it  is  drawn 
by  the  weight  of  the  gate  or  fence.  The  use  of  the  stone 
distributes  the  pressure  over  a  greater  space,  and  there 
is  much  less  tendency  for  the  post  to  work  loose. 
When  a  post  is  to  be  moved,  it  may  be  readily  drawn 
out  of  the  earth  by  fastening  a  chain  or  rope  around 
the  bottom  of  it,  and  carrying  it  over  a  stake  or  a 
piece  of  plank  if  nothing  better  is  to  be  procured,  and 
then  hitching  the  team  to  it.  A  large  portion  of  the 
force  of  the  team  is  changed  in  its  direction  to  an  up- 
ward one,  and  this  is  generally  sufficient  to  lift  the 
post.  Small  stumps,  or  partly  decayed  large  ones, 
may  be  lifted  out  of  the  ground  in  the  same  manner. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


79 


Advantages  of  Drainage. 

Wliat  ai'f  tlie  t'llVcts  of  ilniinairc  !  Tlioroiii;'!  drain- 
age (leopens  the  soil.  Of  wliat  use  is  it  to  plow  deep 
anJ  manure  heavily,  while  the  soil  is  full  of  water? 
The  roots  of  plants  will  not  iro  down  into  stagnant 
water  ;  tlie  elements  of  plant  food  are  not  all  on  the 
surfaee,  many  of  them  have  heen  washed  down  hy  the 
rains,  some  of  tliem  are  fotind  in  the  decomposing 
roeks  themselves.  Take  away  tlie  water  and  t  he  roots 
will  find  them. 

Drainasre  lenirthens  the  seasons.  In  our  elimate 
this  is  an  important  point  to  tie  irained.  If  by  drain- 
age, one  or  two  weeks  eoiild  lie  i;ained,  it  woidd  he 
quite  a  relief  in  our  liaekward  spriniis,  when  there  is 
BO  much  to  he  di>ne  in  ,so  short  a  spai'e  of  time. 

Drainage  inereases  the  cll'eet  of  the  applieation  of 
manure  ;  the  soil  heins  dryiT,  is  more  easily  worked 
line  ;  the  manure  is  also  more  evenly  distritmted.  The 
water  also  passinir  throuu'h  the  soil,  earrii's  ferlilizin); 
matter  down  to  the  roots  of  the  plants.  When  there 
is  stagnant  water,  manure  must  decompose  slowly,  if 
at  all  ;  hut  let  tlu'  water  pass  otf,  the  air  is  admitted, 
and  deeomiKtsition  takes  place. 

What  ohscrvini;-  num  is  there  who  does  not  know 
that  his  crojjs  are  improved  in  quality  hy  drainage? 
Sweet  Knglish  grass  and  clover  take  the  place  of  sedge 
and  rushes. — Maxs.  I'lomnan. 

-^  

Don't  Use  the  Hatchet  or  Saw. 

Of  all  the  blunders,  says  the  (tariJoifr'x  Monthly, 
that  the  common  farmer  and  some  others  make  with 
trees,  none  is  so  common  or  so  hurtful,  anil  whii'h  he 
is  so  long  finding  out,  and  of  which  he  might  know 
so  certainly,  as  the  practice  of  the  cutting  of  lower 
limbs.  All  over  the  country  nothing  is  more  com- 
mon than  to  see  tlie  mutilated  trees  on  almost  every 
farm.  Kig  limbs  cut  otl'  near  the  lioily  of  the  tree, 
and  of  course  rotting  to  the  heart.  This  is  a  heart 
sin  against  nature.  The  very  limlis  necessary  to  pro- 
tect the  tree  against  wind  and  sun,  and  just  where 
the  limlis  are  needed  most,  they  are  cut  away.  But 
the  greatest  injury  is  the  rotting  that  always  takes 
place  ;  when  a  big  limb  is  sawed  oft",  too  big  to  heal 
over,  it  must  rot,  and  being  on  the  body,  the  rotting 
goes  to  the  heart  and  hurts  the  whole  tree.  It  is 
common  all  over  the  country  to  see  large  orchards 
mutilated  in  this  way.  We  often  see  holes  in  the 
trees  where  big  limbs  have  been  cut  away,  where 
squirrels  and  even  raccoons  could  crawl  in.  Perhaps 
the  only  reason  these  trimmers  would  give  is  that  the 
lower  limbs  were  easiest  got  at,  and  some  would  say 
they  wanted  to  raise  a  crop  under  the  tree. 


L 


Our  Nut-Bearing  Trees. 

The  Cultivator  and  Country  Gentleman  gives  the 
following  sensible  hints  on  a  subject  which  all  farmer.s 
ought  to  take  into  serious  consideration  :  "  While 
much  attention  is  properly  given  to  the  improvement 
of  varieties  of  apples,  pears,  grapes,  and  other  fruits, 
new  and  improved  hickory  nuts  and  chestnuts  have 
scarcely  received  attention.  Some  nut-bearing  trees 
are  much  more  productive  than  others.  This  is  a 
quality  which  should  be  sought  in  producing  new 
varieties.  We  have  seen  hickory  nuts  twice  as  large 
as  the  average  and  with  shells  almost  as  thin  as  the 
thin  shelled  "almond.  These  characters  should  be 
specially  aimed  for,  while  the  tlavor  is  all  important. 
Some  years  ago  Dr.  Long,  of  Alton,  exhibited  chest- 
nut burrs,  from  a  tree  of  his  own  raising,  each  con- 
taining seven  perfect  nuts.  One  reason  why  raising 
nuts  has  not  been  profitable  is,  doubtless,  taking  the 
trees  at  random,  without  any  attempt  to  secure  the 
very  best.  If  such  men  as  Win  Mons  or  Knight 
should  take  hold  of  this  matter  they  might  possibly 
give  us  some  entirely  new  sorts  of  nut-bearing  trees 
of  great  value." 

How  to  Pour  Tea. 

There  is  more  to  be  learned  about  pouring  out  tea 
and  coflee  than  most  ladies  are  willing  to  believe.  If 
those  decoctions  are  made  at  the  table,  which  is  by 
far  the  best  way,  they  require  experience,  judgment 
and  exactness  ;  if  tliev  are  brought  on  the  table  ready 
made,  it  still  requires  good  judgment  so  to  apportion 
them  that  they  shall  prove  sufficient  in  quantity  for 
the  family  party,  and  that  the  elder  members  shall 
have  the  stronger  cups.  Often  persons  pour  out  tea 
who,  not  being  at  all  aware  that  the  first  cup  is  the 
weakest,  and  tea  grows  stronger  as  you  proceed,  be- 
stow the  poorest  cup  upon  the  greatest  stranger  and 
give  the  strongest  to  a  very  young  member  of  the 
family,  who  would  have  lieen  better  without  any. 
Where  several  cups  of  equal  strength  are  wanted 
you  should  pour  a  little  into  each,  and  then  go  back, 
inverting  the  order  as  you  fill  them  up,  and  then  the 
strength  will  be  apportioned  properly.  This  is  so 
well  understood  in  England  that  an  experienced 
pourer  of  tea  waits  till  all  the  cups  of  the  company 
are  returned  to  her  before  slie  fills  any  a  second  time, 
that  all  may  share  alike. — 1  louaekecper . 
^ 

Dky  buckwheat  flour,  if  repeatedly  applied,  will 
remove  entirely  the  worst  grease  spots  on  carpets  or 
woolen  cloth,  and  will  answer  as  well  as  French 
chalk  for  grease  spots  on  silk. 


White  and  Red  Wheat. 

It  is  said  that  the  hard  wheats  arc  natives  of  warm 
climates — such  as  Italy,  Sicily  and  liarliary.  The 
soft  wheats  from  northern  cliinales — such  as  Eng- 
laiiil,  Kiissia,  Belgium,  Denmark,  and  .Sweden.  There 
is,  however,  one  except  ion  to  this  general  rule,  as  the 
celebrated  Polish  wheat  is  hard,  and  from  this  reason 
it  is  contended  that  it  is  not  a  native  of  Pnbiiid,  but 
was  introduced  here  from  some  miliier  cliniiite.  The 
Kiurlish  atmosphere  is  so  humid  that  it  is  impossible 
to  ripen  wheat  hard,  but  in  many  cases  it  rciiuires 
artilieial  heat  to  lianlcii  it  before  it  can  be  ground 
into  Hour.  Dilh'rcnt  soils  and  climates  nuiterbilly 
chauirc  the  nature  and  variety  of  wheat.  The  dltl'er- 
enee  between  red  and  white  wheat  is  not  in  variety, 
but  is  owing  chielly  t(i  the  variety  of  soil  on  which  it 
is  grown.  .\  generous  dressing  of  wood  ashes  applied 
to  the  growing  wheat  in  the  former  part  of  the  grow- 
ing season  will  exert  an  excellent  inllueiice  in  render- 
ing wheat  of  a  lighter  <-olor  than  it  would  be  without 
jiotash.  Lime  is  excellent,  also  for  the  same  pur- 
pose.— X.  Y.    Tritiinii . 

Cutting  and  Curing  Tobacco. 

The  Vnitnt  Statca  Tolntrco  Jotirunl  makes  the  fol- 
lowing statement  of  some  experiments  which  have 
been  made  in  some  of  the  tobacco  producing  districts 
of  (ierinany  (Scheoien  and  Pflatz)  with  decided  suc- 
cess. .\t  the  time  the  plant  is  ready  for  cutting, 
judgment  should  be  used  in  determining  the  body 
and  texture  the  leaves  possess  at  such  time.  If  the 
leaf  should  be  of  a  flimsy,  weak  character,  the  whole 
stock,  including  the  root,  should  be  extracted  and 
nailed  or  hung  up  in  the  barns,  with  tlie  tips  of  the 
leaves  hanging  downward.  This  will  irreatly  beuctit 
the  leaves,  as  the  sap  contained  in  the  root  will 
gradually  dift'iise  itself  into  the  leaves,  and  add  con- 
siderable to  their  strength  and  the  coming  successful 
sweating  jirocess.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  leaves 
shouhl  be  of  a  heavy  character,  then  only  the  leaves 
should  be  cut  and  hung  up.  This  will  reduce  the 
surplus  of  sap,  deprive  the  leaf  of  any  accumulation 
of  strength,  turn  out  to  be  of  a  thinner  and  more  de- 
sirable texture  after  sweating. 


Sunlight. 

Any  lady  who  keeps  house-plants  knows  enough 
to  keep  them  where  they  will  get  the  benefit  of  the 
sunlight.  You  may  look  at  the  lilies,  roses,  pinks, 
and  dahlias,  of  your  flower-garden,  and  you  will 
notice  they  all  have  beautiful  colors.  You  may  rear 
those  same  flowers  in  jilaces  where  the  sunlight  is 
entirely  excluded,  and  keep  them  in  the  dark,  or  sup- 
ply them  with  artificial  light  only,  such  as  candles, 
lamps,  and  gaslight,  and  you  will  find  they  will  not 
have  that  pure,  brilliant  color  which  iiatnre  designed 
they  should  have.  The  same  is  true  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  if  they  are  deprived  of  sunlight. 
Demonstrations  of  this  fact  may  he  seen  in  your 
fashionable  parlors,  where  women  and  children 
spend  most  of  their  time,  and  the  windows  are  kept 
blinded  to  keep  out  the  sunlight  for  fear  it  might 
injure  the   carpet. — /fall's  Journal  of  Health. 


Boxwood  Edgings. 

In  the  spring  move  back  the  soil  and  gravel,  roll 
the  walks  nicely,  and  they  look  as  dean  and  fresh  as 
if  new.  Before  finishing  the  walks,  clip  the  edgings 
so  as  to  have  them  only  six  or  eight  inches  high. 
Treated  in  this  way,  the  top  of  the  edging  is  some- 
times slightly  frosted,  but  no  more  is  injured  than  is 
desirable  to  cut  off  in  cliiiiiing.  I  have  practiced  this 
method,  says  a  correspondent  in  the  I'ractieal  Far- 
mer, and  have  seen  others  do  the  same  for  two  score 
years,  and  have  never  seen  a  failure  with  it.  For  di- 
viding walks  from  beds,  both  in  the  kitchen  and 
flower  garden,  no  other  edging  is  as  good  or  as  last- 
ing as  this.  It  should  never  be  allowed  to  grow  more 
than  ten  inches  high,  and  .six  inches  high  and  thick 
is  better.  When  over  a  foot  high  and  thick,  it  looks 
clum.sy,  injures  the  crops  near  it,  and  injures  the  ap- 
pearance of  both  walks  and  beds. 


Calla  Lilies. 

Jfrs.  Rollin  Smith,  of  Swanton,  Vt.,  writes  to  the 
Burlington  /■>«■  I'resix  as  follows  :  "Since  the  notice 
in  the  Free  I'ress  recently  of  my  possessing  a  con- 
tinual blooming  calla,  I  have  received  several  letters 
from  ditrereiit  parts  of  the  State,  asking  me  for  the 
treatment  which  produces  such  favorabte  results.  I 
use  a  four  gallon  jar,  and  give  an  eastern  exposure. 
In  the  summer  I  keep  it  wet  enough  so  tin'  water  may 
stand  on  the  top,  and  at  all  times  very  wet.  Once  a 
year  1  take  the  plant,  shake  the  earth  fromllie  roots, 
and  fill  the  jar  with  earth  taken  from  under  old  sod. 
.\s  soon  as  a  blossom  commences  to  wither  I  cut  it 
down,  never  allowing  a  flower  to  die  on  the  plant. 
The  result  is,  in  sixteen  months  1  have  had  eighteen 
blossoms  on  the  same  plant .  and  at  the  present  time 
it  has  two  very  large  full  lilossoms." 


Early    Tomatoes. 

To  get  early  toniatoi'S,  says  a  writer  on  the  subjeil, 
you  must,  as  siKin  as  your  tomato  plant  lias  niaile 
four  leaves,  pinch  the  top  Initl  IVoiii  the  stem,  then 
take  up  the  plant  and  transplant  it  In  a  common  Imix 
frame,  where  the  ground  is  rich  and  loamy.  The 
Ikix  will  keep  aXX  the  wind,  and  plants  sown  and 
LCrowii  there  eiirhlecn  iiiehch  apart  will  produce  fruit 
two  weeks  earlier  than  the  same  plaiitctl  In  the  o|M-n 
irround.  A  mat  or  a  few  iMiards  spreail  over  thi^ 
frame  at  night  will  keep  them  froin  frost,  and  in  far 
easier  and  quicker  than  L'oing  over  a  flild  nightly  and 
setting  Ixixes  over  ea<-h  hill.  .\s  soiui  as  the  plants 
set  fruit  on  two  blosHoniH  of  each  brain  h,  and  the 
top  lias  grown  two  or  four  leaves,  the  pinching  off  of 
the  top  of  each  braiieli  should  Ih>  again  put  in 
jiractice. 

Death  of  a  Famous  Horse. 
The  death  of  the  celebrated  horse  llainbletonlnn 
will  be  regretted  almost  as  if  the  brute  hud  been  a 
human  being.  The  sire  of  some  of  the  \w»l  horses  In 
the  land,  his  name  has  been  familiar  to  all  lovers  of 
animals  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Other  horses 
have  trotted  fasti-r  than  he  did,  but  It  is  doubtful 
wbethe;'  this  would  be  true  If  he  hail  been  given  to 
the  turf  as  other  animals  have  la-en.  While  yet  a 
mere  colt  he  trotleil  a  mile  in  3;W5  ;  hut  he  wa» 
never  trained  to  his  best  sjieed.  His  owners  have 
preferred  to  maki'  lilin  useful  In  improving  the  breed 
of  horses  in  this  country,  and  his  deseendanls  consti- 
tute to-day  the  very  best  stock  we  have.  lie  hasdle<I 
at  thi'  age  of  tW4'nty-seven  yt'ars,  and  his  skin  is  to 
be  stuffed  for  houorable  exhibition  in  Central  Park. 


New  Potatoes. 
This  season  is  redolent  of  new  varieties  of  tlie  po- 
tato, all  of  which  arc  erai  ked  up  by  the  crackers-up 
to  supersede  aiiytliini.'  Iiitherto  known.  .lust  so. 
Faruu'is,  who  will  not  Miiishlheir  planting  for  some 
days  to  come  yet,  arc  t<x>  shrewd  to  be  taken  in  by 
new  sorts  at  exhorbitant  prices,  without  |x>ssesHing 
some  accurate  kiatwledge  of  their  qualify  and  pro- 
iluelivcncss.  It  would  hi'  rather  inoiiolonons  for  us 
to  reccMuinend  again  the  cultivation  of  the  White 
Peachblow — ^just  as  niuih  so  as  the  Springfield 
Hepnhliean  nominating  Charles  Francis  Adams  for 
every  important  political  [xist  that  looms  up — but  we 
shall  engage  no  other  for  our  next  winter  s  supply, 
even  though  we  pay  twenty-Hvc  per  cent,  advance  on 
all  others  in  its  market. — Oermanloicn  Telegraph. 


Fakm  laborers  in  ^^■rmont  arecngagingthemselves 
at  S1.5  per  mouth  and  board,  where  last  year  *25wa« 
paid. 


Planting  Gardens  Early. 
.\  great  many  people  |)lanl  their  gardens  too  early. 
A  few  warm  days  always  cause  [K'ople  to  think  they 
had  better  plant  many  vegetables  that  would  do  U-t- 
ter  if  planted  two  or  three  weeks  later.  .\t  the  .South 
gardens  may  be  planted  in  .March  and  April,  liut  at 
the  North  but  few  things  should  be  planted  before 
May.  Lettuce,  onions,  beets,  and  peas  arc  the  first 
to  go  in,  to  be  followed  in  two  or  three  weekr'with 
sweet  corn,  beans,  melons,  iVre.  In  the  .States  extend- 
ing from  Delaware  to  .Maine,  not  a  hill  of  corn,  Iwans 
or  melons  should  be  planted  before  May  1.51  h,  and  in 
cold  springs  it  would  be  better  to  plant  such  things 
about  .May  2.5. 

Whitewash. 

The  following  reci|K"  for  whitewash  Is  recom- 
mended bv  the  Scientific  American.  It  answers  for 
wood,  brick  or  stone  :  Slake  about  one-half  bushel 
unslaked  lime  with  boiling  water,  keeping  it  covere<l 
during  the  process.  Strain  it  and  add  a  peck  of  salt 
dissolved  in  warm  water,  three  pounds  of  ground  rice 
put  in  lioiling  water  and  boiled  to  a  thin  paste,  one- 
half  pound  powdered  Spanish  whiting  and  one  |)Ound 
clear  glue  dissolved  in  warm  water.  .Mix  these  well 
together,  and  let  thi'  niix'ure  stand  for  several  days. 
Keep  the  wash  thus  prepared  In  a  kettle  or  |>ortable 
furnace,  and  when  used  put  it  on  as  hot  as  possible 
with  either  painters'  or  whitewash  brushes. 

Poultry  Manure. 
Fifty  fowls  will  make  in  the  roosting  house  alone, 
10  cwt.  per  annum  of  the  licst  manure  in  the  world. 
Hence  fiftv  fowls  make  more  than  enough  manure  for 
an  acre  of  land,  7  cwt .  of  guano  being  the  usual  quan- 
tity applied  lH>r  acre,  and  poultry  manure  being  even 
richer  than  guano  in  ammonia  and  fertilizing  salt*. 
No  other  stink  will  give  an  equal  return  in  this  way, 
and  the  Hi.'urcs  will  demand  careful  attention  from 
the  large  farmer.  The  manure,  before  using,  should 
be  mixed  with  twice  ifsbiilk  of  earth  and  then  allowetl 
to  stand  in  a  heap  covered  with  a  few  inches  of  earth, 
till  decomposed  throughout,  »  hi-u  it  makes  tlie  very 
best  of  manure  that  can  be  had. 

A  SIMPLE  and  ingenious  microBeojic  Is  succcbIcmI 
by  a  writer  in  the  Scienliflc  .Ihici-iciii.  Two  metallic 
strips  form  a  sort  of  foreep,  In  which  two  holes  arc 
bored  op|>oslte  each  other  ;  a  di-op  of  glycerine  is  put 
in  each  of  these  holes,  and  t  he  drops  act  as  convex 
lenses,  which  can  be  adjusted  at  will  by  pressing  the 
strips  together. 


80 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[May, 


Jefferson's  Ten  Practical  Rules  of  Life. 

1.  Never  put  off  till  to-morrow  what  cau  be  done 
to-day. 

2.  Never  trouble  others  to  do  what  you  can  do 
yourself. 

3.  Never  spend  vour  money  before  you  have  it. 

4.  Never  buy  what  you  do  not  want  because  it  is 
cheap. 

.5.  Pride  costs  as  much  as  hunger,  cold  and  thirst. 
fi.  We  never  repent  of  eating  too  little. 

7.  Nothing  is  troublesome  that  we  do  willingly. 

8.  How  much  pain  those  evils  cost  us  thiit  never 
happen. 

9.  Take  things  by  their  smooth  handle. 

10.  When  angry,  always  couut  ten  before  you  speak. 


Root  Pruning  and  Blight. 
K.  A.  Riehl,  acultivator  of  much  experience,  states 
in  Caiman's  Rural  World  that  he  has  found  root 
pruning  an  efficient  nreventive  of  Are  blight,  if  prop- 
erly performed .  He  says  he  has  root-pruned  trees  in 
summer  that  were  blighting  and  immediately  checked 
the  disease  ;  and  he  has  known  it  to  be  equally  suc- 
cessful with  otliers.  He  remarks  that  in  all  cases 
where  unsuccessful,  it  has  not  been  efficiently  per- 
formed, the  roots  being  either  not  cut  at  all,  or  cut  too 
far  from  the  base  of  the  truiilj.  For  medium  sized 
trees  he  cuts  about  two  feet  off,  and  goes  deep  enough 
to  sever  the  principal  roots.  He  recommends  early 
spring  as  the  best  time . 

Hyacinths  in  Glasses. 

These  may  be  put  in  water  now.  The  bulb  should 
be  placed,  in  the  lirst  instance,  with  its  lower  end  not 
quite  in  contact  with  the  water,  and  should  be  pure 
rain  or  pond  water,  and  need  not  be  changed  unless 
it  becomes  offensive.  When  the  bulbs  are  in  glasses, 
they  should  be  set  in  a  dark  place  for  about  a  mouth, 
then  gradually  inured  to  the  light,  filling  up  the 
glasses  at  the  water  subsides.  The  bulbs  will  (lower 
in  the  greatest  perfection  if  placed  in  a  cool,  airy  situ- 
ation, well  exposed  to  sunlight  ;  but  it  is  usually  de- 
sirable to  place  some  at  leas't  in  a  warm  iilaee,  to  ac- 
celerate the  flower's  period . 


The  Crops  in  Illinois, 

A  Cairo,  111.,  despatch  states  that  the  peach  crops 
of  Southern  Illinois,  if  no  more  frosts  occur,  will  be 
a  decided  success.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the  buds 
have  suffered  thus  far.  The  early  red  apples  are  all 
destroyed, but  other  varieties  are  uninjured.  On  tlic 
level  prairies  the  wheat  prospects  are  poor,  but  in  the 
rolling  and  timber  lands  the  crops  will  be  as  good  as 
usual.  The  farmers  express  the  opinion  that  there 
will  be  no  trouble  from  the  chinch  bug  this  year. 


Care  of  Fowls. 

In  caring  for  your  fowls  provide  them  with  a  vessel 
of  lime  water  for  an  occasional  drink.  It  is  prepared 
by  pouring  hot  water  over  quick-lime,  and  alter  the 
lime  is  settled  and  the  water  covering  it  has  become 
clear,  pour  it  off.  It  will  keep  fit  for  use  for  a  con- 
siderable time .  

Farmers'  Fruit  Cake. 

One  pound  of  fat  pork,  cliopped  fine;  one  pint  of 
boiling  water  ;  one  pound  of  raisins ;  one  pound  of 
currants  ;  five  cups  of  sugar  ;  one  pint  of  molasses  ; 
ten  cupsful  of  flour  ;  cinnamon,  cloves  and  nutmeg; 
two  teaspoousful  of  soda  ;  fourteaspoonsful  of  cream 
of  tartar  ;  citron  if  you  choose. 

^ 

Biting  the  Nails. 

Try  rubbing  the  tips  of  the  child's  fingers  with  bit- 
ter aloes.  It  is  a  sure  cure  for  thumb  sucking  and 
may  be  for  nail  biting. 


Punch  defines  "  fashionable  extremes"  as  "  high 
heels  and  low  forheads." 

The  Grangers  of  the  United  States  have  over  ?18,- 
000,000  invested  in  their  various  enterprises. 

The  cattle  drive  from  Texas  this  year  will  number 
about  ¥S50,000. 

The  hens  of  France  are  said  to  earn  their  owners 
$80,000,000  a  year. 

Dhop  a  piece  of  alum  thC  size  of  a  bean  into  a  pail 
of  water,  and  the  liquid  will  become  as  clear  as 
crystal . 

An  old  farmer  said  to  his  sons,  "  Boys,  don't  you 
ever  speckerlate,  or  wait  for  somethin'  to  turn  up. 
You  might  jest  as  well  go  and  sit  down  on  a  stone  in 
the  middle  of  a  medder  and  wait  for  a  cow  to  back  up 
to  you  to  be  milked." 

The  North  Carolina  Journal  reports  that  in  con- 
sequence of  the  scarcity  of  money  cows  liave  become 
almost  the  medium  of  exchange  in  that  State,  a  thin 
cow  passing  for  $8,  one  in  good  winter  order  for  $10, 
and  a  fat  one  for  $13. 

The  late  Reverdy  Johnson's  estate  includes  1,000 
acres  of  land  in  Anne  Arundel  county,  1,000  acres  in 
Alleghany  couuty,  and  between  500  and   BOO  acres  a 


short  distance  west  of  the  city  of  Baltimore.  The  last 
mcnfioned  tract  is  worth  about  §1,000  an  acre.  Mr. 
.Johnson  had  no  insurance  on  his  life. 

TuE  Scientific  Farmer  admonishes  farmers  not  to 
rush  heedlessly  and  enthusiastically  into  large  expen- 
ditures on  the  special  "  formula  fertilizers,"  but  to 
feel  their  way  by  the  trial  of  a  few  acres  at  a  time, 
looking  forward  to  larger  experiments  and  greater 
profits  another  year,  if  the  present  year's  experience 
is  satisfying. 

According  to  the  Nem  England  Farmer,  city  sta- 
ble manure  has  been  sold  during  the  past  winter  at 
prices  considerably  below  those  of  former  years,  pos- 
sibly because  chemical  manures  are  now  competing 
so  generally  with  animal  manures.  The  manure  is 
pressed  into  one-third  of  its  ordinary  bulk  by  means 
of  powerful  machinery,  and  the  bales  are  transported 
to  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Hon.  .Ioun  Shattuck,  a  noted  dairyman  of  New 
York,  claims  that  a  reildish  yellow  color  on  the  in- 
side of  a  cow's  ear  is  an  infallible  sign  of  a  good  rich 
milker.  Mr.  .J.  W.  North  considers  the  aoiount  of 
the  secrctiOTis  of  the  ear  an  indication  that  the  butter 
will  be  high-colored.  Mr.  Sturtevant,  of  Connecti- 
cut, agrees  with  the  theory  of  judging  a  good  milker 
in  this  way. 

Home-Made  Crackers. — A  good  recipe  :  Half  a 
tea-cup  sliortening,  three  tea-cups  of  cold  water,  one 
teaspoonful  of  soda,  two  teaspoonfuls  of  cream  of 
tartar,  and  nearly  five  quarts  of  flour.  Rub  the 
shortening,  soda,  cream  of  tartar  and  salt,  well  into 
the  flour,  and  wet  up  with  the  water — the  dough  will 
be  very  stiff,  needs  no  pounding  nor  extra  kneading. 
Cut  out,  prick,  and  bake  in  a  quick  oven. 

It  is  said  that  practical  market  gardeners  have 
found  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  make  the  expensive 
preparations  for  the  culture  of  asparagus  which  are 
laid  down  in  the  books.  Some  of  the  best  asparagus 
that  reaches  the  Boston  market  is  grown  on  ground 
that  was  only  in  ordinary  garden  condition  when  the 
plants  were  set,  the  ground  being  spaded  quite  deeply 
enriched  witli  well  rotted  barn  manure,  but  not 
worked  more  than  ten  or  twelve  inches  deep. 

Lime  is  one  of  the  constituents,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  of  all  soils  that  are  capable  of  cultivati(jn. 
All  plants  remove  some  of  the  lime  from  the  soil,  es- 
pecially wheat,  clover,  barley,  oats  and  turnips.  It 
follows  that  unless  the  lime  be  restored,  exhaustion 
will  ensue.  Yet  lime  cannot  strictly  be  said  to  be  a 
manure.  It  is  rather  a  stimulant.  Successive  appli- 
cations of  lime  without  manure  will  only  quicken  the 
exhaustive  process.  As  a  means  of  bringing  back 
run  down  laud,  lime  alone  is  useless.  Its  action  is  to 
decompose  vegetable  matter,  and  to  render  more 
quickly  available  the  plant  that  already  exists  in  the 
soil.  In  this  direction  it  acts  like  magic.  It  follows 
that  the  best  time  to  apply  lime  is  immediately  after 
the  application  of  a  heavy  dressing  of  stable  manure, 
or  after  turning  under  a  green  crop. — Canada  Farmer. 
At  a  recent  horticultural  meeting  at  Nashua  one  of 
the  speakers  gave  the  results  of  his  experience  in 
hedge  planting.  He  advised  a  single  row  hedge,  with 
the  plants  set  about  six  inches  apart.  A  successful 
hedge,  in  his  opinion,  cannot  be  grown  compact  and 
as  it  should  be,  so  filled  with  foliage  and  shoots  that 
a  bird  cannot  get  through,  in  less  than  eight  years. 
It  needs  care  and  watching  and  should  not  be  allowed 
to  grow  too  scraggy  limbs  at  first.  The  roots  of  the 
various  kinds  of  evergreen  should  be  cut  about  every 
spring  and  thus  caused  to  send  out  fresh  sprouts  that 
will  rhake  them  valuable  afterward.  One  difficulty 
experienced  in  cultivating  evergreens  is  that  inexper- 
ienced persons  do  not  set  them  as  deep  in  the  earth  as 
they  should  be.  They  ought  to  he  put  deep  in  the 
earth  and  the  soil  packed  about  them  in  such  a  way 
tliat  the  air  cannot  get  at  their  roots.  If  the  earth  is 
dry  it  should  be  wet  with  one  or  two  pails  full  of 
water  and  mulched. 

Sea-sand  is  largely  used  as  a  fertilizing  agent  by 
the  farmers  of  the  Frencli  coasts  of  Normandy  and 
Brittany,  who  apply  it  at  the  rate  of  3.53  cubic  feet  to 
the  acre,  and  obtain  such  wonderful  results  that  they 
are  able  to  reap  abundant  wheat  crops  for  several 
years  running.  The  sand  is  replete  with  nitrogeneous 
matter.  Tlie  mixture  of  fresh  and  salt  water,  at  tlie 
mouths  of  rivers,  appears  to  favor  the  growth  of  sub- 
marine vegetation.  Crustacea  and  moUusks  of  all 
kinds  get  entangled  in  vast  numbers  in  these  bays, 
and  th'e  most  productive  oyster  beds  are  found  there. 
The  beach  is  covered  l)y  the  remains  of  shell-fish, 
and  the  weed  brought  in  by  the  sea  is  impreg- 
nated by  animal  detritus.  These  deposits,  added 
to  those  derived  from  the  luxuriant  vegetation 
which  covers  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  which  when 
torn  from  the  rocks  by  a  tempest  sometimes  covers 
the  surface  so  densely  as  to  impede  navigation,  con- 
tribute to  the  powerful  fertilizing  qualities  of  the  sea- 
sand,  and  explain  the  results  which  follow  its  use. 

A  cokkespondent  of  the  American.  Agriculturist 
writes  to  impress  on  farmers  the  importance  of  plant- 
ing an  apple  orchard  tliis  spring.  The  old  trees  are 
bearing  less  and  dying  every  year,  and  on  many  farms 
no  successors  are  provided  for.  But  apples  are  as 
likely  to  be  profitable  as  any  fruit  a  farmer  can  in- 
vest in  at  the  present  time,  with  a  prospect  of  mak- 
ing  money  out  of  them  for  the   next  thirty  years. 


They  keep  better  than  almost  any  other  fruit,  and 
can  be  had,  in  the  fresh  state,  in  the  northern  half  of 
the  country  every  day  in  the  year.  Our  soil  and  cli- 
mate are  particularly  well  adapted  to  this  fruit,  and 
American  apples  bring  high  prices  in  the  English 
markets.  Even  in  years  of  exceptional  abundance 
and  low  prices  there  is  compensation  to  the  fruit- 
grower, because  the  cheapness  of  apples  introduces 
them  into  families  where  they  are  commoidy  used  as 
a  luxury,  and  the  fruit  is  so  wholesome  and  enjoy- 
able that  it  becomes  a  necessity.  The  fruit-grower 
wants  steady  paying  prices  for  all  that  he  can  raise 
every  year,  rather  "than  extravagant  profits,  whicli 
induce  everybody  to  rush  into  his  specialty.  Apples 
grow  in  the  older  States  in  as  great  perfection  as  they 
ever  did,  if  the  orchards  are  properly  cared  for.  Nei- 
ther are  the  old  varieties  running  out.  Let  a  few 
standard  varieties  be  planted,  and  nine-tenths  of  them 
the  long-keepers,  and  the  profits  will  be  sure  and 
steady. 


LITERARY   NOTICES. 

Proceedings  op  the  Fifteenth  Session  of 
the  American  Pomological  Society,  held  in 
Chicago,  Illinois,  Sept.  8th,9tii  and  10th,  1875. 
This  is  an  excellently  well  executed  Royal  quarto  of 
2015  pages,  including  51  pages  devoted  to  fruit  cata- 
logues, descriptions  and  copious  indexes,  in  paper 
covers.  The  quality  of  the  paper  and  the  typograjAi- 
cal  execution  are  unexceptionable,  and  the  matter 
of  the  highest  pomological  authority  in  the  country. 
The  proceedings  of  this  society  ought  to  be  in  the 
library  of  every  horticultural  and  fruit-growers'  so- 
ciety in  our  vast  country,  as  a  reference  in  determin- 
ing many  questions  that  could  not  well  be  determined 
without  its  aid,  even  by  those  tolerably  expert  in 
such  matters. 

We  have  only  a  very  temporary  access  to  a  bor- 
rowed copy,  but  should  we  be  fortunate  enough  to 
receive  one  of  our  own  we  shall  avail  ourself  of  the 
opportunity  it  affords  to  make  such  extracts  as  will 
be  suitable  to  this  locality.  Twenty-six  members  are 
citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  but  as  far  as  we  can  dis- 
cover only  two  belong  to  Lancaster  county,  namely  : 
Messrs.  Henry  M.  and  Hiram  Engle,  of  Marietta; 
the  former  of  whom  is  a  member  of  the  "  General 
Fruit  Committee,"  and  the  latter  has  deceased  since 
the  last  session  of  the  society. 

Annual  Report  op  the  Secretary  of  Inter- 
nal Affairs  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania FOR  187-1-5.  Part  3,  vol.  3.  Industrial 
Statistics.  This  is  a  volume  of  .5.56  pages,  of  thesame 
size  as  the  Agricultural  Report,  and  of  equal  quality 
and  mechanical  execution,  and  contains  four  large, 
folded,  and  remarkably  well  executed  illustrations  of 
coke-ovens  and  oil-wells  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
Althougli  perhaps  not  perfect  in  all  of  its  dctiiils,  it  is 
an  improvement  on  former  reports  from  that  ollicc,  and 
contains  an  immense  amount  of  statistical  matter, 
highly  useful  to  the  mercantile,  mechanical,  mining, 
farming  and  domestic  interests  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  should  be  accessible  to  all  interested  in  such 
.affairs.  In  its  distribution  we  would  repeat  the  sug- 
gestions we  have  made  in  reference  to  the  Agricul- 
tural Report ;  although  in  neither  case  do  we  mean 
to  say  that  copies  should  not  be  sent  to  other  than 
those  we  have  designated,  especially  to  the  editors,  or 
at  least  the  agricultural  editors  and"  publishers  of  the 
State.  Copies  of  these  works  should  also  be  placed 
in  the  Congressional  Library,  and  the  Agricultural 
Department,  at  the  city  of  Washington,  as  represen- 
tatives of  the  moral  and  material  statux  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. 

Proceedings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Agricul- 
tural Society.  A  royal  octavo  volume  of  B17  pp. 
— including  61  pp.  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Penmyl- 
vania  Fruit  Oroieers'  Society — on  fine  white  paper,  a 
clear  impression,  and  with  twenty-nine  well  executed 
full-page  plates,  illustrating  horses,  cattle,  sheep, 
swine,  insects,  grapes,  apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums, 
and  dairy  arrangements.  This  is  Volume  10,  and  in- 
cludes the  proceedings  of  1874  and  1875,  the  latter  of 
which  embraces  detailed  reports  of  the  State  Ex- 
hibition held  at  Lancaster  in  October  last,  and  is  by 
far  the  best  volume  published  by  the  Society.  It 
abounds  in  essays  on  agriculture,  horticulture,  bee 
culture,  stock  culture,  entomology,  botany,  and  va- 
rious other  subjects  relating  to  husbandry.  It  also 
contains  all  of  the  transactions  of  the  State  Society 
during  the  years  above  named,  and  ought  to  be  acces- 
sible to  all  the  farmers  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Eight  thousand  three  hundred  copies  have  been 
prfnted ;  and  here  we  would  suggest  that  the  State 
Society,  or  those  charged  with  the  distribution  of  the 
work,  should  send  at  least  one  copy  :  Fir.'it,  to  every 
agricultural  and  horticultural  society  in  the  Com- 
inonwealth  ;  Second,  to  every  scientific  and  literary 
association  ;  and  Third,  to  every  pulilic  library  in  the 
State,  before  any  distribution  of  the  work  is  made 
among  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  as  the  best 
plan  through  which  the  work  cau  be  made  accessible 
to  those  most  interested  in  it,  and  not  merely  a  po- 
litical distribution  among  those  who  may  never  look 
into  it.  If  they  are  not,  these  associations  and  insti- 
tutions onr/ru  to  be  on  record  in  the  Interior  Depart- 
ment, so  that  State  documents  may  be  intelligently 
and  judiciously  distributed. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


THE  GREAT  AMERICAN   ENTERPRISE 
A   GRAND   SUCCESS. 


Hints  to  Centennial  Visitors. 
The  opening  of  the  great  Extiiliitiou  on  tlie  10th 
infit.,  waB  a  grand  &nec<'ss.  Tlie  elonds  of  the  morn- 
ing brokt^  away  at  nine,  anU  the  sun  shone  out  in 
dazzling  Bplendor.  The  eity  was  astir  at  an  early 
hour,  and  tlie  streets  leading  to  the  park  were  soon 
throngeil  with  every  deseription  of  vehicle.  The  street 
cars  were  jammed.  A  eonstant  proeessicm  of  people 
moved  along  the  sidewalks.  The  trains  on  every  road 
hourly  brought  in  their  loads  of  expectant  passengers. 
Philadelphia  wore 

A  Holiday  Appearance. 

As  you  gazed  up  and  down  the  long  streets,  flags 
streamed  from  almost  every  house,  store  and  public 
edifice.  Chestnut  street  was  magnilieent.  For.several 
squares  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Continental,  that  bright 
thoroughfare  was  one  mass  of  gaudy  Ininting.  Every- 
where over  the  whole  city,  from  thousands  of  (lag 
etatVs  waved  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  the  colors  of 
every  civilized  nation  on  the  globe.  Before  nine  the 
people  began  to  pass  through  the  Main  Building  into 
the  space  between  that  and  Memorial  Hall,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  next  hour  occupied  nearly  all  that  vast 
area. 

The  Scene 

at  lOo'clock  was  one  of  unusual  grandeur.  Thereon 
the  immense  platform  on  the  south  side  of  .Memorial 
Hall  sat  the  representative  men  of  a  great  part  of  the 
civilized  world — the  President  of  the  I'nited  States 
and  the  Cabinet,  members  of  Congress,  (lovernors  of 
various  States,  ollicers  of  the  army  and  navy  in  hand- 
some uniform,  foreign  ambassadors  in  their  rich  dceo- 
ratious,  D(mi  Pedro,  of  Brazil,  and  hundreds  of  per- 
sons prominent  in  business,  science  or  olliee.  Away 
across  on  another  jilatforni  just  north  of  the  Main 
Building  sat  Theodore  Thomas'  splendid  orchcstraof 
150  pieces,  and  directly  behind  them  a  chorus  of  one 
thousand  voices.  Between  these  two  platlbrms,  one 
dense  mass  of  human  beings.  Above,  thesunof  .\us- 
terlitz.  All  around,  the  towering  editiecs,  gleaming 
in  glass,  packed  with  the  industry  of  the  busy  earth, 
and  waving  a  gaudy  flag  from  every  pinnacle  in  the 
fresh  breeze.  It  was  an  ennobling  occasion,  never  to 
be  forgotten.  As  the  distinguished  guests  passed  to 
their  places,  cheer  after  cheer  arose  from  the  multi- 
tude.   It  is  now  after  ten,  and  all  is  ready. 

Gen.  Hawley 

waved  his  handkerchief  as  a  signal,  Theodore  Thomas 
took  his  baton,  and  the  orchestra  struck  up  "The 
Washington  March,"  followed  by  the  national  airs  of 
the  principal  countries  of  Europe  and  South  America. 
The  arrival  of  General  Grant  elicited  a  cordial  de- 
monstration. After  the  last  exultant  strains  of  the 
Grand  March,  written  by  Richard  Wagner  and  per- 
formed by  Thomas'  orchestra,  died  away.  Bishop 
Simpson  arose  and  invoked  the  divine  blessing  on  the 
occasion  and  the  exposition,  gratefully  acknowledging 
God's  favor  to  us  in  the  past,  and  imploringthe guid- 
ance of  the  Almighty  in  all  time  to  come.  The  grand 
chorus  then  sang 

The  Centennial  Hymn 

written  by  Jno.  G.  Whittier,  and  set  to  music  by  John 
K.  Payne,  of  Massachusetts.  It  has  a  sweetness  and 
simplicity  that  falls  tenderlj'  on  the  ear.  Perfect 
silence  prevailed  in  the  great  concourse  during  its  per- 
formance. Mr.  John  Welsh,  President  of  the  Board 
of  Finance,  now  arose,  and  expressed  his  gratification 
in  being  able  after  so  many  anxieties  and  dillicultics 
to  present  on  behalf  of  the  Centennial  Board  of  Finance 
these  buildings  for  the  purposes  to  which  they  are  to 
be  devoted. 

Mr.  Dudley  Buck,  of  Connecticut,  then  conducted 
the  singingof  the  Centennial  Cantata,  written  by  Sid- 
ney Lanier,  of  Georgia.  It  is  full  of  energy  and  ex- 
pression, the  music  being  finely  adopted  to  the  sense. 
The  solos  were  sung  by  Jlyrou  W.  Whitney,  of  Bos- 
ton. His  wonderful  bass  was  the  theme  of  general 
admiration.  Besides  its  great  range,  every  note  rang 
in  power  over  that  extended  space.  He  is  equal  in 
volume  to  an  ordinary  chorus. 

The   Presentation 

of  the  exhibition  by  fien.  Joseph  R.  Ilawley,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Commission,  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  the  next  feature  of  the  pro- 
gramme.    The  following  is  Gen.  Hawley's  speech  : 

Mr.  President  :  Five  years  ago  the" President  of 
the  United  States  declared  it  fitting  that  "  the  com- 
pletion of  the  first  century  of  our  national  existence 
should  be  commemorated  by  an  exhibition  of  the 
natural  resources  of  the  country  and  their  develop- 
ment, and  of  its  progress  in  those  arts  which  benefit 
mankind,"  and  ordered  that  an  exhibition  of  Ameri- 
can and  foreign  arts,  products,  and  manufactures 
should  be  held,  under  the  auspices  of  the  tioveriunent 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in 
the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-six.  To  put 
into  ett'ect  the  several  laws  relating  to  the  Exhibition, 
the  United  States  Centennial  Commission  was  consti- 
tuted, composed  of  two  Commissioners  from  each 
State  and  Territory,  nominated  by  their  respective 
Governors,   and   appointed   by  the   President.     The 


Congress  also  created  an  auxiliary  and  associate 
cor]v>ration,  the  Centennial  Board  of  Financo^  whose 
unexpectedly  heavy  burdens  have  lucn  nobly  borne. 
A  remarkable  and  prolonged  disturbance  of  the 
finances  and  induslries  of  the  country  hag  greatly 
magnified  the  task;  hut  wc  hope  for  a  favorable 
judi:ment  of  the  ilcgrec  of  success  attained.  July  1, 
1S7I!,  this  grounil  was  iledleateil  to  Its  present  nsea. 
Twenty-one  months  ago  this  .Memorial  Ilall  was 
begun.  All  the  other  one  hundred  and  eighty  builil- 
ings  within  the  enclosure  have  been  erected  within 
twelvemonths.  .Ml  the  builillngs  einliraeed  in  the 
plans  of  the  Commission  Itself  are  finished.  The  de- 
mands of  applicants  exceeded  the  space,  and  strenu- 
ous and  continuous  cll'orls  have  been  made  to  get 
every  exhibit  ready  in  time. 

By  general  consent  the  Exhibition  is  api)rorplalelv 
heici  in  the  City  of  Brotherly  love.  Vmidir,  almost 
within  your  view,  stanclM  the  venerated  edifice  wherein 
occurred  the  event  this  work  Is  designed  loeommcnio- 
rate,  and  the  hall  in  which  the  first  Continciital  Con- 
gress assembled.  Within  the  present  limits  of  this 
great  park  were  the  homes  of  eminent  jjatriots  of 
that  era,  where  Washington  and  his  asso<'lales  re- 
ceived generous  hospitality  and  able  counsel.  You 
have  observed  the  surpassing  bi-auty  of  the  situation 
placed  at  our  disposal.  In  hannony  with  all  this  Ill- 
ness is  the  liberal  support  given  the  enterprise  by  the 
State,  the  eity,  and  the  people,  ii]dlvi<lually. 

In  thenanu'of  the  I'nltcd  States,  you  extended  a 
respectful  and  cordial  invitation  to  the  governments 
of  other  nations  to  be  rci>resented  and  to  participate 
in  this  Exhibition.  You  know  the  very  acceptable 
terms  in  which  they  responded,  from  even  the  most 
distant  regions.  Their  commissioners  arc  here,  and 
you  will  soon  see  with  what  energy  and  brilliancy 
they  have  cnterinl  upon  this  friendly  competition  iii 
the  arts  of  peace. 

It  has  been  the  fervent  hope  of  the  Commission 
that,  during  this  festival  year,  the  people  from  all 
States  and  sections,  of  all  creeds  and  churches,  all 
parlies  and  classes,  burying  all  resentments,  would 
come  up  together  to  this  birthplace  of  our  liberties, 
to  study  the  evidence  of  our  resources  ;  to  measure 
the  progress  of  an  hundred  years;  and  to  examine 
to  our  profit  the  wimderful  products  of  other  lands  ; 
but  especially  to  join  hands  in  perfect  fraternity  and 
promise  the  (iod  of  our  fathers  that  the  new  century 
shall  surpass  the  old  in  the  true  glories  of  civilization. 
And,  furthermore,  that  from  the  association  here  of 
welcome  visitors  from  all  nations,  there  may  result 
not  alone  great  benefits  to  invention,  manufactures, 
agrieultiu'e,  trade  and  commerce,  but  also  stronger 
international  friendships  and  more  lasting  peace. 

Thus  reporting  to  you  Mr.  President,  under  the 
laws  of  the  government  and  the  usage  of  similar  oc- 
casions, in  the  name  of  the  United  States  Centennial 
Commission,  I  present  to  your  view  the  International 
Exhibition  of  ISTfi. 

This  was  the  most  distinct  address  of  the  occasion, 
and  was  loudly  applauded.     Amid  pfolouged  cheers, 
President  Grant 

now  advanced  to  the  front  of  the  platform  and  read 
his  address  : 

Mv  CouNTRV.MEN  :  It  has  been  the  thought  ap- 
propriate, uj^on  this  Centennial  occasion,  to  bring  to- 
gether in  Philadelphia,  ibr  po|)ular  Inspection,  speci- 
mens of  our  attainments  in  the  industrial  and  fine  arts, 
and  in  literature,  science  and  philosophy,  as  well  as 
in  the  great  business  of  agriculture  and  of  commerce. 

That  we  may  the  more  thoroughly  appreciate  the 
excellencies  and  deficiencies  of  our  achievements,  and 
also  give  emphatic  expression  to  our  earnest  desire  to 
cultivate  the  fiuendsliip  of  our  fellow  members  of  this 
great  family  of  nations,  the  enlightened  agricultural, 
commercial  and  manufacturing  people  ol^  the  world 
have  been  invited  to  send  hither  corresponding  sjieci- 
mens  of  their  skill  to  exhibit  on  equal  terms  in  friendly 
competition  with  our  own.  To  this  invitation  they 
have  generously  responded ;  for  so  doing  we  render 
them  our  hearty  thanks. 

The  beauty  and  utility  of  the  contributions  will  this 
day  be  submitted  to  your  inspection  by  the  Managers 
of  this  Exhibition.  Vk'c  are  glad  to  kn<iw  that  a  view 
of  the  specimens  of  all  nations  will  atlbrd  you  unal- 
loyed pleasure,  as  well  as  yield  to  you  a  valuable 
practical  knowledge  of  so  many  of  the  remarkable  re- 
sults of  the  wonderful  skill  existing  in  enlightened 
communities. 

One  hundred  years  ago  our  country  was  new  and 
but  partially  settled.  Our  necessities  have  compelled 
us  to  chiefly  expend  our  means  and  time  in  felling 
forests,  subduing  prairies,  building  dwellings,  factor- 
ies, ships,  docks,  warehouses,  roads,  canals,  machin- 
ery, etc.,  etc.  Most  of  ourschools,i'hurchcs,  libraries, 
and  asylums  have  been  established  within  an  hundred 
years.  Burthened  by  these  great  primal  works  of 
necessity,  which  could  not  be  delayed,  wc  yet  have 
done  what  this  Exhibition  will  show  in  the  direction 
of  rivaling  older  and  more  advanced  nations  in  law, 
medicine  and  theology  ;  in  science,  literature,  philo- 
sophy and  the  fine  arts.  Whilst  proud  of  what  we 
have  done,  we  regret  that  we  have  not  done  more. 
Our  achievements  have  been  great  enough,  however, 
to  make  It  easy  for  our  people  to  acknowledge  superior 
merit  wherever  found. 

And  now,  fellow-citizens,  I  hope  a  careful  exami- 
nation of  what  is  about  to  be  exhibited  to  you  will  Qot 


only  Inspire  you  with  a  profound  respect  for  the  skill 
ami  taste  of  our  frli'iids  from  oilier  nations,  but  also 
satlslV  yon  with  the  attainments  made  by  our  own  peo- 
ple during  the  past  one  hundred  years.  '  I  Invoke  your 
generous  co-o|M'nitlon  with  the  wortbyeominls.-loncrB 
to  secure  a  brilliant  success  to  this  Inlernatlonal  Ex- 
hibition, and  to  makciheBlayof  ourforeignvlsllon! 

to  whom  we  cxicnd  a  hearty  welcome— Iwlh  profita- 
ble and  pleasant  to  them. 

I  declare  the  Inlernatlonal  Exhibition  now  open. 

At  the  coniluslon  of  the  President's  remarks  the 
flag  was  unfurlid  fr<uii  the  ei  iilral  tower  of  the  Main 
BuildiiiL',  the  i-hoir  took  n|i  tin'  Hallelujah  chorus 
with  orchestral  anil  organ  iiccompanimenl,  the  dls- 
tlngulsed  guests  passed  fnini  the  |ihilforni  Into  the 
Main  Building,  and  the  formal  proeci-dliigs  inaugu- 
rating the  Ex|.o«ltlon  of  IS7II  were  over,  .\fler  mov- 
ing through  the  main  edifice  the  pn)ees«lon  advanced 
to  .Machinery  Mall.  Cnder  the  dlreetlon  rif  (iw.  H. 
Corliss,  the  I'rcsldent  of  the  Cnlted  Stall's  and  Dom 
Pedro  started  the  mammoth  engine,  selling  In  inotlou 
eight  niilcBof  shafting  and  acres  of  nuicliinery.  The 
multltiiile  now  scattered  over  the  grounds,  vlslllne 
the  various  buildings. 

The  Crowd 

was  enormous.  Perhaps  on  no  other  occasion  In  the 
history  of  this  country  have  so  many  people  Iwen 
packed  on  one  si>ot.  'riic  receipts  for  admission  arc 
placed  at  $lllll,(KJO,  which  al  flfly  cenlsaplecc,  makoa 
a)ll,0(ll)  persons.  An  extra  1I),IM)0  must  be  allowed 
for  guesis,  exhibitors,  re[H)rtcrs,  and  workmen.  But 
the  enclosed  grounds— 340  acres- are  so  am[i|e  that 
as  soon  as  the  conclusion  of  the  opening  ceremonies 
allowed  the  disiiersion  of  the  mnltltude,  there  was  at 
once  a  feeling  of  freedom  in  strolling  anywhere. 

Everything  jiassed  olf  smoothly.  No  disorder  and 
good  humor  ruled  the  occasion.  There  was  a  general 
gratlllcation  at  the  forward  state  of  the  exiHisltlon, 
the  immensity  of  the  buildings,  and  the  variety  of 
the  disiilay.  America  has  e.vcry  reason  to  he  proud 
of  this  spleiidlil  ent<>rprise.  To  the  brave  men  who 
have  so  galbinlly  borne  the  burden  of  the  undertak- 
ing, too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded.  A  lovelier 
scene  for  the  purjiosc  can  hardly  lie  Imagined.  The 
bright  Schuylkill  and  its  little  slcamlnjats,  the  old 
trees  now  jiutting  forth  their  leafy  U-auty,  llieshrubs, 
grass-plots  and  flower-beds,  the  shaded  dells  and 
their  murmuring  rivulets,  the  graceful  structures  of 
every  hue  and  design,  the  walks  and  drives  with  their 
moving  masses,  the  bridges  spanning  the  river,  the 
eity  with  its  spires  and  domes  in  the  distance— all 
produce  a  panorama  of  charming  etiect. 

Hints  to  Visitors. 

The  first  rush  isover,  and  the  Exhibition  will  hence- 
forth be  a  kind  of  permanent  museum  for  tourists 
through  the  summer.  To  those  of  our  reader*  who 
have  not  been  on  the  grounds,  a  few  suggestions  may 
be  of  value. 

Be  easy  on  the  subject  of  good  clothes.  The  floors 
and  walks  are  very  dusty,  and  black  goods  esiieclaljy, 
soon  become  heavily  coated.  There  is  an  attempt  at 
sprinkling,  but  the  heat  and  constant  tramping,  main- 
tain a  flne  cloud  in  the  air.  Your  common  ap[iarcl 
will  do  very  well.  Your  mind  will  be  at  rest.  Besides, 
no  one  will  notice  what  you  have  on.  It  is  a  Demo- 
cratic place.  Wear  easy  shoes  If  you  would  avoid 
aching  feet. 

Put  up  a  lunch  before  starting.  There  are  restau- 
rants in  the  buildings  and  outside,  but  they  are  oacn 
crowded  ju.-^t  at  meal  time,  and  you  do  not  care  to 
wait.  Then,  too,  the  charge  for  a  "small  parly  will 
amount  to  a  considerable  sum.  Wilhyourown.supply 
you  can  And  a  shady  spot  and  plav  ple-nic  whenever 
the  inner  man  makes  the  demand"  Carry  the  lunch 
in  a  iiaper,  and  you  will  avoid  the  encumbrauec  of  a 
basket  on  return. 

It  is  useless  to  attempt  to  make  a  satisfactory  tour 
of  the  buildings  in  one  day.  You  can  run  through 
them  all  hurriedly,  but  cannot  make  a  careful  exam- 
ination of  one-hundredth  of  what  is  to  l)e  seen.  Such 
a  world  of  objects  opens  in  every  dlreetlon  that  you 
arc  bewildered.  To  the  onlinary  visitor,  the  Niain 
Building  with  Its  curious  things  In  the  British,  Ger- 
man, Egyptian,  and  other  lorelgn  departments,  the 
Government  Building  with  its  Insects,  minerals,  In- 
dian relics,  cannon,  ships,  stamps,  and  the  operations 
of  the  army  and  navy,  Ilortieullural  Hall  wlthllsar- 
ray  of  tropical  plants,  and  .Memorial  Hall  with  It 
wealth  of  statuary  and  paiuting,  will  be  most  attrac- 
tive. 

The  mammoth  Corliss  engine  In  Machinery  Hall 
is,  of  <'Ourse,  one  of  the  noblest  objects  on  the  S|)Ot, 
swinging  its  giant  beams  like  a  thing  of  life.  The 
Pennsylvania  building,  thanks  tothe  unwearicil  lal>or 
of  Wiekcrsham,  has  its  pleasant  rooms  stored  with  a 
rich  array  of  our  educational  triumphs.  But  it  Is 
hard  to  write  about  the  Centennial,  without  making 
a  catalogue,  and  we  forbear.  One  day's  visit  will 
show  you  the  folly  of  trying  to  do  so  much  in  so 
short  a  time,  and  you  return  resolved  to  start  again 
in  a  month.  Perhaps  several  short  visits,  at  any  rate, 
will  be  more  refreshing  than  one  continued  through 
several  days. 

In  every  department  the  work  of  unpacking  and 
arranging  is  still  going  on.  There  are  vacant  places 
everywhere  yet  to  be  filled  ;  so  that  it  wUl  be  much 
more  satisfactory  to  visit  the  great  show  In  the  coarse 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[May,  1876. 


of  two  weeks,  or  even  a  mouth,  than  at  present. 
Everything  will  then  be  in  finished  order.  Fairmount 
park'itself  will  be  in  the  full  glory  of  its  summer 
bloom. 

The  best  train  to  take  from  Laneaster  is  the  one 
that  leaves  at  4:10  in  tlie  morning.  Tliis  gives  you  a 
delightful  ride  in  the  early  morning,  and  lands  you  at 
the  depot  at  seven,  not  far  from  the  Main  Building. 
The  whole  day  is  tlius  .at  your  disposal.  You  can 
take  your  clioice  of  various  afternoon  or  evening 
trains  for  your  return.  The  next  best  train  is  the 
Harrisburg  Express,  at  7:50. 

If  you  want  to  go  from  the  exhibition  grounds  into 
the  city,  and  avoid  the  crowded  street  cars,  take  a 
steam  train  at  the  Heading  Centennial  Depot,  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  behind  Memorial  Hall,  which  leaves 
every  fifteen  minutes,  and  for  fifteen  cents  you  are 
promptly  landed  at  Broad  and  Callowhill,  at  Ninth 
and  Green,  or  at  Kiclimoud.  These  trains  were  run- 
ning like  clock-work  on  tlie  opening  day,  but  unfor- 
tunately few  of  our  Lancaster  visitors  were  aware  of 
the  facilities  thus  offered. 


X>EX3fSYI.VAXIA  R 

X^     Trains  leave  the  Dep 

WE   TWARD. 

AII.ROAD 

ot  in  this  city,  i 

Leave 

Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50  4.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:59  a.m. 

3:25  p.m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

6:10  p.m. 

7:35  p.  m. 

7:40  p.m. 

9:10  p.m. 
11:30  p.m. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:!)0  a.  m. 

9:28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.m. 

3:05  p.  m. 

5:50  p.  m. 

SCHEDI7LE. 

18  follows : 
Arrive 
Harrisburg. 
4:05  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

limited  Mail'     

10:30  a.  m. 

Hanover  Accoinmodation. 
Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

Col.  10:00  a.  m. 
1:00  p.  m. 
1:20  p.  m. 

2:00  p.  m. 

4:60  p.  m. 

Frederick  Accommodation. 

Col.  4:15  p.  m. 
8:10  p.  m. 

Col.  8:10  p.  m. 

Harrisburg  Eipress 

9:00  p.  m. 
10:35  p.  m. 

Cincinnati  Express* 

EASTWARD. 

12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 
3:10  a.  m. 

Philadelphia  Expresst 

Harrisburg  Express 

7:00  a.  m. 
10:30  a.  m. 
12:30  p.m. 

Pacific  Express* 

Johnstown  Express 

Harrisbure  Accom 

3:30  p.m. 
6:00  p.  m. 
9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hanover  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
witli  Lim)ted  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  Hanover  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:'25  p,  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  care. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  ni.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  ai  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacitic  Express  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  ^ 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  wiih  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leaving  York  at  6:'32  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:18,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrisburg  Express 
at  T:50  a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:30  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:52,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  \vith  the 
Harrisburg  Express  at  7:50  a.  m. 

The  Pacific  Exp'-ess,  east,  ou  Sunday,  will  make  the  fol- 
lowing stops,  when  flagged,  viz  :  Middletown,  Elizabeth- 
town,  Mt,  Joy,  Landisville,  Bird-in-Hand,  GordonviJle. 
Leaman  Place,  Kinzers,  Gap,  Christiana,  Penningtonville, 
Parkesburg,  Pomeroy,  Coatesville,  Oakland,  Glen  liOch, 
Malvern,  Paoli,  Eagle,  Radnor,  Upton,  Villa  Nova,  Rose- 
mont,  Haverford  College.  Ardmore,  Wynnewood,  Elm, 
Merion,  Overbrook,  Hestonville  and  Mantua;  Lancaster  and 
Downingtown  being  regular  stations. 

*The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRuns  daily,  except  Monday. 


POTATO  BTJGTS 

AND    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 

THOBOUGHLT    AND    RAPIDLY 

EXXE:B]MirsrA.TEr> 


BY   USING 

ills©? 

The  most  complete  apparatus  for  deodorizing  and  disin- 
fecting Hospitals.  Ships,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers'  experiences  with  it. 
,•        West  Grove  3Iannrg  Co.,  West  Gbove,  Pa. 
8-5 


(fll «  a   day    at  Home.      Agents    wanted.      Outfit    and 
wLil    terms"  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maiue.   [8-3-ly 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 


8-l-12m 


LANCASTER,   PA. 


$5  to  $20 


per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free, 
STINSON  Ai  CO.,  Portland.  Maine. 


THOROUGHBRED  SWINE: 


Chester  "Whites,  Berkshires,  Essex, 
Poland-China  and  Yorkshires. 

Only  flrst-class,  well-bretl,  growthy  pigs  sold.  Our  shiptnent6  give  universal  satisfaction.  The  follow- 
ing is  one  of  many  equi-tlattering  testimonials  : 

1408  Arch  Street.  Philad'a,  Pa.,  .\pril  1,  18T6. 

Mb.  W.  Atlee  Burpee  :  The  Chester  White  Boar  you  sent  to  my  farm  is  a  very  fine  specimen.  My  farmer,  who  is 
an  experienced  breeder,  says  he  is  "pretty  as  a  picture,"  and  as  fine  a  hog  as  there  is  in  Chester  county  to-day.  Every 
one  admires  him.  WASHINGTON  L.  ATLEE,  M.D. 


SouthdoT^n  and  Cotsvrold  Sb.eep! 


PRICES  MODERATE. 


Our   birds  are  imported   and  winners  of  First  and 
Special  Priz«s  at  leadiug  shows — 


We  are  breeding  most  extensively 

PURE  BRED  POULTRY 

HARTFORD,  BOSTON,  DETROIT,  MINNEAPOLIS,  PHILADELPHIA,  ALLENTOWN,  DOYLESTOWN,  BALTIMORE,  PITTSBURGH,  ic. 
All  tbc  Choicest  Varieties.     Each  bred  on  separate  farms. 

Mammoth   Bronze   and  White  Holland   Turkeys,   Toulouse   and   Bremen  Geese,   Pekin,   Aylesbury, 
Cayuga  and  Kouen  Dueks,  Fancy  Pigeons. 

EGO!$  FOB  HATC'HISfG!    EEMEMBER,  we  try  to  excel,  not  undersell.     We  cannot  afford  to  sell  in- 
ferior stock,  and  thus  throw  away  our  reputation. 

Illustrated  descriptive  catalogue,  10c.    Circulars  free.     The  Pigeon  Loft.  fiOc.     Call  on  or  address 


^cu^iir^3<^. 


1332   Arch  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


yaj?u^. 


CENTENNIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


struck  in  solid  Albata  Plate,   equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

ITiese  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1  •'•g  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  sight. 

The  most  valuable  Souvenirs  and  Me- 
mentoes ever  issued. 


GOOD    AGENTS   WANTED   in    every   City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


RETAIL  PRICES.— For  the  Albata  Silver,  5i)  cts. ;  Gilt, 
|1,  in  fancy  box.     Usual  discount  to  the  Trade, 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
satin  or  velvet-lined  moroceo  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
different  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-office  order 
for  f4,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solicited.  Information  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications, 

U.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         212  Broadway,  N.  "Z. 

»-4-6t 

E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING-  AO-ENTS, 

186  W.  Fourth  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Arrt  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


Estiiates  {musM  free. 


[tf] 


Sena  for  Circular, 


GOOD  !«EED!«,  GROWN  WITH   CARE,   FROM  SE- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  CTOshen,  N.  T. 


o  = 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  Range  Breech  Loading 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 

Carries  a  ^4'  inch  ball  with  accu- 
racy fifty  leet,  without  powder  or 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  sile 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
and  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS  WANTED. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  67  Liberty  Street,  New  Yort 


1876. 


CENTENNIAL. 


1876. 


Battivon  fe  Pisher, 

PRACTICAL 

Tal(j@ir§  aiitd  (Sll^thbirs. 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 

litiii  m  liiiiti 

ESTA-BLISHiyiENT, 

Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 

J.  STAUFFER, 

lltlttll  II 

LANCASTER,  i'ENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  COPyRIGHTS. 
proniptly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  and  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  hia  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reUable  As- 
sistant at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
or  description.  [7-4-tf 


-1  C-Cli       (       the  county 


SINGLE  COFISS  10  CENTS. 


To  iubBcrf bern  ont  of  )     dl  1    '^  C? 
the  county,  (     ^p  l.^-O. 


^^^i^^m0 


THE   FARMER  IS  THE  FOUNDER  OF  CIVILIZATION.'-  WEBSTER 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  JUNE 


PEASSOL  li  GEIST,  Publishers. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 

^ 

A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOM  ESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND   MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  promiuent  feature.  vr\:h   s]  ecJal  reference  to  the 
wauts  of  tUe  Farmer,  the  G^rdeuer  uud  Fruit-Grower. 


Founded  under  the  au<;pices  of  the  L.incaster  County 
Agricultural  and    Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  Ij  Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON. 


The  Lancaster  Farmkb  has  uow  completed  its  seventh 
year — the  last  having  been  under  the. auspices  of  the  under- 
signed as  pubhshere.  'Wheii  we  assumed  the  resiioueibllity 
of  the  i^iublication  one  year  ago,  it  was  with  a  determination 
to  make  such  iniprovemeut»  during  the  year  as  would  place 
the  FarmexB"  Orgau  of  this  great  agricultural  county  in  the 
very  front  rant  of  publicatioue  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  so,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Conteunial  year  still  more  interest  in  g 
and  valuable  than  its  predecessor  for  ls75.  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-operation  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
prise. To  make  it  a  succetis,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Farmer  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  coutributious  of  our  able  editor,  Prof.  Kathvon,  on 
subjects  connected  with  the  science  of  farming,  and  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  master- 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  become 
a  necessity  to  the  successful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  15th  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paper  with  clear  tyjte,  in  con- 
venient form  for  reading  and  binding,  and  mailed  to  eub- 
scnbers  on  the  following 

TERMS: 

To  subscribers  residing  within  the  county — 
One  copy, .one  year,         -----         $i,oo 
Six  copies,  one  year,  -  -         -         -         .         .       5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------        7.50 

To  subscribers  outside  of  Lancaster  county,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  publishers: 

One  copy,  one  year,  -----         $1.25 

Five  copies,  one  year,  -        -        -         -         -        -         5.00 

All  subscriptions  will  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber unless  otherwise  ordered. 

AU  communications  intended  for  publication  shonld  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  and,  to  secure  insertion,  should  be 
in  his  hands  by  the  first  of  the  month  of  publication. 

All  business  lettersi^containing  subscriptions  and  adveV- 
tieements,  should  be  aadressed  to  the  publishers. 


PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 

Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


RATES  OF  AnVERTISIXG Ten  Cenf<i   n 

line  for  caob  insertion.     Twelve  lines  to  the  iucb 


White  Cochius.  Illmfraterl.  W.  AtleeBuupec,  -  81 
The  Colorado  Potato  Beetle.  Editorial,  -  -  81 
Cabbages.     (Srasska  Oleracea.)     Editorial,      -     82 

Cauliflower.     Eilitorial, -  8S 

Something  about  Fir  Trees.  Editorial,  -  -  8.3 
Packing  Egcs.  Editorial,  -  -  -  -  -  84 
IIow  to  Get  Kid  of  Rose  Slusfs.  Editori:iI,  -  -  8-t 
Late-Keepins:  Fruits.  Editorial,  -  -  -  85 
Answers  to  Carrospondont8.  Editorial,  -  -8.5 
A  Pair  of  Texas  Travelers.     Editorial,    -        -       8.'i 

About  Flies.     Editorial, 80 

What  the  Country  Pajiers  Do.  Editorial,  -  86 
A  Complete  Remedy  for  Tobacco  Fly.  E.Utorial,  86 
.Simple  Cure  for  Dyspepsia.  Editorial,  -  -  86 
Timely  Garden  Hints,  Walter  Ei.deu,  -  -  87 
Dottin^s  from  Leoline,  -  -  -  -  -  87 
My  Experience  with  Italians.  Z.,  -  -  -  87 
Turnips  for  Milch   Cows   and   Sheep.     Ay   Oi.i) 

HCSBAXDM.VN, 87 

About  Grasses.    J.  Staupfer,        -        -        -  87 

IIow  to  Stack  Grain.    J.  C.  Lixvn.LE,        -        -  88 

Something  About  Bees.     Wm.  I.  Pvle,  -        -  89 

From  Over  the  Pond.     .J.  C.  ScnMrDT,        -        -  89 

Poisons  in  Afrriculture,      -----  89 

The  Centennial, 90 

The  Hawthorn, 00 

Tlie  Crop  Prospects, 01 

Improvement  of  Grass  Land,  -  -  -  -  91 
Our  Paris  Letter,  --..---91 

Our  Farmers  in  Council,  -        -        -        -        -  02 

Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agricultural 

and  Horticultural  Society. 

Domestic  Economy,     ------     9.3 

Meat  Safes  or  Closets — Care  of  Canary  Birds- 
Household  Eecii-es— To  Make  Cheese-Cake— Try 
It— lu  Waehiug  Calicoes — Experiments— Taste  of 
Turuirs  in  Slilk  and  Butter— Horse  Radish  Sauce- 
Drumstick  Asparagus. 

General  Miscellany, 93-96 

Have  Faith  in  Your  Business- Management  of 
Horses— Potatoes  and  Potato  Growing — Milk  from 
Holstein  Cows— Culture  of  the  Yam— Convenient  • 
Barns- How  Plants  Feed  on  Ammonia— About 
Cheese— Worms  in  Fowls— Good  Thing  About  Bye— 
Mulching  Recently  Planted  Trees— The  Pe»ch  Crop 
—Be  Sociable  with  Young  Cattle— Improvement  of 
Grass  Land— .\sheB  for  Crops— The  Feeding  of 
Horses — Transplanting  Evergreens— Application  of 
Lime— Mellow  Soil  Around  Trees— Which  Ways 
Should  Drills  Run— Bees  on  a  Small  Scale— Uar- 
nessing  Colts— Cutting  Off  Lower  Limbs — Scaly 
Legs  on  Fowls— New  Stock  Yards— A  Hen— To  Pre- 
vent Splitting  of  Handles- Buckwheat  as  a  Poultry 
Food— The  Crops— Heaves  in  Horses— Labels— Poaa 
amone  Potatoes— A  Fact  for  Farmers— Various 
Items* 
Our  Fence  Corners,  .  -  -  -  -  -  ii,  lil 
United  States  Centennial  Commission,        -       -    ill 


flje  Jarmer^  printing  ^{fice. 
THE  LANCASTER  EXPRESS, 

(DAILY  AND  VTEEKLT.) 

Tlje  Lfadirjg  Local  Family  and  business  Newspaper,  and  the 
oi;ly  Independei^t  Republtcai}  Journal  JQ  the  County. 


THE  A     FOXJNDED     r         THE 

WEEKLY,'-  i:v    iHK  .'     DAILY, 

1843         J  PRESENT  PROPRIETORS.   (  1856 


The  Weekly  ExPittK^  has  btn-n  Iwfore  iho  pitlRen'i  of 
LftiicuBter  county  for  a  j.eriod  of  tUirly-thri-*'  yt-Hrn.  aii'l  Ihe 
Daily  Exprehk  for  over  niiiete«-o  ypHrn.  Dunuif  thin  long 
period,  nud  without  cbaiiKe  of  iiiauiiK*'iiient,  THt  Kxtbekd 
has  fairly  earued  s  Inrm'  share  of  piidouaKe  ftiid  flnnly 
entabli^hed  itflelf  in  the  i>ut>ljc  coiitlileuco,  ah  nu  ui>ri({bt  and 
indej  eiidcnt  journal,  never  beHiiatiuK  to  defend  ttie  rlsht 
and  denounce  the  wrouK,  no  matter  where  fnuud  to  cxlit. 
It  haH  alwaye  been  a  jourual  of  itrotfre»>*',  and  the  outHix>keu 
friend  of  education,  teniae  ran  re.  nomid  morals  and  rellglou. 
As  iu  the  paHt,  so  it  will  continue  iu  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 

The  Weekly  Express,  one  year,  -        -        $a.oo 

The  Daily  Express,  one  year,  ....       5,00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer :  ToRuy  vernon  residlug 
within  the  liniite  of  Lancaster  county  we  will  mail — 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaster  Farmer,  one  year,  $3.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  extended  circulation  of  The  Exprkss  maken  it  the 
best  medium  for  advertising  Heal  l^Letate  ond  X'ersoual 
Projierty  iu  the  county,  a  fact  which  can  be  atteHted  by  bo 
many  farmers  and  others  who  have  avuib-d  themselveii  of 
the  use  of  Itrt  oolumufl,  and  to  which  wc  iuvite  the  attcutlon 
of  all  having  property  to  disj  o^'e  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  Express  printing  ofBce  is  one  of  the  l)est  fumfahad 
establishments  for  lurniog  out  all  kinds  of  pnullng  to  \m 
found  in  the  iuterior  of  the  State,  We  are  j.repared  to 
print  any  job  from  the  small  visiting  card  to  the  largest  aalo 
or  horse  bill,  poster,  or  broadside,  iilniu  or  lu  colors,  aa 
quickly  as  it  can  be  done  at  any  other  establishment,  and  on 
as  reasonable  terms.  We  make  the  pilnting  of  iSale'lniU 
f»t  Fiinnern  a.  epeclalty,  and  guarautw  satiafacliou  to  oar 
customers. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

inclutle  the  vahoua  i-attems  adapted  to  printing  bookff, 
]>amphlet8,  posters,  aale-bllls,  hund-bllls,  millcm'  receipt*, 
catalogues  of  live  stock,  and  any  kiud  of  work  done  In  a 
firet-clana  printiug  office;  Iu  short  an>-1hing  that  may  be 
called  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  l»auker,  mechaulc,  or 
busluefts  man.  and  we  guarantee  to  do  the  work  as  Baliafaa- 
tory  aa  it  can  be  done  in  Philadelphia  or  elsewhere. 

With  one  of  the  moat  complete  Job  Olllces  iu  the  State, 
and  uupurpassed  conveniences  for  expeditiously  turning  oat 
work  bv  the  best  workmen,  under  the  j-craonal  Bupervlaion 
of  the  proprietors,  who  are  both  i>ractlcal  printers,  all  iwr- 
pons  iu  need  of  iTlntlug  will  find  it  to  their  Uitcrest  to  give 
us  a  trial. 

PEAESOL  S^  GEIST. 

BOOK,   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


CnnTAKHCrtt  WanlCJl   for  TuE  Fahsieii,  with  whom 
liberal  arraugenjeDta  will  be  made. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  G£T  TH£  B£ST. 


FEED  CUTTER, 

MANUFACTURED    FOR 

DIX^I'EIFt   «Sc    G-ROFF, 

DEALERS    IN 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  EAST  KINa  ST.,  L.'lNCASTEE,  PA., 

Has  been  demonstrated  by  competitive  teats  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roll 
is  operated  by  a  new  and  novel  device  which  completely 
overcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  the  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  workmanship  are  of  the  very  best  class, 
and  guaranteed  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  purchaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


"THE  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Reaper  and  Mower,  which  we  have  sold 
with  such  entire  satisfaction  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
six  years,  still  maintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors— 
33,761  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1S75 
and  we  have  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  hie  money. 

DILLEE  &  GHOFF, 

No,  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


is  the  most  beautiful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  150  pages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrations,  and 
/our  Chrnmo  Plates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


PATENTS 

OBTAINH)  BEST  iND  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OP  PATENTS, 

"Wasb-ington,  33.  C. 


t^" Address  all  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  444.  7-3 -12m 

FERTILIZERS! 

ZIOIVEE:  ViLATME:. 

CHEAPEST  AND  BEST! 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  formulae  have  prover,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Plaster, 
SuJphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

FHIIjADELFZIIA, 


Established  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertiliziag 
Chemicals  in  1793. 


Old  Sayings — Wise  and  Otherwise. 

BY    MK5.  M.  A.  KIDDER. 

"  As  poor  as  a  church  mouse," 

"  As  thin  as  a  rail," 

"As  fat  as  a  porpoise," 

"  As  rougph  as  a  gale," 

"As  brave  as  a  lion," 

"  As  spry  as  a  cat," 

"  As  bright  as  a  sixpence," 

"As  weak  as  a  rat." 

"  As  proud  as  a  peacock," 

"  As  sly  as  a  fox," 

"  As  mad  as  a  March  hare," 

"  As  strong  as  an  ox," 

"  As  fair  as  a  lily," 

"  As  empty  as  air," 

"  As  rich  as  Croesus," 

"  As  cross  as  a  hear." 

"  As  pure  as  an  angel," 

"  As  neat  as  a  pin," 

"  As  smart  as  a  steel  trap," 

"  As  ugly  as  sin," 

"  As  dead  as  a  door  nail," 

"  As  white  as  a  sheet," 

"  As  flat  as  a  pancake," 

"  As  red  as  a  beet." 

"  As  round  as  an  apple," 
"  As  black  as  your  hat," 
"  As  brown  as  a  berry," 
"  As  blind  as  a  hat," 
"  As  mean  as  a  miser," 
"  As  full  as  a  tick," 
"  As  plump  as  a  partridge," 
"As  sharp  as  a  stick." 

"  As  clean  as  a  penny," 
"  As  dark  as  a  pall," 
"  As  hard  as  a  mill-stone," 
"  As  bitter  as  gall." 
"  As  fine  as  a  fiddle," 
"  As  clear  as  a  bell,^' 
"  As  dry  as  a  herring," 
'  "As  deep  as  a  well." 

"  As  light  as  a  feather," 
"  As  hard  as  a  rock," 
"  As  stiff  as  a  poker," 
"  As  calm  as  a  clock." 
"  As  green  as  a  gosling," 
"  As  brisk  as  a  bee—" 

And  now  let  me  stop, 

Lest  you  weary  of  me. 

How  an  Irishman  Did  It. 

A  Yorkshireman  having  killed  ajiig,  and  not  wish- 
ing to  diride  with  his  neighbors,  as  was  the  custom, 
said  to  his  man  (who,  by  the  way,  was  a  son  of  the 
Emerald  Isle): 

"  Pat,  if  I  give  all  the  neighbors  who  have  given  to 
me  a  piece  of  their  pork  I'll  have  none  for  myself. 
Can  you  tell  me  what  I  am  to  do  ?" 

"Bedad,  sir,"  said  Pat,  "it's  meself  that  can  do 
that  same  thing." 

"  Good,"  said  the  Yorkshireman,  rubbing  his  hands 
and  looking  at  Pat.  "  Now  tell  me  what  I  am  to  do." 

"  Faith,  sir,"  said  Pat,  "  sure  and  when  the  crathur 
is  cleaned  just  be  afther  hanging  it  against  the  door 
where  ivcry  mother's  sou  of  them  will  see  it,  and 
early  in  the  morning,  before  any  one  is  about,  get  up 
and  take  in  your  pig  and  hide  it  away.  Thin  when 
your  neighbors  come  be  afther  telling  them  that  the 
pig  was  sthole." 

"  Capital  idea,  Pat !"  said  the  Yorkshireman,  "I'll 
do  it." 

So  when  the  pig  was  cleaned  it  was  hung  up  out- 
side, so  that  the  neighbors  might  see  it.  The  coun- 
tryman anxiously  awaited  the  approaching  night, 
and  at  last  retired  to  bed,  but  not  to  sleep.  Pat, 
under  the  cover  of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  crept 
round  the  house  and  stole  the  pig. 

The  astonishment  of  the  Yoi-kshireman  when,  at 
early  dawn,  he  arose  to  hide  away  the  pig,  but  found 
no  pig  there,  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 
Pat  came  in  with  his  "  Top  of  the  mornin'toye,  sir," 
and  giving  him  a  knowing  wink,  said  : 

"  Master,  how  about  the  pig?" 

"  Well,  Pat,  the  pig  was  stolen  in  reality." 

"  Faith,  and  that  sounds  just  as  natural  as  if  you 
had  lost  your  pig,"  said  Pat,  with  another  knowing 
wink. 

"  But, you  blockhead, Itell  you  the  pig  )!'rts  stolen." 

"Faith,  and  the  sorra  a  bit  o'  me  thought  you 
could  act  so  well.  Just  stick  to  that ;  its  natural  as 
life." 

"  But,"  roared  the  now  irate  Yorkshireman,  "  I 
tell  you  the  pig  wns  stolen." 

"  Och  !"  said  Pat,  "stick  to  it,  and  j-our  nabors 
will  believe  you,  and  sorra  a  bit  of  it  they'll  get.  I 
didn't  think" you  could  do  it  so  well  I" 


e  - 

s  : 

9   .= 


"automatic 
Knitted 


s 


s.  u 

St 

Z  "8 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  attracting  universal  attention  by  its  astorishing  per- 
formances and  its  great  practical  value  for  evei-y-day  family 
use.  It  kuiti)  every  possible  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  shape  and  finish  to  all  garments.     \i  will 

knit  a  pair  of  socks   in  fifteen   minufes !       Every  machiue 

WAKK.4?lf'f'El>  perfect,  and  todojitM  what  U  repre--^ented. 

A  complete  instruction  book  accompanies  each  machine. 

No.  1  Family  Machine,  1  cylinder,  72  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       "  ■*  2         '*     72  &  100     *'         40. 

A  mmple  machine  will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  United 

States  or  Canada,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  express  chargea 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Agents  wanted  in  every  State,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  verv  liberal  discounts  will  be  made.     Address, 
BICKFORD  KNITTING  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
7-11-tf]  Sole  Manufacturers,  Brattleboro,  Vt. 


are  the  best  the  world  produces.  They  are  planted  by  a 
million  people  in  America,  and  the  result  is  beautiful 
Flowers  aud  splendid  Vegetables.  A  Priced  Catalogue  sent 
free  to  all  who  inclose  the  postage — a  2  cent  stamp. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide.  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents;  with 
clotli  covers.  65  cents. 
It]  Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA., 

Breeder  and  (Shipper  of 

GUERBYISSBDTTER  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 

ROOT'S 

Q-arden  JVfanual 

la  fiUea  with  topics  of  interest  to  every  ov\-ner  of  a  garden- 
ia POINTED,  PRACTICAL  and  THOROUGH,  aud  contains 
one-half  as  much  as  $1.50  books  on  the  subject.  GARDEN- 
ERS throughout  the  country  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  methods  as  invaluable  to  them. 

53?' Sent  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  first 
order  for  seeds.      Address, 

J.  B.  ROOT,  Seed  Grower, 

ROCKFORD,  Illinois. 


DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

FAMILY  and  I^lME-BUKNISfO  COAI< ! 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  the 

8-l-12m]    Yard,  No.  61S  NORTH  PRINCE    STREET. 

SEND  25c.  to  G.  P.  ROWELL  &  CO.,  New  York,  for  Pam- 
phlet of  too  pages,  containing  lists  of  3,000  newspapers, 
aud  estimates  showing  cost  of  advertising. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Pro£  S.  S.  SATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  JUNE,  i876. 


Vol  VUL  No.  6. 


WHITE  COCHINS. 

The  accompanying  cut   portrays  a   pair  ol" 
fowls  that  can  not  fail  to  win  a  second  !j;lanfe 
on  llie  .score  ol'  bcanty  and   strikin-,'  conlj-ast. 
But    strong   as  is   tlie  contrast    ln-twcin   tlic 
•snowy  whiteness  of  the  fowl  anil    the  densely 
dark  back-ground    of    the  cut,  it  hut    poorly 
illustrates  the  cxcei^din^  hcauty  of  thes(f  fowls 
when  scattered  over  a  well-kept   Rreen   lawn. 
Then  not  only  is  the  grandeur  of  the  stately 
White  Cochiil  walking  on  the   park   grass  at- 
tractive, but  also,  if  in  prime  condition,  there 
will  be  an  exceeding  bright  redness  of  the  Hrni, 
erect  com))  and  lung  pendant  wattles.     Then, 
take  them  all-in-all,  with   tlieir   large,  lieavy, 
yet  symmetrical  bodies,  their  dignilied  liearing 
and  "a    more  stately   and  grand    fowl   ctudd 
scarcely  be  demanded.     And  yet  with  all  their 
attractions,  they  are  comparatively  an   easy 
breed  to  produce,    to 
a    goodly    degree   of 
exc'ellence,  and  arc  in 
this  respect  well  suit- 
ed   to    the  amateur. 
For  their  plumage  be- 
ing uniformly  white, 
tlicy  Jo  not  otler  all 
those   ccii.sele.ss  trou- 
bles of  breeding  and 
mating     which    are 
necessary  to  the  pro- 
duction    of   correct 
feathering      in      the 
jvarti-colored     fowls. 
Ilowever,     there    is 
even  here  considera- 
ble work  to  be   done 
which  will  not  allow 
any    indifference   on 
the  part  of  the  breed- 
er.     Although    tliey 
are    throughout,    or 
rather    sliotdd    he,    a 
pure,  spotless  white, 
free  from  any  inter- 
mingling of  black  or 
colored  feathers,  yet 
there  are  different  de- 
grees of  purity  of  the 
white,  and  sometimes 
they  will  incline  to- 
wards a  straw  color. 
Only     the     richest, 
clearest  birds  should 
be  retained  .us  breed- 
ers.    White  Cochins 
should     have    briglit 
yellow      legs,       and 
should  he  well  fcath- 
eretl  down  to  the  tips 
of   the    toes.     They 
should  1)6  of  a  large 
size,  heavy  frame,  but 
not  inclined  to  carry 
a  surplus  portion  of 
fat  except  when  pre- 
pared for  market.     Over-fattened  fowls    are 
l)rolitable  only  to  kill.     They  are  never  after- 
wards worth   their  keep    for    egg-producers. 
The  White  Cochins  usually  lay  well  -especially 
in  winter,  when  most  needed.     They  are,  like 
all  their  Asiatic  cousins,  inclined  to   sit,  and 
are,  of  course,  sometimes  too  heavy  and  clumsy 
for  thin  shelled   eggs.     They   are   very  easily 
kept.     Although  we  have  always  allowed  ours 
the  unlimited  range  of   a   farm   \vhere   there 
were  no  other  breeding  fowls,  and  thus  secured 
greater  fecundity  for  the  eggs  for  .sitting;  yet 
they  are  capable  of   being  contined    and  bred 
successfully  within  very  small  inclosm-es.    The 
fencesurrounding  their  yard  need  only  be  three 
or  four  feet  high  unle.ss  there  is  danger  of  the 
"  high  Hying"  breeds  from  without   llying  in 
and  thus  cro.ssing  the  stock.     The   bens  lay 


good-sized  eggs  of  dilTerent  shades  of  coh)r. 
The  co(:k  is  generally  a  vigorous  l>inl.  and  well 
al)le  to  care  for  fourteen  to  eigliteen  liens,  lly 
allowing  him  this  number,  the  hens  will  not 
be  so  continually  fretted  and  injured  by  his  at- 
tontious.  — Vr.  Atlec  IJurpce,  Plukuklplua,  I'a. 


THE  COLORADO  POTATO  BEETLE. 

Reports  reach  nsevery  day,  from  nitiny  parts 
oftlieconnty.of  the  threatening  increase  of  this 
destructive  enemy  of  the  potato  vines,  and 
many  anxious  impiiries  arc  made,  just  as  if 
nearly  all  the  papers  of  tin-  county  ami  tlie  en- 
tire (tonntry  had  not  been  harping  on  the  same 
string,  foi- the  past  two  years,  at  least.  In  fact 
our  [leople  are  loo  indilVerent  aliout  that  kind 
of  philosopliy  which  teaches  that  "  an  ounce  of 
prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  eiire. "  Tliey 
seem  to  give  little  heed  to  any  evil,  the  danger 


of  which  is  not  innnediate  and  conspicuous. 
Any  intelligent  cultivator  of  the  soil,  and  who 
h.as  given  only  a  little  attention  to  the  increiuse 
and  destrnctiveni'ss  of  noxious  insects,  must 
have  known,  long  before  this  time,  something 
about  the  history  and  the  haliits  of  th(^  Colo- 
rado potato  beetle,  and  what  ought  to  be  done 
to  arrest  its  destructive  progress,  if  he  reads, 
heeds  .-ind  practically  tests  the  various  reini-- 
dies  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  sug- 
gested or  recommended. 

We  don't  ask  hin>  to  hdki-c  all  he  reads  or 
hears  said  upon  the  subject  ;  we  only  a.sk  him 
to  t>lts(cir  for  him.self,  and  to  rfo  a.s  bis  good 
sense  shall  di<tate  in  the  i>remises  ;  an<l  if  he 
does  this  faithfully,  we  feel  sure  it  will  not  !«' 
long  before  he  linds  out  vIkU  to  do,  hoir  to  do 
it,  and  iclicii  the  most  elTective  time  will  Ijc  to 


circumvent  the  enemy  of  his  potato  crop.  Uut 
if  he  denires  to  lie  thoroughly  posted  upon  the 
subject,  and  to  save  valuable  lime  and  much 
corroding  anxiety,  we  would  ;ulvis«'  him  to 
suUscribe  immediately  for  our  local  agricul- 
tural journal  -Til  K  I.ASc.vsi  Kit  Kailmku— » 
l)a|ier  that  s»'i>ms  to  have  a  greater  reputation 
abroad  than  it  has  at  home— commended  Imth 
by  England  and  lluM^ontiiienl  of  Knro|>e— and 
also  to  get  the  entire  volimie  for  IS?.")— sets  <if 
which  (;an  be  had  at  the  usual  priee  from  the 
publishers-  and  we  recoiiinieiid  this  volume 
particularly  becau.se  it  conLains  a  very  full  il- 
Inslraled  history  of  the  poUito  and  other  div 
struetive  beetles,  and  what  is  nece.s.s;iry  to  l)e 
doiKs  to  prevent  their  depredation.H. 

Holh  the  possihilil  ics  and  probabilities  of  this 
periiicous  pest  have  bi'eii  thoroughly  ili«cus!«'<l 
in  the  county  of  I>anc;i.ster   for  two   years  or 
more,  but  becau.se  they  have  not  yet  been  uni- 
versiilly       realized, 
many  of  the  ]KMii»le 
have      accustomed 
themselves  to  n-gard 
the    whole    thing  iw 
mere  talk.     What  we 
liave  siiid  at  any  time 
hius  iM-en   UL-^oi,  first 
upon  the  experiences 
of      the      intelligent 
farmers  and  publish- 
ci-s  of  the  west,  where 
this  beetle  ha.s   Ix'en 
depredating    for   the 
past  fifteen   years  or 
more,  anil   from  our 
own  experience  since 
their  iulvent  in    Ijin- 
c-a-sUa-  county,  a-ssisl- 
ed  by  our  knowledge 
of   the  habits   of   the 
family   of   insects   in 
wlii<-h    they    lielong, 
their      procreation, 
transformation,   gor- 
mandization,       and 
ailaptat  ion  to  varying 
circumstances.      We 
hesitate  not  toii-ssnre 
our  readers  that  they 
are  its  fatal  to  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  soil,  iW 
the  cancer  to  the  lin- 
nian   sy.steni,   and    if 
neglected,    alH>ut   its 
dillicult  to  eradie^ite. 
I'erhaps  they  may  l)c 
more  aptly  compared 
with    the"    '•  Caiuula 
thistles."  There  is  no 
safety    against   their 
germination   and  in- 
crea.se,  .so  long  as   a 
single  fibre  remaiiisin 
the  soil.     The  soil  in 
some  phu-CH  at   this 
time  seems  to  lie  per- 
fei^tly  impregnatcil  with   them,  and   the  iixst 
mild  winter  has  been  i-alher  favorable  to  their 
successful  hylH'rnation.     During  the  early  and 
late  spring   they    lay  dormant,    only   coming 
abroad  on  wann  days  just  to  see  how  the  "land 
lay,"  but  now  as  the   weather  has  "warmed 
up"  and  the  potato  tops  are  apiiearing,    the 
beetles  are  ditto. 

Potato  growei-s,  IhiHi  in  town  and  country, 
cannot  too  .soon  nor  too  earnestly  go  to  work 
now,  and  In-giii  the  work  of  extermination,  if 
they  have  not  already  iK'guii  it  some  ten  days 
ago.  Turn  out  the  l)oys  and  girls,  and  fon'- 
stall  the  [H'.st  by  vigonius  band-picking  while 
vet  the  ground  is  comparatively  bare  of  vege- 
tation. If  you  have  large  fields,  of  coui-se  you 
will  have  ti)  resort  to  poisons,  the  nio.st  ellec- 
tive  of  which  is  Vaiis  (iVaii,and  Vo  know  how 


82 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[June, 


and  when  to  use  it,  subsciilje  for  The  Lan- 
CASTEii  Fakmek.  This  and  various  poison 
remedies  may  be  applied  dry  or  in  a  liquid  so- 
lution, or  suspension,  and  if  as  a  liquid,  Peck's 
Li(juid  Atmnizer,  advertised  in  the  May  num- 
ber of  The  Fakmek,  seems  to  well  adapted 
to  the  purpose,  and  ous;ht  to  have  an  earnest 
and  honest  examination  and  trial.  Also, 
Anthony  Isl-e''s  Bur/  Trap  ought  to  receive  at- 
tention by  those  wlio  are  averse  to  poison,  for 
depend  uptm  it,  something  must  be  dove,  done 
well,  (md  done  novj. 

If  the  people  i)ersist  in  regarding  the  history, 
habits,  and  perpetuation  of  noxious  insects 
with  indifference,  a  time  may  come  in  our 
economic  history  when  it  may  become  neces- 
sary to  make  such  indiftl'rence  a  civil  crime, 
liable  to  tines  and  punishments.  If  a  law  can 
be  enacted  and  enforced  «o<  to  t?o  certain  things 
— such  as  killing  birds,  etc. — certainly  a  law 
to  do  certain  other  things — killing  Imgs,  for  in- 
stance— would  be  equally  within  tlie  sphere  of 
legislation.  In  conclusion,  we  would  direct 
the  reader  to  the  10th  volume  of  the  State  Ag- 
ricultural lleport,  as  containing  illustrated  his- 
tories of  the  Colorado  beetle  and  other  nox- 
ious insects,  8,800  copies  ofwhich  have  been 
published  for  distribution,  but  a  pamphlet  of 
25,000  or  30,00(1,  containingthose  papers,  would 
not  have  been  too  many  for  the  farmer  popula- 
tion of  the  great  State  of  Pennsylvania. 


CABBAGES,  (Brassica  Oleracea.) 
Broccoli 
Is  another  variety  of  cabbage,  inferior  to  the 
delicate  cauliflower  only,  and  which  it  much 
resembles  in  ajipearance,  growth  and  flavor. 
It  is  supposed  to  have  originated  on  the  island 
of  Cyprus,  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  has  been 
greatly  improved  by  cultivation.  The  name 
by  which  it  is  generally  known  is  derived  from 
the  Italian  language,  and,  indeed,  we  know 
that  it  was  first  carried  to  Great  Britain  from 
Italy.  The  several  sub-varieties  winch  have 
been  produced  by  chance  or  intentional  hybri- 
dization, ditt'er  greatly  as  to  the  color  of  their 
heads,  some  1_>eing  j'ellow,  while  others  are 
white,  purple,  etc.  As  broccoli  can  be  raised 
more  easily  and  with  greater  certainty  than 
tlie  cauliflower,  it  is  becoming  very  popular, 
esitecially  among  small  gardeners.  The  follow- 
ing kinds  are  considered  among  the  best,  viz. : 
Grange's  Early  Cteulijiejicer,  Early  Purple 
Cape,  and  the  Eaily  White  Caxje. 
Culture. 

Market  gardeners  are  accustomed  to  sow  the 
seed  in  the  latter  part  of  summer,  and,  at  the 
approach  of  winter,  to  set  the  plants  in  a  cold 
frame  for  protection  through  the  cold  weather, 
in  tlie  manner  directed  for  cabbage.  These 
plants  are  to  Ije  removed  to  the  open  ground 
in  spring  and  carefully  cultivated,  by  which 
means  heads  suitable  for  cooking  are  to  be 
expected  as  early  as  the  month  of  June. 

It  is  most  conunon  in  this  latitude,  however, 
to  wait  until  April  or  May,  according  to  the 
character  of  the  season,  liefore  sowing  the  seed, 
one  ounce  ofwhich  yields  about  four  thousand 
plants.  In  the  .Southern  States  the  summer 
fre(iuently  proves  too  hot  for  the  early-planted 
liroccoli  to  come  to  perfection,  and  there  the 
seed  can  be  sown  about  the  middle  of  July,  on 
shaded  borders,  to  be  \vatered  occasionally,  if 
the  weather  be  dry.  In  alwut  a  month's  time 
the  plants  will  Ije  of  a  proper  size  for  removal 
to  a  large  bed. 

The  soil  ought  always  to  be  mellow  and  rich, 
liaving  an  open  exposure.  Sow  thinly  in  .shal- 
low drills,  six  inches  apart,  and,  if  the  surface 
be  light  and  dry,  press  it  down*  comiiactly  by 
means  of  the  rolU^r,  or  by  walking  over  a  board 
placed  lengthwise  of  the  bed.  Should  the 
weather  continue  dry,  some  delay  in  the  vege- 
tation of  the  seed  will  probably  be  experienced. 
The  soil  may  then  l)c  sprinkled  with  water 
every  two  or  three  days  until  the  plants  ap- 
pear, or  it  may  be  covered  during  the  daytime 
with  a  thin  layer  of  straw  or  light  mats.  In 
the  latter  case,  the  covering  should  be  removed 
at  an  early  hour  in  the  evening,  that  the 
natural  deposit  of  dew  may  not  be  interrupted. 
Transplanting  can  be  performed  in  June  or 


July,  when  each  stem  shows  five  or  six  leaves. 
Set  the  iilants  out  in  rows,  two  feet  ajiart  each 
way.  The  work  is  best  performed  in  dull, 
damp  weather,  and  water  ought  to  be  given 
occasionally  in  moderate  quantities  until  the 
roots  become  established,  as  well  as  subse- 
quently during  titnes  of  drought. 

The  after-culture  consists  in  hoeing  the 
ground  fvecjuently  and  iii  the  destruction  of 
weeds  as  soon  as  they  make  their  apiiearance. 
In  the  coiu'se  of  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks 
after  transplanting,  the  earth  should  be  drawn 
up  to  the  stems  in  such  manner  as  to  form  a 
kinil  of  shallow  basin  around  each.  ]5r<x'Coli 
will  not  flourish  unless  it  receive  considerable 
attention  from  the  gardener.  It  is  much 
annoyed,  and  oftentimes  destroyed,  by  insects  ; 
the  attacks  of  which  must  be  guarded  against 
by  the  useof  sntiff,  charcoal,  ashes,  air-slacked 
lime,  etc.,  sprinkled  upon  the  plants  when 
they  are  wet  with  dew  or  water  from  a  water- 
ing pot.  The  earliest  heads  from  the  o|ien  air 
sowing  will  be  of  a  suitable  size  for  the  kitchen 
in  September  or  October,  and,  in  favorable 
seasons,  a  regular  supply  may  be  expected 
from  that  time  until  the  coming  of  hard  frost. 

In  the  Southern  States  the  winter  is  mild 
enough  for  the  i)lants  to  remain  undisturbed 
in  the  open  garden,  where  they  will  contiime  in 
bearing  until  April.  In  this  part  of  the  country, 
in  the  latitude  of  New  York,  some  protection 
is  necessary.  The  plants  are  taken  up  at  the 
commencement  of  cold  weather,  and  set  in 
trenches,  with  the  stems  buried  tip  to  the 
lower  leaves.  A  cold  frame  may  be  set  over 
the  ridges,  or  they  can  be  enclosed  by  any 
rough  box  or  Ijoards  that  has  a  gentle  inclina- 
tion f)f  tiie  roof  sutlicient  to  turn  off  rain. 
Boards  or  shutters  may  be  used  for  the  roof, 
instead  of  hot-bed  sashes.  When  the  frost 
becomes  severe,  throw  some  loose  straw  over 
the  plants.  In  mild,  pleasant  days,  the  cover- 
ing should  be  wholly  or  partially  removed  for 
the  admission  of  fresh  air.  In  this  way  fine 
heads  can  lie  gathered  from  time  to  time  dur- 
ing the  winter  and  spring.  The  protection 
ought  to  be  gradually  removed  when  the 
weather  becomes  warm.  Or  the  plants  can  be 
set  out  in  a  shed,  or  in  a  light,  dry  cellar, 
without  the  cold  frame.  Frozen  heads  should 
be  covered  up  so  that  they  may  thaw  slowly, 
by  which  means  their  flavor  will  be  less  im- 
paired. 

For  Seed. 

Reserve  a  few  of  the  best  and  earliest  plants 
and  set  them  out  in  April.  Water  frequently, 
and  tlie  heads  open,  remove  all  the  shoots  ex- 
cept four  or  five  of  the  best,  which  will  need 
support  by  a  stake.  The  seed  ripens  in  Sep- 
tember and  ought  to  be  perfectly  dry  before 
being  beaten  from  the  pods.  American  broc- 
coli seed  is  sometimes  in  demand  for  exiiorta- 
tion,  but  American  gardeners  generally  make 
use  of  that  which  comes  from  England  or 
France,  while  in  England  the  Italian  seed  is 
preferred. 

Use. 

Broccoli  is  not  only  a  very  pleasant  but  also 
a  very  wholesome  vegetable.  It  is  i)rei>ared 
for  the  table  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Cau- 
LiFLOWEK,  to  which  tlie  reader  will  please 

refer. 

-^ 

CAULIFLOWER. 

"  Of  all  the  flowers  in  the  garden,"  said  Dr. 
Johnson,  "I  like  the  caulitlower. the  best." 
It  is  the  most  curious  as  well  as  the  most  deli- 
cately flavored  of  the  numerous  varieties  of  the 
cabbage  family.  The  white  flower-buds  form 
a  large,  firm  head,  surrounded  by  long  green 
leaves — being  something  like  a  "giant  rose 
wrapped  in  a  green  surtout. "  Its  history  is 
not  so  well  kiKiwii  as  that  of  some  other  plants 
less  valuable  in  th.e  culinary  department.  On 
its  being  introduced  into  England  from  the 
i.sland  of  Cyprus,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  much  attention  was  paid 
to  its  culture,  by  which  means  its  aiipearani* 
and  character  liave  been  greatly  improved. 
In  our  own  country  it  is  much  less  known 
than  its  merits  deserve.  To  show  what  iWi 
enormous  size  it  can  be  made  to  attain  under 


skillful  management,  we  mention  a  single 
plant  raised  in  the  garden  of  the  late  Hon. 
Peter  C.  Brooks.  Itledford,  Mass.  The  bare 
flower  measured  thirty-eight  inches  in  circum- 
ference and  weighed  six  pounds  and  five 
ounces.  Its  culture  is  attended  with  not  a 
little  anxiety  and  trouble,  but  not  by  iiny 
means  sufficient  to  discourage  any  enterprising 
man  from  the  labor.  It  is  not  one  of  the 
fancy  vegetables,  and  we  think  it  ought  to  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  in  every  garden  that 
is  worthy  of  the  name.  There  are  two  sub- 
varieties,  viz  :  the  Early  and  the  Late,  or 
Larye — which  will  afford  a  succession  of  crops. 

C'ULTUKE. — For  the  early  crop,  the  seed — 
one  ounce  of  which  will  atford  between  three 
and  foiu'  thousand  plants — should  be  sown  in 
the  middle  of  September,  in  the  manner  di- 
rected for  Cahbage.  If  the  weather  be  dry, 
a  little  straw  kept  upon  the  bed  until  the  seed 
has  siirouted,  and  subsequently  an  occasional 
watering,  will  prove  of  great  advantage. 
When  tile  plants  have  acquired  a  height  of 
two  or  three  inches  they  must  be  thinned  out 
to  distances  of  four  inches,  so  that  they  may 
acquire  a  good,  strong  growth  before  cold 
weather.  About  the  first  of  October,  a  piece 
of  ground  is  to  be  selected  for  the  cold  frame. 
It  ought  to  be  in  a  warm,  sheltered  situation, 
spaded  deep,  and  heavily  manured.  After 
being  laid  into  a  bed  of  suitable  size,  the  sur- 
face should  be  finely  pulverized  and  raked 
smooth.  In  the  course  of  a  week  the  frame  is 
to  be  placed  over  this  bed,  with  a  bunk  of 
earth  upon  the  outside,  in  order  to  prevent 
sudden  alterations  of  temperature  wittiin. 
When  the  ground  becomes  settled,  take  up  the 
plants  from  tlie  seed  bed,  by  means  of  a 
trowel,  and  set  them  in  a  frame  about  four 
inches  asunder.  Give  a  gentle  sprinkling  of 
Water,  but  do  not  attempt  putting  on  the 
sashes  or  shutters  until  the  weather  actually 
demands  it.  The  longer  ■  it  can  be  delayed 
with  safety,  the  stronger  and  healthier  will  be 
the  plants.  During  very  severe  weather,  the 
further  protection  of  mats  or  straw  will  be 
necessary  ;  but,  to  prevent  a  weak,  spindling 
growth,  air  must  be  freely  given  on  every  clear 
day.  There  is  much  more  danger  of  injury 
from  close  confinement  than  from  moderately 
low  temperature. 

Where  such  accommodations  cannot  he  af- 
forded, and  early  plants  are  desired,  recourse 
must  be  had  to  a  hot-bed,  made  somewhere 
aliout  the  beginning  of  February.  Should 
they  come  up  too  thick,  they  ought  to  be 
thinned  out  to  distances  of  four  inches,  and 
the  surplus  ones  can,  if  desired,  be  set  in  an- 
other bed.  The  leading  direction  for  the  man- 
agement of  the  frame  is  simply  to  keep  the 
heat  at  such  a  degree  that  the  stems  and 
leaves  will  have  a  bright  green  color.  To  af- 
fect this  a  good  supply  of  light  and  fresh  air 
are  required  at  all'times  when  the  weather 
will  admit  of  the  sashes  being  raised. 

In  tlie  middle  of  spring,  or  as  soon  as  the 
gardener  deems  it  prudent,  preparations  must 
be  made  for  removing  a  portion  of  these  early 
plants  from  the  cold  frame  or  hot-bed  to  the 
open  ground.  The  soil  should  be  rich  and 
mellow.  In  order  to  secure  a  succession  of 
crops  two  beds  may  be  selected — one  having  a 
warm,  southern  exposure,  with  shelter  on 
the  northwest,  and  the  other  in  the  open  com- 
partment. 

In  taking  the  plants  from  the  frame,  some 
of  the  very  best  ought  to  lie  left  standing,  in 
rows  about  eighteen  inches  apart  each  way. 
By  the  protection  of  mats  in  cold  days  and 
nights  together  with  extra  care  in  their  cul- 
tivation, these  will  come  to  maturity  much 
earlier  tlian  those  which  are  removed.  The 
trowel  is  a  very  valuable  implement  for  the 
work  of  transplanting,  as  the  roots  can  be 
taken  up  with  .slight  injury.  The  balls  of 
e.aith  may  be  set  out  at  distances  of  eightetai 
or  twenty  inches.  If  the  plants  in  the  bed 
liaving  the  southern  asiiect  are  covered  with 
hand-glasses,  flower-pots,  vine  shields,  or 
even  common  wooden  bo'.xes,  during  cool, 
frosty  weather,  in  maturing,  they  will  succeed 
those  left  in  the  frame,  and  be  several  days  in 
advance  of  those  in  the  open  compartment. 


187fi.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


83 


By  a  little  ni:iiiaj;eiui'nt  like  this  llu-  eauli- 
tlower  season  can  be  nuioli  extondi^d  ;  and  a 
rcsnlt  so  (U'siral)lc  is  well  worth  the  gardener's 
sinious  attt'ntion. 

In  case  tlic  readtu'  cannot  raise  plants  in 
autunni  or  winter,  and  is  niialile  to  olitain 
them  from  some  mori'  fortunate  neinhlwir,  or 
a  nurseryman,  lit^  must  l)i^  content  witli-a 
late  crop.  The  seeil  is  to  be  sown  from  aliout 
the  middle  of  April  to  the  tietjinuiii',;  of  May, 
and  the  plants,  when  four  or  live  iu(-lies  hi^ii. 
are  to  be  set  out  like  cal)l)ai;es,  in  rows  two 
feet  apart  e^ich  way.  From  unfavorable 
weather  tlie  crop  is  somewhat  uncertain. 

The  hills  for  the  caulillower  ou^ht  to  be 
hollowed  upon  tlie  top  like  a  sliallow  cup  or 
basin,  tliat  they  may  be  Ijetter  alile  to  collect 
moisture.  The  thorouflh  and  frecpient  use  of 
the  hoe  is  very  essential.  "  Wlien  the  season  is 
dry  the  iilants  need  artilicial  watering  at  least  ' 
every  other  day.  They  onj;ht  not  to  sutler 
from  the  drouy;ht — a  circumstance  that  will 
be  indicated  by  a  droopin}^  of  the  leaves,  re- 
niindiu!;  the  f;ardener  of  his  nefjlij^ence.  The 
head,  whicli  it  will  be  remembered,  is  the  edi- 
ble part,  and  esteemed  for  its  tenderness  and 
delicacy,  can  be  tinely  blanched  by  hendiiiR 
over  the  leaves  or  tyinj;  them  loosely  tofjether 
with  a  strinf;.  Where  the  whole  crop  threat- 
ens to  come  to  maturity  at  the  same  time,  a 
l)ortion  may  be  retarded  by  the  same  method. 
In  every  season  the  cultivator  nmst  carefully 
guard  against  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold 
as  well  as  of  droui^htand  moisture. 

Late  plants,  which  at  the  approach  of  cold 
weather  have  no  appearance  of  blossoming, 
are  sometimes  removed  to  a  warm  cellar, 
where  they  will  jierfeet  themselves  as  if  in  the 
open  ground,  and  continue  in  season  through- 
out the  greater  i)art  of  winter.  The  operation 
is  best  performed  on  a  damp,  cloudy  day,  and 
the  roots  should  be  taken  up  with  large  lum])s 
of  dirt  attached.  The  heads  will  gradually 
aciiuire  a  good  size  and  l)e  equally  good  witli 
those  taken  from  the  hot- bed. 

For  Seed. — Set  out,  in  spring,  some  of  the 
11  nest- looking  heads — the  (lower  buds  of  which 
are  tirni  and  close.  Support  the  stems  and 
gather  the  best  seed  as  it  ripens.  As  with  all 
tlie  members  of  the  Bnisskn  family,  particular 
care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  intermixture. 
We  would  refer  the  reader  to  our  article  on 
"  Saving  Seeo,"*  to  be  found  in  the  Hist  part 
of  the  book,  for  some  valuable  hints  on  this 
subject. 

Use. — We  have  already  quoted  the  remark 
of  Dr.  Johnson  alM)ut  the  caulitlower.  As  far 
as  our  own  opinion  may  be  wortli  anything, 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  i)lace  this  in  the  very 
front  rank  of  culinary  vegetables.  Nothing  is 
more  inviting  to  our  i>alate  than  a  good  hea<l 
which  is  brought  to  the  table  well  cooked  and 
l)roi>erly  seasoned.  It  is  vvliolesoine  and  nour- 
isliing,  especially  for  invalids,  and  makes  a 
very  ornamental  dish. 

To  HoiL. — The  head  should  be  cut  with 
most  of  the  surrounding  leaves  attached, 
which  are  to  be  trinnned  off  when  the  time 
comes  for  cooking.  Let  it  lie  half  an  liour  in 
salt  and  water  and  then  boil  it  in  fresh  water 
for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  until  a  fork  will 
easily  enter  the  stem.  Milk  and  water  arc 
better  than  water  alone.  Serve  with  sauce, 
gravy,  or  melted  butter. 

To  Pickle. — Place  the  heads  in  a  keg  and 
.sprinkle  them  liberally  with  salt.  Let  them  re- 
main thus  for  about  a  week,  when  you  may 
turn  over  them  scalding  hot  vinegar,  prepared 
with  one  ounce  of  mace,  one  ounce  of  pepper- 
corns and  one  ounce  of  cloves  to  every  gallon. 
Draw  otV  the  vinegar  and  return  it  scalding 
hot  several  times  until  the  heads  become  ten- 
der.—  Si'hen-k's  O  irdener\'i  Text-Book. 

The  use  of  this  vegetable  is  only  another 
instance  of  that  cultivation  of  Uisle,  to  whii^h 
we  have  frequently  alluded  elsewhere  in  the 
columns  of  this  journal,  and  its  introduction 
and  culinary  preparation  will  always  be  in 
proportion  to  llie  cultivation  of  the  pnpular 
taste.  We  say  this,  by  no  means  in  dispar- 
agement to  that  tiiste  to  which  the  caulitlower 


•We  will  publiBl)  tlio  chapter  on  "  Secil«"  rpferred  lo,  iu  * 
timely  subtii'queut  uumber  ol'TuL  Farmbk. 


may  be  repugnant,  because  we  do  not  alhi<le 
.SO  much  to  the  /(//iiciie  h(  of  taste  as  we  do  lo 
a  i-hmiiji  in  the  ta.-*le  of  a  comiinmity,  whether 
it  be  regarded  as  j);-i)gi-e.ssion  or  retrogression. 
The  caulillower  has  been  cultivated  for  many 
years  in  .Vmeriea,  and  yet  there  is  coin|)ara- 
tively  little  of  it  seen  in  the  gardens  or  on  the 
tables  in  r.ancaster  county.  Its  cliief  con- 
smuption  here  is  in  the  form  of  a  pickle,  whicli 
constitutes  an  important  item  iu  the  list  of 
Fanc^l  Qi-oarics  almost  everywiua'e. 

SOMETHING  ABOUT  "FIR-TREES." 

[Fruiii  l*hili|)  Mtller'8  G'lrdenfrH'  Uictutnary,  publiubMl    lii 
Luuiluii  ill  the  yeir  A.  U.  17:11,1 

.\s  many  things  during  this,  our  "Centen- 
nial year,"  will  be  "toldasa  tal(!  long  past."  we 
willoceasioually  linil  something  on  agriculture, 
horticulture,  or  other  subjects  kiudreil  thereto, 
to  pla<-e  in  contrast  with  ISTii,  just  lo  ilhi"- 
tiale  how  much  more  is  known  about  these 
things  uou!  than  there  was  iln  n. 

Mr.  Miller's  Jjictidnari/  commences  with 

"AniKs:  The  Fir  Tree.  The  name  is  de- 
rived from  .I'xo,  because  it  advances  mueh  in 
height;  and  for  the  same  reason  it  is  by  the 
(ireekscalled /)r<»ii •<('(«  ,t.  e.,  to  extend  in  height; 
or,  as  others  sa.v,  of  Afira,  to  go  away,  becausi^ 
the  bark  goes  away,  or  is  broken  off.  Il  U  eivr- 
ijrcen;  the  leicvcs  are  sinrjh'  -aiiil  jirodwed  on 
cnri/  .side  of  the  bram-hes;  the  mile  jUnvcrs  {or 
vdlkiim)  are  placed  at  remote  di.ilancis  from  the 
fruit  on  the  same  tree;  the  seed.s  are  jiroilwed  in 
cone.i.  which  are  Kqudmose;  that  is,  covered 
with  scales." 

The  aijecies  of  this  tree,  which  are  at  present 
to  be  founil  in  Kiiglish  gardens,  are  : 

L  "The  Silver,  or  Vew-leaved  Fir-tree — 
Abie.s  luxifoUo;  frw-tu  sitrsum  .fpcctante ;"  that 
is,  the  fruit  growing  upward,  and  an  object 
worthy  to  behold. 

2.  "Tile  common  Fir,  or  Pitch-tree  ;  some- 
times also  called  the  Norway  or  Spruce  Fir  — 
Abies  teimiori  folio;  frurtu  diorsnni  ui_//pav>;  " 
fruit  bowing  or  bending  downward  ;  or  up  and 
down. 

3.  "The  "Virginia  Fir-tree,  with  small, 
roundish  cones — Abies  minor :  pectinalisfolus ; 
I'irijiniana;  conis  parvi-i  subrotiindis;''''  leaves 
pectinated,  like  tlie  teeth  in  a  comb,  cones 
small  and  somewhat  rounilish. 

4.  "  The  Yew-leaved  Fir-tree,  with  long 
hanging  cones,  commonly  called  the  long- 
coned  Cornish  Fir — Abies  taxifoUo,  variety  ; 
fructu  hinijissimo  deorsum  /;i/It.C') ,""  as  already 
indicated,  the  fruit  or  cones  long,  and  bending 
or  bowing  downward. 

5.  The  Pitch-leaved  Fir-tree,  with  small 
cone — Abies  picen  folus  hreribus;  conis  mini- 
mis;'''' leaves  small  and  pitchy,  and  the  cones 
of  the  smallest  size. 

6.  "The shortest  Pitch-leaved  Fir-tree,  with 
loose  cones — Abi( s pici'(V  foliis  bcceioribus;  conis 
parris  biunrialibiis  !a,c/.s,-"  leaves  pitcliy  and 
very  short,  cones  loose  and  of  about  an  inch  in 
length  ;  or  an  ounce  in  weight. 

7.  "The  15alm  ofGilea<l  Vir—Vuhjo;  abies, 
taxifolus,  variety  ;  o(Jora  Buhami  (lileadensis;^'' 
having  the  odor  of  the  IJ.ilm  of  (iilead. 

8.  "The  Yew-leaved  Fir-tree,  with  round 
cones,  by  some;  also  called  the  IJalin  of  Gilead 
Fir — Abies  laxifnlio.  variety  :frit  lu  rotundiore 
o6tMsa,'"  ctmes.Or  fruit,  rounded  and  obtuse. 

"The  first  and  second  sorts  of  these  lirs  are 
very  common  in  most  gardens,  and  plantations 
of  evergreen  trees  ;  and  the  second  sort  is  very 
common  in  the  woods  of  N'irwaii,  and  is  the 
tree  that  affords  the  red  deals.  Tlu^se  trees 
were  (not  many  years  since)  much  esteemed 
for  ornaments  in  evergreen  gardens  ;  hut  the 
leaves  and  lower  branches  decaying,  and  soon 
falling  off,  so  as  to  render  the  under  part  of 
the  tree  luld  and  unsightly,  together  with 
their  destroying  everything  that  grows  under 
them,  they  are  not  at  present  in  so  nuich  re- 
quest. " 

"  The  third  sort  Dr.  Plukenet  mentions  to 
have  been  formerly  growing  in  the  IJishop  of 
London's  garden, "at  Fiilham.  but  hath  been 
sin<;edestidye<l,  and  hath  been  retrieviMl  again 
fmni  seeds  sent  from  New  Kiegland  by  .Mr. 
Moore,  which  were  sown  by  Mr.  Fairchild,  of 
Iloxton,  wiui  raised  several  plants  from  them, 


and  (iiids  it  hardy  enough  to  resist  our  severest 
cold  in  the  opi-ii  ground." 

"The  fourth  sort  was  biought,  many  years 
since,  from  .Vmorica,  and  was  planted  in 
Devonshire,  where  are  now  large  trees  of  this 
kind,  whicli  annually  produce  ripe  seeds, 
fiom  wheiK'e  the  gardens  near  London  have 
been  suiiplii'd.  The  tree  grows  to  In-  very 
large,  and  makes  a  b<'autiful  figure,  the  under 
])art  of  the  leaves  being  of  a  whiteish,  and  the 
upper  part  of  a  glaucous,  or  sea-green  color, 
ami  the  leaves  are  closely  set  upon  the 
branches.     This  tree  is  also  very  hardy." 

"The  lifth  and  sixth  Sorts  wi'ie  also  linmghl 
from  .Vmeriea,  and  planted  in  Devonshire  and 
Cornwall,  antl  are,  by  the  inhabitants  of  those 
counties,  used  to  make  spruee-be<'r,  and  are  by 
them  called  tlie  'spruce-firs  ;  but  .since  any  of 
these  sorts  may  Im'  used  for  the  .s;ime  purpose, 
the  appellation  doth  no  more  IM-Iong  to  the.se 
than  any  other  of  the  kinds.  These  trees  grow 
nuich  (doser  and  thicker  than  the  common  fir; 
nor  ail'  their  br.inclies  and  leaves  so  apt  Uulo- 
cay  and  fall  off,  which  renders  them  more  vul- 
uable. '■ 

"  The  seventli  and  eighth  sorts  are  promis- 
cuously called  the  Halm  of  (Hlead  firs,  but  they 
are  very  distinct,  according  to  the  branches 
whicli  I  had  sent  me  from  Di^vonshire  and 
Cornwall.  The  seventh  soit  Mr.  Kay  mentions 
in  the  supplement  to  his  Ilislori/  tf  Pluntji,  aa 
growing  in  the  Dukeof  Ueauforfs  (Jardens  at 
Hailmington.  It  was  also  in  the  liishop  of 
London's  (iardeii  at  Fulham,  some  years  since. 
This  sort  produced  long  cones,  which  ai'e  sharp 
pointed,  and  stand  eicct  upon  the  branches, 
emitting  a  large  cpiantity  of  resinous  matter  ; 
the  branches  grow  flat,  imd  the  leaves  are  very 
short." 

"  The  othi'r  sort  produces  cones  .somewhat 
like  those  of  the  cellar  of  Li'Viniw;  the  leaves 
are  of  a  darker  green,  and  are  proiliiced  thicker 
on  every  side  of  their  branches,  so  that  it  is  one 
of  the  Ijeantifulle.st  trees  of  all  the   fir  kind." 

"The  leaves  of  the.se  two  ti'ees  being  bruisetl 
betweenthetingers,  emit  a  very  strong  balsamic 
smell,  which  hath  ifiven  occa.sioii  lo  some  to 
believt;  that  the  Halm  of  Gilead  Wius  an  exuda- 
tion from  one  of  these  trees,  from  whence  they 
received  their  naiin's  ;  but  this  is  known  to  l>o 
a  mistake,  that  curious  balsam  beiu!»  the  pro- 
duction of  a  tree  very  different  from  thiselitHS. 

The  various  uses  of  these  trees,  either  in 
medicine  or  m.chanieal  uses,  are  too  many  to 
be  here  enumerated,  but  whoever  hath  a  mind 
to  see  these  things  at  large,  may  turn  to  John 
ISauhin's  Ilisliirij  if  P'linis,  \ii\.  1.  pai;e  2:11, 
or  to  Hull's  JVsiory  <f  Pbints.  where  they  will 
mi'et  with  an  ample  account  of  llieni." 

Then  follows  a  list  of  the  y/i(i<.»  under  culti- 
vation in  Riiiilish  gardens  at  the  same  iHTiml, 
and  a  long  disserlatiou  upon  the  cultivation  of 
firs  and  pines.  It  will  beoliserved  that  at  lexst 
three  of  the  species  of  lirs  cultivated  iu  Eng- 
land liriorto  17:U,  (one year  before  Wiushington 
was  born,)  were  obtained  in  Amerii-a^  and  <mf* 
of  them,  then  already  long  ago,  or  "  many 
yeai"s  since,"  from  Vlniinin. 

In  .losiah  Iloopes'  excellent  "Rook  of  Kver- 
greens,''  ;;rowing  in,  or  capable  of  being  culti- 
vated in.  the  territory  of  thel'iiifed  States,  lie 
enumerates  and  describes  eightyH>iie  ilistinet 
species  of  tirs,  and  forty-seven  varieties  ;  these 
lattiT  differing  almost  as  much  from  each  oilier 
ius  the  species  do.  These  evergreens  are  Ix'lter 
known  in  our  counlry  oral lea.stin  many  parts 
of  it,  under  the  common  names  of  "  spruce," 
or  "  sprneepine, ''  and  the  aliove  numlxTS  do 
not  include  any  belonging  to  the  genera  Pintai 
Cedrns.  .fiiniiifrn.i.  &c.  This  n»ay  siitlicieiitly 
illiistnite  the  jirogrcss  that  has  Iven  m;wle  since 
Phili])  Miller's  time,  in  lM)tanic  discovery, 
nomenclature,  classification,  and  systems  of 
cultivation  anil  reproduction,  and  fairly  con- 
trasts now  and  oint  hundred  years  ago. 

The  sticklers  for  loie.'.  explatiatory,  Enf)Ji.ih. 
common  names  in  natural  history,  instead  of 
short,  expressive  l./itin  oiu'S.  would  llnd  their 
desires  gratified  in  this  old  Dirtimuini  o(  over 
a  hundred  years  ago  ;  but  even  then,  as  now, 
il  api)ears  that  the  misnomers  in  these  com- 
mon names  alrciady  caused  "  mistakes,"  and 
crciited  confusion ;  still,  when  we  rertect  upon 


84 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[June, 


their  limited  oiJiiortunities,  we  are  com])elled 
to  admit  tliat  our  ancestors  knew  mucli  more 
alxjut  these  things  tlian  we  are  accustomed  to 
giving  them  credit  for. 

The  Ei-ergrecns^  or  Conifern,  are  an  inter- 
esting group  of  the  vegetaljle  kingdom,  and 
Mr.  Hoopes'  book  lias  done  much  in  illustrat- 
ing, classifying  and  facilitating  their  study, 
and  has  supplied  a  want  that  had  been  Ifing  in 
existence,  although  time  may  suggest  additions 
and  improvements  in  some  of  its  details.  Of 
course  we  cannot  on  this  occasion  add  any- 
thing on  tlie  subject  of  their  cultivation,  either 
in  Philip  Miller's  day  or  at  the  present  time, 
for  this  would  involve  a  labor  far  greater  than 
we  are  now  able  to  render,  nor  would  any 
general  remarks  l)e  very  satisfactory  in  a  spe- 
cific application.  We  have  retained  Miller's 
peculiar  ortliography  and  punctuation,  Ijut  we 
have  supitrossed  most  of  his  capitalization,  in 
order  to  adapt  it  more  to  the  taste  of  the  mod- 
ern reader  ;  but  seeing  tliat  he  wrote  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  years  agf),  his  style  is 
not  so  faulty  as  many  of  the  more  modern 
compositions  on  the  same  snliject.  Our  main 
object  in  transferring  these  pajiers  to  the  col- 
umns of  The  Faumkk  is  to  give  character  to 
our  centennial  vohtme  in  its  efforts  to  contrast 
the  present  and  the  pastin arhoricidture. — Ed. 


PACKING  EGGS. 


We  again  have  the  egg  season  upon  us  in 
full  swing,  and  once  more  we  have  a  few  words 
to  say  upon  the  subject,  but  it  is  more  to  pack- 
ing of  the  eggs  that  we  would  refer  on  this 
occasion.  Every  one  nearly  lias  their  pet  way 
of  sending  their  eggs,  and  doubtless  there  is 
something  to  be  stiid  for  each  system,  whether 
boxes  or  baskets,  chaff  or  hay,  be  in  use.  We 
would  not  pretend  to  dictate,  or  to  say  that 
any  way  is  especially  superior  to  another,  for 
we  should  be  inundated  with  letters  from  in- 
dignant egg-packers,  each  exemplifying  their 
assertion  in  praise  of  their  own  method  by 
some  wonderful  successes,  and  we  should  be- 
lieve them,  for  we  have  known  eggs  to  hatch, 
and  hatch  well,  which  have  been  packed  in 
divers  ways.  Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  ot 
all  cases  which  have  come  under  our  own 
knowledge  is  when  twelve  eggs  were  brought 
from  Malta  in  a  j*»c  dish,  ancl  eleven  of  them 
hatched.  We  actually  saw  the  chickens  and 
know  it  to  be  true. 

In  just  touching  on  the  various  ways  of 
packing  iu  use  we  would  only  i)ut  our  young 
hands  on  guard  against  faults  tliey  may  l)e  led 
to  commit.  Where  boxes  are  used  the  labels 
must  l)e  nailed  on  before  the  eggs  are  placed  in 
them,  and  tlielidbe  screwed  down,  not  nailed. 
Although  we  have  known  eggs  hatched  in 
boxes  where  nails  have  been  used,  still  it  is  a 
great  cliance  if  the  eggs  do  not  get  jarred  by 
hamfnering.  Then  the  points  of  the  nails 
used  for  fastening  down  tlie  label  should  be 
clenched  on  tlie  under  side,  or  the  points 
might  run  into  the  eggs ;  for  only  last  week 
we  had  a  package  of  eggs  fronj  a  gentleman 
wheie  the  utmost  care  had  been  taken  to 
screw  down  the  lid  of  the  Ijox,  but  tlie  label 
had  been  afterwards  fastened  down  with  inch 
nails  and  had  penetrated  the  shells  of  several 
*  eggs.  We  cannot,  consequently,  recommend 
amateur  packers  to  be  too  careful  over  this. 
Then  every  egg  .should,  in  our  opinion,  lie 
securely  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  paper  ;  it  helps 
so  much  towards  guarding  the  eggs  from  being 
jarred  in  transit.  Hut  even  tiere  we  know  of 
one  of  our  greatest  Dorking  breeders  who  has 
marvelous  success  with  the  eggs  he  sells,  and 
who  simply  places  the  eggs  in  chafl"  and  ties 
down  the  Ijox  lid,  using  neither  nails  nor 
screws  ;  and  we  saw  a  letter  the  other  day 
from  a  gentleman  in  Jersey,  stating  that  he 
had  hatched  nine  chickens  from  twelve  eggs  so 
packed  ;  but  the  secret  here  is  the  string^— we 
are  convinced  of  it.  It  makes  something  for 
the  many  hands  a  parcel  of  this  kind  has  to  go 
through  to  hold  by,  and  this  is  the  greatest 
point  of  all.  We  would  urge  on  every  one, 
never  mind  whetlier  you  pack  in  hay,  or  chaff, 
or  sawdust,  or  moss,  let  the  box  or  basket, 
whichever  is  used,  liave  a  handle,  either  m.ade 
ot  string  on  the  box,  or  of  wicker  on  the 


basket,  but  let  there  Ije  a  handle.  No  one  but 
an  eye  witness  has  any  conception  how  a 
handleless  package  gets  knocked  about.  One 
porter  passes  it  to  another,  and  perhaps  he  to 
the  guard  ;  or  it  has,  may  be,  to  go  by  a  car- 
rier, or  a  servant  is  sent  to  the  station  for  it, 
and  so  the  harm  is  done.  It  is  not  the  dis- 
tance does  the  injury,  but  the  knocks  and 
tumbles  the  packages  get.  Now,  if  they  all 
had  handles  they  would  in  most  ca.ses  certain- 
ly be  taken  up  liy  them,  and  the  chance  of  eggs 
liatching  would  be  greatly  increased. 

As  we  said,  we  wish  todLsparage  no  pet  ways 
of  packing,  but  we  would  venture  to  warn  our 
friends  against  the  use  of  bran,  oats,  or  saw- 
dust— that  is,  when  they  are  used  alone  ;  for 
however  full  the  packages  may  be  filled  with 
such  mixtures,  a  long  journey  will  shake  the 
contents  down  much  closer,  and  tlie  eggs  will 
very  probably  come  in  contact,  when  tliey  will 
necessarily  lie  cracked,  and  the  contents  run- 
ning out  from  one  or  two  so  cracked  eggs  might 
ruin  a  whole  sitting.  We  have,  moreover,  our- 
selves seen  eggs  in  a  package  jiierced  by  the 
sharp  ends  of  oats  ;  but  this  would  n<it  often  be 
the  case  except  in  very  thinly-shelled  eggs,  and 
such  should  not  be  sent  out  at  all  as  a  rule. 
One  or  two  of  our  friends  use  moss,  and  we  be- 
lieve with  immense  success,  but  even  then  we 
should  always  reoommend  the  box  being  lined 
with  good  and  soft  hay  first. 

In  the  use  of  baskets  we  have  noticed  so  many 
which  are  with  a  small  bottom,  sloping  up  to  a 
larger  top  ;  but  these  ba.skets  arc  so  liable  to 
tilt  over.*  We  should  always  have  them  made 
sugar-loaf-shaped,  when  they  are  able  to  with- 
stand a  good  shaking  without  fear  of  falling 
over.  We  have  used,  ourselves,  with  great 
success,  baskets  of  the  shape  of  the  wicker 
cases  in  which  spirit  jars  are  often  encased. 
But  of  all  egg  baskets  a  long  way  ahead  are, 
in  our  opinion,  those  u.sed  at  Early  Wood. 
They  are  oval,  and  are  just  as  country  women 
go  for  the  Saturday  shopping  with,  having 
huge,  upright  handles,  which  it  is  impossible 
not  to  take  hold  by,  for  they,  being  tied  to- 
gether at  tlie  top,  form  a  most  perfect  handle. 

All  must  allow  it  is  but  correct  for  a  sitting 
of  eggs  to  lie  properly  and  securely  packed  wlien 
sold,  that  have  to  go  any  distance  by  rail  or 
carriage,  and  that  the  puichasernaturally  looks 
for  it.  We  would,  however,  ask  purchasers 
not  to  be  too  (piick  in  writing  sharply  about 
the  non-succe.ss  of  a  sitting,  for  often  the  blame 
may  be  traced  to  their  own  doors  ;  and,  if  not, 
one  severe  fall  at  a  station  or  one  heavy  jarring 
would  often  ruin  the  whole  success  of  a  sitting. 
And  we  hear,  too,  repeatedly  of  failures  among 
the  eggs  of  our  most  hone.st  and  upright  ven- 
ders, whose  other  eggs  sent  out  have  done  well, 
when  the  cause  could  only  be  traced  to  .some 
such  accident  as  mentioned  above.     But  that 


*Altliouirli  110  reference  is  made  to  it  in  tlie  fore- 
ffoiiiff  article,  nor  do  we  recollect  havinc:  seen  it  else- 
wliere,  yet  it  lias  often  occurred  to  us,  tliat  any  ves- 
sel used  for  the  t  ransixirtation  of  e.icic»,  peaches,  jiears, 
berries,  or  in  fact  any  ripe  and  delicate  kind  of  fruit, 
should  not  be  smaller  at  the  liottom  tlian  at  the  top  ; 
not  only  because  it  is  more  easily  overturned  than  a 
vessel  of  wider  base,  but  because  the  jarrin;[^  process 
thniuirh  lon<r  transportation  settles  the  upper  wider 
layers  down  into  a  narrower  space,  necessarily  pro- 
tluciiitr  a  compression  that  could  not  occur,  if  said  ves- 
sels were  of  equal  size  above  and  below,  or  of  the  u|)- 
lijjht  churn-shape.  Strawberries,  blackberries,  and 
sometimes  even  cherries,' hauled  ibr  a  long  distance 
in  such  narrow-bottomed  vessels,  especially  over  rouj^li 
roads,  will  be  found  compacted  and  indented  at  oj* 
near  the  bottom,  while  at  the  top  they  may  have  a 
fair  appearance. 

Proximately  this  may  also  be  the  ease  with  efrgs, 
especially  when  the  vessels  are  larjre,  and  they  have 
to  pass  over  a  rougrh  road,  or  to  withstand  the  long 
and  continuous  jarring  of  a  railroad  trip. 

It  is  true  that  the  bowl-shaped  nests  of  birds  and 
domestic  fowls  favors  the  pressing:  of  the  egjrs  against 
each  other,  but  then  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
number  is  usually  very  limited,  and  the  nests  them- 
selves are  quiet — perfectly  motionless;  with  just  suf- 
tieient  concentrating  force  to  keep  them  huddled  to- 
gether, and  to  facilitate  ineubatiou.  From  the  fact  that 
all  objects  gravitate  downward,  and  when  they  are  of 
a  delicate  or  tender  nature,  and  are  circumscribed  by 
the  walls  of  funnel-shaped  vessels,  it  seems  reasona- 
ble to  suppose  that  the  longer  they  n'lnain  in  that 
condition,  and  the  nn»re  jarred  they  are,  the  more 
compressed  they  will  bceonic. — Eu, 


a  handle  easy  to  lay  hold  of  is  of  great  value 
to  every  cgg-iiacker  we  are  quite  sure,  and 
would  always  recommend  purchasers  to  insist 
upon  it. —  IF,,  in  Jour,  of  Ilort. 


HOW  TO  GET  RID  OF  ROSE  SLUGS. 

•Passing  the  residence  of  ex-Maj'or  Atlee  this 
morning,  and  admiring  tlie  display  of  roses  in  his 
open  side-yard,  we  enquired,  "How  do  you  fight 
the  rose  slugs."  The  laconic  reply  was,  "With  a 
small  boy  at  one  cent  for  fifty  !"  This  touched  the 
bottom  fact  of  the  slug  business.  After  all  the 
theories  and  "infallible  remedies"  recommended, 
experience  has  demonstrated  that  the  only  efieetive 
remedy  is  hand-picking.  "  A  small  boy  at  a  penny 
for  fifty  "can  make  his  expenses  to  the  Centennial  in 
an  ordinary  collection  of  roses,  if  the  season  is 
"  favorable  " — to  the  slugs. — Daily  Fipress. 

Just  SO  ;  we  can  indorse  the  above  remedy, 
for  we  have  "tried  it  twice,"  and  the  last  time 
the  most  thoroughly  and  successfully.  It  is  a 
Franco-German  remedy,  and  we  believe  the 
liest  remedy  ever  "invented."  "Small boys," 
at  a  lutlf  2jeiiny  a  hundred,  are  of  some  ac- 
count in  France  or  Germany,  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  various  kinds  of  slwjs,  although 
they  might  not  be  able  to  make  much  head- 
way against  the  Phylloxera,  or  our  western 
"Chinch-bugs." 

A  few  years  ago  our  garden  was  seriously 
infested  with  "  Kose-slugs, "  (Selandriarosu',) 
and  our  spouse  was  iu  a  state  of  corroding 
anxiety.  She  did  not  care  about  handling 
poison,  and  we  instructed  her  in  the  most 
practical  alternative,  namely,  "hand-picking," 
in  which  we  assisted  her,  and  finally  con- 
quered them. 

In  May  a  small  black  saw-fly  makes  its  ap- 
pearance on  the  rose-bushes,  which  is  easily 
captured  in  early  cool  mornings,  but  in  warm 
midday  it  becomes  too  active  for  easy  capture. 
These  flies  may  often  be  seen  in  pairs — male 
and  female — and  the  latter  deposits  her  eggs 
on  the  under  side  of  the  leaf,  immediately  on 
or  near  the  margin.  In  June  the  young  slugs 
are  hatched  out,  and  they  are  then  so  small, 
and  so  near  the  color  of  the  leaves,  that  hun- 
dreds of  them  may  be  present  without  attract- 
ing attention.  As  they  grow  larger  a  skeleton- 
izing, and  finally  a  browning  of  the  leaves  will 
be  jierceptible.  This  it  the  work  of  the  slugs, 
ami  in  the  protected  parts  of  the  bush  they 
will  be  found  on  either  or  both  sides  of  the 
leaves,  but  where  expostnl  to  the  hot  sun  they 
usually  prefer  the  lower  sides,  and  for  that 
reason,  too,  the  application  of  a  poison  may 
not  reach  them  all. 

When  the  slugs  are  fully  matured  they  un- 
dergo a  change  in  color,  becoming  more  of  a 
yellowi.sli  green,  and  if  you  have  done  nothing 
to  destroy  them,  they  leave  the  bushes  then 
and  go  into  the  ground,  and  are  changed  to  a 
small  dark  brown  pupa,  or  chrysalis.  If,  after 
the  leaves  of  tlie  bushes  appear  as  if  they  had 
been  smitten  with  "  fire-blight,"  and  you  find 
no  more  of  the  slug-pests  on  them,  you  should 
happen  to  indulge  ahappy  feeling  that  now  the 
hifestation  has  ended,  don't  be  too  sanguine, 
because  you  may  have  a  second  brood  more 
numerous  and  destructive  than  the  first  brood. 
If  you  don't  have  them  the  same  season,  you 
surely  will  the  following  spring.  But  if  you 
have  been  active,  vigilant,  and  persevering,  in 
hand-picking  the  first  brood,  the  following  ones 
will  be  light  work,  and  you  will  finally  exterm- 
inate them.  We  know  no  plant  easier  kept 
clean  than  a  rose-bush,  from  slugs  and  aphids. 
Women  and  theirfriends  visit  them  daily,  half 
daily  or  tri-daily,  if  not  hourly  ;  tending  tliem, 
watering  them,  cultivating  them,  watching 
their  jirogress,  and  anticipating  the  expansion 
of  their  beautiful  and  fragrant  flowers.  All 
they  have  to  do  Is  to  institute  an  examination 
every  time  they  visit  them,  and  to  say  to 
their  lady  friends,  "  now  Mrs,  Pry,  Mrs,  Shy 
or  Mrs,  Spry,  look  out  for  the  slugs  and 
aphids,"  A  small  pairof  wooden  forceps  with 
flattened  ends,  and  a  simple  spring  between  the 
handles  to  keep  them  open,  is  a  convenient  in- 
strument to  crush  the  slugs,  if  they  do  not 
choose  to  use  their  dainty  fingers,  but  under 
no  circumstances,  is  this  latter  process  half  as 
repugnant  as  disemboweling  a  chicken  or  a  fish. 
Where  tlie  whole  leaf  has  been  skeletonized,  it 


I87r..j 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


85 


should  lie  rciiiovfil  iiiid  Imriit,  if  any  slii'^x  are 
found  upon  it.  IJnt  when  only  |);iitially  de- 
stroyed the  Iciifniay  111' siivid  liy  the  iisiorilu^ 
forc'eps,  or  the  tluuul)  and  lin-jer.  Aplji<ls  may 
be  dislodj^ted  and  destroyed  by  directiii'^  a  rapid 
steam  of  soap-suds,  tohacco  water,  or  simply 
hydrant  water  at;ainsl  tliem,  through  the  uu/,- 
zle,  otaganh'USyrin;;!'.  Indeed,  a  heavy  si  lower 
of  rain  often  \v;islies  down  and  (h'stroys  thous- 
ands of  tluMn.  They  are  very  delieide  little 
creatures,  and  may  also  Ik^  easily  eruslieil  or 
removed  hy  the  thnmh  ami  liie^er.  The  best 
renu'dy,  therefore,  in  plants  so  accessible  as 
rose-bushes,  is  active  and  jxiseverin;;  liand- 
piekinjj,  wlietlierdone  by  adults,  "small  boys," 
or  small  girls.  —  Kl>. 

LATE-KEEPING  FRUITS. 

Tlie  disposition  now  so  RcniTally  manifested 
for  the  production  of  very  early  fruits  is  com- 
mendable so  far  as  it  extends  to  the  extension 
of  the  season,  but  when  we  takt-  into  account 
the  very  perishable  character  of  these,  it  hc- 
conies  a  matter  worthy  of  consideration 
whether  our  efforts  nufllit  not  be  more  protit- 
ably  applieil  to  the  prochwtiou  of  Ihosi'  which 
shall  prolonjT  the  season  of  fruits  into  tlu^  late 
fall  and  winter  months;  for,  as  populati<in  in- 
creases and  civilization  advances,  so  will  these 
fruits  be  considered  as  among  the  necessities 
of  food  for  all  who  have  the  means  to  jiur- 
chase  then\.  The  demand  for  late  fruits  for 
exportation  has  now  become  general,  and 
large  <iuantities  are  sent  not  only  to  England, 
but  in  our  i<-e-sliips  to  warmer  climes,  where 
they  are  more  aiul  more  (h'manded  for  con- 
stant use.  In  view  of  these  facts  it  becomes 
a  matter  of  importance  to  increase  the  number 
of  choice  late-keeping  fruits,  not  oidy  for  our 
own  market,  but  for  foreign  demands. 

Heretofore  there  has  seemed  a  want  of 
taste  in  the  community  for  late  ]iears,  shown 
by  the  sudden  falling  otf  in  the  (U'inand  for 
this  fruit  immediately  on  the  setting  in  of 
cold  weather,  but  it  is  my  belief  that  a  taste 
for  them  will  grow — indeed,  is  already  grow- 
ing up.  Most  of  the  very  late  varieties  of 
pears  which  we  now  possess  are  of  mediimi 
quality,  and  we  think  ourselves  forttmate  if 
we  can  ripen  them  to  even  a  half-melting  tex- 
ture, and  it  should  be  our  aim  in  the  improve- 
ment of  this  fruit  to  produce  varieties  as  tine 
in  quality  and  texture  as  the  autumn  kinds, 
and  possessing  the  property  of  keeping  through 
the  winter  without  tlie  aid  of  special  appli- 
ances. The  want  of  ta.ste  for  winter  pears  is 
owing,  to  a  great  extent,  to  the  want  of 
knowledge  by  the  imblic  generally  of  the  ex- 
istence of  fine  varieties  ripening  in  the  season 
of  the  Beurre  d'Aujow,  Lawrence,  Winter- 
Nelis,  and  Dana's  Honey. 

There  is  little  fear  of  overstocking  the  mar- 
ket with  very  choice  late-keeping  apples  or 
liears;  for  just  in  proportion  a-s  the  refine- 
ments of  life  and  cultivated  taste  are  appre- 
ciated, so  will  these  bounties  of  nature  Im- 
corae,  as  in  the  beginning,  first  among  the 
charms  of  Eden,  first  among  the  luxuries  of 
life.  I  am  happy  to  say  thai  the  bcipu'st  to 
this  society,  which  I  have  already  mentioned, 
ha.s  distinct  reference  to  the  iiroduction  of 
late  varieties  of  fruit. — Mar.'thall  1'.  Wilder, 
September,  1875. 

We  have  long  since  entertained  the  view 
that  the  taste  for  certain  fruits,  vegetaliles, 
and  even  meats  of  various  kinds,  are  mori'  or 
less  the  results  of  cultivation,  and  that  aver- 
sions towards  certain  thingsare  little  else  than 
prejudices.  What  a  strong  and  almost  uni- 
versal prejiKliee  existed  against  tomatoes  some 
thirty-five  or  forty  years  ago  ;  and  yet,  at  the 
present  day,  there  is  not  a  more  [lopular  and 
universally  u.sed  fruit  or  vegetable  cultivated 
in  our  entire  country,  nor  one  tliat  contributes 
more  to  our  domestic  market.  The  •■aiming, 
and  otherwise  preparing  or  preserving  of  to- 
matoes, constitutes  an  inunense  item  in  om- 
list  of  culinary  preparations.  We  never  shall 
forget  with  what  suspicion  we  reganli'd  the 
first  dish  of  stewed  tomatoes  we  ever  saw,  ami 
with  what  reluctance  we  jiartook  of  them. 
Under  any  other  circumstances  we  probably 
would  have  rejected  the  dish  as  so  much  poi- 


Dr.J.  C.B.,  Litiz,  Pa.— Your  "Bug,"  sent 
to  us  June!  Oth,  is  the  same  as  the  one  above 
des<!ribed.  You  would  not  recognize  it  now  ; 
it  is  dead,  and  has  lost  all  its  gilded  brilliancy. 


(I  B.,  LanraMer  Clt;/.— The  long,  white, 
thread-like  worm,  whicli  you  found  in  your 
garden  soil,  and  which  persisted  in  twisting 
itself  up  into  a  very  complicated  knot,  belongs 
to  the  family  of  "Hair-worms,"  of  whic-h 
there  are  a  great  many  siieeies  belonging  to  the 
genera  (junliiis  yHlnrid,  itc. ,  &e.  Doubtless 
the  shortest  way  to  open  the  "(Jordian  knot," 
into  which  these  animals  tie  tlu'mselve.s,  would 
lie  to  adopt  the  Alexandrian  system  and  cut 
them  through. 


son.  It  W;us  the  .same,  in  our  boyhood,  in  re- 
gard to  turtles  and  frogs.  They  were  abun- 
dant everywhere,  and  Wcri' almost  imivei-sidly 
loathed.  .Vt  length  a  "  Kicncliy  "  citizen, 
with  a  taste  cultivated  in  that  direction  else- 
whirc,  offered  a  pittance  for  these  reptiles, 
and  soon  had  plenty  of  them.  But  he  did  not 
remain  long  the  "monarch  of  all  he  sur- 
veyed." I'eople  began  to  forego  their  preju- 
dices, ami  i-ultivati'  an  opposite  ta.ste.  and 
tintles  and  frogs  subsecpiently  became  almost 
extinct  in  that  locality.  ( >t'  com-st!  a  tiustir 
that  is  capable  of  an  u}inTn(l  eidtivation,  may 
also  be  cultivated  iloinnnint. 

ANSWERS  TO  CORRESPONDENTS. 

./.  3/.  jV,.  Oreij'in,  Lunr,  m.,  /'((.-  The  beau- 
tiful golden,  tortoise-shaped  U'ctle  which  vou 
sent  us  on  the  'Jlitli  of  .May  last,  was  a  speci- 
men of  the  "Sweet-potato  Tortoise  Heetli'" — 
('(i.isiiln  {rojiliici/rld)  (/Kcii'/ift'cm —belonging  to 
the  gre.vt  tainily  < 'liri/fmiKtHilf,  and  the  suJ>- 
family  (/'.\ssii>in.1'..  In  thi'  State  of  New  .h'r.sey 
these  beetles  are  so  nunn'rous  sometimes,  as 
to  very  seriously  damage  the  sweet-potato  crop  j 
of  eiitiri'  districts.  It,  however,  does  not  con- 
llni'  itself  to  the  sweet-])otato  vines,  but  it  also 
fee<ls  on  the  leaves  of  the  "morning  glory" 
and  other  siiecies  of  convolvitlous  plants.  On 
one  occasion,  on  our  own  premises,  they  were 
particularly  destruirtive  to  the  foliage  of  a 
thrifty  "  medairy  vine  ; "  but  we  have  never 
known  them  to  be  eitlier  very  dcslruelive  or 
very  numerous  in  Lancaster  county.  The 
beetle  seems  to  have  the  power  to  in<-rease  the 
brilliancy  oi  its  golden  lustre,  todimiiiish  it  or 
to  withhold  it  altogether  ;  and  after  it  diis  it 
vanishes  quite,  and  then  its  color  is  aconnnon 
yellowish  drab.  Tlu^  hirvf  are  small,  oval, 
tlattish,  black,  hairy  caterpillai-s,  which  cast 
their  (excretions  on  the  back  of  the  hind  end 
of  tliinr  bodies.  Both  U\i'  mature  beetles  and 
the  larv;e  feed  on  the  aforenamed  (ilaids,  and 
they  undergo  their  iiupal  and  final  tiansforma- 
tions  there.  Paris  green,  white  helebore,  to- 
bacco decoctions,  ami  sapona<'eous  or  earbolii! 
solutions  will  destroy  them  ;  but  when  easily 
accessible  and  not  very  numerous,  they  may 
Ije  destroyed  by  careful  hand  picking. 

When  distinbed,  in  wartn  weather,  they 
very  rapidly  disappear  by  a  precipitate  flight. 
The  species  are  ninnerous  and  somie  of  the 
South  American  varieties  are  very  beautiful 
and  brilliant  in  their  colors,  and  they  are  often 
set  in  breastpins,  shirt  studs,  rings  and  ear- 
drops, especially  in  Brazil — indeed  there  is  at 
this  time  on  exhibition  in  the  "Main  Hall" 
of  the  Centennial  Exposition,  at  I'hiladelphia, 
a  collection  of  most  magnificent  jewelry  and 
other  ornaments,  set  with  beautiful  specimens 
of  Brazili.in  beetles,  only  eipialeil  in  beauty 
and  ingenious  execution  by  the  "  Feather 
Flowers"  of  that  interesting  anil  prolific 
country.  This,  of  course,  attaches  a  connner- 
cial  value  to  said  beetles;  and  if  our  country- 
men could  succeed  in  utilizing  our  insects  and 
securing  a  money  value  tor  them,  such  is  our 
national  love  of  inoney,  that  we  possibly  might 
bectmic  engaged  in  their  culture,  their  increa.sie 
and  their  improveUK^nt,  instead  of  anxieties 
to  find  ways  and  means  to  exterminate  them. 


and  which  seemed  to  liave  jnst  emerged  from 
an  old  decayed  apple  trunk,  on  the  2l>th  of 
May,  is  a  species  of  ll'inihiiliit-i,  or  nearly 
allied  to  it  :  but  we  have  no  work  on  Dep- 
terolo;,'y,  and  thi'refmf  are  unable  to  locate  it 
specifically  at  tin',  present  time.  The  larvn  or 
maggot  of  it  is  parasitic;  on  other  insect  lan'as. 


,T.  S.,Litiiraxter,  7'a.— The  moderately  large 
two-winged  My,  with  the  yellow,  hairy  thorax 
and  the  black,  les-  hairy  abdomen,  which  you 
captured,  witli  the  pupa  .shell  adhering  to  it, 


A.  li. — Your  white  butterlly  is  Pirri.i  riiinr., 
the  gri'at  cabbage  enemy.  We  noticed  htni- 
dreds  of  them  a  few  days  ago  along  the  rail- 
roiul  near  the  "(iap."     Look  out  for  them. 

A  PAIR  OF  TEXAS  TRAVELERS. 


Two  "Horned  Frogs"  Visit  Lancaster     They 
Make  an  i,8x>  Mile  Trip  by  Rail. 

The  following  artii-le  intr<Kluces  a  pair  of 
distiii'.iuishi'd  strangers,  the  di'scriptinii  of 
which  will  lie  reacl  with  interest  by  a  large  cir- 
cle of  our  rciiders. 

Horned  Flags. 

We  received  by  mail  two  living  specimi-nsof 
that  singular  n-ptile  known  in  Tev.ts,  and 
other  places  wliere  it  exists,  hy  the  <'ommon 
F.nglish  cigMomeii  of  "  horneil  frog;"  but 
smely  they  look  m  ire  like  OnuLt  than  frixjii, 
and  not  imii-li  like  either.  Tlie.se  were  mailed 
to  us  by  II.  \.  Ilathvon,  manager  U.  S.  mili- 
tary tidegraph  at  Fort  (irillin,  Shackelford 
county,  Texas,  ami  caim;  safely  through— a 
distance  of  l,S(l()miles  -in  nine  days,  arriving 
"sound  of  wind  and  limb,"  and  as  lively  an 
kitttms. 

In  jMiint  of /art,  however,  these  animals  are 
neither  toads  nor  frogs;  but  it  is  Very  doubt- 
ful whether  they  will  ever  Ik;  released  from 
their  false  christening,  until  the  world  beeome.'j 
very  nuK'h  wi.si^r  on  the  subject  of  natural  his- 
tory anil  its  scientific  el,-i.ssilication  than  it  is 
now.  Their  misnomer  has  bi-en  .so  long  and 
SI)  persist4'ntly  insisted  on,  that  popular  au- 
thors of  natural  history  recognize  them  under 
the  common  nameiif  ••  Horned  To:ids."  Those 
received  are  i\w  I'hniivisnimi  coniiita  of  (iniy. 
They  are  true  .Saurians  or  "  lizards,"  and  l)e- 
long  to  the  family  Iguanida',  which  includes 
several  genera  and  many  species,  some  of 
which  are  very  large,  and  a  large  South  ,\meri- 
<-an  species — tiiKandlHhirruUitn — lives  on  trees, 
and  the  tle.sh  is  e.steeined  excellent  food,  'i'he 
si>ecies,  liow(ever,  which  is  the  siibji^ct  of  this 
paper,  is  said  never  to  climb  trees,  but  n\oves 
with  rapidity  upon  the  ground,  unli'Ssit  is  be- 
numbed by  cold,  anil  is  somewhat  sluggish  in 
conliiKunent. 

Toads  and  frogs,  on  the  contrary,  are  ISntra- 
r/uVdi.'i  or  "  amphibians, "  and  are  cut irely  desti- 
tute of  .scales,  and,  in  most  cases,  lay  their 
nnineroiis  eggs  in  water  or  in  damp  iihu'cs. 
Some  Batrachians  also  have  tails  like  lizanls, 
but  their  skin,  for  the  mo.st  part,  is  moist  and 
slimy,  and  entirely  without  scales  or  spines. 
In  toads  and  some  tailed  species,  Iho  skin  is 
dry,  but  never  scaly. 

The  Saurians,  on  the  other  hand,  aredistin- 
giiished  liv  having  scaly  skins,  sometiniej* 
spilled  or  tubercular,  but  never  slimy.  The 
mouth  is  usually  large  and  armed  with  teeth, 
an<l  their  feet  are  generally  furnished  with 
nails.  They  also  generally  lay  their  eggs  in 
sand  or  dry  earth,  cover  them  over,  ami  let 
iheni  hatcii  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  when 
the  young  come  forth. they  are  nearly  as  jht- 
feet  .as  the  parent,  tlilU'ring  only  in  size.  I'ho 
largi'st  Saurian  in  the  United  States  is  the 
alligator. 

The  great  cla.ss  Reptilia  is  divided  into 

First  — C/ir/oiiiVi,  or  Turtles. 

Second-  Sitiirin,  or  Lizards. 

Third  — O/i/i/diii,  or  STiM-nts. 

Fourth-  -Jlutrmliht,  or  Frog.s,  Sic. 

These  four  orders  are  sub-divided  into  snl)- 
orders.  families,  geneni  and  six-cies,  in  order 
to  facilitate  their  study;  and  although  there 
are  many  dilTercut  cia.ssilications.  w<'  have 
merely  given  the  alnive  outline  to  illustrate 
when'  our  little  eornuted  Texans  stand  in  the 
column  of  classitii-ation,  and  from  which  it  will 
l>e  observed  that  tlu'y  l«long  to  the  iuc"iul  in- 
stead of  the/"i/i-'/i  sul>-order,  iis  this  connuon 
name  would  imply. 

These  animals  are  capable  of  living  a  long 


86 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[June, 


time  witliout  food.  On  one  occasion  one  was 
kept  in  Lancaster  three  or  four  mouths,  and 
during  that  i)eriod  it  rejected  food  of  every 
kind,  and  tinally  died.  On  another  occasion 
an  individual,  sent  us  hy  Dr.  Boughter,  from 
New  Mexico,  survived  six  or  eight  weeks,  and 
during  that  period  only  appropriated  half  a 
dozen  of  the  many  flics  and  other  insects  we 
gave  it ;  and  we  ol)served  that  it  always  took 
the  living  insects  instead  of  the  dead  ones.  At 
length  it  remained  several  days  perfectly  inert, 
and  we  supiiosed  it  to  be  dead,  and  immersed 
it  in  alcohol,  but,  to  our  surprise,  it  levived 
and  struggled  ten  minutes,  at  least,  before  it 
died.  They  are  very  sensiMy  affected  by  cold, 
but  when  the  weather  is  warm  they  are  rather 
lively  little  creatures. 


ABOUT  FLIES. 

An  Ench'ph  chi'inist  has  published  the  results  of 
his  observations  of  Hies,  with  whieli  he  has  experi- 
mented. If  wliat.  lie  reports  is  true,  we  should  be 
more  kind-hearted  to  these  little  insects.  It  is  interest- 
inj;  to  watch  a  Hy  that  has  just  alighted  after  soarins: 
about  the  room  lor  some  little  time.  He  goes  througli 
a  series  of  operations  which  remind  you  of  a  eat 
licliinji:  herself  after  a  meal,  or  of  a  bird  plumins  its 
feathers.  First  the  hind  feet  are  rubbed  tog-ether, 
then  each  hind  leg  is  passed  over  a  wing,  then  the 
fore  legs  undergo  the  same  treatment;  and  lastly,  if 
you  look  sharp,  you  will  see  the  insect  carry  his  pro- 
boscis over  his  legs  and  about  his  body  as  far  as  he 
can  reach.  The  minute  trunk  is  perfectly  retractile, 
and  it  terminates  in  two  large  lobes,  which  you  can 
see  spread  out  when  the  insects  begin  a  meal  on  a 
lump  of  sugar.  Now,  the  rubbing  together  of  legs 
and  wings  may  be  a  soothing  operation,  but  for  what 
purpose  is  this  carefully  going  over  the  body  with 
the  trunk,  especially  when  that  organ  is  not  fitted  for 
licking,  but  simply  for  grasping  and  sucking  up  food. 
On  placing  a  Hy  under  the  microscope,  to  the  inves- 
tigator's disgust,  it  appeared  covered  with  lice.  The 
chemist  concluded  that  here  was  something  which  at 
once  required  looking  into.  Why  were  flies  lousy? 
The  fly  seemed  to  take  his  position  very  coolly,  and 
extending  his  proboscis,  began  to  sweep  it  over  his 
l)ody  as  if  he  had  just  alighted.  A  glance  through 
the  microscope,  however,  showed  that  the  operation 
was  not  one  of  self-beautification,  for  wherever  the 
lice  were  there  the  trunk  went.  The  lice  disappeared 
into  the  trunk  and  the  fly  was  eating  them.  He  took 
the  paper  into  the  kitchen  and  waved  it  around,  tak- 
ing care  that  no  flies  touched  it,  went  back  to  the 
microscope  and  there  found  animalcules,  the  same  as 
on  flies.  He  had  now  arrived  at  something  definite  ; 
the  animalcules  were  floating  in  the  air,  and  the  quick 
motions  of  the  flics  gathered  them  on  their  bodies, 
and  the  flies  then  went  into  some  quiet  corner  to  have 
their  dainty  meal.  The  investigator  goes  on  describ- 
ing how  he  continued  the  experiment  in  a  variety  of 
localities,  and  how ,  in  dirty  and  bad  smelling  quar- 
ters, he  found  the  myriads  of  flies  which  exist  there 
literally  covered  with  animalcules,  while  other  flies, 
captured  in  tjedroomsor  ventilated,  clean  apartments, 
were  miseraljly  lean  and  entirely  free  from  their  prey. 
Wherever  filth  existed,  evolving  germs  which  might 
generate  disease,  there  were  the  flies  covering  them- 
selves with  minute  organisms  and  greedily  devouring 
the  same. 

Wliether  the  above  theory,  in  regard  to  the 
renovating  quality  of  tlies,  is  truf  or  otherwise, 
it  cannot  be  successfully  denied  that  these  lit- 
tle dipters  perform  no  useless  function  in  the 
economj'  of  nature.  AVe  have  seen  this  theory 
questioned — contradicted — but  we  cannot  say 
successfully  disproved  ,•  for,  that  cutaneous  dis- 
eases, and  infections  of  ditVerent  kinds,  are 
commimicated  l)y  flics,  has  been  generally  ad- 
mitted by  eminent  medical  authorities.  But 
aside  from  this,  tliere  are  tangible  and  visible 
evidences  to  the  ellect  that  tlies  are  among  our 
greatest — and  under  some  circumstances 
among  our  only — means  for  the  removal  of 
putrid  and  decaying  matter,  and  the  purifica-  j 
tion  of  the  atmosphere  during  warm  summer 
weather,  and  tlierefore,  instead  of  making  so 
much  "ado"  about  i\\v\r presence ,  it  might  go 
very  ill  with  us,  if — other  conditions  remaining 
the  same — they  were  entirely  absent.  Every- 
body of  any  intelligent  observation  at  all,  must 
have  noticed,  over  and  over  again,  from  their 
earliest  youth  to  latest  age,  that  flies  are  often 
engaged  in  rubbing  their  front  feet  and  their 
hind  feet  together,  passing  the  hind  pair  over 
their  wing-s,  and  the  front  pair  over  tlieir  pro- 
boscis, although  it  may  not  have  been  apparent 
what  the  puri)osc  of  these  manipulations  may 
have  been.  They  appeared  to  be  engaged  in 
rubbing  off  something,  but  whether  animalculse 


or  other  accumulations  of  filth,  could  not  be  so 
easily  determined  without  the  aid  of  a  jiower- 
ful  magnifier.  But,  that  they  greatly  assist  in 
the  decomposition  and  deodorization  of  putrid 
animal  and  vegetable  matter,  cannot  be  for  a 
moment  (pieslioned,  and  in  that  oiHce  they  are 
invaluable. 

We  confess  that  the  sensation  they  create  in 
settling  upon,  running  over,  and  lapping  up  the 
secretions  of  the  exposed  parts  of  the  liuman 
body,  may  not  be  a  pleasant  one,  neither  is  it 
a  pleasant  o])erati()n  to  have  a  tooth  drawn,  or 
a  wound  dressed,  and  yet,  our  health  and  fu- 
ture comfort  may  be  only  securable  liy  means  of 
these  o]ierations.  Their  redundant  existence 
would  not  surely  Ije  permitted,  if  they  were  of 
no  ]iossible  use,  and  if  tliere  were  no  comjien- 
sations  for  the  many  annoyances  they  inflict 
ujion  us.  Viewed  from  our  standjioint,  we 
have  no  grievances  to  be  redressed  on  account 
of  the  presence  of  flies,  for  we  feel  that  the 
sanitary  condition  of  that  habitation  may  well 
be  questioned  where  flies  will  not  voluntarily 
enter  ;  and  where  there  is  a  spontaneous  mor- 
tality among  the  flies,  the  proi>er  healthful 
ventilation  of  such  a  i)lace  should  become  the 
jjubject  of  immediate  solicitude.  It  is  true, 
that  their  redundancy  may  often  bedispropor- 
tioned  to  the  necessity  for  them,  under  special 
circumstances  and  in  special  jilaces,  Init  in  such 
cases  the  more  rational  remedy  would  be  in  re- 
moving the  causes  than  in  fretfully  battling 
against  the  tffecls.  We  have  often  seen  li(piid 
traps  set  for  flies,  in  which  their  bloated  bodies 
were  permitted  to  remainfromsix  to  ten  hours 
in  the  hot  days  of  summer,  and  it  has  always 
occurred  to  us  that  ten  dead  flies,  so  immersed, 
were  more  oflensive  and  hurtful  to  a  human 
habitation  than  ten  hundred  living  ones. 
Spiders,  toads,  hornets,  lizards,  and  many  other 
animals,  live  almost  exclusively  on  Hies,  but 
imfortunately  those  who  are  prejudiced  against 
flies,  are  a  thousand  times  more  so  against 
those  friendly  animals. 


WHAT  THE  COUNTY  PAPERS  DO. 

An  exchange  combats  with  considerable  vigor  the 
argument  that  the  city  papers  are  cheaper  and  better 
than  the  country  papers  because  they  give  more  col- 
umns of  reading  for  the  money.  Do  the  city  papers, 
it  asks,  ever  give  you  any  home  news  ?  Never.  Do 
they  say  anything  in  regard  to  your  own  county? 
Nothing.  Do  they  contain  notices  of  your  schools, 
churches,  meetings,  improvements,  and  hundreds  of 
other  local  matters  of  interest,  which  your  paper 
publishes  without  pay  ?  Not  an  item.  Do  they  ever 
say  a  word  calculated  to  draw  attention  to  your 
county  and  its  numerous  thriving  towns,  and  aid  in 
their  progress  and  enterprise?  Not  a  word.  And 
yet  there  are  men  who  take  such  contracted  views  of 
this  matter,  that  unless  they  are  getting  as  many 
square  inches  of  reading  matter  in  their  own  paper 
as  they  do  in  a  city  paper,  they  think  they  are  not 
getting  the  worth  of  their  money.  It  reminds  us  of 
the  person  who  took  the  largest  pair  of  boots  in  the 
box,  simply  because  they  cost  the  same  as  the  pair 
much  smaller  that  fitted  him,  whilst  the  former  were 
entirely  too  large,  and  therefore  useless  to  hliii. 

The  case  is  the  same  in  regard  to  country 
agricultural  journals,  and  many  farmers  are 
constantly  "  dancing  to  the  tune  of  city  fid- 
dlers," when  the  case  ought  to  he  the  reverse. 
The  very  largest  city  periodicals  in  the  coun- 
try often  do  not  contain  as  much  in  their  col- 
umns of  a  specific  local  interest  as  may  be 
found  in  an  ordinary  country  newspaper.  It 
is  true,  some  of  them  are  largely  filled  with 
semi-sentimental,  semi-romantic  and  literary 
matter,  some  of  which  is  good  and  interesting 
reading,  but  very  little  of  it  illustrates,  en- 
courages or  is  in  symjiathy  with  rural  life  ; 
and  the  general  effect  is,  to  wean  the  country 
jieople  from  rural  occupations,  and  to  engen- 
der a  hankering  after  the  blandishments  of 
the  city.  Of  course  there  are  many  noble  ex- 
ceptions ;  and  perhaps  the  very  best  thing  a 
farmer  could  do,  after  subscribing  to  his  own 
local  journal,  would  be  to  subscribe  to  one  of 
these,  but  under  no  circumstances  will  he  find 
a  city  journal  so  near  him  in  .sympathy  and 
special  interest  as  his  local  journ.al.  If  he  has 
anything  to  ask,  or  anything  to  .say,  he  will 
find  none  more  willing  to  place  his  desires  be- 
fore the  public  in  a  readable  manner  than  his 
local  editor.      We  by  no  means  intend  to  dis- 


parage city  journals,  for  they  contain  much  in 
their  columns  that  is  of  special  interest  to  the 
rural  citizen,  but,  outside  of  market  reports, 
the  most  useful  and  interesting  matter  in  them 
to  the  rural  reader  is  what  they  glean  from 
connti7  papers  and  country  contributors. 
There  are  no  wheat-fields,  corn-fields  nor  ru- 
ral occupations  in  a  populous  city. 


A  COMPLETE  REMEDY   FOR  TOBACCO 
FLY. 

Dr.  Sypert  came  in  last  week  to  have  published, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  planting  community,  a  com- 
plete and  perfect  remedy  for  fly,  and  yet  as  simple  as 
it  is  etfeetivc.  It  is  siniiHy  to  stretch  over  the  iied  a 
sheet,  made  of  a  thin,  cheap  domestic,  which  can  be 
bought  at  five  cents  a  yard.  It  is  called  quilt  lining 
and  l)rown  muslin.  Five  dollars  will  cover  a  liundrcd 
square  yards  of  bed. 

Dr.  Sypert  has  tried  it  and  has  preserved  the  bed 
on  which  it  was  tried,  while  .all  the  others  near  are 
eaten  up.  He  puts  it  on,  with  a  few  small  stakes 
over  the  bed  to  raise  it  above  the  plants,  and  pinned 
down  closely  around  the  edge.  The  plants  grow  well 
under  it.  It  admits  light  and  the  bugs  and  flies  can't 
get  in.  The  bed  should  be  swept  clear  of  all  bugs 
and  trash.  Dr.  Sypert  has  found  the  experiment  so 
completely  successful  that  he  came  in  to  get  domestic 
to  put  over  his  other  beds  where  he  has  plants  coming 
uj).  The  broom  with  which  the  bed  is  swept  should 
be  very  fine  so  not  to  tear  the  plants.  Those  who  use 
this  may,  we  are  assured,  rest  in  perfect  security. 
Those  who  know  Dr.  Syixrt  will  not  need  to  be 
told  that  he  never  speaks  until  he  knows  what  he 
says.  The  doctor  is  a  benefactor,  and  the  wonder  is 
somebody  has  not  thought  of  so  obvious  a  plan  be- 
fore.—  t'tavJcHUc  Tobacco  Plant. 

The  above  remedy  is  a  vei-y  old  one,  for  we 
have  known  it  to  be  in  use  thirty  years  ago,  in 
protecting  cabbages,  radishes,  cucumbers  and 
water-melons — in  the  3'ottng  stages  of  those 
plants — from  the  attacks  of  the  "  flea-beetles," 
and  "striped  cucumber-beetles,"  and  with 
good  effect.  It  is  one  of  those  old,  simple  and 
effective  remedies,  which  people  are  liable  to 
ignore  or  forget,  in  their  intense  desire  after 
something  that  is  new.  Old  cheese  boxes,  and 
herring  boxes,  with  the  tops  and  bottoms 
knocked  out,  and  one  end,  or  side  covered  with 
mosquito-bar,  were  u.sed  for  the  pmpose,  when 
the  vegetables  aforenamed  were  planted  out, 
or  in  hills.  Of  course  they  could  not  be  applied 
when  the  plants  are  large,  but  then  the  danger 
from  these  insects  is  past. — Ed. 


SIMPLE  CURE  FOR  DYSPEPSIA. 

Whenever  we  can  aid  our  fellow  men  in  allaying 
the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,  we  feel  a  pleasurable  de- 
light in  BO  doing.  We  believe  that  few  diseases 
usurp  sucli  a  perfect  and  direful  control  of  the  phy- 
sical and  mental  system  as  that  of  dyspepsia.  It 
produces  nervous  irritation  and  mental  depression, 
whilst  it  inflicts  the  most  excruciating  agony,  which 
causes  it  to  be  often  mistaken  in  its  character.  It 
arises  from  a  disordered  liver,  that  fails  to  proiluce 
the  requisite  digestive  properties  in  the  stomach  ; 
hence  a  fermentation  of  the  food,  producing  carbonic 
acid  gas,  which  by  heat  so  expands  as  to  cause  tor- 
ture to  the  afflicted,  beyond  description.  It  pros- 
trates the  sutlerer  mentally  and  physically  at  times, 
until  he  prays  for  death  to  relieve  him.  Although 
not  one  of  the  greatest  sutferers,  yet  the  writer  has 
been  for  some  time  severely  afllicted  by  this  disease, 
and,  after  being  subject  to  considerable  medical 
treatment,  had  almost  given  up  the  idea  of  cure. 
At  this  moment  Mr.  F.  Kilburn  informed  us  that  by 
taking  for  a  short  time  a  cleansed  raw  egg,  mixed 
with  a  little  sugar  to  palate,  every  morning  before 
breakfast,  we  should  be  entirely  relieved  of  the 
etfects  of  dyspepsia.  He  constantly,  when  he  met 
us,  tnsisted  on  our  trying  his  remedy,  and  at  last,  in 
desperation,  we  concluded  to  give  the  suggestion  a 
trial,  and  can  now  say,  with  many  thanks  to  him, 
that  we  find  ourselves  in  as  ruddy  liealth  as  we  ever 
were  in  our  lives.  Our  object  in  making  this  fact 
known  is  that  others  similarly  atSieted  may  have  the 
advantage  of  our  experience.  Should  any  of  our 
readers  successfully  apply  this  remedy,  we  shall  be 
glad  to  have  them  testify  the  fact  to  us,  that  we  may 
be  able  to  give  more  extensive  testimony  of  the  good 
result  of  the  conquest  of  this  terrible  disease.  We 
believe  that  one-half  the  male  portion  of  the  commu- 
nity sufl'er  more  or  less  at  times  from  dyspepsia,  and 
doubtless  spend  a  great  deal  oi  money  without  ob- 
taining relief,  in  purchasing  quack  nostrums  that  are 
advertised  as  "  dyspepsia  cures." — Daily  Express. 

Simple  as  tlie  foregoing  remedy  is,  we  con- 
fess we  did  not  know  what  was  meant  by  a 
"cleansed  egg,"  until  we  were  informed  by 
the  writer  that  it  meant  an  egg  deprived  of 


187C.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


87 


tliesciiiiiial  k<'1''i)  of  tlit'  luiiUi  liiixl.  How,  or 
to  what  I'Xtciit  an  of;i;  would  lie  daiiiaffcd  by 
the  pri'Si'iicf  of  this  f^criii,  as  a  ciiic  lor  ■"ily.s- 
pip.sia, "  we  havo  not  hcen  iiiforuifil  ;  hut  that 
matter  is  of  vorv  littlo  account,  coiiiiiarcil 
witli  the  disease  intended  to  \x:  cured,  and 
therefore  any  one  too  lazy  to  (•/<((»«'  ins  ckuw 
Ix'l'orc  he  swallows  them,  don't  deserve  to  Ik- 
cured. 

We  pnhli.sh  tlie  ahove  because,  somewhat  to 
our  surprise,  weliave  fre<iueiitly  heard  tanners 
complain  that  they  weri'  troubled  with  lii/.s/ji/j- 
xia,  and  because  the  remedy  is  so  simple  and 
so  accessible. — Kd. 


For  The  LANnAHTKn  FAHMKn. 
TIMELY  GARDEN   HINTS. 

By  the  lime  tlie  .Tnue  nuiMber  of  TiiK 
Faumki!  Rets  to  the  readers,  it  will  be  time 
to  transplant  all  late  cabbai;es,  leeks,  eni;- 
plants,  peinwrs  and  tomatoes,  if  not  already 
.Set  out.  They  should  all  be  transplanted  in 
.June,  and  the  earlier  the  blotter.  I'lant  sec-ds 
of  cucumliers,  niusknielons,  Sfjuaslu^s,  pump- 
kins, Indian  corn  and  hush  beans,  for  succes- 
sion croi)s.  Summer  radishes  may  yet  be 
sown.  Late  ])otatoes  may  yet  be  ))lanted. 
Early  in  July  sow  seeds  of  lluta  IJaija  turnips  ; 
and  even  late  beets  may  be  sown  for  fall  and 
winter  use.  Transplant  early  in  .Inly  all  the 
celery  cro]!,  endiiie  and  fall  broccoli ;  also, 
sweet  ami  pot  herlis.  Those  who  have  not  all 
the  kinds  of  plants  that  need  Iransplantini^ 
can  purchase  them  from  seedsmen  and  nur- 
serymen, by  tlu^  half  dozen  or  hundred. 

In  the  (lower  S'"'"'*'",  'iH  kiniis  of  beddii.n; 
plants  may  now  be  set  out,  and  all  the  spi'cies 
of  annual  llowers  that  need  transplantini; 
should  he  transplanted  now,  and  the  same 
with  biennials.  Amoni;  such  annuals  are 
German  (iJuiUed  Aster.s,  Camellia  Balsams, 
Browallia,  Globe  Amaranthus,  (railardia,  and 
the  large  species  of  Amaranthus,  such  as 
Princess  Feather,  Love-hies-Bleedin;;,  Bi- 
color,  with  ornamental  leaves  of  lirouzy  brown 
and  scarlet ;  Tricolor  (.loscph's  Coat),  leaves 
brown,  yellow  and  scarlet ;  Salicifolid  (Foun- 
tain ])lant),  le.aves  brown,  crimson  and  lemon. 
Tlu^se  three  species  are  very  showy  for  three 
months.  Cockscomb,  Zennia,  Sic,  should 
also  be  transplanted  now.  All  transplanting 
should  be  done  immediately  before  or  after 
rain,  or  on  cloudy  days,  or  after  mid-after- 
noons on  clear,  dry  days.  Some  may  need 
watering  just  after  being  transplanted. —  Wal- 
ter Elder,  PlUladclplda. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
DOTTINGS  FROM  LEOLINE. 

Dear  EdWjrtif  IVic  Furincr :  You  wish  to 
know  what  has  become  of  me,  in  your  May 
number,  and  whether  you  have  in  any  wise 
given  offence.  By  no  means  ;  you  have  not 
oiTended,  and  there  is  nothing  on  your  part  to 
excuse.  I  would  write  a  great  deal  more,  and 
much  oftener  than  I  do,  if  my  health  permitted 
me  to  do  so.  Sometimes  after  writing  two  or 
theee  pages  my  arm  becomes  almost  entirely 
useless.  I  am  sull'ering  from  that  terrible  dis- 
ease—rheumatism — and  it  is  mostly  in  the 
right  side. 

Elder  Bushes. 

I  have  just  been  reading  in  The  F.\kmeii 
Benjamin  Mifflin's  experiences  with  the  elder, 
and  its  uses  as  an  insecticiile.  This  much  I 
know,  that  it  is  a  great  breeder  of  cati-rpillars, 
and  it  stands  to  reason  that  the  butterllies  and 
moths  must  alight  upon  it  and  dei>osit  their 
eggs  there  previous  to  the  advent  of  the  cater- 
pillars, so  it  cannot  be  very  obnoxious  to  them. 
Cut^thcm  down,  say  I. 

Old  Blankets. 

I  will  give  you  a  new  use  for  old  worn  out 
blankets.  Cut  them  up  into  pieces  about  the 
size  of  a  nickel-penny,  and  make  chair  cushions, 
sofa  pillows,  and  .so  forth  out  of  them.  They 
are  almost  as  good  as  feathers  for  that  purpose. 
Useful  Hints. 

Your  "  hints  to  Centennial  visitors"  in  the 
May  number  of  TiiK  F.vumer,  have  been  en- 
couraging to  a  great  many  people  iu  this  coun- 


ty. Tliey  give  them  some  idea  of  how  to  pro- 
ceed, anil  what  amount  of  money  they  will 
need,  for  any  spcx'ilicd  time  they  wish  to  spend 
there. 

Egg  Custard. 

Take  oneipiart  of  sweet  milk  (no  cream)  ami 
iHiil  it  live  minuti^s;  let  it  stand  "till  cold  ; 
heat  live  eggs  to  a  froth  ;  now  put  three  heap- 
in^r  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar  in  your  cold  milk. 
Stir  it  well  and  pour  in  the  beaten  eggs,  beat- 
ing it  \intil  all  is  in.  Flavor  with  lemon  drops; 
pour  into  dishes  and  bake.  Y'ou  can  put  pa.sle 
in  your  dishes  or  not,  just  as  you  choosi'.  I 
I>refer  paste  in  sliallow  dishes;  but  for  imme- 
diate use  none,  using  deep  dishes. 
Fried   Potatoes. 

Ifyou  have  .some  colli  potatoes  left  c)ver  night, 
cut  them  up  into  small  pieces  ;  put  them  in  a 
l)an  with  a  lum|)  of  lard  proiiorlioned  to  the 
quantity  of  potatoes  ;  (not  too  much)  let  them 
fry  to  a  nice  brown,  .lust  before  seniling  them 
to  the  table,  Ixsit  up  two  or  threi'  eggs  and 
pour  them  over  the  jiotatoes  ;  let  tlie.ni  fry  a 
very  little,  stirring  them  all  the  time  to  pre- 
vent burning.  Tliey  have  much  the  taste  of 
mushrooms.  Lkoli.nk. 

Jiiiz'ibHhtown,  Maij  20.  1S7G. 

P.  S. — Inclosed  please  tiud  one  dollar  for  the 
current  volume  of  The  FaivMER,  asking  your 
kind  indulgence  for  neglecting  to  sen<l  it  earlier, 
and  hopiusr  it  may  be  none  the   less  welcome. 

L. 

We  sincerely  sympathize  with  our  corres- 
pondent in  her  alliietious,  and  assure  her  that 
for  some  months  we  have  been  a  fellow-suffer- 
er, although,  hai)pily.  we  have  been  exempt 
from  rhuaiialism.  Our  e.xperienee  is  in  har- 
mony with  hers,  in  regard  to  the  virtues  of  the 
American  elder.  If  there  is  anything  in  the 
remedy,  the  European  sjieeies  must  be  very 
dilferent  from  ours.  We  bcHfrc  in  her  "egg 
custards"  and  "fried  i)otatoes,"  es|)ecially  the 
latter,  for  we  have  had  them  served  thiis  by 
experts  in  cnokery,  during  our  Tucquan  ex- 
cursions, and  found  them  very  palatable. — Ed. 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
MY  EXPERIENCE  WITH  ITALIANS. 

Now  that  ''  tbelittle  busy  bee  im|)roves  each 
shining  hour,"  I  would  like  to  be  "busy  too," 
by  making  a  few  B  notes. 

Almost  every  jjaper  furnishes  reports  of 
beekeepers'  meetings  and  conventions.  Some 
writers  are  lauding  "to  the  skies  on  tlowery 
beds  of  ease  "  the  superior  iiualities  of  the 
Italians,  .so  much  so  that  I  have  grave  sus- 
])icions  that  they  have  a  big  axe,  hatchet, 
ero.ss-cut  and  butcher-knife  to  grind,  and  are 
baiting  for  some  novice  to  take  hold  of  the 
handle  and  give  a  good  round  turn,  or,  in 
other  words,  that  they  have  Italians  or 
t^ueens  for  sale. 

Mure  than  ten  years  ago  I  was  seized  with  a 
little  Shanghai  fever,  and  imrchased  .some 
pure  Italians,  at  fancy  prices,  from  honorable 
parties  ;  also  i)aid  three,  four,  live  and  six 
dollars  each  to  have  black  colonies  Italian- 
ized. Here  I  had  a  good  turn,  and  great  were 
my  expectations.  I  anticipated  that  honey — 
pure  virgin  white— would  now  soon  be  a  drug 
in  the  market,  and  middle  men  to  disi)ose  of 
it  nuist  be  looked  for  in  time.  But  disap- 
pointments come  to  all,  and  I  was  no  excep- 
tion. I  watched,  and  I  looked,  and  I  peeped  ; 
I  put  on  one  honey-box  after  another,  and  re- 
moved them  as  einpty  as  I  put  them  on  ;  and 
the  first  two  years  I  did  not  get  even  a  widow's 
mite  to  exhibit  to  my  ailmiring  neighbors,  (u- 
a  teaspoonful  to  glide  over  the  lively  papilla 
of  my  tongue,  and  was  happy  when  once 
satisfied  that  they  had  gathired  enough  for 
their  winter  stores,  while  the  common  blacks 
yielded  from  twenty-five  to  thirty-five  pounds 
of  surplus. 

The  hybrid  (that  is,  a  mixture  of  the  black 
and  Italian.)  has  proved  itself  a  better  worker 
than  either  blacks  or  Italians  pure.  Of  these 
I  have  some  colonies  that  last  sea.sou  yielded 
fifty,  sixty,  seventy,  eighty,  and  one  over  one 
hundred  pounds  of  .surplus,  and  ha<l  a^ plenti- 
ful supply  left  for  winter.  I  am  now  sijeaking 
of  bees  "in  their  uatm'al  state,  without  any 


feeding,  save  a  few  quarts  of  rye  meal  in 
early  Spring.  Almost  any  colony  iu  goml 
conilit  ion  will  make  from  seventy-tive  to  one 
hundml  pounds  of  honey,  if  you  furnish 
lilcuty  of  sn.'ar.  The  experience  ofKcveral  of 
my  neighlxirs  who  represent  alxnit  one  Inm- 
dred  hives,  is  about  the  sann;  as  mine. 

WiNTKliiNd.  —  For  the  six  years  jia.st  my 
Itees  were  wintererl  on  their  summer  stand  — 
without  a  single  lo.ss— which  is  all  aroimd  the 
yard  and  orchard,  and  consists  of  two  sticks 
of  Wood  as  thick  sis  a  man's  arm,  or  four 
bricks  for  each.  Upon  these  Ihi!  hive  Is  pUiced 
and  all  is  complete.  Snow  must  Ik;  brushed 
from  entrance.  These,  shaded  hy  trees,  hiul 
no  other  protection  in  sinnmer  or  winter.  But 
when  exposed  to  the  sun,  in  warm  weather, 
the  hive  should  Im'  shaded  with  loose  l>oar<ls, 
or  there  will  be  danger  of  melting  the  comlw 
of  all  young  colonies.  I  us(!  the  comni m  mov- 
able frame  hive  ;  glitss  sides  and  back,  box 
(iu  sections)  covering,  and  prefer  these  to  all 
patent  hive.s.  Enough.  In  mv  next  I  will 
give  an  incorrect  bee  story. — Z.,  Wick  llill, 
Ji[ny'-S\,  187G. 


For  TiiK  Lawcastkr  Farmkr. 
TURNIPS  FOR    MILCH  COWS   AND 
SHEEP. 

If  there  can  be  a  friendly  advice  given  to 
farmers  now,  it  is  to  urge  them  to  make  im- 
mediate prei)aratious  for  the  sowing  of  Huta 
Baga  Turnips  early  iu  .July  —yes.  m.uiy  acresof 
them— for  dairy  cattle  and  sheep.  Our  hus- 
bandry (^.aniiot  be  really  good  without  plenty  of 
turnips  for  winter  ine  ;  and  the  fim-  breed.s  of 
cows  and  sheep  cannot  f>e  kept  up  unle.ss  the 
juiciness  of  their  systems  are  kept  up  by  plenty 
of  esculent  vegetable  roots,  a.s  they  contain 
the  very  essence  which  their  systems  need. 
Just  coiisider,  that  coi".s'  give,  nmch  milk  nine 
months  in  the  year,  and  bear  young  ones  every 
year.  Slict:ii  bear  young  ones  every  year  (two 
at  a  timir)  and  suckle  them  until  they  can  eat. 
Some  juicy  food  should  be  given  them  to  keep 
their  systems  in  full  repair  l^or  the  loss  of  milk 
they  part  with.  Nature  h;is  furnished  the 
esculent  roots  ju.st  for  the  purpose,  and  farmers 
have  the  lands  to  grow  them  n|)on.  Annual 
reproduction  is  very  weakening,  and  the  part- 
ing of  milk  dries  up  their  systems.  Grains, 
straw  and  hay  are  all  of  a  drying  nature,  hut 
they  iTni>art  strength  ;  so  the  juicy  roots,  and 
them  all  fed,  just  combine  to  give  strength, 
and  maintain  the  natural  juiciness  needed  to 
keep  milch  cows  and  sheep  in  thrift.  Then 
they  are  profitable,  well  looking  and  free  of 
ailings. 

David  Latidreth  &  Sons,  seedsmen,  of  Fhlla- 
delphia.  hive  i)ublished  a  small  pamphlet, 
giving  full  details  of  how  to  grow  turnips  and 
their  great  value  as  food  to  milch  cows  and 
sheep.  Whoever  purchases  a  pound  of  tuniip 
seed  gets  the  i>amiihlet  free.  Kvery  farmer 
should  get  and  read  it,  and  practice  its  tejxch- 
ings.  White  tl'-shed  tm-uips  are  sown  the  first 
week  in  August :  tln-y  may  cither  lie  .sown  in 
drills  or  broadcast  ;  they  are  used  first  in 
winter.  We  advise  every  farmer  to  grow 
plenty  of  turnii)s. — An,  Old  Husbandman. 


F.T  The  T.av.-abt«b  FABMcn. 
ABOUT  GRASSES. 

A  .short  time  ago  (luite  a  discu.ssion  wxshad 
over  specimens  presented  of  the  "Hungarian 
Gra.as,"  at  a  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  So- 
ciety of  this  city,  and  various  opinions  were 
expres.seil— some  ajiproving  ;  otliers  seemed 
rather  doubtful  of  its  miod  <iualitie.H. 

1,  unacquainted  with  the  name  or  quality 
of"  Hungarian  tii-ws."' took  a  specimen  home 
with  me  to  analyze,  and  fouml  it  to  l)e  the 
"  Fox-tail  (ii-ass"''— iHitanically  a  Silari<i,  so 
named  from  its  bristle  or  .«/a.  There  are  two 
kinds,  or  rather  simple  varieties  of  the  same  : 
The  .S.  italica  is  known  as  millet ;  the  S.  ger- 
manica  is  cultivated  in  Himgary  as  food  for 
liorses.  for  which  it  is  preferred  Ix-fore  all 
other  gra.sses— according  to  I/omlon.  The 
seed  may,  like  the  other,  Iw  useil  as  millet. 
Sjiarrows  are  remarkably  fond  of  the  seeds 
(especially  of  S.  viridis).  "  I  found  eleven  spc- 


88 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[June' 


cies  described  out  of  twenty-four  known.  Of 
the  Italiiin  8etaria  (millet)  or  Bengal  Grass, 
Dr.  Darlington  says,  in  his  AgriciUtural 
Botany  (Ed.  1847) :  ">Some  years  ago  the  cul- 
ture of  this  plant  was  introduced  into  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  excited  consideralile  interest  for  a 
time  among  the  farmers,  as  affording  valuable 
fodder  when  the  usual  hay  crop  was  likely  to 
be  deficient.  It  was  soon  found,  however,  not 
to  be  as  valuable  as  the  usual  fallow  crop,  (of 
oats  or  barley)  of  which  it  occupied  the  place ; 
and  was,  moreover,  reniarkalily  liable  to  dam- 
age from  rain.  The  cultivation,  therefore, 
soon  declined,  and  isnowgenerallyabandoned. 
There  is  another  species,  (S.  verticiUata.  £am:) 
with  the  spike  composed  of  interrupted  vorti- 
cils  of  .spikelcts,  and  the  involucre  of  retorwiy 
scabrous  bristles,  in  pairs,  which  is  becoming 
something  of  a  nuisance  about  gardens  in 
many  places."  Cattle  refuse  the  herbage, 
turkeys  and  poultry  are  fond  of  stripping  the 
spikes  of  tlieir  seeds  in  the  latter  part  of  sum- 
mer. But  the  Fox-tail  and  Bottle  grass,  if 
not  serious  nuisances,  are,  to  say  the  least, 
questionable  grasses  to  plant  or  cultivate. 

The  common  name,  "  Grass,"  is  often  per- 
plexing. What  is  termed  the  ■"  Buffalo  Grass  " 
is  a  forage  plant.  It  is  not  true  grass,  but 
comes  near  the  clovers.  The  Mcdkwja 
htpuHiia  and  the  M.  saliva  are  samples  of  grass 
found  in  Green  Lake  county,  "Wisconsin,  which 
were  there  known  under  the  name-of  IBuffalo 
grass,  and  which  Hon.  Harris  Lewis,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  IHica  Farmers'  Club,  declared 
"he  believed  was  the  most  valuable  grass 
for  grazing  that  he  had  ever  seen.  He 
found  it  growing  in  tufts  like  orchard  grass, 
and  stock  ate  it  greedily."  The  article  con- 
cludes :  "  The  specimen  shown  of  the  M.  sa- 
liva no  doubt  measured  seven  feet  in  length." 
The  M.  saliva  is  the  Lucern,  upright.  The 
M.  hqmlina  is  the  Black  Medick,  nonesuch, 
Iirocumbent.  Another — Bvffalo-clover — is  the 
IrifoUitrn  reflexiim.  The  clovers,  ( Tr(foil)  and 
Midicayo  and  MeUhtvs,  or  sweet  clover,  and 
others,  belong  to  the  order.LEGUJnNOS.E  (Tulo 
family).  These  are  forage  plants,  but  not 
properly  classed  among  grasses. 

The  liuftalo  grass,  known  to  the  travelers 
over  the  plains  of  the  West,  according  to  Dr. 
Englemann,  is  the  Buchloe  dactyloides,  which 
is  quite  a  different  plant ;  also  a  synonym  of 
'■'■Scsteria  dactyloides''''  is  given  it.  This  is  a 
true  gramineous  plant,  but  we  are  told  the 
noted  buffalo  grass  of  the  region  named  may 
be  recognized  at  once,  and  be  distinguished 
from  other  species  by  its  low,  dense,  tufted 
growth ;  also  by  the  stalens,  from  which  it 
rapidly  spreads.  It  never  attains  the  height 
of  over  two  or  three  inches,  except  with  its 
male  flower  stalks,  which  sometimes  reach 
two  or  three  inches  above  the  leaf  growth. 
They  have  at  their  summit  a  few  flat  spikes, 
of  male  flowers  only.  This  only  requires  a 
shallow  soil,  and  will  grow  among  taller  and 
more  deeji-rootiug  plants,  like  the  Aiulropoyrm 
and  Sorylnmi.  Therefore  the  buflalo  plant 
seven  feet  long  cannot  be  the  Uitchloe  dacty- 
hides  of  Englemann,  nor  a  Medicago.  Then 
what  is  it  V  A  fidl  list  of  the  grasses  of  the 
plains  and  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains will  be  found  on  pages  217  to  22(3,  Report 
of  the  Com.  of  Agriculture  for  the  year  1870. 
About  the  Hungarian  Grass,  Hon.  A.  B. 
Dk-KENSon  wiites  to  the  Country  Gentleman, 
1858,  that  the  Hungarian  Grass  of  last  year 
and  the  Honey  blade-grass  of  this  year  are 
nothing  more  tlian  what  A/iMet  was  forty  years 
ago. 

We  sometimes  get  vexed  at  these  new 
names,  to  jierplex  the  student  of  botany  by 
dropping  old  familiar  names  and  giving  them 
aliases.  Well,  it  is  often  comical,  that  the 
farmer  who  was  to  present  a  specimen  of  all 
the  grasses  on  his  farm  had  among  the  lot  a 
bunch  of  asparaejtts,  which  belongs  to  the 
Lilacefc  ;  when  thrown  out  he  insisted  upon  it 
that  they  were  al'  grasses,  and  declared  that 
the  bunch  objected  to  was  ^^ Sjiarrrnr-grass.''^ 
"Well,  so  it  was  ;  and  why  qviarrcl  about  it  ? 
An  article  in  the  Report  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  some  years  ago,  treated  of  clover 
under  the  grasses. 


This  recalls  how  the  mixing  up  of  ideas 
often  causes  ludicrous  blunders,  and  the  old 
darkey  preacher  may  be  excused  when  he  gave 
out  his  text,  "  In  de  fust  pistol  of  Clover,  and 
ninety-fust  werse."  "Hold  up.  Doctor  I" 
shouted  one  of  his  hearers,  "you've  got  the 
wrong  book  ;  you  mean  the  fust  pistol  of 
Timothy,  I  s'pose."  The  lire.-icher  hesitated, 
with  a  very  profound  look,  and  said  :  "  Well, 
I  must  cave  in  dis  time,  tho'  I  know'd  dat  de 
text  was  somewhere  among  de  grasses."  With 
all  deference  to  those  who  may  make  mistakes 
(as  I  often  do) — for  I  have  been  there  myself 
— nevertheless  there  are  proper  names,  and 
writers  attempting  to  give  information  sliould 
try  to  be  explicit,  if  there  are  ditt'erent  names 
for  the  same  thing  in  different  localities,  which 
are  apt  to  mislead  those  who  apply  that  name 
to  something  else ;  but  a  description  of  the 
flower  or  general  appearance  would  always 
separate  plants  to  their  proper  order,  and  we 
would  not  mix  plants  belonging  to  the  papilio- 
naceous Liliaceous  or  the  carices,  with  the 
l)roper  Gramiiiie  or  true  grasses,  as  is  too 
often  done  in  common  conversation. —J.  Staiif- 
fcr,  Lancaster,  May  .30,  1876. 


For  The  Lancabteh  Fabmer. 
HOW  TO   STACK   GRAIN. 

Stacking  grain  is  frequently  alluded  to  by 
agricultural  writers  as  a  "wasteful  practice." 
So  far  from  being  "wasteful,"  there  is  fre- 
quently a  great  saving  in  stacking  grain. 
The  advantages  of  stacking  are — less  danger 
of  fire,  greater  security  against  rats  and  mice, 
and  immunity  from  barn  weevil.  "Where  the 
crop  is  a  long  distance  from  the  barn,  there  is 
also  a  saving  of  time  in  storing.  The  stacks 
can  be  hauled  in  when  labor  is  cheaper. 
With  the  Mediterranean  and  Fultz  varieties 
of  wheat,  the  kinds  most  generally  cultivated 
in  this  section,  the  loss  by  shelling  is  scarcely 
worth  notice. 

Have  your  sheaves  of  even  size  and  well 
bound.  Badly  bound  and  "  slobbery  "  sheaves 
cannot  be  tolerated  in  stacking,  and  should 
not  be  tolerated  at  any  time.  Select  high, 
dry  ground  for  your  stacks,  and  begin  by  lay- 
ing a  foundation  of  rails.  Some  stackers  omit 
this,  but  it  is  much  better  to  have  a  founda- 
tion to  cut  oft"  the  moisture  from  below. 

First,  lay  down  four  large  rails,  spaced 
equidistant,  and  across  these  lay  about  a 
dozen  rails,  and  you  are  ready  to  begin  your 
stack.  Throw  two  or  three  sheaves  across  the 
centre,  and  build  the  tops  of  your  sheaves  on 
these,  going  "gee"  round;  that  is,  with 
your  right  hand  towards  the  centre  of  the 
stack.  Continue  your  widening  circle  until 
you  have  fully  reached  the  corners  of  the 
foundation,  letting  the  butts  of  the  sheaves 
rest  on  the  groimd  on  the  four  sides.  Now 
see  that  your  base  is  round  and  level,  and  you 
have  your  foinidation  large  enough  on  which 
to  build  from  sixty  to  eighty  bushels  of 
wheat.  Lay  another  course  or  two  of  sheaves 
with  their  butts  even  with  those  of  the  last 
course  on  the  rails,  leaving  the  stack  bottom 
in  the  form  of  a  pie-dish.  Place  another 
course  with  their  butts  about  even  with  the 
bands  of  the  outside  course,  and  the  heads 
pointing  to  the  centre,  and  another  course 
inside  of  this,  and  so  on,  until  your  middle  is 
full.  Continue  on  in  this  way  until  your 
foundation  is  eight  or  nine  feet  high,  or  as 
high  as  you  wish  your  "bulge."  The  bot- 
tom may  be  built  perpendicular,  or,  better 
still,  a  little  out  from  plumb  at  top.  Begin 
now  and  raise  the  centre  of  your  stack  very 
high,  making  the  sloi>e  nearly  as  steep  as  an 
ordinary  house-roof,  and  extending  well  out 
on  to  the  last  course  on  the  bottom.  You 
have  now  come  to  the  most  important  part  of 
your  job — "laying  theeave. "  Having  your 
centre  very  high,  so  as  to  give  your  sheaves  a 
good  pitch,  you  begin  by  taking  a  sheaf  and 
thrusting  the  butts  downwards  and  outwards, 
until  they  extend  a  short  distance  over  the 
last  course.  You  now  get  on  your  knees  on 
this  sheaf,  and  another  is  handed  you,  which 
you  serve  in  the  same  way,  until  you  have 
completed  the  circle.     Now  put  some  filling  in 


the  centre,  and  lay  another  "bulge"  ring 
with  the  butts  as  far  out  as  the  first  "break- 
ing joint,"  like  a  course  of  shingles.  Be  sure 
and  keep  the  tops  of  the  sheaves  well  back. 
They  are  liable  to  gain  forward,  and  this  will 
spoil  the  stack.  They  should  all  point  to  the 
centre,  like  spokes  in  «,  wheel,  and  should  be 
closely  crowded  together.  If  there  is  a  sheaf- 
hander,  he  should  stand  as  nearly  as  possible 
in  the  middle,  so  as  not  to  move  the  outside 
eounses.  Tlie  third  course  is  drawn  in  a  lit- 
tle, and  each  succeeding  course  a  little  more 
rai)idly,  until  the  job  is  finished.  Have  a  few 
small  sheaves  for  finishina,  and  have  a  stick 
five  or  six  feet  long,  made  very  sharp  at  one 
end.  Thrast  this  down  the  centre  of  the 
stack,  taking  care  to  have  it  perpendicular. 
Fix  a  band  or  two  around  the  tops  of  the  last 
course,  and  your  stack  is  topped  out. 

Next  morning,  when  the  dew  is  on,  is  the 
best  time  to  rake  it  oft".  Pull  the  butts  where 
there  are  unsightly  holes,  and  beat  down  pro- 
tuberances. Stacks  built  in  this  way  will 
.stand  for  months  in  the  wettest  seasons,  and 
sustain  no  injury. 

Long  stacks  or  ricks  are  built  on  two  or 
more  squares  of  rails  placed  together.  Where 
there  is  a  large  quantity  of  grain  to  stack, 
ricks  are  economical.  The  chief  objection  to 
this  kind  of  stack  is  the  long  row  of  lieads  ex- 
posed to  the  weather  on  top,  unless  you  thatch 
or  cover  with  boards.  Ricks  should  always  be 
built  with  their  length  running  east  and  west. 
The  east  sides  of  stacks  and  shocks  are  always 
more  liable  to  be  damaged  by  rain  than  any 
other  parts. 

The  main  points  to  be  observed  in  stacking 
are : 

First.  Keep  your  centres  full,  thereby  giv- 
ing your  outside  courses  a  steep  pitch. 

Second.  Always  have  the  tops  of  your 
sheaves  point  to  the  centre. 

Third.  A  symmetrical  form  of  stack. 

Inexperienced  stackers  are  apt  to  build  too 
high,  and  rim  their  stacks  up  to  a  spire-like 
point.  This  is  unnecessary  and  unsightly, 
and  the  tops  are  liable  to  be  blo^vn  off.  It  is 
the  pitch  of  the  sheaf,  and  not  the  pitch  of  the 
toj),  that  makes  it  water-proof.  An  egg  shape 
is  the  best  form  for  a  stack.— t/l  C.  L. 


For  The  Lancaster  Fabmeb. 
SOMETHING    ABOUT  BEES. 

Permit  me  again,  through  the  columns  of 
your  valuable  journal,  to  make  some  remarks 
on  bee-culture,  for  I  liave  had  many  years  of 
experience  with  these  insects,  and  have  always 
had  "good  luck"  with  them.  With  strict 
attention  to  their  habits  and  their  wants,  and 
a  little  pride  attached  to  the  same,  one  be- 
comes master  of  his  trade,  and  therefore  he 
feels  able  to  speak  out  boldly  of  what  he 
knoivs  to  be  facts.  ■  "W^riters  ovi  bee-culture 
differ  very  much.  Some  say  in  natural  swarm- 
ing the  old  workers,  as  well  as  the  old  queens, 
leave  the  hive.  It  seems  uimatural  that  the 
young  bees  should  drive  out  their  parents.  I 
heard  an  old  bee-keeper  say  he  had  a  hivo 
fourteen  years  old,  with  the  self-same  queen 
still  living,  because  he  clipped  her  wings 
when  he  put  her  in  with  an  artificial  swarm, 
and  he  believes  they  never  leave  the  hive 
imder  any  circumstances,  except  when 
swarmed  or  swarming ;  they  have  too  much 
ease  at  home.  I  have  lifted  them  from  the 
groimd  after  the  swarm  has  come  out,  being 
too  young  to  fly,  and  returned  them  to  the 
hive  again.  The  swarm  will  return  also,  but 
on  the  morrow  they  will  come  out  again,  and 
all  will  be  right.  There  will  also  he  many 
workers  too  young  to  fly  until  the  sun  has 
strengthened  them.  They  will  then  mingle 
with  the  swarm,  or  return  to  the  mother- 
hive.  Drones  are  privileged  characters  ;  they 
go  in  and  out  of  such  hives  as  they  see  proper. 
By  this  means  they  cross  or  hybridize  with 
others,  which  is  an  improvement  in  both. 

I  have  had  six  natural  swarms  from  five 
stocks  already  (May  22),  one  as  early  as  the 
first  of  the  month,  and  1  shall  have  four  or  six 
more  before  the  month  is  out.  This  will  give 
them  ample  time  to  lay  up  a  good  store  of 


1870.  J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


89 


honey  and  of  a  ^'ood  (iiialit y.  The  api'l»  'iIdh- 
sonis  aiv  Koni-,  \n\l  wliili;  clover  i.s  lic;;iTtiiinjj 
to  blooin,  and  lias  llui  appearatice  of  IwiiiR 
very  plentiful  in  this  locality.  During,'  the 
season  they  work  very  hard  from  early 
morning  nntil  dusk,  and  come  home  laden 
with  the  sweets  of  many  llowei-s.  In  ahout  six 
weeks  they  are  worked  to  death,  and  others 
of  the  same  family  lake  their  places.  If  tlu^r 
lives  were  six  months  instead  of  six  week.s,  as 
some  writers  contend,  what  an  innnenseciuan- 
tity  of  bees  and  stock  wtt  would  have,  as  they 
multiply  vei-y  rapidly — from  three  to  live 
thousand  every  eiRlit  days  during;  tlu^  months 
of  April,  May  and  .Tune.  At  this  rate  each 
stock  .should  iiroduce  from  three  to  .six 
swarms.  The  (Irst  swarm  contains  ahout  fif- 
teen thousand  bees,  and  weighs  live  pounds. 
The  second  from  nine  to  twelve  thousand,  and 
weighs  three  or  four  poinids.  The  drone  lives 
during  the  summer,  unless  he  has  fertilized 
the  (^ueen,  after  which  he  innnediately  dies, 
and  1  believe  it  re(iuires  the  iiilluence,  of  sev- 
eral drones  to  impregnate  the  (.Jueen  for  a 
brood  of  the  nundiers  aliove  mentioned.  The 
eggs  are  laid  against  the  walls  of  the  cells, 
about  a  sixteenth  of  an  inch  fnmi  the  bottom. 
The  bee,  when  growing  in  the  cell,  lies  \\\»m 
itsl)ack4intil  it  reaches  the  pollen,  wliicli  is  at 
the  mouth  of  the  cell,  when  it  turns  over  and 
feeds  niKiii  the  pollen,  and  when  it  is  all  con- 
sumed it  is  .sutliciently  strong  to  cut  through 
the  capping  and  come  out,  and  will  go  to  work 
in  two  days  thereafter.  They  gather  honey 
and  also  make  it.  When  it  is  lirst'  gathered 
it  is  a  sweet  liipiid,  and  then  it  pa.s,ses  through 
a  churning  process  in  the  body  of  the  bee. 

The  butter  (wax)  oozes  out  from  under  the 
lirst  band,  or  alKlominal  segment  of  the  bee, 
on  each  side,  and  is  very  white  and  trans- 
parent. This  is  used  for  making  the  comb. 
The  balance,  or  buttermilk  we  may  call  it,  is 
thrown  up  into  the  cells,  where  it  commences 
to  form  into  honey  by  extracting  frcmi  tlie 
comb  its  natural  sweetness,  and  V)y  the  heat  of 
the  bees  it  goes  through  a  slow  "canning" 
process,  and  continues  so  until  the  virtue  of 
the  comb  is  thoroughly  extracted  ;  liut  with- 
out this  heat  of  the  bees  it  would  remain  the 
sjirae  white  clover  honey,  which  would  in  time 
become  dry  like  sugar.  At  the  si^ason  of  its 
gathering  you  will  .see  the  bees  at  the  pum))- 
troughs  and  puddles  of  water,  for  the  jiiu-pose 
of  diluting  the  honey,  it  being  too  tliick  by 
itself. 

The  temperature  of  the  hive  during  the 
summer  months  will  average  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  degrees  in  the  shade,  but 
when  exposed  to  the  sun  the  heat  is  still  greater. 
For  this  reason  many  stocks  are  lost  by  the 
combs  melting  olf  ;uul  drowning  the  bees  in 
their  own  sweets.  AVe  have  none  among  tiod's 
creatures  more  industrious  than  the  honey- 
bee, working  from  morning  until  night,  with 
economy  and  on  sclent itic  jirinciples.  The 
Almighty  h;is  made  all  things  in  wisdom. 
Yours  truly,  AV>i.  I.  Pyle. 

West  Chester,  May  22,  1876. 

In  the  the  foregoing  article  on  liee-culture  I 
forgot  to  mention  an  experiment  which  Lmade 
on  making  honey,  and  as  it  may  be  interesting, 
or  peihaps  useful  to  others,  I  will  here  give 
my  plan  of  doing  it,  and  also  the  result.  Last 
fall,  in  the  month  of  October,  I  fed  one  of  my 
best  stocks  with  white  sugar.  I  use<l  fifteen 
pounds  and  made  a  syrup  of  it.  Itre(|uir(!d  a 
little  more  than  one  pound  of  warm  water  to 
reduce  the  sugar  to  a  syrup.  From  a  hole  in  the 
back  part  of  the  hive  the  bees  entered  into  a 
tight  tax,  and  into  this  box  I  placed  the  .syrup, 
covered  with  a  thin  board  iterforatcd  with 
small  holes,  through  which  the  bi-es could  Like 
up  the  syrui>,  and  the  board  would  .settle  down 
as  the  former  exhausted,  t^ver  the  box  I 
placed  a  pane  of  gUuss,  to  witness  their  opera- 
tions and  to  see  when  tliey  required  more  of 
the  syrup. 

At  the  Ijeginning  the  Ikix  on  the  top  of  the 
hive  had  one  small  comb  about  the  size  of  my 
hand,  but  it  contained  nothing.  In  iireparing 
and  administering  this  syrup  I  dissolved  the 
sugar  as  they  needed  it,  although  they  took  it 
up  very  fast,  aud  at  the  cud  oif  twenty  days 


the  tifleen  pounds  of  sugar  Were  coiisiuned, 
and  1  had  twenty  pounds  of  honey  In  the  Imix, 
for  which  I  reciiveil  Ihirty  cents"  jier  innnid. 
The  sugar  cost  .<fl.K(l,  iu'id  1  realized  ?f'.l.(l(l 
from  it,  leaving  nu'  a  clear  profit  of  ??7.2(),  all 
at  the  expen.se  of  bee-labor.  In  other  words, 
I  got  (KIcents  per  pound  for  my  suLrar.  The 
honey  was  most  excellent,  anil  I  believe  no 
one  could  have  told  the  difference  between  it 
and  tlie  wild-llower  linney.  I  shall  lryitag;iin 
next  fall,  and  I  will  llaviir  the  syrMJi  with  a 
little  tea,  which  1  shall  make  frdio  white  clover 
heads,  and  also  add  a  little  brandy,  of  which 
the  beta  are  very  fond. 

Yours  truly,  Wm.  I.  I'yle. 

]Vest  Cliesler,  June  1,  lH7(i. 

Our  correspondent  seems  to  have  a  practinil 
knowledge  of  what  he  is  writing  about,  and  is 
not  boinid  by  mere  tlimrirs,  as  they  are  elaU)- 
rated  in  the  closet,  and  find  their  way  from 
thence  into  books.  AVe  know  nothing  practi- 
("illy  on  the  subject  of  bee-culture  and  lioiiey- 
inaking,  but  we  confi'ss  we  admire  the  "ring'' 
of  his  experience,  and  the  confident  manner 
in  which  he  relates  it ;  anil  think  he  would 
make  a  "tiji-top"  member  of  our  "  Lancaster 
County  Hee-Keepers'  Society."  Hec-culture 
is  attracting  considerable  allcniion  all  over 
our  country,  and  when  once  I  he  general  statis- 
tics are  all  iiubli.shed,  the  result  will  astoiush 
the  coinmnnity,  especially  that  jiart  of  it 
which  is  not  looking  in  that  direction. 


FROM   OVER  THE   POND. 

EnFiKT,  Pkussia,  May  1st,  IS7Ci. 

Mk.  S.  S.  Hathvom— />(Y(r  tiir  :  Through 
the  "  XunseryniaiTs  Directory  "  I  got  knowl- 
edge of  your  honored  firm,  and  to-day  I  take 
the  liberty  of  addressing  you  some  lines. 

As  my  firm  is  not  known  enough  yet  in  the 
west  of  America  I  should  feel  much  obliged  if 
you  would  have  time,  occasion  and  space  to 
spend  me  some  words,  perhaps  under  "miscel- 
laneous," in  your  journal. 

For  tins  purpose  1  beg  to  give  you  herewith 
a  specification  of  my  establishment,  etc. 

During  the  .season  I  i)ublislied  eight  cata- 
logues, viz.:  One  wholesale  list  for  Germany. 
One  wholesale  list  for  England  and  America. 
One  wholesale  list  for  France.  One  catalogue 
for  private  persons  in  (iwinany.  One  catalogue 
for  private  per.sons  in  Austria.  One  whole- 
sale list  for  seed.  One  catalogue  for  decora- 
tive plants,  etc.     One  catalogu(^  for  liulbs. 

In  our  cultivation  I  have  .'iOO  acres  with 
flowers  and  grasses  for  dyeing  purpo.ses,  but  I 
only  cultivate  the  better  species,  (about  oni'- 
third  of  the  yearly  want,)  the  other  two-thirds 
I  have  contracte(l  with  g.ardeners. 

I  have  a  large  steam-dye  for  llowers,  gras.ses 
and  moss,  in  which  about  .")()  i)crsons  are  en- 
gaged. Also,  .steam  engine  for  a  drying- 
machine,  steam  dye  halls,  aud  large  rooms  for 
drying  flowers. 

In  the  horticultural  establi.shment  and 
nurseries  7.')  to  lOU  men,  and  100  lo  1.">U  female 
persons  arc  engaged.  For  binding  bou(iuets 
about  l.")0  girls  are  engaged.  Working  [leople 
in  all,  400  to  4.")0  persons. 

The  deiiartment  for  export  contains  chiefly 
fabricates  of  dyed  flowers,  gras.ses  etc.,  of  not 
surpassed  color  of  arrangement.  Further,  I 
export  all  the  raw  stuff  for  (lorists,  viz.: 
Flowers,  gras,ses,  mns.ses,  bouipict-papers,  ]iot 
covers,  basketware,  elegant  straw  baskets, 
fabricates  of  wire,  all  sorts  of  h<iine  adorn- 
ment, ])lant-.stands,  vases,  llower  tables,  reser- 
voirs for  gold  fishes,  etc. 

The  most  imixirtant  part  of  my  establish- 
ment is  the  hot  and  cold  hou.ses,  covering 
nunc  than  thre(^  acres  of  sp.ace,  (one  of  which 
is  ISO  feet  long  anil  only  contains  jialms, )  the 
others  are  for  cultivation  of  Azales,  Caniellias, 
etc.,  and  all  sorts  of  jilauts  for  cut  llowers. 

You  may  be  convinced  that  it  would  do  me 
great  pleasure  if  you  would  give  me  the  occa- 
sion to  render  you  a  service. 

15elieve  me  to  be,  gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  .servant, 

I.  C.  SciI.AIIDT. 

Accompanying  the  above,  we  received  from 


Mr.  Shiiiidl,*a  large  and  beautifullvemliellish- 
ed  <  Altl),  27  inches  long  ami  20  inches  wide, 
illustrating  his  manufactory  and  estalilishment 
in  the  town  of  Krfurt.  (iermany.  llis  pahn- 
honse,  ISO  feel  long;  his  Kaleroom  of  thesanio 
length;  one  of  his  small  hot-houses,  l.VI  (Vet 
in  length  ;  one  of  his  small  cariiellia-lionKes  of 
the  same  siz^'  ;  and  his  sti'ain  dve-house  for 
dried  llowei-s,  grasses  and  mos.si  s  ;  liiirly  en- 
graved from  photographic  types  of  K.  Fe.stge, 
of  ICrl'urt ;  and  also  theeast  p.irl  of  his  nursenes, 
situated  outside  of  the  town,  from  which,  in- 
cluding the  alMive  desiriplive  letter,  the  mag- 
nitude atid  magiiilicence  of  his  establishment 
may  be  fairly  inferred,  and  we  give  the  wholu 
a  pl.'ice  in  our  journal  to  exhibit  t"  our  nailers 
what  is  being  dour  in  the  nursery  line,  and  in 
the  lloral  world  U-yond  the  borden  of  our 
country. 

A  view  of  the  dyed  foreign  flowers  and  the 
l)eautiful  gra.s,M's  now  onexhlbtion  at  ourCeii- 
tennial  Kxpnsition  in  Fainuonnt  I'ark,  I'hila- 
delphia,  will  illustrate  to  our  iK-ople  what  pro- 
gress we  have  yet  to  make  to  eompitesuccesM- 
fully  with  foreign  nations,  not  only  in  priHliic- 
fions  of  this  character,  but  also  in  many  other 
deparlmeuts  of  human  industry,  and  in  this 
(•oni|)arison,  we  will  lie,  most  uuipuslioualily, 
greatly  benefited.— Ed. 


POISONS  IN  AGRICULTURE. 

Dr.  K.  C.  Kedzie.  1'rofes.sor  of  Cheml.stry  in 
the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  has  inr- 
lushed  a  valuable  paper  to  the  trau.siictions  of 
the  I'.oard  of  llialtb  of  that  .State,  on  the  use 
of  poisons  in  agriculture,  and  more  particu- 
larly on  the  cfleit  of  I'at^is  green.  He  stalea 
that  there  are  three  forms  in  which  arsenic  is 
used  ;  namely,  while  arsenic,  arsenate  of 
soda,  and  I'aris  green.  The  first  has  tn-eu 
used  to  destroy  weeds  in  garden  walks,  but 
Dr.  K.  regards  this  practice  as  dangerous,  as 
there  is  nothing  in  its  appearance  to  distin- 
guish it  from  .some  other  substances  used  as 
articles  of  food,  and  its  ust;  is  liable  lo  fatal 
mistakes.  Arsenatt^  of  soda  is  still  worse,  as 
its  appearance  aud  flavor  is  not  uidike  com- 
mon salt,  and  aii  imsuspicious  housewife  might 
u.se  it  for  flavoring  dishes,  and  destroy  a  whole 
family,  if  it  were  brought  into  the  hou.se. 
I'aris  green  is  very  widely  used  for  destroying 
the  Colorado  i)otato  beetle  and  the  collou 
worm.  Its  brilliant  color  is  likely  to  jireveut 
accidents,  from  mistaking  it  for  .something 
else.  Dr.  Kedzie  estimates  that  more  than  a 
hundred  tons  were  u.sed  in  one  year  in  the 
State  of  Michigan.  This  extensive  use  brings 
up  the  i|uestions  :  Will  it  poison  the  plants, 
and  render  crops  unsafe  as  food  y  Will  it 
poi.son  the  soil,  and  injure  succeeding  crops  'f 
Will  it  become  washed  into  drains  and  poisoiL 
sjirings  and  wells  ^  What  liecomes  of  it  in 
the  .soil  > 

Toanswcrthe  (irstquestion — cabbage  )ilan(s 
were  watered  with  a  .saturated  solution  of 
arsenic,  and  were  killed  in  a  week,  but  the 
leaves  did  not  contain  a  trace  of  the  poison, 
except  by  a  discoloration  of  the  stem  near  the 
roots.  When  the  .solution  was  weaker,  so  as 
not  to  injure  the  plant,  the  slightest  trace 
could  not  lie  discovered  anywhere.  The  ex- 
periments wenr  repeated  on  barley  and  on 
turnips.  Again  they  were  tried  on  |iea.-<,  all 
with  the  s;uue  results.  Dr.  Kedzie  says: 
"  Four  years  ago  I  made  a  careful  investiga- 
tion to  determine  whether  the  |M)tato  tulxT 
absorlH'd  arseiuc  when  I'aris  green  was  ap|ilie<l 
to  the  jilaids  to  destroy  llie  iiotalo  U-etle.  I 
took  potatiH's  raised  in  the  ordinary  eom-se, 
and  leiieatedly  dusted,  and  others  to  which  all 
the  I'aris  green  had  Ik-cu  applied  that  coidil  Ik; 
used  without  killing  the  jilant  ;  but  in  no  in- 
stance could  I  find  a  trace  of  arsenic  in  the 
tubers.  Other  chemists  have  made  similiar 
investigations  with  the  .xaine  results." 

To  detcriniue  the  verv  iiMportanI  ipuwlion, 
whether  the  poison  ajiplieil  one  year  to  ]iota- 
toes  would  alTect  thei|nality  of  wheat  Iheyrar 
after,  four  .si|uare  rods  of  wheal  wen-  mea.s- 
nred  olT  in  March,  and  two  ounces  of  I'aris 

'SivdNninii  nnd  Ntini<.r>niiin  to  liU  Mij€«tx  the  Emperor 
of  Gvruiauy  aod  Kiii({  of  TrUHMia. 


90 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[June, 


green  were  applied  in  water,  or  at  the  rate  of 
five  pounds  per  acre — much  more  titan  is  used 
for  potatoes.  The  svuface  of  the  ground  was 
rendered  sensilily  green  by  the  application. 
The  wheat  was  not  injured  in  growth.  The 
grain  when  ripe  was  submitted  to  three  of 
the  most  rigid  tests,  liut  the  slightest  trace  of 
arsenic  coulil  not  be  discovered.  Dr.  K.  was 
satisfied  that  it  contained  none  at  all.  The 
jioison  exerts  more  intluence  the  first  year,  and 
therefore  it  is  very  safe  to  conclude  that  wheat 
is  not  injured  in  any  degree  as  human  food 
when  growing  the  year  after  the  potatoes. 

In  another  case,  cabbages  were  grown  in  the 
college  garden  after  tlie  potatoes  which  had 
been  dressed  with  Paris  green.  Six  ounces  of 
the  cabbage-head,  submitted  to  the  closest 
examination,  failed  to  indicate  any  trace. 

In  answer  to  the  question,  What  becomes  of 
the  Paris  Green  V  I)r.  K.  remarks,  that  it  is 
insoluble  in  pure  water,  but  slightly  soluble  in 
ammonia  water  ;  and  it  may  te  taken  up  t(j  an 
extent  of  one  part  in  100,000  of  rain  water 
which  contains  traces  of  ammonia.  Water 
charged  with  carbonic  acid  will  take  up  one 
part  in  10,000.  The  waterin  the  soil  contain- 
ing some  carbonic  acid,  will  therefore  dissolve 
a  portion  of  it. 

Where  then  is  the  remedy  ?  A  perfect  an- 
tidote or  .safeguard  is  at  hand.  Hydrated  oxide 
of  iron  is  the  well-known  and  standard  anti- 
dote for  Paris  Green,  as  it  forms  an  insoluble 
salt,  with  arsenious  acid,  or  only  soluble  in 
strong  mineral  acids.  Fertile  soils  contaiti 
always  a  far  greater  amount  of  this  antidote 
than  is  required  to  neutralize  all  the  ai'senic 
ever  applied  to  it,  for  one  per  cent,  of  the  hy- 
drated oxide  would  be  no  less  than  a  hundred 
tons  per  acre,  with  a  depth  of  one  foot  of  .soil. 
Dr.  Dedzie  proved  the  correctness  of  his  rea- 
soning on  this  point  by  actual  and  repeated  ex- 
periments. Hence  tiie  fear  of  this  poisoning 
injuring  water  is  entirely  groundless. 

Several  cases  are  mentioned  where  the  care- 
less use  of  Paris  green,  in  applying  it  to  pota- 
toes, resulted  in  poisoning.  More  than  one 
thousand  reports  were  received  from  clerks  in 
all  parts  of  the  State,  only  Ave  of  which  report 
poisoning  to  the  workmen.  In  one  case,  by 
careless  handling,  the  Paris  green  was  allowed 
to  come  in  contact  with  a  sore  on  the  hand. 
"It  swelled  enormously,  but  was  subdued  by 
vinegar  and  .salt. "  In  another  case  the  dust 
was  inhaled,  resulting  in  much  pain  in  the 
head  and  a  copious  discharge  from  the  nose 
for  two  weeks.  The  operator  states  that  he 
had  been  subject  to  catarrh  since  childhood, 
but  when  the  effects  of  the  Paris  green  had  left 
him,  he  had  not  suftered  from  it  since.  It 
proved  a  powerful  meiliciue.  In  another  case, 
the  poison  was  permitted  to  enter  a  hole  in  the 
boot  leg,  causing. some  inflammation.  Another 
man  narrowly  escaped  wifh  his  life  from  in- 
haling the  dust,  which  he  had  absiu'dly  en- 
deavored to  exclude  wHth  a  veil  over  )iis  face. 
He  was  sick  two  weeks.  Another  had  his  e.yes 
badly  inflamed  for  a  long  time  by  the  dust  en 
tering  them,  and  some  children  were  injured 
by  playing  among  the  dusted  potatoes.  It 
seems  remarkable  that  so  few  eases  should  oc- 
cur in  more  than  a  thousand  reports,  when  it 
is  remembered  how  careless  many  are  in  the 
application  of  the  poison.  It  is  much  safer, 
however,  to  apply  the  Paris  green  in  water — a 
moderate  spoonful  to  two  or  three  gallons- 
care  being  specially  required  only  at  tlie  mix- 
ing. 

^ 

THE  CENTENNIAL— HOW  TO  SEE  THE 
GREAT   EXHIBITION. 


General  Arrangements. 
The  Exhibition  opens  ;it  0  a.  m.,  and  closes 
at  •}  p.  m.  There  are  special  gates  distributed 
at  dilVerent  points,  intended  for  visitors  who 
pay,  for  exhibitors,  for  complimentary  tickets, 
f(u-  workmen  and  for  wagons.  Visitors  pay 
fifty  cents  each  on  entering  the  ground,  which 
entitles  them  to  a  free  entrance  to  each  and 
every  building,  and  to  remain  during  the  en- 
tire day.  This  also  covers  admission  to  the 
Gilmiu'e  Concerts  in  the  Main  Building,  the 
Electric  Organ  Concert  in  Horticultural  Hall, 


and  the  special  exhibitions  of  fruit  and  vege- 
tables in  Agricultural  Hall.  On  entering 
from  Belmont  Avenue  visitors  will  find,  free 
of  charge,  all  necessary  conveniences  for  wash- 
ing, dressing,  etc.,  etc;  also,  barber-shops, 
bootblacks,  etc.  At  different  points  in  each 
building  water  is  supi)lied  gratuitously,  and 
restaurants  can  be  found  in  every  directicm. 
Over  three  thousand  seats  have  already  been 
lilaccd  in  the  grounds,  and  others  are  to  be 
added  as  required.  Rolling  chairs,  a  great 
convenience,  can  be  procured  at  any  of  the 
gates,  and  visitors  carried  about  from  one 
building  to  another,  and  through  the  Inuld- 
ings,  for  a  moderate  charge.  A  narrow-gaiige 
railroad  runs  all  around  the  inside  of  the 
grounds  for  the  small  sum  of  five  cents,  so  that 
every  facility  and  convenience  is  at  the  ser- 
vice of  visitors. 

Expenses. 
Do  not  be  alarmed  at  the  reports  of  high 
charges  for  board  and  lodging  in  Philadel- 
I)liia ;  a  careful  examination  of  the  subject 
settles  the  question  that  good  board  can  be 
had  from  JipO  per  week  up  to  .fo  i)er  day. 
Within  sight  of  the  Exhibition  there  are  good 
accommodations  for  $1  per  day  ;  that  is,  a 
comfortable  bed-room  ;  breakfast  can  be  had 
outside  the  grounds  for  fifty  cents,  and  a  good 
dinner  inside  for  .'$1.  All  that  is  necessary  is 
that  the  visitor  examines  the  bill  of  fare  and 
selects  according  to  tlie  prices  given  therein. 
At  the  dairy  good  milk,  cream,  berries,  etc., 
are  furnishe(l  reasonably.  An  estimate  of  ex- 
penses for  one  person  should  not  exceed  from 
$1")  to  S25  per  week,  including  a  daily  visit  to 
the  Exhibition. 

How  to  Spend  a  Week  Profitably. 

Take  a  room  near  the  grounds,  and  com- 
mence on  the  first  day  by  entering  on  Belmont 
Avenue  ;  turn  to  the  right  and  you  are  in  the 
Main  Building,  with  a  day's  work  before  you 
and  a  trip  around  the  world.  Still  keeping  to 
the  right  we  enter  Chili  and  the  Argentine 
Republic,  which,  with  Peru  and  the  Orange 
Free  State,  form  the  first  section,  and  contain 
much  that  is  of  interest.  Then  the  old  na- 
tions of  China  and  Japan,  with  curious  ex- 
hil)its  of  bronzes,  straw  work,  silk  and  mat- 
ting. Next  Denmark,  then  Turkey  and 
Egypt,  followed  Ity  the  beautiful  pavilion  of 
Spain  and  the  exhibits  of  Russia,  Austria, 
Ilungary  and  the  German  Empire  united,  and 
one-foiu'th  of  the  day's  work  has  been  accom- 
plished. We  are  now  in  the  centre  of  the 
building,  and  if  tired  can  rest  and  listen  to  the 
music  of  Gilmore's  Baud,  or  pu.sh  on  to  the 
exhibits  of  our  own  country,  which  occupy 
fully  one-fourth  of  the  Main  Building.  On 
arriving  at  the  extreme  end,  go  up  in  the  gal- 
lery and  view  the  wonderful  vista  which  ex- 
tends for  nearly  half  a  mile  before  the  ej-e. 
Now  it  is  time  to  dine,  and  as  the  Restaurant 
Lafayette  is  the  nearest,  we  will  dine  there 
and  spend  an  hour  under  the  shade  of  the 
trees.  Returning,  we  leave  the  United  States, 
and,  passing  thnnigh  Mexico,  the  Nether- 
lands, Brazil,  Belgium  and  Switzerland,  reach 
France  and  England,  where  hours  can  be 
.spent  witli  pleasure  and  profit.  Then  passing 
through  Canada,  Australia,  Sweden,  Norway 
and  Italy,  we  have  reached  our  starting  point, 
and  the  bell  chimes  give  notice  that  it  is  six 
o'clock  and  time  to  close.  Tired,  we  go  to 
our  hotel  for  a  rest,  and  then,  if  so  inclhiod, 
spend  the  evening  at  Operti's  Garden,  or  go 
down  in  the  city  and  visit  Independence  Hall, 
and  thus  has  passed  the  first  day.  The  second 
ilay  should  be  devoted  to  the  Macliiuery  Hall, 
the  Shoe  and  Leather  Building,  the  Glass  Fac- 
tory, and  the  buddings  in  the  vicinity.  Dine 
at  tlie  French  Restaurant,  but  lools  at  the 
prices.  Bear  in  mind  that  two  persons  can 
dine  comfortably  on  what  is  ordered  for  one. 
The  thied  day  visit  the  Art  Gallery  and  its 
annexes,  the  Photographic  Gallery  and  the 
Carriage  Building,  with  a  look  at  Judges' 
Hall.  Dine  at  the  German  Restaurant,  S])end 
the  evening  at  Thomas'  Concert  or  one  of  the 
theatres.  The  fourth  day  can  be  pleasantly 
spent  by  a  visit  to  the  Government  Building, 
tlie  Woman's  Pavilion,  the  Model  of  Paris, 


the  State  Buildings,  and  a  dinner  at  the  res- 
taurant on  George's  Hill.  The  fifth  day  can 
be  given  to  the  Horticultural  and  Agricul- 
tural Buildings,  with  a  dinner  at  the  grand 
American  Restaurant.  Devote  the  sixth  day 
to  an  examination  of  the  smaller  buildings, 
and  dine  at  the  Southern  Restaurant.  Then 
take  a  boat  up  the  Schuylkill,  visit  the  Zoo- 
logical Gardens,  Fairmount  Park,  tlie  Wissa- 
hickon,  and  spend  the  evening  at  the  Acade- 
my of  Fine  Arts,  diniug  at  Strawberry  Man- 
sion or  Proskaner's,  and  the  week  has  passed 
with  both  pleasure  and  profit. 

International  Importance. 

Sir  Charles  Reed,  of  London,  in  an  address 
delivered  to  the  Judges  selected  for  the  exhi- 
bition, expressed  the  great  interest  taken  by 
foreign  nations  in  its  success,  and,  in  closing, 
addressed  General  Hawley,  President  of  the 
Commission,  as  follows : 

'■I  must  congratulate  you,  sir,  in  being  at 
the  head  of  an  exhibition  uuiiaralleled  in  the 
history  of  international  displays,  .so  far  as  my 
observation  has  extended.  I  was  upon  the 
jury  at  the  London  Exhibition  in  the  year 
1S.)1,  and  have  visited  every  European  exhibi- 
tion held  since  that  time,  and  I  say  without 
hesitation  that,  so  far  as  I  have  yet  been  able 
to  examine  it,  the  display  you  have  made  in 
Fairmount  Park  eclipses  everything  I  have 
seen.  It  may  be  fitly  compared  to  a  great 
feast— an  intellectual  feast — and  I  believe  it 
will  greatly  advance  not  only  the  material 
position  of  our  countries,  but  that  it  will  afford 
to  the  world  a  guaranty  that  in  gathering  us 
here  together  you  have  the  interests  of  peace 
at  heart,  and  that  this  will  contribute  to 
cement  the  good  feeling  at  present  existing 
between  the  nations  represented  here." 
Locomotion. 

The  arrangements  in  the  city  for  travel  are 
most  convenient.  The  horse  cars  run  every 
direction,  and  for  the  small  charge  of  seven 
cents  one  can  go  from  end  to  end  of  tte  city, 
and  by  a  system  of  exchange  tickets  cars  can 
be  taken  crossing  the  city,  so  that  almost  any 
point  can  be  reached.  For  small  parties 
wagonettes  have  been  introduced,  which  can 
be  secured  for  fifty  cents  for  each  person. 
The  City. 

There  is  much  to  be  seen  in  Philadelphia. 
Independence  Hall,  Carpenter's  Hall,  Girard 
College,  the  Mint,  tiie  Clubs,  the  Pubhc 
Buildings,  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  Academy 
of  Science,  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  are  all 
worthy  of  a  visit. 

Summary. 

•While  enough  work  has  been  given  a  visitor 
to  occupy  a  week,  yet  it  can  all  be  seen  in  half 
that  time  in  a  cursory  manner,  and,  of  course, 
at  a  less  expense  ;,  but  the  reader  may  rest 
assured,  in  whatever  section  of  our  country  he 
may  be,  that  it  will  pay  him  well  to  save 
moiii'y  enough  to  make  one  visit  to  the  Inter- 
national Exhibition,  and,  if  possible,  to  bring 
his  family.  The  advantages  gained  will 
amply  pay  for  all  economies  in  saving,  and 
the  writer  feels  sure  that  every  one  influenced 
to  make  the  visit  will  never  regret  it. 


THE  HAWTHORN. 

"  'Tis  true  that  I  behold  no  more 
The  valley  where  we  met, 
I  do  not  sec  that  hawthorn  tree, 
But  how  can  I  forget;" 

The  hawthorns  var}'  much  in  size,  from  a 
low,  dwarfv  shrub  to  a  tree  from  ten  to  fifteen 
feet  in  height ;  and,  therefore,  without  seeing 
the  tree,  the  fully  developed  leaf,  or  the  ma- 
tured fruit,  thespeeies  would  be  difficult  to 
determine,  excejit  by  one  very  exjicrt  in  prac- 
tical bi>tany.  Dr.  Asa  Gray  describes  twelve 
native  and  one  introduced  species  as  growing 
in  the  United  States,  but  which  of  the  twelve 
the  beautiful  branches  you  seut  belongs  to,  for 
the  reason  above  stated,  I  cannot  tell.  The 
hawthorns  systematically  belong  to  the  order 
RoKiira — sub-order  Pomea,  (or  pear  fiimily) 
and  the  genus  Gratergus — a  name  derived 
from  a  Greek  word  meaning  strength,  on  ac- 
count of  the  hardness  of  the  wood.  Generically 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


91 


they  stand  between  the  roses  and  tlio  apple-s 
and  pears.  Their  hlonsonis  are  generally 
wliite,  rarely  roue-colored,  (iieeordinK  to  (iruy) 
and  therefore  the  red  an<t  pink  ones  »ent  to 
T}iK  Fa1!:\iki!  tnay  be  n  ;;anled  as  merely  a  va- 
riety ;  but  a  hedge,  a  copse,  or  a  (duster  in 
i'uH'blooni,  lik''  those  sent  by  our  correspond- 
ent, is  eertaiidy  a  "  tliiiii;  of  beauty  and  a  joy 
forever,"  if  only  seen  once  in  a  lifetime. 

Ill  the  "  lanjiuase  "f  th<'  flowers,'"  the  haw- 
tliorn  is  recoiznized  as  a  symbol  of  hope.  Few 
trees  exceeds  the  hawthurn  in  btaiily  durinR 
the  season  of  its  liloum,  and  they  arr  admired 
for  their  abunilance  and  for  Iheir  delishtful 
fiafjrance.  From  the  I'aet  that  the  hawthorn 
usually  blooms  in  the  month  of  May.  it  is  also 
.sometimes  called  the  NFay  bush,  and  the  (•oun- 
try  people  of  Kiicland  decorati'  their  houses 
aiid  churches  with  it  in  its  blooming;  season  just 
as  they  do  with  the  holly  at  Christmas.  The 
ripened  autunm  fruit  of  hawthorn,  even  after 
it  has  shed  its  k'aves,  possesses  a  rich  beauty, 
and  We  are  admonished  by  the  i>oet  to 
"  Tlius  lei  li  uil  beilii'k  tljy  sjiray, 

'Allii  age's  leiilless  seeiie." — Aiiiiilmrk. 

THE  CROP  PROSPECT. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Pmrtkul  Farmer, 
who  has  concluded  a  ramble  throu^di  Chester, 
J-ancasler,  York  and  Adams  counties,  Pa., 
and  Carroll,  Frederick,  Montgomery  and 
Triuce  tJeorvie's  counties,  Md.,  .says  (writing 
under  date  of  ^[ay  •.':!(!)  that  with  few  excep- 
tions wheat  is  remarkably  fine— farmers  say 
never  better.  (Jrass  generally  good,  and  will 
.soon  be  ready  for  the  mower.  Oats  in  the, 
I'enn.sylvania  counties  looks  fine  ;  but  a  small 
areii  sown  in  Maryland.  Weather  ha.s  been 
cool,  find  much  corn  is  now  being  planted; 
yet  some  farmers  have  their  corn  up  and  have 
.started  the  cultivator. 

Applt^  trees  could  uol  have  Viloomed  more 
pivfu.sely,  and  pi-ospectsgood  for  an  abundant 
crop.  In  some  localities  jH'ach  trees  have  a 
fair  croji ;  in  others  none  at  all.  Even  in  the 
same  orchard,  on  one  side  the  trees  are  well 
loaded  with  fruit ;  on  the  other  all  killed  by 
the  cold.  From  present  api)earance  the  crop 
must  lie  light.  Green  peas  sold  this  da^-  in 
market  here  to  the  hucksters  for  $7.00  per 
barrel;  strawlierries,  1.")  cents  per  quart ;  to- 
matoes, $3  ■  to  $■'>  per  bushel,  according  to 
(piality.  The  farmers'  wives  and  daughters 
have  been  very  busy  with  the  whitewash- 
brush  on  the  buildings  and  fences  surrounding 
them,  which  certainly  renders  their  homes 
very  inviting  to  the  traveler,  by  their  neat,  cosy 
appearance.  In  this  iiarlii-ular  they  far  excel 
the  rural  districts  along  the  lake  shore  in  Ohio. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  GRASS  LAND. 

Much  is  being  said  in  the  papers  just  now 
about  the  improvement  of  grass  land.  This 
is  all  right.  Hay,  as  an  agricultural  product, 
has  not  had  near  as  much  attention  given  to 
it  as  other  crops  have,  and  as  it  well  deserves. 
On  the  other  hand,  much  is  said  about  the 
improvement  of  grass  lands  under  a  misap- 
prehension. Writers  tell  us  that  by  a  projier 
treatment  of  grass  land  it  may  lie  made  to 
last  for  many  years  without  that  continuous 
plowing  up  that  is  customary.  A  timothy  or 
cl()ver  patch,  we  are  told,  may  be  continued 
for  a  dozen  years. 

This  is  all  very  well,  but  we  do  not  always 
liut  land  in  grass  merely  for  the  hay  orpjusture 
it  produces.  We  are  looking  to  other  crops  as 
well.  Com  and  potatoes  do  ever  so  much  bet- 
teV  in  sod  ground  than  in  ground  that  has 
been  kept  in  clean  crops.  Indeed,  m<ist  things 
do  Well  in  a  pie(-e  of  broken  sod — lietter,  per- 
hai>s,  than  in  a  piece  of  clean  ground  well  ma- 
nured. There  is,  indeed,  no  way  to  restore 
the  worn-out  condition  of  land  so  well  as  to 
put  it  in  sod  ;  and  even  where  hay  or  grass  is 
an  inferior  object,  people  lay  the  land  down  to 
it  as  a  preparer  for  other  things  which  to  them 
may  lie  of  more  importance.  So  we  see  it  is  not 
a  question  altogether  of  how  long  we  may  keep 
a  piece  of  grass  in  good  heart  by  good  t  reatment . 
by  good  manuring,  as  it  is  of  a  jiroper  rotation 
of  crops  on  the  land,  and  the  intluence  one  crop 
may  have  on  that  which  succeeds  it. 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 
Corriwi'ondciicc  of  Tint  Lakcabthh  Fabmp.h. 

Pakis,  Muy  4,  1870. 

Il  is  lint  surprislnp,  Mlc  cnrdliil  wclcdiiic  tlip  ni;rl- 
culliirnl  loinninniiv  exIciiilH  to  tlic  priiiinseil  hiler- 
imlli>iml  K\lill>ili<in  of  1H7X.  Tlie  riinil  IhIcithI 
iTu|Mil  Inciiliululile  iiilviiiHiiL'i'B  from  tin'  exiiiliiticiii 
of  ISM,  lint  It  HUB  almiwt,  ovcrliKikeil  in  Miul  (il  \Hii7. 
The  I'XliilitliDii  ol'  IS.%r>  nii;rlit  I"'  reciinleil  ub  u  "  new 
depart  lire  "  I'm-  Kn-mli  uirrliallme.  Il  wiis  IVuni  tljc 
sillily  ul'llic  iin|p|i-in('iils  llieif  rxp(iM'il  lliiil  runners 
were  I'uinpelleil  111  acliipl  inacliinei'y,  iiml  Biiiec  llien 
proi^reisH  in  tliiR  renpecl  ImP.  iK-come  8<i  crejit,  tliiii  Iho. 
villiiire  sniltli  liiis  well  iilsrli  diBiippc-areil— inipnived 
iiiuciiiiiery  inlern-d.  Superiiprly  lillcil  land,  wliicli 
ill  ills  turn  exaeteil  nnire  manure  ;  lietiee  the  lieniand 
fur  anil  the  ennimeree  in  fertilizers.  The  l.dniloii 
Kxhihitiim  of  1SC|2  wan  full  of  vuluahle  leBBOim  ;  sev- 
eral Kreiieh  iij,^rievilturiBtB  seized  the  (leeaBitm  to  pro- 
luuiidly  study  the  amidiuralion  of  the  breed  iif  eatlle 
in  pdinldf  preeiieity  and  feediiiir.  In  lst',7  the  ai^ri- 
eiiltural  seel ic in  of  the  I'aris  Kxliibilion  was  a  failure, 
because  il  was  separated  by  several  niiles  from  the 
main  buildinir,  and  to  which  fatlirued  visitiirs  felt  no 
inelinalinn  In  repair.  Then  the  nianner  nf  hcildinu' 
intermitted  show  s  of  live  stoek — nin-  w  eek  sheep,  tin- 
next  black  cattle,  then  lii.irs,  etc.,  and  eaeli  a  diller- 
eiitspeeies — reipiired  six  months  to  follow  the  details, 
and  the  primary  objeet  of  tlie  exhibition  was  lost  — 
that  nfsiinultaneoUB  contrast.  The  same  fault  was 
repeated  at  Vienna  in  lS7:i,  but  will  be  avoi<led  ill 
I'aris  ill  1S7S. 

The  queslion  of  a  stec])  for  seed  irrain  oeeupies  not 
a  little  attention  ;  when  well  prepared  it  is  ellieaeious 
aijaiiiBt  smut  and  rust,  and  allows  lii;ht  seeds  to  be 
skinimed  awuy.  But  anotlierolijeet  remains  to  lie  se- 
eiirid — the  uniform  and  rapid  ^'erinination  of  the 
i;rain;  and  to  attain  this  end,  a  solution  of  leadis  reeom- 
meiided  as  beiiii;  Bn]ierior  to  lime,  (ilauher's  salts, 
and  weak  solutions  of  vitriol  or  arseiiie.  From  ex- 
jieriments  made  with  wheat,  barley,  oats  and  rye,  in 
solutions  of  salts  of  lead,  of  eopjier  and  of  ordinary 
water,  the  seeds  treated  with  the  lead  preparation 
not  only  germinated  more  uniformly,  but  also  more 
rapidly. 

Veterinary  Surgeon  Felizet  draws  attention  to  the 
continued  siieeees  attending  the  employment  of  caus- 
tic lime  lor  the  foot  disease  in  Bhecp.  It  Is  Very  la- 
borious to  touch  the  feet  of  a  numerous  lloek  of 
sheep  with  the  usual  astringent  solutions  of  cop- 
peras, white  vitriol,  ealeiiied  alum,  or  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine. Instead,  form  a  spi^ies  of  enelosed  "  run  " 
fifteen  yards  long  by  two  wide  ;  make  a  well-trodden 
floor,  raise  a  liorder  with  puddled  elay  around  the  en- 
closure, so  as  to  senile  the  unifbriu  depth  of  nine 
inches  towards  the  middle  of  the  run;  jiour  into  this 
bath  four  barrels  of  water,  and  distribute  ov<T  the 
bottom  two  esvts.  of  quiek-lime,  covering  all  with  a 
dozen  bundles  of  the  refuse  fodder  from  the  racks, 
so  as  to  form  a  carpet.  Drive  the  sheep  into  this 
foot-bath,  one  hundred  at  a  time,  and  compel  them 
to  w'ell  pass  and  repass  from  one  end  to  the  other. 
The  spread  fodder  pn  vents  the  feet  sinking  too  pro- 
foundly, and  acts  as  a  brush  at  the  same  time  for 
forcing  the  caustic  solution  to  enter  the  nails.  The 
bath  must  be  made  entirely  new  once  a  week,  hs  the 
linie-absorbiuL'  carbonic  acid  loses  its  eaustieity.  It 
is  a  common  practice  to  wet  the  straw  intended  for 
thatching  pur|)Oses  with  a  solution  of  quiek-liiue  ; 
the  straw  becomes  thus  more  durable,  incombustible, 
along  with  pressing  sanitary  advantages. 

The  cultivation  of  sugar  beet  has  not  made  new 
proselytes  this  spring  in  the  North  of  France  ;  the 
()uarrel5  last  autumn  lietween  the  farmers  and  the 
nianiifacturers  have  not  created  confidence  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  roots  ;  then  the  duty  is  high,  and  if 
not  unjustly,  is  vexatiously  levied.  Kor  the 
future  the  base  of  the  purchase  will  will  be  the  den- 
sity of  the  juice,  and  all  parties  seem  contented  with 
this  solution.  The  [loint  now  to  secure  from  the 
government  is,  that  the  imiHist  will  be  levied  aeeopl- 
ing  to  the  richness  in  sugar,  just  as  alcohol  is  taxed 
according  to  its  streiiirlii.  All  parties  interesteii  in 
the  raisinirof  beet  agree,  thatthe  less  voluminous  the 
root  the  more  saccliarineit  will  be,  and  to  rediu-e  the 
volume  the  plants  ought  not  to  be  too  distant.  But 
no  similar  axiom  can  lie  laitl  down  as  to  the  manure 
most  suitable  for  the  ero|i,  further  experience  under 
this  head  being  required.  Howcver.il  is  eonsidered 
advisable  to  ajiply  the  manure  duriiiir  the  tillage  of 
the  soil,  and  before  iiroeeedinir  with  the  sowings. 
There  is  another  reason  for  the  pause  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  beet ;  since  the  roots  can  be  perfectly  con- 
served, like  tdiopping  green  maize  and  rye,  in  trenches 
for  s|iring  feedinir.  farmers  are  feeling  their  way  as 
to  whethiT  a  heavy  crop  of  roots  for  feeding  would 
not  be  more  profitable  than  the  sinallt-r  return  neces- 
sitated for  the  sugar  manufactory. 

The  turnips,  colza,  cabbage,  etc.,  grown  in  the 
sandy  soils  of  Belgium  are  every  year  more  and 
more  attacked  by  larva,  while  alluvial  and  calcareous 
soils  escape.  Independent  of  the  pi'riod  at  which 
any  of  the  plants  in  question  may  be  sown,  as  60<in 
as  the  first  leaves  appear,  the  root,  if  examined,  will 


present  nn  excrcBconce  that  Inen-ases  with  time.  If 
t Ills  swelling  lie  opened  numerous  white  worms  will 
be  discovered.  I'ntouehed  the  wen  will  enlarge,  aiiil 
tin- roots  cease  lo  penetrate  In  the  soil,  beeoining  in 
time  a  simple  gall,  changing  to  a  [lutrld  mass,  and 
bursting  when  the  inseelB  liave  attained  their  liiBt 
stage  of  nietamorphosis.  Il  is  conjeetiired  that  the 
malady  is  proilueid  from  the  pumture  of  an  In- 
sect,  and  Is  more  prevalent  where  the  soil  is 
well  tilled  and  abundantly  nianureil.  Instead  of 
having  an  average  yield  of  twenty  tons  of  turnips  to 
the  acre  not  more  than  ten  an-  olilained.  Among  the 
remedies  relinl  u|ioii  are,  avoiding  the  use  of  fresh 
manure,  preferi-inj;  dissolved  guano,  urine,  and  f<iur 
parts  of  super  phospliale,  with  two  of  sulphate  of  aiii- 
inoiiia,  and  one  of  sulphate  of  |H>tash. 

Though  every  ellort  is  direeted  to  combat  thedepre- 
dal  ions  of  the  vine  bug,  perhaps  most  attention  Is 
given  at  present  to  an  exhaustive  sliitly  of  the  habits 
of  the  insect.  .M .  Italbiani  seems  to  devote  his  life  to 
the  wat<diiiiLr  of  the  phylloxera,  and  his  indefatigable 
application  has  lieeii  ren.irdeil  by  iin|i<irtunt  dis- 
coverlcB.  It  is  now  reioi;nizi'd  that  the  liiseel  hag 
four  speeilie  forms,  and  develops  its  eggs  in  winter, 
not  only  around  the  i-oots,  but  on  the  shoots;  Boiiiu 
forms  anr  the  result  of  sexual  intercourse,  anil  others 
iKit.  .M .  Balliiani  has  delected  the  iiisi-et  leaving  the 
eirg  during  winter,  the  i-ltl's  having  been  de{sisiled 
on  shoots  id'  the  vine;  thus  the  dlseas<-  is  both  u'rlal 
and  subterranean.  The  Coinle  de  la  \'ergne  coats 
the  stem  of  the  vine  with  coal  lar,  and  finds  lln^  plan 
prtivents  the  mijrration  of  the  bug  to  the  braiielies, 
and  that  vines  so  treated  have  their  leaves,  flowers 
and  fruit  better  than  lliose  which  have  not  been 
tarred  ;  but  the  process  does  not  ensure^  Immunity 
from  the  scourge.  The  Cointe  is  tryiiii.'  the  eX|K,rl- 
ment  of  steeping  green  veiretable  mailer,  heath, 
rushes,  &c.,  in  the  alkaline  sulpho-carlionate,  ami 
burying  the  mass  around  the  vine,  thus  supplying  it 
with  a  manure  and  an  insectieide  at  once. 

The  culture  of  the  Knirlish  Chevalier  barley,  so 
admiralile  for  malt  itnr  purposes,  has  taken  this  season 
a  great  extension  in  t  lie  northeiBt  of  Franci' ;  It  yields 
well  and  fetches  au'ood  price;  two  |Kiuni|sof  the  bar- 
ley [iroduee  about  li^;  |K>unils  of  mall,  t/ie  latter 
yieldini;  about  .511 ,  per  cent .  of  extractive  matter,  a 
result  that  brewers  a(iplaud.  When  more  aeidima- 
tised,  the  chevalier  barley  will  be  tried  in  Soiilhern 
France  and  Alsreria,!!  Iieing  the  chief  grain  employed 
for  feeding  horses  in  these  regnoiiB. 

The  director  oft  he  eorperiinental  farm  at  Lezardeau, 
draws  attention  to  the  neglect  extended  to  the  refuse 
of  tan  yards  as  manure.  This  resuse  consists  of  two 
kinds,  animal  and  vegetable.  The  former  is  derived 
from  the  .scrapings  and  trimmings  ofthe  hides,  more 
or  less  fresh,  and  after  undergoing  the  lime  bath  it  is 
rich  in  phosphate  of  lime  and  nitroiren.  tint  loses -10 
jier  cent,  of  the  latter  after  three  months  fermentation, 
.\s  a  manure  it  suits  well  light  sandy  soils,  and  can 
also  he  stratified  witli  farm-yard  manure.  It  Bells  at 
the  rate  of  fr.  H  to  .'i  the  cubic  yard.  The  vegetable 
refuse  is  the  used  tan,  the  residue  of  [lowered  oak 
liark;  it  is  an  excellent  absorbent,  equal  to  whealeu 
or  oaten  straw,  and  is  best  employed  as  bedding  for 
stock.  The  odor  of  tan  is  due  to  all  llie  laiiuie  aeld 
not  having  been  absorbed,  as  well  as  to  the  produc- 
tion of  other  acids  during  the  steeping  of  the  hides  ; 
urine  contains  most  ammonia  when  fresh,  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  tan  loses  its  acid  i>lor  when  em- 
ployed as  bedding,  is  a  proof  of  its  eflleaey  for  fixing 
that  alkali. 

I'iiie  iilaiitatlons  are  being  attacked  by  a  very  de- 
structive insect,  the  lojiliyri:;  near  Antwerp  over  300 
acres  of  pine  trees  have  been  so  destroyed.  The 
cocoons  pass  the  winter  in  the  moss  at  the  roots  of 
the  trees,  beeoining  iH'rfect  insects  in  April ;  the 
insects  then  breed  rapidly;  the  female  dies  after  de- 
positing her  eggs  and  the  tly  itself  does  not  live  lio- 
yond  thirty  days.  Theegsrs  arede|Kisited  in  the  incis- 
ion made  by  a  saw-like  augar  jHissessed  by  the  insect, 
hi  the  Uiniritudinal  section  of  the  needle  leaf,  and  hi 
groups  of  six  or  eiirht ;  the  worms  in  due  time  ap|icar 
and  gnaw  the  leaf  upwanls,  anil  only  the  one-half  of 
it.  .\  young  wiirni  will  consume  thus  three  of  the 
spines  in  a  day  and  an  adult  as  maiiyjis  twelve.  The 
trees  111  st  attacked  are  those  of  a  sickly  and  dwarfish 
nature,  growing  on  [loor  soils  and  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  wood.  There  is  no  elfeelual  remedy  against  this 
pest,  save  to  shake  the  caterpillars  from  the  trees  and 
then  deslroy  Iheiii. 

The  new  Kossin  kidney  bean  is  hiirhly  6|K>ken  of, 
and  its  |irolifie yield  niakes  it  an  invaluable  addilioii 
to  the  farm  irarden  prisluee;  il  is  white,  easily  cul- 
tivated, requires  a  friable  soil  and  watering  if  the 
I  limate  be  dry.  It  runs  as  high  as  twenty  feel  and 
is  covered  with  [xids  fnim  the  base  to  the  summit ;  it 
can  be  sown  from  the  end  of  March  till  the  close  of 
June.  If  the  [lods  are  allowed  to  ri|HU  tin'  beans  are 
so  tender  as  to  be  cooked  w  itlioul  dilliculty. 

The  farmers  are  commencing  to  lie  uneasy  at  the 
rapid  draining  of  the  eounlry  of  the  splendid  I'ereli- 
eron  horses,  mostly  to  London  and  not  a  few  to  the 
States.  France  promises  to  be  exhausted  of  this 
breed,  as  Belgium  has  been  of  her  draUL'ht  animals. 
On  the  other  hand  F'raiae  is  largely  ex|«»rting  her 
famous  Uurliam  Charlerris  hulls  to  tierinauy  and 
Normand-Berksliire  pigs  to  Italy,  (ierniaiiy  also  la 
inclined  to  purchase  her  crossed  uierlnos. 


92 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[June, 


OUR  FARMERS  IN  COUNCIL. 


June   Meeting  of  the  Agricultural  and   Horti- 
cultural Society — Report  of  the  Crops, 
Essays,  Discussions,  Etc. 

A  meeting  of  the  L.ancaster  County  Affrieultural 
and  Horticultural  Society  was  held  in  the  Athenitum 
room,  on  Monday  afternoon,  June  5th.  Members 
present:  Calvin  Coojier,  (President,)  C.  L.  Hun- 
seeker,  (Seeretarj',  pro  tein.,)  Henry  .M.  Enn;le,  Levi 
W.  GroH",  Levi  S.  Reist,  Levi  Pownall.Pcter  S.  Reist, 
Martin  D.  Kendig,  Johnson  Miller,  Samuel  Benedict, 
John  Hulier,  Israel  L.  Landis,  Addison  Hershey, 
Harry  Wolf,  S.  S.  Rathvon,  Abraham  Hostetter, 
Hiram  Brubaker,  Henry  B.  Erh,  Epliraim  Hoover, 
Henry  Hostetter  and  Jacob  Witmer.  The  reading  of 
the  minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting  was  dispensed 
with. 

Mr.  .Johnson  Miller  made  the  following  report  of 
the  condition  of  the  crops  in  Warwick  township  : 

With  the  blessing  of  rain  for  the  last  few  days  I 
am  able  to  report  everything  in  a  promising  condi- 
tion. The  wheat  fields  are,  as  a  general  thing,  better 
than  was  expected  in  the  early  spring,  and  we  will 
have  a  fair  average  crop.  The  Fultz  wheat  looks 
remarkably  well,  and  in  my  opinion  is  the  wheat  that 
must  Lake  the  place  of  the  old  Mediterranean,  so 
long  raised  in  this  county,  and  which  does  not  do  so 
well  now,  at  least  with  some  farjners.  The  oats  is 
now  in  a  fair  way  of  growing.  Corn  has  also  been 
pushing  along;  however,  it  will  be  a  little  irregular, 
from  its  not  coming  up  at  first  planting,  and  the  re- 
markable rain  of  two  weeks  ago  washed  out  the 
fields  around  our  neighborhood  very  raueh,  and  there 
was  a  good  deal  of  after-planting.  Fields  were 
washed  out  where  it  was  never  known  to  wash.  For 
2-'>  years  we  have  not  had  such  an  amount  of  water 
in  a  short  time.  Grass  is  making  slow  growth. 
Clover  is  in  heads,  while  timothy  is  just  pushing  the 
heads,  and  with  some  fields  jxiorly  set,  others 
ploughed  for  Hungarian.  I  think  the  hay  crop  will 
not  be  much  more  than  half  w  hat  was  harvested  two 
years  ago,  when  we  had  a  full  crop.  Tobacco  is 
mostly  planted.  The  cut  worms  were  very  bad  and 
numerous,  and  a  great  deal  had  to  be  replanted.  Po- 
tatoes crowing  finely,  but  the  bugs  are  numerous  and 
ilcsirnetive.  Unless  properly  looked  after,  they  will 
do  more  damage  than  any  time  heretofore.  Apples, 
peaches,  pears,  grapes,  and  all  kinds  of  fruit,  never 
looked  more  promising,  and  there  are  prospects  of  an 
abundance  of  fruit  of  all  kinds.  The  caterpillars,  are 
making  their  appearance  again  on  fruit  trees  in  large 
numbers.  A  timely  hint  how  to  best  destroy  them 
would  not  be  out  of  place  to  be  suggested  by  our 
society. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Milton  B.  Eshleman,  re- 
gretting his  inaliility  to  be  present,  having  removed 
from  the  county. 

Mr.  C.  L.  Hunsecker  read  a  lengthy  article  on 
"Climatology."  The  essay  elicited  a  discussion 
which  was  participated  in  by  Messrs.  Engle,  L.  S. 
Reist.  Cooper,  Hostetter,  Benedict,  P.  S.  Reist, 
Powuall  and  others.  The  opinions  expressed  were  at 
variance  with  each  other,  and  no  definite  conclusion 
was  reached. 

Mr.  Kendig  moved  that  a  committee  be  appointed 
on  the  rain  gauge  question,  and  Martin  Kendig  and 
Johnson  Miller  were  apjiointed  on  said  committee. 

Mr.  Enoi.e  read  the  Ibllowini;  paper,  by  Donald 
G.  Mitchell,  originally  read  before  the  Cincinnati 
Board  of  Agrieulure  : 

The  Edgewood  Farmer  on  Fences. 

Fences,  as  the  name  implies,  may  be  considered, 
1st,  as  a  barrier  for  the  restraint  of  cattle  ;  3d,  as  giv- 
ing shelter  (under  certain  modes  of  construction) 
against  bleak  winds  ;  and,  :^d,  as  decorative  features 
aljout  a  homestead.  In  this  last  view  I  shall  not  dis- 
cuss the  topic.  For  restraining  cattle,  the  usual 
fences  are  of  boards,  or  rails  crossed  in  Virginia  style, 
of  posts  and  rails,  walls,  and  in  scattered  instances, 
hedges.  These  last,  however,  have  not  met  with 
favor  for  farm  purposes  jiroper.  The  nice  culture  es- 
sential for  the  two  or  three  first  years,  the  cost  and 
the  time  requisite  to  maki'  them  effective,  and  com- 
parative cheapn(^s  of  lumber,  have  forbidden  their 
general  introduction.  Where  determined  on  for  de- 
fensive puriKises,  the  best  plants  are  the  honey  locust, 
the  Osage  orange,  and  the  buckthorn,  to  which,  I 
think,  might  be  added,  as  best  of  all  (if  it  were 
propagated),  our  own  native  white  thorn.  The  Vir- 
ginia fence  involves  great  waste  of  timber,  and  by 
reason  of  its  entering  angles,  slovenly  culture.  It 
does  not  belong  to  Connecticut,  and  I  think  should 
never  be  seen  here  except  it  be  around  outlying  pas- 
tures. The  post  and  rail  system  economizes  material, 
and  is  durable  and  substanlial,  and  when  put  in 
shape  at  the  mill  is  not  costly. 

In  respect  to  posts,  three  important  facts  have,  I 
think,  been  made  clear  by  experience  and  multiplied 
observation.  First,  that  the  timber  should  be  cut,  for 
best  results,  between  September  1  and  last  of  Novem- 
ber. Second,  that  such  timber,  after  splitting  or  saw- 
ing, should  have  a  year's  seasoning  before  use. 
Third,  that  the  top  end  (as  the  tree  grows)  should  be 
placed  in  the  ground.  As  respects  durability  of  dif- 
ferent Bi)ccies,  I  tbink  we  may  rate  locust  first,  red 
cedar  second,  chestnut,  well  seasoned,  third,  yellow- 


bark  and  white  oak  fourth.  Birch  and  poplar  and 
spruce  and  basswood  and  whitewood — nowhere.  The 
no.strums  of  applying  salt,  coal  tar,  and  charring  are, 
I  think,  justly  out  of  favor,  as  hardly  paying  cost. 
Kyanizing  is  un(|ue9tionably  preservative ;  hat  a 
farmer  does  not  want  to  deal  with  chemicals,  of 
whose  good  condition  he  cannot  judge,  and  of  which 
he  wants  to  keep  no  large  stock  on  hand.  For  fruit 
growers  and  hop-raisers,  in  making  their  stakes  and 
poles  durable,  the  system  is  worth  attention. 

Board  fences  are  effective,  and  stand  when  pine 
boards,  well  nailed,  are  used.  Chestnut,  oak,  and 
hemlock  boards  are  inclined  to  warp  and  draw  the 
nails.  Considered  as  a  shelter  for  early  spring  crops, 
in  fruit  gardens,  the  board  fence  serves  an  excellent 
pur^OTse.  They  have  secured  gardens,  whore  else 
gardens  have  been  impossible,  on  the  bleak  eastern 
shores  of  Massachusetts.  But  for  a  family  fruit  gar- 
den no  shelter  is  like  that  of  a  close  growing  hedge 
of  evergreens,  either  Norway  spruce,  or  arbor  vits, 
or  hemlock.  Its  good  influence  can  hardly  be  over- 
stated. To  this  end  a  IVee  growing  belt  is  as  goo<I  as 
a  clipped  hedge,  and  farmers  can  spare  the  room  for 
it.  I  have  never  seen  better  pears  and  a  surer  crop, 
year  after  year,  than  where  an  accidental  growth  of 
hemlock  has  intermingled  its  boughs  with  those  of 
the  pear  tree.  ^ 

Walls  make  good  fences,  provided  the  stones  are 
proper  and  bind  through,  and  provided  they  are  laid 
upon  a  self-draining  subsoil  of  gravel.  On  clayey 
lands,  over  swales,  and  through  meadows,  walls  are 
a  dreary  resource,  except  the  found.ations  be  placed 
out  of  all  reach  of  frost,  which  in  this  latitude  would 
be,  I  should  say,  some  three  feet ;  and  having  dug 
thus  deep,  it  were  better  to  make  a  drain  and  bury 
the  stones  out  of  sight  and  forever.  Even  U[ion  dry 
upland  the  walls  of  fair-looking  cobble  stones,  care- 
fully doubled  and  capped  with  broad  stones  at  top, 
are  a  nuisance,  and  will  bulge  out  with  their  interior 
and  cumulative  weight  a  great  deal  faster  than  the 
I)Ockets  of  the  farmer  who  builds  them.  I  was 
reared  in  the  county  of  stone  walls — New  London — 
where  over  70  per  cent,  of  the  inclosures  are  of  walls ; 
and  there  are  scores  of  farms  there  which  could  be 
bought  to-day  four  times  over  for  the  cost  of  the 
walls  upon  them.  I  know  wh.it  it  is  to  bother  and 
worry,  and  strain  teams  and  break  bars,  and  break — 
hasty  words — over  the  lifting  of  a  huge  boulder, 
which,  when  in  place,  by  reason  of  its  huge  bulk, 
will  serve  only  as  a  steppinir-stoue  for  sheep  to  mount 
the  wall.  Better  by  all  odds  if  much  of  that  griev- 
ous labor  had  been  spent  in  buyring  the  boulders 
where  they  lay — by  all  odds  the  most  economical 
way  of  clearing  a  rough  field,  and  the  stones  never 
come  up  to  perplex  you . 

In  old  times — before  our  recollection,  and  before 
yours,  I  dare  say — we  will  say  about  the  year  13.50, 
people  built  cities  with  walls,  and  did  not  consider 
them  safe  to  live  in  if  built  in  any  other  way.  Now, 
what  if  some  disputatious  persons  had  in  that  day 
sent  a  letter  to  the  newspapers  (which  they  didn't 
have)  setting  forth  that  it  was  all  folly  to  wall  in 
the  towns,  and  it  would  be  much  better  and  cheai)er 
to  let  every  man  look  out  for  his  own  house,  what  a 
stare  of  wonderment  the  old  people  of  1350  would 
have  put  on  !  Well,  there  have  been  those  who  said, 
and  say,  that  our  whole  fence  system  entails  an  idle 
waste  of  money.  In  1813  Nicholas  Biddle  told  the 
people  of  Pennsylvania  that  their  fences  cost  *105,- 
(i(K1,000,  and  involved  an  annual  tax  of  $10,000,(100, 
and  advised  their  abamlonment  and  the  iidoption  of 
the  European  herding  system.  In  18.54  the  cost  of 
fencing  in  Vermont  was  carefully  estimated  at 
^4,700,0011,  and  annual  tax  at  ^8.55,000. 

In  18(13  the  cost  in  New  York  was  estimated  by  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Peters,  I  believe,  at  $114,000,000,  and  an- 
nual cost  at  some  ^15,000,000.  And  as  late  as  1871, 
I'rom  very  full  reports  from  intelligent  observers  in 
all  parts  of  the  Union,  Mr.  Dodge,  the  statistician  of 
the  Agricultural  Department,  compiled  and  tabulated 
a  statement  placing  the  whole  cost  of  farm  fences  in 
the  United  States  at  no  less  a  sum  than  81,700,000,000, 
and  the  cost  of  annual  rei)airs  at  $198,000,000.  These 
figures  are  sometliinir  frightful  ;  and  yet,  somehow, 
they  do  not  frighten  us.  Great  masses  of  figures 
showing  idle  spending,  I  have  observed  to  have  very 
little  etfect  upon  the  individual  spendthrifts.  I  rather 
think  they  enjoy  being  in  so  great  a  company.  Zeal- 
ous reformers,  you  know,  not  infrequently  get  to- 
gether a  great  budget  of  figures,  showing  the  enor- 
mous expenditure  for  alcoholic  drinks  -and  tobacco 
in  the  country  ;  antl  the  toper  listens  with  lifted  eye- 
brows, and — takes  his  dram,  .and  the  smoker  pon- 
ders, and — well,  he  fills  his  pipe;  he  must  have  a 
smoke  on  that.  So,  to  the  statistics  I  have  given, 
the  farmer  listens  surjiriscd,  wondering,  and  straight- 
way proceeds  to  put  a  new  fence  around  his  buck- 
wheat patch. 

It  looks  almost  as  if  fences  were  good  for  some- 
thing. I  think  they  are — in  places  ;  but  that  wc  have 
far  too  many  of  them.  They  are  not  universal. 
There  are  very  few  throughout  France  ;  in  Belgium 
still  fewer  ;  in  Lombardy  and  through  all  of  North- 
ern Italy  the}'  are  scarcely  known.  In  New  Mexico 
there  are  none  ;  in  many  ol  the  southern  counties 
of  Illinois  they  are  abandoning  them,  as  also  in  many 
jiarts  of  Virginia,  under  provision  of  express  enact- 
ment with  reference  to  the  "  no-fence  "  system.    Our 


highways  in  Connecticut  ought  to  be  safe,  and  all 
adjoining  fields.  There  is  a  good  law  against  stroll- 
ing cattle,  whether  with  or  without  keepers  ;  but  the 
people  do  not  work  sharply  enough  to  its  enforce- 
ment. I  blush  to  say  that  in  my  own  town  the 
selectmen  are  the  principal  offenders — turning  out 
the  cattle  of  the  town  farm  upon  the  highways. 
There  are  few  Connecticut  farms  on  which  there  are 
not  far  more  division  fences  than  a  sound  economy  or 
sound  farm  practice  wonld  point.  To  this  point  I 
have  already  alluded.  Unfortunately,  the  cost  of 
their  removal  will  probably  keep  many  of  them  a 
long  time  in  place.  But  I  am  srlad  to  observe  ye.ar 
by  year  a  more  general  clearing  up  and  sweeping 
aw.ay  of  the  cumbersome  an<l  useless  and  number- 
less yard  palings  and  pickets  which  once  incum- 
bered the  ground  about  every  country  homestead. 

It  is  an  augury  of  the  day,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  when 
the  inhabitants  of  our  country  villages  will  discard 
and  tear  away  the  multitudinous  lumber  devices  with 
which  U[)on  their  little  lots  they  now  barricade  them- 
selves, each  man  against  his  neighbor.  They  keep 
out  no  thieves,  for  thieves  can  climb  them ;  they 
keep  out  no  cattle,  for  cattle  do  not  come  there  ; 
they  keep  out  no  scandal,  for  scandal  loves  fences 
better  than  the  open  country.  This  is  not  fancy.  A 
beginning,  and  more  than  one,  has  been  made. 
There  is  a  village  in  the  suburbs  of  Cincinnati  with 
not  a  fence  from  border  to  border.  Its  aspect  charms 
and  delights  every  stranger  who  passes  through. 
In  the  thriving  town  of  Greeley,  in  Colorado,  there 
are  no  fences  whatever.  In  the  pleasant  town  of 
South  Manchester,  where  the  Messrs.  Cheney  have 
established  their  great  silk  works,  these  enterprising 
gentlemen,  by  their  influence  and  example,  have 
worked  the  abandonment  of  fences  throughout  the 
village.  The  result  is  a  charming,  park-like  effect, 
which  attracts  the  visitor,  and  in  which  every  in- 
habitant feels  an  honest  pride. 

The  summingupof  the  whole  matter  is  :  In  respect 
to  farm  divisions,  lay  out  your  land  lor  easiest  and 
most  economic  working ;  make  the  most  of  any  pro- 
tection your  woodlands  may  afford  ;  give  no  land  to 
permanent  pasture  which  will  pay  better  by  tillage  ; 
make  access  easy  to  every  field  you  own  ;  order  your 
homestead  and  surroundings  so  that  your  children 
may  love  it  and  ha*,  to  h-ave  it.  With  respect  to 
fences,  abandon  them  as  f;ist  and  as  far  as  you  can; 
if  you  will  make  them,  make  them  good  ;  watch  your 
State  legislation ;  see  to  it  that  it  aids  you,  and, 
when  laws  are  made,  see  to  it  that  they  are  kept. 
And  when  the  barriers  are  down,  and  the  great  tax 
of  their  cost  lifted,  learn  to  trust  your  neighbor,  and 
to  live  so  that  he  may  trust  you. 

Mr.  Hostetter  stated,  that  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
there  are  some  streets  in  which  no  fences  are  built, 
and  Mr.  Levi  S.  Reist  also  said,  that  in  Akron,  Ohio, 
the  same  custom  is  observed. 

-Mr.  Epiiraim  Hoover  said,  this  question  should 
earnestly  engage  every  farmer's  attention,  for  we  will 
eventually  be  driven  to  it.  He  came  in  cimtact  with 
a  German  one  and  a  half  years  ago,  who  told  him  that 
they  had  no  fences  in  that  part  of  Germany  where  he 
was  from.  We  must  be  gradually  educated  to  it. 
He  believed  the  day  would  come  when  Pennsylvania 
and  every  other  State  will  do  away  with  fences,  par- 
ticularly inside  fences.  In  the  point  of  dollars  and 
cents,  it  would  pay  to  do  away  with  inside  fences. 

Mr.  C.  L.  HiiNSEfKER  said  if  the  expense  of  fenc- 
ing amounts  to  one  thousand  seven  hundred  millions 
yearly,  in  the  United  Stales,  and  if  it  is  as  great  as 
statisticians  state  it  is,  it  would  be  policy  to  dispense 
with  fences  as  much  as  possible.  A  writer  has  said, 
that  if  the  amount  expended  in  a  few  years  were  hus- 
banded, the  national  debt  could  be  paid.  He  won- 
dered why  farmers  did  not  get  up  a  petition  and  have 
legislation  on  the  subject. 

.Mr.  JonxsoN  Miller  said  that  it  costs  him  from 
8(50  to  ?75a  year  to  keep  in  repair  the  fences  on  a 
farm  of  100  acres.  He  believed  that  ?.50  is  about  the 
average.  He  had  kept  an  account  for  about  ten  years. 
It  costs  this  county  about  three  hunilred  thousand 
dollars  annually. 

Mk.  Engle  said  that  when  the  law  compels  you 
to  t.ake  care  of  the  cattle,  and  keep  them  fenced  in, 
this  subject  will  be  very  easily  settled. 

Mr.  Reist  said  that  the  law  was  well  enough  when 
forests  were  plenty,  to  compel  you  to  keep  your  cat- 
tle in  or  ont  of  the  fields,  but  now  you  must  haul  the 
material  from  far  away.  The  time  was  when  you 
could  let  swine  run  at  large,  and  the  result  was  that 
they  became  so  lean  that  it  took  two  to  make"  a 
shadow.  He  believed  that  the  result  of  this  iliscus- 
sion  would  be  that  one-half  of  the  fen<'es  would  be 
put  away.  They  have  been  diminished  to  a  great 
extent  aireadj'. 

.Mr.  Johnson  Miller  explained  how  he  kept 
fences  repaired  at  the  price  already  stated.  He 
bought  rails  at.  810  per  hundred,  posts  at  25  cents  a 
piece,  and  paid  15  cents  for  having  them  made.  He 
bought  chestnut  posts,  not  locust,  and  for  the  interest 
of  the  money  saved  on  locust  posts  he  could  again 
buy  chestnut  posts.  Fifty  pannels  a  year,  at  the  rate 
of  90  cents  a  pannel,  would  cost  $45.  There  is  great 
economy  in  fences,  if  undetstood. 

On  motion,  the  subject  was  continued  for  discus- 
sion at  the  next  meeting. 

Mr.  Johnson  -Miller  presented  two  essays  to  the 


iR7r..] 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


93 


sccrftiiry,  wliiili  were  not  rcnil.  One  on  the  subject 
of"  How  eun  we  best  iin|ir<>vi'  tlie  apiieuriinee  of  our 
liirniti,"  :inil  tlie  olliir  on  "  Wliat  is  Ibe  best,  nictljiHl 
or  takini;  eare  of  our  boyi^  ami  uirls  on  Ihi-  laini,  so 
ax  to  make  tb(  in  bappy  ami  lonlentid."  Tbe  sub- 
jerls  will  be  ilihcm-i-ed  at  I  be  next  meeting. 
On  motion  the  boeiety  ailjourned. 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 


Meat  Safes  or  Closets. 

As  the  Benson  ailvaiices,  many  houKewives  will  feel 
the  necessity  of  a  meat  safe,  wIk  iiin  various  kimlsof 
foo<l  can  be  kept  Irom  the  Hies,  and  also  receive  a 
giMHl  supply  of  fresh  air,  and  not  be  stt  ilamp  a«  to 
promote  mould.  Any  ini^eiiious  num  or  Imy,  who 
jMissesees  suitable  tools, can  construct  a  box  which  will 
answer  a  [;(«h1  purpose,  in  a  short  time.  The  lower 
Ih)X  can  be  made  of  any  dimensions  desired,  and 
s(|uarein  form.  The  framework  can  lie  from  three  to 
lour  inches  in  depth, ami  sawed  from  l:oard^of  tbrie- 
quartersof  an  inch  thiikiass.  They  can  be  nailed 
toijcther,  or  a  neater  way  would  be  to  dovetail  them 
at  the  aUfrli'S,  after  they  have  bi'cn  smoothly  iilaiicd. 
Then  the  cover  must  be  constructed,  and  it  should  be 
made  in  a  curvet!  shape.  To  do  this  either  osier  or 
cane  split  loniritudinally,  will  be  rei|nircd.  A  womlen 
frame  must  be  made  to  tit  closely  over  the  imuT  box, 
and  at  the  four  corners  the  pii'ces  of  cane  must  be 
fastened.  To  do  this  advantaj;eou.sly,  it  will  be  need- 
ful lo  bore  a  small  hole  through  the  cane,  takinij  care 
not  to  sjilit  it,  and  then  it  can  be  attached  to  the  cor- 
ners by  a  small  screw.  lit  the  centre,  where  the  sup- 
ports meet,  a  screw  with  a  brass  rinir  attached  can  be 
nuide  to  fasten  them,  and  it  will  make  a  erood  handle 
by  which  to  lift  the  safe,  if  its  dimensions  are  so 
small  that  it  can  be  readily  moved. 

When  the  framework  is  prepared,  wirenork  can  be 
fastened  all  over  it  by  nutans  of  small  upholsterers' 
tacks  or  tinned  tacks.  Then  take  small  strips  of 
wood  and  nail  them  aloiif;  the  cdijes  of  the  liox  to  se- 
curethocovcrineli;i;litly.  MosquitA)  nettiiiffor  strain- 
er cloth  can  be  substituteil  for  the  wircwork  if  it  can 
not  lie  easily  obtained.  Such  a  meat  safe  will  be 
found  of  great  use  in  excludiiig  insects,  and  more 
than  one  will  frequently  be  desirable  to  the  housewife, 
to  whom  small  portable  safes  are  always  acceptable. 
The  one  dc«eril>ed  above  is  of  a  square  or  oblong 
shape,  as  iK-st  suits  its  maker,  but  a  round  one  will 
often  be  useful,  and  the  hoop  of  an  old  sieve  can  be 
made  with  a  curved  roof  by  glueing  the  covered  steels 
of  old  hooi>-skirts  over  it,  and  covering  them  tightly 
with  musquito  netting. 

But  a  sizable  closet  fitted  up  with  shelves  and  en- 
closed with  wircwork  frames  and  thtors,  will  be  of 
greater  utility  during  the  oppressive  heat  of  the  sum- 
mer, anil  if  it  can  V»e  kept  in  a  c<hi1,  northern  exjKisure 
it  will  be  of  nmch  service.  iSucli  a  closet  or  meat 
safe  can  be  Ituilt  out  of  doors,  but  care  must  be  taken 
U>  iilace  itwhere  the  sun's  rays  do  not  strike  it,  and  it 
should  Ik'  built  upon  stones  or  bricks  at  least  three  feet 
from  the  ground.  It  can  then  be  made  of  inch  boards 
smoothly  planid,  and  thi^  roof  must  have  a  sufficient 
inclination  to  shed  the  rain,  and  also  project  over  the 
sides  for  better  jirotection.  The  lj<jards  for  the  floor 
and  the  roof  should  be  matched  and  fastened  tightly 
together,  and  the  roof  can  be  covered  with  felting  or 
zinc.  The  back  [lart  of  the  frame  should  be  of  the 
same  lioards  as  the  floor  and  nmf.  Theu  a  frame 
work  must  be  made  to  lit  closely  iuto  the  other 
sides,  and  covered  with  wirewitrk. 

The  front  shouhl  be  nuide  with  doors,  hinged  at 
the  two  ends  and  rabbeted  at  the  centre.  A  stout 
strip  of  wood  nuist  be  nailed  lo  the  side  siip|)oris, 
ujHUi  whidi  to  hang  the  doors.  Their  covering,  and 
that  (d'  the  sides  also,  may  be  of  coarse  canvas,  but 
it  would  not  be  as  desirable  as  the  wircwork.  Zinc, 
pcrforateil  with  holes,  e*)uld  also  be  used,  and  it  has 
the  advantage  of  never  rusting,  nor  needing  to  be 
painted,  while  the  wircwork  must  either  be  painted 
or  galvanized. 

When  the  ''  safe  "  is  made,  some  shelves  and  hooks 
nuist  be  addctl  to  it.  The  hooks  can  be  inserted  from 
the  ro<d',  and  all  fresh  meat  can  be  hung  from  them. 
A  safe  four  feel  in  h-iigth  and  three  feet  in  heitrht, 
would  be  <d'  a  conveidcnt  size  for  family  use,  and  it 
would  be  founil  to  have  more  than  paid  for  its  cost 
in  the  saving  of  vari(jus  articles  id'  iood  during  the 
tirst  summer  of  its  use. — Daigy  Eyebriijht. 


Care  of  Canary  Birds. 

During  the  summer  .season  you  should  have  both  a 
drinking  cup  and  a  bathing  dish  in  the  cauc,  and 
should  wash  them  well  twice  a  ilay  and  till  with 
fresh  water.  The  seed  cup  should  be  tilled  every 
morning. 

The  n)om  in  which  the  bird  is  kept  should  never  be 
warmer  than  (10  degrees. 

Kced  plain  IVkmI.  Now  and  then  a  lump  of  sugar 
docs  no  harm  ;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  avoid  sweets. 
Keep  the  cuttle-fish  dry  and  clcau,  and  feed  only 
fresh  and  dry  seed. 

Never  jilace  a  cage  where  a  draft  can  strike  the 
bird. 

Never  smoke,  nor  allow  any  one   to  smoke,  in  a 


room  where  your  bird  is  kept,  as  the  odor  of  a  elgar 
is  fatal  to  canaries. 

As  a  general  rule  nevc-r  keep  the  bird  in  a  painteil 
cage,  for  the  bird  will  pe<k  at  the  wins,  and  it  will 
lead  to  disease. 

When  your  binl  is  shedding  feathers,  which  is 
generally  styled  moulting',  avoid  ilrafis  id' air. 

Hy  iilu-yiiii;  these  simple  direct  inns,  you  can  keep 
your  birds  in  excellent  health  for  years. — VuuiUry 
tltinaii. 


(1 


Household  Recipes. 


To  Hkmove  SiimriiKs. — ."^lorchcs  made  by  over- 
heated llatirons  can  be  removed  from  linen  by  spread- 
ing over  the  cloth  a  paste  maih^  of  the  juice  pressed 
from  two  onions,  one-half  ounce  white  soap,  two 
ounces  fuller's  earth,  and  one-half  pint  vinegar.  Mix 
it,  boil  well,  and  cool  before  using. 

Soi.in  .Svi.LAiiim.— Take  a  pint  of  thick  cream,  half 
a  pint  of  white  wine,  and,  sweetening  to  your  taste, 
put  in  the  juice  of  one  lemon  and  half  the  rind 
(.'rated.  Whip  it  up  the  eve  of  the  day  when  you  de- 
siLiii  it  for  use,  but  do  not  till  your  glasses  or  garnish 
with  it  tinlil  the  day  alter  it  is  made,  If  you  wish  it 
to  be  solid  and  stand. 

HoMINvFiUTTKIis.— Two  full  teacups  of  cold  iKiiled 
hominy  ;  add  to  it  one  scant  teacup  of  sweet  milk 
and  a  little  salt  ;  stir  till  smooth,  then  add  fourlablc- 
s|Kionfuls  of  tlour  and  one  egg;  beat  the  yolk  and 
white  sejiaralely,  adding  the  white  last,  llavcaiian 
of  hot  butter  anil  lard  ready,  (half  of  each)  ilro|i  the 
batter  in  by  spoonfuls  aial  fry  them  to  a  light  brown. 
To  M/VivE  Fine  Pancakes.— Take  a  jiint  of  cream, 
six  eggs,  three  tablcsixjonfuls  of  Hour,  three  of  wine, 
one  of  rose-water,  a  quarter  of  a  |ifiunilof  suiiar,  half 
a  pound  of  melted  butter,  almost  cold,  and  half  a 
nutmeg  grated.  Mix  these  well  together.  Vou  need 
butter  your  pan  only  for  the  tirst  time  you  fry.  Just 
let  them  become  delicately  brown.  Let  the  batter  be 
as  thin  as  possible. 

A  Cu.sTARn  Pudding. — Take  a  pint  and  a  half  of 
cream  and  irnx  with  it  six  eggs  well  beaten,  two 
sixjonfuls  of  corn-starch.  Hour,  or  jmunded  cracker, 
and  half  a  nutmeg  grated,  a  little  pinch  of  salt,  and 
half  a  i»und  of  sugar.  Have  a  very  thick  doth  but- 
tered and  floured,  jwur  in  the  batter,  and  put  the 
pudding  into  a  pot  of  boiling  water.  Boil  it  half  au 
hour.     Serve  it  with  sauce. 

OuANOE  Cake. — Mix  two  cups  of  sugar  with  the 
yokes  of  two  eggs,  then  add  the  whites  beaten  to  a 
ftoth  ;  next  add  a  large  tables|>ooiiful  of  butter,  then 
one  cup  of  milk,  with  two  tablcs|)Oonfuls  of  baking 
povvderdissolved  in  it,  and  last  of  all  Hour;  flavor 
with  lemon  extract,  bake  in  jelly  pans.  Filling  : 
Two  oranges  and  one  lemon  ;  grate  the  rinds  and  add 
the  juice,  one  cup  of  water,  one  cup  of  sugar,  one 
tablcsiioonful  of  corn-starch  ;  boil  until  smixjth  ; 
cool  before  putting  between  cakes. 

A  Fl.VE  EiiG  ProDiNO. — Beat  three  eggs  very  well, 
and  put  in  as  much  sifted  flour  as  will  make  tliem 
very  thick.  Set  a  quart  of  milk  and  half  a  pouiul  of 
butter  over  the  fire;  then  beat  two  eggs,  and  stir 
them  into  the  milk,  continuing  to  stir  till  it  boils; 
then  add  the  three  eggs,  and  let  it  boil  until  it  is 
quite  smooth  and  thick.  Take  it  oH'  the  fire,  and 
season  it  to  your  taste  with  sugar,  salt  and  milmeg. 
Currants  will  impaove  it.  Bake  the  iiudding  for  half 
an  hour.     To  be  eaten  w  ith  wine  sauce. 

Holiday  Pi'i)DiNf4. — Take  two  large  lemons,  and 
grate  off  the  peel  of  both.  Use  only  the  juice  of  one, 
unless  you  like  quite  a  tart  flavor.  Add  to  the 
lemon  half  a  iKiund  of  line  white  sugar,  the  yolks  of 
twelve  and  the  whites  id'  ciirht  eggs,  well  beaten  ; 
melt  half  a  jiound  of  butter  in  four  or  five  tablespoon- 
fuls  of  cream.  Stir  all  together,  and  set  the  mixture 
over  the  fire,  stirritig  it  until  it  begins  to  be  pretty 
thick.  Take  it  oil,  and  when  cold  till  your  dish  "a 
little  more  than  half  full,  having  previously  lined  its 
bottom  with  Hue  puff  paste. 

Boii.Eo  AriM.E  I)t  Mfi.iNGS. — Ouc  pound  of  suet, 
one  iKinnd  of  Hour,  heaping  tcasixioiiful  of  salt  ; 
chop  the  suet  into  a  little  Hour  to  prevent  its  cakinir, 
chop  very  fine— as  line  as  meal;  then  add  flnur  and 
mix  thoroughly;  then  add  cold  water  enough  to 
make  a  paste  ;  roll  as  thin  as  pic  crust  ;  |)arc  a  dozen 
large  apples,  quarter  and  core  them  ;  keep  each 
apple  by  itself,  place  the  quarters  together  again, 
and  cut  the  paste  in  a  square  to  cover  the  apple  ;  tie 
each  duni]iling  in  a  sipiarc  doth,  leaving  a  very  little 
room  to  swell.  Boil  tlicin  an  hour,  putting  them 
into  boiling  water  ;  serve  with  hard  sauce. 

Heyday  Puddino.— T-ay  a  thin  puff  paste  in  the 
bottom  of  your  dish,  or  rather  pie-plate,  taking  care 
to  lay  a  thicker  strip  around  the  outer  edsre,  moisten- 
ing the  bottom  piece  with  a  little  cold  water  to  make 
the  layers  stick  together.  Theu  take  of  candied 
orange  jK>el,  lemon  peel  and  citron,  each  an  ounce; 
slice  them  very  thin  and  lay  them  on  the  paste.  Beat 
the  yolks  of  eight  eggs  and"  the  whites  of  two  ;  add  a 
light  half-pound  of  melted  butter,  a  irood  half-pound 
of  sugar,  and  blend  all  the  inirredienis  smoothly  and 
thoroughly  together.  When  you  arc  sure  that"  your 
oven  is  projierly  heated  for  bakim:  pastry,  pour  the 
pudding  mixture  into  the  plates  prepared,  and  bake  I 
carefully,  not  Icttingthe  puddings  brown  too  much.     I 


To  .Make Ciieesf.-Cakes  WITHOUT  C'uhdh.— Take 
a  pint  of  sweet  cream  and  put  it  into  a  skillet  on  the 
Are;  beat  up  two  ei;i.'s  very  well,  and  then  add  to 
them  enough  Hour  to  make  them  into  a  very  thick 
batter.  Dn  not  stir  the  egus  and  flour  into  the  cream 
unlil  it  is  boiiin;.'  hot  ;  but  when  arrived  at  that  point 
stir  them  irradnally  into  it,  and  let  them  Uiil  lomiher 
afterwards  for  a  lew  niinules.  Then  remove  them 
from  the  lire,  and  while  warm  stir  in  half  a  |Kiundof 
hutter.  In  the  mcanllme  have  ready  three  cL'gs 
more,  well  beaten;  these  must  be  added,  together 
with  hall  a  |K)Uiid  of  sugar,  a  little  salt  and  mitnicg. 
Put  in  a  few  currants,  and  bake  111  little  tin  patty- 
pans lined  with  pastry. 


Thy  It. — Here  Is  an  article  for  housekeepers  :  The 
ScUiiliflc  Atiiericiiii  asserts  that  a  little  soa|>  lather 
mixed  with  the  starch  will  prevent  the  flatiron  from 
sticking  lo  the  linen,  and  gives  the  gloss  so  conspicu- 
ously absent  in  the  home  laundry  article.  Easllv 
tried.  '' 

In  washing  calicoes  In  whlili  the  colors  arc  not 
fast,  be  careful  not  to  boil  them  ;  but  wash  in  the 
usual  way  with  soap,  and  rinse  in  hard  water.  For 
dark-colored  gi««ls  add  a  little  salt  to  the  water;  for 
light,  a  little  vinegar. 

Kxi-EUIME.NTS  have  been  made  at  Halle  and  I,elp- 

sie,  showing  the  superiority  of  large-sized   s Is  for 

garden  veiretables.  Beans  and  |M'as  were  tried  « ith 
large  and  small  seed  side  by  side.  The  plant  from 
the  large  seeds  were  earlier  and  grew  more  rapidly, 
and  there  was  about  one-tenth  In  the  dilfercncc  of  the 
crops  in  favor  of  the  larger  seed.  The  large  seeds 
also  germiuuted  with  much  greater  certainty. 
♦ 

The  Taste  of  Turnips  in  Milk  and  Butter. 

It  is  stated,  U|H)n  Cerman  authority,  that  the  un- 
pleasant taste  imparted  to  milk  and  Imttcr  by  feedhig 
turin(is,  iV:e.,  may  be  removed  by  simply  throwing 
into  each  pan  of  milk  of  four  or  five  quarts  as  much 
sallpeire  as  will  lie  on  the  |i<)int  of  a  knife,  when  a 
gelatinous  mass  will  separate  from  the  milk  alid  set- 
tle to  the  bottom. 


Horse-Radish  Sauce. 


Clean  and  grate  one  stick  of  horse-radish,  place  in 
a  sauce-pan,  and  a  ciijiful  of  soup,  two  tabli's{><Min- 
fuls  of  dried  currants,  a  little  sugar,  a  teas|ioonful  of 
vinegar,  and  some  salt  ;  place  over  the  lire,  let  It 
come  to  a  IhiII,  and  serve.  This  sauce  is  very  |)opu- 
lar  among  the  (iermans,  by  whom  it  is  much  eaten 
with  soup  meat,  and  is  gooil  with  other  Uiilcil  meats. 


Drumstick  Asparagus. 

To  obtain  asparagus  white,  all  but  quite  to  the 
ixiint,  nothing  more  is  needed,  so  soon  as  the  |Miiiitof 
a  shoot  appears  al«ive  the  surface,  than  to  cut  It  as 
low  benealh  the  surface  as  a  knife  can  be  thrnsl. 
Such  whitc-.stalked  shoots  arc  almost  tasteless.  Let 
the  shoots  grow  until  :i  or  4  inches  aljove  the  surface 
are  quite  green.  Tho.se  inches  are  all  eatable  and 
high  flavored.   The  sun  is  needed  to  give  them  flavor. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


Have  Faith  in  Your  Business. 

All  great  accomplishmenls  have  resulted  from 
coiiHdence  in  the  business  pursued.  .\nd  this  con- 
fidence must  not  be  a  blind  faith,  but  fnundcd  iqion 
an  inlimate  practical  knowledge  of  your  occupation. 
When  Michi  lioiight  a  London  Ikii:  for  the  piiriKiseof 
transforminir  it  into  the  most  fruitful  farm  in  Eng- 
land, and  saw,  in  advance,  the  transformations  he 
proposed  to  make,  laid  his  plans  as  can-fully  as  an 
eiii;inccr  would  have  done  to  tunnel  a  mountain,  pro- 
ceeded u|Kin  seicntilic  and  practical  principles  com- 
bined to  carry  out  the  work  of  iin|provenient,  step  by 
step,  re'_'ardless  of  the  jeers  of  the  routine  farmers 
around  hliii.  lie  had  faith  in  his  business.  .And  that 
faith  ciialiled  lilm  to  spend  a  irrcater  amount  (ht 
acre  in  rcclainiing  and  improvinir  his^and  than  hail 
ever  before  or  since  been  expended  uinin  land  for 
agricultural  purinises,  and  yet  his  balance  sheet,  for  . 
years,  has  shown  a  liberal  net  return  for  his  invest- 
ment. 

Let  us  take  the  case  of  Mr.  Dalrynqile,  of  Minne- 
sota, who,  after  studying  the  business,  cntenil  on  the 
great  scheme  of  raisiiii.'  'J,(KKI  acres  of  wheat  per 
year,  and  so  eoinplelely  had  he  calculated  the  means 
required  to  accomplish  this  end,  that  it  was  all 
plowed,  cultivated  and  sown  in  season,  and  his  crop, 
some  twenty  per  cent.  alMive  the  average  among 
small  farmers,  harvested  In  goinl  order,  threshed  and 
sent  to  market,  with  an  average  profit  of  ten  to  flftecu 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  This  was  not  a  single 
year,  and  accidental  gixnl  luck,  but  continued  for 
years  in  succession.     He  had  faith  in  his  business. 

John  Johnson,  of  (ieneva,  .\.  Y.,  came  to  this 
country  with  little  mori'  means  than  to  plant  him  on 
his  .American  farm.  He  saw  the  needs  of  his  soil, 
and  eomincncfMl  draining  off  its  surplus  water,  and 
the  jeers  of  his  neighlMirs  at  his  folly  wen-  soon  turned 
to   astonishment    at  the  crops    he    priMliiced.     They 


94 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[June, 


saw  him  reap  a  wheat  cropdoulile  tlie  averaee  of  the 
State,  raise  cattle  ami  feed  slieep  at  a  profit,  while 
others  reported  only  loss.  He  proceeded,  with  the 
calm  confidence  of  knowledge,  to  tile  drain  his  :'.00 
acres,  at  an  expense  much  sreater  than  he  paid  for 
his  farm  ;  but  for  some  years,  in  relief  of  his  old  ase, 
he  has  been  able  to  rent  portions  of  it  at  $25  per 
acre.     He  had  faith  in  his  business. 

There  is  no  occupation  of  man  that  requires  for  its 
successful  prosecution,  more  careful  study,  more  con- 
fidence based  upon  knowledge,  than  asriculture.  We 
see  the  want  of  faith  in  the  conduct  of  a  large  class 
of  farmers,  who  never  seem  to  have  hit  upon  tlie  right 
line  of  business.  Now  they  are  dairying,  having  gone 
into  it  when  dairy  stock  was  high,  costing  a  largfc 
pum  to  start,  but  the  product  having  been  depressed 
for  a  few  months,  all  confidence  is  gone  in  the  future 
of  the  dairy  industry,  and  their  cows  are  sold  at  a 
heavy  loss.  Next  they  take  to  sheep,  but  wool  soon 
has  its  turn  of  depression,  and  confidence  is  lost  in 
this  industry,  and  its  abandonment  follows.  Hops 
now  become  their  hobby.  Fifty  cents  a  pound  is 
quite  too  alluring  ;  but  when  their  crop  comes,  a 
saason  of  plenty  has  returned  and  down  goes  the  price 
to  ten  cents.  Woe  meets  tliem  here — they  turn  in 
disgust  from  their  thrifty  vines  and  seek  their  neigh- 
bors to  whom  they  sold  their  cows.  And  now  lieL'ins 
the  dairy  again — this  business  of  battledoor  and 
shuttlecock,  "  everything  by  turns  and  nothing  long." 
These  are  the  farmers  that  talk  loudest  that  farming 
does  not  pay.  They  do  not  givelt  tinfc  to  pay  in  any 
one  direction.  They  are  to  be  pitied .  They  have  no 
faith  in  anything — they  float  with  the  current. 

How  strange  that  they  should  not  see  that  every 
grteat  agricultural  industry  is  founded  on  the  wants 
of  society,  and  that  these  needs  continue  ever  the 
same,  the  price  of  the  product  beiiiir  governed  entirely 
by  demand  and  sui)ply.  Each  branch  must  have  its 
fluctuation  in  price,  and  the  only  true  way  to  deter- 
mine the  profit  is  to  take  the  average  of  ten  years. 
This  average  will  show  fair  prices  for  dairy  products, 
for  wool,  for  beef  or  mutton,  for  grain,  for  hops,  for 
fruit  and  for  every  product  of  the  farm.  The  mole- 
eyed  man  who  can  only  see  one  year's  returns,  and 
tries  to  govern  his  actions  by  that,  will  always  find 
himself  in  the  ebb  of  the  tide. 

It  matters  but  little  what  branch  of  farming  you 
follow,  provided  it  be  adapted  to  your  location,  but, 
before  you  choose  it,  study  all  its  details,  and  get  the 
experience  of  those  of  long  practice,  and  be  sure  that 
you  comprehend  the  diflicultics  to  be  encountered, 
ground  yourself  in  a  faith  based  upon  knowledge, 
and  when  you  undertake  it,  let  no  croaking,  no  de- 
pression in  price,  swerve  yoiu  from  its  prosecution — 
have  faith  in  your  business. 


Management  of  Horses. 

The  following  is  the  regimen  employed  by  a  Cin- 
cinnati Express  Company  in  the  care  of  their  horses  : 

The  urinary  is  a  novelty  and  shows  good  manners 
in  the  horse.  The  grooming  is  excellent,  and  the 
quality  ol'  ration  is  not  bad,  but  a  good  authority 
suggests  that  the  quantity  is  quite  toosmall  for  1,200 
to  1,400  pound  horses.  Probably  the  peck  and  a 
lialf  of  chopped  and  ground  feed  given  at  evening  is 
underestimated.  Such  horses  should  have  at  least 
ten  jxjunds  of  oats,  either  ground  or  unground,  and 
then  the  rest  of  the  ration  would  answer. 

The  number  of  horses  kept  at  the  stables  is  fifty- 
four.  Four  hostlers  attend  to  these.  Promptly  at  i 
o'clock  A.  M.  the  watchman  of  the  stables  gives  to 
each  horse  eight  ears  of  corn.  Then,  about  .5  o'clock, 
the  hostlers  commence  their  duties.  Of  those  under 
the  care  of  each,  one  by  one  is  led  to  the  watering 
trough  and  then  to  the  urinary.  This  consists  of  a 
pit  sunken  ten  or  twelve  inches  Ijelow  the  level  of  the 
basement  ground  floor,  and  kept  compactly  filled 
with  sawdust  and  short  shavings.  And  it  is  a  re- 
markable fact  that  a  horse  in  this  stable  scarcely 
urinates  excepting  at  this  place,  especially  prepared 
for  him.  When  horses  come  in  Irom  their  work,  the 
harnesses  are  removed,  and  they  are  at  once  led  to 
the  urinary.  When  a  fresh  or  green  horse  comes  to 
the  stable,  by  befog  driven  with  some  old  "  stager" 
that  knows  the  rules  of  the  stable,  the  new  comer 
soon  learns  to  conform  to  the  habits  of  the  older  in- 
mates. 

From  5  to  7  o'clock,  then  each  horse  is  taken  in 
liand  and  thoroughly  curried,  brushed  aud  cleaned  ; 
ten  minutes  beinir  spent  by  a  hostler  upon  each  horse. 
A  damp  woolen  cloth  is  always  rubbed  over  the  coat 
of  each  horse  after  being  curried  ami  brushed.  This 
removes  all  loose  dandruff,  gives  a  fine,  glossy,  sleek 
Appearance. 

"The  horses  are  fed  nothing  in  the  morning,  except- 
ing the  eight  ears  of  corn.  After  being  led  back  to 
stalls  when  cleansed,  they  a(^  then  ready  for  work. 
The  same  process  of  currying,  brushing  and  cleaning 
is  also  gone  through  with  at  noon  and  at  night,  at 
the  close  of  their  (orcnoon's  and  alternoon's  work. 
At  noon  each  lnjrse  is  fed  with  half  a  peck  of  oats. 
At  night  chopped  feed  is  given.  This  is  composeil  of 
sheaf  oats  or  rye  straw  passed  thningh  a  straw  cut- 
ter, aud  then,  when  wet,  groiuid  oats  and  corn  ami 
bran  is  mixed  up  with  it.  A  peck  and  a  half  of  this 
is  iiiven  to  each  horse.  In  adilition  to  the  cljopped 
iced  the  ra<'k  is  supplied  with  eight  or  nine  poundsof 
bright  timothy  hay,  this  being  the  total  amount  of 


bay  that  is  fed.  And,  perhaps,  of  this  supply,  the 
horse  will  not  eat  more  than  five  iwiutids  during  the 
night,  finishing  up  the  balance  during  the  next  day. 
About  once  a  week  a  peck  of  oil-cake  meal  is  mixed 
up  with  the  chopped  feed,  being  equal  to  about  a 
third  of  a  pint  to  a  horse.  This  promotes  the  uniform 
gooti  condition  of  the  animals.  And  if  at  any  time 
the  urine  is  cloudy  and  thickened,  a  tahlcspoonful  of 
pulverized  resin  mixed  up  with  chopped  feed  is  given 
him.  This  acts  upon  the  kidneys,  aud  the  difficulty 
is  at  once  removed. 

The  horses  are  freely  given  what  water  they  want 
as  they  come  in  from  their  work,  unless  they  are 
"green,"  and  then  water  and  feed  until  they  are 
thoroughly  cool. 

A  very  marked  feature  connected  with  the  stables 
is  that  the  air  is  so  sweet  and  fresh.  And  probably 
this  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  scarcely  ever  any  urinat- 
ing takes  place  in  the  several  stahios,  and  that  the 
saturated  sawdust  and  shavings  are  removed  from 
the  stables  every  third  day. 


Potatoes  and  Potato  Growing. 

A  corres])ondent  of  the  Prairie  Fanner  says  :  As  I 
have  been  raising  several  acres  of  potatoes  each  year 
for  several  years,  I  thought  a  few  facts  which  have 
been  gained  might  be  of  interest  to  some  of  your 
readers. 

As  I  did  not  like  the  Peachblow  on  account  of 
taking  so  long  a  season  in  which  to  mature,  often 
being  killed  by  the  frost  before  being  ripe,  and  also 
being  so  hard  to  dig,  besides  not  yielding  as  well  as 
usual,  rotting  in  places,  I  commenced  three  years 
ago  to  experiment  with  several  of  the  new  kinds  sent 
out  by  Eastern  seed  firms.  After  testing  many  of 
them,  I  have  selected  the  following  varieties,  one  of 
which  at  least,  is  far  better  than  our  old  favorite,  the 
Peachblow. 

Five  years  ago  I  received  one-half  peck  of  Excelsior 
potatoes  and  have  raised  them  ever  since,  believing  it 
to  be  the  very  best  potato  grown.  It  is  round  and 
smooth,  growing  to  a  good  size,  ripening  early  in 
September,  growing  compactly  in  the  hill,  making  it 
easy  to  dig.  It  is  a  great  cropper,  yielding  nearly 
double  as  much  as  the  Peachblow  on  the  same  ground; 
it  is  the  best  of  a  shipper,  always  getting  to  market  in 
the  best  of  shape,  and  will  keep,  with  a  little  care, 
for  fully  ten  months,  retaining  its  excellent  eating 
qualities  until  the  last.  The  most  promising  potato 
is  the  Brownell's  Beauty,  a  round,  red  potato,  good 
cropper  and  keeper,  and  excellent  for  the  table. 

Breese's  Peerless  is  also  worthy  of  a  place,  although 
not  first-class;  but  will  give  a  good  crop,  in  spile  of 
bugs  and  drought,  when  others  fail.  The  Early  Kose 
is  still  king  among  the  early  sorts. 

HOW  TO  GROW  THEM. 

Select  a  rich,  sandy  loam  ;  if  not  so  naturally,  make 
it  so  by  good  well  rotted  manure  and  an  application 
of  lime.  Select  a  northern  exposure,  and  run  the  rows 
east  and  west.  By  so  doing,  the  tops  of  one  shade 
the  roots  of  the  next.  Cut  yoor  seed,  one  eye  to  a 
piece,  commencing  at  the  stem  end  and  cutting  alter- 
nate eyes  until  you  finish  at  the  seed  end.  Plant  in 
drills  three  feet  apart  and  sixteen  to  eighteen  inches 
in  row,  one  eye  in  a  place.  In  this  way  it  takes  from 
three  to  five  bushels  to  an  acre,  according  to  size  and 
number  of  eyes  to  the  potato.  Open  the  drills  with  a 
stirring  plow  or  single  shovel,  and  cover  with  a  two 
horse  ct)rn  cultivator,  and  soon  as  they  get  well 
through  the  gound,  harrow,  ami  again  when  about 
four  inches  high.  This  keeps  the  weeds  out  of  the 
row,  and  also  keeps  the  gro".ud  level,  which  is  highly 
important  in  the  West.  Cultivate  at  least  twice  after 
with  any  cultivator  that  will  kill  the  weeds  and  leave 
the  ground  nearly  level. 

In  this  way  they  get  what  rain  falls,  will  not  sun 
scald,  and  will  give  a  good  crop  almost  any  year. 


Milk  from  Holstein  Cows. 

It  is  often  remarked  that  the  milk  of  cows  giving 
so  much  as  the  Holsteins  do,  nmstbe  lacking  in  qual- 
ity. That  this  is  an  incorrect  conclusion  we  have  an 
abundance  of  proof.  Holland  is  a  dairy  country  ex- 
clusively— not  for  the  sale  of  milk,  but  "for  the  manu- 
facture of  butter  and  cheese,  the  quality  of  which 
has  a  world-wide  reputation.  I  have  had  but  little 
o))porlunity  to  test  the  milk  for  butter-making,  but 
for  general  purposes  I  know  it  is  excelled  by  none, 
and  rarely  equaled.  For  nearly  two  years  I  furnished 
one  of  the  largest  retailers  in  Boston,  and  he  ex- 
pressed much  regret  when  I  found  a  better  market. 
He  assured  me  that  he  never  sold  milk  that  gave  such 
general  satisfaction.  He  said  it  was  particularly 
even  in  quality,  and  that  it  surpassed  all  other  milk 
iu  keeping — two  qualities  quite  esseutial  in  the  manu- 
facture of  butter. 

Holstein  milk  has  more  body  than  Jersey;  conse- 
quently requires  more  time  for  the  cream  to  sepa- 
rate. It  is  not  claimed  that  Holstein  milk  will  pro- 
duce a  larger  percentage  of  cream  than  the  Jersey, 
but  the  advantage  is  in  the  greater  yield  of  milk.  I 
have  unfortunately  mislaid  some  valuable  statistics 
and  records  of  butter  produced  by  Holsteins,  but  rc- 
IKjrts  arc  numerous  of  cows  making  from  12  to  IS 
pounds  per  week.  .Mr.  Chcnery's  Texelaar  made  17 
lbs.  14  oz.  in  six  days.      Mr.  Miller's  Crown  Prince 


made  from  12  to  IB  lbs.  per  week.  The  Shaker  fam- 
ily, Pittsfleld,  Mass.,  report  14  lbs.  per  week. 

'Texelaar's  milk  afforded  22.72  per  cent,  cream. 

Col.  Hoflman  writes  :  "  I  made  a  careful  test  every 
month  of  each  of  my  cows,  separate,  together  with 
the  milk  of  about  I'iO  other  dairies,  and  find  in  al- 
most every  case  the  Holsteins  run  ahead  in  percent- 
age of  cream,  and  the  lactometer  standard  also." 

F.  W.  Wright,  of  this  place,  made  careful  experi- 
ments with  his  Holstein  milk,  and  found  he  made 
one  pound  of  butter  from  fourteen  pounds  of  mjlk . 
It  is  a  remarkable  record,  but  no  one  who  knows 
this  gentleman  will  doubt  it.  He  tells  me  that  he  is 
satisfied  he  can,  under  favorable  circumstances, 
make  21  lbs.,  per  week  from  one  of  his  cows.  This 
cow  has  recently  dropped  a  calf,  and  h.as  made  a 
winter  record  (without  forcing)  of  5'i  lbs.  of  milk 
per  day. 

As  a  cheese  oow,  the  Holstein  stands  at  the  head  of 
the  list,  but  after  all,  her  great  advantage  is  in  her 
wonderful  combination  of  qualities.  I  acknowledge 
my  inability  to  do  her  justice,  and  will  lie  pleased  to 
have  some  one  qualified  to  i^o  on  with  the  subject — 
what  I  have  said  was  merely  to  provoke  some  one 
else  to  do  so. — Xatioual  Life  Stock  Journal. 


Culture  of  the  Yam. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Inter-Ocean  writes  as  fol- 
lows about  the  cultivation  of  the  Chinese  Yam.  He 
says  :  "  Get  the  grouud  properly  prepared,  plant  the 
tubers,  and  the  greatest  portion  of  the  work  is  done. 
The  first  year  the  ground  should  be  kept  loose  and 
free  of  weeds  ;  afterwards  keep  weeds  from  going  to 
seed.  They  then  have  a  start  that  the  weeds  don't 
hurt  them  much  if  they  do  grow,  but  it  is  not  advis- 
able to  let  any  do  so  if  one  has  the  time  to  keep  them 
out.  Once  planted  they  will  grow  for  years,  each 
year  bringing  larger  yams,  aud  are  as  good  as  one- 
year-old  roots.  And  this  is  why  they  are  so  valuable. 
A  man  can  plant  enough  at  one  time  to  do  his  family 
for  years,  aud  the  ground  that  is  occupied  with  them 
is  so  small,  being  so  very  productive.  No  insect  as 
yet  discovered  ever  injures  them,  and  drought  aflfects 
their  growth  only  while  it  lasts.  They  require  no 
winter  protection,  and  could,  in  my  opinion,  be  profit- 
ably cultivated  anywhere  in  tlie  United  States. 

I  have  now  been  acquainted  with  their  growth 
about  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  and  I  have  during  that 
time  found  them  very  profitable.  At  times,  when 
I>otatoes  were  scarce  and  high-priced,  we  always  had 
our  yams  to  help  us  through.  In  taste  and  appear- 
ance, after  being  cooked,  they  resemble  the  Irish  po- 
tato, and  should  be  cooked  the  same  way.  Planted 
near  the  window  or  door,  the  vine  may  be  trained 
about  it,  and  presents  a  beautiful  appearance,  as  the 
leaves  are  heart-shaped,  trimmed  with  scarlet.  It 
grows  rapidly,  and  could  be  used  upon  screens  and 
arbors  to  good  advantage.  When  grown  for  the  ta- 
ble only,  the  vines  may  run  on  the  ground,  and  do 
not  require  stakes.  The  soil  for  best  results  should 
be  deep  ;  if  it  is  not,  dig  out  a  trench  two  or  two  and 
a  half  feet  deep,  and  fill  up  with  good  soil  and  well- 
rotted  manure.  In  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  a  plank 
or  flat  stones  may  be  laid  'o  prevent  their  going  any 
deeper,  which  will  cause  them  to  increase  their 
diameter.  Commence  to  dig  at  one  end  of  the  row, 
digging  only  what  is  wanted  for  present  use,  as  they 
are  suitable  for  the  table  any  time  in  the  year.  Put 
the  soil  back,  leaving  a  hole  to  commence  at  where 
you  wish  to  dig  again.  In  the  spring  plant  tubers 
where  you  dug  the  year  before,  thereby  leaving  no 
ground  idle.  They  should  be  more  generally  culti- 
vated, and  will  be  when  more  thoroughly  introduced 
and  their  many  good  qualities  are  known. 


Convenient  Barns. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Stanstead  (P.  Q.)  Juurual 
gives  that  [laper  a  minute  description  of  the  barn 
lately  erected  by  Mr.  A.  P.  Ball,  whose  name  is 
familiar  to  our  readers  as  a  breeder  of  flue  horses 
and  cattle.  The  barn  is  100  feet  by  .50;  two  stories 
high,  with  a  basement.  The  basement  has  six  pens 
for  mares  and  colts,  a  root  cellar,  42  by  17  feet,  and 
a  manure  cellar  42  by  8:1  feet.  It  is  8  feet  high,  di- 
vided lengthwise  into  three  rows  for  cattle  and  horses, 
first  row  consisting  of  stabling  for  8  horses  and  12 
head  of  large  cattle ;  the  centre  row  has  tying  up 
room  for  '28  head ;  the  third  row  is  divided  into  pens 
for  calves,  with  room  for  -'3,  the  whole  giving  a  ca- 
pacity for  72  head  of  cattle,  large  and  small,  and  8 
horses.  Above  is  the  storage  for  hay  and  grain,  1.5 
feet  high,  having  a  floor  through  the  centre  16  feet 
wide,  with  bays  on  each  side  17  feet  wide,  access  to 
which  is  had  by  au  approach  on  the  east  end  CO  feet 
long  for  entrance  ;  on  the  wesc  end  to  be  40  feet  long 
for  exit.  Ventilation  is  obtained  through  4  ventila- 
tors from  the  cellar  to  the  cupola  ;  also  by  windows 
on  the  cattle  floor,  one  being  in  each  bent,  not  only 
on  the  sides  but  also  in  the  ends.  The  hay  loft  h.as 
four  large  windows  in  the  gables,  with  windows  over 
the  liani  doors.  The  barn  is  very  light  and  well  ven- 
tilateil,  and  is  so  warm  that  manure  doi's  not  freeze^. 
The  hay  is  convi'niently  put  down  through  trap  doors, 
so  arranged  that  it  falLs  in  front  of  the  place  ivhere 
required  for  use.  Equally  good  is  the  arrangement 
for  putting  down  straw  for  the  hedding,  as  it  falls  di- 
rectly  behind   the  I'atlle.     Through   another  set  of 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


95 


traps  the  liny  is  put  down  for  tlie  horses  in  tin*  baHe- 
imiit,  ami  tlic  iiiiinurc  is  put  tlirom;h  traps  into  tlie 
cellar,  exeept  the  horse  manure,  whieli  is  uliiizeil  hy 
heini;  useil  Ibr  Ijeildinu''  uniler  one  i-ow  of  cuttle  bi-rorc 
it  is  put  helnw.  The  ttarn  is  (loul)le-l)oartle(l  and 
battened,  and  will  be  painted  with  niini'ral  paint. 

It  was  bnilt  to  aeconiniodati'  his  herds  of  IShort- 
ITonis,  Avishires  and  .lersevs,  and  his  tine  horses. 
lie  ha.s'.t  Sliort-lloins.  Ill  ,\yrshires  (several  of  which 
are  imported)  ami  U)  Jersi-ys.  His  hoi'ses  are  priix-i- 
pally  of  noted  trottinsr  families,  exeept in<r  a  few 
Clydcs.  lie  alto  keeps  a  few  lierksliires,  and  some 
sheep. 

How  Plants  Feed  on  Ammonia. 

The  odorous  clement  in  niamire,  and  which  ^ives 
manure  its  smell,  is  ammonia,  the  ehii-f  component 
of  which  is  nitrfuren.  It  is  ipiiti*  certain  that  plants 
re(|uirc  nilroircu  ainoni;  the  esocntial  articles  of  food. 
But  for  many  years  then'  has  lieen  a  discussion  as  to 
wlu'ther  tlic  plants  absorli  nitroLren,  or  whether  it  is 
only  taken  up  by  the  roots.  It  is  said  that  M.  Mayer, 
of  Ileidclbcrir,  has  eon<-lndeil  his  experiments  as  to 
the  absorbtlon  of"  ammonia  from  the  air  by  the  leaves 
of  tin' plants ;  theoretically,  it  is  jHissible  to  do  so, 
but  the  air  as  a  source  of  ammonia,  is  of  little  [irac- 
ti<al  importance.  Hcsides.it  is  next  to  impoissilile  to 
nnikc  plants  live  in  an  atmnsphere  artitieially  en- 
rii'licti  with  ammonia  ;  the  soil  i.s  the  real  source,  and 
the  roots  the  real  aijeiils,  by  means  of  which  vegeta- 
tion receives  its  Mipply  of  ammonia. 

It  is  by  no  means  certain,  however,  that  tlio  roots 
are  the  oidy  medium  throin^li  which  the  plant  re- 
ceives its  nitroj^en.  If  the  curious  statenu'nt.  eon- 
eerninjr  carnivorous  plants  be  true — if  there  are 
jilauts  which  have  the  power  of  catehinf;  insects  by 
their  leavt's,  and  in  a  certain  sense  eatiiiijf  tlu-in,  it  is 
equivalent  to  sayinir  that  a  plant  can  take  in  nitroaen 
by  its  leaves,  and  thcR'  is  no  reason  why  this  power 
may  not  be  extended.  Indeed,  those  who  are  known 
as  evolutionists,  will  probably  contend  that  the  power 
to  atisort)  nitroi^en  was  possessed  before  insect  eatin;; 
eoninicneed,  the  latter  process  beinij  hut  a  devclojied 
power  dependent  on  the  lirst.  Tlie  proof,  however, 
that  plauts  do  eat  insects,  is  not  yet  regarded  as  ab- 
solutely certain.  They  catch  ihem.  This  is  un- 
doubted :  but  why  or  wherefore  is  by  no  means  clear; 
nor  isit,  indeed,  made  manifest  that  any  good 
■whatever  results  to  the  plant,  although  thpre  Is  much 
that  favors  the  insectiverous  views  being  developed. 
—  Wi-vkly  Press. 


About  Cheese. 


The  Western  Jiv nil  haB  been  looking  up  the  figures 
in  relation  to  the  cheese  interests  of  our  country. 

The  past  live  or  six  years  have  witnessed  a  perfect 
revolution  in  the  cheese  trade  of  this  country.  Prior 
to  1S70  our  ex]X)rts  of  this  staple  were  insignificant, 
and  for  that  year  they  amounted  to  only  about  7,0110,- 
000  [Kiunds.  Since  then  cheese  factories  have  sprung 
up  all  over  the  country,  and  the  manufacture  has 
been  greatly  increased  and  correspondiu^■ly  improved. 
New  York  has  taken  the  lead  in  its  production  ;  Ohio 
comes  next,  closely  followed  by  Michigan,  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin.  The  production  of  cheese  increased 
so  rapidly  that  it  became  a  problem  of  niucli  import- 
ance whether  they  would  find  a  market,  but  this 
problem  was  quickly  solved  by  the  demand  from 
Europe,  and  in  bST2  we  exported  li(i,0(IO,(IOO  jxiunds. 
Since  then  there  has  been  a  rapid  increase  in  the  pro- 
duction, but  the  foreign,  as  well  as  the  home  de- 
mand, has  inercascil  as  rapidly,  and  in  lS7-t  the  ex- 
ports exceeded  100,0(10,000  pounds,  while  fi-om  May 
1,  l'S7.5  to  March  1,  187(5,  only  ten  months,  the  ex- 
jiorts  amounted  to  107,.').50,OOU  pounds.  The  total 
Iiroduetion  of  the  United  States  last  year  is  estimated 
at  about  1.50,000,000  pounds. 

We  "  beat  the  Dutch  "  in  cheese,  says  a  contempo- 
rary, "  for  Holland,  which  was  formerly  the  largest 
jirodueing  and  exporting  country  in  the  world,  now 
falls  far  below  the  United  .States  in  quality  and 
quantity.  The  average  annual  production  of  cheese 
from  one  cow  is  ^^20  pound.s,  and  in  a  fine  irrazing 
country  there  is,  perhaps,  nothing  which  pays  the 
farmer  better  as  as  adjunct  to  farming  operations. 
Tkcre  seems  to  be  no  ilan^er  of  ovi'rslocking  the 
markets,  for  Europe  will  take  all  we  can  make,  and 
J>ay  a  fair  profit  for  it. 


Worms  in  Fowls. 
Some  years  ago  I  had  several  low  Is  drooping  about 
with  all  the  symptoms  of  choU'ra,  except  that  they 
liiC'cred  for  a  longer  period.  After  experimenting 
with  almost  every  known  remedy,  I  at  length  ileter- 
miucd  to  make  a  post  mortem  examination,  and,  if 
possilile,  determine  the  cause.  Accordingly  I  pro- 
ceeded carefully,  that  nothing  should  escape  my  no- 
tice. Arriving  at  the  intestines,  I  fiiund  that  the  en- 
tire lining  was  apparently  removed,  and  they  con- 
tained no  Ic.'iS  than  fifty  worms,  about  two  inches  in 
length  and  as  thick  as  an  ordin-iry  knitting-needle, 
both  ends  coming' to  a  point  like  a  pin.  Tlicy  were 
while  in  color  and  as  tough  as  sinews.  1  Mien  iravc 
the  rcniainimr  fiiwls  eliwe  attention,  and  frciiuenily 
saw  that  as  soon  as  they  i)asscd  from  one  fowl 
another  would  hastily  swallow  them,  aud,  1  doubt 


not,  would  soon  become  all'ceted.  At  length  1  hit  on 
the  lollowinir  remedy  :  Al'ier  they  hail  gone  to  roost 
I  made  a  strouLc  tea  of  common  worm  seed,  and  /fuve 
each  one  atiout  three  tablcHpo(»hfnls. 

Early  next  mornini.r,  lu'forc  they  had  left  the 
lierclies,  I  removed  the  droppin'.'  from  beneath  tlicin, 
and  found  it  literally  alive  with  worms.  I  again 
dosed  them  on  the  foliowiiiir  eveniin;  ;  this  time  they 
did  not  expel  solart'c  a  quantity.  I  thi-n  licgan  feed- 
ing thi'in  wheal  shorts  and  bran,  adilinir  a  little 
stimulant,  and  carefully  avoiding  anything  thai  had 
a  tenilency  toirritate  the  intestines.  In  the  course  of 
a  week  they  were  sccminirly  as  lively  as  ever.  Sinci' 
then  I  have  found,  on  several  occasions,  small,  coni- 
cal worms  in  turkeys  in  irrcat  numlu'rs,  and  am  of 
the  opinion  that  thousands  die  from  this  cau.se,  while 
it  is  attributed  to  elmlera.  Tlie  symptoms  from  wliieli 
I  detect  it  are  from  their  slow,  stilf,  (  rampish  nu)ve- 
ments,  and  disorderly,  sorrowful  appearance. — AV. 

Good  Thing  About  Rye. 

A  writer  in  the  Cliicau'o  Times  says:  "live  will 
grow  anil  pnidncc  line  crops  far  nortli  of  the  dei;rec 
of  latitude  where  wheat  will  fail.  It  is,  indeed,  one 
of  the  most  hardy  crops  that  is  cultivated.  In  re- 
gions where  fall-sown  wheat  is  almost  sure  to  be 
killed,  fall-sown  rye  is  almost  sure  to  survive  and  do 
j  well.  Throinjhout  the  prairie  reiiionsof  Illinois  very 
little  wheat  went  through  last  winter  without  injury, 
but  rye  came  out  all  riirlit  and  generally  produced 
good  crops.  In  many  places  wliere  wheat  was 
ploughed  U|)  last  spring,  rye  yielded  twenty-five  or 
thirty  bushels  to  the  acre.  Kye  will  grow  and  iiro- 
duce  very  fair  crops  on  soils  so  poor  that  little  else 
will  yield  enough  to  pay  for  harvesting.  It  delights 
in  dry,  sandy  soils,  and  will  yield  a  return  for 
the  lalior  and  seed,  on  land  that  will  produce  little  but 
while  beans.  There  are  njany  thousands  of  acres  of 
land  in  ditl'crent  parts  of  the  west,  that  yield  hardly 
anything,  that  wmdd  produce  paying  crops  of  rye  if 
it  was  sowed.  Southwest  of  this  city  rye  is  grown  on 
land  that  will  produce  no  paying  crops  of  any  other 
grains.  Kye  is  oneof  the  best  grains  to  sow  where  it 
is  desired  to  seed  the  land  down  to  timothy,  clover  or 
other  grasses.  It  has  little  foliage  as  compared  with 
oats  and  wheat,  and  accordingly  does  not  shaile  the 
ground  so  much.  It  allows  sulficicnt  sunshine  to 
reach  the  soil  to  cause  the  young  grass  to  grow  very 
well.  After  the  crop  of  rye  is  harvested  the  young 
grass  is  not  likely  to  be  burned  up,  as  is  the  ease 
when  wheat  and  oats  are  cut,  and  often  the  young 
grass  is  entirely  lost. 


Mulching  Recently  Planted  Trees. 

To  prevent  recently  planted  trees  from  sulfering 
for  want  of  moisture,  there  is  no  cheaper  or  more  ef- 
fective method  than  mulching  the  soil  above  the 
roots  with  some  coarse,  fibrous  material,  such  as 
hay,  straw  or  coarse  manure  from  the  barnyard. 
Tan-bark,  saw-dust  or  leaves  of  any  kind  will  answer 
the  purpose,  and  in  regions  where  long  droughts  are 
likely  to  occur  in  summer,  the  mulchiugshould  never 
be  omitted,  but  considered  a  part  of  the  operation  of 
transplanting  the  trees.  If  the  ground  for  the  space 
of  four  or  five  feet  above  the  stems  of  trees  is  covered 
with  a  mulch  as  soon  as  they  are  set  out,  it  willofti-n 
prevent  their  dying,  and  insure  a  vigorous  growth. 
The  soil  uniler  the  mulch  holds  moisture  much 
longer  than  when  exiiosed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sun,  and  it  never  becomes  so  hard  that  the  most  gen- 
tle rains  fail  to  penetrate  it,  or  so  hot  as  to  rapidly 
expel  moisture.  Those  who  have  exiierieneed  more 
or  less  dilliculty  in  making  evergreen  or  deciduous 
trees  live  when  transplanted  would  do  well  to  try 
mulching,  and  see  if  they  do  not  have  better  luck. 
We  think  it  is  far  preferable  to  watering,  which  so 
many  persons  practice  in  order  to  save  their  trees. 
If  water  is  applied  it  should  be  given  in  abuudanee 
at  certain  staled  periods,  aud  not  a  little  at.  a  time, 
which  frequently  does  more  harm  than  good  by  ren- 
dering the  surfai'e  of  the  soil  compact  and  hard,  aud 
preventing  the  admission  of  either  heat  or  air. — Shu. 


The   Peach  Crop. 

Everybody  is  interested  in  the  peach  crop,  and  its 
successor  failure  aficcts  all  lovers  of  this  luscious 
fruit,  (ienerally  at  this  time  of  the  year  we  are 
favored  with  a  dissertation  on  the  pids|iect,  and  so 
forth,  of  its  growth,  and  as  a  rule  these  rcpiu'ts  are 
of  the  most  discouraging  character,  while  it  often 
turns  out  that  they  are  falsified  by  a  prosperous  crop. 
Jt  was  so  last  year.  In  the  early  season  it  was  pre- 
dicted that  the  buds  were  blighied  and  there  would 
be  no  ix-aches.  The  yield,  however,  proved  extraor- 
dinarily large,  and  now  we  are  told  again  that  the 
prospects  are  poor  ;  that  because  there  was  a  large 
yield  last  yi'ar,  the  trees  were  so  full  of  fruit  as  to 
break  the  boughs  and  bend  the  limbs  out  of  all  shape, 
as  well  as  to  exhaust  the  strength  of  the  trees.  Thus 
exhausted  by  last  year's  abundance  the  trees  will 
scarcely  bear  this  year,  anil  so  we  are  to  have  a  peach 
famine  I  his  year.     Peaches,  it  is  said,  will,  thcrefori', 

be  very  dear  this  year,  and  this  will  in  s measure 

ciimpensalc  peach  growers  wllo;;lowled  last  year  be- 
cause the  market  was  glutted  with  the  fruit.  Let  us 
have  peaches. 


Be  Sociable  with  Your  Cattle. 

Said  a  farmer  to  me  last  sprini;  :  "  When  we  were 
drawing  out  manure  I  let  the  boys  drive  to  the  lot, 
and  I  stayed  in  the  yard,  because  I  could  put  on  Ix't- 
ter  loads.  ,'\nd  the  cows  commenced  to  give  more 
milk  right  off."  Now,  this  nniii  is  an  uitlve,  Indus- 
trious, Intel l|i.'ent,  experienced  farmer,  and  yet  when 
he  is  piling'  manure  in  the  yards  his  cows  give  percep- 
tible IniTcasc  in  their  milli.  Why  ?  One  of  his  hand- 
Bomc  grade  short-horns,  that  he  is  so  proud  of,  seeing 
him  around,  irocs  up  to  him  and  says  as  plain 
as  a  cow  can  say,  "  (ilve  me  a  lock  of  bay,"  and  he 
gives  It  to  her.  Another  says,  "  Mr.  Stevens,  don't 
yoiilhinklhat  rack  wants  cleaninir  out  ?  and  on  hxik- 
iiu:  he  finds  In  Ids  surprise  that  tlii're  is  u  lot  of  dirt 
and  wet  hay  seed  and  rubbish  at  the  liottom.  He 
scrapes  it  all  out  and  rubs  it  cb'an  with  some  straw, 
and  as  soon  as  his  load  is  tilled,  and  while  he  Is  walt- 
inu^  for  the  next  wairoii,  he  g»ts  a  little  feed  and  puts 
it  in  the  rack,  and  the  cows  eat  It  and  feel  grateful. 
Bel  ween  the  next  loads  lie  takes  the  curryeoinb  and 
brush  and  u'ives  one  of  the  cows  a  giKx'l  ch'aning. 
The  other  cows  come  around  him.  lie  is  a  gentleman, 
and  his  presence  has  a  soothing  ellecl .  They  chew 
the  cud  of  contentnient  and  peace.  As  he  goes  past 
the  pump  he  asks  the  cows  whether  they  want  a  little 
fresh  water.  They  had  not  thought  "al«)Ut  It,  but 
they  drank  a  little  to  please  him;  and  so  he  goes  on 
all  day.  No  wonder  the  cows  give  more  milk  at  night. 
— .Itnericuii  .\ij ricuUurist . 


Improvement  of  Grass  Land. 

Much  is  beiiiir  said  in  the  papers  just  now  about  the 
improvement  of  grass  land.  This  is  all  right.  Hay, 
as  an  agricultural  [iroduet,  has  not  had  near  as  much 
attentiongivcn  to  it  as  other  crops  have,  and  as  It 
well  deserves.  On  the  other  hand,  inuch  Is  said 
about  the  Improvement  of  grass  lands  nialer  a  mis- 
apiiri'liensimi.  Writers  tell  us  that  by  a  [iroper 
treatment  of  grass  laud  il  may  be  made  to  last  for 
many  years  without  that  continuous  plowing  upthat 
is  custonniry.  A  timothy  or  clover  patch,  we  are 
told,  may  be  continued  for  a  dozen  years. 

This  is  all  very  well,  but  we  dfi  not  always  put 
land  in  grass  merely  for  the  hay  or  pasture  It  pro- 
duces. We  arc  looking  toother  crops  as  well,  (lorn 
and  iiotatoce  doever  so  much  better  in  sod  ground 
than  in  ground  that  has  been  kept  In  clean  crops. 
Indeed,  most  things  do  well  in  a  piece  of  broken  sod, 
better,  perhaps,  than  in  a  [)ieee  of  clean  i;rouiiii  well 
manured.  There  is,  iiHlecd,  no  way  to  restore  the 
worn-out  condition  of  land  so  well  as  to  put  it  in  sod, 
and  even  where  hay  or  grass  is  an  inferior  object, 
people  lay  the  land  down  to  it  as  a  prejiarer  for  other 
things  which  to  them  may  be  of  more  imjiortance. 
So  we  see  it  is  not  a  question  altogether  of  how  long 
we  may  keep  a  piece  of  grass  in  good  heart  by  irooil 
treatment,  by  good  manuring,  as  it  is  by  a  prii|K'r 
rotation  of  crops  on  the  land,  and  the  inllueuee  one 
crop  may  have  on  that  which  succeeds  it. 


Ashes  for  Crops. 

Unleachcd  ashes  are  more  valuable  than  leached, 
but  both  or  either  are  valuable  applied  directly  to  the 
soil  from  which  any  crop  is  to  Ih'  taken,  whether 
irrain,  vegetables  or  fruits,  whether  on  fallow  or  grass 
lands,  on  strawberry  plantations  or  in  orchards. 
Ashes  contain  essential  eomi>oneuts  of  all  crops. 
They  should  not  be  mixed  with  eomiKisIs— that  is, 
there  is  no  gain  in  mixiuir  them — but  applieil  broad- 
east  directly  to  the  soil,  whether  it  is  grass  land  or 
land  that  is  to  be  plowed.  We  never  knew  a  farmer 
who  could  get  more  ashes  than  it  was  pnjfilable  to 
apply  to  his  land.  One  hundred  bushels  ix'r  acre  is 
not  too  much  to  apply  to  old  cultivated  lands.  Any 
man  who  asserts  that  wood  ashes  applied  toorchards 
is  death  to  'trees,  either  does  not  know  what  he  Is 
talking  about,  or  has  a  selfish  i)ur|Kisc  in  lying. 
Especiilly  arc  ashes  excellent  for  orehanls.  They 
should  not  be  heaped  right  about  the  bodies  of  trees, 
but  spread  over  the  roots,  which  extend  as  far  from 
the  bodies  of  the  trees  as  the  branches  do.  .\tlics 
are  especially  valuable  as  lop  dressin',:  on  old  grass 
lands,  or  on  lands  cro|ipeil  with  grain.  For  root 
crops  they  are  equally  inqiortant  ;  indeed,  as  we  say 
above,  there  is  no  crop  grown  and  no  land  culti- 
vated that  is  not  benefited  in  a  greater  <»r  less  degree 
by  the  a|ipIiealion  of  leached  or  uuleaclied  ashes — 
the  latter  being  the  most  valuable. 


The  Feeding  of  Horses. 

The  Michigan  Farmer  says  :  Almost  of  more  Im- 
portance than  the  form  in  which  food  is  given.  Is  the 
freipiency  and  regularity  of  meals.  The  horse's  di- 
gestive organs  are  not  construeti'd  for  long  fasts. 
Lorn;  intervals  without  food  produce  hunger,  and 
hunger  begets  voracity,  food  is  lioltcd,  and  inilii;es 
tion  aud  colic  follow.  This  is  doubly  true  and  dan- 
gerous with  lior.scB  doing  hard  work.  They  <ome  to 
their  long-deferred  meal  not  only  hungry,  but  ex- 
hausted ;  not  only  i^  the  loml  boiled,  but  theslomaeli 
is  in  such  a  slate  as  to  be  ineapalde  of  thoroughly 
active  ditrcstioii,  and  is  overpowered  by  half  the 
amount  of  food  it  could  othcrwim  dlt^cst.  The  pre- 
vention of  waste  is  almost  attained  when    we  give  a 


96 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  June, 


proper  form  ;  but  tliere  are  two  points  to  which  it  is 
risht  to  devote  some  attention— tlie  form  of  tlie  man- 
gers and  attention  to  tlie  wants  of  the  individual 
animals.  The  mangers  should  not  be  less  than  three 
feet  loni;,  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  twelve  inches 
deep.  They  should  have  an  upper  border  of  wood 
projecting  inwards  for  two  inches,  and  a  traverse  bar 
of  half-inch  from  across  the  middle.  A  piece  of  two- 
inch  hoop-iron  on  the  top  of  the  manger  protects  it 
from  damage  by  the  horse's  teeth.  This  simple  ar- 
rangement prevents  tlie  horse  from  throwing  out  his 
corn,  and  the  provender  is  not  set  in  so  thick  a  layer 
as  in  the  ordinary  narrow  and  shallow  manger. 

Transplanting    Evergreens. 

Each  spring  there  come  numerous  inquiries  aliout 
transplanting  evergreens,  and  many  think  success 
depends  upon  choosing  exactly  the  proper  time.  In 
our  experience  we  have  not  fouml  the  when  so  im- 
portant as  the  how,  having  removed  the  trees  in  the 
fall,  and  early  and  late  in  the  spring.  If  one  can 
have  his  choice  of  times,  no  doubt  that  the  period 
when  the  swelling  of  the  buds  shows  that  vegetation 
is  active  would  be  preferable,  but  w^e  have  succeeded 
with  much  earlier  and  much  later  planting.  Tl  •  one 
great  and  all  essential  point  is  to  keep  the  roots  from 
becoming  dry.  If  these  are  dry,  send  the  tree  to  the 
brush-he.ap,  as  that  will  be  its  ultimate  destination. 
If  the  trees  are  to  be  brought  frtmi  a  great  distance 
a  dull  day  can  be  waited  for,  otherwise  the  roots 
must  be  packed  in  wet  moss,  be  puddled,  or  some 
protection  be  given  them  ;  they  had  better  be  kept 
soaking  wet  than  dry  at  all.  Some  ask  what  manure 
to  use.  Probably  guano  would  kill  them  the  quickest, 
but  fresh  stable  manure  will  be  pretty  sure.  Never 
manure  an  evergreen  at  planting.  When  well  estab- 
lished, well  decomposed  manure  will  be  of  use.  The 
top  affords  such  an  obstacle  to  the  wind  that  all  trees 
over  two  or  three  feet  high  should  be  staked. — Ameri- 
can AgricuUuriift. 

Application  of  Lime. 

Soils  rieh  in  organic  matter,  even  though  they  al- 
ready contain  it  in  considerable  quantities,  drain  peat 
swamps,  stilf  clays,  and  coarse  heavy  soil,  and  es- 
pecially those  destitute  of  it,  are  all  benefited  by  an 
application  of  lime.  Good  results  also  follow  its  use 
on  light  soil  after  an  incorixiration  of  organic  matter, 
as  green  manure,  muck,  or  a  thick  sod  or  green  crop 
plowed  under.  Sterile  soils  are  rapidly  rendered 
more  sterile  by  its  application.  Wet  lands  show  least 
effect  from  treatment  of  lime.  Hence  such  lands 
must  either  be  drained  or  receive  an  extra  amount. 
Clays  should  always  have  organic  matter  applied  in 
connection  with  lime.  It  acts  most  efl'ectually  near 
the  surface.  Tlie  apparent  effect  is  greater  the  sec- 
ond season  than  the  first,  so  the  most  satisfactory 
results  are  obtained  by  sowinir  broadcast  in  the  early 
fall  with  at  most  only  a  light  harrowing  or  brushing. 
It  should  be  api)lied  in  an  air-slacked,  line  mechani- 
cal condilion.  The  most  profitable  quantity  to 
apply  depends  much  on  the  land  ;  wet  soils,  those 
well  filled  with  organic  matter,  and  clay,  taking 
most — from  ten  to  forty  bushels  being  recommended, 
according  to  circumstances. — ficieiit'kfic  Farmer. 


Mellow   Soil  Around  Trees. 

Unless  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  mulched  around 
young  trees  over  an  area  of  six  feet  in  diameter,  the 
ground  should  be  kept  clean  and  mellow.  Every 
fanner  knows  that  a  hill  of  corn  or  [jotatoes  will  not 
amount  to  much  unless  cultivated,  and  yet  there  are 
many  who  will  neglect  to  give  the  same  care  to  a 
tree  which  is  worth 'a  hundred  of  either  of  the  for- 
mer. In  rich  soil  frees  may  grow  rapidly  without 
cultivation,  and  no  amount  of  grass  or  weeds  retard 
them  ;  but  there  are  other  things  beside  the  growth 
to  be  looked  after.  If  the  weeds  and  grass  are  al- 
lowed to  grow  up  around  the  stems  of  apjilc,  peach 
or  quince  trees,  the  bark  will  become  soft  near  their 
base  by  being  shaded,  and  thereljy  be  in  a  suitable 
condition  for  the  reception  of  the  eggs  which  will 
eventually  become  peach  or  apjile  borers.  Take  any 
dozen  young  apple  trees  in  the  section  where  tlie  ap- 
ple borer  is  abundant,  and  allow  a  [xirtion  to  be 
choked  with  weeds,  while  the  remainder  are  well  cul- 
tivated, and  then  watch  the  result.  From  our  own 
experience,  we  believe  that  the  chances  are  nine  to 
one  in  favor  of  those  cultivated  being  exempt  from 
this  pest. —  Wexterii  Farmer. 


Which  Ways  Should  Drills  Run  ? 

An  erroneous  impression  seems  to  prevail  in  regard 
to  the  proper  direction  in  which  to  j)lace  drills,  for 
plants  cultivated  in  that  manner.  They  are  usually 
laid  off  north  and  south,  in  order  to  get  the  greatest 
benefit  from  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  Instead  of 
north  and  south,  the  rows  should  run  east  and  west. 
Suppose  a  piece  of  ground,  planted  in  drills  two  feet 
apart,  running  north  and  south.  The  plants,  by  the 
middle  of  .luly,  having  atlained  to  the  height  of  four 
feet,  eucli  row  will  be  shiidi'd  by  the  one  ciist  of  it 
until  about  tlic  middle  of  the   forenoon ;  then  from 


the  middle  of  the  afternoon  till  ni»ht,  the  shade  of 
each  row  will  fall  on  its  next  eastern  neighbor. 

If  the  drills  run  cast  and  west,  the  distance  apart 
and  the  height  being  the  same,  the  shadow  of  any 
row  will  not  reach  another  row,  excepting  when  the 
sun  is  near  the  horizon,  early  in  the  morning  or  late 
in  the  afternoon.  In  latitmle  40°  north  the  shadow 
of  a  plant  four  feet  high  will  not  rt^ach  two  feet  north 
from  its  base  until  about  the  10th  of  August. 


Bees  on  a  Small  Scale. 

There  are  many  householders  whose  means  will 
not  enable  them  to  buy  a  cow,  or  provide  keeping  for 
her  were  they  in  ]>os6ession  of  one.  But  they  may  be 
equal  to  the  purchase  of  a  colony  of  bees  and  pro- 
vide the  hives  for  the  swarms  resulting  therefrom. 
Bees,  like  other  stock,  require  pasturage,  but,  unlike 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  they  are  free  commoners, 
ranging  at  will  in  search  of  stores,  nor  can  they  be 
arrested  and  punished  for  their  intrusion  on  premises 
not  their  owner's.  A  single  colony  of  bees,  in  good 
condition  in  the  spring,  may  be  counted  upon  to 
double  or  treble  their  numbers  in  a  single  season,  se- 
curing ample  stores  for  winter  consumption,  while 
supplying  a  gratifying  surplus  each  autumn  for  house- 
hold uses.  This  aceumulation  will  prove  most  ac- 
ceptable in  families,  especially  while  the  price  of 
butter  rules  so  high  as  to  place  it  beyond  the  reach 
of  those  not  blessed  with  elongated  and  plethoric 
purses.  Try  a  colony  of  bees  as  an  experiment. — 
Farmer^i  Union. 


Harnessing  Colts. 

The  utmost  gentleness  should  be  exercised  in  har- 
nessing the  colt  for  the  first  time.  Any  undue  rough- 
ness, as,  for  instance,  throwing  the  harness  over  his 
back,  the  tugs  and  straps  slapping  against  his  sides, 
may  forever  render  him  exceedingly  shy,  restive,  and 
consequently  dangerous  to  approach.  First,  detach 
the  harness  from  the  pad,  closely  tying  up  the  tugs. 
Then  take  them  in  both  hands  and  place  them  gently 
over  the  collar,  buckling  below  without  jerking  at 
the  straps — the  too  common  practice  of  grooms — 
after  this,  with  both  hands  place  the  pad  over  the 
back,  buckling  just  tight  enough  to  prevent  the  pad 
from  moving  out  of  place.  When  this  is  done  the 
tugs  may  then  be  drawn  through  the  support  straps 
and  tied  snugly  up  to  them.  The  collar  must  be  care- 
fully adjusted  to  the  animal's  neck  so  as  to  prevent 
both  scalding  and  chafing. 


Cutting  Off  Lower  Limbs. 

It  is  a  very  common  error,  and  a  very  injurious 
one,  to  cut  off  large  limbs  near  the  body  of  a  tree. 
We  meet  with  mutilated  fruit  trees  all  over  the  coun- 
try which  have  suffered  in  this  way  from  the  use  of 
axe  or  saw.  Forest  trees  that  are  hollow,  furniihing 
habitations  in  their  trunks  for  squirrels  and  other 
animals  and  birds,  should  teach  a  lesson,  showing  the 
danger  and  folly  of  removing  large  limbs  from  the 
tree's  trunk.  Rotting  is  almost  certain  to  follow,  for 
the  wound  is  too  large  to  heal  over,  and  sullieient 
care  is  seldom  taken  to  cover  the  surface  with  suffi- 
cient protection  to  keep  out  moisture  in  the  atmos- 
phere ;  and,  besides,  the  growing  tree  itself  keeps  the 
wound  moist.  The  consequence  is,  decay  sets  in  and 
eventually  the  tree  becomes  rotten  at  the  heart,  and 
the  whole  becomes  injured  and  loses  much  of  its 
vitality. 

^ 

Scaly  Legs  on  Fowls. 

Scaly  leg  is  eau.«ed  by  a  parasitic  insect,  which 
may  be  seen  by  the  aid  of  a  microscope,  in  a  little 
furrow  under  the  scales.  It  is  contagious.  To  cure 
it,  clean  up  the  legs  of  the  fowls  by  washing  with 
carbolic  soa]).  An  ointment  made  of  coal  tar  and 
lard,  sulphur  and  laid,  or  the  various  preparations 
of  car!)oiie  acid,  applied  two  or  three  times,  will  usu- 
ally efi'ect  a  cure.  Give  the  fowls  sulphur  once  a 
week,  mixed  with  their  food  and  do  not  neglect  to 
thoroughly  clean  the  whole  hennery,  by  washing  with 
lime-water  or  some  disinlectant.  The  disease  is  not 
hereditary,  but  scaly  legged  fowls  should  not  he  used 
for  setting. 


New  Stock  Yards. 

There  are  about  to  be  established  extensive  stock 
yards  in  the  northern  part  of  Philadelphia,  on  the 
North  Pennsylvania  Kailroad.  A  company  have 
purchased  eight  acres  of  land,  lying  north  of  Luzerne 
street  and  between  Second  and  Sixth  streets.  The 
capital  stock  is  4,000  shares,  at  a  par  value  of  $.50 
per  share.  The  stock  will  reach  Philadelphia  over 
the  Nortli  Pennsylvania,  Lehigh  Valley,  and  New 
York  and  Erie  Kailroads,  and  stock  cars  will  be 
built  to  accommodate  the  gauge  of  the  Lehigh  Valley 
raod,  there  being  a  third  rail  on  the  New  York  and 
Erie  road,  which  makes  a  through  route  to  the  West. 


To  Prevent  Splitting  of  Handles. 
All  carpenters  know  how  soon  the  butt  ends  of 
chisels  split,  when  daily  exposed  to  the  blows  of  a 
mallet  or  hammer.  A  remedy,  suggested  by  a  Brook- 
lyn man,  consists  simply  in  sawing  or  cutting  off  the 
round  end  of  the  handle  so  as  to  make  it  flat,  and  at- 
taching, by  a  few  small  nails  at  the  top  of  it,  two 
round  discs  of  sole  leather,  so  that  the  end  becomes 
similar  to  the  heel  of  a  boot.  The  two  thicknesses  of 
leather  will  prevent  all  further  splitting,  and  if,  in 
the  course  of  time,  they  expand  and  overlap  the  wood 
of  the  handle  they  are  simply  trimmed  off  all  around. 


Buckwheat  as  a  Poultry  Food. 

Buckwheat  is  one  of  the  most  staple  articles  of 
poultry  food.  It  is  very  fattening,  an  excellent  egg 
producer,  and  very  much  relished  by  the  poultry.  It 
is  not,  perhaps,  used  as  extensively  here  as  in  Europe. 
In  England,  France,  and  especially  in  Germany,  it 
forms  not  only  an  important  part  of  poultry  fo<:)d,  but 
is  much  used  for  culinary  purposes.  The  great  value 
which  it  has  over  other  cereals  is,  that  it  thrives 
luxuriantly  even  on  the  poorest  soil. 


The  Crops. 

The  reports  of  the  farmers  are  very  encouraging 

concerning  the   cro])s  of  the   present  season.    The 

fears   that  the  open  winter  and  unprotected  ground 

might  prove  disastrous  to  fruits  and  cereals  do  not," 

happily,   seem   likely  to   be   realized.     The   reports 

from  the  great  grain  and  fruit  regions  of  this  State 

are  very  favoralile.    It  looks  as  if  we  might  expect 

a  year  of  abundance.    If  this  shall  prove  the  case,  it 

will   be  the  gladdest  celebration  of  our  centennial 

year. 

^ 

Heaves  in  Horses. 

The  following  is  a  good  remedy  for  heaves  and  a 

cough   in   horses  :    One   pound   ground   ginger,  one 

quart   of  salt,  four  ounces   hard   wood   ashes,   two 

ounces  black  pepiier,  and  one  ounce  each  of  pounded 

rosin  and    saltpetre.     Mix  thoroughly,  and  give  a 

tablespoouful  in  the  horse's  feed  twice  a  day.      This 

compound  is  beneficial  in   all  cases  of  difficulty  in 

breathing  before  the  animal's  lungs  become  affected. 


Labels. 

Durable  labels  are  very  useful  in  gardens  to  name 
varieties  of  plants,  shrubbery  and  fruits.  They  can 
be  bought  at  a  low  price  at  seed  stores  in  large  towns 
and  cities.  A  coat  of  white  paint  should  be  put  on 
one  side  of  them,  and  when  the  names  are  written 
on  the  painted  sides  with  a  lead  pencil,  they  will  be 
legible  for  several  years.  They  should  be  attached 
with  fine  wire,  and  renewed  as  often  as  necessary. 


Peas  among  Potatoes. 

When  potatoes  are  planted,  if  a  few  peas  be 
dropped  in  every  other  hill  in  every  second  row,  a 
fine  crop  of  green  peas  will  be  produced,  supjiortcd 
by  the  potato  vines.  The  black-eyed  marrowfats  are 
best  for  planting,  as  they  grow  freely  and  quickly  ; 
and  the  crop  of  potatoes  will  not  be  diminished  in  the 

least. 

^ 

A  Fact  for  Farmers. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  the  seed  of  the 
sunflower  is  the  mostinfallilile  remedy  yet  discovered 
for  the  speedy  cure  of  founder  in  liorses.  Imme- 
diately on  discovering  that  your  horse  is  foundercil, 
mix  about  a  pint  of  the  whole  seed  in  his  food,  and 
it  will  work  a  perfect  cure. 


A  IIEN  never  has  a  regular  meal — she  always  gets 
a  picked-up  dinner. —  Comiiu'reia!  BuHetin.  And  she 
has  to  scratch  around  considerably  to  get  it,  too. 
But  then  it  doesn't  cost  anythiiiir.  She  has  it  all  put 
down  in  the  bill. — Boatoit  Adnriiser. 


On  a  farm  at  the  Gap,  Lancaster  county,  there  are 
chestnut  fence  rails,  well  preserved,  which  were 
made  in  1760 — llfi  years  ago. 

A  Beuks  county  farmer  has  mowed  with  the  same 
scythe  for  thirty-live  years,  it  is  said,  and  he  expet;ts 
to  use  it  until  he  is  no  mower. — Norrixtoum  Herald. 

The  Granger  movement  has  lost  considerable 
ground  within  a  year  past,  and  the  indications  are, 
that  as  an  order  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  will  be 
short-lived. 

An  agricultural  journal  advertises  a  new  washing 
machine  under  the  heading  "  Every  man  his  own 
washerwoman,"  and  in  its  culinarj'  department  says 
that  "  potatoes  should  always  be  boiled  in  cold 
water." 

The  San  Francisco  Call  publishes  a  collection  of 
despatches  from  the  leading  wheat  growing  sections 
of  California,  nearly  all  of  which  agree  in  stating 
that  the  crop  prospects  were  never  so  good  as  now. 

The  Prairie  Farmer  says  :  "  Fifty  fowls  will  make, 
in  the  roosting  house  alone,  one-half  ton  per  annum 
of  the  best  manure  in  the  world,  or  more  than  enough 
to  manure  an  acre  of  land,  700  pounds  of  guano 
being  the  usual  quantity  applied  per  acre,  and  poul- 
try manure  is  known  to  be  still  richer  in  ammonia 
and  fertilizing  salts.  No  other  stock  will  give  an 
equal  return  in  this  way  ;  and  the  figures  will  de- 
mand careful  attention  from  the  farmer." 

Honey  Cake  :  1  cup  sugar,  1  cup  sour  cream,  1 
egg,  }4  teasjioonful  soda,  2  cups  Hour,  flavor  to  taste, 
bake  tjj  hour,  eat  warm. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


Ill 


UNITED    STATES  CENTENNIAL    COM- 
MISSION. 


Bureau   of  Agriculture. 

PiiiL.\DELPiii.\,  June  Ist,  1S70. 

Sib  ;  The  American  Dairymen's  Association  lias 
erected,  in  close  proximity  to  tlie  Acricultural  BuilJ- 
in?  of  the  Centennial  International  Exhibition,  a 
model  Chliese  and  Butter Faitory,  with  rooms  for  an 
extensive  display  of  Dairy  Products,  and  tlic  Appa- 
ratus and  Appliances  used  iu  the  manufacture  of  the 
same. 

The  Dairy  ITouse  Is  iu  the  form  of  a  double  L,  the 
front  portion  being  110  feet  long  liy  :38  feet  wide,  and 
comprising  tlirec  "apartments  :  the  centre  one  illu.s- 
trative  in  its  appoiutnieuts  of  the  American  Cheese 
Factory,  and  Creamery  System  ;  the  end  rooms  being 
fltted-iip  for  the  exhibition  of  Butter  and  Fancy 
Cheese.  The  wings  arc  tU  feet  in  leni.'th  by  ;'.0  feel 
in  width,  and  appropriated,  one  for  the  display  of 
Foreign  Cheese,  tlie  other  for  American. 

Beneath  the  building  Is  a  cellar  of  HM  square  feet, 
for  the  storage  of  products  not  ready  for  cxliibition. 

The  whole  structure  is  of  two  stories  in  height,  the 
upper  floor  being  fitted-up  with  reception-rooms, 
offices  for  Commttees,  rooms  for  the  storage  and  the 
preparation  of  products,  and  for  restaurant  purposes,  i 
it  being  designed  to  cstal)lish  a  Farmers'  Luneh- 
Room  in  the  building.  Access  to  tlic  Interior  of  the 
exhibition-rooms  will  be  closed  to  visitors,  ample  oji- 
portunlty  being  given  to  view  the  display  through 
numerous  windows  opening  upon  tlie  veranda,  which 
surrounds  the  whole  structure. 

Cheese  and  Butter  will  be  displayed  on  benches,  or 
low  tables,  provided  free  of  charge. 

Producers  may  themselves  assume  the  charge  of 
their  goods,  or  can  place  them  in  the  care  of  a 
thoroughlycapable  custodian,  selected  by  the  Bureau, 
and  paid  by  the  E.xhibitors  according  to  a  scale  of 
prices  to  be  established  by  the  Dairymen's  Association. 

The  Dairy  Building  will  be  ready  for  the  reception 
of  Exhibits  continuously  from  June  Tth  to  November 
Ist,  it  being  designed  to  have  a  cuiiKfant  Exhibition, 
a  feature  commending  itself  to  the  fullest  support  of 
Dairymen.  To  atTord,  however,  opportunity  for  more 
active  competition.  It  has  been  decided  to  have  two 
Grand  Exhibitions,  one  of  Spring  Butter  and  Cheese, 
June  26th  to  July  Uth  :  and  one  of  Autumn  Butter 
and  Cheese,  October  ITth  to  21st.  For  the  guidance 
of  Producers,  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture  has  devised 
the  following  reirulatious  : 

Butter  will  be  judged  upon  the  relative  merits  as 
to  the  make,  color,  flavor,  texture,  solidity,  and  keep- 
ing quality.  Parties  exhibiting  for  Competitjon  mu.st 
be  prepared  to  furnish  full  statements  as  to  the  making 
of  tlie  Butter,  upon  printed  blanks,  which  will  be 
supplied. 

Butter  offered  for  Competition  will  be  in  most  ac- 
ceptable form,  if  made  under  the  following classitiea- 
tion,  applicable  respectively  to  the  Manufacture  of 
Creameries  and  Dairies. 

Best  sample  of  ".iUO  or  more  pounds,  made  at  any 
time . 

Best  package  of  3.5  lbs.  or  over,  made  at  any  time. 

Best  package  of  3.5  lbs.  or  over,  made  in  each  month 
respectively. 

Best  package  of  3.5  lbs.  or  over,  of  oldest  make. 

Best  sample  of  5  lbs.  in  1  Itj.  prints. 

Best  samples  of  5  tbs.  or  more,  made  respeetivcly 
from  the  produce  of  the  various  breeds  of  cattle. 

Cheese  will  be  judged  upon  the  relative  merits  as 
to  quality,  make,  texture,  keeping,  flavor,  and  color. 
Parties  exhibiting  for  competition  must  be  prepared 
to  furnish,  upon  "printed  blanks,  which  will  be  sup- 
plied, full  statements  as  to  the  method  of  making  and 
curing  of  the  Cheese,  and  the  preparation  of  the  ren- 
net. 

Cheeses  must  not  be  cut,  bored,  or  tried  iu  any  way 
before  being  exhibited,  or  they  will  be  disqualiflcd  for 
competition.  Awards  will  be  made  upon  the  various 
established  appellations,  both  of  Foreign  and  Home 
production. 

Cheese  entered  for  Competition  will  be  divided  into 
Classes,  respectively,  of  Factory  Manufacture  and 
Dairy  Production  of  that  made  previous  to  the  year 
1S76,  and  that  made  during  the  year  INTIi. 

Cheese  oiTered  for  Competition  will  be  in  most  ac- 
ceptable form  if  made  under  the  following  Classifica- 
tions : 

Heaviest  Cheese  of  good  quality. 

Best  Cheese  of  5,000  lbs.  or  over. 

Best  three  Cheeses  of  each  lirand  rcsjicctively,  be- 
tween 3  and  10  Bis.,  between  10  and  30  lbs.,  between 
SO  and  50  ttis.,  and  between  50  and  TO  lbs. 

Best  three  Cheeses  in  each  Class  Artificially  Col- 
ored . 

Best  three  Cheeses  in  each  Class  Artificially  Flav- 
ored. 

Best  Cheese  in  each  Class  of  Natural  Color. 

Best  three  Cheeses  for  Special  Display  in  October, 
of  not  less  than  40  lbs.,  made  on  the  American  Factory 
Ijlan,  in  the  second  and  tliird  week  respectively,  iu 
June,  July,  August  and  September,  1870. 

Best  three  Cheeses  for  Special  Display  in  October, 
of  not  less  than  "20  tbs.,  Dairy  production,  made  in  the 
second  and  third  week  respectively,  in  June,  July, 
August  and  September,  1870. 


Best  Cheese  of  oldest  make,  of  each  ap[iellation. 

Best  lot  of  three  Preserved  Kennets. 

Best  sample  of  Coloring  for  Dairy  Products. 

Entries  for  Exhiliition,  either  continuously  or  at 
the  periods  of  Stated  Disjilays,  can  be  made  free  of 
charge,  upon  forms  which  will  lie  furnished  upon 
application.  Producers  wlio  apply  for  room  will  re- 
ceive permits  ftjr  space,  and  f)llieial  latjcls  to  be  at- 
tached to  the  packages.  Freight  must  be  paid  at 
point  of  shipment,  which  will  secure  the  delivery  of 
goods  in  the  factory. 

Blank  forms  for  the  entry  of  products,  and  any 
further  information  desired,  mav  l)e  had  upon  appli- 
cation. BUKNETLANDltETH, 

C/tuf  of  r>iir,nii  (./"  .\,/r:ciiltiirc. 

D.  L.  Port:,  Si>Ci'hil  Snp't  of  Dainj  Section. 


AWARDED  THI  HIGHEST  MEDAL  AT  VIENNA. 


1.&H.T.  ANTHONYS,  CO., 

591   BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

(Opposite  Metropolitan  Uotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHROMOS  @  FRAMES, 

STEEEOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS.  GRAPHOSCOPtS  AND  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  MATERIALS. 

We  are  Headquarters  for  evurytbiug  iu  the  ■way  of 

StereopticQiis  I*  Magic  la&teriis, 

liL-iiig  MauiLfaclurers  of  the 

mirro-Sciontlfio  fiaiitern, 
Ntereo-^nnoptioon, 

I'liiverNily  St^reoptioon, 

AdvertiNern*  SK'reoptlcoii, 
Arlopticon. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People's  Lantern. 

Each  style  being  the  best  of  its  class  in  the  market. 


Catalogues  of  Lanterns  and  Slides,  with  directions  for 
using,  seat  on  application. 

Any  enterprising  man  can  make  money  with  a  Magic 
Lantern.  ffi?"Cut  out  this  advertisement  for  reference. 

S-(>-6 


Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  8T8., 

PHILADELPHIA.   PA. 


Convenient  to  all  places  of  amusement  aud  car  lines  iu 
the  city.    Ko  changes  to  aud  from  the  Centennial  grounds. 

Col.  Watson,  proiirietor  of  the  Henry  House,  Cincinnati, 
for  the  past  twenty  years,  aud  preseut  proprietor,  has  leased 
the  house  for  a  term  of  yeats,  and  has  newly  furnished  and 
fitted  it  throughout.  He  will  keep  a  strictly  lirst-class  house, 
and  has  accommodation  for  300  guests.  Terms,  only  |5 
per  day. 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  in  the  Hf.nby  House,  nor  will 
any  be  kept  at  the  Peabody.  s-6-5 

04IYAS51BS  WAHTEB 

TO  TAKE  SUBSCRIBEES  FOR 

Farmers'  Sons    and  other   Young    Men, 
during  their  leisure  hours, 

CAX  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


We  want  a  thorough  canvass  made  of  every  district,  aud  will 
pay  good  canvassers  liberally.    Address 


PEAESOL  &  GEIST,  Publishers, 


■-8-tf 


I,  VXASTER,    PA, 


i  POTATO  BUGS 


are  here. 
Save  your 
crops  with 
tlif  I'lnnct  Kxteritiliiator— a  ihuap  apparatus  for 
blowing  a  cloud  of  Paris  (?reeu  amoug  the  plauta  in  ttu  tn'*»t 
t'lfcctual  and  economical  manner pomible .  Price,  fS.Oii.  Paris 
green  (etrictly  pure)  supplied.  Directious  for  use  with  each 
machlue.  Send  for  circular.  Mention  ffiis  jmjter. 
It]  8.  L.  ALLEN  *  CO.,  ll'J  S.  4th  St.,  Philn. 

M'e  mast  taavo  a  live  ng^ent  In  every  town. 


•'  Wipe  off  your  Chin." 

She  had  several  of  tlic  iicii.'liliiirs  in  to  look  at  a  new 
hurcau,  ami  very  ualuraily  ilriltcil  off  Into  an  exposi- 
tion of  liureaus  .'^lic  liail  liad  herself,  and  which  her 
mother  had  had.  Her  stjn  was  doing;  his  lcv«l  best 
to  comiuer  the  Intricacies  of  anew  work  oo  Indian 
scoutinj;.     Finally  he  whlh|Hreil  to  her — 

"  Mother,  wipe  oM  your  chin." 

She  made  a  hurried  movement  over  that  part  of 
her  features,  lliisliini;  sllt'litly  as  she  did  so.  Aud 
then  she  went  on  with  th(^  discourse. 

"  Mother,"  hew  lil8|K'rcd  a(;ain,  wife  off  your  chin." 

With  a  ncrvons  twitch  of  her  ajiron  she  soui;ht  to 
remove  the  olfenslvc  iiartiele,  nervously  wondering 
what  It  could  he.  Just  as  she  got  well  to  going  again 
he  whispered  for  the  third  time — 

"  Mother,  wl|)e  olfyonr  ehln." 

"  Land's  sake-,  ehilil,"  she  sepulchrally  howled, 
"  what  is  there  on  my  chin  ;"  and  she  rulihed  It  with 
a  vehemence  painfully  suirgestive  of  combustion. 

"Wipe  oil  your  eiiin,"  he  hastened  to  advise  the 
instant  site  eea.'^ed  the  in<»vement. 

.She  Hew  at  that  feature  airaln,  and  ruhlied  with  all 
her  mit;hl,  while  the  water  irathiTed  in  her  eyes,  and 
her  face  (;rew  red  with  mortllleatlon. 

"  There,"  she  gasped,  "  it's  olf  now,  I  guess." 

lie  was  almost  consumeil  with  smouldered  laughter 
but  he  managed  to  suggest  for  the  fifth  lime — 

"  Wipe  oil'  your  chin." 

"  Mercy  iu  heaven  !  what  Is  the  matter  with  my 
chin?"  she  yelled  right  out,  losing  all  control  of  her- 
selfj  and  staring  at  her  visitors  In  an  agony  of  suffer- 
ing. 

Then  she  plunged  Into  another  room  to  consult  a 
glass,  and  he  dislnirsed  himself  out  of  the  hack  door. 
When  she  came  back  the  la'dics  were  exchanging  slg- 
nilicant  smiles  ami  looks  with  each  other,  and  pretty 
soon  they  left,  leaving  her  in  a  very  uneomfortahlc 
state  of  mind.  It  was  some  time  before  she  learned 
what  was  the  trouble  with  her  chin,  and  then  she  dM 
not  feel  any  better, — Dauhnry  Xeirs. 

The  phrase,  "  acknowledged  the  corn  "  Is  variously 
accounted  for,  but  the  following  is  the  true  history  of 
its  origin  :  In  IS'iS,  .Andrew  Stewart,  M.  C,  said  in  a 
speech,  that  Ohio,  Imliaiia  and  Kentucky,  sent  their 
hay-stacks,  corn-lields  and  fodder  to  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  for  sale.  Wieklitlc,  of  Kentucky,  called 
him  to  order,  declaring  that  those  States  ilid  not  send 
hay-staeks  or  eorn-Iields  to  New  York  for  sale. 
"Well,"  asked  Stuart,  "what  do  you  send  V  "  Why, 
horses,  mules,  cattle  anil  hogs  '"  •■  Well,  what  makes 
your  horses,  mules,  catties  and  hogs  ;"  You  feed  ?10l) 
worth  of  hay  to  a  horse,  you  just  animate  and 
get  upon  the  top  of  your  hay-stack  and  ride  off  to 
market.  How  is  it  with  your  Ciittle?  You  make  one 
of  them  carry  fifty  ilollars'  «  orth  of  h.iy  ami  grass  to 
the  Eastern  market ;  how  much  corn  docs  it  take  at 
thirty-three  cents  a  bushel  to  fatten  It!"  "Why, 
thirty  bushels."  "Then  you  ]iut  that  thirty  bushels 
into  the  shape  of  a  bog  and  make  it  walk  off  to  the 
Eastern  market."  Then  Wicklitfe  jumped  up  and 
skid  ;  "  Mr.  Speaker,  T acknoutkdge  the  corn." 

This  sample  of  poetry  of  science  gives  us  the  off- 
spring of  a  ehcinical  wedding  ; 

.Messrs.  Water  and  Oil 
One  day  had  a  boil, 
As  down  in  the  glass  they  were  dropping. 
And  would  not  unite. 
But  conlinueil  to  light, 
Without  any  prosjieets  of  stopping. 

Mr.  Pearlash  o'erheard, 

.\nd  quick  as  a  word, 
He  jumped  into  the  nddst  of  the  clashing; 

When  all  three  agreed, 

.\nd  united  with  speed, 
And  soap  came  out  ready  for  washing. 

A  I.oxr.  Eel. — When  Matthews,  the  elder,  was  a 
boy,  anil  lived  with  his  father,  a  bookseller  In  the 
Strand,  a  short,  musculHr  fellow  dally  cried  eels  with 
guttural  voice — "  three  pence  a  pound  e-e-e-e-e-e-els," 
elongating  the  word  from  Craven  street  to  Ilungerford 
.street,  till  pcmple  used  to  say,  "  What  a  long  eel ! " 
Matthews  having  imitated  him  to  the  great  6atisfac> 
tion  of  many  auditors,  one  day  looked  out  for  the 
original,  and  saluted  him  with  the  imitation  ;  but  he 
had  no  taste  for  such  ingenuity,  and  placing  his 
eel-basket  deliberately  on  the  ground,  he  hunted  the 
boy  Into  his  father's  shop,  and  felled  him  with  a 
heavy  blow.  "  Next  time,"  saiil  the  eel-vender,  "  as 
you  twists  your  litt  le  wry  mouth  alx>ut ,  and  cuts  your 
mugs  at  a  respectable  tradesman,  I'll  skin  you  like 
an  ee — "  and  snatching  up  his  basket  finished  the 
monosyllable  about  nine  doors  off. 

"  If  we  h.ive  any  tender  regard  for  the  dumb  ani- 
mals, who  do  so  much  to  make  life  pleasant  to  us, 
we  would  have  our  children  educated  to  have  a  still 
deeper  regard  and  kindness  for  them." — Governor 
WanfilmrtiCj  of  Mti>':<itehuiieUs. 


~.y 


lY. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[June,  1876. 


>ENN»iYI.VA>IA  RA 

Trains  leave  the  Dejot 


WE  TWARD. 

Pacific  Eipreee* 

■Way  Paspengert 

Limited  Mail' 

Hanover  Accommodation. 

Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

No.  2  via  Columbia 

Sunday  Mail 

Fast  Line 

Frederick  Accommodation. 

Harrisburg  Accom 

Lancaster  train 

Harrisburg  ExiirenB 

Pittsburg  Expreee 

Cincinnati  Exjiress* , 


EASTWARD. 

Atlantic  txpresB* 

Philadelphia  ExpresBt. 
Harrisburg  ExpresB.... 

Lancaster  train 

Pacific  Express* 

Johnstown  Express.... 
Harrisburg  Accom 


II.ROAO 

in  this  city, 

Leave 
Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m, 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:20  a.m. 
11:59  a.m. 

3:25  p.  m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

6:10  p.m. 

7:35  p.  m. 

7:40  p.m. 

9:10p.m. 
11:30  p.m. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

9:2S  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m. 

3:05  p.  m. 

5:50  p.  m. 


SCHEDDJLE. 

as  follows : 

Arrive 

Harrisburg. 

4:05  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  ra, 

10:30  a.  m. 

Col.  10:60  a.  m. 

1:00  p.  m. 

1:20  p.  m. 

2:00  p.  m. 

4:50  p.  m. 

Col.  4:15  p.m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

Col.  8:10  p.  m. 

9:00  p.  m. 

10:35  p.  m. 

12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 

3:10  a.  m. 

7:00  a.  m. 
10:30  a.  m. 
12:30  p.m. 

3:30  p.  111. 

6:00  p.  m. 

9:00  p.  m. 


The  Hanover  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  vnU  run  through 
to  Hanover  ■without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connectsat  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:25  p.  m.,  ami  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  ra.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacific  Express  at  1:10  p.  m.     ' 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  b 
a.  m.,  comiug  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leaving  York  ai:  6:32  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7ilS,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a,  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrisburg  Express 
at  T:50  a.  ni. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:30  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:52,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  Exprecs  at  7;50  a.  m. 

The  Pacific  Express,  east,  on  Sunday,  will  make  the  fol- 
lowing Btoi^s,  when  flagged,  viz  :  Middletown,  Elizabeth- 
town,  Mt.  Joy,  Landisville,  Bird-in-Hand,  Gordouville, 
Leaman  Place,  Kinzers,  Gap,  Christiana,  Penningtonville, 
Parkesburg,  Pomeroy,  Coat€sville,  Oakland,  Glen  Loch, 
Malvern,  Paoli,  Eagle,  Radnor,  Upton,  Villa  Nova,  Rose- 
mont,  Haverford  College,  Ardmore,  Wynnewood,  Elm. 
Merion,  Overbrook,  HeBtonville  and  Mantua;  Lancaster  and 
Down^gtowu  being  regular  stations, 

•The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRuns  daily,  except  Monday. 

AHD    OTQEB 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 

TBOROrGHLT  AND   BAPIDLY 

EXXER3XIlVATEr> 

BY   USING 

f  eek's  ImpiQ?ecl  Lipid  it@mkgr 

The  most  complete  apparatus  for  deodoriziig  and  disin- 
fecting Hospitals,  ShipB,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers' experiences  with  it. 

West  Grove  Mannrg  Co.,  'West  Geo-\-e,  Pa. 
8-5 

n  day   at  Home.      Agents    wanted.      Outfit    and 
terms  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  AugUBta,  Maine.   fS-3-ly 


$12 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

EOOFIlSrG^   SLiLTE. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12in  LANCASTER,   PA. 


$5  to  $20 


per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free. 
STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland.  Maine. 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

500  farmerB'  write  for  it. 

PO  farmers'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulates  in  30  States. 

Circulates  in  0  Territories. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

64  columns  every  week. 

16  pagea  of  reading. 

Kept  on  file  in  l,2(ii)  Granges. 

Kead  weekly  by  over  lOO.CMJO  people. 

Only  olficial  organ  of  five  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  from  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experience  by  practical  farmers. 

Crop  reports  printed  weekly. 

No  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  a  year ;  or  1.25  in  clubs  of  S  or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

121^  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  S  or  over,  10>,^  cents  a  month. 

Neatly  printed ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

National  Grange  officers  wTite  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  every  State, 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  and  say, 

**  Just  what  we  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  three  cents,  sent  directly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  States. 

Address,  THOMAS  &  DEMMING, 

7-12-S  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. 


Chester  "Whites,  Berkshires,  Essex, 
Poland-China  and  Yorkshires. 

Our  shipments  give  universal  satisfaction.     Tlie  foHow- 


THOROUGHBRED  SWINE: 

Ouly  first-class,  well-bred,  growthy  pia;s  sold, 
ing  is  one  of  many  equi-flattering  testimonials  : 

1408  Arch  Stbf.et,  Philad'a,  Pa.,  Arril  1, 1876. 
Mb.  W.  Atlee  Burpee  ;  The  Chester  "While  Boar  you  sent  to  my  farm  is  a  very  fiue  specimen.     My  farmer,  who  is 
an  experienced  breeder,  says  he  is  "pretty  as  a  picture,"  and  as  tine  a  hog  as  there  is  in  Chester  county  to-day.     Every 
one  admires  him.  WASHINGTON  L.  ATLEE,  M.D. 

South.do'wzi  and  Cots-wold  Sb.eep! 

PRICES  MODERATE. 


We  are  breeding  most  extensively 

PURE  BRED  POULTRY!  , 


Our   birds  are  imported    and  winners  of  First  aucl 
Speeial  Prizes  at  leading  shows — 

HARTFORD,  BOSTON,  DETROIT.  MINNEAPOLIS,  PHILADELPHIA,  ALLENTOWN,  DOYLESTOWN,  BALTIMORE,  P.TTSBURCH,  &c. 
All  the  Choicest  Varieties,    Each  bied  ou  separate  farms. 

Mammoth   Bronze   and  "WTiite  Hollantl   Turkeys,   Toulouse    and   Bremen   Geese,    Pekin,   Aylesbury, 
Cayuga  and  Rouen  Ducks,  Fancy  Pigeons. 

EGGR  FOR  HATCHIXO  I    REMEMBER,  we  try  to   excel,  not  undeesell.    "We  cannot  afford  to  sell  in- 
ferior stock,  and  thus  l!irow  awas  our  reputation. 

Illustrated  deecriptive  catalogue,  10c.     Ciiculars  free,     j^^  Pigeon  Loft.  50c.    Call  on  or  address 


^O-c^^^r^^c^, 


1332   .Arch  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


yf^-^^ 


CENTENITIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


struck  in  solid  Albata  Plate,   equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1*3  incheB  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  eight. 

The  most  valuable  Sonvenirs  and  3fe> 
lueutoes  ever  issned. 


GOOD    AGENTS   WANTED   in    every  City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


RETAIL  PRICES.— For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cts. ;  Gilt, 
|1,  in  faucy  box.    Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
satin  or  velvet-liued  morocco  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
different  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  ou  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-oflB,ce  order 
for  J4,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solicited.  Information  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.    Address  all  communications, 

U.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         212  Broadway,  N.  T. 


E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  W.  Fourth  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Arft  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  thfs  paper. 


Ctiinates  fnrnisM  free. 


[tf] 


Sentl  for  Circular. 


GOOD  8EED8,  GROWN  WITH  CAEE,  FROM  SE- 
lected  StockB,  always  pav.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  H.JWKINS,  ftOBheu,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON^,      . 

,Long  Bange ^Breech  Loading 

Practice'  Pistor&*  Targets. 

^  Carries  a  V  inch  ball  with  accu- 
racy fifty  leet,  -without  powder  or 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  ealo 
"by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoora, 
ind  for  sporting  out  of  doors.  ~ 

^AGENTS   wanted'. 

A.  A.  GEAHAM,  C7  Liberty  Street,  New  YorJ; 
S.3-«m 


1876. 


CENTENNIM. 


1876. 


Rathvon  &  Pistiep, 

PRACTICAL 

TaE(!@rs  acid  ©l!@ttnl©r§. 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


ESXABI-ISHiyiENT, 

Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 

J.  STAUFFER, 

*_  «     1    .»_  .A.  i. 


T  T  ^  r"  T  7"  7  T  7-'-'     T  f^      r'  f-  T  ^  %''  7* 
LANCASTER,  VENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


.All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN P.\TENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  COPTRIGHTS. 
promptly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  and  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  Ae- 
BiBtaut  at  ■Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
or  description.  [7-4-tf 


$1 


X  Cell      \      the  coimty. 


SINGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS 


To  Bubscribers  out  of  ) 
tbo  couuty.  i' 


$1.2S. 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  JULY  ^5,  1876. 


FEASSOL  Is  QEIST,  Publishers. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


'a  monthly  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 

CULTURE,  DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 

AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Mode  a  promiufut  feature,  ^\ith  epecial  reference  to  the 
wauts  of  the  F:irmer,  the  Gardener  and  Fruit-Grower. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  Ij  Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON. 


The  Lakcasteb  Farmeb  has  now  completed  its  seventh 
year— the  last  iiaving  been  under  the  axisplcee  of  the  under- 
Bigued  as  publiehere.  When  we  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago,  it  was  with  a  determination 
to  make  such  improvemente  during  the  year  as  would  place 
the  Farmers'  Organ  of  this  great  agriciUtural  county  in  the 
verj"  front  rank  of  publications  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  so,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvemenl  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Coutemiial  year  still  more  interesting 
and  valuable  than  its  predecessor  for  1875.  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-operation  uf  evei'y  friend  of  the  enter- 
prise. To  make  it  a  succegs,  every  one  who  now  reaJs  The 
Farmer  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  coutributions  of  our  able  editor,  Prof.  Rathvon,  on 
Bubjecta  connected  with  the  science  of  farming,  and  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  master — 
entomological  scieuce— some  knowledge  of  \Vhich  has  become 
&  necepsity  to  the  BUCcessliU  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  15th  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paper  with  clear  type,  in  con- 
venient form  lor  reading  and  binding,  and  mailed  to  eub- 
Bcribers  on  the  following 

TEHMS: 

To  subscribers  residing  within  the  county — 
One  copy,  one  year,         -----        $i,oo 

Six  copies,  one  year,  -         -----       5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------        7,50 

To  subscribers  outside  of  Lancaster  couuty,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  pubUshers: 

One  copy,  one  year,  -       -        .        -        ,         $1.25 

Five  copies,  one  year,  .       -       -         -         -       -        5.00 

All  Kubscriptious  will  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber upIchs  utherwise  ordered. 

All  commimicalioua  intended  for  pnbhcation  eboold  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  and,  to  secure  insertiou,  should  be 
in  lu*i  liMiida  by  the  firsi  of  the  mouth  of  publication. 

AU  busiut'ss  letters,  coutaiuing  subscriptions  and  adTer- 
tisementfl,  should  be  addressed  to  the  publiBhera. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


FEARS0L&6EIST, 


Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


RATK8  OF  ADV£RTISI!VO.  —  Ten  Centa   a 
line  for  encb  Insertion.     Twelve  Unes  to  the  indi. 


Our  Centeiinial  Anniversary,    -        -        -       .        67 

Saving  Seeds, 99 

Our  Farmers  In  Council,  -----        9!t 

Maryland  Fruits, 100 

White  Crested  Black  Polish  Fowls,  -        -        -      101 

Answers  to  Correspondents,  .        -        -        .  loi 

Scale  Iiispcts — An  Euemy  of  the  Fot.ito  Beetle — 
Enemies  of  the  Gooseberry,  Grape,  Timothy,  etc. 


Meteorological  Statistics  for  1776  and  1876, 

The  Currant, 

A  Valuable  Discovery,      -        -        -        - 

Adamstown  and  Billingfelt,  -       .        .       - 
Strawberries,     ------ 

Fairy  Rings  "in  Pasttires  Green," 

On  Bee  Culture, 

Hints  for  New  Beginners  in  Rural  Life, 
Artificial  Tobacco,     -        -        -        - 

Apples,  -------- 

The  Old  Apple  Tree,         .... 

Barnyard  Manure  and  Chemical  Fertilizers, 
Keeping  up  the  Fertility,  -        -        -     _  - 
Surface-Stirring  the  Soil,       -        -        -        . 
The  Centennial  Live  Stock  Display, 
Crop  Returns  for  June,         .        -        -        - 
Farmers  and  the  Centennial,    ... 
Our  Paris  Letter,  ------ 

Castile  Soap  and  its  Counterfeits,     - 

The  Language  of  Fowls,       -        -        -        - 

How  to  Keep  Your  Wife's  Love, 
Experience  with  Bees,  -        .        .        .        - 
Sale  of  Short  Horns,         ^        .        .        . 
Seasonable  Hints,  --.... 

Gun-Barrel  Budding,         .        .        -        - 
Food  for  Young  Pigs,    -        .        -        -        - 
Berries  for  Birds,       .        .        .        -        - 

What  Will  Pay, 

Boys,  Do  Something,         .... 

Stick  to  Your  Farms, 

Labor  Necessary  to  Happiness, 
Holding  on  for  Higher  Prices,      .        -        - 
Hanger,     --.-... 
Watercresses,        --..-, 
A  Cure  for  Colds  in  the  Head,  .        .        - 

Economy, . 

The  Grain  Movement,        -        -        .        - 
How  to  Keep  Eggs,       -        -        -        -        - 
The  Care  of  Canaries,       .        .        -        . 
How  to  Make  Old  Horses  Appear  Well, 

Raisiug  Chickens, 

Quidding  Horses, 

Something  for  the  Sick,    -        -        -        . 
The  Use  of  Machinery, .        -        -        .        . 
Literary  Notices,       ...        -        - 
Our  Fence  Comers, 


103 
-103 

104 
-10.5 

10.5 
-105 

10.5 
-100 

106 
-lOG 

106 
-107 

107 
-107 

108 
-108 

108 
-lOg 

100 
-109 

109 
-110 

110 
-110 

110 
.110 

111 

-  Ill 
111 

-  Ill 
111 

-111 

111 
-112 

112 
.113 

112 
-112 

112 
.112 

112 
-112 

112 
-112 

112 
i,  lil. 


• 

THE  LANCASTER  EXPRESS, 

l\}i  Leading  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper^  and  Ihe 
oi}ly  Independent  RepubUcai}  Journal  ir;  the  County. 


THE  I     FOUNDED      f  THE 

WEEKLY,  I  bY    iHK  \    DAILY. 

1643         J 


PRESENT  PROPRIETORS. 


1856 


The  Wkeklv  Kxprfsr  haw  be^-u  Ivfore  tht-  citizeu'i  of 
Lanonster  couuty  f(»r  aj^erlodof  (hirty-threc  yc^irs.  and  TuK 
Daii,t  Express  lor  over  uhaeteen  yniTn.  l)urinK  *hia  long 
period,  ttnd  without  change  oi  mauaxutneut,  Thu  Exa'BF.hs 
has  fairly  enmed  a  Urge  flihareof  putrou.'ufi;  uud  firmly 
eatabUwhed  itself  in  the  pubhc  coufideiu-e,  as  .luui-n^jht  and 
indepeudeut  jourual,  uevcr  heeuaiiug  lo  defpud  the  right 
aud  deuouuce  the  wrouK.  uo  mutter  where  louml  to  exist. 
It  has  always  be^u  a  jouruul  of  progress,  and  the  ouUii>okeo 
frieud  of  educatiou.  tcmperaiioo,  Bouud  muruU  aud  religion. 
As  iu  the  jiaat,  so  it  will  continue  in  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  TH-E  EXPRESS. 


The  Weekly  Express,  one  year, 
The  Daily  Express,  one  year, 


$a.oo 
5.00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer:  To  any  person  residing 
withiu  the  limits  of  I._incn?«ter  e-.>nnty  w*  will  niHll— 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaster  Farmer,  one  year,  $3.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  extended  circulatiou  of  The  JZXFitKKs  makes  it  the 
beet  medium  for  advt-rtlHing  Kcal  l^tute  aud  Peraonal 
Projiorty  in  the  county,  a  fact  which  eaii  Vio  attested  l>y  he 
many  farmers  and  otiierw  who  h.ive  iivail'.'d  tltemyelveB  of 
the  use  of  its  eoliuniift,  und  to  wliich  we  in\  ite  the  attention 
01  all  having  property  to  dispose  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

Thb  ExPRESfl  printing  office  In  one  of  the  1>p0f  fiiruishsd 
establishments  for  turning  out  all  kinds  of  priuting  to  be 
found  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  We  are  prepared  to 
piint  any  job  from  the  email  viniting  card  to  the  largest  sale 
or  horse  bill,  j'oster,  or  brua<lMlde,  plain  or  iu  ^-oli-.n*.  as 
quickly  as  it  can  l)e  done  at  auy  other  establishment,  and  on 
an  reasonable  termo.  We  make  the  pituling  of  SaU-bUU 
/or  i-'arj/j^-rw  a  specialty,  and  giuruuirc  sahhioctjoa  to  our 
custom  ers. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

include  the  varioue  patterns  adai>tAvl  to  prialing  lx>okf), 
pam]>liletR,  posters,  sale-bills,  haud-bdis,  mtUers'  receipt*, 
catalogues  of  live  stock,  aud  auy  kind  of  work  done  iu  a 
first-class  printing  office;  iu  short  anvihing  ihit  may  bo 
called  for  by  the  fanner,  merchaut,  Kinker,  nn-chiuic,  or 
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With  one  of  the  most  rouiplete  •lul>  Olho^H  In  the  State, 
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PEAESOL  &  GEIST, 

BOOK.   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTERS. 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
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CanvaMers  Wuntied  far  Tuk  FxauEs,  with  whom 

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THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


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The^-Chanii^)iou  -Reaper  aud  Mowet,  which,  we  have  sold 
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six  years,  still  maiutaius  tlie  lead  oC  i.ll  coniiietitore — 
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— aud  we  have  already  coni^'loted  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
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who  buys  the  Ohainpiou  iB  always  eatififled  that  heV>as4Ue 
full  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLER  ^  GEOFF, 

No,  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


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[8-2- 


Mr.  PsDUNei^A'STD  HW'Cfw.— Mr.Pedunele  went 
out  to  milk  the  other  day.  NowtfWici-e  is  one  thiug 
.Mr.  Peduucle  prides  lilmseH'  U|ioii-,',  it  is  his  perfect 
c-onituand  of  a  cow.  With  hie  bucket  on  the  tri'ouud 
he  milks  with  both  hands,  and  ■sings  mean-while,  oe- 
easioually  he.^towiug  a  word  of  waruini;  upon  the  cow 
if  slie  whisks  her  t-ail  at  him,  or  tries  .to  scratch  her 
back  with  her  hind  foot.  On  this  occasion  Uc  had- 
nenrly  finished  and  was  .sin^insc  cheerfully  :-V  ^     .(  i,-. 

"My  soul  (so  now!)  be  ou  thy.guard— >(what  in' 
Effyptiau  sand-hill  ails  this  cow  i  )"      _     -  . 

''  Ten  thousand  (thunder  andtiorax  !  stand  still  I) 
foes  arise — "  ' 

And  as  Mr.  Peduncle  raised  himself  up  from  the 
barn-floor  and  wiped  the  milk  out  of  his  ears  and 
nose,  he  saw' up. in  the  loft,  the  wife  of  his  bosom 
with  a  Ions  switch  in  her  hand,  with  which  she  had 
beeu  tickling  the  gentle  animal's  nose,  and  .she  said 
in  an  awful  voic*  : 

"  OliTCT  Peduncle,  T  reckon  you'll  w*ap  your  old 
tobacco  box  in  my  handkerchief  again  next  Sunday, 
won't  ye  ?— and  have  lUc  take  it  to  cliurch  and  sling 
iton  tlui-Jkior— liey  .' '.'   '. 

When  Tie  milks  now,  Mr.  Peduncle  sings  very  soft- 
ly, indeed,  aiid  keeps  oUe  \6ye  pn  ^'ioit.-rChkago 
Courier. 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled '"'Reminiscences,"  by  W. 
H.  Sumner,  among  otUer.cutriuv^s  iti?^i8  is  the  folloWr 
iug,  Avhich  will  be  of  intci-est  to  our  readers  in  con- 
nectlou  with  the  biographical  sketch  of  Sam  Adams 
erven  in  the  July  number  of  this  Magaziiie;  , 

In  18.5?.,  Mr.  W.  H.  Sumner,  by  invitation  of  Lady 
Abingdon,  lunched  at  Wytham,  the  seat  of  the  Earl 
of  Abingdon,  four  mil.es  from  Oxford.  Lord  Abing- 
don's first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  General  Gage,  and 
cousin  to.  Mrs.  Sumner.  While  awaiting  th(i arrival 
of  the  host,  Mr.  Sunuier  was  examining  the'  family 
portraits  that.  ,huug  upon  the  walls,  and  was  much  , 
struck  by  oiie' that  extremely  resembled  the  Revolu- !: 
tionary  patriot,  Samuel  Adams.  When  his  lordship 
ajipeai-ed,  Mrs.  Sumner  remarked  that  it  seemed 
strange  to  see  in  his  house  a  picture  so  like  one  of  the 
so'denpminated  Revolutionary  patriots  frosfribed,  Ijy 
his  father. 

"Why,"  answered  Lord  A.,  "siti.gular  as  -it  m»y 
seem,  that  is  the  portrait  of  General  Gage,  the 
very  mau  who  pi'oscribed  him." 

It  is  finite  possible,  w'ith  this  clue,  to  trace  a  re- 
semblance even  in  the  ordinary  wood-cuts  of  the  two 
men,  so  unlike  in  temperament,  disposition,  and  cir- 
cumstances—a curious  problem  for  the  phrenologist 
and  physiognomist. 

It  was  the  last  night -but  one  of  a  protracted  meet- 
ing in  a  little  place  called  Webster,  in.  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  Missouri.  A  large  crowd  had  gathered 
in  tire  old  one-room  log-cabin  where  the  services  were 
held.  The  rickety  seats  were  nothing  but  .strips  of 
board  resting  on  small  blocks,  aud  were  getting  un- 
comfortably niled.  To  make  more  space,  for  the 
ladies,  half  a  dozen  or  so  of  the  best-looking  men  in 
the  room  voluntarily  stood  up  at  one  side,  and  as  they 
were  all  six  feet  anil  over,  they  made  a  goodly  show. 
It  isjust  possible  they  knew  tliis,  seeing  there  were  so 
many  pretty  girls  present.  The  services  began  by 
reading,  singing  and  a  prayer.  No  words  could  de- 
scribe "that  supplication,  shouted  out  at  the  highest 
pitch  of  the  minister's  voice.  One  sentence  alone  re- 
mains as  a  legend  iu  the  place  :  "  Bless  us  all  in 
these  last  ends  of  the  earth.  And,  Oh  !  our  heavenly 
Father,  help  us— Oh  !  help  us  now  to  pray  for  the  fall 
dinners  Of  Webster  ! "  Down  like  shot  went  those 
sinful  meu,  and  the  maidens  tittered. 

Wh.vt  diabolical  beings  those  London  cabmen  are, 
to  be  sure  !  An  elderly"  lady  was  recently  observed 
hovering' on  the  side  of  the  pavement,  vainly  ende-av- 
oring  -to'  get  across  the  street ;  but  the  stream  of 
cabs'  busses,  aud  vehicles  of  all  descriptions  went 
Howing  on,  and  somehow  she  never  seemed  to  be  able 
to  venture  over  iu  safety.  At  last  She  made  a  start, 
when  a  Hansom-eab  driver,  cra-wliug  along,  saw  her, 
made  a  sudden  spurt;  and  ueaiiy  succeeded  in  knock- 
ing her  over.  Happily,  however,  for  the  old  woman, 
she  escaped,  aud  the  driver  said,  as  he  drove  on, 
"  Missed  her,  by  Jove  !  "  just  as  If  she  had  been  a 
bird.        ■         ■  -  ■■     ■  '"    ■ 

This  now,  is  straightforward  and  businees-lflvfe ': 
A  applied  to  B  for  a  loan  of  .*100.  B  replied,  "My 
dear  A,  nothing  would  please  me  more  than  to 
oblige  vou,  and"  I'll  do  it.  I  haven't  SlOO  by  me : 
but  make  a  uote,  and  I'll  endorse  it,  and  you  can  get 
the  money  from  the  bank."  A  proceeded  to  write 
the  note.  "Stay,"  said  B  :  "make  it  8300.  I  want 
«100  myself."  A  did  so,  B  indorsed  the  paper,  the 
bank  discounted  it,  and  the  mouey  was  divided. 
When  the  note  became  due,  B  was  in  California,  and 
A  had  to  mcetlhe  paymeiit.  What  he  Is  unable  to 
cipher  out  is,  whether  he  borrowed  SlOO  of  B,  or  B 
borrowed  $100  of  him. 


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Agknts  wanted  iu  every  m^te,  Ci>unty,  City  rind  Town, 
to  whom  verv  liberal  diRCoiuits  will  be  made,     .\ddres8, 
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Vick's  Floral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flp\yer  and  Vegetable  Garden,  3.5  cents ;  with 
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p5"8eut  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  first 
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J.  B.  KOOT,  Seed  fcirowor, 

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DE.ILEBS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

FAMILY  Mild   I.IMJ3.BrKMXe  COAl.! 

Orders  received  at  ,   . 

Office,  NO.  15  East  King  street,  and  at  Uie 

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S8ND  25c.  to  G.  P.  ROWELL  &  CO.,  Neif  York,  for  Pam- 
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/till  I  I'll ' 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


IvANCASTER,  PA.,  JULY,  1876.i 


Vol.  vni.  No.  7. 


OUR  CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY. 


I 


Our  National  Year  of  Jubilee. 

Never  before  on  any  public  occasion  has 
Liincji.ster  city  and  county  inaiiilestcd  tlie  zeal 
and  eiicrsiy  that  they  did  on  tlic  late  anniver- 
sary of  our  natal  day  of  freedom.  Everything 
seemed  to  be  iiropitious,  and  the  opening  of 
the  day  was  heralded  by  liring  of  cannon, 
ringing  of  bell.s  and  lighting  of  bonfires,  fully 
up  to  the  spirit  of  ,)ohn  Adams"  prophecy  one 
hundred  years  ago. 

The  city,  the  to\vns,  the  villages  and  ham- 
lets, as  well  as  many  private  mansions  were 
profusely  decked  out  in  bnnthig  and  approi)ri- 
ate  devices,  and  most  of  them  had  their  pri- 
vate celebrations  ;  but,  in  this  connection,  we 
can  only  brietly  notice  the  patriotic  demon- 
strations of  the  city.  A  grand  procession 
paraded  our  streets  in  the  forenoon,  composed 
Of  the  city  polict!  in  a  body,  the  CJrand  Army 
of  the  Itepublic,  the  Mayor  and  Councils,  the 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Knightf  of  Pj-thias,  the  Sons 
of  America,  the  American  Mechanics,  seniors 
and  juniors,  the  brotherhood  of  the  Union, 
thi^  K(h1  Men,  tlie  Druids,  the  Seven  Wise 
]Mcn,the  St.  Miehael's,  St.  .Jo.seph's,  St.  Peter's 
and  St.  Anthony's 'Catholic  Associations  ;  the 
lire  comiianies  with  their  steamers  and  hose 
carriages,  the  School  Board  and  reiiorters,  and 
many  citizens,  all  bearing  appropriate  baimers 
and  decked  with  liags  and  b.adges  and  patriotic 
emblems.  Interspersed  along  the  line  were 
the  City  Cornet  band,  the  (iuarryville  band, 
the  Ironville  band,  the  Liberty  band,  and  the 
Keystone  Drum  Corps,  alternately  discoursing 
martial  and  soul-cheering  music.  At  the 
close  of  the  parade  a  great  concourse  gathered 
around  the  soldiers'  n'lonument  in  Penn  Square 
where  the;  great  historical  ceremcjuies  of  the 
day  were  held,  according  to  a  previoiLs  ar- 
ranged programme,  consisting  of  music,  odes, 
addresses,  historical  sketches,  oration,  and  the 
reading  of  our  great  Magna  Charta  of  freedom, 
the  ever-memorable  Declaration  of  LidcjKnd- 
fji'.Y,  the  whole  preluded  by  patriotic  .and  re- 
ligious invocations  and  prayers,  and  interluded 
with  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  The 
parade  was  under  the  command  of  Chief  Mar- 
shal Edw.  Edgerley,  assisted  by  Division  Mar- 
shals G.  W.  Eaby,  .John  Deiker,  J.  M.  Amweg 
and  their  Aids ;  and  the  vocal  music  in  the 
square  was  under  the  conduct  of  the  Choral, 
Mendelssohn,  Licderkiautz  and  Maiiinerchor 
societies — the  instrumental  by  the  bands.  ^Vs 
this  number  of  The  Farmeu,  and  indeed  the 
entire  Centennial  volume,  will  be  often  referred 
to  in  future  years,  we  have  assumeil  the  re- 
spousibihty  of  crowding  out  some  of  our  usual 
matter  to  record  succinctly  some  of  the  doings 
of  our  evermeraoraljle  Centemiial  Anniversary 
and  feel  that  we  have  done  well. 

The  exercises  at  the  grand  stand  in  the 
square  were  opened  by  Kev.  Dr.  Grcenwald, 
with  the  foUowuig  appeal  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace : 

The  Centennial  Invocation. 

Almighty  God,  who  art  the  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  the  Kuler  of  nations,  and  the 
Father  of  Thy  people,  we,  Thine  unworthy 
servants,  come  before  Thee  on  this  day,  to- 
gether with  all  the  people  of  this  land,  to  ac- 
knowledge the  manifold  temporal  and  spiritual 
blessings  which  we,  as  a  nation,  have  received 
from  Thy  hiuid. 

ADORATION. 

To  render  to  Thee  our  heartfelt  adoration. 
Thou  art  the  King  of  kings,  and  the  Lord  of 
all  lords.  Thou  sittest  on  the  throne  judging 
aright.  Thou^art  the  Lord  God  onuiii)Otent, 
and  reignest  in  righteousness  over  the  King- 
doms of  the  earth.  Thou  doest  Thy  will  in 
the  armies  of  heaven  ;  and  among  the  iuhab- 
itauts  of  this  our  lower  world  there  is  none 


that  can  stay  Thy  hand.  Thine,  O  Lord,  is 
the  greatness,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory, 
and  the  vict<ny,  and  the  majesty,  for  all  that 
is  in  heav(Mi  and  in  the  earth  is  Thine  ;  Thine 
is  the  Kingdom,  O  Lord,  and  Thou  art  exalted 
as  Head  above  all.  Thou  alone  .art  the  gov- 
ei-nor  of  the  nation,  and  all  Thy  creatures  on 
earth  and  in  heaven  bow  with  reverence  be- 
fore Thy  throne,  and  acknowledge  Thee  to  be 
the  liOrd. 

I'ONKKSSION. 

AVc  appear  with  humility,  and  confess  our 
sins  before  Thee.  W*^  are  not  righteoius.  Thy 
holy  laws  we  have  not  kejit.  We  are  sinners 
in  Thy  sight.  Our  individual  transgressions 
cannot  be  numbered,  and  the  sins  of  the  na- 
tion are  many  and  great.  AVe  have  rebelled 
against  Thy  rightfid  authority  over  us.  We 
have  taken  other  gods  before  Thee.  We  have 
chosen  our  own  way,  and  foUowt'd  our  own 
will,  and  preferred  our  own  pleasure.  We 
have  not  always  encpiired  after  Thy  will,  nor 
made  Thy  law  our  delight.  We  have  lived  in 
unbelief  and  im]ienitenee  ;  we  have  resisted 
Thy  grace,  refused  Thy  call.s,  misimproved 
our  oppoitiuiities.  We  have  not  duly  honored 
Thy  church,  nor  loved  Thy  word,  nor  valued 
Thy  gosi)el.  We  have,  in  many  ways,  heaped 
reproach  upon  Thy  dear  Son,  our  Saviotu',  and 
we  have  not  reverently  accepted  the  way  of 
salvation  which  he  has  provided  for  us.  In- 
iquity prevails  in  high  and  iu  low  places. 
Hypocrisy,  self-righteousness  and  pride — cov- 
ctousness,  di.shonesty  and  coriaiption — envy, 
ill-will,  malice,  and  all  other  sins  abound. 
AVe  are  not  as  distinguished  among  the  na- 
tions for  holy  obedience  as  we  are  for  our  great 
blessings.  O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us,  have 
mercy  upon  us,  and  cast  us  not  away  from 
Thy  presence,  on  account  of  our  sins. 

TnANK.SGIVINa. 

AVe  render  to  Thee  our  hearty  thanks  that 
notwithstanding  our  sins.  Thy  mercies  have 
followed  us,  as  a  nation,  from  the  beginning 
to  this  d;ty.  Thou  wast  with  our  fathers  as 
they  left  the  graves  of  their  ancestors  hi  the 
old  world,  to  seek  a  home  for  themselves  and 
for  their  children,  iu  the  new.  Out  of  a  little 
one  Thou  didst  make  a  great  nation.  Thou 
didst  give  to  the  fathers  of  our  nation  wis- 
dom to  found  free  institutions  of  government, 
by  which  the  lives,  the  liberties,  and  the  hap- 
piness of  the  people  are  .secured.  In  times  of 
war.  Thou  didst  give  victory  over  our  ene- 
mies, and  security  to  the  nation.  Thou  hast 
enlarged  our  boundary,  and  hast  multiplied 
the  peoi)le,  so  that  as  a  mighty  host,  they 
.stretch  from  sea  to  sea.  Thou  hast  Ijlesscd 
the  labor  of  our  hands,  so  that  industry  has 
been  rewarded,  and  riches  have  gi'eati}'  in- 
creased. Thou  hast  blessed  our  schools  and 
teachers  that  give  instruction  in  them,  so  that 
our  children  and  youth  have  made  jirogress  in 
education  and  kuowledgo.  Thou  hast  blessed 
us  with  the  light  of  Tliy  Holy  Gospel,  hast 
bestowed  upon  us  the  knowledge  of  Tliy  word, 
and  hast  made  known  to  us  the  way  of  salva- 
tion throuirh  Thy  Son,  .Jesus  Christ.  Thou 
has  preserved  Thy  church  among  us,  andha*t 
greatly  multiplied  the  number  ot  Thy  faithful 
people.  For  all  these  things  we  praise  Thee, 
we  bless  Thee,  we  worship  Thee,  we  glorify 
Thee,  we  give  thanks  to  Thee,  for  by  Thy 
grace  and  favor,  they  have  Ijeeu  vouchsafed 
imto  us. 

PRAYEK. 

To  our  thanksgivings,  we  join  our  fen'ent 
prayer-;,  that  by  Thy  favor,  the  future  of  our 
country  may  be  .still  more  prosjierous  than  the 
past  lias  been.  Do  still  better  things  for  us  in 
the  second  century  of  om-  national  life,  than 
Thou  hast  done  for  ns  in  the  lirst.  May  our 
free  institutions  remain  pure  and  uncofrurt, 
and  be  handed  down  from  generation  to  gen- 


eration. May  the  President  of  tlio  United 
States,  the  Governors  of  all  the  States,  tho 
National  Congress,  and  the  State  IjCgislatnres, 
and  all  our  .ludges  and  magistrates,  have  wis- 
dom from  above  to  direct  them,  so  that  whole- 
some laws  may  be  enacted  and  faithfully  ex- 
ecuted, to  the  furtherance  of  righteousness 
and  good  order,  to  the  sui)pression  of  sin  and 
crime,  everywhere  among  us.  May  all  true 
business  interests  be  pi-ospered,  labor  be  duly 
rewarded,  competence  be  enjoyed,  and  may 
all  classes  of  men  live  a  peaceable  and  (juii't 
life  in  all  godline.ss  and  honesty.  Uless  tho 
families  of  our  land,  and  ni.ay  piety  and  peace 
dwell  un<Ier  every  roof.  May  our  children 
and  youth  bo  reared  in  th(^  feaj-  of  tho  LonI, 
so  that,  cherishing  the  prineiiiles  of  true 
ChrL-stianity  iuid  .sound  virtue,  they  may  b(! 
well  titled  to  caiTy  on  in  private  and  in  iiul)lic 
life,  what  the  pious  zeal  of  their  parents  lias 
so  well  begun.  May  education  be  promoted, 
religion  fostered,  and  good  moralrt  bo  iH'ai-- 
ticed,  by  all  men  everywhere.  May  the  na- 
tion l)e  defended  from 'bloody  wars,  from  .sec- 
tional divisions,  and  fioin  lo(;al  strifes,  and 
may  all  Ihi:  jn'ople  of  this  land  in  the  North 
and  the  South,  in  the  East  and  the  West,  al- 
ways dwell  together  in  harmony  and  peace,  as 
brethren  of  the  same  national  family.  As  wc 
an^  a  i)eculiar  peojjle  in  our  privileges,  may  wo 
be  equally  distinguLshed  for  Christian  faith. 
Christian  virtue,  (,'hristian  order,  C-'hristian 
character,  (Christian  living,  and  for  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  that  How  therefrom,  to 
the  praise  of  Thy  glorioas  grace,  through  Thy 
Son,  .Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  with  Thee,  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  one  God,  be  all  honor  and 
glory,  world  wittiout  end.     Amen. 

At  the  <'onelusion  of  this  i)raycv,  Hon.  W. 
D.  Stauffer,  Mayor  of  T>ancaster,  delivered 

The  Introductory  Address. 

Fellow  Citizens  :  We  are  ncsomblfid  Iiprc  to-day 
as  citizens  of  Lancaster  to  cnmnipnioiate  tlie  one 
tiundiL'dtli  anniversary  of  .\nieriean  Indcpciidcncc. 
One  liund roil  years  a^o  our  city  was  a  smal!  jirovin- 
eial  town,  on  tlie  outer  eilifc,  as  it  were,  of  cinlizatiim. 
To-day  it  is  tlie  lovely  inland  city  of  the  crcat  Key- 
stone State,  the  center  of  the  most  popiilons  and 
Wealthy  aerieultural  county  in  the  United  Slates. 
Patriotic  and  almost  sacred  nieinorics  cluster  around 
us.  Herc^  the  Continental  Cnniricss  met,  when  driven 
from  Philadelphia  by  the  iiivadincr  armies  of  Great 
Britain.  Here  was  the  capital  of  the  State,  whence 
all  leirislation  for  the  commonwealth  emanated.  Here 
sojourncil  Fulton,  the  illustrious  inventor,  the  results 
of  whose  cenius  have  been  felt  iutlie  commerce  of  tho 
world,  and  whose  fame  is  (u)-extensive  with  the  use 
of  steam  a  marine  motor.  Here  tho  hospitality  of 
our  frugal  fathers  and  mothers  was  exMeiided  to  tho 
great  artist  Benjamin  AVest,  and  many  other  distin- 
guished men  representing  the  genius  and  patriotism 
of  a  century  as^o. 

We,  as  citizens  of  the  a^reat  city  and  county  of  Lan- 
caster, have  much  to  be  i^rateful  for,  as  we  assemble 
to-day  to  celebrate  the  Centennial  of  our  existence  as 
a  nation.  Our  growth  has  not  been  marked  by  tliat 
rapid,  nia£:ical  increase  which  has  characterized  many 
of  the  cities  of  the  country,  and  especially  those  of 
tlie  younffer  States;  but  it  has  been  steady  and  sub- 
stantial. Settled  and  laiil  outas  a  borough  In  17.'i0, 
the  first  census  of  which  we  nave  any  record,  was 
taken  in  1790,  and  showed  a  population  of  3,:i7S, 
which  was  the  growth  of  the  lirst  sixty  years.  The 
census  taken  a  few  days  ago  shows  a  population  of 
-•jj-tll,  a  growth  in  little  over  an  equal  period, of  22,-. 
OCiS.  In  no  city  are  there  more  comfortables  homes 
owned  by  the  industrious  laboring  classes  of  moder- 
ate means.  Thrift  and  honest  industry,  prudence 
and  economy,  and  not  spe<'ulution  and  spasmodic 
eraspiiif;  after  sudden  wealth,  have  made  Lancaatcr 
the  solid  and  substantial  city  she  is  to-<lay. 

Our  people  jxiseess  in  marked  degree  those  sturdy 
and  conservative  elements  of  American  character 
which  arc  the  true  slrciigthof  our  form  of  Uepublican 
Government,  and  in  which  we  sec  the  guarantee  of 
our  growth  and  stabflily  as  a  free  pexjple.  As  a  class 
our  people  do  not  look  with  favor  upon  the  extrava- 
sancc  and  love  of  display  wliich  are  seen  In  other 
communities,  but  which  arc  not  the  proper  character- 
istics of  a  republic,  such  as  ours,  founded  as  it  was 
in  the  self-deolal,  sutfcring  and  bloodshed  of  our 


98 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July, 


patriotic  fathers.  It  must  lie  admitted  that  one  of 
the  most  serious  evils  which  have  sprnn?  up  with  our 
marvelous  growth  iu  the  last  half  of  the  century  of 
our  existence,  has  been  a  fondness  for  display,  the 
ea2;er  desire  fortlie  ra])iil  accumulation  of  wealth  and 
the  love  of  luxury.  It  was  these  which  bred  decayin 
the  old  nations  of  the  Eastern  continent.  Let  us  then 
as  citizens  of  a  city  whose  prosperity,  solid  wealth, 
and  quiet  conservatism  are  guarantees  of  its  future 
prosperity,  still  more  a6sidu6u.sly  cultivate  the  habit 
of  thrift,  prudence  and  sturdy  honesty,  as  the  highest 
and  noblest  traits  of  true  Americanism.  Let  us  re- 
joice to-duy  with  Americans  everywhere  assembled, 
that,  under  a  kind  Providence,  our  country  has  been 
permitted  to  reach  and  litly  celebrate  its  Centennial 
Fourth  of  July.  Let  us  educate  our  children  in  those 
principles  which  shall  lit  them  for  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  eitizenshiii  which  they  must  assume  in 
the  coming  yeaa's  of  our  second  century.  Profiting 
by  the  experience  of  the  past,  correcting  abuses  in 
every  form  of  government,  national,  State  and  muni- 
cipal, we  can  in  the  coming  years  not  only  perpetuate 
but  improve  and  strengthen  our  institutions. 

Lancaster,  during  the  last  decade,  has  steadily 
kept  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  country,  and 
standing  to-day  where  the  first  century  of  our  nation 
passes  into  history  and  the  new  century  dawns  upon 
us  full  of  bright  hopes  and  promises,  we  feel  safe  in 
predicting  that  Lancaster  has.  within  herself  those 
elements  which  shall  make  her  always  a  lovely  queen 
enthroned  amid  the  green  fields  and  fertile  valleys  of 
our  matchless  county. 

Hon.  ,S.  H.  Keyiidlds  read  the  Declaration 
of  Iiulepeudeuce,  i)refacliig  the  reading  with 
the  following  patriotic 

Prologue. 

Mt  Fellow  Citizens  :  I  have  been  chosen  by 
your  committee  to  read  to  you  on  this  Centennial  An- 
niversary of  American  Independence,  the  Vcclara- 
tioti  which  announced  to  the  world  tlic  birth  of  a  Ec- 
publicj  ^^  Ihfi  Qoininf]  aovcreignty  of  the  people^^'  and 
the  establishment  of  a  National  Government,  free 
and  ijulepeuiUnt,  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to 
kings,  i)rinces,  and  potentates.  A  paper  which  one 
hundred  years  ago  as  now  was  "  the  genuine  eBusion 
of  the  soul  of  the  country,"  promulgating  a  bill  of 
rights  older  than  human  institutious,''uot  conceded  by 
monarchy,  but  drawn  fresh  from  the  fount  of  eternal 
justice  as  the  rightful,  the  exalted  heritai/e  of  man ; 
expressing  sentiments  and  ideas  in  unison  with  all 
humanity,  raising  millions  to  a  new  sense  of  freedom 
which  has  pressed  onward  toward  the  goal  of  liberty 
until  the  whole  world  is  nearly  free. 

Before  I  read,  let  us  contemplate  for  a  moment  the 
disinterested  and  heroic  forgetfulness  of  self  which 
characterized  its  authors,  the  founders  of  our  repub- 
lic on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1770,  that  dark  and  peril- 
ous day,  when  the  foundation  was  laid,  the  super- 
structure of  which  was  to  be  the  home  for  the 
persecuted  of  every  land — a  terror  to  tyrants,  and 
the  barrier  between  liberty  and  European  bondage. 

The  eflbrts  of  a  life,  nay  not  even  the  beautiful 
rhetoric  nor  the  elegant  diction  of  the  distinguished 
oratoi-  who  is  to  follow  me,  can  paint  out  tliis"j)icture 
in  all  its  a.stonishing  incidents,  "  in  all  its  mingled 
colors  of  sublimity  and  woe,  of  agony  and  triumph." 
On  that  day  our  fathers  began  a  great  and  arduous 
adventure,  of  which  they  were  to  encounter  the  risk, 
anil  we  to  enjoy  the  benefits.  They  well  knew  the 
toil  and  blood  and  treasure  it  would  cost  to  maintain 
indeiiendenee  and  defend  the  States.  Yet  on  that 
memorable  day  no  one  faltered.  Hope  filled  every 
breast,  and,  in  the  very  front  of  tyranny,  a  revenge- 
ful army,  war  inevitable,  and  adonhtful  future,  the 
patriots  of  Seventy-Six  assumed  the  responsibility. 
They  felt  that  Providence  had  assigned  to  them  the 
task ;  that  they  were  elected  to  strike  the  blow  for 
which  the  friends  of  freedom  for  two  centuries  had 
been  making  slow  but  sure  preparation,  and  with  a 
singular  unanimity,  "  which  was  the  aurora  of  their 
enduring  fame,"  ihey  declared,  that  "  When,"  etc — 

[Here  followed  reading  the  Declaration.] 

He  was  frequently  a]iplaudert  during  the 
reading,  and  at  its  conclusion  made  the  fol- 
lowing tine 

Peroration. 

How  nobly  they  did  their  work,  a  nation's  joy  ex- 
pressed in  sweetest  strains  of  patriotic  song,  the  wild 
huzza,  the  booming  gun,  and  the  appropriate  fes- 
tivities here  and  everywhere,  on  this  100th  anni- 
versary, attest.  'W'ell  may  we  sing  loud  anthems  of 
exultation,  well  may  we  raise  our  voices  to  pay  fitting 
honors  to  the  memory  6f  the  illustrious  dead,  and 
celebrate  with  grateful  hearts  the  anniversary  of 
their  sacrifice. 

We  need  not  erect  monuments  carved  by  the  artist's 
chisel  to  perpetuate  their  glory.  The  principle  of 
free  government,  our  liberty  achieved  by  hard-fought 
battles,  this  gie.at  family  of  States  which  they  bound 
together  in  fraternal  confederacy,  our  most  exquisite 
political  fabric,  the  unexampled  prosperity  of  our 
country — these,  my  fellow-citizens,  proclaim  in  lan- 
guage more  emphatic  than  monumental  granite  or 
sculptured  marble,  the  worth  and  the  memory  of 
men, 


'  Who  Bowed  iu  weakness  the  harvest  we  raise  in  power." 

Dr.  Thomas  C.  Porter,  Professor  of  Natural 
Sciences  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  then 
read  the  following  hist-orical  sketch  of  the  city 
and  county  of  Lancaster  : 

Historical  Sketch  of  Lancaster. 

Citizens  of  Lancaster  City  and  Countt — I 
had  almost  said  Fellow  Citizcm ;  for,  although  it  is 
well  nigh  ten  years  since  I  had  a  right  to  use  that 
word,  as  I  stand  here  to-day  and  see  around  me  so 
many  familiar  faces,  changed  somewhat, perchance, by 
the  touch  of  time,  but  still  the  same,  old  memories  re- 
vive, and  I  feel  as  if  I  had  just  returned  from  a  king 
exile  and  were  breathing  again  the  atmosphere  of 
home.  And  I  am  proud  to  know  that  you  do  not  re- 
gard me  as  an  alien  or  a  stranger.  The  Mayor  and 
Councils  of  your  city,  in  obedience  to  a  general  call 
from  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Commonwealth, 
have  honored  me  with  an  invitation  to  prepare  a 
summary  of  the  history  of  the  county  for  the  past 
century,  reaching  down  from  the  year  1770  to  the 
present  year  of  grace,  lS70^this  summary,  when 
completed,  to  be  deposited  in  the  Archives  of  this 
county.  State  and  nation.  The  task,  which  might 
have  been  entrusted  to  abler  but  not  more  willing 
hands,  is  not  an  easy  one,  and  cannot  be  performed 
without  the  collection  of  material,  research  and  care- 
ful study.  And  as  scarcely  six  weeks  have  passed 
since  the  invitation  was  received  and  accepted,  all  I 
can  now  do  is  to  offer  some  desultory  thoughts  upon 
the  subject  in  the  shape  of  a  brief  address. 

Going  back  one  hundred  years,  beyond  the  recol- 
lection of  your  most  aged  patriarch,  we  come  to  the 
birthday  of  the  nation,  the  memorable  epoch  when 
the  tie  which  bound  the  American  colonies  to  the 
mother  country  was  broken  forever.  The  rupture 
was  sudden.  The  war,  begun  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, had  raged  for  a  year  before  separation  was  se- 
riously dreamed  of.  At  length  the  idea  entered  thL' 
minds  of  some  of  the  heroic  statesman  in  Congress, 
and  in  a  few  short  months  the  world  was  startled  by 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The  act  was  both 
bold  and  wise,  for  the  fullness  of  time  had  come. 
With  the  rapidity  of  wild-fire  the  tidings  traveled  to 
the  remotest  corners  of  the  land,  and  was  hailed  with 
joy  by  the  shouts  of  gathered  multitudes,  the  pealing 
of  bells  and  the  blazing  of  bonfires.  Never,  since 
then,  has  the  popular  heart  been  so  widely  and  so 
deeply  stirred  by  any  event,  save  the  lowering  of  the 
nation's  flag  on  the  ramjjarts  of  Fort  Sumter.  And 
there  was  good  reason  for  it.  Every  patriot  saw  and 
felt  that  the  struggle  had  undergone  a  radical  change. 
No  longer  merely  defensive,  a  revolt  against  oppres- 
sion, it  had  become  from  that  moment  aggressive, 
revolutionary— a  contest  for  complete  deliverance 
from  foreign  rule. 

The  noble  part  -which  your  forefathers  played  in 
the  mighty  struggle  is  best  told  by  the  statement  of 
a  few  facts  of  special  interest.  Even  before  the  out- 
break of  the  war  the  people  of  Lancaster  stood  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  movement.  In  this  ancient  bor 
ougli  the  prohibition  against  the  sale  of  tea,  which 
had  paid  duty  to  the  British  Government,  was  rightly 
enforced,  and  several  merchants  were  required  to 
answer  the  charge  of  having  violated  the  ordinance. 
When  the  harbor  of  Boston  was  closed  by  the  Port 
Bill,  considerable  sums  of  money  were  raised  here  for 
the  relief  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  city.  A  single 
incident  shows  in  a  clear  but  amusing  light  the  ear- 
nest spirit  of  the  period.  A  dancing-master  who  had 
opened  a  school  in  a  room  perhaps  not  far  from  this 
very  square,  was  compelled  by  the  authorities  to 
abandon  his  vocation.  The  time  to  dance  had  gone 
by;  the  time  to  fight  had  come.  The  instruction 
needed  by  the  young  men  was  not  how  to  "  trip  jt  on 
the  light,  fantastic  toe,"  but  how  to  handle  the  mus- 
ket and  march  in  the  ranks.  Powder,  lead  and  fire- 
arms were  gathered  together  from  all  quarters.  Mili- 
tary organizations  went  on  vigorously. 

On  the  -ith  of  July,  1770,  a  crowded  convention  of 
delegates  from  the  so-called  "  associators,''  or  militia, 
of  the  counties  of  Northampton,  Bucks,  Philadel- 
jihia,  Chester,  Berks,  Lancaster,  York,  Cumberland, 
Northumberland  and  Westmoreland,  assembled  iu 
this  city  iu  order  to  elect  two  brigadier-generals  to 
command  the  forces  of  Pennsylvania.  The  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  "  to  march  to  the  assistance  of  all  or 
any  of  the  free  and  indepetident  States  of  America." 
The  president  of  the  convention  was  Col.  Geo.  Boss, 
of  Lancaster,'  who  was  also  member  of  Congress  from 
the  district  and  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. His  presence  here  on  that  day  is  thus 
explained  :  The  instrument  at  first  bore  only  the 
names  of  John  Hancock  and  Charles  Thomson,  the 
jircsidcnt  and  secretary  of  Congress,  and  the  other 
names  were  added  on  the  second'of  August  following. 

Lancaster  county  raised  no  less  than  nine  regiments 
of  troops  lor  the  Continental  Ariny,  and  her  sons  be- 
haved with  distingv.ishcd  valor  in  some  of  thejbloodiest 
battles  of  the  war.  By  an  examination  of  the  records 
it  appears  that  a  goodly  proportion  of  the  ollicers  and 
soldiers  were  of  German  descent,  notwithstanding  so 
many  of  the  German  fanners,  then  as  now,  were  non- 
resistants  from  religious  principle.  Yet  these  men 
were  far  Irom  being  tories.  They  accepted  the  new 
government,  obeyed  its  decrees  in  all  things,  except 
in  the  matter  of  personal  military  service,  and  gave 


neither  aid  nor  comfort  tothe  enemy.  Tories  existed 
here,  it  is  true,  as  they  did  everywhere ;  but  their 
number  was  so  small  and  the  common  sentiment  of 
loyalty  to  the  new-born  Republic  so  strong,  that  they 
were  able  to  work  no  serious  mischief.  And  I  may 
now  say  that  the  magnitude  of  the  service  rendered 
by  the  Pennsylvania  liermans  at  home,  in  the  public 
councils,  and  iu  the  field  during  the  great  war  of  Inde- 
pendence,lias  been  strangely  overlooked.  It  deserves 
to  be  rescued  from  oblivion  and  set  forth  in  its  true 
colors.  The  forces  of  the  State  were  largely  com- 
posed of  this  element,  and  Washington  recognized  its 
value. 

The  last  of  the  veterans  who  made  the  starry  ban- 
ner a  glory  in  tlie  world'  has  been  laid  in  the  grave, 
but  some  of  us  have  seen  and  talked  with  them  before 
they  descended  into  the  land  of  shadows.  The  vener- 
able form  of  fine  whom  I  met  years  ago,  rises  to 
memory.  In  which  of  these  eastern  counties  he  was 
born  I  know  not,  but  bis  bonie  then  was  Harrisburg, 
and  there  he  died  and  was  buried  with  military  hou-' 
ors,  and  there  his  descendants  still  live.  His  name 
was  Leonard  Uubbs.  My  grandfather  drew  his  pen- 
sion for  him,  and  I  used  to  visit  him,  and  loved  to 
listen  tobis  talcsof  the  olden  time.  He  was  a  drum- 
mer under  Gen.  Wayne,  at  the  battle  of  Stony  Point, 
and  here  is  the  story,  which  I  have  no  doubt  is  true 
to  the  letter,  as  it  fell  from  his  own  lips  :  "  That 
night  when  the  boys  climbed  the  hill  we  was  in  front, 
but  dares'nt  tap  a  drum-head,  till  we  got  inside  of 
the  fort,  and  then  we  rattled  away  all  together. 
After  some  days  Gen.  Washington  came,  and  he  and 
Gen.  Wayne  rode  along  the  line,  and  they  stopped 
where  I  was,  and  Gen.  Wayne  ordered  me  forward. 
I  stepped  out,  took  otf  my  cap,  and  gave  the  salute, 
and  (ien.  Wasliington  said — '  Make  that  honest  Dutch 
boy  drum-major,'  and  I'll  be  bound  I  was  sassy." 

Alter  the  disastrous  battle  of  Brandywine,  .500 
wounded  American  soldiers  were  carried  in  wagons 
to  Ephrata  and  put  in  charge  of  the  Society  of  the 
Seventh  Day  Baptists,  at  that  place ;  but,  in  spite  of 
all  the  care  bestowed  on  them,  150  died  and  were 
buried  on  a  little  eminence  called  Mount  Zion.  In 
1845  a  plain  sandstone  monument  was  erected  on  the 
spot,  as  a  memorial  to  these  forgotten  patriots,  mainly 
through  the  exertions  of  the  late  Joseph  Konigmachcr. 
In  the  gloomy  winter  of  1S77-78,  while  Washington 
lay  at  Valley  Forge  with  his  suffering  troops,  two 
Pennsylvania  brigades,  commanded  by  Gen.  Wayne, 
endured  like  hardships,  encamped  near  the  village  of 
Mount  Joy.  When  the  British  under  Howe  took  pos- 
session of  Philadelphia,  Congress  fled  hither,  sat  here 
for  a  single  day,  and  then  passed  on  to  the  borough 
of  York. 

During  the  war  many  prisoners  were  quartered  in 
barracks  here  and  in  other  towns  of  the  county.  One 
incident  in  this  connection  is  worthy  of  note.  The 
unfortunate  Major  Andre,  whose  sad  fate  still  awak- 
ens pity  in  the  hearts  of  the  youthful  reader,  was 
captured  in  Canada  by  General  Montgomery,  on  the 
?>d  of  Nove^uber,  177.5,  and  brought  to  Lancaster 
with  several  other  English  oflieers.  He  became  an 
inmate  of  the  house  of  Mr.  Caleb  Cope,  (who  prior 
to  the  Revolution  had  filled  the  post  of  Burgess), 
and  employed  his  leisure  in  giving  lessons  in  drawing 
to  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Cope,  a  lad  of  13  years,  and 
in  playing  marbles  and  juvenile  games  with  the  two 
younger  brothers.  But,  perhaps,  the  crowning  gem 
in  this  wreath  of  historical  reminiscences  is  the  fact 
that  your  city  was  honored  by  the  presence  of  the 
illustrious  Father  of  his  Country,  and  as  his  stately 
charger  bore  him  along  these  streets,  no  doubt  the 
eyes  of  multitudes  6f  spectators  who  thronged  the 
sidewalks  and  filled  the  windows  of  the  houses,  gazed 
upon  him  with  admiration  and  reverence,  which 
found  expression  in  the  waviug  of  handkerchiefs  and 
iu  loud  and  hearty  huzzas. 

Thirty  years  later,  in  the  nation's  second  conflict 
with  her  ancient  foe  beyond  the  seas,  the  patriotic 
spirit  of  the  people  of  Lancaster  was  again  displayed. 
And  what  shall  I  say  of  the  still  mightier  and  more 
recent  struggle  which  drenched  the  land  with  fra- 
ternal blood  ?  In  those  dark  and  trying  days  I  was 
with  you,  and  one  of  you,  and  well  remember  how 
sensitively  the  pulse  of  the  entire  community  throbbed 
in  responsive  sympathy  with  the  varying  fortunes  of 
the  armies  of  the  Union — now  depressed  by  chilling 
rumors  of  defeat  and  anon  beating  high  at  the  joy- 
ful news  of  victory.  Here  is  neither  the  place  nor 
the  time  to  attempt  even  a  sketch  of  all  that  was 
then  said  and  done.  To  prove  that  in  loyalty  to  the 
old  flag,  we  of  the  present  generation  are  no  degen- 
erate sons  of  Revolutionary  sires,  it  is  enough  to  re- 
mind you  of  the  number  of  our  friends  and  kindred 
who  marched  forth  from  these  peaceful  scenes  to 
distant  fields  of  strife,  many,  to  return,  alas  !  no 
more  ;  of  the  untiring  and  devoted  labors  of  the  Pa- 
triot Daughters,  whose  worthy  deeds  deserve  a  fuller 
meed  of  prai.se  than  they  have  i yet  received  ;  of  the 
universal  grief  which  followed  the  remains  of  the 
gallant  Reynolds  to  their  last  resting-place,  just  13 
years  ago  this  day  ;  of  the  cordial  welcome  home  ex- 
tended to  the  war-worn  remnant  of  the  Reserves  in 
yonder  court  house ;  of  the  brave  and  cheering 
words  uttered  by  the  press  iu  seasons  of  sorrow  and 
despondency  ;  and  if  you  ask  for  further  evidence,  it 
stands  there  before  you  in  the  grand,  imperishable 
monument,  which  speaks  alike  for  the  living  and  the 
dead. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


99 


llaviiiff  thus  imid  due  trilmte  to  the  day,  let  me  now 
ask  you  to  turn  your  eyes  iji  quite  anotlier  direction. 
Wars,  battles,  lieniie  exploits,  advenluus,  political 
measures,  the  sayini^s  and  doinjjs  of  the  prominent 
actors  (in  the  world's  stai;e,  arc  not  the  sole  staple  of 
history,  as  many  seem  to  Imagine.  Important  and 
attraeti\T>  as  they  may  he,  they  are  only  means  to  an 
cud— of  value  only  lis  they  atlect  the  welfare  and 
mould  the  ehara<ler  of  lUe  lunsx  vf  Ihc  jicvjUi ,  or  as 
they  serve  to  illustrate  their  character.  And  other 
factors  of  equal  or  even  f:rcatc-r  importance  and  not 
to  be  Itrnorcd,  enter  intu  the  account.  From  this 
point  of  view,  the  real,  distinctive  history  of  Lancas- 
ter county  for  the  past  hundred  years  lies  nniinly 
with  the  rural  population  as  a  whole.  Wluit  they 
are  and  the  causes  and  eircunistanees  which  have 
combined  to  make  them  what  they  are,  what  they 
have  accomplished,  the  modifyinf;  inlluenccs  at  work 
amonirst  them  and  their  outlook  for  the  future,  are 
tojHCS  of  a  most  interestinf;  chapter  from  the  pen  of 
an  able  writer.  They  occupy  the  central  position, 
and  another  thincs  should  be  studied  iu  their  rela- 
tion to  and  bcarinic  upon  them. 

If  an  intcUiircnt  traveler,  who  has  landed  on  our 
shores  durins  tins  year  of  juliilce,  should  visit  the 
county,  and  journey 't-hr(ni;;h  it  from  border  to  border, 
with  full  leisure  and  opiiortunity  lor  the  best  use  of 
hiB  powers  of  observation,  he  would  behold  a  cen- 
tennial exhibition,  which,  if  rii;htly  apprehended, 
though  widely  dilfcrcnt,  is  i,'randcr  than  that  in  Fau- 
ipount  Tark.  lie  would  l)ehold  a  body  of  people,  tlie 
like  of  whom  are  not  to  be  found  anywheri!  else  on  the 
face  of  the  i;lobe,  except  iu  the  neii;liborinq:  counties 
of  eastern  I'cnnnsylvania— a  vast  body  of  Independ- 
ent farmers,  who  are  not  peasant  3  or  serfs  or  ignorant 
hirelings,  hut  fi-ce-bom  owners  of  the  soil  which  they 
cultivate,  as  their  fathers  did  before  them,  by  their 
own  toil,  and  with  the  rarest  skill  and  success.  He 
would  note  the  capacious  barns,  the  substantial 
homesteads,  the  trim  gardens  not  devoid  of  llowers, 
the  broad  Acres  covered  with  waving  harvests,  the 
stout,  well-fed  horses  and  cattle,  the  excellent  i-oade, 
the  abundant  signs  of  industry,  thrift,  frugality  and 
economy  everywhere  visible,  and  of  wealth  and  com- 
fort not  coutined  to  a  few  indviduals,  but  generally 
difl'used.  On  closer  iufiuiry  he  would  discover  a  peo- 
ple jjlain  iu  their  habits  and  speech,  honest  in  their 
dealings,  quiet,  contented,  loyal — good  neighbors  aud 
good  citizens— faithful  to  their  customs  and  tradi- 
tions, and  yet  wise  enough  to  advance  with  the  pro- 
gress of  the  age — supporters  of  the  church  and 
school,  and  well-luformed  in  public  affairs.  He 
would  be  struck  by  the  absence  of  social  Inequality 
and  the  rarity  of  poverty  and  criuie.  In  a  word,  lie 
would  heboid  that  which  would  compel  him  to  ex- 
claim :  "  Happy  is  the  Republic  that  can  produce 
children  like  these  !" 

This  result  of  the  peaceful  working  of  one  hun- 
dred years  was  beautifully  and  prophetically  symbol- 
ized in  the coat-of-arms  adopted  by  the  State.  Above, 
is  seen  the  national  eagle  with  (uitstretched  wings 
over  a  ship  under  full  sail,  in  the  centre, occupying 
the  place  of  honor,  the  plough — lower  down,  three 
sheaves  of  wheat,  on  each  side,  a  horse  rampant, 
and  beneath,  the  sterling  motto,  Viutue,  Libekty, 

iNOKPENUENrE. 

In  conclusion.  Dr.  Torter  remarked  that,  while 
Lancaster  county  must  be  awarded  a  first  place  in 
agriculture,  it  would  not  do  to  disparage  other  pur- 
suits. She  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  mining 
and  manufacturing  pursuits,  and  a  pleasant  feature 
is,  that  unlike  many  other  counties,  there  is  no  an- 
tagonism between  city  aud  county.  All  feel  a  com- 
mon interest,  and  work  for  a  common  cause.  The 
learned  speaker  closed  with  a  glowing  tribute  to  our 
public  schools  aud  advancement  in  all  material  and 
intellectual  things,  and  was  rapturously  applauded. 

During  the  delivery  he  was  frequently  Interrupted 
with  applause,  aud  alxiut  ton  minutes  before  the  close 
the  canvas  above  him  was  blown  off  by  a  heavy  gust 
of  wind,  and  he  .stood  under  the  unrelenting  rays  of 
the  noon-day  sun.  All  attempts  to  replace  the  can- 
vas were  in  vain,  and  the  Doctor  resumed,  remark- 
ing, "  I'll  light  It  out  in  the  sun."  [Loud  and  pro- 
longed applause.] 

The  Centennial  Oration 
"Was  delivered  by  Markiott  Brosius,  Esq., 
who  h;id  been  coiiiplinieiited  witli  the  honor 
of  the  position  of  ortitor  of  the  day.  It  wa.s 
a  tnaslerly  production,  wnithy  tlie  head  and 
heart  t)f  this  ri.sini;  youny;  lawyer  and  orator, 
and  wc  regret  that  its  i,'reat  length  prevents 
us  from  giving  it  a  place  in  tlie  cohnnns  of 
The  Faiimei!.  It  was  piihlislied  in  full  in 
the  daily  and  weekly  Exinrss. 


SAVING  SEEDS. 

In  the  article  on  "(;ahbaRes,"  in  onr  June 
nnmber,  alhision  was  made  to  "savingseeds,'' 
and  in  a  foot-note  we  staled  that  in  a  "  timely 
subseipient  ninnber  "  we  wotdd  publish  a  pa- 
per, from  the  same  .source,  on  litis  important 
suljject,  and  as  we  think  that  timi^  has  now 
arrived,  we  will  proceed  to  redeem  that  prom- 


ise, especially  since  it  is  becoming  more  ai>- 
jiarent  every  year,  that  if  the  farmer  and 
gardener  expect  to  secure  good  crops,  next 
after  the  proper  cultiviitiou  of  the  .soil,  iu  iin- 
porlauc.e,  is  the  seleclinn  of  good  seeds.  Of 
course,  in  the  begiiuiiiiLr  of  their  labors,  they 
uuisl  apply  to  some  neighbor  or  well-known 
seedsman  ;  but,  siil)sequeutly,  Ihey  sliould  en- 
deavor to  supply  themselves,  with  some  few 
exceptions,  from  their  own  premi.ses. 

It  is  a  wi',11  attested  fact,  that  if  two  dill'er- 
ent  varieties  of  ;i  vegetable  iire  permitted  lo 
blosMom  at  the  same  lime,  within  a  short  <lis- 
tance  of  (sich  other,  they  intermix,  iuid  pro- 
duce ii  hybrid,  partaking  of  the  cliaraeler  of 
both  |);ireuts.  The  fertilizing  dust  of  stamens 
in  the  llowers  of  one  plant  is  conveyed,  by  the 
wind  or  insects,  to  the  pistils  in  the  llowers  of 
the  other.  Tlie  di.stitictive  features  of  each 
are  thereby  lost,  while  the  new  variety  may 
pos.sess  not  a  single  point  to  make  it  woithy 
of  cultivation.  It  is  seldom  tlitit  such  a 
chance  hybrid  i>rovcs  of  much  retil  valu^^  The 
originati(]ii  in  this  way  of  any  (■bnic(!  e.stailcul 
is  almost  ever  the  result  of  study  aud  long  ex- 
periment. 

A  knowledge  of  this  fact  is  of  peculiar  im- 
portiince  to  the  gardener,  whose  object  is  to 
raise  sevenil  different  vari(!ties  of  the  same 
vegetable  upon  a  small  piece  of  ground.  It  is 
by  this  only  that  he  can  satisfactorily  account 
for  the  rapid  delerioratiou  of  the  choicest 
sorts.  Where,  for  example,  he  cultivates  the 
melon,  the  cnciunber  and  the  pumpkin  in  close 
companionship,  but  a  few  seasons  will  elapse 
before  he  liiids  the  juiciness,  pcrfumo  aud 
delicate  flavor  of  the  lirst  named  exchanged 
for  the  coarse  ilesli  of  the  last ;  and  the  cele- 
brated Brasska  tribe,  among  which  are  our 
cabbage,  caulitlower,  etc.,  are  suppcsed  to 
number  several  hundreds,  produced  by  inten- 
tional or  chance  intermixture.  We  therefore 
consider  it  as  dangerous  to  allow  plants  of  a 
particular  family  to  run  to  seed  iu  the  vicinity 
of  each  other  as  to  turn  a  rough,  scrubliy, 
"  native  "  bull  among  a  herd  of  thoroughbred 
Durhams. 

You  will  now  very  natiu'ally  inquire,  good 
reader,  how  you  are  to  raise  seed,  and  yet  jtre- 
serve  the  several  varieties  distinct.  We  lirst 
answer,  that  you  ought  to  reduce  the  number 
of  varieties  to  the  very  choicest — such  its  arc 
desirable  for  being  early  or  late,  or  of  unusutil 
size,  or  having  a  fine  flavor,  or  distinguished 
for  great  productiveness^instead  of  keciiinga 
selection  large  enough  for  a  seedsman.  They 
are  in  re<ility  very  few,  for  the  majority  of  the 
flne-souiuling  names  in  catalogues  are  given  to 
plants  of  an  inferior  character. 

.Such  as  you  select  for  settling  should  be  lo- 
cated as  far  apart  as  the  extent  of  your  terri- 
tory will  admit,  so  as  to  lessen  the  chiinces  of 
intermixture  ;  and  where  the  vitality  of  tlie 
seed  will  remain  unimi)aired  for  two  or  three 
yciirs,  yon  may  allow  only  a  part  of  th(!  varie- 
ties to  blossom  in  each  year.  Thus,  by  refer- 
ence to  the  table  at  the  end  of  tliis  article,  it 
will  aiipear  that  cabbage  seed  preserves  its 
germinating  power  for  foiu'  years,  and  by  per- 
mitting only  one  kind  to  perfect  itself  in  a 
season,  you  may  have  four  distinct  kinds  iu 
perfect  jun-ity.  This  rule  is  good  tis  far  as  it 
goes,  but  you  will  perceive  that  it  is  not  of 
genenil  ;ipplicati(m.  Where  you  are  obliged 
to  have  two  or  more  kinds  iu  llower  at  the 
same  tinii^,  as  with  membei-s  of  the  cucumber 
family,  place  them  as  far  astmder  as  possible. 
Wc  think  it  lietter  to  raise  only  one  valuillile 
sort  of  seed,  iind  deiiend  upon  a  responsible 
seedsmen  tor  the  balance,  than  to  run  the  ri.sk 
of  getting  mongrels. 

Of  such  varieties  a.s  yon  .select  for  seeding, 
choose  the  best  plants  only— those  which  iire 
healthy,  and  liavt^  their  peculiar  character- 
istics most  perfectly  developed.  To  insme 
carline.ss,  only  the  most  forward  plants  should 
be  ttiken.  Let  the  soil  be  rich  aud  well  culti- 
vated, allowing  plenty  of  room  to  the  roots. 
Attend  carefully  to  the  sid)sei)uent  growth, 
for  the  leaves  and  shoots  are  very  apt  to  be 
injured  by  insects,  ;uid  are  veiy  often  choked 
by  rank  weeds.  It  will  be  the  best  policy  to 
look  at  the  plants  at  leiist  oucc  ;i  week,  aud, 


when  the  weiither  gets  very  dry,  it  becomes 
advisable  to  apply  water  in  moderate  (pianli- 
ties.  The  seed  sUilks  will  be  thrown  up  in  the 
early  part  of  summer  ;  being  high,  and  hav- 
ing intmy  branches,  thijy  are  liable  to  be  broken, 
down  by  heavy  rains  or  strong  winds.  Tho 
labor  of  tying  them  up  to  stakes  is  trilling, 
and  ought  on  no  account  lo  Im!  neglected. 

Whin  the  seeils  are  ripe  gather  them  with- 
out nmiec^Hsary  delay;  otherwise  the  jiods 
will  split  open,  and  their  contents  bo  siuitlcred 
upon  the  grcjund.  Do  not  gather  indi.scriiui- 
nali'lv,  but  take  only  the  linest  looking  heads. 
15y  this  selection  of  the  best  plaids  and  the 
best  seed,  good  varieties  may  be  e.veii  im- 
luoved,  and  they  certainly  will  not  deteriorate. 
In  this  way  many  of  our  choice  vegetables 
have  been  obtauied.  The  iiractical  stock- 
breeder's motto  Ls,  that  "like  produces  like," 
aud  he  Ineeds  from  tho.se  animals  only  which 
pos.se,ss  the  points  he  wishes  periietualed. 
Thus,  if  you  selicl  the  curliest  peas  from  the 
earliest  vines,  fora  number  of  setusons,  you  tau 
olitain  ii  variety  riiieuiiig  several  days  earlier 
than  thtit  witli  which  you  commencej.  It  has 
been  done  once,  and  may  be  done  again. 

I'Licu  the  seed  vessels,  an  soon  as  gathered, 
upon  a  cloth  iu  the  shade,  so  that  tluy  may 
become  perfectly  dry,  at  which  lime  thresh 
out  the  s*;ed  by  mwins  of  a  small  slick.  Win- 
now out  the  chair  and  small  or  defective  sged, 
and  \>ut  the  remainder  in  diawers  or  .small  pa- 
per bags.  Every  kiud  should  be  Libeled  with 
its  Uitaiie  and  the  year  when  rai.sed— in  tliis 
manner:  ^-JlJarl!/  Sulmon  liadish,l>i'A).''  This 
williirevi-nt  all  possibility  of  the  inexperienced 
cultivator  mistaking  beta  for  cabbage  seed,  or 
sowing  thill  which  by  the  lapse  of  time  lias 
lost  its  power  of  germiiiiilion.  Keep  these 
drawers  or  bags  in  a  cool,  dry  apartment, 
where  no  injury  may  be  ;ipi)rehended  from 
moisture  or  the  attacks  of  mice.  With  care, 
seeds  may  be  preserved  for  several  years,  ac- 
cording to  the  annexed  table. 

The  vitality  of  seeds,  under  favorable 
circumstances,  can  be  depended  upon  for  the 
following  periods  : 

I'arsnip,  Rhubarb,  and  other  thin,  6caly 
seeds,  for  mw  year. 

lialm,  Basil,  Beans,  Cardoon  Carrot,  Cr&ss, 
Indian  Cress,  Lavender,  Leek,  (Jki-a,  Onion, 
Peas,  Pepper,  llampion.  Sage,  Stivory,  St:or- 
/.ouera.  Thyme,  Tomato,  Wormwootl,  and 
small  herbs  generally,  for  two  i/cuv.s. 

Artichoke,  Asparagus,  Corn  .Salad.  Egg- 
plant, Kiidive,  Indian  Corn,  Lettuce,  Miiri- 
gold,  Mtirjoram,  JMustard,  Parsley,  liose- 
mary,  Rue,  Skirret,  Spinach,  and  Taiisey,  for 
three  i/acrg. 

Borage,  Borecole,  Broccoli,  Brtissels  Sprouts, 
Cabbage,  Canliliower,  Kadish,  S'a-K;ile,  Tar- 
ragon and  Turniii,  for  four  i/eurs. 

Beet,  Btiruel,  Celery,  Chervil,  Cucumlwr, 
Dill,  Fennel,  Hyssop,  Melon,  Pumpkin,  .Sor- 
rel and  S(iu;isli,  from  Jhx  lo  eight  or  ten  years. 
— Garile^iers'  'I'ext  Book. 


'OUR  FARMERS  IN  COUNCIL." 


Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  farmers  and  fruit-growei-sof  onr  comity 
thought  it  more  wise,  tin'  luvsetil  month,  to 
hold  Ihuir  councils  in  the  hay  and  wheat  lieUls 
than  to  come  to  town  anil  spend  their  preciou."* 
time  in  a  city  meeting.  There  is  "a  time  to 
talk  and  aliine  to  work,"  tinil  when  the  wheat 
harvest  comes  so  close  iiiioii  the  heels  of  the 
hay  harvest,  the  time  for  talk  ha.s  passed,  and 
stern  necessity  suggests  that  the  time  to  work 
has  ccnne.  We  wended  our  way  to  the  coun- 
cil chandler  but  found  it  vacant.  The  secre- 
tary had  just  retired  and  announced  '"no 
<iui")ruin."  Even  if  the  foregoing  had  notlieen 
the  ea.sc,  we  c<iuld  hardly  expe<t  the  farmers 
of  Lancaster  connty  to  come  into  I-iiniiuster 
city  «m  the  ;id,  4lh  or  ."ith  of  .Inly,  and  subject 
themselves  to  the  noise,  confusion  and  dan- 
gers of  the  "Clorions  Fourth,"  especially 
when  the  reserved  patroilism  of  a  hundred 
years  wa.s  likely  to  have  a  noisy  ;md  boister- 
ous manifesUition  on  those  days.  Patrioti.sm 
would  not  have  the  physical  cucrgy  to  ultimate 


100 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July, 


itself  if  it  were  not  for  the  aliment  afforded 
by  the  products  of  the  patient,  persevering  and 
farseeing  farmer.  Their  functions  during  the 
Revolution  of  1776  was  to  sustain  the  soldier 
ill  the  field  with  that  which  is  more  essential 
than  powder,  balls,  guns,  and  generalship, 
and  they  are  doing  nothing  less  in  1876. 

On  the  ^vhole,  the  crop  outlook  for  the  jxes- 
ent  year  seems  to  be  one  that  will  add  addi- 
tional lustre  to  our  "  Grand  Centennial,"  and 
although  there  is  a  dearth  of  employment  in 
many  of  the  occupations  of  our  countrymen, 
still  there  is  a  reasonable  prospect  for  an  ave- 
eragc  reward  to  the  farmer — a  compensation 
for  Ills  days  of  toil  and  an  assurance  to  the 
masses  of  the  people. 

Many,  if  not  all,  of  oin-  farmers  will  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  visit  the 
International  ExpnsUion,  now  being  held  in 
Faimiount  Park,  Philadelphia,  and  if,  for  the 
time  being,  they  are  not  so  attentive  to  their 
local  meetings,  they  will  l)e  gathering  ideas 
for  future  development  in  their  honorable  oc- 
cupation. Such  an  .occasion  will  never  be 
presented  again  to  those  who  are  now  the 
"  bone  and  sinew"  of  thfs  country.  The  in" 
fo  rmation  we  gather  this  year  fi'om  the  various 
sources  now  concentrated  in  the  Centennial 
enclosure  will  last  for  many  generations.  It 
will  constitute  a  great  epoch  in  the  material 
history  of  our  country,  and  the  lessons  that 
may  be  drawn  from  it  will  serve  as  texts  and 
landmarks  for  many  years  to  come,  whether  it 
may  result  in  good  or  evil,  therefore  in  any 
event  it  may  be  profitable.       y-  ' 

Meeting  ot  the  Millers'  Association. 

The  Millers'  Association  held  its  regidarly 
monthly  meeting  in  the  rooms  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  on  ^Monday  afternoon,  July  lOtli,  the 
President,  John  Strohm,  jr.,  in  the  chair. 
The  attendance  was  fair  and  the  interest  con- 
siderable. Several  new  members  were  elected. 
Bcports  were  received  from  all  parts  of  the 
cormty  concerning  the  wheat  crop.  This 
year's  crop  is  superior  to  any  we  have  had  for 
several  years.  The  wheat  is  well-filled,  and 
most  of  it  has  been  harvested  in  good  condition. 

Considerable  ditlereuce  exists  in  quality  es- 
pecially in  "rakiilgs,"  which  owing  to  the 
lodged  condition  of  tlie  grain  will  be  unusu- 
ally aliundant.  The  crop  is  more  satisfactory 
in  the  southern  part  of  tlie  county  than  in  the 
northern.  Advices  from  Ohio  indicate  a  poor 
yield,  while  the  northwest  is  rqiorted  as  hav- 
ing a  very  full  crop.  Foreign  advices  indicate 
a  fair  crop.  Tlie  general  feeling  was  that 
there  is  little  encouragement  to  buy  beyond 
actual  needs.  Choice  new  wheat  was  reported 
from  commission  sources  as  alumdaut  in 
Philadelphia  at  .§1.25  and  no  buyers.  But  late 
new  wheat  seems  to  have  changed  hand  in 
this  count}^  and  at  prices  ranging  widely. 

Opinions  difVerod  somewhat  as  to  the  ]iroba- 
bilities  of  tlie  market  in  the  future.  It  was 
conceded  that  little  upward  chiinge  could  be 
expected  except  in  case  of  war  in  Europe, 
when  prices  might  rise  a  little.  Most  of  the 
members  felt  that  there  would  be  a  little 
change,  while  a  few  predicted  a  fall  of  not  less 
than  10  to  15  cents  per  bushel. 

The  following  jnices  were  reported  by  the 
Gornmittee  as  current :  wheat  (old),  .1^1. 25  to 
S1.30 ;  wheat  (new),  $1.15  to  Sl.'25  ;  makings, 
SI. 05  to  SI. 20  ;  corn  50  cents  ;  oats  32  to  35 
cents  ;  rye,  62  to  70  cents. 


Lancaster  being  a  "border  county,"  and 
many  subjects  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  thriv- 
ing eiiuaily  well  with  those  of  other  localities 
we  Vtelieve  that  the  following  from  the  Com- 
mcrcial.,  of  Baltimore,  will  be  useful  to  the 
readers  of  The  Faiijier,  especially  those  in 
the  southern  portion  of  Lancaster  coimty. 

'  '•  Maryland  Fruits. 

The  advantages  of  Maryland  and  portions 
of  the  adjacent  States  of  Delaware  and  Vir- 
ginia for  fruit  growing  are  becoming  daily 
more  apparent,  and  it  is  being  acknowledged 
that  this  central  locality  of  this  country  must 
render  it  the  garden  spot  of  the  ^Vo^ld.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  climate  and  soil  for  the  success- 
ful growing  of  fruit,  especially  of  the  peach, 


the  pear  and  the  smaller  varieties,  the  facili- 
ties for  transportation  which  the  central  port 
of  Baltimore  presents,  in  its  numerous  lines  of 
railroads  and  steamboats  to  aU  sections  of  our 
own  countr)',  and  the  admirable  facilities  af- 
forded by  our  ocean  steam«-s  to  Europe, 
must  render  our  city  and  State  the  great 
emportum  for  the  dissemination  of  the  horti- 
cultural productions  of  the  country,  as  they 
are  fast  becoming  of  the  cereal  crops  which 
now  find  an  outlet  to  Europe  from  the  gi'eat 
granaries  of  the  West. 

It  is  evident  in  every  direction  that  the 
taste  for  horticulture  and  the  propagation  of 
line  fruits  is  daily  increasing,  and  the  efforts  of 
the  admirable  Horticultural  Society  of  Mary- 
land to  encourage  and  extend  this  taste  is 
bringing  forth  corresponding  results  liy  the 
beautiful  disjilay  which  from  time  to  time  is 
made  in  our  city  under  its  auspices.  The  last 
monthly  exhibition  was  indeed  a  triinnphant 
.success,  and  the  show  produced  specimens  of 
flowers  and  fruits  which  it  would  be  difHcult 
to  surpass. 

The  Society  last  year  sent  a  deputation  to 
the  biennial  meeting  of  the  American  Pnnio- 
logical  Society,  who  secured  the  adoption  of 
Baltimore  as  the  place  for  holdhig  the  next 
meeting  of  the  National  Society  in  1877,  the 
•  arrangements  for  which  will  be  made  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Maryland  Society;  and 
'from  the  well-known  energy  and  efficiency  of 
its  officers,  a  success  will  no  doubt  be  secured, 
which  will  redound  to  the  honor  of  the  ama- 
teur and  ])rofessional  gardeners  of  otu-  State. 

At  the  meeting  in,  1875,  of  the  American 
Pomological  Association,  Mr.  W.  D.  Bracken- 
ridge,  adelegate  from  Maryland,  made  a  re- 
port upon  the  "  Fndts  of  Maryland, "  in  which 
he  says  that  "  Maryland,  in  her  geographical' 
position,  the  fertility  of  her  soil,  mildness  and 
uniformity  of  climate,  embraces  one  of  the 
finest  fruit-growing  regionsof  our  whole  coim- 
try.  By  this  We  refer  more  particularly  to 
what  is  known  as  our  Eastern  Shore  counties, 
bounded  on  one  side  by  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
and  on  the  other  bj'  part  of  the  State  of  De'a- 
ware,  where  the  peach  and  the  pear  may  be 
said  to  have  found  their  homes.  The  soil  of 
this  Maryland  tract  is  generally  wliat  may  be 
termed  a  light  loam,  and  therefore  easy  to 
work.  It  is  computed  that  about  sixty  thou- 
sand acres  of  this  is  planted  in  peach  trees, 
and  the  remarkable  yield  the  present  year  of 
this  fruit  is  estimated  at  five  millions  of  bush- 
els. The  fruit  begins  to  ripen  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July,  and  continues  until  the  first  of 
October.  Some  of  these  orchards  are  over 
twenty  years  old,  and  still  continue  in  a 
healthy  conditioii'.  The  stimulants  used  thus 
to  maintain  the  trees  are  liberal  applications 
of  barnyard  manure,  or  to  the  extent  of  one 
thousand  pounds  Of  ground  bones  to  the  acre. 
Sometimes  muriate  of  potash  and  other  fertil- 
izers are  applied,  while  the  surface'  of  the 
gr<iund  is  kept  open  by  frequent  plowing  and 
harrowing  during  each  .season  ;  judicious  prun- 
ing and  shortening-in  being  considered  essen- 
tial to  the  healthy  condition  of  the  orchard." 

Mr.  Brackenridge  says  that  the  usual  rem- 
edy for  the  peach  borer  or  worm  is  to  use  the 
knife  freely,  and  then  apply  a  shovelful  of 
slacked  lime  on  the  surface  m  close  contact 
with  the  tree. 

Some  seasons  the  curculio  does'great'flanl- 
age  to  the  fruit.  To  prevent  this  no  remedy 
has  yet  been  fomid.  With  regard  to  what  Is, 
called  the  "Yellows,"  a  few  of  the  more  in" 
telligent  growers  attribute  it  to  tlie  action  of 
an  aphis  on  the  roots,  and  is  considered  by 
some  to  be  the  Grape-Vine  Phylloxera,  al- 
though some  entomologists  call  it  the  Aphis 
Persica.  These  insects,  though  small,  nlake 
sad  havoc  on  the  roots,  and  their  pres- 
ence underground  is  made  very  evident  by  the 
yellow  and  sickly  appf'arance  of  the  leaves,'  and 
on  the  few  that  have  lieen  examined  l^y  myself 
the  insects  were  found  following  out  and  de- 
stroyiiig  the  healthy  bark  to  the  extreme  points 
of  the  rootlets.  Uur  intelligent  and  most  exten- 
sive peach-grower.  Col.  Edwai-d  Wilkihs,  of 
Kent  county,  is  now  carefully  investigating 
the  character  and  habits  of  this  destructive 


pest,  and  from  him  we  expect  such  informa- 
tion as  may  lead  to  measures  calculated  to  put 
a  stop  to  its  ravages:  '  An  opinion  prevails  al- 
most universally  among  our  orchardists  that 
of  late  years  the  season  of  ripening  of  many 
kinds  has  materially  changed.  Those  ]3eaches 
which  used  to  ripen  late  now  come  in  with 
earlier  varieties,  thereby  occasioning  fre- 
(juently  a  glutting  of  the  market.  Some  at- 
tribute the  cause  to  an  mdiscrimin'ate  use  of 
seed  for  stocks  got  from  tlie  preserving  estal>- 
lishments,  or  to  the  small  and  wcak'hog  w' 
natural  .seed  procured  in  Virghiia,  and  my 
friend.  Col.  E.  Wilkins,  thinks  this  evil  can 
be  obviated  by  budding  "Early  Yorks  on 
Early  Yorks  and  Smocks  on  Smock  stock."  ■ 

A  list  of  fi'uits  that  have  proved  to  be  well 
adapted  for  this  State  and  vicinity,  arr^ugcd 
in  .iccordance  with  the  Society's  programme 
and  the  report  of  Mr.  Brackenridge,'  is  found 
in  the  published  proceedings  of  the  National 
Association  : 

Peaches — One  Star — Early  Troths,  profit- 
aljle  as  a  market  fruit ;  Stump  tlie  World, 
large,  of  medium  quality.  Pineapple,  White 
Heath,  Cling,  Salway. 

2'roo  Stars — Early  York,  good  for  table  and 
marketing  ;  Early  Crawfdrds,  one  of  the  most 
profitable ;  Reeve's  Favorite  ;  Old  Mixon 
Free,  mucli  sought  for  preserving  ;  Crawford's 
Late,  in  high  esteem  for  marketing  ;  Silver 
Medal,  poindar  here  and  in  Delaware;  Key- 
jiort  White  ;  Beers'  Smock,  the  most  profitable 
grown,   ■ 

Dayijcr  —  Early  Beatrice,  promises  well. , 
Early  Louise,  Early  Rivers,  flavor  high. 

Pears — One  Star — Manning's  Elizabeth,; 
a  great  bearer,  fruit  small,  yet  profitable. 
Clapp's  Favorite,  a  line  grower  and  good 
*  bearer,  but  fruit  inclined  to  rot  at  the  core, 
li'lemish  Beauty,  rots  at  tlie  core  and  slieds,  its 
leaves  before  the  fruit  is  ripe,  still  it  Is  worth 
growing.  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  good  beaaer  on 
both  Dwarf  and  Standard,  much  grown; 

Two  Stars — Tyson  ;  one  of  the  very  best, 
but  tree  long  in  coming  into  liearing.  Beurre 
Giffard  ;  in  some  localities  the  fruit  is  liable  to 
craclv.  Bloodgood ;  high  flavored,  and  much 
esteemed.  Bartlett ;  the  most  popular  of  all 
])ears.  Howell;  an  early  and  good  bearer  on 
Dwarf  or  Standard.  Beurre  d'Anjou  one  of 
the  very  best  pears,  grows,  bears  and  eats- 
well.  ,  Sheldon ;  is  all  that  can  be  desired. 
Bergen ;  this  is  gj'adually  growing  in  favor. 
Duchess  d' Angouleme ;  on  dwarf  very  reliar 
ble.  Seckle ;  good  everwhere.  Lawrence ; 
docs  well  all  over  oiu-  State. 

Da(j(jer — Andrews ;  promises  so  far  to  do 
well  here.  Mount  Vernon  ;  this,  so  far,,  proin- 
ises  well.  Triomphe  de  Jodoigne ;  a  fine 
grower,  fruit  of  high  flavor.  British  Queen  ; 
fruit  large,  flavor  high,  keeps  well,  tree  rather 
a  poor  grower.  Dana's  llovey  ;  tree  a  fine 
grower  and  coming  into  bearing  early — fruit 
high-fiavorcd. 

Note — The  Doyenne  Boussock  and  Swan's 
(Grange  do  well  in  some  localities,  and  we 
think  the  last  when  better  known  will  become 
a  popular  market  fruit. 

Apples — One  Star — Early  Harvest ;  a 
moderate  bearer,  fruit  excellent.  English 
Russet ;  does  well  on  warm  land.  Long  Is- 
land Russet  ;  an  early  and  abundant  bearer. 
Peck's  Pleasant ;  flavor  good,  requires  to  be 
more  generally  known.  Robertson's  White  ; 
an  abundant  bearer.  Summer  Rose,;  a  deli- 
cate fruit  for  table,  not  much  grown. 

Tico  >S<ars— Astrachan  Red  ;  bears  weU  only 
on  aged  trees.  Drap  d'Or  ;  the  only  objection 
to  it,  tbc;  trees  grow  slowly.  Jefferis, ;  in 
some  counties  does  well.  Rawles'  Genet ;  a, 
good  bearer  and  keeps  well.  Summer  Pippin  ; 
one  of  our  best  early  apples.  Smith's  Cider  ; 
the  most  profitable  sort  grown  here.  Smoke- 
house, highly  esteemed  and  widely  dis.semiu- 
ated.  Tulpehocken  Pippin  (Fallawater);  tree 
good  bearer,  fruit  large — much  grown  by  our 
farmers.  Tewsbmy  Winter  Biu.sh ;  a  good 
bearer  and  keeps  long.  York  Imperial ;  this 
and  Smith's  Cider  are  the  two  leading  apples 
of  Maryland. 

IJagger — Alexander ;  so  far  this  promises  to- 
suit  here. 


I87n.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


101 


As  the  peach  is  tlie  most,  iiniiDitant  of  all 
our  I'luits  in  lliis  State,  we  may  bo  |)('riiiiU4'ii 
to  copy  fVoiu  tliu  remarks  of  Mv.  Kdvvanl  Al- 
len, ot'  New  .Icrsi'V,  wliioli  we  lind  in  the  piili- 
lisliwl  proceedings  of  the  Now  Jersey  Horti- 
cultural Society,  kindly  forwarded  ns,  (m  the 
"  New  1-^iiits  ot  I'loniise,"  wliieh  willdonlil- 
loss  he  found  nseful  l.o  onr  readers.  Mr.  A  Urn 
says  that  the  di.'^liniiMisiied  I'reneh  cuUivalor 
and  writei',  Dnhanicl,  .slates  that  Im  planted 
the  seeds  of  the  hest  lal>le  pears  for  llfty 
years  without  prodneiiii;  a  <,'oo(l  variety,'  I'ut 
that  since  tlu^  art  orliybiidizint;  and  crossing 
has  become  hotter  nndcrstoiHl,  man  has 
learned  so  to  eontml  and  direct  the  proees.ses 
of  nature  in  prodneiiii;  varieties  as,  in  a  meas- 
ure, to  iiredeti-rinine  the  le.sull,  and  lluis 
oritlinate  j^ood  fruits  almost  at  w'M. 

<(H  recent  iiroductions,  adds  Mr.  Allen, 
none,  peihajts,  are  of  more  inipurtance  to  us 
of  New  Jer.sey,  than  llie  additions  maile  to 
llio  list  of  peaches,  and  sonu'  of  these  frnni 
Thomas  Kivcrs,  of  Kuf,'latid,  are  worthy  lA' 
sp('eial  notice.  The  Karly  Kivers,  I  hvik  upon 
as  line  of  the  liest  of  its  season  ;  very  early, 
fipeninj;  liefoi-e  Hale's  Karly  ;  medium  size, 
with  a  delicate  jiink  cheek  upon  aground  of 
dear'  pale  straw  ;  llesh  melting,  sweet  and 
rich.      '  '     ';'•      • 

Early  Tjouise,  another  from  Rivers,  of  excel- 
lent eiiaracter,  about  the  same  si/.e,  and  vip- 
eiung  a  few  days  earlier.  Karly  FieatriiX', 
from  the  same  source,  still  earlii'r,  ripcniii}? 
ten  days  or  two  wt'cks  before  llule's  and  un- 
like that  variety,  it  han!;s  lon;4  uiion  the  tree, 
free  from  rot,  coloring  beautifully.  I  think 
this  peach  worthy  of  all  the  popularity  it  has 
gained  as  an  extra  early  market  fruit.  The 
seeuiing-  modest  tvait  of  this  ttistinKhished  cnl- 
ti\'ator,  of  not  over-eslin\ating  his  own  pro- 
ductions (a  trait  worthy  of  euuilalion)  and  the 
fact  thal'lan.:;e  a  poilion  of  onr  peaches  of  the 
best  quality  have  oriiili\at<Ml  in  England,  leads 
mo  to  speak  of  these  paiclies  with  greater 
conlidenee.  I  name  Ironi  among  tlunn  Alex- 
ander Noblesse,  from  the  old  Nobles.se,  Init 
much  larj^er,  and  equally  rich  and  excellent, 
which,  if  it  proves  so  with  u.s,  is  good  enough. 

Cbniet ;  large,  orange  with  crimson  cheek, 
nosh  yellow,  melting,  sweet  and  good  ;  ripen- 
ing a  week  lieforc  its  iiarcnt,  the  Sa.lway, 
which  has  proved  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
list.pf  late  ijcachcs.  While  foreij^'u  cultiyators 
have  lieen  successfully  at  work,  American  cn- 
tei'prise  ha,s,uot  been  lacking.  We  have  an 
American  Coinet,  correctly  IJillyeu's  Comet,  a 
very  large,  white  fleshed,  freestone  peach, 
ripening  a.  half  a  month  later  than  the  (^mock. 
It  origiiiatcd  in  Maryland,  where  It  lias  ob- 
tained popularity,  and  is  promising  as  a' very 
late  iicaeh.  Steadly ;  iuiother  very  late  and 
extremely  l;irge  freestonii  peach,  white  to  the 
pit,  a,'ndii)f  a  very  delicious  flavor  ;  origin  Sfis- 
souri.  The  description  is  that  of  Mr.  IIuss- 
niann,  of  that  State,  than  whom  I  know  of  no 
better'  authority  ;  he  adds,  "  it  is  ten  days 
later  than  the  lia  Grange,  aiid  by  far  the  best 
Very  late  peach  I  kiiow^  of."  Tlie  Alexander 
ami  Am,sdeu's  June  are  American  peaches, 
competitors  for  earliness,  ripening  Wo  weeks 
before  Jlale's ;  very  handsome,  and  much 
larger  than  Beatrice.  They  art^  very  pn-omis- 
iug,  worthy  at  least  of  general  trifvl. 

The  Dowiung,  from  renii-sylvania,  a  good 
peach,  ripening  long  before  Hale's,  and  (piite 
juioy  for  so  early  a  V)each.  The  (Jol.  "W'ilder, 
from  the  si\me  source,  of  excellent  ([uality, 
ripening,  too.  before  Hale's.  The  Honeywell, 
from  Ohio,  is  another  extremely  early,  resem- 
bling Alexaiuler,  but  earlier.  There  arc  others 
of  promise  ;  several  not  yet  named,  said  to  be 
extra  early  and  good,  but  lime  is  reipiired  to 
d<>,termiuo  their  true  eluuacter  and  position. 
1  might  say  the  .sami;  of  some  others  I  have 
named. 

The  additioius  made  to  thelist  of  peaches  wit  hr 
in  a  very  short  period  have  beeu  wonderful  in 
extending  the  season.  Wc  may  now  have  this 
delicious  fnut  fnmi  the  open  ground,  upon 
our  table  four  mouths  in  the  year. 

I  will  add,  although  this  frnita<lmit9  of  dis- 
tant carriage,  and  will  1  doubt  not  yet  be 
l)laeed  in  the  markets  of  England  by  our  en- 


terprising fruit  growerH,  he  who  would  enjoy 
it  in  its  highest  uxcelleueu  must  ciit  it  in  iiis 
own  garden. 

WHITE  CRESTED   BLACK   POLISH. 

All  wrilei-s  seem  to  agree  that  Polish  or 
I'oland  fowls  did  not  derive  tJieir  name  fioni 
thec.omitry  of  that  name.  One  writer  Dr. 
Horner  -according  to  AV right's  Hook  of  I'oul- 
tiy,  suggests  that  the  name  probably  had 
reference  rather  to  the  very  pecidiar  crest  or 
poll  of  tlu'.se  bud.s.  "  We  have  what  is  known 
as  the  '  polled  '  breed  of  cattle;  and  I)i'. 
Horner's  view,  of  the  matter  has  at  least  .so 
far  found  aecepla^tce,  that  I  he  name  of  I'olands 
— once  very  comnKiu  for  llm.se  fowls  is  now 
nearly  abolished,  and  Birnnngliam  and  most 
othershows  haveadopted  that  of  Polish  as  pre- 
ferable.'" The  American  standard  of  excellence 
u.sesonly  the  designation  of  Polish.  The  Tolish 
is  i;emarkable  not  oidy  on  ;u'count  of  the  ta'est 
-  which,  indeed,  is  possesseil  by  some  otht'r 
fowls-but  niore  jiarticularly  on  account  of 
vervKeculiar  craniological  conformation.  The 
larger  Ihe  (a-est  of  the,  Polish  the  larger  and 
more  )irominent  will  be  the  elevate<l  rounded 
protuberance. ,  of  tlu;  skidl.,  The  varicdies  of 
Polish  fowls  are;  White  Crested  Black, 
(iolden.  Silver  Wiiiti\  Bearded  (ioUlen, 
Bearded  Silver,  ,an,d  Bearded  Wliite.   Of  these. 


the  W.  C.  Black  and  W.  C.  Whites  are  the 
most  popular  and  beautiful.  None  can  rival 
the  former  in  beauty  and  striking  contrast  of 
plumage;'  The  crest  of  snowy  wliiteness  fur- 
nishes a  most  vivid  and  pleasing  contrast  with 
the  intense,  liright  black  of  the  remaining 
phmiage. 

They  are  also  fair  table  fowls,  being  plump 
and  jialatable,  although  of  small  .size.  In  egg- 
producing,  however,  is  their  strong  point,  and 
here  they  hold  theirown  with  nearly  any  breed, 
unless  it  is  the  Leghorns.  The  eggs  are  of 
good,  I'ich  Havor.  One  objection  to  theAVhite 
Crested  Black  Polish  is,  that  they  are  adapted 
only  to  dry  land,  being  almost  sure  to  sicken 
and  die  on  low,  dani])  grounds.  Here  again 
the  IjCghorns  have  adecided  advantage.  One 
further  objection  as  a  table  fowl  may  be  urged 
on  account  of  their  dark  legs  ;  but  this  is  only 
a  matter  of  appearance  and  fashion.  For  a 
gentleman's  park,  to  sniijily  tlm  family  with  a 
full  share  of  good  fresh  eggs,  and  as  an  ever- 
pleasing  attraction,  this  iirecd  eei-taiidy  has 
strong  and  indisputaltle  claims.  They  are 
ni/ii-i^Uers.—  W.  Atlec  BnriKe,  Phila.,  Pa. 

ANSWERS  TO  CORRESPONDENTS. 


Scale  Insects. 

,7.  M.  G.,  Mo>mtril!,\  Taivc.  m.,  /'<(.— The 
maple  branches  you  left  at  my  residence  a  few 
days  ago,  and  the  twigs  and  leaves  of  which 
were  infested  by  a  number  of  scale-like  insects 
having  a  white  cotton-like  tuft  attached  t<i 
ea(-h,  arc  the  "maple  bark  louse  "or  "scale 
insect  "  {Lecnnittm  fimrlla).  There  are  many 
species  of  them,  and  they  infest  the  maple,  the 
linden,  the  osage  orange,  the  grape  vines, 
roses,  and  also  other  kinds  of  trees,  vines  and 
shrubbery,  bid  I  have  found  them  most  ahun<l- 
ant  (>n  tliose  named,  except,  iierhaps.  oidy  tUo. 
roses,  on  which  they  occur  rarely.  Of  coui-se, 
they  are  injurious  to  the  thrift  of  the  trees 


they  infest,  and  about  twenty  years  ago  a 
.species  marred  the  bi^auty  of  a  row  of  linden 
trees  tlien  standing  in  front  of  the  court  liousc, 
which  wati  then   in   proccjis  of  construction. 
These  trees   became  so  unsightly  that  thuy 
went  subsequently   Removed,   although,    per- 
haps, not  Ibr  that   eaase   alone.     They  havj) 
liei'U  in  KancjLSterever  since,  some  st!a.sons  l,»ei- 
coniing  \er>  abuuilant  and  at  others  ahuosl 
disappearing.     When  they  oc<'ur  in  great  nmn- 
bers  fiu' several  yi'ars  in  succ*!Ssion,  the  trees 
they  infest  become  so  umch  enervated  antl  dOr 
lileieil  that  they  do  not  recover  their  lost  vigm' 
for  a  long  time,  if  ever.     Thi'se  insectM  are  eii; 
doweil  with  extraordinary  powers  of  prolilica- 
tion  ajid   enduranci'.     Each  of  tli'se  (!otton- 
like  tufts  coidaius  from  Ihret;  to  live  hundred, 
or  more,  eggs,  and    under   favorabh-   circnm- 
slanees  each  egg  will   proiluce  an  in.sect.     (>ii 
oiii^   oecnsion, ,  1    cnunliil    live   hundred    and 
thirty  eggs  in  one  tuft,  and  Unire  were  twenty 
tuflson  a  linden  branch  about  a  foot  in  IcTigth; 
and,  the  whole  lind)  from  whii  h  it  was  taken 
was  iid'ested  in  a  like  manner,  all  the  laterals 
of  which  would  have  measured  forty  or  Ijfly 
feet  in  length.     Now  taking  live  hundred  as 
an  average,  and   this  branch  would   have  pro- 
duced 10.(1011  insects,  and  the  whole  lindi  .'iOO,- 
000;  but  this  liudi  was  only  the  one-hundredtli 
(lart  of  a  single  {nii:  and  there  were  si.x  or 
eight  of  them  in  the  infested  row.     This  woulil 
have  given  ."lO.OtKi.ooo  for  a  single  tree,  ami  if 
there  were  seven  "f  Uicm,  the  product  of   the 
whole  n)W  would  have  been  about  :j.")O.(MKl,tH»0, 
:ind  there  is  not  a  doubt  in  my  mind,  there  were 
Inlly  that  number  hat eh/-d  from  tla^  scales  on 
thosc^  trees;  but  they  were  <Md  down,  and  the 
insects  weri!  of  course  d<>troyed.     The  egg» 
iUid  iiuiects  wheit  tir.st  evolved",  eamiot  be  ikt- 
ceived  by  the  naked  eye,  unU'->-s  the  sight  is 
very  sharp,  but  under  a  conunoH   niagnJIier, 
they  ari!  jilainly  visible.     The  eggs  are  small 
yellowish  (lellets,  resendiling  minute  lish  roes, 
and  lh(!  young  are  ilelieale  little  animals  of  a 
whitish   color^  oval    form,  six-legged,  having 
medium  lengthened  feelei-s(«(i/<;ii»(r)  in  front, 
and  twi;  long  bri.sUe-like  appendag(^s  at  the 
hind   end   of   the   body.      Perhaps   iiineteen- 
twentieths  of  them,  or  more,  are  females,  and 
are  without  wings.     The  males  have  wings 
which  lie   Hat  (not  closed  together  with  the 
edges  raised  u]^  on  the  back  as  in  the  Aiihiils 
to  which  they  an:  remotely  allied)  and  some- 
times stand  at  right  angles — or  neiuiy  .so— to 
the    body.      It'  is   fortunate  when  a  heavy 
shower  of  rain  occurs  immediately  after  they 
emerge  from  the  eggs,  for  then  nnllions  .are 
washe<l  down  fit>ra  the  trees  and  perish,  and 
tliis  is  why  their  incre^iso  is  sometimes  checked 
and  why  they  do  not  occm'  uuifonnly  numer- 
ous every  year.     How,  or  exactly  when,  the 
female  becomes  fertile  is  not  yet  fully  known  ; 
but  after  they  issue  from  the  eggs  they  .scatter 
over  the  treesj,  and  the  females  insert  their 
beaks  into  tlie  tender  harl<  of  the  branches  or 
buds,  and  live  on  the  sap.     Tliey  then  lose 
their  ant(-nna\  feet  and  seta,  and  become  de- 
graded iido  a  mere  "scale  "  or  "scab,"  and 
remain  stationary  until  the  following  spring. 
T;arly  in  the  spring  they  begin  to  secrete  the 
eottc)n-like  sub.stance  at  the  hind  eml  of  their 
bodies,  into  which  they  deposit  their  eggs,  and 
then  die.     The  e;;gs  .are  hatched  in  the  montli 
ot  June.     The  projier  time  to  destroy  them  is 
before  the  leafing  or  blooming  of  the  trees,  or 
as  soon  as  the  white  cotton  liegins  to  apixiar. 
This  makes  them  iilainly  visible,  otherwise 
they  are  the  color  of  the'  bark,  and  without 
close  insjiection  cannot  be  seen.     The  .scales 
nwy  be  destroyed  with  oil  or  carbolic  soa)), 
but ,  where  acce.ssible.  they  may  be  easily  rubbed 
oil'  w  ith  the  hand.    We  published  an  illu.strated 
jiaper  on  these  insects  twenty  years  ago  in  the 
Pcnrisiihtinia  Farm  Jnuniiil,  then  i.ssued   by 
Ml-.  Darlington,  at  West  (,'hestcr,  wdiither  it 
had  been   removed  from  I.auca.stcr  city,  but, 
as  is  usual,  verv  few.  perhaps,  thouglit    the 
Jtiurnal  of  sullicient  value  U>  jireserve.     There 
were  alijo  .short  articles  on  the  .snli.ject  pul)- 
lished  in  our  city  i>apcrs,  one  of  which  was 
copied  by  the  Puhlir  Lcihjn:     AVhere  the  in- 
sects are"  locatcil  out  of  reach,  and  the  tree  is 
deemed  of  sullieient  value  to  iircserve,  a  swab 


102 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[July, 


smeared  with  tar  or  any  other  sticky  subtance, 
and  attaclied  to  a  long  pole,  is  a  good  instru- 
ment to  remove  them  after  the  cotton  first  ap- 
pears. If,  however,  this  work  is  put  off  until 
the  firet  of  July,  it  will  then  be  too  late  for 
that  year  because,  then  all  the  injury  for  that 
scaSon  is  already  done,  the  whereabouts  of 
the  young  not  being  "  comeatable  " 

An  Enemy  of  the  Potato   Beetle. 

JE.  K.,  esq.,  Manheimtoicnship. — The  "bot- 
tled bug"  accompanying  the  tonwof  the  Colo- 
rado potato-beetle,  which  you  left  at  our  store 
On  the  2'2d  inst.,  is  called,  in  plain  English, 
the  "  Splned  Soldier  Bug,"  but  technically  it 
is  cjilled  Anna  Spinosa.  It  is  one  of  the 
recognized  enemies  of  the  potato  pest,  and 
therefore  iieople  should  carefully  discriminate 
in  its  favor.  I  have  noticed  this  insect  in 
Lancaster  coimty  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  liave  found  it  with  other  insects  impaled 
on  its  piercer  and  engaged  in  sucking  out  the 
juices  of  their  bodies.  The  fact  that  j'our  son 
found  it  with  its  piercer  plunt^ed  into  the 
pody  of  a  young  potato  beetle  ought  to  be  a 
sufficient  guarantee  of  its  beneficial  qualities. 
Happily,  this  insect  increases  as  its  host.s  in- 
crease, but  unhappily,  its  increase  is  not  as 
rapid  as  its  host's.  This  specimen  is  inima- 
tm-c,  although  the  fully  developed  bug  is  vei^ 
little  larger  than  the  specimen  under  consid- 
eration. It  is  really  a  hiig,  in  the  true  sense 
of  the  word,  and  it  belongs  to  the  same  order 
as  the  "squash-bug,"  "bed-bug,"  and'a num- 
ber of  various  other  kinds  of  bugs.  It  has  no 
jaws  [mandibles),  and  therefore  does  not  mas- 
ticate its  food.  Instead  thereof,  however,  it 
is  provided  with  a  "piercer"  [Jiaustellum), 
"lance,"  "  straight  sword,"  or  whatever  elfe'e 
you  may  be  pleased  to  call  it.  When  this  in- 
strument is  not  in  use,  it  is  closed  in  on  the 
breast— "  .shuts  up  like  a  knife" — but  when 
the  animal  is  hungry  and  the  larvte  of  a  po- 
tato-l)eetle  is  encountered,  then  it  will  stick, 
cut,  thrust,  penetrate  and  wound,  sufficiently 
skillful  to  vanquish  the  larva,  of  a  goodly 
number  of  its  host ;  but  cannot  do  much  with 
the  hard  sliell  of  tlie  beetle  after  it  has  ma- 
tured. For  further  specific  particulars  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  May  number  of  the 
L.\NCASTER  Farmer  for  iS75,  pp.  C5,  66, 
where  he  will  find  the  insect  illustrated,  and  a 
record  of  evidence  from  a  reliable  and  intelli- 
gent soiu'ce,  corresponding  with  the  above. 
It  aftbrd.s  us  additional  gratification  to  find 
that  farmers  are  daily  making  observations 
confirming  what  has  been  written  on  the  sub- 
ject of  insect  life,  otherwise  they  might  only 
regard  it  as  a  mere  fancy  sketch,  wiitten  to 
amuse,  alarm,  or  to  advance  some  personal 
end,  not  connected  with  the  interests  of  the 
people. — B. 


Mr,  ii.  F.,  (Sout/i  Prince  street,  Lnncaster. — 
You  are  exceedingly  unfortunate  with  your 
"  gooseberry  bushes. "  On  the  small  quantity 
of  leaves  you  sent  us  we  have  detected  tln-ee 
different  species  of  larvcc  which  are  known  to 
prey  upon  the  leaves  of  the  gooseberry  and 
cui'rant.  The  first  and  most  conspicuously 
marked  is  what  is  known  under  the  common 
name  of  the  "Imported  Currant-worm," 
[Nemntus  ventricosus)  which  was  introduced 
into  this  country  from  Europe  about  twenty 
years  ago.  These  worms  are  of  a  green  color, 
wntli  black  heads,  and  covered  all  over  with 
black  dots,  at  this  time,  (July  11) ,  but  at  the 
last  moult  they  lose  these  dots,  and  the  color 
becomes  lighter.  The  secrmd  is  the  "Native 
Currant- worm,"  { Pristiophora  e/rassidaria) 
which  is  of  a  uniformly  green  color  without 
the  black  dots  ;  these  are  the  most  numerous, 
altliough  usually  the  imported  species  are  the 
most  numerous  and  destructive.  These  two 
different  species  of  currant  and  gooseberry 
worms  are  of  the  same  size  and  form,  and  pro- 
duce two  broods  in  a  season.  They  belong  to 
what  are  termed  "Sawflies,"  {Te.nthredo 
Family)  at  the  head  of  tlie  order  Hyjien- 
OPTERA,  or  clear-winged  ijisects.  The  third 
is  a  Gcometre  or  "  Looper,"  almost  too  young 
to  determine  ;  but  as  they  are  also  feeding  on 
your  goosebeiTy  leaves,  they  are  very  probably 


the  "  Gooseberry  Span-worm,"  {Ullopia  rib- 
enria).  It  is  written  that  there  is  but  one  brood 
of  the.se  worms  in  a  year,  and  that  the  larva 
attains  its  full  growth  about  the  15th  of  June, 
when  it  goes  into  the  ground  and  changes  to  a 
pupa,  from  whence  it  issues  in  the  perfect 
moth  state  about  the  first  of  July,  a  pale-yel- 
low lly,  mottled  with  light  lead-color,  and  ex- 
panding nearly  one  and  a  half  inches ;  and 
that  after  the  female  is  fertilized,  she  lays  her 
eggs  on  the  twigs  of  the  gOoseberry  or  cur- 
rant, where  they  remain  cx]idsed  to  the  sum- 
mer's heat  and  winter's  cold  until  early  the 
foUfiwing  spring,  before  they  are  hatched. 
These  little  span-worms  now  (July  11)  seem  to 
be  about  a  week  old,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
length,  about  the  thickness  of  a  knitting- 
needle,  of  a  dark  color,  with  whitish  spots 
along  the  sides,  not  visible  from  above.  This 
is  either  a  retarded  brood,  a  different  species 
or  a  second  brood  of  the  same  insect,  prema- 
turely produced  by  the  unex;impled  warm 
weather  which  has  prevailed  since  the  first  of 
July.  They  have  the  same  habit  of  suspend- 
ing themselves  by  a  silken  cord,  that  we  ob- 
serve in  the  genuine  Currant-moth,  to  which 
we  have  provisionally  referred  them.  They 
belong  to  tiie  order  Lepidoptera,  which  in- 
cludes the  butterflies  and  moths  of  various 
kinds. 

The  remedy  for  these  insects  is  powdered 
hellebore  or  quick-lime,  sprinkled  on  the 
bushes  while  they  are  wet  with  dew,  or  first 
sprinkling  them  with  water;  diluted  carbolic 
acid,  tobacco  decoctions,  or  soap  solutions, 
thrown  upon  them  through  a  garden  syringe, 
are  sometimes  used  to  extenninate  them.  It 
is  almost  impossible  to  destroy  them  by  hand- 
picking,  especially  the  first  and  second  named, 
on  account  of  their  great  numbers,  small  size, 
and  their  color  being  so  near  that  of  the  leaves 
they  infest.  But  if  you  want  to  save  your 
gooseberries,  you  must  do  something. 


C.  W.,  Lancaster  City.— The  large  worm, 
about  five  inches  in  length,  which  you  charge 
with  cutting  off  your  bunches  of  green  grapes, 
seems  to  be  an  immature  specimen  of  a  species 
of  Philampelis ;  but  as  it  dillers  considerably 
from  the  mature  larvce  of  both  SatclUtia  and 
Acheriwn,  we  are  not  prepared  to  determine 
its  species  ;  and  as  it  was  dead  at  the  time  we 
received  it,  it  left  no  margin  for  future  devel- 
opment. The  fact  that  you  observed  "  some- 
thing" cutting  off  your  grapes  for  some  time, 
and  then  finding  this  individual,  together  with 
a  cluster  of  grapes,  -in  your  rain  stand,  is 
strong  circumstantial  evidence  against  him. 
He  must  have  met  with  the  fatal  accident  the 
man  did  who,  in  sawiug  off  a  limb  of  a  tree 
which  hung  over  a  brook,  stood  upon  the 
limb  instead  of  upon  the  stump,  until  sud- 
denly both  man  and  liinlj  came  down  into  the 
brook  together.  Or  perhaps  more  poetically 
speaking : 

"  Au  envious  sliver  broke, 

When  ildwii  his  vilian  troiiliies  and  bimself, 

Fell  in  tlie  treauherous  brook." 

Many  of  our  grape  wines,  the  present  sea- 
son, are  hanging  too  full  of  fruit,  therefore 
the  limited  i)runing  that  they  are  likely  to  re- 
ceive from  these  worms  will  not  be  very  harm- 
ful. It  is  however  tlieu-  defoliations  of  tlie 
vines,  that  has  been  the  chief  count  in  the  in- 
dictment against  them ;  and  should  they  be 
very  numerous  (which  rarely  happens)  they 
might  prove  very  destructive  to  the  thrift  of 
both  the  vines  and  the  fruit.  This  larva  also 
goes  into  the  ground  and  assumes  the  pxqja 
form,  and  the  mOth  makes  its  appearance 
early  in  the  month  of  June.  It  expands  nearly 
{\\B  inches.  The  colors  are  light  olive  grey 
and  dark  olive  green,  and  on  the  whole,  is  a 
"pretty  moth."  Hand-picking  is  the  most 
feasable  and  efficient  remedy. 


L.  R.,  LancOiSter,  Pa.— The  beautiful  cater- 
pillar you  sent  is  si)ecifically  new  to  us.  It  is 
of  light  chestnut-brown  in  color,  and  is  fully 
three  inches  long.  Tlie  head  and  lir.st  segment 
are  a  pale  green  in  color,  with  two  light  brown 
longitudinal  stripes  passing  from  the  moutli 
over  the  front  of  the  head  and  on  the  top  of 


the  segment  aforesaid,  and  extending  over  the 
third  segment,  where  they  terminate  at  each 
end  of  a  transverse  oblong  pea-green  patch  on 
the  tojj  of  said  segment.  On"  the  eight  next 
succeeding  segments  there  are  the  same  num- 
ber of  large  pea-green  patches,  oblong  in  front, 
but  becoming  almost  circular  in  the  middle 
and  towards  the  posterior  end.  On  next  to 
the  last  segment  there  is  a  poll -shed  deep 
brown  convexed  eye-like  disk,  surrounded  by 
three  dark  and  light-bro\\ii  rings,  and  beyond 
the  disk,  and  on  the  two  terminal  segments, 
are  two  crescent-shaped  patches  of  pea-green. 
There  are  lateral  rows  of  irregularly  shaped 
spots  of  the  same  pea-green,  one  on  each  seg- 
ment, small  in  front,  but  increasing  in  size  to 
the  end.  The  six  pectoral  feet  are  light- 
brown,  but  the  prolegs  are  dark-brown,  except 
the  anal  pair,  which  are  light.  It  belongs  to 
the  "  Grape-sphinxes,"  and  is  probably  a  spe- 
cies of  Thyreus  or  Sesia. 

F.  L. — The  small,  yellowish,  green  and 
black  spotted  caterpillar,  on  your  grape  leaves 
and  which,  when  small,  only  destroy  the  sur- 
face, leaving  the  nervures  remaining,  but  when 
larger,  move  in  a  compact  column  and  destroy 
the  whole  leaf,  except  the  midrib ;  are  the 
larva  of  the  "American  grape- leaf  codling" 
[Procris  Americana).  When  mature,  it  is 
about  half  an  inch  in  length  and  of  a  yellow 
color  dotted  with  black.  The  larvce  then  spin 
themselves  into  small  whitish  silken  cocoons, 
ou  the  leaves  of  the  grape — often  side  by  side, 
in  the  manner  they  had  been  feeding,  and  in 
about  ten  days — more  or  less — a  small  black 
moth  is  evolved,  having  an  orange  colored 
ring  or  collar,  and  from  the  fact  that  we  have 
bred  these  handsome  liCtle  moths  late  in  Sep- 
tember, we  infer  that  there  are  at  least  two 
broods  in  a  season.  Pluck  off  the  infested 
leaves,  and  crush,  burn  or  scald  the  insects,  is 
the  cheapest  and  best  advice  we  have  to  give. 


E.  K.,  Manheim  Tiup.—Tha  "  worms  "  that 
have  been  destroying  the  heads  of  your  "Tim- 
othy grass"  are  the  "white-lined  army- 
worm"  [l/acania  alhilinca).  When  young 
they  are  green  in  color,  and  the  stripes  are 
only  faint ;  but  as  they  increase  in  pize,  and 
at  their  subsequent  moultings,  they  gradually 
change  in  color,  and  become  more  distinct  in 
lineation,  until  the  last  moult,  when  they  are 
nearly  the  color  of  the  ripened  straw.  They 
then  go  into  the  grotind  and  change  to  a 
brown  chrysalis,  and  the  moth  appears  about 
the  first  of  August.  Until  we  can  procm'e 
good  cuts  of  this  insect  in  its  various  states, 
we  must  refer  the  reader  to  page  165  Vol.  IX. 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  "Pemi'a  Agricul- 
tural Societj\" 

We  have  not  heard  that  they  were  very  nu- 
merous the  pi'ese«t  season,  except  in  a  few  of 
tlie  timothy  fields.  As  they  are  all  now  in 
their  piqja  sleep  in  the  ground,  when  their 
destruction  becomes  an  object,  perhaps  burn- 
ing off  the  stubble  would  produce  heat  suf- 
ficient to  eflect  that  object. 


L.  F.,  Lancaster,  City. — The  large  mottled 
wonns  which  you  found  on  the  leaves  of  your 
grape  vines,  and  which,  when  at  rest,  lie 
stretched  along  the  branches,  are  the  larvce  of 
the  "Abbott  Sphinx"  or  "Abbott  Grape 
Moth"  (Thyreus  Ahhotii).  The  round  shiny 
si)ot  on  the  top  of  the  back  next  to  the  last  seg- 
ment of  the  body,  is  not  the  eye,  asjyou  suppos- 
ed, those  organsbeing  two  in  number  and  at  the 
other  end  of  the  body.  They  never  occur 
very  numerous,  and  therefore,  the  best  plan 
to  destroy  them  is  by  hand  jiicking,  although 
while  at  rest  they  may  be  a  little  difficult  to 
find,  as,  unless  you  have  a  close  view  of  them 
you  may  easily  confound  them  with  the  woody 
branch.  When'  i\w,  worms  are  done  feeding 
they  go  into  the  ground,  and,  in  this  locality, 
the  moth  comes  forth  in  April,  expands  about 
three  and  a  half  inches,  and  is  of  a  variegated 
chocolate  brown  and  yellow  color. 

M.  R.  P.,  Lnnrnstrr,  Pa. — Your  large  black 
beetle  with  the  narrowed  "waist,"  aiid  the 
rows  of  bright  copjier-colored  spots  on  its 
wing  covers,  is  what  in  general  terms  is  called 


I87r..] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


-103 


I 


a  "  groiind-bc'cUe  ;"  we  liclievc  il  is  more  spc- 
cilically  cMllfd  tlie  "Fiery  (!i(niiiil-liootU'," 
hat  IK  rliaps  not  more  than  one  in  five  thou- 
sand knows  it  even  l)y  that  name — so  diOicuIt 
is  it  to  teaeli  entoniok>L!y  to  tlie  masses.  Sei- 
entilieally  this  insect  is  ealleil  Catofonm  atli- 
dum.  We  esteem  it  a  <;reat  triend  to  the 
husliandniaji,  an<l  tlieretore  we  admonish  all 
who  may  reioi^'nize  it  lospare  it  if  possililc.  It 
does  not  I'ecd  on  vi'.u'clalion  in  any  ot  its  stages 
ot  developnieiil,  lint  is  <Mitirely  carniverons  in 
its  habits,  and  we  helii've  it  hasln'cn  detei-tcd 
feeding  on  the  larva  of  the  "Colorado  potato- 
beetle.  "'■ 


C,  F.  li.,  Lancaster,  Pa. — The  large  grey 
insert  with  the  eoiled  np  tongue  and  the 
"queer,  histrous  eyes,"  is  one  of  the  eonnnon 
"  Ilawk-moliis  " — the  fiphinx  quhvpumnmlrita 
or  "  l^'ive-siiotted  Sphinx  "  of  entomologists, 
although  it  is  now  referred  to  a  new  genus, 
{Man-iis\i!la).  It  is  the  eonnnon  enemy  of  the 
tobaeeo  jilant  and  is  the  parent  of  those  large 
"  green  worms"  which  itd'est  tlu^  plants  after 
tliey  have  cscai>ed  the  ordeal  of  tlie  "cut- 
worms" and  other  pests  and  liindrances  to 
tobrDCco  culture. 


•ey  fo 
cdt'p 


F.  JC,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
winged  fly  you  sent  us  is  the  "  Horned  t'ory 
dali's"  or  "  ilelgramite,"  (Cori/ddJlisrarnutus). 
It  is  a  male  specimen,  the  female  being  with- 
out those  long  horn-lik(!  "mandibles."  For- 
midable as  iliey  appear,  they  avo  entirely 
liarmless,  and  in  their  matured  state  feed 
on  nothing.  The  larrtr  arc  aqueous  in  their 
habits,  and  they  feed  on  any  little  Avater  ani- 
mal they  can  catch,  and  we  presume  would 
not  reject  the  "fry'"  of  lish. 

(hnni. — Your  several  drab-colored  beetles, 
with  the  six  black  dots  on  tlu;  wing  covers, 
arc  the  "Large  Grape-leaf  IJeetle,  (Pclhidota 
piinctnta)  and  tlie  best  thing  you  can  do  is  to 
kill  all  that  are  "  comeatablc  "  on  a  venture. 

METEOROLOGICAL  DIARY  AT  PHILA- 
DELPHIA,  FOR  JUNE,  1776. 

nAYK.     noms.      thek. 

1  8  A.M  ....  6.5 

2.'....'8  A.  M 71 

3 8  A.  M fi3 

4 8  A.  M 5li 

M 61 

M 61...  . 

.M 65.. 

M 6.5.. 

.  M 68.. 

M  67.. 

.8  A.  M 6.8.. 

.8  A.  .M 66  . 


5 8  A. 

a 8  A. 

7 8  A. 

8 8  A. 

9 8  A. 

10 8  A. 

11.. 
13.. 


WINDS.  \vKATni;ii. 

S.  W Fair  :ui.l  WiiKly. 

S.  W Wimly  .t  Clouily. 

N.  E Cloiuiy. 

N Fair. 

S.  E K:iii-. 

S.  W Cloudy. 

.  ..Cloutly. 

...  Fair. 

...  F.-vir. 

....Fair. 

....Cloudy. 

....Fair. 

....Fair. 

....P'air. 

....Fair. 


...8.  W... 

..  N.  W... 

...    W.    .. 

..  S.  W... 

I..N.E.  . 

...  N.E... 

13 8  A.M. 68  ....  N.  W.  . 

U 8  A.  M 73 S.  W... 

1.5....  .8  A.M 7;! S.  W.  . 

16 No  Observations. 

17 No  Obsfrvations. 

18 8  A.M 67 N.    F.iir. 

l!t 8  A.  M  ....  6:j N.  W Fair. 

80... ...8  A.  M 6-8 N.  W Fair. 

21 8  .V.  M 70 N.E Fair. 

33 8  A.  M 71  W Cloudy. 

25 No  Obsprvat.ioDS. 

St 8  A.  M 73 S.  W Cloudy. 

2.5 8  A.  M 69 8.  E Foirffv'. 

26 8  A.  M 71 S.  W Fofriry. 

27 8  A.  M  73 8.  W Fair. 

38 8  A.  M 73 N.  E Cloudy. 

3!» 8  A.  M 73 S.  W Cloudy. 

SO No  Otisiivations. 

On  tlie  Kith,  17th,  2:id  and  :!Oth  no  olwerva- 
tions  were  made,  according  to  the  tabular 
statement  above,  which  is  taken  from  the 
Pcnnsijlvania  Majazinc  for  July,  1T7U.  13ut 
taking  the  temperature  of  the  Kith,  2;!d  and 
3()th  to  be  the  same  as  the  days  next  preced- 
ing them,  and  the  17th  to  be  that  of  the  day 
next  succeeding  it,  would  make  the  average 
temperatme  for  the  month,  at  8  A.  M.,  a 
vitry  small  frai'tion  over  OS'^. 

According  to  the  observations  made  by  Mr. 
Spera,  at  Eiihrata,  for  the  month  of  Juni% 
1S7G,  the  average  temperature  is  a  small  frac- 
tion less  than  71",  and  from  the  fact  that  his 
observations  were  made  oncthour  earlier  in  the 
day  than  those  of  1770,  the  average  was  pro- 
bably greater  at  S  A.  it.  Under  any  eireum- 
Slances  it  will   be  iierceived  that  the  mean 


temperature  tor  .lune,  lH7i),  w;us  about  thre(^ 
degrees  higher  than  for  the  same  month  in 
177(). 

During  tliat  month,  otir  forefathers  were  en- 
gaged in  elaborating  the  Declaration  of  Tnde- 
prndmce,  and  when  we  peruse  the  legislation 
previous  to  the  promulgation  of  the  great 
event,  we  may  sujipose  they  had  a  warm  and 
anxious  time  of  it.  Their  iioslerity  occupied 
the  month  of  .lune,  1S7I1,  in  eliiborating  Plat- 
fdi-tiis  and  Standard  Hearers  to  savi^  and  per- 
petuate what  their  ancestry  established  om- 
liundred  years  ago. 

Thermometer,  June,  1876. 


Kill  11 

Dull- 

T.  ».  111.     - 

1'.  in. 

9.  p.  III. 

Hi'hIi. 

Mlu. 

Max.     lu. 

1 

......63 

,,74 

....(18... 

..^68.0. 

3  .. 

6!) 

..84... 

....70.. 

...73.3. 

3  .. 

74 

..86... 

....76. 

...78.0. 

4... 

.....T6 

..77... 

....6.8  .. 

...73.3.. 

.83... 1.70 

.5... 

74 

..76... 

....70... 

...73.5  . 

6... 

m 

..70  .. 

....38... 

...63.3.. 

...  53. 

7  .. 

,68 

..76... 

....67.. 

...69.5.. 

8... 

6.5 

.,84.. 

....70.. 

...73.3. 

0 

70  

70 

..84... 

..87  .. 

....73.. 
....76.. 

...74  5 

in... 

...73.3 

....03. 

11  .. 

76 

..88  .. 

.....70.. 

...7(!.0  . 

..90 

13  .. 

75 

..83... 

70.. 

...74.3. 

...65. 

13 

68    .... 

..83  .. 
..78..i 

....66.. 
6i. 

...70.5u 
...6S.5.. 

<•■■■'..>■ 

_1.85 

14... 

68  .... 

..81...  .1.5 

1.5... 

611  

..81... 

70.. 

...73.5. 

....64. 

, 

16... 

66 

..79... 

66.. 

...69.2. 

17... 

6S  

..79... 

68.. 

...70.7. 

IS... 

70  ..'... 

..70... 

68.. 

...69.0  . 

....67. 

.; 1.00 

1«  .. 

7V 

..83  .. 

71.. 

..74.3. 

...M. 

30  .. 

7«  

.  SO... 

....'.68.. 

...73.0.. 

....(«. 

.35 

?A.. 

70 

..73  .. 

.....60.. 

...05.7. 

33... 

65...;.. 

..74... 

64.. 

...06.7. 

.....57. 

3-!... 

60  

..78  .. 

68.. 

..  68.5 

.....54. 

34... 

7(i 

...84... 

70.. 

...75.0. 

....(•4. 

".5 

,so 

73 

...89... 
.88... 

73.. 

73.. 

..  78.7 
...76.5. 

...68. 
....68.. 

3f;... 

..90 

37... 

78 

..88... 

74.. 

...78.5, 

...  68.. 

..92...  .30 

;is... 

78 

..93... 

70  . 

...77.2. 

....70. 

OC, 

3f)... 

.:,.-. 76 

...89... 

70. 

...7(i:3. 

0:; 

30... 

74 

..83... 

69.. 

...73.7 

Obsorvalione 

made 

by   \V 

11.    11. 

.•^pora, 

Esq.,  at 

Ephrata,  Lauuasler  county,  Pa. 

Hygrometrical   Diary  at  Philadelphia  for 
June,   1776. 


1. 


iiotma. 

9  A.M. 

...100.. 


HYGROM.  DAYS. 
3  P.M.I 


HOUK8. 
II  A.  M 


110,16 NoObs. 


llYOIiOM, 
3  A.  H. 


2 No  observation. jl7 90 

3 90 80  18 80  . 

4 40 ..   .50  19 95 

5 .35 .5030 75  . 


50 

.......100 

80 

, ..NoObs. 

......  65 

.......  74 

80 

90 . . . : . 


.   55  31 60. 

.110,23 90  . 

.  90,33 .50. 

,      '34 75  . 

.   70:25 100  . 

.  80'36 75. 


.  98 
.  75 
.100 
.  SO 
.   65 


14 

15 


40 

60  . 


.  85  37 

.11038 

.   55|29.    ... 
.    75|30 


..  90  . 
..  .50  . 
..  70. 
..90... 


....  00 
..  ..  80 
..  ..110 

.80 

....   84 

65 

....  75 
....110 


Barometrical  Diary 


at   Ephrata, 
1876. 


Pa.,  for  June 


DAYS. 

7  A.  M. 

2  !•     M  . 

9  e.  M. 

1  

3S.00S  .  ... 

SS.S.'H 

38.8.57 

3 

38..S39 

28.779 

3S.769 

3 

38.7.54 

38.737 

38.789 

4 

28.704 

38.779 

2S.7.54 

r 

38.764 

28.784.... 

38.829 

6.... 

38.849.... 

28.857   ... 

38..S1I7 

7  .    .. 

38.983   ... 

38.963.... 

2S.977 

S  .... 

28.993 

38.909.... 

29.043 

9.    .. 

29.027   ... 

38.976 

39.003 

10  ... . 

39.013..    . 

as.it.si).... 

39.004 

11 

39007  

2S.H81 

29  043 

13 

..''9  039   ... 

29  016. .. . 

29  030 

13 

29.030 

29.027.... 

2'»  017. ... 

29  0.37 

14  .... 

38.989.... 

39.032 

15.... 

39.027... 

29.042.... 

30.062 

Hi.... 

39.071.... 

29.029       . 

29 .048 

17    .. 

3S.!I80.... 

38.897.... 

28.893 

18  .... 

28.7:M.... 

28.802.... 

28.814 

19  .... 

28.829.... 

28.83<i.... 

28.8:19 

30  .... 

3S..S39..    . 

38.799   ... 

28..8:S4 

ei  .... 

2S.836   ... 

2S..834.... 

28.803 

33  .... 

38.929.... 

28.871    ... 

28.933 

33  ... . 

3S.912.... 

38.83!».... 

38.814 

34.... 

38.7:19.... 

38.7.51.... 

28.7.57 

35  ... . 

28.721 .... 

28.631.... 

38.(^.7 

36.... 

28.674.... 

28.691.... 

2S.7:'.9 

27  ... . 

38.749... 

2.H.T.U.... 

38.7:^4 

38    ... 

2<t.023... 

3!I.0(M.... 

39.040 

39 

28.933.... 

38.906 . . . . 

38.930 

^0  . . . . 

27.912.... 

28.817.... 

28.951 

xMr. 

Spera  writes : 

"I  am  going 

away  this 

morning  to  take  barometrical  me 

isiirements 

and  heights  in  the  westiMii  end  of  this  county. 
Any  observidions  yon  niay  at  any  time  desire, 
will  be  most  cheerfully  furnished"  for  all  of 
which  we  feed  exceedingly  thankful,  and  .shall 
avail  ourself  in  the  future  of  his  kinil  offer. 
As  thi!  observations  of  177fl  an-  hygrometrical 
and  those  of  IK'ii  barometrical,  (for  differ- 
ence in  wliieli  see  jip.  .5(1  ."u  of  our  .\pril  num- 
ber). Our  readera  cannot  make  the  sjime 
comparison  as  they  can  in  the  thcmometrical 
observations. 


THE  CURRANT  (Ribes). 

Wc  are  not  acipiaiuted  with  any  fruit  which 
is  more  generally  ilissemin:ited  through  the 
Northern  SUitcs,  than  thi^  one  now  under 
notice.  In  .some  sections  it  wouid  be  a  dilli- 
c\ill  matter  to  find  a  respectable;  farm  hou.se 
that  is  without  a  few  currant  bushes  cither 
ilisposed  along  the  path  which  leads  to  the 
front  door,  or  planted  by  the  feiua!  of  thi^  vege- 
table garden.  It  is  trui^,  tluit  in  nine  cases 
out  of  ten  they  receive  little  or  no  ciiltivatiou 
— being  seldom  relieved  of  llu^  old,  barren 
wood,  and  not  manureil  from  one  yeuir's  end 
to  another.  StiH.the  good  wife  places  a  high 
estimate  uiion  the  fruit,  and  would  nut  wil- 
lingly be  deprived  of  it.  There  are  many 
reasons  by  which  to  account  for  this,  such  xs 
the  h;irdy  character  of  the  shrub,  its  free, 
growth  and  great  productivene.ss,  in  addition 
to  the  cxciilent  qu;ilities  of  the  fruit,  both 
when  freshly  piirked  and  in  its  preserved  state. 

There  are  .several  species  to  be  found  grow- 
ing wild  in  this  country,  but  tliose  of  our  gar- 
dens came  originally  from  the  iiorlherii  jiarts 
of  Knrope  and  Asia,  and  are  largely  indebted 
to  the  skill  of  the  Dutch  horticulturists.  In 
SilK'ria,  the  berry  of  the  black  species,  the  U. 
'nigrum,  freipiently  attains  the  size  of  a  hazel 
niit.  Botanists  aver  that  the  white  currant 
which  by  .some.  ha.s  lieen  considen^d  a  distinct 
siiecies,  the  J{.  allnan,  is  nothing  but  a  variety 
of  the  red  species,  the  H.  ruhrniu.  When  the, 
shrub  is  found  in  its  natural  state,  the  berry 
is  either  black  or  red.  of  snuill  .si/.e  and  poor 
flavor.  Till"  name  of  the  fruit  is  .said  to  liavc 
been  derived  from  the  resemblance  of  the  ber- 
ries to  the  little  Corinth  graiicK  or  raisins, 
which  have  long  liccn  known  in  connnerce  a-s 
currants — the  word  evidently  lieing  a  corrup- 
tion of  Corinth. 

It  seems  strange  ihut  so  little  attoption 
should  be  paid  to  the  selection  of  the  Ix'st 
varieties  for  culture  when  they  can  be  obtained 
so  easily  and  at  such  trilling  cost.  They  arc 
not  only  more  profitable  than  the  common 
kinds,  in  a  peciuiiary  point  of  view,  but  their 
fruit  is  infinitely  superior  for  domestic  uses. 
Of  the  i>opularred  siM^cies,  the  following  varie- 
ties may  be  considerc'd  chiefly  worthy  of  notice, 
viz;  the  lied  Dutch,  Maifs  I'ictoria,  and 
Kni'jhVs  Sweet  lied.  Of  the  wbilt^  variety  the 
White  Dntck  and  the  White.  Gniiie  are  un- 
doubtedly the  best  sfirts  for  the  garden.  The 
Cliaiiiiieujun  is  of  a  light  iiink  color,  between 
the  i^edaml  White  Dutch;  it  is  acid,  and  cul- 
tivated by  many  a.s  a  curio,sity.  Of  the  bLwik 
species,  tie  ihrnnutn  Black  is  much  inferior  to 
tlie  Black  Naplts. 

CuLTlTUK. — An  idea  apjiears  to  have  be- 
come iireviilent,  tliat  currant  bushes  rexpiire 
neither  high  culture  nor  ;ittention  of  any  kind. 
They  are  generally  choked  with  gra.ss  and 
weeds,  of  a  stunted,  inferior  growth,  full  of 
dead  wood,  and  producing  fruit  of  the  |>oorest 
description.  Kxperience  has  denionstnited, 
however,  that  no  inmate  of  the  garden  can  be 
more,  inqiroved  by  a  rich  soil  and  careful  cul- 
tivation. 

.N((w  bushes  are  easily  obtained  by  planting 
cuttings  of  the  la.st  year's  growth.  They 
should  betaken  ft-om  the  most  vigorous  shoots 
and  with  a  sharj)  knife,  so  a,s  to  leave  no  rough 
or  jagged  edges  to  the  bark.  They  ought  to  be 
about  lOor  l-J  inches  in  length,  and,  when  they 
are  to  be  trained  as  standards,  to  have  the  buds 
on  the  lower  half  smoothly  cutout,  in  order  to 
])revcnt  the  appearance  of  troublesome  suck- 
ers. Plant  the  cuttings,  ;ifter  being  thus  pre- 
pared, about  six  inches  deep,  and  at  least,  two 
feet  ai>art,  in  early  spring  or  just  before  win- 
ter sets  in. 


104 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July. 


It  is  best  to  have  them  iu  rather  a  Sjhadcd  sit- 
uation, so  that  they  will  pot  suffer  from  the  heat 
oi  uoou-day.  The  applipatioo  of  a  little  water 
at  intervals  will  encourage  the  speedy  forma' 
tion  of  roots.  lU;  the  second  spring  thereafter 
remove  the  bushes  to  tlie  spot  in  the  garden 
where  they  are  to  stancl  permi;inently.  They 
are  sometimes  placed  in  the  border,  but  more 
commonly  on  the  sides  of  the  principa,!  walks, 
They  will  thrive  ii\  almost  every  soil,  although 
they  have  a  decided  preference  for  one  that  iij 
strong,  rich,  deep  and  somewhat  moist.  They 
succeed  well  in  a  free,  open  exposure ;  but  to 
secure  their  general  health,  a  partially  shaded 
location  is  undoubtedly  best.  The  gardener 
should,  however,  have  buslies  in  Vjoth  situa- 
tions, aii  those  having  the  full  benefit  of  the 
sun's  rays  will  ripen  their  fruit  earliest  in  the 
.season,  but  it  will  be  smaller  and  less  delicately 
flavored  than  that  wluch  has  been  perfected  in 
the  shade.  They  are  to  be  set  out  in  rows, 
four  feet  apart  eacli  way. 

It  has  become  common  of  late  years,  to  re- 
commend training  cuj'rant  bushes  in  the  shape 
of  trees,  with  the  main  .<Stems  running  up  from 
twelve  to  thirty-six  inches  ,high,  before  the 
side  shoots  are  pei'niitted  to  br,i^nch  out.  These 
standards  have  a  very  respectable  ai)pearance 
and  are  rather  more  easily  cultivated  than  the 
shruT)S,  where  suckers  are  allowed  to  grow  up 
at  will.  But,  Mr.  Cole,  a  distinguished  au- 
thority on  the  subject,  says  that  if  they  are 
permitted  to  sucker  moderately,  under  a  regu- 
lar system  of  pruning,  they  will  be  longer 
lived  and  produce  more  abundantly  than 
where  the  whole  notirishment  of  the  top  passes 
through  a  single  channel. 

Nevertheless,  the  shape  of  tlie  bush  is  not  of 
as  much  importance  as  the  other  details  of 
management.  A  due  regard  to  pruning  is 
very  necessary  to  the  production  of  fruit, 
which  is  borne  mostly  by  two-year-old  wood. 
In  .some  leisure  hour  of  autumn  or  winter,  all 
the  old  and  stmtcd  branches  .should  be  re- 
moved and  the  shoots  of  the  preceding  year's 
growth  shortened  some  five  or  six  inches.  By 
such  a  course  the  sap,  uistead  of  being  wasted 
upon  barren  wood,  is  confined  within  a  small 
compass,  and  is  permitted  to  form  short,  fer- 
tile spurs.  Care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  too 
dense  a  growth  ;  the  branches  should  be  few, 
spreading  out  widely,  and  not  crossing  or  in- 
terfering with  one  another,  so  as  to  admit  the 
sun  and  air  to  every  leaf. 

When  there  is  a  convenient  opportuiiity  in 
the  latter  part  of  summer,  the  soil  ought  to  be 
enriched  by  the  addition  of  a  little  good  ma- 
mire  dug  in  among  the  roots.  Omitting  this 
until  winter,  or  the  following  spring,  has  been 
aptly  compared  to  cramming  an  animal  with 
food  just  before  it  is  slaughtered.  The  roots 
require  their  food  whilst  they  are  getting  in 
readiness  for  the  next  summer's  crop,  and  not 
after  their  growth  is  suspended  for  the  sea- 
son. At  all  times  of  the  year  the  soil  should 
be  kept  Ught  and  free  of  weeds,  so  that  the 
roots  may  have  no  cause  to  cOhiplain  of  inat- 
tention on  that  score.  Fruit  of  the  vei-y  finest 
quality  may  be  expected,  attractivefor  its  size, 
rich  color  and  delicious  flavor.  It  can  Easily 
be  kept  on  the  bushes  until  the  middle  of  au- 
tumn by  covering  it  with  mats,  cloths  or  any- 
thing to  shield  it  from  the  sun.  Should  the 
reader  be  disposed  to  think  such  particular 
care  in  the  cultivation  of  the  currant  unneces- 
sary, we  advise  him  to  manage  at  least  one 
bush  in  the  manner  above  described,  while  he 
permits  the  remainder  of  the  plantation  to 
take  care  of  itself  in  tlie  good  old-fashioned 
way  ;  and,  if  we  mistake  not,  he  \vih  ere  long 
be  convinced  of  the  justice  of  our  remarks. 
The  borer,  which  in  some  districts  occasions  a 
good  deal  of  injm-y,  is  produced  by  a  bluc- 
i)lack  moth  appearing  about  the  middle  of 
June.  Every  stem  that  is  alfected  should  be 
burned.  As  a  preventive,  apply  to  the  bushes, 
before  the  season  of  the  moth,  lye  or  xjotasli- 
Water,  or  some  other  oftensive  M'ash.  Various 
insects  and  worms  that  are  among  the  foliage 
may  be  repelled  by  the  application  of  lime,  or 
wiiale-oil  soap  suds. 

Use. — The  reputation  of  the  cm-rant  has 
long  been  established  iis  one  of  the  most  whole- 


some and  grateful  fruits  for  the  dessert.  The 
cool  acid  flavor  is  peculiarly  iigrecable  in  the 
summer  season,  and  has  led  to  several  differr 
ent  preparations  of  the  fyuit  for  .winter  jiise. 
The*  expressed  juice  is  made  intoslu-uh,  wine 
and  jelly.  The  shrub  makes  a  pleasant  sum- 
mer drink  ;  the  wine  was  fprmerly  very  popu- 
lar, among  our  agricultural,  Community ;  while 
the  jeUy  is  an  indispensable  accompaniment  to 
many  (fishes.  The  fruit  of  the  black  specie^ 
is  cliiicfly  used  for  ma)^iug  a  jam,  which  is 
thought  valuable  as  a  remedy  for  various  dis- 
orders of  tlie  throat.  The  young  leaves  have 
been  dried  and  used  as  a  substitute  for  green 
lea,  from  which  it  is  said  that  it  can  scarcely 
be  distinguished.  All  kinds  of  currants  are 
much  esteemed  in  cases  of  sickness,  for 
quenching  thirst,  and  having  a  coolmg  mflu- 
ence  upon  the  stomach. 

To  PEESEnvE  THE  Grebn  Fritit,— Pick 
it  when  fully  grown,  day  the  sm-face  well 
without  shriveling,  and  cork  it  tight  in  glass 
bottles — covering  the  cork  with  sealing  wax. 
Then  bury  the  bottles  to  the  neck  in  a  box  of 
sand  or  earth,  placed  in  a  cool  cellar.  The 
f  I'uit  may  thus  be  kept  for  almost  any  length 
of  time,  in  as  good  condition  as  wlien  gath- 
ered from  the  bushes. 

CuiiBANT  Pudding. — Put  a  layer  of  pas- 
try in  a  dish,  fill  it  with  ripe  currants,  and 
cover  them  with  a  top  cnist.  Boil  for  one 
hour,  at  the  end  of  which  time  you  are  to  re- 
move the  top  crust,  for  the  pui'pose  of  putting 
in  butter,  sugar,  nutmeg  and  cloves.  The 
pudding  is  to  be  eaten  with  hard  sauce. 

CuKRANT  Shrub. — To  one  pint  of  strained 
cuiTant  juice,  put  one  pound  of  sugar.  Boil 
together  gently  for  eight  or  ten  minutes,  and 
then  set  the  .syrup  in  a  place  where  it  will  cool. 
When  lukewarm,  add  to  every  pint  a  wine- 
glass full  of  French  brandy.  Bottle  tight, 
and  keep  in  a  cool  apartment.  A  little  of  this 
shrub,  mixed  with  water,  makes  a  very  re- 
freshing drink  for  hot  weather. 

Currant  Jelly. — The  best  way  of  ex- 
tracting the  juice,  is  to  p\it  the  ripe  fruit  into 
a  glass  or  earthen  jar  which  is  suspended  in  a 
kettle  of  boilmg  water,  and  cook  it  partially. 
Then  put  it  into  a  flannel  bag,  and  let  the 
juice  strain  through  without  squeezing.  To 
every  quart  add  two  and  a-half  pounds  of 
white  sugar,  with  the  beaten  white  of  an  egg. 
Boil  the  syrup  very  gently,  skimming  it  all 
the  while  until  it  becomes  clear  and  thick. 
The  proper  time  for  taking  it  from  the  fire 
will  be  indicated  by  its  dropping  in  a  solid 
lump  to  the  bottom  of  a  tumbler  of  cold  wa- 
ter. Fill  the  glasses,  and  let  the  jelly  be  ex- 
posed to  the  sun  for  a  few  days,  as  it  will 
thereby  be  much  improved.  There  are  a  great 
number  of  receipts  for  making  currant  jelly, 
and  this  one  is  believed  to  be  among  the  very 
best. 

Currant  Wine. — Gather  the  ripe  fruit, 
when  it  is  perfectly  dry,  and  extract  the  juice 
by  pressm-e,  or  in  the  manner  above  indicated. 
For  every  gallon  of  juice  allow  one  gallon  of 
water  and  three  pounds  of  good,  clean  sugax. 
Dissolve  the  sugar  in  the  water  and,  after  re- 
moving all  scum  which  may  rise,  add  the 
liquid  to  the  currant  juice.  Mix  them  well 
together  in  a  keg  or  cask,  but  do  not  close  it 
tight  until  fermeiitalion  has  ceased,  which  will 
not  be  imder  a  week.  Then  add  one  gill  of 
French  brandy  to  every  two  gallons  of  the  li- 
quor, and  close  the  cask  tight.  In  three  or 
four  weeks  the  wine  will  be  fit  for  bottling. 
In  six  months  time  it  will  be  good  for  use,  but 
its  quality  is  improved  by  age. — From  the 
Gardener'' s  Tcxt-buok. 


A  VALUABLE  DISCOVERY. 
"Dear  Sir  :  I  think  1  have  (accidentally) 
made  rather  a  valuable  discovery — whicli, 
though  it  relates  n)ore  directly  to  benefiting 
the  agricidtural  rather  than  the  poultry  .hitei-* 
ests  of  this  coiuitry,  I  send  you  the  fir.«t  ac- 
count of,  because  it  pertains  particularly  to 
the  specialty  for  wliich  your  poultry  paper 
caters.  And  I  am  very  confident,  if  further 
experiments  with  this  article  (now  being  tried) 
shall  prove  as  wonderfully  effective  as  those  I 
have  aheady  made  have  resulted,  that  we 


liave  upon  tlie  premises  of  every  poultry- 
breeder  in  Ajnerica  a  certain  and  suuple 
remedy  ^gainst  the  depredulions  of  destrucr 
tive  garden  andflo'wer  insects,  that  we  have  as 
yet  never  apiireciated  I 

"As  you  are  aware,  gardeners  who  raise 
earl}'  market  vegetables — such  as  squashes, 
cucumbers,  melons,  etc.,  as  well  as  smalj 
f'riuts,  cun-ants,  raspberries,  and  even  g;i'apo3 
— have  always  been  put  to  their  wits'  ends  to 
devise  ways  and  means  to  preserve  their  vines 
and  bushes  from  the  ravages  of  spring  biigs 
and  worms  that  assail  the  tender  plants  as 
soon  as  they  get  fairly  growing.  And-  various 
applications  of  plaster,  gypsum,  aslies,  lime, 
hellebore,  Paris  green  and  other  poisons  have 
lieen  used  freely  to  kill  or  drive  away  these 
pests — often  without  avail,  until  half  or  two- 
thirds  of  these  plants  have  been  killed  or  eaten 
up  by  these  numerous  varieties  of  marauders. 

I  had  tried  these  '  cures '  for  currant-wonns, 
tomato-flies,  cucumber  and  .squash  vines,  etc., 
as  well  as  for  the  dispersion  of  rose-bugs,  often 
without  success.  And  two  years  ago  I  made 
use  of  a  preparation  of  liquid  raw  hen-manure 
upon  a  few  cucumber  hills,  when  the  bugs  had 
fairly  taken  possession  f)f  the  vines'.  I  applied 
this  morning  and  evening  for  a  week,  and 
saved  every  one  of  my  vines.  Then  I  saved 
my  squashes  similarly  with  entire  success.  I 
tlien  washed  our  rose-bushes  with  it  daily  for 
fom'  or  five  days,  and  '  cleaned  out '  every  bug 
on  them  effectually !  The  currant  bushes 
came  next,  and  not  a  currant-worm  have  I 
seen  this  season  in  my  garden.  I  have  used  it 
this  spring,  and  my  cucumbers,  squashes,  cur- 
rants, etc.,  (as,  they  were  last  year)  are  en- 
tirely free  from  the  pests  that  have  quite  de- 
stroyed the  first  planting  of  my  neighbors. 

I  believe  the  pungent,  peculiar  odor  of  this 
preparation  is  a  complete  protection  agamst 
the  attacks  of  these  insects.  They  will  not 
approach  the  vines  or  leaves  saturated  with 
it.  And  at  the  same  time,  I  find  this  a  most 
admnable  fertilizer  to  the  plants.  I  ;have  no 
doubt  it  will  destroy  or  keep  at  a  distance  the 
villainous  "potato-bug,"  too.  ,  Why  not  V  At 
all  events,  I  shall  try  it  the  present  season,  as 
I  notice  in  the  papers  that  this  depredator  is 
about  this  year  in  New  England. 

"  I  throw  into  a  conunon  bucket-full  of  wa- 
ter, a  heaped  spade-full  of  fresh  manure, 
taken  from  beneath  the  hen-house  roosts. 
Mix  well,  and  apply  from  a  watering-pot.  A 
little  goes  a  great  way.  It  is  thus  suflicieutly 
strong,  and  the  effect  will  be  discovered  im- 
mediately. On  rose-bushes  and  currants  it 
should  be  thrown  under  the  leaves  with  a  large 
syringe.  Upon  ground  vines  it  may  be  applied 
easily. 

' '  I  have  found  this  so  singularly  beneficial 
that  I  now  make  the  fact  known  in  the  inter- 
est of  poultry  keepers,  that  they  may  save  the 
hen  maniu-e  carefully.  If  they  don't  wish  to 
use  it  on  their  own  premises,  there  will  be  a 
market  for  it  as  soon  as  their  neighbors  try  it,  if 
they  succeed  with  it  as  I  have.  And  if  it  will 
destroy  the  potato  bug  (as  I  sincerely  believe 
it  will)  there  must  surely  be  a  lively  demand 
for  this  often  wasted  article,  should  the  'Colo- 
rado beetle'  reaUy  show  itself  in  this  region. 

"If  you  think  this  'discovery'  worth  re- 
cording in  your  columns,  I  have  no  doubt  it 
will  meet  the  eye  of  some  poultry  men  or 
gardeners  who  are  more  or  less  annoyed  as  I 
have  been,  who  will  thank  you  and  me  for  this 
hint.  It  is  a  simple  method,  practical,  cer- 
tain, not  poisonous,  and  worthy  a  trial. 

Yours,  &c.,  Helper. 

"P.  S. — I  suggest  that  this  liquid  be  used 
not  too  strong.  Tlie  proportions  I  give  above 
are  sufficiently  powerful.  If  appUed  too  strong 
it  will  burn  tlie  vines  and  leaves,  or  even  the 
stalks,  of  tender  jilants." 

The  foregoing  from  the  Fanciers^  Journal  oi 
.lune  10th,  1870,  if  as  affective  as  represented, 
surely  suggests  an  insecticide  that  must  ulti- 
mately surpass  all  others,  on  account  of  its 
simplicity,  safety,  and  cheapness  ;  and  because 
the  only  condition  necessary  for  its  production 
is  the  ownership  M  a  few  fowls,  and  a  proper 
roosting  place  for  them.  If  this  remedy  efl'ect- 
ually  tans  them,  ive  thmk  they  are  justly 
tanned. — Ed. 


1S76.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER, 


105 


ADAMSTOWN  AND   BILLINGFELT. 

The  l)oroiij,'li  iiC  Aclamstown  ami  tlu'  ii:iiue  of  lion. 
Kcaius  BilliniiMt:  iirc  irifioparablc,  for  tlio  liitdT  is  so 
i(kn( illcl  witli  tworytliin!;  U'luliui; to  Ik'ni'lit  the  foriii- 
or  that  llio  borousrli  could  not'Kcll  i:ct.  aloiij;  without 
him.  An  Adanistown  corieHjKindriit  ol"  the  Ivi'adini;- 
l^tijlf  iSiiys  tliis  of  till'  man  :  llr  ohu.s  a  farm  id. 
Adatiiflowii,  anil  an  Kiii/U  n'|)inii'r  inliavirwcd  Idni 
on  the.  .sutijct't,  of  mamifactnri'  and  farming,  in  rcli'r- 
fUi'o' to  ruicmployi-d  Uit^or.  He  said  : 
*  TIuTC  ftTOl(«>niany  persons  drponiliiii;  uj>on  inanii- 
fact  urine  fstatilislinmnls  for  a  livini;.  Tlu'  pcoplo 
onirld  tolii'dislrilMited  rnori'  lhroii(;lioni  ilic  coiint.ry, 
Ibllowiiij;  tarminL',and  lluTt'WonId  li*pliiily  cd' worl* 
for  all.  AI'Ut  twi'iity-livo  yi'ar.s  of  cxpcrii'ni'i',  1  limt 
that  tho  nioi<t.  rcononuial  and  idoasant  way  to  earn 
a  livelihood  Is  to  attend  to  the  enl'ivalion  of  Mie  soil. 
Make  il  ri<'li,  llioii;;li  it  lu-  Imt  oni-  acre,  ami  tin'  pro- 
duet  you  cannot  sell  at  inarlvef ,  uhc  yolirbell'.  I^ooli 
ivt  the  crops  of  Schabtiaii  jMJller  and  tlu;  Ke^ar  luolh- 
cr.s,  of  Adanistowu,  and  you  can  sec  wind  a  small 
farm  can  produce.  All  of  us  uiust  suhsist.  upon 
the  cultivation  of  tlie  soil,  whatever  wc  may  be  cn- 
i^aijed  in. 

Our  farms  are  tioI.  on  an  averaije  one-tenth  as  pro- 
ductive as  they  coulil  be  unule.  The  richer  I  ho  soil 
thueasicrthc  furnnui;  and  tlio  less  liability  lodroutli. 
As  a  ^,'euenil  thiuf;  tlie  fiirm.s  are  too  lari;c.  I.arne 
tracts  ouf;ht  to  be  divided  into  small  parcels,  and  this 
would  lie  the  moans  of  distributin;;  labor  and  place 
our  money  in  more  s^'ueral  circulation.  There  is 
money  cnoui;h  but  the  manufaeturini,^  cst.atilishments 
cither  cannot  f,'el  it  cir  they  do  no(  want  it,  as  it  dues 
not  pay  during;  these  linies  to  run  mauufaclorics. 
Show  mu  an  industrious  nniii  who  owns  but  one  acre 
of  jjround  and  he  can  borrow  money.  Show  mc  a 
nnin  who  works  in  a  factory  and  is  idle  half  the  year, 
and  he  can  get  no  crcdil .  If  10(1  ai're  farms  were 
divided  into  ten  acre  tracts,  and  the  soil  brought  to  a 
high  .state  of  cidtivation,  the  100  acres  so  divided 
would  sustain  ten  families  instead  of  only  one,  as  now. 

The  al)Ove  are  tlif  .soiitiiiii'iil.s  of  a  man  nt' 
iiitt'lligence  iiiul  exiieficiiee,  ami  it  sct'ius  to 
us,  not  less  of  reason  :iml  common  sense.  As 
to  /(Vf,  there  are  niiUions  in  the  eoinitry  lliat 
are  as  able  to  jmliie  as  \\i'  are,  if  they  will  btit 
curb  their  iiuimlses  and  think  soberly  on  the 
subject.  These  experiences  \vonkl  be  more 
heeiled  if  the  commimily  could  ij;et  the  better 
of  its  prejudices  aiul  separate  the  man  from  the 
subject,  and  base  their  opinions  on  the  real 
merits  of  the  ease.  While  we  believe  ilr.  13. 
is  fully  competent  to  advise  in  the  promises, 
yet  we  fear  there  are  many  who  feci  disposed 
to  hoot  at  such  advice,  only  because  "they  like 
not  the  man."  The  entire  country  is  sadly 
realizing  at  this  moment  the  baneful  results  of 
deserting  the  farms  ;ind  depeuding  upon  the 
ofllces  anil  the  shops.  And  even  those  who 
do  not,  or  who  do  not  intend  to  de.sert  the  farm 
would  do  well  to  study  his  suggestions  in 
reference  to  smaller  farm.s,  and  a  higher  and 
more  thorough  state  of  cnlture.  What  a  pity 
it  is  that  we  cannot  get  men  to  think  and  act 
upon  these  things  while  they  arc  young  and  in 
the  prime  of  life.  What  homes  and  comforts 
miglit  be  carved  out  for  tlie  gratification  of 
enervated  and  advancing  age. 


STRAWBERRIES. 

Strawberries  are  giving  place  to  rasiibcrries,  and 
the  latter  arc  now  begiiuiing  to  come  into  market. 
Blackberries  are  also  appearing  iu  small  quantities. 
The  strawberry  season  has  beeu  a  little  longer  than 
last  year,  and  has  been  of  some  profit  to  the  growers. 
There  have  gone  into  the  market  from  the  Delaware 
Peuinsula,  over  the  Delaware  Railro.ad,  about  4,710,- 
000  quarts  of  strawberries  since  the  opening  of  the 
season  on  May  'M.  In  the  transiioilafion  of  these 
berries  three  daily  trains  were  reqinreJ  the  greater 
part  of  the  season.  Of  car  loads  there. were  about 
785,  of  w-hich  5.52  were  consigned  to  Jersey  City,  35 
to  Boston,  and  1!)S  to  Philadelphia,  the  latter  being 
estimated.  The  others  arc  otllcial.  Reduced  to 
(|uart6,  the  quantities  delivered  to  these  cities  were  : 
To  .Jersey  City,  :i,ai3,000  ;  to  Boston,  210,000 ;  to 
Philadelphia,  1,1SS,000.  New  York  was  also  largely 
supplied  by  the  Old  Dondnion  Sleaniship  Company 
from  Lewes,  which  carrieil  probalily  not  less  tJian 
1,1100,000  quarts,  giving  5,7 10,000  ([uarls  as  the  entire 
marketable  product  of  the  peninsqia,  exclusive  of 
the  quantities  sold  in  the  local  markets.  Seven  cents 
per  quart  is  thought  to  be  a  fair  average  of  the  prices 
obtained,  and  if  we  deduct  from  this  foiu-  cents  as 
the  estimated  cost  of  the  cultivaticm  and  marketing 
of  the  crop,  we  have  left  a  margui  of  three  cents  as 
the  net  profit  to  the  growers.  Applying  this  figure 
to  the  quantity  fihip])ed,  we  have  as  the  net  profit  of 
the  strawberry  yield  for  the  .season  now  closing  81"',- 
SOO.  In  other  words,  the  strawlierries  have  tirought 
to  the  peninsula  farmers  this  quantity  of  money,  the 
cflect  of  which  has  been  perceptibly  felt  iu  all  the 


rural  districts,  as  the  crop  was  abuudaut  OT(try^')i(i^ 
—  ]Vihnitu/tiHt  Co)innf:rciaL 

We  clip  the  following  from  a  cotoniioraiy 
journal  just  lo  faintly  ilhistrale  to  the  fruit 
gruwers  of  Lauea.sler  county  the.  '-money" 
there  lutiy  be  it)  striiwbovrics,  if  they  Mver  oon- 
<le<endH  to  cultivate  tliom  in  mass. 

^V^•  call  atleidiofi  to  tlie  subji'et  from  tll« 
fiu;l  that  in  a  life  of  more  llian  tlire*;-sci)re 
yiiaiB,  wii  have  never  known  a  sea.son  lo  p:uis 
ill  Lancaster  county,  iu  which  tlirre  was  any- 
thing hki^  half  elioiigh  of  sliawlierrie.'S. 

We.  heard  a  iirarlical  <'ultiviitor  of  stiaw- 
beiiins  once  declare  tliat  he  could  lai.-^e  a.s 
many  of  thej<(^  berries,  "Iitishel  for  bushel," 
oil  the  same  i|iiaiitity  of  ground,  ;us  any  oilier 
man  could  potatoes."  N'ow  why  don't  we  have 
more  strawberries  in  Lancaster  county  V 

If  the  same  liberality  tuid  labor  was  1h'- 
stowed  upon  them  that  is  upon  the  toliaeco 
crop,  we  would  have  the  berries  in  abundiince, 
and  need  not  IVar  there  will  be  no  dcm;iiid. 

FAIRY  RINGS  "IN  PASTURES  GREEN." 

The  allention  of  \Ir.  C.  B.  (irubb  wa.s  reeciiUy 
^vrrcstcd  by  what  he  considereil  a  great  natural 
curiosity  in  the  hiwn  in  the  rear  of  his  mansion.  It 
coiisisled  id'  a  distinct  brownish  ring,  averaging 
about  four  inches  ill  width,  and  about  eight  feitt  in 
diameter.  The  grass  within  the  ring  was  fresh, 
healthy  and  of  a  lively  grc^cn  color,  whih^  the  portion 
outside,  the  ring  retains  its  normal  color.  The  atten- 
tion of  our  botanist,  Mr.  .Taeob  Stantl'er,  having  been 
called  to  it,  hi'  at  once  pronounced  it  a  "  Kairy  Ming," 
the  term  by  which  these  phenomena  are  jiopularly 
known,  and  of  which  our  most  popular  seiciilific 
dictionary  (Brando  iV  Cox)  thus  speaks  : 

Faikv  Kinc;s  :  The  green  circles  or  parts  of  circles 
•sometimes  seen  iu  pastures.  They  are  [noduecd  by 
certain  fungi,  chiefly  species  of  Aijiiriiiix,  in  this 
way  :  A  paich  of  spawn  spreads  in  every  direction, 
and  produces  at  its  edge  a  crop  of  its  pari.ieular  fun- 
gus ;  the  spawn  exhausts  the  inner  iKwLioii  ofsoil,  so 
that  the  spawn  llicre  dies,  but  the  crop  of  fungi 
meanwhile  perishes,  and  supplies  a  rich  manure  to 
the  grass,  which  in  conBcquence  becomes  of  a  vivid 
green.  Tlie  spawn  progresses  outwards,  and  theiiro- 
ccss  of  exhaustion  and  renewal  goes  on,  so  that  the 
ring  increases  in  diameter  year  after  year,  till  it  is 
sometimes  several  yards  across.  Af/aricus  orcadix, 
f/amboxnn  and  arDentis,  are  some  of  the  principal  spe- 
cies which  give  rise  to  these  mysterious-looking  rings. 
The  reader  is  then  referred  to  a  jiaper  on  tlie  suli- 
ject  by  Dr.  WoUaston,  in  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions for  1.S07,  p.  Vi'-i.  This  jiaper  is  found  in  sub- 
stance iu  Rues'  Encyclopedia,  with  that  of  articles 
and  opinions  from  Drs.  Priestly,  Price,  Withering  ami 
others — adding  another  fungus  to  the  list — that  of 
Lyeuperdon  bovisH,  as  the  most  common.  This  latter, 
Mr.  Stauffer  informs  us  he  saw  in  a  field  some  fifteen 
years  ago.     He  further  writes  us  : 

"We  have  here  what  seems  to  me  to  be  quite  a 
diilereut  species.  It  istrue,  it  comes  close  to  the 
Lycopcrdoi  pratcnsc  figiu'ed  in  London's  Encyclo- 
pedia. Of  this  genus  he  says  :  'Sporangium  globose, 
Pcridium  single,  membraneous,  scaly,  with  warts  or 
soft  spines,  bursting  irregularly  at  tlie  apex,  and  con- 
taining a  mass  of  sporulcs  and  filaments.'  Of  the 
species  be  says  :  'white,  soft,  hemispherical,  sulises- 
sile,  somewhat  smooth,  warts  scattered.'  These,  we 
are  told,  are  roundish  tuber-liko  plants,  when  ripe 
exploding  and  smiting  the  sporules  in  the  form  of 
smoke,  whence  country  people  call  the  species  '  pull- 
balls.'  In  order  to  describe  this  in  Mr.  Griibb's 
yard,  to  the  naked  eye,  the  blades  of  grass  consti- 
tuting the  fungoid  ring  arc  thickly  incrusted  with 
minute  granular  bodies  variously  conglomerated  or 
scattered.  These  I  found  on  tl|e  leaves  of  adaudnliim 
plant,  as  also  on  the  oxalis  or  other  plants  growing 
in  the  circle  of  the  ring.  These  granules,  under  the 
lens,  arc  found globula-oval, oblong  nml  moniliforni, 
like  beads  strung  tOL'efher — In  short,  there  seems  to 
be  no  special  oitler  in  their  arrangement  or  form. 
Solitary  ones  look  to  mc  like  spores  on  t  he  front  of 
fern  leuvcs,  externally  whitish,  rough,  of  a  kind  of 
indusium,  which  oi>cns  centrally,  and  exposes  the 
minute  sporulcs.  They  ajipear  to  be  sessile,  and 
would  he  taken  at  first  sight  for  the  egg  of  an  uisect. 
"  Those  1  witnessed  before  were  in  the  soil,  the  in- 
ner fresh  grass  leaving  a  st«rile  6])aee  of  four  inches 
or  more  wide  of  the  decaying  fungi  to  form  or  con- 
stitulc  the  ring.  In  this  case  the  ring  is  distinguished 
by  the  parasitic  invasion  of  the  fungus  upon  the 
blades  of  grass  to  form  the  circle.  Subsequently  Mr. 
(irubb  showed  an  irregular  segment  of  a  circle  in- 
fested in  like  manner,  perhaps  ten  feet  from  the 
main  circle.  We  want  more  Information  upon  this 
subject.  I  find  no  account  that  accords  with  the 
facts  in  this  case.  I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  of  other 
circles  of  tliLs  nature." 

We  have  on  sevenil  occasions  witnessed 
these  ''  i'jiiry  Kings,"  and  among  the  rest  the 
one  alluded  to  iu  the  abov(3 — which  wc  have 


tjikeu  fi-om  Die  DuUij  Jijpitss — but  in  uo  iiv 
stance  have  we  cKimiined  tlium  u«  uiiuutvly 
it-s  wu  did  thoopo  oil  Mr.  (irubb's  pr,emi.seB 
the  lucseiit  seaxoii,  .mil  which  has  been  sulV 
(ieieutl)'  described  iu  the  foregouijf  by  Air. 
Stauffer.  We  luivo  tin  .speciiil  theory  to  ollel' 
for  llui  cause  uf  the  |i)i(iiioineiia,  but  the 
Iheorie* .suggested  by  oll>»;rs  do  not  seem  lo 
lie  entirely  sntiisfticLory,  nor  yet  cover  tU(; 
wliolegrouud. 

TIkhi' rings  are  altribuled  lo  ii  raiiid  fliii- 
goiil  gidwll),  wliieli  is  no  doubt  the  lact,  ac- 
cording to  the  iiesl  oliservtilioiis  made;  hilL 
why  th(*y  .ihoiild  tilways  ap|i(iar  in  circles,  iu 
not  so  cliuu"  ill  all  of  them.  In  speaking  of 
Fungi  in  general,  Kink  .says:  " 'J'licse  sub- 
sbiuces  soiiietiiiK's  grow  in  a  singular  iiiantatr, 
a  remarkable  instance  of  whicli  is  furnisheil 
in  the  Fiiinj  liiiiijn,  which  are  found  chiefly 
upon  iJie  downs,  and  which  ar<'  eircles  per- 
fectly legular  wlieu  Ihe  surface  is  uiiifonil, 
but  vanish  when  they  come  to  graveJ  or 
niarsh.  ()ii  lho.se  rings  an  iiiniimenib|e  airay 
of  fungi  spring  up  in  the  latter  end  of  sum- 
mer! When  the  fungi  are  in  progress  the 
grass  withers  and  the  ring  has  the  a|ipe4irancu 
of  being  trodden  with  invisible  feet  ;  liencu 
its  name.  'J'he  dislinction,  howt^ver,  is  <iiily 
temporary,  for  by  the  tiuK^  that  the  riatt  of 
the  grass  is  withered  that  In  the  path  becomes 
green  and  vigorous,  and  a  new  circle  is  forintnl 
next  season  immediately  outside.  When  two 
rings  meet  they  do  not  cross  each  other,  but 
unite,  and  gradmilly  lieeoine  an  oval  ;  but  if  a 
circle  be  interrnpti'd  by  any  Fiiiall  ol)Ht;ude, 
such  as  a  tree  or  a  stone,  it  will  unite  tigaiii 
ou  tb(!  other  side.  These  rinijs  are  formed  by 
various  species  of  mushrooms,  and  alsobywune 
of  the  Li/cupunhm.'i,  or  pull-balls;  but  the '-(/((.se 
of  the  circular  formation  has  not  lieeii  .satis- 
factorily explained.  It  Would  .seem  that  tlio 
ground  which  has  produei^d  one  crop  of  fungi 
is  not  immediately  fit  for  the  proiliiction  of 
miother,  and  thus  the  annual  .sowing  is  out- 
ward. It  also  appears  tlitit  th(J  decayed  mat- 
ter of  the  fungi  is  favor;d)lc  to  the  gra.ss  by 
which  it  is  succeeded."  This  explanation 
seems  to  cover  one  circle  which  we  saw  many 
years  ;igo,  the  gra.ss  within  which,  nearly  up 
to  the  edge  of  the  circle,  was  much  greener 
and  more  luxuriant  than  that  outside  of  il. 
Hut  this  does  not  ajiiictir  to  account  for  tht; 
circle  on  Mr.  Cirubb's  Liwn.  This  appeared 
in  earlij  suinnier,  under  the  shade  of  a  hirge 
tree,  ;ind  none  of  the  fungi  spring  up  from  the 
ground.  They  arc  parasitic,  on  tlie  tops  of  the 
grasses  and  other  phints  in  their  courae  ;  and 
iilthoiigh  the  cir(-le  is  from  eight  to  ti-ii  feet  in 
diameter,  if  we  understand  the  matter  rightly, 
it.s  presence  was  not  noticed  until  the  jireseiii 
sca.son.  The  gKWS  within  the  circW.  is  very 
hcidthy  looking,  but,  except  the  presence  of 
the  fungi,  not  much  more  so  tbau  that  iiuiuc- 
diately  in  the  circle. — Ed.  n 


Fit  THK  r.ANCASTKIi  FaUMKB. 

ON  BEE  CULTURE. 

I  have  often  .seen  it  asserted  that  Italian 
Ihu'S  are  more  profitable  than  the  coiunio'il 
black  bees,  and  the  reason  generally  given  is 
that  the  former,  on  accoimt  of  their  larger 
size,  are  able  to  gather- honey  from  red  clover. 
This  is  all  taken  on  the  supposition  that  the 
larger  bee  has  a  larger  probo.seis,  and  can 
therefore  reach  downi  the  tube  of  the  ll()rels  of 
which  a  head  of  clover  i.s  composed.  This 
reaching  down  the  tulieof  red  clover  may  be 
the  case  in  second  crop,  (after-math  1  where  th(3 
florets  are  cpiitc  short  in  comparison  \\it\\  Iho 
first  crop,  tint  I  do  not  believe  there  ever  was 
a  honey  In^e,  Italian  or  other,  that  could  Viaeli 
down  the  tulx',  to  where  the  nectar  is  sfoii'd  in 
the  first  crop  of  red  clover.  If  you  olfcune 
bees  on  white  or  on  alsike  clover,  you  will  see 
it  on  the  outside  of  the  liejid.  reaching  down 
the  tube,  and  only  a  part  of  the  hea«l  buried 
out  of  sight.  In  thi.s  case  it  certainly  reaches 
down  the  tube. 

I  often  had  my  suspicion  of  the  way  Ihts 
gathered  honey  from  red  clover,  but  always 
put  it  aside  and  thought  that  people  that 
made  honey-bees  and  honey  their  Imsinetw, 


406 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[July, 


■would  know  for  coilain,  and  thus  contented, 
I  never  made  an  examination  until  witliin  a 
short  time  and  this  is  what  I  found  to  be  the 
case : 

If  you  watch  bees  on  red  clover,  you  will  flud 
their  actions  entirely  dilferent  from  what  they 
are  on  tlie  white,  lor  they  will  Ijury  nearly  half 
the  body  in  the  head  of  clover:  they  certainly 
do  not  try  to  get  at  the  nectar  by  probing  the 
calyx,  for  the  corolla  and  tlie  calyx  are  united, 
and  the  uectar  is  in  the  lower  part  of  the  tube 
of  the  corolla.  After  a  few  days  I  found  that 
wherever  a  bee  alighted  on  red  clover,  the 
tulje  of  the  corolla  was  pierced  right  above  the 
calyx,  and  from  this  point  the  nuich  coveted 
nectar  could  easily  bo  readied,  and,  in  fact,  on 
sucking  at  such  lubes  no  sweet  taste  could  be 
discerned,  while  it  \ras  very  apparent  in  those 
not  so  pierced. 

Another  thing  I  observed  in  connection  with 
tlie  aliove,  and  that  is,  that  black  bees  will  go 
at  red  clover,  but  the  majority  of  them  I 
found  to  be  the  yellow  Italian. 

The  piercing  of  flowers*  I  found  to  be  the 
case  a  few  years  ago  on  a  honeysuckle,  and  I 
think  I  read  an  account  of  it  in  a  paper  of  last 
summer.  .,     '  ■  ' 

I  believe  that  bees  sometimes  will  not  gather 
polleu  when  it  can  be  oljtained  in  large  quan- 
tities. I  have  found  this  sprint;,  tliat  wherever 
th(?Te"was  a  poison  ivy  {Rhus  ToxicochmlroH 
or  radicans)  of  rather  large  size,  a  loud  hum- 
ming at  the  time  of  the  flowers  opening,  but 
the  noise  is  chiefly  made  by  bumble  bees,  wood 
bees,  &c.,  and  have  found  in  my  observation, 
only  one  bee  (an  Italian)  that  gathered  the 
pollen,  which  is  of  a  deeji  reddish  orange  (an- 
natto)  color  and  produced  very  aliundantly.  It 
maybe  that  the  bees  consider  the  white  clover 
honey -harvest  of  more  importance  because  the 
two  come  into  bloom  at  the  same  time,  and  as 
polleu  can  be  gathered  nearly  any  time  during 
warm  weather,  they  leave  the  gathering  of 
pollen  for  more  important  affairs. 

I  have  been  told  by  some  persons,  and  I 
think  I  have  seen  it  in  print,  that  when  bees 
commence  on  a  certain  kind  of  flower  they 
gather  from  that  kind  only  until  they  are 
loaded.  That  this  is  not  tlie  case  I  know  to 
be  true,  for  this  sjiring  I  have  seen  bees  pass 
from  flowers  of  false  tlax  {Crurelinu  sativa)  to 
those  of  turnip  (Brassica  rapa).  In  clover  I 
have  usually  found  the  bees  to  remain  on  the 
red  when  they  conmienced  on  that,  and  if  on 
white  they  would  stay  on  the  white  and  never 
pass  on  to  the  red,  though  they  would  go  from 
the  white  to  the  alsike.  From  this  I  take  it 
that  some  bees  do  not  know  anything  about 
the  irianner  of  getting  honey  fr(mi  red  clover 
and  for  this  reason  only  do  tliey  not  pass  from 
one  to  the  other.  I  think,  too,  that  if  certain 
flowers  are  very  abundant,  that  the  bees  may 
keep  to  that  particular  kind,  though  there 
may  be  three  or  four  dilferent  kinds  as  plenty 
as  the  one  on  which  it  haiipens  to  alight  at 
first.  Tills  may  have  originated  the  delusion 
that  the  bee  will  only  gather  from  one  kind  of 
flower,  Init  I  am  certain  that  in  a  time  of 
scarcity  they  take  them  as  they  come. — A  B. 


For  The  Lancaster  Fa  km  ek 
HINTS  FOR  NEW  BEGINNERS  IN 
RURAL  LIFE. 
The  cropping  in  the  kitchen  garden  may 
now  take  place,  if  required.  Sow  seeds  of 
white-tlcshed  turiiii>s  (the  red  top  is  still  the 
best).  iSow  fall  radishes  and  spinach  for  fall 
us(^  Transplant  broccoli,  endive,  celery,  and 
late  cabbages  of  all  sorts,  peppers,  &c.  Phuit 
seeds  of  cucumbers  and  liusli  beans  for  late 
fall  use  and  for  pickling.  Drills  should  be 
made  for  all  transplanted  plants  as  deep  as 
are  made  tVir  bush  beans.  The  weather  in 
August  is  generally  hot  and  dry  ;  transplanted 
])lants  require  waterings  frequently  until  they 
make  new  fibres  to  sustain  themselves,  and 
if  set  in  shallow  drills,  the  waterings  are  more 
expeditiously  applied,  and  tlie  waters  lodge 
more  about  the  roots  and  benelit  them  more. 
Flat  lands  bordering  upon  the  sea  coa.st 
and  large  rivers  and  lakes,  will  naturally  be 
more  moist  than  high  inlands,  and  the  atmos- 


phere will  also  be  moist,  so  that  the  'night 
dews  will  benefit  tlie  plants  ;  therefore  less 
artificial  waterings  are  needed  ;  and  most  of 
the  crops  may  be  transplanted  upon  the  flat 
surface  ;  so  the  practice  in  one  location  W(.)uld 
fail  in  another.  [It  takes  two  years  to  grow 
full  onions  at  Pliiladelphia  and  southward, 
whereas  at  New  Yoik  and  northward  very 
huge  onions  are  produced  from  seeds  in  seven 
mouths  ;  so  much  for  difference  of  atmos- 
phere, soil  and  climate.  '-I 

Insects  and  weeds  will  be  plenty  this  month, 
so  a  peipetual  war  must  be  kejit  up  to  ex- 
terminale  them.  Where  there  is  not  time  to 
hoe  weeds  up,  cut  them  down  with  a  scythe 
or  grass  hook,  to  prevent  them  from  bearing 
seeds,  and  destroy  insects'  nests  to  prevent 
propagation. 

In  the  pleasure  grounds  the  lawn  grass 
should  not  lie  often  mowed  in  hot,  dry 
weather.  All  erect-growing  flowers  show  to 
better  advantage  when  tied  up  to  neat  sticks. 
Climbers  should  be  trained  to  trellises.  Let 
creeping  plants  spread  over  the  surface  ;  uip 
otf  their  outer  ends,  and  they  will  branch  and 
bloom  more  freely.  C'oleus  and  silver-lefived 
plants  and  Alternanthera  should  be  cropped 
in,  occasionally,  by  cutting  ofl'  the  points  of 
the  shoots,  to  make  them  grow  more  massy, 
and  thereby  prevent  them  from  making  flower- 
stalks,  as  their  foliagd  is  their  beauty.  Fading 
bhioms  upon  all  kinds  of  plants  shoidd  be  cut. 
otf,  as  the  plants  ^vill  thus  the  better  enlarge 
their  growths  and  bloom  more  profusely  in 
their  usual  seasons.  Gladiolus,  lily,  tigridiaand 
other  roots  grow  larger  if  the  fading  blooms 
are  cut  off,  to  prevent  them  from  bearing 
seeds,  and  many  of  the  fibrous-rooted  flowers 
may  be  made  to  bloom  nearly  the  whole  grow- 
ing season  if  jirevented  from  bearing  seeds. 
Most  of  the  ever-blooming  roses  will  be  kejit 
in  perpetual  bloom  by  cutting  oft'  the  fading 
flowers.  Artificial  waterings  are  necessaiy 
in  hot,  dry  weather,  and  more  especially  lately 
transplated  trees,  shrubs,  etc.,  if  a  large  cask 
is  half  sunk  in  the  ground  and  filled  with 
water,  and  a  few  pounds  of  guano  put  into  it 
and  well  stirred,  the  water  will  be  fertilizing 
as  well  as  refreshing. — W.  E. 


ARTIFICIAL  TOBACCO. 

The  Hriniiijk  Ainerican  has  the  following 
statements  which  are  illustrative  of  the  pro- 
gress of  invention  in  imitating  the  products 
of  nature.  If  we  are  to  eat  oleomargarine 
butter,  we  do  not  know  why  we  should  not  be 
satisfied  with  paper  cigars: 

Tobacco  leaves  for  the  manufacture  of 
Havana  cigars  are  now  being  produced  in 
New  York,  thanks  to  the  industr}'  of  some  of 
our  citizen.s,  aided  by  the  progress  of  chemical 
science.  The  material  used  is  a  kind  of  brown 
wrapping  paper,  made  of  straw  especially  for 
this  purjiose.  The  jiaper,  after  coming  from 
the  mill,  is  saturated  with  the  juice  pressed 
from  the  tobacco  stems  and  other  offal  ;  then 
the  sheets  are  rolled  through  a  machine, 
which  gives  them  the  perfect  appearance  of 
the  tobacco  leaf,  anil  the  peculiar  spots  are 
printed  on  them  as  on  calico.  The  paper 
thus  priijiared  is  especially  adapted  for  wrap- 
pers around  the  cigars,  and  is  such  an  inqn'ove- 
ment  on  the  natural  tobacco  leaf  (being  much 
stronger,  more  economical,  and  easier  of  man- 
ipulation) that  the  Havana  eigariuakers  desire 
no  other  wrapping  for  cigare,  and  import  it 
largely  from  New  York ;  and  no  Havana 
steamer  leaves  here  at  present  without  taking 
out  quantities  of  it.  These  figure  up,  accord- 
ing to  some  authorities,  to  5,0()0  reams  in  one 
cargo,  and  occasionally  as  much  as  30,0()() 
reams  of  this  artificial  tobacco  leaf  has  been 
exported. 

It  is  stated  that  this  tobacco  flavored  straw- 
paper  makes  also  a  filling  sujierior  to  the  genu- 
ine leaf  ;  and  it  is  impossible  to  detect  the 
delicate  film  of  i)ai>er  interlapped  with  some 
broken  leaves  of  real  tobacco  in  the  finished 
cigar,  which  the  iiaper  so  very  neatly  holds  in 
form.  JJesides  this,  the  paper  leaves  no  resi- 
duum other  than  a  pure  light  gray  or  nearly 
white  ash,  just  like  that  of  the  best  quality  of 
tobacco. 


APPLES. 

There  is  scarcely  an  article  of  vegetable  food 
more  widely  useful  and  more  universally  liked 
than  the  ajiple.  Why  every  farmer  has  not 
ail  a]>ple  orchard  where  the  trees  will  grow  at 
all  is  one  of  the  mysteries.  Let  every  family, 
in  autumn,  lay  in  from  two  to  ten,  or  more, 
barrels,  and  it  will  be  to  them  the  most  eco- 
nomical investment  in  the  whole  range  of  culi- 
naries.  A  raw,  rnellmo  ajqde  is  digested  in  an 
hotirand  a  half,  whilst  boiled  cabbage  requires 
five  lioiu-s.  The  most  healthful  desert  which 
can  be  placed  on  the  table  is  a  baled  apple.  If 
taken  freely  at  breakfast,  with  coarse  bread 
and  butter,  without  meat  or  flesh  of  any  kind, 
it  has  an  admirable  eft'ect  on  the  general  sys- 
tem, often  removing  constipation,  correcting 
acidities,  and  cooling  ofl:  febrile  conditions 
more  effectually  than  the  most  apjjroved  medi- 
cines. If  families  could  be  induced  to  substi- 
tute the  apple — sound,  ripe  and  luscious — for 
the  pies,  cakes,  candies  and  other  sweetmeats 
with  which  their  children  are  too  often  indis- 
creetly stuffed,  there  w6illd  be  a  diminution  of 
doctor's  bills,  sufllcient  in  a  single  year,  to  lay 
in  a  stock  of  this  delicious  fruit  for  a  whole 
season's  use.      .    :i  ... 

This  was  the  opinion  of  Prof.  Farraday  as 
to  t)he  use  of  this  fine  fruit ;  and  from  a  poet 
scribbler  of  his  era,  we  produce  a  portfolio 
sentiment,  which  we  designate  "A  Frag- 
ment," on  the  love-memorial  tree  which  pro- 
duces them  : 

THE  OLD  APPLE  TREE. 

A  FRAGMENT. 

Yes!  it  was  very  beautiful,  even  in  the  brick- 
red  city;  for  the  swallows  had  come  back  again, 
and  the  air  was  filled  with  the  song  of  birds 
and  with  the  laughter  of  children,  and  with 
the  many  hmisehold  noises  that  came  through 
the  once-raore-opened  windows ;  for  it  was  the 
Soring  time,  and  lovely  thoughts  and  fancies 
tliat  had  lain,  like  the  flower  roots,  buried 
under  the  frost  and  sno\v,  sprang  up,  all  blos- 
soming in  people's  hearts,  and  looked  out  lov- 
ingly from  their  eyes. 

And  there  w"as  a  great  old  apple  tree  that 
stood  in  a  little  yard,  stretching  out  its  long 
arm  into  the  street,  so  loaded  with  rose-white 
blossoms  that  one  could  scarcely  see  the  deli- 
cate green  leaves  that  were  unfolding  them- 
selves in  the  seeming  moonlight  of  the  bloom- 
ing boughs.  Old  men  looked  up  as  they  passed 
under  it,  and  smiled,  with  an  unconscious 
blessing,  for  it  recalled  their  far-off  boyhood  ; 
and  little  children  danced  around  it,  and 
elapiied  their  hands  in  glee  ;  and  when  the  sun 
shone  each  little  flower-leaf  was  like  a  crystal 
mirror,  to  throw  its  warm  beams  down  ujion 
the  green  bud  that  lay  almost  hidden  in  the 
bottom  of  its  tremulous  cup  ;  and  the  l>irds 
came  there  and  built  their  nests,  and  the  filmy 
spider-webs  in  the  early  morning  were  all 
braided  with  jiearls  and  diamonds,  so  that 
with  the  bloom,  and  the  fragrance,  and  the 
melody,  there  was  nothing  more  lovely  in  the 
whole  city.  But  the  little  green  bud  grew 
large]-  and  larger,  until  at  last  the  flower-cup 
could  no  longer  hide  it.  And  then  the  rose- 
white  leaves  fell  off,  and  the  wind  carried 
them  away  on  its  soft  wings,  until  the  air 
was  so  filled  with  them  that  the  children 
shouted  out,  "the  snow  !  the  snow  !"  Then, 
as  the  summer  came  on,  the  sun  looked,  day 
after  day,  with  a  more  lieaming  eye  upon  the 
old  tree  in  its  beautiful  adorning  of  green,  un-- 
til  the  young  apjiles  blushed,  for  they  were  no 
longer  liidden  by  the  bridal  veils  of  the  white 
flower  leaves. 

Yet  it  was  still  very  beautiful ;  for  the  light 
and  shade  came  there  lo  play  a  hide-and-seek, 
and  the  winds  chased  each  other  over  and 
around,  and  through  the  emerald-leaved 
l)raiich(>s  that  swayed  here  and  there,  weaving 
flickering  and  fantastic  shadows  on  the  grass 
beneath  ;  and  myriad  insects,  all  glcainiug 
with  crimson  and  gold,  soared  above  it  in  the 
bright  sunliglit,  and  ever  and  anon  some  bird, 
from  within  his  green-roofed  home,  jioured  out 
his  soul  in  such  gushing  melody,  that  those 
who  heard  were  carried  afar  among  the  purple 


I876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


107 


liills,  ;iii(l  so  went  on  tli*?ir  daily  caiPR  with  a 
liillitir  licarl  and  a  more  hoiicful  spirit.  IJiit 
whrii  the  suniiiur  was  ■joiic,  ami  tlie  lirown, 
willuMcd  leavi's  fell  dead  u|i(iii  tlu'  lartli,  tliey 
stoit^d  away  tlic  rijie  fruit,  and  tlie  S(>n;;s  of 
birds  were  liuslied,  and  llic  iK'aiity  and  tlic 
gladness  Wen;  no  more  !  ]!ul  an  artist  poet, 
who  loved  whativer  was  hri^^htly  akin  to  his 
own  glowing  visions,  painted  a  basket  of  the 
golden  apples,  with  their  clieeks  Unshed  like 
tlio  crimson  sunset,  and  whoever  looked  upon 
the  artist's  work  with  the  heart's  true  love  of 
nature,  saw  tlurein  the  blossoming  tree,  with 
the  suidight  shimmering  through  its  branehes, 
and  beard  onee  more  the  voices  of  (be  birds, 
and  the  evening  lireezes,  and  the  sporting  oi' 
the  happy  little  children.  Then,  deep  in  their 
imnost  souls,  tbey  thanked  (lod  for  tlu'  per- 
fecting of  the  beautiful  proiihecy  of  the  Sjiring 
time,  and  also  for  the  revealing  of  the  trutli 
that  whatever  is  lovely  jiasses  away  only  to 
give  (ilace  to  somcUiing  noliler  and  more  en- 
during: "First  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  then 
the  ripe  coru  iu  the  ear." 


BARNYARD  MANURE  AND  CHEMICAL 
FERTILIZERS. 

Prof.  Stockbridgc,  pf:  the  Massachusetts 
Agricultural  College,  who  is,  by  the  l)y,  an  in- 
terested witness,  being  a  patentee  of  some 
chemical  formulas  for  fertilizers,  thus  writes  in 
relation  to  chemical  fertilizing  : 

"  Plants  are  not  uouri.shed  by  the  soil  or  the 
manures  we  mingle  with  it  as  sudi,  but  1/y 
certain  substances  contained  iu  soils  and  ma- 
nures after  they  have  been  freed  fiom  those 
compounds  by  chemical  change.  On  an  un- 
decomposed  soil,  in  the  pi'esenee  of  uudecom- 
posed  manures,  tlie  plant  waits  or  starves  for 
nutritiou,  until  the  '  weather  '  develops  it.  If, 
now,  the  season  is  cold  and  wet,  and  the  in- 
terspaces of  the  soil  closed  with  water,  so  that 
the  air,  witli  its  warm  inlluence  to  give  vigor 
to  roots,  with  its  carbonic  acid,  ammonia, 
oxygen  and  ozone  to  hasten  decomposition, 
cannot  penetrate  it ;  or  if,  by  severe  drought, 
water  in  sntlicient  quantity  for  the  same  piu-- 
pose  is  not  jiresent,  we  have  just  the  condition 
of  weather  and  results  of  which  the  fanners 
complain,  though  it  is  such  that  if  absolute 
plant  footl  were  present,  the  plant  would  grow 
on  unimpeded  by  the  influence.  [The  Profes- 
sor might  explain  how  the  plants  could  appro- 
priate the  food  in  the  al)sence  of  water  to 
dissolve  it.]  Cannot  the  farmer,  to  a  great 
extent,  manure  his  land  with  plant-food, 
rather  than  the  raw,  coarse,  undecomposed 
compounds  more  generally  used  V  If  he  can, 
and  does  not,  he  should  cease  complaining, 
and  acknowledge  that  his  ordinary  'weather' 
crops  are  the  result  of  his  omission.  TTis 
course  of  action  should  be  controlled  by  the 
rule  that  only  decomiiosed  fertilizers,  whether 
stable  manures  or  the  substances  used  in  these 
exiterimeuts,  fe(>d  plants. 

"Now,  allow  me  to  drawsome  conclusions  ; 
and  I  would  draw  no  conclusion  any  further 
than  my  experiments  have  gone.  I  would 
stand  exactly  on  them  ;  I  would  be  taught  by 
them  ;  I  would  advance  no  theory  that  the 
facts  do  not  sustain.  The  fn'st  conclusion  at 
wliicli  I  arrive,  as  the  result  of  these  experi- 
ments, is  this  :  that  it  is  im[)osi(ible  to  make 
these. poor,  worn-out  lields  of  old  Ma,ssachu- 
setts  flourish  with  waving  grain,  corn  and 
grass,  by  the  use  of  the  chemical  elements  of 
plant  nutrition.  My  next  conclusion  is  this  : 
that  in  order  to  do  tliis  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary— and  I  want  to  put  it  stronger  than  tliat 
— it  is  not  (lesirabk,  to  keep  cattle  for  the  sake 
of  making  barn-yard  manure  to  do  that  work 
with.  Now  some  men  will  dissent  from  this. 
I  say  that  it  is  not  desirable  to  keej)  cattle /or 
the  n-prcas  inirpoxe. — mark  the  language— of 
making  barn-yard  manure  to  renovate  these 
fields  with.  I  know  some  of  my  brother 
farmers  will  say  :  '  Well,  you  are  going  back 
on  tlie  bara-yard  manure,  ain't  you  V  You 
are  going  to  sny  barn-yard  manure  isn't  worth 
having ;  that  you  wouldn't  cart  barn-yard 
manure  a  mile  if  anybody  would  give  it  to 
you.'    Not  at  all,  gentlemen.     I  tell  you  this  : 


barn-yard  manure  is  the  waste  product  of  cer- 
tain industries. 

"There  are  horn  and  bone  waste,  the  wa.ste 
of  the  woolen  manufactories,  and  the  waste  of 
every  kind  of  manufactures  that  have  ele- 
ments of  fertility  in  them.  Never  waste,  tliem. 
Barn-yard  manuie  i.s  simply  a  waste  product, 
for  We  must  keep  cattle  ami  horse.t  to  do  our 
Work  on  oiu-  farms.  We  must  make  milk  and 
butler  and  cheese  ;  and  in  this  biisiiiess  of 
making  butter  and  cheese,  and  in  keeping 
stock  of  any  kind  to  nui  oui'  fiuins,  we  nmst 
make  barn-yard  manure.  Then  you  comndt  a 
sin  if  you  waste  it.  Husband  your  re.souices 
of  every  kind  ;  husband  your  waste  material, 
whetlu'r  barn-yard  nianuiv,  wool,  wastt?  horn, 
waste  hair,  or  whatever  it  is,  U-cause  they  all 
contain  elements  of  nutrition;  but  I  venture 
ti>  prophesy  that  the  comnu'rcial  value  of 
barn-yard  manure  iu  futuic  is  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  commercial  value  of  the  elieini- 
cal  elements  of  plant  nulrition.  I5ut  do  not 
understand  me  a«  saying  that  barn-yard  ma- 
nure is  not  valuable,  and  should  not  l)e  saved, 
or  that  all  your  resources  of  this  kind  should 
not  be  husfcanded  the  same  as  ever." 


KEEPING  UP  THE   FERTILITY. 

It  is  well  known  to  eveiy  observing  man 
w'lro  has  reached  middle  age,  that  our  soil  has 
deteriorated  in  fertility,  very  much,  within  the 
last  thirty  or  forty  years.  I'eople  are  awaken- 
ing to  this  fact,  and 'the  subject  of  restoring 
and  keeping  up  the  fertility  now  occupies  a 
in'ominent  place  in  agricultural  discussions. 
It  can"t  l>e  too  fully  discussed,  for  the  welfare 
of  the  farmer. 

I'.arnyard  manure  seems  to  be  sulllcieMt 
when  the  stock  is  larg*  enougli.  IJut  with 
many  of  us  it  falls  short  of  the  object  to  be 
accomplished.  The  (pie.stion  is,  how  shall  we 
augment  the  manure  heai>,  or  find  a  substi- 
tute ?  Som(?  resort  to  lime,  plaster,  etc.,  and 
for  a  time,  with  marked  benefit,  but  they  soon 
awaken  to  tlK^  fact  that  thev  are  oidy  increas- 
ing the  crop  without  benefiting  tlie  land. 
Hence,  this  mode  is  not  reliable.  We  must 
keep  up  the  fertility  of  land,  or  find,  in  a  few 
years,  that  we  have  sold  our  cnliital.  We 
must  adopt  some  other  method  than  simply 
applying  substances  that  develop  and  utilize 
the  plant  food  already  in  the  soil,  for  this  will 
eventually  impoverisli  it. 

The  i)roflts  of  farming  depend  largely  on 
the  labor  performed  in  jiroducing  a  given 
amount  of  products.  If  we  have  to  turn  ovrv 
two  to  five  times  the  soil  to  produce  fwenty- 
five  or  thirty  bushels  of  wlu'at,  the  profits  de- 
crease in  a  corresponding  ratio.  The  solution 
of  both  problems — fertility  and  profit — is 
found  just  here.  We  have  tweii  farming  too 
much.  We  have  been  plowing  and  sowing 
and  overstocking  for  years,  until  we  find  that 
fertility  and  profit  are  disapiiearing  together. 
The  remedy  is  plain.  Concentrate  our  opera- 
tions, do  well  what  is  done.  We  must  sow 
less  grain  and  produ(!C  more  to  the  acre  ;  keep 
less  stock,  and  make  one  steer  weigh  as  much 
as  two ;  let  more  grass  grow  and  turn  under 
more  of  it  than  we  have  been  doing.  This  is 
the  way  to  supply  the  defi('ieney  of  barnyard 
manure.  Let  those  who  are  incredulous 
about  the  great  fertilizing  qiialitii'S  of  .crass, 
observe  the  dillerence  between  the  growth  of 
vegetation  on  old  fence  rows  that  iiave  been 
undisturbed  for  years,  and  that  on  fields  that 
have  long  been  cropped.  The  fa<'t  is,  sod  is 
the  cream  of  our  soil,  and  by  permilting  it  to 
attain  some  growth  and  then  idowiuLT  it  un- 
der, we  are  pla<'ing  something  there  that  will 
add  to  the  ferlilily.  We  can  do  this  by  crop- 
l)ing  less,  keeping  less  stock,  and  doing  every- 
thing thoroughly. 

A  neighboring  farmer  had  a  field  that  was 
hopelessly  worn  out,  almost.  He  .izotit  seeded 
to  English  cloverand  let  it  lay  two  years  with- 
out removing  anythimr.  He  then  plowed  it 
and  planted  in  corn,  and  the,  croii  was  an  ex- 
cellent one.  It  hardly  .seems  necessary  for 
laiiil  to  remain  poor,  even  in  the  absence  of 
barnyard  manure,  when  nature  has  furnislied 
us  so  cheap  a  fertilizer ;  and  it  need  not,  were 


it  not  fm-  the  mistaken  gn^ed  of  the  cultivator. 

A  .system  of  rotation  is  too  common  among 
us.  It  is  about  ;us  follows:  Corn,  freiiuently 
two  an<l  three  crops ;  oats,  wheat,  gra.s», 
which  is  mowed  or  jiastured  for  a  year  or  two, 
all  the  growth  removed  clean  until  the  roots 
are  destroyed  and  the grass  run  out.  Thi'U  it  is 
plowed  u))  again  and  the  draining  process  re- 
peated. It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  grass  can 
cmich  land  when  not  a  spire  is  left  to  grow  or 
.sod  to  form. 

Whi'ii  we  leaui  to  add  as  much  to  oiir  ^oil 
a.s  we  ab.stract  from  it  in  crops,  we  shall  hear 
less  complain  about  hard  tiuies-  -le».s  aiioiit 
quitting  the  liusiue.ss  and  going  at  something 
elije— less  about  selling  our  farms  and  moving 
West  to  iijjd  a  virglxi  .soil  that  cannot. lie  ex- 
hausted.— Cm'rcspondenve  Z'rocttcaJ  Fanner. 

SURFACE-STIRRING  THE  SOIL. 

Everyone  knows  by  this  lime  tliivt  wet  soil 
is  a  great  injury  to  growing  crops.  And  yet 
a  regular  sujuily  of  moisture  in  the  soil  during 
the  season,  is  one  ipf  the-  most  important  ob- 
jects to  accomplish.  If  soil,  es|«-eially  wet 
soil,  is  left  undisturbed,  it  becomes  hard  ; 
technically  it  "bfiken,"  and  the  inniKtare  es- 
capes with  marvelous  rapidity.  It  is  there- 
fore an  object  to  keep  the  surfiu'o  loose. 
Moisture  doe-s  not  escaiie  as  nipidly  througli 
a  loose  surface  a,s  through  a  compact  solid  one. 

In  imrsnit  of  this  object,  however,  cultiva- 
tors often  make  a  great  mistake,  and  much 
injury  results  to  corn,  potatoes,  and  other 
things.  The  cultivator  is  kitjit  running  ail 
summer,  the  te<'lh  tiften  peiielr.iting  Several 
inches  deep,  exposing  the  upturned  .surfa«!  to 
the  sun.  and  in  this  way  a  vast  amount  of 
moisture  evaporalt^  that  is  really  needed  by 
the  plants.  It  is  of  course  much  Letter  than 
to  have  a  liaked  surface  ;  but  there  is  a  loss 
for  all,  and  a  loss  that  might  be  easily  saved 
by  a  little  thought. 

The  first  stirring  in  spring  should  be  deep,  in 
order  to  break  nj)  the  compact  earth,  especi- 
ally if  the  ground  was  plowed  in  the  fall ;  but 
after  this  the  working  should  be  as  .shallow  as 
liossible.  Firm  .soil — soil  crushed  anil  jiressed 
when  dry — holds  moisture  iH-tter  than  in  any 
other  (M)iidition,  anil  is  a  vei-y  dilTerent  thing 
to  a  merely  loose  soil  through  which  the  cx- 
teriial  air  easily  goes,  and  dries  the  moisture 
out.  The  more  such  iiartially  dried  soil  is 
pressed,  the  firmer  therefore  il  becomes,  and 
the  more  moisture  it  contains.  This  is  the 
princnple  on  which  the  t;ood  elTects  of  tlu;  roller 
dejiends,  and  which  has  so  often  been  ex- 
lilained  in  the  2\leiiraph.  Rolling  and  iiress- 
ing  while  the  soil  is  somewhat  dry  is  indeed* 
the  whole  science  of  pulverization,  the  good 
elTeets  of  which  are  so  well  known. 

While,  therefore,  the  first  stirring  .should  be 
done  with  deisp  and  narrow  teeth,  so  iis  to 
penetrate  as  deeply  as  possible,  all  subsequent 
workings  should  be  with  cultivators  having 
short  and  broad  ti^'lh,  just  skimming  tln'  sur- 
face and  cutting  ofl  instead  of  tearing  iMit  (he 
weeds  ;  anil  this  ailvice  is  good  for  the  one 
who  uses  the  hoe  in  the  garden,  as  for  he  who 
uses  a  horse-cultivator  iu  the  fields. 

In  any  case,  the  hoe  should  be  starleil  early. 
Hoeing"  and  ciittivaliiig  ha,s  now  iK-conie 
among  the  most  laborious  of  farm  and  garden 
ta.sks;  and.  if  the  weeds  once  get  ahead,  it  is 
terribly  hard  work  to  keep  them  down.  The 
best  farmers  do  not  wait  for  the  weeds  to  ap- 
jiear,  if  they  can  po.ssibly  spare  the  time  from 
other  work  ;  but  jiut  the  cultivator  through 
as  soon  as  the,  first  spring  sun  cakes  a  little  the 
exiiosed  earth.  The  sprouting  weeds  are  thus 
destroyed  in  the  germ,  and  the  work  is  com- 
paratively eii.sy  all  the  sejuson  afterward.s. 
Spring  work  is  generally  so  i>rissim;  that  it  is 
not  olteii  that  one  can  be  so  foiebanded  in 
the  matter  of  early  weeding.  Happy  is  the 
man  who  can  do  it  ;  all  .should  aim  to  gel  as 
near  this  happiness  as  possible.  —  II,  rtn'nU'niyn 
lelegraph. 

The  suqilus  of  wheat  inC'alifoniiafor  ship- 
ment this  sea.son,  is  stated  to  be  7r)(l,(K»0 
short  tons,  exceeding  by  21X»,(XHJ  the  surplus 
of  1875. 


108 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July, 


THE   CENTENNIAL    LIVE    STOCK    ■ 
DISPLAY. 

'The'  Bureitti  'of  Agriculture,  lutevnr.tional 
Exhibition,  is  receiving  iipiilicationA  for  the 
•alignments  of  stalls  for  the  tlisplay  of  lioirsfeB, 
neat  cattle,  sheep  and  swine.  The  live  stock 
show  will  be  inade  in  serial  ordei-,  coinmenciug 
witli  horses,  Sept.  1st  to  14th ;  dogs,  Sept.  4th 
to8th;  neat  cattle,  Sept.  21st  taOct.  4th;  sheep 
and  swine,  Oct.  ICith  to  If^th  ;  poultry,  Oct! 
27th  to  Nov.  (ith.  No  charge  will  be  made' as 
entry  fee,  nor  for  the  use  of  the  stalls,  which 
will  be  of  first-class  character  in  all  respects. 
The  stock  3ard  is  of  sufficient  area  to  allow 
the  cfmstruction  of  7t)0  bo.x  stalls  for  horses, 
each  fourteen  feet  square,  tliese  to  be  al'tcV- 
ward  divided  for  cattle  by  longitudinal  parti- 
tions into  1,400  stalls,  each  seven  by  foiu'teen; 
allot  aniiilc  elevation  and  security.  The  stock 
yard  is  immediately  alungside  of  tlie  tmek  of 
tlie  Pennsylvania  railroad,  which,  by  its  con- 
nections, is  able  to  transport  animals  from 
almost  any  part  of  the  TJnion  direct  to  the 
Exposition  grounds. 

The  stock  yard  Mill  be  thoroughly  well 
watered  and  lighted  bj'  gas,  and  under  the 
(•onstant  charge  of  a  company  of  Centemiial 
guards.  All  the  piimiinent  transportation 
companies  agree  to  return  free  of  freights, 
animals  sent  for  exhibition  upon  which  full 
rates  were  paid  in  the  first  instance.  Exhibi- 
tors or  their  agents  will  be  required  to  assume 
the  entire  charge  of  horses,  neat  cattle,  sheep 
and  swine,  and  be  alone  responsible,  although 
the  Commission  will  do  all  in  its  power  to 
jirovide  for  the  comfort  and  safety  of  tlie  aui- 
miils.  Attendants  upon  stock  may  sleep  in 
the  stalls,  oi'  can  find  ample  room  at  tlie 
numerous  hotels  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 
Hay  and  straw  will  be  furnished  by  the  Cen- 
tennial Commission  free  of  charge. 

Koots  and  grains  will  be  sold  at  the  depots 
upon  the  ground  in  the  stock  yard,  the  prices 
charged  being  simjily  those  of  actual  cost,  the 
attendaut.s  upon  the  stock  drawing  the  daily 
su)>plies  upon  coupon  tickets,  ^vhicll  will  be 
sold  from  the  office  and  furnished  to  the  at- 
tendants by  their  employers. 

Each  Ijreed  of  well  established  character  in 
the  various  families  of  live  stock,  will  consti- 
tute a  distinct  class,  under  which  awards  will 
be  made  as  provided  for  in  classifications. 

Though  it  is  not  proposed  by  the  officers  of 
the  Bureau  of  Agriculture  to  have  competir 
tion  between  immature  animals,  still  young 
animals  may  be  stalled  with  their  dams,  that 
the  transmission  of  valuable  qualities  may  be 
seen.  Breeders  are  particularly  requested  to 
'  make  exhibition  of  succeeding  generations  of 
animals  iu  direct  genealog}'. 

Single  animals  and  herds  entered  for  com- 
petition iu  any  class  must  be  the  bona  fide 
property  of  the  individual  in  whose  name  they 
are  entered.  This  rule  does  not,  however, 
prevent  State  Centennial  Boards  and  Associa- 
tions from  entering  for  display  fiocks  and 
herds  made  up  from  the  stocks  of  various 
owners. 

Every  animal  In  its  class,  as  to  breed,  sex 
and  age,  possessing  points  of  excellence  will  be 
reiiorted  upon  moie  or  less  fully  according  to 
its  inherent  and  comparative  merit.  Exhibi- 
tors whose  stock  receives  the  commendation 
of  the  judges  will  be  presented  with  adiploma, 
specifying  the  tjqiical  featiu'es  of  each  animal, 
and  supplementary  to  thediploma  will  be  given 
the  uniform  bronze  medal  of  the  connnission. 
Of  more  value  tha-n  either  the  diiiloma  or  medal 
will  be  the  special  report  over  the  signatures 
of  the  judges,  presented  to  each  exhibitor  of 
meritorious  animals,  stating  fully  the  reasons 
why  they  awarded  him  a  diploma  and  a  medal; 
thus  a  feature  will  Ijo  developed  never  before 
attempted. 

The  judges  on  each  class  will  also  make  a 
general  report  ui)on  the  chaj-acteristics  of  each 
breed,  especial  reference  being  made  to  ani- 
mals exhibited  of  superlative  merit.  Those 
reports  will  be  emlwdied  with  the  rejmrts  of 
judges  on  the  other  groups,  and  be  higldy  val- 
uable fin-  i-cference  in  the  future.  Numbers 
alone  \v  ill  distinguish  an  imalsiu  the  show  yard, 
preceding  the  inspection  by  the  judges  ;  after- 


ward full  opportunity  will,  be  given  to  exhibi- 
tors to  dispki}^  their  cards  and  trophies.       i   ) 

Animals  may  be  sold  at  private  or  public 
sale  during  the  exhibition,  and  within  the 
yard,  but  no  animal  ^\ill  be  allowed  to  be  re- 
moved priorto/lhe  everdng  of  the  closiug  day. 

Special  premiums  frotn  societies  or  individu- 
als must  be  awarded  through  the  hands  of  the 
Centennial  Commission. 

During  the  season  of  the  display  of  eattle, 
opportunity  will  be  given,  if  desired,  to  exhibit 
the  butter  characteristics  of  the  various  milk- 
ing breeds.  Churns  can  be  readily  had  and  a 
room  secured  for  the  exhibition  of  the  pro- 
cesses of  butter-making,  and  the  qualities  pro- 
duced. 

During  the  dis))lay  of  .sheep  a  room  will  be 
provi<le(l  for  the  exhibition  of  fleeee.s,  to  which 
it  is  trusted  breeders  will  not  fail  to  conti-ilmte. 
Classification  lists  and  entry  forms  will  lie  for- 
warded on  application  to  the  Bureau  of  Agri- 
culture, C'entenninl  Conuiussion. 

Eivbrnm  will  closo  ou  the  first  day4ȣ  August. 
nx'      '  jort  '-'n  'd-  I'/^i.  .  Ki\i-/''.r,v  ■         <\\< 

CROP  RETURNS   FOR  JUNE. 

The  returns  to  tlie  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture for  .iune,  indicate  that  Micliigan  alone, 
of  the  entire  Northern  States  that  grow  win- 
ter wheat,  will  come ;  up  to  an  average.  The 
crop  on  the  ground  is  generally  thrilly,  bitt 
the  injury  done  by  the  winter  makes  it  thiq. 
New  York  averagcjs  about  18  l.ielow  good  con- 
dition. The  average  iu  rennsylvaiiia  is  9:), 
Delaware  stands  10.') ;  Maryland  108  ;  Virginia 
112;  North  Caroliua  104";  Georgia  10  below 
average — rust  being  the  cause,-  Alabama  12 
below;  jNIissinsippi  -2^)  below  ;  Arkansas  27  be- 
low, all  from  the  sanie.  cause,  rust.  In  Texas 
the  rustjri'.d  the  lly  l»'ing,s  the  condition  down 
to  21  Ijelow  average.  AVest  Vii'ginia  raises  G 
pe)'  cent,  above  average  ;  Kentucky,  from  dry 
we;itlier,  falls  S  below.  Ohio  and  Indiana 
stand  GO,  and  Illinois  SS.  Missouri  falls  2  per 
cent.  beloAV  average  ;  Kansas  reports  extraor- 
dinarily good  c<ni(litiou,  many  coimtic^s  run- 
uing  from  110  to  200.  The  average  for  the 
State  is  108,  and  for  Nebraska  110.  California 
runs  a  little  below  average ;  Oregon  x'eports 
104.  The  average  condition  for  the  entire 
country  is  87. 

Si'KiNCi  Wheat. — The  States  reporting  a 
decrease  of  acreage,  compared  with  the  pre- 
vious crop,  are  Vermont,  0  per  cent.  ;  New 
York,  13  ;  Kentucky,  15 ;  lllinofs,  12-;  Wiscon- 
sin, 5  ;  Iowa,  11 ;  .Kansas,  4,  and  Oregon,  .3. 
The  .States  reporting  an  increase  are  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Nebraska,  4  percent.;  Texas  (which 
reported  au  increase  of  21  per  cent,  last  year) 
and  Ohio,  10  ;  Arkansas,  7  ;  Michigan,  .j  ;  In- 
diana and  Minnesota,  10  ;  Missoiu-i,  12;  and 
California,  (j.  In  the  latter  State,  there  being 
no  distinct  dividing  line  between  winter  and 
spring  wheat,  the  variations  in  acreage  arq 
affected  by  a  somewhat  capricious  classifica- 
tion. The  returns  indicate  about  the  same 
acreage  as  last  year. 

Among  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States  the 
condition  is  lowest  in  New  York,  being  94 ; 
it  is  100  in  Maine,  Connecticut  and  Pomisyl- 
vania:  In  the  Northwest,  while  it  is  1  per 
cent,  alaove  in,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  it 
falls  3  per  cent,  below  iu  Iowa.  The  reduc- 
tion is  ascribed  mainly  to  drouth,  though  rav- 
ages of  grasshoppers  are  spe<,'ilied  in  one 
county.  Missouri  falls  8  per  cent,  below ; 
Kansas  raises  to  08,  and  Nebraska  to  ItiO. 

Oats. — The  entire  acreage  is  slightly  in- 
creased over  last  year.  The  condition  is  above 
average  in  the  New  England  States,  average 
Pa.,  a  little  lielow  in  N.  Y.  and  N.  J.,  average 
in  Mich.,  above  average  iu  States  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  except  Ark.,  Mo.  and  Oregon,  lo 
percent,  below  in  Ky.,  about  7  per  cent,  be- 
low (Hi  .south  Atlantic  coast,  and  about  aver- 
age in  W.  Va.,  and  the  States  iu  the  Ohio 
Valley,  except  Ky.  Texas  reports  a  yield  of 
about  40  bushels  per  acre. 


Destructive  insects,  with  a  few  excep- 
tions, have  not  been  as  abundant  this  season 
asnsnal.  Has  the  intense,  licat  anything  to 
do  with  it  V 


FARMERS  AND  THE  CENTENNIAL. 

"Thejfarme^"  who  fitils  tf)  visit  the  Centennial 
Exiibsition,  in  Fairuuount  Park,  will  miss  the 
opportunity  of  his  life'.  On  no  other  occaslbii 
during  his  life,  be  lie  young  or  old,  will  he 
again  have  the  chance  of  seeing  so  many 
things  collected  together  to  interest  and  in- 
struct him,  as  in  this  wofiderful  aggregation 
of  the  world's  progi'ess.  It  is  not  unusual  for 
the  casual  visitor  to  look  at  almost  everything 
there  except  Agricultural  llall,  the  impression 
being  that  there  is  nothing  there  to  interest 
anyliody  but  farmers.  Tliis  is  a  great  mistake. 
The  interior  of  the  building  itself  is  a  spectacle 
of  lieauty,  worth  ten  times  the  jirice  of  admission 
to  see,  while  among  the  exiiibits  there  is  some- 
thing to  interest  everybody.  Tliese  are  made 
up  not  only  of  all  kinds  of"  the  most  improved 
agricultural  implements,  but  there  may  be 
seen  al  most  everything  which  grows  and  almost 
everything  which  is  manufactured  from  the 
products  of  the  earth.  Thlis,  every  kind  of 
grain,  all  the  brands  of  fiour,  and  every  variety 
of  biead  and  bis(;uit  made  from  it,'  may  ha 
studied.  Some  of  these  displays  are  aeiu'iosi- 
U'  to  the  novice,  The  di.splii.ys  of  pickles  even, 
aie  a  wonder.  And  S(H)n  through  every  de- 
partment. Any  person  can  spend  a  day  |)ro- 
fitably  in  this  wnndei'ful  collection,  and  the 
farmer  can  here  find  subjects  for  a  week's 
study.  Then  the  Kansas  and  Colorado  build- 
ing contains  the  most  complete  exhibit  of  the 
resources  of  Kansas  and  t'olorado  made  by 
a.ny  State,  though  what  is  to  be  Seen  in  the 
Arkansas  anil  other  buildings  is  well  worth  a 
visit.  The  Pomologieal  Annex,  near  Agri- 
cultural Hall,  will  be  a  great  show  when  {.lie 
fruit  season  arrives,  and  the  butter  and  cheese 
exhiliit,  near  by,  in  a  special  Imilding  eretited 
by  the  Dairymen's  Association,  is  already  au 
ol.*ject  of  great  interest  to  those  who  wlsli  to 
study  tliis  important  industry.  Nor  should 
the  farmer  fail  to  visit  the  Carriage  Annex  to 
the  Main  Building,  the  Wagon  Annex  to  Ag- 
ricultural Hall,  and  the  Shoe  and  Leather 
building,  south  of  Machinery  Hall.  In  all 
these  he  will  find  a  thousand  objects  to  interest 
and  expand  the  mind.  We  trust  that  no 
reader  of  The  Farmer  will  faU  to  see  the 
great  exliibition. 

OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 

CorreBpoiidence  of  Tiite  IiAifCAgT^n  Farmer.  '  *' 

'■■"■■  Paris,  .June  l.tSr^l'" 

There  is  no  subject  in  continental  ferming  receiving 
so  miicli  profoiui'l  attention  as  the  fattenltig'  of  ntU 
mats,  iuvolvinsj  as  it  tlous  directly  their  lireedina:  auil 
ro:>iiii<!;.  Iu  tiie  case  of  beef  fat,  it  can  be  converted 
into  iHiirijarinc,  whieli  resembles  butter  in  one  par- 
ticular, tliat  of  appearance.  The  fat  of  mutton  is  not 
at  all  relished  by  the  consumer,  and  yet  it  is  to  produce 
a  superabundance  of  fat,  that,  oil  cake  and  meals,  so 
rich  in  nitroifen,  and  so  costly,  too,  are  extensively 
patronized.  There  is  not  a  little  truth  in  the  remark, 
that  it  is  for  the  benefit  of  the  took.^that  this  exces- 
sive fat  is  manufactured ;  she  jnsists  on  the  fattest 
joints  at  the  butcher's,  to  enjoy  the  better  the  fattest 
perquisites.  It  has  been  shown  that  the  more  a  sheep, 
for  example,  is  fat,  that  is,  surjiasses  the  rational 
mean  averase,the  lessitrepayS'tMBlimcnts  required 
to  produce  that  excessive  obeiiity,  and  which,  be  it 
observed  in  passing,  is  the  most  onerous  of  the  whole 
process.  It  is  held  then  to  be  more  profitable  to  pro- 
duce two  sbetqi,  ordinarily  fattened,  than  one — a 
phenomenon  of  fat.  The  same  principle  applies  to 
Ijreedinij;  reproduction  is  injured,  and  jicrhaps  a  race 
Ijeeomcs  degenerated  when  tlie  male  is  obese.  Barn- 
dour  Ibwls  are  not  reproduced  by  first  enclosing  the 
cock  in  a  coop  and  tattctiing  him  with  the  expedition  of 
a  Strasburg  goose.  French  fanners  ontyijia:  stock  up 
fur  fatteuiiiif,  devote  about  ten  days  to  a  preliminary 
gradual  increase  of  rations,  which  are  distributed 
four  times  per  day  in  sunnncr  'and  three  iu  winter. 
As  uiut'h  ol'  our  contentment  in  this  life  depends  ou 
the  stomach,  so  with  farm  animals  ;  punctuality 
in  serving  meals,  and  no  short  commons,  will  be 
Ibuud  to  best  promote  repose  and  sli^ep,  two  grand 
agents  in  the  jirocess  of  fatteuiui;'.  The  litter  ought 
t()  be  renewed  every  morning*  and  the  bed  made  tor 
the  nii.'ht.  A  dark,  rattiei-  than  a  well-lighted  shed, 
is  preferable,  having  a  temperature  noli  disagreeably 
high,  and  an  atmosphere  humid  rather  than  dry. 
Some,  to  secure  the  latter,  water  the  alleys  of  the 
shed  pending  warm  weather. 

Prof.  Sanson,  the  leading  zooteehuist  in  this  coun- 
try, after  au  exhaustive  examination  of  the  question, 
concludes'  that  the  puljlic  health  runs  no  danger  by 


1S76.J 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


109 


lonsuminir  meat,  tlie  produijc of  arim.ilR  iiflreolod  witb 
the  pest  chiirhoii.    The  blood  of  animals  nJllk-tiil  wilb 
this   inalaily,  only  bccomee  viruli'nl  ilUrinc  the   hi»t 
nionieiits  of  life.    It  is  very  rare  that,  blood,  taken 
from  Uie  external   tumors,  ean  inoeuhile  a  healthy 
boast  with  the  disease.     When  an  animal   has  U'eji 
sutl'oeated   with  carlionie   aeid,  or  slauijlileretl,  it  is 
not   the    blood   in   the   trfiicrnl  cireulatioii  whleli  In 
venomcHlSy  hut' that    in   the  vein   and    its   divisiimB 
wliieli  eonvoy  the  lilooil  from  the  viaeiTa  to  the  liv<'r. 
I'roleisor  Sauson  then  reeoniiuends   farmers  to  kill 
the  nninnil  at  the  eonimeiieement  of  the  disi'ase,  am! 
rapidly  (irciiare  the  eareass   for  the    market:    by  so 
doinir  they  will  lessen  their  loss,  while  not  deprivini; 
eonMunersof  a  food  supply  as  essential  as  it  iseoslly. 
The  reijional   aL,'rienltural  shows  are  pnltin:,' Ibrlli 
KtrennouB  elliirts  to  iiuinirai^e  aiirieulturists  to  rely 
<m   preserved   L'reen  food,  as  a  security  iiiraiust  eold 
sin'iuprs,  like  the  present,  or  dry  summers,  whieli  are 
very  tri'iieral,  and  that  eoniproudse  foiay:e  erops.     M. 
Ootfart  invitedya  IbrtniLrht  auo,  the  lea.linir  affrieul- 
tnristsof  France,  to  be  present  at  the  openini;of  his 
pits,  wherein  had  been  plM<'ed,in  October  last, twenty 
Ions  of  iho|iped    yreen    maiK(^     Thrci'    points  were 
eonelusively  established  :    the  perfect  i>rcservalioM  of 
the  i;reen  i'ood,  after  seven   months  ntsidence  In  the 
trenches,  without  elcvali(m  rif  t<-mperature   anil  the 
absonce  of  all  fermenlation,  the  rapidity  witli  which 
this  food  accpiired  an  alcoholic  oilor,  tin-  avidity  wil  h 
which  the  animals  consumed   it,  even  whin  Ireshly 
mown  fodder  was  ]iresented  to  them.     'J.  The  satis- 
factory condition  of  twenty  tons  of  u'reeii    chopped 
rye,  after  several   months  enclosure  in  |iils;    aiul  :i, 
tJie  exeelleni  state  of  the  stock.     Kor  soilim;:  purposes 
several  varieties  of  maize  arc  in  favor,  foUowinu' cli- 
mate and  land  ;    the  latter  is  prepared  as  for  an  ordi- 
nary i-oot  eroii,  receiviii,!;  from  lifteen  to  thirty  tons  of 
farm-yard    manure,    with    a   supplemental    dose   of 
^uani'i  or  cluunical  fertilizers.     Maize  rerpiire.s  an  en- 
crifetie   manure,  the   >;iaut  species   exaetimr   almost 
double  the  riuantity  i;iven  to  the  others.     Kx-perience 
has    found    that   chemical    manures  are  suiK>rior  to 
Sfuano   tor  maize,  but  the  superphosphate  ami    sul- 
phate of  ammonia  ean  be  advautaseously  replaced 
by  t.hive  or  ten  e\its  of  di-ssolved  i;uano.     The   plant 
te  IV  tCreat  eonsuuuT  of  (ihosphat*'.     The  seed  is  ordi- 
narily steeped  for  one  or  two  days  before  sowinar,  and 
the  latter  never  takes  place  till   a  period  when  the 
spring  frosts  are  not  to  be  fearciLattaeJ^inf;  the  yonuu- 
plant". 

Every  year  the  jcovcrnment  endows  a  seiies  of  re- 
ponal  shows — some  ten  in  number— so  that  iu  the 
course  of  eight  years  all  the  departments  benetit  by 
these  iinpc>rtanl  agricultural  competitions,  and  the 
wonders  that  time  works  ean  be  thus  aceurately  esti- 
mated, it  is,  however,  strange  that,  at  these  shows 
no  prizes  are  oti'ered  for  horses,  and  France  is  actively 
occupied  to  discover  the  means  of  improving  the 
breed,  as  well  as  their  number.  The  .State  alleges  its 
own  breeding  schools  are  suilieient  for  all  wants, 
>vlueh  is  a  view^  not  at  all  ralilied  by  public  opinion. 
Another  desirable  end  to  he  obtained  i.s,  that  French- 
men ought  to  learu  how  to  ride.  History  proves  that 
at  one  period  they  could  bewitch  the  world  with  their 
noble  horsemanship.  Farmers  who  formerly  ti'aveled 
on  horseback  now  do  so  in  vehicles  or  by  rail ;  hence 
the  decadency  of  an  accomijlishmcnt  now  more  than 
ever  a  necessity.  At  the  regional  shows  carousals 
take  place,  wlicrc  the  trpo|)ers  perform  several  feats 
of  skill  ;  the  public  feels  interested  only  in  how  they 
sit  in  the  saddle  when  charging  an  imaginary  enemy. 
Since  all  able-bodied  men  in  France  must  no.w  per- 
form niilitary  service,  the  wish  is  that  farmers'  sons 
become  habituated  to  the  most,  complicated  evolu- 
tion's of  horses.  .,     i  .. 

Some  agricultural  schotds, ,  Uav«  recently  »ddcd 
equitatiou  to,  their  subjects  taught.  At  Careassoue 
regional  show  a  novelty  was  introduced — that  of  giv- 
ing prizes  to  the  best  pupils  of  the  farm  schools  ;  the 
teachers  selected  their  most  advanced  hoys,  and  the 
examination,  public,  oral  and  written,  was  conducted 
by  the  managing  committee  of  the  show.  The  sub- 
jects chosen  were  a  description  of  the  show  itself,  the 
advantages  of  a  machine,  of  a  special  brcexl  of  stock, 
or  a  iiccidiar  system  of  culture,  ;lL1  having  a  local  aiJ- 
plieatiou  and  interest.  There  is  n  marked  tendency 
to  impart  l-o  farming  studies  a  decidedly  practical 
character,  and  the  growing  fashion  Of  selecting  the 
blue  ribbons  of  the  agricultural  colleges,  and  send- 
ing them  to  travel  and  take  uotesiu  foreign  countries 
of  agricultural  practices— expeusfs  being  defrayed  by 
the  St;ite — is  excellcut. 

The  Saxon  Uovermnent  has  purchased M.Stecher  s 
well-known  experimental  farm,  near  Dresden,  which, 
readers  and  visitors  may  remember,  has  received  no 
other  manures  since  thirty  years  hut  feeble  doses  of 
guano  and  bone-dust,  while  being  submitted  to  an 
eight-course  rotation  of  cropping,  wherein  not  only 
wheat  figures,  but  where  Hax  and  clover  are  culti- 
vated for  their  seeds.  The  soil  is  derived  from  gneiss 
rocks,  and  is  consequently  tenjicious.  At  present  all 
the  crops  are  luxurious,  and  surpass  in  a  marked 
manner  those  in  the  vicinity  that  receive  the  ordinary 
snpplv  of  animal  manures. 

Prof.  Hololl'  has  been  Investigating  the  cause  of 
rachitis,  or  rickets,  in  animals,  owing  to  which 
the  tones  become  swollen,  soft  and  deformed. 
The  disease  ai>pear6  always  when  the    animal    is 


young,  and  is  due  to  a  kind  of  Btoppa.'c  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  skdieton  ;  t\ic  organism  ban  want  of 
chalk.  In  the  case  ol  ugoil  aniuuils  this  chalk  ^s  fur- 
nished by  the  greater  supply  of  food  they  take,  lind- 
ing  all  liie  liiDc,  and  more  evni  than  they  rei|uire. 
If  the  disease  has  acquired  an  intensily,  it  is  rarely 
lliat  the  skeli'lon — the  bones — restunes  dovelupment, 
and  conse(|ueiitly  the  animal  remains  im|U>tenl  and 
sorry-looking.  For  pigs,  tilt  Hixnionthsoiii,  and  cut- 
tle and  horses  dnrlntr  their  lirst  year,  il  is  essential  to 
supply  them  with  fiulder  rich  in  lime  or  employiUL' 
plios|)liate  of  lime.  Hone-dust  is  e*>ininonly  mixed 
uj)  with  the  young  aninnil's  food,  and  Is  bcsliUis  very 
easily  digested— a  quarter  of  au  ounce  daily  for  pit's 
and  ihedoulile  lor  stock.  The  chief  point  is  to  apply 
the  remedy  in  tinu!.  .\eid  fooil  is  said  to  promote 
the  disease;  it  does  so  in  the  case  of  pigs  nourisheil 
on  sour  milk;  the  hietie  aeid,  uniting  with  the  lime 
in  the  rations,  is  expelled  from  the  system  in  the 
Ibrni  of  a  chemical  salt. 

I'alicnce  and  evpeetation  describe  the  present  enn- 
ilition  of  the  phyUoxera  question  ;  one  has  to  wall  for 
the  results  of  new  cxpi'.rimonts.  .VI.  iioiteau  has  de- 
lected the  insects  marching  out  of  the  vi'ry  hmN  of  the 
vine,  'i'he  opinions  are  i|uite  contradictory  as  to  the 
ellicacy  of  tlie  sulpliuret  of  carbon  remidy.  The 
I-'reuch  Consul,  at  Canton,  has  expedited  .soi!ie  siH'ci- 
niens  of  the  eUrvmcm ,  a  shrub  that  the  Chinese  ]ibiTil 
lo  keep  away  a  destruclive  white  ant.  It  will  he 
tried — as  is  every  remedy  suggested. 

.\t  l.andshul,  in  Bavaria,  and  in  other  parts  of 
that  kingdom,  also  a  great  mortality,  a  veritable  epi- 
denuc,  carried  olf  Iiundreils  of  young  horses  ;  the 
foals  were  allowecl  their  ordinary  lite  in  paddocks  ; 
from  several  pnxl  iimrtnn  exandnalions  il  was  dis- 
covered that  the  animals  pi-esenteil  the  same  syinp- 
loms  as  when  persons  suecundi  fjom  ty|ihu«  fever; 
and  it  was  found  that  the  horses  had  been  virtually 
poisoned  I'rom  the  emanations  from  neighboring  lields, 
that  had  been  toi)-dresseil  with  night  soil  from  the 
cities. 

A  new  churn  has  ap|)eari>d  ;  its  principle  isto  main- 
tain the  i-ream  at  a  uniform  temiH'rature  ;  this  the. 
invenlxir  alleges  lo  secure,  liy  inserting  a  layer  of  felt 
between  the  cavity  formed  liy  two  walls  of  plated 
iron,  the  material  of  wiiie.b  the  churn  is  composed. 

The  First  of  .Inly  has  been  delinilidy  lixed  upon 
by  French  farmers  foT  taking  au  inventory  of  their 
stock — dead  and  alive. 


.|l  1  (•.-.'il 
GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


Castile  Soap  and  its  Counterfeits. 

In  our  correspondence  columns  we  publish  a  eom- 
munication  from  a  reader  of  the  Amtrrican  fJruerr, 
who  evidently  feels  that  in  ]mrchasing  an  article  he 
has  not  received  what  he  wanted  and  what  he  asked 
for.  Ti)  give  a  rule  by  whiei;  domestic  cast.ile  soap 
ean  be  distinguished  from  imported  is,  probably  im- 
possible, while  all  authorities  here,  even  the  import- 
ers themselves,'  admit  that  the  hulk  of  the  domestic 
mottled  eastile  soap  is  fully  as  good  au  article  if  not 
a  better  lh!m-t/he  imported. 

There  are  lour  descriptions  of  impoi-ted  known  in 
this  market.  Fii;st  and  at  the  head  of  the  list  In' re- 
putation is  th6  Italian,  white  oaslile,  known  as  the 
"  Conti  "  soap.  The  jobbing  price  of  this  at  present 
ranges  from  irif.i  KJi^.c  currency.  It  Is  elainied  that 
oil  only  is  used  instead  of  fats  jn  its  manufaelure, 
either  olive  oil  thatisleft  after  tile  Iie^t  Igfiottled,  or 
sometimes  cocoanut)  oil.  Tlie  litjxt  br.liid  in  reputa- 
tion and  cUiiined  to  he  etpial  in  qualify  and  healing 
proi)erlies  is  the  "  White  Horse,"  aI.«o  a  white  soa)), 
imported  frowi  Jt'ai'seilles.  This  at  present  is  .selling 
.at  13(u,13V;C.  gold.  These  two  brands,  it  is  said,  are 
never  countei^Vited  here,  and'  are  claimed  to  be  free 
from  all  aduHeration.  Tests  nuule  by  us  have  faffed 
to  show  any  adulteration  or  additionof  substances  to 
add  to  the  weight,  as  is  the  ease  in  mottled  soaps. 
These  white  soaps  come  in  hatan  of  li.'iCnjST  lbs.,  gross 
weight,  and  a  tare  fit' 4 lbs.  Is  allowed. 

Kevt  in  order  come  the  Marseilles  and  tlie  Leghorn 
mottled,  the  former  claimed  to  be  the  better  of  the 
two.  The  importation  of  these  soaps  is  rapidly  fall- 
ing off,  owing  to  the  competition  of  the  domestic 
article,  which,  as  a  rtile,  is  claimed  to  he  the  best 
and  jnircst.  Some  of  the  largest  imi)0rters  Inform 
us  that  they  are  gr.adually  droi'ping  this  article  oil' 
their  list  of  Importations. 

'  Iu  making  eastile  soap,'oliv6  or  coeoanut  bil  Is  sup- 
posed to  he  the  maleriiil  used  and  this  gives  It  Its 
heating  prts^eitleS.  Of  late  years,  however;'  other 
and  clieapiir  oils  arc  said  to' have  beeit  sulwtitnted, 
such  as  linseed  anij' cotton  seed,  hut  the  fact  of  the 
latter  being  used  ciiii  be  delected,  It  is  claimed  by 
exjierts,  from  the  darker  color  of  the  soap.  Within 
tlie  past  live  years,  in  order  to  meet  the  competition 
of  buyers  and  Uy  furnish  an  article  within  the  views 
of  buyers,  it  has  become  the  custom  to  adulterate 
both  .Marseilles  and  l.eghorn  mottled  soap  with  terra 
alba  or  chalk.  .Some  samples  wliieli  we  have  seen 
tested  showed'  thirty-live  per  cent,  of  this,  added  lo 
increase  the  weijiht  and  cheapen  the  article.  There 
is,  of  eotn-se,  some  of  the  genuine  article  imported, 
but  a  buyer  had  better  depend  on  the  re.jmtation  of 
his  wholesaler  aiulevcu  then  the  wholesaler  himself 


may  jioBsibly  lie  imposed  upon.  These  8oa)is  eomo 
In  tioxes  of  4.')('ai47  lbs.  and  a  tare  of  N  lbs.  Is  allowc<l. 
The  loss  in  weight  on  caslilc  soap  Is  very  large  ae- 
ciinling  to  till'  length  of  time  it  is  carried,  the  loss  In 
four  or  five  months  being  as  much,  hi  some  cases,  as 
'M  per  ex'Ut.  When  sold  It  is  rewelirhed,  and  by  soino 
dealers  the  actual  tare  at  time  of  sale  is  allowed,  and 
by  some  the  original  tare,  but  the  price  is  advanced 
accordingly,  the  price  having  to  be  made  so  much 
higher  as  to  meet  the  loss  in  weight.  This  mottled 
soap  is  also  lar;.'ely  maile  here.  Boxes  arc  shipfieil 
hire  from  .Marseilles  in  the  form  of  shiMiks  and  put 
together  here.  These  boxes  when  jiut  on  the  market 
often  bear  all  the  ntarks  of  imiHirted  soap.  The  soft 
and  wet  appearance  of  the  soap  nienllone*]  by  our 
i^>rres[»ondent  is  no  guide  as  to  w  hetlier  It  is  foreign 
or  doiuestie,  as  the  former  often  reaches  here  In  thai 
stale,  the  soap  containing  a  lart'c  proimrtionol  water 
to  Increase  the  weit'lit,  but  il  should  be  made  in  bars 
and  not  look  as  If  cut  with  a  wire. 

To  test  eastile  soap,  weiijii  out  a  certain  |W)rtion, 
■Mil  ill  small  pieces,  add  alcoliiil  until  dissolvivl  ;  the 
chalk,  if  there  Ix;  cimlk  in  it,  will  suUIe  ut  the  lM>t- 
toin  anil  the  weight  will  determine  the  quantity  uf 
adulteration. — Amcricati  firocer. 


The  Language  of  Fowls. 

Is  there  any  one  who  kce|)s  fowls  who  has  not  no- 
ticed the  great  variety  of  sounds  they  make,  exprcs- 
sive  of  their  feelings?  Il  amounts  almost,  if  not 
quite,  to  a  language;  probably  more  so  than  any 
other  creature  except  man.  Kven  the  modulation  of 
noises  made  Is  very  significant  of  meaning.  First, 
there  is  the  piping  of  tlie  little  chick,  calling  for  the 
care  of  its  slalely  mother  who  continually  keeps  an- 
swering with  the  assuring  "  cluck,  cluck."  As  the 
eliiek  grows  a  little  older,  the  piping  is  sueeeeded  by 
a  chirrup;  then  there  is  the  thrilling  song  of  pleasure 
they  make  under  their  mother's  wing  when  sifting 
down  to  rest ;  but  just  put  your  hand  under  the 
mother  and  pull  out  one  of  the  little  chicks,  and  hear 
ils  cry  of  tirror,  niiie^'leil  with  tlii'dellanci-  and  abuse 
of  its  parent .  'I'brow  a  large  beetle  into  their  ciKip, 
and  hear  the  consternation  utteri'd  by  all  tlie  little 
family,  mingled  witli  the  warning  voice  of  their  ma- 
Iron.  .Now,  throw  them  some  dainty  till ,  and  hear 
how  soon  her  voice  ebanges  ;  her  children  under- 
stand there  is  something  extra  nice  for  them  by  her 
peculiar  deelaniation,  which  brings  in  all  slrau'irlers 
In  a  great  hnny.  How  well  the  little  things  compre- 
hend the  peculiar  cry  of  their  mother  in  case  of  dan- 
ger, such  as  the  approach  of  cats  or  hawks  ;  or  let  a 
little  .stragu'ling  waif  peep  intothe  coop,  and  hear  her 
timelv  warning  lo  keep  out.  In  the  course  of  time 
the  mother  tires  of  herehar^'e,  and  gives  her  children 
the  slip,  who  express  their  forlorn  fcelimr  by  a  whin- 
ing cry,  while  luniling  around  for  her.  In  due  time 
I  he  young  gentleman  chick  tries  bis  voice  at  a  crow. 
Could  any  one  ever  believe  that  such  stammering, 
such  .straining  and  croaking  would  ever  reach  the 
clear,  rich  song,  that  has  been  celehrated  in  the  his- 
tory and  the  poetry  of  all  the' great  nations  of  the 
earth,  anil  caused  so  many  great  "  awakeninirs"  in 
all  classes  of  Society?  Soon  h«  begins  lo  feel  gal- 
lant, and  if,  by  chance,  he  liuds  soine  rare  bit,  ho 
calls  some  of  the  nearcsl  belles  to  partake  of  it,  but 
they  frequently  arrive  just  iu  time,  to  see  him  Imlt  it 
himself.  One  ol  the  next  musical  sixains  is  the  prat- 
ing of  pullets  when  they  feel  liatujy  and  well ;  then 
there  is  the  alarm  w  hen  startled  by  anything  strange; 
also  the  shrill  cry  raiswl  by  all,  should  a  hawk  ap- 
pear. Another  pienliar  noise  is  niaile,  when  you  ap- 
proach their  roosts  »l  night,  utteriHl and  answered  all 
i-,„ii)a_a  slisrht,  thrillii\g  noise,  as  uiueh  as  to  say, 
hark  1  w  hat's  that  strange  uoiite  !:— which  is  dee|K'ncd 
into  a  sharp  tut-tut,  if  dauger  is  susiieclex],  and 
into  a  shrill,  piercing  cry,  if  taken  from  their 
perches,  evidently  susiK'Cting  that  you  may  be 
thinking  of  chicken  pot-pie  ?  I  think  there  is  uo 
domestic  animal  that  has  a  less  ollcnsive  voice 
than  the  domestic  fowl.  It  will  compare  favorably 
with  the  voice  of  the  duck,  turkey,  guinea  fowl, 
goose,  or  pea  fowl.  Their  louilest  uoise  has  a  charm 
tor  many  a  fancier,  when  they  set  up  the  cry,  "(Jonie  I 
Come!  Come  1  Take  the  cgg."—Jknry  JMcs,  i/i 
Poultry  H-uUeiin. 


How  to  Keep  Your  'Wife's  Love. 

G.M.K  FonuEST  gives  the  following  ailviec.  She 
praeliecs,  morally,  on  the  allopathic  principleof  "op- 
posit  c»:" 

Kosolvc  lirmly,  from  the  start,  that  you'll  never 
coax  your  wife  lil  love  you— as  yuu  would  a  child — 
with  .sugar-plums. 

In  society,  treat  her— do  I  don't  treat  her  at  all ; 
pay  no  attention  to  her,  but  dutote  yomself,  wllhex- 
clusive  zeal,  to  the  cntertaiumenl  of  the  young  lailles 
present,  and  leave  her  to  lake  care  of  hersell.  This 
course  will  win  you  not  only  their  respect  and  hers, 
but  undoubtedly  that  of  the  entire  comimny,  for  only 
fools  in  these  days  expect  a  man  to  play  lover  lo  his 
wife. 

Should  your  wife  receive  a  show  of  attention  from 
some  other  masculine,  bocoine  a  fiend  of  jealousy  at 
once,  and  make  her  life  miserable  at  home  by  un- 
just acciuallouB  aud  violeuli  oxpostulatious  agaiuat 


110 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July, 


such  unseemly  conduct  in  your  wife.  Or,  if  you  are 
a  different  sort  of  man,  act  the  part  of  "doff  in  the 
manger,"  never  talve  your  wife  anywliere  yourself, 
nor  allow  her,  if  you  can  help  it — and  I  hope  you 
can't — to  n;o  with  any  one  else.  Should  her  love  not 
appear  to  increase  under  such  ])er.suasive  treatment, 
he  still  more  demonstrative  ;  catch  uj)  the  carving 
knife,  occasionally,  and  flourish  it,  threateningly, 
over  her  shrinking  licad  ;  or  practice  violent  "laying 
on  of  hands"  upon  her — nothing  more  efl'ective  than 
a  man's  main  strength  for  holding  a  woman's  love. 

Never  give  up  a  single  one  of  your  bachelor  hab- 
its ;  smoke  your  dozen  or  more  cigars  every  day ;  go 
to  your  club  ;  treat  all  the  "fellows"  you  meet;  be- 
long to  your  half  dozen  lodges,  and  continue  all  your 
other  pet  vices ;  and  then  never  fail  to  remark,  as  you 
hand  your  wife  her  "weakly"  allowance,  whicli,  of 
course,  ynu  have  scrimped  down  to  the  last  penny, 
as  becomes  your  manly  generosity,  that  at  this  rate 
of  extravagance  on  Aer  part  you  shall  be  ruined  in 
less  than  a  year  ;  and  add,  as  you  bring  yourcleneli- 
ed  fist  in  contact  with  the  table  in  a  way  to  make 
your  wife  and  tlie  dishes  sliivi:r  in  concert,  "  Econ- 
omy, madam,  economy  must  be  the  rule  and  not  the 
exception  in  this  house  hereafter,"  (as  if  it  hadn't 
been  heretofore.) 

Should  she  dare  to  remonstrate,  ask  her,  in  quelling 
tones,  "Who  earns  the  money  ?"  And  then  triumph- 
antly march  away  to  settle  a  few  of  your  own  little 
debts,  and  ix'sjiond  to  a  call  fpr  chai-ily  preferred  by 
Beauty  in  "i)urple  and  fine  linen."  You  will  doubt- 
less leave  your  wife  meditating',  with  swelling  heart, 
on  your  magnanimity. 

Make  a  practice  of  dragging  your  business  into  the 
house,  and  worrying  about  it  morning,  noon  and 
night,  but  at  no  other  time,  or — 

While  you  are  at  home  be  deaf,  dumb  and  blind  to 
your  wife  and  family,  sparing  all  your  brilUancy  for 
outsiders. 

Cultivate  the  charming  habit  of  praising,  in  glow- 
ing terms,  the  beauties  and  virtues  of  other  women, 
which  you  are  conscious  are  most  strikingly  different 
rom  those  possessed  by  your  wife.  This  rule,  faith- 
fully carried  out,  will  eflect  wonders. 

Never  allow  yourself  to  forget  that  your  wife's 
'mother  means  your  mother-iu-law,  "with  all  that  the 
name  im,plics." 

Be  sure  that  you  never  mistake  your  wife  for  any 
other  woman.  This  is  a  very  important  rule,  and 
should  be  studiously  followed,  as,  by  disregarding  it, 
you  might,  at  some  time  or  another,  give  your  wife 
a  pleasant  word  or  look,  whicli  would,  doubtless,  be 
exceedingly  mortifying  to  you,  and  might  prove  fatal 
to  the  attainment  of  the  object  you  have  in  view. 

After  wearing  youn wife's  life  otit  trying,  by  these 
means,  to  keep  her  love,  discover  the  fact  that  she  is 
not  your  "aflinity,"  and  endeavor  to  impress  the  fact 
upon  her  mind.  Upon  earnestly  trying  it,  you'll 
have  her  love  or  its  opposite,  forever. 


Experience  with  Bees. 

Julia  M.  Wheelock,  in  writing  to  the  Patron's 
Helper  on  her  experience  with  bees,  says  : 

"  Many  persons  who  have  kept  bees  on  the  old  plan 
have  a  strong  imjiression  that  they  should  not  be 
meddled  with,  and  think  that  the  little  workers  can 
and  will  do  all  their  '  house-cleaning  '  in  spring,  at- 
tend to  all  tlicir  family  matters,  increase  at  their  own 
pleasure,  and  lay  up  stores  for  future  need,  better 
without  any  assistance  than  with  it.  A  case  of  this 
kind  came  under  uiy  observation  this  season,  the  re- 
lation of  wldcli  may  be  of  benefit  to  some  of  your 
readers.  Neighbor  A.  had,  by  the  advice  and  suc- 
cess of  his  friends,  who  were  controlling  their  bees 
advantageously,  been  induced  to  adopt  such  hives  as 
were  convenient  for  examining  bees,  and  really 
seemed  to  feel  that  he  was  trying  the  '  new  way ' 
of  bec-kceping,  liut  for  some  reason  he  hail  not  vis- 
ited them  tliis  year,  and  it  was  then  near  the  middle 
of  June.  He  had  walked  near  the  hives,  and  dis- 
covered that  some  of  them  were  not  so  busy  as  were 
some  others  ;  ami  mistrusted  that  there  might  be 
one  hive  at  least  without  a  ([uecn,  in  which  case,  as 
apiarians  well  know,  the  whole  family  must,  sooner 
or  later,  die. 

"At  this  time  we  were  induced  to  examine  neighbor 
A.'s  bees — some  less  than  fifteen  swarms — and  found 
many  swarms  apparently  doing  well  as  to  honey,  and 
raising  bi-ood,  but  having  never  '  cleaned  house  '  this 
spring.  The  dead  bees  were  from  one  to  two  inches 
thick  on  the  bottom  of  most  of  the  hives,  in  the 
midst  of  which  were  brown  moths,  cockroaches,  ants 
and  some  other  insects,  drawing  sustenance  from 
this  filthy  mass,  which  tlie  bees  had  not  been  able  to 
remove.  The  hives  were  then  carefully  cleaned.  But 
this  is  not  the  object  I  had  in  telling  this,  but  simply 
to  urge  upon  those  who  think  that  bees  should  never 
be  disturbed  the  importance  of  ascertaining  whether 
they  need  assistance  or  not.  In  the  case  referred  to 
the  bees  could  not  have  removed  the  rubbish,  how- 
ever annoying  it  must  have  been  to  the  little  laborers, 
whose  strengtli  is  limited,  except  in  self-defense. 
They  undmibtedly,  in  some  cases,  throw  dead  bees 
and  other  tilth  from  the  hives,  but  they  do  not  al- 
ways do  it,  even  when  they  are  strong  in  numbers 
and  rich  in  stores.  I  have  seen  many  colonies  this 
year  which  had  dead  bees  still  clinging  in  the  comb, 


where  they  had  died  last  winter  or  spring,  and,  con- 
trary to  our  general  supposition,  had  not  been  re- 
moved by  the  living  bees.  Whether  the  honey  came 
earlier  in  flowers,  and  they  considered  their  lime  de- 
manded in  the  field  or  not,  we  cannot  tell,  but  sup- 
pose the  labor  requisite  for  house-keeping  must  have 
been  beyond  their  abilities,  as  they  are  supposed  to 
have  a  just  estimate  of  what  they  can  perform.  In 
raising  broods,  they  have  such  correct  estimates  of 
their  strength  and  cajiacities,  that  the  increase  of 
honey  will  cause  the  queen  to  lay  more  eggs,  or  a  de- 
crease of  honey  will  cause  her  to  diminish  the  quan- 
tity. And  in  cases  where  dearth  of  honey  comes  sud- 
denly, from  drouth,  or  grasshoppers,  or  other  cause, 
bees  have  been  known  so  destroy  some  of  their  brood, 
where  they  had  more  than  they  could  feed  and  take 
good  care  of. 

"The  bee-keeper  should  always  carefully  examine 
his  bees  in  spring,  and  remove  all  dead  bees  (or  any- 
thing else  which  may  become  offensive)  from  the 
hives.  Sometimes  it  is  best  to  remove  moldy  combs 
as  worthless,  although  the  bees  sometimes  clean  such 
combs ;  but  it  is  a  question  whether  they  could  not 
build  a  new  comb  nearly  as  quick,  and  with  more 
safety  to  ttiemsclvcs,  as  mold  is  known  to  be  very 
poisonous,  and  must  have  a  deleterious  effect  on  the 
bees,  while  removing  it  from  their  combs." 


Sale    of   Short-Horns — Over   Twenty-Three 
Thousand  Dollars  for  a  Cow. 

The  sale  of  choice  short-horns  from  the  herds  of 
Hon.  M.  H.Cochrane, Simon  Beattie  and  John  Hope, 
which  took  place  at  the  Crystal  Palace  Grounds, 
Toronto,  recently,  attracted  a  large  number  of  buyers 
from  all  parts  of  Ontario  and  the'Unitcd  States.  The 
whole  number  of  animals  sold  was  fifty-four,  and 
the  total  proceeds  were  $93,270.  There  were  thirty- 
eight  cows,  the  average  price  brought  being  13,313.68, 
and  sixteen  bulls,  which  brought  an  average  of 
$.500.'17.  The  animals  are  reported  to  have  been  in 
various  stages  of  condition,  some  being  in  high  ex- 
hibition order,  while  others  were  only  in  breeding 
condition,  and  yet  others  were  quite  poor.  The  chief 
interestof  the  sale  was  centered  in  two  "Duchesses." 
The  Mail  thus  describes  the  scene :  "The  great  event 
of  the  day  was  witnessed  when  the  reprcsenta'tives  of 
the  patrician  blood  of  the  Duchesses  were  led  into  the 
ring.  Breeders  were  too  much  absorbed  in  looking 
at  the  splendid  animals  before  them  to  talk  to  one 
another,  and  a  hush  fell  upon  the  whole  assemblage 
as  Mr.  Cochrane's  splendid  roan  heifer,  Airdrie  Duch- 
ess Third  emerged  from  the  crowd  at  the  entrance  of 
the  ring.  It  would  be  difflcult  to  imagine  a  more 
perfect  animal  of  her  kind.  Fine  head,  beautifully 
formed,  full  chest,  smooth  round  barrel,  heavy  mas- 
sive hind-quarters,  fine,  symmetrical,  and,  in  short, 
all  that  the  stock  fancier  could  wish  for.  In  answer 
to  Mr.  Page's  first  call,  "How  much  for  Aii-drie 
Duchess  Third  ? "  came  the  response,  "  Ten  thousand 
dollars,"  from  Mr.  Emery  Cobb,  of  Kankakee,  111. 
"  Eleven  thousand  "  was  the  next  bid,  and  then  they 
came  thick  and  fast,  Col.  Cannon,  Dr.  Sumner,  Mr. 
Thornton  and  Albert  Crane  being  among  the  most 
distinguished  of  the  bidders.  Mr.  Thornton  was  bid- 
ding for  some  parties  in  England,  went  up  to  $30,000 
and  left  the  contest  to  the  Americans,  wlio  kept  the 
ball  rolling  till  Mr.  Crane's  l)id  of  $33,600  carried  oH' 
the  jirize  amid  the  cheers  of  the  breeders,  who  seemed 
warmly  to  appreciate  tlie  pluck  of  the  Kansas  man. 
Subjoined  is  the  pedigree  of  this  famous  animal  : 

Airdrie  Duchess  Tliird,  roan ;  calved  June  30, 18f!"; 
sire,  eleventh  Duke  of  Geneva,  (10,78+). 

Dam  Airdrie  Duchess,  by  fourteenth  Duke  of 
Thorndale,  (28,4.59.) 

Gr.  d.  tenth  Duchess  of  Airdrie,  by  Royal  Oxford, 
(18,744.) 

Next  came  another  beautiful  light  roan,  Mr.  Coch- 
rane's Airdrie  Duchess  Second.  Again  Mr.  Cobb 
bid  $10,000,  and  again  the  gentlemen  already  men- 
tiened,  competed  in  the  most  spirited  manner,  the 
second  bid  being  ?!.'), 000;  Mr.  Thornton  once  more 
dropped  in  at  $30,000,  and  the  Kansas  breeder  once 
more  outbid  all  competitors,  buying  Airdrie  Duchess 
Second  for|$31, 000.  Subjoined  is  the  pedigree:  "Air- 
drie Duchess  Second,  roan  ;  calved  Dec.  3,  1871 ;  sire 
fourteenth  Duke  of  Thorndale,  (38,4.59)';  dam,  tenth 
Duchess  of  Airdrie,  by  Hoyal  Oxford  ;  (1(),744).  Ke- 
mainderof  pedigree  as  above."  As  might  bo  expect- 
ed, the  sale  of  these  two  animals  created  considerable 
excitement,  and  not  a  few  were  heard  to  make  sucli 
exclamations  as,  "Well,  I  never  expected  to  see  two 
cows  sell  for  $44,000  ! "  This,  however,  is  considera- 
bly short  of  the  price  paid  at  Campbell's  New  York 
.Mills  sale,  held  Sep.  10,  187.3,  when  Lord  Dunmore 
liaid  $:'i5,000  for  tenth  Duchess  of  Geneva,  and  Lord 
Skclmersdal  bought  eighth  Duchess  of  Oneida  for 
$40,000. 

Seasonable  Hints. 

New  sown  lawns  are  liable  to  be  crowded  with 
weeds.  There  seems  no  better  remedy  than  to  hand- 
weed,  filling  the  holes  made  with  earth  in  those 
cases  where  the  roots  are  large.  In  some  cases 
this  hand-weeding  will  have  to  be  done  for  two  or 
three  successive  years.  The  seeds  of  the  common 
Plantain,  for  instance,  do  not  all  gei-minate  at  first. 
It  is  often  three  years  before  they  all  grow.    The 


greatest  labor  is  during  the  first yearof  sowing,  how- 
ever. The  increased  encouragement  of  the  grass 
helps  to  keep  down  weeds. 

Ornamental  hedges  that  are  thin  at  the  base  re- 
ceive much  encouragement  from  cutting  back  the 
strong  top  shoots.  Indeed,  this  applies  to  all 
growths,  trees  and  shrubs,  evergreens  included. 
Any  check  to  the  more  vigorous  shoots,  while  grow- 
ing encourages  the  weaker  ones.  Remarkably  beau- 
tiful specimens  of  anything  may  he  had  by  noting 
this.  The  branches  are  rendered  uniform  in  vigor 
by  this  sort  of  watchfulness,  and  can  be  made  regu- 
lar from  bottom  to  top. 

Plants  set  against  walls  and  piazzas  frequently 
sufl'er  from  want  of  water  at  this  season,  when  even 
ground  near  them  is  quite  wet.  Draw  away  the  soil 
around  each  plant  so  as  to  form  a  basin  ;  fill  in  with 
a  l.iucketful  of  water,  allowing  it  time  to  soak  grad- 
ually away,  and  when  the  surface  has  dried  a  little, 
draw  in  loosely  the  soil  over  it,  and  it  will  do  with- 
out water  for  some  weeks.  This  applies  to  all  plants 
wanting  water  through  the  season.  If  water  is  merely 
poured  on  the  surface,  it  is  made  more  compact  by 
the  weight  of  water,  and  the  harder  the  soil  becomes 
the  easier  it  dries  ;  and  the  result  is,  the  more  water 
you  give  the  more  is  wanted. 

It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind  that  much  in- 
jury often  results  to  the  newly-planted  trees  from 
summer  watering.  The  cold  water  cools  the  ground, 
and  we  need  some  warmth  in  the  soil  to  encourage 
new  roots  to  push.  Still,  trees  nmst  have  some  water 
when  the  ground  is  dry,  but  it  must  be  used  with 
caution . 

Amateurs  may  have  somerare  or  choice  shrub  they 
may  desire  to  increase.  They  may  now  be  propa- 
gated by  layers.  This  is  done  by  taking  a  strong  and 
vigorous  shoot  of  the  present  season's  growth,  slit- 
ting the  shoot  a  few  inches  from  its  base,  and  bury- 
ing it  a  few  inches  under  the  soil,  or  into  a  pot  of 
soil  prepared  for  the  purpose.  The  young  growing 
point  of  the  shoot  sliould  be  taken  out  in  the  opera- 
tion. By  the  English  mode  of  making  the  slit,  a 
great  number  of  the  shoots  will  be  broken  and 
spoiled.  Anything  can  be  propagated  by  layers  ; 
and  it  is  an  excellent  mode  of  raising  rare  things 
fhat  can  be,  but  with  difliculty,  increased  by  any 
jjther. — Gardener's  Monthly. 


Gun-Barrel  Budding. 


This  kind  of  budding  is  now  much  practiced  by 
rosarians.  In  all  rose  gardens  where  the  amateur 
buds  his  own  roses  there  will  be  found  many  strong 
suckers  rising  from  the  roots  of  dead  briars.  On 
account  of  the  severe  frosts  last  winter,  many  fine, 
strong  suckers  may  be  found  at  the  present  time. 
Take  a  strong  sucker,  about  three  feet  high ,  dress  all 
the  spines  and  side  shoots  off  for  about  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  the  young  wood  will  be  found  in  about 
the  same  state  of  greenness  and  'ripeness  as  the  side 
shoot  of  the  briers  which  you  are  budding  on  the  top 
part  of  the  stock.  Instead  of  waiting  till  next  sea- 
son, bud  at  once,  just  above  one  of  the  leaf  rings, 
gun-barrel  fashion — put  the  point  of  the  knife  in  just 
above  a  bud,  draw  it  upwards  gently  for  about  an 
inch  in  length.  Here  you  have  the  incision  which 
must  receive  the  bud,  at  the  top  of  which  make  your 
cross  cut.  Use  good,  strong,  plump  buds,  which  can 
always  be  obtained  in  abundance  during  August, 
which  is  the  best  time  for  gun-barrel  budding. 
About  two  eyes  above  or  below  you  m.ay  insert  an- 
other bud.  There  is  such  an  immense  flow  of  sap  in 
these  shoots  from  the  root  that,  when  tying  up  the 
bud,  the  sap  flows  out  and  runs  down  the  stem.  The 
briar  and  the  bud  are  thus  both  of  one  age,  and  may 
be  said  to  begin  the  world  together.  The  junction  is 
rapid  and  complete.  All  below  the  inserted  buds 
must  be  cut  away,  but  all  growth  above  must  be  suf- 
fered to  remain  until  about  the  middle  of  November. 
The  reailer  will  naturally  ask,  "How  do  you  get  this 
sucker  up  when  the  head  is  formed  ?  How  do  you 
separate  it  from  the  parent  stock  ?"  I  let  it  grow  for 
two  seasons,  after  which  a  good  head  is  formed,  and 
the  sucker  has  become  as  thick  as  the  thumb.  In 
November,  grub  up  the  whole  of  the  old  root,  and 
separate  the  stem  from  it ;  it  is  generally  full  of 
fibres,  and  may  be  removed  to  its  proper  ([uartcrs 
with  safety.  On  this  plan,  instead  of  suckers  being 
a  nuisance,  they  may  be  turned  to  good  account,  and 
your  roses  multiplied  into  dwarfs  and  standards  at 
pleasure.  I  generally  bud  these  suckers  last,  and 
they  have  ofteu  been  of  the  greatest  service  to  me 
when  a  friend  has  sent  me  some  buds  of  very  choice 
new  sorts  late  in  the  season  ;  all  ray  briers  having 
been  worked,  I  should  have  had  no  stocks  to  bud 
them  into,  had  I  not  preserved  these  suckers.  Gen- 
tlemen occupying  land  can  bud  into  the  suckers  aris- 
ing from  old  roots  growing  in  the  hedgerows  ;  but, 
before  inserting  the  buds,  the  sucker  must  be  care- 
fully examined  at  its  base,  in  order  to  see  whether  it 
can  be  taken  up  when  the  head  is  formed,  and  re- 
moved to  the  rose  garden. — Qarilcn. 


Food  For  Young  Pigs. 

The  value  of  skimmed  milk  from  the  diary  for  feed- 
ing young  pigs  has  hardly  been  estimated  high 
enough  by  the  majority  of  farmers.    Corn  meal  is 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


Ill 


soUiiic;  HOW  at  only  about  a  cent  and  a  lliird  jmt 
pouuJ.  Milk  is  Mimctimos  C8liniateil  to  bo  worth 
:iliou(  ball'  a  ct-iit  a  iiounil  for  fci-ilin^  to  boirs.  \Vi' 
liavc  not  funnel  it  worth  that,  ami  yot,  if  we  slionhl 
soil  all  onr  milk  ami  buy  meal  iusli'aii,  it  is  ibmblfnl 
if  the'  [liirs  wonki  make  as  intu'b  pork  for  the  money 
as  if  a  jiortion  of  the  milk  bail  been  relainuil.  A  ilol- 
lar"s  iviirt.bof  meal,  at  Ibe  above  priee,  may  feeil  a 
pi;;-  a  longer  lime  than  I  he  milk  wonhl  have  done,  ami 
yet  it  does  not  follow  that  the  meal  Is  on  the  whole, 
the  ebeapest  or  best  foo<i. 

(low's  milk,  after  most  of  the  ereani  has  been  re- 
in.ived,  seems  to  come  very  near  siipi'ly'"-  ' ''^'  P'- 
Willi  the  best  substilnte  lor  its  nalHiral  food,  while 
eorn  meal,  alt liouu-h  rieh  in  fat  and  beat,  is  so  eon- 
eentraled  and  so  wanting'  in  the  elements  wliieh  are 
espeeially  mailed  by  very  youn^- or  urow  iiii,'  animals, 
that  it  is  wcjrih  really  less  Ihan  many  wonld  siipposi^ 
Cornnieal,  besides  beiiii;-  wanting'  in  Ibe  elemenls  ol 
frrowth,  packs  and  becomes  bard  and  indiijislibh'  in 
the  stomachs  of  youn^  animals,  mdess  it  is  ndxcil 
with  milk, bran  or  .some  other  less  concentrated  food, 
that  may  act  as  a  diviilcr  in  keepins;-  the  iiarticles 
separate,  so  that  llu'  llnids  of  the;  slonuicb  can  come 
in  contact  with  all  parte  of  it  at  once. 

It  reipiires  but  a  moment's  consideration  to  see  that 
a  solid  ball  of  cornmeal  in  the  stomach  of  a  youny; 
[li-X  or  other  animal,  eani\ot  be  acted  upon  by^be  gas- 
tric juice,  excejit  at  llie  outside.  Digestion,  in  such 
acase,  must  ^o  on  like  the  melting  of  a  cube  of  ice, 
and  as  the  stomach  was  not  arranged  for  doing  its 
work  in  that  way,  it  lireaks  down  after  a  .short  time, 
indigestion  follows  such  feeding,  and,  as  a  conse- 
((Uenoe,  the  food  that  is  taken  is  not  fully  ulilized, 
and  of  course,  does  not  give  an  amount  of  growth 
corrcsiionding  v\-ith  its  nutritive  value  when  properly 
prepared  or  jndiciously  mingled  with  other  food  that 
is  less  concentrated . 

Farmers  know  that  milk  is  good  for  pigs.  They 
know,  too,  I  hat  skimntcd  milk  is  a  waste  product  of 
the  diary,  ami  unless  fed  to  animals  would  generally 
be  wasted.  They  feed  the  milk  because  they  Irappcn 
to  have  it.  but  would  not  buy  it  instead  of  eornmenl. 
We  believe  that  at  a  cent  a  (piart  it  would  be  cheap 
fond  to  buy  to  mix  with  meal  for  feeding  pigs  for  the 
lirst  few  wVeks  after  weaning.  Many  pigs  have  been 
spoiled  by  being  confined  to  a  eornmcal  diet  while 
young.  In  feeding  your  pigs  or  calves,  growth  and 
not  fat  should  be  the  object  sought, — iVcw  England 
Fannci'.  '  "  ' 


quantity  of  good  manure.  When  the  manure  is  re- 
niovcil  in  the  spring,  the  ditch  can  be  tilled  by  wheat 
straw,  upon  wliicb  a  lew  bushels  of  lime  had  been 
.scattered;  then  as  fast  as  it  rots  |)ilc  It  np  in  the 
ditch  and  1111  the  spaces  between  (^aeh  pile  wilh  straw 
and  soon.  In  the  fall  there  will  be  a  line  pile  of 
manure,  which  will  renovate  I  he  worn  onl  Held  ;  orU) 
.scatter  on  1  he  exixiscd  knolls  cm  the  whc'at  fields,  pre- 
v<'UtinL' winter  klllinir.  Another  great  waste  Is  the 
large  crop  of  weeds,  which  each  year  is  allowed  to  go 
to  seed,  and  spr.-ad  all  over  adjoining  farms. 

Using  too  much  hard  labor  is  another  way  of  wast- 
ing on  the  farm.  Many  machines  can  now  he  used  to 
save  much  of  this  labor.  More  hors(!-|iowc>r«  must  be 
used.  And  after  we  have  raised  our  crops  they  should 
largely  be  fed  out  on  the  farm.  It  is  nuieh  cheaper  to 
ship  corn,  oats,  iV:c.,  in  the  form  of  meat  than  to  s.-ml 
it  ill  the  bulk  as  raised;  besidi-s,  Ibe  soil  is  made 
richer,  insleail  of  constantly  reducing  its  producing 
lapaeity. — J'ruiric  Farmer. 


Berries  for  Birds. 


I  would  urge  the  planting  of  evergreens  about  the 
homegioumis  to  all'ord  sbeitcr  to  the  birds  in  w.iutcr. 
In  addition  to  trees  and  shrubs  for  shelter,  there  are 
many  kinds  which  produce  food  very  acceptable  to 
birds,  althougli  of  no  especial  value  to  man,  and 
these  should  not  be  overlooked  in  laying  out  and 
planting  new  grounds  and  improving  old  ones.  The 
sassafras  produces  a  fruit  greedily  eaten  by  several 
of  our  larger  kinds  of  birds.  A  closely  allied  species 
known  as  the  spice  of  fever  bush,  found  in  all  our 
Northern  swamps,  bears  brilliant  scarlet  berries, 
which  arc  not  only  ornamental,  but  much  sought  for 
by  birds.  The  nigbland  cranberry  is  another  hand- 
some, ornamental  shrub,  bearing  a  profusion  of  light, 
crimson-colored  fruit,  ripening  very  late  in  autumn. 
In  fact,  all  of  our  native  species  of  viljurnums  pro- 
duce edible  fruit  iiiucli  relished  by  birds.  Tbebntlalo 
berry  (shcpherdia),  silver  thorn  (cheagmis),  and 
scores  of  other  native  shrubs  might  well  be  intro- 
duced into  our  gardens,  if  for  no  other  jmrposc  than 
to  supply  the  birds  with  food.  We  have  driven  away 
the  bird.s,  our  natural  protci-tors  from  insects,  ene- 
mies, by  destroying  the  trees  and  shrubs  among 
which  they  found  a  safe  retreat,  as  well  as  food  for 
sustaining  life.  In  addition  to  this,  we  allow  every 
scalawag  whose  highest  ambition  is  to  burn  powder 
and  kill  something,  to  prowl  over  our  fields  and  de- 
stroy the  harvest  birds.  In  the  face  of  all  this  inter- 
ference with  natural  laws,  our  fruit  growers  ami 
farmers  ask  what  shall  be  done  to  save  the  products 
of  their  tields  from  insect  depredations  ?  Alas  I  wis- 
dom is  a  slow  coach,  carrying  few  passengers  at  a 
time. — jUoore'n  Rural. 


Boys,  Do  Something. 

We  want  to  say  just  a  word  t<i  the  boys  of  the 
farm.  We  have  no  si'rmon  to  deliver,  no  lecture- 
just  a  bare  suggesticui — and  we  hope  every  farmers' 
boy  will  heed  it.  Make  a  beginning  for  yourselves 
this  Cenlennial  year.  The  time  Will  finally  come 
when  you  must  look  to  your  own  exertions  for  a  liv- 
ing. It  is  your  wisest  course  to  fit  yourselves  early  for 
the  battle  of  life.  .Solicit  from  your  father  the  ri^dit 
to  plant  and  cultivate  some  certain  ]ilol  of  ground, 
be  it  ever  so  small,  the  product  from  which  shall  be 
your  own.  Prejiare  it  most  thoroughly,  plant  It  with 
i-arc,  kee])  it  clean  of  weeds,  harvest  the  ero|i  and 
sell  it,  putting  the  ])roeeeds  ata  fair  rale  of  interest, 
so  that  when  you  "beeoine  of  age,"  you  will  be  able 
to  begin  your  business  career  as  independent,  well-to- 
do  citizens.  Supjiose  you  arc  ten,  or  twelve,  or  four- 
teen years  of  age.  Just  sit  down  and  figure  up  what 
the  mere  trifle  you  may  earn  for  yourself  this  year, 
at  compound  interest,  will  amount  to  by  the  time 
you  are  twenty-one  years  old  I  Then  if  you  add  to 
it  each  year,  in  a  proportion  to  your  cflieieney  as 
farmers,  ycni  will  be  astonished  at  the  result.  Do  not 
fear  that  your  parents  will  not  secoml  your  every 
eftbrt.  Nothing  will  please  them  so  niucli  as  to  real- 
ize thilt  you  are  really  a  young  farmtr,  with  great 
hopes  of  the  future  and  a  gri'at  ambition  to  excel. 
They  know  that  the  farm  house  is  the  real  home  of 
happiness  and  comfort,  if  within  it  are  found  con- 
tentincnt  and  high  aspirations.  The  time  has  fully 
come  when  the  lords  of  the  soil  are  lords  of  the 
country.  With  careful  lives,  with  good  education, 
with  even  fair  ability,  the  farm  boy  may  hold  any 
and  all  positicnis,  when  in  manhood's  prime,  and  it 
is  to  him  that  the  nation,  in  these  days  of  corruption, 
must  look  for  true  manhood  and  true  patriolism. 
The  beginning  of  all  this  future  brilliant  career  is 
deiiendciit  upon  early  self-exertion  more  than  ui>on 
all  other  things.  Whether  your  parents  are  rieh  or 
poor,  does  not  matter ;  it  is  individuality  that  wins. 
Strive  to  have  and  be  something,  while  the  bright 
sun  of  youth  lights  the  way. — Prairie  Fanner. 


What  Will  Pay. 
Year  after  year  crops  are  moved  otf  without  return- 
ing anything  to  the  soil.  Manures  are  put  under  the 
rains  and  the  dropping  of  eaves  until  they  are  drained 
of  their  best  material  and  rendered  nearly  useless, 
niis  could  be  obviated  by  building  cheap  sheds  to 
cover  the  manure  as  thrown  from  the  stables.  This 
can  be  done  at  a  small  cost  and  will  jiay.  Winli'r  is 
not  a  good  time  to  build,  but  for  such  a  purjio.se  as 
this  it  is  better  to  build  now  than  not  at  all.  Plaster 
should  also  be  used  in  the  stables  to  prevent  the  es- 
cape of  ammonia,  and  care  should  be  taken  to  keep 
it  in  as  good  condition  as  possible.  If  the  barns  and 
yards  are  so  situated  that  the  wastings  are  carried  oti' 
by  every  rain,  a  little  tinii'  with  a  team,  plow  and 
scraper  will  make  a  ditch  (a  broad,  open  one  it 
should  be  (around  the  barn  on  three  sides,  then  at 
all  times  keep  this  filled  with  the  trash  and  litter 
which  naturally  accumulates  about  the  barn.  The 
ditch  will  hold  the  water,  etc.,  from  the  yanl  and 
cause  the  straw  to  rot  rapidly  and  will  all'ord  a  large 


Labor  Necessary  to  Happiness. 
Almost  evi'ry  man  sets  out  with  a  deterininalion 
when  a  certain  sum  has  bein  aceuinulatc<l  to  retire 
from  the  care*  of  business,  and  enjoy  the  balance  of 
his  cluys  in  retirement  on  some  sunny  farm  or  rural 
retreat  his  vision  has  |ilanued.  This  is  wrong.  You 
should  commcnic  the  business  of  life  wilh  the  deter- 
ininalion to  work  as  long  as  you  live,  and  you  call 
do  Ibis  if  you  obey  the  laws  of  lieullh  as  related  to, 
your  physical  and  spiritual  nature.  Your  husinesB, 
if  titled  to  your  eapaliilllieH,  will  ill  the  doing  and 
right  management  of  it  be  to  you  a  great  phasure, 
an  intense  happiness,  and  therefore  shouhl  bi'  con- 
liimol  as  long  as  you  live  in  this  wurld.  ('.ommeiio- 
ing  business  with"  this  eiiil  in  viiw  will  |ircvcnt  you 
from  fallini;  Into  the  feverish,  exciting,  unhappy  ami 
short-lived  risults  that  belong  to  Ibe  men  who  wish 
to  rapidly  aci'umulate  a  fortune  ami  ntiri'  to  enjoy 
It.  These  men  are  not  happy  while  ciMinting  their 
profits  and  certainly  cannot  be  happy  when  they  re- 
tire to  enjoy  thein,  for  It  is  an  establislicd  law  of 
nature  that  in  no  wise  can  be  sliirhtcd,  that  lalior  tsa 
necessity  to  pcrbet  growth  and  pure  unalloyed  hap- 
piness. '  .A  wise  man  will  iievr-r  rust  out  as  long  aa 
be  breathes  Ibe  breath  of  life  ;  he  will  be  doing  some- 
thing for  himself,  his  country,  or  ix.slerity.  Howard, 
Krankliii,  Newbui,  and  scores  of  other  famous  men 
all  were  al  work  aliinpst  to  the  last  hours  of  their  ex- 
istence. It  Is  a  foolish  thing  to  believe  that  w1;  must 
lie  down  and  die  Biinply  because  wo  arc  old.  The 
man  of  hope  and  energy  Is  not  old,  it  is  only  he  who 
sutlers  his  energies  to  waste  away,  and  permits  the 
springs  of  his  life  to  become  motionless,  on  whose 
hamls  the  hours  hang  heavily,  and  to  whom  all 
things  wear  tlio  vestuicnts  of  gloi>m.  Work  while 
you  live,  is  Ood's  i-cipiirement,  and  in  the  doing  of 
wliiih  only  18  perfect  Biiccess  attainable. 


Stick  to  Your  Farms, 

The  New  York  Ohxtri'ir  gives  the  following  timely 
advice  in  its  issue  for  May  4lh  : 

The  life  of  a  farmer  is  not  an  easy  one  ;  but  w  ben 
he  looks  around  and  sees  the  wrecks  of  fortune  made 
on  every  hand  by  men  cngagi^d  in  other  )mrsiiits,  the 
fanner  has  cause  to  be  thankful  if  be  can  su]iport  his 
family  and  give  bis  children  a  good  common  educa- 
tion. It  has  been  stated  that  during  the  last  half 
century  only  four  increhants  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
out  of  every  hundred,  have  succeeded  in  making 
their  business  iirofitable.  The  unsuccessful  ones 
have  managed  in  many  cases,  to  eiuiliiiue  in  business 
for  years  after  tlii^y  had  become  bankrupt  according 
to  their  books  ;  but,  of  course,  finally  hail  to  succumb 
lo  their  fate.  These  men,  while  living  in  good  style, 
and  many  luxuriously,  have  carried  continually  a 
load  of  care  that  no  farmer  ever  experienced  ;  and 
when  the  time  came  that  their  business  must  be 
wound  up,  their  condition  generally  has  been  one  of 
[Xivcrty,  and  utterly  broken  down  in  spirits.  A  few 
recover  and  resume  business  again  ;  but  the  majority 
are  pushed  aside  to  make  room  for  others,  eventually 
to  follow  in  their  Ibotstcps  and  euil  their  lives  in  mis- 
ery and  despair. 

Farmers,  be  contented.  You  may  not  be  able  to 
lay  up  money  ;  but  if  you  can  pay  for  your  birms  and 
live  comfortable,  envy  not  the  eondition  of  those  en- 
gaged in  other  pursuits.  To  those  farmers  who  are 
out  of  debt,  and  own  gooil  farms,  need  I  say  that 
apparcntlv  wealthy  bankers  of  Wall  street  might 
well  envy  your  lot.  Nearly  every  week  some  one  of 
these  Hrius,  owing  millions  of  dollars,  explodes,  and 
,  its  members  sink  into  poverty  and  obscurity  ;  but  the 
farmer  w  bo  is  out  of  debt  ow'iis  a  bank  that  can  never 
fail,  inasmuch  as  setil-tinie  and  harvest  are  ])roinised 
unto  the  end  of  time. 

A  word  to  farmers'  sons.  If  your  fathers  own 
good  farms  which  arc  not  mortgaged,  don't  all  aban- 
don your  homes.  t)iie  of  you,  at  least,  should  remain 
to  carry  on  the  farm  when  your  father's  lease  of  life 
has  expired.  You  might  possibly  <lo  better  in  some 
other  business,  but  you  had  Ixittcr  not  risk  a  change. 


Holding  on  for  Higher  Prices. 
The  question  often  comes  np,  whether  it  is  best  to 
sell  a  crop  as  soon  as  it  is  r»ady  for  market  or  to  hohl 
oil  for  higher  prices.  It  is  a  question  which  lannot 
be  decided  by  newspaper  articles.  There  are  so  many 
temporary  oi-  local  circmiistaners  which  largely  en- 
ter into  the  question  and  on  wliieh  every  one  nnist 
ileeid.'  for  himself.  Hut  in  a  general  way  there  is  no 
ilouht  that  it  is  best  to  sell  as  soon  as  ready,  and  this 
is  the  advice  we  have  frequently  given  in  these  col- 
umns. 

Even  though  prices  Iw  low,  and  thtre  is  the  rea- 
sonable prospect  of  a  rise  in  a  short  time,  tliere  are 
the  losses  from  shrinking  and  waste,  which  in  a  largo 
immlHir  of  ciuies  are  quite  as  inneli  as  any  average 
increase  in  priee  would  be.  lu  the  articles  which  we 
have  before  given,  audio  which  we  have  alluded,  we 
have  iireseiileii  this  fact  particularly  ;  and  we  re- 
member referring  to  the  case  of  a  friend  who  put  one 
huiidred  bushels  of  iiotatoes  in  the  cellar  in  the  fall, 
and  which  only  turned  out  eighty  when  sold  in  the 
spriii".  Here  the  loss  was  twenty  per  cent.,  and  with 
interest  on  the  receipts,  if  they  had  been  sold  in  the 
fall  requires  a  good  advance  to  make  it  worth  while 
to  hold  under  such  ciriumstances. 

We  lebM-  to  the  matternow  because  we  believe  that 
Ibis  figure,  twenty  per  cent.,  even  by  those  who  arc 
conscious  of  a  loss  by  keeping,  is  generally  believiil 
to  be  as  much  as  is  lost ;  but  we  have  recently  seen 
some  figures  which  show  that  it  isoflcn  mueli  greater 
than  this.  Twenty  per  cent,  is  given  as  about  the 
loss  by  shrinkage  "in  corn  ;  hut  as  much  as  Ihirly- 
three  per  cent,  is  claimed  as  the  loss  in  (silatoes  if 
kept  till  late  in  the  season,  say  .luiie.  This  is  a  si  long 
argument  against  tlie  general  princii>lc  of  holding  on. 
—  (IcrmanlvifH  Tdajraph. 

Hunger. 

When  the  svstem  begins  to  nce/1  nutriment,  it  semis 
a  Ihiid  from  every  isntion  of  the  txidy  towards  the 
stomach,  where 'it  aecumulatcs  in  little  reservoirs, 
the  distension  of  which  causes  the  sensation  of  hun- 
ger; the  fuller  they  become,  the  more  hungry  are 
we . 

This  lluid  not  only  gives  notice  that  food  is  neediil, 
but  it  has  the  [lOwer  lo  dissolve  it,  as  water  dissolves 
sugar,  ami  thus  iircpans  it  for  yielding  its  nutriinenl 
lo  Uic  systeni.  If,  therefore,  a  [>erson  cats  without 
an  appetite,  without  being  hungry,  there  being  none 
of  this  dissolving  Huiil  in  the  stomach,  the  fooil  is 
not  dissolved,  does  not  nmlergo  any  healthy  change  ; 
on  the  contrary,  la-iiig  kept  up  to  the  stomach  heat 
of  about  one  hundred  degrees,  it  soon  begins  to  fer- 
ment, to  decay,  to  rot ;  if  meat,  it  literally  bceomes 
carrion  ;  if  vegetable,  it  sours  ;  In  either  ease,  gener- 
ating gas  and  v\ind,  causine:  unseemly  licllylH'Ichiiigs 
and  noi.somc  cruclations;  or  these  gases,  being  con 
fined,  distend  the  stomach,  causing  pressure  agiunst 
the  nerves,  originating  various  pains  aiMldiscomlorts 
more  or  less  distressing,  lo  last  sometimes  for  hours 
or  half  a  night,  preventing  refreshing  eh-ep,  to  lie  fol- 
lowed by  a  day  of  general  (lis ifort  and   unfitness 

for  business.  Sometimes  the  slomach  bceomes  so 
distended  with  wind  that  it  crowds  ui>  against  the 
lungs,  preventing  them  from  receiving  their  proper 
amount  of  air,  and  there  follows  a  distressing  feeling 
of  impending  suflVicatioii.  These  same  effects  follow 
en  too  much  food   is  eaten — more  than  there   is 


flu 


id  in  the  slomach  to  dissolve,— 2>r,  Hall. 


412 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[July,  1876. 


Watercresses. 

In  the  vegetable  kingdom  tliere  are  several  sub- 
stances that  possess  the  tlouM*  quality  of  food  and 
medicine,  and  as  such  might  be  usefully  employed  iu 
therapeutics.  Araona:  tiie  yegetables  that  possess 
the  valuable  property  referred  to,  watercress  may  be 
mentioned.  According  to  an  analysis  by  Mr.  Chatin, 
Director  of  the  School  of  Pharmacy  of  Paris,  and 
present  President  of  the  Academy  of  Medicine,  water- 
cress contains;  1.  A  sidpho-nitrogenous  essential 
oil ;  2.  A  bitter  extract ;  :i.  Iodine  ;  4.  Iron  ;  5.  Phos- 
phates water,  and  some  other  salts.  As  medicine  the 
watercress  has  been  vaunted  for  its  efficacy  in  .all 
cases  in  which  all  the  digestive  organs  are  weak,  in 
cachexia,  in  scurvy,  in  scrofula  and  lymphatism  ;  it 
has  ever  been  prcseribeil  as  a  cure  for  phthisis.  The 
medical  principles  which  it  contains  are  more  or  less 
abundant,  according  to  the  culture  or  maturity  of 
the  plant.  Tlius  when  the  plant  is  in  Hower  they  are 
in  greater  quantity  in  the  plant  tlian  before  that  con- 
dition ;  the  essential  oil  increases  according  to  the 
quantity  of  the  sun's  rays  it  receives.  The  proper 
culture  of  the  plant  developes  in  it  the  bitter  and 
tonic  principles,  and  tlic  phosphates  will  be  found  in 
proportion  to  the  manure  employed.  Finally,  the 
quantity  of  iron  will  depend  upon  the  richness  of  the 
water  in  which  the  cress  is  planted.  As  food,  water- 
cress ought  to  be  used  in  its  green  or  uncoolced  state, 
in  the  {f>na  of  salad  or  without  any  seasoning.  Wa- 
tercress enters  largely  into  the  composition  of  the 
"  sirop  antiscorbutiquc^,"  of  the  French  Pharmaco- 
poeia, which  is  commonly  prescribed  in  scrofulous 
and  scorbutic  affections. — British  Medical  Jowiial. 


A  Cure  for  Colds  in  the  Head. 

It  would  seem  as  if  the  cure  for  those  worst  of 
small  nuisances,  colds  in  the  head,  which  Dr.  Ferrier, 
of  King's  College,  suggested  in  the  Litnecl,  might 
prove  to  be  a  remedy  of  very  great  value.  It  is  a 
snulf — a  white  powder — composed  of  the  following 
ingredients  :  Ilydroelilorate  of  morphia,  two  grains  ; 
acacia  powder,  two  drachms  ;  trisuitrate  of  bismuth, 
six  drachms — the  whole  making  up  a  quantity  of 
powder,  of  which  from  one-quarter  to  one-half  may 
be  safely  taken,  if  necessary,  in  the  course  of  twenty- 
four  hours. 

Dr.  Ferrier  says  that  with  this  snuff  he  has  twice 
cured  himself  of  very  violent  colds,  once,  indeed,  by 
taking  trisnitrate  of  bismuth  alone,  which  is  a,  very 
powerful  remedy  foreatarrh  of  the  mucous  membrane, 
and  is  the  most  important  ingredient  in  this  snuff. 
Dr.  Ferrier  mentions  two  other  persons  who  were 
cured  of  violent  colds  liy  the  same  snuff,  and  to  these 
instances  we  may  add  that  of  the  present  writer,  who, 
having  a  very  violent  cold  coming  on,  with  the  same 
sensation  of  weight  in  the  temples,  and  theusualdis- 
agreeable  feeling  in  the  throat,  as  well  as  ordinary 
catarrh,  made  trial  of  Dr.  Ferrier's  remedy  one  even- 
ing, and  got  up  on  the  following  morning  completely 
free  from  cold,  which  has  not  since  returned.  The 
sutillV  instead  of  increasing  the  tendency  to  sneeze, 
almost  immediately  Ixsgins  to  diminish  it. — London 
fijjectator. 

— n ■•^ ' — 

Economy. 

The  Springfield  (Mass.)  Repnbllcmi  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  household  eednomy,  as  practised 
by  the  common  peo]ile  of  France.  It  contains  a 
moral  that  we  might  well  profit  by  : 

"  The  French  butcher  separates  the  bones  from  his 
steaks,  and  places  them  whcrethey  y/Wl  do  the  most 
good.  The  housewife  orders  just  enough  for  each 
persoh,  and  no  more,  even  to  the  coffee.  '  If  a  ehiincc 
visitor  drops  in,  somebody  quietly  retires,  and  the 
extra  cup  is  provided,  but  nothing  ex-tra  by  careless- 
ness of  intention.  AVlien  the  pot  has  boiled  the 
handful  of  charcoal  in  the  little  range  is  extinguish- 
ed, and  waits  for  another  time.  No  roaring  cook 
stove  and  red  hot  covers  all  day  long  for  no  purpose 
than  waste.  The  egg  laid  to-day  costs  a  little  more 
than  the  one  laid  last  week.  Values  are  nicely  esti- 
mated, and  the  smallest  surplus  is  carefully  saved. 
A  thousand  little  economies  are  practiced,  and  it  is 
respectable  to  practice  them.  Cooking  is  an  econ- 
omical  as  well  as  a  sanitary  and  gustatory  science. 
A  French  cook  will  make  a  franc  go  as  far  as  an 
American  housewife  will  make  three,  and  how  much 
farther  than  the  American  Bridget  nobody  knows. 
We  should  be  greatly  astonished,  could  the  computa- 
tion be  made,  how  much  of  the  Duaucial  recupera- 
tive power  of  I'rance  is  owing  to  her  cheap  food  ; 
better  living,  after  all,  than  the  heavy  bread  and 
greasy  failures  of  our  oulinary  ignorance. 

O"     I        

The  Grain  Movertient. 

AVhile  the  foreign  demand  for  breadstuffs  was  less 
active  in  187.5  than  in  lS~-t,  the  present  year  opened 
with  marked  activity  in  the  movement  of  cereals  to 
the  scaboar4  cities.  Since  January  1 ,  18T6,  thei'e  has 
been  exported  from  New  York,  oi'  wheat  alone,  10,- 
000,000  bushels,  against  less  than  0,400,000  bushels 
during  the  coresponding  period  last  year.  The  Liv- 
erpool market  for  breadstuffs  is  firm.  An  active  ex- 
port demand  has  induced  a  lively  business  in  the  way 
of  ocean  freight  at  generally  advancing  prices.  On 
Satui'day,  June  lOtb,  the  grain  chartering  movement 


was  the  most  extensive  reported  in  any  single  day  for 
a  long  time  past,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to 
1,102,000  bushels,  divided  as 'follows:'  From  New 
York,  790,000  bushels  ;  from  Philadelphia,  190,(X)0; 
from  Baltimore,  32,000  bushels.  The  increased  grain 
movement  is  still  further  shown  by  the  shipment 
from  lake  ports  during  the  two  weeks  ending  May 
7,  1870— 8,44.5,:!11  bushels  against  4,217,o78  bushels 
for  the  corresiionding  two  weeks  in  1875.  Since  Mr. 
Vanderhilt's  withdrawal  from  the  compact  of  March 
2d,  by  which  the  freights  on  east  bound  freight  were 
fixed  on  a  mileage  basis,  there  has  been  a  sharp 
competil  ion  between  rival  carrying  interests,  causing 
lower  transportation  charges  between  the  interior  and 
the  seaboard  cities  than  have  ever  before  prevailcdi 


How  to  Keep  Eggs. 

The  followipg  is  an  extract  from  an  article  on  the 
subject  published  editorially  in  the  London  (Eng- 
land) Farmer  : 

For  storing  eggs  a  very  good  plan  is  to  have  a  large 
board  i)iereed  with  holes  in  regular  rows.  Many 
breeders  keep  them  in  bran,  and  this  latter  method 
is,  perhaps,  best  for  those  meant  only  to  be  eaten  ; 
but  for  setting  hens  the  i)iereed  board  has  many  con- 
veniences. They  should  always  be  kept  with  the 
large  end  downward.  This  direction  being  contrary 
to  that  usually  given,  we  should  state  our  attention 
was  first  called  specially  to  the  subject  by  a  most  in- 
telligent lady  who  advocated  the  plan.  Keeping  eggs 
on  the  small  end  ajjpears  to  me  to  cause  the  air  bub- 
ble to  spread,  detaching  it  from  the  shell,  or  rather 
from  its  membraneous  lining  ;  after  being  kept  so 
for  a  fortnight,  the  air  bubble  will  be  fouTid  to  be 
much  spread,  and  the  eggs  will  have  lost  much 
vitality,  though  still  very  good  eating. 

She  tlien  described  her  success  the  other  way,  add- 
ing : 

Owing  to  this  method  of  storing,  such  a  thing  as  a 
stale  egg  has  never  lieen  known  in  my  house  ;  and, 
as  regards  success  in  hatching,  for  several  seasons, 
when  I  have  been  able  to  attend  to  my  poultry  myself, 
of  many  eggs  set  every  egg  produced  a  chick. 


The  Care  of  Canaries. 

Don't  pxit  them  in  a  painted  cage  ;  most  birds  will 
peck  the  wires,  and,  if  they  do,  they  die,  and  with 
extreme  suffering.  Give  them  fresh  seed,  pure  water, 
both  for  drinking  and  bathing,  cuttlefish,  and,  iu  tlieir 
season,  fresh  lettuce  and  ehiekweed,  but  no  cake. 
Keep  the  cage  clean  with  brown  paper  covering  over 
the  bottom,  not  newspapers,  because  they  may  peck 
it.  Let  them  wash  iu  the  morning  if  they  will  ;  then 
take  out  the  bath.  Keep  the  perches  clean  by  rub- 
bing them  with  sand.  Draw  them  out  and  rephice 
them  gently,  and  always  be  careful  not  to  frighten 
the  birds  in  any  way.  They  do  not  like  to  be  touched. 
XtIvc  them  a  little  fresh  sand  every  day.  Give  them 
fresh  air  and  plenty  of  sunshine  ;  liut  guard  them 
from  drafts  and  excess  of  heat.-  The  noon  sunshine 
should  not  fall  directly  on  the  cage.  With  such  pre- 
parations, and  iu  a  roomy  walnut  eagij,  canaries  will 
live,  and  be  healthy  and  happy.  That  is,  provided 
no  cat  comes  near.  You  cannot  be  too  careful  on 
this  point.  Cats  have  been  known  to  dr.aw  a  bird 
between  the  cage  wires  without  leaving  as  piuch  as  a 
feather.  , .  , 


How  to  Make  Old  Horses  Appear  Well. 

The  horses  are  often  prevented  from  throwing  their 
weight  into  the  collar,  by  a  tirjM  check  rein — a  useless 
and  painful  encumbrance  introduced  \yj  vanity,  and 
retained  by  thoughtlessness  amounting  to  cruelty. 
Ask  horse  keepers  why  they  use  it,  and  hardly  .any 
one  will  give  the  same  answer,  though  it  is  supposed 
to  be  a  great  safeguard  in  case  of  stumbling.  The 
real  object  with  which  it  was  introduced  was,  to 
make  every  horse  to  which  it  was  applied,  however 
weak,  or  old,  or  poor,  assume  the  lofty  carriage  of 
the  thoroughbred  horse;  and  the  tossing  of  the  head, 
the  foam  at  the  mouth,  and  the  restless  agitation  of 
the  body  (mute,  but  expressive  signs  of  pain  and 
suffering)  came,  in  a  little  while,  not  only  to  be  dis- 
regarded, but  even  looked  at  with  approbation.  For- 
tunately, this  vitiated  taste  is  rapidly  going  out  of 
fashion  as  better  information  is  ditfused.  Few  of  the 
London  cab-drivers  use  check  reins,  knowing  them 
to  be  inconsistent  with  proper  work  ;  and  when  it  is 
observed,  it  will  invariably  be  found  to  be  on  some 
poor  animal,  whose  wearied  and  haggard  appear- 
ance is  attempted  to  be  disguised  by  the  implement 
of  torture.    ■ 


Raising  Chickens. 

In  an  article  on  "Care  of  young  chickens,"  the 
Practical  Farmer  says  :  It  may  be  asked,  what  is 
the  best  feed  for  young  chickens?  There  is  some 
difference  of  opinion  on  this  point.  Breeders  of  fancy 
and  exhibition  stock  are  very  careful  and  particular 
in  feeding,  using  hard-boiled  eggs,  cooked  meat  cut 
into  small  pieces,  bread,  rice,  etc.,  but  tlie  average 
farmer  will  not — nor  need  he  go  to  so  much  trouble. 
As  good  feed  as  we  want  is  sour  thick  milk  mixed 
with  corn  meal  and  bran  ;  the  mess  should  not  be 
too  wet  when  given  to  the  chickens.  Curd  is  very 
good  food  once  a  day,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  two 


weeks  old  a  little  good  wheat  at  night  will  be  found 
excellent.  Some  condiments,  as  Cayenne  or  black, 
pepper,  a  little  salt,  etc.,  may  be  given  once  or  twice 
a  week,  but  only  a  little  at  a  time.  Only  good  hens 
should  be  selected  for  mothers  for  the  early  broods. 
A.  nervous,  fidgety  hen  will  not  cover  and  nourish 
lier  chicks,  and  without  this  on  her  part,  they  will 
not  grow  and  thrive  with  the  best  of  care  on  the  part 
of  the  owner. 


Quidding  Horses. 

The  habit  of  "quidding,"  or  dropping  the  food 
after  chewifig  it,  is  due  to  several  reasons.  The  horse 
may  suffer  from  a  sore  thro.at  or  difficulty  of  swal- 
lowing from  other  causes  ;  some  of  the  teeth  may  be ' 
*earious  or  diseased,  or  they  maybe  worn  sharp  oti' 
their  edges  and  cut  the  mouth.  It  will  be  necessary 
to  examine  the  mouth  and  throat  as  far  as  possible, 
both  by  sight  and  by  pressure.  If  there  is  a  hollow 
or  diseased  tooth,  it  should  be  extracted  ;  if  any  are 
sharp  upon  their  edges  they  should  be  filed  down 
with  a  flat  file ;  if  the  throat  is  sore  or  any  part  of 
the  mouth,  awash  of  chlorate  of  potash  should  he 
used  with  a  sponge  fastened  to  a  piece  of  whalebone 
or  rattan  ;  or  embrocations  of  mustard  should  be  ap- 
plied to  the  throat  outwardly.  It  might  be  well  to 
cut  the  feed  fine  and  scald  it,  feeding  it  when  otily  ■ 
slightly  ivarra.—A'cKi   York  TribHtie. 


Something  for  the  Sick. 

A  correspondent  writes  :  Frequoitly  we  have  sick 
))eople  whose  stomachs  reject  all  Idnd  of  nourish- 
ment until  condition  follows  that  in  many  instances 
terminate  fatally.  In  twenty  instances  in  which  I 
have  heard  the  jiopular  sick-bed  nourishment  pre- 
scribed and  reje-cted  by  the  invalid's  enfeebled  stom- 
ach, I  have  not  known  the  simple  saucer  of  parched 
corn  pud<liug  or  gruel  refused .  The  corn  is  roasted 
brown,  precisely  as  we  roast  coffee,  ground  as  fine  as 
meal  in  a  coffee  mill,  and  make  either  into  mush, 
gruel,  or  thin  cakes,  baked  lightly  brown,  and  given 
warm  or  cold,  clear  or  with  whatever  dressing  the 
stomach  will  retain.  Parched  corn  meal,  boiled  in 
skim  milk,  and  fed  frequently  to  children  sufi'eringi 
from  summer  diarrhcea,  will  almost  always  cure,  as 
it  will  dysentery  in  adults,  and  I  believe  the  cholera 
in  its  earliest  stages. —  Our  F'rieiul, 


Good  Farm   Roads. 


It  is  much  cheaper  and  more  pleasant  for  farmers 
to  have  good  roads  on  the  place  than  bad  ones. 
Teams  can  haul  larger  loads,  with  more  safety  and 
comfort  over  good  roads,  from  the  distant  fields  and 
the  w6ods  lot,  than  if  there  be  no  roads.  Let  tbe  stones 
and  roots  be  gotten  out  of  the  way,  the  rough  places 
be  smoothed  down,  holes  filled  up,  soft  places  har- 
dened with  stones  an^l  solid  earth,  and  th^  teams  wUl 
haul  enough  more,  with  less  breakage,  in  a  single 
year,  to  i)ay  the  trouble  of  making  a  good  road. 
And  besides,  the  farm  looks  better ;  there  is  more 
pleasure  and  less  vexation  in  the  work  to -both  man 
and  team.  We  have  seen  horses  and  oxen  so  both- 
ered and  vexed  by  the  cart  or  wagon  getting  into  a 
hole,  or  in  the  mud  where  they  could  Jiot  haul  out, 
and  then  whipped  and  scolded  till  they  lost  all  ccnir- 
age  and  kindness  and  became  baulky — confirmed  in 
the  habit,  so  that  ever  afterward  tliey  would  not 
draw  loads  out  of  diiflcnlt  place?— aillfrom  bad  roads 
on  the  farm.  ' 

Asparagus. 

In  reply  to  a  correspondent,  Mr.  J.J.  Thomas  says, 
in  the  Cointtry  Oenthinaii  :  For  home  use  only  make 
asparagus  beds  about  five  feet  wide  by  deep  spading 
and  work  in  'manure.  It  has  been  the  practice  to 
make  these  beds  very  deep — two  and  a-half  or  three 
feet — but  we  regard  this  as  needless  Labor  and  ex- 
pense. Two  spits  of  the  spade  (equivUant  to  thorough 
soil  and  trench  plowing  for  the  field  cure  of  tliis 
plant) ,  with  a  very  copious  application  of  fine  ma- 
nure, will  lie  deep  enougli.  Then  give  the  plants 
plenty  of  room,  and  they  will  grow  larger  than  iu  a 
deeper  bed  and  crowded.  Three  rows  in  the  fiN  e  feet 
bed,  and  a  foot  apart  in  the  row,  will  give  fine  crops. 
Plant  in  trenches,  made  by  a  line,  so  that  the  crowns 
will  be  about  two  inches  under  the  surface.  Keep  the 
bed  perfectly  clean  by  going  over  the  whole  surface  at 
least  once  a  week  with  a  steel  rake  before  the  weeds 
come  up. 

Horse  Management. 

Horses  should  not  be  stinted  in  their  feed.  Work 
horses  should  be  put  out  to  pasture  at  night,  but 
they  should  have  their  usual  allowance  of  other  feed. 
They  have  some  lost  flesh  to  make  up.  Scrape  off 
the  eggs  of  the  botfly  from  their  fore  legs  and  shoul- 
ders with  a  sharp  Icuife,  or  wash  them  off  with  warm 
water  every  .evening.  Three  hour's  rest  is  not  too 
much  at  noon  While  plowing.  The  lost  time  may  be 
m.ade  up  .at  morning  and  night.  This  arrangement 
is  not  a  bad  one  for  the  driver  as  well.  Give  water 
often,  and  don't  forget  the  handful  of  cornmeal 
stirred  into  it.  Colts  may  be  taught  to  cat  a  little 
meal  or  bi'an,  and  to  be  handled  freely.  Careful  at- 
tention and  the  gentlest  jwssible  treatment  should 
be  given  to  all  young  stock  at  this  season. —  Wcxtern 
Farmer  i'- 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


Domestic  Decorations. 

An  exquisite  tiinisiKirciuviiKiylie  iiiaile  'jv  arrans- 
Incr  presseil  ferns,  ^'rasses  iiml  luitunui  leaves  on  a 
pane  of  window  irlass,  laying  auotlier  |>Bne  of  the 
same  size  over  it,  and  tiini'iini  tlie  eili;e  wiHi  riUlioii, 
leavinLT  Hie  sjroup  iniprisoneil  between.  Vie  L'uin 
traeaeaiitli  in  piitlinir  on  tlie  l>imlln!r.  It  is  well  to 
seeure  a  narrow  strip  of  pajier  umlertlie  rilibon.  The 
lilmUucr  slioulil  he  jrunimed  all  around  the  ciltce  of 
the  lirst  pane,  and  dried  before  the  leavnf ,  ferns,  ete. 
arc  arranired  :  then  it  ean  be  neatly  folded  over  tlie 
second  paiic  without  clilliculty.  To  form  the  loop  for 
hanL'inir  the  transparency,  jiaste  a  biiidinir  of  i;alloon 
aloniT  the  ed!;es,  leuvlnir  a  two-iueh  loop  free  in  tlic 
centre,  afterward  to  be  pulled  through  u  little  slit  in 
the  bindins.  These  transparencies'  nihy  he  ofthcr 
hiinicbel'ore  a  window, orif  preferreil, secured  against 
a  pane  in  the  sash.  In  halls  a  beautiful  etrect  is  pro- 
duced by  placing  them  agaiusl  the  side   lights  of  the 

hall  door. 

.♦ 

Potatoes  MixiNt;.  —  We  had  9upi>oscd,  says 
Mvore's  llm-al,  that  this  (jucst ion  of  whvUier  pota- 
toes ever  do  hceonie  mixed  liy  oit^icr  growing'  in  tlie 
same  field  or  hill,  had  loii!;  as:o  licen  settled  in  the 
negative.  Of  course  we  know  thattliurc  arc  larpiep 
who  still  adhere  to  their  settled  belief  that  po».fto?s 
do  I'regiucntly  mix  in  the  hill  and  wheat  turn  to  chess,, 
but  it  is  seldom  nowadays  that  a  man  of  intelli;.'eueC 
who  has  eiven  these  subjects  careful  cousideratiou 
and  examination  will  stand  up  and  delarc  his  faitliiu 
either.  But  it  seems  to  bo  very  dillli'ulf  tn  eradicate 
prejudice  or  the  inllm  nrr  ■•(  early  tr.iininu'  ont  of  the 
human  <.T«H)um,  and  nUliouuh  few  may  beUeV(viu 
lucky  jisns,  still  they  had  a  little  rather  see  the  ntw 
moon  over  their  right  shoulder  thftn-pverthe  te^j 


.-.q   .A! 


"jpfie  Use  of  MacTiiheiy 


i:  UOHUH 


The  use  of  machinery  upon  a  farm  is, doubly  bene- 
ficial. It  not  only  reduces  the  labor,  les.sens  tliet-ost 
of  ])roducl8,  saves  time,  aud  enables  a  laru.r  surface 

tp    Ke    n^^Jt^yitted  ,  bnr    it    iw-tiotlly    necessi' :il  i  s    IjutLci" 

an4  more  careful  work.  To  plant  corn  sur, ,  .-^lully, 
it  is  neceesary  that  tlie  sod  be  well  turned  over  and 
cav<Teil,  and  no  trash  left  upon  the  surface  to  iuter- 
fei*  with  the  recTllar  dropping  of  the  seed  ;  nor  must 
b.ose  6lones  be  left  in  the  way.  It  13  tlie  s;\ipc  withr 
all  other  machinery,  and  this  imlirect  beuetit  is  not| 
the  least  by  any  means  qf  those  that  we  gain'by  thet 


AWARDED  THE  HIGHEST  MEDAL  AT  VIENNA. 
591   BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

((Ij.)  osib-  Mi'tmi  (ilil;ai  IImO  1) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHPOMOS  #  FRAMES, 

STEREOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS,  QRAPHOSCOPES  AND  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


fhotoghafeic  materials. 

We  are  Headqunrters  for  cveiythiug  in  tlio  woy  of 

Stersopticona  I  Magic  Lantierns, 

.  .Being  J^I^MiafaeiurerH  of  the 
L  .1 M  'd    V  .  1  d  ..M  ,  1  tC 
Micro-Sclentilir  Lantorn, 

•  '     (»fcrr»-l*«nt»p»J««u,  ■  ••ill  I'A 

I'liiverNll.v  SlereoplleoB,  :   -'■'-■'[•> 
"  Artverl*H*TH"  siorcwptlcon, 

- '.  :«:iu'i  <ta:<3>'  Tr.H'XrtopUcivn. 

School  Lantern,"  Family  Lantern, 

-  People's  Lantern. 

Euch  style  being  the  best  of  its  class  in  the  market. 


Catalogues  of  Limterus  and  Slides,  with  dlrectiODB  fori 

-usiug,  mtui  ou  at>fili«fliiuu, . ,     ■■  ^m        I 

Any  euterpripiiij,'  m»u  cim  raftke  oiouey  wUh  a   Btlagic 
Lantern.  35S^('nt  out  this  udvertiseTncuI  fur  reference. 


E:]VG-i«A.Nr>. 


use  of  farm  machines. 


a-sZT-. 


A  ToRRESPOXDEXT  of  the  Coiinlvtj  Peiilleman 
writes  :  "I  tried  hellebore,  Paris  green,  and  various 
things,  with  indifferent  success,'  hut  have  found 
nothing  that  will  so  thoroughly  destroy  rose  slugs  as 
wood-ashes.  The  ashes  may  be  sifted  on  early  in  the 
mof-pijig  while  the  leaves  aa-e  damji,  the  branches  be- 
inir  turned  over  carefullv,  so  that  the  under  side  of 
.ili£ Jfiares,  to -ivJiich  Uie  young  alugB_cUng»anay.get 
their  fair  share  of  the  siftings.  .^ 

^ .QV-C: 


Young    Stallions    hy   "HONEST    TOM"    and    other 
First-CISs«  Draught  Sires,  for  Sale. 


LITERARY  NOTICES, 

/■JHONTHLT    KSPORT     OF      THE     DEPARTMENT     OF 

AgrK'VLTCRe  for  May  aud  June,  ISTfi,  with  an  iodt>x 
-of. contents,  from  page  1R3  topa»e  3l4:-inelusive,and, 
''eight  charts,  in  colors,  illustrating  the  various  sub- 
jects treated  in  the  work,  besides  a  full  page  illustra-. 
tion  in  "  microscopic  observations"  on  "  Animal  aud 
Vegetable  Cellulose  aud  t^tareh." 

We  regret  that  we  received  it  too  late  to  make  much 
use  of  it  in  the  present  number  of  Tuk  Fahmek  :  for, 
terminating  as  it  does  the  last  tiseal  year,  there  is 
much  in  it  of  a  statistical  character  that  would  be 
interesting  to  our  agricultural  readers.  We  quote 
from  page  154  the  aggregate  value  of  pur  priuclpal 
crops  for  the  eight  years  f"rom  ISOt!  to  1874,  and  their 
relations  to  each  other,  in  the  entire  country  :  Com, 
$.540,33.S,n07  :  hav,  ?:-;4S,l-ll,  4.50;  whe.it,  S3aS,!:i8r,,- 
272;  cotton,  §oO.VyO,Sll  ;  oats,  ?12:),Sfi7,42il ;  Pota- 
toes, Si7fi,S.Tf.,914;  tobacco, *:>4,4;5'J,80y  ;  barleVr?' ■,- 
o74,78iS;  rye,  SlS,G!t.J,'S2f. ;  buckwheat,  S12,',H:i,',a:;. 
This  siiows  that  corn  leads  all  our  crops  by  l'i;r,  afld 
that  hay  is  next  on  the  list,  whilst  tobacco  is  only  the 
seventh,  large  as  It  seems.  We  njll  jirepare  a 
synopsis  for  the  August  number. 

AMEUK  AX    JOIUNAL     OF     Pn.UtM.YCT,' puMfsTied 

hy  authority  of  the  Philaildphia  CuUcijc  of  Phvrntncii^ 
and  edited  hy  .John  M.  Maisch,  at  S:!.<XI  per  annum. 
The  .June  number,  now  before  us,  contains  among 
many  other  good  things,  an  abstract  from  an  inau- 
gural essay  on  "Tobacco  Culture  iu  Pennsylvania," 
and  especially  iu  Lancaster  county,  by  our  young 
friend  .JoiiN  Alii<i:o  Witmer,  Ph.  (i.,of  Lancaster 
county,  who  recently  graduated  with  honor  in  the 
above  named  college.  .Judging  from  the  abstract  be- 
fore OS,  we  consider  the  essay  a  valuable  contribution 
to  the  local  agricultural  literature  of  the  county  of 
Lancaster,  as  well  as  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
Although  It  may  contain  nothing  especially  new  to 
veteran  culUvat>ors,  yet,  as  every  year  brings  inex- 
perienced hands  iuto  this  increasing  field  of  culture 
in  our  county,  we  believe  their  progress  might  be 
facilitated  by  giving  the  essay  a  wider  publication 
than  it  will  receive  in  the  columns  of  a  joarnal  of 
pharmacy  alone. 


At  the  Both  Annual  Meeting  of  tbe 

LYTHAM  and  KIRKHAU  AaEICULTURAL  SOO'Y, 

On  WEDNESDAY,  23d  AUGUST,  18J6, 

MESSRS.   LT7CAS   &   CO. 

Of  the  Repository,  Liverpool,  have  been  iiiBtnicteil  to  SELL 

BY  AUCTION,  ou  the  Show  Day  at  Lytham,  near 

Prestou  ^an  hour  by  rail  I'rom  Liverpool), 

FIFTY  TO  SEYENTY  DRAUGHT  STALLIONS, 

Coniprietjig  Fouls,  Yearlings,  Two  Year  OUle  and  Tbreo 
Year  Okie,  iiiany  of  them  by  the  Celebrated  Sire,  "  HONEST 
TOM,"  the  proiierty  of  "The  Fylde  Cart  Horse  Breeding 
ImprOYement  Coniprtny,"  aud  considered  the  best  Cart  Stal^ 
lion  in  the  world.  Foals  got  by  hini  sell  readily  at  Xlml 
each,  aud  a  Three  Year  Old  by  hiiu  has  receiltly  been  sold 
for  XSOO.  ■       !     -'-''^ 

•.'Catalogues  forw^ardod  to  parties  sending  tbe^  addr^  to 

l.-.u        Messrs.  LUCAS  &  CO.,  Liverpool. 


Peabody  House, 


COR 


OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  ST8., 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


Convenient  to  all  places  of  amusement  and  car  lines  in 
the  cilv.     No  changes  to  aud  from  the  Ceutennial  grounds. 

Col.  Wateou,  proprietor  of  the  Henut  Uocme,  Clucinuati, 
for  the  past  twenty  ye.irs,  and  present  proprietor,  has  leaded 
Ike  liouse  lor  a  lerni  of  yeais,  and  has  newly  famished  and 
fitted  it  thrminho'it.  He  will  keep  a  strictly  llrgt-class  house, 
aud  has  accommodation  for  300  guests.  Tei-ms,  only  $3 
per  day.  ' 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  in  the  Hsnbi  Hoosb,  nor  wU^ 
auy  be  kept  at  the  1'e.iiiodt.  9-8-5 

CAIVASSEES  WANTED 

TO  TAKE  SUBSOaiBEKS  FOR 

TEte  Laiji©ast©r  Farmer. 

Fjirmers'  Son?  and  other   Young   Men, 
during  Their  leisure  hours, 

CAN  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


flTe  want  n  thoronph  caii\Ti»*ff  ma(t?of  (■TerT<l*ctrie(,»iM!  will 
pay  Kood  cauvaaHcrs  hbcrally.     Atlilrcss 

PEARSOL  &  &EIST,  Putlishers, 

7^tf  LAXCASTEB,  PA. 


God's  Acre. 

I  like  that  aiH-ieiit  Saxon  phrase,  which  calls 
The  Imrlal  ground  (iod's  acre  '.    It  Is  Just ; 

It  consecrali-8  each  cfave  within  ils  walls. 
And  breathes  a  bontsou  on  Ibc  slecplne  dust. 

fiod's  acre  !     Ves,  that  blessed  name  InipartB 
t'oinfort  to  those  who  In  the  grave  huvi'  sown 

The  seed  that  they  had  garnered  In  llndr  hearts. 
Their  bread  of  life,  alas  1  no  more  tholr  own. 

Into  its  I'urrows  shall  we  all  be  cast. 
In  the  snri'  faith  that  we  shall  rise  again 

At  the  great  harvest ;  when  the  archanRel's  bllQ^ 
Shall  winnow,  like  a  fan,  the  chaff  and  ^ralu,j  : 

Then  shall  the  gixnl  glanil  In  immortal  bloom. 
In  the  lair  gardens  of  that  secontl  birth  ; 

Aiid  each  bright  blossom  mingle  its  pirfuine 
With  that  of  flowers  which  never  bloom  on  BBrth . 

'With  thy  rude  j^lon.'lishare.  Death,  ttirtftip  the  »o^, 
,.   AuU  spread  the  furrow  for  the  seoJ  we  sow  ;  j 
Tills  is  lhc4cld  and  acre  of  our  (iod,  •  r 

This  is  the  place  where  human  harvests  jpow.- 

%»'".;-       '■     '  .     .',(,'  ^LoniifdloK. 

TJit;S*V(j  of'V»Mff8  Slid 'servants,  tHfese  twoftom 

"aild'Siiotia.art  r.itliPi''neat  :'■,;■.   '  ',.V'.,.\".  '  \".\ 
A  baby  was  out  w  ith  the  rtUrk,'  who  Walfccd  tt-  tlj) 
and  down  the  garden.  •  •. 

«"  "  Is't  a  laddie  or  a  lassie  i"  said  the  gardener. 
■•■'"  .\  liidaie,"  said  the  marld. 

"  Weel,"  says  he,  "I'm  glad  o'  thiit,  for  there's 
ower  niony  women  in  the  world."         : 
"  Hech,  mou,"»aid  the  (rirl,  "div  yo  no keu  there's 

avc  malstsawn'o'thfe  best  crap?"  •» 

.  »". '  • 

Ai?,  irishman  who  firofcssciJ  tp  be  a  great  spoHs- 
raaii,T)ut  who  in  icality  had  ^ever  loaded  or  fired  a 
gun,  went  out  with  a  party  ou  a  jjuunins  c.xpcdiIion. 
Bv  some  mistake  he  had  manageil  to  get  a  double 
TliaTwpiol^O'trderln  his  foTrlinir-piece :  and  eeeliip-a 
yJMiug  6"^uTrrjf*it]bin  ran(re,heainieil  4  Itand^iJled 
trigger.  ThT  snnic  niomenf  he  found  himflClf  lyiiilj 
Hat  uiion  the  ground,  his  shoulder  aching  from  the 
iMooil  of  the  guu.  LooJcing  around  to  UiKNJie  §dulr- 
rcl,  which  he  BUpposnd  he  had  demoliiliA,  Wspled 
him  skipping  about  on  the  rail  of  a  fence  fts'chirk'and 
lively  as  ever.  Kubbing  his  shoulder,  tlnrtliortsman 
apoatropliized  his  woiihtbe  victim  as  fc)ll»i>»E  :  *'  Bad 
luck  till  ye,  yc  varmint !  Te're  ehippen  i  ■ 
but  if  ychad  been  at  this  end  of  the  gun, 
goin'  chip,  chipper  on. the  fence  there  bjitluo  uni. ,  ^e 
Villaiu  ye  !  "•  '  .  k.'     ''.'    '  "C  TV.  ,  ■     .   ■"  ^  '; 

Ax  eccentric  poet  of  Newark,  New  .Jersey,  well 
known  to  the  last  generation  as  Matt  Ward,  was  the 
author  of  the  following  epitaph  on  a  dog  named 

On  brute  and  monarch  death  alike  will  call ; 
Dogs  have  their  d;iy,  aud  8priug  hath  bad  his  SEL" 
Doctors  by  barking,  lawyers  biting,  thrive;  <  ■' 

eprin?- coui<l  do  Ixrth — both  could  not  make  him  live. 

Fi-om  human  puppies  he  had  gifu  apart ; 
Tlu-y  heartless  souls,  but  he  a  soulless  heart ; 
They,  doomeil  to  future  lil'e,  meet  death  with  fear. 
But  he,  more  happy,  sleeps  forever  here.' 

CosCERNiNO  the  Centennial,  this  is  not  bad  : 

At  a  colored  church  iu  (ircencastic,  Tcnnsylvania, 
a  few  days  .i^jo,  a  colored  w;omau_brought  up  an 
ebouv  youufstcr  for  baptisni.  -^ 

"What  U  the  child's  name?"  asked  Iho  jnlnisfer. 

"Thomas  Cent^-nnial  Mhldleton,"  said  the  uiolhcr. 

This  beiug apparently  too  lengthy  for  the  minister, 
he  concluded  to  irlibreviate  it,  which  he  did  in  this 
wise:  "Thomas  S.  Middleton,  I  baptize  you,"  etc. 

The  DiKFEREXt  e.— The  following  little  anecdote 
teaches  a  lesson  etTeclually,  If  not  elCijantly  : 

A  market  gardener  near  Boston  liad  a  very  6ne 
cow  that  was  milked  week  and  week  by  two  hired 
men.  He  observed  that  the  amount  of  butter  he 
carried  to  market  weighed  about  a  ponnd  more  on 
each  alternate  week.  lie  watched  the  men  and  tried 
the  cow  after  they  had  Unishcd  milking,  but  always 
found  that  there  was  no  milk  in  the  teats.  He 
linally  asked  the  Scotch  girl,  who  ti>ok  care  of  the 
milk,  if  she  could  account  for  the  dill'crence  ?  "Why, 
yes,'*  said  she,  "when  Jim  milks,  he  says  to  the  old 
cow,  'So,  mv  pretty  little  muly,  so;  '  but  wheu  Sam 
milks,  he  liits  her  on  the  hip  with  the  edge  of  the 
pail,  and  says  :  'Hist,  you  d— n  brute.'  " 

This,  from  Nevada,  speaks  for  Itself  :  An  Irtth- 
man  in  Virginia  City,  bchig  tried  for  assault  and 
battery,  wheu  askeil  if  he  had  anything  to  bay  by 
way  o'f  defense,  replied,  "  Well,  yimr  honor,  I  saw 
but  lilllfof  tbc  flght,  as  I  was  underneath  most  of 
the  tim«'.'* 


IV. 


THE  I^ANCASTER   FARMER. 


[July,  1876. 


TJEXSrSYI-VAXI.t  R 

1        Trains  leave  the  Dep 

WE -T  WARD. 
Pacific  Express* 

.VII.BOAD 

ot  m  this  city,  i 

Leave 

Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20  a.m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:29  a.m. 

3:25  p.  m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

0:10  p.m. 

7:32  p.  m. 

7:40  p.m. 

7:46  p.m. 

9:10^>.  m. 
11:30  p.  ip. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:25  a.  m. 

7:.50  a.  m. 

9.28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m. 

3:05  p.m. 

6:60  p.  m. 

SCHEDltE 

s  follows : 
.Arrive 
Harrisburg. 
4:05  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  ra. 

Hanover  Accommodation. 
Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

Col.  10:0U  a.  m 
1:00  p.  m. 
1:20  p.  m. 

4:50  p.  m. 

Frederick  .Accommodation . 

Col.  4:15  p.  m 
8:10  p.  m. 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 

8:10  p.  m. 

Harrisburg  Express 

9:05  p.  m. 
10:35  p.m. 
12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 

Cincinnati  Express* 

EASTWARD. 

Philadelphia  Eipresat 

Harrisbu  rg  Express 

7:00  a.  m. 
9:25  a.  m. 
10:30  p.m. 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 

12:30  p.  m. 
3;30  p.m. 

Johnstown  Express 

Harrisburg  Accom 

6:00  p.  m. 
9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hanover  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
■with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  Hanover  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodatiou/west,  connectaat  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:26  p.  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  eaet,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  coimeoting 
with  Pacific  ExpresB  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  5 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  atl*anca8ter  at  9:06, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  lea.vlng  York  at  6:J2  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrisburg  Express 
at  7:25:a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:05  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  Express  at  7:25  a.  m. 

On  Sunday  there  -will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
eaBt,  the  second  flection  starting  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m,,  making  all  the  stops  betweeu  Columbia  and  Lancaster. 
and  the  Johnstown  Express  stops  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  section  of  Pacific  Express,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  Bt<)ps  at  Middletown,  Elizabethtown,  Mt.  Joy, 
■  andLandis^ille. 

•The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRons  daily,  except  Monday. 

I>OT^TO  Buas 

A^D    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 

THOROUGHLY  AND   BAPIDLY 
BY   U6IKG 

Feck's  lmpFQ7@d  LIpIc 

The  most  complete  apparatus  for  deodorizing  and  disin- 
fecting Hospitals,  Ships,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers'  experiences  with  It. 

West  Grove  Manurg  Co.,  West  Gbove,  Pa. 
8-5  


$12 


A  day   at  Home.      Agents    wanted.     Outfit    and 
terms  free.    TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.   [8-3-ly 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

EOOFIISra  SL^TE. 

OFFICE  ; 

No.  15  east  king  STBEET, 

8.1-12m  LANCASTER,  PA. 


per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free. 
STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maine. 


$5  to  $20 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

6(X)  farmers'  write  for  it, 

60  farmers'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulates  in  36  States. 

Circulates  in  6  Territories. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

64  columns  every  week, 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Kept  on  file  in  1,200  Granpes. 

Read  weekly  by  over  lOO.OiiO  people. 

Only  official  orgah  of  five  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  from  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experience  by  practical  farmers. 

Crop  reports  printed  weekly. 

No  middlemen  agents. 

tl.50  a  year ;  or  1,25  in  clubs  of  8  or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

12>^{'  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  S  or  over,  lOj^  ceuts  a  month. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

National  Grange  officers  write  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  every  State. 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  and  say, 

"  Just  what  we  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  three  cents,  sent  directly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  Siatea. 

AddresBT  THOMAS  &  BEMMING, 

7.12.^  Mechanic  SB  tTRO,  Fa. 


(Successors  to  W.  ATLEE  BURPEE.) 

BREEDERS   AND   SHIPPERS   OP 

Thorougli'bred   Xaive   Stocky 

Alderney,   Ayrshire  and   Shorthorn  Cattle,   Cotswold    and  Southdown   Sheep, 

Chester  "WTiite,  Berkshire,  Essex  and  Poland  China  Pigs, 

Thoroughbred  Dogs  and  Fancy  Pigeons, 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  and  WATER  FOWLS 

Of  all  the  leading  choice  varieties.  Our  stock  of  Poultry  has  won  many  FIRST  PRIZES.  We  sbijp  only  first-class 
Aulmals  and  Birds.    Full  Descriptive  Cireulurs  free. 

AN  ELEGANTLY  ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  pure-bred  live  stock  and  poultry  (now  in  preparation)  con- 
taining a  complete  descriptive  priced  list  of  stock  and  breeders'  requisites,  sent  post-paid  on  receipt  of  twenty  cents. 

Also  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  Ground  Bone,  Flour  of  Raw  Bone  Scraps,  Crushed  Oyster  Shells,  Imperial  Egg 
Food,  Condimental  Food,  etc.,  for  Poultry  and  Stock.    Every  fancier  should  send  for  our  circular  in  this  line  of  goods. 


Fertilizers  ni  kMM\  IipleiDeiils,       FieW,  Garten  ui  Flower  SeeJs, 

STRICTLY  FRESH  AND  RELIABLE. 

All  the  new  and  standard  Tanetise.    NEW  CROP  TURNIP  SEEDS  and  other  seeds  for  fall  planting.    Send  for 
special  price  list. 

SIX  PACKETS  FARM  SEEDS  FREE  as  samples  to  all  who  enclose  two  ?-cent  stamps, 
jysend  your  address  for  our  full  descriptive  priced  circulars,  mailed  free.    Address, 

BSIVSON  Oc  BURPEE. 

SSES  A2TC  AOSICVLTUHiL  WASEEOUSE, 
No.  223  CHURCH  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


CENTEZTITIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


T^e^^: 


OF    !NIiE£ri\BEl«CE 


Struck  in  solid  Albata  Plate,   equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1  ?«  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  eight. 

Tlie  most  valuable  Souvenirs  and  Me- 
mentoes ever  issned. 


GOOD   AGENTS  WANTED  in   every  City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


GUt, 


RETAIL  PRICES.— For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cte. 
$1,  in  fancy  box.    Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
satin  or  velvet-lined  morocco  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
different  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-office  order 
for  %A,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solicited.  Information  free.  Bxtcueive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications, 

U.  S.  3LEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         212  Broadway,  N.  T. 


E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  W.  Fourth  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Arc  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


GOOD  SEEOS,  GROWN  WITH  CARE,  FROM  8E- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Goshen,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON 

Loruj  Range  Breech  Loading 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 


^  I 

Carries  a  '.i  inch  ball  with  accu-  ^^^^»  ^ 
r&cy  fifty  teet.  without  powder  or  ^^^^  CO 
percuesion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  sale 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
•nd  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS   WANTED. 

A.  A.  GEAHAM,  67  Liberty  Street,  New  Todr 
!-3-6m 


1876. 


CENTENNIAL. 


1876, 


iatlivon  ft  Pislier, 

PRACTICAL 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 

liitiii  m  teiti 

Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 


Estmates  limisM  tree. 


ttf] 


Ssnd  lor  Circnlaj. 


J.  STAUFFER, 

iit^itii  If  mm 

LANCASTER,  VENN'A. 
23S  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


AU  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  COPYRIGHTS. 
promptly  attended  to.  His  experience,  sucoess  and  faithful 
attention  to  the  Interests  ot  those  who  engage  his  servicea 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistant at  Washington,  without  extra  cha-rge  for  drawing 
or  description.  [7-4-tl 


$1  a  Year 


(To  Hiib8C''il>e'-8  in 
\      (he  cuiuity. 


SINGLi:  COFZES  10  CENTS 


To  BU>»Bcrlberf»  out  of  )     ^i 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTEPx 


PEARSOL  Ic  GEI.'iT,  Publishers. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


^  lancajter  farmer ; 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO   AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC    ECONOMY 
AND   MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  promiueut  fc-at.ure,  with   siecial  reft'i-euee  to  tlif- 
wauts  of  tUe  Farmer,  the  Gardeuer  and  I'ruit -Grower. 


Founded  under  the  .iii^nices  of  tlie  Lancaster  County 
.Vgriciiltural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  ly  Prof.  S.  S.  EATIIVOi'. 


The  Lancaster  Faii?jkr  bns  now  completed  its  pevouih 
year — the  hist  hnviiig  breu  uuder  the  auspices  of  the  uuder- 
pifjued  08  publishers.  Wbeu  we  aspumed  the  responsibility 
uf  the  publieatiou  one  year  ago.  it  wu8  with  a  dntermination 
to  make  PucU  improvenients  during  the  year  as  would  place 
the  FarnierH"  Organ  of  this  great  agricultural  county  in  the 
very  front  rank  uf  publications  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  so,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  teBtimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Conteunial  year  still  more  interest  ing 
and  valuable  than  its  predecessor  for  1S75.  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-operation  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
l»rise.  To  make  it  a  success,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Farmer  should  at  oucc  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  coutribntions  of  our  able  editor,  Pi-of.  Ratuvon,  on 
subjects  connected  with  the  science  of  fanning,  and  partic- 
uiarlv  that  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  master- 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  become 
a  necessity  to  the  successful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  liith  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paper  with  clear  tyjie,  in  con- 
venient form  for  reading  and  binding,  and  mailed  to  sub- 
scribers ou  the  following 

TERMS: 

To  subscribers  ret^idiag  wilhin  the  county- 
One  copy,  one  year,  _  .  -  -  -  $1.00 
Six  copies,  one  year,  ------       5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------        7.50 

To  snbscriliers  outside  of  Lancaster  county,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  publisher.^: 

One  copy,  one  year,  .        .         -         .         -  $1-25 

Five  copies,  one  year,  -        .....         5.00 

All  subscriptions  ^\ill  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber uidees  otherwise  ordered. 

All  communications  intended  for  publication  should  be 
addressed  to  the  Kditor,  and,  to  secure  insertion,  Phould  be 
in  his  hands  by  the  tirsl  of  the  month  of  publication. 

AH  business*  letters,  containing  subscriptions  and  odver- 
lieemeuts,  should  be  addressed  to  the  publishers. 


PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 

Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
I.AXCASTEK,  PA. 


RATFS  or  ADVKRTISIXO.  —  Ten  Conl*    n 
liue  for  rncli  Inserlioii.     Twelve  liues  to  the  ii.ch. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


Insects  Never  (irow,    ---*---  IIM 

A  New  Pot,     -------  li;i 

.\  New  Enemy  ill  the  Corn  Croji,       -        -        -  114 

Where  the  Potato  Bugs  Go,    -        -        -        -  114 

The  Vejjet able  Catpcrillar,         -        -        -        -  ll.') 

.\nswers  to  CVuTe^poiidents,    -        -        -        -  115 

A  stiHii<,'e  FJHh — .JViiM-ricini  Lunar  ]\Io*I; — Tlje  Grnl  e 

I.eiif  l'li>I]i).\eni — 'I'he  Uidi'twiiig  filotb — Tuikey 

lluzxatd — Tile  Chicken  I'holera. 

The  Cintennial  Heat.           -         -         -         -         -  HO 

Adviuiee  of  the  Pear  Blijfht,    -        -        -        -  ll'i 

The  Birds  ami  their  L'bcs, IIT 

Frentdi  Cookinir,       -         -         -        -         '         "  H*^ 

The  History  of  Cultivated  Vesetahles,        -        -  IIH 

Properties  of  Fuel — Wood,       -         -         -         -  IIS 

Bitter  Butter,       -------  lli( 

Tranpplantinir  Trees  in  Pall  or  Spriii','.    -        -  119 

Chinese  .\;,'rieiilture,  ------  11!! 

Lishtninir  and  Liifhtiiiiig  Kods,       -        -        -  121 

Hereditary  Influences, I'-il 

Keproduetive  Force, li'i 

Reversion  of  Seeds,     ------  '['i'l 

About  Mnehrooins,         -----  1:2'! 

The  Magpie  Pigeon, 124 

The  Wintering  of  Plants,      -        -        -         -  1'24 

TIic  Dairy— No.  4, l-'o 

Our  Paris  Letter,  ------  125 

Our  Farmers  in  Council,    -----  130 

Cheese, .--  127 

The  Crops  iu  the  East ,-----  137 

Western  Crop  Reports,  -----  127 

The  Grasshoppers  and  the  Birds,       -,       -        -  l'~~ 

Toads, -        -  127 

Iniprovingthe  Land  "  Inside  the  Fences,"  -        -  127 

Keeping  Milk  and  Butter  in  Cellars,       -        -  127 

Graham  (iems,    -        - 12S 

Rules  for  Home  Education,    -        -        -        -  I'iS 

How  to  (iet  .\long,     -        -        -        ,        -        -  12S 

A  Model  Dairy,        - 12S 

Dish  Washing  Without  Soap,     -        -        .        -  12>j 

Keeping  Eggs,        -        -        -        -        -        -  12S 

Remember  This,  -------  12S 

One  Egg  Cake, 12S 

Literary  Notices,  -------  12^ 

Our  Fence  Corners,  -        -        -        -        ,        -     ii,  iii 

The  National  .\L'rieiiIturaI  Con'.rrefs.         -         -  iii 

SlIiSCRIBF,  FOR  THI- 

LAXC.\STHR  PARMER, 

'ffcf  licst  Agricultural  Pcif'sr  in 
the  Country. 

To  subscribers  in  the  countj  $1.00  per  jeir, 
To  subscribers  out  of  the  couatj,  \\X\  per  jear. 


jlie  fanner^  printing  ^{fice. 
THE  LANCASTER  EXPRESS, 

(DAIT.Y  AND  "WEEKLT.) 

Ti)e  LeadiQ^  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  the 

oijly  Independeql  Republicarj  Journal  ii)  the  Ccunly. 


THE  \ 

WEEKLY,  '. 

1843         J 


FOUNDED     f 

'.\      Mil. 

PRESENT  PROPRIETORS.   ( 


THE 

D  A  I  J^  Y  , 

1856 


The  Wef.klt  Express  huH  been  before  the  rltizen'i  of " 
Lanraster  county  for  u  period  of  thirty-thret"  years,  and  'Vhe 
Daily  Kxi'RE'is  for  over  nineteen  yearn.  iMirhiR  this  long 
period,  and  %eithout  chaiiKe  ol  mauHKeinent.  Tiik  KxpRE^^i 
iiHH  fairly  earned  a  large  nhure  of  patronat^'^  and  tUuily 
established  itself  in  the  public  wjtitldeuce,  ah  an  upright  and 
indi-peudent  journal,  never  hejiitatint?  to  defeml  tlie  ritfht 
and  deuotnice  the  wrong,  no  matter  where  found  to  eiint. 
It  haH  always  hceu  a  jonruiil  of  progreHK.  and  the  outHpoken 
frifiid  of  fducation,  tenipHrance,  Rciuiid  moraitt  and  reUgiuu. 
A:*  iu  the  paHt,  fio  it  will  eontiuue  iu  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 

The  Weekly  Express,  one  year,  -        -        -        $3.00 

The  Daily  Express,  one  year,  -        -        .        -       5.00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer:  To  any  person  residing 
within  tlic  limits  of  LancuHti-r  cnurily  we  will  mail — 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaster  Farmer,  one  year,  $2.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  exti'udfd  circulation  of  Thk  Ilxriii^s  makes  it  the 
best  medium  for  advertiniuK  It'*al  Kwlatc  and  Personal 
Projterty  in  the  county,  a  fact  which  can  hi*  atifnte<l  hy  h.' 
many  farmerw  and  othern  who  have  availeil  th<-niH«-lvefl  of 
the  uee  of  its  columns,  and  to  which  we  invite  the  uttcutlou 
of  all  having  property  to  dispose  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  ExPBES'i  printing  otllcc- is  one  of  the  l>egt  fumish»fl 
establishmentB  for  turunig  out  all  kindw  of  itrmting  to  Ito 
found  in  the  interior  of  the  state.  We  are  j-repare*!  to 
print  any  joli  from  the  small  \i«iling  oanl  to  th«'  largest  salo 
or  horse  bill,  poster,  or  broadside,  plain  or  in  colors,  aa 
cjuickly  as  it  can  b(*  done  at  any  other  eHtublishnient,  and  on 
as  rpasonnble  terms.  We  make  the  intntiiig  of  iiaU-hilU 
fur  FuiiHfiH  a  specialty,  nn<l  guarantee  Batisfacliou  to  our 
cuatomers. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

include  the  various  patterns  adaj'te*!  lo  iiriiiting  l)ooks 
pamphletH,  posters.  Kale-bills,  hand-bills,  miltfni'  receipt**, 
ciitalognes  of  live  stock,  and  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
tlrst-clas»*  iirinting  otMce;  In  short  anything  that  maybe 
cidled  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  banker,  mechanic,  or 
business  man,  and  we  guarantee  to  do  the  work  as  autiHfac- 
lorj-  as  it  can  be  done  in  i'hilade|]tbia  or  elsewhere. 

With  one  of  the  most  complete  -T.^b  ftrn'-'-^  in  ih.^  Stnto. 
and  unsun'i^**'''^  *^*^"^"^^^*'"cesfoi-' 

work  by  the  best  workmen,  tmd'i  1 

of  the  pn>i>rietors,  who  are  Ixilh  1 

sons  in  need  of  I'rintiug  will  And  it  !■-' ih'/ir  mtt-ntt  toyivo 
us  a  trial. 

PEARSOL  L  GEIST, 

BOOK,   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Quecn-st, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


rnnvnNHpr<>  Wnntoal   for  The  FARMEn,  Tlthwbom 
literal  arraug'-'in'Oita  w.Il  Ijc  made. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


FARMERS,  GET  THE  BEST. 


FEED  CUTTER, 


MANUFACTURED    FOR 


DEALKItS    IN' 

HARDWARE  &  AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS, 

No.  7  E.  KING  ST.,  LAXCASTEB,  PA., 

Has  been  demonstrated  bv  coTn}'etitive  tests  to  be  THE 
BEST  FEED  CUTTER  IN  THE  MARKET.  The  feed-roU 
Is  operated  by  a  new  and  novel  deWce  which  conipletely 
ovorcomes  the  objection  to  the  uneven  action  of  other  cut- 
ters, while  the  length  of  cut  can  be  varied  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  operator  without  the  removal  of  any  gear-wheels. 
The  material  and  workmanship  are  of  the  very  best  class, 
and  guaranteed  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  imrchaser.  Farm- 
ers are  invited  to  call  and  see  for  themselves. 


li 


THH  CHAMPION." 

The  Champion  Keaper  and  ^Slower,  which  we  have  sold 
■with  such  entire  satisfaction  to  our  customers  for  the  last 
BIX  years,  still  maintains  the  lead  of  all  competitors— 
33.761  having  been  manufactured  for  the  harvest  of  1S75 
— and  we  bave  already  completed  our  arrangements  to  sup- 
ply the  increased  demand  for  next  season.  The  Farmer 
who  buys  the  Champion  is  always  satisfied  that  he  has  the 
full  worth  of  his  money. 

DILLER  E,  GROFF, 

No,  7  East  King  St.,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

T-U-sm 


38  the  most  boantifiil  work  of  the  kind  in  the  workl.  It  con- 
tains nearly  InO  jiages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrations,  and 
four  Chrcnno  J'lates  of  Flowerx,  beautifully  drawn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  Gviide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  j'ear. 

AiUlriss,  .JAMES  VICK,  nocheeter,  N.  Y. 

PATENTS 

OBTAIIEB  BEST  AM  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOIUS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITOIIS  OF  PATENTS, 

"Wasliington.,  D.  C. 


*3'" Address  all  lelters  to  P.  O.  Box  444. 


-3  -12m 


FERTILIZERS! 

CHEAPEST  AND  BEST! 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  formula  have  provec,  in 
actual  use,  to  he.  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 


OU  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  I'laster, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA. 


Efltabhshed  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  in  1793. 


[S-2- 


A   Knowing  Cat. 

The  Wilmiuatoii  (N.  C.)  Jminial  oUXw  Ifitli  iiist., 
lias  tlic  followina-  vcraiious  narrative.  Persoiieiloubt- 
inif  tlic  truth  of  it  ean  be  shown  the  cat,  ami,  if  that 
is  not  sufficient,  the  car  also.  It  says  :  "  ;\  frieiul  tells 
us  tlie  story  of  a  cat.  every  word  oi'wliieh  can  be  ini- 
questionably  established  by  an  abundance  of  the  most 
reliable  testimony.  A  part  of  the  stoiy  our  friend 
himself  ean  voucii  for.  In  1872,  a  family  of  jicople 
named  Davants  moved  fo  Columliia  from  Fort  .Mills, 
situated  on  the  Columbia  aui  Charlotte  railroad,  100 
miles  from  Columbia.  Previous  to  and  at  I  he  time  of 
removal,  the  family  owned  an  unusually  larice  Mal- 
tese eat,  which  was  the  pet  of  each  member  of  the 
household.  The  eat  not  only  knew  liis  own  name, 
but  seemed  to  know  the  name  of  each  one  of  the 
family,  of  which  he  probably  considei-ed  himself  an 
honored  member.  When  the  removal  to  Columbia 
was  made,  of  course  Tom  went  along,  and  seemed  to 
enjoy  the  ride  on  tlie  railway  train  beyond  liis  limited 
powers  of  expression.  He  was  first  in  thelapof  ;/)n/c?- 
famiUas,  then  on  the  knees  of  the  head  of  the  family, 
then  he  would  cross  over  to  the  seat  occupied  by  his 
younti:  mistress,  all  the  while  purring  and  curlina;  his 
innu'  tail,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  Isn't  this  fine  fun,  this 
fast  travclins:,  anil  we  all  so  snugly  seated  in  a  warm 
ear  on  this  cold  December  day  ?"  Arrived  at  Colum- 
bia, Tom  went  along  with  the  rest  of  tlie  family  to 
the  new  domicile,  foUowinfr  readily  wlicn  called  to 
leave  the  car  and  take  his  place  in  the  carriage,  and 
when  the  carnage  stopped  in  front  of  the  new  home, 
Tom  entered  it  alongside  of  the  first  one  wlio  crossed 
tlie  threshold,  still  jjurring  and  curling  his  tail  in  the 
ecstasy  of  his  delight  at  the  change  which  was  being 
made,  anil  at  the  new-  scenes  which  it  was  then  his 
privilege  for  the  first  time  to  behold.  And  thus  Tom 
seemed  contented  and  happy  in  his  new  home  ibr  the 
space  of  ten  days.  The  only  change  noticed  in  his 
conduct  was  the  fact  that  he  was  perhaps  a  trifle 
more  afl'eetioiuite  in  his  manners  to  the  rest  of  the 
household.  But  wheu  ten  days  had  passed  by  Tom 
was  missing.  He  could  nowhere  be  found.  There 
was  a  vacant  place  in  the  family  circle  that  caused 
heartfelt  sorrow  until  a  telegram  was  received  from 
Fort  Mills  bringing  the  intelligence  that  Tom  h.ad  re- 
turned to  his  old  haunts  100  miles  away.  He  had 
taken  passage  on  a  frieght  train,  and  was  safely  back 
at  Fort  Mills,  mourning  the  absence  of  the  rest  of  tlie 
family.  Only  one  freight  ear  is  switched  off  at  Fort 
Mill,  and  in  this  identical  car  Tom  secreted  himself 
before  the  departure  from  Columbia,  and  before  it  was 
locked  up  by  the  agent;  so  that  when  the  car  was  un- 
locked on  its  arrival  at  Fort  Mills,  out  walked  Tom, 
showing  no  evidence  of  his  being  ashamed  at  having 
stolen  a  ride  on  the  train.  But  then  Tom  went  to  the 
depot  at  Columbia  to  take  p.assage,  how  did  he  know 
precisely  which  was  the  ear  that  was  to  be  switched 
off  at  Fort  Mill  ?  Of  course  he  must  have  noticed  the 
directions  on  the  packages  of  freight,  and  went  with 
the  freight  that  was  marked  Fort  Mills.  No  other 
way  could  he  have  known." 


A  Tramp  at  a  Lunch  Counter. 

A  tramp  saw  a  sign  of  "  Free  Lunch,"  and  he  went 
in,  walked  unostentatiously  up  to  a  plate,  anl  cnm- 
nieneed  operations  with  a  sandwich;  then  llie  bar- 
keeper walked  up  and  said  : 

"  Men  who  eat  here  are  expected  to  jiay  Ibr  a 
drink." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  the  tramp. 

"  Well,  then,  why  don't  you  live  up  to  the  rules  ?". 

"  'Cause  I  go  in  for  health,  and  don't  drink  till  I'm 
through  eating." 

The  barkeeper  turned  his  back  for  a  moment,  and 
the  tramp  slipped  three  sandwiches  into  his  coat 
pocket,  and  devoured  four,  then  he  walked  up  to  the 
bar,  and  to  the  dispenser  of  stimulants  huskily  whis- 
pered : 

"  Gimme  a  glass  o'  water,  will  ye  ?  " 

"  What !  water  after  four  sandwiches  ?  "  bellowed 
the  barkeeper,  angrily. 

"  Yes'r,  water,"  replied  the  tramp.  "I've  been  a 
drinking  o'  it  nigh  onter  forty  years,  and  it's  just  the 
healthiest  stuff  agoin." 

He  was  kicked  clear  into  the  gutter. 

Smith  and  Brown,  running  opposite  ways  around 
a  corner,  strui'k  each  other.  "  Oh,  dear  !  how  you 
made  my  head  ring,"  said  Smith.  "That's  a  sign 
its  hollow,"  said  Brown.  "  But  didn't  your's  ring?" 
"No."  "That's  a  sign  its  cracked,"  replied  his 
friend. 

Make  Twaix,  speaking  of  a  new  mosquito  netting, 
writes  :  "The  day  is  coming  when  we  shall  sit  under 
our  nets  in  church  and  slumber  peacefully,  while  the 
discomfited  flies  club  together  and  take  it  out  of  the 
minister." 

Oi'STEiiS. — As  long  ago  as  1.599,  Butler,  in  Dyct's 
Dry  Dimicr,  wrote :  "  It  is  unreasonable  and  un- 
wholesome, in  all  months  that  have  not  an  R  in  their 
name  to  eat  oysters." 


>VJ0Matic 
ITTER 


«    0 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  attracting  uuiversal  attention  bji  its  astorishing  per- 
formances and  its  great  practical  value  for  every-day  family 
use.  It  knits  every  possil.)le  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  shape  and  finish  to  all  garments.      It  will 

knit  a  pair  oF  socks   in  fifteen  minutes!      Every  machine 

WARKA>'rKI>  perfect,  and  tndo  juKt  what  is  represented. 

A  complete  instruction  book  accompanies  each  machine. 

No.  1  Family  Machine.  1  cylinder,  72  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       "  ■  -'  2        "     72  &  100     "         40, 

A  .sample  iimchine  will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  United 

States  or  Canada,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  express  charges 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Agents  wanted  in  every  State,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  very  liberal  discounts  will  be  made.     Address, 
BICKFORD  KNITTING  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
7-11-tfJ  Sole  Manufacturers,  ISrattleboro,  Vt. 

THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA., 

Breeder  aii<l  Shipper  of 

GnERMYirS!  BUTTER  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


are  the  best  the  world  i>roduces.  They  are  planted  by  a 
million  people  in  Americ;i,  and  the  result  is  beautiful 
Flowers  and  sj  lendid  Vegetables.  A  Priced  Catalogue  sent 
free  to  all  who  inclose  the  postage — a  '2  cent  stamp. 

Vick's  Floral  Guide.  t^»uarierly.  '25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flo'wer  and  Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents;  with 
cloth  covers.  65  cents. 
It]  Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


OiHfASSlRS  WAIfES. 

TO  TAKE  SUB30RIBRES  FOR 

The  La!!i©a§t©r  W^^m^?. 

Farmers'  Sons    and   aiitoc   Young    Men, 
during  their  leisure  hours, 

CAN  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


We  want  a  thorough  canvass  made  of  every  district,  and  will 
pay  good  canvassers  liberally.    Address 

PEARSOL  &  QEIST,  Putlishers, 

7-8  tf  I.AXC.4STER,    PA. 

DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OP 

FAMILY  and  LIME-BURSrUfG  COAI.! 

Orders  reeelved  at 

Office,  No.  15  East  King  street,  "  nd  at  the 
8-l-12m]    Yiri  S )  •.■.      NORTH  PRINCE    STREET. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  AUGUST,  1876. 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  8. 


INSECTS   NEVER   GROW. 

Many  fancy  that  a  little  tly  is  only  little  lie- 
cause  it  is  yodufi,  and  tliat  it  will  ^aow  up  in 
process  of  time  to  be  as  big  as  a  lilue-bottle. 
Now  tliis  is  entirely  wnniR,  for  wlieii  an  insect 
hasonce  attained  to  its  wiiigcd  slateit>j;ro\vsno 
more.  All  the  growing,  and  most  part  nf  the 
eating  is  done  in  its  iirevious  state  of  life,  and 
indeed  there  are  many  insects,  such  as  the  silk 
worm  moth,  which  do  not  eat  at  all  from  thu 
time  tliat  they  assume  the  chrysalis  state  to  the 
time  tliey  die. — Uhaixh  Union. 

"  That's  so" — and  yet  it  is  only  so  in  a  qual- 
ified sense,  for  there  are  some  insects  that 
never  attain  to  a  wiTiged  state  ;  that  is,  tliey 
are  either  totally  wingless,  or  are  so  seldom 
seen  in  that  state,  that  most  i)ersons  never 
know  otherwise  than  that  they  are  wingless 
always.  Especially  is  this  the  case  with  ants, 
lleas,  s|>ring-lails,  and  the  females  of  some  bugs, 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  b.'etles,  moths,  Hies, 
and  all  lice,  as  well  as  many  others.  Although 
it  is  not  strictly  true  that  "insects  never 
grow,"  yet  it  is  true  that  they  never  grow 
after  that  stage  of  development  when  the 
large  body  of  the  insect  world  attain  to  a 
winged  state  ;  but  there  are  some  orders  of  in- 
sects to  which  the  rule  may  be  applied  almost 
universally.  There  is  nothing  that  is  more 
likely  to  leave  a  false  impression  upon  the 
minds  of  the  superficial  on  this  subject  than 
the  appcnriince  that  insects  do  grow  without 
any  qnalitication  whatever — indeed  we  often 
meet  persons  thoroughly  informed  on  many 
other  subjects,  who  suppose  that  the  dilVerent 
sizes  in  insects  of  apparently  the  same  kinds, 
are  indications  of  difierent  ages.  Practically 
there  are  four  more  or  less  directly  marked 
periods  in  the  life  of  insects,  and  are  the  ora, 
or  egg  state ;  the  lar>Hi,  or  worm  state  ;  the 
piqjii,  or  intermediate  state,  and  iiii'iyo,  or 
adult  state  ;  and  in  one  or  the  other  of  these 
states  the  species  are  perpetuated,  or  carried 
over  from  one  season  to  another.  In  beetles, 
butterflies,  moths,  bees,  wasps,  hornets,  flies, 
dragon-flies,  and  some  others,  these  states, 
as  a  general  rule,  are  very  distinctly  marked  ; 
but  they  are  not  so  in  bugs,  cockroaches, 
locusts,  earwings,  grasshop|)ers,  treehoi)pers, 
crickets,  and  a  number  of  others.  In  this 
latitude,  perhaps,  the  one  particular  spe- 
cies (except  the  connuon  house-fly)  which  im- 
presses itself  earliest  and  the  most  indeliljly 
upon  the  minds  of  youth  or  adult  age,  is  the 
common  "  tiunble-hug  "  or  "tumble-dung," 
from  its  habit  of  forming  a  ball  out  of  animal 
excretions,  and  rolling  jt  for  some  distance  be- 
fore burying  it  in  the  earth.  This  is  the  C«?i- 
tkon  iit'ci.s  of  entomologists,  although  there  are 
various  si)eciesof  them.  Now,  from  more  than 
fifty  years  ago,  when  we  made  the  lirst  obser- 
vation, down  to  five  and  thirty  years  ago,  we 
were  under  the  impression  that  the  various 
sizes  of  these  insects,  found  in  the  droiipings 
of  cattle,  were  the  young  and  the  old  of  tlie 
same  specie.s.  For,  had  we  not  over  and  over 
again  deprived  the  industrious  and  persevering 
owners  of  these  l)alls,  opened  them,  and  found 
tlierein  a  small  black  beetle,  approximating  in 
form  to  the  former  pos.ses.sors  of  the  ball,  and 
what  else,  we  thought,  could  they  possibly  be 
if  they  were  not  their  legitimate  offspring? 
These  little  black  beetles,  we  sulweipiently 
learned,  were  not  only  dill'erent  species,  but 
belonged  to  different  genera,  Aiihodius.  Onthn- 
2)li(i(jux  and  others.  Nor  did  tin;  fact  that  we 
sometimes  foun<l  w'ltbin  these  balls  little 
beetles  that  were  not  entirely  black — the 
hinder  half  of  the  body  beinir  mottled  with 
clay  yellow — astonisli  us  any  more  than  that 
we  should  occiisionally  sec  a  robin,  a  catbird, 
or  a  mouse,  that  wiu>  altogether  or  nearly 
white. 

liut  since  then  it  has  been  demonstrated  to 
us  a  thousand  times,  clear  as  the  light  of  the 


living  day,  that  these  beetles  do  not  grow  or 
ac(pnre  any  new  beauty  after  they  have  jussum- 
ed  the  beetle  form— nor  any  other  species  lie- 
longing  to  the  same  order — and  that  all  the 
dilferent  sizes  indicate  dilferent  .sjiecios,  or 
varieties  of  the  same  species.  The  eggs,  how- 
ever, of  some  ius(rts  do  very  perceptibly  in- 
crease in  size,  and  the  larva  or  grub  grows, 
and  sometimes  grows  very  rapidly,  in  all  of 
them.  ]?ut  tlu^'c  is  as  much  dilTereiiec  in  the 
size  of  the  larni  as  there  is  in  the  sizt;  of  the 
beetles  into  which  they  are  suhseipienlly  trans- 
formed. As  a  general  thing  the  m.iture  beetles, 
if  they  feed  on  anything  at  all,  it  is  on  a  dif- 
ferent substance  from  which  the  larva  fed  upon. 
We  may  except  the  carniverous  species,  and 
someT)fthe  cilliYSOMEL.VNS— the  "Colorado 
I>otato  beetles,"  the  "Tortoise  beetles,"  &c., 
&c.,for  instance;  under  any  circunistances, 
however,  it  is  while  they  are  in  the  larva  state 
that  they  increase;  in  size,  or  grow,  and  it  is 
during  that  state  that  the  destructive  kinds  are 
the  most  destructive.  Tjike  active  and  hungry 
boys,  they  are  always  hungry  and  can  always 
eat.  Indeed,  childhood  and  youth  may  be  ap- 
propriately regarded  as  the  larval  period  of 
manhood,  and  the  future  perfection  of  the  in- 
sect deiiends  as  much  upon  a  i)lcntiful  supply 
of  healthy  food  as  the  physical  perfection  of 
manhood  dei>ends  upon  proper  food  and  physi- 
cal training  whilst  in  the  boy  state.  During 
the  jiupii  or  intermediate  state,  beetliw  eat 
nothing.  Some  eat  nothing,  or  next  to  not  hing, 
in  the  im'iijo  state;  but  others  eat  fruit,  foliage, 
pollen,  flowers,  and  the  predaceous  kinds  feed 
on  carrion  or  other  small  insects,  grubs,  water 
animals,  or  fishes,  &c.,  &c. 

The  larva  of  butterflies  and  moths,  which 
are  known  under  the  names  of  caterpillars, 
cut-worms,  sphinxes,  or  simply  worms,  all 
grow  ;  and  in  many  instances  grow  very  rap- 
idly ;  and  during  that  period  feed  very  raven- 
ously, eating  their  own  bulk  and  weight  in  a 
single  day  ;  but  after  they  have  assumed  the 
butterfly  and  motli  forms  they  never  grow 
.any.  They  not  only  do  not  grow,  but  they 
acquire  no  new  beauties,  but  rather  lose  their 
original  beauty  the  older  they  get,  and  we 
often  see  them  awkwardly  flitting  about  in 
faded  and  tattered  garment?,  dilapidated  car- 
icatures of  their  former  .selves.  The  best  speci- 
mens obtained  by  entomologists,  are  those 
which  are  bred  under  their  own  personal  su- 
])ervision.  Therefore,  all  the  different  sizes  of 
these  insects  we  sec,  are  indications  of  ditTiu"- 
ent  species,  except,  as  before  stated,  the  dilfer- 
ent varieties  or  sizes  in  the  same  species,  which 
may  have  Ijcen  caused  by  contingencies  be- 
yond the  control  of  the  insects,  such  as  stinted 
food,  inferior  (luality  of  the  food,  or  unfriend- 
ly weather  and  surroundings.  In  no  other 
r>i'(?fr  of  insects,  universally  Considered,  is  there 
a  more  marked  distinction  in  form  and  habits 
— l)etween  the  larva,  the  pup  (,  and  the  iiiiarjii 
— than  there  is  in  that  which  includes  th(;  but- 
terflies and  moths.  T]u'larv(i'  are  ma.sli<;ating 
animals,  thepiyw'are  (piiescent  and  fixed,  and 
the  «(ia;/rc  are  suctorial  in  their  feeding  habits. 
In  the  order  Dqilera,  or  two-winged  (lies,  the 
ca.se  is  the  same,  that  is,  they  do  not  grow- 
after  they  have  assumed  the  form  of  a  fly,  not- 
withstanding the  great  variety  in  the  sizes  of 
the  masses  that  are  sometimes  found  congre- 
gated together,  may  appear  as  if  they  were 
young  and  old,  but  it  is  only  an  ujipiarancc, 
for,  in  reality,  tlie  smallest  fly  may  happen  to 
be  the  oldest,  and  virc  versa.  It  is  the  same 
in  offers  mentioned  and  umnentioned,  alter 
they  have  acquired  wings,  namely,  they  do  not 
grow.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  fore- 
goina  the  larvie  are  excluded  from  the  eggs  in 
the  form  of  grubs,  worms,  cateriiillars,  mag- 
gots, &c.,  some  entirely  footless,  and  others 
having  from  six  to  twenty-two  feet  ;  but  in 
those  which  follow,  the  larva  come  from  the 


eggs  in  the  form  of  the  mature  insects— or 
nearly  so— lacking  only  the  wings  ;  having  the 
usual  six  feet,  the  m.ilidibulated  or  suctorial 
mouths  the  same,  in  all  their  states  of  transi- 
tion, and  feed  throughout  the  entire  peritMls 
of  their  lives;  and  conseriuently  liave  no  (jui- 
esc(!nt  period,  but  are  as  iictive  and  dastruc- 
tive  in  one  state  ius  they  are  in  the  otlicr.  In 
these  it  may  appt^ar  to  the  novice  that  insects 
dngrow,  from  the  fact  that  he  may  not  l»e  able 
to  distinguish  between  larva,  pupa  and  imago, 
but  even  in  these  they  do  not  grow  after  they 
get  wings,  although  some  of  fliem  never  attain 
those  a|)pendages,  whether  they  are  miles  or 
females,  ov  whether  they  are  old  or  young. 

(Jrilsshoppers  (tnic),  locusts,  ami  crickets, 
for  instance,  have  the  same  number  anil  the 
same  formed  limbs  when  youngth'^y  ever  have, 
and  can  hop  from  thi!  moment  they  leave  the 
eggs.  This  is  the  same  in  reg.ard  to  tin;  true 
bugs-,  the  tree-hoppers,  the  false  locusts,  and 
approximately  many  othcn's  that  do  not  hop. 
Therefore,  to  say  that  "  Insectsdo  not  grow," 
without  any  (pialilication  whatever,  would  not 
be  credited  by  tho.se  who  may  have  the  demon- 
stration before  their  eyes  daily,  that  they  do 
grow ;  so  little  are  the  mas.ses  of  the  i>e"ople 
acciLstomed  to  observe  and  consider  in.sects 
with  reference  to  the  different  stages  of  their 
develoiunent.  liut,  it  nevertheless  is  strictly 
true,  that  insects  do  not  grow  after  they  have 
emerged  from  the  intermediate  or  pupa  state, 
whether  they  have  wings  or  not.  They  not 
only  do  not  increase  in  size,  but  they  acipiiro 
no  new  instincts,  nor  do  they  ;icquire  any  new 
colors  or  new  beauties  ;  but,  on  th((  contrary, 
many  of  them  almost  immediately  after  their 
final  transf(n'mation,  begin  to  lose  the  colors 
.and  beauties  they  originally  h.ad. 

In  conclusion,  we  may  state  that  where  we 
have  used  the  terms  locust  and  (n«e  locust,  we 
do  not  allude  to  the  iiusect  which  has  wrongly 
received  the  popular  name  of  liKiu<t  in  tlio 
United  States,  and  which  we  have  denominat- 
ed -.i  false  locust.  We  allude  to  what  is  po|)U- 
larly  called  a  grasshopper.  There  seems,  how- 
ever, little  u.se  now  in  explaining  the  dis- 
tinction between  true  and  false  locusts,  because 
the  min<ls  of  the  masses  seem  set  in  a  wrong 
direction  on  that  subject,  and  it  is  (juestiona- 
ble  whether  they  will  ever  get  right  on  it.  If 
a  knowledge  of  the  distinction  and  compli.ance 
therewith  were  made  the  basis  of  .salvation  in 
this  Union,  hardly  one  in  a  thousiiud  could 
possibly  be  saved. — El). 


A  NEW    PEST. 


A  new  enemy  of  the  farmer's  has  made  its 
appearance  in  the  shape  of  a  small  worm, 
which  infests  the  clover  bloss'ims,  eating  them 
off,  and  thus  preventing  the  production  of 
seed.  Mr.  I'aul  Halliet,  of  Ballietsville,  I'a.. 
brought  a  lot  of  clover  to  town,  which  he  hau 
gathered  on  his  way  hither.  Some  of  the 
blo.ssoms  were  entirely  filled  with  these  worms, 
and  the  others  more  or  less  so.  These  worms 
are  a  nuich  greater  pest  and  more  dangcntus 
than  the  potato  bug,  from  the  fact  that  they 
are  .so  small  as  to  be  hardly  discernible,  and 
complete  their  ravages  before  they  can  lie  dis- 
covered. It  is  said  that  in  Berks  county  acres 
of  clover  fields  have  been  visited  by  these 
Worms,  and  that  fears  are  entertained  of  a 
total  failure  of  the  clover  crop. — Eastoii  Free 
Press. 

The  above  pai-agraph  has  appeared  in  several 
papers  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania  ; 
but  if  the  in.sect  referred  to  has  m.Kle  its  ai>- 
pearance  in  I>anca.stcr  county,  it  has  thus  far 
not  come  to  our  knowledge.  There  is  some- 
thing very  indefinite,  however,  instating  that 
an  insect  "in  the  .shai>e  of  a  small  worm  "  is 
destroying  the  clover,  especially  since  there 
are  so  many  thousiuids  of  worms,  of  different 


414 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[August, 


shapes  anil  sizes,  wl  idi  dejirediite  iipfii  \ei;e- 
tation.  AVc  regret,  tlierefore,  that  we  are  un- 
able to  sii^'gest  witli  any  kind  of  certainty 
what  the  insect  may  be,  and  what  would  l)e 
the  best  remedy  to  destroy  it. 

It  has  just  oeeurred  to  us,  however,  that 
possibly  this  may  be  the  earlier  stage  of  the 
"  clover-woim,"  which  is  so  destructive  to 
hay  when  it  is  in  the  mow  or  stacl<ed.  Accord- 
ing to  Wali-h,  in  the  Prarticnl  Entrminlogist, 
Vol.  1,  p]).  H-2 — 815,  a  "clover-worm  "  had  ap- 
peared in  the  Wist  as  early  as  Dec.  2.'),  18151  ; 
and  Harris  also  refcired  to  a  similar  insect,  at 
an  earlier  period,  in  various  jiarts  of  tlie  coun- 
try, (Inj.  In.  p.  4.")()).  Neither  Harris,  Walsh, 
or  any  other  writer,  up  to  IBtiO  seemed  to  know 
to  what  (inlfr  the  clover  worm  to  whicli  they 
alluded,  belonged,  for  it  appears  that  most,  if 
not  all,  of  their  knowledge  was  gathered  from 
casual  observers,  or  from  newspaper  para- 
graphs similar  to  Uie  above. 

Piof.  Kiley,  however,  succeeded  inbreeding 
the  "tly  "  of  the  clover  worms  sent  to  him  in 
1808  or  ISCili,  and  he  accordingly  published  a 
brief  notice  of  the  insects,  and  also  most  ex- 
cellent illustrations  of  alLtheir  stages  of  devel- 
opment, hirra,  pupn,  cocoon  and  imaijo,  on  p. 
220  of  the  Ariicriian  Entomologist,  Vol.  1, 
(July,  1809). 

And  on  pp.  102  to  107  in  his  "  Si.xth  Annual 
Report  on  the  Noxious,  Beneficial  and  other 
Insects  of  the  State  of  Missouri,"  he  repeats 
the  illu.strations,  with  a  more  extended  history 
of  "The  ClovekHay  Wohm — Asojjia cnsta- 
lis — (Fab),"  but  still  not  illustrating  entirely 
satisfactorily  when  and  where  the  eggs  are  de- 
posited, and  the  infant  state  of  the  larva;  is 
passed.  The  above  extract  from  the  Free  Press 
does  not  contain  the  first  intimation  of  the  size, 
form  and  color  of  the  "small  worms"  infesting 
the  clover  in  the  fields  while  it  was  green  ;  but, 
unfortunately,  so  superficial  are  the  observa- 
tions that  are  usually  made,  and  so  indifferent 
are  even  those  who  sutler,  that  it  is  rarely  they 
will  take  the  trouble  to  collect  specimens  and 
send  them  to  those  who  are  supposed  to  know 
something  about  them,  and  therefore,  we  have 
not  yet  been  foilunatc  enough  to  receive  any 
of  them,  hence  our  observations  on  this  occa- 
sion nmst  lie  more  or  less  conjectural. 

Neither  was  a  hay-woiiii  new  to  us  in  Har- 
ris' and  Walsh's  tirai^,  for  as  early  as  the  win- 
ter of  1820,  when  we  w^re  aboy-of-all-work  on 
a  farm,  we  knew  of  a  case  where  the  hay  in  the 
lower  part  of  a  mow  was  altogether  unlit  for 
feed  on  account  of  worms,  their  webs,  and 
their  fceces.  Again,  in  1844or  '4")  we  hapi)eiied 
to  be  jiresent  in  the  mouth  of  February  or 
March,  where  a  small  stack  of  hay  wasrcmoved 
and  the  lower  layers  were  rejected  on  account 
of  the  worms  and  debris  they  contained. 

But  as  we  were  then  only  coleoplerally  in- 
clined, and  said  worms  were  not  hedles,  we 
paid  no  special  attention  to  them.  We,  how- 
ever, are  impressed  that  the  stack  was  com- 
posed of  clover-hay. 

In  regard  to  the  remedy,  we  do  not  think 
the  precaution  fif  not  using  an  old  foundation 
or  an  old  mow  for  a  new  stack,  or  a  newmfiw 
of  hay  would  make  any  difference,  for  liy  the 
time  these  were  made  all  thelarvie  of  the  pre- 
vious season  would  have  been  transformed  to 
the  moth  state,  and  have  abandoned  the  prem- 
ises. It  would  be  less  difficult  ihv  us  to  believe 
that  the  larvie  had  been  carried  to  the  stack  or 
the  mow  from  the  field  while  they  were  yet 
young  and  too  small  to  be  readilj'  observed, 
and  then  to  have  worked  themselves  down 
through  the  interstices  into  the  lower  layers  of 
the  hay  where  the  conditions  for  their  develop- 
ment would  be  longest  continued,  than  for  the 
winged  moths  to  creep  in  and  deposit  their  eggs 
in  tlie  very  centre  of  the  mass.  If  w-e  could 
have  obtained  specimens  of  these  larvse  on  the 
green  clover  heads,  and  ascertained  that  they 
were  Lepidopterous,  it  would  have  gone  far  to 
confirm  us  in  this  view  ;  as  it  is,  we  can  ouly 
throw  out  these  suggestions  for  the  assistance 
of  further  fibservations. 

Moreover,  it  is  not  unusual  for  larvae  in  their 
earlier  .stages  to  feed  on  tender  substances,  and 
afterwards  to  appropriate  that  which  is  more 
rigid.     We  have  seen  this  illustrated  on  several 


occasions  with  the  "  White  lined  amiy  worm" 
(LiKaniu  alhiUneu)  which  certainly  feeds  on 
the  lilades  of  the  wheat  and  other  iilants,  early 
in  the  season,  and  when  the  heads  appear,  to 
mount  the  stalk  and  feed  on  them,  even  after 
the  grains  are  ri[)e,  and  as  hard  as  rice,  where 
they  needed  it  to  fully  develop  their  larval 
condition. 

Mr.  Lin ville  informed  us  that  last  year  when 
he  removi  d  his  wheat  shocks  to  haul  them  to 
the  stack,  be  conlil  have  gathered  up  the  debris, 
comiiosed  of  chatV,  ])ellets,  and  broken  grains 
of  wheat,  by  the  quart,  at  each  shock. 

Not  l"i\(  wivij  the  classic  stahis  of  the  insect 
alluded  to  in  our  extract,  we  refrain  from  offer- 
ing a  remedy  at  this  time. — Ed. 


A  NEW  ENEMY   IN  THE    CORN    CROP. 

"  A  new  enemy  to  the  growing  crop  of  corn 
has  been  discovered  this  si)ring,  which  is  com- 
mitting considerable  destruction  in  some  sec- 
tions in  the  neighborhood  of  Reading,  Pa.  It 
is  a  peculiar  black  worm  which  can  scarcely  be 
crushed  on  the  loose  earth,  as  it  is  encased  in 
a  suit  of  armor  difficult  to  break.  They  ojier- 
ate  in  the  corn  hills  l)y  eating  off  the  young 
plants.  As  many  as  fen  or  twelve  worms  are 
found  in  one  hill.  The  cut-worm  has  hitherto 
been  a  great  annoyance-,  but  this  new  pest  is 
said  to  be  even  more  destructive.  In  some 
tovMiships  farmers  are  busy  replanting  eoni- 
tields  thiit  have  been  thus  devastated.  Paris 
green  has  been  found  to  be  as  efficacious  in  ex- 
terminating these  worms  as  it  is  in  destroying 
the  potato  bug.  Powdered  white  hellebore 
also  is  said  to  be  very  effectual." — Christian 
at   Work. 

From  the  peculiar  texture  of  the  worm  al- 
luded to  in  the  above  paragraph,  we  infer  the 
writer  refers  to  a  species  of  "  click-beetle" 
(Ei.ATERiD^)  in  its lar\'al condition.  Thisis, 
however,  not  a  -nev)  enemy  l)y  any  means,  for 
we  have,  years  ago,  lioth  heard  of,  and  seen  it, 
so  engaged — not  only  destroying  the  young 
com,  but  also  the  young  wheat. 

This  is  probably  a  .species  of  Zabrus,  aUhongh 
from  the  above  vague  descrii)tion,  it  would  be 
impossible  for  us  to  locate  it  sjiecitially.  Ac- 
cording to  Curtis  there  are  several  species  of 
Elateridans  which  depredate  upon  the  grow- 
ing crops,  and  especially  the  wheat  crop  ;  and 
on  the  continent  of  Europe  and  in  England, 
have  produced  serious  mischief  It  aiijiears 
that  these  insects  are  usually  hidden  during 
the  day,  and  come  forth  and  attack  the  corn 
and  wilt  at  during  the  night,  and  it  is  alleged 
that  where  crows  and  blackbirds  are  charged 
with  destroying  the  corn  while  it  is  in  the 
ground,  it  is  these  insects  that  they  are  in  pur- 
suit of.  From  this  it  will  be  iierceived  how  im- 
portant it  is  for  farmers  to  make  thorough  and 
practical  observations  on  the  haliits  of  the  in- 
sects which  attack  their  growing  crops. 

Quite  as  often  have  we  had  a  black  species 
of  "snout-beetle"  (CiircuHonida')  avnt  to  us, 
which  it  had  been  stated  were  detected  jireyiiig 
upon  the  roots  of  the  grain  and  the  corn.  This 
is  the  iSjjIiriioijhorus  2(«,  of  naturalists,  which, 
however,  has  been  known  to  only  attack  the 
grain  while  the  insect  was  in  its  iierfect  state. 
The  larrtp.  of  that  genus  are  usually  found  in 
dead  and  decaying  wood.  None  of  these  in- 
sects, so  far  as  we  liave  V>een  able  to  learn,  have 
yet  been  very  destructive  to  the  crops  of  Lan- 
caster county,  but  we  see  no  reason  why  they 
may  not  lie  eventually,  unless  some  means  are 
discovered  to  destroy  them. 

■WHERE   THE   POTATO   BUGS   GO. 

Now  that  the  potato  bug  is  disappearing  from 
Lancaster  count}',  the  following  item  may  be 
of  interest:  A  day  or  two  ago  a  party  of  gen- 
tlemen fishing  near  the  middle  of  I.,ong  Island 
Sound,  saw  great  (]ua.ntities  of  potato  bugs 
covering  the  surface  of  the  water  as  far  tm  tiic 
eye  could  reach.  Every  floating  article,  as  well 
as  the  water,  was  packed  withtliein,  and  manj' 
were  clinging  to  eel  grass  and  seaweed  under 
the  water.  The  wind  was  lilowing  from  the 
south,  and  had  iirobably  carried  them  from  the 
island,  and  they  were  being  wafted  toward  the 
Connecticut  shore.     Lilaud  on  the  island  the 


bugs  appear  to  be  increasing  in  numljers,  and 
the  potato  vines  being  dry,  they  have  attacked 
the  egg  plants,  pepper  jilaiits,  aiid  tomato  vines. 

TIk'  above  is  near  akin  to  our  own  observa- 
tion and  exiierience,  as  to  "  AVhere. the  Potato 
Bugs  Go. "  Wc  sjient  the  last  week  in  .July, 
1875,  on  a  fishing  excursion  to  the  "  Delaware 
Breakwater,"  in  the  lower  end  of  the  State  of 
Delaware,  and  while  there,  we  took  occasional 
strolls  along  the  beach  in  search  of  ol)jects  of 
r(rtu.  On  ftue  occasion  our  stroll  was  pro- 
longed to  some  six  or  seven  miles  along  the 
Atlantic  beach— froru  the  Ijight-IIouse  to  the 
"  Beacon,"  on  the  extreme  point  of  Capellen- 
lopen.  Among  other  things,  we  picked  up 
many  specimens  of  Coleo])terous,  Neuroiiter- 
ous,  and  Hy  meuopterous  insects,  that  had  lieen 
cast  in  a  waved  line  on  the  beach  for  nearly  the 
whole  distance,  and  among  these  insects,  by 
far  the  most  numerous,  were  the  "Colorado 
potato-lieetles."  We  are  quite  sure  there  was 
not  a  iiotato  field  within  three  miles  of  the 
farthest  outward  jioint,  nor  was  there  any  in- 
tervening spot  that  exhibited  any  thing  but 
.sand,  iiebbles,  and  weather-worn  shells — ex- 
cept here  and  there  tufts  and  )'atchesof  tough 
and  wiry  grass,  but  no  beetles  were  found  upon 
them.  Some  of  these  beetles  were  still  alive, 
but  most  of  them  were  dead,  and  every  suc- 
ceeding wave  that  lashed  the  beach  brought 
in  scores  of  insects.  There  were  twice  as  many 
potato-beetles  as  all  other  kinds  ])ut  together. 
They  evidently  had  been  eastward  bound,  drop- 
ped into  the  ocean,  and  were  brouglit  back  by 
the  returning  waves.  We  may  infer  also  that 
many  never  reached  the  shore  again  from 
which  they  had  made  their  departure,  but 
were  gobbled  up  by  the  fishes  that  some- 
times plentifully  inhabit  those  waters.  Nor 
is  this  all :  some  distance  up  the  Bay, 
and  nearer  the  town  of  "Lewes,"  there 
is  a  trussel  work — called  the  "Pier" — 
which  extends  a  quarter  of  a  mile  out  into 
Delaware  Bay,  uiion  which  is  a  railroad  track, 
upon  which  the  cars  of  the  .function  Railroad 
daily  run  to  discharge  their  cargoes  into  sail- 
ing vessels  and  steamboats  that  periodically 
leave  the  outer  end  of  the  pier  for  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Boston,  Baltimore  and  other 
points.  In  the  morning  and  the  evening,  when 
less  commercial  activity  reigns,  the  pier  is 
esteemed  a  capital  place  to  fish.  Well,  all 
along  this  pier,  from  the  shore  to  the  extreme 
outer  end,'  the  ubiquitous  potato-beetle  was 
l)resent,  and  at  the  outer  end  far  more  numer- 
ous than  nearer  shore.  The  State  of  Delaware 
at  the  time  was  full  of  these  lieetles,  from  one 
end  to  the  other.  The  fruit-growers  were 
shipping  their  jieaches  to  market,  and  every 
cargo  In'oiight  down  from  the  interior  also 
brought  down  a  goodly  number  of  the  beetles, 
and  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  the^'  should 
be  carried  aboard  of  the  waiting  vessels  and 
transported  to  other  parts  of  this  country,  if 
not  to  Europe.  Still,  the  Atlantic  coast  is 
their  eastern  limit,  except  the  few  that  may 
etfect  a  clandestine  passage  to  other  localities 
on  board  of  the  coasting  vessels.  They  seem 
to  lie  all  eastward  bound  ;  therefore,  the  fiirm- 
ers  occupying  a  belt  of  a  few  miles  wide,  run- 
ning iiariillel  with  the  Atlantic  coast,  are 
likely  to  have  their  bands,  eventually,  full  of 
tbeni,  unless  they  wage  a  vigilant  and  exter- 
iniiKiting  war  against  them.  They  do  not 
seem  to  be  content  with  this  belt,  hence  they 
drop  into  the  ocean  and  perish. 

Although  the  Colorado  potato-beetle  appear- 
ed iu  greater  numbers  early  last  spring  than 
they  did  at  any  former  period  siuce  their  ad- 
vent into  the  county  of  Lancaster,  yet  the  gen- 
eral croi)  has  suffered  very  little,  comiiara- 
tively,  either  in  (|uantity  or  quality.  Early 
vigorous  hand-picking,  and  later  applications 
of  Paris  green,  proved  effective  extinguishers 
of  them,  AVlien  farmers,  heretofore  deliaiit 
or  indifferent,  came  into  town  and  purchased 
ten  to  twenty  pounds  of  the  best  Paris  green 
at  a  time,  we  felt  that  their  action  "  meant 
business,"  and  the  result  has  been  a  satisfac- 
tory one,  and  no  doubt  ;3rt)/.s.  Perhaps  when 
the  beetles  find  that  they  cannot  get  any 
farther  eastward  than  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
when  they  have  eaten  up  aU  that  is  suited  to 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


Irl5 


their  taste  thrre — vinlcss  they  iire  drowned  in 
the  ocean,  or  greened  to  di'ath  Ijy  tlic  f'arnicrs 
ill  that  liart  of  tile  coiiiitry— they  may  take  a 
notion  to  return  to  tlie  fertile  parts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  bnt  let  them  eonie,  our  farnieis  have 
learned  soniethinj^,  and  will  know  how  to  meet 
them,  if  they  prolit  by  the  h'ssims  they  have 
already  Uiarned.  Under  any  einnnnstanees, 
the  potato-beetle  is  eomiuL;  to  be  reKar<led  as 
a  permanent  iroudition  or  fixture  in  afjrieul- 
ture,  that  must  bi^  pnivided  for  as  essentially 
iis  plowing,  planting  and  enllivatint;,  in  order 
to  se.cm-e  a  crop.  Thi'y  are  no  longer  regarded 
as  a  mere  incidental,  that  may  or  may  not 
occur,  or  can  be  with  impunity  neglected.  It 
is  sometimes  astonishing  wliat  importance  the 
subject  has  assumed,  and  with  what  interest 
tile  beetles  are  inquired  about — fully  as  much 
as  that  which  attaches  to  the  state  of  the 
weather,  or  any  other  contingency,  present  or 
prospective. 

Potato  Beetle  Progress. 
Reports  show  that  the  Colorado  potato 
beetle  is  committing  very  serious  injury  along 
the  Atlantic  ocean.  The  tanners  of  Long 
Island  more  particularly  have  snlT  red  .seven^- 
ly,  the  insects  getting  into  hot-l)eds  and  de- 
stroying tomato  and  egg  ))lants.  L;ust  fall, 
before  going  into  winter  ipiarters,  the  beetles 
swarmed  on  Coney  Isl.iTid  and  other  portions 
of  the  coast.  Meeting  the  Atlantic,  the  tirst 
serious  obstacle  to  its  eastward  march  since  it 
left  its  Ilocky  Mountain  home,  this  insect  will 
naturally  accumulate  along  the  coast,  and  for 
a  few  years  will  probably  be  more  injurious 
for  200  or  3(H)  miles  north  and  south  of  New 
York,  than  it  has  been  in  any  |>arl  of  the  coun- 
try. It  will  be  well,  therefore,  for  gardeners  and 
potato  growers  to  prepare  for  it,  and  to  en- 
deavor to  co-operate  in  their  work  against  it. 
The  Paris  green  mixture  (one  part  of  pure 
green  to  twenty-tlve  or  thirty  of  some  dilutent) 
is  the  best  and  cheapest  antidote  against  its 
ravages,  and  experience  and  experiment  have 
proven  it  a  perfectly  safe  remedy  where  cau- 
tiously used.  Concerted  and  persistent  eifort 
at  this  season  to  destroy  the  lirst  beetles  will 
render  subsequent  work  all  the  easier. 

THE  VEGETABLE  CATERPILLAR. 

"  The  moth  from  whose  eggs  are  produced 
this  caterpillar,  is  of  the  genus  Sphinx,  and  is 
named  by  the  New  Zealandcrs,  Pc^x'.  [ts  pei'ioil 
of  life  is  from  November  to  December — the 
commencement  of  sunnner  in  this  country. 
About  the  end  of  the  eighth  or  the  beginning 
of  the  ninth  month,  this  caterpillar  buries 
itself  in  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  live  or  six 
inches,  previous  to  assuming  the  chrysalis  form  ; 
and  it  is  a  singular  fact,  that  the,  in.«ect  de- 
scends into  its  subterranean  hiding-place  with 
its  hindpart  downwards.  In  the  .second  month 
of  the  fiillowiiig  year  small  reed-like  plants 
about  three  or  four  inches  high,  may  Ije  seen 
growing  in  great  numbers  from  the  groimd 
under  the  shade  of  the  ratd  trees  ;  this  plant 
being  du,;  ui>  carefully  is  found  to  grow  out  of 
the  heail  of  the  caterpillar  just  desci'ibed, 
which,  however,  no  longer  possessesany  vital 
ity  ;  for,  cutting  into  its  bo<ly,  it  is  found  to 
consist  of  a  tough,  whitish  substance,  similar 
to  a  fungus.  In  the  tenth  month  the  reed-like 
plant  dies  away,  but  springs  up  again  the  fol- 
lowing year,  dying  away  again  in  the  tenth 
month,  and  sending  out  a  fresh  shoot  yearly 
for  three  or  lour  years,  probably  till  all  the 
animal  matter  supplied  by  the  caterpillar  has 
been  consumed." — I.  M.  McOmn,  in  Fan. 
J<Hir, 

Time  was  when  records  of  the  foregoing 
character  were  j-egarded  by  tlu^  learned  with 
indifference,  ridicule,  or  "  laughed  to  scorn," 
although  there  must  have  been  some  data  for 
their  record,  and  some  faith  in  their  truthful- 
ness; notwithst.inding  they  may  have  been 
much  exaggerated.  No  phenomena  of  the  kind 
have  ever  come  under  our  own  observation, 
but  several  printed  accounts  of  them  have. 
The  first  that  we  can  recall  is  a  case  where  a 
sort  of  a  fungus  plant  was  said  to  have  grown 
out  of  the  limb  of  a  patient — somewhere  be- 
tween the  knee  and  the  heel — in  the  ea-stern 


part  of  tliis  county.  This  account,  with  an 
accompanying  illustration,  was  published  in  a 
local  journal,  about  thirty-live  years  ago,  but 
it  seemi'd  to  l)e  so  mneh  of  a  tax  upon  our 
creilulily  thiM),  that  we  sulTeicrl  it  to  \i;isn  en- 
tirely unheeded.  We  thiidv  the  plant,  in  two 
branches,  was  said  to  have  grown  to  the  height 
of  about  three  inches,  and  asthi<:ka,sa  clay 
liipe-stem.  The  second  account  which  came 
to  our  notice,  w:is  pnblishid  in  a  magazine  is- 
sue<l  in  Cincinnati  about  the  year  1S,")(),  as  near 
as  we  can  recollect,  but  We  Siiw  it  in  lSi;:{,  and 
for  the  same  reason  we  could  not  attach  any 
credit  to  it — namely,  it  seemed  too  prepo.ster- 
ons.  We  ranked  it  with  the  famous  "Goo.se- 
tree,"  of  two  lunidred  years  ago,  and  recently 
reproduced  in  "  I'raetieal  S(>i(!uce,"  ;us  a  relic 
of  the  superstitions  of  England  in  "  ye  ol<len 
times."  In  this  Cincinnati  account  the  phe- 
nomenon was  said  to  liaveoccinred  in  or  near 
Covington,  Ky.,  and  tin;  plant  was  said  to 
have-grown  out  of  the  body  of  an  insei't,  shaped 
sometiiing  like  a  grasshopper  ;  and  insects  of 
the  same  kind  were  produced  by  th(!  plant, 
drop])e(l  into  the  soil,  and  from  the.se  other 
l)lants  grew  nj)  like  the  parent.  We  returned 
the  volume  containing  the  account  to  the 
owner,  without  making  any  use  of  it,  who  has 
since  dieil,  and  the  work  has  become  inaccessi- 
ble. With  all  these  seemingly  extravagant 
narrations  there  may  have  been  the  shadow  of 
truth  as  the  foundation  for  them. 

On  pages  77,  01,  IWOand  207  of  {hn  American 
EntomaJorjiM,  vol.  1,  are  "'replies  to  corres- 
pondents," giving  accountsof  a  "  White  Ontb 
i^(()i(/i(.s, "  or  "a  plant  growing  out  of  an  in- 
sect," by  the  editors,  Messrs.  Walsh  and  Riley, 
and  as  these  white  grubs  were  .sent  to  the 
otlice  by  dilferent  correspondents,  and  from 
different  localities,  and  moreover  by  persons 
entitled  to  credit,  the  cases  seem  uncpiestion- 
able.  Prof.  Riley  has  also  an  article  on  the 
.same  subject  commencing  on  page  IW  of  his 
tirst  annu.al  report  on  the  "Noxious,  J5(!neneial 
and  other  Insects"  of  the  State  of  Missouri, 
18()0.  This  article  and  those  on  pi).  ISO  and 
2(J7  of  the  Enlrimologi.'it  are  illustrated  ;  in  one 
instance,  exhibiting  a  "white  grub  worm" 
(the  larva  of  Liirhiio.stcmn  ifwrcina)  with  two 
fungus  plants  growing  out  of  its  head  fully 
live  inches  in  length  ;  and  while  this  phenom- 
enon was  yet  new  to  white  people,  according 
to  Win.  II.  Edwards,  the  well-known  Lepidop- 
terist,  it  was  very  familiar  to  the  Virginia 
negroes,  who  dug  them  up  by  dozens  right  be- 
fore their  masters'  eyes.  Some  of  these  fungi 
were  of  a  greenish  and  others  of  a  whitish 
color,  but  all  growing  in  two  sprouts  out  of 
the  heads  of  the  above  named  grubs,  or  allied 
species,  and  they  are  all  too  well  authenticat- 
ed to  admit  of  a  doubt.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  eggs  of  these  insects  are  deposited  in  the 
ground,  by  what  is  popularly  known  as  the 
brown  "  May-beetl(\"  <ir  "June-bug,"  but 
how  it  hapiiens  that  the  fungus  grows  just  un- 
der such  circumstances,  or  how  it  further 
propagates  itself,  is  not  clearly  known.  It 
appears  fiom  the  accounts  given,  that  Prof. 
Riley  liad  subsecpieutly  .some  of  them  growing 
in  his  garden,  hut  the  linal  result,  so  far  as  we 
know,  has  not  been  published.  Hut  t/ircf  were 
the  grubs,  their  yellowish  heads,  their  six  feet, 
their  segmental  divisions,  and  their  large  ter- 
minal segment,  so  characteristic  of  the  larva 
of  the  Melolonthons.  The  spores  of  the  fun- 
gus seem  to  have  taken  root  in  the  grubs  (hut 
why  always  growing  from  the  heail  is  not 
known)  and  after  they  are  properly  grown  the 
whole  body  of  the  worm  becomes  of  the  con- 
sistence of  the  plant,  and  has  the  fungus  smell. 
D<iubt!ess  the  fatty  matter  of  t  his  grub  is  favor- 
able to  the  germination  and  growth  of  this 
kind  of  fungus.     Is  it  not  wonderful  ¥ 


ANSWERS  TO  CORRESPONDENTS. 

Mr.  R..  LiincaMer. — Your  lish  probably  be- 
longs to  tile  ScLKKODKitMi,  a  family  of  Iwhcs 
with  iiard  or  granulated  skins.  We  have 
neitheran  illustrati(m  norasi)eci(icdescripti(m 
of  it,  and  therefore  cannot  locate  it,  excei)t  on 
the  merest  ))robability.  It  makes  some  ap- 
proach  to   the   "Trunk-lishes,"   (Oslrucion). 


We  found  a.specinien  at  the  Delaware  Break- 
water about  a  year  ago,  somediMlance  in  from 
the  bea<Ii,  less  ill  si'/.e,  and  darker  in  color  than 
yours,  which  the  local  lishi'mien  called  ail 
"Oyster-cracker,"  others  called  it  a  "Sea-jxH-- 
cupine,"  ami  otliera  a  "Lump-lish."  As  wo 
have  not  access  to  a  scieiuilii'  description  of  it 
at  this  time,  therefore  this  must  sulii<:e. 

./.  .1/.  ir.,  LannitUr,  Pa.— The.  hirge  l>alo 
green  moth,  with  the  white  <lowny  Ixxly,  the 
fi-athered  antinna,  the  long  swallow-tails,  and 
the  moon-shaped  spots  on  its  front  and  hind 
wings,  expanding  abimt  livi-anil  a  half  inches, 
is  the  "American  Lunar  .Moth"  ( .iHa'i(.s  htna.) 
It  is  very  pretty,  and  although  never  abundant 
yet  it  is  not  rare— indeed,  rather  common  in 
this  locality. 

.S'.  A.,  L-irvn^ler,  Pa. — The gnipo  leaf  wliich 

you  sent  us  (Clinton,  W(!  think.)  and  which  is 
covered  .all  over  on  the  under  side  with  IuImt- 
cular  galls,  is  infested  with  the  great  French 
I>lague  Plii/llirMTa  rristalrix — or  "(Jrapeleaf 
Phylloxera,"  and  as  each  littlir  gall  contains 
a  n'umlier  of  eggs  we  would  recoinnu-nd  you  to 
pluck  olT  every  inf>-sled  leaf  on  your  viin.'S,  and 
.scalil  them,  or  burn  Ihem  imm  iliately.  This 
same  insect  also  infests  tlii^  roots  of  tin;  grape 
vines,  and  it  is  there  where  it  hits  done  so  much 
damage  to  the  vineyanls  of  Euro|>e  and 
especially  those  of  Fiance.  For  a  more  de- 
taih-d  historyof  it  look  ovitr.soineof  the  volumes 
of  The  Fau.mei;  (irevions  to  1875. 

F.  D.,  Lancaster,  Pa.. — The  very  sinf^ular 
ash-gray  worm,  with  bru.shes  of  diverging  hairs 
along  the  sides,  and  the  black  velvi^ty  .stripe 
across  the  forepart  of  tlie  Iwdy,  Is  the  "lurrtF  of 
a  rare  species  of  Caloaila,  one  of  the  moths 
commonly  called  the  red,  yellow,  blue  or  black 
"I'nderwings. "  You  say  you  found  it  adhering 
to  the  branch  of  a  ]>ea(h  tree,  but  we  are  not 
prepare(l  to  say  that  it  feeds  upon  the  foliage 
of  the  peach.  We  have  founil  it  but  rarely, 
and  then  on  the  apple  and  (piince,  but  some 
how  we  did  not  succeed  in  bree<liiig  the  moth, 
and  yet  we  may  have  it  in  our  limited  collection 
of  this  family.  It  occurs  too  rarely,  however, 
to  create  any  anxieties  about  its  destructive- 
ness. 

J.  S.  i?.,  LaivaaUr,  Pa.— The  "strange 
bird  "  you  called  our  attention  to,  is  a  young 
"  Tnrkey-I5uz/,ard  "  (  Calhartci  awa),  alKUit 
one-third  grown  ;  a  carnivurrnuf  bird  belonging 
to  the  family  of  "Vultures"  (VrLTUlilD/K). 
After  it  reaches  maturity,  and  even  before  it 
reaches  that  period,  it  will  have  shed  all  the 
white  downy  feathers  on  its  neck,  bn^ast,  and 
imiler-parts  of  the  body,  and  l)e  a  bl.ick  or 
swarthy  black,  all  over.  Turkey  Huzziirds 
breed  in  Lancii-ster  county,  and  in  the  collec- 
tion of  the  Liniia'an  .Society  is  a  stulled  speci- 
men about  the  age  and  size  of  the  one  in  your 
jiossession.  These  birds  are  regarded  a.s  such 
good  scavengers,  that  they  are  especially  pro- 
tected by  law  in  many  places,  and  we  think 
this  is  tlie  ea.se  in  some  of  the  Southern  States. 
Two  years  ago.  while  at  Lewes,  in  the  State  of 
Delaware,  we  found  them  very  abunilanl  there; 
and  on  one  occ^asion  we  s<aw  half-a-dozen  of 
them  sitting  on  the  top  luil  of  a  fence  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  town.  They  are  certainly  u.se- 
fiil  there,  in  preying  u|K>n  the  many  ilead  ani- 
mals that  are  thrown  up  by  tb'  waves  and 
])erisli  upon  the  lieach,  which  otherwise  would 
create  an  intolerable  stench. 

Heah  Editor. — Yours  of-^ti-ruet  Ist,  In  regard  to 
cliiclion  clioliTii  ramr  duly  l<i  liiiml.  I  slioujil  Imvo 
wrillcn  you  i-ooiicr,  liul  tliouL'liI  [Mrlmiis  I  could  irct 
Boiiie  inforuialioii  from  parlies  tlial  had  Buirrri'd  111 
tliclr  Itoiks  froui  the  choliTa,  that  ml^ht  Ik;  of  sonio 
use  to  your  UKiuiriii'r  friends  :  Imt  (Ind  that  there  Is 
liut  one  point  that  they  ap|>far  to  airn-e  u|)Oii,  and 
that  is  tlMt  tlie  ehlekens  die.  .<o  far  as  niiiedied  or 
preventatives  are  coneerned  they  arc  at  sea.  1  have 
kept  (thickens  for  twenty-seven  years,  yet  have  not 
had  a  sinstle  ease  of  cholera  on  my  yanls.  Have 
tliercfore  had  no  praetleal  cx|KTlciiee  In  the  matter, 
and  will  not  attempt  to  recommend  any  of  the  many 
sure  cures  for  the  disease.  Three  or. four  years  airo 
I  had  two  ImxKls  of  chicks  runninc  on  a  farm.  The 
farmer  sent  me  wonl  tliat  they  were  dylntr  with  cliol 
era.  1  brouu'lit  nine  eliicke,  my  share  of  tlic  t)rooil8, 
liome,  put  them  on  a  yanl  liy  theiUHelves,  and  tliey 
dill  llnely.  One  weeji  laler  I  sSw  tlie  farmer  ;  he 
said  of  tlie  nine  cliicks,  (liis  share)  seven  were  dead. 
1  do  think  that  tilth  has  much  to  do  with  chicken 


dl6 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[August, 


cholera,  yet  in  the  above  case  tverything  looked  clci.n 
and  ripht,  ae  the  farnirr  said,  save  that  he  had  a 
ttoek  of  duiks  that  wire  constantly  making  their 
drinking  water  filthy.        Tours  truly,  J.  W. 

Makietta,  Aug.  7, 1ST6. 

Inquirie.s  liave  fnqiiently  bepn  made  of  us 
in  leiif'rcnee  to  clikken  cliolera,  and  a  remedj' 
for  its  aliattineiit  oj-  cure;  Ijut,  as  we  have 
never  beeii  in  the  "eliickeii  business,"  we  ad- 
diessed  a  nute  of  iii(|uiry  to  one  who  lias  had 
much  exiierience  in  tiiat  field  of  culture,  and 
above  we  fiive  his  rejOj-.  It  will  be  jjerceived 
that  there  is  very  little  of  a  positive  character 
in  it,  but  nejiatively  it  may  suggest  something 
useful,  and  is  entirely  in  harmony  with  the 
sanitaiy  conditions  recommended  by  thehigli- 
est  authorities  in  reference  to  cholera  among 
human  beings,  namely  :  general  and  particu- 
lar chmilhKss,  and  wholesome  food  and  drink. 
We  value  it  more  tlian  if  we  had  rushed  into 
print  with  some  half  digested  cure  not  worth 
the  paper  on  which  it  has  been  written.  Bet- 
ter "  wait-abit,"  we  may  yet  see. 


THE  CENTENNIAL  HEAT 


The  T  emperature  for  the  Last  Half  Century. 

The  following  table  shows  the  maximum, 
minimum  and  mean  temperature  of  the  months 

of  June  and  July  for  tvery  year  since  1S25, 
compiled  from  the  records  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Hospital,  Philadelphia: 

June.  July. 

Max.     Min.    Mean.  Max.  Min.  Mean. 

182.5 98  5.5  7.5  100  63  79.32 

1826 96  .59  74  95  59  73 

1827 88  .50  71  9.5  59  76 

1828...   94  62  77  95  60  75 

1829 90  62  73  94  64  75 

1830 92  62  73  97  66  79.50 

1831 94  58  77  94  60  78 

1833 91  .53  71  90  67  74 

1833 80  57  71.33  86  68  71 

1834 93  .58  69  95  67  79 

1835 89  .51  71  90  64  76 

1836 91  51  66  92  65  73 

1837 85  55  69  87  63  74 

1838 87  53..50  73.94  59  94  78.81 

1839 85  46  66.28  88  .57..';0  75.20 

1840 88  48  69.36  91  .58  73.92 

1841 93  53  73  94  56  74.95 

1843...  89  45  68.03  93  .59  75.80 

1843 89  40  71  97  .57  74.40 

1.844....  90  .52  69,,50  82.90  67.46  75.16 

1845....  95  46  71  ..50  96  55  76 

1846 80  .53  68.71  97  56  74.65 

1847 93  .50  70..53  92.50  57  76.44 

1848 96  .52  73.43  91  .59  74.82 

1849 97  .53  73..50  95  59  74.66 

18.50 90  .52  71.93  91  61  77.36 

18.51 93  50  70.40  92  60  76.82 

18.53 94  .53  71.78  93  64  77.04 

18.53 94  .53  73.77  91  63  75..50 

18,54 96  51  71.86  98  64  78.83 

1855 95  53  70.19  95  60  7S..50 

18.56 98  48  74.44  98  64  79.86 

18.57 89  63  69.53  SO  .54  74.96 

18.5S 94  54  75.19  60  60  78.11 

18.59 94  43  69.14  94  55  75 

1860 93  57  72.38  94  59  76.49 

1861 89.!^0  53  72..55  93..58  58  .  75  63 

I8li3 87..50  50  (i9.14  93..50  .57  75.23 

1863  ....  91  55  68.67  90..50  64  77.75 

1864.... 99  .54..50  73  93..50  60  76.08 

18(;5....93  04  76.73  96  00..50  77.83 

1866 95  .57  73.02  99.35  63  80.37 

1867 88..50  53  72.19  92..^0  63  76.48 

1868 90  54..50  71.99  98  69  80.94 

1869 92  54  73.62  97.50  63  76..54 

1870 95..50  61  77.31  97  61  80.61 

1871 90..50  60  74.51  97  00  76.68 

1872....  94  fiS  76.38  98  69  82.30 

1873 95  51  74.09  96.50  63  79.46 

1874 97..50  .55  75..53  94  64  78.4.8 

1875 94..50  53  73  91.50  60  75..50 

1876 99..50  55  76.60  103  69  80.57 

On  July  iif),  182.5,  the  thermometer  at  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital  marked  100  degrees, 
•since  which  time  it  has  not  risen  to  lOU during 
either  June  or  July  until  this  187G,  when  the 
maximum  tenii)erature  on  the  'id  was  101  de- 
grees; 8th,  lOo  degrees;  9th,  102  degrees,  and 
10th,  100  degrees. 

June,  182(5.— Mean  temperature,  74,  and  "in 
consequence  of  the  great  heat  and  dryness  of 
the  last  month  and  the  early  jiart  of  this,  all 
the  crojis  are  in  a  state  of  great  forwardness. 
So  early  as  the  1.5ili  of  the  month  the  greater 
part  of  the  rye  and  wheat  was  tit  for  harvest- 
ing." 


The  following  table  gives  the  maximum  and 
minimum  ttrnjierature,  and  also  the  tempera- 
ture iit  ii  o'clock  a.  m.  for  each  day  of  the 
montli  of  July,  1S70,  also  taken  from  tlie 
Pennsylvania  Ilospital  record: 


JUL 

1- 
2" 
3" 
4.. 

5  . 

6  • 

7  • 
8- 
9- 

10  • 

11  ■ 
13- 
l:!  . 
14  . 
15. 
16. 
17 
18  . 
19. 
20. 

ei  . 

33  . 
2:5  . 
34. 


.  98 
.101 
.  95 
.  99 


30. 

n. 


.  93 
.  94 
.103 

103 

100 
9.S 
.  98 
.  93 
.  94 
.  96 
.  93 
91 

•  OIK 

.  94 

98 
.  88 
.  86 
.  86 
.  79 
.  SO 
.  83 
.  87 
.  93 
.  88 
.  70 
.  71 


MIN. 

70  . 

76  . 

761^. 

71  ■ 

71  . 

73  . 

69  . 

73  . 

^K- 

73  . 

71  . 


76 

72 

, 74 

71 

69 

71 

73 

, 76 

, 70 

, 70 

66 

59 

, .59 

59 

60 

63 

, 65 

65 

62 


.....81 
...8.51^ 
...  86 
...  86 
..  83 
...77M 
...80 
..  85 

.87^ 
...83 
...83 
...83 
...86 
...80 
...  84 
...79 
..  81 
...81 
. .  83 
. .  87 
. .  79 
...75 
...70 
...69 
..  70 
..  70 
...71 
...77 
...76 
...70 
....65 


The  mean  temperature  for  the  month  of 
July,  according  to  the  above  table,  was80..'i72 
degrees.  Since  182.5  there  have  been  only  five 
years  in  which  the  mean  temperature  of  the 
month  of  July  reached  as  high  as  80  degrees, 
viz.,  180G,  when  the  mean  temperature  of  July 
was  80.37  degrees  ;  1868,  when  it  was  60.94 
degrees  ;  1870  when  it  was  80.01  degrees  ; 
1872,  when  it  was82.:30  degrees,  and  1876,  (the 
present  year,)  when  it  was  80.572  degrees.  The 
early  part  of  last  month  was  very  hot,  and  the 
mean  temperature  for  the  first  14  days  was 
82.215  degrees.  This  high  average  was  re- 
duced, however,  by  the  large  quantity  of  cool 
and  ])lea.fant  weather  since  that  time;  so  that 
notwithstanding  the  two  weeks  of  intensely 
hot  weather  early  in  the  month,  the  average 
of  heat  was  higher  in  18(i8,  1870 and  1872  dur- 
ing July  than  it  was  during  July  of  this  year. 

Meteorological  Diary  at  Philadelphia,  for  July, 
1776. 

Very  unfortunately  our  thermomctrical  re- 
cord of  a  hundred  years  ago  comes  suddenly  to 
a  close  by  the  loss  of  a  leaf,  and  anxious  as  we 
were  to  place  the  result  in  comparison  with 
the  extraordinary  temperature  of  the  same 
month  ill  187(),  we  are  compelled  to  forego  it. 
Our  readers,  however,  may  be  able  to  make 
some  approximation  to  the  average  temiiera- 
ture  of  the  nidiith,  l>y  the  imperfect  or  partial 
record  we  give  below: 


PAYS. 
1    ... 

HOUK.S. 

THER. 

WIND.S. 

WEATHER. 

3... 

a.'.'.. 

!.8  A.  M." 

.'.'.'69.'." 

.'.'  N.  W..." 

...Fair  and  Windy. 

4.... 

.  8  A.  M.. 

...67... 

.  N.  W.  . 

...Fair. 

5.... 

..8  A.  M.. 

...73... 

.    S.  W... 

.  Cloudy. 

6... 

7 ... 

..8  A.  M.. 

..  69  .. 

.  N.  W.  . 

...Fair,  liaiu  5  P.M. 

8... 
9... 

'..S  A.  m" 

'.!.74'.'.'. 

.'.N.       .".". 

...Cloudv. 

10... 

..8  A.  M  . 

...75... 

...S.  W... 

...Cloudy  and  Rain. 

11... 

..8  A.  M.. 

....74... 

..  W.       .. 

..  F.air. 

13.... 

..8  A.  M.. 

..  66... 

..N.  W... 

.    Fair. 

13... 

.8  A.M.. 

...73... 

.  s.  w. .. 

...Cloudy. 

14... 

..8  A.M. 

...73... 

..s.  w... 

...Much  rain. 

15... 

.8  A.M.. 

..  63... 

.  N.  W... 

..Fair,     niueli    r.ain 
previous  night. 

16... 

.. 

17... 



IS  .. 

19... 

..8  A.  M  . 

...73  .. 

..N.W... 

..  Fair. 

It  will  bo  seen  that  even  so  far  as  it  goes,  no 
observations  are  recorded  of  the  1st,  2d,  7th, 
8th,  16th,  17th  and  18th  of  the  month,  what- 
ever the  lost  record  may  have  been. 

The  average  terajjerature  of  the  twelve  diiys 
given,  was  a  fraction  less  than  65,  which 
probably  wotdd  have  been  the  average  of  the 
whole  month,  had  the  record  not  been  muti- 
lated. 


From  this  it  will  be  perceived  that  pur  fore- 
fathers must  have  had,  comparatively,  a  cool 
time,  in  ultimating  the  birth  of  the  nation  ; 
and  as  the  matter  had  been  hanging  in  doubt 
as  to  whether  the  "man  child"  would  come 
forth  living  or  "still-born,"  who  can  tell  now 
what  efl'ect  such  a  "heated  term  "  as  we  had 
in  July,  1876.  might  have  had  upon  the  event  ? 
There  is  a  difference  of  at  least  15  degrees  on 
the  monthly  average,  and  therefore  the  month 
of  Jidy,  1776,  so  far  as  temperature  is  con- 
cerned, must  have  been  delightfully  pleasant 
and  agreeable. 

It  often  has  transpired  that  important  events 
or  enterprises  have  been  defeated  or  failed 
through  some  incidental  circumstance  of  a 
trivial  character  in  itself — such,  for  instance, 
as  a  swollen  stream,  a  drifting  snow-bank,  a 
broken  telegraph  wire,  a  late  train,  a  hungry 
chief,  or  maternal  pleadings,  and  these  inci- 
dents may  also,  in  some  cases,  contribute  to  a 
success. 

Had  the  silent  pleadings  of  Washington's 
mother  not  prevailed,  he  might  have  become 
a  sea  captain,  and  never  have  been  the  "Fir.st 
in  peace,  first  in  war,  and  first  in  the  hearts 
of  his  fellow-countrymen."  Napoleon  was 
defeated  and  utterly  overthrowni  at  Waterloo 
by  heavy  rains,  and  the  failure  of  Grouchy  in 
"coming  to  time."  So  also  it  might  have 
been  in  reference  to  the  "glory  of  America." 


ADVANCE  OF  THE  PEAR-BLIGHT. 

We  made  a  note  of  the  fact  recently  that  the  viru- 
lent form  of  firc-hlight,  long  the  dread  of  pear  cul- 
tivators in  other  regions,  had  at  length  made  its  ap- 
pearance here.  We  now  see  by  our  exchange  papers 
that  it  has  manifested  its  dire  presence  in  many  phaces 
from  New  England  south  to  Virginia,  in  sections  where 
it  had  never  heen  known,  or  known  hut  slightly  before. 
The  cause  of  this  sudden  incursion  is  not  very  clear. 
It  is,  however,  a  matter  of  interest  to  note  the  singu- 
laropinioiis  which  prevail  in  regard  to  its  appearance ; 
and  liow  remarkable  it  is  that  any  intelligent  person 
should  hold  such  opinions  in  view  of  the  facts  before 
them. 

First  one  says  it  is  "lightning."  Now  we  have  had 
lightning  since  the  world  began,  and  certainly  since 
the  first  pear,  perhaps  two  hundred  years  .ago  at  least, 
was  set  out  in  Germantown.  It  is  rather  late  in  the  day 
for  lightning  to  commence  to  play  such  pranks.  And 
then  there  is  this  curious  fact :  if  we  cut  out  ever.y 
particle  of  diseased  wood  that  we  can  see,  we  may 
cut  out  more  next  week ;  and  so  on  through  the 
whole  season  after  the  blight  has  once  begun.  It  is 
absurd  to  look  to  lightning  to  produce  a  continuous 
effect  like  this. 

Then  there  are  those  who  fancy  the  trouble  eomes 
from  the  effect  of  the  "  frost"  either  on  unripe  wood, 
or  in  some  other  way.  But  as  in  the  lightning  case, 
why  should  the  frost  remain  quiet  till  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1S7K  before  rising  to  this  mighty  work  ?  But 
irrespective  of  this,  any  one  who  looks  can  sec  that  it 
is  not  imripe  wood,  unsound  wood,  weak  wood,  or 
any  wood  deficient  in  vitality,  but  often  the  soundest 
and  best  tli  at  is  attacked . 

And  then  there  are  others  who  are  sure  that  it  is 
some  lack  of  important' elements  in  the  soil,  or  some 
disease  at  the  roots  that  has  extended  to  the  tree,  and 
produced  the  fatal  results.  But  my  practical  fruit- 
grower knows  that  anything  that  affects  the  roots  af- 
fects the  whole  tree.  Even  a  borer  in  the  collar  of  an 
apple  tree  makes  that  tree  have  yellow  leaves  in  every 
part  of  it.  There  is  not  any  part  but  js  more  orlcss  in- 
Huenced  by  what  may  happen  to  the  roots.  But  a  tree 
affected  with  fire  lilight  is  often  in  perfect  health. 
Evtryoiie  who  is  familiar  with  fruit  trees  knows  at  a 
glance  what  perfect  health  is,  and  he  can  say  posi- 
tively that  in  a  vast  number  of  cases  a  blight  struck 
pearls  in  perfect  health.  And  then  the  upper  part  of  a 
pair  tree  will  be  destroyed,  though  all  below  is  good 
and  sound. 

Now  we  may  not  be  able  to  say  what  the  cause  of 
pear-blight  is ;  but  from  what  we  have  said  it  is 
clear  I  hat  it  is  not  any  general  cause  that  woidd  affect 
the  whole  tree.  It  must  he  local ;  that  is,  a  cause 
which  operates  on  the  parts  destroyed  and  nowhere 
else.  We  may  not  yet  see  to  the  bottom  of  the  trouble, 
but  surely  it  Is  a  gain  to  see  this  far. 
Fire-Blight. 

This  dire  malady,  the  great  foe  to  pear-culture,  has 
singularly  enough  let  Germantown  out  of  its  travels 
to  a  great  extent  in  the  past.  There  may  have  been 
isolated  and  insignificant  cases,  but  the  pear  as  a 
general  thing  has  been  among  the  healthiest  of  trees. 
In  surrounding  districts  there  have  been  cases  of 
serious  trouble.  To  the  northeast  of  Philadelphia, 
as  well  lis  on  the  west,  there  have  been  serious  visits 
of  the  enemy  ;  but  even  there  it  has  been  in  a  meas- 
ure desultory,  and  season  after  season  of  perfect 
health  have  followed  seasons  of  serious  attacks. 

This  season,  however,  the  fire-blight  has   made  its 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


117 


apiwarance  to  a  serious  extent  lu  tlie  olil  boroimli, 
ami  tlie  "old  stui^ers  "  who  slill  travel  Ipy  tlie  eoaeli 
ami  know  notliini;  of  tlie  raili'oail,  areaskinir  what  it 
all  means/  They  have  liatl  in  the  past  one  liundml 
and  tifty yeursot'extensive  (lerinantown  pear-euUiire, 
cold  seasons  ami  warm  seasons,  liii^h  temperature 
and  low  temperature,  loni;  hot  ami  i-uld  "spells," 
and  rai)id  anil  wide  ehani^es,  ilry  seas<ins  ami  wet 
seasons,  hii;h  eultiire,  low  eulture,  and  no  eulture, 
dwart"  tree  and  slandaivl  trees,  while  in  vai'ieries  they 
have  had  Viears  and  t^eekels,  and  all  the  kinds  known 
in  the  books,  but  no  tire-blii^ht  ever  t^mn'  hen-  before. 
They  are,  therefore,  ipiile  sure  that  I  he  jiredisposiu',' 
cause  is  one  that  never  existed  before,  ami  ean  he 
none  of  those  sui^i^ested  in  the  list  at)ove  and  \\'hieh 
are  so  (»ften  referred  to.  What  the  cause  is  must  l)e 
left  to  the  ])hilosopherB,  and  no  doubt  they  will  make 
it  clear  in  time. 

One  tliimr  seems  elear^and  that  is  one  that  con- 
cerns us  most — that  is  a  preventive.  Our  old  corres- 
ix)i»lent,  Mr.  William  Saunders,  of  Washin'.;ton,  was 
onee  seriously  troubled  with  the  disease  in  t'.ie  V.x- 
perimental  tiarden ;  and  he  took  to  wiiishiuir  the 
stems  of  the  trees  with  lime  ami  sulphur  In  the  wiii- 
ter  season,  and  sima' then  he  has  not  been  troubled. 

Now,  there  is  a  |>ossil)ilit.y  that  this  is  but  a  eoinei- 
denee,  for  we  have  seen  that  in  the  outlying'  districts 
of  I'hiladeliihia  the  disease  has  disappeared  for  some 
years  after  bein^■  serious,  and  yet  nothini,^  has  been 
done.  Hut  in  Mr.  Saunders'  ease  we  hanlly  think  it 
is  of  this  eharaeler,  for  all  of  us  who  know  of  the 
devotion  of  the  famous  old  fruit-i^rowers  to  their  pur- 
suits know  how  they  used  to  wash  trees  with  lime 
and  other  artieh's,aml  bow  healthy  trees  always  w/re 
under  this  treatment.  There  is  no  doubt  but  judiei- 
ously  washini;  the  bark  is  eondueive  to  health,  and 
tliis  fact  favors  the  pr.ieliee  of  Mr.  Saunders. 

IJut  this  ean  ordy  be  ilone  when  the  trees  are  not  in 
leaf;  at  this  season  all  that  ean  bi'  done  is  to  cut 
away  anil  burn  all  the  diseast^d  branches  as  fast  as 
they  seemeil  injured,  for  whatever  may  be  the  cause 
of  the  disease  it  seems  (piite  likidy  that  diseased  mat- 
ter will  eomnuinicate  the  trouble  to  healthy  trees. 

We  Iiiivt'  taken  both  of  tlie  lorogdiiiif  iifticles 
on  "  bliglit"  tVom  th(^  cditoriiil  colmiitis  iifllie 
Gcrmantnani  Tclajriipli,  and  Wi;  liiid  tliat  the 
vetefan  editor  of  that  ancient  and  alily<oti- 
diieted  slieet  is  about  as  mticli  in  the  ilark  on 
tlie  subjec't  ofbliijld  ;is  we,  and  the  I'est  of  tlie 
world  are.  We  opine,  however,  that  tlie  phe- 
nonienon  of  lire-blijjht  is  not  as  recent  a  thing 
as  seems  to  be  iini)lied  in  the  aliove  e.xtnicts, 
for  we  a^e  quite  certain  we  have  seen  it,  or 
something  antilogous  to  it,  ;is  mtich  ;is  live  ;ind 
forty  years  ago,  and  at  many  ililU'reiit  jieriods 
since  that  time.  We  allude  to  the  subject  now 
bectinse  ;it  the  July  meeting  of  the  Ltincaster 
Tiiiinaun  Society,  one  of  the  nieiiil>ersexhil)ite(l 
a  blighted  pear  liranch,  and  felt  quite  certain 
that  it  was  caused  by  an  insect,  the  'Joutifus 
pyri;  but  a  critictd  examination  demonstrated 
tliatiteould  nothavi^lieeti  caused  by  said  insect, 
or  any  otiier.  True,  there  /.sa  species  of  blight 
produced  by  the  borings  of  the  insect  al)ove 
named,  but  it  does  not  take  place  so  suddenly 
as  the  lire-blight,  and,  morcovei-,  it  is  coiilined 
to  that  ptirt  of  the  twig  or  liranchli't  that  is 
above  the  point  of  iici-fortitioii,  ami  it  follows 
down  the  branch  as  fai'  as  the  insect  pene- 
trates. 

There  are  various  species  of  the.se  little  blight 
beetles,  all  of  which  bore  into  dilfereiit  siirts  of 
trees  both  living  and  dettd.  Sotne  years  ago;i 
piece  of  a  peticli  biatich,  three  inches  long  and 
iibout  half  ail  inch  in  ditinieter  was  sent  to  us 
from  Maryliiiid,  whitdi  was  .sm'iously  infested 
by  blight  beetles,  wliicli  the  sender  alleged 
were  killing  his  trees.  We  inclosed  the  piece 
in  a  close  box,  ami  in  due  time  bred  <uit  a 
dozen  or  more  of  a  small  black  species  of  Bos- 
trichusor  Tamiciui,  \\liich  we  specially  referred 
to  pcrsim. 

But  these  insects  are  liy  no  means  the  cause 
of  what  is  ])Oiiularly  known  under  the  name  of 
"lire-blight,"  or  "  petir-bliglit."  Rixi),  in  his 
"Vegetable  Kingdom,"  says  :  '^JiUijhi  is  one 
of  the  most  common  di.sea.ses  which  affect  veg- 
etaliles,  and  yet  on  the  nature  of  which  the 
greatest  difference  of  opinion  prevails.  The 
disease  seems  to  htive  been  observed  bv,  and 
to  have  been  familiar  to  the  ancient  Cireeks. 
They  regarded  it  ;is  a  scourge  from  lieaven,  or 
from  their  eiiragetl  deities ;  and  therefore  did 
not  trouble  themselves  in  the  invest  igtition  of 
its  nature  and  ctiiise.  It  was  ;dso  lamiliar  to 
the  llomans,  under  the  name  i>f  Itiihiijo  or 
rust.  Dr.  Kielh  has  endetivored  to  |ioiiit  out 
at  lea.st  three  species  ;  1st,  blight  arising  from 
cold  and  frosty  winds  ;  2d,  from  a  iit^culiar  va- 


pour, perhaps  originating  in  certain  electric 

conditions  of  the  titmosphcre,  anil  :!cl,  from  the 

lu-esence   of  small    parasitictil^ioiyi. "     ;\nd, 

while  these  relate  more  piirticiilarly  to  plants, 

yet  they  produce  tin'  stiine  elfects  on  trees  tiiid 

shrubbery.    Hut  old  and  tiulhorilative  tis  these 

views  ;ire,  and  iiijurintis  as  the  elTccIs  arising 

from  these  causes  may  be,  llicy  do  not  exphiin 

I  tliei'anseof  oin-  modern  lire-lilight,  which  often 

comes  sudileiily — in  one  night  -alfecting  a  sin- 

\  gle  tree,  or  a  single  braiieli  of  a  tree,  whilst  all 

1  else  is  healthful  and  untouched.     In  thespeci- 

I  men  exliibiteil  at  the  meeting  of  the  society 

'  above  allnileil  to,  tdthough  the  letives  were  <a 

dtirk   brown— tilmost  a  black — the  wood  wa-s 

green  tunl  ii])pareiitly  heallliful,  tind  another 

member  statecl  tlitit  he  had  .seen  early  blighted 

brtmches  drop  their  leavc'S,  and  push  out  fresh 

leaves  in  tho  same  season. — Ei). 


THE  BIRDS  AND   THEIR  USES. 

The  subject  of  birds  and  their  relation  to  a*;rieul- 
tnre  has  an  inipoi-tanee  which  Is  not  '.generally  ajipre- 
ciateii,  tint  which  is  bcini;  enforced  by  havoc  which  is 
beiie^  worked  by  insects  where  birds  have  licen  de- 
stroyed. A  Itieiimond  (  Va.)  pa|H',r  recently  stated 
that  bad  news  came  IVmn  every  t^>baeco  i^rowim;  dis- 
trict of  the  State,  the  plants  "bein.'  eaten  by  the  lly. 
Thus,  in  the  opinion  of  the  paper,  tiie  chief  sta[4le  of 
a  large  part  of  Viri^inia  was  in  damper.  This  special 
peril  to  th(^  Vin;inia  tobacco  crop  has  i;ro\vn  within 
the  last  twenty  yi^irs.  It  is  helievi'd  that  om^  of  the 
chief  causes  is  the  destruction  wrou;,'ht  of  late  years 
upon  the  l)irds.  With  the  end  of  the  war  an  in  lis- 
eriniinate  hunt  for  birds  has  bcijun  and  ever  since 
has  been  continued.  The  i;reatest  enemy  of  insect 
lil'e  is  the  bird,  and  as  the  birds  have  been  destroyed 
in  V'iri^inia,  every  ■jne  has  noticed  the  increase  of  in- 
sects that  attack  the  crops.  The  same  lesson  has 
lom^  been  learned  in  other  countrii's,  so  that  it  has 
bi'conu"  an  aceept.ed  maxim  in  Kuropc  to  foster  the 
birds,  and  in  Australia,  and  of  late  in  this  country, 
Kuropean  birds  have  been  imported  for  the  simple 
puriiose  of  inscet  destruction. 

In  the  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Aijriciilture 
there  is  an  article  from  the  pen  of  Prof.  (Jeorf;e  II. 
Perkins,  of  Vermont.,  in  which  he  says  that  there  arc 
in  the  State  of  Vi^'inont  probably  not  less  than  ei;;ht 
hundred  species  of  lepidopterous  insects,  (i.  e.,  the 
moth  and  butterllies),  and  in  the;  w'hole  United .Stat.cs 
there  are  not  less,  proiiahly,  than  four  thousand,  liut 
leavin;;  the  rest  of  the  States,  Prof.  Perkins  conlincs 
himself  to  the  followiiii;  calculation  to  Vermont, 
anil  works  out  the  followini^  alartiiini;'  results  : 

"  If  we  sui)|io.sc  the  number  of  species  in  this  State 
to  he  eight  hundred,  the  increase  will  be  somethinn; 
like  this  ;  Each  female  lays  on  an  avera<re  -JoO  eiji^s 
— but  we  will  place  the  numbei-  at  ^Ull).  Now  suj>- 
pii.se  in  tlie  year  ISTl  there  exists  only  one  pair  of 
each  species,  there  would  be  during'  the  year  i; HI, 111)11 
e^pfs  produced,  which  would  devcloii  into  "tO, 1)0(1 
caterpillars.  If  half  of  them  were  females,  next  year 
we  should  have  l'30,()i)l)  pair  of  insects,  which  would 
]>roiluci'  :;Ci,()IIO,l)i)()  caterpillars  for  isr.!,  and  so  on, 
so  that  in  live  years  there  would  come  from  the  iiii- 
eheeked  increase  of  only  one  pair  of  each  species 
l,31.5,(l(li),lM)ii,()i)(i,nOO  of  caterpillars,  or  ;.'0.),i)(ll),()()l) 
for  every  siniilc  acre  in  the  State.  It  is  true  that  as 
the  arraiii;'emciit  of  tbini^s  now  is,  not  one  in  a  hun- 
drcii,  if  indeed  one  in  thousamls  of  these  e-^i^s  ever 
reach  maturity,  but  the  iircat  a^'cnts  of  destruction 
arc  the  birds.  .Vlakiii^'  all  |io.ssible  deductions  on  iie- 
countofall  destructive  inliuences,  except  the  birds, 
we  have  left  a  very  larije  tiirure,  ami  if  this  is  niulli- 
plied  liy  the  number  of  jiairs  actually  livim;,  and  as 
all  know  of  some  kinds  I  here  are  thousands,  the  pro- 
duct is  soinetliiiii;  appallinLT-" 

If  such  are  the  facts  in  Vermont,  where  a  cold  cli- 
mate tends  to  harass  and  diminish  insei't  life,  what 
must  be  the  innumerable  hordes  of  insect  depredators 
under  warmer  and  more  i^cnial  skies  ?  if  any  of  the 
animal  creation,  by  its  relation  to  the  ifcneral  econo- 
my of  nature,  deserves  to  be  protected,  it  is  the  birds. 
For  every  apparent  evil  in  nature  the  Creator  has 
provided  a  remedy,  and  liirils  arc  the  insect  dcstroy- 
I  CIS.  The  rcniedy  is  one  in  which  all  can  have  a  share 
in  rendering'  ell'cetual.  Kariners  and  planters  should 
exert  themselves  to  protect  the  birds  from  the  sense- 
less, savage,  and  worse  than  useless  slauijhter  to 
which  they  have  been  condemned.  These  little  heinsfs 
not  only  minister  to  the  solace  of  man  by  tlieir  beauty 
and  melody,  hut  they  are  even  more  useful  than  they 
are  beautiful. 

The  foregoing  we  clip  from  the  columns  of 
the  Baltimore  Sun;  and  to  illustrate  the  iie- 
cuniary  loss  sustained  by  certtiin  districts  of 
our  coimtiy,  on  account  of  the  feaiful  increase 
of  destructive  insects,  we  (piotc  the  following 
from  the  "  Eighth  -Vniuitil  Keport  of  the  Nox- 
ious and  Benelicial  Insects  of  the  State  of 
.Mis.souri,"  by  Prof.  C.  V.  Uilcy,  the  State 
Entomologist  : 


"  To  enumerate  by  counties,  the  following 
figures  apjuoximate  the  real  lo.ss  sustained 
from  the  injury  to  grains  alone  : 

"Atchinsoii,  S7iH),i)iii);  .Vndrew,  $.")0t),000  ; 
Btites,  S-'tHI,0()l);  Hilton,  .*.'.,OtlO;  Huchanan, 
;f_>,IM»l).(IIKI;  Cahlwell,  .■jKl.OlH) ;  Cass,  *-i,(MHI,- 
000;  Clinton.  jfliOO.OOO  ;  ClilV,  .*;S()0.0OU  ;  l)e 
Kail),  *Jl)ll,00;i;  (Jentry,  SIOU.IMNI;  Harrison, 
SIO.OOO;  llenrv,  ?<SO(r,OtKI ;  Holt,  Sf.lOtl.OOO  ; 
.lackson,  ^-J.-'ililMMMl ;  .Jasper.  $."),l)00  ;  .lohii- 
soii,  81,000,000;  Lafayette,  «-2,000,000  ;  New- 
ton, 8."'.,000  ;  Pettis,  jf5O,00U  ;  Platte,  ?HIH),- 
OOU;  Kay,  *7.'),(MH»;  St.  Clair,  8-.'")0,OO0  ;  Ver- 
non, lf7.">',0IK(,  and  Worth,  «10,0(K). 

"TlH^foregoingestimtiti's exceed  thealnonnt 
of .S1">,000,(MIO.  They  are  airived  at,  in  Hie 
majority  of  instance.s,  by  combining  the  fol- 
lowing elements:  The  number  of  acres  of 
crops  destroyed  ;  the  average  amount  of  the 
crop,  and  the  vahie  of  the  cro[),  allow- 
ing forty  cents  a  bushel  for  corn,  one  dol- 
lar for  whetit,  one  dollar  and  a  half  for 
barley,  and  thirty  cents  a  bushel  for  oats. 
The  timount  of  loss  redeemed  by  crops  that 
sui'ceeded  after  the  insects  left,  it  is  im- 
possible to  determine;  and  yet  tliis  timount 
may  agtiin  be  olT.set  by  the  injury,  both  tempo- 
rary tiiid  permanent,  to  fruit,  fruit  trees,  vine- 
ytirds,  ganlens,  inciidowsand  pastures;  by  the 
iact  tiiat  such  la-ops  as  llax,  castor-beans,  itc, 
have  not  biH'ii  eslimaled  in  the  iralcidation  ; 
and  lastly,  by  the  injury  to  stock,  the  animals 
nece.ssai-ilv  ilrivcn  out  of  Ihe  (•ountry,  and  the 
general  depreciation  of  properly." 

The  foregoing  has  relation  to  a  single  spe- 
cies of  inseiHs,  namely  :  the  "  Hocky  Moimtain 
Locust,"  ((irasshoppe.r)  tiiid  there  are  hun- 
dreds of  others  that  mtilliply  as  rapidly  and 
are  almost,  if  not  qiiib'.  as  destructive. 

Now,  tilthoMgh  it  might  Im-  dillieult  to  de- 
monstrate satisfactorily  in  whtit  m  inner  birds 
could  affect  the  iiicretise  or  decrease  of  tliP.se 
and  mtiny  other  insi^i-ts,  yet  it  litis  bi'di  stated 
as  a,  reiiiarkable  coiniMdence,  that  sincc^  the 
wholesale  destruction  of  the  wild  animtils  of 
tliegrciitwest — esiiccially  the  leathered  trilies, 
there  is,  coinpartitively,  a  greater  increase,  and 
a  more  fretiuent  occurrence  of  destructive  in- 
.sects.  Be  this  as  it  mtiy,  taken  tis  a  whole  the 
benelicMjd  qutdities  of  birds— and  especially  in- 
sectivorous birds— are  altogether  unqueslioiia- 
ble.  SuHicieiil  tillowtince  is  never  nitide  for 
tlw  benelils  derived  from  birds  early  in  the 
season,  ;ind  before  there  istiiiything  iu  the  w;iy 
of  fruit  and  vegetables  for  them  to  destroy. 
Moreover,  nitiiiy  species  thai  do  not  generally 
apiiropriale  insects  as  food  lor  themselves,  vet 
invtirinlily  feed  their  young  upon  them.  In- 
deed, there  is  htirdly  an  nnh  r  or  -.i  fniiiilii  of 
birds  thtit  are  not,  either  direi'tly  or  inilirectly 
a  lienefitto  the  vegetable  world— not  excepting 
even  the  ctiriiivoroiis  species.  Onreyesare  in 
a  niMstire  shut  to  the  constant  o|)erations  of 
the  feathered  tribes,  tind  if  they  destroy  a  .sin- 
gle female  insect,  or  the  kirva  of  the  same, 
which  during  the  (;ourse  of  the  sea-son  would 
htive  been  the  i)areiit  of  thousands,  they  illus- 
trate in  ;i  most  forcible  m:iiiner  how  much  "an 
ouiKH' of  prevent  ion  is  worth  morethtin  :i  pound 
of  cure,"  and  tilso  illustrate  that  wilh  oureyea 
thus  closed,  it  is  impo.ssible  to  tell  what  tin 
elephant  is  like,  by  only  feeling  its  tusk  or  its 
tail. 

It  is  true,  where  there  is  a  redundancy  of 
bifils  and  ;i  iiaucity  of  insects,  the  former  must 
hiive  a  Hvinij,  and  to  obtain  it,  they  will  ;i])- 
liropritite  ii  part  of  the  crop  which  they  htive 
helped  you  to  save.  If  the  naked  (lue.stions 
were  "Birds, "or  "No  Birds. "t lie  lUiitler  would 
be  easily  decideil  tiiid  iiuickly,  for  wilh  no  birds 
at  all,  this  world  would  soon  be  ii  bleak  and 
barren  waste,  altogether  unlit  for  huintui  be- 
ings to  dwell  on. — Ed. 


FRENCH  COOKING. 

"  The  French  .acquire  their  art  of  providing 
and  cooking  from  example  and  haliit.  The 
skill  is  handed  down  from  one  genenition  to 
tiiiother,  each  genenition  adding  to  its  own 
improvements.  Among  the  professional  cooks 
there  exists  marvellous  skill  of  combination 
and  change.  They  cook  eggs  in  one  hundred 
and  twelve  ditl'erent  ways ;  they  liave  more 


148 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  August, 


than  three  hundred  sorts  of  puddings  and 
sweetmeats,  titty  metliods  of  cooliiug  heef  and 
mutton,  eiglity  of  fowls.  Among  the  ricli 
classes  the  same  dislies  are  not  used  oftener 
tlian  once  in  tliree  or  four  weeks,  so  great  is 
the  variety.  One  would  supjiose  their  dishes 
would  disorder  the  stomach,  but  dyspejisia  is 
a  rare  disease  in  France.  Altogether,  the 
French  are  an  extraordinary  people,  and  when 
their  habits  and  methods  of  living  are  under- 
stood, we  cease  to  wonder  at  their  health  and 
gre^t  wealth." 

If  there  is  any  one  domestic  operation  on 
this  earth  more  than  another  which  ought  to 
be  e.xecuted  with  care,  economy  and  skill,  it 
is  that  of  cooking;  and  yet,  among  the  average 
of  American  housewives,  there  is  none  that 
receives  less  attention  and  talent.  A  woman 
during  the  course  of  her  life  will  change  the 
style  and  quality  of  her  dresses,  her  bonnets, 
her  shoes  and  her  furniture  hundreds  of  times, 
and  will  even  manifest  some  galling  anxiety 
lest  she  be  deemed  unfashionable,  and  yet  will 
stand  as  invulnerable  as  the  "rock  of  ages"  in 
regard  to  the  style  of  cooking  and  baking — 
the  last  loaf  in  an  experience  of  forty  years 
will  be,  perhaps,  worse  thail  the^i>f. 

The  morning,  midday  or  evening  meal,  its 
time,  its  place,  its  quality  and  its  order,  is  the 
most  important  domestic  event  within  the  life 
experiences  of  human  beings,  for  on  it  de- 
pends the  physical  and  mental  health,  as  well 
as  the  happiness  and  content  of  the  entire 
family.  Ilunger  and  thirst,  normally  mani- 
fested, are  the  imperative  calls  of  nature 
through  the  ordination  of  nature's  God,  and 
caimot  be  with  impunity  lightly  or  disdain- 
fully regarded.  The  Divine  fiat  has  gone  forth, 
and  the  physical  and  mental  systems  canuot 
be  built  up  or  recuperated  without  a  scrupu- 
lous attention  to  the  legitimate  demands  of 
these  natural  desires — and  more,  physical 
comfort  and  development  is  the  plane  and 
continent  upon  which  must  rest  and  be  mani- 
fested the  moral  comfort  and  development  of 
the  creature. 

There  is  not  a  single  labor  in  the  daily  circle 
of  domestic  duty  but  what  should  be  subordina- 
ted to  thedaily  meals,  and  none  more  entitled  to 
the  thoughtful  and  patient  skill  of  the  prudent 
housewife,  or  her  domestic  assistant,  whatever 
else  may  lie  necessarily  omitted. 

Everything  that  is  eateu  and  drunken  should 
be  eaten  and  drunken  "to  the  glory  of  God," 
and  with  reference  to  Ilim  who  has  said, 
"  Take,  eat  this  and  drink  this  in  remem- 
brance of  Me."  The  careless,  .slovenly  and 
disorderly  manner  in  wliich  the  meal  is  pre- 
pared by  the  mas.ses  of  the  pef)i)le,  and  the  in- 
decent haste  and  imperfect  manner  in  which 
it  is  appriipriated,  is  little  short  of  daily  pro- 
fanation. Of  course  tliere  is  an  opposite  ex- 
treme, in  which  there  may  be  a  morbid  fastidi- 
ousness manifesteil,  which  may  culminate  in 
mere  .sensualism,  but  we  have  reference  to 
that  intelligent  exercise  of  domestic  duty 
which  makes  the  proper  distinction  between 
"  eating  to  lire  "  and  "  living  to  eaV 

Wc  arc  not  advocating  those  excessive  com- 
binations of  pickels,  spices  and  condiments 
which  are  resorted  to  to  create  a  false  or  mor- 
bid apetite,  for  the  sake  of  its  illegitimate 
gratification  alone ;  but,  as  God  has  created 
an  infinite  variety  of  edibles  for  the  delecta- 
tion of  the  human  family,  and  as  the  larger 
number  of  these  require  culinary  preparation, 
as  much  skill  should  be  exercised  in  this  de- 
partment of  domestic  labor,  as  is  exercised  in 
the  production  of  a  watch,  a  necklace,  or  a 
dressing-case.  Much  of  the  illness,  the  un- 
happinees,  and  the  domestic  disquietude  of  the 
world,  may  be  traced  directly  to  unskillful  and 
im wholesome  preparation  of  human  food,  and 
the  barbarous  manner  in  which  it  is  parta- 
ken of. 

The  secret  of  French  cooking  lies  in  this, 
that  their  "skill  is  handed  down  from  one 
generation  to  anf)ther,  each  yeneration  addiwj 
its  mm  hnprorcments;''''  in  which  they  differ 
from  other  jjeople,  who  never  add  any  imjirove- 
ments,  but  who  make  it  a  point  to  literally  do 
things  just  as  their  fathers  and  mothers  have 
done  them—"  good,  bad  or  indiflerent. "— Eu. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  CULTIVATED  VEGE- 
TABLES. 


The  Tomatd  or  "  Love  Apple." 
( I.t/en/H-r^iciitn  esetite-ittiini,) 

The  Tomato,  or  Love  Apple,  is  the  fruit  of 
a  herbaceous  plant,  having  a  hairy  stem  and 
rank  smell  ;  belonging  to  the  Nightshade  and 
potato  family,  nat.  or  Holanactm.  It  is  a  na- 
tive of  South  America,  whence  it  was  early  in- 
troduced liy  the  Spaniards  into  Europe,  and 
used  as  a  vegetable.  The  editor  of  the  ISon- 
iiardinitr  (pour  I'an  1818)  describes  the  tomato 
as  coming  orginally  from  Mexico,  but  Mr. 
Sabine,  in  a  paper  he  read  on  this  plant,  before 
the  Horticultural  Society  in  1819,  said  that 
there  is  no  authority  for  this  statement,  for 
though  Hernandez,  in  his  History  of  Mexico, 
mentions  it,  he  does  not  particularly  distin- 
guish it  as  a  native  of  that  counti'y.  South 
America  being  the  native  country  of  this  veg- 
etable, it  was  of  cour.se  unknown  to  the  ancient 
Greeks  and  Romans  ;  still  the  name  Lycoper- 
sicum  is  stated  to  have  originated  with  Galen, 
the  celebrated  physician,  who  lived  about  A. 
1).  131,  but  it  has  not  been  ascertained  to  what 
plant  it  was  given.  The  name  is  derived  from 
h/kos,  a  wolf,  and  persktm,  a  peach,  implying 
that  the  fruit  was  of  such  inferior  quality  as 
to  be  tit  only  for  the  use  of  that  animal.  Ges- 
ner,  an  eminent  jihysician  and  naturalist  of 
Zurich,  born  in  1.516,  entered  into  some  inves- 
tigation of  Galen's  on  the  subject,  but  they  did 
not  lead  to  a  certainty,  and  his  opinions  are 
criticLsed  by  JohnBauhin  Anguillara,  an  Ital- 
ian, in  a  work  published  in  loljl,  conjectures 
that  the  I^ycopersicum  of  Galen  was  the  to- 
mato, and  on  this  authority  it  is  said  to  have 
acquired  in  after-times  the  name  of  Lycoper- 
sicum  Galeni.  In  the  Adversaria  of  Pena  and 
L'Obel,  imblished  in  1.570,  it  is  called  Potua 
antoris,  Pvmimi  aureum,  and  Lycopersicum  rpui- 
rundam,  in  conformity  with  Anguillara's  con- 
jecture. 

In  the  "  Elemens  de  Botanique  "  of  Tourne- 
fort,  1094,  we  find  he  adopted  Lyco])ersicum 
as  the  name  of  the  genus  in  which  he  placed 
the  particular  plant  now  treated  of.  Dodoens, 
a  Dutch  botanist,  described  this  plant  as  grown 
in  his  time  in  the  Continental  gardens,  (see 
his  '  'Pemtades, "  published  aA  Antwerp,  1.58;5), 
and  that  the  fruit  was  eaten,  dressed  with 
pepper,  vinegar  and  oil.  It  api)ears  by  the 
"  llortus  Kewensis,"  to  have  been  cultivated 
in  England  in  the  year  1.59G,  but  it  nuist  have 
been  introduced  some  years  previously  to  that 
date,  as  Gerard  mentiojjs  it  in  the  early  jiart 
of  his  voluminous  "Herbal,"  (published  in 
1597),  wliich  must  have  taken  .some  years  in 
compiling  and  jirinting. 

Tliis  aCithor  calls  the  tomato  Po^mim  amoris. 
and  says,  "  Apples  of  I>ove  do  grow  in  Sjiain, 
Italy,  and  such  hot  countries,  from  whence 
myself  have  received  seeds  for  my  garden, 
wlicre  they  do  increase  and  prosper."  He  also 
tells  us  that  "there  hath  happened  into  my 
hands  another  sort  very  notable  with  the  for- 
mer, only  the  fruit  thereof  is  of  a  yellow  col- 
our."  Parkinson,  in  his  "Paradiseis,"  pub- 
lished in  KioO,  says  that  "the  tomato  grows 
naturally  in  the  hot  countries  of  Barbnry  and 
Ethiopia,  yet  some  report  them  to  Vie  first 
brought  from  Peru,  a  province  of  the  West 
Indies.  We  only  have  them  for  curiosity  in 
our  gardens,  and  for  the  amorous  aspect  or 
beauty  of  the  fruit."  Tliere  is  no  record  when 
this  vegetable  was  first  employed  as  an  escu- 
lent in  this  country,  but  Miller,  in  his  "Gar- 
deners' Dictionary,"  published  in  17.52,  after 
describing  tliem,  says  they  were  much  used  in 
soup  in  his  time.  Being  a  native  of  hot  cli- 
m  ites,  the  croi>  very  much  depends  on  the 
season  in  this  countrj' ;  when  it  is  favorable, 
large  quantities  are  produced  in  the  open  air. 
As  far  back  as  1818,  being  a  very  fine  .summer, 
the  growth  of  this  vegetable  around  London 
exceeded  the  demand.  Mr.  John  Wilmot,  of 
Isleworth,  states  that  from  acrop  of  (lOO  plants 
that  season,  he  gathered  4(10  half-sieves.  1'lie 
fruit  on  several  single  plants  prol.iably  weighed 
40  lbs.  ;  some  of  the  ajiples  were  of  an  extra- 
ordinary size,  exceeding  twelve  inches  in  cir- 
cumference, and  weighing  twelve  ounces  each. 


It  is  stated  that  this  vegetable,  medicinally 
considered,  is  an  excellent  substitute  for  calo- 
mel, and  can  be  taken  when  that  valuable 
medicine  cannot,  and  with  less  injury  to  the 
constitution  (see  Mcintosh's  "Book  of  the 
Garden.")  In  France  and  Italy  whole  fields 
of  this  jilant  ai-e  cultivated  ;  so  great  is  the 
demand  in  some  parts  of  the  latter  country 
that  there  is  scarcely  a  dinner  served  up  in 
which  it  does  not  in  some  way  or  other  forma 
part.  In  England  the  plant  is  more  cultivated 
than  formerly,  and  there  has  been  of  late  an 
importation  of  this  vegetable  from  the  United 
States,  iireserved  in  tins.  In  the  course  of  an 
extensive  series  of  chemical  experiments  on 
plants  by  E.  Solby,  he  found  that  the  leaves 
and  stems  of  the  tomato  contained  nitric  acid. 
It  is  stated  in  the  "Gardeners'  Magazine," 
vol.  X.,  (1834),  that  tomato  buds  'may  be 
grafted  on  jiotatoes,  and  plants  thus  treated 
produce  good  crops  of  both  vegetables. 

The  old  European  botanists  wrote  the  name 
of  this  plant  Tnmatle.  The  Spaniards  and 
Portuguese  call  them  Tomates,  which  appears 
to  be  the  original  Peruvian  appellation ;  and 
in  Mexico  this  and  several  plants  of  the  Sola- 
num  genus  are  called  Tomatles. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  Tomatoes 
known  by  the  form  and  color  of  their  fruits. 
Duval,  in  his  "  Katural  History  of  the  Sola- 
num,"  notices  their  distinctive  characteristics, 
and  describes  each  as  a  distinct  species  ;  but 
it  is  believed  that  they  can  all  be  referred  to  a 
common  typo,  viz.,  the  large  tomato,  with 
deeply-divided,  rough,  hairy  leaves,  and  clus- 
ters of  yellow  flowers,  succeeded  by  large  lobed 
fruit  of  an  orange  red  or  scarlet  color  when 
ripe.  Dr.  B.  Seeman,  in  his  "  Flora  Vitien- 
sis,"  or  the  description  of  plants  in  the  Fiji 
Islands,  mentions  Solanum  anthropophaijoriim 
(the  cannibal's  tomato),  called  Bogo  dina,  be- 
ing one  of  the  plants  which  Fijians  cultivate 
very  near  Bure-ni-sa,  or  strangers'  house, 
where  the  bodies  of  the  slain  in  battle  are  al- 
ways taken  to  be  feasted  with  the  fruit  of  this 
plant,  and  from  wliich  it  appears  that  savages 
sometimes  require  a  relish  with  their  disgust- 
ing food. — H.  G.  Glasspoole,  in  Science  Gos- 
sip). 

^ 

PROPERTIES  OF  FUEL.— WOOD. 

The  wood  we  burn  is  composed  chiefly  of 
thn^',  elements,  oxygen,  hydrogen,  and  carbon, 
in  various  projiortions.  Of  these,  oxygen  adds 
nothing  whatever  to  its  value  as  fuel :  that  de- 
pends upon  the  other  elements;  hence,  the 
more  oxygen,  the  less  there  can  be  of  the  other 
substances,  and  the  poorer  the  wood.  Oxygen 
and  hydrogen  are  both  gases.  Keither  has 
ever  been  liquified  or  .solidified.  Carbon,  on 
the  other  hand,  is  a  constant  solid,  and  it  is 
this  property  that  makes  our  fires  stationary. 
AVhen  wood  is  newly  cut,  it  contains  from 
twenty  to  fifty  per  ("ent.  of  sap  or  water,  the 
quiintity  varying  with  the  kind  of  wood,  and 
with  the  season  of  the  year.  Exposed  to  air 
for  a  year,  wood  becomes  air-dried,  and  parts 
with  about  h.alf  of  its  water  ;  fifteen  per  cent, 
more  may  be  expelled  by  artificial  heat ;  but 
before  it  loses  all  its  moisture.  It  begins  to  de- 
compose or  char.  The  presence  of  water  iu 
fuel  therefore  dimini.shes  its  v.alue  as  such  in 
two  ways  :  it  hinders  and  delays  coiubustiou, 
and  wastes  heat  by  evaporation.  If  one  hun- 
dred pounds  of  wood  contains  thirty  pounds 
of  w.ater,  there  is  left  but  seventy  pounds  of 
corabustilile  material.  In  the  process  of  burn- 
ing, one  pound  will  lie  expended  in  raising  the 
temperature  of  the  inheivnt  water  to  the  boil- 
ing point,  and  six  more  in  converting  it  into 
vaiior,  makuig  a  loss  of  seven  jiounds  of  real 
fuel,  or  seven-tenths  of  the  entire  comlmstive 
force.  Besides  this  dead  loss  of  about  ten  per 
cent,  of  fuel,  the  water  present  is  an  annoy- 
ance, by  hindej'iug  free  and  rapid  combustion. 
E(iual  weights  of  dilferent  varieties  of  wood 
in  similar  conditions  produce  equal  quantities 
of  heat,  but  it  will  not  do  to  purchase  wood 
by  weight,  owing  to  the  varying  quantities  of 
its  moisture.  It  is  usually  sold  by  measure, 
but  even  equal  bulks  will  be  found  to  vary  in 
this  latter  respect  as  much  as  equal  weights. 
A  series  of  careful  experiments  conducted  by 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


ii9 


Trof.  M.  Hell,  liaslicpii  tabulated  as  follows, 
showiiiij  the  lieiitiiii;  values  per  cord  of  several 
American  woods — sliell-bark  hickory  l)eiiig 
taken  as  the  standard,  and  marked  1(10: 

Slicill  harU  liieUory,...UIO  i  Yell. i\v  oak,.... 
Pi!;uut  liiikory, !I5      llani  iiiapl 


T, 


Wliile  oak, 

White  asli, .... 

I)o};wooil, 

Si-nil)  oak,  

AN'ifcli  lia/.el, 

Apple  tree, 

Kwl  oak, 

Wliitc  l>eccli, 

Black  walnut, (>5 

Black  liinli  Oli 


..  fiO 

..  00 

. .  5.S 

. .  5(1 

..  .5.') 

..  m 


70 
(ill 


Wliile  i-li 

Ueil  ci'tlar, 
Willi  clieiry, . 
Yellow  pine,    . 
j'SoCt  maple, . .. 

Cliesliiut,    .53 

Yi'llow  jioplar, .53 

Hiitteniiit,    51 

While  liiri-h,        48 

White-pine, 42 

The  hardness  of  wood  di^pends  ii|)on  the 
di'iisity  of  its  libri^s,  or  rather  of  their  paekini;. 
Tiie  same  species  of  wood  is  not-  always  of  eipial 
density.  Those  trees  which  i;i()w  in  the  forest, 
or  on  low  wet  lands,  are  not  nearly  so  consoli- 
dated as  their  confrei'es  in  thi'  njieii  lieldsoron 
barren  soils,  where  growth  is  slow  and  re- 
tarded. 

Duriiiff  the  process  of  combustion,  heat  is 
evolved  in  two  ways;  tirst  by  Maine,  second  by 
red-hot  coals.  Soft  woods  are  iiinch  more 
uittivc  in  the  lirst  stage  than  hai'd,  and  liai'd 
woods  are  more  active  in. the  second  than  soft. 
Tht^  soft  wood  burns  rapidly,  with  a  volumin- 
ous Haine,  Icavint;  but  little  ('oal;  wliile  the 
hard  produces  less  llaine,  but  yields  a  larger 
mass  of  coal.  The  cause  of  this  is,  jiarlly,  the 
frecadinissionofairthrongh  the  spongy  texture 
of  the  soft  wood,  but  it  is  mainly  due  to  chem- 
ical comiiosition.  Pur((  woody  lihre  (ligniii,) 
fiom  whatever  source,  has  the  same  composi- 
tion :  oxygen,  10  jiarts;  hydrogen,  10;  and  car- 
bon 1-J;  in  other  words,  there  is  just  enough 
oxygen  in  it  to  unite  in  combustion  with  the 
hydrogen  and  iiroduce  water.  But  in  most 
woods  the  tibre  is  impure,  especially  in  the 
softer  kinds.  In  hard  woods,  on  tlie  other 
liand,  the  lignin  approaches  much  nearer  the 
l>roper  chemical  combination.  In  soft  woods 
hydrogen  is  in  excess,  hence  the  vehi^mence  of 
their  combnstiou  at  tirst ;  more  carbon  is  taken 
up  with  the  hydrogen,  producing  llaim^  and 
smoke,  and  the  coal  residue  is  diminished.  It 
is  an  error  how(^ver  to  suppose  that  soft  wood 
yields  less  heat  than  an  equal  weight  of  hard. 
It  burns  more  (luickly,  to  lie  sure,  lint  the  heat 
evolved  is  intense,  nuich  more  so  than  that  of 
hard  wood  in  the  same  time,  hence,  for  rapid 
and  concentrated  heat  it  is  better  adapted  than 
the  other. —  Yauiuans. 


BITTER  BUTTER. 


A  lady  correspondent  of  the  Maine  Fnrmir 
gives  her  views  as  follows  njion  this  subject: 
.Simply  ciivering  pure,  soiuid  ci'eam  in  a  clean 
tin  pail  will  not  of  itself  cause  hitteruess  nor 
fermentation  in  the  cream  it  contains  ;  on  the 
contrary,  keeping  it  from  contact  with  the 
oxygen  of  the  air,  would  have  a  tendency  to 
retard  changes  rather  than  hasten  them. 
Cream  is  very  seldom  bitter  in  the  summer, 
nor  would  it  often  be  in  winter  if  the  milk 
were  kept  at  a  temperature  as  high  as  (35  -,  day 
and  night.  It  is  impossible  to  state  just  what 
causes  bitterness  in  each  specimen  of  butter  or 
mess  of  cream.  Sometimes  it  may  be  caused 
by  weeds  or  poor  feed  eaten  by  the  cows,  but 
much  oftener  it  is  iitdincth/  caused  by  a  low 
tenyierature  of  the  milk  during  the  rising  of 
the  cream.  Perhaps  it  woidd  lie  more  correct 
to  say  that  a  low  temperature  is  the  exciting 
or  inuiiediate  cause,  just  as  cold  may  be  the 
exciting  eause  of  a  fit  of  sickness  in  the  human 
patient. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  milk  is  a  com- 
liound  substance,  and  that  it  is  subject  to  (-on- 
staut  changes  from  the  moment  it  leaves  the 
udder  until  it  is  digested  in  the  stomach  of 
man  or  auimals,  or  until  it  is  entirely  decom- 
Jiosed  by  the  usual  process  of  decay.  Milk 
contains  not  only  fat,  curd,  sugar  and  water, 
but  also  several  essentuil  oils  which  may  add 
to  or  take  from  its  agreeable  flavor,  according 
to  the  condition  they  may  be  in.  It  also  often 
contains  germs  of  fungi  which,  under  certain 
conditions,  may  injure  its  llavor.  Tliese  little 
vegetable  growths  are  liable  to  increase  with 
great  rapidity,  when  the  conditions  are  favor- 


able, and  thus  to  destroy  or  entirely  change 
the  character  of  the  milk  growth,  and  in  the 
summer  souring  tends  to  counteract  the  germ. 
As  milk  is  olleii  kept  in  warm  rooms,  the 
.souring  process  begins  so  soon  that  llie  milk 
is  protected  from  the  ellects  of  germ  growtli. 
Heating  or  IVee/.ing  milk  will  also  prevent 
germ  growth  tor  the  time  being.  That  change 
in  milk  which  produces  bitterness  can  go  on 
under  a  inni'h  lower  temperature  than  is  re- 
•inired  for  iiroducing  sourness.  So,  without 
attemptingtoexplain  ill  detail  all  the  dilli'rent 
(dianges  to  which  milk  is  subject  while  the 
cream  is  rising,  we  may  perliajis  make  the  sub- 
ject a  little  clearer  by  comparing  the  two  con- 
ditions of  sourness  and  bitterness  with  a  rail- 
road track  and  its  turnouts.  Temperature  is  to 
milk  as  a  swit(-h  is  to  a  railroail  track.  If  the 
temperature  is  low,  but  not  low  enough  to 
prevent  all  action,  which  would  be  at  or 
near  the  freezinir  point,  the  milk  will  go  oil' on 
the  track  towards  a  condition  of  bitterness, 
just  as  sure  as  there  are  any  fungoid  germs  in 
it,  but  if  th(^  tcmiiei'atnre  is  high  enough  to 
send  it  towards  a  state  of  acidity,  bitterness 
is  escaped.  We  seldom  hear  any  complaint 
of  bitter  milk,  c.n^am  or  butter  in  warm 
Weather.  It  is  when  the  days  begin  to  lie  cool 
in  the  fall  or  early  winter,  and  before  the  milk 
is  removcil  to  winter  (ptarters,  that  the  ipies- 
tions  begin  to  conn^  in,  "  Why  don't  the  but- 
ter come  y"  and  "What  makes  the  cream 
bitter  V"  It  is  possible  there  may  be  milk  so 
pure  that  a  low  tiaiipei-ature  would  not  cause 
bitterness  in  forty-eight  hours,  but  we  believe 
such  milk  is  very  scarce.  The  only  perfectly 
sure  ]irev(^ntative  we  have  practiced  is  to  heat 
the  milk  to  1:50-  as  soon  as  it  comes  in  from 
the  staliUts.  People  who  do  that  seldom  have 
any  trouble  of  this  kind. 


TRANSPLANTING  TREES  IN  FALL  OR 
SPRING. 

Mr.  W.  II.  Ragan,  Secretary  of  the  Indiana 
Horticultural  Society,  gives  his  views  on  the 
above  subject  thus,  in  the  Indiana  J'^irmcr  ; 
The  iirincijile  through  which  successful  iirojia- 
gation  of  plants  by  artilieial  means  is  insured, 
is  the  temperature  of  the  soil  in  which  the 
cutting  is  inserted,  ainl  a  lower  degrees  sur- 
romiding  the  top.  Such  conditions  stimulate 
the  root  and  retard  leaf  growth.  A  cutting 
in.serted  in  soil  heated  from  below,  will  striki^ 
root,  as  the  gardeners  term  it,  longbefon'  any 
apparent  growth  manifests  itselfabove  ground. 
This  tendency  is  in  accord  with  a  natural  law 
that  demands  liist  the  perniancncy  of  the  |)laiit 
resoun'cs  before  a  supply  can  lie  demanded 
therefrom.  When  these  conditions  are  r<ver.s- 
ed,  we  see  leaf-growth  developed,  with  Halter- 
ing prospi-cts  of  success,  when  a  few  days  of 
dry  weather  intervening,  causes  the  plant  to 
wither  and  die.  On  examination  we  lind  no 
root  growth  to  supply  the  heavy  drain  by  the 
developed  foliage  upon  the  plant,  rendering 
death  only  a  iiuestion  of  time. 

Xow,  a  tr('e  transplanted  early  in  the  fall 
has  the  advantage  of  having  its  roots  in  warm 
soil,  while  its  top  is  in  the  cool  atmosphere, 
conditions  almost  analogous  to  the  artilieial 
means  adopted  by  the  propagation. 

A  tiansi>lanted  tree,  with  a  large  portion  of 
its  roots  lost  in  digging,  becomes  very  much 
like  a  rootless  laitting,  reiiniring  similar  treat- 
ment to  insure  its  growth.  A  tree  transplanted 
early  in  the  fall,  while  the  ground  isyetwarm, 
will  form  nuinerons  librous  roots  before  cold 
weather,  which,  if  protectetl  by  the  mounding 
process,  ri'ferred  to  in  a  i)revious  article,  will 
be  ready  in  the  spring  to  contribute  to  the 
wants  of  the  tree,  wiien  drawn  on  by  the  de- 
veloping foliage.  Thus,  the  propriety  of  cov- 
ering the  roots  warm  and  securely  for  the  win- 
ter, will  become  ap|)arent  to  the  planter,  as 
this  tender  growth  will  be  easily  damaged  by 
the  heavings  of  the  frost  and  winds  of  winter, 
when  your  tree  becomes  even  woi'sc  off  than 
if  removed  in  the  spring.  This  mound  of  earth 
should  be  removed  when  spring  opens  up. 

Trees  transplanted  in  the  spring  have  the 
reverse  conditions  of  the  fall  planting  to  con- 
tend with,  viz.  :  <i  high  atmospheric  tempera- 


ture, tending  to  develop  foliage,  and  a  low 
temperature  of  the  soil,  retarding  root  growth, 
often  resnlliiig  fatally,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
cutting  referred  to,  when  overtaken  by  a 
period  of  droulli. 

The  results  of  fall  and  spring  planting,  in 
favor  of  the  former,  are  more  apparent  in  ciwe 
of  trees  of  large  growth,  being  due  to  the 
greater  proportional  inntilalion  of  the  root, 
and  the  larger  expanse  of  ev.iporating  sinface 
ill  thelbliagc.  Such  being  the  ease,  the  reader 
will  readily  perceive  the  inipurtanee  of  tians- 
plautiiig  large  deeidiions  trees  early  in  the  fall. 

CHINESE  AGRICULTURE. 

I  will  show  the  teachei-s  of  agriculture  iin- 
other  people,  who,  wilhunl  the  aid  of  science, 
of  whic'h  they  know  nothing,  have  found  the 
philosopher's  stone,  which  tliesi^  very  leai:hers, 
in  their  blindness,  vaiiilv  .seek.  I  will  point 
out  to  them  a  land,  the'  i'orlility  of  wJiicli  hiw 
liir  three  tlious.and  years  never  dei-rea.si'd,  but, 
on  tlu^  contrary,  has  been  ever  on  the  iiii'rease; 
and  where'  more  men  are  crowded  together  on 
a  sijiiare  mile  than  are  to  be  round  on  the  same 
space  in  Holland  or  Hnglaiid. 

According  to  the  U'stimony  of  all  reports  of 
our  own  and  former  times,  made  bv  Davis, 
llcdde,  Koitune,  and  others,  and  which  have 
been  fully  borne  out  by  the  s|H!cial  imiuiries 
into  the  stale  of  Chinese  hushandiy,  instituted 
on  the  siHit  at  my  leifiiest,  by  tlu'  direction  of 
the  late  Sir  Uobi-rt  Peel,  it  appears  that  in 
China,  nothing  is  known  of  turalom  i-uUurc,  or 
of  J'udilcr  plants,  which  are  grown  for  the  sake 
of  cattle.  Firiii-i/iiril  mauure  is  eipially  un- 
known ;  every  field  y'^Ula  jjiynluct:  twice  a  year, 
and  is  never  allowed  to  lie  fulloio. 

Wheat  ofKMi  produces  one  hundred  and 
twenty-fold  and  uiiwards  (KckellK^rg) ;  and  a 
fifteen-fold  crop  is  considered  an  average  yield 
(Davis).  All  those  means  which  the  (ierinan 
teaclu^r  of  agriculture  regarils  as  indisitfnMtUe 
for  increasing  the  |)roduce  of  our  lields,  and 
instructs  his  followers  to  employ,  are  not  only 
(«(;;•<■/// dispensed  with  by  the  (liinese  farmer, 
but  he  actually  obtains,  without  their  co- 
operation, cro))S  which  exceed  more  than  two- 
fold those  of  the  (ierman  high  farmers. 

I  readily  admit  that  the  Cliinesr  are  ditfer- 
ently  circumstancpd  from  what  we  are  in  Kii- 
rojie.  Most  of  them  are  Buddhists,  and  eat  no 
beef;  weeat  morellesh.  and  iniisl  cons^'ipiently 
grow  fodder  for  the  production  of  that  article 
of  our  diet.  Hut  that  is  not  theipiestion  lielbre 
us,  but  one  which  concerns  those  principles 
that  are  to  guide  the  pra<'ti<-e  of  husbandry. 
Our  teachers  of  luodi'rii  agriculture  do  not  tell 
us  to  grow  fodder  that  llcsh  iii  ly  lie  prodnctil, 
but  that  we  ought  to  do  .so  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  manure  ;  which  clearly  sliows  that 
they  have  no  just  conception  of  the  true  nature 
and  aim  of  agriculturi',  and  that  they  are  alto- 
gether ignorant  of  .scientific  princii>les  in  the 
matter. 

In  laying  down  a  scientific  principle,  the 
first  point  for  consideration  is  not  whether  the 
aiiplication  of  it  will  turn  out  prolilable  or 
not,  but  wln'ther  it  is  Inn  :  for  if  it  is  a  true 
l>rinci])le  it  /)(U.<(  prove  advantageous. 

In  scientific  agriculture  "  manure  "  finds  no 
longer  a  place,  for  the  notions  that  were  for- 
merly attached  to  the  term  are  completely  ob- 
.solete ;  just  as  is  the  c;ise  with  the  word 
I'lihiijiston,  which,  ui)  to  the  end  of  the  last 
century,  was  used  to  explain  chemical  phe- 
nomena. 

So  loiig  .a-s  the  nature  of  Phlogiston  wa.s  un- 
known, that  word  served  as  a  collective  t<!rm 
to  connect  together,  in  an  intelligible  form,  a 
number  of  unkiiinnn  oiK'ratiug  causes;  but 
when  it  had  once  bei^n  settled  what  "Phlo- 
giston "  really  meant  and  repre-seiiled,  the 
term  had  to  giv()  way  to  more  correct  ideas, 
and  interiiretations  of  i)heuoiueua  Ijecame 
what  they  had  never  been  before,  viz.:  real 
and  trustworthy.  Wood  does  not,  on  that  ac- 
count, burn  dili'erently  now-a-<lays  from  what 
it  formerly  did  ;  the  air  played  the  same  part 
in  its  combustion  then  a.s  now  ;  and  water  .still 
IKLS-scsires  tlie  .same  property  of  making  bodies 
Wet ;  but  what  immense  progress  luis  beea 
made  by  mankind,  as  the  result  of  substituting 


420 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[August, 


for  the  word  "Phlogiston,"  the  projier  con- 
ception of  the  nature  of  air,  of  oxygen,  and 
of  the  process  of  combustion  ! 

A  similar  progress,  but  much  more  import- 
ant, and  infinitely  more  beneficial  to  man,  will 
spring  from  a  correct  apprehension  of  the  pro- 
cess of  nutrition  in  plants  and  animals.  Ab- 
surd as  would  now  be  the  attempt  of  a  teacher 
of  chemistry  to  account  for  any  chemical  pro- 
cess by  having  recourse  to  Phlogiston,  it  is  no 
less  inadmissible  in  a  teacher  of  scientific 
agriculture  to  explain  a  given  fact  by  at- 
tributing it  to  "manure;"  for,  in  the  place  of 
the  obsolete  notion  of  "manure,"  ivhich  hats 
no  hvner  any  meaning,  we  have  now  for  every 
plant  certain  positively  known  elements  of  food, 
to  the  united  action  of  which  we  have  to  look 
for  an  explanation  of  the  fact  or  phenomenon 
in  question. 

The  doctrine  which  inculcates  as  necessary 
for  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  the  jiroduction 
of  manure  by  green  crops,  and  along  with 
this  the  maintenance  of  a  stock  of  cattle,  is 
erroneous. 

It  is  necessary  here  to  distinguish  between 
necissity  and  irtility.  A  stock  of  cattle  may 
prove  very  useful  to  the  firrnier,  and  yield  him 
a  remunerative  return  in  butter,  cheese  and 
meat;  but  this  is  (piite  a  distinct  affair  from 
the  tillage  of  his  fields,  and  lie  ought  to  know, 
and  niust  be  taught,  that  there  is  absolutely 
no  compulsion  upon  him  to  keep  a  stock  of 
cattle. 

The  Icetpiny  of  cattle  is  necessary  for  the  pro- 
duction of  niantire,  hut  the  production  of  manure 
is  by  no  means  necessary  for  the  fertilization  of 
cornfields.  In  the  system  of  the  rotation  of 
crops,  all  that  is  n  quired  is  that  green  crops 
should  be  grown,  and  that  their  constituent 
parts  be  incorporated  with  the  arable  surface 
soil  of  the  field  ;  and  it  is  quite  immaterial 
for  the  cereals,  whether  the  green  crops  be 
previously  eaten  by  the  cattle  and  converted 
into  manure  or  not. 

If  lupines,  vetches,  clover,  turnips,  &c.,  are 
cut  up  and  ploughed  in,  in  the  green  state, 
their  action  is  far  more  powerful. 

There  is  no  natural  connection  of  mutual 
dependence  between  the  production  of  corn 
and  that  of  flesh  and  cheese  :  on  the  contrary, 
they  interfere  with  each  other,  and  must  in 
science  be  considered  as  perfectly  distinct  and 
separate  things ;  for  the  production  and  sale 
of  flesh  is  carried  on  at  the  expense  of  grain, 
and  vice  versa.  We  cannot  do  without  meat, 
milk,  or  cheese  ;  and  if  the  jjroduction  of  these 
articles  be  left  entirely  to  the  grazier,  who,  on 
his  part,  ought  to  meddle  as  little  as  jiossible 
with  the  growing  of  grain,  both  he  arid  the 
faimer,  as  well  as  the  consumer,  would  profit 
by  it.  In  England  this  separation  of  the  two 
pursuits  is  gradually  gaining  ground  ;  and 
when,  as  is  to  be  hojjed,  our  German  farmer 
shall  have  succeeded,  in  the  course  of  time  in 
mastering  the  multiplication  table,  we  may 
exjiect  that  the  same  separation  will  take  ])lace 
in  Germany.  Chemical  manufactories  are  not 
established  anywhere  and  everywhere,  but 
only  in  localities  offering  certain  natural  ad- 
vantages ;  and  agriculture,  after  all,  is  simply 
an  industrial  pursuit,  like  any  other. 

In  China  they  know  nothing  of  the  funda- 
mental i>rinciples  upon  wliich  German  agri- 
culture is  based.  Except  green  manuring, 
they  neither  know  nor  esteem  the  application 
of  any  kind  of  manure  beyond  the  excrements 
of  man.  The  other  matters  occasionally  cm- 
ployed  by  them  to  increase  their  crops,  are  in 
quantity  and  effect  utterly  insignificant,  when 
compared  with  the  use  of  human  excrements. 

It  is  quite  impossible  for  us  in  Europe  to 
form  an  adequate  conception  of  the  great  care 
which  is  bestowed  in  China  upon  the  collec- 
tion of  human  excrements.  In  the  eyes  of  the 
Chinese,  these  constitute  the  trae  sustenance 
of  the  soil  (so  Davis,  Fortune,  Hedde,  and 
others  tell  us),  and  it  is  principally  to  this 
most  energetic  agent  that  they  ascribe  the  ac- 
tivity and  fertility  of  the  earth. 

The  Chinese,  whoso  house  is  still,  what  it 
most  probably  has  ever  been,  a  tent,  on^j'  that 
it  is  built  of  wood  and  stone,  knows  nothing 
of  privies  as  we  have  them  in  our  country ; 


but,  in  their  stead,  there  are  found  in  the 
]irinci]ial  and  most  comfortable  part  of  his 
dwelling,  earthenware  tubs,  or  cisterns  most 
carefully  constructed  of  stone  and  lime  ;  and 
the  notion  of  utility  so  comiilctely  prevails 
over  the  sense  of  smell  that,  as  Fortune  tells 
us  ("The  Tea  District  of  China  and  India," 
vol.  I.,  p.  221),  "what  in  every  civilized  town 
in  Europe  would  be  regarded  as  a  most  intoler- 
able nuisance,  is  there  looked  upon  by  all 
clas.ses,  rich  and  poor,  with  the  utmost  com- 
placency, and, "he  continues,  "nothing  would 
cause  greater  surprise  to  a  Chinese  tlian  to 
complain  of  the  stench  arising  from  these  re- 
ceptacles." The  Chinese  do  not  disinfect  this 
maniue,  but  they  are  pei-fectly  aware  that  it 
loses  part  of  its  fertilizing  power  by  the  action 
of  the  air,  and  they,  therefore,  take  great  care 
to  guard  against  evaporation. 

Except  the  trade  in  grain,  and  in  articles  of 
food,  generally,  there  is  none  so  extensively 
carried  on  in  Cliina  as  that  in  human  excre- 
ments. Long  clumsy  boats,  which  traverse 
the  street  canals,  collect  these  matters  every 
day  and  distribute  them  over  the  country. 
Every  Coolie  who  has  brought  his  produce  to 
market  in  the  morning,  carries  home  at  night 
two  pails  full  of  this  manure  on  a  bamboo  pole. 

The  estimation  in  which  it  is  held  is  so  great 
that  everybody  knows  the  amouut  of  excre- 
ment voided  per  man  in  a  day,  month,  or 
year  ;  and  a  Chinese  would  regard,  as  a  gross 
breach  of  manners,  tlie  dejiartnre  from  his 
house  of  a  guest  who  neglects  to  let  him  have 
that  advantage  to  which  he  deems  himself 
justly  entitled  in  return  for  his  hospitality. 
The  value  of  the  excrements  of  five  people  is 
estimated  at  two  Ten  per  day,  which  makes 
2,t)00  cash*  per  annum,  or  about  twenty  hec- 
tolitres (440  galls.),  at  a  price  of  seven  florins. 

In  the  vicinity  of  large  towns  these  excre- 
ments are  converted  into  poudrette,  which  is 
then  sent  to  the  most  distant  places,  in  the 
shape  of  square  cakes,  like  bricks.  For  use 
these  cakes  are  soaked  in  water  and  applied 
in  the  fluid  form.  With  the  exception  of  his 
rice  fields,  the  Chinese  does  not  manure  the 
field,  but  the  plant. 

Every  substance  derived  from  plants  and 
animals  is  carefully  collected  by  the  Chinese 
and  converted  into  manure.  Oil  cakes,  horn 
and  bones  are  highly  valued,  and  so  is  soot, 
and  more  especially  ash.  To  give  some  liotion 
of  the  value  set  by  them  upon  animal  offal,  it 
it  will  be  suflicient  to  mention  that  the  barbers 
most  carefully  collect,  and  sell  as  an  article  of 
trade,  the  somewhat  considerable  amount  of 
hair  of  the  beards  and  heads  of  the  hundreds 
of  millions  of  customers  whom  they  daily 
shave.  The  Chinese  know  the  action  of  gyp- 
sum and  lime,  and  it  often  happens  that  tliey 
renew  the  plastering  of  the  kitchens  for  the 
purpose  of  making  use  of  the  old  matter  for 
manure. — (Davis.) 

No  Chinese  faimer  ever  sows  a  seed  of  corn 
before  it  has  been  soaked  in  licpiid  mantu'e  di- 
luted with  water,  and  has  begun  to  germinate; 
and  experience  has  taught  him  (so  he  asserts,) 
that  this  operation  not  only  tends  to  i)romote 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  plant,  but 
also  to  iirotect  the  seed  from  the  insects  in  the 
ground.     (Davis.) 

During  the  summer  months,  all  kinds  of 
vegetable  refuse  are  mixed  with  turf,  straw, 
grass,  peat,  weeds,  and  earth,  collected  into 
hea]is,  and  when  quite  dry,  set  on  fire  ;  after 
several  daysof  slow  combustion,  the  entire  mass 
is  converted  into  a  kind  of  black  earth.  This 
compost  is  only  employed  for  the  manuring  of 
seeds.  When  seed  time  arrives,  one  man  makes 
holes  in  the  ground;  another  follows  with  the 
seed,  which  he  places  in  the  holes;  and  a  third 
adds  this  black  earth.  The  young  seed  jihuited 
in  this  manner  grows  with  such  extraordinary 
vigor  that  it  is  thereby  enabled  to  push  its 
rootlets  through  the  hard  solid  soil,  and  to  col- 
lect its  mineral  constituents.     (Fortune.) 

"The  Chinese  farmer  sows  his  wheat,  after 
the  grains  have  been  soaked  in  liquid  manure, 
quite  close  in  seed-beds,  and  afterwards  trans- 
l)lants  it.    Occasionally,  also,  the  soaked  grains 


*100  Caeli  arc  equal  to  about  ij^d. — (Fortune.) 


are  immediately  sown  in  the  field  properly  pre- 
pared for  their  reception,  at  an  intei-val  of  four 
inches  from  each  other.  The  time  of  trans- 
jilanting  is  towards  the  month  of  December. 
In  March  the  seed  sends  up  from  seven  to  nine 
stalks  with  ears,  but  the  straw  is  shorter  than 
with  us.  I  have  been  told  that  wheat  yields 
120  fold  and  more,  which  amply  repays  the 
care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  it. "  (Eckeberg, 
Reiiort  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Stock- 
holm, 170.').)* 

In  Chusan,  and  the  entire  rice  districts  of 
Chekiang  and  Keangsoo,  two  plants  are  ex- 
clusively cultivated  for  tlie  purpose  of  sowing 
as  green  manure  for  the  rice  fields;  the  one  is 
a  species  of  Coronilla,  clover  is  the  other. 
Broad  furrows,  similar  to  those  intended  for 
celery,  are  made,  and  the  seeds  are  planted  on 
the  ridges  in  patches,  at  a  distance  of  five 
inches  from  each  other.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
days  germination  begins,  and  long  before  the 
winter  is  gone,  the  entire  field  is  covered  with 
a  luxuriant  vegetation.  In  April  the  plants 
are  plowed  in,  and  decomposition  soon  begins, 
attended  with  a  most  di.sagreeable  odor.  This 
method  is  adopted  in  all  places  where  rice  is 
grown.     (Fortune,  vol.  I.,  p.  238.) 

These  extracts,  which,  from  want  of  space, 
cannot  be  further  extended,  will  probably  suf- 
fice to  convince  the  German  agriculturist,  that 
his  practice,  when  compared  with  that  of  the 
oldest  agricultural  nation  in  the  world,  stands 
somewhat  in  the  position  of  the  acts  of  a  child 
to  those  of  a  full-grown  and  experienced  man. 
The  Chinese  system  of  husbandry  is  the  more 
remarkable,  if  we  take  into  account  what  tliey 
have  achieved  in  other  mechanical  and  chemi- 
cal pursuits,  more  incomprehensible,  as  they 
owe  everything  to  the  purest  empiricism.  For 
the  Chinese  system  of  instruction  has,  for 
thousands  of  years,  so  thoroughly  excluded 
every  inquiry  after  an  ultimate  cause  of  things, 
which  might  possibly  have  led  to  the  discovery 
of  scientific  principles,  or  to  the  establishment 
of  a  science,  that  the  capability  of  making 
further  progress,  except  by  imitation,  would 
seem  to  be  destroyed  to  the  very  root  in  that 
people.  The  study  of  the  physical  laws  which 
has  led  European  nations  to  the  invention  of 
the  steam-engine,  and  of  the  electric  telegraph, 
and  has  enabled  man  to  control  and  turn  to 
his  account  the  forces  of  nature  in  mimberless 
other  instances,  is  a  matter  of  absolute  impos- 
sibility to  the  Chinese  scholar.  It  is  the  ex- 
press command  of  their  first  and  most  ancient 
teacher  of  religion,  Confucius,  that  the  student 
shall  never  allow  any  thought  to  arise  in  his 
mind  but  such  as  he  finds  written  in  his  books. 

It  is  quite  true  that  what  suits  one  people 
may  not  on  that  account  suit  all  countries  and 
all  nations;  but  one  great  and  incontroverti- 
ble truth  may,  at  all  events,  be  learned  from 
Chinese  agriculture,  viz.:  that  the  fields  of 
the  Chinese  cultivator  have  preserved  their 
fertility  unimpaired,  and  in  continued  vigor 
ever  since  the  day  of  Abraham,  and  of  the 
building  of  the  first  Pyramid  in  Egypt.f  This 
result  we  also  learn  has  been  attained  solely 
and  simply  by  the  restitution  to  the  soil  of  the 


*Tlic  Drcsileti.  Jonrnal,  of  Ifith  September,  lS.5fi, 
contains  tlie  followiiifi:  statement:  "  As  we  are  in- 
formed from  Eiljeiistouk,  forest  inspector  Thiersch,  of 
that  place,  has  for  several  years  past  made  very  suc- 
cessful experiments  in  transplantine:  M'inter  corn  in 
autumn.  He  transplanted  the  young  plants  intended 
for  the  purjjose  in  tlie  middle  of  Octolicr,  one  peck  of 
seed  corn  to  one  liundred  square  rods  of  ground, 
whicli  produced  an  uncommonly  rich  crop.  There 
were  roots  from  which  sprune:  as  many  as  fifty-one 
stalks  witli  ears,  anil  the  latter  contained  as  many  as 
one  hundred  grains." 

I  have  ajjpiicd  to  Mr.  F  J.  Thiersch  for  more  pre- 
cise details  of  his  ex]ieriment6;  and  from  his  state- 
ment as  to  the  cost  of  the  operation  and  the  return 
made,  there  appears  to  be  no  doubt  that  the  Chinese 
mode  of  husliandry  miffht  also  be  resorted  to  with  ad- 
vantage in  Europe,  in  localities  where  the  land  is  rich 
and  labor  aliundant.  One  of  my  friends,  who  visited 
M.  Thiersch's  experimental  field,  told  me  that  he  had 
counted  twenty-one  stalks  with  full  ears  on  a  plant 
pulled  up  at  hazard  (not  picked  out.)  Forpoor  fields 
this  metliod  of  cultivation  is  entirely  unsuited. 

t  Vessels  of  Chinese  porcelain  are  found  in  the 
pyramids  of  the  same  shape,  and  with  the  same 
chiiractcrs  of  writing  on  them,  as  are  made  in  China 
at  the  present  day. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER- 


i21 


mineral  constituciils  rcnioYPd  in  tlio  ]iiinlui'- 
tion;  or,  wliat  auiounts  to  the  same  (liinj;,  that 
this  has  been  alU'ctcd  by  tin-  aiii  (if  a  iiiaiUMf, 
of  which  the  1,'ri'atci'  portion  is  lost  to  tlic  land 
in  the  Kin-oju'an  system  of  civilization. —  l^ii- 
hiy''!<  Lrtters  '»)  Mmhin  Aiiriciiltiiir. 

[The  foregoinfi;  cxliil]its  so  nnich  of  a  inacti- 
cal  character,  and  moreover  so  nnich  against 
which  there  exists  yet  snch  deeji-scated  )ireju- 
dices,  notwithstanding;  the  jihilosoiihy  of  the 
question,  that  we  <;ive  it  a  jilace  in  The 
Fahmkh,  as  a  .system  that  will  iierhap.s  lie 
studied  with  more  lirolit  in  the  future,  than 
it  has  yet  lieen  up  to  the  present  time.  A  cen- 
tury hence,  and  with  the  same  ratio  of  increase 
in  our  population  as  that  which  hascliaracter- 
ized  our  first  century  as  a  nation,  may  luit  an 
entire  new  face  on  the  question,  and  we  may 
gather  something  from  it  that  will  be  useful."] 

LIGHTNING   AND   LIGHTNING   RODS. 

From  this  time  till  frost  comes,  look  out  for 
the  advent  of  the  li<ilitninLC-rod  man.  He  will 
call  at  the  house  and  eiaiuire  for  the  owner, 
and  is  never  so  hajipy  as  when  informed  that 
he  is  absent.  This  j^ives  him  an  opportunity 
to  scare  the  women  folks,  who  arc  very  likely 
to  lie  "afraid  of  thunder."  He  will  lepresent 
the  danger  of  living  in  a  house  that  lias  no 
lightning-rod  attached  to  be  So  great  that  tliey 
will  not  "slee])  nights"  till  one  is  jiut  up. 
Having  talked  for  an  hour,  lie  will  leave  a 
tract,  iialf  of  which  is  devoted  to  statistics  of 
mortality  from  lightning,  and  the  other  half 
to  the  advantages  of  the  celebrated  patent, 
sjiiral,  tubular,  double-and-twi.sted  thiuider 
exterminator. 

He  calls  again  in  a  week  and  expresses  his 
surprise  that  the  house  i.s  standing  and  its  oc- 
cupants are  alive.  The  head  of  the  family  is 
ready  for  a  trade,  for  he  fears  that  tlie  female 
members  of  this  household  will  ilic  of  fright  if 
the  house  is  notequijiped  with  a  lightning-rod 
before  tlie  next  thunder  cloud  appears,"  He 
sign.s  a  skilfully  v\'orde<l  contiact,  by  the  terms 
of  which  he  obligates  himself  to  pay  so  much 
per  foot  for  a  suHicient  amount  of  rod  to  ])ro- 
tect  tlie  building  he  occupies.  Of  course  the 
lightning-rod  man,  lieinganexiiert  attlie  busi- 
nes.s,  is  con.stitiited  sole  judge  of  what  length 
of  rod  is  necessary.  Ilt^  roughly  guesses  that 
about  fifty  feet  will  b('  re<iuired. 

The  next  visit  is  for  the  puipose  of  laitting 
II])  the  celebrated  lightniug-dcmolisher  anil 
tlinnder-tanior.  A  survey  of  tlie  hou.se  is  now 
made  for  the  pui'po.se  of  seeing  how  many  feet 
ot  rod  the  signer  of  the  contract  can  be  forced 
to  pay  for.  Youniiiy  depend  on  the  lightning- 
idd  man  to  figure  this  very  line.  He  under- 
stands how  to  bend  the  rod  round  the  eaves  of 
the  house,  how  to  carry  it  to  the  extreme  cor- 
ner, and  how  to  attach  it  to  the  most  distant 
chimney.  He  is  engaged  in  selling  rods  by  the 
yard  and  he  has  no  notion  of  disposing  of  a 
scant  pattern.  When  measured  up  with  all 
its  crooks  and  turns  it  is  found  to  he  about 
three  times  as  long  as  was  originally  supposed. 

If  this  was  the  only  swindle  connected  with 
the  transaction  there  vvoul<l  lie  less  cause  of 
complaint.  But  it  is  not  the  only  one.  The 
rod  is  generally  sold  for  four  or  five  times  as 
much  as  it  cost.  Most  of  the  claims  for  the 
efliciency  of  the  rod,  the  aliility  of  the  point 
or  points  to  attract  lightning,  and  for  its 
peculiar  method  of  attachment  to  the  building 
are  fraudulent.  (Some smart  fellow  got  a  pat- 
ent on  some  iiarlicular  turn  or  twist  in  a  iiiece 
of  fragile  metal  that  could  not  support  itself, 
and  used  it  for  the  [lurpose  of  selling  an  arti- 
cle almost  entirely  useless. 

Every  electrician  knows  that  the  fewer  turns, 
twists,  cmves,  angles,  and  joints  there  are 
about  a  lightning-rod,  the  lietter  it  is  for  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  designed.  The  truth 
of  the  matter  is,  there  has  been  no  essential 
imiirovcment  on  the  original  lightning-rod  as 
brought  out  by  Dr.  Franklin.  That  was  a 
straight  continuous  bar  of  wrought  iron,  secur- 
ed to  a  building  by  attachments  of  wood  or 
metal.  It  was  a  very  inexpensive  and  simple 
contrivance,  but  it  conducted  electricity  bet- 
ter tlian  most  of  the  new-fiingled  humbugs  that 
liave  taken  its  place. 


,  The  cheaiie.st  way  to  procure  a  good  liglit- 
ning-rod  is  to  buy  a  bar  of  round  iron  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  of  the  ri'- 
i|uisite  length  to  reach  ten  feet  above  the  high- 
est point  of  the  roof,  to  extend  over  the  roof 
on  the  most  direct  line  to  the  ground,  and  to 
continue  into  the  earth  till  permanent  mois- 
ture is  reached.  This  can  he  secured  to  the 
chimney,  the  roof  and  walls  of  the  build- 
ing by  means  of  iron  staples.  'J'he  tip  of  the 
rod  should  be  cut  in  the  form  of  a  screw  so  as 
to  lit  into  a  polished  point  that  can  be  obtain- 
ed in  ahno.st  any  hardware  shop.  Sometimes 
IMiints  may  be  obtained  that  will  lit  over  tlic 
end  of  tlu'  rod. 

Instead  of  a  round  iron  bar  a  strip  of  iron 
one  inch  wide  and  a  fourth  of  an  ineli  thick 
may  be  used,  and  in  some  respects  it  is  supe- 
rior. This  sli'ip  may  be  jiiereed  with  holes 
and  tacked  directly  to  the  building  and  chim- 
ney, or  it  may  be  secured  by  staples,  or  by 
liieces  of  iron  bent  over  it  and  secured  by 
screws.  Whichever  kind  of  conductor  is  used, 
it  is  advisable  to  paint  it  of  the  same  color  as 
the  house,  so  it  will  not  act  to  clisligure  it. 
The  jiaiul  will  protect  it  against  the  action  of 
the  air  and  rain,  and  will  not  essentially  in- 
jure its  conducting  power. 

At  iireseiit,  all  persons  versed  in  the  laws 
that  regulate  tin-  pa.ssage  of  electricity,  look 
with  disfavor  on  any  atteTupts  ti>  insulate  a 
rod  by  means  of  pieces  of  glass.  ( )n  the  other 
hand  they  advise  connecting  the  rod  directly 
with  the  building,  and  jiarticularly  with  metal 
eave-spouts,  or  other  metal  surfaces  about  the 
exterior  of  th(!  building.  The  old  idea  that 
electricity  only  passes  over  the  surface  of  a 
substance  is  abandoned.  It  is  now  accepted 
as  a  fact  that  electricity  in  motion  pervades 
the  entire  s\ibstance  of  the  object  through 
which  it  iias.ses.  This  disiien.ses  with  the 
argument  in  regard  to  tapes  and  riblious  of 
metals  as  conductors  of  electricity. 

The  matter  that  demands  most  attention  in 
putting  up  a  lightning-rod  is  the  connection 
it  forms  with  the  earth.  This  is  tlie  thing  to 
which  lightning-rod  men  give  the  least  care, 
as  digging  in  the  hard  eartli  is  not  the  kind  of 
occupation  they  prefer.  It  suits  their  purpose 
lietter  to  sink  a  crow-bar  into  dry  sancl  and  to 
(Irnii  the  end  of  the  bar  into  it.  The  end  of 
the  rod  shoulil  reach  ]ieiinanent  moisture,  or 
else  it  should  extend  into  a.  jiit  filled  with  char- 
coal, coke,  or  scrap  iron,  either  of  whi<-h  con- 
stitute very  excellent  conductors  of  electricity. 
— Chlrayo  Thiies. 

[We,  of  course,  do  not  hold  ourselves  re- 
siionsililc  for  the  sentiments  of  the  foregoing, 
nor  yet  for  the  following  from  I'rof.  Wise  ;  nor 
do  werepulilish  them  in  disparagement  of  .any 
of  the  men,  or  any  of  the  systems,  involved  in 
the  UijlitiiiyKj-rdil  huxincfs. 

But  of  late  years  the  phenomena,  and  the 
exiieriences  of  those  who  have  been  both  prac- 
tically and  .scientifically  interest eil  in  the  sub- 
ject, have  been  so  various,  have  taken  such  a 
wide  range,  and  have  iHilmiiiaf<il  in  conclu- 
sions so  different  from  those  which  had  Jirevi- 
ously  been  current  among  the  |ie(i]ile,  that  we 
think  it  about  time  that  both  sides  of  the  sub- 
ject were  seriously  considered.  If  lightning- 
rods  are  any  protection  to  buildings— and  it  is 
very  extensively  iiresiimed  that  they  are — or  if 
they  are  entirely  useless — and  a  very  intelli- 
gent portion  of  the  (^immunity  believe  that  in 
their  present  forms  they  are — the  people  who 
incur  the  expenses  of  their  erection,  or  who 
may  desire  to  .save  that  expen.se,  ought  to 
know  just  where  they  are  standing.  There  is 
one  consideration,  in  addition  to  arguments 
and  practical  experiments,  which  al.so  ought 
to  hav'e  its  due  weight  in  the  matter,. in  these 
rather  degenerate  times.  The  wi'it/rr.s  of  those 
who  are  the  zealous  advocates  of  lightning- 
rods,  and  tho.se  who  from  iiliilosophical 
grounds  deem  them  entirely  u.seless,  are  of 
quite  a  dilTerent  character,  although  there 
may  be  a  certain  lOiase  of  self-interest  in  both  ; 
but  the  one  is  more  likely  to  be  exerci.sed  in  be- 
halfof  self  alone,  perhaps,  than  theother.-AV^] 

I'rof,  .John  Wise  writes  as  follows  to  the 
I'hiladelphia  Timci: 

About  dusk  liist  evening,  while  in  conversa- 


tion with  I'rof.  Blasiusuiion  the  philosojihy  of 
■storms,  the  eli'ments  of  nature  were  clever 
enough  to  give  us  an  ocular  demonstration  of 
howa  stoiin  is  precipitated  upon  us.  We  were 
sitting  at  the  time  in  front  of  lii.'il  North 
Klevenlh  street.  A  streak  of  chmd,  running 
from  southwest  to  northeast,  marked  the  node 
of  the  polar  current  from  thesoiith.  Soon  the 
heavens  were  all  ablaze  with  lightnings-  heat 
lightning,  flashing  from  cloud  toclouil;  forked 
lightning,  running  horizontally,  and  spitting 
out  lati-ral  streaks  along  its  track  ;  zig/jig 
lightning,  crashing  downwiird  with  fearfulde- 
toiiations.  It  was  a  brilliant  display  of  natural 
fireworks.  The  orange-colorid  flashes  were 
followed  by  heavy  thuds  and  rmnliling  rever- 
berations; the  vivid,  diamonil-like  discharges 
were  followed  by  crashes  like  the  explosion  of 
a  thousand  pen'ussioiicaps.  'l"he orange-colored 
was  low  tension,  the  diamond-coloreil  high  ten- 
sion. It  seemed  as  if  the  pularcurrent  supplied 
the  electricity  and  the  Imiiical  current  fired  it 
off.  A  few  hours  later  a  secon<l  storm  was 
precipitated  over  the  city.  This  oiu-caMie  with 
artillery  and  battering  rams.  The(lestruction 
from  the  wind  was  the  carrying  away  of  flags, 
awnings,  roofs,  etc.;  that  oi'  the  elec'tiicity  in 
the  manner  of  tlnnah-rbolls.  The  building  un- 
der the  r<iof  of  which  tlie  7V/;i(.s  thundi'i-s  forth 
its  anathemas  against  the  jiolitical  corruption 
of  the  day  was  the  recipient  of  a  grand  siduto 
from  .Tupiter's  artillery.  The  shot  came  from 
the  southwest,  and  took  in  its  rangi'one  of  the 
.sandstoni'  pinnacles  on  tlic  parapet  wall.  It 
broke  off  one  of  its  ornate  projections  and  then 
struck  the  roof,  which  is  of  <-orriigalecl  iron,  a 
good  comiieiisator.  Now  this  has  on  it  a  ranire 
of  chimneys,  four  of  tlieni  lined  from  west  to 
east.  The  ele<trical  force  is  not  manifest  on 
the  western  one.  On  tin-  .second  one,  which 
stands  in  the  line  of  iirojection,  the  iron  plate 
on  its  top  was  displaced  anil  the  mortar  lie- 
tween  the  bricks  was  forced  out  and  scattered 
ai-onnd  to  a  considerabUi  extent.  The  next 
chinniey  eastward  showed  a  less  mechanical 
action  on  its  mortar;  the  last  one  in  the  row 
still  less,  showing  conclusively  that  as  more 
surface  of  metal  was  flaslied  over  the  less  Ixv 
came  the  force.  This  temple,  like  that  of  Sol- 
omon, has  its  immnnity  from  harm  by  lightning 
in  the  metal  that  forms  its  roof. 

A  not  her  shot  locik  In  its  range  the  flag-pole  of 
the  Custom  Ilniisedlie  old  rnited  States  Hank 
building.)  It  shivered  tin-  lla^-iioU'  into  lino 
kindling  wood,  but  one  big  splinter  was  hurled 
over  an  adjoining  Imilding,  which  in  fallitig 
planted  itself  into  the  slate  roof.  The  pole  was 
shivercul  down  to  where  the  metal  sheeting  of 
the  roof  was  in  contact  with  it.  Beyond  that 
not  a  trace  of  the  electric  force  is  visible — an- 
other conclusive  proof  that  metal  roofs  afford 
certain  protection  from  lightning  strokes. 
-Vbont  a  week  ago  Ilirsh's  mnbrella  house  had 
a  similar  electrical  visitation,  but  having  a 
metal  roof  nothing  w.is  damaged  but  the  flag- 
liole.  These  are  a  few  of  the  hundreds  of 
lightning  strokes  that  I  have  examined  that 
show  the  protection  in  iiK'fal  roofs.  The  "light- 
ning rod"  as  a  iirolectiun  in  itself  is  of  no  more 
value  as  a  protection  than  a  bodkin  would  be 
to  ward  oll'the  ball  lireil  from  a  columbiad.  I 
may  add  that  all  thunilerbolfs  <'ome  from  the 
westward,  in  the  line  of  direction  of  the  storm. 

HEREDITARY  INFLUENCES. 

There  are  probably  few  persons  now  living 
who  have  paid  the  subject  any  attention,  who 
are  not  inclined  to  attribute  to  the  iullueuces 
of  inheritance  many  more  elm racteristies  than 
were  formerU'  a.ssigued  to  that  source.  Less 
is  heard  of  tne  term  "instinct"  and  more  of 
tile  term  "  heri'ditary."  It  has  liecn  s<'en  that 
nmcli  of  that  which  we  call  intuitive  in  ani- 
mals and  men,  is  only  the  s:ime  knowledge, 
perhajis  a  little  exaggerated,  :us  their  parents 
pns.sessed  ;  and  when,  .as  in  the  ca.se  of  tlie  eave 
swallow,  we  know  thi;  origin  of  ci-rtaiu  habits 
which  are  now  just  as  ninch  innate  in  the 
young  as  others,  the  origin  of  which  is  lost, 
we  are  inclined  to  consider  all  instinct.  .sr>- 
called,  but  the  sum  of  inherited  experience. 
The  parent  transmits  to  the  young  not  only 
its  general  fonn  and  external  appearance,  and 


422 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[August, 


not  only  its  specific  mental  likeness,  but  also 
those  peculiarities  which  distinguish  it  as  an 
individual,  and,  to  a  less  extent,  those  traits 
which  it  has  ;!C(iuived  duringits  life.  Instincts 
are  habits  fixed  by  heredity  transmission  and 
are  unconsciousl3-  obeyed,  and  this  rule  admits 
of  few  exceptions.  Pointer  pups  taken  into  the 
field,  unaccomiianicd  by  older  dogs,  will  stand 
with  muscles  straiued  and  eyes  fixed  at  the  fir.st 
partridge  they  see.  The  young  shepherd  dog 
shows  a  disposition  to  guard  stock.  AH  spiders 
construct  webs,  yet  each  variety  constructs  its 
web  peculiar  to  itself.  Tlie  dog  not  only  in- 
herits scent,  but  also  that  which  enables  him 
to  know  a  definite  .kind  of  game.  Certain 
races  of  Indians  also  inherit  scent,  and  so  do 
negroes.  Dr.  J.  S.  Bailey  mentions  a  fomily 
of  negroes  who  inherited  this  faculty  in  a  re- 
markable degree.  Xo  matter  how  stealthily 
a  white  person  approached  their  cabin  at  night, 
their  conversation  would  immediately  be 
hushed,  and  they  would  discover  his  approach 
by  their  scent. 

But  besides  tliis,  changes  in  the  manner  of 
life,  habits  made  necessary  or  caused  by  new 
conditions  and  environment  are  transmissible  ; 
and  here  enters  that  wedge  Jjf  variation  which 
seems  to  liave  been  instrumental  in  producing 
the  present  diversity  of  fonn  among  animals 
and  jilants.  Before  the  settlement  of  this 
country  nil  the  swallows  nested  in  hollow  trees, 
in  caves,  and  under  the  ledges  of  rock,  as  they 
yet  do  in  the  far  west  and  in  the  remote  forests 
of  the  British  provinces.  J5ut  when  farmers 
began  to  till  the  land,  and  to  keeji  cattle,  and 
erect  houses,  the  swallows,  probably  at  iirst 
attracted  by  the  greater  numtier  of  insects, 
seized  ujion  the  outhouses  and  chimneys  as 
more  suital^le  places  for  l)uilding  their  nests, 
and  have  gradually  abandoned  the  woods  in 
the  settled  parts  of  the  country  altogether. 
Their  young  liave  not  gone  back  to  the  woods 
and  caves — although  some  of  the  first  genera- 
tions may  have  done  so — and  have  little  by 
little  modified  the  shape  of  the  nest  to  suit  the 
situation,  until  there  is  a  very  great  difference 
between  the  nests  built  in  our  Imrns  and  those 
built  by  the  wild  birds  of  the  same  species  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains. 

It  was  long  ago  found  out  that  certain  ad- 
vantageous traits  in  horses  and  cattle  could 
be  perpetuated  and  augnjented,  the  power  to 
make  these  peculiarities  more  lasting  and 
more  prominent  increasing  with  each  genera- 
ti(m.  Examples  of  this  are  numerous  and 
known  to  every  breeder,  and  it  is  upon  the 
faculty  of  inheritance,  under  advantageous 
Conditions,  that  Mr.  Darwin  hinges  his  doc- 
trine of  evolution  by  natural  selection-.  But, 
not  only  do  good  features  perpetuate  them- 
selves, butevilsaud  deforniity  also  come  under 
the  iiitlu<'nce  of  inheritance,  and  are  the  surest 
of  all  to  descend  from  genei-atifin  to  genei'a- 
tion.  Even  those  deformities  tlmt  arise  from 
artifice  or  accident  are  transmissible.  Many 
Indian  tribes  of  Peru,  and  some  of  the  Oregon 
coast,  had  peculiar  modes  of  distorting  the 
heads  of  their  children,  and  now  many  chil- 
dren are  Ijorn  with  then-  heads  out  of  shape 
in  the  peculiar  way.  Esquimaux  sledge  dogs 
and  Manx  cats  usually  have  to  suffer  the  loss 
of  their  tails,  and  their  jiuppies  and  kittens 
are  often  born  tailless;  and  in  rare  cases  the 
loss  of  a  limb  in  men  has  resulted  in  their  chil- 
dren having  but  one  arm  or  leg.  Blindness, 
deafness,  insanity,  idiocy,  and  niorl)id  appe- 
tites are  all  inherited,  and  stati'tics  abound 
to  show  the  extent  to  which  this  influence  has 
tainted  the  human  race. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  which  recent  investi- 
gations have  brought  to  light,  th»study  ofthe 
heredity  of  disease,  in  their  relation  to  man- 
kind, becomes  one  of  the  deepest  interest  and 
importance.  To  a  thoughtful  man,  it  is  fear- 
ful to  consider  how  unwittingly  men  are  daily 
sowing  seeds  of  disease  and  infirmity  in  their 
frames,  which,  once  rooted,  can  never  be 
eradicated,  but  whicli  will  reappear  again  and 
again  in  one  form  or  another.  No  man  may 
contract  asthma,  rheumatism,  gout,  consump- 
tion, or  all}'  disease  which  affects  his  blood, 
through  carelessness  or  whiskey,  or  any  other 
form  of  dissipation,  and  plead  that  it  hurts 


himself  alone.  If  he  have  children  he  surely 
curses  them  with  an  infirm  constitution,  and 
opens  an  ever-l)roadeniug,ever-deepening  chan- 
nel for  a  new  stream  of  misery  to  flow  through 
the  world.  Our  insane  and  idiot  and  inebri- 
ate asylums,  our  hospitals  for  consumptives 
and  scrofulous  patients,  even  our  prisons  are 
witnesses  of  the  certainty  of  this  result.  It 
has  been  said  that  there  never  now  occurs — 
no  such  thing  is  recorded  in  recent  times — an 
original  case  of  syi)hilitic  disease.  This  may 
be  too  strong  a  statement,  for  some  physicians 
doubt  its  truth  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  hun- 
dreds of  innocent  families  bear  in  their  sys- 
tems and  fiices  to-day  the  living,  loathsome 
marks  of  their  remote  forefathers'  vices,  who 
are  not  aware  of  the  fact  and  cause  of  their 
suffering.  Not  alone  does  the  good  men  do 
live  after  them.  The  iniquities  ofthe  fathers 
are  visited  upon  the  children  even  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generation.  For  any  one 
who  cares  for  his  race  or  bis  children,  could 
there  be  a  stronger  argument  for  leading  a 
pure,  wholesome,  careful  life,  than  these  facts 
contain  '? — Forest  and  Stream. 

[Analogous  to  the  same  subject,  only  on  a 
higher  plane,  is  the  following  from  the  edi- 
torial columns  of  the  Public  Ledger.] 
Reproductive   Force. 

There  is  nothing  more  wonderful  in  life  than 
its  reproductive  force.  Everything  which  has 
in  it  the  element  of  growth»lias  also  the  power 
of  creation.  Every  organism,  from  the  hum- 
blest blade  of  grass  to  tjic  most  illustrious  man, 
is  not  only  living  its  own  life,  but  impr-e.s.sing 
it  upon  myriads  of  othersimilar  existences,  and 
this  not  by  any  intentional  action  of  its  own, 
but  by  an  inevitable  law  of  its  very  being.  In 
the  simi)ler  forms  of  life  this  tran.smission  of 
self  appears  to  be  chiefly  in  the  direction  of 
propagation.  The  plant  lives  its  individual 
life,  and  drops  its  seeds,  which  springs  up  into 
similar  organisms.  As  we  rise  higher  in  the 
scale,  however,  we  notice  that  this  reproductive 
force  is  widened  in  its  action.  The  bird  not 
only  laj'S  its  eggs,  but  cherLshes  its  young,  and 
doubtless  maintains  some  degree  of  social  in- 
fluence upon  its  feathered  mates.  But  it  is 
reserved  for  man  to  exercise  this  power  in  the 
fullest  and  broadest  sense.  He  reiterates  him- 
self, not  only  in  bis  children  but  in  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact.  He  imi)ressed  not 
only  his  physicpie  u]ion  a  few,  but  his  character 
ui)on  the  many.  There  are  births  of  conduct 
going  on  continually,  and  each  one  of  us  is  a 
jiarent.  As  the  sun  sheds  unconsciously  its 
light  and  heat,  and  makes  all  things  within  the 
range  of  its  influence  in  some  degree  like  itself, 
so  we  shed  our  dispositions  and  (pialities  upon 
one  another,  and  transfiu'ni  them  in  some  de- 
gree to  our  own  image. 

This  influence  is  somethingquiteaiiart  from 
any  voluntary  an<l  intentional  action.  We 
often  deliberately  set  to  work  to  produce  some 
change  in  our  friends  or  in  society  at  large. 
Perhaps  we  work  hard  to  improve  a  man,  to 
educate  a  child,  to  promote  a  reform  or  to 
break  up  a  vice.  We  may  bring  all  our  powers 
to  bear  ui>on  the  matter  in  hand,  we  may  set 
other  influences  in  operation,  we  may  descant 
elo(piently  upon  the  advantages  of  one  course 
and  the  evils  of  the  other;  nay,  we  may  even 
call  to  our  aid  all  the  restraints  of  the  law  and 
the  rewards  of  public  favor,  and  with  it  all,  we 
shall  not  accomplish  so  much  as  will  a  single, 
good  and  pure  life  by  its  mystical  attraction. 
The  one  is  artificial,  spasmodic,  noisy;  the 
other  is  natural,  constant,  quiet;  the  one  is 
like  medicine  given  to  counteract  some  evil, 
the  other  is  a  like  a  pure  and  Ijracing  atmos- 
phere entering  into  the  lungs  and  giving  new 
vigor  and  tone  to  the  entire  system. 

Take  the  child  from  its  earliest  years — how 
is  its  character  built  up,  its  disposition  engen- 
dered ?  Partly  no  doubt  by  the  parents'  active 
and  earnest  labors  and  precepts,  but  much  more 
largely  by  their  lives.  The  opportunities  they 
have  for  deliberately  instructing  him  arc  a 
mere  nothing  comiiared  with  those  that  he  has 
for  observing  their  conduct,  drinking  in  their 
opinions,  and  flnding  out  their  real  desires, 
feelings  and  aims.  lie  is  told,  for  instance, 
of  the  sacredness  of  truth,  and  the  sinfulness 


of  deceit,  but  if  he  sees  those  around  him  prac- 
ticing small  aHiflces,  if  he  hears  unfair  trans- 
actions recounted  as  good  jokes,  if  lie  is  him- 
self duped  and  misled  by  insincerity,  how  much 
will  the  moral  lectures  affect  him  ?  They  will 
but  add  another  instance  of  duplicity,  and 
strengthen  within  him  tlie  spirit  of  dishonesty 
which  he  is  constantlj'  absorbing. 

The  same  thing  is  going  on  everywhere,  and 
with  every  one.  We  are  all  continually  and 
inevitably  influenced  by  the  lives  of  those 
around  us.  It  is  not  that  we  copy  them,  but 
that  we  unconsciously  alisorb  them.  We  are, 
as  it  were,  pouring  our  natures  into  each  other 
all  the  time,  without  thought  or  retention.  The 
sti'onger  the  nature  the  more  potent  is  its  mag- 
netism. The  closer  we  approach  to  the  sphere 
of  another,  the  more  we  partake  of  his  charac- 
ter. Patience,  corn-age,  hope  and  enthusiasm, 
arc  not  taught,  but  infused.  .They  are  trans- 
mitted by  an  electric  current  that  no  power 
of  ours  could  create,  and  certainly  none  could 
destroy. 

We  can  never  fully  estimate  this  reproductive 
force.  Not  only  every  action,  but  every  thought, 
feeling,  desire  and  aim  is  full  of  potency  upon 
others.  They  are  constantly  being  shared,  and 
are  ever  writing  their  impress  on  the  characters 
of  those  with  whom  we  mingle.  We  are  always 
eithi'r  lifting  some  one  up  or  drawing  him 
down  to  oin-  own  level.  An  atmosphere  of 
some  sort  is  always  emanating  from  us,  and 
permeating  others.  Is  it  pure  or  corrupt  i  Are 
we  infusing  tlie  spirit  of  justice,  truth  and 
love,  or  of  selfishness,  deceit  and  hatred  V  Are 
we  instilling  the  habits  of  industry,  temper- 
ance and  frugality,  or  of  idleness,  sensuality 
and  extravagance  V  As  the  fountain  is,  so  will 
be  the  stream.  If  we  would  know  what  influ- 
ence we  are  shedding,  we  have  but  to  examine 
our  most  cherished  thouglits,  hopes  and  pur- 
poses. We  may  fancy  them  hidden  in  our 
own  breasts,  but  it  is  not  so.  They  are  all  at 
work  reproducing  them.selves  in  countless 
forms  In  the  hearts  of  others,  and  building  up 
their  characters  for  good  or  for  evil. 
^ 

REVERSION   OF  SEEDS. 

Some  recent  legal  decisions  have  compelled 
the  majority  of  the  seedsmen  in  this  country 
to  put  upon  their  seed  packets  a  disclaimer  to 
the  eflect,'that  while  they  will  use  every  ettbrt 
to  supply  their  customers  with  seeds  that  are 
fresh  and  true  to  name,  yet  that  thej'  will  not 
hold  themselves  responsible  for  the  same.  This 
action  has  lieen  brought  about  through  a  suit 
at  law,  in  which  a  prominent  seedsman  was 
mulcted  in  lieavy  damages  because  some  cab- 
bage seeds  which  he  sold  failed  to  produce  any 
heads,  the  plants  producing  nothing  but  loose 
leaves,  in  all  respects  resemljliiig  the  wild  cali- 
bage  in  its  native  state.  The  case  was  tried 
without  any  endeavor  on  the  ]iart  of  the  seeds- 
man to  call  in  b;itaiiists  of  .standing  to  explain 
the  phenomenon,  and  through  this  neglect,  we 
think,  he  lost  his  case. 

The  subject  is  an  interesting  one,  as  it  in- 
volves the  doctrine  of  reversion  in  vegetable 
life,  or  the  temlency  of  all  varieties  of  fruits, 
plants,  and  vegetables  to  revert  back  to  the 
original  type  or  species  from  which  they  were 
primarily  derived.  It  is,  therefore,  very  im- 
portant, and  as  it  has  a  practical  bearing  on 
the  cultivation  of  plants,  we  will  endeavor  to 
enlighten  our  readers  about  it,  and  give  them 
some  important  hints  in  this  direction  upon 
the  cultivation  of  flowers  and  vegetables. 

All  double  flowers,  nearly  all  cultivated  veg- 
etables, and  nearly  all  the  fruits  we  grow  are 
aberrant  or  abnormal  forms  of  some  original 
type  species  as  it  exists  in  nature..  How  these 
aberrant  forms  are  produced  we  do  not  know, 
except  that  they  come  from  cultivation  in 
which  the  plant  is  over-sujiplied  with  food, 
water,  or  some  other  substance  necessary  to 
its  growth  in  a  state  of  nature.  Take  the  cab- 
bage, for  instance.  In  it^  native  state  it  grows 
three  or  four  feet  high,  with  long,  narrow 
leaves,  and  no  tendency  to  head,  very  much 
resembling  a  depauperate  specimen  of  Scotch 
kale.  Cultivation  has  caused  the  leaves  to 
widen  out,  and  to  lose  their  tendency  to 
elongate  ;  the  stem  has  also  lost  this  power  of 


187G.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


123 


eloimation,  the  k'avcs  fold  over,  and  a  head  is 
fonired.  So  willi  beets,  earrots,  parsnips,  and 
the  whole  list  of  vefzetaMes,  the  aherranl  form 
iKMnsi  sonulinies  in  the  root,  sometimes  in  the 
leaves,  and  a.i;ain  in  ihe  frnit. 

It  is  the  same  with  onr  I'rnits.  The  apple 
and  pear,  as  we  cullivnte  thi-m,  are  derived 
from  frnit  jHileetly  inedilile  in  its  natural 
state;  the  peach,  from  a  small,  dry,  bitter 
fruit;  the  plum,  from  a  sour,  astringent  fniit; 
and  so  all  tliro\iL,'li  the  list. 

It  is  well  known  to  ve.i;etable  physiolo<.'ists 
that  the  petals  and  the  or^jiuis  of  fiMlilization 
in  plants  are  only  leaves  developed  into  other 
forms  for  special"  Jiuriioses.    In  double  flowers, 
I)ropcrly  so  called,   the  stamens  or  pistils  are 
chan<;cd   into  iietals,   or  else  there  is  a  larger 
or  more  numerous  d(ivelopmei\t  of  these  petals 
than  is  usual  to  the  plant  in  a  naiuval  slate  ; 
and  sometimes  these  are  seaicely  transformed 
from  leavesrTis  in  the  ease  of  the  double  green 
rose  or  the  double  <.'reen-llowered  dahlia.     In 
the  case  of  the  dahlia  and  plants  of  the  same 
natur.al  order  {Coni/nsiUi),  the  stamens  ami 
pistils  remain   unehanced,  but  the  petals  of 
the  disc  rays  all  assume  the  form  of  those  of 
the  tloret  "rays.     In  most  double  flowers  the 
plant  appeals  to  lose  the  vital  enerjiy  or  power 
to   transform  the  leaves  into  sexual  organs, 
and  does  not  api)ear  to  be  able  to  fro  beyond 
the   transforming  of  the  leiives  into   petals. 
But  what  causes  this  loss  of  power  is  unknown. 
The  doul)le  narcissus  liecomes  single   when 
jilanted  in  pool-  soil,   so  that  in  it  and  some 
other  similar  cases  it  I'an  not  be  owiiisi;  to  in- 
sulheieney  of  food  that  the  duplexily  of  jietals 
is  produced,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  excess- 
ive vigor  and  health  do  not  do  it,  for  double 
llowers  have  never  yet  been  obtained  by  pro- 
moting the  vital  energy  of  the  iilant. 

It  appears  to  be  broiight  about  in  the  seed, 
as  it  is  in  this  that  we  seem  to  hav(^  some  power 
of  controlling  the  elTect.     If  seeds  of  tlu^  ten- 
week  stock  are  sown  immediately  after  ripen- 
ing, although  they  may  have  been  saved  from 
double  tlowers,  scarcely  a  double  flower  will 
be  jiroduced  ;  but  if  the  seeds  are  kept  three 
or  four  years,  the  large  majority  of  the  plants 
l-aised  will  jirodiice  double  flowers.     Melons, 
c\icumlx?rs,  and  plants  of  this  kind  will  run  all 
to  vine,  and   produce  but  few  fruits,   if  the 
seeds  are  (piite  fresh  ;  but  if  kejit  three  or  four 
years,  the  si-cds  produce  pi  :nts  of  less  exuber- 
ant growth,  but  of  greatly  increased  fertility. 
It  is  often  reconimended  to  save  seeds  only 
friiin  the  best  specimen  plants;   but  this   is 
only  aiil)licable  to  cases  where  the  jilant  is  not 
an  aberrant  or  abnormal  variety.     If  we  sow 
a  huudrecl  seeds  each  of  a  Newtown  and  a 
Spitzenbergapple,  a  Baitleltaiid  a  Secklepear, 
a  (;reenage  and  a  (ioldeii  Drop  plum,  we  are 
not  at  all  likely  to  get  a  seedling  equal  to  the 
]iaient,  and   uiost  of  them   will  be  iierfectly 
w.orthhss.     We  may  sow  a  hiiudre<l  seeds  of 
the  finest  double  roses  or  dahlias,  and  not  get 
one  worth  having,  and  perhaps  the  majnrity 
of  the  llowers  will  be  single.     For  this  reason, 
especially  in  the  ease  of  double  flowers,  some 
experienced   cultivators   have    reconimended 
tlie  saving  of  seed  from  semi-double   or  not 
fully     double  flowers,   as  nature    ap|)ears  to 
carry  the  process  forward  until  a,  to  her,  arti- 
ficial perfection  is  reached,  and  then  suddenly 
reverts  back  to  the  <iriginal  starting-point,  and 
then  begins  the  process  anew. 

In  cases  where  the  abnormal  development 
is  in  the  root,  as  in  the  carrot,  beet,  and  par- 
snip, and  not  in  the  foliage  and  the  organs  of 
fertilization  derived  from  it,  there  is  not  the 
same  tendency  to  revert  ba;k.  In  such  case 
seeds  should  be  .saved  from  the  mo.st  perfect 
specimens  and  sown  as  fre.sli  as  possible,  as 
the  abnormal  development  in  such  cases  ap- 
pears to  ari.se  from  an  excess  of  vital  energy, 
superinduced  by  an  excess  of  food  furnished 
to  the  plant. 

Changes  in  color  and  form  among  tlowers 
and  fruits  are  what  are  known  as  sports,  and 
arc  all  changed  by  leaps,  or  suddenly,  and  not 
by  gradual  development,  as  when  aiieacli-tree 
produces  nectarines  on  some  of  its  branches, 
or  some  colored  flower  produces  seeds  which 
produce  plants  with  white  powers,   and  vice 


vcrsu;  or  the  seed  from  a  small  cockscomb  jiro- 
duces  plants  with  large  heads.  Aberrations  of 
this  kind,  especially  in  colors,  can  be  made  per- 
manent by  saving  seeds  f'roni|t  he  best  ami  purest 
coloreil  llowers,  and  will  geiiei-.illy  come  true, 
as  the  organs  of  fei-tilization  are  not  aHected, 
as  in  the  ca.se  of  double  llowers. 

A  little  observation  and  consideration  of 
this  subject  will  save  our  readers  from  disap- 
pointment in  some  of  their  gardening  opera- 
tions, by  leading  them  not  to  expect  to  have 
plants  lir  flowers  of  abnormal  forms  to  always 
jireserve  their  eharaeteristics.  To  a  certain 
extent  we  eancontrol  naturi^  in  our  operations, 
but  after  we  have  gone  a  certain  distance  she 
revolts. 


Tor  The  Lascakter  Faumkb. 
ABOUT  MUSHROOMS 

My  esteemed  friend,  II.  M.  Kngle,  a  few 
weeks  ago,  brought  me  a  fungus  to  name, 
stating  that  it  would  be  desirable  to  have  a 
relialile  mark  to  distinguish  those  that  are 
eatable  from  those  considered  poisoiKuis. 

In  my  botanical  pursuits  I  neglected  this 
branch.  About  lwenty-fiv(^  year.s,ago,  happen- 
ing to  spend  an  aff  ernoiui  with  a  friend,  con- 
tiguous to  a  shady,  moist  woods,  in  the  latter 
partof  Se[itember,  my  attention  was  attracted 
by  the  profusion  and  great  variety  of  fungi 
growing  all  around,  and  indulged  me  to  sketch 
and  take  notes,  as  well  as  to  collect  ipiite  a 
iiuinher,  with  the  expectation  that  by  llie  aid 
of  the  figures  and  classification  in  Loudon's 
Kneyclopadia  of  Tlants,  I  would  be  enaliled 
to  name  them. 

True,  the  genera  I  could  determine,  but 
tho.se  described  being  Kuropean,  I  was  still  at 
a  lo.ss  to  name  our  .sjiecics  for  want  of  a  list  of 
such  known  to  b<^  native.  I  endeavored  to  get 
the  work  referred  to  by  I'ersoon.  A  list  of 
3,04:i  .species  of  fungi,  which  came  under  the 
ob.servation  of  Lc'wis  1).  de  Scliweinit/.,  around 
Bethleliem,  rennsylvania,  and  by  him  com- 
municated to  the  Philosophical  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  in  ls;il.  (Hhers  have  since  ad- 
ded to  this  list  from  the  uorth.  Uev.  Dr.  M. 
A.  Curtis,  in  his  catalogue  of  Plants  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  ((ieological  Report), 
l«ti7,  gives  4:W  S|)eeies  of  Agarics,  of  which 
he  considers  fiity-six  as  esculent.  But,  ala.s! 
these  catalogues  are  locked  u|i  in  these  .socie- 
ties and  can  not  be  had.  Hence,  the  study 
with  reference  to  those  found  and  named  is 
barred,  and  conseipu'iitly  no  satisfactory  report 
can  be  made  or  di'finife  opinion  given. 

In    an    English    work,    recently    published, 
called  "The  Modern  Householder;  a  Manual 
of  Domestic  Economy  in  all  itsP.ianclies,"  by 
Itoss  Murray,  is  neatly  executed,  with  accairate 
figures   of   the   most   useful  of    Urilish  fungi, 
with  descri(itions  and  mode   of  cooking  and 
liropagation.     Still  they  niav.  and  in  some  re- 
si)eets<lo,  differ  from  our  native  species,  so  that 
I  shall  not  attempt  in  this  article  to  tn-at  this 
suliject  specifically,   but,   in  a   general   view, 
present  sonu'  prominent  faels  worth  knowing, 
gleaned  from  at  least  ten  dilferenl  sources,  in 
addition  to  my  own  dliservalions.     The  fungi 
derive  their  nutriment  from  the  substance  on 
which  they  grow,  and  not  from  the  air.  as  the 
allied  class  of  Lichens.     Mr.   Berkeley   says: 
"The  Fiiniji  may  lie  recognized  either  as  the 
creatures  of  corruption,  »,  f.,  springing  from 
various  bodies,  whether  animal  or  vegetable, 
in  a  more  or  less  advanced  stage  of  decomposi- 
tion—or as  parasites  of  living  bodies,  produc- 
ing an  injurious  change,  Tlie  eiihemer.il  toad- 
stoids  of  the  hot-bed,   the  mushrooms  of  our 
rich  pastures,  the  s;ip-balls  on  <leca\  ing  trees, 
the  moulds  which  infest  our  food,  and  even 
the  tissues  of  living  animals,  the  mildew,  buiil, 
and  smut  of  our  corn  crojis,  &c,,aie  cli.'<silicd 
with  the  fungi,  of  which  tln'ie  are  two  great 
sections,  and  these  divided  into  natural  orders 
and   tribes.     A   vast   number  of  species  are 
known,  and  many  ff  these  are  of  great  im- 
portance to  man,  either  from  their  useful  or 
their  mischievous  pro|HMlic.s.  The  mushroom, 
truffle   anil   morel,   delicacies  well  known  to 
the  table,  and  highly  prized  and  eJjtoUcd  by 
many." 
Schwaegrichen,  the  editor  of  Scliwemuz's 


first  contribution   to  the   knowledge    of   our 
North  American  species,  derived    great  sati.s- 
faetioii  in  eating  those  which  posses.seil  neither 
liiul  Jiaviir  iwr  ilii»i<jreuiUlf  snult,  (the  italics 
an-  iinne)  and  whicli  had  a  toli-ntbh/ Jirm  eoii- 
sistency,  eaten  with  bread  and  drinking  noth- 
ing but  water;  such  a  diet  pursued  for  several 
weeks,  as  he  iiflirnis,  increasing   his  strength 
and  improving  his  health.     Persoon  who  fur- 
nishes the  foregoing,  also  says  :     "  I  liave  ol)- 
•served  that  fungi,  if  moderately  usid,  are  very 
nourishing.''     The  substance  known  as  "/loi- 
(jlu"''  is  eipially  inesenl  in  those  that  aie  harm- 
less or  poisonous,  and  is  itself  highly  nutritious, 
containing  nitrogen;  they  are  very  similar  to 
animal  mailer  in  their  composition,    and  like 
animalsgiveout  (-arbonic  acid  gas,  and  not  like 
other  Vegetables  abs<jrb  carlxmic  acid  from  the 
atmo.sphere  and  re.s|)ire  oxygen.     It  se.Miisthc^ 
only  <a-iteuion  to  judge  of  iiuality  is  smell  and 
consistency  of  their  texture.    The  flavor  is  va- 
riable, compared  in  some  to  the  smell  of  new 
made  hav,    .some  like  violets,  ani.se,  walnuts, 
new  meal,  <.V:e.,  which  are  all  rather  agreeable. 
Cther.s  again  have  an  odor  so  inlolenil)ly  fetid 
as  to  benanseaf  ing.   With  regard  to  form,  color 
and  general   features,  siime  edible  species  can 
not    Ijc    distiiejuished    from  the   magnificent 
siieeies  of  the  vl»«/iii'(i(  (.lyiriV)  MiLfntiivs,  the 
Fly  Agaric  of  Europe,  ami  found  in  our  woods. 
TlieCziir  Alexandria  lost  his  life  by  eat  ing  of  it, 
and  yet  we  learn  that  in  Kanifsidiatka  they  are 
used"  as  an  article  of  tiiod,  an<l  also  to  kei!p  up 
adi-unken  frolic,  the  intoxication beingsimilar 
to  that  produced  by  the  li(tsrlil.-i.li  and  Mmirxin 
in  the  East.     Tlius  we   learn  that  while  the 
same  species  are  used  a.s  food  in   Hu.ssia,  they 
are  condemned  in  Europt''.  1"he  Parasol  .\garic 
[Aijii.rku^  ]ir<>c(rius,)  often  met  with,  is  in  h<(jh 
r«iu< St  nil  over  til/  io}itin( lit,  i".i\\i-i\  the  king  of 
edible  fungi.     "  Whenevi'r  an  agaric  on  a  hmfj 
Ktallc,  enlarged  at  tin  hajic.  iiresenls  a  (//•//  ruli- 
c/( ,  more  or  less  .icdli/.  a  dark  colond  unljiiiKited 
tail,  a  iiiwinhk  rinij,  and  white  gills,  it  must  l)e 
A(iarkus  iinirerus,  and  it  may  be  gathered  and 
eaten  without    fear,  says  a    good    authority. 
The  fungipoiihagi.sts  lament  the  tons  of  valua- 
ble food    wasted  through   neglect  of  fungi  as 
aiiicles  of  diet.     Dr.    liadham,   Dr.  (ireville, 
Berkeley,  -Mr.  Worlhinglon  Smith,  and  others 
are  enthusiastic  in  their  praise.     Dr.  Ha<lliam 
comiiares  some  of  tlaiujis  "  iKU'fsteaks"  grow- 
ing on  oaks  in  the  shape  of  t'lsliiliiia  ln}/iili<n. 
^lytuvcKi- /".■-■'■/«.<,  to  Jiickles  in    clusters  under 
them.     Pulf-balls,    not  unaptly   compared  to 
"  sweet-breiul,"  for  the  rich  delicacy  of  their 
unassisted  flavor.     ////</»«.  as  good  asoysters, 
which  they  .somewhat  resemble  in  taste;   Aija- 
riiiw:  ililiriiisu.'<,  reminding  us  of  tender  "lamb 
kidney,"  the  beautiful  yellow  eliaiiterille,  the 
"  Kiihn  l,-al<t'i(ith(iit''  of  diet   growing  by  the 
bushel;  the   sweet   nutty  "  IJoletus"   in  vain 
calling  itself  m/k/is  (edible),  where   there  w:i8 
none  to  believe;  the  dainty   On-illii    (yl;/ririciw 
Itan-ojihtiUns),  which  ta.stes  like  the  craw  fish 
when  giiUtd;  the  red   and  green    sjiecies    of 
Agaricus,  to  cook  in  any  way  and  eipially  good 
in  all"- -enough  to  make  one's   mouth  water, 
and  feel    like  "going   for  them."     Why,  ihf 
Uev.  M.  .1.  Uerkeley,  the  profound   author  of 
an  extensive  work  (in  Fungi,  says  of  the  Fairy- 
ring    champignon— the     Marnsiiint.t    oreuihs: 
"The  common  fairy-ring  fungus  is  the  l*'st  of 
all  of  thi-ni.     Yet  tliere  is  .scarcely  one  per.son 
in  a  thousand  iilm  dun  itnture  to  use  t/tero." 
There  are  two  kinds,  however— tiiis  hasancx- 
tremely  line    flavor,  and    makes   perhaps  the 
very  best  ketchu))  that  there  is. 

The  two  kinds  are  cliiefly  distinguished  by 
the  gills;  in  the  tii-st  the  3/.  Orcml  s,  growing 
in  jMistures.  gills  broad  and  far  ajtart.  M. 
Urcns,  woods  and  i>asture,  gill  narmw  and 
crowded  together.  These  latter  are  to  be 
avoided.  To  illusirate  the  uncertainty,  I  will 
mention  a  few  cases,  beciiuse  of  the  promi- 
nence of  an  advocate  in  the  u.se  of  fungi  for 
food.  Mr.  Worthington  Smith,  the  futigolo- 
gist,  to  whom  specimens  of  tlu'  befon'-mention- 
ed  ^fu)■usm!usorcl•lhs,vxUAU^^]  by  Uerkeley  and 
others,  were  sent  for  examination,  Ix-iiig  of  a 
lot  partaken  of  by  a  woman  ami  two  children 
at  Plymouth,  England.  Foui-teen  hours  alter 
eating  they  were  seized   with   symptoms  of 


124 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[August, 


poisoning ;  vomiting  and  purging  occurred, 
followed  by  delirium  in  the  mother  and  con- 
vulsions in  the  children.  The  children,  aged 
six  and  thirtecm,  died  three  days  afterwards, 
but  the  mother  gradually  recovered.  Mr. 
Smith,  in  fidl  contidenee,  ate  liall'-a-dozen 
after  having  cooked  them.  Witliiu  an  hour 
or  two  the  usual  symptoms  of  poisoning  came 
on,  with  burning  of  the  throat,  irresistible  de- 
pression of  spirits  and  disordered  stomach, 
which  fortunately  for  him,  gradually  passed 
oft' without  more  serious  consequences.  An- 
other statement  says  :  Mr.  Worthington  Smith 
aimually  attends  the  Hereford  Fungus  Festi- 
val, where  earnest  fungologists  have  a  fungus 
banquet,  and  therefore  he  must  be  regarded  as 
a  judge.  Neverllieless  this  eminent  fuugolo- 
gist,  with  his  family,  were  nearly  poi.soned  by 
eating  another  fungus,  the  Agaricus  fertilis. 
The  cooked  specimens  scarcely  weighed  half- 
an-ounce,  and  yet  Mr.  Smith,  his  wife  and 
child,  suffered  severely  thrciugh  it.  Mr.  Smith 
states  that  the  gastronomic  qualities  were  ex- 
cellent, so  that  the  sense  of  smell  and  taste 
afforded  no  indication  of  its  poisonous  quali- 
ties. The  sym|)toms  in  this  case  were  swim- 
ming of  the  head,  nause;i*,  vomiting  and  pros- 
tration. Dee])  but  uneasy  sleep  followed,  and 
perfect  recovery  did  not  take  place  for  ten 
days  or  a  fiirtnight.  (A.  Smee,  pp.  359).  If 
the  laudation  of  some  stimulates  us  to  "'  go  for 
them, "  such  facts  are  enough  to  cause  us  to 
"stand  still  a  bit  and  think  about  it. "  1  may 
be  excusable  for  declaring  with  Alfred  Smee, 
tliat  for  years  I  have  attempted  to  discover  a 
test  for  ihe  discriniination  of  wh<jlesome  from 
poisonous  fungi,  but  have  failed. 

And  yet  when  we  consider  that  in  some  sec- 
tions they  are  collected  by  the  quantity  and 
sold  at  the  markets — without  hearing  of  any 
bad  x-esults — there  must  lie  a  secret  somewhere 
whether  in  .soil,  pabulum,  weather,  or  certain 
conditions,  I  shall  not  pretend  to  say  from 
my  limited  experience. 

Vinegar,  salt,  alcohol  and  cooking  properly 
dispels  a  certain  acrid  volatile  principle,  in 
orwoi,  rantmcuhis,  and  why  not  in  fungi.  Still 
there  is,  nevertheless,  in  some  species  a  fixed 
principle  that  these  means  will  not  remove, 
and  therefore  cannot  be  used  for  food  with 
safety. 

On  one  of  my  botanical  rambles  I  met,  in 
Mr.  Horst's  woods,  near  the  Chickies  creek,  a 
fungus  in  a  clean  grassy  spot,  in  size,  sha])e 
and  color  that  of  a  large  home-made  loaf  of 
bread.  I  thought  this  was  a  monster,  and 
cutting  it  open  1  fouud  it  of  a  uniform  tex- 
ture and  a  rather  pleasant  odor,  and  no  doubt 
edible,  but  1  pa.ssed  it.  This,  however,  is  no 
comparison  to  the  one  mentioned  by  Dr.  (ire- 
ville,  found  in  J"2ngiand,  the  J^oh/iionis  ,S(pi<i- 
wo,sM.s,  which  attained  a  circumference  of  seven 
feet  and  live  inches,  and  weighing  thirty-four 
pounds  after  having  been  cut  four  days.  It 
was  only  of  fourwec^ks  growth,  thus  acquiring 
an  increase  equal  to  nineteen  ounces  jier  day. 
Dr.  Liudley  has  computed  that  the  cell  multi- 
plied at  the  extradordinary  rate  of  .si.ctii  iiiil- 
lions  in  a  minute.  This  was-  a  similar  i)utt-bidl 
to  the  one  I  mentioned,  and  s})rung  up  during 
the  night  to  the  size  of  a  punqikin,  as  stated 
by  Lindley.  In  the  work  of  F.  A.  Pouchet, 
M.  D.,  from  the  French,  "The  universe,  or 
the  inlinitely  great  and  the  intinitely  little," 
on  page  4;5ti,  is  a  picture  of  a  boy  on  his  knees 
on  the  side  of  a  Gigantic  Lycopei'don  or  pufi- 
ball  of  one  night's  growth,  copied  from  nature, 
and  mentions  the  "feverish  activity  which 
must  reign  in  the  vital  hiboratory  of  those 
monstrous  lycoperdons,  nine  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence, of  which  Bulliard  speaks  in  his  History 
of  Fungi." 

If  my  communication  is  not  calculated  to 
give  the  reader  any  clear  guide  to  enable  him 
to  select  edible  fungi  with  any  degree  of  cer- 
tainty, it  will  at  least  give  some  idea  of  the 
ditficnlty  of  the  task — nor  do  I  believe  in  giv- 
ing only  one  side  of  any  s\ibject.  I  have  long 
ago  learned  that  to  every  (juestion  there  are 
two  extremes,  and  an  old  proverb,  in  the  Ger- 
man, says,  "  Middle  mass,  ist  die  Ijeste  strass. " 
Mushroom  and  Truffle — Appendix. 

Agaricus  campestris — the  cultivated  mush- 


room— is  so  important,  in  a  culinary  point  of 
view,  that  a  constant  supplj-  is  desirable.  The 
culture  is  easy  when  tlio  proper  means  are 
used.  To  grow  mushrooms  artilicially,  fresh 
horse  droppings  must  be  obtained  from  the 
stables,  placed  under  cover,  in  an  airy  shed, 
till  thoroughly  dry  ;  when  dry  these  droppings 
are  packed  into  a  solid  bed,  in  a  suitable  out- 
house, which  will  cause  the  material  to  heat — 
care  must  be  taken  not  to  allow  it  to  become 
too  hot,  say  blooil  heat — pieces  of  spawn,  which 
contain  the  mycelium  of  the  mushroom,  about 
the  size  of  an  egg,  are  inserted  into  various 
parts  of  the  bed.  This  bed  must  be  kept  per- 
fectly dry  for  about  six  weeks,  by  which 
time  the  mycelium,  or  long  threads  of  the 
spawn,  will  have  run  through  the  bed.  All 
this  time  the  bed  must  be  kept  dry  and  at  a 
temperature  of  about  00°  Fahr.  In  six  or 
seven  weeks  the  spawn  has  filled  the  mass ;  the 
material  may  now  be  gently  sprinkled  with 
lukewarm  water,  but  care  should  betaken  not 
to  give  too  much  water,  lest  the  mycelium  rot. 
A  few  days  after  watering,  little  buttons  are 
formed,  which  in  a  few  hours  expand  into 
mushrooms.  By  carefully  following  these  di- 
rections there  is  no  danger  of  failing  to  raise 
a  crop.  Some  recommend  covering  the  bed 
with  loam,  but  this  is  not  necessary  ;  a  cave 
or  cellar  is  considered  of  advantage  to  raise 
them  in.  What  is  called  nuishroom  spawn  is 
usually  made  of  horse  droppings,  formed  into 
masses  shaped  like  bricks,  tlirough  which  the 
mj'celium  is  allowed  to  penetrate.  Warmth 
and  moisture  promote  the  growth. 

The  Morel  (Mm-chtUa  cbculcUus)  is  highly 
esteemed  in  France.  The  Truffle  (Tuber 
a'Stivum)  ought  to  be  found  in  the  limestone  dis- 
tricts, if  understood  like  the  trutfle-hnnters  of 
Euroi)e  do,  where  to  look  for  them,  Init  they 
train  dogs;  this  they  do  by  placing  a  truffle  in 
an  old  shoe  and  making  the  dog  find  it,  and 
make  his  being  fed  depend  upon  it;  when  he 
understands  once,  he  soon  depends  on  his  scent, 
and  will  smell  it  under  the  soil;  so  the  dog  will 
when  taken  out  to  hunt  the  truffle  in  the  field 
smell  it  and  scratch  for  it.  Tlie  dog  is  soon 
trained.  However,  before  we  can  traiu  dogs  to 
hunt  the  truffle  we  must  first  find  it  to  train 
him  with,  and  there  is  the  difficulty,  provided 
we  even  have  them  hidden  away  in  our  fields 
and  unknown. 

Truffles  (Tuber  cibarium.) 

Grow  a  few  inches  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
soil,  which  is  usually  of  a  dry  and  light  (luality, 
and  around  the  roots  of  oak  anil  chestnut  trees, 
t'ollecti^d  between  October  and  January,  when 
fully  matured  they  become  gelatinous  and 
gradually  dissolve,  are  about  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg,  and  have  no  roots  or  fibrils;  the  skin  is 
blacki.sh  or  dark  grey,  with  small  projections 
like  warts  on  it.  The  fiesh  is  greyish  white  or 
blackish  with  black  or  brown  veins.  I  mention 
this,  because  if  such  a  thing  would  be  dug  up, 
noone  would  sui)poseit  was  the  fam(ais  Truffle, 
and  its  discovery  even  unknown,  unless  a 
reader  of  The  Fakjieu.— ,7.  Stauffer. 

[We  also,  in  common  with  our  contributor, 
and  others,  have  for  a  long  lime  been  waiting 
10  see  a  reliable  work  on  edible  mushrooms, 
])roperly  illustrated,  issued  from  the  American 
jiress,  and  accessible  to  the  general  reader;  and' 
yet,  from  all  we  have  read  upon  the  subject,  it 
seems  to  be  involved  in  some  dilficulty  and 
doubt,  when  it  embraces  those  species  with 
which  we  have  not  been  practically  familiar 
from  our  youth  up.  When  we  were  a  boy  of 
ten  or  a  dfizen  years.  Mushrooms,  ^Morels, 
(called  "  Mauricles")  and  also  a  species  called 
"  Pipestems,"  were  much  commoner  than  we 
have  ever  known  them  to  be  since,  and  rich 
and  iioor,  learned  and  unlearned,  intelligent 
and  ignorant,  gatbendthem,  cooked  them  and 
ate  them,  without  any  seeming  api)rehcnsions 
of  poisoning.  It  is  true,  unlike  the  restless 
gastronomic  siarit  of  the  present  age,  they  con- 
fined themselves  to  two  or  three  well  known 
species,  but  these  were  freely  used,  without  the 
least  suspicion.  The  pijiestems  were  not  aliun- 
dant,  not  common,  and  were  only  ajipropriated 
by  tlie  knowing  ones.  We  opine,  however, 
that  even  if  a  book  were  published  on  the  sub- 


ject, and  the  species  well  defined  and  illustrated 
there  would  be  still  some  experimental  knowl- 
edge required,  before  the  people  would  trust 
the  species  to  which  they  had  not  been  long 
previously  accustomed. — Ed.] 


i"or  Thf.  Lancasteb  Fabmeb, 
THE  MAGPIE    PIGEON. 

Magpies  belong  to  that  numerous  class  of 
fancy  pigeons — mostly  German  productions  — 
known  as  "Toys"  or  Toy  birds.  The  Ger- 
mans have  well  wrought  out  their  peculiar 
taste  for  vivid  and  striking  combinations  of 
colors  in  pigeons.  Toys  are  birds  whose  chief 
characteristics  are  their  plumage,  and  differ 
from  other  pigeons  in  lacking  any  decided  pe- 
culiarity of  form  or  skeleton.  Thus  while  any 
fancier  could  recognize  without  a  moment's 
hesitation,  a  pouter,  carrier  or  Button  head, 
devoid  of  all  feathering,  yet  n(*«e  could  tell 
one  variety  of  many  toys  from  another  nor 
from  a  common  pigeon.  In  some  few  varieties 

of  toys  there  are 
in  the  best  speci- 
mens certain  less 
decided  but  still 
distinctive  varia- 
tions or  types  of 
form,  as  for  in- 
stance the  low, 
heavy,  and  clum- 
sy framework  of 
the  swallow  is  en- 
tirelv  disti  net 
from  the  upright, 
elastic  build  of  the  bird  under  con.sideration. 
The  magpie,  as  its  name  implies,  is  so  called 
from  the  English  native  bird  which  it  resem- 
bles. In  color  it  is  nearly  the  counterpart  of 
its  namesake.  Black  is  the  most  popular  vari- 
ety, being  also  the  easiest  perfected.  A  black 
magpie  should  be  marked  as  follows  :  head, 
neck,  upper  part  of  body  and  tail  black,  re- 
mainder of  iilumage  white.  The  black  and 
white  should  be  distinctly  separated  by  a  well- 
defined  line — in  no  case  should  they  intermin- 
gle. A  very  common  blemish  is  the  indistinct- 
ness of  markings ;  this  point  especially  must 
be  carefully  regarded.  One  chief  beauty  of 
the  magpie  is  the  exceeding  richness  and  in- 
tensity of  color,  if  a  black,  a  jet,  glo.ss}'  black; 
if  a  yellow,  a  clear  rich  butter  yellow,  &c. 
The  feet  and  shanks  should  be  entirely  free 
from  feathering,  and  of  a  bright  red  color. 
The  eyes  should  be  clear  pearl.  That  is  the 
iris  a  clear  white  or  nearly  so,  while  the  pupil  is 
a  rich 'black.  Magpies  are  excellent  fiyers,  and  a 
trained  flock  on  the  wing  makes  a  most  beau- 
tiful sight.  They  are  good,  free  breeders,  feed 
and  rear  their  young  tolerably  well.  Alto- 
gether tln'y  are  a  very  pleasing  variet}',  and 
rank  liigh  in  the  catalogue  of  tlie  finest  toys. 
—  W.  Atlee  Burpee. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
THE  WINTERING  OF    PLANTS. 

It  is  always  an  object  witli  housekeepers  to  get 
califja^e,  eaulillower  and  lettuce  as  carfy  in  tlie  sjirini;; 
as  possiitle.  Lettuce  Itself  is  often  sown  in  tfie  Cafl 
and  left  to  take  itsehaneeof  witfistandinjrtlie  winter, 
whleli  some  kinds  occasionally,  but  the  finer  sorts 
seldom  do. 

Calibage  and  cauliflower  are  not  hardy  enouq^h  to 
stand  this  kind  of  treatment  In  our  latitude,  even  In 
the  mildest  winters.  The  good  woman  of  the  house, 
therefore,  often  brings  her  kitchen  or  sitting-room 
window  into  play,  to  raise  plants  of  the  above  some- 
what earlier  than  they  can  be  raised  in  the  open 
ground.  These  plants,  liowever,  being  raised  in  a 
warm  air,  where  no  cold  current  ever  strikes  them, 
are  not  hardy  enough  to  plant  before  the  middle  of 
April,  and  some  delaj'  till  even  near  May. 

There  is  a  way  of  raising  these  plants  by  which 
their  earliness  can  be  forwarded  at  least  tliree  weeks, 
and  It  Is  done  as  follows  : 

About  September  1.5th  to  20th,  for  this  latitude,  a 
piece  of  ground  is  prepared  by  spading  under  and 
nnxing  with  the  soil  three  inelies  of  short  and  well 
decomposed  barn-yard  manure,  thoroughly  pulver- 
izing tlie  soil,  aud  Immediately  sowing  tfiereou  the 
seeds  of  cabbage,  cauliflower  and  lettuce.  By  such 
heavy  manuring  as  this  the  plants  will  be  ready  to 
transplant  Into  cold-frames  by  the  middle  of  October. 
Lettuce  is  usually  planted  iufo  the  cold  frames  at  the 
distance  of  13<f  iiicjies  each  way,  and  flat  as  it  grew 
in  the  seed  beds.  Cabbage  and  caulittower  are  given 
'i'X  to  3} 2  iuehes  space,  aud  set  down  as  deep  as  pos- 


1S7C.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


i25 


Bible  without  covering;  tlip  lipart ,  as  the  stem  of  tliese 
plants  is  the  lemlcr  part.  I  liave  sometimes  IViuiid  it 
ailvisaljle,  if  these  plants  (.'few  very  nuieli  before  eolil 
weather  set  in,  to  till  up  between  the  plants  withsaml, 
as  far  as  the  stem  pushed  out.  of  the  trround. 

Any  size  of  sash  ean  be  used  for  enverin;,' :  if  the 
regular  hotbed  sash,  which  are!!  feet  wide  anil  li  feet 
lonir,  are  used,  eaeli  sash  will  hold  about  400  eabbuf;e 
or  eaulillo\M'r,  or  about  7(K)  letluee. 

The  eold-lrames  are  nuule  in  a  sheltered  situation, 
faeinfr  south  or  southeast,  on  the  top  of  the  ground, 
the  width  to  suit  tlie  sash,  and  look  like  hot-beds, 
only  there  is  no  heutint;-  material  usetl.  The  baek 
boanl  of  tin'  frame  should  be  from  12  u>  14  inebes 
\vi<le,  and  the  Iront  7  to.s  inebes,  so  as  to  allow  plenty 
of  slope  to  carry  oil'  the  water.  The  bed  of  the  frame 
sliould  be  .so  situated  as  to  leave  any  water,  that  nuiy 
accidentally  come  into,  drain  otV  very  reailily.  After 
the  sash  are  jiul  on  the  plants  should  be  kept  rather 
dry,  as  the  object  is  merely  to  preserve  them  and 
have  them  grow  as  little  as  possible  durhiir  tin'  winter. 

The  sash  are  not  [lut  on  until  pretty  hi'avy  frosts, 
say  about  the  last  of  November,  and  slioulil  be  en- 
tirely removed  on  tine  ilays  iiiuil  aboiu  the  noddle  of 
December,  when  all  the  atlenliun  that  is  necessary  is 
to  see  that  on  such  days  the  sash  are  rai.sed  on  the 
baek  end,  or  if  maile  to  slide,  push  up  and  down  three 
or  four  inches,  at  about  nine  t)'eloi'k  in  the  morning 
and  closed  again  abc^ut  three  in  the  afternoon.  The 
sash  are  suihcienl  covering  for  any  weather,  except 
that  im  very  cold  nights  a  ]>icee  of  carpet,  or  a 
ehutter  may  be  put  over  the  sash  where  the  eauli- 
llowers  are,  as  these  latter  plants  are  uol  quite  as 
hardy  as  cabbage  of  lettuce. 

I'lants  treated  in  this  manner,  if  they  have  not  been 
kept  too  warm,  ("in  be  planted  out  any  tinic|aftcr  the 
middle  of  .March  without  fear  of  injury,  as  the  jiretty 
severe  freezing  that  may  happen  after  that  time  will 
not  hurt  them.  This  year  1  planted  on  the  lltli  of 
JIarcb,  and  though  the  gniund  was  frozen  very  bard 
after  that,  only  about  thrci-  plants  out  of  every  hun- 
dred died,  and  they  may  have  died  from  some  other 
cause. 

When  only  a  few  plants  are  needed  they  can  be 
b(mght,  at  very  reasonable  rates,  of  men  who  make 
the  raising  of  plants  a  specially,  and  brought  right 
to  your  own  door,  through  tin'  postotfiee 

The  following  varieties  have  been  found  especially 
valuable  lor  earliness  and  quality  combined  : 

C.\BiiACil5. — Jersey  Wakefield,  one  of  the  very  best, 
lirst  early,  bard-heading  varieties  ;  Early  Summer,  a 
few  days  hater  than  the  above  and  somewhat  larger; 
Early  \ViiMiingladt,  known  ahso  as  Early  Cone  ;  sec- 
ond early,  very  hard  conical  head  ;  a  great  favorite 
with  many  on  account  of  its  size  and  extreme  hard- 
ness, liut  is  not  as  tine  a  cabbaire  as  eitlier  of  the 
others  mentioned  above.  Early  Dwarf  York,  earlier 
than  any  of  the  above,  but  has  a  small  and  very  loose 
head.  This  kind  should  not  h.:  sown  before  tlie  20th 
or  2.')th  of  September,  or  it  might  shooi  into  seed  in- 
stead of  forming  beads,  which  would  also  be  the  ease 
with  the  others  should  they  be  sowed  much  earlier 
than  the  time  stated. 

CAtLULoWEK.— Early  Dwarf  Erfurt;  one  of  the 
earliest  and  best.  Early  Paris  ;  a  good  second  early 
variety. 

Lettuce. — Early  Tennis  Ball ;  small  hard  head  ; 
fine  yellow;  very  early.  Early  Simpson;  a  large 
yellow  curled  lettuce  ;  does  not  form  hard  heads,  but 
is  second  to  none  in  i|ualit.y. 

Flower  seedliniis  of  hardy  perennials,  if  seeds  are 
sown  Auirust  20lh  to  :iOth,  can  be  wintered  very 
nicely  in  the  cold-frames,  and  will  then  bloom  in  the 
spi'imr  or  summer;  whereas,  if  the  se<'d  is  not  sr)wn 
until  in  tlie  spring,  most  of  them  will  not  tlower  until 
the  following  season.  The  kinds  that  are  mostly 
treated  in  this  manner  are  Snajidragons,  Hollyhocks, 
Tansies,  Pinks,  Sweet  Williams,  A:c.  As  only  limited 
quantitii'S  of  these  are  wanted,  it  would  ho  well  to 
give  them  extra  room,  say  three  inches,  so  as  to  make 
them  very  stocky. 

Those  whose  onion  sets  have  failed,  or  who  did  not 
get  enough  of  them  for  next  spring's  planting,  ean 
raise  them  very  cheaply  and  easily  this  fall,  by  the 
following  |ilan  : 

About  August  LSth  to  S.'ith,  take  a  piece  of  level 
ground,  two  feet  wide  and  of  the  desired  length,  and 
raise  border  abottt  two  Indies.  On  tbi'  enclosed  shal- 
low depression  sow  oni<tn  seeds  at  tiie  rate  of  about 
twenty  sei'ds  to  the  square  inch  ;  then  cover  thenj  up 
with  clean  santl  to  the  depth  of  twt)  inches,  i.  e.,  level 
with  the  border.  The  sand  should  he  such  as  is 
washed  by  water,  as  river  or  nn-atlow  sand,  as  that 
dug  from  a  bank  is  said  to  be  sometimes  injurious  to 
the  vegetable  growth.  These  sets  do  not  need  any 
more  attention  until  planting  time,  exeejit  perhaps  a 
Blight  covering  of  leatless  brush,  as  the  sand  being 
free  of  seeds  of  weeds,  no  weeding  is  necessary.  This 
method  may  also  be  use<l  in  the  spring  to  raise  dry 
sets,  and  requires  much  less  labor  than  the  old 
method.  If  it  is  used  to  raise  dry  sets  only  about 
half  the  <iuantity  of  seed  should  he  used.  The  fall 
sowing  is  very  nuieh  favored  by  some,  though  the 
green  sets  are  harder  to  plant  than  the  dry  ones,  but 
it  is  i-laimed  that  the  certainty  of  wintering,  and  the 
trouble  saved  by  not  needing  storing,  more  than  com- 
pensates for  the  extra  trouble  in  planting. — A.Jt.  K. 


Vol-  ThK  I.ASC.IMTER  FaRMF.U. 

THE  DAIRYING.  4. 
(Continual  ft'utti  May  innnlnr.) 

This  brings  us  to  the  management  of  milk  and 
cream  su))]illed  to  customers.  A  t^ottd  herd  of  cows, 
and  an  anipb-  supply  (d'  proper  fooil  form  the  basis  of 
the  dairyman's  operations,  but  in  order  to  deliver  his 
ndlk  or  cream  into  the  hands  of  the  eoiisunier  in 
proper  condition,  rciiulrcs  labor,  vigilance,  care  and 
management  that  makes  his  oci'Upatlon  rtfi-tinu'S 
anything  but  a  pleasant  one,  especially  when  after 
devoting  his  best  energies  to  his  business  he  iscliargi-d 
with  the  adulleratlon  or  want  of  neatness  with  the 
milk  or  cream  delivered  to  his  euslomers.  That  there 
is  in  too  nuiny  eases  good  reason  for  su<di  eharu'cs  Is 
not  denied,  but  the  wholesale  denunciation  of  dairy- 
men which  is  quite  common  is  entirely  unfair  and  out 
of  place. 

It  will  he  shown  before  the  close  of  these  articles 
that  consumers  are  in  nniny  <-ases  not  judgesof  a  grwul 
article,  or  do  not  know  how  to  lake  care  thiTCof  after 
receiving  it.  The  great  dillercnce  in  the  quality  of 
nnlk  from  ilillerent  cows  is  no  doubt  a  leading  cause 
lor  the  general  charges  of  its  adulteration.  All  the 
extra  feeding  that  may  increase  the  quantity  of  nnlk 
\\\\\  not  materially  improve  its  fjuality.  It  is  reason- 
able that  tbe  dairymen  sboulil  endeavor  to  purchase 
or  raise  cows  that  will  [iroduce  tbe  Jargesl  ((uantity 
of  nnlk,  where  the  latter  only  is  sold. 

Su)>pose  a  cow  yielding  six  gallonsof  milk  perday, 
and  another  yielding  tln-ee  gallons,  but  liotli  produce 
the  same  amount  of  cream,  tbe  ditferenee  in  tbe  value 
of  their  milk  must  be  (pute  apparent.  In  a  dairy  of 
cows  of  both  descriptions,  say  half  and  half,  anil  a 
majtu'ity  of  the  richer  ndlkcrs  coniing  in  ii-i-sh  at  on*- 
time,  themilk  (ifotberwise  properly  managed)  would 
no  doubt  give  entire  satisfaction  to  the  consumer,  but 
by  and  by  these  cows  nuiy  beeonu^  dry  ami  the  more 
copious  milkers  come  in  with  milk  only  half  as  rich, 
will  not.  the  consumer  at  once  conclude  that  his  milk 
contains  a  larger  jtroportion  of  water  than  formerly  i 
Suppose  the  clieuust  is  called  to  analyze  tbe  lluid,  ean 
he  positively  ascertain  whether  the  excess  of  watcris 
natural  or  artificial  ?  If  he  cannot  then  there  should 
be  a  standanl  of  what  shall  be  considered  milk.  That 
such  ditferenee  may  exist  in  the  same  heril  is  but  fair 
to  conclude,  and  that  dill'erent  herds  vary  extremely 
in  the  richness  of  their  milk  is  established  beyond 
question. 

Where  the  dairyman  has  an  established  custom  it 
is  very  important  that  the  sup])ly  ol  nulk  should  be 
as  regidar  as  possible,  which  makes  it  necessary  to 
provide  an  ample  supi>ly  of  green  crops  in  summer, 
and  good  liay  or  fodder  and  roots  in  winter.  The 
sowing  of  corn  for  fodder,  to  resort  to  in  case  of  grass 
running  short,  is  eonsiilered  indispensable  with  many 
of  the  mo.st  successful  dairymen.  Hegular  hours  for 
feeding  and  nnlking  is  all  important. 

Rut  now  comes  tbe  most  ini|H>rtant  part  of  the  bus- 
iness, requiring  great  care  and  tbe  most  scrupulous 
neatness  in  all  its  dei)artmcnrs,  from  the  drawing  of 
the  milk  to  its  delivery  to  the  consumer,  because  of 
its  power  of  absorbing  impurities  by  which  it  may  be 
surrounded.  Suthcieut  bedding  must,  be  providetl  so 
as  to  keep  the  animal  as  clean  as  possible,  and 
grooming  is  as  important  as  for  the  horse.  Before 
milking  always  ha\c  water  ami  a  cloth  to  wash  and 
dry  oti'again,  not  oidy  tlie  teats,  but  tliei-ntire  udder, 
whether  we  observe  hith  thereon  or  not ,  as  there  will 
be,  when  milked  dry,  a  continual  scattering  of  a  yel- 
lowisli  dust,  ctl'ete  matter  from  the  skinof  the  udder, 
which  should  never  be  allowed  to  enter  the  milk. 
Always  set  the  i>ail  a  little  aside  instead  of  under  the 
udder,  so  as  to  bi^  sure  should  any  impurities  drop 
therefrom  they  will  not  fall  into  the  milk.  We  need 
only  to  look  into  the  strainer  after  the  milk  has  pass- 
ed through,  to  learn  whether  cleanliness  has  been 
obser\ed  in  nnlking,  but  even  this  is  not  an  infallible, 
test,  lor  we  have  seen  both  men  and  women  while 
nnlking,  have  the  nnlk  running  along  their  hands 
and  wrists,  thence  drop  into  the  pail.  Such  we  con- 
sider slovenly  milkmg,  even  afier  washing  the  udder. 
But.  the  writer  has  also  seen  milking  done  where  the 
udder  and  teats,  tilt  by  as  they  were,  were  eleansetl, 
not  with  water,  but  with  nnlk  jiressed  out  and  with 
it  washed  a  little,  and  then,  with  the  pail  directly 
under  tbe  udiler,  a  greenish  liquid  would  cover  tbe 
milker's  hands  and  wi-ists.  .Milk  [lassing  tbro\iirh 
such  a  process  would  hardly  make  passable  gilt-edg- 
ed butter  whatever  may  be  the  after  management. 

All  vessels  usc'd  for  milk,  cream,  or  butter,  must 
hi'  kept  perfectly  sweet  and  clean,  so  as  not  to  Impart 
the  least  taint  Tin  vessels  should  be  usi'd  as  far  as 
possible,  and  thi' joints  should  be  filled  with  solder 
so  as  not  to  allow  any  crevice  in  which  anything 
might  lodge  to  become  rancid,  for  "a  little  leaven 
leavenetb  the  whole  lump,"  holds  as  gooil  now  as  it 
tliil  l.SdO  years  ago. 

In  the  summer  sea.son,  rapid  cooling,  whether  for 
butter  or  where  the  milk  and  cream  ar*'  sold,  is  essen- 
tial. If  in  large  cans,  when  cool  it  will  keep  sweet 
longer  than  iu  snnill  ones,  except  under  iec.  When 
milked  in  the  cvi'iung  and  thoroughly  ciKileil,  it  will 
keep  sweet  twice  as  long  as  that  nnlked  twelve  hours 
later,  when  the  latter  is  taken  warm  and  both  are 
delivered  to  customers  at  the  same  time.  I'nless 
there  is  a  good  spring-house,  an  iee-liouse  is  now  con- 
sidered essential  to  dairying,  even  ou  a  small  scale. 


The  pro|>er  construction  of  an  Ice-house  would  seem 
to  come  In  here,  but  would  n-ipdre  an  article  by  Itself 
of  consiilerahle  length.  Sulliee  it  to  say  that  by 
always  having  the  milk  .sit  lower  than  the  Ice,  so 
that  the  cfxil  air  which  naturally  descends  will  fall 
ou  the  cans,  the  cream  ean  be  kept  sweet  as  long  as 
the  ndlk.  This  hint  Is  given  as  the  result  of  the 
writer's  exi>erieiiei'.  In  setting  the  cans  on  lop  of 
the  lee  the  risult  usually  was,  that  the  cream  would 
be  sour  while  the  milk  in  the  bottom  of  the  can  was 
sweet.  In  the  suniiner  season  the  best  |M^issiblo 
methoil  should  be  adopted  to  keep  thu  milk  f  weet 
until  the  cream  has  all  risen,  ami  there  Is  seari'ely 
any  danger  of  kee|iing  it  sweet  too  long.  In  the 
winter  the  rcversi'  must  generally  be  practiced,  i.  «., 
to  prevent  thi  ndlk  from  getiiuL'  too  cohl. 

The  Ice  cream  business  has  Increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  nuiiiy  duiriis  are  kept  for  cream  ludy. 
In  order  to  havi'  the  <-ream  as  near  pure  as  {Ntssilile, 
deep  cans  are  best,  as  it  rei|ulri's  a  nnicli  Hnntller sur- 
face of  milk  to  skim  from  to  pnsluee  a  given  quautl- 
tily  of  cream,  while  In  skiinndng  from  shallow  jians 
or  crocks  a  larger  proportion  of  ndlk  must  necessa- 
rily lie  taken  up  with  tne  cream. 

The  writer  has  had  several  years  ex|)erienee  In  the 
retailing  of  milk  from  the  wagon,  and  that  the  con- 
sumer is  very  often  at  fault  in  the  mainigenieni  of 
ndlk  does  not  admit  of  a  iloubt .  (>ne  lady  would 
say,  "  filon't  want  any  this  morning,  mine  from  yes- 
terilay  Is  still  sweet."  Another  would  say  that  her 
milk  was  sour  last  evetiinL'  already,  while  both  re- 
ceived theirs  the  previous  morning,  from  tlii^  same 
can  at  nearly  the  same  time  ;  but  of  course  uism  the 
dairynian  rested  the  lilaine.  Others  would  say,  "why 
other  dairymen's  sklnnued  milk  is  as  giHKl  as  your 
new  milk,"  while  a  new  custone  r  would  greet  you 
with  the  order  to  "call  regularly,  asyour  milk  seems 
so  much  richer  and  better  than  that  we  have  iH'en 
getting  from  the  other  milkman."  These  facts  prove 
the  milk  trade  to  be  a  precarious  one  at  ImisI. — //.  M. 
£.,  Marietta,  Pa.,  Aug.  8,  1870. 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Corrcspondouco  of  The  Lancastku  FAnMF.n. 

Pahis,  June  2It,  187(5. 

The  decline  in  the  exportation  of  cattle  from  this 
coinitry  to  England,  which  In  1800,  was  as  much  as 
MN.OOO  head,  and  at  present  is  under  2,1X10,  has  com- 
pelled the  French  government  to  seriously  revise  its 
legislation  respecting  its  sanitary  regulations  In  refer- 
ence to  live  stock.  Tbeprinci|)al  laws  bearluL' on  this 
subject  are  anterior  to  1780,  with  special  measures, 
often  eonfuscMl  and  contradictory,  to  meet  such  epi- 
demics as  those  of  1844,  184!t,  18{i.5and  1871 .  .\  Com- 
mission has  been  at  last  named  to  consolidate  and  re- 
vise all  existing  laws  and  regulations  affeelingthe 
sanitary  condition  of  farm  stock.  The  Commis- 
sion is  composed  of  practical  and  sclent  ille  men  of  the 
highest  standing,  wliose  olliee  will  he  permanent,  and 
their  services  rcminierated.  The  domestic  animals  of 
France  represent  a  value  of  four  niilltapls  of  francs, 
being  less  by  one  nnlliard,  than  the  war  indemnity 
paid  to  (icrmany.  This  slock  is  not  only  im|>ortant 
as  a  food  supply,  but  it  forms  the  basis  of  farndng 
operations.  'The  last  dislemiH'r  destroyed  1(X),000 
head  of  cattle  iu  France,  hence,  the  importance  ofthe 
Commission  that  will  secure  a  permanent  staff  of 
veterinary  inspectors,  charged  not  only  to  oflicially 
watch  contagions  plagues,  but  to  insist  on  farmers 
rearing  their  stock  in  accorilanee  with  hygienic  con- 
ditions. The  "  Vet."  will  henicforth  be  not  only  a 
surgeon,  but  an  oilieer  of  health. 

A  race  of  cattle  jKissessing  rennirkable  qualities, 
and  peculiarly  suited  for  mountainous  districts,  is  the 
Snh'cys,  so  named,  after  an  ancient  town  In  theCaufal 
Mountains — thelatter  being  olV  shoot  soft  he  ('evcnnes. 
The  animals  are  alike  excellent  for  work,  milk  atid 
fattening,  and  of  late  are  in  much  request  with  fondgn 
purchasers.  Professor  La mbl.f if  Prague,  asserts  that 
in  proportion  as  the  population  of  a  country  increases, 
tbe  number  of  cattle  dindnishes,  so  that  in  time,  the 
animal  finishes  by  disapiH'aring  in  those  localities 
where  man  draws  his  supjiorf  principally  from  the 
Sfiil.  He  cfincludes,  that  the  i»eriod  is  not  distant, 
when  Bohemia  will  be  umibh?  to  supjiort  farm  st(X'k. 
If  the  country,  hfiwevcr,  by  its  industry  and  com- 
merce, ean  purihase  food  for  aninnils,  the  anticipated 
evil  can  be  obviated. 

Ticks  ari"  very  prevalent  this  year  In  rows  anil  sheep. 
These  parasites  iM'Iong  to  the  same  onler  as  spiders; 
the  uMiuth  is  ariii^d  with  a  kind  of  bill  or  sucker,  con- 
sisting of  three  blades,  the  ec>ntral  one  po."sessing 
several  rows  of  teeth.  The  insects  lay  an  enormous 
inuuber  of  eggs,  not  ui>on  the  IwhIv  of  the  animal 
where  they  have  liveil,  but  u|Kin  tin"  Miil;  flu-  youn^ 
siibse^pn'iitly  climb  ui>on  plants,  where  they  patiently 
await  the  passing  by  of  the  animal,  and  then  nv\7ja 
and  iwuetraH;  Its  skin  at  the  root  of  the  hair.  Several 
of  the  Insects  of  coursi'  dieof  hunger,  whilethns  wait- 
iuL'.  but  then  like  the  spider,  they  ean  exist  for  a  lon^ 
time  without  food.  Tliere  is  nothing  to  be  appre- 
prehended  whdi  the  parasites  are  but  few  in  munlMT; 
when  otherwis*',  the  tieast  ean  die  of  exhaustion.  In 
addition  to  mercurial  oinlnuMit,  an  applieafion  of  oil 
and  turpentine,  rulibcd  in  with  a  paint  brush,  will  soon 
destroy  the  tmsiance. 


126 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[August, 


The  eminent  German  experimentalists,  Messrs. 
Wolff,  Funeke,  and  Kreiizliage,  liave  imhlislied  the 
results  of  71  praclical  experiments  on  sheep  between 
two  and  tliree  years  old,  and  belon2:ing  to  the  erossed 
Wurtemhcri;  breed.  In  49  cases,  the  animals  were 
fed  on  fodder, sueh  as  tares,  clover,  aftermath,  and 
meadow  hay,  with  the  addition  of  turnips  and  man- 
golds; iu  22  cases  these  roots  were  superseded  by  po- 
tatoes. It  was  found  that  thedinfestibilityof  the  fod- 
der, diminished  with  an  increase  in  the  ration  of  the 
roots.  Thus,  the  digestibility  of  the  nitrogenous  or 
protein  matters,  diminished  four  to  twenty-two  per 
cent.,  when  the  total  of  the  dry  substance  of  the  roots 
attained  13  to  9.5  per  cent.,  as  eomiiared  with  the  total 
of  the  dry  matter  of  the  lodder.  With  potatoes  this 
diminution  was  as  hijjh  as  7  to  -10  ])er  cent.  Iu  Ger- 
many the  nutritive  value  of  roots  is  thus  estimated 
accordinj^  to  tlieii'  dry  matter,  apart  from  the  ordinary 
water  of  veiretation.  In  France,  and  perhaps  in  other 
countries  also,  roots  are  rather  considered  as  aids  to 
aujfment  the  volume  ol'  the  ration,  rather  than  to  com- 
plete its  alimentary  value.  This  seems  to  be  a  errave 
error,  for  the  dry  matter  of  roots,  is  on  an  averajje,  as 
rich  in  nitro.eenous  matters  as  the  dry  matter  of  rye, 
barley,  oats,  maize  or  buckwheat,  and  the  experience 
of  Wolff  and  his  collaborators  clearly  prove,  that  the 
digestibility  of  ailments  is  markedly  variable  follow- 
ing the  manner  they  may  be  given.  These  experiments 
will  also  tend  to  allay  iu  some  measure  the  family 
quarrels  between  scientilic^and  practical  farmers. 
There  are  not  a  few  who  decline  to  accept  a  practical 
experiment  unless  it  be  controlled  by  direct  chemical 
analysis.  Thus  it  would  seem,  that  in  order  to  deduce 
results,  it  is  more  important  to  live  in  a  laboratory 
rather  than  among  fields  and  stables.  Now  .animals 
are  themselves  excellent  chemists,  and  when  five 
pounds  of  hay  are  replaced  by  fifteen  of  beet,  and  the 
cows  continue  to  furuish  the  same  quantity  of  milk, 
without  loss  of  condition,  it  is  clear  that  in  this  cir- 
cumstance the  beets  equal  in  value,  one-third  of  hay. 

Among  some  new  fodder  plants  that  at  present 
attract  attention,  is  fromental,  or  French  ray  grass, 
the  Tourves  variety  lieing  the  best.  It  is  an  indigen- 
ous plant,  and  is  well  known  in  Pi'ovence,  being  pe- 
culiar to  light  soils  and  natural  meadows  ;  it  is  pre- 
cocious and  vigorous,  generally  attaining  the  height 
of  six  feet  when  in  llower,  which  is  the  moment  when 
it  ought  to  be  cut ;  the  second  is  often  as  good  as  the 
first  crop,  and  the  aftermath  is  also  respectable.  In 
the  department  of  the  Eure,  the  new  "  rye-buck- 
wheat," so  named  from  the  length  and  color  of  the 
grain  resembling  that  of  rye,  is  very  superior  to  the 
Tartary  variety  ;  it  is  precocious,  all  the  grains  ripen 
uniformly,  instead  of  successively,  are  heavy,  and 
yield  excellent  flour. 

M.  Gofi'art  continues  to  do  good  service  to  his  fel- 
low countryraeu  by  keeping  before  their  eyes  his  ex- 
perience and  his  experiments  on  the  culture  of  Cara- 
gua,  or  horse  tooth  maize,  for  preservation  in  trenches 
in  a  greeu  state  iu  autumn  for  spring  feeding.  As 
an  instance  of  tlie  im|iortant  proiiortions  the  culture 
of  Caragua  maize — called  after  Nicaragua  where  it 
grows  luxuriunlly,  but  from  whence  no  seed  has 
been  imported — has  attained,  two  years  ago  only  five 
tons  of  that  variety  of  maize  were  sold  for  seed  in 
France,  and  last  year  the  quantity  was  2.50  tons. 
After  visiting  numerous  farmsteads  in  the  country, 
noting  the  various  processes  lor  preserving  the  green 
maize,  and  haviu;;  personally  tested  them  all  on  his 
own  estate,  M.  Goffart  concludes  that  the  best  plan 
consists  in  choppinn  the  maize,  the  better  to  Ibrce 
out  the  air,  Iramiiling  the  mass  well  at  the  sides  of 
the  trench,  and  never  allowing  it  to  rise  above  the 
surface  of  the  pit.  The  latter  ought  to  be  excavated 
in  a  sloping  soil,  in  a  dry  situation;  the  walls  to  be 
iu  masonry,  two  yards  under  and  the  same  above  the 
soil;  elliptical  in  form,  3  or  :J  yards  wide,  and  suffi- 
ciently long  to  contain  SO  tons  of  the  chopped  forage; 
the  latter  will  prove  sufficient  (or  twelve  cows  during 
the  winter.  The  cost  of  the  mason-work  will  be  fr.BO 
per  head  of  cattle,  but  will  he  rejiaid  in  the  first  season 
alone.  The  top  of  the  trench  ought  to  be  closely 
covered  with  boards,  and  all  available  heavy  lumber, 
stones,  bricks,  i^c,  placed  thereon  to  insure  compres- 
sion. Covering  with  sand  and  earth  is  considered 
objectionable.  The  trenches  can  be  extended  in  par- 
allels according  to  the  number  of  cattle  to  be  fed. 
The  principal  to  keep  in  view  is,  to  exclude  all  fer- 
mentation of  the  mass,  pendins,  as  well  as  after  being 
put  into  the  trench.  This  can  be  secured,  and  only 
so  by  expelling  the  air.  Some  two  pounds  of  salt 
per  cubic  yard  of  stulf,  may  be  added,  not  to  pre- 
serve, but  to  give  a  flavor  to  the  fodder;  the  latter 
has  been  found  to  keep  better,  the  less  it  was  mixed 
with  cut  straw,  chali',  liusks,  iScc.  There  has  been  no 
good  result  from  chojiping  up  oil  poppies  with  the 
maize  in  order  to  induce  the  animals  to  sleep  and 
thus  fatten  more  rapidly.  Such  aids,  if  they  do  not 
provoke  sleep  iu  cattle,  have  never  yet  promoted  their 
putting  uj)  flesh. 

Two,  among  the  many  regional,  or  official  agricul- 
tural shows  just  held  throughout  France,  merit 
notice.  That  at  Gap,  in  the  Upjier  Alps,  where  its 
remarkable  race  of  cattle — the  Tarine — is  notorious, 
having  the  fine  triangular  head  of  the  Durham  ;  the 
horns  are  sniall  and  well  curved  before  ;  the  sbimlder 
is  all  muscle,  and  the  ham  is  composed  of  sinews  of 
steel,  for  the  animal  has  often  to  seek  its  food  like  a 


goat.  The  sheep  in  point  of  muscle  are  the  same, 
and  the  rams  have  no  horns.  Tlie  raising  of  sheep  is 
dying  out;  not  more  than  .50,000  now  are  fed  on  the 
Alpine  slopes,  where  formerly  five  times  that  number 
existed.  It  has  been  found,  that  everywhere  the 
sheep  put  its  pointed  foot,  like  Attila's,  the  grass 
ceased  to  grow,  because  the  heavy  rains  succeeding, 
formed  litt^le  ravines  from  the  foot  marks,  and  carried 
away  the  soil.  Cattle  are  preferred;  their  hoof  is 
larger,  and  when  grazing  they  cut  the  grass  to  the 
surface  of  the  soil,  not  tear  it  up  by  the  root,  as  is 
the  case  with  sheep.  The  Berkshire  breed  of  pigs 
succeed  best  in  the  Alps.  The  show  at  Arras  was 
important;  it  includes  the  regions  of  Calais  and 
Boulogne,  where  so  much  produce  leaves  for  Eng- 
land ;  it  is  the  centre  of  the  beet-growing  districts, 
the  rotation  being  beet,  then  wheat  or  roots,  with 
clover,  succeeded  by  flax,  colza,  oil  poppy,  and  pota- 
toes. It  is  also  the  quarter  for  Dutch  and  Flemish 
breeds  of  cows,  which  do  not  differ  very  much,  save 
in  color,  the  former  being  mahogany  red,  and  the 
other  black  ;  both  are  good  milkers  and  fatten  r.apidly . 
There  is  an  aversion  to  cross  these  breeds  with  Dur- 
hams,  but  it  was  just  this  crossing  that  carried  off 
the  prize.  Similarly  with  sheep,  tlie  Merino  once  was 
the  favorite,  owing  to  its  fine  wool;  the  dishleg  Merino 
supplanted  it,  for  at  the  age  of  two  years  the  animals 
have  an  average  weight  of  00  tt)8.,  a  result  formerly 
attained  only  when  three  years  old,  and  the  fleece, 
weighing  9  ttis.  in  grease,  brings  as  high  a  price  as 
that  from  Merinos. 

Italian  farmers  iu  order  to  prevent  harness  and 
objects  in  leather  generally,  from  suffering  from  the 
ammoniaeal  odors  of  the  stable,  add  a  little  glycerine 
to  the  grease  employed  to  coat  the  leather. 

At  this  season  it  may  be  useful  to  allude  to  a  plan 
of  haymaking  in  the  mountain,  boggy  meado\ys  of 
the  Vosges ;  when  the  grass  is  cut  it  is  only  left  three 
hours  exposed  to  the  sun;  if  allowed  a  longer  time  on 
the  soil  before  being  carted  home,  it  would  fail  to 
soften  the  stems  and  so  render  their  digestion  diffi- 
cult. No  complaint.s  are  made  of  the  fermentation 
and  its  consequences,  as  in  the  case  of  green  artificial 
fodder.  Tares,  generally  employed  for  feeding  horses, 
are  mown  when  the  pods  commence  to  form ;  lucern, 
especially  in  dry  seasons,  must  be  cut  when  the  flowers 
begin  to  show,  in  order  to  save  the  lower  leaves  that 
commence  to  be  yellow.  As  in  the  ease  of  lucern  the 
leaves  are  the  most  nutritive  part  of  the  plant.  ^This 
explains  why  the  French  never  turn  clover  over  to 
dry  during  the  daytime,  selecting  the  morning  and 
afternoon,  the  leaves  being  then  less  brittle. 


'OUR   FARMERS   IN   COUNCIL." 


Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Lancaster 
County  Agricultural  and  llorticidtural  Society  was 
held  in  the  Athenajuni  rooms,  on  Jlonday  afternoon, 
Auirust  7th. 

The  following  members  were  present :  H.  M.  Engle, 
Daniel  Lintner,  Alex.  Harris,  Johnson  Miller,  Levi 
Groff,  William  McComsey,  M.  D.  Kendig,  Dr.  P.  W. 
Hiestand,  Jacob  Bollinger,  P.  S.  Keist,"  J.  Stauffer, 
S.  S.  Rat'ivon,  E.  S.  Hoover,  Calvin  Cooper,  Levi  S. 
Heist,  J.  B.  Gather,  Wm.  Hershey,  J.  Frank  Landis, 
W.  L.  Ilershey,  A.  F.  Ilostettcr,  Phares  Kaufl'man, 
Simon  P.  Eby  and  .John  M.  Stehman. 

The  President  being  absent,  Henry  M.  Engle  was 
called  to  the  chair. 

JonN'soN  MiLLEH,  One  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  society  to  report  the  rain  fall, 
reported  that  he  had  as  yet  been  unable  to  secure  a 
rain  gauijc. 

Mr.  Exiii.R  thouffhtihere  was  no  use  of  going  to 
the  expense  of  purcliasins  a  rain  gauire,  but  that  one 
could  easily  be  made  out  of  tin,  in  the  shape  of  a  pot 
lid,  about  ten  inches  wide  and  six  or  eight  inches 
deep,  with  irlass  tube  attached.  He  had  made  one 
like  this,  and  it  worked  s.atisfactorily.  The  fall  of 
rain  duriuL^  the  month  of  July,  in  his  locality,  was 
about  one-and-a-half  indies. 

Mr.  Kendio,  another  member  of  the  committee, 
said  that  he  had  purchased  a  rain  gauge,  but  in  the 
late  heavy  rains  it  proved  too  small,  and  inconse- 
quence he  could  not  make  a  rc|iort.  By  the  next 
meeting  he  thought  he  would  have  a  report,  as  he 
was  ne2"0tiating  for  a  larger  gauge. 

Mr.  Cooper  said  he  had  made  a  gauge  similar  to 
the  one  described  by  Mr.  Engle,  and  that  it  worked 
well.  The  amount  of  rainfall  in  his  neighborhood 
was  ^T  77-100  inches  for  the  month  of  July.  Mr. 
Cooper  also  stated  the  amount  of  rain-fall  for  each 
rainy  day  during  the  month,  also  the  state  of  the 
thermometer  on  such  days. 

After  the  discussion  of  rain-fall  w.as  at  an  end,  the 
report  of  the  crops  was  next  in  order. 

Johnson  Miller  said  the  wheat  crop  in  Warwick 
township  was  a  good  one,  although  some  fields  were 
considerably  damai;ed  by  the  ravages  of  the  fly.  The 
Foltz  variety  proved  the  best.  The  hay  crop,  although 
not  large  was  of  the  liest  quality.  The  corn  and  to- 
bacco were  growing  finely.  The  former,  although 
not  so  heavy  in  the  straw,  will  make  a  large  yield  of 
grain.  There  will  be  more  toiiaeco  raised  in  this 
county  this  year  than  ever.    Fruit   of  all   kiuds  is 


plenty.  In  some  instances  the  apples  fall  before  they 
come  to  perfection. 

Before  taking  his  seat  .Mr.  Miller  presented  to  the 
society  a  few  apple  tree  twigs  for  inspection.  He  said 
they  were  taken  from  the  trees  in  the  orchard  of 
Jacob  Erb,  in  Pcnn  township,  whose  apple  trees  are 
all  dying  off  at  the  top,  as  well  as  the  twigs  of  last 
summer's  growth.  The  best  of  soil  is  on  the  orchard, 
and  it  lays  on  a  southern  slope,  so  that  freezing  could 
not  be  the  cause.  Some  of  Mr.  Erb's  neighbors' 
trees  also  surt'ered  in  the  same  way,  and  he  hoped  the 
matter  would  receive  the  attention  of  the  society. 

Mr.  Kendig,  of  Manor,  said  the  wheat  crop  just 
harvested  was  a  irood  average  one.  Corn  and  tobacco 
look  promising,  the  latter  Jbeing  larger  at  this  season 
than  any  former  year's  growth.  The  young  grass  was 
very  small,  some  fields  having  none  at  all.  All  kinds 
of  fruit  look  well  and  Avill  be  a  heavy  crop,  notwith- 
standing a  great  deal  drops. 

.Mr.  Gropp  said  that  the  wheat  and  hay  crop  in 
the  eastern  section  of  the  country  was  a  very  good 
one.  Corn  ami  potatoes  will  also  be  good,  although 
they  yet  need  rain.     Fruit  of  all  kinds  plenty. 

Mr.  Mc'CoMSEr  had  heard  that  the  wheat  crop 
just  harvested  was  not  fully  developed,  on  account  of 
the  intense  heat  in  the  early  summer  ripening  it  too 
soon.     He  would  like  to  know  if  such  was  the  case. 

Mr.  Engle  replied  that  when  the  wheat  was  turn- 
ing and  it  was  very  hot  weather  the  heads  would  not 
fill  out  so  well.  This  season  when  the  early  wheat 
was  filling  out  it  was  rather  cool  weather,  and  he 
noticed  the  heads  were  well  filled.  The  late  wheat, 
which  passed  through  the  hot  spell,  was  not  so  well 
filled.  E.\perienee  had  taught  him  that  the  weather 
had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  cause. 

Mr.  Bollinger  reported  that  the  corn  about  Eph- 
rata.  Clay,  Manheim  and  Earl  townships  was  rather 
thin  in  the  stalk,  in  consequence  of  which  he  did  not 
think  there  would  be  a  heavy  crop.  The  grain  crop 
was  good  and  was  harvested  with  very  little  expense 
this  year,  as  it  could  be  cut  down  in  the  morning  and 
hauled  in  before  night. 

Mr.  Kendig  asked  for  information  in  regard  to  his 
young  grass.  As  it  was  a  perfect  failure,  he  thought 
of  plowing  it  down  and  sowing  it  in  clover  and  grass 
seed  together  with  a  little  oats  for  shading. 

Mr.  Bollinger  replied  that  he  had  a  neighbor 
that  tried  this  method  and  got  an  excellent  crop.  In 
another  instance  another  neighbor  tried  it  and  it 
proved  a  perfect  failure.  Perhaps  the  location  of  the 
lands  had  something  to  do  with  it.  The  latter's  land 
was  exposed  to  the  north  winds. 

Mr.  Engle  believed  the  success  depended  a  great 
deal  on  what  kind  of  weather  we  have  in  the  fall. 

Mr.  Cooper  reported  the  harvest  in  East  Lampeter 
more  bountiful  than  anticipated.  The  late  rains  were 
a  great  help  to  the  young  grass,  corn  and  tobacco. 
The  fruit  was  suffering  to  a  great  extent  by  blight, 
especially  so  in  regard  to  the  pears. 

Messrs.  Hoover  and  Levi  S.  Keist  also  referred 
to  their  pear  trees  being  affe<:ted  with  blight.  They 
would  like  to  know  a  remedy 

Mr.  Cooper  said  that  the  blight  takes  effect  both 
on  the  bark  and  wood  of  the  tree.  He  had  tried  dif- 
ferent experiments,  and  found  that  the  only  way  to 
save  the  tree  was  to  split  the  hark  of  the  branch 
affected  in  two  or  three  different  pbices.  It  could  be 
done  best  with  a  pruning  knife.  If  this  was  done  in 
time  it  would  prove  a  good  remedy.  Trees  that  were 
treated  iu  this  manner  revived  and  are  now  flourish- 
ing, while  those  that  were  not  touched  died. 

Mu  Hoover  wanted  to  know  if  it  would  do  any 
good  if  the  branch  were  to  be  cut  off. 

Mr.  Engle  thought  that  if  nothing  else  would 
save  the  tree,  it  would  be  well  to  cut  off  the  affected 
branch.  He  had  saved  trees  by  cutting  off  the 
branches. 

Mr.  Hoover  wished  to  know  if  hen  manure  ap- 
plied to  the  roots  of  trees  and  grape  vines  was  bene- 
ficial. 

Mr.  Kendig  said  he  found  it  very  good  iu  making 
trees  grow. 

Mr.  Stauffer  had  a  friend  who  applied  some 
guano  to  the  roots  of  two  pear  trees  aflected  with 
"yellows,"  and  it  helped  them. 

Mr.  Engle  did  not  think  a  case  of  real  yellows 
could  be  cured.  Some  peojile  do  not  know  the  differ- 
ence between  an  attack  of  worms  and  yellows. 

Mr.  Hostetter  said  that  he  observed  that  the 
locust  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  Petersburg  were  dying 
at  the  top. 

Mr.  Hoover,  who  had  traveled  over  a  great  part 
of  the  county  during  the  last  two  months,  found  that 
the  locust  trees  as  a  general  thing  were  dying.  The 
trees  first  die  around  the  top,  while  the  foliage  on  the 
remaining  part  Of  the  tree  seems  perfectly  healthy. 
About  otie-third  of  the  trees  in  his  neighborhood  are 
affected  in  this  way. 

Mr.  Stauffer  thought  the  trees  were  attacked 
with  borers. 

Levi  S.  Heist  was  of  the  impression  that  the  trees 
were  injured  by  the  heavy  frosts  which  visited  this 
section  of  the  county  two  or  three  years  ago. 

Mr.  Hostetter  hoped  the  matter  would  receive 
the  attention  of  the  society,  as  the  locust  iuterest  was 
au  important  one  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Hoover  thought  that  the  best  remedy  was  to 
cut  the  trees  down  and  take  care  of  the  stock. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


127 


I,EVI  S.  Kkist  sniil  Mint  aftiTtliolrec  wusi'Ut  ilowii 
niiii  you  (lid  iii>t  wisli  tlir  sproutBto  irniw.  ullyoii  liud 
to<li'  was  In  I'oic  a  lioli-  in  1  1m>  Hlump  and  piil  home 
Bait  in  it.     Tliis,  \u-  said,  would  kill  its  rrowlti. 

Mk.  tiAKHKK  liud  tiiid  tliis  plan  and  found  it 
worlu'd  like  a  tdiarni. 

"  How  lan  wt-  lust  inipnivp  the  appeanince  of  our 
farms,"  wastlie  ne.\t  suliic<-t  taken  up  fordiscuseion. 
Mk.  Kkni>io  was  eallcd  upon  to  uive  Ids  views. 
lie  said  lie  did  noi  know  mueli  aliout  tlie  sulijeet,  as 
lie  liail  j;iven  it  no  tliou^'lit.  lie  believed,  however, 
that  there  was  ^reat  room  lor  improvinient  of  our 
farms.  In  the  lirst  plai  e,  he  would  remove  all  briers 
and  ndibisli,  and  have  the  huildinus  pill  in  L'ood  re- 
pair and  vhilewashed.  This  would  add  mueh  to  the 
a]ipearaii(e  of  the  farm.  Loiust  trecB  should  be 
planted  alonir  the  lanes  and  roailsides. 

iMii.  P'.Noi.K  thouuht  thai  in  addition  to  the  above 
remarks  of  Mr.  Kendij;,  a  irood  orehard  ami  orna- 
mental trees,  shrubs  and  lluwers,  would  add  mueh 
to  the  beautv  ami  value  of  tin-  place. 

Mu.  Mr('i)MSKY  thou'.dit  that  every  farm  should 
be  made  a  model  farm,  siieli  as  Mr.  Youna's  or  Mr. 
I'eiper's.  To  be  sueeessliil  in  iiiiproviiii;  farms,  much 
depends  on  enllivalion,  liabil.--  and  taste. 

Mil.  IldOVKH  believed  there  eould  be  a  great  many 
more  model  farms  in  this  county  if  more  interest 
would  be  ti'keii  in  the  matter.  If  a  farmer  can't 
keep  his  farm  in  reiiairs,  the  sooner  he  sells  it,  the 
liclter  for  liimsell  and  farm.  Mueh  could  be  added 
to  the  ap\iearanee  (if  farms  if  the  time  spent  inlonni;- 
inir  around  shops  ami  stores  were  spent  in  making 
repairs. 

Mi(.  HosTFTTFU  thought  the  mattcroftaste  should 
be  jiropairatcd .  Kvery  summer  he  notices  new  tastes 
in  the  selection  ol  llowers  in  the  lawns,  y.irdsiuid  gar- 
dens of  this  county,  in  some  |ilaecs,  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years,  an  entire  revolution  takes  jilace.  He 
thougl'it  that  the  boys  and  girls  should  he  put  to  im- 
proving the  farms.  "  The  father  and  mother  are  gen- 
erally too  busy  and  seldom  get  out  as  much  as  the 
young  folks,  lind  hence  do  not gcttoosi'ethc  improve- 
ments that  are  going  on  among  their  neighbors.  The 
bovs  and  girls  in  going  around  notice  those  things 
m(ire  readily,  and  if  tlicy  were  humored  a  little  more 
and  put  to  work  they  would  add  much  to  the  beauty 
and  improvement  of  the  farm. 

Mu.  (iitoFK  said  that  so  many  had  spoken  of  the 
improvements  in  beautifying  the  farms,  would  it  not 
be  well  for  some  to  speak  of  improving  the  land  "in- 
side of  the  fences." 

Mii.  BoLMNoER  agreed  with  Mr.  Groff.  He  said 
he  was  tiorn  and  raised  in  Franklin  county,  and  while 
living  there  noticed  the  following:  On  one  side  of  him 
there  lived  lour  old  bachelors  and  two  old  maids.  They 
never  paid  any  attention  to  improving  their  house  or 
yards,  but  put  all  their  time  and  attention  in  improv- 
ing the  land  by  manuring  and  liming  it,  thus  bringiug 
it  to  a  high  stale  of  cultivation.  In  IHUO  the  farms  of 
these  parties  were  worth  i;3."i(l,(IUU.  On  thcother  side 
lived  a  man  who  devoted  much  of  his  time  in  beauti- 
fying his  buildings  and  in  planting  ornamental  trees 
and  flowers.  The  result  was  that  in  a  few  years  he 
had  to  a|)point  assignees,  llis  (experience  was  that  it 
was  best  to  tirst  cultivate  the  laud  and  afterwards 
look  to  the  flowers,  etc. 

Peteu  S.  Heist  referred  at  length  to  the  line 
farms  of  Horace  Greeley,  James  Young,  and  Wm. 
L.  Pciper,and  the  Coleman  estate,  showing  that, 
although  they  were  model  farms,  they  would  not 
keep  their  owners,  but  that  the  owners  had  to  keep 
them. 

Mk.  Enole  Ixdievcd  in  the  planting  of  fruits  and 
berries.  They  would  not  only  prove  beneflcial  but 
would  add  much  beauty  to  the  place. 

There  being  no  further  discussi(m,  society,  on  mo- 
tion, adjourned. 

The  essayist  for  the  next  meeting  will  be  Abram 
F.  Hoslelter. 

A  nuinlier  of  apples  and  pears  were  presented  for 
inspection  by  Messrs.  Engle,  Cooper,  Hoover  and 
Heist. 

A  very  fine  bunch  of  Clawson  s  while  wheat ,  grown 
on  the  farm  of  Dr.  E.  B.  Heir,  Creswell,  was  pre- 
sented by  Martin  D.  Keiidig.  The  seed  was  received 
by  the  doctor  two  years  ago  from  the  department  at 
Washington. 


reports  are  encouraging  in  nearly  all  portions  of  the 
West  and  South.  Cotton  promises  #  good  yield. 
Fruit  is  abundant,  rolatoes  have  nourished  in  spile 
of  the  binr.  When  the  Iresbels  ol  last  year,  swce|i- 
ing  away  the  crops  in  the  fertile  plains  of  Ihe  Missis- 
sippi vailey,  are  remembered,  there  is sulllcienl  cause 
for  gratitude".  In  our  own  county,  the  droulh  last 
summer  reduced  the  yield  of  hay  and  wheat  fur  be- 
low the  average. 

In  ealeulating  the  efleets  of  good  crops  upou  the 
future  liiiancial  coiidilion  of  llic  country.  It  la  to  Ik- 
borne  in  mind  that  every  bushel  of  grain,  and  every 
pound  of  meat,  and  every  ton  (d' hay,  and  every  bale 
id' cotton  produced,  bevoiid  our  own  wants.  Is  equal 
to  so  niiieh  gold  in  setiling  the  balance  of  trade. 

It  looks  now  as  if  the  Centennial  year  would  be  a 
most  productive  one.  In  view  of  the  depressed  eoii- 
diliiiii  of  business,  this  is  a  cheering  prospect.  Abun- 
dant harvests  must  precede  a  revival  of  business. 
()ur  agricultural  iiidusl  rics  underlie  all  ol  hers,  and 
to  these  we  must  lixdi  for  the  solid  foundations  upon 
wliieh  to  buihl  up  trade.  The  indications  now  are 
that  this  great  source  of  wealth  will  yield  largely, 
and  be  followed  by  a  more  aclive  and  healthy  busi- 
ncBS  than  we  have  had  for  several  years. 


Western  Crop  Reports. 

From  advices  received  by  the  Toledo  liliidc.  It  a|>- 
jicars  that  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  .Michigan,  and  Illinois, 
the  wheat  crop  in  nearly  all  the  wheal -prodiicingdls- 
tricts  is  nearly  up  to  the  average  in  cjuanlily,  while 
the  (pialily  is'  superior  to  that  of  any  former  year. 
Spring  wiieat  in  Illinois  has  generally  done  very 
badlyl  The  best  reports  for  winter  wheal  came  from 
Michigan,  where  the  harvest  is  especially  good.  The 
corn  crop  promises  very  well  everywhere.  The  acre- 
age is  much  larger  than  ever  before,  and  though 
farmers  were  much  di.'icburagcd  early  in  the  .season 
by  continued  wet  weather,  which  iirevented  working 
and  drowned  out  the  corn  in  low  jilaecs,  they  believe 
now  that  the  crop  will  be  enormous  unless  interfered 
with  by  frost.  The  crop  in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  part 
of  Michigan  is  nearly  a  total  failure,  and  what  grain 
was  grown  is  deflcieiit  in  (]uality.  In  Southeastern 
Michigan  and  Northwestern  Ohio  the  crop  is  unusually 
good.  The  barley  crop  is  up  to  the  average.  A  large 
(luantity  of  flaxseed  was  sown  in  some  parts  of  Indi- 
ana and  Illinois,  and  has  done  well.  There  were  less 
potatoes  planted  than  last  year,  tmt  the  crop  will  l>e 
enormous.  Hay,  except  in  some  parts  of  Michigan, 
where  rain  has  interfered  with  its  cutting  and  curing, 
has  produced  far  beyond  the  croji  of  the  previous 
year.  The  (piality  is  very  good,  and  it  has  been  well 
taken  care  of.  The  apple  crop  is  very  large  every- 
where. Only  a  jiartial  crop  of  peaches  will  ripeu 
widl.  TakTii  altogether,  the  farm  products  will  ex- 
ceed those  of  last  year  from  thirty  to  lifly  iiereentum. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 

Cheese. 
The  State  of  New  York  alone  has  now  nearly  1,000 
cheese  manufactories,  which  use  the  milk  of  more 
than  2."-U,000  cows,  making  therefrom  S(l,n(IO,(Ulll 
pounds  of  cheese,  which  is  1,0I1U  pounds  for  every 
three  cows.  The  cheese  luoduetion  ol  the  wliide 
United  States  is  over  •2.5II,I100,(hki  pounds,  of  which 
'Ji;,(illll,(100  are  cxiiortcd.  England  scarcely  exports 
2.5,000,000,  while  little  Holland,  which  used  to  be  the 
principal  cheese  producing  country  of  the  world,  ex- 
ports at  present  00,0110,000  [lounds. 

The  Crops  in  the  East. 

The  farmers  in  this  section,  and  throughout  the 

country,  have  reason  to  rejoice.   The  crops  of  wheat, 

hay  and  oats  have  been  excellent  in  oaslern  I'ennsyl- 

vaiiia.   The  corn  lields  show  a  splendid  growth.   The 


The  Grasshoppers  and  the  Birds. 

It  was  hoped  that  the  grasslio]i|icr,  from  which  the 
Western  farmers  have  sulhred  so  mueh  in  former 
years,  would  not  be  heard  from  this  ye.ir.  But  the 
month  of  .luly,  which  teems  with  destructive  as  well 
as  creative  energies,  has  brought  him  to  the  surface 
again,  and  we  hear  of  the  old  plagueof  Egypt  in  the 
new  State  of  California.  It  is  suggested  by  a  con- 
temporary that  the  (irangers  eould  not  do  belter  than 
takeii|i  arms  against  the  grasshoppers,  and  that  they 
might  do  this  by  considering  the  (lucstion  of  how  far 
birds  should  be  protected  by  elfeetive  laws  for  the 
sake  of  their  aid  in  suppressing  insects.  The  natural 
enemies  of  grasshoppers  are  (enumerated  by  a  late 
writer  as  moles,  mice,  hawks,  and  many  small  birds, 
black  crickets,  and  the  long  green  grasshopiier, 
which  is  usually  taken  for  a  vegetarian,  swine  and 
turkeys.  But  flicre  is  no  agent  .so  destriiclive  of  in- 
sects as  birds,  and  hence  it  is  urged  that  the  (irangers 
should  take  uii  the  cause  of  these  innocent  and  use- 
ful creatures,  who  are  constantly  being  slaughter*! 
in  the  West  and  elsewhere  by  reckless  and^  foolish 
men  and  boys.  The  prairie  chicken  of  the  West,  aud 
even  birds  not  used  for  IoimI,  like  the  insect -devouring 
crow  and  the  tiny  wren,  which  feed  principally  uiion 
those  who  devour  the  fo(«l  of  man,  ought  to  be 
secured  by  adcfiuate  legislation  from  those  human 
allies  of  tlie  locusts,  whose  greatest  ambition  is  to 
kill  everything  in  the  feathered  line  which  comes  in 
their  way.  Next  to  the  preserval ion  of  forest  trees, 
which  are  so  ruthlessly  destroyed  in  .\iiieriiea,  we 
know  nolhingof  more  Fcrious  intcresMo  agricultural 
populations,  and  indeed  to  the  whole  country,  than 
the  preservation  of  birds. 

Toads. 

Tliere  is  a  very  common  prejudiceagain.st  the  toad. 
By  many  he  is  hioked  on  with  loathing  and  disgust. 
He  is  regarded  as  an  ugly,  uncouth,  and  worthless 
nuisance,  that  should  be  abated  at  sight.  But  this 
prejudice  is  ill-founded  and  unjust,  as  Ihe  toad  is  not 
only  harmh  ss  but  (pdtc  useful  to  farmers  and  gar- 
deners. They  slemld  therefore  be  regarded  as  friends 
instead  of  being  treated  as  enemies.  The  eggs  of  the 
load  are  usually  laid  in  the  water,  but  at  times,  when 
this  is  not  accessible,  they  are  laid  in  damp,  dark 
places,  and  in  such  ease-s  tliey  do  not  pass  through 
the  tadiiole  stale.     "■'""'■■   • 


live  on  vegetalile  f(KHl,  but  as  toads  they  live  on  in- 
sects, spiders,  \-c.  Tliey  are  exceedingly  well  adapted 
to  catching  Inscels,  having  u  tongue  of  marveloua 
const  ruction.  It  Is  (luite  long  and  may  be  projeeKxl 
stx  orelghl  Inches,  the  tipof  it  being  so  direeled  as  to 
just  reach  llie  object,  and  being  covered  with  a  viscid, 
gummy  siilislanee,  that  causes  the  iiiscet  lo  adherelo 
It,  it  Isthns  (pilckly  conveyed  lo  tlie  iiK.uth  of  Iho 
toad  and  buried  alive.  The  moveiheiils  of  the  tongue 
111  thus  taking  in  a  lly  or  a  bug,  are  so  rapid  that  they 
cannot  be  followed  by  Ihe  eye.  The  number  of  insects 
that  a  toad  will  eal  is  almost  incredible.  A  few  of 
them  in  a  garden  will  keep  It  well  rid  of  bugs,  jilaiit 
lice,  .\:c.  They  generally  siieiid  Iheday  lns<imedark, 
seclinU'd  b|kiI,  often  a  hole  under  a  b("I  <u'  el(Hl  orlliu 
side  of  a  rock,  and  In  the  evening  they  come  out  and 
hop  ahoul  In  search  of  a  supiHT  of  live  Insects.  They 
may  be  Induced  lo  lake  up  their  residence  in  the  gar- 
den by  conllnlng  Ihcin  for  two  or  three  days  lo  Iho 
place,  when  they  will  beromie  (lulle  well  eoiilontcd. 
A  board  laid  abdul  two  inches  from  I  lie  ground  Is  just 
the  kind  (da  hiding  place  that  suilslliem.  Theyaru 
long  lived,  being  ofleii  know  n  twelve  lo  sixleeiiycara 
old,  and  It  is  said  that  one  lived  to  be  Ihirty-slx  years 
old.  On  account  of  their  propensity  for  destroy lUK 
InseelB,  toads  should  be  encourat'ed  lo  become  iM>r- 
manent  residents  of  our  lields  ami  ganlens.— 0/iio 
Fttfmer. 

Improving  the  Land  "  Inside  the  Fences." 

Would  you  allow  one  of  your  readers  (who  wouhl 
rather  go  lo  bed  without  his  sup|Kr,  than  without 
reading  your  [laper.y  lo  express  lis  admiration  of  Iho 
witty  aiid  ingenuous  speech  of  Levi  W.  lirolf,  es(|., 
made  on  .Monday,  llie  .Slh  insl.,  in  the  meeting  of lliu 
Lancaster  County  Agricultural  and  Ilorllcullural  .So- 
ciety. Those  who  will  recolleel  your  able  re|)ort.  of 
that  meeting,  and  olliers  who  may  take  the  trouble 
to  refer  lo  it,  know  that  the  subject  discussed  was 
"  How  can  we  best  improve  the  apiM'aranec  of  mir 
farms  ."  Five  dlll'ereiit  members  expressed  their  re- 
spective opinions  on  ilie  subject  in  regular  succession, 
all  of  whom  seemed  lo  kxlk  merely  lo  unpnMluclivo 
((Ualilies— buildings,  fences,  trees,  shrubs,  flowers, 
ttc,  as  elements  cssenlial  tog<ating  up  a  iikmIcI  farm 
— eiling  Mr.  Y(miig'8  and  our  disllnguishol  towns- 
man Wm.  L.  I'eiper's  farms  as  examples. 

In  response  lo  this  series  of  S|)eecheB  Mr.  CrofTsald, 
"that  so  many  had  spoken  of  the  iniproveiiK  ills  in 
beautifying  the  farms,  would  it  not  be  well  for  some 
to  speak  of  imjiroving  the  land  iiiKuh-  of  Hk  fincft  I  " 
In  view  of  the  grave  imrKirtanee  of  the  matter  under 
discussion,  involving  the  very  essential  essence  of 
success  on  one  side  and  failure  on  the  other  to  Iho 
farmers  of  our  country,  this  speech  takes  place  anion); 
the  w(M(ls  siKikeu  Htly  and  wisely  inour  pcri(Kl. 

While  a  proper  regard  for  sullicicnt  buildings, 
fences,  trees,  shrul^hcry,  llowers,  \e.,  should  not  be 
discouraged,  nothing  lends  more  to  bankrupt  Iho 
farmer  tlian  llie  use  of  money  for  ornainenl  or  show, 
w  hen  Ihe  "  land  inside  the  b'necs  "  Is  clamoring  for 
lime,  manure,  or  other  lerlili/.ers,  and  the  growing 
crops  stand  as  pitiful  monunienls  of  the  owner's  folly. 
Where  farmers  have  large  lots  of  b.ink  st(Kk  whose 
dividends  are  kindly  applied  lo  their  pros|Kerlty  by 
fertilization  and  oriiamentalion,  that  is  all  right,  hut 
all  fanners  caiinol  have  such  outside  "ids,  and  siicli 
as  start  out  on  the  ornamcnlal,  shnwy  theory,  will 
certainly  never  come  lo  it  by  farming.  Your  reader 
wouhl  liack  up  .Mr.  (iroH,  and  others  who  followed 
him,  in  educating  our  farmers  ill  the  science  of  eii- 
rieliiug  the  soil  lirst,  last  aud  all  the  time.  leaiicou- 
ccivie  no  greater  calamity  lo  iK'fall  any  man,  than  a 
young  farmer  just  slariing  out  in  life,  having  his 
iiead  turned  awav  from  his  business— <-ulliviiling  and 
improving  the  soil  in  the  old  way— and  trying  to  make 
a  living  or  make  money  by  the  [lolley  of  show  or  or- 
nameiilation  There  is  only  one  class  of  farmers  that 
make  niomey  by  actual  fanning,  and  those  are  the 
ones  that  do  business  a  liltle  iu  the  old  way.— iu«- 
CMter  Vitilij  Kr/irinH,  


While  iu  the  tadpole  stale  they 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 
Keeping  Milk  and  Butter  in    Cellars. 

Milk  or  butler  may  Iw  kept  in  a  cellar  the  l>oltom 
of  which  has  been  grouteil,  and  with  good  results,  if 
proi>cr  attention  be  given  lo  ventilation,  dniinagv  and 
lemperature.  When  the  gniund  is  not  of  a  charac- 
ter lo  alford  natural  drainage,  drains  should  belaid 
so  as  to  carrv  olf  alPheeumulatlons  of  water  liable  to 
occur  at  anytime  at  the  bottom  of  the  cellar,  and 
this  should"  be  done  befon'  grouting.  By  so  doing, 
dainpness  fmm  the  Ihsir  is  avoided,  as  well  as  im 
purities  from  stagnant  water  under  the  gniut. 
milk  is  lo  be  kept  in  the  cellar  for  the  p«rix>se  of 
gelling  the  cream  and  for  nutter-making,  means 
must  lie  taken  lo  have  the  lemiieraturc  of  the  room 
as  low  .IS  sixlv  degrees  Kahrenheil.  Unless  some 
one  of  the  devices  now  in  use  for  n'ducing  Ihe  milk 
to  a  low  temperatiire  Ih.'  employed,  such  as  the  large 
nan  system,  where  llowiug  waler  is  carried  under  the 
niilk,or  where  Ihc  lee  system  and  lis  nKsllllcatlons 
are  adopted,  there  should  iH-gfKid  ventilation  to  carry 
olf  stale  air  or  noxious  gases,  as  milk  absorbs  laluls 
that  will  prove  injurious  to  the  buMer. 

Wc  have  seen  excellent  results  from  milk  cellars 


If 


128 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


having  grouted  floors,  Hie  walls  being  nicely  plaster- 
ed with  water-lime  cement  and  the  floors  made  smooth 
and  level  with  the  same,  and  presenting  the  appear- 
ance of  an  immense  block  of  stone. 

We  should  not  advise  butter  and  milk  to  be  kepi 
in  the  same  apartment.  Abutter  cellar  should  al- 
ways be  kept  by  itself.  It  should  be  properly  venti- 
lated and  used  for  no  other  purpose  than  for  keeping 
butter.  And  so  with  the  milk  cellar;  it  cannot  be 
used  for  storing  vegetables,  or  for  the  soap  and  meat 
barrels,  or  for  fish  and  other  family  provisions.  Milk 
and  butter  are  dainty  aristocrats  in  their  nature. 
They  are  extremely  fastidious  about  coming  in  con- 
tact with  filth  and  anything  having  an  unsavory  odor 
as  such  contact  speedily  demoralizes  them  ;  and  when 
they  once  become  tainted,  they  go  on  from  bad  to 
worse,  apparently  having  no  dispo'sition  or  power  lor 
reformation.  So  the  dairyman  should  be  careful  and 
not  introduce  them  to  bad  company. — Sural  New 
Yorker. 


[August,  1876. 


Graham  Gems. 

The  following  hints  regarding  the  cooking  the  pal- 
atable and  healthful  Graham  gems  arc  admirable  : 

For  the  baking  of  these  in  perfection,  the  iron  gem 
pans  are  indispensable,  and  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
all  housekeepers  have  them  or  will  have  them.  Put 
one  quart  of  Graham  liour  in  a  basin  ;  add  two  table- 
spoons of  sugar,  a  little  salt,  and  two  tablespooufuls 
of  baking  powder.  One  little  dip  more  in  the  baking 
powder  will  do  no  harm,  if  you  want  them  extra. 
Beat  two  eggs  very  light  in  a  bowl,  fill  up  with  cold' 
water,  mixing  them  well.  Stir  these  quickly  into  the 
flour;  and  let  me  say  to  beginners  that  therein  lies 
the  grand  success  in  the  using  of  baking  powder. 
Stir  like  lightning,  and  always  have  plenty  of  flour. 
(I  suspect  that  "  feather  cake "  tried  to  fly  away 
because  there  was  not  flour  enough  in  it.  It  is  not 
safe  to  trust  to  receipts  entirely  in  this  respect.)  But 
to  return  to  our  gems.  The  batter  should  be  just 
thick  enough  to  barely  pour  from  the  spoon,  and  more 
cold  water  can  be  added  if  too  thick.  The  gem  pans 
are  supposed  to  be  heating  on  the  stove.  Take  a  bit 
of  butter  and  a  knife  and  grease  them  quickly.  If 
they  are  heated  right  the  butter  will  "sizzle."  Fill 
half  full  of  the  butter,  and  bake  in  an  oven  almost  hot 
enough  to  burn  anything  else  up.  If  my  oven  is  not 
hot  enough  on  the  tiottom  I  put  the  pan  upon  the 
grate.  By  the  time  the  tea  is  made,  and  babe  in  his 
chair,  with  clean  face  and  bib,  the  muffins  are  done, 
and  I  hope  they  will  be  good.  They  certainly  will  be 
if  the  directions  are  followed.  The  pans  can  be  filled 
if  there  is  any  butter  left.  These  are  very  good  cold 
and  are  healthful  and  economical,  as  no  shorteniu  ' 
or  milk  is  required.  ' 


Rules  for  Home  Education. 

The  following  rules  arc  worthy  of  being  printed  in 
letters  of  gold  and  placed  in  conspicuous  places  in 
every  household  : 

1.  From  your  children's  earliest  infancy  inculcate 
the  necessity  of  instant  obedience. 

2.  Unite  firmness  with  gentleness.  Let  your  chil- 
dren always  undeistand  you  mean  what  you  say. 

.3.  Never  promise  them  unless  you  are  quite  sure 
you  can  give  them  what  you  say. 

•4.  If  you  tell  a  little  child  to  tio  something,  show 
him  how  to  do  it  and  see  that  it  is  done. 

a.  Always  punish  your  children  for  wilfully  diso- 
beying you,  but  never  punish  them  in  anger. 

0.  Never  let  them  perceive  that  they  vex  you  to 
make  you  lose  your  command. 

7.  If  they  give  way  to  petulance  or  ill  temper  wait 
till  they  are  calm,  and  then  gently  reason  with  them 
on  the  impropriety  of  their  conduct. 

8.  Reniemher  a  little  present  !)unishment  when  the 
occasion  arises,  is  much  more  efiectual  than  the 
threatening  of  a  greater  punishment  should  the  fault 
be  repeated. 

9.  Never  give  your  children  anything  because  thev 
cry  for  it.  ' 

10.  On  no  account  allow  them  to  do  at  any  one 
time  what  you  have  forbidden,  under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances at  another. 

11.  Teach  them  that  the  only  way  to  appear  good 
is  to  be  good. 

12.  Accustom  them  to  make  their  little  recitals 
■with  perfect  truth. 

13.  Never  allow  of  tale-bearing. 
U.  Teach  them  self-denial,  not  self-indulgence,  of 

an  angry  and  resentful  spirit.       • 

How  to  Get  Along. 

Don't  stop  to  tell  stories  in  business  hours. 
If  you  have  a  placeof  business  be  found  there  when 
w.anted. 

No  man  can  get  rich  by  sitting  around  stores  and 
saloons. 

Never  "fool  "  in  business  matters. 

Have  order,  system,  regularity,  and  also  prompt- 
ness. 

Uo  not  medillc  with  business  you  know  uothing  of. 

Do  not  kick  every  one  in  your  path. 
•    .More  miles  can  be  made  in  a  dfiy  by  going  steadilv 
than  by  slopping.  -^     ■>  a      a  j 

Pay  as  you  go. 


A  man  of  honor  respects  his  word  as  he  does  his 
bond.  • 

Help  others  when  you  can,but  never  give  what  you 
can  not  afford  to,  simply  because  it  is  fashionable. 

Learn  to  say  No.  No  necessity  of  shappiii"-  it  out 
dog-fashion,  but  say  it  firmly  and  respectfully. 

Use  your  own  brains  rather  than  those  of  others. 

Learn  to  think  and  act  for  j'ourself. 

Keep  ahead  rather  than  behind  the  times. 

Young  man,  cut  this  out,  and  if  there  be  any  fal- 
lacy in  the  argument  let  us  know. 

A   Model   Dairy. 

The  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  in  his  recent  re- 
port gives  the  dairy  farm  of  Darlington  Bros.,  at  Dar- 
lington Station,  Delaware  county,  on  the  W.  C.  &.  P. 
R.  R.,  a  very  complimentary  mention.  It  'says ': 
'  The  farm  consists  of  o.50  acres,  and  the  dairy  herd 
of  SO  to  100  cows,  (now  12o  cows),  mostly  of  native 
stock,  selected  for  their  butter  qualities.  There  are 
two  large  spring  houses;  one  of  them  32  feet  by  46 
feet,  IVi  stories  high,  and  built  of  stone,  contains  a 
never-failing  spring,  which  delivers  about  8  gallons 
of  cool  water  per  minute.  The  milk  room  is  about 
34  feet  by  2S  feet,  and  the  milk  is  set  in  large  pans, 
the  largest  containing  .500  quarts.  The  churning  is 
done  twice  a  week,  each  churning  returning  an  aver- 
age of  «.50  pounds  of  butter,  destined  for  regular  cus- 
tomers in  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Prices  dur- 
ing 187.5  varied  from  (15  cents  to  $1  per  pound.  The 
buttermilk  and  skim  milk  are  fed  to  the  hogs,  num- 
bering from  60  to  70." 


Dish  Washing  Without  Soap. 
Have  your  dishwater  hot,  anil  add  a  very  little 
milk,  as  this  softens  the  water,  gives  the  dishes  a  nice 
gloss,  and  preserves  the  hands.  It  removes  the 
grease,  even  that  from  beef,  and  yet  no  grease  is  ever 
found  floating  on  the  water  as  when  soap  is  used. 
The  stone  vessels  should  be  set  on  a  stove  with  a 
little  water  in  them  when  the  victuals  are  taken  from 
them  ;  thus,  they  are  hot  when  one  is  ready  to  wash 
them  and  the  grease  is  easily  removed.  Tinware 
keeps  bright  longer  cleansed  in  this  way  than  by 
using  soap  or  by  scouring.  The  habit  so  many  have 
acquired  of  scouring  tins  is  a  wasteful  policy,  as  the 
present  style  of  tinware  will  not  bear  it. 


Keeping  Eggs. 
I  saw  in  a  late  number  a  request  for  a  receipt  to 
preserve  eggs.  My  plan  is  to  take  the  fresh  eggs 
when  they  are  plenty  and  cheap,  and  coat  them  with 
lard  or  other  clean  grease.  I  prefer  lard.  I  put  a 
lump  in  a  saucer  or  anything  convenient  to  melt;  (not 
boil,)  then  with  a  small  rag  grease  each  egg ;  it  will 
take  but  vcrv  little  grease.  I  pack  in  a  box  or  in  a 
kegof  wheat  bran,  or  chatr,  small  end  down.  Any- 
thing like  chatr  or  cut  straw  will  answer.  1  prefer 
bran.  I  have  kept  eggs  12  months  as  good  as  when 
put  away,  and  have  no  doubt  they  can  be  kept  any 
length  o{  time.—C'ouHtry  Gentleman. 


very  soft  to  handle,  and  not  like  that  dyed  with  vitriol, 
ihe  shades  of  color  obtained  are  from  bright  to  dark 
brown.  The  husks  mtiy  be  simply  kept  dried  till 
used,  or  packed  moist  in  tubs,  by  which  means  their 
colonng  power  is  further  increased. 

My  attention  was  drawn  to  notice  the  amount 
ol  corncobs  that  arc  thrown  away  daily,  from  feed 
ing  one  pair  of  horses.  The  cobs  looked  so  clean  and 
nice  It  does  seem  as  though  they  were  made  to  do  a 
farmer  more  good  than  to  add  to  the  bulk  of  the 
manure  heap.  Being  of  rather  a  speculative  turn  of 
mmd  I  tried  a  little  experiment  with  a  few  cobs  bv 
pouring  over  them  a  small  amount  of  coal  oil  'and 
then  put  them  in  the  cook-stove  to  see  what  the  effect 
would  be.  I  was  entirely  satisfied  that  I  had  pro- 
duced an  excellent   fuel.     They  furnish  a  kindlino- 

!irHc!r^^n"  ??"""f  ^'  -5°™''  "''^°  the  patented 
article  sold  in  the  cities  and  towns.  Farmers  who 
have  to  haul  wood  long  distances,  and  then  prepare 
It  lor  use  in  the  busy  seasons  of  the  year,  will  find 
this  hint  of  value.  I  think  it  would  be  better  to  let 
the  cobs  ay  awhile,  after  pouring  the  oil  over  them 
before  using.— Cor.  rrairie  Farmer.  .  ' 

WnEUE  all  other  means  have  failed  to  exterminate 
bedbugs,  sulphurous  acid  gas  has  succeeded  Tak» 
everything  out  of  the  infested  room,  plu<r  up  all  the 
windows  tightly,  close  all  chimneys,  aid  e^mpty  about 
one  ounce  of  powdered  sulphur  on  a  pan  of  hot  coals 
placed  m  the  middle  of  the  floor.  Shut  the  doors  and 
coyer  a^I  craks ;  let  the  sulphur  burn  as  long  asTt 
will.  When  the  room  is  large  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
fasten  a  hit  of  tin  tube  to  the  bottom  of  the  pan,  and 
to  this  connect  enough  small  rubber  pipe  to  lead  out 

nfn  wi?r/r',''?,°'"-  ^^  '''°"''"-  '"'°  'he  end  of  the 
pipe  with  the  bellows,  the  sulphur  will  be  caused  to 
burn  more  quickly  by  the  draft  created  and  to  give  a 
denser  smoke.  After  the  sulphur  has  burned  out, 
paint  all  the  cracks  in  the  floor  and  around  the  mop- 
board  with  a  strong  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate 
and  treat  the  furniture  to  the  same  before  replacing 
It  We  have  seen  a  room  frightfully  infested  com- 
pletely freed  by  this  ^\3.u.Seientiftc  Ameriean. 

^ 

LITERARY  NOTICES. 


Remember  This. 
If  a  man  faints  away,  instead  of  yellnig  out  like  a 
savage,  or  running  to  him  to  lift  him  up,  lay  him  at 
full  length  on  his  back  on  the  floor,  loose  the  clothing, 
push  the  crowd  away  so  as  to  let  the  air  reach  him' 
and  let  him  alone.  Dashing  water  over  a  person  in 
a  simple  fainting  fit  is  a  barbarity.  The  philosophy 
of  a  fainting  fit  is  that  the  heart  fails  to  send  the 
proper  supply  of  blood  to  the  brain.  If  the  per-sou  is 
erect,  that  blood  has  to  be  thrown  up  hill  ;  but  if 
lying  down,  it  has  to  be  projected  horizontally,  which 
requires  less  power,  is  apparent.— OHc/'ricuiZ. 

One   Egg  Cake. 

One  and  one-third  cup  of  flour,  one-third  cup  of 
sweet  milk,  one  cup  of  sugar,  one  teaspoonful  of 
melted  bulter,'oue  egg  and  two  teaspoonfuls  of  baking- 
powder. 


Coffee  has  a  much  finer  flavor  when  it  does  not 
boil.  It  should  be  steeped  as  tea  to  retain  its  flavor. 
Grind  only  sufficient  for  a  meal  at  once. 

Palatable  Graham  udead  can  be  made  by  mak- 
ing a  sponge  of  white  flour  at  night,  in  the  morning 
add  two  tablespooufuls  of  mola.sses  for  each  loaf 
and  make  it  as  thick  with  Graham  flour  as  you  eaii 
stir  it  with  a  spoon.  Fill  vour  pans  half  full  ;  let 
them  rise  till  full ;  have  the  oven  pretty  hot  at  first, 
and  cool  it  olf  after  the  crust  has  set.  A  great  deal 
of  Graham  bread  is  baked  to  death. 

The  editok  of  the  Rural  World,  and  who  is  good 
authority  on  such  subjects,  says  :  A  corn  is  a  bruise 
of  the  sole  of  the  foot,  producing  extravasation  of 
blood,  and  in  a  majority  of  cases  is  the  result  of 
laulty  or  neglected  shoeing.  The  treatment  consists 
in  removing  all  pressure  of  the  shoe  from  off  the  seat 
ol  the  corn  and  its  contiguous  parts.  A  bar  shoe  an- 
swers the  purpose  best  when  properly  adjusted. 

The  (iKEE.v  outeh  iiisks  of  walnuts  contain  a 
yellow  brown  and  remarkably  fast  dye,  which  is  well 
suited  for  dyeing  woolen  or  cotton  materials,  staining 
wood,  etc.     Wool  thus  dyed  requires  no  mordant,  is 


"EiGUTH  Annual  Report  of   the  Noxious 
Beneficial,  ano  otdek  Lnsects  of  the  State  op 
Missouri.    By  Cuarles  V.  Kilet,  State  Ento- 
mologist." A  royal  octavo  volume  of  195  pao-es   in- 
cluding title  page  and  index,  in  paper  covers. "     ' 

"  Made  to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture'  pursu 
ant  to  an  appropriation  for  this  purpose  by  the  Leo-is- 
lature  of  the  State."  .Jefferson  city,  1.S76.  Mai7ilv 
devoted  to  the  histories  of  the  Colerado  Potato-Beetle 
the  Canker-worm,  the  Army-worm,  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain Locust,  and  the  Grape  Phylloxera.  Fifty-five 
characteristic  illustrations,  including  many  fic^ures 
printed  on  fine  calendered  paper,  and  in  fair'' type' 
The  work  is  statistically  authenticated  by  the  con- 
densation of  a  large  mass  of  correspondence  between 
Prof.  Riley  and  various  intelligent  sources  in  Missouri 
and  the  neighboring  States,  and  is  written  in  the  au- 
thor's usual  comprehensive  and  lucid  style 

Missouri  has,  at  least,  conferred  the  title  of  State 
Entomologist  on  one  of  her  citizens,  and  for  eight 
years  has  been  making  appropriations  to  her  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  for  the  purpose  of  enablin-'  it 
to  publish  annual  reports  of  that  officer's  labors" to 
the  people  of  the  State.  Whether  it  affords  any  .addi- 
tional compensation  or  not,  this  may  be  regarded 
as  a  recognition  of  the  importance  of  this  species  of 
knowledge  to  the  fanning  interests  of  the  St.ate  if  it 
does  nothing  more.  Is  is  true,  that  this  may  not 
secure  a  state  against  the  incursions  of  noxious  in- 
sects, but  it  may  enable  its  citizens  to  know  the  nature 
of  the  mtestation,  how  it  generated,  how  continued 
and  how  it  may  be  mitigated  or  abated.  Whatever 
may  he  the  final  results  of  entomological  knowledo-e 
the  subject  cannot  be  practically  or  succcssfuTly 
pursued  without  patient  research  and  great  labor, 
therefore,  if  in  any  sense  "the  laborer  is  worthy 
of  his  hire,"  we  happen  to  know,  from  lono- 
experience,  that  he  is  eminently  so  in  this  field  of 
operation.  When  we  reflect  that  the  farmers  of 
twenty-six  counties  in  Missouri  suffered  a  loss  of  |15  - 
000,000  in  the  summer  of  1875  from  the  depredations 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Locusts  alone,  we  cannot  re- 
gard the  matter  as  unimportant,  whether  future  in- 
cursions may  be  prevented  by  the  dissemination  of 
entomological  knowledge  or  not— either  wholly  or 
in  part.  Such  knowledge  is  valuable  if  it  "does 
nothing  more  than  to  infuse  a  just  and  intelligent 
comprehension  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  an  in- 
vasion of  noxious  insects,  for  without  knowledge 
of  some  kind  on  the  subject,  the  people  may  become 
the  victims  of  those  misapprehensions  and  fears  which 
only  aggravate  a  calamitous  state  of  thi!i<>-s  instead 
of  mitigating  it.  When  will  Pennsylvania  see  the 
necessity  of  making  an  appropriation'for  similar  pur- 
poses to  her  "State  Agricultural  Society?"  After  she 
is  overrun  by  some  devastating  horde  of  insects,  or 
before  ? 

Parties  desiring  Trees,  Plants,  or  Bulbs,  are  re- 
ferred to  Ellwancieh  ife  Barry's  advertisement, 
now  appearing  in  our  columns.  Their  establishment 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  largest  and  most  reliable 
in  the  United  States. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


The  National  Agricultural _Congress.  ,„ 

Tlio  fiftli  annual  session  of  tlio  N'ational  Airrii-ul- 
tural  Conffri'ss  will  U:  lield  in  llii'  Jiiilffcs'  Pavilion, 
Iiitcrnatiiinal  KxliiljilionCJmniuls,  I'liilmldphia  (Kvp- 
niiis  Session  at  Hi-Inu)iit  Hotel),  on  Tnesilay,  Wed- 
nesday and  Tlnirsday,fcptenilier  Ititli,  i:;tli  and  14tli, 
IS'C,  coinmeneinK  at  10  o'cloek,  A.  M.,  on  Tuesday. 

All  A<,'ricultural  Societies,  Agricultural  IVriodi- 
oals,  Ai;rienltual  Colleires,  Boards  of  At;rieullure, 
Oranges,  Fanners'  Clubs,  or  other  orjanizations 
whose  olijeet  is  the  promotion  of  agrieulture,  are 
invited  to  semi  delesrates  ;  and  all  ])ersons  desirin;.'  to 
promote  the  olijeets  for  whieh  the  Congress  is  insti- 
tuted, are  earnest  lyreciuosted  to  atteud  and  participate 
iu  the  deliberations. 

Believing  that  the  time  Is  come  when  the  nffricul- 
tnre  of  the  United  Slates  nuist  lie  studied  and 
tonsidered  as  a  whole,  and  liy  a  cuniparison  of  tin' 
eapal)ililies  and  conilitions  of  widely  separatc<l 
regions,  in  order  to  fully  luuUu'stand  in  what  manner 
the  interests  of  each  and  all  nuiy  he  liest  promoted, 
we  appeal  to  the  aLrrieulturists  of  every  seelion  of 
the  Union,  and  to  all  who  are  workiiiir  for  their  wel- 
fare, to  gather  together  inthist'entennial  year  of  our 
Nation's  history,  and,  in  the  birthjilaee  of  .\merican 
national  .''reedom,  to  counsel  together  and  to  give  a 
new  impulse  to  the  agricultural  progress  of  our 
country. 

Societies,  etc.,  .^ending  ilelegates  are  requested  to 
communicate  their  appoiiitnu'ut  to  the  Secretary,  at 
Iowa  .\gricultural  College,  Ames,  Iowa,  previous  to 
September  1,  and  after  that  time  to  liim  at  the  Bel- 
mont Hotel,  41st  and  Oregon  streets,  Pliiladi'liihia. 
where  delegates  on  their  arrival  are  invited  to  call 
aud  report. 

W.  C.  FLAGG,  President. 

fl.  E.  MoitRow,  Secretary. 

The  Belmont  Hotel,  corner  of  41st  and  Oregon 
streets,  and  convenient  to  the  Exhibition  Grounds, 
will  be  the  headquarters  of  the  Society  ami  tlie  iilaee 
where  its  erenUi'j  meetings  will  be  held.  Delegates 
desiring  rooms  arc  reriuested  to  notify  the  proprietors 
ill  advance. 

OKDEU  OF  nrSIN'ESS. 

Tiiculay,  September  V2lh,  10  P.  .V.— Call  to  order. 
Prayer.  W 

Address  of  Welcome,  &c.,  by  Dr.  Chas.  R.  King, 
President  Philadeliihia  Society  for  Promoting  Agri- 
culture, and  Biu'iicl  Landrcth,  Esq..  Chief  of  Bureau 
of  .\gricuUurc.  International  Exhibition. 

Response  by  President  of  the  National  .\gricultnral 
Congress.  Appointment  of  Committecon  Credentials. 

Address — "  -Vmeriean  Agriculture,"  by  the  Presi- 
dent, W.  C.  Flagg,  of  Illinois. 

y>  r.  .1/. — Report  of  Committee  on  Credentials. 
Election  of  Members.  Piiyment  of  Dues.  Appoint- 
ment of  Committees.  Address—"  ObjccLs  and  Work 
of  the  National  Agricultural  Congress,"  by  the  Sec- 
retarv,  (J.  E.Morrow,  of  Iowa.  Discussion. 

8  r.  M. — Address — "The  Outlook  of  American 
Agriculture,"  by  Joseph  Harris,  of  New  York.  Dis- 
cussion. 

Wednesdny,  Sepfemher  V.th,  10  .1.  .If.— Reports  of 
Committees.  "Agricultural  Statistics,"  by  J.  It. 
Dodge,  Statistician  Departmentof  Agriculture,  Wash- 
ington. 

Address — "  American  Agricultural  Literature,"  by 
Dr.  E.  L.  Sturtevant,  Massachusetts.     Discussion. 

S  P.  -1/. — .\ddress — "  American  Live  Stock  Inter- 
«?sts,"  by  L.  F.  Allen,  of  New  York.     Discus.sion. 

Address — "  American  Dairying,"  by  X.  A.  Willanl, 
of  New  York.     Discussion. 

S  P.  .v.— .\ddress— "  The  World's  Grain  Crop  of 
ISTIJ,"  by  Hon.  Alex.  Delmar,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Thiirsihty,  September  Hlh,  10  .4.  -V.-.Vddress-"  Our 
(irain  Fields,"  by  Alfred  Gray,  Secretary  Kansas 
Board  of -Agriculture.  Discussion.  Address — "Our 
Southern  Agriculture,"  by  Col.  Thomas  Claiborne, 
of  Tennessee.     Discussion. 

;j  p.  .V. — Election  of  olliccrs  for  ensuing  year,  and 
fixing  place  of  annual  meeting.  "Agricultural  Ed- 
ucation," Address  and  Discussion,  Prof.  A.  S.  Welsh, 
Iowa  Agricultural  College;  Prof.  N.  S.  Townsend, 
Ohio  Agricultural  College. 

S  P.  M. — "Agricultural  Organizations  and  Co-op- 
<^ration."  ,\ddress  and  discussion.  Thos.  P.  Janes, 
<  ommissioner  of  Agriculture,  of  Georgia,  will  ad- 
>lress  the  Congress  upon  Agricultural  Reform. 

So  far  as  tiiiie  will  permit,  other  appropriate  topics 
will  be  discussed.  Brief  addresses  are  expci'tcd  from 
a  number  of  gentlemen  « idely  known  in  agricultural 
circles,  from  their  oUicial  positions  and  writings. 


Some  time  hack  a  man  of  notoriously  bad  charac- 
ter, residing  in  a  village,  wished  to  emigrate.  To 
obtain  assistance  from  the  Emigration  Commissioners 
one  must  have  a  character,  and  the  man  accordingly 
asked  one  from  his  neighbors.  Everybody  was  anx- 
ious he  should  go,  and  everybody  therefore  certilied 
to  his  excellent  reputation.  No  one  was  more  aston- 
ished at  this  result  than  the  man  himself,  and,  after 
looking  at  his  ccrtificatr,  with  Its  long  list  of  signa- 
tures, "  Well,"  said  he,  "  I  had  no  idea  I  was  so 
much  esteemed  in  the  ucighljorhood  ;  I  think  I  shall 
«tay." 


..(t..   *.»  WCMltH^  .i 


>  ,*•<  l«74.  H  U«  HMa*.l  A.(  C. 


"God's  Promise/' 

The  Finest  WORK  OF  ART  over  i.ssucd  in  this  Country, 

GIVEN  AWAY 

To  every  Subscriber  to  this  Paper. 

K*iiro.iurp.l  in  17  i'hramutlc  Wolcr  Coloni,  undor  lh<*  »rtUt'ii  y-nnn^X  *'a\*rvMon,  in-l  Mkr...'il-l;.  .1 
III  C'liU'il'Diura  to  l>i-  tlie  L"»t  Wati-r  <  „li>r  L'ltroniBtU-  r»liillitK  «*'''■  prmlwcrd  Id  Arnvflc*.  Till*  wruiri  ....  l 
»i.rk  of  nn.  ttimmti  Iti.-  .fl-i"!'  I  lllwrullu  of  the  Nfttluu*!  Af I  Cu.,  of  Cluciuu»U.  OLio.  c*ii  U  .r.    .i.   l  \  . 

fS-razid  Prexnium  Gift, 


'l  tna  uT  I'lirt-'liani'  Chiirm" 


irvrry  j.atr-m  (if  itii*  I'lii-r.     It  i- .n-wn  of 


Four  Complete  Chromatic  Paintings, 


(rr,  ufi't  diy  and  nij/AI  rh-iH  dot  fruif.  '    Anxrl- 

.     ,  _ ■  xroui'fd  b'Xrtlirr.  oa  r  Urittr  I'lic*.  four  riiIvoJI.! 

•%pt  ■ml   ViiiiiT'7  P«lii(lni;a,   and  eloihod  Itiem  In  the  nchrst  and  WHriiini  pohm.     T<>  •Unw  in  wb^t 


Aftun,  tin 


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l<mr  nn,l  h.tn'f-'f.  afi't  ftlj  <in.J  ti'-il.  .in./  mmmfnifi 
fn  «  ni'iNt  fdvorcil  1iiriil>><!A|>i>|)ttlnt(>r,  .Mr.  E.  I>. 
I.niiilAeKpf  inil   Viii         "   '     ' 

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niiiki;  -MJOUS  IMtoMlSK"  tho  crownliiR  trliimiih  of  iholr  nrt  ptiMIc«tl..n.,  anil  bn\'-  •i-n.llly  rrf.iird  all 
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perfect  copT  of  thU  I«t.-«t,  lAmctt,  and  best  Amoricnn  nrt  piiblicailon. 

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frrry  copy  i»  warranlr.d  in  r^-irh  it*  drutimtlinn  uninjured.  Any  copy  Hint  ■hoold  Imt  broken  In  ifMnantU- 
^illU  throush  the  mail,  nlll  lie  duplic:ited  I'rci;  of  any  churjce.  Upon  your  D<'tlfylni[  ibv  National  Art  ('n.  nf  ihit 
f.'ii-is  in  lh<'  C!K.--r.  pontaKe  strinip*  may  be  wui  ai  their  face  valui.-,  an  the  auuuDt  U  H'-arly  nil  ti»«l  |u  j,r«- 
|intinc  ri-lurti  p'-tlnitc  ou  [hi'  ricture. 


Cut  out  tlilN  t'crlint'utt.'  and  tV>rwur<l  to  the  NATIONAL  AUT  CO.  for  ri-dpruptlon. 

1(  U  worth  (10.  ' 

DPrMlll  EJI     PC  DTI  riP  ATC     ""  receipt  of  thU  Premlom  Ortlfleau.  lAnlber  with 
rnCmiUlfl     t/CnlinUHIL..   Ji  f-tus  lo  pay  coii..f  t.,be,  po*i>tfe.  and  pa.'kli.|.  w« 

tl«>rehy   rtitre"  lo  return  m  IIj-'  ^.  tnt.r,    j..- i«t,<:  prepaid.  BUfilv  Krjftped  and  piiCkL-d,  a  pcttv.l  oopy  of 
Graftou'ii  Tour  «clehrate.l  p^iuliu^*.  entitled 

"jGrOD'S    FROIVIISE." 

Thi"  Ocrtiflcate  U  ?Ood  until  October  ij,  1^76.  after  which  10  ccnta  ftddlllonal  will  be  charted.  Vo 
Cfpv  will  be  sent  Without  this  CerilOcate  acPi.nipanl't  th.-  tud-r.  t<»  niu.it  u»  Ihnt  tou  «r«-  a  bonn  Jtde 
pnttou  ofibia  pitpor.        [Slgocd]        NaTU)N.\L  ART  CO..  230  Walnut  Street,  tlocluiiati,  <»blo. 


NOTE  THESE  INSTRUCTIONS. ^!:.i::ts;';;;ss^;-;;:,i?^i^::,ait;S: 

ari  a  new  <-liiina  will  ibcn  become  ncflissary.  A  CcrtiUoate  fnr  em-h  Palnilnit  mu«i  In  all  ca^ct  t>e  «em.  other- 
wiso  persotii  who  are  not  nubscrlheM  niiicbt  reap  Itie  benetii*  Inieuditl  solely  fi.r  ibe  patron*  of  lhl«  paper. 
F.ich  copv  will  be  eticlos-d  in  a  stri'D?  tube,  and  poxtaKe  will  be  paid  thereon  out  of  tb«  'iic.  lODt  In.  THK 
CKRTIKICATE  WILL  NOT  BK  AGAIN  PRINTED  IN  THIS  PAPKK.  t.-nce  the  ImporUnee  of  e-.tiln?  u 
out  at  OOM  and  deDding  it  In  for  redemption.  Addre»i  all  CerHlicaiea  lo  the  Natlonai  Art  Co..  730  Walnut 
Btrevt.  ClDcluaatt.  Ohio,  aud  yoa  will  receive  bj  rciuro  mall  Ibe  largeHt  aud  haodaoiueil  Premium  Pal&Ung 
TOU  erer  saw. 


AWARDED  THE  HIGHEST  MEDAL  AT  VIENNA. 


51  fT  rp 


591    BROADWAY,   NEW  YORK, 

(Oliiiosit.-  MetropiilitiUi  Hotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHROMOS  m  FRAMES, 

STEREOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS,  GRAPHOSCOPES  AND  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


PHOTOGHAPEIC  MATERIALS. 


\Vf  nre  He;i'l'iu;irterH  lor  evcrj-thini^  in  tlic  ^\ay    uf 

Ste^sQptico^is  &  E3,gb  Lanterns, 

}V-iii;»  MiUiufiU'tiirei's  (if  tin.' 
Ml<*ro-Soioiitili<*  I^aiifcrii. 
Hteroo-I'anoplifon, 

l'iiivor?«ll.y  Klorooptinin. 

A4lv4*rti*(orM''  ,Slt'rro|>llcon, 
Arlo|illcon. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People's  Lantern, 

Each  stj'le  beiuf;  tbe  best  of  its  clasa  iu  the  market. 


Young    Stallions    by   "HONEST   TOM"    and    other 
First-Class  Draught  Sires,  for  Scle. 

.\t  ihr  :;iitli  Aiiiinul  Mn'iinK  "I Hi' 

LYTHAU  and  KIEEHAU  AGRICULT^SAL  SOC'T, 

Ox  \VEI>Ni;.SD.\Y,  S:tl>  AIorsT,  1-.T6. 

MESSHS.   LT7CAS   &   CO. 

Of  thf  llfiiositon,',  Liverpool,  havf  \teon  innlmclod  to  SELL 

liY  AUCTION,  Oh   tilt'  Shinv   I>ay  iit   Lytliani,  uear 

I'rfBtou   all  lioiir  1»>   tuil  liMiii  l.iMTiMMil;, 

FIFTY  TO  SEVENTY  DRAUGHT  STALLIONS, 

Conii>riHiu(?  P'oalu,  Yi-arlint's.  Two  Year  OMp  mid  Three 
YVar  OldB,  many  of  them  liy  tbe  rilelmiled  Sire.  "  IIONKST 
TOM,"  tbe  iirojjerly  of  "The  Kylde  Carl  Horse  llreadlUK 
Improvement  Coiuiiany,"  and  coiiMidercd  the  N-Ht  Cart  Stal- 
lion in  tbe  world.  Koala  pot  l>y  him  aell  readily  at  jCI'Nt 
each,  and  a  Thi^e  Year  Old  by  him  haa  r«cutly  hfeu  auld 
for  X6U(). 
".'C'atalopuea  fonvanled  to  i>artleB  Reiidiug  their  addr*«8  lo 

77-u        Messrs.  LUCAS  &  CO.,  Liverpool. 

Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOOWST  AND  NINTH  STS., 

PHILADELPHIA,   PA. 


f'alaloinics  of  Laoterus  aud  Slides,  nitta  directions  for 
using.  Bent  on  applicatiou. 

Any  euterpriainff  mat)  can  make  money  with  a  Magic 
Lantern.  PX^L'ut  out  thia  advertiflemeut  for  reference. 

8-G-6 

SKND  25c.  to  a.  P.  nowr.I.I,  *  CO.,  New  York,  for  Para- 
l>blet  of  liH)  imgeR.  contaiiilnK  liataof  3,0i)0  ucw8i)apert, 
aud  entinjates  showing  coat  of  advertlaiug. 


Convenient  to  all  placea  of  aninaement  and  car  liliea  in 
the  city.     Xo  ciianRet*  to  anil  from  the  (.'eiitennlal  groiiuda. 

Col.  WatHon,  i»ri>ltrletor  of  the  Hknrv  liuirKK,  (.'iuclDUati, 
for  the  pant  twenty  yean*,  and  i)re*ent  proitrletor,  haa  leaaed 
th6  honae  for  a  term  of  yeaix,  and  hah  newly  funiinhed  au<l 
fitted  It  Ihriiuiih'iHl.  He'will  keeji  a  Ktrictly  limt-claiia  houae, 
and  haa  acco'injnodatiou  for  Mm  gueata.  Temia,  only  fS 
l)er  day. 

No  bar  haa  over  1>epn  kept  In  Ibe  Hrkbt  House,  nor  will 
any  be  kept  at  the  I'K^nonv.  S-6-6 

X>UBLIC  SALE  BILLS 

KUllltKAl,  KSTATKlill  rKK.So.NAL  I'UoUEKTY, 


Printed  eipedltloualy  aud  cheap  at  the  olBeeof 
THE  L-VNCASTER 


FABUEB. 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[August,  1876. 


The  I,«rcest  ami  most  <'oiiii>lete  Stock  of 
Frait  anti  Ornaniontal  TrpOM  in  the  1'.  S. 
Pricetl  Catalt>Kiie<i«ient  a*  follows:  No.  1.  Fruits, 

with  colored  plate,  I."}  cts.  ;  plain,  10  cts.  No.  2.  Orna- 
mental Trtes,  etc..  with  plate.  23  cts.  No.  3.  Greenhouse; 
No.  4,  Wholesale  ;  and  No.  5,  List  of  New  Roses,  Free. 


Address 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,    Rochester,  N.  Y. 

S-S-2t 

XT     Traiue  leave  the  Dep 
WE  TWARD. 

AIl.ROAn 

ot  in  this  city, ; 

Leave 

Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:29  a.m. 

.3:25  p.  m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

6:10  p.  m. 

7:32  p.  m. 

7:40  p.  m. 

7:45  p.  m. 

9:10  p.m. 
11:30  p.m. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:25  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

9.28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m. 

3:05  p.m. 

6:50  p.  m. 

SCHEI)iyi.E. 

s  follows : 
Arrive 
Harrisburg. 
4:05  a.  m. 

Way  Passengert  

7:5 )  a.  m. 
10:30  a.  m. 

Hanover  Accommodation. 
Mail  traiu  via  Mt.  Joy 

Col.  10:00  a.  m. 
1:00  p.  m. 
1:20  p.  m. 

1:20  p.  m. 

4:50  p.  m. 

Frederick  Accommodatiou. 

Col.  4:15  p.  m. 
S:10  p.  m. 

Columbia  Acconimoditiou.. 

Lancaster  Express 

Harrisburg  Express 

Pittsburg  Express 

Cincinnati  Express" 

EASTWARD. 

Atlantic  Express" 

Philadelphia  Expresst 

Harrisburp  Express 

8:10  p.  m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

9:05  p.  m. 
10:35  p.  m. 
12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 

3:10  a.  m. 

7:00  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 
10:30  p.m. 

Columbia  ,\ccommodation.. 

Pacific  Express* 

Johnstown  Express 

Harrisburg  Accom 

12:30  p.  m. 
3:30  p.m. 
6:00  p.  m. 
9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hanover  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  0:25  a.  m.,  and  w^^  run  through 
to  Hanover  mthout  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connectsat  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:25  p.  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacitic  Express  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  5 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leaving  York  at  C:32  a.  ra., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrisburg  Express 
at  7:25'a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:05  a.  ra.,  and  re- 
tilrning,  leaves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  Express  at  7:25  a.  m. 

On  Sunday  there  will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
east,  the  second  section  starting  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m.,  making  all  the  stops  between  Cohnnbia  and  Lancaster, 
and  the  Johnstown  Express  stops  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  section  of  Pacific  Express,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  stops  at  Middletowu,  Elizabethtowu,  Sit.  Joy, 
aud  Landisville. 

^The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRuns  daily,  except  ^Monday. 

(^^C^  i  A  <^^^  ^  week  to  Agfuts.     Samples  FREE. 
wOw  LO  sl)  I   /  ■['•  O.  VICKERY,  Augusta,  Maine, 


NONPAREIL  FARM  MILLS 


For  grinding  CORN  »nd  COB  COBN-MEAL.  OATS. 
Oranv  kind  of  Ornin,  eoarte  or  fine  ;  10  SI2£9,  for  HAND 
OrPOWER.     llnntratfd  PampMrl  Fret. 

It.  J.  MILLER,  181  E.  Front  St..  Cincinnati.  O. 

POT.ATO  BUGS 

AND    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 

TIIOEOUfiHLY   AND   ItAPIDLT 
BY   USING 

f  ee¥s  ImpraYed  Liq^iii  Atomiser 

The  most  complete  a]'paratus  for  deodorizing  and  disin- 
fecting Hospitals,  Ships,  Stables,  e^. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use.  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers"  experiences -with  it. 

West  Grove  ^lamirg:  Co.,  West  Grove,  Pa. 
8-5 


$12 


a   <lav   -'tt  Home.      Agents     wanted.     Outfit    and 
teinis'free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine,    [s-3-ly 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

ROOFING   SLA.TE. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

S.l-12m  LA>-C.\STER.    PA. 

<J»J"   tn   <f»5A  per  ilay  at  homt.      .Samples  worth  SI  free. 


(Successors  to  W.  ATLEE  BURPEE.) 

BREEDERS   AND   SHIPPERS   OF 

"Fliorouglibred.   Inive    Stock, 

Alderney,   Ayrshire  and   Shorthorn  Cattle,   Cots-wold    and   Southdo-wn   Sheed, 

Chester  White,  Berkshire,  Essex  and  Poland  China  Pigs, 

Thoroughbred  Dogs  and  Fancy  Pigeons, 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  and  WATER  FOWLS 

Of  all  the  leailiuf!  choici'  varic-ties.     Our  stock  of  Poultry  baa  wou  mauy  FIRST  PRIZES.     We  ship  only  Hrst-Clas 
Alliuinis  ami  Bir<l*«.    Full  Descriptive  Cireularw  free. 

AN  ELEGANTLY  ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  pure-bred  live  stock  and  poultry  (now  in  preparation)  con- 
taiuiug  a  complete  deBcriptive  priced  list  of  stock  aud  breeders'  requisites,  seut  post-paid  ou  receipt  of  twenty  vents. 

Aim  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  Ground  Boue,  Flour  ot  Raw  Bone  Scraps.  Cntshed  Oyster  Shells,  Imperial  Egg 
Food,  Coudinieutal  Food,  etc.,  for  Poultry  and  Stock.    Every  fancier  should  send  for  our  circular  in  this  line  of  goods. 


Fertilizers  and  Apiciltiiral  Iiiiiileiiieiils,       Field,  Garfleii  aiii  Flower  Seeds, 

STRICTLY  FRESH  AND   RELIABLE. 

All  the  new  and  etandard  varieties.    NEW  CROP  TURNIP  SEEDS  and  other  seels  for  fall  planting.     Send  for 
special  price  list . 

SfK  P.4CKETS  F.4R-tl  SEEDS  FREE  as  samples  to  all  who  enclose  two  3-cent  stamps. 
rs^Send  your  address  for  our  full  descriptive  priced  circulars,  mailed  free.    Address, 

BE:r7SO]sr  ^c  bufipeije:. 

SEED  AUD  iGSICTJLTUKAL  WAEEHOUSE, 
No.   223  CHURCH   STREET,   PHILADELPHIA,   PA. 


CENTENNIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


Struck  iu  solid  Alha^a  Plate,   equal  in  appearauce, 
wear  aud  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  1  ^,  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  sight. 

The  most  vaSuable  Souvenirs  an«l  yie- 
inontoes  ever  isstied. 


GOOD    AGENTS   WANTED   in    every   City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


EETAIL  PRICES.— For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cts.  ;  Gilt, 
$1,  iu  fancy  box.    Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificeut  samples  for  agenf  s,  in 
satin  or  velvet-lined  morocco  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
difloreut  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-ofhce  order 
for  $4,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  aud  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  .50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solicited.  Information  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications, 

U.  S.  3IEDALLION  CO., 

P.O.  Box  5270.         212Broadway,  N.  y. 

t.-4-Gt 


GOOD  SEEDS,  GROWN  WITH   CARE,  FROM  SE- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Goshen,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  FiUnge  Breech  Load'uxj 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 

Carries  a  \v  inch  ball  with  accu-       §^^^^  HI 
racy  lilty  leet,  -without  powder  or        ^^^^^9  (ft 

percussion.  Brass  bai'rel,  hair  trigt^er.  F'T  s;l1o 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  witli  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
»ud  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

-AGENTS  WANTED. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  67  Liberty  Street,  New  YorS 


1876. 


CENTENNIAL. 


1876. 


Rathvon  fe  Pisliep, 

PRACTICAL 

Tait©r§  and]  (S[@tEiB©rs. 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


*    *    •    »  .*.  i.        !  ..*..  .'• 


STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maine. 


E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  "W.  Fourth  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Arc  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


Estiiates  fmisW  I 


[tf] 


[enl  [or  Circular. 


£fi!liiG 

Cor.  N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 

J.  STAUFFER, 

imtM  i  Willi. 

LANCASTER,  VENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 

All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN P.VrENTS,  TE.^DE  MARKS,  and  COPYRIGHTS, 
prontjitly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  atid  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As 
sistant  at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  draw-iug 
or  description.  [7-4-tf 


(To  PubBcrihers  is 


d     I  cell       ^      thecouuty 


SINGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS 


To  Ba*>«crib<Tf>  on  of 
tue  county. 


;•  $1.25. 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER.  SEPTEMBER  ib,  ^876. 


PEAESOL  &  GEIST,  PubllsherB. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  proraiueut  feature,  with   Bpeciiil  reference  to  the 
wautB  ol  tlie  Farmer,  the  Gardeuer  aud  Fruit-Grower. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  lay  Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVOIT. 


The  Lancaster  Farm  kr  .hns  now  completed  its  seventh 
year — the  last  haviug  been  under  the  ausj'ices  of  the  under- 
signed as  i>ublisher8.  AVheu  we  asniiraed  the  respouBibllity 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago,  it  was  with  a  deterniiuatiou 
to  make  such  improvemeutp  during  the  year  as  would  iilace 
the  Fanners"  Organ  of  this  grea,t  agriculturul  county  in  the 
very  front  rank  of  publications  of  its  cIush,  That  we  have 
done  80,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Centennial  year  still  more  interesting 
and  valuable  thiiu  its  predecessor  for  1ST5.  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-oj  eration  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
prise. To  make  it  a  success,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Farmer  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  contributions  of  our  able  editor.  Prof.  Rathvok,  on 
subjects  connected  with  the  science  of  farming,  and  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  master — 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  become 
a  necessity  to  the  successful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  ISth  of  every 
mouth,  printed  on  good  paper,  with  cle4ir  tyjie,  in  con- 
venient form  for  reading  and  binding,  aud  mailed  to  sub- 
scribers on  the  following 

TERMS: 

To  subscribers  residing  within  the  county — 
One  copy,  one  year,         -----         $i.oo 
Six  copies,  one  year,  -         -         .         .         .       3.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year,       ------        7.50 

To  subscribers  outside  of  Lancaster  county,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  1  ublisheis: 

One  copy,  one  year,  -----         $1.25 

Five  copies,  one  year,  .        -        -         -         -        .         5.00 

All  subscriptions  uill  commence  with  the  January  num- 
ber unless  otherwise  ordered. 

All  conimiiniciitiuns  intended  for  pnlilication  ehonld  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  and.  to  secure  insertion,  should  be 
in  his  hands  by  the  lirst  of  the  month  of  publication. 

All  business  letteis,  containing  subscriptions  and  adver- 
tisements, should  be  uddicssed  to  the  i>ublishcrs. 


PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 


Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANiAsTi;u,  I'.\, 


RATF.S  OF  ADVEKTISIXn. — Ten  CcutH   n 
Hue  lor  ench  IiiHerllon.     Twelve  liiies  to  the  iucb. 


CONTENTS  OFJHIS  NUMBER. 

What  is  Blight,    ------  I211 

Deca\  of  Treee  in  Hyde  Park, 

Grapp  Plivlloxera,        -  '     -        -        -        -        -  130 

Elm-Tree  Leaf-Beetle,    -        -        -        -  '     -  l:U 

The  Locust,        -        -        -                 .        -         .  1S3 

Arctic  Wolverine,  or  (iluttoD,        -        .        -  132 

The  Barred  Owl,        ------  i:i:5 

About   PotalocB,     -         -         -         .          -         -  i:{J 

Answers  to  Correspondent  e,       .        .        -        -  i:i4 

Peacock   Moth— Hickory  Gridler — Hay-Moth — A 
Hare  Bu{i — C.-Cfolja  Motti. 

Locusts  as  Food(      ------  \^^^) 

Black  Hainhurgs,        ------  l:;5 

Insect  Vitality,        -        -        -        -        -        -  135 

Feed  for  Young  Fowls,        -----  l.-is 

Boilinir  E2;(rs,        ------  i:i(i 

llow  to  Test  Funs;!,    - i:i(i 

Fine  Peaches,        -         -        .        -         -        .  !:!(! 

Ciimatolosy,     -------  130 

Late  Flowering;  Trees,    -----  137 

Wheat  Growinic,          ------  138 

Aitricultural  Papers,       -----  138 

Swarminir  by  Division,        -----  139 

Manurial  Value  of  Clover,      -        -        -        -  139 

Our  Paris  Letter,        ------  140 

Our  Local  Organizations,        -        -        -        .  140 

Proceediuga  of  tlie  Lancaster  Countj  Agricultural 
aiid  Horticultural  Society. 

The   Bee-Keepers'   Society,                 -        -        -  IH 

Proceedings  of  the  Laucaeter  County  Bee-Keepers' 

Society. 

The  Millers'  Association,        ...        -  142 
Proceedings  of  the  Lancaeter  County  Millers'  Ae- 
eociation. 

The  Tobacco  (i lowers'  Society,  -        -        -        -  142 
ProceeediiigB  of  the  Luncaster  Cftiiuty  Tobacco 
Glowers"  Society, 

What  Kind  of  Wheat  Shall  We  Sow?    -        -  142 

From  Xfjrth  Carolina,        -----  ]42 

A  Long  Furrow,      ------  142 

Apples  at  the  Centennial,  -----  143 

hnproveincnt  ()f  Potatoes,        -         -         -         .  143 

Ignorance  in  Karinitig, l^J 

Drainini;  Orchards,        -----  ]43 

Iron  and  (iold,    -------  143 

Christian  Laconics,          -----  143 

To  Use  Hen  .Manure, -  143 

A  Little  Every  Day,        -----  144 

Soniethinir  foi-  Bachelors,   -----  144 

Saving  and  Havins,         -----  144 

Fertilizer  for  Grass,    ------  144 

Deranged  by  the  Bile  of  a  Hog,      -        -        -  144 

Mellow  Soil  -Ground  Trees,        -        -         -        -  144 

Living  Within  One's  Means,  -        -        -        -  144 

The  Wheat  Croii  in  Europe,        .         .         -         -  144 

Fishbone  in  the  Throat, 144 

The  Fanners' Centennial,  -        -        -        -        .  144 

How  Weeds  are  Propairated,  -        -        -        .  144 

Old  Fashioned  Heaping, 144 

Quick  Work, 144 

Covering  Manure,       ------  144 

No  Secrets,        -..-.-        -  iii 

Truthfulness  In  Children,    -----  iii 

Felling  "  The  Big  Tree  "  In  Calaveras,     -        -  iii 

To  Corn  Beef  ill  the  Pot, Iii 

To  Keep  Swine  Healthy,  -----  Iii 

Our  Fence  Corners,      ------  ii 


|llf  farmery  printing  flfficp, 

THE  LANCASTER  EXPRESS, 

(DAILY  ANI?  -WEEKLT.) 

Tl^e  Leadiijg  Local  FBinlly  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  tht 
ogly  Independent  Nepublicap  Journal  19  the  County. 


THE 


FOUNDED 

llV     IIIK 


C  THE 

WEEKLY,'.  i,v   iiiK  J    DAILY, 

1S43         J  PRESENT  PROPRIETORe.   (         1856 


Thr  WEKxy.r  EXPSESK  hsa^Keen  before  the  dtlzenn  of 
Laucanlercouulyfor  aperiodof  Ihlrty-tUree  years,  aud  The 
Daily  Exprkss  for  over  uineteeu  years.  During  this  long 
Iieriud,  and  Wiithout  change  of  luanageinenl,  The  Kxt'ltKsrt 
has  fairly  earned  a  large  share  of  patronage  and  flrmly 
cHlablished  itself  in  the  public  L-o(it)dence,  as  an  uiirigbt  and 
independent  journal,  uever  hesitating  to  defrnd  tlie  right 
and  denounce  the  wrong,  no  nnitter  where  found  to  exist. 
It  has  always  been  a  Journal  of  pri)gress,  and  the  outspoken 
frieiul  of  edncation.  temperance,  sound  morals  aud  rcligiou. 
As  in  the  past,  so  it  will  continue  in  the  (utiiri". 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 


The  Weekly  Express,  one  year, 
The  Daily  Express,  one  year, 


$3.00 
5.00 

The  Express  and     he  Farmer:  To  any  pereon  residing 
withiji  the  liuiils  ul  LaiKxiHttT  cuuuty  we  will  mall — 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaster  Farmer,  one  year,  $2.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  exteuded  circulation  of  The  ExpnEJ»s  raakM  it  the 
heat  iiifdium  for  advert)t*ing  H<'al  Entato  and  I'lTfloual 
Property  iu  the  county,  a  fact  which  can  l>o  attested  by  . 
mauy  farmert<  and  others  who  have  availed  tticmn^lveft  of 
the  une  of  itrt  cotuiniiH,  and  to  which  wu  iuvite  the  atteutiou 
of  all  having  jiroptTty  to  diwi)OHe  ^^i. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  F.xi'nF.>*«  print injf  office  is  one  of  the  Ix^t  fumfiihad 
eetabllnhtnentH  for  turu)nt<  out  nil  kiiidn  of  pnntiiiR  to  tx* 
found  in  th«  interior  of  Ihe  SUIe.  We  arc  prepared  to 
]>ritit  any  jo)>  from  the  Hmull  vtRitinK  card  to  th*-  larf^xl  palo 
ur  horxe  bill,  ]>o(*ter,  or  broudHide.  plain  tir  iu  culora,  ai* 
(piickly  ii(t  it  cjn  be  tlone  ut  any  other  fMtabllithmeut,  and  011 
UH  rfiiMtuablu  teruia.  We  make  the  piluting  of  Sale-bitU 
for  Fannerit  a  specially,  and  guarantee  aatlHfactlou  to  our 
cuHtomera. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

iDchide  the  vuriouH  patirrno  adupl^nl  to  jirinting  tKX>k8, 
paniphletH,  poHterfl.  sule-blUfi,  huml-blllff,  inilli-m'  r<N:elpti(, 
CHtalo^UfH  of  live  tilork.  and  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
fkrftt-cliiHH  printing  ollice;  in  tdiort  anything  that  may  bo 
called  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  banker,  mechanic,  or 
bumineMt  man,  and  \\r  guarant««  to  do  the  work  an  aatisfac- 
tory  lis  it  can  l>e  done  in  Philadelphia  or  elwwhere. 

With  one  of  the  mont  complete  Job  offli^'M  in  the  Stat«, 
and  iint(urp»f>Hed  conveulencev  foroxpedilioutdy  turning  out 
work  by  the  l«*Ht  workmen,  under  the  pentonal  HUiier^-ialou 
of  the  proprietor**.  whoareUith  practical  jirinfem,  all  i>er- 
HimH  in  neeil  of  Printing  will  find  it  to  their  luter««l  to  give 
us  a  trial. 

PEARSOL  &,  GEIST, 

BOOK,  NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
LANCASTEK.  FA. 


CnnvnKHpra  Wantod  for  The  Faemei!,  with  wboaa 
liberal  arrangemeota  will  be  made. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

."500  farmers'  write  for  it. 

60  farmers'  wives  ■wriLe  for  it. 

Circulates  in  36  States. 

Circulates  in  tJ  Territoriea. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

04  columns  every  week. 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Keptou  file  in  1,2(»U  Granges, 

Read  weekly  by  over  100.000  people. 

Only  official  organ  of  tive  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  from  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experience  by  pr:ictical  farmer?. 

Crop  reports  printed  weekly. 

No  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  a  year ;  or  1.'25  in  clubs  of  8  or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

1'2X  cents  a  mouth  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  S  or  over,  10>^  cents  a  month. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

National  Grange  offlcers  write  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  everj-  State. 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  and  say, 

"  Just  what  we  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  three  cents,   sent  directly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  States. 

Address,  THOMAS  &  BEMMING, 

7-12-S  Mechanicsburo,  Pa. 

ROOT'S 

(garden  IVfanual. 

Is  filled  with  tojiics  of  interest  to  every  owner  of  a  garden — 
is  POINTED,  PRACTICAL  and  THOROUGH,  and  contains 
one-half  as  mueh  as  J1.50  books  on  the  subject.  GARDEN- 
EliS  throughout  the  coimtry  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  methods  as  invaluable  to  them. 

itS"Sent  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  first 
order  for  seeds.      Address, 

J.  B.  ROOT,    ced  Grow&n 

ROCKFORD,  Illinois. 


^^^^?^i:=^. 


^:^^ 


m  FLQ^ie/VEGETAB  LE  g 

^' j^ ... , . .  [go^iMlMiiiitl^ 

is  the  most  beautiful  work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  con- 
tains nearly  150  pages,  hundreds  of  fine  illustrations,  and 
/our  Chromo  Plates  of  Flowers,  beautifully  dra\vn  and  col- 
ored from  nature.  Price,  35  cents  in  paper  covers  ;  65  cents 
bound  in  elegant  cloth. 
Vick's  Floral  Guide.  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Address.  JAMES  VICE,  Rochester,  N.  Y, 

PATENTS 

OBTAINED  BEST  AP  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OF  PATENTS, 

"WasJaingtoa,  D.  C. 


«»" Address  aU  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  4i4.  7-3-12m 

FERTILIZERS! 

zzoivee:  ivea.O£: 

CHEAPEST  AND  BEST! 


WRITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-class  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  formulae  have  provec,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity. .Ask  prices  for 


Oil  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Plaster, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA. 


Eatabliahed  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  m  1793. 


tS-2-    ji 


PUBLIC  SALE  BILLS 
roll  ItEAL  ESTATE  OR  PERSONAL  PRORERTT, 
Printed  exijeditiously  and  cheap  at  the  office  of 

THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


"  Before  they  Call  I  will  Answer."* 
Give  me  to  eat !  O,  Father  in  Thy  garners 

The  i;olden  jrain  is  stored, 
Tliy  purple  grapes  hane  heavy  in  the  vintaee, 

Thy  harvest  HeMs  with  promises  are  scored; 
To  eat,  for  I  so  wearily  have  fasted. 

And  yet  my  kindred  call  on  me  for  bread, 
On  me,  whose  harvesting  the  worm  has  blasted, 

Ou  me  with  hands  in  helplessness  outspread  ! 

Give  me  to  drink  !     O,  Father,  in  Thy  garden 

The  fountains  ever  flow, 
I  liear  their  coolincr  plash  and  see  them  glitter. 

Oh,  pour  their  fullness  on  thes»  sands  below; 
To  drink,  I  am  so  weak  and  faint  witli  going 

To  brokeu  cisterns  that  can  hold  no  rain. 
Then  lead  me  nigh  to  that  rich  ovei-flowing. 

Let  my  parched  lips  Thy  cup  of  gladness  drain  ! 

So  prayed  my  soul  in  heaviness  of  sori'ow, 

Lo  !  even  as  I  cried. 
Bread,  manna-sweet,  was  broken  at  my  table, 

And  crystal-brimmed  the  goblet  close  beside. 
Even  "  before  they  call,"  is  it  not  written  ? 

The  banquet  hall  awaits  the  tardy  guests. 
The  faint,  the  thirsty,  and  the  famine-smitten 

Have  but  to  cry;  God's  love  outruns  the  rest. 

AViiAT  interjection  is  of  the  feminine  gender?^ 
A-lass  ! 

Accommodating  a  friend  with  a  fifty  dollar  note 
is  an  ex-L-lent  way  of  getting  rid  of  money. 

TuE  extreme  height  of  misery  is  a  small  boy  with 
a  new  pair  of  bootsand  no  mud  puddle. 

Cool  drinks— Those  taken  at  another  fellow's  ex- 
pense, without  invitation. — Sunday  Courier. 

Soliloquy  by  a  tippler — The  public  always  notices 
you  when  you  have  been  drinking,  and  never  when 
you  are  thirsty. 

The  useless  waste  of  money  on  weddings  and 
funerals  calls  for  reform.  Extravagance  makes 
young  men  dread  marriage  and  death. 

The  sun's  rays  focus  on  the  earth  about  this  season 
of  the  year,  and  those  are  the  raysons  for  its  being 
hot  enough  to  scorch  a  paper  collar. 

Painting  tlie  Lily. — Generous  shoeblack  (to  col- 
ored gentleman) ;  "  Better  'ave  'em  done,  sir;  I'll 
touch  up  yer  face,  too,  for  the  same,  sir  !  " 

Henky  Watterson  poetically  says  that  ice  is 
"  water  gone  to  sleep."  It  has  every  opportunity  for 
going  to  sleep  while  Henry  Watterson  is  around. 

"yon  are  a  nuisance.  I'll  commit  you,"  said  an 
offended  judge  to  a  noisy  person  in  court.  "  You 
have  no  right  to  commit  a  nuisance,"  said  the  of- 
fender. 

A  YOUNG  lady,  following  a  Shakspearian  play  with 
the  book,  remarked  to  her  companion:  "How  im- 
perfect those  actors  are  !  None  of  them  say  '  exit ' 
wheu  they  go  otf." 

A  PERSON  who  was  sent  to  prison  for  marrying 
two  wives,  excused  himself  by  saying  that  wheu  he 
had  one  she  fought  him,  but  when  he  got  tuo  they 
fought  each  other. 

"  Mrs.  Spinks,"  observed  a  boarder  to  his  land- 
lady, "the  equal  adjustment  of  this  establishment 
could  be  more  si^fely  secured  if  there  was  less  hair  in 
the  hash  and  more  in  the  mattresses." 

"Have  you  much  fish  in  your  bag?'.'  asked  a  per- 
son of  a  fisherman.  "Yes,  there's  a  good  eel  in  it," 
was  the  rather  slippery  reply. 

Even  during  the  heated  term  two  of  our  Western 
contemporaries  got  into  a  grammatical  dispute.  Its 
singular  how  men  could  be  in  such  a  mood,  while  the 
heat  is  in  tense. — Jfew  York  Commercial  Advertiser. 

In  Bath  Abbey,  England,  is  to  be  seen  the  follow- 
ing : 

"Here  lies  Ann  Mann, 
She  lived  an  old  maid  and  died  an  old  Mann." 

It  wasn't  a  loaded  Onondaga  county  preacher  who 
recently  said  :  "  Brezzern,  szeasier  for  a  cmmit — hie 
— tgo  srough  ze  knee  of  an  idol,  zan  for — hie — a  rich 
man  to  live — hie — peazably  with  hiz  muzzer-in-law" 

An  Illinois  judge  has  decided  that  a  washing  bill 
cannot  be  collected,  and  any  experienced  washer- 
woman will  tell  him  that  he  is  right  six  times  out  of 
ten,  which  is  probably  better  than  the  average  of  his 
decisions. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  reason  graduates  of  female 
colleges  are  called  bachelors  of  art  instead  of  maids 
of  art,  is  that  the  former  is  a  higher  degree.  At  least 
the  maids  are  always  after  the  bachelors. — Norwich 
Bulletin. 

Plant  a  Cjntennial  tree  this  year — it  may  live  to 
see  the  seccnd  Centennial. 

'*' And  it  shall  come  to  paBS  that  before  they  call  I  will 
answer ;  and  while  they  are  yet  speaking  I  will  hear. — 
Isaiah,  Ixv,  24.  , 


>TOMat,? 

Knitter 


B 

'*  e 

H    9 


n 


a 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  sttractiufj  universal  attention  by  its  astorishing  per- 
formances and  its  great  practical  value  for  ever>'-day  family 
use.  It  kuit.s  every  possible  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

"WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  shape  and  finish  to  all  g.^rmeotB.      If  will 

knit  a  pair  of  socks  in  fifteen  minutes!      Every  machine 

WARKAX'rKi>  perfect,  and  todojuM  what  is  rppresented. 

A  comi  lete  instruction  book  accompanies  each  machine. 

No.  1  Family  Machine,  1  cylinder,  72  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       *'  -'2         "     T2  &  100     "         40. 

A  sample  niai^huie  will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  United 

States  or  Cauadii,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  express  cluxTgea 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

AuENT.s  wanted  in  every  State,  County.  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  very  nl)eral  d'scounts  will  be  made.     Address, 
BICKFORD  KNITTING  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
T-ll-tf]  Sole  Manufacturers,  Brattleboro.  Vt. 

THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA., 

Breeder  and  Shipper  of 

GUERNSEY  !3eSI  BUTTER  STOCK, 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


are  the  best  the  world  produces.  They  are  planted  by  a 
million  people  in  America,  and  the  result  is  beautiful 
Flowers  and  sj-leudid  Vegetables.  A  Priced  Catalogue^ent 
free  to  all  who  inclose  the  postage — a  2  cent  stamp. 

Vik's  F   oral  Guide,  Quarterly,  25  cents  a  year. 

Vik's  F   ower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  35  cents;  with 
cloth  covers.  (J.j  cents. 
It]  A.ldress.  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


TO  TAKE  SUBSCRIBERS  FOR 

The  La!!ioa§t©ir  Wmm^ft 

Farmers'  Sons   and  other  Young   Men, 
during  their  leisure  hours, 

CAN  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


We  want  a  thorough  canvass  made  of  every  district,  and  will 
pay  good  canvassers  liberally.    Address 

PEARSOL  &  GEIST,  Publisliers, 

7-8-tt  I.A5rO.\STEB,   PA. 

DEALERS  IN  ALL  KlUrS  OF 

FABIItT  and  I^HlE-BlJKKISf  G  COAI, ! 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  NO.  15  East  King  street,  ?  ud  at  the 
8-l-l'2m]    Yard,  No.  613  NORTH  PRINCE  STREET. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  SEPTEMBER,  1876. 


Vol.  VnL  No.  9. 


WHAT   IS   BLIGHT? 

A  a;ooddfaI  issnid  by  llic  a;;i-iciiUiinil  iia|nTS 
at  this  tiino — and  also  l)y  aJ;^R•llllu^i^ls  and 
hortk-ultuii.sts,  wlii'ii  in  nii'i'tinj^s  assfiidilud  — 
about  llliijlit,  its  laiisos  and  its  clU'ils,  but 
mainly  its  (fferts;  I'of,  as  to  its  i-anxts,  all  si^eni 
to  be  at  sea  witliout  a  compass,  and  tlu'iofon^ 
all  that  is  advanced  is  merely  conjectural  and 
unsalislai'toiy.  And  here  at,  the  outset  we 
conttss  that  wi^  feel  unable  to  cheer  the  ag- 
grieved parties  with  any  information  of  ac- 
knowledgeil  vaUu^  In  them,  in  reference  to  the 
most  af;j;ravated  form  of  the  bli^dit  about 
which  they  most  com|ilain.  First,  however, 
it  is  essential  that  wcshould  exactly  know  what 
is  meant  by  6//(//it,-  and  particidarly  the  kin<l 
of  blight  that  may  have  come  luider  our  ob- 
servation ;  for,  it  is  very  evident,  from  tlie 
manner  in  which  it  is  described  by  various 
persons,  that  there  uuist  be  dillerent  cans<'s 
for  its  manifestation.  The  dictionary  in- 
terpretation, or  rather  delinition,  of  Ji'liijlit, 
is  a  "mildew;  decay;  anything  nijiping 
or  blasting ;  ai)plied  as  a  general  name  to 
various  injuries  or  diseases  of  jilants,  caus- 
ing the  whole  or  a  part  to  wither,  whether 
occasioned  l)y  insects,  fungi,  or  atmospheric 
inlkiences.'"  Also,  "a  downy  species  of 
aphi.t,  or  plant  louse,  destructive  to  trees."  "To 
frustrate  ;  to  prevent  the  growth  and  fertility 
of  vegetation,  as  bliijlikd  corn."  And,  as  the 
term  is  now  used,  it  is  made  to  cover  a  variety 
of  effects,  proceeding  from  a  variety  of  causes  ; 
in  fact,  when  a  plant  or  tree  becomes  ener- 
vated, wilted,  or  withered  from  any  cause,  it 
is  said  to  be  btiyhkd;  mainly  becau.se  no  otlier 
name  seems  to  so  conveniently  cover  the  case 
as  this  term. 

In  short,  without  a  qualifying  adjective  or 
prehx,  the  term  b!i(jht  is  about!  as  iudelinite 
as  the  terms  "pinch-liug, "  or  "worm."  When 
tlic  base  of  a  young  peach  tree  becomes  seri- 
ously infested  by  the  "  reai-h-tree  borer," 
(..*,'(/('/■;((  ccilosu],  causing  the  It^aves  to  wilt  or 
turn  yellow,  anil  giving  it  a  weak  and  sickly 
apiiearanee,  it  is  said  to  be  hUijIiUd,  and  so  it 
is,  but  this  isof  a  s[iecilic  characti-r,  and  is  the 
eli'ect  of  a  cause  that  nuiy  be  readily  discovered 
if  we  will  but  make  an  intelligent  effort  ;  and, 
knowing  the  cause,  we  may  apply  the  remedy. 
This,  perhaps,  might  appropriately  be  called 
the  "Borer-blight." 

When  the  leaves  of  peach  trees  become 
gnarled,  curled,  and  yellowish  in  color,  and 
the  cavities  an<l  iueciualities  caused  by  tlieir 
distorted  condition,  contain  the  "peach- 
aphis,"  [Aplds  pcrsiai),  then  the  tree  may  be 
said  to  be  alUicted  with  the  "aphid-blight  ;" 
and,  knowing  the  cause,  the  cm-e  would  be  in 
lindiug  something  to  kill  the  aphids.  But  the 
leaves  of  peacli  trees  sometimes  turn  yellow, 
become  curled,  crisped,  wilted  and  dry,  when 
no  borers  are  in  the  trunk  or  at  the  roots,  and 
when  no  aphids  are  on  tlu^  leaves.  In  some 
instances  a  very  uunute  fungus  is  present, 
ami  then  we  nnghl  properly  term  it  the 
"Fungus-blight,"  ami  when  no  fiouji  can 
possibly  be  detected,  if  it  has  been  caused  by 
the  previous  winter's  freeziuir,  it  might  be 
called  the  "  Frost-blight ;"  but  wOicn  it  has  not 
been  caused  by  frost,  it  is  conveniently  called 
"Fire-blight,"  about  the  caiixe  of  which  doc- 
tors by  no  means  agree.  F'ire-blight  is  vari- 
ously attributed  to  climatit'  causes,  electrical 
inlluences,  or  the  chemical  character  of  the 
soil ;  but  just  which,  what  or  how,  there  seems 
to  bo  a  diversity  of  opinion  on,  even  among 
the  most  experienced  in  these  matters. 

All  the  foregoing  causes  and  their  effects  arc 
sometimes  visible  on  the  apples,  the  pears,  the 
oaks,  and  other  kinds  of  trees  ;  and  this  is 
conspicuously  the  case  in  regard  to  the  jiear 
trees  the  present  season.  In  addition  to  the 
foregoing,  however,  there  is  a  small  beetle, 
which,  in  both  its  lan:<i  and  imuyo  slates,  per- 


forates the  smaller  branches  and  makes  an  ex- 
cavation in  the  heart,  causing  all  the  leaves  to 
become  withered,  wilted  or  blacked,  above  the 
p<'rtoration,  and  this   might,    by    way  of  dis- 

lineti be  called  the  "  Heetle-blight."    This 

ln'clle  is  the  'Juuiicii.-:  iiijri,  and  to  destniy  it 
would  be  toeut  ciirthe  blighted  branchesa  few 
inches  below  the  blighted  portion,  and  burn 
them.  .*>omelimes  the  leaves  of  thi'  pear 
trees  are  infested  by  a  "  sing  "  which  skeleton- 
ize them,  and  gives  them  a  crisp  and  burnt 
api)earanee,  and  this  we  might  pro|ierly  name 
the  "  Slug-blighl.  These  slugs  arc^  the  larvic 
of  a  "Saw-lly,"  (.S'(/(m(?;-/(t  y;//;-i,)  and  an  a])- 
]ilicatiou  of  a  poisoned  powder  or  solution,  at 
the  ])roper  lijue,  might  efleel  tlieir  destruction 
and  cure.  Hut  the  "  Fiie-blight  "  of  the  pear 
sometimes  occurs  so  suddenly,  so  mvsterious- 
ly,  and  so  generally — epidemically  as  it  were^ 
that  the  eau.se,  thus  far,  has  been  (last  finding 
out,  and  the  qnestiim  still  is,  "What  are  we 
going  to  do  about  it  V"  This  kind  of  blight 
sometimes  is  conliiied  to  one  or  more  small 
branches  ;  at  other  times  to  a  large  branch,  or 
the  (piarter,  or  the  half,  or  the  greater  part  of 
the  tree.  At  c)ther  times  again  (as  in  the  pres- 
ent sea.-^on,)  it  conunences  at  the  lop,  and 
taking  one  branch  aftei'  another  works  down- 
ward, until  it  linally  compasses  the  whole  tree. 
In  the  evening  the  tree  may  be  fair  to  look 
upon  and  on  the  following  morning  it  may  l)e 
blighted.  This  form  of  blight  may  be  con- 
lined  to  a  single  tree  in  an  orchard  ;  or  others, 
or  nearly  the  whole  orchard,  may  be  more  or 
less  infected,  but  the  causes  may  be  the  same, 
and  as  ditlicult  to  determine,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  peach  tree. 

There  is  at  this  writing  (Sept.  1st,)  two 
"  Ilorse-ehestnut  trees,"  (jEAndua  Itqipnraa- 
tiinuiii,)  on  the  south  side  of  Chc^stnut  street, 
near  Duke,  in  Lancaster  city,  all  the  leaves  of 
which,  dnriiig  part  of  .Inly  and  .\ugust,  be- 
came ois)),  discolored  and  fell  olT,  witliout  the 
presence  of  insects  or  any  other  visible  cause; 
and  one  of  these  trees,  near  the  ends  of  the 
branches,  has  put  Ibrtli  new  leaves,  shoots  and 
llower-buds,  so  that  now  it  pre.seids  the  singu- 
lar spectacle  of  leaves,  (lowers  and  fruit  atone 
period.  The  blight  in  these  trees  is  analogous 
to  lire-blight,  and  i)rol>ably  proceeds  from  the 
.same  cau.se,  whatever  that  may  be.  The  Kim 
trees  of  Lancaster  and  vicinity,  and  also  el.s(v 
where  in  the  county,  the  present  .season,  have 
been  infested  l)y  nadtitudes  of  a  species  of 
GUdirwd,  which  is  .said  to  have  been  intro- 
duced into  this  country  from  Europe  many 
years  ago,  and  the  larva'  as  well  as  the  mature 
insects  puncture  and  skeletonize  the  leaves, 
giving  such  leaves  a  burnt  and  blighted  ap- 
pearand'. 

(Jn  the  lOtli  of  August  we  examined  some 
young  locust  trees  on  t'hestuut  Ilill,  in  this 
county,  and  we  found  all  the  tender  growth  <if 
the  present  season  infested  by  large  nundiers 
of  small  "Tree-hojipers, "  (Smiliti,)  which 
were  engaged  in  sucking  out  the  sap,  accom- 
panied by  a  host  of  ants,  which  benefited  by 
the  punctures  made  by  the  h<jppers,  or  lapped 
up  their  excretions.  Sv'e  n(^ver  before  saw  the 
hopiiers  so  abundant ;  from  fifteen  to  twenty- 
live  Were  often  seen  in  a  group,  of  various 
sizes,  some  of  them  .so  very  small  that  they 
could  n<it  be  detected  without  a  magnilier,  but 
all  were  engaged  in  the  work  of  exhausting 
tlie  sap  of  the  trees.  There  is  also  a  small 
"curculio"  (Aijion  mhinKt,)  which  ])uiictnres 
th(!  leaves  of  the  locust ;  but  the  woi-st  ene- 
mies to  them  are  the  "  Leaf-miners."  These 
l)enetrate  the  leavi'S,  eating  the  iinrcndnjma, 
and  leaving  nothing  but  the  upper  au<l  lower 
skin  remaining.  They  are  both  the  larva;  of 
a  minute  species  of  LepidnjAeni  and  of  Culiop- 
Icra.  The  latter  is  the  llhiKi  sutitrtdis,  and  is 
far  the  worst.  Spme  yeare  ago  we  noticed  a 
row  of  locust  trees,  about  au  eighth  of  a  mile 


in  length,  nearly  every  leaf  on  which  was 
moreorle.ssnunedby  tht'se  little  insects,  which 
were  present  in  myriads,  producing  a  lirown- 
ish  and  yellowish"  blight,  and  this  prevailed 
that  sea.son  in  many  parts  of  the  county. 

When  all  these  coidingiMicies  occur  at  the 
.same  lime, and  the  "Locust-lree-borer"(<^7i/(t« 
r«/(i»i(((,)  penetrates  the  trunks  and  branciu'M, 
the  trees  have  a  fearful  ordeal  to  pass  tlirough, 
and  it  would  not  b('  very  surprising;  if  Ihey 
should  become  blighted  anil  die.  Ihit  these 
trees  sometimes  become  blighted  without  the 
I)resence  of  any  of  the  afore-nami'd  e::ternal 
enemies,  and  no  positive  evidence  of  the  in- 
ternal ones,  just  as  is  the  ciise  with  the  peach 
and  the  pear. 

Apple  trees  are  not  so  subject  to  fire-bllKlit 
as  the  pear  trees;  but  when  tiic  "Knot  aphis," 
the  base,  the  trimk,  and  the  branch  borers  at- 
tack young  apple  trees,  they  produce  a  blight 
that  is  more  certainly  destructive  than  any 
other  form  of  tin;  disea.se.  Some  years  ago, 
from  the  "Tower"  in  Mount  Auburn  Cemetery, 
near  Boston,  we  noticed  that  many  isolated 
api)le  trees,  as  well  as  whole  orchards,  were 
more  or  less  browned  and  blighted,  and  when 
we  inquired  the  cause  we  were  infornn-d  that 
it  was  caused  by  multitudes  of  "C'aid<er 
wmnis,"  [Ani/soiitiri/x  nirnata).  I!ut  ai>ple 
trees  may  also  be  blight<'d  from  other  ;us  vet 
unknown  causes,  and  it  is  tlii'  function  of  those 
who  are  always  about  and  among  them  to 
make  intelligent  observations  and  to  record 
them.  "Thai's  what's  the  matter."  Those 
most  interested  in  these  things  pay  the  least 
attention  to  them. 

Branches  of  oak  and  hickory  trees  often  be- 
come blightid,  and  when,  suh.sequenlly,  a 
storm  of  wind  comes,  these  braneliesare  broken 
off  and  fall  to  Un:  ground.  In  the  oak  tree 
these  blighted  branches  are  can.sed  by  a  brown- 
ish cylindrical  beetle — or  rather  by  its  larva — 
calleil  the  "Oak-tree  pruner,"  (EUiiihidinn 
;;i((i!('<r  and  other  si)ecies.)  This  larva  mines 
through  the  heart  of  the  branches,  and  when 
it  has  nearly  comideted  its  larval  period,  it 
gnaws  away  all  the  wood  at  ,a  certain  jilace, 
leaving  notliing  but  the  bark  n-maining,  and 
then  it  does  not  require  phkIi  of  a  wind  to 
break  them  oil',  the  larva  usually  being  found 
in  tfie  fallen  branch.  From  these  branches  we 
have  bred  the  above-named  specie.s.  The 
"  llickory-tree  pruners ''  deposite  their  eggs  in 
the  branches  and  then  girdle  them;  the  winds 
after  a  time  breaking  olT  the  br.inches,  and  the 
young  )iruner  is  afterwards  devi-loped  therein. 
We.  have  never  bred  tlu'  last  named  beetle 
from  these  pruned  braiK  lies,  but  we  have  de- 
tected them  girdling  them.  It  is  scieiititieally 
called  (hirid)  rii.t  sitiijidiitus,  and  has  a  family 
allianee  to  the  "  Apple-tree  borer,"  {Sa/jeida 
hivitt(ita).  >S.  1'.  Eby,  Kscj.,  informs  us  that  an 
insect  of  some  kind  is  girdling  his  Linden 
trees,  near  Mountville,  and  tho.se  he  brought 
us  present  the  same  apjK'ai-aiice  iis  the  hickory 
pruner's  work. 

Solium  causes  of  blight  and  decay  in  trees  we 
may  be  able  to  account  for,  but  even  then  we 
may  be  at  fault  fm-  a  remedy,  much  less  can 
we  provide  one  when  we  are  ignorant  of  the 
cause.  On  this  subjei't  the  following,  from 
Scv-nce  (insaiii  (ov  August.  1S7H,  may  contain 
some  suggestions  thai  may  be  worthy  the  at- 
tention of  horticulturists  and  others: 

Decay  of  the  Trees  in  Hyde  Park. 
In  Scitiicr  ff'uKKij'  for  .M;iy,  IST:!,  is  u  iiiciniiir  on 
nipliiiles  uiul  oilier  plaiil-erysliil"  liy  l'iiiri'!i(.<>r  (iulll- 
viT,  F.  K.  8.,  tlluslnili'd  by  numerous  wihmI  (Ills;  and 
lie  lias  siil)si'(|U<-iitly  irlvcn  dcucriplicinB,  with  a  plate, 
of  the  short  irysliil  priiinis  In  various  plants,  wore 
essiK-elallv  of  the  onler  LciruinlnoBa-,  in  the  Monlhly 
.mcioscopicat  Juiiruat,  UeccinluT,  \>i7'i.  .\»  to  the 
use  of  rajihiilis  and  other  plant-crystals,  he  rei;anls 
them  as  valualile  manure,  to  lie  restored  at  the  fall 
of  the  leaf  to  theearth  forihe  nulrlmiiit  of  the  parent 
plant;   aud  busideA  to  alTord  at  other  times  iin|iortant 


430 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[September 


botanical  characters,  in  wliicli  respect   true  raphides 
are  very  significant.    Tlie  report  ol  tlic  June meetinjj, 
1870,  of  the  E.ast  Kent  Natural  History  .Society,  con- 
tains some  applications  of  these  facts  to  the  sad  state 
of  the  trees  in  Hyde  I'ark,  so  much  deplored   of  late 
in  the  newsjiapers  and   elsewhere.     As  if  to  remove 
the  natural  food  of  these  trees,  their  fallen  leaves  and 
fruit  have  for  many  years  heen  carefully  swept  away, 
and  no  suitable  manure  substituted.  These  leaves  and 
fruit  are  very  rich  in   sphaeraphides  and    short  pris- 
matic crystals,  eonsistins;  chiefly  of  phosphate  oro.\a- 
late  of  lime,  the  very  food  required  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  plant.     And  indeed  every  gardener  well 
knows  the  excellence  of  leaf-mould   as  manure;  but 
in  no  work  on  botany,  or  horticulture,  or  arboricul- 
ture, has  the  main  cause  of  that  excellence  been  ex- 
plained or  even  recognized.     But  now  we  see  Iiow  the 
fall  of  the  leaf  is  a  provision  of  nature  for  tlie  welfare 
of  the  plant.     In  such  a  soil  as  that  of  Hyde  Park  the 
calcareous  salts  are  especially  needed  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  trees.     No  wonder,  then,  when  so  long  and 
regularly  deprived  of  the  fallen  leaves  and  other  parts, 
these  trees  should  show  signs  of  decay,  just  as  beasts 
would  pine  and  wasteif  their  naturallood  were  taken 
from  them.    eHad  the  old  forests  been  alwayscleared 
of  the  fallen  1  i,aves,  there  would  long  since  have  been 
adecayoftha     noble   vegetation  which   siill  excites 
the  admiration.of  the  traveler.     Rich  and  deep   soils 
may  afford  for  ong  periods  a  sufliciency  of  calcareous 
salts  for  the  preservation  of  the  plants,   but   not   so 
shallow  and  poorsoils.     The  (juautity  of  saline  matter 
annually  taken  up  even  by  a  single  tree  from  the  soil, 
and  appearing  as  microscopic  crystals  in  the  plant  is 
prodigious;  and  unless  this  saline  material  be  returned 
to  the  earth,  exhaustion  thereof  must  sooner  or  lacer 
occur.     The  Legumens,  too,   are  very   rich  in   short 
prismatic  crystals,  and  these  no  doubt  in  such  plants 
as  the  trefoils,  whicli  are  so  greedily  devoured  by  cat- 
tle, afford  an  imjionant  supjily  of  the  calcareous  or 
oilier  salts,  which  are  essential  in    the    animal    econ- 
omy.    Has  any  agricultural  chemist   ever  estimated 
the  quantity,  by  weight,  of  t  he  short  prismatic  crystals 
in  a  iruts  of  clover  ?     They  present  in  the  clovers  and 
other  trefoils  lovely  microscopic  objects,  suggestive, 
too,  of  utility.     Nor  are  such   observations   alone   in 
proving  the  high  value  of  the  microscope  in   explain- 
ing or  directing  piactical  operations  in  the  cultivation 
of  useful  plants. 

If  the  foregoing  extract  does  not  elucidate 
the  .subject  of  blight,  or  satisfactorily  explain 
its  cause,  it  at  least  su<;gests  the  iuijiortance 
of  leaf-mould  in  sustaining  trees  and  plants, 
and  .securing  their  healthful  condition,  becau.se 
the  I'alleu  leaves  contain   the  "laphides,"   or 
cellular  crystals  of  tho.se  mineral  salts,  which 
are  so  essential  to  tlie  growth  of  vegetation;  a 
fact  that  is  no  doubt  more  or  less  apparent  to 
many,  without  eliciting  tlie  iiractical  attention 
of  any.     We  cannot  tell  how  far   we  may    be 
injuring  vegetation  by  the  continued  removal 
from  the  soil  of  those  elements  which  they  most 
do  crave.     Even   in  cases  of  Jire-hliylit,  when 
only  a  single  branch  is  smitten,  we  cannot  tell 
how  long  it  may  have  Ijeen  in  process  of  that 
peculiar  condition  which  was  necessary  for  the 
development  and  visible  manifestation  ot"the 
phenomenon.     It    was,     'tis  said,    tlie  "last 
straw,"  which  "  broke  the  back  of  the  camel," 
and  plants,  like  animals,  may  for  a  long  time 
patiently  and  tenaciously  endure  a  deprivation 
and  then  suddenly  break  down.     Again,  trees, 
shrubs  iind  plants  that  are  iu  a  vigorous  state 
of  growth,  are  not  so  subject  to  the  infestation 
of  insects  and  fungi  as   those  whicli  have  be- 
come enervated  by  reason  of  the  depletion  of 
the  soil  in  which  they  are  growing,  or  at  least 
do  not  so  readily  succumb  to  the.se  infestations. 
Some  forty  or  fifty  years  ago  there  was  no  tree 
in  Lancaster  county  more  popular,   or  more 
univer.sally  grown,  as  an  ornamental  tree,  than 
the  I.omliardy  Poplar.     Every  farm  house  had 
them  in  the  yard,  and  in  cities,  towns  and  vil- 
lages, whole  rows  of   them  adorned  the   side 
walks.     But  one  by  one  they  became  blighted 
and  decayed  ;  lirst   perhaps  a  single  branch, 
then  the  fourth  or  half  of  the  tree,  and  llnally 
the  whole  body  decayed  and  died,  so  that  now 
it  is  rarely  that  they  are  seen   any  where;  no 
one  knew  why  or  how,  and  no  one  seemed  to 
think  that  the  nudching  of  the  soil  with  the 
fallen  leaves  was  of  any  importanee  in  securing 
it  a  healthy  condition;  for  the  yards  and  side'- 
walks  where  they  grew  were  carefully  swept, 
and  kept  scrupulou.sly  clean. 

]5ut  it  is  also  the  opinion  of  very  respectable 
authorities  that  blight  is  caused  somehow 
through  climatic  and  electrical  iuHueiices,  al- 
though they  may  not  be  able  to  explain  exactly 
how.  Others  again,  that  a  long-continued 
term  of  intense  heat  may  cause  it.    The  rapid  I 


volatilization  and  evaporation  of  the  sap  from 
the  leaves,  and  especially  the  new  growth  of 
the  wood,  (the  trunk,  from  the  same  cause, 
being  unable  to  supply  the  abnormal  exhaus- 
tion,) and  the  final  contraction  of  the  tissues 
and  the  pores,  thus  preventing  tlie  normal  cir- 
culation in  the  leaves  and  tender  branches, 
especially  when  the  season  is  more  than  ordi- 
narily a  dry  one.  We  often  see  this  effect  in 
sucenleiit  vegetation,  on  account  of  its  rapid 
secretion  and  luxuriant  expiration,  by  which 
its  equilibrium  is  interrupted,  deranged,  or 
destroyed.  We  also  often  see  (for  instance,  in 
long  continued  hot  and  dry  weather,)  the 
blades  of  corn,  the  leaves  of  clover  and  succu- 
lent vegetation  generally,  roll  themselves  up 
into  tubes,  or  close  up  their  most  exposed  sur- 
faces, and  thus  present  a  dry  and  shrunken 
apiiearance,  terminating  in  witliering  decay 
and  death.  Some  also'allege  that  it  is  the 
effect  of  a  previous  liard-freezing  winter, 
through  whicli  the  sap  becomes  vitiated.  But 
the  mild  winter  of  1S7.T  and  187(i  affords  no 
support  to  this  theory.  Notwithstanding  the 
mild  winter  named,  the  present  has  been  the 
worst  blight  season  that  we  have  had  for  many 
years. 

Verily,  a  wide  field,  on  this  "crop, "  is  before 
us,  and  it  ought  to  elicit  the  most  competent 
and  persevering  explorers,  for  the  subject  is 
drawing  unusual  attention  towards  the  various 
forms  of  blight. 


GRAPE  PHYLLOXERA. 
Phyllvxera  vnstittrix. 


It  is  estimated  that  damage  to  the  amount  of  ?37,- 
9.5.5,000  will  be  done  to  the  French  vineyards  this  year 
by  a  small  insect  called  the  phylloxera,"which  attacks 
the  vine  roots  and  dries  up  the  leaves. 

According  to  the  most  reliable  authority, 
this  insect  occurs  in  two  very  different  forms 
or  phases,  so  different   indeed  that  there  are 
others  vvlio  contend  that  they  are  two  different 
insects.  We  have  observed  it  in  the  tubercular  or 
gall  form  on  the  leaves  of  the  Clinton  and  other 
grape  vines  in  this  county,  at  various  times, 
during  the  past  seven  years.     Generally,  how- 
ever, on  tlie  Clinton,  and  other  varieties  th.it 
have  originated  from  the  same  stock.     On  one 
occasion  we  visited  the  vineyard  of  Mr.  Reuben 
Weaver,  of  Rapho  township,  not  far  from  the 
northern  boundary,  and  found  all  his  Clinton 
vines  seriou.sly  infested,  and  none  of  the  others, 
except  here  and  there  a  few  on  the  Franklin. 
Whole  rows  of  the  Clinton  were  infested  from 
one  end  to  the  other,  from  the  base  to  the  very 
ends  of  the  new   growth,  in   some  in.staiices 
hardly  a  single  leaf  escaping.     Of  course,  this 
IJrevented  the  leaves  from  developing  and  per- 
forming their   normal  functions,    and  in   the 
same  degree  preventing  the  ripening  and  ma- 
turing   of  the  fruit.     We  recommended  the 
cutting  off  the  infested  ends  and  laterals,  and 
destroying  the   insects  in   their  ova  or  larva 
form.     To  what  extent  he  followed  our  sugges- 
tions we  are  not  informed,  but  in  no  subsequent 
season  were  his  vines  infested  as  they  were  on 
the  occasion  we  alluded  to,  and  this   has  also 
been  the  case  in  various  other  localities  in  the 
county. 

The  presence  of  this  minute  insect  {Phyl- 
loxera vastatrix,)  shows  itself  in  vast  numbers 
of  irregular,  raised  tubercles,  or  galls,  on  the 
undersides  of  the  leaves  of  the  dilierent  varie- 
ties of  the  grape,  and  it  is  especially  on  those 
whose  leaves  are  of  a  delicate  texture  ;  and 
hence,  on  whatever  variety  they  may  appear, 
they  will  always  be  on  the  tenderest  portion, 
often  out  to  the  very  ends,  where  the  leaves 
are  imperfectly  expanded.  These  galls  are  of 
various  sizes,  and,  of  cour.se,  in  various  stages 
of  advancement,  and  it  is  wonderful  how  they 
succeed  in  extending  their  domain  so  rapidly; 
for  we  have  noticed  them  on  the  young,  sc;irce- 
ly  half-expanded  leaves,  at  the  very  ends  of 
the  vines.  On  carefully  opening  these  galls 
at  the  projicr  .season  (during  .July  ;ind  August,) 
they  will  be  found  hollow  and  the  interior 
cavities  filled  with  yellowish  eggs,  or  young 
insects,  so  minute  that  their  forms  can  only  be 
recognized  by  the  aid  of  a  magnifier.  When 
the  young  are  ready  to  emerge  forth,  a  fissure 
occurs  in  the  tops  of  the  galls,  through  which 


they  effect  their  escape,  and  thus  spread  over 
the  vines. 

They  belong  to  the  great  Aphid,  or  Plant- 
louse  family,  and  their  food  is  the  sap  of  the 
vines,  and  when  such  countless  millions  occur 
as  are  sometimes  on  the  vines,  of  course  they 
must  greatly  enervate  theru,  if  they  do  not 
entirely  destroy  them. 

But  it  is  not  in  this  form  that  they  are  the 
nio.st  destructive,  or  have  been  so  devastating 
as  they  have  been  for  some  years  in  France 
and  other  European  localities,  especially  the 
former.  They  also  occur  on  the  roots  of  the 
vines,  especially  after  they  have  dropped'  their 
foliage,  and  in  this  form  tliey  are  the  most  de- 
structive, for  the  reason  that  they  are  not  so 
accessible  as  they  are  when  their  operations 
are  confined  to  the  leaves.  The  paragraph  we 
have  quoted  at  the  head  of  this  paper  is  no  ex- 
aggenition,  but  rather  falls  below  the  real  loss 
sustained  by  the  French  grape  growers,  than 
rises  above  it. 

The  root  Phylloxera  has  also  been  detected 
in  this  country,  especially  in  some  of  the  South- 
ern States,  and  no  doubt  where  our  vines  have 
suffered  from  uivisible  causes,  it  may  liave 
been  due  to  the  presence  of  the  root  form  of 
this  insect;  and  where  they  ar«  so  numerous 
as  we  have  seen  them  on  the  leaves  of  the  Clin- 
ton grape  in  this  county,  it  would,  ho  nothing 
strange  if  they  should  also  attack  the  roots  in 
time.  The  investigation  of  these  insects  is  at- 
tended with  many  difficidties,  on  accout  of  their 
minute  size,  and  their  very  peculiar  erratic 
economies;  and  notwithstanding  many  obser- 
vations have  been  made,  and  much  has  been 
written  on  the  subject,  their  history  is  by  no 
means  clear  to  the  ordinary  perception  of  those 
who  are  most  interested  in  its  development. 

A  liberal  reward,  amounting  to  some  mil- 
lions of  francs,  has  been  offeree!  by  the  French 
government  for  a  certain  remedy  to  destroy 
them,  which  has  not  yet  been  awarded,  if  it 
has  even  been  claimed  ;  and  the  Academy  of 
Sciences  has  appointed  a  coiumission  to  insti- 
tute the  proper  investigation;  but  we  believe 
nothing  that  can  be  universally  applied  has 
yet  been  developed.     Submerging  the  vine- 
yards has  been  deemed  the  most  effectual,  but 
this,  of  course,  cannot  be  applied  except  on 
low  flats  ;  therefore,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  high- 
land or  hillside  yards,  it  is  entirely  out  of  the 
question.     Perforating  the  ground   near  the 
vines,  and  introducing  an  insecticide  has  been 
found  beneficial  iu  such   localities,  but   even 
these  remedies  have  not  been  of  sufficient  effi- 
cacy  to  claim   the  rewards  that  have  been 
ofl^'red.    In  the  face  of  these  discouragements 
the    French    grape     culturists    are     looking 
towards  prevention,  and  consequently  are  be- 
ginning to  import  largely  from  America  our 
hardier  varieties  of  the  grape,  as  root  stocks  for 
new  vineyards,  and  are  digging  out  and  de- 
stroying their  own  finer  varieties,  as  it  is  these 
which  have  been  most  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  the  Phylloxera.     The  insect   seems  bound 
to  run  its  course,  and  perhaps  after  that  the 
afflicted  districts  may  enjoy  some  repose,  but 
more  millions  of  dollars  may  be  lost  before 
that  auspicious  period  arrives. 

The  history  of  the  procreation,  transforma- 
tions, habits  and  specific  development  of  the 
Phylloxera  vastatrix,  is  too  complicated  to  be 
made  clear  to  the  mass  of  the  people,  or  even 
to  the  generality  of  the  horticultural  public, 
mainly  from  the  exceeding  minuteness  of  the 
suljjects,  and  the  eccentric  order  of  their  trans- 
formations. From  the  weight  of  the  evidence, 
as  the  question  now  stands,  it  appears  to  have 
had  its  origin  in  America,  from  whence  it  was 
somehow  introduced  into  England,  and  from 
thence  to  France. 

Dr.  Fitch,  of  New  York,  described  grape- 
leaf  galls  formed  by  this  inisect,  under  a  differ- 
ent name,  years  before  it  became  destructive 
in  Eiu'ope,  or  perhaps  even  before  it  was  known 
there,  tmd  we  noticed  the  galls  in  Lancaster 
county,  even  before  Dr.  Fitch  described  them. 
During  the  existence  of  the  Old  Horticultural 
Society— about  1855 — an  infested  vine  was 
brought  to  the  meeting  for  the  month  of  July; 
but  oif  course,  it  was  an  enigma  that  we  could 
not  then  answer,  and  the  matter  passed  off. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


131 


Five  different  kinds  of  the  ej;gs,  and  of  dill'er- 
ent  sizes,  are  deposited  by  tlie  fiinales,  and  if 
the  depositor  is  so  small  as  to  elnde  hnnian  ob- 
servation, cxeept  by  artificial  means,  the  dilli- 
cuUies  of  reeoj^nizins  the  dijxisit,  is  a  matter 
that  is  not  very  suriuisinj;  under  the  circmn- 
stances. 

These  insects  deposit  their  eggs  on  tlie 
under  or  downy  sides  of  the  leaves  — occasion- 
ally a  few  of  them  are  deixisited  on  the  npjier 
sides — under  the  loose  bark  of  the  trunk  or 
branches,  |at  the  tiase  of  the  vines,  or  in 
crevices  in  the  earth  in  proximity  to  them; 
and  when  the  younf,'  are  halehecl  they  lind 
their  way  to  the  roots  and  feed  on  the  sap 
either  of  the  roots  or  tlu^  leaves,  as  the  case 
may  he.  ]5oth  wiuf^ed  and  unwinged  males 
and  females  occiu',  all  having  a  somewhat 
dilferent  history  and  haliit.  The  eugs  of  the 
leaf  form  of  the  insect  are  dcjiosited  in  May 
and  June,  antl  both  kinds  continue  to  deposit 
eggs  as  late  as  tlu',  end  of  October,  and  under 
one  peculiar  phase  of  their  development  some 
of  the  females  lay  a  single  egg,  nearly  as  large 
as  the  parent,  and  which  afterwartls  increases 
in  size.  In  view  of  this  system  of  oviposilion 
on  the  canes  of  the  grape,  it  is  ree<immended  to 
Strip  off  the  bark  and  burn  it,  and  to  apply 
coal  oil,  dilute  earbolii;  acid,  or  other  similar 
substance  to  the  canes.  Althimgh  there  seems 
to  be  some  conlliet  of  opinion  among  those 
who  have  been  giving  their  attention  to  the 
investigation  of  the  history  and  habits  of  this 
insect,  it  is  now  chiinied  that  the  snl)ject  is 
nearing  its  completion,  if  that  end  has  not  al- 
ready been  attiAned. 

But  satisfactory  as  the  case  may  be  to  those 
who  have  time,  patience,  ability  and  ojipor- 
tunity  to  demonstrate  to  the  few  who  may  have 
the  penetration  to  comprehend  the  process  and 
results  of  their  labors,  there  is  still  need  of  a 
plain  historical  detail  of  the  insect  and  its  va- 
rious transnuitations,  embracing  the  leading 
facts  of  what  is  actually  known,  with  all  the 
repetitions,  complications  and  doubtful  points 
eliminated;  so  as  to  make  the  subject  practi- 
cally useful  to  that  portion  of  the  conununity 
■who  are  engaged  in  viticulture,  whether  they 
are  amateurs  or  professionals.  Even  then,  it 
will  require  closer  habits  of  observation  than 
many  people  may  have  time  or  inclination  to 
bestow  upon  such  a  subject,  in  order  to  make 
an  application  of  the  remedies  that  exiierience 
may  prescribe,  however  effectual  they  may  be. 
Under  any  circumstances,  there  are  many  who 
Would  rather  discontinue  the  growing  of  grapes 
altogether,  and  devote  their  time  and  means 
to  a  less  precarious  crop,  than  to  subject  them- 
selves to  slow,  troublesome,  and  expensive 
remedies  or  i)reventions.  We  hope,  however, 
it  may  be  a  long  day  before  our  county  or  our 
country  is  visited  by  such  an  inlliction  as  has 
visited  France.  Missouri  and  t.'aliforuia  ought, 
however,  to  admonish  us  that  we  cannot  de- 
pend on  entire  exemption.  R. 


ELM-TREE   LEAF-BEETLE. 
Gtttmira  xanthtimtUi'na, 

On  the  5th  of  August,  lS7(i,  our  attention 
was  called  to  a  multitude  of  "  singular  worms" 
on  the  pavement  under  an  English  Elm-tree, 
near  the  southwest  corner  of  N<uth  Duke  and 
East  Orange  streets,  and  subsequently  to  the 
large  elm  in  front  of  St.  James'  Episcopal 
Church,  a,s  well  as  to  a  row  of  elms  in  front  of 
the  residence  of  Mr.  F.  Shroderin  East  Orange 
street;  and  a  few  days  afterwards  Mr.  Jno. 
Ilager  sent  us  about  a  gill  of  the  same  \i:iirins, 
from  his  residence  in  the  westeiu  suburbs  of 
Lancaster  city.  On  e.xanuuation  these  worms 
proved  to  be  the  larra:  of  the  coleopterous  in- 
sect above  named.  When  we  visited  these 
places  we  found  these  larvie  crawling  down  the 
trunks  of  the  trees  in  great  nund)ers,  and  col- 
lecting in  masses  arouiul  their  bases,  as  near 
as  they  could  get  to  the  moist  earth,  and  many 
of  them  had  already  changed  to  the  pupa  state. 
A  large  number  of  them,  however,  <rei)t  into 
the  crevices,  and  under  the  loose  bark,  and 
pupated  there,  whilst  others  crept  close  lotla^ 
bases  of  the  buildings  and  pujjated  there;  and 
possibly,  if  they  could  have  done  .so,  they  might 
have  crawled  a  little  distance  into  the  earth. 


We  could  have  swept  together  at  either  of  the 
places  above  named,  enough  to  liU  a  pint  meas- 
ure, and  still  they  were  coming  in  nuiltitudes. 

The  foliage  of  the  trees  above  was  perfectly 
riddled  in  millions  of  small  holes,  or  entirely 
skeletonized,  iireseuting  a  crisp  and  blighted 
apjiearauce.  In  a  preliminary  article,  pub- 
lislied  in  the  Daihj  Kjpiuss,  we  slated  that 
these  insects  weri^  a  foreign  importation  and 
that  they  lirst  made  their  atipearanc(^  on  the 
elm  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  Haltimore,  as  now 
appears  mon^  than  tlurty  years  ago,  and  wen- 
very  destructiv<'.  This  is  their  Ihsl  appear- 
ance in  Lancaster  county  "in  force."  .Mrs. 
1'.  M  (iibbons  found  several  specimens  on  an 
elm,  near  her  resilience,  aliont  two  years  ago, 
and  Mr.  Auxer  informs  us  that  he  foiuid  sev- 
ei'al,  last  year,  in  I'equea  valley.  From  this 
it  will  be  manifest  that  the  insect  is  increasing 
in  our  county.  Within  one  week  after  they 
had  pupated,  the  mature  beetles  Ijegan  to  ap- 
pear, and  continued  to  do  so  from  the  above 
date  to  the  end  of  the  month.  These  insects 
belong  to  a  large  family  of  hibernating  species, 
and  tliereforc'  if  they  weie  not  generally 
destroyed  when  they  came  down  from  the 
In'es—  as  we  reconuneuded — we  may  have  them 
in  increased  munbers  next  season.  Both  the 
^U/'iTt  and  the  inxiijn  of  many  of  the  (ialeru- 
cans  feed  on  the  foliage  of  trees,  and  when 
they  are  numerous  they  possess  great  defoli- 
ating powers. 

The  IIkmkuy. — When  these  insects  occur 
on  the  foliage  of  a  tree  that  it  is  desired  to  save, 
a  liipiid  iioison  (I'aris  green,  hellebore,  to- 
bacco, carbolic  acid  or  whale  oil  soap)  should 
be  thrown  on  it  from  the  nozzle  of  a  garden 
engine;  but  when  the  tree  is  large  this  would 
be  almost  impracticable.  The  larv;e,  when 
mature,  descend  from  the  tree  and  no  doubt 
undergo  their  transformation  either  in  the 
ground,  or  among  rubbish  or  grass  at  the  foot 
of  the  tree;  and  from  our  experience  the  pres- 
ent season,  this  occursduriug  nearly  the  whole 
month  of  August.  The  fact  that  they  assem- 
bled in  the  places  they  did  in  this  city,  may 
have  been  owing  to  the  circum.stauce  of  their 
being  unable  to  jienetrate  tlieground — the  trees 
being  paved  all  arouu<l  with  brick — and  some 
of  them  we  found  amassed  in  corners  and 
crevices  around  a  marble  door  step,  and  along 
the  base  of  a  wall,  ten  feel  from  the  trees. 
Under  such  circumstances  the  larva?  and  the 
pupa  may  be  easily  gathered  u])  and  scalded  or 
l)urued.  The  mature  insects  no  doubt  ascend 
the  trees  again  and  feed  on  the  leaves  until 
their  fall  late  in  the  season.  We  have  found 
an  allied  species  (Diahrotica  viltald)  feeding  on 
wild  plants  in  the  woods,  on  warm  days  in 
November,  and  these  might  exhibit  similar 
characteristics;  and  this  character  (lervades 
nearly  the  whole  great  family  to  which  they 
belong  (CllUVSOMELlD.-E. ) 

Dkscuii'tiox. — These  larviu  are  •;  of  an 
inch  in  length  ;  the  head  and  feet  black  ;  color 
glo.ssy  yellow,  two  swarthy  lateral  stripes,  and 
a  dorsal  yellow  stripe;  the  segments  are  di- 
vided transversely  aViove  by  a  distinct  suture, 
exhibiting  twice  as  many  segmental  divisions 
above  as  t litre  are  below  ;  each  segment,  al.)ove 
and  within  the  yellow  stripe,  h;is  four  dark 
tubercular  dots,  surmounted  at  the  apex  with 
a  few  short  diverging  hairs;  on  the  lateral 
dark  stripes  are  three  similar  dots,  triangidar- 
ly  arranged,  on  each  segment;  indeed,  the 
lateral  strii)es  are  formed  liy  the  color  of  the 
tuliercles  extending  down  a  little  l)eyond  their 
bases,  leaving  narrow  yellowish  interstices 
between ;  on  the  abdominal  segments  are 
marginal  rows  of  yellowish  tuliercles  armed 
with  hairs,  similar  "to  the  others,  on  a  minute, 
dark,  apical  tip  ;  on  the  under  side — which  is 
yellowish — there  are  four  dark  dots  on  each  ab- 
dominal segment,  and  a  dark  central  dash, 
latitudinally  arrang('d. 

The  pup*  are  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in 
length,  (when  stretched  out  straight  :[  inch,) 
lemon  yellow  in  color,  and  the  antenna',  feet 
and  wing  covers  folded  over  Ihe  sternum,  as  is 
usual  in  coleopterous  impa';  along  each  side  of 
the  abdomen  a  sort  of  frill,  more  or  less,  pro- 
jects outward  in  secliou.s,  thoseof  the  greatest 
depth  about  the  centre.     These  pupa'  are  en- 


tirely disengaged  from  any  other  object,  naked 
and  "unprotected. 

AVe  omit  a  descrijition  of  the  ijdoi/o,  because 
the  description  of  xnntltdmadDiti  given  below 
covers  them  as  nearly  as  any  thing  we  could 
give,  and  we  quote  tlie  deseriiilion  of  two  dif- 
feicnt  insects  in  <leference  to  the  opini<ui  of 
thost-  who  suppo.sed  this  insect  to  be  (Jakrttca 
rahnariensis. 

"(.'((/(  rurarnlmaricnsis,  I/in. — Oblong-ovate: 
above  testaceous:  deeply  ]iunctured;  crown, 
furrow  on  the  thorax,  scutelluni,  a  dash  on  the 
elytra,  breast  and  base  of  the  abdonv.'U  black; 
apex  of  the  abdomen  and  base  of  the  antennuj 
testaceous.  (L. '2—'2i  1.)  Aquatic  plants;  Lon- 
don district;  Weston;  Bristol;  Swansea." 

"  Oalerwu  Xdnllitniuvlend,  Schon. — Oblong- 
ovate,  llattish;  above  griseous-yellow,  thickly 
puncluied;  crown  with  a  triangular  black  siM>t, 
and  another  geminateil  one  at  lh(^  base  of  the 
anteinue;  thorax  with  three  black  .spots;  elytra 
with  a  long  black  dash  within  the  margin,  and 
a  short  streak  near  the  middle;  legs  dull  yellow, 
thight,  with  a  dusky  spot  wiUioiit,  tibia  witha 
black  streak,  hinder  pair  bent.  (L.  .'il.)  Elms; 
London  district."— From  Steiiheus'  Manual 
British  Colidptera,  containing  brief  descri|>- 
tions  of  all  the  si)ecies  of  beetles  hitherto  itscer- 
tained  to  inhabit  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 
London,  ls:j<.l. 

"  Galirwa  admariensis,  Lin. — •'  Elm  (iale- 
ruca.'  An  oblong  oval  beetle  O.2.")  long,  of  a 
grayish  yellow  color,  with  three  small  black 
.spots  on  the  thorax,  a  broad  black  striiH'  ou 
tile  outer  part  of  its  wing  covers,  and  a  small 
oblong  spot  near  their  base;  though  originally 
named  by  Linnu'us  from  ;i  small  .seajiort  town 
of  Sweden,  is  conunon  over  the  chief  part  of 
Europe,  feeding  upon  the  leaves  of  the  elm,  to 
which  it  is  sometimes  very  destructive.  It  lias 
been  introduced  from  llience  into  this  country, 
and  on  its  lirst  appearance  in  the  (rity  of  Balti- 
more some  twenty  years  ago,  it  and  its  larva;, 
which  are  thick  cylindrical  blackish  six-footed 
grubs,  wholly  denuded  the  elms  of  their  leaves, 
for  several  successive  sea.sou.s." — From  Fitch's 
5th  Report,  18511.     Ins.  N.  Y. 

What  Dr.  Harris  says  about  this  insect,  in 
his  otherwise  excellent  work,  is  not  of  the  le;i.st 
assistance  in  determining  its  species.  He 
merely  states  the  fact  of  an  in.sect  called  Gale- 
rura  cidmariensis,  which  in  its  larva  and  ma- 
ture states  depredatis  upon  the  leaves  of  the 
elm  trees,  but  aside  from  this  there  is  no  posi- 
tive evidence  that  he  had  ever  seen  a  specimen 
of  it. 

We  should  probably  have  ticketed  this  in- 
sect G.  c(dmari(nsis,  without  any  hesitation, 
from  Dr.  Fitch's  descriiition  alone,  had  we  not 
had  Stephens'  prior  description  al.so  before  us; 
in  which  he  conspicuously  omits  the  marginal 
dash  or  stripe,  and  states  that  that  s]>ecics 
feeds  on  aiiuatic  plants  instead  of  the  elm. 
But  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  repeat  all  the 
distinctions  between  adiiiurknsis  and  xuntlio- 
viirUna.  tor  the  foregoing  descriptions,  from 
Stephens'  work,  will  [ilainly  show  those  distinc- 
tions; and,  although  neither  of  them  may  en- 
tirely cover  the  insi'Ct  we  have  under  consid- 
eration, the  weight  of  their  testimony,  to  our 
apprehension,  is  in  favor  of  the  latter  named 
species,  and  any  one  who  chooses  to  do  so  can 
make  tlie  comparison  for  himself;  but  from 
these  descriptions,  we  cmild  easier  conclude 
that  the  pre.siiit  subject  is  a  sitecies  differing 
from  both  of  them,  rather  than  that  it  is  the 
former.  Therefore,  mitil  the  question  is  de- 
cided by  more  conqietent  authority,  we  feel  dis- 
posed to  ticket  our  insect  X(i(i(/io)ii(i /out.  Schon. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing  we  add  the  fol- 
lowing from  Dr.  John  L.  Lcconte,  to  whom  we 
had  submitted  specimens  for  his  examination  : 

"Deaii  Siu:  The  G(drriica  you  have,  so  in- 
jurious to  your  elms,  is  G.  xitntliomehtna. 
Gylleuhal,  iii  error,  deserilwd  it  ;us  calmariensis 
Fab.,  quite  a  different  siiecies. 

Very  sincerely  youre, 

J.  L.  Leconte. 

Philadelphia,  Stpt.  Uh,  187C." 

There  is  a  slight  orthograidiical  diflerence 
between  Dr.  l/cconte's  rendering  of  the  sl>ecific 
name  and  that  in  Stephens,  but  this  is  unim- 
portant in  the  history  of  the  insect. — Ed. 


132 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  September 


THE  LOCUST. 
The  term  •'  I^ocust"  is  a  common  name  ap- 
plied to  many  different  species  of  this  insect, 
and  tlierefore  to  designate  any  of  tlieni  as  the 
Locust,  must  necessai-ily  lie  very  indefinite.  It 
would  be  better  to  say  a  locust,  or  add  a  specific 
prefix,  as  the  "  Carolina  Ijocust"  {Lociiata  rnr- 
olina,)  The  "  Red-legged  Locust"  (C'aZo^rfmus 
femer-ruhrum,)  Tlie  "Yellow-winged  Locust" 
(I^ucusta  gul^mrca,)  The  Ainericnn  Lontitt 
(Acridiurii  aniericaintm,)  &c.,  &c.,  which  would 
convey  a  specific  idea  of  what  jiarlicular  species 
we  mean,  when  we  speak  or  write  about  these 
insects.  Although  all,  or  nearly  all  the  species 
in  the  United  States,  that  were  formerly  in- 
cluded in  the  genus  j^onista,  liave  l.ieen  refer- 
red toother  genera,  (the  two  mentioned  above 
being  now  referred  to  the  genus  (Edqmda) 
still,  as  a  common  name,  witli  tlie  qualilications 
we  have  mentioned,  they  may  properly  he 
called  I>0CUSTS.     The  illustration  accompany- 


ing this  paper  was  probalily  intended  to  repre- 
sent the  Locust  of  .Scrijiture — the  migratorial 
locust  of  Africa  and  Asia,  [Locuslainigratorid) 
and  whicli  has  lieen  so  destructive  to  the  vege- 
tation, where  it  aliounds.  In  tlie  absence  of' a 
local  figure,  we  introduce  it  liere,  in  order  to 
impress  upon  the  niiuds  of  our  readers  the  true 
form  of  a  LocuM;  for,  from  what  we  often  hear 
and  read  in  the  newspapers,  we  are  confident 
that  many,  otherwise  intelligent  people,  have 
their  minds  very  much  muddled  as  to  the 
form  and  haViits  "of  Locusts. 

We  well  remember,  somewhere  along  in  the 
years  1827,  18-28,  or  1829,  when  we  first  read 
"Capt.  IvIley's  Nai!i:.\tive  "  of  his  great 
sufferings  in  Africa;  the  liook  contained  an 
illustration  of  an  ''African  Locust,"  (similar 
to  the  above  Mgure,  only  larger.)  and  how  very 
much  astonished  we  were  to  lind  tliat  animal 
so  much  like  a  grasshopper.  We  found  great 
difficulty  in  realizing  it,  and  yet  our  mind  had 
not  been  pre-occupied  by  any  definite  idea  of 
ihcform  of  an  African  Locust.  Previous  to  that 
period,  and  judging  from  the  record  of  their 
destruction  in  the  land  of  the  Pharaohs,  in 
Egypt,  we  could  not  have  told  whether  a  locust 
was  the  size  of  a  flea  or  Fish-hawk.  We 
imagined  it,  however,  to  be  something  very 
horrible— a  sort  of  German  "PHiar-Wolf," 
that  gorged  itself  on  anything  that  came  in 
its  way,  animate  or  inanimate,  and  no  doubt, 
nmp,  about  nine  out  of  ten,  when  they  hear 
the  term  locust,  associate  it  with  an  insect  in 
the  form  of  a  huge  cJCftcTri,  or  English  "  Harvest 
Fly." 

We  have  a  large  species  of  locust  in  Lan- 
caster county  (Acridiwn  amrriranmn,)  tliat 
measures  fully  three  inches  in  length,  a  half 
inch  longer  tlian  the  figure  at  the  head  of 
thispa|ier,  a  few  of  which  are  seen  every  sum- 
mer, sometimes  m<u'e  and  sometimes  less,  but 
never,  so  far,  very  numerous;  and  whenever 
the  "Rocky  Mountain  Locust,"  {Caloiitintis 
S2)retiis,)  becomes  numerous  ami  destructive, 
and  iieople  liappen  to  find  one  of  our  large 
species,  they  become  alarmed,  and  think  it 
may  be  an  "advance  guard  "  from  the  west. 

If  this  species  should  ever  become  as  numer- 
ous as  the  Roeky  Mountain  species  in  the  West- 
ern States,  and  if  size  means  anything,  it  must 
necessarily  become  more  destructive  than  that 
species.  The  most  numerous,  and  therefore 
the  most  destructive  species  we  have  ever  had 
in  Lancaster  county  is  our  common  Red-legged 
Locust  (Cnloptimis  fcmrr-ruljrmn)  which  is 
about  the  size  and  shape  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 


Locust, and  onlyabouthalf  thesizeof  our  illus- 
tration. On  one  occasion  (in  the  summer  of 
18.'i9)  wc  have  seen  this  species  very  numerous 
and  very  destructive  in  the  county  of  Lancas- 
ter, and  ill  fact,  in  all  eastern  Pennsylvania. 
Corn,  grass,  and  green  herbage  in  general  was 
fairly  eaten  up  with  tliem,  but  tliey  came  too 
late  ill  the  season  (August  and  September)  to 
effect  the  total  destruction  so  cliaracteristic  of 
the  visitations  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Locust, 
or  the  African  Ijocust.  On  the  occasion  we  al- 
lude to  the  air  swarmed  with  them  as  far  up  and 
out  as  vision  extended,  and  their  expanded 
wings  glittered  in  the  sun  like  snowtlakes. 

The  best  time  to  destroy  these  insects  is  be- 
fore their  wings  are  developed  and  they  are 
able  to  fly.  Then,  if  ditches,  orholes  with  per- 
pendicular sides  are  dug,  the  insects  may  be 
driven  into  them  and  destroyed.  Prof.  Riley 
relates  a  case  that  occurred  at  "  Daniet's 
Ferry, "  on  the  Platte  River,  INIo. ,  where  twelve 
.  men  attacked  the  locusts  w^th  clubs, 
M^Kt,  when  they  attempted  to  cross  that 
/./> /  ^  stream,  and  destroyed  at  least  jive 
kunih-(tl  bushds  of  these  insects,  and 
thus  saved  about  one  hundred  acres 
of  as  line  wheat  as  was  ever  raised. 
In  another  instance  fifteen  barrels 
of  locusts  were  one  evening  shoveled 
up  and  hauled  from  the  base  of  the 
Court  House  at  Independence,  Mo., 
each  barrel  weighing  two  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds,  a  total  of  three 
tliimtid.iKl  thrte  hundred  pounds.  Two 
thousand  bushels  of  locusts  were  paid 
for  by  the  authorities  of  Blue-earth 
county,  Min.;  and  in  all  the  counties 
in  the  State,  where  the  locusts  occurred,  more 
than /?/'(//  tJionsand  huaheh  were  destroyed. 

To  show  the  voraci<:)us  character  of  these 
insects,  it  is  stated  that  they  ate  off  every- 
thing that  was  green  in  some  places,  including 
the  castor  oil  beans,  tobacco,  potato  tops  and 
the  milk  weed,  even  to  the  roots  an  inch  or 
more  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  ;  and 
when  these  failed  they  gnawed  off  the 
surface  of  old  fences  and  buildings,  as 
well  as  old  textile  fabrics,  and  finally, 
that  they  turned  iiiion  and  ate  their 
own  ppecies,  the  stronger  devouring  the 
weaker. 

We,  however,  do  not  think  that  our 
climate  is  favorable  to  the  propagation 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Locust,  even  if 
it  should,  in  its  migrations,  come  so  far 
eastward.  It  appears  that  it  only  leaves 
its  own  native  breeding  grounds,  high 
up  in  the  northwest,  after  it  has  (>aten 
up  all  the  vegetation  there,  and  has  at- 
tained wings;  and  it  appears  to  us  that 
on  that  line  it  ought  to  be  fought,  and 
Congress  ought  to  authorize  a  commission  for 
that  purpose,  assisted  by  men,  money  and 
means  to  effect  their  destruction  up  there.-ED. 


plantigrade,  with  five  toes  and  armed  with 
sharp  claws  ;  the  head  broad,  ending  in  a  nar- 
row muzzle  ;  the  ears  short  and  rounded  ;  the 
tail  moderate.  These  animals  are  all  of  simi- 
lar habits,  and  indeed  some  naturalists  regard 
them  as  only  varieties  of  the  same  species. 
The  first  writer  who  has  descrilied  this  animal 
was  Olaus  ^Magnus.  "Among  all  the  ani- 
mals," he  says,  "which  arc  regarded  as  iii- 
satiaiily  voracious,  tlie  glutton  in  the  northern 
parts  of  Sweden  has  received  an  express  appel- 
lation, being  called,  in  the  language  of  the 
country,  'Jerff,'  and  in  the  German,  '  Viel- 
frass,'  which  means  an  excessive  or  ravenous 
eater,  a  glutton,  or  a  gormandizer,  and  is  very 
characteristic." 

It  is  said  tliat  the  Glutton  is  indeed  a  vora- 
cious animal,  but  by  no  means  formidable  to 
man  or  the  larger  quadrupeds,  in  proportion 
to  its  size;  however,  its  strength  is  very  great. 
Slow  in  its  movements,  it  makes  up  by"  perse- 
verance and  industry  for  this  defect,  and  at  a 
steady  pace  pursues  its  pre}'  for  many  miles; 
hunts  out  weak  or  dying  animals,  and  destroys 
hares,  marmots,  young  foxes  and  birds,  which 
it  seizes  unawares.  Bullbn,  and  also  other 
more  recent  authors,  relying  on  the  autliority 
of  Magnus,  Isbrandt  and  others,  have  contri- 
bided  to  the  currency  of  the  statement  that 
the  Glutton  has  recourse  to  the  most  subtle 
artifices  in  order  to  surprise  its  victims,  and 
that  it  lurks  in  the  branches  of  trees  until  the 
reindeer  apiiroaehes  to  browse  beneath,  when 
it  throws  itself  upon  the  unsuspecting  animal 
with  unerring  rapidity,  fixes  its  strong  claws 
in  the  skin,  and  proceeds  to  tear  the  neck  and 
throat,  till  the  wretched  victim  falls  exhausted 
and  dies,  when  the  victor  devours  his  prey  at 
leisure.  And  this  is  not  all;  it  is  said  to  gather 
moss  or  lichens,  and  drop  tliem  down  from  the 
tree  wliereon  its  secreted  in  order  to  decoy  the 
deer  to  the  place,  and  bring  it  within  easy 
reach.  Although  Gnieleii,  in  his  account  of 
his  journey  through  Siberia,  says  that  "this 
address  of  the  Glutton  managing  to  seize  aui- 


ARCTIC    WOLVERINE,    OR    GLUTTON. 
Otili)  Arctieus. 

Some  of  the  early  authors  on  natural  his- 
tory referred  the  Glutton  to  the  genus  Ursus, 
or  Bears ;  it  belongs,  however,  to  the  Muste- 
l-iD^E,  or  'Weasels.  Linn;eus  rightly  regarded 
it  as  a  Miisli'li.  In  their  general  port  and 
figure  the  gluttons  are  intermediate  between 
the  Polecats  and  the  Badgers.  They  have  no 
decided  scent-pouch,  however,  but  instead 
thereof  a  glandular  fold  of  the  skin. 

Two.  perliajis  three,  varieties  or  species  of 
the  glutton  ar<^  known;  (Gulo  urctictit:,  G. 
rtdijaris,  and  (i.  Jiiscus,)  the  first  named  is  a 
native  of  the  liigh  northern  latitudes  of  the 
old  world,  esjiecially  Russia  ;  the  hist  named, 
of  the  cold  regions  of  North  America.  The 
common  Wolverine  (ridaiiris,)  belongs  to 
Northern  Eurojie,  but  this  is  iiroliably  only  a 
variety.  The  old  world  species  (areticus,)  is 
the  "Rossomak  "  of  the  Russians,  and  is  of  a 
deep  chcstnui  color,  passing  into  black  on  the 
limbs,  with  a  lirowu  disk  on  the  back.  The 
American  Wolverine  {lusciis,)  is  of  a  jialer 
color,  and  has  a  much  longer  and  more  liushy 
tail.  The  Glutton  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits"; 
the  limbs  are  strong  and  short ;  the  feet  sub- 


inals  liy  surprise,  is  confirmed  by  all  hunters," 
yet  Dr.  Godman  and  Dr.  Richardson,  in  their 
able  histories  of  the  American  Glutton  or 
Wolverine,  positively  affirm  tliat  no  such  arti- 
fice is  resorted  to  by  tliat  species,  to  entrap  or 
capture  its  prize  at  any  time. 

Authors  generally  agree  that  the  Glutton  is 
extremely  annoying  to  the  fur  hunter,  visiting 
their  traps,  and  devouring  the  animals  taken 
in  them.  In  Siberia  it  ritles  the  traps  of  the 
Sable  and  the  Corsac  Fox,  and  in  Northern 
America,  it  is  said,  it  will  follow  the  Marten- 
hunter's  path  around  a  line  of  traps  extending 
forty,  fifty  or  sixty  miles,  and  render  the  whole 
unserviceable  merely  to  secure  the  baits,  which 
are  generally  the  head  of  a  partridge  or  a  bit 
of  dried  venison.  They  are  not  fond  of  the 
Martens  themselves,  but  never  fail  tearing 
them  in  pieces,  or  of  burying  them  in  the  snow 
by  the  side  (3f  a  path  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  trap.  Snow  drifts  often  con- 
ceal the  reijositories  thus  made,  in  which  case 
they  furnish  a  savory  meal  to  hungry  foxes, 
whose  sagacious  nostrils  guide  them  unerringly 
to  the  savory  spot,  ami  two  or  three  fo.xes,  it 
is  said,  may  often  be  seen  following  the  Wol- 
verine for  this  special  purpose.  During  the 
summer  the  beaver  becomes  the  common  prey 
of  this  voracious  animal.  The  Glutton  is  cun- 
ning and  determined  ;  it  fights  very  resolutely, 
and  is  more  than  a  match  for  a  single  dog,  its 
strength  being  great.     Its  fur  is  in  much  re- 


1876.] 


THE   LANCASTER    FARMER. 


133 


(liu'sl,  L'spcciully  tluil  of  the  Sibei-iaii  aiiinial, 
wlikli  is  (lark  and  liuaiilil'iilly  glossy.  TIk'. 
len,i;tli  of  the  j;liittoii,  cxcUisivi^  of  its  tail,  is 
aliout  two  fi'c-t  six  iiii-li(:s  ;  thai  of  the  tail,  iii- 
c-liHliiiK  till'  loiii;  full  fur,  li'ii  inches.  The 
IVuialcs  brint;  fori h  once  .a  year,  the  lirood  of 
cubs  bf'iui;  four  in  nuuibi'r.  The  fur,  wln'U 
the  hair  is  reiuoveil,  is  soft,  downy,  and  of  ii 
pale  yellowish  color,  sonietiuies  passin,;;  into 
whitisli. 

AceonliiiLi:  to  Dr.  (iodnian.  our  .Vniei'ican 
Wolverine  ((juIo  htsni.s)  iuhaliits  the  northern 
parts  of  /Vnierica  i^eiierally,  i|uit(!  to  tlu;  Arctic 
•Sea,  and  it  is  prnbabli' thai  its  visits  extend  be- 
yond the  eoutiuenl  towards  the  I'ole,  :isa  skull 
was  found  on  .Midville  Island  liy  Cijit.  Parry, 
which  belonged  to  this  auilual.  [I  is  all  ili- 
liabitaiit  alike  of  the  woods  and  the  barren 
grounds,  and  is  capalile  of  euduriiiii  thi' sever- 
est cold.  Allhoui;h  the  mot  ions  of  this  animal 
are  neces-sarily  slow,  and  its  jj;ait  heavy,  yet 
the  acuteiiess  of  its  sijiht  and  powers  of  siuell- 
iiif;  are  ample  coinpeusations;  and  as  they  are 
.seldom  or  never  killed  without  beinj;  found 
very  fat,  there  istfooil  reason  fnr  lielievin.n  that 
they  never  suffer  much  from  hun.i;er.  It  is  sa  id 
th«t  its  fj;reat  streiijith,  and  itsshar[i  clawsaiul 
teelh,  enable  it  to  offer  a  vry  effectual  resist- 
ance even  to  the  bear.  Its  extraoriliiiaiy 
stren;;tli  and  its  fjreat  gust  tor  foo<l,  causes 
much  trouble  to  the  hunters  and  travelers  who 
attempt  to  secure  provisicuis  by  buryint;  them 
in  the  snow,  or  protect  them  by  cover- 
ings of  boughs  and  trunks  of  trees.  It 
is  almost  iniiiossible  to  iirevent  this 
creature  from  fiiuliug  access  to  such 
places  of  deposit,  either  by  strength  or 
stratagem,  and  destroying  the  stock  on 
which  the  voyager  depends  for  his  future 
subsistence  and  safety.  So  tierce  and 
dauntless  is  tlie  Wolverine  that  it  has 
been  seen  to  take  away  from  the  wolf  a 
carcass  of  a  deer,  and  when  engaged  in 
feeding  on  said  carcass  it  has  refu.sed  to 
move,  though,  warned  of  the  hnnter'sap- 
l)roach  and  has  suffered  itself  to  be  shot 
down  w'hile  thus  mainlaiuing  its  prize. 

The  regions  iuhabiled  by  this  animal 
are  abundantly  supplied  with  small 
(piadrupeds  and  birds  as  well  as  witll 
largiu'  animals,  so  that  without  any  very 
great  idTort,  it  is  quite  probalile  it  is  able 
to  in'ocure  a  plentiful  subsistence,  with- 
out exercising  the  ingenuity  that  has 
been  attributed  to  it  by  the  older,  and 
some  of  the  modern  writers.  When 
taken  captiv(^  anil  retained  in  conliiie- 
ment,  its  disiiosition  does  not  .seem  by 
any  means  as  unlaniiible  as  lias  been 
represented,  nor  is  its  voracity  especially 
remarkable. 

Situated  as  we  arc,  we  do  not  profess  to  be 
conversant  with  the  history  and  character  of 
the  Wolverine,  and  therefore  the  foregoing  is 
merely  a  compilation  from  the  works  of  God- 
man,  Arnold,  Wood,  Tcnney  and  Knight, 
and  we  are  willing  to  believe  that  their  histor- 
ical descriptions  are  more  relialile  than  their 
figures  of  the  auim.'ils.  We  have  six  illustra- 
tions of  the  animal  bi-foro  us,  and  there  arc  no 
two  of  them  that  bear  any  closer  resemldance 
to  each  other,  apparently,  than  a  dog  and  cat. 
Theoiie  wehaveselecti'irto  il  his!  ratet  his  article 
cle  seems  a  nearer  apprnai-h  to  the  fore  animal 
than  any  of  the  others,  according  to  the  de- 
scrijition  .given.  The  generic  latin  name  Oiilo, 
means  il  "glutton,"  and  the  siiecilic  name 
arrlicux  has  reference  to  its  liabilat.  The 
specific  name  of  the  American  species,  luscits, 
means  '"blinking." 

The  "  Wolverines"  belong  to  the  order  C'AU- 
Kivoi{.\,  family  MisTELiD.E,  tribe  Pl.\xti- 
fiK.\D.\,  liecause  in  walking  they  f)lace  the 
whole  sole  of  the  foot  on  the  ground,  which  en- 
ables them  to  stand  erect,  in  contradistinction 
to  the  l)i(;rriouAi)A,  which  walk  more  on  the 
ends  of  their  toes,  and  are  conseiinently  more 
active  than  the  former. 


THE  BARRED   OWL. 
iSfriJ'   Srhnti}rnt  > 

However  stupid  owls  may  seem,  and  with 
whatever  aviision  or  prejudice  they  may  hi; 
regarded — whatever  depredations  upon  ilo- 
niestic  jiosscssioiis  may  be  chargi'd  against 
them,  it  cannot  be  said  that  they  purloin  or 
destroy  our  grain,  our  v<'getablcs,  or  our  fruit. 
If  there  is  no  settled  prejudice  existing  agaiiust 
owls,  they  are  at  least  tli(?  subjects  of  almost 
uiiiver.sal  eontem|it,  and  to  many  timid  people 
they  are  an  absolute  "fright."  Mi>n  and  boys, 
in  general,  show  little  res|)ect  for  them,  and 
at  all  times  feet  themselves  at  perfect  liberty 
to  cast  a  missile  at  them,  or  shoot  them  down 
with  the  least  possible  compuncti<Mi.  And  yet, 
.so  far  as  injuring  anything  of  ackiiowledgeil 
usefulness  to  the  huinau  family  is  concerned, 
there  is  perhaps  no  member  of  tlii^  feathered 
tribes,  or  no  subj('ct  of  tlu!  animal  kingdom 
that  is  nion;  harmless  or  perHunis  a  mon^ 
wat('hful and  continuous  use  than  tlieowl.  As  I 
"  mousers  "  they  are  of  more  value  than  the 
best  of  cats  or  terriers,  and  find  their  prey,  at 
times  and  in  phu-es  where  their  more  favored 
rivals  scarcely  ever  venture  or  intruile. 

The  peculiar  character  of  the  pluinagi;  of 
owls  is  such  that  their  lliglit  becomes  light, 
smooth  and  noiseless  ;  so  much  so  that  not  the 
slightest  rustling  of  the  wings  can  be  heard. 
On  one  occasion  w'c  kept  one  in  our  sanctum 


A  SofTiiKKX  I)ee-keeper  claims  the  snn- 
llower  to  he  a  large  honey-producing  plant, 
and  recommends  the  pods  after  the  seeds  are 
taken  out  as  excellent  bee-feeilers. 


aliout  four  weeks  during  winter.  He  perched 
and  .slept  all  day,  but  at  night  he  fed  and  be- 
came, lively,  and  would  tly  about  the  room, 
fi\)m  the  top  of  a  bookcase  to  a  chair  ba('k, 
and  from  thenci'  to  a  (luart  bottle  containing 
alcoholic  specimens — perching  on  the  ('ork — 
and  although  he  often  came  withiu  a  foot  <if 
our  face  we  never  could  hear  him,  or  feel  the 
■lir  agitated  by  his  wings,  nor  <lid  he  ever 
overturn  any  object  he  ever  rested  upon. 

The  various  species  of  owls  feed  on  mice, 
moles,  siinirrels,  rabbits,  frogs,  snakes,  toads, 
fishes  and  insects,  and  many  other  ni.ght 
jirowlers ;  and  whatever  animal  they  may 
capture,  after  breaking  the  bnues  in  it,  they 
take  all  down,  "  horns,  hoofs,  hair,  skin  and 
toe  nails,"  and  aftiM'wards  they  di.sgorgc!  a 
"pellet"  composed  ot  hair,  feathers,  bones, 
wing-covers  of  beetles,  or  any  other  substances 
that  are  indigestible.  About  twenty  species 
of  owls  are  known  to  the  United  States,  and 
eight  or  nine  species  have  been  captured  in 
Lancasti'r  county  up  to  the  year  1K7I). 

The  "Harred  Owl,"  {Strix  nehtdosa*)  nu  il- 
lustration of  wdiich  is  tolerably  well  rejiresentcd 
in  the  figures  accoiu|)anying  this  sketch,  is  one 
of  our  larger  and  commoner  siiecie.s,  and  is 
more  frecpiently  met  with  in  the  fall  and  win- 
ter, than  any  other  of  the  family,  especially 
near  the  borders  of  creek.s  or  rivei-s,  or  near 


swamps  bordered  by  woodlands;  but  il  is  only 
a  winter  visitant  of  Lancaster  county.  There 
is  a  S|iecimeii  of  it  (No.  1:17)  in  the  Liniiican 
.Society's  colled  ion,  which  wa.s  shot  in  this 
county  .some years  ago  by  .ludge  (Jbhart.  This 
species  feeds  mainly  on  rabbits  ami  sipiiriels, 
and  it  is  also  charged  with  killing  poultry,  and 
hence  it  is,  perhaps,  more  diurnal  in  its  liabits 
than  any  other  species  except  the  "  I'rairie 
Owl."  Where  rabbits,  sipiirnls  and  poultry 
do  not  abound,  however,  this  bird  feedschielly 
on  mice,  moles,  frog.s,  lizards,  snakes,  and 
sometimes  even  on  fish.  It  is  by  no  means  a 
shy  bird,  but  will  often  at  night,  approach  very 
near  to  a  camp  lire,  ami  seemingly  .scrutinize 
all  that  is  going  on  without  manifesting  the 
least  alarm.  It  will  turn  its  thick  head  lowanLs 
you,  and  lix  on  you  its  large  eyes,  and  follow 
all  your  movements  as  if  it  wi're  cognizant  of 
all  you  are  doing.  It  builds  a  rugged  nest  in 
the  forking  branches  of  a  large  tree,  and  usu- 
ally lays  three  purely  white  eggs,  about  the 
size  of  a  hen's  egg,  but  more  globular,  and 
with  a  coarser,  rougher  shell.  If  occasion  re- 
iinire!*,  it  is  capable  of  a  jirotracted  llight,  as 
they  have  been  noticed  to  lly  two  miles  or  more 
on  oneslretch.  The  usual  li-ngth  of  the  female 
bird  is  about  twenty-two  inches,  and  that  of 
the  male  alioul  .seventeen  inches.  There  is 
al.so  often  a  remarkable  dill'erence  in  the  size  of 
the  same  se.x,  soim.'  females  being  twenty-eight 
.and  some  males  twenty  inches  in  h'ligth.  The 
young  are,  forsmiu'  time  after  birth,  covered 
with  a  fine  white  down,  which  gives  lliem 
([iiite  a  peculiar,  but  not  a  repulsive  or  un- 
interesting appearance.  These  birds  are 
s.'iid  to  make  the  day  .or  night  hideous  on 
theapiiroach  of  a  stnnn.  respi Hiding  to  each 
other  ill  such  unearthly  tones  that  one  can- 
not help  thinking  Sdiiiethiiig  very  extraor- 
dinary is  abciiil  to  take  place  among  them. 
In  the  South,  in  dark  cloudy  days,  Iheircry 
may  be  heard  from  every  patch  of  wood  near 
the  plantations,  inilicatiiig  an  approaching 
stoiiu;  and  of  course  they  liecomc  the  awful 
and  infallible  weather  iirognosticatore, 
among  the  superstitious  and  illiterate  Afri- 
cans. 

We  noticed  recently  a  great  mortality 
among  the  sheep  of  Xew  .South  Wales  by 
starvation— one  pastoral  district  losing 
^.  lilteen  thousand — and  that  .said  mortality 
was  caused  by  the  total  destruction  of  the 
jiastures  by  the  field  mice,  which  Were  mul- 
ii|ilyiii,g  and  swarining  over  large  portions 
ol'tiie  country.  The  authorities  were  taking 
counsel  with  reference  to  the  importation 
of  hawks,  inr'ts  and  other  birds  of  prey,  as 
the  only  feasible  means  of  destroying  the 
mice.  This  may  be  regarded  as  a  practieal 
recognition  of  the  ntilitj'  of  the  owl  as  a 
field  scavenger,  and  illustrates  its  position 
in  nature  in  maintaining  her  eipiilibrium.  A 
similar  event  occurred  many  years  ago  in  .Scot- 
land through  till'  ivdimdancy  of  rabbits,  in 
which  owls  performed  an  important  function. 
Although  it  might  be  ditlicult  to  subdue  the 
mice  when'  they  become  so  numerous  as  they 
are  said  to  be  in  Xew  .South  Wales,  yet  it  is 
(lucstionable  whether  such  an  inequidity  could 
ever  exist  where  the  birds  of  jirey  are  suffered 
to  multiply  without  molc>station.  This  is  a 
matter  to  be  considered  by  those  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  slaughtering  hawks  and  owls  on 
account  of  the  jeojiardy  they  place  their  poul- 
try in.  The  presence  of  these  birds  may  be  an 
evil,  hut  their  absence  might  be  worse. — Ed. 


•ItB  lateetr  soieutiflc  ^ppelatigii,  we  believe,  Is  Si/miiim 
ntbtUwntm, 


ABOUT  POTATOES. 

"What's  the  matter  with  the  potatoes?" 
This  is  a  tiuestion  now  generally  asked  by  the 
potato  consumers,  and  esjiccially  by  their  ]irn- 
deiit  housewives.  The  almost  universal  com- 
plaint is.  that  the  potatoes  now  brought  to  our 
markets  are  not  nearly  so  plenty,  so  large,  or 
of  so  exc(  llent  a  quality  as  those  obtained  early 
in  tbesea.son,  and  they  want  to  kninv  "what's 
the  matter,"  especially  since  there  has  been 
so  much  "blowing"  about  our  Centennial 
crops. 

We  will  essay  an  answer  to  the  verj'  rational 
query,  as  it  occurs  to  our  apprehension,  sup- 
ported by  the  testimony  of  tliose  who  ought 


134 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER 


[September, 


to  know  whereof  they  are  speaking.  In  the 
first  and  most  essential  place,  there  has  not 
been  as  many  potatoes  planted  this  season  in 
Lancaster  county  as  usual,  on  account  of  the 
"  beetle,"  but  more  particularly  on  account  of 
the  better  prospects  in  tobacco.  Last  year  the 
potatoes  were  low  in  price  and  plenty,  whilst 
tobacco  brought  a  good  price,  and  the  market 
was  firm.  Then  the  cultivators  reasoned  thus, 
"  We  will  'put  in  '  tobacco  and  buy  our  pota- 
toes." And  tln-ough  this  reasoning  we  will 
have  more  tobacco  and  fewer  potatoes. 

A  redundant  crop  of  tobacco,  however,  will 
never  compensate  a  depleted  crop  of  potatoes, 
unless  some  mode  is  discovered  by  which  the 
former  can  be  cooked  and  eaten  like  "greens," 
and  the  surplus  can  be  salted  down  like 
"kraut."     But,  enough  on  that  .score. 

Secondly,  the  reason  the  (lotatoes  are  not  so 
good  now  as  those  that  matured  early  in  the 
season,  is  because  they  were  planted  too  late, 
and  not  late  enough.  The  early  crop  made 
during  the  cool  moist  early  summer  weather, 
and  matured  about  the  time  the  intense  heat 
set  in,  whilst  the  later  crop  made  during  the 
intensely  "heated  term,"  iind  their  natural 
aliment  was  too  rapidly  evaporated  through  a 
protracted  dry  "spell,"  and  ?)!a(Jtrc(i  when  it 
was  too  late  to  regain  what  they  had  lost. 
Those  that  were  planted  very  late,  and  are  now 
VKiking,  and  that  will  mature  during  the  latter 
part  of  September  and  tlie  fore  part  of  Octo- 
ber— other  things  being  equal — will  be  of  a 
better  quality.  Tlie  common  potato  is  not 
adapted  to  long-continued  and  intensely  hot 
and  dry  weather.  Those  conditions  are  con- 
genial to  the  sweet-potato,  but  not  thesolania, 
and  hence  the  former',  at  this  time,  are  of  a 
good  quality  generally. 

We  have  only  to  compare  the  potato  crops 
of  New  York  State  and  Canada  with  those  of 
the  (Jarolinas  and  Georgia,  in  order  to  deter- 
mine the  meteorological  conditions  they  re- 
quire. Still,  occupying  a  middle  geographical 
locality  between  those  two  extremes,  we  may 
and  do  raise  good  potatoes  here,  when  all  the 
natural  conditions  are  favorable ;  but,  as  a 
general  thing,  we  should  plant  very  early  and 
very  late,  in  order  to  realize  a  reasonable  pros- 
pect of  a  good  croj),  and  particularly  a  good 
quality.  Potatoes  are  very  succulent,  and 
while  the  tubers  are  forming  they  should  not 
have  too  much  heat  nor  too  nmch  drought. 
They  need  considerable  moisture,  but  not  too 
much.  The  ground  being  kept  loose  by  culti- 
vation, is  in  just  that  condition  to  permit  a 
too  rapid  evajioration  of  the  earth's  moisture, 
when  a  long,  hot,  dry  spell  intervenes.  True, 
the  "  Coloiado  Potato-beetle,"  until  it  is 
finally  exterminated  in  our  county,  will  be 
something  of  a  drawback  to  the  cultivation  of 
potatoes,  but  that  does  not  account  for  the 
inferior  potatoes  brought  to  our  market  now. 
We  think  it  is  owing  almost  exclusively  to 
meteorological  causes. — Ed. 


ANSWERS  TO  CORRESPONDENTS. 

Mr.  S.  M. — Your  pea-green  caterpillar, 
with  gi'een  head,  a  white  and  a  light  brown 
stripe  along  each  side,  and  with  transverse 
rows  of  green  tufts  of  diverging  hairs,  on  each 
ring  or  segment  of  its  body,  is  ihelarva  of  the 
"Peacock-Moth,"  (Saturnia  lo,)  which  will 
spin  a  coccoon  at  the  end  r)f  summer  and  re- 
main in  it  until  next  .spring,  and  then  come 
forth  a  large  and  beautiful  moth,  the  female 
expanding  nearly  three  inches  across  the  ex- 
tended wings,  and  the  male  somewhat  less. 
Both  sexes  have  a  large  spot  on  the  hind 
wings,  similar  to  one  of  the  spots  on  the  pea- 
cock's tail-feathers.  The  male  is  of  a  mottled 
yellow  color,  and  the  female  a  mottled  brown. 

The  larva?-  feed  on  the  foliage  of  difierent 
kinds  of  trees,  such,  tor  instance,  as  the  wil- 
low, elm,  poplar,  and  otiiers.  Tlie  hairs  on 
the  larva  when  it  comes  in  contact  with  the 
tender  skin  of  the  human  body  produces  a 
stinging  or  burning  sensation,  similar  to  that 
produced  by  nettles. 

S.  P.  E.,  Esq..  Lancaster,  Pa. — The  insect 
that  is  in  the  habit  of  girdling  the  hickory  trees, 
is  commonly  called  the   "  Hickory  Girdler;" 


(Oncidcres  cingulatus)  and  we  have  reason  to 
suspect  that  the  same  species  is  girdling  your 
English  Linden  Trees.  First,  your  inclosure 
is  in  proximity  to  a  piece  of  woodland  contain- 
ing a  large  number  of  hickory  trees.  Many  of  the 
smaller  branches  we  found  girdled,  in  a  ramble 
we  took  over  a  part  of  it  on  the  iOth  of  August 
last,  and  especially  along  the  margin  of  said 
woodland.  We  think  it  was  perhaps  not  ex- 
actly in  season  to  find  the  Beetle  very  plentiful, 
as  we  only  captured  one  specimen,  and  that 
one  we  found  on  tlie  flowers  of  a  species  of 
Solidago.  Secondly,  so  far  as  we  know,  there 
is  but  one  species  of  Oncideres  in  the  United 
States,  and  we  cannot  say  positively  that  that 
species  confines  itself  to  one  particular  tree, 
although  the  hickory  may  be  its  specialty;  but 
we  have  heard  of  them  girdling  the  smaller 
brandies  of  the  apple  on  several  occasion,  both 
in  the  east  and  the  west. 

Mr.  Samuel  Auxer,  of  this  city,  and  the  late 
Henry  G.  Bruckart,  of  Silver  Spring,  collected 
eighty-two  specimens  in  one  day  along  those 
hills,  about  two  years  ago,  and  although  they 
were  of  many  sizes,  yet  they  were  all  of  the 
same  species,  (ciwjlatus. )  They  are  long-horned 
beetles  (Longicomia)  and  the  family  Saper- 
didyE,  which  also  has  a  family  alliance  with 
the  ajiple  tree  borers,  and  others  of  the  same 
forms  and  similar  habits.  These  considerations, 
therefore,  lead  us  to  conclude  that  the  Hickory 
Girdler,  and  the  Linden  Girdler,  are  the  .same 
siiecies,  or  are  likely  to  be  found  so.  The  ma- 
ture insects  vary  in  size  from  half  an  inch  to 
nearly  an  inch  in  length,  and  of  "grizzly-grey, " 
relieved  by  liro  wn,  in  color.  It  is  not  only  possi- 
ble, but  it  is  highly  probable,  that  this  pruning 
is  ultimately  beneficial  to  the  trees  they  infest; 
but,  if  a  remedy  should  be  necessary,  we  can 
recommend  nothing  better  at  this  time  than 
gathering  up  the  fallen  branches  and  burning 
them,  and  for  the  same  purpose,  cutting  off 
all  infested  ones. 

J.  M.  TF.,  Lancaster,  Pa. — The  very  singu- 
lar footless  cateqiillar  you  sent  us,  with  the 
fleshy  and  bristled  horns  at  each  end  of  the 
body,  with  the  green  sides,  and  brown  saddle- 
like mark  on  its  back,  is  called  a  "  Hag-moth," 
or  "Saddle-back  moth,"  {Empretia  sthmda,) 
and  belongs  to  a  Lcpidopterous  family,  called 
Lamicodans.  It  has  now  spun  itself  up 
into  a  brownish  silken  cocoon,  about  the  size 
of  a  marrow-fat  pea,  and  if  the  surrounding 
conditions  continue  favorable  until  next  spring, 
it  will  issue  forth  a  small,  rather  robust  moth, 
exiianding  from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  an 
inch.  There  are  several  species  of  them,  some 
of  tliem  covered  with  a  shaggy  coat  of  fur,  and 
of  a  singular  liag-likc  form.  They  seem  to  be 
omniverous  feeders,  and  may  be  found  on  ap- 
ple, pear,  quince,  cherry,  and  plum  trees  ;  and 
we  have  also  found  them  on  the  blades  of  corn 
and  various  other  vegetable  productions,  feed- 
ing on  the  leaves.  The  hairs  produce  a  very 
pungent  and  burning  sensation  when  applied 
to  the  tender  .skin,  something  like  nettles. 

A   Rare  Bug. 

QuAKRYviLLE,  August  22,  1876. 

<S'.  /S'.  liathvon — /■?})• ;  I  send  you  a  bug  tliat  I  caught 
to-day.  I'Icase  give  it  a  name,  for  I  am  not  ac- 
quainted with  it.  If  you  have  plenty  of  tlie  same 
kind  you  can  do  as  you  please  with  it  I  thought  it 
was  a  "  big  bug  "  at  any  rate,  and  you  ought  to  have 
it.  Yours  truly, 

R.  C.  Edwards. 

P.  S.  Please  give  it  a  name  in  the  Jntellii/encer. 

In  reply,  it  afTorfis  ine  the  greatest  pleasure  to  com- 
ply witli  the  request  of  the  writerof  the  above,  for  he 
has  sent  me  a  most  beautiful  and  a  rather  rare  insect, 
in  Lancaster  county;  indeed,  in  an  experience  of 
thirty  years,  I  have  not  found  half  a  dozen  specimens 
in  the  county,  or  its  vicinity ;  and  I  particularly  de- 
sire my  correspondent  to  send  me  all  of  this  species 
that  he  may  be  able  to  collect. 

It  is  a  Cychrvs  vichms  and  belongs  to  the  great 
family  Carabidre. — the  larger  number  of  which  are 
carnivorous — in  the  order  Coleoptera,  or  beetles,  and 
not  "  bugs."  If  they  were  even  numerous  they  would 
have  an  economic  value  that  ought  to  be  respected, 
for  they  feed  on  otlier  insects.  Tliis  insect  is  too  un- 
common to  have  ever  received  a  local  common  name 
— other  than  "ground  beetle  " — a  name  that  might 
be  applied  to  a  multitude  of  different  species;  there- 
fore, it  would  be  better  to  impress  upon  the  memory, 
in  connection  with  the  object,  the  scientitic  name  at 
once. — A'.  iS'.  H.,  Lancaster  Intelligencer ,  Aug.  2S,  1870. 


Since  publishing  the  above,  we  have  insti- 
tuted a  thorough  examination  of  our  cabinet 
and  records,  and  find  that  all  our  specimens  of 
this  species  have  been  t;iken  in  loctilities  farther 
south  than  Pennsylvania,  and  that  this  is  prob- 
ably the  first  specimen  of  Ci/chrus  viduns  that 
ever  has  been  taken  in  Lancaster  county;  and 
therefore,  that  it  is  entirely  new  to  this  dis- 
trict. Mr.  Samuel  Auxer,  the  most  tliorough 
and  keen-sighted  entomological  canvasser  in  the 
county,  or  perhaps  the  State,  assures  us  that 
in  an  experience  of  over  twenty  years,  he  has 
never  fmind  a  specimen  in  Lancaster  coimty. 
The  late  Mr.  Bruckart,  of  Silver  Spring,  had 
one  specimen  in  his  collection,  but  it  cannot  be 
iiscertained  now  from  whence  it  came.  This 
very  much  enhances  the  value  of  the  specimen 
we  received  from  ourQuarryville  correspondent 
and  increases  our  thanks.  When  we  received 
this  specimen  it  was  yet  alive,  and  emitted  a 
vei'y  strong  musky  odor.  Tliis  specimen  is 
much  larger  than  any  now  in  our  local  collec- 
tions, and  on  an  analytical  comparison  may 
possibly  prove  a  new  species.  Under  any  cir- 
cumstances, we  admonish  our  kind  correspond- 
ent to  keep  a  "  look  out"  in  the  locality  where 
this  one  was  taken;  perhaps  others  may  be 
found. 

Mr.  Editor:  The  inclosed  insect  pierces  the  stems 
of  the  tobacco  plants,  and  lays  its  eggs  in  the  incis- 
ion, which  causes  the  plants  to  wither  and  die. — H. 
M.  A'.,  per  li.  S.  M.,  ^ycst  Hempfield,  Sept.  4,   1876. 

Please  identify  and  report  in  the  columns  of  the 
Lancasteu  Faumek. 

We  are  sorry  tiiat  we  are  compelled  to  en- 
tertain grave  doubts  as  to  the  identity  of  this 
as  the  insect  which  pierces  the  stems  of  the 
tobacco  plants  of  our  friends,  and  lays  its  eggs 
in  the  incision.  The  insect  sent  us  is  the  well- 
known  "  Wheel-bug"  (Rcduvius  novenarius), 
which  is  carnivorous  in  its  habits,  and,  so  far 
as  our  observittion  goes,  deposits  its  eggs  on  a 
lilain  permanent  surface,  where  they  would  be 
likely  to  remain  all  winter  witliout  disturbance, 
and  hatch  in  the  spring.  These  are  always  set 
side  by  side  on  their  ends,  like  a  miniature 
honeycomb,  with  pinkish  crowns  and  glued  per- 
manently together  and  on  the  object  that  re- 
ceives them,  whether  it  is  a  tree,  a  shrub,  a 
fence,  or  a  brick  wall.  The  insect  itself  seizes 
other  insects  with  its  strong  anterior  feet, 
pierces  them,  sucks  out  their  liquid  sulwtance, 
and  is  said  to  thus  destroy  the  larva  of  the 
"Colorado  Potato-beetle."  Gentlemen,  we 
beg  you  to  look  again,  and  "  be  sure  you  are 
right,"  before  we  withdraw  our  good  oiiinion 
from  an  insect  that  we  have  long  so  favorably 
known. — Ed. 

Mr.  Editor :  I  send  you  9  green  worm,  caterpillar, 
or  whatever  you  may  call  it.  I  found  it  in  my 
orchard,  on  the  grass  near  an  apple  tree,  on  the  18th 
inst.  I  also  had  found  three  of  the  same  kind  fifteen 
days  ago,  on  a  sweet  cherry  tree,  with  a  top  about 
large  enough  for  a  good-sized  fly-bush,  which  had 
completely  been  stripped  of  its  foliage  by  them .  Those 
I  summarily  mashed,  which  I  thought  an  effective 
cure.  This  one  I  send  you  for  examination,  in  order 
to  elicit  something  about  its  habits,  and  also  what  to 
do  with  such  subjects. 

Please  answer  through  the  columns  of  The  Lan- 
caster Farmer,  as  it  inierht  be  of  interest  to  others 
than — A  HnhKcriber ,  "  Delight  Fnrni,^'  Providence 
towiifihip,  Lancaxler  county,  Aug.  19(/i,  1876. 

The  box  containing  the  caterpillar,  alluded 
to  by  our  correspondent,  was  duly  received, 
but  it  will  be  impossible  to  tell  exactly  what  its 
name  is  imtil  next  spring  :  for  having  spun  a 
silken  cocoon,  the  insides  of  the  box  are 
tied  so  firmly  together  that  it  cannot  be 
opened  without  destroying  it,  and  to  do  so 
would  be  like  killing  the  goose  to  get  the 
golden  egg. 

Judging,  however,  from  the  circumstances 
under  wliicli  it  was  found,  and  from  what  little 
we  could  sec  of  the  color  and  texture  of  its  .silk, 
it  is  the  "American  Silkworm,"  "Cecropia 
Silkwoi-m,"  or  "Cecropia  Moth,"  [AttacHS 
cecropia,)  and  it  has  also  other  both  common 
and  scientific  names,  not  necessary  to  be  men- 
tioned here.  If  there  is  any  purely  American 
insect  from  which  silk  miglit  be  successfully 
produced,  we  think  it  would  be  this  species  ; 
therefore,  if  our  correspondent  ever  desires  to 
go  into  that  business,  he  can  let  tliese  cater- 
pillars have  the  run  of  his  orchard,  for  they 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


135 


will  feed  on  apple,  p(';ir,  qniiioe,  clicny,  and 
other  kinds  of  foliage;  lint  if  not,  the  best 
tliinR  he  can  do  is  to  "  mash  "  tliem,  for  if 
tluee  ean  strip  the  foliasie  off  a  small  eherry 
tree,  he  can  form  some  idea  what  a  thonsaiid 
can  do.  Tlie  moth  is  very  larijeand  very  pretty, 
e.siieeially  the  male.s,  some  of  whieli  incasnre 
nearly  six  inches  across  the  expaiuhil  win;;s. 
The  ground  color  is  dusky  hrown,  varrualed 
with  waved  lines  of  white,  dull  red,  and  dark 
lirown  ;  tlie  nnlcniur  are  feathered,  and  there 
are  four  crescent-shaped  spotson  the  front  and 
hind  winj;s.  Tlie  body  is  alionl  two  inches  in 
leni;th,  and  ha.s  cross  lines  of  nd,  hrown  and 
white. 

The  Reneric  name,  Attiinis,  means  elegant, 
and  the  specific  name  recmjiin,  is  sujiposed  to 
have  heeii  derived  from  Cecroiis,  the  founder 
and  head  of  the  Athenians,  the  most  polislied 
and  refined  peoide  of  antiquity.  They  usually 
come  down  from  the  trees  and  spin  their 
lari;e  sjiindle-sliaped  hrown  cocoons  on  shrnh- 
herv  o|-  the  dry  stems  of  jilants,  where  they 
remain  all  winter,  and  the  inotli  appears  in 
April  or  May,  aceordiiiK  to  the  temperature  of 
the  weatlier.  Last  spriiv^  one  evolvcil  for  us 
in  tlie  liouse,  in  Marcli,  in  tlie  sam(>  room 
where  it  had  heen  all  winter.  We  have  never 
known  them  to  lie  very 
numerous  or  destructive. -^ 


the  chitinous  coverinfjand  the  corneous  parts, 
es]iec)ally  the  spines  on  the  tiliia.  dry  and 
chippy,  and  somewhat  irritatini;  to  the  lliroat. 
This  olijeetion  would  not  apply  witli  the  same 
force  to  the  mature  indiviiliials,  especially  of 
lai'tjer  species,  where  the  heails,  lc>;sand  winjjs 
are  carefully  seiiarated  before  cooking',-  and, 
in  fact,  some  of  tlie  inalure  iiiscels  |irepai'ed 
in  this  way,  then  boiled  and  aflerwardsstewed 
with  a  few  vej;etal)les  and  a  'itlle  butler,  pep- 
per, .salt  and  vinegar,  made  an  excellent 
frimifce. 


BLACK   HAMBURGS. 

Mlaek  Ilambur^s  are  di'servedly  at  the  head 
of  this  valuable  class  of  fowls.  They  are  laiijer, 
are  fuller  and  more  iilump  in  body,  and  lay 
larfjpr  Cirgs  than  theotlier  varieties.  Tiny  are 
very  prolilic  and  may  be  termed  "  everlasliiif; 
layers. "  They  should  be  (ine  and  syinuietrical 
in  sliajie  and  conlbrin  with  other  llamburKS — 
not  tall  and  thin  like  the  Hlack  Spanish.  In 
color  they  should  be  a  deeji,  jilossy  black,  en- 
riched lliroiii;li<iiit  with  a  beautiful  respleii<lenf 
green  gloss;  when  the  sun  shines  n|ion  their 
plumafje  it  is  very  res))lendent  with  an  in- 
tensity and  glow  uneipialeil  by  any  other  black 
fowls.     Their   legs   are  of   a  slaty  blue  color. 


LOCUSTS  AS    FOOD. 

In  the  annual  report  o' 
the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture and  Arts  for  On- 
tario, recently  to  hand,  we 
find  the  following  remarks 
by  Prof.  Riley:  -'AVhen- 
ever  the  occasion  present- 
ed, I  partook  of  locusts  pre- 
pared in  different  ways; 
and  one  day  I  ate  of  no 
other  kind  of  food,  and 
must  have  consumed,  in 
one  form  and  another,  the 
substance  of  several  thous- 
and half-grown  locusts, 
("ommencing  the  experi- 
ments with  some  misgiv- 
ings, and  fully  expecting 
to  have  to  overcome  dis- 
agreeable flavor,  I  was 
rather  agreeably  surprised 
to  tind  that  the  insects  were 
quite  palatable,  in  what- 
ever way  prepared.  The 
flavor  of  the  raw  locust  is 
most  strong  and  disagreea- 
ble; but  that  of  the  cooked 
insects  is  agreeable,  and 
sufficiently  mild  to  be 
easily  neutralized  by  any- 
thing with  which  they  are 
mixed,  and  to  admit  of  easy  disguise,  ac- 
cording to  taste  or  fancy.  T?ut  the  great  point 
I  would  make  in  their  favor  is,  that  they  need 
no  elaborate  ]ireparation  or  seasoning.  They 
require  nodisgui.se,  and  herein  lies  their  value 
in  excejitiona!  emergencies  ;  for  when  people 
are  driven  to  the  point  of  starvation  by  these 
ravenous  jiests,  it  follows  that  all  other  food 
is  very  scarce  or  nnattainaVile.  A  broth  made 
by  boiling  the  untledged  ('(tlopletii  for  two 
hours,  in  the  jirojier  quantity  of  water,  and 
seasoned  with  nothing  in  the  world  but  liepjier 
and  salt,  is  ipiite  jialatahle,  and  can  scarcely 
he  distinguished  from  beef  broth,  though  it 
has  a  slight  flavor  peculiar  to  it  and  not  easily 
described.  The  addition  of  a  little  butter  im- 
proves it,  and  the  flavor  can,  of  course,  be 
modified  with  mint,  sage  and  other  spices, 
rid  libitum.  Fried  or  roasted  in  nothing  but 
their  own  oil,  with  the  addition  of  a  little  salt, 
they  are  by  no  means  unpleasant  eating,  and 
have  (piite  a  nutty  flavor.  In  fact  it  is  a  flavor, 
like  most  peculiar  and  impleasant  flavors,  that 
one  can  soon  learn  to  get  fond  of.  Prepared 
in  this  manner,  ground  and  compre.s.sed,  they 
would  doubtless  keep  for  a  long  time.  Yet 
their  consumption  in  large  quantities  in  this 
form  would  not,  I  think,  prove  as  wholesome 
as  when  made  into  soup  or  broth  ;  for  I  found 


t'AOW.^*^.^,^,.:. 


The  ear  lohe  is  a  very  attractive  feature  of  the 
Black  Ilaraburgs.  It  should  be  oval  and  imre, 
spotless  white  throughout,  standing  forth  in 
bold  relief  with  the  surrounding  black  jilum- 
age  and  red  wattles.  The  coiiih. should  be  rose, 
evenly  serrated,  and  coming  to  a  point  at  the 
end.  This  iioint  should  turn  nicely  iipwanls 
and  not  point  down,  as  is  often  the  ea.se.  The 
comb  must  also  (it  lirinly  on  the  head  and  not 
lop  to  either  side.  Tlie  Black  Ilumburgs  are 
not  nearly  so  common  as  the  Penciled  and 
Sjiangled  varieties,  and  good  specimens  are 
exceedingly  rare.  Many  liirds  at  our  exhibi- 
tions show  too  plainly,  in  their  form  and  style, 
a  very  decided  cross  or  admixture  with  Black 
.Spanish  blood.  To  the  Hev.  W.  Sergeantson 
is  probably  due  the  credit  of  the  present  per- 
fection of' the  highest  class  of  this  breed.  I.. 
Wright,  in  his  illustrated  hook  of  poultry, 
sjieaks  of  his  birds  as  the  "  most  successful  in 
tlie  .show  lien,"  and  gives  an  illustration  of  his 
premium  fowls.  Our  Black  Hamburgs,  de- 
jiicted  in  the  a<^eompanying  beautiful  engrav- 
ing, drawn  expressly  for  our  new  catalogue, 
were,  with  other  hens,  brought  over  by  Mr. 
Spence,  of  .Scotland,  who  selected  them  in  per- 
son from  Rev.  Mr.  Sergeantson's  yards. 

In  breeding  Black  Hamburgs,  as  with  other 
non-sitting  varieties,  it  will  be  necessary   to 


keep  a  few  mongrel  hens  that  have  proved 
good  mothers,  to  hatch  and  rear  the  young 
chicks.—  W.  Altec  Uurpcc,  PlUla.,  Sept.,  IHTU. 


INSECT   VITALITY. 

A  common  fly,  that  had  lain  drowned  for 
two  days  in  a  cup  of  lager  beer,  at  Ilolyoke, 
recently,  and  was  swclhd  to  huge  jiroportions 
by  th('  liquid,  was  by  experimenf  of  some  idlere 
on  a  wager,  restored  to  activity  by  an  hour's 
coaxing  with  the  Iwat  of  a  cigar  held  over  the 
fly  ineviousiy  covered  witli  the  cigar's  ashes. 

.Vs  soon  as  i pie  lind  this  out  they    will  sing 

"  I  woiilii  I  were  a  fly"  louder  than  ever. 

AVhether  the  aliove  is  truth  or  not,  the 
tenacity  of  some  insects  is  very  remarkable, 
and  we  have  seen  exhibitions  of  it  fully  as  won- 
derful as  tlie  ahovi'.  It  is  on  record  that  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Kirhy.  a  distinguished  miuisler  of 
the  English  established  church,  had  his  atten- 
tion lirst  called  to  till-  .study  of  enbunology, 
from  witnessing  something  akin  to  the  above. 
He  hail  immersed  the  "Twenty-spotted  Lady- 
bird" in  alcohol  for  sixteen  hours,  after  wliieli 
he  ]iut  it  on  a  window  sill,  in  the  warm  sun, 
when  it  revived  and  flew  away,  to  his  astonish- 
ment and  disaiipointment.  We  have  seen 
nearly  all  (he  flies  taki'ii 
■'-'.._  in      a      "Tumbler-trap," 

"  after   being   immersed    in 

water  for  half  a  day,    re- 
=^_,  vive    again,  after    having 

heen  tlirown  out  in  the 
sun,  within  an  hour  after 
exposure  to  its  rays.  We 
have'  seen  a  )>air  of 
"Horned  Toads"  from 
Texas  survive  for  five 
months  without  eating 
anvthing  whatever. 


FEED    FOR    YOUNG 
FOWLS. 

VCv  presume  there  are 
few  farmers'  wives  that  do 
not  raise  a  flock  of  chicks 
every  year  without  dilli- 
culty;  but  we  have  heard 
many  complain  that  they 
h;ul  trieil  turkey  raising 
until  they  gave  it  niiin  dis- 
gust. 

As  T  li.ave  been  remark- 
ably successful  with  this 
most  most  tender  of  all 
fowls,  I  will  give  my  idan 
of  feeding,  which  is,  sim- 
ply, fcrd  nnlhivi  rmi\  I 
prefer  feeding  corn  bread 
made  of  unsifted  meal  and 
cold  water.  Make  the 
dough  stiff,  and  bake  it  in 
a  slow  oven  until  done— no  more.  If  baked 
too  long  the  crust  will  iH'hard.  and  if  the  meal 
is  sifted  the  liread  will  be  stickv.  Knoni.'h  can 
be  baked  at  once  to  last  several  days,  and  is 
more  convenient  than  mixing  raw  meal  every 
feed.  I  think  it  well  to  feed  all  young  fowls 
in  this  manni'i'.  but  always  found  it  dhmlutfh/ 
vms.tin-ii  to  hake  bread  for  turkeys  and  com- 
mon ducks.  The  Aylesbery  are  more  hardy, 
hut  I  follow  mv  old  jilan  and  hake  break  for 
them  also.  I  liave  fifty-seven  at  this  writing 
that  are  growing  nicely. 

Lice  are  often  the  cause  of  death  in  young 
fowls,  and  must  be  got  rid  of  before  they  will 
thrive  well.  I  prefer  using  an  ointment  made 
bv  stewing  tobacco  in  lard,  to  sulphur,  or  any- 
thing else  I  have  evertried.  .\noint  thebrpa.st 
and  under  part  of  the  wintrs  of  the  mother, 
and  head  and  under  part  of  the  yoinvj.  and  the 
vermin  will  give  voii  no  further  trouble. 

If   these   sim|ile  directions  ar<'  followed,  to- 
sether    with    housing    until  (he  sun  is  up  and 
the  dew  is  nearly  gone  in  the  moruinir,  and  on 
stormy  days,  von  will  never  fail  to  liaveaniceu, 
roast  for  Christmas.— 2'rairtc  Farmer. 


The  Ty.\vc.\STKR  Fahmkr  is  recognized  a.s 
one  of  the  best  edited  papers  in   the  country. 


136 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  September, 


BOILING  EGGS. 

Tliere  is  an  ol)jection  to  tlie  common  way  of 
boiling  eggs  which  people  do  not  nnderstand. 
It  is  this  :  Tlie  white  under  tliree  minutes' 
rapid  cooking  becomes  tough  and  indigestible, 
while  the  yolk  is  yet  soft.  When  properly 
cooked,  eggs  are  done  evenly  through  like  any 
other  food.  This  result  may  lie  obtained  liy 
putting  the  eggs  into  a  dish  with  a  cover,  as  a 
tin  pail,  and  then  pouring  upon  them  boiling 
water,  two  (juarts  or  more  to  a  dozen  eggs, 
and  cover  and  set  them  away  from  the  stove 
for  fifteen  minutes.  The  heat  of  the  water 
cooks  the  eggs  slowly  and  evenly  and  sufficient- 
ly, and  to  a  jelly-like  consistency,  leaving  the 
centre  or  yolk  harder  than  the  white,  and  tlie 
egg  tastes  as  much  richer  and  nicer  as  a  fresh 
egg  is  nicer  than  a  stale  egg,  and  no  person 
\vill  want  to  eat  them  boiled  after  trying  this 
method  once. — Boston  Transcrijjt. 

It  affords  us  pleasure  to  indorse  the  above 
fully,  emiihatically,  and  unqualifiedly,  after  an 
experience  of  nearly  a  year,  i)racticed  almost 
daily.  Whatever  may  be  said,  or  whatever 
may  be  the  fact,  in  regard  to  "hard  boiled 
eggs,"  or  "soft  boiled  eggs,"  as  healthy  or  un- 
healthy diet,  we  are  prepared  to  say  that  the 
difference  is  immensely  in  favor  of  the  mode 
given  by  the  Transcrijjt,  when  compared  with 
anj'  other  mode  of  cooking  eggs  that  we  know 
of.  The  French,  among  their  one  hundred  and 
twelve  different  ways  of  cooking  an  egg,  may 
have  a  better  way  tlian  the  above,  but  we  ques- 
tion whether  they  liave  a  simpler,  cheaper, 
sweeter,  or  more  healthful  way — but,  try  it, 
and  then  judge  for  yourselves;  try  it  honestly 
and  thoroughly,  as  you  would  to  attain  heaven. 


HOW  TO  TEST   FUNGI. 

The  following  is  said  to  be  an  infallible  test 
for  knowing  the  qualities  of  mushrooms  : 

"  Before  peeling  the  mushrooms,  pass  a  gold 
ring  backwards  and  forwards  over  the  skin. 
Should  the  bruise  thus  caused  turn  yellow  or 
orange-colored,  it  is  poisonous  ;  but  otherwise 
it  is  quite  safe.  Every  married  woman  has  a 
gold  ring  to  test  the  mushroom  thus  ;  or  a 
sovereign  ruljbed  on  it  will  liave  the  desired 
effect." — PcnpWs  Friend. 

Would  some  of  our  experienced  fungiologists 
say  if  there  be  any  truth  in  the  above  test, 
and  if  so,  any  other  metal  will  answer  as  well 
as  gold  ?  If  an  accurate  test,  it  cannot  lie  too 
widely  known  ;  and  if  erroneous,  the  sooner 
it  is  confuted  the  better. — /.  P.  Soulter,  in 
Science  Gossip. 

It  seems  to  us  that  the  above  miglit  be  a 
better  test  of  the  (luality  of  the  gold  than  of 
the  mushroom.  At  any  rate,  we  would  pre- 
fer a  more  distinguished  authority  than  "  it  is 
said"  before  we  could  be  led  to  eat  mush- 
rooms bearing  this  test  alone,  especially  if  they 
were  entire  strangers  to  us.  Still,  we  repro- 
duce this  because  of  its  simplicity,  and  be- 
cause a  test  of  some  kind  is  very  much  desired  ; 
for  there  are  so  many  fine  things  of  the  mush- 
room kind  which  me  meet  every  time  we  visit 
the  wooded  portion  of  the  country,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  realize  they  should  all  be  rank 
poisons.  In  every  fifty  specimens  of  these  it 
will  be  found  that  some  animal  has  been  eat- 
ing portions  of  them — mainly  insects — and  on 
a  recent  ramble  we  found  a  "Box-turtle" 
{Cistudd  ckiK-sa)  in  the  very  act  of  feeding  on 
a  fine  large  specimen,  which,  although  good- 
looking  enough,  we  would  not  have  trusted  as 
edible.  This  species  (an  Aoariois)  had  a  fine 
flavor,  was  pale  bluish  tinged  above  and  white 
beneath  ;  about  three  inches  in  diameter  and 
tolerably  abundant.  "  A  sure  test  "  for  these 
fungi  is  the  one  thing  now  most  needed  in  re- 
gard to  these  singular  jjlants. 


FINE  PEACHES. 
We  cannot  refi'ain  from  making  our  acknowl- 
edgments to  Mr.  .Toseph  Siunson  and  Mr.  Lewis 
H.  Fisher  for  the  receipt  of  large,  fragrant  and 
luscious  Susquehanna  Peaches;  those  from  the 
former  weighing  11^  ounces,  and  from  the 
latter  lOi.  If  there  are  any  finer  peaches  thai> 
these  grown  in  Lancaster  city  or  county  they 
have  not  come  suhstantiedly  under  our  editorial 
supervision. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
CLIMATOLOGY. 

This  is  a  subject  that  has  arrested  the  atten- 
tion of  scientific  men  of  late  years  in  all  jiarts 
of  (he  country,  and  it  certainly  demands  the 
fullest  investigation  by  men  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  It  is  of  very  great  import- 
ance to  an  agricultural  people  to  occupy  a 
country,  the  climate  of  winch  is  well  adapted 
for  the  raising  of  certain  crops.  The  knowledge 
therefore  of  the  mean  temperature  and  tiie 
quantity  of  rain  which  falls  in  different  parts 
of  an  extensive  country  is  of  great  practical 
importance  to  its  inhabitants,  not  only  in  re- 
gard to  agriculture,  but  also  with  reference  to 
navigation,  devastating  floods,  driving  of  ma- 
chinery, supply  of  water  to  cities,  etc. 

Few'  districts,  says  Professor  Rogers,  of  the 
United  States,  or  indeed  of  the  world,  are  more 
favorably  circumstanced  as  to  rain  than  Penn- 
sylvania. Lying  within  the  belt  of  non- 
periodic  rains,  it  is  lilessed  with  a  sinrjidatly 
equable  distribution  of  moisture  throiighmtt  the 
year,  the  State  is  seldom  visited  by  a  drought, 
and  if  any  do  occur,  take  place  in  the  latter  half 
of  the  summer.  These  dry  periods  do  not  ap- 
pear more  frequent  than  once  in  four  or  five 
years,  and  rarely  so  severe  as  those  which  visit 
the  West  and  other  parts  of  the  country.  It 
is  in  like  manner  comparatively  exempt  from 
protracted  and  flooding  rains.  "  The  rains  take 
the  form  of  light  rain  storms  of  one  or  two  days' 
duration  and  of  intermitting  showers,  and 
these  excepting  during  the  occasional  summer 
and  autunni  droughts  are  spread  with  remark- 
able impartiality  over  the  .'<everal  seasons,  and 
over  all  the  several  months  of  the  year. 

At  Philadelphia,  the  annual  average  of  rain- 
fall is  about  42  inches;  at  Carlisle  34  inches, 
and  at  Pittsliurgh  ■\~}  inches.  It  would  seem 
to  imply  that  the  mountain  rains  of  Pennsyl- 
vania are  derived,  to  a  considerable  amount, 
from  the  far  removed  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the 
southwest  wind  from  which  has  parted  with  a 
large  share  of  its  moisture  on  its  journey,  while 
the  Atlantic  slope,  or  seaboard  receives  an  ad- 
ditional supply  from  the  more  loml  winds  of  the 
ocean.  At  Philadelphia  during  a  period  of  18 
years,  the  fall  of  rain  and  snow  was  one  year 
35  inches,  and  in  another  .5-3,  and  at  Pittsburgh 
during  the  sameyears  it  was  one  year  2.5  inches, 
while  in  another  year  it  was  47.  It  is  seen  in 
the  Central  States  of  the  Union,  that  in  some 
years  less  than  half  the  average  quantity  of 
water  falls,  and  in  others  nearly  double"  the 
average  quantity. 

The  annual  average  rain  fall  upon  every 
square  mile  of  the  Mississippi  valley  is  about 
40  inches  ;  and  in  England  about  35  inches, 
including  5  inches  of  dew,  and  for  the  whole 
globe  about  34  inches.  The  mean  annual 
quantity  of  rain  is  greatest  at  the  eipiator, 
and  decreases  gradually  as  we  approach  the 
poles.  Thus,  at  Calcutta  the  annual  quantity 
of  rain-fall  is  81  inches,  and  at  St.  Petersburg, 
in  Russia,  it  is  only  16.  !More  rain  falls  in 
mountainous  countries  than  in  plains.  Among 
the  Andes  it  is  .said  to  rain  almost  ])erpetually, 
while  in  Egypt  it  hardly  ever  rains  at  all. 

The  highest  part  of  North  America  lies  be- 
tween the  40th  and  oOtli  degree  of  north  lati- 
tude. The  great  rivers  originate  there.  It  is 
covered  with  immense  forests  and  abounds 
with  large  swamps  and  morasses,  which  render 
it  incapable  of  receiving  any  great  degree  of 
heat,  hence  the  rigor  of  winter  is  severe. 

There  is  in  the  northern  hemisphere  more 
land,  less  sea,  more  fresh  water,  and  more 
atmospheric  air  than  there  is  in  the  .southern. 
About  two-thirds  of  all  the  fresh  water  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth  is  contained  in  the  great 
American  lakes.  The  Pacific  feeds  the  clouds 
with  vapor,  and  the  rains  feed  the  Atlantic 
with  rivers.  The  Gulf  Stream  in  the  Atlantic, 
and  the  Mozambique  current  in  the  Pacific, 
are  rivers  in  the  ocean.  The  infiuence  of  the 
Gulf  Stream  upon  the  climate  is  very  great. 
Tables  of  the  quantity  of  rain-fall  at  various 
places  in  the  States  of  the  American  Union 
indicate  no  signs  that  the  seasons  on  an  aver- 
age for  a  series  of  years  have  changed  ;  nor 
that  the  winters  are  colder  and  the  smnmers 
hotter  and  drier  than  formerly.     In  1813,  at 


Norway,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  9A  feet  of  snow 
fell;  in  1831  S)  feet,  and  in  1845  9i  feet.  Prov- 
idence, Rhode  Island,  had  30  inches  of  rain- 
fall in  1835,  and  in  1848  40^  inches.  In  1858 
Florida  produced  70  inches  of  rain,  Maine  42, 
Mount  .loy.  Pa.,  44,  Philadelphia  30,  Sacra- 
mento, Cal.,  17,  and  Westfield,  Mass.,  43 
inches.  From  a  table  of  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitution for  twelve  months,  ending  in  June 
18G8,  it  appears  no  rain  fell  in  C^aTifornia  in 
•Inly,  .\iigust,  Seiitemlier,  Novemlier,  Decem- 
ber, February  and  March.  Twenty-one  inches 
fell  in  the  month  of  May,  and  the  balance  of 
the  months  ^  inches ;  totiil,  20^  inches,  at 
three  places  of  observation.  Penna.,  durino- 
the  same  time,  at  25  places  of  observation" 
produced  nearly  44  inches;  Ohio,  at  10  places, 
40|,  and  Florida,  at  three  places,  50  inches. 
At  Ejihrata,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  during 
the  year  1870,  the  amount  of  rain-fall  was 
nearly  42  inches,  distributed  with  considerable 
uniformity  through  the  several  months  of  the 
year. 

Very  many  writers  entertain  the  opinion 
that  our  winters  are  colder  and  our  summers 
hotter  and  drier  than  formerly,  and  the 
streams  smaller  than  fifty  years  ago  and  that 
the  clearing  off  of  a  our  forests  diminishes  the 
volume  of  water  in  our  streams. 

The  winter  of  1780  was  the  coldest  winter 
known  in  Philadelphia  until  1855,  18.56  and 
1857.  The  winter  of  1835  was  very  cold,  and 
the  earth  covered  with  an  abundance  of  snow, 
and  the  winter  of  1875,  with  but  little  snow 
or  rain. 

The  winter  of  1828  was  very  wet  and  mild, 
and  the  winter  f)f  1842,  fi^rmers  plowing  with 
their  coats  off  every  month  in  the  winter  ;  no 
ice  and  very  little  snow.  The  winter  of  1851 
was  also  very  mild,  and  the  winter  of  1876, 
which  we  all  remember  very  well,  was  snow- 
less  and  iceless  in  these  parts,  and  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  over  our  country.  The  last 
six  months  of  1874  and  the  fir.st  six  of  1875 
were  veiy  dry ;  wells  and  streams  failed  ; 
waters  lower  in  our  mill  streams  than  for 
forty  years,  in  this  .section  of  country,  and  the 
winter  intensely  cold.  The  winters  of  1783 
and  1784  were  nearly  as  intensely  cold  as  that 
of  1780,  and  by  referring  to  the  severely  cold 
or  mild  winters,  that  it  rarely  happens  in  a 
period  of  a  century  that  we  have  a  long  suc- 
cession of  very  cold  winters  or  mild  "ones; 
that  they  change  about  to  give  us  a  taste  of 
each  ;  and  on  an  average  our  winters  are  not 
any  colder  than  they  were  a  hundred  years 
ago,  or  the  summers  any  hotter. 

And  the  same  ecpiitablu  law  seems  to  pre- 
vail in  its  effects  upon  the  state  of  the  quanti- 
ty of  rainfall,  snow,  dew,  fog,  mist,  wind  and 
storms.  The  prevailing  opinion  that  our 
forests  are  too  unsparingly  swept  off  by  the 
woodman's  ax,  i.s  well  enough  ;  but  that  our 
princiiial  streams  have  lost  in  the  volume  of 
water  in  a  century  is  not  so  clear  or  so  well 
sustained. 

Having  been  born  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Conestoga,  and  having  spent  my  boyhood 
along  this  beautiful  winding  stream,  and 
recollecting  all  about  it  for  a  h.alf  a  century, 
I  hope  I  will  be  pardoned  for  giving  my  im- 
pressions of  the  vagaries  of  this  valuable 
stream,  which  furnishes  an  abundance  of  pure 
water  for  the  clever  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
Lancaster.  In  the  winter  of  1822  tliere  was  a 
great  fiood,  doing  much  damage.  In  1850 
there  were  tiwo  tremendous  floods  in  the  latter 
half  of  the  summer,  sweeiiing  away  bridges, 
croiis  and  fences.  In  1809,  in  the  fall,  there 
was  .another  great  flood,  exceeding  in  de- 
structiveness  any  flood  remembered  by  the 
oldest  inlial:)itant  or  tradition,  sweeping  away 
corn,  bridges,  saw-mills,  etc.  .Since  then  the 
stream  has  not  at  any  time  been  unusually 
swollen.  In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1874-5  the 
Conestoga  was  lower  for  a  longer  continued 
time  tlian  for  fi)rty  years,  owing  to  the  dry 
v/eatlier  in  the  fall  ,and  winter.  During  a 
period  of  forty  years  it  does  not  appear  that 
this  stream  has  decreased  in  volume  on  an 
average,  taking  a  series  of  years  together. 
According  to  tradition  and  the  recollection  of 
its  oldest  inhabitants,  it  was  more  frequently 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMEK. 


137 


IdWL-r  liiiir  a  ccntiirv  sinco  tlwiii  (if  late  years, 
altliough  llic  ciHinlry  aluiif;  it  ami  ils  tributa- 
ries was  then  inueli  more  wuchIciI  than  at 
present.  Furly  years  ago  tliere  wa.s  an  almost 
unliroUen  forest  along  tlie  Coiu'Stdga  from 
I^aneaster  to  ami  beyoml  Uinkletown  ;  now  it 
is  nearly  all  cut  oft,  and  tlie  land  in  a  high 
state  of  cnltivation,  anil  yet  tl|e  stream  is  as 
strong  as  ever. 

In  1S()8,  Kngland  was  visite<l  in  the  summer 
of  this  year  witli  a  dry,  hot  season,  sneh  as  had 
not  been  kn<iwn  in  thi'soutliof  Kngland  f(U'7tl 
years.  Theri^  was  not  the  sliglilest  trace  of 
dew  at  night;  and  tlie  e.xce.ssivi^  drymss  was 
owing  to  the  prevailing  polar  currents;  water 
for  sluM'p  hail  to  be  charted  for  use  from  morn- 
ing to  night,  while  at  New  York  large  (pian- 
tities  of  rain  had  fallen  during  this  time.  In 
.Suotland  tlie  water  was  scarce  on  many  farms, 
where  such  a  want  is  seUloiu  felt.  The  clian- 
nels  of  streams  were  dry  and  farmers  were 
wistfully  looking  for  rain.  Snch  is  the  ea.se 
very  frequently  while  it  is  very  warm  ami  dry 
at  one  place,  it  is  warm  and  rainy  at  another 
lilace  or  country. 

We  are  very  aiit  to  imagine  that  when  a 
\vint(M"  is  bitter  cold,  or  a  suminer  unusually 
hot,  that  our  climate  haschanged  ;  but  this  is 
a  delusion,  'fhe  saiiu^  is  true  of  hot  or  dry 
seasons.  In  Camden,  South  Carolina,  in  the 
year  1838,  there  were  four  mouths.  May,  July, 
August,  September,  in  which  not  a  drop  of 
rain  fell,  and  the  number  of  rainy  days  was 
very  few,  and  the  (piantity  of  rain  during  the 
year  e.Ktreniely  small.  The  ti(dds  and  ganU'iis 
in  this  place  and  immediate  vicinity  were 
almost  literally  scorched.  Tomatoes,  beans, 
corn,  pclijier,  and  all  vegetables  were  destroyed 
as  if  a  lire  had  graduallv  burned  them.  From 
the  r.lth  of  March  until  the  ITlh  of  Aiiril  the 
sun  and  moon,  both  at  rising  and  setting,  were 
of  a  blood-red  color. 

In  Sunnnerville,  Georgia,  near  Augusta,  in 
the  year  1S:5'.I,  the  summer  and  autumn  were 
extremely  dry.  The  Savannah  river  had  not 
been  so  low"  for  seventy  years,  and  never 
known  to  continue  low  so  long  at  one  time 
before  within  the  recollections  and  traditions 
of  the  oldest  inhabitants.  Acres  of  its  bed 
were  run  out,  fenced  in,  jiloughed  and  jilanted 
in  the  autnmn.  From  the  2Utli  of  October  to 
the  :id  of  November,  the  sun  rose  and  set, 
and  the  moon  ro.se,  appearing  like  blood-red 
balls  of  lire. 

At  Marietta,  Ohio,  in  the  year  18:J8,  the 
heat  and  drought  of  the  sumniiu-  continued 
till  the  li-'d  of  September,  when  there  fell  a 
little  more  than  an  inch  of  rain.  All  the 
crops  which  depend  upon  the  summer  mouths 
for  their  growth,  as  potatoes,  Indian  corn  and 
beans,  suffered  exceedingly.  Fastures  were 
dried  up  in  August,  so  that  some  farmers 
began  to  feed  their  cattU^  and  horses  early  in 
September  with  hay.  Many  were  subjected 
to  great  inconveuieiu'e  f<irlhe  want  of  water. 
Mill  streams  failed,  so  that  many  farmers 
were  obliged  to  take  their  grain  lifty  miles  or 
more  to  mills  worked  by  steam  power. 

In  the  year  18:jll,  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  the 
quantity  of  rain  and  melted  snow  during  the 
year  was  a  little  more  than  :?:!  inches,  being 
about  '.I  inches  less  than  the  mean  quantity 
for  this  region.  Yet  the  distribution  of  rain 
was  so  equal  that  every  month  had  its  due 
share  in  such  seasonable  showers  as  to  all'ord 
a  good  supiily  for  vegetation,  and  crops  of  all 
kinds  of  grain  and  grass  were  never  more 
abundant. 

VVni.  C.  Bryant  says  the  streams  in  eastern 
Oliio  are  smaller,  and  the  weather  drier  than 
fifty  years  ago;  but  had  he  been  there  in  the 
summer  of  IST'i,  and  seen  the  wet  weather  in 
Ohio  and  Indiana  during  farvest  time,  and 
the  grown  audsjioiled  wheal,  he  would  perhaps 
have  changed  his  opinion. 

In  18:!1  Lancaster  county  was  visited  with 
eontiiuied  wet  weather  tor  fourteen  days,  right 
in  the  midst  of  the  grain  harvest,  and  in  con- 
seipienee  the  wheat  nearly  all  gernnnated,  thus 
destroying  its  glutinous  (piality,  making  it 
worthless  for  bread.  In  18:i8  very  dry  weather 
from  .luly  to  Deeemlx'r.  During  this  long 
period  very  little  if  any  rain  fell;  mud  roads 


were  six  inches  deep  with  dust;  corn  and  po- 
tatoes failed  entirely;  pastures  were  siMirched, 
the  air  lilled  with  dust  and  gra.sshoppers.  The 
grass  fields  looke(l  like  ploweil  fields;  fariuers 
Were  obliged  to  feed  their  hor.ses  and  cows  on 
hay  early  in  the  fall.  Then;  has  not  been  such 
aclroughl  in  I.aiicasler  county  since,  allhongh 
ill  the  last  six  mouths  of  1S74  no  great 
quantity  of  rain  fell.  The  fretpieiit  light 
showers  kept  vegetation  ill  a  vigorous  condi- 
tion, so  that  the  fall  i-rojis  and  pastures  were 
abundant. 

Much  mori' vapor  ri.ses  during  hot  weather 
than  during  cold;  hence  the  quantity  evapo- 
rated depends  in  some  measure  upon  teniliera- 
ture.  AInch  more  vapor  arises  in  maritiiue 
countries,  or  those  interspersed  with  lakes, 
than  in  inland  countries. 

From  a  table  of  Dr.  Dalton,  of  Uverjiool, 
Kngland,  for  four  years,  ending  in  ITTo,  it  ai>- 
pears  that  the  mean  annual  evaporation  from 
the  surface  of  water  aiiiouiiled  to  nearly  157 
inches. 

It  is  estimated  that  live  inches  of  dew  is  de- 
posited uiion  the  earth  in  ICngland  in  a  year. 
Xo  day  passes  without  rain  in  some  jiart  of  tlur 
earth,  so  that  part  of  the  rvaporated  water  is 
constantly  prccipitateil  again.  The  annual 
evaporation  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  globe 
is  aiiont  .'!")  inches  annually. 

Stones  and  .sand  have  a  less  capacity  for  heat 
than  the  earth  has,  which  is  always  somewhat 
moist;  they  heat  or  cool  therefore  more  rajiidlv 
and  to  a  greater  degree.  Hence  the  violent 
heat  of  iVrabia  and  Africa,  and  tlk^  intense 
cold  of  Terra  del  Fuego.  Living  vegetables 
alter  their  temperature  very  slowly,  but  tlu'ir 
evaporation  is  great,  and  if  they  are  tall  and 
close  as  in  forests  they  exclude  the  sun's  rays 
from  earth,  and  shelter  the  winter  snow  from 
the  wind  and  the  .sun.  Woody  countries, 
therefore,  are  much  colder  than  tho.se  wiiicli 
are  cultivated. 

Eva[)oratioii  takes  place  in  plants  to  an  in- 
conceivable degree  under  certain  circum- 
stances. It  is  known  by  the  experiments  of 
Dr.  Hale  that  a  sunllower  plant  will  lose  as 
much  as  one  pound  ami  fourteen  ouces  by 
evaporation  in  twelve  hour.s.  In  damp  or  wet 
weather  this  evaporation  is  least;  in  hot,  dry 
weather  it  is  greatest. 

The  annual  amount  of  evaporation  from  a 
given  surface  of  water  in  the  interior  of  the 
country  is  greater  than  that  of  the  rain  which 
falls  on  the  same  surface,  but  the  amount  of 
cvaiioration  from  the  surface  of  the  ground  is 
generallv  less,  |iarticularly  in  mouiitainousdis- 
triets.  Less  vapor  is  given  olf  from  the  sur- 
face of  salt  water  than  from  the  surface  of 
fresh  water.  I'erhaps  as  much  as  live  times 
more  va]MU'  arises  from  fresh  water  as  from 
moist  earth.  Water  is  constantly  eveporated 
from  the  surface  of  the  ocean  ;  the  amount, 
liowevi-r,  diuiinislies  as  we  proceed  from  the 
eqiiatiir  tow:irds  the  poles.  The  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  owes  its  fertility  principally  to  the 
moisture  wlii<'li  iiroceeds  from  the  (inlf  of 
Mexico  and  the  iiiterlroiiical  part  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean. 

The  inlhuaice  of  the  nalurenf  the  .soil  on 
the  climate  of  a  country  maybe  inferred  from 
its  greater  or  less  power  to  ab.sorband  radiate 
heat,  and  from  its  cajiacity  to  absorb,  or  traii.s- 
mit  over  its  surface  the  water  which  may  fall 
upon  it  in  rain  or  be  deposiled  in  dew. 

The  inllueiice  of  cultivation  on  the  climate 
of  a  country,  drying  up  of  extensive  marshes 
and  systems  of  drainage  which  would  evapo- 
rate, and  by  the  latent  heat  thus  absorbed 
would  cool  th(^  ground,  is  siilTcred  to  pass 
through  it  to  the  drain  beneath,  and  is  thus 
carried  off  without  depriving  the  earth  of  a 
large  amount  of  heat,  which  would  otherwise 
be  lost. 

The  Andes  Mountains  in  the  trade  wind 
region  stand  up  so  high  that  the  wind,  in 
order  to  cro.ss  them,  has  to  part  with  all  its 
moisture,  and  consecpienlly  there  is  on  tlie 
west  side,  as  in  I'eru,  a  rainless  region. 
I'lion  the  lied  Sea  there  never  falls  a  drop  of 
rain  ;  it  is  all  evaporation. 

The  I'arana,  the  (ianges,  and  the  Xile  an- 
nually overllow  their  banks.     The  rainy  sea- 


son, which  Ik  periodical  in  these  climates, 
Hoods  the  rivers.  From  tlu'se  inundations  tlic 
inhabitants  derive  happiness  and  plenty.  The 
Nile  begins  to  ri.se  for  fmty  days,  and  de- 
creiLscs  for  about  as  many  more. 

There  are  rivers  whic-li  are  siiid  to  lose 
themselves  in  chasms  under  the  earth,  and 
(low  for  miles  In  secret  and  undiscovered 
channels.  What  heenis  to  occasion  the  lo.s,s  of 
the  Uille,  the  Ilhoii,  and  tin-  .\ure,  in  Nor- 
way, is  the  nature  of  thi'  soil  llnMiigh  wliich 
they  pa.ss.  It  is  in  general  iiormis  and  eoin- 
liosed  of  thick  sand.  Tlu-re  was  a  river  in 
(ireeee  wliich  suildeiily  disappean'd  in  the 
Siuid,  and  seemed  wliolly  lost  ;  but  far  avvay 
in  Sicily  it  rose  again,  undiminished,  and 
llowed  on  as  before.  The  Wolga,  In  Knroiic, 
is  said  to  abound  with  water  during  the 
months  of  May  ainl  .liiiie,  but  all  the  rest  of 
the  year  is  .so  shallow  as  .scarcely  to  cover  its 
bottom. 

Solium  rivers,  like  llu-  I'o  in  Kurope,  and 
the  Mississippi  in  our  country,  run  on  higher 
ground  than  the  country  through  wliiih  they 
(low;  liiit  the  banks  made  to  keep  them  in 
.sometimes  break,  wiieii  the  devastation  is 
great. 


l-'<it    'I'lIK  I.ANi-AKIKI;    FaUMRK. 

LATE   FLOWERING    TREES. 

Having  heard  of  an  anomalous  freak  in  C((r- 
tain  horse-chestnut  trees,  on  Chestniil,  near 
the  corner  of  Duke  street,  in  this  city,  this 
morniiig,  September  •">,  in  pa.ssing  along  I  .saw 
panicles  of  (lowers  ill  full  bloom,  as  tliey  are 
usnallv  seen  about  the  first  of  .Inne  or  earlier, 
while  at  the  same  tim'e  the  nearly  perfected 
fruit  was  on  other  branches  of  the  same  tree. 
I  (irst  noticed  the  situation,  being  alongside  of 
tl'.e  turnpike  road,  slo|(iug  westward,  and 
closely  surrounded  by  the  pavement,  shelteriMl 
from  the  morning  sun  by  the  buildings  of  .Mr. 
(Jorrecht's  store  and  dwelling,  and  open  to  the 
afternoon's  sun  shine  and  northwestern  wimls; 
these  aie  considerations,  when  we  recollect 
that  the  ^Ks(i(/i(.s  Itijiji^i-iistitiiuni,  or  conunon 
Ibuse-chestnnl,  is  a  native  of  .LsiVi.  (The 
Ohio  Buckeye,  is  a  dillerent  tree.)  Hence  I 
notic(^  the  situation.  The  mere  fact,  that  of 
the  develoimient  of  (lowers  late  in  the  season, 
is  not  so  rare;  it  frequently  occurs  in  various 
kinds  of  fruit  trees;  the  cause  isdesired.  With- 
out going  into  the  physiological  details,  I  will 
siiiqily  suggested  or  infer  that  a  bud  is  a  branch 
folded  11)1  into  scales  and  covered;  these  buds 
whether  lateral  or  terminal,  are  in  direct  coni- 
munication  with  the  jiitliof  the  tree  or  branch, 
its  bark  and  capillary  vessels;  "the  sap  ascends 
through  the  whole  tissueof  whatever  sort ;  and 
the  transini.ssion  is  continued  through  it, 
ispecially  through  its  central  portion,  or  the 
pith,  in  the  growing  apex  of  the  stem  through- 
out. But  in  the  older  parts  below,  the  pith  is 
soon  drained  ofsai>  ''.\'  the  demand  above,  and 
becomes  lilled  with  air  in  its  place;  thence- 
forth it  liears  no  part  in  the  plant's 
nourishment."  This  is  taught  by  Dr. 
(iray,  in  his  text-book,  as  will  a.s  by  all 
close  ob.servers.  Now  suppose  that  in  early 
spring,  (lam  told  that  a  simular  elTeet  was 
not  iced  t  he  veariireviou.s, )  t  hat  from  some  eausi' 
of  chill  and"  exposure  to  the  direct  rays  of  an 
alteruoon  sun,  the  equilibrium  of  the  How  o( 
.sap  is  disturbed.  .Vided  by  the  prevention  of 
the  morning's  sun  having  ils  inlluence,  the 
action  of  the  sap  in  certain  branches  may  be 
stimulated,  <lrawingthe  nourishment  from  the 
pith,  and  starting  such  buds,  which  elongate 
their  nodes  and  intcrnoiles.  ami  successively 
develop  the  leaves.  Flower  and  fruit  In  that 
direction,  during  a  dry  spell  ami  exposure  to 
sunshine,  may  tlius  become  exhausted  in  a 
degree,  while  rain,  a  more  uniform  degree  of 
heat,  later  in  the  .sea.son,  will  act  upon  the 
latent  buds,  and  produce  a  new  development 
of  leaves  and  (lowers— while  the  oilier  leaves 
mav  lamiuisb  and  wither.  It  is  ea.sily  con- 
ceived how  all  this  can  take  place  as  a  natural 
jirocess  interrupted  ;  and  the  malady  will  in- 
crea.se,  and  no  doubt  the  trees  will  peri.sh 
eventually.  It  is  simply  a  struggle  to  over- 
come conilictiiiL' dilliculties,  arising  from  |iar- 
tial  shelter  and  exposure,  during  summer  and 


i38 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


[  September, 


winter,  and  an  impervious  surrounding  of 
stones  over  the  soil — obstructions  to  the  na- 
tural requirements  of  the  tree.  Any  one,  with 
a  good  magnifying  gla.ss,  can  discover,  by  cut- 
ting the  hud  of  a  lilac  or  horse-chestnut,  that 
in  the  midst  of  the  scales  is  a  bunch  of  flow- 
ers in  miniature  already  formed.  Of  cour.se 
he  must  select  a  flowering  bud,  as  he  readily 
can,  as  I  have  done,  in  early  spring.  Any 
thing  that  interferes,  arrests  or  changes  the 
normal  functions,  must  necessarily  induce  ab- 
normal action  in  those  functions,  if  any  at  all. 
And  so  also  with  the  withering  of  branchesin  the 
pear  or  other  trees — functional  disarrangement 
by  whatever  cause  induced,  will  manifest 
itself.  When  a  branch  is  deprived  of  its  sup- 
ply of  .sap,  and  exhausted  by  evaporation,  es- 
pecially in  young  wood,  the  finer  tubes  will 
collap.se,  and  thus  the  top  or  terminal  portions 
of  branches  will  perish  first,  and  of  course  the 
leaves  become  dry,  cri.sp  and  dead.  How  are 
we  to  prevent  this  V  Only  by  aiding  nature 
to  that  which  it  lacks.  How  shall  we  know 
what  is  lacking  ?  General  symptoms  will  in- 
dicate whether  it  is  of  old  age,  uuripened 
wood  or  tissues ;  over  exhaustion  of  the  pre- 
vious year;  more  head  than  the  root  can  sup- 
ply ;  untoward  situation  or  uncongenial  soil ; 
too  much  water  or  too  little.  It  is  well,  how- 
ever, that  nature  is  prolific  in  resources,  and 
fights  to  maintain  its  status  ;  then  learn  its 
wants,  and  aid,  not  retard,  the  proper  action 
of  all  its  functions.  But,  alas!  who  is  suffi- 
cient for  all  this — superficial  as  all  our  knowl- 
edge is  at  best  ?  And  yet  it  is  our  duty  to 
learn  by  observation  and  study  the  experience 
of  others,  and  so  profit  by  knowledge  ;  In  all 
humility  use  what  means  we  may  have,  and 
do  the  best  we  can.  Pro  bono  publico. — By 
J.  Staiiffer,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmek. 
WHEAT  GROWING. 

Some  weeks  since  I  saw  a  statement  in  a 
paper,  published  at  Mechanicsburg,  also, 
nearly  the  same  statement  in  the  Monthly 
Agricultural  Report  for  May  and  .June,  the 
purport  of  which  was,  that  Mr.  J.  M.  Heiges, 
of  York  county,  had  grown  seventy-one  bush- 
els of  wheat  on  an  acre  of  ground.  These 
reports  were  so  extraordinary  tlmt  I  was  rather 
skeptical  as  to  their  truthfulness.  To  satisfy 
my  doul)ts  I  addressed  a  letter  of  inquiry  to 
Mr.  Helices.  He  very  kindly  answered  my 
letter  at  length,  saying  the  reports,  as  stated, 
were  perfectly  true  ;  that  he  actually  raised 
at  the  rate  of  seventy-one  bushels  per  acre. 
Also,  tliat  he  grew  fifty-five  bushels  per  acre 
of  the  Foltz  wheat  in  1874 ;  and,  in  187.5, 
another  variety  produced  him  49|  bushels  per 
acre  ;  and  this  season  his  choice  variety  pro- 
duced him  only  .'il  bu.shels  and  21  lbs.  per  acre. 
He  gave  a  neighbor  2:{  bushels  last  fall,  and 
this  neighbor  now  reports  102  bushels  grown 
on  2;i  acres!  This  neighbor  is  a  member  of 
the  York  ('ounty  Agricultural  Society,  is  65 
years  of  age,  and  says  it  is  the  best  yield  he 
ever  had.  Now,  when  one  or  two  farmers  can 
grow  ."50  to  71  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre, 
why  can  not  other  farmers  do  likewise?  At  this 
rate  wheat-growing  will  pay  as  well,  if  not 
better,  than  growing  tobacco.  My  impression 
is  that  Mr.  Heiges'  soil  is  not  naturally  very 
strong  or  rich. 

But  to  give  Mr.  Heiges'  mode  of  culture, 
and  which  I  ajiprehend  is  the  main  cause  of 
his  success.  He  sows  his  wheat  on  oats  and 
wheat  stidibles,  but  manures  heavy  and  j^l^u's 
deep,  and  plows  the  second  time  still  deeper, 
pulverizes  his  soil  thoroughly,  and  sows  his 
wheat  about  the  25th  of  September,  and  has 
not  bad  a  failure  since  he  commenced  his  pres- 
ent mode  of  culture.  One  of  his  reasons  for 
adopting  this  plan  was  that  he  thousrht  we  were 
not  raising  half  enough  wheat  per  acre,  and  as 
he  would  not  plant  ten  grains  of  corn  in  a  hill, 
or  plant  a  field  of  corn  and  not  cultivate  it,  he 
asked  himself  why  it  would  not  jiay  to  cultivate 
his  wheat  as  well  V  He  tried  a  sixth  of  an  acre, 
and  his  yield  was  a  little  over  eight  bu.shels.  He 
tried  an  acre  next  year,  and  fifty-five  bushels 
was  the  result.     He  has  taken  four  crops  of 


wheat  from  one  plot  of  ground  in  succession, 
and  intends  sowing  the  same  field  again  this 
fall.  Had  as  good  wheat  on  this  plot  as  he 
saw  on  any  otlier  ground. 

As  before  stated,  his  plan  is  to  manure 
heavy  and  plow  deep,  pulverize  his  soil  thor- 
oughly, and,  about  the  25th  of  September, 
lilows  again  a  little  deeper  still,  and  prepares 
his  fields  into  ridges  and  dejiressions — the  de- 
pressions about  12  inches  wide  and  the  ridges 
about  10  inches — thus  : 


sowing  the  wheat  broadcast,  and  going  over 
with  the  harrow  in  the  way  of  ridges  and  de- 
jiressions  ;  then  dragging,  so  as  to  make  the 
field  perfectly  level ;  thus  the  seed  nearly  all 
fall  into  the  12-inch  depression,  or  spaces  of 
a  regular  depth.  Then,  in  spring,  so  soon  as 
the  ground  liecomes  moderately  dry  to  work, 
he  goes  through  with  some  kind  of  a  cultiva- 
tor two  or  three  times,  until  the  wheat 
becomes  too  high,  thus  giving  regular  cultiva- 
tion, the  same  as  a  field  of  corn.  This  spring 
cultivation,  no  doubt,  is  the  cause  of  his  great 
success. 

He  has  two  varieties  of  wheat — "  Champion 
Arnlier"  and  Heiges'  Prolific" — that  are  very 
stiff  in  the  straw,  stand  up  well,  and  are  botli 
bald  wheats.  Though  Mr.  Heiges  considers 
both  these  varieties  as  very  superior,  yet  he 
does  not  believe  that  by  the  ordinary  culture, 
they  would  produce  such  great  crojjs  as  by 
his  mode  of  culture. — .7.  B.  Garber,  Columbia, 
Pa.,  Sept.  7th,  187H. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
AGRICULTURAL  PAPERS. 

Notwithstanding  the  attention  which  has 
been  called  by  the  press  of  every  description 
to  the  importance  of  taking  agricultural 
papirs,  there  are  yet  plenty  of  farmers  and 
otheis  making  a  business  of  working  the  soil, 
who  think  it  is  all  a  waste  of  money  to  take 
such  iiapers.  They  do  not  believe  in  and  are 
utterly  prejudiced  against  what  they  are 
pleased  to  term  "book  farming."  They 
generally  have  an  idea  that  there  is  a  chap  of 
some  city  or  town  who  wants  to  make  an  easy 
living,  and  so  gets  up  these  papers  for  his  own 
individual  benefit,  and  who  knows  as  little 
about  such  matters  as  the  judge  of  horses  at  a 
fair,  who  could  only  tell  a  mule  from  a  hor.se 
because  the  former  had  "  long  ears  and  a  thin 
tail." 

We  will  admit  that  the  man  does  get  up 
these  papers  for  his  own  benefit,  for  there  arc 
very  few  per.sons  who  work  without  expecting 
a  comi>ensation  for  their  labor.  At  the  same 
time,  it  is  very  easy  to  see  that  the  editor,  at 
least,  must  be  conversant  with  good  practices 
in  farming,  or  there  would  soon  appear  such 
a  mass  of  rubbish  as  would  drive  away  all 
sub.scribers,  and  thus,  of  course,  make  the 
"easy  living"  come  out  on  the  wrong  side. 

Agricultural  journals  may  be  divided  into 
two  clas.ses— general  and  local — depending  on 
the  .scope  of  country  for  which  they  are  in- 
tended. The  latter  is  usually  intended  for  a 
county  or  two,  or  ))erhai)s  a  State  or  section  of 
country,  such  as  The  Lancaster  Farmer, 
and  should  lie  taken  by  every  farmer  or  owner 
of  a  lot,  as  they  treat  on  such  crops  as  are  best 
fitted  for  that  locality.  The  articles  that  ap- 
jtear  in  these  local  papers,  with  the  excepti(m 
of  such  as  are  written  by  the  editor,  are  fur- 
nished by  voluntary  contributors,  who  are 
generally  subscribers. 

The  general  class  are  usually  more  preten- 
tious than  the  local,  having,  besides  the  chief 
editor,  a  number  of  other  editors  who  have 
special  departments  of  the  paper.  This  class 
is  conqiosed  of  regular  farmers' journals  wh.ich 
treat  on  all  subjects  connected  more  or  less 
with  farming  jiroper,  such  as  horticidture, 
stock,  bee-keeping.  &c.,  and  special  journals 
which  are  devotinl  to  one  special  subject,  such 
as  horticulture,  or  small  fruits,  or  bee-keeping. 
The  former  should  be  taken  by  every  farmer, 
not  to  the  exclusion  of  the  local  paper  but  in 
conjunction  with  it,  aseach  covers  more  or  less 
ground  which  the  other  does  not  touch;  if  the 


farmer  also  devotes  attention  to  fruit  raising, 
&c.,  he  should  take  a  paper  devoted  to  that 
special  subject  and  of  course  it  needs  no  argu- 
ment to  show  that  a  man  in  any  of  these  special 
pursuits  should  take  a  paper  devoted  to  that. 

Now  aiJtl  then  a  person  meets  with  one  of 
those  sulyects  who  know  everything  about 
farming,  or  fruit  raising,  or  gardening.  You 
can't  convince  them  there  is  anything  about 
their  business  they  don't  know.  Whenever  a 
man  thinks  his  education  is  finished  out  and 
out,  whether  in  trade,  occupation,  or  profes- 
sion, he  is  incorrigible  and  beyond  improve- 
ment. With  such  it  is  all  folly  to  talk 
about  taking  a  paper  on  their  special  occu- 
pation. 

It  may  now  be  asked.  What  are  the  advan- 
tages to  he  derived  from  taking  an  agricultural 
pai)er?  We  will  try  and  see  what  the  ad- 
vantages are,  as  on  this  we  must  hinge  our  ad- 
vocating such  papers. 

Machinery  is  beginning  to  be  used  more  and 
more  on  the  farm;  where  grass  was  done  alto- 
gether by  hand,  we  now  use  machines  to  sow 
the  seed,  to  cut  it,  to  spread  it,  to  rake  it,  to 
load  it,  to  unload  it,  and  finally  to  cut  the 
hay ;  and  so  with  all  other  crops.  If  a 
farmer  wants  a  machine  he  wants  a  good  one, 
and  where  can  he  better  find  out  what  ma- 
chines are  manufactured  to  do  the  work  than 
in  the  descriptions  and  advertisements  of  an 
agricultural  paper. 

Fertilizers  are  becoming  a  necessity,  and 
are  so  acknowledged  by  most  farmers,  but 
when  they  come  to  buy  tbem  they  are  perfectly 
at  sea  in  the  multitude  of  brands  offered,  each 
claiming  to  be  the  best.  To  test  them  is  at 
the  best  expensive  and  troublesome.  Where 
can  a  farmer  find  out  better  how  and  what 
kind  to  use  than  in  the  experience  of  others, 
as  given  in  an  agricultural  paper. 

Greatly  improved  varieties  of  wheat,  corn, 
itc,  are  often  brought  out.  which  it  would 
lake  years  perhaps  before  they  could  become 
disseminated  in  the  neighborhood  of  our  far- 
mer, but  now  the  distance  is  annihilated  by 
the  agricultural  paper. 

Improved  methods  of  culture,  rotation,  &c., 
are  often  found  out  by  accident,  or  by  trial, 
and  the  reports  thereon  are  brought  to  the 
farmer's  own  door  by  the  post-office,  in  an 
agricultural  paper. 

F'lauds  are  practiced  by  bogus  fertilizer 
manufacturers,  swindling  patent  right  agents, 
tree  agents  with  peaches  on  pojilar  and  apides 
on  oak  roots,  and  all  others  of  the  humbug 
fraternity,  have  very  little  cuance  to  ply  their 
trade  with  the  farmer  who  takes  an  agricul- 
tural jiaper. 

The  feeding  value  of  grains,  hay,  straw, 
&c.,  are  beginning  to  be  more  studied,  and 
with  some  surprising  results.  Very  few,  fif- 
teeti  years  ago,  would  have  believed  that  a  ton 
of  straw,  with  the  addition  of  four  or  five  dol- 
lars' worth  of  oil  cake,  would  be  equal  in  feed- 
ing value  to  a  ton  of  good  hay.  Such  facts  as 
these  can  be  found  out  soonest  and  best  in  ag- 
ricultural papers. 

Insect  pests  are  becoming  more  numerous 
and  alarming  each  year,  and  it  is  very  impor- 
tant that  the  best  methods  of  destroying  them 
and  preventing  their  i-avages  should  be  found 
out  in  the  least  possible  time,  and  that  their 
natural  enemies,  such  as  birds,  soldier  bugs, 
&c.,  be  described,  lest  they  also  fall  victims  to 
the  farmers'  efforts  at  extermination.  This 
can  always  be  best  learned  from  agricultural 
papers,  and  in  this  branch,  at  the  head  of  all, 
stands  The  Lanca-ster  Farmer. 

To  think  intelligently  is  one  of  the  greatest 
keys  to  success,  and  this  fiicidty  is  of  as  much 
account  to  the  farmer  as  to  the  professional 
man.  To  start  a  new  idea,  and  then  think  it 
out  logically  to  the  end,  is  a  great  teacher; 
and  in  this  lies  one  of  the  great  values  of  agri- 
cultural papers. 

Therefore,  take  your  local  paper;  also,  take 
one  of  wider  scope ;  and  if  in  any  special  busi- 
ness, you  cannot  afford  to  be  without  a  paper 
on  that  s])ecialty.  If  you  take  a  paper,  and 
do  not  find  some  article  in  the  course  of  a  year's 
subscrijition,  each  of  which  is  worth  to  you 
many  times  the  cost  of  the  paper  for  a  whole 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


139 


year,  then  are  you  one  of  the  seven  wonders  of 
the  world. 

The  above  thoupflits  were  su!;;r;este(l  by  see- 
ing the  aiiiioiincenieiil  in  some  of  tlie  papers 
tliat  liy  sendiiiL;  hi  yoiii-naine  now,  if  you  are 
a  new  siiliseriber,  you  will  i,'et  all  the  miinber.s 
for  this  year  and  the  whoU- of  next  year  for  the 
rejjular  subseriplinn  price. 

This  is  a  ehaiiee  whieli  slionld  be  taken  ad- 
vantage of  by  all  who  have  heretofore  not 
taken  such  paper,  and  reineniber  tliat  in  the 
present  progre.«sive  sla<;e  of  farniini:  yon 
cannot  alTord  to  be  without  the  a},Micultural 
papers. — A.  li.  K.,  Safe  JLirhir,  Lancaster 
count;/,  Sfpt.  2,  1S7(). 

[We  commend  the  above  to  the  respectful 
consideration  of  the  farmers  of  lyancaster 
county,  in  referenci'  to  palroni/.inL;aL;i'ienllural 
I)apers,n()  matter  in  what  direction  their  choice 
may  lead.  Vii-  also  feel  pratefnl  to  our  <-on- 
tributor  for  his  tlattering  notice  of  our  journal, 
and  assure  him  our  chief  andiition  has  lieen 
more  to  make  Til  K  L.\NtASTicii  Faumkk  a 
useful  medium  of  information  to  its  patrons, 
than  a  mere  means  of  compensation  to  ourself, 
however  parado.xical  such  a  profession  may  ai)- 
pear.— Ed.] 

For  Thk  L.Vncahtfh  Fabmeh. 
SWARMING   BY  DIVISION. 

In  the  August  number  of  The  Faumeii  of 
last  year  was  an  article  by  Mrs.  Tupper,  taken 
from  the  Jirc  Keepers^  Mayruine,  iu)on  tlu^ 
subject  of  Artificial  Swarming,  wherein  she 
recommends,  contrary  to  the  i,'eneral  custom, 
that  the  dividing  be  jwstponed  \mtil  after 
harvest.  .She  directs  that  the  bees  be  i)laced 
in  hives  sutliciently  large  to  hold  frames 
enough  for  both  the  [larent  colony  and  swarm, 
so  that  the  frames  may  be  fdled  while  the  bees 
are  together.  The  method  is  based  upon  the 
well-known  principle  that  one  strong  stock 
will  gather  more  honey  than  two  weak  ones. 
Upon  reading  the  article  it  .seemed  so  plain 
and  practicable,  that  I  wondered  I  had  never 
thought  of  it  myself.  I  accordingly  con- 
structed a  number  of  hives  twice  the  size  of 
tho.se  I  had  been  using,  and  at  the  beginning 
of  the  clover  season,  last  spring,  i>ut  all  the 
stocks  in  them  that  would  bear  swarming, 
putting  the  empty  frames  lietween  the  full 
ones.  There  was  not  an  abundant  supply  of 
clover  honey  in  this  vicinity  this  year,  but 
most  of  the  empty  frames  were  filled  in  two 
or  three  weeks,  and  the  stocks  became  very 
strong  in  numbers.  All  have  Iteen  divided 
since  the  first  of  July,  thus  allowing  ample 
time  to  raise  a  suflicient  number  of  fertile 
queens  to  introduce  one  in  each  queen- 
less  part  at  the  time  of  making  the  divi- 
sion. All  are  now  good  strong  stocks, 
very  much  stronger  than  they  could  havelwen 
with  this  year's  supply  of  honey,  had  they  been 
divided  in  tlu^  beginning  of  the  honey  season. 
There  is  the  same  diHicnlty  as  with  allmethods 
of  swarming  where  empty  frames  are  intro- 
duced among  the  full  ones  at  the  time  when 
drone  rearijig  is  at  its  height  the  bees  will 
build  too  much  drone  comb.  This  may  be  ob- 
viated, I  believe,  by  using  the  worker-comb 
foundation,  such  as  can  be  purchased  for  $1 
per  pound,  or  made  by  the  bee-keeper  himself 
with  a  simple  contrivance  exhibited  in  the 
British  Section  of  Agricultural  Ilall,  at  the 
Centennial. 

To  those  that  contend  that  agricultural 
papers  are  of  no  practical  value  to  farmers.  I 
would  say  that  I  consider  the  information 
gained  from  the  article  referred  to  above,  worth 
to  me,  for  this  year  alone,  many  times  the 
price  of  The  Fak.meh,  probably  enough  to])ay 
for  it  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  — IF.  P.  Bolton, 
Liberty  Sfjuare,  L(tn.  en.,  Ph.,  Sept.  1,  1876. 
♦^ 

The  great  trees  of  C.ilifornia  are  not  found 
in  any  other  country  excepting  where  they 
have  been  recently  propogated.  They  belong 
to  the  genercl  cypres.s  fiimily.  These  redwood 
trees  are  remarkable  for  their  isolation.  They 
are  isolated  .systematically,  and  extremely 
isolated  geograiihically.  They  seem  to  have 
been  created  local  and  lonely  denizens  of  Cal- 
ifornia only. 


MANORIAL  VALUE   OF  CLOVER. 


If  cliivcr  Ija.s  liiTii  fculliiicii!  lo  Mistaiii  .\fr.  (iwlcli'h' 
laml,  may  wo  not  reasonably  coiu-luili'  lliat  il  will  ilo 
as  iimcli  u|Miii  Ihi'se  rich  prairii-s  ?  Iff  uii'lcrhlaud 
liirji  cniTcclly,  only  onv  crop  ol'  clover  i«  |il<>iii;lii-il 
nii4cr  ill  liis  live  yi'ars'  lolatioii.  Ik  HiIk  wi?  Can  he 
r)r  Millie  CMC  eUe  lell  UK  what  is  the  value  iif  lorn- 
slalks  for  manure?  Here  in  the  cum  (.'rowiiu;  reiciou 
niiich  laiiil  is  eniiipeil  with  (.orn  colli iniially  williiml, 
niaiiuriui;,  the  sialics  liein;;  limkeii  iluMii,  llien  rake.l 
ami  burneil  every  sprini.',  aii.l  many  men  eonleiiil 
lliat  lielter  I'rops  can  he  tniwii  when  the  Klall>s  have 
lieeii  liuriieil  than  when  lliey  have  licen  pliiweil  undiT. 
Others,  like  niyKclf,  coiitenil  that  the  stalks  shimld 
always  he  pluweil  uniler,  lirsl  iiiniiin:;  a  stalk  cutter 
over  llie  lielils,  which  cul -.  llieni  iiilu  lent;ths  of 
aticiut  line  foot..  1  think  that  reliiriiiii),'  llie  annual 
eriip  of  slalkK  w  ill  do  much  toward  prcservinir  the 
fertility  of  our  soils,  even  if  the  corn  is  removed. 
Who  can  tell  us  what  is  the  uianurial  value  of  an 
acre  of  heavy  stalks,  slandini;  say  eiirlit  feet  liij,'h  f 
Dois  chemistry  ^ivc  us  any  li(;lil  !  'What  says  expe- 
rience; Will  .Mr.  lieddes  give  us  his  opinion  ?—//., 
.\fcl.can  Co.,  III. 

Answers    by   George  Geddes. 

I  am  asked  whether  it  is  otn-  rule  lo  plow  in 
a  crop  of  clover  once  in  our  five  years'  rota- 
tion. Yes.  IJut  this  rule  cannot  always  be 
carried  out,  for  it  sometimes  happens,  as  it  did 
this  year  in  many  places,  the  clover  crop  is 
destroyed  by  freezing  and  thawing  in  the 
spring,  and  thtis  we  have  no  crop  to  plow 
under.  And  again,  the  .seed  .sometimes  fails 
to  "catch,"  and  this  makes  it  neces.sary  to 
put  in  another  crop,  and  fry  and  make  clover 
grow  with  that.  The  failnteof  a  cropof  clover 
.seed  in  "  catching  "  is  a  serious  matter.  \ 
few  weeks  since,  walking  with  the  veuerabh' 
and  well-known  John  Johnston  through  a  held 
of  his  wheat,  and,  observing  as  to  the  pronii.se 
of  a  crop,  I  was  asked  to  .see  if  any  of  the 
clover  was  starting  after  the  long  drouth  that 
had  just  been  terminated  by  a  heavy  rain. 
Eighty-three  years  had  dimmed  his  vision,  but 
not  his  zeal  as  a  farmer,  and  he  called  for  a 
little  help,  and  when  told  the  clover  was  com- 
ing he  said  :  "Ah  I  that  is  more  impiutant 
even  than  the  wheat ;  for  if  we  lose  our  clover 
we  nuist  go  right  over  the  work  again,  and 
))Ut  in  iinother  crop  with  wliich  to  seed  with 
clover."  I  cannot  add  anything  lo  this  dic- 
tum of  the  highest  authority  in  the  land. 

Five-year  rotation — first  year,  clover  and 
timothy  meadow  ;  second  year,  pa.sture  ;  third 
year,  corn  ;  fourth  yenr,  barley  or  oats,  fol- 
lowed by  wheat  .sown  in  the  fall  lo  be  har- 
vested the  fifth  year— the  clover  and  timothy 
seed  being  .sown  with  ami  on  the  wheat.  This 
is  the  tlieorelietil  round,  but  circumstances 
very  often  break  into  it.  In  fact  is  hardly 
ever  strictly  carried  out  through  all  Iht^  field.s. 
One-tiflh  of  the  farm  in  corn  is  too  much  at 
present  iirices  of  manual  labor  and  corn.  So 
it  quite  often  hapiielis  that  a  piece  of  clover 
land  thai  has  lieen  used  one  year  for  meadow 
and  another  for  iiaslure  is  sown  to  barley  or 
oals,  and  that  crop  followiMl  by  the  wheat. 
Thus  the  course  is,  in  part,  reduced  to  four 
years,  two  of  litem  being  given  to  the  clover 
and  timothy,  anil  this  is  all  the  better  for  the 
liind,  as  we  liiive  the  hind  half  the  lime  in  re- 
storing crops,  and  the  other  half  in  exhaust- 
ing crops.  Ilowdi.saslrousloall  this  a  failure 
of  the  clover  is,  can  be  readily  understood  ; 
not  only  is  the  rotation  broken  into,  but  the 
manuring  is  prevented. 

The  best  protection  against  loss  of  clover  by 
its  freezing  out  in  the  spring  is  thorough  drain- 
age of  the  land.  It  is  the  water  in  the  land 
that  expands  by  frost.  If  there  is  no  excess  of 
water  in  the  land,  the  freezing  docs  very  little 
harm,  except  in  the  very  special  and  rareca.se 
ofthawingseveriilinchesof  the  surface,  leaving 
the  subsoil  still  hard  frozi'ii.  If  a  cold  night 
comes  and  freezes  two  or  three  inches  of  the 
top  of  the  land  while  the  long  lap  root  of  the 
clover  is  held  fast  below,  the  expansion  of  the 
surface  will  lift  up  the  crown  of  the  plant,  and 
in  so  doing  break  off  the  tap  root.  As  the 
ground  becomes  warm  and  again  free  from 
frost,  the  broken  clover  roots  may  be  seen 
.standing  above  the  groimd,  where  the  frost  left 
them— dead.  Two-year-old  plants  sutler  in 
this  way  nuich  more  than  the  shorter  rooted 
plants  that  have  only  had  the  previous  season 


in  which  to  grow.  Their  tap  roofs  are  shorter, 
and  they  have  most  of  their  lateral  roots  very 
near  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  injury  to 
clover,  in  its  .second  winter,  was  very  great  in 
central  New  York  this  season,  and  especially 

s I  uudrained  l.uid.     A  liberal  covering  lell 

on  the  soil  lielps  to  protect  il  against  the  f'nist.s 
thai  kill  clover,  and  having  made  his  land  free 
from  stagnant  water  and  alloweil  it  ii  libind 
covering  in  flic  fall  of  its  own  prodiief ion.  the 
farmer  must  aliiite  the  result,  with  the  feeling 
that,  having  done  his  duty,  he  has  nothing  lo 
do  in  the  future  but  to  be'govenii'd  by  what- 
ever may  come  to  pa.sH. 

I  am  partiiMilarly  a.sked,  when  to  plow  under 
clover'^  The  clover  is  doubtless  of  most  value 
lo  iilow  under  when  it  has  fully  matured  its 
growth,  both  of  top  and  root,  and  this  will  not 
comi-  till  the  second  crop  of  the  second  year 
has  gone  to  .seed.  By  the  .second  year  I  niean 
the  year  after  the  seed  was  sown.  Supposing 
one  crop,  the  latter  liarl  of  June  or  early  in 
July,  had  been  cut  for  hay,  a  second  crop  of 
the  Tiieiliiim  clover  will  mature  and  bear  seed 
before  cold  wi'af  her.  This  crop  is  too  valuable 
to  Ih'  jilowid  under,  for  the  .seed  will  usually 
1k'  worth  not  far  from  SI.")  imt  acre.  So  il  is 
not  usually  good  econoiny  to  plow  clover  in 
for  manure  when  it  is  worth  most  for  that 
purpose,  for  then  it  is  worth  still  more  for 
seed. 

Our  clover  fields  are  usually  cut  for  seed  the 
year  after  the  wheat  has  been  harvested,  hav- 
ing earlier  in  the  sea.son  given  us  a  crop  of 
hay.  In  cnltiiig  the  seed  crop  a  harvesting 
machine  is  used,  and  the  stubble  is  left  high. 
If  the  plow  fallows  that  fall,  there  will  usual- 
ly be  left  on  Ihe  ground  as  iiiiieh  clover  stub- 
ble as  can  well  be  plowed  under.  The  ma- 
tured roots  all  being  there  the  laud  is  given  a 
heavy  dressing  of  nianine.  If  the  i)lowing  is 
left  until  the  next  spring,  the  same  manin-e  is 
there,  thouLrh  llatleiieil  down  by  the  snow; 
and  if  not  (iloweil  into  until  May  for  eopn, 
there  will  lie  aildi  d  a  considerable  spring 
growth  to  go  under  with  it.  Tin:  sjiriiig 
growth  id'ten  furnishes  ewes  with  young  lambs 
the  food  they  most  love,  and  genertillv  is  Ih'I- 
ler  disposed  of  in  that  way  than  for  inauitre. 
Supposing  the  sei'oud  year  after  the  wheat  is 
harvested  the  lield  is  used  for  pasture,  a  liberal 
allowance  of  clover  and  the  gra.s.scb  that  grow 
with  it  is  plowed  under  in  the  fall,  or  left  over 
for  the  next  spring's  iilowing. 

Of  late  years  we  have  rarely  plowed  under 
full  crops  of  clover  for  manure  when  we  had 
any  other  n.se  for  it,  such  as  making  hay  or 
feeding  off  by  stock.  The  roots,  tlu-  leaves 
and  stalks  that  acciimulafe  on  and  in  the 
ground,  under  our  system,  htivc  been  snthcient 
to  ki'el>  lip  fertility  with  the  belli  "f  niauure 
made  in  the  yards  and  stables.  Lands  that 
have  bieii  ".scourged"  by  cropping,  without 
eonipenstition,  reipiin-  a  ilill'ereul  Ireafinent  ; 
and  to  renovate  lands  that  are  what  is  called 
"worn  out,"  the  largest  quantity  of  top  will 
be  required  as  well  as  the  roofs. 

To  again  refer  to  Mr.  John  Johnston's 
methods  of  culture  in  raising  wheat,  to  show 
how  lands  may  be  made  very  inoductive,  I  will 
state  that  during  the  most  of  the  years  of  his 
owningand  managing  a  large  farm,  wheat  wius 
considered  the  paying  crop,  and  other  cnqis 
were  mostly  raised  with  a  view  of  iiroinofing 
the  greatest  yield  of  wheat  when  its  time  to 
occupy  the  ground  came.  Supposing  him  to 
havein  thespringa  lield  of  good  (dover  ;  when 
it  was  .as  large  as  he  couhl  plow  it  into  the 
ground,  he  would  commence  his  summer  fal- 
lowing; and  having  mixed  his  crop  of  clover 
thoroughly  with  his  soil,  and  killed  the  weeds, 
he  woiilil  .sow  his  wheat  and  reap  a  large  cro]i. 
Clover  seed  was  dnly.sownon  the  wheal  in  the 
siiring.  and  great  cpiautities  of  barn-yard  ma- 
nure Were  spread  (luring  the  fallowing  on  the 
poorer  places  in  the  lield. 

If  this  land  was  not  required  for  any  other 
croii,  he  would  again  summer  fallow  the  year 
after  the  wheal  was  cut.  and  thus  take  a  crop 
of  wheat  every  two  years  from  the  same  land, 
and  by  the  free  n.se  of  clover  (gypsum  being 
Sown  on  it)  and  yard  manure,  he  found  nodil- 
tiuulty  in  raising  constantly  incrciising  croiis 


i40 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  September, 


of  wheiit.  To  provide  his  yard  niaiuuo,  he 
usually  purchased  sheep  in  the  fall  aud  fed 
them  during  the  winter  on  hay,  straw,  corn 
and  oil-cake  meal,  an<l  sold  them  to  the  butcher 
in  the  spriu}?.  Sonietinies  he  fed  as  many  as 
a  thousand  at  once,  calculatiufj;  that  if  he  re- 
ceived the  market  valui'  of  his  corn  an<l  hay, 
aud  pay  back  for  the  oil-cake  he  bought,  that 
he  did  very  well,  and  had  full  compensation 
in  the  manure,  thouj;h  he  nevi'r  failed  but  once 
in  niakiufi  a  handsome  direct  profit  on  liis 
sheep.  Perhaps  no  man  has  in  this  country 
been  more  snceessful  as  a  raiser  of  wheat  than 
Mr.  Joluiston,  or  has,  on  a  large  scale  and  for 
a  long  series  of  years,  averaged  larger  yields. 
In  talking  over  his  methods  of  farming,  he 
will  dwell  constantly  on  the  importance  of 
tiarn-yard  niaiuire  ;  bntcarefulattention  tohis 
story  will  show  that  few  men  have  used  clover 
more  than  he  did.  Some  years  since  he  .sold 
most  of  his  land  aud  reduced  his  farm  to  about 
100  acres,  a  considerable  part  of  which  he  rents 
at  an  annual  sum  of  .125  an  acre  to  nurserymen 
to  raise  fruit  trees  on,  and  he  no  longer  raises 
crops  on  large  areas.  Should  he  now  resume 
business  on  the  scale  of  40  years  ago,  he  would 
tind  that  other  crops  besides  wheat  brought 
money  and  had  a  quick  sale,  aud  he  would  act 
accordingly,  l)nt  he  would  use  no  less  clover 
or  barnyard  manm-o.  He  would  make  his 
clover  till  hi.s  yards,  and  he  could  no  longer 
purchase  oilcake  meal  at  the  prices  of  olden 
times,  and  it  is  very  doubtful  if  he  would  fatten 
as  many  animals  as  he  formerly  did. — yew 
York  Tribune. 


OUR   PARIS   LETTER. 


Corresitoiuleuce  of  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 

Pauis,  July  37,  ISTCi. 

The  harvest  ordinarily  commemes  in  the  sontli  of 
Frauce  aljout  the  8lh  olJune;  this  year  it  is  nearly 
three  weeks  late,  exeejjt  in  the  north.  It  is,  how- 
ever, now  eompleteil,  anil  so  far  as  can  be  juilgeil, 
the  yield  will  be  .i  fair  average.  In  many  cases  win- 
ter had  ti.)  be  replaced  by  spring-  sowings  of  wheat. 
Hay  in  several  re<rions  has  proved  a  satisfactory  crop, 
and  if  ilie  humidity  was  favorable  in  one  case,  it  was 
objectionable  in  another  from  the  weeds  which  were 
rapidly  developed. 

An  agriculturist  of  antiquity— Varro,  "the  most 
learned  of  the  Romans,"  observed  that  a  good  culti- 
vator ought  to  follow  the  errors  of  his  predecessor, 
then  those  of  his  neighbors,  and  lastly,  undertake 
some  experiments.  It  is  in  this  third  stage  that 
France  now  finds  herself  respecting  harvesting  ma- 
chinery. The  price  for  cutting  grain  crops  per  acre 
is  1-t  francs,  therein  including  t^Iie  one-third  lor  bind- 
ing. With  the  reaping  machine,  the  total  cost  per 
acre  is  one-half  less,  allowing  for  all  special  and  Ren- 
eral  expenses.  French  agriculturists  are  not  insen- 
sible to  this  serious  ditference,  and  are  every  year  be- 
ing compelled,  from  the  diminution  of  manual  labor, 
to  consider  the  necessity  of  employing  machinery. 
Native  implement  makers  do  not  appear  to  be  eijual 
to  the  oecasion;  they  are  allowing  foreisners  to  cut 
them  out.  The  Imyers  are  numerous,  for  it  is  esti- 
nuUeil  France  requires  20IJ,000  seed  distributin",'  ma- 
chines, and  possesses  but  1.5,000;  and  wants  at  least 
100,000  mowing  anil  reaping  machines.  The  ques- 
tion of  meeting  this  deficiency  is  so  important  and 
jiressing,  that  the  government  has  requested  its  pre- 
fects to  study  the  best  means  for  extending  tlie  use 
of  these  iini)lements,  as  well  as  of  steam  ploughs  and 
thresliiiig  machines,  and  if  the  municipal  councils,  of 
which  there  are  .'50,000  in  France,  that  is  to  say,  one 
for  each  parish,  could  not  allocate  funds  to  purchase 
these  machines,  and  repay  their  cost  from  the  taritt 
charges  for  hiring  tliem  out. 

As  an  historical  curiosity,  the  French  in  ancient 
times  employed  a  machine,  where  the  idea  of  the 
modern  reaper  may  be  found.  I'liny  states  that  the 
(iauls,  in  the  case  of  large  and  level  tracts  of  land, 
employed  an  implement,  liavins,'  sloping  teeth  placed 
in  planks,  and  when  driven  forward,  liy  a  bullock 
pushing  from  behind,  plucked  off  the  ears  of  corn 
which  fell  on  a  receptacle  board.  Palladius  attests 
that  this  rude  reaper  was  in  use  in  the  fourth  century, 
that  two  women  and  a  bullock  were  sulheient  to 
gather  the  entire  harvest  of  a  tounland  in  a  short 
time,  especially  where  straw  was  no  object. 

Wurtemburg  has  three  official  breeding  studs,  con- 
sisting of  80  mares  and  1.50  stallions  ;  the  chief  stud 
is  at  Marl)ach,  where  the  land  is  stony,  dry,  and  the 
layer  of  arable  soil,  very  thin.  One-half  of  the  oats 
consumed  are  produced  on  the  farm,  as  is  also  the 
hay,  peas  and  much  of  the  straw.  The  stallions  and 
grooms  sullice  to  cultivate  tlie  land,  save  in  spring, 
when  the  stallions  being  distributed  at  the  various 
depots  for  covering  purposes,  bullocks  are  employed 
for  the  light  work  of  that  season;  often  three  year 


old  mares  are  similarly  employed.  The  peculiarity 
about  the  products  of  these  studs  is  that  the  animals 
arc  not  wicked,  and  are  devoid  of  vicious  habits.  The 
climate  is  very  severe,  the  winter  endures  seven 
months,  and  there  is  no  sprintr;  cnttin;;  winds  aboiuid 
— the  Suabian  Alps  lieini;'  in  the  neii;hl)orhood — and 
the  ni^fhts,  even  in  the  middle  of  summer,  are  cold. 
This  climatic  severity  tells  on  the  health  of  the  ani- 
mals, the  mortality  alfeetiuff  exclusively  mares  and 
colts.  t)n  the  contrary  the  horses  are  proportional Ij' 
robust  and  vigorous,  to  which  may  be  traced  the  ex- 
cellent reputation  they  possess  as  hunters.  Since  ten 
years  the  Ansxlo-Norman  is  the  type  of  horse  pre- 
ferred and  aeelimatised. 

Baron  de  Wollwarth  has  done  much  to  settle  the 
vexed  question  as  to  the  efllcaey  of  sliearini^  or  clip- 
pini;  animals  as  a  means  to  promote  rapid  fattening. 
He  selected  22  bullocks,  12  of  which  he  clipped  after 
they  had  been  without  food  for  IS  hours.  The  result 
was  very  unfavoralile  for  the  shorn  lot,  especially  im- 
mediately after  that  process,  and  the  more  luarkedly 
so,  as  lieiiire  the  experiment  there  was  no  sensible 
difference  in  the  daily  auifmontatiou  of  the  22  ani- 
mals. Clippinir  is  thus  far  from  beinsr  a  universal 
panacea;  tliat  operation  increases  generally  the  wants 
of  the  animals,  for  deprived  of  a  portion  of  their 
coats,  they  are  more  exposed  to  the  action  of  cold, 
and  the  increased  diijestibility  means  a  jjreater  pro- 
duction of  heat  to  supplement  what  has  compulsorily 
disappeared.  The  beast  irets  warm  at  the  expense  of 
its  fat,  or  in  other  words,  the  shearim:;  necessitates  a 
supplement  of  I'ood.  There  are  exceptions,  as  in  the 
case  of  horses  of  a  lively  disposition,  and  otdy  so- 
journina;  in  the  air  pending  work;  here  clippinj  dim- 
inishes transpiration,  whieli  from  its  exhaustive  ten- 
dency demands  even  an  excess  of  food.  There  are 
eases  where  sheep  and  cattle  can  be  shorn  if  the 
sheds  be  too  warm,  but  improved  ventilation  might 
tell  better  on  th?  stock.  Then  again  there  are  ani- 
mals sensible  to  cold  and  others  much  less  so. 

Professor  Sanson  draws  attention  to  a  general  error, 
and  which  is  important  to  rectify  now,  that  uuiize- 
fodder  is  liecoming  so  larselyeultivated  for  preserva- 
tion in  trenches.  "  The  liest  moment  to  cut  maize  is 
when  the  seed  commences  to  form  in  the  ear;"  such  is 
the  common  belief  and  error.  The  nutritive  value  of 
maize  as  a  forage  plant  is  subject  to  the  same  laws 
as  clover,  hay,  &c.  Now  it  is  well  known,  as  proved 
by  scientific  investigation  and  practical  experiment, 
that  a  plant  is  richer  in  nitrogenous  and  protein  mat- 
ters, in  proportion  as  its  development  is  advanced,  or 
is,  in  fact,  yoiuig  ;  that  in  proportion  as  it  becomes 
old  it  becomes  more  woody,  tiie  cellular  tissue  in- 
creasing and  the  protein  diminishing,  and  that  the 
digestibility  of  the  forage  and  the  assimilation  of  its 
principles  diminish  with  the  maturity  of  the  plant. 
Wolff  has  demonstrated  that  red  clover  in  its  first 
growth  contains  22  per  cent,  of  protein,  and  only  10 
when  nearly  arrived  at  maturity ;  the  increase  of  cel- 
lular tissue  being  respectively  as  25  to  42.  It  is  well 
known  to  graziers  that  the  extent  of  meadow  suffi- 
cient to  fatten  an  ox  pasturing  would  never  accom- 
plish that  end  with  the  hay  produced  on  the  same 
superficies.  The  seed  of  a  plant  absorbs  and  concen- 
trates the  elements  of  its  stems,  and  hence  the  entire 
plitiit  oitght  to  bo  more  nutritive  when  it  is  in  it» 
(lowering  than  in  its  grain-producing  stage.  Payen 
also  has  shown  that  in  this  younger  state  the  juices 
of  digestion  act  more  iiowerfully  and  uniformly. 

Having  alluded  to  M.  WnlH  I  may  remark,  that 
eminent  fierinau's  great  work,  "The  Kational  Alimen- 
tation of  Domestic  Animals,"  has  appeared  in  a 
French  dress.  He  is  director  of  the  Agricultural 
"  Station  "  of  Holicnheim,  and  since  25  years  has  de- 
voted his  attention  to  the  scientific  and  practical 
study  to  the  comparative  richness  of  the  food  of 
animals,  its  relative  digestibility  and  its  constituents. 
On  these  points  he  is  perhaps  the  first  authority  of 
the  day. 

Messrs.  Heiden,  Von  timber  and  Brunner  have 
condui'ted  a  series  of  delieate  experiments,  to  decide 
whether  it  was  more  profitable  to  give  to  milch  I'ows 
potatoes  raw  or  steamed  ;  they  found  that  a  ration  of 
28  His.  of  potatoes  per  day  produced  no  effect  either 
on  the  quantity  or  quality  of  milk,  or  on  the  animals 
putting  up  ficsli.  Messrs.  Wagner  and  Schaffer's  ex- 
periments on  the  cooking  of  the  tubes,  conclude 
that  unpeeled  potatoes  ought  to  be  boiled,  and  the 
peeled  ought  to  be  steamed. 

The  French  Legislature  has  decided  that  fish  cid- 
ture  shall  form  a  part  of  the  progrannne  of  all  the 
farm  schools.  This  was  a  brancli  of  rural  industry 
formerly  nuich  cultivated  in  this  country,  especially 
in  reference  to  carp.  The  latter  is  a  most  prolific 
and  easily  propagated  fish;  weight  for  weight,  it 
fetches  nearly  as  high  ti  price  as  beef,  and  no  farm 
stock  can  manufacture  tiesh  so  rajtidly  as  carp.  Any 
pool  of  water  can  raise  the  fry;  at  two  years  of  age, 
they  must  be  transferred  to  larger  spaces  of  water, 
and  even  then  can  command  at  the  rate  of  200  francs 
per  1,000  head. 

The  bean  crop  is  severely  attacked  this  year  with 
the  black  hug;  ashes,  soot,  and  guano  scattered  in 
the  early  morning  while  the  dew  is  on  the  plant,  a 
solution  of  urine,  etc.,  have  been  tried  with  more  or 
less  etl'cet.  Steeping  seeds  in  a  poisonous  solution 
and  hastening  the  growth  of  the  young  plant,  are 
amongst  the  most  efficacious  preservatives.    M.  Bur- 


venieh  recommends  that  an  excellent  means  to  pre- 
vent the  root  of  cabbages  from  being  attacked  by  the 
worm,  is  to  plant  them  in  furrow^  somewhat  like 
celery;  the  cause  of  the  disease  he  asserts  is  due  to 
the  aridity  of  the  soil. 

If  no  cure  has  yet  been  found  for  the  vine  bug 
malady,  the  attempts  to  conquer  the  phylloxera  are 
far  from  diminishing.  Submersion  of  the  vines  is,  up 
to  the  present,  the  sole  remedy  that  has  everywhere 
succeeded  where  tried  ;  the  suli)luiret  of  carbon  h.as 
given  but  chequered  results.  A  feeling  in  favor  of  im- 
porting American  vines,  on  which  French  stocks 
could  be  grafted,  has  set  in,  and  the  governrnent  has 
nominated  a  commission  to  go  to  Philadelphia  and  in- 
vestigate the  sutiject. 

(iermany  has  decided  to  establish  an  AgrienUnral 
"Station,"  exclusively  devoted  to  the  culture  of  the 
best  varieties  of  sugar  beet ;  in  that  empire  the  manu- 
facturers themselves  raise  60  per  cent,  of  the  beet 
cultivated.  For  the  production  of  1  cwt.  of  sugar  11 
ewts.  of  roots  are  necessary,  and  the  expenses  of 
mamifacturing  vary  from  fr.  ^5  to  40  per  cwt.,  the 
duty  being  fr.  11  on  that  quantity. 

.Messrs.  Transon,  of  Orleans,  find  that  rolling  the 
seeds  of  larch,  pine,  the  glands,  ifec,  of  other  trees 
in  a  paste  of  red  lead,  and  drying  them  before  sowing, 
completely  wards  of  the  attacks  of  birds  and  field 
mice. 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  the  Lower  Seine,  find- 
ing all  existing  instruments  unreliable  for  detecting 
the  adulteration  of  milk,  now  otfer  a  prize  of  a  gold 
medal  and  fr.  700  to  the  inventor  of  an  instrument 
capable  of  indicating  if  milk  has  been  skimmed  or 
watered. 


OUR   LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Proceedings    of   the    Lancaster  County  Agri- 
cultural and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Lancaster 
County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  was 
held  in  the  Athenjeum  rooms,  on  .Monday  afternoon, 
September  4th,  at  2';  o'clock. 

The  following  members  were  present : 

Henry  M.  Engle,  Johnson  .Miller,  Peter  S.  Heist,  E. 
S.  Hoover,  Wm.  MeComsey,  John  B.  Erb,  S.  S. 
Uathvon,  Martin  D.  Kendig,  M.  M.  Brubaker,  John 
M.  Stehman,  Levi  S.  Reist,  Andrew  Lane,  Harry 
Wolf,  Jacob  Witmer,  Mr.  Hersbey,  David  Swartz,  C. 
L.  Hunseeker,  Harry  Keist,  D.  Snieych,  John  tjing- 
rich,  Casper  Hitler,  John  Miller,  Mr.  Landis,  Phares 
Kaufman,  Israel  L.  Landis,  Dr.  Hertz,  and  Reporters 
of  the  press. 

In  the  absenceof  the  Secretary,  Alex. Harris,  (who 
is  now  on  a  visit  to  some  of  the  Southern  States,) 
Johnson  Miller  was  appointed  temporary  Secretary 
until  his  return. 

The  report  of  crops  being  first  in  order,  Henry  M. 
Engle  was  called  upon  to  state  their  condition  in  his 
district.  He  said  the  corn  crop  was  a  full  one.  The 
jjolatoes  were  almost  a  failure,  and  were  small  in  size. 
The  young  clover  was  not  promising,  while  the  apple 
crop  was  far  above  an  average,  although  many  va- 
rieties showed  a  tendency  to  ripen  too  soon;  especial- 
ly so  was  this  the  case  with  the  winter  fruit.  Peach 
eroji  fair,  but  not  so  perfect,  on  account  of  over-bear- 
ing. A  fair  crop  of  grapes;  same  may  be  aaid  of 
pears.  The  season  was  an  excellent  one  for  sweet 
potatoes. 

M.  D.  Kendio,  of  Manor,  reported  the  tobacco 
crop  not  so  good  as  expected,  it  haviitglJcen  damaged 
eonsiilerably  tiy  the  drought. 

J.  B.  EuB,  of  Beaver  Valley,  gave  generally  en- 
couraging accounts  of  the  crops  in  his  district.  The 
fruit  crop,  he  thought,  was  two  or  three  weeks  ahead 
of  time.  Bees  have  not  been  doing  so  well  as  on 
former  occasions.  Potatoes  would  not;  he  half  a  crop; 
corn  three-quarters  of  a  crop.  Tobacco  would  also 
be  about  three-quarters  of  a  crop,  the  worms  being 
very  troublesome  this  season.  Trees  that  were 
planted  last  spring  have  made  a  vigorous  growth. 
Caterpillars  were  less  numerous  on  trees  than  for- 
merly.    The  summer  grass  was  good. 

Petek  S.  Reist  stated  that  the  wheat  crop  was 
not  as  good  a  one  as  was  e.xpeeted,  and  that  corn 
would  make  about  three-quarters  of  a  crop.  Tobacco 
was  injured  very  much  by  worms.  Bitter  weeds  were 
high  and  very  troublesome.  Trees  that  were  planted 
last  spring  have  made  more  wood  than  ever  noticed 
by  him  belbre.  The  peach  crop  was  good,  and  young 
eloviT  had  recovered. 

D.VNIEL  Smevcii,  of  Lancaster,  said  that  grapes 
were  poorer  than  they  had  been  for  the  past  nine 
years.  Concords  were  almost  a  failure,  while  many 
other  varieties  were  very  little  better.  He  had  thir- 
ty-five varieties,  all  of  which  were  defective,  more  or 
less. 

Johnson  Mii.i.er,  of  Warwick,  reported  corn  as 
growing  finely  since  the  late  rains,  and  will  make  a 
good  crop ;  perhaps  not  equal  to  last  year  in  quan- 
tity, but  of  a  better  quality.  Young  clover  is  poorly 
set,  and  potatoes  yield  rattier  poor  with  most  farmers. 
The  bugs  have  destroyed  them  with  some  fanners, 
and  also  the  season  had  been  rather  dry  for  the  late 
plantings.  Fruit  in  abundance.  Apples  are  drop- 
ping fast,  with  no  prospect  for  a  large  supply  of 
winter  apples.     Cider  is  abundant,   and  selling  as 


1S76.] 


the:lancaster  farmer- 


iAi 


low  as  $3  to  ?:!  a  barrel.  The  farmers  are  now  Ret- 
tiiifl  ready  to  sow.  The  cjrouiul  is  in  excellent  eon- 
liition.  Tliere  is  some  wlieat  alreaily  "|>,  "nil  willi 
favorable  weather  will  ^row  ral  her  rank  lie  woiiUl 
prefer  sowinfr  from  the  Kith  lo  the  20lh  of  September. 
The  weather  prophets  prediet  a  warm  fall,  es|ieeially 
the  month  of  November,  and  if  that  sluiiild  be  the 
ease,  this  will  be  in  timi'  even  with  linearly  fall.  The 
tobaeeo  erop  is  pretty  we^l  housed,  althouL'h  a  irood 
deal  is  out  yet.  It  is  of  (rood  quality,  and  will  make 
the  lamest  erop  ever  produced  by  this  eonnty.  Con- 
siderable of  it  was  spoiled  by  the  worms,  whieh  were 
more  numerous  this  year  than  formerly,  ami  where 
they  have  not  been  properly  atlendeil  to,  they  have 
damaged  the  erop  to  some  extent.  A  great  deal  of 
tobaeeo  was  late  in  growing,  and  farmers  should 
give  it  time,  and  not  eut  it  too  green,  on  aeeount  of 
frost,  wliieh  he  thought  is  not  so  near  at  hand  as 
some  imagine. 

N.N.  HitiitiAKKn,of  East  llemplield,  informed  the 
members  that  peaches  and  apples  in  his  district  wi'iv 
very  [ilenty,  aUbougb  the  latti'r  erop  was  I'alling 
very  fast.  The  limbs  of  young  peach  trees  were  dy 
ing  olf  at  the  ends,  from  ibe  depredations  of  a  snnill 
white  worm.  Tlie  grinind  is  in  good  e(nidition,  and 
farmers  are  getting  reaiiy  for  seeding.  The  corn  and 
tobacco  crops  were  liot'h  good.  He  would  like  tii 
know  what  w(mld  be  a  good  reuK'dy  to  destroy  while 
grub  worms,  which  attack  strawberry  plants. 

A  letter  was  read  from  A,  II.  Iloslctter,  esq., 
essayist  for  the  occasion,  staling  that  he  was  unable 
to  be  present,  but  hoped  to  be  with  them  at  the  next 
meeting,  when  he  would  have  his  essay  ready. 

The  iiuestion  for  discussion  at  this  meeting — "  How 
to  keep  our  boys  on  the  farm  "—was  postponed  until 
the  next  meeting. 

KiMiR.iiM  IIoovEK  wanted  to  know  what  were  Ibe 
best  varieties  of  wheat  to  sow.  At  present  he  found 
the  Fultz  wheat  the  best,  and  in  an  experience  of 
thirteen  years,  found  late  sowing  to  be  the  best,  hc- 
eause  you  would  escape  the  ravages  of  the  lly.  His 
Kultz  ivheat  yielded  fully  one-quarter  more  than  any 
other  kind.  "  He  said  that  late  seeding  was  from  the 
35th  of  September  to  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  Oc- 
tober, and  that  early  seeding  ivas  from  tlic  last  week 
in  August  until  the  middle  of  September. 

H.  M.  Enole  said  that  this  subject  was  discussed 
at  length  some  years  ago,  and  at  that  time  many 
farmers  came  to"  the  eonclusion  that  land  was  too 
dear  to  raise  wheat,  and  that  it  could  never  be  raised 
again  like  our  forefathers  raised  it.  He  thouL'ht  a 
good  erop  depended  a  great  deal  (ni  bow  the  farmer 
treated  the  soil,  and  what  kind  of  seed  he  planted. 
He  believed  in  a  change  of  seed.  He  then  instanced 
his  exiicrieuce  in  planting  dillcreut  kinds  of  seed,  such 
as  the  red  and  wliite  Mediterranean,  the  Fultz,  Am- 
ber, and  other  kinds.  Farmers  should  strive  to  pro- 
duce early  wheat.  If  he  would  grow  largely,  he 
would  sow  the  P'ultz  and  Clawsou  white  altogether. 
Both  of  these  varieties  eould  be  depended  upon  as 
jiroducing  a  sure  erop. 

Johnson  Mili.eu  said  that  lie  had  experimented 
with  the  Clawsou  wheat  for  two  years.  He  received 
the  seed  from  the  Department  at  Washington.  The 
first  erop  was  a  success,  the  latter  was  a  complete 
failure. 

Petek  S.  Reist  did  not  believe  in  experimenting 
with  every  new  variety  of  wheat  that  was  introduced 
in  the  market.  A  few  years  ago  he  thought  he 
would  try  some  new  kinds,  and  sowed  six  ditl'ereut 
varieties.  After  trying  it  for  some  time  be  was  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  on  his  old  kind — the  red  bearded, 
or  as  some  call  it,  the  .Mediterranean.  This  variety 
is  very  nice  to  work,  produces  a  clean  chalf  and  sure 
erop.  He  thought  it  best  to  sow  wheat  on  light 
plowed  ground,  so  that  when  the  frost  came,  the 
roots  would  not  be  damaged. 

EpiiiiAiM  Hoover  believed iu  clianging  seeds  from 
north  to  south. 

C.  L.  UuNSECKER,  of  Manheim,  believed  that  the 
Fultz  wheat,  which  was  so  popular  just  now,  would, 
like  all  other  new  varieties,  fail  in  the  end.  It  would 
be  like  the  "Strowble"  wheat  of  old,  which  for  a 
time  could  be  grown  on  almost  any  kind  of  soil.  He 
spoke  at  some  length  on  the  diti'ereiit  varieties  of 
wheat  now  in  use. 

John  M.  Steiim.vn  was  iu  favor  of  early  sowing, 
and  preferred  the  Fultz  variety  above  all  others. 
From  the  Cth  to  the  2Uth  of  September  he  regarded 
as  early  sowing.  In  early  sowing  the  sprouts  have  a 
chance  to  become  strong,  and  are  not  so  liable  to  be 
damaged  by  the  lly. 

Levi  S.  Heist  believed  that  early  and  late  sowing 
depended  entirely  upon  the  season. 

J.  B.  Eitn  reported  the  green  worms  as  trouble- 
some in  his  district. ~ 

H.  M.  Engle  thought  that  more  depended  on  the 
season  than  on  the  time  and  variety  of  seed  planted 
In  the  whole,  success  de|iended  a  great  deal  upon 
many  eontiugeneies,  and  iu  such  a  ease  it  would  not 
be  well  to  set  a  given  time  to  sow.  He  believed  in 
changing  from  one  variety  to  another,  the  same  as  is 
done  with  fruit.  In  this  way  the  best  kind  can  be 
selected  and  improved. 

Johnson  Mili.eu  said  that  Moses  (ieisenberger,  a 
merchant  on  North  Queen  street,  had  a  new  kind  of 
wheat,  whieh  he  had  been  sowing  on  a  farm  near 
Heamslown,  that  was  proof  against  the  fly  and  would 
Dot  freeze. 


Peteu  S.  Keist  did  not  believe  in  sowing  in  the 
signs  of  the  almanac,  as  was  often  done  by  some 
farmers,  but  be  ilid  believe  in  heavy  manuring,  which 
would  bring  the  soil  up  to  the  old  standard  and  large 
crops  I'onld  be  raised. 

J.vcon  8.  WiTMKii,  of  Millersville,  was  in  favor  of 
alternating  seeds,  that  is,  chanL'ing  from  one  soil  to 
another.  His  larin  was  a  slate  and  limestone  one, 
and  he  found  that  by  pbinling  in  dillcniii  plac'.s 
from  year  to  year,  that  dillcrciit  iiualitics  were  pro- 
duced. In  some  portions  he  noticed  a  liilfereiice  of 
live  to  six  bushels  to  Ibe  acre.  He  believed  that  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years  seed  woulil  dcgeiierali-,  ami 
it  would  b<-(ome  necc.>.sary  to  get  a  new  kind.  He 
would  like  to  know  something  about  the  Egyptian 
wheat.  Ills  was  very  small  in  the  grain  and  shriveled. 
Johnson  Mil. i. Kit  said  that  he  had  iiKpiired  about 
the  Egyptian  wheal,  and  Ibiind  that  it  proved  a  |ier- 
fect  failure  with  all  whoraiseil  it. 

II.  M.  F.Niii.E  agreed  with  the  remarks  made  by 
Mr.  Miller,  and  said  our  climate  was  not  suited  at  all 
for  its  raising.  It  ripens  on  our  soil  too  socni,  and  no 
wheat  is  good  that  ripens  before  its  time.  He  hop<'<l 
no  farmer  present  belii'vcd  in  the  siirnsof  the  almanac, 
but  that  they  all  believed  in  the  signs  of  the  soil. 

.M.  I).  Keniiio  saiil  that  a  point  was  overlooked, 
and  that  was  the  quantity  id' seed  to  be  sown  to  an 
acre.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  sowing  I'rom  a  bushel 
to  a  bushel  and  a  peek  to  tlie  acre,  but  if  the  season 
is  I'avorablc,  one  bushel  to  the  acre  is  eiioiigb.. 

H.  M.  Enoi.e  said  the  remarks  of  .Mr.  Kendig  were 
very  opportune.  As  a  general  thing,  fanners  sow 
too  imu'li  seed  to  the  acre. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Bugle's  remarks,  the  dis- 
cussion came  to  an  cini. 

On  motion  of  .Mr.  Kendig,  a  committee  of  five  was 
appointed  by  the  chair  to  test  the  different  modes  of 
cultivating  whi'al,aud  the  ]iropcr  amount  to  be  sown, 
and'rcport  the  same  at  the  next  iiu'ctiug  of  the  So- 
ciety. M.  U.  Kendig,  II.  M.  Fugle,  John  (liiigricb. 
Johnson  Miller  and  J.  Frank  Laiulis  were  appointed 
as  said  committee. 

The  President  suggested  that  every  other  member 
of  the  Society  give  his  personal  attention  to  this  mat- 
ter, and  experiment  at  least  to  some  extent  in  the 
matter  of  drilling  and  cultivating  wheat. 

Johnson  Mili.eu  read  a  letter  of  invitation  from 
the  Berks  County  Agricultural  Society,  to  attend 
their  exhibition  on  the  13lli,  loth  and  lUh  of  this 
month.  He  moved  that  the  invitation  be  accepted, 
and  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  repre- 
sent the  Socictv  at  the  exhibitiini.  Johnson  Miller, 
Peter  S.  Keist  and  Epbraim  S.  Hoover  were  appointed 
as  said  comniiltce. 

H.  M.  Encu,e  called  attention  to  the  pomologieal 
exhibition  at  the  Centennial,  and  urged  the  members 
to  contribute  fruits,  as  there  would  be  no  exhibition 
held  here  this  year.  The  exhibition  commc^iiees  on 
the  f  Itb  inst.,  to  conlinue  until  the  lljlh. 

On  motion,  a  committee  of  three  (including  the 
chairman)  was  ap]ioiiilcd  to  represent  the  Society  at 
the  next  meeting  of  the  National  Hortii'ultural  Cini- 
gress,  which  meets  next  week,  at  Belmont  Hotel, 
Centennial  grounds.  The  committee  consists  of  H. 
M.  Engle,  Dr.  Elam  Hurst  and  Israel  L.  Laudis. 

H.  M.  Enole  presented  some  grapes  that  were 
considerably  cut.  He  stated  that  they  were  dam- 
aged by  bees,  the  opinion  of  the  bee  keeper  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

C.^LVIN  CooPEK  reported  the  amount  of  rainfall  in 
his  district  for  the  month  of  August  at  1  "li-IOO;  Mr. 
Engle  as  I  10-lU,  and  Mr.  Kendig  as  1  39-100. 

A  committee  of  five,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Johnson 
Miller,  Calvin  Cooper,  M.  D.  Kendig,  Peter  S.  Keist 
and  H.  M.  Engle,  were  appointed  to  revise  the  by- 
laws of  the  Society,  to  report  at  next  meeting. 

Mr.  Kendio  moved  that  in  the  future  all  persons 
presenting  fruits  to  the  Society,  give  a  history  of  such 
exhibits. 

IsuAKL  L.  Landis  gave  notice  that  there  would  be 
a  meeting  of  tobacco  growers  next  Monday  at  S 
o'clock,  al  the  Black  Horse  Hotel,  this  city. 

*'  Ilow  can  we  disjtose  of  our  corn  crop  to  tlie  best 
advantage?"  will  be  the  i|Ueslion  lor  discussion  at 
the  next  mcetiUL'. 

Epiiuai.m  S.  Hooveu  had  a  fine  stalk  of  tobacco 
on  exhiltiti<in. 

Si.MoN  p.  Env  said  that  he  made  a  visit  to  the 
orchard  of  Elias  Eby,  in  Hapho  township,  a  few  days 
ago.  The  orchard  contains  some  lifty  trees,  all  ol 
which  are  in  line  bearing  conditiim.  The  tribes  are 
about  twenty  years  old,  among  the  varieties  licingtiic 
"Northern  Spy,"  "Siiitzcnberg,"  "lialdwin,"  "Kox- 
bury  Kussctt,"  and  "  Swcitzer,"  all  of  which  are  full 
of  fruit.  The  soil  of  the  orchard  is  limestone,  lies 
level  and  is  not  protected  by  any  licilge.  Some  of  the 
apples  were  |ihiced  on  I'Xhibition. 

The  display  of  fruits  was  one  of  the  largest  placed 
on  exhibition  for  simie  lime,  the  following  being  a  list 
of  the  exliibits  and  exhibitors  : 

President  Calvin  Coopeh  presented  to  the  Society 
the  following  varii'tii's  of  grapes  :  Rogers,  No.  4, 
(Wilder);  .Martha;  Christine,  or  Telegraph;  North- 
ern Muscadine;  Hartford  Prolific;  a  while  seedling  for 
name;  Merrimac  (Kogers,  No.  4.) 

Heniiv  M.  Enole  presented  a  number  of  Seckle, 
Bartlett,  Howell,  Des  .Moines  and  other  pears,  and 
several  bunches  of  grapes. 


Mr.  J.  B.  Eiiii,  of  Lime  Valley,  exhibited  the  fol- 
lowing: Jeffries  and  Early  Bellllowcrapples,  Concord, 
Clinton,  .Martha,  While  ('linton  and  loua  grapes. 

Lkvi  S.  Keist  incsented  Bartlett,  Onondaga  and 
McLaughlin  pears. 

Elias  Ehv  presented  fine  Kambo  and  Sweitzer  ap- 
ples. 

After  tasting  and  passing  judgment  on  the  fruit 
exiiibiled,  the  Society  adjourned. 


The  Bee-Keepers'  Society. 

The  society  met  in  the  Athemeum  rooms  at  3  o'clock, 
111!  Monilay,"  .\ngnst  31sl.  The  first  question  dis- 
eussc'd  was,  "  What  brings  on  the  swarming  impulse 
with  a  colony  of  beis,  and  how  are  we  to  control  il  ?" 
Die.  BoVEU  said  the  bi  st  plan  to  |iriveut  bees  from 
swarming  was  to  give  them  plenty  of  room  Id  work. 
Space  has  more  to  do  with  it  than  anything  else. 

Several  members  said  that  they  have  bail  cnloiiics 
to  swarm  several  times  in  a  season,  altluiugh  the 
brood  cbanibcr  was  not  more  than  three-quarlers 
tilled  with  comb. 

Mii.  LiNTNi'.ii  said  that  the  swarming  was  caused 
bv  the  hive  liciug  lilleil  with  comb,  and  the  comb 
with  brood;  the  queen  having  no  place  to  deposit 
eggs.  In  this  case  the  bees  will  coiMtruct  ipiceu 
eells'aiid  swarm.  To  |iievcnl  Ibis  he  ui'cs  a  movable 
frame  hive,  and  when  his  colony  gels  too  strong  he 
removes  a  couple  of  the  frames  with  the  adhering 
bees  into  an  empty  hive,  and  the  bees  will  at  once 
commence  to  work  on  the  empty  frames.  In  this 
manner  he  had  no  trouble  in  preventing  his  bees 
from  swarming. 

What  causes  bees  to  die  out,  having  a  good  supply 
of  honey  in  both  the  brood  and  honey  chambers  ( 
was  the  next  (picstion. 

Dit.  HoVKu  thought  the  cause  was  in  the  queen  not 
being  a  good  breeder,  and  hence  the  colony  grows  too 
weak.  If  the  colony  is  not  strong,  Ihcy  will  die  if 
tlicv  have  ten  galhms  of  liiniey. 

.Mil.  Detwilek  said  much  depended  in  the  winter 
care  of  bees.  A  quilt  or  hi  unci  it  her  absorbent  should 
be  placed  in  the  top  of  the  hive  to  absorb  the  mois- 
ture arising  from  the  bees.  If  this  is  not  done,  this 
moisture  will  form  into  ice,  and  the  sides  and  top  of 
the  hive  and  the  bees  will  freeze. 

Mil.  MvKiis  thought  it  was  owing  to  the  weather 
being  extremely  cold  for  a  long  i)eiiod.  He  had  no- 
ticed that  on  warm  days  in  winter  the  bees  removed 
t he  honey  from  the  outside  combs,  and  stored  it  up 
in  the  centre  of  the  hive.  If  the  weather  was  too 
cold,  they  could  not  reach  the  outside  honeycombs. 

At  this  point  some  of  the  members  got  to  discuss- 
ing queens.  Mr.  Funk  said  bees  will  not  cease  to 
work  on  the  death  of  the  qiieen,  but  will  continue  to 
store  honey  until  all  the  brood  iu  the  hive  is  hatched 
out. 

Dit.  BovEU  said  that  wh"n  a  hive  lost  a  queen,  a 
fertile  queen  should  be  inserted,  as  from  tiMi  to  llf- 
teen  days  would  be  lost  iu  waiting  for  a  queen  to 
hatch  out,  explaining  the  process  of  making  a  queen 
by  the  worker  bees. 

Some  argunMiit  ensued  as  to  whether  the  Society 
was  not  entirely  olf  the  original  question,  and  another 
question  was  proposed,  viz.: 

What  kind  of  a  bee  hive  is  recommended  as  han- 
diest, cheapest  and  most  convenient  to  handle  bees 
in,  with  the  least  injury  to  the  colony  '. 

Mil.  KiitKi'ATKicK  said  he  Imd  long  used  the 
"  Langstroth,"  "  Buckeye,"  "  King,"  and  a  hive  of 
his  own  manufacture,  called  the  "  Doubledeeker." 
The  latter  he  considered  the  licxt. 

All  the  members  seemed  to  agree  that  a  movable 
frame  hive  should  be  used,  with  the  frames  of  uni- 
form size. 

The  question  "  What  is  best  to  do  with  bees  when 
honey  is  scarce  ?"  was  well  answered  by  Dr.  Boyer, 
who  said  that  when  stock  pasture  becomes  scarce, 
the  only  thing  left  was  to  feed  the  stoi'k,  and  when 
honey  became  scarce,  bees  should  be  fed,  or  they 
would  certainly  starve. 

"  .\re  bees  injurious  to  fruit?"  was  discussed  at 
considerable  length. 

Mk.  Fink  said  they  were.  He  had  had  bis  entire 
grape  crojj  destroyed  by  bees. 

Dit.  BovEK  said  that  was  a  mistake;  bees  will  w'ork 
in  grapes,  apples,  etc.,  if  the  skin  is  lirst  broken,  but 
in  no  case  can  they  puncture  the  skin.  He  explained 
that  the  eurculio,  asinall  insect,  lirststung  the  grape, 
and  then  the  bees  would  very  naturally  work  on  the 
sweets  that  oozed  from  the  wound. 

Mil.  Lintnek  sent  to  the  clerk's  desk  and  had  read 
an  article  froni  the  Lancaster  Kxnminer,  (published 
several  months  ago)  giving  a  deseri[itiou  of  the  mau- 
ner  in  whii'h  the  owncrof  a  vineyaril,  near  Schoeneck, 
destroyed  nearly  ;ill  the  bees  in  that  section  of  the 
county.  .Noticing  that  the  bees  were  eating  his  grapes, 
he  made  a  trap,  eimsisting  of  two  large  planks.  These 
planks  were  raised  by  means  of  a  prop  a  foot  apart, 
and  baited  with  molasses,  and  after  a  large  number 
of  bees  had  congregated  he  sprung  his  '•  infernal  ma- 
chine" and  destroyed  thousands  at  a  lime.  In  this 
manner  the  bee"  colonies  in  the  vicinity  were  so 
weakened  that  one  apiarist  lost  eight  out  of  twelve 
colonies. 

Will  bees  gather  more  from  flowers  by  being  fed  a 
little  every  day  through  the  summer  S 


i42 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  September, 


Dk.  Boyek  said  they  slioukl  be  fed  in  the  spring 
before  tlie  lioney  pastures  were  in  bloom,  but  doubted 
the  expediency  of  feeding  them  when  honey  was 
plenty  in  the  fields. 

Several  gentlemen  agreed  that  the  bees  should  be 
fed  in  summer,  if  they  could  be  made  to  work  on  the 
artificial  food,  but  as  a  general  thing,  the  bees  seemed 
to  prefer  the  natural  honey. 

In  what  condition  should  a  hive  be  to  winter  well? 

Mr.  Funk  thought  the  only  thing  necessary  was 
"  plenty  of  bees  and  plenty  ol  honey." 

Dk.  Boyek  thought  loo  much  honey  was  unprofit- 
able. In  no  case  should  they  have  more  than  thirty 
pounds. 

Mk.  Detwiler  asked  the  question,  "When  do 
bees  consume  the  ni(jst  honey — in  mild  or  in  cold 
winters?" 

Dk.  Boyer  said  in  the  moderate  winters  the  bees 
consume  the  most,  as  in  extreme  cold  weather  they 
lie  in  a  dormant  state. 

Mr.  Detwiler  disagreed  with  the  doctor,  saying 
he  had  always  found  his  bees  to  consume  one-third 
more  honey  in  extreme  cold  than  in  moderate  weather. 
He  believed  more  food  was  ueeessary  to  keep  up  sulli- 
cient  animal  heat,  and  keep  the  bees  alive. 

Mr.  Hershey'  said  bees  do  not  lay  dormant  in 
winter.  He  had  examined  hives  when  the  nu-rcury 
marked  five  degrees  below  zero,  and  the  bees  answered 
to  a  knock  on  the  hive.  He  had  also  ojicned  hives  in 
very  eold  weather,  and  the  bees  would  dart  out,  but 
of  course  would  soon  become  chilled  and  drop  on  the 
ground . 

Will  it  pay  to  feed  bees  strong  all  summer? 

Mr.  Funk  thought  it  did.  He  gave  his  experience. 
Aad  purchased  a  pound  of  sugar  for  10  cents,  and 
added  one  pound  of  water.  This  produced  two 
pounds  of  honey,  which  was  worth  TOcents  per  pound. 

Mr.  Myers  said  his  experience  proved  to  him  that 
three  pounds  of  sugar,  fed  in  syrup,  would  not  pro- 
duce more  than  one  pound  of  lioney. 

Mr.  Lintner' exhibited  a  colony  of  Italian  bees 
in  his  patent  "  Buckeye  hive."  The  bees,  comb  and 
all  the  contents,  were  taken  from  the  hive  with  entire 
satisfaction,  no  one  getting  stung.  A  vote  of  thanks 
was  tendered  Mr.  Lintner  for  exhibiting  his  hive. 

The  following  new  members  were  added  :  Wra. 
Kirkpatrick,  West  Walnut  street,  city  ;  John  Dickie, 
city,  and  Jacob  L.  Witmer,  of  Millersville. 

Dr.  Boy'er  was  appointed  essayist  for  the  next 
meeting. 

.Messrs.  Myers,  Hershey  and  Detwiler  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  prepare  an  order  of  business 
and  rules  to  govern  the  society. 

The  society  then  adjourned  to  meet  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  in  November,  at  the  Black  Horse  hotel, 
this  city. 


The  Millers'  Association. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Millers'  Asso- 
ciation was  held  in  the  Board  of  Trade  rooms  on  Mon- 
day, Sept.  11th,  the  Vice-President,  Benjamin  Wissler, 
of  Clay  township,  in  the  chair.  Owing  to  the  inclem- 
ency of  the  weather  the  attendancs  was  not  so  large 
as  at  the  previous  meeting,  but  there  was  a  good  in- 
terest manifested. 

Several  new  members  were  elected,  and  a  bill  for 
printing  and  another  for  rent  were  presented  and  or- 
dered paid. 

The  committee  appointed  last  month  to  look  up  a 
permanent  place  of  meeting  reported,  and  a  discus- 
sion followed  as  to  the  propriety  of  having  the  rooms 
open  every  Monday.  The  unanimous  feeling  of  the 
members  was  that  the  Association  ought  to  have  its 
room  ojjen  every  Monday  as  a  general  millers'  ex- 
change place,  where  millers  might  meet  each  other 
to  transact  their  business  and  where  farmers  who 
have  grain  to  sell  or  other  business  with  millers, 
might  meet  them  with  their  samples.  It  was  thought 
to  be  much  more  convenient  for  both  millers  and 
farmers. 

After  some  further  miscellaneous  business  the  As- 
sociation went  into  a  discussion  of  the  relative  value 
of  difieri'ut  kinds  of  wheat,  especially  of  Foitz  wheat. 

Mr.  Samuel  L.  Levan  had  noticed  that  in  the 
discussions  of  the  Agricultural  Society  this  wheat  had 
been  favorably  commended,  and  that  there  is  a  grow- 
ing tendency  among  our  farmers  in  geueral  to  let  go 
the  other  kinds  of  wheat  and  ro  raise  mostly  Foltz 
wheat.  He  thought  it  a  wrong  tendency,  and  argued 
that  Foltz  wheat  is  not  the  best  wheat  for  Hour.  In 
the  Baltimore  market  they  are  discarding  it  to  such 
an  extent  that  it  sells  at  a  discount  of  four  cents  a 
bushel. 

Mr.  Henry  Snavelt  also  expressed  himself  un- 
favorably. He  said  it  will  do  for  the  best  flour  only 
when  mixed  with  otlier  varieties  in  small  quantities. 

Mr.  a.  II.  Suenck  agreed  with  Mr.  Suavely,  and 
gave  his  experience  as  being  similar.  It  would  not 
do  well  alone;  makes  dark  flour,  and  not  so  good. 

Mr.  John  H.  Bushong  gave  his  opinion  also 
against  it  if  used  alone  or  in  large  quantities.  He 
considered  it  a  wrong  policy  for  the  farmers  to  sow 
too  largely  of  it,  as  it  would  not  keep  price  with  other 
varieties. 

Mr.  M.  O.  Stirk  did  not  feel  quite  so  unfavorable 
to  it.  He  had  succeeded  in  making  good  fiour  of  it ; 
thought  it  would  do  better  by  and  by,  as  farmers 


learned  more  fully  how  to  raise  it ;  thought  the  mil- 
ler must  learn  to  mix  it,  his  own  opinion  being  that  it 
could  be  mixed  to  advantage,  about  half  and  half. 

Mr.  John  H.  Bushong  thought  .that  millers  had 
much  to  learn  in  the  mixing  of  ditt'ercnt  varieties  of 
wheat ;  was  convinced  that  great  improvement  could 
be  made  in  flour  with  more  knowledge  and  skill  in 
this  direction. 

Mr.  Samuel  L.  Levan  said  that  he  had  lately 
had  a  letter  from  parties  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  Foltz  wheat  is  almost  the  only  variety, 
asking  him  to  send  them  a  number  of  bags  of  the 
"  old  red  "  wheat  and  saying  they  intended  to  dis- 
tribute it  among  the  farmers  to  induce  them  to  raise 
it  instead  of  the  Foltz. 

Mr.  R.  R.  Royer  agreed  fully  with  what  had  been 
said  against  Foltz  wheat.  He  had  tried  it,  mixing 
it  with  Michigan  Amber  and  other  wheats,  and  had 
tried  the  "  old  red  "  in  the  same  way,  and  the  differ- 
ence in  flour  was  so  noticeable  that  he  had  no  hesita- 
tion in  giving  his  preference  to  the  "  old  red." 

The  discussion  was  indulged  in  formally  by  a  num- 
ber of  other  gentlemen,  and  the  opinion  was  almost 
unanimous  that  the  Foltz  wheat  had  not  given  satis- 
faction as  a  standard  wheat;  that  while  it  might  be 
used  in  connection  with  other  varieties,  it  would  not 
do  well  alone  or  if  used  in  large  proportions,  and  that 
our  farmers  would  consequently  make  a  mistake  by 
sowing  it  exclusively  or  too  largely. 

As  this  is  a  matter  of  great  importance  to  our  farm- 
ers at  this  season,  they  would  no  well  to  make  a  note 
of  these  opinions,  coming,  as  they  do,  from  such  a 
number  of  practical  millers. 

We  are  glad  to  see  the  Millers'  Association  taking 
up  such  questions,  and  giving  the  community  the  ben- 
efit of  their  experience  upon  them.  It  is  only  by  such 
an  interchange  of  views  and  experiences  on  the  part 
of  all  classes  interested,  that  we  will  succeed  in  bring- 
ing our  farming  and  other  trades  to  intelligent  and 
satisfactory  ends. 


The  Tobacco  Growers. 

A  meeting  of  the  tobacco-growers  of  this  county 
was  held  on  Monday,  Sept.  11th,  .at  the  Black  Horse 
Hotel,  this  city.  The  meeting  was  largely  attended 
by  farmers  from  various  sections  of  the  county,  and 
a  temporary  organization  was  ellected  by  calling 
Aaron  Sumray,  of  Mount  Joy,  to  the  chair,  at  whose 
request  Israel  L.  Landis,  who  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  organizing  the  Society,  stated  the  object  of 
the  meeting. 

Mh.  Landis  said  the  mainobjectof  the  Association 
was  to  promote  anything  and  everything  pertaining 
to  the  cultivation  of  tobacco  and  preparing  the  same 
for  market,  and  that  anything  relating  thereto  should 
be  fully  discussed.  Among  many  matters  that  sug- 
gested themselves  for  discussion,  were  the  different 
varieties  to  be  recommended,  the  procuring  of  seed, 
time  and  manner  of  sowing  and  transplanting,  the 
care  of  plants  by  setting  out,  and  the  cultivation  of 
the  same.  Also  in  regard  to  fertilizing  the  land,  de- 
stroying the  worms,  topping,  cutting,  housing  and 
curing  and  preparing  the  .same  for  market. 

After  referring  at  some  length  to  the  above  ques- 
tions for  discussion,  Mr.  Landis  said  that  it  would 
not  be  out  of  place  to  state  the  number  of  pounds  of 
tobacco  raised  annually  in  this  county,  and  compare 
it  with  the  productions  I'rom  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. In  1S70  the  United  States  produced  8B2,7:i.5,341 
pouniis  of  tobacco ;  of  that  amount  Pennsylvania 
produced  3,467, .539  pounds,  and  Lancaster  county 
2, 692, .584  pounds,  thus  showing  the  vast  amount 
raised  in  this  county.  The  estimated  yield  for  this 
county  last  year  is  14,000,000  pounds.  This  he  re- 
garded as  an  immense  crop,  and  said  that  it  is  now 
one  of  the  greatest  export  articles  which  produce  a 
return  of  loose  currency.  As  such  he  thought  it 
should  receive  a  good  portion  of  attention  from 
farmers. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Landis'  remarks,  a  permanent 
organization  was  effected  by  electing  the  following 
oliiccrs:  President,  Martin  D.  Kendig,  of  Manor; 
Secretary,  W.  L.  Hershey,  of  Neffsville;  Treasurer, 
Andrew  L.  Lane,  of  Nefl'sville. 

Aaron  H.  Summy  moved  that  a  committee  of  five 
be  appointed  to  draft  a  set  of  rules  to  govern  the  as- 
sociation. The  chair  appointed  the  following  gentle- 
men as  the  committee:  Simon  Miunich,  John  M. 
Stehnian,  Reuben  Garber,  Aaron  Summy  and  Martin 
Pyfer. 

The  committee  retired  to  an  adjoining  room,  re- 
turning iu  a  short  time.  Their  report  called  for 
naming  the  Association  "The  Lancaster  County  To- 
bacco Growers'  Society,"  and  that  it  meet  on  the 
second  Monday  of  each  month  in  the  Athenaium 
room.  The  report  also  called  for  the  payment  of 
fifty  cents  by  each  member,  and  that  the  officers  of 
the  Society  be  elected  annually.  A  constitution  and 
by-laws  will  be  submitted  at  the  next  meeting. 

The  only  topic  discussed  was  the  propriety  of  mak- 
ing a  display  of  tobacco  at  the  Centennial.  For  this 
purpose  a  committee  of  five  were  appointed  to  select 
specimens  of  some  of  the  best  varieties,  and  have  it 
put  on  exhibition  at  the  great  show. 

Pending  this,  the  Society  adjourned  to  meet  on  the 
second  Monday  of  October,  in  the  rooms  of  the 
Athemeum. 


WHAT  KIND   OF   WHEAT    SHALL    WE 
SOW  ? 

As  the  season  of  seed-time  is  again  at  hand,  this  is 
an  important  question  for  our  farmer  friends  to  con- 
sider. In  an  agricultural  community  like  ours  it  is 
of  prime  importance  that  great  care  should  be  exer- 
cised in  the  selection  of  seeds,  and  especially  of 
grains.  The  labor  of  preparation  is  the  same  what- 
ever the  variety  selected,  aiid  the  soil  once  prepared, 
it  is  worse  than  unwise  to  sow  an  inferior  variety 
when  a  better  can  be  found. 

As  the  relative  value  of  different  varieties  can  only 
be  determined  by  experiment  it  will  be  of  interest  to 
those  concerned  in  this  subject  to  notice  the  experi- 
ence of  a  number  of  the  millers  of  our  county  with 
the  variety  of  wheat  known  as  Fultz  wheat,  as  it  is 
given  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Millers'  Association, 
which  we  publish  in  this  issue  of  The  Farmer. 

As  touching  another  variety  of  wheat  which  is  being 
introduced  into  our  county,  the  following,  which  we 
copy  from  the  Detroit  Trib-inie,  may  be  of  value: 

"A  New  Variety  of  Wheat. — Considerable  in- 
quiry is  being  made  throughout  the  State  for  the 
'  Clawsen  '  wheat,  a  new  variety  of  white  wheat  that 
is  being  introduced  quite  extensively  among  the  farm- 
ers, now  that  seeding  time  is  at  hand.  For  several 
seasons  it  has  been  cultivated  iu  parts  of  New  York. 
For  the  purpose,  therefore,  of  learning  of  its  real 
value  and  its  qualities  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
Messrs.  Merrill  &  McCourtie,  of  Kalamazoo,  ad- 
dressed letters  to  millers  at  Albany,  N.  T.,who  have 
had  opportunities  for  judging  as  to  its  merits  or  de- 
merits, and  the  following  answers  have  been  re- 
ceived. We  are  indebted  to  Messrs.  Gillett  &  Hall, 
commission  merchants  of  this  city,  for  the  communi- 
cation. Messrs.  E.  M.  Carpenter  &  Co.  write  as 
follows  : 

"  '  We  have  had  experience  with  flour  manufac- 
tured from  Clawson  wheat  at  Baldwinsville,  N.  Y., 
and  the  flour  was  very  poor.  It  has  no  strength,  and 
bakes  black.  ■  Every  miller  in  this  State  that  has 
tried  it  has  got  into  trouble.  We  speak  of  the  crop 
of  1874.  We  have  not  heard  how  it  works  this  year, 
but  presume  no  better.  Our  millers  will  not  touch 
it,  as  it  has  given  them  so  much  trouble  heretofore. 
VVe  hope  it  will  not  be  introduced  into  the  State  of 
Michigan.' 

"  Messrs.  Durant  &  Co.  report  as  follows: 

"'The  Clawson  wheat  is  very  unpopular  with 
millers  in  this  state.  All  the  testimony  within  our 
range  for  the  past  year  is  to  the  effect  that  it  will  not 
make  a  family  flour  at  all,  and  ruins  the  grade  even 
if  mixed  with  other  wheat  in  moderate  quantities.  It 
lacks  in  gluten,  and  when  made  into  dough,  it  slacks 
down  and  continues  to  do  so  as  flour  is  worked  in;  is 
without  elasticity,  and  will  not  rise.  Manufacturers 
say  that  the  flour  will  not  make  more  than  half  the 
amount  of  paste  that  ordinary  Hour  does.  Millers 
buy  it  at  a  reduced  .price  and  make  it  into  low  grades 
of  flour,  but  would  much  prefer  not  to  see  it  at  all. 
We  think  you  should  avoid  it  by  all  means.  Abso- 
lutely certain  by  experience  that  it  is  an  unsafe 
wheat.'" 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
FROM  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

The  wheat  and  oats  crop  have  been  gathered  through 
this  section  of  country,  wheat  about  half  an  average 
crop.  My  opinion  is  that  it  was  injured  by  the  frost 
and  cold  spell  about  the  30th  of  March  last.  The 
heads,  as  a  general  thing,  are  not  filled  out  at  the 
points,  and  some  heads  not  producing  full  grains. 
The  winter  oats,  where  not  killed  out  by  insects  or 
otherwise,  turned  out  tolerably  well.  Spring  oats 
was  much  benefited  by  the  good  growing  season  the 
past  spring;  yet  the  crop  of  winter  and  spring  oats 
will  not  be  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  yield.  In 
this  section  corn  needs  rain.  Cotton  promises  a  fair 
yield,  unless  something  unforeseen  befalls  it  before  it 
matures. 

Within  the  past  fortnight  the  weather  has  been 
warmer  here  than  I  haveever  felt  it  since  I  have  been 
in  this  country  (:!.5 years).  At  this  writing  the  pros- 
pect for  rainfall  is  good,  and  should  it  come  will  bene- 
fit all  garden  truck,  as  well  corn,  white  and  sweet 
potatoes,  and  tobacco. 

While  traveling  in  your  State,  in  June  last,  I 
noticed  but  one  field  of  grain  (wheat)  that  was  short 
and  bare  in  spots.  This  field  I  saw  in  Chester  county, 
on  the  north  side  of  and  immediately  on  the  line  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  In  Lancaster  county  all 
crops,  so  far  as  I  saw,  were  fine.  Your  farmers  de- 
serve great  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  they  till 
the  soil  and  make  it  produce  so  well. — M.  li.,  Salis- 
bury, N.  C,  Jnly'iA,  1S76. 

A  Long  Furrow. 
The  Fargo  (Cal.)  Times  asks:  What  do  you  think 
of  an  unbroken  furrow  six  miles  long  ?  That's  what 
you  can  see  any  day  by  goiug  to  Elm  river,  where 
Messrs.  Dalrymple  and  Graudin  are  breaking  prairie. 
The  teams  start  in  the  morning  and  make  one  round 
across  an  entire  township  and  back  (twelve  miles) 
before  dinner,  and  the  same  in  the  afternoon— twen- 
ty-four miles'  travel  for  each  team  every  day.  All 
for  wheat  next  year. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTEFLJARMER. 


-143 


GENERAL    MISCELLANY. 


Apples  at  the  Centennial. 

Among  llie  npooial  fpsitiin-s  of  tlu'  p:ist  few  weeks 
at  tlie  great  Centenniiil  Kxposilion  were  the  eollee- 
tioii  of  iipiiles  from  Iowa,  Mieliiganuml  Australia. 
The  interest  centred  espeeially  in  the  latter,  as  eoni- 
pareii  with  Ameriean  fruit,  anil  some  valuat)Ie  h's- 
Bons  liave  heeii  derived  from  tliem  l)y  those  wlio  ex- 
amined them  eritieally.  The  inlluenees  wliieh  elimate, 
soil  or  other  eoiiditions  liave  on  altering  the  appear- 
anee  and  (|uality  of  the  fruit,  never  had  a  better 
illustration.  In  taking  tlie  run  of  the  Miehigan  and 
lowii  apples  for  instanee,  eollected  as  those  of  eaeh 
state  were  from  many  dill'erent  growers,  there  were 
often  several  plates Hf  llie  same  kinil.  Sometimes 
the  kinds  would  average  smaller,  or  have  some  peeu- 
linrily  from  one  state  than  were  noted  in  another, 
and  then  again  in  other  varieties  the  same  peeuliari- 
tles  noted  in  the  others  would  favor  the  other  state. 
For  instanee  the  Ben  Davis,  an  Illinois  apple,  we  be- 
lieve was  in  every  ease  snuiller  in  the  Illinois  eollee- 
tion  than  in  the  iowa  one,  though  in  neither  was  its 
exeelleni'e  equal  to  its  reputation. 

A  striking  feature  of  these  western  apples  was  their 
brilliant  coloring.  Most  of  the  varieties  were  of  the 
very  higliest  ehitraeler  in  Ibis  respect,  much  uodoubl 
owing  to  the  varieties  selected  or  rather  saved  to  this 
late  period  of  the  apple  season,  but  yet  not  wholly, 
for  even  such  a  tame  looking  variety  as  we  generally 
see  it,  the  Khode  Island  (ireeuing,  had  a  rosy  tint 
on  it. 

When  we  came  to  the  Australian  apples  the  ab- 
sence of  this  color  was  remarkable.  Out  of  nearly 
one  hundred  kinds  2xbibitcii  there  was  not  one  with 
a  blush  on  its  cheek  equal  to  that  on  a  simple  Rhode 
Island  (Ireeuing  from  Michigan.  Some  few  bad  a 
slight  glimmer.  Northern  8py,  for  instance,  was  a 
good  deal  bronzed,  and  a  curious  old  English  kind, 
know  as  Norfolk  Beatin,  might  have  been  as  dark  as 
the  Black  Detroit,  if  grown  in  a  country  like  ours. 
The  prevailing  tint  was  of  a  deep  orange,  this  run- 
ning more  or  less  through  all  the  kinds.  As  showing 
the  growing  close  relationship  between  America  and 
Australia,  it  was  pleasant  to  note  that  the  greatest 
numlicr  of  these  apples  were  American  kinds.  The 
balance  were  of  kinds  often  named  in  the  list  of 
Europeans,  very  few  seeming  to  be  varieties  of  their 
own,  as  far  as  we  may  judge  I'rom  the  names,  most 
of  them  being  familiar  to  those  who  study  our  poiuo- 
logical  literature.  The  fruits  were  two  months  on 
the  road,  wrapped  in  cotton  on  the  way,  and  though 
some  had  fallen  by  the  wayside,  the  whole  came  in 
excelleut  condition,  considering  all  things. 

The  more  the  Centennial  Exbibiliou  progresses  tho 
more  the  advantages  become  apparent.  Even  in  such 
asnuill  matter  as  this  fruit  exhibition,  thousands  of 
people  saw  what  they  never  knew  before— the  capa- 
city of  the  two  young  states,  Iowa  and  Michigan,  tor 
raising  beautiful  fruit,  while  Australia,  almost  to  us 
an  unknown  country,  told  us  at  once  by  her  deeds 
that  besides  the  good  sheep  raising  country  she  is  be- 
ginning to  be  known,  also,  in  fruit-culture,  so  far  at 
least  as  the  king  of  fruits,  the  apple,  is  eoueerned, 
she  can  oiler  as  good  advantages  to  all  who  may  be 
disposed  to  look  on  that  I'act  as  an  inducement  to 
settle  within  her   borderB. —  G'er/nantniim  Teleyraph. 


Improvement  of  Potatoes. 

An  article  in  the  lievue  Ilortirolc  translated  and 
published  in  the  Fanner  (Eng.)  eoutains  some  iKiints 
worthy  of  attention  by  our  American  farmers,  as  the 
sanieprinciples  which  govern  the  growth  of  this  tuber 
in  Europe  are  also  potent  here.  When  we  want  to 
regenerate  any  particular  kind  of  potato,  or  still 
more,  to  prevent  its  degeneration,  it  is  of  the  first 
importance  to  make  a  judicious  selection  of  parent 
plants.  Several  means  may  be  adopted  to  this  end. 
For  example,  the  choice  of  the  largest  possible  tubers, 
which  represent  well  the  marked  features'of  the 
variety,  since  the  too  frequeut  setting  of  small  tubers 
tends  to  deterioration.  Another  plan  is  to  choose  the 
seed,  when  digging  up  the  crop,  from  the  well-fur- 
nished roots,  and  select  the  tubers  which  are  most 
typical  of  the  special  variety  under  treatment. 

The  shape  of  the  tuber  need  not  be  too  much  con- 
sidered. Some  jjeople  imagine  that  tubers  which 
ditler  from  the  usual  shape  of  the  kind  to  which  they 
belong,  are  of  necessity  degenerate  specimens,  but 
this  is  an  error.  Tubers  may  be  not  exactly  of  the 
shape  characteristic  of  the  variety,  and  yet  produce 
well-shaped  potatoes  in  the  following  year.  As  a  rule 
the  shape  of  the  varous  kind  of  potatoes  ditl'crs  ac- 
coRlinir  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  in  which  they  are 
cultivated.  For  example,  it  is  generally  su|)i)06ed 
that  the  "  Marjoulin  "  ought  to  be  long  and  narrow  ; 
nevertheless,  some  light  sandy  soils  produce  it  in  a 
swollen,  and  sometimes  even  rounded  form,  though 
It  turns  out  long  and  narrow  if  grown  in  stilf  soil. 

It  Is  a  general  physiogical  fact,  common  to  almost 
all  plants,  and  specially  marked  in  the  ease  of  the 
potato,  that  if  they  are  planted  early  every  year  their 
precocity  increases,  whilst  by  reversing  the  course  of 
action  the  contrary  etTeet  is  produced  and  tbcy  tend 
to  become  later  in  attaining  full  growth.  The  same 
result  api>ears  if  wc  plant  successively  in  a  cold  soil. 
In  this  case  they  become  later  in  arriving  at  maturity, 


while  the  contrary  happens  if  we  select  a  warm 
ground.  Again,  it  is  almost  certain  that  if  we  take 
the  lirsl  buds  that  aredevclo|ied  on  a  potato  for  plant- 
ing, the  crop  will  be  earlier  than  if  we  planted  with 
the  second  buds,  or  still  more  with  those  of  a  third 
germination.  It  results  from  all  this,  that  amougsl 
the  various  precautions  to  bi'  taken  in  atti'inpting  to 
maintain  or  even  improve  any  variety  of  |iotato,  a 
judicious  choice  of  tubers  for  planting  is  of  especial 
im|iortanee. 

The  employment  of  seeds,  i)roperly  Bo-ealled, 
might  also  perhaps  be  resorted  to,  sonii'times  advan- 
tageously so.  But  how  often  must  we  not  sow  befori' 
we  get  good  types,  and  good  varieties  as  a  result? 
Still,  nolwitbstaniling  its  uncertainty,  this  method 
should  not  be  neglected.  It  is  generally  believed  that 
certain  kinds  of  potatoi's,  sncb  as  the  "  .MarjoiUin," 
neither  llower  run  to  seed.  This  again  is  and  error. 
All  potatoes  will  llower  and  yield  seed  when  they  are 
verv  stronglv  manured  and  in  a  conilition  of  exuber- 
ant." vegetation  :  Init  it  is  none  the  h-ss  true  that  there 
are  some  varieties  whose  natural  strength  leads  them 
to  llower  and  seed  more  freely  Hian  others. 


Ignorance  in   Farming. 

One  of  the  greatest  drawbacks  to  successful   farm- 
ing is  the  presence  of  the   unknown    quantity— igno- 
rance of  the  exact  condition  of  things,  in  value, weight 
and  measure,  eonceriMug   our    products.     We   often 
produce  at  a  loss.     An  account  with  each  crop  would 
decide  the  niatler.  If,  .•vftcr  a  few  trials,  it  costs  more 
to  proiluce  than  a  crop   will  sell    for,  its   cultivation 
should  be  abandoned.  Many  continue  to  produce  from 
year  to  year  at  a  loss,  simply  from  the  want  of  a  little 
calculation.     The  unknown   ipiantity  in    weight  and 
measure  subjects  us  to  great  loss  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing.    A  stack  of  hay  came  to  my  notice  recently.  The 
scHer  estimated  that  it  would  weigh  a  ton  and  a  half. 
The  buyer  preferred  to  buy  by    weight.     It  wciglicil 
1 ,8.50  pounds— ipiile  a  ditlerence  in  favor  of  the  buyer. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  a  great   deal  of  hay  clianges 
hands  every  year  on  a  basis  no  nearer  the  truth  than 
this.     Loss' enough  is  soon  made  in  this    way  to    put 
in  and  maintain  a  hay-scale,  even   in  a   small  ncigb- 
borliood.     The  same  "thing  is  true   in    regard    to    live 
stock.     Dealers  can  judge  much  more  accurately  than 
farmers,    and    are    much    less    liable   to   be  cheated. 
Farmers  arc  much  more  liable  to  fail  in  buying  than 
in  selling.     Ifwcpay  too  much  in  buying,    it   makes 
an  up-hill  business  all  the  way  through.     This  is  one 
great  cause  wbv  many  fail  to  make  anything  in  feed- 
ing and  handlii'ig  stock.     From   considerable  experi- 
ence in  weighing  stock  for  others,  I  have  found    that 
the  greater  part  fall  short  in  weight  from  tlie  estimate 
of  the  owners;  some  come  very  I'ar  short.     Not  more 
than  live   per  cent,  exceeds   the  estimates.     Horses 
estimated    at  1,100   pounds  generally   weigh    about 
1,000.     Loads  of  hay  called  a  ton  quite   often    weigh 
only  1,200  or  1, .500  pounds.     Those  who  estimate  the 
number  of  tons  by  the  number  of  loads  are  often  very 
much  deceived,  and  in  selling  tl#nk  they   have   been 
cheateil,  because  the  scales  failed  to  show  as  much  as 
they    expected.     Weighing   will   remedy   this.     The 
pound  avoirdupois  is  a  known  quantity;  after    a.scer- 
taining  the  exact  number,  we  are  in  a  condition  to  go 
forward  without  making  mistakes  in  our  calculations. 
Another  unknown  quantity  is  in  failure  to  know 
the    number   of  acres    under   cidlivation.      A    farm 
which  had  been  taken  up  when  the  country  was  new, 
and  occupied  by  five  successive  generations  of  the 
same   family,  had  a  twenty-acre  lot.     On  the  death 
of  the  first  member  of  the  family,  the  farm  was  sold. 
The  twenty-acre  lot  contained  but  fourteen  acn^s  by 
actual  measurement.     Here  were  five  generations  of 
heroic  workers  deceived  in  the  amount  of  work  actu- 
ally done,  all  the  while  supposing  tliat  they  were  cul- 
tivating six  acres  more  than  there  really  was.     If  the 
yield  came  up  to  what  the  increased  acreage  should 
"produce,  it  did  not  matter  so  mmdi.     But  the  proba- 
bility is  that  they  were  as  far  from  the  truth   in  the 
yield  as  in  the  acreage.     1  once  bought  a  tract  of  salt 
"marsh  said  to  contain  six  acres.     The  surveyor  made 
less   than   four   acres,  much   to  the  disgust   of  the 
seller  and  the  detriment  of  the  reputation  of  persons 
who  had  gained  a  local  notoriety  for  big  days'  work 
done  thereon.     Traditional  "  big  days'  work  "  often 
owe  their  existence   more  to  some  errors  in  calcula- 
tion than  to  the  amount  of  work  really  done.     There 
is  uncertainty  enough  attending  the  busini'Ss  of  farm- 
ing, from  unfavorable  seasons,  and  causes  over  which 
we  have  no  control,  without  lieing  subjected  to  loss  in 
those  we  can  remedy.      We  sutler  loss  from  buying 
and  paying  for  what  we  do  not  get;  l)y  selling  what 
we  do  not  gitt  pay  for,  and   in  many  other  ways  in 
which  the  unknown  quantity  atlecls  us  unfavorably. 
We  stiould  enileavor,  where   it  is  in  our  power,  to 
eliminate  it  from  our  business.- Cor.  t'ountry  Ucn- 
tUman. 

Draining  Orchards. 

Apple  orchards  on  heavy  soils  or  wet  sub-soils  are 
often  injured  in  growth  and  in  crops.  Draining  by 
ruinnng  ditches  midway  lietween  the  rows  will  do 
them  much  good.  As"  the  operation  must  cut  off 
many  of  the  small  roots  it  should  be  performed  in 
spriiig,  twf'ore  the  buds  open ;  if  left  till  the  trees 
are  in  leaf  it  will  more  or  less  cheek  their  growth. 


Iron  and  Gold. 

It  is  a  peculiarity  of  gold  that,   from  the  moment 
of  Its  discovery  to  the  day  of  its  destruction,  its  in- 
trinsic value  eamiot  be  increased.     It  will  sell  for  as 
much  in  the  dust  or  nugget  as  when  coined  Into  the 
sovereign.     Experience  has  proved  that  every  dollar 
of  gold  coined  costs  its  dollar  in  gold  to  mine.     Not 
so  with  iron.     Iron  eontimies  to  increase  in  value  at 
every  stage  of  development   or   manipulation  ;  from 
tlic  unattractive  earthy  ores,  till  It  pulsates  with  tlie 
seconds  of  time,  as  it  measures  out  the  limits  of  the 
glorious   orl)  of  dav.     (iold    is    indestructible.      No 
acid,  gas,  heat  or  I'lild  all'ects  its  (|ualily  or  disturbs 
its    purity.     It  is  regarded  as  the    monarch    among 
metals.     It  Is  more  ductile  than  any  other,  and  is  the 
only  irietal   free   from  oxygen— chemically   free  and 
pui'e.     Iron  Is  the  servant  of  all.     Its  steel   arms,  its 
iron  ribs  and  its  revolving  feet  carry  us  obediently  to 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth;  it  nurses  um  in  our 
days  of  sickness;  it  protects  us  in  the  bourof  danger. 
Iriin  has  greater  affinity   for  oxygen   than   any  other 
metal,  and  is  never   fouinl  ebcinically   free  or  pure, 
(iold  always  has  an  aristocratii:  shine.    It  is  the  min- 
eral snob,  typical  of  pomp,  pride,  riches,  laziness,  In- 
dolciH'i^   and   extravagance'.     It  is  piled   idly   in   the 
bank  or  coiniting  room.     It  is   the  ornament  (jf  the 
belle    and    the    servant,    the  prinec'  and  the  peasant, 
th(^  palace  and  the   play-house,  the   temple  and  the 
tenement.     It  is  courted  alike  by  both  fools  and  phi- 
losophers,   though    "all    is  not   goM   that  glitters." 
Iron  is  the  bone  and  sinew  <if  the  land;  it  only  shines 
when  work  or  worth   is  demanded.     The  friction  of 
enterprise,   industry    and  duty   keeps    it   bright.     It 
builds  our  houses.     It  saws  and  ilraws,  and  smooths 
and    grooves,   ami    sows    and    mows,    and  faitlifully 
serves  both  king  and  commoner  without  a  lilusfi  of 
shame,  or  a  bruise  of  resentment.     It   is  the  general 
benefactor  of  mankind,  a  true  gift  of  Cod.     Iron  and 
gold  cannot  Ije  fused  or  united;  their  elements  are 
antagonistic.     Iron   is  the  oidy   metal   that  will  de- 
stroy gold.     You  may  plate   iron  witli  gold,  but  the 
oxvgen  will   in  time,   with  its  devouring  rust,  creep 
through  and  eat  offthi'  glitter  of  the  gold,   mar  its 
face  and  scar  its  beauty.     Humainty,   aye,  even  the 
soul  is  lrec|Uetilly  bartered  for  the  golden  bubble,  but 
never  for  iron.     Iron  is  the  lowest  and   cheapest  of 
metals,  yet  it  can  rise  highest  in  the  scale  of  intrinsic 
merit.   Wheti  wrought  to  its  biirbest  value  it  is  worth 
treble  its  weight  in  gold,     (iold,  the   purest  of  ores, 
may  sink  to  the  meanest  service  of  man.    Hold  is  im- 
perial, exclusive,  desi>otic  and  scarce.     Iron  is  do- 
mestic,  cosmopolitan,  abundant,     (iold   is  regarded 
as  the  standard   which    fixes  values.     Iron  produces 
the    values   so    fixed,    whether    by   the    plow,  or  the 
press,    the  mine  or  the  mill,  the  ship  or  the  steam 
car;  iron  demonstrates  its  utility,  its  producing  power. 
Cities  have  t)ecn   ransomed   with   gold,   but  empires 
have  been  built  up  by  iron.     Gold  clings  to  tlie  few, 
but   iron    is   the    possession    and    the  blessing  of  the 
many. — .V.  1'.  MerctiiUilc  Journal. 


Christian  Laconics. 

We  cannot  be  too  thankful  for  small  mercies,  but 
we  may  be  too  much  troubled  ab(ml  small  miscriet. — 
1  Thess.  V.  18;  Luke  x.  41. 

It  is  backward  anil  doiimmard  with  the  wicked— it  is 
onward  and  upward  with  the  righteous.— Job  xvli.  9; 
Matt.  vii.  l:i. 

Grace  and  glory  are  inseparably  joined — he  that 
gets  the  one  may  be  certain  of  the  other .—I's.  Ixxxiv. 
11. 

Sin  forgiven  is  peace  restored. — Matt.  ix.  2. 

Satan  promises  what  he  never  gives— io»(in<7  pleas- 
ure! and  gives  what  he  never  promises— ewriasiirai; 
pain. — (ien.  ill.  4. 

Worth  and  not  wealth  is  a  nation's  safety— Prov. 
xiv.  i>4. 

When  love  is  warmest  praise  is  loudest — the  heart 
helps  the  tongue. — Luke  i.  M'l,  47. 

What  can  grace  not  do  >  lor  it  raised  up  saints  even 
in  Ciesar's  huuselwlU. — I'hil.  iv.  22. 

One  may  be  sincere  without  being  safe.— Prov.  xvl. 
2.5. 

There  will  not  lie  a  tear  in  heaven— there  will  not 
be  a  smile  in  hell  ;  there  will  be  no  wcepini/  in  the 
former,  iiud  uolliini;  but  loecpiug  in  the  latter. — Rev. 
xxi.  4  ;  Luke  xiii.  28. 

He  that  would  commune  tnuch  with  Goil,  must 
commune  little  with  the  world.— James  iv.  4. 

Forbidden  pleasures,  tliough  loved  at  first,  are 
loatUed  at  last. — 2  Sam.  xiii.  l-').  ^ 

Though  we  must  never  be  weary  of  the  Lord  s 
work,  the  sooner  we  weary  of  Satan's  the  better. — 
— (ial.  vi.  U  ;  Peter  iv.  li. 

To  be  blessed  with  happiness  we  must  be  beautified 
with  holiness. — Ps.  cxix.   1. 

None  can  enter  by  the  heavenly  gate  ofjuwe  who  do 
not  enter  l>y  the  narrow  gale  Wow.— Luke  xiii.  24. 

Humility  is  a  grace  not  merely  ornamental,  but  es- 
sential—not what  matj  be  in  the  Clirlstian,  but  what 
must  be. —  1  Pet.  V.  !>,  (>. 


To  Use  Hen  Manure. 

Manure  from  the  poultry -house  is  best  mixed  with 
six  or  eight  times  its  bulk  of  loam.  It  can  then  be 
safely  applied  to  any  crop  or  seed. 


144 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  September, 


A  Little  Every   Day, 

The  longest  life  is  made  up  of  single  days,  few  or 
many;  but  tlie  days  grow  into  years,  and  give  the 
measure  of  our  lives  at  the  last. 

The  life  is  at  the  last  what  the  days  have  been. 
Let  the  children,  tliereforc,  lool<  after  the  days — one 
day  at  a  time — and  put  into  each  one  something  that 
will  last — sometliing  worth  doing,  and  snnietiiing 
worth  remembering,  something  worth  imitating  by 
tliose  who  follow  us. 

1.  Every  day  a  little  knowledge  One  fact  in  a 
day.  How  small  a  thing  is  one  fact !  Only  one  ! 
Ten  years  pass  by.  Three'thoiisand  and  six  hundred 
and  fifty  facts  are  not  a  small  thing. 

2.  Every  day  a  little  self-denial.  'Thething  that  is 
difficult  to  do  to-day,  will  be  an  easy  thing  to  do 
three  hundred  and  sixty  days  hence,  if  each  day  it 
shall  have  been  repeated.  What  power  of  self-mas- 
tery shall  he  enjoy  who,  looking  to  God  lor  Ills  grace, 
seeks  every  day  to  practice  the  grace  he  prays  for. 

3.  Every  day  a  little  helpfulness.  We  live  for  the 
good  of  others,  if  our  living  be  in  any  sense  true  liv- 
ing. It  is  not  in  the  great  deedsof  philanthropy  that 
the  only  blessing  is  ibund.     In 

"  Little  deeds  of  kindness," 
repeated  every  day,  we  find  the  true  happiness.     At 
home,   at   school,   in   the   street,   in   the  neighbor's 
house,  on  the  jilayirround— we  shall  find  opportunity 
every  day  for  usefulness. 

4.  Every  day  a  little  Irtok  into  the  Bible.  One 
chapter  a  day.  Wli.at  a  treasure  of  Bible  knowledge 
one  may  acquire  in  ten  years  !  Every  day  a  verse 
committed  to  memory.  What  a  volume  in  tlie  mind 
at  the  end  of  twenty-five  years. 


Something  for  Bachelors. 

Dr.  Dio  Lewis  having  learned  the  minimum  quan- 
tity of  food  on  which  life  cau  be  sustained,  advises 
all  young  men  to  marry  and  settle  down  in  life.  His 
idea  is  that  "  until  a  man  is  married  his  life  is  lack- 
ing in  that  which  best  develojis  his  manhood."  He 
gives  "old  bachelors"  some  hard  raps  in  a  letter 
published  in  the  Green  Bay  (Wis.)  Advocate,  and 
then  administers  this  rebuke  to  that  class  who  are 
anxious  to  see  the  world  before  marrying:  "Seeing 
the  world  as  a  young  man  does  who  has  to  earn  his 
living  as  he  goes  along,  amounts  to  very  little.  What 
he  does  see  is  nothing  that  helps  him  tight  the  battle 
of  life  more  successfully.  It  only  keeps  him  from 
the  habits  which  are  in  direct  antagonism  to  a  cor- 
rect and  happy  and  successful  life,  and  when  he  gets 
through  '  knocking  about '  he  has  nothing  to  show 
for  the  misspent  years  save  the  habits  which  he  must 
overcome  if  he  would  make  anything  of  himself.  Do 
you  call  that  gain  or  loss?  So,  young  man,  take  the 
advice  of  a  man  who  has  kept  his  eyes  open  for  more 
years  than  you  have  lived,  probably,  and  don't  'knock 
around.'  If  you  think  I  have  overdrawn  the  picture, 
look  around  you,  and  out  of  the  men  j'ou  know  select 
tliose  who  have  •  knocked  arouud  '  and  see  if  they  do 
not  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  every  assertion  I  have 
made  concerning  the  ela.ss  they  represent.  Are  they 
men  you  envy  ?  I  tell  you,  boys,  'knocking  around' 
makes  a  man  good  lor  nothing  else,  and  I  take  it  you 
have  a  desire  to  be  good  for  something  higher  in 
life." 


Saving  and  Having. 

Either  man  must  be  content  with  poverty  all  his 
life,  or  else  he  willing  to  deny  himself  some  luxuries, 
and  save,  to  lay  the  base  of  independence  in  the 
future.  But  if  a  man  defies  the  future,  and  .spends 
all  he  earns  (whether  his  earnings  be  one  or  ten  dol- 
lars every  day),  let  him  look  lor  lean  and  hungry 
want  at  some  future  time — for  it  will  surely  come,  no 
matter  what  he  thinks.  To  save  is  absolutely  the 
only  way  lo  get  a.solid  Ibrtune;  there  is  no  othereer- 
tain  mode.  Those  who  shut  their  eyes  and  ears  to 
these  plain  facts  will  be  Ibrever  poor,  and  for  their 
obstinate  rejection  of  truth  mayhap  will  die  in  rags 
and  flitli.  Let  them  so  die,  and  thank  themselves. 
But  no  !  tliey  take  a  sort  of  recompense  in  cursing  for-- 
tune.  Great  waste  of  breath.  They  might  as  well 
curse  mountains  and  eternal  hills.  For  1  can  tell  them 
fortune  does  not  give  away  real  and  substantial 
goods.  She  sells  them  to  the  highest  bidder — to  tlie 
hardest  and  wisest  worker  for  the  boon.  Men  never 
make  so  fatal  a  mistake  as  when  they  think  them- 
selves creatures  of  fate:  'tis  the  sheerest  folly  in  the 
world.  Every  man  may  make  or  mar  his  life,  which- 
ever he  may  choose.  Fortune  is  for  those  who  by 
diligence,  liouesty  and  frugality,  place  themselves  in 
a  position  to  grasp  hold  of  fortune  when  it  appears  in 
view.  The  best  evidence  of  frugality  is  the  five  hun- 
dred dollars  or  more  standing  in  your  name  at  the 
savings  bank.  The  best  evidence  of  honesty  is  both 
diligence  and  frugality. 


Fertilizer  for  Grass. 

The  best  artificial  fertilizer  (or  grass  is  Peruvian 
guano,  which  contains  ammonia,  pho.sphoric  acid, 
and  some  potash.  This  costs  but  $00  a  tou  ;  1.50  to 
200  lbs.  to  the  acre  would  he  a  good  dressing  to  be 
applied  every  second  year. 


Deranged  by  the    Bite  of  a  Hog. 

Sever.al  weeks  ago  Peter  Harris,  liWng  on  the  Belair 
road,  just  back  of  the  Baltimore  eenretery,  and  in 
the  employ  of  Mr.  Chester,  blacksmith,  was  bitten 
by  a  wild  hog,  which  had  lieen  roaming  about  that 
portion  of  the  city,  resisting  all  endeavors  to  trap 
him.  Mr.  Harris  suft'ered  severely  from  the  bite,  and 
soon  began  to  exhibit  all  the  symptoms  of  hj-dropho- 
bia.  He  foamed  at  the  mouth  like  a  mad  dog,  be- 
came hysterical,  smashed  chairs  and  looking-ghisses, 
and  wanted  to  hit  his  friends.  Measures  were  being 
taken  to  remove  the  unfortunate  man  to  quarters 
where  the  lives  of  other  people  would  not  be  endan- 
gered, when  suddenly,  about  ten  days  ago,  he  mys- 
teriously disappeared,  and  has  not  been  heard  from 
since.  The  conjecture  is  that  Mr.  Harris  has  died, 
or  he  would  have  been  heard  from  somewhere  ere 
this,  as  he  was  at  the  time  of  his  departure  a  raving 
maniac.  He  was  attended  by  Dr.  White,  of  Chase 
street,  who  states  that  hogs,  as  well  as  dogs  and 
wolves,  are  subject  to  hydrophobia,  taking  the  dis- 
ease themselves  without  having  been  bitten.  Mr. 
Harris  was  a  married  man,  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
worked  on  a  farm. 


Mellovv  Soil  Around  Trees. 
Unless  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  mulched  around 
young  trees  over  an  area  of  six  feet  in  diameter,  tlie 
ground  should  be  kept  clean  and  mellow.  Every 
farmer  knows  that  a  hill  of  corn  or  potatoes  will  not 
amount  to  much  unless  cultivated,  and  yet  there  are 
many  who  will  neglect  to  give  the  same  care  to  a  tree 
which  is  worth  a  hundred  of  either  of  the  former. 
In  rich  soil  trees  may  grow  rapidly  without  cultiva- 
tion, and  no  amount  of  grass  or  weeds  retard  them  ; 
but  there  are  other  thing's  besides  the  growth  to  be 
looked  after.  If  the  weeds  and  grass  are  allowed  to 
grow  up  around  the  stems  of  apple,  peach  or  quince 
trees,  the  bark  will  become  soft  near  their  base  by 
being  shaded,  and  thereby  be  in  a  suitable  condition 
for  the  reception  of  the  eggs  which  will  eventually 
become  peach  or  ai)ple  borers.  Take  any  dozen 
young  apple  trees  in  a  section  where  the  apple  borer 
is  abundant,  and  allow  a  portion  to  be  choked  with 
weeds,  while  the  remainder  are  well  cultivated,  and 
then  watch  the  result.  From  our  own  experience,  we 
believe  that  the  chances  are  nine  to  one  in  favor  of 
those  cultivated  being  exempt  from  this  pest. —  West- 
i-ni  FartiLer. 


Living  Within  One's   Means. 

If  a  man  desires  to  live  within  his  means,  and  is 
resolute  in  his  purpose  not  to  appear  more  than  he 
really  is,  let  him  be  applauded.  Tliere  is  something 
fresh  and  invigorating  in  such  an  example,  and  we 
should  honor  'and  uphold  such  a  man  with  all  the 
energy  in  our  power.  But  how  ditlieult  to  stem  the 
direction  of  culture  in  our  best  circles,  where  apjii-o- 
bativeness  is  nursed  and  tickled  into  excessive  growth 
in  childhood,  and  eiMsequently  bears  its  fruitage  of 
vanity,  display,  and  supercilious  obedience  to  con- 
venticnialities  in  mature  life.  The  extravagance  of 
the  development  may  in  time  bring  about   a  relbrm. 

But  just  now  the  world  is  crazy  for  show.  There 
is  not  one,  perhaps,  in  athousand,  whodares  fall  back 
on  his  real,  simple  .self  for  power  to  get  through  the 
world  and  exact  enjoyment  as  he  goes  along.  There 
is  no  end  to  the  aping,  tlie  mimicry,  the  false  airs  and 
superficial  acts.  It  requires  rare  courage  to  .live  up 
to  one's  enlightened  convictions  in  these  days.  Un- 
less one  consents  to  join  in  the  general  cheat,  there 
is  no  room  ibr  him  among  the  great  pretenders.  May 
we  not  indulge  the  hope  that  by  and  by  the  intelligent 
classes  will  frown  down  this  demoralizing,  artificial, 
unnatural  life,  and  rise  to  a  higher  and  purer  system? 
— Hull's  Jonrual  of  Health. 


The  Wheat  Crop    in   Europe. 

The  yield  of  wheat  in  Continental  Europe  this  year 
is  larger  than  was  anticipated.  In  France  adverse 
I'eports  were  prevalent  till  quite  recently,  but  the 
crop  is  now  believed  to  be  above  the  average  both  in 
quality  and  quantity.  In  Russia  the  harvest  is  not 
BO  good  as  in  some  other  countries,  but  is  above  the 
average  for  that  country.  The  New  York  Bulletin 
jM-ints  the  following  table,  showing  the  acreage  under 
wheat  and  rye  in  some  of  the  leading  countries  of 
Europe,  and  their  respective  populations  at  the  most 
recent  official  dates: 


Acrea 
imder 
wiioiit. 

11,1S6 
4,19;),1UI 
lis.sss 
71,s,025 
39,214 
'214,074 
17,l:!r,,C(!7 
2,mil,411 
Huugary 4,9SG,010 


Not'Wiiy 

I'ru8.sia 

Deiiiimrli 

Baviiria 

Wurteiiiburg . 

Holland 

Franco 

Austria.. 


Acres 

uuder 

rye. 


a2,851 

10,070,004 

561,607 

l,460,7S>i 

100.081 

487,678 

4,7:W,378 

4,908,20.^ 

67,209 


Popnla- 
tion. 


1,742,000 
24,04  ;i,ouo 
1,7.84,000 
4,863,000 
1,81,8,000 
3,707,000 
36,103,000 
20.420,1100 
1.1,800,000 


Fishbone  in  the  Throat. 

If  J'OU  get  a  fishbone  in  your  throat,  and  it  contin- 
ues to  stick  there,  swallow  an  egg  raw.  It  will  be 
almost  certain  to  carry  the  bone  along  with  it. 


The  Farmer's  Centennial. 

There  is  no  class  of  our  community  that  should 
take  a  deeper  interest  in  the  Centennial  exhibition 
than  the  farmers.  The  exhibition  m.ay  be  said  to 
have  been  got  up  expressly  for  their  benefit.  Cer- 
tainly no  part  of  it  more  attractive  or  profitable  to 
visit  than  Agricultural  Hall,  which  is  tlie  best  ar- 
ranged and  most  comfortable  of  them  all,  if  not  the 
most  beautiful  of  them  all.  The  Agriculturist  very 
justly  says: 

"  No  farmer  or  mechanic  should  miss  seeing  the 
Centennial  Exhibition.  If  he  cannot  go,  he  should 
send  one,  at  least,-  of  liis  sons.  If  he  cannot  afford 
to  do  that,  he  should  take  whiit  recreation  he  can  iu 
the  most  convenient  manner.  Family  parties,  neigh- 
borly picnics  to  interesting  places,  and  social  gather- 
ings make  us  better  acquainted  with  each  other  and 
show  the  best  points  of  people  whom  we  might  sup- 
pose had  but  little  good  about  them.  In  business- no 
one  is  seen  at  his  best,  and  we  want  to  think  as  well 
of  our  neighbors  as  we  possibly  can." 


How  Weeds  are  Propagated. 

A  writer  in  an  exchange  says  the  greatest  evil  to 
which  farmers  are  exposed  by  patronizing  traveling 
threshers,  is  the  carrying  of  Ibul  seeds  from  one  farm 
to  another.  If  one  farmer  raises  red  root  or  Canada 
thistle,  the  seeds  are  sure  to  be  carried  all  through 
the  neighborhood  by  these  threshers  and  clover  hull- 
ers.  The  remedy  suggested  is  for  good,  tidy  farmers 
to  club  together  and  buy  a  thresher— not  the  large 
six  or  eight  horse-powers,  but  a  good  tread  power  as 
now  made,  with  a  level  tread,  tiiat  will  thresh  two 
hundred  bushels  a  day,  with  one  team  and  three 
men.  "  It  is  far  safer,"  he  says,  "  more  profitable  be- 
cause less  expensive,  costing  not  more  than  one-half, 
some  say  not  more  than  one-third  as  much  per  bushel 
to  thresh  grain  as  with  the  traveling  machines,  and 
it  relieves  the  house  of  a  small  army  of  men.  As 
long  as  traveling  machines  are  used  from  farm  to 
farm,  they  should  be  brushed  and  swept  from  top 
to  bottom  before  moving  from  each  station.  Tliis  is 
the  only  precaution  tliat  can  be  taken  to  guard 
against  the  dissemination  of  foul  seeds,  except  the 
plan  above  suggested." 


Old  Fashioned  Reaping. 

One  day  last  harvest,  by  pre-arrangement,  a  meet- 
ing of  veteran  farmers  of  the  county  was  held  on  the 
farm  of  John  F.  Izard,  at  Clayton,  iu  Gloucester 
county,  N.  J.,  to  reap  a  field  of  wheat  as  they  used  to 
do  in  the  early  days  of  the  Kepublic,  before  the  in- 
troduction of  the  cradle  and  the  reaping  machine.  A 
large  number  of  persons  were  present  to  witness  the 
now-a-days  novel  proceeding. 

The  following  named  old  gentlemen  participated  in 
the  work :  Tliom.as  K .  Ilewett,  79  years  old,  born  in 
Gloucester  county  ;  Alpheus  Heoman,  70  years  old, 
born  at  Absecom  ;  Samuel  L.  Izard,  73  years  old, 
born  in  Clayton  ;  .lolin  D.  Turner,  7.5  years  old,  born 
in  Gloucester  county;  Paul  E.  Jackson,  70  years  old, 
born  in  the  county  ;  Win.  Harness,  70  years  old,  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.;  Thomas  C.  Kelley,  71 
years  old,  liorn  in  the  county  ;  Harrison  Strang,  who 
walked  several  miles  to  join  the  party,  aged  60  years, 
born  in  the  State.  An  old-fashioned  dinner  was  pre- 
pared for  the  guests,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  ladies 
turned  out  iu  the  fii^d  aud  gathered  the  sheaves  of 
wheat. 


Quick  Work. 

A  trial  was  made  on  the  14th  ult.  at  the  Moss  Creek 
Mills,  near  Carrollton,  Mo.,  to  ascertain  the  time  iu 
which  bread  could  be  made  from  wheat  standing  iu 
the  field,  and  with  the  following  astonishing  result, 
commencing  at  one  minute  after  three  o'clock  aud 
finished  at  twelve  minutes  after  three: 

Commenced  reaphig  wheat 3.01 

Finished  reajjiug  .vheat 3.02 

Commenced  tllreshiiig  wlieat U.02J<J 

Fiuiehed  threshing  wheat  (3{  bus,) 3.O31.4' 

Commenced  grinding  wheat 3.04f4 

Fiuielied  gi-iudiug  wheat 3.06?;^ 

Mrs.  Lawtoii  commenced  making  bread. A 3.08 

Finished  making  bread 3.08)^ 

Commenced  baking  bread 3.0hX 

Finished  baking  griddle  cakes 3.0H>^ 

Finished  baking  biscuit 3.12 


Covering  Manure. 

By  a  series  of  thorough  experiments  it  has  beeu 
demonstrated  that  to  obtain  great  good  to  crops  the 
first  year,  manure  should  not  he  buried  but  about  two 
inches  deep;  it  therefore  follows,  that  when  it  is  spread 
in  the  usual  manner  and  ploughed  under,  much  of  it 
is  covered  too  deep,  and  some  of  its  virtue  is  lost;  but 
the  second  crop  will  derive  some  benefit  from  it.  An- 
otticr  way  to  lose  a  large  jjortion  of  the  ammonia  of 
manure  is  to  spread  it  upon  land  and  leave  it  for  days, 
aud  in  some  cases  for  weeks,  before  it  is  plowed 
under.  If  a  farmer  were  seen  to  scatter  greeubacka 
over  his  field  on  some  windy  day,  it  would  appear 
that  his  head  was  quite  as  "  level  "  as  if  he  should 
allow  the  sun  and  wind  to  draw  out  half  or  three- 
fourths  of  the  fertility  of  his  manure  before  he  plowed 
it  under  the  ground. —  Wuonsocket  Patriot. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


III. 


No  Secrets. 

The  moment  a  girl  Ims  a  secret  from  her  mother, 
or  receives  a  letter  she  dare  not  let  her  mother  read, 
or  has  a  friend  of  whom  her  mother  does  not  know, 
she  is  in  danijer.  A  secret  is  not  a  irood  thinic  for  a 
jjlrl  to  have.  The  fewer  secrets  that  lie  in  the  hearts 
of  women  at  any  age,  the  better.  It  is  almost  a  test 
of  purity.  She  who  has  none  of  her  own  is  best  and 
happiest. 

In  sirlhood,  hide  nothinj;  from  your  mother;  do 
nothing  that,  if  discovered  by  your  father,  would 
make  you  blush.  When  you  are  married,  never, 
never,  never  conceal  anything  from  your  husband. 
Never  allow  yourself  to  write  a  letter  that  he  may 
not  know  all  iibout,  or  to  receive  one  that  you  are  not 
quite  willing  he  should  read.  Have  no  mysteries 
whatever.  Tell  those  who  are  about  you  where  you 
go  and  what  you  do.  Those  who  have  the  right  to 
know,  I  mean,  of  course. 

A  little  secretivcncss  has  set  many  a  .scandal  afloat; 
and  nuicli  as  is  said  about  women  who  tell  too  much, 
they  are  much  better  ort' than  women  who  tell  too  lit- 
tle. A  man  may  be  reticent,  and  lie  under  no  suspi- 
cion; not  80  a  woman. 

— ■ ^ 

Truthfulness  to  Children. 

A  parent,  luilike  a  poet,  is  nt^t  born — lie  is  made. 
There  arc  ecrtaiu  tilings  which  he  has  at  once  to  learn, 
■or  he  will  have  no  more  iiilluenee  over  his  child  than 
if  he  were  a  common  stran^'er.  To  ijain  obedience, 
you  must  lirst  set  yourself  to  deserve  it.  Whatever 
you  promise  your  little  one,  however  small  the  thbv;^ 
seem  to  you,  and  whatever  trouble  it  cost  you,  per- 
form it.  Never  let  the  doubt  once  enter  that  inno- 
cent mind  that  you  say  what  you  do  not  mean,  or  will 
not  act  up  to  what  y<ni  say.  Make  as  few  i)rohibi- 
tory  laws  as  you  jiossihly  can,  but,  once  made,  keep 
to  them.  In  what  is  cranted,  as  in  what  is  denied, 
compel  yourself,  however  weary  or  worried  or  impa- 
tient, to  .admini.stcr  even-handed  justice.  "Fiat 
justitia,  mat  ecelum,"  is  a  system  much  more  likely 
to  secure  your  child's  real  atl'ection  than  all  the  pet- 
tinur  and  humorinu:  so  generally  indulcrcd  in,  to  pfive 
pleasure  or  save  trouble,  not  to  your  little  ones,  but 
to  yourself. — Scniions  out  of  Church,  by  Misti  Mnlodi . 


Felling  "  The  Big  Tree  "  in  Calaveras. 

One  of  the  most  inji'cnious  applications  of  the  aui^cr 
is  that  of  fellinn  trees,  especially  as  practiced  on  the 
mammoth  growths  peculiar  to  California.  It  is  stated 
that  "  the  blR  tree,"  as  it  was  called,  which  grew  in 
Calaveras  county,  contained  half  a  million  feet  of 
inch  lumber,  and  was  felled  by  five  men  working 
■.22' 2  days,  making  11'3';  d.iys' labor  of  this  kind  upon 
a  tree.  This  tree  measured  ninety-two  feet  in  cir- 
cumference at  the  base,  aeeordiug  to  statements 
which  admit  of  no  question  in  respect  to  genuineness. 
It  was  not  cut  down  with  axes,  but  as  a  more  practi- 
cal method,  was  bored  down  with  long  pump  augers, 
and  the  wood  remaining  lietween  the  holes  was  cut 
off  with  chisels  on  the  ends  of  long  sticks. 


It  REQt'iRES  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  land  to  support 
one  person  on  meat  alone;  ibr  one  acre  emplo^'cd  in 
feeding  cattle  only  produces  eight  or  ten  ounces  per 
day,  and  it  requires  from  five  to  ten  pounds  of  flesh 
a  day  to  support  one  man  if  he  lives  on  flesh  alone. 
The  quantity  of  land  required  to  keep  one  ox  will 
produce  an  abundant  supply  of  vegetable  food  for  at 
least  four  persons.  One  acre  of  wheat,  barley,  oats, 
or  corn,  will  support  two  or  three  persons;  one 
acre  of  potatoes  or  yams,  enough  nourishment  for 
nine  persons;  and  Humboldt  estimates  that  an  acre 
planted  with  bananas  issufficient  to  support  fifty  men. 


A  FARMER  in  England,  suspecting  one  of  his  dogs 
of  sheep  killing  and  worrying  recently,  gave  him  an 
emetic,  the  result  of  which  was  to  bring  up  some 
flesh  and  a  sheep's  eat  corresponding  to  that  of  one 
of  the  sheep  whose  ear  had  been  partly  devoured. 
Should  any  farmer  desire  to  test  a  suspected  dog, 
he  has  only  to  give  him  a  teaspoonful  of  salt  and  half 
the  quantity  of  mustard,  dissolved  in  warm  water. 
For  a  permanent  cure,  amputate  his  tail  just  behind 
the  cars. 

^ 

Mr.  William  Nekton,  of  Henrietta,  N.  T., 
writes  the  American  Jinral  Home,  that  the  practice 
of  plowing  in  clover  for  wheat  is  one  of  poor  eeouomy, 
.and  not  as  certain  to  give  good  crops  as  formerly, 
and  runs  out  the  land.  It  talves  two  years  to  produce 
a  crop  of  wheat.  The  clover  is  worth  more  to  feed 
to  stock  than  to  plow  under.  And  the  manure  from 
it  so  fed  is  nearly  equal  to  its  value  for  plowing-in. 


To  Corn  Beef  in  the  Pot. 

Cover  eight  or  nine  pounds  of  lean  beef  with  boil- 
ing water,  and  add  one  teacup  of  salt,  and  boll  until 
tender.  It  will  bo  found  much  nicerthauwhcu corned 
iu  brine. 


To  Keep  Swine  Healthy. 

Give  hogs  plenty  of  pure  water  to  drink,  and  keep 
within  their  reach  eijual  parts  of  wood  ashes,  com- 
mon salt  and  flour  of  sulphur,  and  you  need  not  fear 
the  hog  cholera  nor  any  other  disease. 


^  L.  tb*  ,Hr  1H71.  bT  U*  Kkl 


OMttetikt  L.»ruua*rCM(rM^  *l  Wm^I-ii..* 


"God's  Promise." 

The  Finest  'WORK  Or  ART  ever  issued  in  this  Country, 

GIVEN  AWAY 

To  every  Subscriber  to  this  Paper. 

R«|troiIucciI  In  17  4')iramiit1o  W«ler  Color«,  nndor  thr  Arthl'«  pcrn'innl  topcni-lnn.  nn-l  ncWni.wIi.'litf'l 
1>T  eoiioi>l«i>furii  to  bf  ifii-  h'-Hi  Wiinr  (  olor  Chiomiiik-  f»lnilii«  pi'it  i.ro.lii<-r.l  In  .inierlrB.  Tb1-»  uiiJ.iiri.itiK'-t 
work  of  nrl.  ll.r.iuth  iIk-  nfl"  iiili-l  llborallly  of  tho  Nftliou^l  Ari  Co.,  o(  Clnclooali,  Olilo,  cau  be  .wure-l  l.>- 
overy  aubiorlbcr  of  ttiiu  t(a|icr,  as  a 

Grand  Prexniuxti  Grift, 

II  b.-l.JK  Jil.i-.r.jd  I'Vi-u  or  INircliano  <'hur«c  to  cv.  ry  Ti«t'"n  ul  <lii>  i.nl.rr.     n  r i.u  :! 

Four  Complete  Chromatic  Paintings, 

KmlioJThiK  tlio  fiillcm  nml  richu^tt  cnuception  of  GoJ's  (flnrloun.proiiilxc :  "  Whilf  the  tnrth  remnimth,  »tfd- 
time  and  harvest,  ajitt  cald  and  heat,  and  summrr  and  muter,  and  day  tind  tnght  thalt  nut  eeate."  Aim-rl- 
CI*'*  ninut  favnreil  l»?iil.<ciip»'  pnloUr,  Mr.  E.  D.  (Jrnfmn.  ha*  grouped  Ui)ti'lh>T.  nti  n  Urni"  pUio,  frnir  iplcmlM 
I,i\ri.1sii(ipfl  and  Kigiirc  Puhuingi,  uml  clotbed  ihcni  la  tho  rlcli<.'»t  urirt  wiirm*«l  coli.r«.  To  show  lo  whut 
liLilii  i\\\h  oplpodltl  wnik  nf  art  la  reRaidtd.  ooe  thouimnd  cpieii  h;ive  bfon  •old  In  Olnclminil  nn.l  Nfw  York, 
nr  $111  i>(>ri-.>py,  and  $.'.,0))0  In  cash  vrni  ofTecc-d  the  NatioDul  Art  Co.  for  lla  exolusivo  u»u  u«  u  I'rpxaiuni,  by 
vuv  I't  llie  most  pronilii>'tU  m-wspaporit  In  thr  cnuntrj. 

So  lnri.!««  hiw  li^.'n  ili<-  d-niaiid  on  tin-  National  Art  Co.  for  former  Prcrafum  Fncmvlnir*.  and  «n  unlvTfial 
thi-  n'-juf^t  tlinl  tli.-ir  w.irki  nhiiultl  not  bo  coti!UiM  to  nnv  ODo  pnpiT.  llitiL  tin-  Compuiiy  hnw  deUTmlurd  to 
iiiiiku  *■  OODS  PKOMISK"  tbe  crowning  irtuniph  of  their  art  pnhllcutloni.  and  havo  nK-adlly  n-rnix-d  all 
olk-rs  for  Its  excliisivo  control  hv  ativ  on«  paper,  In  order  that  the  bi-lU-r  cIbub  of  iicwH|.ap.Ti  grncnilly  ma/ 
be  bpnclltwl  In  bt-ing  alibi  to  ndvL-rtUe  it  as  ihii  last  and  bfnl  I'reniluiu  Gift  of  the  Nation  'l  A-t  *'<>.  Hoiioo 
tbp  Bniiouiicenieiil  U  niaik*  that  arrantfoicnw  have  bi'';n  made  which  Hccufo  to  cv«ry  tvflvr  of  thla  pipor  a 
pert  <-t  copy  (if  lbi«  lHt'--t,  !uri:*.-3t,  and  br.it  Amorlcfin  art  publication. 

The  only  rc^ulreini-nt  cxnctcd  Is.  that  each  r.-adc-r  ahall  out  out  the  following  Pr<mlnm  r.-nlBcal*'.  show 
Ing  that  It  1«  Bciil  in  by  a  bona  fide  piiirou  of  thlsi  paper,  toKflbi-r  with  Ih  cenu.  ili.-  actnul  con  of  |HKiaRe, 
Wrapping  aod  mailing  charges,  and  forwanl  llio  same  to  the  Natl-mal  Art  Cn.  for  r^-d'-mptlon.  In  rciurn  you 
will  receive  a  p'Tfecl  copy  of  this  urniid  work  of  art,  mailed  In  a  slrone  tnbf,  pONittKF  fully  prepaid,  and 
evr^i  copy  i»  warranted  to  rearh  im  drilinntion  uninjured.  Auy  copy  thnt  «hould  b«'  broken  fu  truuKitii.i- 
sion"ihroiiKh  the  tuail.  will  bi>  dnpHunted  free  of  any  charge,  opon  your  notUylng  thi*  Nullonal  An  Co.  of  lh« 
Tx-is  ID  th<>  caxe.  Pontage  atmnpi  may  be  §eat  at  their  face  valuti,  as  lOv  amuuat  \«  uearljr  all  uud  lo  [>ra- 
paying  reitini  postage  on  the  Pictiwe. 


PREMIUM  CERTIFICATE. 


Cut  out  tliU  t'ertllivulc  uiid  forwnrJ  to  th*  NATIONAL  AKT  CO.  lor  redcmi.tloii. 
It  U  worth   SIO. 

On  rccfipt  or  thi'4  Prrnilura  rerHllfat*.  tog'tbT  wllh 
2i  cnts  to  pay  cost  of  tube,  posiair?,  and  pa--kiiig.  wa 

hei y  ftk*!"''''  If  r'liiiri   lo  the  nciider,  (.ostage  prfpuid,  auffly  wrappL-d  and  puckud,  a  pLTfeot  copy  of 

Umfiuii's  four  ■-el-'briiu-d  paintings,  entitled 

"CLOD'S  i>romise:." 

ThiH  Certificate  in  pood  until  October  15,  iHTfi,  afirr  wbioh  10  cenW  nd.iliional  will  hi*  charpf'd.  N'o 
cnjiv  will  bi-  -lent  without  this  Ceriitleat-.'  acc.-inipani'''i  tin.'  onlT.  lo  whow  ub  that  ton  an-  a  ln-wi  tlile 
piilVou  of  ihin  paper.        [Sigaed]        XATIUNAL  ART  CO.,  230  Wa'luut  Strciil,  Clucinn:iti,  Ohio. 


NOTE  THESE  INSTRUCTIONS. 


All  CertiOcfttfo  should  he  sent  lo  by  Oct.  15,1876. 
Those  Bent  Id  thereafter  re'iulrc  lOe.  additional, 
edition  \»il!  ihcQ  become  necessary.  A  Cerlillcate  for  each  Painting  muBt  in  all  catcs  be  sent,  other- 
wirti?  persons  who  are  not  sub.scriberd  niii;ht  reap  the  benetlts  intended  solely  for  the  patrons  of  this  paper. 
F  iL'h  copT  will  be  eticlos-d  in  n  strong  tube,  and  postage  will  be  paid  thereon  out  of  the  Uoo.  sent  iti.  THK 
CKKTIFICATE  WILL  NOT  BE  AGAIN  PRI.NTED  IN  THIS  PAPER,  her.ce  the  Importance  of  cutting  it 
nice  and  sendiug  It  in  for  redemption.  Address  all  Certiflcatea  to  the  National  Art  Co..  'ASO  Walnut 
CincioQali,  Ohio,  aud  you  will  receive  by  retura  mall  the  largest  and  baudaomest  Premium  Puiutiug 
ever  saw. 


AWARDED  THE  HIGHEST  MEDAL  AT  VIENNA. 


591   BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

(Opposite  Mefcropolitau  Hotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHRCMOS  @  FRAMES, 

STEREOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS.  GmPHOSCOPES  AND  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  MATERIALS. 

\S'e  are  Headquarters  for  everything  iu  tlie  way  of 

Being  Manufacturers  ot  the 

Sfiero-Scieiitilir  rniitorn« 
Htereo-l*nnop(irou, 

llniverHity  Slerroplieoii, 

Advertisers"  Slereoplieon, 
Arlopticoii. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People's  Lantern. 

£ach  style  being  tho  best  of  its  cIarb  iu  the  market. 


Catalogues  of  Laoterus  and  Slides,  with  directious  for 

using.  Bent  on  upplicatiuu. 

Any  enterprising  man  can  make  money  with   a  Magic 
Lantern.  £^£?~Cut  out  this  advortiaemeut  for  reference. 

S-G-G 

WANTED     IMMEDIATELY 

Y  Y    ""   Young   Men   and  Women   to   learn   TliLK-    X. 
GRAI'HY.  Situations  guaranteed.   Salary  while 
practicing.    Addresa,  with  stamp,  Slieriiian 
Tele^^raph  Co.,  Oberlin,  Ohio.  S  9-Gt 


PATMH  SOVEREIENnUBLISHINS  COmNV, 

89  Liberty  St.,  N.  Y. 

(BONDKD  IN  J-WOOII  TO  PATnrNS  ANT)  SONF.nEir.NS)    FumiBh 

nil    kinds  of    Books,    PeriudicuU,    Music  aud  Pictures  to 
Patrons  and  Sovereigns  at  a  Discount. 

Send  for  <'<H«<lfio<l  I.iM.  It 

A  FFLE  THiiiES,  fruit  trees, 

■^^       And  a  General  Line  of  Nursery  Stcci, 

FOR.  s.a.i^e:. 

Address                      GEO.  ACHELIS,  Nurseryman, 
S.9-2t    WEST  CHKSTF.R. 

SUBSCKIlii:  IHIK  THI-; 

LANCASTER  FARMER, 

Tfie  Best  Agrlcuttiiral  ra[>cr  in 
(he  Country. 

To  Bubcriliers  in  tlis  county  5100  per  yoir, 
To  subscribers  out  of  the  county,  $1,25  per  year. 

Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  STS., 

PHILADELPHIA.   PA. 


Conveniont  to  all  placen  of  amusement  and  car  liiiCB  iu 
the  city.    Xo  changes  to  and'from  the  Centennial  grouude. 

Col.  Vatson,  proprietor  of  the  Henhy  Hochf,  Cincinnati, 
for  thftpast  twenty  years,  and  present  proprietor,  has  leased 
tho  house  for  a  term  of  years,  aud  has  newly  furnished  and 
fitted  it  thruufihoiit.  Ho  will  keep  a  strictly  first-class  house, 
and  has  accommodatiou  for  3tJ0  guests.  Terms,  only  $3 
per  day. 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  in  the  IlKKitr  BOUSE,  nor  will 
auy  be  kept  at  the  Pf.ahody.  S-G-5 

SEND  25c.  to  G.  P.  UOWEIX  k  CU.,  New  York,  for  Pam- 
phlet of  loo  pages,  contaiuing  li^ts  of  3,000  aewapapera, 
aud  estimates  showing  cost  of  advertising. 


lY. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER 


[  September,  1876, 


The  I^nrgreHt  ami  moKt  <'oni|»lete  Stoclt  of 
Frnit  niid  OriianiPntal  Trpes  in  the  V.  S. 
Priced  t'atnlogpiies sent  as  follows  :  No.  I.  Fniits, 
with  colored  ]  l;ite.  1.5  cf8.;  plain,  10  c's.  No.  2.  Orna- 
mental Tr.es,  etc..  with  i  late.  36  cts..  No.  .1.  Greenhouse; 
No.  4,  Wholesale  ;  and  No.  5,  List  of  New  Roses,  Free. 
Addrf'Ks 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,    Rochester,  N.  Y. 


•DE.NNSYI-VASriA  R 

XT    Trains  le.4VE  the  Dep 

WE  TWARD. 

All, ROAD 

ot  in  this  city,  a 

Leave 

Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50a.  ni. 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:29  a.  m. 

3:25  p.  m. 

3::j5p.m. 

6:10  p.m. 
-  7:32  p.  m. 

7:40  p.  m. 

7:45  p.  m. 

9:10 p.  m. 
11:30  p.  m. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:25  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

9.28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m. 

3:05  p.  m, 

5:50  p.  m. 

«<-HF.I>lILK. 

8  follows : 
Arrive 
H.irrisburg. 

Way  PaseenKert  

7:5'l  a.  TO, 
10:30  a.  m. 

Hanover  Accommodation . 
Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

Col  10:00  a.  m. 
1:00  p.  m. 

1:20  p.  m. 

4:50  p.  m. 

Frederick  Accommodation. 

Col.  4:15  p.m. 
8:10  p.  m. 

Columbia  Acconimodatiou.. 

8:10  p.  m. 

Harrisburg  Express 

9:05  p.  m. 
10:35  p.  m. 
12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 
3:10  a.  m. 

Cincinuati  Express* 

EASTWARD. 

Philadelphia  Expresst 

Harrisburg  Express 

7:00  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 

10:30  p.m. 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 

12:30  p.  m. 

Johnstown  Exj^resa 

Harrisburg  Accom 

6:00  p.  m. 
9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hauover  Accommodation,  west,  connecfa  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  Hauover  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  conncctBat  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:'25  p.  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacific  Express  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  5 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt,  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leading  York  at  6:32  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  trjiin  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:5*2  a,  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrieburg  Express 
at  T:25  a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:05  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  "Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  Express  at  7:25  a.  m. 

On  Sunday  there  will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
east,  the  Kecond  section  starting  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m.,  making  all  the  stops  between  Columbia  and  Lancaster, 
and  the  Johnstown  Express  stoics  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  section  of  Pacific  ExpresB,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  stops  at  Middletown,  Elizabeth  town,  Mt.  Joy, 
and  Laudisville. 

*The  only  traius  which  run  daily. 

tRuus  daily,  excej't  Monday. 


$55  to  $77  ■ 

8-S-ly 


THOROUGHLY   AND   BAPIDLT 

EXTE:r4]>IIlVATEr> 


Wtek  to  Agfuts.     Samples  FREE. 

P.  O.  VICKEKY,  Augusta,  Maine, 


NONPAREIL  FARM  MILLS 


Vor  griodlog  CORN  aad  COB  COBN-MBAL.  OATS, 
or  anv  kind  of  Grain,  eoartt  or  fine  ;  10  8IZ£8,  foi  HA.N  D 
or  POWER.     I'hitlraled  PampKUt  Fret. 

li,  J.  MXIiLBR.  lei  £.  Front  St..  Cindimati.  O. 

POTA-TO  BUaS 

AND    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 


(Successors  to  W.  ATLEE  BURPEE.) 

BREEDERS   AND   SHIPPERS   OF 

Tliorouglibred   I^ive    Stocis, 

Alderney,  Ayrshire  and  Shorthorn  Cattle,   Cots-wold    and   SDuthdo-wn   Sheep' 

Chaster  Whlta,  Barkshire,  Essex  and  Poland  China  Pigs, 

Thoroughbred  Dogs  and  Fancy  Pigeons, 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  and  VSAATER  FOWLS 

Of  all  the  leading  choice  varieties.    Our  stock  of  Poultry  has  won  many  FIRST  PRIZES.    We  ship  oiilj'  first-class 
Animals  an«l  Rjrcls.    Full  Descriptive  Cireulars  free. 

AN  ELEGANTLY  ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUEof  pure-bred  live  stock  and  poultry  (now  in  preparation)  con- 
tainiug  a  complete  descriptive  priced  list  of  stock  and  breeders'  requisites,  sent  pout-paid  on  receipt  of  twenty  cents. 

Also  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  Ground  Bone,  Flour  of  Raw  Bone  Scraps,  Crushed  Oyster  Shells,  Imperial  Egg 
Food,  Condimental  Food,  etc.,  for  Poultry  and  Stock.    Every  fancier  should  send  tor  our  circular  in  this  line  of  goods. 


Fertilizers  anJ  ApcBllural  Imiileiiieiits,       FieM,  GarJefl  aiiJ  Flower  SeeSs, 


STRICTLY  FRESH  AND  RELIABLE. 


All  the  new  and  standird  varieties, 
BpecJal  price  list. 


NEW  CROP  TURNIP  SEEDS  and  other  seeds  for  fall  planting.    Send  for 


feek's: 


$12 


The  most  complete  apparatus  for  deodorizi'jg  and  disiu- 
fectiug  Hospitals,  Ships,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  lor  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers'  experiences  \vithit. 

West  Grove  Slaunf^g:  Co.,  West  Grove,  Pa. 
8-5 

a    4luy    lit    Home,      Agents     wanted.      Outfit    and 
terms" free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.    [S-B-ly 

GEORGE  D.3PRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

EOOFIN^a  SLA.TE:. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREETC, 

8-l-12m  LANCASTER,   PA. 

^C    tn    ^Oft    per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  SI  free. 
WU    lU    vPiuU       STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maiue. 


SIX  PACKET!*  FARM  SEEDS  FREE  ae  samples  to  all  who  enclose  two  8-cent  BtampB. 
r»"Seud  your  address  for  our  lull  descriptive  priced  circulars,  mailed  free.    Address, 

BKNSOM'  <Sc  BUflPSE:. 

SEED  A»D  AQSICITLTCSAL  WASEHOUSE, 
No.  223  CHURCH  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


CENTENNIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


Struck  in  solid  Alba^a  Plate,   equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  deaigtm  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  l'„  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  sight. 

Tlie  most  valnnble  Soiivoiilrs  aa<l  Kc- 
nienloes  ever  issned. 


G 


OOD  SKEItS,  GROWN  WITH  CARE,  FROM  8E- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  mine.  Catalogue  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Goshen,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  Ranije  Breech  Loadmj 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 

Carries  a  Vi  inch  ball  with  aocti- 
racy  filty  Jeet,  without  powder  or 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  sale 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoors, 
»nd  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS  WANTHD. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  C7  Liberty  Street,  New  Yort 


1876. 


CENTENNIAL. 


1876. 


GOOD    AGENTS   ^A^ANTED   in    every  City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


RETAIL  PRICES.- For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cts.;  Gilt, 
$1,  in  fancy  box.     Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
satin  or  velvet-lined  morocco  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
diflfereut  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-oflice  order 
for  54,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solifited.  Information  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications, 

77.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.         212  Broadway,  N.  T. 


E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

ADVERTISING  AGENTS, 

186  "W.  FoTiith  St.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Art",  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper. 


Estimates  tuniisiiEd  free. 


[tf] 


Eenl  lor  Circular' 


RatlivoiT  fc  Pishep, 

i,^       PRACTICAL 

Taiars  and  OIl^tEii^irs. 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


lllillttllll 


ESXA.BI-ISHIVIENT, 

Cor.N.  QUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 

J.  STAUFFER, 

LANCASTER,  VENN'A, 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 

.\I1  matters  arjicrtaiuirig  to'  WirtEB  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  aud  COPYRIGHTS, 
lironiiitly  atteuded  to.  His  exiierieuee,  success  and  faithful 
utteutiou  to  the  iuterestsof  those  who  engage  his  services 
are  fully  acltuowledged  aud  appreciated. 

Preliiuiuary  exaniiuations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistaiit  at  Washiugtou,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
or  descriptiou.  [7-4-tl 


$1  a  Year 


(To  siihRCribPirB  in 
\      the  county. 


SZ2TGLE  COPIES  10  CEITTS 


To  Bubscribere  out  of  \ 
the  comity.  | 


^\.23. 


Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON.  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  OCTOBER  15.  1876. 


FEARSOL  &  GEIST,  Fublishers. 


^ 

THE  LAHCfASTEE  EXPRESS, 

(DAILY  AND  VTEEKLT,) 

Tlje  Leading  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  the 
OT)\y  Independei)!  Republieaij  Journal  iij  ihe  Counly. 


THE  )     FOUNDED     {         'THE 

WEEKLY,  [  i!V  niK  -     DAILY, 

1843         J  PRESENT  PROPRIETORS,   i  1856 


The  Weekly  Express  h-is  beeu  liefore  the  citizeun  of 
Lancaster  couoty  for  ii period  of  thirty-three  yeiire,  :md  T'he 
Daily  Express  for  over  uinfteen  years.  Dnviiig  this  loug 
period,  aud  without  chauge  of  inauaKenieut,  The  Expuess 
has-  fiiirly  earned  a  lart^e  share  of  patronage  .ind  firmly 
eetabhehed  itself  in  the  pubhc  confidence,  as  an  upright  and 
indepeudent  journal,  never  heBitatiiig  to  defend  the  right 
and  denounce  the  wrong,  no  raatter  wliere  found  to  exist. 
It  has  alwiiys  bceu  a  journal  of  progress,  and  the  outspoken 
friend  of  education,  temj'erance,  sound  morals  and  religion. 
As  in  the  past,  so  it  will  continue  iu  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 

The  Weekly  Express,  one  year,  ...        $2.00 

The  Daily  Express,  one  year,  -        .        _        .       5.00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer  :  To  any  person  residing 
within  the  Liniiis  of  L;!nc;i8ier  county  we  will  mail — 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lancaster  Farmer,  one  year,  $2.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  extended  circulation  of  The  Express  makes  it  the 
bwt  medium  for  advertising  Real  Estate  aud  Personal 
Property  in  the  county,  a  fact  which  can  be  attested  by 
many  farmers  and  others  who  have  availed  tho'.iselves  of 
the  use  of  its  columns,  and  to  which  we  invite  the  attention 
of  all  having  property  to  dispose  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  Express  printing  office  is  one  of  the  best  furnished 
Mtablishraeuts  for  turning  out  all  kinds  of  printing  to  be 
found  ill  the  interior  of  the  State.  AVe  are  prepared  to 
print  any  job  from  the  small  visiting  card  to  the  largest  sale 
or  horse  bill,  poster,  or  broadside,  plain  or  iu  colors,  as 
quickly  as  it  c;in  be  done  at  any  other  establishment,  and  on 
as  reasonable  terms.  We  make  the  piloting  of  Sale-hills 
for  Farmers'  a  specialty,  and  guarantee  satisfaction  to  our 
customers. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

inchide  the  various  patterns  adapted  to  i)riHting  books, 
pamphlets,  jiosters,  sale-bills,  band-bills,  millers'  receipts, 
oatAlogues  of  live  stock,  aud  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
flrst-claHB  printing  office;  in  short  anything  that  may  be 
called  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  banker,  mechanic,  or 
business  man,  and  we  guarantee  to  do  the  work  as  satisfac 
tory  us  it  can  be  done  in  Philadelphia  or  elsewhere. 

With  one  of  the  roost  complete  Job  Offices  in  the  State, 
*nd  unsurpassed  conveniences  for  expeditiously  turning  out 
work  by  the  best  workmen,  under  the  personal  supervision 
Of  the  jjroprietors,  who  are  lioth  practical  printers,  all  per- 
eons  in  need  of  Printing  will  find  it  to  their  interest  to  give 
us  a  trial. 

PEAESOL  &  GEIST, 

BOOK.  NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
1.ASTCASTER,  f  A. 


CanTasnern  Wanted   for  Thb  FAsms,  with  whom 
ubenl  arruiigemeats  will  be  made. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


Pennsyivani;i  Fruit  (innverK'  Society,         -         -  1+S 

Pcnnsyjvania  Fruit  at  ilie  Centennial,     -         -  14.5 

The  Centennial,  -         - Ur, 

Holland  Pippin,       __._._  145 

The  Animal  and  the  Vegetable,  -        -        -        -  \-Mi 

"  How  to  Keep  the  Boys  on  the  Farm,"        -  1-K! 

The  Worm  Snake,      -        -*       -        -        -        -  147 

Queries  and  Answers,      -----  14S 
Caioliiiii    K:ol,    American  Coot — Reed    Birds,  Little 
Sand)  Jie.-,  .JiickSmjie — Wooly  Aphis. 

Tlie  Morse  or  Walrus,        .        .        -        .        .  148 

Tlie  Bobolink, -  148 

Dottinns  from  Leoline,        -----  149 
A  liH  oi  I'einisyivaiiia  History — nonieBlic  Hints — 
Edible  Mushrooms. 

What  Causes  Bliirht?  J.  Stauffer,      -        -  149 

Artificial  Fertilizers,  A.  B.  K.,  -         -         -         -  1-50 

Lovely  Bloomins  Bullis,  Walter  Elder,    -  1.51 

Lice  on  Youni;  Trees,  .J.  B.  Ekb,        -        -        -  151 

Transplantinir  Trees,  An  Oi-n  Planter,       -  151 

Live  Gate  Posts,  .J.  B.  Erh,        -         -         -         -  1.52 

Facts  About  Birds,           -----  153 

The  Selection  of  Cows,       -----  153 

Weighing  each  t'ow's  Milli — Test  of  Quality. 

American  Crapes  and  Wine,  -         -         -         -  1.5:1 

The  Importance  of  Educating  Horses,        -        -  1.5:^ 

Pure  and  Imjiure  Water,          -         .         -         .  1.5:! 

Sensational  Atn'icultui-al  Writinff,      .         -         -  1.54 

Tlie  Carniverous  Pitcher  Plant,       -        -        -  154 

Heroic    Farming,         ------  1.55 

Why  LarL'e  Cities  Escape  Thunder  Storms,   -  1.55 

"(iod's  Promise,"      ------  155 

Our  Paris  Letter,     ------  155 

Farming  ou  the  Contiueut  of  Europe. 

Our  Loci!  Organizations,   -----  1.5(1 

Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agriciiltural 
and  Horticultural  .Society — "How  to  Keep  the 
Boys  on  the  Farm  " — *'  How  to  Dispose  of  our 
Com  Crop"  -An  Exbiljit  at  the  Centeuuial — Seed 
Wheat  and  Fruits. 

Proceedings  of  Tobacco-Growers'  Association,  157 

Centennial  Biscuits,        -----  1.57 

AGRICULTURAL  MISCELLANY. 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass,        -----  1,57 

Peal  Value  of  Natural  Grass  Land,        -        -  1.57 

Destroying  Weeds,      ------  1.58 

Sowing  Grass  Seed  Alone,      -        -        -        -  1.58 

The  Chinese  Management  of  Roses,  -        .        -  1.58 

Bat  Guano,       -------  1.58 

Seed  Wheat — Its  Preparation,    -        -        -        -  1.58 

Sending  Plants  to  Sleep,          .        -        -        -  1.58 

Questions  and  Answers,      -----  1.58 

Value  of  Road  Dust, 1.59 

Mulching  Grass  for  Winter,        -        -        .        -  1.59 

Manuring  in  Fall,    ------  159 

Top-Dressing  Wheat, 1.5'.l 

Beets  for  Cows,        - 1.59 

Strawberry  Plants, 1.59 

The  Rotting  of  Celery, 1.59 

Vines  Growing  Strongly,  etc.,    -        -        -        -  159 

DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 

Oatmeal  in  the  Household,     -        .        -        -  159 

Making  Good  Butter, 1.59 

How  to  Preserve  Cut  Flowers,        -        -        .  1.59 

The  Dry  Earth  Treatment;         ...        -  1.59 

A  Cheap  Carpet, IfiO 

How  Do  You  Make  Cider  Wine,         -        -        -  ItiO 

Directions  for  Calcimlning,    .        -        -        -  160 

Useful  Recipes, 1(50 

Applied  Science,      ......  ItJO 

Fence  Corners,   --.-...11 

Literary  Notices, lii 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


(  e 


flli  lanca^ter  f arigf 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  prominent  feature,  with   si>ecial  reference   to   the 
wants  of  the  Farmer,  the  Qardener  and  Fruit -Grower. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  .Society. 

Edited  ty  Prof.  S.  S.  EATHVON. 


The  Lancabter  FAnMKit  hae  now  completed  Uh  seventh 

year — the  lust  hiiving  been  under  the  aUHpicea  of  the  under- 
signed jie  imblisheiB.  When  we  iiBf  uincil  the  resiiousiblUty 
of  the  pubhcation  one  ye;iriigo,  it  w;ib  with  a  determination 
to  make  such  improvemenlH  dirriug  the  ye;ir  as  would  I'luce 
the  Farmers'  Organ  of  thin  great  agricultural  county  iu  the 
very  front  rauK  of  publications  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  90,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  begun.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Coutennial  year  still  more  interesting 
aud  valuable  than  its  i)redece88or  for  1875.  In  this,  bow- 
ever,  we  need  the  co-operation  ot  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
priee.  To  make  it  a  succesB,  every  one  who  now  rejids  Toe 
Farmer  should  at  once  Bend  ua  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  oo'itributions  of  our  able  editor,  Prof.  Rathvon,  on 
RUbjecli  conuectr'd  with  the  science  of  fanning,  aud  partic- 
ularly that  specialty  of  which  he  Is  so  thoroughly  a  master — 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  l>ecorae 
a  ueceasity  to  the  succetisful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  thitu  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  15th  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paper  with  clear  type,  in  con- 
venient form  for  reading  aud  binding,  aud  mailed  to  sub- 
scribers on  the  following 

TERMS: 

To  BubBcribers  residing  within  the  county- 
One  Copy,  one  year,   .-.--.  $i.oo 
Six  Copies,  one  year,      -            -          -          -          .          .  5.00 
Ten  Copie-s,  one  year.    ------_  7.50 

To  Bubscribers  outside  of  LancaBter  county,  Including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  publishers; 

One  Copy,  one  year,     -  -        -  -  .  .  $i-3S 

Five  Copies,  one  year,       ...  .  .        .         5.00 

All  subscriptions  will  commence  with  the  Jauuary  num- 
ber unless  otherwise  ordered. 

All  comniuuicationB  iutended  for  publication  ebould  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  and,  to  secure  insertion,  should  be 
in  bis  hands  by  the  first  of  the  month  of  imhlicatiou. 

All  business  letters,  containing  subt^criptious  and  adver- 
tiBomeute.  ehould  be  addressed  to  the  pubUshcrs. 


PEARSOL  &  GEIST, 


Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


RATES  OF  AnVF.RTISIXn.  —  Ten  Crnta   • 
line  Tor  eacb  Insertion.     Twelve  liuea  to  the  inch. 


II. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  great  Grange  paper. 

The  farmers'  own  journal. 

500  farmers'  write  for  it. 

60  farmere'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulates  in  36  States. 

Circulates  in  6  Territories. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

64  columns  every  weelc. 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Keiton  file  in  1,200  Granges. 

Read  weekly  by  over  100.000  people. 

Only  official  organ  of  five  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  trom  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experience  by  practical  farmers. 

Crop  reports  printed  weekly. 

Ko  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  a  year;  or  l.'io  in  clubs  of  8 or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

12>i'  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  S  or  over,  10}^  cents  a  month. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  j-aper. 

Kational  Grange  officers  write  for  it. 

Grange  news  from  every  State, 

Fanners  are  delighted  with  it,  and  say, 

*'  Just  what  wc  have  wanted." 

Sample  copy  thrpe  ceuts,  sent   directly  from  the  Grange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  S  atps. 

Address,  THOMAS  k  DEMMTNG, 

7_12-S  '  Mechanicsbubg,  Pa. 


PATENTS 

OBTAINED  BEST  ANI  CHEAPEST  BY 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OP  PATENTS, 


TVaslaingtoa,  D.  C 


<»■  Address  all  letters  to  P.  O.  Box  444.  7-3  12m 

FERTILIZERS! 

CHEAPEST  AND   BEST! 


WHITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  flrst-chiss  cbemical  mauures,  suited  to 
the  giowih  of  special  crops.  Our  forniulfe  have  provei ,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  streagth  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 


OU  Vitriol, 
Ground  Bones, 
Land  Plas'er, 
Sulphate  Potash, 


Nitrate  Soda, 
Sulphate  Ammonia, 
Muriate  Potash, 
Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA. 


Established  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertiliziug 
Ctiemicils  lo  1793. 


[8-2- 


Sociability  with  Cows. 

There  i6  a  good  deal  of  disastrous  advice  floating; 
tlirou»h  the  press.  The  latest  candidate  for  misery 
is  from  the  American  Agriculluri.tt.  It  advises  far- 
mers to  be  sociable  with  their  cattle.  The  Agricultur- 
inl  is  confident  that  .'iociability  with  a  cow  will  make 
it  give  more  milk.  If  the  Agriciiltnrixt  is  right  this 
is  an  important  discovery,  and  promises  to  work  a 
revolution  in  farm  economy.  We  may  soon  expect 
to  see  cows  sitting  back  of  the  kitchen  stove  holding 
skeins  of  yarn,  and  horses  playing  dominoes  with  the 
hired  meii,  and  hens  attending  candy  pulls,  and  oxen 
in  charades.  We  say  we  may  expect — but  the  man 
who  came  into  this  office  yesterday  morning,  with  a 
copy  of  the  Agrindhtrist  in  his  hand,  and  a  face  which 
closely  resembled  a  piece  of  imperfectly  cooked  livei, 
has  done  much  to  weaken  our  faith.  He  had  read 
the  advice.  He  determined  to  be  sociable  with  a  cow 
which  was  the  contrariest  beast  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  to  give  down  her  milk.  We  don't  exactly  com- 
prehend the  process  he  employed  to  bring  out  and  de- 
velop the  social  instincts  of  the  animal,  but  he  was 
around  at  the  back  of  her,  on  his  hands  and  knees — 
probably  with  a  view  to  a  little  diversity  in  the  way 
of  leap-frog — when  she  drew  her  foot  out  of  some  of 
the  best  mud  in  this  section,  and  explored  for  him 
with  the  most  gratifying  results. 

"  It  is  a  great  wouder  it  didu't  kill  me  out  and 
out,"  he  added   mournfully,  "  but  it's  knocked  me 

out   of  the   Centennial;  the  luck." — Banbury 

Newg. 


el  KND  -iic.  U)  G.  r.  HOWELL  &  CO.,  New  Yoik,  for  Pum- 
)  I'hlet  of  100  pages,  contaiuiug  lists  of  3,000  newspapers, 
Aua  estimates  sbowiug  cost  of  advertising. 


Pickpockets  are  having  hard  times.  "  Ten  out 
of  a  dozen  pockets  that  I  got  into,"  complains  one  of 
them,  "don't  have  a  thing  in  'em  but  unreceipted 
board-bills  and  dunning  letters." 

"  Considering  that  the  mosquitoes  are  making  their 
fall  raids  and  "are  particularly  lively  just  now,  my 
dear,"  said  Jones  to  his  wife,  "don't  you  think  it 
would  be  a  good  idea  to  bring  the  baby's  crib  into 
our  room?  We  might  divert  the  attention  of  the  vo- 
racious insects  a  little  from  ourselves.  I  hate  to  be 
broken  of  my  rest,  anil  baby  can  sleep  all  day,  you 
know."  Mrs.  Jones  went  in  search  of  the  fire-tongs 
at  once. 

A  BREWER  having  been  drowned  in  one  of  his  own 
vats,  "  Alas  !  poor  fellow,"  said  Jeykll,  "  floating  on 
his  own  watery  bier  !" 

"It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  knee  of 
an  idol  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  heaven,"  is  the 
interpretation  which  a  colored  preacher  gave  to  the 
Scriptures. 

"  I'LEASE  accept  a  lock  of  my  hair,"  said  a  bach- 
elor to  a  widow,  handing  her  a  large  curl.  "Sir," 
she  replied,  "you  had  better  give  the  whole  wig." 
"  Madame,  you  are  very  biting,  indeed,  considering 
that  jour  teeth  are  porcelain." 

A  Providence  boy  went  to  a  birthday  party,  and 
describes  it  as  follows:  "First,  we  all  had  some 
bread  and  butter  ;  then  we  all  had  some  lemonade, 
cold  enough  to  freeze  us ;  then  we  had  a  piece  of 
birthday  cake;  then  we  had  lots  of  ice  cream  ;  and 
/hen  we  all  had  the  stomach  ache;  then  we  all  lay 
down,  and  the  big  girls  gave  us  some  peppermint; 
then  we  all  went  out  to  play." 

A  WIT  was  dreadfully  bored  by  a  stupid  fellow, 
who  persisted  in  talking  to  him  on  natural  history. 
"  There's  the  oyster,"  at  last  said  the  bore  ;  "  what's 
your  idea  as  to  the  notion  that  the  oyster  is  possessed 
of  reason?"  "I  think  it  may  be  true,"  said  the  wit, 
"  because  the  oyster  knows  enough  to  shut  his 
mouth." 

A  BREED  of  dogs  without  tails  has  been  discovered 
in  Africa  ;  and  bow  the  mischievous  boys  there  utilize 
old  tin  kettles  and  fruit  caus,  we  cannot  pretend  to 
say. 

The  Sandwich  Islands  are  going  to  adopt  a  new 
flag,  but  they  can't  decide  whether  to  take  a  gray 
horse-blanket  with  a  hole  in  it,  or  an  old  vest  with 
the  back  ripped  out. 

Across  the  walnuts  and  the  wine  :  Engaging  child  : 
"  O  Mr.  Jeukius  !  do  let  me  see  you  drink  ?  "  Mr. 
Jenkins;  "  See  me  drink  !  What  for  my  dear?  "  En- 
gaging child  :  "  Oh  I  mamma  says  you  drink  like  a 
fish." 

It  was  a  New  Jersey  wife  who  said,  "  My  dear,  if 
you  can't  drink  bad  coffee  without  abusing  me,  how 
is  it  that  you  can  always  drink  bad  whisky  without 
abusing  the  barkeeper  !  " 

At  a  medical  examination  a  young  aspirant  for  a 
physician's  diploma  was  asked,  "  When  does  morLi- 
Ucation  ensue  ?  "  "  When  you  propose  and  are  re- 
jected," was  the  reply  that  greeted  the  questioner. 

Two  Irishmen,  traveling,  were  robbed  aud  tied  in 
a  wood.  One  in  despair,  cried  :  "  Och,  I  amundonel" 
Said  the  other,  "  Faith,  then  I  wished  you  would 
come  and  undo  me." 


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DE1LEB3  IN  ALL  KINDS  Of 
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Orders  recelyed  at 

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8-l-19ml     Yard,  No.   613  NOUTH  PKINCB    STRKfiT. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  5.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  OCTOBER,  -1876 


Vol.  Vni.  No.  10. 


PENNSYLVANIA    FRUIT    GROWERS' 
SOCIETY. 

We  do  not  speak  oflicially  or  from  any  odl- 
cial  authority,  Imt  it  lias  been  indieatcd  to  us 
tliat  tliP  next'annu.arraoetinj;  of  tlie  I'mnni/l- 
vania  Fruit  Growrrs''  iS'oc/f(^  will  lie  held  in  (he 
citv  of  I/mcaster,  in  the  month  of  .January, 
18t7.  The  day  we  have  n^t  le.arned,  even  if 
it  lias  been  detinitely  determined  upon,  but  no 
doubt  in  due  time  proclamation  thereof  will 
be  made.  Those  who  remember  the  iuterest- 
ini;  couvoeation  of  this  association  in  our  city 
in  January,  1^70,  will  be  pleased  In  learn  of  this 
exiH'cted  event,  embracini;.  asil  does,  the  nias- 
nates  among  the  hortieiilturists  of  our  great 
commonwealth;  and  welVeithat  we  but  express 
the  sentiment  of  our  people  in  thus  beraldinp; 
the  welcome  of  it.s  advent  among  us.  This 
society  was  organized  at  the  Conper  House,  in 
this  city,  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  from 
that  period  to  the  present  one,  it  has  been  in- 
creasing in  iniportance,  ])ractical  aViilily,  and 
the  general  diffusion  of  horticultural  knowl- 
edge. 

^ 

PENNSYLVANIA  FRUIT  AT  THE   CEN- 
TENNIAL. 

Up  to  the  2Sth  of  September  the'  display  of 
Pennsylvania  fruit  at  the  great  Centennial 
poniologieal  demonstration  was  not  very  re- 
markable for  such  a  areat  commonwealth  — 
indeed,  it  was,  by  comparison,  rather  inferior. 
What  it  has  been  doing  since  that  period  may 
he  inferred  from  the  fact  that  the  officials 
having  it  in  charge,  have  been  sending  out 
circulais  tothediflerent  counties,  urging  them 
to  come  to  the  rescue  in  redeeming  the  char- 
acter of  the  State;  and  it  will  be  seen  by  the 
proceedings  of  the  October  meet  ing  of  our  local 
society,  that  this  circumstance  has  created 
quite  a  flutter  among  its  members.  Some 
counties  have  done  well,  but  most  of  them 
have  been  backward  or  derelict.  This  is  not 
creditable,  when  we  reflect  that  tlie  great  ex- 
position is  held  within  our  own  borders,  and 
that  Canada.  Kansas,  Colorado,  California  and 
other  far-off  .States,  have  done  so  handsomely 
This  was  not  because  Pennsylvania  had  no 
fruit  to  exhibit;  for,  what  little  she  had  on 
exhibition  at  the  time  we  refer  to,  the  quality 
compared  favorably  with  any  that  was  there. 
Mr.  Daniel  Smeych,  of  Lanca.ster  city,  exhibi- 
ted over  thirty  varieties  of  crapes,  that  were 
not  inferior  to  the  best  that  were  on  exhibition 
from  any  other  locality.  Indeed,  his  whole 
exhibit,  including  jieaclies  and  pears,  elicited 
the  commendations  of  connoisseurs,  and  wei-e 
complimented  by  the  pres«,  and  among  them 
such  .journals  as  the  New  York  Tr'hune.  Mr. 
Smeych 's  collection  went  very  far  towards  re- 
deeming the  character  of  Lancaster  county  at 
least,  and  fully  illustrated  what  miiiht  liave 
been  done  by  both  tlie  county  and  the  State. 
had  there  been  n.n-ill  to  do  it.  We  admonished 
our  fruit-crowers  against  this  apathy,  tln'ough 
the  columns  of  The  Farmek,  more  than  a 
year  ago,  and  although  we  faintly  anorehended 
what  has  .since  transpired,  yet  we  did  not  think 
it  would  be  to  the  extent  it  has.  The  fact  is, 
too  many  of  our  peonle  only  aimed  to  be  edi- 
fied and  amused  with  the  wonderful  sights  or 
the  Centennial,  without  thinking  much  about 
entertaining  others  by  freely  contributing  to 
the  great  show  of  fruit. 

In  many  of  the  departments  our  mechanics, 
manufacturers  and  artizans  in  gen^ral,  have 
made  creditable  disjilays.  both  from  tlie  conntv 
and  the  State,  but  somehow  the  "founders  of 
our  civilization  "  have  been  remiss.  This  is 
not  so  much  from  a  lack  of  the  necessary  ma- 
terial as  it  is  from  the  inability  to  feel  tliat 
weight  of  individual  res)>onsibility,  without 
which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  effect  an  out- 
ward manifestation.     In  matters  of  this  kind 


every  man,  in  any  way  interested  in  it.  should 
feel  as  if  its  success  depended  entirely  ni>on  his 
own  individual  elforls;  ;ind  where  every  man 
is  so  influenced,  there  is  no  such  contingency 
as  a  failure.  It  is  tlierefore  to  be  hoiied  thai 
the  committees  appointed  on  the  ■2d  inst.  will 
be  active  and  energetic  in  tin;  discharge  of 
their  duties,  and  th.at  our  fruit-growers  will 
heartily  and  handsomely  respond.  It  is  true,  it 
may  incur  a  little  more  laboi-  and  expense  than 
exhibiting  nearer  home,  but  then  the  ncatsiim 
must  be  taken  into  consideration— it  is  the 
centennial  anniversary  of  our  national  exist- 
ence, an  event  that  cannot  occur  again  for  a 
hundred  years. 


THE   CENTENNIAL. 

Before  the  issue  of  the  next  number  of  Tiir, 
F.VRMER,  our  great  Exposition — the  distin- 
guishing characteristic  of  the  nineteenth  cen. 
tury— will,  officially,  have  been  numbered  with 
the  eveids  of  the  past.  True,  it  mav  not  all 
be  removed— indeed,  the  greater  portion  of  i( 
may  be  yet  in  place — Vnit  its  nffirkd  existence 
will  be  ended.  Whether  for  good  or  evil,  it 
will  be  regarded  as  a  grand  event  in  American 
history,  and  will  furnish  a  theme  that  will  last 
an  ace.  and  mav  never  be  exhausted.  Doubt- 
less it  will  also  be  criticised — perhaps  severelv 
criticised — for,  <rrand  as  it  is.  and  was.  it  did 
not  reach  nerfection.  But  critics  will  witlihold 
their  criticisms  until  their  outward  expression 
cannot  ex"rt  an  injurious  effect  upon  the  in- 
terests of  the  show.  Its  most  vulnerable  parts, 
no  doubt,  may  be  attributable  more  to  defec- 
tive head-work  than  to  heart-work,  and  vet 
before  all  is  done,  some  rascalities  may  be  de- 
veloped and  detected.  Since  rascalities  iv'll 
hr.  imder  merely  human  rule,  it  is  best  that 
thev  should  be  exposed,  however  they  mav 
tarnish  a  country's  record.  But,  apart  from 
all  the  evil  that  can  possibly  accrue,  it  has 
done  and  will  have  done  an  immense  amount 
of  good.  It  will  do  more  to  establish  relations 
of  amity  and  comity  between  diverse  and  re- 
mote nations  than  anv  system  of  diplomaev 
that  ever  was  concocted  among  men.  It  is  a 
great  pitv  that  everv  man  and  woman  and 
every  child  old  enough  to  recognize  its  mean- 
ing, eonld  not  have  witnessed  it.  even  for  n 
single  dav.  It  would  have  constituted  an  epoch 
in  their  davs  never  to  he  forgotten — an  im- 
nression  never  to  be  entirely  erased — it  is  and 
was  so  real,  so  tan^'ible.  so  void  of  mere  spec- 
ulation. T'le  extrnordinnry  demonstration  oti 
the  osth  of  Sentember — Pennsylvania 's centen- 
nial commemontion  of  her  State  ennstitntion 
— wfls  one  tba*"  nfver  will  be  fnrnrotten  by  those 
who  witnessed  it;  a"d  o-nes  down  to  posterity 
as  the  largest  of  the  kind  that  has  ever  take" 
nlace  in  the  world.  Nearly  "r  qn'te  (hrep  hun- 
drp^l  thonsn.Tirl  neople  rtnsserl  tlirein'^b  the  tnrn- 
«tilps  on  tha*-  rta".  nver  two  hundred  and  fiftv 
thousand  of  whicb  wore  paid  adni'«cinns.  This 
^•psnH  is  nnnreeerlppfpfl  \r\  fhp  history  of  fVie 
hidnstrial  ex'msitions  of  the  world,  nod  sbowo 
linw  prinn'nr  tlip  occasion  was  in  the  minds 
ond  henrts  eif  tbp  nPAnlp.  Whatever  mav  h" 
file  nlU'Tiatp  financinl  result  of  onr  Centennial 
-Rynnsilion.  it  cnnnot  he  eh  arched  to  tbp  nrtntl'>y 
of  ttie  Tiennip.  fnr  H  had  been  nreeerlerl  nnd  wn^ 
C'lntinned  thronch  one  nf  the  darkest  financial 
neriodc  !n  npr  national  histon'.  and  nianv'wer" 
the  splf-depial«  ami  neenniarv  sliift«.  that  were 
neeessarv  to  obtain  t'^e  meiPS  to  patronize  it. 
Tmong  the  masses  of  the  peonle.  Manv  far 
advanced  in  years  essayed  pedestrian  ionrneys 
of  hnndrpdc  of  miles  to  witness  the  rrvaprl  pi- 
TPant  of  'Fnirnimiiit  Pnrl".  and  all  were  over- 
whelmed with  wonder  at  thebeantv.  the  vari- 
ety, and  the  mTmitude  of  t'le  show.  These 
impressions  will  he  carried  with  them  down  to 
the  end  of  their  davs.  and  together  with  the 
written  history  of  the  event,   will  be  trans- 


mitted to  posterity.  Many  will  .secure  some 
token  of  remembrance  wiiile  they  visit  the 
Centenni;il  Exposition,  and  tliese  will  becomo 
heirlooms  in  the  family  from  generation  to 
generation.  Many  jieoples  and  their  produc- 
tions of  handicraft  which  heretofore  had  only 
an  ideal  existence  in  their  minds,  will  now 
have  assumed  a  realistic  character,  as  tangible 
as  if  they  had  visited  a,  foreign  country  or  a 
foreign^workshop. 


HOLLAND' PIPPIN. 

From  the  following,  read  at  the  late  meet- 
ing of  the  Lnnrnnter  Cnvnt)/  A()riru'lurrtl  nnd 
II'irticuHural  Sorietil,  it  will  apjiear  very  pro- 
bable that  we  h.ave  in  this  city  an  apple  tree 
which  \yas  oritrinallv  oneof  those  brought  over 
from  Holland  by  Dutch  eniii.'rants.  many  long 
years  ago.  or  was  prooacrated  from  one  of  those 
early  (iroduct  ions.  We  have  had  a  knowledge 
of  the  fruit  f)f  this  tree  for  two  or  three  years, 
and  have  on  several  occasions  submitted  it  to 
some  of  our  local  pomologists.  but  without  any 
of  them  ventnrinu  to  give  it  a  name;  and  a 
distinct  app''"ation  we  felt  assured  it  was 
worthy  of  in  the  apple  world,  .so  that  it  might 
l)e  able  to  stand  up  an  "'apple  among  apples." 
For  this  reason,  therefore,  and  the  suirgestion.s 
of  a  "veteran."  we  adopt  the  above  name,  by 
which  this  fruit  may  be  provisionally  designa- 
ted hereafter,  and  when  it  becomes  manifest 
that  it  has  some  other  name,  the  peeessary  cor- 
rection  can  be  made.  When  w-e  reflect  upon  the 
facts  presepted  to  us  everyday  in  worthless  or 
very  inferior  applesoffered  forsale.  wemay  well 
be  surprised  that  this  apnle  has  bepp  so  long  peg- 
Ipcted.  and  those  inferior  varieties  cultivated 
instead.  This  mav  no  doubt  be  attributable  to 
the  circ\mistancp  that  for  a  lone  series  of  years, 
no  knowledtre  of  it  existed  outside  of  the  im- 
mediate family  who  occupied  the  premises  on 
which  it  stands.  But  now.  when  active  hor- 
ticultural organizations  exist  amon?  us.  and 
fniit-e'rowers  are  tnrn'nir  their  attention  to 
the  better  kinds  of  fruit — whether  amopc  the 
e7r7  yarieties  or  the  vi^r — it  becomes  manifest 
that  this  "neclected"  fruit  should  no  lonrrer 
h"  "hidden  under  a  hnsiiel  or  a  bed,"  and  for 
that  reason  we  feel  instified  in  now  making  it 
known  as  a  centennial  development. 

A   Neglected  Apple. 

"The  acconipanving  apple  i.s  from  a  tree 
■-'rowin'i'nnon  the  premises  of -Mr.  Henry  Sener, 
West  Oranee  street,  in  this  citv. 

This  tree  was  hr'incht  here  from  fJprman- 
town.  Pa.,  ahont  forty  years  a^o.  and  Mr. 
Senpr  informs  me  tint,  so  far  as  his  reeolleetion 
"xtends.  it  hears  a  faireron  every  year.  Thave 
tliorou^l'ly  tested    the   frnif   for  two  seasons, 

•>nd.  whotlior  "h-iked.  boiled   or  stewed  " in 

nies.  dnm'ilinTS.  fritters  Or  nlain  sapeo.  T  have 
Connd  it  far  snnerior  to  ani- annlo  o^ered  in 
<^his  market,  not  even  excepting  the  ".smoke- 
bo-s"." 

T'<e  fruit  is  in  a  condition  for  eiilinarv  nse 
all  tbroiiTli  the  montbs  of  An^ust.  Sentembpf 
and  Oeteb°r.  and  in  fip  latter  montli  it  is  a 
"Ood  patiniT  annle.  The  tree  is  old  and  bol- 
low.  and  nrobably  will  not  snrvi ye  manv  veprs 
and  will  no  do.iht  he  fopnd  worthy  of  nrona- 
e"itMi"  by  biiddintr  and  rraftine-.  and  Mr.  S. 
will  cheerfulb'  snpnly  any  person  wl^o  m^'v 
want  them.  Tl^e  Iiranelies  are  drooninc.  the 
inrnrer  nerfion  of  the  fruit  hanging  on  the  out- 
side exnosed  to  sun  and  air. 

It  rinpns  throun-h  ''pntember  and  October. 
T  sept  a  sneeimen  to  Dr.  Stavman.  of  T.paven- 
worth.  Kansas,  who  l^as  nearly  one  thousand 
varieties  of  the  apple  family  described  and 
i'l'istrated.  T  also  sent  a  sneeimen  to  Maior 
Freas  of  the  Orrniay^t^iryi  1  plpiirrifih.  to  ^diich 
T  have  received  the  following  reply,  wbich  re- 
flects some  light,  if  it  is  not  conclusive  : 


146 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  October, 


Germantown,  Pa.,  Sep.  26,  1876. 

My  Bear  Sir :  I  have  just  received  your 
note  and  specimen  apple.  I  do  not  think  we 
have  any  now  in  this  neii^hborhood,  but  I  will 
publish  a  part  of  your  note,  which  may  elicit 
information.  Most  of  the  apple  trees  of 
which  we  had  so  many  standing  twenty-five 
years  ago,  are  dead  or  removed,  owing  to  the 
encroachment  of  buildings  and  streets.  The 
property  I  own  had  many  apple  trees  upon  it, 
but  I  was  obliged  to  cut  them  down.  But 
none  of  the  variety  sent  me. 

I  really  think  the  specimen  is  the  Holland 
Pippin,  called  by  some  the  Summer  Pippin. 
Many  Hollanders  settled  in  this  place  and 
neighborhood,  and  they  brought  many  apple 
and  pear  trees  with  them,  or  introduced  them 
subsequently.  I  have  pear  trees  on  my  premi- 
ses fully  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  old — 
Early  Catharine,  Windsor  and  Colimer,  and 
some  half  dozen  were  cut  down. 

This  specimen  apple  is  a  Pippin,  and  seems 
to  meet  all  the  conditions  of  the  Holland. 
Thanking  you  for  it,  I  am 

Yoiu's  Eespectfully, 

S.  S.  Rathvon,  Esq.  •  P.  R.  Fkeas. 

In  conclusion  we  would  say  that  the  average 
weight  of  these  apples  is  eight  to  ten  ounces — 
perhaps  eight  would  be  the  safest— and  the 
form  is  somewhat  irregular.  When  fully  ripe 
the  color  is  "golden  yellow,"  and  the  flesh  is 
tinged  with  the  same  color.  It  is  just  suffi- 
ciently tartish  to  give  it  a  positive  quality,  and 
therefore  it  is  free  from  that  insipid  negative 
character  which  distinguishes  so  much  fruit 
after  it  is  cooked.  In  pies,  dumplings  or  frit- 
ters, by  the  time  the  pastry  is  sufficiently  baked, 
the  apples  are  thoroughly  cooked  ;  and  when 
cooked,  the  pulp  retains  its  original  color,  or 
nearly  so,  and  never  turns  brownish,  as  is  the 
case  with  so  many  varieties'of  the  apple.  Some 
of  the  fruit  weighs  nearly  a  pound,  but  much 
more  of  it  about  half  a  pound,  but  the  weight 
above  named  is  about  the  average.  The  tree 
is  about  twenty  feet  high,  the  branches  irregu- 
lar and  spreading,  and  the  twigs,  buds  and 
fruit-spurs  heavy.  It  is  a  kind  of  canopied  or 
umbrella-shaped  in  form,  and  with  a  step-lad- 
der nearly  all  the  fruit  may  be  gathered  from 
the  outside.  Mr.  Sener  states  that  he  usually 
commences  making  a  culinary  use  of  the  fruit 
about  the  middle  of  July,  and  that  even  thus 
early  it  is  sufficiently  positive  in  its  taste  to 
make — with  the  aid  of  a  little  sugar — an  agree- 
able relish,  and  just  at  the  season  too,  when  the 
appetite  craves  something  of  a  tartisfi  flavor. 

We  have  no  doubt  that  by  budding  or  graft- 
ing the  fruit  might  be  much  improved,  and 
we  hope  our  fruit-growers  will  make  an  eflbrt 
to  perpetuate  it.  True,  they  may  not  all  live 
to  gather  their  reward,  but  others  will,  and 
among  the  things  of  the  first  century  of  oiu- 
history,  that  are  worthy  of  transmission  to  our 
second  centuiy,  we  feel  very  confident  this 
fruit  is  entitled  to  a  prominent  position. — Ed. 


THE  ANIMAL  AND  THE  VEGETABLE. 


Their  Physical   Relations  to  Each  Other. 

Prof.  Brainard,  of  the  U.  S.  Patent  Office, 
read  before  the  Potomic  Fruit  Growers'  Soci- 
ety, in  July  last,  an  interesting  paper  on  the 
"Food  and  Diet  of  Plants,"  the  concluding 
paragraphs  of  which,  as  condensed  by  the 
Gardeners''  Monthly,  are.  the  following  :  The 
sources  of  plant  food  may  be  gathered  from 
some  analyses  and  contrasts.  Plants  feed  on 
carbonic  acid,  animals  give  it  off.  Plants  give 
off  oxygen,  animals  consume  it.  Plants  de- 
compose carbonic  acid,  water,  ammonia,  &c., 
animals  produce  them.  Plants  produce  uitro- 
genized  compounds — albumen,  gluten,  casein, 
&c.,  animals  live  upon  them.  Plants  also 
produce  non-nitrogenized  compounds — starch, 
sugar,  green  oil  and  acids ;  animals  consume 
these.  Plants  endow  mineral  matter  with 
properties  of  life,  animals  deprive  them  of  these 
properties.  Plants  impart  to  chemical  atoms 
the  power  to  nourish  animals,  these  reduce 
organic  matter  to  a  condition  suited  for  the 
support  of  plants.  Plants  convert  simple  into 
complex  forms,  animals  convert  complex  into 
simple.  The  plant  is  a  mechanism  of  construc- 


tion, the  animal  a  mechanism  of  reduction. 
The  plant  is  an  apparatus  for  deoxidation ; 
the  animal  an  instrument  of  oxidation.  The 
plant  alisorbs  heat  and  electricity,  the  an- 
imal produces  them.  "  From  these  observa- 
tions," adds  the  editor,  "we  infer  that  ani- 
mal excretions,  especially  urine,  afford  most 
valuable  and  appropriate  food  for  plants.  And 
our  cities  are  impoverishing  the  country  by 
emptying  their  sewers  into  the  rivers.  The 
time  will  come  when  this  wanton  waste  will 
be  stopped,  and  the  wasted  matters  will  be 
utiHzed."  "  A  convenient  method  of  saving 
this  liquid  manure  is  to  collect  it  in  a  cask  and 
deodorize  it  with  dry  earth  and  coal  ashes." 
A  recent  number  of  the  Scientific  Americcm 
states  that  two  ounces  of  kerosene  oil  and  six 
gallons  of  water  make  an  excellent  fertilizer, 
as  also  an  antidote  to  the  ravages  of  insects. 
It  is  to  be  applied  with  a  watering-pot  between 
the  rows  of  plants  and  around  the  trees." 

We  have  for  years  been  thinking  that  the 
contents  of  cess-pools  and  sewers  might  be 
utilized,  as  recuperating  elements  of  soil,  and 
before  the  country  celebr.ates  another  Centen- 
nial anniversary,  this  subject  may  be  more 
popular  than  it  is  now.  On  this  subject  we 
would  refer  our  readers  to  an  article  entitled 
Chinese  Agriculture,  in  the  August  number  of 
The  Farmer,  beginning  on  page  119,  which 
contains  the  basis  of  what  may  ultimately  have 
to  be  done  in  this  country  if  the  unity  of  its 
government,  or  at  least  its  civilization,  contin- 
ues to  exist.  We  have  now  only  attained  our 
hundredth  year  as  an  independent  nation,  and 
even  if  we  go  back  to  the  discovery  of  the 
American  continent  by  Columbus,  we  are  not 
yet  four  hundred  years  old,  and  already  we  have 
vast  tracts  of  poor  and  worn  out  lands.  This 
is  not  the  case  yet  with  China,  notwithstand- 
ing the  teeming  millions  of  her  population, 
and  her  three  thousand  years  of  agricultuaal 
experience.  The  relations  between  animal 
and  vegetable  life  seem  to  be  more  practically 
carried  into  efiect  in  that  country,  than  they 
are  in  ours,  although  the  scientific  principles 
of  the  subject  may  not  be  so  well  understood 
among  them  as  they  are  among  us.  It  is  true 
a  vast  amount  of  prejudice  will  have  to  be 
overcome  before  we  are  able  to  rationally  util- 
ize much  that  we  now  permit  to  run  to  waste  ; 
but  the  march  of  intelligence  and  the  diffusion 
of  knowledge  will  do  much  in  preparing  the 
agricultural  mind  of  our  country  forany  whole- 
some innovations  that  experience  may  finally 
develop  as  essential  to  our  general  prosperity. 
Many  things  that  are  now  looked  upon  as  pos- 
itive evils,  when  their  constituent  principles 
are  properly  understood,  may  be  converted 
into  blessings.  Some  of  the  wisest  agricultural 
philosophers  are  beginning  to  comprehend  the 
doctrine  that  "  there  is  no  such  thing  as  dirt. " 
All  appearances  of  such  are  merely  the  differ- 
ent phases  of  chemical  change.  By  the  powers 
of  chemistry,  some  of  the  finest  and  costliest 
cosmetics  and  perfumes  are  elaborated  from 
the  conunon  refuse  of  a  gas  factory,  and  we 
cannot  fix  a  limit  to  the  inventive  energies  of 
the  human  mind  in  this  respect.  Agriculture 
has,  perhaps,  a  greater  need  of  scientific  aid 
than  any  other  pursuit  among  men,  for  upon 
its  success  and  its  multifarious  productions, 
the  whole  superstructure  of  human  society 
must  repose.  We  therefore  ought  to  be  will- 
ing to  "live  and  learn,"  no  matter  from  how 
humble  a  source  true  knowledge  may  spring. 
"  Facts  are  stubborn  things,"  and  it  behooves 
us  to  be  able  to  make  an  intelligent  discuimi- 
nation  between  "  fact  and  fancy  "  when  they 
are  brought  under  our  supervision. — Ed. 


Thanks  to  Mr.  Jos.  Windolph,  of  Marietta, 
for  a  most  magnificent  lot  of  lucious  Sheldon 
Pears,  which  are  worthy  fellows  of  Mr.  Henry 
Sener's  pippin  apples.  If  any  body  else  values 
our  good  opinion  ou  such  a  subject,  let  them 
send  around  their  apples  and  pears — especially 
pears. 

We  are  also  under  obligations  to  Mr.  Wm. 
Weidle  for  fine  specimens  of  Doyenne  and 
Duchess  d'Angouleme  pears — rare  luxuries  in- 
deed to  one  so  unaccustomed  to  such  dainties, 
as  we  so  long  have  been. 


"HOW  TO  KEEP  THE    BOYS   ON    THE 
FARM." 

This  question  became  a  subject  of  discussion 
at  the  October  meeting  of  the  "Lancaster 
County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Socie- 
ty," and  elicited  some  very  sound  and  sensible 
sentiments,  expressed  in  a  fi'ee,  offJiand  man- 
ner, by  a  number  of  the  members,  as  a  careful 
perusal  of  the  proceedings  in  another  part  of 
this  number  of  our  journal  will  illustrate. 

Without  intending  to  indulge  in  that  ful- 
some flattery  which  is  so  agreeable  to  the 
"putty-brained"  simpleton,  but  sodisgusting  to 
the  man  of  common  sense,  we  nevertheless  de- 
sire to  notice  complimentarily  the  progress 
which  our  farmers  have  made — and  especially 
the  young  and  middle-aged  among  them — and 
the  abilities  they  have  developed  since  the  first 
organization  of  our  local  society,  not  only  in 
their  public  speaking,  but  also  in  the  literary 
improvehient  of  their  contributions  to  our  jour- 
n.al,  and  if  we  have  any  cause  for  regret,  it  is 
that  the  latter  are  generally  "  so  few  and  far 
between." 

The  problem  involved  in  the  caption  of  these 
remarks,  and  which  was  the  subject  of  the  dis- 
cussion alluded  to,  is  one  that  is  not  of  a  very 
easy  solution,  simpl}'  because  of  the  great  di- 
versity of  human  minds  and  temperaments. 
If  the  natural  tendencies  of  all  minds  were 
the  same,  and  all  possessed  the  same  degree  of 
strength,  the  difficulty  of  elaborating  a  system 
of  discipline  would  perhaps  not  be  as  great  as 
it  is  under  its  present  varied  constitutions. 
We  do  not  presume  to  be  able  to  enlighten  our 
farmers  on  the  best  course  they  can  pursue  to 
"  keep  their  boys  on  the  farm  ;  "  because,  in 
the  first  place,  we  are  not  a  farmer — ive  sincere- 
ly wish  we  were — and  in  the  second  place,  per- 
haps, it  is  not  advisable  thutall  shmdd  remain 
on  the  farm. 

We  may  be  permitted  to  suggest,  however, 
that  farmers  are  endowed  with  the  same  men- 
tal and  physical  faculties  which  usually  pertain 
to  the  rest  of  the  human  family,  diftering,  per- 
haps, only  in  relative  strength  and  the  pro- 
clivities which  are  incidental  to  their  peculiar 
modes  of  life. 

Therefore,  if  farmers  desire  to  have  their 
sons  remain  on  their  farms,  and  pursue  the 
honorable  calling  of  their  fathers,  anterior  to 
any  system  of  discipline  for  their  mental  and 
physical  training — whether  voluntarily  or  ar- 
bitrarily exercised — is  a  discipline  which  they 
by  self  compulsion  should  enforce  upon  them- 
selves. It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  children 
will  be  long  contented  with  a  farm-life  when 
their  parents  habitually  indulge  in  yearnings 
after  the  occupations  and  speculations  of  the 
towns.  The  children  by  hereditary  transmis- 
sion liecome  themselves  infected  by  these  yearn- 
ing desires,  and  in  cases  where  this  is  not  so, 
it  is  only  the  manifestation  of  a  temporary  ex- 
ception, and  not  the  rule.  But  this  is  only  the 
primitive  cause  of  disaffection  on  the  part  of 
children  ;  a  secondary  cause  is  the  absence  of 
those  external  attractions,  which  are  incidental 
to  the  mental  and  moral  development  of  a 
progressive  people  ;  and  the  false  inculcations 
which  obtain,  through  popular  conventional- 
ism and  social  misconceptions.  We  sincerely 
believe,  io  the  language  of  the  "great  consti- 
tutional expounder"  of  our  country,  that  ^Hhe 
farmer  is  thefounder  of  civilization ;"  and.  occu- 
pying that  exalted  position,  he  has  nothing  to 
look  up  to  but  his  God;  and  whenever  his  mind 
seeks  an  other  plane  of  view  he  is  obliged  to  look 
downward.  This  is  his  legitimate  status,  and 
it  is  only  when  he  perverts  or  misapprehends 
it,  that  he  becomes  a  mere  "hewer  of  wood 
and  carrier  of  water."  In  the  degree  that  he 
can  appreciate  this  position,  in  that  degree 
will  he  "feel  the  enviable  independence  of  an 
American  farmer,  for  while  he  turns  the  fur- 
row and  scatters  the  seed,  he  has  the  assur- 
ance that  he  does  not  labor  for  a  master." 
This  self-reliant  attitude  need  not  necessarily 
make  him  selfish,  imperious,  ascriptive  and 
uncharitable;  indeed,  if  he  cultivates  his  mind 
in  the  same  proportion  that  he  does  his  fields, 
and  does  not  neglect  the  longings  of  his  moral 
nature,  he  will  be  humble  without  indulging 
ill  the  more  ohjactionable  pride  of  humility. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


d47 


There  is  au  "old  saw"  to  the  effect  that, 
"All  work  and  no  play  will  make  Jaek  a  dull 
boy,"  and  per  contra  we  may  state,  llial  all 
play  and  no  work,  is  just  as  sure  to  make  him 
a  wortliless  boy.  Between  these  two  extremes, 
however,  their  lii'S  a  wiile  Held  for  intellectual 
and  physical  culture,  and  on  a  i)roper  manipu- 
lation of  this  lield,  nuich  of  the  health,  con- 
tent and  success  of  lite  depends.  Farmers, 
in  tlieir  relations  to  their  children,  perliaps 
make  tlie  same  mistakes  in  discipline  that 
other  classes  do,  and  one  i;rand  mistake,  which 
only  is  seen  Ion;;  years  afterward — if  ever  it  is 
seen  at  all — is  innot  having  snllicient  regard 
to  the  fully  developed  man  and  woman,  in  the 
boy  and  the  girl.  Perliai)S  there  are  few 
parents  wlio  have  urown-up  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, pursuing  the  duties  of  life  upon  theirown 
responsibility,  who  do  not  bitterly  regret  tlie 
course  they  liave  pursued  towards  them  in 
.their youtli.  Instead  of  ailing  from  a  high 
moral  principle,  and  for  the  ultimate  welfare  of 
their  children,  they  may  have  been  inlluencedby 
a  blind  impulse,  and  with  no  higher  motive  than 
theirown  personal  comfort  and  convenience. 
Instead  of  reposing  eonlidenee  in  their  children 
and  according  to  them  the  courtesies  that  they 
have  freely  acc(uded  to  the  children  of  their 
neighbors,  they,  perhai)s,  have  been  self-ex- 
acting, domineering,  fretful  and  suspicions. 
Instead  of  making  them  "  partnersof  their  toil, 
their  feeling  and  their  fame,"  they  may  have 
only  been  careful  to  crush  out  every  feeling  of 
independent  enterprise,  and  to  impress  upon 
tliem  the  al)solutene.ss  of  their  subordinate 
condition.  Instead  of  affording  them  oppor- 
tunities for  mental  culture,  for  recreations  and 
foramusements,  they  may  have  subjected  them 
to  incessant  toil,  to  iniellectual  denial,  and  to 
dogmatic  gloominess.  Under  such  circum- 
stances as  these,  and  less  excessive  than  these, 
it  would  not  b(;  surprising  that  they  should 
tire  of  the  farm  or  desire  to  break  away  from 
parental  restraint. 

But  it  sometimes  happens  that  parents  de- 
fer too  much  to  their  children,  especially  when 
they  have  grown  to  maidiood  and  womanhood, 
have  acquired  a  little  worldly  knowledge  and 
have  become  restive  under  the  toils  which  are 
incidental  to  tlie  farmer's  life.  Having  been 
tiiemselves  deprived  of  the  benetitsofan  early 
school  education,  they  perhaps  fail  to  compre- 
hend what  a  true  education  means.  Learninij 
does  not  necessarily  carry  icixdom  with  it ;  that 
is  the  result  of  experience.  Washington  was 
a  wise  man,  but  in  learning  he  was  inferior  to 
many  of  his  subordinates  in  the  army  and  the 
government.  These  children,  tlien,  po.ssessing 
that  "little  learning"  which  "is  a  dangerous 
thing,"  ofien  succeed  in  infusing  tlieir  discon- 
tent into  the  minds  of  their  parents,  exciting 
them  to  exchange  the  "dull  monotony"  of  a 
rural  life,  for  the  easier  and  more  genteel  occu- 
pations of  the  town,  which  often  proves  a  sad 
mistake  indeed. 

Reference  was  made  in  the  discussion  to  a 
simple  sect  of  rural  Christians,  who  discarded 
or  discouraged  all  school  learning  as  sinful, 
and  yet  are  prosperous,  contented  and  happy ; 
illustrating  that  "if  ignorance  is  bliss  it  is  folly 
to  be  wise  ;"  but  this  contented  and  prosper- 
ous condition  is  by  no  means  the  result  of  ig- 
norance. It  is  owing  to  a  rigid  discipline 
which  they  voluntarily  inii)osed  upon  them- 
selves long,  years  ago,  and  the  results  of  their 
self-denials "  have  been  the  heritage  of  their 
posterity.  It  is  because  they  have  been  true 
to  the  fundamental  principles  of  their  moral 
organization  and  have  transmitted  fewer  un- 
stable and  evil  tendencies  to  their  children. 
With  the  same  persistent,  self-denying  moral 
culture,  a  higher  degree  of  intellectual  culture 
would  not  effect  a  detrimental  change  in  their 
social  characters.  But  with  all  this  self-denial 
in  the  one  direction,  it  does  not  necessarily 
follow  that  they  are  entirely  perfect  in  another. 
The  pride  of  simplicity  niay  be  as  objection- 
able as  the  i)ride  of  intelligence. 

To  keep  their  boys  on  the  farm,  then,  the 
farmer  \\\\\  be  greatly  assisted  by  recognizing 
their  manhood  in  their  early  youth,  and  affonl- 
ing  them  all  the  rational  "aids  that  arc  neecs- 
sjiry  for  a  proper  development  of  that  man- 


hood. They  should.have  seasons  of  recreation 
and  seasons  of  labor,  and  both  should  be 
adapted  to  their  mental  and  physical  condi- 
tions. The  farmer,  tlie  farm  and  farm  life 
should  be  represented  as  the  »f  }jhis  ultra  of 
man's  social  condilion  on  eartli,  and  this 
should  not  be  inculcated  as  merely  an  empty 
lirotession,  but  as  a  living  and  ever-abiding 
truth.— Ed. 


THE  WORM  SNAKE. 

"Mil.  Editor  :  I  read  with  much  interest  a 
paragraph  in  your  i)aiier  of  the  25th  inst., 
wherein  an  account  is  given  of  a  supiiosed 
'  snake '  seen  by  a  friend  of  your  Bucks 
county  correspondent.  You  say  in  a  note 
that  a  similar  'snake'  had  been  seen  some 
time  previously  in  Connecticut.  I  was  walk- 
ing with  my  wife  a  few  days  since,  when  my 
attention  was  called  to  what  appeared  to  be  a 
'snake,'  about  two  feet  long,  crossing  a  lawn 
gravel  walk.  My  wife,  who  has  a  horror  of 
the  genus  'sarpint, '  ran  off  with  considerable 
trepidation,  I  remained,  however,  to  examine 
the  reptile,  and  was  greatly  surjirised  to  find, 
as  described  by  your  corresiiondent,  that  it 
was  composed  of  myriads  of  small  grey  worms, 
each  about  a  sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  length. 
The  form  of  combination  was  precisely  that  of 
a  snake — small  towards  the  head,  larger  in 
the  middle,  and  tapering  to  a  jioint  at  the 
tail.  The  worms  .seemed  to  be  crossed,  inter- 
twined, and  heaped  upon  each  other,  but  the 
entire  mass  moved  steadily  forward.  I  have 
since  learned  that  several  of  these  '.snakes' 
have  been  seen  since  by  a  neighbor,  who  said 
that  they  were  the  'army  worm,'  and  so 
called  because  of  their  movements,  bearing  a 
fancied  resemblance  to  a  column  on  the  march. 
Can  it  be  jiossible  that  this  dreaded  i)est  of  the 
(!otton-field  has  appeared  among  usV" — CarrnU 
S.  Ti/son,  Plimnixvillc,  Pa.,  in  Germantown 
Teleyraph,  Auyuat  20,  1875. 

[We  expect  to  hear  from  Professor  Riley, 
State  Entomologist  of  Missouri,  as  to  the 
name  and  nature  of  the  worms  forming  this 
singular  combination.  The  "army  worm" 
does  not  confine  itself  to  cotton  growing  States, 
but  has  made  its  appearance  in  several  western 
States,  and  is  known  to  feed  on  other  growing 
crops  than  that  of  cotton.  It  may  turn  out 
that  this  is  really  that  much-dreaded  worm. 
—Ed.] 

The  phenomenon  of  the  "Worm-Snake" 
has  occurred  so  often  both  in  America  and 
Europe,  and  the  records  have  been  so  numer- 
ous, that  it  is  rather  surprising  so  little  should 
be  known  about  them  by  the  writers  of  the 
foregoing  paragraphs,  which  have  been  coined 
by  other  papers  without  comment. 

During  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years  Prof. 
Cope  has  read  two  or  three  papers  on  the  sub- 
ject before  the  Phil.  Academtj  of  Natural  <b'ct- 
cnces,  which  have  been  published  in  its  pro- 
ceedin(js.  During  the  period  above  named,  at 
least  half  a  dozen  of  those  "worm-snakes" 
have  been  seen  in  Lancaster  county,  and  three 
of  them  within  the  limits  of  Lancaster  city. 

In  reply  to  a  correspondent  from  Mount- 
ville,  Lancaster  county,  we  published  a  paper 
on  the  subject  in  the  columns  of  the  Lanaistcr 
Inijuirer,  in  its  issue  of  .July  9,  1870,  which 
was  subsequently  rei)ublislied  in  the  Lax- 
caster  Farmer,  if  wc  are  not  mistaken. 
Mr.  .J.  Stauffer  has  also  published  one  or  two 
papers  on  the  same  insect  in  the  Daihj  Ex- 
preas,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  In  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, 187:i,  we  confined  about  one  hundred 
of  these  worms  or  larva-  in  a  gla.ss  jar  with 
moist  earth,  and  they  formed  a  procession 
within  the  jar,  moving  round  in  a  circle  for  a 
day  or  two,  and  finally  disappeared  beneath 
the  surface  ;  but  of  these  only  one  or  two 
specimens  were  lired  to  the  imuyo  state — ow- 
ing, perhaps,  to  the  imfavorable  condition  of 
the  soil— small  gnat-like  in.sects,  having  a 
dusky  color,  clear  wings,  and  the  body  one- 
sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  lengtli.  These  tlies 
made  their  escape,  or  were  lost.  Within  a 
week  afterwards,  in  walking  from  Mount  .Joy 
to  Marietta,  towards  evening  we  met  a  swarm 
of  small    flies   gamboling    in  the  air    along 


the  road  side ,  and  on  cai)turing  some 
some  of  them  we  found  .a  close  resendjlance 
between  them  and  those  We  liad  bred.  We 
herewith  reproduce  our  paiier  of  1870,  and  in 
addition  assure  the  aiiprehensive  reader  that 
these  in.sects  are,  so  far  as  we  know,  entirely 
harmless,  and  that  they  are  not  the  "army 
worm,"  (Lewania  unipuncta)  which  is  a  noc- 
turnal Lcpidopierous  insect,  of  a  depredating 
family: 

"  (Jn  the  17th  of  June  last,  an  arm;/ of  these 
very  peculiar  I)iPT";Rovslarvie  wasdiscovercd 
by  Dr.  A.  K.  Hohrer,  of  Mountville,  in  his 
garden,  shaping  its  course,  as  he  thought,  to- 
wards one  of  ills  rose  bushes.  Tlie.se  insects 
come  up  out  of  the  ground  in  almost  countless 
number.s,  and  migrate  to  other  quarters,  in  a 
long  line,  resembling  a  slimy  sort  of  rope,  or 
serpeid,  adhering  together  and  covered  by  a 
mucus,  which  is  supposed  to  protect  their 
delicate  bodies  from  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
probably  against  other  dangers.  They  belong 
to  the  family  Trpui.nxK,  which  includes  the 
various  species  of  the  Crane-flies,  gnats,  and 
mosquitoes,  and  to  the  order  Diptkha,  which 
embraces  aU  of  the  two-winged  flies.  Com- 
l)aratively  little  was  known  of  these  insects 
in  this  country  until  a  very  recent  period,  and 
so  few  are  the  opportunities  to  make  personal 
observations  ujion  them  by  practical  entomo- 
logists, that  much  of  their  history  remains 
still  undevelojied.  They  were,  however,  ob- 
.served  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  by  Gaspard 
Schwenfelt,  as  early  as  the  year  1603.  In  1715 
.Jonas  Ramus  mentions  the  same  phenomenon. 
Much  superstiti<m  was  attached  to  the  appear- 
ance of  these  insect  larvse,  liy  the  peasantry 
in  the  districts  in  which  they  occurred,  be- 
lievini:  that  it  indicated  a  bad  harvest  if  they 
moved  toward  theinountains,butif  they  moved 
toward  the  valh'ys  or  plains,  the  sign  was  a 
good  one.  In  Norway  the.se  moving  ma.sses 
of  larv;e  were  called  the  ornw-drrK/,  and  when 
the  peasants  met  one,  they  threw  down  their 
belts  or  waistcoats  on  the  ground  in  advance 
of  it.  If  the  moving  ('olumn  passed  over  the 
obstacles,  it  was  a  good  sign  ;  but  if  it  turned 
around  them,  it  was  regarded  as  a  bad  omen. 

"The  .same  phenomenon  was  observed  in 
1845,  by  M.  Rand,  Royal  Insjiector  of  the  For- 
ests of  Hanover,  and  Prof.  Berthold,  of  the 
University  of  Gottingen,  gave  an  intere.sting 
account  of  an  army  of  these  larvae  which  he 
observed  in  1853,  and  which  he  described  as 
the  "  Thomastrauer  gnat"  {Sdara  thnme), 
having  succeeded  in  breeding  the  flies. 

"On  the  10th  of  August,  186.5,  my  friend 
Mr.  .Jacob  Stauffer  and  myself  witnessed  one 
of  these  slimy,  snakelike  armies  of  dipterous 
larva'  in  tlie  yard  of  Col.  D.  AV.  Pattei-son,  of 
I>ancaster.  They  were  also  observed  by  Mr. 
Wm.  Kite,  a  teacher  at  Westtown  school, 
Chester  county,  Pa.,on  thellth  of  September, 
1866,  and  also'  in  1807:  and  Prof.  W.  S.  Roe- 
del,  of  Wytheville,  Va.,  observed  a  similar 
army  at  North  Lebanon,  Pa.,  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1865,  and  they  have  also  been  witnessed 
by  other  observers  at  luior  and  subseqent  dates. 
From  all  that  is  known  of  them,  these  migra- 
tions are  supposed  to  be  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  more  suitable  locality  in  which  to 
undergo  their  transformation  to  the  jmpa  and 
mature  states  :  astliey  migrate  only  after  they 
have  jierfected  their  larval  condition,  at  which 
time  they  are  about  half  an  inch  in  length, 
and  .seven-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
They  are  comjiosed  of  twelve  segments,  a  small 
black  head,  entirely  without  feet,  of  a  trans- 
lucent white  in  color,  and  covered  with  a  dark 
or  greenish  mucus,  moving  slowly  along,  by 
longitudinous  expansions  and  contractions  of 
the  liodv,  like  maggots  in  general.  The  ropyor 
snake-like  i)rocession  whicli  they  form  is  com- 
posed of  thousands  of  these  little /arrte  com- 
pacted together  and  covered  with  slime,  some- 
times cylindrical  and  thicker  than  a  man's 
thumb,  and  at  other  times  flattened  to  two 
inches  or  more  in  breadth.  The 'army'  no- 
ticed by  Mr.  Stauffer  and  myself,  was  perhaps 
three  feet  in  length,  but  part  of  it  had  been 
destroyed  by  a  douche  of  hot  water  before  we 
reached  the  iiremises:  but  M.  Guerin-Meneville; 
a  French  entomologist,  observed  a  column  that 


U8 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[October, 


was  thirty  yards  in  length.  This  author  says 
if  the  posterior  end  of  this  living;  column  is 
brought  in  contact  with  the  anterior  portion, 
a  circle  is  formed,  and  that  these  little  animals 
will  continue  moving  around  in  a  circle  for  a 
whole  day  sometimes,  before  breaking  and 
continuing  to  advance.  These  little  'army 
maggots '  are  sometimes  extensively  preyed 
upon  by  predaceous  coleopterous  larva,  espe- 
cially by  those  of  the  family  Stapiiylinidce, 
commonly  called  the  '  Rover  Beetle. ' 

"  There  may  be  different  species  of  these  in- 
sects in  the  tJnited  States,  but  so  far  as  my 
examinations  have  gone,  the  specimens  brought 
me  by  Mr.  Develin,  of  the  Inquirer,  from  Dr. 
Rohrer,  agree  with  the  species  described  by 
Baron  Osten  Sacl?en,  of  the  Russian  Legation 
at  New  York,  and  which  he  has  named  Sciarn 
toxoneicroe.  On  the  continent  of  Europe  they 
are  commonly  known  as  the  '  Heerwurm.' 

"Mr.  D.  informed  me  that  Dr.  R.  subse- 
quently foimd  them  in  his  rose  bushes,  destroy- 
ing the  leaves,-  but  this  is  quite  a  mistake. 
He  may  possibly  have  found  the  '  Rose-slug' 
{Selandria  rosea),  wWch,  when  quite  small, 
might  be  confounded  with  the  '  army  maggot' 
by  a  superficial  observation.  But  the  rose-slug 
has  feet,  and  belongs  to  the  order  Hymenop- 
TERA,  which  includes  the  saw  flies,  bees,  wasps, 
ichneumons,  hornets,  yellow-jackets,  and  nu- 
merous other  four  clearwinged  insects.  The 
army  maggot  is  the  laivfe  of  a  two-winged 
fly  (Diptera),  and  could  not  climb  a  rose  stalk. 
The  female  fly  which  deposits  the  eggs  from 
which  the  rose-slugs  hatch,  is  a  small  lilack 
four-winged  fly,  and  performs  that  operation 
on  the  leaves  of  the  rose,  about  the  last  of 
May,  or  the  beginning  of  June,  and  after  the 
larva  has  matured  it  goes  in  the  ground  to  un- 
dergo its  metamorphosis,  and  comes  forth  a 
fly,  which  by  the  same  i>rocess  produces  a  sec- 
ond brood  ;  after  the  second  brood  goes  in  the 
ground,  they  remain  there  until  the  next  sea- 
son, about  the  period  above  named. 

"  I  do  not  know  any  one  who  has  bred  the 
'army  maggot"  in  this  country  to  the  imago 
state,  but  it  has  been  done  frequently  by  Euro- 
pean entomologists.  They  unfortunately  have 
rarely  come  under  the  observation  of  practical 
entomologists,  and  when  so  occurring,  perhaps 
under  circumstances  which  would  preckule 
the  possibility  of  conducting  successful  exper- 
iments. It  seems  to  me  the  only  way  would 
be  to  follow  the  column  until  it  goes  into  the 
ground  again,  (which  it  has  been  seen  to  do), 
and  then  procure  some  of  the  earth  and  keep 
it  in  a  proper  condition  until  the  mature  in- 
sects are  developed.  In  this  way  I  have  fre- 
quently bred  the  '  wheat-midge '  ( Cecidomyia 
trrtia'l." 

One  of  these  "Worm-Snakes,"  or  "Army- 
Maggots,"  was  seen  in  Lancaster  city  in  the 
month  of  .July  or  August  last,  but  it  was  only 
some  days  afterwards  that  the /ncf  came  to  our 
knowledge.  As  a  general  thing,  people  have 
too  little  interest  in  these  things  to  trouble 
themselves  much  about  their  collection,  preser- 
vation, or  record,  and  when  they  do  make  any 
report  of  them,  it  is  to  the  editor  or  local  re- 
porter of  some  daily  or  weekly  newspaper, 
where  the  subject  is  referred  to  in  the  common- 
est and  most  general  terms,  and  without  re- 
gard to  its  place  in  the  system  of  nature. — Ed. 

•*■ 

QUERIES  AND  ANSWERS. 

W.  B.,  Lancaster  City. — The  birds  you  sub- 
mitted to  our  inspection  both  belong  to  the 
Rail  family  (Rallidte).  The  smaller  one  is 
the  common  or  "Carolina  Rail,  (Porzana 
Carolina)  and  the  larger  one  is  the  "  American 
Coot  "  (Fulica  americana). 

The  former  is  considered  a  good  game  bird, 
about  on  a  par  with  woodcock  and  snipe  ;  and 
"  Rail  shooting,"  in  its  season,  is  deemed  an 
excellent  sport — "  Reed -bird  and  Rail  "  being 
coupled  together  from  "time  immemorial." 
The  latter,  however,  although  a  larger  bird, 
and  seeming  to  make  a  nearer  approach  to  the 
duck  family,  (Anid^e)  has  no  reputation  as  a 
game  bird.  It  occurs  in  this  county  less  fre- 
quently than  the  common  Rail,  but  a  little 
farther  soutli  they  can  be  sometimes  counted 
by  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  in  swamps  and 


manshes,  where  they  feed  en  both  animal  and 
vegetable  food.  We  kept  one  for  over  two 
months  confined  without  making  the  least 
possible  progress  in  its  domestication,  during 
which  time  it  ate  sparely  of  lettuce,  cabbage, 
bread,  meat,  flsh  and  worms. 

Mr.  J.  D. — It  has  occurred  to  me  that  you 
wanted  to  know  specifically  what  the  birds 
were  which  you  sultmitted  to  me  some  days 
ago.  The  two  upiier  ones  were  "  Reed-birds  " 
(Dolichonijx  oryzivorus)  in  their  autumnal 
l>lumage.  All  the  remainder,  except  one  per- 
liaps,  were  the  "Little  Sandpiper"  (Tlngra 
xvilsonii).  The  larger  specimen  was,  I  think, 
tlie  "Jack-Snipe  {Tiiigra  maadata).  There 
are  eighteen  or  twenty  species  of  the  Snipe 
family  that  are  found  in  Lancaster  county,  and 
tlieir  species  in  some  cases  can  onlj'  be  deter- 
mined by  measurement  and  comparison. — R. 

J.  T.  B.,  MillersvUle,  Pa.— The  insects  on 
the  branch  of  the  "  alder  "  which  you  submit- 
ted to  us  on  the  2.5th  ult. ,  and  who.se  white 
cotton-like  secretions  gave  them  the  appearance 
of  being  covered  with  hoar  frost,  are  a  species 
of  "  Wooly  Aphis,"  of  which  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  species  have  been  described  under  the 
generic  names  of  Eriosoma  and  Pem^jhigus,  by 
Harris,  Fitch,  Walsh,  Riley  and  others.  This 
species  is,  as  near  as  we  can  make  it  out, 
Eriosoma  lanigern,  F,  if  it  is  not  a  distinct 
species  peculiar  to  the  alder.  We  hoped  tliat 
we  might  be  able  to  affix  them  to  the  branch, 
and  in  that  way  preserve  them,  by  suddenly 
submitting  them  to  heat,  but  our  design  was 
defeated,  for  they  nearly  all  dropped  off,  leav- 
ing it  almost  bare.  Most  of  them  we  im- 
mersed in  alcohol,  but  this  separated  the  cot- 
ton-like flocking  from  them,  leaving  them 
naked  ;  a  few  we  have  preserved  in  a  small 
box.  About  one-half  of  them  are  winged, 
which  is  a  confirmation  of  what  Riley  and 
Fitch  say  about  them,  although  Harris  repre- 
sented them  as  wingless.  Of  course  they  are 
injurious  to  any  tree  or  shrub  on  which  they 
are  found. 


THE  MORSE  OR  WALRUS. 

{7 ricfiectis  rosina rus .) 

The  carniverous  ftimily  Phocidje  contains 
a  curious  group  of  amphibious  animals,  known 
under  the  common  name  of  seals,  (Harp-seals, 
Fetid  seals.  Monk  seals,  common  seals),  sea 
elephants,  sea  lions,  sea  bears,  sea  cows,  sea 
leopards,  and  other  land  animals  to  which  they 
are  imagined  to  bear  any  resemblance,  includ- 
ing sea  dogs.  The  great  Swedish  naturalist, 
Linnffius,  included  all  these  animals  in  the 
genus  Phoca,  but  as  many  species  have  been 
discovered  ssncejiis  time,  they  are  now  dis- 
tributed among  several  genera.  But  it  is  not 
of  tliem  we  propose  to  speak  on  this  occasion, 
but  about  an  animal  belonging  to  another  genus, 
and  which  is  better  known  to  the  world  at 
large  under  the  name  of  "Walrus,"  some- 
times also,  in  books  on  natural  history,  the 
"Morse"  (Trkhecus  rosmaru^,  and  which  in- 
habits the  cold  and  unfriendly  arctic  regions. 

Although ,.the^ walrus  bears  a  general  resem- 
blance to  the  seals,  and  is  of  a  similar  nature, 
yet  it  dilfers  veryconspicuously  from  them  in 
this,  that  it  has  no  canine  or  incisor  teeth  in 
the  lower  jaw,  and  lias  the  upper  canines  enor- 
mou.sly  developed  into  formidable  tusks,  which 
in  many  ca.ses  are  over  two  feet  in  lengtli.  In 
size  it  vies  with  the  elephant  seal,  or  sea  ele- 
phant [Phoca  leonina)  having  a  body  as  large 


as  an  ox,  and  attaining  a  length  of  twenty  , 
feet  or  more  ;  its  body  is  covered  with  a  coat 
of  short  brown  hair,  and  its  "muzzle"  is' 
amply  provided  with  bristling  whiskers.  It 
finds  its  strong  tusks  very  useful  in  lifting 
itself  from  the  water  upon  the  rocks  or  ice- 
banks,  where  large  numbers  are  often  congre- 
gated together  basking  in  the  sunsliine.  These 
tusks  also  serve  as  a  means  of  defense,  and  for 
obtaining  sea-weed,  upon  which,  together 
witti  fish,  it  feeds ;  it  is  therefore  not  entirely 
carnivorous.  When  attacked  it  becomes  very 
fierce,  and  is  a  formidable  antagonist,  espe- 
cially when  it  is  attended  by  its  young.  It  can 
readily  smash  a  boat  with  its  tusks,  or,  rising 
in  the  water,  it  hooks  them  over  the  side  and 
upsets  it. 

The  period  of  gestation  of  the  female  wal- 
rus is  about  uiue  months,  and  she  generally  \ 
brings  forth  but  one  calf  at  a  time,  but  never  i 
more  than  two  at  a  time;  this  twin  generation 
does  not,  perhaps,  occur  oftener  in  the  walrus : 
than  it  does  with  the  cow,  the  mare  and  other  i 
female  mammals.     The  walrus  was  at  one 
time  extensively  captured  for  its  oil,  and  an 
extensive  trade  was  carried  on  in  that  perilous 
product — as  many  as  fifteen  hundred  being 
slaughtered  in  a  single  day  by  a  ship's  com- 
company.     But  that  product  has  become  very 
much  diminished,  if  it  has  not  entirely  ceased 
— not  only  because  the  number  of  animals  has 
been  greatly  diminished,  or  they  have  moved 
farther  north,  but  because  the  whale-oil  trade 
superseded  it,  and  this  alsohaving  decreased, 
their  places,  for  illumining  purposes,  having 
been  superseded  by  coal_oil. 

What  next  will  be  substituted  can  perhaps 
be  more  satisfactorily  demonstrated  at  the  ad- 
vent of  our  second  historic  centennial.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  cold  region  where  it  exists 
feed  freely  on  its  flesh,  and  sometimes  fairly 
gorge  themselves  with  it.  The  animal  itself 
is  capable  of  a  protracted  abstinence,  some- 
times prolonged  to  two  or  three  weeks.  It  is 
gregarious  in  its  habits,  and  often  thousands 
congregate  together  at  their  feeding  and  breed- 
ing places.  

THE  BOBOLINK. 
(  Diilichonyx  ortjzivnrua.  ) 

It  is  wonderful  how  the  name  of  this  bird 
•lianges  in  different  localities,  and  at  different 
seasons  of  the  year  ;  but  this  is  not  more  won- 
:lerful  than  the  changes  in  its  own  plumage. 
When  the  bird — particularly  the  male — first 
appears  in  the  spving  of  the  year,  clad  in 
"  nuptial  plumage,"  with  its  merry 
"  Inkdum  dinkdum, 
Bob-o'linkum," 

its  colors  are  black,  drab  and  white,  and  so 
distributed  and  arranged  as  to  elicit  the  name 
of  "  skunk-bii'd  "  in  the  northeastern  States. 
It  is  then  gay,  happy,  and  full  of  its  own  pecu- 
liar music  ;  but  after  the  breeding  season  is 
over,  the  male  assumes  a'garb  very  similar  to 
the  female,  and  it  is  then  difficult  to  distinguish 
between  the  sexes,  or  between  the  old  and  young 
birds.  Its  nature  also  ^changes,  and  instead 
of  the  lively  bobolink  we  meet  in  the  spring, 
it  is  a  dull  and  lazy  gormandizer,'and,breathes 
no  merry  song,  but  has  short,  spiritless  and 
monotonous  calls  instead.  It_is,then  esteemed 
a  favorite  "  game,"  and  is  known  in  the  north 
under  the  name  of  "Reed-bird."  Shooting 
reed-birds  "down  at  the  Neck,"  has  long 
been  the  sporting  habit  and  locality  of  the 
"  crack-shots  "  of  Philadelphia,  and  when  the 
season  is  inaugurated,  great  bundles  of  these 
delicate  little  birds  may  be  seen  in  the  win- 
dows or  adjoining  the  doors  of  all  the  fash- 
ionable i-estaurants.  In  the  Southern  States 
it  is  known  by  the  common^name'of  "Rice- 
bird,"  or  the  more  elegant  names  of  "Rice- 
bunting  "  and  "  Rice-troopial."  Later  in  the 
season  it  finds  its  way  to  the  Island  of  Cuba, 
where  it  is  known  bv  a  name  that  is  equiva- 
lent in  English  to;""Butter-bifd."  It  gets  so 
very  fat  in  Cuba— and  tliis  is  also  the  case 
sometimes  in  the  United  States,  especially  in 
the  South— that  when  tb.ey  fall  to  the  ground 
the  delicate  skin  bursts,  and  the  feathers  be- 
come saturated  with  oil.  North  or  South,  they 
are  a  popular  table  bii'd,  although  small  in 


? 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


149 


size  ;  but  so  toothsome  are  they,  that  their 
quality  compensates  for  tlieir  lack  of  iiuaiitity, 
and  when  properly  dressed  they  often  sell  in 
the  restaurants  at  from  50  cents  to  SI  a  pair. 
It  would  therefore  be  most  prudent  in  lhose_ 
not  "up  to  the  rijfs,"  to  Ihsl  iuciuire  alioutthe 
price  of  reed-birds  before  ordering  them  at  an 
eating-saloon.  Some  very  chaiateristic  anec- 
dotes are  related  about  "  rural  verdants  "  who 
had  gorged  themselves  with  reed-birds,  and 
were  then  struck  witli  astonishment  equal  to 
a  small  clap  of  thunder,  when  they  ascertained 
the  price  afterwards. 

Ueed-birds  are  now  in  season,  and  in  their 
transit  southward  they  are  often  seen  in  large 
flocks  in  Lancaster  county.  They  feed  on 
seeds,  grain  and  berries,  and  there  is  a  kind  of 
seed-bearing  reed  growing  at  the  "  Neck,"  be- 
low Philadelphia,  that  attracts  these  birds  in 
large  numbers.  The  reeds  grow  in  a  marshal 
the  conlluence  of  the  Schuylkill  and  Delaware 
rivers,  but  to  obtain  good  shots  at  them  the 
sportsman  is  required  to  hire  a  boatman  who 
pushes  him  through  the  marsh  among  the 
reeds,  and  also  secures  the  game  after  it  is 
killed.  This  place  has  been  famous  for  this 
sport  for  a  long  series  of  years,  and  probably 
will  continue  to  be  so  as  long  as  the  reeds  and 
the  swamp  continue.  The  "American  Wax- 
wing,"  "Cedar-bird,"  or  "  Cherry-bird,"  and 
also  a  large  species  of  sparrow,  (Eiijipizn)  are 
often  mistaken  for  the  reed-bird  ;  and  the  lat- 
ter (e.xcept  in  the  bluntness  of  its  bill)  bears 
some  resemblance  to  it.  But  they  all  belong 
to  different  families,  the  reed-bird  being  more 
nearly  allied  to  the  Ictehians  or  "Red- 
winged  Black-birds,"  whilst  the  former  are 
related  to  the  Bomhycillians  and  the 
FiNCiiE.s.  We  have  a  stntt'ed  specimen  of  the 
Bobolink  in  our  possession  that  we  shot  and 
prepared  more  than  39  years  ago,  and  iu  the 
Linnajan  Museum  is  one  prepared  42  years 
ago  by  J.  J.  L.,  and  both  are  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation. — Ed. 


For  The  Lancasteb  Farmer. 
DOTTINGS  FROM   LEOLINE. 

Dear  Editor. — As  it  has  been  some  time 
since  I  wrote  you  last,  I  have  thought  a  few 
lines  would  not  come  ami.ss  "just  now."  Al- 
though limes  are  generally  reported  dull,  yet 
they  are  brisk  with  us  farmers  at  the  present 
writing,  and  I  have  not  much  leisure  to  in- 
dulge in  that  occupation. 

A  Bit  of  Pennsylvania  History. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  and 
about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  water's 
edge,  about  one  mile  below  Middletown,  Dau- 
phm  county,  there  stands  a  log  house  that  was 
built  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1770,  which  is 
consequently  now  over  one  hundred  and  six 
years  old.  It  was  built  by  two  brothers  named 
Pyle,  but  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
Zimmermans  and  Kirks ;  and  is  now  owned 
by  Thomas  E.  Kohr,  who  has  lived  in  it  over 
thirty-three  years.  One  elm,  one  linden,  and 
one  walnut  tree  still  stand,  as  venerable  mon- 
uments of  the  olden  times,  when  the  Red  men 
still  traversed  the  surromiding  forests.  The 
present  owner  has  renewed  the  inside  of  the 
house,  but  the  outside  remains  inucb  the  same 
as  it  was  in  days  of  yore.  It  has  the  old-fash- 
ioned stone  chimney,  the  walls  of  which  are 
two  feet  in  thickness,  and  on  the  whole  it 
seems  as  solid  and  as  good  as  it  was  when  first 
built.  There  the  old  time-honored  mansion 
is  still  standing,  over  lapping  in  part  three 
centuries,  including  the  whole  period  of  our 
independent  national  existence  ;  and  there  let 
it  stand,  "  in  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home 
of  the  brave." 

Domestic  Hints. 
To  keep  swine  in  good  health,  give  them 
charcoal  to  eat  at  least  once  a  month.  They 
will  eat  it  almost  as  freely  as  corn.  Any  one 
that  has  a  bake-oven  can  always  have  the  ne- 
cessary quantity  of  charcoal. 

To  keep  lice  out  of  the  chicken  house,  pour 
coal  oil  on  the  slats  where  they  sit  or  roost. 

To  make  grape  jelly,  take  good  ripe  grapes 
and  squeeze  out  the  juice;  to  every  pint  of 


No.  1  is  white. 


juice  add  one  pound  of  good  white  sugar,  boil 
each  pint  separate  for  liiteen  minutes,  and  it 
will  become  stiff  when  cold. 

Edible  Mushrooms. 
Accompanying  these  lines  I  inclose  a  small 
piece  of  paper  on  wliich  I  have  ruilely  traced 
illuslrations  of  a  few  niushroonis  which  are 
known  to  me,  and  which  I  have  fre(iuently 
used. 

has  cells  liki^  a  honey-comb, 
only  somewhat  larger,  but 
not  so  deep.  It  comes  up 
about  the  middle  of  May, 
and  is  found  at  the  font  of 
cherry  trees,  maple,  |)op- 
lar  an<l  butternut  trees. 

No.  'i  is  a  light  brown  ; 
cells  the  same  as  No.  1, 
but  not  quite  so  large.  It 
has  a  longer  stem,  how- 
ever, the  same  in  quality, 
aiul  is  found  under  ajiple 
trees,  and  also  in  the  woods  under  different 
kinds  of  trees.  It  comes  up  in  May  and 
June,  after  a  heavy  thunder  shower,  and  I 
have  frequently  gathered  them  by  the  basket- 
ful. 

No.  3  is  also  a  light  brown  when  it  first 
comes  up,  but  soon  turns  a  darker  color.  It 
is  umbrella  shaped,  and  striped  on  the  inside  ; 
it  is  also  similarly  striped  on  the  outside,  only 
that  the  stripes  are  open,  or  flag-like.  It  comes 
up  about  the  same  time  as  No.  2.  It  is  found 
only  under  apple  trees,  and  then  only  under 
old  ones.  I  liave  never  found  them  (elsewhere. 
Nos.  4  and  5  come  up  during  summer  aiul 
fall.     The  first  long-stemmed  and  angular  or 


pointed  at  the  top,  and  the  other  more  flat  and 
rounded,  with  a  shorter  and  thicker  stem. 
They  are  white  on  the  outside,  and  bright 
pink  on  the  under  side.  They  are  found  in 
the  woods.  I  have  seen  peoiile  eat  them  raw 
with  pepper  and  salt. — L.,  Elizabetlitown,  Sep., 
30,  187(5. 

In  the  absence  of  cuts  to  illustrate  the  five 
species  or  varieties  of  mushrooms  alluded  to 
by  Leoline,  we  are  under  the  necessity  of  mak- 
ing two  groups  of  them,  of  which  numbers  1 
and  2  constitute  the  first  group,  and  are  illus- 
trated by  the  figure  A.  Numbers  3,  4,  and  5 
constitute  the  second  group,  and  are  repre- 
sented by  the  figure  B. 

Figure  A  is  the  common  Morell  (MorcheUa 
eaculenta),  known  to  the  German  population  of 
our  county  under  the  name  of  "Moricles. " 
There  seem  to  be  different  varieties,  or  species 
of  these,  mainly  distinguished  by  the  length 
of  the  upright  stem,  and  differing  essentially 
only  in  that  respect. 

Figure  B  is  the  common  mushroom  (Agari- 
cus  campenlris).  There  are  also  very  many 
species  and  varieties  of  the.se.  Numbers  3  and 
4,  alluded  to  by  Leoline,  are  taller  and  thin- 
ner in  the  stem  than  our  figure,  the  umbrellas 
or  tops  are  more  cone-shaped,  do  not  expand 
so  widely  as  ovu'  figure,  and  differ  in  other  re- 
spects, as  she  has  stated  in  her  descriptions. 

We  may  further  slate  that  figure  A  expands 
more  at  the  bottom  than  either  of  L.'s  draw- 
ings, whi(-h  on  the  whole  are  more  spherical 
in  their  forms,  and  neither  exhibit  the  short 
stem  of  our  figure. 

We  have  just  been  reading  a  paragraph  iu 
a  daily  paper,  to  the  efl'ect  that  four  persons 
somewhere  iu  Connecticut,  had  been  poisoned 


by  mistakenly  eating  "load-stool  "  for  mush- 
rooms, three  of  whom  died.  Whether  any  of 
the  reports  of  this  kind  of  poisoning,  that  from 
time  to  time  get  into  the  public  papers,  are 
true  or  not,  is  niore  than  we  pretend  to  say  ; 
but  somehow  there  seems  to  be  so  much  un- 
certainty on  the  subject,  that  a  novice  had  bet- 
ter regard  them  with  caution,  evc-n  with  the 
foregoing  descriidions  and  illustrations. 

We  should  touch  them  doubtfully,  unless 
we  had  llu^  benefit  of  a  few  practical  lessons 
from  Leoline,  who,  we  feel  confident,  knows 
all  about  the  edible  quality  of  the  varieties 
she  has  above  described.  The  subject  is  an 
interesting  and  useful  one,  for  mushroom  cul- 
tin-e  has  become  a  successful  and  lucrative 
branch  of  human  industry  in  France  and 
other  European  countries,  and  we  hope  it  may 
become  so  iu  America. — Ed. 


For  The  Lancasteb  FAnuEB. 
WHAT  CAUSES   BLIGHT? 

This-  question  involves  a  number  of  other 
questions.  I  will  allow  my  friend  S.  S.  Rath- 
von,  to  give  the  entomological  side  of  the  sub- 
ject, while  I  will,  in  my  usual  rambling  way, 
put  down  the  thoughts  as  they  suggest  them- 
selves. This  reminds  me  of  Robert  Burns, 
commencing  with  — 

"  Wliieli  way  the  subject-theme  may  gang, 
Let  lime  or  chance  determine  ; 
Perhai>s  ii,  may  turn  out  a  6aug, 
Or  probably  a  sermon."     . 

My  object  i.s,  however,  to  present  some 
facts— some  as  old  and  frequently  retold  as 
many  an  "old  song,"  and  yet  of  interest. 
The  High  (xermans  gave  the  name  of  "  Blich- 
fiur  "  to  the  sudden  blasting  of  the  leaves  on 
trees  and  shrubs,  rendered  in  English  to  "Fire- 
blight."  I  shall  not  occupy  time  or  space 
with  reiieating  the  various  notions  of  the 
Ancients,  but  simply  consider  vegetation  as 
organized  beings,  and  the  intimate  relation 
exi.sting  between  plant  and  animal  life;  then 
the  effects  of  frost,  heat  and  fungi,  and  the  in- 
vestigations made  and  published  touching  this 
branch  of  the  question.  Modern  research  has 
made  it  dilhcull  to  say  where  the  vegetable 
kingdom  really  commences  and  the  animal 
end.s,  when  we  include  the  lowest  forms  of 
fungi  and  animaclul*.  For  instance,  De  Barry 
has  shown  that  the  ^tludium  septicum,  whicli 
appears  upon  decaying  vegetable  substances, 
in  one  of  its  forms,  is  common  upon  the 
surface  of  tan  pits.  In  this  condition  it  is,  to 
all  intents  and  purposes,  a  fungus,  and  for- 
merly was  always  regarded  as  such  ;  in  an- 
other condition  the  yEthalium  is  an  actively 
locomotive  creature,  and  takes  in  solid  matter 
as  food.  This  may  seem  strange  ;  yet  con- 
sider the  Polypes,  or  corallines  :  these  minute 
creatures  propagate  by  budding,  (germination) 
and  are  of  an  arborescent  habit,  with  jointed 
branches  and  stems,  supported  on  a  kind  of 
root,  in  which  neither  pores  nor  polypes  are  dis- 
tinguishable on  the  surface  of  the  aggregated 
corallina,  which  look  more  as  if  built  up  as  a 
plant,  from  carlwnate  of  lime,  into  a  pliant  or 
stony  mass,  instead  of  woody  tissues.  An  or- 
dinary observer  would  supjiose  them  to  belong 
to  the  vegetable  kingdom  ;  i.  e.,  certain  kinds, 
at  least.  In  vegetation  we  find  cells  and  nu- 
clei. Huxley  says  :  "  Protoplasm,  simply  or 
nucleated,  is  the  formal  basis  of  all  life." 
Although  Mr.  Huxley,  as  well  as  Darwin  and 
Tyndale,  say  many  things  that  are  true,  yet 
neither  they,,  with  all  their  chemistry  and 
philosoi)hy,  are  able  to  give  an  explanation  of 
what  constitutes  the  composition  of  living 
matter,  or  whence  the  protoplasm  or  nuclei 
deriv(t  their  life  and  motion.  This  is  a  secret 
of  divine  wisdom  and  power — past  finding  out. 
So  let  us  step  softly.  I  will  stop  lest  I  get  to 
"  sermonizing,"  and  return  to  plant-life.  Sup- 
pose a  peach-tree — the  roots  anchoring  it  in 
the  soil,  with  its  sijongioles,  like  minute  suck- 
ing and  filtering  tubes,  to  draw  moisture  from 
the  soil,  and  such  pabulum  as  it  may  find 
needful  to  supply  the  conditions  of  certain 
elements  required  in  eliminating  blossoms 
and  fruit,  the  ultimatum  of  its  being  and 
organism.     The  pith  or  central  axis  of  growth 


150 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[October, 


was  at  one  time  thought  as  essential  as  the 
marrow  in  the  bone.  It  arises  from  the  necli 
of  the  stem  of  exogenous  plants,  and  terminat- 
ing at  the  leaf  bud — with  all  of  which,  whether 
they  are  lateral  or  terminal,  it  is  in  direct 
communication,  constituting  a  reservoir  of 
nutritious  matter  for  the  j'oung  leaves  when 
first  developing.  Light,  heat  and  air,  com- 
bined with  the  gases,  perform  their  respective 
offices  ;  so  the  plant  feeds,  perspires  or  exhales 
and  breathes,  as  it  were,  tlirough  its  lungs, 
the  leaves.  Capillary  attraction  in  the  mi- 
nute tubes  pumps  up  the  juices,  which  circu- 
late and  become  elaborated,  and  the  various 
functions  are  performed  to  build  up  the  tree, 
put  forth  its  leaves  and  blossoms,  and  yield 
its  luscious  fruit. 

This  is  healthy  action  in  a  healthy  tree. 
Now  what  constitutes  the  "  Yellows,"  or  dis- 
ease of  the  tree  V  I  may  not  specially  direct 
all  my  remarks  to  the  peach-trees  only  ;  some 
may  apply  more  generally  to  other  diseases 
than  the  "yellows."  One  claiming  to  have 
made  peach culturea specialty,  says  :  "Rarely 
do  we  meet  with  a  peach-tree  on  a  southern 
slope  stricken  with  the'" yellows,"  while  aged 
healthy  trees  are  invariably  fotnid  in  such 
places  in  perfection.  I  have  some  trees  at  the 
present  moment  in  my  mind's  eye,  so  old  that 
I  can  find  no  one  to  tell  me  their  age  exactly, 
which  are  growing  on  the  south  side  of  some 
buildings,  models  of  health  and  productive- 
ness." He  then  enters  upon  his  mode  of  cul- 
ture and  success  of  the  ditlerent  sorts,  exten- 
sively. The  article  is  signed  Melocoton. 
I  set  it  forth  that  others  may  direct  attention 
to  localities  of  the  kind  ;  for,  if  true,  it  forms 
a  valuable  consideration.   In  the  Agricultural 

Report  for  1871,  the  microscopist,  Mr.  , 

,  of  the  department,  informs  us  that  the 

"  yellows  "  is  supposed  by  many  fruit  growers 
to  originate  in  spring  frosts  ;  also,  that  the 
disease  is  unknown  in  Europe.  Again,  he 
says  the  "  soil  on  which  the  '  yellows  '  of  the 
peach  flourish  will  produce  healthy  peach- 
trees,  if  they  are  grown  luider  glass  struc- 
tm'es. "  Such  a  structure  would  also  protect 
them  from  frost,  in  my  opinion.  He  states 
that  in  his  experiments,  "  maceration  of  the 
bark  of  the  trunk  and  branches  exhibits  the 
presence  of  albuminous  matter,  in  which  a 
profusion  of  mycelium  is  found.  When  the 
albuminous  matter  is  in  profusion,  monads 
and  fungi  readily  grow,  but  the  converse  con- 
ditions give  opposite  results ;  hence  the  ab- 
sence of  fungi  in  the  solutions  of  the  bark  of 
the  roots — the  bark  of  the  root  having  a  very 
limited  portion  of  albumen.  Solutions  of  the 
healthy  bark  gave  no  signs  of  fungi."  He 
adds  :  "  The  experiments  were  frequently  re- 
peated, giving  uniform  results.  The  evidence 
thus  furnished  in  the  investigation  of  the 
'peach  yellows'  favors  the  view,  that  when  the 
mycelium  is  formed  on  the  wood,  the  cambium 
cell  layers  are  deposited  between  the  mycelium 
and  the  fiber,  inclosing  in  this  way  annually 
a  sheet  of  mycelium,  vyhich  continues  to  grow, 
and  necessarily  becomes  highly  compressed  or 
felted."  I  may  not  he  competent  to  judge 
what  he  means  by  his  annual  sheets  of  myce- 
lium and  feltiny.  It  is  a  wonder  that  no  vege- 
table physiologist  has  taken  serious  objection 
to  his  entire  experiments.  Let  any  one  try 
the  experiment  of  any  albuminoid  vegetable, 
destitute  of  Quinia  or  tannic  acid,  and  in  less 
than  six  days  of  maceration  both  fungi  and 
animalcula3  will  be  developed.  In  the  diseased 
tissues  albuminous  matter  may  be  more  abun- 
dantly present  than  in  healthy  bark,  comljined 
with  tannic  acid,  which  prevents  the  formation 
of  the  proper  nidus.  Ferments  are  of  an  al- 
buminous or  glutinous  character,  and  pro- 
duce germs  of  Penicillum  glcuieum,  which  is  a 
fungus  also. 

But  in  his  theory  about  the  mildew  on  the 
grape  caused  by  "atmospheric  pressure  on 
the  sap  in  the  leaves,  to  pass  through  the  pores 
to  the  surface,  depositing  albuminous  juice, 
the  food  of  the  fungi  ;  then  a  high  tempera- 
ture following,  all  the  conditions  necessary  for 
the  formation  of  fungi  are  present,"  he  adds  : 
"It  has  long  been  observed  that  rust,  mold, 
mildew  and  smut  follow  such  a  course  of  at- 


mospheric variation."  In  short,  he  states 
that  pale  green  or  yellowish  leaves  are  alwavs 
infested  by  fungus,  while  those  that  are  glossy 
or  dark  green  never  are.  He  does  not  prove 
by  this  that  the  fungus  is  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
ease ;  it  may  be  simply  a  secondary  result,  in- 
duced by  the  albuminous  secretions  on  the 
leaves.  Former  experimentalists  accounted 
for  this  diseased  condition  to  a  change  of  the 
humors  in  the  tissues  :  1st.  Excess  of  heat 
causing  the  aqueous  sap  to  be  vapor- 
ized, and  depositing  the  thicker  albuminoid 
matters  on  the  surface  so  as  to  clog  up  the 
stc)mata,  produce  stagnation  and  form  the 
nidus  for  fungus  development,  like  other  de- 
caying matter.  This  certainly  needs  no  at- 
mospheric pressure  more  than  is  exercised  at 
all  times  under  like  conditions  on  the  healthy 
or  diseased  leaves,  becoming  pale  and  spongy, 
and  the  breaking  pores  clogged  up  by  albu- 
minoid matter,  so  as  to  exclude  the  air  and 
transform  the  chlorophil  or  green  coloring 
matter. 

Tills  result  is  produced  by  excessive  trans- 
piration during  a  heated  term  of  dry  weather  ; 
the  watery  portions  of  the  sap  are  evaporated, 
and  the  thicker  albuminous  portion  lodged 
upon  the  surface  of  the  leaves.  This  takes 
place,  no  matter  how  the  atmospheric  pressure 
is,  as  that,  like  the  heat,  would  act  (all  things 
the  same  relatively)  upon  all  the  plants — 
leaving  the  question,  why  are  some  so  clogged 
up  and  others  not  V  Therefore  we  must  look 
for  a  radical  cause  preceding  the  former, 
whether  in  the  soil,  planting,  pruning  or  va- 
riety of  the  plant,  and  the  change  induced  by 
planting,  or  rather  transplanting,  from  one 
soil  to  the  other  ;  the  delay  or  interruption 
while  so  doing ;  in  short,  any  or  a  combina- 
tion of  these  causes  may  att'ect  the  normal  fiow 
of  the  sap  or  full  action  of  all  the  vessels,  to 
induce  weakness,  so  as  to  be  less  able  to  resist 
the  action  of  heat,  etc.  So,  some  men  are  sun- 
struck,  and  suffer  or  perish,  while  others  un- 
der the  same  circumstances  escape.  This  is  a 
common  sense  view  ;  and  I  could  produce  any 
amount  of  evidence  that  would  go  to  establish 
it.  Depletion,  whetlier  by  evaporation, 
aphids  or  insects  of  any  kind,,  may  do  the 
same,  but  when  an  excess  of  moisture  is  in 
the  plants,  a  degree  of  depletion  may  do  no 
harm.  Nature  ever  seeks  to  establish  an 
equilibrium.  As  regards  frost,  I  will  say,  ob- 
servation has  provided  that  a  few  warm  days 
in  early  spring  may  start  the  buds,  and  subse- 
quent frost  retard  them,  and  this  interruption 
may  leave  its  effects  to  follow  by  other  concur- 
rent circumstances,  either  surmounted  to 
avoid  or  increased  into  pernicious  results.  I 
will  aive  a  case  reported  in  my  own  words, 
where  in  early  spring  the  frost  in  the  ground 
yet  locks  up  the  spongioles  or  rootlets  so  as  to 
be  dormant.  A  few  bright  sun-shiny  days  may 
start  the  sap  above  ground,  the  pith  or  store- 
rooms to  the  buds,  wake  up  to  motion,  start- 
ing the  Isaves.  This  starting  will  draw  upon 
all  the  cells  to  supply  the  action,  while  the 
root  or  base  of  supplies  is  under  an  embargo. 
The  result  is,  that  the  tree  may  put  forth  vig- 
orous leaves  and  appear  to  flourish,  but  alas  ! 
all  the  resources  exhausted  before  the  evil  can 
be  prevented,  the  slugglish  supply  from  the 
root  has  to  struggle  through  the  exhausted 
cells  and  tubes,  slirunken  up,  requiring  for 
their  own  restoration  the  full  supply,  and  too 
tardy  to  reach  the  advance  skirmishing  force, 
who,  fiiint  and  starving,  succumb,  and  all  the 
leaves  die,  as  by  a  stroke  of  lightninsr — appar- 
ently as  suddenly.  This  I  have  myself  wit- 
nessed. There  is  nothing  strange  about  it ; 
the  functions  stop,  action  stops  ;  so  when  the 
heart  no  longer  beats,  and  circulation  stands 
still,  the  human  machine  stops,  and  decay  and 
dis.solution  mast  inevitably  follow. 

Having  already  written  more  than  I  intend- 
ed, I  will  only  add  that  disease  and  the  with- 
ering of  the  leaves  in  plants  is  not  only  caused 
by  insects  or  by  fungi,  but  various  complica- 
tions can  take  place  to  Vjring  about  like  results 
in  plants  or  animals.  This  subject  is  exten- 
sive and  by  no  means  exhausted.  Of  course 
various  plants,  localities  and  treatments  will 
vary  in  result ;  and  sometimes  we  meet  with 


very  conflicting  statements  as  resulting  from  ' 
experience,  in  which  this  difference  is  not  ' 
taken  into  consideration.    Hence  close  exami-  j 
nation  as  to  the  various  conditions  that  invest 
each  case  must  be  examined.     The  parasitic 
fungus  on  the  living  plant,  the  fungus  result-   ■ 
ing  from  or  found  on  decaying  plants,  the  de- 
pletion and  boring  of  insects,  the  effects  of 
heat,  cold,  drought  or  excessive  moisture,  are 
all  questions  that  should  be  had  in  view,  and   \ 
necessarily  the  data  given,  before  a  safe  ver-  ' 
diet  can  be  given  on  any  special  case. — J.  S. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer,   , 
ARTIFICIAL    FERTILIZERS. 

Under  our  modern  system  of  farming,  there 
are  on  an  average  probably  more  of  the  fertil- 
izing elements  of  the  soil  removed  than  are  re- 
placed by  manures  made  on  the  farm  in  rais- 
ing stock  and  from  animals  kept  to  work. 
Some  of  these  elements,  such  as  nitrogen  and 
ammonia,  are  supplied  in  small  quantities  by 
the  air  and  rain  water.  So  if  all  the  grain, 
hay  and  other  produce  were  consumed  on  the 
farm,  and  the  manure  resulting  therefrom  ap- 
plied to  it  again,  its  fertility  would  constantly 
increase.  Some  persons  recommend  this  course, 
but  as  other  things  besides  butter,  cheese  and 
meat  are  needed  by  people  of  cities  and  those 
who  work  at  trades,  a  great  deal  of  the  other 
products  must  be  sold  off  by  some  of  the  farm- 
ers. 

Through  the  aid  of  science  it  has  become 
known  how  much  or  what  kind  of  materials 
are  taken  from  the  soil  by  any  of  the  regular 
farm  and  garden  crops,  and  by  the  same  aid 
it  has  been  discovered  where  to  look  for  the 
materials  so  removed,  and  this  has  given  rise 
to  what  are  called  "artificial  fertilizers." 

The  principal  materials  removed  in  crop- 
ping are  nitrogen,  potash,  soda,  lime,  magne- 
sia, phosphoric  acid,  and  sulphuric  acid,  but 
the  different  crops  remove  them  in  very  difter- 
ent  quantities.  Thus  buckwheat  straw,  weight 
for  weight,  removes  about  four  times  as  much 
nitrogen,  potash  and  soda  from  the  soil  as 
wheat  straw  ;  tobacco  (leaves)  remove  more 
nitrogen  than  any  other  crop  and  over  twice 
what  the  same  weight  of  wheat  would,  and 
removes  nearly  six  times  the  quantity  of  pot- 
ash. This  shows  the  reason  why  some  crops 
are  termed  as  "  hard  on  the  land." 

From  what  we  have  observed  above,  a  fer- 
tilizer should  contain  all  the  materials  the 
plant  needs  in  growing  to  a  full  development. 
Any  fertilizer  having  all  these  is  a  complete 
fertilizer  and  could  be  used  year  after  year 
with  good  effect,  but  unfortunately,  the  only 
reliable  one  is  barnyard  manure,  and  of  which 
we  have  seldom  enough.  A  fertilizer  that 
lacks  some  of  these  materials  may  perhaps 
have  others  in 'abundance,  and  would  be  suit- 
able for  particular  crops,  or  for  soils  out  of 
which  such  materials  had  been  taken  by  long- 
continued  and  over-cropping  until  it  became 
"worn  out,"  i.  e.,  lacked  some  particular  ma- 
terial which  was  needful  for  growing  full  crops. 
These  may  be  called  special  manures. 

In  the  application  of  the  complete  manures 
there  is  very  little  art  to  be  employed,  as  the 
only  trouble  is  that  seldom  enough  of  it  is 
available.  In  the  special  manures,  if  the  soil 
is  already  in  fair  order,  with  the  materials  in 
proper  proportion,  it  isonly  necessary  to  know 
what  materials  are  needed  for  the  crop,  and 
then  apply  that  fertilizer  which  contains  these 
in  abundance.  On  over-cropped  fields  it  is 
more  difticult  to  tell  what  fertilizer  is  needed, 
for  now  the  wants  of  the  crop  to  be  raised  and 
the  materials  which  the  soil  lacks  have  to  be 
taken  into  consideration. 

To  apply  artificial  fertilizers  the  farmer 
should  be  "conversant  with  the  wants  of  the 
crops  he  raises,  what  the  materials  are,  the 
amount  removed,  and  where  he  can  get  them 
again  at  the  lowest  rates.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered, however,  that  the  fertilizer  that  can  be 
purchased  for  the  least  money  is  seldom,  if 
ever,  as  cheap  as  the  higher  trades  at  twice 
the  price.  But  the  price  itself  is  not  always 
a  sure  rule,  for  in  the  American  Agriculturist 
for  April  is  given  the  analysis  of  five  difierent 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER- 


151 


fertilizere.  of  which  two  high-priced  kinds  were 
worth  more  per  ton  according;  to  a  certain 
standard,  than  tlie  price  asiced.  Another, 
quoted  at  84'2.r)0,  was  worth  aliimt  that  sum, 
while  another,  (pioted  at  $.")"). (HI,  was  worth 
onlj'  $8.27,  and  another,  quoted  $2.">.0O,  was 
worth  only  $9.(14.  From  this  it  will  be  seen 
that  great  care  must  be  exercised  in  buying, 
and  only  well-known  standard  articles  lionijiit 
in  large  (juanlities.  If  a  new  or  unfamiliar 
brand  is  bought,  it  should  at  lirst  be  imrchased 
in  small  (juanlitiesand  tested,  and  even  should 
it  turn  out  well,  the  reputation  of  the  parties 
manufacturing  the  article  should  be  established 
as  persons  who  have  embarked  in  its  mamifac- 
ture  as  a  permanent  and  liona  tide  business. 

We  will  now  enileavor  to  learn  what  the 
materials  are  that  are  taken  up  in  plant  growth, 
their  functions,  &<•.  : 

Nitrogen  is  an  invisible  gas  and  constitutes 
77  lbs.  out  of  every  100  lbs.  of  common  air. 
It  is  seldom  fomid  in  minerals,  but  is  a  very 
important  element  of  animal  and  vegetable 
substances.  It  is  found  and  forms  an  import- 
ant part  of  lean  (le.sh,  white  of  eggs,  curd  of 
milk,  gluten  of  grain,  vegetable  librine,  &c. 
If  the  nitrogen  could  be  easily  manufactured 
from  the  air,  where  it  is  so  abundant,  there 
would  be  a  good  suiiply  at  low  rates,  but  this 
is  unfortunately  not  the  case.  It  is  found  in 
fertilizers  as  ■ammonia,  which  is  a  compound 
of  three  equivalents  of  hydrogen,  (al.so  a  gas), 
and  one  uiti-ogen.  It  is  very  volatile,  i.  e., 
escapes  readily  into  the  air  unless  fixed  by 
changing  it  to  sulphate  of  ammonia,  or  .some 
like  compound.  The  ammonia  in  animal  ma- 
nure and  lu'ine  is  readily  lixed  by  adding  sul- 
phuric acid,  but  as  land  plaster  (gypsum), 
which  is  a  compotmd  of  sulphuric  acid  and 
lime,  is  more  easily  obtained,  not  so  dangerous 
to  handle,  and  answers  the  same  purpose,  it 
is  better  to  use  the  latter.  It  is  for  the  pur- 
pose of  fixing  the  ammonia  th;it  the  papers 
often  recommend  the  apjilication  of  plaster  to 
the  manure  pile,  but  they  .seldom  if  ever  give 
the  reason  for  its  application.  It  should  be 
applied  every  time  the  stables  arc  cleaned,  or 
perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  scatter  a  small 
quantity  eveiy  evening  before  bedding,  having 
it  handy  in  a  box  in  the  stable.  The  powerful 
stench  that  arises  in  some  horse  stables  and 
causes  the  eyes  to  overHow,  is  ammonia  es- 
caping. As  it  is  one  of  the  costliest  elements 
in  all  manures,  especial  pains  should  be  taken 
to  prevent  its  waste.  In  fixing  the  price  of 
Peruvian  Guano,  it  is  calculated  at  17A  cents 
per  pound,  which  is  equal  to  $350.00  per  ton. 
In  any  fertilizer  where  the  quantity  of  ammo- 
nia is  stated,  it  is  easy  to  get  the  cost  of  the 
nitrogen  by  multiplying  the  price  of  ammonia 
by  17,  and  dividing  by  14,  because  ammonia  is 
composed  of  14  parts,  by  weight,  of  nitrogen, 
and  three  parts  of  hydrogen.  In  the  case  of 
Peruvian  guano;  therefore,  the  nitrogen  would 
cost  17^X17  H-14=21i  cents.  If  nitrogen  only 
is  wanted  it  is  best  to  buy  nitrate  of  soda, 
which  contains  about  15  per  cent,  of  nitrogen 
and  sells  at  4  to  ii  cents  per  pound,  and  the 
nitrogen  contained  in  it  will  cost  27  to  30  cents 
per  pound.  It  is  very  soluble  and  acts  quickly. 
The  quantity  applied  per  acre  is  about  1-50 
pounds,  but  in  the  case  of  wheat  100  pounds 
is  recommended  as  a  fall  application,  with  an- 
other application  in  the  spring. 

The  number  of  pounds  of  nitrogen  removed 
per  ton  of  the  diflerent  cro])S  is  as  follows  : 

Wheat,  414,  do.  straw,  (\i ;  rye,  35,  do. 
straw,  5 J  :  oats,  38^,  do.  straw,  8;  corn,  32, 
do.  fodder,  9^  ;  meadow  hay,  28^,  timothy  do., 
36^,  red  clover  do.,  42^  ;  potatoes.  6 J  ;  tobaii- 
00,  92. 

Potash  is  a  compound  composed  of  one  equiv- 
alent each  of  potassium  and  oxygen,  and  is 
found  in  very  variable  quantities  in  different 
plants,  or  on  the  same  plant,  and  1  think  that 
the  same  kind  of  plants  vary  with  tlie  locality 
where  they  are  raised,  for  tiie  analyses  of  dif- 
ferent chemists  vary  sometimes  as  much  as  25 
per  cent,  or  more  as  to  the  amount  contained. 
Potash  is  seldom  found  in  artificial  fertilizers, 
and  then  only  in  small  quantities.  In  Peru- 
vian guano  it  is  valued  at  ~i  cents  per  pound. 
To  apply  potash  to  the  soU  it  is  only  necessary 


to  give  a  good  coating  of  wood  ashes,  but  as 
these  are  diilicult  to  get  now-a-days,  recourse 
is  had  to  what  are  called  "  (Jerman  Potash 
Salt,"  but  if  the  potash  is  present  as  chloride 
(miniate)  of  iwtassinm,  according  to  Prof  W. 
O.  Atwater,  in  American  A(jri(i(lturist,  they 
shoidd  not  be  used  on  tobac(^o,  beets  and  po- 
tatoes, as  it  injures  the  burning  quality  of  the 
leaf  of  the  first,  and  decreases  the  quantity  of 
sugar  in  beets,  and  of  starch  in  potatoes.  If 
present  as  sulphate  of  potash  it  will  do  no  in- 
jury ;  the  chloride  is  excellent  for  grains  and 
grasses.  I  believe  the  nitrate  of  potash  (salt- 
lU'ti'e)  is  also  sometimes  used  as  a  fertilizer. 

In  the  ab.sence  of  all  i)otash  compounds  in 
the  soil,  the  .seeds  will  germinate  but  will  not 
grow  more  than  a  few  inches  high  and  this 
growth  is  most  jirobably  at  the  expense  of 
plant-food  stored  up  in  the  seed.  The  amount 
(in  poimds)  of  potash  removed  per  ton  of  dif- 
ferent crops  is  as  follows  : 

Wheat,  10:1,  do.  straw,  12^;  rye,  llj,  do. 
straw,  151  oats  8i{,  do  straw,  17i|  ;  corn,  7^, 
do.  fodder,  19.|  ;  average  meadow  hay,  2(U, 
timothy  do.,  40},  red  clover  do.,  .36];  [lotatoes, 
IH,  (about  one-third  pound  to  the  bushel)  ; 
tobacco,  60i.* 

Phosphoric  acid  is  found  in  all  plants,  and  is 
next  to  nitrogen  in  price  and  dillieulty  in  obtain- 
ing it.  It  is  also  found  in  bones  in  <:ombiiui- 
tion  with  lime  as  phosjibate  of  lime.  It  is  also 
found  in  guano  and  other  good  fertilizers.  In 
these  fertilizers  it  is  in  three  different  states, 
known  us  soluble,  reverted  and  insoluble.  The 
reverted  was  at  one  time  soluble,  but  has  be- 
come insoluble,  but  when  mixed  with  the  soil 
it  readily  deeomiiosed  by  other  materials  so  as 
to  be  soluble.  The  rate  in  fixing  the  price  of 
Peruvian  guano  is  for  soluble  acid  lOc,  insolu- 
ble 2c.,  and  reverted  8c  per  pound. 

The  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  removed  in 
pounds  per  ton  of  different  crops  is  as  follows  : 

Wheat,  15?,  do.  straw,  44  ;  rye,  ICJ,  do. 
straw,  4\  ;  oats,  64,  do.  straw,  3}  ;  corn,  llj, 
do.  fodder,  104  ;  meadow  hay,  8|,  timotliy  do., 
14],  clover  do.,  11|  ;  potatoes,  'i\  ;  tobacco,  94. 

In  fertilizers  the  immber  of  pounds  per  ton 
is  as  follows  :  t  Peruvian  guano,  260  ;  bone 
meal,  404  ;  Baker  guano,  096. 

The  above  thrise  materials  (nitrogen,  phos- 
phoric acid  and  potash)  are  the  most  costlj' 
and  hardest  to  obtain.  The  following  are  also 
necessary  to  plant  growth,  but  are  easily  ob- 
tained. 

>S'M?j)/i  uric  ricid  is  removed  only  in  small  quan- 
tities, and  is  the  most  easily  and  cheaply  ap- 
plied in  the  form  of  land  jilaster,  sulphuric  acid 
and  lime.  As  the  acid  is  easily  washed  out 
by  rains,  it  should  be  applied  oftener  than  fer- 
tilizers usually  are.  The  usual  quantity  is 
from  100  to  150  pounds  jier  acre. 

Lime  is  removed  in  greater  quantities  than 
sulphuric  acid,  but  it  is  not  applied  only  on 
account  of  being  one  of  the  materials  of  which 
plants  are  formed,  but  it  loosens  clay  soils,  and 
seems  to  decompose  and  make  more  afceptalile 
the  vegetable  matter  in  the  soil.  It  has  been 
found  injurious  to  but  two  crops :  Oats  will 
not  ripen  perfectly  after  an  application  of  it, 
and  sometimes  becomes  rusty  ;  according  to 
Johnson,  flax  is  said  to  be  injured  in  the  fiber 
by  it,  so  that  in  Belgium  it  is  not  grown  until 
seven  years  after  the  api>lication.  There  may 
be  other  croi>s  which  are  sometimes  injured  by 
an  over-application.  The  amount  applied 
varies  from  25  to  150  bushels  per  acre,  but  on 
thin  land  it  is  not  safe  to  go  much  over  .50 
bushels  per  acre,  and  to  stand  150  bushels  the 
soil  would  have  to  be  pretty  well  stocked  in 
vegetable  matter.  As  it  also  is  liable  to  be 
washed  out  by  rains,  the  better  i)lan  is  to  ap- 
ply less  at  a  time  than  there  usually  is,  and  do 
it  oftener,  it  being  considered  best  to  spread 
it  on  top  and  not  plow  under,  as  it  is  soon 
enough  below  the  reach  of  plants. 

Otiier  elements  arc  either  supplied  by  the 

'The  amotint  of  raateriala  remo\-ed  by  crope,  and  some 
other  figures  are  taken  from  tiibles  furnished  to  the  Avieri- 
can  Agriculturuit  by  Prof.  Atwater.  They  vary  a  little  iu 
some  I'oiiits  compared  rt'ith  other  authors,  but  afl  they  are 
of  later  researches  than  the  works  I  have  access  to,  they  are 
published  as  given  in  the  above  paper. 

tTbe  agents  of  the  Peruvian  guano  give  It  at  about  100 
pounds  more. 


air  or  so  jdenty  in  the  soil  that  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  make  any  special  mention  of  them. 

Any  farmer  intending  to  use  artificial  fer- 
tilizers shouhl  have  at  hand  some  standard 
works  on  agricultural  chemistry,  and  on  plant 
growth,  so  as  to  lie  able  to  judge  what  he 
wants.  He  should  give  little  heed  to  what  an 
agent  or  dealer  in  fertilizers  nuiy  tell  him, 
though  I  might  not  blame  the  agent  for  wil- 
fully misstating  facts;  but  it  must  l)e  rcraem- 
beretl  that  the  fertilizer  may  have  done  good  in 
a  certain  case,  yet  in  another  it  might  not 
work,  because  it  did  not  contain  the  materials 
which  were  needed  eitlier  by  the  soil  or  the 
crop.  At  any  rate  it  is  advisable  that  only 
standard  and  well  known  articles  be  bought 
in  quantity. — A.  B.  K.,  Safe  Harbor. 


For  Thk  I,AK<"AKTF.B  FAnMER, 

LOVELY  BLOOIVIING  BULBS. 

Our  seedsmen  have  received  their  annual 
importations  of  lovely  blooming  bulbs  from 
llolhuid  and  Germany.  We  have  received  the 
catalogues  and  examined  the  stocks  of  several 
firms,  and  without  hesitation  .say,  that  the 
stocks  are  the  most  superb  ever  imported. 
Large  numbers  of  new  and  superior  varieties 
of  the  various  sjiecies  are  among  them  for  the 
first  time.  The  drought  of  last  summer  ri|)ened 
the  bulbs  .so  well  that  most  all  of  them  are  as 
hard  and  sound  as  hickory  nuts.  Purchasers 
may  rely  upon  getting  sound  bulbs  and  choice 
varieties.  They  may  be  planted  in  the  months 
of  .Sei)tember,  October  and  November.  The 
soil  that  will  produce  good  crops  of  potatoes 
and  corn  will  yield  splendid  blo.s.soms  of  bulbs. 
Heavy  loams  should  get  sharp  .sand  mixed 
with  them,  and  sandy  soils  are  benefited  with 
muck  and  cow  manure  to  bind  and  solidify 
them.  All  kinds  of  soils  should  be  made  rich 
with  manures. 

The  bulbs  are  planted  of  depths  according  to 
their  sizes  :  Snowdrops  an  inch  under  the 
surface,  (that  is,  the  tops  of  the  bulbs) ;  cro- 
cuses two  inches  deep  ;  hyacinths,  tulips  and 
narcissus  should  be  set  three  inclies  deep;  crown 
imperials  and  lily  bulbs,  four  inches  deep.  The 
earliorthey  all  are  i)lanted  the  better.  Whether 
they  are  set  in  patehesorlarge  beds,  salt  should 
be  thinly  scattered  upon  the  surface  to  sweeten 
and  fertilize  the  soil,  and  winter  frosts  affect 
it  and  bulbs  the  less. 

The  growing  of  hyacinths  in  bell  gla.sses,  in 
windows,  is  one  of  the  cleanest  and  prettiest 
modes  of  flower  gardening.  The  Van  Thol 
Tulips  are  of  early  and  brilhant  blossoms,  and 
should  be  grown  in  pots,  in  parlor  or  in  glass- 
house.—ITaZtc/- .5?Z(7er,  Phila.,  Sept.  25,  187C. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmkb. 
LICE  ON  YOUNG  TREES. 

Last  spring  I  examined  my  young  apple 
trees,  and  found  some  of  them  full  of  bark 
lice,  and  stunted  considerably,  and  thought  I 
would  try  an  experiment.  So  I  cut  or  sawed 
oft'  with  a  fine  saw  the  top  or  limbs,  and 
grafted  with  clean  grafts  of  such  varieties  as 
I  wanted,  and  greased  the  stems  from  the 
graft  downward  with  lard,  and  now  I  have 
clean  thrifty  tops  on  them.  I  think  it  is  a 
good  plan,  and  perhaps  some  others  may  want 
to  try  it.  But  be  sure  that  your  scions  are 
perfectly  free  from  lice,  as  only  one  scale  of 
nits  would  infest  the  whole  top  again. — J.  B. 
E.,'  Lime  VaUeij. 

[We  believe  the  lard  would  have  cleaned 
the  trees,  without  sawing  off  the  limbs,  if 
they  had  Ijcen  properly  greased. — Ed.] 


For  The  Lancaster  Fabheb. 
TRANSPLANTING  TREES. 
By  the  time  this  number  of  The  Farmer 
reaches  its  readers,  it  will  be  the  time  to  trans- 
plant hardy  trees  and  shrubs,  both  for  orna- 
ment, shade  and  fruit  bearing.  All  the  spe- 
cies of  evergreens  .should  be  planted  first,  as 
by  so  doing  they  make  numerous  fibres  before 
hard  frosts  seal  up  the  ground.  The  soil  un- 
der the  surface  retains  the  warmth  gained  in 
summer  long  after  the  atmosphere  has  become 
cold  ;  hence  transplanted  trees  early  set  out 


d52 


THE  "LANCASTER   FARMER. 


f  October, 


become  established  wiih  new  fibres  before  se- 
vere winter  sets  in.  Bj-  that  method  success 
is  more  certain.  Nothing  gives  such  life-lil<e 
beauty  to  the  general  winter  landscape  as  do 
evergreen  trees  and  shrubs.  Every  farm  house 
should  be  garnished  witli  a  few  of  them,  and 
every  gentleman's  broad  lawn  should  be  em- 
bellished with  many  of  them.  They  are  more 
successfully  transplanted  than  the  deciduous 
species,  as  they  make  a  more  numerous  fibre. 
growth.  Uig  holes  larger  than  the  spread  of 
the  roots,  pulverize  the  soil  well  to  put  about 
them,  and  cover  the  surface  with  long  straw 
manure  or  tan-bark  or  saw-dust. 

I  have  been  through  many  leading  tree  nur- 
series of  late,  and  they  have  an  abundant 
stock  of  suitable  sizes  to  set  out,  of  the  various 
evergreen  and  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs,  for 
ornament,  and  the  same  with  fruit-bearing 
trees  and  berry  bushes.  Hedge  plants,  too. 
are  plenty,  and  of  different  species.  Pur- 
chasers should  send  their  orders  early  to  the 
nurserymen  and  get  the  best,  as  they  are  sent 
off  first.— vl)i  Old  Planter,  Philadelphia,  Sept. 
2oth,  1876. 

For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
LIVE  GATE  POSTS. 

Some  years  ago  I  wanted  a  post  at  a  certain 
spot  where  there  were  only  a  few  inches  of 
earth  on  top  of  some  rocks,  along  the  stream 
or  creek.  I  planted  a  walnut  tree,  and  now  I 
have  a  post  that  the  floods  don't  tear  out. 
At  another  place,  while  digging  a  hole  for  a 
gate  post,  1  struck  rock  about  fifteen  inches 
from  the  surface,  and  could  not  tighten  the 
post  to  hold  agate  without  stays  ;  so  I  planted 
a  good-sized  locust  tree  alongside  the  post, 
and  it  will  soon  be  large  enough  to  hang  a 
large  gate  on.  Along  the  creek  I  planted  a 
row  of  willow  stakes  a  few  years  ago  ;  now 
they  are  a  fine  row  of  trees  about  thirty  feet 
high,  with  timber  enough  to  make  a  good  cat- 
tle and  flood  fence.  Whenever  I  set  a  post  to 
hold  a  foot-log  or  flood-gate  along  the  stream, 
I  plant  a  tree  alongside,  and  the  roots  will 
soon  help  to  hold  the  post  tight  until  the  tree 
is  large  enough  to  answer  for  a  post. — J.  B. 
E.,  Lime  Valley. 

FACTS    ABOUT   BIRDS. 

Is  it  not  a  marvel  that  a  mere  bird,  that  is 
much  inferior  in  intelligence  to  an  elephant  or 
an  ape,  can  find  its  way  back  to  its  residence 
of  last  summer,  even  though  it  be  six  or  eight, 
or  even  nine  thousand  miles  distant  V  And 
yet  such  is  the  fact.  Every  year,  as  spring 
approaches,  we  see  birds  coming  from  the  trop- 
ical regions,  passing  by  us,  or  stopping  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  we  soon  hear  of  their  ar- 
rival in  the  colder  regions  of  the  north,  where 
they  have  gone  to  lay  iheir  e!;gs  and  to  tarry 
until  they  are  hatched  and  their  young  partly 
grown. 

Now  it  is  only  by  very  careful  calculation, 
and  by  constant  watching  of  the  sun,  moon 
and  stars,  and  by  carefully  measuring  distances, 
that  mariners  can  find  their  way  across  the 
ocean,  and  so  travelers  on  land,  where  the 
country  is  new  and  unsettled,  have  to  use  very 
much  the  same  means  to  keep  in  a  particular 
direction,  or  they  will  soon  be  lost.  But  here 
are  these  birds,  without  chart  or  compass,  or 
any  waymarks  on  the  ocean  to  guide  tliem. 
without  any  knowledge  of  astronomy,  and  yet 
they  find  their  way  over  the  trackless  sea  and 
forest,  and  often  even  occupy  again  their  old 
nests.  The  Creator  has  mercifully  given  them 
this  remarkable  power,  which  we  call  inMnct, 
and  this  often  serves  as  a  safe  and  perfect  guide 
in  other  matters. 

In  a  recent  article  we  spoke  of  the  bones  of 
birds  being  hollow,  especially  of  those  that  fly, 
and  of  their  having  numerous  air-sacs  over 
their  bodies  which  are  inflated  like  a  balloon, 
so  that  they  are  much  lighter,  and  can  more 
readily  sustain  them.selves  in  the  air  and  fly. 

These  air-sacs  are  both  filled  and  emi)tied  at 
pleasure  by  the  bird,  as  occasion  requires. 
"When  they  wish  to  descend  rapidly  to  the 
earth,  like  the  eagle  or  hawk  to  .seize  upon 
some  living  animal,  the  instinct  of  the  bird 


leads  it  to  contract  the  muscles  connected  with 
these  sacs  as  to  expel  or  squeeze  out  the  air, 
and  thus  the  buoyancy  or  lightness  of  the  body 
is  lessened,  and  it  falls  more  swiftly  to  the 
ground.  The  same  instinct  leads  the  bird  at 
such  times  to  fold  its  wings  as  closely  as  possi- 
ble to  its  body,  thus  reducing  still  farther  its 
bulk. 

All  this  will  now  help  you  to  understand 
how  the  same  bird  that  can  soar^so  readily  for 
many  hours  high  in  the  air,  can  also  plunge 
like  an  arrow  into  the  water,  and  move  so 
swiftly  in  it,  that  it  easily  catches  the  swift- 
moving  fish  in  its  own  element.  The  Solan 
goose  has  been  caught  in  fishing  nets  more 
than  two  hundred  feet  under  water,  where  it 
had  gone  for  its  prey.  These  air-vessels  are 
so  completely  contracted  at  such  times  that  all 
the  air  is  expelled,  and  thus  the  body  of  the 
water-fowl  is  much  reduced  in  size.  But  this 
is  not  all.  The  air  in  the  bones  is  also  re- 
moved, and  so  the  buoyancy  is  still  more  di- 
minished. To  prove  that  the  air  in  the  bones 
is  in  connection  with  the  lungs,  the  experi- 
ment has  been  tried  of  breaking  the  leg  of  a 
bird,  and  also  of  making  a  hole  in  it  so  that 
the  air  could  escape,  and  it  was  found  that  the 
bird  could  not  then  fly.  So,  also,  when  the 
bone  was  thus  broken,  the  wind-pipe  of  the 
bird  was  closed  by  the  experimenter,  so  that 
it  was  impossible  to  breathe  through  its  throat, 
and  yet  the  bird  was  able  to  breathe  for  some 
time  ihrouyh  the  opining  in  the  hone  of  the  leg, 
showing  that  these  various  receptacles  of  air 
are  all  in  communication  witn  the  regular 
breathing  apparatus  of  the  bird — that  is,  its 
lungs. 

How  plainly  do  we  here  see  the  skillful  hand 
of  the  Creator  in  not  only  giving  to  the  bird 
these  difl'erent  air-holders,  but  also  the  instinct 
to  use  them  at  the  right  moment,  and  use 
them  also  in  ways  so  different  and  so  wonder- 
fully adapted  to  its  wants  ;  contracting  them 
all  when  it  wishes  to  descend,  and  expanding 
and  inflating  them  when  it  desires  to  rise.  How 
absurd  to  suppose  that  a  bird  could  educate  it- 
aelf  to  do  all  this  !  So,  then,  we  see  that  the 
Almighty  condescends  to  teach  even  litt!e  birds 
what  it  is  needful  for  them  to  know. 

The  heads  of  birds  are  also  worthy  of  special 
notice.  C(Ui:imencin£;  with  the  beak,  we  find 
the  head  always  more  or  less  of  a  wedge-like 
shape,  whicli  fits  ihem  for  cleaving  alike  both 
air  and  water.  The  bills  or  beaks  of  some  are 
very  peculiar.  For  instance,  take  the  wood- 
pecker's and  examine  it  closely,  and  you  will 
rind  it  has  a  long  chisel-shaped  instrument, 
with  a  hard,  horny  substance  at  the  end.  Now 
this  is  just  what  the  bird  needs  to  bore  into  the 
bark  of  trees  in  search  of  the  insects  on  which 
it  feeds. 

So  the  bill  of  the  snipe  is  long  and  narrow, 
that  it  may  probe  the  marshy  ground  for  food  ; 
and  as  this  food  is  mostly  out  of  sight,  the  bill 
has  nerves  oifieliny,  so  that  when  the  end  of 
the  bill  touclies  the  food,  the  bird  is  instantly 
informed  of  it  by  these  wonderful  nerves  at 
the  bill's  end,  which  are  the  same  as  eyes  to 
the  bird  for  discovering  different  substances. 

The  common  duck  has  much  the  same  ar- 
rangement, with  strainers  at  the  side  for  sepa- 
rating the  food  from  the  water.  The  bill  of 
the  parrot  is  adapted  for  climbing  as  well  as 
for  cracking  nuts  and  picking  out  the  kernel. 
The  bills  of  some  birds  are  good  fly-traps,  and 
actually  serve  for  that  purpose  as  they  sweep 
with  open  mouth  through  the  air  in  quest  of 
insect  food. 

The  tongues  of  birds  are  also  very  extraor- 
dinary contrivances.  The  woodpecker  has  a 
very  long  tongue,  or  rather  a  long  handle  to  it 
in  the  back  of  its  mouth.  In  fact,  the  tongue 
of  this  bird  is  really  a  bnrbed  spear,  having  a 
double  barb  at  the  end  like  a  harpoon.  This 
is  necessary  to  pierce  the  unseen  worms  it  finds 
under  the  bark,  and  draw  them  out. 

The  wonderful  eyes  of  birds  may  well  sur- 
prise us.  How  far  can  you  distinctly  see  a 
mouse  or  a  small  bird  V  Probably  not  more 
than  a  few  rods.  But  some  birds  of  prey,  like 
the  kite  and  hawk,  will  soar  so  high  as  to  be 
quite  out  of  our  sight ;  and  yet  from  that  great 
height  they  can  see  such  smallobjects  as  mice, 


and  will  dart  so  swiftly  down  in  a  straight 

line  that,  active  as  they  are,  there  is  no  escape. 
This  explains  why  such  birds  fly  so  high— they 
have  from  such  heights  a  vastly  wider  field  to 
explore,  and  must  soon  see,  somewhere,  some 
prey. 

Now  here  we  may  well  stop  a  moment  to 
ask  the  question:  How  has  all  this  come  to 
pass  that  birds  find  their  way  back  to  their  old 
homes,"eight  or  nine  thousmd  miles  distant  ¥ 
How  is  it  that  they  expand  and  contract  the 
numerous  air-vessels  inside  and  outside  of  their 
bodies  V  How  came  they  to  have  such  vessels? 
How  came  they  to  be  all  connected  with  the 
breathing  apparatus  of  the  bird— that  is,  its 
lungs  ?  How  came  the  beak  of  the  wood- 
pecker to  be  so  perfectly  adapted  to  boring  old 
trees  for  the[^food  it  most  relishes  ?  How  came 
its  tongue  to  l)e  a  real  harpoon  of  hard,  horny 
substance,  just  precisely  what  is  needed  to 
draw  out  the  hidden  worms  when  found  V 

And  so  we  might  go  on  inquiring  how  the 
beaks  of  the  ducks  and  snipe  have  the  power 
to /(c/ the  right  kind  of  unseen  food?  And 
also  how  some  birds  have  eyes  so  much  like 
powerful  telescopes,  that  they  can  see  their 
prey  miles  distant  from  them  V 

To  say  that  they,  the  birds,  themselves  made 
all  these  wonderful  contrivances  would  be  the 
most  absurd  nonsense,  since  they  are  the 
handiwork  of  Him  who  "doeth  all  things 

well." 

^ 

THE  SELECTION   OF  COWS. 

In  order  to  answer  various  private  inquiries 
made  by  readers  of  the  Country  Gentknidn 
upon  this  topic,  I  will  give  a  convenient 
method  for  the  dairyman  to  weed  out  and  se- 
lect from  his  owu  herd  the  choicest  animals 
that  come  into  his  hands.  It  is  well  known 
that  dairymen  are  seldom  able  to  give  any 
deflnite  account  of  the  comparative  value  of 
the  individual  cows  of  their  herds.  How  much 
less  is  any  one  able  to  make  a  critical  selection 
from  the  herd  of  another  !  There  are  very 
few  who  can  tell,  of  the  cows  they  milk, 
whether  one  gives  .500  or  1,000  pounds  more 
than  another'in  a  season.  They  know  that 
one  gives  more  than  another,  but  they  have 
no  accurate  idea  of  what  the  difference  is. 
Yet  it  must  be  evident  that  this  knowledge  is 
of  great  importance,  for  it  often  happens  that 
the  whole  profit  of  a  herd  is  paid  by  one-half 
the  number,  the  other  half  scarcely  paying 
their  keeping. 

If  the  dairyman  knew  which  paid  and  which 
sunk  his  capital  or  labor,  he  would  soon  sift 
out  the  dead-heads.  The  moment  he  began 
to  note,  accurately,  their  individual  product, 
he  would  also  begin  to  form  a  standard  to 
which  they  must  come  to  be  worthy  of  reten- 
tion in  hi.s  herd.  If  the  dairyman  would  but 
study  his  own  herd,  it  would  form  a  basis  for 
improvement  far  beyond  anything  yet  adopted. 
Almost  every  herd  has  some  good  milkers  and 
profitable  cows.  These  would  at  once  become 
the  standard  to  which  he  would  strive  to  bring 
his  whole  herd. 

The  first  point  the  patron  of  a  factory  would 
wish  to  know  is  quantity— the  pounds  of  milk 
form  the  basis  for  his  dividend.  Many  would 
be  glad  to  know  the  pounds  of  milk  given  by 
each  cow  through  the  season,  but  think  the 
labor  would  be  too  great  in  gaining  this 
knowledge.     I  have  adopted  a  simple  plan  of 

Weighing  Each  Cow's  Milk 
every  fourteenth  day,  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end  of  the  milking  season.  This  will  give, 
practically,  each  cow's  product  for  the  whole 
season,  and  he  can  compare  them  all  and  know 
the  exact  value  of  each,  so  ftir  as  quantity  is 
concerned.  He  .should  weigh  the  night  and 
morning's  milk  each  time,  so  as  to  have  one 
day's  milk.  Now  by  adding  together  the 
amount  of  milk  of  all  the  days  on  which  the 
milk  is  weighed,  and  dividing  by  the  number 
of  days,  he  will  have  the  average  pounds  of 
n)ilk  given  by  each  cow  for  every  day  in  the 
season.  Suppose  the  milk  has  been  weighed 
21  days,  at  intervals  of  two  weeks  ;  now  di- 
vide the  number  of  pounds  given  for  all  the 
Weighings  by  21,  and  you  have  the  average 


isye.j 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


i53 


pounds  of  all  the  weighings,  which  is  the 
average  yield  also  of  every  clay  in  the  season. 
Now  multiply  this  average  by  tlie  whole  luiin- 
ber  of  (lays  the  cow  lias  been  in  milk,  and  you 
have  the  whole  amount  given  by  the  cow  in 
the  season.  This  gives  you  a  most  reliable 
standard  of  eomparison,  and  the  weighing  is 
easily  dune  witli  a  pair  ofclieap  spring  scales, 
hung  ujion  a  nail  in  th<>  stable,  having  a  hook 
at  the  lower  end  upon  which  to  hang  your 
pail.  At  the  scales  have  a  liule  book,  with  a 
pencil  attached.  Tlie  name  of  each  cow 
should  be  written  on  a  page  of  the  book,  and 
against  the  name  the  weight  of  her  milk  is 
placed.  In  this  way  it  takes  but  a  moment  to 
weigh  the  milk. 

Test  of  Quality. 

It  is  quite  important  in  butter  making  to 
know  the  quality  as  well  as  quantity.  You 
need  to  know  the  percentage  of  cream  to  de- 
termine the  vaUu'  of  the  cow  for  butter.  And 
as  the  price  of  butler  is  intluenced  by  its  color 
and  llavor,  (and  some  think  the  color  deter- 
mines the  (lavor)  your  test  should  give  both 
quality  and  quantity  of  cream.  This  is  easily 
and  cheaply  done  by  tilling  a  glass  tumbler 
with  the  nnlk  of  each  cow,  and  setting  these 
tumblers,  in  a  cool  place,  for  the  cream  to  rise. 
Tlie  transparent  glass  wdl  show  you  the  thick- 
ness of  the  cream  and  its  color.  You  will 
have  milk  of  each  cow  under  inspection  at  the 
same  time,  and  can  thus  make  an  accurate 
comiiarison.  Both  night's  and  morning's  milk 
should  be  thus  tested.  lu  almost  every  hero 
cows  will  be  found  that  give  cream  of  a  rich 
golden  color,  rivaling  the  Jerseys  ;  and  if  a 
dairyman  wishes  to  select  the  Jerseys  from  his 
own  herd,  this  is  the  way  to  do  it.  This  test- 
ing for  quality  often  proves  that  the  cow  giv- 
ing the  smaller  quantity  of  milk  makes  the 
most  butter  ;  and  an  hour's  time  will  show 
him  the  comparative  quality  of  the  milk  given 
by  each  cow  in  the  herd. 

Both  of  these  tests— weighing  and  setting 
for  cream -will  give  the  dairyman  a  perfect 
standard  of  comparison  to  determine  the  value 
of  each  cow  ;  and  when  he  has  done  this,  he 
will  have  cows  for  sale.  How  important  that 
he  should  weed  out  the  unprofitable  cows  and 
keep  only  those  that  compensate  him  for  his 
labor  and  expense  ;  and  one  day's  time  in  a 
whole  season  will  give  him  all  this  knowledge. 
E.  W.  S.,  ill  The  Country  Otntleman. 


AMERICAN   GRAPES  AND   WINE. 

The  last  letter  received  from  the  San  Fran- 
cisco correspondent  of  the  Baltimore  Sun  has 
the  following  brief  and  interesting  notice  of 
the  grape  product  of  Calfornia  : 

"The  grape  crop  of  California  exceeds  by 
half  all  former  years  of  vintage.  The  wine 
presses  and  caskage  do  not  increase  with  the 
enormous  growth  and  fruitage  of  our  vine- 
yards. Even  now,  without  a  drop  of  rain  for 
five  montb.s,  and  scarcely  any  dew,  a  hundred 
vineyards  may  be  spotted  from  the  hill  top  by 
the  deep,  brilliant  green  of  their  glistening 
foliage.  But  there  is  no  poetry  in  the  vint- 
ner's life.  One  in  fifty  having  wine  presses 
and  a  market  established  makes  a  good  thing 
of  it.  But  the  majority  can  get  at  best  but 
half  a  cent  a  pound— not  enough  to  pay  for 
culture.  The  pavements  of  San  Francisco 
groan  under  the  weight  of  grapes  for  sale  at 
two  cents  a  pound,  in  bimches  to  fill  one's  hat, 
and  of  quality  of  lusciousness  far  exceeding, 
take  them  as  they  run,  the  choicest  of  Euro- 
pean selections." 

The  trouble  of  the  grape  culturists  in  Cali- 
fornia is  not  with  respect  to  the  quality  of  the 
grapes  they  raise— for  that,  as  our  corres- 
pondent states,  will  rival  the  choicest  Euro- 
pean varieties.  It  is  in  the  want  of  a  market. 
The  grape  in  California  is  so  prolific,  the  soil 
and  climate  so  admirably  adapted  to  it,  and 
the  extension  of  its  culture  so  easy,  that  too 
many  persons  have  embarked  in  its  culture, 
and  the  consequence  has  Iwen  that  for  table 
uses  the  production  is  far  in  excess  of  the  de- 
mand. If  these  grapes  would  hear  the  expense 
of  land  carriage,  in  competition  with  those 
that  are  the  growth  ol  the  Middle  and  South- 


ern States,  they  would  find  a  ready  sale  in  the 
populous  cities  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  But 
the  cost  of  transporting  them  a  distance  of 
from  three  thousand  to  four  thou.sand  miles 
across  the  continent  W(ndd  make  such  a  Irallic 
unprofitable.  The  question  now  with  the  grow- 
ers is  what  they  are  to  do  with  their  surplus 
grapes?  They  cannot  convert  them  into  wine, 
f<ir  there  are  not  many  growers  who  have  the 
capital  adequate  to  embark  in  its  manufacture, 
or  the  nice  skill  required  to  make  and  store 
away  to  ripen  wines  of  tlie  better  sort. 

When  even  they  have  both  the  ca|)ital  and 
the  required  skill,  there  is  another  difliculty  to 
overcome.  .Sonic  of  the  Califorui;i  wines  will 
not  bear  a  sea  voyage.  There  are  others, 
however,  that  will,  and  these,  with  C'aliforni;i 
brandy,  are  to  be  had  in  many  of  the  cities 
east  of  the  rocky  mountains.  These  latter 
wines  are  nuiking  their  way  slowly  into  public 
appreciation,  but  as  they  lack  the  age  and  the 
peculiar  bouquet  of  the  best  foreign  wines,  con- 
)v>iKseuis  do  not  take  to  them  kii,dly.  Never- 
tiieless,  we  believe  that  California  push  and 
enterprise  will  yet  make  the  grape  culture 
profitable,  and  they  will  certainly  spare  no 
pains  to  bring  California  wines  and  brandies 
up  to  the  foreign  standard.  At  the  presi  nl 
time  some  of  the  grape-growers  are  sun-drying 
certain  kinds  of  grapes  to  convert  tbeni  into 
raisins.  Their  success  with  the  sweeter  .sorts 
has  been  sufficiently  promising  to  warrant  the 
hope  that  when  this  branch  of  the  grape  busi- 
iness  is  perfected  and  carried  on  systematically, 
California  raisins  will  come  into"  extensive  de- 
mand, not  only  in  the  United  States,  hut  in 
other  countries,  where  tho.se  from  Spain, 
Calabria  and  Sicily  now  find  a  market. 
^ 

THE   IMPORTANCE   OF    EDUCATING 
HORSES. 

Notwithstanding  much  has  been  said  and 
written  on  the  subject  of  breaking  colts  and 
handling  vicious  horses,  and  such  men  as 
Rarey,  Williams,  IMagner  and  others  have 
been  all  over  the  country  and  demonstrated 
to  all  the  superiority  of  science  and  skill  in 
handling  horses  over  the  old  luethod  of  pound- 
ing and  whipping  them— still  there  are  a  great 
many  who  yet  stick  to  the  old  custom  of  forc- 
ing them  into  submission  by  kicks  and  blows, 
and  who  think  that  all  that  is  necessary  to  en- 
able a  man  to  break  a  colt  well  is  to  have 
plenty  of  courage,  strength  and  a  loud  voice  ; 
and  when  they  commence  to  break  a  colt,  hitch 
him  up  and  try  to  drive  him  before  he  is 
accustomed  to  the  feeling  of  the  harness  or 
knows  anything  about  the  use  of  the  bit  or 
rein  ;  and  if  he  does  not  move  right  ofi' before 
he  has  been  taught  to  go,  he  is  whipped;  if  he 
does  not  mind  the  rein  tlie  lash  is  laid  on  ;  if 
he  stumbles  on  the  rough  ground  he  is 
''  whaled  ;"  if  he  whwas  too  soon  when  told  to 
whoa  he  is  kicked  ;  and  if  he  resents  his  cruel 
treatment  the  above  is  repeated.  The  conse- 
quence of  such  improper  management  is  fre- 
quently some  kind  of  a  scrape,  in  which  the 
colt  is  taught  his  first  lesson  in  kicking  or 
balking,  or  perbajis  he  runs  away  and  receives 
a  scare  which  it  will  take  years  to  get  over. 
On  the  other  hand,  should  the  colt,  as  is  some- 
times the  case,  prove  to  be  very  tractable,  and 
not  make  any  resistance,  his  owner,  after 
driving  him  a  few  times,  and  getting  him  so 
he.  can  drive  him  and  not  get  upset,  will  call 
him  "broke,"  when  he  is,  in  reality,  not  half 
drivable  ;  and  .so,  not  being  taught,  he  never 
learns  anything  more,  only  what  he  learns 
from  ordinary  driving.  This  manner  of  liand- 
lintr  colts  accounts  for  the  many  badly  kicking 
and  restive  horses  we  have,  and  also  for  the 
vast  number  of  awkward,  unhandy  and  stupid 
brutes  which  we  see  driven  every  day.  Now, 
although  moft  any  man  can  break  a  colt  after 
a  fashion,  there  are  but  few  comjietent  to  edu- 
cate a  colt  as  he  should  be.  A  man  to  suc- 
cessfully handle  and  educate  horses  and  colts, 
should  in  the  first  place  be  a  natural  luirseman, 
and  he  po.ssessed  of  that  pe(;uliar  knack  with- 
out which  no  one  can  be  a  first-cla.ss  trainer. 
In  the  .second  place,  he  should  have  an  unlim- 
ited stock  of  patience,  and  be  able  to  control 


himself  on  all  occasions;  for  a  man  that  can- 
not control  himself  cannot  control  a  horse. 
Besides,  a  man  should  bi^  (wsled  in  his  busi- 
ness, and  be  familiar  with  all  the  different 
.systems  of  horse  training,  as  taught  by  the 
most  successful  liorse  trainers.  He  should 
also  be  a  man  pos.sessed  of  a  kind  heart,  ca- 
pable of  inspiring  confidence  in  the  animal  he 
is  handling. 

Now  if  there  was  in  every  town  a  man  with 
these  requisites,  and  he  should  break  all  of  the 
colts  raised  in  his  town,  the  usual  (|ualities  of 
the  hiu.ses  of  the  country  would  be  greatly  in- 
creased, and  there  woukl  not  be  so  many  ac- 
counts in  the  ])apcrs  of  broken  ribs  and  bruised 
heads,  caused  by  horses  running  or  kicking. 
I  hope  the  day  will  soon  come  when  every  one 
shall  realize  the  importance  of  a  more  thor- 
'Ugb  system  of  educating  horses,  and  when 
schools  shall  be  established  all  over  the  land 
for  instructing  competent  men  to  educate  and 
handle  horses ;  when  such  hor.ses  as  now  re- 
(luire  a  strong  man  to  drive  and  control  them, 
shall  be  rendered  kind  and  docile,  and  be 
driven  with  safety  and  pleasure,  and  even 
without  bit  or  rein;  when  competent  veteri- 
nary surgeons  shall  take  the  place  of  our 
country  "boss  doctors,"  and  the  many  dis- 
ea.ses  to  which  horse-flesh  is  heir  shall  recei.ve 
the  attention  which  they  deserve  ;  when  tlie 
law  for  the  ])revention  of  cruelty  to  animals 
shall  be  enforced  in  every  instance  of  its  vio- 
lation, and  the  offenders  iiunished  as  they 
deserve.  When  these  thingsare  realized,  and 
not  before,  will  man's  best  friend  and  most 
faithful  servant,  the  horse,  receive  that  treat- 
ment to  which  his  services  entitle  him,  and 
instead  of  being  overworked,  starved  and 
beaten  by  some,  and  used  as  a  means  of  gam- 
bling and  cheating  by  others,  he  shall,  by 
proper  care  and  attention,  together  with 
judicious  breeding,  and  especially  by  a  thor- 
ough education,  be  made  one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  ever  given  by  the  Creator  for  the 
benefit  of  man. — A.  T.  Mapin,  in  Maine  Far- 
mer. 


PURE  AND   IMPURE  WATER. 

If  there  is  any  one  subject  connected  with 
agriculture  which  requires  more  attention  than 
another  it  is  that  of  pure  water  for  stock.  We 
believe  that  many  of  the  virulent  diseases 
known  under  such  names  as  black-leg,  and 
murrain  of  various  kinds,  frequently,  if  not 
always,  have  their  origin  in  impure  water 
which  the  animals  are  compelled  to  drink.  In 
many  localities  in  this  country  a  "  mud-bole  " 
filled  with  stagnant  rain  water  is  the  only 
source  of  supply  for  farm  animals  during  the 
long,  hot  summer,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
diseases  of  various  kinds  follow  such  treatment. 
The  Farmers'  Gazette,  in  treating  of  this  sub- 
ject, tell  some  wholesome  truths,  which  it 
would  be  well  for  our  farmers  to  heed.  Al- 
though we  have  had  of  late  some  rain,  which 
has  certainlv  done  much  good,  there  is  still  a 
great  scarcity  of  water  in  many  pastures.  We 
do  not  think  that  sufficient  care  is  usually 
taken  to  provide  against  such  a  contingency, 
or  to  husband  supplies  of  water  when  these 
are  apt  to  fail  in  seasons  of  drought.  We 
know  tliat  some  maintain  that  sheep  do  not 
require  water  when  on  grass  ;  liut  this  is  a 
great  mistake,  especially  when  the  weather  is 
so  excessively  hot  and  parching  as  we  have 
recently  experienced. 

During  a  hot,  dry  summer  which  occurred 
some  years  ago,  we  found  that  in  an  extensive 
sheep  grazing  district  ewes  and  lambs  were  ia 
mucli  better  condition  when  they  had  full  ac- 
cess to  pure,  running  streams  than  was  the 
case  when  the  sheep  pastures  were  not  so  well 
provided,  the  grass  in  both  cases  being  in  an 
equally  burnt-up  condition.  But  even  when 
the  weather  has  been  cooler,  the  want  of  pure 
water  in  abundance  tells  on  the  health  of 
sheep  just  as  it  does  on  cattle  ;  and  as  over- 
wet  pastures  have  their  own  peculiar  diseases, 
in  like  manner  over-dry  pa-stures  engender  dis- 
ease which  not  unfrequently  is  attributed  to 
other  cau.ses. 

A  friend  of  ours,  who  took  an  interest  in 
such  matters,  measured,  one  hot  summer,  the 


154 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  October, 


water  consumed  daily  by  a  lot  of  cattle,  and 
as  it  had  to  be  pumped  for  them,  the  quantity 
used  was  easily  ascertained.     The  result  of 
his  observations  was  that  thirty-six  head  of 
cattle  consumed  daily  about  900  gallons  of 
water.     Now,  bearing  this  fact  in  mind,  what 
must  be  state  of  cattle  carried  by  railway  and 
steamboat,  when  they  are  confined  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  in  some  instances  for  periods 
varying  in  length  up  to  sixty  hours,  without 
getting  a  drop  of  water  all  the  time,  not  to 
speak  of  the  terrible  shaking  which  cattle  ex- 
perience during  a  journey  by  rail,  and  the 
fatigue  caused  by  their  being  unable  to   lie 
down  ?    Is  it  possible  that  animals  treated  in 
this  way  can  arrive  at  ihe  end  of  their  jour- 
ney in  a  healthy  state,  or  that  their  flesh  can 
be  in  a  wholesome  state  for  use  as  human  food? 
Eveiy  medical  man    knows    that  impure 
water  is  a  fertile  source  of  disease  in  human 
beings,  and  innumerable  outbreaks  of  disease 
of  a    typhoid    nature    have   been  distinctly 
traced  to  this  cause.      In  India  the  use  of  im- 
pure water  is  certain  to  be  followed  by  chol- 
eraic diseases.  In  the  fatal  march  from  Mhow, 
the  connection  between  Ihe  outbreak  of  chol- 
era in  the   troops  and   the  quality  of  water 
they  drank  was  easily  perceived.     Nothing 
but  the  raging  thirst,  which  well  nigh  mad- 
dened the  men,  would  have  tempted  them  to 
drink  the  water  procured  on  the  line  of  march. 
But  they  were  forced  to  choose  between  an  in- 
tolerable craving  for  water,  and  running  the 
risk  of  catching  choleraic  diseases,  and  they 
chose  the  latter.      Within  twenty-four  hours 
nearly  all  who  had  indulged  freely  in  drinking 
the  impure  water  were  prostrated  with  cholera, 
and  died  in  the  proportion  of  eight  to  ten. 

There  does  not  exist  two  sets  of  sanitary 
principles,  one  affecting  human  beings  and  the 
other  the  beasts  of  the  field.  Impure  water, 
imperfect  ventilation,  dirt,  damp,  and  scarcity 
of  food  exercise  injurious  influences  on  the 
health  of  our  domestic  animals,  just  as  those 
agents  do  in  the  case  of  human  beings  ;  and 
every  practical  man  should  therefore  seek  to 
remove  those  sources  of  evil  as  speedily  as  pos- 
sible. A  correspondent,  who  resides  in  a 
western  country,  states  that  it  is  most  dis- 
tressing to  see  cattle  driven  daily  for  miles 
along  the  dry,  dusty  roads  in  order  to  reach 
water  ;  and  if  numbers  of  those  cattle  should 
afterwards  succumb  to  disease,  it  will  not  be 
difficult  to  discover  the  cause.  Splenic  apo- 
plexy is  frequently  caused  by  impure  water, 
and  also  by  an  insutficient  supply  of  water, 
even  when  it  is  pure.  This  is  a  blood  disease, 
runs  its  course  with  great  rapidity,  and  is  ex- 
ceedingly fatal.  Hyposulphite  of  soda,  given 
in  the  water  which  the  animals  drink,  in  doses 
of  from  two  to  four  ounces,  according  to  the 
size  of  the  animal,  will  be  useful  as  a  preven- 
tive ;  but,  of  course,  it  can  only  be  used  when 
the  cattle  drmk  from  troaghi.—Bural  Mew 
Yorker. 


SENSATIONAL  AGRICULTURAL 
WRITING. 
Sensational  literature  is  not  confined  to 
mere  "society  life."  Horticulture  and  agri- 
culture is  full  of  it.  Turn  where  we  mayj^we 
find  statements  made,  not  so  much  because 
they  are  true,  but  because  they  attract ;  and 
even  those  which  are  true  are  often  so  outra- 
geously clothed  that  one  who  ought  to  know 
the  facts  can  scarcely  recognize  them.  It  is 
not  even  a  habit  which,  growing  unconsciously 
on  a  writer,  may  become  pardonable— that  is 
in  many  cases— for  we  have  heard  writers  de- 
fend the  style  on  the  ground  that  without  this 
exaggeration  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  the 
public  ear.  They  will,  therefore,  tell  you  how 
you  may  get  five  tons  of  hay,  fifty  bushels  of 
wheat,  a  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  corn,  or 
two  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre. 
They  know  it  cannot  be  done,  but  excuse 
themselves  on  the  idea  that  the  startling  fig- 
ures will  stimulate  some  one  to  try,  and  in 
the  trial  some  good  will  come  to  him.  Inde- 
pendently of  the  immorality  involved  in  this 
way -of  putting  things,  and  which  furnishes 
the  foundation  stone  for  the  inquiry,  "Can  a 
bad  tree  produce  good  fruit?"  we  have  the 


experience  of  our  own  day  and  generation  to 
show  that  this  drawing  of  a  long  bow  defeats 
its  own  intention,  even  when  with  a  sort  of 
honesty  it  is  indulged  in.  We  all  remember 
the  efforts  of  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  to 
push  what  was  professedly  to  us  the  culture  of 
the  grape  in  this  country.  Statements  of  the 
most  outrageous  character  were  promulgated. 
Thousands  of  people  invested  money  on  the 
strength  of  these  so-called  facts  and  figures  ; 
but  only  in  most  cases  to  lose  and  sufler  badly. 
But  how  about  the  ultimate  good  from  this 
rotten  foundation  ?  We  all  know  there  was 
none.  On  the  contrary  there  was  a  re.iction. 
People  became  disgusted.  Few  persons  plant- 
ed grapes.  Grape-culture  was  put  back  many 
years,  and  none  discovered  this  more  clearly 
than  the  grape-sellers  themselves,  many  of 
whom,  with  their  large  stock  of  plants  and  no 
sales,  were  quite  ruined. 

Not  about  the  grapes,  perhaps,  but  in  other 
ways,  a  similar  exaggeration  which  then  ex- 
isted pervades  agricultural  writings.  Here  be- 
fore us  is  a  statement  of  one,  that  he  has 
handled  thousands  upon  thousands  of  trees  in 
his  time,  when  those  who  know  the  writer 
personally  know  that  it  is  not  so.  The  state- 
ment is  made  simply  to  convey  the  idea  of  vast 
experience,  and  in  this  way  to  give  a  force  to 
the  writing  it  is  thought  it  would  not  other- 
wise possess.  Yet  the  writer  is  a  person  of 
large  experience  in  a  certain  way,  and  what 
he  has  to  say  deserves  and  would  doubtless  re- 
ceive consideration  from  all  whose  considera- 
tion is  at  all  likely  to  be  of  credit  to  the  writer 
of  the  paragraph,  or  of  any  profit  to  them- 
selves, without  any  exaggerated  statement  like 
that. 

Another  tells  us  there  is  no  way  in  the  world 
to  make  a  profit  on  the  fiirm  to  so  great  and 
to  so  certain  an  extent  as  the  way  he  recom- 
mends. The  writer  is  well  known.  He  is 
still  a  worker  in  the  land.  But  he  does  not 
grow  that  crop.  It  is  known  that  he  did 
grow  it  for  a  year  or  two,  and  that  he  dropped 
it  for  other  things.  Yet  the  statement  he 
made  he  repeats,  and  hundreds  follow  his  ad- 
vice and  fail. 

There  was  once  a  father  who  had  lazy  sons, 
and  who,  on  his  death-bed,  told  them  that  in 
a  certain  ten-acre  lot  a  fortune  was  buried. 
After  his  decease  they  dug  the  whole  field  over 
two  feet.  They  found  no  treasure  as  they  ex- 
pected ;  but  that  ground  produced  such  enor- 
mous crops  that  they  were  fully  paid  for  their 
industry.  There  may  be  some  who  would  ex- 
cuse a  deception  of  this  kind;  but  in  the  case 
we  refer  to  not  even  the  "end  justifies  the 
means,"  for  the  end  of  the  advice  has  gener- 
ally been  lost  without  any  compensation  what- 
ever. 

We  might  go  on  and  continue  our  illustra- 
tions of  this  sensation  literature  in  agriculture 
and  horticulture  in  great  variety,  but  will 
close  with  a  reference  to  the  repeated  direc- 
tions about  mulching  fruit-trees.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  along  the  coast,  where  the  sea- 
weed is  plenty,  and  perhaps  in  a  few  cases 
where  vegetable  material  is  unusually  cheap 
and  abundant,  mulching  has  been  done  to 
some  profit.  And  here  and  there  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  are  people  who,  with  one 
or  two  trees  "mulched  "  with  some  material 
at  hand,  have  found  a  benefit  from  the  acci- 
dent, for  it  cannot  be  called  practice.  A  host 
of  writers  build  on  these  facts,  and  write 
about  "mulching  orchards,"  as  if  they  had 
large  orchards  so  treated,  and  as  if  it  were  the 
best,  if  not  the  only  good,  course  of  orchard 
treatment. 

We  doubt  very  much  if  anyone,  except  in 
the  very  few  cases  noted,  ever  mulched  an  or- 
chard of  any  size  ;  or  if  they  did,  that  they 
continued  long  to  do  so.  The  advantages  may 
be  often  all  that  is  claimed  for  the  plan  ;  but 
those  who  have  the  material  and  can  do  it, 
soon  find  that  they  can  have  the  same  good 
results  at  a  far  less  cost  in  many  other  ways. 
And  one  way  is  by  frequent  "stirring"  or 
"cultivating." — Ocrmantown  Telegraph. 


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THE  CARNIVEROUS  PITCHER-PLANT. 

Early  in  March  the  new  leaves  of  the  pitcher- 
plant  (Sarracenia  variolaris)  begin  to  make 
their  appearance,  and  soon  after,  the  large  yel- 
low flower,  with  its  drooping  petals,  is  very 
conspicuous  everywhere  on  the  damp  pine- 
barrens  of  Florida.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable of  all  our  insectivorous  plants,  and 
destroys  by  far  a  larger  number  of  insects  than 
any  carnivorous  plant  with  wliich  I  am  ac- 
quainted. The  leaves  are  from  six  to  twelve 
inches  in  length,  hollow,  and  trumpet-shaped  ; 
they  stand  very  erect,  and  the  opening  is  cov- 
ered with  a  rounded  arching  hood.  .lust  be- 
low the  hood  the  leaf  is  spotted  with  pure 
white,  and  these  .spots  are  surrounded  by  bright 
scarlet  veins.  The  inner  surface  of  the  hood 
is  lined  with  brilliant  colors  ;  finely  reticulated 
veins  of  scarlet  run  over  a  yellowish  ground. 
A  broad  wing  extends  along  one  side  of  the 
leaf  from  the  base  to  the  opening  at  the  sum- 
mit ;  the  wing  is  bound  or  edged  by  a  pur- 
plish cord,  which  also  extends  around  the 
opening.  This  cord  or  edge  of  the  wing  is  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  features  of  the  plant. 

From  observations  taken  on  the  ground 
where  the  plants  grew,  I  found  innumerable 
insects  were  attracted  to  them.  The  flaunt- 
ing yellow  flower  may  lure  many  moths  and 
butterflies  to  the  plant,  but  the  flower  is  not 
the  attraction  after  they  reach  it.  The  cord 
that  runs  along  the  edge  of  the  wing  secretes 
a  sweet  fluid,  and  as  the  wing  reaches  to  the 
base  of  the  leaf,  insects  that  crawl  on  the 
ground  as  well  as  those  that  fly  are  attracted 
to  this  sweet  secretion.  I  noticed  on  some  of 
the  plants  a  line  of  small  ants  extending  from 
the  base  of  the  leaf  to  the  summit,  feeding  on 
the  secretion  ;  so  numerous  were  they  that 
they  crowded  each  other,  but  all  steadily  ad- 
vancing to  the  opening,  down  which  they  dis- 
appeared. 

A'l  persons  who  have  observed  ants  feeding 
have  probably  noticed  the  regtflar  order  in 
which  they  move  to  and  from  their  food.  The 
aphides  (plant-lice)  produce  a  sweet  secretion 
of  which  the  ants  are  very  fond.  Linnaeus, 
with  his  fertile  imagination,  called  the  aphides 
the  ants'  cows.  The  ants  are  very  friendly  to- 
ward the  aphides,  for  they  supply  them  with 
abundant  food,  on  which  they  thrive.  Now 
if  we  observe  the  ants  feeding  on  this  secretion 
from  the  aphides,  we  can  also  see  that  they 
form  two  regular  lines,  the  hungry  ones  mov- 
ing up  the  stem  to  take  their  food,  and  the 
satisfied  ones  returning  down  the  stem  ;  and 
very  friendly  and  fraternal  they  seem,  never 
getting  in  each  other's  way,  but  often  greeting 
one  another  as  they  meet,  putting  their  anten- 
nfe  together  as  if  communicating  something, 
and  then  they  pass  on,  each  his  own  way. 
Mark  the  difference  when  the  ants  are  found 
feeding  on  the  sweet  secretion  of  Sarracenia 
rariuluris;  now  they  crowd  and  jostle  one  an- 
other, and  seem  wild  in  their  movements,  and 
all  are  advancing  in  one  line  toward  the  sum- 
mit of  the  leaf,  on  reaching  which  they  disap- 
pear down  the  wide  throat  of  the  msatiable 
Sarracenia.     No  return  line  here. 

This  I  observed  on  the  pine-barrens,  where 
the  plants  grew.  I  now  took  a  large  supply  of 
leaves  to  my  study,  and  placed  them  in  an  up- 
right position  in  vases  of  water  to  keep  them 
fresh,  and  opened  the  windows  to  admit  the 
various  insects  that  are  swarming  in  the  air 
at  this  season.  Soon  the  room  was  well  sup- 
plied with  the  common  house  fly.  I  now  re- 
turned the  screens  to  the  windows,  and  sat 
down  to  watch  results.  A  number  of  flies  were 
soon  attracted  to  the  plants,  and  almost  as 
soon  as  they  tasted  the  secretion  they  acted 
strangely.  It  was  astonishing  to  see  how 
quickly  it  affected  them.  They  became  stupid, 
and  did  not  notice  my  hand  in  close  proximity, 
and  they  paid  no  attention  to  gentle  efforts  to 
shake  them  from  the  leaf.  If  I  touched  one 
it  would  fly  a  short  distance,  but  invariably  it 
returned  to  the  leaf,  and  very  soon  it  was  buz- 
zing inside  of  the  tube,  trying  to  walk  up  the 
dry,  smooth  surface,  and  ever  falling  back, 
until  it  was  exhausted  and  still.  It  was  no 
use  to  liberate  them  ;  I  repeatedly  took  a  leaf 
and  turned  the  opening  downward  and  gently 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


155 


knocked  it  until  I  liburated  lialf  ;i  dozen  or 
more;  butllu-y  were  soon  on  the  leaves  again, 
evidently  trying  to  sti-uigliten  themselves. 
They  would  pass  tligjr  legs  over  their  wings, 
but  they  were  uii-^teady  on  their  feet,  and 
seemed  to  be  intoxicated.  Every  fly  that  I 
liberated  eventually  returned  to  tlie  open 
mouth  and  walked  in,  as  if  fascinated  by  some 
spell. 

In  about  two  hours  the  room  \vas  cleared  of 
flies — all  liu-ed  into  the  fatal  traps.  I  re- 
opened the  windows  to  admit  more,  and 
among  the  flies  came  two  or  three  yellow- 
jackets — wasp-like  insects.  These  yellow- 
jackets  are  very  fond  of  anything  sweet,  and 
very  soon  one  found  the  tempting  bait.  It 
alighted  upon  a  leaf,  and  commenced  feeding 
about  two-tliirds  of  the  way  from  the  bas^;. 
It  seemed  to  relish  the  food  highly,  and  ate 
eagerly  and  quietly  for  a  few  moments;  Imt 
soon  its  wings  began  to  tlutlcr,  and  it  pro- 
ceeded hurriedly  and  wildly  along  the  line  of 
sweet  until  it  reached  the  opening.  Hero  it 
paused  a  moment  to  feed  along  the  cord  that 
surrounds  the  mouth  of  the  tube,  but  its  wings 
were  still  rais<'d  and  fluttering.  In  a  little 
more  than  a  minute  from  the  time  it  alighted 
it  was  a  safe  prisoner  within,  buzzing  and  llut- 
tering  and  stirring  up  the  imprisoned  flies. 
On  holding  the  leaf  up  to  the  light,  I  could 
see  its  frantic  efforts  to  escape— trying  to 
climb  the  smooth  siu'face,  but,  like  the  Hies, 
ever  falling  back,  until  it  was  powerless  to 
move. — Ilcuytr's  Magazine. 

^ 

HEROIC  FARMING. 
Conrad  Wilson,  of  New  York,  writes  thus 
to  the  Countrij  Gentleman: 

The  mode  of  (^ultiue  and  the  liberal  manur- 
ing practised  by  market  gardeners,  cannot,  of 
!  course,  be  generally  adopted  by  those  who  cul- 
[  tivate  large  areas  of  land.     But  I  have  always 
;  noticed  that  those  farmers  wliose  methods  ap- 
'  preach  nearest  to  the  standard  of  the  garden, 
are  the  ones  who  obtain,  as  a  rule,  the  largest 
yields  and  the  highest  rate  of  profit.     It  is  true 
enough  that  to  invest  yearly  in  manure  at  the 
rate  of  fifty  to  eighty  tons  per  acre,  requires 
t  more  faith  and  courage,  as  well  as  more  raouey 
than  the  average  farmer  commands.     Yet  it 
is  mainly  in  this  intensive  mode  of  culture  that 
the  market  gardener  linds  his  best  renumera- 
tion.     The  man  who  cultivates  half  a  dozen 
f  acres  must  get  larger  returns  from  each  than 
'  those  who  cultivate  from  fifty  to  five  hundred. 
To  get  seventy  tons  of  cabliage  from  an  acre, 
ami  other  products  in  a  similar  ratio,  the  gar- 
dener can  well   afi'ord   to   invest   liberally  in 
plant  food  and  other  expenses  of  culture.     If 
he  knows  or  can   nearly  determine,  the  value 
of  each  intended  crop,  he  can  generally  calcu- 
late how  much  it  will  1)6  safe  to  pay  out  in 
order  to  obtain  it ;  and  having  made  the  cal- 
culation, he  does  not  hesitate  to  make  the  In- 
vestment. 

Now,  there  is  clearly  no  reason  why  the 
same  general  nde  is  not  equally  sound  for  the 
farmer.  His  business  is  subject  to  the  same 
natural  laws,  and  his  crops  are  augmented  bv 
the  same  process.  When  the  Hon.  Henry 
Lane,  of  Vermont,  by  adding  a  few  dollars  to 
the  cost  of  his  beet  crop,  brought  the  yield  up 
to  forty-four  tons  per  acre,  and  the  cost  down 
to  six  or  seven  cents  per  bu.shel,  though  he 
achieved  no  miracle,  he  showed  that  intensive 
culture  is  profitable  for  the  farm  as  well  as  for 
the  garden. 

The  grand  fact  to  be  considered  is  this  :  In 
all  cases  where  manure  is  alnindantly  supplied 
and  the  tillage  is  thorough  and  deep,  the  .soil 
responds  in  a  corresponding  degree,  and  be- 
comes, in  the  hands  of  a  skillful  cultivator, 
simply  a  machine  for  converting  chemical  ele- 
ments into  food  ;  and  whether  a  man  culti- 
vates ten  acres  or  ten  hundred,  the  more  i)Iant 
food  he  supplies  of  the  right  kind  (other  con- 
ditions being  e(iual),  the  larger  will  be  the  re- 
sult ;  the  lower  the  cost  and  the  higher  the 
rate  of  profit. 

The  last  few  dollars  added  to  tlie  cost  of 
the  crop  is  nearly  always  the  secret  of  the  ex- 
tra profit,  and  sometimes  makes  the  whole 
difference  between  profit  and  loss.     All  prac- 


tical farmers  profess  to  understand  this,  yet 
few  of  them  have  proved  the  courage  of  their 
opinions  by  reducing  it  to  practice.  And  here 
is  Just  the  point  where  men  of  timid  and  con- 
.servative  ixilicy  halt  and  hesitate,  while  the 
clear-headed,  heroic  farmer  fearlessly  meets 
the  expen.se,  and  wins  the  prize. 

There  is  in  fact  si'arcely  a  crop  raised  on 
the  farm  that  might  not  be  materially  in- 
creases with  but  slight  additional  cost,  i)ro- 
vided  the  owner  could  determine  in  each  case 
the  additional  outlay  needed,  and  the  right 
plai'c  to  put  it.  As  this  (piestion  is  often  easily 
solved,  and  iiot  always  as  dillieull  as  it  seems, 
it  challenges  the  attention  of  farmers,  and 
well  deserves  farther  di-scussion. 


WHY  LARGE  CITIES  ESCAPE  THUN- 
DERBOLTS. 

We  have  long  been  of  the  opinion,  and  have 
occasionally  exi)ressed  it,  that  the  reason  why 
large  cities,  especially  American  cities  that 
are  liberally  supplied  with  water  and  gas|)ipes 
made  of  iron,  and  rnmiiiig  from  the  upper 
floors  of  houses  into  the  earth  and  eommuni- 
c-ating  with  still  larger  pipes  from  which  their 
contents  are  supplied,  owe  immmiity  from  de- 
structive tluniderbolts  to  the  conducting  pow- 
er of  these  andother  metallic  agencies  employ- 
ed in  such  buildings.  The  iron  thus  used  might 
not  serve  as  an  infallible  i)rotection  against 
lightning  were  it  not,  i)erhaps,  for  the  addi- 
tional agency  of  the  hundreds  of  miles  of  tele- 
graph wires  that  pass  along  the  eaves  of  houses 
in  a  large  luimberofthemost  imblic  thorough- 
fares, and  occasionally  even  cross  their  roofs, 
or  are  conveyed  at  such  elevations  as  to  cap- 
ture the  fugitive  lightning  and  materially  equal- 
ize its  distribution  before  it  can  concentrate  at 
any  given  point. 

The  innumerable  miles  of  railroad  tracks 
which  of  late  years  have  likewise  extended 
over  populous  streets,  undoubtedly  contribute 
to  this  means  of  diffusing  electricity  and  ren- 
dering it  harmless.  If  this  theory  be  correct, 
every  house  built  of  iron,  or  into  the  construc- 
tion of  which  iron  largely  enters,  would  need 
no  other  lightning  rod  but  a  mere  point  long 
enough  to  afford  the  requisite  protection  to 
the  area  covering  the  roof,  if  made  of  non-con- 
ducting material,  and  another  short  rod  at- 
tached to  the  lower  portion  of  the  iron  edifice 
to  carry  oft'  the  electricity  into  the  earth,  if, 
indeedj  that  would  be  necessary  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. The  introduction  of  telegraph 
wires,  rail  tracks,  gas  and  water  pipes  into 
city  houses,  as  well  as  the  construction  of  large 
warehouses  and  workshops  of  iron,  coincident 
with  the  disappearance  of  deaths  or  the  dis- 
continuance of  serious  losses  of  property  by 
lightning,  is  an  impressive  if  not  a  startling 
fact ;  and  whether  a  propter  hoc  or  only  a  post 
hoc,  is,  in  a  scientific  point  of  view,  entitled  to 
serious  consideration. 

So  fully  were  we  struck  with  the  momentous 
importance  of  the  deductions  drawn  from  this 
coincidence,  or  consequence,  or  whatever  it 
may  be,  that  when  there  was  in  this  city  a  dis- 
position to  require  the  telegraph  companies  to 
convey  their  wires  under  ground,  we  foresaw 
a  contingency  that  might  deprive  us  of  one 
of  our  most  potent  safeguards  against  the  de- 
structive effects  of"  Heaven's  artillery,"  and 
hinted  at  the  possible  dangers  we  might  invoke 
by  insisting  on  that  change. 

Several  years'  observation,  during  which  no 
deaths  nor  any  serious  destruction  of  property 
have  hap|)ened  within  the  sphere  of  the  con- 
ducting power  of  any  of  the  metallic  agencies 
in  question,  has  tended  to  confirm  our  belief 
on  this  subject,  and  although  church  steeples, 
flag  staffs,  and  the  aiiices  of  triangular  sky- 
lights have  felt  the  electric  fury  of  pa.ssing 
thunder  (douds,  their  position  has  been  .so  far 
above  the  range  of  the  conducting  influence  of 
the  telegraph  wires  as  to  deny  them  any  ad- 
vantage from  that  source  of  protection,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  fluid  confining  its 
fury  to  the  point  struck,  and  involvingno  other 
contiguous  non-conducting  object  in  the  dem- 
olition, would  tend  to  still  further  confirm  our 
theory,  that  the  erratic  lightning  soon  after- 
wards came  in  contact  with  some  of  those  nu- 


merous transverse  or  perpendicular  metal 
I)i|)es  or  wires,  that  instantly  robbed  it  of  its 
force  by  accomplishing  its  dilVusion,  and  ulti- 
mately delivering  it,  without  further  disjister, 
to  the  great  terrestrial  magnet. — Pen&Ploio. 

flEOiKiBTOWN,  Sept.  18,  1870. 

Pkof.  S.  S.  Ratiivon- — Dear  Sir:  I  sent  on  the 
cerlitlcate  to  the  National  Art  Company.  I  received 
the  cliroinallc  paintings,  "  (iod's  Promises, "  in  good 
order,  and  was  much  pleased  with  the  same,  and  feel 
il  my  duly  lo  return  you  my  sincere  thanks  and  best 
wishes  for  your  success  in  your  husiness,  for  1  value 
Tni'.  Kakmeu  very  much. —  Af.  Jl.  M. 

We  publish  the  above,  not  alone  to  show 
the  writer's  appreciation  of  our  journal,  but 
also  to  illustrate  his  opinion  of  the  picture 
we  advertised,  and  how  cheaply  and  ea.sily  it 
may  be  obtained  by  all  our  subscribers.  See 
advertisement  on  third  page  of  our  cover, 
Septcmber'number. — El). 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 
Correspondeuce  of  Tub  I.ancahtek  P'aiimku. 

Pakis,  Septemlicr  21,  187fi. 

A  circumstance  very  jiromincnt  in  connection  with 
continental  a^'riculture,  is  the  number  of  eminent 
Rcicntitic  men  who  devote  attention  to  its  study.  The 
desire  evidently  is  to  control  the  experiments  of  the 
laboralory  by  the  experiences  of  tlie  farm.  Pure 
practice,  alone  better  than  pure  science,  can  only  be 
improved  by  this  united  system  of  work.  The  do- 
main selected  for  scicntillc  investigation  In  ttermany 
and  in  Krance,  is  tlie  rearing  and  feeding  of  stock, 
liecause  here  discoveries  and  ameliorations  can  be 
more  immediately  revealed  and  ell'ected,  and  the 
practical  fruits  sooner  reaped.  Licbig,  who  broached 
so  many  ideas,  did  not  overlook  the  important  one  of 
animal  nutrition,  but  tliey  are  the  views  of  Boussin- 
gault  on  ihissuliject,  wliich  are  more  generally  adopt- 
ed in  order  lo  elucidate  the  mysteries  of  the  nutritive 
changes  which  are  accomplished  in  the  living  body, 
as  founded  upon  the  laws  of  rational  alimentation. 
Hitherto  we  were  most  occupied  with  what  stock  eat; 
to-day  the  important  point  Is  not  exactly  what  they 
consume,  as  how  they  assimilate  it.  "It  is  not  what 
is  eaten  that  nourishes,  but  what  is  digested  ;  "  lience, 
very  naturally,  investigation  is  being  carried  on  to 
ascertain  the  degree  of  digestibility  with  the  various 
races  of  animals,  and  the  tluctuating  circumstances 
capable  of  increasing  or  retarding  that  function.  Now 
one  of  the  most  important  of  these  circumstances  is 
the  nutritive  relation  bet  ween  the  nitrogenous  and  the 
non-nit rogcuous  matters.  Tlie  more  this  relationship 
is  narrow,  that  is  to  say,  the  more  the  feed  contains 
of  protein,  for  acertainr|uantityofcarl)onaceous  mat- 
ter, the  more  Uie  food  is  utilized  in  the  process  of  di- 
gestion. For  the  farmer's  interests  it  suftices,  not 
that  his  stock  digest  well  what  they  eat,  but  it  is  es- 
sential that  they  derive  the  most  prolit  from  the  di- 
gestive functions  and  the  end  they  fulfill.  .Mere  di- 
gestion does  not  ensure  the  useful  employment  of  the 
food.  For  example,  it  is  now  known  that  the  apti- 
tude for  fattening,  so  remarkably  developed  among 
several  precocious  races,  is  not  founded  upon  superi- 
ority in  digestive  functions — all  animals  of  the  same 
species  differ  little  in  this  respect — but  upon  a  greater 
power  of  assimilation.  In  other  words,  tardy  races 
live  from  day  to  day,  expending  what  they  receive, 
while  precocious  breeds  reduce  their  organic  wants 
to  an  indispensable  minimum,  accumulating  rapidly 
their  savings  in  the  form  of  meat  and  fat.  Further, 
it  has  been  ascertained  that  "precocious  races  are  eu- 
abled  to  achieve  this  double  advantage,  small  expendi- 
ture and  great  savings  in  the  ntUization  of  ili)/extio7i, 
owing  to  their  relatively  smaller  lung  superlicies  as 
compared  with  tardy  breeds.  Professor  Sanson  has 
also  demonstrated,  that  living  weight  for  weight,  the 
precocious  eliminate  less  carbonic  acid  than  backward 
races. 

The  scum  from  the  sugar  beet  factories  can  be  em- 
ployed as  a  manure,  and  thus  utilize  the  small  per 
centage  of  nitrogen  that  it  contains.  But  it  would 
be  well  first  to  convert,  by  means  of  sulphuric  acid, 
whatever  sugar  remains  in  the  scum  into  alcohol — 
one  ton  of  scum  yielding  3ti  (|uarts  of  alcohol ;  the 
residue  after  distillation  will  still  contain  the  salts  of 
ammonia  and  the  soluble  azotizcd  matters.  Judge 
Belenet  of  Algeria,  claims  to  have  obtained  Important 
results  from  the  use  of  granite  and  porphyry  dust  as 
a  manure,  wlr.ch  contain  from  10  lo  1.5  per  cent,  of 
potash,  and  have  the  property  of  fixing  atmospheric 
ammonia. 

White  mustard  has  been  largely  sown  this  autumn 
as  an  aid  to  meet  the  penury  generally  existing  In  re- 
spect to  fodder.  It  is  so  relished  by  milch  cows  that 
many  peasants  call  it  the  "  butter  plant."  It  is  sown 
in  August  on  the  stubble,  if  the  soil  be  friable,  and 
burrowed  in,  or  sometimes  the  soil  is  turned  over  with 
a  skim  polysock  plough,  five  pounds  of  seed  to  the 
acre  ;  the  plant  can  be  consumed  green  till  the  frost 
arrives,    hespecting  the  preservation  of  green  maize 


iB6 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  October, 


in  trenches,  discussion  no  lonerer  takes  place  as  to  the 
utility  or  practicability  of  the  process,  but  as  to  the 
Btase  when  the  maize  ouffht  to  he  cut;  one  party  advo 
cates  the  cutting  when  the  plant  is  in  flower,  and 
another  before  the  flowers  even  show.  The  majority 
inclines  to  the  first  view,  as  the  maize  is  then  not  only 
richer  in  nutritive  principles,  but  these  principles  are 
more  uniformly  distributed  in  the  plant. 

French  asrriculture  is  at  this  moment  papsiner 
throush  a  crisis,  possessing  features  and  lessons  of 
a  little  general  interest.  Not  unfrequenlly  the  agri- 
culturist adopts  a  system  of  cultivation  on  which  he 
counts  to  reap  prosperity,  and  finds  his  hopes  deceived; 
it  often  happens  that  after  he  has  for  a  long  time  en 
joyed  success  in  producing  a  certain  crop,  he  sudden- 
ly finds  that  there  is  no  demand  for  his  harvest.  He 
must  then  change  the  processes  of  his  farming.  The 
farmers  in  several  departments  of  the  south  of  France 
are  at  present  in  the  second  dilemma  ;  hitherto  they 
have  been  prosperous  in  the  culture  of  madder,  but 
the  prices  of  this  plant  have  so  diminished,  owing  to 
chemistry  having  discovered  an  equally  excellent  dye, 
that  the  culture  of  madder  is  not  to  be  thought  of. 
Then  the  phylloxera  destroys  the  vineyards  at  the 
same  time.  The  absence  of  water,  of  canals,  for  irri- 
gating purposes,  prevents  the  raising  of  forage,  and 
the  keeping  consequently  of  stock,  and  the  latter  is 
ever  in  demand.  The  farmers  are  falling  back  on  the 
culture  of  clover,  grasses,  and  other  plants  for  their 
seeds  for  general  exportation.* 

The  Gironde  has  ever  been  famous  for  its  wine, 
and  there  are  not  a  few  for  whom  Saint  Emilion, 
Midoc  and  Sauterne  are  names  as  familiar  as  house- 
hold words.  The  department  has  325,000  acres  un- 
der vineyards,  producing  annually  sixty-six  million 
gallons  of  wine.  Many  think  that  all  wines  under 
the  name  of  "  Bordeaux  "  or  claret  are  alike,  which 
is  a  great  error,  as  even  in  the  centres  of  districts 
famed  for  their  vintage  the  quality  of  the  wine  is  in- 
ferior. This  anomaly  is  explained  by  the  dirt'erence 
in  the  soil;  above  all  in  the  sub-soil — the  latter  play- 
ing a  preponderating  part  in  the  quality  of  the  pro- 
ducts. The  best  wines  are  obtained  from  the  vine- 
yards situated  on  the  slightly  elevated  banks  of  the 
river  Gironde,  with  a  sandy  surface,  and  above  all  a 
pebbly  sub-soil.  Well,  in  this  rich  garden  of  France, 
the  phylloxera  has  made  its  appearance,  and  the 
anxiety  of  the  proprietors  of  vineyards  is  profound. 
No  efficacious  remedy  has  yet  been  found  to  check 
the  ravages  of  the  bug,  save  flooding  the  vines  to  the 
height  of  twelve  inches,  after  the  vintage.  Toxical 
agents,  in  addition  to  not  being  certain,  are  costly  and 
difficult  of  application.  The  employment  of  Ameri- 
can stocks  as  a  means  to  furnish  roots  resisting  the 
bug,  increases  in  favor  in  the  south  of  France,  shoots 
from  the  fine  native  wines  being  grafted  thereon — 
the  ecuuoyi  plan  of  grafting,  as  practiced  by  M.  Hor- 
toles,  being  that  in  general  use.  The  stock  Jacquez 
is  almost  invulnerable  to  the  attacks  of  the  phyl- 
loxera. In  Wurtemherg,  however,  where  American 
stocks  have  been  employed,  all  have  succumbed  save 
the  hahella. 

The  French  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Sciences  has  opened  its  annual  congres»by  an  impor- 
tant discussion  on  beet  root:  Does  stripping  the  root 
of  some  of  its  leaves,  for  feeding  purposes,  affect  its 
saccharine  richness.  M.  Corenwinder  replies  affir- 
matively, and  to  the  extent  of  4  to  5  per  cent.  ;  the 
removal  of  leaves  induces  a  development  of  new  ones, 
which  absorb  the  elements  of  the  carbon  destined  to 
form  the  sugar;  also,  roots  with  small  leaves,  he  as- 
serts, are  less  rich  in  sugar  than  a  beet  with  large 
leaves.  M.  Claude  Bernard,  perhaps  the  first  scien- 
tific authority  of  the  day,  asserts,  that  even  suppos- 
ing it  be  true  that  the  leaves  eat  the  sugar,  it  is  not 
established  that  they  form  it.  How  then  is  formed 
that  carbon  which  produces  the  sugar.  He  cannot 
precisely  explain  the  phenomenon,  but  thinks  it  can 
be  absorbed  by  the  roots ;  and  as  there  is  a  great 
similarity  between  animals  and  vegetables,  it  is  quite 
possible  that  sugar  is  formed  in  the  economy  of  the 
plant,  as  in  the  case  with  the  animal. 

Spring  sowings  of  grain  are  falling  into  disfavor  in 
this  country,  because  in  the  months  of  April  and  May 
drought  almost  invariably  exists  ;  then  winter  sow- 
ings are  able  to  husband  the  moisture  in  the  soil, 
derived  from  the  winter  rains,  by  their  vegetation 
forming  a  screen.  Professor  Haberlandt  has  pub- 
lished the  results  of  a  series  of  experiments  respect- 
ing the  sowing  of  wheat,  rye,  barley  and  oats  in 
spring,  from  the  commencement  of  May  till  the  end 
of  June,  at  intervals  of  a  week,  and  watering  all  alike  ; 
the  yield  in  grain  in  the  case  of  wheat  and  rye  had 
diminished,  whilethechaff  and  the  straw  augmented, 
ergot  attacked  the  rye  and  rustthewheat ;  and  while 
insects  invaded  the  latter  sowings,  they  kept  aloof 
from  such  as  were  earliest  made. 

M.  Majon  has  successfully  freed  his  lucern  from 
dodder  by  leaving  at  mowing  time  the  parts  of  the 
field  affected  uncut.  He  then  encloses  sheep  on  these 
spots,  till  the  lucern  is  eaten  down,  without,  however, 
injuring  the  crowns  of  the  plant ;  if  some  of  these 
even  be  destroyed,  the  luxuriant  growth  of  what  re- 
mains will  prove  an  ample  compensation. 

The  question  of  the  relative  value  of  beet  pulp  has 
for  some  time  been  a  fertile  source  of  dispute.  Dr. 
Kuhn  asserts  that  there  is  not  much  difference,  in  a 
nutritive  point  of  view,  between  cattle  and  sugar 
beets,  but  there  is  a  notable  difference  in  the  value  of 


the  pulp  according  to  the  process  adopted  for  the  ex- 
traction of  the  juice;  that  is  to  say,  the  machinery 
employed.  The  hydraulic  press  yields  a  pulp  twice 
as  ?ivtrilit'e  as  that  produced  by  the  continuous  press 
— both  employed  in  France.  Thirty  pounds  of  hy- 
draulic pulp.  Dr.  Kuhn  values  as  the  equivalent  of 
fifty  pounds  of  feeding  beet.  Care  ought  to  be  taken 
that  the  pulp  purchased  be  exempt  from  foreign 
matters,  such  as  hyposulphite  of  lime. 

To  prolong  the  duration  of  ropes  and  retard  their 
decay,  steep  them  in  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper 
— an  ounce  to  a  quart  of  water— and  then  either  tar 
them  or  immerge  them  in  soap  suds — four  ounces  of 
soap  per  quart  of  water.  In  the  latter  case  there  is 
no  smell. 

OUR   LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Proceedings    of   the    Lancaster    County  Agri- 
cultural and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  resrular  meeting  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  .Society  was  held  on 
Monday  afternoon,  (October  2d,)  in  the  Athenseum 
rooms.  Minutes  were  read  and  adopted.  Present : 
Messrs.  Calvin  Cooper,  Henry  M.  Engle,  S.  S.  Kath- 
von,  Levi  W.  Grotf,  Jacob  B.  Garber,  Wm.  McCom- 
.sey,  Martin  D.  Kendig,  Johnson  Miller,  Henry  Erb, 
J.  M.  Stehmau,  John  Miller,  Martin  Miller,  Peter  S. 
Keist,  Daniel  Smeych,  B.  Frank  Landis,  John  C.  Lin- 
ville,  Adam  M.  Ranck.  Mr.  Engle  made  some  cor- 
rections in  regard  to  some  statements  wrongly  re- 
ported in  a  previous  meeting.  Egyptian  wheat,  for 
instance,  does  not  ripen  too  early.  "Stubble"  wheat 
was  called  some  other  name.  Mr.  Kendig,  of  special 
committee  to  revise  by-laws,  reported  that  the  com- 
mittee met  at  Franklin  House,  examined  present  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  and.  recommend  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  new  committee  to  revise  the  same.  On 
motion,  the  committee  was  continued,  and  S.  S.  Rath- 
von  was  added. 

Johnson  Miller,  of  the  committee  to  visit  the 
Berks  county  fair,  reported  a  flne  exhibition  of  fruits 
and  stock. 

Mr.  Engle,  of  committee  to  attend  the  Agricul- 
tural Congress,  reported  a  very  interesting  meeting. 
Able  men  were  present.  Important  essays  were  read 
and  entertaining  discussions  arose.  Harris,  Allen, 
Flagg  and  other  prominent  persons  took  part. 

Mr.  Kendig,  of  committee  on  crops,  reported  a 
light  potato  crop.  Apples  have  been  dropping  off. 
Seeding  is  backward  on  account  of  rain.  He  seeded 
down  an  old  field  with  clover  in  September,  and  it 
is  coming  up  nicely.  He  scattered  the  seed  broadcast 
over  the  surface,  and  harrowed  twice.  The  rain  fall 
for  September  was  8  3.5-100  inches. 

Mr.  Peter  Reist  said  more  cider  had  been  made 
and  apple-butter  boiled  than  for  many  years.  Sweet 
potatoes  plenty. 

Mr.  Linville,  Sadsbury.  Wheat  crop  about  2.5 
bushels  an  acre.  Grass  almost  a  failure  on  wheat 
ground.  Due  perhaps  to  intense  heat,  as  grass  under 
shade  trees  was  good. 

Mr.  Engle.  Seeding  very  uneven.  Many  farmers 
not  done  yet.  The  rain  fall  at  Marietta  was  9  9-16 
for  September.     Heaviest  fall  3  inches  on  the  Ifith . 

Mr.  Cooper.  Rain  fall  8 1-10  inches  in  his  vicinity. 

A.  F.  Hostetter,  appointed  for  an  essay,  was  ab- 
sent at  Ann  Arbor. 

An  order  of  S3  was  -granted  for  the  payment  of 
the  services  of  the  janitor. 

"How  to  Keep  the  Boys  on  the  Farm." 

This  question,  proposed  by  Johnson  Miller,  was 
taken  up. 

Mr.  Engle.  Make  home  attractive  by  beautify- 
ing the  farm. 

Mr.  Peter  Reist  arose  to  an  explanation.  He 
disclaimed  all  personalities,  of  which  he  had  else- 
where been  accused.  He  then  proceeded  to  discuss 
the  question. 

Talk  to  the  boys  from  their  youth,  make  the  farm 
as  attractive  as  you  can,  give  them  an  interest  in 
things  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  appreciate  the  value 
thereof,  show  to  them  all  the  advantages  a  farmer 
has  through  hard  labor  over  the  mechanic  or  mer- 
chant. A  farmer,  however  hard  he  has  to  labor,  has 
merely  to  contend  with  the  mother  earth,  and  with 
animals,  while  a  mechanic  or  merchant  has  to  deal 
and  combat  with  ill-bred  men.  Public  men  especially 
are  subjected  themselves  to  all  kinds  of  abuses  and 
misrepresentations.  Worst  of  all,  irresponsible 
newspapers  publish  lies  for  the  mere  sake  of  creating 
sensation.  Give  your  boys  a  common  education,  and 
unless  they  have  not  brains  equal  to  Daniel  Webster, 
tell  them  they  have  none  too  much  to  make  a  first- 
class  farmer.  Tell  them  that  a  farmer  can  make 
himself  as  useful  as  any  other  man,  that  tilling  the 
ground  is  the  noblest  work  upon  earth,  that  the  coun- 
try where  labor  is  most  respected  is  the  mo9t  pros- 
perous. 

Mr.  Kenuio.  Throw  a  charm  around  the  home- 
stead. Give  the  boys  a  practical  education,  teach 
them  how  to  perform  various  mechanical  operations, 
educate  the  hand  as  well  as  the  head. 

.Mr.  Linville.  It  is  not  necessary  to  keep  all  the 
farmers'  boys  on  the  farm.  Let  them  follow  their 
bent.  If  a  lad  inclines  to  a  trade  or  the  counter,  do 
not  insist  on  his  following  the  plow.     Farmers  do  not 


read  enough.  They  are  not  as  a  class  intellectual. 
The  long  winter  evenings  afford  excellent  opportuni- 
ties for  culture.  Place  sound  literature  on  the  ta- 
ble. A  farmer  should  be  a  scientists.  He  cannot  be 
a  profound  botanist  or  geologist,  but  should  have  a 
general  knowledge  of  these  subjects.  The  New  York 
Tribune  and  Popular  Science  Monthly  should  be  in 
every  farmers'  hands. 

Mr.  McCoMSEV.  It  is  impracticable  to  keep  all 
the  boys  at  home.  A  farmer's  sous,  properly  edu- 
cated, will  make  good  citizens  anywhere.  No  finer 
field  for  mental  development  than  on  the  farm.  City 
life  is  too  generally  considered  higher  and  more  hon- 
orable. In  the  case  of  a  small  farm  and  large  family, 
it  would  be  inconvenient  to  attempt  to  retain  all  the 
children  on  so  limited  a  space  The  homestead  may 
be  rendered  so  precious  that  the  youth  will  not  care 
to  sunder  the  tender  ties.  Beautify  home,  and  let 
peace  and  harmony  prevail  in  the  family.  Encourage 
the  lads.  Make  them  companions.  There  is  too 
much  reserve  between  parents  and  children.  Teach 
them  from  your  own  experience.  Speak  in  a  kind 
and  fatherly  manner.  Home  may  be  beautified  in  a 
vai'iety  of  ways  without  much  expense. 

Mr.  Engle.  As  boys  improve,  their  ideas  go  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the  farm.  The  trouble  sometimes 
is,  that  lads  become  so  absorbed  in  books  and  papers 
as  to  show  a  reluctance  for  work.  The  prevailing 
opinion  is  that  men  unfit  for  higher  occupations  may 
be  farmers.  But  as  the  soil  becomes  exhausted, 
there  is  a  demand  for  intelligent  agriculture  to  im- 
prove the  soil,  increase  its  production,  employ  fertil- 
izers, sind  every  modern  appliance. 

In  China  the  agriculturist  has  a  higher  position  in 
public  esteem,  from  his  important  services.  Give  the 
boy  a  small  plot  of  ground  for  his  own  use,  and  a  de- 
sire for  its  profitable  cultivation  will  develop  a  heal- 
thy activity  and  interest.  Encourage  his  deposits  in 
bank.  Give  him  time  for  his  own  operations.  He 
will  grow  into  a  healthy  business  man. 

Mr.  Groff.  He  found  the  daily  papers,  after  his 
day's  work  was  done,  a  refreshing  retreat  for  the 
household.  He  would  like  to  hear  the  President's  ex- 
planation in  regard  to  that  sect  that  take  no  papers, 
and  yet  manage  to  retain  the  boys  in  the  operation  of 
the  farm. 

Mr.  .McCoMSET  thought  there  must  be  a  tie 
stronger  than  literature  or  beauty.  The  children  are 
taught  honesty  and  integrity  by  precept  and  example. 
Virtuous  home  training  is  the  secret.  Industry  and 
economy  are  held  up  as  the  great  habits  of  life.  A 
taste  for  reading  often  conflicts  with  steady  work  in 
the  field.  Tales  are  more  attractive  than  the  harrow 
or  the  hoe.  Our  straight-coated  farmers  bring  up 
their  boys  to  regard  honesty  and  steady  work  as  the 
first  necessity  of  prosperous  agriculture. 

Mr.  Cooper  spoke  of  the  happiness  and  prosperity 
of  the  sect  alluded  to,  and  often  wondered  at  the  se- 
cret. We  fail  in  our  familiar  duties  to  our  children  ; 
should  allow  every  lacilily  for  personal  industry  and 
indulgence,  and  use  every  effort  to  encourage  their 
employment. 

Mr.  P.  S.  Reist.  It  is  not  right  to  advise  all 
youth  to  remain  on  the  farm,  because  there  is  a  ge- 
nius in  other  directions.  Some  of  our  best  physicians 
and  lawyers  might  have  died  in  obscurity  had  they 
continued  plodding  at  uncongenial  work  in  the  field. 
Daniel  Webster,  for  example 

Mr.  Engle.  There  is  a  disposition  in  these  pecu- 
liar denominations  to  keep  their  children  from  intel- 
lectual operations,  and  place  great  stress  on  the  in- 
culcation of  the  domestic  virtue's.  They  avoid  contact 
with  modern  movements.  They  fear  their  influence 
on  their  religion  and  habits.  Many  of  them  have  not 
been  to  the  Centennial. 

Mr.  Linville  was  sorry  that  the  discussion  seemed 
to  show  that  the  tendency  of  intellectual  develop- 
ment was  to  draw  from  the  farm.  This  is  not  cor- 
rect. If  the  boy's  mind  is  broadly  cultivated,  his 
views  of  the  world  and  of  his  own  profession  will  en- 
able him  to  estimate  agricultural  life  at  its  true 
value,  and  incline  him  to  rest  satisfied  with  its  results. 

On  motion,  the  question  of 

"How  to  Dispose  of  Our  Corn  Crop." 

was  postponed  for  discussion  to  the  next  meeting. 

On  motion,  the  chair  appointed  a  committee  to  re- 
port on  fruits  on  exhibition.  H.  M.  Engle,  J.  B.  Gar- 
ber and  M.  D.  Kendig  were  appointed  the  committee. 

Senator  J.  P.  Roebuck  presented  the  society 
several  volumes  of  agricultural  reports. 

Mr.  Engle  was  sorry  that  Pennsylvania  made  so 
poor 

An  Exhibit  at  the  Centennial. 

He  read  a  letter  from  Landreth,  calling  for  contri- 
butions of  fruit  for  display  on  the  flrst  and  second 
weeks  of  October,  and  urged  Lancaster  county  to  do 
her  part.  He  also  read  a  paragraph  from  the  Tri- 
bune of  Sept.  37,  praising  the  splendid  exhibit  of 
grapes  by  Mr.  Smeych,  of  this  city,  at  the  Centennial. 
They  comprised  the  Concord  and  other  varieties. 
Let  every  fruit  grower  make  his  selections,  and  send 
them  forward. 

Mr.  Cooper  announced  that  any  specimens  of  to- 
bacco sent  to  Israel  L.  Landis,  Centennial  Ground, 
B,  33,  will  be  properly  placed  on  exhibition.  Send 
by  Adams  Express  Company. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  McComsey,  a  vote  of  thanks 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


i57 


b 


was  tendered  Mr.  Sraeych  for  his  creditable  display 
of  fruit. 

Mn.  McCoMSEV  ur(red  the  importance  of  a  proper 
representation  of  our  fruits. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Kendig,  the  chair  was  requested 
to  appoint  a  eomniiltee  of  six  to  gather  specimens  of 
apples,  pears  and  ffrapes,  and  forward  not  later  tlian 
Monday  next  to  the  Centennial, as  the  represclitation 
of  Lancaster  county.  The  committee  consists  of  M. 
D.  Kcudie,  Manor  ;  II.  M.  Ensrle,  Marietta  ;  Casper 
Hiller,  Conestoi;a;  Johnson  Miller,  Warwick  ;  John 
C.  I-inville,  Sadshury  ,   Danii'l  Sineych,  Lancaster. 

All  persons  liavini:  fruit  for  this  purpose  may  leave 
Hie  same  at  the  Franklin  Ilou.se,  North  (^ueen  street. 
Seed  Wheat  and  Fruits. 

Several  paekajres  of  winter  wheat,  Clawson  White, 
were  on  the  tahle  for  dlstrihution.  Johnson  Miller's 
first  sowiiii;  with  the  variety  was  successful,  hut  the 
second  was  a  failure.  A  tlcld  in  Mr.  I.iuvillc's  ueish- 
borhood  was  this  season  badly  lly-eatcn.  Adam  M. 
Ranck  agreed  to  take  the  packatres  for  trial. 

I'KOK.  Katuvon,  of  coniraittce  on  fruits,  reported 
as  follows: 

D.  Snieych :  Grapes  of  the  Crevelimr,  Clinton, 
Ropers  No.  'i  and  lO-ti".,  Sonasiiua,  Hartlord  Frolilic, 
Black  St.  Peter's,  Syrian,  Black  Haruburf,',  .Maxa- 
tawny  and  Martha  varieties. 

C.  Cooper:  Catawba  grape  and  Clyde  Beauty 
apple.    . 

M.  D.  Kendig:  Sheldon  and  Seckel  pears. 

Dr.  Lamberg  :  Krauser  apple,  two  apples  for  name, 
and  two  peaches  for  name. 

John  Zimmerman  :  Late  peaches,  and  H.  Sener  an 
apple.  . 

Pkof.  Katiivon  also  read  a  communication  from 
P.  K.  Freas,  in  regard  to  an  apple  sent  to  him  for 
name.     He  called  it  the  Summer  pippin. 

On  motion,  a  comiiiittee  of  three  was  appointed  to 
receive  the  fruits  and  ship  them. 

The  chair  appointed  Ephraim  Hoover,  W.  McCom- 
eev  and  Henry  Erb. 

An  informal  committee  on  tasting  gathered  around 
the  table  of  grapes,  and  proceeded  to  pass  judgment 
on  the  Rogers,  Maxatawny,  and  Black  Hamburg. 
Prof.  Kathvon  was  chairman. 

Adjourned. 

Proceedings  of  Tobacco  Growers'  Association 

On  Monday  afternoon,  Oct.  9,  at  2  o'clock  there 
assembled  in  the  rooms  of  the  Linnnsan  Society,  a 
very  fair  number  of  farmers  and  others  engaged  in 
raising  tobacco  in  the  county.  The  following  per- 
sons were  present;  John  ,VI.  Stehnian,  Aaron  H. 
Summy,  I.  L.  Landis,  Levi  Gross,  Frederick  Nedy- 
mire,  Jacob  M.  Frantz,  J.  H.  Hershey,  Reutjen  Gar- 
ber,  Jacob  Gatnber,  Adam  B.  Long,  John  M.  Moore, 
Martin  Peiper,  Colin  Cameron,  W.  L.  Hershey,  Mar- 
tin Miller,  Pierce  Bard,  Peter  S.  Keist,  Harry  Reist, 
and  Henrv  Erb. 

M.D.  Kendig  took  the  eliair,  and  Andrew  Lane 
was  elected  temporary  secretary.  On  calling  the 
meeting  to  order.  President  Kendig  delivered  the  fol- 
lowing inaugural  address  : 

Gentlemen  :  In  taking  this  uncalled  for  and  un- 
solicited  position,   allow   me   to  thank  you   for  the 
honor   conferred,  in   selecting   me   among   so  many 
more  able  and  competent  than  myself,  to  act  in  the 
capacity  of  chairman  of  this,  the  Tobacco  Growers' 
Association.     But  having  accepted  it,  and  realizing 
fully  the  deepest  sense  of  conviction  of  the  onerous 
and  responsible  duties  restiug  upon  me,  I  would  ask 
your  aid  and  sympathy,  assuring  yon  that  my  best 
ctTorts   shall   be   enlisted   in  whatever  may  tend  to 
make  it  a  success.    I  do  not  intend  here  to  encroach 
or  trespass  on   your  time  by  boring  your  patience 
with  an  elaborate  address,  as  the  object  of  this  asso- 
ciation was  so  fully  set  forth  at  a  former  meeting  by 
our  friend  and  co-worker,  .Mr.  I.  L.  Landis,  that  I 
deemed  it  unnecessary  to  say  or  add  much.     We  do 
not  purpose,  as  some  suppose,  to  combine  our  forces 
In  opposition  to  the  middle-men,  and  thusdestroy  our 
best  interests  ;  but  we  heartily  welcome  them  all  to 
purchase  from  us,  as  well   as  the  manufacturer  and 
shipper.    The  object  of  this  society   more  fully  is  to 
encourage  the  grower  in  raising  a  better  article,  and 
thus  not  only  add  to  his  own  interest,  but  advance 
the  standard  of  the  crop,  and  place  us  in  every  re 
spect  in  competition  with  the  heretofore  precedence 
of  the  Connecticut  leaf.     We  have  the  climate,  soil, 
situation,  and  all  that  is  necessary  to  attain  this  re- 
sult;  then  why  not  get  it?    Simply  because  wc  are 
overreaehing  ourselves— putting  out  a  larger  acreage 
than  we  can  carefully  manage.    This  is  one  reason  of 
so  much  inferior  tobacco  and  a  depreciated  value.    It 
is  a  deplorable  fact  that  so  nuuiy  of  our  farmers  fol- 
low this  system,  so  detrimental  to  our  common  in- 
terests,    instead  of  cultivating  and    handling    five 
acres  well,  they  make  an  etlbrt  to  put  out  ten,  and  in 
consequence   fail  to  get  a  lirst-class  article.     .Much 
might  he  said  on  the   subject,  as  also  on  the  liest 
mode  of  raising  plants,  setting  them  out,  cultivating, 
housing,  curing,  stripping  and  assorting,  easing, con- 
structing the  best  and  most  convenient  curing  houses, 
etc. ;  on  which  I  will  not  dwell  here.     As  stated  be- 
fore, I  feel  that  you  will  bring  them  up  in  good  time 
at  your  pleasure  and  discretion.    In  conclusion,  I  sin- 
cerely hope  that  every  member  of  this  society  will  use 


his  best  efforts  the  more   etfectually  to  promote  and 
attain  the  object  sought. 

The  president  ttien  read  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws oll'ercd  by  the  committee  appointed  for  that 
liurpose.  As  llnally  adopted,  the  title  of  the  society 
is  fixed  as  "  The  Lancaster  County  Tobacco  (irowers' 
.\ssociation.-''  Its  aim  is  declared  to  tie  the  promo- 
tion of  the  interests  and  advantage  of  the  growers  of 
the  county:  fixing  the  meeting  of  the  society  on  the 
third  Moiiday  in  each  month  ;  establishing  the  othees 
of  l)residcnt,  vice-president,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
payment  of  .50  cents  as  initiation  and  .50  cents  yearly 
lees  being  necessary  to  membership. 

Pkteii  S.  Heist  moved  that  each  member  of  the 
society  tie  called  upon  for  an  essay  or  paper  on  some 
subject  in  connection  with  tobacco  culture. 

Against  this  it  was  urged  that  every  member  could 
not  do  this.  Colin  Cameron  urL'od  that  if  a  man 
would  raise  a  patch  of  tobacco,  he  could  certainly 
tell  how  he  raised  it.  If  he  can't,  he  is  no  better 
than  the  horse  or  mule  that  works  in  it  with  him. 

Jacob  Fkantz  contemlcd  that  there  were  men 
whom  he  knew  wlio  raised  as  good  tobacco  as  any 
raised  in  the  county,  and  could  not  write  a  line  in- 
telligently. He  instanced  that  by  an  illustration  of  a 
farmer  paying  taxes  on  ?SO,noil,  and  who  never  re- 
ceived or  wrote  a  letter.  If  we  want  to  get  the  good 
farmers  here  in  this  association  let  us  sliajie  ourselves 
that  we  can  get  them  here  and  keep  them  here.  Be- 
cause their  address  is  not  polished,  nor  their  style 
graceful,  we  must  not  think  ourselves  better  than  they 
are,  for  we  are  not.  So  we  must  cultivate  them  so- 
cially. 

An  amendment  offered  by  Colin  Cameron  passed, 
authorizing  the  appointment  of  a  member  each  month 
who  shall  prejiare  an  essay,  which  shall  be  open  for 
general  discussion. 

An  order  of  business  was  then  adopted. 
On  motion,  the  officers  of  the  association  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  secure  a  place  to  hold  the 
future  meetings. 
A  few  bills  were  ordered  to  be  paid. 
No  vice  president  having  been  elected  at  the  pre- 
ceding meeting,  Jacob  M.  Frantz  and  Jacob  H.  Her- 
shey  were   nominated.     Mr.    Hershey   declining    to 
serve,  Mr.  Frantz  was  elected  by  acclamation. 

Reports  being  called  for,  Mr.  Landis,  from  the 
Centennial  committee,  reported  that  ho  had  for  sev- 
eral years  urged  the  importance  of  an  organization 
of  this  character.  It  now  assumes  shape.  Since 
spring  he  had  tried  to  have  a  display  by  growers  at 
the  Centennial,  but  had  failed.  At  the  last  meeting 
the  subject  was  discus.seil,  and  he  was  able  to  take 
down  to  the  Exhibition  18  stalks,  instead  of  :'00  as 
he  expected.  Bucks  county  made  such  adisplaythat 
they  have  been  enabled  to  sell  their  whole  crop  at 
highly  remunerative  prices.  What  he  had  taken 
do'\vn  excited  very  favorable  comment,  but  there  was 
no  arrangements  made  for  ifs  proper  display,  and  it 
suffered  by  comparison  with  what  was  there.  Mr. 
Landis  then  eontinueil  with  a  statement  of  what  the 
growers  of  Bucks  county  had  done  with  tobacco  in- 
ferior to  that  grown  in  Lancaster  county.  He  thought 
that  if  the  movement  was  made  immediately  he 
could  no  doubt  secure  space,  and  make  a  creditable 
display  even  at  this  late  day. 

Mh.  Camekon  stated  that  the  Bucks  county  grow- 
ers had  built  their  own  warehouses,  and  had  been 
keeping  their  tobacco  out  of  second  hands. 

Mr.  Summy  stated  that  the  Virginia  planters  had 
the  same  arrangement,  and  sold  their  tobacco  at  auc- 
tion by  sample. 

Mr.  LandIs  would  like  to  know  if  there  was  any 
desire  to  make  a  show,  and  in  response  Mr.  Cameron 
said  that  all  the  members  wanted  to  know  was  how 
much  was  wanted  from  each  one  ;  he  would  answer 
for  them  that  the  amount  desired  would  be  collected. 
A  motion  of  Mr.  Cameron  that  Mr.  Landis  be 
authorized  to  purchase  a  case  with  a  sign  over  it  for 
the  proper  exhibition  of  Lancaster  county  tobacco 
elicited  considerable  discussion,  which  developed  the 
fact  that  most  of  the  tobacco  was  cured,  and  it  would 
be  extremely  dilhcult  to  handle. 

.Mr.  Frantz  thought  the  intention  of  the  organi- 
zation was  to  teach  its  members  how  to  produce  a 
larger  and  better  crop.  For  twenty  years  we  liad 
groped  in  the  dark.  After  we  have  learned  to  raise 
this  better  tobacco,  let  us  go  to  expense  to  exhibit  it. 
Mr.  Cameron  argued  that  the  best  way  to  do  was 
for  each  one  to  send  the  tobacco  down,  and  if  enough 
goes  there  then  let  Mr.  Landis  buy  the  case  to  show- 
it  in. 

The  motion  was  then  withdrawn,  and  the  members 
given  until  Monday  to  determine  whether  any  of  the 
tobacco  will  be  in  proper  condition  to  hand  over  to 
Mr.  Landis. 

Peteu  S.  Reist   was  appointed  essayist  for  the 
next  meeting. 
On  motion,  adjourned. 


AGRICULTURAL  MISCELLANY. 


Kentucky  Blue  Grass. 
There  are  doulitlcss  many  farmers  who  think  what 
is  termed  Kcnlueky  blue  grass  thrives  only  in  the 
Slate  from  whiih  it  receives  one  of  Its  common 
names.  But  the  lactsare  that  it  thrives  in  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States,  and  we  have  no  doulit,  as  the 
following  would  seem  to  show,  that  ere  long  some  of 
our  western  prairies  may  be  transformed  into  grand 
blue  grass  pasture. 

The  licst  farmers  in  the  blue  grass  region  of  Ken- 
tucky generally  regard  an  acre  of  this  grass  equal 
in  value  to  an  acre  *)f  corn. 

When  we  take  into  consideration  the  cost  or  value 
of  the  laljor  in  raising  an  acre  of  corn,  the  value  of 
the  blue  grass  will  be  more  fully  appreciated. 

The  intelligent  farmer  will  make  his  blue  grass  pas- 
ture sustain  a  larger  number  of  stock  the  year  round 
in  better  order  than  the  same  number  of  acres  of 
corn. 

There  is  no  crop  which  requires  more  intelligent 
management  for  profit  than  this  grass.  As  it  remains 
green  and  nutritious  during  the  winter,  there  Is  no 
nei-essity  for  cutting  and  curing,  and  it  is  almost  _ 
valueless  lor  hay.  To  insure  a  good  sward  it  never 
should  be  mown,  and  as  it  heads  several  times  during 
the  year  one  acre  well  set  and  allowed  to  seeil  will  be 
sullieient  to  set  a  large  pasture  in  a  single  season  by 
allowing  stock  to  graze  U|)On  it  when  the  seed  is  ripe, 
and  have  access  to  shade  woodland  and  water  ad- 
joining. 

The  writer  of  this  lived  in  the  blue  grass  region  of 
Kentucky  from  1W17  to  1H4!»,  and  during  that  time 
carefully  observed  the  management  of  those  pas- 
tures which  gave  to  Kentucky  a  world-renowned  re- 
putation. 

The  success  of  the  Alexanders,  Van  Meters,  Vileys, 
Williams  and  other  renowned  stock  raisers  of  Ken- 
tucky depcuded  largely  upon  this  important  grass. 

Oiie  of  the  Van  Meterij,  of  Bourbon  county,  pur- 
chased a  farm  at  ?100  per  acre.  There  was  not  quite 
one-fourth  of  tlie  farm  in  blue  grass.  The  balance 
had  been  cultivated  in  hemp  and  corn.  The  wood- 
land, as  is  usual  there,  was  well  set  in  blue  grass,  and 
afforded  the  winter  food  for  the  stock  usually  kept  on 
the  farm. 

Van  Meter  raised  no  grain  upon  this  farm,  and  by 
allowing  his  Durham  cattle  to  graze  upon  the  seeded 
blue  grass  and  roam  at  will  over  the  adjoining  fields, 
the  whole  place  was  in  an  incredibly  short  time 
well  set  in  grass;  liy  confining  the  cattle  to  one  pasture 
at  a  time,  leaving  "the  others  to  seed  and  form  a  mass 
of  succulent,  juicy  rich  food,  a  foot  deep,  literally  a 
mass,  a  mat  for  fall  and  winter  use,  a  larger  numl)er 
of  cattle  were  kept  fat  the  year  round  tnan  was  for- 
merly kept  by  the  old  process  of  raising  corn  on  a 
part. 

.Moving  to  Western  Missouri  in  1849, 1  found  many 
of  these,  blue  grass  farmers  and  their  sons  in  Ray, 
Clay,  Lafayette  and  Jackson  counties.  Clinton 
county,  north  of  Clay,  was  a  prairie  sparsely  settled, 
and  little,  if  «nv,  blue  grass  in  the  county. 

The  farmers  "of  Clay  and  Kay,  where  blue  grass 
was  seen  growing  in  patches  on  the  roadside,  and 
years  after  spreading  over  thousands  of  acres  of  un- 
improved prairie  land,  that  was  supposed  to  be  un- 
suited  to  the  growth  of  this  most  valuable  of  all 
grasses. 

Two  years  after  I  visited  Topeka  and  other  portions 
of  Kansas,  where  repeated  efforts  were  made  to  start 
blue  grass,  and  all  seemed  discouraged  and  disap 
j>ointed. 

Now,  June,  1876,  this  grass  is  found  in  nearly  all 
the  lawns  about  the  residences,  and,  unfortunately, 
before  it  is  sutlieiently  set  to  form  a  heavy  and  rich 
sward,  is  being  mown  and  the  seed  carried  off  in  in- 
different hay. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  readily  seen  that  I 
regard  as  the  most  successful,  and  about  the  only 
successful  way  to  seed  blue  grass  pastures  is  to  start 
a  patch  with  care,  then  by  grazing  stock  upon  it  and 
allowing  them  to  roam  over  the  pasture,  scatter  the 
seed  and  thicken  up  the  sward. 

Blue  grass  is  especially  valuable  for  winter  grazing 
and  where  the  prairie  is"  fenced  up  it  is  important  to 
have  two  blue-grass  pastures,  keeping  one  exclu- 
sively for  winter  use,  alternating  each  year.  By  in- 
dustriously and  persistently  pursuing  this  plan  for  a 
few  years,  Kansas  will  become  celebrated  as  the  blue 
grass  region  of  the  West. — Cor.  Ritral  New    Yorker. 


Centennial  Biscuits. 
Make  good  corn  mush,  ju.st  as  if  you  were  going  to 
eat  it  with  milk.  When  it  is  lukewarm  take  a  quart 
of  it  and  work  in  Hour  enough  to  make  a  stiff  dough  ; 
make  into  biscuits,  put  in  your  bakc-pan  and  set  in  a 
warm  place  over  night ;  bake  in  a  very  hot  oven,  and 
you  have  the  best  and  sweetest  biscuits  you  ever  ate. 
Eat  while  hot  for  breakfast. 


Real  Value  of  Natural  Grass  Land. 

When  it  is  so  repeatedly  slated  that  England  is  more 
than  half  in  permanent  grass,  that  within  a  few  years 
a  great  deal  more  has  been  taken  from  the  plowed 
portion  never  to  he  cultivated  by  llie  plow  or  turned 
over  again,  it  ought  to  be  convincing  as  to  the  profit 
from  grass  being  more  than  from  grain,  and  if  a  small 
island  so  over-populated  as  to  require  an  immense 
imixirtation  of  human  food  can  increase  her  area  of 
perpetual  grass,  there  must  be  a  vast  advantage  in 
leaving  undisturbed  by  cultivation  all  the  best  land. 
Yet,  here  in  America,  all  the  fine  tracts  of  the  blue 
and  other  native  grasses,  which  are  well  known  to 
fatten  cattle  and  sheep,  or,  in  fact,  every  grass-eating 
animal,  are  broken  up  and  plowed  for  the  purpose  of 


158 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  October, 


taking  all  the  plant  food  which  the  grass  feeds  on,  to 
grow  wheat  to  send  awaj',  thus  imixjverishing  the 
country.  For  the  money  received  for  all  the  wheat 
does  not  enrich  the  inhabitants,  as  they  have  to  pay 
all  of  it,  and  more  added,  to  buy  wool  and  cloth  and 
clothing  of  all  kinds,  which  wool  would  make,  if  the 
grass  and  virgin  soil  was  spared  to  grow  wool  instead 
of  wheat. 

Let  that  quack  farmer,  Mr.  Mechi,  come  over  to 
this  continent  and  see  the  havoc  made  by  the  plow, 
and  he  would  never  more  blame  the  land-owners  of 
England  for  their  zealous  protection  of  the  meadows 
and  pastures.  Could  anything  be  stronger  proof  of 
the  real  value  of  good  natural  grass  land  than  the 
fact  of  farms  having  more  than  half  grass,  or  fully 
two-thirds  as  mowings  and  pastures,  being  always 
more  sought  after  than  others.  Moreover,  it  is  noto- 
rious and  beyond  contradiction  that  a  good  farmer 
with  capital,  renting  a  farm  of  say  oOO  to  .500  acres, 
with  about  the  proportion  of  grass  land  stated,  which 
he  can  never  plow,  is  better  situated  than  any  who 
have  all  arable  farms,  and  also,  it  can  be  added,  in 
making  more  money  than  any  farmer  on  this  side  of 
the  ocean  who  owns  his  land.  This  is  worth  consid- 
eration, for  he  pays  more  taxes,  has  no  protection, 
and  his  rent  at  least  $10  per  acre. 

Good  natural  grass  land  in  America,  if  not  violated 
and  robbed  of  its  plant  food,  would  pay  well;  for  all 
the  animals  raised  by  its  aid,  all  the  butter,  wool  or 
meat  produced  are  nearer  dear  profit  than  aught 
else,  and  men  of  capital  who  would,  like  English  no- 
blemen, hold  this  uninterruptedly  in  grass,  only  using 
such  as  was  not  so  well  adapted  for  permanency, 
would  not  have  a  quantity  of  unsalable  soil  on  their 
hands.  In  the  West,  and  especially  in  the  South- 
west, there  are  men  who  are  what  is  termed  "  land 
poor."  They  own  a  great  many  acres,  which  they 
have  rented  to  laboring  men  on  shares  and  some  at 
money  rental,  but  in  either  case,  the  land  gradually 
becomes  weaker,  and  after  a  few  revivals  of  clover, 
the  deepest,  best  soil  succumbs,  and  poverty  results 
to  the  soil  and  to  all  owners  who  have  not  invested 
the  cash  as  received. —  Working  Farmer  in  Mural 
2few  Yorker. 


Destroying  Weeds. 

On  looking  back  many  years  we  see  the  progress 
which  has  been  made  in  the  mode  of  attacking  them, 
in  successive  gradations.  Half  a  century  ago  the 
common  injunction  was,  to  "  pull  up  and  remove 
carefully  those  which  had  gone  to  seed,  to  prevent 
the  seeding  of  next  year's  crop  ;"  to  "  be  careful  not 
to  scatter  the  seed"  which  had  already  been  born  in 
abundance.  This  was  regarded  as  good  and  careful 
management.  But  an  improvement  was  made  on 
this  mode ;  namelv,  by  not  allowing  the  .seed  to  ripen 
— their  formation  was  to  be  prevented — an  excellent 
idea  it  seemed  to  be.  Under  this  improved  treatment 
weeds  were  destroyed  when  half  a  foot  high,  more  or 
less ;  but  observing  cultivators  were  not  satisfied. 
They  discovered  that  the  labor  of  rooting  out  these 
full-grown  or  half-grown  monsters  was  too  great. 
They  struck  boldly,  therefore,  for  the  destruction  of 
these  intruders  while  they  were  only  an  inch  high. 
The  labor  was  decreased  incredibly.  There  was  a 
great  difference  in  the  force  required  to  crush  a  deli- 
cate little  organization  as  large  as  a  cambric  needle, 
and  one  a  foot  high,  with  roots  like  sti-orig  horns 
branching  and  penetrating  the  soil  another  foot,  and 
lifting  the  plants  of  the  crop  when  torn  out.  The  im- 
proved mode  lessened  the  labor  ten,  twenty  or  thirty- 
fold.  The  great  point  then  was  to  take  the  weeds  in 
time,  and  it  was  found  to  be  better  to  pay  a  man  five 
dollars  a  day  to  destroy  them  in  their  feeble  and  deli- 
cate condition,  than  fifty  cents  a  day  when  stout  and 
shading  the  whole  crop. 

But  still  further  improvement  was  made,  and  this 
was  to  destroy  the  weeds  before  they  came  up,  when 
they  were  just  beginning  to  send  out  their  minute 
white  fibres  from  the  seed.  In  other  words,  the  steel 
rake,  fine  harrow  or  cultivator  is  passed  over  the  sur- 
face while  it  is  yet  perfectly  clean.  The  process  con- 
sists in  simply  mellowing  thoroughly  the  whole  sur- 
face without  waiting  for  any  of  them  to  make  an  in- 
cipient appearance. 

Perennial  rooted  weeds,  and  Canada  thistles,  milk- 
weeds, quack  grass,  etc.,  which  spread  mostly  by  the 
roots,  may  be  thoroughly  eradicated  in  a  single  sea- 
son, and  at  little  expense,  by  plowing  often  enough 
to  keep  the  leaves  perpetually  under. 

For  annual  weeds,  kill  them  in  earliest  infancy, 
while  minute  and  fragile,  and  easily  swept  oflT  by 
myriads  ;  and  for  perennials,  never  let  a  solitary  leaf 
appear  above  the  surface,  and  the  work  will  be 
speedily  and  cheaply  accomplished. —  Country  Gen- 
tleynan. 

This  is  the  way  to  deal  with  the  weeds  that  spring 
up  in  the  garden  of  human  life.  Men  lose  much  by 
letting  them  grow,  even  if  they  are  determined  to 
keep  them  from  going  to  seed. 


Sowing  Grass  Seed  Alone. 
Farmers  as  a  class  cannot  be  made  to  believe  that 
grass  seed  will  succeed  just  as  well,  and  often  a  great 
deal  better,  if  sown  alone  than  with  grain,  in  the 
usual  way.  If  the  land  is  rich  and  the  following 
season  is  favorable  to  the  growth  of  grass  then  a  good 
stand  may  usually  be  obtained  by  sowing  with  grain; 


but  if  droughts  should  occur,  the  young,  delicate 
grass  is  likely  to  be  smothered  or  to  perish  for  want 
of  water.  The  grain  among  which  it  is  growing  be- 
ing so  much  larger  and  more  vigorous  will  appropri- 
ate to  itself  the  bulk  of  the  moisture  and  fertility  of 
the  soil. 

The  severe  drought  which  has  prevailed  in  the  At- 
lantic States  the  present  season,  will  make  re-seeding 
of  many  thousands  of  acres  necessary,  and  we  suggest 
to  those  who  have  never  given  the  sowing  of  grass 
seed  alone  a  trial  to  do  so  this  fall,  and  see  if  a  better 
stand  of  grass  cannot  be  obtained  in  that  way  than 
by  the  old  doubling-up  system.  When  grass  and 
grain  are  sown  together  both  must  necesasrily  suffer 
more  or  less  from  crowding,  if  not  for  lack  of  mois- 
ure,  and  as  the  grass  is  the  weaker,  it  is  injured 
most,  the  result  being  a  feeble  growth  not  worth 
gathering  for  hay,  and  of  little  value  for  pasture 
until  the  second  year.  But  if  the  grass  seed  is  sown 
alone  in  early  autumn,  or  about  the  time  of  sowing 
winter  grain,  it  will  generally  grow  sufficiently  rank 
to  yield  a  fair  crop  of  hay  the  following  season,  and 
will  not  be  half  so  liable  to  be  destroyed  by  droughts. 

This  system  of  sowing  grass  seed  alone,  may  not 
answer  equally  well  in  alf  localities  and  soils,  but  it 
Is  being  practiced  by  our  best  farmers,  some  of  whom 
have  expressed  to  us  surprise  at  their  own  stupidity 
at  so  long  practicing  the  old  system.  We  have  tested 
both  systems  time  and  asrain,  and  invariably  the  grass 
seed  sown  alone  was  far  the  best;  hence  the  above 
suggestions  to  those  who  may  have  failed  to  get  a 
good  stand  in  their  fields  the  present  season.  There 
is,  however,  this  disadvantage  in  sowing  grass  seed 
alone,  that  one  plowing  and  harrowing  does  not 
answer  for  two  crops,  as  when  it  is  put  in  with  grain. 
— .V.  Y.  Sun. 


The  Chinese  Management  of  Roses. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  Chinese  method  of  lay- 
ering roses  is  sometimes  more  successful  than  ours. 
Late  in  the  summer  they  select  a  vigorous  shoot  of 
the  same  year's  growth  and  tongue  it  in  the  usual 
way;  they  put  in  a  small  pebble  to  keep  the  slit  open, 
and  bind  a  handful  of  fresh  roses  around  the  tongue, 
keeping  it  constantly  dampened.  In  about  six  weeks 
it  will  have  struck  roots,  and  can  be  planted  without 
disturbing  the  mossy  covering.  Many  of  the  garden 
roses  can  be  increased  by  suckers  from  the  roots, 
which  can  be  severed  with  a  sharp  spade  in  the  au- 
tumn and  new  bushes  formed  of  them.  Budding 
roses  is  a  simple  process,  by  which  amateur  cultiva- 
tors often  increase  their  stock.  A  sharp  penknife 
can  do  duty  for  a  budding  knife,  and  the  handle  of  a 
toothbrush,  if  ground  down  smoothly,  will  answer 
for  a  spud  to  aid  in  lifting  the  bark.  From  the  last 
of  June  to  the  last  of  August  is  the  best  time  for  this 
process,  as  the  bark  can  then  be  more  easily  raised 
from  the  wood.  Take  a  smooth  stalk  and  make  a 
horizontal  cut  across  the  bark,  through  to  the  wood, 
but  not  into  it.  From  the  centre  of  this  cross  cut 
make  another  straight  cnt  down  the  stem,  an  inch  or 
more  in  length.  These  two  cuts  should  resemble  a 
T.  Slice  off  the  bud  you  desire  to  propagate  with  one 
cut  of  the  penknife,  cutting  it  close  to  the  main  stalk. 
Now,  with  the  edge  of  the  spud  turn  back  the  stalk 
on  each  side  of  the  straight  cut  and  insert  the  bud  on 
the  wood  of  the  little  branch  to  be  crossed  cut.  With 
a  bit  of  soft  yarn  bind  down  the  bark,  leaving  the 
point  of  the  bud  exposed.  A  handfull  of  dampened 
moss  must  then  be  bound  round  the  stem,  taking  care 
to  leave  the  tiny  point  of  the  bud  exposed  to  the  air. 
In  six  weeks  the  wrappings  can  be  removed,  but  all 
other  shoots  must  be  keptfrom  growing  ou  the  budded 
branch.  By  this  means  a  rosebush  can  be  made  to 
bear  half  a  dozen  different  colored  roses. — Scientific 
American. 


Bat  Guano. 

That  a  little  creature,  not  very  common  in  the  north, 
could  congregate  in  sufficient  numbers  to  make  ex- 
tensive deposits  of  excrement  which  have  a  commer- 
cial value,  seems  almost  incredible  ;  but  in  numerous 
caves,  from  Virginia  to  Texas,  are  found  deposits  of 
this  material,  sometimes  reaching  20,000  tons  in  ex- 
tent, and  yearly  increasing.  During  the  war  it  was 
thought  to  extract  nitre  from  it  for  powder  making ; 
but  though  the  manufacture  was  somewhat  success- 
ful, the  nitric  acid  was  present  in  such  small  quanti- 
ties as  to  render  it  so  expensive  as  to  be  abandoned  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  The  material  has  been  used  as 
a  fertilizer  to  a  slight  extent,  and  is  found  to  exert 
a  considerable  influence  on  the  crops  treated.  The 
attention  of  Mr. .McMurtric, chemist  to  the  department 
of  agriculture,  having  beeu  called  to  the  matter, 
analyses  have  been  made  of  samples  collected.  These 
are  all  of  a  similar  light  to  dark  brown  color,  accord- 
ing to  the  moisture,  except  those  containing  much 
insoluble  matters,  which  resemble  soil,  of  which  they 
probably  largely  consist.  The  physical  condition', 
when  air  dried,  is  excellent,  both  for  handling  and 
application,  being  highly  pulverulent.  The  analyses 
fairly  represent  the  average  composition,  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  valuations  of  Professor  Goessmann, 
the  Massachusetts  State  Inspector  of  Fertilizers, 
adopted  by  the  department,  show  them  to  possess  a 
value  of  from  $1.5  to  $.55  jjer  ton  lor  use  as  fertilizers. 
The  values  compare  favorably  with  those  of  fish  fertil- 
izers, and  even  of  Peruvian  guano.  Microscopical  ex- 


amination shows  the  material  to  consist  largely  of 
the  hard  parts  of  insects  upon  which  the  bats  feed. 
Mr.  McMurtrie  wisely  concludes  :  "  With  these  facts 
before  us,  we  may  readily  recognize  the  importance 
of  the  development  of  these  deposits  in  the  south, 
where  fertilizing  materials  are  so  much  needed  and 
are  so  costly,  and  especially  when  they  may  be  ob- 
tained for  the  mere  cost  of  removal." 


Seed  Wheat — Its  Preparation. 

It  is  now  time  to  make  the  best  preparation  possible 
for  the  fall  seeding.  An  experienced  writer  in  the 
Maryland  Farmer  says  : 

In  our  own  experience,  we  always  obtained  the  sur- 
est crop  and  largest  yield  when  we  carefully  brined 
our  seed.  For  want  of  better  convenience,  we  always 
use  a  wash  tub,  or  half  of  a  tight  barrel,  carefully 
sawed  in  the  middle;  into  this  we  put  a  bucketful  of 
common  salt,  and  pour  in  as  much  clean  water  as 
will  dissolve  or  saturate  it;  then  pour  in  as  much 
good,  sound  wheat  as  the  vessel  will  hold;  in  a  few 
minutes,  when  it  is  fairly  settled,  skim  off  the  light, 
foul  stuff,  and  throw  it  into  the  swill  tub;  then  stir 
and  skim  until  no  more  light  stuflT  would  float  on  top 
of  the  brine,  then  take  out  the  wheat,  and  spread  it 
on  the  barn  floor,  or  any  other  dry  place,  and  sprinkle 
over  it  ashes,  lime  or  plaster,  to  dry  it  for  sowing. 

Proceed  in  the  same  way  with  as  much  as  you  de- 
sire to  sow,  adding  salt  and  water  as  may  be  neces- 
sary. With  this  preparation  the  seed  conies  up  quicker 
and  more  evenly,  while  it  is  clear  of  weed  seed  and 
other  foul  stuff,  and  is  less  liable  to  injury  from  rust 
and  insects. 

It  is  also  a  2:ood  plan  to  use  the  Montgomery  zinc 
screen  or  cylinder  for  cleaning  the  seed  before  putting 
it  into  the  brine.  These  precautious  carefully  carried 
out  will  more  than  pay  the  cost  and  trouble  in  the 
clean,  sound,  increased  crop. 

The  same  beneficial  results  will  be  realized  with  rye, 
oats  and  barley.  Some  farmers  prefer  and  use  cop- 
peras instead  of  salt ;  but  we  always  preferred  the 
salt. 

For  seed  corn,  as  a  protection  against  worms  and 
birds,  undoubtedly  copperas  is  the  best,  but  either 
is  useful. 


Sending  Plants  to  Sleep. 

Several  members  of  the  Parisian  Biological  Society 
have  recently  been  engaged  in  a  series  of  experiments 
which  seem  to  prove  that  everything  endowed  with 
life,  whether  animal,  plant  or  ferment,  is  susceptible 
of  being  brought  under  the  influence  of  aniesthetics 
— in  other  words,  may  be  sent  to  sleep.  It  has  been 
proved  that  the  influence  of  anaesthetics  extends  to  all 
the  animal  tissues,  and  last  of  all,  to  the  central 
nervous  system.  Hence,  it  was  argued,  plants  hav- 
inir  tissues  must  also  be  subject  to  the  influence  of 
ether,  etc.  Experiments  prove  this  to  be  the  case. 
Germination  is  arrested  by  anesthetics.  The  water- 
cress, for  example,  germinates  within  thirty  hours. 
Ether  arrests  sermination  in  this  plant,  but  does  not 
destroy  that  faculty.  It  merely  sends  the  plant  to 
sleep,  for  germination  recommences  as  soon  as  the 
use  of  ether  is  suspended.  But  the  sensitive  plant 
furnishes  a  still  more  striking  illusti-ation.  Its  sen- 
sitive faculty  is  rendered  completely  dormant  by 
etherization,  while  the  other  living  properties  remain 
unaffected.  On  suspending  the  action  of  ether,  the 
sensitive  faculty  of  the  plant  is  quickly  restored.  The 
capability  of  being  sent  to  sleep  is  not  confined  to 
plants  ;  it  extends  to  ferments.  Thus  the  ferment  of 
beer,  when  submittCTl  for  twenty-four  hours  to  the 
influence  of  ether,  becomes  perfectly  dormant,  but  re- 
covers its  activity  as  soon  as  the  aniesthetic  action  is 
suspended.  In  future  the  practical  botanist  must  not 
pursue  his  cruel  rambles  without  the  assistance  of 
one  of  the  Chlorine  family. —  Medical  Examiner. 


Questions  and  Answers. 

How  can  evergreens  be  made  to  grow  stocky  ? 

By  nipping  the  tip  ends. 

How  to  prevent  mildew  on  grapes  ? 

Sprinkle  them  with  sulphur. 

What  process  is  required  to  make  good  onion  "  sets" 
for  next  spring  ? 

Sow  onion  seed  now,  thickly  ;  allow  them  to  get  to 
the  size  of  peas,  then  pull  and  dry  them,  and  they  will 
make  fine  "sets." 

Thick  or  thin  planting,  which,  for  hedges? 

Thick  versus  thin  planting  is  the  subject  of  many  a 
controversy.  An  Iowa  correspondent  advocates  thick 
planting.  He  says  twenty  thousand  plants  per  mile 
of  Osage  orange  is  his  rule  for  an  Osage  hedge. 

Will  smoke  injure  grapevines  ? 

A  paper  read  before  the  French  academy  of  sciences 
recently  asserted  that  vineyards  in  close  proximity  to 
limekilns  are  often  badly  injured  from  the  smoke, 
and  that  in  some  instances  the  fruit  becomes,  in  con- 
sequence, impregnated  with  noxious  odors  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  unfit  it  for  wine.  The  smoke  from  brick- 
kilns has,  accorking  to  other  authorities,  proved  dis- 
astrous to  grapevines. 

What  is  a  good  remedy  for  hoof-bound  horses  ? 

Strong  brine  apjdied  three  times  a  day  is  recom- 
mended tor  foundered  or  hoof-bound  horses.  Wash 
the  legs  and  pour  upon  the  bottom  of  the  feet. 

A  correspondent  who  believes  in  liquid  manures  for 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


159 


email  gardens  wanted  to  know  how  to  'avoid  tlie  un- 
pleaeaut  odor  that  eonies  from  tlio  liquid  manure. 

Scatter  a  little  plaster  (irypenm)  in  and  about  the 
tank  or  barrels  which  contain  it. 

Value  of  Road  Dust. 

Dnrins  the  dry  season  of  late  summers,  every  coun- 
try residetit  should  secure  several  barrels  of  road 
dust.  It  is  worth  many  times  its  cost  as  an  absorb- 
ent. Those  who  keep  poultry,  secure  by  its  use  a 
valuable  fertilizer,  nearly  as  stroni;  as  fruano,  with 
none  of  its  disagreeable  odor.  I'laee  an  Inch  or  two 
of  road  dust  in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel  ;  then,  as  the 
poultry-house  is  reuularly  cleaned,  deposit  a  layer  of 
an  inch  thick  of  the  cleanini;s  and  so  on  alternately, 
layers  of  each  till  the  liarrcl  is  full.  The  thinner  Ihc 
layer  is,  the  more  perfect  will  be  the  intermixture  of 
the  ingredients.  If  the  soil  of  which  t)ie  road  diist  is 
niadc  is  clayey,  the  layers  of  each  may  be  of  equal 
thickness  ;  if  sandy,  the  dust  should  be  at  least  twice 
as  thick  as  the  layers  of  droopings.  Old  barrels  of 
any  kind  maybe  used  for  this  purpose;  but  if  pre- 
viously soaked  with  ci-ude  petroleum  or  coated  with 
gas  tar,  they  will  last  many  years.  If  the  contents 
are  pounded  on  the  Moor  into  fine  powder  bel'ore  ap- 
plying, the  fertilizer  may  be  sown  from  a  drill.  Koad 
dust  is  one  of  tlie  most  perfect  deodorizers  of  vaidts 
— converting  their  ct)ntcnts  into  rich  nianui'c.  Place  a 
barrel  or  box  of  it  in  the  closet,  with  a  small  dipper, 
and  throw  down  a  pint  into  the  vault  each  time  it  is 
occupied  and  there  will  he  no  ollensive  odor  whatever. 
This  is  simpler,  cheaper  and  better  than  a  water- 
closet,  and  never  freezes  or  gets  out  of  order.  Mix- 
lug  the  road  dust  with  an  eipial  bulk  of  coal  ashes  is 
an  improvement,  making  the  fertilizer  more  friable. 
Country  Gentlonan. 


Mulching  Grass  for  Winter. 

The  imi)ortance  of  this  practice,  to  which  we  have 
just  alluded,  is  not  generally  appreciated.  Grazing 
short  in  Autumn  is  one  of  the  very  worst  things  that 
can  be  done  to  meadows  and  pastures.  If  any  farmer 
will  examine  in  spring  such  of  his  fields  as  have  been 
closely  grazed  the  i^revious  season,  he  will  find  the 
grass  slow  and  feeble  in  starting;  but  where  a  good 
growth  has  been  left  the  previous  autumn,  the  new 
grass  will  be  found  pushing  strongly,  while  the  grazed 
portion  has  hardly  started.  It  is  therefore  of  the  ut- 
most importance  for  early  pasturage,  that  a  heavy 
mass  of  grass  remain  to  cover  the  ground  in  winter. 
It  would  be  better  to  feed  hay  and  meal  to  cattle 
through  October  and  November,  than  to  destroy  the 
copious  pasturage  by  allowing  them  to  gnaw  the 
plants  down  to  the  roots. 

Some  of  the  best  stock  farmers  make  it  an  impor- 
tant point  to  retain  a  mass  of  grass  in  their  pastures 
a  foot  or  more  hlL'h  for  entering  winter,  or  as  much 
as  would  cut  with  a  mowing  machine  nearly  a  ton  to 
the  acre.  They  have  early  and  rich  pasturage  in 
spring.  The  importance  of  keeping  meadows  also 
free  from  cattle  in  autumn  is  obvious. 


Manuring  in  Fall. 

We  have  long  since  made  repeated  observations, 
confirming  the  truth  that  for  many  purposes  manure 
is  worth  at  least  twice  as  much  spread  in  autumn  as 
the  Ibllowing  spring.  Yet  the  practice  is  not  uncom- 
mon with  farmers,  who  may  have  manure  lying  in 
their  yards  throutrh  the  summer,  to  omit  the  drawing 
out  till  wanted  the  next  season.  Those  who  feed 
corn-stalks  for  fodder  find  it  too  lonir  and  coarse  to 
apply  in  the  spring  next  after  feeding  out,  but  the 
heaps  into  which  it  should  be  thrown  will  be  well 
rotted  by  September.  It  is  then  in  perfect  condition 
to  be  drawn  and  applied.  It  does  most  good  on  grass 
lands;  and  if  these  are  intended  to  be  inverted  next 
spring  for  corn,  it  will  give  at  least  double  the  results 
produced  by  spring  application.  It  will  impart  a 
vigorous  start  to  grass  intended  to  remain  in  pasture 
or  meadow.  The  advantaccs  will  be  two-told — it 
will  increase  the  grass  all  through  the  growing  sea- 
son of  autumn,  and  thus  produce  a  good  winter 
mulching  for  the  roots,  and  the  wash  of  the  maimre 
by  rains  will  run  down  the  roots  and  become  difiused 
in  a  luore  perfect  manner  through  the  soil  than  could 
be  accomplished  by  any  mechanical  means. — Coun- 
try G€7ttlcinan. 

^ 

Top-Dressing  \^'heat. 

The  same  principle  will  apply  with  some  variation 
to  winter  wheat.  The  roots  should  be  protected 
where  the  soil  and  climate  require  it.  In  somei>laces 
the  natural  growth  of  the  leaves,  if  strong,  is  suf- 
ficient. Top-dressing  with  manure,  at  the  time  of 
sowing,  answers  a  two-l'old  purpose;  namely,  im- 
parting vigor,  and  shielding  the  surface  of  the  soil. 
If  grass  seed  is  sown,  the  manure  confers  the  same 
double  benefit  on  the  young  grass.  Wheat,  growing 
on  land  which  is  sufficiently  drained,  is  sometimes 
winter-killed  by  the  sweep  of  sharp  winds  over  the 
surface  in  the  absence  of  snow.  In  such  cases  a  thin 
sprinking  of  straw,  applied  in  autumn  or  as  soon  as 
the  surface  is  hardened  by  freezing  in  winter,  maybe 
of  much  use.  On  a  field  of  wheat  fully  exposed,  we 
directed  the  man  in  charge  to  spread  straw  thinly 
over  the  whole  surface  early  in  winter.    He  did  so  on 


a  jiart  only.  This  part  gave  over  twenty  bushes  per 
acre;  the  crop  was  not  worth  harvesting  on  the 
other  part.  This  was  an  extreme  ease;  liut  as  the 
labor  and  expense  is  small,  it  is  well  worthy  of  trial 
even  for  small  results. —  Country  Gentl»uiiiii. 

Beets  for  Cows. 

Last  year  I  raised  a  lot  of  mantrolds  and  carrots. 
The  nningolds  were  gatheriid  first  and  put  in  tlie 
cellar:  afterwards  the  carrots  were  gathered  and 
corded  up  on  top  of  them,  so  that  when  I  bc^'an  to 
feed  thcni  to  my  cow,  the  carrots  came  first.  The 
cow  gave  abo\it  her  usual  quantity  of  milk,  except 
the  usual  shrinkaire  on  the  accession  of  cold  weather 
and  bcinir  put  upon  tlry  fodder.  Fearing  that,  the 
beets  \V()uld  not  keep  as  well  as  the  carrots,  and  alscj 
thinking  that  they  possessed  better  milk-pi'odueing 
qualities,  I  was  anxious  to  get  at  them.  Accordinirly 
I  removed  part  of  the  carrots  and  commenced  feeding 
the  beets,  when,  to  my  surprise,  my  cow  began  to  fail 
of  her  milk  unlil  the  dcllcieney  reached  to  al>out  one- 
third.  Wishing  to  test  the  nuitti'r  still  further,  I 
changed  back  again  to  carrots,  when  her  milk  in- 
creased to  about  the  usual  slamianl.  The  quantity 
fed  was  about  the  same  in  either  ease — about  a  half- 
bushel  basket  three-(piarlers  full.  If  there  is  any 
difl'ercnce,  it  was  in  favor  of  the  beets. —  Cor.  Jiurat 
New  Yorker. 


Strawberry   Plants. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  set  strawberry  plants  later 
than  the  first  week  in  Septeml)er;  but  you  will  find  a 
plenty  of  dealers  in  plants  to  tell  you  that  they  may 
be  set  as  late  as  October;  but  it  is  yfiur  money  they 
want,  and  to  lengthen  out  the  season  of  delivery.  A 
dealer  in  strawberry  jilants  6a3's,  "  when  set  in  Octo- 
ber, one-third  of  a  crop  will  be  produced  the  next  sea- 
sou."  He  ous;ht  to  have  said,  "  Ihc  plants  will  be 
but  slightly  rooted,  many  will  be  thrown  out  by  the 
frosts  of  winter,  and  the  crop  of  fruit  tlie  first  .season 
will  be  worth  but  little  or  nothing."  When  not  set 
as  early  as  I  state  they  should  be,  wait  till  spring  in 
all  cases. 

— ^ 

The   Rotting  of  Celery. 

Sometimes  celery  prematurely  rots,  which  is  gen- 
erally owing  to  its  rank  growth  just  before  it  is  put 
into  the  trenches  in  the  fall.  Another  cause  of  rot- 
ting is  dryness  of  the  ground  when  it  is  lifted  to  put 
into  the  treuches,  and  a  continued  drouth  three  or 
four  weeks  after  it  is  put  in,  which  prevents  it  from 
starting  roots.  The  rotting  may  be  prevented  by  leav- 
ing some  earth  attached  to  the  roots  when  the  celery 
is  dug  up,  setting  the  plants  immediately  in  the  trench, 
packing  the  earth  firmly  around  the  roots;  and  if  the 
ground  is  dry  apply  a  little  water. 


Vines  growing  strongly  should  have  their  laterals 
regularly  pinched.  Never  allow  any  unnecessary 
wood  to  grow,  as  the  strength  spent  on  superabun- 
dant shoots  should  be  concentrated  in  what  is  left 
to  manure  the  wood,  and  also  in  the  fruit. 


DOMESTIC   ECONOMY. 


Oatmeal  in  the   Household. 

Baldwin's  Munlhbj,  for  September,  calls  attention 
to  the  fact  that  in  Great  Britain  children  of  all  ranks 
are  raised  on  an  oatmeal  diet  alone,  because  it  causes 
them  to  grow  strong  and  hcalthlul,  and  no  better  food 
can  possibly  be  found  for  them.  It  is  also  quite  as  d(!- 
sirable  for  the  student  as  for  the  laborer,  and  for  the 
delicate  lady  as  for  her  hard-workinir  sister;  indeed, 
all  classes  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  its  use,  and 
dyspepsia,  with  all  its  manifold  annoyances,  can  be 
kept  at  a  distance.  Oatmeal  is  more  substantial  food, 
it  is  said,  than  veal,  pork  or  lamb,  and  quite  equal  to 
beef  and  mutton, giving  as  much  or  more  mental  vigor, 
while  its  great  disidcratum  consists  in  one's  not  be- 
coming weary  of  it,  for  it  is  as  welcome  for  breakfast 
or  tea  as  bread.  It  can  be  eaten  with  sirup  and  but- 
ter as  hasty  pudding,  or  with  cream  and  sugar,  like 
rice.  The  same  authority  says  "it  is  especially  good 
for  young  mothers,  upon  whose  nervous  forces  too 
great  a  demand  has  been  made,  and  they  lose  the 
equilibrium  of  the  system  and  become  depressed  and 
dispirited.  Oatmeal  requires  to  be  cooked  slowly, 
and  the  water  should  be  boiling  hot  when  it  is  stirred 
in." 

A  chief  reason  for  this  excellent  article  of  diet  not 
being  more  popular  in  this  locality  has  been  the  dilH- 
culty  in  properly  cooking  it.  As  the  oat  has  been 
heretofore  prepared  and  sold,  it  required  fully  an 
hour  to  properly  cook  it  before  it  became  palatable. 
Recently  the  Craigville  Mills,  of  New  York,  have  put 
an  article  of  crushed  white  oats  in  the  market,  pre- 
parcil  with  steam  by  a  patent  process,  which  can  he 
converted  into  a  delicious  porridge  by  boilinir  only  a 
few  minutes,  thus  saving  housekeepers  all  the  trouble 
and  vexation  and  perspiring  over  a  hot  fire,  incident 
to  the  old  process.  It  is  claime<l  that  this  article 
contains  fifty  per  cent,  more  available  nutriment  than 
other  cereals  prepared  in  the  usual  way,  anil  will 
keep  any  length  of  time  and  in  any  climate.  Those 
who  have  failed  in  producing  a  palatable  dish  from 
the  ordinary  oatmeal  will  do  well  to  try  the  Craigville 
brand,  manufactured  by  the  Chicester  steam  process. 


Making  Good  Butter. 

The  American  Wroccr  gives  the  following  directions: 

1.  Avoid  worrying  the  cows  in  any  way,  or  getting 
them  excited. 

2.  Milk  in  a  clean,  well-ventilated  place,  free  from 
all  foul  odors,  and  under  shelter  in  rainy  weather, 
letting  the  cows  stand  awhile,  to  drip  and  dry  ofl,  be- 
fore bi'.ginniuir  to  milk. 

'i.  Exclude  all  filth  from  the  milk  and  strain  as  fast 
as  milked.  If  it  can  be  at  once  strained  into  the  pan 
for  settluL',  and  the  strain  can  be  done  without  enter- 
ing the  milk-r(H>m,  all  the  belter. 

4.  The  better  way  is  to  have  the  milk-room  so  ar- 
raneed  that  its  temperature  can  be  ke|)t  uniformly  at 
alM»ut  (JO  dcu-recs,  and  then  to  use  neither  water  nor 
ice  around  the  milk.  Then  lejivc  the  temptTature  of 
the  milk  to  sink  gradually  to  that  of  the  room.  The 
cream  will  continue  to  rise  as  longas  the  temparalurc 
is  falliiu:,  and  more  slowly  afterwards.  It  will  be  up 
in  forty-eight  hours.  It  shouM  then  be  skimmed  and 
kept  at  the  teni|)erature  of  fiO  degrees  until  it  becomes 
sliirhtly  acid,  then  it  is  fit  to  churn.  If  any  other 
method  of  setting  is  adopted,  it  should  not  be  one  to 
keep  the  milk  sweet  forty-eight  hours,  nor  one  which 
will  not  permit  all  the  cream  to  rise  in  that  time.  It 
is  more  or  less  injurious,  accordini;  to  circumstances, 
to  haye  the  temperature  of  the  room  higher  than  that 
of  the  milk. 

.5.  Never  let  cream  get  more  than  slightly  sour  be- 
fore churning,  and  churn  it  at  sixty  degrees,  with  a 
motion  equal  to  that  given  by  thirty  or  forty  strokes 
to  the  minute  by  a  dasher  covering  three-fourths  of 
the  bilcnil  space  of  the  churn  at  the  largest  point. 

Ti.  Before  the  butter  is  gathered,  and  while  la 
lumps  about  the  size  of  wheat  or  buckwheat  kernels, 
draw  olfor  strain  out  the  butter-milk,  and  thoroughly 
wash  the  butter  with  clear,  cold  water  at  about  .').5 
dcL'rces,  but  do  not  pai'k  the  butter  together.  Then 
sprinkle  on  and  carefully  stir  in — still  avoiding  pack- 
ing— about  one  ounce  of  salt  to  each  pound  of  butter. 
Set  the  butter  away  in  a  sweet,  coo!  place,  not  above 
60  dcL'rees,  but  below  2.5  degrees,  until  the  next  day, 
when  it  is  ready  to  work  and  pack  for  market. 

7.  The  packing  should  be  done  in  clean,  sweet 
packages ;  and  if  the  butter  is  Intended  for  long  keep- 
in!.',  the  packages  should  be  air-tight.  They  can  be 
made  so  by  proper  use  of  the  brine. 

8.  Butter  so  packed  should  be  kept  at  a  tempera- 
ture not  above  sixty  degrees  nor  below  fifty  degrees, 
and  in  an  apartment  where  there  are  no  foul  odors 
from  veiretablcs,  damp  earth,  or  any  other  source. 

9.  The  milk  of  sick  cows  or  cows  in  heat  should 
never  be  used  for  dairy  purposes,  nor  milk  known  to 
be  impure  from  any  cause  whatever. 

10.  If  from  any  accident,  neglect  or  oversight,  a 
batch  of  butter  is  not  perfect,  it  should  not  be  packed 
for  long  kecpinif,  but  at  once  put  upon  the  market 
and  sold  for  consumption  while  in  its  best  condition. 
But  imperfect  butter  should  never  be  made  to  cat. 

How  to  Preserve  Cut  Flowers. 

Mr.  Niven,  of  the  Botanic  Gardens,  at  Hull,  Eng- 
land, gives  tlie  following  practical  hints  on  this  sul)- 
jeet :  "  Kor  this  purpose  nothing  is  better  than  rain- 
water, which  should  be  changed  every  day,  or  every 
alternate  day.  Before  arranging  the  flowers  In  the 
glass  or  Hower-stand,  trim  the  ends  of  the  s'alkswith 
a  sharp  knife,  so  as  to  make  a  clean  cut.  The  stems 
are  often  bruised  in  the  plucking  :  the  bruised  part 
decays  and  renders  the  water  sooner  impure  and  un- 
wholesome than  would  be  the  case  were  the  water 
alisorbcd  thiuuL'h  a  clean-cut  section  of  the  stem, 
which  will  perform  its  functions  without  decay  till 
the  /lowers  have  faded.  To  guard  against  the  [Kissi- 
bility  of  any  uiiiileasant  smell,  and  for  other  reasons 
— seeing  that  water  is  an  absorbent  of  noxious  gases 
— if  the  fiowcrs  be  intended  for  a  close  sick  chamber 
let  the  water  be  changed  everyday;  by  this  means 
any  unpleasant  smell  will  be  avoided.  Camphor  has 
been  suggested  as  a  sort  of  disinfectant  and  at  the 
same  time  as  a  material  likely  to  prolong  the  beauty 
of  the  flowers.  Its  advantage  is,  however,  more  im- 
aginary than  real;  therefore  do  not  trust  to  it  as  a 
substitute  for  the  small  amount  of  trouble  incurred 
in  the  simple  process  above  suggested.  Salt  has  also 
been  used  ;  but  though  it  may  not  hurt  some  llowcrs, 
there  arc  others  which  will  be  injured  by  it.  In 
HoHcr-stands  where  sand  is  used,  and  must  necessa- 
rily remain  for  some  time,  mix  with  the  sand  one- 
eighth  part  in  bulk  of  small  pieces  of  charcoal,  broken 
about  the  size  of  peas ;  this  will  keep  it  sweet  for 
weeks." — -V.  Y.  Observer. 


The  Dry  Earth  Treatment. 
The  dry  earth  treatment  for  ulcers  is  found  quite 
successful.  Large  sloughy  ulcers,  after  being  washed, 
are  covered  with  a  thick  layer  of  earth,  over  which 
wet  paper  is  placed  as  a  support,  the  whole  being 
neatly  bandaged.  In  a  few  days  the  ulcers  begin  to 
clear,  and  when  the  surfaces  l(«ik  healthy  and  gran- 
ulating, a  dressing  made  as  follows  is  used:  A  piece  of 
muslin  the  size  of  the  ulcer  is  immersed  in  carbolic  oil, 
in  the  proportion  of  one  part  acid  to  ten  parts  cocoa- 
nut  oil ;  with  this  the  sore  is  covered,  and  over  it  dry 
earth  is  placed,  and  then  moistened  earth  and  a  ban- 
dage. In  a  short  time  the  healing  process  manifests 
itself  satisfactorily,  while  all  odor  is  entirely  removed. 


i60 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  October, 


A   Cheap  Carpet. 

An  Eastern  lady  eays  :  Have  any  of  you  a  spare 
bed  chamber,  seldom  used,  which  you  would  like  to 
carpet  at  a  little  expense?  Go  to  the  paper-hanger's 
store  and  select  a  paper  lookine:  as  much  like  a  car- 
pet as  you  can  find  Ilavinff  taken  it  home,  first  pa- 
per the  floor  of  your  bed-room  with  brown  paper  or 
newspapers.  Then  over  this  put  down  your  wall  pa- 
per. A  good  way  to  do  this  will  be  to  put  a  good 
coat  of  paste  upon  the  width  of  the  roll  of  paper  and 
the  length  of  the  room,  and  then  lay  down,  uuroUins 
and  smoothing  at  the  same  time.  When  the  floor  is 
all  covered,  then  size  the  varnish  ;  only  dark  glue 
and  common  furniture  varnish  may  be  used,  and  the 
floor  will  look  all  tlie  better  for  tlie  darkening  these 
will  give  it.  When  it  is  dry,  put  down  a  few  rugs  by 
the  bedside  and  before  the  toilet  table,  and  you  will 
have  as  pretty  a  carpet  as  you  could  wish — a  carpet, 
too,  that  will  last  for  years  if  not  subject  to  constant 
wear,  and  at  a  trifling  expense. 

I,  myself,  used  a  room  one  entire  summer  prepared 
in  this  way — used  it  constantly  ;  and  when  the  house 
was  sold  in  the  fall,  the  purchaser  asked  me  to  take 
up  the  oil-cloth,  as  he  wished  to  make  some  altera- 
tions which  would  be  sure  to  injure  it ' 


How  Do  You  Make  Cider  Wine  ? 

This  question  is  asked  by  a  correspondent  of  the 
Village  Record ;  and  as  it  iS  unanswered  we  will  un- 
dertake the  task.  The  cider  for  this  purpose  should 
not  be  made  until  December,  when  it  should  be  bar- 
reled and  placed  in  a  vault  or  other  cool  cellar,  and 
left  to  remain  there  until  February  or  early  in  .March, 
when  it  should  be  bottled,  using  champagne  bottles, 
well  corked  and  wired  ;  the  cork  should  be  driven 
down  to  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of  the  mouth,  so  that 
the  wire  can  grasp  it.  Use  good-sized  copper  wire, 
which  will  require  only  once  passing  over  the  cork, 
provided  it  is  well  secured  around  the  neck  of  the 
bottle.  Then  return  the  bottled  cider  to  the  cellar, 
laying  the  bottles  on  their  sides,  and  it  will  keep  for 
years.  Be  sure  that  the  bottles  are  thoroughly  clean, 
which  must  be  attended  to  just  before  the  bottling 
begius.  Some  persons — and  it  is  the  method  of  the 
North  Jersey  "champagne"  eider-makers— yiJ^o-  the 
cider  through  sand  before  putting  away  in  barrels. 
It  is  true  this  removes  all  sediment,  but  we  cannot 
perceive  that  it  adds  to  the  flavor  or  keeping  qualities 
of  the  cider. —  Oermanlown  Telegraph. 


Directions  for  Calcimining. 

Buy  the  best  bleached  glue  if  the  walls  are  to  be 
while  or  some  light  tint  (if  dark  it  is  immaterial), 
and  use  it  in  the  proportion  of  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
to  eight  pounds  of  whiting.  Soak  the  glue  over 
night  In  the  morning  pour  off  the  water.  Add 
fresh  water,  put  in  a  pail  and  set  that  in  a  kettle  of 
boiling  water.  When  dissolved  stir  it  into  the  whitinL'', 
adding  enough  water  to  make  it,  after  mixing,  of  the 
same  consistency  as  common  whitewash.  It  maybe 
tinted  any  color,  and  is  applied  with  a  whitewash 
brush.  If  the  color  is  rubbed  smooth  in  a  little 
water,  and  then  mixed  with  thewash,  it  will  be  more 
even.  If  the  walls  have  been  previously  whitewashed, 
scrape  away  all  that  will  come  off,  and  wash  with  a 
solution  of  white  vitriol — two  ounces  in  a  pail  of 
water.  The  vitriol  will  be  composed,  forming  zinc 
white  and  plaster  of  Paris,  to  which  the  calcimine 
easily  adheres.  It  is  important  to  dissolve  the  glue 
in  a  hot  water  bath,  for  if  scorched  by  too  great  heat 
its  tenacity  is  impaired  or  destroyed. 


Useful  Recipes. 

To  Pickle  Gherkins  :  To  every  quart  of  vinegar 
allow  one  ounce  of  bruised  ginger,  half  au  ounce  of 
whole  black  pepper,  half  an  ounce  of  whole  allspice, 
four  cloves,  two  blades  of  mace,  a  little  horseradish. 
Cover  the  gherkins  with  salt  and  water,  and  let  them 
remain  three  or  four  days,  take  them  out,  wipe  per- 
fectly dry,  and  put  them  into  a  stone  jar.  Boil  for 
about  ten  minutes  sufficient  vinegar  to  cover  them, 
with  spices  in  the  above  proportions,  pour  it  quite 
boiling  over  the  gherkins,  coyer  the  jar  with  vine  or 
fresh  cabbage  leaves,  and  put  over  them  a  plate,  set 
them  near  the  fire,  and  let  them  remain  all  night. 
Next  day  drain  off  the  vinegar,  boil  it  up  again,  and 
pour  it  over  them  whilst  hot,  cover  with  fresh  leaves, 
and  let  it  remain  till  cold,  then  take  away  the  leaves, 
and  de  closely  down  with  bladder  to  exclude  the  air. 
The  vine  leaves  will  make  them  green. 

Timely  Remedies  :  If  mosquitoes  or  other  blood 
suckers  infest  our  sleeping  rooms  at  night,  we  uncork 
a  bottle  of  pennyroyal  and  these  insects  leave  in  great 
haste,  nor  will  they  return  so  long  as  the  air  in  the 
room  is  loaded  with  the  fumes  of  that  aromatic  herb. 
"If  rats  enter  the  cellar,  a  little  powdered  potash, 
thrown  in  their  holes  or  mixed  with  meal  and  scat- 
tered in  their  runaways,  never  fail  to  drive  them  away. 
Cayenne  pepper  will  keep  the  buttery  and  store-room 
free  from  ants  and  cockroaches.  If  a  mouse  makes 
an  entrance  into  any  part  of  your  dwelling,  saturate 
a  rag  with  cayenne  in  solution  and  stuff  it  into  the 
hole,  which  can  then  be  repaired  with  either  wood  or 
mortar.  No  rat  or  mouse  will  eat  the  rag  for  the  pur- 
pose of  opening  communication  with  a  depot  of  sup- 
plies. 


For  your  winter  wear  don't  think  of  bleached  mus- 
lin, but  instead  buy  substantial  unbleached  and  whiten 
and  soften  it  with  chloride  of  lime  before  making  up. 
Then  by  next  summer  it  will  be  whiter  than  though 
the  garments  had  been  made  of  snow-white  bleached 
muslin.  For  fifteen  yards  of  muslin  take  half  a  pound 
of  chloride  of  lime,  tie  it  up  in  a  bit  of  cloth  and  put 
it  in  a  tub  with  three  pails  of  cold  water.  With  a 
stick  move  it  about  until  it  is  dissolved,  then  take  it 
out  and  put  your  unbleached  muslin,  which  has  been 
wet  through  and  through,  into  the  tub,  and  let  it 
stand  an  hour,  moving  it  about  occasionally  that  it 
may  be  thoroughly  soaked  through  with  the  lime 
water.  Then  wring  it  out  and  rinse  through  two  or 
three  warm  waters  and  it  is  ready  for  the  line. —  Ohio 
Farmer. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  chickens  merely  split 
open  and  broiled  are  dry  and  unsavory  eating.  I 
therefore  give  to  the  housekeepers  of  the  TZwra/ my 
recipe,  which  has  been  pronounced  good  by  many. 
Clean  the  chickens  nicely;  cut  them  down  the  back; 
break  the  breastbone;  wash,  and  wipe  them  dry;  sea- 
son them  both  in  and  outside  with  salt  and  pepper; 
place  them  in  a  dripping-pan  with  a  little  water;  put 
it  in  a  quick  oven  until  they  are  a  delicate  brown  on 
both  sides  ;  baste  them  frequently  with  butter;  renew 
the  water  as  it  evaporates.  When  the  chickens  are 
done,  remove  to  a  Iiot  dish;  add  a  little  more  water 
and  a  teaspoonful  of  flour  to  form  the  gravy.  Serve 
the  gravy  in  a  sauce-tureen,  or  in  the  dish  with  the 
chickens. — Mrs.  Ruatic,  in  Moore^s  Ifnral. 

Pe.\ch  cobbler  is  made  in  this  way  :  Pare  nice, 
ripe,  juicy  peaches,  lay  them  in  a  deep  baking  dish, 
with  plenty  of  sugar,  and  a  tahlespoonfulof  flour  rub- 
bed smooth  in  a  little  cold  water.  Cover  the  top  with 
a  crust  made  of  one  teacup  of  sweet  milk,  a  little  salt, 
one  heaping  tablespoonful  of  butter,  one  heapingtea- 
spoonful  of  b.iking  powder,  worked  thoroughly 
through  flour  enough  to  make  a  soft  dough.  Rub 
the  butter  through  the  flour;  add  the  milk;  mix 
quickly;  roll  out  an  inch  thick,  and  bake  in  a  mod- 
crate  oven.  To  be  eaten  with  cream  and  sugar.  A 
crust  made  as  the  above  is  far  more  wholesome  and 
digestible  than  ordinary  paste  made  of  water  and 
abominable  lard. —  Cor.  Biiral  New  Yorker - 

Apple  Tapioca  Pudding  :  Soak  one  large  cupful 
of  tapioca,  until  soft,  in  water  enough  to  cover  it : 
butter  the  pudding  dish,  and  have  sliced  into  it  some 
nice  juicy  apples,  more  than  half  filling  the  dish. 
Then  addi  some  sugar,  and  a  bit  of  butter.  Over  this 
pour  the  soft  tapioca  that  has  been  previously  well 
soaked  in  either  milk  or  water.  Add  a  little  salt, 
and  sprinkle  over  the  top  a  light  grating  of  nutmeg. 
Bake  until  the  apples  are  well  done.  Eat  with  cream 
and  sugar,  (or  sauce  of  any  kind,  if  preferred)  and  I 
think  you  will  call  this,  as  I  have  heard  it  called, 
"  The  Queen  of  Puddings."  Sago  can  be  used  the 
same  way. — Cor.  Chicago  Tribnii,e. 

To  Boil  Salmon  :  Put  to  each  gallon  of  water  six 
ounces  of  salt;  use  only  sufficient  water  to  cover  the 
fish;  tiring  it  quickly  to  the  boil,  and  allow  about  8 
minutes  to  the  pound.  You  will  always  know  when 
the  fish  is  done  by  its  separatingeasily  from  the  back- 
bone. Do  not  let  it  remain  in  the  water  after  it  is 
done.  Drain  it,  and  if  not  wanted  for  a  few  minutes, 
keep  it  hot  by  laying  hot  cloths  over  it.  Serve  on  a 
hot  napkin,  garnish  with  parsley  and  lemon,  serve 
with  lobster  or  shrimp  sauce.  Plain  melted  butter  is 
usually  sent  in  a  tureen  with  it,  and  a  dish  of  sliced 
cucumbers. 

Let  your  readers  try  this  for  ridding  sleeping 
apartments  of  the  pesky  mosquitoes  :  Place  a  small 
quantity  (about  a  tablespoonful)  of  "  insect  powder  " 
in  the  middle  of  a  plate  or  other  vessel,  and  saturate 
the  powder  with  essence  pennvroyal ;  place  it  in  the 
room  and  set  fire  to  it.  The  alcohol  burns,  carrying 
with  it  the  odor  of  pennyroyal,  and  afterwards  the 
smoke  from  the  insect  powder,  which,  together,  is 
"  too  many  "  for  the  little  terrors,  and  they  skip 
without  settling  their  little  bills. — Cor.  Indianapolis 
Journal. 

The  Practical  Farmer  says  :  "The  only  cause  for 
streaky  butter  ever  occurring,  in  our  experience,  is 
the  insuflScient  working  of  the  salt  through  the  mass. 
Unless  great  care  is  used,  butter  is  always  of  differ- 
ent colors  before  the  first  working  (after  salting)* 
Some  portions  will  have  little  or  no  salt,  and  be  of  a 
lighter  color,  and  the  dairy-woman  should  work  so 
as  to  mix  these  portions  with  that  thoroughly  salted, 
or  she  will  have  streaky  rolls  or  tubs  of  batter.  A 
very  little  care,  when  working  the  second  time,  will 
prevent  this  result." 

Spiced  Beef  :  Take  some  nice  suet,  or  three  or 
four  slices  of  pork;  fry  in  pot  until  it  is  alight  brown, 
then  lay  in  a  piece  of  raw  beef — brown  it  on  both 
sides;  then  cover  it  with  water  and  let  it  stew  over  a 
moderate  fire  five  or  six  hours,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  beef;  add  an  onion,  two  bay-leaves,  half  u  tea- 
spoonful  ol^  mace,  a  teaspoonful  of  whole  cloves  and 
allspice  mi.xed;  pepper,  salt  and  vinegar  to  taste;  add 
water  as  it  boils  away,  so  that  there  may  be  enough 
to  make  a  gravy  when  the  meat  is  done. 

Stewed  .Mushrooms  :  Peel  and  cut  the  contents 
of  two  boxes  of  mushrooms,  wash,  pare,  and  boil 
them,  put  in  cold  water,  and  when  cool  take  out  and 
wipe  dry.     Put  in  saucepan  with  a  lump  of  butter 


size  of  an  egg  and  brown  well.  Add  a  pinch  of  flour, 
salt  and  pepper,  and  a  small  bouquet  of  parsley. 
Moisten  with  beef  stock  or  tea  and  boil  fifteen  min- 
utes. Then  take  the  yelks  of  two  fresh  eggs,  heat 
and  add  half  a  tablespoonful  of  white-wine  vinegar 
when  ready  to  serve. 

To  Clean  Steel  :  Dissolve  half  an  ounce  of  cam- 
phor in  one  pound  of  hog's  lard  ;  take  off  the  scum, 
mix  as  much  black  lead  as  will  give  the  mixture  an 
iron  color  ;  rub  the  articles  over  with  this  mixture, 
leave  it  on  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  dry  with  a 
linen  cloth,  and  polish  with  a  soft  leather.  Iron  and 
steel  goods  cleaned  in  this  way  will  keep  clean  and 
bright  for  months. 

Iced  Apples  :  Pare  and  core  one  dozen  large 
apples  ;  fill  with  sugar  mixed  with  a  little  butter  and 
cinnamon  or  nutmeg  ;  bake  till  nearly  done.  Cool, 
and,  if  possible,  without  breaking,  put  the  apples  on 
another  dish.  If  not  possible,  pour  off  the  juice; 
have  some  icing  prepared  ;  lay  it  on  the  top  and  sides 
and  set  into  the  oven  a  few  minutes  to  brown  slightly. 
Serve  with  cream. 

Macaroni  Soup  t  Into  a  pan  of  fast-boiling  water 
throw  four  ounces  of  macaroni,  add  one  ounce  of 
butter,  and  an  onion  stuck  with  a  few  cloves.  When 
the  Macaroni  has  swelled  to  its  full  size  and  become 
tender,  drain  it,  and  put  it  into  two  quarts  of  clear 
gravy  soup;  let  it  simmer  for  seven  or  eight  minutes, 
and  it  will  be  ready  for  the  table.  Serve  grated  Par- 
mesan cheese  with  it. 

Tomato  Catsup  :  Cut  the  tomatoes  in  slices,  lay 
them  in  the  kettle,  sprinkle  salt  upon  them,  boil 
three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  strain  through  a 
sieve  ;  to  six  quarts  of  juice  add  two  quarts  of  vine- 
gar, one  ounce  of  cinnamon,  one  of  cloves,  one  of 
nutmeg,  and  a  half  an  ounce  of  cayenne  pepper, 
ground  ;   then  boil  fifteen  minutes. 

Quince  Jelly  :  Slice  the  quinces  without  paring  . 
or  coring.  Put  them  intd  a  preserving  kettle  and 
just  cover  with  water ;  put  over  the  fire  and  boil 
until  soft.  Remove  from  the  s'ove  and  strain  off  the 
liquor.  To  every  gallon  allow  four  pounds  of  white 
sugar,  and  boil  very  fast  until  it  becomes  a  stiff  jelly. 

Domestic  Yeast  :  Roil  one  pound  of  good  flour, 
a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  brown  sugar,  and  a  little 
salt,  in  two  gallons  of  water  for  one  hour.  When 
milk-warm  bottle  it  and  cork  it  close.  One  pint  of 
this  yeast  will  make  eighteen  pounds  of  bread. 

A  good  coating  foi*  outside  brick  work  is  made  by 
mixing  clean  river  sand  20  parts,  litharge,  2  parts, 
quicklime  1  part,  and  linseed  oil  sufficient  to  form  a 
thin  paste.  It  is  also  useful  as  a  cement  for  broken 
stone,  drying  exceedingly  hard. 

Dry  buckwheat  flour,  if  repeatedly  applied,  will 
remove  entirely  the  worst  grease  spots  on  carpet  or 
woolen  cloth,  and  will  answer  as  well  as  French 
chalk  for  grease  spots  on  silk. 

A  decoction  of  black  walnut  leaves  is  claimed  to 
have  the  merit  of  keeping  flies  from  horses  if  liberally 
applied. 


Applied    Science. 

Destruction  of  Earth-worms  on  Grass-plots, 
Walks,  etc.  :  Sprinkling  grass-plots,  garden-beds, 
etc.,  with' clear  lime-water,  in  damp  weather,  when 
the  worms  are  near  the  surface,  in  most  cases  several 
times,  is  said  to  be  destructive  of  the  worms,  while  it 
is  rather  beneficial  than  otherwise  to  the  vegetation. 

Best  Shape  for  Fruit  Trees  :  The  majority  of 
a  convention  of  German  pomologists  expressed  a  de- 
cided preference  for  the  pyramidal  form  for  fruit 
trees.  The  advantages  claimed  for  it  are  the  mini- 
mum of  shade,  greatest  strength,  avoidance  of  severe 
wounding  of  the  tree,  production  of  better  fruit,  and 
at  the  same  time  fewer  disadvantages  from  storms, 
weight  of  snow,  e.xc3ss  of  fruit,  theft,  etc. 

Fall  in  the  Value  of  Amethysts  :  According 
to  the  .Jonnial  of  .Applied  ficlence,  the  large  number 
of  amethysts  that  have  been  thrown  into  the  mar- 
ket since  1872,  from  Brazil,  has  caused  a  great 
depreciation  :n  their  value.  The  first  lots  sent  to 
Europe  brought  from  flve  to  six  hundred  dollars, 
per  arroba,  of  o2  [lounds  weight ;  but  as  the  quantity 
iucreased  the  price  rapidly  receded,  and  finally  de- 
creased to  absolutely  nothing.  At  present  no  offer 
can  be  obtained  for  any  lots  on  hand. 

Improved  Mode  o?  Closing  Barrel  Hoops  : 
It  is  claimed  that  the  ends  of  hoops  on  barrels  may  be 
securely  joined  with  great  economy  of  time  and  labor 
on  the  following  plan,  devised  by  Cattin  :  A  small 
plate  of  sheet  metal  has  two  slits  punched  in  it,  in 
such  a  way  that  the  hoops  may  be  drawn  through 
them  readily  in  one  direction,  and  are  prevented  from 
slipping  out  by  the  sharp  edges  of  the  plate  cutting 
into  them.  The  surface  is  rendered  smooth  by  a 
blow  with  a  hammer  on  the  projecting  ends  of  the 
hoops. 

Soldering  Platinized  Glass  Surfaces  to 
Metals  :  It  has  been  found  by  Dr.  Ronzgcn  that 
glass  can  be  more  firmly  affixed  to  metals  by  coating 
it  with  platinum,  and  soldering,  than  it  can  be  by 
cement.  Tiie  tinning  of  the  platinum  surface  is  very 
easily  effected  by  means  of  a  soldering  iron  and  chlor- 
ide of  zinc.    The  excess  of  platinum  coating  maybe 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


wiped  off  with  filter-paper  dippeil  in  dilute  liydrollu- 
oric  acid.  The  irlasB,  of  course,  sliould  be  carefully 
warmed  before  applying  tlie  eolderinsr  irou.  The 
platinum  coatinir  is  said  to  adhere  to  the  plass  bo 
flrmlv  tl'at  a  well  soldered  piece  of  metal  cannot  be 
removed  witliout  injurinc;  the  surface  of  the  glass. 

Poi.isniKO-Ci.oTii  Fou  BiiAsa  :  A  sort  of  linen 
was  exhibited  at  the  Vienna  Exposition,  which  served 
the  purposes  of  cleanini;  and  polishing'  brass  very 
well  and  was  at  the  same  time  cheap  enouirb  for 
general  use.  Invcsliirations  by  Dr.  Itcicbardt  indi- 
cate that  the  etVeet  is  due  to  tlie  presence  of  silicic 
acid  and  an  alkali,  and  that  the  article  may  be  pre- 
pared by  imprecnatini;  some  loose  fabric,  such  as 
fustian,  with  a  weak  solution  of  water- jrlass,  and 
then  washini;  it  tborouirhly.  A  not  inconsiderable 
amount  of  silicic  acid  will  be  retained,  in  a  manner 
analogous  to  alumina  in  dyeing. 


LITERARY   RECORD. 

Thomas  Mekhan's  WnoT.nsAi.K  PnicF,  T.ist  for 
the  Autumn  of  l.STti.  (ieru\antown  Nurseries,  Cier- 
manlown,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  An  octavo  pamphlet  of 
eighteen  patres.  This  is  especially  a  tree-seed  eata- 
loffue,  includins  rare  ornamental  trees,  fruits  and 
flowers;  wholesale  and  retail  prices  appended  to 
each,  and  their  comnuiu  and  seientilie  iianies  t'iven. 
Those  desirins  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs,  weeping 
trees,  everirrcens,  vines  and  climbers,  as  well  as 
hardy  lierbaceous  (danls,  fruit  trees,  etc.,  will  do 
well  bv  orderinu;  from  so  experienced  and  intelligent 
a  source  as  Mr.  Mcehan.  We  commend  these  men 
and  their  stock  to  the  consideration  of  our  readers, 
not  only  on  account  of  their  reliability  of  character, 
but  because  the  citizens  of  this  county  every  season 
become  more  or  less  the  victims  of  irrespunhible 
etraneers,  who  exhibit  books  and  portfolios  of  illus- 
trated fruits,  [ilaiits  and  flowers,  that  very  frequently 
turn  out  inferior  or  worthless  in  the  end,  subjecting 
their  patrons  to  a  loss  of  time  and  money. 

Dreer's  Desckiptive  Catai.ooue  of  Bdlbs, 
Plants,  &c.,  with  Directions  for  the  Culture  and 
Management  of  Bulbous  Roots,  for  lS7(i  and  1877. 
Henry  A.  Dreer,  Seedsman  and  Florist,  No.  714 
Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

A  deini  octavo  pamphlet  of  48  pages,  on  good  pa- 
per and  a  clear  mecbanit'al  print,  and  forty  illustra- 
tions of  the  most  attractive  plants,  rustic  work,  and 
implements.  In  this  little  work  (little  only  by  com- 
parison with  some  of  the  large  catalouaies)  are 
brought  together  all  the  surest,  best  tested  and  most 
enduring  and  beautiful  of  llowering  and  other  planls, 
with  the  specific  treatment  of  a  larae  number  of 
them,  together  with  choice  lists  of  fiower  and  stand- 
ard vegetable  seeds.  Mr.  Dreer  is  an  old  and  ex- 
perienced tlovver  and  plant  dealer  and  seedsman,  and 
offers  great  inducements  to  dealers  and  amateurs,  by 
making  liberal  discimnts  to  those  purchasinir  in 
quantity,  and  his  §!.00,  §5.00  and  ^.^..^O  collections 
are  particularly  attractive.  Our  readers  might  do  a 
good  deal  worse  by  purchasing  elsewhere. 

Mineral  Map  and  General  Statistics  of  New 
South  Wales,  Australia.  Thomas  Richards,  London, 
187(1 ;  finely  colored  and  notated.  It  is  very  probable 
that  before  the  Ides  of  Novend)er,  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  our  citizens  may  manifest  a  desire  to  emi^i-ate 
to  some  other  region,  and  as  the  classic  ground  of 
"Salt  River"  may  be  over  populated,  nothing  could 
be  more  desirable  than  New  South  Wales. 

Just  look  at  it.  24,810  square  miles  of  coal  lands, 
and  12, 187, 27!!  tons  raised  in  one  year.  .500  square 
miles  of  diamond  lands;  .SOO  of  silver;  fiOO  of  coal  oil; 
l,400of  irou  ore;  6,2.50  of  tin;  ."JOO  of  lead;  i:i,B.50  of 
gold;  and  :5,  "00  of  copper.  The  products  of  the  coal 
oil,  tin,  gold,  and  copper  lands  in  1875  was  :i2,(i!tl,-597 
pounds  sterling.  The  live  stock  of  the  same  year, 
consistinir  of  sheep,  horned  cattle,  horses  and  pigs, 
was  2(i,29:!,2'U  head,  and  the  produce  of  wool  was 
62,!I00,425  pounds;  besides  684,2.58  gallons  wine,  :!8,- 
5t')4  tons  potatoes,  15, ".55,648  pounds  suaar,  and  6,12il,- 
018  bushels  of  wheat,  corn,  barley  and  oats.  Surely 
such  a  country  is  preferable  to  the  barren  wastes  of 
Salt  Kiver. 

The  National  Live-Stock  Journal  for  October 
is  at  hand,  and  is  truly  a  magnificent  numlier.  It 
contains  twenty-six  elegant  illustrations,  drawn  on 
ftone,  expressly  fortliis  number,  by  the  distinguished 
animal  artist,  E.  H.  Dewey,  which  are  intended  as 
representatives  of  all  the  leading  breeds  of  domestic 
animals  as  bred  in  America,  in  this  our  centeiuiial 
year.  The  horse  pictures  ate  faithful  likenesses  of 
Lexington,  tiov.Si)rague,  Donald  Dinnie,  and  Apollo. 
Then  follows  a  male  and  lemalc  of  each  of  the  lead- 
ing breeds  of  cattle,  making  in  all  twelve  cattle  por- 
traits. Then  we  have  Colswold,  Leicester,  South- 
down and  Mcrinoshcep;  Berkshire,  Yorkshire,  Essex, 
Chester  White,  Sullolk,  aud  Poland-China  swine; 
making  in  all  a  series  of  illustrations  that  have  never 
been  approached  by  any  other  journal  of  the  kind  in 
the  world.  In  its  entire  mechanical  execution,  Tlie 
Journal  is  a  model  of  neatness  and  taste;  »  hile  the 
character  of  its  contents  has  uniformly  been  such  as 
to  have  placed  it,  long  aKO.atlhe  head  of  all  journals 
of  Its  class,  in  Europe  or  America.  It  is  published 
by  the  Stoik  Journal  Company,  Lakeside  Building, 
Chicago,  Ills.,  at  J2.15  per  year. 


,t*i  it\%,  brtkcMaUHKl  AitC*..  la  U*  ttm,m^t^  Ubr 


M  ■/€•>(,«■.  •«  WMktarVM. 


"God's  Promise." 

The  Finest  WORK  OF  ART  over  issued  in  this  Country, 

GIVEN  AWAY 

To  every  Subscriber  to  this  Paper. 

Rc|)r(»]ui:<-<l  ill  17  CliruiiiKtlt!  Wutcr  <'uIor«,  und<'r  Di"  ftrLlxt's  |.rrannal  au|H!rvl<l<M),  nn<l  >'-knowl<^1gi^d 
bj  coiiui>t*«cur»  Ui  bp  tb«?  b.-»t  Wmrr  t  olor  CtiH.miilc  PaiDihiK  eier  jirodnc**!  In  AiiierlL-«.  Tbi«  uoaurpKHSed 
work  of  nrt,  throuxti  the  N|ilondf<l  liber&llt;  of  Ibe  Nallou&l  Art  Co.,  of  CIdcIu&kU,  Ublo,  c*o  be  leuured  bj 
•very  aubKrilicr  of  tbli  [iKprr.  ni  » 

Crrand  Prexxiiuxn 


It  bi'iDg  a<-i 


4-hn»c  <'li»rn.'  I 


Four  Complete  Chromatic  Paintings, 

KrnbodjtnE  ihc  riillrKiati'l  rtchcil  c<->ncppi[on  of  Ood'«  Klnrl.uii  pniTDlne:  "  ^hile  the  ^^^rt^  rtmaltieth.  trtd- 
time  and  hurvcff.  aud  colil  aud  heal,  and  »uinmer  and  u-ititer,  and  dag  and  ntfjht  mH.iU  tmt  rta»t."  Ameri- 
ca'* inosi  r&vi>re<J  UiittMCBpc  pBtnl*r,  Mr.  K.  D.  (.irMfloii,  lift^  ([rnuped  Ut^clhcr.  on  K  Inrsf  |-tRf,  four  HplFiidld 
l.BndMOKpe  «nd  FlKuri-  Pnintingi.  and  dntlicd  ih*m  In  the  rlchcut  ■nd  wurnii-ii  cub^rn.  T"  ibow  Id  whnt 
HrIiI  lliU  nplrrdlil  work  of  oil  Im  r^rgndcd,  one  th.-uS'-nd  coj.le.  have  Iw-eo  «"Id  In  rinctiiniill  >nd  N^w  Vork, 
*t  $10  per  ropy,  und  *.'>  000  In  c»«h  w»«  ©rTerrd  the  Nfttlounl  An  C«.  for  lU  cxciuikve  uie  aa  a  Preoilum,  bjf 
oae  of  the  raomt  prnniliicnt  ncir-papem  in  the  rouoirj. 

So  Inrgff  hiH  been  ih<7  demand  on  the  Nstlnnal  Art  Co.  for  former  Prpoilnm  rncrRrlnffff.  and  no  uolvenal 
the  rp<]iie«i  lliM  ilieir  works  ^h'UiM  not  be  cutiflneil  to  any  one  pajior,  thui  the  CnnipaDT  have  dei^rmlnrd  to 
nirtke  "  Gi)l>  s  PRiiMI.'iK"  ihn  crownluR  triumph  of  ihetr  uri  puhllcntlonB.  and  have  ■tcadilr  refuted  all 
offers  for  lu  (.•splnsurc  control  bv  auy  onp  paper,  in  order  lliat  ilm  t.-tier  fla«*  of  i.ewapaperM  fenerallr  may 
be  beiietlted  in  heing  ablr  to  advrii«p  li  at  iho  last  imi  best  Premium  Olfi  of  the  Nation  -1  A't  Ho.  HenM 
the  auuouncenieni  I*  made  that  nrraiiK<'>n'rDti  have  been  nistie  which  secure  u>  every  reader  of  ihli  paper  % 
perf  rtcopydr  this  Utc*l,  larccit,  and  lie<t  Am^ncao  an  publicatliiu 

The  only  r<-(iuironicnl  exacted  Is.  llial  each  reailer  ■hall  cm  'lui  the  followinf  Pr'^mlunt  Cprtinoale,  ahow 
iOR  tlinl  it  i-  nciii  In  be  a  bona  fide  puiron  of  thin  paper.  toReiher  with  '^  cenia,  thi?  actual  eoii  of  pomaice, 
wrapiiing  and  mailing;  cliarRes.  and  forward  ili(>  name  lo  the  N'ati<^Dal  An  Co.  for  rrdenipilnii.  Id  i-eiurn  vou 
will  receive  a  perfiyi  copy  of  thii  i;rHi.d  work  C'f  art.  mailed  In  a  itrnnjt  Inlie.  posiajce  full*  prepaid,  aud 
«iiiT-y  ecriy  is  ii'arronKd  lo  retfll  it*  de^ti'tnti'tn  uninjured.  Any  copy  that  »liOLild  l>e  Itroken  in  trnnanila- 
nUni  ihroush  the  mall,  will  Ite  diipllcnled  free  of  any  charge,  opon  yuur  or.tifylnjj  the  National  An  To.  of  the 
fa'tN  in  the  oki^.  Postage  Htampi  may  be  aeut  at  their  face  Taiue,  aa  loe  amoutit  )■  ucarly  all  uacd  la  pre- 
payinR  remrn  poala^e  on  ttic  I'li-mre, 


Out  o:it  tlila  (VTtlficatc  nn<l  furwurd  to  the  NATIONAL  AKT  CO.  for  redemption. 
it  U  worth  tlO. 

:cipt  of  thU  Premium  Cercincat*.  lon'tlier  wiih 

U  to  pay  ctiii  of  lube,  pfataae.  and  pa.  kinc.  wa 

uije  prepaid,  lafely  wrupped  and  packed,  a  perfei^t  oopy  of 


PREMiUM  CERTIFICATE.  !i". 


lo  tlie  seiidtr 
lud  paintln^i,  entiited 


rafion'a  four  celebri 

"C3-OD'S    1>F101M[ISE." 

Thl«  Oertiflcaie  ia  pood  until  October  15,  I87H.  after  which  10  cenn  addiii.mal  will  be  eharied.  No 
ijiv  will  be  sent  without  tlii>  Cenifii-aie  acciimpanic«  ihe  oider.  to  ahnw  un  that  tou  an-  a  fco.m  /Ida 
U'on  of  lhi»  pnpcr.         [Signed]         NaTIONaI,  AKT  CO.,  230  Walnut  Street,  Ciocinu.ii,  Ohio. 


NOTE  THESE  INSTRUCTIONS. l^?„i^r.l:!;rr.;X"J;l:?;,:r:i'4'sJ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

as  b  new  L-dilioii  «ill  iheu  become-  nccusssri,  .K  r\TtlHcnte  for  earh  Painiing  muM  in  all  ra«e»  be  aeoi,  other- 
wine  persons  who  are  no:  subscrllier*  niitrht  reap  the  bcoetiia  intended  polelr  for  ihe  patrons  of  ihl«  par>er. 
K»cb  copy  wilt  be  enclosrd  in  a  Btmnif  inbi'.  and  poduigc  will  bo  p»ld  iherc""u  oui  of  the  25c.  aeni  in  1  HB 
CKRTIFICATK  WILL  NOT  BE  aQAIN  PBI.nTBD  IN  THIS  PAPKR.  hci.cc  the  Imporunce  of  ciittine  H 
out  at  once  and  sending  It  in  for  redemption.  Addrcsa  all  Ccrtiflcatea  to  the  National  Art  Co..  7.W  Walnut 
Street.  Ciui-inuaii,  Ohio,  and  yon  will  rcceiTc  by  return  oiall  the  largeal  aud  handsomest  Premium  Paiuiinn 
fOU  erer  naw,  * 


AWARDED  THE  HIGHEST  MEML  AT  VIENNA. 


1.&H.T.A5II0IY&S5., 

591   BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

(Opposite  Metropolitan  Hotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

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We  are  Ilpadquartera  for  everything  in  the  w:iy  of 

Stereopticoiis  ^  Magic  Liasteras, 

Being  Manufacturers  of  tho 
nioro-Soiviitifir  I..ant<*rn, 
fiiereo- Panopticon, 

Vnlversifly  Ntorooptioon, 

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Artoplicoii. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People's   Lantern. 

Edch  style  being  the  beat  of  its  claea  in  the  market. 


CatalorraoR  of  LantemB  and  Slides,  with  directions  for 
using,  sent  on  ap|.licatiou. 

Any  enterprising  man  can  make  money  with  a  Magic 
Liutcru.  UT'Ciii  out  this  udvortueiacnt  for  reference 

8-6-6 

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T    f     77    Ytiuiig    Mun    and    Wuinen    lo    lenrii    T-LK-    X 
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tiractieing.     Address,  with  stamp.  NherniMii 
Tvleipraph  Co.,  Ob«rliD,  Ohio.  8  9-6t 


AikI  Oilier 

_     _   _  _    ._,   FRUIT    TREES, 

Ani  a  General  Line  of  Nursery  Stock, 
FOR.  S/VX-E. 

.\adreB8  GEO.  ACHELIS,  Nurseryman, 

8-9-11  WEST  OHKSTF.I!     I'A. 

SUIiSCRiBi;  KOR  THH 

LANCASTER  FARMER, 

TVitf  liesf  Agrhcultural  Paper  In 
the  Country. 

To  subscribers  in  the  county  $1,00  per  year, 
To  subscribers  out  of  the  couatj,  Sl,25  per  year, 


DVIRTISIKC  AGENTS, 


;;^e^ 


>VV  FOURTH  %>:^^ 


—  CSTl  MATES  — 

FURNISHED  r(?rr. 


SEND  FOR  OUR 

MANUAL- 


Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  8TS., 

PHILADELPHIA.   PA. 


Convenient  to  all  j  I.^c.h  o.  uniusvinent  and  car  llncB  ia 
tho  city.     Mo  cbuiigcH  to  und   from  the  Ceutennia]  grnuuds. 

Col.  Watson,  proprietor  of  the  Hknry  Housk,  Cincl.iuati, 
for  Ihe  past  twenty  yeHra,  and  pieHiuit  proprietor,  hns  leused 
tho  hons«  for  n  term  of  ycHis,  and  his  newly  furnished  nnd 
titled  It  throughout.  He  will  keep  a  striclly  first -cluss  house, 
and  bus  uccommodutiou  for  3U0  guests.  Terms,  only  $3 
jier  day. 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  In  the  Hkhut  Uovse,  nor  wiU 
any  be  kept  at  the  Peaaodt.  .  8-&-5 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER    FARMER. 


[October,  1876. 


The  li.'trfff^Nt  aiKl  most  4'oin|»fl<>te  Stork  of 
Fruit  aii<l  OriinitioiitHl  Troes  in  tlse  IT.  S. 
Prire<l  4'»tali»;friie<4Nent  am  followN  :  No.  1.  Fniits, 
with  colored  ].latP.  |.>  cfe. ;  ]>l;'in,  10  cts.  No.  2.  Orna- 
meutal  Tr  es.  etc.,  with  i  late.  t?5  cts.  No.  J5.  Greenhouse; 
No.  4,  Wholesale  ;  and  No.  5,  List  of  New  Roses,  Free. 
Address 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,    Rochester,  N.  Y. 


■pENXSVI.VA.VIA  n 

I        TraiuB  LEAVE  the  Dep 

■WE   TWARD. 

AII,I!<>AI> 

ot  in  this  city.  ; 

Leave 

LaTjcaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

i-.ao  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20 a.  m. 
11 :20  a.  m. 
11:29  a.m. 

•8:25  p.  m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

6:10  p.  m. 

7:32  p.  m. 

7:40  p.  m. 

7:45  p.  m. 

9:10  p.  m. 
11:30  p.  m. 

Lancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:-5  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

9.28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m. 

3:05  p.m. 

5:50  p.  m. 

>i(  IIRI>ITI>E 

s  follows  : 
Arrive 
Harrisburg. 
4:05  a.  m. 

Way  PiiBseiiKert  

Limited  llail" 

Hanover  Accommodatiou. 
Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

7:50  a.  m. 
10:30  a.m. 
Col.  10:00  a.  m 
1:00  p.  m. 
1:20  p.  m. 

Fast  Line 

Frederick  Accommodation. 

Harrisburg  Aceom..  

Columbia  Accommodation,. 

4:.50  p.  m. 
Col.  4:15  p.  m 

8:10  p.  m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

9:05  p.  m. 
10:35  p.  m. 
12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 
3:10  a.  m. 

Harrisburg  Express 

Cincinnati  Express* 

EASTWARD. 

Philadelphia  Expresst 

Harrisburg  Express 

Lancaster  Ext)ves8 

7:00  a.  m. 
9:25  a.  m. 
10:.S0  p.m. 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 
Pacific  Expi  ess* 

12:30  p.  m. 
3:30  p.  m. 

Johnstown  Express 

Harrisburg  Accom 

6:00  p.  m. 
9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hanover  Accommodatiou,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  HaiiOver  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connectsat  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  .S:25  p,  m..  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  care.. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  nt  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacific  Express  ;it  1:10  p.  ra. 

The  DillerviJle  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  5 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leaving  York  at  6:32  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:5'2  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Hariisburg  Express 
at  7:25  a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:05  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, ie:^ves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  Colurabia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  iLxpresa  at  7:25  a.  m. 

Ou  Sundjy  there  will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
east,  the  second  section  starting  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m  ,  making  all  the  stops  between  Columbia  and  Lancastei', 
and  the  Johnstown  Express  stops  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  section  of  Pacific  Eip^-ess,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  stops  at  Middletown,  Elizabethtowu,  Mt.  Joy, 
and  Landisville, 

"The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRuua  daily,  except  Monday. 


$50  to  $77 

8-S-ly 


a  Wtek  to  Agtnts.     Samples  FREE. 

P.  O.  VICKERY,  Augusta,  Maine, 


NONPAREIL  FARM  MILLS 


9oT  griodiag  COBN  &ad  COB  VOS.N-M.EALj.  OaTS, 
oranT  kind  of  Grain,  coarte  or  Jiru  ;  10  SIZ£S,  forHAi>>D 
orp6WER.     /    uHrattd  Pampktl  Frtr. 

Ij.  J.  MLLL£H.  181  £.  FrontSt.  ClDdimati.O. 


POTATO  BUGS 

AND    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 

THOROUGHLY   AND   RAPIDLY 
BY  USING 

Peek's  Impxoved  llqiii  Atemhs? 

The  most  comi-lete  apparatus  for  deodorizL-jg  and  disin- 
fecting Hosi-dtals,  !?hip8,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved   machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers' experiences  with  it. 

West  Grove  ManaPg  Co.,  West  Grove,  Pa. 
8-S 

A   <lHy    at    Home.      Agents     wanted.      Outfit    and 
terms*  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.    [H-S-ly 


$12 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

ROOFlNCi    SLA.TE. 

OFFICE : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12m  LANCASTER,   PA. 


0R    tn    ^Ort    per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free. 
•90    lU   4>mU      STINSON  &  CO.,  Portland,  Maine. 


(Successors  to  W.  ATLEE  BURPEE.) 

BREEDERS   AND   SHIPPERS   OF 

TliorouglxbFed    ILiive    Stocky 

Aldemey,   Ayrshire  and  Shorthorn  Cattle,   Cotswold    and   Southdown   Sheep, 

Chester  ■Whit3,  B^rk^hire,  Essex  and  Poland  China  Pigs, 

Thoroughbred  Dogs  and  Fancy  Pigeons, 

HIGH  CLASS  LAND  and  ^AAATER  FOWLS 

Of  all  the  leading  choice  varieties.    Our  stock  of  Poultry  has  won  many  FIRST  PRIZES.     We  ship  only  first-clas9 
Animals  and  Birds.    Full  Descriptive  Cireulars  free. 

AN  ELEGANTLY  ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  pure-bred  livestock  and  poultry  (now  in  preparation)  con- 
taining a  complete  descriptive  priced  list  of  stock  and  breeders'  requisites,  sent  post-paid  on  receipt  of  twenty  cents. 

Also  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  Ground   Bone,   Flour  of  Raw  Bone  Scraps,  Crushed  Oyster  Shells.  Imperial  Egg 
Food,  Condimental  Food,  etc.,  for  Poultry  and  Stock.    Every  fancier  should  send  for  our  circular  in  this  line  of  goods. 


Fertilizers  aM  Apcullnral  Iinpleieiils.       Fieli,  Garden  aiii  Flower  Seeds, 

STRICTLY  FRESH  AND   RELIABLE. 

All  the  new  and  standard  varieties.    NEW  CROP  TURNIP  SEEDS  aud  other  seeds  for  fall  planting.    Send  for 
special  price  list. 


SIX  PACKETS  FARM  SEEDS  FREE  as  samples  to  all  who  enclose  two  3-cent  stamps. 
fySend  your  address  for  our  lull  descriptive  priced  circulars,  mailed  free.    Address, 

BEINSON  <Sc  BURPSE:. 

SEED  AND  AQSICULIUEAL  WAEEHOtJSE, 
No.  223  CHURCH  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


CENTENNIAL 


Memorial  Medals. 


Struck  in  solid  Albata  Plate,  equal  in  appearance, 
wear  and  color  to 

SOLID  SILVER  OR  GOLD, 

Presenting  a  variety  of  beautiful  designs  in  relief. 

These  Medallions  are  larger  than  a  Silver  Trade  Dollar, 
being  l^i  inches  in  diameter,  handsomely  put  up,  and  sell 
readily  at  sight. 

Tbe  most  valnable  Souvenirs  and  JKte- 
nientoes  ever  issued. 


GOOD    AGENTS   WANTED   in    every  City 

and  Town  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  to 

whom  exclusive  territory  will 

be  given,  if  desired. 


RETAILPRICES.-For  the  Albata  Silver,  50  cts.;  Gilt, 
$1,  in  fancy  box.     Usual  discount  to  the  Trade. 

A  complete  outfit  of  magnificent  samples  for  agents,  in 
sritin  or  velvet-lined  morocco  case,  containing  Six  Medals, 
diflferent  designs,  one  gilt,  suitable  for  jewelers,  show  win- 
dows, etc.,  sent  on  receipt  of  draft  or  Post-office  order 
for  $4,  or  will  ship  Express  C.  O.  D. 

Descriptive  Circular  Price  List  and  one  sample  sent  upon 
receipt  of  50  cents.  Immense  profits.  Sells  at  sight.  Cor- 
respondence solicited.  luJormation  free.  Extensive  fields 
for  enterprise.     Address  all  communications, 

U.  S.  MEDALLION  CO., 

P.  0.  Box  5270.        212  Broadway,  N.  T. 


E.  N.  FRESHMAN  &  BROS., 

advertising  agents, 
186  W.  Fourtli  St.,  Cincinaati,  0., 

Arc  authorized  to  contract  for  advertising 
in  this  paper.  > 


Estmates  iimisiud  tree. 


[tq 


Send  (or  Circular. 


GOOD  SEF.nS,  GROWN  WITH   CARE,   FROM  SE- 
lected  Slocks,  always  pay.  Trv  mine.  Catalogtie  free. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Goshen,  N.  Y. 


r  < 

05. 


o  = 


WIMBLEDON 

Long  Range  Sreech  Loading 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets. 

Carries  a  '^  inch  ball  with  accu- 
racy fifty  leet,  without  powder  or 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  I'ur  sale 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  Iree  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammunition  for  target  practice  indoora, 
ind  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS   WANTZD. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  67  Liberty  Street,  New  Yorl: 
8-3-6m 

1876.  CENTENNIAL.  1876 

Rathvon  &  Pishep 


PRACTICAL 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 


J 


h 


imm  III  liiittti 

E:sT.A.BX.isH[]y[E:rarT, 

Cor.N.  QUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 


J.  STAUFFER, 

iiitiitii  It  mttt 

LANCASTER.  i*ENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  COPYRIGHTS, 
promptly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  a  d  faithful 
attention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  his  services 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  As- 
sistant at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
vr  desciiption.  [7-4-tf 


$1  a  Year 


(To  subscribers  m 
"(        the  r.^utity. 


SIITGLE  COPIES  10  CENTS. 


To  subBcribers 

the  couu 


',°"""}  $1.2S. 


EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER, 


JOHN  A.  HIESTAND,  Publisher. 


THU  LANCASTER  E^FEESS, 

T))e  Leadii)^  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  Ihe 
OT)\y  Independent  Republicai}  Journal  iij  the  County. 


THE  1  /  THE 

WEEKLY.  [    FOUNDED     \    DAILY, 
1843  J  [  1856 


The  Weekly  Express  has  been  before  the  citizens  of 
Lancaster  county  for  a  period  of  thirty-three  years,  and  The 
Daily  Express  for  over  twenty  years.  During  this  long 
period,  uud  without  change  of  nianagemeut,  The  Express 
has  fairly  earned  a  large  share  of  piilroiiage  and  firmly 
established  itself  iu  the  public  confidence,  aR  an  upright  and 
independent  journal,  never  hesitating  to  defend  the  right 
and  denounce  the  wrong,  no  matter  where  found  to  exist. 
It  has  always  been  a  journal  of  progress,  and  the  outspoken 
friend  of  education,  temperance,  sound  morals  and  religion. 
As  iu  the  past,  eo  it  will  continue  iu  thi-  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXPRESS. 

The  Weekly  Express,  one  year,  -        -        -        $2.00 

The  Daily  Express,  one  year,  ....       5.00 

The  Express  and  The  Farmer:  To  any  person  residing 
within  tlif  limits  ut  Lancaster  county  we  will  mail — 
The  Weekly  and  the  Lanc<ister  Farmer,  one  year,  $2.50 

REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 

The  extended  circiiliition  of  The  Express  makes  it  the 
beat  medium  fitr  advertising  Real  Estate  and  Personal 
Pi-operty  in  the  county,  a  fact  which  can  be  attested  by 
many  farmers  and  others  who  have  availed  themselves  of 
the  use  of  its  columns,  and  to  which  we  invite  the  attention 
of  bU  having  properly  to  disjiose  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  Express  printing  oflice  is  one  of  the  best  furnished 
establishments  for  turning  out  -aW  kinds  of  prmtiug  lo  be 
fouud  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  We  are  prepared  to 
print  any  job  from  the  small  \iMiting  card  to  the  largest  sale 
or  horse  bill,  luistcr,  or  broadside,  j-laiii  or  iu  colors,  as 
quickly  as  it  can  be  done  at  any  other  establishment,  and  on 
as  reasonable  terms.  We  make  the  pilutiug  of  Sale-hills 
for  Farmers  a  specialty,  and  guarantee  satisfaction  to  our 
customers. 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

include  the  various  patterns  adapted  to  i>riHting  books, 
pamphlets,  posters,  sale-bills,  hand-bills,  millers'  receipts, 
catalogues  of  live  stock,  and  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
flrst-class  printing  otfice;  in  short  anything  that  may  be 
called  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  banker,  mechanic,  or 
baeinese  man.  and  we  guarantee  to  do  the  work  as  satisfac 
tory  as  it  cau  be  done  in  Philadelphia  or  elsewhere. 

With  one  of  the  most  complete  Job  Offices  in  the  State, 
and  unsurpassed  conveuieucesforexpeditionsly  turning  out 
work  by  the  best  workmen.  All  persous  in  need  of  Printing 
will  find  it  to  their  interest  to  give  us  a  trial. 

JOHN  A.  HIESTAND, 

BOOK.   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTER, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
LANCASTER.  PA. 


VanTaaaprs  Wanted   for  Tai  Fabmkb,  withwhon 
libcnl  arrangemeuta  will  be  made. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


Ants  Dcelmv  Caterpillars,      ...        -  ICl 

A  word  for  the  Snake,        ^        -        -        -        -  Ifil 

Centennial  Snake  Story,          .        -        -        .  163 

Centennial  Apples,      ------  163 

Celery, -        -  163 

The  Centennial,          ------  163 

The  Crops,       -------  163 

I-.innipan  Notes,          ------  164 

Persian  Insect  I'owder,    -----  164 

The  September  Storm,        -----  164 

Germination  of  Seeds, 1B4 

A  Flat  Seed-Beetle, Ifi4 

Insect  Tenacity,        ------  164 

Care  of  younff  Orchards,    -----  164 

Yorkshires,  Benson  it  Burpee,    -        -        -  165 

The  Dissemination  of  Plants,  J.  S.  S.,   -    -        -  165 

The  Destruction  of  Noxious  Insects,  A.  B.  K.,  166 

Insect  Powder,  J.  Stauffer,     -         -         -         -  167 

Ventilation.     J.S.S. 167 

Beneljts  Derived  from  Reading  Newspapers  and 

Masrzines,  P.  S.  R.,      -        -        -    •■  -        -  167 

Forestry,          ...----  168 

Deficient  Inj^redients  of  Soil,      -        -        -        -  169 

Good  Tillage,           ------  170 

Amateur  Farmers,      ------  170 

Plant  insr  Lartrc  Trees,      -----  170 

The  Exportation  of  Beef,    -----  171 

Fruit  as  a  Medicine,        -----  171 

Social  Life  on  the  Farm,     -----  171 

Feeding  Animals,    ------  172 

Our  Paris  Letter,        ------  173 

Our  Local  Orjiranizations,        -        -        -        -  173 

Pruceetliiiys  ot  the  Lancaster  Ciiiiuty  Agricul- 
tural :iik1  Horticultural  Society. 

The  Bee-Keepers'  Society,           .        -        -        -  173 

DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 

Eat  ins  too  Much, 174 

Wticn  and  Why  Lamps  Explode,       -        -        -  174 

Sleeping-  Warm,       ------  174 

IIow  to  Keep  Bouquets  Fresh,    -        -        -        -  174 

(iood  Wives,              ------  174 

Cleauintf  Window  Glass,    -----  174 

Fine  Pumpkin  Pies, 174 

Corn  Crilis, 174 

Keeping  Kggs, -  174 

Hard  Soapi          -------  174 

A  Wholesome  Drink,      -----  175 

Warmed-up  Mutton,  ------  175 

Mucilage,         -------  175 

Bread  Sponge, 175 

GENERAL  MISCELLANY, 

A  Good  Word  for  the  Hog,      -        -        -        -  175 

Autrimn  Care  of  Lawns,     -----  175 

Chemistry  of  the  Fattening  Process,       -        -  175 

Protecting  Garden  Roots,            -        -        .        -  175 

Sheep— The  Outlook, 175 

Portable  Pig-Pen,        ------  176 

Dairy  vs.  Creamery, 176 

Fall  or  Spring  Planting,      -----  176 

How  to  Manage  Cuttings,        -        -        .        -  176 

Treat  ment  of  an  Unmanageable  Horee,     -        -  176 

Hens  that  Don't  Set, 176 

Ducks,         - 176 

Kye  for  Winter  Pasture,          -        .        -        -  176 

Farming  without  Stable  Manure  or  Stock,  -     -  176 
Fence  Corners,   ------        -ii 

American  Poultry,-        -----  iil 

Fall  Cuttings, iii 

Beets  for  Cows,       -...-.  iii 

Cheese  Factories,        - iii 

Literary  Record,     -...-.  Uj 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


[Ite  |anci5teF  | 


aiiSF : 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED   TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Made  a  prominent  feature,  with   special  reference  to  the 
wants  of  the  Farmer,  the  Gardener  and  Fruit-Grower. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and   Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  by  Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVOIT. 


The  Lancaster  Fabmeb  has  now  completed  its  seventh 
yeai" — the  last  h;ivin^  been  under  the  auspices  of  the  under- 
signed as  publishers.  When  we  iissuiaed  the  reH])ousibllity 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago,  it  was  with  a  determination 
to  make  such  improvements  during  the  year  as  would  place 
the  Farmers' Organ  of  this  great  agricultural  county  iu  the 
very  front  rank  of  publicationH  of  its  cl;is8.  That  we  have 
done  BO,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fairly  beguii.  We  propose  to 
make  the  volume  for  the  Coutennial  year  still  more  interesting 
and  valuiible  than  its  predecessor  for  1875.  In  this,  how- 
evei',  we  need  the  co-operation  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
lirise.  To  make  it  a  success,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Fakmeh  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  coatrilnitious  of  our  able  editor.  Prof.  Kathvon,  on 
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II. 


THE  LANCASTEPx  FARMER. 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

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WRITE  for  Circular  and  Reciiies,  which  are  furnished 
without  charge,  containing  complete  instructious  for 
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actual  use,  to  lie  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
at  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 

Oil  Vitriol,  Nitrate  .Soda, 

Ground  Bones,  Sulphate  Ammonia, 

Land  Plaster,  Muriate  Potash, 

Sulphate  Potash,  Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


AddresB 


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PHILADELPHIA. 


Established  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chemicals  in  1793. 


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Printed  expeditiously  and  cheap  at  the  ofhceof 

THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


How  He  Keeps  Clean. 

"  Blue  Jeans  .Jiininy  "  Williams,  the  newly-elected 
Democratic  Governor  of  Indiana,  the  great  economist 
and  lemonade  objector  of  the  House,  has  taken  a 
bath.  He  went  down  to  the  hathroom  the  other  day 
and  actually  bathed.  Wlien  he  was  drying  himself  a 
happy  thought  struck  hira,  and  he  asked  the  attend- 
ant how  many  towels  they  used  in  a  day. 

"  Two  hundred,"  i-eplied  the  attendant. 

"  Cajsar  and  seed  corn  !  "  e.'iolaiined  the  economist. 
"  What  in  the  name  of  four  aces  do  you  do  with  200 
towels?" 

"They  uses  'em  a  bathin',  sir,"  replied  the  darkey. 

"  Two  hundred  men  don't  bathe  here  every  day  !  " 

■'  No,  boss,  but  some  of  'em  they  uses  two  an' three 
an'  four  towels  whenever  they  bathe." 

"Great  Jupiter!"  exclaimed  the  Governor-elect 
of  Indiana.  Is  that  possible  ?  Why,  boy,  I  have 
a  family  of  eleven  at  home,  and  one  towel  lasts  us  a 
week." 

"You  must  keep  pretty  clean  then,  boss,"  was  the 
darkey's  sagacious  reply. — Graphic. 

Chin. 

A  pointed  or  round  chin  indidates  a  congenial 
love.  A  person  with  such  a  chin  will  have  a  beau 
ideal,  and  will  not  be  easily  satisBed  with  real  men  or 
women. 

The  indented  chin  indicates  great  desire  to  be  loved; 
hunger  and  thirst  for  affection.  When  large  in 
women,  she  may  overstep  the  bonds  of  etiquette,  and 
make  love  to  one  that  pleases  her. 

A  narrow  square  chin  indicates  a  desire  to  love  ; 
and  is  more  common  among  women. 

The  broad  square  chin  indicates  a  |violent  love  ;  or 
at  least  devoted  attachment. 

The  broad  square  chin  indicates  ardent  love  com- 
bined with  great  steadfastness  and  permanence  of 
affection . 

The  retreating  chin  is  indicative  of  the  want  of  at- 
tachment, and  but  little  ardor  in  love. 

The  chin,  in  its  length  and  breadth,  indicates  self- 
control,  self-will,  resolution,  decision,  etc. 

Carnivorous  animals  have  the  upper  jaw  projecting, 
while  those  of  a  graminivorous  uatui-e  have  the 
lower  jaw  piojecting.  In  man  with  a  projecting 
upper  jaw  will  be  found  lai-ge  destructiveness  and 
love  for  animal  food;  when  the  lower  jaw  projects, 
then  the  love  for  vetgeable  food. 

'"To  fasten  labels  to  tin  cans,  put  a  teaspoonful  of 
bi-own  sugar  into  a  quart  of  paste,  and  it  will  fasten 
labels  as  secittely  to  the  tin  cans  as  to  wood. 

It  is  calculated  that  potatoes  planted  five  inches 
deep  will  produce  30  per  cent,  more  than  those  plant- 
ed two  inches. 

Work  "  iron  filing,"  "chips"  and  charcoal  into 
the  soil  of  your  flower  beds,  and  you  will  add  great- 
ly to  the  rich,  bright  coloring  of  flowers. 

Never  trim  the  hair  from  the  ear  of  your  horse. 
It  is  placed  there  by  nature  to  protect  the  orifice  and 
drum  of  the  ear  from  insects,  dirt  and  sudden  change 
of  the  weather. 

A  ROD  of  brick  work,  372  superficial  feet,  1}..^  bricks 
thick,  or  4,3.50  bricks  average  work.  One  yard  of 
paving,  36  bricks  fiat  or  .53  on  edge.  There  are  384 
bricks  to  a  cubic  yard,  and  1,000  bricks,  closely 
stacked,  occupy  about  6-5  cubic  feet. 

"  Things  is  getting  slouchaways  in  dis  countrv  ;  I 
declar'  to  grashus  ef  dey  aint,"  said  an  old  negro  the 
other  day.  "  Fust  cum  de  cattypiller,  den  de  chicken 
kollery,  an'  now  hear  cum  de  grasshoppers  ;  an'  I 
hear  talk  de  udder  day  dat  a  nigger  was  pisened  with 
amushmilliou.     Looks  like  hai-d  times." 

A  patriotic   Servian    has    translated   "Yankee 
Doodle  "  into  his   native  tongue,  and  the   air  is  so 
popular  that  it  bids  fair  to  become  the  national  an- 
them of  that  struggling  race.    It  runs  as  follows  : 
Yenghiatoviteh   Dhoodalvitski    camerowsh    totovw- 

llidingelensk  onovitch  poneolowdosk  ;  [nepki, 

Stuckorelskeno  fheatheromouk  inter  his  hatovitch, 

Adensk  calladarovask  macharonitoven&ki. 

The  rest  is  awful.] 

Requiem  OP  Summer  :  The  glory  of  the  summer 
is  over.  The  verdure  of  the  hills  has  changdc  into 
the  russet,  purple,  gold  and  brown  of  autumn  ;  there 
is  no  balm  or  perfume  in  the  sighing  wind,  and  the 
grand  orchestra  ol'  nature  is  attuned  to  melancholy 
notes,  introducing  the  sad  requiem  of  the  dying  sea- 
son. Fading,  fading  !  No  dewdrop  on  the  rose  ;  no 
lowing  kine,  knee-deep  in  fragrant  clover  ;  no  lotus 
hush  at  noon-tide  ;  no  groves,  prompted  by  cooling 
breezes,  wooing  with  outstretched  arms  the  worn 
and  weary  to  the  shade  of  their  soft  aisles ;  no 
shadows  chased  by  wayward  zephyrs  over  rich  har- 
vest fields.  The  day  breaks  tardily,  as  if  reluctant 
to  look  upon  the  saddening  change,  hurries  to  its 
end,  and  dies  mid  sombre  shadows.  Fading,  fading  ! 
From  dew  to  frost  ;  from  freshness  to  decay.  Thus 
roseate  youth  gives  place  to  wrinkled  age  ;  so  passes 
life  away. 


RlCKFOf^D 

AUTOMATIC 

Knitter 


51     « 


91 

3 

■3 
"-  ? 

I   3 

"^  a 

»  3 

!^ 

S  (» 
1  » 
*  "9 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  attracting  uuiversal  attention  by  its  astorishiug  per- 
formances and  its  great  practical  value  for  every-day  family 
use.  It  knits  every  possible  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

'WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  shape  and  finish  to  all  garments.      If  will 

knit  a  pair  of  socks  !n  fifteen  minutes  I      Every  machin* 

WARRANTO     perfect,  aJid  tudojiiAt  what,  U  represented. 

A  complete  instruction  book  accompanies  each  machine. 

No.  1  Family  Machine,  1  cylinder,  7'2  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       '*  •'  2         "     72  &  100     *'         40. 

A  nample  machine  will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  United 

States  or  Canada,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  express  cfutrget 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Agents  wanted  in  every  State,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whom  very  liberal  discounts  will  be  made.    Address, 
BICKFORD  KNITTING  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
7-11-tf]  Sole  Manufacturers,  Brattleboro,  Tt 

THOS.  M.  HARVEY. 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA., 

Breeder  and  Shipper  of 

GDERHSEY'uSlBDTTER  STOCK- 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


0M74SS1BS  WMfli. 

TO  TAKE  SUBSCEIEERS  FOR 

Tin©  Larj©a§t©if  fmmm 

Farmers'  Sons    and  other   Young   Men, 
during  their  leisure  hours, 

CAN  MAKE  GOOD  WAGES. 


We  want  a  thorough  canvaBs  made  of  every  district,  and  will 
pay  good  cauvasaers  liberally.     Address 

JNO.  A.   HIESTAND,   Publisher, 

7-8-tf  I.A\-t;ASTER,    PA. 

DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

F.\MII,Y  and   I.I.HK-BVR?ri9rO  COAl,! 

Orders  received  at 

Office,  No.  15  E.ist  King  street,  fud  at  the 
8-l-12m)     Yard,  No.  (ilS  NORTH  PRINCE   STREET. 

Cure  for  Choking  Cattle. 
Should  cattle  be  at  any  time  in  danger  of  choking 
by  reason  of  any  foreign  substance  sticking  in  the 
throat,  take  of  fine  chewing  tobacco  enough  to  make 
a  ball  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg;  dampen  it  with  molas- 
ses so  that  it  can  be  compressed  into  a  ball,  and  will 
adhere  closely;  elevate  the  animal's  head,  pull  out 
the  tongue,  and  crowd  the  ball  as  far  down  the  throat 
as  possible.  In  fifteen  minutes  it  will  cause  sickness 
and  vomiting,  relaxing  the  muscles  so  that  the  potato, 
or  whatever  may  be  choking  it,  will  be  thrown  up. 


Four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty  square 
yards  make  an  acre;  a  square  mile,  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  To  measure  an  acre,  two  hundred  and 
nine  feet  on  each  side  make  a  square  acre  within  aa 
inch. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA..  NOVEMBER,  i876. 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  11. 


ANTS  DESTROY  CATERPILLARS. 

"  The  Bclgiiin  dllicial  jdumnl,  rcfcniiig  to 
the  ignorant  conduct  of  those  wlio  destroy  :dl 
kinds  of  l)irds  and  insects  indiscriminately, 
insists  on  the  necessity  of  children  in  primary 
schools  being  taught  to  distinguish  between 
useful  and  noxious  in.sects,  and  thus  to  exer- 
ci.se  their  destructive  facultiesagainst  tlie  hitter 
only.  The  writer  proceeds  to  say  th.it  the  ant, 
which  is  very  disagreeable  and  inconvenient 
in  many  respects,  does  excellent  .servicer  in 
chasing  and  (lestroyingeateriiillars.  A  farmer 
who  had  noticed  this  fact  and  had  hiscabliage 
literally  devoured  by  caterpillars,  at  last  hit 
upon  the  expedient  of  having  an  ant-hill,  or 
rather  nest,  such  as  abound  in  i)ine  forests, 
brought  to  his  cabViage  plot.  A  sackful  of 
pine  knots,  abounding  in  ants,  was  obtained, 
and  its  contents  thrown  around  the  infested 
cabbage  jilants.  The  ants  lost  no  time,  but 
immediately  set  to  work ;  they  seizeil  the 
c<aterpillars  by  their  heads.  The  next  d.ay 
heaps  of  dead  caterpillars  were  found,  but  not 
one  alive,  nor  did  they  return  to  the  cabbages. 
The  value  of  the  ant  is  well  known  in  Ger- 
many, and,  although  their  eggs  are  iu  great 
request  as  food  for  young  partridges,  pheas- 
.ants  and  nightingales,  there  is  a  line  against 
taking  them  from  the  forests.  The  ant  is  in- 
defatigable; it  climbs  to  tlie  very  tops  of  trees, 
and  destroys  an  immense  (piantity  of  noxious 
insects.'' 

We  entirely  commend  the  idea  of  using  dis- 
crimination in  the  destruction  of  insects,  and 
we  are  as  entirely  in  sympathy  with  the  sen- 
timent of  children,  not  only  iu  jici'mtuj/,  but 
also  inscro/i(?'(i7/and  /k';//)  schools,  being  taught 
to  exercise  their  destructive  faculties  against 
the  noxi(uis  kinds  only.  We  have  advocated 
these  views  for  many  years,  and  have  all  along 
been  urging  that  if  an  intelligent  discrimina- 
tion were  exercised  iu  the  destruction  of  in- 
sects, the  labors  attending  their  diminution  or 
extermination  would  be  correspondingly  facil- 
itated. As  an  iustauci',  it  has  been  fully  dem- 
onstrated tliat  there  are  at  least  twent}-  spe- 
cies of  insects,  which,  in  one  way  or  another, 
prey  upon  the  eggs  and  the  lanrr  of  the  de- 
structive "Colorado  rotato-beetle,"  and  to 
discriminate  in  favor,  of  these  will  certainly 
afford  a  great  help  to  their  usefulness. 

The  following  paragraph  from  the  October 
number  of  Field  <md  Furest,  p.  (il),  illustrates 
that  an  additional  species  of  these  parasitic 
insects  has  been  discovered,  and  time  may  yet 
develop  a  sullicient  number  to  "checkmate" 
tlie  Colorado  beetle  entirely. 

"  Euschistes  jinnctipm. — This  insect  has  been 
winning  a  name  in  Virginia,  by  preying  upon 
the  Colorado  potato-beetle.  We  do  not 
remember  seeing  its  name  iu  the  list  of  the 
foes  of  the  '  Spearman'  before,  and  so  hasten 
to  enroll  it." 

This  insect  is  one  of  the  true  Bugs  {Hcm- 
iptera)  and  is  allied  to  the  "Spined  Soldier- 
bug"  (^-Irina  Siiinnsn)  and  maj'  be  regarded  as 
an  additional  i)arasitic  hel]). 

But,  in  the  application  of  artificial  remedies, 
either  as  a  liipiid  or  a  powder,  or  in  setting  a 
self-operating  trap  for  them,  it  is  almost  im- 
possible tf  discriminate  where  the  good  and 
bad  are  mingled  together,  even  if  we  are  ac- 
quainted with  the  ditTercnt  species.  And  as 
to  a  trap,  we  cannot  control  the  kind  or  num- 
ber that  may  fall  into  it.  The  only  compen- 
sation in  such  a  case  is,  that  in  destroying  all 
— both  friends  and  foes — the  extermination  of 
the  latter  will  not  necessitate  the  presence  of 
the  former — having  nothing  more  for  them  to 
do,  we  can  dispense  with  their  labors 
altogether. 

The  greatest  use  in  being  able  to  discrimi- 
nate between  noxious  and  iimoxious  insects, 
by  learning  to  identify  the  species,  as  well  as 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  their  habits,  trans- 


formations, and  modes  of  life,  is  in  this,  that 
we  may  thus  know  exactly  what  to  think  and 
do  when  we  meet  them.  It  will  relieve  us 
from  unnecessary  fears  and  anxieties  in  regard 
to  them,  and  facilitate  the  labor  of  destroying 
our  foes  and  shielding  our  friends.^'  Entomo- 
logical ob.ject  lessons  from  a  practical  teacher, 
lectures  on  their  hahits,  their  forms,  their 
whereabouts  and  their  peculiar  structures,  in 
connection  with  a  scientitically  named  and 
classilicd  cabinet,  in  all  of  our  schools,  would 
go  very  far  towards  imparting  the  neces.sary 
knowledge  on  this  important  subject.  If  it  is 
deemed  necessary  to  impart  such  knowledge 
to  I  lie  iiupilsof  our  schools  as  will  (jualify  them 
for  merchants,  mamifacturers,  mechanics,  en- 
gineers, lawyius,  doctors,  and  other  arts  and 
professions,  it  cannot  be  less  important  to  in- 
struct them  in  matters  so  nearly  related  to 
agriculture,  as  practical  entomology  is  now 
considered. 

As  to  the  Ant,  however,  as  a  destroyer  of 
cat(U'pillars,  we  cannot  say  that  we  have  much 
confidence  in  their  efflciency.  It  is  true,  ants 
generally  seem  to  manifest  a  fondness  for  ani- 
mal food  ;  and  a  frog,  a  squirrel,  or  other 
small  animal,  buried  in  an  ant-hill,  may  be 
nicely  skeletonized  in  an  incredibly  short 
space  of  time  ;  but,  ant-hills  are  not  always 
nor  everywhere  accessible.  Moreover,  ants 
are  fonder  of  saccharine  substances  than  they 
arc  of  animal  food,  and  it  is  our  opinion  that 
if  they  discovered  acolony  of  ^4^;/»'fZsdiseh.arg- 
ing  "  honey-dew,"  in  a  garden,  they  would 
never  touch  a  caterpillar  or  anything  else,  as 
long  as  the  saccharine  fiuid  was  supi)lied.  We 
have  often  noticed  ants  dragging  dead  insects 
or  fragments  of  dead  inseets  towards  their 
cells,  but  we  never  noticed  that  they  were 
particularly  destructive  to  live  insects,  un- 
less it  might  have  been  a  mutilated  or  ener- 
vated .specimen.  Fossorial  and  .solitary  wasps 
arc  in  the  habit  of  supjdying  their  young 
with  the  bodies  of  pretty  large  caterpillars, 
which  they  in  some  manner  paralyze,  and  upon 
whicli  their  young  subsist.  But  suppose  we 
succeed  in  transferring  an  ant-hill  to  our 
gardens,  and  the  ants  destroy  all  the  cater- 
pillars, what  then  ?  They  become  so  numer- 
ous in  some  localities  that  they,  if  they  could 
be  trained  on  animal  or  insect  food,  might  do 
a  good  service  to  the  "Truck"  gardener  or  the 
Horticulturist.  The  thing,  however,  seems 
impracticable  ;  nevertheless,  it  might  be  worth 
while  to  make  an  ettbrt  in  that  direction, 
whether  we  meet  with  success  or  failure,  and 
report  thereon  immediately. — Fd. 


A  WORD  FOR  THE  SNAKES. 

Permit  me  to  say  a  few  words  in  behalf  of 
these  much  abused  anim.als.  Not  that  some  of 
them  do  not  merit  their  abu.se,  but  tliat  there 
an;  those  which  do  not  and  the  whole  class 
should  not  snll'er  for  the  bad  tpialities  of  a  part. 
The  whole  class  does,  however,  sutler  from 
this  cause,  and  it  is  almost  impo.ssible  to  find 
a  single  species  of  serpent  to  which  some  one 
will  not  impute  venomous  (lualities.  At  the 
same  time  it  is  an  established  fact  that  in 
every  country,  Austra'ia  excepted,  nonvene- 
inous  serpents  exceed  the  venomous  in  num- 
bers. Moreover,  in  all  tropical  countries  the 
venomous  snakes  constitute  a  greater  propor- 
tion of  the  entire  number  than  they  do  in 
temperate  regions,  and  in  our  favored  land, 
especially  in  the  Northern  States,  such  as 
New  York,  thejiroportionof  venomous  snakes 
is  very  small.  In  the  above  mentioned  State 
fifteen  species  of  snakes  are  known  ;  only  two 
of  these,  the  Cojiperhead  and  Rattlesnake, 
are  venomous,  and  their  bites  rarely  prove 
fatal  if  proper  remedies  are  immediately  ap- 
plied. This,  however,  is  often  impossible,  and 
as  prevention  is  better  than  cure,  the  best 


plan  to  adopt  is  to  learn  to  distingui.sh  the.se 
species  from  all  others.  This  plan  I  believe  to 
be  far  better  than  the  one  now  in  vogue, 
especially  among  ladies;  I  mean  the  custom  of 
running  away  with  screams  of  terror  at  the 
sight  of  every  snake,  lizard,  crooked  stick  or 
other  innocent' object  which  a  fiction-trained 
imagination  can  convert  into  the  semblance  of 
a  ser|)ent. 

Another  undeserved  charge  is  miule  against 
these  creatures.  It  is  that  of  viciousncss. 
Here  again  a  (piality  characteristic  of  the 
minority  is  ascribed  to  the  whole  class.  Com- 
paratively few  of  the  uon-venomous  snakes  are 
vicious  and  many  of  the  venomous  snakes  do 
not  possess  this  (piality  ;  thus,  our  northern 
Kattlesnakc  is  not  at  all  vicious,  rarely  biting 
unless  it  has  received  .some  real  or  fancied  in- 
jury, and  even  then  it  rarely  fails  to  give 
warning  by  sounding  its  ominous  rattle.  In 
Australia  there  is  a  snake  which,  though 
venomous,  may  be  taken  up  and  handled  with 
impunity,  as  it  is  so  geiitli^  by  nature  that  the 
idea  of  biting  never  seems  to  enter  its  head. 

It  is  .stated  that  snakes  do  a  great  deal  of 
harm  by  destroying  toads,  frogs,  birds,  and 
other  useful  animals.  This,  I  regret  to  say, 
cannot  be  denied  :  but  that  is  no  excuse  for 
overlooking  the  fact  that  a  few  of  our  snakes 
really  do  a  great  deal  of  good  "and  little  or  no 
evil.  Such  are  the  Grass-snake  and  King- 
snake,  that  subsist  upon  worms,  slugs,  and  in- 
sects ;  one  or  two  others  also,  about  whose 
habits  little  is  known,  arc  probably  content 
with  the  same  bumble  diet.  Another,  the 
Ribbon-snake,  chooses  a  more  varied  bill  of 
fare,  now  dining  on  toad  or  frog,  now  conde- 
.sct'iiding  to  put  up  with  a  dinner  of  large  bugs 
or  other  insect.s.  As  to  the  large  serpents  that 
live  on  birds,  frogs,  etc.,  even  the}'  partly 
atone  for  the  damage  done  in  killing  these 
useful  animals,  by  the  di'struction  of  field 
mice,  moles,  chipmunks,  and  many  other  kinds 
of  small,  noxious  rodents  that  infest  our  fields 
and  gardens.  However,  only  the  first  men- 
tioned species,  namely,  those  living  entirely 
upon  insects,  can  be  reckoned  among  the 
l;xnner"s  real  friends,  and  consequiMitly  among 
those  that  deserve  encouragement  and  protec- 
tion. 

Before  I  close  I  must  say  a  few  words  for  a 
family  clo.sely  related  to  snakes.  I  refer  to 
lizards.  Many  are  in  total  ignorance  as  to 
whether  or  not  they  arc  poisonous.  For  the 
benefit  of  such,  let  me  say  that  there  is  not 
known  to  science  a  single  lizard  that  is  veno- 
mous; all  are  as  harmless,  and  man}-  as  tracta- 
ble as  kittens. 

Another  point,  concerning  which  some  are 
equally  ignorant,  is  the  food  of  lizards.  Many 
are  unable  to  decide  satisfactorily,  when  they 
meet  with  a  lizard,  whether  it  is  their  duty  to 
kill  it  or  let  it  go.  Lizards,  on  account  of  the 
structure  of  their  jaws,  cannot  swallow  large 
prey,  but  are  better  adapted  to  feed  upon  in- 
sects, from  which  they  almost  exclusively  de- 
rive their  sustenance,  so  that  any  one  who  kills 
a  lizard,  instead  of  beiu'litiug  agriculture,  is 
really  injuring  it.  By  all  means  encourage 
the  lizards. — Rural  A'cic  Yorker. 

We  could,  and  would,  cheerfully  endorse  the 
above  from  the  "  JJiiro/,"  but  where's  the  use 
of  any  body  putting  in  a  "  word  for  the  snakes," 
so  long  as  peojile  are  so  deeply  prejudiced 
against  them.  In  Lancaster  county  we  have 
but  o)ie  species  of  snake  that  is  veiioiiKuis,  in 
all  Pennsylvania  l)ut  (('•",  and  in  the  very  face 
of  this/or(  there  is  a  strange /((Hoy  that  there 
are  at  least  a  dozen. 

About  fifty-five  years  ago  two  rattlesnakes 
\vere  killed  in  York  county,  opposite  the  town 
of  Marietta,  and  it  is  very  questionable  whether 
any  others  have  been  seen,  either  in  York  or 
Lancaster  county  from  that  time  down  to  the 
present,  and  yet,  during  that  long  interval, 


162 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  November, 


liardlj-  a  year  has  passed  that  currency  lias  not 
been  given  to  some  terrible  snake  story,  and 
people  were  not  wanting  who  would  have  been 
willing  to  substantiate  these  by  oath  or  affi- 
davit. Twelve  species  of  snakes,  at  most,  are 
natives  of  Lancaster  county,  and  among  them 
there  is  but  one  that  is  venomous,  namely,  the 
"  Copperhead  "  {Trlgonocephalu.s  contortrix), 
and  that  one  is  mainly  confined  to  the  south- 
ern districts  of  the  county,  especially  those 
that  bordei'  on  the  Susquehanna.  None  of  the 
other  eleven  species  are  venomous,  and  most 
of  them  are  entirely  harmless.  The  larger  and 
older  individuals  among  the  Black-snakes,  of 
which  we  have  two  species,  are  said  to  have 
attacked  persons  in  the  defensive,  but  all  these 
stories  I'est  upon  "it  is  said,"  although  some 
of  them  are  probably  true;  but  even  if  true, 
it  by  no  means  militates  against  the  assump- 
tion that  they  are  not  venomous. 

We  would  rather  be  bitten  by  a  non-venom- 
ous snake  at  any  time,  than  to  be  bitten  by  a 
cat,  a  rat,  a  squirrel,  a  mink,  a  weasel,  a  dog, 
or  even  a  mouse,  and  should  have  less  appre- 
hension about  a  wound,  inflicted  by  such  a  rep- 
tile, than  we  would  from  one  inflicted  by  any 
of  the  mammals  named.  The  dental  organs 
of  the  common  pike  are  more  formidable  than 
those  of  any  non-venomous  snake  we  have  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  are  capable  of  inflicting 
severer  wounds ;  and  yet  most  people  would 
rather  subject  tliemselves  to  the  contingency 
of  the  former  than  they  would  of  the  latter. 
Black  snakes,  especially,  are  efficient  "mous- 
ers,"  and  share  the  arvicolian  products  of  the 
meadows  and  the  fields,  with  the  hawks  and 
the  owls,  but  often  the  latter  carry  off  both 
snakes  and  mice.  Water-snakes  are  generally 
fishers  and  froggers,  but  the  smaller  species  of 
land  snakes,  as  well  as  the  lizards,  of  which 
we  have  two  species,  confine  themselves  al- 
most exclusively  to  insects  and  worms.  In 
short  we  must  try  to  live  down  and  educate 
out,  the  deep-seated  prejudices,  which  from 
our  earliest  infancy  we  foster  against  snakes. 
It  is  true,  as  there  are  certainly  such  things  as 
venomous  snakes,  it  would  be  prudent  to  be 
on  the  safe  side,  but  we  would  hardly  apply 
such  a  rule  in  our  relations  to  other  "things. 
We  would  bo  apt  to  regard  it  as  too  indefinite 
— too  hap-hazard.  Nothing  can  so  effectu- 
ally dissipate  our  prejudices  against  snakes, 
as  a  knowledge  of  their  histories,  habits,  an- 
atomies, and  other  characteristics  necessary 
in  determining  their  species  and  families,  and 
learning  to  discriminate  between  the  venom- 
ous and  the  non-venomous  species. 

We  conclude  this  chapter  on  snakes  by  quot- 
ing the  following  article,  which  originally  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  the  Concordia  En- 
terprise^ of  Kansas.  (Whether  we  are  to  un- 
derstand that  the  paper,  the  editor,  or  the 
story,  is  an  "enterprise,"  the  reader  may  de- 
termine for  himself. ) 

The  "Blue-racer"  alluded  to  in  the  article, 
(if  true)  we  presume  is  what  we  call  in  this 
county  the  "Black-snake"  or  the  "Kacer"* 
(Bascanion  constrictor)  a  species  more  slender 
than  our  common  black-snake  (Scoptophis  alli- 
glianiensis)  a  reptile  that  feeds  on  field-mice, 
moles,  ground-squirrels,  birds,  insects,  and  in- 
deed on  almost  any  small  living  animal  it  can 
catch,  when  it  is  hungry.  These  animals  are 
very  particular  in  their  diet,  eating,  or  rather 
swallowing,  nothing  that  is  filthy,  putrid,  or 
dead. 

As  to  the  "adder"  referred  to,  we  know  not 
what  it  is.  The  European  adder  ( Clotho  arie- 
tans)  is  venomous,  but  there  is  no  snake  in 
North  America  that  we  know  of,  that  has  re- 
ceived the  common  name  of  "adder."  Can 
this  be  the  "Harlequin  snake"  {Elaijsfidvius) 
of  the  Western  States  ?  If  so,  then  it  has  two 
short,  erect  fangs,  and  is  venomous.  Wheth- 
er the  "  centennial  snake  story"  is  true  or  not, 
3,000  snakes  destroj'ed  in  one  district,  would 
be  felt  in  the  increased  number  of  mice  and 
insects  for  the  next  year  following,  at  least. 
We  have,  as  boy  or  man,  encountered  snakes 
of  various  kinds  for  more  than  half-a-century, 

"Perhaps  the  "ludigo,"  or  "Gopher-snake  "  (Georgia  cou- 
peri),  about  3  feet  in  length,  bluish-black  aboTe,  and  slate 
below. 


and  we  never  met  one  yet  that  did  not  attempt 
to  run  away  from  us.  It  is  perhaps  important 
that  we  should  learn  to  distinguish  the  harm- 
less and  the  venomous  species,  but  their  total 
destruction  we  do  not  think  is  wise. 


Centennial  Snake  Story. 

On  Saturday  last  we  were  asked  by  Mr.  .Jon- 
athan Fulford  if  we  had  "heard  about  tlie 
snakes."  We  hadn't,  and  be  proceeded  to  tell 
us  a  story  that  we  at  first  tliought  incredible, 
but  which  we  were  at  last  fain  to  believe  and 
which  we  now  know  to  be  true,  having  seen 
the  horrid  sight,  and  can  voucli  with  sworn 
affidavit  if  necessary,  as  can  others  who  may 
have  visited  the  scene  within  the  past  two 
weeks,  as  to  the  truth  of  what  we  have  to  relate. 

On  the  2d  inst.,  toward  evening,  a  young 
son  of  Mr.  A.  Thompson,  who  lives  about 
eight  and  a  half  miles  from  town  southward, 
was  passing  over  a  hill  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Gibbs  Myers,  a  neighbor,  in  quest  of  his  fath- 
er's cattle,  when  he  accidentally  stepped  into 
a  small  hole,  and,  drawing  his  logout  quickly, 
drew  with  it  several  serpents.  The  sight  fright- 
ened the  lad,  and  he  ran  home  and  reported 
his  experience.  He  soon  returned,  however, 
with  another  lad,  and  found  that  the  hill-top 
was  the  home  of  a  community  of  crawling  rep- 
tiles, and  before  they  left  the  spot  they  had 
despatched  forty  six. 

Day  after  day  the  work  went  on,  until  last 
Sunday  the  dead  snakes  were  picked  up  and 
counted  and  placed  in  a  pile  near  the  mouth 
of  the  den.  The  number  of  1,776  was  counted, 
and  still  the  work  of  killing  goes  on  from  day 
to  day.  We  went  to  the  place  on  Monday, 
accompanied  by  L.  H.  Smyth,  and  the  astound- 
ing sight  of  near  2,000  snakes  in  one  pile  met 
our  gaze,  with  live  ones  still  in  apparently  un- 
diminished numbers  upon  the  hill.  We  killed 
fifteen  in  as  many  minutes  and  had  enough, 
while  two  little  lads  were  all  the  time  at  work. 
And  the  work  of  killing  has  been  going  on 
ever  since,  until  now  we  hear  that  about  3,000 
have  been  despatched,  and  there  are|hundreds, 
perhaps  thousands,  left ! 

The  snakes  are  of  the  species  called  the  blue 
racer,  with  a  sprinkling  of  adders,  and  vary  in 
size  from  the  thickness  of  a  man's  finger.to 
that  of  his  wrist,  and  in  length  from  a  foot  to 
four  or  five  feet.  They  ran  with  remarkable 
speed,  and  at  first  were  cowardly,  endeavoring 
to  escape,  and  not  much  disposed  to  show 
fight.  They  are  now,  however,  becoming  vi- 
cious, and  show  fight,  and  at  times  get  start- 
Hngly  aggressive. 

The  above  statement  is  absolutely  true,  and 
the  sight  is  worth  a  pilgrimage  to  see. 

Now,  what  is  to  be  done  f  A  work  of  ex- 
termination should  be  set  about  and  carried  to 
completion.  A  blast  has  been  suggested;  but 
something  should  be  done  to  rid  the  neighbor- 
hood of  such  an  ugly  mass  of  possibly  venom- 
ous reptiles.  Let  a  plan  be  devised,  a  time 
set  and  a  snake  killing  "bee"  organized,  to 
see  what  may  be  hidden  in  the  gloomy  depths 
of  that  horrid  hill.— Concordia  (Kan.)  Enter- 
prise, Oct.  20. 

CENTENNIAL  APPLES. 
In  looking  over  the  pomological  display  at 
the  Centennial  Fruit  Fxposition,  I  noticed  the 
different  varieties  of  apples  from  the  ditt'erent 
States.  The  same  varieties  were  differently 
colored  in  the  different  localities.  Smith's 
cider,  Wine  Sap,  Dominici,  Hubertsou's  Non- 
such, Waggon,  and  Black  Gilliflower,  from 
Kansas,  had  very  little  of  the  usual  red  color; 
while  North  Carolina  furnished  some  beauti- 
ful red  apples,  and  of  large  size.  Queen  pip- 
pins 18  oz.,  Butt"20  oz.,  Fliorr  seedlings  12  oz.. 
Hoover  10  oz.,  Clark's  seedling  20  oz.  By  far 
the  largest  display  was  from  Canada.  Iowa 
had  .some  fine/cic  S)riw7e  specimens  of  apples  in 
wax  under  glass.  There  was  no  separate  ex- 
hibit of  Pennsylvania  fruit.  There  were  indi- 
vidual exhibitors  from  different  parts  of  the 
State,  of  which  only  a  few  apples  were  from 
Lancaster  county.  Mr.  Daniel  Smeycli  in  ad- 
dition to  his  grape  exhibit  at  the  opening  had 
some  very  large  pears,  equal  to  Cobs.  Mr. 
Satterthwait,  from  Montgomery  county,  had 


a  fine  display  of  apples  and  pears.  He  had  the 
genuine  Smith's  cider  and  the  largest  Seckle 
pears  I  ever  saw.  The  reason  there  was  no 
separate  State  or  county  exhibition  of  Penn- 
sylvania fruit,  was  because  there  was  no  ap- 
propriation made  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
gathering  and  displaying  it. 

It  would  not  have  paid  as  an  individual  en- 
terprise, to  gatlier  Iruit  and  place  it  on  ex- 
hibition, at  our  own  expense.  The  State  of 
Pennsylvania  could  liave  made  as  fine  a  dis- 
play as  any  other  that  was  represented,  and 
even  our  own  county  could  have  made  a  mag- 
nificent display,  but  there  was  no  encourage- 
ment outside  of  our  own  Society.  Our  Society 
would  not  ask — and  perhaps  it  they  had  asked 
they  would  not  have  gotten — aid  from  our 
authorities,  as  we  heretofore  have  met  with 
little  encouragement  from  them.  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Societies,  and  their  exhibi- 
tions have  not  met  with  the  recognition  or 
encouragement  from  the  people  that  they  de- 
serve, nor  yet  from  olticials,  or  they  would  not 
have  been  refused  the  privilege  of  meeting  in 
a  public  room,  to  the  support  of  which  the 
members  contribute  tliier  annual  taxes.  Lan- 
caster county  is  as  much  a  fruit  county  as  any 
other  in  the  State  of  which  it  is  a  part,  and 
might  have  been  second  to  no  other  district  in 
Pennsylvania.  The  Fruit-growers'  Associa- 
tion of  Ontario,  from  Hamilton,  contributed 
a  great  number  of  apples,  of  which  35  varieties 
were  presented  to  me  by  Mr.  Jno.  Freed,  their 
agent,  and  some  few  from  Mr.  Nathaniel  At- 
kinson, of  Ashville,  North  Carolina.  I  have 
brought  and  exliibited  before  our  Society  some 
of  the  leading  specimens,  and  hope  it  may  pass 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  Messrs.  Freed  and  Atkin- 
son for  the  same.  The  State  of  Kansas  made 
by  far  the  finest  display  of  all  others.  They 
had  a  fine  large  pyramid  of  apples  and  pears 
in  the  Kansas  and  Colorado  building.  Fine 
and  large  as  their  exhibit  was,  however,  it 
was,  perhaps,  not  as  beautiful  as  some  others 
of  less  size  and  variety,  on  account  of  the  ab- 
sence of  the  rich  red  color  which  is  so  essential 
in  a  show  of  fruit.  They  exhibited  thek  fruit 
as  an  advertisement,  to  induce  settlers  to  locate 
in  their  State.  They  had  their  own  separate 
exhibition  in  their  own  building,  as  well  as 
the  one  in  Pomological  Hall  like  many  others, 
and  that  was  one  reason  why  the  Hall  was  not 
filled  up  as  it  should  have  been. 

The  Canada,  North  Carolina  and  Michigan 
apples  were  exhibited  on  plates,  sometimes  in 
alternate  colors.  Some  were  beautifully  red 
and  yellow  striped,  and  others  of  all  the  dif- 
ferent shades  of  color.  Amongst  the  Canada 
apples  I  noticed  a  large  and  beautiful  red  va- 
riety weighing  from  15  to  20  oz.,  called  the 
"  Fill-basket."  When  I  unpacked  my  apples, 
that  was  the  first  I  looked  for,  but  it  was 
missing — like  the  Irishman's  flea  when  I  put 
my  finger  on  it,  it  was  not  there — realizing  in 
this  case  as  in  many  others,  that  "  there's 
many  a  slip  'tween  cup  and  lip." 

Unless  the  Alexandria  is  one  of  the  same — 
as  some  contend,  but  which  others  dispute — 
I  am  minus  a  fine  apple.  I  think  the  apple  I 
have  is  not  as  large  as  the  Fill-basket. 

I  also  desire  you  to  examine  may  native 
apples  on  the  table,  especially  the  MUlport- 
Sheepnose,  which  bears  every  year  a  large 
crop.  But  it  is  not  a  long-living  tree — over- 
bearing is  the  cau.se. — L.  S.  R.,  before  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Lan.  Ag.  andHort.  Soc.,Nov.  6.,  1876. 

[Mr.  R. 's  experience  corroborates  pretty 
much  our  own,  on  our  visit  to  the  Centennial 
pomological  show.  We  regret  that  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Lancaster  county  permitted  other 
states  and  counties  to  carry  off  all  the  honors 
of  the  occasion,  especially  since  they  were  so 
near  and  accessible,  and  moreover  had  an 
abundance  of  all  kinds  of  fruit,  and  could  have 
made  as  tine  a  display  as  any  other  on  the 
continent.  The  want  of  an  "appropriation" 
no  doubt  was  a  serious  drawback,  but  this  is 
hardly  a  sufficient  excuse.  The  citizens  and 
societies  .should  have  taken  the  matter  in 
hand,  and  made  a  grand  display  "  any  how." 
But  the  opportunity  hasnow  passed,  and  Penn- 
sylvania's record  on  this  august  occasion,  will 
not  read  so  well  a  hundred  years  hence. — Ld.] 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


163 


CELERY. 
lApitini  yravfolvna.) 

No  vegetable  not  iced  in  this  volume  has  been 
move  strikiiigl}-  iinin-oved  by  cuUivHtion  th;iii 
our  gariU'n  celorv.  It  seems  to  have  been  de- 
rived tVoiu  a  rank,  worthless  weed,  known  by 
the  name  of  .Smallage,  which  is  fomul  ;,'i-owinK 
in  marshy  places,  and  on  the  banks  of  <litches, 
in  (ireat  ISrilain.  Tlie  two  |)lants  are  very 
dissimilar  in  their  Lfeneral  apiiearance  anil 
haliits,  and  while  one  is  the  favorite  on  the 
table  of  every  epicure,  the  otlier  is  shunned  as 
poisonous  and  disagreeable  to  the  taste.  The 
lonp,  crisp  stalks,  and  tlie  ndld,  delicate  llavor 
of  the  imiiroved  celery,  remind  the  gardener 
how  much  has  been  done,  and  how  much  can 
hereafter  be  done,  in  his  occupation,  by  skill 
and  perseverance.  Kveiy  such  fact  should 
stimidate  hini  to  increased  dilii;ence  ami  en- 
terprise. Tliere  are  several  varieties,  the  best 
of  which  are,  i)rol>alily,  the  Wliitc  t^olid  and 
the  Hid  Solid.  Many  other  kinds  to  be  found 
in  cataloRues,  are  highly  recommended  for 
their  monstrous  size,  a  quality  that  seems  to 
depend  altogether  uikui  a  favorable  soil  and 
unremitted  attenti<ni. 

Cl'f.TUitK. — The  celery  prefers  a  soil  that  is 
deep,  light,  moist,  and  rich  in  vegetabU^  mould, 
but  not  rank  from  the  avplicatiou  of  fresh 
duug.  The  situation  ought  to  be  open,  and 
free  from  the  inllncnce  of  trees. 

Early  plants  are  often  raised  on  a  small  hot- 
bed, made  somewhere  alwnt  the  iirst  of  March. 
Only  enough  heat  is  refpiired  to  bring  them 
forward  to  a  suitable  size  tor  removal  to  the 
open  ground  as  soon  as  the  weather  will  per- 
mit. For  this  reason  the  heap  of  dung  need 
not  be  over  eighteen  or  twenty-fom-  inches 
in  height,  and  the  depth  of  moidd  should  be 
just  sutHcieiit  to  prevent  injury  to  the  roots  by 
the  heat  and  rank  steam.  Water  is  to  be  ap- 
plied in  moderate  ([uantities,  shade  given  dur- 
ing the  middle  of  the  day,  and  air  admitted 
freely  in  all  pleasant  weather.  When  the 
plants  are  four  inches  high,  remove  them  to  a 
bed  of  rich  soil  having  a  warm  situation.  Here 
they  are  to  be  set  in  rows,  four  or  live  inches 
apart  each  w^ay.  They  should  be  watered  and 
shaded  as  before,  and  at  night  receive  the  pro- 
tection of  mats  or  cold  fraiiies  until  all  danger 
of  fro.st  is  over.  In  this  place,  thev  will  ac- 
quire size  and  strength  for  their  tina'l  removal. 
The  principal  sowing  may  be  delayed  until 
the  first  fortnight  of  April.  The  best  position 
for  the  seed  lied  is  a  warm,  sheltered  border, 
but  having  a  northern  aspect  so  as  to  be  free 
from  the  powerful  effects  of  the  noon-day  sun. 
The  ground  should  be  finely  pulverized,  'as  the 
seed  is  so  small  that  one  ounce  will  afford  ten 
thousand  plants.  We  prefer  sowing  in  drills 
six  inches  apart,  and  perhaps  one-quarter  of 
an  inch  dee]!.  In  very  dry  weather  it  is  ad- 
visable to  give  a  little  water,  both  before  and 
after  germination  commences.  When  the 
plants  are  three  or  four  inches  high,  they  are 
to  be  thinned  out  to  foiu-  inches  apart  in  the 
row,  and  those  pulled  up  to  be  in  another  bed 
at  the  same  distances.  Water  should  be  given 
until  tlie  roots  become  established. 

Preparations  for  transplanting  the  early 
crops  into  trenches,  must  be  made  in  the  be- 
ginning of  June,  at  the  time  when  the  leaves 
are  about  eight  inches  in  height.  The  removal 
of  the  principal  crop  may  be  delayed  some  four 
or  five  weeks  later.  As  before  remarked,  the 
celery  prefers  a  rich  .soil,  with  an  open  expos- 
ure. The  trenches  should  be  at  least  two  and 
a-half  feet  aiiart,  ten  inches  wide,  and  fifteen 
inches  deep.  That  they  may  be  straight,  it  is 
a  good  way  to  stretch  the  line,  and  to  mark 
out  the  sides  by  thrusting  down  the  spade 
previous  to  digging  the  earth,  whicii  is  thrown 
equally  on  either  hand.  In  the  bottom  of  each 
trench  is  to  be  placed  four  inches  of  well-rotted 
dung,  together  with  about  four  inches  of  good 
loam,  the  whole  being  intimately  mixed  by 
the  spade.  The  plants  are  carefully  taken  up 
from  the  nursery  beds,  and  have  their  roots 
and  leaves  trimmed,  besides  being  divested  of 
loose  straggling  leaves  and  side  slioots.  They 
are  then  set  six  iiiches  apart,  in  a  row  through 
the  middle  of  each  trench.  Where  they  have 
been  taken  up  by  the  trowel,  with  balls  of 


earth  attached,  they  seldom  fail  to  do  well. 
The  work  is  most  successful  when  [lerformcd 
in  an  evening,  or  in  a  damp,  cloudy  day.  A 
bountiful  supply  of  water  should  now  be  given, 
and,  subsequently,  from  time  to  time  until  the 
roots  become  accustomed  to  the  change  of  lo- 
cation. During  the  day,  in  order  to  prevent 
injury  by  the  hot  sun,  the  trenches  must  be 
covered,  or  rather  shaded,  by  boards,  brush, 
or  corn-stalks;  the  gardener  being  careful  to 
remove  everything  of  the  kind  ui)on  the  aji- 
I>roach  of  evening,  that  the  regular  deposit  of 
dew  may  not  be  interrupted. 

The  soil  ought  to  be  often  stirred  byasmall 
ho(u)r  a  sharp-pointed  stick.  When  the])Iants 
have  attained  a  height  of  ten  or  twelve  inches, 
it  will  be  time  to  conunence  "earthing  up," 
as  it  is  called.  On  a  dry  day,  when  tlurieav'es 
are  free  from  moisture,  tliey  are  to  be  gatlutred 
together  in  the  left  han<l,  and  held  in  an  up- 
right position,  while  the  right  one  is  engaged 
in  drawing  some  of  the  line  soil  uji  against  them. 
At  first,  this  ridge  must  be  slight,  and  have 
the  top  rather  hollowed,  so  as  to  catch  the  rain. 
The  dirt  should  be  rendered  very  flue  before 
it  is  brought  in  contact  with  the  stems,  and 
drawn  up  in  such  a  manner  that  none  gets  on 
the  centre  shoots  so  as  to  cau.se  decay.  This 
|)rocess  is  to  be  repeated  every  ten  days  or 
fortnight  while  the  i)lants  continue  growinsr, 
and  the  quantity  of  dirt  drawn  up  at  a  time  to 
be  gradually  increased,  until  only  about  six 
inches  of  the  leaves  are  expo.sed  above  the 
ridge.  The  stalks  will  be  good  for  the  table, 
when  blanched  to  the  height  of  twenty  inches. 
With  the  croj)  intended  for  winter  and  spring 
use,  the  "  earthing  up"  process  must  be  cotu^ 
nienccd  rather  later  in  the  season,  because, 
when  performed  in  extreme  hot  weather,  pre- 
mature decay  is  apt  to  follow.  In  taking  ui> 
the  cro]),  dig  with  the  sjiade  quite  down  to  the 
roots,  so  that  the  stalks  can  be  raised  without 
being  broken,  which  would  diminish  the  beauty 
of  their  ai)pearance  upon  the  table. 

Celery  may  be  kept  in  the  open  air  through 
the  winter,  by  having  boards,  nailed  together 
like  the  roof  of  a  house,  placed  over  the 
trenches.  Another  way  is  to  take  it  up,  when 
frosty  weather  sets  in,  and  put  it  in  a  pit  in 
some  dry,  elevated  part  of  the  garden.  It  is 
placed  in  rows  about  three  inches  apart,  with 
the  tojis  of  the  leaves  just  above  the  suiface, 
and  covered  with  a  thick  layer  of  straw  to 
keep  out  frost,  and  a  roof  of  old  boards  to 
shed  the  rain.  A  large  bank  of  earth  should 
be  on  the  outside.  By  removing  the  straw, 
the  stalks  can  be  dug  up  with  ease,  at  any 
time  when  they  may  be  wanted  for  use.  The 
plants  are  s<mietimes  packed  in  a  box  of  sand, 
and  kept  in  the  cellar;  they  will  continue  good 
and  fresh  for  several  weeks,  liut  afterwards 
become  wilted,  losing  that  delightful  crispness 
for  which  they  are  esteemed. 

For  seed. — The  cultivator  must  either  leave 
a  few  of  the  best  plants — those  which  are  solid 
and  of  a  middling  size— in  the  place  where 
grown,  or  set  them  out  in  the  spring,  in  rows 
two  feet  apart  each  way.  The  loose  hanging 
leaves  and  side-shoots  should  be  previously  re- 
moved. The  seed-stalks,  if  not  supported  by 
stakes,  will  be  likely  to  suffer  injury  from  vio- 
lent winds.  Water  may  be  apjilied  with  ad- 
vantage after  the  flowers  have  opened,  at  least 
as  often  as  every  second  or  third  evening.  The 
seed  ought  to  be  perfectly  ripe  before  being 
gathered,  and  be  stored  in  a  cool,  dry  apart- 
ment. 

Use. — The  celery  is  a  grateful  addition  to 
the  winter  table.  Its  tender,  sweet  and  crispy 
stalks  are  general  favorites.  They  are  eaten 
as  a  salad,  or  simply  with  salt,  or  used  in  soups, 
stews,  and  sauces.  They  should  always  be 
freed  from  sand  and  dirt,  before  being  carried 
to  the  dining-room.  In  Italy,  the  unbleached 
leaves,  or  seeds  when  bruised,  are  considered 
excellent  for  flavoring  soups. 

Celery  sawefor  boiled  fowls,  Ac. — Wash  the 
stalks,  and  cut  them  into  thin  slices  about  two 
inches  long.  >Stew  them  till  tender,  in  a  little 
weak  gra\-y  or  water.  Season  with  powdered 
mace.  i)epi)er  and  salt.  Then  add  the  juice  of 
a  lemon,  and  thicken  with  a  piece  of  butter 
which  has  been  kneaded  in  tloiu-. 


To  Stew. — Strip  off  the  outer  leaves  of  six 
hea<ls,  and  cut  the  bleached  parts  of  the  stalks 
into  lengths  of  about  four  indues.  Stew  the 
pieces  In  broth  until  they  become  ipdle  tender, 
when  you  may  add  two  tablesiioonfuls  of  cream, 
together  with  a  lump  of  floured  butter.  Sea- 
son to  the  taste  with  salt,  pepper  and  nutmeg, 
and  let  the  whole  sinuner  gently  for  a  few 
monu'nts.  — .S/i()i/-\-j  ddrduers'  Text,  Hook. 

I  "  Celery  .sauces  "  and  "celery  stews  "  are 
not  as  conuuon  as  ihey  (lught  to  lie  among  the 
eonnuon  people;  indeed,  tlu'  larger  nnmlier  of 
till'  people  have  no  conception  what<'ver  in 
i-eference  to  this  vegetable,  other  than  to  eat  it 
raw,  or  in  a  hot  or  cold  salad,  or  in  chicken 
salad,  in  which  it  constitutes  a  conspicuous 
part.  It  is  bound,  however,  at  no  very  distant 
day,  to  occupy  a  more  prominent  position  iu 
our  rok  of  culinary  preparations. — Eu.  | 


THE  CENTENNIAL. 

The  closing  c(n-enu)nies  of  the  great  Expo- 
sition will  find  a  place  in  the  December  num- 
ber of  the  Fau.mkh  ;  in  the  meantime  the 
following  condensation  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  ',)th,  which  we  find  iu  the  coknuns  of  the 
Ledijer,  may  not  be  inappropriate,  and  may 
also  be  of  interest  to  our  readers.  Long  and 
exciting  as  the  Exposition  has  been,  and 
draining  as  it  has  been  upon  the  pecuniary  re- 
sources of  many  of  the  people,  especially  those 
located  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lines  of  public 
travel,  now  that  it  has  come  to  a  close,  we  feel 
a  sort  of  regret  to  nmnber  it  with  the  past : 

"As  a   fitting  preliminary  to   the  close  of 
the   Centennial  Internatiomil  Exhibition  to- 
day,  the  Foreign  Commissioners,  with  their 
staff  ofbcers,  were  entertained  at  dinner  by 
the   Cenlenniai    Hoard   of   Finance    and    the 
Centennial  Commissioners.    The  foreign  Com- 
missioners were  accompanied  by  the  >iinisters 
of  their  respective  Governments  to  the  United 
States,  and  by  their  Consul  (fenerals  and  Con- 
suls.   The  ban(iuet  was  given  at  the  beautiful 
hall  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  presided. 
He   was    accompanied    by   the   Secretary   of 
State  and  several  other  members  of  the  Cabi- 
net. There  were  also  present  as  invited  guests 
the  Chief  Justice  and  several  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  I'uited  States,  the  Sena- 
tors and  Members  of  Congress  present  in  the 
city,  the  Governors  of  Pennsylvania,  Massa- 
chusetts,   Delaware    and    New    Jer.sey,    the 
Mayor  of  the  city,  the  Presidents  of  Councils, 
the  Park  Commissioners,  and  the  Centennial 
authorities,    with    their    heads    of    bureau.s. 
While  the  last  cour.se  was  being  served.  Gen. 
Ilawley,   who   was  delegated   for  the  duty^ 
called  the  roll  of  the  nations  represented  at 
the  Exhibition,  beginning  alphabetically  with 
the  Argentine  Republic.      This  was  followed 
by  Austria,   Africa  as    represented    by   tlie 
Orange  Free  State,  Brazil,  China,  Chili,  Den- 
mark,   Egypt,    France,   Germany,    Hawaii, 
Japan,  Liberia,  Luxembourg,  Me:;ico,  Nether- 
lands, Peru,  Portugal,  Russia,  Spain,  Sweden, 
Switzerland,  Siam,  Tunis,  Turkey,  and  Vene- 
zuela.    The  United  Kingdom  of  (ireat  Britain 
and  Ireland,  and  the  colonies  of  that  kingdom 
in  America,  Asia,  Australia  and  Africa,  were 
reserved  for  the  clo.se.     As   each  nation  was 
announced,  with  ai>propriate  and  cordial  in- 
troductiou,  there  was  enthusiastic  ap|)lause, 
and  each  of  them  rcs]ionded  through  a  Com- 
missioner or  diiilomatic  re|)resentative  of  the 
country  called.      The  ceremony  and  the  occa- 
sion were  most  impressive,  and  both  were  well 
calculated   to  live   for  a  long  period  in  the 
memories  of  those  present. 


THE  CROPS. 

The  digest  of  crop  rotinns  for  Octoljer,  a.s 
prepared  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture  in 
Washington,  indicates  a  reductiiui  in  theyield 
of  the  whe.at  crop  of  nearly  oui'-sixth,  while 
the  (piality  is  somewhat  sujierior.  More  ac- 
curate statistics  may  iiossibly  be  given  after 
the  results  of  threshing  are  niore  fully  known. 
Every  section  of  the  I'nion  indicates  a  reduced 
product  except  the  middle  States,  which  in- 
creased about  2  per  cent.    The  New  England 


164 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  November, 


States  fell  off  4  per  cent.,  the  South  Atlantic 
States  2  per  cent.,  the  Gulf  States  27  per  cent., 
the  southern  inland  States  8  per  cent.,  the 
States  north  of  the  Ohio  river  14  percent., 
the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  27  per 
cent.,' the  Pacific  States  nearly  2  per  cent. 
These  figures  point  to  a  yield  of  about  245,000,- 
000  busliels.  This,  however,  will  be  the  sub- 
ject of  furtlier  examination  and  inquiry  in  the 
November  returns.  The  October  returns  as  a 
general  thing  indicate  an  advance  in  the  wheat 
yield  of  those  States  in  which  tlie  yield  of 
187.5  has  fallen  below  that  of  1874,  and  vice 
versa  ;  but  in  some  States,  especially  in  the 
northern,  there  is  a  falling  ofl'  from  even  the 
reduced  yields  of  1875. 

The  rve  crop  of  1876  is  reported  4  per  cent, 
less  than  that  of  1875,  but  in  quality  it 
averages  somewhat  above  its  predecessor. 
The  barley  crop  of  the  country  yields  about 
six  per  cent,  less  than  last  year.  In  all  the 
States  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  the  yield  is 
deficient,  except  in  Coimecticut,  Georgia  and 
Kentucky.  A  great  fallins  off  is  reported  in 
the  middle  States,  in  the  States  north  of  the 
Ohio  river,  and  in  the  States  between  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Missouri  rivers,  and  in  Oreg;on, 
but  in  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  especially  Cah- 
fornia— the  largest  barley  raising  State  in  the 
Union — have  realized  a  large  incl'ease  of  yield, 
which,  to  a  great  extent,  counterbalanced  the 
short  crops  of  the  other  States.  The  buck- 
wheat crop  is  reported  as  full  average  or  above 
in  Rhode  Island,  Virginia,  Arkansas,  Ken- 
tucky, Ohio,  Wisconsin  and  California  ;  in  the 
other  States  it  is  lielow  average,  the  minimum, 
50,  being  m  Delaware.  On  the  basis  of  the 
October  returns  the  oats  crop  of  1876  shows  a 
falling  off  of  23  per  cent.  Every  section  of 
the  Union  is  deficient.  The  States  reporting 
a  yield  equal  to  that  of  )a.st  year  are  :  Penn- 
sylvania, 102  ;  Delaware,  109  ;  South  Carolina, 
126  ;  Georgia,  115  ;  Florida,  107  ;  Alabama, 
110  ;  Louisiana,  104  ;  West  Virginia,  113  ; 
Ohio,  102  ;  California,  100.  The  condition  of 
the  corn  crop  in  the  New  England  States  is  a 
little  above  average. 

The  middle  States,  excepting  Delaware,  re- 
port a  depressed  condition  from  drought  dur- 
ing the  growing  season  and  from  heavy  rains 
in  harvest  when  the  crop  was  not  well  ripen- 
ed ;  in  New  Jersey  and  eastern  Pennsylvania 
heavy  storms  prevailing  about  the  middle  of 
September  prostrated  many  fields.  The  South 
Atlantic  States,  especially  in  comities  near  the 
coast,  suffered  serious  injury  to  this  crop  from 
the  September  storms,  with  prostrated  fields 
left  uncut,  while  the  heavj'  rains  that  followed 
spoiled  a  large  amount  of  both  grain  and 
fodder.  Maryland  and  South  Carolina  are  full 
average,  and  Georgia  largely  above,  but  tlie 
deficiencies  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina 
cut  down  the  general  condition  of  this  section 
to  two  per  cent,  below  average.  The  crop  in 
the  Gulf  States,  on  the  whole,  is  about  average, 
Texas  reporting  an  especially  fine  condition. 
North  of  the  Ohio  river  there  is  a  deficiency 
on  the  whole,  the  low  condition  in  Illinois  and 
Michigan  overbalancing  the  extra  promise  in 
the  other  States.  Ohio  reports  a  superior 
crop  generally  of  good  quality.  In  Michigan 
crops  on  low  wet  lands  are  reported  very  poor. 
Illinois  is  below  the  average,  though  several 
counties  report  the  finest  crop  for  years  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  The  small  deficiency  in 
Missouri  is  more  than  repaid  by  the  fine  con- 
dition reported  in  all  the  other  States.  In 
Iowa  croijs  were  poor  in  low,  wet  lands  and 
the  condition  in  several  counties  reduced 
greatly  by  grasshoppers.  In  Missouri  local 
damage  by  storms  is  reported,  but  low  prices 
indicate  an  abundant  yield  in  the  larger  por- 
tion of  the  State.  Kansas  is  full  average  in 
spite  of  tlie  grasshoppers  and  chinches,  and 
Nebraska  is  consideralily  above. 


linnjEan  notes. 

The  experiment  of  killing  the  larvte  of 
Pieris  rapfM  with  Paris  Green  mixed  with  flour, 
alluded  to  in  my  "Notes  for  -July,"  has  met 
with  considerable  success.  Most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  our  family  were  afraid  to  touch  the 
cabbages  to  which  the  poison  had  been  ap- 


plied, but  one  msisted  on  preparing  it,  and  ate 
a  quantity  of  it  fin-  dinner,  raw,  with  vinegar, 
and  apparently  witli  entire  impunity.  The 
poison  liad,  however,  not  been  applied  for 
several  weeks  previous.  Of  course,  care  will 
always  be  necessary. 

The  same  vegetable,  raw,  would  doubtless 
be  more  dangerous  than  when  boiled,  as  the 
water  would  take  off  the  poison,  if  there  were 
any. 

The  insect  alluded  to  (Pieris  rryxc)  appears 
to  be  exceedingly  hardy.  I  saw  several  ac- 
tive ones  the  day  after  the  severe  gale  of 
October  17,  1876. 

At  this  date  (Oct.  23)  I  have  found  one  of 
the  larva  alive,  and  fiourisliing  upon  a  liead 
of  cabbage  in  the  garden. 

We  are  now  eating  freely  of  the  cabbage  to 
which  the  Paris  Green  was  applied,  and  all 
hostility  to  it  appears  to  be  disarmed  in  our 
own  family.  I  would  suggest  that  the  Paris 
Green,  when  applied  at  all,  should  be  used  at 
the  very  earliest  appearance  of  the  insect,  in 
order  to  prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  a  second 
brood  of  the  animals— that  it  should  be  applied 
in  a  minimum  quantity  of  the  poison  to  a 
maximum  proportion  of  flour  or  powdered 
gypsum  (plaster-of-Paris)  and  that  the  vege- 
table should  not  be  eaten  for  several  days 
after  the  last  application,  allowing  two  or 
three  heavy  rains  to  take  place  in  the  inter- 
val. Should  there  not  be  a  rain,  the  heads  of 
cabbage  might  be  soaked  in  running  water. 

Persian  Insect  Powder. 
In  a  recent  magazine  article,  (A  Lady's 
Visit  to  the  Herzegovinian  Insurgents— -Lir- 
ing  Age,  Aug.  12,  1876,)  I  find  the  following  : 
"Our  road  towards  Gravosa  lay  tlu-ough  a 
country  bright  with  almond  and  orange  blos- 
soms. One  crop,  of  which  we  saw  many 
fields,  excited  our  particular  attention.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  yellows-flowered  plant,  creeping 
thickly  and  closely  over  the  ground,  and  we 
were  told  that  this  constituted  the  principal 
article  of  commerce  of  Ragusa,  and  was  the 
far-famed  "Persian  insect-destroying  powder, " 
(the  ''^botanical  name  of  which  we  were  not 
able  to  ascertain)  which  is  principally  grown 
on  the  shores  of  Dalmatia.  It  can  be  pur- 
chased at  wholesale  prices,  and  requires  to  be 
used  in  wholesale  quantities,  if  you  travel  in 
the  interior." 

The   September  Storm. 

The  storm  of  September  17,  1876,  was,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  G. 's  recollection,  the  most  se- 
vere one  in  this  neighborhood  for  over  fifty 
years.  It  was  remarkable  for  the  length 
of  time  that  the  wind  continued  to  blow. 
There  were  very  few,  if  any,  electrical  dis- 
charges. The  temperature  appeared  to  rise 
during  the  storm,  the  wind  shifting  about 
night-fall,  from  northeast  to  southeast.  Fifty 
years  ago,  or  more,  a  very  destructive  storm 
occurred  in  this  locality. 

Germination  of  Seeds. 

The  following  is  from  the  Christian  Register 
of  October  21,  1876:  "The  question  of  the 
possible  germination  of  long-buried  seeds  is 
likely  to  be  set  at  rest  ^by  the  germination  of 
some  poppy  seeds,  found  by  Prof.  Hendrick 
in  Greece,  in  some  refuse  slag  of  Laurium 
mines,  over  two  thousand  years  old,  heated  to 
extract  the  metal.  The  plant,  of  a  kind  de- 
scribed by  Pliny,  but  now  extinct,  has  an 
abundant  crop,  with  briglit  yellow  flowers. 

A  Flat  Seed-Beetle. 
Ou  the  13th  of  October  I  found  on  a  locust- 
log  a  very  peculiar  flat  'black  insect, ^accom- 
panied by  its  young,  or  some  parasite,  which 
clustered  upon  the  under-side  of  its  body — 
brown  little  things,  active  looking,  like  little 
spiders.  The  parent,  (?)  or  largest  insect,  was 
inactive. 

Insect  Tenacity. 

About  October  10th  I  captured  a  fine  speci- 
men of  Danaus  archippcs,  and  pressed  the 
thorax  ;  aud  also  made  a  cut  into  it,  as  I 
thought,  with  my  finger-nail.  Then  I  pinned 
it  down  and  pinned  out  the  wings.  Finding 
afterwards  that  it  was  still  alive,  and  not 
having  chloroform,  I  applied  considerable  oil 


upon  the  thorax  and  head.  On  the  15th  of 
October  I  observed  by  the  motions  of  the 
antenna:  and  the  tongue  that  it  was  still  alive. 
It  lived  for  some  days  afterwards. 

Butterflies  may  be"  kept  alive  for  an  indefi- 
nite period  by  feeding  them  with  sugar  aud 
water. — P.  H.  G.,  Enterprise,  Lan.  Co.,  Pa. 

5Wc  have  found   Lepidopterous    larvae   in 
every  mouth  of  tlie  year,  active  and  feeding. 
On  the  23d  of  October,  we  saw  two  speci- 
mens  of  the  larva  of    Philampelis    satelitia, 
which  had  just  descended  from  a  grape  vine, 
aud    were  "crawling    into    winter    quarters. 
Larvte  which  do  not  mature  before  winter  sets 
in,  often  survive  tlie  winter,  and  finish   their 
larval  development  in  the  spring ;  and  this  is 
particularly  tlie  case  with   the  various  species 
of   "cut-worms."     When  two  or  three  soft 
mild  days  succeed    each  other    during  the 
winter,  they  will  revive,  come  forth  and  feed, 
and  we  have  seen  tliem  do  this  in  December, 
.January,  February  and  March.     There  seems 
to  be  a  suspension  and  revival  of  the  animal 
function,  as  the  temperature  changes  from 
cold  to  warm,  and  vice  versei.     On  one  occa- 
sion we  found  two  specimens  of  a  hairy  cater- 
pillar {Arctire)  frozen  in  ice,  aud  we  cut  them 
out ;  in  doing  so,  one  of  them  snapped  in  two 
like  an  icicle,  the  other  we  removed  to  a  warm 
temperature,  and  within  half  an  hour  it  re- 
vived and  became  as  active  as  we  find  them  in 
mid-summer.      Even  in  the  imago  state  some 
Lepidoptera  must  either  hibernate  in  that 
state,  or  evolve  from  the  pupa  during  mild 
winter  weather.        In  February,   1874,  Mr. 
Voigt   of   the    Lancaster    Intelligencer  oflice, 
brought  us  a  living  specimen  of  Pieris  rapa — 
"white  cabbage  Butterfiy"— which   flew  into 
the  office  througli  an  open  window,  aud  at  the 
same  time  there  were  six  inclies  of  snow  on 
ground.     This  is  rather  an  uncommon  occur- 
rence. 

[1.  The  minimum  quantity  of  good  Paris 
Green,  is  usually  one  part,  and  the  maximum 
quantity  of  the  diluting  substance  is  ivmdy 
parts,  well  mixed  together  ;  i.  e.  one  pound  of 
the  poison  to  twenty  pounds  of  flour,  pulverized 
gymsum,  road  dust,  fine  ashes,  corn-meal,  &c. 
I'lour,  on  account  of  its  adhesive  quality,  is 
considered  the  best.  If  the  green  is  inferior, 
a  less  quantity  of  the  dilutaut  will  be  required, 
but  if  it  is  very  superior,  twenty-five  parts  of 
the  dilutaut  may  be  required.  It  should  be 
applied  when  the  plants  are  wet  with  rain, 
dew  or  artificial  surinking. 

2.  The  "botanical  name"  of  this  plant,  may 
be  found  in  Mr.  Stauffer's  paper  on  "  Insect 
Powder"  on  page  167  of  this  number  of  the 
Farmer. 

3.  We  question  very  much  whether  evidence 
will  "set  at  rest"  the  germination  of  long- 
buried  seeds  : .  The  paragraph  is  ambiguous. 
Granting  the  slag  to  have  been  two  thousand 
years  old  ;  does  it  follow,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  that  the  seeds  were  so  old  V 

4.  Doubtless  Hololcpta  cequalis,  belonging  to 
the  colopterous  fiimily,  Histeridce,  sometimes 
called  "Mimic-beetles."  This  insect  is  very 
liable  to  parasitic  infestations,  and  we 
have  frequentally  found  it  under  similar  cir- 
cumstances. The  parasites  are  species  of 
acari. 

5.  In  the  absence  of  chloroform,  strong 
volatile  ammonia  is  very  effective  in  destroy- 
ing the  life  of  insects,  if  a  bell-glass  or 
tumbler  is  turned  over  them,  preventing  the 
escape  of  the  ammonia. 


For  The  Lancaster  Faemee. 
CARE  OF  YOUNG  ORCHARDS. 
This  is  the  proper  time  to  look  after  young 
apple-trees.  As  the  late  summer  was  very 
wet,  and  the  latest  post  grass  grew  luxuriantly 
around  the  bases  of  the  trees,  that  grass 
should  at  once  be  removed,  to  prevent  the 
mice  from  nesting  and  harboring  in  the  rub- 
bish accumulated  there.  In  such  places  these 
little  animals  are  apt  to  gnaw  off  the  bark — 
especially  of  young  trees— upon  which  they 
subsist  during  the 'winter,  and  this  they  are 
as  likely  to  do  under  a  deep  snow  as  when 
there  is  no  snow.  "^ 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


165 


It  is  still  better  to  heap  up  the  eartli  arouiul 
the  liHse  of  th(^  trees,  to  make  llieni  .sure 
aj.;aiiist  tlie  depredations  of  tli(!  iiiiee  ;  iuid 
afso  ridibing  the  liark  of  the  yoiiiii;  trees  wilii 
a  Viaeoii  skill,  in  nider  lo  prevent  tlic  .Vdiiiifj 
ralibits  from  gnawiiiLt  olV  tlie  Itark.  It  is  true, 
there  may  lie  some  ulijeelions  to  this  i;reasiiif{ 
])rocess,  in  that  it  may  be  an  additional  in- 
ducement for  the  mice  to  allaek  them  ;  but  if 
the  grass  and  nibliish  are  carefully  removed, 
the  mice  are  not  likely  to  harbor  there.  Another 
good  remedy  to  prevent  rabbits  from  skinning 
trees,  is  to  prune  them,  and  let  the  branelies 
cut  off  lie  on  the  i;n)uiid  tor  winter  feed  Ibr 
the  rabbits.  If  thisKreasiiij,'  pi-oeessis  applied 
to  voun_u:  trees  infested  with  the  "hark  louse," 
in  the  fall,  the  fdllowint;  spiiii<;  would  show  a 
cleaner,  fresher  and  hardier  .set  of  trees  than 
where  they  are  left  an  undisturbed  prey  to 
these  lice. 

If  these  precautions  are  carried  into  elTeet 
durini;  the  month  of  November,  and  the  early 
part  of  December,  it  would  save  an  immense 
amount  of  mortilieatioii  ne.xt  spring. ^i.  S.  li. 


snouts;  broad,  lengthy  and  extra  deep  bodies, 
very  straight,  .square  backs,  the  linest  hams 
imaginable,  and  very  small  line  legs,  set  well 
a|iart;  are  full  in  the  Joint,  with  good  breadth 
of  chest,  and  have  a  remarkable  capacity  for 
taking  on  tlesh.  Their  skin  is  line;  bones  small. 
They  po.ssess  an  extra  abundance  of  muscle  or 
lean  nieat,  and  hence  appear  fat  when  in  real- 
ity they  may  be  nearly  starved.  They  are  very 
quiet  and  docile,  and  can  be  fondled  by  ast  ran- 
ger, and  thus  they  wa.ste  no  food  in  tlie  build- 
ing up  of  worthless  iiarts,  nor  in  wild,  useless 
exercise.  IIoi;s  must  be  looked  upon  as  ma- 
chines for  the  convirsion  of  grain,  &c.,  into 
])ork,  and  the  breed  which  will  giv(;  the  most 
and  best  pork  from  a  given  amount  of  Ibod 
should  cany  olf  the  palm.  Siieli  is  the  well- 
bred  Knglisli  Yorkshire  of  to-day. 

Harris  on  the  Pig,  on  page  (ili,  says:  "No 
animal  of  the  pig  siiecies  carries  so  great  a  pro- 
jiortion  of  tlcsh  to  the  quantity  of  bone,  or 
tlesh  of  sii  luie  a  (piality  as  the  small  Yorkshire; 
or  can  be  raised  at  so  small  acost  per])ound;" 
that  this  is  undoubtedly  the  case  cannot  be 
denied  upoa  au  examination  of  fine  specimens, 


clean  warm  bed,  anJ  tliis  inoniins:  I  have  given  them 
a  good  scrubbing  Willi  soapeude.  They  seemed  to 
like  it  real  well.  The  e.vpross  companies  toolc  ex- 
cellent caiT  of  them  ;  look  them  out  of  the  box  every 
nitrlit  Ironi  ('oriiiiie,  Utah,  up.  At  Missoula,  the 
merchants  and  lawyers,  and  everybody  else  eainc  to 
see  them,  and  most  everybody  wanted  theui.  They 
seemed  to  will  all  hearts.  One  man  there  wanted  to 
jiay  me  $1(10  Ibr  the  boar  alone  ;  anolher  olVcred  me 
a  ^^ofid  horf.!'  for  him.  One  tillered  to  deliver  100 
bushels  of  good  clean  wheat  at  tlie  mill  lor  him. 
But  I  would  not  part  witii  either  of  them  ;  although 
they  cost  me  $120.  1  have  no  grumbling  lo  do, 
but  thank  you  as,'aiii  for  semling  them." 

Mr.  I',  paid  us  $:W  ;  the  express  comiianies 
$110.  They  bad  to  go  live  liun<lred  miles  by 
stage.  We  lind  a  great  demand  fur  thorough- 
bred stock  this  fall,  espi^-ially  hogs  and  poultiy. 
Farmers  are  beginning  to  realize  that  good 
stock  is  money  in  their  pockets,  and  the  best 
])anacea  for  liard  times. — Benson  &  Burpee, 
I'hitfuldphia,  yov.  11.  1870. 


Mr.  Wm.  AVeidle  has  again  laid  us  under 
obligations  for  some  luscious  specimens  of 
lieurre  D'  Anjou,  and  Beurre  Diel  Pears. 
We  saw  some  very  extraordinary  One  pears  at 


'BENSON  &  BURPEE'S  ad  QUEEN  OF  YORKSHIRE." 


For  TiiK  Lanc.\ster  Farmeh. 
YORKSHIRES. 
Y'orkshires  are  divided  into  three  classes, 
large,  medium  and  small  breed — all  originated 
in  England.  The  large  or  mammoth  York- 
shires will  eventually  attain  a  weight  of  1,0U0 
to  1,'200  pounds,  Imt  are  invariably  hard  to 
fatten— in  fact  it  is  impossible  to  fatten  them 
young — they  are  long-snouted,  have  long  legs, 
thin  on  the  back  and  small  hams.  Wo  have 
never  seen  one  of  this  variety  that  we  would 
own.  The  medium  originated  by  a  cross  be- 
tween the  large  and  small.  The  .small  Iireed 
English  Y'orkshires  are  so  called  only  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  the  unprotitable  giants, 
and  are  a  hog  of  fair  size.  They  are  better 
established,  and  breed  more  uniformly  than 
any  other  known  breed  of  swine.  Being  the 
"most  thoroughbred  Img  known,"  they  arc 
the  best  to  cross  upon  eonmiou  stock,  as  they 
will  impress  their  good  qualities  very  decidedly 
upon  their  offspring.  A  litter  of  young  pigs 
of  tirst-elass,  jiure  blood  Yorkshires  are  all  re- 
markably perfect,  and  it  is  difficult  to  select  a 
poor  or  mistbrmed  runt.  They  carry  less  offal 
than  any  other  hogs.  They  make  the  most 
liork  on  the  least  amount  of  food.  They  often 
keep  fat  on  grass  alone.  They  fatten  most 
readily  at  any  age,  and  their  meat  is  of  the 
finest  iiuality.  These  points  of  excellence,  .so 
unusually  developed,  are  setaued  by  the  re- 
markable perfection  of  form  and  the  nature  of 
thisbreed.  They  have  very  short,  deeply-dished 


such  as  visitors  can  see  any  day  at  our  farm, 
when  a  glance  will  show  the  extreme  size  and 
fine  shape  of  hams,  shoulders,  and  chops,  with 
the  ears,  legs  and  tail  incredibly  small.  We 
have  seen  them  crossed  with  good  satisfaction 
on  a  Chester  White,  and  can  recommend  this 
cross  for  farmers  desiring  large  porkers  with 
superior  hams. 

"Second  Queen  of  Y'orkshire,"  whose  por- 
trait we  give,  is  one  of  our  finest  sows — is  now 
three  years  old;  her  picture  accurately  repre- 
sents her  when  under  one  year  old.  Out  of 
"Old  Queen,"  by  "Long"  Back."  "Old 
Queen  "  was  out  of  imported  "  Ro.se  of  Keil- 
egh,"  by  imported  "Kettledrum."  "Long 
Back  "  was  out  of  "  Lady  Douglass,"  by  im- 
ported "ISfajor  IMiller." 

There  are  many  inferior  pigs— Yorkshires, 
so-called,  that  are  offered  at  "hard  pan  prices," 
but  such  are  the  dearest  in  the  near  future, 
when  the  corn  is  fed  and  the  pork  barrel  nearly 
empty.  AVe  will  sell  .sowsinjiigs,  boars  ready 
for  service,  and  stock  of  various  ages  at  as  low 
prices  as  we  can  aflbrd  to  breed,  and  ship  the 
best  stock. 

To  show  to  what  extent  first-class  stock  is 
apiuTciatcd  in  the  far  "West,  we  give  you  the 
following  quotation  from  a  customer's  letter, 
Mr.  Roswell  Parkhurst,  ^lissoula,  Missoula 
county,  Montana  territory,  writes  us  : 

"  I  fiave  tlic  pigs  liomc  now  and  am  delighted  with 
them.  I  tliiiik  us  much  of  them  as  I  do  of  my  girl. 
I  have  given  them  a  nice  clean  yard  to  run  in  and  a 


the  Centennial  Pomological  Exposition,  and 
we  were  also  privileged  to  smdl  tliera ; 
but  as  tiistc  has  more  weight  at  any  time  than 
merely  sight  and  smell,  we  are  compelled  to 
yield  an  award  to  Mr.  AVeidle's  iiears,  and  if 
the  Centeunialists  are  not  satisfied  with  this, 
all  they  have  to  do  is  to  aflbrd  us  the  opportun- 
ity for  a  more  tangible  demonstration  of 
quality. 

Beurre,  according  to  the  French  Dictionary, 
means  "Butter-pear,"  and  D' Anjou  means 
"of  Anjou,"  a  department  of  France  ;  there- 
fore, the  literal  English  would  be  the  Butter- 
pear  of  Anjou.  So.w^henever  the  term"Beurre" 
is  used  as  an  aflix,  it  means  one  of  the  buttery 
kind  of  pears,  and  the  sutlix  is  the  person, 
place  or  thing,  after  whom,  when,  or  which  it 
is  named.  And,  according  to  the  description 
of  a  very  jiopular  and  distinguished  character 
in  our  juvenile  days,  these  pears  ''went  down 
as  slick  as  goose-grease,  and  goose-grease  is  as 
slick  -dsbitUer,  and  butter  is  the  slickest  kind  of 
(/)-casc." 

For  The  Lanoasteb  Fabmeb. 
THE  DISSEMINATION  OF  PLANTS. 

Two  years  ago  I  found  growing  on  the  road- 
side, not  far  from  the  campus  of  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  a  healthy,  vigorous  iilant, 
which  I  at  once  jnonoimced  a  rerhnia.  At 
first  I  thought  it  must  be  a  peculiar  growth  of 
rer^ciia  haatata,  but  ujion  closer  examination 
it  proved  to  be,  withoutthc  shadow  of  a  doubt, 


166 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  November, 


verbena  strkta  (beub.)  or  the  Hoary  Vervain, 
common  in  barrens  from  Ohio  to  Wisconsin, 
but  never  before  known  to  grow  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Since  then  I  have  watched  the  plant 
with  a  good  deal  of  interest,  and  I  find  it  is 
still  growinr;  in  the  same  locality.  Other  in- 
dividuals are  springing  up,  so  that  although 
the  present  specimens  seem  somewhat  depau- 
perated, it  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose 
that  the  species  will  maintain  itself  upon  our 
soil,  and  add  a  new  plant  to  the  flora  of  our 
State. 

Where  did  it  come  from  ?  How  was  it 
transplanted  hither  ?  These  were  the  ques- 
tions that  natui-ally  arose  as  soon  as  the  ques- 
tion, What  is  it  ?  was  answered.  Perhaps  it 
was  brought  hither  in  manure  from  cattle  cars. 
Railroads  transi)ort  live  stock  in  more  than  one 
sense  of  the  word.  Perhaps  (and  this  seems 
more  probable)  it  stole  a  passage  by  mixing  in 
with  western  clover  seed.  True,  in  this  case 
you  might  expect  to  find  it  in  the  field  rather 
than  by  the  roadside  ;  but  we  cannot  tell  how 
many  plants  may  have  sprung  up  in  the  field  ; 
they  should  be  cut  down  with  the  grass,  and 
thus  ))e  prevented  from^  blooming  or  bearing 
seed,  and  of  course  they'would  die  unhonored 
and  unsung.  But  a  slight  pufl'of  wind,  carry- 
ing one  seed  to  the  roadside,  would  give  it  a 
different  destiny,  and,  perhaps,  make  it  the 
progenitor  of  a  sturdy  race  of  verbenas  to  live 
and  bloom  in  years  to  come. 

Undoubtedly  plants  and  animals  were  orig- 
inally adapted  to  a  particular  soil  and  climate, 
and  confined  to  a  definite  locality.  The  de- 
cree, "increase  and  mnltijily,"  looks  to  an  in- 
ternal, living  power,  lodged  in  the  germ,  capa- 
ble of  reproducing  the  original  type,  with  more 
or  less  variation,  in  new  individuals.  But 
this  power  in  the  seed  to  reprofluce  after  its 
kind,  necessarily  presupposes  certain  external 
conditions,  which  make  tlie  springing  into  life 
and  consequent  subsistence  possible;  such  as. 
for  instance,  a  certain  temperature,  particular 
degree  of  humidity,  certain  ingredients  of  soil 
ancl  atmosphere  necessary  for  the  processes  of 
nutrition  and  respiration.  These  external  con- 
ditions vary  continually  as  we  pass  from  place 
to  place,  and  hence  it  "is  that  every  country, 
yea  every  district,  has  its  own/ctmjaand/ioca. 
The  Alpine  flower  pines  away,  withers  and 
dies,  when  removed  from  its  native  soil.  Our 
own  Epigcea  rejiens^  or  trailing  arbutus,  will 
only  thrive  in  sandstone  woods  and  hills.  Veiy 
often  great  care  is  taken  to  transplant  certain 
species  and  furnish  all  the  requisite  conditions 
of  subsistence,  and  yet  the  results  fail  to  be 
satisfactory,  Ijecause  of  differences  so  slight 
that  we  fail  to  discern  what  is  really  wanting. 
The  variations  from  the  original  type,  above 
referred  to,  are  no  doubt  intended  to  adapt  the 
individual  to  different  conditions  ;  but  there 
are  limits  beyond  which  the  power  of  adapta- 
tion cannot  stretch,  and  thus  species  of  plants 
and  animals  have  their  boundaries,  beyond 
which  they  cannot  pass.  However  the  seed  of 
plants  may  be  transported,  in  the  stomach  of 
bird  or  beast,  borne  along  by  wind  or  water, 
sticking  to  the  hair  of  animals  or  the  clothing 
of  man,  it  can  reproduce  its  kind  only  where 
the  conditions  of  soil  and  climate  are  such  as 
to  afford  room  for  its  gi'owth. — J.  S.  S., 
Lancaster,  Aug.  26,  1876. 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmkb. 

THE    DESTRUCTION    OF    NOXIOUS 
INSECTS. 

The  loss  to  the  farming  connnunity  through 
noxious  insects  is  becoming  more  and  more 
serious  every  year,  and  in  nothing  else  is  it 
more  important  that  farmers  should  combine, 
than  in  efforts  to  secure  the  destruction  of 
such  insects,  or  at  least,  to  diminish  their  num- 
Ijers  to  such  an  extent  as  to  leave  the  remain- 
der comparatively  harmless.  In  order  to  work 
to  the  best  advantage  there  should  be  a  regular 
and  systematic  plan  adojited,  and  to  accom- 
plish the  desired  iiurpose,  it  must  be  based  on 
the  habits  of  the  insects. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  more  destruc- 
tive insects,  and  remarks  on  some  of  the  ways 
in  which  they  can  be  destroyed: 


The  Colorado  potato  bug  (or  beetle)  hiber- 
nates through  the  winter,  in  a  perfected  state, 
in  the  ground  and  under  rubbish.  It  flies  as 
soon  as  comparatively  wann  days  set  in,  and 
usually  a  long  time  before  potatoes  have  pushed 
above  ground.  This  is  the  best  time  to  de- 
stroy them,  as  every  bug  destroyed  at  this 
time  would  have  been  on  an  average  the  pro- 
genitor of  several  thousand  in  that  season. 
The  only  way  of  destroying  any  number  at 
this  time  is  the  plan  recommended  in  the 
Scientific  American  by  Prof.  Riley,  and  that  is 
to  slice  potatoes,  give  them  a  good  coating  of 
Paris  green,  and  strew  them  around  places 
where  no  domestic  animals  can  get  at  them, 
the  potato  patches  of  the  year  before  being 
particularly  suitable.  At  this  time,  also,  if  at 
no  other,  the  bugs  should  be  crushed  with  the 
foot  whenever  met  with.  I  think  the  sliced 
potatoes  might  also  be  laid  very  profitably  for 
them  in  the  fall,  after  the  potato  vines  are  all 
dead,  and  there  is  very  little  for  the  bugs  to 
forage  on.  The  methods  of  destroying  them 
in  tlie  summer  have  been  so  well  discussed 
that  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  repeat  them, 
but  I  think  to  apply  the  Paris  green  dry  mixed 
among  flour,  when  the  vines  are  wet,  is  the 
best,  as  the  paste  that  is  formed  will  stand  a 
couple  of  pretty  heavy  rains.  It  should,  how- 
ever, be  applied  with  one  of  the  better  class  of 
machines,  and  it  would  pay  to  get  one,  in  the 
saving  of  flour,  Paris  gi'een  and  labor,  in  one 
season,  even  should  there  not  be  more  than  an 
acre  of  potatoes  under  cultivation. 

The  flve-spotted  sphynx  is  the  insect  that 
lays  the  nit  from  which  is  produced  the  tobac- 
co worm.  Some  years  there  is  but  little  dam- 
age done  by  the  worms,  but  this  season  there 
were  so  many  of  them  that  it  was  nearly  im- 
possible to  keep  their  numbers  down,  and 
some  fields  were  as  badly  damaged  as  though 
visited  by  a  hail  storm.  The  efforts  hereto- 
fore have  been  mainly  directed  to  destroying 
the  worms,  but  by  destroying  the  insects  them- 
selves there  is  a  great  deal  of  labor  saved,  and 
an  enhancement  in  the  looks  of  the  tobacco. 
If  the  farmer  would  see  to  it  that  a  number  of 
jimson-weed  stalks  would  be  left  standing,  he 
could  each  evening  after  sunset,  kill  with  a 
plastering  lath,  many  of  the  insects  which 
come  to  feed  at  these  flowers.  I  believe  it  is 
also  recommended  to  take  a  thin  preparation 
of  honey  water  and  strychnine,  fill  a  spring- 
bottom  oil  can  with  it,  and  then  squirt  a  little 
of  the  poison  into  the  flower.  The  insect  com- 
ing to  feed  will  die  in  a  short  time.  Other 
poisons  can  be  used,  but  strychnine  is  the  most 
deadly  and  surest.  It  is  also  stated  that  by 
making  a  fire  in  the  tobacco  field  right  after 
dusk,  a  great  many  of  the  insects  will  fly  into 
the  fire  and  be  killed.  After  tobacco  is  cut 
off,  the  stumps  should  be  plowed  under,  par- 
ticularly ifcut  vei7  early,  as  if  left  standing 
they  throw  up  many  sprouts,  which  become  a 
nursery  to  produce  a  crop  of  insects  for  the  suc- 
ceeding year. 

Wasps  may  not  be  looked  upon  by  many 
people  as  an  insect  pest  outside  of  their  pro- 
pensity to  use  their  stings.  If  such  people 
would  sometimes  see  the  way  they  damage 
peaches,  grapes,  pears,  etc.,  they  would  soon 
change  their  opinions,  and  to  make  these  pests 
more  provoking,  it  seems  they  have  a  relish 
for  the  fine  varieties  just  as  well  as  human  be- 
ings. In  spring  is  the  time  to  destroy  wasps; 
by  going  on  the  garret  on  some  warm  spring 
day,  scores  of  them  can  be  destroyed  at  the 
windows.  Of  course,  a  wasp  destroyed  at  this 
time  will  accomplish  as  much  as  destroying 
half-a-hundred  later  in  the  season.  Last  spring 
I  destroyed  over  two  hundred  wasps  in  a  few 
days  time,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  it  took 
me  an  hour  altogether  to  do  it.  Later  in  the 
season  many  can  be  destroyed  by  sweetening 
some  water  in  a  bottle  and  hanging  it  in  a 
sunny  place  out  of  doors.  The  greatest  ob- 
jection against  this  is  that  at  times  many  bees 
al.so  fall  victims.  Whenever  a  nest  is  oliserved, 
wherever  possible,  it  should  be  burned  down 
after  dusk.  The  best  way  to  burn  them  is  to 
tie  some  rags  on  a  long  pole  and  saturate  them 
with  coal  oU.  This  gives  a  good  flame  without 
any  sparks. 


Hornets  are  as  much  of  a  nuisance  as  wasps, 
particularly  at  early  peaches.  There  are  two 
ways  of  destroying  them  to  any  advantage — 
sweetened  water  and  fire  as  described  for 
wasps. 

The  cabbage  butter-fly  and  its  larvse  (or 
worm)  is  more  ditlicult  to  destroy  than  any  of 
the  preceding,  as  it  is  altogether  out  of  the 
question  to  kill  the  worm  by  poison,  and  of  all 
the  remedies  that  have  been  recommended 
there  is  not  one  tliat  is  infallible  except  by 
picking  tliem  off  by  hand,  which  will  take 
more  labor  to  accomplish  than  the  crop 
is  worth,  and  is  altogether  impracticable  where 
calibage  is  farmed  by  acres.  AVhere  the  cab- 
bage piece  is  not  large,  such  as  persons  have 
who  grow  for  their  own  use  only,  the  butter- 
fly can  be  killed  pretty  readily  by  taking  some 
leafless  branch  with  many  twigs  on  and 
knocking  them  down  with  this.  By  a  little 
pratice  a  butterfly  can  be  hit  at  every  blow. 
By  doing  this  every  few  days  when  the  butter- 
flies are  flying  about  most,  there  will  soon  be 
a  precepti'ble  decrease  both  in  the  insects  and 
iu  the  worms.  Brusli  with  leaves  on,  though 
others  will  do,  are  not  nearly  as  good  as  those 
without  leaves,  as  the  leaves  prevent  a  quick 
blow  being  given. 

The  cut-worm  is  the  larvie  of  some  night 
moth,  and  is  very  destructive  some  years  to  all 
crops  planted  in  the  spring.  As  it  is  a  night- 
flying  moth  there  is  only  one  way  of  destroying 
it  and  that  is  by  building  fires  or  putting  up 
night  hawks  which  are  large  lanterns  made  for 
this  purpose.  These  moths  and  many  other 
night-fliers  are  attracted  l)y  the  light  and  are 
soon  destroyed  by  dashing  into  the  flames.  I 
have  heard  old  lime-burners  state  that  in  the 
times  when  wood  was  yet  used  for  burning 
lime,  there  was  a  contant  stream  of  insects 
dashing  into  the  kiln  every  night  as  soon  as  set 
afire.  If  this  was  the  case,  and  I  have  no  reason 
to  doubt  it,  there  certainly  ought  to  be  some 
showing  for  it  in  the  less  number  of  cut-worms 
in  the  vicinity  of  kilns  where  they  use  wood 
only  in  burning  whitewash  lime. 

There  are  many  other  insects  which  might 
be  mentioned  and  the  methods  of  destroying 
them,  such  as  apple  tree  and  peach  tree  borers, 
plum  ciu'culio,  bee-moths,  &c.,  but  all  these 
have  been  discussed  in  the  papers  for  years  and 
anyl;)ody  that  is  interested  in  raising  fruit, 
keeping  of  bees,  &c.,  will  have  some  book  on 
that  branch,  and  will  find  therein  the  best 
methods  of  overcoming  such  drawbacks. 

There  are  many  natural  enemies  of  all  the 
noxious  insects,  such  as  some  insects  feed  alto- 
gether on  the  eggs  or  larvaj  of  other  insects, 
for  instance  the  soldier  bug,  lady  bug,  &c. ; 
but  birds  are  our  Ijest  friends  in  this  particular 
and  since  natural  history  has  become  more  and 
more  of  a  study,  it  has  been  found  that  there 
are  very  few  birds  indeed  that  are  not  more  of 
a  help  than  an  injury  to  man.  Some  might 
single  out  the  chicken  hawk  and  yet  for  every 
chicken  tliat  a  hawk  carries  off  he  no  doubt 
catches  dozens  of  mice.  It  has  been  going  the 
roimds  of  the  papers  that  in  Scotland  on  ac- 
count of  the  destruction  of  the  hawks  the  mice 
became  so  plentiful  as  to  destroy  whole  fields 
of  grain  as  it  was  standing,  but  this  is  getting 
away  from  insects;  but  we  will  get  there  again 
by  stating  that  a  partial  failure  of  the  clover- 
seed  cropin  England  has  been  ascribed  to  the 
same  cause,  -but  in  this  instance  the  mice  killed 
the  Immble-bees  which  are  necessary  to  fertil- 
ize the  clover  blossoms  from  which  I  infer  that 
the  English  save  their  seed  from  the  first  crop 
and  not  from  the  second,  as  the  latter  can  be 
fertilized  by  bees. 

These  natural  enemies  of  insects  should  be 
so  thoroughly  described  that  no  one  need  igno- 
rantly  destroy  any  of  them,  thinking  he  did  a 
good  deed,  but  it  requires  the  pen  of  the  ento- 
mologist and  ornithologist  to  do  it. 

This  one  thing  must  be  kept  in  mind,  and 
that  is  so  long  as  all  do  not  help  all  they  can, 
there  will  be  an  insect  plague  in  the  country, 
and  that  the  only  way  to  keep  most  of  them 
within  bounds  there  must  be  a  combined  and 
systematic  effort  made,  or  the  good  one  man 
may  do  will  be  spoiled  by  the  negligence  of  an- 
other.— A-  B.  K. 


1876.  J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


167 


For  The  Lancastku  Kaumku, 
INSECT  POWDER. 

On  the  2(1  instant  (Xov.,  187(1)  my  worthy 
friend,  S.  S.  Kathvon,  in-iipo.scil  a  visit  to 
(Jnarryvllle.  Thd  wcallier  wa.s  all  tliat  conld 
be  {icsired.  Arriving  at  tlie  tenniiius  of  the 
railn)ad,  we  stepped  out,  and  off  to  the  near- 
est wood,  abont  tlirtM^-tonrtlis  of  a  mile  soiitli 
— I,  lookinj;  alKHit  for  botanical  novelties,  my 
associate  for  beetles  and  insects  pMierally. 

Seated  on  a" stump,  I  was  examining  a 
specimen  of  the  too  common  While-weed,  or 
Ox-eye  Daisy,  growinfr  in  that  section,  and  no 
doubt  introduced  from  Chester  connty.  Dr. 
Darlington  says:  "This  vile  intruder  is  be- 
coming a  great  nuisance  in  our  ccnmtry.  In 
some  districts  the  careles.s,  sloveidy  farmers 
have  iiermitted  it  to  get  almost  exclusive 
pos-sessioii  of  their  pasture  lield.s— rendering 
them  (luite  white,  when  the  plant  is  in  bloom. 
Cows  will  occasionally  crop  a  portion  of  the 
weed  in  our  pasttn-es  ;  and  I  liave  heard  it 
alleged  that  it  contributes  to  the  making  of 
good  butter  ;  but  my  own  .  observations  in- 
duce me  to  regard  it  as  utterly  worthless.  It 
is  propagated  rapidly,  and  is,  moreover,  ex- 
ceedingly dillicult  to  get  rid  of,  when  once 
fully  established  ;  so  that  one  negligent  sloven 
may  be  the  source  of  a  grievous  annoyance  to 
a  whole  community."  I  have  observed  this 
weed  in  various  .sections  of  our  c  luuty,  as  far 
north  as  Elizabethtown. 

But  having  given  yini  Dr.  Darlingtcni's 
opinion,  published  in  1847,  I  will  now  add  the 
cogitations  I  had  ou  that  stump,  with,  a  line 
specimen  of  the  plant  in  my  band,  and  my 
friend  off  digging  out  gruVis  and  beetles  at 
some  distance.  It  was  simply  this  :  Motani- 
cally,  it  is  known  as  a  tlirysanthcniiun,  l^eu- 
canthemiun  and  I'vrethruni  —all  nalivesof  the 
Old  World.  This  "White-weed  Dr.  Gray  gives 
the  specific  name  of  "  Vulgare,"  orthe'double 
name  of  C'hrysantliemuni  Leucanthenium.  It 
is  clo.soly  related  and  similar  to  the  I'l/rc- 
(/inoii  caoirjoK,  of  which  the  celebrated  Per- 
sian powder,  for  the  destruction  of  insects,  is 
prepared — introduced  in  Fraix'e  IS.M),  brought 
exclusively  from  districts  in  Persia  and  the 
Caucasus.  It  is  now  cultivated.  It  is  stated 
that  the  amount  of  this  powder  annually  usimI 
in  Russia  alone  is  about  Mi)  tons  I  .lust  tliiidc 
of  it!  The  jiarts  used  to  make  this  powder 
are  the  dried  flower-heads,  gathered  when  ripe, 
on  tine  days,  and  dried  by  exi)Osure  to  the  sun. 
In  drying  they  lose  about  iK)  per  cent.  When 
perfectly  dried  they  are  reduced  to  powder. 
The  powder  should  be  preserved  in  sealed  ves- 
sels of  glass.  The  application  is  either  made 
as  a  powder  or  as  an  infusi'on  ;  the  infusion  is 
deemed  the  best  for  destroying  insects.  The 
smell  seems  to  attract  and  stupefy  them  to 
death.  The  jiowder,  when  used,  should  be 
kept  dry,  or  blown  with  a  bellows  over  vines 
and  plants  infested  liy  aphids,  leaf  hopper 
larv;e  and  the  like. 

I  have  before  me  a  lengthy  description  of 
the  wonders  of  this  ])owder,  by  Willomot.  It 
is  certainly  a  good  advertisemeiit  jiublished  in 
the  Technoloyisl ;  but  given  as  matter  of  in- 
formation, amongother  things  he  says  :  "  The 
principal  insects  to  which  the  powder  of  the 
Pyrethrum  is  destructive  m.ay  be  arranged 
under  four  classes  :  Hrst,  insects  injiuions  to 
agriculture  and  horticulture  ;  second,  insects 
obnoxious  to  man  and  his  habitation  ;  third, 
insects  destructive  to  certain  substances,  as 
wool,  furs,  feathers  ;  and  fourth,  insects  in- 
jurious to  museums  of  animal  and  vegetable 
l)roducts,  and  collections  of  natural  history." 
1  shall  not  follow  him  in  details,  about  the 
weevil,  bark-V)eetle,  wheat-fly,  maggots,  cocci, 
aphids,  earwigs,  spiders,  ants,  etc.,  protection 
of  military  stores  and  navy  snpi)lies.  bakeries, 
etc.  In  short,  having  read  this  much,  the 
great  similarity  of  the  two  iilants  suggested 
the  question:  might  not  this  weed,  growing 
80  profusely,  and  deemed  wliolly  worthless 
with  us,  have  ths  sauK;  efficacy,  under  the 
same  preparation  and  application  V  Who 
knows  V  Will  some  one  test  this  Ox-eye 
daisy  or  White-weed  ?  I  have  never  ha<l 
either  the  energy  or  bump  of  aciiuisition  to 
follow  up  suggestions ;    but  in  one  or  two 


cases  I  found  others  did  i)rofit  by  them,  never- 
theless--and  they  are  welcome.  There  is  no 
plant  growing  that  is  not  of  use  to  some  of 
(Jod's  creation.  The  plant  referred  to  is  very 
"showy  and  rds;/  of  cultivation,"  says  <me 
author.  Ves,  ratlier  easy  ;  it  cultivates  itself 
freely,  if  simply  left  alone.  I  would  advise 
our  farmer.s  to  cut  it  down  befort^  it  come«  to 
seed,  and  keep  cutting  down  until  the  root  is 
exhausted  and  dies,  as  they  servo  the  Canada 
thistlt; ;  or  gather  some,  dry  them,  make  them 
into  powder,  and  see  whether  it  is  better  than 
Paris  green  for  destroying  insects.  Verily,  it 
is  worth  making  the  experiment.— J.  Slauffer. 


For  The  Lancahtkb  FAnMKit. 
VENTILATION. 

It  is  a  pity  that  "  doctors  "  should  disagree 
on  so  important  a  subject.  They  are  indeed 
of  one  mind  as  to  the  necessity  of  ventilation 
—  a  necessity  felt  and  acknowledged  by  all  who 
jiossess  suflicieut  intelligen<^e  to  know  thi^  im- 
jiortance  of  resjtiration  ;  but  when  they  come 
to  tell  us  liow  to  ventilate  (I  mean  our  dwell- 
ings, schools  and  churches)  the  disagreement 
begins.  To  know  how  to  do  a  thing,  is  just 
as  important  as  to  know  that  it  ought  to  be 
done.  To  the  man  who  is  anxious  to  secure 
a  sui'ply  of  good  fresh  air  for  himself  and  his 
family,  it  is  very  perplexing  to  be  told  by  one 
"doctor"  that  the  foul  air  must  be  removed 
from  the  upp(n-  part  of  the  room  or  apartment, 
and  by  another  just  as  positively  that  it  must 
be  removed  from  the  lower  part  of  the  room, 
because  it  will  all  gather  there.  What  is  he 
going  to  do  about  it  V  Judging  from  the 
amount  of  what  has  been  written  on  the  sub- 
ject, the  question  seems  to  be  a  ditlicult  one. 
But  perhaps  it  is  not  as  difficult  as  it  seems. 

It  is  said  by  some  writers  on  the  subject 
that  air  once  breathed  is  afterwards  unfit  for 
resi>iration,  and  that  the  problem  simply  is  to 
remove  the  air  which  has  thus  become  foul, 
and  sui'i'lv  its  place  by  that  which  is  fresh  and 
\n\n\  This  would  no  doubt  answer  the  pur- 
pose admirably,  but  practically  this  cannot 
very  well  be  done  ;  it  scarcely  ever  is  done, 
becavisp  of  a  peculiar  property  of  gases  to 
which  we  shall  afterwards  refer.  Nor  is  it 
al)solutely  necessary.  The  air  always  con- 
tains a  certain  proportion  of  carbonic  acid, 
(the  gas  which  makes  the  respired  air  impure) 
and  as  long  as  the  proportion  i.s  small,  it  is 
compiiratively  harmless.  As  carbonic  acid  is 
all  the  time  jioured  into  a  room  where  a  nnm- 
l)er  of  persons  are  present,  it  follows  that  un- 
less this  gas  can  be  removed  as  rapidly  as  it  is 
introduced,  the  air  will  soon  become  unfit  for 
respiration.  This  can  be  done  by  removing  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  air  in  the  room  in 
a  contimioiis  stream,  larger  than  that  of  the 
imjiure  air  introduced,  and  letting  pure  air 
take  its  place. 

But  where  is  the  air  most  impure  ?  From 
what  part  of  the  room  oughtit  to  be  withdrawn, 
and  where  ought  the  i)ure  air  to  be  introduced  ? 
I  hold  that  so  far  as  the  ventilation  of  a  room 
which  contains  only  a  few  persons  is  concern- 
ed, it  makes  very  little  if  any  difference.  One 
"doctor"  says,  the  carbonic  acid  is  heavier 
than  air,  and  therefore,  the  foul  air  ought  to 
be  withdrawn  near  the  floor.  The  other  says, 
the  expired  air  comes  warm  from  the  lungs, 
is  therefore  lighter  and  ri.ses  ;  hence  it  must 
be  allowed  to  escape  through  the  ceiling,  or 
from  tlie  upiier  part  of  the  room.  Both  over- 
look one  very  important  consideration,  T  mean 
that  iiro]H'rty  of  gases  and  liquids  (most  strik- 
inor  in  the  former,)  which  we  call  diffusibilitv. 
If  I  take  a  vessel  which  contains  one  cubic 
inch  of  carbonic  acid,  and  place  it  at  the 
bottom  of  another  vessel  which  contains  a 
cubic  foot  of  conunon  air,  on  opening  the 
smaller  vessel,  its  contents  will  immediately 
beiriu  to  siiread  all  fhrough  the  larger,  and  in 
a  very  short  time  the  carbonic  acid  will  be 
equally  diffused  thronirh  the  larger  chamber. 
The  same  result  will  follow,  no  matter  what 
may  be  the  nature,  or  specific  gi-avity  of  tlie 
gases  employed  in  the  experiment.  Were  it 
not  for  this  property  of  gases,  all  the  carbonic 
acid  in  the  atmosphere   (supposing  it  to  be 


made  to  have  a  uniform  density  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth  to  the  top,)  would  sink  to  the 
ground  formingalayerabout  thirteen  feet  deep. 
Next  would  be  a  layer  of  oxygen  about  one 
mile  deep  ;  next  the  nitrogen,  about  four  miles 
deep.  The  dill'usibility  of  the  gases,  however, 
makes  them  mix  and  si)riad  them.selves  uui- 
formly  throughout  the  atmosphere.  Oidy  in 
very  rare  c;uses,  where  the  air  is  altogether 
sluggish  and  large  quantities  <if  imjiure  gases 
an^  present,  will  they  collect  at  the  liottom,  as 
for  instance  carbonii'  acid  in  wells  or  in  damp 
cellars  where  the  air  is  not  disturbed  for  a 
longtime.  Kvery  whiff  of  carbonic  acid  ex- 
baled  into  the  air  of  a  room,  therefore  neither 
ri.ses  to  the  ceiling  (although  its  first  tendency 
may  be  upward  until  it  parts  with  some  of  its 
heat)  nor  sinks  to  the  floor;  it  is  diffused 
through  the  whole  room,  and  cannot  be  re- 
moved at  once.  But  if  there  is  proiiortionately 
more  carbonic  acid  in  the  room  than  out.side 
of  it,  if  a  window  be  opened,  or  if  there  be  an 
exhausting  flue,  the  excess  (iiroviding  it  accu- 
mulates not  too  rapidly)  will  work  its  way  out. 
To  keep  the  air  reasonably  pure,  therefore,  it 
is  necessary — 1st,  to  kec))  the  air  in  the  room 
in  motion  ;  2d,  to  secure  a  constant  supjily  of 
fresh  air  in  excess  of  the  cpiantity  needed  for 
respiration  ;  ."id,  to  provide  a  way  of  escape 
for  the.  foul  air. 

Another  matter,  however,  is  to  be  taken 
into  consideration.  The  air  ought  not  only  to 
be  kept  pure,  but  tb(?  room  must  also  be  kept 
warm  in  cold  weather.  Xow  it  is  unques- 
tionably the  case  thai  warm  air  will  rise  to- 
wards the  ceiling  and  cold  air  will  sink  to- 
wards the  floor.  By  removing  the  air  above, 
therefore,  the  warm  air  will  be  taken  away, 
and  the  cold  air  will  remain  in  the  room. 
Hence  it  happens  that  persons  often  complain 
of  cold  feet,  whilst  the  rest  of  the  body  is  un- 
comfortably warm — a  condition  of  things  than 
which  nothing  can  be  more  injurious.  For 
the  sake  of  comfort,  and  economy  as  well,  let 
the  impure  air,  then,  be  removed  below,  eitlier 
by  means  of  an  outlet  connected  with  a  good 
smoke  flue,  or  by  means  of  a  fan  exhauster. 
In  the  case  of  school  houses,  chiu-ches.  public 
halls,  etc.,  we  should  consider  the  latter  in- 
dispensably necessary,  as  that  is  the  only  way 
in  which  a  sufticient  quantity  of  foul  air  can 
be  withdrawn  to  insure  an  abundant  sui)ply 
of  fresh  air.  Whether  tli(>  room  be  heated  by 
means  of  radiators  in  the  room,  or  by  means 
of  wann  air  conveyed  into  it  from  the  cellar, 
the  colder  air  will  always  be  withdrawn,  and 
thus  the  room  will  be  comfortable. — J.  S.  S., 
Sept.  30,  1876. 


For  Thk  Lancarter  Faumer. 
BENEFITS  DERIVED   FROM   READING 
NEWSPAPERS   AND   MAGAZINES. 

The  lienefits  resulting  to  farmers  and  me- 
chanics from  reading  uewspajiers  and  periodi- 
cals, was  a  subject  of  discussion  at  the  last 
stated  meeting  (Oct.  2d.)  of  the  Lanca.ster 
County  Agricultural  and  Ilorticnlt  ural  Society. 
There  is,  perhaps,  more  in  the  printing  of  pub- 
lic joumals,  and  thence  in  the  reading  of 
them,  than  the  majority  of  the  people  conceive. 
Firi^t  the  collecting  and  printing  of  the  various 
items  of  public  news,  in  the  selecting  of  which 
great  discriminatinir  judgment  is  reqiured;  and 
srrnvd  in  the  careful  reading  and  digesting  of 
the  same,  by  their  intelligent  patrons.  People 
of  all  classes  and  .social  conditions  seek  infor- 
mation, amusement,  and  jilaces  of  pastime 
and  enjoyment:  and  these,  wlien  rationally  in- 
dulged in,  shoidd  not  bedenied  them:  provided 
such  enjoyments  and  amnsemeTits  nm  in  the 
right  direction — indeed,  if  they  do  not,  they 
cannot  be  resrarded  as  rational.  The  enjov- 
mentof  pleasures  and  cheerful  recreations  add 
ffreatly  to  the  common  stock  of  liealth  and 
happiness. 

Children  look  forward  to  somethingmore  than 
mere  phvsical  labor,  when  they  ^rrow  up  and 
makechoice  of  a  secular  occupation.  They  look 
for  .social  intercourse,  for  comiiany,  for  pleas- 
ant pastimes,  news,  and  the  acquisition  of 
general  knowledge.  The.se  legitimate  desires 
are  greatly  facilitated  by  the  aid  of  a  good. 


168 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[November, 


common  education.  Wlien  we,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  freedom,  clioose,  subscribe  for,  and 
read  such  newspapers  and  periodicals  as  will 
bring  the  daily,  weekly  or  monthly  new.s,  and 
other  reading  matter,  right  to  our  doors — to 
our  firesides — we  are  employing  powerful  aux- 
iliaries to  the  progress  of  the  mind.  The  far- 
mer can  read  and  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
things  yjertaining  to  his  own  occupation  ;  the 
mechanic  to  his,  and  the  merchant  to  his,  with- 
out traveling  througli  all  kinds  of  wind  and 
weather  to  meet  it,  for  it  comes  to  his  home, 
and  greets  him  at  his  fireside.  He  not  only 
obtains  a  knowledge  of  what  is  transpiring  in 
his  own  country,  around  liis  own  home,  but 
also  what  is  going  on  in  other  countries,  thou- 
sands of  miles  away.  We  can  now  sit  down 
and  read  in  our  daily  papers — which  are  now 
to  us  what  the  telegraph  is  to  the  merchant — 
what  is  taking  place  in  our  own  coimtry  and 
throughout  the  whole  eiyilived  world  in  a  few 
hours  or  days  after  it  has  happened,  and  \\iiy 
not  every  person  take  the  advantage  of  such 
facilities  in  common  with  the  other  people  of 
the  world  ?  Think  of  the  patient  and  perse- 
vering brain-work,  the  innumerable  pens,  and 
the  incalculalile  number  of  tj^ies  that  are  re- 
quired to  compose,  to  write,  and  to  set  up  and 
print  this  vast  amount  of  matter,  and  send  it 
abroad  throughout  the  world,  as  well  as  tlie 
ingenuity  and  the  skill  that  are  called  forth  in 
doing  it. 

But  admitting  the  benefits  and  the  utilities 
of  the  newspapers  and  the  magazines  as  the 
mediums  through  which  knowledge  is  dissemi- 
nated, look  at  the  perversions  and  abuses  which 
characterize  so  many  of  tlieni.  Of  such  I 
would  say,  discard  them  altogether,  and  sub- 
scribe only  for  such  as  elevate  the  moral  and 
intellectual  taste  of  society,  and  in  which  you 
can  repose  the  utmost  confidence.  Some 
newspaiier  and  periodical  publishers  are  en- 
tirely mistaking  their  calling,  like  that  ultra 
class  of  foreigners  who,  when  they  come  to 
this  country,  suppose  that  liberty  means 
license — that  here  in  a  land  of  freedom  they 
can  slander,  purloin  and  abuse  with  impunity, 
which  every  intelligent  citizen  knows  is  not 
the  case.  All  such  newspapers  as  meddle  in 
private  ai¥airs,  in  libeling  and  abusing  pri- 
vate individuals,  should  be  discarded,  and 
their  conductors  should  be  expelled  from  the 
fraternity  of  newspaper  publishers. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  respectfully  and 
earnestly  say  to  my  friends,  subscribe  for,  con- 
tribute to  and  patronize  our  own  home  papers 
first ;  and  in  which  we  find  the  news  both 
from  home  and  abroad.  And  in  this  connec- 
tion I  would  add  a  sjiecial  word  in  behalf  of 
The  Lancaster  Farmer,  which  is  prin- 
cipally made  up  of  interesting  and  reliable 
matter,  emanating  from  our  own  immediate 
friends  and  neighbors.  Our  home  agricultural 
.iournal  is  edited  and  published  by  men  of  ac- 
knowledged ability,  and  whose  moral  integrity 
has  never  been  questioned.  It  is  one  of  the 
cheapest  journals  in  the  Union,  and  has  a 
higher  reputation  abroad  than  it  seems  to 
have  at  home,  which  is  a  reflection  upon  us, 
not  upon  it. — P.  S.  B.,  Oregon,  Oct.,  1876. 


FORESTRY. 


This  subject  is  likely  to  assume  more  import- 
ance before  the  return  of  another  "centen- 
nial," than  it  does  at  the  present  time  ;  but 
even  now  it  is  justly  receiving  the  attention 
of  the  larger,  broader,  and  more  liberal  minds 
of  American  agriculturists:  and,  therefore, 
we  make  room  for  the  following  address  de- 
livered before  the  Amermm  Association  of  For- 
estry, by  Mr.  Burnet  Landreth,  on  the  Centen- 
nial grounds,  in  September  last: 
Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  American 

Forestry  Association  : 

The  modern  and  doubtless  correct  idea  of 
the  road  to  perfection  is  by  division  and  sub- 
division of  labor,  study  and  investigation; 
hence  we  see  lawyers  devoting  their  profes- 
sional attention  to  jurisprudence  as  applied  to 
bommeree,  others  to  land  titles,  even  to  crimi- 
nal practice,  as  it  is  called,  in  which  latter  it 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  determine  which  is 
the  greater  crimmal,  the  culprit  at  the  bar 


or  the  professional  who  defends  him.  In  med- 
icine, some  apply  themselves  to  surgery  ;  with 
others,  all  their  powers  of  investigation  are 
directed  to  the  eye,  or  ear,  or  cUnics  ;  and  we 
naturally  call  to  our  aid,  when  necessity  re- 
quires, those  who  have  achieved  reputation  in 
the  special  department  which  suits  our  case. 
In  agriculture  the  reverse  seems  to  be  the  pop- 
ular rule;  and  mixed  rather  than  specific  farm- 
ing is  generally  advocated — probably  the  pre- 
sumption is  that,  whilst  preparatory  study  and 
practice  are  requisite  to  form  an  accomplished 
member  of  a  "  liberal  "  profession,  men  are 
farmers  intuitively,  and  knowledge,  whether 
of  the  soil  with  its  chemical  constituents,  of 
cereals,  of  cattle,  sheep  or  swine,  may  be  suffi- 
ciently understood  without  study  or  previous 
acquaintance.  Never  was  a  greater  mistake; 
and  the  farmer  who  should  iniinstructcd  step 
behind  the  counter  of  a  Stewart  and  direct  the 
movements,  would  soon  find  his  error,  just  as 
so  many  citizens  have  in  the  reverse  case  tested 
to  their  cost  that  there  is  no  royal  road  to  tech- 
nical knowledge.  It  is  not  my  purpose,  how- 
ever, to  dwell  on  this  phase  of  rural  life — there 
is  not  one  whom  I  address  who  does  not  real- 
ize the  necessity  of  training,  preparatory  to 
successful  husbandry. 

What  I  desire  now  in  an  esi)ecial  manner  to 
direct  attention  to  is  a  branch  of  agriculture 
which  until  recently  has  been  almost  entirely 
overlooked  by  us.  I  of  course  refer  to  Forestry. 
Heretofore  the  way  to  get  rid  of  timber  at  the 
least  outlay  of  labor  possible,  seems  in  many 
cases  to  have  been  the  object  aimed  at;  and 
we  have  gone  on  in  that  insane  effort  until 
flow,  whilst  we  are  still  in  our  infancy  as  a  na- 
tion, our  country  is  made  naked,  and  the 
sources  of  supply  of  valuable  timber,  either 
for  shipbuilding,  the  mechanic  arts  or  fencing, 
are  so  remote  that  had  it  not  been  for  prema- 
ture extension  of  railroads  penetrating  the  in- 
most recesses  of  the  forests,  prices  would  have 
advanced  beyond  any  reasonable  measure  of 
values,  and  have  seriously  impeded  the  con- 
structive arts. 

If  we  turn  our  eyes  northward,  from  whence 
the  valuable  white  pine  lumber  is  exclusively 
obtained,  we  find  that  many  thousands  of 
acres  which  only  a  few  years  ago,  ccimparative- 
I3',  were  covered  with  dense  growth  of  this  in- 
valuable timber  have  been  cut  off;  and  they 
who  cater  for  the  timber  market  have  receded 
almost  out  of  sight,  ere  they  could  find  further 
supplies.  Maine,  once  by  way  of  distinction 
termed  the  White  Pine  State,  is  now  denuded; 
and  mills  erected  for  manufacturing  pine  lum- 
ber are  content  to  saw  spruce  logs  less  than  a 
foot  in  diameter;  and  to-day,  were  it  not  for 
the  paralysis  which  has  seized  on  industry,  the 
price  of  white  pine  would  be  at  least  several 
times  greater  than  ever  within  the  memory  of 
those  whom  I  now  address. 

The  same  condition  of  affairs  applies  to 
hemlock,  one  of  our  valuable  American  trees, 
which,  like  the  buffalo,  is  recklessly  slaugh- 
tered for  its  hide,  until  shortly  it  must  cease 
to  exist  upon  our  continent,  unless  the  prac- 
tice of  this  generation  be  radically  changed. 
How  sad  to  know  that  the  noble  hemlock  is 
thus  ruthlessly  cut  down  for  tlie  simple  bark 
which  encases  it — itself,  many  times  left  to  lie 
and  rot,  a  monument,  perishable  fortunatcl}-, 
of  the  profligacy  of  man,  who,  to  supply  a 
present  want,  recklessly  destroys  that  which 
should  be  the  invaluable  heritage  of  his  chil- 
dren. 

Now,  where  is  all  this  to  stop  ?  Legislation 
cannot  be  invoked  to  correct  the  evil.  A  man 
has  a  right  to  do  in  these  particulars  as  his 
ideas  of  private  interest  prompts  ;  and  unless 
by  moral  suasion,  and  the  argument  be  suc- 
cessfully enforced,  that  he  is  killing  his  own 
goose  which  is  laying  golden  eggs,  the  error 
will  doubtless  go  on  to  the  bitter  end  ;  until 
every  primitive  tree  within  reach  of  market 
has  been  laid  low,  disregarding  the  fact  that 
the  annual  increase  in  cubic  contents  and  the 
certainty  of  enhanced  prices  present  the  best 
investment  the  present  money  values  could  be 
placed  in.  Fortunately,  those  of  us  who  re- 
side upon  the  seaboard  have  a  resource  not 
likely  to  fail ;    and  the  more  especially  not 


likely,  in  view  of  the  large  areas  of  once  tilled 
land  now  being  re-clothed  Ijy  forests.     I  refer 
to  the  Southern  Fine,  of  which  there  are  sev-       ' 
eral  si>ecies,  each  of  value  in  the  departments       | 
of  the  coarser  arts. 

Those  who,  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago,  traversed  our  sealioard,  beginning  at 
Portsmouth,  Virginia,  and  extended  their  i 
route  through  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  and  on-  • 
ward,  could  not  fail,  it  is  said,  to  be  forcibly 
imiiressed  by  the  apparently  interminable 
forests  of  this  valuable  timlier — stately  trees 
in  absolutely  countless  numbers — each  repre- 
senting a  value  which  to  a  northern  eve  could 
be  as  surely  estimated  as  the  sheep  ontbe  hill- 
side, or  the  cattle  on  the  broad  prairies.  Alas  ! 
in  most  cases  the  denizens  of  these  road-side 
forests  have  disai)]ieared  ;  and  he  who  now 
makes  the  journey  to  whicli  I  have  referred 
will  find  on  tens  of  thousands  of  broad  acres 
only  the  blackened  and  charred  stum|)s  of 
those  once  stately  trees— the  needs  of  the 
pa.ssing  hour  having  compelled  their  improvi- 
dent owners  to  convert  them  into  ready 
money.  AVe  have  only,  however,  to  advance 
inward,  westward  of  the  coast  line  a  few 
miles,  to  find  ample  store  of  similar  timber, 
which  lateral  railroads  are  piercing  ;  paving 
the  way,  as  it  were,  towards  the  marts  of  the 
great  cities.  Happily,  to  restore  the  exhaus- 
tion of  yearly  demands,  acres  upon  acres  of 
corn  and  cotton  fields,  worn  out  by  reckless 
tillage,  and  abandoned  by  the  plough,  are  be- 
ing reclotlied  by  nature,  to  be  sources  of  sup- 
ply of  yellow  pine  timber  of  immediately  suc- 
ceeding and  future  generations.  For  this  spe- 
cial variety  nature  is  thus  makivg  ample  jjrovis- 
ion.  So  readily  does  it,  the  yellow  puie,  make 
itself  at  home  in  light  or  sandy  soil,  that  within 
the  memory  of  man  the  lower  county  of  Dela- 
ware, and  the  peninsula  bounded  by  the  Ches- 
apeake and  Delaware  Bays  has  been  made  the 
favorite  locality  of  the  common  yellow  pine, 
which  has  attained  sufficient  dimensions  with- 
in the  period  referred  to,  to  be  cut  for  saw- 
logs — and  this  in  a  district  of  country  where 
previously  pine  was  absolutely  unknown;  the 
forests  being  exclusively  of  hard  wooded  trees. 
But  we  need  other  than  yellow  pine  lumber; 
good  as  it  is,  it  does  not  supply  every  want, 
and  unless  the  science  and  practice  of  forestry 
be  taught,  those  wants  are  destined  to  go  un- 
supplied.  It  is  to  this  special  point  I  desire  to 
invite  attention,  and  in  connection  with  it, 
and  the  subject  of  white  pine  in  its  northern 
habitat,  I  will  here  relate  a  fact  which  may,  I 
feel  confident  is,  destined  to  exert  an  import- 
ant influence  on  the  future  sources  of  supply; 
indeed  I  do  not  hesitate  to  predict  may  prove 
the  starting  point  to  interests  of  fabulous  ex- 
tent, in  the  light  of  which  cotton  itself  as  a 
product  exclusive  to  the  South,  may  lose  some- 
what of  its  lu.stre.  A  gentleman  of  Virginia, 
a  friend  of  mine  lartrely  interested  in  lands,  a 
shipper  of  timber  from  the  sea-board,  there- 
fore not  inexperienced,  discovered  in  his  forest 
explorations  what,  for  want  of  a  better  term, 
I  shall  call  a  ivhiiepine  settlement,  in  the  dense 
yellow  pine  forests  of  the  northern  neck  of  his 
State,  in  the  midst  of  a  group  of  white  i)ines, 
extending  over  an  area  of  five  or  six  acres, 
stood  a  gigantic  individual  tree  ninety-six  feet 
high,  eight  feet  four  inches  in  circumference, 
three  feet  from  the  ground.  There  it  stood 
and  stands  to-day,  surrounded  by  seedlings 
from  forty  feet  high  down  to  seedlings  of  a 
year  old,  as  the  boundaries  of  the  settlement 
are  reached,  ninnbering  i)i  the  whole  three  to 
foin-  thousand. 

Here  is  a  fiict  which  cannot  be  questioned. 
It  is  like  the  testimony  of  the  rocks.  A  bird 
of  i)assage  had  evidently  dropped  a  solitary 
seed  at  some  period  long  preceding,  which 
springing  up  had  estalilished  itself  in  its  new 
home,  far  distant  from  the  region  where  nature 
had  placed  its  ancestors.  The  mere  fact  itself 
of  a  white  pine  having  fixed  its  abode  and 
prospered  in  ;i  remote  localif^  is  but  a  trifle — 
a  circumstance  of  but  little  practical  signifi- 
cance ;  but  taken  in  connection  with  inferences 
not  to  be  ignored,  its  value  can  hardly  be 
over-estimated.  The  proof  is  made  patent 
that,  this  tree  of  northern  habit  thrives  equally 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


169 


well  with  the  simtlieni  iiinc  (of  which  there 
;ire  several  species,  coniinerciiilly  classeil  as 
Ciir(>]iiia)iii  tlie  hitter's  native  .sand,  and  under 
tlie  .scorehinL;  sun  oftlie  soutli,  opens  .a  vista 
in  forest  tree  plaiitini;,  whieli  llio.s(^  wlio  look 
heneatli  tlie  surface  I'annol  fail  to  appreciate. 
ll  is  Ihi'  intlrj' In  fultirr  mallh  iif  iw<iniricahle 
mwjnituilc. 

In  the  science  of  t'ore.stry  trees  are  divided 
into  two  distinctive  cla.sses — one  called  en- 
cnxirhiiKj,  whhch  perpetuate  and  increase 
themselves  iinder  favoralile  conditions;  the 
other  reralbui,  which  disa|>iiear  before  the  ad- 
vance of  civili/ation.  To  the  I'ornier  of  these 
the  whitis  like  the  yellow  pine,  evidently  be- 
longs, a  vei'y  important  circumstance  in  con- 
nection with  its  pro])osed  culture. 

Already  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  announce, 
and  desire  the  fact  be  placed  on  recurd,  that 
my  (irm,  which  is  interested  in  forestry,  has 
embarked  in  the  jilantini,'  of  the  white  pine  on 
the  seaboard  of  Virjiinia,  and  thoUL^Ii  the  time 
is  too  short  to  state  the  actual  success  of  such 
]ilantations,  there  is  every  reason  to  expect 
;;ood  resvdts.  If  the  question  be  asked,  why 
jilaid  white  iiine  when  the  yellow  sprinjjs  up 
indi};enously.  spontaneously,  on  every  aban- 
doned cornfield  of  that  region  y  The  answer 
is  simply,  because  there  is  no  present  possibil- 
ity of  a  short  su|i])ly  of  the  yellow,  and  the 
white  is  inider  all  <'onditions  worth  double  the 
money  in  the  market,  and  i>roduccd  on  the 
sealjoard  can  be  transiiorted  by  water  at  im- 
measuraiily  less  cost  than  from  the  far  north  ; 
beside,  land  without  undergrowth,  thus  ready 
for  jilanting,  can  he  ptu'cliascd  at  small  cost; 
and  it  alTords  a  prospect  of  recuperation  for 
that  section  which  no  other  industry  i)resents. 
In  a  (patriotic  asjiect  it  is  therefore  worthy  of 
attention.  Tens  of  thinisands  of  acres,  hun- 
dreds of  s(|uare  miles  of  worn  out  corn  and 
cotton  lands  lie  contiguous  to  the  .sea,  whilst 
their  owners  stand  with  folded  arms  waiting 
for  something  to  turn  uj).  These  lands  won't 
jiay  for  tillage  in  grain,  and  gra.ss  for  pasturage 
is  not  enduring.  To  buy  fertilizers  is  out  of 
the  (lucstion,  and  it  is  cheajier  to  emigrate  to 
the  rich  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi,  where 
cotton  is  the  desired  staple. 

Whilst  the  l)road  prairies  of  the  "West  and 
the  natural  grass  tields  beyond  the  Mi.ssoiu-i, 
and  on  the  Pacilic  coast  invite  the  immigrant 
fr(im  abroad,  and  the  native  seeking  .a  new 
home,  the  South  is  likely  to  be  overlooked. 
What  then  is  to  be  done  ?  Ke-clothe  the 
abandoned  or  at  least  neglected  lands  with 
forests,  as  in  the  days  of  the  early  English 
settlers,  and  the  whole  scene  will  have  changed; 
prosperity  %vill  once  more  visit  that  region, 
and  with  accrued  cajiital,  better  systems  of 
tillage,  and  free  schools  established  at  every 
cross-  roads,  sectional  differences  will  disappear, 
and  we  shall  be  henceforth  a  united  people. 
In  Eurojie  forest  culture — the  planting  of 
forests  for  timber — as  all  (iresent  know,  has 
been  hmg  successfully  jiursued  ;  and  the  prac- 
tical processes  are  taught,  I  believe,  at  all  the 
agricultural  schools.  Long  ago,  however,  ere 
such  colleges  were  established,  no  inconsidera- 
ble progress  had  been  made  in  that  direction 
by  owners  of  large  estates,  notably  in  Scot- 
land, where  larch-planting  was  introduced  in 
173S,  by  the  Duke  of  Athol,  and  so  success- 
fully i)rosecuted  as  to  be  familiar  to  you  all. 
In  Germany  and  France  similar  ])rogress  has 
been  made  ;  artificially  formed  forests  being 
met  with  on  every  hand,  the  developed  pines, 
spruces,  and  firs  planted  at  uniform  distances, 
and  ]iossessing  symmetry  of  growth,  the 
branclies  interlaced  far  over  head,  reminding 
one  of  tlu^  pillars  of  some  stately  cathedral. 
Now,  what  Idi'Sire  on  the  jiresent  occasion  is 
simply  to  drop  a  few  hints  which  may  induce 
retlection.  I  aim  only  at  so  much,  not  to  in- 
struct, for  I  am  myself  a  student.  If  any- 
thing which  I  may  say  shall  be  found  to  hear 
fruit  hereafter,  I  shall  be  compensated. 
Among  other  things  I  wish  to  start  the  imjuiry 
whether  in  oiu-  clas-silication  of  agricultural 
instruction  the  time  has  not  come  to  teach 
fora'tr)/  as  a  science — I  say  science  because  it 
is  suscejitiblc  of  exact  results  : — whether  in 
the  sub-divisiou  of  rural  interests,  the  practice 


o(  tree-planting  should  not  be  clearly  recog- 
nized among  the  present  and  pr<is|iective  in- 
dustries of  our  i)eople.  Of  cour.se  it  is  not  to 
lie  supposed,  for  an  instant,  that  all  localities  are 
favorable,  alike  promising  (U-olit.  The  manu- 
facturir  when  he  determines  to  locate  his 
works  seeks  the  jioint  either  where  a  ready 
market  may  be  fouml,  when!  the  raw  material 
is  readily  obtained,  or  where  fuel  for  steam 
power  or  water  power  is  at  connuand-  some 
one  in-  more  of  these  conditions  are  in(lis|iensa- 
ble  to  success.  So  he  wlioidants  forests  nnist 
use  proper  discriminal  ion,  or  he  will  llndeilhi-r 
the  accunuilated  interest  on  land,  or  the  cost 
of  reaching  the  market  for  his  lumber,  may 
eat  up  the  natural  accretion  of  a  generation's 
growth.  So,  al.so,  the  planter  nni.st  stuily  the 
ada)itation  of  special  trees  to  bis  .soil,  ex|iosure 
to  climate  changes,  time  which  he  can  alfonl 
to  await  returns,  and  other  circumstances  inci- 
dent 1(1  the  enterprise.  He  in\ist  study  and 
carefully  study,  too,  the  methods  iiroceediire  ; 
the  gathering  of  the  seed  and  its  preservation 
until  sown,  the  proper  time  and  method  of 
sowing,  whether  it  be  in  seed  beds  under  sun 
screens,  the  youTig  plants  to  be  subsequently 
transplanted  into  nurseries  preparatory  to  be- 
ing permanently  plaided  out,  or  as  in  the 
ca.se  of  oaks,  walnuts,  chestnuts,  and  trees  of 
similar  character,  the  seed  be  planted  in  the 
field,  or  mountain,  to  remain  undisturbed.  In 
all  these  processes  there  is  so  nuich  skill  recpii- 
site,  technical  skill  ouly  attainal)le  by  practice 
and  ob.servation,  that  it  will  at  once  occin-  to 
the  reflecting  farmer  or  cotton  pl.-inter,  that  he 
is  l)robably  unprepared  to  embark  in  the  enter- 
prise. Having  been  convinced  of  that  tiict  lie 
has  already  taken  the  first  step  towards  suc- 
cess ;  the  next  will  be,  if  he  decides  to  plant, 
to  employ  the  service  of  an  cqicrl—n  class  of 
men  in  tlus  branch  of  industry  not  readily  ob- 
tainable in  this  country.  Wliat  then  is  to  be 
done  V  Do  not  start  till  lii^  is  ready  to  .send 
his  son  to  an  agricultural  school  where  he 
may  be  taught  the  whole  a  b  c  to  z,  the  alpha 
to  omega,  of  forestry.  Whilst  studying  that 
he  will  acquire  knowledge  of  natural  science, 
and  other  information  invaluable  in  rural  life. 
I  am  aware  that  agricultural  schools  under 
the  patronage  of  State  governments  have  not 
been  uniformly  successful  ;  indeed,  it  is  only 
candid  to  admit  that  they  have  in  some  cases, 
that  of  our  own  State  of  Peim.sylvania  includ- 
ed, been  sad  failures  ;  but  should  we  not  profit 
by  our  experience  in  these  jiarticulars,  and 
henceforth,  like  the  skillful  mariner,  avoid  the 
shoals  ?  There  are,  however,  oiiportimities 
extant  for  instruction,  and  it  is  our  province 
to  provide  others  without  delay  ;  failing  such 
under  .special  circumstances,  the  entering  a 
youth  fora  term  as  a  pupil  in  a  well-conducted 
Nursery  may  accomplish  all  that  is  contem- 
lilated.  In  such  an  establishment  he  could, in 
two  years  at  most,  be  initialed  into  the  art 
and  mystery  of  rearing  trees  from  seed,  the 
processes  of  culture,  tjieir  care,  preservation 
and  trans])lanting  ;  and  if  he  were  of  an  in- 
vestigating, in(iuiring  mind,  he  would  actiuiri' 
visions  of  nature  which  have  never  entered 
into  the  vievv  of  multitudes  who  take  rank  as 
successful  farmers. 

In  England  it  has  long  been  the  practice  of 
the  commercial  and  manufacturing  classes  in 
search  of  greater  security  for  their  ac(piisitions 
than  trade  presented,  and,  iierhaps.  also  in 
some  cases  to  take  rank  as  country  gentlemen, 
to  place  sons  with  well-educated,  accomplished 
farmers,  to  be  ' instructed  in  the  practical 
details  of  husbandry,  ]ireparatory  to  taking 
charge  of  landed  estates  in  their  own  inter- 
est. May  not  that  plan  point  out  a  method 
of  teaching  forestry  ;  where  competent  men 
may  give  instruction  in  that  especial  branch, 
as  well  as  in  other  imrsuits  of  rural  life — 
schools  under  the  refining  influences  of  home. 

In  days  now  gone  by  forever,  it  was  the 
practice  of  Southern  planters  to  .send  one  of 
their  sons  to  the  medical  school  at  the  Penn- 
.sylvania  University  or  .leffcrsou  College. 
Here  they  passed  two  winters  in  attcn<Ianee 
on  the  lectures,  returning  home  with  diplomas 
in  their  pockets,  not  in  most  cases  to  practice 
medicine  as  a  profession,  but  prepared  to  iiiiii- 


istcr  to  the  wants  of  the  plantation  hands,  and 
household  .servants.  It  might  he  diflicult  to 
estimate  the  inlluenc(!  on  the  intellectual 
character  of  an  isolated  rural  conununity 
where  one  of  the.se  young  men  found  his 
abode,  imperfect  as  his  education  may  have- 
been,  compared  with  the  great  field  of  knowl- 
edge unexpl<U'e<l.  Now,  in  reconnnendiTig 
farmers  with  the  lU'cessary  means  to  senci 
their  sons  as  students  to  nurserymen,  it  is  not 
with  any  expectation  tliey  adopt  the  nm.sery 
busini  .ss  ,as  the  pursuit  of  life,  but  simply  to 
qualify  them  for  the  mor<'  profitable  enloyment 
of  their  jiafi'mal  acres,  to  exiiand  their  views 
l)eyond  ihe  boundaries  of  the  homestead,  to 
occupy  the  high  position  which  isan  American 
farmer's  birthright. 

I  trust  this  convent  ion  may  be  the  fore- 
lunner  of  others,  that  a  complete  organization 
will  be  established,  that  subjecls  for  essays  to 
be  read  at  subsequi'ut  meetings  may  be  deter- 
mined u])on  in  advance,  and  that  its  influence 
be  extended  at  home  and  eonf'ereiic(;  be  had 
with  kindred  associaf  ioiisabroad.  I  beg  leave 
to  lay  upon  the  table  of  yriur  chairman  my 
credentials  as  a  member  of  the  Seottisli  Arho- 
ricultural  Society,  iuid  that  .Society's  repre- 
.sentalive  at  the  Centennial  Exi)OSilion. 

DEFICIENT  INGREDIENTS  OF  SOILS. 

The  following  well  coiisidered  remarks  are 
from  a  cin'ular  lately  issued  by  the  Agricul- 
tural Expi'riment  Station  of  Middletowu, 
Connecticut  : 

The  primary  duty  of  the  chemist  is  to  make 
analyses  and  experiments  an<l  refrain  fi-om 
offeiing  practical  advice'  initil  bis  theories  have 
a  substantial  basis  of  known  facts.  At  tlie 
•same  time  it  may  not  be  out  of  the  way  to  of- 
fer a  few  suggestions  for  the  throughtful  con- 
sideration of  Connecticut  farmers. 

In  saying  that  no  jilant  can  grow,  no  crop 
can  flourish  without  an  available  supply  in  the 
soil  of  a  suHici<'nt  ([uantity  of  each  one  of  a 
certain  list  of  substances  needful  for  its  food, 
and  that  the  essential  use  of  commercial  ferti- 
lizers is  to  suinily  food  which  plants  need 
and  soils  fail  to  furnish,  we  are  simply  re- 
peating universally  admittecl  facts.  It  is 
lierfectly  plain,  then,  that  that  those  com- 
mercial fertilizers  will  be  most  economical 
which,  in  one  way  or  another,  supply  these 
lacking  materials  in  the  needed  proportions 
and  the  best  forms,  at  the  lowest  cost. 

We  have,  therefore,  two  most  im])ortant 
problems  to  solve.  First,  what  materials  do 
our  soils  lack  ?  second,  by  what  api)licatious 
of  fertilizers  or  other  means  will  their  ueed 
best  be  supplied  ? 

To  answer  either  of  these  (luestion  fully  and 
definitely,  is  very  difiicult ;  thetir.st  because  of 
the  difference  in  soils,  and  both  because  we  do 
not  know,  and  do  find  it  slow  work  to  discover 
definiti'ly,  the  ways  in  which  atmosphere  and 
soils  and  fertilizers  supply  food,  and  plants 
use  it. 

It  is  sufliciently  well  settled  that  nitrogen, 
]ihos]ilioric  acid,  potash,  sulphuric  acid,  lime 
and  magnesia  are  the  oidy  ingredients  of  i)lant 
food  which  need  to  be  supjilied  in  fertilizers. 
The  other  materials,  as  iron,  silica  and 
chlorine,  which  jilants  remove  from  the  soil, 
are,  in  so  far  as  they  are  necessary  for  plant- 
food,  furnished  in  abundance  by  every  ordi- 
nary soil. 

Generally  speaking,  we  may  accept  the 
opinion  conunouly  held,  that  magnesia  may 
sometimes  be  lacking,  th.'it  sulphuric  acid  and 
lime  arc  moie,  and  lurogen.  phosphoric  acid 
and  potash,  most  ajit  to  be  deficient  in  our 
ordinary  soils.  In  one  .M)il,  one.  in  another 
several  or  all  of  these  may  be  wanting. 

It  was  once  thought  that  the  chemical  an- 
alj'sis  of  a  soil  would  easily  reveal  its  deficien- 
cies in  idant-food.  I5ut  later  experience  has 
shown  this  is  at  liest  a  costly  and  defei-live 
source  of  inforinatifin.  DifTerent  sanqiles  of 
soil  from  the  same  field  may  vary  widely  in 
composition,  and  what  is  a  still  greater  clifli- 
culity,  chemical  tests  which  make  known  the 
presence  of  a  given  ingredient  in  the  .soil,  do 
not  show  whether  it  is  in  such  a  form  that  the 
plant  can  use  it.     And  there  are  many  pro- 


170 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[November, 


cesses  of  vital  importauce  to  the  suHtenauce  of 
the  plant,  which  are  continually  going  on  in 
the  soil,  but  which  the  analysis  does  not  re- 
veal. 

Most  of  our  artificial  manures  are  only 
special  fertilizers.  Guanos,  phosphntes,  fish 
and  bone  manures  and  tlie  like,  contain  more 
or  less  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  lime  ;  the 
super-phosphates  contain  sulphuric  acid  also. 
With  the  exception  of  some  to  which  tlie  Ger- 
man potash  salts  have  been  added,  very  few 
of  them  contain  any  appreciable  quantities  of 
magnesia  or  potash.  Tliey  supply  part  but 
not  all  the  materials  wliich  soils  may  lack. 

Many  farmers  find  that  guano,  fish  and 
other  special  fertilizers  whose  action  is  quick 
and  stimulating,  seem  to  leave  their  soil  in  a 
more  exhausted  condition  than  before  they 
were  ajjplied.  And  the  complaint  is  not  un- 
common that  such  fertilizers  do  not  bring  the 
same  return  as  formerly. 

May  we  not  at  least  question  whether  the 
immediate  effect  of  these  special  fertilizers  has 
not  been,  in  many  cases,  to  aid  the  plant  to 
use  the  more  available  stores  of  food  in  the 
soil,  mitil  these  latter  have  become  so  far  ex- 
hausted as  no  longer  to  respond  to  the  stimula- 
ting action  of  the  special  manures  ? 

If  the  above  supposition  be  correct,  it  is 
clear  that  what  such  exhausted  soils  need,  is 
something  to  supply,  not  only  the  nitrogen 
and  pho.sphoric  acid  of  the  guano  or  fish,  or 
bone,  or  superphosphates,  or  other  special 
fertilizers,  but  also  the  jjotash  and  other  min- 
erals that  these  latter  do  not  furnish. 

Ashes  are,  for  many  soils,  a  standard  fer- 
tilizer. Places  where  a  tree  or  a  brush-heap 
has  been  burned  often  show  the  effects  orthe 
manuring  for  years.  It  is  a  trite  saying,  tliat 
"  the  land  never  forgets  aslies."  Ashes  sup- 
ply directly  all  the  soil  ingredients  of  plant 
food  except  nitrogen.  Their  indirect  action 
is  also,  very  likely,  not  nnimiwrtant  in  render- 
ing other  materials  in  the  soil  available.  In- 
stead of  wearing  out  soils,  they  strengthen 
them.  May  not  this  difference  be  due,  in  part 
at  least,  to  the  fact  that  they  furnish  the  other 
ingredients  of  plant  food  that  the  guano  and 
fish  lack  ? 

Stable  manure  furnishes  all  tlie  ingredients 
of  plant  food.  It  is  a  complete  fertilizer. 
Farmers  do  not  complain  that  it  helps  to  ex- 
haust their  land. 

There  are  soils  which,  by  applications  of 
nitrogen  and  phosphric  acid,  in  the  fijrm  of 
guano,  bone  or  nitrogenous  superphosphates, 
may  be  made  to  bear  good  crops  year  after  year. 
They  supply  of  themselves  the  other  materials 
needed.  They  have  abundant  stores  of  mag- 
nesia and  potash,  and  so  on,  and  by  weather- 
ing, tillage,  and  the  action  of  the  fertilizing 
materials  added,  these  are  worked  over  from 
unavailable  forms  into  those  wliich  the  plant 
can  use. 

But  such  is  not  always  the  case.  Among 
the  exhausted  and  woru-ont  soils  of  New 
England  there  are  a  great  many  which  lack 
more  than  nitrogen,  phoshoric  acid,  sulphuric 
acid  and  lime. 

This  is  very  strikingly  illustrated  in  the 
elaborate  experiments  of  Prof.  F.  H.  Storer, 
at  the  Bussey  Institution  at  Jamaica  Plain, 
Mass.  These  were  made  niion  what  Prof. 
Storer  calls  "a  very  good  representative  of 
the  light,  leachv  soils  that  overlie  gravelly 
drift  in  New  England."  In  these  experi- 
ments, which  continued  through  a  series  of 
years,  different  crops  were  raised  with  differ- 
ent manures,  the  same  crop  being  grown  with 
the  same  manure,  on  the  same  plot,  year  after 
year.  Those  raised  with  fertilizers  contain- 
ing nitrogen  and  phosphoric  acid  only,  .showed 
very  little  good  effect  from  the  manuring, 
while  the  potash  compounds  brought  the  most 
satisfactory  returns.  As  Prof  Storer  says, 
the  "crying  want  "  of  this  land  was  for  pot- 
ash. There  are  doubtless  many  such  soils  in 
Connecticut. 

Some  time  ago,  an  intelligent  farmer  asked 
the  writer  which  were  the  better  fertilizers- 
phosphates  or  potash  salts  ?  Tlie  reply  was, 
and  I  knew  no  better  one,  "potash  salts  where 
potash  is  needed,  phosphates  where  phosphoric 


acid  is  needed,  and  nitrogenous  manures 
where  nitrogen  is  needed.  But  if  you  do  not 
know  what  your  soil  lacks,  and  want  to  make 
sure  of  a  crop,  and  enrich  your. land  at  the 
same  time,  use  your  nitrogenous  superi)hos- 
phates  and  German  potash  salts  together. 
The  former  will  furnish  nitrogen,  phosphoric 
acid,  sulphuric  acid  and  lime  ;  the  latter,  pot- 
ash and  magnesia.  Thus  you  will  have  a  fer- 
tilizer with  all  that  the  plant  needs — a  com- 
plete manure.  At  the  same  time,  it  is  well  to 
remember  that  you  may  feed  your  crops,  not 
only  directly  by  giving  them  these  ingredients 
in  guanos,  phosphates,  potash  salts,  and  so  on, 
but  indirectly  by  rendering  stores  of  plant 
food,  present  in  the  soil  or  atmosphere,  avail- 
able through  tillage  and  the  use  of  cheaper 
fertilizers.  A  little  lime  or  plaster  may  some- 
times be  tlius  more  valuable  than  an  amount 
of  phosphates  or  potash  salts  that  would  cost 
several  times  as  much." 


GOOD  TILLAGE. 


In  the  head-line  of  one  of  our  agricultural 
papers  may  be  seen  every  week  the  broad  state- 
ment that  "  good  tillage  is  manure."  There 
is  in  tliis  statement  a  good  deal  of  truth  very 
concisely  expressed.  While  good  tillage  is  not 
really  manure,  it  is  capable  of  greatly  aiding 
manure  in  its  work,  and,  under  certain  condi- 
tions, may  be  made  in  a  great  measure  to  take 
its  place.  There  is  no  doubt  that  with  good 
culture  as  large  crops  can  be  produced  with  a 
small  quantity  of  manure  as  can  be  obtained 
with  a  mucli  larger  application  of  fertilizers 
and  inferior  tillage.  It  is  a  well  established 
fact  that  very  large  crops  have  been  grown  on 
ordinary  land  without  manuring,  and  that  the 
only  reason  of  this  success  was  the  thorough 
tillage  which  was  given.  Even  worn-out  fields 
have  been  made  by  extra  culture  to  produce 
fine  crops.  Many  years  ago  we  read  of  an 
Irishman  who  bought  a  little  patch  of  light 
land,  which  had  been  so  thoroughly  exhausted 
as  to  be  considered  incapable  of  producing  a 
paying  crop.  He  determined  to  sow  the  piece 
with  rye,  and  long  before  the  time  for  sowing 
lie  might  have  been  seen  almost  every  morn- 
ing wliile  the  dew  was  on  plowing  the  field. 
After  awhile  lie  stopped  plowing,  remarking 
that  if  he  should  iilow  it  any  more  the  rye 
would  lodge.  The  neighbors  thought  this  was 
a  good  specimen  of  Irish  intelligence,  and  made 
a  great  deal  of  sport  over  it.  They  were  con- 
fident that  he  would  not  get  rye  enough  to  pay 
for  his  work.  But  the  rye  came  up  and  grew, 
and  when  a  large  yield  was  harvested  the  neigh- 
bors concluded  that  the  Irishman  knew  a  great 
deal  more  than  they  thought  he  did.  They 
could  not  account  for  it;  but  the  fact  was  be- 
fore them,  and  they  could  not  deny  it.  Finally 
they  came  to  the  conclusion  that  plowing  when 
the  dew  was  on  was  the  chief  cause  of  the 
large  yield ;  but  it  was  not  the  dew  so  mnch  as 
it  was  the  fining  of  the  soil,  which  produced 
the  heavy  crop.  Under  the  ordinary  system 
of  culture,  the  soil  had  become  exhausted,  but 
considerable  plant  food  still  remained  in  clods 
and  lumps,  which  the  rootlets  of  the  plants 
could  not  penetrate,  and  consequently  could 
not  obtain.  But  the  constant  plowing  and  re- 
plowing  of  the  field  pulverized  these  clods  and 
set  the  plant  food  free.  The  rye  was  able  to 
olrtain  and  utilize  it,  and  consequently  was 
very  productive.  A  case  somewhat  similar 
once  came  under  own  observation.  A  man 
leased  a  tract  of  land,  which  vras  cold  and  wet 
and  produced  nothing  but  sour  grass  and  weeds. 
He  dug  some  ditches,  plowed  tb.e  land  and 
harrowed  it  with  a  great  deal  of  care,  and 
planted  it  with  corn.  He  had  but  little  ma- 
nure, and  on  much  of  the  iiiece  no  fertilizer 
except  plaster  and  ashes.  But  he  finely  ))nl- 
verized  the  soil  before  planting,  and  cultivated 
and  hoed  the  crop  very  often  during  the  sea- 
son. The  neighbors  were  confident  that  he 
would  not  have  any  corn  on  that  i)iece  of  land 
without  manuringit;  but  he  did  obtain  a  fine 
crop,  and  when  the  piece  was  seeded  down 
grass  came  in  nicely  and  a  good  crop  of  hay 
was  obtained.  This  was  almost  wholly  owing 
to  good  tillage,  for  without  manure  the  laud 


would  not  with  ordinary  culture  have  produced 
half  a  crop.  Such  cases  are  common  enough 
to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  that  good  tillage  is 
capaljle  of  largely  increasing  the  production  of 
the  land,  and  farmers  ought  to  take  advantage 
of  this.  Of  course  we  do  not  advise  any  one 
to  neglect  to  manure  liis  land,  and  rely  upon 
good  culture  to  produce  good  crops.  All  crops 
are  obtained  at  the  expense  of  either  manure 
or  soil,  and  if  no  fertilizer  is  a])plied  they  will 
invariably  injure  the  land.  The  true  way  is 
to  manure  well  and  also  thoroughly  cultivate 
the  crop.  Thus  the  advantages  of  manure 
and  culture  may  both  be  obtained. — Home- 
stead. 


AMATEUR  FARMERS. 

There  are  many  men  of  means  who  follow 
farming  as  a  recreation,  and  who,  while  still 
looking  to  profit  and  loss  in  some  respect,  still 
love  to  try  experiments  regardless  of  any 
immediate  gain.  These  are  called  fancy  farm- 
ers, and  are  often  laughed  at  by  more  practical 
men.  But  they  are  a  very  useful  class,  and 
we  symiiathize  with  an  exchange  which  thus 
speaks  of  them  : 

No  class  of  men  have  been  ridiculed  so 
much,  and  none  have  done  so  much  good,  as 
those  who  are  denominated  fancy  farmers. 
They  have  been,  in  all  times  and  countries, 
the  benefactors  of  the  men  who  have  treated 
them  with  derision.  They  have  been  to 
farmers  what  inventors  have  been  to  manu- 
facturers. They  have  experimented  for  the 
good  of  the  world,  while  others  have  simply 
worked  for  their  own  good.  They  tested  the- 
ories while  others  raised  crops  for  market. 
They  have  given  a  dignity  and  glory  to  the 
occupation  of  farming  it  never  had  before. 

Fancy  farmers  have  clianged  the  wild  boar 
into  the  Suffolk  and  Berkshire  ;  the  wild  bull 
of  Britain  into  the  Short-horn  ;  the  mountain 
sheep,  with  its  lean  body  and  hair  fleece,  into 
tjie  Southdown  and  Merino.  They  brought 
nil  the  milk  of  cows  from  pints  to  gallons. 
They  have  lengthened  the  sirloin  of  the  bullock, 
deepened  the  udder  of  the  cow,  enlarged  the 
ham  of  the  hog,  given  strength  to  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  ox,  rendered  finer  the  wool  of  the 
sheep,  added  fleetness  to  the  speed  of  the 
horse,  and  made  lieautiful  every  animal  that  is 
kei)t  in  service  of  man.  They  have  improved 
and  hastened  the  develoi>meut  of  all  domestic 
animals  til!  they  hardly  resemble  the  animals 
from  which  they  sprang. 

Fancy  farmers  introduced  irrigation  and 
under-draining,  grinding  and  cooking  food 
for  stock.  They  have  brought  guano  from 
Peru  and  nitrate  of  soda  from  Chili.  They 
have  introduced  and  domesticated  all  the 
plants  we  have  of  foreign  origin.  They 
iirought  out  tlie  theory  of  the  rotation  of  crops 
as  a  natural  means  of  keeping  up  and  increas- 
ing the  fertility  of  the  soil.  They  first  ground 
up  gypsum  and  bones,  and  treated  the  latter 
with  acid  to  make  manures  of  peculiar  value. 
They  first  analyzed  soils  as  a  means  of  deter- 
mining wliat  was  wanted  to  increase  their 
fcrtilitv.  They  introduced  the  most  approved 
methods  of  raising  and  distributiniz  water. 

Fancy  farmers  or  fancy  horticulturists  have 
given  us  all  our  varieties  of  fruits,  veaetables, 
and  flowers.  A  fancy  farmer  in  Vermont  a 
few  years  ago  originated  the  Early  Rose 
potato,  which  added  millions  of  dollars  to  the 
wealth  of  the  country,  and  jn'oved  to  be  a  most 
important  accession  in  every  part  of  the  world 
where  it  was  introduced.  Another  of  these 
same  fancy  men  originated  the  Wilson  straw- 
berry, and  another  the  Concord  grape.  It 
was  a  fancy  farmer  that  brought  the  Osage 
from  Texas  to  the  Northern  States. 


PLANTING  LARGE  TREES. 

We  were  astonished  to  read  a  pa|)er  lately — 
a  paper  which  most  of  us  are  accustomed  to 
look  to  witli  a  good  deal  of  respect — an  article 
against  the  planting  of  large  trees.  It  was  be- 
cause people  planted  large  trees  that  so  many 
trees  died.  There  was  barely  the  ghost  of  a 
chance  of  success  for  any  one  who  would  plant 
a  large  one. 

Then  we  are  told  what  a  large  tree  is  in  the 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER 


171 


writer's  mind.  "  An  evergret-u  oiiplit  not  to 
be  over  two  or  tlirce  feet  hiiili,"  and  '■  from 
four  lo  .six  I'l'et  is  cnougli  for  a  fruit  or  sliadc- 
tri'i'. "  Now  we  aic  quilc  williuK  to  admit 
tliat  till'  tri't'.s  wliicli  \vc  soniclimcs  .see  aiiMuid 
here  distriliuti'd  !)>■  tlii'  pcddlcr.s.  even  tliisc 
."izcs  are  jn-nerally  too  larf^c:  larpe  nunilx-r.s 
dying  from  want  of  roots,  the  result  of  poor 
eulture  in  the  nursery,  or  from  liciui;  du^  with 
a  plow  or  post-spade,  and  tluui'fore  what  few 
roots  they  may  liave  l)eingleft  in  the  ground. 
It  is  more  than  likely  the  article  we  referred 
to  was  inspired  by  s\ieh  trees  as  these.  No 
wonder  the  writer  is  down  on  liig  trees. 

Our  Geruiantown  gardeui'rs  will  laugh  at 
this  idea  of  big  trees;  and  so  we  Judgi'  will 
any  one  in  the  vicinity  of  any  good  nursery 
where  the  iiroprietor  knciws  his  business,  and 
what  should  be  done  to  make  a  tree  hav<'  good 
roots,  and  how  such  tries  should  be  dug.  In 
(iermaiitown,  however,  we  can  .say  from  our 
own  experience  that  it  is  a  very  connuou  Iking 
to  see  our  ganleuers  |ilantiug  trees  from  1'2  to 
1")  feet  high,  and  n\oving  them  successfully. 
Even  our  friend  Elliott  might  set  cedar  trees 
fifteen  years  old  with  perfect  success,  when  in 
the  hands  of  .some  of  lliese  men  who  seem  to 
have  the  power  to  make  trees  do  just  whatever 
they  will  with  them.  Of  course,  they  will 
take  good  care  in  selecting  good  healthy  trees; 
care  in  digging  up  all  the  roots;  care  they  do 
not  get  dry  before  replanting;  care  to  press 
the  soil  lirmly  in  and  about  tlic  roots;  care  in 
pruning  them — and  this  last  Is  a  great  jioint — 
and  they  rarely  fail  to  live  and  grow  w('ll. 
The  i>runing  isof  course  to  be  done  judiciously. 
It  is  no  use  to  plant  a  large  tree  and  then  cut 
it  back  to  make  a  small  one  out  of  it.  All  the 
large  branches  are  retained,  and  only  the 
smaller  and  weaker  ones  cut  away.  As  to  the 
way  in  which  these  large  trees  are  made  suc- 
cessful, this  has  been  several  limes  explained 
in  past  yearsin  tlie  Tih(ir<(jjli,  but  we  may  give 
the  leading  points  over  again. 

First,  a  healthy  tre(^  that  has  been  removed 
before,  and  has  not  been  crowded  by  other 
trees.  Then  a  circle  is  dug  from  three  to  six 
feet  away  from  the  trunk,  and  down  deep 
enough  to  get  under  the  roots  with  a  fork, 
only  using  a  sjiade  or  axe  to  sever  the  deep 
tap-root,  though  a  tree  once  removed  already 
is  not  troublecl  with  much  of  these.  Then 
having  comparatively  all  the  roots,  the  weaker 
branches  are  cut  aw'ay,  and  this  is  all  that  is 
required  for  the  successful  removal  of  large 
trees.  —  Germantoicn  Teh(jrnph. 

THE  EXPORTATION  OF  BEEF. 

The  development  of  the  demand  on  Texas 
for  beef  to  supply  tile  markets  of  the  world 
bids  fair  to  reach  proportions  more  extensive 
than  anything  that  has  yet  been  known.  The 
guerrilla  warfare  in  Cuba,  in  which  the  insiu'- 
rectionists  subsist  on  the  few  cattle  that  are 
already  in  tiie  ever  "faithful  isle,"  has  neces- 
sitated the  adopting  of  the  polic}-  of  slaughter- 
ing this  Ijeef  for  the  use  of  the  government 
troops,  and  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  revolutionists,  will  soon  exter- 
minate this  stock  and  increase  the  demand 
for  American  cattle.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
steadily  diminishing  herds  of  cattle  in  the 
British  isles  are  as  steadily  making  room  for 
the  introduction  of  American  beef^,  and  it  is 
not  sur|irisiug  that  con.stant  experiments  are 
being  made  to  perfect  a  system  of  shipping 
fresh  slaughtered  animals  and  obviate  the 
ditlicultics  of  transiiorting  ciittle  on  the  hf)of 
to  such  a  great  distance  ;  and  we  regard  with 
great  interest  the  progress  of  investigation  in 
this  line.  AVe  co]iy  an  account  given  by  tlie 
Liveri>ool  Journal  of  a  successful  shiiiinent  of 
fresh  beef  lately  made  from  New  York  to  that 
])ort,  as  follows  : 

"  Among  th(^  latest  of  these  meat  importa- 
tions into  i^iverpool  was  one  brought  by  the 
Cunard  steamer  Abyssinia,  Caiit.  Murphy. 
This  consignment  consisted  of  sixty  carcasses, 
or  lielween  twenty-live  and  twenty  .seven  tons 
of  splendid  beef,  which  was  conveyed  and 
delivered  in  the  most  perfect  order  and  con 
dition.  As  the  conveyance  of  this  consign- 
ment was  conducted  on  a  somewhat  novel 


principle,  a  brief  exiilanation  of  the  circum- 
stances under  which  it  was  managed,  and  the 
system  of  preservation  adopted  can  liardly  fail 
lo  prove  interesting.  The  cattle  were  slaugh- 
tered in  New  York  the  day  before  the  steamer 
sailed,  and  the  meat  wiis  put  on  board  on  the 
morning  of  sailing,  under  overpowering  and 
almost  tropical  temperature, 

"The  Abyssinia  occupied  almut  three  daj's 
in  crossing  the  tiidf  stream,  the  temperature 
of  the  water  being  about  SO  degrees,  with  a 
correspondingly  warm  atmosphere.  Notwith- 
standing these  severe  drawbacks,  the  meat, 
when  brought  to  Liverpool,  was  found  to  be  as 
sweet  and  fresh  as  the  day  it  was  i)ut  on 
board.  The;  mode  in  which  this  protracted 
lireservation  was  perfected,  under  such  trying 
circumstances,  will  now  form  an  interesting 
matter  of  detail.  The  first  stej)  in  the  process 
was  to  (it  u])  in  the  steamer  a  chamber  thor- 
oughly air-tight.  This  wa.s  done  in  the  fore- 
part of  the  ves.sel,  immediately  imder  the  main 
deck,  and  it  was  carefully  lined  with  felt  to 
resist  any  radiation  of  heat  from  the  external 
atmosphere,  and  around  the  walls  of  the  cham- 
ber were  placed  a  scried  convolution  of  iron 
tubes,  jirecisely  similar  to  those  employed  in 
the  process  of  heating  a  chand)er  or  building 
with  h(jt  water  ;  in  this  instance,  however, 
the  circulating  water  is  cold,  and  kept  cold  l)y 
a  constant  supply  of  mixture  of  ice  and  salt, 
with  which  the  supply  cistern  outside  the 
chamber  is  tilled.  Tbe  water,  cooled  by  this 
mixture,  is  puniped  into  the  tubes,  and  forced 
through  all  the  convolutions  of  the  tubing, 
thus  i)roduciug  a  continuous  flow  of  cold 
water  all  round  the  chamber,  to  be  again  re- 
turned to  the  cistern,  and  after  beiiig  there 
again  cooled,  forced  again  and  again  tlirough 
the  tubes.  The  beef,  in  half  carcass,  is  sus- 
liended  on  hooks  from  the  ceiling,  and  not 
permitted  in  any  way  or  under  any  circum- 
stances to  come  in  contact  with  the  sides  or 
floor  of  the  chamber.  It  is,  therefore,  con- 
tinuousl)'  held  in  a  dry  atmosphere  at  a  tem- 
perature ranging  from  33  to  3.5  degrees,  that 
being  the  temperature  found  most  suitable  for 
suppressing  fermentation,  and  conseipicntly 
for  preserving  the  meat.  The  process,  it  will 
be  seen,  is  strictly  scientific,  very  simple,  and 
thoroughly  efficacious,  as  may  lie  understood 
from  the  crucial  test  to  which  it  has  been  sub- 
jected on  the  last  homeward  voyage  of  the 
Abyssinia,  and  it  is  one  well  calculated  to 
promote  a  large  and  valuable  trade. " — Hmt.'^ton 
( Texas)  Teleyraph. 

^ 

FRUIT  AS  A  MEDICINE. 
The  irregular  eating  of  unripe  fruit  is  well 
known  to  be  unwholesome.  Tlie  regular  and 
moderate  use  of  well-ripened  fruit  is  not  so 
widely  appreciated  as  contributing  to  health. 
Residents  in  regions  where  more  or  less  ma- 
laria prevails,  have  discovered  that  nothing  is 
a  more  sure  preventive  of  its  deleterious  ef- 
fects than  a  regular  supply  of  fruit.  A  case 
is  well  known  to  us  where  a  man  with 
a  family  removed  to  the  West.  He 
had  provided  large  quantities  of  well-dried 
fruit,  and  this  was  u.sed  regularly  during  the 
first  summer.  Although  suffering  many  pri- 
vations and  exposures  to  hardships,  this 
family  escaped  the  prevailing  epidemics.  The 
.second  year,  the  supply  of  fruit  being  ex- 
hausted, the  added  comforts  which  they  had 
secured  did  not  protect  them  from  disease. 
Many  other  similar  ciuses  have  occurred.  It 
shotdd  therefore  be  made  a  special  object  with 
all  about  to  remove  to  newly-settled  regions, 
and  in  fact  to  any  other  localities,  to  take 
with  them  or  make  provisions  for  the  innne- 
diate  planting  of  an  ample  supply  of  earlv- 
beariug  fruit  plants  and  trees,  such  as  straw- 
berries, currants,  grapes,  rasjibcrries,  dwarf 
apples  and  pears,  and  the  well-known  early 
bearers  among  larger  sorts,  such  as  Bartlett 
pear.  Early  strawberry,  Baldwin  and  Porter 
ajiples,  and  many  other  sorts  which  will  give 
crops  while  yet  small. 

But  the  fruit  will  not  only  prevent  disease, 
but  in  some  instances  it  hasproved  one  of  the 
best  medicines  to  cure  it.  Many  years  ago  a 
chronic  cough,  which  had  excited  a  good  deal 


of  uneasiness,  was  cured  by  daily  eating  ripe 
rasjiberries,  reconunemled  by  a  medical  writer 
of  high  authority  as  an  excellent  expectorant. 
Sevens  colds  are  mori;  apt  to  occur  on  the 
first  cool  and  damp  days  of  autunm  than  at 
other  sea.sons.  We  have  often  cured  these 
diseases  on  their  first  attack,  by  eating  copi- 
ously of  ripe  watermelons.  The  beneficial  ef- 
fects of  drinking  freely  of  cold  water  on  such 
occasions,  are  well  known.  Watermelons 
supi)ly  a  larger  ([uantity  than  one  could  easily 
swallow  in  any  other  way.  We  have  not 
found  these  or  the  raspberry  expectorant  an 
unplea.sant  medicine  to  take.  When  visiting 
recently  the  Oenteniual  grounds  at  I'hiladel- 
l)hia,  we  had  taken  "a  bad  cold."  Knowing 
that  many  had  been  made  sick  by  drinking  the 
bad  water  at  that  place,  wv  resolved  to  secure 
botli  a  benefit  and  a  pleasure  Ijy  using  rii>e 
watermelons  instea<l,  which  happened  to  bo 
abundant  at  that  time.  Their  copious  use 
performed  a  surprisingly  rapid  cure,  with  an 
escape  from  all  the  bad  effects  of  the  water. 
But  it  must  be  rememberifd  that  the  common 
moderate  eating  will  not  answer  th(-  desired 
purpo.se  ;  nothing  but  "  heroic  "  ccm.sunii)lion 
of  this  fruit  will  effect  a  prompt  cure. 

We  mention  these  various  facts  as  an  ad- 
ditional inducement  for  the  planting  of  fruit- 
trees  and  jilauts,  in  addition  to  the  claim  of 
comfort  and  the  luxury  of  a  constant  succes- 
sion of  fruit  through  the  year,  as  well  as  its 
imiiortant  contribution  to  economy  by  reduc- 
ing the  expen.ses  of  the  table. — Vuunlry  Gen- 
tleman. 


SOCIAL  LIFE  ON   THE   FARM. 

There  is  hardly  a  city  in  the  United  States 
which  does  not  contain  more  people  than  can 
get  a  fair,  honest  living,  by  labor  or  trade,  in 
the  best  tinu'S.  When  times  of  busiTiess  de- 
pression come,  like  those  through  which  we 
have  passed,  and  are  i)assing,  there  is  a  large 
class  that  must  be  helped,  to  keep  them  from 
cruel  suffering.  Still  the  cities  grow,  while 
whole  regions  of  the  country — es|)ecially  its 
older  i>ortions — are  depopulated  year  by  3"ear. 
Y'et  the  fact  is  patent  to-<lay  that  the  oidy 
prosperous  class  is  the  agriculiural.  We  often 
witness  the  anomaly  of  thrifty  farmers  and 
starving  tradesmen.  Tla^  country  must  be 
fed,  and  the  farmers  feed  it.  The  city  family 
may  do  without  new  clothes,  and  a  th(jusand 
luxmious  appliances,  l)\it  it  must  have  bread 
and  meat.  There  is  nothing  that  can  prevent 
the  steady  prosperity  of  the  American  farmer 
but  the  combinations  and  "comers"  of  mid- 
dlemen, that  force  unniitural  conditions  upon 
the  finances  and  markets  of  the  country. 

This  is  not  the  first  occasion  we  have  had  for 
allusion  to  this  subject,  and  it  is  not  likely  to 
be  the  last.  The  forsaking  of  the  farm  for 
the  city  life  is  one  the  great  evils  of  the  time, 
and,  so  far,  it  has  received  no  appreciable 
cheek.  Every  young  man,  apiiarently.  who 
thinks  he  can  get  a  living  in  the  city,  or  at 
the  niiuoi'  centres  of  the  po|iulation,  quits  his 
lonely  home  upon  the  farm  and  joins  the  mul- 
titude. Onie  in  the  city  he  never  returns. 
Notwithstanding  couliuemenl  and  the  straigh- 
tened conditions  of  his  new  life,  he  clings  to 
it  until  he  dies,  adding  his  family  to  the  per- 
manent population  of  hisnew  home.  Mr.  Gree- 
le3',in  his  days  of  active  philauthrop  y,  used  to 
urge  men  to  leave  the  city — to  go  w<'st — to 
join  the.  agricultural  population,  and  thus 
make  thenisi^lves  .sure  of  a  competent  liveli- 
hood. He  miiiht  as  well  have  talked  to  the 
wind.  A  city  population  can  neither  be 
coaxed  nor  driven  into  agricultural  pursuit.s. 
It  is  not  that  they  are  afraid  of  work.  The 
averagt^  worker  of  the  city  toils  more  hours 
than  tlie  average  farmer  in  anyipiarter  of  the 
country.  He  is  neither  fed  nor  lodged  as  \yell 
as  the  farmer.  He  is  less  independent  than 
the  farmer.  He  is  a  bond-slave  to  his  em- 
ployers and  his  conditions;  yet  the  agricul- 
tural life  has  no  charms  for  him. 

Whatever  the  reason  for  this  may  be,  it  is 
not  ba.sed  in  the  nature  of  the  work,  or  in  its 
material  rewards.  The  farmer  is  deraon- 
.strably  iH'tter  off  than  the  worker  of  the  city. 
He  is  more  independent,  luus  more  command 


172 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  November, 


of  his  own  time,  fares  better  at  table,  lodses 
better,  and  gets  a  better  retm-n  for  liis  labor. 
What  i.s  the  reason  then,  that  the  farmer's 
boy  runs  to  the  city  the  first  chance  he  can  get, 
and  remains,  if  he  can  possibly  tiud  there  the 
means  of  lite  ? 

It  can  only  be  found,  we  believe,  in  the  so- 
cial leanness  or  social  starvation  of  American 
agricultural  life.  The  American  farmer,  in 
all  his  planniuR,  and  all  his  building,  has 
never  made  provision  for  life.  He  has  only 
considered  the  means  of  getting  a  living. 
Everythiusr  outside  of  this — everythins  relat- 
ing to  society  and  culture — has  been  steadily 
ignored.  He  gives  his  children  the  advan- 
tages of  schools,  not  recognizing  the  fiict  that 
these  very  advantages  call  into  life  a  new  set 
of  social  wants.  A  Ijriglit,  well-educated 
family,  in  a  lonely  farm  house,  is  very  differ- 
ent material  from  a  family  brought  up  in 
ignorance.  An  American  farmer's  children, 
who  have  a  few  terms  at  a  neighboring 
academy,  resemble  in  no  degree  the  children 
of  the  European  peasant.  They  come  home 
with  new  ideas  and  new  wants ;  and  if  tliere 
is  no  provision  made  for  these  new  wants, 
and  they  find  no  opportunities  for  their  satis- 
faction, they  will  be  ready,  on  reaching  their 
maturity,  to  fly  the  farm,  and  seek  the  city. 

If  the  American  farmer  wishes  to  keep  his 
children  near  him,  he  must  learn  the  differ- 
ence between  living  and  getting  a  living  ;  and 
we  mistake  him  and  his  grade  of  culture  alto- 
gether if  he  does  not  stop  over  this  statement 
and  wonder  what  we  mean  liy  it.  To  get  a 
living,  to  make  money,  to  become  "  fore- 
handed"— this  is  the  whole  of  life  to  agricul- 
tural multitudes,  discouraging  in  their  num- 
bers to  contemplate.  To  them  there  is  no  dif- 
ference between  living  and  getting  a  living. 
Their  whole  life  consists  in  getting  a  living  ; 
and  when  their  families  come  back  to  them 
from  their  schooling,  and  find  that,  reall}',  this 
is  thf,  only  pursuit  that  has  any  recognition 
under  the  paternal  roof,  must  go  away.  The 
boys  push  to  the  centres  or  the  cities,  and  the 
girls  follow  them  if  they  can.  A  young  man 
or  a  young  woman,  raised  to  the  point  where 
they  apprehend  the  difference  between  living 
and  getting  a  living,  can  never  be  satisfied 
with  the  latter  alone.  Either  the  farmer's 
children  must  be  kept  ignorant,  or  provision 
must  be  made  for  their  social  wants.  Brains 
and  hearts  need  food  and  clothing  as  well  as 
bodies,  and  those  who  have  learned  to  recog- 
nize brains  and  heai'ts  as  the  best  and  most 
important  part  of  their  personal  possessions, 
will  go  where  they  can  find  the  ministry  they 
need. 

What  is  the  remedy  ?  How  shall  farmers 
manage  to  keej)  their  children  near  them  V 
How  can  we  discourage  the  influx  of  unneces- 
sary— nay,  burdensome — poiiulations  into  the 
cities  ?  We  answer  :  By  making  agricultural 
society  attractive.  Fill  the  farm  houses  with 
periodicals  and  liooks.  Establish  central 
reading  rooms,  or  neighborhood  clubs.  En- 
courage the  social  meetings  of  the  young. 
Have  concerts,  lectures,  amateur  dramatic  as- 
sociations. Establish  a  bright,  active,  social 
life,  that  shall  give  some  significance  to  labor. 
— Every-Day  2hpics,  by  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland. 

♦ 

Feeding  Animals. 

In  some  parts  of  tlu'  country,  throuah  heavy  crops 
and  hard  times,  there  is  little  market  for  apples. 
They  shoulil  not  be  allowed  to  waste.  They  may 
be  placed  in  lieaps  on  the  srrass,  and  covered  witli 
straw  or  cornslallis,  and  will  keep  till  winter  ;  and  if 
the  straw  is  a  foot  tliick,  long  lieepers  will  remain 
uninjured  till  spring.  In  this  condition  they  are 
readily  accessible  for  feeding.  Properly  fed  to  milch 
cows,  they  largely  increase  both  the  quantity  and 
the  quality  of  tlie  milk.  Always  begin  feeding  in 
small  quantities  ami  gradually  increase  the  rations. 
Large  quantities  given  at  tlie  outset,  will  do  more 
harm  than  good.  Nothing  is  in  more  danger  of 
choking  a  cow  than  smootli-skinned,  round  apples. 
They  must,  therefore,  be  either  passed  through  a 
slicing  machine,  or  cut  on  the  floor  with  a  clean 
spade,  ground  sharp.  Fed  in  connection  with  corn 
meal,  they  are  excellent  for  swine.  Horses  fed  on 
dry  hay  are  benefitted  by  a  few  apples.  Sheep  eat 
them  with  avidity.  A  few  in  the  hen-house  are 
eagerly  sought.  In  all  these  instances,  they  do  more 
good  than  the  mere  amount  of  nutriment  they  con- 
tain.—  Country  OentUman. 


OUR  PARIS  LETTER. 


Farming  on  the  Continent  of  Europe. 
CorreBpoiidence  of  The  LANCAsTEn  Farmer. 

Paris,  Nov.  1st,  1876. 

The  Department  of  the  Nievre  is  celebrated  for  the 
rearing  and  fattening  of  cattle,  and  agriculture  there, 
once  so  backward,  is  now  the  most  flourishing  in  the 
realm.  The  farmers  have  become  wealthy  by  aban- 
doning expensive  systems  of  culture  and  confining 
their  attention  to  live  stock.  The  enlightened  agri- 
culturists of  France  recognize  two  truths  ;  that  they 
cannot  compete  with  America  and  other  countries  in 
the  profitable  raising  of  wheat,  nor  with  Australia 
in  the  growth  of  wool.  It  is  on  the  production  of 
meat  then,  that  attention  is  fixed,  and  for  which  the 
demand  is  unlimited  and  the  competition  nil.  Wool 
is  regarded  but  as  an  accessory.  The  question  of 
improved  breeds  of  cattle,  and  the  precocious  pro- 
duction of  meat,  are  two  subjects  that  occupy  very 
seriously  the  attention  of  Continental  agriculturists. 
Belgium  seems  to  have  taken  a  strange  step  to  ad- 
vance these  ends  ;  the  provincial  Council  of  Haiuaut 
has  decided,  that  henceforth  no  pure  Durham  blood 
shall  be  imported  for  ameliorating  local  races  ;  the 
latter  must  he  amended  by  a  careful  selection  of  the 
best  local  types.  Thus  reliable  purity  of  descent, 
and  aptitude  for  the  butcher,  are  secondary  consid- 
erations. The  discussion  continues  to  be  interesting 
between  P]-ofes6or  Sanson  and  his  opponents,  on  the 
question  of  precocity.  According  to  the  Professor, 
it  is  the  maturity  of  the  bones  that  limits  and  stops 
the  development  of  the  flesh,  &c.,  while  the  contrary 
view  is,  that  it  is  the  complete  development  of  the  soft 
parts  that  arrests  the  growth  of  the  skeleton.  Food 
acts  in  two  manners  ;  nitrogen  tends  to  the  produc- 
tion of  flesh,  phosphoric  acid  to  that  of  the  bones.  M. 
Sanson  lays  down,  that  the  acid  pushes  to  maturity, 
by  liardening  the  extremities  of  the  bones,  and  thus 
checking  the  growth  of  tissue  ;  not  a  few  maintain, 
that  the  solidifieation  of  the  bone  is  the  natural  eon- 
sequence  of  the  animal's  fleshy  structure  having  been 
completed,  and  requiring  no  more  phosphoric  acid  to 
form  new  tissue;  the  acid  concentrates  itself  in  the 
tissue  of  the  bones — the  latter  contains  30  per  cent, 
of  organic  matter.  The  phosphoric  acid  accumulates 
in  the  extremities  of  the  bones,  as  it  collects  in  the 
seeds  of  plants,  and  the  laws  in  both  cases  would 
appear  to  be  similar — to  grow  at  first,  and  when 
growth  is  over,  to  ripen.  Maturity  is  thus  the  con- 
sequence and  crowning  of  growth. 

Roquefort  is  the  Stillon  cheese  of  France,  and  is 
prepared  from  sheep's  milk.  The  race  of  milk 
sheep  is  very  hardy,  and  is  known  by  the  name  of 
Larzac ;  originally  limited  to  wooded  heights,  the 
breed  ha-s  been  improved,  by  crossings  and  richer  pas- 
turages. The  animal  measures  about  four  feet  in 
length;  its  live  weight  is  from  88  to  112  lbs.,  and 
yields  44  lbs.  net  of  meat,  and  2  of  fat ;  its  fleece 
weighs  from  4  to  6  lbs.,  and  the  wool,  very  much  in 
request  by  the  cloth  makers  of  the  South  of  France, 
sells  for  12  sous  per  lb.  However  the  chief  object  of 
the  sheep  is  for  the  production  of  milk  to  be  convert- 
ed into  cheese ;  about  BO  lbs.  of  the  latter  is  the 
quantity  prepared  per  each  animal,  which  sells  at  the 
wholesale  price  of  lialf-a-franc  per  pound  ;  if  to  this 
sum  be  added  .5/r.  for  the  wool  and  fi/c.  for  the  lamb 
sold  to  the  butcher  a  few  days  after  its  birth,  sheep 
milk-farming  is  not  a  bad  speculation  in  France. 

JIuch  attention  continues  to  be  devoted  to  the  sub- 
ject of  forage.  Wheaten  straw  is  largely  consumed, 
l)ut  then  it  must  be  of  a  golden  yellow,  possessing  a 
mild  odor,  and  a  saccharine  taste  ;  the  stems  should 
be  thin,  flexil)le  and  shining,  and  the  ear  garnished 
with  its  chaff.  Straw  that  has  been  a  long  time 
threshed  is  only  fit  for  litter.  The  best  hay  in  this 
country,  and  perhaps  the  observation  holds  good 
elsewhere,  is  that  which  is  produced  on  light,  moist, 
but  not  wet,  mountain  soils;  next  such  as  is  yielded 
by  land  more  sandy  than  clayey;  to  be  nutritive,  hay 
ought  to  preserve  its  green  color,  to  possess  an  odor 
agreeable  and  aromatic ;  the  stems  should  be  thin, 
supple,  and  ditHcult  to  break,  possessing  as  much  as 
possible  their  flowers  and  leaves,  and  in  addition  to  a 
fragrant  odor,  to  have  a  slightly  sweet  taste.  Re- 
specting bran,  it  is  essential  that  it  be  fresh,  floury, 
and  agreeable  to  taste ;  it  undergoes  serious  altera- 
tions in  the  course  of  three  months,  becomes  bitter 
and  heating;  this  fermentation  is  soon  succeeded  by 
jiutridity,  and  the  bran  quickly  becomes  a  home  for 
insects. 

Lucern  is  a  plant  much  calumniated  of  late  on  the 
Continent ;  it  is  reproached  with  being  short-lived 
and  unremunerative.  Much  of  the  culpability  rests  at 
the  doors  of  those  who  do  not  bestow  upon  its  culture 
much  attention  ;  it  is  liable  to  be  attacked  by  dodder, 
but  this  need  is  the  offspring  of  slovenly  farming,  so 
grow  your  own  seed  is  the  remedy.  M.  Beaucamp 
recommends  that  Lucern  ought  only  to  be  cut  twice 
in  a  season,  the  second  aftermath  to  be  grazed  ;  this 
latter  plan  does  not  lay  bare  the  crowns  of  the  plant 
so  much  as  the  scythe  does,  and  thus  prevents  the 
cold  rains  and  snow  from  killing  the  root  by  fester- 
ing it.  He  reaps  2' 2  tons  per  acre  the  flrst  cutting, 
and  half  that  quantity  the  second,  and  which  sells 
for  a  total  sum  of  :!.50/r.  per  acre.  The  success  that 
has  followed  the  employment  of  preserved  green 
maize  in  trenches  for  winter  and  spring  feeding,  has 


naturally  concentrated  attention  on  the  propriety  of 
conserving  red  clover,  rye  and  other  precocious  forage 
plants,  to  be  placed  in  trenches  during  the  close  of 
May  and  early  days  of  .June,  and  thus  become  armed 
against  the  effects  of  a  dry  summer.  The  plan  has 
been  tried  on  several  farms  with  success.  Where  rye 
is  sown  as  an  intercalary  crop  for  spring  green  feed- 
ing, the  custom  in  the  north  of  France  is,  to  chop  it, 
and  mix  it  with  beet  pulp  ;  the  cattle  cat  the  mix- 
ture greedily. 

France  has  at  last  her  "  Agricultural  Institute," 
where  the  most  advanced  form  of  agricultural  instruc- 
tion will  be  imparted,  to  students  already  educated 
is  various  branches  of  human  knowledge.  The  new 
Institute  is  on  the  eve  of  opening,  and  foreigners  will 
experience  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  permission  to 
join  the  classes  under  stated  conditions.  It  is  not  so 
much  a  new,  as  an  old  institution  revived,  having 
been  founded  in  1848  at  Versailles,  and  suppressed  in 
18.52  by  the  Empire.  Agricultural  education  is  given 
in  France  in  the  farm  schools,  which  is  the  primary 
stage,  and  where  only  the  children  of  the  peasants 
and  artizans  are  expected  to  attend;  then  follows  the 
'*  regimal  "  establishments,  of  which  there  are  two, 
perhaps  three  would  be  a  more  correct  classification, 
for  the  Grignon  school  fulfils  all  the  conditions  of  one, 
as  well  as  being  more  practical.  The  Montpellier 
and  Grand  Jauan  colleges  represent  the  regional  type, 
that  is  a  school  where  the  agricultural  processes  iu 
the  different  zones  or  regions  of  France,  would  be 
specially  studied.  The  new  Institute  will  be  very 
scientific  in  its  aims,  and  will  have  an  experimental 
farm  of  120  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Paris  at  its  dis- 
posal; it  will  not  teach  general  sciences;  it  will  take 
mechanics,  chemistry,  physics,  and  physiology,  in 
their  technical  relations  with  modern  agriculture. 
The  German  Empire  has  perhaps  a  monopoly  of  this 
superior  agricultural  knowledge,  and  it  is  to  her  10 
agronomical  Institutes,  and  174  secondary  farm 
schools,  that  she  owes  much  of  her  rapid  progress  in 
rural  economy.  Austria  possesses  two  of  these  supe- 
rior Institutes;  Hungary  has  four,  but  not  of  so  ad- 
vanced a  character,  and  Sweden  possesses  five.  Ag- 
riculture is  undergoing  to-day  what  is  common  to 
every  other  science — a  revolution;  it  is  becoming  more 
an  industry,  where  affairs  must  be  conducted  with 
promptitude,  activity,  and  intensity;  it  must  invent, 
transform,  renew  itself;  adopt  scientific  methods, 
powerful  and  rapid  processes.  The  strength  of  agri- 
culture docs  not  resemble  that  of  the  ancient  Egypt- 
ians— in  sitting  still. 

The  sugar  beet  industry,  like  the  plant's  physiology, 
is  in  a  confused  state.  Owing  to  the  strange  sum- 
mer, and  our  stranger  autumn,  this  year's  beet  har- 
vest is  compromised;  the  culture  of  the  plant  has  di- 
minished, in  its  speeiai  districts,  by  30  and  .50  per 
cent.,  so  that  one-half  the  factories  are  closed,  or 
only  working  half-time;  not  more  than  one-lburth  of 
the  total  quantity  of  sugar  will  be  produced  this  year, 
as  compared  with  the  preceding  ones;  fiscal  ditHcul- 
ties  have  not  a  little  to  do  with  the  result,  but  a  short 
yield — ten  tons  per  acre  of  roots,  has  also  its  influence. 
While  some  are  advocating  the  cultivation  of  small 
roots  for  sugar  purposes  as  being  most  suitable,  the 
Eure  Farming  Society  encourages  the  contrary  by 
prizes.  Again,  high  manuring  has  been  hitherto  ac- 
cepted as  lessening  the  per  ceutage  of  sugar,  and  af- 
fectingthe  crystallization  of  thejuice.  .Messrs.  Cham- 
])ion  it  Pellet,  from  their  careful  experiments,  con- 
clude the  opposite.  Finally,  two  celebrities,  Claude 
Bernard  and  Coenninder,  are  of  contrary  opinions  as 
to  how  the  sugar  and  the  salts  localize  themselves  in 
the  cells  of  the  roots. 

Another  but  too  open  question  is  the  best  means  to 
destroy  the  vine  bug ;  the  phylloxera  are  extending 
their  ravages;  there  is  no  cure,  but  a  multitude  of 
proposed  remedies.  The  point  now  is  to  ascertain 
where  the  bug  cannot  be  found;  winged,  it  has  been 
discovered  lately  on  the  cobwebs  that  are  so  plentiful 
in  vineyards,  and  even  on  the  fruit  itself — a  hint  for 
the  exportation  of  grapes.  Having  failed  to  poison 
and  to  starve  the  insect,  efforts  are  made  to  induce  it 
to  feed  on  red  maize,  planted  between  the  vines,  and 
new  legislative  measures  are  threatened  against  the 
plasrue.  The  vintage  has  been  completed  in  excellent 
conililions — dry,  warm  weather;  the  wine  will  be  of 
excellent  quality,  but  the  quantity,  owing  to  spring 
frosts,  will  be  sensibly  reduced.  Some  proprietors 
have  thus  lost  four-fifths  of  their  annual  yield. 

In  France  the  law  prohiliits  the  establishment  of  a 
pig-sty  in  a  village  of  1.50  inhabitants,  and  of  a  cow- 
house where  there  is  a  population  of  5,000  ;  perhaps 
in  point  of  salubrity,  there  is  no  dift'erence. 

In  Belgium,  flax  is  often  visited  by  a  disease,  which 
destroys  the  plant  within  48  hours  after  being  attacked . 
Growth  is  suddenly  checked,  the  flax  etiolates  and 
dies,  and  the  crop  has  to  be  ploughed  down.  M. 
Ladureau  attributes  the  cause  to  a  deficiency  of  pot- 
ash in  the  soil,  and  finds  vegetable  ashes  an  excellent 
preventive. 

M.  Laperiere  cures  the  lung  disease,  or  stops  the 
contagion, byfumigatingthecattle;  burning  30  grains 
of  sulphur  per  cubic  yard  of  air  in  the  sheds. 


I>f  the  State  of  New  York  any  person  making  or 
using  a  barrel  for  the  sale  of  potatoes,  apples,  or 
quinces,  which  shall  not  contain  equal  to  100  quarts 
dry  measure,  is  liable  to  fine. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


173 


f 


OUR  LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 

Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agri- 
cultural and  Horticultural  Society. 
The  Novomlicr  moelinc:  of  the  Laneiister  pounty 
Agriciilturnl  iiiui  Ilortimiltiiral  Society  Was  helil  in 
the  Alhemeum  rooms,  ou  Monday  Nov.  6lli,  at  "J 
o'clock,  p.  m. 

Mcmlicrs  present  :  SIcsprs.  Martin  D.  Koiidis, 
Henry  M.  luiyie,  .Tacoh  H.  (iarber,  Levi  S.  Kciet, 
Casper  Hiller,  .laeol)  Hollinirer,  Jolms-on  Miller,  Levi 
W.Grofl',  1'.  Frank  Lnudis,  Welisler  Hershey,  Reuben 
Weaver,  John  ]?.  Erl),  .Icilin  M.  .Slelinian,  Daniel  Sny- 
der, Simon  \'.  Kaby,  Henry  Krli,  Elias  Itomberirer, 
Simon  A.  Ilersbey,  <.  S.  Kalhvon,  VVni.  .MeComsey, 
Peter  S.  Ueist.  and"  Henry  K.  Hosletter. 

The  committee  on   by-laws  were  not  prepared  to 
report  as  tliey  desired,  and  asked  to  bejrranled  either 
more  time  or  be  diseliarjied. 
On  motion  the  committee  was  continned. 
Levi  S.  Ukist,  who  attended  the  pomolofrical  dis- 
play at  the  Centennial,  read  a  paper  on  the  same. 

Mil.  ENdi.E  reported  on  tlie  condition  of  the  crops 
that  they  did  not  dilfer  miieli  from  tlie  last  report. 
There  lias  lieen  a  lot  of  late  seeil  sown,  but  it  is  re- 
markable how  well  it  looks.  Tlie  corn  is  an  average 
crop.  Good  Keeping  winter  apples  are  not  as  abund- 
ant as  wac  expected.  Tlie  early  sowing  does  not 
look  as  well  as  it  did  two  wc^eks  ago. 

Mr.  (iitOFF  reported  lliat  the  crops  look  well  in 
the  section  that  he  lives. 

Mr.  Mii.i.er  agreed  with  the  report  of  .VIr.  Engle. 
Mr.  Euh,  of  theCoinmillee  of  the  Centennial  fruit 
display,  reported  that  fruit  had  been  sent,  but  he  had 
not  heard  anything  from  it. 

The  rain  fall  for  the  last  month  was  reported  at 
2.oOand  3.:!1. 

Mr.  Hersiiet  reported  that  he  finds  the  late  sow- 
ing better  than  the  early  sowing. 

The  nuestion  :  "In  what  way  can  we  dispose  of  our 
corn  crop  to  the  best  advantage,"  was  then  dis- 
cussed. 

Mr.  Reist  would  convert  the  corn  into  pork  and 
beef. 

Mr.  Bollinger  said,  it  is  a  question  we  should 
know  something  about,  as  farmers.  He  encourages 
his  men  to  feed  it  into  stock.  It  should  be  turned 
back  again  on  the  farm.  It  is  his  theory  and  his  only 
one.  He  did  not  know  whether  it  is  the  best  Hnaii- 
cial  view  or  not;  lie  has  been  quite  successful. 
Every  farmer  that  looks  to  the  interest  of  his  farm 
should  convert  it  into  manure.  He  encourages  stall 
feeding  cattle. 

Mr.  Enule  said  the  general  practice  of  Lancaster 
county  was  to  feed  it  into  stock.  This  is  important 
to  keep  up  tlie  fertility  of  the  soil.  The  corn  can  be 
turned  to  better  account,  as  far  as  dollars  and  cents 
are  concerned,  by  feeding  it  to  milk  cows.  It  would 
return  more  on  an  average  than  feeding  oxen  or 
steers.  The  demand  for  cheese  and  butter  has  never 
been  met.  We  need  not  have  any  fear  that  choice 
butter  would  be  overstocked.  You  would  make  a 
good  sum  on  butter  ami  manure  at  the  same  time. 

Mr.  Bollinger  said  he  keeps  two  cows,  and  that 
he  has  kept  an  account  of  what  they  eat  in  a  year. 
They  have  eaten  80S  worth  of  rough  feed.  He  has 
realized  in  one  year  ?ilO-i,  besides  supplying  the  fam- 
ily. Thinks  he  has  as  good  butter  as  any  iu  the 
county,  and  yet  he  does  not  get  more  for  it  than  those 
who  have  bad  butter.  The  storekeepers  make  no 
distinction.  After  we  have  paid  hire  for  butter, 
there  is  nothing  in  it. 

Mr.  Engi.e  thought  that  there  is  an  opening  for 
good  butter  somewhere.  In  other  counties  they  get 
their  prices  for  good  butter,  and  why  can  they  not 
be  had  in  this  county  ? 

Mr.  Miller  thought  that  corn  is  not  the  proper 
food  for  milk  cows.  More  can  be  realized  by  feeding 
it  to  the  cattle.  He  also  advocated  the  feeding  of 
some  bran. 

Mk.  Engle  thought  we  feed  poor  cows  to  too 
great  an  extent.  Those  who  realize  money  select 
good  cows. 

Mr.  E.iBV  remarked  that  the  difficulty  just  stated 
is  a  fact  not  only  among  butter  makers,  but  among 
farmers.  You  will  lind  that  persons  in  the  Lancaster 
market  have  their  customers,  and  get  :i  or  4  cents 
per  pound  more  than  others  for  good  butter.  In 
Bomc  places  the  way  to  improve  the  land  is  to  pasture 
It  with  sheep.  He  thought  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
a  bad  quality  that  comes  to  market  that  should  not. 
It  may  result  from  ignorance  or  inexperience. 

Mr.  Reist  agreed  with  Mr.  Eaby  in  regard  to 
feeding  sheep,  and  with  the  gentleman  who  advocated 
the  feeding  of  bran.       • 

Mr.  Hershev  thought  the  corn  crop  is  the  most 
important  we  can  raise.  lie  has  found  that  those 
who  have  attended  market  have  not  as  fertile  farms 
as  those  who  have  fed  steers.  To  feed  corn  into 
cattle  is  the  most  lucrative  ;  you  may  raise  good 
butter  but  you  cannot  get  the  market  for  it. 

Mr.  McComsey  did  not  believe  it  probable  or  pro- 
fitable to  convert  half  of  the  corn  crop  of  Lancaster 
county  into  butter.  He  believed  in  feeding  it  to  the 
stock  on  the  farm,  and  if  you  do  not  realize  directly 
more  than  one  half,  you  w  ill  realize  more  than  half 
indirectly.  A  friend  of  his,  a  few  years  ago,  bought 
an  impoverished  farm  that  did  not  support  him.    He 


got  in  debt.  After  much  relle.etioii  as  to  how  to  get 
out  of  the  dilHculty,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  increase 
his  debt  in  improvoments.  lime,  etc.  As  soon  as  he 
was  aide  to  provide  corn  for  cattle  he  bouglit  them, 
and  in  a  few  years  more  than  doubled  the  price  of 
the  farm,  anil  was  free  from  ilebt.  Other  of  his 
neighbors  did  the  same  thing  with  much  success. 

Mr.  Hiller  tbouglit  that  this  matter  of  keeping 
stock  is  not  profitable.  He  would  not  kec])  more 
stock  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  if  he  were  fanning. 
Sell  all  your  grain  anil  buy  your  manuie.  To  sell 
one-fourth  of  vour  grain,  and  convert  three-fourths 
into  manure,  is  rather  expensive.  We  spend  entirely 
too  much  money  on  our  stock. 

.Mr.  MfCoMSKV  said  the  gentleman  seems  to  count 
that  that  feil  into  stock  is  entirely  lost,  except  that 
Inriied  to  manure.  The  sale  of  the  beef  is  where  the 
profit,  lies. 

.Vlii.  Miller  said  that  plowing  down  the  clover 
would  improve  our  farms.  Our  farmers  have  entirely 
too  much  stock  running  about.  His  opinion  would 
be  that  stock  raising  in  this  county  will  not  pay. 
Keep  as  little  stock  as  possible. 

The  president  thought  that  it  was  pretty  well  de- 
cided not  to  keep  the  corn  on  the  farm.  He  had 
tried  Hie  cattle  in  the  fall,  and  fed  them,  but  it  hardly 
ever  iiaid  liiin.  Had  trieil  cows  and  it  was  not  satis- 
factory. He  had  tried  a  coarse  breed  of  pigs,  and 
they  d"id  very  well.  He  got  a  better  breed,  and  he 
was  satisfied  with  the  result.  He  believes  in  turning 
it  into  pork.  You  (mglit  to  realize  thirteen  or  four- 
teen pounds  to  the  bushel. 

At  this  stage  a  random  discussion  took  place, 
which  culminated  in  a  controversy  as  to  whether  an- 
imal or  vegetable  food  was  the  more  healthy. 

On  motion,  Mr.  Engle  was  chosen  to  prepare  an 
essay  on  "  Vegetable  vs.  Animal  Food." 

Mu.  McComsey,  of  the  committee  of  the  Pomologi- 
cal  exhibition,  reported,  that  your  committee  appoint- 
ed at  the  last  meeting  to  receive,  pack  and  forward 
to  the  Pomological  Exhibition,  on  the  Centennial 
grounds,  such  fruit  as  might  be  presented  for  the 
purpose,  respectfully  report  that  a  large  number  of 
very  line  samples  of  most  of  the  best  varieties  of 
apples  now  cultivated  in  our  county  were  presented, 
which  were  carefully  packed  and  forwarded  as  di- 
rected. 

A  bill  of  expenses  for  shipping  the  same,  amount- 
ing to  ?2.10  was  ordered  to  be  paid  ;  also  the  services 
of  the  janitor. 

The  fruit  sent  to  the  Pomological  Exposition  at 
Philadelphia  from  this  county  and  by  whom  was  as 
follows  :  Daniel  Sclimeych  exhibited  the  following 
variety  of  apples  :  Northern  Sjiy,  Newtown  Pijipiii, 
Pippin,  Green  Pippin,  Maiden  Blush,  .Juie  Rite, 
Jetl'ries,  Smokehouse,  Bellellcur,  Red  Streak,  (two 
varieties)  Swarr,  Pcnnock,  Pound,  ]5ald\viii,  Ger- 
man Sweet,  Summer  Rambo,  Rambo,  Pennsylvania 
Red  Streak,  Northern  Spy,  Romanite  (two  varieties,) 
and  two  varieties  not  named.  The  same  gentleman 
exhibited  pears  as  follows  :  Pound  Pear,  Vicar  of 
Waketield  (four  varieties,)  Holland,  Duchess,  Hen- 
derson, and  ten  other  varieties. 

M.  D.  Kendig  sent  the  York  Imperial,  Baldwin, 
Rhode  Island  Greening,  Golden  Russet,  Pennoek's 
Red  Winter,  Spitzeuberg,  Smokehouse,  President, 
Bellelleur,  tiolden  Pippin,  Red  Streak,  Fallowater, 
White  Vandever  and  Wine  Sap. 

E.  S.  Hoover  sent  the  Smokehouse,  P,ed  Streak, 
Fall  Pippin,  Belletieur,  Fallowater,  lianibo,  Pcnnock 
and  another  variety  not  named. 

Henry  Erb  sent  the  Pound,  Sweet  Fallowater, 
Spitzeuberg,  Romanite,  Golden  Russet,  Winter 
Smokehouse,  Fall  Smokehouse,  Striped  Smokeliouse, 
Sweet  Habecker,  Swiss  Pippin,  Wine  Sap,  I{ambo, 
Sweet  Rambo,  and  another  variety  not  niamed. 

But  the  committee  has  not  yet  been  ollieially  in- 
formed, how  it  was  received,  what  (lisjiosil ion  was 
made  of  it,  or  what  degree  of  merit  was  accorded  to 
it. 

The  display  of  apples  on  the  tables  on  this  occa- 
sion was  perhaps  the  finest  that  had  ever  di.stinguished 
an  ordinary  meeting  of  the  society.  Mr.  Casper 
Hiller  had  the  Belmonte,  Ben.  Davis,  and  others.  Mr. 
H.  .M.  Engle  had  also  some  tine  varieties.  There 
were  also  other  exhibitors,  but  somehow  tlieir  names 
and  also  the  names  of  their  apples  either  did  not 
come  into  the  possession  of  the  reporters,  or  were 
mislaid. 

Mr.  Jacob  Bollinger  had  some  very  fine  apples 
on  exhibition  at  this  meeting,  and  Mr.  L.  S.  Reist 
also  had  on  exhibition  seven  varieties  of  his  own  Iruit, 
as  well  as  about  twenty-live  varieties  of  Canada  aji- 
ples,  and  a  few  from  North  Carolina,  whieli  he  re- 
ceived through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  John  Freed,  of 
Ontario,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Atkins,  of  .Xshville,  N. 
C,  to  whom  the  society  aecordeil  a  unanimous  vote 
of  thanks.  Among  those  from  Canada  were  the  2(1- 
ounee  Piiipin,  Cayuga,  Redstreak,  Alexander,  Gra- 
venstein,  Swarr,  Spitzbergen,  Rhode  Island  Greening, 
Cat-head,  Hawthorn,  Robertson,  Sweet-Pippin,  -d- 
ounce  apple,  and  otlier  varieties  of  note.  Among 
those  from  North  Carolina  were  a  13-ouiiee  apple, 
called  the  Huber,  a  very  black  variety,  a  large  red 
apple,  and  a  sweet  Pijipin  of  very  peculiar  quality 
outside,  just  as  if  sugar  was  oozing  out  through  its 
skin.  These  apples  were  a  part  of  those  which  Messrs. 
Freed  &  Atkins  had  ou  exhibition   at  the  Centenuial 


Pomological  show  at  I'liiladelphia,  and  were  very  in- 
teresting as  an  illustration  of  the  difference  between 
apples  of  the  same  varieties  grown  iu  different  locali- 
ties of  our  country. 

.Mr.  Engle  read  the  act  of  Assembly  relating  to  a 
Slate  .\!;ricullural  Board,  and  it  was  moved  to  ap- 
lioinl  a  tlelegate  to  the  same. 

On  motion,  it  was  agreed  to  designate  by  ballot 
who  shall  be  the  ajipointed  by  the  chair. 

Messrs.  H.  M.  EnL'le,  Johnson  Miller,  and  Jacob 
Bollinger  were  placed  in  nomination.  Mr.  Engle  re- 
ceived six  votes,  Mr.  Bollinger  four,  anil  Mr.  .Miller 
two. 

Mr.  E.noIjE  was  therefore  ap[)0intcd  by  the  chair 
as  the  delci^ate. 

Mil.  H.  F.  IlosTETTER,  of  Oresron,  was  pro|K)6ed 
as  a  member  of  the  society,  and  after  signing  the  con- 
stitution became  a  member. 

Mr.  Eahv  reported  that  H.  M.  Engle,  Jacob  M. 
Staull'er  and  Israel  Landis,  have  contriliuted  a  sufB- 
cient  niMiiber  of  books,  amounting  to  $10  in  value,  to 
entitle  them  to  life  membership  of  the  society. 

On  motion,  the  society  then  adjourned. 


The  Bee  Keepers'  Society 

This  association  met  statedly  Monday  afternoon 
Nov.  Pi,  in  the  Atliena-nni,  Vice  President  J.  F. 
Hershev,  in  the  chair  : 

President:  A.  H.  Shock,  W.  B.  Detweiler,  D. 
Lintner,  John  Kepperiing,  .S.  Garber,  L.  .S.  Flecken- 
Btein,  J.  F.  Hershey,  II.  It.  Myers,  P.  S.  Reist, 
President. 

An  oriler  of  business  was  then  adopted  as  reported 
by  the  committee. 

J.  F.  Hehsiiev  and  L.  S.  Fleckcnstein  discussed 
the  qui'stion  of  the  best  mode  of  hiving  a  nutural 
swarm  and  prevent  them  from  leaving  after  the 
swarming,  and  both  thought  that  it  could  best  be 
done  by  contracting  the  entrance  so  as  to  allow  the 
workers  to  get  out. 

Mr.  .Myers  thought  tllat  if  the  queen  was  an  old 
one  it  would  also  get  out  and  had  kept  an  old  queen 
of  his  in  a  wire  bag. 

Mr.  Hershev  though  tliebest  way  to  make  worker 
combs  was  to  take  out  the  capped  or  brood  combs. 

Mr.  Detwiler  found  that  it  made  no  ditferencc 
whether  the  queen  was  an  old  or  young  one. 

.\Iu.  .Myers'  experience  coincided  with  that  of 
other  speakers,  but  all  bough  this  is  done  there  will, 
nevertheless,  be  some  drone  combs. 

Mr.  Detwiler  said  he  had  found  that  the  bees 
would  gnaw  olf  some  of  the  worker  eonibs  and  build 
di'one  combs.  "Can  bees  be  wintered  with  success, 
without  pollen,"  was  disenssed  allirmatively  by  W. 
B.  Detwiler  and  J.  F.  Hersey,  who  said  that  the  old 
bees  did  not  need  the  pollen,  but  feed  it  to  the  young 
bees. 

.Mk.  Heksiiey  thought  that  too  much  sun  in  winter 
time  warms  the  bees"  and  if  they  go  out  in  snowy 
seasons  they  may  get  lost.  Every  few  days  he  found 
it  advisable  to  warm  up  the  bees. 

Mr.  Detw«i»kr  said  that  he  had  noticed  that,  iu 
old  fashioned  hives  which  the  sun  striiek  all  the  day 
round,  the  bees  generally  wintered  lirst-class.  He 
intended  to  experiment  this  winter  with  an  eastern 
exposure. 

Mr.  Fleckenstine  said  that  he  had  his  hives 
shaded  last  winter  and  did  not  allow  the  sun  to  warm 
them  up  until  the  temperature  of  the  air  was  warm 
enough  in  the  shade  to  tempt  the  bees  out. 

"Should  bees  be  wintered  in  the  Middle  States  as  in 
the  western  or  northwestern  States,"  elicited  discus- 
sion liy  Messrs.  Hersey,  Myers  and  Detwiler,  who 
concluded  that  our  bees  do  not  need  the  protection 
of  the  cellar  or  burial  as  is  done  in  the  western  and 
nortliern  cold  and  windy  reixion.  If  the  hives  arc 
put  in  the  cellar  they  will  mould. 

P.  S.  Reist  stated"  that  he  was  very  unsuccessful 
in  "cellaring"  his  bees  over  winter,  but  he  had  much 
better  success  when  his  bees  were  surrounded  with 
ice. 

Mr.  L.  S.  Fleckenstein  detailed  a  failure  he  had 
experienced  in  buying  bees. 

H.  H.  MvERS  said  that  he  had  fed  his  bees  with 
an  inverted  bee  feeder,  and  put  grass  and  hay  in  front 
of  the  entrance  and  was  unable  to  prevent  bee  rob- 
bing. He  had  linally  turned  his  hive  around  and 
thus  prevented  it,  the  robbers  missing  the  entrance 
at  the  usual  place. 

Mr.  Detwiler  had  thrown  hay  in  front  of  the  en- 
trance, and  the  robbers  had  to  crawl  in  and  were  at- 
tacked by  the  swarms  and  kept  olV.  If  a  swarm 
becomes  cowardly  and  will  not  light  he  thought 
nothing  could  be  done.  He  had  experimented  with 
one  of  these  peaceable  swarms  by  thus  taking  off  a 
mile  or  so  for  a  couple  of  days.  Anointing  the 
entrance  with  coal  oil  bad  often  been  used  success- 
fully. He  believed  that  simply  confining  the  robbers 
in  H ith  the  swarm  was  not  a  gooii  way. 

Mr.  Fi.egkenstein  thought  that  careless  feeding 
was  often  the  occasion  of  rolibing. 

Messrs.  Hehsiiev,  .Myers  and  Detwiler,  argued 
against  the  contraction  of  the  entrance  and  believed 
in  letting  them  fight  it  out.  Otherwise  the  closed 
entrance  will  make  them  hot  and  excite  them  in 
their  endeavor  to  escape  from  the  hive. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  question,  "  Can  we  easily 


i74 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  November, 


overstock  our  country  with  bees,"  J.  F.  Hershey  did 
not  l<now  liow  much  it  would  take  to  overstock  the 
country,  but  l:e  had  found  that  his  swarms  laid  up  as 
much  honey  as  wheu  there  were  none  or  few  hives  in 
the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Flec'KENstein  tliought  that  the  fever  was 
not  quite  so  high  as  to  endanger  the  overstocking  of 
the  country. 

Mk  Detwii.er  went  at  it  on  a  mathematical  cal- 
culation and  comparison  of  the  number  of  clover- 
heads  and  the  nundier  of  bees  and  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  would  be  almost  an  impossibility.  His 
hives  averaged  as  much  when  he  had  forty  as  when 
he  had  only  six. 

The  next  question,  "How  does  a  queen  know  when 
passing  over  the  comb,  worker  or  drone  that  she  must 
lay  a  worker  egg  in  a  worker  cell,  and  a  drone  egg 
in  a  drone  cell,"  proved  too  abstruse  for  definite 
settlement  by  the  association,  and  the  members 
pretty  generally  "  gave  it  up." 

Ou  motion  the  association  adjourned  to  meet  on 
the  first  Saturday  in  May,  1877 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 


Eating  too  Much. 

A  long  experit  nee  and  observation  in  life  induce 
us  to  add  our  testimony  to  the^views  presented  in  the 
annexed  paragraph  from  Tinsley's  Mariazine: 

"  Nobody  ever  repented  of  eating  too  little,"  was 
the  sage  remark  of  an  old  gentleman  on  the  verge  of 
ninety,  next  to  whom  the  writer  had  the  pleasure  of 
sitting  at  dinner  the  other  nisrlit.  The  host  was  press- 
ing him  to  take  more,  and  urging  him  in  the 
usual  phrase:  "Why,  you  have  eaten  .scarcely  any- 
thing !"  Now,  it  is  to  be  assumed  that  the  old  gentle- 
man's words  indicated  one  of  the  by-ways  to  good 
health,  to  which  he  had  traveled  through  his  long 
life,  and  to  which  he  owed  his  present  remarkably 
hearty  condition  ;  so  it  was  suggested  to  him  inter- 
rogatively that  he  had  always  been  a  small  feeder. 
"Yes,"  he  answered,  "ever  since  I  was  two  or  three 
and  twenty ;  up  that  time  I  was  a  weakly  young 
fellow  enough,  and  I  used  to  make  the  great  mistake 
of  trying  to  eat  and  drink  as  much  as  I  could,  in  the 
hope  of  becoming  strong.  All  my  friends  and  the 
doctors  backed  me  in  my  error,  but  fortunately  I 
found  it  out  in  time  and  'knocked  off — as  your 
modern  slang  has  it — more  than  half  my  usual 
amount  of  stimulants.  I  gave  up  the  idea  of  making 
myself  strong,  and  merely  strove  to  make  myself 
well,  and  I  was  contented  with  eating  just  as  much  as 
I  could  digest,  and  no  more.  Of  course  it  took  time 
and*experience  to  discover  the  precise  limits  ;  I  could 
not  adopt  the  golden  rule  of  always  leaving  oft'  with 
an  appetite,  because  I  never  began  with  one,  but  by 
persistently  erring  on  the  right  side,  I  got  hold  of 
one  of  the  great  secrets  of  life — the  secret  of  know- 
ing when  one  has  enough,  and  after  a  year  or  two 
I  became  so  much  better  that  I  used  to  find  myself 
ready  to  eat  a  meal  at  any  time  and  actually  acquired 
an  appetite.  Then  once  found,  I  nevor  destroyed  it, 
but  always  dcterminately  rose  with  the  feeling  that 
I  could  eat  more.  Naturally  temptation  grows 
stronger,  but  I  was  firm.  I  did  not  behave  ungrate- 
fully to  my  stomach  and  immediately  presume  upon 
its  increased  powers  by  overloading  it.  1  did  not 
live  to  eat,  but  only  eat  to  live  ;  and  behold  me  !  I 
have  no  need  to  be  very  particular  as  to  what  I  eat, 
even  at  my  time  of  life  ;  I  have  only  to  be  careful  not 
to  cattoomueh."  Here,  indeed,  is  the  great  secretof 
a  great  deal  thiit  is  amiss  with  many  of  us.  We  are 
in  the  habit  of  eating  too  much,  more  than  ourdiges- 
tive  organs  can  tackle,  and  th.at  which  is  not  assimilat- 
ed more  or  less  poisons.  The  system  becomes  over- 
charged, and  gives  any  latent  tendency  to  disease 
within  us  every  facility  for  developing  itself.  The 
question  is  not  so  much  what  to  eat,  as  what  quantity 
to  eat,  and  nothing  but  a  sharp  look-out  kept  by  our- 
selves can  give  us  an  answer. 


When  and  Why  Lamps  Explode. 

We  take  from  the  SHentiflc  American  a  few  hints 
that  journal  gives  as  to  the  danger  arising  from  petro- 
leum lamps : 

All  explosions  of  petroleum  lamps  are  caused  by 
the  vajior  or  gas  that  collects  in  the  space  above  the 
oil.  When  full  of  oil,  of  course,  a  lamp  contains  no 
gas,  but  immediately  on  lighting  the  lamp  consump- 
tion of  oil  begins,  soon  leaving  a  space  for  gas,  which 
commences  to  form  as  the  lamp  warms  up,  and  after 
burning  a  short  time  suflicient  gas  will  accumulate 
to  form  an  explosion.  The  gas  in  a  lamp  will  explode 
only  when  ignited.  In  this  respect  it  is  like  gunpow- 
der. Cheap  or  inferior  oil  is  always  most  danger- 
ous. 

The  flame  is  communicated  to  the  gas  in  the  follow- 
ing manner ;  The  wick  tube  in  all  lamp  burners  is 
made  larger  than  the  wick  which  is  to  pass  through 
it.  It  would  not  do  to  have  the  wick  work  tightly 
In  the  burner  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  essential  that  it 
move  up  and  down  with  perfect  ease.  In  this  way  it 
is  unavoidable  that  space  in  the  tube  is  left  along  the 
sides  of  the  wick  suflScient  for  the  flame  from  the 
burner  to  pass  down  into  the  lamp  and  explode  the 
gas. 


Many  things  occur  to  cause  the  flame  to  pass  down 
the  wick  and  explode  the  lamp.  1.  A  lamp  may  be 
standing  on  the  table  or  mantle,  and  a  slight  putf  of 
air  from  the  open  window  or  door  may  cause  an  ex- 
plosion. 2.  A  lamp  may  be  taken  up  quickly  from  a 
table  or  mantel  and  instantly  exploded,  'ii.  A  lamp 
is  taken  iuto  an  entry  where  there  is  a  draught,  or 
out  of  doors,  and  an  explosion  ensues.  4.  A  lighted 
lamp  is  taken  up  a  flight  of  stairs,  or  is  raised  quickly 
to  place  it  on  a  mantel,  resulting  in  an  explosion.  In 
these  cases  the  mischief  is  done  by  the  air  move- 
ment— either  by  suddenly  checking  the  draught,  or 
forcing  air  down  the  chimney  against  the  flame.  5. 
Blowing  down  the  chimney  to  extinguish  the  light  is 
a  frequent  cause  of  explosion,  fi.  Lamp  explosions 
have  been  caused  by  using  a  chimney  broken  off  at 
the  top,  or  one  that  has  a  piece  broken  out,  whereby 
the  draught  is  variable  and  the  fiame  unsteady.  7. 
Sometimes  a  thoughtless  person  puts  a  small  sized 
wick  in  a  large  burner,  thus  leaving  considerable 
space  along  the  edges  of  the  wick.  8.  An  old  burner, 
with  its  air  draughts  clogged  up,  which  rightfully 
should  be  thrown  away,  is  sometimes  continued  in 
use,  and  the  final  result  is  an  explosion. 


Sleeping  Warm. 

I  believe  it  is  impossible  to  have  too  much  pure  air, 
but  it  is  possible  to  have  the  air  colder  than  feeble 
persons  can  breathe  with  comfortor  with  safety.  For 
hardy  persons  there  is  no  danger  in  cold  air,  provid- 
ed they  have  plenty  of  bed-covering,  and  keep  their 
mouths  closed.  It  is  unwholesome  for  any  one  to 
sleep  cold.  One  of  the  hardest  things  for  feeble  per- 
sons to  endure,  is  getting  into  a  cold  bed  to  sleep.  It 
draws  so  much  upon  the  already  low  vitality,  that 
before  the  cold  bed  is  warmed,  its  occupant  is  so 
thoroughly  chilled  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get 
warm  again.  In  this  way  the  system  is  unnecessarily 
taxed,  and  the  general  health  reduced.  When  one 
must  sleep  in  a  cold  room,  it  would  be  better  to  wear 
flannel  night  clothes,  (warmed  before  putting  them 
on,  and  perhaps  with  woolen  stockings  for  night  use 
in  exchange  for  the  stockings  worn  all  day,)  or  to 
have  the  bed  warmed  before  entering  it.  This  can 
be  done  with  warming-pan,  or  by  rolling  a  jug  of 
hot  water  about  between  the  sheets. 

I  find  by  experience  that  children  rest  more  quietly 
in  rooms  well  ventilated,  though  the  air  is  quite  cold 
during  the  night,  than  wheu  they  sleep  in  warmer 
and  closer  rooms,  and  I  think  it  well  to  accustom 
their  lungs  to  cold  air  in  this  way.  It  is  very  unde- 
sirable to  make  hot-house  plants  of  our  children. 
They  should  be  dressed  so  warmly,  both  by  night 
and  by  day,  that  they  can  be  comfortable  in  rooms 
moderately  cold. — Cor.  in  American  Agricultnriitt, 


How  to  Keep  Bouquets  Fresh. 

There  are  various  receipes  for  keeping  bouquets 
fresh.  Some  people  stick  them  in  moist  sand,  some 
salt  the  water  in  the  vases,  and  others  warm  it ; 
others,  again,  use  a  few  drops  of  ammonia.  My 
rule  is,  io  cool  the  flowers  thoroughly  at  night.  When 
the  long  day  of  furnace-heat  has  made  the  roses 
droop  and  their  stems  limp  and  lifeless,  I  clip  them 
a  little,  and  set  them  to  float  in  a  marble  basin  full 
of  very  cold  water.  In  the  morning  they  come  out 
made  over  into  a  crisp  beauty,  as  fresh  and  blooming 
as  if  just  gathered.  All  flowers,  however,  will  not 
stand  this  water  cure.  Heliotrope  blackens  and  falls 
to  pieces  under  it ;  azaleas  drop  from  their  stems,  and 
mignonette  soakes  away  its  fragrance.  For  these  I 
use  dry,  cold  air.  I  wrap  them  in  cotton  wool,  and 
set  them  on  a  shelf  in  the  ice-chest?  lean  almost 
hear  you  laugh,  but  really  I  am  not  joking.  Flowers 
thus  treated  keep  perfectly  for  a  week  with  me,  and 
often  longer. — )S'.  C.,  in  lit.  Nicholas  for  November. 


Good  V^ives. 


The  story  is  told,  that  in  the  early  life  of  Commo- 
dore Vanderbilt,  his  wife  was  a  most  frugal  and  faith- 
ful helper.  From  the  money  given  her  for  household 
expenses,  she  saved  what  she  could,  and  so  a  hand- 
some little  sum  was  accumulated.  When,  at  length, 
her  husband  saw  a  chance  to  purchase  a  ferry  boat, 
and  so  to  lay  the  foundation  for  what  became  so  great 
a  fortune,  he  lacked  some  ready  cash.  "  How  much 
do  you  need?"  said  the  good  wife.  The  sum  was 
named,  and  to  the  husband's  surprise  she  produced 
the  full  amount,  which  had  been  saved  by  her  skill 
and  prudence. 

When  Marshal  Bazaine  was  sentenced  to  banish- 
ment to  one  of  the  forts  of  France,  his  youthful  and 
attractive  wife  determined  to  go  with  him.  Her 
friends  attempted  to  dissuade  her  from  going,  but 
she  replied,  "  When  my  husband  was  in  honor,  I 
shared  it  with  him,  and  shall  I  not  also  share  his  ban- 
ishment?" 


Cleaning  Window  Glass. 
Painters  sometimes  leave  spots  on  window  glass 
when  painting  the  sash.  A  lady  who  knows  informs 
us  that  benzine  applied  to  such  places,  and  allowed 
to  remain  awhile,  will  render  it  easily  removed  by 
scouring.  She  says  she  has  also  heard,  but  has  not 
tested  it,  that  a  strong  solution  of  soda  applied  hot, 
will  be  equally  efficacious. 


Fine  Pumpkin  Pies. 

Pumpkin  Pic — I. — One  pint  of  steived  pumpkin, 
four  eggs,  one  quart  of  milk,  one  large  cup  of  sugar, 
half  a  teaspoonful  of  ginger  ;  when  your  pie  is  ready 
to  go  in  the  oven,  grate  a  little  nutmeg  over  the  top 
of  it ;  this  quantity  makes  two  pies. 

Pmnpkiti  Pie — //. — Take  a  Boston  or  Hubbard 
squash,  and  cut,  peel,  and  remove  seeds  and  pulp. 
Then  cut  in  very  small- pieces,  and  wash  with  cold 
water  in  a  colander.  Stew  in  a  porcelain  lined, 
covered  vessel,  without  %vater.  Cook  slowly  ;  stir  fre- 
quently, to  avoid  burning.  When  cooked,  pass  the 
squash  through  a  colander  to  remove  any  lumps.  To 
a  quart  of  squash  add  a  quart  of  milk,  four  eggs, 
teaspoonful  of  salt,  six  tablespooufuls  sugar ;  nut- 
meg, cinnamon  and  ginger  to  taste. 

Pumjikin  Pie — ///.—Boil  a  small  pumpkin  until 
soft ;  strain,  and  when  cold  add  a  quart  and  one- 
pint  of  milk,  two  cups  of  sugar,  five  eggs,  level  tea- 
spoonful each  of  cinnamon  and  ginger,  and  a  pinch 
of  salt.  For  crust,  three  small  cups  of  flour  for  three 
pies,  one-half  cup  of  shortening  and  salt ;  mix  with 
cold  water,  and  roll  very  thin. 

Pumpkin  Pie — IV. — Mash  very  fine  with  hand 
one-and-a-half  cups  of  boiled  pumpkin — using  only 
the  chunks  of  pumpkin,  none  of  the  water  ;  then 
mix  with  that  a  heaping  tablespoonful  of  flour, 
rubbed  smooth  with  a  little  milk — one  egg,  three 
cups  of  milk,  a  teaspoonful  and  a  half  of  lemon  ex- 
tract or  ginger  ;  salt,  sugar  to  taste,  and  bake  in  a 
good-sized  pie  plate  with  a  good  wall  of  crust  built 
up  around  the  plate.  It  is  a  good  way  to  cook  the 
pumpkin  not  to  put  any  water  into  the  pot.  If  set 
outhe  back  part  of  the  range  the  heat  will  draw  out 
the  juice  of  the  vegetable  ;  it  will  then  steam  done, 
and  no  straining  will  be  necessary  ;  only  be  careful 
not  to  let  it  burn.  The  above  is  the  quantity  for  one 
pie. 

Pumpkin  Pie —  V. — Boil  and  mash  half  a  pumpkin; 
strain  off  the  water  until  quite  dry;  then  add  a  pint 
and  a  half  of  milk,  five  eggs  beaten  light,  half  a 
pound  of  sugar,  quarter  of  a  pound  of  meltied  butter, 
half  a  pint  of  brandy,  and  large  tablespoonful  of 
ground  cinnamon  ;  put  in  pastry  crust,  and  bake  as 
a  i)ie.     This  quantitj-  will  make  six  pies. 


Corn  Cribs. 


Farmers  must  be  prepared  to  have  crib  room  for 
their  corn.  A  good  corn  house  costs  but  little,  and 
every  farmer  should  have  one  disconnected  with  other 
buildings  to  keep  out  rats.  There  is  probably  no  bet- 
ter way  to  build  on  than  upon  durable  posts,  about 
two  feet  above  the  ground,  placing  pieces  of  zinc  ou 
the  tops  of  the  posts,  projecting  all  around  about 
eight  inches.  Movable  steps  should  be  made  for  the 
door,  to  be  removed  a  few  feet  after  coming  out.  It 
is  quite  as  well  to  build  a  corn  house  with  perpendic- 
ular sides  as  it  is  to  build  in  the  old  style  of  slanting 
at  the  bottom,  to  protect  the  corn  from  storms.  Let; 
the  roof  project  over  three  or  four  feet,  and  the  corn 
will  be  protected  enough.  A  temporary  crib  may  be 
made  of  rails  laid  upon  cross  pieces  at  the  ends,  six 
or  eight  feet  high  and  five  or  six  wide,  with  boards 
laid  upon  the  top  so  as  to  shed  rain.  The  corn  should 
Ije  raised  about  a  foot  from  the  ground  by  a  loose, 
open  flooring. 

^ 

Keeping  Eggs. 

Slake  one  pound  stone  lime  in  two  gallons  water. 
When  cold  add  one  pint  salt.  Stir  well  and  let  the 
mixture  thoroughly  settle.  Place  the  eggs  in  a  stone 
jar,  pointed  ends  downward,  and  pour  over  them  the 
clear  liquid  without  disturbing  the  sediment.  Be 
sure  that  the  lime  water  covers  them.  Close  the  jar 
tightly,  and  do  not  disturb  until  wanted  for  use.  Be 
careful  to  break  each  one  into  a  dish  separately,  as 
there  will  always  be  found  a  few  which  the  lime  will 
penetrate,  but  the  proportion  is  very  small.  This 
recipe  will  preserve  nine  dozen  eggs. —  Cor.  Mass. 
Ploughman. 

^ 

Hard  Soap. 

Take  of  ]iurified  grease  and  sal  soda  each  six 
pounds,  and  of  stone  lime  three  pounds.  Put  the  sal 
soda  and  lime  into  an  iron  vessel.  Pour  on  four  gal- 
lons of  hot  water  ;  let  it  slack  and  settle.  Put  the 
grease  into  a  kettle,  and  carefully  dip  out  your  lye 
formed  by  the  sal  soda  and  lime,  and  boil  with  your 
grease  for  twenty -five  minutes.  Pour  iuto  moulds  or 
wooden  tubs.  It  is  an  excellent  cheap  hard  soap. 
Salt  grease  must  uot  be  used.  I  have  tried  it  for  five 
years.  If  it  does  not  immediately  form  soap  when 
boiled,  pour  in  a  gallon  or  so  of  fresh  water.  Try  it 
and  report  your  success. 


If  the  grass  on  your  lawn  is  too  thin  and  sparse, 
the  whole  surface  may  he  loosened  with  a  sharp  steel 
rake  (or  a  fine  sharp  harrow  on  a  large  scale)  and 
grass  seed  sown;  audits  germination  and  growth  will 
be  greatly  assisted  if  the  whole  surface  is  dressed 
witii  a  fine  compost  before  sowing  and  raking. 


Harrowing  cannot  be  repeated  too  often.  If  the 
cattle  have  trampled  the  meadow,  harrow  it.  If  it  is 
baked,  harrow  it.  If  you  want  a  good  crop,  harrow  it. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


175 


A   Wholesome  Drink. 

Oatmeal  in  water,  in  tlic  |)ro|iortioii  of  a  quarter 
of  a  pouml  of  oatmeal  to  three  (|iiurls  of  water,  is 
reeommenileil  as  a  refresliiiii;  ilriiiU.  The  meal  shoulil 
be  well  lioileil,  the  mixture  eooli'il,  ami  water  added 
to  keep  up  the  iiroportinu.  Willi  a  hit  of  ice  this  is 
Bald  not  only  to  quench  tlie  thirst,  hut  to  keep  up 
6trcnKtli.  Without  ice,  when  ice  can  not  be  lia<I,  it 
is  still  palatable,  if  entirely  cool.  It  is  said  that  it  is 
used  in  many  ivou  foundries  and  niamifaetoi-ii's  in 
England.  Tiie  meal  should  be  well  shaken  throuu'li 
the  water  before  drinking. 

Warmed-up   Mutton. 

Cut  olV  tlie  meat  carefully,  throwing'  aside  all 
strinj^y  pieces,  mince  linely,  and  season  to  taste  with 
ix-pper,  salt,  and,  if  liked  catsup,  and  linely  chopped 
onion.  Moisten  with  S(»ine  rich  stock,  or  the  ^Tavy 
left  over,  after  taking  olf  the  fat  which  has  risen  on 
the.  top  and  cooled.  Put  it  on  a  di.sh  and  cover  over 
/»  with  mashed  jiotatoes,  scoreil  roUf;hly  across  the  top 
If  you  like,  or  smoothed  over  and  washed  on  top 
with  a  little  melted  butter.  Ijrown  it  in  the  oven  a 
;       fine  dark  goldeu  color,  and  serve  very  hot. 


Mucilage. 
An  excellent  mucilaffe  or  paste  may  be  made  from 
the  gum  that  oozes  from  cherry  or  plum  trees  in  the 
Bummer  season,  and  dries  upon  the  liark  in  lum])S. 
By  pickiua:  otf  this  sinni  and  dis,solvliii;'  it  in  water,  in 
a  paste  cup  or  wide-mouthed  bottle,  it  forms  a  valua- 
ble mucilage,  very  adhesive,  aiul  is  always  ready  for 
use.  It  requires  a  day  or  longer  for  this  dried  gum 
to  dissolve  in  cold  water,  but  it  can  be  dissolved 
sooner  by  lieating  it.  By  keeping  a  small  paddle  or 
brush  in  the  vessel  eontainingit,  it  will  be  found  very 
convenient  and  useful  in  every  household. 


Bread  Sponge. 

Six  potatoes  lioiled  and  mashed  while  hot,  two 
tablespoonfuls  of  white  sugar,  two  of  butlir,  one 
quart  of  tepid  water.  Stir  in  this  three  cups  of  tlour, 
beat  to  a  smooth  batter,  then  add  six  tablespoonfuls 
of  yeast.  Set  over  night.  In  the  morning  knead  in 
sufficient  Hour  to  make  a  still'  spongy  dough.  Knead 
vigorously  for  fifteen  minutes.  Set  away  to  rise,  and 
when  light  knead  for  ten  minutes;  mould  out  into 
moderate-sized  loaves.  Let  rise  until  they  ifre  like 
delicate  or  light  sponge  cake. 
♦ 

Beef  and  mutton  cost  about  three  cents  a  pound 
In  Servia,  a  turkey  fetches  a  shilling,  a  pair  of  fowls 
may  be  had  for  six  cents,  and  a  draught  ox  only  costs 
from  $10  to  $13.  Native  tobacco  and  wine  are  simi- 
larly cheap,  but  bad. 


A  tablespoonfdIj  of  ammonia  in  one  gallon  of 
water  will  often  restore  the  color  of  carpets,  even  if 
dissolved  by  acid  or  alkali.  If  a  ceiling  has  been 
whitewashed  with  the  carpet  down,  and  a  few  drops 
should  fall,  this  will  remove  it. 


It  is  said  that  a  coat  of  tallow  applied  to  rubber 
boots  will  draw  out  the  sulphur  and  render  them 
much  less  liable  to  crack. 


GENERAL  MISCELLANY. 


A  Good  Word  for  the  Hog. 

He  is  one  of  the  paehydcrraatous  or  thick-skinned 
animals,  of  which  the  existing  genera  are  the  ele- 
phant, the  hippopotamus,  the  hyrax,  the  tapir,  the 
hog.  The  elephant,  which  once  spread  in  countless 
herds  to  the  polar  regions,  is  now  confined  to  the 
woods  of  the  tropics  ;  the  rhinoceros,  yet  more  rare, 
is  limited  to  the  hottest  regions  of  India  and  Africa  ; 
the  hippopotamus,  one  of  the  hugest  of  living  quad- 
rupeds, is  confined  to  the  largest  rivers  of  Africa  ;  the 
tapir  merely  lingers  in  some  of  the  forests  of  inter- 
tropical countries  ;  but  the  hog  survives  the  revolu- 
tions of  countless  ages  and  is  reproduced  in  countless 
multitudes  in  every  region  of  the  earth. 

However  groveling  and  mean  may  apjjcar  his  hab- 
its when  reduced  to  the  degradation  of  slavery,  yet 
he  is  not  destitute  of  sagacity,  nor  uusu.seeiitible  of 
attachment.  When  be  lives  in  the  cabin  of  the  peas- 
ant, he  loses  much  of  his  rudeness,  sutlers  himself  to 
be  caressed,  and  recognizes  his  protectors.  Instances 
are  known  in  which  the  hog,  for  tM  purposes  of  ex- 
hibition, has  been  brought  to  perforin  a  numlier  of 
feats,  displaying  a  marvelous  degree  of  docility. 

Intractable,  rapacious  and  selfish,  as  we  are  wont 
to  esteem  this  animal,  no  mother  is  more  tender  to 
her  young  or  more  resolute  in  their  defense.  Hogs 
are  not  insensible  to  natural  atieetions  ;  they  are  gre- 
garious and  social,  warming  one  another  with  their 
bodies  in  cold  weather  ;  and,  when  assembled  in  lierds 
manifesting  the  utmost  sympathy  for  one  another's 
Buflerings.  Should  one  give  signal  of  distress,  all 
within  hearing  rush  to  liis  assistance;  they  gather 
round  their  comrade  and  fiercely  assail  the  largest 
animals  that  have  injured  him.  In  Calabria,  where 
they  are  grazed  in  herds,  the  keeper  uses  a  kind  of 
bagpipe,  which,  when  at  sunset  they  are  to  be  driven 
homeward,  instantly  collects  them  from  all  parts.  In 


certain  villages  there  is  a  common  swineherd  ;  in  the 
morning,  when  he  sounds  his  horn,  all  the  pigs  rush 
forth  and  follow  him  to  the  place  of  feeiling  ;  in  the 
evening  they  return  under  his  guidance,  and  when 
tlicy  ciitiM-  liie  village  each  runs  to  his  own  sly  with- 
out mistake.  In  some  of  the  Southern  I'niled  States, 
it  is  usual  to  turn  the  jiigs  into  the  woods,  but  to 
collect  them  together  once  a  week,  by  giving  them 
salt  and  nuiize,  or  other  favorite  food.  At  the  very 
hour  they  are  to  receive  their  weekly  present ,  they 
reassemble  from  all  parts  without  a  straggler.  They 
have  the  sagacity  always  to  discover  the  food  that 
suits  them,  never  being,  like  some  other  animals 
whose  senses  are  blunted  by  ilomestification,  itoisoned 
by  the  plants  they  tind  in  the  wild  state.  Their  cx- 
tpiisite  senses  of  smell  and  touch  dircc-t.  them  to 
earlh-mUs  anil  other  rtHits,  acorns  and  the  like, 
which  are  found  buried  In  the  ground.  They  are 
conscious  of  an  iinpeniling  storm,  and  carry  straw  as 
if  to  shelter  themselves  from  its  violence.  They  arc 
agitated  when  the  wind  blows  violently,  screaming 
and  running  to  the  sly  lor  shelter,  which  has  given 
rise  to  this  singular  saying  of  the  country  peo|)le, 
that  "  pigs  see  the  wind."  The  explanation  is,  that 
the  hog  dreads  wetness  and  cold,  and  is  eminently 
sensitive  to  coming  changes  of  the  weather. — J'ruf. 
how,  in  ^^ National  lAvt  Stock  Journal." 


Autumn  Care  of  Lawns. 

During  the  latter  part  of  summer,  the  lawn  needs 
less  frequent  mowing  than  in  .June  and  July  ;  and  as 
cool  weather  comes  on  in  autumn,  the  grass  nearly 
ceases  growing.  Aftcrthis  period, the  mowing  should 
be  suspended,  or  not  repeated  more  than  once,  to 
allow  a  strong  growth  for  winter  protection.  If  cut 
short  late  in  autumn,  whereverthe  surface  is  exposed 
to  the  sweep  of  winds,  the  grass  will  be  injured  in 
vigor,  and  it  will  not  assume  that  fresh  green  appear- 
aiicc  in  early  spring  that  will  be  seen  whenever  there 
has  been  a  good  winter  protection.  Some  discretion 
must  be  exercised,  b(;wever,  for  too  long  and  too 
dense  a  growth  will  tend  to  weaken  the  plants  be- 
neath by  smothering,  and  in  well  sheltered  places 
less  covering  is  needed  than  where  the  lawn  is  more 
exposed  to  winds.  Or,  if  a  top-dressing  is  intended, 
the  grass  should  be  cut  short  for  two  reasons  :  this 
application  itself  will  aflbrd  protection  ;  and  if  the 
grass  is  cut,  the  fertilizer  will  more  directly  reach 
the  roots. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  in  consequence  of  sterile 
spots  of  earth,  there  are  patches  where  the  grass  has 
made  a  poor  growth.  This  defect  may  be  remedied 
by  top-dressing  well  with  a  steel  tooth  rake  and  sow 
heavily  of  additional  grass  seed. 

Manure  is  too  often  applied  in  large  lumps.  In 
this  condition  it  is  of  little  value.  A  part  of  the  grass 
gets  none,  and  a  part  is  smothered  by  the  heavy 
mass.  It  msikes  little  diflcrence  whether  old  or  fresh 
manure  is  applied,  provided  it  is  finely  broken  up  and 
evenly  spread.  A  uniform  thickness  of  one  inch  over 
the  whole  surface,  will  be  a  very  heavy  dressing — 
half  an  inch  will  be  quite  effective.  Where  the  lawn 
is  extensive,  the  lumps  of  manure  may  be  finely  pul- 
verized and  evenly  spread  by  using  a  smoothing  har- 
row, more  rapidly  than  twenty  men  would  do  the 
work  by  hand.  In  the  absence  of  manure,  a  dressing 
of  fine  soil  an  inch  thick  will  be  useful  in  many  eases; 
and  when  the  surface  is  slightly  uneven,  this  dressing 
may  be  [ilaced  in  depressions  only  and  thus  restore  an 
even  surface.  Sand  alone,  used  for  this  purpose,  will 
be  useful  to  the  grass,  and  may  be  more  easily  and 
evenly  applied.  When  the  weather  has  been  dry 
enough  to  leave  the  roads  dry,  one  of  the  best  and 
most  easily  spread  of  all  kinds  of  top-dressing,  for 
small  lawns,  is  sifted  road-dust  ;  IVjr  being  finely 
pulverized  and  mixed  with  a  portion  of  the  droppings 
of  horses,  it  may  be  applied  with  accuracy  in  a  uni- 
form coating,  and  half  an  inch  in  depth  will  show  its 
eti'eets  on  the  green  grass. —  Country  Geutteman. 


Chemistry  of  the  Fattening  Process. 

A  lean  cow  or  ox  is  in  a  very  dirt'erent  condition, 
chemically  considered,  from  fat  animals  of  the  same 
kind.  In  the  first  place  the  poor  animal  consists  of 
about  two-thirds  water,  the  fat  one  of  only  half,  that 
is  in  total  weight.  A  fat  animal  is  in  a  dry  condi- 
tion, a  poor  animal  is  like  some  of  our  bog  meadows, 
very  wet.  When  the  fattening  process  begins,  water 
commences  to  disappear,  and  lat  or  suet  takes  its 
place  ;  and  the  increase  in  bulk  during  the  process  is 
largely  of  adipose  of  matter.  It  is  curious  cireum- 
stances  that,  during  fattening,  the  proteids,  or  nitro- 
genous ccjinpound,  increase  only  about  seven  \ht  cent, 
and  the  bone  material,  or  inorganic  substances,  oidy 
one-and-a-half  per  cent. 

The  cost  to  a  farmer  of  fattening  an  ox  is  much 
greater  at  the  close  of  the  process  than  at  the  com- 
mencement ;  that  is,  increase  in  liulk  or  dry 
weight  at  that  period  is  much  more  costly. 
If  it  costs  three  cents  a  pound  for  bulk 
for  the  first  three  months  after  a  poor  animal 
is  put  in  the  fattening  stall,  it  will  cost  five 
cents  the  last  month.  If,  then,  a  farmer  consults 
his  money  interests,  he  will  not  carry  the  increase  in 
fat  beyond  a  certain  ;ioint,  provided  he  can  turn  his 
partially  fatted  animals  to  fair  advantage.  Karmers 
have,  perhaps,  learned  this  fact  from  experience  and 


observation,  and  hence  comparatively  lean  beef 
abounils  in  our  markets.  While  this  is  of  advantage 
to  the  farmer,  it  is  very  disadvantagccnis  to  eon-  • 
sumers  of  the  beef,  for  the  flesh  of  a  fat  animal  in 
every  case  is  much  richer  in  fived,  nourishing  ma- 
terial than  that  of  the  lean,  and  it  is  never  good 
economy  to  purchase  lean  beef.  It  is  bt^ttcr  to  pur- 
chase the  poorest  parts  of  a  fat  animal  than  the  best 
of  a  lean  one.  The  best  piece  of  a  fat  ox  (the  loin) 
contains  from  21  to  2N  per  cent,  more  llxcd  ma- 
terial than  till'  corresponding  piece  in  a  lean  one,  and 
curiously  enough,  the  worst  piece  in  tlie  lean  animal 
(the  neck,)  is  the  richest  in  nourishing  material. 
The  flesh  of  the  neck  improves  very  little  in  fattening, 
lieni'C,  eeonomy  considered,  it  is  the  best  portion  to 
purchase,  as  its  value  is  in  a  measm'e  artxed  one. 

Horse  llesli  is  as  nutritious,  considered  as  liKjd,  as 
that  of  the  ox  or  cow.  Tile  relation  of  nilrogenous 
to  fixed  material  is  rather  higher  in  a  horse  than  in 
an  ox,  and  amount  of  water  is  less.  There  is  no  good 
reason  why  horse  llesh  should  not  lie  used  as  Ibod. 
It  is  jirejudice  alone  which  prevents  its  employment. 
It  is  a  regular  article  of  sale  in  the  meat  markets  of 
I'aris  at  the  present  lime. — Journal  of  Cfieniittry. 

Protecting  Garden  Roots. 

As  winter  approaidies  there  comes  up  the  annual 
question  what  shall  we  do  with  the  roots?  The  farm 
has  its  turnips,  beets,  |ierlia|is  carrots  and  various 
other  things;  the  garden  has  cabbage,  celery  and 
loads  of  other  things.  In  all  these  questions  there 
must  be  various  answers.  How  best  to  preserve  them 
will  depend  on  how  we  want  to  use  them,  and  the 
convenience  at  I'oinmand.  Take  celery  for  instance  : 
If  we  are  to  use  it  in  large  quantities  and  often,  we 
must  have  some  place  for  it  very  easy  of  access  ;  but 
if  we  only  want  a  little  now  and  then,  we  need  not 
go  to  half  the  trouble  as  in  the  other  case.  What  to 
do,  and  how  to  do  it,  can  be  best  understood  by  Bce- 
ing  just  what  we  want  to  aeeomiilish. 

Now,  to  preserve  these  roots  well,  we  must  keep 
them  I'rom  growing  ;  for  tliey  are  so  eonstructed  as 
to  sprout  with  very  little  heat.  The  nearer  we  can 
keep  them  to  freezing  point  without  actually  freezing, 
the  better  Ibrthe  roots.  Again,  water  is  an  enemy 
if  the  temperature  should  be  much  above  freezing.  So 
it  comes  down  to  this,  that  whatever  will  keep  roots 
so  that  they  will  not  wither  from  too  great  dryness  of 
their  surroundings,  and  will  kceji  them  cool,  but  not 
freezing,  is  the  perfection  of  a  plan. 

Now,  some  may  have  a  cellar,  some  a  barn,  some 
nothing  but  boards  or  leaves  to  keep  off  water  and 
frost ;  it  is  all  the  same  in  principle  to  keepeool,  not 
frozen,  and  a  little  dry. 

In  keeping  cabbage,  the  water  is  very  apt  to  gat  in 
between  the  leaves  and  to  be  troublesome  when  any 
kind  of  protection  is  tried  in  the  open  ground  ;  but 
this  is  guardeil  against  by  turning  the  cabbage  up- 
side down.  Celery  is  much  the  best  if  it  can  be  kept 
out  in  the  ground  to  the  l.ist  possible  moment.  If 
there  are  leaves  or  some  light  material  at  command 
to  cover  with,  so  as  to  protect  against  the  first  frosts, 
it  may  be  left  out  till  near  Chri-stmas  to  advantage. 
It  is  as  cool  as  can  be  wished  under  such  circum- 
stances, and  just  IVee  from  frosts,  the  very  best 
condition  possible.  Indeed,  if  covering  enough  can 
be  had  to  keep  out  all  frost,  and  no  great  amount  of 
it  required  at  any  one  time,  it  might  he  best  to  leave 
it  out  all  winter,  choosing  the  chance  to  get  enough 
out  at  a  time  to  last  a  couple  of  weeks.  If  it  is  wet, 
snowy,  cold,  or  somethingor  another,  however,  when 
we  want  to  get  at  the  vegetaliles,  a  cool  place  under 
cover  is  far  thelbest  if  we  can  command  it. — Germaii- 
lown  Telegraph. 

Sheep— The  Outlook. 

The  Farmer's  Friend,  in  commenting  on  the  gene- 
ral outlook  of  sheep  husbandry,  gives  the  following 
very  sensible  advice  : 

Farmers  who  keep  large  flocks  of  sheep  should  not 
dis|iose  of  them  hastily,  in  view  of  the  low  prices  they 
bring,  anil  the  cheapness  of  wool,  as  we  are  not 
always  to  have  such  times  as  exist  at  present.  Prob- 
ably in  two  or  three  years  the  jjrices  will  advance  .50 
per  cent.,  from  the  fact  that  large  portions  of  our 
wool  growers  will  either  go  out  of  tlie  business,  or 
greatly  reduce  their  tlocks,  no  matter  how  much  they 
are  advised  to  "hold  on."  In  some  cases  it  will  be 
well  to  get  rid  of  your  poorest  sheep,  and  thus  reduce 
your  flocks  somewhat;  but  our  advice  is  to  reduce 
your  flocks  as  little  as  you  can,  and  make  them  pay 
the  expenses  of  keeping  till  prices  go  up.  Uuriug 
the  last  thirty  years  there  have  been  a  half-dozen 
ebbs  in  the  iirices  of  sheep  and  wool,  and  yet  those 
breeders  who  "held  on"  came  out  all  right.  What 
you  need  most  is  good  breeding  rams  ;  and  we  annex 
"what  an  old  sheep-raiser  says  :  "  The  best  bred  and 
best  formed  merino  rams  may  now  be  had  for  ^-W  to 
811)11,  and  the  long-wools  or  Downs  are  quite  as  cheap; 
and  when  we  retk-et  that  we  may  have  fifty  to  one 
hundred  lambs  from  a  single  sire,  what  a  waste  of 
money  it  is  to  use  an  inferior,  Mat-sided  ram  because 
he  can  be  had  for  810  to  $ir> '  The  defects  of  a  bad 
sire,  used  for  a  single  season,  will  be  visible  in  a  flock 
for  many  generations,  so  that  the  injury  done  cannot 
be  estimated  ;  and  the  services  of  such  an  animal 
will  never  be  accepted  by  an  intelligent  breeder,  if 
tendered  as  a  gratuity. 


176 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  November, 


The  selection  of  the  breeding  ram,  where  mutton  is 
produced,  must  be  from  the  long- wools,  or  the  Downs. 
If  we  make  choice  from  tlie  former,  we  must  be  care- 
ful to  have  an  animal  of  stout  and  robust  constitution. 
These  sheep  have  been  so  efcnerally  forced  with  arti- 
ficial food,  60  that  many  of  them  lack  the  hardiness 
required  foi'the  farmer's  purposes.  What  we  must 
have,  is  a  straight,  round  barrel,  on  short  legs,  with 
short,  stout  neck,  and  vigorous,  masculine  appear- 
ance about  the  head.  The  body  should  be  well  cov- 
ered with  a  long  and  lustrous  staple,  of  unilbrm 
quality.  If  the  selection  be  of  the  Southdown  breed, 
we  should  have  the  same  general  form  as  here  de 
scribed,  but  we  ought  to  have  a  more  compact  and 
snug  carcass,  with  a  good  deal  more  weight  for  bulk 
than  in  the  long-wool  breeds. 


Portable  Pig-Pen. 

The  writer  has  used  the  following  plan  for  a  cheap 
and  portable  pig-pen  lor  store-pigs,  and  finds  it  very 
convenient.  It  consists  of  two  portions — the  sleep- 
ing box  and  the  yard,  both  portable,  but  not  fastened 
together.  Two  men  can  lift  each  part  separately  and 
carry  it  into  fresh  grouncl  when  the  yard  needs  clean- 
ing out,  and  weccls,  rubbish  and  potato  tops  can 
readily  he  thrown  into  the  yard  from  a  cart. 

The  yard  is  made  of  inch  spruce  fencing  strips, 
four  inches  wide,  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  nailed  to 
three  by  four-inch  posts,  placed  at  the  corners  and  in 
middle  of  each  side.  As  tlie  posts  do  not  cuter  the 
ground,  two  men  can  easily  lift  the  yard  and  carry  it 
to  fresh  ground.  Five  strips  are  used  on  each  side, 
with  three  inch  spaces  between  the  strips.  On  one 
side  of  the  yard  two  of  the  strips  reach  only  half 
way,  leaving  an  opening  from  the  yard  to  t)ie  sleep- 
ing box.  A  trough  of  I'iineh  spruce,  .5  inches  wide, 
nailed  together  at  right  angles,  is  used  for  feeding  in 
the  yard. 

The  sleeping  box  is  matched  boards,  four  feet  by 
six  feet  on  the  tloor,  thirty  inches  high  in  the  rear, 
and  forty-two  inclics  high  in  front,  which  is  partly 
open,  and  stands  against  the  opening  in  the  yard. 
The  roof  slopes  from  I'ront  to  rear  like  a  lean-to  shed, 
and  there  are  two  handles  at  each  end,  by  which  two 
men  can  lift  it  for  removal.  This  box  stands  on  legs, 
which  raise  the  floor  eight  inches  above  the  ground, 
keeping  it  dry  in  wet  weather.  By  littering  it  weli 
the  pigs  will  thrive  in  quite  cold  weather.  But  this 
arrangement  is  intended  chiefly  for  summer  use,  when 
we  generally  carry  a  larger  stock  than  can  be  accom- 
modated in  the  more  comfortable  winter  quarters. 
Eight  or  ten  pigs  just  weaned  are  put  in  one  yard, 
but  as  they  grow  larger  a  smaller  number  only  should 
be  allowed.  The  yards  will  need  removal  and  clean- 
ing but  once  in  two  or  three  weeks.  This  plan  could 
be  used  perhaps  by  those  farmers  who  feed  their  pigs 
on  growing  clover,  removing  the  pens  daily,  mucli 
on  the  same  principle  as  the  English  farmers  feed 
their  turnips  and  other  crops  to  sheep  in  the  so-called 
"hurdles."  Yard  and  box  together  will  need  about 
350  feet  of  spruce  lumber,  and  can  be  made  in  half  a 
day  by  an  ordinary  man  who  can  handle  tools. —  W. 
Philbrick. 


Dairy  vs.  Creamery. 

A  correspondent  of  the  ,Southcrn  Agricnltmrist 
writes  that,  in  his  opinion,  dairy  butter  should  be 
better  than  creamery.     He  says  ; 

With  good  cows,  good  pasture,  good  water,  good 
milk  room,  good  utensils,  good  milkmen,  or  milk- 
maids, and  good  attention,  I  believe  the  advantage 
is  with  the  farm.  Why  not  ?  Will  some  one  please 
tell  me  wherein  the  factory  has  one  single  advantage 
over  the  farm  dairy?  The  trouble  lies  at  home  with 
each  one.  If  cows  are  pastured  in  low,  wet  localities, 
where  coarse  swamp  grasses  prevail,  where  the 
water  is  full  of  organic  life,  putrid  and  foul,  good 
butter  is  impossible.  If  the  cows  are  old,  run  down, 
ill  used,  badly  milked  by  dirty,  slovenly  hands,  good 
butter  cannot  be  made.  If  tlie  utensils  used  are  not 
of  the  right  material,  are  not  kept  clean,  and  the 
milk  room  is  full  of  bad  odors,  the  same  result  is 
certain.  And  finally,  if  the  milk  is  not  churned  at 
the  right  time  good  butter  is  out  of  the  question. 
There  is  no  stopping  place  from  beginning  to  end 
where  a  lazy,  shiftless  person  can  throw  off  responsi- 
bility. 

Absolute  cleanliness,  purity  of  food  and  the  strict- 
est attention  are  essential.  Knowing  this,  is  it  any 
wonder  we  have  so  much  poor  butter  ?  Wherever 
natural  facilities  combine  with  proper  effort,  there  is 
no  trouble.  And  energy  of  determination  will  often 
overcome  natural  obstacles ;  but  when  slovenly 
habits  and  ignorance  combine  with  natural  disadvan- 
tages, poor  butter  always  results..  Let  farmers  and 
their  wives  think  of  these  things.  Serious  thought 
begets  action. 

I  would  urge  all  farmers  who  make  a  really  superior 
quality  of  butter,  to  hunt  a  market  for  it.  A  market 
can  easily  be  found.  Tliere  are  hundreds  of  compar- 
atively wealthy  men  in  all  our  larger  country  towns, 
who  will  be  glad  to  pay  a  fair  price  for  a  good  quality 
of  butter.  Hunt  them  up  and  supply  them  regularly 
every  week.  Besides  making  money  by  it,  the 
knowledge  that  you  get  an  extra  price  will  haye 
more  influence  upon  your  neighbors  than  all  the 
wordy  arguments  that  could  be  presented. 


Fall  or  Spring  Planting. 

Novices  are  sometimes  puzzled  as  to  the  compara- 
tive merits  of  fall  or  spring  planting  of  trees  and 
vines.  Possibly  the  locality  and  soil  may  sometimes 
make  a  difference,  but  generally,  if  the  work  is  well 
done  and  soil  is  in  proper  order,  I  think  there  are 
several  advantages  in  fall  planting.  One  is  that 
there  is  not  so  much  hurrying  work — the  planting 
season  extending  from  the  fall  of  the  leaves  until  the 
earth  freezes  or  the  weather  becomes  too  cold  to 
work  with  bare  hands.  In  1866  I  planted  340  pear 
trees  early  in  December  with  most  excellent  success. 

A  second  advantage  is,  that  the  fall  planted  trees 
get  an  earlier  start  in  the  spring  than  those  planted 
in  the  spring  and,  of  course,  have  a  longer  season  for 
growth.  Some  contend  that  fall-planted  trees  arc 
apt  to  be  displaced  by  high  winds  and  the  settling  of 
the  soil  about  them,  but  no  such  result  need  be  appre- 
hended if  the  work  is  done  right.  Every  root  should 
be  placed  as  nearly  in  its  natural  position  as  possible 
and  fine  earth  carefully  packed  about  it  with  the  fin- 
gers ;  no  two  roots  of  any  size  should  be  left  to  touch 
each  other,  and  when  all  are  covered  the  upper  earth 
should  be  trodden  down  carefully,  and  then  not  much 
future  settling  need  be  apprehended. 

With  these  precautions,  including  the  proper  pru- 
ning of  the  tops  to  correspond  with  the  amount  of 
roots,  planting  at  either  season  is  safe  enough .  It  is 
specially  important  that  this  proportion  between 
roots  and  tops  should  be  maintained,  because,  by 
leaving  too  much  top,  the  amount  of  leaves,  which 
are  the  lungs  of  a  tree,  make  a  draught  on  the  roots 
which  they  may  be  unable  to  supply.  In  that  ease, 
a  feeble  and  stunted  growth  will  be  the  result,  and 
in  some  cases  an  early  death  even  after  a  full  show 
of  foliage.  It  is  always  safe  to  cut  back  pretty  tho- 
roughly at  the  time  of  transplanting;  the  tree  will 
be  more  certain  to  live  and  do  well  and  will  tlie  better 
maintain  an  erect  position  until  the  roots  are  well 
established. 


How  to  Manage  Cuttings.  * 

In  reply  to  a  correspondent,  the  Floral  Cabinet 
gives  the  following  directions  in  regard  to  the  making 
and  managing  of  plant  cuttings  : 

In  selecting  a  cutting,  a  great  deal  depends  upon  a 
judicious  choice;  iftheslipis  too  young  and  full  of 
fresh  sap,  it  will  fade  away  from  too  much  evapora- 
tion; if  it  is  too  old — hard  and  woody — it  will  take  a 
great  wliile  to  strike  root. 

You  must  take  a  cutting  that  is  perfectly  ripened 
and  is  from  a  vigorous  shoot,  yet  a  little  hardened  at 
the  base. 

It  is  also  essential  to  have  a  bud  or  joint  at  or  near 
the  end  of  tlie  cutting,  as  all  roots  strike  from  it;  and 
the  nearer  it  is  to  the  base,  the  greater  your  chance 
of  success. 

Plant  your  cuttings  in  common  red  pots,  filled  half 
full  of  rich  loam  and  two  inches  of  sand  on  top  (scour- 
ing sand  will  do,  but  not  sea  sand);  wet  this  thor- 
oughly, and  put  on  the  cuttings  around  the  edge  of 
the  pot,  for  if  the  bud  or  joint  comes  in  contact  witli 
the  pot,  it  seems  to  strike  root  more  quickly.  Pull 
off  the  lower  leaves  before  you  plant  the  cutting. 
Press  the  wet  sand  tightly  about  the  tiny  stem,  for  a 
great  deal  of  your  success  in  raising  the  cutting  de- 
pends upon  the  close  contact  of  the  sand  witli  the 
stem.  When  the  cuttings  are  firmly  planted,  cover 
them  witli  a  glass  shade  if  possible,  as  it  will  greatly 
promote  growth  of  the  plant. 

Moisture,  liglit  and  heat  are  the  tliree  essentials  to 
plant  life — without  them  no  cutting  will  start. 

Shade  for  two  or  three  days  from  the  sunlight,  but 
don't  let  the  sand  become  dry;  then  give  all  the  sun 
you  can  obtain,  keep  up  a  good  supply  of  moisture, 
and  you  can  hardly  fail  to  root  most  of  your  cuttings. 


Treatment  of  an  Unmanageable  Horse. 

A  beautiful  and  high-spirited  horse  would  never 
allow  a  shoe  to  be  put  on  his  feet,  or  any  per- 
son to  handle  his  feet.  In  an  attempt  to  shoe  such  a 
horse  recently  he  resisted  all  efforts,  kicked  aside 
everything  but  an  anvil,  and  came  near  killing  him- 
self against  that,  and  finally  was  brought  back  to  his 
stable  unshod.  This  defect  was  just  on  the  eve  of 
consigning  him  to  the  plough,  where  he  might  work 
barefoot,  when  an  officer  in  our  service,  lately  re- 
turned from  Mexico,  took  a  cord  about  the  size  of  a 
common  bed-cord,  put  it  in  fthe  mouth  of  the  horse 
like  a  bit,  and  tied  it  tightly  on  the  animal's  head, 
passing  his  left  ear  under  the  string,  not  painfully 
tight,  but  tight  enough  to  keep  the  ear  down  and  the 
cord  in  its  place.  This  done,  he  patted  the  horse 
gently  on  the  side  of  the  head,  and  commanded  him 
to  follow  ;  and  instantly  the  horse  obeyed,  perfectly 
subdued,  and  as  gentle  as  a  well-trained  dog,  suffer- 
ing his  feet  to  be  lifted  with  impunity,  acting  in  all 
respects  like  an  old  stager.  The  gentleman  who 
thus  furnished  this  exceedingly  simple  means  of  sub- 
duing a  very  dangerous  propensity,  intimated  that  it 
is  practiced  in  Mexico  and  South  America  in  the 
management  of  wild  horses. — iV.  Y.  Commercial 
Advertiser. 

There  is  a  vast  difference  in  the  flavor  of  eggs. 
Hens  fed  on  clear,  sound  grain,  and  kept  on  a  clean 
grass  run,  give  much  finer  flavored  eggs  than  hens 
that  have  access  to   stables  and  manure   beads,  and 


eat  all  kinds  of  filthy  food.  Hens  feeding  on  fish  and 
onions  flavor  their  eggs  accordingly,  tiie  same  as 
cows  eating  onions  or  cabbage,  or  drinking  offensive 
water,  imparts  a  bad  taste  to  the  milk  or  butter. 


Hens  that  Don't  Set. 

The  non-setting  varieties  of  fowls  comprise  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  Hamburgs,  Spanish,  Leghorns,  and 
Polands,  and  also  some  of  the  French  fowls,  yet  we 
often  meet  with  individuals  of  the  foregoing  breeds 
which  are  medium  setters.  Non-setters,  if  well  bred, 
will  not  give  one  confirmed  case  of  setting  among  fifty 
birds,  though  they  sometimes  set  for  a  few  hours  or  a 
week.  These  correspond  to  the  setting  fever  of  the 
incubating  breeds.  The  instances  of  fowls  setting 
steadily,  although  belonging  to  a  breed  of  pure  non- 
setters,  show  reversion  to  the  primitive  type  when  in- 
cubation was  universal.  A  cross  between  the  differ- 
ent breeds  of  non-setters  will  produce  a  race  that  will 
set  as  regularly  and  persistently  as  any  fowls.  Some 
crosses  between  breeds  are  very  desirable,  but  non- 
setters  should  be  kept  pure,  or  the  trait  which  con- 
stitutes their  principal  value  will  be  lost.  Where 
many  fowls  are  kept,  it  is  better  to  have  the  larger 
part  consist  of  some  non-setting  breed.  A  great  sav- 
ing may  be  made  in  a  setting  breed  to  produce  a  few 
good  mothers.  The  rest,  say  three-quartars  of  the 
whole  of  your  stock,  should  be  of  some  breed  of  non- 
setters.  It  is  as  easy  to  take  care  of  200  non-setting 
liens  during  the  warm  season  as  100  of  a  setting 
variety. — J'oultry  M'orld. 


Ducks. 

The  Poultry  World  lately  contained  some  excellent 
directions  for  raising  ducks.  Of  the  four  kinds,  to 
wit:  Aylesbury,  Rouen,  Cayuga,  and  Pekiu,  all  good 
kinds,  the  writer  values  them  in  the  order  they  here 
stand.  A  pond  is  not  necessary  for  successfully  rais- 
ing ducks,  yet  they  will  not  thrive  in  confinement, 
but  should  have  the  range  of  pasture  or  meadow. 
Only  from  two  to  four  ducks  are  allowed  to  each 
drake.  They  should  be  fed  only  once  a  day,  in  the 
evening,  and  there  will  be  no  trouble  in  their  coming 
in.  In  hatching  the  eggs  they  should  always  be 
placed  under  hens,  and  several  broods  should  be  put 
together.  Ducklings  should  never  be  allowed  the 
free  use  of  ponds  or  streams  before  they  are  six  weeks 
old,  but  kept  in  a  dry  yard  with  good  shelter.  Feed 
corn  and  oats  ground  together  and  wheat  bran  in 
equal  proportions  mixed  and  scalded.  Raw  meal  is 
to  be  avoided;  earth  worms  are  beneficial,  and  should 
be  supplied  them  daily;  alsobeef  liver  and  other  cheap 
meat  may  be  cooked  and  chopped  for  them,  and  fed 
stewed  in  the  broth  while  it  is  boiling,  but  no  whole 
or  uncooked  grain  should  be  fed  to  ducklings 
until  they  are  well-fledged.  After  that,  cracked  corn, 
or  whole  and  other  grain  may  be  alternated  with  the 
soft  food,  which  must  be  continued. 


Rye  for  Winter  Pasture. 

Experience  proves  that  no  kind  of  pasture  pays  as 
well  as  rye  sown  for  early  spring  feeding.  It  comes 
in  before  any  other  herbage,  and  is  a  real  treat  to 
cows  and  other  stock,  after  having  been  kept  on  dry 
fodder  and  such  like  food  all  winter,  as  is  too  common 
with  most  farmers  who  fail  to  supply  themselves 
with  root  crops.  One  who  has  for  many  years  been 
in  the  habit  of  sowing  rye  for  the  purpose  indicated 
with  the  very  best  results  says  that,  if  sown  in 
August,  or  even  in  September,  will  produce  abundant 
yield  of  delicious  herbage  for  all  kinds  of  stock  in 
early  spring  or  in  some  quarters  late  in  the  winter. 
It  is  especially  valuable  for  the  calves  and  colts  and 
lambs  and  milch  cows,  and  indeed  for  all  kind  of 
stock.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  plow  the  ground  and 
sow  the  seed  ;  they  will  pluck  it.  You  need  not  har- 
vest it  for  them.  The  green  rye  keeps  the  bowels- 
open,  the  blood  in  good  condition,  and  the  animals 
growing  with  great  rapidity.  If  the  cornfield  is  so 
that  it  can  be  pastured,  nothing  will  pay  better  than 
to  sow  it  in  rye.  Put  a  man  on  horse  with  a  seed  bag 
and  let  him  sow  the  rye.  If  a  heavy  rain  soon  falls, 
or  moist  weather  soon  follows,  the  rye  will  come  up 
without  running  through  the  cultivator,  but  in  case 
of  dry  weather  the  cultivator  must  be  used  to  cover 
the  seed. 


Farming  Without  Stable  Manure  or  Stock. 

We  have  previously  referred  to  the  successful 
farming  of  Mr.  Prout,  an  English  farmer,  says  the 
American  Agriculturist  : 

His  system  is  to  grow  continuous  crops  of  grain, 
roots  and  clover,  entirely  by  the  use  of  artificial  ferti- 
lizers. He  keeps  no  stock  except  the  work  horses, 
and  the  crops  are  sold  upon  the  fields  when  ready 
for  harvest,  the  purchaser  harvesting  and  carrying 
them  away.  This  exceptional  manner  of  farming  is 
made  profitable  by  Mr.  Prout,  and  some  of  the  crops 
sold  this  season  are  the  eleventh  in  succession  upon 
the  same  fields.  Although  the  season  has  been  re- 
markably unfavorable,  the  j'ield  and  prices  of  the 
crops  were  satisfactory.  Barley  was  sold  at  an  aver- 
age price  of  f-10  per  acre,  the  purchaser  to  cut  and 
carry  it  away.  The  wheat  crop  bought  from  $i2  to 
over  ?.5i  per  acre.  Oats  realized  $32  for  a  crop  dam- 
aged by  wet  weather,  up  to  $48  per  acre  for  those  in 
better  condition.    For  11  acres  of  mangels  $11,  per 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


Ill 


acre  was  bid,  and  $115  for  S  acres,  but  they  were  not 
sold.  As  these  last  prices  were  the  value  in  the 
ground  uiiliarvested,  the  root  crops  seem  to  be  more 
profitable  under  this  system,  than  even  the  grain 

crops. 

^ 

American   Poultry. 

An  Eiiiilish  paper  qiKjIc^  the  fcillowin!;:  from  the 
Atnericaii  J'unllrit  W'niid,  and  lliinks  it  indicates  that 
American  poultry  knoulcdi^e  and  caste  is  far  ahead 
of  tliat  of  Europe  : 

We  are  breedin;?  in  America  at  the  present  time, 
all  varieties  of  domestic  Ibwls,  undeniedly  the  llnest 
poullry  stocl<  in  the  world.  In  the  last  two  years, 
and  especially  during  the  past  season,  more  really 
lirst-class  ibwls  have  been  i;rown  in  the  United  States 
than  ever  before,  beyond  comparison.  We  do  not 
speak  of  any  particular  variety  of  stock,  althou!;li  the 
Cochins  and  Hrulimas  liavc  been  bred  most  exten- 
sively witbcmtdoubt.  Hut  tlie  Lcijhorns,  tlie  Spantjled 
rolish,  the  lloudans,  and  other  Krench  fowls,  the 
Dominiques,  the  new  "  IMymoutli  l!ocks,"  and  the 
games  of  all  kinds — not  to  l'or;;et  th<'  numerous  beau- 
tiful little  Iiantams  also— have  multiplied  largely  all 
over  the  country.  Thousands  of  superb  specimens 
have  been  produced  for  standard  stock  that  are  a 
credit  to  tlu^  ])roducer6,  and  which  liave  very  largely 
enhanced  the  intrinsic  value  of  American-bred  poul- 
try as  an  item  of  solid  national  wealth.  This  is  a 
most  encourairina'  outlook,  not  only  ibrthe  ambitious 
American  fancier  of  poultry,  but  for  all  who  take  an 
interest  in  this  important  branch  of  our  rural  economy. 


Fall  Cuttings. 

The  fall  season  is  a  much  better  one  for  taking  off 
cuttings  than  any  other,  and  there  is  a  large  number 
of  plants  that  can  be  propagated  in  this  way.  The 
currant,  gooseberry,  quince  and  the  grape  among 
fruits;  and  the  privet,  honeysuckles,  wiegela, 
forsythia,  mock-orani;e  and  many  other  things 
among  ornamental  shrubbery.  Indeed,  there  are  so 
many  things  among  these  hardy  i)lants,  iVc.,  that 
will  grow  well  in  this  way,  that  it  is  much  easier  to 
give  a  list  of  the  thinii:s  that  will  not  grow  from  fall 
cuttings,  rather  than  the  things  that  will.  The  great 
difticulty  is  that  they  draw  out  of  the  ground  by 
frecEing  and  thrawing.  To  avoid  this  the  cuttings 
need  not  be  set  out  at  once  in  the  ground,  but  they 
may  be  tied  into  bundles,  each  after  its  kind,  and 
buried  under  ground  till  spring,  anil  then  put  out  in 
rows  whcTc  they  arc  to  grow.  Of  course  they  must 
be  looked  after  early  in  the  spring,  or  the  buds  will 
sprout  and  rot.  In  sandy  land,  or  earth  that  keeps 
good  hold  of  things,  cuttings  may  be  put  in  at  once. 

Beets  for  Cows. 

Last  year  I  raised  a  lot  of  mangolds  and  carrots. 
The  mangolds  were  gathered  lirst  and  put  in  the 
cellar;  afterwards  the  carrots  were  gathered  and 
corded  up  on  top  of  Ibem,  so  that  when  I  began  to 
feed  them  to  ray  co^vs,  the  carrots  came  first.  The 
cow  gave  about  her  usual  quantity  of  milk,  except- 
ing the  usual  shrinkage  of  the  occasion  of  cold 
weather  and  being  put  upon  dry  fodder.  Fearing 
that  the  beets  would  not  keep  as  well  as  tlie  carrots, 
and  also  thinking  that  they  possessed  better  milk 
producing  qualities,  I  was  anxious  to  get  at  them. 
Accordingly,  I  removed  part  of  the  carrots  and  com- 
menced feeding  beets,  when,  to  my  surprise,  n\y  cow 
began  to  fail  of  her  milk  until  the  deficiency  reached 
about  one-third.  Wishing  to  test  the  matter  still 
further,  I  changed  back  again  to  carrots,  when  her 
milk  increased  to  about  the  usual  standard.  The 
quantity  fed  was  about  the  same  in  either  case — 
about  a  half  bushel  basket  three-quarters  full.  If 
there  was  any  dill'erenccs,  it  was  in  favor  of  the 
beets. —  Cor.  liural  Xcw  Yorker, 


Cr.^wfohd  county,  Pennsylvania,  has  in  opera- 
ration  fifty-eight  factories,  producing  (;,.'510,000 
pounds  of  cheese  ;  Erie  county,  twenty-two  factories, 
producing  2,(510, 000  pounds  of  cheese  ;  Mercer  and 
Yeuango  counties, eleven  factories,  producing(i47,700 
])Ounds  of  cheese.  The  aggregate  in  the  four  north- 
western counties  of  Pennsylvania  is  101  factories, 
producing  9, .5.57, 700  pounds  of  cheese. 


LITERARY  RECORD. 

"TnouGHTS  Heatenwahd,"  a  royal  12  mo. 
pamphlet  of  .5(1  pages,  by  J.  K.  Holier,  editor  of  the 
Mount  Joy  Jlcrald;  printed  at  the  Herald  office,  Mt. 
Joy,  187H.  Price  2.5  cents.  This  little  work  is  sub- 
stantially a  portion  of  a  series  of  papers  contributed 
to  the  Herald  by  Mr.  II.,  on  moral  and  religious  sub- 
jects, which  had  their  beginning  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  180S,  under  the  title  of  "Our  Diauv,"  and 
which  are  still  continued.  In  the  advancement  of  our 
temporal  interests,  it  is  a  matter  of  momentous  im- 
portance, that  we  check  our  heedless  career,  and  also 
devote  our  "  mind  and  soul "  to  the  contemplation  of 
our  spiritual  aims  and  ends,  and  we  know  of  no  sim- 
ilar work,  of  equal  accessibility,  that  woidd  be  so 
effectively  a  great  spiritual  and  moral  help,  as  these 
daily  productions  of  Mr.  Hoffer,  now  first  brought  to- 
gether In  pamphlet  form. 


lEai*'*4  kr'vr^iDt  to  A't  •/& 


IBTO.  bjUvMMIvul  AnC^.  <«tb>  OOlosfil.*  l.it 


"God's  Promise/' 

The  rinost  WORK  OF  ART  ever  issued  in  this  Country, 

GIVEN  AWAY 

To  every  Subscriber  to  this  Paper. 


Re|.ro.lucca  In  17  Clip 


work  of  nri,  llirouKli  I 

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.  .il.-r  <  oU.r  I'tiioiuallo  I'kliitUiK  wvr  [iroOucc.l  lu  Aiiiorl'-a.  Tliii  uiiFurimi^cJ 
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Cx-rand  Prexniuxn  Gift, 


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uf  tbh  iifti>T.     Ii  cun-^l-il-i  of 


Four  Complete  Chromatic  Paintings, 

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Embod^itig  ihi^>  full 

time  and  harx-fif,  titit 

oa's  moHt  favnro'l  luii 

Land)(Ctii>e  und  FIrui 

light  llil*  npltMidlil  nn 

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one  of  llie  nioitl  pronilnrnl  newspajicrii  in  thv  country. 

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out  at  once  and  si'uding  it  In  for  redemption.  Addreaa  all  Ccrtiflcatea  to  Hie  National  Art  Co.,  7.'i0  Walnut 
Street,  CinciuTuiti,  Oliio,  and  you  will  receivu  by  return  mall  the  laigeal  and  handsomest  Premium  Paioiiug 
you  ever  saw. 


AWARDED  THE  HIGHEST  MEDAL  AT  VIENNA. 


591   BROAUWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

(Opposite  Metropolitau  Hotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHRCMOS  m  FRAMES, 

STEREOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS,  GRAPHOSCOPES  AND  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  MATERIALS. 

We  are  Headquarters  for  everything  iu  Ihc  way  of 

StgfSQptlcQils  &  M^gic  Lanterns, 

Being  Manufacturers  of  the 

iVicro-Scloiitilio  Ijaiiierii, 
Stereo- Panopticon, 

University  Slrreoptlcon, 

AUverlisern*  Stereoptieon, 
Artoptioon. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People*s  Lantern. 

Each  Btyle  beiug  the  best  of  its  class  in  the  market. 


Catalogues  of  Lantpms  and  Slides,   with  directious  for 

using,  sent  on  applicution. 

Any  enterprisiuK  man  can  make  money  with  a   Magic 
Lantern.  B^S^Oiit  out  this  advertisement  for  reference. 

8-6-6 


WANTED     IMMEDIATELY 

Y  Y    77    Young   Meu   and  Women    to   learn   TIXE-    X 
ORAI'IIY.  Situations  guaranteed.   Salary  while 
practicing.    Address,  with  stamp.  Sherman 
Tcle|:rapli  Co.,  Oberlin.  Ohio.  8  9-6t 


APPLE  TREES, 


FRUIT    TREES, 

^■*'       And  a  General  Line  of  Nursery  Stock, 
FOR.  SA.I-E. 

AtldreBB  GEO.  ACHELIS,  Nurseryman, 

S-9--2t  WT.sT  OHl'STr.H.     I'A 


SUBSCRIlii;  K)R  THl; 

LANCASTER  FARMER, 

T/te  Besf.  Agricultural  Paper  in 
the  Country. 

To  siihcriljers  in  the  county  $1,00  per  year, 
To  subscribers  out  of  the  county,  $1,25  per  year. 


K^ 


^tttSHMAN*^ 


>'SP, 


DYERTISING  AGENTS, 


Cl  N  e  IN  NAT!  O,^ 


—  ESTIMATES  — 

FURNISHED  FREE. 


T5 

SEND  FOR  OUR 
MANUAL.- 


Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  8TS., 

PHILADELPHIA.  PA. 


Convenient  to  all  places  of  amusement  and  car  lines  in 
Iho  city.    No  changes  to  and  from  the  Centennial  grouuds. 

Col.  Watson,  proprietor  of  the  Henry  House,  Cincinnati. 
for  thei)a8t  twenty  yearH.  and  present  proprietor,  has  leased 
the  honae  for  a  terra  of  years,  and  has  newly  furnished  and 
fitted  it  throuphout.  He 'will  keep  a  strictly  firat-class  bouse, 
and  has  accommodation  for  300  guests.  Terms,  only  $S 
per  day. 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  in  the  Hbhbt  Housk,  nor  wlU 
any  be  kept  at  the  Pkabody.  8-6-5 


IV. 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  November,  1876. 


The  L.arse'it  ami  most  i'oniplete  Stoelt  of 
Fruit  aiKl  Oriiaiiioiital  Tree**  in  the  V,  S. 
Priced  t'atalo^ueHsentaai  lollows:  No.  1.  Fruits, 

■with  colored   jilute,   1.5  cts.  ;  plain.   lO  cts.     No.  2.   Orna- 
mental Trres,  etc.,  with  jjlate.  25  cts.    No.  3.  Greenhouse; 
Ko.  4,  Wholesale ;  and  No.  5,  List  of  New  Roses,  Free. 
Address 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY,    Rochester,  N,  Y. 


>EXNSYI.VAMA   RA 

TraiuB  leave  the  Depot 


WE   TWARD. 

Pacific  Express"* 

Way  Passeugert   

Limited  Mail* 

Hanover  Accommodation. 

Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

Ko.  2  via  Columbia 

Sunday  Mail 

Fast  Line 

Frederick  Accommodation. 

Harriflburg  Aceom 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 

Lancaster  Express 

Harrisburg  Express 

Pittsburg  Express 

Cincinnati  Express* 


EASTWARD. 

Atlantic  Express* 

Philadelphia  Expreist 

Harrisburg  Express 

Lancaster  Express 

Columbia  Accommodation. 

Pacific  Express* , 

Johnstown  Express 

Harrisburg  Accom 


II.B£4ftAI> 

in  this  city. 

Leave 
Lancaster. 

2:40  a.  m. 

4:50a.  m, 

9:25  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m. 
11:20  a.  m, 
11:20  a.  m. 
11:29  a.m. 

3:25p.  m. 

3:35  p.  m. 

6:10  p.  m. 

7:32  p.  m. 

7:40  p.  m. 

7:4^  p.  ra. 

9:10  p.  m. 
11:30  p.  m. 

I^ancaster. 
12:40  a.  m. 

4:10  a.  m. 

7:25  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

9.28  a.  m. 

1:10  p.  m, 

3:0S  p.m. 

5:60  p.  m. 


as  follows : 

Arrive 

Harrisburg. 

4:05  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m. 

10:30  a.m. 

Col.  10:00  a.  m. 

1:00  p.  m. 

1:20  p.  m. 

1:20  p.  m. 

4:50  p.  m. 

Col.  4:15  p.  m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

8:10  p.  m. 

6:10  p.  m. 

9:05  p.  m. 

10:35  p.  m. 

12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 

3:10  a.  m. 

7:00  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m. 
10:30  p.m. 
12:30  p.  m. 

3:30  p.  m. 

6:00  p.  m. 

9:00  p.  m. 


The  Hanover  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  Hanover  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancas- 
ter with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:25  p.  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
with  Pacific  Express  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  5 
a.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Joy,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  9:05, 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  lea\ang  York  at  6:92  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harrisburg  Express 
■  at  7:25  a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6:05  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  Accommodation,  aud  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harrisburg  Express  at  7:25  a.  m. 

On  Sunday  there  will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
east,  the  second  seel  iou  starting  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m.,  making  all  the  stops  between  Columbia  and  Lancaster, 
and  the  Jr)hustown  Express'  stops  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  firwt  Bection  of  Pacific  Express,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  stops  at  Middletown,  Elizabethtown,  Mt.  Joy, 
and  Landisville. 

*The  only  trains  which  run  daily. 

tRuus  daily,  except  Monday. 

OCn  +rt  ^nn  a  Week  to  Agfnts.     Samples  FREE. 
U)UW  LU  y)  1  /  P.  O,  VICKERY,  Augusta,  Maine, 

8-S-ly 


NONPAREIL  FARM  MILLS 


For  grinding  CORN  and  COB  CORN-MEAL,.  OAT3, 
Ornnv  kind  of  Orain.  foarMtOTfin*;  10  SIZES,  for  HAND 
or  POWER.     /  'i.tfalfd  Pamph-rt  Ft". 

li,  J.  MILLER.  181  £.  Front  St.  Cincinsati,  O. 


POTATO  Buas 

AND    OTHER 

LEAF-EATING  INSECTS  AND  VERMIN 


THOROtJGHLT   AND   RAPIDLY 


The  most  complete  apparatus  for  deodorizing  and  disin- 
fecting Hospitals,  Ships,  Stables,  etc. 

Send  for  circular  describing  the  improved  machine,  and 
its  use,  and  giving  the  results  of  farmers'  experiences  with  it. 

West  Grove  ^laniiPg:  Co.,  West  Grove,  Pa. 
8-5 ^  '^^ 

a  day   at  Home.      Agents    wanted.      Outfit    and 
terms  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.    [S-3-ly 


$12 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

ROOFIJSra   SLA.TE. 

omcE : 
No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12m  LANCASTER,   PA. 


tf*C    fn   <^0n  P«r  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free. 
wO    lU   ^m\J      STINSON  b  CO.,  Porthind,  Maine. 


HEW  CATALOGtJE !      TWEKT?  CUTS ! 

XEW  CATALOGUE  !  TWEI^TY  CUTS  ! 

NEW  CATALOGUE  !  TWENTY  CUTS  ! 

NEW  CATALOGUE  !  TWENTY  OUTS  ! 

NEW  CATALOGUE!  TWENTY  CUTS! 


OUR  elegant  new  ilhistrated  descriptive  catalogue  and  breeders'  manual,  JUST  OUT,  is  furnished  at  cost  price  of 
publication.  Our  Catalogue  contains  full  and  concise  descriptions  of  the  leading  breeds  of  Cattle,  Hogs,  Sheep, 
Laud  and  Water  Fowls,  Fancy  Pigeons,  Dogs,  Ferret*  and  Rabbits,  together  with  prints  for  judging  and  general 
hints  on  breeding,  etc.  It  is  beautifully  gotten  up,  printed  on  tinted  paper.  The  whole  is  splendidly  illustrated 
with  numerous  engravings.  Prominent  among  the  illustrations,  printed  on  separate  leaves  of  toned  paper,  are  cuts  from 
life  of  our  First  Prize  Ayrshire  Bull  Casper,  our  Imported  Prize  Cotswold  Ram  "  Swanwick's  Prize  Royal,"  (weight, 
382  pounds),  our  Imported  Southdown  Ram  "  Lord  Walsingham,"  Imported  Berkshire  Boar  "  The  Collier  " — one  of  five 
Imported  Berkehires  now  in  our  herd,  bred  by  B.  St.  John  Ackers,  Esq.,  of  Prinknast  Park,  England,  and  winner  of  six 
high  honors  and  first  prizes;  Yorkshires,  "Duke"  and  "Queen;"  CHESTER  WHITE  BOAR,  "  Farl  of  Springton 
Manor,"  Imported  Black  Hamburgs,  etc.,  etc. 

No  farmer  or  breeder  should  be  without  it.  Send  for  it  immediately.  Hundreds  of  Choice  Pigs,  Sheep,  Fowls,  etc., 
now  for  sale. 

BEisrsoisr  &  burpee, 

(  SUCCESSORS  TO   W.    ATLEE   BURPEE.  ) 

Seed  Warehouse,  No.  223  Churcli  St., 

PHILADELPHIA,  PENN'A. 

N.  B.— Our  Grand  Imported  Berkshire  Boar  THE  COIiLIER,  (valued  in  England  at  260  guineas)  will  be  alloweA 
to  serve  a  few  select  sows.  Also  sows  in  pig  to  him  for  sale.  Also  of  magnificent  Imported  Bams,  ",8wauwick'8  Prize 
Royal  "  aud  *'  Lord  Walsingham."    They  wUl  serve  a  few  ewes.    Ewes  in  lamb  to  these  rams  for  sale. — B.  &  B. 


Fifty  pages — 30U  Illustrations,  with  Descriptions  of  thou- 
sands of  the  best  Flowers  and  Vegetables  in  the  world,  and 
the  ivay  to  grow  tke7ii—a.\l  for  a  Two-Cent  postage  stamp. 
Printed  in  German  and  English. 

Vice's  Floral  Gmdo.  Quarterly.  25  cents  a  year. 

Vick's  Flower  ani  Vegetable  Garden,  50  cents,  in  paper  ;  in  ele- 
gant cloth  covers.  $1.00. 

Address,  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N,  Y. 


The  Only   Illustrated  Dlagrazine  Devoted   to 
Domestic  Animals. 


The  recognized  AUTHORITY  on  the  HORSE  and  the  Organ 
of  American  Breeders. 


JJn com pr Ornish} ff  Hostility  to  Gambliuf/ 
and  FraiKl  of  Ev('ry  Description* 


Thorough  in  the  investigation  and  exposure  of  fraudulent 
pedigrees  and  all  shams. 


Able  and  fearless  in  discussion,  and  the  contributions  of 
the  best  writers  in  the  laud  are  to  be  found  in  its  columns. 

Not  a  "Sporting  Paper,"  but  Complete  in  its  reports  and 
indexes  of  all  jterformances. 

Every  Fanner  loho  loves  a  good  horse  ayid  fair  dealing 
should  have  it. 

THE  CHEAPEST  OF  ITS  CLASS  IN  THE  WORLD, 

Tbree  Dollars  a  Year,  in  Advance. 

\A^ALLACE'S   MONTHLY, 
ns-3t  170  FULTON  ST.,  NEW  YORK  CITY, 


J.  STAUFFER, 

mnm  it  mm 

LANCASTER,  fENN'A. 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,    TRADE  MARKS,   and   COPYRIGHTS, 

promptly  attended  to.  His  experience,  success  a- d  faithful 
atention  to  the  interests  of  those  who  engage  his  serviceB 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinatione  made  for  him  by  a  reliable  Ae 
sistant  at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
ur  description.  [7-^tf 


1876. 


CENTENNIAL 


1876. 


Bathvon  &  Piiep, 

PRACTICAL 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 

{iwii  li  liiitii 

Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 


G 


OOD  SEEI>S,  GROWN  VMTH    CAKE,   FROM  SE- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  miue.  Catalogue  free. 
.J.  R.  V.  H.WVKINS,  GOBhen,  N.  Y. 


WIMBLEDON 

Lomj  Bo.nije  Breech  Loadbig 

Practice  Pistol  &  Targets.  %^^  i 

Carries  a  '.i  inch  ball  with  aeon-  ^^^^^  ^ 
racy  fifty  leet,  without  powder  or  ^^^^^  CO 
percussion.  Brass  barrel,  hair  trigger.  For  sale 
by  dealers.  By  mail,  free  for  75  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammuni  tion  for  target  practice  indoors, 
»nd  for  sporting  out  of  doors. 

AGENTS  WANTflD. 

A.  A.  GRAHAM,  67  Liberty  Street,  New  Yort 
8-3-6m 

ROOT'S 

Qarden  IVfanual. 

la  filled  vrith  topics  of  iuterest  to  every  owner  of  a  garden — 
is  POINTED,  PRACTICAL  and  THOROUGH,  and  contains 
one-half  as  much  as  $1.50  books  ou  the  subject.  GARDEN- 
EKS  throughout  the  country  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  methods  as  invaluable  to  them. 

fSs^Sent  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  first 
order  for  seeds.      Address, 

ROOT,  Seed  Grower, 

EOCKFORD,  ILLINOH. 


J.  B. 


SBND  25c.  to  G.  P.  ROWELL  k  CO.,  New  York,  for  P«m- 
phlet  of  100  pages,  contsiuing  lists  of  3,000  newspapsn, 
and  estimates  showing  cost  of  advertising. 


$1  a  Year  { 


To  BUbscrlberfl  Id 
the  couuty. 


SZ2T6LE  OOFZES  10  CE2TTS. 


To  rabBorlbers  out 
the  county. 


"'}  $1.28. 


Prof.  S,  S.  EATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  DECEMBER  15,  1876. 


JOHN  A.  HIESTAND,  Publisher. 


THE  FARMERS  HOME  ORGAN. 


A  MONTHLY  NEWSPAPER, 

DEVOTED  TO  AGRICULTURE,  HORTI- 
CULTURE, DOMESTIC   ECONOMY 
AND  MISCELLANY. 


PRACTICAL  ENTOMOLOGY 

Hade  a  promim-ut  feature,  with  special  reference  to  the 
wants  of  the  Fanner,  the  Giirdener  and  Fruit-Grower. 


Founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancaster  County 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society. 

Edited  ty  Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON. 


The  Lancaster  TARMeR  has  now  completed  Us  seventh 
year — the  lust  having  been  under  the  hiispices  of  ttie  under- 
signed as  imblishers.  When  we  aseuraed  the  reapousibUify 
of  the  publication  one  year  ago,  it  waa  with  a  determination 
to  make  such  impruvenientp  during  the  year  as  would  phice 
the  Farmers' Organ  of  this  great  agricultural  county  in  the 
very  front  rank  of  iiublications  of  its  class.  That  we  have 
done  HO,  our  readers  will  bear  cheerful  testimony.  But  our 
work  of  improvement  is  only  fiurly  begun.  We  propose  to 
Muke  the  volume  for  the  Centennial  year  still  more  interesting 
and  valuable  than  its  predecessor  for  1S75,  In  this,  how- 
ever, we  need  the  co-oi'eration  of  every  friend  of  the  enter- 
prise. To  miike  it  a  succesB,  every  one  who  now  reads  The 
Farmer  should  at  once  send  us  at  least  one  new  subscriber. 

The  ooatributiouH  of  our  able  editor,  Prof.  Rathvon,  on 
subjecSfl  connected  with  the  science  of  fanninff,  and  partic- 
ularly tnat  specialty  of  which  he  is  so  thoroughly  a  raaater— 
entomological  science— some  knowledge  of  which  has  become 
a  necessity  to  the  successful  farmer,  are  alone  worth  much 
more  than  the  price  of  this  publication. 

The  Farmer  will  be  published  on  the  15th  of  every 
month,  printed  on  good  paper  with  clear  type,  in  con- 
.  venient  form  for  reading  and  binding,  and  mailed  to  aub- 
Bcribers  on  the  following 

TERMS: 

To  subscribers  residing  within  the  county- 
One  Copy,  one  year,  ------         $i.oo 

Six  Copies,  one  year,      -  -  -  ,  _  .        5.00 

Ten  Copies,  one  year.    -------        y.^o 

To  subscribers  outside  of  Lancaster  oounty,  including 
postage  pre-paid  by  the  publishers: 

One  Copy,  one  year,     -  -         -  -  .  .  $1.25 

Five  Copies,  one  year,       ...  .  .        .         5.00 

AH  subscriptions  will  commence  with  the  Januaiy  num- 
ber unless  otherwise  ordered. 

All  communications  intended  for  publication  should  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  and,  to  secure  insertion,  should  be 
In  his  hands  by  the  lirst  of  the  month  of  publication. 

All  business  letters,  containing  subscriptions  and  adver- 
tisements, should  be  addressed  to  the  publishers. 


JOHN  A.  HIESTAND, 

Express  Buildings,  22  South  Queen  Street, 
L.\NCAST£R,  PA. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  NUMBER. 


RATES  OF  ADTERTISINO — T«n    Cenls    n 
line  for  eacb  Inaertion.     Twelve  lines  to  the  inch. 


To  our  Patrons, 

The  Past,  the  Present,  and  the  Future  of  The 

Lancastek  Farmer,    •   -        -        -        - 
The  Gooseberry,  .----. 

Insect  Longevity,     ..-..- 
Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society, 
Cabbage.     J.  Stauffer.        ...        - 
Cheerful  Dottings  from  Leoline,  -        .        . 

Buckwheat  Caies — Another  Formula — Corn  Cakes 
— Substantial — Public  AcknowledRraeut. 

Chester  White  Swine.    Benson  &  Burpee. 
Selection  of  Breed,  .        -        -        .        . 

Plymouth  Kocks,         ...... 

Vegetable  vs.  Animal  Diet,     .        -        -        . 
Fodder — Corn,  and  the  Conclusions  Arrived  at, 
What  Shall  We  Eat  ?    John  B.  Ehb.    - 
Room  for  more  Sheep,         .        -        -        .        . 
Beefsteaks  and  Pies,        ....        - 

Exhibition  Notes,        ...... 

Main  Building  and  Annexes — Machinery  Hall — 

Memorial  Ui^U  and  Annexes — Horticultural  Hall 

—  .^firriculturil  Hull. 
How  to  Cure  and  Pack  Seed  Leaf  Tobacco, 

Taking  the  flanis  Dowu — Stripping — Colors — Size 

of  the  Hank — Placing  the  Hanks  in  the  Banks — 

C  sing— Sizing— Size  of  Cases 
Butter  Culture,    .--...- 
The  Soil  of  Florida, 


177 

177 
178 
179 
179 
180 
180 


181 
181 
181 
182 
183 
183 
183 
184 
184 


185 


18.5 

186 


How  Cider  is  Made, 186 

Home  and  Happiness,      .....  187 

Farmers'  Club  Notes,  .....  187 

Green  Fields  in  the  Moon,        ....  187 

Scientific  Agriculture,  .....  188 

Our  Local  Organizations,        ....  I88 
Proceedings  of  the  Lancaster  County  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Socii'fy. 

Tobacco  Growers' Association,    -        .        .        .  189 


Dried  Eggs, 189 

DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 

Household  Recipes, 189 

Pumpkin  Pies, 190 

Starting  a  Fire, IBO 

Eggs, 190 

Useful  Notes, 190 

Oatmeal  in  the  Household,      ....  190 

How  to  Clean  Marble-Top  Furniture,         -       .  190 

LIVE  STOCK. 

Crossing  for  Improvement  of  Common  Sheep,   - 
Sheep  as  Fertilizers,         ..... 
To  Learn  a  Horse's  Age,     ..... 

The  Hog  Bouncer,  

A  Collection  of  Beautiful  Pigeons,     ... 
Arab  Horse  Maxims,        ..... 

Best  Food  for  Swine, 

Lice  on  Colts,  ...... 

Saddle  Galls, 

Sparrows,  .-.-... 

Jonathan  Dorwart's  Fancy  Poultry,  ... 

Light  in  Stables, 

How  to  Utilize  a  Dead  Horse,     .... 

AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE. 

Scotch  Farmers  Kuined  by  Mice,        ... 
Horticultural  Notes,        ..... 

The  Wheat  Supply  in  England,  ... 

Waste  on  the  Farm,         ..... 

Impaired  Grasses,        ...... 

Repelling  the  Grain  Weevil,     .... 

Watering  Winter  Plants,     ..... 

Small  Farms, -        . 

Corn  Cobs,  ....... 

Literary  Notices,      ...... 

Fence  Corners,     ....... 


190 
191 
191 
191 
191 
191 
191 
191 
191 
192 
193 
193 
193 


192 

192 

193 

192 

lii 

iii 

lii 

iii 

iil 

Ul 

U 


|llg  I'lmgr^  ^nollog  |{iice. 


TOE  LAXC.\STER  EXAMINER  &  EXPRESS, 


(D AIIjT  and  "WEEKLT,) 

T)}e  Uadiijg  Local  Family  and  Business  Newspaper,  and  (ha 
orjly  IndependeijlRepublicai}  Journal  ii}  ihe  County. 


Thu  Weekly  Examineb  and  Express  has  been  before 
the  cilizentj  ot  Lancaster  couuty  for  a  period  of  ihlrty-tl^ree 
years,  and  '^he  Daily  Kfamiseb  and  Expkers  for  over 
twenty  years.  During  thia  long  i-eriod,  and  without 
change  of  management,  The  £xaui>eu  and  EXi^REsg  has 
fairly  earned  a  large  share  of  patronage,  and  firmly  ea- 
tabbslied  itself  in  ihe  public  cotifideuce,  as  an  upright 
journal,  never  hesitating  to  defend  tne  right  and  denouuoo 
the  wrong,  no  matter  wuere  tuuud  to  exiet.  It  has  Hlways 
been  k  jjurnal  of  progress,  and  the  outspoken  friond  of 
education,  temperance,  suund  morals  and  religiou.  As  in 
the  past,  80  it  will  continue  in  the  future. 

TERMS  OF  THE  EXAMINER  &  EXPRESS. 


The  Weekly,  one  year. 
The  Daily,  one  year. 


$3x0 
5.00 


REAL  ESTATE  ADVERTISING. 


The  extended  circulation  of  The  Examinkb  aj»d  Ex- 
press makes  it  the  beat  medium  for  advertising  Beal  Es- 
tate and  Personal  Property  in  the  couuty,  a  fact  which  can 
be  attested  by  the  many  farmeis  and  others  who  have 
availed  themeelvea  of  the  use  of  its  columns,  aud  to  which 
we  invite  the  attention  of  all  having  property  to  dispose  of. 

PRINTING  SALE  BILLS. 

The  Examimeb  and  Expbess  printing  ofQco  la  ona  of  the 
best  furnished  establiahmeiits  for  tuinmg  out  all  kinds  of 
prmtijig  to  be  found  in  the  interior  ol  the  State.  Wa 
are  prepared  to  print  any  job  from  the  sm;iU  visiting  card 
to  the  largest  sale  or  horse  bill,  poster,  or  broadside,  plain 
or  in  colors,  as  quickly  as  it  can  be  done  at  any  other  es- 
tablishment, and  on  as  reasonable  terms.  We  make  the 
printing  of  Sale-bills  /or  FarrMrit&  specialty,  and  guarantee 
satisfaction  to  our  cufitomers, 

OUR  STEAM  POWER  PRESSES 

Include  the  various  patterns  adapted  to  printing  books, 
pamphlets,  posters,  sale-bills,  hand-bills,  millers'  receipta, 
catalogues  of  live  stock,  and  any  kind  of  work  done  in  a 
flrst-claes  printing  office;  in  short  anj-thing  that  may  be 
called  for  by  the  farmer,  merchant,  banker,  mechanic,  or 
businens  man,  aud  we  guarantee  to  do  the  work  as  aatlsfao 
lory  as  it  can  be  done  in  Pbiladeli-hia  or  elsewhere. 

With  one  of  the  most  complete  Job  Offices  in  the  State, 
and  unsurpassed  conveniences  for  exiieditiously  turning  out 
work  by  the  best  workmen.  All  jeisons  in  need  of  Printing 
will  find  it  to  their  interest  to  give  us  a  trial. 


JOHN  A.  HIESTAND, 

BOOK.   NEWSPAPER  AND  JOB  PRINTER, 

Express  Buildings,  22,  South  Queen-st, 
Z.AITCASTT:ii,  FA. 


11. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


"THE  FARMER'S  FRIEND." 

The  grtzt  Orange  paper. 

Tae  farraers'  own  jonrual. 

600  farmers'  write  for  it. 

60  FarmerB'  wives  write  for  it. 

Circulatee  in  36  States. 

Circulates  in  6  Territories. 

Circulates  in  Canada. 

84  columns  every  week. 

16  pages  of  reading. 

Kept  on  file  in  1,200  Granges. 

Read  weekly  by  over  100,000  people. 

Only  oflBcial  organ  of  five  State  Granges. 

Market  reports  from  the  great  cities. 

Practical  experience  by  practical  farmers. 

Crop  reports  printed  weekly. 

Ko  middlemen  agents. 

$1.50  ft  year ;  or  1.25  in  clubs  of  8  or  over. 

Postage  always  prepaid  by  publishers. 

12}4  cents  a  month  to  the  close  of  any  year. 

In  clubs  of  8  or  over,  10)4  cents  a  month. 

Neatly  printed  ;  "big  type  ;"  good  paper. 

Katioaal  Grange  officers  write  for  it. 

Orange  news  from  every  State, 

Farmers  are  delighted  with  it,  snd  say, 

"  Just  what  we  have  wanted," 

Sample  copy  three  cents,   sent  directly  from  the  Orange 

Steam  Printing  House  of  five  S'ates. 

Addresa,  THOMAS  A  DEMMINO, 

7-12-8  MKOHAwrcsBiTBa,  Pa. 

PATENTS 

OBIAKEDBESTAHDCHEiPESTBT 

LOUIS  BAGGER  &  CO., 

SOLICITORS  OF  PATENTS, 

T77ashington,  D.  C. 


'Addresa  tU  lettera  to  P.  O.  Box  444. 


T-S12m 


FERTILIZERS! 


hoimee: 

CHEAPEST 


iiiia.de: 

AND  BEST! 


'tlTBITE  for  Circular  and  Recipes,  which  are  furnished 
W  without  charge,  containing  complete  instructions  for 
making,  at  home,  first-claes  chemical  manures,  suited  to 
the  growth  of  special  crops.  Our  formulse  have  provet,  in 
actual  use,  to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  who  have  used 
them. 

We  offer  Fertilizing  Chemicals  of  our  own  manufacture, 
ftt  lowest  prices,  with  a  guaranty  as  to  strength  and  pu- 
rity.   Ask  prices  for 

Oil  Vitriol,  Nitrate  Soda, 

Ground  Bones,  Sulphate  Ammonia, 

Land  Plaster,  Muriate  Potash, 

Sulphate  Potash,  Sulphate  Soda  and  Salt. 


Address 


HARRISON  BROS.  &  CO., 

FSILADELPSIA. 


Kstablished  as  Manufacturers  of  Fertilizing 
Chomicala  in  1793. 


[8-2- 


PUBLIC  SAI.I:   BILLS 
FOR  KKAL  ESTATE  OR  PERSONAL  PRORERTY, 
Printed  expeditiously  and  cheap  at  the  office  of 

THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


PATENT  HEN-PERSUADER. 

In  a  tiny  country  villa  lived  our  Blobbs.  but  all  alone ; 
Never  wife  or    chubby  children    thle  aLaid  b;icbelor  had 

known. 
Yet — for    hearts    must  cling   to  eomething — he  had  made 

himfielf  a  pet 
Of  a  little  Buow-white  pullet,   with  her  wings  just  tipped 

with  jet. 
Daily  feeding  and  caresHiug,   these  had  won  the  pullet's 

heart ; 
Following  close  her  master's  footsteys,   seldom  they  were 

far  apart ; 
And  his  love  grew  deeper,  stronger,  with  the  passing  of  each 

dsy  — 
''Wiser  far  than  any  woman,"  wicked  Blobbs  was  wont  to 

say. 
Near  by  rose  a  wondrous  structure — architects  their  brains 

hud  racked — 
Cross    between  a  Chinese  temple  and  a  cruet-stand,   in 

fact. 
This  the  pretty  pullet's  dwelling ;  here  she  hastened  every 

night  ; 
Perched  on  high,  became  a  rooster  till  the  dawning  of  tile 

light. 
One  sad  day  a  Yankee  peddler,  glib,  persuading,  passing 

by, 
Gazed  at  Blobbs  and  that  poor  pullet  with  a  calculating 

eye. 
From    his  wagon's    deep     recess,     drew     out,     smiling 

wickedly, 
"Johnson's    Patent    Hen-Persuader :"    then    to     guileless 

Blobbs  said  he : 
"Here's  a  marvelous  i«ventiou  !    In  this  box  you  see  a 

nest ; 
Hens  at  once  will  lay  an  egg  here,  lured  to  do  their  very 

best. 
Then  behold  !  this  sliding  bottom  lets  the  egg  drop  out  of 

view, 
And  the  hen,  somewhat  bewildered,  lays  at  once  egg  num- 
ber two  !" 
'Twould   be  useless  to  repeat  all  that  this  wJly  peddler 

said ; 
This    sufflous.    Blebbs,    unwary,   by  his  specious  tongue 

misled. 
Bought  the  "Patent  Hen-Persuader,"  set    hie  snow-white 

pullet  on. 
Locked  them  both  within  the  hen-house  ere  he  went  to  town 

that  morn. 
Business  then  engrossed  hira  fully,  till,  with  num'rous  cares 

beset, 
Who  Clin  wonder  that   the  r^^'et  and  her  nest  he  should 

forget? 
Nothing    all  day    to    remind  him:   but   returuing  late  at 

night. 
Flashed  a   sudden  recollection,   and  his  cheek  grew  pale 

with  fright. 
Rushing  madly  from  the  station,  staight  besought  the  hen- 
house door. 
Called  his  pet  in  tones  entreating— Ah  !  she'll  never  answer 

more  ! 
Full  of    gloomiest  forebodings,  in  he  danhes  ;    finds  the 

noBt 
Overflowing  with  its  treasures — yes,   she'd  done  her  level 

best . 
Forty-seven  eggs  !  and  near  them  head  and  tail  and  wings 

still  lay, 
For    tho    poor    arubiiious    pnllet   thus    had    laid   hersolf 

away  ! 

Harper's  Magazine, 


"Going  to  War.** 

The  man  who  wants  to  go  to  8t.  Petersburg  and 
enlist  In  the  Russian  army  to  flfi:ht  the  Turks  was  at 
the  Central  depot  yesterday  to  see  about  his  railroad 
ticket.  With  his  hat  on  his  left' ear,  pants  in  hoot- 
tope,  overcoat  belted  tightly  around,  and  a  fierce 
twist  to  his  moustache,  he  walked  up  to  the  ticket 
window  and  asked  : 

'*What  time  does  the  train  leave  for  Russia?" 

"Five  o'clock,''  answered  the  agent,  never  smiling 
in  the  least. 

"Good  !    What's  the  fare  to  St.  Petersburg  ?" 

**Five  hundred  dollars." 

"Too  much.     I'll  give  you  ^iOO. 

"We  have  but  one  rate,"  said  tbeageat, 

"And  you  won't  let  me  go  for  5i00. 

"Couldn't  doit." 

"Then  1  won't  go.  I'm  a  patriot  from  head  to 
foot,  hut  I  can't  let  no  railroad  swindle  me.  I'm 
the  bloodiest  kind  of  a  border  wild  cat  and  Russia 
wants  me  bad,  but  that  hundred  dollars  opens  a 
great  gulf  between  us. 


A  COUNTRY  youth,  who  desired  to  know  how  to 
become  rich,  sent  a  quarter  in  answer  to  an  adver- 
tisement, and  received  the  following  valuable  recipe  : 
"Increase  your  receipts  and  decrease  your  expen- 
ditures. Work  eighteen  hours  a  day,  and  live  on 
hash  and  oatmeal  gruel." 

A  CONTEMPORARY  asks  :  "  What  are  the  street 
lamps  for?"  The  man  who  doesn't  know  what  a 
street  lamp  is  for  is  hardly  fit  to  sit  in  an  editorial 
chair  and  mould  public  opinion.  Street  lamps  are  for 
weary  young  men. to  recline  against  at  midnight, 
when  they  forget  their  way  home. 

An  Irishman  with  a  heavy  bundle  on  his  shoulder, 
riding  on  the  front  of  a  horse-car,  was  asked  why  he 
did  not  set  his  bundle  on  the  platform.  He  replied  : 
"  Be  jabbers,  the  horses  have  enough  to  drag  me. 
ril  carry  the  bundle." 


Tie  I.arpre***  ami  nio«4t  rompletc  Stock  of 
Frill t  an<l  OriinniPiital  TreeN  in  the  IT.  S. 
Priced  i'nta1og:ne<tMenta!«  followN:  No.  1.  Fruits, 
with  colored  pLite,  l,'^  ctH.  ;  i^lain,  10  cts.  No.  2.  Orna- 
mout;;l  Tn  es,  etc.,  with  plate.  25  cts.  No.  3.  Greeohouse; 
No.  4,  Wholesale  ;  and  No.  5,  List  of  New  Roses,  Free. 
Address 


ELIWANGER  &  BARRY,    Rochester, 


N.Y. 


■automatic 
Knitter 


3 

■8 

»  3 

f  2 


I  » 

2,  "8 


B     1 


A  Family  Knitting  Machine. 

Now  nttracting  uulTersal  attention  by  its  astoristaing  per- 
formanoes  and  its  great  practical  value  for  every-day  family 
use.  It  knitb  every  possible  variety  of  plain  or  fancy  work 

WITH  ALMOST  MAGICAL  SPEED, 

and  gives  perfect  shape  and  finish  to  all  garmeuts.     H  will 

knil  a  pair  of  socks  in  firteen  minuletl      Every  muctiiue 

\*'All«lA5iTlil»  ifiteci.ayulttjdojuatwhaturrpresenUd. 

A  complete  instruction  book  accompanies  eacii  machine. 

No   1  Family  Machine,  1  cylinder,  72  needles,  $30. 

No.  3       "  -'2        "     VI  &  100     "         40. 

A  sample  machins  will  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  United 

Statt-s  or  Canada,  (where  we  have  no  agent)  fxprtsa  chargM 

prepaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Agents  wanted  iu  every  State,  County,  City  and  Town, 
to  whun\  very  liberal  discounts  will  be  made.    Address, 
BICKFOBD  KNITTING  MACHINE  MFG.  CO., 
7-n-tf]  Sole  Manufaotureis,  Bi'altleboro,  Vt. 


THOS.  M.  HARVEY, 

WEST  GROVE,  CHESTER  CO.,  PA,, 

Breeder  and  Shipper  of 

GUERSSlYlSaBOTTER  STOCK 

Yorkshire  and  Berkshire  Pigs. 

Dark  Brahma  Chickens  from  the  best  imported 
blood.     Also  Bronze  Turkeys. 


WiMBLEOON 

Jov/i  Tianije  Breech  Lixulina 

Practice  Pirtol  ^  Targets. 

Carries  a  ' ;  inch  boll  with  aci-u-  Bj^^^  '*' 
racv  Ultv  Jeet.  without  pow.lr-r  or  «*^^  (0 
par'nission.  Br.iss  barrel,  hair  trinKcr.  For  salo 
by  dealers.  Ev  mail,  iree  for  It,  cents,  with  per- 
manent ammuul  tion  for  target  practice  indoora", 
and  for  sportin;;  ontofdoors. 


AGENTS  WANT'r. 

A.  A.  GIt-VHAM,  07  Liberty  Street,  No 


'  Yorl' 


8.3-6m 


DEALERS  IN  ALL  KINDS  OP 
FAMI1.T  and   I,IME-BrK5fING  COAL! 

Orders  received  at 

Office.  No.  15  East  Kin?  street,  f  ud  at  th* 
8-l-12m:    Yard,  No.  618  NORTH  PEINCK  STKEBT. 


The  Lancaster  Farmer. 


Prof.  S.  S.  RATHVON,  Editor. 


LANCASTER,  PA.,  DECEMBER,  i876. 


Vol.  VIII.  No.  12. 


TO  OUR   HATRONS. 

This  nuuibfi-  ends  the  ci<;htli  volume  of  the 
Farmer,  and  it  linds  our  institutions,  our 
country,  and  our  .Journal,  in  a  very  peculiar 
situation,  coniniercially,  financially,  jioliti- 
cally  and  morally.  Wliatever  else  may  be 
wrong,  ice,  during  the  year  of  our  Centennial 
advent,  have  labored  ;is  faithfully  as  we  knew 
how,  to  enlighten,  to  benefit,  and  to  instruct 
our  patrons  and  readers,  and  if  we  have  failed 
to  do  this,  it  must  be  attributed  to  the  head 
rather  than  to  the  heart— to  a  want  of  ability, 
ratlier  than  to  a  want  of  jcill.  We  have  re- 
ceived many  kind  and  encouraging  words, 
both  fri)m  home  and  abroad  ;  but  it  may  be 
that  there  were  many  more  good  wishes  and 
good  wills  towards  us,  that  were  never  mani- 
fested in  a  material  or  practical  form;  and 
lackiu"  these,  our  usefulness  has  been  circum- 
Bcribecl,  our  strength  enervated,  our  labors 
unrewarded,  and  our  very  existence  rendered 
precarious.  But,  we  make  no  complaint,  and 
under  all  these  adverse  circumstances,  we  have 

k  endeavored  to  "  possess  our  soul  in  patience." 
From  a  combination  of  adverse  causes,  we 
are  not  enabled  to  record  either  an  entirely 
fruitful,  nor  yet  a  pecuniarily  profitable  year, 
(187(3)  to  the  agriculturists  of  our  county,  or 
the  country  at  large  ;  and  yet,  we  think  there 
is  abundant  reason  to  be  thankful  that  things 
liave  been  no  worse.  Wiien  we  look  abroad 
and  see  the  suflering,  the  devastation,  and  the 
death-demon  in  war,  in  pestilence,  in  famine, 
and  in  the  furious  cyclones,  which  have  visited 
other  lands,  we  discover  that  our  special  gra- 
titude is  due  to  Him,  who  has  so  signally  pre- 
served us  (luring  the  past  year — a  year  ever  to 
be  remembered  as  the  centennial  of  our 
national  being,  our  jubilee,  the  ultimation  of 
the  grandest  international  exposition  ever 
witnessed  by  the  world. 

For  the  encouragements,  the  favors,  the 
contributions  and  condescensions  vouchsafed 
to  us  by  our  patrons,  we  desire  to  express  our 
unfeigned  thankfulness,  and  we  assure  them 
that  there  are  many  passages  and  incidents  iu 
our  intercourse  with  them,  that  will  be  long 
and  fondly  remembered. 

If  we  have  ever  said,  done,  or  written  any- 
thing tliat  seemed  to  them  amiss,  we  interpose 
the  plea  of  inadvertence— so)is  sinister  intent 
— and  the  general  imperfections  incidental  to 
unregouerate  humanity. 

Although  busine.ss  depression  and  financial 
disaster  have  continued  throughout  our  be- 
loved comitry  during  the  year  how  coming  to 
a  close,  we  still  hope  our  patrons  may  have 
liad  occasion  to  join  in  the  national  thanks- 
giving recommended  by  the  President  of  the 
nation  and  the  Governor  of  our  good  old  com- 
monwealth; for,  in  the  main,  we  perhaps 
have  been  blessed  beyond  what  we  deserved  ; 
and,  as  the  Saviour's  natal  day  is  fast  ap- 
proaching, and  will  soon  be  upon  ns,  there 
will  be  additional  cause  for  a  season  of  ador- 
ation and  thanks— thanks  for  those  "glad 
tidings  of  great  joy  "  which  were  proclaimed 
"to  all  the  people,"  nearly  nineteen  centuries 
ago.  If  the  blessings  of  that  great  occasion 
do  not  reach  us  as  individuals,  the  fault  will 
be  with  us,  and  not  with  Ilim  who  came  "  to 
seek  and  save."  And  finally,  as  we  will  not 
have  another  opportunity  to  address  you 
within  the  present  year,  we  embrace  this  occa- 
sion to  wish  you  "  A  Merry  Christmas  and  a 
Happy  N(.w  I'enr." 

THE  PAST,  THE  PRESENT,  AND  THE 
FUTURE   OF   THE   LANCASTER 

FARMER. 
As  this,  so  far  as  we  know  at  this  writing, 
is  probably  the  last  number  of  this  joiirnal 
that  will  appear,  under  its  present  auspices, 
we  deem  it  our  duty  to  say  .something  about 
its  origin,  its  progress,  and  its    final   destiny. 


In  the  spring  of  1808,  some  of  the;  members  of 
the  Lancaster  Ccnmty  Agricultural  and  Horti- 
cultural ISocieli/  conceived  the  idea  of  publish- 
ing a  Yeau-IJook,  to  contain  the  es.says  read 
before  said  society,  as  well  as  the  important 
reports  on  grain  and  fruit  culture,  and  the 
standing  resolutions  that  relate  to  the  perma- 
nent interests  of  the  same ;  and  made  sug- 
gestions to  that  effect  at  the  April  meeting  of 
that  year;  when  a  committee  of  five  was  ap- 
pointed to  take  the  matter  into  consideration, 
and  to  report  thereon  at  the  next  stated  meet- 
in^;- the  writer  of  this  being  the  chairman  of 
said  committee.  When  the  committee  came 
together  to  consider  the  subject,  it  was  con- 
cluded that  if  the  contents  of  the  work  were 
of  any  importance  to  the  farmers,  it  would  be 
too  long  to  wait  a  whole  year  before  they 
could  have  an  opportunity  to  consult  the  pro- 
posed l)Ook,  and  therefore  a  member  sug- 
gested that  it  ought  to  be  published  quarterly 
and  the  committee  reported  so  to  the  society. 

When  the  committee  made  its  report  at  the 
following  May  meeting,  a  member  of  the  so- 
ciety suggested  that  it  would  be  better  still  if 
the  work  could  be  published  monthly,  and  the 
subject  was  recommitted  for  report  at  a  future 
meeting  ;  and  the  society,  as  a  committee  of 
the  whole,  was  authori7,ed  to  canvass  for  sub- 
scriptions. The  subject  was  continued 
through  the  summer  of  18G8  and  progress  was 
from  time  to  time  reported.  At  the  October 
meeting  the  committee  reported  that  a  sufli- 
cient  number  of  subscribers  had  been  received 
to  justify  a  beginning  of  the  publication,  at 
least ;  but  the  society  did  not  feel  sutficiently 
compact  in  its  organization  to  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  publication,  and  the  matter 
was  deferred  to  the  November  meeting.  The 
late  Stuart  A.  Wylie,  who,  in  the'  mean- 
time had  been  consulted  upon  the  subject — as 
well  as  other  printers— attended  that  meeting, 
and  when  the  matter  was  brought  up,  and  he 
saw  the  difficulty  iu  the  way,  he  proposed  to 
print  the  journal  on  the  responsibility  of  his 
firm  (Wylie  &  Griest)  if  the  society  would  en- 
dorse the  publication  and  appoint  an  editing 
and  a  publishing  committee,  thus  relieving 
the  society  from  any  expense — he  to  realize 
his  compensation  out  of  the  subscriptions 
and  the  advertising  patronage. 

At  the  December  meeting  of  the  society 
(7th)  it  took  definite  steps  with  reference  to 
the  publication  of  the  Lancaster  Farmer 
— the  name  previously  adopted— accepted  Mr. 
Wylie's  proposition,  and  named  Jacob  B. 
Garber,  H.  M.  Engle,  Levi  S.  Reist,  Dr.  W. 
S.  Diffenderfter,  Dr.  J.  H.  Musser  and  S.  8. 
Rathvon,  as  editorial  committee;  and  Dr.  P. 
W.  Hiestand,  H.  K.  Stoner,  Jacob  M.  Frantz, 
Casper  Hiller,  Levi  W.  Groff  and  Alexander 
Harris,  as  publishing  committee;  and  early  in 
.January,  1869,  the  first  number  of  the  journal 
.appeared,  "under  the  auspices  of  the  Lancas- 
ter County  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Society,"  obligating  itself  to  publish  monthly 
the  essays  read  before  the  society,  and  a 
synopsis  of  its  proceedings.  With  the  under- 
standing "that  the  entire  membership  of  the 
society,  to  whose  patronage  the  paper  was  in- 
debted for  its  existence,  would  constitute 
itself  a  comniitlee  of  the  lohole,  to  collect  ma- 
terial for  its  subsistance,"  the  journal  went 
into  oi)eration,  and  was  issued  in  royal  octavo 
form,  with  as  fair  a  prospect  of  success  before 
it  as  usually  inures  to  enterprises  of  the 
kind,  and  during  that  year  everything  seemed 
to  indicate  that  it  had  a  prosperous  career 
before  it — a  contingency  never  fully  realized. 
As  "too  many  cooks  spoil  the  broth,"  or, 
"  what  is  et'e?\i/body's  business  is  jiobody's 
business  ;"  therefore,  at  the  completion  of  the 
first  volume,  the  editorial  and  publishing 
committees  were  dispensed  with,  and  S.  .S. 
Rathvon    and    Alexander  Harris    were    ap- 


pointed editors  by  the  society,  and  they  also, 
in  connection  with  Mr.  Wylie,  became  the 
publishers.  As  many  of  the  sulwcribers  on 
the  original  list  had  only  volunteered  their 
names  for  one  year—"  merely  to  encourage  it 
in  starting  "—the  Farmer  had  greatcu-  dilH- 
culties  to  contend  with  in  its  second,  than  it 
had  in  its  first  year. 

This  was  almost  equivalent  to  no  encour- 
agement at  all,  for  who  ever  dreamed  oibeyin- 
i(i«y  such  a  publication  without  a  thought  of 
continuing  it  V  Such  an  eiihemeral  enterprise 
had  belter  never  been  entered  into.  But  by 
extra  efforts  this  contingency  was  partially 
overcome,  and  the  publication  was  continued, 
but  hot  without  a  struggle  and  some  sacrifices, 
both  on  the  part  of  editors  and  publishers. 

At  the  completion  of  the  second  volume,  S. 
S.  Rathvon  discontinued  his  relation  as  one 
of  the  publishers  of  the  journal,  but  continued 
as  senior  editor  ;  and  his  place  in  the  publish- 
ing firm  was  supplied  by  John  B.  Develin. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Wylie  also  withdrew  as  a 
liublisher,  and  during  a  few  months  the  work 
was  temporarily  conducted  by  Develin  and 
Harris— Mr.  Harris  also  continuing  as  junior 
editor. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  fourth  volume, 
Messrs.  Harris  and  Develin  entered  into  a 
definite  partnership,  in  which  only  Mr.  Deve- 
lin's  name  appeared  in  the  journal  as  pub- 
lisher, and  Rathvon  and  Harris  as  editors ; 
and  this  relation  continued  until  January, 
1873,  at  the  commencement  of  the  fifth  vol- 
ume, when  Mr.  Develin  became  the  sole  pub- 
lisher and  S.  S.  Rathvon  the  sole  editor,  and 
Mr.  Harris  retired.  During  the  publication 
of  the  sixth  volume,  Mr.  Develin  acted  as  as- 
sociate editor,  in  addition  to  his  other  function, 
and,  on  the  completionofthat  volume,  he  trans- 
ferred all  his  "right,  title  and  interest"  in  the 
journal  to  the  firm  of  Pearsol  &  Geist,  edi- 
tors and  publishers  of  the  Daily  and  Weekly 
Express,  by  whom  it  was  continued  until  the 
end  of  the  eighth  volume,  (December,  1876) 
having  been  changed  from  an  octavo  to  a 
quarto  form,  with  variousother  improvements, 
apparent  to  its  patrons  on  a  very  casual  ob- 
servation. 

From  the  last  two  numbers  of  the  Farmer 
our  readers  and  patrons  will  perceive  that  the 
Express  Printing  and  Publishing  Establish- 
ment has  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  new 
proprietor  ;  and  in  those  very  peculiar  and  un- 
certain financial  and  commercial  times,  pru- 
dence will  dictate  retrenchment  in  business 
affairs.  Therefore,  for  reasons  which  will  be 
made  manifest  in  the  following,  our  journal 
will  be  very  probably  discontinued  ;  all'will 
depend  upon  whether  or  not  a  satisfactory  ar- 
rangement can  be  made.  Therefore,  if  no 
nuriiber  for  .January,  1877,  appears  within  that 
month,  the  journal  may  be  considered  dead. 

Our  connection  with" the  I^ancaster  Far- 
mer as  its  editor  was  rather  inadvertent, and  our 
long  continuance  as  such  altogether  unexpect- 
ed. Not  that  we  had  no  love  or  no  will  for  the 
occupation  ;  for,  under  certain  circumstances, 
and  with  no  other  conflicting  duties  to  inter- 
pose, we  would  rather  have  liked  it,  and 
probably  could  have  been  more  eflicient  in  it. 
It  is  said  that  "some  men  are  born  great, 
.some  achieve  greatness,  and  others  have  great- 
ness thrust  upon  them."  We  may  say  that  the 
editorial  mantle  was  thrust  ui)on  us.  Not 
violently,  however  ;  but  through  the  earnest 
wishes  of  our  friends  in  the  Society  we  permit- 
ted it  to  be  thrown  upon  us.  At  the  time, 
however,  we  verdantly  supposed  that  ourfunc- 
tion  would  be  only  a  temporary  one,  and  that 
time  would  develop  an  abler  and  more  worthy 
incumbent.  J5ut  tliat  time  never  came — not  be- 
cause a  competent  siicce.s.sor  could  not  have 
been  found,  perhaps,  but  Ix'cause  no  one  cared 
much  to  enjoy  the  responsibilities  and  emoju- 


i78 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  December, 


ments  of  such  a  reversed  sinecMre.  Hpnce  we 
labored  on  as  best  we  could  under  tbe  circum- 
stances, and  if  we  indulged  in  any  future  hope, 
it  was  rather  a  hope  to  be  relieved  from  our 
burden  of  responsibility  than  any  settled  hope 
of  compensation. 

AVe  are  far  from  say  in?  that  no  other  man 
in  Lancaster  county  could  have  labored  as  we 
did  to  sustain  the  Farmer,  but  it  is  exceed- 
ingly questionable  with  us  whether,  in  these 
grasping  and  avaricious  times,  any  other  man 
would  have  done  so.  As  it  is,  we  have  "  burned 
the  midnight  oil  "  for  eight  of  our  declining 
years  without  the  les.st pecuniary  compensation ; 
and  on  the  whole,  we  do  not  think  the  pub- 
lishers realized  much  more,  if  even  so  mach.  At 
the  lowest  rate  of  editorial  compensation,  our 
services  were  worth  three  hundred  dollars  a 
year — indeed,  we  know  many  who  do  not  per- 
form half  the  labor  we  did,  who  receive  five 
times  that  amount.  Therefore  somebodies  in 
this  county,  this  State,  this  country,  or  this 
world,  owe  us  just  twenty-four  hundred  dollars, 
which  we  leave  on  interest  at  six  per  cent. 
But  we  were  not  without  some  compensation. 
We  labored  for  the  moral,  social,  intellectual, 
domestic  and  physical  development  of  a  class 
of  men  in  our  country  who  have  been  deserv- 
edly pronounced  "  the  founders  of  our  civiliza- 
tion,"and  the  higher  the  mental  plane  they 
occupy,  the  higher  the  civilization  resulting 
from  their  example.  If  our  services  have  not 
been  recognized  or  rewarded,  it  may  have 
been  because  they  were  not  apprehended  ; 
therefore,  "  nobody's  to  blame. "  But  we  had 
also  other  compensations.  We  are  rather  a 
defective  talker,  and  for  thirty-five  years  have 
been  afflicted  with  an  infirmity  which  lia?  in 
a  great  measure  disqualified  us  for  that  free 
and  affable  social  intercourse,  which  is  so  es- 
sential an  element  in  the  intercommunions  of 
our  fellow  beings;  and,  through  the  columns 
of  our  journal  and  the  newspaper,  we  have  en- 
joyed the  luxury  of  talking  to  and  for  our 
friends,  our  patrons,  and  the  people,  which 
we  could  not  have  otherwise  enjoyed.  But 
that  is  not  all,  we  have  had  the  commenda- 
tions of  the  press,  and  the  approbation  of  men 
of  intelligence  and  culture  both  far  and  near; 
and  why  it  was  that  a  journal  such  as  the 
Farmer  for  the  past  two  years  has  been,  could 
not  be  sustained  here  in  Lancaster  county,  is 
an  enigma  which  we  shall  not  attempt  to  un- 
ravel. We  apprehend  it  will  be  many»a  long 
day  before  a  similar  enterprise  is  undertaken. 
The  typographical  execution,  the  general 
matter,  and  the  mechanical  "  make-up  "  was 
far  above  the  average  agricultural  journals  of 
the  country.  The  enterprising  publishers  for 
the  past  two  years  did  their  duty  nobly,  but 
they  could  not  carry  such  an  unprofitable  enter- 
prise through  the  financial  waves  that  over- 
whelmed them. 

And  now  we  take  a  final  leave  of  our  friends, 
our  patrons,  our  contributors,  and  our  asso- 
ciates—so far  as  our  intercourse  was  effected 
through  the  columns  of  the  Fan7tei--with  many 
pleasant  recollections  of  the  past,  but  not 
without  some  regrets;  and  in  conclusion  we 
would  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  if  a  com- 
munity desires  to  prosper,  lessen  its  taxes, 
diminish  its  number  of  paupers  and  criminals, 
let  it  pay  more  regard  to  home  enterprises  of 
the  various  kinds  which  are  originated  by  its 
people ;  otherwise,  it  must  be  constantly 
drained  and  impoverished.  Suppose  every 
consumer  in  Lancaster  county  were  suddenly 
to  become  independent  of  the  farmer  popu- 
lation and  were  to  purchase  all  their  produce 
in  New  York  or  Philadelphia.  It  would  ener- 
vate farm  enterprise,  destroy  the  home 
market,  and  bring  a  return  of  tliose  days  when 
there  was  no  inducement  to  produce  because 
there  was  no  one  to  consume.  True,  large 
and  staple  crops  could  be  transported  to  other 
markets,  but  this  would  not  compensate  for 
the  loss  of  that  local  traffic  so  essential  in  the 
supply  of  their  daily  wants,  and  the  con- 
sumption of  their  daily  surplus  produce.  The 
rule  that  covers  our  local  economies  in  trade, 
also  covers  the  prosperity  or  decay  of  our  local 
journals.  If  ye  Ajiioio  these  things,  happy  are 
ye  if  ye  do  them.— Editor, 


THE   GOOSEBERRY.* 
{liibes  fjroHsulni-ia,) 

England  feems  peculiarly  adapted,  by  the 
coolness  and  moisture  of  its  elimate,  to  the 
successful  culture  of  this  fine  fruit.  In  Lan- 
cashire and  the  adjoining  counties,  there  are 
annual  meetings  of  the  gooseberry  growers, 
at  which  prizes,  ranging  in  value  from  ten 
shillings  to  as  many  pounds  sterling,  are 
awarded  among  the  exhibitors.  It  is  true, 
that  the  size  and  weight  of  the  berry  are,  as 
a  general  thing,  considered  of  greater  import- 
ance by  the  judges,  than  its  e.xcellence  for  culi- 
nary purposes.  An  account  of  each  meeting, 
giving  full  descriptions  of  the  prize  sorts,  is 
afterward  published  in  a  small  volume  called 
"The  Manchester  Gooseberry  Book."  In  its 
wild  state,  as  found  in  the  "northern  part  of 
Europe,  the  berry  is  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  weighs  only  one  quarter  of  an  ounce;  but 
under  the  infiuence  of  high  culture,  it  has  in 
some  cases  attained  a  diameter  of  two  inches, 
with  a  weight  of  one  ounce  and  a  half.  Such 
is  the  effect  of  horticultural  exhibitions. 

Although  thus  successful  in  Great  Britain, the 
foreign  gooseberry,  owing  to  the  difference  in 
climate,  cannot  be  naturalized  in  the  southern 
part  of  Europe,  or  of  the  United  States.  In- 
deed the  crop  often  fails  in  what  are  called 
the  northern  States.  We  have  several  native 
varieties,  which  undoubtedly  mii;ht  be  made 
worthy  of  attention,  as  being  better  suited  to 
our  long,  oppressively  hot  summers,  than  any 
which  could  be  imported  from  England.  A 
result  so  desirable  should  lead  to  the  thorough 
investigation  of  the  subject  by  our  inlelligent 
gardeners.  We  believe'that  nothing  but  skill 
and  perseverance  is  required  to  accomplish  as 
much  in  this  country  as  has  been  already  ac- 
complished by  the  humble  cottagers  of  Lan- 
cashire. 

The  number  of  varieties  which  have  been 
produced  in  England,  is  really  surprising  ;  of 
the  thousands  raised  from  seed,  the  catalogue 
of  the  London  Horticultural  Society  enume- 
rates one-hundred  and  forty-nine  that  are 
worthy  of  notice;  while  Lindley  gives  a  list  of 
over  seven  hundred  which  have  been  distin- 
guished at  various  times  by  prizes.  The  fol- 
lowing sorts  are  certainly  among  the  very  best: 
of  the  reds,  the  Crown  Bob,lhe  Bed  Warring- 
ton., Houghton^s  Seed'ing,  and  the  Champagne; 
of  the  yellows,  the  Yelhio  Champagne, 
the  Early  Suljjhur,  Gorion^s  Viper,  and  the 
Golden  Fleece;  of  the  greens,  Purkin- 
.son's  Laurel,  the  Green  Wahiut,  the  Jolly 
Tar,  and  the  Jolly  Angler;  and  finally 
of  the  whites,  the  White  Smith,  Well- 
ingt'iv's  Glory,  the  Bright  Venus,  and  Crnmp- 
t'm's  Queen  iif  Sheba.  The  difficulty  of  making 
any  selections  like  the  above,  will  be  readilv 
api)reciated  by  the  reader. 

Culture. — New  varieties  are  raised  from 
seed,  but  the  old  established  sorts  are  propa- 


*"0n  this  subject,  a  writer  in  the  Novembernumber 
nt  Science.  Goasip  has  this  to  say  :  "The  name  {Ribes 
,7ras.<i«?«)-ia  is  evidently  connected  with  the  French 
rjroxnlle.  The  name  ribes,  says  Dr.  Hooker,  is  an 
Arabic  word  wronely  applied  to  this  jjenus.  The 
common  name,  sroosobcrry,  is  probably  a  con-uption 
of  crossberry,  irrossberry,  or  irorseberry,  from  rjorse, 
furze.  If  tills  be  the  true  derivation,  it  must  be  so 
named  from  the  prickly  nature  of  the  shrub,  or  from 
the  hairs  on  the  fruit.  Another  explanation  of  the 
term  croasberry  is,  that  it  refers  to  the  triple  spine, 
which  often  presents  the  shape  of  a  cross." 

The  specific  name  groxx^ilnria  gives  rise  to  the 
term  Guossui,ariace.5;  an  order  which  includes  the 
currant  family,  among-  which  are  enumerated  the 
S:ooseberry,wild  (gooseberry,  smooth  wild  pooseberry, 
swamp  E^ooseberry,  fetid  currant,  wild  black  cur- 
rant, red  currant,  buffalo  currant,  white  currant,  and 
other  species  and  varieties.  Gros.'iuliiriu.'!,  and. 
Grosunlarian,  arc  from  the  Latin  Orossubi.s,  a  small 
unripe  fig-.  Pei-laininir  to  or  resembling  a  gooseberry; 
a  translucent  garnet  of  a  pale  green  color.  Although 
this  may  all  be  interesting  enough  to  the  theorist,  or 
the  analytic  reader,  it  may  be  of  very  little  impor- 
tance to  the  practical  culturist.  It  may  be  sufiicient 
to  him  to  know  the  best  varieties,  their  modejof  cul- 
ture, and  how  to  keep  them  from  mildew  and  des- 
tructive insects.  There  is  not  as  much  importance 
attached  to  the  gooseberry  as  a  "small  fruit  crop," 
in  this  country,  as  there  is  in  England — not  as  much 
perhaps  as  there  will  be  long  before  the  advent  of 
our  second  nenUnnial. — Ed. 


gated  by  cuttings,  in  much  the  same  way  as 
the  currant.  These  cuttings  are  taken  in  au- 
tumn, just  before  the  leaves  fall,  or  as  soon 
as  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground  in  spring, 
from  the  strongest  and  straightest  shoots  of 
the  last  season's  growth.  They  sliould  be  of 
healthy  appearance  and  about  twelve  inches 
long.  If  you  propose  training  them  as  stand- 
ards, you  must  cut  out  with  a  sharp  knife,  all 
the  buds,  except  three  or  four  at  the  upper 
end,  in  order  to  prevent  the  appearance  of 
troublesome  suckers  around  the  main  stem. 
Experience  has  shown,  liowever,  that  the 
bushes  will  be  longer  lived,  and  much  more 
productive,  when  permitted  to  sucker  mode- 
rately, than  if  the  whole  support  of  the  top  be 
drawn  through  a  single  cliannel.  By  a  judi- 
cious system  of  pruning,  the  bearing  wood 
will  be  frequently  renewed,  and  the  sap  will 
not  be  wasted  upon  tliat  which  has  become 
old  and  barren.  The  cuttings  should  be  in- 
.serted  about  half  their  length,  in  a  bed  of 
rich,  moist  soil,  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
a  fence,  or  in  some  shaded  spot.  The  dirt  is 
to  be  firmly  pressed  around  them,  and  again 
the  following  spring,  if  they  appear  to  have 
been  at  all  lifted  by  the  frost. 

In  the  second  year  after,  they  will  probably 
have  become  so  well  rooted  that  they  may  then 
be  removed  to  their  final  location.  Being  ex- 
ceedingly sensitive  to  heat  and  drought,  they 
require  a  soil  which  is  at  once  deep  and  moist. 
It  ought  to  be  subsoiled  or  trenched,  before 
they  are  taken  from  the  nursery  bed.  Rich- 
ness is  also  an  essential  requisite,  and,  in  ad- 
dition to  a  liberal  application  of  dung  at  the 
outset,  a  generous  top  dressing  should  Ije  dug 
in  around  the  roots  in  every  succeeding  au- 
tumn. The  situation  must  be  open,  and  away 
from  the  injurious  influences  of  trees.  It  has 
been  said  on  good  authority,  that  when  tbe 
bushes  are  planted  near  a  whitewashed  fence, 
they  are  not  so  liable  to  suffer  from  mildew, 
as  they  would  be  in  an  open  compartment. 
Transplant  during  any  mild,  pleasant  weather 
in  autumn  or  spring.  To  prevent  their  shade 
affecting  vegetables  growing  in  their  neigh- 
borhood, it  is  a  good  plan  to  put  them  on  the 
sides  of  the  principal  paths,  or  in  a  border 
that  is  not  wanted  tor  other  purposes.  Let 
them  stand  in  rows,  between  three  and 
four  feet  apart.  The  ground  should  always 
be  kept  in  good  tilth,  light  afid  porous,  as 
well  as  free  from  weeds  and  grass. 

Thorough  pruning  is  considered  very  essen- 
tial to  the  successful  growth  of  the  gooseberry. 
It  is  best  performed  in  autumn,  when  the 
leaves  have  fallen,  and  the  position  of  the 
branches  is  thereby  better  exposed,  or  at  any 
time  during  the  winter  and  spring,  before  the 
buds  get  to  be  much  swollen.  The  rules  to  be 
followed  in  pruning  are  learned  only  from 
personal  observation  or  experience ;  and  we 
can  but  suggest  a  few  leading  hints,  the  ap- 
plication of  which  mtist,  in  every  case,  be 
governed  by  sound  judgment  and  discretion, 
bid  and  unproductive  wood  should  fiift  be 
removed,  as  that  absorbs  sap  without  render- 
ing any  equivalent ;  while  the  young  shoots 
are  to  be  shortened  and  reduced  in  number,  so 
as  to  admit  the  light  and  air  freely  to  every 
leaf,  without  which  the  perfection  of  the  fruit 
cannot  be  expected.  With  a  little  practice  in 
the  use  of  the  knife,  this  winter  pruning  can 
be  so  performed  as  to  give  the  bushes  a  very 
neat  api)earance,  and  to  .secure  an  abundant 
crop  in  the  coming  season.  At  the  same  time, 
the  ground  ought  to  receive  a  generous  appli- 
cation of  mauure,  to  ensure  its  fertility,  and 
add  to  the  security  of  the  plants  against  dis- 
ease. 

The  "mildew,"  as  it  is  termed,  proves  the 
most  serious  obstacle  to  be  encountered  by  the 
American  gardener.  It  does  not  exist  in  the 
cool  climate  of  England,  and  is  only  occasion- 
ally known  in  the  extreme  nortiiern  parts  of 
our  own  country.'  But,  in  the  middle  States, 
as  we  go  towards  the  south,  we  find  the  crop 
very  uncertain.  When  partly  grown,  it  sud- 
denly becomes  coated  with  a  grey  mildew  or 
scurf,  which  in  a  short  time  desl;ro"ys  its  value. 
The  berries  should  be  picked  as  soon  as  may 
be  after  the  appearance  Of  the  disease,  and 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


179 


either  used  in  the  cultivator's  own  kitchen  or 
carried  to  market.  How  is  tliis  obstacle  to  be 
overcome  V  Being  local  and  confined  to  par- 
ticular districts,  it  never  can  be  entirely.  All 
remedies  tliat  have  been  proposed,  are  partial 
in  tlieir  effects.  Hii,'h  culture— or,  keepiuR 
the  .soil  ricli  and  in  good  tilth,  accompanied 
by  a  Judicious  system  of  iJruninj;, — i.s  most 
important.  Wood  ashes  are  sometimes  sifted 
on  the  leaves,  while  lime  and  suli)hur  are  du^; 
into  the  soil.  Tlie  most  ellicieiit  remedy  is 
covering  the  pronnd  with  a  layer,  ten  or 
twelve  inches  in  thickness,  of  salt-hay  or  sea- 
weed. In  places  wliere  these  cannot  be  pro- 
cured, litter  or  straw  can  be  used  in  their 
stead,  by  being  sprinkled  with  small  quanti- 
ties offine  salt  or  brine.  Spent  tan  around 
the  bushes  is  good  to  prevent  the  attacks  of 
the  destrnctive  caterpillar. 

Use. — The  fruit  is  deservedly  held  in  high 
esteem  for  culinary  purposes.  In  fact,  its 
name  is  derived  from  the  circumstance  of  its 
having  been  in  olden  times  considered  an  in- 
dispensable accompaniment  to  a  green  goose. 

In  its  unripe  state,  early  in  the  season,  it  is 
made  into  sauces,  tarts,  pies,  puddings,  etc  ; 
while,  when  fully  matured,  some  of  the  choice 
varieties  are  very  acceptable  for  des.sert,  and 
make  good  preserves.  In  every  form  it  is 
wholesome,  as  well  as  pleasant  to  the  taste. 
It  makes  a  very  excellent  wine,  which  is  said 
to  be  so  near  equal  to  champagne,  thnt  it  often 
passes  for  that  among  inexperienced  judges. 

To  Preserve  Green  Gooseberries. — Fillabottle 
with  the  green  fruit,  and  let  it  stand  a  few 
minutes  in  a  vessel  of  boiling  water.  Cork 
and  seal  it  immediately  after  being  taken  from 
the  water,  and  keep  it  in  a  cool  cellar,  with 
the  neck  downward. 

Gooseberry  Fie. — Pick  the  heads  and  stems 
from  imripe  gooseberries,  and  rub  them  with 
a  towel  for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  them.  Fill 
a  dish  with  them,  and  add  a  little  water,  to- 
gether with  sufficient  brown  sugar  to  correct 
their  acidity.  Cover  with  puft' paste,  and  bake 
for  upwaids  of  an  hour.  Some  persons  stew 
tlie  fruit  in  sugar  before  putting  it  in  the 
plates ;  so  tliat  it  requires  less  baking. — 
Schenk^s  Gardener^s  Text-Book. 


INSECT  LONGEVITY. 
Just  how  long  the  life  of  an  insect  may  be 
continued,  from  the  many  special  instances 
which  have  come  under  the  observations  of 
amateurs  and  men  of  science,  it  would  be  very 
ditlicult  to  determine.  As  a  general  thing  the 
famous  "striped  apple  tree  borer  ^\Saperdei 
bivittata)  lives  at  least  three  years,  and  these 
years  are  mainly  spent  in  the  lariKi  orgrubstate. 
The  greatest  longevity  among  insects  occurs  in 
the  order  CoLEOi'TEii-E,  (beetles)  and  among 
the  LoNGicouNiA,  (long  horns)  and  Ser- 
KICOKNIA  (saw-horns),  divisions  of  that 
ORDER,  nearly  all  the  subjects  of  which 
are  wood-borei"s  in  the  Ztura  state,  but  just 
how  long  these  larva,  respectively,  live  in  that 
state,  would  be  difficult  to  determine,  except 
perhaps  in  a  few  instances.  Some  we  know 
are  limited  to  one  year,  some  to  two,  three, 
five  and  seven  years,  and  isolated  instances  are 
known  where  their  lives  have  been  prolonged 
far  beyond  those  periods;  but  whether  this  is 
normal  or  abnormal,  we  arc  not  prepared  to 
afDrni.  "Circumstances  alter  cases,"  and 
there  may  be  something  in  surrounding  cir- 
cumstances that  has  a  modifying  influence 
upon  the  general  habit.  Messrs.  Kirby  and 
Spence,  the  distinguished  British  entomolo- 
gists, relate,  in  their  works,  several  cases  of 
extraordinary  longevity  among  wood-boring 
insect  larvte,  one  of  which  was  in  an  old  "deal 
table,"  very  probably  for  twenty  years.  A 
similar  ease  has  been  brought  to  our  notice 
within  the  present  month,  and  although  we 
have  recorded  one  or  two  cases  of  the  kind 
elsewhere,  we  know  of  none  that  exceeds  this 
in  length  of  time.  Mr.  John  Best,  boiler- 
maker  and  machinist,  of  this  city,  purchased 
from  the  late  Wm.  E.  Hcinitsh  a  Grover  & 
Baker  Cabinet  Sewing  Machine  in  1860  or 
1861,  which  has  been  in  use  in  his  family  from 
that  period  down  to  the  present  time.  Of 
late  years  Mrs.  Best  has  heard  a  "ticking" 


or  "clicking"  noise  about  the  machine  when 
it  was  not  in  motion,  which  was  attributed  to 
the  ominous  fi'c/t  of  the  "death-watch,"  wliich 
is  so  frequently  heard  in  old  frame  or  log 
houses  ;  but  she  never  suspected  tliat  this 
noise  proceeded  from  tlie  machine.  The 
cabinet  surrounding  the  sewing  machine  is 
made  of  a  dark,  hard  wood,  liuislied  up  and 
oiled,  such  as  cabinets  usually  are.  The  in- 
side casing,  the  drawers  and  the  bottom,  are 
made  of  pine,  stained  a  dark  color,  and  oiled 
or  varnished.  A  few  days  ago,  on  taking  out 
one  of  the  drawers,  it  was  found  to  coidain  a 
large  (|\iantity  of  white  debris  or  dust,  and 
this  led  to  a  thorough  e.\aminati<)n  of  the 
premises,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  said 
sides  and  bottom  were  perforated,  and,  in 
fact,  pi-rfectly  "  honeycombed,"  by  a  species 
of  wood-boring  ^arrre.  On  applying  the  linger 
to  the  bottom  it  was  found  soft  and  yielding 
almost  as  a  sponge,  the  inside  having  been 
eaten  in  small  longitudinal  galleries,  inter- 
lacing each  other,  leaving  only  the  outside 
upper  and  lower  surfaces  entire,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  holes  in  the  lower  side.  No 
larva?  of  any  kind  were  found,  but  from  one 
of  the  burrows  a  dead  coleopterous  insect  was 
secured,  and  this  was  preserved  and  presented 
to  us  by  Mr.  Best.  Contrary  to  our  expec- 
tations when  our  attention  wiis  first  called  to 
the  subject,  this  insect  did  not  prove  to  be 
what  is  generally  known  among  entomologists 
.as  the  "  death-watch  beetle,"  which  belongs 
to  the  genus  Anobitim  (family  Ptinid^e),  of 
which  there  are  at  least  twelve  species  in  the 
United  States,  the  most  common  of  which, 
perhaps,  are  the  notatiirn  and  carinntum  of 
Say,  and  the  obesmn  and  errans  of  Mulshei- 
mer.  These  insects  are  nearly  all  small  and 
inconspicuous,  and  their*  larvic  are  wood  and 
dried  jilant  borers.  On  the  contrary,  the  in- 
sect which  was  so  damaging  to  the  cabinet  of 
Mr.  B.'s  sewing  machine  belongs  to  the  genus 
Hijlotrupes  (family  Ceramhycidjic),  of  which 
there  are  only  three  or  four  species,  and  the 
most  common  of  which  are  the  baj\d>is  of 
Linne,  and  bidlatus  of  Haldeman.  The  family 
to  which  this  individual  belongs  is  included  in 
the  section  or  division  Loncjicornia,  or  long- 
horned,  and  are  usually  distinguished  by  their 
long  and  slender  untennm,  members  which  are 
supposed  to  i)ossess  a  peculiar  economy  in  in- 
sect life  as  organs  of  feeling,  touch  and  hear- 
ing, and  as  a  means  of  commiuiication  with 
each  other.  When  two  ants  meet,  they  seem 
to  shake  hands  by  touching  each  other's 
finteunrp,.  We  have  not  access  to  the  original 
descriptions  of  these  insects,  but  as  tiiis  indi- 
vidual is  not  a  bnjuhts,  we  infer  that  it  is  a 
bidhitus.  It  is  half  an  inch  in  length,  is  a 
female,  and  has  the  ovipositor  ex^erted  about 
an  eighth  of  an  inch.  The  color  is  a  blackish 
brown,  the  thorax  nearly  black,  with  two  ele- 
vated shiny  tubercles,  and  margined  with 
white,  downy  hairs.  The  larvic  of  all  the 
Loniricornia  are  white,  foootle.ss  grubs,  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  body  much  thicker  than 
the  posterior  portion,  the  head  black  or  brown, 
and  armed  with  a  stout,  short  and  sharp  pair 
of  cutting  teeth,  or  jaws;  and  they  are  all  wood 
or  stalk-borers,  and  some  of  them  very  injuri- 
ous to  fruit  trees ;  the  two  most  com- 
mon instances  in  this  locality  being  the  ai)ple 
and  the  linden  tree  borers.  Species  not  in- 
digenous to  this  locality  are  often  brought  here 
in  pine  and  other  lumber  from  the  interior 
pine  regions  of  the  State. 

Now  comes  the  question  of  the  longevity  of 
this  insect.  From  recorded  data  to  which  I 
have  access,  we  find  that  Mr.  Ileinitsh  was  an 
agent  for  the  sale  of  Grover  &  Baker  sewing 
machi nes  as  early  as  1S61, or  about  sixteen  years 
ago,  at  which  time,  or  prior  to  it.  Mr.  Best 
purchased  this  machine.  It  is  not  known  how 
long  it  was  in  possession  of  the  manufacturer 
before  it  came  into  the  possession  of  his  agent, 
nor  how  long  he  had  the  lumber  before  it  was 
manufactured  into  a  cabinet  for  the  machine, 
nor  yet  how  long  it  may  have  been  in  the 
lumber  yard  before  it  came  into  the  manu- 
facturer's possession.  Nor  is  it  probable,  if 
possible,  tliat  the  eggs  were  deposited  in  the 
box  after  it  was  manufactured ;    therefore, 


oviposition  must  have  taken  place  previously. 
If  we  understood  Mr.  B.  rightly,  the  ticking 
noise  was  heard  aljont  the  machine  within  the 
last  year.  We  must  therefore  conclude  that 
tlie  longevity  of  this  insect — as  hirva,  pupa  and 
inuKjo — was  normally  or  abnormally  prolonged 
to  at  least  sixteen  years,  unless  we  conclude 
that  the  females  deposited  eggs  within  their 
burrows,  and  several  generations  succeeded 
each  other  therein,  a  contingency  of  which  we 
have  no  certain  precedent  among  LonyirMrnia. 
We  might,  perhaps,  have  felt  compelled  to 
adopt  tills  latter  conclusion,  had  we  not  been 
cognizant  of  a  similar  instance  in  this  city,  in 
which  a  single  specimen  of*  Monoliamus 
titillatorhiid  i.ssued  from  the  foot  of  a  sofa  seven 
years  after  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
owner,  and  the  presence  of  the  leirva  of  whicli 
had  been  recognized  for  several  years  by  the 
small  heaps  of  debris  found  near  that  foot 
every  lime  the  furniture  was  removed  in 
house-cleaning.  We  do  not  think  that  we  are 
to  unqualifiedly  infer  from  this  circumstance 
that  tlie  normal  longevity  of  Ilylotrupes  is  six- 
teen years,  for  there  may  have  been  retarding 
conditions  aflectimr  its  development,  situated 
as  it  was,  that  would  not  have  existed  out  in 
the  open  air,  or  under  more  favorable  circum- 
stances. It  exhibits,  however,  a  wonderful 
adaptation  of  means  to  ends  in  the  economy 
of  insect  life  and  jihysical  development ;  and 
is  an  illustration,  in  part,  of  that  functional 
suspension  which  often  occurs  in  the  insect 
world,  when  the  surrounding  circumstances 
are  unfavorable  to  their  progressive  develop- 
ment, and  yet  not  of  suyh  a  nature  as  to  de- 
stroy their  vitality.  lu.stances  of  this  kind 
arc  numerous,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  men- 
tion them  here. 

In  conclusion,  we  may  be  permitted  to  say 
that  no  significance  whatever  is  to  be  attached 
to  the  presence  of  the  trite  "  death-watch" 
beetles  [Annbioe)  other  than  what  may  be  at- 
tached to  any  other  wood-boring  beetle,  except 
that  their  pre.sence  in  great  numbers  is  ex- 
ceedingly hurtful  to  the  timbers  in  which  they 
are  locited.  All  the  ominous  premonitions 
implied  in  their  ticking  noise  is  to  the  effect 
that  your  premises  are  injuriously  infested  by 
their  larvce,  if  not  the  mature  insects,  and  that 
some  measures  should  be  adopted  in  order  to 
efiect  their  extinction.  We  have  a  distinct 
recollection  of  having  frequently  heard  the 
ticking  of  the  death-watch  in  our  boyhood  (we 
wish  we  could  hear  it  now),  and  although  we 
were  admonished  that  it  was  an  "ill  omen," 
and  presaged  a  calamity  of  some  kind — death 
in  the  family  for  instance— yet  we  never  knew 
such  contingency  to  follow,  as  an  effect  of 
which  it  was  a  premonitor.  We  presume  any 
wood-boring  insect  might  produce  a  similar 
noise  ;  at  least,  it  seems  that  the  insect  alluded 
to  in  the  foregoing  sketch  produced  such  a 
demonstration. — R. 


PENNSYLVANIA  FRUIT  GROWERS  SO- 
CIETY. 

This  old  and  first-class  association — which 
by  the  way  was  formed  in  this  city  about 
seventeen  years  ago— will  hold  its  an- 
nual session  in  Lancaster  on  the  third 
Wednesday  (17th)  of  January,  1877,  and 
we  hope  our  people  will  give  it  a  cordial 
welcome.  Whenever  and  wherever  this  so- 
ciety has  met,  it  has  always  elicited  the  in- 
terest and  the  most  profound  respect  of  the 
public.  It  is  composed  of  the  most  solid  and 
eminent  men  in  the  State  among  those  who 
have  devoted  their  energies  and  their  minds 
to  the  subject  of  fruit-growing  ;  an  occupation 
alike  honorable,  useful,  healthful  and  elevat- 
ing. Lancaster  county  has  some  intelligent, 
enterprising  and  energetic  fruit-growers,  but 
it  lacks  that  vigorous  organic  efibrt,  through 
which  alone  she  could  ever  expect  to  occupy 
that  fore-ground  of  which  .she  is  so  clearly 
callable.  She  al.so  lacks  that  unflinching  per- 
severance so  necessary  in  achieving  success  in 
any  calling.  AVe  have  not  yet  seen  a  pro- 
gramme of  their  proceedings  for  the  approach- 
ing meeting,  but  if  it  only  makes  an  ordinary 

'Also  k  Lonn'connia,  belonging  to  the  family  Sap^bdids, 


180 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  December, 


approximation  to  its  former  gatherings,  it  can- 
not fail  to  diffuse  much  useful  knowledge. 
Fruit-growing,  as  the  years  move  on,  is  he- 
coming  a  more  important  branch  of  human 
husbandry  than  it  formerly  was,  and  as  the 
wheel  of  time  presses  forward, her  claims  upon 
our  social  economy  are  becoming  daily  more 
urgent.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  in  our  city, 
there  are  so  few  who  take  a  working  interest 
in  her  local  organization.  We  hope  that  with 
the  beginning  of  our  second  century,  the  sub- 
ject will  become  worthy  of  the  epoch. 


For  The  Lancabtee  Farmeb. 
CABBAGE. 

What  use  to  waste  space  to  print,  or  time 
to  read,  anything  about  cabbage  ?  Stop  a 
bit;  in  this  Centennial  year  we  want  to  know 
about  ye  olden  limes.  I  came  across  a  pre- 
mium receipt  for  making  sour  crout  several 
hundred  years  ago,  and  I  think  it  is  worth  re- 
publishing for  the  benefit  of  our  readers. 
Remember,  cabbages  were  a  favorite  esculent 
vegetable  with  the  Romans  and  our  Saxon 
ancestors.  I  learn  from  ffn  ancient  record,  that 
"an  agreeable  pickle  was  made,  by  cutting 
them  (the  head,  I  suppose,)  into  six  or  eight 
pieces,  according  to  their  size,  putting  them 
for  a  few  moments  into  boiling  water,  and 
then  plunging  them  in  vinegar,  which,  espe- 
cially at  first,  should  be  occasionally  changed, 
throwing  in  a  little  salt  each  time.  In°this 
form  they  are  an  excellent  antiscorbutic,  and 
are  found  a  valuable  sea-store. 

I  will  now  copy  verbatim  the  old  mode  of 
making   "  sour-crout,"  which  seems  worthy 
of  all  imitation  save  the  "boots;"  in  that  case, 
I  would  recommend  the  wooden  stamper.  The 
record    says  :     "The    Germans    and    other 
northern  nations  have  a  still  more  salutary 
and  pleasant  preparation,   which    they    call 
sour-crout.     With  an  instrument  made    for 
the  purpose,"  (a  cabbage  cutter,)  "they  cut 
the  head  of  a  large  variety  {hransica  capitati 
maxima)    into    small  shreds,   and  then    lay 
them  on  a  cloth  to  dry  in  the  shade.     They 
afterwards  put  these  shreds  into  a  common 
cask,  open  at  one  end,  and  if  it  has  contained 
wine  or  vinegar,  it  will  be  more  favorable  to 
the  necessary    fermentation;  otherwise    the 
inside  should  be  rubbed  with  a  little  leaven  of 
old  sour-crout.     The  cover  of  the  open  end 
should  be  strong,  that  it  may  sustain  a  large 
weight,  and  should  have  a  handle  fixed  in  the 
middle  that  it   may  be  readily  put  on  and 
taken  off.     A  quantity  of  very  fine  sea  salt 
should  be  procured,  in  the  proportion  of  two 
pounds  to  twenty  cabbages.     A  layer  of  this 
salt  is  first  evenly  spread  at  the  bottom  of 
the  cask;  on  this   is  placed  a  layer  of   the 
shreds  six  inches  thick.     A  man  in  strong 
boots,  well  washed  and  very  clean,  then  goes 
into  the  cask  and  treads  down  the  mass  till  it 
is  reduced  to  the  thickness  of  three  inches. 
Similar  layers  of  salt  and  shreds  of  cabbage 
are  put  in  and  trodden  down  in  their  turn, 
till  the  cask  is  nearly  full,  but  the  last  layer 
must  be  of  salt.     Some  large  fresh  cabbage 
leaves  are  then  laid  on,  and  covered  with  a 
wet  cloth  ;  and  on  the  cloth  is  put  the  cover 
of  the  cask,  pressed  down  by  heavy  weights 
to  prevent  the  "crout"  from  swelling  and 
rising  during  the  time  of  its  fermentation.  A 
sea.soning,  either  of  juniper  berries,  or  which 
is  much  better,  of  caraway  seeds,  is  mingled 
with  the  cabbage,  but  not  with  the  salt,  and 
an  empty  space  of  about  two  inches  is  left  at 
the  top.  The  shreds  are  soon  deprived  of  a  part 
of  their  vegetable  juice  by  the  pressure.     This 
fluid,   which  naturally  rises  to    the    top,  is 
green,  turbid  and  feticl,  and  is  drawn  off  by 
means  of  a  cock  placed  two  or  three  inches 
below  it.     A  new  brine  is  then  added,  which 
also  soon  becomes  foul,  and  is  drawn  off  in 
the  same  manner.     After    these    operations 
have  been  continued  twelve  or  fifteen  days, 
more  or  less,  according  to  the  temperature  of 
the  place,   the  liquor  will  remain  clear  and 
sweet ;  but  care  must  be  taken  that  there  be 
always  about  an  inch  of  brine  at  the  top, 
and  that  no  space  be  left  between  the  cover 
of  the   cask  and  the  cabbage,    which  will 


otherwise  acquire  a  putrid,  offensive  smell. 
Sour-crout  well  made,  and  well  kept,  has  a 
very  pleasant  acid  taste,  especially  if  it  be 
washed  after  it  is  taken  from  the  cask,  and 
mixed,  before  it  is  served  up,  with  a  little 
vinegar.  In  has  been  found  highly  serviceable 
in  long  voyages,  as  a  preventive  from  the  sea- 
scurvy." 

Many  of  our  farmers  understand  the  art  of 
making  sour-crout,  but  I  question  if  any  fol- 
low up  the  rules  laid  down  thoroughly  in  all 
its  details— if  any  have  a  superior  "mode — 
always  excepting  the  "boot  part."  In  short, 
many  may  improve  liy  considering  the  above 
receipt  as  made  and  approved  of  at  least 
one  hundred  years  ago.  In  this  fast  age,  we 
we  do  things  up  in  a  hurry,  and  too  much  at 
a  single  jump,  and  fail  to  have  the  full  benefit 
of  the  experience  of  those  who  were  more 
slow  and  sure.  An  English  lady,  fond  of 
sour-crout,  begged  me  to  inform  her  how  it 
was  made.  This  I  did,  and  presumed  others 
might  wish  to  know. 

I  have  so  far,  simply  copied  from  an  old 
record  found  in  the  hands  of  but  a  few  indi- 
viduals.    I  will  futher    remark    that    as    a 
botanical  student,  the  genus  Brassica  is  a  very 
remarkable  one  ;  for  instance  all  the  varieties 
of  Borecole  or  Ka'e,  such  as  the  Green  curled 
Scotch,  German  greens,  or  Sprouts,  Cottagers, 
Siberian,  the  Abergeldie, superfine  Variegated, 
Tall  Green  Curled  and  Csesarean,  or  Jersey  of 
the  Catalogues,  all  well  marked  varities,  are 
derived  from  Brassica  Oleracea  acephalo,  lin. 
The  Broccoli,  eleven  marked  varieties,  under 
as  many  distinct  names,  are  derived  from  the 
variety  Brassica  oleracea  botrytis,  hn.     Brus- 
sels   sprouts,   four  varieties,  from  Brassica 
oleracea  bidlata,   lin.     The    true    Cabbages, 
have  twenty-six  well  marked  varities — twenty- 
seven    if  we  add  the  Savoy   (Dwarf  Early 
Ulm,)  all  derived  from  the  variety — Brassica 
Oleracea  capitata,  lin.      Several  species  were 
originally  known  to  grow  wild — and  from  one 
or  both,  all  the  numerous  sorts  have  sprung 
through  cultivation.     Brassica  oleracea  is  in- 
deed the  parent  of  all  the  sorts.     It  is   not 
generally  known  that  in  the  island  of  Jersey, 
from  the  effects  of  particular  culture  and  of 
climate,  a  stalk  has  grown  to  the  height  of 
sixteen  feet,  and  "  had  its  spring  shoots  at  the 
top  occupied  by  a  magpie's  nest.  The  woody 
stems  are  not  unfrequently  from  ten  to  twelve 
feet  in  height,  and  are  there  used  as  rafters" 
and  as  walking  sticks.  We  are  thus  reminded, 
says    Dirwin,    "that     in    certain    countries 
plants  belonging  to  the  generally  herbaceous 
order  of  the    cruciferae   are    developed    into 
trees."    An  article  on  "Cabbage  Timber," 
in  Oardemr''s  Chron,  1856,  P.  744,  quoted  from 
Hooker's  Journal  of  Botany,  says  :  "  A  walk- 
ing-stick made  from  a  cabbage-stalk  is  ex- 
hibited in  the  museum  of  Kew." 

We  thus  see  that  a  cabbage-stalk  may  be- 
come a  formidable  club— while  a  squint  at  the 
diversity  of  the  cabbages,  under  cultivation 
may  be  food  for  thought,  and  to  some  English 
readers  the  good  old  way  of  making  sour 
crout  may  be  new,  and  induce  them  to  try  it, 
and  have  reason  to  be  thankful  for  it,  which 
is  all  respectfully  submitted  by—/.  Stauffer. 


for 


For  The  Lancaster  Farmer. 
CHEERFUL     DOTTINGS     FROM 
LEOLINE. 

Dear  Editor  :    You  will  please  excuse  me 
not  writing  more  at  this  time.     Merry 


Christmas  will  soon  be  upon  us,  and  I  must 
make  all  the  little  ones  glad  ;  and  that  will 
require;  work  yet,  on  my  part.  Permit  me, 
however,  in  advance,  to  wish  you  a  "Merry 
Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year. 
Buckwheat  Cakes. 
1  quart  buckwheat  flour;  1  pint  wheat 
flour  ;  1  teaspoonfull  of  good  baking  soda  ; 
1  teaspoonful  of  fine  salt.  Mix  all  well  to- 
gether. Now  add  thick  milk  enough  to 
make  a  thin  batter.  Bake  on  a  griddle,  not 
too  hot,  nor  too  cold,  as  much  depends  on  that. 
If  you  get  all  mixed  rightly,  they  will  be 
light  and  spongy. 


Another  Formula. 


1  quart  buckwheat  flour ;  i  pint  of  wheat 
(lour;  1  teaspoonful  of  salt.  Mix  all  well 
together,  and  add  hike-warm  water  enough 
to  make  a  pretty  thin  batter,  and  add  a  tea- 
spoonful of  good  yeast.  Stir  all  well  to- 
gether and  set  aside  in  a  warm  place,  and  in 
two  hours  the  batter  will  bo  light  enough  to 
bake.  '  " 

Corn  Cakes. 

1  quart  of  good  corn  meal ;  1  pint  of  wheat 
(lour ;  1  teaspoonful  of  good  soda  ;  2  e<^g8 
beaten  up  light ;  1  teaspoonful  of  salt.  ]3ix 
all  with  good  buttermilk,  not  too  thin. 
Bake  on  a  griddle,  and  if  properly  manipu- 
lated, you  will  pronounce  them  excellent. 

Leoleste. 

If  we  were  the  female  head  of  a  house 
coming  from  such  a  practical  source,  we  be- 
lieve we  should  adopt  the  above  without 
hesitation.  At  any  rate,  we  shall  make  an 
attempt  to  "hurry  up  those  cakes,"  in  our 
own  family. 

The  micaceous  sand,  from  Shrewsbury  twp. 
York  county.  Pa.,  sent  us  by  our  fair- 
correspondent  contains  some  minute  flakes, 
that  have  the  appearance  of  gold,  and 
some  of  them  may  be  gold,  but  we  incline  to 
the  opinion  that  they  are  all  of  a  micaceous 
character.  They  differ  widely  from  the  gold- 
flakes  we  have  from  California.  Gold  is 
never  found  brittle  or  flexible— it  is  always 
tough  and  malleable.  Nearly  two  hundred 
years  ago  the  English  colonists  found  large 
quantities  of  this  mineral  about  Jamestown, 
V'a.,  and  shipped  it  home  to  England  for 
gold,  but  it  proved  otherwise.  Possibly  a 
seam  of  it  extends  up  through  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  and  "crops  out"  on  the  surface  in 
York  county,  and  other  localities. 

Substantial. 

The  heart  of  the  editor  has  been  made  glad 
by  the  generous  Thanksrjivimj  oferiny  of  his  fair 
correspondent,  I.eoline,  for  which  he  desires 
to  express  his  unqualified  gratitude.  Such  kind 
consideration  can  only  emanate  from  the  mind 
and  heart  of  woman,  and  is  a  solace  for  the 
many  weary  hours  we  have  devoted  to  the 
almost  bootless  task  of  catering  for  the 
moral,  intellectual,  and  economical  elevation 
of  our  readers.  The  fruits  of  Pomona,  were 
lucious  and  generously  ;fragrant;  the  Ajnum^ 
crisp  and  healthful ;  and  the  Castanean  con- 
tribution, vividly  recalled 

'The  days  when  we  went  ch.cstntuitu/^ 
A  long  time  ago." 

She  may  rest  in  assurance  that  her  bounty 
will  be  "twice  blessed"— blessing  the  giver 
as  abundantly  as  the  receiver  ;  for  such  out- 
ward manifestations  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
the  dictates  of  a  benevolent  nature,  which 
have  their  fountains  in  the  inner  chambers  of 
the  heart. 

Public  Acknowledgment. 

We  cannot  close  this  voluhie  without 
making  it  the  occasion  to  return  our  sincere 
thanks  to  those  friends  who  have  from  time 
to  time  favored  us  with  their  valued  contri- 
butions to  our  columns,  and  especially  to 
Messrs.  .Jacob  Stauffer,  Jacob  B.  Garber, 
Walter  Elder,  Henry  M.  Engle,  Levi  S. 
Reist,  Peter  S.  Reist,  A.  B.  Keiss,  Wilmer  S. 
Bolton,  John  C.  Linville,  .John  B.  Erb,  W. 
A.  Buriiee,Wm.  H.  Spera,  F.  R.  Diffenderffer, 
W.  L.  Pyle,  M.  B.  Eshleman,  C.  L.  Hun- 
secker,  Jacob  Bollinger,and  also  to  "Leoline," 
and  a  number  of  others,  who  have  laid  us 
under  obligations  for  valued  assistance. 

We  shall  always,  with  grateful  feelings,  re- 
member the  pleasant  relations  existing  be- 
tween us  ;  and  hope  that  they  may  not  become 
weary  in  well  doing,  but  that  they  m.ay  con- 
tribute to  other  local  journals  on  such  topics 
as  interest  the  agriculturist,  fruit-grower  and 
gardener,  should  our  literary  intercourse 
terminate  witli  this  number,  which  seems  to 
be  now  foreshadowed.  In  any  event,  we  feel 
jjhat  it  is  neither  their  fault  aor  ours.— Ed. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


181 


CHESTER  WHITE   SWINE. 

Chester  White  Swine,  i\()\v  so  widely  cele- 
brated iiiid  deserveflly  puimlar,  oriiriiated  a.s  a 
distinct  breed  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  hence 
their  name.  In  tlie  year  ISIS  tliore  were 
brought  into  this  county  from  Bedfordshire, 
England,  liy  ('apt.  James  .FetTries,  a  pair  of 
choice  pigs,  whicli  were  aent  to  his  farm  near 
the  county  seat.  Some  of  the  more  enter|)ris- 
ing  farmers  of  the  neigliborhood  resolved  to 
coniDienee  the  improve- 
ment of  theirhogs,  which 
they  did  by  crossing  the 
young  pigs  of  tliis  pair 
upon  tlie  best  formed  and 
most  desirable  native 
stock  to  be  obtained. 
Their  jirogeny  likewise, 
as  a  result  of  the  most 
judieioiis  crossingand  se- 
lecting for  a  number  of 
years,  the  present  valua- 
ble breed  of  Che.sters  was 
established.  Some  thirty 
years  ago,  upon  the  in- 
trodnctinii  of  the  SutTolk 
and  l?erkshires  into  this 
country,  some  of  the 
Chesters  were  crossed 
with  them  ;  b\it  after  a 
short  trial  both  were  re- 
jected, not  being  consid- 
ered any  improvement 
upon  the  Chesters,  which 
were  then  steadily  bred 
as  near  perfection  as  in- 
creasing skill  and  untir- 
ing zeal  could  secure. 
Chester  Whites  are  in- 
valuable on  account  of 
their  large  size,  fine 
forms,  ready  fatting 
qualities,  good  bacon, 
docility  and  imililicness. 
They  will  readily  weigh 
400  to  700  tbs.  at  twelve 
to  fourteen  months  old — 
one  thou.sand  pounds  is 
no  unusual  weight  to  be 
attained  by  well  fattened 
■'old  porkers. "  Theyare  -a 
gentle,  quiet,  and  easily  S 
kept.  They  are  not  lia-  " 
ble  to  mange,  as  .some 
prejudiced  breeders,  or 
those  who  have  "axes  to 
grind"  on  other  grind- 
stones, so  positively 
state.  'W'e  have  proved 
this  not  only  with  ourown 
hog.s,  but  also  by  close 
observation  of  the  herds 
of  other  careful  breeders. 
The  Chester  Whites  arc 
also  a  well  and  thorough- 
lyestablished  breed,  with 
well  defined  characteris- 
tics to  which  they  breed 
very  true— as  true  as  the 
Berkshires  or  Poland 
Chinas.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  fame  and  good 
name  of  the  Chester 
Whites  have  suffered  con- 
siderably by  the  ship- 
ments of  certain  un- 
princii)led  dealers,  men, 
such  as  will  be  found  in 
eveiy  business,  who 
would  buy  up  worthless 
mongrels,  whose  only 
pretense  to  the  genuine 
was  their  white  color  and  perhaps  lopped 
ears,  and  palm  them  off  for  the  'TJenuine  (Ches- 
ter County  Whites."  There  areas  poor  hogs  in 
Chester  county  as  anywhere  in  America,  and 
we  have  sold  the  pure  stock  of  Chester  Whites 
in  this  very  county  nt  fancy  jyricra.  We  breed 
the  very  best  blood  in  America,  warranted 
Simon  pure,  and  ship  only  first  choice  pigs, 
not  akin,  which  cannot  fsii'l  to  retain  the  en- 
viable reputation  enjoyed  by  Mr.  Burpee  in 
his  past  shipments.    The    Genuine   Chester 


Whites,  such  as  we  breed,  have  the  following 
jirominent  characteristics  : — Head,  very  short 
and  broad  between  the  eyes  ;  ears,  medium, 
and  projecting  forward  ;  neck,  short  and 
thick ;  joint,  large  and  full;  body,  lengthy, 
deep  and  "well  ribbed  out,"  giving  ample 
room  for  large,  sound  lungs  ;  back,  broad, 
and  very  straight;  hams,  large,  full  and  deep, 
with  hue  bone  ;  legs,  short,  and  well  set 
under   the   body,    of  strength    suflicient    for 


and  constantly  improved.  We  give  herewith 
an  illustration  of  our  fine  Chester  White 
Boar,  "Earl  of  Spriugton  Manor,"  than 
whom  it  is  the  oi)inion  of  competent  judges 
there  is  not  a  finer  boar  of  his  age  in  Chester 
county  to-day.  —  Benson  A  Burpee,  Pkilwl. 


SELECTION  OF  BREED. 


In 

hfcd 


selec 
is  d 


ting  the  breed  ot  hogs,  if  a  pure 
sired  (and  all  intelligent  farmers 
-)  appreciate  the  value  of 
'  thoroughbred  hogs)  the 
purchaser  should  consult 
the  locality,  markets,  &c. 
If  a  breed  is  desired  for 
early  niarkeling,  the 
English  Vorkshires  or 
Essex  are.  well  adapted. 
If  for  large  size,  ready 
fatlening  qualities,  supe- 
rior lard,  the  Chester 
AVhites  arc  unrivalled, 
and  thrive  well  on  only 
ordinary  care.  The 
Vorkshires  are  a  finer 
hog  and  require  more 
itiention  but  are  invalu- 
able for  cro.ssing  on  mon- 
l;  rel  stock  or  sows  of  coar- 
ser breeds.  The  Poland 
,  Chinas  aud  Berk.shires, 
are  just  the  hogs  for 
farmers  in  the  West, 
where  they  are  turned 
i|  out  to  shift  for  Ihem- 
,  ''''fives,  to  feed  on  nuts, 
r.  For  this  purpose 
•ils)  the  Jersey  Reds 
are  excellent  porkers. 
The  Berkshires  give  a 
superior  quality  of  lean 
meat,  but  not  so  heavy 
a  carcass  as  the  Poland 
China.  Farmers  must 
also  consult  the  tastes  of 
their  neighbors.  If 
white  hogs  are  all  the 
rage,  then  purchase  a 
breeding  stock  of  the 
fmest  to  be  procured 
from  reliable'  breeders, 
and  you  will  have  ready 
sale  for  the  young  stock 
at  remunerative  figures. 
Likewise  should  Black 
Hogs  be  the  rage. 
Remember,  always 
buy  the  best.  A  few 
I  dollars  is  nothing  on  the 
I  original  cost  of  a  i)air  of 
I  pigs  compared  with  the 
vastly  increased  amount 
and  value  of  the  pork 
produced. 


bearing  the  heavy  weight ;  hair,  perfect 
white  and  spotless  ;  skin,  fine  and  thin  ;  tail, 
neat,  and  small  in  proportion  to  size  of  body. 
The  Chester  Whites  are  prolific  breeders  and 
excellent  sucklcrs.  The  boars  are  ready  for 
service  when  five  months  old  ;  the  sows  could 
then  be  put  to  the  boar,  but  it  is  always  best 
to  let  them  attain  larger  size  before  breeding 
—in  this  manner,  and  by  breeding  from  pigs 
out  of  the  third  or  fourth  litter,  the  large 
size,  united  with  fine  boue  and  form,  is  kept  up, 


PLYMOUTH    ROCKS. 

They  are  very  largo 
and  of  good  sha|ie,  very 
l)lump  bodied  with  full 
breasts.  They  mature 
early  and  make  large 
broilers  for  the  early 
spring  market.  They 
are  very  superior  table 
fowls,  having  also  bright 
yellow  legs,  free  from 
feathers.  They  are  good 
layers  and  combining  as 
they  do  in  a  wonderful 
degree  the  economies  of 
large  size,  prolific  lay- 
ing, and  superior  sitting  qualities,  we  do  not 
hesitate  to  recommend  them  as  a  fowl  for 
utility  and  profit.  These  fowls  are  out-and- 
out  an  American  breed,  having  been  originated 
and  perfected  here. 

And  they  are  a  production  of  which 
American  "Fanciers  may  well  be  proud ; 
for  of  all  the  favorites  known  in  the 
fowl  category,  these  are  more  than  all 
others  entitled  to  be  called  the  "Farmers' 
Fowl." 


482 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


f  December, 


For  The  Lancastkr  Farmeb, 
VEGETABLE  VS.  ANIMAL  DIET. 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen. — The  discus- 
sion at  our  last  meeting  terminated  in  a  mo- 
tion requesting  me  to  prepare  an  essay  on  the 
subject  just  announced.  It  is  with  diffidence, 
on  the  one  hand,  yet  with  confidence,  on  tlie 
other,  that  I  accede  to  the  request.  You  are 
well  aware  that  it  is  up-hill  labor  to  advocate 
the  unpopular  side  of  any  question,  no  matter 
what  arguments  may  be  presented  ;  but  the 
hope  of  sowing  seed  that  may  possibly  produce 
some  good  fruit,  should  always  be  sufficient 
inducement  to  earnest  labor  in  whatever  field 
circumstances  may  place  us.  My  first  request 
is  that  you  give  me  an  unprejudiced  hearing ; 
second,  that  you  will  conclude  an  impartial 
judgment  in  the  case.  It  is  not  reasonable  to 
expect  that  this  essay  will  convert  one  from 
flesh-eating,  nor  fully  convince  any  that  they 
could  possibly  get  along  without  the  use  of 
flesh  diet.  Your  essayist,  however,  is  confi- 
dent of  his  ability  to  demonstrate  beyond 
question  that  there  are  stronger  arguments  on 
the  vegetarian  side  of  the  question  than  any 
of  you  who  have  not  investigated  the  subject 
have  ever  dreamed  of. 

As  a  rule,  we  are  disposed  to  judge  and  de- 
cide matters  from  a  standpoint  of  custom  and 
habit,  rather  than  upon  their  real  merit.  If 
mankind  had  always  been,  or  were  now  in  a 
normal  condition,  custom  and  habit  might  be 
a  sound  basis  from  which  to  argue  this,  as 
well  as  other  questions.  If  man's  appetites 
and  cravings  were  a  just  criterion,  then  the 
question  of  vegetarianism  could  not  be  sus- 
tained. From  a  Bible  standpoint  we  must 
conclude  that  man  in  his  primeval  state  sub- 
sisted simply  on  fruits,  which  sustained  human 
life  in  its  greatest  perfection.  We  have  no 
evidence  that  his  expulsion  from  Paradise 
caused  any  physical  changes  so  as  to  make  him 
carnivorous,  or  even  omnivorous ;  and  we 
therefore  assume  that  he  remained,  if  not 
simply  a  fruit-eater,  at  least  a  vegetable-eater, 
until  after  the  deluge,  during  which  period  he 
attained  a  greater  age  than  ever  since.  The 
plea  that  after  the  flood  he  received  permission 
to  eat  flesh,  does  not  prove  any  change  physi- 
cally, except  that  life  was  shortened,  and  we 
consequently  assume  that  he  remained  by  na- 
ture a  vegetarian.  The  Scripture  pass- 
age generally  quoted  in  support  of  flesh- 
eating  is,  at  best,  somewhat  obscure.  How- 
ever, from  the  period  of  the  flood  to  the  pre- 
sent day,  flesh-eating  has  prevailed  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  among  certain  nations,  peoples, 
communities  and  families  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  there  have  existed  families,  communi- 
ties, and  almost  entire  nations  without  resort- 
ing to  flesh,  and,  so  far  as  physical  develop- 
ment, endurance  and  longevity  are  concerned, 
the  preponderance  is  in  favor  of  the  latter. 
In  fact,  the  most  feeble  and  diminutive  peo- 
ple we  can  now  think  of  are  the  Esquimaux, 
who  are  exclusively  flesh  and  fat  eaters. 

When  Moses  led  the  children  of  Israel 
through  the  wilderness,  and  provisions  seemed 
to  run  short,  they  began  to  murmur,  and 
longed  rather  to  die  by  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt 
than  from  hunger  in  the  wilderness.  Food 
was  at  once  provided  as  if  by  miracle,  in  the 
shape  of  manna  and  quails.  No  doubt  life 
might  have  been  sustained  by  the  former 
alone,  but  as  the  perple  were  hankering  after 
flesh,  it  was  also  provided,  evidently  to  satisfy 
their  clamoring.  But  mark  the  result.  A 
great  plague  was  the  consequence,  by  which 
multitudes  died  with  the  flesh  of  quails  be- 
tween their  teeth.  The  place  was  given  an 
appropriate  name,  because  there  they  buried 
the  people  that  lusted. 

Both  .sacred  and  profane  history  record  in- 
stances of  prominent  men  who  lived  without 
flesh.  The  prophet  Daniel  and  liis  com- 
panions are  interesting  subjects  in  this  con- 
sideration, as  many  persons  want  Scripture 
evidence  in  support  of  any  doctrine.  When 
Nebuchadnezzar  required  a  number  of  the 
most  promising  young  men  in  his  realm  to  be 
educated  for  the  first  offices  under  the  king, 
they  were  to  be  without  blemish,  such  as  had 
ability  to  stand  in  the  king's  palace.     Daniel 


and  liis  three  Jewish  companions  were  among 
those  who  stood  a  prehminary  examination. 
Provision  was  made  for  their  diet  and  drink 
from  the  king's  table.  When  it  came  to  the 
point  of  eating  and  drinking,  Daniel  and  his 
companions  declined  partaking  of  what  was 
provided  for  them,  and  requested  to  be  fed  on 
pulse  and  water.  The  overseer  of  the  stu- 
dents feared  the  wrath  of  the  king  in  case 
tlie.se  young  men  should  appear  emaciated 
when  they  would  be  presented  before  his 
majesty,  but  they  prevailed  upon  a  ten  days' 
trial,  after  which  the  overseer  allowed  them 
to  continue  their  choice  diet  for  a  term  of 
three  years,  quite  a  reasonable  time  to  test 
the  effect  of  a  vegetarian  diet.  Now  as  to  the 
result.  When  they  were  brought  before  the 
king,  he  found  these  four  young  Hebrews 
above  all  the  rest,  and  not  only  first  among 
the  students,  but  ten  times  better  than  all  the 
magicians  and  astrologers  in  all  his  realm  ; 
consequently,  they  were  assigned  the  highest 
positions  under  thesaid  monarch  of  the  world. 
Evidently  they  continued  their  diet  which 
sustained  them  so  well. 

There  have  existed  in  nearly  all  ages  of 
Jewish  history,  organizations,  as  well  as  indi- 
viduals, which  excluded  flesh-diet  altogether. 
It  is  therefore  evident  that  there  were  many 
of  those  classed  in  Holy  Writ  as  God's  people 
who  did  not  consider  flesh  essential  to  their 
well-being;  at  least,  they  did  not  consider  it  a 
positive  command  from  God.  May  we  not 
reasonably  conclude  that,  like  the  bill  of  di- 
vorcement granted  by  Moses  and  rather  coun- 
termanded by  Christ,  flesh-eating  was  allowed 
on  account  of  the  hardness  of  man's  heart. 
The  command  to  Noah  after  the  flood  may 
have  been  simply  for  an  emergency,  as  it  re- 
quired some  time  for  the  earth  to  produce 
food,  and  he  being  directed  to  take  into  the 
ark  seven  pairs  each  of  the  clean  animals, 
would  seem  like  making  provision  for  this 
very  condition  of  things.  So  much  for  Bible 
vegetarians. 

Profane  history  gives  us  many  instances  of 
men  eminent  for  learning,  endurance  and 
longevity,  who  abstained  entirely  from  flesh 
diet,  some  of  whose  dietic  habits  were  ex- 
tremely simple.  It  would  require  much  time 
and  research,  and  would  extend  this  essay  far 
beyond  reasonable  limits,  should  I  enter  into 
details.  I  shall,  however,  quote  from  a  few 
reliable  authors  iiv  support  of  vegetable  diet. 
Mr.  Horsell,  of  London,  England,  lias  pub- 
lished a  work  in  which,  among  other  extracts 
from  ancient  authors,  we  find  the  following  : 
"It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  one  half  of  the 
inhabitants  of  our  globe  live  on  vegetables 
either  from  necessity  or  from  choice.  The 
hundreds  of  millions  of  Southern  Asia  are  for 
the  most  part  vegetable  eaters.  The  ancient 
Greeks  say  Porphyry  lived  entirely  on  the 
fruits  of  the  earth.  The  ancient  Syrians  ab- 
stained entirely  from  every  species  of  animal 
food.  By  the  laws  of  Triptolemus,  the 
Athenians  were  strictly  commanded  to  ab- 
stain from  all  living  creatines.  Tlie  Romans 
were  so  fully  persuaded  of  the  superior 
effects  of  vegetable  diet,  that  aside  from  the 
examples  of  many  of  their  good  men,  they 
publicly  countenanced  this  mode  of  diet  in 
their  laws  concerning  food.  Plutarch  says  it 
is  best  to  accustom  ourselves  to  eat  no  flesh 
at  all,  for  the  earth  affords  plenty  not  only  fit 
for  nourishment,  but  for  enjoyment  and  de- 
light." 

And  again,  you  ask  for  what  reason  Pytha- 
goras abstained  from  eating  the  flesh  of 
brutes  ?  For  my  part,  on  the  contrarv  I  am 
astonished  to  think  what  appetite  first  in- 
duced man  to  taste  a  dead  carcass  ;  or  what 
motive  could  suggest  the  thought  of  nourish- 
ing himself  with  the  flesh  of  animals  which 
he  saw  the  moment  before  bleating  and 
walking  about  ?  How  could  he  see  an  impo- 
tent and  defenceless  creature  slaughtered, 
skinned,  and  cut  up  for  food  ?  How  could 
he  endure  the  sight  of  the  convulsed  limbs 
and  muscles  ?  How  bear  the  smell  arising 
from  the  dissection  ?  Whence  happened  it 
tliat  he  was  not  di.sgusted  and  struck  with 
horror  when  he  came  to  handle  the  bleeding 


flesh,  and  clear  away  the  clotted  blood  and 
humors  from  the  wounds  ?  We  should  there- 
fore rather  wonder  at  the  conduct  of  those 
who  first  indulged  themselves  in  this  horrible 
repast,  than  at  such  as  have  humanly  ab- 
stained from  it.  Dr.  Whitlaw  says  that  "all 
philosovihers  have  given  their  testimony  in 
favor  of  a  vegetable  diet,  from  Pythagoras  to 
Franklin."  "We  might  also  have  quoted 
from  Plato,  Plutus,  Plutrarch,  Porpyhry, 
Cyrus  the  Great,  Lord  Bacon,  Sir  W.  Temple, 
Lord  Kairns,  Prof.  Dick,  Sir  E.  Home,  Pope, 
Sir  Isaac  Newton,  Howard,  Shelley,  Liuuxus, 
Cuvier  and  others."  The  same  author  quotes 
a  list  of  names  of  persons  of  rather  modern 
times  whose  ages  varied  from  one  hundred  to 
over  two  hundred  years,  who  invariably  lived 
temperate  and  abstemious  lives.  Their  food 
was  very  simple  and  generally  vegetable.  He 
also  argues  that  according  to  natural  laws, 
health  and  longevity  are  man's  lot,  that  we 
owe  to  God,  His  Church,  and  the  world,  the 
longest  and  best  life  that  we  can  live,  and  are 
under  the  most  solenm  obligation  not  to  hin- 
der or  shorten  it.  1 

Now  would  not  a  little  sound  sober  reflec- 
tion lead  us  all  to  conclusions  similar  to  those 
just  quoted  V  Because  the  habitsand  customs 
of  mankind  are  as  we  now  find  them,  is  no 
proof  that  they  are  the  best,  or  that  they  are 
as  they  should  be.  In  order  to  arrive  at  truth 
and  right  we  must  go  behind  perverted  ap- 
petites and  good  natured  errors. 

Experience  should  have  taught  every  one  of 
us  that  it  is  much  easier  to  float  with  the 
l>opular  current,  than  to  return  and  correct 
errors.  We  are  too  apt  to  reason  from  the 
basis  of  our  feelings  and  appetites,  never 
dreaming  that  they  are  often  so  abnormal  and 
perverted  as  to  have  become  almost  a  second 
nature. 

The  prevailing  and  erroneous  idea  that  we 
must  partake  of  stimulating  food  and  drink 
to  give  strength  to  the  system,  is  so  strongly 
impressed  upon  our  minds  that  it  requires 
thunder  tones  to  shake  up  the  accumulated 
rubbish.  The  accejited  conclusion,  that  in 
order  to  do  hard  labor  man  must  eat  flesh  ; 
might  long  since  have  been  exploded  even 
among  its  strongest  advocates,  had  they  only 
given  the  other  side  a  fair  trial ;  but  we  could 
now  no  more  persuade  our  laboring  men  that 
they  can  accomplish  a  full  day's  work  without 
meat,  than  we  could  40  years  ago  have  con- 
vinced our  harvest-hands  of  their  ability  to  do 
a  day's  work  without  a  certain  quantity  of 
whisky.  The  result  is  our  harvest-hands 
now  can  do  better  and  more  work  in  a  day, 
than  they  possibly  could  have  done  under 
whisky  regime.  The  laborers  of  those  days 
were  no  less  positive  of  the  necessity  of 
whisky  stimulants,  than  those  of  our  day  are 
of  flesh  stimulants. 

The  positive  testimony  as  to  the  ability  of 
men  and  women  in  all  ages  and  climes  to  ac- 
complish any  amount  of  necessary  labor  with- 
out any  flesh  diet,  should  indeed  be  sufficient 
to  convince  the  most  skeptical  flesh-eater. 
"But"  says  the  latter,  "I  have  eaten  it  so 
long  and  am  so  fond  of  it  that  I  could  hardly 
leave  it."  Just  so,  your  strongest  logic  origi- 
nates from  your  stomach  insteadof  your  brain. 
Again,  he  will  say,  "  what  are  all  these  ani- 
mals here  for  if  not  to  be  eaten  ?  "  Well,  if 
you  must  eat  everything  that  you  don't  know 
what  it  is  created  for,  you  will  have  your 
stomach  so  full  that  you  will  hardly  reason  at 
all.  In  reply  to  the  latter.  I  will  simply  say 
that  had  our  animals  not  been  nursed  and 
domesticated,  they  would  have  receded  with 
other  wild  animals  as  civilization  advanced. 

We  do  not  argue  that  the  flesh  of  some 
healthy  animals  is  innutritiousor  unhealthful, 
but  claim  that  the  vegetable  kingdom  will 
yield  a  full  supply  of  food  best  adapted  to 
man's  nature  and  well  being,  and  without  ex- 
citing our  carnivorous  propensities.  Of  all 
the  abominations  in  our  dietetic  system,  the 
swine  plays  the  most  conspicuous  part.  A 
scavenger  by  nature,  but  by  domestication  is 
considered  by  many  one  of  the  sweetest  of 
morsels,  almost  without  exception  scrofulous, 
frequently  measly,  and  often  full  of  trichince, 


1S76.] 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


i83 


it  is  not  ;i  little  siirpiising  tliiit  he  continui's 
to  bj  so  miicli  an  object  of  aiiniinitioii,  and 
sutli  an  indispensable  article  of  fond.  My 
own  observations  of  hogs  slaugthercd  dining 
a  period  of  forty  years  has  convinced  me  thai 
not  one  in  twenty  is  free  from  a  diseased 
liver.  The  exemption  of  the  Jews  from 
scrofula,  is  by  good  authorily  attributed  to 
their  disuse  of  the  greasy  animal.  This  fact 
alone  bIiouUI  be  sullicient  to  very  greatly 
curtail  its  use,  if  not  cause  its  entire  disuse  as 
food.  The  corn  required  to  fallen  a  hog  will 
furnish  more  than  twice  the  amount  of  nutri- 
tious food,  (without  tlie  scrofula,  measles  or 
tricbinaj, )  than  the  average  of  bogs  will  after 
being  slaughtered. 

The  analyses  of  the  ablest  ciiemists  show 
that  all  the  cereals  and  leguminous  products 
contain  generally  from  two  to  tiiree  times  the 
amount  of  nutriment  that  the  besl  Hesh  meats 
do.  Facts  are  on  record  of  men  performing 
most  active  muhcular  labor  upon  a  strictly 
fruit  diet.  The  exemption  from  e|iidemics 
and  diseases  generally  is  especially  claimed  by 
vesietarians.  The  Society  known  as  "  Bible 
Christians,"  of  whom  quite  a  number  reside 
in  Philadelphia,  embraces  in  its  creed  total 
abstinence,  not  only  from  intoxicating  drinks, 
but  also  fiom  tobacco  and  tlesh  diet.  Its 
pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Metcalf,  in  answer  to  an  in- 
quiry replied,  that  when  the  yellow  fever 
raged  in  Philadelphia,  not  one  of  their  mem- 
bers was  taken  with  the  epidemic,  although  a 
large  proportion  of  them  lived  in  its  midst. 
He  at  the  same  time  reported  that  one  of  their 
members  was  considered  the  strongest  man  in 
Philadelphia. 

The  plea  that  man  must  have  animal  food 
in  cold  weather  and  in  cold  climates  proves 
simply  that  he  can  consume  it  with  more  im- 
punity than  he  can  in  a  high  temperature, 
not  that  he  cannot  live  and  flourish  without 
it.  England  being  in  a  high  latitude,  it 
wonld  necessarily  follow  that  its  people  must 
have  a  large  proportion  of  llesh.  C\it  here 
we  find  a  tlourisliing  vegetarian  society,  em- 
bracing men  and  women  of  quite  advanced 
ages  and  above  ordinary  intelligence,  who  are 
enjoying  health  to  a  greater  extent  than  the 
average  of  any  other  class  in  the  kingdom. 
During  the  Crimean  war,  captured  Ru.ssiau 
soldiers  were  found  to  have  in  their  haver.sacks 
rye  bread,  with  a  few  other  simple  articles  of 
food,  but  no  meat.  The  French  and  English 
surgeons  expressed  the  surprise  at  their  speedy 
recovery  from  wounds  wliich  were  considered 
fatal  to  their  own  soldiers. 

According  to  some  of  our  home  savans  it 
would  hardly  be  possible  for  man  to  fully 
develop  in  these  cold  regions  without  flesh ; 
yet  more  robust  soldiers  than  Russia  has 
turned  out  are  nowhere  to  be  found.  The 
testimony  in  favor  of  the  vegetarian  diet  is 
really  inexhaustible,  hut  time  and  space  for- 
l.'id  its  extension.  Whether  we  view  the  sub- 
ject from  a  Mosaic,  or  from  a  Darwinian 
standpoint,  is  it  not  reasonable,  that  as  man 
approaches  liis  maker  his  carnivorous  propen- 
sities are  necessarily  weaker,  for  we  can 
hardly  imagine  a  flesh-eating  being  above  man. 

The  Psalmist  in  n  ference  to  the  manna 
given  to  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness  says, 
"  God  gave  them  of  the  corn  of  Heaven  "  and 
"  Man  did  eat  Angel's  fond."  Whatever  the 
food  maybe,  if  any,  of  a  higher  order  of  beings, 
it  is  conclusive  that  it  was  not  the  carcasses 
of  dead  animals.  Do  we  not  all  iigree  that  it 
is  man's  prerogative  as  well  as  duty  to  lift 
himself  as  far  as  possible  above  the  gi-ovelings 
of  the  Carnivora  ?  Think  of  .slaughter  houses 
among  a  high  order  of  beings.  Contrast  our 
present  with  the  feelings  of  earlier  years, 
when  yet  tender,  how  our  sympathies  were 
excited,  how  our  pleadings  were  given,  and  oft 
times  our  tears  flowed  in  behalf  of  .I.e  victim 
about  to  be  killed,  whether  a  pig,  a  calf,  a 
lamb,  or  a  fowl.  But  like  the  criminal,  as 
We  advance  our  finer  feelings  become  blunted 
until  we  can  behold  with  complacence  the 
very  acts  at  which  we  formerly  shuddered.  Is 
it  not  passing  strange  that  our  appetites  will 
get  the  better  of  us,  that  we  can  become  so 
hardened  as  to  gloat  over  the  remains   of  the 


very  victim  that  we  formerly  so  deeply  pitied  'i 
A  more  pleasant  recollection  is  when  our  ap- 
petites were  more  nearly  normal,  (although 
born  from  parents  with  perverted  appetites) 
when  tho.se  luscious  fruits,  so  beautiful  to  the 
eye,  so  tempting  to  our  natin-al  appetites, 
made  such  pleasing  impressions  as  to  -get  the 
advantage  of  our  better  nature,  to  cause  our 
hand  to  reach  the  fruit,  forbidden  only  be- 
cause it  was  not  ours. 

Bui  whether  ours  by  right  or  otherwise,  oh 
how  delicious  those  berries  to  our  then  un- 
perverted  appetites,  those  cherries,  peaches, 
plums,  pears,  or  apples,  even  when  only  half 
ripe  they  seemed  to  till  an  aching  voidi 

How  many  of  us  have  lost  that  keen  relish 
for  nature's  most  lu.scious  productions,  iind 
have  instead  acquired  appetites  that  lianker 
after  things  that  were  once  so  reimlsive  to  us, 
things  against  which  our  finest  sensibilities  at 
first  revolted,  but  have  now  established  a  kind 
of  second  nature  upon  which  We  labor  .so  hard 
to  base  our  dietetic  nature.  The  testimony 
and  reason  in  favor  of  vegetarian  diet  is  really 
inexhaustible,  but  time  and  space  forbid  its 
extension.  Alay  I  not  claim  to  have  made 
Some  impression  worthy  of  your  consideration? 
May  I  not  invite  your  "serious  attentions  to 
this  matter,  for  the  benefit  of  yourselves  and 

posterity? 

^ 

For  The  Lanovstkr  Fabmeh. 
FODDER— CORN,    AND    THE  CONCLU- 
SIONS ARRIVED  AT. 

Within  the  last  few  years  fanners  have  been 
trying  dill'erent  plans  to  increase  the  supply 
of  winter  food  for  their  cattle,  as  the  usual 
crops  of  hay  and  corn-fodder  are  not  enough 
to  keep  the  increasing  number  of  cattle  kept 

Various  corps,  such  as  jjeas,  oats,  &c.,  are 
cultivated  for  dry  fodder,  but  for  this  section 
of  country  corn  has  been  preferred  on  account 
of  the  quantity  of  fodder  produced  and  the 
short  time  it  takes  to  bring  it  to  a  size  fit  for 
cutting.  The  corn  is  usually  sowed  in  rows 
8  feet  to  3^  feet  apart,  using  from  two  to  three 
bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre. 

For  some  years  a  great  many  hay  fields 
have  not  had  any  clover,  on  account  of  the 
freezing  out  of  the  latter,  and  as  most  farmiMs 
sow  only  timothy  and  clover,  they  W'ere  dis- 
ai)pointed  in  a  second-crop  (after-math,)  and 
many  of  them  plowed  the  sod  as  soon  after 
haying  as  possible,  and  sowed  it  to  cnrn. 
Many  of  them  have  done  so  under  the  impres- 
sion "that  merely  taking  off  the  fodder  is  not 
hard  on  the  land,  believing  that  the  grain  part 
of  a  crop  is  what  exhausts  the  soil  mostl3'. 

An  instance  showing  what  effect  the  raising 
of  fodder-corn  has  on  the  soil,  came  under  our 
observation  during  this  and  the  preceding 
summer.  A  field  laid  down  to  timothy  and 
clover  failed  in  the  latter,  and  it  was  deter- 
minded  to  plow  under  the  timothy  stubble  as 
soon  as  the  hay  was  off,  but  a  severe  drought 
setting  in,  the  field  could  not  be  plowed  until 
about  the  middle  of  July,  anil  as  it  was  con- 
sidered nearly  too  late,  only  a  part  was  planted, 
which  produced  about  1^  tons  per  acre  of  the 
very  best  fodder-corn.  According  to  the 
opinion  of  some  this  would  not  have  been  a 
serious  draft  on  the  soil,  as  there  was  no  grain 
produced,  the  greater  part  of  the  fodder  not 
iiaving  even  panicles,  but  the  effect  on  the 
crop  the  present  season  was  very  marked. 
The  whole  field  was  put  into  corn,  and  where 
the  fodder-corn  was  not  raised  a  large  crop  of 
corn  was  taken  off.  the  stalks  also  being  very 
tall  and  stout ;  where  the  fodder-corn  was 
raised  the  staks  were  of  good  size,  but  low  in 
comparison  with  other  parts  of  the  field,  and 
the  yield  of  shelled  corn  at  least  20  bushels 
less  per  acre. 

The  amount  of  the  more  important  fertiliz- 
ing materials  that  wou'd  have  been  taken 
from  the  soil  by  20  bushels  of  corn,  are  about 
as  follows  :  phosphoric  acid  6  lbs.  ;  potash  3} 
ft)s.  ;  nitrogen  \~\  lbs.  The  3000  pounds  of 
fodder-corn  removed  about  the  foUowins 
amounts  :  phosjihoric  acid  11 J  tbs.  ;  potash  ."iO 
tbs.  ;  nitrogen  ITj  lbs.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  the  cro))  of  fodder-corn  removed  much 
more  of  phosphoric  acid  aud  potash,  and  about 


three-fourths  as  much  nitri)gen  as  the  20 
bushels  of  corn  would  have  taken.  The  com- 
mercial value  of  the  above  fertilizing  materials 
removed,  is  about  $3.25  more  in  the  case  of 
the  fodder-corn  crop,  but  this  was  probably 
very  heavly  balanced  by  less  stalks  aud  leaves 
on  the  corn  crop. 

In  a  pecuniary  point  of  view  the  result  was 
a  failure.  The  fodder  was  considered  worth 
Sl.J.OO  per  ton,  or  $22.50  per  acre  ;  the  cost 
of  seed,  cultivation,  curing,  &c.,  $10.00, 
which  would  have  left  a  balance  of  $12.50  ; 
but  the  20  bushels  of  corn  the  present  season 
would  have  .sold  for  810.00,  and  the  amount  of 
corn-fodder  was  probably  worth  less  the  S2.50 
this  season  than  if  no  fodder-corn  had  been 
raised.  Had  the  manure  that  was  made  by 
feeding  the  latter  been  applied  this  spring  on 
the  corn  ground,  I  have  uo  doubt  the  result 
would  have  been  satisfactory  in  every  way. 

From  the  above  we  draw  the  following  con- 
clusions : 

1.  That  with  the  exception  of  nitrogen  a 
crop  of  fodder-corn  removed  more  fertilizing 
materials  than  an  ordinary  crop  of  corn. 

2.  That  on  ordinary  to  medium  good  soils, 
only  absolute  necessity  should  drive  a  farmer 
to  raise  a  fodder-corn  crop  on  the  above  plan. 

3.  That  the  manure  made  from  such  fodder 
must  be  returned  in  season  for  the  next  crop  to 
insure  a  full  yield  in  the  latter  case. — A.  B.  K. 


For  TiiK  Lancabteh  Farukm. 
WHAT  SHALL  WE  EAT. 
There  is  nothing  unclean  of  itself,  but  to 
him  that  estecmeth  anything  to  be  unclean, 
to  hi)n  it  is  unclean.  One  believeth  that  he 
may  eat  all  things,  &c.,  but  another  alloweth 
it  not.  Let  not  him  that  eatelh  despise  him 
that  eateth  not,  and  let  not  him  whiclv  eateth 
not  judge  him  that  eateth.  Circumstances 
alter  cases,  and  persons  are  governed  to  a 
great  extent  by  what  is  to  be  had  that  is  cat- 
able.  As  Christ  said,  ''Eat  such  things  as 
are  set  before  you,"  &c. ;  "  Behold,  all  things 
arc  clean  unto  you,"  &c. ;  and  Paul  says, 
'■  For  neither  if  we  eat  meat  are  we  the  better, 
neither  if  we  eat  not  are  we  the  worse  ;  what- 
soever is  sold  in  the  shambles,  that  eat,  asking 
no  question,  for  the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and 
the  fullness  thereof.  If  any  bid  you  to  a  feiist, 
and  ye  be  disposed  to  go,  whatsoever  is  set 
before  you,  eat,  asking  no  question.  And  there 
came  a  voice  to  Peter  saying.  Rise,  Peter, 
kill  and  eat.  But  Peter  said.  Not  so.  Lord, 
for  I  have  never  eaten  anything  that  is  com- 
mon or  unclean.  And  the  voice  spake  unto 
him  again  the  second  time,  ''What  God  hath 
cleansed,  that  call  not  thou  common,"  <&c. 
Now,  I  allow  that  it  would  be  better  for  many 
persons  if  they  would  eat  less  animal  and 
more  fruit  as  food.  But  there  is  a  large  class 
of  people  that  cannot  have  the  fruit  all  the 
time,  and  must  depend  upon  animal  food  to 
give  strength  and  "stick  to  the  ribs,"  as  we 
sometimes  say.  But  then  we  should  try  to 
have  our  animals  as  free  from  disease  as  pos- 
sible. There  is  no  need  of  our  hogs  being 
nearly  all  scrofulous  and  diseased  in  their 
livers,  &c.  They  can  be  kept  as  pure  f>s  any 
other  animals,  if  properly  cared  for.  Now, 
we  read  of  some  commanding  to  abstain  from 
meats,  which  God  hath  created  to  be  received 
with  thanksgiving  of  them  which  believe  and 
know  the  truth.  For  every  creature  of  God 
is  good,  and  nothing  to  be  refused,  if  it  be 
received  with  thanksgiving. — John  B.    Erh, 

Lime  Valley. 

^ 

ROOM  FOR  MORE  SHEEP. 
Last  year  we  paid  foreign  countries  fifty 
millions  of  dollars  for  woolen  goods  and  eleven 
millions  of  dollars  for  manufactured  goods. 
When  we  have  in  the  country  twelve  million 
more  sheep  than  we  have  now,  we  shall  only 
produce  tlie  wool  we  used  ;  and  yet  there  is 
no  country  on  earth  where shee])  could  be  raised 
so  profitably  as  in  the  United  States.  But  we 
are  coming  every  year  nearer  to  supplying  our 
own  markets  with  the  wool  they  demand.  In 
1875  the  wool  clip  of  the  country  was  nearly 
200.000.000  pounds,  while  in  1800  it  was  only 
65,000,000. 


^84 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[December, 


BEEFSTEAKS  AND   PIES. 

Everybody  e.Kcepl  cannibals  and  the  Ashan- 
tee  consumers  of  steaks  from  the  living  kine, 
prefers  well  prepared  food  to  the  other  kind. 
There  is  no  farmer's  boy  who  eats  a  greasy 
lump  of  shoe  leather  fried  in  a  pan  and  called 
a'  beefsteak,  who  would  not  prefer  a  well- 
broiled  porter-house  from  the  hands  of  a  good 
cook.  Here,  then,  dear  madame,  is  a  point  of 
departure.  Well  cooked  food  is  not  only  more 
toothsome,  but  it  is  more  nutritious.  Your 
grandmother  would  have  scorned  a  fried  steak. 
Pork  fried  in  its  own  juice  is  another  thing. 
Yet  the  American  beefsteak,  the  national  dish 
for  breakfast,  is  generally  fried.  It  is  often  of 
a  pale  measly  complexion.  Its  dry  and  hard 
surface  is  vainly  irrigated  with  lukewarm 
grease,  in  which  lumps  of  soft  butter  float — 
pardon,  madame,  the  unsavory  details  which 
imperious  truth  imposes.  Is  that  proper  food 
for  a  human  being  ?  Yet  the  average  Ameri- 
can human  being  is  subjected  to  it  in  the  great 
multitude  of  honest  homes.  Can  you  do 
nothing  about  it  ? 

Then  pies.  Even  that  dismayed  French- 
man could  not  deny  that "  we  have  as  many 
pies  as  religions,  and  he  would  be  a  bohl 
Frenchman,  also,  if  he  asserted  that  we  are 
as  fond  of  our  religions  as  of  our  pies.  Pies, 
indeed,  there  must  be.  They  are  as  ancient 
as  Thanksgiving,  and  the  pie  on  the  table  of 
that  great  day  was  as  constituent  a  part  of  it 
as  the  minister  in  the  pulpit.  Nay,  what  is 
the  festival  itself  but  a  humble  and  pious  offer- 
ing of  thanks  for  the  copious  harvest  of  pie — 
in  its  original  material?  Indeed,  the  more 
metapliysical  inquirer  might  justly  ask,  as  he 
surveys  the  autumn  fields,  gorgeous  with  the 
massive  pumpkin,  what  is  it  there  for  except  to 
make  pie?  It  is  as  manna  fallen  upon  the 
earth.  It  is  a  celestial  hint  of  pie.  It  is  a 
heavenly  command  of  pie.  There  is  a  time  in 
the  life  of  the  contemplative  American  when 
he  perceives  in  himself  nascent  doubts  of  pie. 
He  may  even  go  so  far  as  to  protest  that 
heavy  white  dough,  "  shortened''  with  heaven 
and  the  lard  pot  know  what,  is  not  wholesome 
food.  But  what  said  the  learned  and  elo- 
quent Rufus  Choate,  when  his  mouth  fairly 
watered  at  the  luxury  of  the  forecastle  and 
galley  of  a  half-starved  coasting  smack?  "On 
Monday,  gentlemen,  the  wholesome  and  tooth- 
some duff';  on  Tuesday  the  nutritious  and 
delicious  dundy-funk  ;"  and  in  the  climax  his 
rapt  eye  beheld  the  vision,the  very  transfigured 
material  of  pie,  although  he  called  it  by  a 
kindred  name,  when  he  exclaimed,  "and  on 
Wednesday,  gentlemen,  with  his  own  hand, 
with  his  own  paternal  hand,  the  captain  dealt 
out  to  them  squash  ;  not  the  cold  and  shriv- 
eled vegetable  of  our  northern  clime,  but  the 
gorgeous,  the  luxuriant,  the  exuberant  squash 
of  the  tropics." 

Think,  madame,  that  you  deal  with  this 
esculent— squash  or  pumpkin,  it  is  all  the 
same  ;  concede  that  the  German  will  surrender 
his  sauer-kraut,  the  Scotchman  his  oatmeal 
"parritch"  the  Irishman  his  potato,  the 
Italian  his  macaroni,  the  Frenchman  his  frog, 
as  soon  as  the  American  his  pie  ;  waive  all 
the  arguments  against  pie  as  pie  ,•  yet  are  you 
not  morally  bound  to  consider  the  nature  of 
crust,  and  can  you,  as  a  friend  of  truth,  assert 
that  the  white,  soggly  slab  of  "duff"  that 
underlies  your  pie  is  either  wholesome  or 
toothsome  ?  The  question  that  comes  to  you 
is,  can't  you  brown  it  ?  Can't  you  make  it 
dry  and  crisp  without  too  much  reference  to 
the  lard  pot  ?  When  it  is  apple  with  which 
you  are  concerned,  the  responsibility  is 
greater,  for,  so  to  speak,  your  apple-pie  wears 
a  full  suit;  it  has  acoatand  trowsers,  an  upper 
and  a  lower  garment ;  and,  dear  madame, 
since  "  it  is  not  always  May,"  why  should  the 
innocent  fruit  be  always  clad  in  white  ?  Brown 
it,  madame,  brown  it ! 

These  are  simple  hints,  but  they  involve 
health,  comfort,  and  progress.  Let  us  regard 
what  has  been  said  as  a  first  lesson — studies, 
if  you  please,  for  beginners.  Devote  your 
energy  to  securing  a  juicy  broiled  steak,  dry 
and  mealy  potatoes,  brown  and  not  buttery 
pastry,  and  light,  thoroughly  baked  bread— 


•'only  these  and  nothing  more" — and  not 
your  children  only,  madame,  but  all  wearied 
souls  who  have  been  long  watching  for  the 
dawn,  will  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed  I 


EXHIBITION  NOTES. 
In  the  installation  of  the  exhibits  from  the 
various  nations,  numerous  changes  were  nefces- 
sarily  made  in  the  original  allotment  of  spaces 
in  Uie  five  Exhibition  buildings.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  return  of  the  amount  of  space  actual- 
ly occupied  in  each  building,  obtained  from 
the  chiefs  of  bureaus,  by  permission  of  Direc- 
tor General  Goshorn.  The  figures  are  taken 
from  data  compiled  for  the  official  reports 
of  the  bureaus — the  very  comprehensive  re- 
port from  the  Main  Building  being  prepared 
by  Mr.  Henry  Pettit,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of 
Installation.  The  amounts  in  this,  as  in  all 
the  other  reports,  are  given  in  square  feet. 
Main  Building  and  Annexes. 


C0UKTRIE9. 


Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

Canada 

India 

S:  raits  Set  llements 

^oiun  Anatralia 

QueenBland 

New  South  Wales 

Victoria  

TaBmania 

New  Zealand 

British  Guiana 

Oold  Coast 

Archipelago  of  Seychelles. 

Trinidad 

Jamaica 

Bahamas 

Cape  of  Good  Hope 

Bermudas 


Total  United  Kingdom 

Orange  Free  State 

France 

Germany        

Grand  Duchy  of  Luxemburg 
Austila  and  Hungary 

Russia 

Norway 

Sweden 

Denmark 

Netherlands 

Belgium 

•Switzerland 

Italy 

Spain 

Cuba 

Philippine  Islands 

FortUf^al 

Turkey 

Egypt 


Tunis 

JaP;>n 

China 

Brazil 

Chili 

Argentine  Republic 

Peru 

Hawaii 

Mexico 

U.  S.  of  America. 

Alabama 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

District  of  Columbia 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa , 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louis  ana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

vlinuesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

New  Hampshire 

New  .Jersey 

New  York , 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania , 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

West  Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 

Bureau  (Jffices 

Intermediate  passageways.. 


bo 

a  3. 

3 
oM 


64,155 

24,118 

3,208 

82 

1,636 

3,406 

4,213 

5,167 

1,372 

1,664 

344 

279 

282 

26T 

722 

472 

646 

494 


H 


4,130 
1,016 


102,456 

1,068 

45,460 

29,625 

247 

24,727 

11,141 

6,9.59 

17,799 

2,662 

16.948 

15,698 

6,693 

8,943 

i:,263 

S, 

3,347 
5,026 
2,015 
17.851 
6,1528 
6,899 
3,424 
2,861 
1,462 
1,575 
6,567 

114 

449 

9,337 

154 

200 

48 

74 

3,26T 

1,871 

247 

13 

247 

80 

1,042 

1,320 

18,703 

l,a80 

14 

90 

1,069 

2 

600 

6,330 

34,187 

178 

6,228 

30 

47,185 

2,946 

21 

87 

19 

466 

289 

303 

235 


2,214 
85,928 


Total  United  States 224,826 


Grand  totals  aU  countries..  I   688,928  18,096  76,067    632,089 


63 


237 


164 
672 


1,594 


339 
223 


625 
610 
442 


1,074 


91 
365 
980 


337 
1,819 


1,703 
'5,556 


43 
336 


676 
61 
138 
220 

16,601 


404 
1,915 
2,205 


1.188 
466 
12 


5 

209 

164 

2,073 

614 


181 

""223 
1,801 
8,216 


1,705 


9,233 
234 


3,013 
35,016 


63,646 


Z  SI 

o  « 


,285 
,133 
,208 
22 
636 
,406 
,276 
,167 
,372 
,664 
344 
279 
282 
267 
722 
472 
646 
494 


107,674 

1,038 

45,460 

29,867 

247 

24,881 

11,813 

6,959 

17,799 

2,562 

15,948 

15,698 

6,693 

9,083 

11,253 

6,989 
3,347 
6,026 
2,015 
17,831 
8,222 
6,899 
3,424 
2,861 
1,462 
1,676 
6,567 

B46 

8;)3 

11,691 

2,652 

200 

4S 

74 

5,010 

2,817 

1,389 

13 

701 

85 

1,251 

1,666 

21.201 

2,674 

14 

90 

1,774 

2 

823 

7,168 

44,192 

178 

8,106 

30 

61,968 

3,180 

21 

410 

19 

677 

65S 

318 

967 

61 

6,363 

121,164 

309,973 


Great  Britain 33,298 

Russia 6,967?^ 

Brazil 5,056 

Belgium 9,375 

Denmark 585 

Sweden 3,186 

Spain 1,224 


Machinery  Hall. 
Total  square  feet  of  occupied  space  : 

France 1,129 

Canada 4,300 

German  Emj.ire 10,098 

Austria 1*248 

Switzerland 288 

Italy 283 

United  States 308,210 

Memorial  Hall  and  Annexes. 

R  Relative  space  in  square  feet,  covered  by 
each  of  the  contributing  nationalities  on  both 
wall  and  floor  of  MemoriarHall  and  its  two 
annexes — Pothographic  Hall  and  Art  annex  : 

Sculpture. 

Floor  space. 

2,360 

339 

463 

493 

115 

95 

-       7,423 


Paintings. 

Wall  space. 

United   S'ates 46,829 

Great  Britain 12,163 

France 18,115 

Germany 8,031 

Austria 4,646 

Spain 2,960 

Italy \      4,500 


Pope  Pius 


:::}. 


80 


320 

"'l7 
76 
26 
75 
28 
77 
74 


11.981 


Belgium 5,614 

Netherlands 4,956 

Denmark 638 

Sweden 3,637 

Norway 1,439 

Russia  2,162 

Canada 2,319 

Mexico 3,296 

Rrazil 1,496 

Argentine  Kepublic 684 

Australia 126 

Japan liiS 

Total 123,619 

Horticultural  Hall. 

Square  feet  of  space  occupied  within  the 
Hall  and  in  the  grounds  at  either  end  of  and 
around  the  Building  : 

In-doors.  Out-doors. 

England 1,050  8.000 

Spain 1,840  8,500 

France 100  19,500 

Netherlands , 6,700 

Austria 800 

Victoria 330  

Jamaica \    320  

Germany 120  

San  Domingo 75  

Sandwich  Islands 50  

New  Zealand 60  

Bermuda ! 60  


Total* 3,985 


43,500 


•  The  balance  of  the  occupied  space,  which  has  not  been 
definitely  ascertained,  is  credited  lo  the  United  States,  hav- 
ing been  improved  under  the  general  supervision  of  the 
Centennial  management. 

Argricultural  Hall. 

Square  feet  of  space  occupied  by  the  exhibi- 
tors from  nations  represented  : 

Liberia 1,536 


Argentine  Republic 3,468 

Austria 2.392 

Brazil 4,668 

Canada 10,387 

Denmark 806 

France 15,743 

Germanv. 4,878 

Great  Britain  &  Ireland. 12,224 

Italy 4,280 

Japan 1,665 


Netherlands 4,276 

Norway 3,090 

Poriugal 6,182 

Russia 6,893 

Spain 6,061 

Sweden 2,603 

Venezuela 1,220 

Total  for.  countries. ..92,372 


United  States  of  America. 


New  Hampshire 360 

New  Jersey 912 

Ohio 360 

Oregon 691 

Washington  Territory...  288 

Wisconsin 480 

Total 9,236 


Connecticut '   480 

Delaware 286 

Illinois 601 

Indiana 601 

Iowa 1,566 

Massachusetts 760 

Michigan 1,235 

Missouri 601 

Nebraska 426 

Collective  exhibits  of  Central  Pacific  Railroad  (includ- 
ing three  States) 1,601 

Grand  total  of  occupied  space 103,209 

The  exhibits  of  the  United  States,  private 
and  collective,  covered  157,315  square  feet, 
the  whole  area  of  the  hall  being  434,305. 

The  above  figures  are,  of  course,  exclusive 
of  the  occupation  by  different  Governments  of 
special  buildings  and  their  assignments  in  the 
Shoe  and  Leather,  Women's  Pavilion  and 
other  independent  buildings. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  presence  of  crowds, 
while  avoiding  the  importunities  incident  to  a 
free  pass  system,  the  Director  General  has  de- 
cided to  continue  the  regular  admission  fee. 

A  telegram  was  received  by  Col.  H.  B. 
Sandford,  Commissioner  for  the  British  dis- 
play, directing  him  to  present  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Museum  and  School  of  Industrial  Art, 
a  napkin  spun  by  her  Majesty,  Queen  Vic- 
toria, and  a  screen  worked  by  her  Eoyal 
Highness,  the  Princess  Beatrice. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Permanent  Exhibition  Co.,  held  in  the 


1876.J 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


185 


Board  of  Finance  building,  a  partial  orgaiiiza- 
tion_  was  efl'ocU'd  by  tho  apiwintiueiit  of 
Clement  M.  Biddle,  as  Trusident,  and  E.  A. 
Rollins,  Trtasnrer.  Tlie  general  features  of 
the  [iropoRcd  re-arrangenient  of  spaec  in  the 
Main  Building  were  discussed,  and  plans  show- 
ing the  portions  to  be  occupied  by  the  i)rinei- 
pal  sections  were  presented  and  partly  per- 
fected. It  is  jiroposed  to  re.«erve  the  en- 
tire open  space  in  the  centre  to  the  north 
of  the  music  stand,  heretofore  occujiied  by 
English  and  French  exhibitors,  as  a  place  for 
musical  entertainments.  ])irectly  to  the  east 
of  this  some  25,000  square  feet  have  been 
allotted  for  the  educational  exhibit  and  the 
book  trade.  An  application  from  the  Book 
Trade  for  10,000  square  feet  has  already  been 
received.  Immediately  adjoining  tliis  display 
on  the  east  willbethatof  the  machinery, while 
the  space  directly  opposite  the  music  section 
has  been  assigned  to  the  line  arts.  To  the 
west  of  the  music  the  beautiful  ceramic  dis- 
play will  be  stationed,  and  further  on  the 
agricultural  division.  The  State  collective 
exhibits  will  be  arranged  in  order  in  the  south- 
western portion,  and  the  shoe  and  leather  ex- 
hibit in  the  northeast  extremity.  Music,  ed- 
ucation and  ceramics  are  thus  far  prominent 
features  of  the  arrangement  of  the  new  exhi- 
bition. Waiting  rooms,  large  reception  rooms 
and  all  necessary  conveniences  for  the  public 
will  be  supplied,  the  aisles,  with  the  exception 
of  the  main  aisle,  being  widened. 

Information  was  received  of  the  intention 
of  the  Commissioners  of  these  countries  to 
donate  to  the  new  Exhibition  some  of  the 
distinguishingfeaturesofthedisplay  of  Sweden 
and  Belgium,  and  the  frame  work  surroimd- 
ing  the  exhibits  of  Spain,  Denmark,  Norway, 
etc. 

A  banquet  was  given  at  the  West  End 
Hotel  by  the  President  of  the  Austrian  Com- 
mission to  the  Centennial  officials  and  muni- 
cijial  authorities  of  Philadelphia. 

Lieut.  General  Saigo  Tscukumichi,  of  the 
Japanese  imperial  army  and  Vice  President 
of  the  Japanese  Centennial  Commission,  bade 
farewell  to  Gen.  Hawley  on  Saturday  and, Jin 
the  evening  entertained  various  members  of 
the  Centennial  management  at  a  banquet  at 
the  Reform  Club  Rooms.  On  Monday  he 
left  for  San  Francisco  en  route  to  Japan. 
^ — - — 

HOW  TO  CURE  AND  PACK  SEED  LEAF 
TOBACCO. 

Messrs.  Tappan  &  Allen,  of  Baldwin-sville, 
New  York,  give  the  following  instructions 
to  the  tobacco  growers  of  New  York,  a.ssur- 
ing  them  that  if  they  follow  the  plan  they 
will  succeed  in  raising  as  good  tobacco  as  that 
of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania.  Ex- 
perienced growers  and  packers  in  Lancaster 
county  need  no  instructions,  but  the  unex- 
perienced will  be  benefited  by  following  the 
rules  here  laid  down  : 

Taking  the  Plants  Down. 

Take  the  plants  down  only  when  you  are 
satisfied  they  are  thoroughly  cured,  and  when 
the  weather  is  moist,  with  a  favorable  air  for 
moistening  the  leaf  to  condition.  The  stem  of 
the  leaf  shoxdd  be  thoroughly  dried  out  before 
taking  the  plant  from  the  poles.  Take  down 
with  great  care,  and  commence  stripping  im- 
mediately after  taking  down,  to  prevent  the 
heating  and  consequent  matting  of  the  leaf  in 
the  stalk  bank. 

Strip  the  leaves  off  the  stalks  immediately 
after  taking  the  plants  down  and  put  them 
either  in  bundles  of  five  to  eight  pounds  each 
or  in  banks-preparatory  to  assorting.  In  no 
case  allow  the  leaves  to  remain  on  the  stalks 
after  taking  down  from  the  poles. 
Stripping. 

Strip  in  three  qvalities — unless  the  crop  is 
too  poor  to  warrant  you  in  doing  so.  Strip 
the  first  quality  so  the  leaves  will  be  of  uni- 
form length  and  size  in  the  same  hank,  select- 
ing all  the  nearly  or  perfect  leaves,  and  leav- 
ing out  the  imperfect  ones  for  the  second 
quality. 

Colors. 

Put  dark  colored  leaves  by  themselves  in  the 


same  hank,  and  light  colored  leaves  by  them- 
selves also  in  .separate  hanks.  Positively  ))ut 
the  leaves  of  the  same  length  and  size,  (and 
no  short  ones),  in  the  same  hank.  The  poor, 
inferior,  and  "ground  leaves"  should  be 
placed  in  the  third  quality. 

"Fat  lol)acco'' should  not,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, be  put  into  any  tiuality.whatever. 
Throw  it  away  with  the  stalks,  li',  as  some- 
times may  be  the  ease,  you  chance  to  have 
tobacco  on  hand  too  wet  to  be  merchantable, 
place  all  such  by  itself  Do  not  mix  it  with 
any  tobacco  in  condition.  Never  sjjray  or 
sprinkle,  nor  wet  tobacco.  Water  will  most 
certainly  spoil  it.  Besides,  it  will  "water 
streak  it,"  and  permanently  injure  the  texture 
and  market  value  nf  the  leaf. 

Steam  kettles  in  .stripping  rooms  should  be 
avoided.  The  steam  destroys  the  leaf,  caus- 
ing it  to  turn  black. 

Size  of  the  Hank. 
They  should  not  exceed  one  and  one-fourth 
inches  through  at  the  butts.  Make  them 
small,  neat  and  uniform  in  size.  Put  15  to  17 
leaves  into  a  hank,  accoi-ding  to  the  growth 
of  the  tobacco.  Do  not  bind  the  butts  with 
wet  or  fat  leaves.  Tie  down  close  to  the  ends 
of  the  butts  to  make  as  long  a  show  of  the 
leaves  in  the  hanks  as  possible. 

Placing  the  Hanks  in  the  Banks. 

Bank  the  first  quality  immediately  after  it 
is  stripped,  so  it  will  not  dry  out.  Manage 
the  other  qualities  with  the  same  caution. 
Bank  in  a  dry  and  secure  place.  Place  the 
hanks  one  by  one  in  a  round  straight  form  into 
the  bank  as  nicely  and  neatly  as  your  skill  can 
direct  you.  Give  the  butts  air  on  either  side 
of  the  bank.  Place  good  coverings  over  the 
top  of  the  banks,  with  suitable  weights  to  hold 
the  boards  in  their  places. 

Strip  tobacco  as  early  in  the  fall  or  winter 
as  its  condition  will  allow,  and  endeavor  not 
to  delay  the  stripping  too  long.  Too  long  a 
delay  in  stripping  is  apt  to  make  several  con- 
ditions of  tlie  leaf^some  dry  and  some  occr- 
dry  leaf.  If  possible,  make  the  leaf  uniform 
in  respect  to  moisture.  Do  not  allow  the  leaf 
to  sweat  in  the  bank.  If  the  tobacco  shall 
sweat  in  the  bank,  the  leaf  is  apt  to  be 
"stringy,"  especially  if  the  bank  is  over- 
hauled or  handled  when  it  is  in  a  sweat. 

Casing. 
Tobacco  should  be  put  into  the  casee  when 
the  weather  is  warm  and  moist,  and  with  the 
utmost  care.  Four  hundred  pounds  should 
be  put  in  a  ca.se.  The  tobacco  should  be 
weighed  in,  and  the  case  should  also  he  exactly 
weighed — the  weight  placed  in  plain  red  chalk 
figures  on  both  ends  of  the  box.  The  peculiar 
condition  and  thinness  or  thickness  of  the  leaf 
may  sometimes  make  it  necessary  to  vary  the 
number  of  pounds  required  for  each  case. 

Sizing. 

When  you  case  tobacco,  "size  up"  the 
hanks  ;  that  is  to  say,  put  hanks  of  like  lengths 
and  colors  in  the  same  case.  If  dark-colored 
hanks,  put  all  such  of  even  size  and  length 
in  one  case,  and  make  it  a  full  case.  Put  all 
light-colored  hanks,  also  of  the  same  length, 
in  a  case  by  themselves.  Put  all  short  and 
small  hanks,  of  the  same  or  nearly  the  same 
length,  in  cases  by  themselves,  bearing  in 
mind  the  selection  of  colors. 

Mark  the  first  quality  plainly  with  red 
chalk,  "AA  ;"  the  second  quality,  "A,"  and 
the  "C." 

If  there  are  mixed  cases,  mark  them  dis- 
tinctly with  tlie  number  of  pounds  of  each 
quality  contained  in  the  cases.  Keep  a  small 
memorandum  book  with  a  true  account  of  the 
number  of  pounds  of  the  respective  sorts  you 
have,  with  such  remarks  added  as  shall  seem 
valuable  to  buyer  and  seller. 

Size  of  Cases. 
The  case  should  be  made  of  pine  lumber, 
well  seasoned,  with  two-inch  corner-pieces, 
and  thoroughly  nailed,  three  feet  six  inches 
long,  two  feet  and  six  inches  high,  and  two 
feet  and  six  inches  in  width — all  these  meas- 
ures to  be  computed  from  outside  to  outside 


of  the  cases.     The  limiber  should  be  one  inch 
thick.     Keep  the  case  dry. 

When  you  pack  your  tobacco  away  in  the 
cases,  place  the  boxes  on  the  sides  invariably. 
Always  case  the  banks  so  they  will  be  placed 
lenythifise  of  the  case — all  qualities  the  same. 
If  the  tobacco  is  too  short,  till  the  centre  of 
the  case  with  tobacco  also,  with  the  butts  ill 
all  instances  on  the  outside  of  the  boxes. 


BUTTER  CULTURE. 

Pisciculture  is  a  business  of  such  recent 
origin  that  it  is  still  regarded  by  the  public  as 
an  interesting  novelty.  More  novel,  more 
curious,  and  far  more  interesting  is  the  busi- 
ness of  butler  culture,  which,  like  piscicul- 
ture, is  an  aquatic  industry.  Extensive  but- 
ter-beds have  been  planted  in  the  Thames,  at 
London,  and  are  yielding  large  and  i)rolitablc 
harvests.  Within  a  few  years  we  may  expect 
to  sec  the  slow  old-fashioned  methods  of  the 
cow  and  churn  wholly  supeiseded  by  the  more 
rapid  and  surer  results  achieved  by  rivi'r  but- 
ter culture.  Dairymen  will  retire  from  the 
butter  arena,  and,  under  the  supervision  of 
able  and  intelligent  15oards  of  Butter  Cnui- 
misioners,  the  growth  of  butter  will  be 
brought  to  su(!h  a  degree  of  perfection  as  to 
place  that  useful  compound  within  the  reach 
of  the  poorest  household  in  the  comitry. 

The  Ix)ndon  Medical  Examiner  of  a  late 
date  contains  an  interesting  description  of  the 
process  of  planting  and  growing  butter.  The 
butter  cult  urist  selects  a  nice  muddy  locality 
in  the  bed  of  a  river  fiowing  through  a  large 
town,  and  carefully  plants  bis  butter-seeds. 
The  bed  must  not  be  more  than  a  foot  below 
the  surface  of  the  water  at  low  tide,  and  it 
must  be  constantly  swept  by  a  strong  current. 
Butter  cannot  be  grown  in  a  pure  mountain 
stream,  but  only  in  a  river  which  receives  a 
large  amount  of  sewerage,  by  which  the  butter- 
plants  are  nourished.  Having  selected  an 
eligible  bed,  the  butter  culturist  sets  out  a 
number  of  small  globes  of  the  size  of  a  filliert, 
made  of  cork,  hair,  and  woody  fibres.  As  is 
well  known  to  analytical  chemists  who  have 
experimented  upon  the  common  butter  of 
boarding-house  tables,  these  small  globes  con- 
tain all  the  es.sential  ingredients  of  butter  ex- 
cept its  oleaginous  parts.  Of  course,  the  but- 
ter culturist  is  not  strictly  confined  to  the  use 
of  cork,  hair,  and  woody  fibres,  but  may  also 
add  hair-pins,  and  buttons  in  quantities  to 
suit  his  own  tastes.  Having,  however, 
decided  upon  the  first  ingredients  of  his 
butter,  he  plants  his  seed-globes  in  the  mud 
of  his  butter-bed,  placing  them  upon  short 
but  stout  stalks  either  of  wire  or  wood.  The 
seed  rapidly  germinates,  and,  under  the  genial 
influence  of  the  sewage,  the  plant  soon  rearhes 
maturity.  When  fully  ripe,  it  is  gathered  by 
boys  with  bare  legs  and  carried  to  the  butter- 
presses,  where  it  undergoes  certain  refining 
processes.  The  ripe  butter-plant  presents  the 
appearance  of  a  ball  of  dark-colored  wagon- 
grease,  through  which  hair,  ['articles  of  corks, 
and  bits  of  woody  fibres  are  woven,  by  the 
action  of  the  tide.  Its  oleaginous  particles 
are,  of  course,  derived  from  the  refuse  grease 
which  finds  its  way  from  kitchens  and  manu- 
factories into  the  sewers;  and,  though  the  ripe 
butter-plant  is  neither  palatable  nor  attractive 
in  its  appearance,  it  is  readily  transformed  by 
a  cheap  process  of  refining  and  flavoring,  into 
as  vigorous,  substantial  butter  as  the  most 
exacting  boarding-house  keeper  could  desire. 

The  Medical  Examiner  remarks  that  "ihe 
process  by  which  this  questionable  fact  is 
ultimately  manufactured  into  an  article  of 
food  unobjectionable  to  the  eye  and  palatable 
to  the  taste  is  necessarily  exciting  public 
curiosity."  All  judicious  (leople  will  agree 
that  to  indulge  one's  curiosity  concerning  the 
manner  in  wliich  any  kind  of  butter  is  made, 
is  wor.se  than  idle.  The  wise  man  eats  butter 
and  drinks  his  beer  without  seeking  to  know 
their  origin.  Were  the  boldest  of  us  to  try  to 
trace  the  pedigree  of  pure  Orange  county  butter 
back  to  the  cows  of  the  Brooklyn  distilleries, 
the  result  might  be  extremely  disastrous. 
That  way  madness  lies.    Between  butter  and 


dse 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[December, 


science  there  is  an  irrepressible  conflict,  and 
if  we  are  not  ready  to  abandon  butter  alto- 
gether, we  must  put  blind  faith  in  its  trutli 
and  purity,  and  resolutely  decline  to  pi-y  into 
its  origin.  There  is  no  half-way  between  the 
humble  acceptance  of  butter  and  the  total  re- 
jection of  all  edible  grease,  and  those  persons 
who,  according  to  the  Medical  Examiner,  are 
curious  as  to  the  process  of  converting  the 
fruit  of  the  butter  plant  into  an  article  of 
food,  are  entering  upon  a  path  which  will 
lead  them  to  reject  all  butter  and  to  deny  the 
very  existence  of  lard. 

If,  under  the  fertilizing  influence  of  sewage, 
a  little  hair  and  a  trifle  of  woody  fibre  and 
cork  can  be  made  to  develop  into  butter,  it  is 
quite  possible  that  many  other  articles  of 
food  can  be  thus  artificially  propagated.  Tlie 
chemical  basis  of  much  of  the  sugar  of  com- 
merce is  admitted  to  be  sand  and  starch.  Is 
it  not  quite  possible  that,  if  small  globes  of 
sand  and  starch  were  to  be  planted  in  the 
Thames,  they  would  grow  and  blossom  into 
brown  sugar?  Might  not  pure  corn-fed  lard 
be  grown  from  germs  of  bristles,  dashed  with 
brine  ;  and  is  it  not  possibly  to  sow  a  handful 
of  buttons  and  bits  of  dog  collars  with 
the  well-founded  hope  of  reaping  a  har- 
vest of  hash  y  The  ordinary  boarding-house 
kitchen  gardener  will  doubtless  look  upon 
these  suggestions  as  wild  and  impracticable, 
but  now  that  we  know  that  the  Thames  sew- 
age, when  tickled  with  hair,  will  laugh  into 
butter,  it  would  be  rash  to  reject  as  impossi- 
ble any  horticultural  scheme  which  relies  for 
its  success  upon  the  marvelously  fertilizing 
power  of  London  sewage. 

Of  course,  there  are  timid  people  who,  after 
learning  that  butler  culture  is  an  established 
industry,  will  decline  to  use  any  butter  un- 
less they  are  pei-sonally  cognizant  of  its  close 
connection  with  some  reputable  cow.  Is, 
then,  the  cow  cleaner  than  the  river  in 
which  she  wades,  and  is  the  stable  more 
savory  than  the  sewer  ?  These  are  questions 
which  each  one  must  settle  for  himself ;  but 
except  in  those  cases  where  one's  butter  is 
obviously  stronger  than  one's  faith,  it  is  pro- 
bably bosi  to  eat' it  boldly,  and  to  waive  the 
question  of  its  origin  as  one  of  those  things 
which  no  prudent  fellow  should  try  to  find 
out— JV^.  Y.  2'!mes. 


THE  SOIL  OF  FLORIDA. 
The  second-rate  pine  lands,  which  form  the 
largest  proportion  of  Florida,  are  all  pro- 
ductive, ami  can  by  a  proper  system  of  culti- 
vation be  rendered  much  more  valuable  than 
the  best  lauds  in  Texas.  These  lands  afford 
fine  natural  pasturage  ;  they  are  heavily  tim- 
bered with  the  best  species  of  yellow  pine, 
and  are  for  the  most  part  high,  rolling, 
healthy  and  well  watered.  They  are  gener- 
ally based  upon  marl,  clay  or  limestone. 
They  will  produce  for  several  years  without 
the  aid  of  manure,  aijd  when  "cow  penned" 
they  will  yield  two  thousand  pounds  of  the 
best  quality  of  sugar  to  the  acre,  or  about  300 
pounds  of  Sea  Island  cotton.  They  will  be- 
sides, when  properly  cultivated,  produce  the 
finest  quality  of  Cuba  tobacco,  oranges, 
lemons,  limes  and  various  other  tropical  pro- 
ductions, which  must,  in  many  instances, 
render  them  more  reliable  than  the  best  bot- 
tom lands  in  more  northern  States.  Even 
pine  lands  of  the  "third"  rate,  or  most  in- 
ferior class,  are  by  no  means  worthless  under 
the  climate  of  Florida.  This  class  of  land 
may  be  divided  into  two  orders,  the  one  com- 
prising high,  rolling,  sandy  districts,  which 
are  sparsely  covered  with  a  stunted  growth  of 
"black  jack"  and  pine,  the  other  embracing 
low,  flat  swampy  regions,  which  are  covered 
with  invaluable  timber.  The  former  of 
these,  as  is  now  ascertained,  are  owing  to 
their  calcereous  soil  well  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  Sisal  hemp,  which  is  a  valuable 
tropical  production.  This  plant  (the  agave 
Sisalana)  and  the  agave  Mexicana,  or  Mexi- 
can hemp,  also  known  as  the  maguey,  the 
pulque  plant,  the  century  plant,  &c.,"  have 
been  introduced  into  Florida,  and  they  both 
grow  in  great  perfection  on  the  poorest  pine 


lands  of  the  country.  As  these  plants  derive 
their  chief  support  from  the  atmosphere, 
they  will,  like  the  common  air  plant,  preserve 
their  vitality  many  months  when  left  out  of 
the  ground.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add 
that  the  second  order  of  third  rate  pine  lands, 
as  here  described,  is  far  from  being  useless. 
These  lands  afford  a  most  excellent  range  for 
cattle,  besides  being  valuable  for  their  timber, 
and  the  naval  stores  which  they  can  produce. 
There  is  one  general  feature  in  the  topogra- 
phy of  Florida  which  no  other  country  in  the 
United  States  possesses,  and  which  aflbrds 
great  security  to  the  health  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. It  is  this  :  that  the  pine  lands,  which 
form  the  basis  of  the  country  and  which  are 
almost  universally  healthy,  and  nearly  every- 
where studded  at  intervals  of  a  few  miles, 
with  hammock  lands  of  the  richest  quality. 
These  hammocks  are  not  as  is  generally  sup- 
posed, low,  wet  lands  ;  on  the  contrary  they 
are  high,  dry,  undulating  lands,  that  never 
require  either  ditching  or  draining,  varying 
in  extent  from  twenty  to  twenty  thousand 
acres,  and  will  probably  average  tine  hundred 
acres  each.  Hence  the  inhabitants  have  it 
everywhere  in  their  power  to  select  residences 
in  the  pine  lands  at  such  convenient  distances 
from  the  hammocks  as  will  enable  them  to 
cultivate  the  latter  without  endangering 
their  health.  Experience  has  satisfactorily 
shown  that  residences  only  a  mile  distant  from 
cultivated  hammocks  are  entirely  exempt 
from  malarial  disease,  and  that  the  negroes 
who  cultivate  the  hammocks  and  retire  at 
night  to  pine  land  residences,  maintain  perfect 
health.  Indeed,  it  is  found  that  residences 
in  the  hammocks  themselves  are  generally 
I)erfectly  healthy  after  they  had  been  for  a 
few  years  cleared.  In  Florida  the  diseases 
which  result  from  these  clearings  are  as 
stated  above,  generally  of  the  mildest  type, 
simple  and  remittent  fevers,  while  in  nearly 
all  the  other  Southern  States  they  are  most 
frequently  of  a  severe  grade  of  bilious  fever. 
More  again,  L.  W.  G. 


HOW  CIDER  IS  MADE. 

Fifteen  years  ago  New  Jersey  furnished  the 
bulk  of  the  cider  required  for  this  market. 
New  York  State  farmers  making  very  little. 
At  that  time  two  brands  of  Jersey  cider,  the 
"Harrison  "  and  the  "  Canfield,"  had  gained 
almost  a  national  reputation  and  inade  a 
great  name  for  Jersey  cider,  with  which  that 
made  in  New  York  State  could  not  compete. 
Now  the  bulk  of  the  cider  sold  in  this  market 
conies  from  this  State  and  but  little  from 
Jersey.  The  "  Harrison  "  brand  is  still  to  be 
had  in  limited  quantities,  and  is  highly  prized 
by  connoisseurs  in  cider.  Some  years  ago  a 
shrewd  Jerseyman  discovered  that  by  distilla- 
tion a  product  could  be  obtained  from  the 
apple  peculiarly  acceptable  to  the  palate  of 
the  average  .Jerseyman,  and  since  then  Jersey 
"  Apple  jack  "  has  become  as  popular  as  Jer- 
sey cider  once  was.  The  consumption  has  in- 
creased so  rapidly  that  growers  of  apples  find 
a  large  outlet  at  higher  prices  among  the  dis- 
tillers than  among  cider  makers;  hence  as 
Apple  Jack  making  has  increased  in  Jersey, 
cider  making  has  decreased. 

Good  cider  is  made  from  .selected  apples, 
sound  in  every  respect.  Some  of  the  best 
brands  are  made  entiiely  from  hand-picked 
selected  apples.  Doubtless  many  of  the 
readers  of  the  American  Orocer  remember  the 
old  fashioned  lever  press,  run  by  the  farmer's 
old  horse,  where  apples  in  all  conditions  of  de- 
cay were  mashecl.  This  is  now  gone  by  ; 
cider  making  has  become  an  art.  Instead  of 
the  old  press  the  "Jersey  Grinder"  is  now- 
used  to  reduce  the  apple  to  a  pulp.  This  ma- 
chine consists  of  a  hopper,  holding  about  one 
barrel  of  apples.  At  the  lower  end  of  the 
hopper  is  adjusted  a  solid  cylinder,  having 
knives  set  in  lengthwise.  These  knives  are 
pieces  of  steel  about  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch 
wide,  and  the  edge  flat,  the  sharp  corners 
doing  the  cutting.  By  this  process  the  apples 
are  cut  to  a  fine  pulp.  As  fast  as  the  apple  is 
ground,  it  is  sent  to  the  presses  to  press  out 
the  juice.    The  old  fashioned  way,  which  is 


now  abandoned,  was  as  follows  :  First  a  layer 
of  straw,  then  about  six  inclies  of  ground  or 
mashed  apples,  then  successive  layers  of  straw 
and  apple  until  the  press  was  full.  Tlie  layers 
of  apples  are  called  "cheeses."  Now,  in- 
stead of  straw,  "  Atlantic  A "  cotton  is 
used  being  cheaper,  as  it  can  be  used  re- 
peatedly, makes  cleaner  cider,  as  it  retains 
tlie  small  particles  of  apple  which  pass  through 
when  the  straw  is  used.  After  the  juice  is 
pressed  from  the  pulp  there  are  several  ways 
of  preparing  it  for  market.  If  it  is  to  be  sold 
at  once  as  sweet  new  cider,  it  is  barreled  and 
shipped  at  once,  and  sold  on  arrival  for  im- 
mediate use.  This,  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
will  keep  sweet  about  a  week,  the  trade  being 
only  among  local  dealers,  and  the  cider  never 
being  shipped  any  distance.  Some  manufac- 
turers, after  it  is  barreled,  will  let  it  stand 
over  night,  then  insert  the  si)igot  well  up  to 
the  centre  of  the  head  of  the  barrel,  and  thus 
draw  ofi'only  that  portion  which  has  settled 
most  and  is  clearest,  and  which  will  sell  at 
enougli  more  to  pay  for  the  extra  trouble. 

About  November  1st  dealers  begin  to  put 
away  cidar  for  •'fining"  or  "clarifying"  for 
the  winter  and  following  summer's  trade. 
For  winter  stock  the  "leaching"  or  "sand 
fining"  is  generally  used.  This,  it  is  said, 
makes  the  sweetest  cider,  and  it  will  keep  well 
into  the  early  summer.  For  leaching  a  kind 
of  clay  or  sand  is  used,  which  must  be  free  of 
all  mineral  substances.  The  clay  or  sand  used 
is  found  in  a  bed  near  Millville,  Mass. ;  it  is 
the  only  kind  known,  and  sells  at  $1.00  per 
barrel.  The  "leach"  is  prepared  as  follows  : 
A  pine  box  is  provided  12  feet  long,  6  wide,  2^ 
high,  with  a  raise  bottom  about  two  inches 
above  the  lower  one.  The  sand  is  spread  in 
the  box,  about  six  to  ten  inches  thick,  packed 
hard,  and  a  cloth  stretched  over  it  to  prevent 
any  particles  of  apple  or  other  substances  from 
passing  through.  Before  used  it  must  be 
washed.  Water  is  poured  in,  which  perco- 
lates through,  first  running  dirty  and  dis- 
colored, but  finally  clear  as  crystal,  which  is  a 
sign  that  the  sand  is  re.ady  for  use.  When 
large  quantities  of  cider  are  made  the  liquor 
is  run  into  tanks  from  the  pressing  machines 
and  allowed  to  stand  from  eight  to  ten  days. 
After  fermenting  it  is  run  into  the  leaches  and 
comes  out  cleaned  of  all  impurities.  Then  it 
is  barreled,  and  will  keep  all  winter  and  even 
up  to  early  summer.  This  process  is  now  the 
one  most  generally  in  use,  and  makes,  it  is 
claimed,  the  sweetest  cider.  It  is  also  a 
quicker  process,  and  this  year  new  cider  was 
in  the  market  as  early  as  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember. For  bottling,  after  being  well  settled 
it  is  drawn  off  into  bottles,  some  of  which, 
for  innnediate  use,  are  charged  with  carbonic 
acid  yas,  but  it  is  said  that  if  allowed  to  stand 
it  will  itself  generate  in  twenty  or  thirty  days 
sufficient  gas  to  make  a  good,  lively  cham- 
pafine  cider. 

The  second  process  of  clarifying  is  by  isin- 
glass or  fish  sounds.  Isinglass  (Russian  is  the 
best)  is  prepared  as  follows :  Any  certain 
quantity  is  broken  up,  placed  in  a  vessel,  and 
water  poured  on  to  cover  it,  Day  by  day 
more  water  is  added,  until  the  isinglass  is  all 
dissolved.  Of  this  one  ounce  is  sufficient  for 
a  forty-gallon  cask  of  cider,  by  thinning  it 
down  with  water  until  it  makes  about  half  a 
gallon.  This  is  turned  into  the  barrel,  the 
cider  being  violently  stirred  in  order  to 
thoroughly  mix.  At  this  preparation  sinks  it 
carries  with  it  all  foreign  siibstances.  Fish 
sounds  are  also  used  to  a  great  extent,  and  are 
prepared  as  follows  :  To  a  certain  quantity  of 
sounds  add  sullicient  cider  vinegar  to  cover 
them.  This  "cuts"  them,  and  in  about 
twelve  hours  makes  a  thick  paste.  Then  it  is 
worked  through  a  fine  seive,  which  reduces  it 
to  a  jelly-like  consistency.  For  a  forty-gallon 
cask  about  one  ounce  is  required.  This  should 
be  thinned  with  cider  from  the  same  lot  to  be 
clarified  until  it  makes  about  one-half  gallon, 
and  added  and  stirred  the  same  as  when  isin- 
glass is  used.  This  makes  a  cider  that  will 
keep  in  summer.  Some  manufacturers  claim 
that  one  ounce  is  too  much,  as  if  too  much  is 
used  it  will  affect  the  flavor  of   the  cider, 


im.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMfiF^. 


18^ 


and  this  is  said  to  be  the  cause  of  the  straiiRe 
flavor  sometimes  to  be  met  with  in  cider.  Ex- 
perience only  can  determine  tlie  exact  (luan- 
tity. 

Cider  is  now  largely  made  on  the  '■mill  sys- 
tem," the  same  as  cheese  is  made  by  the  fac- 
tory system,  tlie  owners  of  the  mills  biiyinf; 
the  apples  of  the  farmers,  and  in  some  in- 
stances talking  on  consignment  and  dividing 
the  profits,  pro  rata,  made  on  the  cider  pro- 
duced from  Ihem. 

Cider  to  be  cUirified  by  the  above  processes 
should  Ix' allowed  to  stand  about  ten  days  to 
ferment  and  settle,  tlien  the  I'larifying  ma- 
terial is  added,  and,  after  settling,  the  cider 
is  ready  to  be  drawn  off  into  other  casks  or 
bottled. 

The  city  saloon  trade  is  a  large  portion  of 
the  trade.  For  this  trade  cider  is  put  ui)  in 
three,  live,  ten  and  tifleen-gallon  kegs.  For 
the  Southern  trade,  iu  lialf  barrels,  twenty- 
eight  gallon  packages  and  bottles. — American 
Qrocer. 

HOME  AND  HAPPINESS. 

If  there  is  a  desire  which  is  shared  by  all 
the'huinan  race  it  is  the  desire  of  happiness. 
Indeed,  this  may  be  said  to  be  the  foundation 
of  all  desires,  or  rather  that  which  embraces 
and  includes  them  all  within  itself.  The 
eagerness  for  wealth,  the  thirst  for  fame,  tlie 
yearning  for  applause,  the  longing  for  affec- 
tion, the  hope  of  excellence — all  have  their 
roots  in  the  natural  desire  for  happiness.  It 
is  because  some  one  of  these  things  seems  to 
us,  to  hold  us  to  hold  out  the  best  promise  for 
happiness  that  we  are  solicitous  to  gain  it ; 
otherwise  it  would  lose  all  hold  upon  ns.  This 
is  not  wholly  a  seltish  desire.  Deep  down  in 
the  heart  of  each  man  and  woman  dwells  the 
wish  for  others'  happiness  as  well  as  his  own. 
It  may  be  weak  for  want  of  active  effort  ;  it 
may  be  obscured  by  the  larger  presence  of 
self-interest  ;  but  it  is  there,  and  if  nurtured 
and  developed  is  one  of  the  richest  sources  of 
earth's  enjoyments.  The  readiness  with 
which  a  community  will  respond  to  the  needs 
caused  by  some  sudden  emergency  is  alone 
sutlicient  proof  of  the  universal  existence  of 
this  desire.  Yet  in  our  daily  common-place 
life  it  is  apt  to  sink  into  the  background  and 
be  crowded  out  by  the  too  prominent  and  ab- 
sorbing cares  and  ambitious  which  have  .self 
for  their  centre. 

There  is  one  source  of  happiness  which  is 
seldom,  if  ever,  fully  appreciated  or  made  to 
yield  half  the  delicious  enjoyment  it  is  capable 
of.  affording.  We  aUuda  to  home  life.  There 
are  more  exciting  pleasures,  more  impetuous 
gratilicatiouR,  more  bewitching  attractions, 
but  nowhere  can  we  find  more  solid  and  per- 
manent happiness,  more  calm  and  enduring 
satisfaction,  more  innocent  and  gleeful  joy, 
than  in  a  family  home  wliere  love  reigns 
Bupreme.  One  cause  of  this  lies  in  the  perfect 
naturalness  of  its  relations.  There  is  nothing 
forced  or  arbitrary  about  the  grouping  of  this 
assemblage.  The  father  and  mother  have 
been  drawn  together,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  by 
mutual  affection.  Tlie  children,  bringing 
with  them  new  interests  and  new  joys,  have 
found,  one  by  one,  tlieir  appointed  places  and 
their  glad  welcomes.  It  is  no  artilicial  as- 
sembly, gathered  together  for  some  avowed 
purpose,  and  dissolved  when  that  purpose  is 
gained;  It  has,  indeed,  no  direct  mission  to 
fulfill  outside  its  own  boundaries.  Its  ex- 
istence and  happiness,  and  mutual  good  of  its 
members,  are  its  sufficient  aims.  Each  mem- 
ber, it  is  true,  has  other  relations  and  duties 
to  the  outside  world,  but  the  family,  as  a 
family,  is  a  litte  world  in  itself.  AH  the 
socialistic  enterprises  which  have  striven  to 
supplant  this  institution  have  failed,  sim|)ly 
because  they  were  warring  against  one  of  the 
strongest  instincts  of  human  niiture  ;  that 
which  draws  father,  mother  and  children  un- 
der one  roof-tree  and  around  one  hearthstone. 

Another  cause  of  the  happiness  which 
family  life  is  capable  of  shedding  may  be  found 
in  the  importance  with  wliich  each  member 
is  invested.  We  all  love  to  feel  ourselves 
centres  around    which    others   revolve;  but 


comparatively  few  in  society  can  have  this  ex- 
perience. Most  of  us  are  ever  circling  around 
others,  and  are  thus  reminded  of  our  own  in- 
significance ;  but  at  home  each  one  is  a  centre. 
No  matter  how  ob.scure  or  petty  his  life  may 
seem  ill  the  out-door  crowd,  let  him  once  en- 
ter the  sacred  portal  of  home  and  he  be(!onies 
of  consequence.  His  liealth,  his  interests,  his 
prospects  are  here  di.scus.sed  with  avidity,  his 
tastes  are  consulted,  his  uHeclion  prized  and 
his  whole  being  seems  invested  with  a  liigher 
duty. 

It  is  true,  however,  that  many  families  do 
not  realize  this  happiness.  .Sometimes  this 
is  because  they  lack  the  vitalizing  jiower  of 
love,  without  whicli  family  liappiness  must 
wither  and  die  as  surely  as  the  plant  without 
the  sun.  More  coininonly.  however,  the  love 
is  there,  but  obscured  and  shadowed  by  num- 
berless little  vexations,  tempers  and  discon- 
tents. The  husband  truly  loves  his  wife  and 
would  risk  his  life  for  her  without  amonienfs 
hesitancy;  yet  he  continually  sacrifices  her 
hajipiness  to  his  own  self-will  or  ill  humor  or 
selfish  indulgence.  The  wife  is  sincerely  at- 
tached to  her  husband,  and  in  any  great  issue 
of  life  would  be  his  slauncliest  supporter;  yet 
she  carelessly  makes  liim  the  victim  of  her 
fretfulness  or  extravagance,  or  neglects  to 
make  a  cheerful  and  inviting  home  for  his 
weary  hours.  So  with  parents  and  children; 
strong  cords  of  atl'ection  bind  them  together; 
but  the  harsh  reproof  or  the  stern  denial  on 
one  side,  and  the  sharp  retort,  or  the  sullen 
silence  on  the  otliei'  loosen  the  bonds  and 
destroy  the  beauty  of  the  relation.  It  is  not 
great  griefs  that  mar  the  harmony  of  family 
life.  It  is  little  faults,  little  neglects,  thought- 
less words,  selfish  exactions,  bad  habits.  There 
are  many  things  that  we  crave,  that  we  can 
never  acquire,  but  a  happy  home  is  accessible 
to  whoever  will  take  the  pains  to  obtain  it.  It 
does  not  require  much  money,  deep  culture, 
great  genius  nor  marked  talents;  it  does  need 
love  for  its  main  support,  and  the  constant 
expression  of  that  love  in  kindly  deeds,  gentle 
words,  and  willing  self-denial. — I'kiladelphia 

Ledger. 

^ 

FARMERS'  CLUB  NOTES. 

I  knew  a  farmer,  not  remarkable  for  his 
careful  management  of  manures,  nor  in  fact 
for  thrifty  farming,  and  he  occupied  a  farm 
rather  worn  by  previous  bad  management.  In 
a  few  years  past  it  has  been  noticed  that  he 
gels  crops  of  wheat  actually  larger  ilian  his 
neighbois  get,  and  the  improvement  attracted 
notice,  so  I  called  on  him  to  ascertain  what 
means  were  employed,  and  was  informed  that 
the  improvement  was  due  to  use  of  plaster  on 
his  wheat  in  the  fall,  the  rate  of  the  applica- 
tion being  about  two  bushels  to  the  acre.  He 
had  taken  no  other  steps  to  improve  the  yield 
of  wheat,  but  this  practice  had  been  kept  up 
through  several  years,  with  results    as  stated. 

On  a  former  occasion  I  recommended 
farmers  to  prepare  their  own  phosphates,  but 
I  have  seen  no  reasons  for  modifying  my 
opinions.  It  is  relatively  cheaper  to  make  up 
a  considerable  quantity,  as  I  have  already 
shown,  and  I  therefore  say  it  would  be  better 
for  the  farmers  of  a  neighborliood  to  join. 
Ground  bone  may  be  adulterated  very  much 
without  betraying  by  its  appearance  the 
wrong.  So  I  siiy  if  is  better  as  well  as  cheaper 
for  faruK^rs  to  prepare  their  own  phosphates. 
As  to  how  to  apply  them,  I  have  only  to  say 
there  is  no  better  way  to  drill  the  fertilizer  iu 
with  the  seed. 

Rye  for  fodder  makes  probably  the  best 
early  feed  that  can  be  obtained,  but  it  must 
be  cut  before  it  gets  too  ripe,  or  stock  will  not 
eat  it  with  relish.  It  can  be  sown  in  tlie 
summer  on  rich  ground,  and  will  make  con- 
siderable good  feed  from  an  acre.  It  is  .said 
that  if  it  be  .sown  then  it  will  not  head  in  the 
same  season,  but  I  never  yet  waited  long 
enough  to  see  how  it  would  be.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  anything  can  be  procured  to  take 
the  place  of  com  fodder,  taking  all  things 
into  account.  A  neighbor  of  mine  has  this 
season  grown  some  German  millec,  but  it  did 
not  come  up  to  his  expectation,  growing  very 


large  and  coarse  stalks  with  but  few  leaves. 
It  seems  very  innulritious,  but  when  it  comes 
to  be  fed  it  may  prove  better  than  it  looks.  I 
have  never  yet  succeeded  with  Hungarian 
grass  as  a  soiling  crop.  It  will  not  produce  a 
quarter  as  much  fodder  as  corn,  nor  do  cattle 
or  horses  like  it  as  well.  I  have  grown  eight 
tons  of  dry  corn  fodder  ))er  acre,  and  the 
total  expense  did  not  exceed  $12  per  acre  for 
labor  and  seed.  If  any  one  has  plenty  of 
time  to  take  care  of  the  crop  1  think  the  "best 
substitute  that  can  be  raised  is  beets.  But 
they  take  a  large  amount  of  work  during  the 
early  part  of  the  season,  and  to  be  very  suc- 
cessful there  must  be  a  great  deal  of  hand- 
hoeing  done  in  a  root  crop.  And  then  there 
is  much  more  trouble  and  risk  in  keeping 
them  for  winter  and  spring  feeding.  Yet 
an  acre  of  beets,  on  good  ground,  well  taken 
care  of,  will  produce  a  great  amount  of  excel- 
lent feed  for  cattle  and  hogs.  I  have  nearly 
wintered  store  hogs  on  sugar  beets,  and  kept 
them  in  good  growing  condition  all  the  lime. 
^ ■ — 

GREEN   FIELDS   IN  THE   MOON. 

When  the  moon  is  at  the  full,  the  assisted 
eye  readily  distinguishes  on  her  face  certain 
dark  gray  spots  more  or  less  sharply  separated 
from  the  brighter  portions.  Through  the 
telescope  these  spots  apjicar  as  broad,  level 
spaces  resenibling  terrestrial  seas.  Imleed, 
the  earlier  observers  mistook  them  for  .seas, 
and  by  that  name  (Latin,  mare)  they  are 
known  to  this  day.  They  are  not  seas,  however, 
but  ancients  sea-beds,  now  probably,  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  destitute  of  water ;  vast  arid 
basins  like  the  Sahara,  or  the  great  interior 
Utah  basin  of  our  own  continent. 

Examined  more  closely,  these  dried-up  sea- 
beds  are  seen  to  have  a  rolling  surface  like 
some  of  our  Western  prairies,  or  to  be 
traver-sed  by  numerous  long  ridges,  resemb- 
ling the  wave  like  sandhills  which  give  so 
marked  and  peculiar  an  appearance  to  the 
deserts  of  western  Australia,  the  levelcr 
portions  being  dotted  with  low  mounds  in- 
terspersed with  small  crater  pits.  In  many 
places  formations  of  an  apparently  alluvial 
character  abound,  while  the  ancient  coast 
lines  show  distinct  traces  of  water  action. 
Two  of  these  lunar  plains — Mare  Ilumorum 
and  Mare  Chrisium— are  walled  in  complete- 
ly by  lofty  mountains,  jnescnting  stupendous 
precipices  in  the  vanished  sea.  The  larger 
mares  are  more  like  ocean  beds.  They  run 
together  as  terrestial  oceans  do,  and  some- 
times merge  into  the  brighter  continental  re- 
gions, without  distinct  line  of  demarcation. 
In  other  places  they  show  a  rugged  coast  line, 
rising  into  clitfs  and  peaks,  and  pierced  at 
times  by  valleys  and  ravines. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  these  lunar 
ocean  beds,  also  one  of  the  deepest,  is  known 
as  the  Mare  Serenitatis.  Its  area  is  nearly 
12.5,000  square  miles.  Within  its  dark  gray 
border,  from  thirty  to  eighty  miles  wide,  is 
an  extensive  inner  iilain  which  at  times  pre- 
sents a  fine,  clear  light  green  tint,  with  a  cen- 
tral streak  of  pure  white,  the  green  area 
lying  lower  apparently  than  the  gray  exterior. 
The  green  tint  is  difficult  to  catch,  except  un- 
der favorable  conditions,  and  is  much  weak- 
ened by  the  effect  of  numerous  small  white 
round  spots  and  gray  ridges. 

Another  of  the  moon's  green  plains  was 
discovered  by  Madler  in  the  Mare  Ilumorum, 
already  mentioned.  This  is  one  of  the  .small- 
est as  well  as  most  distinctly  bordered  of  the 
dark  gray  plains.  Its  area  is  r)0,ttOO  square 
miles.  The  greater  portion  of  its  interior  is 
distinctly  tinged  a  dusky  green,  sometimes 
very  marked,  affording  a  strong  contrast  with 
the  pure  gray  of  the  borders  and  high  en- 
closing ridges.  On  the  west  the  green  area 
extends  nearly  to  the  edge  of  the  mare,  but 
el.sewhere,  as  in  the  Mare  Serenitatis,  it  is 
separated  from  the  border  by  a  narrow, 
darker  gray  fringe,  except  on  the  northwest, 
where  the  gray  and  preen  areas  merge  insen- 
sibly into  each  other. 

Still  another  area  of  green  is  observed  in 
the  Mare  Chrisium,  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous of  the  moon's  dark  plains.    It  is  com* 


i88 


TH^E  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[  December, 


pletely  enclosed,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  deepest 
of  the  lunar  marcs.  Its  area  is  78,000  square 
miles.  Its  general  tint  is  a  gray  mixed,  with 
an  inmiistakable  tinge  of  green,  especially 
under  high  illumination.  The  verdant  hue  is 
seen  to  best  advantage  for  several  days  before 
and  after  the  moon  is  full. 

These  and  other  color  changes  on  the  face 
of  the  moon — as,  for  instance,  the  darkening 
of  the  great  ring  plain  of  Plato,  with  increas- 
ing light,  and  like  changes  in  certain  long, 
winding  lunar  valleys — led  Beer  and  Madler 
to  suggest  that  they  would  indicate  vegeta- 
tion, were  vegetation  possible  on  the  surface 
of  the  moon.  But  having  accepted  Bessel's 
conclusion  that  there  could  be  neither  air  nor 
water  on  the  lunar  surface,  and  consequently 
no  life,  those  much  respected  selenographers 
coidd  not  entertain  the  hypothesis  of  lunar 
vegetation,  however  strong  the  evidence  might 
seem. 

But  Bessel's  opinion  is  inconsistent,  not  only 
with  the  conditions  on  which  he  based  his  cal- 
culations, but  also  with  the  results  of  more  re- 
cent .studies  of  the  state  of  the  moon's  surface. 
.So  far  from  being  an  airless,,waterleRS  desert, 
a  changeless  mass  of  dead  matter,  like  so  much 
volcanic  scoria,  the  moon  is  now  known  to 
have  an  atmosphere  of  considerable  volume 
and  density,  to  present  abundant  evidence  of 
physical  activity  and  change,  and  to  have  in 
all  probability  water  enough  to  make  life 
easily  possible  on  its  surface.  The  moon  is 
dying,  but  very  far  from  dead.  Being  so 
much  smaller  than  the  earth,  it  has  run  its 
course  more  rapidly,  but  is  t>till  a  good  way 
ofi  from  that  goal  of  ultimate  deadness  to 
which  .so  many  astronomers  have  theoretically 
assigned  it.  There  is  not  the  slightest  ade- 
quate evidence  of  the  popular  view,  and  "  its 
truth  would  be  admitted  by  no  astronomer 
who  had  deviated  sufficient  attention  to  selen- 
ography to  enable  him  to  thoroughly  realize 
the  probable  present  condition  of  the  moon." 

Such  being  the  ca.se,  the  hypothesis  that  the 
moon's  green  plains  derive  their  color  from 
vegetation  seems  to  be  impossible  or  absurd. 
The  evidence  is  not  of  a  character  to  justify  a 
positive  assertion  that  the  mythical  man  in 
the  moon  may  have  abundant  pasturage  for 
his  cattle  ;  but  his  case  ceases  to  be  absolutely 
hopeless  when  a  thoroughgoiug  selenographer 
can  say,  as  Xeison  does,  that  the  moon  may 
possess  an  atmosphere  that  must  be  regarded 
as  fully  capable  of  sustaining  various  forms  of 
vegetation  of  even  an  advanced  type  ;  that  it 
does  not  appear  how  it  can  justly  be  questioned 
that  the  lunar  surface  in  favorable  positions 
may  yet  retain  a  sufficiency  of  moisture  to 
support  vegetation  of  many  kinds,  and  that, 
in  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  entire 
surface  of  the  moon,  the  temperature  would 
not  vary  sufficiently  to  materially  affect  the 
existence  of  vegetable  hfe. — Scientific  Ameri- 
can. 

SCIENTIFIC   AGRICULTURE, 

The  report  on  commercial  fertilizers,  by 
Professor  P.  Collier,  member  of  the  scientific 
commission  of  the  United  States  to  the  Inter- 
national Exhibition  at  Vienna  in  1873,  has 
appeared  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet  of  sixty- 
seven  pages,  and  is  replete  with  interesting 
matter.  It  gives  a  large  number  of  statistics 
concerning  the  trade  in  fertilizers  in  Europe 
and  America,  their  sources,  character,  value 
and  cost. 

The  report  of  Professor  Collier  coincides 
fully  with  the  common  experience  in  Europe 
and  in  this  country  in  showing  that  there  is  a 
grear  deal  of  fraud  in  commercial  fertilizers  ; 
that  at  the  same  time  the  bulk  of  what  is  in 
the  market  is  good,  and  that  the  only  method 
to  prevent  frauds,  enable  the  farmer  to  make 
sure  of  getting  reliable  wares,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  improve  the  general  quality  of  the 
wares,  as  sold,  rests  in  control  systems  based 
on  chemical  analysis. 

The  fertilizer  control  system  introduced  in 
Connecticut  by  the  State  experiment  station 
is  working  very  satisfactorily.  A  considerable 
number  of  low-grade  and  fraudulent  fertil- 
izers have  baen  examined,  and  their  character 


exposed.  One  article,  forinstance,  which  had 
been  sold  for  $55  per  ton,  a  discount  from  the 
regular  price  of  $60  per  ton  being  made  "to 
introduce  the  article,"  proved  to  be  nearly 
one-half  sand,  and  to  have  a  commercial  value 
of  about  S8  per  ton.  Several  parties  who  had 
bought  and  tried  the  article,  on  learning  the 
result  of  the  analysis,  refused  payment,  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money  being  tlius  saved  to 
the  victims  of  the  fraud.  Arrangements  are 
made  whereby  responsible  fdealers  sell  their 
goods  under  supervision  of  the  station,  guar- 
anteeing their  composition,  and  holding  them 
at  all  times  subject  to  examination  by  the  sta- 
tion. Purchasers  have  also  the  privilege  of 
having  the  fertilizers  they  buy  analyzed  at  the 
station  at  small  cost  or  for  nothing. 

The  important  question  as  to  the  form  of 
nitrogen  most  suitable  for  the  nutrition  of 
plants  has  been  studied  by  Lchmann,  who 
has  lately  experimented  with  buckwheat, 
maize,  and  tobacco,  supplying  nitrogen  in 
some  cases  in  the  form  of  nitrates,  and  in 
others,  in  the  form  of  ammonia  salts.  He 
concludes  that  some  plants  require  ammonia 
in  their  first  period  of  vegetation,  and  nitric 
acid  in  the  second,  but  that  ammonia  may, 
by  oxidation  in  the  soil,  produce  the  nitric 
acid  needed. 

Of  the  many  new  ways  in  which  science 
has  of  late  come  to  be  applied  to  agriculture, 
one  of  the  most  interesting,  as  well  as  mo.st 
useful,  is  in  the  investigation  of  seeds.  In 
1869  Dr.  Nobbe,  director  of  the  agricultural 
experiment  station  at  Tharand,  in  Saxony, 
commenced  the  study  of  seeds  in  common 
use  in  Germany,  and  founded  the  first  "seed 
control  station."  How  much  of  good  has 
come  from  this  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  during  the  seven  years  that  have  since 
elapsed  over  4,000  samples  of  seeds  have 
been  examined  at  Tharand;  that  adulterations 
have  been  discovered,  most  ingenious  in 
character,  harmful  in  effect,  and  remarkable 
in  amount,  so  much  so  as  to  work  a  by  no 
means  inconsiderable  injury  to  the  agricul- 
ture of  the  country  ;  and  that  some  twenty- 
seed  control  stations  have  been  established  in 
Germany,  while  others  have  been  either 
founded  or  projected  in  Denmark,  Austria, 
Hungary,  Holland,  Belgium  and  Italy. 
Among  the  adulterations  found  are  old  seeds 
that  have  lost  their  power  of  germinating 
seeds  of  either  useless  or  noxious  plants, 
sometimes  killed  and  sometimes  fresh,  and 
even  pieces  of  quartz  rock,  ground,  sifted 
and  colored  to  imitate  genuine  seeds. — Bar- 
per''s  Magazine. 


OUR  LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Proceedings   of   the  Lancaster  County   Agri- 
cultural and  Horticultural  Society. 

The  regular  monthly  meetine:  of  the  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Society,  of  Lancaster  county,  was 
held  in  the  Athasneum  rooms  on  Monday  afternoon, 
Dec.  4,  President  Cooper  in  the  chair. 

The  following;  members  were  present:  Messrs. 
Calvin  Cooper,  Henry  M.  Engle,  Martin  D.  Kendig, 
Johnson  Miller,  Wm.  McComsey,  S.  S.  Rathvnn, 
Jacob  Bollinger,  J.  Frank  Landis,  Webster  Hershey, 
C.  L.  Hunsecker,  Mr.  Hershey,  John  C.  Linvilie,  E. 
S.  Hoover,  D.  W.  Swartz,  Peter  S.  Reist,  Levi  S. 
Keist,  John  Buckwalter,  Simon  Eby,  John  B.  Erb. 

The  committee  appointed  to  revise  the  Constitution 
and  By-Laws  of  the  Society,  reported  that  they  had 
finished  the  work  assigned  them,  so'far  as  related  to 
the  Constitution.  On  motion  the  Constitution  was 
read  by  sections,  and  after  a  few  corrections,  was 
adopted.  The  committee  was  continued  to  revise  the 
By-Laws,  to  report  at  some  subsequent  meeting. 

The  report  of  crops  being  next  in  order,  Johnson 
Miller  said  that  the  grain  looks  rather  poor  in  his 
section.  Yellow  patches  showed  that  the  Hessian 
fly  had  made  its  appearance. 

Messrs.  Enqle  and  Kendig  stated  that  no  ma- 
terial change  was  noticed  in  the  appearance  of  the 
crops  since  the  last  meeting.  Both  these  gentlemen 
report  the  amount  of  rain  fall  during  the  last  month 
at  about  4  inches. 

Several  other  members  from  various  sections  of  the 
county,  reported  the  appearance  of  the  Hessian  fly  in 
the  wheat,  and  that  the  early  sown  wheat  was  the 
principal  source  of  attack. 

H.  M.  Engle  read  an  essay  on  "Vegetable  vs. 
Animal  Diet."  He  did  not  expect  to  convert  or  con- 
vince any  person  that  they  could  get  along  without 
tlie  use  of  flesh  diet.    Matters  are  generally  Judged 


and  decided  upon  custom  and  habit  rather  than  real 
merit.  Man,  in  his  primeval  state,  subsisted  simply 
on  fruits,  and  he  remained  a  vegetable  eater  until 
after  the  deluge,  at  which  time  he  reached  a  greater 
age  than  has  ever  since  been  attained.  After  the 
flood,  man  commenced  to  eat  flesh,  and  his  life  was 
shortened.  Flesh  eating  has  prevailed  to  a  certain 
extent  in  some  nations  ever  since,  but  when  com- 
pared with  those  nations  who  do  not  resort  to  flesh 
meats,  the  preponderance  is  in  favor  of  the  latter, 
lie  referred  to  Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel  •  how 
they  would  have  rather  died  by  the  flesh  pots  of 
Egypt  than  from  hunger  in  the  wilderness,  but  they 
were  saved  by  food  sent  them  in  the  shape  of  manna 
and  quails.  They  could  have  been  sustained  by  the 
manna,  but  they  clamored  after  flesh,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  a  plague  visited  them  and  multi- 
tudes died  with  the  flesh  of  the  quails  in  their  teeth. 
The  case  of  Daniel  and  his  Jewish  companions,  who 
lived  on  a  vegetable  diet  for  three  years,  was  in- 
stanced, as  also  other  Biblical  references.  Men 
eminent  for  learning  and  longevity,  who  abstained  en- 
tirely from  flesh  diet  were  mentioned,  as  well  as  many 
quotations  from  vegetable  authors  in  support  of  a 
vegetable  diet,  one  of  which  stated  that  over  one-half 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  either  from  necessity 
or  choice,  subsisted  on  vegetables.  The  ancient 
Greeks,  Athenians  and  Syrians,  never  ate  flesh,  and 
the  hundreds  of  millions  of  Southern  Asia  live  en- 
tirely on  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  The  Komans  also 
preferred  vegetable  food.  He  could  not  understand 
what  appetite  first  induced  man  to  taste  of  a  dead 
carcass.  Every  philosopher,  from  Pythagoras  to 
Franklin,  had  given  this  testimony  in  favor  of  a  vege- 
table diet.  According  to  natural  laws,  health  and 
longevity  are  the  lot  of  man,  and  he  is  under  the 
most  solemn  obligation  to  his  God,  his  church  and 
the  world  not  to  injure  or  shorten  it.  The  idea  that 
we  must  partake  of  stimulating  food  and  drink  to 
produce  strength  is  erroneous,  and  we  could  now  no 
more  induce  a  laboring  man  to  believe  that  he  could 
do  just  as  great  a  day's  labor  without  the  use  of  meat 
as  we  could  convince,  forty  years  ago,  our  harvest 
hands  of  their  ability  to  do  a  day's  work  without 
their  due  allowance  of  whisky.  Harvest  hands  do 
more  and  better  work  now  than  under  the  whisky 
regime.  The  essayist  thought  the  positive  testimony 
as  to  the  ability  of  men  and  women  in  all  ages  and 
climes  to  accomplish  any  amount  of  necessary  labor 
without  the  use  of  flesh  diet,  was  enough  to  convince 
the  most  skeptical.  He  would  not  have  it  said  that 
all  flesh  food  was  unhealthy,  but  claimed  that  the 
vegetable  kingdom  yielded  enough  food,  which  was 
best  adapted  to  man's  nature  and  well  being,  and 
which  would  not  excite  our  carniverous  propensities. 
The  dangerous  use  of  swine  flesh  was  severely  com- 
mented upon,  and  after  stating  that  the  testimony  in 
favor  of  a  vegetarian  diet  was  really  inexhaustible, 
he  closed  by  inviting  the  serious  consideration  of  all 
to  the  subject,  as  it  benefited  them  as  well  as  their 
posterity. 

John  B.  Erb  believed  that  circumstances  often 
alter  cases.  A  great  many  persons  eat  what  they 
have,  and  never  think  of  what  they  should  eat. 
Several  scriptural  quotations  were  referred  to,  such  as 
when  Christ  said  "eat  such  thinge  as  are  set  before 
you,"  and  the  voice  saying  to  Peter,  "rise,  kill  and 
eat."  He  believed  in  the  eating  of  flesh,  as  many 
persons  were  so  situated  that  they  could  not  have 
vegetables  all  the  time.  If  animals  are  properly 
cared  for,  they  can  be  kept  free  of  disease. 

C.  L.  HcNSECKER  believed  in  the  remarks  made 
by  Mr.  Erb,  and  spoke  at  some  length  in  favor  of  a 
flesh  diet.  He  thought  there  was  nothing  so  good  as 
a  nice  piece  of  beefsteak  or  turkey,  and  when  they  are 
on  the  table  they  will  tempt  any  one  to  eat — even  a 
vegetarian . 

Ephraim  Hoover  thought  experience  should  teach 
one  what  he  ought  to  eat.  He  sided  to  a  great  ex- 
tent with  the  essayist,  and  yet  he  believed  there  were 
some  persons — those  who  are  compelled  to  do  out 
door  work  almost  constantly — who  could  not  do  with- 
out animal  food.  He  did  not  believe  in  the  eating  of 
swine  flesh,  and  said  if  he  had  the  power  he  would 
banish  it  entirely  from  the  earth. 

Simon  P.  Ebt  did  not  agree  altogether  with  the 
essayist.  He  did  not  think  that  the  people  of  the 
temperate  zone  could  do  without  animal  food,  as  in 
winter  seasons  they  needed  something,  like  clothing, 
to  warm  them  up,  and  the  only  remedy  in  this  case, 
he  believed,  was  animal  food.  The  men  who  rule 
the  universe  are  sustained  by  a  mixed  diet.  The 
great  trouble  is  the  majority  of  people  do  not  know 
when  to  stop  eating. 

W.M.  MrCoMSET  said  the  fact  that  three-fourths 
of  mankind  die  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  In- 
vests the  subject  of  diet,  now  under  discussion,  with 
interest  and  importance,  as  we  may,  perhaps,  through 
the  investigation,  Icaru'something  of  the  causes  which 
lead  to  the  eifi'ly  death  of  so  large  a  proportion  of 
the  human  family.  Whilst  he  was  not  sufficiently 
skilled  in  science  to  tell  the  precise  effect  of  particu- 
lar kinds  of  food  upon  the  human  system,  or  its  in- 
fluence upon  our  mental,  moral  and  physical  develop- 
ment, he  did  not  believe  it  was  owing  so  much  to  the 
kind  of  food  we  eat,  but  rather  to  ignorance  of  the 
science  of  human  physiology,  and  violations  of  the 
laws  of  health,  which  caused  their  great  mortality. 


1876.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


189 


He  believed  our  Alhvlee  Creator  liad  provided  for  all 
his  creatures,  wherever  found,  the  kinds  of  food  hest 
adapted  to  their  wants.  In  the  torrid  zone  we  Hnd 
the  inhubituut8  subsist  eliielly  upon  fruit  and  vejreta- 
blc  fooii,  to  cool  the  system  and  enable  it  to  endure 
heat,  whilst  in  the  fri^'id  zones  we  tind  tln'm  subsist- 
ing: almost  entirely  upon  fat  and  auini&l  food,  to  en- 
able them  to  endure  tlie  rlfrld  climate.  We  live  In  a 
temperate  zone,  and  seem  to  require  both  ve^'etable 
and  animal  food,  the  latter  to  enal)le  us  to  endure 
the  great  chani^es  of  temperature  to  whieli  we  are 
exposed.  We  also  find  the  temperate  zones  nmonijst 
the  consumers  of  mixed  food — both  vctjctable  and 
animal — the  hiuhest  mental,  moral  and  physical  de- 
velopment. Mr.  .Met'onisey  did  not  liclieve  that 
Ionise  vity  with  us  depended  entirely  upon  the  exclusive 
use  of  vegetable  food,  but  through  moderation,  a 
temperate  use  of  all  things,  and  a  strict  observance 
of  the  laws  of  health,  millions  more  than  now  do 
might  live  to  a  cheerful  and  hajipy  old  age. 

Johnson  Miller  moved  that  the  discussion  of 
the  essay  be  continued  at  next  meeting.    Agreed  to. 

A  vole  of  thanks  was  tendered  the  essayist  for  bis 
able  production. 

A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  secure  n 
room  for  the  use  of  the  I'ennsylvania  Kruit  firowers' 
Society,  which  meets  in  this  city  on  the  third  of  Jan- 
uary. This  society  was  organized  In  this  city  about 
fifteen  years  ago,  and  has  been  holding  meetings  an- 
nually ever  since.  The  committee  consist  of  .Messrs. 
8.  S.  Kathvon,  Wni.  McComsey  and  Levi  S.  Keist. 

II.  M.  Knulf.  annoneed  that  a  meeting  of  the 
Tobacco  Growers  would  be  held  in  the  Atbaeneum 
rooms  on  the  third  Monday  of  this  month. 

A  letter  was  received  from  A.  T  (ioshoru  stating 
that  the  fruit  represented  by  the  Society  at  the  Cen- 
tennial received  an  award. 

Adjourned. 

^ 

Tobacco  Growers'  Association. 

This  association  met  statedly  in  the  Athcn.TCura 
Rooms,  Monday  afternoon,  Dec.  18th,  at  tws  o'clock, 
M.  D.  Kendig,  of  Manor,  in  the  chair,  and  W.  L. 
Ilershey  acting  as  Secretary.  Members  present — 
.Messrs.  A.  II.  Sunimy,  M.  D.  Kendig,  I.  S.  Landis, 
Peter  S.  Keist,  Epliraiin  Hoover,  Colin  Cameron, 
Henry  Myers  and  W.  L.  Ilershey.  Visitors  present 
— J.  F.  Landis,  J.  Huber,  Henry  Landis,  John  Gar- 
bcr,  H.  .M.  Engle,  Andrew  Landis,  A.  Grofl",  A.  Kitter 
and  Keuber  Garber. 

The  first  business  before  the  meeting  was  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  Constitution,  Colin  Cameron  wanting 
it  In  sheets,  with  a  book  for  the  registration  of  the 
names  of  members.  He  thought  the  constitution 
imperfect  and  unsatisfactory. 

Petkk  S.  Hkist  thought  It  might  be  subscribed  to 
in  its  present  shape,  and  be  amended  afterward  as 
necessity  required. 

The  constitution  was  then  adopted. 

CROP   REPORTS 

being  in  order,  Colin  Cameron,  of  Maytown,  re- 
marked that  early  in  the  season  growers  iu  his  dis- 
trict thought  the  crop  would  be  bad,  but  the  reverse 
had  been  the  case.  Early  and  late  tobacco  grew 
well,  but  the  worm  destroyed  much  of  the  late  crop. 
He  believed  it  to  be  a  mistake  to  attempt  to  raise  too 
much  acreage.  Men  who  planted  only  two  acres 
had  almost  invariably  raised  the  best  crop.  The 
tobacco  of  his  district  was  of  good  color,  and  prices 
ranged  from  15  to  25  cents. 

A.  GiiOFF,  of  Strasburg,  was  not  so  well  posted  as 
he  should  be,  but  this  he  knew,  that theearly  planted 
had  live  large  leaves,  of  good  quality — particularly 
that  grown  on  sandy  soil.  His  section  had  grown 
an  extensive  crop,  some  of  which  was  destroyed  by 
the  worm.  Some  leaves  had  eggs  on  when  put  in 
the  sheds,  and  dripped  very  extensively.  Choice 
lots  sold  in  hisvicintity  at  2.S  and  30,  and  thegrowers 
feel  much  encouraged  with  these  prices.  He  saw  no 
reason  why  Lancaster  county  should  not  outstrip 
Connecticut,  and  he  referred  In  terms  of  praise  to 
our  Immense  warehouses.  The  association,  he 
thought,  might  build  warehouses  of  their  own,  on 
the  combination  principle,  and  they  could  place 
their  tobacco  iu  them  in  charge  of  competent 
persons. 

Peter  S.  Reist  said  that  tobacco  sold  in  his  dis- 
trict at  from  15  to  2.5  cents— or  at  about  20  all  aj-ound. 
He  did  not  Intend  to  say  much,  having  joined  the 
association  in  order  to  learn  from  others. 

Harry  Myers,  of  East  Heinpfielti,  was  called 
on,  but  said  he  knew  little  of  the  crop  in  his  dis- 
trict, that  Ephraim  Hoover  knew  more,  and  he 
called  upon  him. 

Mr.  Hoover  believed  that  the  tobacco  in  the 
vicinity  of  Petersburg  and  Kohrerstown  would  com- 
pare favorably  with  the  hest  in  the  county,  which 
was  saying  a  good  deal,  he  thought.  The  tobacco 
worm  had  been  bad  in  both  places,  but  the  growers 
kept  their  patches  well  cleared  of  the  pest,  so  that 
little  tobacco  was  lost  after  it  was  in  shed.  The 
color  of  the  leaf  was  all  right.  He  referred  to  many 
farmers  now  buildiughouses on  their  farms  expressly 
for  tobacco.  In  .Manheim  township  the  tobacco  was 
also  very  fine.  He  had  heard  of  lots  that  had  been 
sold,  between  Lancaster  and  LItltz,  fo-  825  all 
round. 


I.  L.  Lanris  now  moved  that  visitors  present  be 
asked  to  make  a  report.  Adopted,  and  John  Garber, 
of  Maytown,  having  been  called  on,  said  he  believed 
growers  could  do  better  with  their  tobacco  by  casing 
it.  Eastern  manufacturers  could  then  see  exactly 
what  they  were  buying,  when  they  came  here,  and 
growers  would  not  be  obliged  to  take  low  prices  In 
order  to  make  uj)  for  shrinkage. 

Mr.  Kendk;,  of  Manor,  said  that  bis  observa- 
lions  of  the  crop  had  been  about  the  same  as 
those  of  the  gentlemen  from  other  sections  of  the 
county.  There  had  been  a  very  fair  growth,  and  it 
was  now  curing  nicely.  He  hoped  all  growers  in 
this  coimty  would  take  a  lesson  from  the  worm  with 
which  they  had  aeen  alllicted— not  to  overreach 
thcm.sclvcs  in  the  future— not  to  put  out  more  tobac- 
co than  they  could  handle.  He  agreed  with  the  gen- 
tleman who  had  just  sqoken,  that  many  farmers 
put  out  too  much  acreage  in  tobacco.  He  believed 
in  raising  the  standard"  of  tobacco  in  this  county, 
and  then  fancy  prices  could  be  demanded  and  ob- 
tained. 

RF.unEN  Garber,  of  Silver  Springs,  West  Hemii- 
lleld  township,  reported  the  crop  in  his  district  to  l)e 
e.xccllent  in  condition.  The  color  was  good,  but 
they  had  some  little  trouble  with  the   banner  worm. 

A.  H.  St'MMY  stated  that  what  he  first  i)lanted 
turned  out  good,  the  second  planting  not  so  good, 
and  the  third  crop  had  been  cut  by  the  worm  a  good 
deal.  He  had  found  horse  manure  an  excellentlthlng 
for  low,  heavy  ground. 

M.  N.  BRtKAKEH,  of  East  Hcmpfleld,  reported  an 
excellent  crop  in  his  vicinity,  though  It  had  been 
hurt  by  the  worm .  He  did  not  now  raise  tobacco. 
He  had  started  with  1000  plants  and  failed.  If  he 
had  taken  500  hundred  he  might  have  succeeded, 
and  he  agreed  with  the.  President,  that  there  should 
be  less  acreage. 

Peter  S.  Reist,  essayist  for  the  day,  read  an  in- 
teresting essay,  giving  many  interesting  statistics  on 
the  tobacco  trade.  He  gave  his  experience  In  raising 
the  weed,  and  threw  out  many  valuable  hints  and 
suggestions.  The  essay  was  practical  throughout, 
and  want  of  space  alone  precludes  its  publication  In 
full. 

The  essay  brought  out  a  discussion,  which  was 
participated  in  by  Colin  Cameron,  W.  L.Hershey, 
Eph.  Hoover,  I.  S.  Landis,  Harry  Myers,  M.  D. 
Kendig  and  Peter  S.  Reist.  The  subjects  discussed 
were  the  worm,  and  how  to  circumvent  It ;  the  black 
rot,  and  Its  cause  ;  and  what  is  the  best  fertilizer. 
On  this  latter  question,  which  was  the  principal 
topic,  there  were  a  variety  of  opinions.  One  used 
lime,  another  bone  manure,  another  hog  manure, 
another  hen  manure— all  of  them  having  proved 
good,  by  the  actual  experience  of  those  present.  The 
question  as  to  whether  the  manure  manifested  Itself 
in  the  flavor  of  the  tobacco  was  considered,  the  gen- 
eral opinion  being  that  it  did  not.  Colin  Cameron 
thought,  however,  that  in  order  to  be  on  the  safe 
side,  the  land  should  be  manured  early,  in  order  to 
give  the  manure  plenty  of  time  to  be  thoroughly 
worked  in.  If  there  was  anything  in  the  theory  th.it 
hog  manure  made  strong,  disagreeable  tobacco,  this 
would  most  likely  prevent  it. 

Under  the  head  of  new  business,  I.  L.  Landis  said 
he  had  done  as  much  as  one  man  ought  to  have  done 
iu  order  to  have  Lancaster  county  tobacco  repre- 
sented at  the  Centennial.  He,  with  a  few  others, 
had  made  a  little  display  there,  and  he  had  every 
reason  to  believe  that  it  had  done  the  tobacco- 
growers  of  this  county  some  good— that  it  would  send 
buyers  here.  He  now  suggested  that  an  effort  be 
made  to  get  up  an  exhibit  from  this  county  for  the 
permanent  exhibition  at  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Summy  suggested  that^each  member  bring  a 
sample  along  to  the  next  meeting  for  this  purpose, 
which  was  concurred  in. 

Colin  Cameron  was  appointed  essayist  for  the 
next  meeting. 

I.  L.  Landis  submitted  the  following  referred 
questions:  What  variety  of  tobacco  pays  farmers 
best?  What  kind  of  fertilizers  arc  best  for  tobacco 
land  ?  How  may  plants  be  raised  most  successfully  i 
How  should  tobacco  be  stripped  and  prepared  for  the 
market,  and  into  how  many  sorts  should  it  be  made  ! 
The  last  question  was  selected  for  discussion  at  the 
next  meeting,  aud  A.  J.  Groff,  of  Paradise,  was  ap- 
pointed to  answer  it. 

After  approving  a  bill  of  $1.00  for  advertising 
meeting  in  The  Examiner  and  E-VPress,  and  a 
bill  of  ?7.20  for  subscriptions  to  the  "Tobacco  Leaf" 
and  "The  United  States  Tobacco  Journal,"  the  asso- 
ciation adjourned  to  meet  on  the  third  Monday  In 
January. 

DRIED  EGGS. 

A  new  Industry — that  of  drying  eggs — has  been 
set  on  foot  at  Passau,  on  the  Danube,  and  the  Prus- 
sian military  authorities  are  about  to  give  the  pro- 
duct a  trial  for  soldiers'  rations.  The  London  \cies 
says  several  German  chemists  are  very  sanguine  as  to 
the  success  of  the  experiment,  and  they  prononnce 
dried  eggs  to  have  lost  none  of  their  valuable  pro- 
perties by  the  gradual  evaporation  of  the  water  con- 
tained by  them  In  tbelr  origlDal  state. 


DOMESTIC  ECONOMY. 
Household  Recipes. 

COLORED    HOSE, 

now  so  fashionable,  should  be  laid  in  strong  salt  water 
before  being  washed  the  lirst  time.  They  will  never 
fade  or  "run"  afterwards. 

TO    CLEAN    WINDOWS. 

Wash  first  with  a  sponge  and  good  soap  suds  ;  then 
rub  with  a  dry  doth,  and  lastly  jKiIish  with  a  iiews- 
[laper- it  is  superior  for  the  purpose  to  chamois  skin. 
Mirrors  may  be  done  In  the  same  manner. 

FOR   A   SITTINO   ROOM, 

flowers  and  patterns  cut  from  chintz,  pasted  on,  then 
varnished.  If  tastefully  done  they  look  exceedingly 
well.  The  jars  should  be  selected  with  small  mouths, 
to  conceal  the  contents  of  the  jars  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. 

SCRAr  JAMS, 

for  parlor,  drawing  room  or  library.  These  are  very 
useful  and  ornamental  to  put  waste  paper  or  clip- 
pings in.  For  a  drawing  room  a  china  one  Is  most 
suitable;  for  the  library  we  have  seen  the  common 
unglazed  jars  used,  painted  In  oil,  to  imitate  ehlua, 
and  afterwards  varnished. 

TO  REMOVE  OREASE  SPOTS 

from  carpets,  spri^ad  the  spot  over  very  liberally  with 
dry  buckwheat  flour.  In  a  few  hours  brush  off.  If 
the  si>ot  has  not  entirely  disappeared  a  second  appli- 
cation will  do  it.  Or  a  brush,  common  brown  soap 
aud  cold  water  will  remove  the  spots,  but  hot  water 
should  never  be  applied. 

MARDLE  MANTELS 

that  have  become  badly  discolored  by  smoke  may  bo 
made  perfectly  clean  by  the  application  of  benzine. 
Put  it  on  liberally,  then  rub  off  with  a  dean  flannel. 
If  one  a|)plication  does  not  do  it  clfcctually  a  second 
will.  Never  ajqjly  soap.to  marble;  it  takes  off  the 
polish  ;  t)ut  grease  spots  may  be  removed  by  the  ap- 
plication of  powdered  magnesia. 

TO  CLEAN  OIL  CLOTHS, 

add  a  little  milk  to  the  water  iu  which  oil  cloths  are 
washed, but  never  use  soap.    It  removes  the  gloss  as 

well  as  the  dust. 

A  little  milk  added  to  the  water  for  washing  dishes 
is  far  better  than  soap,  we  have  been  told,  but  as  we 
do  not  know  this  from  experience,  we  give  it  for  what 
it  is  worth. 

AN  INEXPENSIVE  BLUING   FOR  CLOTHS. 

Dissolve  half  an  once  of  Prussian  blue  and  one- 
quarter  ounce  of  oxalic  acid  in  one  quart  cold  water; 
ready  for  use  in  twenty-four  h(jurs.  It  can  be  made 
in  same  proportion  for  large  families  or  hotels  and 
will  be  found  superior  to  that  which  comes  already 
prepared  in  bottles.  We  have  used  this  for  yearsand 
found  it  very  satisfactory. 

TO  WASH  WOOLEN  BLANKET;^, 
put  into  a  good  suds,  made  of  common  brown  soap, 
with  a  few  spoonfuls  of  aqua  ammonia  added.  Rub 
no  soap  on  the  blankets,  as  it  shrinks  them,  but  have 
the  water  as  hot  as  the  hands  can  bear.  When  clean, 
passjthrough  the  wringer  by  folding  four  times  length- 
wise. Then  put  into  another  hot  suds,  with  the  ammo- 
nia added.  Hinse  in  tliis,  but  not  in  dear  water.  It 
makes  the  wool  much  whiter  and  softer  than  when 
clear  water  is  used.  Shake  the  blankets  well,  stretch 
thera  evenly,  and  hang  smoothly  in  the  sun  to  dry. 
TO  CLEA?;  zi.vc. 

Zinc  that  is  used  under  stoves  should  never  be 
dampened.  If  it  becomes  soiled  or  dim,  rub  with  a 
flannel  and  a  little  fresh  lanl.  In  this  way  it  will  al- 
ways look  as  new  and  bright  as  when  first  purchased. 

Equal  parts  of  turpentine  and  ammonia  makes  one 
of  the  best  of 

WASHING    FLUIDS 

without  injuring  the  clothes  ;  a  few  spoonfuls  added 
to  a  tub  of  water. 

If  smoothing  irons  become  rough,  rub  thein  on  a 
piece  of  beeswax  tied  in  a  piece  of  linen.  Keep  it 
alwayson  the  laundry  table  for  use. 

TO    POLISH   FURNITURE 

use  equal  jiarts  of  boiled  linseed  oil  and  kerosene. 
Apply  it  with  a  fiamicl,  and  rub  dry  with  another 
flannel.  It  will  remove  all  white  marks  and  scratches, 
and  should  be  kept  always  ready  for  use.  It  gives  a 
room  a  fresh  appearance  to  rub  all  the  furniture  with 
this  preparation.  One  feels  well  rewarded  for  the 
labor.  If  any  white  spots  are  so  flrmly  fixed  that 
the  polish  does  not  remove  them,  it  caii  be  done  by 
rubbing  with  turpentine,  then  holding  a  hot  shovel 
over  them. 

TO    REMOVE    PEACH    STAINS    FROM    TABLE    LINEN. 

For  years  we  used  "  salts  of  lemon  "  and  various 
acids,  but  a  person  remarked  to  us:  "All  your 
labor  is  useless.  Wait  till  the  peaches  are  gone  and 
the  stains  will  also  be  gone."  We  thought  this  ut- 
terly foolish,  but  decided  totry  it :  and,  sure  enough, 
when  the  peaches  were  gone,  the  stains  had  disap- 
peared. The  idea,  in  itself,  looks  ridiculous;  but 
does  not  the  table  linen  get  enough  regular  washing 
to  take  out  almost  any  stains  in   the  course  of  one 


190 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  December 


peach  season?  We  have  noticei  the  same  is  true  of 
prape  stains,  or  of  almost  any  other  kinds  of  fruit. 
This  is  very  true,  and  if  remembered  may  save  much 
useless  labor. 

THE    NICEST    IRONINO 

and  pollshinj  we  have  had  done,  and  it  wa?  notto  be 
surpassed,  was  done  without  tlie  addition  of  butter, 
lard,  candle  or  anything  else  to  the  starch,  which 
should  betirst  moistened  with  cold  water, then  stirred 
while  the  boilin;;  water  is  added.  Boil  a  few  minutes 
and  it  is  ready  for  use  without  any  seasoniair  of  any 
kind,  but  a  willing;  hand,  well  applied,  with  plenty 
of  lubrication  about  the  elbows.  Use  large  resrular 
flat-irons  for  plain  parts,  but  small  round  edged  ones 
for  smaller  parts  and  places,  and  the  whole  process 
is  much  facilitated. 

TO    CLEAN    PRESERVE    AND    PICKLE    JARS. 

Any  cjood  housekeeper  will  have  these  thoroughly 
cleaned,  when  emptied  of  their  contents,  before 
[lutting  away.  To  do  this,  throw  in  a  good  handful 
of  washing  soda,  fill  up  the  jar  with  boiling  water, 
cover  and  let  stand  for  an  hour.  Then  wash  in  the 
soda  water,  scald  and  rinse  in  two  boiling  waters  and 
wipe  dry.     If  any  odor  remains  repeat  the  process. 

To  clean  bottles,  put  a  dozen  large  tacks  in  with 
strong  soda  water,  shake  well,  and  everything  ad- 
hering to  the  inside  of  the  bottle  will  at  once  disap- 
pear. 

SAGO    CUEAM    Sdup. 

An  old  fowl  that  is  only  fit  for  the  stock  pot  makes 
delightful  stock  for  this  soup,  and  it  may  either  be 
boiled  till  every  particle  of  goodness  is  extracted,  or 
If  a  less  strong  soup  is  wanted,  it  may  only  be 
boiled  till  tender,  and  the  meat  afterwards  used  up  in 
some  of  the  made  dishes  where  a  white  meat  is  re- 
quired. Add  to  the  stock  while  boiling,  some  white 
pepper  and  a  blade  of  mace.  Strain  and  skim  the 
stock  ;  this  last  operation  is  best  done  with  what  is 
called  kitchen  paper,  a  most  useful  article,  and  of 
which  a  supply  should  be  at  the  command  of  every 
cook.  Lay  the  paper  on  the  top  of  the  stock  and 
draw  it  off  ;  the  fat  on  the  top  will  adhere  to  it,  and 
the  process  should  be  repeated  till  the  paper  comes 
off  free  from  grease.  For  every  2  quarts  of  stock 
take  three  ounces  of  sago  or  of  tapioca,  wash  it  in 
hot  water,  and  boil  it  in  the  stock  for  one  hour. 
Break  the  yelks  of  two  eggs  in  a  basin,  and  add  to 
them  half  a  pint  of  cream  or  milk  ;  pour  into  it 
gradually  a  little  of  the  hot  soup,  then  turn  it  all 
into  the  remainder  of  the  soup  and  heat  it  up,  taking 
care  it  does  not  boil.  The  stock  for  this  soup  may 
be  made  of  rabbit,  or  of  veal,  ur  of  a  mixture  of  all 
three. 

BEEF    STEAK    PUDDING. 

Cut  up  1  i.J' pounds  of  beef  into  neat  steaks.  Dip 
the  chopper  in  cold  water  and  beat  thein  a  little  to 
flatten  them  and  make  the  meat  more  tender  ;  roll 
them  up  with  a  little  pepper  and  salt  inside.  Line  a 
pudding  basin  with  a  suet  crust  made  in  the  propor- 
tion of  fi  ounces  of  suet  to  ^4  pounds  of  flour.  Take 
care  to  put  the  crust  quite  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
basin,  or  the  pudding  will  break.  Cut  the  crust  off 
even  with  the  top  of  the  basin,  lay  in  the  meat ;  if 
liked  add  some  chopped  onions,  half  fill  the  pudding 
with  cold  water,  cover  over  the  top  with  a  lid  of  paste 
reserved  for  the  purpose,  having  previously  wetted,  or 
better  still  egged  the  edges  of  each.  Tie  up  in  a  pud- 
ding cloth  wrung  out  of  boiling  water  and  sprinkle 
with  flour.  Boil  for  at  least  three  hours.  A  couple  of 
sheep  kidneys  sliced  and  added  to  the  pudding,  very 
much  improves  the  flavor  of  the  gravy,  and,  if  liked, 
three-quarters  of  a  teaspoonful  of  baking  powder 
may  be  added  to  the  crust ;  but  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  whenever  baking  powder  is  used,  the  ut- 
most expedition  in  finishing  up  is  necessary,  as  fer- 
mentation commenees  from  the  moment  water  is 
added. 


Pumpkin  Pies. 

We  generally  have  them  made  of  squash  at  our 
house,  but  always  call  them  pumpkin;  it  sounds  so 
much  better.  Squash  is  a  dreadful  name,  and  the 
man  who  invented  it  ought  to  have  had  a  big  Hub- 
bard hurled  at  his  head,  as  Ichabod  Crane  was  served 
with  a  pumpkin,  in  the  legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow.  But 
pumpkin  is  altogether  a  different  word,  whether  it 
adorns  a  bill  of  fare,  is  woven  into  poetry,  as 
Whitticr  did  in  the  charming  verses  which  we  pub- 
lished a  few  weeks  ago,  or  is  flattened  into  "pu-n-n- 
kin,"a8  genial  Robert  Collyer  does  it.  It  is  one  of 
the  old  fashioned  vegetables  that  has  held  its  own 
among  upstart  rivals  for  a  hundred  years.  Precious 
little  help  has  the  pumpkin  had  from  the  propagating 
gardeners  who  are  so  intent  on  improving  nature's  pro- 
duction in  other  fields  ?  The  pumpkin  is  of  the  same 
honest,  home-spun,  self-made  sort  of  vegetable  vaga- 
bond it  was  when  it  straggled  through  the  corn- 
fields, and  dotted  the  autumn  landscape  with  spots  of 
golden  color,  in  the  pioneer  days  when  luxuries  were 
not  necessities,  and  wants  were  few.  They  pretend 
to  say  that  the  quality  had  deteriorated,  like  some 
strains  of  blood  in  men  whose  heads  this  useful  vege- 
table has  most  uncharitably  been  made  to  symbolize, 
and  that  the  flesh  is  white  and  poor  compared  with 
what  it  was  in  former  years.  Yet  this  may  be  merely 
fhe   croak  of   oW-tlme  worshipers.    But,  whether 


made  "true  to  name,"  or  of  sq— sh,  a  pumpkin  pie, 
if  rightly  made,  is  a  thing  of  beauty,  and  a  joy — 
while  it  lasts.  We  know  there  is  an  attempt  made 
by  certain  super-civilized  writers — of  Hie  sort  who 
order  for  dinner  "a  little  tea-ah,  and  toast,  waitah, 
and  a  chicken's  wing,"— to  make  abstinence  from  pie 
a  test  of  refinement.  Some  of  them  haven't  gastric 
juice  enough  to  digest  anything  but  a  weak  wash  of 
some  sort;  but  others  are  just  putting  on  airs.  We 
wouldn't  trust  some  of  the  fellows  who  make  a 
virtue  of  abhorring  pie,  alone  with  a  whole  one  behind 
the  kitchen  door — even  at  a  eleven  o'clock  at  night. 
A  well  made  pie,  of  the  right  sort,  is  a  good  deal 
more  wholesome  than  half  of  the  modern  messes  con- 
cocted as  a  concession  to  dyspeptics,  who  charge  upon 
healthful  food  the  natural  results  of  their  own  sin 
and  ignorance,  in  working  without  exercise,  sleeping 
too  little,  and  neglecting  other  normal  conditions  of 
right  living.  But  to  return  to  our  pies.  As  we 
have  said  before,  we  scorn  to  make  a  cook  book  of 
these  columns,  with  our  present  supply  of  techuical 
knowledge.  But  we  do  know  that  for  a  good  pump- 
kin pie  you  want  plenty  of  inilk,  just  enough  eggs, 
not  too  much  pumpkin,  alump  of  butter  and  judicious 
sprinkling  of  spices — principally  cinnamon  and  gin- 
ger. The  concoction,  when  ready  for  the  oven, 
should  lie  about  the  consistency  of  good  thick  cream. 
Pies  that  cut  out  only  a  little  less  firm  than  a  pine 
board — those  that  will  "wabble"  without  breaking, 
like  a  piece  of  leather — and  those  that  run  around 
loose  on  your  plate,  are  alike  to  be  avoided.  About 
an  inch  thick  strikes  us  a  good  depth  for  the  filling; 
two  inches  is  better  than  the  miserable,  thin  plasters 
one  sometimes  seen  at  boarding  houses,  that  look,  for 
all  the  world,  like  pumpkin  flapjacks.  The  expres- 
sive phrase  "toothin,"  must  have  come  from  such  lean 
parodies  on  pumpkin  pies.  With  the  pastry  light, 
tender  and  not  too  rich,  and  a  generous  fiiling  of 
smooth,  spiced  sweetness — a  little  "tremble"  as  to 
consistency,  and  delicately  browned  on  top — a  perfect 
pumpkin  pie,  eaten  before  the  life  has  gone  out  of  it 
(say  three  hours  after  baking)  is  one  of  the  real  ad- 
ditions made  by  American  cookery  to  the  good  things 
of  the  world.  We  have  our  opinion  of  the  man  who 
would  get  up  dissatisfied  or  cross  from  a  dinner 
topped  off  with  a  quarter-section  of  such  a  pie.  For 
the  first  pumpkin  pie  of  the  season,  flanked  by  a 
liberal  cut  of  creamy  cheese,  and  a  glass  of  cider 
fresh  from  the  press,  we  prefer  to  sit  down,  as  the 
French  gourmand  said  about  his  boiled  turkey — 
"with  just  two  of  us,  myself  and  the  turkey  !"  Com- 
pany is  apt  to  distract  the  attention— and  subtract 
from  the  pie. — Ooklen  Rule. 


Starting  a  Fire. 

A  scientific  paper  tells  us  that  "All  housekeepers 
have  at  sometime  realized  the  difficulty  of  lighting  a 
fire  in  a  still,  damp  morning,  when  the  chimney  will 
not  draw,  and  vigorous  blowing  proves  inettectual. 
Science  explains  the  trouble  as  caused  by  the  difficul- 
ty encoinitered  in  overcoming  the  inertia  of  the  long 
column  of  air  in  the  pipe  or  chimney,  by  the  small 
column  of  air  that  can  be  forced  up  through  the  in- 
terstices of  wood  and  coal,  at  the  bottom  of  which 
the  fire  is  kindled.  This  may  be  remedied  by  first 
lighting  a  few  bits  of  shavings  or  paper  placed  upon 
the  top  ;  thus  by  the  heated  air's  forcing  itself  into 
the  chimney  and  establishing  there  an  upper  current, 
the  room  is  kept  free  from  gas  or  smoke  which  is  so 
apt  to  fill  the  room,  and  the  tire  can  then  be  lighted 
from  belovv  with  good  success."  This  is  all  very 
well,  but  who  wants  to  go  to  the  top  of  the  house  to 
put  tire  on  the  ehimnev  top?* 

Very  often  the  smoking  comes  from  the  mass  of 
material  composing  the  fireplace  being  cold  and  dam  p. 
All  this  has  to  be  heated  before  any  draft  goes  up 
the  chimney,  and  is  the  cause  of  smoking  oftener 
than  it  is  often  thoui^htof.  In  these  cases  but  a  very 
little  fire  should  be  made  before  the  main  one  is 
started.  We  have  known  of  cases  where  the  fire- 
lighter has  reported  impossibility  to  get  draft,  go  on 
like  a  "good  fellow  "  after  some  one  has  amused 
himself  for  a  few  minutes  in  throwing  in  pellets  of 
newspaper  to  the  stove  successively  as  one  would  be 
nearly  burned  out.  As  soon  as  the  cylinder  gets  a 
little  warm — all  the  heat  it  wants— it  is  willing  for 
the  wood  and  coal  to  take  its  turn. 


Eggs. 
If  an  increase  of  eggs  is  desired  in  the  poultry 
yard,  before  large  sums  of  money  are  expended  in 
the  purchase  of  everlasting  layers,  we  would  recom- 
mend the  keeping  of  no  hens  after  the  first, 
or  at  most,  a  second  year.  Early  pullets  give  the  in- 
crease, and  the  only  wonder  is  tliat  people  persist,  as 
they  do, in  keeping  up  a  stock  of  old  hens,  which  lay 
one  day  and  stop  three,  instead  of  laying  three  and 
stopping  one  ;  in  some  part<  of  England  it  is  the  in- 
variable rule  to  keep  the  pullets  only  one  year. 
Feeding  will  do  a  great  deal — a  surprising  work  in- 
deed— in  the  production  of  eggs,  but  not  when  old 
hens  are  concerned  ;  they  may  put  on  at  but  they 
cannot  put  dowu  eggs.  Their  tales  are  told,  their 
work  is  over  ;  nothing   remaining  to   be  done  with 

'It  will  be  much  better  when  it  is  uuderstood  that  the 
toil  of  the  coal  aud  wood  is  meauc  and  not  the  top  pt  the 
ckimQej', 


them  but  to  give  them  a  smell  of  the  kitchen  fire, 
and  the  sooner  they  get  it  the  better.  Of  course, 
there  are  some  old  favorites  whose  lives  can  be  spared 
as  long  as  they  can  send  forth  their  representatives. 
Judicious  mating,  by  which  we  mean  the  advantage 
of  a  comparatively  youthful  cockerel,  may  be  the 
means  of  even  exhibition  poultry  making  their  ap- 
pearance from  the  egg  of  the  good  old  hen,  and  here 
we  have  the  exceptionon  the  rule  upon  which  we  rely. 
—London  Agricultural   Gazette. 


Useful  Notes. 


Scattered  thickly  over  France  may  be  seen  posted 
the  following  notice  from  the  Minister  of  Agricul- 
ture : 

This  placard  is  placed  under  the  protection  of  good 
sense  and  public  decency. 

The  Hedgehog  lives  on  mice,  small  rodents, slugs 
and  grubs,  animals  hurtful  to  agriculture.  Don't 
kill  the  hedgehog. 

The  Toad,  farm  assistant ;  destroys  from  twenty 
to  thirty  insects  an  hour.     Don't  kill  the  toad. 

The  Mole,  Is  continually  destroying  grubs,  larvae, 
palmer  worms,  and  insects  injurious  to  agriculture. 
No  trace  of  vegetation  is  ever  found  in  its  stomach. 
Does  more  good  than  harm.     Don't  kill  the  mole. 

The  May  Bug  and  its  larvae  or  grub,  mortal  enemy 
of  agriculture  ;  lays  from  seventy  to  eighty  eggs.  Kill 
the  May  bug. 

Birds.  Ijach  department  loses  several  millions 
annually  through  insects.  Birds  are  the  only  eni- 
mies  able  to  contend  against  them  victoriously.  They 
are  great  caterpillar  killers  and  agricultural  as- 
sistants.    Children,  don't  disturb  their  nests. 

Children  will  be  paid  3.5  centimes  for  every  500 
May  bugs  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  grade  cham- 
petre. 

'm 

Oatmeal  in  the  Household. 

In  (ireat  Britain  children  of  all  ranks  are  raised  to 
an  oatmeal  diet  alone  because  it  causes  them  to  grow 
strong  and  healthful,  and  no  better  food  can  possi- 
bly be  found  for  them.  It  is  also  quite  as  desirable 
for  the  student  as  for  the  laborer,  and  for  the  delicate 
lady  and  her  hard-working  sister.  Indeed  all  classes 
would  be  greatly  benefited  by  its  use,  and  dyspepsia, 
wtth  all  its  manifold  annoyances,  can  be  kept  at  a 
distance.  Oatmeal  is  more  substantial  food,  it  is 
said,  than  veal,  pork  or  lamb,  and  quite  equal  to  beef 
and  mutton,  giving  as  much  or  more  mental  vigor, 
while  its  great  desideratum  consists  in  one's  not  be- 
coming weary  of  it,  for  it  is  as  welcome  for  breakfast 
or  tea  as  is  wheat  or  Graham  bread.  It  can  be  eaten 
with  syrup  and  butter,  like  rice.  It  is  especially  good 
for  young  mothers  upon  whose  nervous  forces  too 
great  a  demand  has  been  made,  and  they  lose  the 
equilibrium  of  the  system  and  become  depressed  and 
dispirited.  Oatmeal  requires  to  be  cooked  slowly, 
and  the  water  should  be  boiling  hot  when  it  is  stirred 
in. — Baldwiit^s  Monthly. 


How  to  Clean  Marble  Top  Furniture. 
It  may  be  of  some  value  to  housekeepers  who  have 
marble  top  furniture,  to  know  that  the  common 
solution  of  gum  arable  is  an  excellent  absorbent,  and 
will  remove  dirt,  itc,  from  marble.  The  receipt  is 
from  the  Scientific  .imerican,  and  the  mode  of  appli- 
cation is  thus  stated  by  that  paper  :  First,  brush  the 
dust  oft'  the  piece  to  be  cleaned,  then  apply  with  a 
brush  a  good  coat  of  gum  arable,  about  the  consistency 
of  thick  office  mucilage,  expose  it  to  the  sun  or  dry 
wind,  or  both.  In  a  short  time  it  will  crack  and  peel 
08".  If  all  the  gum  should  not  peel  off,  wash  it  with 
clean  water  and  a  clean  cloth.  Ofcourise,  if  the  first 
application  does  not  have  the  desired  eflect  it  should 
be  applied  again.  Second,  make  .a  paste  with  soft 
soap  and  whiting,  wash  the  marble  with  it,  and  then 
leave  a  coat  of  paste  upon  it  for  two  or  three  days. 
Afterward  wash  ott'  with  warm  (not  hot)  water  and 
soap.  


LIVE  STOCK. 


Crossing  for  Improvement  of  Common 
Sheep. 

A  correspondent  asks  us  the  following  question  ; 
"What  is  the  beat  cross  upon  our  common  sheep  for 
quality  and  quntity  of  wool,  for  the  general  market 
and  for  weight  of  carcass?" 

This  inquiry  can  be  replied  to  from  so  many  stand- 
points, that  an  opinion  in  favor  of  either  of  the  re- 
cognized breeds  requires  certain  explanations.  A 
cross  of  the  long  wool— say  Cotswold  Liecester,  or 
Lincoln — will  insure  an  increase  of  carcass  to  nearly 
or  quite  double  the  value  of  the  common,  or  native 
dam.  The  fleece  will  have  additional  length,  con- 
siderable improvement  in  style,  and  a  perceptible  in- 
crease in  weight.  The  improvement  in  length  and 
lustre  will  add  to  its  market  value. 

A  cross  of  middle  wool,  say  Southdown,  Shrop- 
shire, &c.,  will  add  greatly  to  the  quality  of  the 
meat,  somewhat  less,  though  considerable,  to  its 
quantity,  will  thicken  somewhat  the  fleece,  and  give 
it  slight  additional  weight,  without  adding  much  to 
its  value  per  pound, 


187(5.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


i91 


A  cross  of  llic  American  merino  will  make  a 
marked  improvement  In  (leece,  aildiiijr  to  all  ilB  lie- 
flrable  characteristics,  except  that  of  leniftli.  The 
weight,  In  many  instances,  will  be  iloulileil,  while  in 
any  other  than  an  anomalous  condition  of  the  inar- 
ket,  the  value  per  pound  will  be  eoinewhal  increased. 
The  size  of  carcass  will  not  be  incicased,  though  Us 
compactness  and  symmetry  of  outline  will  be  greatly 
improved. 

With  the  averase  farmer  the  more  satisfactory  re- 
sults will  be  secured  by  a  crosi  with  the  lon^'-wool 
breed  or  the  fine  wools.  The  one  will  show 
Its  chief  improvement  in  the  carcass,  the  other  in 
the  fleece,  thoutrh  the  merits  of  neither  will  be  con- 
fined to  these  prominent  cliaracteristics. 

As  a  rule,  the  least  satisfactory  results  will  be  de- 
rived from  a  cross  with  the  "  Downs  " — this,  not 
from  any  defect  In  the  breed,  per  se,  but  rather  I'rom 
less  diversity  in  size  in  the  one  and  character  of 
fleece  in  the  other.  Sheep  from  this  cross  may 
reasonably  be  expected  to  withstand  the  har<lships, 
sometimes  privations,  incident  to  the  lot  of  the 
flock  when  compelled  to  work  its  livinir  off  the  aver- 
aRe  farm,  with  better  results  than  would  be  realized 
from  a  lonsr-wool  cross  simply  treated — and,  for 
"roui;hincr  it,"  would  prove  nearly  equal  to  the 
results  of  the  Merino  cross. 

In  view  of  these  considerations,  added  to  some 
minor  ones,  that  may  be  classed  as  results  of  taste 
rather  than  experienced  as  a  ijeneral  conclusion,  we 
would  advise  a  cross  of  the  Merino  in  preference  to 
the  others  referred  to — always  with  the  reconimen- 
dation  that  the  best  rams  within  reach  of  the  means 
of  the  flock-owner  be  used — and  .that  none  of  the 
male  animals  of  the  cross  be  used  as  sires,  no  matter 
how  near  the  desired  standard  they  may  approach. — 
National  Liire-Stoc/c  Journal. 


Sheep  as  Fertilizers. 

In  1S65  I  had  a  field  of  ten  acres  that  had  been 
mowed  ten  years  in  succession  without  a  particle  of 
dressing  put  upon  it;  the  grass  had  nearly  died  out, 
and  nothinp  was  to  be  seen  but  a  white  weed  and 
yellow  weed, or  buttercup  and  ox-eyed  daisy.  The 
soil  was  a  clayey  loam,  cantinpf  a  little  to  the  south 
and  west,  was  in  the  smoothest  possible  condition, 
without  stump  or  stone,  and  borderinfr  upon  a  stream 
of  water.  In  the  sprint;  of  the  same  year  I  put  upon 
this  ten  acres  forty  one  year  old  sheep  without  lambs. 
These  sheep  kept  everythin<r  down  as  smooth  as  a 
barn  floor.  The  next  year  I  put  on  the  same  number 
and  kept  them  on  until  time  to  come  to  the  barn. 
They  were  not  taken  from  the  field  at  any  time 
durins  the  season,  neither  did  they  have  any  erain  of 
any  kind,  but  were  in  splendid  condition.  They  were 
grade  Merinoes. 

In  the  sprine  of  18fi7, 1  noticed  that  the  field  looked 
preen  the  last  of  April  and  the  first  of  May,  so  much 
so  that,  in  consultins  with  my  neighbors,  I  was  in- 
duced to  keep  the  sheep  off  from  it  and  let  It  come  up 
to  grass  for  the  scythe.  The  field  in  the  meantime 
had  been  sowed  over  with  alifiht  dressinp  of  plaster, 
about  one  bushel  to  the  acre,  and  a  small  quantity  of 
crass  seed,  timothy  and  redtop.  Nothina:  else  has 
been  done  to  the  field  in  any  shape  up  to  the  present 
time. 

Now  for  the  result.  The  first  year  after  takini  the 
sheep  off  I  had  the  ffreatest  yield  of  grass  that  I  ever 
had  from  any  of  my  fields  under  other  treatment,  and 
of  the  best  quality,  a  mixture  oftiniothy,  redtop,  white 
clover,  and  some  prruss  that  I  cannot  name.  Hardly 
a  head  of  whiteweed  or  yellowweed  was  seen  on  the 
field. 

But  what  was  most  remarkable  to  me  and  my  neigh- 
bors is,  that  the  field  has  continued  to  produce  bounti- 
fully up  to  the  present  time,  which  is  eiijht  years  since 
the  sheep  were  taken  off:  and  to-day  (Ausust  2)  the 
field  is  tented  thick  with  bunches  of  the  very  best  hav 
averaging  over  one  ton  to  the  acre.  I  have  since  sold 
the  field  to  one  of  my  friends,  and  I  asked  him  yes- 
terday if  he  expected  to  get  another  crop  from  the 
field  without  dressing  it  asain.  His  reply  was,  "Yes, 
I  expect  to  get  several  more  yet." 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  what  I  wish  to  Impress  upon  the 
minds  of  the  farmers  is  this,  that  instead  of  running 
wild  about  raising  fast  horses  and  getting  up  cheese 
factories,  It  Is  better  for  them  to  give  more  attention 
to  sheep  husbandry  ;  for  if  we  put  them  upon  our 
Impoverished  lands,  it  in  fact  costs  nothing  to  keep 
them  during  the  summer  season,  as  they  more  than 
pay  for  their  cost  in  reclaiming  these  lands. 

Let  each  farmer  decide  for  himself  w  hat  breeds  are 
best  for  him  to  keep.  It  depends  upon  imr  nearest 
market.  The  grade  Merino  will  do  tjetter  on  short 
pastures  than  any  breed  that  I  am  acquainted  with. 
— A.  O.  A., in  Germantown  Telegraph. 


To  Learn  a  Horse's  Age. 

TKt  Journal  of  the  Farm  tells  how  to  know  the 
age  of  ahorse  as  follows:  The  colt  is  born  with 
twelve  grinders  ;  when  four  front  teeth  have  made 
their  appearance  the  colt  is  twelve  days  old,  and 
when  the  next  four  come  forth,  it  is  four  weeks  old. 
When  the  corner  teeth  appear  the  colt  is  eight  months 
old  ;  when  the  latter  have  attained  to  the  height  of 
the  front  teeth  it  Is  one  year  old.  The  two-year-old 
colt  has  the  keruel  (the  subatacce  in  th«  middle  of 


the  tooth's  crown)  ground  out  In  all  the  front  teeth. 
In  the  third  year  the  middle  front  teeth  are  b"lng 
shifted,  and  when  three  years  old  these  are  substi- 
tuted by  the  horse  teeth.  The  next  four  teeth  are 
shifted  In  the  fourth  year,  and  the  corner  teeth  lu  the 
fifth. 

At  six  rears  the  kernel  is  worn  out  of  the  lower 
middle  front  teeth,  and  the  bridle  teeth  have  now 
attained  to  their  full  growth.  At  seven  years  a  hook 
has  l)(  en  roriiied  in  the  corner  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw, 
the  kernel  of  the  teeth  next  at  the  middle  Is  worm 
out,  and  bridle  teeth  begin  to  wear  off.  At  eii.'ht 
years,  the  kernel  is  worn  out  of  the  lower  front 
teeth,  and  bei;lns  to  decrease  in  the  middle  upper 
front.  In  the  ninth  year,  the  kernel  wholly  disap- 
peared from  the  upper  middle  front  teetli  ;  the  honk 
on  the  corner  has  increased  in  size,  and  the  bridle 
teeth  lose  their  points.  In  the  tenth  year,  the  kernel 
is  worn  out  of  the  teeth  next  to  the  middle  front  of 
the  upper  jaw,  and  in  the  eleventh  year  the  kernel 
has  entirely  vanished  from  the  corner  teeth  of  the 
same  jaw.  At  twelve  years  old,  the  crown  of  all  the 
front  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw  have  become  triangular, 
and  the  bridle  are  much  worn  down.  As  the  horse 
advances  in  age,  the  gums  shrink  away  from  the 
teeth,  which  consequently,  receive  a  Ioul'  narrow  ap- 
pearance, and  their  kernels  have  become  metamor- 
phosed in  a  darkish  point,  gray  hairs  increase  in  the 
forehead  and  over  the  eyes,  and  the  chin  assumes  the 
form  of  an  angle. 


The  Hog  Bouncer. 
The  above  is  the  name  of  a  simple  device  Invented 
by  the  cattle  yard  men  at  West  Albany,  New  York, 
to  induce  hogs  to  move  from  the  cars  in  which  they 
are  transported  in  the  yard.  Pigs,  as  a  rule,  are  not 
of  accommodating  dispositions,  and  when  It  comes  to 
prevailing  upon  a  car-load  of  them  to  move  along 
u|)on  a  narrow  gangway,  the  first  ones  that  start 
upon  the  plank  are  apt  to  decline  to  proceed  further, 
and  so  block  the  egress  of  the  rest.  This  necessitates 
an  astonishing  amount  of  patience  and  beating,  be- 
sides unlimited  stronir  languaiie,  and,t)f  course, 
often  delavs  a  cattle  train  for  some  time.  The  new 
invention  for  persuading  the  animal  to  pass  on  is  a 
hog  bouncer,  made  by  l)ringingone  end  of  thegang- 
way  plank  to  a  firm  support ;  then  under  the  other 
end  two  double  car  springs  are  placed.  A  powerful 
lever  and  spring  catch  complete  the  device.  Before 
the  car  door  is  opened,  the  platform  is  carried  down 
so  as  to  compress  the  springs  by  the  lever  and  the 
catch  is  hooked.  The  hogs  are  then  allowed  to  pass 
along  the  platform,  and,  so  Ions  as  they  move  along 
properly,  the  plank  is  undisturbed,  but  as  soon  as  a 
crowd  congregates  and  vociferously  objects  to  goins 
further,  the  catch  Is  sprung.  One  end  of  the  plat- 
form flies  about  three  feet  upward,  and  the  result 
is  a  shower  of  living  porkers,  shot  over  the  heads  and 
upon  the  soft  bodies  of  the  drove.  They  are  seldom 
injured,  but  vastly  astonished,  and  it  is  needless  to 
add  that  the  blockade  is  at  once  dispelled.  The 
drover  finds  this  device,  ridiculous  as  it  Is,  very  use- 
ful in  saving  time  and  trouble,  especially  when,  as 
often  is  the  case,  large  numbers  of  cattle  trains  are 
arriving  and  leaving. — !^cienlijic  American. 


A  Collection  of  Beautiful  Pigeons. 

We  had  the  pleasure  of  examining  a  flock  of  beau- 
tiful pigeons,  owned  by  Mr.  Charles  E.  Long,  and 
kept  by  him  in  a  larsie  and  well  arranged  loft  over 
his  place  of  business  in  North  Queen  street,  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.  Mr.  Long  has  been  raisin;  these  birds  for  a 
number  of  j-ears,  and  his  loft  now  contains  over  one 
hundred  fancy  piireons,  embracing  many  valuable 
varieties,  amonir  which  are  English  Pouters,  Crested 
Calcutta  Fantalls,  red,  blue,"  black  and  yellow 
Maff-pics,  red  and  yellow  fringed  Turbits,  English 
Carriers,  African  Owls,  Swallows,  Trumpeters, 
Archangels,  Jacobins  and  other  highly  prized  speci- 
mens. Mr.  Long  exhibited  many  of  these  birds  at 
several  of  the  Poultry  Exhibitions  last  season,  and 
carried  off  a  large  number  of  prizes.  Twelve  or 
fifteen  pairs  of  them  were  entered  for  competition  at 
the  irreat  "Centennial  Poultry  Exhibition"  which  was 
held  in  Pomoloeical  Hall,  on  the  Centennial  grounds, 
on  the  27th  of  October.  This  was  no  doubt  the  largest 
display  of  the  kind  ever  held,  and  the  competition 
very  great.  Mr.  Long  is,  however,  willing  to  trust  his 
birds  upon  their  own  merits,  and  we  have  no  doubt  he 
will  be  successful  with  them. 


Arab  Horse  Maxims. 


Let  your  colt  be  domesticated  and  live  with  you 
from  his  tcnderest  aire,  and  when  a  horse  he  will  be 
simple,  docile,  faithful,  and  inured  to  hardship  and 
fatiirue. 

If  you  would  have  your  horse  to  serve  you  on  the 
day  of  trial,  If  you  desire  him  to  be  a  horse  of  truth, 
make  him  sober,  accustomed  to  hard  work,  and  In- 
accessible to  fear. 

Do  notljeat  your  horses,  nor  speak  to  them  in  a 
loud  tone  of  voice  ;  do  not  get  angry  with  them,  but 
kindly  reprove  their  faults  ;  they  will  do  better 
thereafter,  for  they  understand  the  language  of  man 
aud  Its  meaolnj. 


If  you  have  a  lone  day's  journey  before  you,  spare 
your  horse  at  the  start ;  let  bim  frequently  walk  to 
recover  his  wind.  Contlime  this  until  he  has  sweated 
and  dried  three  times,  and  you  may  ask  him  whatever 
you  please,  he  will  not  leave  you  in  dllllculty. 

Use  your  horse  as  you  do  your  leathern  bottle;  If 
you  open  It  L'ently  and  L'radually  you  can  easily  con- 
trol the  water  within,  but  If  you  open  it  suddenly 
the  water  esca))e«  at  once,  aud  nothing  remains  to 
quench  your  thirst. 

Observe  your  horse  when  he  Is  drinking  at  a  brook. 
If  in  bringinir  down  his  head  he  remains  square, 
withovit  bending  his  limbs,  he  possesses  sterling  (piall- 
tles,  ami  all  i)artsof  his  bo<ly  are  built  symmetrically. 

Four  thinirs  he  must  have  broad— front,  chest, 
loins  and  limbs ;  four  thint'S  long — neck,  breast, 
forearm  and  croup ;  four  things  short — pasterns, 
back,  cars  and  tail. 


Best  Food  for  Svirine. 

What  would  he  the  best  food  for  swine  In  summer 
would  not  answer  the  s.ime  pur|iose  In  winter.  In 
suintner,  such  food  should  be  given  as  would  keep 
the  animal  In  an  Improving  condition,  and  would 
cause  it  to  lay  on  a  little  fat,  but  not  so  much  as  to 
cause  it  to  sufi'er  from  heat,  as  a  fat  porker  undoubt- 
edly does.  Cooling  foods,  such  as  plenty  of  young 
clover  and  bran  and  middling  slop.  Is  whatne  use 
much  of,  not  forgetting  to  give  regular  and  abundant 
supplies  of  fresh,  cool  water.  In  putting  up  swine 
for  exhibition  pur[)Oses,  we  have  tried  many  diflTerent 
kinds  of  food  for  the  fall  exhibitions,  but  we  have 
found  none  so  desirable  as  a  slop  made  of  corn  and 
oats  ground  together,  one-third  of  the  former,  by 
measure,  to  two-thirds  of  the  latter.  One  of  the  best 
ways  to  prepare  it  Is  to  scald  It  at  niL'ht  and  feed  It 
next  morning;  put  on  the  mass  only  enough  of  hot 
water  to  thoroughly  moisten  it,  and  then  cover  up  the 
barrel  tight,  so  it  can  steam  well,  and  make  the  mass 
mellow  and  nice  by  morning.  If  it  is  found  unde- 
sirable to  scald  it,  moisten  the  mass  with  water,  and 
then  put  in  one  or  more  pans  of  sour  milk — thick 
milk  or  clabber— to  cause  it  to  sour  by  the  time  It  Is 
used.  We  use  both  or  cither  plan,  and  find  them 
both  good.  As  an  ordinary  summer  feeil,  we  have 
found  them  both  good,  and  to  answer  almost  all  pur- 
poses^as  experience  has  abundantly  proved  that 
breedinir  stock  should  not  be  very  fat, only  in  healthy, 
vigorous  condition.  The  refuse  from  the  truck  patches, 
such  at  tomatoes,  cabbages,  etc.,  come  nicely  Into 
play  for  summer  (bod  in  connection  with  the  above 
slop,  as  also  do  apples — windfall— pears,  etc. — Haint 
and  I'ottltry  Journal. 


Lice  on  Colts. 


Lice  may  accumulate  in  great  numbers  before  they 
arc  discovered.  Sometimes  they  are  diflTused  aU 
over  the  skin  ;  at  other  times  they  arc  confined  to 
the  mane,  the  tail  and  parts  adjacent.  The  horse  is 
frequently  rulibing  himself,  and  often  the  hair  falls 
out  in  large  patches.  There  are  many  lotions,  pow- 
ders and  ointments  for  destroying  lice.  Mi'rcurial 
ointments,  lotions,  or  corrosive  sublimate,  and  de- 
coctions of  tobacco,  are  so  dangerous  that  they 
never  shoBld  be  used.  Refuse  oil  or  lard,  rubbed  on 
a  lousy  beast  of  any  kind,  immediately  destroys  the 
vermin,  and  there  is  no  danger  to  be  apprehended 
from  this  application.  It  merely  occasions  the  hair 
being  earlier  in  the  spring,  and  requires  a  little  extra 
atti'iition  in  housing  such  animals  as  have  been 
affected.  Vinesrar  mixed  with  three  times  its  bulk 
of  water,  is  also  a  good  application  and  not  danger- 
ous. It  is  most  irritatinir,  but  the  irritation  soon 
subsides  and  does  not  sicken  the  horse  ;  tobacco 
often  will.  Next  day  the  skin  should  be  examined, 
and  wherever  there  is  any  sign  of  living  vermin,  an- 
other application  should  be  made.  Two  days  after- 
wards tlie  horse  should  be  washed  with  soapy  water, 
warm,  and  applied  with  a  brush  that  will  reach  the 
skin  without  irritating  it. — Golden  Rule. 


Saddle  Galls. 


A  correspondent  of  the  Country  Gentleman  gives 
the  following  remedy  for  saddle  galls  :  "I  have  been 
riding  almost  constantly  since  18G9,  and  sometimes 
had  very  bad  galls  on  my  'horse  from  the  saddle, 
caused  almo.st  invariably  by  riding  either  during  a 
rain  or  in  damp  and  foi;gy  weather.  Prevention  Is 
important.  1  find  the  best  thing  to  be  a  coarse  saddle 
blanket ,  made  by  putting  one  or  two  burlap  sacks 
under  the  saddle  ;  they  being  cool,  and  admitting  a 
partial  circulation  of  the  air  through  the  spaces  of 
coarse  fabric.  The  saddle  should  be  removed  always 
at  noon,  and  back  washed  with  cool  water.  To  cure 
an  ordinary  gall,  first  wash  thoroughly  with  castile 
soap  and  water,  and  then  apply  the  bruised  leaves  of 
Datura  stratnouium  (Jamestown  weed);  this  usually 
reduces  the  inflammation  rapidly.  An  ointment  can 
be  made  by  mixinir  the  juice  with  common  lard.  An 
old  gall,  leaving  a  lump,  I  would  treat  with  vaseline 
and  iodine  ;  l^oz.of  the  crystals  of  iodine  to2oz.of 
vaseline  :  mix  ;  apply  once  a  day  for  '.i  or  4  days, 
theu  apply  vaseline  alone.  Continue  this  until  cured. 
The  above  applies  as  well  to  collar  galls." 


i92 


THE  LANCASTER   FARMER. 


[  December, 


Sparrows. 
How  much  lonjrer  will  there  be  sparrow  cluhs  and 
sparrow  prizes  ?  They  must  be  the  want  of  observa- 
tion. A  new  liiflit  broke  in  upon  my  bailitf  yester- 
day as  he  saw  flijrhts  of  sparrows  busily  engaged  in 
our  field  of  ereeu  peas  appropriating  the  "louse" 
which  was  injurinij  the  plants  and  stopping:  its 
growth.  I  am  a  ereat  believer  in  birds  and  poultry 
as  farmers'  friends,  and  this  belief  has  been  pro- 
duced not  only  by  reading-  the  opinions  and  facts  of 
others,  but  from  :^0  years  of  close  observation  of 
their  habits.  My  gardener  was  an  inveterate  enemy 
to  birds,  and  destroyed  their  nests  in  my  shrubbery, 
and  in  consequence  there  was  always  a  complaint  of 
grub  and  other  destructive  insects  ;  but  when  I  put  a 
veto  against  the  destruction,  my  garden  was  well 
filled  with  uninjured  produce.  In  fact,  if  you  have 
grub  and  insects  in  your  garden,  stock  it  with  birds 
or  poultry,  and  you  will  no  longer  complain.  In  very 
dry  weather,  when  worms  and  insects  are  scarce,  you 
must  protect  your  fruit.  Just  now  I  see  lots  of  my 
poultry  among  the  young  mangold  or  tares,  "  appro- 
priating" my  enemies.  But  I  have  so  often  said  that 
my  best  corn  crops  are  within  50  feet  of  the  fowl- 
house,  where  the  crops,  from  the  day  of  their  sowing 
until  harvest,  undergo  poultry  examination,  that  I 
will  not  again  trouble  you  with  details.  One  must 
have  confidence  with  only  a  bushel  an  acre  of 
seed-wheat  at  their  mercy.  Let  me  warn  those  who 
do  away  with  all  their  hedges  that  there  should  be 
belts  or  shrubberies,  not  only  as  breeding  places  for 
birds,  but  also  as  shelter  from  strong  prevailing  winds. 
— -VortA  British  Agriculturist. 


Jonathan  Dorwart's  Fancy  Poultry. 

The  Reading  Eaqle  has  this  to  say  of  a  former 
Lancasterian,  father  of  Mr.  Henry  Donvart,  of  The 
Examiner  .vnd  Express:  "Jonathan  Dorwart, 
President  of  the  Berks  Country  Poultry  and  Pet 
Stock  Association,  has  at  present  IS  White  Leghorn 
and  15  Brahma  chickens  in  two  yards  in  this"  city, 
besides  some  40  chickens  in  the  country.  Duringthe 
past  year  he  lost  only  three  fowls  by  sickness.  Some 
years  ago  he  was  engaged  in  importing  fancy  stock 
from  Europe,  and  bought  as  high  as  $3,000  worth  of 
poultry  in  a  year. 

The  highest  price  he  ever  received  for  a  trio  of 
imported,  fowls  was  875.  He  had  a  Brahma  lien 
that  laid  as  many  as  144  eggs  without  stopping.  He 
feeds  his  fowls  principally  corn,  oats,  wheat,  bran, 
ship-stuff,  corn  meal  mixed  with  meat  gravy.  He 
feeds  them  raw  meat  three  times  a  week  and  raw- 
cabbage  once  a  day. 

He  has  a  box  in  the  yard  in  which  he  throws  egg 
shells  for  the  fowls  to  cat.  The  standard  food  is 
corn  in  the  morning,  oats  at  noon  and  wheat  in  the 
evening.  He  says  that  hens  will  lay  eggs  sufficient 
to  pay  for  twice  the  cost  of  their  food.  As  soon  as 
the  young  are  hatched  he  sends  them  to  the  country 
to  be  raised. 


Light  in  Stables. 
Neither  cattle  nor  horses  should  be  stalled  in  a 
dark  stable,  as  all  animals  require  light  in  the  day 
time.  A  horse  kept  for  months  in  a  stable  would  be 
liiable  to  become  bliud.  In  regard  to  light  in  swine 
pens,  a  writer  says  that  two  sows  having  litters  on 
the  18th  and  22d  of  January,  respectively,  were 
kept  in  two  rather  dark,  but  warm,  temporary  sties, 
and  had  to  occupy  them  till  about  the  middle  of  the 
month  of  April,  when,  for  each  sow  with  litter,  one 
of  the  permanent  sties  was  opened  by  selling  the  oc- 
cupants. At  that  time  thejiigs  which  had  been  kept 
iu  the  dark,  temporary  sties,  proved  to  be  less  lively 
than,  and  much  inferior  in  weight  and  size  to  those 
of  any  of  the  litters  raised  in  the  less  warm  but  well 
lighted  permauent'sties,  notwithstanding  that  the 
difference  in  age  was  very  small,  and  that  food  and 
care  had  been  the  same  in  every  respect.  One  of  the 
litters  born  on  the  ISth  of  January,  which  had  ac- 
cidentally the  best  lighted  sty  tliough  situated  in 
the  northwest,  and  consequently  coldest  coruer  of 
the  frame  Ijuilding,  exhibited  the  most  rapid  growth 
and  the  litter  born  on  the  18th  of  January,  which 
had  the  darkest  sty,  had  made  the  poorest. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  Writing  to  the  Practical  Far- 
mer, in  relation  to  the  use  of  salt  and  lime  for  bath 
ing  the  feet  of  horses,  says  :  "  I  have  tried  strong 
brine  on  foundered  or  hoof  bound  horses,  and  with 
good  results.  I  made  a  solution  of  salt  and  applied 
it  three  times  a  day  by  washing  the  legs  and  pouring 
upon  the  bottom  of  the  feet,  and  holding  them  a 
few  minutes  to  let  it  strike  in.  I  saw  the  wonderful 
effects  in  a  few  days.  I  account  for  it  in  this  way  : 
Salt  will  extract  moisture  from  the  atmosphere, 
which  keeps  the  feet  moist.  Salt  operates  nearly 
like  grease  upon  the  foot.  The  hoof  becomes  soft,  yet 
pliable.  Like  a  chunk  of  wood  saturated  with  salt 
or  brine,  it  is  tough  yet  moist.  Thus  it  is  with 
horses'  feet.  Here  let  me  add  that  the  practice  of 
rasping  a  cracked  hoof  to  toughen  it  is  folly.  Apply 
brine,  and  you  will  effect  a  cure.  A  horse  that  is 
driven  upon  a  hard  road  is  liable  to  be  stiffened.  I 
have  seen  valuable  horses,  driven  \i\K>n  our  own 
plank  roads  a  few  days,  get  quite  lame.  I  reasoned 
to  myself  as  to  the  cause,  and  adopted  the  use  of 
brine  as  a  remedy,  which  proved  eflectual." 


How  to  Utilize  a  Dead  Horse. 

In  reply  to  a  correspondent,  the  American  Agricul- 
turist says  :  "  A  dead  horse  or  other  animal  should  be 
skinned,  and  roughly  cut  up  into  as  many  small 
pieces  as  possible  ;  a  plot  of  ground  a  few  rods 
square  should  then  be  plowed  deeply,  and  the  car- 
cass thrown  upon  the  soil  in  the  centre  of  the  plowed 
ground.  Some  fresh  dry-slacked  lime  should  then  be 
scattered  upon  the  heap,  so  as  to  cover  it  thinly  but 
wholly.  The  loose  earth  is  then  to  be  heaped  over  it, 
a  foot  in  depth,  and  the  pile  covered  with  boards,  so 
that  the  dogs  cannot  get  to  the  heap  and  tear  it  up. 
If  the  least  smell  is  perceived,  more  earth  should  be 
used." 


AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE. 


Scotch  Farmers  Ruined  by  Mice. 

The  Scotch  farmers,  with  all  their  shrewdness,  are 
apparently  utterly  beaten  by  the  ridiculous  mus.  So 
far,  at  least,  they  have  been  unable  to  devise  any 
means  of  riddings  themselves  of  the  armies  of  these 
insignificant  creatures  which  have  quartered  them- 
selves on  the  border  farms.  About  three  months  ao-o 
the  attention  of  the  public  In  general,  and  the  local 
agricultural  clubs  in  particular,  was  called  to  the 
depredations  caused  by  these  tiny  quadrupeds,  which 
it  was  suddenly  discovered,  had  increased  to  such  an 
alarming  extent  as  to  have  actually  destroyed  a  large 
expanse  of  pasturage  and  to  threaten  to  overrun  the 
country.  The  land  is  represented  as  resembling  the 
ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  targets  for  rifie  prac- 
tice, being  literally  ridded  with  holes.  The  whole 
of  the  vegetation  is  destroyed  in  certain  localities  in 
Teviotdale,  not  merely  the  blades  of  grass  being 
eaten  by  the  mice,  but  the  roots  being  consumed  as 
well.  The  consequence  has  been  that  the  sheep 
have  been  robbed  of  their  natural  food,  and  the 
recent  lambing  season  has  been  one  of  the  most  dis- 
astrous ever  known,  both  ewes  and  lambs  being  de- 
prived of  s_^ustenance  and  perishing  in  numbers.  The 
plague  is  'almost  identical  with  that  which  has  so 
seriously  interfered  with  the  progress  of  sheep  farm- 
ing In  New  Zealand,  only  there  it  Is  the  rabbits  that 
have  caused  the  mischief;  unless  it  can  be  stamped 
out  it  threatens  the  ruin  of  many  sheep-breeders  and 
wool-growers.  One  farmer  in  New  Zealand  actually 
sacrificed  15,000  acres  of  land  by  inclosing  that  area 
with  a  solid  masonry  wall  in  order  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  a  colony  of  rabbits  which  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  a  portion  of  his  farm.  But  laud  is  too 
scarce  and  valuable  in  Scotland  to  permit  of  such  an 
heroic  method  of  cure.  The  question  for  the  Scotch 
farmers  is  whether  they  can  reduce  the  number  of 
the  mice  by  encouraging  the  increase  of  weasels, 
hawks,  owls,  and  other  carnivorous  birds  and  beasts, 
or  whether  they  must  take  the  law  into  their  own 
hands  and  drive  out  the  enemy.  The  unfortunate 
part  of  the  business  is  that  the  little  rodents  are  of 
no  value,  unlike  rabbits,  whose  skins  and  flesh  are 
both  of  a  Certain  worth,  and  they  are  too  small  to 
attract  sportsmen  with  their  guns.  One  thing  is 
certain,  that  the  Scotch  farmers  will  not  in  future 
encourage  the  use  of  the  gun  at  hawks  and  weasels, 
but  it  will  rather  encourage  the  visits  of  the  mouse 
catchers. — London  JJaily  News. 


Horticultural  Notes. 


A^ARiETiES  OP  Grapes.— The  Concord  has  a  wide 
reputation  for  its  uniformly  good  quality  in  all  parts 
of  the  Union.  In  the  catalogue  of  the  American 
Pomological  Society,  it  is  recommended  for  no  less 
than  thirty-four  ditferent  States  and  territories,  and 
in  twenty  of  these  it  has  double  stars,  indicating  the 
highest  commendation.  And  yet  a  statement  has 
been  lately  made  by  Josiah  Hoopes,  ex-Presldent  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society,  that  at 
Lancaster,  one  of  the  finest  grape-growing  places  in 
the  Union,  it  ripens  imperfectly,  with  mildew  on  the 
stems.  At  the  same  place  such  uncertain  sorts  as 
lona,  Catawba,  Allen's  Hybrid,  Walter,  and  others, 
constitute  "  the  glory  of  the  collections,"  and  some 
of  these  are  "  marvels  of  beauty."  This  and  similar 
facts  iu  connection  with  the  ripening  of  different 
fruits,  show  that  experiments  must  he  actually  made 
with  them  in  every  locality  before  absolute  success 
can  be  pronounced. 

Pe.vr  ox  Mountain  Ash.— Some  inquiries  have 
been  made  as  to  the  value  of  the  mountain  ash  as  a 
stock  on  which  to  work  the  pear.  In  experimenting 
years  ago,  we  never  found  it  of  much  value,  being 
uncertain  and  unreliable.  A  corrcsjiondent  of  the 
Prairie  Farmer  gives  the  result  of  some  experiments, 
in  substance  as  follows  :  "  Onondago  and  Osband's 
Summer  succeeded  well,  and  did  the  best,  the  trees 
being  '  well  branched  and  heavy  stocked.'  Of  Doy- 
enne Boussock,  three  lived  out  of  five,  and  formed 
good  trees  :  one  Belle  Lucrative,  and  one  of  Kirtland 
lived  in  five,  while  most  of  the  other  sorts  all  died  ; 
and  others  which  grew  are  poor  and  sickly."  On 
the  whole,  this  stock  may  be  pronounced  of  little  or 
no  vAlue,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  be 
employed,  while  the  French  quince  is  so  easily  and 
cheaply  obtained  for  dwarfs,  and  good  pear  stocks 
may  be  had  for  standards. 


Early  Peaches.— J.  H.  Watkins,  of  Georgia, 
states  in  the  Sotithern  Cultivator  that  the  Alexander 
peach  ripened  at  Palmetto,  in  that  State,  June  19. 
The  specimens  varied  from  six  and  a  half  to  seven 
Inches  and  three-fourths  in  diameter,  but  were  not  so 
large  as  Hales',  which  was  two  weeks  and  a  half 
later.  Beatrice  was  seven  days  later  than  Alexander. 

The  Worden  Grape.— This  grape,  which  has 
been  fruited  in  Northern  Wisconsin,  gives  high  prom- 
ise there  of  value.  At  tlie  NortheruWisconsin  Fair 
it  took  the  first  prize  on  grapes  forquality,  competing 
with  the  Delaware  and  "several  of  Kogers'  hybrids. 
The  members  of  the  fruit  committee  were  unanimous 
in  pronouncing  it  superior  to  the  Delaware  for  that 
northern  region. 


The  Wheat  Supply  in  England. 

The  wheat  crop  this  year  is  the  conclusion  of  a 
history  full  of  alarms  and  surprises.  Mr.  Caird  tells 
it  very  pleasantly,  in  all  its  bearing  and  consequences, 
and  reminds  us,  by  the  contrast,  of  the  mysterious 
and  gloomy  tone  with  which  the  staff  of  life  was  al- 
ways discussed  as  late  as  thirty  years  ago.  In  some 
respects  the  present  state  of  things  far  surpass  the 
direct  predictions  of  that  day.  We  are  dependent 
upon  foreigners  to  an  extent  never  then  imagined. 
While  the  average  consumption  is  about  2  ),000,000 
quarters,  or,  as  the  customs  returns  state  It,  100,000,- 
000  hundred  weights,  during  the  last  harvest  year  d 
we  have  imported — happly.  It  seems,  somewhat  in  fl 
excess  of  our  wants — 9:i, 000,000  hundred  weights, 
or  not  far  from  two-thirds  of  our  whole  consumption. 

Half  of  this  came  from  the  United  States,  and  so 
much  of  our  wheat  supply  depends,  therefore,  not 
only  on  the  good  will  of  that  country,  but  still  more 
immediatly  on  her  commercial  state,  which  is  very 
variable.  The  profit  itself  has  to  be  nicely  calculated, 
and  in  Mr.  Caird's  opinion  the  prices  which  have 
lately  prevailed  yield  little  or  no  profit.  Such  a  fact 
is  slowly  appreciated,  but  when  the  American 
farmers  have  once  .acted  upon  it  and  stopped  sup- 
plies, it  takes  time  to  reverse  that  movement  and 
meet  a  rising  demand.  Five  per  cent,  of  our  wheat 
imports  come  from  British  India,  where  we  have  lately 
had  to  feed  a  famished  people.  A  good  deal  comes 
from  Turkey  and  Egypt,  which,  Mr.  Caird  observes, 
will  have  to  send  us  wheat  because  they  both  want 
money  and  can  no  longer  get  it  by  simply  borrowing. 
He  suggests,  however,  that  in  present  circumstances 
Turkey  cannot  not  be  depended  on  for  any  consider- 
able supplies.  France  is  too  much  in  our  own  con- 
dition to  be  sure  of  sparing  us  wheat  when  we 
happen  to  want  it ;  in  fact,  if  she  has  not  to  com- 
pete with  us  in  the  open  market,  that  is  about  as 
much  as  can  now  be  expected.  She  has  had  a  poor 
harvest  of  other  grain  and  produce,  and  may  want 
all  her  own  wheat  and  more.  Tlie  wheat  crop  of 
Canada  is  much  lower  than  usual. 

Here,  then,  is  the  very  state  of  things  which  a 
generation  ago  was  prophesied  as  the  last  page  of 
our  national  decline  and  fall.  When  all  the  world, 
including  our  jealous  rivals,  found  us  dependent  on 
them  for  more  than  half  of  our  daily  bread,  they  had 
only  to  put  their  heads  together  and  destroy  the 
proud  nation  that  had  so  oppressed  and  insulted 
them.  The  consummation  has  come.  It  finds  us 
year  by  year  growing  less  wheat,  and  the  foreigner 
growing,  if  not  absolutely  more,  at  least  more  than 
pays  him. — London  Times. 


Waste  on  the  Farm. 


The  greatest  of  wastes  on  the  farm,  is  in  the  not 
using  of  our  brains;  the  greatest,  because  at  the 
bottom  of  all  other  wastes.  A  little  thinking  often 
saves  much  labor.  After  accomplishing  almost  any 
piece  of  work,  the  most  of  us  can  look  back  and  see 
how  we  could  have  improved  on  it,  if  we  had  hut 
thought.  As  we  view  our  crops  of  this  vear,  we  see 
how  easily  they  might  have  been  increased,  had  we 
only  thought.  The  ditch  we  dug  through  our 
meadow  was  not  done  in  the  most  economical  way. 
We  dug  too  deeply  at  first,  and  did  not  allow  for  the 
settling  of  the  land.  Hence  a  waste  of  labor.  We 
omitted  buying  an  implement  that  would  have 
saved  nearly  its  cost  iu  this  one  year's  use,  until  we 
had  spent  much  in  trying  to  accomplish  our  work 
without  it.  Here  was  another  waste.  We  carry  a 
water-pipe  too  near  the  surface  to  save  the  expense 
of  digging  a  trench  of  a  safe  depth,  and  the  winter's 
frosts  necessitate  a  replacement  of  the  pipe  and  an 
additional  digging.  Certainly,  a  waste  here.  We 
allow  the  weeds  to  grow  on  one  piece  of  land,  not 
thinking  to  what  proportions  they  would  grow  by 
the  time  the  crops  were  too  far  advanced  to  admit 
the  hoe.  A  waste  here  which  might  have  been  ob- 
viated. And  so  on,  wastes,  little  and  big,  every- 
where, all  arising  from  not  thinking  sufficiently — 
waste,  because  not  necessary,  an  deasily  obviated. 
We  omit  the  ordinary  wastes  from  neglect,  from 
laziness,  from  want  of  appeciatiou  of  cleanliness 
and  thoughtfulness — the  waste  from  our  stock,  from 
our  manure  heap,  from  our  household.  Verily,  a 
little  thought  will  save  io  the  farmer  much,  and  the 
saving  through  this  means,  even  on  a  small  farm, 
will  represent  the  interest  on  a  considerable  capital. 
The  wastes  arising  from  iguorauce  can  very  readily 


187«.] 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


m. 


be  diminished,  and  are  in  a  large  part  inexcusable; 
those  arising:  from  carelessness  are  not  deservln;;  of 
sympathy.  The  farmer,  as  well  as  the  business  man 
must  use  hiisiness  principles  to  secure  the  largest 
success,  and  the  one  should  he  as  careful  of  the  out- 
goes as  the  other. — Scientijlc  Farmer. 

Impaired  Grasses. 

In  many  respects  grass  culture  has  not  kept  pace 
with  improvemenl-s  in  other  branches.  We  are  con- 
tinually fretting  new  plants,  new  trees,  new  fruits, 
new  vegetables,  new  grains,  but  a  new  grass  is  never 
thought  of.  We  have  the  same  orchard-grass,  the 
same  redtop,  the  same  tiniotliy,  that  we  had  over  a 
hundred  years  ago;  and  so  far  as  the  drift  of  thought 
j;oe.«,  we  shall  have  the  same  grasses  for  a  hundred 
years  to  come.  And  yet  there  is  no  reason  that  we 
can  see  why  there  should  not  be  improved  grasses,  as 
well  as  improvements  in  any  other  thing  ;  and  there 
donbtless  would  be  if  public  attention  was  drawn  to 
the  matter. 

We  have,  to  be  sure,  during  the  past  twenty  years 
or  so,  been  treated  to  Hungarian  grass,  or  millet,  a 
harsh,  coarse  thing,  of  little  merit  except  for  the 
very  heavy  crops  it  produces.  There  surely  must  be 
others  which  it  would  be  of  advantage  to  introduce. 
We  see  In  foreign  agricultural  journals  that  some  at- 
tention is  being  given  to  a  species  of  grass  called 
Tueeock  grass,  from  its  growing  in  large  bunches, 
and  which,  from  its  description,  appears  to  be  closely 
allied  to  our  orchard  grass.  It  does  not  appear  to 
be  considered  very  hardy ;  but  there  are  no  doubt  a 
number  of  places  on  this  continent  where  it  would 
find  itself  entirely  at  home.  It  is  said  to  grow  five 
or  six  feet  in  height,  and  to  produce  vegetation  of 
preat  fineness  of  quality  and  exceedingiy  nutritious. 
When  once  a  field  is  set  with  it,  it  is  seldom  killed 
out  by  other  vegetation,  and  goes  on  producing  good 
crops  for  a  great  many  years.  It  appears  to  be  hardy 
in  Hungary,  and  if  so  it  ought  to  stand  considerable 
frost. 

But  It  Is  not  only  by  the  introduction  of  new  spe- 
cies that  our  grass  crops  and  grass  lands  may  be  im- 
proved, there  might  be  selected  good  varieties  of  the 
kinds  we  now  grow,  just  as  we  have  selected  good 
kinds  of  other  things.  There  seems  to  he  liere  a 
good  chance  for  somebody. — Oermanioun  Telegraph. 


Repelling  the  Grain  Weevil. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Countrtj  Gentleman  says  : 
"Theonly  way  to  get  ridof  the  weevil  is  to  keep  grain 
In  a  clean  place,  and  spread  out  until  thoroughly 
cured,  so  as  to  avoid  heating.  It  Is  very  dillieuU  to 
clean  a  place  where  weevil  has  been  prevalent,  as 
they  and  other  grain  pests  hide  in  the  cracks  and 
seams  of  the  bin,  and  no  cold  of  winter  will  kill 
them.  The  germ  of  the  weevil  is  often  In  grain  that 
to  all  appearances  is  perfectly  sound,  "and  only 
awaits  a  suitable  amount  of  moisture  and  heat  to  de- 
velop. In  grain  houses  our  only  remedy,  when  we 
have  a  lot  of  infested  grain,  is  to  screen  frequently, 
and  try  to  keep  it  cool  till  winter.  I  know  of  noth- 
ing to  kill  weevil  in  grain  that  will  not  recommend 
storing  in  a  new  place,  far  enough  from  where  the 
infested  grain  was  kept  to  prevent  them  crawling 
into  it.  I  have  often  put  weevils  on  the  floor  at  some 
distance  from  a  pile  of  grain,  and  they  would  make 
a  bee-line  for  the  nearest  lot — never  go  away  from  It. 
They  will  sometimes  fly,  when  in  the  hot  sun,  but 
not  often.  I  once  made  a  test  by  taking  about  a  pint 
of  sound  wheat  from  a  boat  load,  in  which  I  could 
find  no  indication  of  weevil,  and  after  sifting  it  very 
thoroughly  in  a  coarse  hand-Bleve,  I  put  It  in  a  glass 
jar,  and  sealed  it  very  tight.  In  a  few  weeks  it  was 
alive  with  large  and  small  weevils  (two  kinds),  and 
they  lived  for  more  than  a  year  in  this  tight  jar. 
This  was  a  season  when  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
wheat  troubled  with  weevil.  Ordinarily  when  grain 
Is  dry  and  cool  the  weevils  do  not  Injure  it.  The 
surest  way  to  keep  grain  after  it  Is  dry  and  very 
thoroughly  cleaned,  is  to  keep  it  In  a  dark  place." 
m- 

Watering  Window  Plants. 

There  Is  nothing  that  seems  to  bother  more  those 
who  would  grow  window  flowers  than  how  often  to 
water  them.  It  Is  an  exceedingly  simple  thing  to 
those  who  have  had  experience  ;  though  so  mysterious 
a  thing  to  those  who  have  had  none.  When  the 
skilled  gardener  is  asked  for  advice  he  says,  "  water 
only  when  the  plants  need  it;"  hut  this  tells  the 
Inquirei  nothing.  There  still  remains  to  be  under- 
stood how  to  tell  when  the  plants  need  water. 

After  all,  this  is  a  species  of  knowledge  that  can- 
not well  be  taught  by  another.  It  has  to  be  learned 
from  experience.  The  good  plant  cultivator  tells 
from  the  color  of  the  earth  ;  but  even  this  is  a  rela- 
tive term.  There  is  dark  soil  and  there  is  light  soil ; 
but  all  soils  are  darker  when  they  are  wet  than  when 
dry.  One  can  soon  learn  this  by  experimenting  a 
little  ;  and  can  soon  tell  whether  the  earth  is  dry  or 
wet  by  the  eye  or  finger  alone.  If  it  is  wet  It  of  course 
wants  no  more  water;  If  much  lighter  than  its  usual 
color,  the  earth  Is  dry  and  needs  some.  It  Is  an  ex- 
ceedingly simple  matter  to  those  who  will  try  to 
learn  ;  to  those  who  cannot  learn  themselves  it  Is  a 
hopeless  task. 


There  Is  one  hint  that  we  may  give  that  may  be  of 
value.  If  the  earth  never  gels  dry,  the  plants  arc 
not  in  good  condition.  .Something  Is  wrong.  It  is 
the  active,  growing,  working  roots  that  take  the 
moisture  out  of  the'earth.  It  Is  a  sign  of  pofMl  health 
for  the  plant  to  want  frequent  watering.  As  we  have 
already  said,  the  color  of  the  soil,  as  compareii  to 
what  it  Is  when  wet,  will  tell  whether  it  wants  water 
or  not. — Oermantotrn  Telegraph. 


Small  Farms. 
The  Springfield  (Mass.)  Jiepublican  says ;  "The 
real  estate  agents  note  a  remarkable  and  steadily  in- 
creasing demand  for  small  farms,  worth  from  SI  ,200 
to  S'i.OOO,  while  large  farms  are  much  lees  sought  for. 
The  mechanics  and  laborers,  whose  wages  have 
been  steadily  reduced  for  the  last  two  years,  form 
the  majority  of  the  purchasers,  and  we  fancy  most 
of  them  wiil  find  that  the  reductions  have  not  been 
confined  to  the  city.  Probably  half  of  these  people 
have  not  fully  counted  the  cost,  and  will  be  glad 
enough  to  get  back  to  the  citj  after  the  novelty  has 
worn  oflT,  while  those  who  go  to  their  new  avocation 
with  a  determination  to  work  hard,  and  make  the 
thing  a  success  at  all  hazards,  will  be  pretty  sure  to 
slay!  .\  notable  Instance  of  the  rapidity  with  which 
some  of  the  former  class  change.  Is  to  be  found  in  a 
small  Worcester  farm,  near  the  Boston  and  Albany 
road,  that  has  been  sold  ten  times  within  twelve 
years. 

Mt  attention  was  drawn  to  notice  the  amount  of 
corncobs  that  are  thrown  away  dally,  from  feeding 
one  pair  of  horses.  The  cobs  looked  so  clean  and 
nice  it  docs  seem  as  though  they  were  made  to  do  a 
farmer  more  good  than  to  add  to  the  bulk  of  the  ma- 
nure heap.  Being  of  rather  a  speculative  turn  of 
mind,  I  tried  a  little  experiment  with  a  few  cobs,  by 
pouring  over  them  a  small  amount  of  coal  oil,  and 
then  put  them  In  the  cook  stove  to  seewhat  theeB'ect 
would  be.  I  was  entirely  satisfied  that  I  Jiad  pro- 
duced an  excellent  fuel.  They  furnish  a  kindling 
cheaper,  and  equally  as  good,  than  the  patented 
article  sold  In  the  cities  and  towns.  Farmers  who 
have  to  haul  wood  long  distances,  and  then  prepare 
it  for  use  in  the  busy  seasons  of  the  year,  will  hud 
this  hint  of  value.  I  think  it  would  be  better  to  let 
the  cobs  lay  awhile,  after  pouring  the  oil  over  them, 
before  using. — Cor.  Prairie  Farmer. 

^ 

LITERARY  NOTICES. 

Report  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  Association 
of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  for  the  year  187.5,  to 
which  Is  appended  the  Keport  of  the  Ento.mo- 
LooicAL  Society,  for  the  same  year.  Printed  by 
order  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  Toronto  :  1876. 
This  is  a  royal  octavo  volume  of  155  pages  in  paper 
covers  (including  the  two  reports)  and  contains  a 
vast  amout  of  useful  and  interesting  matter  on  the 
subjects  of  fruit-growing  and  entomology,  illustrated 
with  two  full-page  colored  lithographs  of  Arnold's 
and  Saunders'  Seedling,  or  "Canadian  Hybrid 
Kaspberries,"  and  twenty-eight  illustrations,  con- 
taining about  seventy  figures  of  noxious  and  bene- 
ficial insects.  Canada  Is  doing  more  in  sustaining 
entomological  publications,  perhaps,  than  the  whole 
United  States,  the  Cauado  Entumoloqisi  having 
reached  its  eighth  volume,  whilst  the  American  En- 
tomologist died  at  the  close  of  Its  second.  Her  ex- 
hibit at  the  Centennial  pomological  show,  and  the 
volume  under  review,  illustrates  that  she  also  occu- 
pies a  foreground  position  in  the  noble  profession  of 
fruit-growing. 

"The  Three  Earls" — a  handsome  little  12mo 
volume  of  115  pages,  by  our  fellow  townsman,  Mr. 
Frank  R.  DiffendeVlfer,  being  "  an  Historical  Sketch, 
and  proceedings  of  the  Centennial  Jubilee,  held  at 
New  Holland,  Pa.,  July  4,  1876,"  and  printed  by 
Ranck  &  Sandoe,  of  the  Clarion.  This  is  an  exceed- 
ingly interesting  little  volume,  containing  not  only 
Mr.  Diffenderffer's  local  sketch,  but  also  the  prelimi- 
nary proceedings,  an  introductory,  a  financial  state- 
ment, the  prayer  of  Kev.  J.  F.  Mower,  the  oration  of 
Mr.  E.  K.  Martin,  and  an  Appendix,  embracing  a 
full  history  of  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July, 
1876,  at  New  Holland,  In  this  county,  in  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  Governor  Hartranft's  proclamation  ; 
and  which  has  resulted  in  a  valuable  contribution  to 
our  local  history.  Occurring  at  the  old  home  of  the 
historiographer,  no  doubt  with  Scotland's  highland 
chief,  he  could  truly  say  : 

*'  My  foot  is  ou  my  native  heath. 
And  my  name's  McGregor," 

Gregory's  Seed  Catalooue. — Our  readers  will 
find  the  catalogue  of  J.  J.  H.  Gregory's  well-known 
seed  house  advertised  in  our  columns.'  For  freshness 
and  reliability  of  the  seed  sent  out,  and  enterprise  In 
Introducing  choice  new  vegetables  to  the  public,  Mr. 
(iregory  is  endorsed  by  the  prominent  agriculturists 
of  the  United  States;  as  recommendations  from  over 
forty  States  and  territories,  to  be  found  on  the  cover 
of  bis  catalogue,  amply  attest. 

Our  readers  will  welcome  the  advertisement  of  the 
popular  Seedsmen,  Messrs.  D.  M.  Ferry  &  Co.,  of 
Detroit,  Mich.  Their  seed  Annual  for  1877  far  sur- 
passes their  previous  numbers.  This  Hrm,  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  Seed  business,  needs  no  indorsement 
from  us. 


1876.  CENTENNIAL.  1876- 

Rathvon  fe  Pigher, 

PRACTICAL 

Tal[@r§  and  €[atfit©rs. 

CHEAP,  FASHIONABLE  AND  DURABLE 
Cor.N.  aUEEN  and  ORANGE  STS., 

LANCASTER,  PENN'A. 


%& 


Sv^r£hMAW«^ 


DVERHSINGAGEKIS; 


.  ^^e  wv.  FOURTH  ^ly>p^ 


-    CSTI  MiS-  FS  — 

FURNiSHrn  |-""-«-. 


CtHD  FOR  OUR 
"^NIIAL  — 


ROOT'S 

Qarden  ]y[anual, 

Ib  filled  with  toplcR  of  interest  to  every  owner  of  a  garden — 
IB  I'OINTED,  PRACTICAL  and  TUOKOTIOH,  and  contains 
one-half  ae  much  hs  tl.50  hooka  ou  the  Bubject.  GARDEN- 
ERS throughout  the  country  commend  its  practical  labor- 
saving  raethodBas  luvalunble  to  them. 

ffySent  for  10  cents,  which  will  be  allowed  on  the  flrat 
order  for  soedB.      Address, 

J.  B.  ROOT,  K^ed  Grower, 

ROCKFORP,  Ii.LiKOis 

SEND  25c.  to  O.  P.  ROWELL  k  CO.,  New  York,  for  Pam- 
|ihlet  of  100  Images,  coutahhng  lists  of  3,000  uewsi>apera, 
auu  '--tim  itPH  showiuR  cost  of  advertisinR. 

Peabody  House, 

COR.  OF  LOCUST  AND  NINTH  STS., 

PHILADELPHIA.  PA. 


Convenient  to  all  iilaccs  of  amusement  and  car  llbes  in 
the  city.    No  changes  to  and  from  the  Centennial  grounds. 

Col.  Watson,  jn-oi'vietor  of  the  Uknky  Housr,  Cincinnati, 
for  the  j*a8t  twenty  years,  aud  piesent  jiropnetor,  has  leased 
the  honse  for  a  term  of  yeaie,  and  has  newly  furnished  and 
fitted  it  throughout.  He  will  keep  a  strictly  first-class  house, 
and  baB  acco'mmodatiou  for  300  guests.  Terms,  only  $3 
per  day. 

No  bar  has  ever  been  kept  in  the  IIknict  House,  nor  will 
any  be  kept  at  the  Peabody.  8-6-5 

WAILABSS'  MOHTHLY, 

The  Only   Illiistralcil  na^nzine  Devoted  to 
Domestic  Animals. 


The  recognized  AOTHOBITY  on  the  HORSE  and  the  Organ 

01   American  Breeders. 


Uncompromising  Hostilify  to  Gambling 
and  Fraud  of  Every  JJrscription^ 


Thorough  in  the  investigation  and  exposure  of  fraudulon* 

pedigrees  and  all  shams. 


Able  and  fearless  in  discussion,  and  the  contrlbutlonti  of 
the  best  writers  in  the  land  :ire  to  be  found  in  its  columnH. 

Not  a  "Sporting  Paper,''  but  Complete  in  its  reports  and 
Indexes  of  all  performances. 

Enerti  Farmer  who  lovei  a  good  horse  and  /air  dcaiiuj 
nhottld  hare  it. 

THE  CHEAPEST  OF  ITS  CLASS  IN  THE  WORLD. 

Tbreo  l>ollnrn  a  Year,  In  .\clvanee. 

^WALLACE'S   MONTHLY, 
n  S-:5t  170  FULTON  ST.,  NEW  YORK  CITY, 


GOOD  .SF,F.I>.'«,  ORO\V.\   WITH    LAKE,    FliOM   ,SE- 
lected  Stocks,  always  pay.  Try  luiue.  Catalogue  fied. 
J.  R.  V.  HAWKINS,  Goahen,  N.  Y. 


/v. 


THE  LANCASTER  FARMER. 


[November,  1876. 


^EXXSYLVAMA  RA 

Trtina  lkave  the  Dopot 


■V\E   TWARD. 

Pacific  Exprese" 

"Way  PuBseiiKort  

Limited  Mail' 

Hanover  A'-xommodatiou. 

Mail  train  via  Mt.  Joy 

No.  2  via  Columbia 

Sunday  Mail 

Fast  Line 

Frederick  Ai-cninmodation. 

HarriBburg  Accom 

Columbia  Accommodation.. 

Lancaster  Express 

Harrieburg  ExprcBs 

PittBburg  ExpresB 

Cincinnati  Express* 


EASTWARD.  Lancaster. 

Atlantic  hxprpss* j     12:40  a. 

Philadelphia  Expreast ' 

Harrieburg  Exjirese 

Lancaster  ExprtJBs 

Columbia  Acconnnodation.. 

Pacific  ExpiesB* 

Johnstown  ExpreBs 

Harrisburg  Accom 


IKROAD  SCHEDULIi:. 

in  this  city,  aa  foUowB  : 

Leave  Arrive 

Lancaster.  Harrisburg. 

'J:40  a.  m.  4:05  a.  m. 

4:50  a.  m.  7:50  a.  m. 

9:25  a.  m.  10:30  a.  m. 

9:30  a.  m.  Col.  10:00  a.  m. 

11:20  a.  m.  1:00  p.  m. 

11:20  a.  m.  1:20  p.  m. 

11:29  a.  m.  l:-20  p.  m. 

3:25  p.  m.  4:50  p.  m. 

3:H5p.  m.  Col.  4:15  p.  m. 

6:10  p.m.  8:10  p.  m. 

7:32  p.  m.  8:10  p.  m. 

7:40  p.m.  8:10  p.  m. 

7:45  p.  m.  9:05  p.  m. 

9:10  p.  m.  10:35  p.  m. 

11:30  p.  m.  12:45  a.  m. 

Philadelphia. 
3:10  a.  m. 
4:10  ft.  m.  7:00  a.  m. 

7:35  a.  m.  9:L'5  a.  m. 

7:50  a.  m.         10:30  p.m. 
9.28  a.  m.  12:30  p.  m. 

1:10  p.  m.  3:30  p.m. 

3:05  p.m.  6:00  p.m. 

5:50  p.  m.  9:00  p.  m. 

The  Hauover  Accommodation,  went,  connects  at  Lancaster 
with  Limited  Mail,  west,  at  9:25  a.  m.,  and  will  run  through 
to  Hauover  without  change  of  cars. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  west,  connects  at  Lancae- 
ter  with  Fast  Line,  west,  at  3:25  p.  m.,  and  runs  through  to 
Frederick  without  change  of  caiB. 

The  Frederick  Accommodation,  east,  leaves  Columbia  at 
12:30  p.  m.,  arriving  at  Lancaster  at  1  p.  m.,  connecting 
With  Pacific  Express  at  1:10  p.  m. 

The  Dillerville  Accommodation  leaves  Harrisburg  at  6 
A.  m.,  coming  via  Mt.  Jcry,  and  arriving  at  Lancaster  at9:05f 
connecting  with  Lancaster  train. 

The  York  Accommodation,  leaving  York  at  6:32  a.  m., 
connects  at  Columbia,  at  7:25,  with  the  train  leaving  Mari- 
etta at  6:52  a.  m.,  at  Lancaster  with  the  Harriaburg  Express 
at  7:25  a.  m. 

The  Marietta  train  leaves  Columbia  at  6;-05  a.  m.,  and  re- 
turning, leaves  Marietta  at  6:25,  connecting  at  Columbia 
with  the  York  .\ccommodation,  and  at  Lancaster  with  the 
Harri'^burg  Express  at  7:25  a.  m. 

On  Sunday  there  will  be  two  sections  of  Pacific  Express, 
east,  the  second  sec- ion  starting;  from  Columbia  at  12:30  p, 
m.,  making  all  the  stuiB  between  Columbia  and  Lancaster, 
and  the  Johnstown  Express  stops  from  Lancaster  to  West 
Philadelphia. 

The  first  section  of  Pacific  Express,  east,  on  Sunday,  when 
flagged,  will  stops  at  Middletown,  Eliza bethtown,   Mt.  Joy, 
and  Landisvilie. 
*Th6  only  trains  which  run  daily, 
tRUDB  daily,  except  Monday. 


$55  to  $77 

8-&-ly 


a  Wtek  to  Agmte.     Samples  FREE. 

P.  0.  ^^CKERY,  Augusta,  Maine, 


My  annual  Catalague  of  Vegetable  and  Flower  Seed  for 
1877  will  be  ready  by  January,  and  sent  /rp«  to  all  who  ap- 
ply. Customers  of  last  seasiu  need  not  write  for  it.  I  offer 
one  of  the  largest  collections  of  vegetable  seed  ever  sent  out 
by  any  seyd  house  in  America,  a  large  portion  of  which 
were  gr  wn  on  my  six  seed  farms.  JhrinUd  directions  for 
cultivation  on  evert/  package.  AH  seed  sold  from  my  estab- 
lishment warranted  to  be  both  fresh  «nd  true  to  name;  eo 
far,  that  should  it  prove  otherwise,  I  will  jefiU  the  order 
gratis.  As  the  original  introducer  of  the  Hubbard  and 
Marblehoad  Squashep,  the  Marblehead  Cabbages,  aud  a 
eoore  of  other  new  vegetables,  I  invite  the  patronage  of  alt 
who  are  anxious  to  har'e  their  seed.t  /re-'*h,  trite,  arid  o/  the 
very  best  strain.  New  Vegetables  \  Specialtt. 
8-l2-3t]  JAME.S  J.  H.  GREGORY,   ^Urblehead,  Mass. 


NONPAREIL  FARM  MILLS 


For  eriDdtog  CORN  and  COB  COBN-MEAL.  OAT9, 
OraoT  hind  of  Grain,  eoartt  or  Jlne  ;  10  8I2£8,  tOTSJL.iiD 
OX  JPOWER.      /  '"ttral'd  PampK'rt  Free. 

U,  J.  MlIil'KB.  181  £.  Front  St..  Clnolzmati,  O. 


SPOONS  and  FORKS. 

BUY  DIRECT 

Of  Ufaiinraotiirei'M,  at  Wholesale  PrlceM.  Made 
of  Steel,  plated  with  white  Alabata  Metal.  They  will  wear 
like  silver  and  lust  ten  years.  Six  Teasnoons,  40c.  ;  Six 
Tablespoons,  60c, ;  Sis  Table  Forks.  70c.  By  mail  on 
receipt  of  price.  Olive,  Oval  and  Tipped  patterns.  Samples 
and  terms  to  Grangers  or  Patrons,  50c. 
8-12-2t]  ELECTRO  PLATK  CO.,  Northford,  Conn. 


$12 


a   day   at   Home.      Agents     wanted.      Out&t    and 
terms  free.     TRUE  &  CO.,  Augusta,  Maine.    [8-3-ly 


GEORGE  D.  SPRECHER, 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

ROOFINCl   SLA.TE. 

OFFICE  : 

No.  15  EAST  KING  STREET, 

8-l-12m  LANCASTSB,  PA. 


FRESH  AND  RELIABLE 


ni.OVTKR  SEED-S- 

'       French  Qro'wers. 


-all  imported  from  the  best  and  most  celebrated 


^ 
F 


EG ET ABLE   SEEOS- 

both  imported  and  gro'wn. 


■the  best  and  most  desirable  varieties- 


lELD   SEEDS— 6  packages  free  as  samples  for  two  3-cent  stamps. 
Trees,  Plants,  Implements,  &c. 

OUR  NEW  CATALOGUE  of  the  above,  ready  Jauuary  Ist,  will  be  mailed  post  fieo  .o  all  KpiiliCiJiita. 


Our  elegant  new  Catalogue  is  just  out— Price,  S20  cents.  It  contains  48  large 
octavo  double  column  pages,  besides  separate  pages  of  cuts  from  life  of  nur  finest  imported 
and  prize  stock.    Every  farmer  should  have  it. 


Addbess 


BENSON  &  BURPEE, 

223  Church  St.,  Philadelphia,  Fa. 


a  beautiful  Quarterly  Journal,  finely  illustrated,  and  con- 
taining an  elegant  colored  Flower  Plate  with  the  first  num- 
ber. Price  only  25  cents  for  the  year.  Th©  first  number 
for  1877  just  issued  in  German  and  English. 

Vick's  Flower  and  Vegetable  Garden,  in  paper,  50  cts.; 
with  elegant  cloth  clovers,  Jl.OO. 

Vick's  Catalogue — 300  Illustrations,  only  2  cents. 

Address,  JAMES  VICE,  Rochester,  N.  H. 


BEST  HOLIDAY  GIFT. 

Of  Constant  and  Fexmanent  Value, 
THE  BEST  ENGLISH  DICTIONARY. 


WEBSTER'S  Unabridged. 

"Every  fnrmor  should  give  his  sois  two  or  three  square 
rods  of  ground,  well  prepared,  with  the  avalla  of  which 
they  may  buy  it.  Every  mpohanlc  should  put  a  receiving 
box  In  some  conspicuoHS  place  in  the  house,  to  catch  the 
stray  pennies  for  the  like  purpose. 

'*  Lay  it  upon  your  table  by  the  side  of  the  Bible — it  ie  a 
better  expounder  than  many  whioh  claim  to  be  expounders. 
It  is  a  great  labor-saver — it  has  saved  na  time  enough  in 
one  year's  use  to  pay  for  itself;  and  that  mtist  be  good 
property  whioh  will  clear  itself  once  a  year." — 3fassachu8etts 
Life  Boat, 

Four  Pages  Colored  Plates. 

MERKIA^IS,  Publisliers. Sold  everywhere. 


&5C^^ 


I  ^.\^  Will  be 

i  led 

to  all  appli- 

ants   <'ii    tu- 

pt  of  23ct8. 

This  ie  one  o(  the 

largest  ClTALOerKS 

nblished,    coutitinM 

•lit   2-''>0    papes,   over 

'!>()  fine  engniviugfi,  two 

■l<K;iiit  colored  plateti,  and 

,,     'Ts  full  descriptions,  prices 

ml    diiectitins    for    pliinting 

over   12(MJ  varieties  of  VegetHble 

..nd  Flower  Seeds,  BeddinR  Pliinta, 

Iti^-iP',    &c..  and    Is    invaluable    to 

'rtnner.  Gunitiicr  &  Klorist.    Address. 

■  D.  U.  FEEBY  &  CO.,  Detroit,  Mich. 
'Oar  Abridfed  Pcioed  Catalcfiii  FREE  to  all  Appliraitj. 


$20 


per  day  at  home.      Samples  worth  $1  free* 
STIKSOM  b  CO.,  Portlaud,  Ualue. 


AWiEJEI  THE  HIGHEST  MEML  AT  TIEUNA. 


691   BROAJDWAY,  NEW  YORK, 

(Opposite  Meliopolitau  Hotel) 
MANUFACTURERS,  IMPORTERS  AND  DEALERS  IN 

CHROMOS  @  FRAMES, 

STEREOSCOPES  and  VIEWS, 

ALBUMS.  GHAPHOSCOPES  ANO  SUITABLE  VIEWS. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  MATERIALS. 


We  are  Headquarters  for  everything  in  the  way  of 

Being  Manufacturers  of  the 
Sllrro-Sclcntlfic  Lantern, 
Stereo- Panopticon, 

Unlversiy  Stereoplcon, 

Advertisers*  Slereoptlron, 
Artopticon. 

School  Lantern,  Family  Lantern, 

People's  Lantern. 

Each  style  being  the  best  of  its  class  in  the  market. 


Cat;ilogues  of  Lanterns  and  Slides,  with  directions  for 
using,  seut  on  a])plication. 

Any  enterprisiug  man  can  make  money  with  a  Magic 
Lantein.  I^"Cut  out  this  advertisement  for  reference. 

S-6-6 


WANTED 

V  T    ""^    Young   Mei 


IMMEDIATELY 

Men   and  Womeu   to  learu  TlLE-   X 
GRAPHY.  Situations  guaranteed.   Salary  while 
practicing.    Address,  with  stcmr.  JihcrmaH 
Telegraph  Co.,  Oberlin,  Ohio.  8-9-6t 


J.  STAUFFER. 

iimm  It  Willi 

LANCASTER,  fENN^A, 
235  EAST  ORANGE  ST. 


All  matters  appertaining  to  UNITED  STATES  or  CANA- 
DIAN PATENTS,  TRADE  MARKS,  and  C0PYUIGHT8. 
promptly  attended  to.  Hie  experience,  success  a  ;d  faithful 
atention* to  the  interests  of  those  who  euguge  his  aorvicee 
are  fully  acknowledged  and  appreciated. 

Preliminary  examinations  made  for  blm  by  a  reliable  As 
Bistant  at  Washington,  without  extra  charge  for  drawing 
«r  description,  [7-4-tf 


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