THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



61 



SYSTEMATIC FAUMINO IN FltANCE. 



What prosiTBsivc asrriculturcniostrefiuriesls, facts 



well piTsi-rvi'il ;iiid riTciriU'iI willi iiri'cit-imi ; it is thus 

 lliat sui-li :i plain, iiMvaniislicd tali' as lliat (if M. 

 ISiOiajrue's plan of farniiiif,- ili-s.Tvcs to lie wrlcomcd, 

 so as to I'licoiiraKe ollirrs to piibiisli tlic liistory <>f 

 tlioiroponilions. M. Bi>liaj;iii' is one of tlii' leadini; 

 pcntlcnian farnirrs of Kranir. His I'statc nimiiriscs 

 4,KIMI atTcs, of wliicli '.'17 an- in irrass. l,ir,4 in i-iilti- 

 valion, and tlic rt-inaiiuliT iindiTWooil, ponds and 

 lawns. He has ercotcMi hie castle, piirehased half of 

 his estate, acenmulnted the two-thirds of his im- 

 mense fori nne o\it of landed prollts, and considers 

 nothintr as prolil that is not represented at the end of 

 the year by hard cash, lie keeps one set of hooks 

 likea retailer, and another wherein is recorded tlic 

 " matters" of the faivn, as mannre, fodder, to'., and 

 which serves him as a i;nidc. The soil is anythim; 

 hut rich, it is i;ravclly, thin and cold, hnt ever tend- 

 ins; hy enltivation to'trrcater fertility. His workmen 

 —some M, have each a eottaire on the estate; there 

 are two tile liclds, a lime kiln ami sawing machines. 

 His sales of wood, cither in planks or for hurniuL'-, 

 yield him a net prolit of fril per acre and the pines, 

 liy their resin, somewhat less; his ponds bein.i; well 

 stocked with fish, are also a source of revenue, hut 

 ■wood and lambs are the two jiivotsof his farming. 

 After years of cxpcrinii>nts, he gave up rearing meri- 

 nos for their wool, linding the price of meat to be 

 more luci-ative : he succeeded in obtaining a renumer- 

 ative race of sheep, liy crossing a bcrrichou ewe with 

 a Soutlidown ram, and his practice consists in breed- 

 ing ami fattening otf lambs, the issue of these cross- 

 ings, when eiglit or ten months old, and selling them 

 at some ;"/-t(l each ; he thus disposes of 1,0(10 lambs 

 ])er annum. The ewes arc also fattened and sold 

 after their third lambing. The arable portion of the 

 estate nourishes about 170 pounds of live stock per 

 acre. M. Behague does not regard this stock as a 

 necessary evil, hut as a source of certain jirotit. 



CHEMICAL MANUKES IN IMPALPABLE POWDER. 



M. Menier draws the attention of farmers to the 

 fact, based on his own experience, that they canefl'eet 

 a great economy in the use of chemical manures, by 

 always applying them in the form of an impalpable 

 imwiier. The chemical action of a manure, its power 

 of assimilation by the plant, increases in proixirtion 

 to the surface in contact ; the more a mineral sub- 

 stance is then pulverized, the greater will consequent- 

 ly become that surface. In Britany the peasants con- 

 fer much benefit on their land, by strewing therein 

 the powder of ixirtious of rock specially crushed. 



FKENTII MOOE Ol' SELECTING HORSES. 



The purchasers of horses for the French army al- 

 ways endeavor to obtain a first look at the animal 

 when he is tranquil and in the stable; noting if the 

 animal supports itself equally well on all its legs, and 

 ifone seems to yield, to specially examine it ; atten- 

 tion is then directed to the largeness of the pupil of 

 the eye, which ought to be more dilated when in the 

 stable, tlian when exposed to full light. After the 

 ainmal has been led out of the stable, the eye ought 

 to be again examined to observe if the pupil has con- 

 tracted ; if not, the sight is feeble ; others, to test the 

 power of vision, feign to strike the forehead with the 

 hand. If the holhiw over the eyes be [irofound, and 

 the temples grey, old age is to be concluded ; wounds 

 about the temple suggest attacks of staggers, and 

 when the end of the nose i)rcsents circular sears. It 

 nniy be concluded the horse has been twitched with 

 . a cord to ensure his ciuietuess while being shod or 

 having had to sulimit to some painful operation. 



THE SEPARATION OF BUTTER IN CHrRNING. 



M. Limbourg, Veterinary surgeon and inspector of 

 the abattoir, at Brussels, draws attention to the ditfi- 

 culty loo Irequently encountered, for the perfect se- 

 jiaration of the butler in the process of churning. 

 This dilliculty presents many anomalies, and which 

 arc attributed to a chcmieal alteration in the milk, to 

 the existence of decomposing [irineiples, and the 

 health of tlie cows. As a cow is estimated to yield 

 from I'i to 1.5 quarts of milk daily, representing a 

 Ijound of butter, a prolonged dilliculty, in connectiou 

 with a large dairy, thus becomes serious. Some go 

 to seek the cause, where only the cfl'cct is percept- 

 ible, anil blame the vessels, or the atmosphere. M. 

 Limbourg has no hesitation in attributing the cause 

 of this non-separation of the butter in churning to the 

 feeble liealth of the cow, to the ixnerly of the ani- 

 nuil's blood, altlamgh thcaiumal presents at the same 

 time all the exiernal appearances of health. The cow- 

 is a machine for producing milk, and the organism 

 can be deranged by excessive or prolongeil milking, 

 or continuous breeding; the digestion is perforinc'd 

 imperfectly, the blood is not enriched, and hence the 

 animal becomes weak. Conueeted with this subji'ct 

 is the remark, that cows badly h'd during the winter, 

 rcllect this treatment by a diminished supply of milk 

 during the summer, and in addition, suller mo.st w hen 

 passing from a dry to a green dietary. An ill-fcil 

 animal draws uponits system for the elements of its 

 milk, and when sup|>licil with generous I'ood, first 

 fortifies its economy, bcftjre yielding the expected iu- 

 cruaec of milk. 



RIPENINO OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



The preservation of sugar beet occupies much at- 

 tention; f^ pounds of beet yield i'i of sugar — or 



from .') to ten per cent. But this per eentage can fall 

 too or 4. when I he beet has been thri'c or lour months 

 stored in pits; lunce the importance of preserving the 

 roots, so as to lessen this diminution. The beet ouglit 

 never to lie lifleil till iierlictly ripe; to act otherwise 

 induces a li'rnientation which changes the sugar from 

 a erystalliiu- to an uncryslalline stale. In I be unripe 

 beet also, llicre exist acids whicli favor rcrmenlalion. 

 It is recoinmenilcd to lift the roots without bruising 

 them, anil to stack them, leaves on but lurncd out- 

 wards, in small bca|i» ; allow them to remain in this 

 state till llie death of the leaves, when these can be 

 cut olf and the roots placed in Irenches, covering 

 with straw, which is a bad conductor of lieat. The 

 root thus achieves its ripening ; by allowing the leaves 

 to remain, the sap thickens by the evaporation of the 

 water at the leaves and roots, and the latter dry, like 

 preserved grapes, but withinit altering. 



THE NEW " ItUTCHER SHIP." 



M. Tellier has produced the model of his "butcher 

 ship," for the preservation, by hie process of artificial 

 cold, and the transixirt of meat I'rom Australia and 

 South America. All that now remains is to aji/tly his 

 invention. The engine room is very abaft in the ves- 

 sel, and I he eold-produeing machinery is behind tliis 

 room ; the remainder of the ship is divided into com- 

 partmeuls, all fitted up with stalls, wherein the joints 

 are suspended, with facilities for examining the meat 

 throughout the passage. 



CAOUTCHOUC IN HARNESS. 



The idea ie being tried of introducing Caoutchouc in 

 the harness of draught animals, so as to augment the 

 strength of the cattle, on the prini'ipie, that a weight 

 attached to a spring, can be raised more readily than 

 if lifted without it, or like the elaetie union of a rail- 

 way train. 



OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



Proceedings of the Lancaster County Agri- 

 cultural and Horticultural Society. 



The Society met statedly in the Orphans' Court 

 Room on .Monday, April .5, "at 3 o'clock, the President, 

 Johnson Miller, in the chair. Present, .Messrs. John- 

 son Miller, Henry M. Engle, Alexander Harris, .M. D. 

 Kendig, Casper "Hiller, .John Staulfer, John Huber, 

 Milton B. Eshlcmau, Jacob K. Witmer, S. A. Her- 

 shey, Daniel Smeych, .John (irossman, Keubeu Wea- 

 ver, -Martin N. Brubaker, Levi S. Keist, Henry Erb, 

 J. M. W. t;eist,Ephraim Hoover, S. S. Kathvon, D. 

 G. Swartz. 



.John (irossman, of Warwick, was elected a mem- 

 ber of the Association; also Samuel A. Hcrshey, of 

 Salunga. 



Condition and Prospects of Crops. 

 Johnson Miller presented the following report on 

 the condition of agriodtural matters in Warwick 

 township, which was read : 



After the ground has been covered with snow for 

 over one hundred days, and we have jiassed through 

 a winter of unusual cold weather, it afi'ords me great 

 pleasure to again make my monthly report to this 

 society. The snow only a few days ago melted away, 

 and w"ith this day commences the farmer's spring 

 work, after having rested a season from out-door 

 work, doing very little except feeding and currying 

 the stock, of which a good deal has been shipped 

 from our neighborhood and froju all over Warwick 

 township. Some twenty-five ear loads of fat cattle 

 have Ictt the Litiz depot within the last ten days. 

 This sliows that farmers have jirepared to meet field 

 work, and to-day we see the lioys who have been in 

 the school rooms out in the field ]iieking stones. The 

 farmers who have sjicnt the long and cold winler 

 days and evenings in reading (and if they have not 

 thus spent them it is time lost fiircver) are here and 

 there lollowing the plow, making ready for another 

 season and another crop; the gardeners are busy 

 cleaning out things, cutting and trimming vines and 

 trees, so that they will bein condition m bear another 

 crop; Hie birds are singing, and everlhing ajipears to 

 have awakened from the slumberings of a cold and 

 hmg winter. This is a hu.sy season for all, as there 

 are "so niany things that need looking after and re- 

 pairing, tine great point sliould be well eoiisidired 

 by every fanner ; Have the giound well tilled and 

 in good condition before planting and sowing, as 

 early as possible. This is a rule that is only not 

 practiced in Warwick township, but should be followed 

 all over the eountv. 



As reganls lhe"prcsent condition and prospects of 

 grain, I'ruit and things in general, I would re|Hirt 

 that wheat fields come out in about the same condi- 

 tion as thev went under. Owing to the dry season 

 last fall grain was short but well scl . The ice has in 

 hiw places lolally destroyed the crop; but on average 

 with a favorable spring, we will have a tolerably 

 good crop. So far a.s grape vines aml^'ruit trees are 

 concerned they have Millercd more or less, as was the 

 ease two years ago. 1 noticed my peach trees a re frozen 

 considerably, while raspberries and grape vines have 

 shared the same fate. As to the fruition noihing can 

 be said yet. Taking all ihings togelhcr we can only 

 relv on an all-wise Provideiiee w ho directs all things 

 properly. We have no reason to complain. As we 



have alwavs been abundantly blessed in the past, wo 

 will no iloiilit be equally eared for in the future; for 

 the iiromise is. If we sow we shall reap. 



Henry M. Engle, of .Marietta, nqHirted that pears 

 and apples are all safe; but peaches arc somewhat 

 iniurcd. Tender grapes have also been somewhat in- 

 jured, but the hardy varieties are intact. Huspbcrries 

 sullered some but not seriously. He suggested that 

 the canes should always be laid down in the fall and 

 covered, to insure their safety through the winter. 



Mil. TON B. Esuleman, of Paradise, gave it as the 

 result of his observation that the wheat has norbeen 

 injured, as it had been sown rather late In the fall, 

 and appearances Indicate a good coming crop. Jlo 

 had examined the peach buds, and thinks there will 

 be a giMid crop of peaches in his vicinity. 



M. IJ. Ki;Niiiii. .Manor, reiiorted that farmers arc 

 abmit beginning field operations. There was no oats 

 sown in March this season, (irase and grain look 

 better than could be expected. A little more sunshine 

 and an oeeasional shower will give It a fair start. 

 Some of the small fruits arc very muidi atlecled hy 

 the severe cold ofthe past winter. Philadelphia rasp- 

 berries are badly frozen. Doolittlc may I'omc out 

 jiretty well, (irapcs materially injured, I'speclally 

 the less hjirdy varieties ; Cornconl and Clinton make 

 a toleralily fair show. Apples and [x^ars all right. 

 Peaches somewhat damaged. Of the farm products 

 of 1.S71 the bulk of wheat is on hand. Tobacco is 

 selling from prices ranging at 8 to IS for wrapix;re, 

 and :i to ."> lor tillers. Potatoes are scarce. 



Jacob K. Witmer, of Manor, reiKirted that the 

 indicat ions were favorable for a g(H>d crop of peaches, 

 cherries, and other fruits generally. Clover looks 

 well, and the grape vines have not been injured. Ho 

 had heard an old adage that icicles hanging on trees 

 were generallv injurious and destructive to the crops. 



Levis. l<i;'isT'believed that the wheat, especially 

 in fields that lie low, is entirely destroyed. They hart 

 been covered with a crust of ice for a long time, and 

 he fears whole fields arc destroyed. 



Hi-.NRV .M. Engle did not agree with the adage 

 which predicted loss of fruit from icicles hanging on 

 the trees. On the contrary, he believed that if the 

 trees were even covered with ice they would still bo 

 safe and vield gtxxl crops. 



Johnson Miller regarded the systematic report- 

 ing of the condition of the cereal and fruit crops as a 

 matter of great irn|iortance. 



The Association tlien took the the question — 



" What is the Best Mode of Wintering Cattle ?" 

 Milton B. Esuleman, who had proposed this 

 question, said he did not do so because he had any- 

 thing new to sav on the subject, but simply because 

 he wished to hear from others. He is a miller by 

 occupation, and has often heard the question dis- 

 cussed whether ground corn cobs eontaineiI.any nutri- 

 tive or fattening |in>perties. He would be glad to 

 hear this jioint discussed. 



The President 6tatc*llhat a friend of his, iiiF.phrata 

 townsliip, fattened all his cattle on corn ground in the 

 cob, and was quite successful in the production of 

 good beef. 



Casper Hilleh said he had been giving this mat- 

 ter some thought, and would read the following on 



The Comparative Value of Food. 



The majoritv of farmers feed their cattle just as 

 their fathers did before them, and the idea, perhaps, 

 never suggested itself to them that there might 

 be ,some improvement— .some plan by which more 

 stock can be kept, or more money saved. In countries 

 with large populations this fiidder question is an im- 

 portant One, not only in the way of supplying the 

 people with animal food, but also in the making of 

 manure for keeiiing up tlic lerlility of llie soil I o grow 

 cereals to perfection. In Germany, this (picstion re- 

 ceives a great deal of attention. The professors in 

 their agrieullural eollegcs have made full and search- 

 ing experiments on the comiiarativc values of different 

 kinds of food, as follows: 



The basis of the comiiarison is the percentage of 

 nutriment in 100 pi>iinds ofthe foods mentioned. 



100 POUNDS Ol' 



Corn contains 'X> iHiunds of nutriment. 



Oats " 70 



Clover hav " 55 " " " 



Wheat brin " 4H " " " 



Corn fodder " 20 



Wheat straw " U 



From this it will be seen that, to secure an equiva- 

 lent to 1.(100 ths of corn, requires either 1,'1.57 tlis of 

 oats, l,7'27lt,sof hav, l.ilHOlt.s of wheat bran, 4,7.50 lbs 

 of corn fodder, or (l.'<00 llis of wheat straw. 



Assuming that corn meal is worth * Ulpcrton. oats 

 J'll.'iS, clover hav *1.5. wheal bran *'i.5, corn fodder 

 $S, wheat straw ?lll— then, if we accept the theory 

 that an animal will require two [mt cent, of its live 

 weight in hay, the feed of an ox weighing 1,000 lbs 

 will be, per day either — 



30 



im 



Ht-a-7 



2! 



Ihs of 



n 



7S 



hay 



corn meal 



oats 



bran 



corn fodder 



wheal siraw 



valued 



at l.V 



" 17e 



o 2.5c 



" Site 



1 " !>a<r 



" ::!•<■, 

 From these tables it would a|ipear that hay and 

 vornmeal are the great staples upon which the farmer 



