184 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[December, 



immemoiable l)et'n looked upon as so simiile 

 aiul coarse that any one who is not competent 

 for other calhnas in hfe will do for a farmer ; 

 and the farmer himself has to a Rn at extent 

 accepted the position of senility. There have, 

 however, at all times been honorable excep- 

 tions and fortunately the number is rapidly 

 increasing. We may therefore hope that in 

 the near future thehusbandman will attain 

 a position where he can feel himself the peer 

 of him of any other calling. If the Patrons 

 of IIusbaM<lry will accomplish ^vhat they 

 l)romise, and wliat they claim to have already 

 achieved be correct, they deserve the hearty 

 congratulations of every agriculturist, horti- 

 cvdturist and pomologist in the land, whether 

 he belonos to the orcler or not. 



The eontiicting views advanced by different 

 writers and speakers is no excuse for silence 

 on our part. AVe often differ widely upon 

 questions that long since should have been 

 Iiermanently settled, simply because we observe 

 thinas under various circumstances, and from 

 different standpoints. There is, liowever, one 

 broad basis upon which we cannot differ, i. e., 

 tlie same causes under the same circumstances 

 wdll always produce the same effects. At the 

 same time widely different causes sometimes 

 jiroduce appartntly the same results, and vice 

 versa. 



Our differences, therefore, is simply a want 

 of thorough knowledge of the subject we un- 

 dertake to handle. Warm controversies are 

 often carried on where both sides are in 

 error. The tilling of the soil is the most 

 ancient of all employments, and yet how small 

 a proportion of those engaged therein under- 

 stand the first principles thereof. There is too 

 much disposition to plod in the old beaten 

 path, with so little inclination to progress and 

 improve, and elevate our calling upon a higher 

 plane. Organization and co-operation for a 

 good purpose are the most effective means to 

 obtain desired ends, and where legitimately 

 conducted never fail to produce good results. 

 If every one engaged in tilling the soil would 

 carry with him his note book and pencil, ob- 

 serve closely, note down all items that he can 

 not fully comprehend, and bring them before 

 some society oi-ganized for progress, and there 

 compare notes, discuss unsettled questions, 

 give and receive facts pertaining to his busi- 

 ness, a fund of knowledge would soon accumu- 

 late that could not be computed by money 

 values. 



One reason why more progress has not been 

 made in this branch of industry, is the dealing 

 too much in opinions instead of facts; it is the 

 latter only that can be applied to build up a 

 science. Let no one be discouraged if he cannot 

 report any great discovery; only do not over- 

 look facts, however small they may be, for the 

 common proverb, " Save the dimes and the 

 dollars will be cared for," will hold equally 

 good in this ease. 



A gentleman who gathered a large fund of 

 knowledge in another branch, recently re- 

 marked, that he made observations twenty 

 years ago, Init neglected to make notes thereof, 

 and tha°t a standard work has more recently 

 been publislied, containing the very identical 

 facts which he had discovered years jirevious. 

 And his is not an isolated case ; it is simply one 

 of many similar ones. Should not such in- 

 stances stimulate every one not to be negli- 

 gent, where he may as well be useful; neither 

 should he afteiwards grumble if he allows 

 another to steal a march upon him, which is 

 quite a common thing nowadays. 



Another important duty let us not forget, 

 i. e., subscribe for The Lancasteu Farmer 

 and urge your neighbor to do likewise; also to 

 write an article for it now and then. Nothing 

 proves more thoroughly the progress and in- 

 telligence of a farming community than the 

 unflinching patronage of their home organ; 

 not that they shall not patronize others, but 

 always home first, especially when it is as 

 worthy as our Lancaster Farjieu.— if. M. 

 £., Marietta, Pa., December 4th, 1875. 



Tor Thk Lancaster Farmek. 

 WINTER CARE OF PIGEONS. 

 At this season, a few hints and general di 

 rections may be of service to thi' young fancier 

 in caring for his pets. In our latitude, tlie 

 winters are entirely too severe to allow much 

 success in breeding, especially from high-class 

 fancy pigeons. Common oidtrs, house pigeoris 

 and 'hardy cross breeds, such as the Antwerp 

 and dragons, may occasionally raise a few 

 squabs. But these, while maturing, will miss 

 the sunny spring days and warm weather. 

 All their food will be consumed to keep a 

 small spark of life within them, and they will 

 often grow up weakly. Again, coiild strong 

 and hearty young be raised, it would be at the 

 cost of stamina in ihe ))arents. They may 

 breed well enough in the winter, but then in 

 the spring — the UKJst successful time for rais- 

 ing stock— the hen will lie worn ont. So from 

 the above it will be seen that it is unadvisable 

 to attempt to breed during the winter. Let 

 the birds rest, now, and then in the spring you 

 may raise squabs— ttne and large— to your 

 heart's content. In order to prevent the 

 pigeons breeding, they should, if possible, be 

 separated— the cocks all in one loft and the 

 hens in another. If this is not possible, then 

 r< move all heating material, and the birds wall 

 seldom show any inclination to breed. Care 

 nuist be taken "to avoid all draughts, and on 

 cold nights the windows should be closed; on 

 the coldest days only being opened while the 

 sun shines in the area. Pigeons cannot bear 

 the cold well, but can stand any amount of 

 wannth— that is, natural heat. Artificial heat 

 is unnecessary and weakens them. Do not, 

 urider any circumstances, heat the loft; but 

 see that there are no cracks for the wind to 

 enter. 



As to cleanliness, so much care is not re- 

 quired. The loffneed only be cleaned once or 

 twice during the entire winter. The water 

 need only be given fresh once a week. If it 

 freezes in the fountain, it should be melted 

 each morning by pouring in boiling hot water. 

 The bath should be filled occasionally on warm 

 days. 



As to food, the supply must be constant and 

 unstinted. Either let there be food always in 

 the loft, or else feed as much as the birds will 

 eat twice a day, at daylight and aliout four in 

 the afternoon. Corn is the best food, as it is 

 the most heating. It must constitute the 

 staple article, and can be fed the yvhole win- 

 ter, although an occasional feed of wheat, for 

 a variety, is useful. A little hemp seed will 

 act very well as a tonic, but must not be given 

 too heavily. Stale bread, if it can be pro- 

 cured in sufficient quantity, has no superior 

 as a nutritious and highly relished article of 

 food. 



In conclusion. let us urge upon young fan- 

 ciers, especially, (and there are many older ones 

 to whom the advice may not be useless,) that 

 common .so7i.se be abundantly enqiloyed in the 

 matter of ventilation, &c. Because we have 

 said that an excess of cold is very injurious to 

 the most delicate varieties, the reader is not 

 to infer that the birds are to be confined all 

 the time. On the contrary, we would insist 

 upon the importance of allowing them access 

 to the area or the open air, as the case maybe 

 whenever the weather will permit. Then, 

 when the sun sets, if the windows are tightly 

 closed, the birds will jirofit all the mora by the 

 greater comparative warmth at night.— IF. 

 Allee Burpee, Philadelphia, Dec, 1, 1875. 



All utTR Surscrihers should renew their 

 subscriptions before cm' next issue. 



celery and leeks covered all but their upper 

 leaves. After the soil about them gets hard 

 fi-ozen, a sprinkling of straw or corn-stalks is 

 put over them. They keep well all winter, 

 and are readily got when needed. 



Esculent roots are generally stored in cel- 

 lars and caves; the different sp.ecies in differ- 

 ent tenqieratures ; that for beets, carrots and 

 potatoes should be aliove tlie freezing point 

 five or ten degrees, (.<ipeciaJhi polatoes. Dry 

 pulverized soif should be mixed among the 

 roots of beets and carrots to retard evapora- 

 tion from them. Turnips and fall radishes 

 should be kept in a temperature five or ten 

 degrees below the freezing point ; indeed, the 

 ruta baga is not injured if the temperature 

 gets down to zero at times, in a close shed or 

 outhouse, lined with straw; tuniips and rad- 

 ishes will keep well, and being covered on top 

 with straw, we have often presei'ved them 

 in heajis, and covered thick with soil in the 

 open fields, and in heaps, and built stacks of 

 straw and corn-stalks above them. Where 

 tliey arc used daily, they have to be stored 

 where they will readily be got at in all wea- 

 thers. 



Tree fruits are generally stored in dry rooms; 

 a temperature slightly above the freezing 

 point will do for them. Yet many varieties 

 will do well in ten degrees below the freezing 

 point. A cold tenqierature for a while is not 

 so injurious to the long preservation of vege- 

 tables and fruit as are sudden transitions from 

 heat to cold and from cold to heat. 



A dry and p'ure atmosphere is essential 

 for the long keeping of fruits and vegetables, 

 and a certain degree of darkness is also neces- 

 sary. When the doors and windows of cel- 

 lars, caves and fruit rooms are opened to ad- 

 mit fresh air, and allow the escape of foul air, 

 light also gets in ; but then it is necessaiy, as 

 it purifies the atmosphere. Ventilation should 

 be attended to at all favorable opportunities. 

 Opposite doors and windows carry off the foul 

 air more quickly by their draughts. They 

 should be opened on days of mild weather and 

 shut up close on nights. The deeper cellars 

 and caves are in the' ground, the warmer they 

 are. They need large ventilation, even in 

 cold weather. A thermometer shoidd be hung 

 in the middle of every cellar, cave, and fruit 

 room, then the temiierafure can always be 

 ascertained, to direct the amount of ventila- 

 tion needed. 



Most of the readers will know all the alwve 

 statements ; but some may not know. Far- 

 mers send their children to school to leam 

 what they themselves have learned, and hired 

 illiterate helps go to night schools to learn 

 what others know. The Farmer is a school 

 for the fiirm and (junhn. Every article will 

 benefit "some readers, liy reminding them of 

 what they know, and instructing those who 

 do not know. Through it, we husliandmen 

 can keep up a friendly conversation about our 

 owni professions, with each other, that will 

 make us all better cultivators, grazere, breed- 

 ers, and better dairymen, poultrymen and bee 

 managers, all by our exchange of opinions and 

 practices. By that, our Cains and Abels will 

 be loving brother.i, rejoicing in each other's 

 successes! — Walter Elder, Landscape Gar- 

 dener, Philadelphia, Nor. 23, 1875. 



Fur The Lancaster Farmer. 



PRESERVATION OF FRUITS AND VE- 

 GETABLES DURING WINTER. 



The culture a«d harvesting of our farm and 

 o-arden crops in the northern half of the na- 

 tion are mostly over, and now the safe preser- 

 vation of our late products recpiires our care- 

 ful consideration. After spending much labor, 

 skill and care to produce them, it would be a 

 sinful waste to let any portion of them be lost 

 for want of careful protection and storage. 



Cabbages, celery and leeks arc generally dug 

 up and laid in trenches closely, the cabbages 

 covered with soil all but their heads, and the 



A COLORADO CATTLE RANGE. 



A traveling correspondent of the Omaha 

 JJeruld gives that paper an hi teresting account ' 

 of the largest cattle range in that State. It 

 belongs to Mr. J. W. Iliff, and is 1.50 miles 

 long, and begins at .Tulcsburg on the east, and 

 exteiids to Greeley on the west. It includes 

 bottom and upland ranges, and has several 

 camps or ranches. The chief ranche is nearly 

 south of Sidney, and about 40 miles from 

 Jidesburg. At this ranche there are houses 

 and sheds, and some more than two sections 

 of land fenced in. All the cattle bought by 

 Mr. Iliff" are turned over to him and branded 

 at this place. Here are his private stockyards, 

 corrals, chutes, and all the necessary conveni- 

 ences for handling cattle. It is on the South 

 Platte rivei) and of course has fine watermg 



