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 



