1877.J 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



9 



Noimaiidy there is a greater variety in the 

 ownership of projicrty than in any other part 

 of France ; larpe estates with resident owners 

 an' nnnierous, but still more so are small 

 properties ; there are an innnense number of 

 peasant proprietors, but tliey do not monopo- 

 lize the land as in some par{s of France. "If 

 1 had to point out the happiest part of 

 France," says Monsieur de Lavergne, "I 

 sliould not hesitate to select Normandy." 

 Population there increases slowly in proiwr- 

 tion to wealth ; wliile its wealth has increased 

 four-fold since ITS'.t, its population has in- 

 creased by one-third only. In many rural 

 commmies there is not a single pauiier. The 

 writer adds : "Lu pliqiurt dif yonuands 

 n'ont }>us ?u Maltliun, miiis ils pratique in- 

 stinctivnnent scs cniisrih.^^ The case of Nor- 

 mandy is especially instructive, as it shows 

 what "is the result of a happy coml)ination of 

 every variety of large owners and small 

 owners, of land farmed by tenants, and of 

 peasants farming their own land. In the 

 more northern provinces of France property 

 is even more divided, and gives admirable re- 

 sults, though perhaps the net produce aft(!r 

 taking into account the number of cultiva- 

 tors is not so great. — Fiirtnujhtly Bcview. 



A MODEL FARM. 



In taking a sleigh ride a few days ago, we 

 passed through a portion of Manor township. 

 If there is anything that will make a I.ancaster 

 countian feel proud of his county, it is to dri\c 

 through such portions of it as Manor-twp. and 

 notice tlie unmistakable evidences of thrift and 

 prosperity that greets the eye on all sides. 



Our drive took us into the neighliorhood of 

 Washington borough; from Lancaster to the 

 Sus(iuehaniia, over the Manor turnpike to 

 Millersville, and from thence to Washington 

 borough by the direct road. AVe cannot recall 

 a single farm or residence which did not bear 

 evidence of the thrifty habits of our Lancas- 

 ter county peopk',- no tundile-down buildings 

 or fences," that are the rule rather than the ex- 

 ception in some sections of the country. 



The mild damp weather of Friday and Sat- 

 urday promised to i)ut the tobacco hanging in 

 sheds into condition to handle, and as a natu- 

 ral consequence, tobacco was the prevailing 

 theme of conver.sation, which is not a matter 

 of surprise when we reflect that we are in the 

 midst of a small area (less than half of Lancas- 

 ter county) that furnishesthe markets of the 

 world with about one-fourth of all the leaf 

 tobacco grown in the United States. 



Prominent among the large and successful 

 tobacco growers in this district, we might 

 mention Mr. .lohn S. Mann, whose tine farm 

 lies about li miles from the river. Mr. Mann 

 produces annually froni fifteen to twenty 

 acres of the weed, and as an example of the 

 quality and quantity per acre, we might say 

 that from a lot sold by Mr. Mann to a New 

 York lirm, this season, through their agent, 

 Mr. Isaac Kaullman, of Miumtville, he real- 

 ized at the rate of if (iSO per acre, strict measure. 



It must be remembered, however, that in 

 order to continue the successful culture of to- 

 bacco, the farmer must employ means to 

 counteract the exhaustive influence of tobacco 

 cropping on the soil. This can only be done 

 by the liberal use of stable manure, "and since 

 this article cannot be purchased here in large 

 quantities for love or money, the farmer must 

 resort to means for producing it on the farm. 



A visit to Mr. Mann's stable convinced us 

 that he is a man (n) " that don't do things on 

 a small scale. " Thirteen milk cows furnish 

 the dairy products for the family, the surplus 

 going to tlie Columbia market. Twenty-five 

 head of fattening steers that will rival, in 

 point of size, the Centennial prize cattle by 

 the time Mr. M. puts them on the market, 

 grace his stable. Among his horses, which 

 are all of the best, we noticed a promising 

 looking Percheron stallion, three years old, and 

 weighing 1,1500 pounds, having been exhibited 

 by Mr. M, at the late State fair held in this 

 city. Proceeding to the pig-stables we find 

 them stocked with improved Berkshires, whose 

 clean, sleek appearance is suthcient evidence 

 that they receive all the care and attention the 



most fastidious pig could desire. In short, all 

 that came under our observation in a brief visit 

 of a few hours gave evidence of lirst-cla.ss farm- 

 ing combined with good business nianagt- ment. 



Returning to the hou.se from which wc 

 started on our tour of observations, and which 

 we have allowed, rather inadvertently, to oc- 

 cupy the last, but not least place in our re- 

 marks, we find it presided over by Mrs. M., 

 ably assisted by her accomplished daughters, 

 whose reputation tor hospitality is so well 

 known as to require no comment. 



There are other faims and farmers that 

 may be the subjects of further commmiica- 

 tituis ; the example of Mr. Mann as a model 

 farmer ami business man, is one deserving of 

 notice and worthy of emulation by young men 

 and others engaged in the same line of busi- 

 ness. If there are other tobacco farmers who 

 can show a better yield per acre than that re- 

 ferred to by us, we will be glad to hear from 

 them. — Intelligencer. 



CLEARING LAND BY DYNAMITE. 



Experience at clearing lands, both in re- 

 moving stumps and large boulders with dyna- 

 mite in .Scotland has been a success. The 

 following account is given of a late trial in an 

 Edinburgh paper : 



"A spadefiU of earth was removed from the 

 side of a stum]) and a hole driven into the 

 stump with a crowbar. Into this hole a cart- 

 ridge of dynamite was pressed by means of a 

 wooden ramrod, then a detonating percussion 

 cap, with a fuse attached, was scpieezed into a 

 small cartridge or primer of dynamite, and 

 inserted into the hole in the stump in contact 

 with the charge. The hole was tilled up with 

 loose earth, about a foot length of the fuse 

 being left bare. A match was next apjjlied 

 to the fuse, and suflicient time was taken for 

 the powder to reach the percussion cap to 

 allow the operatives to retire a safe distance. 

 When the explosion occurred the trunk was 

 literally blown out of the ground, some of the 

 fragments, weighing nearly twenty pounds, 

 being thrown to a distance of over a hundred 

 yards. The destruction of the stump was 

 complete. In breaking up big boulder stones^ 

 the dynamite was simply placed on top of the 

 stone, covered with wet sand, and fired with 

 the fuse in the ordinary way. The result was 

 the reduction of the boulders to fragments the 

 size of a walnut. It was effectually proved 

 by the experiments that land can be speedily 

 cleared of formidable obstructions to good 

 cultivation by the use of dynamite, and the 

 committee of the society who watched the 

 operations expressed themselves as highly 

 satisfied with the results. 



FARMING VS. PROFESSION. 



The Maine Mirror gives the testimony of a 

 New Hampshire boy, now a resident of Wis- 

 consin, a fine scholar, a graduate of Dart- 

 mouth, and a law student in Merriniac coun- 

 ty, who just previous to his admi.ssion to the 

 bar, took a cold which rendered him very 

 deaf, and no medical skill wan able to restore 

 his hearing. The affliction compelled him to 

 give up his chosen profession and lie went 

 west very much broken down in spirits. For 

 ten years he has been farming, cultivating 

 about 'iOO acres of prairie land, and, as he ex- 

 pressed it, making a good living and salting 

 down something every year. And he declares 

 that if, knowing what he now knows, he was 

 to begin his active life over again, he would 

 do just as he was compelled to do .so unwill- 

 ingly ten years ago ; that is, he would throw 

 aside his profession and settle down upon a 

 farm. Said he, " There isn't nnich glory on 

 a farm, Imt you get a good, sure living. You 

 are your own master ; you can't starve or be 

 turned out of business ; and as far as the 

 work is concerned in these days of horse 

 power, a man needn't kill himself farming 

 any more than at any other business. It is 

 brains that win on a farm as well as every- 

 where else, and the smart man is going to 

 ride, while the stuivid one goes a-foot in the 

 corn-field as well as in the bar or pidpit. I 

 should like to have my hearing again, but I 

 wouldn't leave my farm if I had it." 



PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



Tliis snoicly lioUi its regular mecthip at Hurrls- 

 btirK, on January 171 li. Dr. .1. A. M'Crea, of I'liila- 

 (U'lphia, was cliosen Presidcnl ;>ro tcm.^ on account, 

 of tlic (loath of Hon. ttcorijo .Scott, llic late preslJing 

 ofBccr. .\fter a report relative to the appointment of 

 a eoniinittec to nieniorialize the Lefrislutun; for the 

 passage of an act lor the protection of sheep from 

 (loKB, ami some oilier routine buKiuess, the committee 

 appointeil to ilraft resolutions relative to deceased 

 colleatrues, rejiortcd as follows : 



"The Kxecutive Committee of the Pennsylvania 

 Slate Aftricultural Society, in Jxhall of the whole 

 society, is callcil upon to express profound regret at 

 the loss, liy death, of three of its members — one of 

 whom was its highest ollicer— all of them active, 

 prominent and intelligent memhcrs of this commit- 

 tee ; all called away from the pursuits of life since 

 our last meeting. It is, therefore, our duty, ujjon 

 this occasion, to express the sincere sorrow we feel 

 at this unusual bereavement. 



" .Mr. (leorge Scott, of Columbia county, previous 

 to his election as president of the society In IsT."), had 

 filled with credit many important pogitlons. During 

 his administration of our affairs, no word of com- 

 plaint was heard. Often these are troublesome, and 

 happy the incumbent who escapes them. The duty 

 imposed upon our late colleaiL'ue was so prudently 

 performed and so efliciently discharged as to win the 

 praise of all with whom he came in contact. He gave 

 his time and means with liberality to further the 

 success of this society. 



" Mr. Alexander Speer, of -Allegheuy county, was 

 chosen a vice i>residentin ls74. A gentleman largely 

 engaged in manufactures, modest in the expression 

 of Ills unusually correct views, ])opular and courteous 

 in intercourse with his colleagues, and attentive and 

 correct in the performance of his duties, the loss of a 

 gentleman of his high character is greatly to be de- 

 plored. 



" Mr. Benjamin G. Peters, of Dauphin county, was 

 for a long period a member of the Kxecutive Com- 

 mittee Always prompt and energetic in the dis- 

 charge of every trust assigned to him, a decided yet 

 courteous counselor, he was called away in the midst 

 of an aciive and prosperous business career, by a 

 sudden and shocking accident. His death is most 

 regretted by those that knew him best— a tribute of 

 tlie highest character. This Executive Committee 

 therefore, 



liinolve, That this expression of regret at our loss 

 be entered upon the minutes of the society, and that 

 copies of it, under the seal of the society, signed by 

 I he president and secretary, be transmitted to the 

 representatives of the families of Messrs. Scott, Speer 

 and Peters." 



The resolution was unanimously adopted. 



The committee appointed to offer premiums at the 

 Centennial Exhibition, reported that as the awards 

 had not yet been reported to them, no money had 

 yet been paid. 



.Mr. Smcli. offered the following: 



'' llcxolved, That a committee of three be appointed 

 whose dutv it shall l)c to examine what legislation 

 exists in o'ther States, not found in ours, upon the 

 subject of agriculture — such as fences, roads, etc., 

 and other matters interesting to farmers, and make 

 report to this society." 



Jlessrs. Snnill, Kennedy and Eglc were appointed 

 as such committee. 



The following resolution was adopted : 



" Resolved, That the tender made by The rrnetical 

 Farmer, a publication issued in Philadelphia in the 

 interest of agriculture, to publish the proceedings of 

 this society, and other matters of interest, in a con- 

 densed form, is thankfully accepted, and that the 

 secretary be requested to furnish the same." 



At the evening session the act creating the State 

 Board of Agriculture was read before the Executive 

 Committee, and a committee was appointed to con- 

 sider the matter, and to devise ways by which this 

 society can best aid the new State Board in its efforts 

 to promote the cause of agriculture and the interests 

 of the farmers of the State, and Mr. Khey read a pa- 

 per relalive io the productive interests of the country. 



On Thursday morning, after the discussion of 

 some miscellaneous matters, the anuual election of 

 officers was held, with the following result: 



President — .Jno. \V. Hammond. 



Vice Presidents— Jas. A. M'Crea, Geo. Blight, A. 

 L. Kennedy, \Vm. S. Bissell, A. D. Levering, D. U. 

 Bran.son, Wni. S. Holstein, Tobias Barlo, S. S. 

 Spencer, Daniel H. Neiman, Joseph P. Conner, Ira 

 Tripp, J. S. Keller, John A. Smull, James E. Car- 

 nialt, J. B. Potter, S. Baker, John S. .Miller, Daniel 

 O. (uhr, L. A. .Mackey, Geo. Khey, John Murdoch, 

 Jr., \Vm. Speer, John .M'Dowell, J. B. Lawson, J. 

 D. Kirkpatrick, Thos. J. Edge. 



Additional .Members Executive Committee — A. 

 \Vilhelm, Abner Kutherford, John H. Ziegler, 

 William Taylor, K. S. Allen. 



Ex-Presidents .Members of the Board — Frederick 

 Walts, D. Taggart, .Jacob S. Haldeman, Thomas P. 

 Knox, A. Boyd Hamilton, Amos E. Kapp, John C. 

 Morris, J. K. Eby. 



Treasurer — John B. Ruthcrlord. 



Corresponding Sec'y — Elbrldge M'Conkey. 



