92 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[.Tune, 



correspondents. We slial! esteem him as a valuable 

 contrihutor. 



Miscellaneous Business. 



A resolution to allow the Treasurer to purcliase 

 alcohol, an<l a committee of three to be appointed to 

 replenish the specimens at an early day, was adopted, 

 and the chair appointed S. .S. liathvon, J. .Staufler 

 and S. M.Sener, said committee to perform the work. 



A recess was taken, and Prof. T. K. Baker ex- 

 hibited the duration and power of a simple and 

 hiirhly iniiiroved iralvanic apparatus. This consists, 

 as in other cases, of a porous cup, in which the car- 

 bon slab is put, and i>ackcd with black oxide of man- 

 ganese ; this is set into a vessel made of zinc, havinir 

 a tightly-fitting lid, with a screw connection for a 

 copper wire, while the other is on the carbon and 

 passed through the lid, whichJ-id has a g\an claslic 

 band to seal it: in this condition an erticient, inexpen- 

 sive .and durable current can be generated that needs 

 no renewing with acjua ammonia for months, as 

 proved on trial and used daily at the Normal .School 

 to ring the bell or call by telcgrai>hic contact. It is 

 similar to a French invention, only more simple, by 

 the use of the gum baml, and less liable to evaporate 

 and become weaker when set aside; this keeps its 

 power tor an indefinite period. No further business 

 offering, the Society adjourned to meet on Saturday, 

 .Tune I'JO, 1877. 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Their Session in the Capital. 

 The State Board of Agriculture met in the Senate 

 Chamber on Tuesd.ay, May 22, and the members 

 were called to order at about two o'clock, p. m., by 

 the president thereof. His Excellency Governor John 

 F. Hartranft. 



The roll of members was then called, when the 

 following gentlemen answered to their names : 



Members ex-offlcio— His Excellency Governor John 

 F. Hartranft ; Rev. James Calder, president Pennsyl- 

 vania State College. 



Members appointed by the Governor— Jno. P. 

 Edge, Chester ; -Jno. L. George, Allegheny. 



Elected liy County Agricultural Societies — W. ti. 

 Moore, Berks ; Thadileiis Banks, Blair ; M. C. Beebe, 

 Venango; Prof. J. Hamilton, Centre; Thomas J. 

 Edge, Chester ; C. A. Mullen, Cumberland; H. .M. 

 Engle, Lancaster ; G. W. Hood, Indiana; John B. 

 Smith, Luzerne ; A. Hobinson, Mercer ; W. A. Ycakle, 

 Montgomery ; J. M'Farland, Northumberland ; J. S. 

 Keller, Schuylkill ; J. W. Shriner, Union ; VV. S. 

 Roland, York. 



A committee on credentials was appointed by the 

 president, as follows : Messrs. Beebe, Venango, 

 Engle, Laiieaster, and Keller, of Schuylkill. 



The committees on credentials ma<le report that 

 the folliiwing gentlemen be elcetcil members of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, they having presented 

 the proper credentials : 



J.P.Barnes, Lehigh; Capt. C. fiilbert, Franklin; 

 L.J. Culver, Bradford; David Wilson, Juniata; J. 

 C. Morris, Su6i|uchaniia ; Eastburn Keeder, Bucks ; 

 C. L. Weitzel, Northampton ; D. H. Foresman, 

 Lycoming. 



The report of the committee was adopted and the 

 committee discharged. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were read 

 and approved. 



The new members of the hoanl were vouched Uir 

 as representing eouTity agricultinal societies that 

 have received or are entitled to bonnty. 



By instruction of the executive committee the fol- 

 lowing gentlemen were recommended for honorary 

 membership, as well as to occujiy the positions 

 designated : • 



Professor of Vegetable Physiology and Botani.st— 

 Thomas Meehan, of Philadelphia. 



Professorof Horticultural Science and Pomologist— 

 .Tosiah Iloopcs, of Chester county. 



Chemist and Mineralogist— Dr. F. A . Genth, Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry and Mineralogist University of 

 Pennsylvania. 



Entomologist — Prof. W. A. Buckhout, Peimsylva- 

 nia State College. 



Veterinary Surgeon- Chas. B. .Michener, V. S., of 

 Bucks county. , 



Mieroseopist — Dr. Henry Lefl'man, of Philadelphia, 

 (geologist- Prof. J. P. Lesley, State (ieulogist. 

 <.)n motion the f()rcgoing named gentlemen were 

 elected by acclamation to fill the positions designated, 

 and Hiat their term of service shall be one year. 



Mr. E. (i. Fahnestock, of Adams, having entered, 

 his eredeutials were presented and he elected a mem-' 

 her of the board. 



Upon drawing by lot, Messrs. Barnes, Reeder and 

 Weitzel were made inendiers for one year; Messrs. 

 Wilson (Juniata), Foresman and Fahnestock lor two 

 years, and Messrs. Barnes, Gilbert and Culver for 

 three years. 



On motion of Mr. Engle, Prof. Heiges, of York, 

 was called upon and read an essay, " Tree Planting 

 for Shade, Shelter and Profit." 



On motion of Mr. Keller, a vote of thanks was ae 

 corded to Prof. Heiges for his interesting essay. The 

 subject matter of the essay was discussed by Messrs. 

 Edge, Beebe, Heiges, Engle, Hamilton and Wilson. 



On motion of M. C. Bebee, the credentials of S. F. 

 Wilson, of Tioga county, were submitted to the 

 secretary for approval. 



Mr.S. F. Wilson drew for the intermediate term of 

 two vcars. 



By invitation, Hon. J. S. Haldeman read an essay 

 on "Tree Planting, Fencing and Lime." 



On motion of .Mr. Keller a vote of thanks was ten- 

 dered Mr. Haldeman for his essay. 



Mr. M. C. Beebe offered the following resolution : 



" That this association recommend that the Legis- 

 latiire take such action as may b'e necessary to en- 

 courage tree planting." 



After a discussion by Messrs. Beebe, Edge, Wick- 

 ershani, Roland, Keller and Governor Hartranft, the 

 resolution was laid on the table, subject to be called 

 up at any future time. 



EVKNINO SESSION. 



The board met at S P. M., Governor Hartranft in 

 the chair. 



The report of the Secretary was read, and on 

 motion of Mr. Barnes i-eferred to a committee ap- 

 pointed by the chair, consisting of Messrs. Barnes, 

 Fahnestock and Wilson, with instructions to repoit 

 at the next meeting of tlic board. 



The report of the chemist was read and accepted. 



A vote of thanks was unanimously tendered the 

 chemist for his able report. 



On motion of Dr. Edge, John S. Carter, Superin- 

 tendent of the Eastern Experimental Farm, was re- 

 ijucsted to read his essay relative to teaching at the 

 Experimental Farm. 



On motion of Dr. Edge the Secretary was instructed 

 to prepare a synopsis of the jn-occedings of this 

 board for publication in the agricultural papers of 

 the State. 



On motion of the chair, a committee of three gen- 

 tlemen, consisting of Prof. Wickersham, Hon. J. B. 

 Smith and W. S.' Roland, was appointed to confer 

 with the proper authorities of the State Agricultural 

 Society with reference to the publication of their con- 

 densed report of this lioard in the tw-elfth volume of 

 the proceedings of the State society. 



On motion of Mr. Keller, Dr. Edge was instructed 

 to read an essay upon "The Future of our Board of 

 Agriculture." 



. On motion a vote of thanks was tendered Mr. John 

 J. Carter and Dr. Edge forable and interesting essays. 



The question of the " Future of the State Board of 

 Agrii-ulturc," was discussed by tiov. Hartranft, Dr. 

 Edge, and Messrs. Keller, Beebe, Hamilton and 

 Forsemau. 



Adjourned until Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock. 



MORXINfi SESSION — WEIINESDAT. 



The State Board of Agriculture met in the Senate 

 Chamlier this morning, ( Jovernor Hartranft presiding. 



Prof. Wickersham reported from the Committee 

 on Publication that the secretary of State Agricul- 

 tural Society had cheerfully extended to the board 

 the use of one hundred pages of space in its regular 

 aniunil volume, which will be imhlished about the 

 1st of January next. The thanks of the board were 

 returned. 



An elaborate progranuno for the next meeting was 

 presented by the committee on the subject, and 

 adopted. 



Another meeting this year was agreed u]ion, time 

 •and place left to the executive committee. 



Mr. Thomas MeehiMi, editor of the Gardcner'n 

 Moiithh/, delivered a very interesting and able ad- 

 dress on the inllucncc of forests on rainfall, taking 

 the griiiind that the presence or absence of trees had 

 no appreciable elfecl upon the fall of rain. 



The address was discussed by Messrs. Smith, Cal- 

 der, Thomas J. Edge, Forsemau, Mahon, Wilson, 

 (Juniata), Wickersham, Beebe, Hamilton and Gov. 

 Hartranft. 



Charles B. Michener, veterinary surgeon, read a 

 very able i)aper on pleuro-pneumonia, which was 

 discussed at Icngtii. 



The matter of a law reguhating the sale of fertili- 

 zers referred to the e,xee\[tive committee with in 

 structioiis to report the draft of a law at the next 

 meeting of the board. • 



Adjourned to meet at the call of the executive 



committee. 



^ 



Questions and Answers. 



Wlii'n land has been reduced by cropping, which 

 is the best means of restoring its f'erlility ? 



Clover furnishes a |)cipular nicajis. Fertility grows 

 by covering this kind of land with n thick sod and 

 filling the soil with roots. 



Wiiat are the leading charaeteristies of the liox 

 elder ' 



It is easily grown, of quick growth, is hard, indi- 

 gcninis,and is equally gooil for wind breaks and for 

 timber. 



C'an refn.sed hair from tanneries be utilized with 

 l)roHt on a farm i 



Yes : it is a valuable fcMtilizer. The hair is usually 

 mixed with lime; when spread broadcast this |iro- 

 duees an immediate effect, though the action of the 

 hair is slow. The best results arc obtained from this 

 refuse when it is poured in or mixed with, the soil. 

 It greatly increa.ses the fertility of dairy farms, is 

 said to be preferable to barnyard manure forturni|)s, 

 and is an excellent fertilizer for cabbages. 



AGRICULTURAL. 



A Good Fertilizer. 



A proper place for the fowls to roost, with a view 

 to save and compost the manure, is important. This 

 fertilizer is so strong and so fine that a large quantity 

 of swamp-muck should be adde<i. If only a small 

 quantity of such material be scattered uniicr the 

 roosts daily, we avoid the pungent odor, keep the 

 air pure, and retain all that is valuable in the mate- 

 rial. It has been said and written many times that 

 the fowl-house should be kept dean. Now, every 

 poultry-keeper cannot afford to sweep and garnish 

 things daily ; but, if an absorbent be used, the place 

 may be kept pure, and an execllciit compost formed. 

 Great sums are paiil for guano every year, and it 

 has lieen determined that three hundred pounds of 

 this substance is suflicient for an acre of corn-laml. 

 The manure of thirty fowls in one year, mixed with 

 four times its bulk of swamp-muck, is more valuable 

 than three hundred pounds of guano. The advantage 

 of this method of mixing is that the work is done 

 easily and effectually. 



If the droppings are suffered to accumulate, they 

 become hard and compact. If applied to land with- 

 out mixture with other substances, they burn and 

 kill plants, and also prevent seeds frcnn germinating. 

 Besides, the compost crumbles readily, is easily 

 mixed with the soil, or applied in the drills before 

 ]ilanting. This fertilizer is very quickly assimilated 

 by growing plants. It commences its work imme- 

 diately. The mill in which it is groiuid makes fine 

 work. Bone, meat and grain, when pa.ssed through 

 the gizzards of fowls become so thoroughly 

 disintegrated that, after nourishing them, the resi- 

 duum, with the waste material from their bodies, 

 makes a better fertilizer than any other made on the 

 farm. Any one cultivating a farm, or only a kitchen 

 garden, fruit yard and flower-borders, can make this 

 compost tdl, in the increased quantity and quality of 

 his products. We have in mind a man who carefully 

 saves the manure from two hundred fowls by using 

 plenty of earth, nuick and swamp-hay under the 

 roosts, and sells the compost in a fine dry state to the 

 proprietors of large gardens near by, getting therefor 

 nearly enough to pay for the food consumed by the 

 fowls". Some require a quick growth, in order to be 

 of the best quality, hence the value of this compost, 

 and the price paid for it as a garden fertilizer.— ^ 

 PuiiUry World. 



Tobacco Culture. 



The following is clipped from the Hartford (.'unrant: 

 The early writers on tobacco were fond of extolling | 

 the rare virtues, remarkable qualities, and peculiar] 

 kind of soil required for this singular plant. Some j 

 writers gave curiovis accounts of the size of the weed, j 

 and in Lobel's " History of Pl.ants," printed at Ant- 

 werp (1.576) is a cut representing tlie weed as attain- J 

 ing the height of our largest trees, while the leaves 

 we should judge ndght measure at lea.st ten feet in 

 length. Dr. Liebault in his work entitled the 

 "Country Farm" (1(50(1) in speaking of tobacco, 

 says that it "craveth a fat soil." Physicians wrote 

 of its wonderful curative powers— that it could heal 

 the sick, was a certain cure for the gout, as well as 

 very useful in colds and fevers. Others still asserted 

 that its use improved one's manners. In Edward 

 Sliarpham's comedy, The Flclrr,{\ti\r,) one of the 

 characfci-s (who is a fashionable smoker) says to an- 

 other : " Before I took tobacco I was an arrant ass," 

 and adds, "Faith these gentlemen have not long used 

 my company, yet you see how t<ibacco hath already 

 refined their spirits." We have no desire to em-oll 

 onr name with that of either class alluded to, yet the 

 honest grower of the plant may think so, after read- 

 ing the title of this article. At first thought it may 

 be supposed that s,(l(l(l pounds <if leaf tobaccocan not 

 be grown on a single acre of land, liut when the 

 mcthoil adopted is fully ex|)hnned it, can hiirdly he 

 doubted by even the most incredulous. Doubtless 

 some at least who read this article have grown 2,:'>0n 

 pounds, or even :i,.'J(IO pounds, of tobacco to the acre, 

 and we remember to have read several years ago of a 

 fol>acco grower in Massachusetts who raised 2,(i(l() 

 pounds of leaf tobacco on a single acre of ground. 

 These amounts are usually considered very large, 

 and when it is allirmed that one ton and a half of 

 tobacco lias lieen olifaiiied from a single acre, many 

 will regard it as simply a bar-room story or wholly a 

 myth. 



Working Crops Early. 



Clean culture is one of the first requirements of 

 good farming, a si/ir ijiia mtn of the best results in 

 farnnng operations. It is hardly necessary to repeat 

 here, what we have often said before, against tho 

 toleration of noxious weeds. The most anspicions 

 time to deal with thejn is when they first a|ipear. 

 They arc then easily di'stroyed by exposure to the sun 

 or covi'ring with the turning |>low at a depth which 

 is fatal to them. Let il lie borne in mind, that wlicn 

 a crop once gets in the grass, it takes double the 

 work to keep weeds down, that it does when they 

 arc' destroyed in the outset ; and besides whatever of 

 fertility in the soil is ab.stractcd by noxious growth 

 is just that much rolilicd from the crop planted on 

 that ground. Corn, ]iot.atocs, tobacco and vegeta- 



