174 



THE LANCASTER .FARMER. 



[ November, 



dicem that has harbored in the soil of a larf;c box, 

 containing an ablution, undisturbed since 1858, on 

 the premises of George Hensel.'' Eggs of the snail or 

 slug {Limax,) found like brilliant pearls strung to- 

 gether, under a flower-pot by Mrs. S. D. Sprecher. 

 One would hardly suspect that these'naked molluscs, 

 so unwelcome for their slimy tracks, would hatch 

 from such a perfectly clear, oval shape. 



To the historical collection were added seven cop- 

 per coins by Mr. Henry Eekert, Jr., several rare 

 coins of 1799, with the words "100 to the dollar" 

 around the edge. Nine envelopes, containing ninety- 

 two articles, cut from the current papers, in relation 

 to local history, per S. S. Kathvon, who also had 

 several flowers and leaves of the "while thorn apple," 

 grown on his premises. 



Additions to the library : The Lanc.vster Farmer 

 for October, 1877; No. 10 of TIte American Journal 

 of Microscopy ami Pojxdar Science, New York, Oc- 

 tober, 1877; several book circulars. Papers were read 

 by S. S. Rathvon: Ornothological, No. .57.5, giving 

 facts respecting the "iish-hawk," that for some years 

 past has acted the "chicken-hawk" on Mr. Bru- 

 baker's poultry, but only on the second of this month 

 could he succeed in getting a shot at this wide-awake 

 hawk. Reference was also made to a common crow, 

 Corvus Anuricanus, observed by our former Presi- 

 dent, H. Bruckart, deceased, to seize and carry oU' 

 some early spring chickens from his premises. This 

 is a deviation, but itr seems there are thieves and rob- 

 bers among birds of otherwise good character. 



Judge Llbbart stated that he witnessed our com- 

 mon "catbird," MiiiiHn CaroHneitaifi, taking out the 

 young birds from the nest of a "chipping sparrow," 

 SpizcHa socialix, and deliberately brain one after the 

 other with its beak, and drop them to the ground. 

 Mr. Libhart could not believe that such could be the 

 case, uutil he actually went and found that it was the 

 young birds he saw drop and not fruit, as he at first sup- 

 posed. Cruel cat bird that, a touch of the butcher bird. 

 Ichtheology. 



A paper — No. 576 — in relation to the history of the 

 gar-pike, was read. J. Staufl'er had a paper illus- 

 trating the cermatia, walking stick, j'cllow spider, 

 etc., deposited by him, with notes and observations, 

 paper No. .577. 



Mr. Rathvon read a paper, No. 579, in relation to 

 the whitethorn apple plant, named according to a 

 gardener's botany, " Balnra Kniijhtii," by Mr. 

 Zimmerman. A variety of what are commonly 

 known as the " Brugmansia." The names of plants, 

 like those of apples, are beginning to be very much 

 mixed up in certain groups, and the botanist is slow 

 to accept new names, because of a sli.ght and perhaps 

 variable diflerenee. 



S. M. Sener called attention to the loss of this 

 society in the death of Frederick Smith, whereupon 

 the following preamble and resolution were unani- 

 mously adopted — viz : 



It having pleased God — since the last stated meet- 

 ing of this society — to remove our late fellow-mem-" 

 ber, Frederick Smith, from the world of physical 

 being, to, we hope, a higher and a purer realm, we 

 his survivors and iormer associates, while we would 

 express our submission to the Divine Will, would 

 also give expression to our appreciation of his many 

 virtues, of the interest he always manifested in the 

 welfare of this society, and our sorrow that the bonds 

 of earthly association have been severed, and we 

 shall behold him amongst us no more. 



Mr. Smith was one of the earlier members of tlie 

 Liuuaean Society, a liberal contributor to its museum, 

 an active participant in its scientitic excursions, and 

 we shall always recall those old memories and his 

 amiable qualities with becoming pleasure, although 

 mingled with that sadness which is inseparable from 

 natural aft'ection. Therefore, 



Jicsolved, That, deeply sympathizing with the fami- 

 ly and friends of the deceased in their bereavement, 

 the foregoing be placed on record and be published, 

 with the proceedings of this meeting, as an expression 

 of the sentiment of this societj' — a testimonial of 

 our personal regard for a departed fellow-member. 



Mr. Rathvon having paid for mounting the hawk, 

 paraquet and gar-pike, §4.40, on motion said bill be 

 paid by the society, agreed to. A box of fossils, con- 

 taining thirty varieties separately enveloped and 

 named was submitted for inspection. These were 

 sent to \Vm. L. Gill by Prof. S. K. Ridenow, No. 1-56 

 Linn street, Cincinnati, Ohio, for exchange. The col- 

 lection is highly desirable, as it contains several rare 

 and valuable specimens. On motion, the chair ap- 

 pointed S. S. Rathvon, S. M. Sener and J. Stautl'er,a 

 committee to see what duplicates we have and enter 

 into correspondence with the professor on the subject. 

 Interesting remarks on the distribution of fossils and 

 the geological periods were made. After spending a 

 profitable session the society adjourned to a special 

 meeting Friday, November 9, and the stated meeting- 

 November 34. 



Fodder CROr.s. — Now is the time to think of fod- 

 der crops for next year. The first ready to cut in 

 the spring is rye sown now, and at intervals up to 

 November. I have found a few acres of fall-sown 

 rye, in a field near the barn-yard, avcry valuable and 

 acceptable addition the fodder in April, when incom- 

 ing cows need succulent food to enable them to fill 

 the brimming paU. 



THE TOBACCO TRADE. 



Something About Buying ; 877 Tobacco at this 

 Early Period. 



Alreadj*we hear of purchases of '77 crops in all 

 tob.acco regions. Within a few weeks from now the 

 tobaceo-gron-ing country will, no doubt, be swarming 

 with buyers, and the farmer will, most likely, ask 

 about as liigh a price for Ids tobacco as the eagerness 

 of the prospective buyer warrants. 



The general oiiinion among our dealers at present 

 is : "It is wrong for people to rush into the country 

 to buy tobacco at this time of the .year, for it makes 

 farmers demand too high figures. The papers should 

 advise dealers not to be in such a hurry to purchase 

 the '77 crops." Candidly speaking, we cannot see 

 anything very wrong about it. Business is good, '7C 

 tobaccos are safe, and money will be made on them. 

 Why, then, should the enterprising dealer wait and 

 not go out now and buy tobacco? It is rather risky, of 

 course, but first come first served. And, furthermore, 

 the mah^notive of this exodus of buyers for the to- 

 bacco i^M^s at such an early day is the great com- 

 petitioi^^^ 



Almost everybody likes to wait, and force farmers 

 to hold on to their tobacco, so as to make them ask 

 as little as possible for it. But there is the competi- 

 tor who doesn't care to wait, who is anxious tojsecure 

 the best crops, and leaves the city as quietly as pos- 

 sible. Others, however, hear of it, and out they go, 

 too. Thus the race commences, and the growers 

 reap the benefit. 



Nobody can counsel either farmers or tobacco 

 dealers in this respect. Demand makes the price, 

 and demand and prospective business, combined with 

 the usual amount of jealousy in business, induces 

 the dealer to go to buy his tobacco as early as possi- 

 ble, and at as low figures as he can get it. And, 

 then, packing tobacco is greatly a chance business, 

 and speculators always have their own theories ; if 

 they hadn't they couldn't be speculators. — U. N. 

 Tobacco Journal. 



The German Tobacco Trade. 



The Pali Mall Gazette of July 35 says ; Bremen 

 continues to be by far the most important among the 

 German foreign tobacco markets, the importations 

 to that port being about three times as extensive as, 

 for instance, to Hamburg. Notwithstanding, how- 

 ever, that the aggregate importations of tobacco to 

 this and all other ports of Germany, added to the 

 quantities imported through other channels to the 

 German Customs unions are very considerable, it 

 is, as pointed out by Consul Ward in his trade 

 report on Bremen for the past year, a fact 

 worthy of notice that the quantities of tobacco 

 annually exported from Germany far exceed 

 the foreign importations. Taking into con- 

 sideration that the annual consumption of to- 

 bacco in that country is very considerable, the 

 fact mentioned offers some idea of the magnitude 

 of the German tobacco industry and production. 

 The aggregate area of land cultivated with tobacco 

 in the Empire or June SO, ls75, is stated to have 

 been about .54,000 English acres, seven-tenths of 

 which should be apportioned among the Southern 

 States — namely, Bavaria, Wurlemburg, Baden, Al- 

 sace-Lorraine, and a part of Hesse-Darmstadt; while 

 the remaining three-tenths are situated chiefly in the 

 Prussian provinces of Brandenburg and Pomerania. 

 The aggregate average of Gei'many tobacco produced 

 in one year may be estimated at about £9,000,000. 



The New York Tobacco Market. 



The U. S. Tobacco Journal says : The very flatter- 

 ing exhibit of weekly sales that we have been en- 

 abled to make during the past month, receives an- 

 other addition by our to-day's retrosiiect on last 

 week's business. But what especially distinguished 

 the past week from many predecessors, is that out- 

 side of 155 cases Ohio, every other lot sold (number- 

 ing in all 3,o80 cases,) was taken principally by 

 manufacturers ; another noteworthy lact in coiuiec- 

 tion with this summing up is that, suddenly, 1876 

 Pennsylvania, which, since the opening of the season 

 remained conspicuously neglected, assumed the lead- 

 ership in the market, and figured among the sales, 

 mostly to manufacturers, with l,-'.57 cases, at prices 

 ranging as follows : "r^ and 8 cents for tillers ; 12 

 and 15 for low running; 18, 21, 22 and 24 cents for 

 medium and wrappcry lots. The above showing 

 must be gratifying to holders of 1876 Pennsylvau'a, 

 as with the purchases of this stock by manufacturers 

 at this early period, the prospects for a realization of 

 good profits on the investment become very flattering. 



The Tobacco Leaf foots up the sales of seed leaf 

 during the past week of 2,087 cases of which .5.50 

 were Connecticut, 200 Massachuse-ts, lOllNew York, 

 and 1,000 eases Pennsylvania. Prices for '7<i Penn- 

 sylvania were : fillers, 0?.{ cents; assorted lots, low 

 grades, 14(5(16 cents ; better lots, 18@21 cents ; prin- 

 cipally for home manufacture. 



AGRICULTURAL. 



Good Farming. 



We don't think any of our Lebanon county farmers 

 would say that they bad ever a more enjoyable day 

 they would accord to one given to visiting the mag- 

 magnificent farms of .Jas.Young,esq.,at Middletowri. 

 We doubt whether there is another such specimen of 

 high culture, of such an excellent judgment, of such 

 perfect accomplishments in the way of farming, to be 

 found in the United States One of the English 

 Commissioners to our Centennial Exhibition, last 

 summer, went to see these farms. He is a gentle- 

 man who has been prominently identified with agri- 

 culture in England, and he was so much delighted 

 with what he saw that he has spoken and written of 

 its perfection since his return to his own country, 

 where they think they have .given the best illustra- 

 tions of good farming to be found in the world's 

 history. 



Mr. Young's farms contain 1,230 acres, divided 

 into nine farms, with elegant sets of buildings on 

 each tract. They are, however, farmed as an aggre- 

 gated whole, under the direct supervision of Mr. 

 Young, assisted by his two sons, and Mr. Dawson 

 McKorkle, formerly of Lebanon county. There are 

 a great many hands constantly employed in im- 

 proving and in doing the necessary everyday work. 

 Wherever there are stones on the surface they are 

 taken and utilized in building fences or walling up 

 ditches. No wet, spi'outy land is permitted to exist 

 to oflend the eye and lessen the crops. Twenty-flve 

 miles of drain have been put down. Muck is hauled 

 from where it has gathered in large deposits through 

 the centuries, to other parts of the land where "it 

 will do the most good." 



Some locations are graded and others filled up. 

 The fences are made of locust posts and pine rails, 

 the whole of which are whitewashed once a year. 

 The Ijuildings are not permitted to grow rusty for 

 want of paint, but all wear that freshness which 

 attention in that direction assures, while they em- 

 brace convenience for the workers and comforts for 

 the animals. The hogs have cottages for their 

 homes, while the chickens crow .and cackle in domi- 

 ciles that have every provision to secure their comfort 

 and excite their pride. Herds of clean-limbed, smaU- 

 headed, deer-eyed Alderneys chew their cud in 'j 

 delightful rumination in stalls cleaner than some j 

 peo])le's houses, with straw up to their knees to rest ' 

 in when they mav choose to indulge in a siesta. 

 There are great boilers to prepare the feed for the 

 animals, and all kinds of farming implements to help 

 on labor. Fields containing seventy or eighty acres 

 are richly set with grass, or show the wheat just 

 sprouting from a soil as smooth as a garden, or are 

 sprinkled with shocks of corn that will husk sixty or 

 seventy bushels to the acre. And how all these 

 things ius))ire one with an ambition to be a good 

 farmer! How they testify to the possibility for a 

 true and noble enjoyment in a farmer's life ! — 

 Lebanon Courier. 



England's Imports. 



So far during the present year, England has im- 

 ported §115,000,000 worth of wheat froin alhiuarters, 

 being already -?25, 000,000 more than she imported 

 during the entire year of 1876. It was thought on 

 all luinds that the Uinted Slates would supply her 

 with an increased amount over former years, but, 

 strangely enough, our exports so far are .32,000,000 

 busliels less than during the same period last vervr. 

 This fact may be accounted for in several ways. 

 Russia, India and Egypt have all been stimulated by 

 their financial necessities to export unusual quantities 

 of grain, and it is from these countries that the large 

 imports into England h.ave come. Then too the ex- 

 port of our recent abundant crops has just set in, 

 and during the next six months our exportations of 

 grain will be largely increased. Our grain dealers 

 have been holding back in expectation of better 

 prices, but the fact that two weeks ago 700,000 

 bushels of wheat were sent from the port of New 

 York in a single day, shows that the trade has be- 

 come fully active, and from this time forward we j 

 may expect to hear that the volume of our grain j 

 exportations will grow rapidly. 



Lancaster County Centennial Cotton. 



Mr. Joseph Harper, near Pleasant Hill school, 

 West Donegal township, has growing in 'his garden , 

 half a dozen cotton plants which are attracting much 1 

 attention from those persons who have never seen j 

 cotton except in cotton goods. \ 



Mr. Harper has been an invalid for a number of 

 years, and was therefore unable to attend the Cen- 

 tennial exhibition last summer and see the wonders 

 of the world. So he rc(iuested his friend, S. E. ji 

 Ream, to bring him some cotton seed. Tlie request 

 was fulfilled. He planted the seed and his heart was 

 made glad the other day by several large pods burst- 

 ing open and showing the soft, snow-white downy 

 substance, somewhat like wool, which they contained. 

 Sever,al of the pods were handed to the tciieherof 

 the school, who gave quite an interesting and instruc- 

 tive object lesson on them to his school. 



