1878.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



11 



OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



Proceedings of the Lancaster County Agricul- 

 tural and Horticultural Society. 



Tbc Lancaslcr Comity AirriculUiriU iiml Ilorllciil- 

 tural Society was lielii 11 meeting in the Atlieiueum 

 library rooiu on Monday afternoon, January 7tli, 

 1878. 



The following mcmhers and vinilors were present : 

 Calvin Cooper, president, Bird-in-Haud ; Johnson 

 Miller, secretary, Warwiek ; Levi W. tiroH', West 

 Earl; Hcury >f. Engle, Marietta ; Martin I). Ken- 

 dig, Manor; Casper Ililler, Conestogu ; Simon P. 

 Eliy, eity ; Daniel Smeyeh, city ; Jacob liollinger, 

 Warwick; Win. MeConisey, city; Hcin-y Kurtz, 

 Moniit Joy; Heiny Shitl'ner Leacock ; C. L. Hun- 

 seeker, Manbcini ; Levi S. Reist. Oregon ; L. Wit- 

 mer, I'aradise ; Peter 8. Heist, Jlanbeim ; Prof. S. 

 8. Ratlivon, eity ; D. L. Resb, Bird-iii-IIaiid ; Hem-y 

 Erb, Maubeim ; B.Frank Laiidis, East Lampeter; 

 Wm. Bush, Uruinore ; John Moore, Mount Joy; 

 Christian Hostettcr, Eden ; Samuel Erb, Warwick ; 

 John Miller, Oregon ; D. S. Dysart, eity ; John M. 



Stehinan, East Hemplield ; E. S. Hoover, ; 



David G. Swartz, city; I. L. Laudis, Manheim ; J. 

 F. Hess, Mauheun; Hon. David Mumma, State 

 Senator, Harrisburg. ^ 



On motion the reading of the minutes of last 

 meeting was dispensed with. 



Wm. McComsey, from the committee appointed to 

 make inquiries as to whether a more eligible and 

 convenient room in which to hold the meetings of 

 the society could be secured, reported that the Board 

 of Trade Room, No. ;i8 East King street, could be 

 had at a rent of §-'.50 for for each meeting, includ- 

 ing fuel, furniture and the services of a janitor. 

 The room is large, plasaut aud nicely carpeted. If 

 a change of meeting-place should be made the com- 

 mittee would recommend the Board of Trade room, 

 but it might be advisable before doing so to look at 

 the condition of the society's finances, and see if they 

 will warrant tl.e proposed change, as the society has 

 not heretofore paid any rent, and has been some- 

 what negligent in tlie management of its finances. 



On motion of H. M. Engle, the further considera- 

 tion of the matter was postponed until after the 

 report of the treasurer shall have been read. 



On motion the presentation of crop reports was 

 not made, there being little or no change since last 

 month . 



H. M. Engi.e reported the rainfall for November 

 to have been 7:).16 inches and for December 15.10 

 inches. 



Mr. C. L. HtJNSECKER read an interesting essay 

 on manures. (See page 7 of this number.) 



Mr. Levi S. Keist luid not looked up the exact 

 meaning of the word "manure," but had examined 

 into the meaning of the word dung. It is a popular 

 belief that this word means ouly the excrement of 

 animals, but this is a mistake. Dung means any- 

 thing that enriches soil, and comes from a (ierman 

 word meaning to serve. It means anything that 

 will help the farmer liy improving his ground.* 



Mr. Kl'utz said that if a farmer had plenty of 

 burnyard manure he could raise any kind of grain, 

 and it was wisdom to make all tlic manure possible. 

 You cannot get loo much of it. It is to our interest 

 to have a large manure pile. 



Mr. HiLLER thought the essay was very good aud 

 to the point. Wc are just beginiiing to know the 

 value of manure. Now we all have toljacco on the 

 brain. He did not know bow long this would last or 

 what we would profit by it, Ijut one thing we would 

 learn — how to cultivate and manure properly. And 

 if we learn that it will certainly be of great use to 

 us. 



On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. 

 Hunsecker for his essay. 



Mr. H. M. Engle then read a humane essayon tlie 

 "Care of Domestic Animals." (see page 6 of this 

 Dumber.) 



S. P. Eby' agreed with all the essayist had said 

 about the cruelty and foolishness of those who 

 neglect or missuse their stock ; but he thought there 

 were some who erred on the other side by overfeed- 

 ing them and keeping them too fat, thus making 

 more uncomfortable and more likely to contract 

 disease. 



The matter was further discussed by Henry 

 Kurtz and P. S. Reist, both of whom agreed in the 

 main with the essayist. 



On motion of J. L. Witmer, the further considera- 

 tion of the matter was postponed to enable the so- 

 ciety to go into an election of officers for the ensuing 

 year. 



Previous to which the president read the usual an- 

 nual address. (See page 5 of this number.) 



The address was received with applause and a 

 vote of thanks awarded the president. 



On motion of Wm. McComsey, Calvin Cooper was 

 unanimously re-elected president, notwithstanding 

 that gentleman's earnest appeal to select some other 

 aud abler presiding officer. 



S. P. Eby and Prof. S. S. Rathvon were appointed 



♦Wethiuk Mr. Rpiat is mistukeu iu this. Websler'a Una- 

 bridged Dictionary gives the rteiiuition as follows: Dung — 

 The excrement of animals.— Z'rf. 



a committee to audit the treasurer's account and re- 

 port the result. After examining the vouchers the 

 committee reported the books correct, the balance in 

 the treasury being iV.\.Hi. The committee further 

 stated that the society would receive from the Coun- 

 ty Commissioners a gratuity of S>:i9.50. 



On motion the cliair appointed Peter S. Keist, 

 Henry Kurtz, M. D. Keiidig, J. L. Witmer and 

 Ephralm Hoover a committee to select and report to 

 the society the other officers for the ensidng year. 



The committee after consultation reported the 

 following, and they were unanimously chosen : 



Vice Presidents — H. M. Engle, Casper Hillcr, Levi 

 S. Reist, J. C. Linvill, William McComsey. 



Recording Secretary — J. F. Witmer. 



Corresponding Secretary — Johnson Miller. 



Treasurer — Levi W. (irotV. 



Entomologist — Prof. S. S. Rathvon. 



Librarian— S. P. Eliy. 



Botanist — J. S. Staull'er. 



Business Committee — M. D. Kendig, Ephraim 

 Hoover, Jacob Bollinger. 



Messrs. Henry M. Engle, Jacob Bollinger and B. 

 F. Landis, appointed to test and re[X)rt on fruits ex- 

 hibited, made the following report : 



Three varieties of oranges, from St. Augustine, 

 Florida, by J. F. Hess , common grajie and Manda- 

 rin, two specimens measuring from lifteen to sixteen 

 inches in circumference. Three specimens of apples 

 Cart House and Seedling Rambo, by Levi S. Reist. 

 Eleven varieties of apples from Kansas, by J. H. 

 Moore, very fine ; among which are Rome Beauty, 

 Belle Flower, Cart House, Swaar, .lennison, (iolden 

 Pippin, and others new to your committee. Pears — 

 Beurre Clairgau, and one for a name by Daniel 

 Smyech. H. M. Enoi.e, 



B. Frank Landis. 



The question of changing the place of meeting 

 having again come up, S. P. Eby moved that the 

 society continue to meet in the Athenseum. 



Johnson Miller moved to amend by leasing the 

 board of trade rooms. 



After a long and spirited debate, in which Messrs. 

 Eby, Kurtz, L. W. Reist, Engle, Swartz, .MoComsey, 

 Kendig and Hunsecker took part, Mr. Miller's 

 amendment was rejected and Mr. Eby's motion 

 ado|ited. 



A bill for $2 due Jacob Heliue, janitor, was ordered 

 to be paid, aud Mr. Heline was re-elected janitor so 

 long as the society continues to meet in the Athenaeum. 



Messrs. C. L. Hunsecker, S. P. Eby andD.fi. 

 Swartz were appointed a committee to confer with 

 the city authorities, the Athemeum and Linniean 

 societies, and make such arrangements for leasing 

 the room as may be necessary. 



The chair called attention to the meeting of the 

 State Board of Agriculture at Harrisburg, on Janu- 

 ary 2o, and of the Pennsylvania J'ruit Growers' 

 .Society at Williams|iort, on January 16. 



Mr. Engle presented a petition for the passage of 

 an act of assembly enlarging the powers of the State 

 Board of Agriculture. 



After discussion and explanation of the projxjsed 

 law, a motion was made and carried that the olTieera 

 sign the petition in the name of the society, and that 

 members of the society sign it in their individual 

 capacity. 



A Little Spice by Way of Variety. 



I. L. Landis wished to make a statement and 

 have it answered. Some three or four months ago a 

 member of this society wished to exhibit a useful 

 agricultural implement and the chair would not per- 

 mit him to do so. At a following meeting a si ranger, 

 who does not belong to the society, brought before it 

 another agricultural implement, and he was permit- 

 ted to exhibit it and explain its merits. Mr. Landis 

 would like to know why this discrimination was 

 made in favor of an outsider and against a member 

 of the society. 



President Cooper explained that when Mr. 

 Landis offered to exhibit a patent post-hole digger, 

 he (the president) had told bim that it would not be 

 permitted while the society was in business session, 

 but that if he could get an audience during the re- 

 recess, while the society was engaged in social inter- 

 course, he was welcome to exhibit the implement. 

 M. the 8ubse(iuent meeting, when Mr. Sutton exhib- 

 ited a model of Mr. Giotl's improved grain drill, be 

 had previously obtained unaniiiious consent of the so- 

 ciety to do so. The president said he had always 

 ruled against perraitliugagentstoexhibitand explain 

 patent articles during the session of the society, be- 

 cause he believed a great deal of time would be 

 thus consumed and that the regular business of the 

 society would be interfered with. 



Mr. Landis replied that if this was an agricul- 

 tural and horticultural society, every new and valua- 

 ble invention relating to those suljjects should be in- 

 troduced aud explained for the benefit of members. 

 They were of as much importance, at least, as the 

 fruits and vegetables which are regularly exhibited 

 and reported upon by a special committee. 



.Mr. Engle said he concurred with Mr. Landis 

 that there was as much impropriety in showing 

 fruits and vegetables as agricultural" im])lements. 

 They often interfere with other business, and though 

 he likes to see fine fruits, he had often thought it 

 would be better to dispense with their exhibit. If 



the society permitted ogents to exhibit at its meet- 

 ings all the implements or other patents they chose 

 fu bring, the entire time of the society wotdd be thus 

 taken U|i to the exclusion of other business. 



.Mr. Exoi.K suggested that, as the society Is now 

 entering upon a new year, It would be well lo take 

 measures to cut out business for the year, and have 

 it pnlilisheil beforehand, so that members and others 

 would know what subjects Jwere to be eoneidered at 

 any particular meeting, and prepare themselves 

 accordingly. 



Senator Mumma. 



Levi S. Reist Introduced State Senator Mumma, 

 of Dauphin county, aud Mr. Engle called upon him 

 for a speech . 



.Mr. .\li!MMA responded at some length, saying that 

 he had been a farmer for many years, though he 

 was not now actively engaged in that jmrsult. He 

 gave a brief statement of his own experience in 

 planting orchards, growing tobacco and using fer- 

 tilizers. He congratulated Lancaster county on 

 having such a live agricultural society, and encotir- 

 agcd the society to continue its good work. Ho re- 

 garded the Lancaster county tobacco as being the 

 best in the country and the most profitable crop that 

 could be grown. Societies such as this are the best 

 means of ilissemimiting useful iuformatioD among 

 agriculturists. If farmers thoroughly understood 

 the nature of tlieii- soil, buudi'cds of thousands of 

 dollars now wasted in the misapplication of manures 

 might be saved, and larger clops grown at much less 

 expen.se. 



The chair appointed M. D. Kendig, Casper Ililler 

 and P. S. lieist delegates to the fruit growers' con- 

 vention, Williamsport. 



On motion of Mr. Witmer, a paper on "Soiling," 

 by Levi W. Groff, deferred at a former meeting, was 

 selected for consideration at next meeting. 



Tlie president announced that iin iiileresling paper 

 (m grape culture, by a practical grape grower, would 

 also be ijresented at next meeting. 



The following question was chosen for general dis- 

 cussion at next meeting : 



"How shall the farm be conducted to produce the 

 best pecuniary results i" 



Till' following quest ions were referred : 



"What produces abortion in cows?" Referred to 

 Johnson Miller. 



"When is the proper time to ajiply barnyard 

 manure, and how '." Referred to Jacob Bollinger, 



TOBACCO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



A stated meeting of the I.,aiica6ter Comity Tobacco 

 ({rowers' Association was held in the Athcnieum, on 

 .Monilay afternoon, December 17th. The following 

 members and visitors were jiresent : 



M. D. Kendig, president. Manor; W. L. Hershey, 

 secretary, East llempHeld ; Henry Shiffner, Leacock ; 

 A. U. Yeager, East Lampeter; J. .M. Joliuston, city ; 

 A. P. Mcllvaiue, I'aradise ; A.H.Suininy, Manbelm ; 

 Harry Mayer, East llempfield ; J. (i. IJush, Willow 

 Street; J. M. Frantz, Lancaster; Henry Kurtz, 

 .Mount .Joy ; Wasbini;ton Hershey, West Hemplield ; 

 John Brady, .Millersville ; .Michael Landis, {..aueaster; 

 Elias Hersbey, Paradise ; A. C. Stone, Salisbury ; M. 

 G. Miller, Manbelm ; Jr.eob llcss, Manheim town- 

 ship; Moses Garber, .Mount Joy: S. G. Garher, 

 Mount Joy ; Christian Musscr, Earl ; .John Senor, 

 Willow .Street; C. L. Hunsecker, Manheim ; John 

 Kean, Bart; A. H. Cain, Christiana ; M. A. Frantz, 

 Dauphin county; .\ndrcw F. Frantz, Lancaster; 

 Amos i;. Frantz, Waynesboro, Franklin county; 

 Samuel Wolf, Akron; Samuel Bushong, Cpper Lea- 

 cock; Mr. Lefevrc, Lampeter; J. M. .Staufl'er, New 

 Holland; J. Hartman Hershey, Kohrerstown; Frank 

 R. Dilfenderffer, eity ; Clare Carpenter, cily ; Abra- 

 ham Weideuer, Nen'syille. 



Crop Reports. 



Crop reports being called for, Henry Kiutz, of 

 Mount Joy, said the tobacco in his section is nearly 

 all stripped, and is good iu color and quality. Some 

 farmers have sold a little and otlieri" have had 

 good offers. One man received ;iO cents for a lot ; 

 another L'O cents round ; another, 5, 10, aud 18 cents. 

 In the neighborbood of Akron he saw some good 

 tobacco and also in other sections of the county 

 which he had visited. 



Mr. A. H. YEAiiEH, of East Lampeter, sold about 

 one half the crop was strippeii. It looks very well. 

 He knew of none being sold, but the buyers had 

 been around looking at it. 



W. L. Heksuey, of northern East Hemplield, 

 said two-thirds of the crop in that district Is stripped. 

 Has seen no buyers yet. The crop Is in good condi- 

 tion. 



Utilizing Tobacco Stalks. 



"What is the best method of utilizing tobacco 

 stalks '■" was the question referred at last meeting to 

 A. H. Summy, but that gentleman not being present 

 President M. D. Kendig said in answer to it, that he 

 would spread the stalks on the grass lawn as a top 

 dressing. They will kill noxious weeds, enrich the 

 soil and protect the grass. He would also place the 

 stalks around the buts of shrubs and young trees to 

 keep the mice away. If he had any left he would 



