12 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[ January, 



cut up and use them as a concentrated manure by 

 mixing: them with hen manure and putting them in 

 the rows of'tlie new tobacco. 



Henrv Shiffnek had disposed of the sialics in 

 three difTerent ways : a part of tlicm he put on tlie 

 manure pile; another part he cut up tine, spread 

 over the ground and plowed under for the next year's 

 crop ; and a third portion lie burned, and ajiplied the 

 ashes to the land. The result was equally good in 

 each case. 



John Sf.neu, Willow Street, said that he gen- 

 erally hauled o\it the saltl<6, spread them on the 

 ground, and plowed them down. Last year after 

 plowing a tract of giound he made furrows with a 

 shovel 'harrow and plowed the stalks under. He 

 found that they did as well as the bainyard 

 manure. 



Lime on Tobacco Land. 

 "Is lime beneficial in the culture of tobacco, and 

 how should it be applied to produce the best results ?" 

 ■was the next taken up for discussion. 



Heki!Y Kurtz had no doubt that lime was an 

 excellent fertilizer for tobacco. His plan was to 

 spread manure on the land, plow it down, and dress 

 on top with lime. One hundred bushels per acre 

 was not too much. He generally put it on in the 

 spring, but believed it would do belter if time could 

 be spared to put it on the preceding fall . 



Henhy JShiffxer regarded lime as being very 

 beneficial in the eultivat on of tobacco, and he 

 thought that top dressing was the best way to apply 

 it. Tobacco requires a great deal of moisture, and 

 lime has a tendency to keep the ground moist. 



Sylvester Kennedy said that lime was the best 

 of fertilizers. Its good effects are felt longer than 

 those of any other manure. Ten or twelve years 

 after lime has been ap])lied its action can still be 

 seen in the soil. In Chester county and in the east- 

 ern and southern parts of Lancaster county the 

 copious use of lime is a necessity. They sow it on 

 the ground and let it lie on top for a year or two 

 before plowing it imder 



John Sener said that he derived more benefit 

 by slacking the lime, spreading it broadcast and 

 plowing it under at once. He had followed this plan 

 for thirty years with good results. 



President Kendig spoke in favor of the free use 

 of lime in the cultivation of toliacco, and believed 

 that very strong barnyard manui-e had a tendency to 

 produce coarse and undesirable leaves. 



Mr. Kennedy- said there was a gieat diiference in 

 the quality of lime, and there should be dirt'erent 

 modes of applying the difTerent qualities, as they 

 will act difl'erent^iy on different kinds of soil. He 

 knew that the yellow, sandy-looking lime would act 

 quicker tlian the wliite Pequea lime, but that its 

 ellects would not last half as long. He had noticed 

 that crops liberally limed remained greener and 

 matured less slowly than those on which no lime was 

 used. 



Henry Kortz said that in his profession as a 

 tanner he had occasion to use large quantities of 

 lime, and that his experience was that the while lime 

 was much stronger than the yeUow. By using one 

 half the quantity of the former the hair could he 

 reiuoved from hides much more rapidly than by the 

 use of vellow lime. He believed its action on the 

 soil was similar, and that white lime would show 

 results twice as long as yellow lime. He thought 

 the white lime of Mount Joy was much stronger 

 than that of Pequea. 



A. H. Yeaoer agreed that white lime was the 

 stronger, hut he feared it was too strong for some 

 soils and did more harm than good. 



A. P. M(_Ir.vAiNE had used both white and gray 

 lime in dill'erent parts of the same field. The gray 

 acted much more rapidly and for the first year or so 

 showed the best results, but it soon ran out and had 

 to be renewed, while the white lime, acting more 

 slowly, lasted much longer. He would use a much 

 smaller proportion of white than of gray lime. The 

 latter would be preferable for temporary tenants, as 

 it would act at once, but the .white lime was better 

 for land-owners. 



.\t this point of the proceeding Mr. A. H. Summy 

 entered the room, and, heino: <'allcd upon answer the 

 question as to the best mode of utilizing tobacco 

 stalks, said that his only experience in the matter 

 was that, having a bad plot of ground on which 

 nothing hut sorrel would grow, he strewed it with 

 tobacco stalks, plowed them down and planted corn. 

 He got a pretty good crop, and this was followed 

 next year by a first-rate crop of tobacco. 



The discussion of the lime question was resumed. 

 Mr. C. L. Hunsecker said that if all soils were alike 

 the proper quantity of lime to be used niiirht be 

 easily deternuned ; but the great diflereuces in soil 

 make the question one to be governed greatly by 

 judgment and experience. While some farms have 

 been ruined by the too free use of lime, others have 

 been greatly benefited. When judiciously applied 

 he believed it to be the best of fertilizers. It tends 

 to keep the ground cool and hastens the maturity of 

 some crops as wheat and oats. The theory that good 

 tobacco cannot be grown without barnyard manure 

 he looked upon as "all fudge." 

 Michael f ka^tz, of Uarrisburg, had been in the 



lime business and shipped great quantities of it. 

 Where white and gray lime came into competition 

 the latter was regarded as being about one-half the 

 value of the former. He had not had much exper- 

 ience in tobacco-growing, hut as lime was known to 

 keep the soil cool and moist, and as tobacco required 

 coolness and moisture, he had no doubt that great 

 benefit would result from its use. 



A. M. Frantz thought the subject a very impor- 

 tant one and deserving of a more critical discussion 

 than was possible in a public meeting. It should be 

 scientifically and ehenucally considered, and made 

 the subject of an essay by some one fully competent 

 for the task. He does not think, as been said to- 

 day, that lime tends to mature wheat or oats, but 

 rather that it retards its maturing. He had limed a 

 part of a field of oats and left the other unlimcd, 

 and on that part which was limed the crop did not 

 mature as rapidly as the other. 



C. L. Hunsecker looked upon lime as the great- 

 est of fertilizers for almost any crop. In answer to 

 a remark made by one of the speakers he said that 

 lime has no effect in producing mildew in wheat. 

 There is less trouble from mildew now than there 

 was thirty o.i forty years ago, though ten times as 

 much lime is now' used as was then. He eulogized 

 the "Pennsylvania Dutch" farmers who had done so 

 much lor the county by their practical farming, and 

 stated that the rich" Irish men around Lancaster, who 

 boasted of their fine farms, had been taught how to 

 farm by their German neighbors. 



On motion of Harry Mayer, Mr. Hunsecker was 

 requested to prepare an essay on the subject of "ap- 

 plication of lime to laud" and read it before society. 

 Mr. Hunsecker consented to do so. 



Sylvester Kennedy said in reply to Mr. Hun- 

 secker that the Irish and Scotch-Irish farmers of 

 Lancaster county were fully as intelligent and pro- 

 gressive as their Dutch neighbors, and their farms 

 would show as good results as can be found any- 

 where among the Dutch. The soil of the lower sec- 

 tion of the county settled by the Scotch-Irish was 

 naturally thinner and poorer than that of the central 

 and upper townships, and required a different treat- 

 ment in cultivation. He mentioned a plan of liming 

 adopted by a Jersey friend of his, on poor, thin land. 

 In the spring he limed it and let the lime lie on top 

 two years. Then he put it in corn and sowed it in 

 grass. He got a pretty good crop of corn, while the 

 grass grew very rank.' On the following October he 

 plowed down the grass and .sowed wheat, getting a 

 very good crop. Mr. Kennedy believed the plan to 

 be a good one, and recommended its adoption by 

 those having thin soils. 



A. H. Summy knew of a ease in which a man had 

 purchased a tract of worn-out York county land, on 

 which nothing would thrive. He put on it 100 

 bushels of lime to the acre, and got a good crop of 

 corn the first year. Mr. Summy followed his exam- 

 ple by liminir in the same proportion a barren tract 

 on Chestnut Hill. He raised a good crop of corn 

 the first year, and the next year put the ground in 

 tobacco, and had a fine crop. 



Tobacco in Bulk. 



A. P. MoIlvaine, who had not had much experi- 

 ence in curing tobacco, asked if it would be injured 

 by heatina: in bulk, and if so how the heating could 

 be prevented. 



Mr. Kurtz advised that it be shifted around until 

 it cooled oft", and then repack it. 



Mr. Sms'TNER said tobacco would not sweat much 

 in bulk if it were properly dried before stripping. 

 A mistake made by many growers is that they strip 

 too soon. It is better that it should not sweat in the 

 cellar, for if it does it will be apt to smell of the 

 cellar. The sweating may be prevented by prop- 

 ping up the hands as they' lie in bulk, by putting 

 shingles under the butts of them. He thinks the 

 tobacco should not be taken out of bulk and scat- 

 tered around, as recommended by Mr. Kurtz, after it 

 begins to sweat, as the leaf will become coarse and 

 rough. It is not so apt to sweat if the bulk in which 

 it is put down is not too large, say not more than 

 three feet in height. 



President Kenijio said that on one occasion 

 before he had much experience in curing tobacco he 

 had his crop pnt down in bulk about five feet in 

 height and in good condition. It began to sweat, 

 ami, becoming alarmed lest if should rot, he called 

 in a neighbor who had had more experience. His 

 neighbor said, " Let it alone, it will come out all 

 right." Mr. K. determined to let one-half of it 

 alone and repack the other h.alf. That which lie had 

 not disturbed, and which he feared would rot, cured 

 finely, while th.at which he had repacked became 

 rouirh and worse. 



Mr. Suiffner said that last year there were but 

 few chances to strip tobacco until very late in the 

 season. The result was there were no complaints of 

 sweating in bulk. This year the weather has been 

 favorable for stripping ; much of the crop has been 

 stripped too earl V, aud we hear many complaints of 

 its sweating. He had already stripped some of bis 

 own tobacco, but he believed it would be better not 

 to strip till after the holidays. 



J. G. Hush favored early stripping if the tobacco 

 was sufficiently dry to warrant its being stripped. 



He presented a hand or two of his own tobacco which 

 was very fine. 



Bills Paid. 



The following bills being approved by the Finance 

 Committee were ordered to be paid : Jacob Hcline, 

 services as janitor, §5 ; subscription to N. Y. Tobacco 

 Leaf, $i.lO ; subscription to the U.S. Tobacco Jour- 

 nal, §2. 



Business for Next Meeting. 



The following questions were announced for dis- 

 cussion at next meeting : 



"Is the manure made from feeding grain with 

 straw aud hay any richer or stronger than that made 

 in the stable with the same substances without 

 grain?" Referred to Jacob M. Frantz. 



"What variety of tobacco should we cultivate?" 

 For general discussion. 



The committee appointed at a former meeting to 

 visit the principal tobacco growers in different sec- 

 tions of the county, and report to the society, re- 

 ported progress and asked to be continued, as they 

 had not yet been able to complete their labors. They 

 promised to report at next meeting. 



The President called attention to the fact that at 

 the next stated meeting the society would elect 

 officers for the ensuing year. He also stated that a 

 few of the members had neglected to pay their annual 

 dues, and hoped they would come prepared to settle 

 up. 



On motion, adjourned. 



THE LINN.ffi;AN SOCIETY. 



The annual meeting of the Limiiean Society was 

 held on Saturdiiy, December 29th, 1877. President 

 Rev. J. S. Stahr being absent, Vice President Prof. 

 T. R. Baker took the chair. Nine members present. 

 After collecting dues and reading of the minutes, 

 the donations to the museum w^ere examined. First was 

 one bottle containing six Salamanders, which were 

 found in the city limits, by Masters Jas. Stewart aud 

 Jas. Kelly , who deserve encouragement for the interest 

 they take in natural history. These specimens have 

 the brick red dorsal stripe, and arc not rare under 

 stones, and are named by Prof. Cope, Dcsmagiialhns 

 ochropkcm. The novelty is in finding them out and 

 lively so late in the year as December 28 ; hut this 

 mild winter, so far, has brought out the "daudcliou" 

 and blue-field violets. Mr. James Stewart, Sr., 

 when in Northern Texas, last fall, obtained a large 

 fossil-like part of a Ram's horn, which he donated ; 

 Dana, in his Geology, page ■172, says some of the 

 "Ammonite" found beyond the Mississippi, are over 

 three feet in diameter. The genus Orioccras, which 

 name refers to a ram's horn, aud has an open coil, 

 aud his Figure 786 of 0. Diivulli, comes very close to 

 this specimen. An immalurcd fruit of the Banana, 

 grown in the hot-house of Geo. O. Hensel, the Masa 

 snpiendu of the Palm family, was preseuted. .Mrs. 

 Gibbons presented some fossil shells and belemnites 

 found near Vfoodstown, New Jersey. Quite a varie- 

 ty of ibssils are found abundant in many of the 

 arenaceous beds, called Green mnid or 7Harl, which 

 sometimes contain ninety per ceut. of a greenish 

 silicate of iron and potash, with a trace of phos- 

 phate of lime ; hence valuable for fertilizing pur- 

 poses. She also presented beautiful thin, tran.spar- 

 cut shells, formingthe entire external eoveringof the 

 young of the Hoffce-shoe crab, Linmhis pohjphciitns, 

 which are as prettv as they are curious. Mrs. Dr. 

 Sarah Taylor, of \Voodstown, New Jersey, sends us 

 per -Mrs. Gibbons, what she called a leaf and fruit 

 pods of the Egyptian Lotus or sacred bean of India 

 (said to have sprung fromseeds thrown into a pond), 

 which a gentleman brought from the Kiver Nile. 

 Mr. Staulfer said all this might be true, only that the 

 Xeiumbiuia hilemii, which grows in the Delaware 

 river, known as water chinquapin, and sometimes 

 called lotus, and sacred bean, is so much like the 

 specimen, that he doubts the story. Dr. Gray does 

 say that the Nebimbmm Kpccioxnm or X Lotus, the 

 sacred beau of India, is cultivated in choice conserva- 

 tories. Now about a mill-pond, in New Jersey, Mrs. 

 Gibbons had also a large full top of one of the tall 

 growing comiiosite plants, called Alder in New Jer- 

 sey. This is evidently a cacaliu. As the radical 

 leaves aud cauline were absent, it wasnot deiermined 

 whether it was Caculia atripHcifoUa, the great Indian 

 plantain, or the O renifonnis. Both grow in New 

 Jersey and attain a height of nine feet. Mr. Bolton 

 also desired to know th(^ name of a LiUiaccous plant, 

 that has small axillary flowers, and elongates the 

 flaccid stem, until the c'nd bends down and sends up 

 a tuft of leaves, propagating a new plant; flowers, 

 minute ; no means to analyze them in their condi- 

 tion without a fresh specimen. Other plants were 

 discussed. S. S. Hathvou donated to the Historical 

 branch a fancy Revolutionary dress buckle, also two 

 envelopes containing twenty or more historical clip- 

 pings. 



To the Library was presented a copy of the U.S. 

 Coast Snrvey for 1874. By request, Rev. J. H. 

 Dnbbs, A. M., presented a copy of each of three 

 several addresses, delivered bv hiin at various times 

 on topics of genera! interest. The Lancaster 

 Farmer for December, 1877, and sundry American 



and European Book Catalogues, from publishing 



houses, were presented. 



