1878.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



27 



chaniiiion of mineral iiianurcF, adopts. Many agfri- 

 cultui'ists, wlien making their annual inventories, tlo 

 not eredit the aceounts with the farm-yard manure, 

 resrardina: it merely as a restitution due to the soil. 

 It is ill tile same end — that of avoiiliii;,' lletilious esti- 

 mates—that produee is valued aeeordiiii; to the stan- 

 dard of the priee of hay ; thus, if the latter be fr. '^ 

 per cwt., Iieet, heini; three times less nutritive, will 

 be rated somethins under fr. I pel ewt. The sra/Aug 

 farmer estim.ites the value of his pasture by the 

 protlt realized, general expenses dedueted, betvcen 

 the priee of tlie stock purehased when lean and when 

 sold fat. 



Mention is beintr directed to the importance of 

 torrefied animal refuse, sueli as bones, horn, leather 

 clippintrs, hair, woolen ra;,'s, blood, \e. By special 

 contrivances these matters are so seorelied as to re- 

 tain their oriranic richness, thouifh reduced to a state 

 of powder. This powder ferments, orin other terms 

 dissolves easily and gradually ; the phosphates are 

 assimilated with facility, and the humus in the soil 

 economized. This torrefied refuse peculiarly favors 

 a large return per acre of beet, in addition to the 

 juice being markedly rich in sugar, because less alka- 

 line salts or nitrogenous matters are present. Beet 

 thus raised has been sold as high as fr. -4 the ton, or 

 fr. 6 more than usual rales. It is admitted that the 

 manure ensures the unilbrm germination of the seeds 

 in a remarkable manner, and keeps ofl' insects, owing 

 to the offensive odor of the compound. It is most 

 efficacious when employed in moist weather — autumn 

 or spring. 



Dr. Holdelleirs has published some very important 

 conclusions on the trausforination that the phos- 

 phoric acid of the natural phosphorites, undergoes 

 in the soil. Humus, whether as in peat or stable 

 manures, exercises but little efl'ect, still less the car- 

 bonic, or other organic acids. But the inorganic 

 nitric and ammoniacal salts possess the power of 

 setting free the phosphoric acid to a great degree. 

 Clay soils, if watered with liquid manure, will give 

 oB' ammonia J but turf soils will retain this gas, by 

 immediately transforming it into nitric combinations. 

 M. Biehm, an Austriau physiologist, has conducted 

 some experiments with kidney beans ; tliey could not 

 develop in distilled water, but in ordinary water they 

 did, owing to the presence of salts of iime, which 

 transport the elements of the seed to the young stem. 

 M. Peligot has shown that if beans be watered with 

 a solution of common salt, when growing in an ordi 

 nary soil, the plant will reject the sodium and take, 

 instead, potassium ; while if grown in the same solu- 

 tion exclusively they will absorb sodium. Messrs. 

 Deherain and Maiiueune conclude, from all these 

 facts, that salts in solution are absolutely necessary 

 to favor the migration of the principles of the seed 

 to the infant stems-. 



Some cavalry horses, at Vernon, were affected with 

 an excessive salivation ; the veterinary surgeon traced 

 the cause to the musty oats. Change of dietary ar- 

 rested the excessive secretion ; w ild thyme, when 

 present in large quantities in fodder, has, in the 

 neighborhood of Chartres, produced a similar affec- 

 tion ; and aftermath clover, having spots on the leaves, 

 recalling those of the potato disease — a mushroom 

 affection, caused, according to M. Thierry, horses to 

 secrete as much as five quarts of saliva per hour. 

 No medicament could check the malady, which dis- 

 appeared, however, when the diet was altered. 



Complaints are general, especially in Begium, that 

 brewers' masli is yearlj' becoming less valuable for 

 the feeding of milch cows, and that the old proverb, 

 "no grains no milk," will soon become a joke. The 

 fact is, that owing to the improvements in machinery, 

 brewers extract more matter from the malt than 

 formerly; hence, why some farmers prepare their 

 own mash, or " Flemish sonp," as it is called, by 

 preparing sleeps of crushed barley, bran, or meal 

 drinks. In cities dairymen cannot dispense with the 

 brewers' grains, which are often preserved in trenches, 

 when sprinkled with salt ; the German plan is bet- 

 ter, that of drying them when they leave the vat. 



M.deLubasky demands, why is Russia behind 

 other countries in agriculture, despite a rich soil and 

 several Qistinguislicd farming societies? M. Louay 

 attributes the cause, in the region of Volhynia at 

 least, an assentially agricultural portion of the empire, 

 to the total absence of popular instruction ; since 17 

 years tlie peasants have been emancipated, and they 

 do not yet understand their new destiny, owing to 

 the want of guides. There are no markets held in 

 Volhynia, which is "a continuous village ;" whoever 

 desires produce must go to the farms to obtain it, 

 hence a class of brokers exists between consumer 

 and producer, objectionable for both parties. The 

 social condition of the peasantry is pitiable ; they 

 have only vegetable soup and bread for uniform diet ; 

 salt is both a luxury and a neees.^ity, and often bread 

 and salt is all they have to eat. They make ther own 

 cloth also. 



The unsatisfactory result of this year's beet har- 

 vest, both for the farmer and the manufacturer, has 

 led to the plan of a fusion of interests; the experi- 

 ment will be tried the ensuing seasofl ; the factory 

 and farm will become cooperutive, and thus set at 

 rest quarrels about prices and stipulations as to ma- 

 nures. The wheat crop has fallen short by one- 

 twelfth for last year, and the floiu' is inferior ; about 



one-seventh of the total of the wheat grown !• re- 

 quired for seed. 



M. Pagnone, one of the highest authorities In the 

 country on the cultivation of beet, would leave farm- 

 ers free to cultivate the root as they please, and the 

 sugar refiners to purchase according to value ; he 

 counsels farmi'rs not to cease employing nitrates, but 

 to avoid their abuse, as also every other kind of nitro- 

 genous manure ; to cultivate the plants at narrow 

 distances, and to patronize varieties where the cellular 

 dominates tlie til>rou6 tissue. 



M. Genay, residing near Nancy, sows his clover in 

 March or April, among the winter wheat or rye, at 

 the rate of 11) llis. jier acre, and I'l; of ray grass ; 

 a brush of the harrow follows the sowing machine, 

 and then the roller. After the harvest he top-dresses 

 the clover with ten tons of farm-yard manure per 

 acre ; he thus secures vigorous crops, free from para- 

 .sites and worms. The phylloxera continues its 

 ravages ; better reports come in as to the value of 

 sulphuret of carbon for destroying the bugs. 



OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



Proceedings of the Lancaster County Agricul- 

 tural and Horticultural Society. 



The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster 

 County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was 

 held Monday afternoon, January 4, in the Athenaeum 

 rooms. 



The meeting was called to order by the President, 

 Calvin Cooper, esq. 



The following members and visitors were present : 

 Calvin Cooper, President, .lobnson Miller, Henry M. 

 Engle, Martin D. Kendig, Henry Kurtz, .1. .\I. John- 

 ston, Clare Carpenter, Prof. S. S. Kathvon, Daniel 

 Sincych, Hcnrv Shiffner, \V. L. Hershey, Aaron 

 Summy, Mr. Witmer, Peter S. Reist, S. P. Eby, Jacob 

 M. Meyer, Christian Coble, Henry Erb, Simon Hos- 

 tetter, B. Frank Landis, William McComsey, Jonas 

 Buckwalter, Henry Erb, Joseph AVitmer, Isaac 

 Bushon<r, Joseph C. Linville, Levi S. Keist, W. L. 

 Hershey and Frank R . Diffenderffer. 



On motion, the reading of the minutes of last meet- 

 ing was dispensed with. 



Election of Members. 



On motion, Calvin Carter, of Sadsbury, was duly 

 elected a member of the society. 



Reports of Special Committees. 



The committee appointed to attend the State Fruit- 

 Growers' Association at Williamsport not being 

 ready to report, were temporarily excused. 

 Condition of the Crops. 



Johnson Miller, of Warwick, said quite a num- 

 ber of wheat fields looked bad prior to the late snow 

 fall ; '-he Hessian fly had injured them. The early 

 sowing had not been beneficial. 



Henky Kurtz, of Mount Joy, reported many 

 fields as looking very yellow ; some are less, some 

 more so. He believed it to be the fly, and caused in- 

 directly by early sowing, especially in low, wet 

 grounds. But little tobacco has been sold ; 5 — 15 

 and 5 — 18 cents were paid. 



H. M. Engle reported the January rainfall at -i^^ 

 inches. 



Reading of Essays. 



Daniel Smeych had an essay, which he had writ- 

 ten, read by the Secretary. See page 20. 



H. M. Engle said the article was not too long, but 

 yet too much so to be discussed here. He liked the 

 essay ; it was a most excellent production. There is 

 a wide difference of opinion as to the various methods 

 employed. He thought the essayist favored the long 

 pruning system too much. He believed in close 

 pruning. We get more and better fruit in this way. 

 He once thought otherwise, but experience taught 

 him his mistake. There is a good deal of ignorance 

 prevalent as to pruning vines. A little attention will 

 soon teach every man how to prune his own vines. 



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

 Smeych for his valuable essay. 



Questions for Discussion. 



" How shall the farm be conducted to produce the 

 best pecuniary results?" 



Henry Kurtz said this was an important matter. 

 Our lands have cost from two to two hundred and 

 fifty dollars per acre, and it won't do to raise wheat, 

 corn or oats. We must raise vegetables, and par- 

 ticularly tobacco. We have the best soil in tlie 

 country for this. But to do this we must have a 

 tobacco inspector, who must tell people just what we 

 have to sell. 



Here the chairman called Mr. Kurtz to order, as 

 he was altogether off the question and getting away 

 still farther. 



Johnson Miller said he did not believe with Mr. 

 Kurtz that we must devote all our attention to to- 

 bacco farming. A statile full of good cows will pro- 

 duce S.5U0 or .^tiOO a year, and a flne lot of chickens, 

 a few hundred more. There are other ways to make 

 money besides raising tobacco. 



H. .M. Engle agreed with Mr. Miller. He said 

 the tobacco flurry may run out. We should not 

 buUd ou this alone. Cotton ruined the South be- 



cause everything else gave way to It. We ought to 

 grow a variety of products. Some crops fail and 

 some succeed, so we always get something ; If we go 

 on one article all the time, we maki^ a mistake. 

 .Many farmers have grown rich without ever having 

 planted a single stalk of tobacco. Improve your 

 larming ; raise M bushels of wheat instead of "iO ; 

 grow 100 bushels of corn Instead of .W, and then you 

 are on ttie road to prosperity. 



Henry Kiutz came to the defense of his peculiar 

 theory, but disclaimed being considered as advo- 

 cating the planting of nothing but tobacco. lie 

 rafscd §1,700 worth of tobacco on four acres of land ; 

 that paid, i 



.Mr. Witmkr agreed partly with both these par- 

 ties. He Ihiiiighl moneycould be made out of wheat 

 as well as out of tobacco, and we can im|)rove our 

 farms at the same time, (iood cultivation is what we 

 need. We can make money without growing a 

 particle of tobacco. 



H. M. Enule said the question was a broad one, 

 presenting many views ; we cannot go over them all 

 now. We should sub-divide it to discuss It Intelll- 

 gently. 



On motion of .Johnson Miller, the question was 

 continued until next meeting. 



On motion, tlie rules were temporarily susijended 

 to bring up some special business. 



Aaron Si^mmy stated that he had with him a bill 

 reported tiy Mr. Ettla, relative to the appointment of 

 a tobacco ins|)ector. .\lthough properly belonging 

 to the Tobacco Growers' Association, on motion, the 

 bill was allowed to be read, as it was admitted to be 

 a matter nearly concerning the agricultural interests 

 of the county. 



Peter S. Heist advocated the discussion of the 

 question here and now. 



Aabo.n Su.mmy thought it was not out of order to 

 consider the iiuestion here. There is no necessity for 

 such an inspector. It is a big job for someone. 



Henry Siiiffner saiil if we have an inspector we 

 will be taxed uselessly. It will still further stagnate 

 business. It ought to be: voted down. 



On motion, tlie qucstiou was allowed to be dis- 

 cussed here. 



Henry M. Engle thought a meeting of the To- 

 bacco Growers' Association should be called and tha 

 question be discussed there. Tliat would be the 

 proper course. Some of us are not at all interested 

 in the question. 



Henry Kurtz said the men who speak against 

 this inspector are interested parties. Ue advocated 

 the appointment of an inspector, and denounced 

 tliose who did not. 



Daniel Smeycu moved that the question be In- 

 definitely postponed , carried. 



Referred Questions. 



" What produces abortion in cows ?" wae answered 

 by Johnson .Miller, as follows : 



Mr. Pre.sidknt ; The question, " What produces 

 abortion iu cows !" referred to me at the last meeting 

 of this society, should have been referred, in my 

 opinion, to a doctor, if we have one in the society. 

 If not, llien to some older member who may have more 

 knowledge or experience tlian 1 on a question of this 

 kind. However, my answer is the opinion of one of 

 our most prominent horse doctors and ])artly ray own 

 experience. Slinking or slipping the calf is a mis- 

 fortune to which some cows are particularly subject 

 in the earliest period of gestation, and therefore some 

 eons are more sulyect to an abortion than others. 

 Tills may be brought about by accidents which may 

 happen to the animal. In my own experience, two 

 years ago there was considerable ice in the barnyard, 

 over whieli my cattle had to pass to gel to the water. 

 They would sometimes slip and fall, the result of 

 which was several abortions that season. It may 

 also be brought about by cows jumping over fences 

 or bars half open. Tiie fanner should warn all boys 

 or hired men never to make cows jump over bars 

 half open. Take out rails at both ends, or, better 

 still, have gates to your fields, thereby preventing 

 any accident to cows in this way. 



Another cause of abortion in cows may be that 

 they are run from the field home as fast as they can 

 go, as is sometimes the case. It is late in the eve- 

 ning, the larnier comes home from the fields, the 

 women want the cons to milk, and order the boy or 

 hired man to fetch them in double-quick. He obeys 

 the order, and the cows arc on a run for a quarter to 

 a half mile, thereby injuring their milking proper- 

 ties, and often this may be the cause of an abortion. 

 There are so many ways by which cattle, or more 

 particularly cows, are abused by our farmers and 

 their hired men that I am free to say that nine out of 

 every ten cases of abortion arc caused tiy such treat- 

 ment as I have above referred to. There may bo 

 other causes, and if there are I would like to hear 

 them. -My advice would be, treat your cows kindly, 

 and there will be fewer cases of abortion in cows. 



U. M. Engle had no doubt the essay covered 

 most of the cases of abortion, but not all. Sometimes 

 whole stables arc attlictcd ; the true cause is not yet 

 known. 



Levi S. Reist knew of a case where nearly all 

 the cows in a neighborhood were affected by this dis- 

 ease. He was unable to account for it; it appeared 

 as an epidemic. 



