28 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[ February, 



Mb. Witmer saw, a few days ago, the opinion of 

 an eminent authority, wliieh says it arises from eat- 

 ing mildewed hay or grass, or ergot of rye. He knew 

 of a farmer who lost quite a number of calves from 

 this cause. 



Henry Kurtz had a case of the kmd ; he could 

 not account for it. Sunning cows hard will often 

 bring about this evil. Colts often run cows and in- 

 jure them. 



John C. Linville said such were accidental cases, 

 but there are instances of wholesale abortion in large 

 herds. It is an epidemic, ruining the dairy business 

 in some places in Chester county. One, writer at- 

 tributed it to pasturing in run down pastures, but this 

 has been contradicted. Veterinary surgeons are m 

 the dark about it. 



"W. L. Hershey had heard that if a male animal 

 is tethered near the female, abortion will be pro- 

 duced. The trouble may also be caused by the male. 

 Mr. Witmeu did not think so. He had some faith 

 In the theory of pasturing on old meadows where the 

 grass was run down. Excessive feeding may also in- 

 duce abortion. 



H. M. Engle hardly thought we could solve the 

 question. Eminent veterinary surgeons have been 

 unable to explain the cause. We must acknowledge 

 we know very little about it. 



New Business. 

 The President read a letter from the Agricultural 

 Department, requesting the co-operation of this so- 

 ciety in making an exhibit of American horticultural 

 productions at the French Exposition ; the specimens 

 to be either in their natural condition, wax, plaster 

 of Paris, or preserved in alcohol ; a series of the 

 fruits of this State was requested. 



H. M.Engle did not think we could do more than 

 to tell persons, who had anything to sell, how their 

 matters could be forwarded. 



H. M. Engle offered the following preamble and 



resolution : -„ ,. . 



Whereas, The' Lanc.\ster Farmer, having 

 been established under the auspices of the Agricul- 

 tural and Horticultural Society as its organ to dis- 

 seminate the proceedinffs and sentiment of said society, 

 ResolmJ, Therefore, that all essays, communica- 

 tions and documents presented at the monthly meet- 

 ino-s are considered belonging to the society, and 

 shall be at its disposal, unless otherwise directed by 

 the authors of said documents. 



J. M. Johnston wished to know whether the ob- 

 ject'of this resolution was to disallow reporters from 

 procuring essays that are read here. To report the 

 ordinary proceedings and not the essays would be 

 like the play of Hamlet with that character left out. 

 When essays are delayed in their publication too 

 lonf they lose their value. To report a debate on an 

 essay without giving the latter would be a silly 

 business. . 



H. M. Engle explained that the reporters' privl- 

 leo-es were not intended to be curtailed by the resolu- 

 tion. But The Farmer was the organ of the associ- 

 ation, and therefore entitled to some consideration. 

 Prof. Rathvon said he was under the impression 

 that The Farmer was to have the essays read be- 

 fore this society for pvililication— have entire control 

 of them. Essays are often incorrectly reported, and 

 therefore have not justice done them. By publica- 

 tion in The Farmer all this is avoided. 



S. P. EiiY remarked that he read the proceedings 

 of the society in the papers, but he would like to see 

 them in The Farmer also. He can there preserve 

 them. 



On motion the resolution was carried. 

 M. D. Kendig reported an order of business for 

 the present year, drawn up by various members of 

 the society, which, if tiiey are all adopted, will ne 

 cessitate semi-monthly meetinirs. 



It was announced that John I. Carter, of the State 

 Model Farm, would deliver an address before the 

 next meeting of the society. 



On motion, the President was instructed to appoint 

 a committee to report on tlie best fruits suitable to 

 this section of country. The committee are H. M. 

 Engle, M. D. Kendig and Levi S. Reist. 



Prof. Ratuvon exhiliited and distributed speci- 

 mens of Japanese persimmon, preserved in sugar, 

 that were really excellent. The professor declared 

 it to be "the coming persimmon." 



Pbof. Ratiivon exhibited an insect found on 

 peach trees and enquired whether any members had 

 noticed them. They have been very destructive in 

 Reading and are spreading rapidly. 



H. M. Engle recommended the growing of the 

 above Japanese fig in citips where they are partially 

 sheltered. They may not be entirely hardy and not 

 so well suited to the exposed country. 



Prof. Rathvon also requested that some member 

 procure him a female opossum before the March 

 meeting. 



On motion the society adjourned until the first 

 Monday in March. 



TOBACCO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



A stated meeting of the Lancaster County Tobacco 

 Growers' Association was held on .Monday afternoon, 

 January 2l8t, in the Atheuaium rooms, this city. 



President Kendig in the chair, and over fifty tobacco 

 growers being present. Following is a nearly full list 

 of the members and visitors in attendance : 



Martin D. Kendig, President, Manor; W. L. Her- 

 shey, Secretary, West Hempfield ; Henry Kurtz, Mt. 

 Joy; I. L. Laiidis, Manheim ; S. W. Kennedy, Salis- 

 bury; A. H. Yeager, East Lampeter; Henry ShiB- 

 ner. Upper Lea'cock ; Washington L. Hershey, 

 Rapho; John Brady, Millersville ; J. M. Frantz, 

 Lancaster twp.; W. S. Kennedy, Salisbury; P. S. 

 Reist, Manheim ; A. H. Summy, Manheim ; Eph. H. 

 Hoover, Manheim; Adam R. Baer, Lancaster; Levi 

 S. Reist, Oregon ; Adam Bard, city; John M. Steh- 

 m.an. East Hempfield ; A. J. Groff, Paradise ; J. M. 

 John.'ston, city ; W. P Brinton, Christiana ; Stephen 

 Grissinger, Rapho; A. F. Frantz, Manor; J. W. 

 Simners, Oresfon ; Eli Engle, Mt. Joy ; Christian S. 

 Hershey, Landisville ; Jesse Bouchter, Manheim ; 

 Simeon Hostetter, Oregon; Jacob L. Henry, East 

 Hem])field ; John H. Beiler, East Lampeter; E. Root, 

 East Hempfield ; Alex. Lane, Neffsville ; Jonas Buck- 

 waiter, East Lampeter ; Amos Minnich, East Lam- 

 peter; J. R. Missimer, Milton Grove; Frank R. 

 Dirt'cndcrffer, city ; Adam Shreiner, West Hempfield ; 

 J. Hartman Hershey, East Hempfield; David Grey- 

 bill, Jacob Foreman, David Burkholder, Fred. Nord- 

 seat, J. W. Urban, Clare Carpenter, Silas Eshleman, 

 S. S. Rathvon and Benjamin Sides. 

 The Crop Reports. 

 The committee appointed at a former meeting to 

 visit prominent tobacco growers in different sections 

 of the county, and report to the society the condition 

 of the crop, "the several ways of growing and curing 

 it, and other matters of interest, reported progress 

 and asked to be continued, promising to make a full 

 report at neA meeting. On motion the committee 

 was continued. 



Henry Kurtz, of Mt. Joy, reported the tobacco 

 in his section as being nearly all stripped and in good 

 condition. None of it has been damaged by sweating 

 or by any other cause. A few buyers have been 

 around inquiring for old tobacco, and he had heard 

 of one lot of new being sold for 18, 8 and 5. Another 

 lot was sold for 20 and 5, but the purchaser after- 

 wards backed out. The worst feature of the trade 

 is that dealers bring into the county inferior tobacco 

 from other States and sell it for Lancaster tobacco, 

 thus injuring the reputation of our home product. 

 He had heard of one dealer who had made $1 ,200 by 

 this nefarious practice, and he was glad to hear that 

 one of our assemblymen, Mr. Ettla, had prepared a 

 bill, to be presented to the Legislature, providing for 

 an inspector of tobacco. If the bill passed it would 

 prevent the evil complained of. 



W. L. Hershey reported that in Lower Rapho all 

 the tobacco is striiiped and looks well. Some sales 

 have been made at 32 and 5, and 18 and 5. 



Israel L. Landis, of Manheim, reported very 

 favorably of the crop in that township. He regarded 

 it as the largest and best ever grown. 



Sylvester Kennedy, of Salisbury, said the to- 

 bacco in his section was nearly all stripped. A few 

 more damp days would finish up the business. He 

 has heard of no sales, but the tobacco is in good con- 

 dition and ready for buyers as soon as they come 

 along. 



Henry Shipfneb said that Leacock was still 

 ahead of other parts of the county. The crop is in 

 excellent condition, of fine quality and beautiful 

 color. Some sales had been made at prices ranging 

 from 23 to :iO cents. 



A. J. Groff, of Paradise, said the stripping was 

 mostly finished, but he had heard of no sales. He 

 would ask the gentleman who had reported the above 

 sales whether the prices mentioned were paid for 

 very superior leaf or for average lots. The prices 

 seemed high, and if they were obtained only for 

 small lots of fine leaf, they were calculated to mis- 

 lead growers as to the true value of the crop. 



Messrs. Landis, Kurtz and Shiffner said the 

 sales reported were of very superior leaf; and Mr. 

 Shiffner added that if growers could get from 13 to 

 15 cents for good average wrappers he would advise 

 them to sell. 



Henry Kurtz said he thought it was out of order 

 for any member of the society to attempt to fix the 

 price for the farmers, who should try and get all 

 they can lor their labor and not place themselves at 

 the mercy of the dealers, who would rob them if 

 they could. 



Henry Shiffner said he hoped the farmers would 

 get 30 cents round for their tobacco, but if they 

 averaged 15 it would be more than they ever got be- 

 fore. 



A. H. Yeager, East Lampeter, reported sales of 

 wrappers at prices ranging from 13 to 18 cents. 

 Most of the crop is stripped and looks well. 



A German from the northeast section of the county 

 was understood to say that John Beiler had been 

 offered 20 cents for his crop, but he held it at 25 

 cents. Mr. Beiler was very careful in stripping, sort- 

 ing and sizing h s tobacco. 



Frederick Hoffman, of West Cocalico, said 

 that until last year very little tobacco had been 

 raised in his neighborhood, perhaps not more than 

 two tone. Last year from seven to nine tons had 

 been grown, and nearly all of it is stripped. No 

 buyers have been around as yet, and he has heard of 



no sales ; but since he came into town he had been 

 offered 15 cents for his best, but he refused the offer. 



Simeon Minnich reported a good crop ; that which 

 was stripped before the holidays has partially 

 sweated and lost weight, to the advantage of the 

 buyer. He would like to hear Mr. Shiffner's reasons 

 for saying that the grower would not get more than 

 1-t or 15 cents for good leaf. 



Mr. Shiffner said the warehouses are full of old 

 tobacco that dealers have not yet disposed of; the 

 new crop is unusually large, and times are hard. All 

 these causes have a depressing effect ; and at the 

 best the average heretofore has never reached 15 



Henry Kurtz did not like to hear anything said 

 here that tended to urfdervalue the price of tobacco, 

 and thus give an advantage to the sharks who are 

 trying to get it for little or nothing. He would buy 

 all the tobacco he coidd for 14 cents and make 

 money by it. 



John Brady, of Millersville, wanted the growers 

 to get all they could, but if they averaged 15 cents it 

 will be more than they ever got before. Many grow- 

 ers don't know what to ask for their tobacco. They 

 hear of a neighbor who has received a high price and 

 they think they ought to get the same price, though 

 perhaps their crop is not worth as much. He had 

 heard of a few sales in his section at 20 and 5 ; 20, 10 

 and 5 ; and 15 and 5. 



Application of Lime to Land. 



Me. C. L. Hunsecker read the following essay : 

 What is lime? It is an earthy substance of a white 

 color, moderately hard, but which is easily reduced 

 to powder, either by sprinkling it with water or by 

 trituration. There are few parts of the world in 

 which lime does not exist. It is found pure in lime- 

 stone, marble and chalk. None of these substances 

 is, however, strictly speaking, lime ; but they are all 

 easily converted into it by a well known process by 

 placing them in kilns or furnaces constructed foi; the 

 purpose and keeping them for some time in a while 

 heat. 



The use of lime as a manure is comparatively 

 modern, but as mortar for building it goes back to 

 antiquity. 



The lime we have to do with in applying to land is 

 the lime ordinarily found in the form of common 

 limestone or carbonate of lime, a combination of lime 

 with carbonic acid. Every 100 pounds of limestone 

 contains about 44 pounds of carbonic acid gas. This 

 may be driven off by a high heat as in the lime kilns. 

 The lime then remains in what is called the caustic 

 state, or quieklime. 



Lime is applied to the land as quicklime, hydrate 

 or slacked lime, so called because it has lost its caus- 

 tic qualities. It is better for the land in all of these 

 states tlian it was before burning, because the burn- 

 ing has reduced it to an extremely fine powder, more 

 fitted to be dissolved in the soil and to be taken up 

 by the plants. Lime is an essential ingredient in the 

 soil, being constantly needed by plants in all their 

 parts. 



Lime is a heavy manure, and should be applied 

 fresh slacked in a fine condition upou the plowed 

 ground, and mixed with the soil by harrowing in. 

 When the proportion of vegetable matter is so great 

 in a soil that the crops of graiu go mostly to straw, 

 a liberal supply of lime will rectify the evil and im- 

 prove both the quantity and the quality of the grain. 

 The amount of lime to be applied to the acre de- 

 pends greatly upon the quality of the land. On dry 

 or peaty soils it may be used in large quantities with 

 good effect. There are numerous kinds of limestone, 

 differing very much in purity, found in various quar- 

 ters of the globe. In the vicinity of Lancaster we 

 find an abundance of deep blue limestone. State 

 Geologist H. D. Rogers, states that Lancaster city is 

 situated upon a tract of blue limestone. The lime 

 from these stone is extensively used for building, and 

 is an excellent manure for land. 



Suppose the farmer to have a soil which requires, 

 as almost all soils do, the application of manure to 

 render it more fertile ; but as some kiuds of grain 

 and grass grow to very great perfection upou com- 

 paratively poor soil, and others only uijou a very rich 

 one, this teaches us the importance of manuring and 

 rotation of crops. By pursuing a rotation of crops, 

 and manuring with the different kinds of animal and 

 mineral substances, the ingredients draw from the 

 soil for the full growth and perfection of the various 

 plants cultivated by the farmer, have sustenance 

 enough from the earth and the air to flourish and 

 arrive to a state of maturity and perfection. 



In applying lime to the barnyard or stable manure 

 it should be air slacked. Caustic lime has a tendency 

 to draw out the ammonia, and should never be ap- 

 plied on the dung pile. What is a soil! It is the 

 uppermost stratum of the earth's surface. Soils 

 have been classified according to their brief ingredi- 

 ents as loamy, clayey, gravelly, chalky, peaty and 

 mossy, the latter consisting mostly of vegetable or 

 mould, which is very retentive of moisture. Of these 

 varieties loam is considered the best, but the others 

 can be improve! by adding the ingredients in which 

 they are deficient, as sai.d and lime to the clayey 

 soil, and clay to a graveily one. 



Most soils are improved by the application of suit- 

 able manure, but the kind required varies with the 



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