1878. 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



29 



natui-c of tlic soil . Lime is a good mauurc.' for cUaycy 

 •oils and irypsviiii for eandy 0[ies, because the Ibriner 

 retains and tile latter attracts moisture. Certain 

 plants require a particular nourishmeul— wheat for 

 example will not grow to a full kernel in a eoil wholly 

 destitute of lime. 



The lilieral application of lime to land produces a 

 soil which decomposes the organic and inorganic 

 compounds of the earth, as well as furnisli food for 

 plants. 



On motion, the thanks of the association were 

 tendered .Mr. Huneecker for his able essay. 



The subject of the c.s.say was further discussed by 

 John Brady and Henry Kurtz, who gave several 

 illustrations of the advantages derived from lime, not 

 only when ajiplied to tobacco, but also to other crops. 



A. H. St'MMY thought it was not disputed that 

 lime is bcuetieial to the soil, but some well-informed 

 tobacco connoisseurs hold that it injuriously ellects 

 the quality of the tobacco. He had with him some 

 cigars, some of which were made of tobacco that had 

 been liberally limed, and some of tobacco grown 

 without lime. He would take pleasure in handing 

 around the cigars to those who were judges in the 

 matter. He thought the society should not attempt 

 to bull or bear the market, but to learn how to grow 

 the weed. 



The matter was further discussed by Messrs. 

 Kennedy, Kurtz, Brady, Kendig, Hunsccker and 

 Eshlemau. 



The Manure Question. 



Jacob M. Frantz, to whom had been referred for 

 answer the question whether manure made from 

 cattle to which grain had been fed was more valuable 

 than that made from cattle fed without graiu, an- 

 swered that it was, and that he had never heard the 

 fact questioned. If anyone thought ditl'ereutly he 

 would be pleased to hear him. 



Sylvesteji Kennedy said that he had proposed 

 the question, but had not worded it very well. What 

 he wauted to know was whether it was true economy 

 in the farmer to feed grain to his stock, for the pur- 

 pose of making manure. He maintained that it was 

 not ; that equally valuable manure could be made by 

 feeding hay, straw and corn-fodder, if gypsum or 

 other suitable articles were added to the compost, 

 and this might be done at a much less cost than the 

 price of the grain. He maintained that the manurial 

 value of hay and straw was diminished and not in- 

 creased by passing through the steer, who took from 

 it a part of its strength to sustain his own life. 



Ephraim Hoover took an entirely different view. 

 He believed that twice as much could be raised from 

 land enriched by feeding cattle as by any other sys- 

 tem of cultivation. If you want to see a thriving 

 farm look for one owned by a cattle feeder. 



On motion of A. J. Grotf the further discussion of 

 the question was deferred until next meeting, and 

 Mr. Kennedy was requested to reduce his views to 

 ■writing and lay them before the society in the form 

 of an essay — which .Mr. Kennedy consented to do. 



The question, " What variety of tobacco should be 

 cultivated r' was also deferred until ue.\t meeting. 

 Election of Officers. 



President Kendig read the following valedictory 

 address : 



■ Gentlemen : In accordance with the common 

 custom, on retiring from the offlcial capacity of chair- 

 man of a deliberative tjody, in making an address, I 

 have prepared a short paper containing a few facts 

 and suggestions which presented themselves to my 

 mind. In the Ursl place allow me to acknowledge 

 the uniform kindness, patience and courtesy extended 

 toward me during the past year, while acting as 

 chairman of this association, and for which accept 

 my most hearty thanks. We have now entered upon 

 our second year, and, taking a retrospect, we certainly 

 may congratulate ourselves in having attained a rea- 

 sonable degree of progress and success. Starting, as 

 we did, under adverse and unfavorable circumstances, 

 the intluenee of public ojiinion to a very great degree 

 against us — the association being at one time re- 

 garded with much disfavor by a large portion of the 

 masses, while others again charged us with being 

 oppressive to the poor laboring man, in not giving 

 him laud to cultivate tobacco for the shares as was 

 customary. We were even cried down as a political 

 organization, a ring of tricksters to serve certain 

 base purposes ; but as an association we have most 

 gloriously outlived all these ridiculous charges or 

 misstatements, and have proven to be, to a great 

 extent, what was at first contemplated in the organi- 

 zation — an intluenee in raising the standard of our 

 Lancaster county tobacco. The benelits derived, in 

 many respects, are quite perceptible to the most 

 casual observer. We have 'most certainly made ad- 

 vanced progress since the organization of the asso- 

 ciation. In the culture of the product, and to-day 

 Btand without a rival as a tobacco-growing district. 

 Our commodity is sought far and wide. Dealers in 

 leaf tobacco have but recently rccogiuzed the fact 

 that our tobacco competes favorably with any in the 

 world for size and quality ; but this was not the case 

 a few years ago, when our product was to a certain 

 extent condemned as a very ordinary article. Now 

 •we do not claim that this society deserves the credit 

 of having accomplished these ends ; but it certainly 



cannot be gainsaid that it was a great auxiliary in 

 attaining these desirable results. Let us, therefore, 

 be encouraged to continue our elforts in this line of 

 duty— compare notes of experience and observation, 

 and discuss the various subjects that come up from 

 time to time ; sift out the liseful and true, and thus 

 attain still higher cnils. 



During the year no doubt many interesting ques- 

 tions will come before us for consideration, among 

 the rest, perliaps, the question, how shall we dispose 

 our present crop to the best advantage, anil how to 

 prevent or deter the oversto<'king of the market, 

 which, from present indications, will no doubt occur 

 sooner or later? But I do not propose todiscuss these 

 points, but merely bring them to yonr notice. An- 

 other matter presents itself, which I think drmamls 

 our attention — parties bringing into our market an 

 inferior foreign article and palming it olf on dealers 

 as a Lancaster county production, and thereby injur, 

 ing the standard and market value of our own. This 

 matter was some time ago very ably and pointedly 

 discussed in an editorial of one of our Lancaster 

 pajiers, and we hope the press will eontimie to ferret 

 out and denounce this injustice and fraud. The so- 

 ciety should also be no less vigilant in disclosing and 

 denouncing all such fraudulent transactions. 



I will here reiterate what I have, at various times, 

 stated before— that we should not be too avaricious, 

 by growing too large an acreage in the future, and 

 thus overstock the market. 



In conclusion, allow me again to thank you for 

 your uniform kindness and courtesy toward me 

 during the year, and congratulate you on the pros- 

 perity of the Lancaster County Tobacco Growers' 

 Association. 



Jacob M. Frantz moved that Mr. Kendig be re- 

 elected by acclamation, which, notwithstanding the 

 dcclin.ation of the president, was carried with loud 

 applause. The other ofliccrs of the association were 

 also re-elected by acclamation, as follows : 

 President — Martin D. Kendig. 

 Vice President — Jacob M. Frantz. 

 Secretary — Webster L. Hershey. 

 Treasurer — A. Lane. 



The chair appointed Jacob M. Frantz, A. H. Sum- 

 my and A. J. Grofl' a committee to audit the treas- 

 urer's account and report at next meeting. 



I. L. Landis, of Manheira, said the reason Lan- 

 caster county tobacco brought tip-top prices is be- 

 cause it is the best grown anywhere. Manufacturers 

 and dealers in California and other distant Stiites 

 would not come thousands of miles for our tobacco 

 unless they had some substantial reasons for doing 

 so. The speaker had made an effort to show our to- 

 bacco at the Centennial exhibition, and the display 

 attracted some attention, but it was not the one- 

 tenth what it ought to have been. Mr. Landis bad 

 been in correspondence with the United States de- 

 partment of agriculture, in reference to making a 

 display of Lancaster tobacco at the Paris Exposition. 

 He read the following letter as expressing his views : 

 Lancaster County Tobacco Growers' Association: 



In view of the great and growing importance of 

 the tobacco interests of Lancaster county, I would 

 call the attention of this association to a communi- 

 cation sent to me from the United States agricultural 

 department, asking me to send to that department, 

 at my earliest convenience, " specimens of our pecu- 

 liar manufactures of tobacco and of the leaf enter- 

 ing into them, with memoranda,if possible, of where 

 it was grown and of the process of curing," etc. 

 With a view to forward the same to the world's ex- 

 position at Paris this summer, I deem it proper to 

 ask this association to co-operate with me in making 

 the collection and taking such measures to bring the 

 effort to a successful issue ; as it may be the means 

 of bringing our Lancaster county tobacco, pure and' 

 unmixed, before the European consumers, and add 

 to the already high reputation, it bears for its pecu- 

 liar and good qualities. Hoping that my efforts in 

 this matter may meet the approbation and support 

 of this association and others concerned better than 

 they did at our own Centennial, where they, imper- 

 fect as they were, attracted a due share of attention, 

 I submit my communications for your consideration. 

 Respectfully yours, 



Israel L. Laxdis. 

 The matter was discussed at some length by Harry 

 Mayer, Henry Shiffner, John Brady, W. L. Hershey, 

 J. M. Stehraan, Jacob M. Frantz and others. 



A. H. SUM.MY moved that a committee of seven be 

 appointed by the chair to make the necessary ar- 

 rangements for having the society properly repre- 

 sented at the Paris Exposition. Agreed to. 



The chair appointed the following committee; 

 Isr.ael L. Landis, Harry Mayer, Jacob .M. Frantz, 

 Henry Shitlner, Wash. L. Hershey, A. J. Groff, 

 Aaron Summy. 



Fine Tobacco. 



Henry Shiffner exhibited to the society several 

 hands of very fine tobacco, of the Connecticut and 

 Florida varieties, grown in Upper Leacock. The 

 leaves were large, of fine dark brown color, free from 

 veins, and of remarkably fine texture. 



ErnKAiM Hoover, of Manheim, exhibited three 

 hands of the Kentucky variety, very fine in color 

 and quality. 



Stlvester Kennp.dv exiiiliiled some beautiful 

 specimens from his farm in Salisbury. 



J. .M.Johnston showed a few leaves grown by 

 Henry Knriz, of Mt. Joy. Tliey were of immouBe 

 size — nearly four feet in length. 



The following business was selected for next 

 meeting : 



" Can manure he made equally as good without 

 feeding urain to cattle as by feeding it to them!" 

 Essay by Sylvester Kennedy. 



" How many pounds of moisture will tobacco take 

 in per hundred, taking dry tobacco for a basis?" 

 Referred to A. J. (iroff. 



" What per cent, will tobacco logo during the year 

 after being casi'il ?" licferred to Henry Shiffner. 



" What distance shouhl the tobacco rows be apart, 

 and at what dislanee should plants be set apart to 

 produce the best results?" Referred to Henry Kurtz. 



Adjourned. 



THE LINNiEAN SOCIETY. 



A stated meeting of the LinnH?an Society was held 

 on Saturday, Jaiiuary, '^lOth ult.. Rev. Prof. J. 8. 

 Stahr in the chair; nine members were present. 

 After the prellniiiiary opening, the donations to the 

 museum were found to consist of four mounted 

 specimens of birds. One was that of a large specl- 

 menofthe " Great Horned Owl" (Bubo Vlrginianus.) 

 This liird was sent alive to I'rof. Itathvoh by Mr. 

 Thomas C. Edwards, of t^uarryville, this county. 

 It was afterwards mounted by .Mr. Geo. Flick, of this 

 city. It is a male, in full feather. Mr. Wilson, in 

 his American Ornithology, vol. vi. p. 52, gives a 

 graphic account of the Great Horned Owl, under the 

 old name of " Strix Virginiana," coming around his 

 camp-fire uttering a loud and sudden " Waugh O ! 

 Waugh O !" suilicienf to have alarmed a whole garri- 

 son. It is known as the bird that " makes the night 

 hideous" to the solitary traveler. No. 'Z is one of 

 those introduced sparrows (Passer domesticus), now 

 becoming quite numerous in tliis city. Mr. George 

 Flick donated No. ;i, a speckled or Spanish bantam, 

 having a dense tuft of feathers on its head, giving it 

 a bold, pugnaccous appearance, (the Gallusfjankiva,) 

 said to have had its origin in the jungles of the island 

 of Java. Mr. Flick also donated No. 4, a remarkable 

 bird, of peculiar color, whicdi was mounted for some 

 one who never called for it. It is evidently one of 

 the extensive tribe of the FrixiiilUdir. Specimens of 

 a fine quality of umber found in Perry county. Pa., 

 donated by .Mr. II. Bechtold, this city. A fragment 



of large fossil ? -V twig of a pine tree having a 



large excrescence of a globular form, beset with the 

 narrow leaves of the pine, appearing like a large 

 chestnut bur in its dry form. No doubt an abnormal 

 growth of the twig into a mass with its leaves in 

 fassiclcs radiating from the circumference, rather 

 than at the regular nodes, as ordinarily on the elonga- 

 tion of the twig. This may have been caused by the 

 sting of an insect. It was sent to Professor Stahr, by 

 Mr. Hosterman, Centre county. Pa. 



Historical Collection. 



Rev. Mr. Dubbs added three "school lottery 

 tickets," dated Lancaster, 1701 ; also, three en- 

 velopes containing eighteen clippings of historical 

 facts, per S. S. Ralhvon. 



Library. 



Nos. 1 and 3, Bureau of Education, and on Medical 

 Education and .Medical Institutions. The Lancas- 

 ter Fabmek for January, 187S ; book catalogue 

 and circulars. 



Paper Read. 



No. 490, by S. S. Rathvon, on the specimens de- 

 posited, and also noticing a remarkable " Albino," 

 or while-footed ami white-billed and feathered species 

 of the crow black-bird (Viiiscanlis versicolor) in the 

 possession of .Mr. Henry Foiidcrsmith, of this city ; a 

 " white black-bird." 



New Business. 



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

 Geo. Flick for his donations, Nos. :i and 4. A bill 

 for sundry locks and keys, furnished l)y the Treasurer, 

 8i..50, and cash paid for niounting Nos. 1 and 2, $4. 

 The amount of 57. .")0 was ordered to be paid by the 

 society, licv. Jas. Y. .Mitchell signed the Constitu- 

 tion and took his certificate of stock and became an 

 active member of tliis society. 



In view of certain proiwsitions made in reference to 

 a third-story room in tlic premises fitting up for the 

 T. M. C. A. on South Queen street, it was, on due 

 consideration. 



licsoli'cd. That S. S. Rathvon, C. A. Heinitsh and 

 the President, Prof. J. S. Stahr, be appointed a com- 

 mittee to confer with the Young .Men's Christian 

 Association in relation to the removal of the museum 

 and place of meeting of this society, and the nature 

 of Ike plan, conditions, etc., and to report at a special 

 or next stated meeting of tlic Linnaian Society for 

 final action. 



Under scientific gossip, some of the wonders of the 

 telephone and telegraph were discussed. No further 

 busiuess offering, on motion, adjourned to Saturday, 

 February SW. 



