1878.J 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



45 



He also rcail a sliort artieic cut from a ncwsjiiviier, 

 in which lime was recommended as a preventive 

 for abortion8 in cow6. 



n. M. Enoi.e moved the regular order of l)UBine6» 

 he dispcuseil with in order to allow John I. Carter, 

 of the Experimental Farm , of Chester county, to «:ive 

 the address he was announced to deliver, " Manures 

 and Soil Fertilizations." See page HH. 



On motion of Ei'Hiiaim Hoovkh, a vote of thanks 

 was tendered to the lecturer for liis able address. 



J. C. LiNvii.i.K said the farmers now believe better 

 results can be procured by ajiplying barnyard manure 

 in its raw condition; composting is Jiot generally 

 followed. 



II. M. Enole, of Marietta, said eompostinfr was 

 not so well understood as it should be. He believed 

 much was lost in manures by leaching and evapora- 

 tion. Earth makes a good compost ; anything that 

 helps to retain the gases and liquids, will add value 

 to the manure pile ; they tend to pulverize the 

 manure also. 



William McComsey thought the essay was a very 

 practical one ; it went to the foundation of things ; 

 it treated of manures and plant food from a scien- 

 tific standpoint, because agriculture is a science, and 

 all farmers ought to be scientists. All farmers 

 should make themselves familiar with the character 

 and requirements of the soils they own. The barn- 

 yard cannot supply all the food our fields need. We 

 roust, therefore, resort to the so-called fertilizers. 

 We must know what our acres need before we can 

 give them what they ask. Lanil requires treatment 

 just as our bodies do ; we must find out the nature 

 of the disease and then take steps to apply the 

 remedy. 



C. L. HuNSECKEB thought the attention bestowed 

 upon manures shows we are awake to the importance 

 of the subject. The lecture showed us how to make 

 use of the various things presented to our acceptance 

 for this purpose. After cropping a field for seven- 

 teen years and until it would grow nothing, he sowed 

 clover, plowed it down, and tlie clover acting as a 

 fertilizer, put the land in heart again and good crops 

 were again raised on it. The lecture proved that if 

 ■we knew more of chemistry we would grow larger 

 crops ; the farmers must understand the materials 

 they use. 



Casper Hiller was pleased with the lecture. He 

 was glad to have this talk about artificial fertilizers 

 go out among the farmers. There is a prejudice 

 against them, but this is wrong. There was great 

 fraud formerly in them, but of late years this has 

 been changed, and now manufacturers stake their 

 reputations that their articles are as guaranteed. 



Mr. Franklin Sutton remarked that while it 

 does not require much science to pulverize the soil, 

 still we overlook this point ; stirring the soil wkilc 

 the crops are growing is also very essential and we 

 cannot alftbrd to ignore it. 



H. M. Engle alluded to an experiment referred to 

 by the lecturer, that a crop that received no manure 

 but more careful cultivation produced much better 

 results than another which was heavily manured 

 but received no after cultivation ; thorough cultivation 

 is almost equivalent to a coating of manure. This 

 alone is a valuable fact. It shows us we can do 

 without 60 many fertilizers. 



Mr. Esiileman was glad to have heard the lec- 

 ture. It will do much good, and he hoped it would 

 he printed. The suggestion that manure should be 

 kept together and composted, is a very important 

 one, because some persons believe in hauling out the 

 manure green. 



Milton B. Eshleman was glad to meet so many 

 of his old friends. He was never much of an experi- 

 menter, but he was sure the more the farmers ex- 

 perimented the more they would know. The crops 

 along the linwof the railroad look well. 



Mr. Carter thought he was a little misunder- 

 Btood. He did not recommend composting the barn- 

 yard manure pile ; he alluded more particularly to 

 composting with commercial fertilizers. He thought 

 • it did not pay to turn over and work the manure 

 pile so often. It was well to cover it over, but he 

 did favor mixing it with other fertilizers. In reply 

 to Mr. Engle, he said top-dressing is better in some 

 cases, such as grass, but on wjieat ground he would 

 plow it down. Corn fertilizers do better when 

 plowed down. He ploughs shallow ; four or five 

 inches for corn. Lime does not seem to give good 

 results on the Experimental Farm. They keep their 

 manure pile under cover, and have a cistern, from 

 ' which the liquid manure is pumped over the manure 

 heap. In this way it is saved instead of being lost. 

 C. L. Hunsecker observed that farmers who 

 plough, harrow and cultivate the ground thoroughly, 

 generally get good crops ; those who cultivate im- 

 perfectly get poor crops, in spite of all their manures 

 and fertilizers. So much is lost by improperly fer- 

 tilizing that hardly one-half the proper result is 

 attained. 



Epiiraim Hoover thought that until we properly 

 understand our soils, we will very often be unsuc- 

 cessful. We apply manures at random. How much 

 and what kinds of manures to apply is what we 

 must learn. Until we know better, our common 

 sense must be our guide. Some soils in this county 

 must have lime, while others, as stated by the lec- 



turer, do not get along well with it; therefore, our 

 common sense and observations must guide us. 

 Thorough cultivation and proper fertilizers are what 

 wc must rclv on. 



M. B. Esiileman tliought it was impossible for all 

 farmers to be chemists ; to become an expert chemist 

 would cost as much as a farm. The State ought 

 to provide cliemists, and If not the State, then the 

 several counties. 



S. 1". Env thought the longer the farmers keep out 

 of the haniis of the Legislature the better it will be 

 I'or them. This society, he thought, was not on the 

 right track. Such lectures will do good ; experiments 

 are what is needed ; if the Lej^islature were ad- 

 journed lor ten years, the better it would be for us. 

 Jos. F. WiTMKit said, in Europe the system of 

 having experimental stations was practiced. Our 

 exiicrimental farms are modeled on them. If we 

 watch their experiments closely we get what we 

 want ; that will do us more good than a host of 

 chemists. 



M. B. Esiileman explained that he thought chem- 

 ists would be of more use to tell what there was in a 

 fertilizer than to take a handful of dirt and analyze it. 

 Mr. Buosius wanted the Legislature to do as 

 much for the farmers as they do for other classes of 

 society. We need protection against bogus fertilizers, 

 but not being practical chemists how are we to tell ; 

 Quite a lively discussion here took place as to the 

 use or uselcssness of the Legislature in giving aid to 

 farmers, and providing fat oliices for jieople at the 

 farmers' expense. 



H. M. Engle said there was a bill now before the 

 Legislature given protection to farmers, against 

 fraudulent fertilizers. 



Levi S. Reist said our beet farmers know least of 

 chemistry. 



Johnson Miller thought the debate was drifting 

 from the subject, and moved it be closed, which was 

 carried. 



Report of Fruit Committee. 

 Mr. Kendig, chairman of the Fruit Committee, 

 appointed to ascertain the best varieties of fruit for 

 home cultivation, presented his report. (See page :i6.) 

 Jos. F. Witmek was opposed to endorsing Craw- 

 ford's early peach ; it is a poor bearer and hardly 

 worth cultivation. 



H. M. Engle said his experience with the above 

 peach was very favorable ; it was a great bearer 

 with him ; it is our earliest yellow peach, although 

 not our best. Still he would not recommend planting 

 many trees. Other kinds might have been recom- 

 mended, but the committee did not wish to give the 

 names of so many. 



The President suggested that the " Benoni " and 

 "Hawley" apples be added to the list, as being 

 among our very best apples. 



Casper Hiller endorsed the "Benoni" but 

 the " Hawley " was a very poor one, in hisopinion. 



H. M. Engle thought there were many good local 

 varieties that don't find entrance into nurseries. It 

 was well to depend on such apples as do well in your 

 neighobrhood. The " Lancaster County (ireening" 

 was described as a trifling, knotty little affair, not 

 worth planting. 



Levi W. Croff, thirty years ago bought an or- 

 chard, and lie tried to improve it. He yearly added 

 new varieties, and found they did little good. He 

 now relies on the old-fashiond kinds — the "Roinan- 

 ite " and " Seek no Further." 



Casper Hiller moved that John I. Carter be 

 elected an honorary member of this society. Adopted. 

 The report of the Fruit Committee was, on motion, 

 accepted, and the committee discharged. 



Casper Hillek moved that as the report of the 

 committee that went to Williainsport to attend the 

 meeting of the State Society has already been pub- 

 lished in The yew Era, the reading be now dispensed 

 with. 



Deferred Business. 



The question of soiling cattle was called up, and 

 the president read an article on the subject from the 

 Village Record, which was pertinent and satisfactory. 

 The advantages of soiling were clearly pointed out 

 in the essay, a number of reasons being given for 

 the same. 



W. McComsev believed soiling cattle was one of 

 those progressive measures that will eventually be 

 adopted very generally throughout this county. More 

 stock can be kept, more land can be put under culti- 

 vation, while all the interior fences can be dispensed 

 with. 



M. B. Eshleman thoui;lit it was act of cruelty to 

 let the cattle run at large in the hot sun in summer 

 time, and be molested l)y flies. 



Levi S. Keist moved that the article in the 

 Record be endorsed as the sense of the society. 



Mr. Bollinger objected to the motion. He once 

 lived in Franklin county, where they had a great 

 man, named Alexander McClure. Believing in him, 

 the people sent him to the Legislature, where he did 

 some railroading, making about 81U0,U()0 Ijy the job. 

 He bad a farm of about 200 acres, and on this he 

 began soiling his cattle and tearing out his interior 

 fences. The result was he broke up. Shortly after 

 another man in his neighborhood did the eam* thing 

 and hU fate wa* the same as McClure's ; in conse- 



quence the people have lost all coufldenco in soiling 

 cattle. 



The motion was then withdrawn, and the discus- 

 sion on soiling will be coiiliimcd at the next meeting. 

 Election of Members. 



On motion, ChriKlian li. Landis was elected a 

 member of the society. 



Bills Read. 



Several bills, for coal, janitor's services, and other 

 necessary expenses were read and ordered to be paid. 



On motlcm, it was decided that inasmuch as the 

 first Monday of next month comes on April 1st, the 

 regular inectinEr of the society he put olf until the 

 second Monday in the month. Agreed to. 

 Business for Next Meeting. 



" How shall we manage to raise 100 or more bush- 

 els of corn to the acre ;" Referred to Jacob Bol- 

 linger. 



" Have we evidence that commercial fertilizers 

 pay in this county ?" Referred to Casper Hiller. 

 For General Discussion. 



" Shall we continue to grow apples, and to what 

 extent." 



There being no other business the society ad- 

 journed until the second Monday in April. 



TOBACCO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



The rcL'ular miiiilhly meeting of the Lancaster 

 County Tobacco tirowers' Association was held on 

 Monday afternoon, February IM, in the Athcnajura 

 Rooms. 



The meeting was called to order by the President, 

 M. I). Kendig. 



The minutes of last meeting were read by the 

 Secretary, Webster L. Hershey, and, on motion, 

 adopted. 



The following members and visitors were present : 

 M. I). Kendig (President,) Manor; Webster L. 

 Hershey (Secretary,) Sylvester Kennedy, Salisbury; 

 Henry Kurtz, Mount .loy ; Henry Shillner, Upper 

 Leacock ; Ephraini Hoover, .Manheim ; -Mr. Hoff- 

 man, Donegal ; Washimrton L. Hershey, Calvin 

 Cooper, C. L. Hunsecker, Peter S. Reist, .John Brady, 

 WiuUeld S. Kennedy, W. D. Hoar, J. G. Rush, J. P. 

 Mcllvaine, .\iKlrew Lane, H. Engle, Rapho; J. G. 

 Horner, Donegal ; John Shenk, Salisbury ; Jonas 

 Meek, John Meek, I. W. Leidigh, Paradise; John 

 Hersh, West Hempfield ; .John Huber, Pequea ; 

 Daniel D. Hersh, Manor; Daniel Reninger, Cone- 

 stoga ; J.Hartman Ilcrbhcy, Hcmplicld ; F. Pennel, 

 Mouut .Joy; J. M. Franiz, Manor; I. L. Landis, 

 Clare Carpenter, F. K. DitlVndcrller, city. 



Reports of Special Committees. 



The committee on getting samples for the Paris 

 Exposition reported, through Henry Shiffner, that 

 they had called a meeting and there being no atten- 

 dance at the same, they gave up the project. The 

 question can be taken uj) to-day if it is deemed proper 

 to do so. 



Sylvester Kennedy thought it was now too late 

 to do anything ; samples should have been in Wash- 

 ington by this time. 



The visiting committee reported through Henry 

 Kurtz and .Mr. Kennedy. The latter said the matter 

 was delayed loo long. The committee has not got 

 arounil as far as they hoped. He thought the com- 

 mittee had not done its duty so far, and no fitting 

 report can in consequence be made ; 'he report should 

 be made by the chairman of the committee. 



Mr. Suikfner also liad a report to make, and was 

 ready to do so to-day, but also thought the matter 

 should be delayed until all the members were ready. 

 A motion to this cIVect was made and carried. 

 Reports on Crops. 



Henry KfRTz reported the tobacco was nearly all 

 ready to sell. There have not been many sales- 

 some were good and ot hers not so good . He reported 

 some sold at li-l.'"), 5-1."), .'")-20 and L'O all around. A 

 good many buyers were about, but could not come 

 to terms with the farmers. 



Sylvester Kennedy reported some sales from 

 Salislmry; the oilers arc lower than farmers were 

 willing to accept, so very little has been sold. 



Henry Shiffner, of Upper Leacock, reported a 

 good deal sold there at 1.5 and IScents. The tobacco 

 is good in that township, as it generally is. 



Mr. Hoffman reported sales at i!-l.'> to .')-'.0. 



M. D. Kendig, of Manor, reimrted the tobacco a« 

 good ; but there is no market as yet. Farmers want 

 to sell but feel assured the times are not favorable to 

 hiirh prices. 



Wehsteh L. Hershey, of West Hempfield, re- 

 ported sales at from VJ. to 10 cents. The cf)ndition 

 of the crop is good and a considerable amount has 

 been sold. 



Reading oi Essays. 



Sylvester Kennedy, according to appointment, read 

 the "following essay on manures: 



At the last meeting of this association the subject 

 of manures being up, I advanced some views at 

 variance with those of many of the members present, 

 and was asked to give my views on the subject at 

 some future meeting, which I now propose to do. 



