60 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[April, 



Bufflcient area to contain space enough for the vege- 

 table garden, the finer fruits, and the lawn or pleas- 

 ure ground, all inclosed by a neat and substantial 

 fence well whitewashed or painted. There is no oc- 

 casion for subdividing this ground by division fences, 

 as is so generally done, but for which I think there 

 can be no apology. An upright grape trellis or a 

 green hedge, for concealment on the side of the vege- 

 table garden, towards the bouse, is at the most all 

 that is necessary. Too many fences, especially when 

 in close proximity to the house, always give a place 

 a mean and contracted appearance. The finer fruits, 

 such as pears, plums, apricots, filberts, persimmons, 

 etc., may be planted along the side and back part of 

 the ground ; while the more immediate surroundings 

 and the front should be devoted to ornamental plant- 

 ing or the pleasure ground. Here our first care will 

 be to secure a good thick set of grass, as the ground- 

 work of all rural beauty and adornment. Taking our 

 front yards, as we generally find them, with a soil 

 of a rich character, naturally productive of a good 

 turf, all that may be necessary is to give the surface 

 a good, thorough cleaning, filling up all the little 

 holes and inequalities with fine earth or pieces of 

 sod, making the surface as smooth and even as pos- 

 sible, and frequent clippings will give you the much- 

 admired "velvety lawn." A liberal top-dressing of 

 tobacco stalks in the fall and removed in the spring 

 will help the sod surprisingly, giving it that rich, 

 dark green appearance so pleasing to the eye. I 

 would advise but few walks, but those well made, 

 with sharp cut o<itlines. Dig a trench, eight or ten 

 inches deep, of the desired width, fill up with small 

 stones to within a few inches from the surface, not 

 forgetting to set up flat stones or brick along the 

 side to keep the grass from straggling over (which 

 always gives a place a slovenly appearance), and 

 dress off with gravel, and you will have a walk that 

 ■will always give satisfaction and last a lifetime with 

 very little repair. Flower-beds, like walks, should 

 be few in number, with outlines distinctly marked 

 and of medium size. The mixed arrangement of 

 plants is very beautiful from its variety and constant 

 succession of bloom, although fashion decrees to 

 plant in masses. With a few well-made beds, planted 

 with a batch of pansies and spring bulbs, some ever- 

 blooming roses, and a few exotics, the showy petu- 

 nias, a good admixture of geraniums, and a few 

 other annuals, we will have a continuous display of 

 flowers, ever-changing, giving us enjoyment and 

 interest throughout the whole season. 



Good taste and judgment should be exercised In 

 the selection and disposition of trees for the lawn. 

 None but the finest — those having the most desirable 

 characteristics, and are in good keeping with the 

 place, should be chosen. If the place is small, as 

 most country places are, large sized trees should be 

 entirely discarded. Among those of small and medi- 

 um size, and well adapted, are the flowering ash, 

 horse-chestnut, cork maple, Judas tree, the magno- 

 lias, salisburia, all very beautiful, and each one 

 possessing a characteristic of its own. These should 

 be disposed of according to nature's plan — in groups, 

 masses and single specimens. Straight or geometri- 

 cal lines in planting give a stiff and formal appear- 

 ance. Shrubs should be liberally introduced, no less 

 on account of their size than the beauty and abun- 

 dance of their flowers. These may be grouped with 

 good effect throughout the grounds ; the rarer and 

 finer ones being disposed about the dwelling. Open 

 seats of any simple construction are among the most 

 useful and convenient decorations for the pleasure 

 grounds. Situated in different portions of the yard, 

 beneath a leafy canopy, and at some distance from 

 the house, they always offer an inviting and agree- 

 able place for rest or repose. 



Where a suitable place can be found for its display, 

 rockwork, with its accompanying drapery of plants 

 and foliage, has a very beautiful and picturesque 

 effect, and will cost but little. A jet of water issuing 

 from it will brighten the eharm very much. 



This may be had without incurring much expense 

 If there is a natural source of water, or cistern on 

 the place, somewhat higher than the jet is to rise. 

 All that is necessary is to carry the pipes from the 

 source (under the ground to keep from freezing) to 

 the jet. In the absence of these cources of supply, 

 a miniature fountain may be constructed at very lit- 

 tle cost by placing a barrel, or other vessel, with 

 water at the required elevation as a reservoir, in a 

 secluded place among the bushes for concealment, 

 from which to draw our supply. This will feed a 

 small jet four or five hours, when it will have to be 

 replenished. Of course this is only intended to play 

 at intervals, as may be convenient or desiderable. 



In all our embellishments, by a great variety of 

 objects of interest, we must always seek to harmon- 

 ize them as a whole, in order to give that unity of 

 taste and expression which we so much admire in 

 any work of art. 



Now, my utilitarian brethren may say these im- 

 provements, producing such interesting and beauti- 

 ful results, will not only cost a great deal of labor 

 but also a large expenditure of money. True ; but 

 are we not more than compensated in the comfort 

 and pleasure derived, as also in the increased market 

 value of the place? Besides, profit should not be 

 the only consideration, at least not to those of us 



who desire to unite with our pursuit something to 

 gratify our taste, and to give a higher charm to our 

 occupation. 



In conclusion, I would say that whatever improve- 

 ments in adorning our homes are undertaken, 

 whether of the simplest kind or of a more stately 

 character, should be well done and carefully attend- 

 ed to afterwards. Neatness and order should char- 

 acterize every part, without which no place can in 

 reality be called a beautiful home. 



A number of members made remarks at the con- 

 clusion of the reading. Mr. Engle said it pleased 

 him very much, and if all our farmers would copy 

 after its suggestions, in five or ten years their homes 

 would present a very different aspect. 



Mb. Bollinger asked if tobacco stalks were good 

 for a lawn dressing, and was answered that they 

 were the best fertilizer for that purpose. 



Mb. Brosius thought it was not necessary to have 

 a grand home to make beautiful. Some of our most 

 humble homes are the most attractive by reason of 

 their beauty. 



Mb. Swabtz pronounced it a fine essay, hut the 

 essayist had omitted one thing necessary to secure 

 the beauty and comfort of a home — the location. In 

 traveling through the country we find so many fine 

 buildings built along streams, and in low, unhealthy 

 places. Now it would be far better to choose an 

 eminence on which to build, so as to escape malaria, 

 etc. 



Messrs. Engle, Reist, and other~members indorsed 

 Mr. Swartz's views, and a vote of thanks was given 

 to the essayist. 



One Hundred Bushels of Corn to an Acre. 



Mk. Bollingeb, to whom had been referred the 

 question, " How can a man raise a hundred bushels 

 of corn to the acre ?" answered as follows : 



In the first place, let us see how a man can't raise 

 a hundred bushels of corn per acre. He can't do it 

 by sitting around the tavern or at the corner grocery 

 talking politics ; he can't do it by being away from 

 home four or six days of each week ; neither can he 

 do it by being at home and sitting on the stool of 

 idleness reading newspapers, not even if he reads The 

 Lancasteb Farmer, or any other agricultural 

 paper. It has been asserted on this floor that every 

 farmer should be a scientist, a chemist, and should 

 know how to treat his land the same as a doctor does 

 his patient ; that it is time we get out of the old ruts 

 our fathers used to wagon in. Now let us picture to 

 our imagination one of those book farmers (or up- 

 starts, if you please ;) see him sitting on his great 

 arm chair smoking his cigarette, with the piccadilly 

 collar fresh starched, his shirt bosom ruffled up to 

 his chin. And a breastpin as highly galvanized as 

 the financial condition of his father-in-law will war- 

 rant. He is now thinking of preparing his ground 

 for corn ; he thinks he can get no better authority 

 than Horace Greeley on " What I know about Farm- 

 ing." He says from six to twelve cords of manure 

 and two hundred bushels of lime per acre is not too 

 much. He tells his hired man so, but his hiied 

 man, being a practical farmer, tells him that quantity 

 will not near cover all the ground he intends putting 

 in corn. Well, he then agrees on six cords and one 

 hundred bushels of lime. Next, as to tha plowing : 

 " Greeley says ' Plow deep and you will find somej 

 thing more valuable than gold, turn the sod well 

 under at an angle of about 45 degrees." The book 

 farmer is sure of a good crop of corn, because he is 

 following the directions of one of the best authorities 

 of the age. After he has finished hauling manure 

 and plowing, he receives the March number of The 

 Lancaster Fabmeb; there he sees Mr. Carter's 

 essay, and reads that he had no better results where 

 he applied manure than where none was applied 

 with advice to plow shallo/v. What! Who is this 

 Carter? Well, he has control of the State Experi- 

 mental Farm in Chester county, and what he says 

 ought to be good authority. He values manure at 

 six dollars per cord, and lime at fifteen dollars per 

 hundred. The farmer's hair begins to stand on end ; 

 he says six cords of manure costs ?:!6, one hundred 

 bushels of lime cost ^1.5, making fifty-one dollars. 

 Fifty bushels of corn is considered an average crop. 

 His corn would now cost him one dollar per bushel, 

 without counting cost for seed or labor. By this 

 time Mr. Kennedy has the floor; he says "feeding 

 corn into cattle don't pay ; a man fed 2U head, giving 

 40 bushels of corn to each animal, and he got one 

 hundred dollars more than first cost, or 12H cents 

 per bushel for hie corn, throwing rough feed and 

 labor in the bargain." Mr. Kurtz says " feeding 

 corn into cattle does pay," and he goes on to prove 

 it. Mr. Hoover thinks by going over the county he 

 can point out all the farms that cattle are fed on. 

 Mr. Hiller believes in commercial fertilizers By this 

 time all want the floor, and the curtain drops. 



Next I see my book farmer on the street a bank- 

 rupt, asking the suffrages of the voters to elect' him 

 to some lucrative county office, or to the Legislature, 

 to make laws for the people ; and let me just say, 

 that in too many such cases men are successful. 



Now, let me tell you, in a few words, how I think 

 one hundred bushels of corn can be raised on an 

 acre : First, by a judicious and liberal application 

 of lime and manure ; by a thorough cultivation of 



the soil ; by selecting good seed of a good variety 

 and having it equally distributed in rows or hills, I 

 care not which. My plan is to give a light coat 'of 

 manure and about 12.5 bushels of lime per acre • 

 plow most in the fall ; cultivate thoroughlv before 

 planting; plant in rows from 12 to 1.5 inches apart. 

 I have not had less than 60, and as high as 93 bush- 

 els of shelled corn per acre, as hauled from the field. 

 My opinion is, that all the rough feed and grain, ex- 

 cept wheat, should be fed into stock and converted 

 into manure for the farm, if we want to make farm- 

 ing pay. Why is it that Lancaster county stands 

 first as an agricultural county? My answer is, because 

 there are more steers fed here than in any other 

 county in the State. Why do we hear the cry on 

 every hand that farming don't pay ? Is it because the 

 earth refuses to return her increase ? I answer, no ! 

 Is it because our products are worthless ? No ! We 

 raise as much grain and get better prices for the 

 same than our fathers did, and they made money 

 and got rich. If we have nothing left at the end of 

 the year the fault lies with us ; we live too extrava- 

 gantly. I have, perltap.s, wearied your patience, for 

 which I crave your indulgence. 



MR.HiLLEBsaidhe lived inConestoga,the poorest 

 part of the county, aud they raised 80 bushels of 

 corn to the acrj. All that is wanted is plenty of 

 stable manure and lime. But the trouble is that you 

 can't buy manure at any price. If it could be bought 

 it would cost about $40 to manure one acre, and it 

 would be profitable to do it ; not for the corn, but for 

 the succeeding crops. Did not see why one hundred 

 bushels could not be raised to the acre. 



Mr. Groff agreed with Mr. Hiller. If we do our 

 duty it is easy to raise the required one hundred 

 bushels. We should try to raise a quart of corn 

 from every 3i< feet of ground which would make 111 

 bushels to the acre. 



Mr. Levi S. Reist thought Lancaster was not a 

 corn-growing county, and he did not believe there 

 was a single farm that could produce one hundred 

 bushels to the acre. 



The question was further discussed by Messrs. 

 Brosius, Miller and Witmer. 



" Shall we continue to grow the apple, and to 

 what extent?" was continued until next meeting. 

 New Business. 



Mr. Levi W. GroS's invitation to the society to 

 visit his farm was considered, and, on motion, a 

 committee appointed to do so, as follows : M. D. 

 Kendig, H. M. Engle, Jos. F. Witmer, Jacob Bol- 

 linger, Peter S. Reist, Wm. McComsey. 



A bill for chairs amounting to 8^-30 was presented 

 and ordered to be paid. 



Business for Next Meeting. 



" What is the best time to cut grass for hay ?" 

 H. M. Engle. 



" Root crops," by Calvin Cooper. 



American Silk Worm Moth. 



Henry Kurtz presented a moth on which Prof. 

 Rathvon delivered the following opinion : 



The moth is the Samia eecropia, or great "Ameri- 

 can Silkworm Moth ." The larva feeds on the foliage 

 of the apple, pear, plum, and some others, but 

 mainly on these three ; it, however, never becomes 

 very numerous. Towards autumn the larva spins a 

 very large, light-brown, oblong silky cocoon, usually 

 on a twig, or the stem of tall weeds in secluded 

 places. If we have any native silk-spinning moth 

 that might be utilized, it is this species. Europeans 

 have been experimenting with it, but so far with only 

 indifl'erent success. Adjourned. 



TOBACCO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



The Tobacco Growers' Association of Lancaster 

 county met on Monday afternoon, March 17th, at 2 

 o'clock, in the Athen;eum rooms. The following 

 members were present : Messrs. M. D. Kendig, 

 Manor ; Webster L. Hershey, EastHempfield ; Wash- 

 ington L. Hershey, Rapho; J. Ilartman Hershey, 

 Rohrerstown ; J. Hoffman Hershey, West Hemp- 

 field ; Sylvester Kcnnedj', Salisbury ; J. M. John- 

 ston, city ; W. D. Hoar, Salisbury ; Henry Shiffner, 

 Upper Leacoek; I. L. Landis, Manheim ; Henry 

 Mayer, East Hempfleld ; A. H. Yeager, East Lam- 

 peter ; F. R. Diffendcrffer, city; John Brady, Mil- 

 lersville ; J. M. Frantz, Lancaster township ; Simon 

 Hershey, West Hempfield ; Christian Shank, Salis- 

 bury ; J. G. Rush, Willow Street ; C. Carpenter, city. 



The reading of the minutes was, on motion, dis- 

 pensed with. 



Mk. Kennedy announced that the Visiting Com- 

 mittee would be ready to report at three o'clock. 



Reports on Crops. 



Mr. Kennedy s.aid thiit a few buyers had visited 

 his section, all of whom had offered low prices for 

 the tobacco, which the farmers concluded to take 

 rather than keep their crop on hand. 



Mr. Landis said that in his section very little to- 

 bacco was selling, and what was sold brought very 

 low prices. A neighbor told him of a lot that sold 

 as low as 2 and 4. The highest price paid was 13 

 cents. 



Mr. J. HoprMAN Hershey, of Salunga, said there 



