1878.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



i07 



composition of ;isli of the croj), and tlie i)er- 

 centage by wpiglit of oacli species of grass uiul 

 other plants in tlio mixed herbage accurately 

 determined. 



It is impossible in any reasonabI(> limits of 

 space to follow the details of those most im- 

 portant an<l interestinj; e.xperiments which it 

 has reqnired so many years to carry out, not 

 even if we conline onrselves to a sinf^le 

 example like the t)ne selected. But we can 

 say in general that the most important results 

 oiitaincd at Kothamsted by the treatment of 

 the grass crops are as follows : No single fer- 

 tilizer, whether mineral or organic, is capable 

 of producing the highest attainable production 

 of hay ; that barn-yard manure alone will 

 carry the production only to a certain point, 

 where it remains stationary at about half tlie 

 maximum attaineil by mineral manures alone, 

 as in the example just cited above. This 

 maximum for barn-yard manure alone is about 

 4il hundred weight of hay per acre. The old 

 notion that a certain amount of humus, or 

 decomposing organic mattor, is esscwitial to 

 enable plants to assimilate carbon is an error, 

 since the highest results attained have been 

 reached and maintained steadily without a 

 particle of carbonaceous substance added to 

 the soil. Nitrogen, the most essential element 

 of fertility, perhaps, for both cereals and 

 grasses, is supplied most readily Ijy the use of 

 ammoniaeal salts, but its highest effects are 

 not attainable liy the use of such salts alone, 

 since the effect of such nitrogenous fertilizers 

 is much enhanced by the u.se of silicate of 

 soda ; and ammoniaeal salts alone do not 

 effect the same results which are attained 

 when they are used in connection with certain 

 alkaline salts, whether sulphates or nitrates. 

 The same or a larger amount of nitrogen in 

 the form of nitrate of soda or potassa fails 

 signally to promote, on grass land, the pro- 

 duction attained by the use of the sulphates of 

 the same alkaline ba.ses when ammoniaeal 

 salts are used as the source of the nitrogen. 

 The question of whether plants can assimilate 

 directly free or uncombined nitrogen was 

 carefully investigated at Rothamsteil by our 

 lamented countryman. Dr. Evan Pugh, many 

 years since, and was decided in the negative. 

 Dr. I'ugh's memory is tenderly cherished in 

 the place where he worked so long and so well. 

 The wheat held called " ]5roadbulk," of 

 about thirteen acres, offers a most instructive 

 and interesting study, as we. saw it on the Sth 

 of June, under the guidance of Messrs. Lawes 

 and Gilbert. It needed no skill to see the im- 

 mense disparity between the several plots of 

 grjvin growing side by side and uniler treat- 

 ment for over a (puu'ter ©fa century by dilt'cr- 

 ent fertilizers. It is notable that this old Held 

 upon the English chalk, left munanured con- 

 tinuously for the whole period of time of these 

 experiments (there are two such plots upon it), 

 yields an average of 14 bushels of wheat per 

 acre, and this is just about the average of the 

 unmanured wheat lands of the United States ; 

 the total wheat lands with us averaging, if we 

 do not mistake, about l-") bushels to the acre. 

 At Kothamsted each plot of these I:i acres lias 

 its own \mder-drain and has been subject all 

 these years to a separate and distinct treat- 

 ment. The results are most instructive and 

 worthy of carefid study. IMany cherished 

 notions of certain theorists an^ completely de- 

 molished by the quiet logic; of facts, while 

 others are conlirmed. Thus It tons per acre 

 of farm-yard manure have raised the average 

 yield of this land from 11 to ;i." bushels of 

 wheat to the acre. The addition of -JOO pounds 

 of sulphate of potassa, liil) jiounds each of 

 sulphate of soda and magnesia and of .Ti 

 hundred weight of superiihosphate of lime 

 resulted in raising tlu! average yield of this 

 land to only 10 liushels to the acre, a result 

 quite insignilicant. and discouraging, it would 

 seem, to agricultural chemistry. But the one 

 clement of success was wanting, namely, am- 

 monia, and consequently we lind when tins is 

 added to the same mixture just emnnerated, 

 in quantity of 200, 400 and GOO pounds re- 

 spectively of ammonia salts, there was an in- 

 crease of yield to 25g, 34^ and 37^ bushels of 



wheat respectively. That it was the nitrogen 

 of the ammonia which did the wiu-k was most 

 evident, since it appeared when an equivalent 

 (piantity of nilrogen was used in the form of 

 nitrate of soda in place of the aunnonia there 

 was almost an identical maxinnnu yield of 

 wheat, all lUber things remaining iiuite the 

 same. Xor was it suMicienl to use the am- 

 monia salts alone, for then the best result at- 

 tained was the iiroduction of under 22 bushels 

 of wheat. Even the addition of the super- 

 phosiihate to t he aunnonia salts raised the pro- 

 duct oidy to -jT I bushels, and it is clear from 

 all the expel imenls that a condjination of 

 mineral manure with superphosphate; of lime 

 and ammoniaeal salts is essential to the produc- 

 tion of tlu; highest condition of fertility. 



Careful laboratory work follows all these 

 exiieriments. The anunonia in the rainfall 

 and in the drainage water is carefully de- 

 termined, ami the soil, as well as the ash of 

 the plants, is analyzed in an exhaustive man- 

 ner to obtain all the data needful to discuss 

 tlie results, and to determine likewise the 

 (luestions relating to the value of the products 

 for the fattening of cattle and other animals. 



Time fails to recount the expca'iments with 

 oats, with barley, and a most curious series 

 with leguminous crops and with red clover, 

 nor can we review at present the results with 

 potatoes and with root cnqis. 



It remains also to consider the results ob- 

 tained in the fattening of animals, but these 

 must form the suVijeet of another letter. 



Such an example of self-sustained, pains- 

 taking, persistent, intelligent use of scientific 

 investigation applied to the solution of pro- 

 blems of such practical moment to the most 

 important of all human industries is, wo be- 

 lieve, without a i>arallel, and while these ex- 

 periments are familiar to most agricultural 

 chemists they are comparatively little known 

 to the great mass of intelligent readers. 



Mr. Lawes has shown his real regard for the 

 welfare of his farm-laborers an<l tenants by 

 his efforts to promote their ha]>piness in vari- 

 ous ways. We chanced to be with him on 

 occasion of the anniversary of bis allotment 

 system, when all the tenants, to the nmnber 

 of about one hundred and sixty, were assem- 

 bled to partake of an entertainment provided 

 for them under a tent. We may take occa- 

 sion to recur to this again as an interesting 

 example of a .social experiment looking to the 

 amelioration of the working classes. — ]}. 

 SilUman. 



THE MILLERS' CONVENTION. 



Tlie I'l'iinsylvaniii Millers' State Association field 

 its soeomf convention in Reaifing on Tuesduy, 'luly 9. 

 Tlie followinsr persons, among otlicrs, were present : 



Charles A. Minor, Presiilent, of Wilkes-Barre ; A. 

 '/.. Selioeli, Secretary, of Sclinsijrove ; Sacecr liros., 

 AUentown ; Jolin IJarnitz, Mt. Holly, l.aneastcr 

 county ; S. 'A. llawbecker, Williamson, l'"ranklin 

 connty ; Stein it Troufrh, I'oltsville; Frock it Co., 

 Millorshurg, Daiipliln county ; Isaac .\I. Thomas & 

 Co., Wilkos-Barre ; Schoch Bros., Selinscrove ; 

 Hancock & Co., Wilkes-Harrc ; Lewis IJuchler, 

 Tamaqua ; C. Burkhart, Chamlierslniri; ; .1. II. 

 Gehry, ('atawissa ; f. A. and S. Small, York ; Dun- 

 can, Hale it CIo., f'hillipsbuic: ; H. F. F.isenbury, 

 Ilunlinsdoii; Maiinina: it Co., Bijr Sprinirs, Cumlicr- 

 laud county; S. (i. Luck, Hanover; S. (i. Earl, 

 Heailin;; ; John McFarlan, Watsonlown ; William 

 Younger, Catasauqua ; Daniel She]i[), Tamaqua ; A. 

 B. Sprcnkel, Wrichtsville; .Jacob F. Newman, Bed- 

 ford ; T. M. Beds, Scraiiton. 



fVnniiVlvania is an cxionsivc manufacturer of 

 tlouriiiir and irrist mill products. At the last cen»us 

 there wore 2,'.tS."i millini; establishments within our 

 borders, ."iTi of them were run by engines aggrega- 

 ting i;!,7.'i:i horse power ; and ;f,'iSO mills were oper- 

 ated by water wheels of 60,r.'2 horse-iiowiT. There 

 were at that time fi,4'27 persons em|iloycd In the 

 business, of which 0,400 were males above the age of 

 sixteen years, 4 were females above the age of (Iftecn 

 years, aiid l^Myouths. The capital Invested amounted 

 to $2(l,.'iy:i,0-0, and these mills paid annually in 

 w.ages ?l,27.S,14fi, consumed ?4f ,7ii:i,35.S worth of 

 material, and their eonibined product was?49,47ti,'i4.5. 



The subjects considered were improved machinery. 

 Insurance, transportation, the grading and inspection 

 of grain, etc. In theclieapeningof milling machinery, 

 special reference is being had to the Cochran patent 

 on purifying the product of mills liy the lilast pro- 

 cess. Mr. Cochran is a resident of Harper's Ferry, 

 and he has brought suit in a number of States, and 

 threatena Pennsylvania to something like ?S,000 for 



every run of burrs In each mill where his claimed 

 inventions arc used, wlielher in connection with 

 other patents or in till' most primitive mills. This 

 claim is grounded on a I'nited States Court decision, 

 which was obtained liy Mr. Cochran In a suit where- 

 in the party sufd, throtu:li Ignorance or Indillcrenep, 

 made no dclcnse. In other Stales where there arc 

 millers' associations each momln-r has boon atsossed 

 ^'i.'), and to save a much larger individual loss In 

 I'ennsylvania the millers today were apijoaled to to 

 come to time in the assoiialion and form a common 

 pool to light a prospective conunon enemy to millers 

 in this country. Tlie members of the convention arc 

 about to relicl againnt the rates of insurance exacted 

 by stoik companies, and a step was taken to-day 

 towards the formation of a millers' mutual (ire In- 

 surance company for I'ennsylvania, the millers of 

 the assciciatioM lo encourage the Nali<inal Insurance 

 Company ol Millers, located somewhere In Hie West, 

 until Hie new home company Is uniler way. A lively 

 dl.scusslon was had on the least quantity of wheat 

 for a barrel of extra Hour, but the opinions were as 

 niinierous as the speakers. The meeting adjourned 

 last evening, to hold the next convention at Lancas- 

 ter In .January, fS79. 



OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



Proceedings of the Lancaster County Agricul- 

 tural and Horticultural Society. 



Tne regular monthly meeting ftf the Lancaster 

 County Agricultural and Horticultural Society met 

 on Monday afternoon, .July 1st, in their newly fitted 

 up room, on the third lloor of the City Hall. The 

 room has been handsomely jiapcred and undergone a 

 geiKTal overhauling, and now is a very iuviling place 

 for the society to hold its meetings. 



The following members and visitors were present : 

 Calvin Cooper, l*resident, Bird-in-Hand ; H. M. 

 Engle, Marietta; Dr. S. 8. Hathvon, city; Daniel 

 Snieych, city ; S. P. Kliy, city ; I'etcr S. Heist, Liliz ; 

 .J. M. Johnston, city; W. W. (Jriest, city; Clare 

 Car|ientcr, city ; F. K. Diffenderlfcr, city ; Win. Mc- 

 Comsey, city ;" A. B. Crolt, West Earl; D. W. Bol- 

 linger, Warwick; John B. Erb, .Strasburg ; Levi S. 

 Heist, Oregon; David (ircybill, Petersburg; A. F. 

 Hostettcr, Oregon; I'^phraim Hoover, Ma'nhefm ; C. 

 L. Huiisecker, Atanlieim. 



The meeting was called lo order by Iho PreBldent, 

 Calvin Cooper, Esq. 



In the absence of the regular secretary, on motion, 

 F. H. Diflendcrlfer was nominated and elected secre- 

 tary pro teni. 



S. I'. Eby, Esq., to whom was entrusteil the fixing 

 upof the meeting room, made his ro|x)rt. On motion, 

 action on the report was laid over until next meeting. 



The above action was reconsidered and a motion 

 to pay the bills incurred made and carried. 



Report of Committees. 



President Cooper, as one of the committee ap- 

 pointcil at the last niccting of the society to inspect 

 Levi W. (irotr's wheat, reported that the committee 

 visited Mr. (iroff's place, and fully endorsed the let- 

 ter's method. He had no doubt It will pay, and pay 

 handsomely, to cultivate wheat. He is satisllcd it 

 will increase the yield, and produce a stronger, 

 straigliter and taller stem. The liclds, he thinks, 

 will yield from +o to 4.") bushels per acre. He thinks 

 cultivation retards the ripening of the crop; it is 

 greener than any other he saw that day. Earlier 

 varieties will have to be pUnted if this melhral is 

 used. 



W. McComsey nas also one of the committee. He 

 thought the advantages of cultivating the wheat 

 crop are beyond all doubt. He thinks the system re- 

 tards the maturity ol the iTop. It was more uniform 

 than any he ever saw. and also longer in the straw, 

 exceeding the uncultivated by far in this particular, 

 and also in having longer heads. He believed earlier 

 Tarictlcs should be sown, or else the usual varieties 

 be sown earliir. If rust had not attmked the crop, 

 till' yield would have been still greater. The danger 

 froin rust is increased by its slow maturing, and this 

 fact should also Induce the planting of early varieties. 

 He believed in a less favorable season the advantages 

 of cultivation would have been still more apparent 

 than they are as seen to-day on Mr. Grotrs farm. 



H..M. Engle endorsed whatihe other gentlemen hail 

 said. He believed there Is a slight retardation In 

 cultivated wheat. He has found such lo be the case 

 in experiments tried by himself. He did not tiellevo 

 in sowing earlier. By that plan you arc apt to Iw 

 attackeifby the Hessian fiy. Late ripening Is no 

 great disadvantage. Slow ripening gives us a finer, 

 plumper grain, and this he believed is secured by 

 cultivation, as the ground retains moisture better. 

 Early wheat is the safest to grow, other things being 

 equal. All the wheat ripens more slowly this year 

 than usual, because of the cool season. With such 

 weather as has prevailed during the past few days 

 all will ripen early enough. 



Reports of Standing Committees. 



II. M. Engic said crops all promise well : there arc 

 no indications of a contrary kind ; the wheat crop Is 

 probsbly the largest ever harvested In this State. 



