28 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[ February, 



keep abreast with the times. Therefore the farmer 

 who refuses to allow his sods to be educated is acting 

 unwisely if not unkindly. 



In conclusion, he advised the farmer to stick to 

 his farming and to love it. To be enterprising and 

 strive to improve his methods. 



On motion of Henry M. Engle, a vote of thanks 

 was tendered to the lecturer. 



Mr. Kendig asked if the lecturer would advise the 

 application of lime and manure at the same time, 

 and received a negative answer. 



Mr. Linville d tiered with the lecturer in regard to 

 the education of farmers. Education does not cease 

 when ihe school is abandoned. No class has a better 

 chance than the farmer for self-education. The long 

 winters are profitably spent by some, and he don't 

 see why it could not be done by all. 

 The Fair Question. 



The report of the committee appointed to con- 

 sider the question of holding a fair was called for, 

 but Mr. Smeych stated that none had been prepared, 

 tb the comittee had not met at the appointed time. 

 For his part, he had come to the conclusion that 

 nothing but an indoor fair could be held. The 

 Northern Market would be a good place, and it should 

 last three days. 



Mr. Kendig stated, thatas Berks county has always 

 had successful fairs, he had written to the secretary 

 of the Berks County Agricultural Society, Cyrus D. 

 Fox, in relation thereto, and had received a letter 

 from that gentleman, which he read. The letter 

 warmly advocated fairs as being to the interest of 

 farmers, and said their fairs had advanced the agri- 

 cultural interests in Berks county. 



Mr. Engle, in his travels, had made inquiries in 

 relation to fairs, and found that the Berks and York 

 fairs were both successful. There was probably a 

 little loss, but they were called successes. But before 

 talking further about fairs he wished to know how 

 the society was to get grounds to hold a fair. All 

 know that they have no grounds, and hence must 

 rent. It is not at all certain that the Park grounds 

 can be procured— in fact it is rather doubtful. If 

 they are notprocuralile the fair is out of the question. 

 Not that the farmers of Lancaster county are not 

 rich enough to buy grounds, but they won't do it. A 

 fair could be held in the Northern Market House, 

 but it would be a small affair for the garden county 

 of the State in comparison to those held by York 

 and Berks. 



Johnson Miller had sent in a communication, 

 which was read. He thought it was a shame that 

 no large fair had been held since 18.58, excepting the 

 State fair, and that might have been better. This 

 fair should be a grand one. He advocated the use 

 ofthe Market House. 



Mr. Calder thought that to hear of a little experi- 

 ence a party of men in Centre county had would in- 

 struct the society. They wanted to execute a work 

 that would cost ?1 ,000 and thought they had better 

 be incorporated. They made application for a char- 

 ter, asking permission to issue ?1,000 worth of stock 

 and their expenses were not more than §20. They 

 put the stock at five dollars per share, and in a very 

 short time it was all taken. The merchants here, no 

 doubt, would subscribe the money needed if they 

 understood that the farmers wanted to have a fair. 



Mr. Witmer told of the experience of the Berks 

 AgricuUural Society as related by a member. In 

 the first place they secured grounds for the nominal 

 sum of ?1 a year for 99 years. Then they sold life 

 tickets for $10 each and raised money to erect build- 

 ings, etc. It had occurcd to the speaker that a 

 vacant place near the city could be secured the same 

 way. But it is not necessary that the fair be held in 

 Lancaster ; if some of the boroughs otfer better 

 inducements, they ought to be accepted. 



Mr. Kurtz knew of a number of hotel keepers 

 who would give §50 to $100 if a fair were held in 

 this city, as they could make five times that amount 

 from it. 



Mr. Witmer thought it would not do to sell too 

 much stock in the city. If merchants got a majority 

 of the stock they would run the fair to suit them- 

 selves and leave the farmers out in the cold. 



Mr. Engle moved that the society hold a fair next 

 fall, and his motion was unanimously carried. 

 Charter Wanted. 



President Cooper suggested that, in order to carry 

 out Mr. Engle's motion, the society should procure a 

 charter and permission to sell stock, and by that 

 means raise money. 



A motion was made that the society apply for a 

 charter, which was carried. 



The Amount of Stock. 



The next question was the amount of stock they 

 desired to issue, and on motion of Mr. Engle ?3,000 

 was fixed upon. 



Mr. Kurtz moved that the shares be fixed at ?.5. 

 Agreed to. 



Profit of Raising Fowls. 



The secretary read a report on a year's experiment 

 with fowls, prepared by Casper Hiller. (Seepage 20.) 



Mr. Calder said he liked the report very much. He 

 believed chickens should have a place into which 

 they could be turned, and it would be an advantage 

 to turn them into an orchard. His plan, as his ac- I 



comraodations are limited, is to keep the chickens in 

 the yard from the first of May until the latter part 

 of October, when he let them run through the or- 

 chard, strawberry patch, vineyard, etc. That was a 

 very encouraging report. Though not large there 

 was yet a net income. 



Mr. Witmer reported, as directed, that the Poultry 

 Association asked the co-operation of the Agricul- 

 tural Society. 



The Curculio. 



Mr. Reist introduced the subject of insects, and 

 stated, as his opinion, that the borer and others in- 

 creased in numbers as the forests decreased. 



Mr. Engle stated that he had recently discovered 

 that the forest is the homo of the curculio. He and 

 a friend had planned an apple and peach orchard on 

 the river hills, on ground surrounded by trees, and 

 was surprised at the numbers of this insect which 

 attacked the trees. But afterwards he learned, from 

 Dr. Rathvon, that the forest was the home of the 

 curculio, and he had taken trees right to them. 

 Grapes. 



Mr. Smeych exhibited some bunches of Almiera 

 grapes, and related his experience ingrowing foreign 

 grapes of all kinds, which agents said would grow 

 here as well as in their native'eountries. This is not 

 true, as he could prove, and the proper place for 

 such men was in jail. 



Bills. 



A bill for coal, §2.25, another for carrying it up 

 stairs, .50 cents, and a third of $10 for Mr. Calder's 

 expenses were presented and ordered to be paid. 

 Prize Essays. 



Mr. Engle thought more prize essays should be 

 written, and volunteered to write one. Messrs. 

 Kurtz and Brosius also ofl'ered to do so, the essays to 

 be ready by next month. 



Mr. Calder was proposed and unanimously elected 

 an honorary member, and thanked the society for 

 the honor conferred. Adjourned. 



TOBACCO GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



Monday afternoon, January 20th, was the regular 

 time for holding the meeting of the Tobacco Growers' 

 Association. It was understood at the last meeting 

 that the present one would determine whether the 

 society should be continued or be finally disbanded. 

 Under these circumstances it was hoped and believed 

 that there would be a good attendance, but the same 

 disappointment that has so long been the portion of 

 the few who have regularly met and attempted to 

 keep alive some interest in the meetings of the organi- 

 zation was again theirs. 



Only eight members and visitors were present, 

 namely: M. D. Kendig, President, Manor; Peter S. 

 Reist, Litiz; Sylvester Kennedy, Salisbury; A. H. 

 Yeager, East Lampeter ; Linnaeus Reist, JManheim ; 

 Clare Carpenter, Lancaster ; Frank R. Diffenderffer, 

 Lancaster ; Jacob Kendig, Silver Spring. 



In consequence of the slim attendance it was not 

 thought necessary to go through the formality of 

 calling the society to order, but Peter S. Reist, who 

 had prepared an essay on the culture of tobacco, pro- 

 ceeded to read it. See page 19. 



After the teading of the essay those present in- 

 dulged in trade gossip awhile longer, and also can- 

 vassed the propriety of continuing the meetings. The 

 conclusion reached was that during the past so 

 little interest has been shown by tobacco growers in 

 these monthly gatherings that it seemed useless for 

 the few who still clung to the organization to en- 

 deavor to keep it up any longer. The association was 

 not finally disbanded, but it was understood that 

 probably one more meeting held, at the the Presi- 

 dent's call, would end EO much of the Tobacco Grow- 

 ers' Association as still held together. 



This, therefore, may be regarded as the winding 

 up of an organization which has been of vast benefit 

 to the tobacco growing interests of this county. 

 Among its members were the most successful grow- 

 ers of the weed among us. The amount of informa- 

 tion disseminated among our farmers on tobacco cul- 

 ture can he seen in the advanced condition tobacco 

 growing now holds in Lancaster county. The dis- 

 cussions were always interesting and profitable, and 

 the tobacco growers have done themselves little 

 credit in permitting it to go down. 



During the brief period of twenty-five years to- 

 bacco growing has assumed enormous proportions in 

 this county. The amount of money it brings to our 

 farmers exceeds that they receive for their wheat 

 crop, reaching in favorable seasons the enormous 

 sum of two millions of dollars or more. It has been 

 said, and truthfully, that the culture of tobacco has 

 done more to put the farmers of this county in their 

 present strong financial condition than any other 

 crop they have grown. Hundreds of men have paid 

 off heavy incumbrances, and others have gained 

 comfortable homes for themselves through this crop. 

 It has, in short, enriched the county to an extent few 

 are aware of, and yet yesterday's proceedings show 

 that there is not enough Interest among'tobacco 

 farmers to keep the society especially devoted to the 

 advancement of this great and growing crop from 

 disbanding. We are not proud of the record our 

 Lancaster county farmers have made for themselves 

 in this matter. I 



POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Poultry Association met on Monday morning, 

 February 3rd, at the usual time, in the oid Athens- 

 um rooms, in the City Hall. President Tobias called 

 the meeting to order, with the following members 

 and visitors present : Rev. D. C. Tobias, Litiz ; Frank 



B. Buch, Litiz ; W. J. Kafroth, West Earl ; John A. 

 Reed, city ; Joseph F. Witmer, Paradise ; J. A. Buch, 

 Litiz; II. H. Tshudy, Litiz; Chas. E. Long, city ; J. 



C. Linville, Salisbury; J. M. Johnston, city; F. R. 

 Diffenderfl'er, city; Clare Carpenter, city; J. B. 

 Lichty, city; Charles Lippold, city ; Colin Cameron, 

 Brickerville, A. H. Shreiner, Manheim ; Harrj 

 Hirsh, city; John C. Burrowes, city ; D. M. Brosey, 

 Manheim ; T. D. Martin, New Haven ; John B. Eshle- 

 mau, Ephrata ; N. M. Hahn, Manheim ; Eli J. Barr, 

 Litiz; Hon. Amos H. Mylin, West Lampeter; 

 John S. Rohrer, city; Simon P. Eby, city; Charles 

 White, city; William Dean, city: Samuel Hess, 

 city; Christian Rine, city ; Jacob M. Mayer, Man- 

 heim; Silas M. Warfel, Strasburg ; Christian Lint- 

 ner. Manor; Henry Nissley, Columbia; John S. 

 Hostetter, Oregon ; Hon. John B. Livingston, city; 

 William Bishop, Strasburg, and S. Matt. Fridy, 

 Mountville, were unanimously elected memberi of 



the! 



ety. 



Charles E. Long moved that postal cards be sent 

 to each of these men just elected notifying them of 

 their election, and that all moneys be paid to J. B. 

 Lichty, at his oflice in Centre Square, or at the next 

 meeting. Carried. 



On motion, a committee of three, Charles E. Long, 

 F. R. DifTenderffer and John A. Reed, was appointed 

 to ascertain the probable cost of having the Consti- 

 tution and By-Laws of the society published. 



The rules were suspended to allow the election of 

 John C. Linville, Gap, as a member. 



H. H. Tshudy moved that a committee of three 

 members, who are also members of the Agricultural 

 and Horticultural Society, be appointed to bring this 

 association to the attention of that society, asking 

 them to encourage it by becoming members, etc. 

 The motion was carried, and John C. Linville, W. J. 

 Katfrotli and J. F. Witmer were appointed. 



H. H. Tshudy, chairman of the Executive Com- 

 mittee, presented two bills, one from the iVew Era 

 olHce for printing postal cards, 75 cents, and the 

 other from J. B.' Lichty for postage, $1.20. Both 

 were referred to be paid. 



Colin Cameron proposed the following questions 

 for discussion at the next meeting : 



" What is a rapid cure for chicken cholera?" Re- 

 ferred to Charles E. Long. 



" Will chickens do well on board floors, without 

 sunlight ?" Referred to John A. Reed. 



"What is the farmer's best barnyard fowl?" 

 Referred to 11. H. Tshudy. 



"What must bens that are confined absolutely 

 have in order that they may produce eggs?" Re- 

 ferred to Kcv. D. C.Tobias. 



Jos. F. Wilmcr suggested that it would be well if 

 at each meeting questions were chosen for discussion 

 at the next meeJng, and moved that a committee be 

 appointed to whom this duty shall be assigned. The 

 motion was carried, and the committee will be an- 

 nounced at Ihe next meeting. 



Adjourned. 



WARWICK FARMERS' CLUB. 



A meeting of citizens of Warwick township was 

 held at the house of John Grossman, of said town- 

 ship, for the purpose of organizing a Local Farmers' 

 Club. Jfcmtiers present, Urias Carpenter, Jacob 

 Bollinger, .John Iluber, Henry Hubcr, Isaac George, 

 Michael Behraer, Peter Volleiizer, Johu Grossman, 

 Aar .n Grcsinan, Moses Grossman, Mrs. Carpenter 

 and Mrs. (linesman. The meetingwas organized by 

 electing l'iia.s Carpenter President, and Jacob 



On taking the chair Mn. Carpenter stated the 

 object of the meeting, and added that farmers liave 

 less jirotection than any other class of men ; that we 

 proposed to meet for the pur,,ose of exchanging 

 ideas on matters relating to our interests and making 

 agricultural experiments. He spoke at some length 

 upon the importance of such associations as we de- 

 sired to organize, and the benefits derived from tliem. 



Mr. Huber, of Litiz, spoke of the good efi'ects of 

 farmers' clubs in other localities, and that wc were 

 behind our sister counties in that respect. 



Mr. Grossman said that millers, tobacco specula- 

 tors and other business men have their society meet- 

 ings, and why should not also the farmers have their 

 local club meetings ? 



Mr. Grossman read a lengthy essay on orchards, 

 and also one on fence-making on the farm. (See 

 pages 18 and 20.) A vote of thanks was passed to 

 Mr. G. for his interesting and instructive essays. 



Mr. Huber and others made remarks on the essays. 



After the close of the discussion it was proposed to 

 meet at the house of John Grossman, of Warwick 

 township, at 1 o'clock p. m., on Saturday, February 

 Ist, 1879. All farmers and those interested in .agri- 

 culture are respectfully invited to attend. 



After some social, neighborly intercourse the club 

 adjourned. 



I 



