THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



43 



:i;i 1 tlie boys reading these would become Interested 

 in I heir father's work aud follow In their steps, 

 tarniiug, lu his opinion, Is far ahead of any other 

 business, and It should be made attractive. Here, in 

 Lancaster county, the garden spot, there should be a 

 well-organized agricultural society, but from what 

 he had heard he believed the society's affairs were 

 not in good condition. There was no reason for this. 



Speaking of fairs, he said a fair without ahorse 

 race was like a circus without a clown. Over In 

 Berks county they award high premiums to horses, 

 and raise the money by charging admission fee when 

 the horses are entered ; also, a fee for the spectators. 



He touched on the growing of tobacco and the 

 success of Lancaster farmers In this branch of agri- 

 culture. Berks county farmers have not learned 

 how to raise it yet. He thought truck farming 

 would be profitable in this county. He gave as a 

 reason for the failure of stock-raising In this part of 

 Stale, that the Western men could raise it so much 

 cheaper, and then send their poor stock here, selling 

 It at the lowest rates. Farmers here, therefore, 

 must raise cropi that the Western people cannot 

 send 80 long a distance, truck, fruit, etc. Our fruit, 

 of course, cannot compare with that of California, 

 but we need have no fear of competition from that 

 quarter. We should raise truck, tobacco or fruit ; 

 the latter Is not only a great luxury, but it is very 

 profitable. 



Mr. Engle said he was much pleased with the gen- 

 tleman's remarks, which, though rambling, were in- 

 teresting. He rightly said that we must raise a 

 greater variety of products, and not depend on the 

 cereals alone. 



Judge Stitzel then spoke of the offer of the Berks 

 County Agricultural Society of a premium to the 

 planter of the largest number of trees. The money 

 ■was voted in 1875, and he was on the committee to 

 award the premiums and form the rules. This pre- 

 mium caused at least 50,000 trees to be planted in 

 the county. He thought the money was well ex- 

 pended. They also offered a premium for the best 

 cultivated orchard . Before It was offered the orchards 

 were, in a majority of cases, in a bad condition, but 

 the premium made them stir around aud the im- 

 provement was wonderful. He thought if Lancas- 

 ter county farmers would offer a premium the county 

 would be benefiied, as was Berks county. 



A. F. Hostetter, of Oregon, stated that at the 

 meeting of the Berks County Society Judge Stitzel 

 had read an essay on "Houses for Preserving Fruit," 

 and he wished that the gentleman would repeat the 

 principal items of it. 



In response to this request Judge Stitzel related, 

 shortly, their method of preserving fruit. They 

 constructed refrigerators or fruit-houses, which men 

 raising fruit should club togcthar and erect. They 

 are built two stories high, of frame, with ice over 

 the top and in the sides. 'The story above should be 

 six or eight feet high with a little story above that 

 for ventilation. The fiue is ruu through from the 

 first to the second story, and the temperature should 

 be regulated by a valve. The fruit is stored in boxes, 

 should be gathered early and put in the ice house at 

 once. He has Kambo apples now, which are as 

 fresh as when picked. Cider, oranges, lemons and 

 eggs can be kept fresh in these houses the same as 

 fruit. There are varieties of apples that will keep in 

 the cellar that will not kiep in the fruit house, but 

 the majority of winter apples will keep well. 



Mr. Engle said that If Lancaster county did not 

 look out it would lose its right to the name of the 

 garden county, and simply from want of enterprise. 

 He had long since proposed the building of fruit 

 houses, but none were ever put up. 



A vote of thanks was extended to Judge Stitzel for 

 bis instructive remarks. 



The Society's Charter. 



Mr. Eby presented a draft of a charter for the 

 society, which he proposed to submit to the Court. 

 Its provisions were in accordance with the resolutions 

 of the society at its last meeting. 



Several of the members seemed to think that there 

 was danger in the stock plan. There idea was that 

 outsiders might purchase so much of the stock as 

 would give them a majority, and then divert the 

 society from its original purpose, leaving the farmers 

 out in the cold. 



On motion, the charter was taken up, but several 

 sections caused dissatisfaction among the members, 

 and it was resolved that when the society adjourn it 

 adjourn to meet two weeks hence, when a full atten- 

 dance of the members is earnestly requested, as the 

 business transacted will be of the utmost importance. 



On motion, it was resolved to have tlie last four 

 volumes of Tub Lancaster Fakmeh bound. 

 Business for Next Meeting. 



" How can farm life be made more attractive and 

 pleasant V was adopted for general discussion at the 

 next meeting. Adjourned. 



BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



The Bee-Keepers' Association met on Monday 

 afternoon, February 17, in the parlor of the Black 

 Horse Hotel. Vice President J. F. Hcrshey called 

 the meeting to order, with the following members 

 (ind visitors present : Peter Reist, President, Lltiz; 



I. 0. Martin, Earl; J. F. Hershey, Mount Joy; .John 

 Hubcr, Pequea; Ellas Hershey, Paradise; Clare Car- 

 penter, city; J. M. Johnston, city; F. K. Dlfl'en- 

 derOer, city; Jonas H. Shank, East Lampeter; 8. H. 

 Musselman, New Holland; J. Hurst, Balnbrldge; 

 J. H. Mellingcr, Strasburg; E. U. Melliugcr, Stras- 

 burg; Amos A. Kessler, Strasburg. 

 Reports. 



The President staled that he wintered about seventy 

 swarms in the house he prepared for that purpose. 

 Has lost very few bees so far. 



I. G. Martin so far has lost very few bees, not half 

 a pint to a swarm, but the most severe time is yet to 

 come and it Is liard to tell how things will turn out. 



8. H. Musselman reported that his experience had 

 been about the same ; no swarms yet lost. 



J. Hust said lie has five swarms; has lost none 

 during the winter. 



John Hubcr reported that his swarms so far are 

 alive and doing well. 



Jonas H. Shank had seven hives which he win- 

 tered on summer stands. 



Ellas Hershey started in the fall with twenty-six 

 hives which arc all alive and doing well. Some of 

 them were wintered on summer stands. 

 Feeding Glucose to Bees. 



"Should glucose be fed to Bees?" was proposed 

 by the chairman for debate. None of the members 

 had tried it, and therefore could not give any opinion 

 on the subject. J. F. Hershey stated that some 

 claim it to be as good as honey, while others speak 

 strongly against it. He would advise bee-kccpers 

 not to use it. 



I. O. Martin said he had never tried it nor did he 

 think he would like it. He also spoke against the 

 use of grape sugir in large quantities. 



Ellas Hershey said that the Auierican Bee Juurnal 

 gave an instance where several hundred bees were 

 killsd by the feeding of glucose, while the editor of 

 another declared that no proof of such a thing having 

 happened could be produced, and said that he had 

 fed hundreds of bees on it with good effect. 

 Dollar Queens. 



Would it be advisable to invest In dollar queens ? 

 was the next question proposed. 



I. G. Martin said he had purchased some at differ- 

 ent seasons. Of these a few proved to be as good as 

 tested queens costing §3, while others were worth 

 nothing. He would advise that they be purchased 

 to be used for starting new hives, so that If they are 

 lost not so much money is sunk. 



Ellas Hershey's experience had been about the 

 same ; out of five that he bought two were good and 

 three were worthless. 



J. F. Hcrshey wanted to have nothing to do with 

 cheap queens, as too much risk has to be ruu in 

 dealing in them. If you get dollar queens aud breed 

 from them for three or four years, the result will be 

 very poor stock. 



Comb Foundations. 



J. H. Mellingcr asked the opinion of the society on 

 the use of comb foundations. 



I. O. Martin had used those made without wires, 

 and advised the members to get foundations made of 

 pure wax, for that made of a mixture will stretch, 

 and is not fit for use. If the foundation is used in 

 the lower part of the hive, the frame should not be 

 over nine inches wide, or it will stretch. He fastens 

 the foundation to the frame by pressing it to the top 

 bar, and then nailing sticks on top of it. 



J. F. Hershey had not used it yet, but Intended to 

 do so, and would use that with wire as it don't sack 

 or stretch. 



Springing Bees. 



J. F. Hershey asked as to the best mode of spring- 

 ing bees. It is almost as hard to keep them through 

 the spring as through the winter. 



J. H. Mellluger said he fed his bees in the latter 

 part of February and kept it up till apple blossom 

 time, and even after that, if the weather is not favor- 

 able, til! other blossoms appear. This kept them in 

 good condition, and he got early swarms. 



1. G. Martin read a paper on this subject, which 

 was as follows : 



It is of great importance that we should have our 

 bees strong In spring before the honey harvest is at 

 hand. Biit how shall we gel them strong and the 

 hive filled with brood so early ? My plan is, as soon 

 as spring opens and the bees begiu to gather pollen, 

 to examine every colony by lifting the frames out, 

 and If the stock is weak, I shut the bees to one side 

 of the hive with a close-fitting division board, on as 

 many combs as they can cover, so as to keei/ up the 

 heat necessary for brood-rearing. 



If the stock is very weak, I take all the combs out 

 but two, and if it is so weak that the bees can't 

 cover two combs, then I unite it with another colony. 

 As soon as the queen has filled these combs with 

 eggs, I spread them apart and insert an empty comb 

 between them with brood. In two or three days this 

 comb will be filled also with eggs, and so I keep on 

 inserting empty combs as fast as the queen fills them 

 with eggs, and always In the middle of the brood- 

 nest till it is full. Thus it will be seen that the 

 queen will be laying in the centre of the brood-nest 



all the time. Instead of on the outside of the cluster, 

 which she seldom will in the cold weather of spring, 

 but when it is warm and the bees are plenty, then 

 she will lay anywhere In the hive. 



As soon as the strongest slocKs are full, I take a 

 frame of hatching brood out aud put It In a weaker 

 one, and them put an empty comb in the stronger 

 one for the queen to fill again, and so I keep on till 

 all arc full. 



Then is the time to put on the honey boxes, so If 

 they gather honey then they must put It in the 

 boxes, for the hive below is all taken up with brood. 

 Each box should have a small piece of comb attached 

 to the top for a starter, or, if you have no nice white 

 comb, put In a narrow strip of comb loundalion. 



J. F. Hershey had lost some weak colonics that he 

 fed, and others that he did not feed at all became 

 strong and were among his best swarms. I. G. Mar- 

 tin said he did not like early feeding for breeding tt 

 rearing In the spring. If the bees are to be fed at 

 all it should he done after apple blossom time, and 

 before red clover blossoms appeared. 



J. F. Hershey said that since he kept kept bees big 



best queen did not begin to lay until March, and that 



swarm gave i:!0 pounds of honey, while the others 



which began earlier did not give nearly so much. 



Marketing Honey. 



The chairman proposed the diseussion of the 

 question of the best way of preparing honey for 

 market. He has sold a considerabia quantity, and 

 found that the more attractive the way it Is put up 

 the better it sells. He formerly put It up in large 

 boxes, but now smaller boxes holding one or two 

 pounds are used, and he thought It sold more rapidly. 



I. G. .Martin exhibited a box which he called the 

 "Prize" box, and he thought it would soon be uni- 

 versally used. It holds two pounds, and grocers 

 have told him that the two-pound boxes would sell 

 better than those holding only one pound, as men 

 who can afford to buy one pound of honey can as 

 well buy two pounds. However, it is best to put 

 honey up in quantities that will sell best in the 

 nearest market. In putting up extracted honey, 

 one or two pound jars should be used. If honey is 

 taken from the bees in winter, it should be kept In a 

 warm room. If comb honey is put in a cool place it 

 will run out. 



J. F. Hershey thought honey should be kept in a 

 warm place ; if the moth comes it should be expelled 

 by the use of sulphur. In taking honey to market, 

 he can sell pound or half-pound boxes easier than he 

 could a two-pound bo.\, as the poor man can better 

 aflbrd to buy them. The advantage of using one- 

 pound boxes is that two, three, four or five pounds 

 can be conveniently put up, while in using two- 

 pound boxes three pounds cannot be sold. 

 Honey Exhibition. 



J. F. Hershey suggested that au exhibition of 

 honey be held in August. He moved that a fee of 

 fifty cents a year be charged, and when the show is 

 held a premium of a tested queen be given to I he 

 member bringing the honey put In the best market- 

 able shape. 



Ellas Hershey suggested that it would be well If 

 the exhibition were held in conjunction with the fair 

 to be held by the Agricultural Society. August 

 would be too early to hold a fair. 



F. K. Diflenderffer moved that a committee of 

 three be appointed to confer with I he Agricultural 

 Society as to the advisability of holding the exhibition 

 In connection with their fair. 



The motion was carried, and .Messrs. Ellas Hershey, 

 I. G. Marlin and Peter S. Heist were appointed as 

 the committee. 



Essays for Next Meeting. 



J. H. Mellingcr moved that the chair refer ques- 

 tions to ditfeient members of the soeiely, who could 

 write essays in answer to them, and their ideas could 

 be discussed by the society. 



The motion was carried, and .Messrs. J. F. Hershey, 

 J. H. Mellingcr, I. (i. .Martin and H. H. .Myers were 

 appointed to prepare essays on any subject they 

 think proper to write upon. 



Rye Flour for Bees. 



J. H. Melllngrr asked if it is advisable to feed rye 

 flour to bees in the spring. 



J. F. Hershey said he has fed it, hut would not 

 advise that It be fed too strong ; as the bees will fill 

 up the boxes with it, feed It slowly. By feeding a 

 little every day to five or ten swarms they are 

 stimulated. 



Ellas Hershey said that if there are any maple 

 trees about, rye flour should not be fed, as they can 

 gather pollen from the trees. 



Peter S. Relst appeared during the meeting and 

 asked to be excused from attendance, pleading busi- 

 ness engagements. His request was granted. 



Adjourned to meet three mouths hence. . 



POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Lancaster County Poultry Association met In 

 their room In the City Hall, on Monday, March :ird, 

 and was called to order by President D. C. Tobias. 

 I The following m 'mbers and visitors were present: 

 1 Kev. U. C. Tobias, President, Lltlz ; J. B. LIchty, 

 Secretary, city; Frank B. Bucb, Litiz; T. F. Evani, 



