79.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



57 



OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



ADJOURNED MEETING. 

 An adjourned meeting of the Agricultural and 

 Horticultural Society was held Monday afternoon, 

 March 17. 



The meeting was called to order by the President, 

 Calvin Cooper, esq. 

 I The following members and visitors were present : 

 Calvin Cooper, President, BIrd-in-Hand; Henry .M. 

 I Engle, Marietta; Levi W. OrofI", West Earl; Henry 

 I Kurtz, Mount Joy; Joseph F. WItmer, Pequea; Dr. 

 I 8. S. Kathvon, city; J. C.LInville, Salisbury; W. H. 

 BroBlus, Drumorc; J. M. Johnston, city; Clare Car- 

 penter, city; Peter S. Rclst, Litiz; William McCom- 

 sey, city; C. L. Ifunsecker, Manheim; J. Hartnian 

 Hershey, Rohrcrstowu; Washington L. Hcrshey, 

 WestHempfleUl. 



Object of the Meeting. 

 The President stated the object of the meeting, 

 and the Secretary also read so much of the minutes 

 of the last meeting as referred to the object of to- 

 day's meeting. 

 Dr. Kathvon spoke as follows : 

 When I, at diHerent times, suggested the Incor- 

 poration of this society, I had not in my mind the 

 idea of making it a joint stock company at all— at 

 least not until a necessity gtiould rise for the issuing 

 of stock. I believe it ought to be incorporated, in 

 order to hold a legal ownership, as a society, in any 

 property that might come Into its possession. That 

 It might be recorded in the archives of the county 

 and the State as a legal Institution, and become a 

 responsible depository of such State and national 

 documents as relate to the agricultural interests of 

 the country. I only contemplated a charter granting 

 the usual powers and privileges of such organiza- 

 tions, stating its name and objects. I am now a 

 member of three in*rporated societies in this city— 

 the oldest of which was incorporated in 1828, the 

 next in 1836, and the third one in 18fi2. The first 

 two of these never Issued stock, because there was 

 no necessity for it ; and the third one was in exist- 

 ence fifteen years before it issued certificates of 

 ownership in its museum. All these societies own 

 property amounting to thousands of dollars, although 

 they commenced their careers on nothing ; and I 

 believe their existence this day Is due to the fact that 

 they became bodies politic in law and accumulated 

 possessions. One of thera acquired two thousand 

 dollars as a legacy, which it never would have re- 

 ceived, perhaps, had it not been chartered. The 

 Berks and York county societies are Incorporated, 

 and so are the State Board of Agriculture and the 

 State Agricultural Society, and perhaps many others 

 throughout the State. 



I do not suppose that the liare fact of incorpora- 

 tion is going to immediately increase the society into 

 gigantic proportions, but I believe it will aiford a 

 more solid basts for increase and future develop- 

 ment. Those that seek membership in it will feel 

 more sensibly the permanency of the organization, 

 and doubtless also they will take a greater interest 

 In It. 



It seems to me there is no other question but the 

 bare merits of the case — without reference to stock 

 or to exhibitions — that ought to enter into the dis- 

 cussion on a charter at this time. It will be time 

 enough to learn to walk after we have learned to 

 creep, although we have been a long while trying. 



Henry Kurtz thought it was unnecessary to issue 

 stock unless money was needed. If we have the 

 power to sell stock we can do so when the necessity 

 presents itself. Ifweneedno money we will not be 

 compelled to issue stock. He had spoken with a 

 number of persons and found a general disposition to 

 take the stock. 



H. M. F.ngle was at a loss what to say about the 

 stock feature. He thought the articles of Incorpor- 

 ation ought to be as brief as possible. He was im- 

 pressed with Dr. Kathvon's ideas on this question. 

 The fear was that the stock might get Into improper 

 hands and turn aside the true Intent of the society. 

 The case presents some difficulties. He was not 

 clear in his mind how the thing was to be managed. 

 Joseph F. Witmer thought the stock feature might 

 be left out of the charter, and If Its necessity was 

 felt In the future it might then be applied for and be 

 incorporated in the old charter. A charter can be 

 amended after being granted. 



Henrv Kurtz thought this could not be done. The 

 stock feature hurts nothing If In the charter. Wc 

 need not avail ourselves of the privilege if we do not 

 chose to do so; but should we need it, then it Is 

 ready to be made use of at once. 



J. C. Linville thought there would be no trouble 

 in getting a supplement to the charter of incorpora- 

 tion if it was wanted at any future time. 



W. McComsey suggested that the charter of some 

 of the other county societies be read, in order to 

 throw some light on the subject. 



Other Societies. 



The secretary slated that there arc fourteen county 

 societies in the Slate that arc chartered and nineteen 

 that are not. lie read that part of the constitution of 

 the York county society as related to the ofDccrs. 



The President called" attention to the fact that the 

 article adopted on this point by this society was more 

 complicated than the one just read. 



A motion was made to reconsider this section and 

 passed. 



H. M. Engle moved to adopt In Its stead the article 

 on this point In the constitution of the York county 

 socli'ty. 



W. McComsey thought the proposed plan threw 

 too much power into the hands of the Board of 

 Directors, instead of leaving it in the hands of all 

 the members of the society. It seemed lo him to 

 centralize the power of the society in a few hands. 

 He was not clear whether this plan was wise. 



H. .M. Engle thought the new scheme was decided- 

 ly preferable. 



J. C. Linville thought there was little difference 

 between the two. The President in the one was 

 made elective by the society, and he preferred it to 

 the other. 



Article 5, adopted at the last meeting, was then 

 rejected by a vote of the society. 



The one proposed in Its stead, being the one govern- 

 ing the York County Society, was then adopted. 

 The Incorporators. 



The President made a motion that the Vice Presi- 

 dents, Secretary and Recording Secretary be the offi- 

 cers of the chartered society until the next annual 

 election. 



Amended to include the President and two others 

 in the number, and carried. 



The present officers, with the addition of John C. 

 Linville and Israel L. Landis, will constitute the 

 Board of Directors and Incorporators. 



Several other articles were also inserted, and the 

 proposed charter was then adopted as a whole. It 

 will be presented to the Court at once, and no doubt 

 be granted. 



The text of the document as adopted Is as follows 

 Charter. 



I. The name of the corporation shall be " The 

 Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural 

 Society." Adopted. 



II. The purpose for which it is formed shall be to 

 encourage and improve agricultural, horticultural, 

 domestic and household arts, and any other matters 

 pertaining to the Interest of agriculture and horticul- 

 ture. Adopted. 



III. Its place of business shall be in the county of 

 ETincaster. Adopted. 



IV. The term of Its existence shall be perpetual, 

 subject to the power of the General Assembly, under 

 the Constitution of the Commonwealth. Adopted. 



V. The officers of the society shall be a President, 

 two Vice Presidents, five Managers, a Recording 

 Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and a Treas- 

 urer, to continue in office for one year and until 

 others are elected, all officers to be elected by ballot 

 at the annual meeting, and the following are those 

 chosen for the coming year ; 



President— Calvin Cooper, Bird-In-Hand, East 

 Lampeter township. 



Vice Presidents — Henry M. Engle, Marietta. East 

 Donegal ; Jac.B.fiarber, Columbia, West Hempfield. 



Recording Secretary— James F. Witmer, Paradise. 



Corresponding Secretary— Johnson Miller, Litiz, 

 Warwick. 



Treasurer— Levi W. Groff, Bareville, West Earl. 



Managers— Martin D. Kendig, Cresswell, Manor 

 township; VVm. H. Brosius, Liberty Square, Dru- 

 more township; Casper Hiller, Concstoga Centre, 

 Conestoga township; John C. Linville, Gap, Salis- 

 bury township ; Israel L. Landis, Lancaster. 



VI. The by-laws of this society shall be made by 

 the members in good standing, at a general meeting 

 called for that purpose, and shall prescribe the time 

 and place of meeting of the society, the terms for 

 the admission of members, the powers and duties of 

 Its officials and such other matters as may be perti- 

 nent and necessary for the business to be iranaclcd, 

 provided that such by-laws are not inconsistent with 

 this charter, the constitution and by-laws of the 

 Commonwealth and of the United States. 



VII. This society to have all the powers and au- 

 thority, and be subject to the limitation and regula- 

 tions of corporations of the " first class " under act 

 of Assembly entitled, an act " To provide for the In- 

 corporation and regulation of certain corporations," 

 approved the 29th of April, A. D. 1874, and its sup- 

 plements. 



A vote to adjourn was made and carried. 



REGULAR STATED MEETING. 



The Lancaster County Agricultural Society met in 

 their room, in the City Hall, on Monday afternoon, 

 April 7th, 1879, and was called to order at 2 o'clock. 

 The following members and visitors were present : 

 Calvin Cooper, President, BIrd-in-Hand ; Joseph F. 

 Witmer, Secretary, Paradise; Levi W. Groff, Treas- 

 urer, West Earl ; M. D. Kendig, Manor; Henry M. 

 Engle, Marietta ; W. U. Brosius, Drumore ; Frank 



R. Diffenderfer, city ; C. M. Hostetter, Eden ; Tobias 



D. Martin, Warwick ; Rev. S. M. Boyer, ; W. 



W. Grelst, city ; J. M. Johnson, city ; Clare Carpen- 

 ter, city ; Ephralm S. Hoover, Manheim ; C. L. Hun- 

 sccker, Manheim ; 1. L. Landis, Manheim ; Dr. 8. 8. 

 Kathvon, city ; Elam W. Eshleman, Paradise. 



On motion the reading of the minutes of the previ- 

 ous meeting was dispensed with. 



Amos L. Eshleman, of Paradise township, was 

 proiiosed and elected a new member. 



Report of Crops. 



Mr. Brosius, Drumorc township, said the wheat is 

 not encouraging at this time, and the weather has 

 been BO cold that other things have not yet started. 



Mr. Hostetter said the wheat crop in Eden town- 

 ship looks very encouraging, (irass is making its 

 appearance, and timothy is getting along nicely. 



Mr. Kendig, of .Manor, reported the wheat crop as 

 not lookinlf very encouraging ; It is short and thin, 

 (irass looks better. Peach and pear buds look 

 healthy. He staled that he had found that Pampass 

 grass was not as hardy as stated In VIck's Catalogue 

 report. 



.Mr. Cooper, of Paradise, said that the wheat needs 

 rain. Peach buds are so far uninjured. 



Mr. Engle, of .Marietta, reported for East Donegal, 

 that he did not think the wheat looked so poor as re- 

 ported, considering the bad weather. It is loo early 

 to judge of the crop, an<l he thought a few weeks of 

 such weather as 'his would make a wonderful differ- 

 ence. The grass crop promises well. The fruits are 

 doing remarkably well. 



Competitive Essays. 



The committee appointed lo decide on the merits 

 of the competitive essays on the "Culture of Wheat," 

 F. R. DIffenderffcr, William McComsey and Peter S. 

 Reist, recommended the one written In pencil as de- 

 serving the premium. It proved afterwards that the 

 prize essay was written by Henry M. Engle, of Mari- 

 etta. Thcothercssay was written by John C. Linville. 



Levi W. Groff answered the question, " With land 

 and labor at present prices, can wheal be raised at 

 one dollar per bushel ?" After a short introduction, 

 Mr. Groff proceeded to make a calculation, taking 

 good land in the first place. He estimated the cost 

 of raising an acre of wheat at ?2.'j.'J0, as follows : 

 Interest on one acre of land at ?1.50, ?!»; taxes, 50 

 cents; plowing and harrowing, $:i.50; IJOO pounds 

 raw bone, at 8:!0 per ton, S^-SO ; lU bushels seed, 

 81. .50; drilling the seed, .50 cents; cultivating twice 

 In the spring, $1 .20 ; harvesting and thresliing, >4.50. 

 Against this he placed the product of the acre at 40 

 bushels, which will bring, selling the straw, $4<>, 

 leaving a profit of $20.80. 



He did not think the estimated yield was too large, 

 but supposing it is a Utile too large there Is room for 

 deduction, and still leave a fair profit. Of course he 

 proposed to cultivate Ills wheat In the spring, and 

 based his cakulaiion on the presumption that all 

 wheat will he cultivated. From fair trials he had 

 made, he was forced to conclude that on good land, 

 using irood fertilizer, the results will be as staled, 

 and the land left In good condition for grass for 

 years to come. 



When wheat was well cultivated In France in 

 1S77, a large farm was visited by Prof. Geo. H. 

 Cook, of New Brunswick, N. J., who reported that 

 on a field containing 27.5 acres the average yield was 

 44 bushels, and on anotlicr field containing 75 acres 

 the average yield was 4(! bushels. He thought the 

 same thing could be done here. 



Mr. Engle quoted the saying that figures won't 

 lie, and said if Mr. GrofTs basis is correct the con- 

 clusions arc correct. He thought the production was 

 rather high, but not too high. His expenses arc not 

 too high, and the speaker thought that .Mr. Graff's 

 calculations were fair. 



Mr. Groff said that In his opinion the expense 

 would be rather high for one acre, but when a large 

 Held Is cultivated the figures would certainly be 



.Mr. Kendig bud made a. calculation, and the 

 figures corresponded favorably with .Mr. GroH's. 

 Hecslimated the entire cost of preparing ten acres 

 at ?:U or ?:!.40 per acre. But in his township they 

 could not raise over 20 bushels to the acre, while Mr. 

 Groff raised 40 bushels. 



Mr. Engle was of the opinion that this was an 

 important question, and deserved the attention of 

 farmers generally. He differed a little with Mr. 

 Groff when he says that his wheat stands belter in 

 consequence of culllvalloD ; It is because It Is sowed 

 farther apart. 



.Mr. Hoover asked If any memlier had had any 

 experience with Chester County Mammoth Corn, 

 but no man answered. 



Culture of Wheat. 



Mr. Engle read his prize essay on the " Culture of 

 Wheat," as follows : 



The cereal rceeiviiiK the title of "slafT of life." nhould 

 receive more tliuii ordinary attention. In our best virtfin 

 soils, when pro|«!rly prepared, it luw hillierto scarcely 

 ever failed to produce from a fair lo what is coiisidoren a 

 full crop, but after several years' croppiiiK failures have 

 been about as frequent as foil croi>s, which Wns generally 

 attributed to tlie ravoraWc or unfiivorable scuMiis. This 

 has very commonly eonsliluted the Htroii^ fort tjehina 

 which the majority of farmers have and are still shelter- 



