58 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[April, 



ingl 

 failu 





thesutcc^sa f II 1 I I ttl net me 



fields prod ict. l 11 i p \ 1 Ic u the nioHt lt\orible 

 season-* there ar t t^\ i\ '^ s nie ladures P^om these facts 

 pro\e concluHi\e]\ that either the soil location or culti 

 nation 1 lilt i^Llher cau'^e this great difference si<leb\ 



If SI 



>th< 



t 'iliniulatt the t 



of this kin I c*^ 

 The object of 

 just ■\\ h \t to do m ordei 



Linkmfe 



1 J w h( 

 aping. 



The causes of failure are numerous, but soils beinp: ex- 

 hausted of their wheat-producing elements (or at least a 

 portion of theml is one of the principsil causes of failures. 

 ... , ... ., > i_ . .... object of 



Tor 



dble 1 



methods are applied. Soi 

 the best and only fertilize! 

 ^equently he is very partic 





lich . 



of I 



;nig propertu 



goes 



and transported to distant ( 

 lands, and none of its fertil 

 their way back to their nat 



As an oflset to this great draft on their soil, nif 

 ers feed their corn into stock on their farms, wl 

 a great way towards keeping their lands in fertile condi- 

 tion. Such farms almost invariably produce good corn, 

 and also other crops, but their wheat crops frequently 

 yield a superfluity of straw, while the grain ie a short 

 crop and inferior. 



CLOVEB Aa A RENOVATOK. 



Clover ia no doubt one of the cheap«3t and best reno- 

 vators of soils, and for corn is always beneficial ; but 

 while, when plowed down for a wheat crop, it usually 

 produces good results in thin soils, in naturally strong 

 Boilfl it almost invariably produces an excess of straw 

 and likely to lodge, while the crop of grain is short and 

 inferior. Let it not be forgotten that clean, stiff straw 

 indicates plump, hea\-y Krain, and generally a full crop. 

 Therefore in order to obtain a full crop of good wheat 

 will also require stiff, heavy straw. It is therefore con- 

 clusive that in order to realize continuous good crops, 

 where the essential fertilizing elements have been car- 

 ried otr the farm, they must be obtained from other 

 sources. This brings up the question qf special fertili- 

 zers, to which the progressive farmer must not shut his 

 eyes; and 1 have only to say that he who will be a suc- 

 cessful wheat grower must keep his soil supplied with 

 all the elements necessary to produce perfection of both 

 straw and grain, and if his barnyard maiuire does not 

 contain all such they must be obtained from other 

 sources. I am pleased to learn that the prejudice against 

 special fertilizers is fast giving way. The chemical con- 

 dition of the soil being right, the physical or mechanical 

 must not be overlooked. 



The best time to plow is still a mooted question, but 

 the strongest testimony is in favor of early plowing, 

 which allows the ground to settle while the surface is 

 being cultivated, and should be in good, friable condi- 

 tion for seeding. 



Manuring is also often in dispute, whether to plow it 

 down or apply it to the surface, of which the latter 

 method is fast gaining advocates, and for immediate 

 •l^ect is decidedly preferable. 



Good seed is another essential to success, and while 

 new kinds, or a change from other soils, often produce 

 good results, the surer methods would be to seWct some 

 of the largest and most perfect heads, and reject from 

 these all inferior grains, as we do with seed corn. By 

 following this every few years there need be no more 

 occasion to change seed wheat than seed corn. Farmers 

 may sometimes change to get another kind, but I have 

 yet to learn of a fMnncr to change corn simply to get it 

 from other soil. Were seed corn gathered promiscuously, 

 like seed wheat, exchange of seed would, no doubt, be 

 of some advantage, to keep it from running out, as the 

 saying is, of wheat. 



The best time for seeding is also an open question, but 

 the most certain crops are produced in this section by 

 having the soil in proj.cr condition iii every respect, and 

 not to sow before the 15Lh ..r Mhh of September; by ad- 

 hering to this ruk it is more certain to escape the Hessian 



lie prope 

 I- and do 



i>ps tliat I have grown 

 u-ere sown with a drill 

 nches wide and eleven 



of uniform depth, 

 ■d will sprout and 

 should come up. 



(and I have -<■, :, -■..,,, I ■■ : 

 withstutioiu.i.^ -L..- 1^ II 

 inches apart, h- i - 



After cultivn :- ,. 

 predict that ii 'a ill Im ..,.,,. 

 diet that the cumins ui ill \ 

 at least, so arranged a.s lu p! 

 which is the only method 1 



QUANTITY OF SEED. 



That there is a general Wiiste of seed, and often worse 

 than wasted, has been demonstrated over and over again, 

 and just as soon as farmers learn how to put their seed 

 in the best physical condition, and will apjjly proper fer- 

 tilizers in riKlit 'M'Mntilies, aii'I 1m- purlicnliir in selecting 



proper tiiiii-, :iimI t;<-i MrilK iliai u ill --"W a uniform depth 

 and Willi wi'ier .iritis, ihhI will sy-imiaiically follow after 



Mr. Linville's Essay. 



The second essay on the " Culture of Wheat," 

 ^iitten b^ J. C. LiiivillCj was read by the Secretary. 

 It was as follows : 



m\ e>e to see manure flung around here and there, a 

 forkful in a place. Of course if a very heavy coat is 

 =11 phed It does not require so nice spreading to make it 

 e cr the ground. If your soil is rich, it is better to 

 \ ]]y a light coat and make it reach farther. Four 

 Histi the acre, well spread, will benefit the crop as 

 ch as hve or six loads thrown around in forkfuls, as 

 t )o often done. 



PLOWING. 



Having your manure out. the next thing is to plow it 

 under. It makss little difiference whether it ie plowed 

 in as soon as spread, or let on the surface a month or 

 more. Much has been written by theorists about the 

 escape of ammonia. The fact is there ia, b£ a general 

 rule, but little free ammonia in barnvard manure when 

 hauled to tlie field, and if there was it would take flight 

 immediately when spread, even before it could be plowed 

 down. A good way to prevent the loss of ammonia 

 (carbonate of ammonia) is to have a quantity of land 

 plaster (sulphate of lime) on hand and appiv some of it 

 to the floors of your stables every lime you clean them 

 out. Tliis is said to "fix" the ammonia. That is, the 

 sulphuric acid leaves it^ hold of tlie lime and seizes the 

 ammonia, forming carbonate of ammonia which is non- 

 volatile. To prove that this is not mere theory, get some 

 pulverized plaster, and when you clean your horse stable 

 on a hot day, %,nd the air is so redolent of hartshorn that 

 you are almost strangled, sow a quart of plaster in each 

 stall, and in five minutes the pungent odor will have 

 gone. I once plowed a field covered with manure in the 

 early part of August, with the exception of about an 

 acre. This lay bleaching and roasting in the sun for a 

 month — a plentiful crop of weeds grew up through it, 

 and it was turned dow^l in the beginning of September, 

 and produced by far the best wheat in the field. It may 

 be truly said that one experiment does not prove any- 

 thing, but there can be no question but strawy manure 

 is benefited by exposure to the sun. At the same time 

 the soil is improved by the mulch. 



As a general rule, early plowing is the l)est. but there 

 are so many exceptions to the rule that it cannot be in- 

 sisted on. When you are ready, and the ground is in a 

 proper state of moisture, go to work and plow and pay 

 no regard to the signs. Tlie first thing in the prejiara- 

 tion of the soil for wheat, or any other crop, is to have it 

 well plowed. If this is not thoroughly done, no amount 

 of after cultivation will remedy the evil. Bad and care- 

 less plowing is at the root of more slovenly farming than 

 anything else. 



In order to break the ground thoroughly we must have 

 good plows. There are notanybelier adapted to our 

 soils and suited to our wants than are made near home. 

 I ha' 

 bill,' 



mould will clean as well and last much longer than a 

 steel one. 



In regard to the much-vexed question of deep or shal- 

 low i)lowing, I think the almost unanimous voice of prac- 

 tical farmers is in favor of shallow or medium plowing. 

 When I say shallow plowing I do not mean the skinning 

 process practiced in some parts of the South. The Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture of the State of Georgia reimrts 

 the average depth of plowing in that State to be one inch. 

 F'armers in the sunny South must trust to Providence 

 more than we. It has not yet been proven that a foot in 

 depth is better than six or eight inches, and as long as 

 the matter remains in doubt we will plow shallow or 

 medium and save our teams. 



CULTIVATING THE SOIL. 



Ha\ing come to grief two or three times by ciilti\-:fting 

 the ground too much when in a dusty condition I hiii'«lly 

 know what to say about its final preparation. I think 

 there is not much danger of cultivating too much when 



The Th( 



cede 





If the; 



hoe-harrow species to prepare the seed-bed. A field in 

 good order for sowing presents a firm bottt 

 surface to the depth of ' " ' 



Have the ground properlj- 

 of September and the 5th of 



"Buckeye" are good nuieliii 

 to the depth of one and oir-| 



en the 15 



dr\' ; if tornado. 

 it; if midge, nor 



Mr. Hoover called attention to one point in the 

 first essay as deserving particular attention, the 

 recommendation of wheat with strong straw lor 

 general culture, and spoke at length on" the subject. 



The Hessian fly was next touched upon, and Dr. 

 Rathvon explained some of the habits of this pest, 

 upon which leveral members followed in discussing 

 the subject. In answer to the question whether two 

 broods of the fly could be raised in one season, he 

 answered negatively. 



Food for Hogs. 



Does it pay to chop feed for hogs? was answered 

 by Joseph F. Witmer, who told of some experiments 

 at the Michigan Agricultural College. These ex- 



periments, together with his own experience, led 

 him to believe that it was decidedly profitable to do 

 so. 



Novelty in Fruit Culture. 



President Cooper presented a plan, prepared by a 

 learned Russian, Augustus F. Newnaber, of Chester 

 county, showing how to raise peaches and other fruits 

 without stones or seeds. Also how to raise fruit with 

 one side sweet and the other Bide sour. 



On motion a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. 

 Newnaber, and it was resolved to place the plan in 

 the library of the society. 



A committee of six members, M. D. Kendig, Jos. 

 F. Witmer, Henry M. Engle, E.M. Eshleman, C. M. 

 Hostetter and Ephraim P. Hoover, was appointed to 

 make experiments in the matter. 



Dr. Edge to Lecture. 



Mr. Engle stated that he had written to Dr. Thomas 

 J. Edge, .Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 and that gentleman had promised, if possible, to be 

 present at the next meeting and deliver a lecture. 



Adjourned. 



POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Lancaster County Poultry Association held 

 their monthly meeting in City Hall on Monday 

 morning, April 7, 1879, and was called to order bv 

 President Tobias. The calling of the roll showed 

 the following members and visitors present : J. A. 

 Stober, Schoeneck ; Rev. D. C. Tobias, Litiz; Tobias 

 D. Martin, New Haven; W. J. Kafrnth, West Earl; 

 T. F. Evans, Litiz; G. A. Geyer, Spring Garden ; J. 

 B. Lichty, city; W. A. Schoenberger, city; F. R. 

 Diffcnderffer, city; J. M. Johnson, city; J. F. Reed, 

 city; Charles Lippold. city; Amos Ringwalt, city; 

 S. N. Warfel, Strasbur'g; Henry Wissler, Columbia ; 

 John Huber, Warwick ; Jacob A. Buch, Litiz. 



The reading of all except the most important part 

 of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed 

 with. 



Some discussion ensued as to who was to pay the 

 janitor for services rendered in cleaning the room. 

 It was argued by some of the members that this was 

 included in the rent paid to the Agricultural Society, 

 and on motion the matter was referred to a com- 

 mittee of three, who were instructed to present the 

 matter to the Agricultural Society. The committee 

 is as follows: Simon P. Eby, W. J. Kafroth and 

 Joseph F. Witmer. 



Preserving the Proceedings. 



President Tobias called Vice President Geyer to the 

 chair, and made some remarks on preset ving the 

 documents of the society. The Lancaster Farmek 

 is not patronized as it should be. He thought that 

 if arrangements could be made to have the proceed- 

 ings published in this journal, thus having them in 

 book form, it would be to the advantage of the 

 members and of The Faumer, which would obtain 

 a large number of additional subscribers. 



Mr. Lichty had thought it would be agreeable to 

 all concerned to have the answers to questions writ- 

 ten out in full, and placed among the archives of the 

 society. He did not know of any particular benefit 

 to be derived from it. 



Mr. Kafroth said that his plan for preserving the 

 proceedings was to clip them from the daily papers 

 and paste them in his scrap book. 

 New Members. 



New members were proposed and elected as fol- 

 lows : William Beates, Spring Garden ; S. W. 

 Heinitsh, city; Dr. M. W. Hurst, West Earl. 

 Money in the Treasury. 



Mr. Evans, the treasurer, stated, in answer to a 

 query, thiit he had received 836, paid out $9.20, leav- 

 ing J26.80 in the treasury. 



How Long will Eggs Retain their Fertility. 



Mr. Ringwalt answered the first question, which 

 was, "How long will eggs retain their fertility !" He 

 said it is hard to tell exactly how long they will re- 

 tain their fertility. lie had seen eggs three weeks 

 old yield a fair percentage, but raisers like to set 

 their hens as soon as possible. If kept in air-tight 

 vessels eggs will keep three weeks. He had read of 

 a case where eggs found in a ruin one hundred years 

 old had been hatched, but he was a little skeptical 

 on this point. He believed nature gives a hen 30 days 

 in which to lay 20 eggs, and :il days in which to 

 hatch them. 



Mr. Stober asked Mr. Ringwalt if it was his opin- 

 ion that eggs would keep longer if deprived of air, 

 and Mr. Ringwalt answered in the affirmative. 



Mr. Evans, last spring, sent to Ohio for a setting 

 of eggs. When received some of them showed by 

 dates on the shells that they were over four weeks 

 old. He got five chicks out of fourteen eggs, the 

 chicks coming from the freshest eggs. 



President Tobias thought a good deal depended on 

 where the eggs are kept. Believed eggs are injured 

 more by the condition in which they are kept than by 

 length of time. 



Mr. Geyer, last spring, sent a setting of fourteen 

 eggs West, which were divided. One lot of seven 

 was used immediately and five chickens were raised ; 

 the other lot was not used for three weeks and not; 

 one chicken broke the^hell. 



] 



