122 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[ August, 



half-dried up or converted into roaring tor- 

 rents tliat spread devastation far and wide, 

 ■where they once were sources of unnumbered 

 blessings. Instead of tne gentle rains of the 

 earlier era, we have violent storms not only 

 of rain but of winds and hail that are terri- 

 ble in their severity and the damage they in- 

 flict. Even these violent rains fail, notwith- 

 standing the volume of water that falls, of 

 giving the soil the requisite amount of mois- 

 ' ture. Unsheltered as it is, the sun and winds 

 speedily extract the water, leaving it as 

 parched as before. 



We need only point to a few examples of 

 the workings of this system. There was once 

 no more fertile country in the world than 

 Spain. That was in the early days when the 

 land still boasted of its forest of oak. These 

 have been cut away and tlie Spain of to-day 

 in great part is almost a synonym for sterili- 

 ty, while her once famous streams exist only 

 in name. In Western Asia a like state of 

 things prevails. The old Eoman historians 

 tell us that tliis was once the granary of the 

 world. To-day those plains and valleys are 

 sun-scorched and barren, sustaining but a 

 tithe of the countless populations tfiat once 

 flourished in those favored countries. 



Unless we shall adopt remedial measures, 

 the same fate awaits us. It will not come in 

 a year, nor a score of yeia's, nor even in a 

 century, but its arrival is none the less certain. 

 Most European nations have given timely at- 

 tention to this subject, Germany, especially, 

 has studied forestry with the utmost atten- 

 tion, and may hope to derive valuable benefits 

 from her enlightened course. We cannot too 

 soon follow in her footsteps. We are already 

 experiencing the results of our folly in storms 

 and floods, and these will increase in number 

 and violence as the process of cutting down 

 our forest goes on. Let there be speedy gov- 

 ernmental action, for in that way alone can 

 we hope for a better state of tilings. If the 

 matter is left to the people, it is idle to look 

 for remedial action ; the present course will 

 be continued and troubles from this cause be 

 increased. 



THE COMMON ELDER. 



This shrub, so common in all the Atlantic 

 States of our union, has commonly been con- 

 sidered a worthless plant, fitted only to mark 

 the abode of the thriftless farmer and to 

 annoy the neat one. But it has valuable re- 

 deeming qualities, some of which we will en- 

 deavor to point out. • 



It has long been observed, that if permitted 

 to grow in fence corners its long roots take 

 such hold of the ground that it requires much 

 efibrt and time to eradicate it. This tenacity 

 to life can be utilized; planted in regions of 

 drifting sands, it becomes, in connection with 

 certain grasses, an important means of arrest- 

 ing the movements of the sands. 



The inner bark has ho odor, to the taste is 

 at first sweetish, then bitter, acrid and nause- 

 ous, containsja resin, valerianic acid, and other 

 principles, and taken in moderate doses is a 

 purgative; in large do.ses acts as an emetic. 

 This inner bark boiled with lard makes a 

 salve good for old sores. 



The flowers are abundantly used in domestc 

 medicine, for making a tea, (elder blow tea), 

 which is a harmless, efficient and pleasant 

 medicine, tending to produce abundant per- 

 spiration. A popular and pleasant drink is 

 made by boiling the blossoms in cider. The 

 flowers are also used in poultices, and boiled 

 with lard make a cooling and valuable oint- 

 ment. The flower buds may be pickled, for 

 which purpose they answer well. When dis- 

 tilled, the blossoms yield what is known as 

 "elder flower water," formerly used in per- 

 fumery and confectionery. Flowers gathered 

 and dried can be used at any time during 

 the winter. 



The berries furnish a rich juice, which 

 makes a very fair wine, and in portions of 

 Kent, England, there are large plantations of 

 elder bush to supply the London market with 

 berries for wine making. When the express- 

 ed juice, before fermentation, is boiled down 



to the consistence of honey, it makes an ex- 

 cellent medicine for children, being purgative, 

 diuretic and sudorific. The berries are also 

 used in making pies. 



The hollowed stem can be applied to seve- 

 ral purposes. Anciently io was used as a 

 musical instrument, which its name {samhuais) 

 in Greek indicates. Boys now use them in 

 making popguns and whistles, while the 

 active t':acher can utihze them for many 

 purposes, as in the making of pumps in place 

 of glass tubes, &c. 



The light pith has long been used in 

 electrical experiments, to exhibit attractive 

 and repulsive forces, and it is also cut into 

 small toys. 



It has been a superstition that the elder- 

 bush exhales narcotic gases and that to sleep 

 in its shade is a dangerous experiment. The 

 American aborigines used the hollow stem 

 filled with sand and twirled between the 

 fingers as a drilling machine. — West Chester 

 Local News. 



Our Local Organizations. 



The Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticul- 

 tural Society met statedly in the Athenajum rooms 

 August i at two o'clock. Present, Messrs. H. M. 

 Engle, Calvin Cooper, S. S. Rathvon, M. D. Kendig, 

 Chrn. Hostetler, S. P. Eby, J. F. Witmer, Peter 

 Hiller, W. J. Kafroth, J. M. Johnston, Chrn. Gast, 

 Walter Kieffer, A. F. Hostetter, William McComsey, 

 and Wm. W. Griest. 



The minutes were read and approved. 



The Coming Fair. 



In reference to the proposed fair or fall exhibition, 

 Mr. Cooper stated that the officers of the Northern 

 Market had been consulted, and consent to use the 

 market house for the exhibition had been gained. 

 The only expense attendant upon it will be the 

 janitor's pay, and also the payment of whatever gas 

 may be consumed. 



According to the by-laws, the oficers of the society 

 are constituted managers of all exhibitions, and in 

 their hands this matter rests. 



Crop Reports. 



H. M. Engle, of Marietta, reported small fruits in 

 a flourishing condition ; grapes will be especially 

 fine. Corn will give a poor yield ; pasture is not 

 good, but potatoes will do ritrht well. 



W. J. Kafroth, of West Earl, reported corn in 

 poor condition, pasture short, potatoes good, tobacco 

 good, and fruits promising. 



J. F. Witmer, of Paradise, stated that the corn in 

 his disti-ict had done better than was expected. 

 Early potatoes are doing very well and the tobacco 

 was good. Clover was reasonably good, but the 

 straw of wheat was very thin on the ground. 



M. D. Kendig, of Manor, had cheering news for 

 the tobacco crop, which had been greatly benefited 

 by recent rains. The rain fall for July had been 2\-^ 

 inches. The other crops were about as they had 

 been reported in other districts. 



Calviir Cooper, East Lampeter, brought cheering 

 news of the corn ciopinhis district. He had never 

 seen a finer crop, and its growth had been wonder- 

 fully accelerated by the rains of Saturday, which one 

 of his neighbors had declared to be a rainfall of 5' „' 

 inches. The speaker, out of curiosity, had measured 

 his corn on Saturday at six o'clock in the evening, 

 and by Monday at six o'clock it had grown 6.lj 

 inches ; by Tuesday, 7 inches more ; by Wednesday, 

 7 inches more ; and the measurement this morning 

 showed that it had gained 3 feet 10)^ inches since 

 Saturday. 



"Should the Partridge be Domesticated ?" 



This was the subject of an interesting essay by 

 Simon P. Eby, esq., and as it contained many useful, 

 practical hints, we produce it in full, as follows : . 



I answer this question in the affirmative. There 

 seems to be a vacancy for this bird in, or rather at, 

 the foot of the list of our domestic animals. We need 

 some bird that can be turned into our grass and 

 grain fields to hunt for insects without the liability 

 of doing the injury to the crops that the common 

 fowl will necessarily do by its larger size and 

 scratching propensities— some smaller creature to fill 

 the place between our barn fowl and the wild bird, 

 whose usefulness can be controlled and directed to 

 the points where most needed. 



The t,artridge, I believe, if tamed, would supply 

 this want. Their natural haunts are the grass and 

 grain fields, and up to the time of harvest, live 

 mostly on insects. A flock of tame partridges 

 would be a valuable help upon the farm to get rid" of 

 the numerous destructive insects. 



The bird is unobjectionable in all respects. In ad- 



dition to its usefulness, it is beautiful in appearance, 

 harmless in its habits, and of pleasant voice. Why 

 should it not be domesticated or tamed ? Its natural 

 tendencies are strongly in that direction, and it 

 would of itself become tame if only an opportunity 

 would be offered. A little kindness show^n ; a little 

 protection given to convince the bird that man is no 

 longer its enemy, persecutor and destroyer, but a 

 friend instead, would bring about the desired result. 



The whistling flock would before long draw 

 nearer to man and his habitation to escape other 

 enemies, of which it has many ; and in winter season 

 learn to feed with the poultry. This much gained, 

 the following season the nest in all probability would 

 not be very far removed. Some of the eggs could be 

 taken out and given to bantam or other small-sized 

 fowls, while ihe partridge hen would still have 

 enough to hatch and take care of- In the following 

 autumn the home-raised and field-raised young could" 

 be let run together and learned to roost in some 

 open shed, provided for that purpose in the orchard, 

 or other suitable corner of the farm. In this way, 

 with patience and prudence, much might be accom- 

 plished. In the following spring the surplus males 

 might be taken out for table or other use; and the 

 flock left to pair about the farm, when the process of 

 the previous year might be repeated. 



It is a fact somewhat remarkable that among our 

 domesticated animals ihere is but a single native one, 

 and that one, much to our reproach, gobbles about 

 our farm yards and graces our Christmas and 

 Thanksgiving tables under the foreign and most 

 outlandish name of "Turkey." And yet our conti- 

 nent is not wanting in other animals now left to 

 roam in their wild state which if domesticated, 

 might rival in usefulness the descendants of other 

 countries that form our flocks and herds. 



The reason for this, I suppose, was that our ances- 

 tors found less trouble in accepting the natives of 

 Asia and Europe, already domesticated, and improve- 

 ing on them, than to supply themselves from natives 

 of the American continent by along course of subjec- 

 tion and training. 



The period, however, I think has arrived when we 

 may, to some extent, turn our attention in a new 

 direction and experiment by adding from our native 

 wild animals to the domestic group, as we have 

 already profitably done by reclaiming and adding 

 from our native stock to our fruits and vegetables. 



I think, at least, the subject is worthy of serious 

 consideration and trial, so far as the partridge is 

 concerned, and I would only feel too proud hereafter 

 that the trial was made in our county, and by one or 

 more of the members of our own society. 



The difficulties to be encountered in this, like in all 

 other new enterprises, or experiments, would be 

 mainly in the beginning. 



You would have to contend against the usual 

 enemies of the poultry yard, with perhaps a few 

 added. The hunters and neighbors' boys, looking 

 upon your partially tamed flocks as still in its wild 

 state, might undertake to.shoot or trap them. The 

 law regarding this species of property, as it now 

 stands, does not extend your ownership or protection 

 over them when they leave your premises ; but while 

 upon your own land it gives you ample authority to 

 protect them against everybody. 



You can put up notices against gunners and order 

 off trespassers, and if they disregard either your 

 notice or command, you can punish them. 



By a number of neighboring farmers joining, as is 

 now sometimes done, the ground over which your 

 flock could safely forage, would be easily enlarged. 



Some writers on the subject have questioned the 

 capabilities of the partridge to become domesticated 

 — but even these are compelled to admit such ca- 

 pacity to a certain extent. The thing has never 

 been fairly tried. 



On the other hand, with all the persecution to 

 which they are annually subjected, "they become," 

 as Wilson says, "almost half domesticated, approach 

 the barn, particularly in winter, and sometimes in 

 that severe season mix with the poultry to glean up 

 a subsistence." 



They are not migratory, and remain with us the 

 whole year, only shifting their quarters when driven 

 by severe weather or when too much hunted. This 

 is much in their favor. 



The turkey in its wild state is much lesssusceptibla 

 of being tamed, and the original of our common 

 barn fowl can yet be found in the jungles of Java as 

 wild as our pheasants. 



They have been domesticated, why not the par- 

 tridge? 



.Mr. Engle, although he would not say that Mr. 

 Eby's ideas were impracticable, did not believe our 

 farmers would ever attempt, to any great extent, the 

 domestication of the partridge. The matter of 

 domesticating them would not be found so easy, 

 either ; they are a very wild bird. He remembered, 

 when a boy, to have placed a chicken on partridge 

 ea-gs, and after the birds were hatched out they 

 wandered off and were never seen again — utterly 

 disowning their step-mother. 



General Discussion. 



