1880.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



27 



Kcnce and kindly assistance you have heretofore 

 favored mc with in furthcriii? the ImsinoBS before 

 Ihi' convention. licfore I sit <lo\vn I will take this 

 opportunity to extend a cordial invitation to this 

 association to hold its next nicetini,' in the city of 

 ( Wilkesbarre. Col. Hancock, one of our memliers, 

 and a townsman of mine, who has heretofore rei;u- 

 larly attended our mcctinirs, hut is unable to be 

 present to-day, unites with me in tliis invitation, and 

 desired me to say to the conventi<in that he would 

 use his best endeavors to make the visit a pleasant 

 one. Our city is located in about the centre of the 

 far-famed VVyomiui;- valley, in the heart of the best 

 and riclicst anthracite coal Held, and to those who 

 have never been there the occasion could be made a 

 most interesting one. Tile thriving and busy city of 

 Scranton, with its numerous furnaces and rolling 

 mills, factories and mines, is only eighteen miles to 

 the north of us and would well repay a visit. The 

 scenery of our valley is unsurpassed in this country, 

 anil is every year visited by hundreds of persons 

 with the sole object of enjoying it, and last, but not 

 least, our hotels will carefully consider this question 

 before deeiiling lo decline our invitation. 



We will now proceed with the business of the 

 convention in its regular order. 



The minutes of the last meeting held in .Tuly, 

 1879, at Altoona, were then read by the Seerctarv, 

 A. /.. Schoch, of Selinsgrove, and approved. 



The Secretary, Mr. Schoch, next read his report, 

 which is as follows : 



Since our last meeting little has been brought to 

 my notice affecting our interests to which to call 

 your attention, or that requires your eonsideratiofl. 

 We have added to our membership nineteen names, 

 making lOG to date. During the interval our mem- 

 bership in tlie National Association has also been 

 increased by 7'.^ run, a total of .5!;,' for the State. I 

 would be pleased to have our representation in that 

 organization largely increased, as I do not think our 

 obligation thereto has been fully discharged. Under 

 its auspices will be held the Millers' International 

 Exposition at Cincinnati, in June next, which occa- 

 sion will doubtless prove a rare opportunity for 

 observation. As many as can should avail them- 

 selves of that extraordinary privilege. I would re- 

 spectfully call your attention to the propriety of 

 taking some action to secure a creditable representa- 

 tion from our State. 



Mr. Schoch read the Treasurer's report, showing 

 that something over 81,000 had bieu received and 

 expended during the year, leaving a small balance in 

 the Tre.isury. He requested that a committee be 

 appointed to inspect the amount and report on its 

 correctness. On motion, a committee was then 

 appointed. 



A calling of the roll revealed about sixty delegates 

 present. 



The reception of new members was next in order. 

 The list of membership was increased by nine dur- 

 ing the session. 



The varions committees were then called. The 

 committee on patents was excused until evening. 

 The committee on insurance was also excused until 

 evening. The committee on grain for drilling re- 

 ported. The report of Mr. John Hoffer, of Harris- 

 burg, chairman of the committee on grading and 

 preparation Ibllowed. 



This being the time for the election of oflicers for 

 the ensuing year, a motion that the old oflicers hold 

 over for the ensuing year was adopted, and the old 

 oflicers re-elected vim voce. A resolution of thanks 

 to the oflicers for services during the past year were 

 unanimously adopted. Mr. John Hofl'er extended a 

 cordial invitation to the association to inspect his 

 new mill on the southern part of this city, and on 

 motion the convention adjourned until seven o'clock 

 P. M., to enable the delegates to accept the invita- 

 tion . 



Evening Session. 

 The convention was called to order at a quarter to 

 eight o'clock by President Miner. The first business 

 in order was the reading of tlie report of the commit- 

 tee on grain for milling which had been read in the 

 aiternoon but had not been acted upon. The report 

 rejected the " Fuliz or Clawson" wheat, giving pre- 

 ference to red wheat. The report was adopted with- 

 out discussion. 



Tlie committee on insurance ofl'ered a resolution 

 for the continuaneeof the committee who are author- 

 ized to organize the Pennsylvania State Millers' 

 Mutual Insurance Company. The resolution was 

 adopted. 



Mr. H. B. Horton, of the National Millers' Insur- 

 ance Association of Chicago, by request addressed 

 the convention on the subject of insurance. He 

 stated the condition of his company, and showed the 

 great benefits of the mutual system and the great 

 saving to millers which was its result. Alillers who 

 take policies in many States are saved one-half the 

 rates they Iiave been paying. At present the asso- 

 ciation is carrying about »2,.500,000 worth of property . 

 The report on grading and inspection was re-read 

 m which as there is no regular rule for grading a 

 number of suggestions were made. The report also 

 recommended that a committee of one from each 

 county be appointed for the purfose of setting forth 

 the importance ofthis subject to millers. A discus- 



sion followed which was participated in by Messrs. 

 Small of York, Creswell of Huntingdon, Elsenberger 

 of Huntingdon, Wengerof Lancaster, Blalrof Wayne, 

 and others. The endeavor of the association is to 

 establish throughout the .State a uniform grade of 

 prices for dilVcrent grades of wheat . The discussion 

 developed that the dilliculty in the way of this is the 

 competition among the millers, which tends to run 

 up high prices for poor wheat. 



The report of the committee was adopted and the 

 executive committee of the association ordered lo 

 carry out the suggestions contained therein. 



Two new members were admitted to the assocla 

 tion. Tlic committee appointed to audit the trea- 

 surer's account reported that account correct. 



The following preamble and resolution were then 

 offered : 



Whekeas, It has come to the knowledge of the 

 millers of Pennsylvania that but a small port!(m of 

 the Hour sold in Philadelphia is inspected, wliib'tliey 

 are at all times made to pay at the rate of one cent 

 per barrel on all forwarded ; therefore be it 



Iit\ioli'vcl,ny the State Millers' Association of Penn- 

 sylvania in convention assembled, that in the future 

 we will demand a rc(lueti<in of i>l per hundred bar- 

 rels, if tlour is not inspected ; if it is inspected, wc 

 will require to accompany our settlement an Inspec- 

 tor's certiticate stating the number of barrels and 

 brand and the grade passed. 



The resolution elicited considerable discussion, 

 and, on motion, was laid on the table. 



The next resolution was as follows : 



liesolved, That it is the desire of the association 

 that the Senators and members from Pennsylvania in 

 Congress be requested to support and urge the pas- 

 sage of the joint resolution now pending admitting 

 foreign mill machinery intended for exhibition at the 

 coming international exposition at Cincinnati, in 

 June next, free of duty, and that every member of 

 the association be requested to write to his represen- 

 tative in Congress, calling attention to the impor- 

 tance of immediate action thereon. Adopted. 



It was moved that a commission of live be ap- 

 pointed to look after the interests of Pennsylvania 

 millers at the international exhibition, and that the 

 president and secretary be members of the commis- 

 sion. Agreed to. 



A motion was made that an assessment of $2.00 

 each be made to carry on the association, and be 

 paid at once, and the motion was agreed to. 



A recess of ten minutes was taken to receive the 

 assessment. 



On re-convening the following resolution was 

 offered : 



Resolved, That the convention recommend to the 

 various railroad companies of Pennsylvania that they 

 give to receivers of flour facilities for inspection o"f 

 same while in their depots, and that the secretary be 

 instructed to inform each company of this action. 

 Not agreed to. 



It was moved that the meetings of the convention 

 be held hereafter annually instead of semi-annually, 

 and that the time be the first Tuesday of October of 

 each year. Agreed to. 



.Mr. Schock moved, and it was agreed to, that a 

 member of the executive committee Ijc appointed to 

 represent the association in the national association. 

 President appointed W. L. Small, of Vork. 



The motion that the MiUing H'ocfrf, of Bufl'alo, be 

 the olticial organ of the association was laid on the 

 table. 



The following resolution was adopted : 



Resolved, That the committee on transportation 

 request of the railroad companies the privilege of 

 flouring wheat in transit with a reasonable charge 

 for demurrage and switching. 



It was moved and adopted that the next meeting 

 of the association be held in Wilkesbarre, in October 

 next. Messrs. D. M. Bacr, of Huntingdon, and W. 

 P. Duncan,of Phillpsburs:, were unanimously elected 

 first and second vice presidents respectively. 



The standing committees for theensuing yearwere 

 then announced. 



The thanks of the convention were tendered to 

 Mr. Hunter for the use of his parlors, to Mr. Hofl'er 

 for the invitation to visit his mill, and to the news- 

 paper reporters present. 



On motion, the convention then adjourned. 



LANCASTER COUNTY AGRICULTU- 

 RAL AND HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The society met on .Monday afternoon, Februarv 

 2, at the usual hour, and was called to order by the 

 President, Joseph F. Witmer. 

 The following members and visitors were present : 

 .Toseph F. Witmer, Paradise; Henry .M. F.ngle, 

 Marietta; M. D. Kcndig, Manor; Calvin Cooper, 

 Bird-in-Hand; Simon P. Eby, city; John H. Landis, 

 Manor; Casper Hiller, Conestoga; Johnson Miller, 

 Warwick; C. L. Hunsecker, Manheini; ex-Shcrill 

 Adam Bare, city; J. M. Johnston, city: Dr. C. A. 

 Greene, city; C. A. Oast, city; F. H. DiA'cnderlfer, 

 city; Dr. Williaoi Compton, city; W. W. Grlest, 



city; Henry Kurtz, Mt. Joy; Peter 8. Heist, Lltlz; 

 Albert P. Mcllvalne, Paradise; Ephraim .S. Hoover, 

 Manheim; William McComsey, city; Israel L. Lan- 

 dis, city; Dr. S. S. Itathvon, city; Mr. Wolf, Mill, 

 way; D. W. Oraybill, East HeinpHeld; Levi 8. Relet, 

 Manheim. 



(Jn motion, the reading of the minutes was dls- 

 [lensed with. 



Dr: Compton, of Lancaster, was nominated and 

 elected to membership. Dr. C. A. Cireene was also 

 elected . 



On motion the usual crop reports were dispensed 

 with for the present meeting. 



Large Trees. 



Simon P. Eby gave the following dimensions of 

 trees— the oak and walnut were recently cut down, 

 the chestnut is still standing : 



•On the farm of A. Carpenter, In Warwick' town- 

 ship, a chestnut tree, tlie circumference at foot of 

 trunk, 'Si feet; clrcumferfiiec of trunk three feet up, 

 19 feet; cireumfcreiiee around oui at extremities of 

 branches, 90 yards. Grain and grass grow under 

 the tree up to trunk as well as In other parts of the 

 field. 



Two white oak trees, cut cm same farm, respec- 

 tively aged 2.">1 years and 24! years. 



A walnut tree aged 180 years on Israel G. Erb'g 

 farm, Penn township. 



A chestnut tree with a circumference at foot of 

 trunk of yn feet; circumference of trunk 7 feet above 

 ground, 19 feet 4 inches; circumference around ex- 

 tremities of branches, .59 yards. 



Fruit Growing on City Lots. 

 Casper Hillcr read the following : 

 Fruit growing In city yards and gardens has, 

 owing to the frequent failure of fruit In the open 

 country, become interesting and profitable. The 

 su]ieriorily in city grown fruit in dry, unfavorable 

 seasons, like t he lasf , could be seen at the fair of the 

 Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural 

 Society. And iliis superiority is not only to be 

 found in a few specially favored gardens, but applies 

 generally, as the fine fruit raised by John K. P.eed, 

 Samuel Benelict, William Weidle, Harry Shultz, 

 Benjamin Miller, Samuel W. Taylor, Daniel Smcych, 

 .John Shaum, and many others who arc located In 

 various parts of the town, abundantly proves. 



Pears and grapes appear to be the kinds of fruit 

 best adapted to city gardens. With a little atten- 

 tion, these could be raised in suflicient quantities to 

 supply the home demand for fine table fruit. 



The causes of this superiority of city over country 

 fruit are probably three-fold. The principal one, I 

 presume, is in the condition of the soil. This does 

 not become heated by the sun, like in the open 

 country; is shaded by buildings and fences, which do 

 not drink up the moisture in the ground, but help to 

 retain it. 



The roots dij) under the buildings, fences, under 

 pavements, and often reach into drains, where plant 

 food in unlimited quantities abounds. The second 

 cause is wind protection. This causes a more even 

 temperature. The buildings break the force of the 

 wind, and this prevents that sudden and excessive 

 evaporation from leaf and soil that is so injurious lo 

 fruit growth. In the open country, where there Is 

 no rain in July and August, the soil becomes dry to 

 the depth of .several feet, the fruit stops growing, be- 

 comes stunted or ripens prematurely, and then is of 

 little value. 



The soil in town lots from the two given causes, is 

 not so easily affected, and hence the better ripening 

 of the fruit. The third cause of flne fruit in town is 

 also to some extent due to less insect depredations, 

 the cultivators having those pests more under their 

 control. Grapes do best in close yards, where strong 

 winds arc completely cut ofl" by the surrounding 

 buildings. In these, with a little extra care, the 

 finer grapes, such asJCatawba, lona, Allan's Hybrid, 

 and perhaps even Black Hamburg, could be suc- 

 cessfully rijiened. 



The vines to do best should be trained on upright 

 trellises, built a few inches ofl" south or cast side of 

 the wall. In some of the most delicate varieties It 

 may, jierhaps, be necessary lo use " coping," as the 

 English call It. This is made of glass, two or three 

 feet wide, and juts out from the wall like a porch 

 roof. Another form of coping may also be used over 

 upright trellises, away from buildings. The vines In 

 both forms must be trained horizontally, and the 

 fruit should be near the glass. This coping, in these 

 wind-proiccted enclosures, acts almost as well as 

 elaborate glass structures in the open ground. 



H. M. Kngle thonu'lit the essay excellent. There 

 was little doubt the fruit grown in towns was better 

 than that grown In the open country. Trees in cities 

 have many advantages, •annot country fruit trees 

 also have some of these advantages? Shade and 

 mulching will do much. It Is high time that screens 

 should be jireparcd by country growers. 



S. P. Eliy said the tcmiiorature in cities was always 

 several degrees higher than In the open country, 

 which is another advantage, but still he thought the 

 country was the place to grow the best fruit. 



Dr. Greene believed the first requirement of grow- 

 sng flne fruit was the necessary constituents in the 

 soil. Moisture is another condition. Too much 



