44 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[March, 



Keller, of Elizabethtown, and John Garber, of 

 Elizabethtown, were nominated and elected to mem- 

 bership. 



Election of Officers. 



The President nominated Messrs. Carpenter and 

 Hershey as tellers during the election of officers of the 

 Society for the current year. 



Charles E. Lons: arose and said he withdrew his 

 name as a candidate for President. He said he had 

 heard some of the country members had intended 

 to cut him because it was charged that he exhibited 

 a bird at the last exiiibition which was not his own, 

 contrary to the rules governing the exhibition. He 

 explained how the bird he exhibited came into his 

 possession, and how it was again returned to its 

 former owner. By his explanation the origin of the 

 report was fully shown. He believed the fowl ex- 

 hibited to be fully his own, and he exhibited it as 

 such. Several other members made explanatJry 

 remarks aiding in clearing up the transaction. 



On motion, the matter was dropped. 



A vote for President was then had, which resulted 

 as follows: S. N. Warfel, '-'^ votes ; S. S. Spencer, 

 4 votes, and Charles E. Long, 2 votes. 



The President [announced Mr. S. N. Warfel to be 

 the successful candidate, and a motion was 

 madeto instruct the Secretary to inform him 

 of the fact and to request him to accept the honor. 

 Carried. 



W. A. Schoenlierger was nominated to iill the 

 vacancy on the Executive Committee which would 

 be occasioned by the retirement of Mr. Warfel to 

 assume the Presidency of the society. 

 How Early in the Season Shall We Set Our 

 Hens? 



W. J. Kafroth said it was always time to set hens 

 — winter as well as summer. 



Mr. Buch believed the latter part of February 

 was as early as hens could be set safely. Young 

 birds need grass and they can't get this earlier. 

 Chicks hatched in the latter part of January 

 or February do not do so well as those hatched 

 later. 



Mr. Flowers agreed with the latter speaker. His 

 March chicks have always beaten the January and 

 February ones by far. 



H. H. Tshudy thought much depended on the 

 weather. If that was lavorable, he believed the ear- 

 lier they were hatched the better. Among some 

 farmers the belief is prevalent that late chickens- 

 hatched at harvest time — are the best. All things 

 considered, he believed March the best month to 

 hatch chicks. 



J. Trissler believed any month prior to June and 

 July was equally good. Early chicks, as a rule, are 

 best. 



J. M.Johnston, who had some of the chicks hatch- 

 ed in the incubator, reported them all dead. He 

 took too good care of them altogether. 



Others reported success with these little waifs, 

 who are thriving finely. 



.Mr. Johnston held a private inquest over one of 

 his chicks and described the symptoms of disease 

 manifested with all the minuteness of a coroner's 

 physician, and no doubt came about as near the true 

 cause as such inquests usually do. 



Mr. Frank Greist was the essayist of the day, and 

 read the following : 



Did the larger varieties of fowls at the late exhi- 

 bition receive a sufficient number of premiums as 

 compared with the smaller varieties ? 



The first difficulty that presents itself is the di- 

 vision into larger and smaller varieties, but for the 

 purpose of answering this question v/e will say first 

 that those which from an utilitarian point of view are 

 of most value — the Asiatics and Plymouth Rocks, 

 together, of course, with the turkeys, ducks and 

 geese — are the larger fowls, and that all others shall 

 be classed among the smaller varieties. According 

 to this division (not counting entries for the four 

 special premiums, amouting to ?25, S:;0 of which 

 was taken by small fowls) there were (j5 entries of 

 large fowls, paying entry fees of §''2. .50, and carry- 

 ing off premiums amounting to $:J1. As opposed lo 

 this, there were 143 entries of the smaller varieties, 

 paying cutry fees of $.')S. 50 and receiving premiums 

 of§«B..50. That is, eachentry of large fowls paid to 

 the exhibition 50 cents andjreceived from it 4712 cents 

 nearly, a gain for the association of 2>:; cents on each 

 entry, while in the smaller varieties each entry gave 

 to the exhibitiou 41 1-5 cents, and received from it 

 an average of til cents, the exhibition losing on each 

 entry 19 4-5 cents. 



The average loss on each pigeon entry was 25 

 cents ; aaiiaries, .50 cents ; Polish, 83';; cents. Ex- 

 cept Dorkings and turkeys, where the 50 cents 

 entry fee was all gain, they having received no 

 premiums, the largest average gain was in Plymouth 

 Rocks, SO cents. 



Omitting pigeons, canaries and the parrot from 

 this calculation, we have seventy varieties of smaller 

 fowls, giving 540. .50 and taking 8.50..5O, making an 

 average loss of 14 2-7 cents on each entry. 



Excluding special cash premiums above mentioned 

 and the entries therefore, the average loss through- 

 out on each entry was 12 4-5 cents ; including them, 

 18 cents. 



It was stated before the exhibition that the entry 

 fees would pay the premiums, and as no one objected 

 to this I suppose every one considered that to be 

 about right. The sequel shows that they lacked 

 $40 of doing this, and as the entries were even 

 greater in number than was expected, this deficiency 

 can only be accounted for on the hypothesis that 

 entirely too many premiums (vere given to the 

 smaller fowls. 



This has been blamed on the pigeons, but the loss 

 on them is only about half of the total loss. 



What is the object in raising poultry? To obtain 

 flesh, eggs and feathers. Tlien the poultry most 

 needed is that which best answers this purpose — 

 furnish good flesh and eggs for the table, and lay 

 and propagate most rapidly. Are Bantams, Games 

 and Polish on the one hand, orjBrahmas, Cochins, Ply- 

 mouth Rocks and Leghorns on the other, best fitted 

 for this? Most emphatically the latter. I doubt 

 whether there is a man in Lancaster county, choos- 

 ing from the standpoint of usefulness, who would 

 not take the Plymouth Rock exhibit in preference 

 to the whole batch of pigeons, although the 

 former took but ?3 in premiums to the latter's 

 ?34K. 



It may be held that we should cultivate fowls for 

 beauty, as well as for utility, but should not those 

 which are pre-eminently both of these receive more 

 consideration at the hands of an association of 

 poultry raisers than varieties which are purely orna- 

 mental ? And what fowls on exhibition were 

 more beautiful than some of the Brahmas and 

 Cochins? 



It is also an acknowledged fact that it is easier to 

 get bantams that will count a higher score than 

 larger fowls. 



■Taking all these into consideration, I not only be- 

 lieve that the larger fowls received too few premiums 

 at the Lancaster County Exhibition, but that they 

 do at nearly all sirailiar exhibitions throughout the 

 country. Tour Secretary will tell you that out of 

 $700 lost on premiums in thirteen exhibitions from 

 which he has recently heard, only S91 was lost on 

 Asiatics, Plymouth Rocks and Spanish and about 

 ?4.50 on Games, Hamburgs, Bantams, Polish and 

 Pigeons . 



From away "down East" the Secretary of the 

 Southern Massachusetts Poultry Association sends 

 his laments. He thinks there should be some re- 

 vision respecting the pigeon department, and sug- 

 gests that throughout no premiums should be paid 

 when there is no competition. This would of course 

 make the list of the premiums much smaller, and 

 would pecuuiarly benefit the association, but yet 

 would not equalize matters sufficiently to give the 

 larger fowls a chance. 



When competition is between large and small 

 fowls, a discount of 5 per cent, might put them more 

 nearly on equal footing. 



Less bantams weigh higher points — that is, the 

 less valuable they are as a marketable bird, the 

 higher will they score. 



Mr. Greist's essay did not find favor with the 

 breeders of pigeons, who thought their favorites got 

 scant treatment. 



Secretary Liclity had gone to a good deal of trouble 

 to get some light on the subject. He had thirty re- 

 plies from secretaries of Poultry Associations giving 

 their views. From an analysis of these replies he 

 found that Dark and Light Brahmas, Cochins and 

 Plymouth Rocks were the most profitable varieties 

 to Societies; the smaller and pet varieties particularly 

 famous for running away with the premiums of ex- 

 hibitions. The general conclusion was that the 

 smaller classes get to many premiums. 



Chas. E. Long thanked Mr. Griest for his essay, 

 and also thought the Secretary ought to be com- 

 mended for the trouble he had gone to in securing 

 the facts he had given us. He believed the larger 

 varieties got all they were entitled to at the late 

 exhibition. He contended the premiums were fairly 

 awarded — as fairly as they were at any show. He 

 joined issue with Mr. Greist for classing Game birds 

 with the smaller varieties. 



John A. Stober believed the objectof poultry shows 

 was to improve the breeds of fowls. He had tried 

 many kinds; he now breeds Brown Leghorns and 

 thinks more of them than any of the larger breeds 

 he has ever had. 



J. B. Long has also breed mauy kinds; lie has 

 found the Black Cochins to be the greatest layers 

 of them all. He gave the facts to prove what he 

 said. 



H. H. Tshudy said Mr. Stober has not got far 

 enough yet. When he gets Plymouth Rocks he will 

 change his opinion, and when Mr. Long's Black 

 Cochins begin to hatch, he will also change his 

 views. 



Secretary Lichty thought too much attention was 

 given to money premiums; awards are worth far 

 more than their mere money value. 



The discussion on this subject took a wide range, 

 and much entertaining information was elicited. 



Question for Discussion, 



Is there any way to reduce the flying propensities 

 of Leghorns ? Referred to Jacob B. Long. 



There being no further business the society ad- 

 journed. 



LINN^AN SOCIETY. 



A stated meeting of the Linnaian Society was held 

 on Saturday, February 38, 1880, President Rev. J. 8. 

 Stahr in the chair. After attending to the opening 

 duties the donations to the museum were examined, 

 and found to consist of a fine specimen of fish, 

 caught below the dam at Columbia, and sent per Mr. 

 Geo. F, Rathvon, and subniitted to J. Stauffer, chair- 

 man of the committee on ichthiology for a name, 

 which he gave as the Ainbloplitt'i rupestrn, a fish 

 only known in Lake Erie and the Western waters, 

 and new for the Susquehanna. A specimen of ore. 

 A dark colored large tooth, sent last October by Geo. 

 D. Boggs, Elizabethtown, and by him supposed to be 

 a fossil tooth. On inspection it has not attained the 

 stage of a fossil, and proves to be the tooth of a 

 horse. 



A bottle containing one of a number of singular 

 productions, passed by a respectable female of this 

 city, similar to those claimed by Doctor Campbell to 

 have been crabs, a year ago, by one of his patients. 

 This is intended to be submitted to Dr. Davis for a 

 microscopic inspection, to determine its character. 

 One bottle, having a singular growth found, on what 

 they call fish-bred, an alg»e or fungus growth, not 

 inspected— both deposited by S. S. Rathvon. Several 

 very large, flattish, circular beans, from a pod said 

 to attain four feet in length ; also, thin, flat double 

 seeds, with fine silky wings, two inches on each side, 

 from some shrub, no doubt similar to the catalpa 

 bean or tree, together with 9 leaves of palm leaf- 

 part of a sacred book of the Burmah religion, and a 

 translation ; title, "Justice and Mercy Reconciled;" 

 donated by Miss Salome S. Lefevre, who had been 

 a missionary in Burmah for years. For the inspec 

 tion of the members present she also had on exhibi- 

 tion a book in leaves about 3H inches wide and 20 

 inches long, embossed with raised letters of a shiny 

 black polish on a gilded ground, and a gorgeously 

 colored envelope or cover — quite a curiosity, but no 

 one volunteered to read the title even. Sculptured 

 idols, artistically made, together with richly colored 

 pictures of some of their gods and goddesses, such 

 as the Krishna and Radhika, or the Monkey God ; 

 Kali, the bloody war goddess ; Ganeh, the Elephant 

 God; Mohader, or Lakkhia and Sn-araswati, two 

 daughters of Mohadar. These water-color paintings 

 are in the oriental style, rich in color smoothly laid 

 on, but like those of the Chinese or Japanese, not 

 remarkable for perspective skilljor thruthful outline. 

 A framed bouquet of flowers per Mrs. Zell from 

 specimen collected in Palestine by Miss Lefevre, the 

 "Rose of Sharon" occupying the centre. -Mr. Rath- 

 von exhibited a full large "flower of the hellebore, 

 called Christmas rose, wondering why this was not 

 more cultivated, as it yields flowers in succession, 

 from December to April, out of doors, when no flow- 

 ers are about. 



To the historical section, Chas. A. Heinitsh, esq., 

 added a revenue tax receipt from Leonard Eicholtz, 

 dated Feb. 31, 1816 — on saddles, Jas. Humes, col- 

 lector. S. S. Rathvon, four envelopes containing 

 clippings of historical interest. 



To the library. Proceedinas of the Academy of 

 Natural Science, Philadelphia, Part II., April to 

 October, 1879. The Lancaster Farmer for February. 

 No. 1, Soieidiflc A-di'ocalc; editor, A. Green, Atco, 

 N. J. Sunday-school book notices and catalogues. 



Papers read: J. Stauffer read an illustrated paper. 

 No .537, ou the fish named by him as the AiiMopliies 

 ruapcslris, andffrom a copy of it sent to S. S. Baird, 

 secretary of the Smithsonian society, the name was 

 pronounced correct aud it is considered new for the 

 waters of Pennsylvania, and of interest, Prof. Baird 

 desiring the loan of the specimen to compare it with 

 those they have from the Western waters. S. S. 

 Rathvon read a miscellaneous record of articles de- 

 posited and whence taken. 



New business; Miss Salome S. Lefevre was pro- 

 posed and unanimously elected a corresponding 

 member of this society, and on motion a vote of cor- 

 dial thanks was given her for the pleasure aflbrded 

 by the display of Indian curiosities and her expla- 

 nation as well as for the desirable specimens donated 

 to the society. 



The President, Rev. J. S. Stahr, asked if the society 

 could not publish a small monthly sheet of its pro- 

 ceedings? A motion was then made that a com- 

 mittee of three be appointed to ascertain the cost 

 aud expediency so to do and exchange with other 

 societies. The motion was agreed to, when Mr. 

 Stauffer nominated Rev. J. S. Stahr, S.S. Rathvon 

 and Rev. Dr. J. H. Dubbs as that committee, and 

 they were agreed to. Mr. Rathvon reported a bill 

 for alcohol; "ordered to he paid. The treasurer was 

 authorized to subscribe for the ficience Advocate for 

 one year. 



Under scientific miscellany the religion and pro- 

 ducts of Burmah was discussed, or rather comment- 

 ed upon, and after spending a few hours in a highly 

 interesting and profitable manner the society ad- 

 journed. 



SuusCHtBERS will please consult the little lable 

 on their paper, and see if their subscription is paid 

 up to 1880, if not, they would confer a favor by at- 

 tending to the matter immediately. 



