1880 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



59 



tame old trouble over. Three principal constituents 

 enter into corn, and all we want to know Is in which 

 of them we are dcfleient. 



Root Crops. 



H. JI. Engle read the following essay on the above 

 Bubject : 



This fiucstion will apply to almost any other farm 

 crop. In reply I would therefore say that they are 

 profitable under certain circumstances. 



Root crops, as a rule, are i^reiit feeders, and there- 

 fore require well prepared and enriched soil, and in 

 addition, thorouirh after-culture, to jiroduce payinj:; 

 crops. The common turnip (of which there are 

 many varieties) is most easily (frown, and requires 

 the shortest season of all root crops, and Is at the 

 same time of least value. Kuta-ba^'a reciuires more 

 care, and a little longer season, but are of more 

 value as food. 



Next come maneiolds and sugar beets, both of 

 which require a still lousier season and consequently 

 more Cultivation. The former yields more tons per 

 acre than any other root crop, while the latter is 

 equal if not superior in nutrative elements to all 

 other root crops, and to whicli I shall call special 

 attention before I close. Carrots and parsnips re- 

 quire the entire season to mature, and as food for 

 man and beast are very valuable. Willi proper at- 

 tention they will yield in quantity with most other 

 root crops. Yields are reported from a few tons to 

 twenty-five, and even more, per acre, owin? to soil, 

 climate, and, above all, to management. No person 

 wishing to produce the best results in milk and liut- 

 ter, and have Ids stock come out iu siuiug as it 

 should, can afford to do without some root crop. 

 There Is no (and never will lie any) butter-coloring 

 equal to that produced by feeding carrots, parsnips 

 or sugar beets in winter. The present fashionable 

 butter-coloring so much in use is doiug.more to hide 

 defects in butter, and give it a good appearance, 

 than to improve its quality, and does not give it that 

 rich Dutty flavor which is imparted l)y feeding roots 

 of the best quality, and I doubt whether oleomarga- 

 rine is more objectionable, at least not more decep- 

 tive. Both should stand upon their intrinsic merits. 

 The sugar question is becoming an imi)ortant one 

 to our country, in which the sugar beet will, at no 

 distant day, play an important part. I wish, there- 

 fore, to impress the matter upon the mii.ds of our 

 farmers for consideration, so that we may not be 

 lagging behind. lam well aware that iu this and 

 neighboring counties, where the tobacco growing 

 mania is so rampant, it is an up hill business ; but 

 there are still a good many farmers who are con- 

 scientious in growing the weed, and not a few who 

 are about half consKientious, and would not grow it 

 were it not for the mighty dollar it brings. Now 

 those who grow the weed without auy compunction 

 might for humanity's sake help produce some of the 

 sweets of life, as an offset to the production of the 

 nauseous, which causes so much embittermeut to 

 so large a propoi-tiou of the human family. 



It will be admitted that sugar beet growing will 

 never bring such large returns as tobacco has iu 

 years past, but for Ihe purpose of sugar it has 

 proved to return from S.50 to SLiO per acre, and, 

 being less exhaustive to the soil than tobacco, and 

 leaving the ground in equally good condition for a 

 wheat crop, should l3e an inducement for farmers to 

 turn their attention in that direction, and to have at 

 hand not only more crops for rotation but also to 

 add to our industries. 



He also read an interesting article from the New 

 York Trilnme, advocating the cultivation of the 

 sugar beet and making sugar from it. He advoca- 

 ted the cultivation of this important crop. 



E.S.Hoover was interested iu this subject. He 

 believes nothing is so good a substitute for grass as 

 good roots. The time will come when we will have 

 as many root cellars as tobacco cellars; we may, in 

 case the latter business declines, turn our tobacco 

 cellars into root cellars. Beets are of more value 

 than farmers are aware of. Roots will do away 

 with the use of cattle powders. The time will come 

 when farmers will provide themselves with roots as 

 regularly as with hay, and when they will be one of 

 the regular farm crops. They are especially valua- 

 ble for dairy purposes. They are not properly ap 

 preciated by our farmers. No food can he provided 

 with the same labor that will do as mucli good. 

 Nothing keeps cattle in such good order as roots. 



J. C. Linville was glad this root business was 

 called up. He has grown them for years and with 

 favorable results. There is not so much nutriment 

 in them, but they seem to aid cattle in assimilating 

 other foods. He believed all farmers should grow 

 more or less. As milk producers they are excellent; 

 slightly fermented, they are better feed than when 

 not. Do not feed too strongly of beets; one feed a 

 day is enough. He practices this method. He has 

 difficulty in growing ruta-bagas; sugar beets have 

 done well with him. 



Henry Kurtz wanted to know how many tons of 

 beets were necessary to every cow during the winter 

 season. 



Dr. C. A. Greene said a variety of food is required 

 by cattle as much as by men. Lay ditferent foods 

 before cows and they will select a variety. They get 



tired of grass and of hay. They are fond of beets 

 and carrots and will eat them as greedily as any 

 thing you can give them. 



H. -M. Engle discussed the root question as food 

 for stock at considerable length. Gave his experi- 

 ence in it and related many interesting facts derived 

 from his own observation. He is an earnest advo- 

 cate of root-food. He spoke in favor of growing the 

 sugar beet in this county and hoped the time was 

 near when they would be grown so largely here as to 

 warrant the establishment of a sugar beet factory. 



Does it Pay to Cut Fodder for Stock ? 

 W. II. Brosius answered this question aflirma- 

 tivcly. He has practiced it for some years and with 

 the liesl results. Meal when mixed with rough or 

 bulky food, does much better than when fed by 

 itself. He gave it as his decided opinion that it was 

 to the farmer's benefit in every way to cut fodder for 

 cattle. 



Henry Kurtz also gave testimony in favor of cut- 

 ting cornfoddcr for cattle. He practiced it, and 

 always with most favorable results. Besides, you 

 have less trouhlc iu putting out your numure, as 

 well as in cleaning your stables. 



Harry (i. Rush is satisfied that cliafVis as good as 

 cornfoddcr, and is already prepared feu- use. To 

 cut all the cornfoddcr is no little trouljle and no 

 trifling expense. To cut our fodder is as much ex- 

 pense as to harvest your corn crop. He has used 

 chaff two years, and has had all the results he could 

 have had from cut fodder. 



Wm. McComscy was satisfled from his own expe- 

 rience and observation that one ton of cut fodder was 

 equal to two tons in its natural state. Fodder con- 

 tains more nutriment than is believed. 



J. C. Linville said cut fodder will go much further 

 if cut very small — the smaller the better. 



Harry G. Rush asked if corn stalks have as much 

 nutriment as the leaves, why the cattle prefer the 

 latter? He was told the woody, fibre in the stalk 

 was objectionable to cattle if given to them. 

 Miscellaneous Business. 

 John H. Landis presented to the society the agri- 

 cultural reports of the States of New Jersey, New 

 York, Missouri, Massachusetts, Michigan and In- 

 diana. 



A vote of thanks was given him for the same. 

 A committee of three was appointed to audit the 

 accounts of the late treasurer of the society, Levi W. 

 Groff. E. S.Hoover, F. R. Diffenderffer and Wm. 

 McComscy were named as the committee. 



A motion was made and carried to appoint a com- 

 mittee of three, with Dr. S. S. Rathvon as Chairman, 

 to express the sense of this society on the death of 

 our late me;uber, J. StauH'er. The other members 

 of the committee were S. P. Eby, esq., and H. M. 

 Engle, and they reported the following ; 



WnERE.vs, It has pleased God to remove from the 

 material plane of life our late fellow member, .Mr. 

 Jacob Stauflcr— for many years the botanist and 

 chemist of this society — and whose removal is an 

 irreparable loss, not only to this society, his family, 

 and this county, but also to the State of Pennsyl- 

 vania at large ; therefore, 



Rexoli'ea,'T\\3.t in the death of Mr. Stauffer, agri- 

 culture, horticulture, botany, and their correlative 

 occupations, as well as the community in general, 

 are deprived of the services of an efficient and cheer- 

 ful colaborcr, a friend of social progress, and a 

 symyathizer in all that relates to human welfare. 



RcsoleeiJ, That while we submit with human 

 resignation to the wisdom of Hinx, "in whom we 

 live and move and have our being," yet in human 

 weakness we cannot but feel regret that the social 

 relations between us and our departed member h.-vve 

 been so suddenly severed, and that on this earth we 

 shall meet him no more. 



kcsob'cd, That in the removal of Mr. Stauffer this 

 society has lost a distinguished patron, the commu- 

 nity a useful fellow-citizen, science an industrious 

 and patient co-laborer, and his family a kind parent 

 and friend. 



licsoli-ed, That we are in unfeigned sympathy with 

 all those sentiments of bereavement whicli have been 

 so feelingly expressed by tiic community and other 

 associations to which our late fellow-member be- 

 longed. 



liesohied, That we condole with his family and 

 friends, but not as " those who mourn without 

 hope ;" that these sentiments be recorded iu the 

 proceedings of the society, an that copies be sent to 

 the members of the family. 



S. S. Rathvon, 

 It. M. Engle, 

 S. P. Eby. 

 J. V. Witmer called attention to the fact that the 

 Board of .Managers liavc the entire control of the 

 matters pertaining to the coming fair. They are 

 unwilling to assume all tliese labors. He thought 

 all the officers of the society should be united with 

 them. There would tlieu be a more equal division 

 of responsibility and labor. 



J. C. Linville made a motion that article i:i of the 

 by-laws be so amended as to include all the officers 

 of the society among the Board of .Managers. 



"Ttie amendment was read and, under tlie rule, 

 lies over until the next meeting for action. 



Questions for Discussion. 



Should potatoes lie cut into small pieces for plant- 

 ing ? Referred to II. M. Engle. 



Should large or small potatoes be selected to seed i 

 Referred to Win. .McComscy. 



Which is prefcraljle, hill planting or drilling corn 1 

 llcferrcd to U. (i. Rusli. 



What per cent, of tobacco should be cultivated by 

 our farmers ! Referred to Henry Kurtz. 



There liciiig no further business before the society 

 a motion to adjourn was adopted. 



POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Lancaster County Poultry Association met 

 Elatedly Monday morning, April 5, at 10'.^ o'clock 

 in their rooms. 



The meeting was called to order by the newly 

 elected President, S. N. Warfel, who upon taking 

 the chair said : 



The business of which wo meet to consider la as 

 yet iu its infancy in this county. It lias about it 

 pIcasuH!, and, what is of equal importance, profit. 

 The man who gives to the world a new breed of 

 fowls — awakens for those already in existence a new 

 or a deeper interest — makes the best modes of keep- 

 ing better understood— and especially, iu calling out 

 a tovc for the beautiful denizens of the farm yard, 

 calls it away from things hat degrade and belittle— 

 has pleasure which others never dream of. The 

 profits to be derived I'rom the business of breeding 

 improved poultry must be the subject of a special 

 paper. Sultice it for the present merely to say, that 

 I believe !5.5ilO a year is not a wide estimate of what 

 may be realized ou a hennery of fifty fowls judi- 

 ciously managed. 



But I must not detain you longer at this time. 

 Gentlemen, I heartily thank you fur the compliment 

 you have paid me in your choice of chairman. I 

 cannot take tiiis seat vacated by your former re- 

 spected President without feeling almost as If 1 

 were stealing a position which belongs to another. 

 Had I co-operated more earnestly in the organiza- 

 tion of this society, 1 should have less compunction 

 iu now accepttng" the Presidency. But coming as I 

 did after that had proved a success wliich was re- 

 garded by many as hut a doubtful experiment, I 

 cannot avoid the conclusion that this honor whicli 

 you have conferred upon me is more to be credited 

 to your goodness than any merit of my own. I can, 

 therefore, only show my appreciation of your kind- 

 ness by endeavoring to serve you in the most faithful 

 and impartial manner. 



Members Present. 



The following members responded to the roll call: 

 S. N. Warfel,' Strasburg, President; Frank Greisl, 

 city; W. L. Ucrshey, Rapho; F. K. DitfenderUer, 

 city; Henry Wisslcr, Columbia; Dr. BeruthciscI, Co- 

 lumbia; H. II. Tshudy, Litilz; J. B. Lichty, city; C. 

 A. Gast, citv; Ferdinand Shaeller, city; W. II. Bol- 

 linger, Warwick; J. B.Long, city; Clias. E. Long, 

 city; John M. Hagans, Strasburg; Ubadiah Kcudig, 

 Lancaster. 



The minutes were read by the secretary, and on 

 motion approved. 



Klection of New Members. 



John B. Eshleman, of West Hemiilield, and D. D. 

 Courtney, of ElizabetliTown, were nominated to 

 mcmlicrship and unanimously elected. 



Secretary Lichty asked to be furnished with a 

 book of certificates, to be issued to members. The 

 society granted the askeil for permission. 



Discussions. 



Is there any way to reduce the flying propensities 

 of Leghorns ? 



II. H. Tshudy keeps Leghorns but has no trouble 

 In keeping them iu an enclosure with a low fence. 

 He clips one wing on each bird. 



Dr. Berntheise'l said you can prevent hens from 

 flying by clipping their wings, but you eau't break 

 down the propensity of birds to lly. 



J. B. Lichty said tailless cats had been produced 

 by cutting oll'thcir tails for many generations. Can 

 we not do the same thing by removing the quill 

 feathers for a scries of years. There are ways of 

 pinioning the wings which will prevent them from 



F.'r. DiQ'endcrfler suggested the removal of the 

 outer wing joint. He found it very successful when 

 used on wild ducks and geese, although the latter 

 retained their propensity to migrate when the season 

 to do so came around, iu the spring and fall. 



President Wai lei related the case of a man who 

 has Golden Pheasants which have the wing cut olT 

 at the first joiut, which prevents them from fiying. 



J. B. Long thought kindness may do somewhat to 

 prevent Leghorns from flying, but the only effective 

 remedies were to cut off their wing feathers or their 

 heads, either of which will bring the answer. 



J. B. Lichty thought there was some connection 

 with the wonderful laying qualities of Leghorns and 

 their great activity. They are always In motion, 

 always on the alert and this may have some eflect 

 ou their egg producing capacity. 



