1880.J 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



75 



practical men explain to various classes, or to 

 the whole school if it be not very lar^c, how 

 all they see have been accomplished. For 

 this purpose it would not do to have regular 

 professors explain thiiiRs, for they would in 

 very few instances be able to give a rational 

 explanation of what they saw; but practical 

 men themselves who have been daily cnjiagcd 

 in these pursuits. They would not perhaps 

 be able at once to express themselves as elo- 

 quently as the regular teachers, but they 

 would soon be able to do it understandingly, 

 and that would accomplish the whole object. 



We know that llie great majority of these 

 practical men think they cannot speak. It is 

 the great astonishment that whenever a 

 meeting of agriculturists in our country dis- 

 tricts is held, so many excellent men who 

 could tell a great deal, say nothing. They 

 think they cannot ; but this is not so. We 

 see the same men as teachers of morality, and 

 the princi|iles of religion in Sunday scliools 

 and the church-meetings, and generally with 

 great benefit to the young whom they address, 

 quite as profitably in fact as the ministers 

 themselves, who have had the benefit of a 

 college education. It is not to be doubted 

 that they could tell quite as good a story 

 about their every-day occupations to schools 

 in the way we have suggested, as they can in 

 the church meetings or religious gatherings. 



If something of this kind could be doue, we 

 think agricultural and horticultm-al education 

 might be made feasible, in so far as the main 

 elements are concerned. The change itself 

 from the routine course of the schools would 

 have a great iutluence on the health of the 

 children, and a change which would re-act 

 favorably on the mental capacity to retain 

 the instruction in other things imparted day 

 by day. More tlian this there are many ways 

 in which such a system would act for good, 

 not only on the taught, but on the teachers 

 also. — Oermantmon Telegraph. 



EXCELLENT GLYCERINE OINTMENT. 

 A very good jjreparation of glycerine to have 

 always on hand, can be readily prepared by 

 any apothecary or druggist: In two ounces of 

 sweet oil of almonds, melt, by a slow heat, 

 half an ounce of spermaceti, and one drachm 

 of white wax. Then add one ounce of good 

 glycerine, stirring until cold. When cold, 

 scent it by stirring in well a little oil of roses. 

 Keep in small jars, or small wide-necked 

 bottles. In hot weather keep closely corked, 

 as it sometimes gets a little rancid if long ex- 

 posed to warmth. Half or a fourth of the 

 above quantities may be used. Every drug 

 store should keep a jar of it, and recommend 

 its use. It is excellent for softening the skin, 

 for most injured skin surfaces that are not 

 open sores ; for chafed places, for moistening 

 corns or callused feet or toes, and especially 

 for chapped face, lips, or hands. When the 

 hands are chapped or cracked, or roughened 

 by cold, wash them clean with soap, and rub 

 tliem well with this glycerine ointment, wip- 

 ing it off enough to prevent soiling clothing. 

 If this is done at night, the hands will be soft 

 and in good condition in the morning, except 

 when deeply cracked. It is very good to ap- 

 ply to the hands after "washing day." This 

 is an excellent preparation to use by those 

 afflicted with the distressing trouble known 

 as hemorrhoids or piles. — Anicrkan Agricul- 

 turist. 



OUR LOCAL Organizations. 



LANCASTER COUNTY AGRICULTU- 

 RAL AND HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The Agricultural and Horticultural Society met 

 statedly in their room over the City Hall Monday 

 afternoon, May 3rd, at two o'clock, J. F. Witmer, 

 president, in the cliair. 



The following meml>ers and vii^itors were present ; 

 Frank R. Diffcnderfler, city; William Griest, city; 

 J. M. Johnston, city; C. A. Gast, city; Levi S. Keist, 

 Manheim; Peter S.'Keist; Lititz; H.M.Engle, Ma- 

 rietta; J. C. Linville, Gap; Calvin Cooper, Bird-in. 

 Hand; M. D. Kendig, Creeswell, Joseph F. Witmer, 



Paradise, W. H. Bollincrer, Warwick; Jonas BucU- 

 waltcr, East Lampeter; A. L. Eshlcinan, Paradise; 

 Dr. C. A. Greene, cily; Dr. Compton, cil>; Johnson 

 .Miller, Warwiels; W. L. Hersliey, Clilekles: J. G. 

 Eieeh, IVquea; VV.H.lirosliis, Drumorc; John M. I,an- 

 dis, .MUkrsville; C. i^. Munsecker, .Manheim; I'eter 

 IliTBliey, city; Dr. S. S. Katlivon, city; Israel l.andis, 

 city; E[ihraini S. Hoover, Manhciin;"j. Hollman Her- 

 sliey, VVesl llempHeld. Jacoo B. Garber, MouutvlUe; 

 A. D. Hostetter, Millersvillc. 



Ou motion the readinij of the minutes of the pre- 

 ceding mectinjr was dispi-used with. 



The ehairman of tlie Board of Managers reported 

 that tlic hoiird had lield several sessions for the pur- 

 pose of preparing a premium list lor exhibitors at 

 the coming lair. ' The list was partially completed, 

 and it would he llnished to-day. 



The committte appointed to audit the accounts of 

 the late treasurer olthe society, reported him to 

 have a balance iu his hands due the society ofJOS .99. 



Mr. Heist reported a promising harvest for seeds 

 and IVuiis. Everything looks well, and api)le trees 

 that have not bloomed lor several years are now 

 covered with flowers. It is loo early to give an 

 opinion as to small fruits, but it is thought they will 

 turn out fair. 



.Mr. Engle said that the grain and fruit crops are 

 really very promising. The grass crop also promises 

 to turn out well. Ajjples never bloomed tiner. 

 Pears are not so profuse as a year ago, but. a good 

 crop may be looked for. Oats looks very promising. 

 The rainfall for April was 21.; inches. In .March the 

 fall was three anil one-sixteenth inches. 



Mr. Linville said that the wheat looked remark- 

 ably line, but he thought In some fields it was grow- 

 inii too last. The peaches, so far as he could see, 

 were all killed. Cherries promise very well. The 

 jirospect for a good crop of apples is promising. 



Mr. Miller said that the condition of things in 

 Warwick township was favorable in regard to the 

 crops. The fruit trees are now in bloom, and the in- 

 dications are very encouraging for a good crop of 

 fruit. 



Calvin Cooper said his experience, was the same 

 as the preceding gentleman as regards the crops. 



Mr. Kendig said the young tobacco plants had sur- 

 vived the extreme cold in March, although out of 

 doors at the time. 



Mr. Engle observed the same thing in reference to 

 other small plants. He thought the reason for this 

 was because of the continued cold weather, which 

 caused them to become more hardy. 



Mr. Kesh thought the tobacco plants were a little 

 late, and he attributed this state of affairs to the 

 cold weather. 



Dr. C. A. Creene read the following essay upon 

 the subject of poultry raising : 



For forty years, with occasional interruptions, it 

 has been my fortune (as boy and man,) to cire for 

 poultry, and some experiences I have gathered dur- 

 ing these years I propose now to make public for all 

 who are interested in the matter, and for conveni- 

 ence sake I will arrange the facts under dilTerent 

 lieads : 



1. Hens, if properly kept, are a source of profit 

 and comfort to the owner. 



2. The eggs can be increased in size and richness 

 by pro|)er I'eeding of the fowls. 



3. They refiuire a variety of food, and get exces- 

 sively tired of one kind. 



4. The egg contains almost all the constituents of 

 the human body, and hence the hen must have a va- 

 riety of food to construct it. 



5. No other product of animal or vegetable life 

 eonlahiB substances exactly like the albumen and 

 yolk of an c^i^. 



6. The hen ceases laying when improperly fed, or 

 when in a diseased condition. 



7. They require a warm, clean, properly ventilated 

 house for winter months. 



8. If by neglect vermin infest the bird roosts and 

 house they should at once be removed, as they are 

 deleterious to the health of these friends of man. 



9. The droppinsis of the hens should be occasion- 

 ally removed. They should not be allowed to accu- 

 mulate. The floors should he covered with loam or 

 sand. 



10. As hens require a deal of water, drinking only 

 a small quantity at a time, it should be supplied 

 abundantly and kept clean and fresh. 



11. As they rei|uire, and must have, carbonate 

 anil phosphate of lime for their shells, it must be 

 given them in unstinted quantities, and iu the most 

 convenient manner for them to pick and swallow 

 into their crops. 



12. These requirements will be found in old plas- 

 tering, broken oyster shells, and best of all, in fresh 

 bones, with some of the gristle and meat attached. 

 It should he cut up on a log with a hatchet evcTry 

 day; the strife made by the fowls to get at it when 

 oflered them will plainly prove to you that they like 

 and need it. The instincts of the hen in summer, 

 with a proper range, will teach it what and where to 

 collect the variety of food required. In winter when 

 housed, man must supply it to them. 



13. As heus have no teeth, and drop their food 

 into their craws unmasticated, in orde.- to digest it 

 they must have access to stones and gravel, which 



being swallowed takes the place of teeth in their 

 stomach, hence they must have a liberal supply of 

 gravel. 



14. The application of sulphur sprinkled upon tbe 

 fowls, while roosting or otherwise, with a pepper box, 

 will destroy vermin. Coal oil applieil to their roosts 

 111 small quantities will also kill parasites. Two or 

 three drops of whale oil, dropped oceaslonallv on the 

 back of a hen or any other bird will kill the lleo. 



15. The nesis must occasionally be renewed and 

 kept clean. Straw is better than hay. Tobacco 

 stems covered with straw is an excellent prevention 

 of Insect breedlni;, especially when they arc selling. 



10. When clucking and not neadcd for mothers, 

 the quickest way to stop their chlcRen-ralsing desire 

 Is to put them in boxes or cages without anything to 

 lay upon except the board. 



17. A lew lowls in separate pens arc much more 

 profliable and more easily kept healthy than In 

 larger numbers. 



IS. They require and must have in winter green 

 food, such as grass, turnips, beet or cabbage leaves. 



19. The temperature of a coop should not be al- 

 lowed to be lower than 4.5 degrees In winter and 

 should be most of the tune up to 60 degrees. 



ao. Corn and wheal middlings, corn unground, 

 oats, bread and other slops from the house should all 

 be fed, changing as often as twice a week. 



21. Like cows, horses and other stock, harsh treat- 

 ment injures them. They like a kind master, and 

 know his voice as quick as heard. 



•Si. Hens should be killed when three years old, as 

 they lay less eggs every year after the third, and 

 they iialurttlly become diseased and are not so good 

 eating when older. 



23. The sooner in Ihtf spring you commence set- 

 ting the heus for the purpose of raising chickens the 

 better; late chickens generally fare badly. 



34. Pullets rarely make good mothers; three and 

 four year old hens are best. 



z.'j. The best layers are the white, black and red 

 Leghorns, and light Brahmas. 



.Mr. Engle agreed with the views of the essayist in 

 every particular. He thought people made a great 

 mistake in keeping their fowls too long on hand. 

 For good layers they should never be kept longer 

 than three years. 



Dr. Greene said ho would suggest the plan of 

 sprinkling the cabbage plants with black pepper In 

 order to kill the insects. He has found it to work 

 very well whenever used, and he hoped the plan 

 would be given a thorough test among the farmers of 

 the county. 



Mr. Engle thought the question as to the destruc- 

 tion of insects was an important one, and he hoped 

 it would be well thought over by the farmers. He 

 spoke of the various plaus he had adopted for the 

 destruction of insects. One of the best was to apply 

 Paris green. There are numerous remedies which are 

 undoubtedly Infallible, but the farmers must per- 

 severe in their eU'orls to eradicate the evils resulting 

 from the ravages of the insects. 



Hon. John H. Landis donated to the society tbe 

 agricultural reports of the Slate of Illinois for the 

 years LSTT, '7S and '79. 



On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered Mr. 

 Landis for his donation. 



Mr. H. M. Engle to whom had been referred the 

 questions "Should potates be cut into spiall pieces 

 for planting?" said the question was a mooted one, 

 and much could be said upon both sides of the ques- 

 tion. If potatoes are cm for planting, none but the 

 best should be used. They should not be allowed to 

 lie too long after eutting, so that ihey became dried 

 up. There is an idea that in order to secure good 

 crops of potatoes, tbe seed should he changed Ire- 

 qucntly. He thought when potatoes were wanted 

 for planting the farmers should select the largest 

 from the largest varieties. The smallest and most 

 imperfect should never be used If we would have a 

 good crop. 



Mr. Kesh did not think potatoes should be cut. A 

 small potato would certainly produce as good results 

 as a small piece of a large one. 



Mr. Brosiiis was in favor of plantlni; the larger 

 sized potatoes. In his observation he found that the 

 small potatoes had more eyes than the larger ones, 

 and he thought that when the larger ones were 

 planted the nutriment would naiurally be of more 

 advantage. 



Mr. Linville said it was said the small end of the 

 potato should be cut off and planted, and the remain- 

 der divided and planted. One season he went over 

 his patch and pulled out the small stalks, and he 

 never had a better crop in his life. He had cut into 

 pieces of one eye each, but never fouud that to work 

 to very good advantage. 



The question was fully discussed by a number of 

 other geullemen, after which the question "Which 

 is preferable in cultivating corn, hill planting or 

 drilling?" 



-Mr. H. 0. Resh, to whom the question had been 

 referred, said that the question, he thought, was en- 

 tirely one of convenience. Since the inlroduellon of 

 machine planting, however, one method was as con- 

 venient as the other. He did not think anything 

 could be gained by planting It in hills, except during 

 the catting season. Cutters generally preferred 



