1880] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



139 



teetion of the police, and what he asks is that 

 the keeping of bees may he placed in the 

 category of dangerous and unliealtliy occu- 

 pations. 



THE DEADLY FLUKE WORM. 



An insidious worm called the lluke is caus- 

 ing lo.s-ies among the sliecp in Great IJritaiu 

 actually exceeding, in tlio aggregate, the cost 

 of any of the war.s whicli liave iigm-ed in the 

 indictment upon wliich the Tory Ministry is 

 said to have been Couiid guilty. In some 

 parts of England, chielly in tiie southwestern 

 province, whole Hocks have perished, and not 

 B sheep is sound. 



Our Local Organizations. 



LANCASTER COUNTY AGRICULTU- 

 RAL AND HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The reffiilar moutljly moeliiig of tlu' Lancasti;r 

 County Aijricultural ami Ilorlicultural Society was 

 held on Monday al'ternoon, Scpteniljer Gth, in tlieir 

 rooms in this city, and the attendance was unusually 

 lari;e. 



The followinp: inemlicrs and visitors were in at- 

 tendance : Joseph F. Witmer, Paradise ; Henry M . 

 Ennle, Marietta ; .Martin D. Kendig, Manor ; W. W. 

 Griest, city; C. A. Gast, city; F. K. DifTenderfter, 

 city; Calvin Cooper, Bird-in-IIand ; Dr. C. A. 

 Greene, city ; J. C. Linville, Salisbury ; Julinson 

 Miller, Warwick ; J. M. Johnston, city; Wni. H. 

 Brosius, Drumore ; Win. MeComsey, city; Peter 

 Hershey, city ; John H. Landis, .Manor; Simon P. 

 Eby, city ; I. L. Landis, city ; P. S. Rcist, Lititz ; E. 

 8. Hoover, city ; Daniel Snieych, city; C. L. Ilun- 

 secker, Manheim ; Jacob Bollinger, Warw ick ; A. F. 

 Hostetter, city ; Jacob B. Garbcr, Columbia ; Amos 

 Grofl', Marlic ; Geo. W. Mason, city. 



On motion the reading of the minutes of last 

 meeting was dispensed with. 



Crop Reports. 



Henry M. Engle reported that in his section the 

 drouth during the month of .\ugusl had exercised a 

 serious efifcct on the pasture tields, late planted corn, 

 and on nearly all the fruits, the rainfall for the 

 mouth having been but 2 1-1(> inches. Peaches, how- 

 ever, were good, abundant, and consequently cheap. 

 Apples were very tine, but the coddling moth in con- 

 nection with the drouth was causing a great many 

 to drop, and if the drouth continued not many winter 

 apples could be expected. Grapes, too, were tine, 

 but the bees and the l)irds were very hard on them. 

 He could not defend the bees any longer, and could 

 net agree with those who say the bee had not 

 the power to puncture the skins of the grape. He 

 had tried the experiment of placing paper bags 

 around a number of perfect bunches, hut the bees 

 gained an entrance and entirely destroyed the fruit. 

 In one bag be found twenty bees and no wasps. 



Calvin Cooper said he had to add his condemna- 

 tion of the bees. They had destroyed all of his 

 grapes. If they continue to increase there would be 

 no fruit in a few years. Apples are droppiug prema- 

 turely, though not much all'ected by the coddling 

 moth . 



Johnson Miller reported a similar state of crops in 

 Warwick as Mr. Engle's report. He said the wasps, 

 however, did more injury to his grapes than the 

 bees. He said those who had sowed cloversced early 

 have no clover. The wheat crop produced less 

 bushels than was expected. Corn promises well, 

 and although the ears may be shorter, there were 

 more stalks that contained two ears than in Ibrnier 

 seasons. Pasture was plentiful, but that was proba- 

 bly owing to the fact that fewer cattle were kept. 



J. C. Linville also went tor the bees, and although 

 he kept them, they went for his grapes vigorously. 

 A short time ago he thought the corn crop would be 

 the largest ever grown in his section, but he has 

 changed his mind, as he has discovered that many 

 ears have not tilled out to the end. Nevertheless the 

 crop will be large. The extreme production of wheat 

 was 16 and 30 bushels to the acre ; average about 20 

 bushels. 



Wm. n. Brosius, of Urumore, said the winter 

 apples, like everything else this season, are ripening 

 earlier, and are consequently dropping. The wheat 

 crop was good ; corn above the average, and enough 

 grass left for pasture. 



Mr. Bollinger, of Warwick, reported the potato 

 crop above the average, and tlie corn crop the best 

 he had ever grown. 



Johnson Aliller made a statemrint in regard to an 

 experiment he had made in attempting to reset his 

 fields in clover, 'hat sown last spring not having 

 grown. He harrowed and sowed an eleven acre 

 field, then rolled it. The seed did not sprout. A 

 three acre lot which he sowed on the same day, but 

 neither rolled nor harrowed, had considerable grass 

 on it. 



Martin D. Kendig, of Manor, sowed a field in 

 clover on August 1. It did not grow. Corn good ; 

 early tobacco good, but late not grown out; ahotlt 

 (ill per cent, cut and housed. No kinds of fruits keep 

 anv length of time. The drouth was affecting the 

 wells. Kaln fall for August, 3 :>-10 inches. 

 A Suggestion. 



Dr. C. A. Greene said he would like to make a 

 suggestion, ami if followed out, the question, "Do 

 bees sting fruit ?" could be settled in another year. 

 It was simply to have gauze hags madi' and tie them 

 around pei'feet bunches of grapes after j)lacing a 

 numl)er of bees in the bags. Then watch tliem and 

 Bee for yourself if the bees punetme the grapes. 

 An Essay on Insects. 



Di*. (ircene next read a lengthy essay on "Insects 

 destructive lo vegetation." He treated of the habits 

 of a large mibincr of depredating insects and gave 

 reci[>es for their anniliilation, some of whicli hi; could 

 vouch for through experience, and others he had re- 

 ceived from genllemen who had found them ellica- 

 eious. A vote of thanks was tendered the doctor, 

 after which he said he proposed reading aiiotln^r 

 paper on the same subject at the next meeting of the 

 society. 



The Yellows in Peach Trees. 



Dr. Greene's essay having contained a prescription 

 for the curing of yellows in peach trees, which he 

 pi'onounccd good, Henry M. Engle said be doubted 

 if the disease could be cured. He preferred cutting 

 the atfected trees down. Mr. Cooper had tried severe 

 or "buck" pruninir on some trees last spring, but 

 could not yet tell if the experiment would succeed. 

 The pruned trees had a liealthy appearance, how 

 evei". Mr. Linville preferred preventing the cMseaee, 

 and this he did by placing a peck of wood ashes in a 

 hole dug around the roots. 



Referred Questions. 



"Ought farmers to be exempt from taxation to 

 the amount of their indebtedness," was answered 

 by Peter Hershey. He thought they should be ex- 

 emi)t from the taxation for State purposes, as the 

 farmer must pay interest on the amount of hie in- 

 debtedness. 



Mr. Linville said Mr. Hershey had given the popu- 

 lar view, but it placed the farmers on an unequal 

 footing, as those in better circumstances would have 

 to pay more taxes. 



Dr. Greene thought it would tend to create fraud, 

 as farmers would all place mortgages on their farms 

 to avoid taxation, and place their money in untaxa- 

 ble bonds. 



The question was discussed at great length, scarce- 

 ly two members agreeing, and was finally dropped. 



'•The Paper Moth." 



"How can the paper meth most effectually be ex- 

 terminated?" was Dr. liatlivon's question, but as he 

 was unable to be present, H. M. Engle read a long 

 paper on the subject, which had been handed him by 

 the doctor. The moth was supposed to be a little 

 silvery, swift-footed insect that preyed on paper, 

 linens, books, etc., especially if kept in dark or damp 

 places. Carbolizcd paper, turpentine and creosote 

 were recommended to keep it down, but it w'as difHeult 

 to destroy ; a sugar-baited trap, in the nature of a 

 spittoon, was also recommended to catch the insect. 

 The best remedy, however, was to keep rooms dry 

 and well lighted, when the moth would take his de- 

 parture. 



A Discussion on Grangers. 



" Has the grange movement been successful ;" 

 was answered by Johnson Miller, at consid(;rable 

 length. The movement, he said, was started in 

 Washington in December, ISST, and, like all new- 

 fangled notions, spread very rapidly. Its object was 

 to cripple railroad monopolies and do away with 

 middlemen. Polities was excluded, but a distinct 

 object was to get as many Grangers into Congress 

 and into the State Legislatures as possible ; but wit h 

 all the excitement in the thirteen years of its exist- 

 ence we have fewer farmers in Congress than we 

 had fifty years ago, and the Grange movement can- 

 not change it. The only way to get farmers elected 

 to Congress is for the true, good farmers who don't 

 go into secret societies to go to the polls on election 

 day and express their honest opinions without being 

 led by ringsters and roosters. In regard to the rail 

 road monopolies, it costs as much to ship a ear load 

 of cattle from Pittsburg as It ever did, taking into 

 consideration the difference in money value of every 

 other article. So, also, in regard to nnddlemen, the 

 country is swarming with them. The movement 

 has been of no benefit to the country at large, and 

 the speaker doubted if it has been to the individual 

 members of the society. 



Henry M. Engle said he had been a Granger, and 

 If farmers could set at the facts of the progression 

 made in fanning through the Grange movement 

 they would not condemn it so heartily. Farmers 

 and their wives, especially In the West, have learned 

 more of agriculture and mercantile pursuits through 

 their social intercourse in the Grange, and have to a 

 certain extent broken up the extortions of middle- 

 men. 



Mr. Hunseekcr said those who think govern those 

 who toil, and the discussions In the Granges have 

 set farmers to thinking, and others have profited 

 largely by their progression through the examples 

 set (hem by Gran^'ers. 



.Mr. Brosius argued that any combination that 

 injuics any induslry is a detriment to the community. 

 The farmer must support every induslry. The 

 Grangers, In Iheir blindness, attitmpted to Injure the 

 great railroad corporations of the West, and yet if It 

 had not been for these same corporations the west- 

 ern I lains would be but a nlldcrness to-day. The 

 speaker cbiimed that the Pennsylvania Railroad had 

 done more for this Stale than anything in it, by in- 

 vesting Its millions of capital in assisting l)raneh 

 Hues, thus giving the farmers In every community 

 an easy outlet for their products In transporting lo 

 market. 



" E. S. Hoover spoke of the social and Intellectual 

 improvement made among the younger members of 

 the society, and mentioned a number of instances of 

 this nature that had come under his observation. 



The question was further argued by a number of 

 members, .Mr. Hunsecker contending for the election 

 of farmers to the Legislature, saying that since the 

 adoption of the New Constllulion but one farmer 

 had been sent to represent the Northern district — 

 that one was Gantz, and " he had made an ass of 

 himself;" to which Mr. Miller retorted that this 

 society was doing all it could in the direction— it had 

 live members striving for the honor, but all had so 

 far failed to succeed. 



Miscellaneous. 



Joliii II. Landis added the transactions of the 

 Wisionsiu Stale Agricultural Society '79-hO to the 

 library. 



The President appointed Messrs. Henry M. Engle, 

 Daniel Smeych, Calvin Cooper, Casper Hiller and 

 Levi S. Heist, Committee on Nomenclature, and the 

 committee at once proceeded to au examination of 

 the exhibition of fruit. 



Ex-Coroner Amos (Jrofl'was proposc^d and elected 

 a member of the society. 



Reports of Fruit Committee. 



Exhibited by M. D. Kendig : Melllnger apple, fine 

 in quality and size; Crawford late peach, good; 

 Sheldon, Howell, and Seekel pears, fair. 



By II. .M. Engle: Grapes, Gtetlie (Rogers 1,) 

 Mcrrimac(i;ogers 19,) and|Salemi Hogers 5'J,) of ex- 

 cellent ipiality ; Eumelan very good. Peaches, Par- 

 ker, ratiier acid. 



J. B. Garber, of Columbia, one of the oldest and 

 most experienced horticulturists of the State, com- 

 prised in his eollectioii quite a number of varieties 

 not generally known. Among them ipiite a number 

 of seedlings : A seedling of the Concord, not as good 

 as the present seedling. No. M2, white, and fair 

 quality. The champion three of Kiekitl's seedlings 

 of fair quality, liogers No. .W, with a sprightly 

 flavor. A seedling of Rogers 31, fair bunch and 

 good quality. Salem, one of the best of Itogcrs 

 numbers. Rogers 4:;; Croton, f' w better among 

 white grapes; Delaware, a well-known favorite; 

 Rogers No. 'IH; Cyuthianna, too acid for desert; 

 Rogers Nos. 9 ami •'{:.', both of good quality; Frank- 

 lin, also a seedling of same, good size but sour. 



John Rote, of Lancaster, presented a very hand- 

 some basket of peaches, i;; appearance, lor name, 

 but slightly acid. Name not known I o the commit- 

 tee, but thoui;ht l<i belong to the Old -Mlxon and 

 Stump the World class, and might be a seedling of 

 cither of them. 



Daniel Snieych, of Lancaster, Scner peach, one of 

 the best of the new peaches, of most excellent flavor 

 and good size. A large yellow seedling peach of 

 goo(l quality. Also, a seedlinir by his coal house, 

 surpassiiur the Old Standard (Late Crawford) iu 

 (piality and size. Seedling cling of fine appearance 

 and lar::e size. A u hile seedling, but too acid to 

 reeommend. 



An inijmrted yellow plum, name unknown, of 

 good ipialily and fine appearance. 



In grapes, as usual, he excels in fine bunches, 

 Diana, Rogers iS, Black Hamburg and White Tokay 

 of the best quality and appearance. 

 Most respectfully submitted, 



H. M. Engle, 

 D. Smkycii, 



C.CoOPKK. 



Questions lor Next Meeting. 



Should the fanners of Lancaster county produce 

 their own sugar ? referred to 11. .M. Engle. 



Is close grazing injurious to pasture lands f to W. 

 H. Brosius. 



Ought farmers lo encourage picnics? to M. D. 

 Kendig. 



There being no further business the society ad- 

 journed. 



^ 



POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster 

 County Poultry Society was held In their room over 

 the City Hall, on Monday morning, September G. 



The following members and visitors were present ; 

 S. N. Warfel, Strasburg; J. B. Lichty, city; F. K. 

 DifleudcrUTer, city; C. A. Gast, city; W. A. Schoen. 



