l^Sl.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER 



45 



Question for Discussion, 



"Are lliu Bmalk-r brci^ds of fowls more subject to 

 Injury, owing to chiiuges of the wcatber, tlmii 

 Asiatics." 



J. W. Brucliliart believed tlie question suliold be 

 answered in tlio ailinuaiive. Small breeds iu his ex- 

 perience, talie eulds sooner than the Asiatics, and 

 more severely besides. Severe ehanijes in the weath- 

 er at once work a great dlllerenee in egg laying. The 

 Brahmas and I'lyniouth liocks. lay better iu cold 

 weather than the Leghorns, which are known as 

 fine layers at other seasons. 



Cbas. E. Long's experience has been the ssme as 

 Mr. Bruckliart's. The larger breeds are belter pro- 

 tected by feathers, and therefore less likely to take 

 cold. Games, Bantams, liamburgs, and some of the 

 other smaller breeds are especially liable to roup and 

 climatic clianges. 



S. G. Engle has had no experience in this matter. 

 The large fowls, howevei", can stand cold weather 

 better. 



J. A. Stober has had experience with largo and 

 ■mall breeds and especially with Uambiirgs, and he 

 has never had roup on his place. Ue believed lack 

 of care was often the cause of disease. 



C. E. Long said his experience has been that the 

 Hamburgs are more liable to roup than any other 

 breed. 



J. E. Schum's experience has been that the Asi- 

 atics and oifher large breeds not only lay better iu 

 winter, but arc far less subject to roup than the 

 small breeds. 



C. E. Long said that during the present winter 

 bis bantams have not been laying at all, but the 

 large breeds have been laying all the time. 



Josepli F. Wltnier said he began with Light Bral>- 

 mas, got Black Spanish, then Legliorns, and his ex- 

 perience has been that the Brahiuas were the best, 

 and those he has continued to breed ever since. Ue 

 had cholera badly among them, but the adoption of 

 sanitary measures brought them through, and he 

 has been pretty clear of it ever since. The light 

 Brahmas have been the best layers in his experi- 

 ence. 



Mr. Lluville has had no expericucc with the small 

 breeds. A remarkably hardy cross is the Plymouth 

 Kock and Partridge Cochins, and they are good lay- 

 ers besides. They laid during the coldest weather of 

 the last winter; iu fact, he got more eggs than ever 

 before at the same time. A lull-blood cock bred to 

 common fowls will, in his opinion, always produce a 

 stronger class of birds. 



J.M.Johnston staled that he had a number of 

 partridges couflned during the winter. They were 

 led on wheat screenings, look plump, are fat, have 

 plenty of water, and yet lately they have been dying 

 rapidly. He wished to know how the mortality "was 

 to be prevented. 



Charles E. Long thought good screenings and 

 cracked corn would perhaps remedy the matter. 



The Stolen Pigeons. 



J. B. Lichty, as the chairman of the Executive 

 Committee, reported that the sum of $3 had beeti 

 agreed upon by them as the amount to be paid to 

 Mr. Sebum for the stolen birds. 



Chas. E. Long said that while he voted for the 

 payment of the lost pigeons, he believed it was a 

 n rong precedent, and the society should put its foot 

 down on such claims in the future. The society dis- 

 tinctly disclaims all liability for exhibition risks and 

 losses. 



J. A. Stober agreed with with the former speaker, 

 and believed the society should recognize no such 

 claims in the future. 



Chas. Lippold thought the society should have 

 taken belter care of the exhibits, and permitted none 

 to be stolen. He believed the society should make 

 itself rcBponsible for such losses. 



Chas. E. Long moved that hereafter the society 

 will not consider any claims for losses of this kind. 



Several other members spoke iu favor of Mr. 

 Long's i-esolutlou, while several advocated the nega- 

 tive side of the question. 



J. M. Johnston read the rule of the society gov- 

 erning the case, and moved Mr. Long's resolution be 

 laid on the table. 



On being put to vote, the resolution was carried. 



The Secretary called attention to the fact Ihat in 

 defiance of the rules birds .were exhibited by persons 

 whodid not own them. The thing should be frowned 

 upon and stopped if possible. 



T. Frank Buch olfered a resolution which was in- 

 tended to end this trouble, by means of an investiga- 

 tion. 



The society adopted the resolution. 



Questions for juiscussion. 



How can we best prevent fowls from feather eat- 

 ing? Referred to S. G. Engle. 



Is the rearing of fancy poultry a financial success? 

 Referred to C. E. Long. 



, Will Bantams mix wilb Asiatics if allowed to run 

 In the same yard ? For general discussion. 



On motion, the society adjourned. 



THE BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



A mectinj; of the bcekcopcrs of Lancaster counlv 

 was held on Monday afternoon, .March 14th, in the 

 parlor of the Black'llorse Hotel. 



The meeting was called to order by the President, 

 Mr. Peter S.Kelst. The following members were 

 present: Peter S. Kclst, Litlz; J. K. Horshey, .Mt. 

 Joy ; Ellas Hersliey, Paradise ; John S. Uohrcr, city, 

 Levi 3. Reist, Oregon. 



Peter S. Kelst reported that out of about 60 colo- 

 nies, wliieh he had on the summer stand, he lost 

 about Ave during the winter. He did not think any 

 of lliem froze. Several starved. The last time he 

 saw them they were Hying and appeared to be in 

 good condilinn. He put uu a wind brake on the 

 back part of the hives, but the fronts were open the 

 some U9 In summer. He did not feed any during the 

 winter. 



John 8. Uohrcr said he has six stands of bees ; 

 wintered them on the summer stands ; he got a great 

 deal of honey from them. About the llrsl of Novem- 

 ber he cleaned the hives on the top, and then closed 

 them up with the exception of one fourth of an 

 inch. When the warm weather came his bees began 

 to lly out. He thought a great many bees died during 

 the winter owing to too moch surplus being left in 

 the hives. He made it always an object to prevent 

 swarming. As soon as a cap is full he takes it away, 

 and this he thought in a measure prevented swarm- 

 ing. 



Mr. J. P. Hershey went Into winter quarters with 

 IVi colonies. He went into a bee house. He divided 

 a great many of the swarms and had lost so far three 

 small swarms. The rest are in a good condition, 

 although not very strong in bees. In Febrnary he 

 took them all out and found many of them to have 

 young hatching bees. He then put them back again 

 and tliey are in the houses now, although he expects 

 to take them out as soon as the weather gets warmer. 



W. B. Detwiler, of Mt. Joy, went into the same 

 style of winter quarters with 80 colonies and had 

 not lost one. 



H. n. Myers, of Spring Garden, went Into winter 

 quarters with 12 or 15 swarms, and they were all 

 doing well. These bees were wintered in houses also. 

 He found that those who went into winter quarters 

 with the bees unprotected had lost a great many 

 bees. 



Ellas Hershey went Into winter-quarters with 

 twenty-nine swarms, nine of which died, and the 

 rest are very weak. He heard from his neighbors 

 that a great many of theirs had died. He lel't his 

 bees on the summer stands. His father, .lacob 

 Hershey, had ten stands of native, and they were all 

 well and hearty. Most of his bees had died of 

 dysentery or diarrhoea, not of starvation; some of 

 them died of cold. 



Mr. Difienderffer, of the ^Tetc Era, called the at- 

 tention of the society to the fact that the danger 

 was not yet over. A great many of the hives weie 

 weak, and he desired to know how they could be 

 built up. 



Mr. J. F. Hershey said the proper way was to take 

 all the comb" from them except just as many as 

 they could conveniently cover. They should be well 

 fed and carefully attended in regard to warmth. They 

 should alfo be kept quiet. They should not be 

 allowed to fly out very much in the spring, because 

 a great many would get chilled and drop down. As 

 soon as they are getting a little stronger, another 

 comb should be given them, and in that way con- 

 tinue until you have a full-sized colony again. 

 There are a great many of what are called weak 

 swarms that can be kept alive if they are attended 

 to properly, whereas if left to themselves they will 

 surely die. The strong swarms must also be care 

 fully looked after. Everything should be kept 

 clean and sweet about the hive, and the hives should 

 be guarded against the cold air. 



Levi S. Reist went into winter quarters on the 

 summer stands with three colonies and lost one. 

 The other two are doing very well. The one that 

 died had not honey enough tocarry it over the winter 

 and starved. 



Adjourned to meet on the second Monday in .May. 



FULTON FARMERS' CLUB. 



The February meeting of the club was held at the 

 residence of Joseph R. Blackburn. Davis A. Brown, 

 a visitor, exhibited specimens of Long Island Russet 

 and Baldwin apples. 



J. K. Blackburn exhibited a package of Heiges' 

 "prolific wheat" that he had received from the Agri- 

 cultural Department at Washington last fall, too 

 late for planting. It is said to be a hybrid of the 

 Arnold and Fultz. The grain resembles the latter 

 variety in shape, but is less amber-colored. As its 

 name implies it is said to make a large yield. 

 Asking and Answering Questions. 



S. L. Gregg : What effect will the snow and ice be 

 likely to have on the w heat that is growing ? 



Isaac Bradley thought that it is doing more good 

 than harm. 



Davis A. Brown did not think that the wheat 

 would be hurt by the great amount of snow. 

 Further north they always have a great deal of snow 

 and ice, yet they generally have good wheat crops. 



Most of the others present thought that there was 

 too much Ice among the snow, and that It would be 

 likely to injure the wheat, especially on low ground. 



K. n. Haines liud read in an agricultural paper of 

 a man hauling across a wheat field, and a cake of 

 lee had formed on the road. The wheat on the road, 

 Instead of being killed, proved to be better than the 

 rest of the field. 



Joseph R. Blackburn asked if live stock should be 

 furnished with earth or clay to lick In the winter! 



Franklin Tollinger thought that.it would be a 

 good substitute for old shoes, clubs and bones that 

 they often get in the habit In the habit of chewing. 



Davis A. Brown thought It would )>e well to give 

 It a trial. He remembered a sick horse that the 

 doctor recommended to give earth ; all that he would 

 eat. 



Joseph Gricst : Will feeding wheat bran or bone 

 ir.Cal to cows prevent them from chewing bones 1 



Levi B. Kirk said that they could oaen get all 

 that they wanted while on pasture, but would still 



There did not appear to bo any one present who 

 couhi give a satisfactory reason why cows would 

 chew bones or tell what would prevent it. 

 An Important Question. 



Rebecca D. King : Why are eggs so scarce this 

 winter? 



Solomon Gregg said when the ground was covered 

 with snow fowls require shell-maKiug material, such 



oyster shells and lime. They also need gravel to 



wheat and keep them warm and they will lay. 



Grace A. King said that one of her neighbors fed 

 oats to his hens, and he always had plenty of eggs. 



Davis A. Brown said that part of his chickens 

 staid at the wagon house and were fed on corn ; 

 others staid about the barnyard and had access to 

 the sheep pen, where they got fed on wheat Bcrceo- 

 iugs. The ones at the barn are the best layers. 



F. Tollinger had always found a few warm days 

 better than any kind of feed, but they will lay well 

 if fed on wheat screenings and oats. 



E.H.Haines: Will the paint on carriages be Id- 

 jured if they are kept over or close to a barnyard or 

 stables? 



Josepli Rreist said It would injure the varolab. 

 This might possibly '.le prevented by having a tight 

 floor for them to stand on. 



Davis A. Brown asked for a remedy for hens eat- 

 ing their eggs. 



8. L. Grecg would feed broken oyster shells. They 

 do not do it in the summer time. It must be to sup- 

 ply a want. Building nests so constructed that the 

 egg would roll out of their reach was suggested as 

 a remedv by some. 



J. R. Blackburn and Lindley King would take 

 their heads off and send them to market, as there 

 was danger of their learning others. 



The Host's Premises. 



After dinner the host exhibited some fine hogs and 

 young cattle, and made the following report of the 

 produce of his farm for the year 18*^0 ; 10 acres of 

 wheat, 210 bushels ; 11 acres of corn, B.'JO bushels; 

 11 acres of oats, ^<00 bushels ; 2G bushels of |K)tatoe8, 

 IH bushels sweet potatoes ; pork and bacon sold, 

 $141,88 ; home raised cattle sold, $207. 

 Literary Exercises. 



" Don't run In debt," was recited by Carrie Black- 

 burn ; •' The Pumpkin," by Whittier, was recited by 

 Mabel A. Haines : an article on entertaining compa- 

 ny was read by G. A. King, showing that rich and 

 costly dinners do not constitute true hospitality ; 

 but it is the friendly welcome, the looks and the be- 

 havior that make your visitors feci that you aro 

 really glad to see them. 



An article from the New York Tribunt on plow- 

 ing down green crops for manure, was selected by J. 

 R. Blackburn, which he read to the club. The arti- 

 cle contended that the great need of the farm was 

 nitrogen, and that the cheapest way to get it was 

 from the atmosphere by plowing down green crops, 

 and that live stock on the farm was an expensive 

 necessity. 



There was no one present who had much expcri- 

 ence in enriching the soil in this manner, but the 

 general sentiment of those present, who expressed 

 an opinion, was that the writer of the article was 

 rather wild in some ofhis ideas. 



The club then adjourned to meet at the residence 

 of Joseph Gricst, in Fulton township, at the usual 

 lime in March. 



LINNiEAN SOCIETY- 

 The society met at the hall on Saturday afternoon, 



February 20, 1S81. Oflicers in the chairs: Vice 



President Prof. J. H. Dubbs; Secretary pro tan. 



Prof. J. B. Kevlnski, and subsequently Secretary M. 



L. Davis, .M. D. 

 Present, eight members and seven visitors. 

 After the usual formalities the following donations 



were made to the museum and library : 

 Museum. 



