48 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[March, 1882. 



of the undertaking ; for, from the very bcffinning: it 

 seemed more intent on a species of seienlific pic- 

 nicliing or recreation. ^Possessins; no peculiar eiijovv 

 ment, it was compelled to sustain itself liy monthly 

 contributions, and even these, merely nominal as 

 they were, came forth in a too feeble streams to irri- 

 gate the ground it proposed to cultivate to a prolific 

 fruitaffe. This was not owing to the absence of ma- 

 terial, for this has continucil ,to increas gradually 

 from its infancy down to the present moment. The 

 great drawback mm, and still is, the ))ropcr digestion 

 of the material it possesses, a matter,' tliat reciiiires 

 time for its development more than money. The 

 early summer seasons of the society were mainly de- 

 voted to limited scienlitic excursions, mostly within 

 the county of Lancaster, on which occasion large 

 amounts of material were collected, hut much of it 

 was neither scientifically nor systematically utilized. 

 Out of these field meetings grew the "Tuenuan" ex 

 eursions, and these were composed mainly of men 

 who had little sympathy with the original objects 

 of the society. They were too larse, unwieldy and 

 expensive, and much of the material collected on 

 those occasions was almost a "dead litter" in the 

 museum, lor the want of the necessary time to 

 classify, arrange and label them. At first an attempt 

 was made to catalogue and number them ; but this 

 work nominally devolved on the secretary, and hi: 

 finally became discouraged, on account of the rapid 

 accumulation. Had each specimen been numbered, 

 labeled and catalogued, as it was presented, and by 

 the individual or member who donated or presented 

 it, the result would have been more satisfactory to 

 all concerned, and the general usefulness of the 

 society as a scicntifle object educator would have 

 been far in advance of its present condition in that 

 respect. 



From the records of the society kept by the secre- 

 tary, it appears that over one hundred aud thirty ac- 

 tive members, and over one hundred and ten corres- 

 pondents of the society have been elected, from its 

 organization iu February, 18t)2, down to the present 

 time. Had the one hundred and thirty odd who 

 ffere elected active members paid their initiation ices 

 of one dollar each, and the small dues of ten cents 

 per month ; aud become irierely contributing mem- 

 bers, from the organization of tlie society down to 

 the present date, their contributions would have 

 amounted to over twenty fire hundred doUays. From 

 the treasurer's report at the last annual meeting, it 

 appeared that the total income of the society i'rom 

 all sources, during the twenty years of its existence, 

 only amounted to about twelve hundred doUara, aud 

 this included the amounts received from sale of 

 stock, extra contributions of a few members, a few 

 outside donations, and the monthly "i.5 cent dues, 

 whicti prevailed for about three years, during the re- 

 bellion. Therefore, regarding these dues as legal 

 obligations there are faUy fifteen hnudred dollars due 

 the society from those wlio have been, from time to 

 time, elected members of it. It is not generally ex 

 j)ected that all the members r>f any association will 

 become active to the same extent, or in the same 

 sense ; and they are no special hindrance to its pro- 

 gress if they are not so. But all who have volun- 

 tarily become such members, should at least contrib- 

 ute to its fecuuiary support. Otherwise, it must lan- 

 guish, become inetl'ectrve, or fail. 



Notwithstaning these hindrances to the prosress of 

 the society, whether they may be regarded as real or 

 only apparent, it has tor twenty years continued to 

 aceuntulate a large amount of material at least ; 

 indeed, a larger and a more valuable amount thau 

 the members themselves have a correct knowledge 

 of. When in the winter of 18:i7 a natur.il history 

 society, under the auspices of Josiah Hollirook, was 

 organized at Marietta, in this county, the said Ilol 

 brook stated, in an introductory, that the most es- 

 sential element in developing a practical knowledge 

 of natural science was a well ordered inasturn of 

 natural objects ; and that, however essential it was 

 to possess a library of scientific books, a museum was 

 of primary importance, lor it brins^s the subject prac- 

 tically down to the comprehension even of tlie illiter- 

 ate ; lor, said he, in elleet, 1 hold in my hand a 

 rhombic crystal of calcareous spar, which, after see- 

 ing and handling it, with ten minutes' instruction as 

 to its chemical composition, its lustre, form and ac- 

 tion under acids, the amateur may recognize as soon 

 as he sees it again, whether he can read a descrip- 

 tion of it or not ; and even if he can, there is no de- 

 scription, however scientific it may be, that will con- 

 vey as correct an idea of what calcareous spar is, 

 externally, as the object itself. Not any of the 

 members knew anything about mineralogy, and little 

 more about auy other branch of natural science. 

 Mr. H. furnished tlie society with a suit of minerals 

 and metals, each specimen being about the size of a 

 chestnut, for which, I think, lie charged S-0, and we 

 thought them cheap. I could go into our storeroom 

 and carry away a larger and better collection in my 

 pantaloons pockets, and yet you would not know that 

 any were missing. At the same rates our collection 

 of minerals alone would he worth S'J0,O0O. It is 

 true, that the prices of minerals have depreciated, 

 but fine specimens, especially if rare, are as expen- 

 sive now as they were I'orty years ago, simply be 

 cause there is a greater demand for them. If the 



Linnaean Society could command the leisure and the 

 pecuniary means to select from its duplicates, suits 

 of minerals properly classified and labeled, and pre- 

 sent them to every village or school district in the 

 county of I.,ancaster, it would approximate its legiti- 

 mate function as a central scientific organization 

 and medium, of development. 



Wo hardly comprehend the real value of any de- 

 partment of our museum. We have the life-labors of 

 two working botanists. A large collection of rep- 

 tilia, and much more in undetermined paleontology 

 aud archLcoloiry than appears to the superficial ob- 

 server — the largest collection in entomology in the 

 State of Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. In- 

 deed, this collection is remarkable, in that it in- 

 cludes the collections (or what remains of them) of 

 Professors Heutz and Haldeman, the former of 

 which was cotemporary with the Melsheimers, Say, 

 and Harris, the fathers of American entomology. In 

 this collection may be recognized specimens collect- 

 ed by Prof. Hentz, nearly seventy years ago. Per- 

 haps no larger and more diversified collection of 

 local mineralogy thau ours exists in Pennsylvania. In 

 ichthyology and ornithology, of a local character, it 

 is no mean representatiou of Lancaster county. Its 

 historical collection could be very much augmtnted, 

 if it possessed tlie facilities for a permanent and 

 secure preservation. The collection in oology could 

 be very much increased through exchange of dupli- 

 cates, if we had any one to take au active hold of 

 that department. Perhaps it lacks more in mam- 

 luology thau in auy other of the conspicuous 

 branches, but even in that department, it possesses 

 as much as it has any room for illustration. 



On the whole, so far as the matter relates to the 

 rough material, the aceumulations of the Linn<ean 

 Society during the twenty years of its existeuce, 

 and under the peculiar circumstances in which the 

 society has almost single-handed labored, has been 

 progressing.. What it needs most is more space lor 

 the proper classification and arrangement of its col- 

 lections, a publishing fund, and a few more earnest 

 workers, in order to make its collection useful and 

 accessible to the public. If I had nothing else to do 

 it would be the delight of my life to devote the re- 

 mainder of my days on earth to making our museum 

 a credit to the county of Lancaster and an auxiliary 

 to our educational institutions. 



Allow me to congratulate the society on the 

 twentieth return of its anniversary, as being endowed 

 with a longevity that was hardly anticipated when it 

 was first organized, and at a period, too, that seemed 

 inauspicious to the perpetuity of the Federal Union. 



Literary and Personal. 



Two Things Worth Re.^ding. — We have re- 

 ceived from Ehrich Bros., of New York, a brace of 

 interesting pamphlets, wliich are sent out as the 

 avant couriers of the spring number of that well- 

 known magazine of fashion, Ehrich,s' Fashion 

 Quarterly. 



The first is the "Premium, List" of the Quarterly, 

 and tells its readers what good things they may se- 

 cure by subscribing to the Fashion Qwirterly them- 

 selves, and inducing others to do the like. Among 

 other novelties in the way of premiums, we notice 

 a choice selection of vocal and instrumental music, 

 issued at forty cents per piece, one piece of which (as 

 selected) is sent to every subscriber without excep 

 tion. Among the premiums for clubs are some 

 really beautiful sets of jewelry, which will lie sent 

 in return for four, six, or eight subscribers. Of 

 course, the jewelry is not pure gold, but the Ehrichs 

 say it looks just as j.retty as if it were, and they 

 ought to know. 



The second pamphlet is entitled "ShoppiuLr in 

 New York," aud is intended to convey an idea of 

 tlie plan and scope of the Fashion Quarterly, and \ve 

 must say that if the spring number of the Quarterly 

 only carries out the promises made for it by its fore- 

 ruDuer, it will be a very complete magazine indeed. 

 It this pamphlet of sixteen ([uarto pages, almost 

 every department of a laige New York retail store 

 is represented to a limited extent. The careful 

 mother finds iu it a few standard styles of under 

 wear ; of children's clothing for both boys aud girls ; 

 of wonderfully cheap embroideries; of hosieries; of 

 window curtains, and a dozen other necessities of 

 housekeeping : while the less thoughtful daughter 

 will enjoy the jewelry, the laces, and the knick- 

 knacks for room adornment which are spread before 

 her. A blank form for sending orders occupies the 

 last page, and fittingly completes the little book. 



The Fashion Quarterly ought to have a large cir- 



culation, and we think it will. For only fifty cents a 

 year the publishers offer four beautiful fashion books, 

 issued at the beginning of the successive seasons, 

 and give to each subscriber, as well, the privilege of 

 making a selection from a list of choice music, every 

 piece of which is retailed by the music dealers all 

 over the country, at forty cents. 



The Fashion Quarterly is published by Ehrich 

 Bros , of Fitihth Avenue, New York, who will si nd 

 the pamphlets referred to, free, on application. 



Tni? SOUTIIEIIN CULTIVATOK AND DiXIE FARMER. 



— The February number of this splendid and de 

 servedly popular farm, plantation aud family journal 

 is before us. For many years the leading agricultu- 

 ral journal in the South, it not only maintains its 

 former high reputation uuder the new management, 

 but augments it with every successive number. A 

 glance at the broad, beautifully printed and illustrat- 

 ed pages, its numerous and harmoniously arranged 

 departments, and its choice original and selected 

 readins, will convince any one that the South has at 

 last a truly representative agricultural periodical of 

 which our people may well feel proud. Dr. W. L. 

 Jones, the veteran editor and writer, continues to 

 occupy the editorial chair, ably assisted by Dr. J.S. 

 Lawton and a host of prominent writers in every de- 

 partment, among whom we notice, in this number. 

 Prof. Win. Browne, of the University of Georgia; 

 Prof. Allen Curr, of Scotland; Col. D. T. T. Moore, 

 iounder of the Rural Xcw Yorker, and the inimita- 

 ble "Bill Arp," who is a regular contributor. Really 

 no intelligent and progressive farmer or planter iu 

 the South can do witliout The Southern Cultivator 

 without serious harm to his own interests. Sub- 

 scribe for it ar, once. The price is only SI. .50 a year . 

 Jas. P. Harrison ct Co., Atlanta, Ga., are the pub 

 Ushers. Club with exchanges, $1.25. 



The SuciAR Beet. Devoted to the cultivatiou 

 and utilization of the Sugar Beet. Philadelphia, 

 February, 1^83, No. 1 of the third volume (or third 

 year) of this royal quarterly has appeared, and fully 

 sustains the reputation acquired by its predecessors. 

 Published, as it is, at the low price of 50 cents a 

 year, it ought to be accorded au extraordinary sup- 

 port, in order to sustain it in the noble work to 

 which it is devoted. We not only comiueud the 

 superor equality of the paper, the finely executed il- 

 lustrations, and the literary ability of its letter press, 

 but the "grit" and indomitable perseverance of the 

 editor, in so ably advocating an interest so nearly al- 

 lied to the health, the domestic comfort, and the 

 pecuniarj prosperity of the nation. The universal 

 use of sugar, and tlie fcasability of its production, 

 all over our country, must ultimately result in the 

 success of the enterprise in the near future, what- 

 ever may occur seemingly aiiverse to such a con- 

 tingency in the present. There is no great interest 

 of which our country is now reapiuir the advantages, 

 that has not been "pooh poolied" and otiierwise 

 discouraged, at its initiation— notably, the steam- 

 boat, the locomotive, ami the telegraph. So long as 

 1.600,000 acres of land in Europe are devoted to 

 the cultivatiou of the sugar beet there ought to be 

 no api>rchensions in this country that it will not 

 ultimately pay; and, if cold Canada anil Kussia 

 are atile lo make it a success how much greater 

 the prospect on the generous soil of Lancaster 

 county. 



The .Miller's Review.—" DevoteJ to milling, 

 millwrigliting, and inill-i'urnisliiug ;" a royal quarto 

 of I(j pages. Published inonthly by Henry L. Ever- 

 ett, 70:^ Walnut street, Philade'lphia, Pa., at §1.00 

 per year. The first number of the first volume of 

 this able journal has reached our sanctum, 'And we 

 i'eel compliinenleil that we have been deemed worthy 

 of it, for it certainly " fills the measure of its depart- 

 ment's glory," and not its glory only, but its sub- 

 stantial -use. In his salutatory the editor says : " It 

 has become a custom or rather a necessity to have 

 each of the trades represented by its journal in that 

 part of the country where such trades are carried 

 OQ," and this is the case in nearly all occupations, 

 professions, institutions, ttc, whether civil, social, 

 scientific or religious ; and those who are in a condi- 

 tion to compensate such journals are usually in ad- 

 vance of alll others. As farming and the produc- 

 tions of the fai'Hi constitute the foundation stones 

 upon which all other occupations are erected, it 

 necessarily ought to have the largest number, and 

 the most liberally compensated journals. From the 

 contents of this first number of the Miller's Heviciii, 

 we feel assured that it will be an able and faithful 

 representative of its industrial interest, and ought to 

 elicit a cerrespondiug rc'ivard. If there is auy trade 

 that is second to airriculture, that position may be 

 legitimately accorded to milling, for its object is to 

 reduce the staple productions of agriculture to prac- 

 tical use. On the first page of this journal is a de 

 scriptiou and a fine illustration of .Malvern Mills, 

 located on the Pennsylvania Railroad about twenty 

 miles west of Pniladelphia. Tliese are not the largest ' 

 mills in Pennsylvania, only having the capacity to 

 turn out L'.50 barrels of flour per day, but they are 

 well ordered, and produce Hour of the highest 

 quality. But still, how insignificant, when compared 

 with the mill that went into operation on the 'lA of 

 January last at Winona, Minn., which has the ca 

 pacity of 1.500 barrels per day. 



