192 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[December, 1882. 



Two winters ago I took a uew departure ou the 

 meat question, aud now, intteail of fussing to coolc 

 it and dealing out a little at a time, I just hang out 

 a piece and let the fowls eat all they want. VVheu 

 they have meat within their reach all the time there 

 is not the slighest danger of their eating too much. 

 I get cheap meat from the butcher and I am sure I 

 am paid twice over the outlay. Crushed oyster 

 shells, gravel, charcoal and crushed raw bones are 

 kept in the houses all the time. The raw bone is an 

 excellent thing for fowls, and would be the last arti 

 cle of food that I would think of dropping from my 

 biddies' bill of fare. Where the crushed oyster shell 

 cannot be obtained, lime in some other shape will 

 do just as well. Oneof my nei^jhbors had twoof his 

 rooms plastered this fall, and he saved all the old 

 plaster for his heus. The poultry raisers who ne- 

 glected to get a supply of gravel under cover before 

 the ground froze up, must do the next beat thing — 

 feed their broken dishes to their fowls. Break them 

 into bits of a suitable size, and It will do just as well 

 as gravel. I believe iu salting all the soft food, and 

 I used to put iu a dash of pepper, sometimes mus- 

 tard or ginger, once in a while, and I honestly 

 thought the fowls were benefited thereby ; but 

 doubts are creeping in, and I am very much in- 

 clined to drop everything except the salt." 



!_,« 



Pekin Ducks. 

 There are according to the American standard of 

 excellence, ten varieties of domestic ducks, to wit : 

 The Aylesbury, Call Gray, Call White, Cayuga, 

 Crested White, Black East Indian Colored Muscovy, 

 White .\fu6covy, Pekin and Rouen. Of these the 

 Rouen is probably the most common, but I consider 

 the Pekin as the most profitable. They were tirst 

 imported into this country in 177.3, since which time 

 they have become very popular. Their color is a 

 pure snowy white which makes them very handsome 

 and attractive for small bodies of water or the lawn. 

 Tiiey should have rich deep yellow colored bills and 

 legs and perfectly free from any black spots. They 

 can be raised anywhere that chickens can and do uot 

 require much water until they are several months 

 old, and then they will thrive and do well with but a 

 small trough of water, if they have a good grass 

 range. It is a very beautiful sight to see them di- 

 ploy in long lines through the grass in search of 

 crickets aud other animal matter. They mature 

 very early aud can be marketed in July and August 

 at high prices. It takes in warm weather about 

 three weeks to hatch them out, at birth they are 

 larirer and stronger than other varieties and when 

 developed will weigh about eighteen pounds to the 

 pair. They lay about one hundred aud fifty eggs per 

 year. During the summer months they require but 

 very little food, as wheu they have a good range 

 they will pick up enough to keep them iu good cou- 

 dition, especially if they have access to the chicken 

 yard, as they will eat what the chickens waste. — The 

 Afnericaii StockrnaJi, 



Literary and Personal. 



Third Quarterly Report of the Kansas 

 State Board op Aoriculture.— The Quarterly 

 Report of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, 

 foi the quarter ending September 30, has just been 

 issued. 



The report contains the acres and product of prin- 

 cipal crops, by counties, accompanied by market 

 quotations of the Kansas C ty market for each month 

 from January, 1«77, to September, 18S3, for the crops 

 of wheat and corn. 



In connection with the statistics on wheat are given 

 instances of extraordinary yields grown iu each 

 county in 18^3, and the names of the varieties that 

 have been the most successful this year. 



Following the crop tables, is an article from the 

 pen of Prof. E. A. Popenoe, entomologist to the 

 Board, and Professor of Botany and Horticulture in 

 the Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhat- 

 tan, ou the subject, of " The chinch bug and the 

 season," giving the history of the operations of these 



pests during the past season, and the reasons why 

 they were less destructive than was anticipated. 



The synopsis of the reports of correspondents on 

 fruit indicates an unusually heavy apple crop, but 

 that peaches, plums, pears and grapes were injured 

 severely, and made less than average crops. 



The second division of the volume pertains to live 

 stock. Tables by counties, showing the numbers of 

 each kind of farm animals for both 1881 and 1882, 

 with increase and decrease, are given ; also quota- 

 tions of the Kansas City market on cattle and hogs 

 for a period covering six years. Mr. J. F. True, of 

 Newman, Jefferson county, contributes an article on 

 the feeding of cattle in Kansas. Mr. True Is a well- 

 known breeder and feeder of cattle, and is also a 

 member of the State Board of Agriculture. 



A summary by counties of reports of correspon- 

 dents as to the condition of live stock follows the ar- 

 ticle of Mr. True. Among the valuable points 

 brought out iu this summary are, the amount of 

 open range remaining, cost per head for the graziug 

 of cattle, cost per ton of prairie hay, information as 

 to whether the herd law is iu operation or not, and 

 facts concerning the raising of sheep and swine. 



Statements of the number of acres of public lands 

 yet undisposed of, corrected to date, follow the live 

 stock This has been a prominent feature of the last 

 several reports, and is of much value to those who 

 are seeking' homes in the State. 



The population of the State for 1881 and 1S82, as 

 taken by township assessors, is given in full, by 

 townships and cities, followed by a summary by 

 counties, showing the increase and decrease in each 

 county during the year. 



Brief reports as to the principal features of the 

 two State fairs held this year at Topeka and Law- 

 rence precede the meteorological data of the quar- 

 ter, which closes the volume. 



The report is now ready for distribution, and can 

 be obtained by addressing the Secretary, Wm. Sims, 

 Topeka, Kansas, and inclosing the necessary postage, 

 three cents. 



Howe's Lancaster City and County Direc- 

 tory, containing the names of the inhabitants of 

 Lancaster City aud Columbia, together with a Busi- 

 ness Directory of Lancaster City and County, to 

 which is added a large list of the farmers of Lancas- 

 ter county and an appendix of useful information. 

 Compiled and published by C. E. Howe & Co., 

 Philadelphia, Pa., 831, Arch street. Price, $3.00. 

 This is the legitimate successor of " Boyd's Direc- 

 tory," and, if not thoroughly perfect iu alljts de- 

 tails, it certainly is, on the whole, the best directory 

 of Lancaster county that has ever been placed before 

 the public, including quality of material, letter 

 press, and general arrangement. The paper, type, 

 aud print are far superior to auy heretofore used for 

 such a puri)06e: 5110 royal octavo pages, 20 pages extra 

 advertisements — indeed, wherever there is any avail- 

 able space it is filled by one or more advertisements. 

 The back, the sides, the edges, and the face margin^ 

 of every page contain one or more advertisements, 

 illustrating that, whatever else it may be, or fail to 

 be, it certainly is entitled to the distinction of being 

 the best Lancaster County Directory extant. One 

 of the most interesting and useful features of the 

 work, from an agricultural aud domestic standpoint, 

 is its list of the names and post-office address of 

 foul' thouaaud six hundred and set'enty-four farmers 

 of Lancaster county, alphabetically arranged. It 

 also includes the population of the United States 

 according to the tenth census (18.S0), the population 

 of Lancaster county, and the male voting population 

 of Pennsylvania, as A'ell as the entire population. 

 Also Lancaster City Street Guide : the otlicers of the 

 General Government and of Pennsylvania, Lancaster 

 city and county officers, including the councils and 

 s'^nool board, the new fire department, the public 

 buildings, the churches, cemeteries, educational in 

 stitutions, post office depattment, stage Hues, 

 county post offices and postmasters, distances and 

 rates of railroad fare, newspapers and periodicals, 

 building associations, beneficial and secret societies, 

 literary, scientiflc, and miscellaneous societies, to- 



gether with the latest revised lists of their officers ; 

 all brought down and adapted to the years 1882 and 

 18S3, in fact, appearing to be all that is necessary in 

 the form of a directory for the territory it covers at 

 the present time. 



Lancaster Real Estate Catalogue. — Allen 

 A. Herr & Co., No. lOfi East King street, Lan- 

 caster, Pa., issue monthly atid scud free to any 

 address 40 pp. 8vo, containing properties for sale, 

 and prices of many of them, numbering from 10 to 

 608. A capital publication for those who desire to 

 invest in real estate, and possess the wherewithal to 

 do it. 



Early German Hy.mnologv of Pennsylvania. 

 By Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D.D. ; 37 pages, octavo. — 

 We have been favored with a complimentary copy of 

 this interesting pamphlet by the author, for which 

 we feel exceedingly grateful. It may be a weakness 

 in us, but we all our life have had a leaning towards 

 hymn and song lore, and, at "three score and ten," 

 we often catch ourself humming over those that 

 came to us traditionally in the days of our early boy- 

 hood. We read this little work with more than ordi- 

 nary interest, and, whilst doing so, we found it im- 

 possible to divest our mind of the constantly obtrud 

 iug thought that the unwritten hymmlogy of " the 

 sable sons of Africa " inhabiting our country would 

 form a prolific theme for a similar literary contribu- 

 tion. It is true they had not much "rhyme" in 

 their composition, and many of them very little 

 "reaoon;" but, then, this may only have been an 

 appearance to " uncircumcised " outsiders blinded 

 by morbid partialities. Be that as it may, they sang 

 their hymns and songs with a will that amply com- 

 pensated their other defects. 



Breeders' Journal, published by the "Breeders' 

 Live Stock Association," at Beeclier, III.; $100 per 

 year, single number 10 eents. The prolessed specialty 

 of this journal is to stimulate " Economy of produc- 

 tion, and value of product." Tliis is a very ably 

 conducted magazine, of G2 pp. octavo, in tinted 

 covers, and liberally illustrated. The material and 

 typography are of unexceptionable quality, aud it 

 seems to " box the compass" in stock breeding, in- 

 cluding all that legitimately comes within the sphere 

 of that specialty. 



American Poultry Bureau, devoted to the va- 

 rious interests of poultry, pigeons and pet stock. 

 IG pp. quirto, at gl.OO a year. Rossall & Gibson, 

 editors aud publishers, Des Moines, Iowa, a new 

 candidate [for public patronage, which it certainly 

 deserves. 



Spuing Garden Institute — Corner of Broad 

 and Spring Garden streets, Philadelphia, Pa. This 

 institute has been organized for the purpose of im 

 parting practical mechanical instruction to theyouths 

 of our country: and, from the list of pupils who 

 have attended the handiwork schools belonging to it, 

 it seems to have been successful. The terms of 

 tuition seem to be liberal, §.5.00 for a term of o 

 months in Vise and Lathe leork — two nights each 

 week. The same for Pattern making, with the ele- 

 inenta ofinouldiuy, and .$10.00 lor Steam Engineering. 

 Lectures will be delivered to the mechanical handi- 

 work classes. The names of two hundred pupils, 

 and their addresses are given, as having attended 

 this experimental school in mechanics, during the 

 last term. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to stu- 

 dents from a distance would be the cxpeuse of 

 boarding, but to those from Philadelphia the In- 

 stitute furnishes a rare opportunity to receive in- 

 struction iu filing, turning, drilling, forging, and 

 other mechanical handiwork. 



We doubt the propriety of promulgating the effete 

 atheistical views of Robert J. IngersoU, through the 

 medium of a Thoroughbred Stock Journal, as well 

 as any replies to theni. It involves a load too heavy 

 to successfully carry, by any journal seeking the pa- 

 tronage of farmei's, nicehauics aud stock breeders ; 

 besides, it is uot honest to fulminate or diBuse such li 

 rehash of exploded sentiments, under cover of a 

 jourual ostensibly devoted to the diffusion of agri- 

 cultural lore. It is fifty years since we first listened 

 to the atheistical ravings of those of Ingersoll's faith, 

 aud to us at that time they seemed to be more able 

 aud unanswerable than anything uttered by lugersoll 

 at the present period. Neither he nor Judge Black 

 have discussed the true theology of the Bible, for it 

 cannot be discussed on the mere plane of " Buck- 

 wheat cakes aud sausages." There is a line of ar- 

 gument by which the Bible can be sustained, but it 

 is foolishness to the carnal mind, and must be "spir- 

 itually discerned," distasteful as such a " Paullne- 

 isin" may be to .\Ir. tngersoll. A theological proposi 

 tion may uot be false, simply because it cauuot be 

 proven true by material testimony, or legal argu- 

 ment. 



