Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-02
THE FARM.
OUK AGRICULTURAL PxocrEss

Mr.. Ebys coutr,bus,o. to tho Now ,oc,,
| History.
Our readers aye aware that !. new history
of our county is about to be published by
Mr.. L. IL. Everts, Of Philadelphia, q gentle-
man who We are informed has had cOnsid-
erable experience in the publication OF
local histories. In addition to his staff Of
writers in Philadelphia, he has engaged
the services of several of our citizens to
assist in the work. Below We give
synopsis or general outline of IN article ON
the interesting subject of the farmers and
farming of the county from its earliest
days, which Simon p. Eby has undertaken
| to contribute
l. The condition of the county when tho
first settlers arrived.-Its agricultural re-
| sources, soil, climate, timber, stone and
water supply. A brief notice of some of
the principal native trees, plants and fruits.
Extent oil Indian farming. VIM. Penn's
| opinion respecting our native fruits.
:. The first settlers and their early
| farming.-WhO and what they were and
whence they came, the different nationali-
| ties and their characteristics cOmbatant
| and nOn-cOmbatant elements, q brief no
tice of some of the manners and customs.
virtues and prejudces they brought with
them from their mother country and
| fatherland.
3. How they began the work Of cstab-
fishing new homes, in 4 new county,
Some Of the trials and difficulties they cn-
countered and the encCura.ements and
successes they met with, brief notice Of
their primitive log houses and matched
barns, how they had to depend for hay on
watered meadows, their early implements
OF husbandry.
(. Secondary stage OF Elrming.-IntrO.
ductiOn Of new seeds, clover and timothy.
new fertilizers, rotation OF crops and
improvements in farming implements.
How log dwellings, gave place to moro
| substantial st"no mansions, with massive
chimneys aiId wide open iireplaces, that
welcomed newly arrived kinsfolk from
across the Atlantic to tl:c warmth Of its
hOspitable blaze. How the newcomers
lent helping hands. Saw mills at work
along the streams, converting the forest
trees into more convenient building ma
terials. Swsser barns 'uiit after models
brought over by the Swiss palitinates) now
| receive liberal addition; or, new square,
| timbercd structures of Increased capacity
go up in mere suitable places and the
| fails OF the .breshcrs make lively music
upon the newly laid barn floors. How the
! axe cOntinur !, exteHd ,ie fields each
| year further i,.u the timber lands. How
| flax arl hemp were grown and dressed by
| the farmer and his assistants, .;' the fleece
OF lilS ilorks prepared for the ioum. How,
during tho winter season. spinning wheels
held high carnival IN concert with the
blazing logs upon the hearth within, and
the roar of the tempest without. How
early and late the deft fingers Of matrOn
and maidens piled the busy spindles, and
chests and presses were filed with
homemade linens and wOolens. And
how, some fine morning in spring,
u joyous procession with 4 newly married
pair riding ut its head, and loaded wagons
aud lowing cattle following after, issued
from the parent farm and disappeared in
| tho woods to settle down beside some
pleasant fountain and begin the carving
out of new home and fortune.
! 5. Glimpscs into the home life Of the
good old peOp!e-Thcir time-hOnOred GUS
toms, their thrift and industry. Their
struggle against pride, extravagance and
ungodliness. How thoy raised and edu-
Gated their children. How they lived and
labOred and died, their dress, courtships,
| marriages and amIsements. Old time
company Of young men and maidens on
horseback apples and cider markets
and marketing ; COnestOga teams. Con
| cerning the peculiar non. .cOmbatant doc
trine many of tho people held and prac-
| ticed. Their steadfastncss Of faith and
reliance ON the divine commandment not
+" draw the sword. How they were al
lowed to live in peace while three wars
swept over other parts of the land. Their
religious services, manner of preaching
and holding of funerals their dia lect.
Is Pennsylvania German distinct
| language?
q. Tertiary stage of farms and farm
ing-Tllc advancing wavo of modern i'm
prOvcment and invention, introduction of
new cereals and vegetables, labor saving
implements and farming machinery, sub
division o.; Tho old farms and more thor
to the soil, waste land brought under cul-
tivatiOn, Introduction Of coal for fuel, rail-
roads built, different views, and stable
ballads concerning them, the rapid cutting
away of timber and disappearance of many
Of our native birds, consequent increase of
destructive insects, partial failure Of the
apple CROP praissworthy efforts Of fruit
growers to supply the deficiency by expert
ments in the propagation and introduction
.:f native varieties and improved small
fruits, the theory Of the founder OF Penn
sylvania concerning the cultivation Of
of native fruits, adopted after lapse Of
nearly two centuries, change Of climate
and gradual diminutiOn OF tho water
supply, how springs and streams have been
affected, public school system at work,
should tho intellect bo educated ut tho
expense aud neglect of tho morals? What
education should do for the farmer. Con-
corning agricultural exhibitiOns-Im-
proved live stock, tobacco farming, sewing
machine taking the place of the spinning
Wheel present day marketing, modern
farm houses modelled after city houses
with inadequate roofing and deficient ven.
;'latiOn, pnrncous effects upon tho health
II their inmates. Effect of the accumulation
O.. wealth, growing dislike of the young for
manual labor. farms passing into the care
of renters and the owners drifting to towns
and villages ; luxury. refinement and ex-
travaganca, inroads OF fashion and expen.
sive habits.
7. Are We getting het.er or worse p
Shall We disregard tIls experience of the
past, or gather Instructions from its les
sons? "The coming farmer who and
what shall he bc2