Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-10

crimes punished, fair trial by jury for al!
classes secured, and sound morality be
promoted.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
The Wealth Of its Agricultural Resources
Viewed by Travelling Correspondent OF the
Albany (N. ~ Country Gentleman.
Probably there is no county in the state
Of Pennsylvania that is so highly favored
by nature as Lancaster. A fertile, lime
stone soil-generally level or rolling, and
free from stOdes, and suitable for the pro-
duction of excellent crops Of tobacco,
corn and wheat-makes the county tho
most foremost, agriculturally, in the state.
The fact, connected with the excellent
facilities for marketing produce. and the
industrious, enterprising class of farmers,
makes the county what it is. The farm
ing portions OF this par: of tho state were
settled up at an early day with Hollanders.
Or Holland Dutch, and they have proved
themselves q most industrious and frugal
people, and it is through their efforts, in q
large measure, that the agriculture Of the
county has reached SO high standing.
\ person riding through the country Is
stuck forcibly with the formidable appear
ance of the barns, outbuildings, and farm
fences, which characterize the farms Of
Lancaster county. The barns are built
almost universally with masonry cellars or
Easements, in which cattle, and sometimes
other farm stock are housed through the
winter. II is the universal custom, almost,
to keep fattening stock confined in stables,
and they are rarely let out, even to drink.
The object of this confinement is two
fold, first, more and better manure is
made, and second, the cattle are supposed
to fatten moro rapidly upop . given
amount of food. Straw in liberal quaint
ties is usually used for absorbents, and
once or twice q week the stables are
cleaned out, and the manure wheeled to
large piles in the barnyard, where by
spring, or by the time it is needed, it is
partially rOtted. This is usually the
system followed, although occasionally a
farmer hauls his manure directly to his
corn land.
There is a good deal of sameness about
the farmers and farming in this portion Of
the state. The buildings are very similar
of tillage by farmers in various neignbOr-
hoods very much the same. The barns
arc built, almost without exception, with
a projection extending from the main floor
out over the rear of the basement, to pre-
vent snow and rain from blowing in at the
openings of the Easements, and to furnish
shelter also for COWS when let out Gas they
seldom are) into the yard. Farmers as 4
rule practice economy in all tho affairs OF
business. They are extremely saving OF
manure. and make it \ point to make all
they can. The grain and hay produced on
the farm are fed to the stock, generally
fattening steers or horses, both of which
are bought and fed for the large markets
of the East. Some farmers not only feed
all the grain produced on their farms, but
buy large quantities for their own feeding.
WinGmills are found ON nearly all the best
farms, and they are used largely for grind
ing feed, thus saving the expense of mill
ing.
BY this frugal management and econ
omy, the farmers find little difficulty in
keeping up the fertility Of their farms. A
systematic rotation Of crops is followed,
and tobacco, which is a leading product,
is grown only on a small percentage of the
acres of the farms. l was told by ono
farmer that two acres out of sixty were
considered a proper proportion, and far :.
mers who extended their tobacco acreage
beyond this percentage were considered
imprudent. On farms adjoining or in
close proximity to Lancaster city, 4 great
deal Of manure is drawn from the city, and
hence moro tobacco can be safely grown.
Lime is used largely for fertilizing pur-
poses, and is considered very advantage
Gus to the production of tobacco and
grain. Commercial fertilizers arc used
with great caution, and arc considered ,t
best poor substitute TO: barnyard ma
nUre. There is prevailing opinion that
the use of superphOsphates Injuries the
qualities of tobacco when grown upon
soil where it has been applied in anything
like large quantities.
My observations OF the winter wheat in
Southern Pennsylvania have been confined
to those counties lying along the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, and more especially to
! Lancaster and York counties. 1t is my
i. opinion that the wheat prospects of South
ern Pennsylvania are very flatterins,
Judging from the present appearance oil
the wheat fields. Rarely in New York
state have seen wheat with such 4 fresh,
green appearance as that which charac-
terizes the majority Of fields have seen
here. almost as green as they were
last fall is the common remark concern
ing the wheat fields in Lancaster county.
This is due, doubtless, to the mild winter
and the snow, which has covered the
ground to . shallow depth most Of the
| LiIuc. UcdL Is usually SOWu Oil tODACCc
stubble. and the thorough and frequcn:
cultivation given the tobacco leaves tho
soil loose, free from weeds and in excel
| lent condition for wheat. This doubtless
| is another cause for tho favorable appear
ance OF wheat in the to5acco-growing
reg ions of the state.
| FIRE.
Isussei's spoke aud Bending Works and
| lIushey Chspman's Agricultural
Works Burned Out.
Last evening between 8 and O'Clock
| flames were seen to issue from
the roof of the large frame build
ing belonging to George P. Russell
and situated near the rear of the lot OH
South Queen street below Vine. The
first floor of the building was occupied by
Mr.. Russell as saving and. bending
works, and the second floor was Occu-
pied by Ephraim Bushey and c. p Chap
man, trading under the firm namc Of the
| Lancaster Agricultural Manufacturing
company, their business being the manu-
facture of grain fans, seed drills. hay
rakes and other agricultural implements.
The fire appears to have originated in
the part of the building occupied by
Bushey & Chapman, Immediately above
tho boiler and engine. Whether the origin
! of the fire was accidental or incendialy is
not known. An incendiary might very
readily have applied the match by enter
ing the yard on the south Of the building,
| ~ 1o.- skn1 oA; o,,1