The answers to this question were not unanimous, but a majority agreed to the following conclusion:

That the removal of the forests and clearing of the land for cultivation removes the obstructions to the free exit of the water to its natural course, causing more violent floods which recede with greater rapidity from want of supply to maintain it. In this State we are subject to climatic changes. Rains are local in the summer season. We may have an excess of rain in one part and a drought in another. History tells us that in 1755 there was no rain from April to November, and in 1813 from April 14 to September 20, and at that time this State was covered with trees.

Seventh. What remedy to prevent forest fires?

The answers were: Publish the law and enforce it with severity. The act of 1887 fixes a penalty of fifty dollars for the wilful or careless firing of timber land. One-half to go to the informer and one-half to the school fund of the district. The fine fixed by the act seems objectionable to your committee for the reason that the party damaged receives no compensation. Your committee makes this suggestion that the act of 1887 be amended, making it the duty of the constables of the several townships of the State to investigate the cause of all forest fires, and report the same to the court of quarter sessions, giving the name of the person or persons who set fire to the forest, and whether wilful, malicious or accidental. Railroads should be compelled to have the most approved spark arresters, and secure fire boxes on all locomotives. More fires originate from sparks igniting dead grass and leaves than from any other cause. If forest fires are not permitted to burn a growth of young thrifty timber will soon cover our barren mountain.

Eighth. What should be done to encourage the cultivation of timber?

The answer to this question is: Stimulate the people to observe Arbor Day and plant trees. Too much carelessness and indifference has existed in the preservation of our forests, "but agitation of thought is the beginning of wisdom." Our school children are taught to observe Arbor Day and plant trees, and we now see the monuments they have planted around nearly every school house in the State.

Timber culture and the preservation of our forests has occupied the attention of our far-seeing economists for some years past, and various measures suggested and enactments passed to prevent the destruction of our forests, the last of which was a bill prepared by the Forestry Association to exempt land planted in trees or let grow up again when cut, the greater portion of the taxes, for thirty years. That bill was not approved by your legislative committee, but it was introduced into the House of Representatives and has become a law. That act does not meet the approval of your committee for the reason that this is a natural spontaneous timber growing State, that the land that will be exempted under this act is not susceptable of cultivation and may be valuable mineral lands, and that timber growing would be more profitable in the proportion of taxes and labor than cultivated land, and to relieve land set aside for timber culture from taxes would place heavier burdens of taxation on the tillers of the soil. And it looks to your committee like a "job" in the interest of speculators, who have feathered their nests by cutting and selling their timber and now want it relieved from taxes to grow again. The National Government and the State Governments of the Prairie States have given inducements

to settlers to plant trees. In some of the States forty acres is exempt from taxes by planting and cultivating three acres of trees, and advantage has been taken by may farmers to place all their buildings. on the lot that is exempt, and escape nearly all their taxes.

But it is a mistake to suppose that the west and northwest are the only sections which can be benefited by the cultivation of young trees. It is easy to chop down a great oak or pine, but how long to replace those that have been removed. The conversion of forests into lumber is easy and rapid compared with the rehabilitation of our mountain sides after they have once been denuded. The process of destruction has been going on for more than a century, and the work of replacing our magnificent forests has, already been delayed too long. Arbor Day had its origin in Nebraska fifteen years ago and the beneficial results are summed up in the fact that seven hundred thousand acres of trees have been planted and growing in that State, which were planted by human hands. Many other States have adopted the custom, and plains and prairies that were treeless a few years ago are now studded by millions. Pennsylvania is not so barren of trees as many other States, but there is room for millions, not only to take the places of those removed by the axe and the grubbing-hoe, but to give grateful shade to man and beast along the highway. All classes of citizens, and especially farmers and suburban residents should make an effort to add something to the general beneficence of Arbor Day. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," and there is nothing more beautiful than clumps of trees so situated that the eye can rest upon them, or that their refreshing shadow can be sought and enjoyed. The mere gratification of the senses furnishes an ample incentive to the observance of Arbor Day. But there is an economical as well as an esthetic reason for planting trees, It will pay to repair as far as possible the wastes which have followed in the destruction of our beautiful forests. The coal, gas, iron and oil which we have been consuming so lavishly can never be replaced, but not so with our forests. The trees will grow again if we but take the trouble to plant and care for them, and in no way can one generation confer greater benefits upon another than by adding to the number of trees.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DAIRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS.

By EASTBURN REEDER, New Hope, Pa., Chairman.

The condition of the dairy industry presents a more hopeful aspect than it did a year ago, when our last annual report was submitted. Prices for dairy products have improved, and the demand is good. A year ago we were looking for the decision of the Supreme Court of the State, in the oleomargarine law. That decision was not rendered until the beginning of the present year, and was an almost unanimous decision in favor of the constitutionality of the law; six in favor, and only one in opposition. The hopes of the dairyman have been encouraged by a slight increase in prices for dairy products, and a better demand. On the other hand, the fears of consumers, that butter would so advance in price as to place it beyond the reach of many, has not been realized. Experience has taught that the dairies of the country are equal to the task of producing the needed amount of but

ter, at reasonable prices-neither extravagently high, nor ruinously low. Creamery butter in the south-eastern counties of the State, supplying the Philadelphia market, did not fall below twenty cents per pound, and prices have not yet advanced beyond thirty to thirtyfive cents. Dairy stock is also advancing in price, giving encouragement to the breeder and grazer as well as to the dairyman. Fresh cows are now averaging fifty dollars a piece by the car load. To command these prices, however, they must be large cows of 1,100 pounds weight. Cows weighing 800 to 900 pounds would not probably average over forty dollars.

We may safely affirm that the sustaining of the anti-oleomargarine law, by the Supreme Court, has been a great boom to the dairy industry, to the agricultural interests of the State, and, consequently, to the whole community.

A letter received from J. B. Habecker, president of the Philadelphia Produce Exchange, in answer to some inquiries made by your committee, contains the following: "I inclose you prices of best creamery butter for 1886 and for 1887 to Oct. 1. The make of butter according to our statistics, comparing Philadelphia and New York receipts, is larger this year than any previous year. Butter that last year was a drug at eight to twelve cents is scarce this year, from the fact that good, sweet dairy butter has been in demand to take the place of oleomargarine. In other years it was neglected for oleomargarine and left to spoil, consequently a large supply of low grade butter. I am not at present prepared to give statistics, but after the meeting. of the National Butter, Egg and Cheese convention I will be able to show you conclusively the immense benefit to the dairy interests of the country through the various oleomargarine laws. There is still room for improvement, as the law is not in all places properly enforced. The butter dealers in Philadelphia have enforced the law in that end of the State almost to the letter. I find now that some oleomargarine is being quietly sold. I am informed that in Pittsburgh it is being largely sold, with no attempt at enforcing the law. This matter should receive serious consideration at your meeting."

Returns received from several counties, representing nearly all sections of the State, indicate the present hopeful state of feeling. Crawford county, representing our north-western section, informs us, "That as regards the dairy interests in this part of the State I may say that for the season it has been much more prosperous than for several years. Butter in July ran dow in price to 12 cents per pound, but it was only for that month; since then it has been on the rise till now it is worth 20 cents. Cheese has been active all the season at good prices, and is now worth 12 to 12 cents a pound. Dairy cows have brought fair prices, fresh milk cows from $30 to $40. We may say the dairy interest looks hopeful; dairymen are having more faith in their calling; more cows are now being kept; more money is being made; a better class of cows is kept and more attention given to feed. All these things betoken a hopeful future."

Wayne county, in our extreme north-eastern section, sends word as follows: Prices of fresh cows last spring would average about $32, present prices for fresh cows and springers a little higher, say $35; Prices for butter have

cows to come on next spring, $20 to $25.

ranged from 16 cents lowest, to 20 cents highest, which are present figures. Some who packed their butter all through the season have sold the whole of it lately at 20 and 22 cents. There are three facto

ries in this county making butter on the cream-gathering plan. They have all done fairly well, and the average price paid to patrons will be from 17 to 17 cents per pound; season not yet ended. While prices are low, dairymen are more hopeful than they were a year ago. No cheese made in this county."

Adams county, on our southern border, sends word as follows: "Dry dairy cows are worth from $20 to $30, according to size and quality; fresh cows from $30 to $40. The prices paid by hucksters for butter have been. lowest, 8 cents; highest. 20 cents; average for the year, 14 cents. Prices paid at creamery for milk, lowest, 70 cents; highest, $1 00; average, 85 cents per 100 pounds. The prices for cows are for common cows and not for blooded stock. Present price for butter at country stores, 18 cents per pound. Prices returned for butter sent to Baltimore market, 25 cents per pound."

FERTILIZERS AND THEIR APPLICATION.

FERTILIZER POINTS.

By the SECRETARY.

1. Phosphoric acid exists, in combination with lime, in ordinary commercial fertilizers in three forms, viz: Soluble, reverted or precipitated and insoluble; the chemical difference being mainly in the different proportions of lime and acid.

2. In ground bone and raw South Carolina rock it exists in the form known to chemists as "insoluble"; in this form it is not strictly insoluble as all of the phosphoric acid in ground bone will sooner or later become available as plant food.

3. In South Carolina rock, phosphatic guano and apatite this form of phosphoric acid is much better entitled to the name of insoluble, and, unless mechanically divided to a point which at present cannot be reached with profit, is many years (if ever) in becoming available as plant food.

4. By the addition of sulphuric acid ("oil of vitriol") to ground bone or raw rock a portion of the lime combines with the acid and thus leaves the phosphoric acid in combination with a smaller number of atoms of lime, and either in the form of soluble or reverted (precipitated) phosphoric acid.

5. Inasmuch as all soluble phosphoric acid very soon returns to the reverted form after it is applied to the soil, these two forms are considered of equal value as plant food by the chemist; thus in valuations no difference is made between them and they are valued together as "available" acid.

6. In many instances (and possibly in all) either of the two firstnamed forms of phosphoric acid return to the insoluble form after they have been in the soil for a certain time, hence it may be claimed that mechanical division, if sufficiently fine, will answer the same purpose as the application of sulphuric acid; while this is possibly correct yet it is certain that thus far no mechanical division has been found sufficiently inexpensive to answer the purpose; hence the application of acid is still the best mode of reduction.

7. Of all the elements of a commercial fertilizer phosphoric acid is the least likely to be lost by washing off or through the soil. Drainage water seldom shows the existence of phosphoric acid, and if more has been applied than is needed for the wants of the single crop to which it has been applied, it remains stored up in the soil ready for the succeeding plant growth.

8. Inasmuch as all soils are but the result of the disintegration of rocks, but the action of the air, wind, frost and rain, phosphoric acid is all the time being liberated from the soil by the action of these elements; the ratio of this liberation of course depends very much upon the nature of the rock formation from which it comes and the readiness with which it parts with its acid.

9. Clay lands have the greatest power of absorbing and retaining phosphoric acid and this power decreases in proportion as the sand (silica) increases; the same argument can be applied to all fertilizing elements with equal force.

10. The decay of vegetable matter always furnishes the soil with. more or less phosphoric acid and the presence of lime in the soil ena ables it to retain this supply of acid.

11. Good farm soils vary in their amount of phosphoric acid from 0.03 to 0.16 per cent; a soil nine inches deep with 0.10 per cent. of phosphoric acid would, in reality, contain from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds of phosphoric acid per acre. As no crop can absorb anything like this amount, it follows that it is in a very nearly insoluble condition.

12. Some few kinds of rock (decayed) are capable of parting with their phosphoric acid directly to the roots of the plant, in exactly the same manner as the same roots would obtain it from the unground bone with which they come in contact.

13. In by far the majority of cases, however, the plant has not the power of thus obtaining the phosphoric from the original rock, but in some soils the application of lime adds to or very much increases this power and produces very much the same effects as does the direct application of South Carolina rock.

14. The report of the Connecticut Experiment station thus defines. insoluble phosphoric acid: "Insoluble phosphoric acid implies various phosphates not freely soluble in water or ammonium citrate. In some cases the phosphoric acid is too insoluble to be readily available as plant food. This is true of the South Carolina rock phosphate, of Navassa phosphate, and especially of Canadian apatite. The phosphate of coarse raw bones is at first nearly insoluble in this sense, because of the animal matter of the bones which envelopes it; but when the latter decays in the soil the phosphate remains in essentially the reverted' form.”

15. Bone dust made from boiled bones is more liable to be adulterated with salt cake" than that of raw bones, from the fact that boiling fills the pores with water, and to prevent early decomposition it is often necessary to resort to a somewhat expensive plan of drying the product or of mixing salt cake with it to prevent decomposition.

16. If perfectly pure, the dust from boiled bone has some advantages over that of raw bone. It is more readily made available by decomposition. If dry, it has lost a portion of its weight, which can ⚫ be more economically made up by the use of other materials.

17. In the treatment of ground South Carolina rock with sulphuric acid, the maximum amount of phosphoric acid which may be made available, and still have the mixture in a proper mechanical condition