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THURSDAY EVENING, January 27, 1887. Called to order at 7.30 P. M., by M. W. OLIVER, Vice President, in the chair.

Hon. JOHN W. HICKMAN addressed the Board upon the subject of "How to Bring up a Worn-out Farm by the Use of Commercial Fertilizers Alone," and the remainder of the session was devoted to a complete and thorough discussion of the fertilizer question in all of its bearings.

Adjourned to meet at Bellefonte, at the call of the Advisory Committee.

MINUTES OF THE SPRING MEETING.

Held at Bellefonte and State College, June 8th and 9th, 1887. Board called to order at 9.30 A. M. by Dr. John P. Edge, Vice President, in the chair.

On behalf of the Centre County Agricultural Society and the citizens of Bellefonte, Hon. A. O. Furst, president judge of the Twentyfifth judicial district, addressed the Board as follows:

Mr. President and Members of the State Board of Agriculture of Pennsylvania: The pleasant duty has been assigned me to bid you a welcome to the county of Centre and to the borough of Bellefonte. When you reach Centre county you come within the centre of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and when you locate in this town. you are practically in the centre of the State.

We recognize the fact that of all the industries of this land agriculture is the leading one. In other words, it is the living industry of the age, it is the foundation upon which every other pursuit in this land must rest. When agriculture is prosperous, all other industries partake of its prosperity When adversity strikes the farmer or his farm, it affects every other business in the land. So that there is no industry so potent and so important to all the other industries of our country as that of agriculture. It is the basis upon which the commercial and manufacturing interests of this Commonwealth rests. It is perhaps of all industries in the land the one most dependent upon the hand of Providence. From the day the farmer sows his seed in the ground. until he harvests his crop and places it in the barn, every day in the season he is dependent upon a beneficient Providence for favor and prosperity upon his broad fields.

Farming is reduced to a science. You will discover this when you hear from our worthy friend of this town (Clement Dale, Esq.), in his essay upon Centre county farming. He may tell you how farming was done in this county fifty years ago. If he does, you will be very much surprised wher. you contrast it with the present method of farming in this county and surrounding districts. But for the essayist I desire to say he is termed with us an ancestral farmer, he farms through his fathers. He left the farm when he was fifteen years of age, and what he knows now of practical farming he gathers as executor of his father's estate. (Laughter.)

I might also say in this connection, referring to the local history of the distinguished member of your society of this town, and who is

present now, that he is also a farmer, but not in its practical sense. He farms per alium, or, as it is said in our law books, he is a farmer aliundè. We are not accustomed to call him "Farmer Hale," we distinguished him by the title "M. D." He is a physician of this town. And yet he is a successful farmer in this county, that he owns nearly all the land between this and Hublersburg. (Laughter and applause.) Gentlemen of the Board, we are very glad to welcome you to our town. The interests of our county are very much like the interests of every agricultural county of this Commonwealth.

We have under the soil within our borders the richest deposits of iron ore of any place within the Commonwealth, except, perhaps, the Coleman estate in the county of Lebanon. We are building two large furnaces on the borders of the town, and the supplies for these furnaces of iron ore, coke and coal will all be derived from within county limits. We have very extensive glass works in successful operation; a short time since it met with a disastrous fire and was totally destroyed. It has been rebuilt, and to-day Bellefonte glass stands upon an equality with any other glass manufactured in this Commonwealth. We have also successful iron works largely engaged in the manufacture of nails, and there are other industries connected with the manufacture of iron. We have rich deposits of coal and iron ore, as I have already stated; the deposits of iron ore seem to be innumerable, and the supply inexhaustible. For a hundred years to come the iron interests of this country cannot be fully developed, much less exhausted. And we have not only our iron and lumber interests, but we have other manufacturing interests of importance. We have some of the very best mills, with the new process for the manufacture of flour, actively and prosperously engaged within the limits of this county, and within the limits of this borough.

We are, perhaps, as old a town as you will find in the interior of the Commonwealth. This town trayels with the century. It was organized in 1793 by James Dunlap and James Harris, whose descendents largely are residents of this borough.

The first agricultural society was held in this town in 1825, and it was presided over by Judge Burnside, afterward of the Supreme Court, and who to-day is sleeping in our beautiful cemetery; so that for a period of sixty years and upwards this people has been engaged in the science of agriculture, and interested in the development of the country and the farm, and commencing at a period of time, gentlemen, when the Indian must have traversed the confines of our county.

You are to-day within sight of the Bald eagle's nest, the noted chieftain after whom our railroad and our valley of the Bald Eagle is called. You are in sight of Logan's spring, called in honor of the most noble of all the Indians of this country, and his war-path and the site of his camp are in this county; and not only this, but the great warrior's path leading from Erie to the Delaware, the Chinklodacamoose, is today a land-mark for some of the original surveys, an incontrovertible land-mark fixing the boundaries of unseated lands in this county.

Gentlemen, I desire to call your attention to the fact, and I do it modestly, that you are here at the home of the Chief Executive of this Commonwealth, who for some good reason is absent from your Board to-day. By virtue of his office, the Governor is President of this Board. I welcome you to his home. We all feel a personal pride in Governor Beaver, who so worthily fills the office of Chief Magistrate of this Commonwealth.

I am not in the habit of pronouncing panegyric or eulogy over the living, and yet I cannot restrain my thoughts and my feelings from saying that we are proud that it is also the home of the most distinguished living war Governor of the age. Governor Curtin is a resident of this town. I feel a personal pride in everything that is connected with his name, because of his usefulness to his country and his record as the War Governor of Pennsylvania. I might say that he is not only the peer of every living war Governor, but he is one of three surviving of the seventeen Governors who met in the city of Altoona during the war, upon whose determination depended very much the success of the Union arms, and if there is anything that the country should rejoice in, it is the memory of the men who in the trials of the country stood faithful to her flag (applause); we should honor them on all occasions, and we should be ready even in there lifetime to pronounce eulogy upon their name.

Governor Curtin occupies a peculiar relation to our court. He has pronounced within the last year a eulogy upon six or seven members of this bar; and, as he is in the prime of his life, he has promised to continue to pronounce eulogies upon the deceased members of this bar until, as he says, we are all buried (laughter).

There is one other matter of interest to which I desire to call your attention; we have in this town a most noted spring; its waters are pure and fresh and sparkling, and as clear as the midday light; so far as we know, since the creation, there has never been the first evidence of discoloration in a single particle of that water, then it is not only pure and fresh in appearance, but wholesome.

I notice that the president of this association at the commencement exercises of the theological seminary at Princeton the other day, in a post prandial address, complained that the altitude of Princeton was so great that the atmosphere was exceedingly stimulating AND VERY DRY. Now, as to being dry, if any member of this association indulges in the use of water, we refer him to our spring as one that will furnish a refreshing draught of purest nectar or life. Furthermore, it is the only place in this town where you can be accommodated with a drink after ten o'clock at night.

I take pleasure in thanking you for your presence here, and most cordially extend you a welcome to our town and to the hospitality of our homes.

On behalf of the Board, Dr. John P. Edge replied as follows:

Judge Furst and Citizens of Centre county: It is a source of regret to every member of this Board present, that His Excellency the Governor, the President of the Board, is unavoidably absent. I was made aware of the fact only a few minutes ago that I would be required to preside in his absence, the senior vice president being also absent; and I have, therefore, no extended remarks to make in response to the very cordial address of welcome that you have just pronounced. The record of the proceedings of this Board during its present session must be a response to that welcome; and when that record shall have been completed, it will be for the citizens of Centre county, who have participated and listened to its proceedings and discussions, to decide whether we are entitled to the cordial welcome that we have received. On behalf of the Board I thank you for receiving us so kindly.

Present-Messrs. Dr. Edge of Chester, Dr. Atherton of Centre, Garrettson of Adams, Zerr of Berks, Reeder of Bucks, Scott of Bradford, Hale of Centre, Herr of Clinton, Eves of Columbia, Colvin of Lacka2 BD. AGR.

wanna, Engle of Lancaster, Barnes of Lehigh, Smith of Luzerne, Kratz of Montgomery, Clapp of Montour, Shimer of Northampton, Hoffa of Northumberland, Musselman of Somerset, Speaker of Sullivan, Searle of Susquehanna, Mather of Tioga, Gundy of Union, Gates of Venango, Miller of Warren, McDowell of Washington, Underwood of Wayne, Roland of York, Dr. Leffmann, Microscopist; Prof. Buckhout, Entomologist; Prof. Osmond, Meteorologist; and Secretary.

The chair named Messrs. Roland of York, Herr of Clinton, and Hoffa of Northumberland, a committee to receive and report upon the credentials of members elect and delegates.

In the order of new business, the question of the place of next meeting was considered; West Chester, Beaver, Reading, Lewisburg and Montrose were named, when, on motion, the selection was left for a subsequent session.

On motion of Mr. Smith, Wm. Gates of Venango, then read an essay on How to Build and Maintain Puolic Roads," the subject matter was then discussed by Messrs. Dr. Edge, Searle, Engle, Herr, Underwood, McDowell, Gates, Roland, Hamilton, Frear, Kratz, Colvin, Secretary and others, when, on motion of Mr. Mather, the discussion was closed.

Dr. J. P. Edge of Chester, then read an essay entitled "An Inquiry into the Results of the Artificial Propagation of Food Fishes in Chester County," which elicited discussion on the part of Messrs. Roland, Shortlidge, Smith, Groff, Dr. Edge, Engle and Musselman.

On behalf of the Committee on Credentials of members and delegates, Dr. W. S. Roland presented the following report, which, on motion of Mr. Engle, was accepted.

"The Committee on Credentials report the following delegates present, viz: Muncy Valley Farmer's Club, A. J. Kahler and Abner Fague.

Clinton County Agricultural Society, James David, William Hayes, J. H. Long, Jacob A. Bittner and Charles Kyle.

Clinton County Pomona Grange, John McNaul, James H. Porter and I. T. Lundy.

Nittany Grange No. 334, John W. McClintock and Charles R. Romick.

Bald Eagle Grange No. 303, L. T. Lundy and wife.

Solebury Farmers' Club (Bucks county), Watson Kenderdine, W. C. Blackfan, Hannah Reeder and Lizzie C. Blackfan.

On motion of Mr. Searle, Prof. W. A. Buckhout, Entomologist of the Board, read an essay entitled "Some Suggestions on Forestry," which was followed by discussion from members and others.

On motion of Mr. Smith, Clement Dale, Esq., read an essay on "Farming in Center County."

On motion discussion deferred, and adjourned until 2 P. M.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, June 8, 1887. Board called to order at 2 P. M., by Dr. John P. Edge, Vice President, in the chair.

On the motion of Messrs. Herr and Barnes, the chair was directed to appoint suitable committees to prepare and present to the Board resolutions expressive of the feelings of the members at the death of J. S. Keller, late member from Schuylkill, and D. H. Foresman, late member from Lycoming. The chair named, in the case of the death of Mr. Keller, Messrs. Barnes of Lehigh, Zerr of Berks, and Shimer,

of Northampton, and in the case of the death of Mr. Foresman, Messrs. Herr of Clinton, Gates of Venango, and Eves of Columbia, with directions to present their reports at the afternoon session of Thursday. On behalf of the Committee on Credentials, Mr. Herr of Clinton, reported that the committee had received a certificate showing that Robert A. Foresman had been selected by the Lycoming County Agricultural Society, to represent them for the unexpired term of D. H. Foresman, deceased. They further reported that inasmuch as the certificate was not upon the blank form prescribed by the rules of the Board, that they would recommend that he be received as a member for this meeting, and that previous to the next meeting he should furnish the Secretary with a certificate of membership made out upon the proper form. Report of committee adopted, and the Secretary directed to furnish Mr. Foresman with the proper blank.

On motion, John Hamilton of Centre county, then read an essay, on "Tenant Farming," which was discussed by Messrs. Roland, Gundy, Hamilton, Humes, Searle and Smith.

On motion of Mr. Engle, Hon. C. C. Musselman of Somerset, then read an essay entitled "Lime and Home-made Fertilizers versus Commercial Fertilizers."

On motion of Mr. Herr of Clinton, all discussion of the fertilizer question was deferred until after the reading of other essays bearing on the topic.

Hon. John W. Hickman of Chester county, then addressed the Board upon the subject of commercial fertilizers, ard illustrated his remarks by a series of illustrated charts.

On motion of Mr. Eves of Columbia, seconded by Mr. Searle of Susquehanna, it was decided to invite Hon. A. G. Curtin to address the Board during the early portion of the session, and on motion the chair named Messrs. Eves, Musselman and Roland a committee to invite Governor Curtin to address the Board in accordance with the resolution of Mr. Eves.

Prof. Wm. Frear of State College, then read an essay on "The Results of Recent Investigations on Nitrogen in Soils and Plants."

On motion of Mr. Herr, the unfinished order of fixing a place of next meeting, and after several ballots it was decided to meet at Beaver at the call of the Advisory Committee.*

On motion adjourned.

WEDNESDAY EVENING. June 8, 1887. Board called to order at 8 P. M., by Hon. John P. Edge, Vice President, in the chair.

In accordance with the programme, Hon. A. G. Curtin then addressed the Board.

Dr. Henry Leffmann, Microscopist of the Board, delivered an illustrated lecture upon "The Application of the Microscope to the De

* Soon after the adjournment of the Bellefonte meeting, it was found that from the fact that the court house would be in use during the month of September, it would be impossible to hold a meeting at Beaver at the time proposed; it was also found that there had been a misunderstanding as to the time of the proposed meeting.

In view of these facts, and with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee (obtained in writing) it was decided to call a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the purpose of taking such action as might seem advisable.

At the meeting of the Advisory Committee, after a careful examination of the question in all of its bearings, it was decided to hold the next meeting at Montrose, Susquehanna county, and October 12 and 13 was decided on as a date which would best suit the resident member and the members of the Board.

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