366 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
June  4 
The  R.  N.-Y.  and  Its  Experiment  Work. 
C.  L.  Ingersoll,  Nebraska  Experi¬ 
ment  Station. — I  am  glad  to  see  the  edi¬ 
tor  of  The  Rural  speak  as  he  has  done 
in  a  late  issue  in  referenee  to  the  work  of 
his  paper  in  years  past,  when  touching 
up  the  editor  of  Agricultural  Science. 
In  1877-’78-’9  1  was  working  in  coopera¬ 
tion  with  The  Rural  New-Yorker  in 
wheat  cross-fertilization  and  experi¬ 
ments,  when  1  held  the  chair  of  agricul¬ 
ture  in  the  Michigan  Agricultural  Col¬ 
lege,  and  I  have  an  old  love  for  the  paper 
and  its  work.  I  read  it  when  a  small  boy 
in  1850,  when  it  was  a  regular  visitor  to 
my  father’s  family  as  Moore’s  Rural 
New-Yorker,  published  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  I  remember  well  when  the  office 
was  first  opened  in  New  York  city,  and 
the  prediction  of  several  that  it  would 
never  amount  to  much  after  its  removal 
entirely  to  the  city — a  prediction  that/ 
has  never  been  verified.  The  paper  and 
its  experiments  have  been  very  valuable, 
not  only  to  the  immediate  readers,  but  to 
all  those  who  have  read  the  results  at¬ 
tained  as  they  have  been  published  in 
other  papers  and  magazines.  The  power 
of  such  work  is  never  fully  appreciated 
or  even  estimated  by  men  in  general  at 
the  time  ;  it  takes  a  retrospect  through 
a  series  of  years  to  appreciate  it  fully  in 
all  its  relations  and  bearings. 
[R.  N.-Y. — Prof.  Ingersoll  lately  re¬ 
signed  his  position  as  President  of  the 
Colorado  Agricultural  College  to  accept 
the  chair  of  Agriculture  in  the  University 
of  Nebraska  Experiment  Station.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural 
College,  and  was  there  Proiessor  of  Agri¬ 
culture  for  a  number  of  years,  llis  resig¬ 
nation  from  that  college  was  a  loss  to 
Michigan  keenly  felt  at  the  time.] 
Let  Personal  Property  Protect  Itself. 
Chas.  R.  Reach,  Walworth  County, 
Wis. — I  was  much  interested  in  the  dis¬ 
cussion  on  taxation  of  personal  property 
in  The  R.  N.-Y.  of  March  12,  which  grew 
out  of  McCabe’s  letter  on  taxing  the 
horse  Maxim,  lately  imported  from  New 
Zealand. 
There  is  one  point  that  I  deem  import¬ 
ant,  that  seemed  to  have  been  overlooked 
in  that  discussion,  viz.,  that  the  owners 
of  personal  property  have  more  fi'equent 
occasion  to  ask  the  aid  and  protection  of 
the  law  than  the  owners  of  real  estate, 
and  therefore  the  relative  cost  to  society 
in  defending  such  property  is  much 
greater.  I  think  1  may  safely  say  that 
of  the  money  we  pay  in  taxes  for  the 
protection  of  property,  three-quarters,  if 
not  nine-tenths,  is  used  in  protecting 
personal  property.  Instead,  then,  of  per¬ 
sonal  property  being  exempt  from  taxa¬ 
tion,  it  would  be  more  reasonable  that  it 
should  be  taxed  for  its  own  protection, 
and  the  same  rule  should  apply  to  real 
estate.  The  farmers  have  no  just  cause 
of  complaint,  and  they  do  not  complain 
that  their  property  is  assessed  at  too  high 
a  value,  and  the  idea  that  any  farmer 
will  be  deterred  from  owning  improved 
stock  for  fear  of  over-taxation,  is  a  mere 
whim  of  the  fancy.  Rut  they  have  just 
grounds  of  complaint  because  a  large 
amount  of  certain  kinds  of  property  is 
assessed  at  too  low  a  figure,  or  escapes 
entirely,  and  so  throws  an  undue  burden 
upon  them.  The  President  of  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Equal  Tax  League  estimates  the 
amount  of  chattel  property  in  Massachu¬ 
setts  that  escapes  taxation  at  $2,000,000,- 
000.  He  says  further :  “If  this  amount 
be  lowered  to  $1,200,000,000,  and  were  it 
assessed  and  paid  taxes  in  the  same  pro¬ 
portion  as  that  which  now  pays  taxes, 
the  extra  sum  realized  would  amount  to 
more  than  the  annual  accumulated 
wealth  realized  from  farming  by  all  the 
farmers  in  the  State.”  A  Rostonian 
died  not  long  since  whose  estate  showed 
that  he  had  dodged  the  average  tax  of 
5,000  tax-payers. 
A  writer  in  the  Prairie  Farmer  claims 
that  in  the  State  of  Illinois  there  are  214 
corporations,  with  $150,000,000  of  paid-up 
capital,  that  are  assessed  on  the  average 
less  than  five  per  cent  on  their  capital 
stock,  while  farm  lands  are  assessed  at 
one-third  of  their  full  value ;  and  that 
when  the  value  of  the  farms  of  that  State 
amounted  to  75  per  cent  of  its  property, 
they  paid  80  per  cent  of  the  tax,  but  now, 
when  the  farm  lands  constitute  but  24 
per  cent  of  the  property  of  the  State,  they 
pay  85  per  cent  of  the  tax. 
The  truth  is,  if  the  burden  of  taxation 
were  shared  equally  by  all  the  property 
in  the  country,  it  would  be  so  light  as  to 
be  scarcely  felt ;  but,  under  the  abuse  of 
our  present  system  of  taxation,  the  bur¬ 
den  falls  most  heavily  upon  the  kind  of 
property  that  requires  the  least  expendi¬ 
ture  of  money  for  its  protection,  and  that 
kind  of  property  which  most  frequently 
invokes  the  protection  of  society  through 
law  seeks  to  escape,  and  does  escape,  by 
paying  a  bare  pittance  of  what  is  justly 
due  from  it. 
Lengthen  the  Political  Terms. 
“  Steve,”  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. — On 
page  40  of  The  R.  N.-Y.,  the  editors  say: 
“We  would  like  to  see  the  politics  of  this 
country  run  for  the  next  10  years  as  a 
man  would  conduct  an  honorable  busi¬ 
ness.”  A  Buffalo  daily  recently  remarked, 
“  Politics  and  the  grip,  two  of  the  great¬ 
est  evils  which  at  present  rest  upon  this 
country.”  A  writer  in  the  Century,  (then 
Scribner's  Magazine)  on  June  1880,  said  : 
“  Politics  can  never  be  purified  in  this 
country  until  there  is  a  reform  in  the 
civil  service,  until  office  ceases  to  be  the 
reward  of  party  service.”  Who  doesn’t 
remember  Senator  Ingall’s  cynical  re¬ 
mark  that  purity  in  polities  is  an  iri¬ 
descent  dream  ?” 
After  12  years  of  reform  effort  the  cry 
for  relief  continues  to  be  heard  in  the 
land.  1  offer  the  following  suggestions. 
Discontinue  yearly  political  revolutions 
called  elections.  Stop  casting  impurities 
into  a  stream  all  wish  to  be  made  clear. 
Amend  the  Constitution  so  that  another 
election  will  not  occur  in  10  years;  give 
the  people  a  rest  and  grant  time  for 
“honorable”  methods  to  take  root, 
business  principles  cannot  be  practiced 
in  an  occupation  that  is  not  based  upon 
some  degree  of  permanency.  We  have 
the  lesson  before  us  continually  if  we 
would  but  heed  it.  The  natural  law 
of  the  vegetable  world  is  stability,  con¬ 
sistent  with  life  periods  and  uses.  If  the 
orchatdist  digs  out  and  replants  every 
new  moon,  will  the  tree  thrive,  will  the 
orchard  prosper  ?  Throw  men  out  of 
business  positions  once  in  12  months,  re¬ 
place  them  with  new  and  undisciplined 
men,  will  the  business  be  conducted  eco¬ 
nomically  and  efficiently  V  Continue  to 
permit  the  duration  of  official  life  to  de¬ 
pend  upon  the  caprice  of  the  convention 
“  boss,”  and  will  not  the  officer  neglect 
the  office  and  follow  his  master?  Fidelity 
to  leadership  at  the  primary,  and  at  the 
convention,  is  the  gospel  of  debased  poli¬ 
tics.  Strike  down  the  oft-recurrent  elec¬ 
tion,  and  the  power  of  the  “  boss  ”  will 
vanish,  and  the  official  can  live  without 
fear  of  being  shot  into  the  air  by  a  ring 
catapult.  Then  the  duties  of  the  office 
will  have  become  thoroughly  familiar ; 
extravagance  and  bad  service  can  be 
eliminated  and  business  usages  will 
apply. 
I  do  not  believe  that  civil  service  or 
any  other  simi’ar  device  will  straighten 
crooked  politics.  We  shall  be  compelled 
to  apply  the  knife  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ulcer.  There  is  nothing  offensive  in 
“  office  being  the  reward  of  party  ser¬ 
vice”  where  the  object  is  the  public  good. 
Premiums  for  energy  and  activity  are 
constantly  offered  in  all  lines  of  trade. 
It  is  the  frequency  of  offering  “  ihe  re¬ 
ward,”  the  perversion  of  activity,  the 
misapplication  of  energy  and  the  result¬ 
ant  contention  between  the  besieger  and 
the  besieged,  that  foster  impurities.  A 
man  becomes  a  political  acrobat  as  the 
logical  sequence  of  the  system,  and  the 
successful  acrobat  must  become  inured 
to  violent  political  athletics.  The  last 
campaign  has  furnished  the  evidence  of 
this.  So  long  as  the  king  annually  pitches 
political  prizes  into  the  arena,  violence 
and  disreputable  strife  will  attend  upon 
the  election  contest.  Will  any  member  of 
thei  readers,  thinking  men  that  they  are, 
give  a  valid  (not  political)  reason  why 
the  term  of  office  of  governor  of  this 
State  should  not  be  the  same  as  that  of 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court?  I  will 
quote  one  reason  why  this  and  all  re¬ 
forms  are  very  slow  as  declared  in  1776 
by  representatives  of  the  original  13,  as 
follows:  *•  Experience  hath  shown  that 
mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer, 
while  evils  are  sufferable,  than  to  right 
themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms  >to 
which  they  are  accustomed.” 
Spice. 
Of  the  newer  sorts  of  strawberries 
tried  by  E.  S.  Golf  of  the  Wisconsin  Sta¬ 
tion,  Warfield  yielded  the  most  and  con¬ 
tinued  in  bearing  as  long  as  any  other. 
The  latest  kind  was  the  Eureka  which 
gave  its  first  picking  June  22,  and  its 
largest  picking  July  1.  The  Van  Deman 
continued  in  bearing  an  entire  month, 
the  berries  of  good  quality,  fair  size  and 
the  flowers  perfect.  Shuster’s  Gem 
yielded  fine  berries  of  inferior  quality. 
The  fruit  of  Gen.  Putnam  is  soft  and 
pale  in  color.  Gov.  Hoard  did  not  meet 
expectations . 
Prof.  Goff’s  experiments  through  six 
seasons  with  seed  from  ripe  and  unripe 
tomatoes  seem  to  prove  that  immature 
seed  reduces  the  growth  (size)  of  the 
plant  but  increases  its  fruitfulness. 
The  foliage  and  stems  of  10  plants  grown 
the  past  season  from  the  ripe  seed,  from 
which  the  fruit  had  all  been  picked, 
( Continued  on  next  page.) 
Ik  you  name  The  R.  N.-Y.  to  our  advertisers  you 
may  be  pretty  sure  of  prompt  replies  and  rlgh 
treatment. 
Hood’s  Sarsaparilla 
Is  carefully  prepared  from  Sarsaparilla,  Dande¬ 
lion,  Mandrake,  Dock,  l’ipsissewa,  Juniper  Ber¬ 
ries,  and  other  well-known  and  valuable  vegeta- 
ble  remedies,  by  a  peculiar  combination,  propor¬ 
tion  and  process,  giving  to  Hood’s  Sarsaparilla 
curative  power  not  possessed  by  other  medicines. 
Hood’s  Sarsaparilla 
Is  the  best  blood  purifier.  It  cures  Scrofula, 
Salt  Rheum,  Boils,  Pimples,  all  Humors,  Dyspep¬ 
sia,  Biliousnes?,  Sick  Headache,  Indigestion, 
General  Debility,  Catarrh,  Rheumatism,  Kidney 
and  Liver  complaints,  overcomes  that  tired  feel¬ 
ing,  creates  an  appetite,  strengthens  the  nerves. 
Hood’s  Sarsaparilla  is  sold  by  all  druggists. 
Prepared  by  C.  I.  HOOD  &  CO.,  Lowell,  Mass. 
!00  Doses  One  Dollar 
EveryM°tHER 
Should  Have  it  in  The  Ilonse. 
Dropped  on  Sugar,  Children  Dove 
to  take  Johnson’s  Anodyne  Liniment  for  Croup.Colds, 
Sore  Throat,  Tonsilitis,  Colic,  Cramps  and  Pains.  Re¬ 
lieves  all  Summer  Complaints,  Cuts  and  Bruises  like 
magic.  Sold  every  where.  Price  85c.  by  mail;  6  bottles 
Express  paid,  $8.  L  S.  J  OHNSON  &  CO.,  Boston,  Mass. 
—  THE 
ENSILAGE  AND- 
FODDER 
AND 
CARRIERS 
Are  the  Best. 
Lanre  and  Complete  lin< 
of  Machines  adapted  t< 
all  uses.  1802  Catalogtu 
embraces  Treatise  on  Kt 
silage  and  Plans  for  Site. 
THE  SILVER  MFG.  CO., 
OHIO. 
WT  A  to  sell  or  exchange,  98  acres, 
»»  xl  1  I— i  VJ  30  improved  and  fenced; 
2,000  cords  wood,  3,000  Grapes,  200  Fruit-Trees,  Dwel¬ 
ling,  (i  rooms,  Stable,  (i  stalls.  All  buildings  iu  good 
order.  Seven  miles  from  Manchester,  one-half  mile 
from  Providence  ehurc-h.  Also,  two  large  lots  In 
Ashland,  adjoining  W.  C.  Smith’s.  Will  exchange  for 
Farm  iu  Maryland  on  or  near  UR.  station.  Popula¬ 
tion  of  Richmond  and  Manchester,  100,000.  Price, 
So, 000.  Two  lots  in  Ashland,  212x225,  very  near  col¬ 
lege,  200  students.  Price,  $1,000.  Address 
J.  B.  Jones,  o.wner,  100  Indiana  Ave., Washington,  D.C 
GENUINE  PHILADELPHIA 
Lawn  Mower. 
HAND  SIZES  10  TO  20  INCHES. 
DOTH  OPEN  AND  SOLID  CYLINDERS. 
PONY  AND  HORSE  30  AND  36  INCHES. 
LAWN  SWEEPERS  and  GRASS  EDGERS. 
GRAHAM,  EMLEN  &  PASSMORE, 
631  Market  St.,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 
SAYS  THE 
WEED  SLAYIR. 
Best  Hand-Cul¬ 
tivator  known. 
Price,  1*2.00 
Except  Pacific  States. 
THE  WEEDS  MUST  GO 
Equal  to  five  boes.  saves  two-thirds  finger-weeding 
in  onions,  etc.  Unequaled  for  strawberry-runners, 
cuts  seven  inches  wide,  any  depth;  adjustable  in 
height;  light  and  strong. 
READ.— Pavs  for  Itself  every  day.— RURAL  New- 
Yorkkh.  Lightest  and  best  we  know  of.— L.  B.  Taft, 
H.  S.  Professor  Mich.  Agr.  College,  Lansing.  Mlcb. 
Excels  all  others  for  our  gravel  walks  and  driveways. 
— Brockpoht  Cemetry  Association,  Brockport, 
New  York. 
Sold  bv  dealers— purchased  for  you  by  anv  express 
agent,  or  forwarded  by  us  on  receipt  of  prices  as  above 
ANCHOR  FENCE  POST. 
Is  the  easiest  set,  most  indis- 
tructable,  and  only  practical  Iron 
post  made,  for  all  kinds  of  wire  and 
metal  fencing,  for  farm,  stockyards 
or  ornamental  purposes.  Circular  on  application. 
ANCHOR  POST  CO.,  59  D.  W.  42d  St.,N.Y. 
60  MINUTES  IN  AN  HOUR. 
24  HOURS  IN  A  DAY. 
1  440  minutes  and  not  one  lost.  With  three  sets  of 
men  working  four-hour  shifts,  we  turn  out  ten  miles 
of  complete  fence  every  day,  and  still  the  demand 
exceeds  the  supply.  Farmers  know  a  good  fence. 
PAGE  WOVEN  WIRE  FENCE  CO., 
Adrian,  Mich. 
SPOKANE. 
Surrounding  Spokane  is  the  richest 
farming  country  in  the  world.  Great  in¬ 
ducements  for  dairying,  gardening,  fruit 
growing,  stock-raising,  hay-growing  and 
general  farming.  Land  purchased  at 
the  present  prices  will  double  in  value 
within  three  years.  Excellent  markets. 
We  want  intelligent  young  men  with 
some  capital.  Only  six  to  eight  weeks  of 
winter ;  no  blizzards,  no  cyclones,  no 
floods.  You  can  reach  Spokane  from  the 
East  by  tlie  Great  Northern,  Northern 
Pacific,  Union  Pacific,  or  the  Canadian 
Pacific  railroad. 
For  further  information  address 
CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE, 
SPOKANE,  WASHINGTON. 
8AM’L  B.  WOODS,  LEWIS  D.  AYLETT 
Mayor  City  of  Charlottes-  Formerly  Treasurer 
vllle.  Va.  Commissioner  Georgia  Pacific  R.R. 
of  Virginia.  VIRGINIA, 
ALBEMARLE  COUNTY. 
The  great  fruit,  grain  and  stock  raising  section  of 
the  State.  Winters  mild  and  short.  Scenery  beautiful. 
Health  fine.  Near  the  great  markets.  Educational 
advantages  unsurpassed. 
Land  Good  I  Prices  Cheap  I  Taxes  Low  ! 
Farms  and  City  property  for  sale.  Write  to 
WOODS  dk  AYLETT,  Charlottesville,  Va. 
CLAREMONT  Land  Association,  g„?ryr<“onva. 
Offers  600  choice  farms;  3,000  handsome  towri 
lots  on  James  River,  with  terms  to  suit  purchaser* 
Free  circular. 
u/ci  |  supplies.^::" 
Wind&Steam  Mach'y.  Encyclopedia  26c. 
■  "  "The  American  Well  Work*,  Aurora,  III. 
IX-13 S. Canal St,, CHICAGO, ILL.  I 
Rim  dall&s,  Texas.  ( 
Brautoh  daunt 
