1891 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
39 
egg usefulness must go to the Light Brah¬ 
ma of Canada until some better record 
appears. 
Curing a Crop bound Hen.— The result 
of a little experiment which I have recently 
tried may be of interest to some readers of 
The Rural New-Yorker. It was original 
with me, though I have since learned that 
it had been tried before. A full-grown 
pullet became “crop-bound,” and after 
trying for several days unsuccessfully to 
force the contents of the crop along in its 
regular channel,! finally decided to try an¬ 
other method of relief. I wrapped her 
with innumerable turns of twine, tightly 
pinioning her wings and legs to her body, 
then placing her on her side on a narrow 
board, I tied her down firmly. Then, tying 
back the longer feathers and plucking five 
or six small ones, a space about one half 
inch wide and one and one-half inch long 
was made bare. Then with a very sharp 
lance I cut a gash about one inch long di¬ 
rectly through into the side of the crop, re¬ 
moved the contents, using a button-hook 
for the purpose, washed the edges of the 
cut, sewed up the crop and then sewed up 
the skin. Scarcely a drop of blood was 
drawn and by feeding the bird on soft food 
for several days she soon recovered. 
Washington, D. C. D. H. D. 
R. N.-Y.—This treatment is quite fre¬ 
quently prescribed by poultry men, but in 
the hands of most amateurs it is a bung¬ 
ling and cruel operation. 
A Sensible Hen House.— Mr. Wilson’s 
idea of a good poultry house, page 873, is 
the most sensible I have met with for along 
time. More morning and less noon sun¬ 
shine is what is needed in poultry houses 
when the weather is severe. I think 5-foot 
posts preferable to 4-foot. An 8x8 cheap shed, 
open to the south, placed at the east end of 
the house, is a very desirable addition. 
Hens seem to be more contented if they can 
get out of the house the greater portion of 
the day. To make them happy throw a 
forkful of straw under the shed and scatter 
a handful of wheat, oats or corn in it. 
They will scratch and dig among that straw 
for hours at a time, and apparently with as 
much delight as though they were tearing 
up a nice fresh garden. That the exercise 
is beneficial is plainly evidenced by the 
increased number of eggs they lay. 
Christian Co., Ill. FRED GRUNDY. 
Ax Prince Schwartzenberg’s hunt in 
Bohemia a flock of American turkeys, 
which were placed in the forests three years 
ago, refused to be hunted, but remained on 
their feet. The shooting did not concern 
them apparently, but finally they outran 
the dogs and took refuge in the trees. The 
Prince now intends to send the turkeys to 
the interior, where in the absence of human 
society, their domestic tendencies may wear 
off in time.—N. Y. Sun. 
The stout “ drumsticks ” that beat the 
dogs enable the turkey to forage and nearly 
support herself. Stout legs are a blessing 
in this age. 
Kill off all but 15 of those lazy hens 
spoken of on page 907 in The Rural for 1890. 
As a general rule when a farmer gets mad 
because the hens won’t lay, and com¬ 
mences to slaughter them, they soon begin 
to drop eggs. P. T. Barnum said that he 
once had 50 hens and got no eggs; he killed 
all but 10, and then got plenty of eggs for 
the family. Dr. Hoskins wrote sensibly in a 
late Rural about “too much orchard.” 
Generally farmers keep too many hens for 
profit. We should keep only enough to 
glean the scattered grains,etc.,which would 
otherwise be wasted. J. R. 
ABOUT BANK CURRENCY. 
A correspondent of the New York Sun who 
has reported financial and commercial 
matters for over 50 years, writes for that 
paper quite a remarkable article, from 
which we take the following extracts ; 
“The approaching extinction of the cir¬ 
culation of the national banks by the ex¬ 
tinction of the government bonds on which 
it is based is viewed as a calamity to be 
deplored and, if possible, averted, and the 
proposition to replace bank notes by gov¬ 
ernment legal tenders is denounced as a 
usurpation of power, a forced loan from 
the people, a war measure in time of peace, 
the creation of fiat money, and, generally, 
as immoral and dangerous.” 
“Bank notes have been used in this 
country so long, and people have become so 
accustomed to them, that they seem to 
form part of the natural order of things, 
and their threatened disappearance strikes 
the unreflecting mind as would the 
threatened disappearance from the heavens, 
not, perhaps, of the sun, but certainly of 
the moon and of the stars. Yet, upon con¬ 
sideration, it will be seen that bank notes 
are as artificial and arbitrary as any other 
kind of paper money, and that the same 
reasons which have led to intrusting the 
national government with the monopoly of 
coining metal money, also apply to the issu¬ 
ing of paper.” 
“ The metal in coined money being that 
which gives it value, and the value of 
paper money consisting in the quantity of 
coin which it will command, I do not see 
why the manufacture of paper money 
should not be intrusted to the government 
as well as the manufacture of coin. As¬ 
suredly it is no necessary part of the bank¬ 
ing business. Banks and bankers are 
dealers in money and in promises to pay 
money, but they must accept for this pur¬ 
pose the money of the country in which 
they find themselves. They receive depos¬ 
its, make loans, discount paper, issue 
drafts, and in similar ways facilitate the 
exchange of commodities, and there their 
proper function ends.” 
“ Nor have I ever seen any satisfactory 
answer to the argument, that since the 
principal security for the circulation of the 
national banks, and that upon which the 
public relies, is the government bonds on 
which the circulation is issued, the govern¬ 
ment might better issue the notes itself 
directly, and thus save paying the interest 
on the bonds. To the assertion that notes 
issued by the government are a forced loan, 
only justified in time of war, it is hardly 
necessary to reply. A nation cannot rob 
itself any more than an individual can. 
The government cannot pay out its notes 
except for services or for commodities pur¬ 
chased,and no one is obliged to accept them 
who does not voluntarily place himself in 
a position to do so. It might as well be 
said that the notes of the banks are a forced 
loan, since they come into use by the 
same agencies and circulate under the same 
conditions as do those of the government.” 
“ For my part, therefore, I view the ap¬ 
proaching extinction of national bank cir¬ 
culation not only without alarm, but even 
with complacency, since it will be a step 
toward a desirable simplification of our 
currency. At present, besides national 
bank notes, w* have for money gold coin, 
silver coin, gold certificates, silver certifi¬ 
cates, and legal-tender notes. In case we 
should come to the unlimited coinage of 
silver dollars, we might advantageously 
have government notes of two kinds, one 
specifically redeemable in gold coin and the 
other in silver coin, but every other kind 
of paper circulation I would like to see 
abolished. And if the national banking 
system should not be able to survive the 
deprivation of the profits now yielded by 
circulation, it deserves to perish. 
SOME FINANCIAL IDEAS. 
The Farmers’ Alliance is not an anar¬ 
chical organization. It is true that a 
number of the members are riding some 
absurd hobbies, but they are not indorsed 
by the sober-minded men. We shall en¬ 
deavor to pass a maximum freight rate bill, 
based on the Iowa schedule, but my private 
opinion is that it will be higher than that 
schedule. Another measure will be to 
make the levying of usury punishable by 
forfeiture of both principal and interest. 
There is a difference of opinion among our 
members as to lowering the legal rate of 
interest. We recognize the fact that we 
are by no means independent of Eastern 
capital and do not wish to discourage its 
investment or compel its withdrawal. We 
do believe, however, that some steps should 
be taken to choke these 3-per-cent-a-month 
men. By doing that I don’t think we are 
hurting Eastern capital, which is generally 
satisfied with 6 per cent returns. We shall 
also endeavor to repeal the two-cent bounty 
on sugar.—Nebraska Farmers’ Alliance. 
The bounty was granted expressly to 
please the farmers who raise cane, sorghum 
and beets for sugar. They declared that 
their business would be ruined if the tax 
on sugar were removed unless they were 
protected with a bounty. Nebraska is 
second only to California in sugar-beet 
raising, yet before there has been time even 
to try the new law, here are Nebraska 
farmers clamoring in a body for its repeal I 
It would hardly be just and equitable 
for the government to advance loans on 
farm and not upon merchantable products. 
The long and short of it is that the Sub- 
Treasury measure is class legislation pure 
and simple, and the very thing that the Al¬ 
liance and all other agricultural organiza¬ 
tions ought most vigorously to oppose. We 
do not believe that this measure ever will 
receive the indorsement of the majority of 
the organized farmers of this country, or 
ever become the law of the land.—Farm 
and Fireside. 
IN Texas where the Alliance originated 
and where it has a very large membership, 
the Sub-Treasury scheme has always met 
with a stout opposition. In many of the 
other States also in which it found favor at 
first, it has now fallen into more or less 
disrepute. Even the late Ocala convention 
failed to indorse it. The farmers need relief; 
but they appear to be learning that the 
arguments against this scheme are weightier 
than those for it. 
Logically speaking, the farmer who 
cries out for higher prices—and more cur¬ 
rency leads to this—is like the person who 
thrusts his hands in the fire; he pays pretty 
dear for the fun. It is this very thing that 
has so insidiously brought about those 
three thousand millions of dollars’ worth of 
mortgages upon the farm property of this 
country within the past quarter of a cen¬ 
tury. And surely this burden ought to be 
sufficient lesson in the matter of high 
prices. Do the farmers want to go on 
learning some old truths at this back-Break¬ 
ing cost? Surely as two and two make four, 
so surely are higher prices the farmer’s loss 
instead of gain.—Florida Dispatch. 
The farmers do not need to ask for legis¬ 
lative help or special laws for their class. 
They do not need government loans at two 
per cent or any other rate. They need just 
and fair laws honestly administered, as do 
all other classes, but no class legislation. 
They need to have fairly remunerative 
prices for their produce, and they can have 
them if they will rise superior to ignorance 
and prejudice, and dictate their own prices, 
and combine to hold the market up to liv¬ 
ing prices.—Indiana Farmer. 
It is just wonderful how almost unani¬ 
mously the best representatives of agricul¬ 
tural opinion are swinging into line in 
favor of common-sense views of the live 
problems in political economy. Farmers 
are at the bottom too conservative, and 
they have too solid a stake in the country 
to be for any length of time influenced by 
theories or plans of dubious wisdom or 
scatterbrain character. 
CONVENTION JOTTINGS. 
The following jottings were set down at 
the recent 13th annual convention of .the 
Indiana Horticultural Society: 
“ ‘Like begets like,’ and the president of 
the society can do much with his own en¬ 
thusiastic interest towards kindling the 
latent fire of enthusiasm in the members.” 
“ He who will not, for the love he bears 
science, cheerfully attend his local society, 
and there exhibit whatever results of hor¬ 
ticulture he has produced that are worthy 
of notice, is not, at heart, a horticulturist.” 
“The wonderful development of the small 
fruit industry is ample testimony that 
small fruits are demanded by the masses, 
and that the supplying of that demand is, 
on the whole, fairly profitable.” “ It is 
seldom indeed that choice fruit, in good 
condition, sells below a remunerative 
figure.” 
“ If you grow second-class fruit, or put 
fruit on the market in poor condition, you 
will very likely find that branch of the 
business overdone.” 
“The person who decides to engage in 
fruit-growing should carefully analyze his 
reasons therefor. If he does so because he 
imagines It a ‘ soft snap,’ I can only tell 
him not do so. Before his crop is marketed 
he will either change his mind or ‘get left,’ 
or both.” “ The Goddess Pomona does not 
shower her richest blessings upon those 
who worship her only for her golden 
crown ” 
“ A good location is half the battle, but 
the right man for the right place is the 
other and most important half.” 
“ The person who lacks system in grow¬ 
ing berries lacks ordinary common sense, 
and will never make a success in the busi¬ 
ness.” “ You may have a fertile soil, good 
varieties and a good season, and yet fail to 
produce the ideal berry. There must be a 
man behind the berry with a fertile brain; 
a man who knows a good berry when he 
sees it, and knows how to produce it.” 
“ Quality in fruit is a combination of 
smoothness, shape, color, soundness, ripe¬ 
ness, odor and taste.” 
“The three principal points to be ob¬ 
served in the production of choice fruits 
are feeding, pruning and thinning.” 
“ On the hilly land of southern Indiana, 
orchards well cared for yield profits twice 
as large as our best land devoted to grain 
crops.” 
“ If you starve or neglect a colt or a pig 
it will be destroyed by parasites. So it is 
with trees.” “ Keep the trees vigorous and 
the scale will not affect them.” T. 
|lUjsccUanmt;5 
IN writing to advertisers please always 
mention The Rural. 
OVe do not advertise 
FOR REVENUE ofv 
But also for the Purpose of 
Advancing the fame of Burpee s Seeds, 
Than which there are none better. 
Our Mail trade Is now the largest, 
And we can faithfully serve you. 
Burpee's Farm Annual 1891 
Tells about our unusual facilities 
For growing the very Best Seeds. 
Shall we mail you a FREE copy? 
W. ATLEE BURPEE &. CO. 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
■1- I S 1 /-s \/ Complete I.AKIKS GUIItK 
I U rvU LUo T Alice II. Stoekham, M. D. 
The very best book for AGENTS. Sample pages free. 
Prepaid $2.76. A. B. Stoekham & Co., 157 La Salle St., Chicago. 
S Eb 1 1) for free Catalogue of Rooks of Amusements, 
Speakers. Dialogues, Gymnastics, Calisthenics, 
Fortune Tellers. Dream Books, Debates, Letter 
Writers, etc. Dick & Fitzobr.au>, 18 Ann St., N.Y 
FREEf-SUif! 
VUI V f £°6 ra P h - Envelope, l 
nnmn nnd address on a postal card 
the Latest Styles of Hillc Fringe, Pho* 
_, , Beveled Edge, Crazy Edge Cards&a., 
Samples of all tree. HOME and YOUTH, Cadiz, Ohm. 
^400 Album V«r«M* Ac. *11 lOo. ULEN (JO.. CLINTON ViLL& 00NH. 
500 
SCRAP PICTURES, VERSES, Ao. t 
PUZZLE, LADIES AGE REVEALKR ! 
CALENDAR and AGENT’S NEW OUT _ 
for pontago. YALE CARD CO., 114 NEW HAVEN, CONN. 
if f PRIZE 
DEAF! 
INESS & HEAD NOISES CUREDb* 
Deck’s INVISIBLE TUBULAR EA 
___CUSHIONS. Whispers heard. Co n 
fortahle. Successful where all Itemed let fall. Hold by K. HISCOX, 
only. 853 Itr’dway, New Vork. Write for book of liroofs EKF.lt. 
'ScS^&eA,,, 
PATENT 
^ A pamphlet of information andab-.'l 
^struct of the laws, showing How to/ 
1 ^Obtain Patents, Caveats, Trade/ 
■ Marks, Copyrights, sent free./ 
^Address MUNN & CO.. 
■ SUl Broadway, 
New York. 
275 ACRE FARM. 
Fertile, warm early soil. 
Good Grass Land. 
Good Butter Farm. 
Good Truck Farm. 
Good Fruit Farm. 
Good Poultry Farm. 
Deposit of Pink Granite. 
Deposit of Fine Molding Sand. 
Famous Spring of Pure Water. 
Twenty-seven miles from Boston. Six good manu¬ 
facturing village markets within seven miles; one 
mile from railroad station, post office, etc. 
03?" FOR SALE AT LOW PRICE. 
May be divided into two farms. Two houses, big 
baru. etc. 
Address “FARM,'’care Tiik Rural New-Yorker. 
IIT EARLY IN JANUARY. J&J 
“The New Potato Culture.” 
By ELBKRT S. HARMAN, Editor of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. This book 
will give the results of the author’s investi¬ 
gations and experiments during the past 
fifteen years. Its object will be to show all 
_ _ _ who raise potatoes, whether for home use 
solely or for market as w-11, that the yield may be Increased threefold without a corresponding Increase in the cost; to show that the little garden patch, of a fortieth 
of an acre perhaps, may just as well yield ten bushels as three bushels : to induce farmers and gardeners to experiment with fertilizers not only as to the kind, that is 
to say the constituents and their most effective proportions, but as to the most economical quantity to,use ; to experiment as to the most telling preparation of the soli, 
the depth to plant, the size of seed, the number of eyes, the distance apart. These will be among the subjects considered, not In a theoretical way at all. but as the 
outcome of fifteen years of experimentation earnestly made In the hope of advancing our knowledge of this mighty industry. It is respectfully submitted that these 
experiments so long carried on at ’he Rural Grounds, have, directly and indirectly, thrown more light upon the various problems involved In successful potato culture, 
than any other experiments which have been carried on In America. „ .... „ ... 
Price, cloth, 75 cents ; paper, 40 cents. THE .RURAL. PUBLISHING COMPANY,'limes Building, New York. 
