52 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
* JAN. 17 
A ll Sorts. 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENT 
STATIONS. 
Recent Experiment Station Bulletins. 
(Readers wanting any of these Bulletins should write to the 
secretary of the experiment station in each case.] 
Rhode Island, Kingston, Bulletin 5 : Potatoes. 
Maine, Orono, Annual Report. 
New Jersey, New Brunswick, Bulletin 77: Experiments with 
Dairy Cows. 
Dr. B. D. Halsted, New Jersey (Bulletin 76), describes 
the rots of the sweet potato—nine in number. But little 
can yet be said regarding an appropriate or successful 
treatment for these diseases, which are causing sweet 
potato growers no inconsiderable amount of uneasiness. 
The matter will be studied this summer. This bulletin 
should be studied by those who have met with the disease, 
so that they may aid Dr. Halsted in his investigations. 
Director Jordan, Maine Station, Bulletin (annual re¬ 
port), looks forward to a happy time when trade names 
for different fertilizers will disappear, and “the farmer 
wiH tell his neighbor that he has purchased so many 
pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, instead of 
so many pounds of ‘Blank Bros’. IJghtningCrop Lifter.’ ” 
The multiplicity of brands of fertilizers is unfortunate, be¬ 
cause most of the leading brands contain so nearly the 
same quantities of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid 
that it makes little difference which one the farmer buys. 
Still agents feel it their duty to claim special points of 
excellence for the brands they sell. Tnis is confusing. The 
real object of buying a fertilizer is to secure certain ele¬ 
ments of plant food which it coutains, elements which 
have as definite prices as sugar, flour or iron, prices which 
are quoted and are authoritative in commercial circles. In 
other words.a pound of nitrogen or potash is sold to manu¬ 
facturers for so much, just as retailers buy flour or sugar 
at certain prices. 
The New Hampshire Agricultural College has secured 
Prof. C. M. Weed as entomologist. Hereafter women 
are to be admitted to lectures on equal terms with young 
men. 
The animals used in the dairy feeding experiment at the 
New Jersy Station, were burned in the fire of November 2. 
The record, so far as it was carried out, is given in Bulletin 
77. The breeds tested were Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein, 
Jersey and Shorthorn. The cows were carefully fed on 
the same foods, and accurate records were made of milk 
yields, the food consumed, the solids and fat in the milk, 
and the cost of producing a pound of milk or butter. 
From these records it appears that the Ayrshire proved 
the most economical milkman’s cow; that is, a quart of her 
milk cost a fraction less than that of the others. The Hol¬ 
stein gave more milk, but as she ate more food, the cost of 
a quart was greater. In this test a good deal of Timothy 
hay was used which is not a profitable hay for the dairy. 
On the same test—using clover hay—we believe the Hol¬ 
stein would have won. On “ cost of a pound of solids” the 
Guernsey won with the Ayrshire next. As in the other 
test, the Holstein gave the largest amount of solids, but 
consumed more food in doing it. By “ solids ” is meant all 
the substances left after the water of the milk is evapor¬ 
ated. In the test for “ cost of a pound of fat ” the Guern¬ 
sey won with the Jersey next and the Holstein third. 
Among the facts observed during the test are these : The 
milk was of better quality in winter than in summer, but 
the yield was heavier in summer. There seems to belittle 
if any difference in the per cent of caseine in the milk of 
different breeds; the fat, ash and sugar vary. The Guern¬ 
sey was dry for the shortest period, with the Ayrshire and 
Jersey next and Holstein and Short-horn longest. The 
bulletin is very neatly arranged. Our friends at Geneva 
ought to study it. _ 
SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. 
Milk Producers’ Union. —The president of the union, 
E. G. Seeley, answering these questions; What has the 
milk union done ? What can it do ? What will it do ? 
says : “ The farmers, as a class, are not likely to combine 
and hold together sufficiently to do effective work without 
discipline and a money pledge as well as a promise-pledge; 
the task we have undertaken is no small affair, and re¬ 
quires patience and perseverance if we would accomplish 
our purpose. Although we have not succeeded in doing 
all that we had anticipated we have saved the producers 
many dollars for every one expended. The farmers can 
succeed if they will. Now the question is, will they ? 
That depends ? There Is only one plan under which, at 
the present time, we can all agree to work. Let the system 
of branch unions remain ; let each branch union market 
its own milk and do its own business, subject, however, to 
the general supervision of the Central Union. The Central 
Union shall be composed of two members from each 
branch union, elected to that office by the members of the 
branch union to which they belong, and to be paid for their 
services from the treasury of said branch union. Let the 
members of each branch union subscribe for an amount of 
stock in the company just incorporated sufficient to furnish 
capital for doing the business.” 
It is said that the Watertown, N. Y., Grange is the 
largest in existence. The latest repoit gives 490 members 
and $674 38 as receipts for initiations and dues for 1890. 
Twenty-four regular and four special meetings have been 
held. The members hold 283 policies in the Patrons’ Fire 
Relief Association. The secretary says: “In the near 
future every farmer must of necessity ally himself with 
the Grange or some similar organization. The continued 
encroachment of capital, trusts, monopolies and kindred 
associations upon the farming class, can be met and over¬ 
come only by the united action of a well-organized body.” 
Mortimer Whitehead, lecturer of the National Grange, 
issues a table showing that the Agricultural Department 
has less money to work with than any other, and that the 
United States Government spends less to promote agricul¬ 
ture than either England, Germany, Brazil, Russia, 
France or Austria. 
They seem to have lively times at the meetings of the 
South Carolina Agricultural Society. The last report is 
bright and interesting. The first cargo of drain tiles 
reached Charleston just before the war. Most of them 
were not used until after the war, but now they are in 
active demand. One man said : “ I have often met drink¬ 
ing men who take their whisky in cold weather to keep 
them warm, and in warm weather to keep them cool, and 
precisely so it is in underdraining.” A novel but forcible 
illustration of a noticeable fact. In discussing tobacco 
culture one man said his crop looked well until his man 
became so much interested in a “ protracted meeting ” 
that he forgot the growing tobacco. A sharp comment on 
this was that “ protracted meetings and tobacco do not go 
together.” Another man went to a “ protracted meeting ” 
and left 100 geese in the tobacco field. The geese lived on 
the worms and saved the crop ! The president of the 
meeting made this quotation regarding South Carolina: 
“ In 1860 the richest part of the country—in 1870 the 
poorest—in 1880 signs of improvement—in 1890 regaining 
the position of I860.’' Let us hope that “regained” may 
be written in 1900 1 
Col. J. H. Brigham issues his annual message to 
members of the Grange. A good portion of it is devoted 
to political advice to the patrons. There are to be “ stir¬ 
ring times” within a few years, he says, and farmers must 
take their share of work. Farmers are receiving Jots of 
advice. Their display of strength has brought to them 
all the political “ outsiders ” and all the cranks and men 
with pet hobbies. Farmers will only weaken their cause 
by indorsing false principles or quack remedies. No fra¬ 
ternal or class organization can become a partner of, or 
an annex to a political party without committing suicide. 
Both the old parties are subservient to the monopolistic 
power. If the rank and file cannot send present leaders to 
the rear a new party will have to be organized. “ The de¬ 
termination to have reform from some source is firm, 
strong and abiding.” 
The longest platform yet is that adopted by the Minne¬ 
sota Farmers’ Alliance. Among the things condemned 
are the McKinley Bill, present interest rates and loan 
methods, the last silver bill, gifts of valuable franchises 
by States or municipalities, the Lodge Election Bill, and 
the government’s method of dealing with the Indians. 
Among the things advocated are the election of United 
States Senators by popular vote, the Australian ballot 
system, a graded income tax, reduction of salaries of public 
officials and liberal pensions to veterans. Among the 
“ demands ” made are, government control of the rail¬ 
roads, free and open markets for grain, prohibition of 
alien ownership of land, the passage of the Conger Lard 
Bill, the government to take control of the Union Pacific 
Railroad, foreclosing its lien, free text books for schools, 
and an overhauling of the convict twine industry. A 
resolution was carried providing that no habitual drunkard 
can be admitted to a subordinate Alliance. The R N.-Y. 
simply gives the above as a matter of news. It emphat¬ 
ically indorses the last proposition, however. . Keep the 
drunkards out. 
READER’S NOTES. 
Some time ago The R. N.-Y gave a short extract from 
“In Darkest London,” the new book by “ General” Booth 
of the English Salvation Army. Briefly stated, Mr. Booth’s 
plan is to take the poor people out of the city and locate 
them on farms where they can grow food for themselves, 
and their brothers in misery, and prepare themselves for 
farm life in one of the English colonies. A vast sum of 
money has already been given to aid this project, and but 
for differences between officials of the Salvation Army, 
the whole sum needed would be forthcoming. But could 
the plan succeed! Will poor people voluntarily leave the 
city and remain contentedly in the country? Some weeks 
ago the Independent interviewed a number of persons in 
New York who have had much to do with the poor aad 
criminal classes. The prevailing opinion seemed to be that 
Mr. Booth’s plan would not succeed in this country at 
least. On Long Island, within two hours’ ride of the city, 
there are thousands of acres of wild and neglected land 
which could be bought “ for a song ” and made to support 
thousands of our poor people in comfort and without in¬ 
jury to any farm interests. But the poor people will not 
go I They seem to have a perfect horror of farm life and 
until this is removed there is little use in trying to force 
them to the country. 
Among the many agricultural changes that are working 
themselves out is a revival of the sheep industry in West¬ 
ern Massachusetts. For the first time in 40 years small 
flocks of sheep are appearing in the hill towns and 
“ abandoned farm ” districts. But in 1890 the sheep are of 
a different class from those of a generation ago. Wool is 
of a secondary consideration now, early lambs are the 
main dependence. The change to sheep and poultry grow¬ 
ing is a wise one. These “ hill farms ” afford the best of 
pasture for sheep which not only thrive on the sweet 
grasses, but nibble down bushes and weeds. Massachusetts 
farming is still “all right” with the proper tools. 
What about the reports from the West of “ a disease re¬ 
sembling cholera peculiar to the chinch bug?” Is there 
any hope that we may be able to combat insects by spread¬ 
ing an epidemic among them ? The reports are that farm¬ 
ers are eager to secure diseased bugs to put in their wheat 
fields. A recent number of Insect Life contains an article 
by Herbert Osborn on this subject. Mr. Osborn concludes 
that there are diseases which are amply sufficient for 
economic work. Some of them are very slow in their oper¬ 
ations and would not be of much assistance. In any event 
the diseases would be of little service except among insects 
that go in swarms like chinch bugs, grasshoppers, plant 
lice, etc. These insects, it must be remembered, are the 
hardest to kill with the usual insecticides because of their 
vast numbers. It has been proved that the “germs” of 
the diseases can be preserved for a season and transported 
from place to place. It is probable, however, that the cost 
of application will be too great. The time may come when 
we shall know one insect disease from another. “ Then 
and not till then ” will this method of fighting be 
popular. 
All through the West the farmers are insisting upon a 
reduction of the salaries of county officers In Indiana a 
bill will be presented defining the salaries of auditors, 
recorders, treasurers and sheriffs. For counties with less 
than 15,000 inhabitants the salary is to be $1,000; for a pop¬ 
ulation less than 25 000, $1,250; for less than 40.000, $1,500, 
and for less than 100,000, and in counties over 100,000, $2,250. 
The salaries of deputies, clerks, bailiffs, etc., are also to 
be fixed by law at “ living rates.” Another proposition by 
the F. M. B. A is that the present Commissioners’ Court 
be abolished and put in the hands of a county court, such 
court to consist of one commissioner from each township, 
to be elected lor two years with a salary of $100 per year. 
This court, in addition to its other duties, is to have charge 
of the fees and salaries of county officers. Surely if these 
farmers can have their way, the “ county office ” will cease 
to be a “ fat thing ” 
As was stated a few weeks ago, a new English law com¬ 
pels the use of true weights and measures in all commer¬ 
cial transactions. Some of the English farmers contend 
that this act should have exempted the agricultural classes 
because “the farmer is not a trader.” Why is he not a 
trader ? What is the difference between selling a pound 
of butter and a quart of milk and a pound of nails and a 
quart of oil ? The man who will make a business of sell¬ 
ing any of the articles by guess will lose money. No, the 
farmers have no business to ask for this special immunity. 
What we call in this country “ a pair of scales ” Is in Eng¬ 
land often called a “weighbridge,” while one form of at¬ 
tachment for weighing cattle is a “ bullock cage.” Many 
enterprising farmers weigh grain, potatoes and fertilizer, 
but prefer to guess at the weight of cattle or figure by the 
“ girth ” or size of the body. 
Mr. W. M. Girardeau, of Montlcello, has succeeded as a 
grower of water-melons for seed. He has gradually in¬ 
creased his business until this year, when he had about 300 
acres of melons and shipped 43,000 pounds of seed. He used 
last year 68 tons of commercial fertilizer and 50 tons of 
cotton-seed meal.—Florida Dispatch. 
How, we should like to know, does he separate the 
seeds from the pulp? A R. N.-Y. man once saw this 
done by a novel machine in Atlanta. Scores of negroes 
stood before a row of iron sinks eating melons and drop¬ 
ping the seeds in the sinks. They were free to eat all they 
could, provided they saved the seeds. But how many 
negroes would be required for the product of 300 acres ? 
In California raisin making water proof cloth of some 
sort is needed. An outfit of rubber cloth large enough to 
cover all the trays on a good-sized vineyard would be very 
expensive. Naturally raisin makers are anxious to find 
some cheap way of water-proofing common sheeting, so 
that it will answer the purpose. Prof. Ililgard, of the 
California Station, gives two simple recipes. Here is the 
first:—“ Dip the cloth in white paraffine, melted and kept 
pretty hot, until it is fully permeated, then wring it out 
thoroughly, so as to take all the surplus possible, which 
you can do more effectually afterward by ironing it after 
laying it over another piece of stuff to be treated. This 
being well done, you have a cloth that will not allow water 
to pass, but is readily permeated by air and vapors, and is 
entirely inodorous.” This, it is said, answered fairly well 
when the cloth was spread out on frames. When rolled or 
folded the paraffine crumbled and broke off. 
This is the other recipe :—“Soften 4)£ ounces of glue in 
8% pints of water, cold at first; then dissolve in, say a 
wash-boilerful, of warm water, with 2% ounces of hard 
soap, and boil for an hour, wring and dry ; then prepare a 
bath of a pound of alum and a pound of salt, soak the pre¬ 
pared cloth in it for a couple of hours, rinse with clear 
water and dry.” Those who have tried this process praise 
it and say that for ordinary practices, and for a few sea¬ 
sons, it answers well. The salt and alum seem to preserve 
the cloth. 
At a recent farmers’ meeting in Boston one speaker gave 
a novel experience with the silo. He was the keeper of a 
“poor farm,” a melancholy and burdensome feature of 
every New England town. The farmers were backward 
about trying the silo because it “ cost too much.” So this 
poorhouse keeper built a silo and filled it with pauper 
labor. It proved a great suceess and led many farmers to 
build others. This idea of using the “ poor farm ” as an 
experiment station is not at all bad. 
There is a general demand for the election of U. S. Sena¬ 
tors by direct vote of the people. This demand is epecially 
emphatic among farmers who are tired of sending million¬ 
aires only to the Senate. One way to bring this about is 
to nominate the Senator when the State ticket is nomin¬ 
ated. Then if you carry the legislature, it is committed 
to your cause and the election of the man you have nom¬ 
inated— Michigan Agriculturist. 
A good plan. Let the candidate “ stump the State,” as 
did John M. Palmer, ot Illinois. 
SOCIETY MEETINGS TO COME. 
Granite State Dairymen, Concord, N. H., Jan. 20. 
Western New York Horticultural, Rochester, Jan. 28. 
Wisconsin Farmers’ Convention, Madison, Fefc. 2—6. 
