1891 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
2l9 
POULTRY YARD -Continued. 
presented the best appearance ; White Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks, second; Brown Patagonians, 
third. The Games would have equaled 
the White Wyandottes if they had been 
killed and had white plumage. The 
Brown Patagonians would make superior 
roasters if their breasts filled out. I did 
not keep them long enough to see; but the 
breast bone was very deep and if it filled 
up would be heavy with the best meat. 
The eggs weighed as follows: Brown 
Patagonians, 2.07 ounces each; White 
Wyandottes, two ounces each; White Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks, 1.96 ounce each; Heath- 
wood Games, 1.85 ounce each.” 
The R. N.-Y. can assure him that the 
breast of the Brown Patagonian does fill 
out solidly. To us one of the excellent 
characteristics of this breed is the large 
proportion of breast meat found in the 
carcass. 
Likes The Pictures.— I was very much 
pleased with the last number of The R. N.- 
Y., especially the poultry cuts. They are 
decidedly the most life like and natural I 
have seen. We of this famous Blue Grass 
region are interested in thoroughbred 
stock of every kind, and more recently we 
have taken to poultry, and trust The R. N.- 
Y. will continue to give us the plain facts, 
no matter how cold they may seem to the 
many boomers of so-called new breeds. We 
are progressive but want facts, and these 
some of the poultry journals fail to give. 
“ Lexington.” 
R. N.-Y.—The actual facts regarding the 
practical value of poultry may seem “cold” 
to our fancier friends ; because, as ex¬ 
plained elsewhere, the practical and the 
fancy do not combine. 
THE BEST LAYING HENS. 
I have noticed that the best laying hens 
are the most active in the flock; that is, I 
have often observed one or more hens in a 
flock very sprightly in all their motions, for¬ 
aging about while the others sometimes rest, 
out first in the morning and last at night. 
Such hens are generally the best layers, 
irrespective of their shape; but they are 
generally of a normal size and compact 
build. In all large breeds of poultry I find 
that the largest hens are not the best lay¬ 
ers. Those medium-sized for the breed, 
without regard to the length of legs or 
neck, with active habits, are usually well- 
formed. I have not noticed that the length 
of the legs and neck or the smallness of 
the head denoted better layers than the 
rest of the breed. These characteristics are 
usual in some breeds. I won Id look out for the 
lively birds. That the laying qualities of a 
flock can be improved by breeding from 
such hens I have not the least doubt. I 
would not pick out the highest scoring 
birds from any large breed as the best lay¬ 
ers, for the reason that the American 
Standard of Excellence lays a heavy score 
on size, so that unless a bird is very large it 
would not score well, be its other points 
whatever they might be; in other words, a 
medium bird would be cut too much to make 
a high record. In small or medium sized 
breeds, such as Leghorns or Hamburgs, the 
scoring would not have anything to do with 
the laying qualities of individual birds. I 
would look out for active, lively birds as 
the best layers. henry hales. 
Bergen Co., N. J. 
PROHIBITORY PRICES FOR INDIAN 
GAMES. 
In regard to the statements made on page 
148 of the R. N.-Y., by referring to the 
official catalogue of the show, page 153, it 
will be seen that there are only three 
Indian Game cocks catalogued for sale- 
one at $600, one at $400, and one at $200— 
and that the one valued at $600 won the 
first and special premium, while the one 
prized at $400 won the third. As to the plac¬ 
ing of values upon fowls when entered for a 
show, the society asks every exhibitor to 
place a price upon each bird entered, but 
permits a prohibitory price, and after a 
bird is entered and catalogued at a stated 
price, if any visitor sees fit to claim the 
bird at the catalogue price, the owner is 
obliged to part with it, no matter how 
much he would like to keep it for breeding 
purposes; hence the seemingly fabulous 
prices that are so often seen in the cata¬ 
logues. They do not indicate the fancy 
part of the bird so much as they do that 
the owner of that bird does not wish to 
part with it, but wishes to keep it for his 
own breeding. Such was, undoubtedly, 
the case with the bird in question. The 
owner probably did not wish to part with 
him, and as the exhibitor is not allowed to 
claim his own bird, he had no alternative 
but to “ price ” him so high that no one 
would claim him. F. w. gaylor. 
Suffolk County, L. I. 
R. N.-Y.—We are certain that the lower- 
priced bird spoken of was placed among 
the others and marked as a winner. It 
may have been a mistake of number¬ 
ing or marking. On page 54 of the 
same catalogue in the class of Indian 
Game cockerels, the fir.st prize goes to a 
bird priced at $200; the second is not 
quoted; the third to a bird priced at $35, 
and the fourth to a $300 marvel. A man 
has a perfect right to charge his own price 
for his own property, but our friends, the 
Indian Game breeders, mustn’t come before 
the farmers a few years hence to sell stock 
because it came from “the celebrated $600 
bird!”_ 
INDIAN GAMES AGAIN. 
In its brief comments on the Indian 
Game boom, The R.N.-Y. seems to have 
stirred up a great flutter among the fancy 
breeders. These questions seem to have 
acted like a red flag in the eyes of a bull: 
“ Aren’t ‘ fancy ’ prices misleading ? Is a 
high-priced bird necessarily the best breeds 
er ? Is any fowl worth $600 for any pur¬ 
pose ? Who pays the expenses for * boom, 
ing a new breed ?” 
The Fancier’s Journal replies as follows: 
Why bless you! the fancy poultry busi¬ 
ness is just the same as the fancy cattle 
craze or the dog craze: $600 for a bird may 
seem a large sum. but no more than $30,000 
for a cow, or $6,000 for a dog. Besides, a 
fancier who has an extra valuable bird on 
exhibition may put on a prohibitory price 
even if it doesn’t win a premium. It is 
worth the price placed on its head to the 
b’/’ccclcr 
The price on a bird is no criterion of its 
value as a show bird. A prime show bird 
is frequently apt to be a poor breeder. It 
is the aim of every fancier to produce an 
ideal show bird, but in all parti colored 
birds the ideal birds are not always mated 
together for the best results, and a breed¬ 
ing yard is quite different from an exhibi¬ 
tion pen. 
The economic qualities of a thoroughbred 
fowl, while desirable, are not considered of 
any surpassing importance by the genuine 
fancier. The latter wants the symmetry 
and the plumage first, last and all the time. 
This is an art that no mechanical tuition 
will enable a man to acquire, but it re¬ 
quires the inborn love and peculiar knack, 
or call it genius if you like, of the natural 
fancier. 
Such as the latter will seldom part with 
a bird simply for the money it may bring. 
A true fancier Is often a most liberal and 
generous man, and it is safe to say that 
some men give away more birds than they 
sell. 
The fanciers all seem to read The R. N.- 
Y., but the bulk of its readers are practical 
people who can’t afford to pay their hard- 
earned money to satisfy a “ craze.” At the 
same time they represent the class of peo¬ 
ple to whom poultry breeders must ulti¬ 
mately look for the sale of eggs and fowls. 
The fanciers will soon grow tired of simply 
dealing with one another; sooner or later 
their birds must be tested by their ability 
to make eggs and meat. We have no ob¬ 
jection to the Indian Games—very likely 
they are first-rate fowls, but they have some 
good old “stand-bys’” to overcome before 
they can “excel as the general-purpose 
fowls.” In our opinion, the tactics of their 
breeders are destined to injure the pros¬ 
pects of the breed. It is “ too much of a good 
thing ” that induces sickness. 
EXCHANGE WHEAT. 
Profitable Investigation.— Before un¬ 
dertaking the absurd project of publishing 
school books at public expense the State of 
Ohio was sensible enough to order a special 
investigation of the working of similar ex¬ 
periments elsewhere, and the report it has 
just received from its committee will be 
likely, one would say, to save it from a very 
foolish step. The investigators find that 
nothing but failure has followed the ex¬ 
periment wherever it has been tried, and 
they report that “ books of a better grade 
and quality can be furnished by private 
publishers at less cost.” That would seem 
to be a conclusive answer to the mistaken 
demand for free text books prepared and 
furnished by the State, to say nothing of 
the fundamental error of principle involved 
in that semi-Socialistic scheme.—Provi¬ 
dence Journal. (Ind.) 
Practical Christianity.—No two more 
serious problems confront this nation to¬ 
day than its duty to the dark men of the 
South and the red men of the West, and 
no more urgent need exists than that the 
spirit of Christianity, reaching down a 
helping hand to lift them up, shall succeed 
the spirit of force, murdering them and de¬ 
frauding them of theit rights. Catherine 
Drexel, who is devotiag her life and for¬ 
tune of $7,000,000 to the betterment of the 
negro race, is worthy to rank with Cornelia, 
Joan of Arc and with Charlotte Corday as 
one of the patriot women immortals of the 
world, as well as with Saint Elizabeth of 
Hungary and the thousands of unknown 
saintly women who, like the poor widow 
in the gospel, give all that they have.— 
N. Y. Press (Rep ) 
American Vessels Needed.— The neces¬ 
sity for subsidizing American shipping 
could not have been more powerfully placed 
before the public than in the last speech of 
Secretary Windom, and his death will 
cause his arguments to be almost uni¬ 
versally read. If this speech can bring 
about the restoration of American shipping 
to foreign ports by persuading the people 
of the necessity for subsidies. Secretary 
Windom’s almost tragic death will have 
accomplished an inestimable good for his 
country.—Cincinnati Times Star. 
In writing to advertisers please always 
mention The Rural New-Yorker. 
GROW 
EVERGREENS 
BY THE 
Seedlings, Hoot-pruned and Transplanted. 
Price List Free. Write for It. Address 
EDWARD IIOIT, Scotch Grove, Jones Co., In. 
FOR SALE. 
200 bushels Rural New-Yorker No. 2 I’ota- 
toes. Merchantable size , no culls; any quantity. 
J. M. MEREDITH, Calcium P. O., Berks Co., Pa. 
PEACHT 
DC CO at wholesale and retail, 
ntto prices on application. 
E. S. JOHNSTON, Stockley, Del. 
PEACHES. PEACHES. 
50,000 first-class one-year trees. $5 per 100; $30 per 
1,000. CLARK PETTIT, Salem, N. J. 
Yale Strawberry. 
A late variety, of large size, perfect bios 
som. Splendid shipper and of excellent 
quality. Send for circular. Address 
STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, 
NEW CANAAN, CONN. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
500,000 "Michel’s Early.” Best and most 
profitable early variety ever Introduced. Ten days 
earlier and much larger than Crescent. Beautiful, 
good and very productive; strong stamtnate ; bloom 
resists frost better than any other variety. 
500,000 " Warfield No. 2.” Most profitable 
midseason market variety in cultivation. Plants and 
packing guaranteed first class. Prices on either, j$3 
per thousand. Special rates on large orders. 
R. MORRILL, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
4 nnn nnn Extra Nice Young Strawberry 
1 ,UUU,UUU Plants, including all the best pay- 
ng kinds (and the old Albany Wilson pure). Price, 
si.75 to $2.25 per M. Address 
EXTRA EARLY TRIUMPH 
SEED POTATOES. This is King of all early 
market potatoes. Ten days earlier than E. Rose or 
any standard variety. This 1 kno* by testing for 
three years past. Ten days is Indeed an object, as 
the early bird will catch the highest market price 
this year. Twelve Other Standard Varieties. 
MY PEAS and SWEET CORN lead in earli¬ 
ness. I sell the best strains of seed for market 
gardeners and truck farmers. Large catalogue of 
90 pages, telis all about seeds, plants roses, bulbs and 
small fruits. Mailed free. C. E. ALLL'J. 
rnreo All best Old and New O LI D || DC 
I nfcfcX varieties. FRUIT and Ml ” U D 3 
! I'M o R N A IU E N T A L ' 
TREES, ROSES, SMALL FRUITS, and 
PLANTS of nil descriptions 
prices before ordering elsewhere. Descri 
Catalogue 10 cents. PRICE LISTS SENT i RE 1 
1 0 V A RIETI ES O F G It A PES FO It S1 . 
Write us for 
Descriptive 
OO. 
ELIZABETH NURSERY C0.J"“"-'"‘' 
New Jersey. 
VAUGHAN 
POTATO 
Is the best new early 
variety now before 
trie public. You are 
perhaps Intending to 
buy Seed Potatoes this 
Spring and if you are, why 
not buy the best with new 
and vigorous life ? 
Our Catalogue is very 
complete on all farm seeds. Free. 
VAUGHAN’S SEED STORE. Box 6S8, Chicago. 
BECAUSE TH EY A RE 
THE BEST. 
D. M. Ferry & Co’s 
Illustrated, Descriptive and Priced 
SEED ANNUAL; 
I For 1891 will be mailed FREE; 
to all applicants, and to last season’s! 
[Customers. It is better than ever. * 
Every person using Garden, 
Flower or Field Seeds, 
should send for it. Address 
D. M. FERRY 4. CO. 
DETROIT, MICH. 
I Largest Seedsmen in the world j 
Extreme Earliness is a 
quality particularly desired in 
Peas, Beets and Sweet Corn. 
To meet the demand I have 
originated and perfected new 
varieties which really excel all 
others in precocity and have 
given them the name Electric. 
Tillinghast’s Electric Sweet Corn. Extra 
Early, largo ear, pure white kernel, white cob, 
d> cidedly sweet and productive. Pkt. lOcts.; lb. 
40 eta by mall. 
Tillinghnst’s Electric Pea. Is absolutely the 
very earliest good market pea. in existence. Pkt. 
15 cts.; lb 40 cts by mall. 
Tillinghast’s Electric Beet. Ti n days ahead 
of Egyptian, of nice form and deep color. Pkt. 
10 cts ; oz. 25 cts. by mail. 
One packet each of above, 
with my annual catalogue, will 
he mailed for 25 cents. 
BEARER H you love RARE FLOWERS, 
nCHUClt choicest only, address ELLIS BROS. 
Keene, N. H. It will astonish and please. FREE. 
Isaac F. Tillingjiast, 
La Plume, Pa. 
189 
Home Grown, Honest, Reliable. 
I offer you my Vegetable and Flower Seed Catalogue for 
x FREE. Note the immense variety of seed it con¬ 
tains, and that all the best novelties are there. Not 
much mere show about it (you don’t plant pictures) 
fine engravings from photographs of scores of the 
choice vegetables I have introduced. Would it not 
be well to get the seed of these from first hands? To be the 
oldest firm in the United States making mail and express 
business a specialty proves reliability. Honest and hon¬ 
orable dealing is the only foundation this can rest on. My Cata- 
is FREE as usual. A matter on second page of cover will 
interest my customers. J. J, H. GREGORY & SON. Marblehead, Mass. 
SEEDS GIVEN AWAY! 
A liberal package of Mixed flower Seeds, embracing upwards of 1,004) varieties, 
yielding something new and pleasing every day the entire season, will be mailed 
with PARK’S original, beautiful and instructive FLORAL (iClI)K, 
for only two stamps. This is a treat for every flower lover. You'll be delighted. 
Sendatonce. Name this paper. Address GE4>. W. PARK, Florist, Libonia, I’a. 
STILL MORE.— Giet a friend to send with you, and we will add a package of 
French Large-flowered Pansies in finest mixture, imported direct from Paris. This 
will not appear again. Be prompt. 18 splendid Roses, $1.00. 
Park’s New Rose Budget, all about Roses, superbly illustrated, only 10 eta. 
ASHES 
CANADA 
UNLEACHED 
HARD WOOD 
ASHES 
HEADQUARTERS FOR THE PURE ARTICLE. 
Gathered and shipped undei 
anteed analysis. Send for sam 
WOOD ASH CO., London. Ont, 
Agents wanted in every farming town 
onr personal supervision and every car in good mechanical condition ; guar 
pie prices and illustrated pamphlet free. Address THIS FOREST CITY 
t., Canada, or our New England branch office, So. Sudbury. Mass. 
E. VV. McGARVEY, Manager, 
Please mention Thu Rural Nkw Yorkkr when writing. 
S r r n C UORTHYRU OfcOWN - F RES Vi, AB 
t LUo best TOR AU. SOWtS AND CV-VWES. 
60.000. busTseedI 
L® POTATOES CHEAP 
JohnA.Salzer LACROSSES 
J 
