i89i 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
253 
Business. 
GROWING SEEDS ON CONTRACT. 
A friend in Kentucky asks the following questions: 
What is a full account of the modus operandi of growing 
seeds for the large seed dealers in this country ? I learn 
that they ofien let contracts to farmers, market gardeners 
and others to grow seeds for them. When rotation of crops 
is necessary and land is entirely suitable, would it be profit¬ 
able for me to grow seeds for seedsmen f 
D. M. Ferry & Co. are large growers of contract seeds. 
They write as follows concerning their practice: 
Growing Seeds by Contract. 
In general, when satisfied that a certain section is well 
adapted to giving us vegetables in perfection, we entertain 
propositions from such as we find good and reliable farm¬ 
ers in that region to plant a certain area for us. We fur¬ 
nish the stock seed, and agree to take all the merchantable 
seed produced on the area. The farmer agrees, on his part, 
to cultivate the crop under our general directions; to take 
pains to save all the seed in good condition, and deliver 
the crops to us. In this way we contract for the growing 
of from 12,000 to 15,000 acres of various seeds annually. 
These fields under contract are located all over the United 
States and Canada, wherever the combination of suitable 
conditions of soil and climate and an experienced grower 
can be found. D. M. ferry & co. 
Contracts in All Parts of the World. 
W. Atlee Burpee & Co. thus describe their practice : 
“Nearly all the seeds we handle are produced for us on 
special contract, stock seeds being in many cases supplied 
by us, while in other cases, where the business is in the 
hands of intelligent growers, the stock seeds are selected 
and continually developed by the growers themselves. 
“ Dwarf Beans are grown for us in Genesee, Jefferson 
and Yates Counties, N. Y.; Pole Beans are also grown in 
the same sections, except certain varieties, which are raised 
in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. Cabbage 
seeds we have raised on contract in Bucks County, Pa., 
and on the eastern end of Long Island. Puget Sound and 
California grown cabbages we find are inclined to be too 
leafy in their nature. Our best cauliflower seeds we get 
from Denmark. Beets and carrots were formerly raised 
for us on contract in New York State, but of late years we 
have received much better satisfaction from contracts 
made in France from American-grown stocks. The roots 
appear to be neater and the tops smaller. It is not many 
years since we obtained our best celery seed from 
New Jersey, but now California and France get all our 
contracts in this line ; it is only occasionally that we can 
secure a limited supply of home grown seed. The two 
sections covered by our contracts produce most excellent 
stocks of celery If the strains are right to begin with. Our 
field corn is grown mostly in Pennsylvania and New Jer¬ 
sey, with some sorts from Ohio. Our sweet corn comes 
from Connecticut and Ohio and, to a limited extent, from 
Nebraska. The Nebraska-grown corn must be rejuvenated 
frequently from Eastern-grown stock, as otherwise it has 
a tendency to become flinty. Our cucumbers, with few 
exceptions, are all raised for us in Washington County, 
N. Y., the exceptions being mostly varieties that require a 
longer season ; these we grow in Bucks County, Pa., and 
in southern New Jersey. Our contracts on lettuce are all 
made in California, except on a few special strains, which 
we annually get from Germany. Musk-melons we grow 
in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Nebraska ; 
water-melons in Delaware, Florida and Nebraska. The 
great bulk of our onion seed is now raised in California ; 
notwithstanding the prejudice that formerly existed 
against this seed, we find it unsurpassed. Our peas are 
grown in Jefferson County, N. Y., and in Canada. Pep¬ 
pers we grow largely on our own farm, also in New Jersey 
and in Georgia. In radishes our contracts are almost ex¬ 
clusively made in France, as the seed is much more satis¬ 
factory than any American grown, which we have re¬ 
peatedly proved. Squashes are grown in New York and 
Nebraska. Tomatoes we grow largely in Bucks County, 
Pa., and in New Jersey, wnile we also contract with grow¬ 
ers in Ohio and Michigan. Our turnips are raised in Bucks 
County, Pa., and France. 
“Of flower seeds we grow quite an extensive area of some 
of the finest sorts on Fordhook Farm; for others we con¬ 
tract with growers in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, 
and southern and central California. Every year we are 
growing more and more of the important flower seeds at 
home, and find that we can produce a better quality than 
we usually receive, even on contracts with careful growers 
in Europe. We have, however, never yet succeeded in 
growing good pansy seed in America, while the cost of 
labor prevents our raising many of the cheaper varieties 
which would succeed well here. We grow regular quan¬ 
tities of the various seeds year after year, although, of 
course, there are annually some varieties of which we 
have stocks in excess of our requirements, and if these are 
such as retain their vitality we 4 even up ’ by omitting 
their production for one season. 
“We merely have a simple form of contract, by which 
the grower agrees to produce, as nearly as possible, the 
quantities specified at the stipulated price, or to produce 
the entire first-class product of a given quantity of seed 
supplied, or to deliver the entire first-class product from a 
given acreage planted. With few exceptions, the prices 
are stipulated definitely in the contract; in others, there 
will be quite a wide range, dependent upon what proves to 
be the yield and estimated cost of growing, while again in 
varieties the average productiveness of which is uncertain, 
the price will be left for mutual agreement after the crop 
is harvested.” W. ATLEE burpee & CO. 
Something About the Business. 
In a general way it may be said that careful and intelli¬ 
gent men who have made a study of varieties, and know 
how to grow crops to the best advantage, can make con¬ 
siderably more at growing a crop for seed purposes than 
for the general market, because they can obtain a fair 
price for care and thoroughness. The hap hazard farmer, 
who is afraid to use manure and who permits the weeds to 
get the better of him, will probably never be permitted to 
grow seed crops more than one season. 
HOW MANY WORKING DAYS IN A MONTH ? 
How Much For This Hired Man? 
A subscriber in Texas sends this question : “ If a man 
is hired at the rate of $20 per month, with board and lodg¬ 
ing, and commences work on the first of the month, leav¬ 
ing off at the end of the 15th, how much wages Is he en¬ 
titled to ? In this locality servants claim that they should 
be paid for the odd time at the rate of 26 working days to 
the month, which would make a difference of $2.86 in one 
month’s wages at the rate of $20 per month of 30 days. 
On a New York State Dairy. 
In this locality, if a man is hired to labor for one month, 
he must do 26 days’ work to fulfill his contract. Sundays 
are not working days and do not enter into the account. 
When a man is hired to work on a farm for wages and 
board, it is understood that he will do necessary chores, 
milking, etc., on Sunday and receive board as on other days. 
Lewis Co., N. Y. C. s. rice. 
The Rule In Central Illinois. 
In this vicinity a laborer quitting at the middle of the 
month would, ordinarily, get half a month’s wage. The 
practice of dividing the month’s wages by 26 and multiply¬ 
ing by the number of working days—that is, excluding 
Sundays—is not uncommon. If the laborer is required to 
do full work on Sunday, of course his monthly pay is not 
for 26 days’ work. If not so working, it would seem un¬ 
just to pay for the working days at the rate of one-thirti- 
eth of the month’s pay. In some months there are 25, in 
others only 24 working days. Usually 26 is the number, 
and one-twenty-sixth of the month’s wage would seem a 
fair amount for each day’s work, unless the contract or 
the nature of the work made It necessary that it should 
be done every day in the month. [prof.] g. E. morrow. 
Payment on a Pennsylvania Farm. 
If a man is hired at $20 per month with board and lodg¬ 
ing to work on the farm, and stops at the end of 15 days, he 
would be entitled to $10—half a month’s pay. A man on 
the farm is not hired for the working days only, but It is 
expected that he will take care of,the stock and do such work 
as must be done. If I hire a man and he commences work 
on the 10th of March I always call his month up on the 
10th of the next month, and If he leaves before a month is 
up I always figure his wages at the rate of 30 days per month. 
Northampton Co., Pa. W. M. BENNINGER. 
How They Figure In Iowa. 
Our custom here is to pay hired help so much per month 
of 26 days. Farm wages now vary from $18 to $20 per 
month of 26 days and board and lodgings. Some farmers 
who have many chores expect their hands to help do them 
on Sundays, and many such farmers do not dock their 
hands for bad weather, as they usually have indoor work 
for them, such as caring for stock. In my truck farming, 
I have no use for men on Sundays and pay $20 for a month 
of 26 days of actual labor. F. s. white. 
Polk Co., Ia. 
From a Hoosler Farmer’s Standpoint. 
If a hired man Is getting $20 per month it would be 
nearly 77 cents per day, 26 working days being one month. 
If he commenced the first day of the month in the morn¬ 
ing and worked till the evening of the 15th,he worked 13 days 
exclusive of two Sundays. Therefore as he worked 13 days 
or just half a month, he would be entitled to half a month’s 
wages, or just $10. Any odd number of days might be mul¬ 
tiplied by 77, and the result would be near enough for any 
practical purpose, as there would ba only one cent too 
much on every 13 days. s. M. 
Harlan, Indiana. 
A Western New York Opinion. 
So far as my observation extends, 26 working days con¬ 
stitute a month of farm labor. In case I should hire for one 
month or longer, then every 26 days would be called a 
month. I doubt if the employer could legally exact more 
for a month’s work. At least, such is the custom here, and 
it seems to be adopted by unanimous consent by those inter¬ 
ested. I should say therefore that the employee is entitled 
to the extra time. irving d. cook. 
Genesee Co., N. Y. 
On an Ohio Small Fruit Farm. 
We call 26 working days or a calendar month a working 
month; therefore the man would be entitled to $10. There 
are not 30 working days in a month unless the buslnees is 
such as to necessitate Sunday labor, in which case the man 
above referred to would have performed 15 days’ labor 
(counting Sunday) which would still be half a month, and 
entitle him to $10. I expect my teamsters to care for their 
teams on Sunday, and that Is about the only chore we 
have. If a month contains a legal holiday I get only 25 
days’ labor in it. I believe this is not the general practice 
in regard to holidays, however, but I demand more than 
ordinary care and attention to their work from my help 
and find that they have abundant opportunities to show 
their appreciation of favors. I fancy I hear some one say : 
“ Give an inch and they will take an ell.” Well I do not 
keep that kind of men—I can’t afford to. If they forced 
the inch from one it might encourage them to try the same 
process with the ell. I aim to have a home of my own and 
also to encourage my men to do the same thing by building 
neat, comfortable tenant houses for them as far as possible, 
especially for the regular help, and boarding none as a rule. 
Lucas Co., Ohio. w. w. Farnsworth. 
NOVELTIES AND STAPLES. 
From the Catalogues. 
Pike County Nurseries, Louisiana, Mo.—Points for 
practical fruit tree planters with notes on varieties worthy 
of extended culture. This is an effort to win recognition 
for the nurseryman’s art as well in methods of propa¬ 
gation as in the selection of roots. The merits and de¬ 
merits of piece-root versus whole-root grafting are dis¬ 
cussed at length and illustrated in a forcible way. 
T. T. Lyon, South Haven, Mich.—A price-list of small 
fruits. We know not of a more conscientious or capable 
judge of small fruits than President Lyon. 
Lucien Sanderson, 458 State Street, New Haven, 
Conn.—A catalogue of 32 pages which treats of “How 
Plants Feed,” “ Sanderson’s Formulas,” “ Capacity of 
Soils,” “ The Proper Preparation of the Soil,” “ Paying 
Crops,” “ Can Farmers Rely Upon Fertilizers Wholly or 
Alone to Raise Crops ? ” “ Manner of Purchasing Ferti¬ 
lizers” and “Testimonials.” 
Lewis Roesch, Fredonia, N. Y.—A long list of grape¬ 
vines, embracing all the popular varieties of the day, of 
which Mr. Roesch makes a specialty, strawberries, black¬ 
berries and raspberries. 
M. B. Faxon, 21 South Market Street, Boston, 
Mass.— A tastefully arranged and illustrated list of 
“Faxon’s Specialties,” embracing a selection of the 
choicest vegetable and flower seeds of the day. “Mrs. 
Harrison’s White House Pansies,” asters, sweet peas, 
dwarf nasturtiums, hollyhocks, carnations, palm seeds, 
dahlias, roses and the new pumpkin “ Calhoun,” are 
among them. “ Cross-fertilized ” potato seed, and a select 
list of potatoes and farm seeds close the list. 
Temple & Beard, Shady Hill Nurseries, Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass.— This is a most interesting catalogue, which 
horticulturists, florists and pomologists alike will find 
pleasure and instruction in examining. It is especially 
rich In novelties of the sterling sort. Among the rarer 
trees and shrubs many of which do not as yet appear in 
other catalogues, the following of special merit may be 
mentioned: The Giant Tree Lilac (illustrated), the Norway 
Maple “Geneva,” which is said to combine the best quali¬ 
ties of Schwerdler’s and Reichenbach’s, Clerodendron 
serotinum, a hardy shrub that ought to be better known ; 
the Sunray Pine, the Golden Oak, Rhus Oskeckil, 10 new 
lilacs; the new hardy roses Duchess of Albany, Mrs. Deg- 
raw, Clothilde Soupert and Georges Bruant; Golden Privet 
(ovalifolium); Magnolia hypoleuca, Elaeagnus longipes, 
the Weeping Purple Beech; the new Hydrangea vestita, 
which is said to be as hardy as the Great-panicled 
Hydrangea, while it blooms two months earlier; the 
Chinese Weeping Lilac, awarded a first-class certificate by 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; the Weeping 
Dogwood, the Weeping Wild Cherry, and so on, through a 
bewildering list. Then follow the regular list of evergreens, 
rhododendrons, hardy vines, roses, deciduous trees and 
shrub3, fruit trees, ornamental grasses and hardy 
perennials. 
JAmes Milne & Son, of Scotch Gove, Iowa, send circu¬ 
lars of the Hawkeye Grub and Stump machine. There 
are many special points of excellence about this device. It 
is claimed to be the most powerful puller on the market. 
It is operated in such a way that from one point, or 
“ sitting,” ropes can be attached to all the trees or stumps 
on an acre. It can also be used for moving houses or 
other bulky and heavy objects. The circular Is well illus¬ 
trated and tells the story forcibly and well. 
Circulars from The Hartman Manufacturing Co., 
Beaver Falls, Pa. The “ Hartman ” steel picket fences 
are not only handsome but are said to be “ dog, hog, cow 
and boy tight,” besides being “horse and man strong.” 
They are excellent for surrounding gardens, flower beds 
and yards as well as larger inclosures. The same parties 
make a steel “ guard ” for trees and shrubs which will 
keep all animals away from the tree and at the same time 
prove an ornament. Another article for which they will 
receive the thanks of all good housewives Is the “ flexible 
steel door mat.” 
Sherwood Steel Harness.— A lithograph and cata¬ 
logue are sent from the Sherwood Harness Company, 
of Syracuse N. Y. Every reader of The R. N.-Y. who uses 
a team of horses for work should send for these publica¬ 
tions. This harness is a good thing. The R. N.-Y. has 
used it two years and can therefore speak from experience. 
It did not make the backs of our horses sore, one man 
could harness the horses alone, it never broke or got out of 
order and the horses hauled heavier loads than with the 
old traces and took more comfort in doing so. In short, 
the harness is a success, and we are glad to see that It is 
having a large sale. Distributing quarters have been es¬ 
tablished at Kansas City and at Chicago, so that Western 
purchasers can be accommodated. There will be “ one 
price ” for the harness at all these points. Get a set. 
A Knapsack Sprayer. —A good soldier carries much 
of his fighting power in his knapsack. Modern farm 
soldiers who march out to fight against insects for the life 
of their crops must be prepared to fight to the best ad¬ 
vantage. They must shoulder the old knapsack—not 
filled with “ hard tack ” this time, but with poisons, and 
with pump and tube attached, ready for the enemy. For 
the past few years there has been a loud call for a cheap 
and powerful sprayer that could be carried handily. Prac¬ 
tical men saw at once that such a sprayer must be carried 
on the back supported by straps over the shoulders. The 
weight would thus rest on the portion of the body best 
fitted for bearing burdens, while both hands would be 
left free to force and direct the stream of poisoned water. 
The Excelsior Knapsack Sprayer, made by Wm. Stahl, 
Quincy, Ill., seems to meet the requirements of those who 
want a cheap, light and effective machine. 
