273 
i89i T 
Business. 
GROWING A PRIZE POTATO CROP. 
Mr. W. J. Sturgis, of Wyoming, who won the American 
Agriculturist prize for the best acre of potatoes, has been 
besieged by persons in all parts of the country for an ac¬ 
count of his method of culture. As many of our readers 
have written to Mr. Sturgis, we print this letter, which is a 
copy of what Mr. S. wrote until his hand grew tired : 
“ I think the climate and soil have more to do with the 
crop than cultivation, although that is very important. 
The soil here is made from the wash of the mountains, of 
which both granite and limestone form the ingredients. 
Then all crops have to be irrigated, and the water has 
more or less of the same ingredients in it, so that the crops 
are really fertilized with every irrigation. Then I think 
the dry atmosphere has something to do with the growth 
and maturity of all crops. Now as to my plan for planting 
potatoes: I plowed the land six inches deep, worked it 
up fine and made trenches 2)4 feet apart, six inches deep, 
planted by hand eight inches apart in the trenches, covered 
with a garden rake two inches deep ; after the plants were 
up I raked more soil in the trenches, and repeated this un¬ 
til the vines were large enough to plow with a single shovel 
plow. I plowed them twice, and by that time the vines 
were so thick the land could not be worked any more with¬ 
out injuring them. I use no small potatoes for seed; but 
pick smooth, good-shaped tubers, cut off and throw 
away the seed ends, then cut from one io three eyes to the 
piece, making the pieces as large as the potatoes will ad¬ 
mit of. I think it best to cut, plant and cover the same 
day. I planted Early Vermont, Manhattan, Rural New 
Yorker No. 2 and three or four kinds of my own raising 
from seed. I plant a few seeds every year. I plant as soon 
as the weather will permit from April 20th to May 20th. 
Very late potatoes are not a success here. 
“I would suggest to you to take The Rural New- 
Yorker for one year. I think it will help you to grow 
larger and better crops. w. j. bturgis.” 
WHERE ARE THE PURCHASERS AND TENANTS 
FOR FARMS ? 
Is Renting a Losing Business? 
From reports lately appearing in the columns of The 
Rural New-Yorker of the sales made from various 
farms and small parcels of land, I would like to know 
where the “ hard times for farmers,” come in. For about 
20 years I have devoted considerable of my time to the 
management and letting of a number of farms located in 
the Hudson River Valley, convenient to railroad stations 
and steamboat landings, and in a county no less prominent 
in agriculture than Columbia, and I confess that the 
statements I refer to, have excited my curiosity, when I 
compare them with my own experience and observation. 
I do not doubt the truth of these statements, but simply 
wish to suggest that they are exceptional cases, and that 
the large majority are not heard from. If such results 
are common, who will explain why farms that once sold 
for $7,000, remain untaken when offered for $2,800, or why 
a farm of 230 acres of fair land, two miles from the Hudson 
River, assessed at $5,500, and once valued at $15,000, and, 
15 years ago, rented for $900, should remain unoccupied 
when offered at $300 f 
There are a number of farms in this county offered for 
sale and to rent at equally great sacrifices, which are 
likely to remain untaken. For the sake of the buildings, 
fences and insurance we suffer a class of tenants to occupy 
them who lack capital, and are in every respect Incompe¬ 
tent to manage a farm, and who do not expect to pay any 
rent. Now, I would like to know if this condition exists 
in other parts of the State, or is this section peculiarly 
circumstanced in respect to scarcity of live, energetic and 
capable men, who are willing to take farms when offered 
so low that they could easily afford to pay the price and 
rent asked, and secure a comfortable living and the inde¬ 
pendence of farm life, if the possibilities of farming even 
approach the reports given. Every occupation that proves 
profitable generally finds an army ready to engage in it, 
and the number of unoccupied farms, and those that do 
not bring any income to the owner, would seem to indicate 
that farming as at present conducted, and under existing 
conditions, “ does not pay.” 
I can readily account for the difficulty in finding pur¬ 
chasers and tenants from our immediate neighborhood. 
Our strong, healthy and fairly intelligent young men, who 
should become the owners and occupants of these farms, 
have gone from home and sought employment in the 
cities and in factories, or on railroads and steamboats, 
where they receive twice the wages our ablest farmers 
can afford to pay them. They left the farms and the em¬ 
ployment of farmers as soon as they were able to compre¬ 
hend the situation, without even attempting to farm on 
their own account, and, being once estranged from the 
land, they seldom return to it. 
These young men are not to blame for seeking the high¬ 
est wages or occupations that promise better advantages. 
The fault lies in those conditions, be they political, social 
or commercial, that enable every other class to pay these 
larger wages for even ordinary labor, and to give greater 
assurance of promotion and ultimate success. The farmer 
cannot compete in the employment of labor, because it so 
happens that he is served by every other class, each of 
whom charges him something more than a reasonable 
compensation for the services rendered, and he is thus 
taxed to furnish the very means by which merchants, 
manufacturers and corporations are enabled to absorb to 
themselves all the most reliable, efficient and capable help. 
That this is a fact must be apparent to even an indifferent 
observer. Why it is so, and how it comes to be so, are 
questions that deeply concern every person who is at all 
interested in agriculture. The subject is broader than 
HE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
political economy; it involves questions that distinctively 
appertain to our social and commercial relations, a care¬ 
ful and patient study of which will disclose the wrongs 
that can only be righted by united and aggressive action 
on the part of farmers. E. c. 
Columbia Co., N. Y. 
R. N.- Y.—As a number of similar questions have been 
asked, The R. N. Y. takes this opportunity to explain. 
The names of those who furnished the farm reports were 
selected at random from our lists except in the case of 
half a-dozen or so of persons who had previously sent us 
notes on farm methods. Many of the reports were con¬ 
tributed voluntarily after reading the statements of 
others. We have not attempted to prove that farming is 
more profitable than ever before, or the reverse. It is true 
that we like to show the possibilities of agriculture when 
developed with energy and care ; but in these investiga¬ 
tions we simply “ go gunning for the truth,” and try to 
state the facts as they are, giving everybody a free chance 
to talk. The questions in the above communication are 
timely and important and we shall be glad to have them 
discussed without fear of hurting anybody’s feelings. 
“ HOW CAN HE LEARN FARMING f” 
The note printed on page 213 has called out a score of 
responses from good farmers. The young man has had an 
excellent opportunity to find a place to “ learn farming.” 
We wish there were more like him. Here is what one 
farmer in Dutchess County, N. Y., has to say: “Now, I 
would be right glad to get just such a man, pay him all he 
can or is willing to earn, and teach him ‘ what I know 
about farming.’ But he must be a very apt scholar if he 
can get it all digested In eight months. I have been at it 
all my life, and now learn something new every day, 
especially from The R. N.-Y., which is of great benefit to 
me. While I am a practical farmer, I learn to put in 
practice many things that at first seem theoretical. I 
keep sheep, cows, oxen and horses, and fatten some cattle, 
make and save manure and apply it with the Kemp & 
Burpee manure spreader, doing a great deal of work in a 
short time by horse power, and get the best results in that 
manner. Now, if this young man is sober and wants to 
learn and work I would like to give him a trial, plenty to 
eat, and lots of work, and as much money as he is worth 
to me. But I would prefer to hire him for a year, as it 
will be just as essential for him to go through the feeding 
of cattle in winter as at any other season, and more so If 
he wishes to learn farming as a paying business. I farm 
for money and make the farm pay, because I have nothing 
else to pay with and pay cash.” 
AN OHIO RENTER TALKS. 
Happier Than Jay Gould When He Owns His 
Farm I 
I am not one of the class who say “ Farmin’ don’t pay.” 
Here are my cash sales for the crops of 1890. I farm 120 
acres of black land, with the exception of probably about 25 
acres which are red clay. I follow the rotation system. I 
sow about 40 acres of wheat each year, and usually break 
up about half that area; the rest is sowed on corn ground. 
The corn is cut up and the ground worked into prime con¬ 
dition and the seed is drilled with a two horse drill. I 
drill my shock row with a one-horse drill before cutting the 
corn. I husk the corn out early and haul the fodder into 
the barn. I sow about 20 acres of clover every spring and 
raise two crops of wheat and two of corn on each field after 
it has been in clover before it is sowed down again. I do 
not cut the clover from the thin spots, if there be any, 
though usually I cut about half the acreage sown. I sell 
no straw or fodder off the farm, but put all through the 
stables. I stable every kind of stock and bed them freely 
and clean the stables daily, and the horse stables twice a 
day and the cow stables also on all cold or rainy days. I 
keep 12 head of cattle, 15 sheep, 5 horses, and about 8 to 12 
hogs, all bedded with straw. Under this system I make 
enough manure to topdress usually about five to six acres 
of wheat land. I plow under nothing but what is too 
rough to pass through the drill-hoes run zigzag. The 
year 1890 was the driest ever known to the oldest living 
inhabitants of this county. 
I have had charge of this land for five years, and I am a 
renter. I give my landlord one-half of all grains. He 
furnishes one-half of all the seeds for sowing and planting. 
I also deliver his grain at his market 2)4 miles away. He 
furnishes me pasture for a reasonable amount of stock, 
and I am to prepare feed to keep them where they belong 
in the winter and spring months. We divide no garden 
stuff or fruit. I raise my own berries; of other fruits 
there is not much on the farm at present, but there will be 
soon. I keep in repair all fences, and keep all weeds cut 
down, and the landlord furnishes timber and nails for all 
repairs. I have two sons, aged 17 and 15, who, with myself, 
have done the work on this farm for five years. Our hired 
help, all told, in this term has not cost $100. The boys 
attend school from early fall to about March 1, and in one 
year more they will be able to finish the course of study 
adopted in our township school. 
I keep the house well supplied with such journals as the 
Rural New-Yorker, Stockman and Farmer and Farm 
Journal and such books as I am able to buy. We have abund¬ 
ant conveyances for riding, plenty to eat and wear, and I be¬ 
lieve we enjoy as much genuine pleasure as anybody, for we 
have no debts and make none; but I shall not be satisfied un¬ 
til I own a small farm of my own—about 40 to 60 acres. I 
don’t want any more ; for I hope to live to outstrip Bro. T.B. 
Terry’s feats on his wonderful little farm. The crop state¬ 
ment here made I am prepared to prove is the smallest in 
five years. I am also prepared to prove that my landlord’s 
share of the produce off this farm since I have had it has 
paid him 6 )4 per cent on what it cost him—$13,000. I have 
not written the foregoing to boast; for I detest that sort 
of thing; but to let the grumbling class know how a ten¬ 
ant lives. If I owned this farm, I would be happier than 
Jay Gould. I believe our success lies in attending to all 
things on the farm; in keeping good stock and plenty of 
it; in feeding and bedding well; in watching the markets 
and turning all the little things into money ; if it is only 
a little it will help. Let all read The Rural, educate 
themselves and exercise their rights as free men and be 
happy! 
SOI.D. 
Wheat, 450 bushels.$128 ( 0 
Corn, 600 “ .. 350 00 
Clover seed, 4 bushels. 16 00 
Clover Hay, 6 tons. 80 00 
Hogs, 8. 10 50 
Sheep, 14 head. 56 00 
Wool, 117 pounds. 27 68 
Butter, 5 cows,833 pounds... 147 50 
1 Calf veal. 5 00 
Poultr; . 12 85 
Eggs, ICO dozen. 12 00 
Consumed. 
Wheat, seed, flour, 110 bus.. .$103 40 
Corn. 400 bushels. . 200 00 
Hay, 7 tons. 85 00 
22 acres corn fodder. 55 00 
1,200 pounds pork, net. 60 00 
200 pounds butter. 86 CO 
50 dozen eggs. 6 00 
35 bushels potatoes. Si 00 
40 tons straw. 120 00 
Sweet potatoes, 7 bushels ... 7 00 
Sorghum molasses, SO gal.... 12 00 
Total.$1,09J 58 Total.$669 40 
I have said nothing about garden products or fruit for a 
family of 10 persons. darius ross. 
Miami Co., Ohio. 
IMPLEMENT NOTE. 
Triumph Spading Harrow.—A picture of this remark¬ 
able tool is shown at Fig. 94. For years there has been a 
demand for a suitable tool for working the soil in orchards 
and among trees anywhere. Plows and ordinary cultiva¬ 
tors were never entirely satisfactory because they cut and 
sliced too many roots and did considerable damage when 
worked too close to the trees. The Triumph harrow was 
originated in the very heart of the apple region of western 
New York, and has been thoroughly tested by hundreds 
of orchardists. As will be seen by the picture, there is no 
plowing or scratching about its work. It is simply a dig¬ 
ger or spader, its sharp and strong fingers turning up the 
soil and yet not snapping or twisting off the roots. Al¬ 
though of special value among trees and plants, the harrow 
is also useful in field cultivation wherever any harrow Is 
to be used. Send to D. S. Morgan & Co., Brockport N. Y., 
for catalogues and circulars. 
IMPORTANT! 
What high priced novelties have you bought and 
cultivated—whether of small fruits, large fruits, 
ornamental shrubs, trees or seeds of any kinds — 
that proved to be either old varieties , no better than 
old varieties, or more or less ivorthless ? And of 
whom did you purchase them f We would be glad 
to hear from our readers at once. We propose to 
ventilate the important subject thoroughly. 
NOVELTIES AND STAPLES. 
From the Catalogues. 
Fungus Diseases of the Grape and Other Plants, 
by Prof. F. Lamson Scribner —This work of 134 pages 
is published by the J. T. Lovett Co., of Little Silver, N. 
J., the price being 50 or 75 cents as the book is bound in 
paper or cloth. The name of Prof. Scribner, at the outset, 
gives authority to the work, and confidence in its teach¬ 
ings. Fungi have been subjects of special study with 
him, and he is consequently one of the foremost author¬ 
ities in the country upon that subject. He treats the 
various fungoid diseases presented in this book thoroughly, 
but briefly and practically. Their first appearance and 
subsequent development, down to the consummation of 
their evil work, are fully described in terse and compre¬ 
hensive terms, and the nature of each disease and means 
for its identification are given, with the remedies to be used 
and mode of application. He treats most extensively of 
fungoid diseases of the grape, but also the most important 
of the fungoid diseases of the apple, pear, peach, plum, 
quince, etc. The illustrations, of which there are over 60, 
are true to nature. It is a timely and valuable work and 
will be gladly welcomed by the large class of vineyardists 
and horticulturists who so much need its help. 
Parsons & Sons Co., Kissena Nurseries, Flushing, 
N. Y.—A descriptive catalogue of hardy ornamental trees, 
shrubs and vines. The choicest among tree and shrub 
novelties will be found in the catalogue of this long-estab¬ 
lished firm, rhododendrons, magnolias, Ghent azaleas, 
Japan maples being specialties to which much care is given. 
Jacob W. Manning, Reading* Mass.—M r. Manning is¬ 
sues the following catalogues: 1. Ornamental trees, shrubs 
and evergreens. 2. Choice hardy perennials. 3. Large and 
small fruits. 4. Condensed price list of nursery stock. 5. 
Recently introduced trees and shrubs of ornamental 
merit. These catalogues will commend themselves to all 
who would avoid the disgusting pretensions and exagger¬ 
ations of the mushroom catalogue senders. 
