672 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
SEPT. i9 
to be fed any ordinary foods the owners desire to give 
them, only no artificial oil, drug or stimulant is to be ad¬ 
ministered. The Jersey breeder seems fully inclined to 
accept this challenge. There may be a difference in the 
details of determining the amount of butter. The Jersey 
breeder objects to an oil test or chemical analysis of the 
milk and will accept nothing but a churn test with an 
analysis of the butt* r. It is to be hoped that this contest 
will be carried out. The Holstein cow is in New York 
State and the Jersey in Tennessee. There is also some 
difference between their dates of calving and other matters 
that will make it somewhat difficult to secure exactly fair 
conditions. What would such a contest prove ? It would 
show the accuracy of these tests because every movement 
would be watched with the utmost care. We should 
know which of these two cows is capable of changing the 
greater amount of food into butter fat. Except in a gen¬ 
eral way it will not show the farmer which breed he 
should keep. The fact is that some men make money out 
of Holstelns, while others would lose money if they kept 
them. The exact details of this feeding test would show 
how much food the cows need to produce a quart of milk 
or a pound of butter; which cowls capable of handling 
the hay and grain to the best advantage, and other details 
concerning the character of the milk and the “churn- 
ability ” of the cream. Such facts would give the basis 
for some careful figuring, which must be worked out be¬ 
fore money is invested in any breed. 
Lincoln Sheep. —The ram shown at Fig. 244, won first 
prize at a recent English stock show, and is considered a 
typical specimen of the breed. The Lincolns are long- 
wooled sheep, natives of the rich lowlands of England 
where the richest and most nutritious pastures are found. 
In old times, before crop-rotations, clover, roots and oil 
cakes were so common, the large-bodied, long-wools were 
profitable only on the richest natural pastures. Now, 
however, most of them are profitable wherever good farm¬ 
ing is practiced. Stewart says that this change in farm¬ 
ing has divided the long-wool sheep of the 
present day into two classes. One class, 
like the Leicester, Cotswold and Oxford, 
do well with mixed farming on dry, arable 
lands, while the other class, including the 
Lincolns, remain localized on the low, rich 
alluvial soils and drained marshes of cer¬ 
tain parts of England. The Lincoln is the 
heaviest sheep known, some specimens 
weighing as much as young cattle. The 
original Lincoln is now practically extinct. 
A century ago rams of Bakewell’s im¬ 
proved Leicesters were used on the large, 
coarse sheep of the Lincolnshire marshes 
and in time established a distinctly new 
breed, from which the present Lincolns 
come. Reared as it has been on low, rich 
lands, the Lincoln can stand a “ wet foot.” 
This breed is popular for crossing on 
other breeds for the production of mutton 
sheep or for growing long, lustrous wool. 
It requires the richest pasture and highest 
farming to be profitable. Quite a good 
many have been sent to Argentina for use 
on the low river lands. The breed is not 
well suited to the average American farm, 
indeed there are but few places where it 
could thrive. 
Whole Corn in the Silo.— I am now 
about to fill my silo with whole corn as I 
did last year. I have a large growth 
of the Sanford variety on six acres of 
land considerably elevated above my build¬ 
ings. This corn will be drawn on a dray 
such as lumbermen use for drawing four- 
foot wood from the mountains. It is the most cheaply made 
and the easiest to load of all contrivances for hauling corn. 
The load runs more steadily than when on four wheels, 
and when the hauling is all down grade the dray has no 
equal for ease for man or team. A great deal of expense is 
saved by putting the corn in whole and the best of ensilage 
is secured. B- I* bass. 
Vice President N. E. Dairyman’s Association. 
R. N.-Y.—From reports that come to us it seems as if 
the practice of putting whole corn in the silo is gaining. 
The latest objection to cutting stalks is that the cattle do 
not do enough chewing when the cutter does it for them. 
Mr. Talcott, on page 575, told us how he cuts up dry field 
corn stalks after they have been shocked and husked and 
fills the silo, adding enough water to make them moist. 
He has filled his pits in October for the past four years 
and secured excellent ensilage. We shall have more to 
say of this work in the future. 
A Tough Animal.— The sheep business in Oregon still 
pays, though it is a wonder how it does so. One writer 
gives the facts regarding it in a brief and pointed way: 
“ Here, in eastern Oregon, we send out incompetent men, 
and as a rule, entire strangers, with improperly trained 
dogs, one man, we will say, with 2,000 sheep, which is an 
average band. At present prices such a band is worth 
$4,000. Now, if we had $4,000 in gold, silver or bank notes, 
do you think we would trust them to a stranger’s care ? 
Is it business ? Is it common sense ? Often the sheep are 
not seen by the owner for a month or six weeks. They 
are often kept for weeks on insufficient food, and then in 
the fall, when the band comes home poor, scabby and 
several hundred short, we get satisfaction by borrowing 
money and paying off the herder, and probably giving him 
a piece of our mind in regard to his inefficiency.” If it is 
any compliment for the sheep, and we don’t believe it is, 
we will say that no other animal in the world would stand 
such treatment and still stand by its master. 
Farm Politics. 
Here it is proposed to discuss with freedom and fairness, ques¬ 
tions of National or State policy that particularly concern farm¬ 
ers. The editors disclaim responsibility for the opinions of cor¬ 
respondents. The object is to develop a true and fair basis for 
organization among farmers. Let us think out just what we want 
and then strive for it. 
A NEW TICKET—RUSK AND PHELPS. 
Uncle Jerry Rusk! Uncle Jerry Rusk ! 
Gets agoing, makes a showing, 
Doesn't feed us husks. 
Uncle Jerry Rusk ! Nudges German’s shin. 
Doesn’t bark It but the market 
Opens ! Hog walks In. 
Uncle Jerry Rusk! Needs a bigger stent, 
Elevate him ; nominate him 
Now for President! 
William Walter Phelps! William Walter Phelps 
William Walter puts a halter 
On a trade that helps. 
Uncle Jerry head ! William Walter tail. 
There’s a ticket 1 What could lick it ? 
Nothing! Let it sail! — e. h. c. 
TAXATION DRIVING AWAY BUSINESS—A “SCARE¬ 
CROW.” 
In The Rural of June 20 is presented the platform of 
the Tax Reform Association, and comments or criticism are 
called for. Article 2 says: “ Mortgages and capital en¬ 
gaged in production or trade should be exempt from taxa¬ 
tion, because taxes on such capital tend to drive it away, 
to put a premium on dishonesty and discourage indus¬ 
try.” The reason given in effect why these kinds of prop¬ 
erty should be exempt from taxation Is because some per¬ 
sons are lacking in patriotism and loyalty to the State and 
try to avoid paying their just tribute for the maintenance 
of law and order, by whose protecting care all are enabled 
to prosecute their various callings in peace and security. 
These persons seem to be mean-spirited, and threaten to 
withdraw their capital and go away if they are justly 
PRIZE LINCOLN RAM. Fig. 244. 
Re-engraved from London Live Stock Journal. 
taxed, and thus business is discouraged. The assertion 
that taxing personal property tends to drive it away we re¬ 
gard in Massachusetts as a scarecrow that is played 
out. This “withdrawing” argument has been worked 
In Massachusetts for a few years past a great deal and has 
lost its force. The people, especially the farmers, want 
that the fundamental laws and traditions relating to taxa¬ 
tion should be carried out, viz., that all property be taxed 
alike. When the men composing the government of a 
great State like New York or Massachusetts, become so 
imbecile and weak as to heed such considerations they are 
no longer worthy of public regard, and the electors would 
do well to replace them at the earliest opportunity by 
men of ability, honesty and courage—men competent to 
weigh at their real value these shallow reasons with re¬ 
gard to these threats of the withdrawal of capital If justly 
taxed. Are not the State officers and the legislators 
elected to execute the laws of the land and make just and 
equal laws ? Are they not all sworn to do this ? Suppose 
there are some capitalists who sulk at paying taxes, what 
then ? To what State are they going where life, liberty 
and property are safe, and where the government does 
not need revenue to keep them so ? And the people of 
all the States will soon demand equal taxation, when taxes 
will be beautifully low. 
A business that seeks for success by avoiding its just 
tribute to law and order, thereby increasing the burden of 
taxation on the honest tax payer, is unworthy of success, 
for it is by the operation of law and order that success is 
rendered possible. Let men of that class go; there will be 
more room for more worthy people. 
The third plank maintains that real estate should bear 
the main burden of taxation, because such taxes can be 
most easily, cheaply and certainly collected. The three 
reasons given in this article why real estate should be so 
heavily taxed, are weak, base and debasing. That a great 
State should weigh in the balance the ease, cheapness and 
certainty of tax gathering, against justice, the dignity and 
majesty of the laws and government, is too monstrous for 
calm consideration. The idea of putting the burden of 
taxation all upon one class of property, and one class of 
owners, is too unjust to find favor with farmers. It is 
directly opposed to all the principles and laws of the early 
days of the country, viz., that taxation should rest, like 
the atmosphere, on all property alike. This was the prin¬ 
ciple relating to taxation on which our government was 
founded; and the only just one conceivable. There is no 
race in the world that respects a just and forcible admin¬ 
istration of government so much as the American. The 
shameful assertion made by these pseudo reformers that 
taxes on personal property can’t be collected, although the 
government has unlimited financial means at command 
and military force if needed, and a large majority of the 
people at its back, is without foundation in fact. If there 
were any ground for it, 1 would suggest that the govern¬ 
ment be turned over to the farmers of the country; it 
would not take them long to find a way to enforce the tax 
laws legally and peacefully so that; the rate per capita of 
taxation would be greatly reduced on all the property now 
taxed, the reduction being estimated by some at from one- 
half to two-thirds. The assertion that taxes on personal 
property can’t be collected comes from large holders of 
that kind of property on the one hand, and from a slipshod 
administration of public affairs on tne other. Where there 
is a will there is a way. I hope the farmers will hold fast 
to the faith in the equality of taxation. Preserve the laws, 
the practice will come in time. G. NOBLE. 
Massachusett s. 
DEBT-PAYING ASSOCIATIONS. 
When Jerseyman drops on to the que-tion of paying off 
mortgages (see page 609) he hits a particular nail squarely 
on the head. I own a little stock in a building and loan 
association myself, and know something about their prac¬ 
tical workings, and I am satisfied that when honestly con¬ 
ducted they afford persons in moderate circumstances a 
better means of securing a home of their 
own than any other scheme of which I have 
any knowledge. 
In the association of which I am a mem¬ 
ber are men who have lived in rented 
houses for years and years, and who never 
expected to be able to own a home, but 
who are in full possession of their own 
hearthstone, vine and fig tree. The associa¬ 
tion was organized for the especial benefit 
of poor workingmen who were desirous 
of securing homes, yet these very men 
fought shy of it for years. But very few 
of them could be induced to take any stock 
In it. Not until they began to see the prac¬ 
tical benefits accruing to two or three of 
their number who had the pluck to in¬ 
vest in it could they be persuaded that 
it was a good thing. When they finally 
comprehended the workings of the scheme 
they came with a rush, and the last issue 
of stock was snapped up in an hour. I 
will mention two or three cases to show 
how It works. 
Here is one member who works about 
town and country, doing anything he can 
earn wages at, who has been a tenant all his 
life and paid enough in rents to buy six or 
seven houses. Since he became a member 
of the association he has bought a nice 
house and lot and is well on towards 
having it paid for. He is now quite a 
different person from what he formerly 
was—has a more independent, manly bear¬ 
ing, and acts as though he considers him¬ 
self of some importance. 
Here is another who makes his living by digging wells, 
putting in tile drains, etc., and who never owned a foot of 
land or a roof to cover his family. He now has a nice 
house and a large lot well set with fruit and ornamental 
trees, shrubs and vines, and it will soon be entirely his 
own. 
Another member worked for a manufacturing firm at 
good wages until he earned enough to buy a lot and build 
a house on it. No sooner had he got his home fairly es¬ 
tablished than he was discharged. Instead of lamenting 
about his misfortune, grievances, etc., he immediately 
borrowed a sum of money from the association, giving 
his house and lot as security, and bought an interest in a 
mill located in a neighboring village. He rented his 
house and lot for enough to pay his monthly dues and 
moved to the village where his mill Is. In a few more 
months he will be owner of a half interest in the mill and 
still have his house and lot. 
These associations have a very marked effect on the ap¬ 
pearance of a village or town, as all who have had any 
experience with them can attest, but it is the working¬ 
man himself who derives the greatest benefit from them. 
In nine cases out of ten he learns for the first time how to 
save. He learns how to set aside a certain sum every 
month to pay his dues, and he is surprised to find how 
easily it can be done. Before he has finished paying for 
his home he acquires a habit of saving that sticks to 
him afterward, and almost unconsciously he begins to set 
aside a portion of his earnings for a rainy day. 
Now why cannot the farmers organize such associa¬ 
tions and help each other out of debt and into the owner¬ 
ship of farms and homes? Wouldn’t such associations 
be of infinitely more practical benefit to us than politico- 
alllances, leagues and national parties ? We can unite 
to beat a party with votes when we believe our welfare 
demands it, but we seem to be afraid to unite for the pur¬ 
pose of helping each other with money. Let us hope that 
