i89i 
865 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
“ fake ” so far as Mr. Hals is concerned. We went at once 
to him to obtain a picture of this polled Holstein. He 
dishorns the story in short order. 
SCRAPS. 
Fit the collar to the horse. A soft, flabby, tight collar 
is just the thing to make the shoulders sore. The horses 
used in the Fire Department in this and other large cities 
wear collars of cast-iron or steel. 
Dr. Stalker, of the Iowa Experiment Station, describes 
a malignant disease which he found among live stock on 
some Iowa farms lying along a creek into which it was the 
custom to dump dead animals and rubbish of all sorts. It 
was proved that the stock died from drinking the impure 
water. As Dr. Stalker says: " These animals are endowed 
with organizations not unlike our own, and the manifest 
laws of being and of health can no more be violated with 
impunity with them than by ourselves.” 
All through the soutnern part of Scotland farmers are 
suffering from a plague of mice which swarm in such num¬ 
bers that they “defy computation.” They are spoiling 
the pastures and meadows, eating hay and grain and gnaw¬ 
ing roots and treees. They are larger than ordinary field 
mice, “more like young rats, and of every color.” Where 
cats are plentiful they succeed in keeping the mice at a 
safe distance. Hawks and owls have greatly increased in 
that section and are heartily welcomed. It seems likely 
that nothing will kill off the mice but a fall of slushy 
snow. 
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. 
Protection in England.—O ne has to go abroad to learn 
the news.^ The Mark Lane Express, the leading agricultural 
paper of England, thus comments on our recent elections : 
‘•Lord Salisbury, with his accustomed quickness, disen¬ 
tangled from the apparently conflicting results of the 
American elections, the conclusions to which those elec¬ 
tions in reality lead us. At first sight, the Democratic 
victories in New York and Iowa so nearly balance the re¬ 
capture of Ohio by the Republicans and their retention of 
Pennsylvania, that the result seems a drawn battle. But, 
on looking into the returns, it appears that the Democrats 
are making head way, except where suspected of free trade 
doctrines. Where the issue was the old party one, Demo¬ 
crat v. Republican, the former won ; but where it was Free 
Trade v. Protection, the latter had the plurality of votes. 
We must, therefore, be prepared to see the Democrats 
going protectionist lest they wreck an otherwise good 
cause. It is bad for English products, and a tax on 
American grain would soon bring matters to a settlement. 
Unfortunately the English are not a patriotic people to tne 
extent of suffering a temporary inconvenience in order to 
secure a permanent national gain. We want a lot of 
American grain, and we want it cheap and at once, so we 
throw away the opportunity of making terms, and in it 
comes by the million quarters; only last month we paid 
America £500,000 for wheat, £680,000 for flour, £400,000 for 
maize, and £25,000 for oats, and on this colossal business 
we did not take a halfpenny of toll.” 
This paper has always favored a tariff on foreign meats 
and breadstuffs, and seems to voice the sentiments of a 
majority of English farmers. England’s revenue policy, 
however, seems to be determined by her manufacturers 
who desire cheap food for their operatives. Lord Salis¬ 
bury, in his recent speech, made an emphatic plea for pro¬ 
tection for farm products, asserting that wheat cannot be 
profitably grown anywhere in the latitude of England 
without a tariff protection. 
So strong, however, is the general English sentiment 
with regard to free trade in food products that no party 
would dare, at present, to appeal to the country at the 
next general parliamentary elections on the cry of protec¬ 
tion to domestic agricultural products. Still, owing 
me inly to the high tariffs of this and other countries, the 
doctrine of “Fair Trade ” equivalent, in a great measure, 
to our “ Reciprocity Doctrine.” is steadily gaining favor in 
the British Isles. 
An Educational Qualification.— On page 788 1 notice 
an editorial on the qualifications of voters, which, in my 
opinion, has the right ring. It insists that there should 
be no more naturalization of foreigners who cannot read 
the English language, that no voter, whether native or 
naturalized citizen, should be registered, or allowed to 
vote, who cannot read his vote. The idea of allowing such 
a mass of ignorance to help rule the American Republic is 
one of the greatest shams of the age, and should call 
loudly (and long if need be), for correction. I read the re¬ 
marks of the Pennsylvania j udge in refusing naturaliza¬ 
tion papers to certain foreigners on account of their igno¬ 
rance. Would that all our j udges were as conscientious 1 
What a mass of ignorance would then be restrained from 
voting at every election! Where taxation is concerned 
no voter should be allowed to vote who is not liable to pay 
a due proportion of the taxes which the votes cast call 
for. Who will agitate the subject of an educational test 
for the voters of the State of New York ? a test that will 
require every voter to be able to read the vote cast, in the 
English language, easily and distinctly. Truly, every 
American, whether native born or naturalized, who de¬ 
sires the well-being of his country, should not deem it a 
hardship to be thus qualified for citizenship. 
Oneida Co., N. Y. Jonathan talcott. 
The editorial on page 788 is correct, as any one can see 
by examining the sample ballot which I inclose. This is 
the ballot used at the recent election in this State. 
Cumberland, Md. B< K 
R. N.-Y.—The ballot is 17x19)^ Inches in size. There are 
six columns of spaces for voting, and the names of 63 can¬ 
didates and synopsei of the six proposed changes in the 
State constitution. The Democratic candidates are in 
one column headed by a device including a tree, a harp and 
a picture of Andrew Jackson, and over it, “ Jackson and 
Liberty.” The Republican column has Lincoln’s picture 
at the head, while the Prohibition candidates are headed 
by an American flag and shield and a picture of Washing¬ 
ton with this legend, “For God and Home and Country.” 
There is one blank column and two for the votes on the 
constitutional amendments. In voting the voter marks a 
cross opposite the name of the candidate he favors, or he 
may make a cross opposite either device at the head, which 
indicates that he votes the entire ticket. 
WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH CHICAGO 
TRUCKERS ? 
Recent events have recalled the Anarchist riot in the 
Haymarket, Chicago, which electrified the world at the 
time. Our police force seem determined to take the An¬ 
archist “ bull by the horns,” and following the alleged 
old Jesuit doctrine, “ the ends justify the means,” have 
themselves trampled on the greatest and dearest bought 
privileges of the Eaglish-speaking race i. e. Magna Cnarta 
and free speech. 
With Prof. Sanborn, it is simple justice or right that 
should be demanded without reference to party or indi¬ 
vidual. I remember “the Chelsea Sage” has said that 
a nation’s rulers are like itself. If a nation of flunkeys, it 
has flunkeys for its rulers; if a nation of men, men are 
elected for its rulers. My observation and experience force 
me to admit that in the settlement of all burning questions, 
it is mainly on the answer to the question “ what will pay 
best?” and not on that embracing the fundamental princi¬ 
ple of justice, “ what is right?” that the decision is based, 
How many judges have we, who have “ the backbone ” or 
“sand” to administer the laws without fear or favor 
against a great wave of public opinion, so that the ju; 
dietary can be said to jealously defend our rights and priv¬ 
ileges during times of public excitement and render de¬ 
cisions without considering their effect on their own 
chances of selection or popularity? As a nation “ are not 
we all on the make,” and do we not need another infusion 
of the old Puritan spirit of justice ? It is in the rural pop¬ 
ulation we must look for this, and in the rural home and 
school we must see that this idea of right and wrong is 
instilled into the rising generation. 
A very peaceful and busy scene is presented by the Hay- 
market every morning, for it is there the Chicago market 
gardeners sell their produce. Many of these gardeners 
start to this market at 9 p. m., so that they can secure a 
good stand, and there they remain until 5 a. m., when they 
pick up a load of manure and start for home. During the 
season, they go to sleep while driving home, and after 
breakfast go to work in the field. 
One German acquaintance farming 12 acres, works his 
rented land in this manner, and in the last three seasons 
has used up four horses and seems to be saving money, 
but at what a cost ? 
Our local doctor says that he has quite a large practice 
among the truckers and his remonstrances against their 
reckless exposure of person and lack of a proper amount of 
sleep, are only met with the reply that they have to do this 
in order to live. This fall typhoid fever has been epidemic 
and it Is marvelous why more of them do not succumb to 
it and other diseases, and still more wonderful how some 
of them save enough money to buy farms. 
Of course, some truckers prefer to have their produce 
sold by commission men. I tried this experiment a year 
ago with a small lot of vegetables, and do not want to re¬ 
peat it. The accounts of sales received were about 50 per 
cent less than the prices for which similar goods were 
offered and quoted by other houses, and the usual 10 
per cent commission was deducted. While there are a 
few honest commission men, I am afraid there are also a 
few dishonest ones. 
Can the rural doctors who diagnosed the case of Mr. 
Green explain “what’s the matter with the Chicago 
truckers ?” _ w. douglas king. 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
(Every query muse be accompanied by the name and address of the 
writer to insure attention. Before asking a question please see if it is 
not answered in our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
Shall We Plant the Idaho Pear? 
D. F. M., Belleville, III .—Can The Rural give me any in¬ 
formation in regard to the Idaho Pear ? The claim of leading 
nurseries here is that it is a strong grower, an early and 
heavy bearer and nearly blight-proof, and that its quality is 
as good as that of the Bartlett. First-class trees are sold 
here at $140 per 100. Information on this subject is not to be 
had here except from those who are Interested. The cost of 
planting an acre of Idaho Pears would be about $2J0 ; cost 
of trees, $150 ; while the outlay for planting and cultiva¬ 
tion and the use of the land until bearing time, also the 
cost of replanting would be fully $50 more. If the pear is 
all that is claimed for it, the extra cost of the trees would 
never be regretted. 
Ans.—The R. N.-Y. first brought this pear to the notice 
of the public on November 27, 1886. Specimens were sent 
to us by John H. Evans, of Lewiston, Idaho. The shape 
is peculiar, being nearly as broad about the stem as about 
the calyx. The flesh is nearly white and fine-grained, ten¬ 
der and buttery, with a rich, subdued acid flavor. It is 
not quite so sweet as the Bartlett, but somewhat higher 
flavored—more sprightly. Even when dead-ripe, there is 
no insipidity. It is a month later than the Bartlett as the 
Idaho is grown In that State, and is a better keeper appar¬ 
ently. Some of the pears weighed 20 ounces. What the 
Idaho will prove to be outside of Idaho, no one can as yet 
say. Those who declare the tree to be blight-proof know 
not or else care not what they say. 
What Causes Abortion In Cows? 
L. J. H., Bethany, Conn. —I rent a farm with stock of 
23 cows, oxen, bulls, etc. I took possession of the place on 
March 1, 1890. Being employed on a farm until April 1, I 
could not give my personal attention to the rented farm 
until after that date, thus during March it was in care of 
a farm hand previously employed by the owner of the 
farm. It was then my trouble commenced. In the course 
of a week a cow was found to be sick; then, later, another 
was taken. The first one died early in April; the other 
lingered on through the summer together with a third, 
which was an old worn-out, good cow. I called in a man 
of some experience in cow doctoring. He said that cow 
No. 2 had been hurt on the back and head and that there 
was no help for her; she had become nearly or quite blind. 
She would start off and when she came to a wall or fence 
would tumble over it, so I killed her. Cow No. 3 died soon 
afterwards; thus I lost three cows during the first sum¬ 
mer. Then from J uly, 1890, till May, 1891, I lost 16 out of 
the 20 calves by abortion. Now, I know that the man in 
care of the stock during March, 1890, was very cruel and 
had used a piece of heavy chain 2% feet in length for 
punishing them. Some ask, “ What do you think is the 
cause of the abortions ? ” Others say, “Perhaps there was 
ergot in the hay.” Some say cruel treatment a year ago 
would not affect the cows now. During March, 1890, 3,000 
pounds of meal and 2,400 pounds of wheat feed were used 
to produce 2,493 quarts of milk from an average of 16 to 18 
cows, five of them being two-year-olds and three being 
three-year olds. What has been the cause of all of this 
trouble ? Was it the harsh treatment; or the feeding, or 
both; or was it ergot in the hay ? Can there be enough 
ergot in hay to cause abortion without being distinctly 
visible ? If there was ergot In my hay it was a very small 
amount, I have noticed that the cows have a dry cough 
while pregnant; does the cough have anything to do with 
the disease or the disease anything to do with the cough ? 
Ans.— The first three cows probably suffered from neglect 
and cruel treatment. The outbreak of abortion in July 
was not due to the treatment received during the prev¬ 
ious March. However, if the same neglect and harsh 
treatment continued through the summer, they may have 
been one of the causes of the abortion. If there was enough 
ergot in the hay to cause abortions, you could easily And 
it. There are so many causes that may tend to favor or 
produce abortions, that I cannot give any definite opinion 
as to the probable cause in your herd. You do not say 
what feed you were giving while the abortions were taking 
place, so that I cannot answer that point. The cough is 
the result of exposure, or due to chronic throat or lung 
trouble. Except as the same causes that produce the 
cough may also favor abortion, the cough, as such, had 
nothing to do with the abortions. I can only suggest that 
you give the cows your personal attention ; see that they 
are well fed with wholesome fodder and pure drinking 
water; that they have warm, comfortable quarters, and 
are properly treated. If abortions then occur, separate 
such cows from the herd and do no.t breed again for at 
least three months after they have recovered from the 
abortion. [dr.] f. l. kilbornk. 
Potatoes That Sport Colors. 
T. C., Fort Atkinson, W is. —in 1890 I raised a large 
number of seedling potatoes, and among them was one that 
sported and produced one tuber white with a light pink 
eye, and six tubers of purple color. I planted them the 
past season. The white one being small, I planted it whole, 
while the others I cut, making 10 hills of them. On Sep¬ 
tember 1, I dug 18>£ pounds of purple ones, three-quarters 
of them marketable, and six tubers of the pink eye, all of 
about equally good size. Only one stalk grew from the 
pink eye, which was of a light color, while the purple sort 
grew dark stalks and foliage and were later. They are 
white inside and cook good. Has The Rural ever known 
such a freak of nature before ? 
Ans.— The R. N.-Y. has often had purple, buff an I 
mottled seeds from the same seed—true seed. We once 
cut a seedling through the middle and planted each half 
separately. One half was purple, the other buff, or what 
is usually called white. The buff seed piece gave a crop of 
buff potatoes without the appearance of a purple skin; 
the purple seed piece gave a crop of purple potatoes with 
but an occasional splash or blotch of buff. 
Rupture or Abscess on a Colt. 
T. S. E., Entrican, Mich.—A small sac or bunch 
formed at the navel of my twc-month-old Ally. The navel 
cord, through oversight, remained too long unremoved. 
Tne tumor doesn’t feel like a rupture, but as if it held 
water, with the navel cord extending through it. It is 
about two inches In depth and an Inch and a half in diam¬ 
eter. The general health of the colt is good, and it is doing 
well. The sac does not increase in size. What is it ? 
What caused it ? And what treatment will remove it ? 
Ans.— Place the colt on its back and gently manipu¬ 
late the swelling, to see if it cannot be reduced and the 
contents forced Into the abdomen. If so, it is a rupture. 
In this case, place clamps over the loose fold of skin, close 
up to the belly, and allow them to be worn until they 
slough off. The clamp should be used as in castration. If 
the swelling cannot be reduced it is probably an abscess, 
and should be carefully opened. Make a small opening 
through the dependent portion of the sac, with a sharp, 
narrow blade or lance, and if found to contain liquid or 
pus force out the contents. It should then heal with¬ 
out farther trouble, except that it may be necessary to 
keep the opening from closing for a few days to allow the 
escape of any pus forming within the sac during the process 
of healing. [dr.| f. l. kilborne. 
