1893 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
6o3 
against him as a ‘ ‘hayseed” by his professional brethren, 
and ignoring their advice to let politics alone and 
tend to his farming, went straight ahead in faith and 
confidence, and overcame the gigantic political foes of 
that primitive time. 
Future Possibilities. 
It may be that for the future, finding it cheaper to 
“ mind our own business ” in a few matters, and ex¬ 
tending the practice to all practicable fields, even 
making up our own wool upon the farm, we may 
come to see again, under better and broader condi¬ 
tions, somewhat of the old-time farm ascendancy, “ in¬ 
dustrial independence ” and self-centered life. Then 
would many of the present problems of the farm be 
willingly solved; such as that of transportation and 
sophisms about a “ market ” for farmers would be at a 
discount. For with materials made and used where 
raised, largely, transportation would be at the mini¬ 
mum, and the workmen would constitute—not a home 
market—but, much better, a cheerful market at home. 
The advertising columns of the papers seem to indi¬ 
cate a tendency to invention of machinery better 
enabling people to practice these home manufactures. 
In figuring it more economical that our products 
should be made up in large factories distant from 
where the raw materials are produced, is the travel of 
the farmer in carrying them and of carrying food to 
the workmen taken into account? Certainly not at 
the same rates charged by the doctors for riding over 
the very same ground. A wetmore. 
SOME TALKS ABOUT TOMATOES. 
HOW WE RAISED THE R. N.-Y. CROSS-BREEDS. 
The wish expressed in The Rural a short time ago 
that its readers would give the cross-bred tomatoes 
(sent ou; last spring) good care I have tried to fol¬ 
low since the seeds were received. This 
was on March 21, when they were sown 
in the hot-bed, from which 25 plants 
were obtained and planted in small 
pots and kept in the hot-bed until May 
22 , when they were transplanted out- 
of-doors in the garden four feet apart 
each way. In June light trellises of 
four pickets were made, each being 
four feet long and sharpened on one 
end. To these laths one foot long were 
nailed, and then driven about a foot 
into the ground, leaving a distance of 
three feet to go between. The plants 
all showed a tendency to get outside 
their inclosures, but every day or two 
the vines were looked over and placed 
inside and kept there until, in July, 
the tallest began to look for further 
support or take to the ground. Three 
additional trellises were made and 
securely fastened on top of the others 
containing the most vigorous plants, 
and after they had been fastened the 
trellises measured six feet above the 
ground. On July 25 (125 days from 
the time the seeds were sown) the first ripe toma¬ 
toes were picked from a plant bearing rather small 
fruit in bunches. Two of the other plants showed 
the first ripe ones three days later; and to-day 
—August 1—the picture shown at Fig. 203 was taken, 
at which time some of the plants had attained a height 
of seven feet and were growing apparently as vigor¬ 
ously as ever. A pole or stake projecting 8K feet out 
of the ground was put near one of the plants for 
further support if necessary and unless cut down by 
the frost, additional supports may be given to test the 
additional value they may have as climbers. This 
pole is shown on the left in the picture. 
For further contrast and to show how a person looks 
standing among such plants, a picture is shown of the 
man who took care of them during their growth. 
The fruits borne on the several plants are nearly all 
different; some are about the size of a Dwarf Champion 
tomato, others are larger, but none down to date is 
of extra la^ge size. Nearly all grow in clusters upon 
one of which I counted 14 medium-sized tomatoes. 
Three are apparently of the Peach, one Plum and one 
of the Pear variety. One has very large, potato-shaped 
leaves ; another shows very fine leaves and, contrary 
to my expectations, bears nice and large, smooth toma¬ 
toes. The two most vigorous-growing plants are 
coarse-leaved and bear the roughest fruit. The ground 
where these plants are growing had been thoroughly 
and deeply plowed and well manured last fall with 
stable manure, in addition to which it received a 
liberal dressing of Mapes’s complete fertilizer. It was 
frequently hoed and kept free from weeds, and early in 
July received a mulch of five inches of coarse manure. 
La Crosse, Wis. J. v. l. 
R. N.-Y.—These look like “Tree Tomatoes.” We 
have no doubt that some of these cross-bred tomatoes 
will make valuable varieties. 
Some Hudson River Notes. 
I send my experience this year with some varieties 
of tomatoes not all new, but both new and old. Early 
Ruby—seed from Henderson & Co.—very early, and 
good for that cause only, as when larger and more 
regular kinds come, it cannot be sold, but it certainly 
comes in when tomatoes are high and scarce. Ponde- 
rosa—seed from the same firm—very prolific as well as 
large, a good tomato for home canning, but a poor one 
for a retailer t~> measure up, many specimens are also 
irregular. Terra Cotta—seed from Thorburn & Co.— 
certainly a novelty ; too soft for shipping; flavor good, 
not at all acid, in fact, nearly sweet, yet not insipid ; 
not all terra cotta in color, but very much mixed ; I 
have pink, scarlet, terra cotta and lemon-yellow all 
from one packet of seed. All are nearly similar in 
shape and somewhat fluted down the sides, not at all 
fixed in type, and it is worthless except as a novelty. 
Ignotum—seed from Thorburn & Co —bears fine, 
large, smooth tomatoes, medium early, ripens well and 
is a good shipper, a first-class variety. Livingston’s 
Favorite—sefed from Thorburn & Co.—like the above, 
except in color. It is my standard shipping tomato, 
as I have found none to excel and few to equal it. 
All the tomatoes are of large size, but they have been 
more uneven and fluted this season than usual—prob¬ 
ably on account of the drought. J. v. c. 
Sparkill, N. Y. 
Notes from Niagara. 
The cross-bred tomato seeds sent me are beginning 
to yield fruit. They were not sown so early as the 
main crop, so that I cannot compare the two in regard 
to earlinese, but there are some interesting develop¬ 
ments that I will note. 
I presume that nearly all tomato growers are ac¬ 
quainted with the Dwarf Champion. I have one plant 
that shows the peculiarities of this variety in an in¬ 
tense degree. It was not a quarter of the size of the 
other plants started at the same time, when I took it 
out of the hot-bed. Now it stands stiff, straight and 
stubbed 18 inches high with short branches and in¬ 
tensely green, crinkly leaves bearing 30 green toma¬ 
toes, the largest about two inches in diameter. A 
branch 11 inches long springs from near the root and 
stands up in the same sturdy fashion. It comes nearer 
to a tree tomato than any other thing I have yet seen. 
Probably it is not practically valuable, but it is a first- 
class curiosity. Another of the seedlings is pear- 
shaped and yellow and is the largest I have ever 
seen of that shape. Still another shows Ponderosa 
parentage. 
Four or five years ago, I first came into possession 
of the Mikado or Turner’s Hybrid tomato. Its chief 
merit with me was that it yielded more compara¬ 
tively early tomatoes than any other kind ; but the 
pink color was not attractive, and it bore many small 
fruits, and the larger ones were not very shapely and 
smooth. I think it was the second year after I began 
to sow this variety, that I discovered a single plant 
that had the same uncut, potato-like leaves as the 
Mikado, but with bright red fruit that was a great im¬ 
provement in shape and evenness of size and equally 
early. This I thought a great acquisition and sowed 
nearly all of my seed from it. Hut the next year I 
had what seemed to be a still greater improvement. 
Though it retained the pink color, it was large, round 
and as smooth as an apple and very uniform. These 
have since been my leading kinds. They seem flatter 
than at first, but very symmetrical and compare well 
with the Ignotum in size and are fairly early. 
Niagara Falls, N. Y. H. j. s. 
R. N.-Y.—Seeds of this tomato might be sent to the 
Rural Experiment Grounds, River Edge, N. J., for trial. 
“Certified Milk.” 
A CERTIFICATE OF WHAT? 
HEALTH FOR THE LITTLE ONES. 
Part III. 
What Are Certified Cows P 
The question of the health of the cows in this stable 
was discussed at considerable length. This matter 
was considered of even more importance thafi feeding. 
After long study, the following agreement was decided 
upon : 
It Is hereby understood and agreed that the following unhealthy 
conditions shall be sufficient reason to exclude an animal from the 
herd used for any purpose In the aforesaid dairy: Any animal that 
Is judged by a competent observer to suffer from tuberculosis, even 
though the disease be localized In a part distant from the vital organs; 
any animal with fever; any animal suffering from septic absorption, 
or other disease following or associated with parturition; any animal 
suffering either from mammltls or mammary abscess; any animal 
with persistent diarrhea, or any other abnormal physical condition 
which could 1-. any way be detrimental to the character of the milk. 
It Is furthermore agreed that when an animal shall be found bv acom- 
petent observer to be In a state of ill health prejudicial either to the 
other animals In the herd or to human health, the same shall be re¬ 
moved Immediately, and If, In the judgment of the parties of the tlrst 
part, It Is necessary, shall be killed within 12 hours thereafter. 
It Is also understood and agreed that the party of the second part shall 
exclude from the herd used for producing certified milk, Immediately 
after discovery, any animal subject to the following conditions: any 
animal that was not as a heifer kept sterile during Its first 27 months; 
any phenomenal milker, except when glandular disease, or tubercle, 
has first been excluded by a competent observer. 
It Is furthermore agreed that If at any time It Is desired by the par- 
tlej of the first part that a different breed of milch cows Bhould be 
substituted for the one In use, In order that the standard of quality 
In tt e milk may be raised, the party of the second part will endeavor 
to carry the same into effect. 
The reader must remember that Mr. Fianeisco pays 
for bimonthly examinations of a veterinarian who 
would be very apt to detect any of these diseases. It 
sometimes happens that exterior examinations for 
symptoms of tuberculosis will not detect the disease 
in its earliest stages. The only case ever found on 
Mr. Francisco’s farm was some years 
ago when he bought a cow. The 
veterinarian pronounced her healthy, 
but somehow she did not look right 
and Mr. Francisco put her off by herself 
to watch her symptoms. She developed 
a genuine case of tuberculosis. In these 
days, however, the test of inoculat¬ 
ing with tuberculine is sure, and a vet¬ 
erinarian can tell the disease to almost 
a certainty. 
“What breed of cattle will permit 
you to live up to these strict rules ? ” I 
asked. 
“I keep Jerseys and their grades 
and some Holsteins; the mixed milk 
gives good satisfaction ? ” 
“Would Holstein milk alone satisfy 
your trade ? ” 
“ No, it is not rich enough and is not 
highly colored.” 
“ What bulls have you ? ” 
“ Jersey and Holstein.” 
“You are raising some Holstein young 
stock then?” 
“No.” 
“ Why then do you keep a Holstein bull ?” 
“ For big calves. Many of my cows are good-sized 
animals that give lots of milk, but not enough to rank 
as breeders. I do not care to raise their calves and so 
have them serve! by the big Holstein bull. This 
ensures a big calf which sells for a good price to the 
butcher—considerably more than I could get for a 
smaller calf. Bulls of this cross are often sold to head 
the herds of other milkmen. An extra fine heifer calf 
might also be raised. Strong, active Jerseys and their 
grades are the cows I want, however.” 
“ Does it pay you to raise your own cows ? ” 
“ Yes, because it is hard to buy such cows as I want 
for ordinary prices. Such animals usually command 
a high price because of their breeding excellence. I 
propose to work up to 200 milkers, and that means a 
perfect army of young stock and dry cows.” 
“ What about the story that Jerseys are delicate 
and diseased ? ” 
“ Look at these cows. What other answer is needed? 
These cows stand inspection month after month ; of 
course there are delicate Jerseys just as there are del¬ 
icate people. I have proved in my breeding that the 
best and purest Jersey blood is the most profitable for 
practical dairying, and the healthiest too, if handled 
properly.” 
“ What about the Guernseys ? ” 
“They are fine cattle, too. Larger and stronger 
than the Jerseys, and probably capable with proper 
development, of getting as much milk and butter out 
of their food.” 
“ According to this agreement these doctors could 
take any cow out of your herd and slaughter her if 
the veterinarian said she was badly diseased ? ” 
“ That is so, and it suits me well enough. I don’t 
propose ever to have the veterinarian find a sick cow 
in the herd if I can help it. I hope to get all such-out 
