774 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
November 18 
CALIFORNIA BEAN GROWING. 
In The R. N.-Y. of October 21 I noticed 
an inquiry by Geo. A. Johnston as to the 
best methods of raising beans, and 
thought possibly it would interest your 
readers to know how they are raised in 
Ventura County, Cal., the champion bean 
country of the world. Lady Washing¬ 
tons, Tree beans, Small Whites, Pinks 
and Bayos are planted in rows 30 inches 
apart and about 6 inches apart in the 
rows. Limas are planted in rows 36 
inches apart and about 12 inches apart 
in the rows, no poles being necessary. 
There are three or four kinds of planters 
used, planting two, three or four rows at 
a time as the purchaser desires. 
Beans are cultivated with a corn culti¬ 
vator, using knives instead of shovels, as 
in the East. The cutter is made like a 
sled, with runners far enough apart to 
straddle two rows, which are cut by a 
V-shaped knife with fingers attached to 
keep the vines from being covered. 
In small beans, six or eight men, and 
in Limas, four to six men, are required 
to pile as fast as the machine cuts. Some 
farmers tramp out their beans with 
horses attached to Disc harrows or 
wagons, but the majority use the steam 
thrasher, which is an ordinary separator 
with a bean cylinder, the teeth being 
about three-quarters of an inch apart, 
and will thrash out l,r>00 80-pound sacks 
per day. The culls or imperfect beans 
are allowed to go to waste. The bean 
ranches have from 10 acres up to D. W. 
Thompson’s 2,300 acre ranch, which 
yields 100 car-loads of Limas every year. 
This county will yield 1,250 car-loads of 
Limas and 750 car-loids of small beans, 
consisting of Lidy Washington, Pea, 
Small White, Tree, Bayos, Pink, Black- 
eye, Red Kidney, Black Turtle Soup and 
Cranberry beans. w. G w. 
Ventura, Cal- 
THE POLITICS OF WOOL. 
I had a political discussion with a Re¬ 
publican day before yesterday on the 
wool question. He said that we imported 
about half of the wool consumed in this 
country, and I called him a liar and said 
that we didn’t import any. I told him 
that we exported more than half of our 
wool, and that I could prove it by the 
Detroit Free Press ; or that I could show 
him a document published by DeWitt 
Warner, of New York. He said that the 
Free Press was a liar and that DeWitt 
Warner was a liar for publishing such a 
document. He asked me if I didn’t take 
an agricultural paper. I told him I did 
take The Rural New-Yorker, that it 
was a good agricultural paper, and didn’t 
say that we imported wool into this 
country. He said that he would bet that 
it didn’t say that we exported wool and 
that 1 dare not get The R. N.-Y. to say 
in its columns that we exported half of 
our wool. I told him I would bet that 
The Rural New-Yorker would say that 
I was right upon the wool question. He 
told me to get The R. N.-Y. to publish 
this letter and to give the correct figures. 
Marlette, Mich. j. n. 
R. N.-Y.—We print this letter at the 
request cf our friend. Really we are not 
anxious to get into a debate in which 
everybody seems to be getting a record 
for untruth. We add our contribution 
with the understanding that we are not 
to have the same shot fired at us, for all 
we do is to give the figures from the 
statistical abstract of the United States. 
From that we learn that in the year end¬ 
ing June 30, 1892, there were imported 
from other countries 148,670,652 pounds 
of wool valued at $19,688,108. In the 
same year this country exported, or sent 
to other countries only 202,456 pounds of 
wool, valued at $30,664. These are the 
facts for 1892 as given by the govern¬ 
ment. In this connection it may not be 
out of place to call attention to the agri¬ 
cultural products that go to make up our 
export trade. From the same volume we 
have made the following list of items 
that are sent to other countries right 
from American farms. These figures rep- 
sesent one year’s shipments : 
EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
Agricultural Implements. 
Animals (lire). 
Breadstuffs. 
Cotton. 
Eggs. 
Emits.. 
Hay . 
Honey. 
Hods. 
Provisions.. 
Seeds. 
Tonacco.... 
Vegetables. 
Wool . 
Value. 
13,7114 983 
3(1,498,221 
299.3(13 117 
258,481,241 
32,374 
(1.565.461 
582,838 
78,648 
2,420,602 
146.362.159 
6 252.282 
24,739.425 
1.898,145 
30.664 
That is what American farmers send 
abroad. Now let ui see what foreign 
farmers send us : 
IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
Free. 
Animals . 1,675.803 
Hemlock bark. 256.347 
Licorice root. J,601.028 
Vanilla beans. 803,698 
Cocoa. 3,221.647 
Coffee.1 (1 8° 1,607 
Cotton. 3,217,521 
Fruits. 9,618.578 
Hides and skins. 26.6' 8 .133 
Seeds. 1.4*5.044 
S Ik. '5.1 59 32 i 
Spices. 2.740.087 
Sugar. 06.7’0.226 
Tea. 14.373,222 
Fibers (twine, hemp, etc). 16,478,122^ 
Rreadstuffs 
Eggs. 
Jlav. 
Hops. 
0118 . 
Provisions. 
Rice. 
Tobacco ... 
Vegetables 
Wines. 
Wool. 
Dutiable. 
2,575,813 
1.240,323 
11,‘94,328 
779,793 
664,672 
2 ’.293,217 
2,615,972 
4,631 408 
522,240 
715,161 
883,701 
1,«P4,720 
1,796.096 
2,668,350 
2,926,051 
2.883,227 
8,944.503 
19,688,108 
In some cases, as under animals, breed¬ 
ing stock is free, while others are sub¬ 
ject to a duty, and the same is true of 
other articles. Under fibers, we group 
both manufactured and raw under duti¬ 
able. These figures are worth studying. 
They are not given here to make any 
political argument, but simply to give 
the facts as they appear in the report. 
SOME THINGS TO INTEREST FARMERS AT 
THE FAIR. 
The writer spent a short season at the 
Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and 
amqng the many departments containing 
countless wonders, nothing pleased him 
so much as the exhibits of an agricul¬ 
tural nature The National Department 
of Agriculture in the United States Gov¬ 
ernment BuildiDg and the Experiment 
Station occupying an entire corner of 
the Agricultural Building, presented 
features most instr ictive and of surpass¬ 
ing interest. The Bureau of Animal 
Industry showed miniature, though ve r y 
life-like, models of cattle going through 
the process of inspection by government 
officials. This same Bureau also pre¬ 
sented upon a tabic an old hen with her 
brood of chickens as natural as life. One 
of the chicks bad died, as chickens some¬ 
times will ; and the others by their 
widely stretched mouths showed very 
clearly that they had the gapes. To the 
exhibit was attached a card giving an 
elaborate history of the gape worm, and 
furnishing illustrations of the same at 
various stages. The most practical thing 
about it was, however, the remedy, which 
was two tablespoonfuls spirits turpen¬ 
tine to two quarts of corn meal mush. 
There was also shown quite an extensive 
collection of various articles found in the 
stomachs of slaughtered cattle. Readers 
of The R. N.-Y. have no doubt seen one 
cow licking another, and know that 
when the hair has been swallowed and 
reaches the second stomach it is formed 
into balls. A string of 23 balls, each as 
large as a good-sized apple, was exhibited 
just as taken from the stomach of a steer. 
A large jack-knife, a five-eighth-inch 
spike 13% inches long and a bent horse- 
rake tooth four feet eight inches in 
length were other objects removed from 
slaughtered steers. How such things 
could by any means have got into an 
animal’s stomach must remain a mystery 
A section of a hog’s tongue was shown 
with larvae of the tapeworm upon it; 
and the information was volunteered 
that this was very liable to develop into 
a tapeworm if the meat should be eaten 
without being thoroughly cooked. I 
heard the comment of a lady near me to 
the effect that “ people must like to eat 
pork after seeing and reading that.” 
The combined exhibits of the experi¬ 
ment stations were very extensive and 
instructive, and the farmer could study 
them to advantage for a long time. 
Grasses and clover were presented with 
the soil washed from their roots, to show 
the entire development of the latter. 
Cultivators would all do well to note 
that the roots of Timothy extend out 
three feet or more; and, considering 
that roots of most other plants extend 
as far or farther, it is evident that culti¬ 
vation must be practiced with discre¬ 
tion, or we shall be depriving crops of 
their only means of acquiring sustenance 
We have heard much discussion by agri¬ 
cultural scientists upon the subject of 
the root tubercles of legumes, through 
the medium of which it is believed that 
nitrogen from the air can and is made 
available for plant nutrition. It was 
interesting to observe the specimens 
of clover plants upon exhibition with 
the many small, rounded masses plainly 
visible. As these clovers all made their 
growth in new virgin soil, it is quite 
clear that the germs or bacteria produc¬ 
ing tubercles are of very general and 
universal distribution. 
M. SUMNER PERKINS. 
WING ON FREE WOOL. 
Being asked to give my reasons for 
desiring “free wool,” I say that I be¬ 
lieve that wool should be free and will 
state my reasons. First, it would make 
wool cheaper. No ingenious protection¬ 
ist can convince me that protection re¬ 
duces the cost of wool to the consumer, 
or that free trade would make dearer 
shirts or petticoats. Sixty millions of 
people should wear woolen clothing in 
the United States. They should be priv¬ 
ileged to buy it where they can get it to 
the best advantage. A comparatively 
few thousands grow wool, and many or 
most of them can easily grow mutton, 
beef or pork. It is, I believe, upjust to 
compel the millions to pay taxes on their 
clothing to benefit the few thousands. 
Would not free wool mean increase of 
manufactures so that thousands of 
workmen would work continually in¬ 
stead of periodically, as now ? And 
would not great factories spring up as 
by magic, making famous American 
woolens for export to all the countries 
of the earth ? Would not all these extra 
workmen consume enough to partially 
offset the losses which I admit will be 
real to the wool producers ? 
Wool is substantially the only article 
produced by the farmer the price of 
which can be helped by law. If all the 
farmer buys remains bolstered up by 
laws favoring the producer as against 
the consumer, I do not believe wool 
should in equity be deprived of its pro¬ 
tection. I do not believe in increasing 
the price of any necessary to the con¬ 
sumer by any process of law. I would 
like a barrel of Canadian apples in my 
cellar. J. e. wing. 
A Handy Repairing Outfit. 
This comprises three iron lasts and 
standard for half-soling and heeling 
boots ; four packages assorted wire 
clinch nails; pegging awl and handle; 
sewing awls; shoe hammer ; shoe knife; 
bottle of leather 
cement; bottle of 
rubber cement ; 
half-dozen pairs 
heel plates ; as¬ 
sorted waxed 
ends, needles and 
bristles ; ball of 
wax. The iron 
last itself is one 
of the handiest 
of tools One 
may do his own 
half-soling, rub¬ 
ber, boot, shoe 
and harness repairing. No pegs needed— 
simply wire clinch nails. It is securely 
packed in a neat box ; weighs 20 pounds. 
Freight or express not prepaid. Price, 
$2. With a year’s subscription $2.75 ; 
with a renewal and a new subscription, 
$3.50. Given as a premium for a club of 
six new names. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts., NewYork. 
OUT*- 
Periodical Club. 
We furnish to subscribers of THE RURAL NEW- 
YORKER these desirable periodicals at reduced rates. 
Our Price 
Fireside Friends. Publisher's with 
Price. R N.-Y. 
Atlantic Monthly. $4.00 $4.35 
Arthur s Homo Magazine. 1.00 1.90 
Country Magazine. 4.00 4.65 
Chautauquan. 2.00 2.95 
Cosmopolitan. 1 50 2.40 
Cottage Hearth . 1.50 1.90 
Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly .... 3.00 3.60 
Forum, The . 5 00 5.25 
Godey’s . .... 3.00 3.25 
Harper's Magazine. 4.00 4.25 
Llpplncott's Magazine. 3.00 3.25 
North American Review. 5 00 5.25 
Overland Monthly. 3.00 3.50 
Peterson s Magazine.1 00 1.90 
Review of Reviews . 2.50 3.40 
Scribner's Magazine .. 3.00 3.65 
Worthington’s Magazine . 2.50 3.25 
Woman's Province. 
Domestic Monthly. 1.50 2.15 
Demorest’s Family Magazine. 2.00 2.65 
Good Housekeeping. 2.00 2.75 
Harper’s Bazar. 4.00 4.40 
Household . 1.00 1.85 
Ladles’Home Journal. 1.00 1.90 
Newspapers. 
Atlanta Constitution. 1.00 1.90 
Boston Globe—Weekly.1.00 1.76 
Boston Journal “ 1.00 1.95 
Chicago Herald “ 1.50 2.40 
Chicago News “ 1.00 1.85 
Chicago Times “ 1.00 1.90 
Chicago Journal “ .... ... 1.00 1.90 
Chicago Inter-Ocean Weekly. 1.00 1.85 
Detroit Ifree Press “ . 1.00 1.80 
New York World—Weeklv.1.00 l.s*0 
New York Herald ” 1.00 1.90 
New Vork Post •* 1.00 1.90 
New York Tribune “ 1.00 1.85 
New York Times ” 75 1.75 
New York Sun “ 1.00 1.90 
New York Witness “ 1.00 1.95 
Harper’s Weekly..,. 4.00 4.40 
Frank Leslie's lllus d Newspaper.. 4.00 4.40 
Philadelphia Press.... 1.00 1.90 
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 1.00 1.90 
Toledo Blade. 1.00 1.95 
Fun and Politics Mixed 
Life. 5.00 6.40 
Puck. 5.00 6.40 
Texas Siftings. 4.00 4.00 
Judge. 5.00 6.60 
Agriculture. 
American Agriculturist. 1.50 2.16 
Breeders’ Gazette. 2.00 2.65 
Country Gentleman. 2.50 2.65 
Farm, Field and Fireside. 1.00 1.95 
Farm and FlreBlde.50 1.50 
Farm Journal.50 1.35 
Florida Agriculturist. 2.00 2.65 
Hoard’s Dairyman. 1.00 1.95 
Home and Farm.50 i .45 
National Stockman and Farmer. 1.50 2.15 
New England Farmer. 2.00 2.65 
New England Homestead. 2.00 2.65 
Ohio Farmer. 1.00 1.95 
Pacific Rural Press . 2.40 3.00 
Prairie Farmer.1.00 1 80 
Practical Farmer.1.00 1.86 
Rural Californian. 1.60 2.15 
Southern Cultivator.1.00 1.96 
Horticulture 
Canadian Horticulturist.1.00 1.90 
Garden (London). 6.60 6.20 
Gardener’s Chronicle (London). 4.30 4.65 
Garden and Forest. 4.10 4.25 
Gardening Illustrated (London).2.15 2.70 
Green’s Fruit Grower.50 1.40 
Meehan's Monthly. 2.00 2.40 
Vick’s Magazine.50 1.35 
Poultry, Bees and Pets. 
Farm Poultry.50 1.45 
Poultry Monthly.1.25 1.90 
Poultry World. 1.25 1.90 
Poultry Yard-Weekly. 1.50 2.15 
Gleanings In Bee Culture. 1.00 1.90 
Youths' Paper Paradise. 
Harper’s Young People. 2.00 2.65 
Pansv.1.00 1.90 
St. Nicholas. 3.00 3.65 
Youth's Companion (new only). 1.75 2.40 
Religious Papers. 
The Outlook.... 3.00 8.65 
Independent. 3.00 3.65 
Evangelist (Dew). 3.00 3.25 
Evangelist (renewal). 3.00 4.00 
Sunday School Times... 1.50 2.25 
The Watchman (new). 2.50 8.10 
The Watchman (renewal). 2.50 8.35 
Science, Mechanics and Sport. 
American Machinist. 3.00 3.86 
Outing. 3.00 8.40 
Popular Science Monthly. 6.00 6.6b 
Popular Science News. 1.00 1.90 
Scientific American. 3.00 3 65 
Supplement. 5.00 6.25 
Both. 7.00 7.00 
Forestand Stream (new only). 4.00 4.50 
Turf, Field and Farm (new). 5.00 5.25 
Turf, Field and Farm (renewal). 5.00 6.66 
Something of Art and Music. 
Art Amateur. 4.00 4.50 
Art Interchange (with Plates). 4.00 4.75 
The Etude. 1.50 2.15 
Architecture. 
Architects’ and Builders’ Edition 
Scientific American. .. 2.50 8.15 
Carpentry and Building . . 1.00 1.85 
For price of any separate from Tim BuralNkw- 
YoitKElt, deduct $1 from price In second column. 
In sending your orders, please state whether you 
are a new or an old subscriber to each mentioned. 
Complaints after receipt of first number should be 
addressed to the publishers of the paper in question. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts., N. Y. 
