836 
December 16 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
TH.fi 
Rural New-Yorker 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts., New York. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
ELBERT 8. CARMAN, Kdltor-ln-Chlef. 
HERBERT W. COLLINGWOOD. Managing Editor 
KKWIN O. FOWLER. Associate Editor 
JOHN J. DILLON, Business Manager. 
Copyrighted 1H93. 
Address all business communications and make all orders pay¬ 
able to THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of Post- 
otlice and State, and what the remittance is for, appear in every letter. 
Money orders and bank drafts on New York are the safest means of 
transmitting money. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1893. 
A good many of our readers seem to live on stumpy 
farms where the stumps were, apparently, put in to 
stay. For their benefit we propose to give the exper¬ 
iences of a veteran in getting the stumps out of a good 
farm. , » 
The R. N.-Y. notes with pleasure the victory gained 
by the New York Department of Agriculture over Bou¬ 
chard and Falardian, two culprits of Cohoes, whom 
it had arrested for selling hog butter. The defense, 
backed up by the makers of the stuff, claimed that it 
was made in Missouri, and that it was sold in the orig¬ 
inal packages under its proper name. Despite all this, 
the Supreme Court has made permanent the injunc¬ 
tion, restraining them from selling the stuff, colored 
to imitate real butter. Good. Let the work go od. 
* * 
A peculiar feature of the New York markets at 
this season is the large number of Christmas trees, 
and the immense quantities of Christmas greenery of 
all kinds offered for sale. They began coming before 
the close of November, and are now arriving by ship¬ 
loads and car-loads, as well as by wagon-loads from 
nearby points. Many of these trees come from far 
off Maine, and the trade in them amounts to a pretty 
sum in the aggregate. Where they grow, they are, 
perhaps, cumberers of the ground, to be got rid of 
in the easiest way. Here they are worth dollars. 
Such a change in value do a few hundred miles’ 
distance ’make ! # # 
“ What do you think of Secretary Morton’s ad¬ 
dress ?” we asked a very intelligent and conservative 
farmer last week. “ In many respects, it was excel¬ 
lent,” he said, “ and I certainly agree with many of its 
conclusions. But I think I never saw a worse example 
of poor tact and judgment. The Secretary attacks 
the only organizations of farmers that could possibly 
cooperate with him in carrying out his ideas of 
reform. He will probably not find out just how much 
influence these societies have until he tries to arouse 
public sentiment in favor of some pet measure without 
their aid. He will then find that his ‘ individual 
farmer’ does not count for so much.” 
* * 
If a State Commissioner of Agriculture, elected 
as Mr. Woodward suggests on page 834, could be given 
the same powers that would go to an officer elected 
directly by the people, we see no objection to that 
plan. We do not see that he could, however. Where 
is there an instance of a State officer elected in that 
way ? We think Mr. Woodward must be mistaken 
about the result in Ohio. The last election turned 
squarely on the issue of enforcing the law against 
food adulterations or letting it drop. Dr. McNeal, 
present commissioner, proposed to enforce the law. 
The dealers opposed him in the convention of his 
party and in the opposition convention. He won by a 
greater majority even than McKinley. 
# * 
The question of investment of surplus money is one 
that doesn’t generally perplex farmers much. Still 
some are troubled that way. What are the best in¬ 
vestments for farmers to make ? In a word, so long 
as improved implements, better buildings, more under¬ 
drains, better bred live stock will make the farm 
better and more productive, these are undoubtedly the 
best investments the farmer can possibly make. If 
there be no need for further expenditures of this char¬ 
acter, there are usually opportunities for the invest¬ 
ment of any surplus, on real estate in one’s immediate 
vicinity. The most ill-advised investment a farmer 
can possibly make is to put his money into any of the 
much advertised schemes, companies, etc., that are 
continually seeking to exchange for cash stocks that 
are sure—often are guaranteed—to pay big dividends. 
Such chances, if they were all right, wouldn’t have to 
be advertised. Plenty of capitalists are seeking for 
such opportunities. But farmers often nibble at such 
bait, and frequently get hooked. We receive many 
letters from our farmer friends asking about the 
reliability of these advertisers, and the advisability 
of investments in their schemes. Our invariable 
advice to all is, don’t. Sometimes inquirers invest 
first and ask questions afterwards. We are in receipt 
of a letter of the latter class from one in poor health, 
who has invested nearly all the savings of a life-time, 
with small prospect of any returns. It is a sad case, 
and we would willingly aid our friend if it were pos¬ 
sible ; but we cannot. Unfortunately, there are many 
such cases. The most we can do is to advise those 
who haven’t been bitten to let all such schemes severely 
alone. # # 
“ I suppose the man who sent these thought that 
he was doing things up fine,” remarked a commission- 
merchant as he held up some chickens which were 
drawn, and minus heads and feet. “ He will probably 
expect a fancy price for them.” This case illustrates 
the necessity of a shipper knowing the market to 
which he ships. If he isn’t posted as to its demands, 
how can he intelligently supply them ? In the case of 
poultry, for instance. New York wants dressed poultry 
with simply the feathers off. Drawn poultry is not 
wanted. Special customers desire such, but the gen¬ 
eral market does not. It is evident, then, that it should 
not be sent here unless to these special customers. 
The same is true of many other products. If prepared 
without a knowledge of the requirements of the mar¬ 
ket, the best results will not be obtained. 
* * 
We are informed that the following notice was found 
pasted over a broken window in a New York State 
henhouse: 
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. 
Whereas, The so-called man who Is supposed to preside over the 
destinies of this house considers It a duty that he owes to his country 
to spend all his available time In discussing; the merits of the new 
tariff bill; and, 
Whereas, It has been decided that this salvation of the country 
must be effected at the post offioe nnd store with the result that the 
statesman of this household Is unable to give proper attention to this 
house, until It has become a combination of cracks, vermin and frozen 
manure; 
Therefore, In view of these facts as before mentioned, 
liesolved, That we. as occupants of this house, respectfully Inform 
the public that, with a full appreciation of the few favors we have 
received In the past, we consider that we have a large credit due us, 
and we hereby give notloe that we will manufacture no more eggs 
until the past account Is squared up and a decent egg factory guar¬ 
anteed us. (Signed) a business hen. 
Secretary of the Amerloan Association of Neglected Poultry. 
* * 
We have often spoken of the singular fact that the 
Southern States provided an excellent hay market for 
the grass farmers of the North. It is singular, because 
the South, a purely agricultural country, ought to be 
able to raise every ounce of forage needed there, with 
considerable for export. Here is a letter, for example, 
from Prof. F. E. Emery, of the North Carolina Experi¬ 
ment Station at Raleigh : 
1 wish to know at what price 100 tons of good clover hay can be put 
at a shipping point having direct communication with this city, Ra¬ 
leigh, N. C. The Northern Central Railroad and the Seaboard Air 
Line connect us with central New York. The Old Dominion Steamship 
Co. from New York city gives us quick time and fair rates, while, with 
more time required, the Merchants' and Miners' Transportation Co., 
from Boston, gives a water route to Norfolk, and then we have a rail¬ 
road haul to reach Raleigh. It Is a bad policy to bring hay where It 
can be grown at a profit nearly as cheaply as It can In the North; but 
It must be done until people become aroused to the folly of raising 
cotton with which to buy everything else. 
Think of shipping clover hay into a State like North 
Carolina ! In this city, clover hay in car-load lots can 
be bought at $12.50 to $13 per ton f. o. b. It will cost 
28 cents per hundredweight to move it to Norfolk, Va., 
and 17 cents to carry it from there to Raleigh, so it 
will be expensive stuff before it gets there. As we 
showed some weeks ago, hay in the Raleigh market 
sold higher than in any other American city. What 
are North Carolina farmers thinking about ? 
* * 
Still these careless shippers ! The writer was in a 
commission-house a few days ago just after four bar¬ 
rels of pop corn had been received, with never a mark 
on them anywhere to show the consignor. Neither 
had any advices been received by mail. “ What am I 
to do in such cases ? ” said the commission-merchant. 
“ All I can do is to enter them on the book as having 
been received on such a date, and wait until theisender 
writes to The R. N.-Y. denouncing us as a fraud for 
not settling for the corn.” These cases are, unfor¬ 
tunately for all concerned, much too frequent. Hardly 
a week passes but similar blunders come under our 
notice. This particular merchant says that he gets 
more of this sort of stuff, as well as of goods poorly 
prepared and packed than any other merchant of whom 
he knows ; and he ascribes it to the fact that he ad¬ 
vertises largely in the farm papers. His consignors 
are largely farmers. It is a fact that many commis¬ 
sion-merehants refuse to advertise in The R. N.-Y., 
for consignments, for the reason that they don’t want 
to receive shipments from farmers at large. They 
prefer to have them from country produce dealers 
who know how to pack and ship goods properly. Con¬ 
signments from farmers, taken as a whole, give them 
so much trouble that there is no profit. This is a 
severe commentary, but the remedy rests with the 
farmers themselves. Better business methods must 
prevail, if the best results are to be achieved. 
• * 
It is not pleasant to feel the necessity of making 
hackneyed requests of our friends, especially if the 
request may seem to be a purely selfish one. It is 
not, however, purely selfish, since we cannot serve 
our readers to the best of our wishes or abilities un¬ 
less they, in a measure, serve us as well. The service 
which every reader would do us by sending one new 
subscriber with his own renewal may seem, to the in¬ 
dividual rendering it, but a trifle. But to us the 
aggregate service would be almost inestimable. One 
dollar for The R. N -Y. is certainly a very low price, 
since all will agree that it has in no way depreciated 
in the value of its contents, either editorial or con¬ 
tributed, since the change from $2 to $1. A very large 
circulation is therefore a necessity if it is to be held 
up to its present standard, and this we are determined 
to do—for we are unwilling to believe that our friends 
will fa il to respond to a conscientious effort to fur¬ 
nish them a weekly of the first excellence at the low¬ 
est price practicable. We are free to say that our 
circulation is fully twice as large as it was three years 
ago. It is plain to our readers that the larger the 
circulation the less is the cost of each subscription, 
and herein must lie our greater opportunities of 
serving our friends. Now, we candidly ask them to 
help in the worthy cause. 
* * 
BREVITIES. 
THE COLD. 
I’ve blowed my nose an’ blowed my nose until It’s mighty sore. 
My wile s ben washln’ handkerchiefs fer two good hours er more. 
An’ stoppin' now an’ then ter say, •’ Ef you’d done what I told 
Ye to and bought that overcoat, ye wouldn’t ketched that cold.” 
I ain’t gut no back talk to give, my heal Is stuffed too tight. 
1 have ter keep my eyes shet up—they run so In the light; 
An’ so 1 never say a word - but jest set here an’ take 
The latest nelgnoor’s remedy—a sweat or bile or bake. 
I've blled my feet an’ scorched my back and vasellned my nose. 
An’ hugged that lire so dost I burned the thread out of my clo’es. 
Them mustard plasters hasn't left an Inch of good, scucd hide 
On all my chest, an’ I tell you, I couldn’t ef I tried 
Half figger up the catnip tea and other drinks I’ve took. 
I’ll bet the record of this cold ’ud fill a gooa-elzed book. 
An’ ” stuff a cold ? ” Well, n jw, I’ll say th:s one hez been well fed 
No use ! The place fer me, I guess, is right in that there bed : 
Read Mr. Taber’s failures ! 
The sellisa man Is a shellfish. 
Don’t let charity end at home. 
Don’t make the I in it too big. 
Potash Is the chum of fish chum. 
Stable manure Is strawberry’s overcoat. 
Did you ever see an educated Igncramus ? 
The length of churning adds net to Us strength. 
“ Hollow beakt" seems to be a solid mystery. 
What small fruit lives longer than the currant ? 
Only shallow folks pretend to understand deep subjects. 
What Is the preferred stock in your barn partnership—scrubs ? 
Nobody wants the hole truth. It will run away through a hole. 
Give us a recipe that will sterilize a lie. A sterile He cannot spread. 
Does Mr. Mapes, page 830, give a fair estimate on the cost of ensi¬ 
lage ? 
When you lean hard on the grindstone, you take a lien on the boy’s 
back—a mean lien, too. 
Many a bad boy might he Improved by providing very warm quar¬ 
ters for him—with a strap ! 
That question about the seed and stem ends of seed potatoes regu¬ 
lating the shape Is interesting—page 831. 
We wish some of the men who have baled ensilage would tell us 
whether the two plans proposed this week are practical. 
Those folks who have needed a spur to make them ’* toe the mark ” 
should now be made to heel It—make them advance a foot ! 
“ The mind Is the soil,’ says the Grange, “and the eyes and ears are 
Its feeders.’’ Therefore, don’t let that pass within these feeders that 
will soil the soli. 
The man who starts out with the sole determination of turning his 
knowledge Into cash is on the wrong track. Happiness Is a more sat¬ 
isfactory product. 
The combination price of American Gardening (semi-monthly) and 
The Rukal New-Yokker for one year will be 81.75. All orders will 
be given the promptest attention. 
Don’t make the mistake of Imagining you were "born great,” when 
It is evident to everybody else tnat the only greatness you ever will 
see will be what you dig out for yourself ! 
Westward ho ! was the cry of the stable manure farmer when the 
railroad linked the fertile farms of the West to the Eastern market. 
Westward whoa is the cry of the fertilizer bag. 
There are more estimates of the cost of growing corn and wheat 
on page 834. How do they compare with your estimate 1 You see how 
the manure or fertilizer bill at the East swells up the cost. 
There was a time when “ spring ” lamb was a seasonable name for 
a baby sheep. Breeders have been gradually pushing them ahead of 
spring, until now Mr. Woodward writes that he had 80 ready for 
Thanksgiving I 
There are two departments In your family—the legislative and 
executive. In the former you talk things over, and in the latter you go 
and do them. The trouble Is that in many families the proportion of 
legislation to execution is about 20 to 1. 
WE have seen so-called men get up and use their boot heels on hard 
milking cows. They cracked a rib now and then, but never started a 
bigger stream of milk. Our friend on page 842 tells of another and 
gentler way In which a boot heel may cure hard milking. 
“ Well. Mrs. Biddy,” Inquired Prof. Chantlc.eer, do you think this 
new tariff legislation Is going to seriously affect the products of the 
hen yard ? ’’ “ Well, sir,” answered Mrs B., as she shook her frosted 
leg, “ I can only say that our house has been without a steam heater 
so long that this frozen leg is lay shun !” 
