1893 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
869 
THE PROSPECT. 
When, some years ago, a few enterprising breeders 
began to import Dorset sheep. The R. N.-Y. took pleas¬ 
ure in helping to advertise the merits of the breed. It 
seemed to us that the Dorsets would fill an empty 
place in American sheep husbandry. We have given 
more space to discussions of this breed, both in type 
and illustrations, than has any other paper. NaturaLy 
many of our readers have bought the sheep, and. in 
one sense, we are responsible for some of the pur¬ 
chases. Of late reports have begun to come to us of 
unbusinesslike dealings on the part of certain Dorset 
breeders. We can understand how men with a new 
and popular breed of animals for which there is a 
growing demand may be tempted to sell “ anything 
that is a Dorset ” when they know full well that 
the animals are culls that will injure the breed wher¬ 
ever they go. These complaints finally came down to 
plain statements of fact, and we therefore called at¬ 
tention to them in these columns. Readers will re¬ 
member what we have said. We have received the 
following letter from the office of M. A. Cooper, Sec¬ 
retary of the Association: 
Editor op Rural New-Torker: 
Your article on page 820 of last issue, In so far as It reflects upon the 
Secretary of tt Is Association, Is highly appreciated, and. if you will 
continue your course, It will doubtless be quite creditable to your 
journal. Tne gentleman who furnished the Information Is well known 
to this office, and h(s character needs no comment. 
We shall always rememoer The Rurat, with kindness, and admire 
It for its truthful attack upon this office. Your Influence will doubtless 
clip the wings of the Secretary and he should have known long ago 
that The Rural was President and Director General of the affairs 
connected with the management of the Dorset Horn Sneep Breeders’ 
Association of America. h. Harris, Clerk. 
X t X 
We always did like a funny man, and we like to 
give him a further chance to exercise his wit. On re¬ 
ceipt of the above note, we wrote Mr. M. A. Cooper, 
telling him about the letter from Mr. Lyon, which is 
printed below. The only reply at hand to that letter 
was a copy of the Dorset Quarterly, with the follow¬ 
ing marked note : 
In advertising stock like the Dorset sheep, where the demand Is 
really greater than the supply, one Is often tempted to let any puny 
runt go for the price offered for a good animal. It may be easy to 
dispose of such animals now, and perhaps there is more present profit 
In doing so than in knifing them, but reputation is, alter all the best 
stock In trade a breeder can have, and It will pay, in the long run, to 
kill the runts. Several men that we thought Better of have oeen sell¬ 
ing poor stock—that Is why we speak of it!—R ural New-Yorker. 
We are quite glad The Rural ‘'spoke.” The “Imposter and the 
fraud” will have to go. This Association was not organized for the 
protection of such breeders. 
No further notice being taken of the letter, we are 
forced to give our humorous friend Harris a chance 
to express an opinion about the following letter : 
I have; been much Interested lately In the article In The Rural, 
relating to unbusinesslike transactions in Horned Dorset sheep In¬ 
asmuch as I was persuaded to invest In them by reading your paper, 
I feel that you should know how those who use your columns abuse 
the privilege. A year ago last September I read in your paper an 
article by T. S. Cooper, setting forth the excellencies of Horned 
Dorset sheep, and as I was starting a flock and wanted some choice 
blood to mix with them, I determined to Invest In that breed, and 
soon after gave him an order for one back lamb and two Imported 
ewes. He wrote me that he would rather have me change my order to 
lambs entirely as they would make a much better combination and so 
as, I trusted him, 1 took his advice and ordered three ewes and one ram, 
at *25 each When he quoted prlcss he said he had lambs for $15 and 
*20, but would advise me to buy the best which he would sell at $25. 
These prices beirg for lambs born in March and April. As I did not 
want to part with my money until I had the sheep, I proposed to de¬ 
posit $i00 in the bank here, and have the amount sent to him when the 
sheep came. After looking up my references, he expressed himself 
as satisfied, and wrote that as soon as he could arrange a route and 
get rates, he would ship them. After more than a mouth’s de ay they 
came and I knew at oace I had been swindled. Not one of the four 
would weigh 7a pounds, and one of the ewes was not right, carried her 
head turned around sideways and looked slca. None was registered. 
However, I wrote sending him $50, and tOid him 1 felt that I was 
cheated, and asked him what his $15 ones were, but If ne would send 
the necessary papers and ear tags showing that those lambs were 
what he represented them to be, I would send the remaining $.0, and 
ever after hold my peace. No one would ever know that I feit cheated 
He wrote back that the iambs were not born until May 12-18, had been 
la a snort pasture and all they needed was bran, oats andc over hay. 
He made no reply to my lnqallies concerning the crooked-neck one. 
but sent a request for the remaining $50. 1 answered sharply and told 
him plainly we would have no more nonsense about the matter^that 
I mistrusted him and doubted the pedigree of the sheep. He replied 
that the ewe lambs were not what he intended to send me, but were 
much better; that the necessary papers and tags were with Mr. M. A. 
Cooler, and to send him my $50 and get the same, or return the sheep 
and get my money. I wrote him that I would give him $20 apiece for 
three oa receiving the tags, or would reship the sheep to any address 
on receipt of my money, bat I have not heard from him si ce. This 
was last January. I have written the secretary of their association, 
Mr. M A. Cooper, and received the reply that the matter would be 
Investigated; but I think that their efforts must be of a dilatory 
character. Now, as this man has had much gratuitous advertising in 
The Rural, I tbink it no more than right that you know how he has 
^treated me. and warn others or make him settle with me Cnly one of 
the ewes had a lamb this spring, wn ch 1 now have, but l will return the 
live for my money, as they have been a disappointment from the flrst. 
Waterbury, Vt. frank c. lyon. 
X l t 
It seems hardly necessary for us to make any further 
comment. If the officers of the Dorset Horned Breeders’ 
Association are not doing: their duty, it is high time 
something was done about it. The R N.-Y. has no 
personal interest in Dorsets, and has certainly no wish 
to interfere with the legitimate work of the associa¬ 
tion. We have had letters praising the work done by 
Secretary Cooper. We have simply to say that he 
makes a very curious response to our request for in¬ 
formation. As for T. S. Cooper we regret the circum¬ 
stances that have made it necessary for us to print the 
letter from Mr. Lyon. This is not the only one we 
have received. We have had poor success in obtaining 
answers to letters sent Mr. T. S. Cooper, but always 
attributed it to the fact that he is a very busy man 
with many and varied interests in hand. Our only ob¬ 
ject in bringing this matter up is to call a halt in this 
loose way of doing business, which, if persisted in, 
will work great injury to a very valuable breed of 
sheep. We trust the coming convention of Dorset 
horned sheep breeders will take this matter up. Re¬ 
ferring again to Mr. T. S. Cooper we would say that 
last year our representative visited his farm and saw 
some excellent sheep there. It is certainly very sur¬ 
prising that a man in his position should give any one 
occasion to write such a letter as we have printed. 
X X X 
You remember that Chicago dairy supply house we 
warned our resders against last year? They ran a 
game much like that of the old Bohemian Oats 
swindle. The plan was and is, to go into a community 
and persuade the farmers that a creamery would pay 
there, while in many cases the promoters well knew 
success was impossible. They succeeded in selling 
many creamery plants which are now idle and deserted 
though, unfortunately, this firm has been able to col¬ 
lect the money for building most of them. In Michigan 
where this firm operated, a number of law suits are 
pending over the payment of these claims. The R. 
N.-Y. refused to advertise this firm and lost about 
$500 in consequence. Most of our esteemed contem¬ 
poraries swallowed the whole thing at one gulp and 
then proceeded to praise themselves as the friend of 
the farmer even while receiving scorching letters from 
those who had been swindled. Here is a note that we 
take considerable pride in : 
Last spring I wrote you anti asked your advice In regard to taking a 
share In a creamery that a Chicago firm was then trying to locate or 
rather build for $4,010 for the farmers who would take stock In it. 
Well, it has turned out as you said most of them do. and that Is it 
stands like a White Elephant. They have not nearly enough milk to 
carry on a successful business They all admit It Is a good thing when 
run as It should be, but It has not.been run as it should have been; th 9 y 
are some $200 to $30J behind and so have had to shut down. I am 
sorry for them, as most of them have a debt or mortgage and took 
this course supposing it would help them out of their debts, as was 
represented by the agent of the creamery. But they could not coax 
me Into It after getting such trustworthy advice, for which I feel very 
grateful to the old honorable Rural. e. tv., ,ir. 
Ottawa County, Mich. 
This firm is preparing to do a good deal of advertis¬ 
ing this year. Needless to say The R. N'-Y. is “.not 
on their list.” Last year we believe the Farm Journal 
was about the only other paper that took The R. 
N.-Y.’s course. With the facts before them it will be 
interesting to see how many recruits among the agri¬ 
cultural press we are to have this year. It is true 
that this firm can point to successful creameries which 
they have built and organized. It may also be true 
that in the many cases of failure the farmers “ought 
to have known better.” We do not consider this a 
sufficient excuse for helping along such a business. 
X X X 
The two products chiefly used to pay our debts 
abroad—that is, exported in exchange for goods 
brought into this country—are wheat and cotton. On 
the average farms of the country these products cost as 
much to raise as they did 25 years ago. Yet the purchas¬ 
ing power of a bushel of wheat and a pound of cotton is 
much less than it was a quarter of a century ago. It 
is well enough to say that the purchasing power of a 
dollar is greater—all recognize that fact—but it takes 
more wheat, or other farm produce to secure the dol¬ 
lar. In other words, a dollar to-day represents more 
labor on the part of the farmer than it used to. An 
illustration of what we mean is given in the following 
figures by J. M. Stahl in Current Topics : 
In 1866 our National debt was.$2,788,000,000 
We bave paid, Interest, principal, etc. 4,262,0 0 000 
We still owe of this debt. 1,027,000 0 : 0 
In 1886 the debt In bushels of wheat was. 1.007,000 000 
We have paid In bushels of wheat. 5.022,OUOjotO 
We owe yet In bushels of wheat. 2,054,000 000 
In 1886 the debt In bales of cotton was. 14,184.000 
We have paid In bales of cotton. 94*690 0(10 
We still owe in bales of cotton. 34*OOd’O0O 
The prices of wheat and cotton in different years are 
taken from the Department of Agriculture reports. In 
interest and premiums alone we have paid a sum nearly 
equal to the original debt. When we come to see how 
the purchasing power of the wheat has diminished 
we get an idea of the distress and terror that surround 
the farmers who must depend upon grain and cotton 
for their chief sales. Their debts are not scaled down 
as are the prices for what they have to sell, and with 
many the prospect of paying their debts is altogether 
hopeless. It is not surprising that these men say that a 
dollar buys more of their labor than ever before, and to 
that extent the man with ready money has an advant¬ 
age over them. It is a singular fact that all over the 
world the farmers who make a living growing grain 
are in the worst plight. In England, Europe—every¬ 
where—the wheat farmers are loudest in their com¬ 
plaints, and with the increasing substitutes for bread 
it is hard to see how wheat is ever again to become 
king. j t j 
We often receive letters from farmers who have been 
paid for produce in checks which, when presented at 
tbe bank on which they were drawn, were returned 
because the maker had then no balance of cash. In 
most of these cases, the farmers held the check— 
sometimes for a month or more—before presenting it 
for payment. This is wrong. A check is not money ; 
it is only a promise to pay money, and unless you know 
that the promise is as good as gold, you should at once 
find out by sending the check to the place whore the 
promise is to be carried out. To illustrate the differ¬ 
ence between a check and cash, Congressman Pickier, 
of North Dakota, told this story during the recent 
silver debate: 
“ There was an olil Israelite who had become rich In the bunking 
business. His nephew, Isaac, was associated with him, and he was 
desirous of having his wealth go to Isaac at his death. Isaac stood at 
his death bed, his eyes tilled with tears The dying man said: ‘Isaac, 
the physicians tell me that 1 can live only a short time. Yon have 
been a good and faithful friend and relative. You have been loyal to 
my interests, and I want to turn over to you my entire wealth except 
the $500 in trold with which I bet; n business. I want that $500 to be 
burled with me. Put the cash in the coffin with me, because I want to 
take It along.’ 
“ l8Rac wloed his eyes and said: • All right. uncle, I will do so.’ 
“ The 0,d Israelite was a little fearful that Isaac might bo tempted 
by the glittering $300, s he told the rabbi what he had done and asked 
him to see that Isaac carried out his promise. At the funeral the 
rabbi examined the body and could not find the money. He called 
Isaac and said: ‘Didn't you promise faithfully to bury with your 
4 uncle the $500 whlcn he began business with ? ’ 
Yes, Isaac replied. • I did, and I put the money In the coffin.’ 
No, you didn’t,’ said the rabbi. *1 examined the coffin and the 
money was net there.' 
“ 'Oh, yes, I did,’said Isaac. ‘ You didn't look close enough. You 
will And my check for $500 in the vest pocket of the corpse.’ ” 
It is always an accommodation to a fraud when you 
keep his check in your pocket without an effort to 
have it cashed. The courts have decided, too, that 
unless the man who received the cheek can prove that 
he presented it for payment within a reasonable time, 
he cannot recover for its loss. 
i X X 
A FRIEND in New York State is kind enough to in¬ 
form us.that what we said about the tariff on potatoes, 
page 837, is “perfect nonsense.” The trouble with 
our friend seems to be that he expects The R. N.-Y. 
to discuss these matters as the political papers do, and 
cut the cloth on a strict partisan bias. That we shall 
not do. If we toujh them at all we propose to discuss 
them in a fair and honorable way—perfectly willing 
to be set right if we make any misstatement of fact or 
figures. One thing we should have added about the 
potato tariff is the fact that importers will use the low 
rate of 10 cents a bushel to bear down the price of the 
home grown crop. They will attempt to scare growers 
into taking a very low price by filling the papers with 
reports of an “immense foreign crop,” so that our far¬ 
mers will hasten to sell for what they can get. With a 
high tariff the importers are not able to work up such 
a scare. All over the country tobacco -and potato 
growers are remonstrating against the cut in the 
tariff. Petitions are being signed, and earnest efforts 
will be made to retain the present duties. 
X X X 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Lawrence Rodenhkbeb, of Glassboro, N. J., wants to buy lflgocd, 
fresh cows. Got any to sell 7 
Those ground beef scraps prepared by O. A. Bartlett, Worcester, 
Mass , make great poultry food. 
Who wants to buy hay? Mr. Elmer J. Webster, CannoDsvlllo, N. Y., 
19 using The R N.-Y. a3 middleman to sell two car-loads. Who' 
wants It? 
That Pounder Improved harrow seems to give general satisfaction 
As a leveler and pulverizer it receives very flattering comments, 
especially from wheat growers. It is made by G. H. Pounuer, Fort 
Atkinson. Wls. 
Owing to an Increased Western demand for the "Acme” pulverizing 
harrow, Mr. Duane H. Nash, tbe manufacturer, has opened a branch 
house at 20 South Canal Street, Chicago. Ill We are glad that our 
Western friends appreciate the merits of the Acme. 
There Is no longer any question about the advantage of aerating 
milk. What’s wanted Is a proper cooler to do the work quickly and with 
the least possible amount of work. For tbls work there are many 
good points In the “Model Cooler” manufacture! by the Inventor, Mr. 
H. W. Gazlay, Cortland, N. Y. 
Those farmers who are so fortunate as to own a maple orchard and 
who tap the trees, should have the Eureka sap spout. This spout has 
Post's patent air trap, which excludes the air and prevents the sap 
from freezing or drying up. Their low cost puts them within the reach 
of every one who taps a sugar tree. These were formerly made In 
Vermont, but the business Is now conducted by Mr. Chas. C. Steele 81 
5th. Ave , Brooklyn, N. Y. 
The way The R. N.-Y. readers are taking bold of the suggestion to 
use this paper as a middleman shows how quick the great holy of in¬ 
telligent farmers aro to take hold of a progressive Idea. A letter just 
received from Mr. F. W. Bent, Antwerp, N Y., covers the case so 
exactly that we give the substance of It. He says: ‘'Word an ' ad ’ 
for me to the effect that 1 want to correspond with parties havlrg 
thorougnbred or grade Holstein catves or heifers for sale at farmers’ 
prices. I can get plenty at fancy prices. We have for sale a few pairs 
of Buff Leghorns. Inclosed lina check for three lines, two insertions ”, 
We put the “ad” this way—see page 876: War ted—fuil-blcod or 
grade Holstein heifers or calves at farmers’prices. A few pairs of 
Buff Leghorns for sale. When Mr. Bsnt is through with his corre¬ 
spondence, we would like to hear how he likes his new middleman. 
