72 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 3 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts ., New Yorh. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
BLBBBT B. CARMAN, Bdltor-ln-Chlef. 
HERBERT W. COLLINGWOOD. ManaRlnR Editor 
ERWIN G. FOWLER. Associate Editor 
JOHN J. DILLON, Business ManaKer. 
Copyrighted lS9i. 
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- 
office 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 
transmlttlnK money. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1894. 
Be sure to read the department headed “ We Want 
to Know I” —that is, if it is one of your wants. At this 
season of the year in particular, the editorial policy 
is determined almostentirely by the questions received 
from readers. By the time we are done answering' 
these there is little room left for speculation and 
theory. 
« » 
You are invited to tell us what objections there are 
to that bulletin board scheme pictured on page 67. 
Such a board nailed in a conspicuous place would give 
you lots of advertising and increase your circle of cus¬ 
tomers. What are you raising goods for ? To sneak 
them oft to market with the least possible publicity ? 
Why not advertise and increase the competition for 
what you have to sell. 
A FRIEND in New York State gives us this conun¬ 
drum : 
“ Why is The R. N.-Y. like wine ?” 
“ Because age improves it.” 
We hope that is true. It is not, however, because 
. we bottle up our opinions and ideas. It is hard to 
think of anything that must degenerate with age. The 
B- N.-Y. also tries to be unlike wine because it never 
intoxicates. 
One remarkable evidence of the way waste products 
are being utilized is the use made of planing-mill 
shavings. Formerly they were thrown away or 
burned. Now they are used on thousands of farms as 
bedding. They are very satisfactory for this purpose 
as they make a good absorbent and are easy to handle 
in the manure. Not only that, but they permit the 
farmer to sell his straw. It is good business to buy 
shavings at $6 a ton to take the place of straw that 
will sell at $15 or $18. 
» * 
In the Eastern States one of the best indications of 
the business and financial hopes of farmers is the 
prospective sale of fertilizers. So many farmers now 
depend on fertilizers to produce their crops that their 
orders in this line indicate what they may expect to 
be able to sell. The agents of the larger fertilizer 
houses agree that there is no decrease evident in the 
size of orders. As a rule, farmers will use about the 
same amount as before, but will plant, if anything, 
fewer acres. That is, the tendency is to do less and do 
it better, and that is the wisest move in these times. 
# * 
Questions about the cheapest way to “reduce” bones 
to a condition suitable for use in the soil come in a 
flood this year. Can the average farmer manufacture 
a good quality of bone meal with the tools and 
methods at his command ? We doubt it. To make 
good bone meal it is necessary to steam the bones 
under high pressure and then grind in a powerful 
mill. Farmers might combine and secure the necessary 
tools, but for the individual farmer there is nothing 
more satisfactory than packing the bones in wet ashes 
or muriate of potash or burning them to bone ash. The 
potash method is very slow and the burning loses all 
the nitrogen. We do not advise the use of acid. 
* * 
There is bound to be much disappointment among 
recent shippers of seme classes of goods. Eggs, for in¬ 
stance, have dropped nearly out of sight. One year 
ago State and Pennsylvania were quoted at 32 cents ; 
to-day they are quoted at 16 to 163-^. Two dozen now 
to get the price of one last year, while limed and ice¬ 
house eggs are now almost unsalable, which last year 
sold for much more than the present price of the best 
new laid eggs The shippers who sent their stock re¬ 
lying on previous quotations, and had them reach the 
market after the decline, are likely to suffer loss, and 
perhaps many of them may blame the consignees. 
But the causes of the decline in this product are be¬ 
yond the reach of mortal man. The warm weather 
throughout the country has started the hens to laying, 
and unprecedented quantities of eggs have been sent 
to market. Then there were large stocks of limed and 
held eggs which there was an endeavor to force upon 
the market. The consequence was a big drop. But¬ 
ter, too, has taken a downward slide, while poultry 
has been slaughtered figuratively as well as literally 
in an endeavor to clear the market. It is bad for the 
shippers, but is the result of a combination of circum¬ 
stances, impossible to have seen or to prevent. 
* » 
There is now being held at San Francisco a great 
“Mid-Winter Fair” which, considering the rapidity 
with which it was organized and prepared, is a mar¬ 
vel for completeness. Many of the features of the 
great World’s Fair have been duplicated, and new 
ones peculiar to the Pacific coast have been added. 
The displays of fruits, vegetables, wool, hops and 
other products peculiar to the far Western States are 
said to be immense—far beyond anything heretofore 
attempted. Californians have displayed great busi¬ 
ness ability in putting their wares on the Eastern 
markets. This great fair is another shrewd move 
for more advertising. 
English farmers are now demanding a tax on the 
brewers who use substitutes for barley. It is claimed 
that vast quantities of sugar, rice and maize are used 
in breweries, and that this use has largely decreased 
the use of barley. English farmers claim that this is 
as much a violation of law as the making of “oleo’* 
and selling it for pure butter. In both cases the 
battle is against the use of a cheap substance which 
not only defrauds the public, but hurts the sale of a 
legitimate product—like barley and butter. If the 
brewers would distinctly state that their beer is made 
of corn or rice and the bogus butter men would openly 
say that their stuff is colored lard, there would be no 
just complaint from the barley and butter producers. 
But have they not a fair right to complain when a 
counterfeit hurts the sale of their legitimate products? 
* * 
From now until planting time many sections will be 
overrun with “ agents” and others who promise won¬ 
derful things in the way of new varieties and methods 
of culture. There is no story too big for these fellows 
to tell, and the world still contains people with heads 
small enough to believe what is told them. A some¬ 
what new scheme is outlined in the following note 
from Pennsylvania: 
A man has been alon^ here Belling seed potatoes o^]^ contract. He 
was to Instruct those that bought of him. In a r ew way of raising pota¬ 
toes, so that three bushels would be seed enough for one acre He 
said that he bad a written contract with them and sent a man around 
to Instruct the buyers when the potatoes were delivered. 
A copy of “The New Potato Culture” will give a 
farmer all the information he needs—and in much 
better shape than any agent can serve it. As for sign¬ 
ing contracts for a stranger there is but one line of 
advice—don’t do it I 
» » 
The latest tale of woe arising from the oleomar¬ 
garine trade comes from Delaware. It was the means 
of breaking up a wedding and the blushing bride that 
was to be is yet a maiden fancy free, while the pro¬ 
spective groom is nowhere to be found. It all came 
about through a former partner of the young man 
threatening to have him arrested for selling the stuff 
contrary to law, which so frightened him that he left 
home, bride, a newly furnished house and all the 
happiness that is supposed to cluster around a newly 
made Benedict, and went forth alone into a cold and 
unfeeling world. Score another count against bogus 
butter I Let all the matrimonially inclined declare 
uncompromising hostility against the stuff that 
wrecked the happiness of one loving couple, and that 
may play havoc with the stomachs, if not the hearts, 
of many more 1 
* « 
Why will farmers persist in shipping produce to 
commission merchants about whose standing they 
know nothing, and who have no recommendations ? 
We are continually receiving complaints of failures to 
settle for produce shipped to some of the worst frauds, 
whom we have denounced time and again in answer to 
inquiries. The method of these scamps is to send out 
alluring circulars reciting their superior advantages 
for selling produce and obtaining fancy prices, and 
price currents giving prices considerably higher'than 
those of honest dealers. They usually, too, give 
references, often unauthorized, knowing that most 
farmers will not trouble themselves to investigate 
these. When produce is received, sometimes no 
acknowledgment is made, and letters of inquiry 
receive no notice Sometimes small returns are made, 
the claim being that the stuff was received in bad 
order, or was of inferior quality. Excessive charges 
for transportation, cartage, storage, etc , are also 
often made. These scoundrels well know that it is 
next to impossible for a farmer living at a distance to 
make them any trouble, and it usually costs the farmer 
more than his shipment is worth to make an attempt 
at collection. When some unusually pugnacious cus¬ 
tomer threatens to corner them, they settle, but they 
fatten on their unfortunate dupes. The remedy is 
plain : Do not ship to commission merchants who can¬ 
not furnish unquestioned recommendations, any more 
than you would trust your neighbor who you know 
makes a practice of never paying his debts. 
* * 
There is evidently a difference of opinion on this 
plowing question and we get a little light on the sub¬ 
ject in the discussion of moldboards on another page. 
Bong, short and medium—all have their advocates. 
Why do they differ ? Is it because of a difference in 
soils and locations—some talking about light, hilly 
farms and others about stiffer, level lands ? Maybe a 
“good clover sod” in one place would be considered a 
poor growth in another. Another curious thing is the 
difference in the desired position of the sod after 
plowing. Should it be turned completely over or left 
standing at an angle ? The best testimony is in favor 
of the latter method as giving notonly a better chance 
for the sod to decay, but putting the plant food in the 
clover within easier reach of the coming crop. The 
chief objection to this is that with deep cultivating or 
plowing some of the tod will be torn up and brought 
to the surface. In this age when the benefits of shal¬ 
low cultivation are so apparent this objection does not 
seem to be serious except in special cases. 
* * 
BREVITIES. 
My r ame Is Hen-A. Business Hen—again I take the stand. 
To talk aboal this Income tax which threatens our lair latd 
I see my mistress wear the dress she’s wo:n lor jears and years; 
My master’s coat Is shiny and a good-sized patch appears 
Whene’er he gets excited over politics and throws 
His arms about In gestures that dehne the things he knows. 
It Is this tax—this Income tai-that cuts our friends S 3 low; 
It creeps In through holes and cracks In shape of cold and snow. 
In vermin, tilth and lack of food this Income tax they pay. 
And we poor bens with frosted feet and combs can never lay; 
For who can make egg rations out of wind and ice and air, 
And frozen feed and vermin ? I can’t do It, 1 declare ! 
Arise, je farmers. In your might and kill this wretched thing 
Plug up the holes, clean out the house and suU hur it. and tring 
A good warm breaklast every morn with which to tin our crop. 
And then that hated income tax we ll guarantee to stop. 
With half a chance we’ll pay your Dills and clothe you in the best 
A. Business Uen-I ask your help to make a hu»i/ nest. 
Charity means share-lty. 
Are your cows keeping you ? 
Roll the meadows this spring. 
Are you a general purpose man ? 
A POOR stick—” stuck on yourself ! ” 
Is common sense getting uncommon? 
Who ever kept guinea fowls at a prollt ? 
What is the toughest nut you have to crack f 
Who can find a belter time to be happy than now 7 
Wk oppose an Increase of male facilities In the henyard. 
Who beats Mr. Bufton's record for beans and peas, page 68 ? 
Salt EGOS-page 65. That sugar barrel beat a cold storage! 
A LITTLE linseed meal towards spring makes a fine cow tonic. 
Do you need meat for hens If you can have plenty of sktm-mllk? 
How much of a crop of the Old Harry do you raise on your farm ? 
Mr. MAPESls putting his hens through ‘ a course of (malt) sprouts. 
How much more butter in an acre of corn than In an acre of oats and 
peas ? 
” Loaded to the muzzle 1 ” What good If the muzzle keeps the 
load In ? 
An ounce of hen manure In the egg crate may be like a bill of $2 
against you! 
Common fowls with tlrst-olass care beat thoroughbred fowls with 
common care I 
The best form of Iron for the soil Is the elbowate. The chemical 
symbol Is, h o e . 
Hr. Walcott, on the next page, tells us of his pasture, 260 years 
old, that will carry more stock now than ever 1 
A“WEASAND”lsawlndplpe. That of the cow Is used as a lining 
for high priced sausages of ham. tongue or chicken. 
Three weeks ago we had some questions about “The Selection of 
a Wife.” Lots of friends are volunteering advice on this Important 
matter. 
The meanest man nowadays is the one that Is not In the least 
affected by the “ hard times,” and yet acts and talks as though ne 
were ruined. 
Now we want to hear from those who are using transplanting ma¬ 
chines for cabbage, tobacco, etc. How does machine work compare 
with hand work ? 
Do cows remember an unklndness? Cut the horns off the “boss 
cow”—that is alwaj s striking the others and will they remember and 
pay her back when she Is at their mercy? There Is a question for dls- 
horners. 
The following motion Is made by Mr. John Hoff of Kansas; “I move 
that the I ew word, demote, be applied with compound effect In the 
case of oar Secretary of Agriculture.” ” What Is the pleasure of the 
meeting regarding this motion?” 
If you would only spend the time you take In growling at your luck 
and cursing at the awful crime of “m ney powers, ’In hauling muck 
out of the swamp upon your land, your song would take a cheerful 
tone, for blessings fall within the hand of him who gives his farm 
backbone. 
A FEW weeks since we published a letter from Mr. J. A. Musson, of 
Otsego County, N. Y.. asking if it were possible to secure suitable farm 
help among the unemployed In the cities. Somewhat to our surprise, 
this calls out letters from farm hands In the West who talk about 
coming East for work 1 
When a person faints, a bottle of “smelling salts” is frequently held 
to the nose. The ammonia in the ” salts ” does the business. If yon 
are faint-hearted, go and take a long breath in the henhouse. The 
ammonia there will either knock you down or stimulate you to arrest 
It with a dose of plaster. 
YOU will notice in the discussion on plows and plowing that the use 
of railroad Iron In corn Holds is not uncommon. On hard or frozen 
ground a steel rail hauled over the surface of the soli wlil smash and 
smooth down all ordinary obstructions. It has also been used suc¬ 
cessfully for spreading manure from plies and gathering stones Into 
windrows. 
