1894 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
89 
THE PROSPECT. 
In old-settled countries, agriculture means a hunt 
for cheap nitrogen. That is the substance that costs 
most money and for which farmers pay most cash. 
When a man builds a cistern and catches the water 
that falls upon his roof, he takes advantage of a free 
offering. In order to realize how valuable his cistern 
is, let him figure what he would do if he had to pay 
five cents a barrel for the water ! Now in the air, 
above and all about us, are countless stores of nitro¬ 
gen as free as the water. It only remains to get it out 
and hold it. Certain plants, like clover, peas or beans, 
will hold this nitrogen just as the cistern will hold the 
water. Many a man would go dirty rather than buy 
water to wash in, and many a farm “ don’t pay” be¬ 
cause the farmer will not buy nitrogen for it. The cis¬ 
tern and the “ nitrogen trap” make cleaner farmers 
and fatter farms. The crop to talk about this week is 
cow peas. Mr. J. H. Hale, who writes the following 
letter, is president of a company that cultivates nearly 
900 acres of fruit trees; 
t i t 
“In What They Say, page 50, of your issue of Janu¬ 
ary 27, I note what O. O. G. has to say in relation to 
cow peas for South Jersey. Since I have begun to cul¬ 
tivate my Georgia orchard, I have learned to appreci¬ 
ate the value of cow peas for soil enrichment; and, of 
late years, have begun bringing the seed to Connecti¬ 
cut, and utilizing this most valuable, nitrogen-trap¬ 
ping plant for the same purpose here. I find that the 
seed may be planted in Connecticut in drills, about the 
time that tender varieties of corn may be planted, and, 
in our ordinary summers, come to full maturity before 
the frosts of fall. However, I cannot afford to occupy 
the ground the whole season with any of these legu¬ 
minous plants, but rather prefer to use them as catch 
crops, or at such times as the ground would otherwise 
be icle. I have found that sowing them directly after 
the strawberry crop is off, the last of J ane or early in 
July, gets us an enormous growth of cow peas, matting 
the ground thickly over, before frost kills them. Also 
that they may be sown in midsummer in the orchards 
and among the growing crops at the last cultivation, 
and during the season trap an enormous amount of 
nitrogen, greatly to the enrichment of the soil and at 
very small cost to ourselves. While I have occasion¬ 
ally broadcasted them, I find it is better to sow, say, 
bushel of seed per acre, in drills, 23^ to 3 feet 
apart, and cultivate two or three times while the 
plants are young. It stimulates a much more rapid 
growth, which more than pays for the slight labor of 
cultivation. 
“ I am also using Soja beans, to some extent, for the 
same purpose ; and I believe the time is coming when 
many of our farmers will quit using the high-priced 
nitrogen and secure it all from the atmosphere through 
these valuable plants. I shall sow more cow peas than 
ever the coming season.” J. h. hale. 
Last week we had a few remarks about the patent 
laws and the need of a change in some of them. The 
following letter, right in line with what we then said, 
is worth reading : 
In your notice of the heating problem as suggested by Mr. Babb, 
you are not amiss In your surmise that a hot-water fireplace heater 
can be made cheaper than any ordinary beatirg apparatus (efficacy 
considered) and that there would be a great economy of fuel In its 
use, to say nothing of the bright and cheerful glow and the hea'.thful- 
ness of an open fireplace. Broadly, the Idea of so heating our homes 
Is an old one, and numerous Inyentlons for heating by this method 
haye been patented, but somehow rote of them (so far as I can learn, 
and I haye been anilous to get scmethlrg ot the sort) has ever been 
put on the market. This Is due to the fact that most of them are Im¬ 
properly constructed, and probably died a natural death because of 
their Impracticability. I know of one healer of this kind, howeyer, 
that Is constructed on thoroughly scientific principles, designed to 
obtain the utmost efficiency with the least amount of fuel, cheap to 
make (in quantities), neat In appearance, and safe to use, that will 
likely neyer be offered for sale. Why Is this? Simply because the 
Inventor Is a man of only moderate means, and has not the compara¬ 
tively small amount of capital necessary to Introduce It, and manu¬ 
facturers will not touch It because the Inventor will not turn over to 
them, almost wholly, his patent rights, though he has offered them a 
half Interest therein If they would manufacture and put It on the mar¬ 
ket. But they say: “No, that will reduce our profit tco much and Inter¬ 
fere with the sale of more expensive heaters, on which we now make 
more than we could hope to on the new heater for fireplaces.” These 
reasons, lack of capital and greediness of those who have It, prevent 
the Introduction of many articles of undoubed merit and utility, by 
which the world would be benefited, and In this case by which the 
farmer and the man of moderate means would be enabled to comfort¬ 
ably and economically heat his home by the most approved of modern 
methods—hot water circulation. w. p. J. 
Washington, D. C. 
We shall be glad to have those who defend our patent 
laws through thick and thin come forward and tell 
us what they think of that! 
1 t t 
• It is stated that the burning of farm dwellings is 
almost as good as a thermometer to indicate the 
changes of the weather. During the winter, every 
cold wave is accompanied by the burning of a large 
number of them. The causes that lead to this are 
usually found in the cheap construction of many farm 
houses, in imperfectly made flues and in the fact that 
in many of them wood is the fuel used. The cold spell 
leads to the building of hotter fires, the stove pipes 
and flues become very hot, the fire is kindled by 
sparks, a conflagration results. Another cause, the 
most dastardly of all, is the large number of what are 
unmistakably incendiary fires. These, as a general 
thing, the companies claim, occur where buildings 
have, through misrepresentation or connivance, been 
insured for far more than their value. The result of 
a fire in the country is usually, through lack of facili¬ 
ties for fighting fire, the total destruction of the build¬ 
ings. The consequences have been that many insur¬ 
ance companies have withdrawn their risks from farm 
property. In some parts of the country farmers are 
organizing insurance companies of their own. In 
Wayne County, N. Y., a fire relief association has 
been in active operation for many years. It has 
afforded satisfactory insurance at low rates : none 
but farm property is insured, the value of that now 
covered being upward of $3,000,000. Even here the 
rate is much larger than formerly on account of the 
frequency of fires. ^ ^ 
Wanted; Good Fabm Help! —That is the cry that 
comes from farms within half a day’s journey of 
cities where men and women are calling for work, or 
living unhappily on charity. Those who live on good 
farms and those who draw sure and comfortable sal¬ 
aries know little of the misery that is abroad among 
those who are out of employment. Many of them 
cannot understand how, in times like these, such a 
letter as the following from John T Scott, of Ham¬ 
den, N. Y., can be written: 
I have been on the road for the last eight days looking for a girl to 
work In my dairy. I traveled over a portion of Delaware and Salll- 
yan Counties, but all the girls 1 could find were engaged. They are 
very scaice and can get any wages that they may ask; I offered as 
high as 15 per week and board, but could find no one until the eighth 
day, and then 1 hired a girl only 14 years old. Why Is It that help Is 
so scarce here with so many out of employment In the cities! Almost 
every day one may see a man looking for help without finding any. 
To be sure, help from the cities would be no good to us until they 
learned our work, but they might better work for their board than to 
stay In the city and live on charity. I would gladly board a man or 
girl at first, and, as they learned our work, pay them wages. i have 
a very good house standing empty that would accommodate a large 
family, which I would let them have for a trifle should any one want 
It, and they could get all the work they could do In the neighborhood. 
There is a chance for some one. Few of the city 
workers would be willing to begin working for their 
board, but why is it not fair to ask them to do so 
until they can make themselves useful ? 
t t t 
In 1878 this country exported 1,698,401 pounds of 
oleomart arine. In 1893 this export trade had increased 
to 3 479,322 pounds of the solid and 113 939 363 gallons 
of the oil. This oil was sent abroad, chiefly to Holland 
and Germany, to be made into bogus butter, a large 
part of which find”, sale in England. Holland is the 
great exporter of oleomi rgarine. In 1891 that country 
exported more than 140,000,000 pounds of the stuff— 
principally to England. It is this immense flood of 
fraudulent butter that has compelled the English to 
pass stringent laws against adulterated goods ; but 
even these laws are evaded. It is hard to think that 
indirectly at least this country is at the bottom of the 
European cheat by providing the oil. We produced 
67,224 298 pounds of the stuff and sent away 3,479,322. 
That shows what we ate and in addition we sent the 
Dutchmen oil enough to cheat millions of other people. 
t t t 
BUSINESS BITS. 
WHO wants a store, etc.. In Wheeling, Mo.? 1’. P. Peugh, of that 
town has one for sale, cheap, he says. 
Mk. .John Bansheh, Freeport, 111., Issues a fine illustrated cata¬ 
logue of purebred poultry and standard seeds. If jou are Interested in 
poultry or Intend to purchase seecs, you would do well to send for It. 
IT will be noted In advertlseaent that Northrop, Braslan & Good¬ 
win Co., seedemen of Minneapolis, Minn , oiler to send ihelr catalogue 
and a sample of the applicant’s choice of four varieties of seeds to 
anyone who asks for them and mentions The H. N.-Y. A postal 
card will do 
Thuohgh an oversight the address of Nursery Co., Elizabeth, N, J. 
has appeared as Elizabeth, N. Y,, In recent advertisements. Those 
who fall to get replies to their applications, will please charge the 
error to our account. Letters to Nursery Co., Elizabeth, N. J., will 
receive prompt attention. 
Better thnn 
1894 . ° 
GR 
Fruit and Ornamental, gnrinff Planting Handsomenew 
Grapes. Shrubs, Hoses, for 0 |Jllll 5 rlflllllll&i IbO page 
Awarded (Several Medals at the World’s Fair. Cataloguef'Vee. 
Ellwan§:er & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. 
^ Is Different from Otters. 
It Is Intended to aid the planter in selecting the Seeds 
best adapted for his needs and conditions and In getting 
i them the best possible results. It is not, therefore, highly 
id in either sense; and we have taken great care that 
ig worthless be put in, or nothing worthy be left out. We 
1 trial of our Seeds. We know them because we grow them. 
r.very planter of Vegetables or Flowers ought to know about our 
three warrants; our cash discounts; and our gift of agricultural 
lapers to purchasers of our Seeds. All of these are explained in 
e Catalogue, a copy of which can be yours for the asking. 
J. H. GREGORY & SON, Marblehead, Mass, 
Fruit Guide 
and Catalogue 
80 PAGES, 9 COLORS, ILLUSTRATED. Free to all who Apply. Fruits, Roses, Ornamentals 
SIXTY THOUSAND PATRONS. ESTABLISHED 20 YEARS. 2 NURSERIES. 
f’re^'"lOo"o^OKettderB.^60 ct». a Year. Add^eu GREEN’S NURSERY CO., Rochester, N.Y, 
Rawson’s 
Poppies 
Mammoth 
African 
This collection of magnificent I‘opple.s are 
of the sleep-producing or somnlferuin variety 
of Africa, and are wonders of beauty, form 
and grace. The blossoms are of mammoth size, 
S erfeetly double, and of iTeli, brilHajit colors, 
cod can he sown from April to .June, In open 
ground, and w'ill produce flowers in about 00 days. 
We olfer then, in six different colors. 
lillac—.sliadinf/ to Lavender, witli broad petal.s. 
l*ure Wliltc, deeply /rinyed with hriyid Carviine. 
Purple Violet, snadiny to beautiful Jhininy Bronze, 
Dazzllnp; Veriuillon, very showy, 
itliisli Pink, shndiny to While. Snow Wlrlte. 
The entire Collection of six varieties for .‘{.'5 ets.; two Collection.s for 
SOetH. In addition to the above, we will mall l•'l•cc with each order 
menlioniny this paper, our Catalogue for I 8 !)l, which alone ts worth 2()ct8. 
It contains beautiful colored plates painted from nature; honest Illus¬ 
trations and descriptions; all the latest reliable Novelties, with full de- 
_ scrlption how and when to plant all kinds of seeds. 
eft? OO., Sostosi, l\TeLfiiisi. 
HOMESTEAD FRUIT FARM 
SMALL FRUITS, TREES, PLANTS and VINES- A select assortment Of the New and Leading varle 
ties. PRICES LOW for Ouaranteed Stock. Berry Crates and Baskets See our Catalope before buying, 
It will pay. Catalogue Free. Send for It at once. Address O. li. GARVIN & SON, Wheeling, W. Va. 
HIGH CLASS StEDS; 
Our Ninety-Third Annual Catalogue is now ready, and will be 
mailed FREE on application. It contains the 
largest collection in the world of 
VEGETABLE, FLOWER and FARM SEEDS, 
including every standard variety and every novelty of 
established merit. 
Beautifully Illustrated with Hundreds of Cuts. 
tw- We Mail It FREE.-4£i 
J.M.THORBURN & Co. 15 JOHN SLNewYork. 
TOGGic y 
I yptatoe^ 
$360.00 
CashPrizeSjs 
VicK’sFloTalC^ulc 
Vick’s Floral Guide,1894, 
Tlie I’ioiiccr Uutuloaiie of Vegetables and Flowers. 
Contains 112 pages 8 x 10 1-2 inches, with descriptions- — — 
that describe, not mislead) illustrations that XOVEIjTIKH. 
instruct, not exaggerate. iiraiwiiin,. 
The cover is charming in harmonious blending of water r-_ rirv,. 
color prints in green and white, with a gold background,— 1 ^ ' 
a dream of beauty. 32 pages of Novelties printed in 8 dif- . r, , 
ferent colors. All the leading novelties and the best of the Hibiscus, Sunset, 
old varieties. These hard times you cannot afford to run Dahlia, Ethel Vick, 
any risk. Buy HONEST GOODS where you will receive r nr.ro Mnmlno’ 
FULL MEASURE. It is not necessary to advertise tliat ^ 
Vicks’ seeds grow, this is known the world over, and also Double Anemone, 
that the harvest pays. A very little spent for proper seed Charmer Pea, 
will save grocer’s and doctor’s bills. Many concede Vick’s Mnrnhv and 
Floral Guide the handsomest catalogue for 1894 . If you ' Pnfafnpa 
love a fine garden .send address now, with 10 cents, which 
may be deducted from first order. ^ ' 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. JAMES VICK’S SONS. 
XOVEIjTIES. 
Branching Aster, 
(Often sold forChrys- 
antliemum.) 
Hibiscus, Sunset, 
Dahlia, Ethel Vick, 
Large Morning Glo’ ’''s, 
Double Anemone, 
Charmer Pea, 
Mt-rgic Murphy and 
other Potatoes. 
