io4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 17 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker 
Cor. Cha/mbers cmd Pearl Sts., New York. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
ELBKBT B. CABMAN, Bdltor-ln-Chlef. 
HEBBEBT W. COLLINGWOOD, Manafflng Editor 
EBWIN G. FOWLEB, Associate Editor 
JOHN J. DILLON, Business ManaKor. 
Copyrighted 1894. 
Address all business oommunloatlons and make all orders pay¬ 
able to THE BUBAL NKW-TOBKBB. 
Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of Post- 
ofiBoe 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, FEBRUARY 17, 1894. 
The dangerous Russian thistle might perhaps be 
held in check if all land owners would coSperate and 
each destroy the weeds on his own land. But if the 
weeds were permitted to grow on unoccupied Govern¬ 
ment land, the seeds would still be scattered broad¬ 
cast. Why should not the Government go to weedkill¬ 
ing—since it compels individuals to do so ? 
m * 
Thebe is still a big difference of opinion as to the 
best way to make a silo. According to the articles 
printed this week, it is best to use only one thickness 
of boards and no coating of gas tar, and also best to 
use two thicknesses of boards with paper between and 
a thick smear of the tar I Two things, though, are set¬ 
tled—the silo must be air-tight, and it is a grand, good 
thing to add water under certain conditions as the silo 
is being filled. ^ ^ 
We like to see the experiment stations do practical 
work. We don’t object to popular work either—some¬ 
thing that interests the everyday farmer and makes 
him thix sty for a little more science. The West Vir¬ 
ginia Station at Morgantown is soon to issue a bul¬ 
letin on “ Defects in Wood Caused by Insects.” This 
will be an interesting description of the way insects 
injure wood. Any farmer who can look at a picture 
will be able to learn something from it. 
* « 
Mb. Geo. Bittneb is given space to tell his story of 
progress on another page. lie makes a good showing. 
As to The R. N.-Y.’s connection with this farm, it 
does not become us to say much. Mr. B. says 
truly that no man can succeed on the farm who is not 
in love with his work, and thoroughly interested in 
the occupation of farming. That is true as gospel, 
and if The R. N.-Y. can by instruction or inspiration 
lead farmers to realize something of the possibilities 
of the calling, we shall be satisfied. 
* * 
Why shouldn’t R. N.-Y. readers patronize R. N.-Y. 
advertisers ? We advertise from week to week sev¬ 
eral firms which we consider perfectly reliable, yet we 
are continually receiving inquiries about those whom 
we do not advertise. Many of these are worthless 
firms that make big promises simply because they do 
not intend to fulfill them. Another thing about in¬ 
vestigating the reliability of business firms ; Any one 
in any part of the country who wishes to know may 
usually learn from the bank with which he does busi¬ 
ness, with no delay, if the firm be of sufifieient stand¬ 
ing to merit a report. Nearly every bank of any pre¬ 
tensions has a report of the mercantile agencies, and 
will oblige its customers in this way. 
* » 
We gave a detailed account of the new South Caro¬ 
lina liquor law last summer. It was a new experiment 
—an introduction of the Norwegian system of placing 
the liquor business in the hands of the State. In South 
Carolina all legal liquors are now sold in “ dispen¬ 
saries ” or shops regulated by the State and conducted 
by uniformed oflScials. It has been difficult to learn 
from the daily press how the law really worked. So 
far as we can learn, it has given fair satisfaction, ex¬ 
cept in Charleston and some other large towns. Gov. 
Tillman has just printed a statement in the North 
American Review in which he says that in the first 
four months the State did a liquor business of $166,643, 
of which $52,493 was profit—divided between State 
and county. The chief arguments in favor of the law 
were that it will provide a large revenue for the State 
that formerly went into the pockets of liquor dealers. 
Gov. Tillman says that the law does not rest on a rev¬ 
enue basis and cannot be defended on that ground. It 
has proved the best method of controlling the evils 
due to intemperance. Since the law went into force, 
arrests for drunkenness and disorder arising therefrom 
have been diminished by one-half. The Governor 
claims, in fact, that this system of selling liquor is a 
grand success as compared with any saloon or license 
system. He says that never again will a bar keeper 
in South Carolina sell liquor by the drink under license 
of the State. A committee in Massachusetts has 
recommended a trial of this system in that State. 
* • 
We have told our readers something of the profit in 
growing potatoes at Greeley, Col. The soil and con¬ 
ditions there are just right for the crop. The stories 
of this success with potatoes have aroused farmers in 
other parts of Colorado, and there is now reported a 
general desire to rush from wheat to potato growing. 
This would be unfortunate for all. In many parts of 
the State, potatoes would not be a profitable crop, as 
the soil is not well suited to their growth. At the 
same time, the crop thus grown at a loss or small 
profit might so glut the market as to spoil the profit 
on the crop at Greeley and other places where good 
potatoes can be grown. It is a pity that the business 
of growing sugar beets cannot be developed on a large 
scale in States like Colorado. 
* ♦ 
The R. N.-Y. has now ready for publication a little 
pamphlet by Fred Grundy entitled “A Fortune on Two 
Acres.” Everybody knows Mr. Grundy as a bright, 
pithy and practical writer. In this little book we con¬ 
sider that he has done the best work of his life. It is a 
true story of the successful efforts of a workman to 
make a home of his own. The “ fortune” consists of 
independence and happiness. The story is very inter¬ 
esting. It is highly practical, too, and withal a touch 
of pathos runs through it that appeals to the heart. 
There are plenty of men in the country who have the 
two acres, but a large proportion have somehow missed 
the fortune. This little book is one of the connecting 
links between the two. The price is 20 cents, or we 
will send it as a premium for a new subscription. 
« * 
Eveby now and then the papers contain an account 
of a shortage that has been discovered in somebody’s 
accounts. An examination of the books kept by some 
trusted official reveals the fact that there has been a 
systematic robbery. Farmers often read these accounts 
and wonder how business men can be deceived by 
such rascality. A little investigation in the barns of 
some dairymen would soon show how it is done. 
There are plenty of cows that eat more than their 
share of hay and grain and perhaps make a great 
show at the pail for a few months. An investigation 
of their accounts would show that they are just as dis¬ 
honest as the defaulting clerk. The scales and Bab¬ 
cock milk tester would soon show that a good share 
of the value of the hay and grain goes to the manure 
pile. There should be an investigating committee of 
Seale.s, Babcock and Careful Man given full swing in 
every dairy barn in the country. 
* tt 
Once in a while we get an ill-natured letter from 
some man who ought to know better. The following 
is a good sample : 
Why don't you answer my questions ? Is It because I do not belong 
to the “ elite ? ” Or am I so unfortunate as not to be one of the chosen 
few ? Perhaps there Is not enough silk In my footwear. If The 
BCKAL does not treat me as It does other subscribers, I will drop It 
as there are other good agricultural papers, even though they may 
not have so much silk In their make up. 
This man’s questions were about the use of manure 
and fertilizers on potato land. In the section where 
he lives, he could not possibly make use of any advice 
we could give him before the middle of May. Our space 
is limited, and we aim to answ’er those questions first 
which are immediately useful—that is, about opera¬ 
tions that must be done soon. We have explained over 
and over again that sometimes we are forced to sub¬ 
mit these questions to others. This takes time, but in 
the end a more reliable answer is obtained. We do our 
best to answer every question that is sent us, and hon¬ 
estly try to treat all alike. There are no “ chosen 
few.” As for “ slik stockings,” we have never been 
able to wear any ourselves, but have no objection to 
them on the feet of our readers, provided the silk is 
honestly earned. ^ 
On the editorial page of The R. N.-Y. for December 
16, in speaking of careless shippers, we mentioned the 
fact that a commission merchant had j ust received 
four barrels of pop corn with no marks on them to 
indicate the shipper. The receiver remarked that all 
he could do would be to enter the corn on the books 
as having been received on such a date, and wait until 
the sender wrote to The R. N.-Y. denouncing him as 
a fraud for not settling for the corn. Well, the kick 
has come. A subscriber writes us that he shipped this 
merchant four barrels of corn and that he never has 
received anything from him, though he wrote to him 
in reference to it. He takes occasion to say some very 
uncomplimentary things about the merchant, and 
about The R. N.-Y. for advertising him. Investiga¬ 
tion reveals the fact that the corn first mentioned is 
undoubtedly the corn shipped by this man. Bat why 
didn’t the merchant answer his letters of complaint ? 
Simply because the freight bill showed that the corn 
was shipped from a certain station, while the man’s 
letter was dated at another place, from which nothing 
had been received. His shipping point was not his 
post office. Men who emply a dozen or more clerks 
and helpers, receive and sell thousands of dollars 
worth of goods every week, and receive and write 
hundreds of letters every day, haven’t time to sift out 
such matters as this. The remedy rests with the 
shippers. ^ ^ 
Fob centuries wise men have realized the immense 
power of moving water. Could the power of the ocean 
waves and of falling streams be harnessed and sent 
over the land to furnish light, heat and motive power, 
the world would be made happier and better at once. 
When the scheme to develop the power of Niagara 
was proposed, many questioned the sanity of the pro¬ 
poser. Yet it is an accomplished fact. For years, 
efforts have been made to utilize the power of the 
ocean waves, but little has yet come of it except where 
here and there flood gates, to utilize the rise and fall 
of the tide have been erected. A scheme has now 
been proposed which outbids all others in audacity. 
This is no less than to build a dam or wall between 
the north of Ireland and a point in Scotland 15 miles 
away. At this point the tide runs rapidly and it is 
estimated that several flood gates in such a dam would 
supply an immense power that could be transmitted in 
the form of electricity all over Scotland, England and 
Ireland. Engineers declare this plan practicable. If 
carried out it would add more than ever to England’s 
manufacturing supremacy. 
* « 
BREVITIES. 
Breathes there a man with mind so dead 
That he will never use his head 
About hlB work, but go each day 
Clod hopperlng till he Is gray 7 
Deaf to his good wife’s vain appeals 
To let his head discharge bis heels 7 
If such there breathe, mark where he stands I 
Sore, stiff and weary are his hands. 
Big are his aches and small bis gains. 
And why ! Because his heal'.hy brains 
Were never worked: content was he 
To bow his head in slavery 
To unskilled labor, when he might 
Have nobly Joined the glorious fight 
For better things, and with h's wife 
Gone down the sunset slope of life 
In happiness and well-earned rest. 
With labor’s highest honors blessed. 
The artichoke—a weed. 
The lazy man Is a bored of labor. 
Does the harrow need a dentist? 
Unripe potatoes for seed-page 110. 
Set the plum trees on a plumb line. 
How about an Idle husband as dishwasher? 
Good food and good care can’t offset bad air. 
Spkayinq poultry—page 111 What about it ? 
What harrow do j on use on yo.-.r wife’s feelings? 
How many square feet of stable room for the cow? 
“POOKOld Uncle Sam 1” His whisky bill Is too big. 
The Irrigator must have faith with water bury works. 
What Is the truth about salting hay to keep It well? 
Mk. Woodward wants no lazy man to tread ensilage 
The Income tax should touch only soft-earned money. 
Dry or wet feed more easily digested? What say yout 
The pop corn article on page 100 answers many questions. 
Do you consider your thank account as you do your bank account? 
HOW are the children doing at school 1 Don't know ? Don’t care, eh ? 
A THOROUGH spanking turns raw material out of a “finished pro¬ 
duct.’’ 
Cows like pumpkin pie. You furnish the pumpkin and they will do 
the rest. 
Where does the loss go to when good man power is turned into 
brute force ? 
He also serves and never will command who lets his brain play ser¬ 
vant to bis band. 
If the horse bolts his food put a nut on It by keeping three or four 
big stones In the feed box. 
There are lots of “10-quart men.’’ Mr. Blrge, page 111, does not 
mean the drinking kind, however. 
Webster defines a chicken as “a young fowl.’’ Why then do you 
call a fowl grandmother a chicken? 
Answer every “ad’’last week? No? Why not this week then? 
Yon must have that catalogue education. 
If the women folks could have a glass house on the farm they would 
throw fewer verbal stones at the dullness of winter. 
They called Mr. Bittner a ‘ crank.’’ Would you mind being crank 
to a machine that would grind $1,700 out of your farm? 
don’t you see how clear Mr. Bittner makes It that he might easily 
have made another failure in spite of his manure and fertilizer ? 
A FLOCK of laying hens will drink far more water than an equal 
number of non-layers. Why not, since eggs are seven-eighths water 7 
You thought that prize fight was an outrage, did you ? We hope you 
will take the same view of the flies fight your cows will have next 
summer. 
IF clover only had the perambulating habit of the Busslan thistle 
and would scatter thousands of seeds over the land how agriculture 
would boom! 
We are Informed In a printed circular that those who use caustic 
potash for dishorning calves Infringe the patent of the manufacturer 
of a “ chemical dehorner.’’ What about that ? 
Nebraska gives a short course In agriculture in the form of a 
“ Bound Up Institute’’ at the agricultural college beginning February 
19 and continuing five days with four lectures each day. It will be in 
fact, a great agricultural convention. 
We learn that Ephraim W. Bull, who originated the Concord grape, 
has just been removed to a “Home for the Aged 1” There’s public 
gratitude for you! This venerable benefactor turned out at the age 
of 87 to live on charity 1 How easily the millions who have benefited 
byAls labor might have raised a fund te care for him In bis old age. 
