6o4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 22 
TBB 
Rural New-Yorker 
Oor. Chambers and Pearl Sts ., ffew York. 
A Natlsaal Weakly Jearnal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
BLBHBT B. CABMAN, Bdltor-ln-Ctalel. 
UBBBBBT W. COIiLINGWOOD, Manarlns Bdltor 
JOHN J. DILIiON, BuBlness MansRer. 
CowriQhted 1894. 
Address all business oommnnloatlons and make all orders pay¬ 
able to THB BCBAL NBW-TOKKBB. 
Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of Post 
office and State, and what the remittance Is for, appear In erery letter. 
Money orders and bank drafts on New Tork are the safest means of 
transmitting money. 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1894. 
Many small patches of sweet potatoes are seen in 
northern New Jersey, and while the crop might not 
prove remunerative for market, there seems no reason 
why many farmers equally as far as, or farther north, 
should not produce at least a supply for home use. A 
light, warm soil, is required, and the cultivation is no 
more difficult than that of the common potato. Plants 
are easily procurable in season, if one does not wish 
to produce his own. ^ 
OuK friends, the manufacturers of maple sweets, 
will do well to scour the wood lot for fuel for use next 
spring. Quantities of partially decayed wood, stumps 
and so on, may be found in most wood lots, which 
will make good fuel if secured under cover soon. 
Later in the season, it will be water-soaked and value¬ 
less. A sugar orchard of 500 to 1,000 trees uses up a 
gieat many cords of wood. In a few years, many will 
have to resort to coal. For the sake of the profits, 
postpone this day as far as possible by a yearly clean¬ 
ing up of rubbish. ^ 
Isn’t that an inviting picture of A Family Park, de¬ 
scribed by R. D. B., on page 607 ? Shouldn’t such a 
retreat as a play and rest ground, combined with the 
other features, which we would expect to find associated 
with it, be enough to keep almost any right-minded 
boy or girl on the farm ? Such a beautiful spot ought 
to solve the question of leaving the farm. Then, too, 
see the small cost necessary to carry out the idea. The 
one described was planned in a family where money is 
an extremely scarce article, and where every penny 
must be carefully used. Doesn’t this suggest some¬ 
thing for your farm ? ^ 
We are told in a horticultural publication, that the 
Ohio Experiment Station has described a new method 
of propagating strawberries. The new method con¬ 
sists “simply in removing the young runners from the 
plant as soon as, or even before, they have taken root, 
and propagating in a cold frame ; or, in other words, 
treating the young plants as fiorists treat cuttings.” 
Substantially the same method was described and 
illustrated in Tub R. N.-Y. of September 3,1887—seven 
years ago. Was our usually wide-awake and progres¬ 
sive friend, the horticulturist of the Ohio Station, 
napping at that time ? Or has he something better 
than the method there described ? 
Governor Flower is speaking at many of the fairs 
this fall, and the burden of his speech is that New 
York State has done wonders for her farmers. His 
best card is the fact that a great agricultural depart¬ 
ment nas been created for the purpose of curing all 
the ills that Eastern agriculture is heir to. Now The 
R. N.-Y. has repeatedly claimed, and on good author¬ 
ity too, that this famous “agricultural department” 
is simply a big political machine. It was organized 
for a double purpose—to give politicians a chance to 
make just such statements as Gov. Flower is now 
making but, under the surface, to make a big machine 
to work for party advantage. This “agricultural depart¬ 
ment” is a big humbug. Its friends will never have a 
better chance than the present to come forward and 
prove the great value they claim for it I 
« 
In eastern Colorado and western Nebraska, lies a 
broad strip of land known as the “ rain belt country.” 
It is a dry, parched and dreary tract, most of it incap¬ 
able of irrigation, and with sufficient rainfall to 
mature a crop possibly once in five years. This coun¬ 
try has been a bonanza for the frauds who sell bogus 
town lots and farms. They bought up vast tracts of 
this worthless land, told the most remarkable lies 
about it, and induced thousands of settlers to move in 
from other sections This has resulted in what is per¬ 
haps the most melancholy feature of all American 
farm life. There has been no rain the past year in the 
“rain belt.” To-day hundreds of wagons are crawling 
away from this dry country through Colorado and 
eastern Nebraska, with families of settlers after work 
or help. They will be provided for during the winter, 
and in the spring back they will go to the old place to 
wait for rain. It is not only the saddest, but the most 
curious side of American farming. One of our corres¬ 
pondents has been among these roving people, and 
will, before long, tell us something about them. 
« 
The R. N.-Y. is not done with that fund for the 
benefit of Ephraim W. Bull, the originator of the 
Concord grape. Last month we sent him a second 
check for $37. The latest arrival in this line is the 
following note and inclosure : 
Some time since I noticed in Thb R. N.-Y. an appeal for help for 
Mr. Bull, the originator of the Concord grape. While at the meeting 
of the Indiana Hortlcaltnral Society, I asked for a Uve-certcontrlbu- 
tlon from all present who had eaten of, and appreciated, this grape. 
This resulted in $5.32. Inclosed find check for same, for which please 
receipt. Along with this check, the society send their best wishes, and 
hope that hlB last days may be full of peace and comfort. 
MBS. W. W. STBVKNS. 
This grape season is a peculiarly fitting one for remem¬ 
bering in a substantial way what Mr. Bull did for 
American grape growing. The fund for his benefit is 
always open. ^ 
The season has been very unfavorable for the de¬ 
velopment of potato blight, being too hot and dry. A 
case of the genuine disease can hardly be found, as 
damp, cool weather is required to start its germs into 
growth. The vines have turned yellow, then brown, 
and finally died from the effects of the hot weather. 
Fall rains may start disease, and the wise man will 
dig as soon as the skin sets, dry the tubers well, store 
in the cellar at once, keep at an even temperature, and 
not disturb by moving about. In spite of dry weather, 
the show of potatoes at the county fairs is unusually 
fine. The acreage is large and the duty reduced. Per¬ 
haps the present price, 50 cents from the field, may be 
the best of the season. It is as good as 75 cents in 
midwinter. The expense of storing, shrinkage, loss 
by disease, and interest on money, are all factors to 
be considered. Let’s hear from you on the subject. 
* 
The following notice was found pasted over a broken 
window in a Now Jersey henhouse : 
Whereas, The new tariff bill remoyes the duty from eggs so that the 
products of Canadian and European hens are admitted free, and. 
Whereas, The man who owns this henhouse ihinks his hopes have 
died with the duty, and that foreign eggs will now drive us out of busi¬ 
ness, and. 
Whereas, He therefore concludes that there Is no use In his clean¬ 
ing up, mending the windows or stopping cracks, and. 
Whereas, This action seems likely to be followed by a large number 
Of equally brilliant men, and, 
WTisreat, This Is a matter that concerns the hen far more than It 
does the men, and as too many of our sisters are silent while this In¬ 
sult and outrage Is being perpetrated upon them, 
therefore. In view of these facts as above mentioned, be It 
Resolved, That we claim to be equal In energy and thrift to any Ca¬ 
nadian or European hen that ever was hatched! Our breeding is just 
as good and we are capable of just as good work. 
Resolved, That we have the advantages of nearness to market, 
warmer climate, cheaper and more varied food—10 advantages to one 
possessed by any foreign bird. 
Resolved, That If the so-called man who owns this house will quit 
groaning about the new tariff bill and devote his giant Intellect to 
the task of making this house warm, clean and dry; If he will make 
pie of the surplus roosters and, in short, run his henhouse on business 
principles, we will guarantee a safe and secure profit. 
Resolved, That If this man refuse to carry out this reasonable re¬ 
quest, his name must go ringing down the ages as that of a fraud, 
humbug and Ignoramus. AMB RICAN BUSINESS UEN. 
Sec. Soolely for the Promotion of American Poultry Interests. 
* 
The questions concerning the present condition of 
farming, printed on another page, are interesting 
enough to warrant a full discussion. There is a great 
deal of general talk fioating about to the effect that 
the farmer is much worse off than he used to be. 
What do you, as an individual farmdr, have to say to 
that? If you have kept anything like a record of 
your business from year to year, you know whether 
your receipts are less now than they were 10 years 
ago. If they are less, the reason for that decrease 
should not be hard to find. We will venture to say 
that few men who are growing the same crops and 
using the same methods they did 10 years ago, are 
doing as well financially as they did then. The men 
who have changed—taken up something new and de¬ 
veloped it carefully, are, as a rule, doing as well as 
they ever did. We shall be greatly pleased if each one 
of our subscribers will answer these questions from 
his own books and observations. We could thus 
accumulate a mass of information that would be of 
great value. Tell us what your farm is doing. 
* 
A REPORT has been circulated by several newspapers 
that the peach orchards in Delaware and Maryland 
which were overfiowed by salt water early last spring, 
are the only ones in bearing this season. An investi¬ 
gation of the matter was recently made by a visit to 
a number of the orchards located along the eastern 
shore of Maryland. Several orchards in fruiting this 
season were partially overflowed by salt water; while 
others are located upon high land not reached by the 
water. There was no difference between the yield 
of fruit in the portion overflowed and that on the 
high land. A number of orchards producing a fair crop 
were visited. They were located upon land lying along 
side rather large bodies of water, but which was never 
overflowed. One orchard in particular was so located 
that a portion of the land submerged was upon oppo¬ 
site sides of a shallow ravine, so that it faced nearly 
northeast and southwest, while the yield of fruit was 
very uniformly distributed throughout the entire or¬ 
chard, The trees upon the overflowed land were cov¬ 
ered with a denser and darker green foliage than those 
in the rest of the orchard. The fruit upon the former 
was less highly colored than that upon the latter. The 
consensus of opinion expressed by the owners was that 
the proximity to the large bodies of water protected 
the blossoms. 
On page 577, The R N.-Y. denounced the practice 
of girdling grape vines. While this practice hastens 
ripening, it gives poor fruit, disappoints buyers, and 
thus injures the sale of better fruit which follows it. 
In commenting on this statement, Mr. W. F. Taber 
says: 
That bit the nail square on the bead, and Is exactly what my com¬ 
mission man has just written me. I raised a breeze In an Icsiltute 
meeting held last winter In a grape-growing district, by declaring that 
girdled grapes were not fit to eat, and further declared that such mar¬ 
ket conditions as we now see, would be the Inevl.able consequence of 
such a practice, coupled with the selfish greed of those who send sour, 
unripe grapes to market. 
Girdlers are now reaping what they have sown. Too 
bad that others suffer with them. 
* 
BREVITIES. 
JKHOSUAPHAT SMITH was a terrible talker; 
His wife took and paid for The Rubal New-Youkeh, 
And Smith kindly read It and shoated “ ’Taint so I 
Them city chaps can't fool this farmer, you know.” 
He beard of the Carman potato last year. 
“ Jast send one along and we’ll try It up here.” 
It came—a small nut of a tuber—two eyes. 
But wasn’t Smith madi ’* it s a swindle 1” he cries. 
He threw It away, but his poor, patient wife. 
Who couldn’t oppose him to save her own life. 
Picked up the small tuber and kept It till spring. 
And planted and hoed It and trained It—poor thing I 
And watered and cared for it all her own self. 
While Smith dozed away like a bug on a shelf. 
And ohl how that tuber did yield with such care. 
And big Brother Smith took It off to the fair. 
” Justsee what I done with a poor litle nut 
Of 'tater ! ” he said with a satisfied strut. 
While fond Mrs. Smith st^od regarding ner spouse 
And said, “ We’ve a wonderful man at oar house ! ” 
Ci.EAN up the eanna refuse. 
Who can make a sick turkey eat 7 
Insects on woolen cloth—page 600. 
Bbtteb shoot the colt than stunt It. 
Get started now with the seed corn. 
The best corn for breeding hogs is A corn. 
Edge or center of the silo—which should be higher? 
“ Salt sick” Is the Florida name for “hollow horn.” 
Washing by power will not make the wife's temper sour. 
What becomes of patience when It “ ceases to be a virtue ” 7 
Agent, stick to your last—would-be subscriber until he subscribes. 
See what bone, potash and clover did for that northern Michigan 
farm. 
Think of a miller charging more for bran than he paid for whole 
wheat. 
On page 602 one who knows tells how to raise green food for 20 cows 
next year. 
A hen is never In better shape for "fried chicken” than when she 
wants to Bit. 
Who have had trouble with the green color from Bordeaux Mixture 
remaining on grapes this year? 
When a farmer has made more money than he needs for support, 
where should he go to spend it? 
Go test a mess of buttermilk and then with sorrow say: “ Oh, how I 
wish 1 had that fat, that I have thrown away.” 
Tub forest fires are said to have destroyed a vast tract of standing 
pine which formed part of the endowment of Cornell University. 
Can’t you get your applet off the trees without handling them one 
by one? Can’t you make a machine to sort and size your potatoes ? 
The only serious objection to the Income tax seems to come from 
those who can well afford to pay It, but don’t want to. 
Thehb Is no disgrace In being a back number If your contents are 
well indexed—that Is, If your experience has been well sifted. 
When yon come to renew your subscription, it will not hurt our 
feelings at all to have you Imitate the example of Mr. McIntyre— 
page 51)8. 
Students of New England history know of the famous “dark day ” 
In 1780. It Is likely that a former great forest fire In the Northwest 
caused It. 
Th BEE years ago The R. N.-Y. tried to find parties who were using 
cannery refuse In the silo. Now dozens of parties are doing this very 
thing. Improvements grow. 
Imitation silk is now made from wood pulp. The wood is treated 
chemically until It Is about tne consistency of cool glue, when it Is 
drawn off Into fine threads and spun or twisted Into yarn. 
“ Pabis-okeen” Is made by dissolving white arsenic and acetate of 
copper separately In boiling water and mixing while boiling. There 
was once a “boom” for white arsenic alone as an insecticide, but this 
has died out. 
The feeding of wheat to live stock will have a doubly good effect. 
It will decrease tjie market supply and perhaps help up the price, and 
will show farmers the advantage of feeding some more nitrogenous 
food than corn. 
■Who located the roads In your town ? Do they run in the best places 
for convenience and business ? Would It be economy to put them In 
other places? Tnat’s worth considering before you vote money to 
mend the old ones I 
In the year ending June 30,1893, 7,704,943 papers of seeds were Issued 
by the Agricultural Department. Some 1,511,000 received the seeds, 
but only 1,483 made any report concerning them. All the “new and 
rare” seeds bad been catalogued by seedsmen for at least two years. 
