684 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 27 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker 
Cor. Ohcmbert and Pecvrl 8t $., New York. 
A NatlCBal Waekly Jonrnal for Country and Suburban Hamas. 
HLBHBT B. CABMAN, Bdltor-in-Cblaf. 
UBBBBBT W. COIAilNQWOOD, Manaflrlng Editor 
JOHN J. DI[JX)N, BuBlnesB Manafter. 
OopvriahUd 1894. 
AddroBB all buBlnoBB oommunloatlonB and make all ordara pay¬ 
able to THE BUBAL NEW-TOBEEB. 
Be Bare that the name and addreae of aender, with name of Post 
office and State, and what the remittance la for, appear In erery letter. 
Money orders and bank drafts on New York are the safest means of 
IransmlttlnK money. 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1894. 
CARMAN No. 1 POTATO. 
Owing to the severe drought, the stock of this potato 
is small, and the dealer’s price will be very high. We 
have been able to secure a stock of small tubers for 
distribution. To subscribers who apply, and inclose 
four cents for postage, we will send a tuber weighing 
about three ounces. This offer is for those only who did 
not receive a tuber last year. 
« 
The R. N.-Y. will hereafter give increased attention 
to the culture of flowers and general greenhouse work. 
Many of our readers will evidently take up glass gar¬ 
dening for the flrst time this winter. We are ready 
to help them by answering practical questions. 
The judges are at work trying to decide that sym¬ 
posium contest. It will be a difficult matter because 
there are so many excellent topics that it is hard to 
say which is the best. We shall endeavor to be fair and 
just to all, and we expect to secure good discussions of 
all the questions during the coming winter. 
« 
A NEW business for progressive farmers is that of 
spraying for the neighbors. One man may own a com¬ 
plete outflt and take the job of spraying for a dozen 
others—furnishing labor, Paris-green, Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture, and everything complete. This matter has gone 
so far that parties want to know what will be a fair 
charge per tree or acre for one or more sprayings. 
We would like to get a set of estimates from practical 
men. There is no reason why spraying in this way 
should not be as legitimate and profltable as plowing 
or thrashing. ^ 
The Argentine Republic is the most dangerous rival 
this country has in the production of wheat for the 
export trade. With abundant new land, cheap labor 
and short carriage to Europe, Argentine needs only 
cheap improved machinery largely to increase her out¬ 
put of grain. Last year it is said that Argentine im¬ 
ported $2,000,0?0 worth of American machinery. Now 
she wants to manufacture that machinery at home. It 
is said that her representatives are bargaining for an 
entire harvesting machinery plant in California. Thus 
the world goes. One cannot keep up with the changes. 
« 
We are asked to oppose the passage of the proposed 
constitutional amendments in New York State, on the 
ground that there were only two farmers in the con¬ 
vention. Well, why were there not more farmers ? 
There are agricultural counties in New York State 
where farmers are in a large majority. It is just one 
year late to find this fault. Why did not farmers 
nominate and elect their own representatives if they 
desired to be represented ? Why ? Because the poli¬ 
ticians knew they would swallow any party nomina¬ 
tion. Why do they swallow everything that is pre¬ 
sented ? You answer. ^ 
Among the fattest, sleekest horses seen in the city, 
are those which draw the immense brewery wagons. 
Not only are they in excellent condition, but they 
must be strong, for they are obliged to draw very 
heavy loads. It is said that they are fed largely on 
brewers’ grains, not in the condition that some dairy 
cows get them, but fresh from the vats. These have 
long been recognized as a valuable feed, but the great 
trouble with them is that they sour and spoil so 
rapidly. In the processes for drying them so far de¬ 
vised, nothing is extracted but the water ; so it would 
seem that the valuable properties might be retained 
in a shape that may be much more cheaply trans¬ 
ported, and easily preserved. But, all that is taken 
from green grass when it is dried into hay, is the 
water; yet hay is much different from grass in its 
palatability and feeding effects. Are these brewers’ 
grains, then, transformed in a similar manner by 
simply evaporating the water from them ? 
In an Australian paper we find an advertisement of 
“ night-soil manure,” which is offered for sale by the 
town clerk of Melbourne. The city appears to con¬ 
duct a fertilizer establishment where night soil is 
dried and powdered for use on gardens or farms. The 
advertised analysis is five per cent of ammonia, 23^ of 
phosphoric acid, and two of potash, and the price is 
87 per ton. A manure with that analysis would be 
worth over 816 a ton in this country, and yet the town 
can probably make a profit selling it at 87, because 
there is no cost save that of labor. What a pity that 
some of the wastes of American cities cannot be saved 
in like manner. ^ 
We do not know that very large potatoes have a 
commercial value in proportion to their size, but most 
people take pride in growing a giant tuber when they 
can. The following note shows what is possible in 
this line : 
I notice considerable mention In The B. N.-T. about the B. N.-Y. 
No. 2 potato. I planted some of them this year and liked them very 
much. I have 35 potatoes that weigh 60 pounds. The largest weighs 
pounds. You might offer The B. N.-Y. to any who will beat that, 
and I will make another assortment. H. v. lyon. 
Schuyler County. N. Y 
Very well—we will send The R. N.-Y. one year to any 
one who can produce 34 potatoes weighing 60 pounds. 
For our own use, however, we pass on such big tubers. 
* 
Eveby stockman knows that the only way to get 
profit out of animals is to keep them happy. Uogs 
can be perfectly happy on a manure pile where they 
will root over the manure better than a hired man 
with a fork. Now suppose you turned sheep in to get 
their dinner out of that manure. You would have a 
flock of unhappy and, hence, unprofitable sheep. You 
don’t do that because you have observed the habits of 
sheep and hogs, and know that the sheep are cleaner 
and dainty about their feeding and living. That is 
where the advantage of studying the habits and 
desires of your farm animals comes in. Prom the hen 
to the cow your live stock are most profitable when 
they are most comfortable—with least to worry about. 
Comfort means cash in this case. 
How refreshing, on a hot summer day when driving 
over dusty roads, to find a highway shaded with green 
trees on either side I It is a great relief both to man 
and beast. But a great objection to these shaded 
roads is that in spring, and after heavy rains, the mud 
dries up very slowly. Many country roads so shaded, 
will be found perfect mire holes after the other parts 
of the road are dry. Shall we, then, discard the trees 
on this account ? Do their disadvantages overbalance 
their advantages ? Why not, rather, discard the muddy 
roads ? In some localities, this may, perhaps, not le 
practicable, but wherever good road building material 
abounds, and the work is properly done, a road may 
be constructed that is practically free from mud. Thus 
the good road and the shade may each be enjoyed. 
* 
The photograph from which our first page picture 
was made, was taken on a New York State farm back 
on the hills—removed from the railroad. There was 
a time when it was thought that the ox-team would 
disappear from all Eastern farms. It has remained 
on the back farms, however—serving a very useful 
purpose and proving, in many cases, more economical 
than a team of horses. In fact, we think the use of 
oxen on such farms as we have mentioned will increase 
rather than diminish. The picture on our first page 
is the best one of oxen that we have ever seen. There 
ie power and force about these beasts as they stand 
there. And by the way, observe the neat pile of stove 
wood seen through the door of the shed. That’s busi¬ 
ness ! Can you make as good a showing on your farm ? 
« 
Anotheb new business is suggested by Mr. 0. H. 
Smith, on page 680. It is that of keeping a first-class 
bull on the road, traveling up and down every day 
past dairies where a good many cows are kept. We 
never heard of such a plan being carried out, but it is 
easy to see the advantages of it. The exercise will be 
good for the bull. We all know how careless many 
farmers who sell milk are about the male that heads 
their herd. Where the chief object is to have the 
cows with calf so as to bring them into milk, any old 
scrub bull will answer. Yet these men always want 
to raise a few heifer calves from their best cows, and 
most of them realize the importance of good blood. 
A good bull, going by these dairies day after day, 
would be apt to find considerable serdce, and we see 
no reason why such a scheme should not succeed. 
What do dairymen think about it ? 
* 
As most of our readers know, the custom prevails in 
some parts of the West where cattle are fed in large 
herds, of feeding whole ear corn or dry shelled corn. 
This corn is thrown into, troughs or the ears even 
thrown on the ground. Of course, a large part of such 
corn is wasted by the cattle, and under such a system, 
the feeder must feed more grain than would be needed 
to fatten the cattle under the best circumstances. But 
that grain is not wasted after all. Sharp eyed hogs 
are put in the field with the cattle. They not only 
eat all that the cattle leave about the feeding places, 
but they also get the undigested corn that is passed in 
the manure. Without the hogs, there would be a 
great loss of feed. Much the same thing is true of 
plants. After a crop of potatoes, tomatoes, or some¬ 
thing that has been manured heavily, there is sure to 
be a loss of fertility if the soil is left bare to the rains. 
A crop of rye, wheat or Crimson clover will act like 
the hog to use and retain the plant food left by 
the first crop, and hold it in available form for a 
succeeding one. This green crop will also prevent 
surface washing of the soil. That is why bare ground 
for winter should be avoided if possible. 
* 
On page 636, we had a few lines about what is 
known as the “ Chicago Creamery Fiend.” Soon after 
the paper was issued, we began to get letters and tele¬ 
grams asking for further information. The facts in 
the case are pretty well stated by our correspondent 
on page 679. We are fighting the methods employed 
by this concern. Bribery is their favorite weapon. 
They attempt to buy some leading or influential man 
by offering him stock in the creamery if he will go 
about and induce others to guarantee their money for 
stock. You may be sure that those who do put up 
money, are obliged to pay the bonus of the “purchased 
man.” The agents of this concern are simply trying 
to make a sale. If they can sell a plant three times as 
large as the community can support, they are well 
pleased though they well know that nothing but 
failure can result from it. We are also credibly in¬ 
formed that when possible to do so, they put in cheap 
and inferior materials, while their prices are higher 
than those charged by other reliable houses. For 
these reasons we refuse to advertise this house, and 
warn our readers against them. It is possible for a 
creamery to be a friend of the farmer. These fellows 
would make it a hend. ^ 
BREVITIES. 
When the baby burns his Anger, he will ne'er forget the pain 
Never knowingly will stretch bis hand to touch the lire again. 
For deep graven on his memory, above life's best desire. 
Pain has written down this warning—•* LltUe boy, beware of Hre!" 
Oh! But when the little fellow out behind the barn some day. 
Gets to puffing at a cigarette till asben-hued and gray. 
Oh! So sick that life’s a burden, limp and helpless to the core 
Paying tribute to tobacco as so many have before. 
Though be writhe In mortal anguish, be will sooi forget the pain 
And the height of his ambition Is to try to smoke again. 
Thus the burnt child shuns the burning to his very dying day 
But the child sick on tobacco hardly can be palled away. 
'Tls a funny freak of nature, from the cradle to the grave. 
Still caloric makes a master and foul nicotine—a slave. 
Wisdom is made up of whysl 
The thin horse fears the winter 
The Irrigator s motto ■ reign water ! 
Whex mind’s away the works decay. 
Bad teeth may cause catarrh In a horse. 
“ How to read agricultural papers"—page 690. 
Expekience tempers the wind of the blowhard. 
A GOOD laugn Is the oil of toll. Never forget how. 
The Idle do not need Satan’s help to find mischief. 
A SULKY tool will often make a good-natured farmer. 
The worst income tax on your farm Is the cost of the scrub's food 
Some of the Bubji>ct8 for symposiums are certainly some 'poser uns. 
Why Is a crutch like a greenhouse? It may be used to prop a gait ! 
Did you know that the Government 1 b still coining silver dollars? 
How many of your friends can sound the h in wheat or the t In 
chestnut? 
How about that experience with the reports of the Weather Bureau 
given on page 682 ? 
Oh, how the lazy teacher does despise the child whose sharp tongue 
punctures him with whysl 
Do you know of one farmer In your town who can tell anywhere near 
what his crops cost per pound or bushel ? 
The phosphates to be used this winter are Inside your head—brains 
Don’t let them all be washed out at the mouth I 
One man writes that he wants Primer Science written on the prin¬ 
ciple that those who read it know absolutely nothing of the subject. 
Mh. a. B. Cbandell, whose skillful editing made the agricultural 
department of the old New York Tribune a model, writes for The 
K. N.-Y. 
It Is very hard to do good plowing after corn when the stalks are 
cut too high—as they often are. What is the best tool for crashing 
them down ? 
Mb. Chapman wants to know if a potato that "feels heavy” Is unusu¬ 
ally solid, or contains too much water. We don’t know, but would 
like to be told. 
Why 1 We wish every writer for The B. N.-Y. would have that 
little word in mind when he give* an opinion. We want a reason for 
the faith that Is In them. 
An egg-shell is practically air and water proof. Its contents are 
about as securely sealed as the contents of a preserving Jar. Why, 
then, should an egg decay? Bacteria have been found far up in the 
oviduct of a ben, and they are probably enclosed in the egg before the 
shell Is deposited around it. 
The last New York Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use of 
granite paving blocks brought from other States to be used for State 
or municipal purposes. Hereafter such paving blocks must be quar¬ 
ried and dressed in New York State. The professed objects are to 
breaa up a monopoly of New England granite cutters, and develop 
New York State quarries. 
AS an example of business depression, take the report of the West¬ 
ern Union Telegraph Company. In treyear ending June 30, 1894, its 
total revenues amounted to 821,852,655, and expenses $16,060,170. The 
revenues were $3,125,787 less than the previous year, while expenses 
were cut down $1,422,235, a profit of $5,702,485 ought to keep the direct¬ 
ors out of the poorhousel 
