THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
EgtablUhed 1850. Copyrighted 1894. 
Elbert S. Carman, EdItor-ln-Chlef. 
Herbert W. Collinowood, Manag-ing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUItSCRIPTlONS. 
PRICE, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreig^n countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or SYt marks, or 10^ francs. 
ADVERTISING RATES. 
Thirty cents per agate line (14 lines to the inch). Yearly orders 
of 10 or more lines, and l,(XX)-line orders, 25 cents per line. 
Reading Notices, ending with "Adv.," 75 cents per 
count line. Absolutely One Price Only. 
Advertisements inserted only for responsible and honorable houses 
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 transmitting money. 
Address all business communications and make all orders pay- 
^ THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1894. 
CARMAN No. 1 POTATO. 
Owing to the severe droug'ht, the stock of this potato 
is small, and the dealers’ price will be very hig’h. 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. T'his ojfer is for those only who did 
not receive a tuber last year. 
O 
For the next eight months, E. S. Carman would 
prefer that his friends address all personal communi¬ 
cations to No. 5 West 82nd Street, New York City, 
instead of River Edge, N. J. 
O 
We notice that many papers are quite free with ad¬ 
vice to Governor-elect Morton as to how he should do 
this and that. We are satisfied that Mr. Morton has 
well considered the needs of the State, and that is why 
we feel confident that the Agricultural Department 
will be made more useful to our farmers. 
O 
Who can give us any facts about the “Heroic Moult¬ 
ing,” referred to on page 755 ? Will this early hand 
plucking of the feathers hasten the “moulting” pro¬ 
cess so that the hens will recover their vigor earlier 
than if the feathers were shed naturally ? In any 
event, it is a cruel way to increase egg production. 
CD 
The recent election settled several things: Tam¬ 
many is hard hit, free trade has been indefinitely 
postponed, and some of the big “bosses” are in the 
hospital. Now we want to know how honest butter 
came out. Will Congress pass the Grout anti-oleo 
bill ? We think so. That will give “oleo” a bad 
black eye, for it will then have to come under State 
laws. 
Q 
There are farmers who find it hard to realize that 
there is as much water in various apparently dry sub¬ 
stances as analysis indicates. A good way to under¬ 
stand the matter is to take broad as an illustration. 
Take a slicie of ordinary homemade bread and w'eigh 
it. Then toast it thoroughly, as dry as may be, and 
weigh it again. The difference represents the weight 
of the water that has been driven off by the heat, and 
it is considerable. 
O 
A Massachusetts manufacturer is now advertising 
corn cob handles for bicycles. He says that they are 
“durable, absorbent, clean and beautiful.” This 
makes another outlet for one of the by-products of the 
farm. Not a very large one, perhaps, but one that is 
likely to grow. In some parts of the West, the manu¬ 
facture of cob pipes, makes quite a profitable market 
for cobs, but this latest use is certainly a more com¬ 
mendable one. Who says the cob isn’t corned ? 
G 
The papers report a unique sentence recently im¬ 
posed upon an illiterate prisoner by a Missouri magis¬ 
trate. He was totally unable to read and write, and 
was sentenced to imprisonment until he learned to 
read. An educated offender tried at the same time, 
was sentenced to be confined until he had taught the 
other to read. The task was accomplished in just 
three weeks. Isn’t this the solution of the vexing prob¬ 
lem of illiteracy ? One of the greatest menaces of the 
stability of our Government, is the uneducated, espec¬ 
ially that part which is unwisely invested with the 
ballot. Crime flourishes more largely in this class. 
When such are convicted of wrongdoing, why not 
make some such task as this the condition of liberty ? 
Our penal institutions might need to be enlarged, but 
it might be safer outside. 
O 
Let us suppose that Mr. Heacock, who telLs us about 
his celery crate on page 743, were to cut and trim his 
celery in the ordinary way, pack it carelessly in dirty 
old .shoe boxes, and send it to market “ any way.” 
Would it pay him ? Whq,t a foolish question! You 
know it wouldn’t. Don’t you see how important it is 
to have goods look neat and clean ? “ Kept down by 
dirt and disorder ! ” That is the truth about many a 
shipper. 
O 
The stories of large yields from single small pota¬ 
toes, have stimulated some of our readers to try to do 
their best with the little Carman No. 1 tubers. One 
friend writes this : 
I purpose to plant my potato in a tobacco pail, and make a 
house iilant of it this winter. If successful, I expect a dozen good 
tubers for next spring’s planting. What do you think of the idea? 
We doubt if the plan will succeed—at least, we have 
never heard of good results from such a course. I n any 
event, you are likely to be disappointed if you count 
your potatoes before they are planted. 
O 
Winter pi’otection for outdoor flowers is a large 
subject, and, contrary to general opinion, is, in No¬ 
vember, somewhat premature. Experience shows that 
most plants, at all hardy, can endure extreme and 
long-continued cold when entirely dormant, but are de¬ 
stroyed by a mild degree of frost after being excited 
into growth. It is the alternation of freezing and 
thawing, that harms the plants. Coverings should be 
of some light material, such as leaves or straw, held 
in place by brush or lath, and, as a rule, should not 
be put on until the ground is frozen, as the object is 
to keep the frost in and not out of the plant. Except 
in the extreme north, the first part of December is 
early enough to apply protection to most plants. 
O 
One thing that must be evident to those who desire 
to learn how to balance a ration, is that the pupil must 
do most of the work. Strictly speaking, the “ bal¬ 
ance ” is largely a theory with so many things to mod¬ 
ify it in actual practice, that it would be foolish to 
follow it blindly. The standard proportion for mix¬ 
ing foods is an average of many results, and profit has 
been found in very wide extremes of feeding. The 
quality of the food, warmth of the animal, care given 
it, its capacity for assimilation, and other things, all 
enter into the calculation. Happily, most of these 
things are under the control of the dairyman. There 
is a true and proper balance between the two chief 
classes of food, and every man who feeds an animal 
ought to find it out. Rut that is the very point—^he 
must^Hciitby study and experiment. There is no 
ironclad rule for him to follow. 
O 
Among the many questions and comments called out 
by the articles on “A Balanced Ration,” is the follow¬ 
ing, which is typical of others . 
Will you give the analysis of foods for humans, that is, the 
muscle-makers and fat-formers ? I would like to make up a 
“balanced ration” for myself ; I take on too much fat. I work 
hard (12 hours a day), but still get fat. 
When we started “Primer Science,” we had in mind 
chiefly a discussion of the principles that have to do 
with the feeding and development of farm animals 
and plants. It becomes more and more evident, how¬ 
ever, that human beings suffer even more than their 
four-footed animals, from an ignorance of the true 
science of foods and diet. We shall, therefore, try to 
explain something about the science of the kitchen. 
We cannot guarantee any special mixtures for making 
people fat or lean at will, but we shall try to show 
how a “balanced ration” may be compounded out of 
the contents of the pantry. 
O 
Some weeks ago, we referred to the fact that speci¬ 
mens of the destructive San Jos6 pear scale had been 
found on fruit brought from California. Now it 
appears that Prof. Lintner, the New York State Ento¬ 
mologist, has found this insect on Long Island and in 
orchards on the Hudson River. This is bad news, 
and no time should be lost by our State authorities in 
taking steps to combat this pest in a wholesale way. 
It has been suggested that the Eastern States should 
pass laws prohibiting the imports of California fruits 
bearing these insects. It would be possible to pass 
such laws, but could they be enforced ? That is a 
question. We doubt it. The best present plan is to 
go to work in a systematic and scientific way to de¬ 
stroy the pest before it obtains a stronger foothold. 
Teach farmers how to know the insect, and how to 
destroy it, and make them see the necessity of im¬ 
mediate concerted action. 
Mr. Watson (page 743) gives us some figures show¬ 
ing the profits made by the agents who handle farm 
tools. The manufacturers always say that these agents 
are necessary to their trade, the chief reason given 
being that they have not found that the average 
farmer knows enough about business to make direct 
dealing satisfactory. At the same time, manufae- 
turers must admit that a direct cash trade with farm¬ 
ers, if it could be arranged, would be more satisfac¬ 
tory than the present system. When a farmer comes 
forward with the ca.sh, he should receive a big discount 
from the list price. This the manufacturer can well 
afford, and if he would advertise the fact properly, he 
could reach the actual buyers. But the agent! Is the 
manufacturer at the mercy of the agent then ? If that 
is so, we would like to know it, for that would sim¬ 
plify matters a good deal. 
G 
BREVITIES. 
There -were two Western farmers, so they say. 
Who fell out while discussing—one fine day— 
What brought the price of horses down so low. 
One said, “These cable cars in town ; also. 
Electric lines—they do the work that once 
W'as done by farm-raised horses—any dunce 
Can see through that.” “Not so!” the other said. 
“ Too many folks use bicycles instead 
Of horses. Wheels are trumps, I plainly see.” 
The more they talked, the less they could agree. 
Till finally, they went and laid the case 
Before their German neighbor. With his face 
As wise as any owl, Hans listened through 
Their arguments, then said, “Der bote off you 
Vas wrong; der brice off horses vas decay 
Because der labor haf been stole avay. 
But not by picycles or cables—No ! 
Dere vas a meaner tief like dot und so, 
Dere vas—und it vas blain to any von 
Too many donkeys 'pulls' mit Vashington." 
A BUOYANT girl is a double child crop. 
A MEALY meal—corn bread and baked potatoes. 
Would there be more dogs if there were no dog tax ? 
Has the “Black knot” law diminished the disease any? 
Slight of hand—neglecting the training of the left one. 
Forcing yourself to do your duty is a moral muscle-maker. 
Glad to see other papers talk up improved chestnut culture. 
What winter preparations have you made for the child crop ? 
COMMONSENSE was Originally tied fast to you. How often do you 
cut it loose ? 
How about that *short rotation of jiotatoes, strawberries and 
grass, page 742 ? 
It is wonderful how many men have used one form or another 
of apple pickers. 
It seems to us like a waste of time and acid to try to “ dissolve ” 
fine ground bone. 
The only thing that tells the difference between an expense and 
a good investment is an account book. 
Where do you draw the line in size between potatoes for seed 
or hog feed ? What’s “ too small ” for seed ? 
Would you know how to make any trade but a “ mess ” ? Here’s 
the way—have no method excepting “ I guess.” 
Do you want to know the best thing to shred up the happiness 
of your home ? The “ jaws ” of husband and wife 1 
Young man, at the first desire you experience to slight your 
work, just make yourself stick to it until a good job is done. 
There can be no such thing as a “ howling success,” except to 
the king of grumblers. Only the disappointed or unsuccessful 
howl. 
It is a question whether it will not strain the imaginations of 
some of the Governors this year, to issue a Thanksgiving procla¬ 
mation ! 
We are getting some good reports of the conduct of spurry on 
light, sandy soils where little else will grow. The R. N.-Y. never 
found this plant valuable on its farms. 
Both bread and bran should be sold at prices regulated by the 
cost of wheat. To keep up their prices in these times, is an out¬ 
rage on the part of bakers and millers. 
What sort of a ration are you feeding the worker inside your 
head? Thought is the muscle-maker; reading the fat-former, and 
observation the pure fat. What is your ratio ? 
Children in English schools are required to promise due respect 
for their “ elders and betters.” That is right, but is the “ better ” 
to grade himself—to determine his own standing ? 
Alfalfa and sugar beets will make a balanced ration for fat¬ 
tening stock. They will make it possible for Colorado to beat the 
corn States at beef-making, and move the great slaughter houses 
West to Denver. 
The President has decided to negotiate the sale of $50,000,000 of 
United States bonds as a means of raising revenues. It seems to 
us that this is unnecessary. We would rather see the currency of 
the country increased by that amount. 
Any man who can get a good 10-inch gi-owth of Crimson clover 
on a field, has no cause to complain if every plant dies out this 
winter. That gi>owth will more than pay the entire cost. Get more 
growth next spring if you can, of course, but don’t complain if it 
dies. 
In 100 pounds of pumpkins, there are about 90 pounds of water, 
less than half a pound of muscle-makers, seven pounds of fat- 
formers and one-tenth pound of pure fat. Their greatest use, 
therefore, is to add bulk and water to the ratiox and to aid diges¬ 
tion, as succulent foods seem to do. 
On Wednesday, November 14, our pungent correspondent, Fred 
Grundy, was married to Miss Lora E. Morris. He proved his 
appreciation of our public school system, by marrying a school 
teacher. Now let’s see if this division of his sorrows and joys will 
put another color to his pictures of farm life ! 
“ Fire kills dirt.” That has always been a comforting thought 
to those who felt themselves at the mercy of careless or dirty 
cooks. Now comes a German scientist to assure us that the heat 
of an oven will not kill all the mean bacteria in the bread made in 
bake shops. Oh, dear ! Why can’t these learned fellows leave us 
the bliss of ignorance ! 
