764 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' RARER 
National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. Copyrighted 1894. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SIJHSCKIJ'TIONS. 
price:, one dollar a year. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
Ss. 6d., or 8*4 inai'ks, or 10*4 francs. 
ADVEKTISINO KATEIS. 
Tlilrty cents per agate line (14 lines to the inch). Yearly orders 
of 10 or more lines, and 1 ,(X)0-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- 
oftice and State, and wliat 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 Chaml^ers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1894. 
SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER. 
Tlie price of The ]{usines.s Hen, cloth binding, is 75 
cents. We offer it as a premium to any one who will 
send one new yearly subscription. This offer holds 
good till .January 1, 18!)5. 
O 
“ The cost of a crop !” We told you we would tell 
just how some farmers are able to tell to a cent, what 
their crops cost. One such statement is given this 
week, and others will follow. It doesn’t require a 
very lively imagination to eonvince a man that such 
knowledge of a crop’s cost, would be of great value in 
selling farm products. Does it need a livelier one to 
tell why you do not liave such a statement ? 
O 
Two things our readers are taking quite an interest 
in, are Mr. Augur’s recent statement that an acre of 
potatoes should be grown for $40, and the di.sadvant- 
ages of “big” potatoes for market or home eonsump- 
tion. We expect to get some valuable facts out of this 
discussion. You will notice that our friend, page 758, 
says that he was able to reduce the size of the K. 
N.-Y. No. 2 by crowding the seed pieces closer 
together. 
O 
That’s a good idea suggested by our Missouri friend, 
page 760, of having an idle thrashing engine do his 
grinding. Why should the engine stand still during 
the winter, when it may be put to useful work ? Here 
is another argument in favor of cocperation or ex¬ 
change of work and tools. If one engine will do thrash¬ 
ing, feed grinding and wood sawing at three different 
seasons, why have three separate engines—one for 
each job ? 
G 
On page 759, A. H. Prince says that it is a good plan 
to put a few bunches of red or white grapes on the top 
of eaeh basket of black ones. Many dealers have told 
us that it is not for this market. Grapes so packed, 
are occasionally seen, and some people may like to 
buy grapes so mixed ; but most buyers have a prefer¬ 
ence, and do not wish packages containing more than 
one variety. The same holds true with other kinds of 
produce. Some markets may prefer these mixed goods, 
but one must always know his market in order to be 
able best to supply it, and to reap the best returns. 
O 
Here; is a statement made by a subscriber in Penn¬ 
sylvania, that we think will appeal to many : 
Many, vex’y many, farmer.s, liave more lior.ses than they need for 
their farm work, and there is no sale for them at any price. What 
shall they do with them ? It seems very hard to feed up our sum¬ 
mer’s work to idle horses, especially those advanced in years and 
decreasing- in value; besides being slaves to the work of caring for 
useless animals. 
Who likes to be a slave to a horse ? If we could only 
have some extended scheme for road improvement, 
farmers could find winter work for their horses. As 
it is, what can be done with them ? 
O 
There are many places near towns and cities, 
where farmers have little chance to do profitable win¬ 
ter work. The farm may be small and devoted chiefly 
to vegetables and fruits, with fertilizers for the chief 
plant food. Stock farming is, therefore, out of the 
question. Poultry might answer, but unless a person 
is a natural “hen-man” he will find that his eggs cost 
more than they will sell for. What can such men do 
in winter ? Gardening under glass offers fair induce¬ 
ments to the right man. In every town there is more 
or le.ss winter demand for fresh lettuce and early 
cucumbers. The larger cities are pretty well supplied 
by the large establishments and from the South, and 
the small grower will not be able to compete well in 
these places. The smaller towns off the main lines of 
shipment are the markets for the small glass gardener. 
Is any one preparing to supply fresh lettuce to your 
town ? If not, there is a chance for you to get in 
ahead. 
O 
A NEW scheme for passing counterfeit money—on 
the farmers of course—has been discovered in western 
New York. The counterfeiters or their agents went 
through the country buying chickens of the farmers. 
They paid for them in counterfeit $5 and .$10 bills, re¬ 
ceiving back good money in change. These particular 
operators have been captured and identified, and are 
not likely to do any more of this .sort of business for 
.some time to come. But there are probably others 
who may try the same game. Look out for strangers 
who are traveling around the country under any pre¬ 
text. 
G 
Eve:ry one: who raises strawberries in any quantity, 
has been forced to realize that there is such a thing 
as sex in plants. Where pistillates, or female plants, 
are used alone, a paying crop is impo.ssible. There 
are lots of men in this world with pistillate minds. 
Capable of strong and healthy thought, their minds 
move in narrow and bigoted channels until they 
are fertilized by a new idea so forcibly presented 
tliat they cannot get away from it. Then the pistil¬ 
late mind bears fruit, like the plant touched by the 
pollen from its neighbor. Let no man grow weary 
of spreading the truth abroad. There are minds every¬ 
where that need the touch that shall start their 
“ think works.” 
G 
In connection with the remarks on digestion under 
“ Primer Science” this week, our readers should study 
Mr. Senger’s report of his manner of figuring out the 
ration problem. The R. N.-Y. is greatly pleased to 
know that this discussion has started some farmers 
into a rough study of the matter. If one will only 
consider the wonderful work perfoi’med by a cow in 
her every-day life, he will not only have an increased 
respect for that motherly animal, but he will take new 
interest and delight in studying the wonderful laws 
of Nature. \Ve shall come to see, with a true knowl¬ 
edge of science, that these laws are fixed, and that 
most of our failures on the farm result from our 
inability to work in accordance with these laws. 
G 
It is pretty hard to make .some folks believe that the 
heat of their bodies is kept up by a combustion differ¬ 
ing from that of a fire only in rapidity. Yet it is so. 
When the heat of the body is increased by more rapid 
breathing, the result is the same as that obtained by 
blowing on a live coal—simply an increased supply of 
oxygen is provided. Think of using high-priced Tim¬ 
othy hay to provide fuel in your cow’s body, when 
cheaper and rougher fodders will do it for you ! What 
would you think of a manufacturer who insisted on 
using cord wood for fuel when coal was twice as cheap? 
Would you pay more for his goods in order to help 
him compete with other manufacturers who had less 
expense for fuel and thus could sell closer than he 
could ? 
O 
The: “creamery shark” is still swimming, but now 
and then his teeth are filed. For example, this is 
what a reader in Onondaga County, N. Y., says : 
The creamery shark g-ot in here, secured subscriptions for 43 
sliares of stock and called a stockholders’ meeting. That article 
iniblished in The R. N.-Y. came just in time ; I circulated the 
paper, and let the stockholders read what The R. N.-Y. had to say 
about them. The result was disaffection, and they thought best 
to investigate. They did so, and no company was organized. Now 
the stockholders are afraid that they will have to pay the $25 for¬ 
feit. Does The R. N.-Y. think they can be compelled to do so ? 
In The R. N.-Y. of November 10, appeared Prof. Henry’s article on 
the creamery sharks. I got one of our local papers to print it. I 
thought it a good advertisement. 
We are glad to have saved this community from the 
shark. We do not think he will dare to try to collect 
the $25. If he does, we advise you to fight its collection. 
It seems necessary to keep the facts regarding this 
fraud constantly before the public. Certainly no 
reader of The: R. N.-Y. can justly complain if he is 
bitten. 
O 
Tii.yt article on owning tools in partnership, page 
758, is good and timely. It is an excellent illustration 
of the advantages of combination among farmers. 
One man had cash, and another man had strength and 
a “ knack” for handling tools. Alone, neither could 
obtain full benefit from a machine. Together, both 
were helped, because the stock in trade of one was 
well mated with that of the other. It was a good 
combination of capital and labor Again, what is 
said about the life of a tool is very true. It will do 
about so much work with good handling. If this 
work is extended over 10 years, the last half of its ser¬ 
vice is done in competition with improved devices that 
place the old machine at a disadvantage. On the other 
hand, if it is worked out in five years, it will have 
earned enough to retire in place of a new machine. 
Submit this theory to practice, and tell us why ytni 
cannot make a similar combination with your neigh¬ 
bors ! 
G 
In one truck-load of produce, picked up at different 
docks, and brought to one commission merchant, were 
four small lots of apples, without a mark on any of 
the barrels to show whence they came. We don’t be¬ 
lieve they came from readers of The: R. N.-Y. If they 
did, we hope that the senders will not disgrace our 
teachings farther, by writing complaints to us about 
this dishonest commission merchant who has failed to 
remit for their apples. People who do business in 
such a loose way, deserve to lose their consignments, 
and no commission merchant wishes to receive such 
goods. They are nothing but a vexation. How in 
the world do shippers expect that receivers here can 
tell who ships them goods unless they mark them ? 
Perhaps the shippers are ashamed to put their names 
on such stuff as is sometimes sent. This may be the 
reason for their diffidence. As we said before, we 
don’t suppose Rural readers ship such goods, but per¬ 
haps some of their neighbors do, and we hope that 
they will see that such are furnished with a paper 
that tells its readers just what they ought to know 
about these things. 
G 
BREVITIES. 
“ If thou dost bid thy friend farewell. 
But for one night tho’ that farewell may be. 
Press thou his palm with thine—how canst thou tell 
How far from thee 
E''ate, or caprice may lead his feet 
Ere that to-morrow comes ? Men have been known 
To lightly turn the corners of a street. 
And days have grow'ii 
To months, and months to lagging years 
Before they looked in loving eyes again. 
Parting at best is underlaid with tears— 
With tears and iiaiii. 
Therefore, lest sudden death should come betw'een. 
Or time, or distance, clasij with pressure true 
The hand of him who goeth forth, unseen, 
Fate goeth too. 
Yea ! find thou always time to say 
Some earnest words between the idle talk; 
Le.st -with thee, henceforth, evqr, night and day 
Regret should walk.” 
What’s lacking in a soft-shelled head? 
Does “ running ” strengthen the strawberry ? 
What do ojien house drains drain ? Your health ? 
A “ SPIRIT level ”—drinking yourself into the gutter. 
Mr. Kerr starts an interesting discussion on page 672. 
Who has tried a bucket pump for lifting liquid manure ? 
Does the Enhance straw'berry bear a second crop for you ? 
Do any of your w'heels go about crying “ Grease ! grease ?” 
The female dog evidently enjoys her mutton chop with the rest. 
“ ON the rack ”—the hxingry sheep when there is nothing in the 
rack. 
Evergreen! Those who are bitten by creamery sharks and 
similar frauds ! 
“ What are you living for ?” At least what is yotir opinion on 
that subject ? 
There is no reason why the “ horny-handed son of toil ” should 
be also un soft fist y cated. 
The fruit man who knowingly sets a poor plant will have his 
mouth just brimming full of •* I can’t! ” 
What are the objections to a “ pot-bellied ” calf ? What is the 
cow’s belly for bxit to hold a lot of food ? 
“ The Leghorn is like a queen bee” says our friend on page 760. 
We have found her a Queen Bird, stirely ! 
Which is more honest—a 60-cent silver dollar, or a gold dollar 
that buys $1.30 worth of the farmer’s crop ? 
No matter how high your Crimson clover gi’ows. If it does not 
bloom, it will grow again—unless w’interkilled. 
Your home may be isolated, but that is no reason why you 
should so neglect it as to make it eye «orelated. 
The French have made great progress in devising motors for 
carriages to take the place of horses. Thus far small gas engines 
are found superior to electric storage motors ! 
Do you realize how many people are standing stillmarking 
time ” instead of going ahead ? They think they are making 
progri’ess, but it’s only a counter feet advance. 
Nature has given the cow an advantage over you in internal 
devices for grinding and fining her food. To even things up, see 
that your food is thoroughly cooked and chewed. 
The beautiful lines printed at the head of “ Brevities ” are sent 
us by a friend w’ho found them credited to M. E. W. Sherwood. 
They are new to us and well w’orthy of a place here. 
Half a dozen men after tw'O jobs ! What’s the result ? Low 
wages and short rations for six families. Half a dozen plants 
crowded into the space and food for two. Six failures. 
A MAJORITY’ of 17,()(X) voters in Vermont—mostly women and 
children—have selected Red clover for their State flower. That’s 
right—clover never went back on the farmer w'ith a fair chance— 
and plenty of potash. 
You see that there are some bad reports about Crimson clover. 
We w'ant them all. Otherwise, how can we tell where and how it 
will thrive ? Wait till spring before you condemn it for good, Put 
a mulch of some sort over part of it, and see if that will help. In 
any event, you can get your money back by sowing early enough 
to get a good growth before frost. 
