THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
8i3 
THE PROSPECT. 
Ox page 808, G. W. B. advises setting apple trees 30 
feet apart eacli way. For most locations, and most 
varieties, this is altogether too close. Forty feet would 
be better, and as close as apple trees should ever be 
set, while 60 would be better still. Now that spraying 
is so generally practiced, and has evidently come to 
stay, the need of more space between trees is more 
evident than ever before. Trees should be far enough 
apart, and be kept sufficiently open, so that there may 
be a free circulation of air and sunshine. Nothing is 
gained by such close planting. It isn't a question of 
how many trees may be crowded upon a given piece 
of land, but of how choice fruit may be grown. 
O 
The economy of heating water for cows in winter, is 
not settled yet, or else dairymen would get into it more 
clearly. The “cow-exercise” man, with ax over 
shoulder, followed by a race-horse dairy which floun¬ 
ders through snow drifts and slips over icy hillsides 
to a distant ice pond, is passing away. But need we 
go the opposite extreme of a hot-water treatment ? If 
a temperature of .50 degrees is suitable for a cow s en¬ 
vironment in the winter stable, she will not be chilled 
by drinking water of approximate temperature. Al¬ 
though cold water may chill, cool water has a tonic 
effect, and the terms cold and cool are relative to sur¬ 
rounding conditions. Either cistern, or well, or tank 
in stable, may be so arranged as to furnish water but 
little, if any, colder than the stable itself, without the 
trouble and expense of heating apparatus. Whether 
or no cows are stabled continuously in winter, arrange¬ 
ments should be made for watering in the stable, so 
that neither the regularity of their watering, nor the 
temperature of the water, may be disturbed by shift¬ 
ing weather conditions. 
O 
The auction system seems to be gaining in favor for 
the disposal of various products. The former popular 
idea of an auction was that it was a sale at which a 
miscellaneous lot of goods were to be disposed of to 
the highest bidder. What is known as a Dutch auc¬ 
tion, is one in which the auctioneer names a price, and 
if no one accept, then a lower price, until one is reached 
at which some one will take the goods. A combination 
of this with the usual method, is often used in the fruit 
sales. Several years since The li. N.-Y. described the 
auction sales of California fruit in this city. Most 
other fruits have since been sold by this method to a 
greater or less extent. Then it described the sales of 
Eastern grapes and of bananas. Recently, it noted the 
fact that imported woods had been sold in this way, 
and more recently, American timber has been added 
to the list. Now comes an auction sale of hay. The 
first was a lot of upwards of 1,‘300 tons, mostly of 
poor quality, but it sold for good prices for those 
grades. The auction system has come to stay. 
O 
That creamery shark is still at work. Just now 
central and western New York are entertaining him. 
He hails from Chicago and promises everything. The 
R. N.-Y. has blocked his game in a dozen instances, 
and we very much doubt if he can get his teeth into a 
community where this paper is generally taken, be¬ 
cause our readers have been repeatedly warned to 
look out for him. At a recent meeting in central New 
York, an agent of this house had the impudence to 
state that The R. N.-Y.’s warfare was prompted solely 
by revenge—that we could not secure their advertise¬ 
ment, and, consequently, now try to get even with 
them by injuring their trade. Of course, this is a lie, 
and it is useful as showing the true character of these 
men. We began our attacks before this concern be¬ 
gan to advertise heavily. They were, in fact, driven 
to heavy advertising, partly because of The R. N.-Y.’s 
warfare. They approached us with an offer for adver¬ 
tising space which would have been worth SI,500 in 
cash. Believing the concern to be engaged in a 
rascally business, we declined this bribe. W'ith, per¬ 
haps, two exceptions, this advertisement was accepted 
by the other farm papers, and thus it is that the 
creamery shark is kept alive. That we have hurt him, 
is evident from the way he lies about us. The follow¬ 
ing note from a New York State subscriber will ex¬ 
plain several things about this business : 
Quite a creamery iiitere.st seems to be aroused in southern 
Cayuga County. The creamery sharks have put in several cream¬ 
eries at what seem to be exorbitant figures, and yet their loud¬ 
mouthed agents with smooth tongues and fair promises, are trying 
to influence other neighborhoods to nibble at their bait. The 
citizens of this locality, have struck out independently from 
agents, and purpose to buy where they can get the best goods for 
the least money; consequently we are investigating. I think I 
have seen reports in The R. N.-Y. of creameries closed up or dis¬ 
continued. Is it a fact that there is any appreciable number of 
creameries that have ceased to operate ? If so, what are tlie 
causes ? Is it among the probabilities that farmers, in trying to 
seek methods that will give better terms for their labor, will over¬ 
do the creamery business, until butter factories and cows will 
stagnate on their hands ? The cream of our farm lauds is put 
into thousands of tons of hay which goes begging at $7 to $8 per 
ton. It ought to bring more. 
These agents are shrewd fellows. They go into a 
district where farmers are discontented with present 
crops and prices, and paint the glorious possibilities of 
a creamery. By bribing one or two prominent men, 
they dispose of the necessary stock, and before the 
farmers know it, they are responsible for a building 
too large for their needs, and one-third more expensive 
than it should have been. There are many such 
creameries now standing idle. There are three chief 
reasons for this : 1. The building cost so much more 
than it should have done that even fair proflts on its 
business will not pay a fair percentage of its cost. 3. 
There are not cows enough available to run it to its 
full capacity. 3. Through bad management, there 
are too many wastes, and a poor finished product. 
There are other creameries that pay fair dividends to 
their stockholders, but they are run by experienced 
men on a business basis. Men have been known to 
buy up one of these deserted creameries and operate 
it at a profit; but of course they did not pay anything 
like the original cost. With the wonderful improve¬ 
ments in dairy methods and apparatus of the present 
day, we believe that a skilled man can make dairying 
profitable. As a general proposition, we think that 
the smaller private dairy will pay better than the 
cooperative creamery. 
G 
Thf: American Giiernsey Cattle Club, comprising 
about 105 of the leading breeders of these cattle in 
this country, held their annual meeting in this city 
December 12. After the election of officers, at which 
Silas Betts, Camden, N. J., and Wm. H. Caldwell, 
Peterboro, N. II., were rejected president, and secre¬ 
tary and treasurer respectively, routine business was 
transacted. Plans were adopted for popularizing the 
breed. The Club also decided to issue the Register 
quarterly, in connection with the Guernsey Breeders’ 
Journal, thus putting it upon a subscription basis. 
The President, in his address, referred to the extended 
te.sts made at the New Jersey and New York Experi¬ 
ment Stations, and also to the Chicago tests, showing 
that the Guernsey is the most economical butter-ijro- 
ducer of any of the dairy breeds. Not only is the 
pure breed an excellent one in itself, but it is in de¬ 
mand for breeding up common stock. He stated the 
points on which they claim superiority over the other 
leading breeds. In breeding, he claimed that ad¬ 
vancement was most certain through inbreeding of 
the best strains, and, in the discussion following, 
most of the breeders present agreed with him. Some 
breeders spoke of disappointment following the mat¬ 
ing of excellent animals, and expressed the opinion 
that not only must superior animals be bred together, 
but such as “nick ” well. The importance of careful 
feeding and kindly treatment, was emphasized. “The 
feeder should be the most intelligent man on the 
place, and the milker shouldn’t be much behind.” 
Some of the members urged the importance of bring¬ 
ing the breed more prominently before the public, by 
exhibiting them at fairs. Some large records of milk 
and butter yields were given. The breeders all have 
full faith in the merits and possibilities of their favor¬ 
ites, but have heretofore been too conservative in 
bringing them to the attention of the public. 
O 
A HKIGHT Western farmer thinks he has solved the 
fertilizer question, and we think he is about right, so 
far as his locality is concerned. He writes : “ It’s all 
nonsense talking about your sulphate and muriate of 
potash, and your high grade superphosphates. They 
cost too much money, and don’t give you what you 
want after all. My way is to seed down my land to 
clover, and apply wood ashes liberally to the clover. 
You see the clover feeds on the potash of the ashes, 
forming clover-ate-of-potash, and takes its nitrogen 
from the air above the field without any cost for the 
material, for freight, or for mixing. The ashes con¬ 
tain phosphoric acid enough for the needs of the crop, 
and so we have a complete fertilizer. This is the way 
I get my ashes : I live but a mile out of a thi-iving 
town of 1,300 inhabitants. As wood is cheaper than 
coal here, nearly all the families in town burn wood, 
and comparatively few of them have any ruse for their 
ashes. I furnish each family that runs two or more 
stoves a galvanized iron pail, with a cover, and raised 
a little on metal legs, to prevent all danger from fire, 
with the understanding that all the ashes made are to 
be deposited in this pail. These pails hold two bushels 
apiece, and cost 75 cents each. As they furnish a safe 
receptacle for ashes, the people are glad to use them. 
I go about once each week, and never come back with¬ 
out a full load of dry, unleached ashes, worth, with 
my way of using them nearly as much as a ton of the 
average commercial fertilizer.” That is true scientific 
farming—making the most of a waste product. The 
R. N.-Y. is on record as saying, “ There is no potash 
so acceptable to plants as that of unleached wood 
ashes.” Suppose, however, that our friend lived in a 
community where coal is used for fuel ! He would 
then have to buy the different potash salts, or go with¬ 
out potash unless he could make a good bargain for 
Canada ashes. One thing is sure—a farmer is foolish 
to buy when he can do as our friend is doing. 
G 
A GOOD road is a blessing. How much more comfort¬ 
ably man and horse move along when a hard, dry, 
smooth stretch is reached. In a recent drive of 60 miles, 
only one short mile was found that did not have water 
standing in the ruts. Water and good roads cannot 
exist in combination. Almost any form of road 
which will shed water quickly will keep in fair condi¬ 
tion. Why was this mile any better than the rest ? 
Because of the interest taken by one resident of the 
district who has served as pathmaster for 30 years. 
What did he do ? Simply put the road scraper on and 
filled the ruts. A half day’s work in any other district 
would have produced the same result. Why was it 
not done ? Because, what is no one’s business is never 
done. The allotted time is worked out at one time, 
usually spring, and no one is obliged to do more. The 
kindly interest of this one man is a worthy example. 
He donates a few days each fall to the work, and 
always has a good road in his district. Perhaps it’s 
too much, to ask some one to give the community a 
few days’ time in each district, but what is the objec¬ 
tion to paying some man a regular price to look after 
the holes and ruts ? A small expense applied “ on 
time” would save the taxpayers many dollars in wear, 
tear and time. Much is said in favor of macadamizing 
the roads. Near Auburn, N. Y., is a section which 
was put down 30 years ago. It keeps its shape, but is 
hard on both horses and wagons. “ I am always glad 
when 1 get over this to the gravel road,” remarked a 
farmer with a big load of barley. The wheels wear a 
sort of rut in the stones, and bump along over them. 
The horses slip and slide. To drive fast is terror and 
destruction. The system is all right. The road bed 
seems as perfect as when put down, but receives no 
care. A good coating of crushed stone would make it 
perfect. A few loads of gravel would make it good. 
O 
The December report of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, deals almost entirely with the market prices 
of the various farm products. The only exception is 
winter wheat, whose average condition is given as 85 
against 91.5 last year. The prices given are those on 
the farm, or at the nearby markets where the crops 
are usually sold. Corn averaged, on December 1, 45.6 
cents, 9.1 higher than last year, 6.3 cents higher than 
the average price for the 10 years, 1880-89, and 4 cents 
higher than the average from 1890-3. Wheat averaged 
49.8 cents per bushel, the lowest price in 25 years, 33.9 
cents less than the average from 1880-89, and 22.1 
cents less than the avei*age from 1890-3. Rye is 50.5 
cents, 1.3 cents lower than last year. Oats were 32.9 
cents against 28.8 cents last year. Barley is 44.3 cents, 
3.7 cents higher than last year. Buckwheat was 59 
cents last year, but has declined to 56.2 this year. 
Thus of the grain crops, we see that corn, oats and 
baidey, are higher, while wheat, rye and buckwheat, 
are lower. The average price of hay was given as 
$8.35 against $9.18 last year. Notwithstanding the re¬ 
ported shortage, potatoes are reported at 55.5, or 4.5 
cents less than last year. Cotton is the lowest on 
record, 4.9 cents against 6.99 cents last year, and 8.4 
cents in 1892. Tobacco averages 6.7 cents per pound, 
against 7.8 cents last year, while Kentucky, the State 
producing the largest quantity, reports an average 
price of 5.5 cents or 1.2 cent below that of the country 
at large. It will be seen that while the prices of some 
crops are higher, there is a decrease in a larger num¬ 
ber, while in two great staples—wheat in the North, 
and cotton in the South—there is a material, not to .say 
a disastrous, decrease. Has the cost of production 
decreased accordingly ? Have yields been proportion¬ 
ately greater ? Has the purchasing power of the 
farmer’s dollar increa.sed correspondingly ? If so, it 
is well. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Gombault’b Caustic Balsam is an excellent bli.ster, and is a safe 
thing to have in the stahie. It can probabiy be bought of any 
druggist, or of The Lawrence-Wiiliams Co., Cleveiand, O. 
That is a very simpie and most exceilent evaporator made by 
the Warren Evaporator Works, Warren, O. It is weii made, ea.siiy 
operated, and economicai of fuel. Full description wiii be sent 
by the manufacturer. 
In making up a baianced ration, linseed oil meal will be found 
an economical, as well as an important, food product, as has been 
seen from the Primer Science of balanced rations. The Detroit 
Linseed Oil Works, Detroit, Mich., will send information about 
their oil meal and prices. It is a first-class house. 
Any one interested in the light harness hor.se, will And much of 
Interest and ijrofit in The Horse Review, special Christmas number. 
This journal has secured and maintained the lead in its class for 
several years, and its special holiday numbers are usually mar¬ 
vels of excellence. We are assured that the coming number will 
excel any before is.sued, and the promi.ses of the publi.shers can be 
fully relied upon. This special number will cost 50 cents, we under¬ 
stand, but is sent to all regular subscribers. The Ilorse Review 
Co., 215 E. Madison Street, Chicago, Ill., are the publishers. 
Tub sub.scribers of The R. N.-Y- are an exceptionally intelligent 
clas.s of readers, and, we believe, have no use for the cheap class 
of papers that are, for the most part, published in the interest of 
some other branch of business conducted by the publishers. We 
know this to be true from their appreciation of The Rukal, as well 
as by the class of papers ordered through us in combination with 
The Rural. The Youth’s Companion, Boston, Mass., is a general 
favorite with our readers, and we wish every subscriber, especially 
with young people in the home, would at lea.st secure a sample 
copy. A liberal offer is made by the publishers in this issue, but 
many will not wish to cut The Rural to send the slip. If these will 
simply refer to the offer and mention The Rural New-Yorker, we 
will see that the orders are filled. 
