364 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 25 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker. 
THE B USINESS FARMERS' PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established i 860 . Copyrighted 1885 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of Post- 
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means of transmitting money. 
Address all business communications and make all orders pay- 
able 10 THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1895. 
In 1892, the Vermont Experiment Station planted 
several potato plots on the State Eair grounds, to gave 
a practical illustration of the value of spraying' to 
prevent blight. The plots attracted a good deal of 
attention, and farmers were much interested in them. 
This is good work to do in every State where perma¬ 
nent fair grounds are assured. Actual experiments 
to show the value of Bordeaux Alixture, corrosive 
sublimate, as well as different varieties and combina¬ 
tions of fertilizers, would be very instructive, and the 
fair managers might well consider such a thing. 
O 
Here is a suggestion that is well worth considering : 
From The R. N.-Y.’s observations as well as my own, I believe 
Crimson like Medium clover, consists of many sub-varieties 
mixed, some of which may be much hardier than others, and, 
consequently, more valuable northward. If the correspondents 
who have had a considerable part of their Crimson clover killed 
out, will save seed from the remaining hardy plants, I think that 
they will obtain varieties that will be reliably hardy. j. a. h. 
Carlton, Pa. 
We would like to see this carefully tried. It is one of 
the things about Crimson clover that may make a 
difference between failure and success. 
O 
That old “Black Pepsin ” fraud is working in New 
York State, trying to sell “county rights” for the use 
of a powder which will double the amount of butter 
that can be made from a given quantity of milk. We 
shall describe this fraud in full next week. It is now 
being worked in Tioga County, N. Y. We warn all 
our readers to let it alone. Truly, as a friend writes : 
It seems that the dairy is having more than its share of frauds 
and enemies, and while the cow is doing her level best to keep her 
head above water, her several enemies seem to be doing their 
level best to send her to the shambles. 
The cow is all right. The danger comes from the 
cowards who try to beat her by fraud and deceit. 
Q 
The importation of frozen milk into England is 
rapidly growing. Alilk can be frozen into solid 
chunks in Holland or Sweden, shipped in cold stor¬ 
age to England, thawed out and sold at a reduced 
price at a good profit. The English dairyman is 
forced to submit to veterinary inspection of his herds 
and premises ; but no one knows where the foreign 
milk comes from, or whether it is free from disease. 
A farmer obeying the laws of a State or nation, and 
spending money to prepare a pure article, ought to 
have some protection in his home market. How long 
will it be before frozen milk from Canada, or even from 
the Far West, will compete in the New York and 
Philadelphia markets with nearby milk ? 
Q 
Tiie most essential thing in the treatment of ca¬ 
tarrhal troubles, is to keep the parts clean. Alany 
diseases of the nose are grouped under the general 
name of “catarrh.” Many so-called “remedies” are 
proposed, but these diseases differ so widely that no 
general formula can be given for all. There are two 
substances that are invaluable in the proper care of 
the nose. Pure bicarbonate of soda used as a snuff 
possesses remarkable cleansing and dissolving proper¬ 
ties, and vaseline smeared on the inside of the nostrils 
will afford much relief from dust or dryness. As a 
home treatment for “catarrh,” we would suggest the 
constant, daily use of these two substances. Snuff 
the bicarbonate of soda far into the nose and blow out 
the contents—keep the nostrils well smeared with 
vaseline. Above all, avoid breathing through the 
mouth. The nose is the organ for breathing. With 
some persons, the mouth-breathing habit has become 
so pronounced that the nostrils have fallen in and be¬ 
come too small for real breathing. For such cases, an 
“ expander” has been prepared which forces out the 
nostrils, and enables the patient to take a full breath. 
We would use bicarbonate of soda and vaseline as 
regular toilet articles—just as regularly as we would 
use soap. 
O 
Here is a pretty state of affairs. Mr. W. II. Wright 
of California, who is interested in canning and pre¬ 
serving California fruits, makes this public statement: 
A few years ago I went into competition with a European manu¬ 
facturer on a large order for jams in New York. Several experts 
were called in and the goods were thoroughly analyzed. The 
article made by the foreign manufacturer was in almost every 
case found to be adulterated, while that of the San Jos6 Fruit 
Packing Company was found to be perfectly pure. Notwithstand¬ 
ing this fact, and notwithstanding that our price was equally low, 
the buyer felt obliged to purchase a large proportion of the for¬ 
eign goods, as his customers were in the habit of using theM, and 
he 'Considered it useless to work up a trade on a better article, 
even though it cost less money. 
There’s an American spirit for you ! If some of these 
people who are so excited about American rights in 
foreign lands, would preach the doctrine of American 
goods for American markets, we would all be better off. 
G 
A bill has been passed by the General Assembly of 
the State of Delaware, providing for a State Board of 
Horticulture, to consist of the three vice-presidents of 
the Peninsula Horticultural Society, who are annually 
elected by the Society, one from each county in the 
State ; but it met with considerable opposition in the 
Senate. The bill further provides for the appoint¬ 
ment of a Commissioner of Horticulture by the said 
Board of Horticulture, whose duty it shall be to 
appoint commissioners in each 100 in the State, who 
shall examine the fruit trees for yellows and black- 
knot, and also for insect pests, cause the removal of 
diseased trees, and prevent the spread of insects. It 
seems strange that there should be any opposition 
from the fruit grower to the passage of such a bill, 
the main object of which tends to his benefit. 
O 
The time for subscribing to stock of the new Alilk 
Exchange, was extended to ATay 20, as about $8,000 
of stock remained untaken at the time originally set 
for subscriptions to close. The various milk-produc¬ 
ing regions in New York and New Jersey, are said to 
be about equally represented in subscriptions. The 
Connecticut producers have held aloof, ^.nd the Housa- 
tonic Alilk Producers’ Association have adopted reso¬ 
lutions expressing disapproval of the manner in which 
the New York Alilk Exchange is being formed, and 
refusing to subscribe to any of the capital stock. This 
association comprises, probably, some 25 or 30 sta¬ 
tions along the New Haven Railroad. Certain it is 
that the new organization has not united all the milk 
producers, and enough of them are as yet independent 
to cut considerable of a figure in the market. 
O 
A great amount of thoroughbred cockle is grown 
in our wheat. The seed has been pretty carefully 
graded by the average fanning mill, none but the 
largest grains being retained in the seed wheat. The 
result is that many farms can show cockle that 
deserves to be rated as thoroughbred. Comparatively 
few farm fanning mills can remove the largest grains 
of this pest without heavier screening of the wheat 
and more care than many farmers will undertake to 
give. The surest way of cleaning seed wheat is to go 
into the field of growing grain and pull out every 
plant of cockle, cheat, rye and other weeds in an acre 
or more that will be reserved for seed. It is not a big 
undertaking, if the seed was fairly clean. After har¬ 
vest, run this seed wheat through a good fanning 
mill, removing all small grains, and the chances for 
profit from wheat growing will be increased. 
O 
The longer the reports on Crimson clover are de¬ 
layed, the more generally favorable are they. The 
warm weather started up many patches that seemed 
completely dead early in the spring, but which are 
now surprisingly vigorous. Here is a note from Clay 
County, Ind. : 
I sowed Crimson clover seed with buckwheat in my orchard. 
The drought, caused almost a failure of the buckwheat, but the 
clover came up very late in the fall and came out from under a 
blanket of ice, after the severest winter ever known here, all 
right. I turned it under for potatoes, but on unplowed strips be¬ 
tween the trees, it is now in bloom. I am so well satisfied with 
the test, that I shall follow a six-acre field of oats with buckwheat 
and Crimson clover, this summer. i$. 
That is a new plan, and we shall want to know how 
it comes out. Rrof. Voorhees gives us an interesting 
statement this week. These photographs show very 
clearly the necessity of sowing the seed as early as 
possible. If the crop could be grown with and with¬ 
out ample potash and phosphoric acid, we think there 
would be a greater difference still. In fact, after this 
season’s experience, The R. N.-Y. would say with 
more emphasis than ever that, wherever it will thrive, 
Crimson clover is one of the greatest of agricultural 
boons. No farmer can afford to let it go without 
careful trial. 
O 
The answer to the questions about butter flavor 
(page 358) make it very clear that the favorable aroma 
and taste of butter are due to the handling of the 
milk and cream, rather than to the flavor of the orig¬ 
inal food. Fresh butter fat, it appears, has no par¬ 
ticular flavor—in fact, it is the buttermilk rather 
than the pure fat, that gives the desired taste. Some 
of our newer readers may not understand what is 
meant by a “starter” or “No. 41.” Last week we had 
an account of the work of bacteria. These minute 
living creatures swarm and work all through milk, as 
well as other substances, giving results almost as 
widely different as the work of different animals or 
humans. When certain of these bacteria are put into 
sweet cream with just the right condition of warmth 
and air, they, of course, multiply rapidly, and change 
the cream in a certain definite way. This inocula¬ 
tion of the cream with these bacteria, is called a 
“starter.” It maybe added in the form of thick, 
soured cream or milk. “ No. 41” is a form of bacteria 
which produces a fine aroma or flavor. Dr. Conn has 
found many of these bacteria, some of which produce 
good flavors, while others produce bad ones. This 
“No. 41” is sure to produce good flavors if put into 
the cream before others start. It is a very interest¬ 
ing thing, and shows anew how science by its accur¬ 
ate rules and laws, may be used to serve the dairyman. 
G 
BREVITIES. 
THE SONG OF SILVER. 
Since the earth was young I have lain at rest 
"In the rocky depths of the mountain’s breast. 
With a wisdom clear, I was hoarded then 
As a precious gift for the sons of men. 
The bravest of workmen have toiled for me, 
And died in their efforts to set me free. 
I come from the depths of my dungeon deep, 
For the poor to fight—with a charge to keep. 
For the poor pay tribute to those who hold 
The measuring stick of their selfish gold. 
With a bloated dollar, they draw their train 
From the toiler’s sweat and the bondman’s pain. 
So give me a place in your marts of trade ! 
God put me away in the hills, and made 
A promise that I should forever hold 
A check, for the poor, on your selfish gold. 
They drove me away from your mints in shame, 
With a scornful curse on my honored name. 
But now from the depths of the hills I come, 
To fight for the debtor, and save his home ! 
Better de seat deceit! 
The book (keeping) farmer is all right. 
How do you stand on the bird question ? 
Plant lice can’t bite—they ai'e “ suckers.” 
Spraying won’t take the place of manure. 
Read Fred Grundy’s breeding notes—page 371. 
The worst harrow for your feelings has a decayed tooth. 
“ Practice makes perfect.” No, sir, not unless there is a little 
theory in it ! 
Be a “green-goods man ” to the extent of raising green goods 
in your garden. 
The best time to feed cotton-seed meal is while the cows are 
eating green grass. 
We have been looking up the Crimson clover and winter oats in 
Delaware this week. 
There’s many a man would have stronger hope for life if he 
doubled his use of soap. 
The phosphoric acid in cotton-seed meal is considered as avail¬ 
able as that in wood ashes. 
French butchers go so far as to cut up poultry before selling, 
and offer any portion of it separately. 
The man who calls it fun to carry a heavy knapsack sprayer 
these hot days, has a queer idea of humor. 
There is every prospect that boots and shoes will be higher, as 
leather prices have been raised by the Trust. 
“ Back numbers” are needed for reference and comparison. No 
reason why you should be one if you don’t wish to be. 
The inventor of the friction match is still living ! Think of the 
industrial changes that have been crowded into the years of that 
mail’s life. 
In 1894, there were brought into this country 540,934,337 pounds 
of coffee, and 7,951,042 pounds of chicory. As we use coffee, that 
would mean about 32,755,522 barrels of drink. 
A good many failures with Crimson clover have been attributed 
to “bad winter,” “too tender,” etc., when the fault lav in a lack 
of available potash in the soil, or poor, imported seed. 
The trade in bicycles is becoming something enormous. Prob¬ 
ably no business in flie country prospers as this does. It is hard 
on the horse trade—but it makes stronger and happier men and 
women. 
Next to honey and ice, a crop of olive oil is about the least ex¬ 
hausting to the soil. Where all the pomace is returned to the soil 
year after year, and only the oil sold, an olive grove should live 
for centuries. 
According to the “ Monroe Doctrine,” no foreign power shall 
gain a foothold on American soil! It looks as though some farm¬ 
ers were such firm believers in that doctrine that they won’t let a 
new plant—like Crimson clover—stay on their farms. Such a 
doctrine needs doctoring. 
Here is a characteristic report of the cold wave in Orleans 
County, N. Y. : “Our warm spell—90 degrees in the shade—caught 
cold Saturday, and Sunday night we had cloudy weather, but got 
a white frost, black frost, Jack Frost, and a freeze all in one; ice 
formed one-fourth inch in thickness, and the damage cannot be 
estimated yet. Grapes and strawberries seem hurt the worsts’ 
