5 2 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
August 3 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Established 1850. Copyrighted 1895. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collinuwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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h.V>1p t.n 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1895. 
The manufacturers of oleomargarine tell us that 
the fats contained in their product are just as whole¬ 
some and digestible as those contained in butter. 
That for many purposes it is far superior to butter. 
That poor people are anxious to buy it instead of poor 
butter. But they have so far failed to tell us why 
they continue to color it in imitation of butter, and 
why the larger part of it is sold to consumers as the 
genuine product of the churn. 
G 
Some excellent articles are often printed in the 
local papers which circulate among farmers. We see 
some of them, but, of course, many excellent ideas 
thus printed escape our notice. Now and then a friend 
clips such notes from the local paper and forwards 
them to us, and in this way we secure useful and in¬ 
teresting matter. It is authentic, too, as much of it 
describes things done by friends of the senders. Need¬ 
less to say, we are always pleased to receive such notes. 
G 
The other side of the mulching question, is pre¬ 
sented by Mr. Augur, on page 530. Our own opinion 
is that the chief advantages to be derived from such 
mulching, are retention of moisture in the soil, and 
a shade that helps nitrification. We would prefer 
some other mulching material than stable manure 
for the reasons given by Mr. Augur. Our own plot is 
still green and flourishing, and we shall use this 
mulching system whenever we wish to economize 
space and raise plenty of potatoes. 
O 
Three weeks ago, a correspondent discussed the 
theory of importing the bacteria of Crimson clover. 
His plan was to bring soil from the field in which the 
Crimson clover was originally grown, and scatter it 
over the soil in which the crop is to be seeded. This 
would be not unlike the practice of bringing yeast to 
add to bread or a ‘‘starter” to ripen the cream. A 
friend now proposes to test this matter by bringing 
1,000 pounds of soil from a Delaware clover field to 
sow in his New York State corn field. We hope this 
plan will be carried out—it will make a very interest¬ 
ing experiment. 
0 
The Sheffield Farm Dairy in this city x*etails the 
milk from 5,000 cows. Not long ago one of the dairy¬ 
men supplying this firm began to aerate his milk. 11 
was noticed at this end of the line, that this aerated 
milk kept longer than any other, though it was not 
so well cooled. Every test showed that the aerated 
milk kept best. As a result, orders have been issued 
that every farmer supplying milk to that dairy must 
aerate it in a proper manner—that is, blow pure air 
through it as soon as possible after milking. Don't 
forget that it would be worse than useless to blow 
impure air through it ! 
G 
lx is getting to be pretty generally known that 
every cultivated plant has its special insect enemy— 
some “bug” or fiy that greatly enjoys a dinner off of 
that particular plant. By a wise provision of Nature, 
each of these damaging insects in turn has its special 
enemy—some parasite that preys upon it and would, 
if encouraged, hold it in check. The California fruit 
trees were saved from the scale by the importation of 
Ladybird beetles which were propagated in vast num¬ 
bers, and fed on the injurious scale insects. Knowing 
these facts, it is easy to believe that other injurious 
insects may be checked by the propagation of their 
enemies. It is reported from Japan that an insect has 
been found which will make short work of the potato 
beetle, if once fairly established in the field. By all 
means, let us give this citizen of Japan a chance to 
grow up with our country. He will find an abundant 
field for his best energies on some of our potato farms. 
He may drive the Paris-green dealers and the sprayer 
men out of a job, but the people can stand that fairly 
well if the potato beetle throws up his job with them. 
G 
The Indiana Experiment Station gives the follow¬ 
ing brief directions for combating the Hessian fiy 
which threatens wheat fields this fall : 
1. Thoroughly burn all fly-infested wheat stubble in which there 
is not a stand of young clover or grass. 
2. Prepare very early a border, one or two rods wide, around 
each field of wheat, and sow the same to wheat in August. 
3. Turn this border under very late, using a jointer, following 
with roller and harrow, and then sow the entire field. 
In the Revolutionary War, our forefathers made the 
Hessian fly by a judicious use of powder and ball. It 
requires a fight to whip off any enemy. 
o 
In describing the way the Ellerslie cattle are fed, 
we told how green food of some sort is given every 
day in the year. At the time of our visit, the cows 
were eating green wheat cut in the milk. One of the 
silos still held considerable ensilage, but this was 
held in reserve for the period between oats and peas, 
and green fodder corn. Mr. Cottrell now writes ; 
We are again feeding corn ensilage. We were feeding grass 
and oats and peas, all the cows would eat. In 10 days after we 
began feeding ensilage, our 125 cows had increased in milk 400 
pounds per day, and are still gaining slowly. The grain ration 
was the same with the ensilage as with the green feed. 
All things considered, the corn plant is the greatest 
food producer in the world, and the silo lias given 
vast power to the skillful feeder. 
o 
A villager who keeps a few hens, saw in the so- 
called agricultural column of a religious paper, the 
statement that hens need salt, and that it should be 
fed to them as much as to other animals, and that it 
is as needful as it is in the food of human beings. 
Some salt was accordingly fed to his hens, and the 
next morning seven or eight of them were dead. If 
the religious teachings of some of these papers are on 
a par with some of the chunks of farm wisdom they 
get into their columns, their followers may realize to 
their sorrow that it is another case of the blind lead¬ 
ing the blind. Salt is good in its place, but anv paper 
that recommends feeding it freely to hens, doesn't 
deserve the confidence of its readers. 
G 
Much has been said about the fence tax. The tribute 
that has been paid in time, money and labor to the 
old idea that fences were necessary between the dif¬ 
ferent farm crops, is large enough to pay the national 
debt. Here, for example, is a letter from a farmer in 
Ohio : 
W T e are disposing of all middle fences on my father’s farm, thus 
making a field 160 rods long instead of several 32x37 rods. The 
dead furrows must also be banished, if we can get a first-class 
swivel plow. No man can imagine the speed to be attained in 
such a field until once tried. Think of harrowing 15 feet wide on 
one trip through, or 30 feet in a round—nearly two acres; and 
only one man and three horses. 
Some farmers seem to think the corn is going to run 
in and steal the plant food away from the wheat unless 
there is a fence between them. Others seem to think 
it is restful for the team and hired man to keep turn¬ 
ing at short intervals. Down with the inside fence. 
Fence the stock i)i —don't try to fence it out ! 
G 
“ Good morning, Mr. Farmer,” said the hog, stick¬ 
ing his nose over the pen. “I want to talk to you for 
a moment while you're resting. I've heard you com¬ 
plain of late that farming doesn't pay like it used to. 
You work hard, but the hired man gets more cash out 
of it than you do. You’re getting old, and your back 
isn't what it was once. It’s none of my business, but 
when I see a good man on the wrong track, I want to 
set him right if I can. Shut up in this pen, I have a 
big chance to meditate and study social and industrial 
conditions. Do you know what’s the matter with 
you ? 1 do ! You’re paying too much time and money 
in handling over your fodder crops. There you go and 
cut and cure and handle and house and feed and fret 
over that big clover and hay crop—saying nothing of 
rye and wheat. By the time you get your returns 
from that hay, you haven’t paid the cost of produc¬ 
tion, and I know it. To the point—you’re hungry and 
so am I. Quit cutting all that clover. Discharge 
some of your hired help, and save the cash you now 
pay them. Knock down this pen and let me out into 
the clover field. I'm a hired man that won't balk. 
I’ll turn that clover into pork, that means money that 
will talk a calk right on that leak in the finances. 
Maybe this advice is out of date this year, but don't 
forget it next. Sit down and visit with your wife and 
let me cut the clover. This advice doesn’t cost you 
anything, but a mouthful of that swill wouldn’t come 
in amiss just now !” 
On page 461, we mentioned Prof. King’s experiment 
of sub-irrigation by means of forcing water back into 
drain tiles. We are informed of a case in Indiana 
where such irrigation was found a necessity, not only 
to provide water, but to get rid of it. A farmer drilled 
a well for natural gas, but instead got what is termed 
“ wet gas,” or a spout of water, which threatened to 
wash away part of his farm. He finally succeeded in 
closing the well and turned the stream of water into 
his tile drains. It thus backs up all under the farm, 
while the surplus passes away through the natural 
drainage outlet. Under this interesting system of 
irrigation, the crops are said to be in excellent condi¬ 
tion—but how about a wet season ? 
G 
The following letter from a reader in Cauada, is 
typical of many which have lately reached us : 
Since spring I have been perusing the New York markets, and 
have been struck with the quotations of Southern vegetables and 
fruits. I would be pleased if some of your correspondents would 
discuss, first, the pros and cons of Southern horticulture for home 
and Northern markets. What these crops net the grower, and 
their yields per acre. Second, how far south their production is 
profitable, or whether the farther south, the greater profit. 
We have noticed for a long time, that many Northern 
men are desirous of knowing the real facts about the 
horticultural possibilities of the South. It is an im¬ 
portant matter when we come to consider it in all its 
details. The R. N.-Y. was not satisfied with the usual 
sources of information respecting the South. We de¬ 
termined to make a personal investigation. The writer 
has spent 10 days among the fruit and vegetable 
growers of southern Georgia, and hopes in time to 
give his impressions of that country. Some one has 
said that it is one of the most remarkable features of 
American history, that people have endured discom¬ 
forts on the wind-swept Western plains when, for the 
same investment, they might have obtained comfort¬ 
able homes in the South. We hope to find an answer 
to some of these questions. 
G 
BREVITIES. 
Last year I gut all played out—after harvest—just about 
Able to drag through the fall—kinder nosed around—that’s all. 
When we’d housed the wheat an’ rye, “Now I’m goin’ off,” sez I. 
“ Goin’ off vacatin’ ’round—gittin’ off this stampin’ ground ! 
Let’s git off,” sez I to wife, “Let’s git somethin’ new in life. 
See what other folks are doin’ and what changes are a-brewiu’ 
Out in this great world you know ! Come!” I sez, “Pack up an’ 
go !” 
An’ we went an’ hed our trip. Run all through with nary slip. 
Gut back safe agin’ an’ found tliet the baby’s growed a pound, 
An’ the boys have run the farm fine as silk an’ done no harm, 
An’ we left good friends behind us—kindly folks whose love will 
find us 
As we journey on through life, but I often say to wife 
That the best part of our roam was the thought of cornin’ home. 
Weed out the “ we did it ” / 
You can’t unstunt a runt. 
The shirk “eats up his work.” 
A cloud burst is a sky terror. 
Don’t grow a peach out of vour reach. 
There’s power in a frank family pow wow. 
“Traveling on its cheek ”—the Keiffer pear. 
The hot Sunday dinner is likely to be Jfa-boiled. 
Look out for the second crop of Colorado beetles ! 
“ Knee actor” is the latest name for the Hackney horse. 
When do you cut out the old raspberry canes ? Why do it then ? 
Green cut bone is good food for moulting hens. So is sunflower 
seed. 
You’re not much of a farmer if you can’t get $25 out of a good 
clover sod ! 
You will certainly raise apples “on a small scale” if that scale 
is named San Jos6. 
It’s a good thing for this land that prize fighting is “ assault 
that has lost its savor.” 
The Great American strawberry will prove a very small Ameri¬ 
can if put in poor, light land. 
Better a dinner of herbs with screens on the door, than a 
stalled ox and flies therewith. 
Don’t exhaust your energies killing flies on the barn stock. 
Use part of your means to make wire screens. 
“I am in the ox-tail soup,” said the fly as the steer’s brush 
knocked him from his comfortable beefsteak. 
We all think there are lots of second-class men in this world, 
but who will admit that lie’s a second-classer himself ? 
How many humans that you know can be safely trusted to 
“help themselves” to an unlimited supply of food, drink and 
money ? 
It is only 50 years since cranberries were the “boomed” crop, 
out of which the first growers made fortunes. What will be next? 
Japan plums ? 
The man who packs and ships a cull and throws in leavings, 
waste and hull, over this thought may safely mull— I only make 
the market dull. 
In Russia, the railroads are controlled by the government. A 
reduction in rates has just been made so that passengers are car¬ 
ried long distances for one cent a mile. 
In the railroad station at Fort Valley, Ga., we found the fol¬ 
lowing notice : “ $5 fine to spit on the floor ! ” That’s business ! 
It ought to be hung up in every station in the land. 
Feed dealers in New York City agree pretty well that one-third 
less of their products are needed to feed the horses doing city 
work than formerly. That means other motors that eat coal and 
oil instead of hay and grain. 
