189S 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
525 
THE PROSPECT 
Our old friend, M. L. Conner, of Erie County, N. Y., 
has just given the dairymen of his locality a very 
practical object lesson. Mr. Conger has kept Ayrshire 
cattle for 25 years, and last year he bought a herd of 
Jerseys, intending to keep both breeds in their purity. 
For the past two years Mr. C. has faithfully used a 
Babcock milk tester, and has weighed and tested the 
milk from each cow in the two herds, so that he knows 
all the robbers from the workers. The summer milk 
from this farm is taken to the cheese factory. Last 
year, it was paid for on the basis of its per cent of 
butter fats as shown by the Babcock test. This year 
a change was made, and the milk was pooled in the 
old-fashioned way, each 100 pounds bringing the same 
money, no matter how much butter fat it contained. 
The proprietor of the factory and some of the farmers 
maintained that the richness of milk made no differ¬ 
ence in the amount of cheese produced ; in other 
words, that as much cheese could be made from milk 
testing three per cent as from milk testing five per 
cent in butter fats. 
0 
Now, Mr. Conger is one of those men who know 
what they are talking about, because they investigate 
thoroughly before they talk. He knew that five-per¬ 
cent milk is worth more for cheese-making than three- 
per-cent milk, and he started to prove it by fair test. 
He is an old cheese-maker, and, with the Jersey and 
Ayrshire milk on his own farm, he took equal quanti¬ 
ties of the milk from each breed, and gave both sam¬ 
ples similar handling and care. To make the story 
short, this is what he found : 
Ayrshires. Jerseys. 
Pounds of milk made into cheese. 168 168 
Pounds of cheese made. \ 7 % 22*4 
Pounds of milk to one pound of cheese. 9.73 7.46 
Pounds of cheese in 100 pounds of milk. 10.27 13.40 
Per cent of butter fat in milk. 3.2 4.7 
Per cent of butter fat in whey.3 .4 
You will see that 168 pounds of five-per-cent milk 
made 2234 pounds of cheese, while the same weight 
of three-per-cent milk made only 1734 pounds. Or, in 
100 pounds of each, there is a difference of 3.13 pounds 
in favor of the better milk. Now see what happens 
when to this factory two men send milk varying as 
did these samples. The 200 pounds of milk make 
23.67 pounds of cheese, of which each receives credit 
for half, or 11.83. Yet the three-per-cent man only 
contributed 10.27 pounds, so that the other man has 
made his neighbor a present of 1.56 pound of cheese ! 
You can’t get around that, for it’s true. There may 
be men anxious to carry their less enterprising neigh¬ 
bors along in this way, but we never saw one who 
would do it willingly. “Pooling” milk on such a 
basis, is fooling with a sure thing ; and the same truth 
is found if these figures be applied to buttermaking. 
One hundred pounds of the Jersey milk would have 
made 5.34 pounds of butter, while the same weight of 
Ayrshire milk would have made but 3.57. It is gen¬ 
erally recognized that the Babcock test is a good indi¬ 
cator of the value of milk for butter; but many still 
claim that it is not fair for cheese. This test of Mr. 
Conger shows anew what scientific men have re¬ 
peatedly shown—that the quantity of butter fat in 
milk is a reliable index of the quantity of other solids 
found with it. Mr. C. still thinks that his Ayrshires 
are just as profitable as his Jerseys, as they produce 
more milk if there are less solids in it. While this is 
true, he doesn’t propose to pool 2234 pounds of cheese 
with 1734, and make some one a present of a pound 
and a half. He’s right about it! 
O 
The residents along a certain street in a New Jersey 
town, are making preparations to build a trolley line 
of their own to extend from the railroad station the 
length of the street, and to the top of a nearby moun¬ 
tain. Their object is two fold : A monopolistic corpo¬ 
ration that is extending its lines in every direction, 
grasping all the favors it can, and granting no conces¬ 
sions in return for which it is not paid, had its eye on 
this street. If it once got its rails laid, it would run 
things to suit its own profit, regardless of the wishes 
of the public. To checkmate this, and to secure a road 
that shall be under their own control, and run to suit 
their own convenience, these residents are making 
their plans. Why shouldn’t the same thing be feasible 
in many farm neighborhoods? The trolley monopo¬ 
lies are continually extending their roads into the 
country, especially between important towns. These 
roads can be made of immense benefit to farmers 
along the route. Not only are they available for pas¬ 
senger traffic, but they are bound to be used event¬ 
ually for freight transportation as well. There are 
many country roads along which trolley roads could 
be constructed to immense advantage, and if these 
could be built and controlled by the farmers them¬ 
selves, they would have an added value. The farmers 
along the route could ship their produce direct from 
their own doors ; supplies, fertilizers, etc., could be 
brought direct to the farm ; the mail could be trans¬ 
ported over them as is now done to some extent in 
some cities. Who knows but this might solve, or, at 
least, might aid in the solution of, the problem of free 
rural mail delivery ? There are many ways in which 
these roads would be of benefit, and they would bind 
communities more closely together, all the more so if 
those communities owned and controlled the roads 
themselves. Where is the neighborhood that will first 
take this step ? 
O 
It is well for Eastern farmers to keep an eye od the 
new arrangements for handling the corn crop on those 
great Western farms. Machinery for cutting the 
corn in the field, and for husking and crushing the 
fodder, is putting an end to the practice of saving 
only the grain. Some weeks ago, we gave a note 
from a farmer in Nebraska. Here is another from a 
farmer in North Dakota : 
I used a McCormick corn harvester last season, and cut and 
bound 175 acres with one machine before frost came. We have 
400 acres of corn this season, and intend to cut and bind it with 
two machines. It will cut about eight acres per day with one man 
and team. It cuts one row at a time, elevates it standing, and 
ties with binding twine the same as other grains. We set the corn 
up in shocks of 8 or 10 bundles, and let them stand in the field 
until they are dry and cured. One can husk them in the field as 
is done in the East, or draw them to the barn or feeding yard, and 
put them up in long, narrow ricks. Last season, we purchased a 
Keystone husker and shredder combined, and husked 11,000 bush¬ 
els of ears with it. It put the stalks into line condition for feed. 
The folly of attempting to cut 400 acres of corn oy 
hand is evident to any one. Of course, under the old 
system, all the stock food in the stalks was wasted. 
Now see how machinery will change all this. Not 
only will one man be enabled to handle more corn, 
but the farm will produce two or three times as much 
available stock food. This means more meat and 
animal products to enter the world’s markets. 
O 
An outbreak of grasshoppers occurred near Taylor’s 
Falls, Minn., covering an area of about 100 square 
miles. They, or their descendants, would have proved 
a serious pest next year if prompt action had not 
been taken to kill them off. Prof. Lugger, of the 
State Experiment Station, was on hand with a supply 
of “ hopper doziers.” This device consists of a sheet- 
iron pan two inches deep, two feet wide, and of any 
desired length. At the rear, a framework two feet 
high is erected and covered with canvas or muslin. 
The whole is mounted on low shoes or runners (gen¬ 
erally made of small poles), and a light pole is carried 
on the ropes in front which supports a chain or heavy 
rope, which sw’eeps the ground and causes the hoppers 
to jump into the pan or against the upright canvas. 
Kerosene oil is kept in the pan with a cover of canvas 
floating on the surface to keep the oil from slopping 
out. When a hopper gets a touch of oil, no matter 
whether he gets out of the pan again or not, he is a 
gone hopper; for kerosene on any part of his anatomy 
means sure death. Dr. Lugger, as soon as the hoppers 
were discovered, ordered “ hopper doziers ” made, 
shipped oil to the seat of war, and organized the 
farmers of the region into an army of crop defenders. 
The oil was furnished by the State, and the farmers 
furnished the motive power. There were in all 143 
“ doziers ” at work in the infested region, and two 
car-loads of oil were used. Care will be taken this 
fall to see that all ground where the grasshoppers 
lay eggs, is plowed, and no chance allowed them to 
increase and become plentiful next year. A similar 
outbreak of grasshoppers in Otter Tail County, Minn., 
a few years since, was effectually stamped out by 
prompt action of this kind. 
G 
In some parts of the country, particularly in the 
Northwest, many apple trees are destroyed by what 
is known as “sun-scald.” In fact, Prof. Green, of 
the Minnesota Station, says that in that State more 
apple trees die from sun-scald than from any other 
cause. The trees affected by this disease, become 
rotten on the south side of the trunk, which weakens 
it so that it cannot support its top, and consequently 
breaks down. The cause of this trouble is that the 
bark on the south or southwest side of the tree, starts 
into growth during some warm winter period—be¬ 
fore the rest of the tree. When this warm period 
is followed by a severe freeze, the new growth is 
killed, and the bark on the affected side falls off. 
Prof. Green gives some practical methods for pre¬ 
venting this trouble. Anything that will shade the 
trunk and limbs will prevent this early growth. 
When the trees are set out, they should be slanted to 
the southwest. If kept in that position, they will 
largely shade themselves. The trunk may be pro¬ 
tected by wrapping around it on the approach of 
winter, screens of lath, boards, netting, hay and 
stalks, or building paper. The protection considered 
on the whole safest and best, is to box the tree trunk, 
and fill the box with soil. This protects the trunk 
against sudden changes of temperature. With this 
system in general use, Prof. Green believes that the 
hardiest apples may be grown much farther north 
than is now considered possible. These boxes have 
been kept around the tree trunks continuously for 
three years without harm. They will protect the 
trunks from mice and rabbits. kSurely people living 
in the “Cold North” may well go to some pains in 
order to supply themselves with apples. 
GAME LAWS OF NEW YORK STATE. 
The last New York Legislature made some changes 
in the game laws of the State. As they now stand, 
the following are, briefly, the provisions of most gen¬ 
eral interest: 
Deer must not be caught, shot at, hunted or killed 
except from August 16 to October 31 inclusive, and no 
person shall kill or take alive more than tvvo deer in 
one season. In the counties of Ulster, Greene,.Sulli¬ 
van and Delaware, no wild deer shall be hunted or 
killed for five years from the passage of the act—June 
7. These provisions as to close season do not apply to 
Long Island. 
No fawns shall be caught or killed. Deer shall not 
be caught in traps. They shall not be hunted with 
dogs except from September 10 to October 10, and not 
at all in the comities of St. Lawrence, Delaware, 
Greene, Ulster, and Sullivan. Deer or venison shall 
not be transported from the county where kilied ex¬ 
cept when accompanied by the owner. 
Black and gray squirrels, hares and rabbits shall 
not be shot at, hunted, killed or possessed, except 
during September, October and November except 
that in the counties of St Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, 
Clinton, Lewis, Warren, Hamilton, Herkimer, Sara¬ 
toga, Washington. Onondaga, Oswego, Dutchess, 
Steuben, Orange, Richmond and Delaware, rabbits 
may be killed from March 1 to September 30. The 
use of ferrets in hunting rabbits is prohibited. These 
provisions do not apply to Long Island and the 
county of Wayne is exempt from the provisions rela¬ 
ting to the killing of hares and rabbits. 
The close season for birds is as follows: Web-footed 
wild fowl, except geese and brant, April 30 to Septem¬ 
ber 1, and only during the hours from one hour be¬ 
fore sunrise to one hour after sunset. Quail, January 
1 to October 31. Woodcock and grouse which include 
partridges. January 1 to August 15. Does not apply 
to Long Island. Plover, snipe, and similar birds. 
May 1 to August 31, Long Island exempt. Most wild 
and song birds are not to be killed or caught at any 
time. Birds not protected are the English sparrow, 
crow, hawks, cranes, ravens, crow blackbirds, com¬ 
mon blackbirds and kingfishers. Meadow larks are 
protected at all times. Destroying or robbing nests 
except those of birds not protected, is forbidden. 
Snaring, netting, trapping, etc., are prohibited. Cer¬ 
tificates may be granted by any incorporated society 
of natural history for the collection of birds, etc., for 
scientific purposes. There are special provisions for 
Long Island and Long Island Sound. The law is 
filled with special regulations, for instance in shoot¬ 
ing wild fowl, one must fire the gun from the shoulder 
at arms’ length, without any other rest. Any one in¬ 
terested should send to the Secretary of State, at 
Albany, for a pamphlet copy of the law which will be 
furnished free so long as the supply lasts. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Broad tires and low wagons save man and team, and prevent 
rutting roads and fields. Prof. Roberts, of Cornell Experiment 
Station, speaks highly of the Farmer’s Handy wagon which is in 
use at the station. It is made by the Farmer’s Handy Wagon 
Company, Saginaw, Mich. They were formerly at Florence, Ala., 
but have moved to the above address, where material is more con¬ 
venient, and where shipping facilities are excellent. They will 
send full description of the Handy wagon on application. 
A good many of the concentrated stock foods are so constipat¬ 
ing in their effect, that it is dangerous to feed them without ensil¬ 
age or green pasture. Not so with linseed oil meal. One great 
value of this is that it may safely be fed with stalks, straw or 
other dry. coarse fodder, and not only supply the fat and muscle- 
makers, but also aid in digestion, too. The summer pastures are 
oftentimes little better than “hay or roots” with the grass all 
dried up. Oil meal is just the food to go with it. Where to get 
it ? The Detroit Linseed Oil Works, Detroit, Mich. 
Analysis shows more or less fertility in a brick. Yet put a 
brick beside a cabbage plant, and it will be slow coming to a 
head. Grind the brick and mix it with humus and plant food and 
the cabbage grows. Just so with coarse stock food—a calf can’t 
thrive on ice-cold milk and raw pumpkins or roots. How is a cow 
to give a profit on tough cornstalks and similar stuff? How? 
By making the food in that stuff available and palatable. How do 
you do that ? One good way is to cook it in one of those cookers 
made by Mitchell Machine Company, Kendallville, Ind. Write for 
their catalogue and look it over. 
• The day of corn cutting by hand is about over for those who 
grow it in any considerable quantity. Owing to the drought in 
many localities this season, a larger acreage of corn has been 
planted for feeding purposes to take the place of hay, and natu¬ 
rally there will be a large demand for implements to hasten and 
lighten the work of harvesting, and to economize in the expense. 
To all such the Scientific corn harvester will be of interest. It 
solves the problem of quick, cheap corn harvesting. The Foos 
Mfg. Co., Springfield, O., are the manufacturers, and will send 
catalogue of different styles on application. This is another of 
the old and responsible houses that advertise in The R. N.-Y.; and 
any implement that they send out will be found as represented. 
Every one who has had to do with horses, knows what an ex¬ 
pensive and annoying experience it is to have a horse laid up from 
the effects of collar scald or shoulder gall, so frequently result¬ 
ing from heavy draft during the heated term. This is most likely 
to occur just when the services of the team are most needed, and 
not infrequently the loss from such cause is considerable. Bick- 
more’s Gall Cure, which is advertised on another page, is highly 
recommended as a remedy for these difficulties, and the adver¬ 
tisers claim that you can use the animal while you are curing 
him. This gall cure is said to be equally effective in treating 
scratches, cuts and sore teats on cows. A sample package will 
be mailed for 10 cents. Write to the Bickmore Gall Cure Co., Old 
Town, Me. 
