620 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 14 
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. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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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, SEPTEMBER 14, 1895. 
M. Ckawford is always interesting when he writes 
of fruits and their culture. In his article this week, 
(page (515), on the proper treatment of strawberry 
plants after fruiting, we think that he has given the 
wisest something to think about. You remember that 
he told us last spring that he saw no reason why we 
snould not pick strawberries all through August and 
September ! 
© 
The series of articles on “ Distribution of Wealth,” 
is interrupted this week to give space to reports of two 
great fairs. Speaking of wealth distribution, we believe 
that at least $25,000 in hard-earned cash went into the 
pockets of the fakirs at the New York State Fair 
alone. There was not a gambling device on the 
grounds, either. That is a waste of good money. 
Who is responsible for it ? 
© 
Light tricycle wagons begin to appear on the city 
streets. One wheel in front serves for steering. There 
is a long body on which sets a large basket or hamper 
containing large parcels for delivery. A rider sits 
behind and drives it about from house to house— 
quicker, easier, cheaper and neater than an express 
wagon would do it. You would better get over your 
prejudice against the wheel, right off. 
O 
The R. N.-Y. has often attacked the managers of 
the New Jersey State Fair for the great number of 
fake” and gambling shows permitted on the ground. 
We are very glad to state that this year’s exhibition 
was cleaner than for many years past. Last year 
alone the managers were offered $8,000 cash down by 
the owners of one gambling device who wished to ex¬ 
hibit their games. That gives a faint idea of the 
profit these gentry expect—and receive, 
© 
We notice that many of the agricultural papers are 
printing a letter from a man in Michigan who tells of 
the beauties of Crimson clover, and then goes on to 
offer to send a lot of seed free. These papers must 
feel cheap when they see the same letters appearing, 
word for word, in a dozen sheets ! We are glad to 
see an interest taken in this clover—though it is about 
two years behind time—but such an old-time fake as 
this free package of seed business, is too much. 
Q 
On September 4, Mr. Ilale showed the writer, in 
his Connecticut orchard, a large basket of fine 
Elberta peaches. He claims that this is the first full 
basket of this fine variety ripened at the North. 
These peaches were ripened in a singular way. Ey 
accident, the tree was girdled by a wire put about 
the limbs to prevent a bad crack in the body. This 
girdling, as in the case of grapes, hastened the ripen¬ 
ing so that the peaches on this tree were at least 10 
days ahead of the other trees. We shall have more 
to say about this singular thing a little later. 
© 
Farmers in parts of Missouri and other Western 
States, are somewhat wrought up over the action of a 
manufacturing house in Springfield, Ohio, in bringing 
suits for infringement of patent on corn harvesters. 
These farmers have been making and using home¬ 
made corn cutters for a number of years. Now an 
agent of the company appears and brings suit to make 
these farmers pay a royalty. So far as we can learn, 
the principle on which these sled cutters run was em¬ 
ployed by farmers long before the manufacturers had 
it patented—if in fact they have ever done so. The 
farmers who are using sled cutters of their own make 
should combine and make a test case. A suit has 
been brought against Mr. J. G. Eurckhardt, of Eethel, 
Mo., and we suggest that those who have made these 
machines write him and help bring out all the facts. 
This is a case where “ combination ” can be made 
practically useful. 
© 
The more we visit the farms of successful breeders 
of live stock, the more are we impressed with the 
utter impossibility of prescribing any certain ration 
to secure best results. We ask dairymen, poultrymen, 
and others what they feed, and in what proportions. 
They tell us what they usually feed, and in “about” 
what proportions ; but what they might call a regu¬ 
lar ration, is varied widely according to the season, 
the condition of the animals, the effect of the feed, 
the relative cheapness of different feeds, and the 
peculiarities of the different animals. Successful 
business feeders are on the lookout for cheaper feeds 
that may supplement the regular rations. Seldom 
will one of them give an unmodified answer to the 
question as to his manner of feeding. 
© 
Some weeks ago we told our readers about the plan 
of shipping perishable products in “sterilized air” 
instead of in refrigerator cars. Dr. Perkins, who in¬ 
vented the sterilized air method, sends us this note : 
A copy of the New York Times has come to my notice, with an 
article regarding California fruit and fruit shipments. The charge 
is made that the fruit, especially peaches, is void of flavor. The 
writer says. “ They,” the California fruitmakers “ make a toler¬ 
able imitation of a peach, such as is also made by workers in 
wax. But it is still Dead Sea fruit, that tempts the eye but turns 
to ashes on the lips.” This is all true; but the fault is not in the 
fruit, it is in the present method of shipment. Refrigeration will 
destroy the flavor of any delicate, perishable product. California 
peaches in their own home are full flavored, royal and cannot be 
excelled. It is possible to put them into the Eastern market in 
perfection. 
Certainly the California peach, as it now reaches the 
Eastern markets, is worthless for eating out of the 
hand where one can obtain fruit from Delaware, New 
Jersey or New England. The “ sterilized air” process 
is undoubtedly a great improvement on icing, but we 
doubt whether it will ever make California peaches 
popular in the East. 
G 
Prof. Hopkins, of the West Virginia Station, has 
made some valuable experiments to determine the 
“ different varieties of Timothy grass.” At the recent 
meeting of agricultural scientists, he showed some re¬ 
markable specimens. He finds a great difference in 
the time these different specimens mature. Some of 
them are a month later than others. This is excellent 
work, and ought to be continued. An earlier-matur- 
ing Timothy would fit far better with Medium clover 
than the crop as ordinarily grown, and if there are 
differences in maturing, there are also differences in 
quality and yielding capacity. Many of our readers 
have discovered differences of hardiness and yield in 
the samples grown from their Crimson clover seed. 
They realize that the best way to continue the good 
qualities is to plant the seeds of the sub-varieties 
that produce them. Prof. Redding gives us the same 
idea this week in his plan of transplanting the few 
plants of winter oats that survived the winter. He 
hopes, in this way, to find a peculiarly hardy strain 
of oats. In fact, this Timothy seed matter is but 
carrying to a still finer point the careful selection 
that has developed the useful qualities in all our 
plants and animals. 
© 
Our readers know the “ Preservaline Company.” 
We have scored them repeatedly as the sponsors for 
that “filthy milkman’s makeshift.” They need scor¬ 
ing again for a mean and worthless trick they are 
trying to play on dairymen. A year or so ago, Prof. 
E. H. Farrington devised what he called an alkaline 
tablet for determining the amount of acid in milk or 
cream. It is a helpful device, as it is accurate and 
will show when cream is “ripened” sufficiently for 
churning. Now the “ Preservaline Company” come 
forward with what they call “ Alkaline tabs” or 
“The new way of testing the acidity of milk and 
cream.” The Wisconsin Experiment Station people 
sent 50 cents for a set of these “tabs” and this is what 
they say; 
It consisted of four packages of paper discs, each about the 
size of an old style copper cent, made of filter paper, in a blue 
box, two packages square paper in a pink box, one glass of about 
10 cc capacity, and one small glass bottle ; the directions inti¬ 
mated that each paper disc represented 0.1 acidity when added to 
the small glassful of milk or cream, together with two of the 
squares of paper, the whole to be well shaken in the long glass 
bottle. The acidity of the sample of milk or cream is measured 
by counting the number of round papers required to get a pink 
color in the sample tested. 
A sample of milk tested at the Station showed by a 
standard chemical test 0.2 per cent of acid—yet it re¬ 
quired six of the “ tabs” to give the pink color. 
Repeated tests showed that the “ tabs” varied so that 
some had onlj* half the alkali of others. For accurate 
results, they are of no value. This “Company” stole 
all it dared to of an honest name, and then failed to 
give a uniform product. That is what one might ex¬ 
pect from people who will sell powdered borax as a 
milk preservative. 
© 
Western men are often astonished at the New Eng¬ 
land town libraries. These fine buildings are situated 
in a central part of the town, and often contain a re¬ 
markable collection of books. A few years ago, a 
wealthy farmer, without children, left his entire 
property for the purpose of maintaining a library in 
the town of his birth. That was a noble charity—it 
will benefit a dozen generations. What more lasting 
monument could man ask for ? Is there a public 
library in your town ? Why not ? Waiting for some 
one to start it ? We nominate you for starter. 
© 
Not long ago, The R. N.-Y. inserted an advertise¬ 
ment for a city clerk who was troubled with “pen 
palsy ’ so that he could not write. He wanted a place 
in the country where he could work for his board. 
Now he is back in the city and writes again as fol¬ 
lows : 
The difficulty I have in writing, prevents my resuming my occu¬ 
pation. Our family physician, whom I consulted to-day, says 
that work on a farm (or its equivalent) for a year, or at least, six 
months, is the only probable way of cure. I notice articles on 
dairying and buttermaking, and that a young man of the right 
kind can make an honest living by it, and have his services in 
demand. Wouldn’t this be a field for me ? Is it not honest, use¬ 
ful and worthy such talent as I could bring to it ? The city is 
overcrowded, and the most of us hold our positions rather by pre¬ 
occupancy than by merit. I have about $1,000 between me and 
want; would you counsel me to spend some of it now in taking a 
dairy course, and then getting employment in some creamery ? 
What school would you suggest in such a case? What would be 
the cost, etc. ? For years I have sought some occupation that is 
at once useful, honorable and stable, and one adapted to such 
powers as I possess; and I would be happy to find such before it 
is too late. 
There is a singular thing—a city man desirous of 
learning the scientific side of dairying so that he may 
make a living at it. VVe believe that his plan is a 
sensible one, and that he can make a success of it. 
What he says about city life is all too true. The only 
chance in dairying these days is “up top”—but where 
are the young men bred on the farm that they do not 
crowd the ranks of skilled dairymen as city youths 
have crowded the ranks of clerks ? 
G 
BREVITIES. 
Old Hoppy-go-limpy goes stumping along; 
His back may be weak but his heart is full strong, 
He doesn’t go bitterly sipping life’s dregs, 
Because fate has shortened his pace and his legs. 
Old Grabein, the miser, sits up in his chair, 
And thinks—“How I pity that chap, I declare; 
He’s tainted with poverty down to the core, 
I’d buy him and sell him a dozen times o’er. 
A poor, feeble cripple, weak, worthless and sick, 
No prospect ahead of the end of his stick.” 
But Hoppy forgets all his wants and his woes, 
In pity for Grabein, the miser, who knows 
No pleasure or comfort, contentment or peace, 
Save only what comes from his money’s increase. 
Said Grabem, “I’d hate to go crutcliing that way, 
And hobble through life to my very last day.” 
Said Hoppy, “I’d die if I thought I had sold 
Love’s share in my heart for a handful of gold!” 
Another star ! Utah ! 
Potash paints the peach. 
Let the key note be keen. 
Bone feed cutters—the teeth ! 
Bud some blood on the scrub. 
Some pump kins—hose and nozzle. 
A beetle blister comes on the hand. 
What is your definition of drudgery ? 
A BOARD OF STOCK HOLDERS—StaUClllOnS. 
The nutritive ratio of a grasshopper—page 616. 
A low-down wagon makes high spirits for the loader. 
Did the hired man have Labor Day for his own ? It belonged 
to him! 
Arizona is a grasshopper country. Read the poison plan- 
page 616. 
“ Scrub sheep !” When you work on a farm where sheep wash¬ 
ing prevails. 
Heaven bless the wife who keeps her husband straight with 
righteous strife. 
Don!t neglect “ the gentle due from Heaven,” or the gentle do 
of duty that will settle it. 
“ Frog bellies” is the name Californians give to sun-dried 
prunes that will not shrivel properly. 
Has it ever been proved that a nest egg ever deceives a laying 
hen, or does any good ? We doubt it. 
If any hired man desires to give “the other side” of the bicycle 
question (page 616), our pages are open to him. 
The most interesting machine at the fairs is the corn harvester. 
It is going to make more change in farming than any other new 
device of the past decade.- 
A boy in DeKalb, Ill., who has neither hands nor feet, has a 
peculiar bicycle that he is able to ride and guide. A good many 
one-legged people are riding wheels. They beat crutches. 
People are writing to ask whether that plan of preserving 
grapes by alcohol fumes, is practical. We can’t find an American 
who has tried it, but we learn of a Californian who will try it. 
See what they are doing at the Georgia Experiment Station in 
the hope of getting winter oats that will stand the winter? Trans¬ 
planting the few plants that pull through. That’s a good experi¬ 
ment. 
