656 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
September 28 
in nevcn prizes, trill he paid out October 1, 
for the seven largest clubs of subscriptions. 
These clubs are still ridiculously small, but 
that makes no difference—the money wilt be 
paid anyway. Any of our live agents 
could start out now, and in three days ’ time 
capture that $50 cash prize. There is no 
nonsense about this—it is true. No man 
ever had an easier chance to earn some 
money. That $50 check will be mailed 
Tuesday night. Do you want it bad enough 
to make a rush for it ? If so, hitch up 
and capture those subscriptions. 
The $1 winners for the past week are : 
Sept. 16.—Mrs. M. A. Cummings, Lawrence Co.,Pa. 
17. —Winona R. Weld, Newcastle Co., Del. 
18. —W. J. Bills, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
19. —W. J. Bills, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
20. —Winona R. Weld, Newcastle Co., Del. 
21. —G. H. King, Orange Co., N. Y. 
" HACKS." 
Ik I had much to do with the running of this 
world, I am at times half inclined to think that I 
would experiment a little with humanity. I some¬ 
times wonder what would happen if every person 
could, for a short time, be deaf, for a while blind 
and dumb and really know the desperation of 
actual poverty. Would people be less selfish and 
more thoughtful for others if they could really 
knots what it is to be unfortunate ? Most of us 
have to guess at it as the world is now made up 
and, perhaps, our shortcomings are due to the 
fact that imagination is weaker than experience. 
I wouldn’t mind seeing some such thing tried on 
some smart people I know. I would like to force 
them to change works with others for a time, and 
thus really exhibit the proportion of wind there is 
in their self-estimate. Every one who can write 
an article seems to know how to edit a paper. 
There is no business in the world so easy as the 
editor’s job, if one may judge from the advice 
and comment of those who never tried it. We, 
therefore, hesitate to begin the promised talk 
about the merits of an agricultural paper. 
Every one seems to know about it, and it will 
probably be an old story. However, there is one 
point we may with safety touch. 
* 
Back on page 544, in speaking of The R. N.-Y. 
we said, “ We believe that we give space to fewer 
of the ‘ hacks ’ or machine writers, than any 
similar paper. As time goes on, we shall weed 
them all out.” 
That paper had hardly been distributed when 
there came a letter that fairly took our breath 
away. Here are some extracts from it: 
“ Self-respect compels me to take exception to 
your statement in this week’s R. N.-Y., regarding 
the character of a certain class of contributors 
whom you call ‘hack or machine’ writers, and to 
say that being a ‘ hack’ writer myself, devoting 
all my time to preparing technical matter for the 
trade press of this country and England, I cannot 
permit any article of mine henceforth to appear 
in your columns. * * * When I subscribe to a 
journal, I am entitled to all the information it 
was designed to furnish me, without any assist¬ 
ance from me outside of my subscription price. 
Nor do I care whether that matter is furnished by 
‘ hacks’ or whatnot, so long as it suits my wants. 
* * * Yes, you can ‘ weed me out’ at once. 
Rather, I pull myself up by the roots, and at 
least preserve my self-respect. * * * The ‘hack’ 
writer is the mainstay of literature to-day. He is 
here to stay. To write a certain article, I bought 
an English publication at a good price, that'when 
the article was written, possessed no further 
practical value to me, and the article barely paid 
me for the book. Where isyour amateur farrner- 
eontribiitor who will do that?” 
Now we take it that man is as honest as can be. 
We know that he is, for he is the first man we 
ever heard of to express pride at being a “hack” 
writer. We looked that word up carefully before 
it was used. This man is an able writer of more 
than usual ability it seemed to us, and we regret 
that he took such a view of the matter. We can’t 
help thinking that he permitted his better judg¬ 
ment to “fly off the handle,” in this case. In fact, 
we didn’t class him as a hack at all. But, taking 
his remarks as they stand, let us try to explain 
what we mean by a “ hack” writer—the kind 
The R. N.-Y. has no use for. 
* 
Last winter, I sat in the office of the director of 
one of our experiment stations. He was opening 
his mail and suddenly held up a letter from a man 
who covers column after column in some of our 
agricultural papers. That man asked an inno¬ 
cent question about grass. “Do you know what 
he will do with my answer ?” asked the director. 
“ He will pad a lot of fat words around it, make 
a column article and have it printed in some 
agricultural paper as bis experience.” 
Now that is what we mean by “hack” writing. 
There are a number of persons iu this country 
who make a fair living stealing the ideas and ex¬ 
perience of others, dressing them up in words and 
selling them as original. Sometimes, like the 
man mentioned, they get a line from some expert 
to build on, but more often it is an article in some 
paper that starts them. They throw in words 
and try to convey the idea that it’s all a record of 
their own experience ! 
That is what we call a “ hack.” We want no 
such writing. Plenty of it is sent us, but we send 
it back. Of course, we don’t pretend to say that 
printed information from books and magazines, 
is not valuable; but here we are within reach of 
the greatest libraries in the world, when we need 
such facts. We have people here to do all such 
work we need. People often send us untested rules 
or recipes from old books and papers. We don’t 
care to print them until some one has given them 
a test. The “hack” deals in theory almost entirely. 
If he would be honest and say so, it might be well 
enough—but he doesn’t; he wants you to believe 
that he has done it all, when he is a mere man of 
straw. Why, here is The R. N.-Y with Experi¬ 
ment Grounds of its own—with records running 
back 20 years—before these Government Stations 
were located. Why should we want a lot of desk- 
men to grind out words for us ? We don’t want 
words, we want ideas—original and forcible. 
The very nature of the “ hack ” prevents his sup¬ 
plying them. 
No, thank you! we must “respectfully decline” 
the writings of the “hack.” Our friend sayS that 
the “hack” is the “mainstay of literature to-day.” 
We have no space to argue that matter, except to 
say that he is not the mainstay of The R. N.-Y., 
anyway. We shall continue our plan of hunting 
for facts, and shall try to put all untested theories 
in a class by themselves, where they will be recog¬ 
nized. For every resonable question asked us, 
there is some man who can answer it with author¬ 
ity. We want that man’s answer—not that of a 
plausible “ hack.” Wait and see what Dr. Hos¬ 
kins has to say about this next week. 
* 
Ok course we understand that every one of these 
“ hack” writers probably thinks that he could 
greatly improve The R. N.-Y. if he were made 
editor. We are not quite ready to let them ex¬ 
periment this year, so they will continue to think 
so. Our belief is that most readers recognize the 
work of experienced men. Do we mean to say 
that you may safely assume that everything 
printed in The R. N.-Y. is “just so” and may 
safely be carried out to the letter? No; you 
simply have our guarantee that we do the very 
best we can to obtain sound information from 
reputable men. You are obliged to leave more or 
less of it to our judgment. We fully realize that 
the only way to hold our circulation together, is 
to be careful of our facts. A spoken mistake may 
be forgotten, but when it gets into ink, it haunts 
the one who made it forever. It pleases us to see 
that some of our readers have coutidence in our 
desire to sift out the “hacks,” and get informa¬ 
tion from headquarters. Here is a letter from a 
Pennsylvania man: 
* 
“ One of my neighbors told me this morning 
how one of his cows had died. He had cut some 
brush, and the cows, being hungry, ate all the 
leaves. He said that there had been some black 
as well as fire cherry among those eaten. It was 
his best cow out of 16. I told him that if he had 
been reading The R. N.-Y., he would not have cut 
any cherry, and showed him some recent articles 
in the paper. I have tried before to get him to 
subscribe, but failed. To-day I got him. Send him 
for the inclosed dollar, The R. N.-Y. for a year.” 
We hope that he will stay with us till the cows 
come home. That was not a very cheery tune the 
old cow died of, but we hope we are well enough 
versed in knowledge now to omit the second 
verse. 
And here’s the way a New Jersey man did it : 
“ How I got it! 
“ ‘ You’re a subscriber to The R. N.-Y., aren’t 
you?’ 
“ ‘ Sure !’ 
“ ‘ I wish that you would ask them whether 
pumpkin seeds are injurious to cattle, and how.’ 
“ I told him what I knew, and h ow I didn’t pro¬ 
pose to impose on the paper that way, as I had 
urged him to be a subscriber last spring. But I 
would ask as we didn’t mind good nature being 
imposed upon when a man showed signs of con¬ 
version. 
“ ‘ No, shell out 25 cents, and I will send you the 
paper the rest of this year, and you can look out 
for the answer yourself !’ ” 
That’s right. Too many pumpkin seeds would 
have a bad effect on the kidneys, but you are not 
likely to give too many in ordinary feeding. 
Don’t let the cattle “help themselves.” 
And now here’s the matter from another point 
of view. The R. N.-Y. not only tries hard to 
obtain facts, but it is down on frauds, humbugs 
and “fakes.” Read this letter from an old friend, 
Fred Grundy: 
“ I am glad that you are going for the snide 
fair managers. They need it. Why should horse 
racers, gamblers and fakes run the fairs, any¬ 
way? If they want to rob and degrade the people, 
let’s make ’em get out from under the term ‘agri¬ 
cultural.’ I guess that The R. N.-Y. will be 
alone in this fight until the enemy is about 
downed; then how the other fellows will tumble 
over each other to get into line! You remember 
how I called your attention to the operations of 
the creamery sharks a few years ago? Well, 
some of my friends got scared when they read : 
that article, and advised me to dispose of my be¬ 
longings, to scatter, etc. But I showed them 
sundry proofs I had collected before I spoke, and 
told them to rest easy. The sharks tried to trap 
me several different times, but I was on the watch, 
and they failed. The R. N.-Y. has, I think, about 
ruined their little game. But how they did scoop 
the cornfield canaries!” 
That’s right! The “hacks” and the “fakes” must 
get out from under the “agricultural” hen. That’s 
no place for them to incubate. The farm is 
worthy of the best thought we can get. Don’t you 
thiuk so ? 
Fertilizers containing a high percentage of potash pro 
duce the largest yields and best quality of 
Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, v 
and all winter crops. 
Send for our pamphlets on the use of potash on the farm. They are sent free. 
It will cost you nothing to read them, and they .will save you dollars. Address, 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau Street, New York. 
: Bowker’s Fertilizers, zz 
•OLUKI — ACTIVI — (URI. 
BOWKER 
fertiliieh co., 3 
BOSTON 4 NEW YORK.*^S 
Do not pay freight 
on sand, dirt, and organic matter. 
Albert’s Concentrated Manures 
are not made from refuse materials. 
Read our literature and learn the difference betweea 
compounds and mixtures. It is sent free. 
ROBT. L. MERWIN & CO., 88 Wall St., N. Y. 
KEYSTONE WOVEN WIRE FENCIN6 
Can be depended on to turn your stock. Abso¬ 
lutely safe. Every rod guaranteed. Made in 
heights from 25 to 58 inches. If interested, send 
for illustrated catalogue. 
Keystone Woven Wire Fence Co., 
No. 49 Locust St., TREMONT, ILL. 
Cabled Field and Hog Fence, 
24 to 58 Inches high: Steel Web Picket Lawn Fence: 
Poultry Garden and Rabbit Fence; Steel Ga.es 
Steel Posts and Steel RallsiTree.Flower and Tomato 
Guards: Steel Wire Fence Board, etc. Catalogue free 
JeKALB FENCE CO., | 7 High St., DeKalb, III. 
GUANO 
ODORLESS 
MINERAL 
Agents wanted In every farming town. Send for 
circulars to THE FOREST CITY WOOD ASH CO 
No. 9 Merchants Row, Boston, Mass 
delivered at your 
nearest station, for 
&20.00 per ton. 
We ship our best 
Screened Canada 
Unleached 
Hardwood 
ASHES 
at bottomiprices. Analysis and Weight Guaranteed 
Address THE FOREST CITY WOOD ASH CO., 
No. 9 Merchants Row. Boston. Mass 
NOTICE. 
We have not yet advanced the price of our 
goods. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
CYCLONE FENCE 
WHY ARE 
cables used for stringers In all 
bridges and similar work, when 
a single rod would cost less’ 
Because the cable takes care of 
expansion and contraction 
which a single strand will not do. 
CYCLONE WOVEN WIRE 
FENCE COMPANY. 
HOLLY. MICH 
T 
IMOTHY or CLOVER SEED 
Before you buy write, stating quantity yon 
need. We can save you money and give you 
the Be?t Northern Crown Clean Seed. 
We are in the best seed producing country in 
Minnesota and can give you lowest prices for the 
best quality. Alwayi Buy Direct from the Grower,. 
Addressthe FARMER SEED CO. 
O. Kozlowski, Mgr. Faribault, Minn. 
NEEDED. 
A few more reliable men to propagate the new 
peach, Carman, mentioned in Ruralisms, page 619. 
This peach Is rotproof, frostproof, and the best 
long-distance shipper known. A blizzard that killed 
all of our Alexander buds last February, never in¬ 
jured the Carman in the least. For circulars and terms 
address STUBENRAUCH FRUIT CO., Mexla, Tex. 
MANGEL 
Tmf ONLY LARGE EARLY PEAR that will ship long dis- J 
* rlt ~ VI1 . .tances. Strong growth and Free From Blight. 2 
• Send for catalogue, illustrated with Apples, Pears, Cherries, Japan Plums 1 
1 and Crosby and Elberta Peaches. Send for 7c. Cherry and Apple. 
1 HP~GUARANTEED HEALTHY AND FREE FROM ALL DISEASE. _ 
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EVAPORATE YOUR FRUIT. 
Every farmhouse has some fruit, some time during the season, that goes to 
waste, and that would he most valuable during the winter months, if it were dried 
and put away for use. But you have no convenient way of drying it, so it is 
thrown out and lost. Now what is 
needed to save all this waste is a small, 
cheap, convenient drier that can be 
readily brought into use. The U. S. 
Cook Stove Drier fills this need to per¬ 
fection. The illustration shows this 
Drier complete on an ordinary cook 
stove. It can also be used on an oil or 
gasoline stove. It has eight galvanized 
wire-cloth trays, containing 12 square 
feet of tray surface. The dimensions 
are: Base, 22x16 inches; height, 26 
inches. Sent by freight at the receiver’s 
expense. Weight, crated, about 27 
pounds. It is always ready, and with 
ordinary care, will last a lifetime. The 
thrifty housewife can make it pay for 
itself several times over in drying fruit 
for home use, and may be able to dry 
fruit enough with it to exchange for all 
the groceries needed for a large family. 
We. have sold hundreds of these during 
past years for $7 ; but we have been able 
to get a reduction this year, and can now send it and The R. N.-Y., one year, for 
$5. Or we will send it to any one who will send us a club of 12 new subscriptions 
at $1 each. It is one of the things that should be in every home where fruit is to 
be had, and, at the reduced price this year, we expect to ship at least one thousand. 
Address THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, New York. 
