1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
8o7 
us. As wheat was then quoted at 72 cents in the Cin¬ 
cinnati market, we naturally refused to sell, and my 
neighbor said that we would drive on to Blank’s mill. 
The miller quietly informed us that it was useless to 
go, as the millers had entered into an agreement not 
to pay more than 65 cents a bushel. Then he had the 
assurance to call up Blank’s mill by telephone, and 
remind him that they were doing as agreed, and 
wished to know if Blank was similarly faithful. When 
I called up Blank a few minutes later through the 
public telephone, you may be sure that 1 found it 
impossible to get a better offer than 65 cents. The 
reader may say that that miller was not very bright 
to give the fact away that a trust had been formed ; 
but he had sense enough to help others keep the price 
of local wheat at 65 cents,when Cincinnati wheat was 
worth 72 cents, and when they probably would have 
to pay 75 cents for any wheat from the city markets. 
Such an occurrence destroys one’s serenity of spirit. 
Competition is killed, and one is at tbe mercy of a 
little combination that is capable of holding prices 
down sufficiently to put several thousands of dollars 
into its pockets that were earned by the farmers and 
are needed by the farmers. Of course the natural 
thing to do was to store the wheat, even though one 
expected no rise in price, as it seemed unmanly to play 
into the hands of such a gang, if the future offered 
any chance of disposing of the grain in any other di¬ 
rection. It gives me pleasure to add that the combi¬ 
nation has gone to pieces, temporarily at least, but 
these “ understandings ” have been the rule for several 
years, and will continue to influence prices in our 
local market, to the injury of pro¬ 
ducers who should be able to sell in 
a market where competition regu¬ 
lates the price every day in the year. 
In some mills the man who super¬ 
intends the grinding is paid a good 
salary on account of his ability to 
make a large amount of good flour 
from a bushel of grain ; his value to 
the mill is gauged by his ability in 
this respect. It is my practice to 
weigh accurately all the wheat sent 
to a mill, to be exchanged for flour 
for home use. The farm hands are 
also furnished wheat at market 
price, and their wheat goes in the 
wagon with my own to mill, the 
hands thus making a material sav¬ 
ing, as a dollar in wheat exchanges 
for more flour than a dollar in 
money at the grocery. A number of 
times “mistakes” would occur in 
weight of all the lots of wheat, when 
the hired miller did the weighing. 
I am sure that the owner of the mill 
was honest, and it was hard to 
see the motive of the employee in 
making “ mistakes” always in favor 
of the mill, until I learned that he 
was as interested in having wheat 
receipts small, as compared with 
the output of flour, as any one. 
After some contention, he would always make the ex¬ 
change correctly, but here is a condition of things in 
which an employee is directly interested in defrauding 
a patron, and a dishonest one will naturally do so. 
Far be it from me to intimate that a majority of 
millers do not give honest weight; I know many hon¬ 
orable men in the business. But one does not like the 
disposition of millers to form combinations with the 
object of stifling competition. He does not like to 
sell his crop for five to ten cents per bushel less than 
other wheat costs the mill. He does not like to have 
his wheat weighed by an employee of whose character 
he knows nothing, but who is interested in having 
the wheat receipts small as compared with the output 
of flour, so that his record as a competent miller may 
be gilt-edged. None of these things is right. 
Ohio. AI.VA AGEE. 
each end, notched and bolted to them. It has 25 steel 
teeth, % x %-inch and 1 foot long. The draw chain is 
an old-fashioned, long-link chain attached to the first 
and third pieces. By selecting the proper link in 
which to insert a hook clevis, it will not “ trail” any¬ 
where. The teeth cut 2 2-5 inches apart. These har¬ 
rows, a Eureka mower, a Yankee horse-rake, a Planet 
Jr. cultivator, a Syracuse two-horse hiller, and a Hal- 
lock potato digger constitute the chief tools used on a 
40-acre farm, the whole costing less than the digger 
used by Mr. Chapman. As but little grain is grown, I 
sometimes borrow a seeder to put it in (my neighbors 
refuse to take pay); or if the seeder is in use when 
my ground is ready, I sow it by hand in “ streaks.” 
As to efficiency : When the first spring-tooth harrow 
was brought into the neighborhood, I borrowed it, 
was delighted, resolved to get one. “But!” Upon 
closer examination of its work on hard, fall- 
plowing, l found that it made a great show upon the 
surface, but failed to go as deep as the old spike-tooth 
harrow, though it did better work. When a spring 
comes in contact with an obstruction, whether it be a 
stone or hard ground, it will yield—in the one case an 
advantage ; in the other, not. Believing t hat a rigid 
tooth would do better work for me in most cases, I 
made the harrow described. It is very light, and by 
weighting it, it can be adapted to any condition of the 
soil. In soil free from stones, or only moderately 
stony, it will mellow the soil deeper, make it finer, 
leave it smoother, and do it as rapidly as a spring- 
tooth harrow. 
The digger requires but one team, does not clog, 
sys- 
getting poorer, while it is now improving. I hope soon 
to be able to produce cheaper than ever before. A 
neighbor has furnished me the cost of growing one 
acre of potatoes this year, by the “ hoe and hill 
tern. Here it is : 
Plowing.$2.50 
Fitting. 1.87 
Seed, nine bushels. 4.50 
Planting. 2.00 
Cultivating six times . I 87 
Hoeing. 1.50 
Digging and storing. 7.50 
A CHEAP OUTFIT OF TOOLS. 
THE OTHER SIDE OF FARM MACHINERY. 
Being encouraged by the remarks of E. H. Collins 
in The R. N.-Y. of October 26, in the belief that tools 
and methods that may seem primitive, may give as 
satisfactory results as those more scientific, I venture 
to describe mine, hoping that I may be able to add 
something to what was suggested by C. E. Chapman 
in the same issue. For simply mellowing the soil, an 
A harrow is used. The sides are 3Xx4% inches by 7 
feet long. It is five feet wide at the rear, and has 
nine broad cultivator teeth attached. It would run 
steadier if longer. Several of these were formerly in 
use here, but all but mine have been superseded by 
the spring-tooth harrow which, I believe, is a mistake. 
For sod, a square harrow is used. It consists of five 
pieces, 2 x2% inches and 4 feet long, placed 11 inches 
apart, and held in position by smaller pieces, one on 
SERVING DINNER AT A COLORADO “POTATO DAY.” 
will work wherever potatoes can be grown—rows 
should be sidewise of the hill—and, while it does not 
leave the potatoes as convenient for picking as the 
Hoover, and should be followed by the harrow, it will 
dig as rapidly, and my potatoes were dug and stored 
as cheaply as Mr. C.’s, though the yield was a little 
less, and men only were hired at $1 per day. As my 
farm is small, and potatoes and strawberries are the 
specialties, the conditions are somewhat different from 
those outlined by Mr. C. For my purpose, I believe 
that a minimum cost has been reached without any 
material loss in efficiency of implements. 
Changing works is seldom entirely satisfactory to 
all concerned, and should be avoided if possible. 
When work is not needed in the potatoes, I can find it 
in the berries, and. though not always sure of its 
bringing good wages, irrigation has pretty nearly 
eliminated all doubt. 
As to the cost of those potatoes, page 742 : There 
should be a charge for interest and taxes on land ; 
also for hauling to market. My potatoes cost more, 
owing chiefly to the use of a much greater quantity 
of fertilizer ; to hilling too high, as it proved ; and to 
more hand labor in planting. The seed was covered 
with a hoe ; the fertilizer applied over and around the 
hills later and brushed in. This has given better re¬ 
sults than any other method. I expected, and, but 
for the drought, would have obtained, a yield of 300 
bushels or over. As it was, small portions of the 
field, in which water settled after the very few show¬ 
ers that caused any to run in the furrows, yielded 
at the rate of 320 bushels. Under the “ hoe-and- 
hill ” system, I have more than once been able to de¬ 
liver at a station four miles away, at a cost of less 
than 20 cents per bushel ; this, too, while charging 
more for each item than Mr. C. has. This was cheaper 
than I am doing it now; but then the farm was steadily 
Total.$21.74 
Yield, 200 bushels; cost, 11 cents. 
Pennsylvania. G. A. PARCEL,L.. 
A COLORADO “ POTATO DAY.” 
Some years ago, the agriculturists around Greeley, 
Col., formed an association and made an attempt to 
have a county fair. After the manner of like com¬ 
panies in the East, they surrounded their grounds 
with a high fence, erected a shelter called by courtesy, 
a hall, put up show pens, and, of course, did not for¬ 
get to construct a race track with its attendant 
judges’stand and grand stand. People turned out 
well, and uncomplainingly paid the admission fees at 
the gate. But, notwithstanding, the debit side of the 
account overbalanced the credit side, and after several 
attempts to improve affairs by personal contributions, 
the grounds were sold—and the energetic farmer or 
stockman lacked a place to display the results of his 
skill, care and industry. 
After a time, as irrigation and farming in this new 
country became better understood, and the immense 
crops of potatoes, as well as the 
immense individual potato, sur¬ 
prised the raiser himself, a demand 
arose for a chance to show the world 
what we could do. Out of these 
conditions, the plan for “potato 
day” was evolved. When the old 
colonists laid out the new town, 
they reserved two blocks in the 
center—north and south of Main 
Street, for parks. These twin parks 
were made the show grounds. Along 
the walks, tables were arranged to 
hold the display of fruit and vege¬ 
tables. Of -course the potato was 
there in all its variety of color, shape 
and size. From towns near the foot 
hills fine displays of apples were 
brought which elicited much com¬ 
ment for, with a few notable ex¬ 
ceptions, Greeley people have not 
made a success of raising standard 
apples. 
Main street—between the parks— 
had been given over to preparing 
food for the multitude of visitors 
which every incoming train un¬ 
loaded. Last year they had a po¬ 
tato bake and a barbecue. This 
year the latter was omitted, and 
sandwiches and coffee w r ere served 
in abundance. It was inteuded to 
have baked potatoes in abundance also. For this pur¬ 
pose a mammoth oven had been built of brick in the 
inclosed street. In the trial heatings this oven had 
baked the small quantity of potatoes entrusted to it 
very nicely ; but, sad to say, when the crowd 
were there waiting for the bake to be opened, 
it utterly refused to do the work required of it. 
It had not stored heat enough to overcome the 
moisture—the steam arising from 100 bushels of 
potatoes. 
But the best of coffee was made by the barrel. 
Fig. 260 shows one of the tanks where the coffee was 
made ; also the smaller one for water near it, the 
chimneys of the oven and the waiting hungry crowd. 
This picture was taken at the dinner hour when the 
townspeople had gone to their homes with their 
visitors, and the crowd was the smallest of any part 
of the day. 
The poultry fanciers made a fine display ; coops for 
their accommodation were placed uuder the trees. A 
miniature lake was filled with bass and trout taken 
from ponds where the owners are interested in fish 
culture. One street was given over to a display of 
dairy stock. Among the animals were seen an ante¬ 
lope, a raccoon, two coyotes, one gray wolf, cats, dogs, 
rabbits, etc. 
The race course belongs to a company, and does not 
need the agricultural display to help run it. Those 
who wished to see races, could do so by riding a mile or 
two out of town. The store windows were fittingly deco¬ 
rated, and attracted much attention. Potato dolls 
with features painted upon their potato heads, and 
noses formed by weii-chosen knobs, were sometimes a 
laughable sight. Strangers were heard to express 
much pleasure from the day. The absence of the high 
fence and the fee collector, was noted, but not 
regretted. g, k, u, 
260. 
