828 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
December 14 
THK 
Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Established, 1850. Copyrighted 1895. 
Elbebt S. Cabman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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Address all business communications and make all orders pay- 
able to THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1895. 
JUST ONE ! 
You are one of the thousands of subscribers who 
will renew subscriptions to The R. N.-Y this month. 
You may have neither the time nor the inclination to 
try to secure a club of new subscriptions. You have, 
however, one friend or neighbor who ought to take 
The R. N.-Y. Just this one new name is all we ask 
of you. If your friend should hesitate, tell him that 
he may have his dollar back at any time he will say 
he is dissatisfied with his bargain. Just one 1 May 
we not confidently hope to have that one from you ? 
© 
Here’s a man in Orange County, N. Y., whose feed 
bill staggers him. He will try to cut it in two by 
raising a farmful of clover. That’s the cheapest way 
to produce home-grown muscle-makers. A man can 
easily cut down his meat bill by growing sweet corn, 
Lima beans, and similar vegetables, and clover for 
cattle is on just the same principle. 
G 
It is somewhat singular that so little has been said, 
heretofore, about the use of lime to neutralize the 
sourness in upland soils. Probably many chemists, 
as well as farmers, have fallen into the general belief 
that sour soils are always more or less low and damp. 
German and French chemists have recognized the 
value of lime on well-drained uplands that have 
become acid, and Prof. Hillgard in this country has 
apparently satisfied himself of the value. The Rhode 
Island people, however, have been the first to demon¬ 
strate this value by actual test. It seems to us that 
this matter explains the curious action we have 
noticed in several fields that failed to respond to 
fertilizing without apparent reason. 
0 
Water will burn! Why not—since it is composed 
of two gases both of which are inflammable? As 
proof, spray it on a hot fire. The fine particles will 
not injure the fire but will rather increase it. How, 
then, does water put out a fire? On the same princi¬ 
ple that sand or a blanket would do it—by covering 
it up and smothering it. Separate the particles of 
water into a tine spray, and they will burn—combine 
them into a volume large enough to cover the fire, it 
goes out. Organization makes the difference between 
feeding the fire and killing it. The same is true of 
men and, particularly, of farmers. Let them march 
singly up against the errors of the day, and they are 
destroyed—beaten one by one. Let them combine 
and march up against the evil in a solid body, and 
they put it out. 
We give the facts about the manufacture of alcohol 
from potatoes, as it is our business to answer ques¬ 
tions. We hope, however, that Americans will not 
start in the hellish business of making more cheap 
whisky. It will be little short of a national calamity 
if the cheapness and vast extent of the potato crop, 
induce growers to turn the surplus into liquor. The 
Louisiana sugar planters have seriously considered 
the plan of turning the waste molasses from their 
mills into rum ; but now more attention is paid to 
feeding it to stock, or inventing devices for utilizing 
it as fuel. No wonder these planters were afraid to 
turn this ocean of rum loose among their negro work¬ 
men. Some of the most practical temperance meas¬ 
ures of the day are the rules against drinking adopted 
by railroads and other corporations. These men 
know that a drinking man in a position of trust, is a 
standing menace to property or life. Therefore, so 
far as their own business is concerned, they believe in 
prohibition. If it is a good thing for their own busi¬ 
ness, why not for others ? As an illustration, a 
farmer might be himself a temperance man and op¬ 
posed, on general principles, to drinking in his family. 
Suppose that he learned that, by the establishment 
of a potato distillery in his neighborhood, his potatoes 
would net five cents extra per bushel. Has he any 
right, as a temperance man, to advocate such a busi¬ 
ness ? There is a good thought for your Christmas 
stocking ! 
O 
The other day, on one of our streets, the front wheel 
of a wagon collapsed, and a crate of valuable crockery 
was dumped from the wagon on the street pavement, 
with disastrous results. Hardly a day passes but we 
see a broken-down wagon obstructing travel, and en¬ 
tailing vexation and loss upon the owners. A careful 
examination occasionally, would, in most cases, dis¬ 
close the weak spots that lead to these breakdowns, 
and the proverbial “stitch in time,” would prevent all 
this annoyance and loss. The same is true on the 
farm. In putting away your tools this fall (we take 
it for granted that our readers will house them care¬ 
fully), have you looked them over with a view to find¬ 
ing the spots that need repairing or renewing ? If 
this be done, such repairs can be better made during 
the comparative leisure of winter than when the rush 
of spring work arrives. Don’t you remember how 
little time you had for such repairing when you were 
rushing in the crops last spring ? Get out your note 
book now, and “when found make a note on’t.” 
0 
Since C. E. Chapman started the discussion about 
the cost of growing a bushel of potatoes, we have 
received many notes from those who criticise his 
statement, or claim to be able to better his figures. 
Messrs. Chapman and Currier will, doubtless, both be 
heard from again; but here is a note from an Ohio 
reader that gives a new idea—well worth considering: 
My idea of the matter is that that kind of reckoning is one of 
the great troubles of the farmer to-day. If he can, by over¬ 
working himself, get the lowest day wages out of his crop, not 
counting his board or investment, he is satisfied. It cost Mr. 
Chapman more than one dollar’s worth of energy to plant that 
acre of potatoes, no matter what time he took to do it in. 
Now there is something in that. It may prove a 
mistake to set the lowest possible standard for our 
work in order to make an economical showing. It 
would be better to count your own labor at what it 
is worth, and then make an effort to earn these higher 
wages. 
0 
Mr. High Grade Sheer, whose home is in central 
New York, sends us the following communication 
which he claims is founded on fact: 
CONUNDRUM. 
(Founded upon facts which occurred in central New York, in 
the month of November, in the year of our Lord, 1895.) 
“ Mr. Doe,” a good, thrifty, forehanded farmer, sold his wool 
yesterday, and received 12 cents per pound (“ and got his sacks 
back ” ). He purchased a good, merchant-made overcoat for $40, 
and his wife bought one ounce of colored (black) yarn for 12 
cents. How many lambs will “ Mr. Doe” have to raise to furnish 
wool sufficient to pay for one overcoat and one ounce of yarn ? 
“ Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool ? 
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full, 
One for my master, one for my dame, 
And one for the little boy that lives down the lane.” 
SHEEP. 
Now, there is a fine chance for some reader who has 
a knack for figures. The sheep has wool enough, but 
the master and his dame have to pay too much for 
their share. Certainly, in this case, the dame’s share 
(compared with the master’s) was so small that it was 
a shame. 
0 
Some of our readers may not fully understand 
the principle for which the Milk Producers’ Associa¬ 
tion are contending before the Inter-State Commerce 
Commission. The railroads running into New York 
have combined to fix a freight rate on milk, that 
forces milk farmers to pay far more than is fair. 
This rate is 17 times as much as for ordinary freight, 
though it costs only 20 per cent, more to operate a 
milk train than one for ordinary freight. Not only 
this, but the roads charge the same for hauling milk 
25 or 50 miles that they do for hauling it 300. In 
former years, the city’s supply of milk came from 
comparatively near-by points; but lately the roads 
have been reaching out fui’ther and further after 
milk, until now it is brought from central and 
western New York. The nearby milkmen on higher 
priced land are at a great disadvantage so long 
as these unjust rates are enforced. They claim that 
by charging so much more for milk than for other 
freight, and in making no distinction in prices for 
different distances, the railroads have violated the 
laws, and they seem likely to prove it. This contest 
is of great importance to all shippers of milk and 
fruit; both of which products are likely to be booked 
for extortionate railroad charges, whenever railroads 
think it possible to enforce them. 
On page 7G4, we called attention to the system of 
securing speakers for farmers’ institutes in Pennsyl¬ 
vania and Indiana. Pamphlets, containing names of 
speakers and their topics, are sent to local clubs and 
committees, so that they may select speakers best 
suited to their needs. A friend in Indiana points out 
some of the undesirable results of this method. The 
local board know nothing about the speakers save 
what they have read or heard. As a. rule, the man 
who makes the most noise, tells a funny story, puts in 
a little “ eloquence,” gets more of a reputation than 
the quiet, modest man who thoroughly understands 
his subject, and always leaves sound thoughts behind 
him. People go away from the institute talking 
about the noisy man’s speech, but it all ends in talk. 
The quiet and plain teacher receives little applause, 
and a brief notice in the local paper ; but his results 
show for years in new ideas and improvements in 
methods. The latter is the more valuable man, but 
his noisier comrade will receive more appointments if 
the selection is left to local boards who have never 
heard both men. A shrewd and skillful director who 
studies the different speakers carefully, can make 
better selections than the local boards. That is, he 
can pick out men who will do the community most 
good, if the list of speakers is made up from merit, 
and not because they are good fellows who want a 
little outing ! 
0 
BREVITIES. 
UNCLE SAM TO CONGRESS. 
Call ’em 'together ! Call ’em together ! 
I’ve got about to the end of my tether. 
You for my work were elected and paid; 
Come to the rack now, and show how you’re made. 
I’m out of pocket—my coat is in rags, 
Workmen are idle and industry lags. 
While our great country is reeking with wealth, 
Tough old John Bull worries me out of health; 
Shaking those notes in my face every day, 
Wringing my sweat into gold for his pay. 
You’ve made your promises—carry them out; 
Show that you knew what you hollered about. 
Don’t forget Cuba off there in the sea; 
Give her encouragement—help set her free 
Talk to John Bull so he’ll ever more know 
We’ll hoe our row with the Doctrine Monroe. 
Court Miss Prosperity so she will come 
Smiling once more—then adjourn and go home ! 
See if that drowsy hen isn’t lousy. 
What about fish for fowls—page 825 ? 
Are your cows running you in debt ? 
Tried that litmus paper test yet ? Why not ? 
Don’t put your trust in theories that “ bust.” 
Frost will give a cauliflower taste to cabbage. 
Toil beats oil for keeping the hens warm—page 825. 
“ Feeding Twice a Day ’’—page 834. What do you say about it? 
What animal makes the cleanest bed if left to himself? The hog? 
What will make a lazy hen laysy? Ex her size! Take her fat off! 
Which will last longer, a stump or a post from the same tree ? 
Why ? 
Apparently, the horses that sell are those that “ weigh a ton ” 
or dwarfs—ponies. 
Don’t make a mouse nest around the fruit trees by leaving 
grass or weeds there. A mound of eai’th a foot high is better. 
Too much flesh on a cow that’s fresh will make your worry 
bubble; a big, fat udder is only a rudder to steer you straight to 
trouble. 
Don’t nurse the baby till it’s old enough to run, and then turn 
it loose for others to graft bad habits in to it. Do your own 
grafting. 
The machine corn huskers are coming. How can the shredded 
fodder best be kept? There is a problem for our experiment 
stations. 
Oat meal or rice ! Scotch or Chinese—which is nearer a “ bal¬ 
anced ration ” ? Which is the better man? Timothy and corn 
or clover and corn ! Which makes the better cow ? 
Seventy-Four Massachusetts people paid their income tax 
before the Supreme Court decided the act unconstitutional. 
They now get their money back—without interest. 
Last week we referred to the use of air-slaked lime with ashes 
in “ reducing” bones. With muriate or sulphate of potash, the 
lime would help; but in wood ashes there is plenty of lime. 
Parties write to ask whether trees or wood of the chestnuts re¬ 
cently pictured in The R. N.-Y., are for sale. None will be sold 
before next fall. Mr. Coe has satisfied himself that they are 
hardy—they live where Snyder blackberries were winterkilled. 
A soil derived from rock that contains no lime must, in time, 
have that element added, or it will prove too sour for clover. A 
child brought up to manhood with every wish gratified—by some 
one else—must have sand put in his make up or he will sour on 
the world. 
Hog cholera is unusually prevalent over the great hog-produc¬ 
ing States of Illinois and Iowa. It seems an especial calamity 
this year, when corn is so abundant, and the price is so very low; 
as on account of the scarcity of hogs to feed, just so much more 
corn will be thrown upon the market. 
The singular thing about the portable fence prize contest, is 
that most of the ideas yet offered are variations of a well-known 
principle of wooden panels and posts. This seems to be popular 
everywhere. One man shows the right spirit by sending his design, 
and saying, “ I hope that you will receive a better one, as I want 
to use it myself.” 
Evidently a warm, poultry house is better than one. that must 
be warmed. The following from Samuel Cushman is sound : “ I 
would not use an oil stove unless the birds had single combs, 
like Minorcas or White Leghorns, and a very severe cold snap 
threatened to freeze their combs. In no other case that I can 
imagine, would I do such a thing.” 
