40 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
January  S,  1910. 
gardening  or  trucking  tberc  are  soils  in 
other  lower  counties  far  better  adapted  to 
this  work.  Thirty-five  dollars  an  acre  is 
a  good  round  price  for  land  in  that  sec¬ 
tion,  and  buying  land  without  seeing  it  is 
like  the  old  proverb  of  buying  a  pig  in  a 
poke.  You  have  simply  bought  a  lottery 
ticket  at.  a  very  good  price.  No  one  should 
ever  buy  land  anywhere  without,  a  per¬ 
sonal  examination  of  the  land  and  its  sur¬ 
roundings.  A  piece  of  lnnd  may  be  very 
good  and  yet  in  a  very  undesirable  neigh¬ 
borhood.  A  man  who  reads  The  Rural 
Nkw-Y’oricer  should  not  be  caught  in 
such  a  gamble.  Better  go  see  the  land 
before  paying  any  more  installments. 
W.  F.  MASSEY. 
Better  Reading  for  Farmers 
Richter  Reading. — Of  course  farmers 
need  light  reading  as  well  as  other  peo¬ 
ple.  I  am  not  much  addicted  to  read¬ 
ing  novels.  I  presume  I  have  not  aver¬ 
aged  one  per  year  during  my  manhood 
lifetime,  yet  I  concede  the  value  of  the 
novel  of  the  right  kind.  Novels  are  usual¬ 
ly  praised  by  the  average  reader  if  true  to 
life,  as  it  Is  expressed.  I  want  to  say  ex¬ 
pressly  I  have  no  use  for  the  “true  to 
life"’  kind  of  stories.  We  have  the  real 
thing  before  ns  every  day.  and  it  is  never 
perfect.  What  we  want  in  a  story  is 
something  ideal,  something  that  is  better 
than  life,  yet  an  ideal  that  is  attainable. 
I  think  that  Mrs.  Gene  Stratton  Porter 
has  written  the  best  stories  of  this  kind 
that  have  ever  been  written.  There  is 
something  in  them  that  is  immensely  up¬ 
lifting.  an  ideal  that  beckons  one  onward 
and  upward  and  yet  they  are  fascinating. 
Then  there  is  that  dear  little  book, 
“Poll.vannfi,”  which  is  a  gem  if  there 
over  was  one.  It  is  about  a  little  girl 
who  always  found  something  about  every¬ 
thing  for  which  she  could  be  glad.  She 
called  it  “playing  the  glad  game.”  The 
sourest  old  curmudgeon  could  not  read 
this  hook  without  softening  his  crusty 
nature,  and  sweetening  his  sour  temper. 
1  had  a  friend  who  lived  in  a  large  city 
out  on  the  Pacific  const  who  had  com¬ 
pletely  broken  down  under  the  stress  of 
excessive  clerical  work.  She  had  prac¬ 
tically  given  herself  over  to  the  blues.  I 
sent  her  this  little  book,  and  she  told  me 
afterward  that  it  put  herself  in  company 
again  with  her  better  nature,  and  worked 
a  complete  change  in  her  point  of  view; 
in  fact  did  her  more  good  than  all  the 
medical  treatment  she  had.  Every  farmer 
should  read  it.  It  will  drive  the  blue 
devils  completely  off  the  farm.  Then 
there  is  another  little  story  which  is  a 
gem  of  the  first  water.  It  has  the  eu¬ 
phonic  name  of  “Daddy  Long-Ergs.”  It 
is  a  sort  of  love  story,  of  a  very  unique 
ch  a  ratter,  is  wholly  unobjectionable,  and 
so  cheery  that  it  will  make  anybody 
laugh,  and  certninlj  if  any  man  should 
laugh  it  is  the  farmer.  I  know,  of  course 
that  many  of  my  friends  would  laugh  me 
to  scorn  because  I  have  not  made  men¬ 
tion  of  some  standard  favorite.  But  the 
standards  can  be  found  easily  by  those 
who  want  them,  and  I  will  not  take  the 
space  to  mention  them. 
Historical  Reading.  —  History  is 
something  that  should  interest  everybody, 
and  if  seems  t<>  me  farmers  generally 
should  bo  interested  in  this  line  of  read¬ 
ing.  There  are  so  many  histories  of  the 
United  States  that  if  is  difficult  to  choose 
one  for  the  farmer’s  general  reading,  but 
I  believe  there  is  a  high  school  history 
that  is  called  simply  “American  History,” 
written  by  James  and  Sanford  that  will 
come  nearer  rny  ideal  than  anything  I 
know.  I  have  an  extensive  history,  called 
“Tlje  History  of  our  Country,  from  the 
Discovery  of  America  to  the  Present 
Time.”  which  in  my  opinion,  is  the  very 
of  this  article,  as  an  exposition  of  what 
the  farmer  should  read  more  keenly  than 
I.  The  subject  is  so  large  that  it  would 
take  a  whole  book  to  do  it  justice.  I 
want  to  make  mere  mention  of  collections 
of  books  which  consist  of  a  large  number 
of  volumes  uniform  in  print,  size  and 
binding,  containing  the  best-known  stan¬ 
dard  books  of  the  world.  There  are  sev¬ 
eral  well-known  series  published  at  less 
than  50  cents  a  volume.  They  are  splen¬ 
didly  bound,  beautifully  printed  on  excel¬ 
lent  paper.  They  are  exactly  suited  to  a 
farmer’s  library.  They  embrace  essays, 
poetry,  fiction,  history,  travel,  etc.  For 
a  family  library  1  want  nothing  better. 
They  are  what  is  known  as  12mo  in  size, 
just  right  in  fact  for  convenience  in  hand¬ 
ling.  If  I  could  induce  every  farmer  to 
make  a  selection  of  from  10  to  a  hundred 
volumes  from  such  a  series  I  should  feel 
that  I  had  accomplished  something  worth 
While.  A.  W.  FOREMAN. 
Illinois. 
Price  $3.25  ^ 
Postage  Prepaid 
The  Threshing  Problem 
Threshes 
oowpeas  and  stvi 
IOIVPIlI  Oyjui  Hip  mown  vines,  when 
rye  .Hint  barley.  A  perfect  ei 
tiou  liiiiebiiie.  Nothing  like  it.  “The  im 
have  been  looking  fur  for  SO  years.  "  W.  S. 
"It.  will  meet  every  demand.”  II.  A.  Mon 
rector  Tenn.  Kxp.  Station.  Booklet  29  free 
KOGER  PEA  &  BEAN  THRESHER  CO. 
Morristown,  Tcnn. 
A  Thieves’  Market. — In  the  Mexican 
town  of  San  Luis  I'otosi  they  have  what 
is  called  a  “thieves'  market.”  It  consists 
of  a  number  of  small  buildings  along  one 
side  of  the  market  place,  and  here  may 
be  found  almost  every  small  article 
known  to  commerce  which  could  be 
swapped  or  stolen.  They  are  found  in 
every  conceivable  state  of  preservation  or 
decay,  all  the  way  from  door  knobs  and 
razors,  to  religious  books  and  table  silver. 
It  is  said  that  the  name  of  the  market  is 
no  reflection  upon  the  proprietors,  yet 
without  question  much  of  the  property 
stolen  in  that  neighborhood  turns  up  oil 
this  market  for  sale.  It  is  a  serious  com¬ 
petition  with  the  hardware  stores.  Car¬ 
penters  and  other  tradesmen  come,  in  for 
odd  tools  or  pieces  for  repair  work.  It  is 
a  sort  of  clearing  house  for  all  kinds  of 
•stuff,  apparently  with  stolen  articles  pre¬ 
dominating.  There  are  no  definite  prices, 
hut.  buyer  and  seller  try  to  beat  each 
other  down  for  what  they  can  get.  The 
“thieves’  market”  is  apparently  a  great 
institution  in  this  town,  and  some  of  us 
think  when  we  are  called  on  to  pay  mod¬ 
ern  prices  that  the  thieves  are  not  all  in 
Mexico. 
It  is  the  worlds  great¬ 
est  Well  Drilling,  Pros¬ 
pecting  and  Blast  Hole 
Machine.  Many  sizes 
Traclion  or  Portable 
Steam  or  Gasoline 
Power.  Address 
LOOMIS  DRILL  CO. 
TIFFIN,  OHIO 
Gaaollno  Traclion 
Buying  a  Pig  in  a  Poke 
A  correspondent  northward,  who  does 
not  wish  his  location  indicated,  says  that 
he  has  bought  on  an  installment  plan,  at 
$115  an  acre,  12  acres  of  land  in  Lunen¬ 
burg  Co.,  \'a.  He  has  never  seen  the 
land,  and  wishes  mo  to  tell  him  if  it  is 
suitable  for  truck  and  fruit  growing,  and 
he  inti'iids  some  day  to  go  there  and  en¬ 
gage  in  this.  How  can  I  advise  a  man 
about  land  1  may  have  never  seen,  though 
I  have  travelled  through  Lunenburg? 
The  location  seems  to  be  near  the  head¬ 
waters  of  the  Meherin  River.  That  little 
stream  is  subject  to  groat  floods,  and  if 
his  12  acres  are  on  the  low  lands  of  the 
Meherin  lie  may  some  time  get  washed 
away.  The  general  character  of  the  up¬ 
lands  of  Lunenburg  is  gently  rolling  of 
the  blood  red  clay  soil  of  the  upper  south- 
side  counties.  There  are  lands  there  suit¬ 
able  for  fruit  growing,  but  for  market 
SAVE  HALF  Your 
Paint  Bills 
By  using  INGERSOLL  PAINT  —  proved 
best  by  66  years’  use.  It  will  please  you. 
Only  paint  endorsed  by  the  “Grange.” 
Made  in  all  colors — for  all  purposes. 
DELIVERED  FREE 
From  the  Mill  Direct  to  You  at  Factory  Prices. 
INGERSOLL  PAINT  BOOK  — FREE 
Tolls  all  about  Paint  and  Painting  for  Durability. 
How  to  avoid  trouble  ami  etpepse  caused.by  paints 
fading,  chalking  and  pwlinK.  Valuable  information 
free  to  you,  with  Sample  Color  Cards.  Write  me.  DO 
IT  NOtV.  I  can  save  you  money. 
O.W.  Ingersoll,  246  Plymouth  St.,  Brook^n,  N.Y. 
The  would-be  homesteader  wanted  to 
file  an  application  for  a  section  of  Gov¬ 
ernment  land,  and  likewise  wanted  infor¬ 
mation.  He  applied  at  the  office  shack 
in  the  little  Western  town,  and  put  his 
question  to  the  Federal  authority  in  red 
shirt  and  blue  suspenders.  “Son,”  re¬ 
sponded  that  authority,  “it's  like  this. 
The  Government  is  willing  to  bet  1(30 
acres  of  land  against  $10  that  you  can't 
live  on  the  land  for  five  years  without 
starvin’  to  death.  -Sign  here.” — Credit 
Lost. 
BOOKS  WORTH  BUYING 
The  Rose,  Parsons .  1.00 
Plant  Diseases,  Massee .  1.60 
Landscape  Gardening,  Maynard....  1.60 
Clovers,  Shaw . 1,00 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER, 
333  WEST  30th  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 
The  Victor  Record  catalog  is  the 
most  complete  catalog 
of  music  in  all  the  world 
and  tells  you  exactly 
what  a  Victor  or  Victrola 
will  brin^,  into  your  home 
VICTOR  RED  5EAI  RECORDS 
VICTOR  RED  SEAL  RECORPS 
CALVE,  EMMA,  Sopt«*a 
E  * -*  <_*l>r_  Kill  firiwl.  Sfii.ik.  <• 
5b«  -  «i  Uxv  ISm,  •'  Me  M i  T  kr  51 
l^r  IfIh  »» liulohM  b)  rnma,  m.  ..J' 
•  •-4  1  lie  )..uk(  fn:  !•  •  *,  il.al  A*  muu  In*  4  ,L. 
—  •  »eiKrj*  U  ♦  l'.*o  l'.«lof  •  *-.-■• 
1.  ■  .,i  i.al  l<  14  Irii.re  lit  da,,  -,rd  U«,J.  ,  • 
I  *J.  1  1-  4  r>, I 
»l*e i»l  I‘>|»  Ak  4  |  j;«I  _  t/JKv  V  r  1 
lb*  }--  r,  r  |  -  t>.'r.|  »»-- 'i  If*  L*  to 
l^»  It  *  I*  •  .  •  —I*  f  ■  ,  AUS»-cK 
*1  r,  m«J  -n*-j  r*t‘* 
*1  -1  •*  *  1  he  J  he, »•*  rft  L  •-<•♦.  i-  Dt  j.-i,,  l&l.  «•  4f«t#».r..v  ,r. 
fvu><  Mo  ,v>  *1.  0*4*1  tmw.r*'.  in  Ck*»#I'er  4ft/A. s*.  | 
1  .1  Li  1  •  'r«l  ,  nr  1  ,n  iur,  wk— *  itir  nut*  ivl  »i>* 1  lb#- 
1  ■ 
•  I  j  -'ii-  ut  I &ii.  A*-  •  •••  9,i  I<*p, I  k»i  *•  if*  Mn'^oKurk  o,.  » 
r  f*’.-  Vt*l.  .1  -f  14  4JM4  4*4  k*»  Unr  •,  i»|—i  f 
\<rt  1.  Let  irp.«,k»t  7  f»ln  44  Ml  4»tt*— ,  k—  l»»k4G  •— t 
k-.->d  m  ,»whimj4  0' .lm»  *1  ■'ll*  »W'H  ••J  !•«•»•»•'%  TD  ■«i*i,»|i*lh*i . !•*•* 
k»  Av"  I  !■'  !  -«■■  '■!  10  4II,  4*d  4.r  wnU  ir<».  U  he,  liKr  in  Lalepe,  W 
»d^..  m*v  c.,<v»v4«  t««  V»«m  mn* 
M»i#  L4tre'*  r4q«l.J«»y  itnrieU  •!*»»*  feowklHe  |nr  Uev/'bJ  li*W 
Mid  iKnuul  T41  **  III  I^H  V*W  tn.^Ad  Irtle 
Tu>  *'•••<  >..»  f-slodoj  ike  V«CM»  lk*  liu  cl  r»i»- 
THE  CALVT  WrORDS  L.  s,. 
•  uULf..  "  L.4.«LA*4ll:.iO  hFrf-X  _  .  !}•».*  i  »-'i» 
.4 •  I  ..I  Mill  u  Atw 
Can&niiKt . .  -  k**  . . .  •  A*r.  M'vil  , 
■  Xjw.4’.,  r.tn  ...  .  UMM  U  J»M 
HiLiciii-iik*  ii-.«  'in,  •4H*  •(Jw’l'  /*•  •■' *  nC 
•  M»-i »-e*  v)  U  Ifu 
f,-li  I  .’ik  *'  1  l:r*»  •  /•?-*'•*  *  r»- i  IV+)  1 1  JW 
p«  ■■re- 11—-  .  •  - ....  n..'._,i|i-W  Dj)«Ui,.<-  t  ■ -e  •"it  1  11  1^.1 
i4,Z+l  ....  /  r-  -u  „-  I  — 4  Mi.»  I*  J&j 
CARUSO.  ENRICO,  Trtwr  » 
.  I.-  -.,  «•  iL  rw*  **•  •" 
»'  .11,14  Ilk  lliA 
%  cur - -  I— *  Mkl  «MIUMAd  b.  6 
,*,4,  *"4  !«'■"**  ** 
•  T  1*4  f  mntrtJ  N.ylfk  »»' 
a  if  1  Ur  • 
.k.  •i.rUe«rl.*.ftk.M4»Wk. 
.,,,^1  <K»  u—  —  J  Ml  wU  lut'd  ' 
. 1—1 1- - . , -  «■■••■■ 
;::rr;  — v 
—  ,V.  t„  ... .  W . -  -H". 
.  .  T  1- .Ad  ilitt  r*-  l~«l«-*»>  Ukb»i4»'»«l  4 t+nemer.  Hr  ll* ^ 
^ rlir:  l  ;r.r.t53- . -r  .  Mr;; 
“7;;:. ... , ..  L . . -;;i,  “•  rOT 
£  222 2,..  3  u  1'n  d.  ka. . .  h-  -e- 
^  W-l  r\  Mt  .<»•  IT***  «" 
-me cANi.iv  1  fcrconpg,  . . .  .l6rt 
“"-v.'' fill  1  ’TH:  SKi? !:  <» 
.1  . . .  ''tiCtOji*  u"  rw  li 
CAMPANARI,  CIU5EPPE. 
104*1  c*  lk*  ••  0»>  ' 4W*e.  -•  1^4  *Vn«. 
-..■.1  o  m  ,  ....  i  •  ih*  ‘ulk  •<  (  4  S ku  Vanity 
»•'  •  -  -c  • 
&  H>  •»-  r  *1  r.r.  . 
>* 1*1  ,K»  II— (fc-  , 
|n.,<,al»Aw4»l— ktp't'tlMdH 
•.(l-K-u  %;  r*lutf  •  i.n*»"  .<•  IW.i 
W&’TL  -r,,  •'•.  I^  .I . .  .J  M’c.14'  D..  - 
,  A  KWM  «  M  ..<v:K’«P»>44i»I|  Kt*  U|<»»  Co'mf*»y  M 
*•  Mi  AMm.  •■•%(  '•*  ••> 
pic—faly  lu.  iWr  MuimrfL*'.  «.k«W  ».#  •' 
Mitni  It*  •■*o»  r*kn.  I  be  rajrarf  o4  ike  li’SlIt 
TiNodci  S^«a  he  Km  m»d*  lot  lie  VW  t»  'iWt  »' 
nkrtwii  end  p-— i  *iiunci*t»t|*. 
THE  CAMPANAftt  KlUORD  (S.-*  h  A.'-.-/ 
c*/*nt*  04l  l(-.*»tl*.  I  r.«4^. i 
mi  lA  Fvtirrt  T ••• 1  '  u 
....5,1  Mku« 
/,,i  H..I.TV*nD-»U*4  1  I«F. •— A 
/i5\— u»*  tk 'io44w)  (Nwi-."1  St* 1 
^  al  iu  I-*i  „  7 VL  1  c  ■  ,  ^  L  SUUWi!  -vou  11131  n(J  matter  what  music  you 
betical  order  the  titles  ot  thousands  ot  musical  com-  most  enjoy,  the  Victor  or  Victrola  will  comnletelv 
positions,  old  and  new.  satisfy  everv  musical  longing. 
It :  helps  you  to  an  easy  familiarity  with  the  works  It  makes  clear  to  vou  just  how  easily  all  the  music 
of  all  the  great  composers  .  of  all  the  world  can  become  an  entertaining 
It  gives  you  a  volume  of  information  about  operas,  and  instructive  part  of  your  every-day  life.  -pts 
I  his  450-pag'e  book  lists  more  than  5°oo  Victor  Records,  and  is 
of  interest  to  every  one.  It  costs  us  more  than  $150,000  every  year, 
and  we  want  every  music  lover  to  have  a  copy.  /j&t  I  %  -X  | 
Any  Victor  dealer  will  gladly  give  you  a  copy  of  this  great  catalog 
of  music,  or  send  to  us  and  we  will  mail  you  a  copy  free,  postage  paid.  .  Jmk ' 
There  are  Victors  and  Victrolas  in  great  variety  of  stvles  from  $10  to  *400 
