60 
January  15,  191(5. 
C56c  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
William  H.  Bowker 
William  11.  Bowker,  president  of  the 
Bowker  Fertilizer  Co.  < > r  Boston,  died 
after  »  brief  illness  on  January  4.  II is 
death  was  unexpected  and  comes  as  a 
great  shock  to  thousands  who  knew  him 
well.  Mr.  Bowker  was  05  years  old.  lie 
graduated  from  the  Massachusetts  Agri¬ 
cultural  College  and  started  in  a  small 
way  to  manufacture  forilizers.  lie  came 
to  be  the  highest  authority  on  agricul¬ 
tural  ehemicals  and  commercial  plant 
food  and  was  known  everywhere.  Those 
farm  homes  are  counterpart  in  furnish¬ 
ings.  Water  systems  arc  common,  gas 
lighting  in  some  form  is  very  numerous 
and  “house  labor  savers"’  vie  with  the  im¬ 
proved  machinery  of  the  village.  The 
heater  has  about  given  way  to  the  fur¬ 
nace  of  some  pattern,  and  every  house 
lias  its  telephone  linking  it  with  the  out¬ 
side  world,  and  the  city  daily  is  as  com¬ 
mon  as  Autumn  leaves.  The  rural  free 
deliveries  report  that  on  an  average  they 
carry  out  a  full  300  dailies  every  morn¬ 
ing.  and  here,  a  big  20-page  daily  deliv¬ 
ered,  costs  a  half  cent  a  day.  “The  butch¬ 
er,  baker,  and  candlestick-maker”  here 
William  Henry  Bowker 
who  are  most  intimate  with  a  man  come 
to  know  him  best,  and  in  referring  to  Mr. 
Bowker's  life  and  character  we  cannot  do 
better  than  copy  this  tribute  by  Frank  It. 
Miller,  who  knew  him  for  years.  We 
arc  glad  to  be  able  to  print  a  picture, 
taken  from  Mr.  Bowker’s  last  photo¬ 
graph,  on  this  page. 
William  IIk.\ky  Bowker. 
Ja.\ cary  4,  1010. 
Our  chief  has  passed  beyond  our  ken. 
We  who  have  lived  our  daily  business 
with  him  wilL  miss  him  keenly — his  fore¬ 
sight.  Ids  business  acumen ,  his  sound  and 
optimistic  view  of  current  affairs,  bis 
great  love  for  his  hearthstone,  his  whim¬ 
sical  good  nature,  and  his  never-failing 
sympathy  in  times  of  personal  trial. 
With  the  conservatism  of  his  New 
England  ancestors  lie  combined  broad  and 
progressive  Mens  cultivated  through  his 
cosmopolitan  associations  and  wide  read¬ 
ing.  In  business  he  was  square  as  a  die, 
his  private  life  was  clear  as  crystal,  and 
to  his  family  ties  he  was  faithful  as 
Achates. 
lie  was  most  earnest  iu  defence  of  the 
industry  of  which  lie  was  dean  ;  of  his 
Alina  Mater  of  which  lie  was  an  honored 
trustee;  of  the  farmers  of  whom  for  years 
lie  was  one — whenever  called  upon  light¬ 
ing  in  the  front  ranks — loving  a  tight  yet 
never  seeking  one. 
As  we  like  best  to  remember  him.  lie 
was  first  lust  and  always  a  man — a  man’s 
man  a  man  with  a  thick  shock  of  iron 
gray  hair,  with  clear,  wide-open,  kindly 
eyes,  with  broad  shoulders,  and  broad 
views — a  man  who  lmd  known  what  it 
was  to  work  with  his  hands,  and  who 
stood  squarely  and  solidly  on  his  two 
proper  feet. 
Modern  Conveniences  in  an  Ohio 
Community. 
I  am  wondering  if  very  many  of  us 
ever  stop  and  consider  how  fast  we  are 
actually  traveling  in  this  age  of  progress. 
One  new  innovation  follows  so  fast  on  the 
heels  of  another,  that  we  do  not  fully 
comprehend  its  significance,  and  accept  it 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  and  this  especially 
in  the  rural  sections,  not  only  those 
somewhat  distant  from  the  city  centers. 
The  fact  is  that  great  numbers  of  coun¬ 
try  people  have  not  comprehended  that 
they  have  a  pretty  complete  assortment  of 
city  conveniences  already.  This  is  pat¬ 
ent.  The  countryman  and  his  wife  buy 
their  clothing  iu  the  great  city  marts, 
and  are  not  distinguishable  ou  the 
promenades  from  the  average  city  dwel¬ 
ler,  very  extreme  fashions  excepted.  Iu 
this,  my  rural  community,  scores  of  the 
make  their  rounds,  city  fashion.  In  sight 
is  the  big  centralized  school  house,  where 
comfortable  backs  bring  the  children  of 
the  township  and  a  school  with  its  grade 
and  high  school  department  is  conducted, 
even  to  its  smattering  of  “agriculture  and 
domestic  science,”  and  an  able  attorney, 
one  evening  in  the  week  has  a  school  of 
“Governmental  law,  and  patriotic  Ameri¬ 
canism,”  attended  by  boys  and  men  alike. 
Yes,  every  third  farmer  has  an  automo¬ 
bile  and  graveled,  cement  and  brick  roads 
in  all  directions  give  both  him  and  bis 
family  city  partnership,  and  travel  op¬ 
portunity.  Past  where  this  is  being 
written,  far  out  in  the  country,  is  a  line 
pavement  to  the  city,  and  this  farmer 
often  after  milking  in  the  late  P.  M. 
takes  his  family  iu  liis  auto  and  speeds 
iuto  the  city,  a  45-minute  trip,  possibly 
attends  the  theatre,  or  lecture,  and  back 
home  before  very  late  bedtime,  a  joy  ride 
in  fact. 
And  now  something  new  is  coming.  We 
had  railways,  telephones,  telegraphs, 
phonographs,  rural  delivery,  parcel  post, 
and  the  dependable  neighborhood  "wire¬ 
less,”  hut  there  is  electricity  now  in 
abundance,  not  only  to  light  the  town, 
but  the  outlaying  farm  homes,  and  pow¬ 
er  to  run  the  farm  machinery  and  house¬ 
hold  labor  savers.  A  great  electric  pow¬ 
er  company  is  putting  a  power  line  across 
the  township  to  reach  a  large  manufac¬ 
turing  plant  and  for  a  flat  rate  of  .$12 
yearly,  gives  the  former  light,  heat,  and 
power,  and  makes  it  possible  to  have  an 
electric  coupC;  and  so  common  have  all 
our  improvements  become  in  the  past,  we 
actually  think  this  all  commonplace,  and 
go  on  discussing  it  as  if  wc  had  been 
familiar  with  electricity  for  half  pur  lives. 
Practically  all  this  has  come  in  the 
past  25  years,  and  in  the  distribution,  the 
farmer  has  not  been  overlooked  or  dis¬ 
criminated  against  in  installing  or  over¬ 
charge,  True,  for  his  farm  products  the 
market  agencies  may  have  him  at  a  disad¬ 
vantage,  and  force  him  to  accept  a  55- 
cent  dollar,  and  this  last  is  very  largely 
in  his  hands  to  correct,  but  iu  the  world’s 
great  inventions  and  betterments,  the 
country  dweller  does  not  live  separate 
and  alone  "outside  the  gates.”  Iu  this 
we  have  not  mentioned  the  farmers’  im¬ 
proved  breeds  of  cows,  up-to-date  sani¬ 
tary  milking  barns,  milking  machines, 
and  coming  semblances  of  organized  pro¬ 
tection  in  marketing,  ami  evidences 
gleaned  from  the  late  elections  that  the 
farmer  was  thinking  out  economic  prob¬ 
lems  of  government  as  never  before,  and 
it  will  be  this  dweller  in  the  country, 
who  will  soon  rise  up  and  say  just  what 
the  attitude  of  America  shall  be  in  its 
home  and  overseas  policy.  j.  o. 
Ohio. 
Alfalfa  Under  Straw 
We  have  been  reading  and  observing 
the  time,  preparation  and  expense  that 
it  requires  to  start  a  field  of  Alfalfa,  and 
have  been  thinking  from  past  experience 
with  straw  mulch,  that  a  good  catch  of 
Alfalfa  could  be*  obtained  by  sowing  the 
seed  and  covering  it  with  an  even  and 
quite  thick  coat:  of  straw.  This  would 
resist  the  dry  weather  and  protect  the 
plants  from  Winter.  What  say  you  and 
your  renders?  E.  v.  B. 
Orange  Co,,  N.  Y. 
We  must  I  urn  this  over  to  our  readers 
some  of  whom  may  have  used  straw  for 
the  purpose.  We  feel  sure  that  the  roots 
of  Siberian  Alfalfa  transplanted  iu 
Spring  would  live  and  finally  spread  so 
as  to  cover  the  ground.  These  roots  can 
be  set  with  a  transplanting  machine,  and 
the  work  would  not  cost  any  more  than 
seeding  in  the  usual  way  and  mulching 
with  straw. 
New  York  State  News 
Assembly  Agricultural  Committee. 
— Thaddeus  C.  Sweet,  of  Oswego,  was 
again  chosen  Speaker  of  the  new  Assem¬ 
bly,  on  the  convening  of  the  Legislature 
January  5tll.  Speaker  Sweet,  depart¬ 
ing  from  the  custom  of  years  of  with¬ 
holding  his  selections  for  the  various  com¬ 
mittees  for  a  week  or  more,  at  once  made 
known  bis  designations  of  members  to 
all  committees.  The  agricultural  com¬ 
mittee  for  this  year  is  as  follows:  Grant, 
of  Lewis,  cheese  merchant,  chairman; 
Amts,  of  Onondaga,  gardener;  Wilson, 
of  Wayne,  farmer;  Allen,  of  Dutchess, 
fanner;  Lord,  of  Chenango,  merchant; 
Comstock,  of  Orleans,  farmer;  Tallett, 
of  Madison,  coal  and  produce  dealer; 
Witter,  of  Tioga,  farmer;  Ames,  of  Cat¬ 
taraugus,  real  estate  and  loans;  Wlieo- 
loek,  of  Livingston,  farmer;  Cowee.  of 
Bcnsselaer,  farmer;  Fullagar,  of  Yates, 
farmer;  Dux,  of  Schoharie,  lawyer.  Of 
the  above  Grant,  Anita,  Wilson,  Lord, 
Comstock,  Tallet,  and  Dux  served  on  the 
agricultural  committee  in  15)15.  Witter, 
of  Tioga,  well  known  in  farmers’  insti¬ 
tute  work,  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
from  1S90  to  1510(1,  inclusive,  and  has 
served  on  this  committee  previously. 
Wbeeloek,  Cowee  and  Fullagar  are  serv¬ 
ing  their  first  terms  in  the  Legislature, 
Dox,  of  Schoharie,  is  the  only  Democra¬ 
tic  member  of  the  committee. 
Automobile  Registration.  —  There 
were  255,525  automobiles  registered  by 
New  York’s  Secretary  of  State  in  1015 
— an  increase  of  01,100  machines  over 
1014.  Receipts  for  registration  for  11 
months  of  15)15  amounted  to  $1,005,155, 
as  against  $1,018,000  for  the  entire  12 
months  of  3014.  The  cost  of  administer¬ 
ing  the  automobile  law  in  New  York 
State  is  nearly  20  per  cent,  of  the  re¬ 
ceipts.  In  Massachusetts  the  cost  is  but 
nine  per  cent.  It  is  asserted  as  a  rea¬ 
son  for  this  departity  that  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts’  law  is  administered  by  the 
State  highway  department.  In  New 
York  the  Secretary  of  State  is  charged 
with  the  collection  of  the  tax.  Former 
Highway  Commissioner  Carlisle  recom¬ 
mended  that  the  administration  of  the 
auto  license  law  be  placed  with  his  de¬ 
partment,  and  the  present  Commissioner 
agrees  with  him.  Doubtless  legislation 
to  slop  this  wastage  will  he  introduced 
at  the  present  session  of  the  Legislature, 
but  pot-hunting  politicians  may  be  count¬ 
ed  upon  t.o  oppose  surli  a  reform,  as  too 
many  appointive  positions  are  concerned. 
Secretary  of  State  Hugo  received  hun¬ 
dreds  of  letters  asking  that  low  num¬ 
bered  license  plates  bo  issued  to  the 
writers.  Governor  Whitman's  two  ma¬ 
chines  will  bear  the  numbers  3.  and  2, 
respectively.  Joseph  DcBrugga,  former 
sheriff  of  Queens  County,  asked  for 
plate  No.  35 — and  got  it.  A  supersti¬ 
tious  owner  declined  to  accept  plate  No. 
562,  because  the  sum  of  the  numerals 
made  thirteen.  C.  Iv.  G.  Billings,  the 
noted  horseman,  must  maintain  quite  a 
garage,  for  his  liccuee  plates  run  from 
75)2  to  808.  v. 
& 
R3V 
jTr 
ft 
^  _ ^ 
Save  $1  to  $2^ 
Per  Ton  on  Lime  - 
Li m, .Tone  .b<»  "jtfggZi&SS  23 
£2  to  fel  P'T  Wt-  lt  n  .,  '  ,lmrrocic  into  soil 
Tonic.  Why  "otturntMtt  1^' “J",*. 
sweetening  ground  ,  your  (arm  more 
«isss/s 
Turn  the  stone  to  gold. 
She  Jeffrey 
iImeJHjuveR 
Thin  machine  ^1  reduce  bi C  n™k  to  dun 
„  thp  r,te  „f  l  ton  an  hour,  or  more.  acpeim 
ine  upon  what  size  of  machine  Y“u  u* 
the  horsepower  crulhe.  rock  for 
put  worth  from  f ble_  (oW  on  , 
Iraarautce— budt  to  last  a  lifetime.  AVr^  f°r 
catalog — full  information  and  our  trial  offer. 
THE  JEFFREY  MFG.  CO., 
M..  A  _ _  f  « a  ^ 
BARGAINS 
SAW  OUTFITS 
EASY 
TERMS 
TO 
RELIABLE 
PEOPLE 
ALL  SIZES 
MONEY  -  SAV¬ 
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MONF  Y-S4  V|\<5  1'HICP.St  Tlio  a1kiv»*  wwlug  outfit  f.)u»  re¬ 
sult  of  vu  yitani’  experience  building  *rnM>lln«  origin**  mul 
saw  outfit*.  \  ou  lean  Buy  It  subject  to  JJO  .lays'  approval. 
Yon  buy  it  el  two  to  your  home;  you  buy  It  from  itconeeru 
whirl.  (lo.'K  TtfJtplutf  but  matt o  ami  8 till  tfnsollno  engines. 
Anytime  you  need  help  you  tfet  it  from  practical  men  who 
hiivr  been  i  rijrASTtul  in  nmmifiirnirin^  farm  engines  for  20 
year*  .  Order  any  huso  you  like  with  au  absolute  UTmran- 
tre  ?i  satisfaction.  Keep  your  money  in  your  pocket 
until  you  nre  eonlUlent  that  it  lx  the  best  purchase  you 
eun  make.  Tell  tin  the  rize  engine  you  want,  when  you 
went  It  tin <1  the  Htfca  farm  yon  own,  and  we  will  make 
you  a  money -wiving  and  special  proposition.  Catalogue 
and  other  Informal  ion  on  request.  WltlTi:  T0IMV. 
R.  CONSOLIDATED  GAS  &  GASOLINE  ENGINE  CO. 
202  Fulton  Street,  New  York  City 
Books  Worth  Buying 
SIX  EXCELLENT  farm  books. 
Productive  Swine  Husbandry,  Day.. $1.50 
Productive  Poultry  Husbandry,  Lewis  2.00 
Productive  Horso  Husbandry,  Gay..  1.50 
Productive  Feeding:  of  Farm  Animals, 
Woll  . 1.50 
Productive  Orcharding,  Soars .  1.50 
Productive  Vegetable  Growing,  Lloyd  1.50 
BOOKS  ON  INSECTS  AND  PLANT  DIS¬ 
EASES. 
Injurious  Insects,  O’Kane  . $2. Of 
Manual  of  Insocts,  Slingerland .  2.00 
Diseases  of  Economic  Plants,  Stev¬ 
ens  and  Hall  .  2.00 
Fungous  Diseases  of  Plants,  Duggar  2.00 
STANDARD  FRUIT  BOOKS. 
Successful  Fruit  Culture,  Maynard.  .$1,00 
Productive  Orcharding,  Soars  .  1.50 
The  Nursery  Book,  Bailey  .  1,50 
Tlie  Pruning  Book,  Bailey  .........  1.50 
Dwarf  Fruit  Trees,  Waugh . 60 
PRACTICAL  POULTRY  BOOKS. 
Progressive  Poultry  Culture,  Brig¬ 
ham  . $1,50 
Productive  Poultry  Husbandry,  Lewis  2.00 
Principles  and  Practice  of  Poultry 
Culture,  Robinson  . 2.50 
Hens  for  Profit,  Valentine  .  1,50 
Diseases  of  Poultry,  Salmon . 50 
The  above  books,  written  by 
practical  experts,  will  be 
found  valuable  for  reference 
or  study.  For  sale  by 
The  Rural  New-Yorker 
333  West  30th  Street,  New  York 
Grimm’s  Maple  Syrup  Apparatus 
l!  is  conceded  by  those  who  know  that  if  all  the  Maple  Syrup  and  Sugar  produced  in  the  United  States,  were  made 
with  Grimm  Utensils,  the  extra  »i u ;■  I i »y  would  increase  its  value  over  $2,000,000.00 
annually,  and  the  saving  in  time  and  fuel  would  he  an  additional  large  item.  Assuming  that 
Grimm  San  SdOU Is  wcr,!  exclusively  used  for  lapping  next  season,  the  increased 
“  “  production  of  "sugar  would  amountto  25,000,000  pounds,  one  fourth 
ol  the  approximate  total  of  100,000,000  pounds.  At  a  low  estimate  of  $.10  per  pound,  there  would  be  a  net  gain  of 
*2.50(1, 000.00.  This  being  a  fact,  can  we  afford  to  cling  to  the  old  methods,  considering  too,  that  there  is  .in  un¬ 
limited  demand  for  a  Pure  Muple  Product  and  that  no  other  farm  crop  pays  a  better  dividend. 
Better  Syrup  with  less  fuel  if  you  adopt  the  Grimm  System,  Original 
G.  H.  Grimm  Utensils,  Superior  Quality  and  most  durable  on  the  market. 
Jlsk  J or  catalogue  “  B"  and 
state  number  of  trees  you  tap. 
G.  H.  GRIMM  ESTATE 
Rutland,  Vt. 
